MY AUNT "What could this lovely creature do Against a desperate man!" Alas! nor chariot, nor barouche, Nor bandit cavalcade, Tore from the trembling father's arms For her how happy had it been! To see one sad, ungathered rose OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES A BALLAD OF DEAD LADIES Where is the Queen of Herod's kiss, By what strange sea does Tomyris The Wind has blown them all away For what poor ghost does Helen care? Where are the Girls of Yesterday? ENVOY Alas for lovers! Pair by pair The Wind has blown them all away: The young and yare, the fond and fair: Where are the Snows of Yesterday? JUSTIN HUNTLY MCCARTHY ITAS VANITATUM vanities! ard the decrees of Fate are; -ak the very wise, small the very great are! these stale moralities, er, from your desk you mumble? inst the great and wise, s with your ceaseless grumble? VANITAS VANITATUM Though thrice a thousand years are past. Since David's son, the sad and splendid, The weary King Ecclesiast, Upon his awful tablets penned it, Methinks the text is never stale, And life is every day renewing Fresh comments on the old old tale Of Folly, Fortune, Glory, Ruin. Hark to the Preacher, preaching still; As yonder on the Mount of Hermon: For you and me to heart to take WILLIAM MAKEPEACE THACKERAY |