CUERVO - Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia

Drs ALITER VISUM
And did you, when we entered, reached
The votive frigate, soft aloft
Riding on air this hundred years,
Safe-smiling at old hopes and fears,­
Did you draw profit while she preached?
9
10
Resolving, "Fools we wise men grow I
"Yes, I could easily blurt out curt
"Some question that might find reply
" As prompt in her stopped lips, dropped eye,
"And rush of red to cheek and brow:
11
"Thus were a match made, sure and fast,
"'Mid the blue weed-flowers round the mound
"Where, issuing, we shall stand and stay
"For one more look at baths and bay,
" Sands, sea-gulls, and the old church last-
12
" A match 'twixt me, bent, wigged and lame,
" Famous, however, for verse and worse,
"Sure of the Fortieth spare Arm-chair
"\Vben gout and glory seat me there,
"SO, one whose love-freaks pass unblamed,-
13
"And this young beauLy, round and sound
"As a mountain-apple, youth and truth
" \Vith loves and doves, at all events
"With money in the Three per Cents;
"Whose choice of me would seem profound:-
14
"She might take me as I take her.
e< Perfect the hour would pass, alasl
"Climb high, love high, what matter? Still,
"Feet, feelings, must descend the hill:
" An hour's perfection can't recur.
©Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia
55!)