Читать книгу The Oxford Book of Ballads - Various Authors - Страница 110

33. A Lyke-Wake Dirge

Table of Contents

I

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,

—Every nighte and alle, Fire and fleet254 and candle-lighte, And Christe receive thy saule.

II

When thou from hence away art past,

—Every nighte and alle, To Whinny-muir thou com’st at last: And Christe receive thy saule.

III

If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon,

—Every nighte and alle, Sit thee down and put them on: And Christe receive thy saule.

IV

If hosen and shoon thou ne’er gav’st nane

—Every nighte and alle, The whinnes sall prick thee to the bare bane; And Christe receive thy saule.

V

From whinny-muir when thou may’st pass,

—Every nighte and alle, To Brig o’ Dread thou com’st at last; And Christe receive thy saule.

VI

From Brig o’ Dread when thou may’st pass,

—Every nighte and alle, To Purgatory fire thou com’st at last; And Christe receive thy saule.

VII

If ever thou gavest meat or drink,

—Every nighte and alle, The fire sall never make thee shrink; And Christe receive thy saule.

VIII

If meat or drink thou ne’er gav’st nane,

—Every nighte and alle, The fire will burn thee to the bare bane; And Christe receive thy saule.

IX

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,

—Every nighte and alle, Fire and fleet and candle-lighte, And Christe receive thy saule.

FOOTNOTES:

254. fleet = floor. Other readings are ‘sleet’ and ‘salt’.