FRA LIPPO LIPPI. I AM poor brother Lippo, by your leave! Three streets off — he's a certain . . . how d'ye call? a ... In the house that caps the corner. Boh! you were best! Remember and tell me, the day you're hanged, How you affected such a gullet's-gripe! But you, sir, it concerns you that your Pick up a manner nor discredit you. knaves Zooks, are we pilchards, that they sweep the streets Just such a face! why, sir, you make amends. With the pike and lantern, for the slave that holds With one hand ("look you, now," as who should say) And his weapon in the other, yet unwiped ! It's not your chance to have a bit of chalk, A wood-coal or the like? or you should see! Yes, I'm the painter, since you style me so. What, brother Lippo's doings, up and down, You know them and they take you? like enough! I saw the twinkle in proper 'Tell you I liked your looks at very first. your eye Let's sit and set things straight now, hip to haunch. makes up To roam the town and sing out carnival, bands And saints again. I could not paint all night- There came a hurry of feet and little feet, A sweep of lutestrings, laughs, and whifts of song,- Take away love, and our earth is a tomb! I let Lisa go, and what good's in life since? Flower o' the thyme — and so on. Round they went. Scarce had they turned the corner when a titter, Like the skipping of rabbits by moonlight, three slim shapes And a face that looked up . ... zooks, sir, flesh and blood, That's all I'm made of! Into shreds it went, Curtain and counterpane and coverlet, All the bed furniture a dozen knots, There was a ladder! down I let myself, Hands and feet, scrambling somehow, and so dropped, And after them. I came up with the fun Hard by St. Laurence, hail fellow, well met, If I've been merry, what matter who knows? To get to bed and have a bit of sleep Ere I rise up to-morrow and go work On Jerome knocking at his poor old breast With his great round stone to subdue the flesh, You snap me of the sudden. Ah, I see! Though your eye twinkles still, you shake your head — |