Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno.djvu/176

148 {{center block| This style of business seems to me
 * Extremely inconvenient!

 'No Nobleness of soul have I,
 * Like some that in this Age are found!' 

{Paul blushed in sheer humility,
 * And cast his eyes upon the ground.)

 'This debt will simply swallow all,
 * And make my life a life of woe!' 

 'Nay, nay, my Peter!' answered Paul.
 *  'You must not rail on Fortune so!

 'You have enough to eat and drink:
 * You are respected in the world:

And at the barber's, as I think,
 * You often get your whiskers curled.

Though Nobleness you can't attain—
 * To any very great extent—

The path of Honesty is plain,
 * However inconvenient!' 

 ' ' Tis true', said Peter, 'I'm alive:
 * I keep my station in the world:

Once in the week I just contrive
 * To get my whiskers oiled and curled.

}}