Excerpt
THE RETURN OF THE DEAD
Swayne Dyring o’er to the island strayed; And were I only young again!He wedded there a lovely maid— To honied words we list so fain.
Together they lived seven years and more; And were I only young again!And seven fair babes to him she bore— To honied words we list so fain.
Then death arrived in luckless hour; And were I only young again!Then died the lovely lily flower— To honied words we list so fain.
The Swayne he has crossed the salt sea way, And were I only young again!And he has wedded another may— To honied words we list so fain.
And he that may to his home has brought; And were I only young again!But peevish was she, and with malice fraught— To honied words we list so fain.
And when she came to the castle gate, And were I only young again!The seven children beside it wait— To honied words we list so fain.
The children stood in sorrowful mood, And were I only young again!She spurned them away with her foot so rude— To honied words we list so fain.
Nor bread nor meat will she bestow; And were I only young again!Said “Hate ye shall have and the hunger throe”— To honied words we list so fain.
She took away the bolsters blue; And were I only young again!“Bare straw will serve for the like of you”— To honied words we list so fain.
Away she’s ta’en the big wax light; And were I only young again!Said she “Ye shall lie in the murky night”— To honied words we list so fain.
The babies at night with hunger weep; And were I only young again!The woman heard that in the grave so deep— To honied words we list so fain.
To God’s high throne such haste she made; And were I only young again!“O I must go to my babies’ aid”— To honied words we list so fain.
She begged so loud, and she begged so long, And were I only young again!That at length consent from her God she wrung— To honied words we list so fain.
“But thou must return when the cock shall crow, And were I only young again!“No longer tarry must thou below”— To honied words we list so fain.
Then up she struck with her stark thigh bone, And were I only young again!And burst through wall and marble stone— To honied words we list so fain.
And when to the dwelling she drew nigh, And were I only young again!The hounds they yelled to the clouds so high— To honied words we list so fain.
And when to the castle gate she won, And were I only young again!Her eldest daughter stood there alone— To honied words we list so fain.
“Hail daughter mine, what dost thou here? And were I only young again!How fare thy brothers and sisters dear?”— To honied words we list so fain.
“O dame thou art no mother of mine, And were I only young again!For she was a lady fair and fine— To honied words we list so fain.
“A lady fine with cheeks so red, And were I only young again!But thou art pale as the sheeted dead”— To honied words we list so fain.
“O how should I be fine and sleek? And were I only young again!How else than pale should be my cheek?— To honied words we list so fain.
“And how should I be white and red? And were I only young again!Beneath the mould I’ve long been dead”— To honied words we list so fain.
And when she entered the high, high hall, And were I only young again...!