Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Charms of melody, or, Siren medley

48
OLD BALLADS.
William and Margaret.
"KEN all was wrapt in dark midnight,
And all .were faft alkep,
In glided Margaret's grimly ghoft,
And ftcrod at William's feet.
Her face was like an April morn,
Clad in a wintry cloud,
And clay-cold was her lily hand
That held her fable fhroud.
• So fhall the faireft face appear,
Wheii youth and years are flown,
Such is the robe that kings muft wear _
When death has reft their crown.
Her bloom was lite the fpringing flow'r
That lips the filver dew ;•
The rofe was budded in her cheek,
Juft opening to the view.
But love had, like the canker worm, '
Confum'd her early prime ;
The rofe grew pale and left her cheek,
£he died before her time.
" Awake, Ihe cried, thy true-love calls.
Come from her midnight grave ;
Now let thy pity hear the maid
'Ihy love refufed to fave.
" This is the dumb and dreary hour
When injured ghofts complain ;
And filent graves give up their dead
To hauiit thcfaithlefs fvvain
" Bethink thee, William, of ihy fault,
Thy pledge and broken oath ;
And give me back my -maiden vow,
And give me back my troth. • .
" How could you fa/ ray face was fair,
And yet that face forfake ?
Hov7 could you v/in my virgin heart,
Yet leave that heart to break ?
" How could you promife love to me.
And not that promife keep ?
Why did you f'A-ear mine eyes were bright,
Yet leave thofe eyes to weep ?
" How could you fay my lip= were fweet,
And made the fcarlet pale ?_
And why did I, young witlefs maid.
Believe the flatt'ring tale ?
" That face, alas ! no more is fair,
Thofe lips no longer red ;_
Dark are mine eyes now doled in death.
And ev'ry charm is fled.
" The hungry worm my fiiler is,
This winding Iheet I wear,
And cold and weary lafts our night
'Till the next morn appear.
" But hark ! the cock has warn'd me hence,
A long and lail adieu I
Come fee, falfe man, hovv' low flie lies
Who died for love of you."
The birds fungout, the morning fmil'd
And rais'd its glift'ring head;
Pale William fliook in every limb,
And raving left his bed.
He hied hiffi to the fatal place
Where Marg'ret's body lay,
And ftretch'd him on the green grafs turt
That wrapp'd hor brcaihlefs clay.
And thrice he call'J on Marg'ret's name,
And thrice hi wept ftiil lore ;
• -i hen laid his cheek to iha cold earth.
Hatilda.
OHTRAQEOUS did the loud wind blow,
Acrofs the founding main !
The veffel tolling to and fro,
Cou'd fcarce the ftorm fullain.
Matilda to her fearful breall
Held clofe her infant dear ;
His prefence all her fears encreas'd.
And wak'd the tender tear.
Now nearer to the grateful fhore,
The fliatter'd vefiel drew :
The daring waves now ceafe to roar,
Now Ihout th' exulting crew.
Matilda with a mother's joy.
Gave thanks to heaven's pow'r :
How fervent fhe embrac'd her boy !
How bleft the faving hour I
Oh much deceiv'd and haplefs fair!
Tho' ceas'd the waves to roar.
Thou from that fatal moment ne'er.
Did'fl tafte of pleafure more.
For ftepping forth from off the deck.
To reach the welcome ground ;
The babe unclafping from her neck,
Plung'd in the gulph profound.
Amazement-chain'd ! her haggard eye
Gave not a tear to flow ;
Her bofom heav'd no confcious figh ;
,She flood a fculptur'd wee.
*
To fnatch the child from inftant death,
S.ome brav'd the ihreat'ning main ;
And to recal his fleeting breath,
Try'd ev'ry art in vain.
But when the corfe firfc met her viev.-,
^Stretch'd on the pebbly ftrand :
Awak'ning from her trance f!ie flew.
And pierc'd th' oppofing band,
With treffes difcompos'd and rude.
Fell proftrate oc the ground ;
To th' infant's lips her lips ffie glued.
And forrow burft its bound.
TJprifing now with frantic air,
To the wide-circling crowd.
Who, pity ftruck, partook her care.
She thus difcours'd aloud :
" Heard ye the helplefs infant weep !
" Saw ye the m.other bold!
" How as fhe flung him in the deep,
" The billows o'er him roU'd.
" May beak'd remorfe her bofom tear,
" Defpair her mind up-p;ough I
" Its angry arm let juftice rear,
" To dafh her impious brov/.
" But foft, awhile — fee there he lief,
" Em'balm'd iti infant fleep :
" Why fall the dew-drops from your eyes,
" What caufe is here to weep '.
" Yes, yes ! his little life is fled,
" His heavelefs breafl is cold ;
" What tears will not thy mother fhecl,
" When thy fad taie is told I
" Ah me ! that check of livid hue,
" If much I do not err !
" Thofe lips where late the roles blc.v,
" All, all, my fon declare.
" Strange horrors chill my ev'ry rein,
" A voice confus'd and wild,
" Whifpersto this'diftrafted bV;::n,
" Matilda flew her child !"
She added nct-^-but funk oppreis'd—
Beaih on her eye-lids floLc :
Wkile from her much afflifled bteail.