I.
THERE lived a youth (he liveth yet),
And Richard was he christened;
And well he played the flageolet,
And all the ladies listened;
And some were even heard to say
His brow was handsome (in its way).
II.
But Richard met Ben Ball, a man
All chest, and cheek, and shoulder,
And ever so much bigger than
Himself, though little older;
Whose biceps Richard felt and found
It measured fifteen inches round!
III.
Now this demoralised him quite;
And then he took to reading
The naughty books that ladies write
And found there, with exceeding
Dismay, that ladies' heroes are
Wild, wicked men, and muscular!
IV.
Then in high dudgeon did he use
To feel himself all over;
But little sinew, and no thews
Could Richard's thumbs discover;
And wickedness is rarely met
In men that play the flageolet.
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