The stratagem

Who'd win a heart must learn the art

To hide what he's about.

When Kate I met, too soon I let

My loving secret out.

In vain I'd sigh, in vain I'd try

Each trick of eye and speech;

Advance, retire, neglect, admire,

The rogue I could not reach.

Then I grew warm and in a storm

Against her out I blew,

And she stood fast before my blast

And raging I withdrew.

Then I began a different plan,

I went to Rose Maguire,

Who'd had her scene with Con Mulqueen,

And asked her to conspire.

Says she, "Avick, we'll try the trick."

And so we shammed sweethearts,

Till Con grew vexed and Kate perplexed,

So well we played our parts:

And when we found them turning round

The very way we wanted,

Our stratagem we owned to them

And got our pardon granted.