Classic Poem

1
In Bruton Town there lived a farmer,
That had two sons and one daughter dear.
By day and night they were contriving
To fill their parents' hearts with fear.
2

One told his secret to none other,
But unto his brother this he said:
"I think our servant courts our sister,
I fear they have a mind to wed.'
3

"If he our servant courts our sister,
That maid from such a shame I'll save:
I'll put an end to all their courtship,
I'll send him silent to his grave.'
4

A day of hunting was prepared,
In thorny woods, where briars grew:
There they did then that young man murder
And in the brook his body threw.
5

"Now welcome home, my dear young brothers!
Our serving man, is he behind?'
"We left him where we have been hunting,
We left him where no man may find.'
6

To bed she went then, crying and lamenting,
Lamenting for her heart's delight.
She slept, she dreamed, she saw him by her
All bloody-red in piteous plight.
7

His lovely curls were wet with water,
His body all agape with blows.
"O love, for thee I suffer murder,
For thee I lie where no man knows.'
8

She rose up early the morrow morning,
Unto the forest brake she rode,
And there she found her own dear jewel
All dabbled o'er in a gore of blood.
9

Dabbled o'er both with blood and water,
And thus she did her true love find,
She drew a kerchief from her pocket
And wiped his eyes, though they were blind.