Poem by William Schwenck Gilbert

Songs of a Savoyard. Only Roses!

  To a garden full of posies
    Cometh one to gather flowers,
    And he wanders through its bowers
  Toying with the wanton roses,
    Who, uprising from their beds,
    Hold on high their shameless heads
  With their pretty lips a-pouting,
  Never doubting--never doubting
    That for Cytherean posies
    He would gather aught but roses!

  In a nest of weeds and nettles,
    Lay a violet, half hidden,
    Hoping that his glance unbidden
  Yet might fall upon her petals,
    Though she lived alone, apart,
    Hope lay nestling at her heart,
  But, alas! the cruel awaking
  Set her little heart a-breaking,
    For he gathered for his posies
    Only roses--only roses!

1. Songs of a Savoyard. Eheu Fugaces--!
2. Songs of a Savoyard. A Recipe
3. Songs of a Savoyard. They'll None of 'Em Be Missed
4. The Working Monarch
5. Songs of a Savoyard. The Highly Respectable Gondolier

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