Between the Courses.
156
I have not been so stupid as to groan,
If you would only lift your eyes to mine
You'd see with what sang-froid I sip my wine,
How all my mental force is brought to bear
Upon the peeling of a duchess pear.
Look up, dear heart!—one little glance will do,
Are those sweet eyes I wonder still as blue
As I remember them two years ago?
Two years!—two centuries! How could you know
That when I left you, pale and passion-torn,
Meeting your pride with pride, your scorn with scorn,
To wander over God's good, patient earth,
With eyes that saw not, heart that found no worth,
Nor any pleasant thing beneath the sun,
Because of one dear face denied me—one
That haunted all my days, and silent drew
My heart across the continents to you,
How could you know I hungered for your eyes?
Look up!—look up! Ah! what? the ladies rise,
How white you are! and will I kindly tell
Your hostess you are leaving—are not well?
And will I call your husband, Captain Dare?
Your husband!—your—your husband! Ah, take care!
Here, help!—a lady faints. Be quick! that glass!
So, thanks! You have her? Kindly let me pass.
If you would only lift your eyes to mine
You'd see with what sang-froid I sip my wine,
How all my mental force is brought to bear
Upon the peeling of a duchess pear.
Look up, dear heart!—one little glance will do,
Are those sweet eyes I wonder still as blue
As I remember them two years ago?
Two years!—two centuries! How could you know
That when I left you, pale and passion-torn,
Meeting your pride with pride, your scorn with scorn,
To wander over God's good, patient earth,
With eyes that saw not, heart that found no worth,
Nor any pleasant thing beneath the sun,
Because of one dear face denied me—one
That haunted all my days, and silent drew
My heart across the continents to you,
How could you know I hungered for your eyes?
Look up!—look up! Ah! what? the ladies rise,
How white you are! and will I kindly tell
Your hostess you are leaving—are not well?
And will I call your husband, Captain Dare?
Your husband!—your—your husband! Ah, take care!
Here, help!—a lady faints. Be quick! that glass!
So, thanks! You have her? Kindly let me pass.
