Ay, youth, I am the Lord of all, And rule o’er every nation; I always told thee I should come To power and reputation. Each day I work such miracles As greatly would delight thee; The town of A---- I’ll happy make To-day, and so excite thee. The paving-stones upon the road Shall all be now converted, And, lo, an oyster, fresh and clear, In each shall be inserted. A constant shower of lemon-juice Like dew, shall serve as pickle, And in the gutters of the streets The finest wine shall trickle. How all the A--er’s straight rejoice, And to the banquet hasten! The judges from the gutter drink As if it were a basin. And how at this divine repast Rejoice the poets needy! Lieutenants lick the streets quite dry, And ensigns poor and greedy. The ensigns and lieutenants are Wise in their generation; They always think the present time The weightiest in creation. 69. From beauteous lips compell’d to part, and carried Away from beauteous arms fast clasp’d around me, Yet one more day I gladly would have tarried, When came the post-boy with his steeds, and found me. Child, this is very life, an endless wailing, An endless farewell-taking, endless parting; Is then thy heart to clasp mine unavailing? Could not thine eye retain me, e’en at starting? 70. We travelled alone in the gloomy Post-chaise the whole of the night; Each lean’d on the other’s bosom, And jested with hearts so light. When morning dawn’d upon us, My child, how we did stare, For the blind passenger,[24] Amor, Was sitting between us there! 71. Heaven knows where the haughty hussy May have will’d to pitch her tent; Swearing, with the rain fast falling, All the city through I went. From one tavern to another Ran I swiftly in the rain, And to every surly waiter Did I turn myself in vain. Then I saw her at a window, Nodding, tittering as well: Could I tell that thou wouldst live in, Maiden, such a grand hotel? 72. Like darkling visions the houses Are standing all in a row; Deep hidden in my mantle, In silence I onward go. The high cathedral tower The hour of twelve doth proclaim: My love, with her charms and kisses, Awaits me with rapturous flame. The moon is my attendant, And kindly gleams in the sky, And when I arrive at her dwelling, I joyfully call up on high: I thank thee, my olden companion, That thou hast thus lighted my way; I now at length can release thee, Light the rest of the world now, I pray And find’st thou some mortal enamour’d, In solitude mourning his fate, As me thou of old time didst comfort, Him also O comfort thou straight! 73.