<h2><SPAN name="page59"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>CONTENTMENT.<br/> <span class="GutSmall">AFTER THE MANNER OF HORACE.</span></h2>
<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">Friend</span>, there be
they on whom mishap<br/>
Or never or so rarely comes,<br/>
That, when they think thereof, they snap<br/>
Derisive thumbs:</p>
<p class="poetry">And there be they who lightly lose<br/>
Their all, yet feel no aching void;<br/>
Should aught annoy them, they refuse<br/>
To be annoy’d:</p>
<p class="poetry">And fain would I be e’en as these!<br/>
Life is with such all beer and skittles;<br/>
They are not difficult to please<br/>
About their victuals:</p>
<p class="poetry"><SPAN name="page60"></SPAN><span class="pagenum">p.
60</span>The trout, the grouse, the early pea,<br/>
By such, if there, are freely taken;<br/>
If not, they munch with equal glee<br/>
Their bit of bacon:</p>
<p class="poetry">And when they wax a little gay<br/>
And chaff the public after luncheon,<br/>
If they’re confronted with a stray<br/>
Policeman’s truncheon,</p>
<p class="poetry">They gaze thereat with outstretch’d
necks,<br/>
And laughter which no threats can smother,<br/>
And tell the horror-stricken X<br/>
That he’s another.</p>
<p class="poetry">In snowtime if they cross a spot<br/>
Where unsuspected boys have slid,<br/>
They fall not down—though they would not<br/>
Mind if they did:</p>
<p class="poetry"><SPAN name="page61"></SPAN><span class="pagenum">p.
61</span>When the spring rosebud which they wear<br/>
Breaks short and tumbles from its stem,<br/>
No thought of being angry e’er<br/>
Dawns upon them;</p>
<p class="poetry">Though ’twas Jemima’s hand that
placed,<br/>
(As well you ween) at evening’s hour,<br/>
In the loved button-hole that chaste<br/>
And cherish’d flower.</p>
<p class="poetry">And when they travel, if they find<br/>
That they have left their pocket-compass<br/>
Or Murray or thick boots behind,<br/>
They raise no rumpus,</p>
<p class="poetry">But plod serenely on without:<br/>
Knowing it’s better to endure<br/>
The evil which beyond all doubt<br/>
You cannot cure.</p>
<p class="poetry"><SPAN name="page62"></SPAN><span class="pagenum">p.
62</span>When for that early train they’re late,<br/>
They do not make their woes the text<br/>
Of sermons in the Times, but wait<br/>
On for the next;</p>
<p class="poetry">And jump inside, and only grin<br/>
Should it appear that that dry wag,<br/>
The guard, omitted to put in<br/>
Their carpet-bag.</p>
<div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />
1 of 2
2 of 2
Previous
Next
Update Required
To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.