But ringlets! O rapture! One spiral to capture
Of Nell's many hundreds and snip it, and snip it,
Was simply delightful. She'd swear she "looked frightful"
As into my bosom I'd slip it, I'd slip it.
But one among dozens, on heads like my cousin's,
Love-larceny was, and not robbery, robbery.
If now I dared sever from "tousle-mops" clever
One tress, there would be a rare bobbery, bobbery.
Ah me! how times alter! My scissors would falter
In trying a Rape of the Lock to-day, Lock to-day.