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. |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. | VII.
THE BUTTERFLY WAS A GENTLEMAN. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| II. |
 | Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems |  |
61
VII. THE BUTTERFLY WAS A GENTLEMAN.
The Butterfly was a gentleman,
Of no very good repute;
And he roved in the sunshine all day long,
In his scarlet and purple suit:
And he left his lady-wife at home
In her own secluded bower;
Whilst he, like a bachelor, flirted about
With a kiss for every flower.
Of no very good repute;
And he roved in the sunshine all day long,
In his scarlet and purple suit:
And he left his lady-wife at home
In her own secluded bower;
Whilst he, like a bachelor, flirted about
With a kiss for every flower.
His lady-wife was a poor glow-worm,
And seldom from home she'd stir;
She loved him better than all the world,
Though little he cared for her.
Unheeded she pass'd the day—she knew
Her lord was a rover then;
But, when night came on, she lighted her lamp
To guide him over the glen.
And seldom from home she'd stir;
She loved him better than all the world,
Though little he cared for her.
Unheeded she pass'd the day—she knew
Her lord was a rover then;
But, when night came on, she lighted her lamp
To guide him over the glen.
One night the wanderer homeward came,
But he saw not the glow-worm's ray:
Some wild-bird saw the neglected one,
And flew with her far away.
Then beware, ye Butterflies all, beware
If to you such a time should come:
Forsaken by wandering lights, you'll wish
You had cherish'd the lamp at home.
But he saw not the glow-worm's ray:
Some wild-bird saw the neglected one,
And flew with her far away.
Then beware, ye Butterflies all, beware
If to you such a time should come:
Forsaken by wandering lights, you'll wish
You had cherish'd the lamp at home.
| Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems | |