He thrust out dextræ digitos manus, His pennam ad ink ille dedit; Et scripsit,--but any homo sanus Would be nonsuit ere he could read it." --_A. B. Ely._
BY THE PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF DEAD AND LIVING LANGUAGES.
"You bid me sing--can I forget The classic odes of days gone by-- How belle Fifine and jeune Lisette Exclaimed, 'Anacreon [Greek: gerôn ei]?' 'Regardez donc,' those ladies said-- 'You're getting bald and wrinkled too: When Summer's roses are all shed, Love's nullum ite, voyez vous!'
In vain ce brave Anacreon's cry, 'Of love alone my banjo sings' ([Greek: Erôta mounon]). 'Etiam si,-- Eh bien?' replied those saucy things-- 'Go find a maid whose hair is grey, And strike your lyre--we shan't complain; But parce nobis, s'il vous plait,-- Voila Adolphe! Voila Eugene!'
Ah, jeune Lisette! ah, belle Fifine! Anacreon's lesson all must learn: [Greek: Ho kairos Oxus]; Spring is green, But acer Hiems waits his turn! I hear you whispering from the dust, 'Tiens, mon cher, c'est toujours so,-- The brightest blade grows dim with rust, The fairest meadow white with snow!'
You do not mean it? Not encore? Another string of play-day rhymes? You've heard me--nonne est?--before, Multoties,--more than twenty times; Non possum--vraiment--pas du tout, I cannot, I am loath to shirk; But who will listen if I do, My memory makes such shocking work?
[Greek: Gignôskô]. Scio. Yes, I'm told Some ancients like my rusty lay, As Grandpa Noah loved the old Red-sandstone march of Jubal's day. I used to carol like the birds, But time my wits have quite unfixed, Et quoad verba--for my words-- Ciel!--Eheu!--Whe-ew! how they're mixed!
Mehercle! [Greek: Zeu]. Diable! how My thoughts were dressed when I was young. But tempus fugit--see them now Half clad in rags of every tongue! [Greek: O Philoi], fratres, chers amis! I dare not court the youthful muse, For fear her sharp response should be-- 'Papa Anacreon, please excuse!'
Adieu! I've trod my annual track How long!--let others count the miles-- And peddled out my rhyming pack To friends who always paid in smiles; So laissez moi! some youthful wit No doubt has wares he wants to show, And I am asking 'let me sit' Dum ille clamat "[Greek: Dos pou stô]." --_Dr. Holmes, Atlantic Monthly, Nov. 1867._