Classic Poem

La Fortune

Rat, tat—is it my brunette there
Knocking below?
Pshaw! it's Fortune! I'll not budge then—
Rat, tat—no, no!

Glass in hand, my friends united
 Make my garret Joy's abode:
We're for Lizzy only waiting;
 Fortune, prithee, take the road!
Rat, tat—is it my brunette there
Knocking below?
Pshaw! it's Fortune! I'll not budge then—
Rat, tat—no, no!

With her gold, if we'll believe her,
 She would give us rarest cheer—
But the restaurant gives credit,
 And we've twenty bottles here.
Rat, tat—is it my brunette there
Knocking below?
Pshaw! it's Fortune! I'll not budge then—
Rat, tat—no, no!

Pearls she offers us, and rubies;
 Mantles of the richest dye—
What for us were e'en the purple,
 When our coats we're throwing by?
Rat, tat—is it my brunette there
Knocking below?
Pshaw! it's Fortune? I'll not budge then—
Rat, tat—no, no!

She of genius talks and glory,
 Treating us to schoolboy theme—
Calumny, alas! hath made us
 Lightly now of laurels deem.
Rat, tat—is it my brunette there
Knocking below?
Pshaw! it's Fortune! I'll not budge then—
Rat, tat—no, no!

Launched by her, we'll not be soaring
 Up to Heaven, from pleasures far—
Her balloons we see inflated,
 Without venturing in her car
Rat, tat—is it my brunette there
Knocking below?
Pshaw! it's Fortune! I'll not budge then—
Rat, tat—no, no!

But our neighbors all are trooping,
 For her treacherous gifts to pray—
Friends, our mistresses more gaily
 Tricks enough will on us play.
Rat, tat—is it my brunette there
Knocking below?
Pshaw! it's Fortune! I'll not budge then—
Rat, tat—no, no!