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 |
BEFORE THE BALL. |
|
|
|
|
 | Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems |  |
BEFORE THE BALL.
I
I'm delighted, I've invitedAll my neighbours to the ball;
How diverting! oh, I'm certain
That the house won't hold 'em all!
Go, and take the carpets up,
Wash the rooms, they won't be dry.
In my bed-room we must sup,
Take the bed down, by the bye.
I must sleep out at the inn;
Mind you send my sac de nuit.
Hang the lamps up, pray begin;
Who'll have time to make the tea?
Send for Sophy, tea and coffee
Must be handed round to all;
How it's blowing! how it's snowing!
What a night to give a ball!
244
II
Is my dress got? oh, Miss Prescott!Just in time, I do declare!
“Eight o'clock, ma'am.” “There's a knock, ma'am.”
Oh! the man to do my hair.
What are all these little notes?
All excuses—oh dear me!
All the Seymores got sore throats!
Lady Sykes, and Lord Nugee!
All my tiptop folks unwell,
E'en a saint it would provoke;
What a smother! what a smell!
Colour'd lamps are sure to smoke.
More excuses! what the deuce is
Come to people? poorly all!
How it's blowing! how it's snowing!
What a night to give a ball!
III
There's a lady come already!Not a thing is comme il faut;
See the waiters in their gaiters,
Oh! it won't go right, I know.
Mrs. Stubbs! well, let her wait;
Go and say I'm quite concern'd.
A'nt the music very late?
Oh, I hope 'tant overturn'd!
Hark—a knock! they'll think I'm lost,
There's the music come at last,
What a ball! the Morning Post
Shall describe it when it's past.
Oh, how pleasing! what a squeezing!
See them thronging, great and small.
How it's blowing! how it's snowing!
What a night to give a ball!
| Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems | |