The Knight and the Lady

  There's in the Vest a city pleasant
    To vich King Bladud gev his name,
  And in that city there's a Crescent
    Vere dwelt a noble knight of fame.

  Although that galliant knight is oldish,
    Although Sir John as gray, gray air,
  Hage has not made his busum coldish,
    His Art still beats tewodds the Fair!

  'Twas two years sins, this knight so splendid,
    Peraps fateagued with Bath's routines,
  To Paris towne his phootsteps bended
    In sutch of gayer folks and seans.

  His and was free, his means was easy,
    A nobler, finer gent than he
  Ne'er drove about the Shons-Eleesy,
    Or paced the Roo de Rivolee.

  A brougham and pair Sir John prowided,
    In which abroad he loved to ride;
  But ar! he most of all enjyed it,
    When some one helse was sittin' inside!

  That "some one helse" a lovely dame was
    Dear ladies you will heasy tell—
  Countess Grabrowski her sweet name was,
    A noble title, ard to spell.

  This faymus Countess ad a daughter
    Of lovely form and tender art;
  A nobleman in marridge sought her,
    By name the Baron of Saint Bart.

  Their pashn touched the noble Sir John,
    It was so pewer and profound;
  Lady Grabrowski he did urge on
    With Hyming's wreeth their loves to crownd.

  "O, come to Bath, to Lansdowne Crescent,"
    Says kind Sir John, "and live with me;
  The living there's uncommon pleasant—
    I'm sure you'll find the hair agree.

  "O, come to Bath, my fair Grabrowski,
    And bring your charming girl," sezee;
  "The Barring here shall have the ouse-key,
    Vith breakfast, dinner, lunch, and tea.

  "And when they've passed an appy winter,
    Their opes and loves no more we'll bar;
  The marridge-vow they'll enter inter,
    And I at church will be their Par."

  To Bath they went to Lansdowne Crescent,
    Where good Sir John he did provide
  No end of teas and balls incessant,
    And hosses both to drive and ride.

  He was so Ospitably busy,
    When Miss was late, he'd make so bold
  Upstairs to call out, "Missy, Missy,
    Come down, the coffy's getting cold!"

  But O! 'tis sadd to think such bounties
    Should meet with such return as this;
  O Barring of Saint Bart, O Countess
    Grabrowski, and O cruel Miss!

  He married you at Bath's fair Habby,
    Saint Bart he treated like a son—
  And wasn't it uncommon shabby
    To do what you have went and done!

  My trembling And amost refewses
    To write the charge which Sir John swore,
  Of which the Countess he ecuses,
    Her daughter and her son-in-lore.

  My Mews quite blushes as she sings of
    The fatle charge which now I quote:
  He says Miss took his two best rings off,
    And pawned 'em for a tenpun note.

  "Is this the child of honest parince,
    To make away with folks' best things?
  Is this, pray, like the wives of Barrins,
    To go and prig a gentleman's rings?"

  Thus thought Sir John, by anger wrought on,
    And to rewenge his injured cause,
  He brought them hup to Mr. Broughton,
    Last Vensday veek as ever waws.

  If guiltless, how she have been slandered!
    If guilty, wengeance will not fail:
  Meanwhile the lady is remanded
    And gev three hundred pouns in bail.
Credit

This poem is in the public domain. 

About this Poem

From Ballads and Songs (London: Cassell and Company, 1896).