Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

I saw her as I fancied fair,
Yes, fairest of earth's creatures;
I saw the purest red and white
O'erspread her lovely features;
She fainted, and I sprinkled her,
Her malady relieving;
I wash'd both rose and lily off!
Oh, seeing's not believing!

II

I look'd again, again I long'd
To breathe love's fond confession;
I saw her eyebrows form'd to give
Her face its arch expression;
But gum is very apt to crack,
And whilst my breast was heaving,
It so fell out that one fell off!
Oh! seeing's not believing!

III

I saw the tresses on her brow,
So beautifully braided;
I never saw, in all my life,
Locks look so well as they did.
She walk'd with me one windy day—
Ye zephyrs, why so thieving?
The lady lost her flaxen wig!
Oh! seeing's not believing!

IV

I saw her form, by Nature's hand
So prodigally finished,
She were less perfect if enlarged,
Less perfect if diminished;

188

Her toilet I surprised—the worst
Of wonders then achieving:
None know the bustle I perceived!
Oh! seeing's not believing!

V

I saw, when costly gems I gave,
The smile with which she took them;
And if she said no tender things,
I've often seen her look them.
I saw her my affianced bride,
And then my mansion leaving,
She ran away with Colonel Jones—
Oh! seeing's not believing!

VI

I saw another maiden soon,
And struggled to detain her;
I saw her plain enough—in fact,
Few women could be plainer.
'Twas said, that at her father's death,
A plum she'd be receiving,
I saw that father's house and grounds!
Oh! seeing's not believing!

VII

I saw her mother—she was deck'd
With furbelows and feathers;
I saw distinctly that she wore
Silk stockings in all weathers;
I saw, beneath a load of gems,
The matron's bosom heaving;
I saw a thousand signs of wealth:
Oh! seeing's not believing!

VIII

I saw her father, and I spoke
Of marriage in his study;
But would he let her marry me?
Alas! alas! how could he?

189

I saw him smile a glad consent,
My anxious heart relieving,
And then I saw the settlements;
Oh! seeing's not believing!

IX

I saw the daughter, and I named
My moderate finances;
She spurn'd me not, she gave me one
Of her most tender glances.
I saw her father's bank—thought I,
There cash is safe from thieving;
I saw my money safely lodged;
Oh! seeing's not believing!

X

I saw the bank, the shutters up,
I could not think what they meant;
The old infirmity of firms,
The bank had just stopt payment!
I saw my future father then
Was ruined past retrieving,
Like me, without a single sous:
Oh! seeing's not believing!

XI

I saw the banker's wife had got
The fortune settled on her;
What cared he, when the creditors
Talk'd loudly of dishonour?
I saw his name in the Gazette,
But soon I stared, perceiving
He bought another house and grounds!
Oh! seeing's not believing!

XII

I saw,—yes, plain as plain could be,
I saw the banker's daughter;
She saw me too, and called for sal-
Volatile and water.

190

She said that she had just espoused
A rich old man, conceiving,
That I was dead or gone to jail!
Oh! seeing's not believing!

XIII

I saw a friend, and freely spoke
My mind of the transaction;
Her brother heard it, and he call'd,
Demanding satisfaction.
We met—I fell!—that brother's ball
In my left leg receiving;
I have two legs—true—one is cork!
Oh! seeing's not believing!