I seemed to haunt the Continental.
A saucy little elemental
Flitted across; I heard it sneer;
** You won’t get water, though, I fear.”
That ’s hell all over. Good-bye, greens,
Water, cold mutton, bread, and beans!
They feed us well, like gentlemen,
On chilis, seasoned with cayenne.
Worse, one must finish every course.
’S truth, I had rather eat boiled horse!
IV.
My first friend was an agéd monk,
He fed on rice and water. Sunk
His cheeks and cold his blood. You see
The fool was a damned soul like me;
He had starved himself on earth in hope
In heaven to banquet with the Pope,
With God and Christ on either hand
And all the angels’ choral band
Playing sweet music. O the fool
To treat earth as a baby’s school!
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