Envied the slave who held the red
Umbrella o'er her queenly head!
Envied the mastiff on whose back
One fair and slender hand lay slack!
Even the Fiscal pressed his hat
With fervour 'gainst his laced cravat,
And swept the pavement with a bow
Before the lovely Jonge-vrouw.
When Swellengrebel gave a ball,
He led her foremost down the hall;
Her lightest word or look was law
At picnic or at Wapenschaw;
In church, distracted beaux gave scant
Attention to the Predikant,
But read their sermon in the smile
That shone like sunshine down the aisle;
And once at least upon the lawn
Beneath the Castle walls at dawn
Hard breathing men with sword to sword
Tramped a circle on the sward,
Athirst to make a rival feel
The cruel chastisement of steel.
But now, I prithee, tell me, Muse,
How came she to wear English shoes?
An English ship one summer day
Let fall her anchor in the Bay,
Answered the Castle gun for gun—
The Walpole or the Addison,
Laden with sandalwood and spice,
And other goodly merchandize.
