A LADY HEARD A MINSTREL SING.

BALLAD.

THE POETRY BY T. HAYNES BAYLY, ESQ.

THE MUSIC BY J. P. KNIGHT.

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Philadelphia: John F. Nunns, 184 Chesnut Street.

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A Lady heard a Minstrel sing,

One night beneath her bower,

In wrath she cried, “oh! what can bring

A stranger at this hour?”

She clos’d the casement,— veil’d the lamp,

The Minstrel paus’d in sorrow,

Yet said, “tho’ now I must decamp,

I’ll try again to-morrow.”

The minstrel came again next night,

The lady was not sleeping!

She slily (tho’ she veil’d the light)

Was thro’ her casement peeping.

She heard him fondly breathe her name,

Then saw him go with sorrow;

And cried, “I wonder whence he came?

Perhaps he’ll come to-morrow.”

Again she heard the sweet guitar,⁠—

But soon the song was broken:

Tho’ songs are sweet, oh! sweeter far

Are words in kindness spoken:

She loves him for himself alone,

Disguise no more he’ll borrow,

The minstrel’s rank at length is known,⁠—

She’ll grace a court to-morrow.