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 |  |
WHAT SHALL BE MY THEME?
I
What shall be my theme,When I sing to thee,
Sitting by the village stream,
Under the chesnut tree?
Tell me, wilt thou choose
A gay or mournful string,
Shall love or war inspire my muse,
Say what shall I sing?
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II
I'll not sing of war,Such a theme would be
Much too sad—a gentle star
Watches over thee.
Let me hear thy voice,
And touch thy own lute's string,
And whate'er shall be thy choice,
That song will I sing!
| Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems | |