Telling Fortunes

“You’ll have a son,” the old man said-

“And then a daughter fair to meet

As any summer nights that dance

Upon a thousand silver feet.”

“You dear old man, now can you tell

If my fair daughter’ll marry well?”

The old man winked his eye and said,

“Well, knowing men for what they are,

She’ll break their hearts, because she’ll not

Be half as good as she is fair.”

The new-made wife was full of pain,

And raised her head and hoped again.

“And will my son be fine and smart

And win a noble lady’s heart?”

The old man winked his other eye-

“Well, knowing women as we do,

The kind of man they most prefer,

He’ll break their hearts, he’ll be

A fool, a coxcomb, and a cur.”