The fickle crew have deserted Reginald a...

The fickle crew have deserted Reginald and sworn allegiance to his rival, and all, forsooth, because he has glanced with passing favour on a puling milkmaid! Fools! Of that fancy he will soon weary – and then, I, who alone am faithful to him, shall reap my reward. But do not dally too long, Reginald, for my charms are ripe, Reginald, and already they are decaying. Better secure me ere I have gone too far!

RECITATIVE – JANE.

Sad is that woman’s lot who, year by year,

Sees, one by one, her beauties disappear,

When Time, grown weary of her heart-drawn sighs,

Impatiently begins to “dim her eyes!”

Compelled, at last, in life’s uncertain gloamings,

To wreathe her wrinkled brow with well-saved “combings”,

Reduced, with rouge, lip-salve, and pearly grey,

To “make up” for lost time as best she may!

SONG – JANE.

Silvered is the raven hair,

Spreading is the parting straight,

Mottled the complexion fair,

Halting is the youthful gait,

Hollow is the laughter free,

Spectacled the limpid eye,

Little will be left of me

In the coming bye and bye!

Fading is the taper waist,

Shapeless grows the shapely limb,

And although severely laced,

Spreading is the figure trim!

Stouter than I used to be,

Still more corpulent grow I –

There will be too much of me

In the coming by-and-bye!