Poetry Archives

One day in the Tuileries,
 When a southwest 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.