The Girl's Lamentation

With grief and mourning I sit to spin;

   My Love passed by, and he didn't come in;

   He passes by me, both day and night,

   And carries off my poor heart's delight.

   There is a tavern in yonder town,

   My Love goes there and he spends a crown;

   He takes a strange girl upon his knee,

   And never more gives a thought to me.

   Says he, 'We'll wed without loss of time,

   And sure our love's but a little crime;'—

   My apron-string now it's wearing short,

   And my Love he seeks other girls to court.

   O with him I'd go if I had my will,

   I'd follow him barefoot o'er rock and hill;

   I'd never once speak of all my grief

   If he'd give me a smile for my heart's relief.

   In our wee garden the rose unfolds,

   With bachelor's-buttons and marigolds;

   I'll tie no posies for dance or fair,

   A willow-twig is for me to wear.

   For a maid again I can never be,

   Till the red rose blooms on the willow tree.

   Of such a trouble I've heard them tell,

   And now I know what it means full well.

   As through the long lonesome night I lie,

   I'd give the world if I might but cry;

   But I mus'n't moan there or raise my voice,

   And the tears run down without any noise.

   And what, O what will my mother say?

   She'll wish her daughter was in the clay.

   My father will curse me to my face;

   The neighbours will know of my black disgrace.

   My sister's buried three years, come Lent;

   But sure we made far too much lament.

   Beside her grave they still say a prayer—

   I wish to God 'twas myself was there!

   The Candlemas crosses hang near my bed;

   To look at them puts me much in dread,

   They mark the good time that's gone and past:

   It's like this year's one will prove the last.

   The oldest cross it's a dusty brown,

   But the winter winds didn't shake it down;

   The newest cross keeps the colour bright;

   When the straw was reaping my heart was light.

   The reapers rose with the blink of morn,

   And gaily stook'd up the yellow corn;

   To call them home to the field I'd run,

   Through the blowing breeze and the summer sun.

   When the straw was weaving my heart was glad,

   For neither sin nor shame I had,

   In the barn where oat-chaff was flying round,

   And the thumping flails made a pleasant sound.

   Now summer or winter to me it's one;

   But oh! for a day like the time that's gone.

   I'd little care was it storm or shine,

   If I had but peace in this heart of mine.

   Oh! light and false is a young man's kiss,

   And a foolish girl gives her soul for this.

   Oh! light and short is the young man's blame,

   And a helpless girl has the grief and shame.

   To the river-bank once I thought to go,

   And cast myself in the stream below;

   I thought 'twould carry us far out to sea,

   Where they'd never find my poor babe and me.

   Sweet Lord, forgive me that wicked mind!

   You know I used to be well-inclined.

   Oh, take compassion upon my state,

   Because my trouble is so very great.

   My head turns round with the spinning wheel,

   And a heavy cloud on my eyes I feel.

   But the worst of all is at my heart's core;

   For my innocent days will come back no more.