Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems by the late Thomas Haynes Bayly; Edited by his Widow. With A Memoir of the Author. In Two Volumes |
 | I. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
'TWAS THE LONG EXPECTED SIGNAL! |
| II. |
 | Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems |  |
'TWAS THE LONG EXPECTED SIGNAL!
I
She was watching from her casement,She had watch'd since close of day,
'Twas not the hour appointed,
Yet she blam'd him for delay;
243
Were lying by her side,
Impatiently she breath'd his name,
And wept when none replied.
And then she vow'd that he in turn
Should watch and wait for her,
For when she heard the signal word,
She would not deign to stir.
II
'Twas the long expected signal!Oh! she knew he'd come at last,
She gave a ready answer,
For her angry mood was past.
And glancing at her toilet glass,
She paused a moment there,
To re-arrange her silken robe
And deck her flowing hair.
She gaily sang the melody
That was her lover's choice,
How happy was that maiden's heart,
How merry was her voice!
III
Alas! 'twas not by her aloneThat signal had been heard,
Her lover's rival lurking there
Had caught the whisper'd word.
And bloody was his dagger's point
As from the scene he rush'd,
And cold and pale the lover lay,
The voice of love was hush'd!
And all unconscious of her doom,
Came forth his plighted bride.
None saw her shed a tear, at morn
The dead lay side by side.
| Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems | |