a flight of fancy.
37
By her image within it, so lovely, she thought.
What could the fair creature be!—bending its eyes
On her own with so wistful a look of surprise!
She flew to embrace it. The lawyer was ready:
tie closed round the spirit a grasp cool and steady,
And she sigh'd, while he tied her two luminous wings,
"Ah! Fancy and Falsehood are different things!"
What could the fair creature be!—bending its eyes
On her own with so wistful a look of surprise!
She flew to embrace it. The lawyer was ready:
tie closed round the spirit a grasp cool and steady,
And she sigh'd, while he tied her two luminous wings,
"Ah! Fancy and Falsehood are different things!"
The witnesses--maidens of uncertain age,
With a critic, a publisher, lawyer and sage—
All scandalized greatly at what they had heard,
Of this poor little Fancy, (who flew like a bird !)
Were call'd to the stand and their evidence gave:
The judge charged the jury, with countenance grove.
Their verdict was "guilty," and Reason look'd down,
As his honor exhorted her thus, with a frown:—
With a critic, a publisher, lawyer and sage—
All scandalized greatly at what they had heard,
Of this poor little Fancy, (who flew like a bird !)
Were call'd to the stand and their evidence gave:
The judge charged the jury, with countenance grove.
Their verdict was "guilty," and Reason look'd down,
As his honor exhorted her thus, with a frown:—
"This Fancy, this vagrant, for life shall be chain'd,
In your own little cell, where you should have remain'd;
And you—for your punishment—jailer shall be:
Don't let your accomplice come coaxing to me!
I'll none of her nonsense—the little wild witch!
Nor her bribes—although rumor does say she is rich.
In your own little cell, where you should have remain'd;
And you—for your punishment—jailer shall be:
Don't let your accomplice come coaxing to me!
I'll none of her nonsense—the little wild witch!
Nor her bribes—although rumor does say she is rich.
