Boudoir Prophecies.

One day in the Tuileries,     When a south-west Spanish breeze         Brought scandalous news of the Queen,     The fair, proud Empress said,     "My good friend loses her head;         If matters go on this way,         I shall see her shopping, some day,             In the Boulevard des Capucines."     The saying swiftly went     To the Place of the Orient,         And the stout Queen sneered, "Ah, well!         You are proud and prude, ma belle!     But I think I will hazard a guess     I shall see you one day playing chess         With the Cure of Carabanchel."     Both ladies, though not over wise,     Were lucky in prophecies.         For the Boulevard shopmen well         Know the form of stout Isabel             As she buys her modes de Paris;     And after Sedan in despair     The Empress prude and fair     Went to visit Madame sa Mere         In her villa at Carabanchel -             But the Queen was not there to see.