For hours and hours that dismal actor walked, And talked, and talked, and talked, and talked, Till lethargy upon the parson crept, And sleepy MICAH SOWLS serenely slept. [Illustration] He slept away until The farce that closed the bill Had warned him not to stay, And then he went away. "I thought _my_ gait ridiculous," said he-- "_My_ elocution faulty as could be; I thought _I_ mumbled on a matchless plan-- I had not seen our great Tragedian! "Forgive me, if you can, O great Tragedian! I own it with a sigh-- You're drearier than I!" [Illustration] MY LADY Bedecked in fashion trim, With every curl a-quiver; Or leaping, light of limb, O'er rivulet and river; Or skipping o'er the lea On daffodil and daisy; Or stretched beneath a tree, All languishing and lazy; Whatever be her mood-- Be she demurely prude Or languishingly lazy-- My lady drives me crazy! In vain her heart is wooed, Whatever be her mood! What profit should I gain Suppose she loved me dearly? Her coldness turns my brain To _verge_ of madness merely. Her kiss--though, Heaven knows, To dream of it were treason-- Would tend, as I suppose, To utter loss of reason! My state is not amiss; I would not have a kiss Which, in or out of season, Might tend to loss of reason: What profit in such bliss? A fig for such a kiss! [Illustration] ONE AGAINST THE WORLD It's my opinion--though I own In thinking so I'm quite alone-- In some respects I'm but a fright. _You_ like my features, I suppose? _I'm_ disappointed with my nose: Some rave about it--perhaps they're right. My figure just sets off a fit; But when they say it's exquisite (And they _do_ say so), that's too strong. I hope I'm not what people call Opinionated! After all, I'm but a goose, and may be wrong! When charms enthral There's some excuse For measures strong; And after all I'm but a goose, And may be wrong! My teeth are very neat, no doubt; But after all they _may_ fall out: _I_ think they will--some think they won't. My hands are small, as you may see, But not as small as they might be, At least, _I_ think so--others don't. But there, a girl may preach and prate From morning six to evening eight, And never stop to dine, When all the world, although misled, Is quite agreed on any head-- And it is quite agreed on mine!