The Poetical Works of William Motherwell/True Love's Dirge
True Love's Dirge.
Some love is light and fleets away,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
Some love is deep and scorns decay,
Ah, well-a-day! in vain.
Of loyal love I sing this lay,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
'Tis of a knight and lady gay,
Ah, well-a-day! bright twain.
He loved her—heart loved ne'er so well,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
She was a cold and proud damsel,
Ah, well-a-day! and vain.
He loved her—oh, he loved her long,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
But she for love gave bitter wrong,
Ah, well-a-day! Disdain!
It is not meet for knight like me,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
Though scorned, love's recreant to be,
Ah, well-a-day! Refrain.
That brave knight buckled to his brand,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
And fast he sought a foreign strand,
Ah, well-a-day! in pain.
He wandered wide by land and sea,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
A mirror of bright constancye,
Ah, well-a- day! in vain.
He would not chide, he would not blame,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
But at each shrine he breathed her name,
Ah, well-a-day! Amen!
He would not carpe, he would not sing,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
But broke his heart with love-longing,
Ah, well-a-day! poor brain.[1]
He scorned to weep, he scorned to sigh,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
But like a true knight he could die—
Ah, well-a-day! life's vain.
The banner which that brave knight bore,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
Had scrolled on it "Faith Evermore,"
Ah, well-a-day! again.
That banner led the Christian van,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
Against Seljuck and Turcoman,
Ah, well-a-day! bright train.[2]
The fight was o'er, the day was done,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
But lacking was that loyal one—
Ah, well-a-day! sad pain.
They found him on the battle-field,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
With broken sword and cloven shield,
A well-a-day! in twain.
They found him pillowed on the dead,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
The blood-soaked sod his bridal bed,
Ah, well-a-day! the Slain.
On his pale brow, and paler cheek,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
The white moonshine did fall so meek—
Ah, well-a-day! sad strain.[3]
They lifted up the True and Brave,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
And bore him to his lone cold grave,
Ah, well-a-day! in pain.
They buried him on that far strand,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
His face turned towards his love's own land,
Ah, well-a-day! how vain.
The wearied heart was laid at rest,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
To dream of her it liked best,
Ah, well-a-day! again.
They nothing said, but many a tear,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
Rained down on that knight's lowly bier,
Ah, well-a-day! amain.[4]
They nothing said, but many a sigh,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
Told how they wished like him to die,
Ah, well-a-day! sans stain.[5]
With solemn mass and orison,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain,
They reared o'er him a cross of stone,
All, well-a-day! in pain.
And on it graved with daggers bright,
Heigho! the Wind and Rain;
Here lies a true and gentle Knight,
Ah, well-a-day! Amen!
requiescat. in. pace.