He who esteems the Virginia reel
A bait to draw saints from their spiritual weal,
And regards the quadrille as a far greater knavery
Than crushing His African children with slavery,
Since all who take part in a waltz or cotillon
Are mounted for hell on the devil's own pillion,
Who, as every true orthodox Christian well knows,
Approaches the heart through the door of the toes.
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Dancing in the chequer'd shade.
Dancing in the chequer'd shade.
Imperial Waltz! imported from the Rhine
(Famed for the growth of pedigrees and wine),
Long be thine read more
Imperial Waltz! imported from the Rhine
(Famed for the growth of pedigrees and wine),
Long be thine import from all duty free,
And hock itself be less esteem'd than thee.
Others import yet nobler arts from France,
Teach kings to fiddle, and make senates dance.
Others import yet nobler arts from France,
Teach kings to fiddle, and make senates dance.
O give me new figures! I can't go on dancing
The same that were taught me ten seasons ago;
read more
O give me new figures! I can't go on dancing
The same that were taught me ten seasons ago;
The schoolmaster over the land is advancing,
Then why is the master of dancing so slow?
It is such a bore to be always caught tripping
In dull uniformity year after year;
Invent something new, and you'll set me a skipping:
I want a new figure to dance with my Dear!
I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to to dance better than myself.
I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to to dance better than myself.
Dear creature!--you'd swear
When her delicate feet in the dance twinkle round,
That her steps are of read more
Dear creature!--you'd swear
When her delicate feet in the dance twinkle round,
That her steps are of light, that her home is the air,
And she only par complaisance touches the ground.
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.
Alike all ages: dames of ancient days
Have led their children through the mirthful maze,
And the read more
Alike all ages: dames of ancient days
Have led their children through the mirthful maze,
And the gay grandsire, skill'd in gestic lore,
Has frisk'd beneath the burden of threescore.
