1832.] [ 217 ] 



THE LAY OF A LOST MINSTREL. 



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919C0 ,inn Bl A LI l -( the Br m S y Uth had been 'IBB J' : 



A tailorcutting blade ; 



^nd proved his trade he did not love, 



By making love his trade. 

 His "heart's delight," industriously, 



By toil made many a penny, 

 Jenny hard worked at spinning, and 



Worked hard a spinning-jenny. 

 All day he'd watch the attic pane, 



To see how Jenny got on : 

 His heart would " cotton" to the maid, 



While she, sweet maid, made cotton. 

 The youth he wrote to tell his flame, 



She answer'd, maiden silly ; 

 He wore her billet on his heart 



Her heart was on her Billy. 

 The course of true love, saith the bard, 



Never yet smooth did run 

 A rival had begun his suit 



Ere Bill his suit begun. 

 Smart Stephen Strap, with sayings sly, 



Jenny would oft divert, 

 Crying, " Bill's not expert at seams, 



He only seems expert." 

 In wrath the tailor learnt the end 



Of such a fair beginning, 

 He sent her spinning-jenny first, 



And then his Jenny, spinning. 

 The faithless one with Stephen wed ; 



Cried Bill, half-broken hearted 

 " She'll think, of course, that I am dead, 



When told that I'm departed." 

 So quick enlisting (no one now 



His valorous heart impeaches), 

 He breeches-making still pursued, 



Simply by making breaches. 

 But wars must end ; so Bill returned, 



And stood, with humbled mien, 

 (Being cleaned out with crossings foul,) 



To keep the crossings clean. 

 Yet still he on his rival smiled, 



Whom clouds now hung above ; 

 For Jenny shewed the love of power, 



More than the power of love. 

 But tailors die as well as men ; 



For death grants little leisure, 

 Nor e'er was known to disappoint, 



If once he takes his measure ; 

 And fits his customer so tight, 



No room he leaves for dodging ; 

 Though if he calls him from his board, 



At least he finds him lodging. 

 Bill's fall, which happened on his stand, 



By every one was wept, 

 To think that he who swept the way, 



At last away was swept ! H. 



