Till Eulenspiegel

Till Eulenspiegel
CARLES HANSON TOWNE
4211

Eulenspiegel, merry lad,
What a laughing life you had!
Prank and jest were yours by right
Or at noontide or at night,
And the simple tricks you played
On the spinster and the jade
Only helped sad hearts to be
Lighter through felicity

Let the somber folk and dense
Laugh at your young innocence;
Tricks that they have never guessed
(Many a little quip and jest)
Play upon them till they take
Long, long leave of grieving Make
Plots and plans of such design
As will cause old eyes to shine

If you knocked upon the door
Of a house you’d missed before
How the little home would wake
Laughing for your laughter’s sake!
Never since Time was begun
Has life frowned on harmless fun:
Never has there been a day
Filled too full of foolish play

Trip your way into my heart,
Eulenspiegel! Let me part
With the sorrow and the tears
That are marching down the years
Play your pranks with all of us
In that way felicitous,
Till the darkness of our night
Blooms with laughter and delight