[Scribie, on the north-east littoral of Bohemia, is the land of stage
conventions. It is named after the discoverer, M. Scribe.]
A pleasant land is Scribie, where
The light comes mostly from below,
And seems a sort of symbol rare
Of things at large, and how they go,
In rooms where doors are everywhere
And cupboards shelter friend or foe.
This is a realm where people tell
Each other, when they chance to meet,
Of things that long ago befell—
And do most solemnly repeat
Secrets they both know very well,
Aloud, and in the public street!
A land where lovers go in fours,
Master and mistress, man and maid;
Where people listen at the doors
Or ’neath a table’s friendly shade,
And comic Irishmen in scores
Roam o’er the scenes all undismayed:
A land where Virtue in distress
Owes much to uncles in disguise;
Where British sailors frankly bless
Their limbs, their timbers, and their eyes;
And where the villain doth confess,
Conveniently, before he dies!
A land of lovers false and gay;
A land where people dread a “curse;”
A land of letters gone astray,
Or intercepted, which is worse;
Where weddings false fond maids betray,
And all the babes are changed at nurse.
Oh, happy land, where things come right!
We of the world where things go ill;
Where lovers love, but don’t unite;
Where no one finds the Missing Will—
Dominion of the heart’s delight,
Scribie, we’ve loved, and love thee still!