Maud - Part 1 - 20.

1 Strange, that I felt so gay, Strange, that I tried to-day To beguile her melancholy; The Sultan, as we name him,— She did not wish to blame him— But he vext her and perplext her With his worldly talk and folly: Was it gentle to reprove her For stealing out of view From a little lazy lover Who but claims her as his due? Or for chilling his caresses By the coldness of her manners, Nay, the plainness of her dresses? Now I know her but in two, Nor can pronounce upon it If one should ask me whether The habit, hat, and feather. Or the frock and gipsy bonnet Be the neater and completer; For nothing can be sweeter Than maiden Maud in either. 2 But to morrow, if we live, Our ponderous squire will give A grand political dinner To half the squirelings near; And Maud will wear her jewels, And the bird of prey will hover, And the titmouse hope to win her With his chirrup at her ear. 3 A grand political dinner To the men of many acres, A gathering of the Tory, A dinner and then a dance For the maids and marriage-makers, And every eye but mine will glance At Maud in all her glory. 4 For I am not invited, But, with the Sultan's pardon, I am all as well delighted, For I know her own rose-garden, And mean to linger in it Till the dancing will be over; And then, oh then, come out to me For a minute, but for a minute, Come out to your own true lover. That your true lover may see Your glory also, and render All homage to his own darling, Queen Maud in all her splendour.