Ah, cruel 'tis to love, And cruel not to love, But cruelest of all To love and love in vain. - Anacreon

To-day belongs to me,
To-morrow who can tell.

E'en though I would not, die I must;
Why stray I thus through life?

Nature gave horns to the bull,
Hoofs gave she to the horse.
To the lion cavernous jaws,
And swiftness to the hare.
The fish taught she to swim,
The bird to cleave the air;
To man she reason gave;
Not yet was woman dowered.
What, then, to woman gave she?
The priceless gift of beauty.
Stronger than any buckler,
Than any spear more piercing,
Who hath the gift of beauty,
Nor fire nor steel shall harm her.