Four Songs (6)/Crazy Jane

by Matthew Gregory Lewis

For other versions of this work, see Crazy Jane (Lewis).

CRAZY JANE.

Why, fair maid, in ev'ry feature,
Are such signs of fears express'd;
Can a wand'ring wretched creature
With such terror fill thy breast?
Do my frenzied looks alarm thee?
Trust me, sweet, thy tears are vain,
Not for kingdoms would I harm thee;
Shun not then poor Crazy Jane.

Dost thou weep to see my anguish?
Mark me, and avoid my woe;
When men flatter, sigh, and languish,
Think them false—I found them so:
For I lov'd, oh! so sincerely,
None could ever love again;
But the youth I lov'd so dearly,
Stole the wits of Crazy Jane.

Fondly my young heart receiv'd him,
Which was doom'd to love but one:
He sigh'd, he vow'd, and I believ'd him,
He was false, and I undone.
From that hour has reason never
Held her empire o'er my brain;
Henry fled, with him for ever
Fled the wits of Crazy Jane.

Now forlorn, and broken hearted,
And with frenzied thoughts beset,
On that spot where last we parted—
On that spot where first we met,
Still I sing my love-lorn ditty—
Still I slowly pace the plain,
While each passer-by, in pity,
Cries—God help thee, Crazy Jane.

 

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