Poem by William Schwenck Gilbert

Songs of a Savoyard. A Recipe

  Take a pair of sparkling eyes,
    Hidden, ever and anon,
      In a merciful eclipse--
  Do not heed their mild surprise--
    Having passed the Rubicon.
      Take a pair of rosy lips;
  Take a figure trimly planned--
    Such as admiration whets
      (Be particular in this);
  Take a tender little hand,
    Fringed with dainty fingerettes,
      Press it--in parenthesis;--
  Take all these, you lucky man--
  Take and keep them, if you can.

  Take a pretty little cot--
    Quite a miniature affair--
      Hung about with trellised vine,
  Furnish it upon the spot
    With the treasures rich and rare
      I've endeavored to define.
  Live to love and love to live
  You will ripen at your ease,
      Growing on the sunny side--
  Fate has nothing more to give.
    You're a dainty man to please
      If you are not satisfied.
  Take my counsel, happy man:
  Act upon it, if you can!

1. Songs of a Savoyard. Only Roses!
2. Songs of a Savoyard. Eheu Fugaces--!
3. Songs of a Savoyard. They'll None of 'Em Be Missed
4. Songs of a Savoyard. The First Lord's Song
5. The Bab Ballads. To a Little Maid by a Policeman

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