THE PEREMPTORY LOVER

And let our actions be as free

As virtue will allow.

If you'll prove loving, I'll prove kind,

If constant, I'll be true;

If Fortune chance to change your mind,

I'll turn as soon as you.

Since our affections well ye know,
In equal terms do stand,

"T is in your power to love or no,
Mine's likewise in my hand.

Dispense with your austerity,
Inconstancy abhor,

Or, by great Cupid's deity,

I'll never love thee more.

UNKNOWN

TO PHOEBE

GENTLE, modest, little flower,
Sweet epitome of May,
Love me but for half-an-hour,
Love me, love me, little fay."
Sentences so fiercely flaming
In your tiny shell-like ear,

I should always be exclaiming
If I loved you, PHŒBE, dear.

'Smiles that thrill from any distance Shed upon me while I sing!

Please ecstaticise existence,

Love me, oh, thou fairy thing!"

Words like these, outpouring sadly,
You'd perpetually hear,

If I loved you, fondly, madly;

But I do not, PHŒBE, dear.

WILLIAM SCHWENCK GILBERT

EPITHALAMIUM

THE marriage bells have rung their peal, The wedding march has told its story. I've seen her at the altar kneel

In all her stainless, virgin glory; She's bound to honor, love, obey, Come joy or sorrow, tears or laughter. I watched her as she rode away,

And flung the lucky slipper after.

She was my first, my very first,
My earliest inamorata,

And to the passion that I nursed

For her I well-nigh was a martyr.

For I was young and she was fair,

And always bright and gay and chipper,

And, oh, she wore such sunlit hair!

Such silken stockings! such a slipper!

She did not wish to make me mourn

She was the kindest of God's creatures;

EPITHALAMIUM

lirting was in her inborn,

xe brains and queerness in the Beechers. not fear your heartless flirt,

tuse her dart and dull her probe is;

when girls do not mean to hurt,

ost romantic country place;

ne moon at full, the month of August; nland lake across whose face

ayed gentle zephyrs, ne'er a raw gust. ks, boats, and horses to enjoy,

he which was all our occupation;

amsel and a callow boy

here! now you have the situation.

rode together miles and miles, My pupil she, and I her Chiron; home I revelled in her smiles

nd read her extracts out of Byron. rode by moonlight, chose our stars I thought it most authentic billing),

EPITHALAMIUM

Explored the woods, climbed over bars,
Smoked cigarettes and broke a shilling.

An infinitely blissful week

Went by in this Arcadian fashion; I hesitated long to speak,

But ultimately breathed my passion. She said her heart was not her own; She said she'd love me like a sister; She cried a little (not alone),

I begged her not to fret, and — kissed her.

I lost some sleep, some pounds in weight,
A deal of time and all my spirits,

And much, how much I dare not state,
I mused upon that damsel's merits.
I tortured my unhappy soul,

I wished I never might recover;
I hoped her marriage bells might toll
A requiem for her faithful lover.

And now she's married, now she wears
A wedding-ring upon her finger;