He
And you think to sever our friendship
By a mere putting away,
Letting the same, as it were, slip from us
Nor permitting me to say,
A word in defence of its going
As if I’d no right to share
In the matter of decision
I ask you,—Is it fair?
She
Man-like you refuse to reason
To see it’s the only way,
That the step really should have been taken
Even before to-day.
With you ’tis quite diff’rent,—the matter,—
You’ve priv’lege entire of your life;
But my freedom bows to restriction,—
I am another man’s wife.
He
Yes, another man’s wife, but the honor
The Fates have conferred, it would seem
He doesn’t the quite appreciate,—
At least, ’tis the knowledge I gleam.
From observing his attitude towards you,
Which I’m sure,—and you can but agree,
Is not in the least in keeping with what
A husband’s towards a wife should be.