Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The Wedding

A FEAST was in a village spread,— It was a wedding-day, they said. The parlour of the inn I found, And saw the couples whirling round, Each lass attended by her lad, And all seem'd loving, blithe, and glad; But on my asking for the bride, A fellow with a stare, replied: "'Tis not the place that point to raise! We're only dancing in her honour; We now have danced three nights and days, And not bestowed one thought upon her. " Whoe'er in life employs his eyes Such cases oft will recognise.