Love's Comedy Part 24

GULDSTAD.

The Love's light cavalry, of maid and man, The plighted pairs in order--

STRAWMAN.

In the van The veterans, whose troth has laughed to scorn The tooth of Time--

MISS JAY [hastily interrupting].

And then the babes new-born-- The little novices of yester-morn--

STRAWMAN.

Spring, summer, autumn, winter, in a word, Are here; the truth is patent, past all doubt, It can be clutched and handled, seen and heard,--

FALK.

What then?

MISS JAY.

And yet you want to thrust it out!

FALK.

Madam, you quite mistake. In all I spoke I cast no doubt on anything you claim; But I would fain remind you that, from smoke, We cannot logically argue flame.

That men are married, and have children, I Have no desire whatever to deny; Nor do I dream of doubting that such things Are in the world as troth and wedding-rings; The billets-doux some tender hands indite And seal with pairs of turtle doves that--fight; That sweethearts swarm in cottage and in hall, That chocolate reward the wedding call; That usage and convention have decreed, In every point, how "Lovers" shall proceed:-- But, heavens! We've majors also by the score, a.r.s.enals heaped with muniments of war, With spurs and howitzers and drums and shot, But what does that permit us to infer?

That we have men who dangle swords, but not That they will wield the weapons that they wear.

Tho' all the plain with gleaming tents you crowd, Does that make heroes of the men they shroud?

STRAWMAN.

Well, all in moderation; I must own, It is not quite conducive to the truth That we should paint the enamourment of youth So bright, as if--ahem--it stood alone.

Love-making still a frail foundation is.

Only the snuggery of wedded bliss Provides a rock where Love may builded be In una.s.sailable security.

MISS JAY.

There I entirely differ. In my view, A free accord of lovers, heart with heart, Who hold together, having leave to part, Gives the best warrant that their love is true.

ANNA [warmly].

O no--Love's bound when it is fresh and young Is of a stuff more precious and more strong.

LIND [thoughtfully].

Possibly the ideal flower may blow, Even as that snowdrop,--hidden by the snow.

FALK [with a sudden outburst].

You fallen Adam! There a heart was cleft With longing for the Eden it has left!

LIND.

What stuff!

MRS. HALM [offended, to FALK, rising].

'Tis not a very friendly act To stir a quarrel where we've made a peace.

As for your friend's good fortune, be at ease--

SOME LADIES.

Nay that's a.s.sured--

OTHERS.

A very certain fact.

MRS. HALM.

The cooking-cla.s.s at school, I must confess, She did not take; but she shall learn it still.

MISS JAY.

With her own hands she's tr.i.m.m.i.n.g her own dress.

AN AUNT [patting ANNA's hand].

And growing exquisitely sensible.

FALK [laughing aloud].

O parody of sense, that rives and rends In mania dance upon the lips of friends!

Was it good sense he wanted? Or a she- Professor of the lore of Cookery?

A joyous son of springtime he came here, For the wild rosebud on the bush he burned.

You reared the rosebud for him; he returned-- And for his rose found what? The hip!

MISS JAY [offended].

You jeer!

FALK.

A useful household condiment, heaven knows!

But yet the hip was not his bridal rose.

MRS. HALM.

O, if it is a ball-room queen he wants, I'm very sorry; these are not their haunts.

FALK.

O yes, I know the pretty coquetry They carry on with "Domesticity."

It is a suckling of the mighty Lie That, like hop-tendrils, spreads itself on high.

I, madam, reverently bare my head To the ball queen; a child of beauty she-- And the ideal's golden woof is spread In ball-rooms, hardly in the nursery.

MRS. HALM [with suppressed bitterness].

Your conduct, sir is easily explained; A plighted lover cannot be a friend; That is the kernel of the whole affair; I have a very large experience there.

FALK.

No doubt,--with seven nieces, each a wife--

MRS. HALM.

And each a happy wife--

FALK [with emphasis].

Ah, do we know?

GULDSTAD.

How!

MISS JAY.