Boudoir Prophecies.

One day in the Tuileries,
When a south-west Spanish breeze
    Brought scandalous news of the Queen,
The fair, proud Empress said,
"My good friend loses her head;
    If matters go on this way,
    I shall see her shopping, some day,
        In the Boulevard des Capucines."

The saying swiftly went
To the Place of the Orient,
    And the stout Queen sneered, "Ah, well!
    You are proud and prude, ma belle!
But I think I will hazard a guess
I shall see you one day playing chess
    With the Cure of Carabanchel."

Both ladies, though not over wise,
Were lucky in prophecies.
    For the Boulevard shopmen well
    Know the form of stout Isabel
        As she buys her modes de Paris;
And after Sedan in despair
The Empress prude and fair
Went to visit Madame sa Mere
    In her villa at Carabanchel -
        But the Queen was not there to see.

John Hay

John Milton Hay was an American statesman and official whose government career stretched over almost half a century. He began as a private secretary to Abraham Lincoln, eventually becoming Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Aside from his political career, Hay was also a poet and writer, remembered for his influence on American literature and foreign policy.

John Hay

Remorse.

John Hay, Simple Poetry

The Light Of Love.

John Hay, Simple Poetry

Una.

John Hay, Simple Poetry

English

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Paris, half Angel, half Grisette,
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("Ainsi l'Hôtel de Ville illumine.")

[VI., May, 1833.]


Behold the ball-room flashing on the sight,
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Deaf is the ear of all that jewelled crowd
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Better than waste long nights in idle show,
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Whilst, in a dress that one might swear
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'Tis oft from chance opinion takes its rise,
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This prologue finds pat applications
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What can you do to counteract
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As it, indeed, has always had.

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With much of custom, and, of course, success.
Was any trifle lost, or did
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Or wife of husband to be rid,
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Her art was made of various tricks,
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