THE YEOMEN OF THE GUARD;
OR,
THE MERRYMAN AND HIS MAID.
ACT I.
Scene—Tower Green.
Phœbe discovered spinning.
SONG.—Phœbe. <poem> When maiden loves, she sits and sighs, She wanders to and fro; Unbidden tear-drops fill her eyes, And to all questions she replies, With a sad " heigho ! " 'Tis but a little word—" heigho ! " So soft, 'tis scarcely heard—" heigho ! ' An idle breath— Yet life and death May hang upon a maid's " heigho ! "
When maiden loves, she mopes apart, As owl mopes on a tree ; Although she keenly feels the smart, She cannot tell what ails her heart, With its sad " Ah me ! " 'Tis but a foolish sigh—" Ah me ! " Born but to droop and die — " Ah me ! " Yet all the sense Of eloquence Lies hidden in a maid's " Ah me ! ' (weeps).
Enter Wilfred.
| Wil. | Mistress Meryll ! |
| Phœ. | (looking up).Eh ! Oh ! it's you, is it ? You may go away, if you like. Because I don't want you, you know. |
| Wil. | Haven't you anything to say to me ? |