Explore "The Rivals" by Carolyn Wells on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Two well-built men, neither giant nor dwarf, / Were Monsieur Elims and Mynheer Nworf. / They lived in a town not far away, / And spent their time in work and play. / Now Monsieur Elims was loved by all -- / By rich and poor, by great and small. / And Mynheer Nworf remarked one day, / "Brother, explain to me, I pray, / Why no one likes me as well as you, / No matter what I may say or do. / I have stores of knowledge packed in my head; / I am learned and wise and very well read; / I can dance, I can sing, I'm extremely polite; / I am worth a large fortune all in my own right. / But still, -- and this question has caused me much thought, -- / While I am neglected, you're everywhere sought. " / Monsieur Elims replied: "My dear sir, that is true, / But you see, I am I, and you see, you are you. / If I receive praises and you receive blame, / 'Tis doubtless because each lives up to his name."
You'll find his defence rather puzzling, I fear; / But read their names backward -- the meaning is clear.