there'sthatmancanliedowninhiswarmbed,buthedoesnotdoso.therehegoespacingupanddowntheroom.heoughttobeahappyman.hehasneitherwifenorchildren,andhegoesoutintocompanyeveryevening.oh,iwishiwerehe;thenishouldbeahappyman."
asheutteredthiswish,thegolosheswhichhehadputontookeffect,andthewatchmanatoncebecamethelieutenant.therehestoodinhisroom,holdingalittlepieceofpinkpaperbetweenhisfingers,onwhichwasapoem,-apoemwrittenbythelieutenanthimself.whohasnothad,foronceinhislife,amomentofpoeticinspiration?andatsuchamoment,ifthethoughtsarewrittendown,theyflowinpoetry.thefollowingverseswerewrittenonthepinkpaper:-
"ohwereirich!
"ohwereirich!howoft,inyouth'sbrighthour,
whenyouthfulpleasuresbanisheverycare,
ilongedforrichesbuttogainapower,
theswordandplumeanduniformtowear!
therichesandthehonorcameforme;
yetstillmygreatestwealthwaspoverty:
ah,helpandpityme!
"onceinmyyouthfulhours,whengayandfree,
amaidenlovedme;andhergentlekiss,
richinitstenderloveandpurity,
taughtme,alas!toomuchofearthlybliss.
dearchild!sheonlythoughtofyouthfulglee;
shelovednowealth,butfairytalesandme.
thouknowest:ah,pityme!
"ohwereirich!againisallmyprayer: