This life--one was thinking to-day, br In the midst of a medley of fancies - br Is a game, and the board where we play br Green earth with her poppies and pansies. br Let manque be faded romances, br Be passe remorse and regret; br Hearts dance with the wheel as it dances - br The wheel of Dame Fortune's roulette. br br The lover will stake as he may br His heart on his Peggies and Nancies; br The girl has her beauty to lay; br The saint has his prayers and his trances; br The poet bets endless expanses br In Dreamland; the scamp has his debt: br How they gaze at the wheel as it glances - br The wheel of Dame Fortune's roulette! br br The Kaiser will stake his array br Of sabres, of Krupps, and of lances; br An Englishman punts with his pay, br And glory the jeton of France is; br Your artists, or Whistlers or Vances, br Have voices or colours to bet; br Will you moan that its motion askance is - br The wheel of Dame Fortune's roulette? br br ENVOY. br br The prize that the pleasure enhances? br The prize is--at last to forget br The changes, the chops, and the chances - br The wheel of Dame Fortune's roulette.