shrek
02-25-2007, 03:22 AM
From Spectator Ab Extra
Arthur Hugh Clough
As I sat at the Café I said to myself,
They may talk as they please about what they call pelf,
They may sneer as they like about eating and drinking,
But help it I cannot, I cannot help thinking
How pleasant it is to have money, heigh-ho! 5
How pleasant it is to have money.
I sit at my table en grand seigneur,
And when I have done, throw a crust to the poor;
Not only the pleasure itself of good living,
But also the pleasure of now and then giving: 10
So pleasant it is to have money, heigh-ho!
So pleasant it is to have money.
They may talk as they please about what they call pelf,
And how one ought never to think of one’s self,
How pleasures of thought surpass eating and drinking, – 15
My pleasure of thought is the pleasure of thinking
How pleasant it is to have money, heigh-ho!
How pleasant it is to have money.
Would like to know your impression of the poet:is he admiring the pleasures of money or do his lines have any sarcastic undertones that mock the lovers of wealth?
Also, do you have any particular ideas about the particluar use of of "so pleasant it is..." in the 10th n 11th lines, contrasted to "how pleasant.." in the other lines??
Arthur Hugh Clough
As I sat at the Café I said to myself,
They may talk as they please about what they call pelf,
They may sneer as they like about eating and drinking,
But help it I cannot, I cannot help thinking
How pleasant it is to have money, heigh-ho! 5
How pleasant it is to have money.
I sit at my table en grand seigneur,
And when I have done, throw a crust to the poor;
Not only the pleasure itself of good living,
But also the pleasure of now and then giving: 10
So pleasant it is to have money, heigh-ho!
So pleasant it is to have money.
They may talk as they please about what they call pelf,
And how one ought never to think of one’s self,
How pleasures of thought surpass eating and drinking, – 15
My pleasure of thought is the pleasure of thinking
How pleasant it is to have money, heigh-ho!
How pleasant it is to have money.
Would like to know your impression of the poet:is he admiring the pleasures of money or do his lines have any sarcastic undertones that mock the lovers of wealth?
Also, do you have any particular ideas about the particluar use of of "so pleasant it is..." in the 10th n 11th lines, contrasted to "how pleasant.." in the other lines??