Or the first faint breath of a violet;

The life of a man, as it is and was,

Is like autumn leaves decaying and dead,

With a flavour of bad theatrical gas,

And of last night's banquet,' my husband said.

I laugh'd at the gay nonsensical speech,

In my merry pride at being his wife;

I sat at his feet, and I bade him teach

A neophyte out of his noble life.

He mutter'd 'My noble life!' with a frown,