The Goldfinch (1817)/The Wandering Bard

by Anonymous

The Wandering Bard.

Chill the win'try winds were blowing,
Foul the murky night was scowling,
Through the storm the minstrel bowing,
Sought the inn on yonder moor.
All within was warm and cheery,
All without was cold and dreary,
There the wand'rer, old and weary,
Thought to pass the night secure.

Softly rose his mournful ditty,
Suiting to his tale of pity,
But the master, scoffing witty,
Check'd his strain with scornful jeer.
Hoary vagrant, frequent comer,
Canst thou guide thy gains of summer?—
No, thou old intruding thrummer,
Thou canst have no lodging here.

Slow the bard departed sighing,
Wounded worth forbade replying,
One last feeble effort trying,
Faint he sunk—no more to rise.
Through his harp the breeze sharp ringing,
Wild his dying dirge was singing,
While his soul, from insult springing,
Sought its mansion in the skies.

Now, though the wintry winds be blowing,
Night be foul, with raining, snowing,
Still the traveller, that way going,
Shuns the inn upon the moor.
Though within 'tis warm and cheery,
Though without 'tis cold and dreary,
Still he minds the minstrel, weary,
Spurn'd from that unfriendly door.

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