Anniversary Song.

Why pacest thou, my neighbour fair,
  
The garden all alone?
If house and land thou seek'st to guard,
  
I'd thee as mistress own.
  
My brother sought the cellar-maid,
  
And suffered her no rest;
She gave him a refreshing draught,
  
A kiss, too, she impress'd.
  
My cousin is a prudent wight,
  
The cook's by him ador'd;
He turns the spit round ceaselessly,
  
To gain love's sweet reward.
  
We six together then began
  
A banquet to consume,
When lo! a fourth pair singing came,
  
And danced into the room.
  
Welcome were they, and welcome too
  
Was a fifth jovial pair.
Brimful of news, and stored with tales
  
And jests both new and rare.
  
For riddles, spirit, raillery,
  
And wit, a place remain'd;
A sixth pair then our circle join'd,
  
And so that prize was gain'd.
  
And yet to make us truly blest,
  
One miss'd we, and full sore;
A true and tender couple came,
  
We needed them no more.
  
The social banquet now goes on,
  
Unchequer'd by alloy;
The sacred double-numbers then
  
Let us at once enjoy!