When maiden loves, she sits and sighs, br She wanders to and fro; br Unbidden tear-drops fill her eyes, br And to all questions she replies, br With a sad heigho! br 'Tis but a little word - "heigho!" br So soft, 'tis scarcely heard - "heigho!" br An idle breath - br Yet life and death br May hang upon a maid's "heigho!" br br When maiden loves, she mopes apart, br As owl mopes on a tree; br Although she keenly feels the smart, br She cannot tell what ails her heart, br With its sad "Ah me!" br 'Tis but a foolish sigh - "Ah me!" br Born but to droop and die - "Ah me!" br Yet all the sense br Of eloquence br Lies hidden in a maid's "Ah me!"br br William Schwenck Gilbertbr br