George Gordon Noel Byron

And hold up to the sun my little taper.

And hold up to the sun my little taper.

Not much he kens, I ween, of woman's breast,
Who thinks that wanton thing is won by sighs.

Not much he kens, I ween, of woman's breast,
Who thinks that wanton thing is won by sighs.

How beauteous are rouleaus! how charming chests
Containing ingots, bags of dollars, coins
(Not of old victors, read more

How beauteous are rouleaus! how charming chests
Containing ingots, bags of dollars, coins
(Not of old victors, all whose heads and crests
Weigh not the thin ore where their visage shines,
But) of find unclipt gold, where dully rests
Some likeness, which the glittering cirque confines,
Of modern, reigning, sterling, stupid stamp;--
Yes! ready money is Aladdin's lamp.

Let us have wine and woman, mirth and laughter,
Sermons and soda-water the day after.

Let us have wine and woman, mirth and laughter,
Sermons and soda-water the day after.

Heroic, stoic Cato, the sententious,
Who lent his lady to his friend Hortensius.

Heroic, stoic Cato, the sententious,
Who lent his lady to his friend Hortensius.