Books Should Be Free Loyal Books Free Public Domain Audiobooks & eBook Downloads |
|
The Return of the Dead and Other Ballads By: Thomas James Wise (1859-1937) |
---|
![]()
BY
GEORGE BORROW LONDON:
PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION
1913
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 !
Drowned with tears stood the babies all—
To honied words we list so fain . The one she combed, the other she brushed,
And were I only young again !
The third she dandled, the fourth she hushed—
To honied words we list so fain ... Continue reading book >>
|
Genres for this book |
---|
Literature |
Poetry |
eBook links |
---|
Wikipedia – Thomas James Wise |
Wikipedia – The Return of the Dead and Other Ballads |
eBook Downloads | |
---|---|
ePUB eBook • iBooks for iPhone and iPad • Nook • Sony Reader |
Kindle eBook • Mobi file format for Kindle |
Read eBook • Load eBook in browser |
Text File eBook • Computers • Windows • Mac |
Review this book |
---|