Page:The Bab Ballads.djvu/108

 "What! sound the matrimonial knell
 * Of worthy people such as these!

Why was I an attorney? Well—
 * Go on to the sævitia, please."

"Domestic bliss has proved my bane,
 * A harder case you never heard,

My wife (in other matters sane)
 * Pretends that I'm a Dicky bird!

"She makes me sing, 'Too whit, too wee!'
 * And stand upon a rounded stick,

And always introduces me
 * To every one as 'Pretty Dick'!"

"Oh, dear," said weeping ,
 * This is the direst case I know"—

I'm grieved," said, "at paining you—
 * To and  I'll go—

"To cold calculating ear
 * My gruesome sorrows I'll impart"—

"No; stop," said, "I'll dry my tear,
 * And steel my sympathetic heart!"

"She makes me perch upon a tree.
 * Rewarding me with, 'Sweety—nice!'

And threatens to exhibit me
 * With four or five performing mice."