Page 13 - Poetry-Romance

A fan, of course, who ever heard
Of Spanish Donna yet
Without this one accompaniment?
Ah! then those eyes of jet.

And could she find an artist
With the talismanic skill
Of Velasquez or Murillo
(Oh, never mind the bill),

He should paint her picture,
And home it should be sent;
Gurney would have it photographed
(Of course with her consent).

The Don he had suggested
That the ladies all in Spain
Were thought to be so clever,
Her duty now was plain.

She must rub up her accomplishments,
Let’s see what she could do:
For when at Madame D’Arblay’s
She was thought to be quite “blue.”

The ‘ologies and sciences
What need had she to recall?
And as for vulgar arithmetic
There would be no use at all.

For if to count the dollars
Much trouble should be found,
She would adopt the English custom,
Which weighs them by the pound.

The languages and painting
In oils and in pastel;
And certainly for dancing
All said she could excel.

And when she made her debût
She charmed them with her voice;

~ 11 ~