The Humourous Poetry of the English Language

196
I a radiant girl adored:
When she came, she saw, she conquered,
And by Cupid I was floored.
Round my heart her glossy ringlets
Were mysteriously entwined--
And her soft voluptuous glances
All my inmost thoughts divined.
"Mia cara Mandolina!
Are we not, indeed," I cried,
"All the world to one another?"
Mandolina, smiled and sighed.
Earth was Eden, she an angel,
I a Jupiter enshrined--
Till one night I saw a damning
DOUBLE SHADOW ON HER BLIND!
"Fire and fury! double shadows
On their bed-room windows ne'er,
To my knowledge, have been cast by
Ladies virtuous and fair.
"False, abandoned, Mandolina!
Fare thee well, for evermore!
Vengeance!" shrieked I, "vengeance! vengeance!"
And I thundered through the door.
This event occurred next morning;
Mandolina staring sat,
Stark amaz'd, as out I tumbled,
Raving mad, without a hat!
Six weeks after I'd a letter,
On its road six weeks delayed--
With a dozen re-directions
From the lost one, and it said:
"Foolish, wicked, cruel Albert!
Base suspicion's doubts resign;