Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems by the late Thomas Haynes Bayly; Edited by his Widow. With A Memoir of the Author. In Two Volumes |
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 | Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems |  |
290
I CANNOT DANCE TO-NIGHT!
I
Oh! when they brought me hither, they wonder'd at my wild delight,But would I were at home again, I cannot dance to-night!
How can they all look so cheerful? the dance seems strangely dull to me;
The music sounds so mournful, what can the reason be?
Oh! when they brought me hither, they wonder'd at my wild delight,
But I would I were at home again, I cannot dance to-night!
II
Hark! hark! at length he's coming, I'm not weary—let me stay!I hear his laugh distinctly now, 'twill chase the gloom away.
Oh! would that I were near him, he sees me not amid the crowd,
He hears me not—ah! would I dared to breathe his name aloud.
Oh! when they brought me hither, they wonder'd at my wild delight,
But would I were at home again, I cannot dance to-night!
III
He leaves that group of triflers, and with the smile I love to see,He seems to seek for some one—oh! is it not for me?
No, no! 'tis for that dark-eyed girl, I see her now return his glance,
He passes me, he takes her hand, he leads her to the dance!
Oh! when they brought me hither, they wonder'd at my wild delight,
But would I were at home again, I cannot dance to-night!
| Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems | |