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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AFTER THE BALL. |
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 | Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems |  |
245
AFTER THE BALL.
I
Come, let us talk the evening over,I'm sure I'm glad we're under cover,
The wind so high, the night so dark,
I wish my guests well thro' the park;
But vastly snug ourselves we'll render,
We'll put our feet upon the fender,
And o'er a cosey cup of tea,
We'll chat, for none can hear or see,
About the ball and the company.
II
All said my ball was to their liking,The tout ensemble grand and striking;
The paper roses sweetly plac'd,
The colour'd lamps arrang'd with taste;
And tho' I own it was provoking,
To see the lamps persist in smoking,
Yet many people said to me,
They liked the smoke exceedingly—
It did not annoy the company.
III
At supper time, 'twas unexampled,How people o'er their neighbours trampled,
Afraid of being left behind—
I half suspect they had not dined!
I bade Lord John take Lady Susan,
And lead the way; at least a dozen
Already had unask'd made free!
I really thought there would not be
Food enough for the company.
246
IV
Then, one by one, the good things vanish'd,The table was again replenish'd,
And still they cut and came again,
And naught but drumsticks now remain.
I thought the men would drink for ever!
I made the fiddlers thrice endeavour
To lure the truants back to me;
For 'twas a dreary sight to see
The female part of the company.
V
But now, my dear, I see you're dozing,I scarce can keep my eyes from closing;
We've kept it up, as people say,
Till Phœbus ushered in the day.
Oh dear! oh dear! I think with sorrow
The state the house will be in to-morrow;
No comfort here for you or me;
Oh! my dear, I dread to see
The ghost of the ball and the company.
| Songs, Ballads, and Other Poems | |