Pike County Ballads and Other Poems

BOUDOIR PROPHECIES.

  One day in the Tuileries,
  When a south-west Spanish breeze
    Brought scandalous news of the Queen,
  The fair, proud Empress said,
  "My good friend loses her head;
    If matters go on this way,
    I shall see her shopping, some day,
      In the Boulevard des Capucines."

  The saying swiftly went
  To the Place of the Orient,
    And the stout Queen sneered, "Ah, well!
    You are proud and prude, ma belle!
  But I think I will hazard a guess
  I shall see you one day playing chess
    With the Cure of Carabanchel."

  Both ladies, though not over wise,
  Were lucky in prophecies.
    For the Boulevard shopmen well
    Know the form of stout Isabel
      As she buys her modes de Paris;
  And after Sedan in despair
  The Empress prude and fair
  Went to visit Madame sa Mere
    In her villa at Carabanchel—
      But the Queen was not there to see.