A Dialogue.
‘ Dainty little lady,1
Listen, pray, to me ;2
Canst thou ever love me ?3
Canst thou ? say to me.’4
‘ Ere I tell you that, sir,5
You must prove to me6
That my heart with you, sir,7
Safely kept will be.’8
‘ Prudent little lady,9
Thou hast stolen mine,10
Surely, while thou hast it,11
I must value thine.’12
‘ That is proof enough, sir.13
Further would I know14
What about me ’tis, sir,15
Makes you love me so.’16
‘ Simple little lady,17
Hast thou not been told18
That thy silken tresses19
Shine like burnished gold ?’20
‘ Answer that is none, sir ;21
I need scarcely say22
Even golden hair, sir,23
Quickly turns to gray.’24
‘ Modest little lady,25
Clearest summer skies—26
Blue, and calm, and cloudless—27
Pale beside thine eyes.’28
‘ Ah ! but you must own, sir,29
Though that may be true,30
Age will never spare, sir,31
Eyes of deepest blue.’32
‘ Cruel little lady,33
Shall I praise thy lips,34
Or thy fairy fingers,35
With their rosy tips ?’36
‘ There will come a day, sir,37
When these hands shall lie38
Quiet, and these lips, sir,39
Never frame reply.’40
‘ Then, my little lady,41
I can only say42
That it was thy goodness43
Stole my heart away.’44
‘ Goodness not my own, sir,45
Given each day anew ;46
Lov’st thou me for that, sir ?47
Then I love thee too.’48