Once of my days I thought girls were nuisances,

Petting and coaxing and ruffling your brow,

Now Love the rogue runs away with my few senses,

Vainly I wish they would fondle me now!

Idols I worship with ardour unshakeable,

But none of all half so fitted to please

As the poor toys full of sawdust and breakable,

When I wore petticoats down to my knees!

Little I cared then for doings political,

The ebb or the flow of the popular tides,