Take the name of the swain, a forlorn witless elf <br />Who was chang'd to a flow'r for admiring himself. <br />A part deem'd essential in each lady's dress <br />With what maidens cry when they wish to say yes. <br />A lullabye carriage, soft, cozy and light <br />With the name of the Poet who sang on the night. <br /> <br />The queen of Cairo, all lovely and winning <br />Whose blandishments ever kept Antony grinning. <br />The flow'r whose odors unremittingly please: <br />With the glory of forests, the king of the trees. <br />To the prince of the fairies, a jealous old knave, <br />Put the name of the tree that undid Mother Eve. <br />To finish the whole, add that period of day <br />When the linnet and thrush to repose hie away. <br /> <br />The initials of these, if adjusted with care. <br />Will show you the fairest where thousands are fair. <br />The sweet, pretty graces still hover about her <br />And Cupid would die with vexation without her. <br />When she swims in the dance or wherever she goes <br />She's crowded by witlings, plain-fellows, and beaux <br />Who throng at her elbow and tread on her toes. <br /> <br />If a pin or a hankerchief happen to fall <br />To seize on the prise fills with uproar the ball; <br />Such pulling and hawling & shoving & pushing <br />As rivals the racket of 'key and the cushion;' <br />And happy- thrice happy! too happy! the swain <br />Who can replace the pin or bandana again. <br /> <br />Tho the fellows surround & so humbly adore her <br />The girls on the contrary cannot endure her; <br />Her beauty their beauty forever disgraces <br />And her sweeter face still eclipses their faces- <br />For no lov'ly girl can a lov'ly girl bear <br />And fair ones are ever at war with the fair. <br /> <br /> <br />(Nancy Crooke)<br /><br />Henry Livingston Jr.<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-dance-6/
