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 |  |
192
WHY DON'T THE MEN PROPOSE?
I
Why don't the men propose, mamma,Why don't the men propose?
Each seems just coming to the point,
And then away he goes!
It is no fault of yours, mamma,
That ev'ry body knows;
You fête the finest men in town,
Yet, oh, they won't propose!
II
I'm sure I've done my best, mamma,To make a proper match;
For coronets and eldest sons
I'm ever on the watch:
I've hopes when some distingué beau
A glance upon me throws;
But though he'll dance, and smile, and flirt,
Alas, he won't propose!
III
I've tried to win by languishing,And dressing like a blue;
I've bought big books, and talk'd of them,
As if I'd read them through!
With hair cropp'd like a man, I've felt
The heads of all the beaux;
But Spurzheim could not touch their hearts,
And oh, they won't propose!
IV
I threw aside the books, and thoughtThat ignorance was bliss;
I felt convinced that men preferred
A simple sort of Miss;
193
Plain “yeses” or plain “noes,”
And wore a sweet unmeaning smile;
Yet, oh, they won't propose!
V
Last night, at Lady Ramble's rout,I heard Sir Harry Gale
Exclaim, “Now I propose again—”
I started, turning pale;
I really thought my time was come,
I blush'd like any rose;
But oh! I found 'twas only at
Ecarté he'd propose!
VI
And what is to be done, mamma?Oh, what is to be done?
I really have no time to lose,
For I am thirty-one:
At balls, I am too often left
Where spinsters sit in rows;
Why won't the men propose, mamma?
Why won't the men propose?
| Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems | |