O “William,”—in thy blithe companionship

What liberty is mine—what sweet release

From clamorous strife, and yet what boisterous peace!

Ho! ho! it is thy fancy’s finger-tip

That dints the dimple now, and kinks the lip

That scarce may sing, in all this glad increase

Of merriment! So, pray-thee, do not cease

To cheer me thus;—for, underneath the quip

Of thy droll sorcery, the wrangling fret

Of all distress is stilled—no syllable