Page:The poems of Edmund Clarence Stedman, 1908.djvu/131

THE DIAMOND WEDDING Nor one of your make-believe Spanish grandees,

Who ply our daughters with lies and candies,

Until the poor girls believe them.

No, he was no such charlatan—

Count de Hoboken Flash-in-the-pan,

Full of gasconade and bravado,

But a regular, rich Don Rataplan

Santa Claus de la Muscovado

Senor Grandisimo Bastinado!

His was the rental of half Havana

And all Matanzas; and Santa Ana,

Rich as he was, could hardly hold

A candle to light the mines of gold

Our Cuban owned, choke-full of diggers;

And broad plantations, that, in round figures,

Were stocked with at least five thousand niggers!

The Señor swore to carry the day,

To capture the beautiful Princess May,

With his battery of treasure;

Velvet and lace she should not lack;

Tiffany, Haughwout, Ball & Black,

Genin and Stewart, his suit should back

And come and go at her pleasure;

Jet and lava—silver and gold—

Garnets—emeralds rare to behold—

Diamonds—sapphires—wealth untold

All were hers, to have and to hold;

Enough to fill a peck-measure!

He did n't bring all his forces on

At once, but like a crafty old Don,

Who many a heart had fought and won,

Kept bidding a little higher;

And every time he made his bid,

And what she said, and all they did— 101