The Poetical Works of Thomas Tickell/Colin and Lucy
COLIN AND LUCY,
A BALLAD.
Of Leinster, fam'd for maidens fair,
Bright Lucy was the grace,
Nor e'er did Liffy's limpid stream
Reflect so fair a face; 4
Bright Lucy was the grace,
Nor e'er did Liffy's limpid stream
Reflect so fair a face; 4
Till luckless love and pining care
Impair'd her rosy hue,
Her coral lips and damask cheeks,
And eyes of glossy blue. 8
Impair'd her rosy hue,
Her coral lips and damask cheeks,
And eyes of glossy blue. 8
Oh! have you seen a lily pale
When beating rains descend?
So droop'd the slow-consuming maid,
Her life now near its end. 12
When beating rains descend?
So droop'd the slow-consuming maid,
Her life now near its end. 12
By Lucy warn'd, of flattering swains
Take heed, ye easy Fair!
Of vengeance due to broken vows,
Ye perjur'd Swains! beware. 16
Take heed, ye easy Fair!
Of vengeance due to broken vows,
Ye perjur'd Swains! beware. 16
Three times all in the dead of night
A bell was heard to ring,
And shrieking at her window thrice
The raven flapp'd his wing. 20
A bell was heard to ring,
And shrieking at her window thrice
The raven flapp'd his wing. 20
Too well the lovelorn maiden knew
That solemn boding sound,
And thus in dying words bespoke
The virgins weeping round: 24
That solemn boding sound,
And thus in dying words bespoke
The virgins weeping round: 24
"I hear a voice you cannot hear
"Which says I must not stay;
"I see a hand you cannot see
"Which beckons me away. 28
"Which says I must not stay;
"I see a hand you cannot see
"Which beckons me away. 28
"By a false heart and broken vows
"In early youth I die.
"Was I to blame because his bride
"Was thrice as rich as I? 32
"In early youth I die.
"Was I to blame because his bride
"Was thrice as rich as I? 32
"Ah, Colin! give not her thy vows,
"Vows due to me alone;
"Nor thou, fond maid! receive his kiss,
"Nor think him all thy own. 36
"Vows due to me alone;
"Nor thou, fond maid! receive his kiss,
"Nor think him all thy own. 36
"To-morrow in the church to wed
"Impatient both prepare;
"But know, fond Maid! and know, false Man!
"That Lucy will be there. 40
"Impatient both prepare;
"But know, fond Maid! and know, false Man!
"That Lucy will be there. 40
"Then bear my corse, ye Comrades! bear,
"This bridegroom blithe to meet,
"He in his wedding-trim so gay,
"I in my winding-sheet." 44
"This bridegroom blithe to meet,
"He in his wedding-trim so gay,
"I in my winding-sheet." 44
She spoke; she dy'd. Her corse was borne
The bridegroom blithe to meet,
He in his wedding-trim so gay,
She in her winding-sheet. 48
The bridegroom blithe to meet,
He in his wedding-trim so gay,
She in her winding-sheet. 48
Then what were perjur'd Colin's thoughts?
How were these nuptials kept?
The bridesmen flock'd round Lucy dead,
And all the village wept. 52
How were these nuptials kept?
The bridesmen flock'd round Lucy dead,
And all the village wept. 52
Confusion, shame, remorse, despair,
At once his bosom swell;
The damps of death bedew'd his brow,
He shook, he groan'd, he fell. 56
At once his bosom swell;
The damps of death bedew'd his brow,
He shook, he groan'd, he fell. 56
From the vain bride, ah! bride no more!
The varying crimson fled,
When stretch'd before her rival's corse
She saw her husband dead. 60
The varying crimson fled,
When stretch'd before her rival's corse
She saw her husband dead. 60
Then to his Lucy's newmade grave
Convey'd by trembling swains,
One mould with her, beneath one sod,
For ever now remains. 64
Convey'd by trembling swains,
One mould with her, beneath one sod,
For ever now remains. 64
Oft' at this grave the constant hind
And plighted maid are seen;
With garlands grey and truelove knots
They deck the sacred green. 68
And plighted maid are seen;
With garlands grey and truelove knots
They deck the sacred green. 68
But, Swain forsworn! whoe'er thou art,
This hallow'd spot forbear;
Remember Colin's dreadful fate,
And fear to meet him there. 72
This hallow'd spot forbear;
Remember Colin's dreadful fate,
And fear to meet him there. 72