A Lesson in Latin

Our Latin books, in motley row,Invite us to our task—Gay Horace, stately Cicero:Yet there's one verb, when once we know,No higher skill we ask:This ranks all other lore above—We've learned "'Amare' means 'to love'!"

So, hour by hour, from flower to flower,We sip the sweets of Life:Till, all too soon, the clouds arise,And flaming cheeks and flashing eyesProclaim the dawn of strife:With half a smile and half a sigh,"Amare! Bitter One!" we cry.

Last night we owned, with looks forlorn,"Too well the scholar knowsThere is no rose without a thorn"—But peace is made! We sing, this morn,"No thorn without a rose!"Our Latin lesson is complete:We've learned that Love is Bitter-Sweet!

May, 1888.