Whose youthful charms and coquette glance belie

Her stalwart sons, her matron’s voice

Turning again to happy girlish tones,

So well she plays her part. Last scene of all,

That ends this strange, eventful history:

The dowager, with jewels and feathers decked —

Eager to gossip, eager too to hear

The latest scandal; seeing everything

Through glasses darkly; charming to the last,

A wondrous masterpiece of modern art —