Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems by the late Thomas Haynes Bayly; Edited by his Widow. With A Memoir of the Author. In Two Volumes |
 | I. |
| 1 |  | II. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1 | |
| 1 |
THE LOVER'S LAY. |
|
|
|
|
 | Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems |  |
220
THE LOVER'S LAY.
I
Hark! 'tis the lover's lay,What doth the fond one say?
Oh, full of youthful beauty
Is the face on which he gazes,
And passive is the small white hand
That to his lip he raises.
He says, “My life shall prove
How fond, how pure, my love!”
II
Hark! 'tis the maiden's wail!What is her plaintive tale?
Though young, her cheek is faded,
And her long hair hangs neglected;
Her hand is press'd upon her brow,
Her dark eyes are dejected:
She says, “One year has prov'd
How lightly I was lov'd!”
III
Hark! 'tis her lover's voice.Hark! he can still rejoice!
Where all are gay, the gayest,
In bright array, he dances,
And with the fairest lady there
He hand-in-hand advances,
And says—what once he said
To that forsaken maid!
| Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems | |