National Lyrics, and Songs for Music/Fair Helen of Kirconnel
FAIR HELEN OF KIRCONNEL.
"Fair Helen of Kirconnel," as she is called in the Scottish Minstrelsy, throwing herself between her betrothed[1] lover and a rival by whom his life was assailed, received a mortal wound, and died in the arms of the former.
FAIR HELEN OF KIRCONNEL.
Hold me upon thy faithful heart,
Keep back my flitting breath;
'Tis early, early to depart,
Belov'd!—yet this is death!
Look on me still:—let that kind eye
Be the last light I see!
Oh! sad it is in spring to die,
But yet I die for thee!
For thee, my own! thy stately head
Was never thus to bow;—
Give tears when with me love hath fled,
True love, thou know'st it now!
Oh! the free streams looked bright, where'er
We in our gladness roved;
And the blue skies were very fair—
O friend! because we loved.
Farewell!—I bless thee—live thou on,
When this young heart is low!
Surely my blood thy life hath won—
Clasp me once more—I go!
- ↑ errata