Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
IV. Wooing and WinningWidow Malone
Charles Lever (18061872)D
Ohone!
Who lived in the town of Athlone,
Alone!
O, she melted the hearts
Of the swains in them parts:
So lovely the Widow Malone.
Ohone!
So lovely the Widow Malone.
Or more,
And fortunes they all had galore,
In store;
From the minister down
To the clerk of the Crown
All were courting the Widow Malone,
Ohone!
All were courting the Widow Malone.
’T was known
That no one could see her alone,
Ohone!
Let them ogle and sigh,
They could ne’er catch her eye,
So bashful the Widow Malone,
Ohone!
So bashful the Widow Malone.
(How quare!
It ’s little for blushing they care
Down there),
Put his arm round her waist,—
Gave ten kisses at laste,—
“O,” says he, “you ’re my Molly Malone,
My own!
O,” says he, “you ’re my Molly Malone!”
My eye!
Ne’er thought of a simper or sigh,—
For why?
But, “Lucius,” says she,
“Since you ’ve now made so free,
You may marry your Mary Malone.
Ohone!
You may marry your Mary Malone.”
Not wrong;
And one comfort, it ’s not very long,
But strong,—
If for widows you die,
Learn to kiss, not sigh;
For they ’re all like sweet Mistress Malone,
Ohone!
O, they’re all like sweet Mistress Malone!