A Rondeau to Ethel
“In teacup-times!” The style of dress
Would suit your beauty, I confess;
Belinda-like, the patch you’d wear;
I picture you with powdered hair,—
You’d make a charming Shepherdess!
And I—no doubt—could well express
Sir Plume’s complete conceitedness,—
Could poise a clouded cane with care
“In teacup-times!”
The parts would fit precisely—yes:
We should achieve a huge success!
You should disdain and I despair,
With quite the true Augustan air;
But... could I love you more, or less,—
“In teacup-times?”
Austin Dobson.