noon
Was it right for you to slander my flourishing and vigorous years and land me in the shadows and lassitude of decrepit old age ? Give me some sign , however faint , I beg of you , that you have returned to life ! '' I vented my anger in words such as these . His eyes were fixed , and with averted look He stood , less moved by any word of mine Than weeping willows bending o'er a brook Or drooping poppies as at noon they pine . When I had made an end of this invective , so out of keeping with good taste , I began to do penance for my soliloquy and blushed furtively because I had so far forgotten my modesty as to invoke in words that part of my body which men of dignity do not even recognize . Then , rubbing my forehead for a long time , `` Why have I committed an indiscretion in relieving my resentment by natural abuse , '' I mused , `` what does it amount to ? Are we not accustomed to swear at every member of the human body , the belly , throat , or even the head when it aches , as it often does ?