Salome's Dancing-Lesson

She that begs a little boon

(Heel and toe! Heel and toe!)

Little gets- and nothing, soon

(No, no, no! No, no, no!)

She that calls for costly things

Priceless finds her offerings

What's impossible to kings?

(Heel and toe! Heel and toe!)



Kings are shaped as other men

(Step and turn! Step and turn!)

Ask what none may ask again

(Will you learn? Will you learn?)

Lovers whine, and kisses pall

Jewels tarnish, kingdoms fall

Death's the rarest prize of all!

(Step and turn! Step and turn!)



Veils are woven to be dropped

(One, two, three! One, two, three!)

Aging eyes are slowest stopped

(Quietly! Quietly!)

She whose body's young and cool

Has no need of dancing-school

Scratch a king and find a fool!

(One, two, three! One, two, three!)