A Serenade

A Serenade

Smile, lady, smile! (BLESS ME! WHAT'S THAT?
CONFOUND THE CAT!)--
Smile, lady, smile! One glance bestow
On him who sadly waits below,
To catch--(A VILLAIN UP ABOVE
HAS THROWN SOME WATER ON ME, LOVE!)
To catch one token--
(OH, LORD! MY HEAD IS BROKEN;
THE WRETCH WHO THREW THE WATER DOWN,
HAS DROPPED THE JUG UPON MY CROWN)--
To catch one token, which shall be
As dear as life itself to me.
List, lady, then; while on my lute
I breathe soft--(NO! I'LL NOT BE QUIET;
HOW DARE YOU CALL MY SERENADE A RIOT?
I DO DEFY YOU)--while upon my lute
I breathe soft sighs--(YES, I DISPUTE
YOUR RIGHT TO STOP ME)--breathe soft sighs.
Grant but one look from those dear eyes--
(THERE, TAKE THAT STUPID NODDLE IN AGAIN;
CALL THE POLICE!--DO! I'LL PROLONG MY STRAIN),
We'll wander by the river's placid flow--
(UNTO THE STATION-HOUSE!--NO, SIR, I WON'T GO;
LEAVE ME ALONE!)--and talk of love's delight.
(OH, MURDER!--HELP! I'M LOCKED UP FOR THE NIGHT!)

-THE END-
Punch's poem: A Serenade

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