y "No!"

We vowed, dear, no matter at what age,
By Sentiment not to be hooked,
Or cheated by Love in a Cottage,
Or Shepherds enchantingly crook'd.
Too well, dear, _we_ know modern men's tone,
Of "briar" the pipes which _they_ blow.
Say, have you gone soft _a la_ SHENSTONE?
My own ANGELINA, say "No!"

Remember the cynic romances
We read in that Devonshire glen!
We are not the slaves of girl-fancies,
We've learned far too much about Men!
'Tis nice, with your head on his shoulder,
To whirl through the waltz with FRANK LOWE,
But should poor Adonis grow bolder,
My own ANGELINA, say "No!"

You know without wealth and a carriage
Life's just a prolonged fit of spleen,
So don't let me mourn o'er your marriage
With any poor BROWN, JONES, or GREEN.
You swore mere romance should not thrill you,
Nor gold-less good looks make you glow;
And you will not go back on it--will you?
My own ANGELINA, say "No!"

We're parted, but sympathy's fetter
Unites us, I'm sure of it, still.
I read your last laughable letter,
And see you are steering with skill.
True Love is all fiddlededee, love,
Full coffers count only, below.
If he's not what your husband should be, Love,
My own ANGELINA, say "No!"

If he's over polite in his wooing,
If his heart is too plainly a-throb,
If he scarce seems aware what he's doing,
If he speaks with a blush or a sob;
If he is not "dead nuts" on his dinner,
If his voice or his spirits run low;
If he seems getting paler or thinner,
My own ANGELINA, say "No!"

If he gives too much time to his Tennis,
Neglectful of dear L. S. D.,
If he chatters of WHISTLER and Venice,
If he cares about Five o'clock Tea;
If he's not sometimes rude or capricious
(All swells who have money are so),
Such signs are extremely suspicious;
My own ANGELINA, say "No!"

If he shows a contempt for "the City,"
And drops little jeers about Jews,
If he talks of "the People" with pity,
Or rails at the Sweaters as "screws,"
These things prove a "popular leaning,"
And popular leanings are low;
Soft heart, and slack purse, are _their_ meaning--
My own ANGELINA, say "No!"

If he prates about Property's duties
In diction at all Gladstonese,
If he's down on Society Beauties,
If he has not a stare that can freeze;
If he does not abuse Foreign Powers,