Bob now resolves on marriage schemes to trample,
And now he'll have a wife all in a trice.
Must I advise—Pursue thy dad's example
And marry not.—There, heed now my advice.
Imitated from Lessing's 'Bald willst du, Trill, und bald willst du dich nicht beweiben.' Sinngedicht No. 93. Now first published from an MS.
9
[EPIGRAM]
Say what you will, Ingenious Youth!
You'll find me neither Dupe nor Dunce:
Once you deceived me—only once,
'Twas then when you told me the Truth.
1799. First published from an MS. in 1893. Adapted from Lessing's Sinngedicht No. 45. An einen Lügner. 'Du magst so oft, so fein, als dir nur möglich, lügen.'