Part 7 (1/2)

When she had heard his bitter rede That was his old true love, She sat and wept within her bower, And moaned even as a dove.

She rose up from her window seat, And she looked out to see; Her love came riding up the street With a goodly company.

He was clad on with Venice gold, Wrought upon cramoisie, His yellow hair shone like the sun About his fair body.

'Now shall I call him blossomed branch That has ill knots therein?

Or shall I call him basil plant, That comes of an evil kin?

'Oh, I shall give him goodly names, My sword of damask fine; My silver flower, my bright-winged bird, Where go you, lover mine?'

'I go to marry my new bride, That I bring o'er the down; And you shall be her bridal maid, And hold her bridal crown.'

'When you come to the bride chamber Where your fair maiden is, You'll tell her I was fair of face, But never tell her this,

'That still my lips were lips of love, My kiss love's spring-water, That my love was a running spring, My breast a garden fair.

'And you have kissed the lips of love And drained the well-water, And you have spoiled the running spring, And robbed the fruits so fair.'

'Now he that will may scatter nuts, And he may wed that will; But she that was my old true love Shall be my true love still.'

GREEK FOLK SONGS.

IANNOULA.

ALL the maidens were merry and wed All to lovers so fair to see; The lover I took to my bridal bed He is not long for love and me.

I spoke to him and he noting said, I gave him bread of the wheat so fine, He did not eat of the bridal bread, He did not drink of the bridal wine.

I made him a bed was soft and deep, I made him a bed to sleep with me; 'Look on me once before you sleep, And look on the flower of my fair body.

'Flowers of April, and fresh May-dew, Dew of April and buds of May; Two white blossoms that bud for you, Buds that blossom before the day.'

THE TELL-TALES.

ALL in the mirk midnight when I was beside you, Who has seen, who has heard, what was said, what was done?

'Twas the night and the light of the stars that espied you, The fall of the moon, and the dawning begun.