6 "I blame not Hea'vn !' the maid replied, • But mourn my true-love-dead ! And on his green grave I'll abide, For 'tis my bridal bed!' That holy man should blame; She sigh'd her true-love's pame! My true-love, stay for me ; And I will follow thee.' The weeping knight exclaim'd: "Enough! I've tried thee, matchless fair! And be the trial blam'd. And I am come to wed; Nor be thy bridal bed. And thou of low degree; To prove thy constancy.' • My true-love, stay for me ; And I will follow thee.' • Enough! enough, thou too-tried maid !' Again the knight exclaim’d; • See at thy feet thy true-love laid, Of all his guile asham'd. Forgive me, maid-my love now prove O! let us instant wed; Shalt deck thy bridal bed.' And dost thou live? she cried : "Too cruel love !' she faintly said, Then wrung his hand-and died ! Now stay, my love! for me ;- And I will follow thee! By turns did soothe and chide; And on the green turf-died, The lovers both are laid ; Anonymous. BARBARA ALLEN'S CRUELTY. In Scarlet town, where I was born, There was a fair maid dwelling, Made every youth cry, Wel-away! Her name was Barbara Allen. All in the merry mouth of May, When green buds they were swelling, Young Jemmy Grove on his death-bed lay, For love of Barbara Allen, He sent his man unto her then, To the town where she was dwelling; • You must come to my master dear, If your name be Barbara Allen. For death is printed on his face, And o'er his heart is stealing : Then haste away to comfort him, O lovely Barbara Allen.' “Though death be printed on his face, And o'er his heart is stealing: Yet little better shall he be For bonny Barbara Allen.' So slowly, slowly, she came up, And slowly she came nigh him ; And all she said, when there she came, • Young man, I think you're dying.' He turn’d his face unto her straight, With deadly sorrow sighing; O lovely maid, come pity me, I'm on my death-bed lying.' 'If on your death-bed you do lie, What needs the tale you're telling? I cannot keep you from your death; Farewell !' said Barbara Allen. He turn'd his face unto the wall, As deadly pangs he fell in : • Adieu! adieu! adieu to all! Adieu to Barbara Allen!' As she was walking o'er the fields, She heard the bells a knelling; And every stroke did seem to say, Unworthy Barbara Allen!' She turned her body round about, And spied the corpse a coming; Lay down, lay down the corpse,' she said, • That I may look upon him.' With scornful eye she looked down, Her cheek with laughter swelling; Whilst all her friends cried out amain, Unworthy Barbara Allen! 6 When he was dead and laid in grave, Her heart was struck with sorrow. “O mother, mother, make my bed, For I shall die to-morrow. • Hard-hearted creature him to slight, Who loved me so dearly : When he was alive and near me!' She, on her death-bed, as she lay, Begg’d to be buried by him; And sore repented of the day That she did e'er deny him. Farewell,' she said, ' ye virgins all, Aud shun the fault I fell in ; Henceforth take warning by the fall Of cruel Barbara Allen.' Anonymous. 15 JULÍA. To the graves where sleep the dead, Hapless Julia took her way; Sighs to heave, and tears to shed, 1911 O'er the spot where Damon lay. Many a blooming flow'r she bore, O'er the green grass turf to throw; in And while fast her tears did pour, Thus she sang to sooth her woe: • Soft and safe though lowly grave, Fast o'er thee my tears shall flow; Only hope the hapless have, Only refuge left for woe. Constant love and grief sincere Shall thy hallow'd turf pervade; And many a heartfelt sigh and tear, Hapless youth, shall sooth thy shade. • Lighted by the Moon's pale shine, See me, to thy memory true, Lowly bending at thy shrine, Many a costive flow'r to strew: But how little do these flow'rs Prove my love and constancy! Yet a few sad fleeting hours, And, dear youth, I'll follow thee. • Rose, replete with scent and hue, Sweetest flow'r that nature blows, Damon flourish'd once like you; Now o'er him the green grass grows. |