Page:Collected poems of Flecker.djvu/42

 X When lounging idle mid forensic whirl, Friend Varus took me off to see his girl. The naughty wench, I very soon was shewn, Had got some wit and beauty of her own. Arriving, we began a busy chat On politics, and weather, this and that– Then on my province’s internal state, And "Had I found the profit adequate" I answered truthfully, "There’s nothing there For common soldier or for officer Wherewith to purchase grease for home-bound hair." "You found at least"–said she–"one always can: Some aboriginals for your sedan?" Said I in answer, posing for her eyes In prosperous and fashionable guise, "Oh, really, I was not so penniless That any mere provincial distress Should render me incompetent to get Eight smartish bearers for the voiturette." (In truth there was no slave in all the earth Whom I could then have summoned to my hearth To shoulder the debilitated leg Of my old pallet). "Then, dear friend, I beg"– Cries she most aptly for so bad a minx– I want to pay a visit to the Sphinx– You’ll lend them me just to the temple door, My sweet Catullus?" 6