Page:The Bab Ballads.djvu/36

 "Oh, my," said he, with solemn frown, "I tremble for each dancing frater, Like unregenerated clown  And harlequin at some thee-ayter."

He showed that men, in dancing, do  Both impiously and absurdly, And proved his proposition true, With Firstly, Secondly, and Thirdly.

For months both and  danced, The curate's protests little heeding; For months the curate's words enhanced The sinfulness of their proceeding.

At length they bowed to Nature's rule— Their steps grew feeble and unsteady, Till fainted on a stool, And on the top of.