Chanson

.            A RING of gold and a milk-white dove

               Are goodly gifts for thee,

             And a hempen rope for your own love

               To hang upon a tree.

             For you a House of Ivory

               (Roses are white in the rose-bower)!

             A narrow bed for me to lie

               (White, O white, is the hemlock flower)!

             Myrtle and jessamine for you

               (O the red rose is fair to see)!                      

             For me the cypress and the rue

               (Fairest of all is rose-mary)!

             For you three lovers of your hand

               (Green grass where a man lies dead)!

             For me three paces on the sand

               (Plant lilies at my head)!