I VIEWED him well, the visible fat fool, br And yet I took him in; for I contended, br Friends are not sent in order of our choosing, br They come unsuited like the gifts of God. br I would not do a perfidy to friendship, br I let him past the private inner gate br And made him be at home among my treasures br Like my true friend. br br br Now I am ground with a grim torture daily br That I have been befriended by a fool. br He forages at will upon my garden, br He noses all its pretty secrets out, br And still the fool finds nothing to his liking. br Meeting a modest velveteen affair, br Peevish he hangs his sad and silly head: br 'Alas! such unsubstantial gaudy goods!' br Thus he meets pansies; meeting zinnias, br He nearly faints at such a rioting: br 'Alas! what fruit will these red wantons bear?' br br br And not a perfume spills upon the air br But his malicious nose suspects a poison, br As he goes browsing like an ancient ass, br An old distempered ass. br br br I'd almost rather be a friendless man br And have my house my own.