London lyrics by Frederick Locker Lampson: With introduction and notes by Austin Dobson |
 |
THE PILGRIMS OF PALL MALL |
 | London lyrics |  |
40
THE PILGRIMS OF PALL MALL
My little Friend, so small, so neat,
Whom years ago I used to meet
In Pall Mall daily,
How cheerily you tript away
To work, it might have been to play,
You tript so gaily.
Whom years ago I used to meet
In Pall Mall daily,
How cheerily you tript away
To work, it might have been to play,
You tript so gaily.
And Time trips too! This moral means
You then were midway in the teens
That I was crowning;
We never spoke, but when I smiled
At morn or eve, I know, dear Child,
You were not frowning.
You then were midway in the teens
That I was crowning;
We never spoke, but when I smiled
At morn or eve, I know, dear Child,
You were not frowning.
Each morning that we met, I think
One sentiment us two did link,
Not joy—not sorrow;
And then at eve, experience-taught,
Our hearts were lighter for the thought,—
We meet to-morrow!
One sentiment us two did link,
Not joy—not sorrow;
And then at eve, experience-taught,
Our hearts were lighter for the thought,—
We meet to-morrow!
41
And you were poor, so poor! and why?
How kind to come, it was for my
Especial grace meant!
Had you a chamber near the stars,—
A bird,—some treasured plants in jars,
About your casement?
How kind to come, it was for my
Especial grace meant!
Had you a chamber near the stars,—
A bird,—some treasured plants in jars,
About your casement?
I often wander up and down,
When morning bathes the silent town
In dewy glory;
Perhaps, unwitting I have heard
Your thrilling-toned canary-bird
From that third story.
When morning bathes the silent town
In dewy glory;
Perhaps, unwitting I have heard
Your thrilling-toned canary-bird
From that third story.
I've seen some change since last we met—
A patient little Seamstress yet,
On small wage striving,
Are you, if Love such luck allows,
Some little fellow's lucky spouse?—
Is Baby thriving?
A patient little Seamstress yet,
On small wage striving,
Are you, if Love such luck allows,
Some little fellow's lucky spouse?—
Is Baby thriving?
My heart grows chill! Can Soul like thine,
Weary of this dear world of mine,
Have loosed its fetter,
To find a world, whose promised bliss
Is better than the best of this?—
And is it better?
Weary of this dear world of mine,
Have loosed its fetter,
To find a world, whose promised bliss
Is better than the best of this?—
And is it better?
42
Sometimes to Pall Mall I repair,
And see the damsels passing there;
But if I try to . . .
To get one glance, they look discreet
As though they'd some one else to meet;—
As have not I too?
And see the damsels passing there;
But if I try to . . .
To get one glance, they look discreet
As though they'd some one else to meet;—
As have not I too?
Yet still I often think upon
Our many meetings, come and gone,
July—December!
Now let us make a tryst, and when,
Dear little Soul, we meet again,
In some more kindly sphere, why then
Thy friend remember.
Our many meetings, come and gone,
July—December!
Now let us make a tryst, and when,
Dear little Soul, we meet again,
In some more kindly sphere, why then
Thy friend remember.
1856.
| London lyrics | |