Classic Poem

The Lady Countess she is sitting, —
Woman most true!
She is sitting in her palace,
All the night through.

There has come into her chamber, —
Help, God of might!
There has come into her chamber
Arnold, her knight.

With red flames all covered over —
Oh, fearful sight!
With red flames all covered over —
Help, God of might!

" How did you enter at this hour,
Arnold, my knight?
How did you enter at this hour?
Help, God of might! "

" I entered at the grated window,
Woman most true;
I entered at the grated window;
Loyal are you. "

" You are scorching me all over,
Arnold, my knight;
You are scorching me all over;
Help, God of might! "

" But I have not even touched you,
Woman most true;
But I have not even touched you;
Loyal are you. "

" What is that flames from your forehead,
Arnold, my knight?
What is that flames from your forehead?
Help, God of might! "

" All the evil things I thought once,
Woman most true;
All the evil things I thought once;
Loyal are you. "

" What is flashing from your eyeballs,
Arnold, my knight?
What is flashing from your eyeballs?
Help, God of might! "

" Those are my own evil passions,
Woman most true;
Those are my own evil passions;
Loyal are you. "

" What is it flames from your nostrils,
Arnold, my knight?
What is it flames from your nostrils?
Help, God of might! "

" Evil things that I was smelling,
Woman most true;
Evil things that I was smelling;
Loyal are you. "

" What is it from your mouth blazing,
Arnold, my knight?
What is it from your mouth blazing?
Help, God of might! "

" Evil words that I have spoken,
Woman most true;
Evil words that I have spoken;
Loyal are you. "

" What is it from your ears burning,
Arnold, my knight?
What is it from your ears burning?
Help, God of might! "

" Evil things to which I listened,
Woman most true;
Evil things to which I listened;
Loyal are you. "

" What is it from your arms flaming,
Arnold, my knight?
What is it from your arms flaming?
Help, God of might! "

" These are all my vile embraces,
Woman most true;
These are all my vile embraces;
Loyal are you. "

" What is this on your hands burning,
Arnold, my knight?
What is this on your hands burning?
Help, God of might! "

" Evil things that I was touching,
Woman most true;
Evil things that I was touching;
Loyal are you. "

" What is it from your feet flaming,
Arnold, my knight?
What is it from your feet flaming?
Help, God of might! "

" Evil steps that I have taken,
Woman most true;
Evil steps that I have taken;
Loyal are you. "

" Why do I hear the sound of neighing,
Arnold, my knight?
Why do I hear the sound of neighing?
Help, God of might! "

" 'T is the horse for me a-waiting,
Woman most true;
'T is the horse for me a-waiting;
Loyal are you. "

" Give him hay and grain for fodder,
Arnold, my knight;
Give him hay and grain for fodder;
Help, God of might! "

" He will eat no grain for fodder,
Woman most true;
Only spirits of the damned;
Loyal are you. "

" Where now have they made your lodging,
Arnold, my knight?
Where now have they made your dwelling?
Help, God of might! "

" Deep in Hell they made my dwelling,
Woman most true;
Deep in Hell they made my dwelling;
Loyal are you. "

" Why should it in Hell be builded,
Arnold, my knight?
Why should it in Hell be builded?
Help, God of might! "

" 'T is because I paid bad wages,
Woman most true;
'T is because I paid bad wages;
Loyal are you. "

" Every day I offer masses,
Arnold, my knight;
Every day I offer masses;
Help, God of might! "

" Offer for me no more masses,
Never again!
Masses offered for the damned
Bring them more pain. "


" All alone do you keep vigil,
Woman most true?
All alone do you keep vigil?
Loyal are you. "

" Not alone do I keep vigil,
Arnold, my knight;
Not alone do I keep vigil;
Help, God of might! "

" Tell me, who are your companions,
Woman most true?
Tell me, who are your companions?
Loyal are you. "

" I have God and Mary Virgin,
Arnold, my knight;
I have God and Mary Virgin;
Help, God of might! "

" Tell me where you keep your daughters,
Woman most true;
Tell me where you keep your daughters.
Loyal are you. "

" They embroider in their chamber,
Arnold, my knight;
They embroider in their chamber
Silk and samite. "

" Oh, I pray you, let me see them,
Woman most true!
Oh, I pray you let me see them!
Loyal are you. "

" Far too much you would affright them,
Arnold, my knight;
Far too much you would affright them;
Help, God of might! "

" Let me see at least one daughter,
Woman most strong,
That my torture may pass from me;
I suffer long! "

" Even as you earned your tortures —
Help, God of might!
Even so they must pass from you,
Arnold, my knight! "

" Only let me see the youngest,
Woman most true;
Only let me see the youngest;
Loyal are you. "

" Nay, I prize my youngest daughter,
Arnold, my knight,
Even as I prize the eldest;
Help, God of might! "

" Why do you not wed your daughters,
Woman most true?
Why do you not wed your daughters?
Loyal are you. "

" 'T is because they have no dowry,
Arnold, my knight;
'T is because they have no dowry;
Help, God of might! "

" At the foot of the great staircase,
Woman most true,
At the foot of the great staircase
Lies gold for you. "

" All of it is gold ill-gotten,
Arnold, my knight;
All of it is gold ill-gotten;
Help, God of might! "

" Where have you your sons in keeping,
Woman most true?
Where have you your sons in keeping?
Loyal are you. "

" They are in their chamber, gaming,
Arnold, my knight;
They are in their chamber, gaming;
Help, God of might! "

" Tell me where you keep your maidens,
Woman most true;
Tell me where you keep your maidens;
Loyal are you. "

" They are in the kitchen, washing
Early and late;
They are in the kitchen, washing
Pewter and plate. "

" Oh, I pray you let me see them,
Woman most true;
Oh, I pray you let me see them;
Loyal are you. "

" Far too much you would affright them,
Arnold, my knight;
Far too much you would affright them;
Help, God of might! "

" Tell me where you keep your pages,
Woman most true;
Tell me where you keep your pages;
Loyal are you. "

" They are in the stables sleeping,
Arnold, my knight;
They are in the stables sleeping;
Help, God of might! "

" Pay them well all of their wages,
Woman most true;
Pay them well all of their wages;
Loyal are you. "

" I will pay them when they earn them,
Arnold, my knight;
I will pay them as they earn them;
Help, God of might! "

" The cock crows; what is the hour,
Woman most true?
The cock crows; what is the hour?
Loyal are you. "

" Twelve o'clock but now has sounded,
Arnold, my knight;
Twelve o'clock but now has sounded;
Help, God of might! "

" It is the hour for our parting;
So must it be.
It is the hour for our parting;
Clasp hands with me! "

" How your hands are scorching my hands,
Arnold, my knight!
How your hands are scorching my hands!
Help, God of might! "