' -- romprons-nous, Ou ne romprons-nous pas?' -- LE DEPIT AMOUREUX. NELLIE. IF I were you, when ladies at the play, sir, Beckon and nod, a melodrama through, I would not turn abstractedly away, sir, If I were you! FRANK. If I were you, when persons I affected, Wait for three hours to take me down to Kew, I would, at least, pretend I recollected, If I were you! NELLIE. If I were you, when ladies are so lavish, Sir, as to keep me every waltz but two, I would not dance with odious Miss M'Tavish, If I were you! FRANK. If I were you, who vow you cannot suffer Whiff of the best, -- the mildest 'honey-dew,' I would not dance with smoke-consuming Puffer, If I were you! NELLIE. If I were you, I would not, sir, be bitter, Even to write the 'Cynical Review'; -- FRANK. No, I should doubtless find flirtation fitter, If I were you! NELLIE. Really! You would? Why, Frank, you're quite delightful, -- Hot as Othello, and as black of hue; Borrow my fan. I would not look so frightful, If I were you! FRANK. 'It is the cause.' I mean your chaperon is Bringing some well-curled juvenile. Adieu! I shall retire. I'd spare that poor Adonis, If I were you! NELLIE. Go, if you will. At once! And by express, sir! Where shall it be? To China -- or Peru? Go. I should leave inquirers my address, sir, If I were you! FRANK. No, -- I remain. To stay and fight a duel Seems, on the whole, the proper thing to do; -- Ah, you are strong, -- I would not then be cruel, If I were you! NELLIE. One does not like one's feelings to be doubted, -- FRANK. One does not like one's friends to misconstrue, -- NELLIE. If I confess that I a wee-bit pouted? -- FRANK. I should admit that I was pique, too. NELLIE. Ask me to dance! I'd say no more about it, If I were you! [Waltz -- Exeunt. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HELIADES: ZEUS, BRAZEN THUNDER-HURLER by AESCHYLUS THE ARGONAUTS (ARGONAUTICA): THE SAILING OF THE ARGO by APOLLONIUS RHODIUS ARIZONA SUMMER by ELEANOR BALDWIN WRITTEN AT SEA by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT TO AN ASTRONOMER by ANNE CHARLOTTE LYNCH BOTTA PLEA FOR TOLERANCE by MARGARET E. BRUNER THE WANDERER by WILLIAM ALLEN BUTLER FOR THE DUE IMPROVEMENT OF A FUNERAL SOLEMNITY by JOHN BYROM |