6
No, maid, I will not go my ways;
nor leave thee here alone;
Nor, while despair upon thee preys,
neglect thy woeful moan;
But I will stay and share thy woe,
my tears with thine I'll shed;
And help thee pluck the flower, to strew
o'er thy sad bridal bed.
Now from the church came forth the priest,
his midnight chaunt was done,
And much the hapless maid he prest
to cease her piteous moan;
For still she cry'd, O stay my love,
my true love stay for me;
Stay till I've deckt my bridal bed,
and I will follow thee.
O! kneel with me, he cried, dear maid,
oh kneel in holy prayer;
Haply kind heaven may send thee aid,
and soothe thy dread despair.
I blame not heaven, the maid replied,
but mourn my true love dead;
And on his green grave I will 'bide,
for 'tis my bridal bed.
The hapless maid knelt down, for fear
that holy priest should blame;
But still, with every hallow'd prayer,
