Poems (Elliott)/A Parenthetical Romance

by Martha Julia Elliott

A Parenthetical Romance

A maiden, fair as any flower,
Embroidering in her dainty bower,
Sat, looking forth from her grim tower.
    (This is rot!)

The bold Sir Percy rode that way,
He rode upon his charger gray,
And none there were to say him nay.
    (They dared not!)

The bold Sir Percy spied the maid—
He saw that she was unafraid—
She laughed at him—he was dismayed.
    (Idiot!)

The bold Sir Percy wished to wed
The fair young maid, who only said,
"Go from my sight—thy hair is red!"
    (He went not!)

He charged upon that castle grim—
He tore her servants limb from limb—
Her raillery appealed to him!
    (Dam that blot!)

And when she saw this Knight so brave,
This Knight whom she had thought a knave,
Forsooth she then began to rave—
    (About him!)

For every woman, then and now,
Likes of all things to raise a row,
And see each man before her bow,
    (On bent limb!)

So on her palfrey, by his side
She ambled forth to be his bride—
To those who stop them woe betide!
    (Don't stop them!)

The couple rode off with their men,
And soon they vanished from our ken,
When next we see them they have ten—
    (Cherubim!)

And now, recalling all the past,
We look at them, and stand aghast,
For, "he laughs best who laughs the last!"
    (HER or HIM?)