148
SYLVIE AND BRUNO.
This style of business seems to me
Extremely inconvenient!
'No Nobleness of soul have I,
Like some that in this Age are found!'
{Paul blushed in sheer humility,
And cast his eyes upon the ground.)
'This debt will simply swallow all,
And make my life a life of woe!'
'Nay, nay, my Peter!' answered Paul.
'You must not rail on Fortune so!
'You have enough to eat and drink:
You are respected in the world:
And at the barber's, as I think,
You often get your whiskers curled.
Though Nobleness you can't attain—
To any very great extent—
The path of Honesty is plain,
However inconvenient!'
' 'Tis true', said Peter, 'I'm alive:
I keep my station in the world:
Once in the week I just contrive
To get my whiskers oiled and curled.
