(LA MOUCHE) <br /> <br />In the midst of our laughter and singing, <br />'Mid the clink of our glasses so gay, <br />What gad-fly is over us winging, <br />That returns when we drive him away? <br />'Tis some god. Yes, I have a suspicion <br />Of our happiness jealous, he's come: <br />Let us drive him away to perdition, <br />That he bore us no more with his hum. <br /> <br />Transformed to a gad-fly unseemly, <br />I am certain that we must have here <br />Old Reason, the grumbler, extremely <br />Annoyed by our joy and our cheer. <br />He tells us in tones of monition <br />Of the clouds and the tempests to come: <br />Let us drive him away to perdition, <br />That he bore us no more with his hum. <br /> <br />It is Reason who comes to me, quaffing, <br />And says, 'It is time to retire: <br />At your age one stops drinking and laughing, <br />Stops loving, nor sings with such fire;'-- <br />An alarm that sounds ever its mission <br />When the sweetest of flames overcome: <br />Let us drive him away to perdition, <br />That he bore us no more with his hum. <br /> <br />It is Reason! Look out there for Lizzie! <br />His dart is a menace alway. <br />He has touched her, she swoons--she is dizzy: <br />Come, Cupid, and drive him away. <br />Pursue him; compel his submission, <br />Until under your strokes he succumb. <br />Let us drive him away to perdition, <br />That he bore us no more with his hum. <br /> <br />Hurrah, Victory! See, he is drowning <br />In the wine that Lizzetta has poured. <br />Come, the head of Joy let us be crowning, <br />That again he may reign at our board. <br />He was threatened just now with dismission, <br />And a fly made us all rather glum: <br />But we've sent him away to perdition; <br />He will bore us no more with his hum.<br /><br />Pierre Jean de Beranger<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-gad-fly/
