Whence that three-cornered smile of bliss?
Three angels gave me at once a kiss.

Whence that three-cornered smile of bliss?
Three angels gave me at once a kiss.

From thy own smile I snatched the snake.

From thy own smile I snatched the snake.

I feel in every smile a chain.

I feel in every smile a chain.

Eternal smiles his emptiness betray,
As shallow streams run dimpling all the way.

Eternal smiles his emptiness betray,
As shallow streams run dimpling all the way.

With a smile on her lips, and a tear in her eye.

With a smile on her lips, and a tear in her eye.

In came Mrs. Fezziwig, one vast substantial smile.

In came Mrs. Fezziwig, one vast substantial smile.

Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
As if he mocked himself and scorned his spirit
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Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
As if he mocked himself and scorned his spirit
That could be moved to smile at anything.

My tables--meet it is I set it down
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain.
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My tables--meet it is I set it down
That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain.
At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark.

'Tis easy enough to be pleasant,
When life flows along like a song;
But the man worth read more

'Tis easy enough to be pleasant,
When life flows along like a song;
But the man worth while is the one who will smile
When everything does dead wrong;
For the test of the heart is trouble,
And it always comes with the years,
But the smile that is worth the praise of earth
Is the smile that comes through tears.
. . . .
But the virtue that conquers passion,
And the sorrow that hides in a smile--
It is these that are worth the homage of earth,
For we find them but once in a while.