Magic Circle, The

From sheet music held by The Library of Congress

The Marble Arch or The Magic Circle


While strolling near The Marble Arch, one evening in July,
A lady fair with golden hair, came tripping lightly by;
The lustre of her diamond eyes, shone on me like a torch,
And in a whisper softly sigh'd, Is this the Marble Arch?

Around her splendid form, I drew my magic circle,
I bless'd her, I caress'd her, my brain was in a whirl; 
Around her splendid form, I drew my magic circle,
I kiss'd her and I call'd her a very pretty girl.

I led her to a shady spot, beneath a spreading tree,
And clasping both her lily hands, fell on my beaded knee;
Behold, I cried, Arise, said she, and as she strove to speak,
I imprinted one long loving kiss, upon her blushing cheek.

Good night, she said, in accents low, and gently squeezed my hand,
My knees began to knock and shake, and I could scarcely stand.
Said she, we'll meet to-morrow night, and then prepared to march.
Oh, where, I cried, she then replied, beneath the Marble Arch.

Oh, never since that very night, have I beheld my queen,
But some one says she's gone away, with a great fat horse marine.
A ring I'll give her if we meet, but not as you'd suppose,
I'll never put it on her hand, I'll put through on her nose.