A GALLIC bard the touching tale has told How once -- the customary dower to save -- A sordid sire his only daughter gave To a rich suitor, ugly, base, and old. The mother too (such mothers there have been) With equal pleasure heard the formal vow, "With all my wordly goods I thee endow," And gave the bargain an approving grin. Then, to the girl, who stood with drooping head, The pallid image of a wretch forlorn, Mourning the hapless hour when she was born, The Priest said, "Agnes, wilt thou this man wed?" "Of this my marriage, holy man," said she, "Thou art the first to say a word to me!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ODE TO TOBACCO by CHARLES STUART CALVERLEY TO H. M. by FRANCIS BARNARD (20TH CENTURY) MY DEAREST JULIA by WILLIAM BARNES THE WANDERER: 5. IN HOLLAND: CORDELIA by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON THE WEAVER by WILLIAM HENRY BURLEIGH THE RETURN by GEORGE HERBERT CLARKE |