Songs (Brechin 1834)/William and Margaret

WILLIAM AND MARGARET.

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WHEN all was wrapt in dark midnight,
And all were fast asleep,
In glided Marg’ret’s grimly ghost,
And stood at William’s feet,
Her face was like the April morn,
Clad in a wint’ry cloud;
And clay-cold was her lily hand,
That held the sable shroud.

So shall the fairest face appear,
When youth and years are flown-
Such is the robe that kings must wear,
When death hath reft their crown.
Her bloom was like the springing flow’r,
That sips the silver dew;
The rose was budded in her cheek,
And opening to the view.

But love had like the canker-worm,
Consum’d her early prime;
The rose grew pale, and left her cheek;
She dy’d before her time.
Awake, she cry’d, thy true-love calls,
Come from her midnight grave,,
Now let they pity hear the maid,
Thy love refus’d to save.

This it the dark and fearful hour,
When injur’d ghosts complain ;
Now dreary graves give up their dead,
To haunt the faithless swain.
Bethink thee, William, of thy fault,
Thy pledge and broken oath;
And give me back my maiden vow,
And give me back my troth.

How could you say my face was fair,
And yet that face forsake?
How could you win my virgin heart,
Yet leave that heart to break?
How could you promise love to me,
And not that promise keep?
Why did you swear mine eyes were bright,
Yet leave those eyes to weep?

How could you say my lip was sweet,
And made the scarlet pale?
And why did I, young witless maid,
Believe the flatt'ring tale?
That face, alas! no more is fair;
That lip no longer red;
Dark are mine eyes, now clos’d in death,
And ev’ry charm is fled.

The hungry worm my sister is,
This winding-sheet I wear:
And cold and weary lasts our night,
’Till that last morn appear.
But hark! the cock has warn’d me hence:
A long and last adieu:
Come see, false man, how low she lies,
That dy’d for love of you.

Now birds did sing, and morning smile,
And shew her glistering head;
Pale William shook in ev’ry limb,
Then raving left his bed.
He hy’d him to the fatal place
Where Marg’ret’s body lay,
And stretch’d him on the green grass turf,
That wrapt her breathless clay.

And thrice lie call’d on Marg’ret’s name,
And thrice he wept full sore;
Then laid his cheek to the cold earth,
And word spake never more,