OPEN YOUR CASEMENT, MY DEAR.
A BALLAD,
[_]
(An original Air.—Composed by Master Balfe.)
I
Come open your casement, my dear,
And fearlessly gaze on the sea;
'Tis tranquil, and why should you fear
To venture upon it with me?
See light clouds are veiling the moon,
No eye your departure will note;
Come down from your chamber, and soon
I'll waft you away in my boat.
II
Thus sung a fond youth to his love,
Who was sleeping—(Love never should sleep,)
Her father was peeping above,
(Oh! fathers you never should peep:)—
To his daughter's balcony he brought
Her monkey in muslins array'd;
The youth was o'erjoy'd, for he thought
'Twas the form of his beautiful maid.
III
He gaz'd on the figure in white,
Whose nods gave new life to his hopes,
His heart throbb'd with love and delight
As he threw up the ladder of ropes;
His charmer hopp'd down it—and then
The happy delusion was o'er.—
Girls often meet monkey-like men,
But man ne'er wooed monkey before.
IV
From the window enjoying the joke,
Her Father feared danger no more,
And she by the bustle awoke,
Soon made her escape at the door:
“Come, come to your Rosa,” she said,
“Unless you prefer my baboon;
“And pray let your next serenade
“Take place at the full of the moon.”
