LORD ROLAND.

I.

LORD ROLAND rose, and went to mass, And doffed his mourning weed ! And bade them bring a looking-glass, And saddle fast a steed;

"I'll deck with gems my bonnet's loop,

And wear a feather fine,

And when lorn lovers sit and droop
Why I will sit and dine!

Sing merrily, sing merrily,
And fill the cup of wine!

II.

Though Elgitha be thus untrue,

Adèle is beauteous yet;

And he that's baffled by the blue
May bow before the jet ;

So welcome-welcome hall or heath!

So welcome shower or shine!

And wither there, thou willow wreath,

Thou never shalt be mine!

Sing merrily, sing merrily,

And fill the cup of wine!

(1824.)

III.

Proud Elgitha! a health to thee,—
A health in brimming gold!
And store of lovers after me,
As honest, and less cold :
My hand is on my bugle horn,
My boat is on the brine;
If ever gallant died of scorn,
I shall not die of thine!

Sing merrily, sing merrily!
And fill the cup of wine!

YES OR NO.

I.

THE Baron de Vaux hath a valiant crest,

My Lady is fair and free;

The Baron is full of mirth and jest,

My Lady is full of glee;

But their path, we know, is a path of woe,

And many the reason guess,— The Baron will ever mutter "No,"

When my Lady whispers "Yes."

II.

The Baron will pass the wine-cup round,

My Lady forth will roam ;

The Baron will out with horse and hound,

My Lady sits at home;

The Baron will go to draw the bow,

My Lady will go to chess;

And the Baron will ever mutter "No,"

When my Lady whispers "Yes."

III.

The Baron hath ears for a lovely lay,
If my Lady sings it not;

The Baron is blind to a beauteous day,
If it beam in my Lady's grot;
The Baron bows low to a furbelow,
If it be not my Lady's dress;
And the Baron will ever mutter "No,"
When my Lady whispers "Yes."

IV.

Now saddle my steed, and helm

Be ready in the porch;

my head,

Stout Guy, with a ladder of silken thread, And trusty Will, with a torch:

The wind may blow, the torrent flow,— No matter,-on we press;

I never can hear the Baron's "No"

(1827.)

When my Lady whispers "Yes."

TELL HIM I LOVE HIM YET.

I.

TELL him I love him yet,

As in that joyous time;

Tell him I ne'er forget,

Though memory now be crime; Tell him, when sad moonlight

Is over earth and sea,

I dream of him by night,—

He must not dream of me!

II.

Tell him to go where Fame
Looks proudly on the brave;
Tell him to win a name

By deeds on land and wave;
Green-green upon his brow
The laurel wreath shall be ;
Although the laurel now

May not be shared with me.