THEY sat round the tea-table drinking And speaking of love a great deal; The men of aesthetics were thinking, The ladies more prone were to feel. "All love ought to be but platonical" The wither'd old counsellor said; His wife by a smile quite ironical Rejoin'd, and then sighed "Ah!" instead. Said the canon with visage dejected: "Love ne'er should be suffered to go "Too far, or the health is affected;" The maiden then simper'd: "How so?" The Countess her sad feelings vented, Said "Love is a passion, I'm sure," And then to the Baron presented His cup with politeness demure. A place was still empty at table; My darling, 'twas thou wert away; Thou hadst been so especially able The tale of thy love, sweet, to say. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...EARTH'S IMMORTALITIES: FAME by ROBERT BROWNING A BORDER AFFAIR by CHARLES BADGER CLARK JR. COLIN CLOUTS COME HOME AGAIN by EDMUND SPENSER DRINKING SONG (4) by ALCAEUS OF MYTILENE CHRIST TO HIS SPOUSE by WILLIAM BALDWIN CHARACTERS: MARTHA JENNINGS by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD |