A ballad of the eighteenth century - Harriett Abrams

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⌛ Period → Classical ◈ Genre / Form → Secular Music ♬ Voicing → solo high ¶ Language → English

Parts 1

Instruments Keyboard

Pages 3

CPDL # 71399

Editor Christopher Shaw

Posted 2022-11-04

License Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike

¶Lyrics / Text

'Twas at the time the moon's broad shield Shines 'mid the vaulted skies, While trembling round, in regal state, The starry myriads rise. Her pale beams silver'd o'er the gate Where sculptur'd Frenzy glares, And moping Melancholy scowls Upon a world of cares. From the dark cells, where horror reigns And dire distraction bides, A hapless maniac burst her chains, And through the portal glides. Loose were her robes, and on her breast Chill dropp'd the midnight dew; She felt it not: cold blew the blast; The winds unheeded blew. Thro' lighted halls of gay resort, Thro' trim domestic bands, She pass'd resistless, and at once Before the banquet stands. O most unlook'd-for at that board, And most unwelcome guest; Cold is for thee the marble heart, That robb'd thee of thy rest. And do you weep? I cannot weep! Frown not, nor look unkind; That gentle pity sheds her balm To sooth my troubled mind. But stop! Methinks yon distant bell Now warns me to attend Where the last gleam of parting hope Marks out a kinder friend.