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O hear me, hear me, Lord in Heaven,
Altho' thou take my life—
O curse this woman, at whose house
Young Edward wooed his wife.
By night and day, in bed and bower,
O let her cursed be!!!
So having pray'd, steady and slow.
She rose up from her knee!
And left the church, nor e'er again
The church-door enter'd she.
I saw poor Ellen kneeling still,
So pale! I guess'd not why:
When she stood up, there plainly was
A trouble in her eye.
And when the prayers were done, we all
Came round and ask'd her why:
Giddy she seem'd, and, sure, there was
A trouble in her eye.
But ere she from the church-door stepp'd
She smil'd and told us why:
"It was a wicked woman's curse"
Quoth she, "and what care I?"