<h2><SPAN name="MY_LADY_OF_THE_SILVER_TONGUE" id="MY_LADY_OF_THE_SILVER_TONGUE"></SPAN>My Lady of the Silver Tongue</h2>
<div class="poetry">
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i0"><span class="letra">M</span>Y Lady of the Silver Tongue,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">Do you not feel a thrill of shame?<br/></span>
<span class="i0">The woman is so fair and young—<br/></span>
<span class="i2">Why seek to steal away her fame?<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Nay, never mind that haughty stare,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">For you and I must measure swords,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">To tell you to your face I dare,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">A lie lurked in your pretty words.<br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">Did you not say awhile ago<br/></span>
<span class="i2">“<i>I am her friend</i>,”—in earnest tone—<br/></span>
<span class="i0">And soft that voice of yours, and low—<br/></span>
<span class="i2">“<i>I am her friend when all is done</i>;”<br/></span>
<span class="i0">As though a friend a doubt would fling,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">And evil tongues to wagging start!<br/></span>
<span class="i0"><i>I am her friend</i>—ah, there the sting,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">No friend will grieve and hurt a heart!<br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">Your eyes are very warm and kind,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">And sweet the smile upon your lips,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">I read the truth—I am not blind—<br/></span>
<span class="i2">False are you to your finger-tips,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">And I would rather be, to-day,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">The slandered woman, fair and young,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Than be yourself, so proud and gay,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">My Lady of the Silver Tongue!<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="page_107" id="page_107"></SPAN>{107}</span><br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">A friend’s heart holds no wronging doubt,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">No envy—meaner far than hate—<br/></span>
<span class="i0">With tenderness it pieces out<br/></span>
<span class="i2">The small shortcomings, and the great.<br/></span>
<span class="i0">So when you slander—blush for shame—<br/></span>
<span class="i2">Or, to some gossip’s tale attend,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">I pray you take some other name,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">And never say, <i>I am her friend</i>.<br/></span></div>
<div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">For loyalty is not a jest,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">No sweeter word is said or sung,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Take time to learn that truth is best,<br/></span>
<span class="i2">My Lady of the Silver Tongue.<br/></span></div>
</div></div>
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