O COUNTESS GUDEL of Gudelfeld town, Because you are wealthy, you're held in renown With not less than four horses contented, At court you are duly presented; In carriage of gold you go lightly To the castle, where waxlights gleam brightly; Up the marble stairs rustle Your clothes with their bustle, And then at the top, on the landing The servants in gay dresses standing Shout: Madame la Comtesse de Gudelfeld! Your fan in your hand, talking loudly, Through the chamber you wander on proudly; With diamonds gaily bedizen'd, In pearls and Brussels lace prison'd, Your snowy bosom with madness Is heaving in uncontroll'd gladness. What smiles, nods, polite interjections! What curtsies and deep genuflexions! The Duchess of Pavia Calls you her @3cara mia;@1 The nobles and courtiers advancing Invite you to join in the dancing; And the heir to the crown (who's thought witty) Says loudly: How graceful and pretty Are all the @3stern@1 movements of Gudelfeld! But if, poor creature, you money did lack, The world would straightway show you its back; The very lackeys with loathing Would spit on your clothing; 'Stead of bows and civility, Nought but vulgar scurrility; The Duchess would cross herself rudely, And the Crown Prince take snuff, and say shrewdly; She smells of garlic -- this Gudelfeld! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ISADORA DUNCAN DANCING 'IPHIGENIA IN AULIS' by LOUIS UNTERMEYER ON A MAGAZINE SONNET by RUSSELL HILLARD LOINES UPON THE IMAGE OF DEATH by ROBERT SOUTHWELL PRAYER FOR THIS HOUSE by LOUIS UNTERMEYER FITZ-GREENE HALLECK, AT THE UNVEILING OF HIS STATUE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER IN A GARRET by ELIZABETH AKERS ALLEN |