CRAZY JANE. M. G. LEWIS, born 1773, died 1818. WHY, fair maid, in every feature Trust me, sweet, thy fears are vain; Not for kingdoms would I harm thee; Shun not, then, poor Crazy Jane. Dost thou weep to see my anguish ? For I loved, ah! so sincerely None could ever love again; But the youth I loved so dearly Fondly my young heart received him, From that hour has reason never Henry fled with him for ever Now forlorn and broken-hearted, And with frenzied thoughts beset; Still I sing my love-lorn ditty, Still I slowly pace the plain; While each passer by, in pity, Cries-God help thee, Crazy Jane ! OH, FOR MY TRUE LOVE. From "The Myrtle and the Vine," 1800. Down by the river there grows a green willow, Sing, oh! for my true-love, my true-love, oh! When chill blows the wind, and tempests are beating, Sing all for my true-love, my true-love, oh! Maids, come in pity, when I am departed, Sing, oh! for my true-love, my true-love, oh! THE DISTRACTED MAID. From "The Myrtle and the Vine." ONE morning very early, one morning in the spring, I heard a maid in Bedlam who mournfully did sing; Her chains she rattled on her hands while sweetly thus sung she: "I love my love, because I know my love loves me. "O cruel were his parents who sent my love to sea! And cruel cruel was the ship that bore my love from me! Yet I love his parents since they 're his, altho' they 've ruined me; And I love my love, because I know my love loves me. "O should it please the pitying powers, to call me to the sky, "I'll make a strawy-garland, I'll make it wondrous fine, And I'll present it to my love when he returns from sea, "Oh, if I were a little bird to build upon his breast, "Oh, if I were an eagle to soar into the sky! I'd gaze around with piercing eyes where I my love might spy; THE MAD GIRL'S SONG. THOMAS DIBDIN. From "The Last Lays of the Three Dibdins," 1834. O TAKE me to your arms, love, For keen the wind doth blow! She hears me not, she cares not, And here I lie in misery, Beneath the Willow Tree. I once had gold and silver; I thought them without end: I once had gold and silver; My wealth is lost, my friend is false, My love is stol'n from me; And here I lie in misery, Beneath the Willow Tree. THE MANIAC. Partly by G. M. LEWIS, Author of "The Monk," and partly by HENRY RUSSELL, Composer of the Music. HUSH! 'tis the night-watch: he guards my lonely cell; He comes, he comes this way! Yes; 'tis the night-watch; I mark his glimmering lamp; I see its distant ray. Oh, release me! oh, release me ! No, by Heaven-no, by Heaven, I am not mad! I loved her sincerely, I loved her too dearly, I loved her in sorrow, in joy, and in pain ; I see her dancing in the hall, I see her dancing in the hall! Oh, release me, &c. He quits the grate, he turns the key; His glimmering lamp still, still I see, Cold, bitter cold; no life, no light; Life, all thy comforts once I had, But here I'm chained this freezing night; No, by Heaven-no, by Heaven, I am not mad! For lo, you! while I speak, Oh, release me, &c. Mark how yon demon's eye-balls glare! He whirls me in the air! Horror! the reptile strikes his tooth Aye, laugh, ye fiends-laugh, laugh, ye fiends! I see her dancing in the hall Oh, release me-oh, release me ! Yes, by Heaven-yes, by Heaven, they've driven me mad! P |