HAD I A HEART FOR FALSEHOOD FRAM'D. R. B. SHERIDAN. Born 1751-Died 1816. Had I a heart for falsehood fram'd, For tho' your tongue no promise claim'd, No stranger offer wrong; But friends in all the ag'd you'll meet, But when they learn that you have blest And act a brother's part. Then, lady, dread not here deceit, Nor fear to suffer wrong: For friends in all the ag'd you'll meet, [In the Duenna.} THOU CANST NOT BOAST OF FORTUNE'S STORE. R. B. SHERIDAN. Thou canst not boast of fortune's store, But I was glad to find thee poor, And then the grateful youth shall own, But when his worth my hand shall gain, Yet still his grateful heart shall own, [Sung by Louisa in the Duenna.] WHEN SABLE NIGHT. R. B. SHERIDAN. When sable night, each drooping plant restoring, When all did sleep, whose weary hearts did borrow He vow'd he came to save me From those who would enslave me! Then kneeling, Kisses stealing, Endless faith he swore: But soon I bid him thence, And he had press'd again, I fear'd my treacherous heart might grant him more. [In the Duenna. Burns in one of his letters to George Thomson calls this "a pretty English song to the air of Saw ye my Father.'"] THINK NOT MY LOVE, R. B. SHERIDAN. Think not, my love, when secret grief Alas? though doom'd to hope in vain This treasur'd grief, this lov'd despair But dearest, may the pangs I bear O HAD MY LOVE. R. B. SHERIDAN. O had my love ne'er smil❜d on me, To bid me hope her hand to gain, Not worse his fate, who on a wreck, Then land was cried no more resign'd, [In the Duenna.] A BACCHANALIAN. THOMAS CHATTERTON. Born 1752-Died 1770. What is war and all its joys? What is love without the bowl? LOVELY GWEN. Turn, lovely Gwen, be good and kind, Despise me not for being poor, I shall be rich enough in you. [From Jones' Translations of old Welsh poetry, among which there are many happy lines and pretty thoughts.] |