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John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.

Page 588

 
 
Thomas Haynes Bayly. (1797–1839)
 
6033
    Surely ’t is better, when summer is over
  To die when all fair things are fading away.
          I ’d be a Butterfly.
6034
    I ’d be a butterfly born in a bower,
  Where roses and lilies and violets meet.
          I ’d be a Butterfly.
6035
    Those that have wealth must be watchful and wary,
  Power, alas! naught but misery brings!
          I ’d be a Butterfly.
6036
    Oh no! we never mention her,— 1 
  Her name is never heard;
My lips are now forbid to speak
  That once familiar word.
          Oh no! we never mention her.
6037
    We met,—’t was in a crowd. 2 
          We met.
6038
    Gayly the troubadour
  Touched his guitar.
          Welcome me Home.
6039
    Why don’t the men propose, Mamma?
  Why don’t the men propose?
          Why don’t the Men propose?
6040
    She wore a wreath of roses
  The first night that we met.
          She wore a Wreath.
6041
    Friends depart, and memory takes them
  To her caverns, pure and deep.
          Teach me to forget.
6042
    Tell me the tales that to me were so dear,
  Long, long ago, long, long ago.
          Long, long ago.
6043
    The rose that all are praising
  Is not the rose for me.
          The Rose that all are praising.
 
Note 1.
Variant: “Oh, no, we never mention him.” [back]
Note 2.
Cf. Thomas Hood’s parody: We met,—’t was in a mob. [back]