Who will marry Hercules?
Tell me if you can.
Who will catch his eye, and please
The strong silent man?

Who will make a happy home,
For duty and desire:
In Summer tend the honey-comb,
In Winter, tend the fire?

What exactly is the sense,
And substance of your song?
Is his strength in reticence;
Or is he silent, strong?

Often strong and silent men,
With sorra much to say,
Are with young and old women
Winsome in their way.

'Tis the great Tirynthian groom,
A boyo hard to parry!
Rather ask the question whom
Hercules will marry.

Thus to speak as if no choice
Were left, is to disparage
Us, who surely have a voice,
And the half of marriage;

To put the cart before the horse,
The groom before the bride.
It is for the girl, of course,
Also to decide.

O look at him with his club,
And his lion's fell!
That's the lad who made the hub-
Bub below in Hell!

That which is the pirates' quest
May be Hercules's:
To carry off the buxomest,
And marry whom he pleases!

Praise him for his shoulders' breadth,
Him who took the Town of Death,
Took the triple Dog therefrom,
And Alcestis to her home.

Praise him, for he carries through
All he sets himself to do;
No one ever saw him chuck
Anything he undertook;

Softly talk of marriage, he
Might embrace the colony;
And if he were duly roused
Who would then be unespoused?