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"O thou generous Venus! O thou beautiful, bountiful calm!" - The Newcomes.
DEAR lazy goddess! in old time
How many happy hours I've spent
In careless indolence sublime,
To all, save thee, indifferent!
Thine, restful Ease, was all my youth; -
Forgive me, if my better years
I vow to others, - for, in truth,
Little I've gained of thee but tears.
I bring thee here, and thus devote,
Cigars and pipe and cigarettes;
An arm-chair deep, a new dress-coat;
I'll swear off poker, pay my debts,
Claret at dinner do without;
French novels I hereby abjure;
I'll turn my old acquaintance out,
To make my reformation sure.
And last, and hardest, I'll refrain
From what was erst a joy intense, -
No more, however great the strain,
I'll ply the "art of self-defence."
Take - take these letters, gloves, and curls,
Standards of forts once well defended;
Rosebuds and ribbons, given of girls, -
Relics of broken hearts, since mended.
And, Venus! if thou still art kind,
If ever thou propitious wert, -
Thou 'It to my vows be somewhat blind,
If, just a little, I may flirt?
J. K. M.
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