Classic Poem

1

Fair Marg'ret sat in her bower,
Unbraiding of her hair,
When entered in Lord Thomas' ghost,
And gave her greeting fair.

2

" Oh how pale thou art, my love, " she said,
" Oh how pale thou art to see!
Once thine eye was bright, and thy cheek was red;
Why comest thou so to me? "

3

" Oh fair Marg'ret, oh sweet Marg'ret,
I murdered have been —
They have ta'en my body for love of thee,
And cast it in a stream.

4

" Oh fair Marg'ret, oh sweet Marg'ret,
We aye maun parted be,
If thou wilt not bind up thy yellow hair,
And quickly follow me. "

5

Up and ris fair Marg'ret,
And quickly followed him;
As the moon was the colour of his face,
And the colour of his limb.

6

The ghost he fled, the ghost he sped,
The ghost he ran and glided,
And still fair Margaret pursued,
Though never to be brided.

7

The ghost he sped, the ghost he fled,
Ploughed land and hillocks over,
And still fair Margaret pursued.
After her flying lover.

8

Away, away " without stop or stay, "
Till they came to waters running,
" I canna stay, I maun away,
For fast the day is coming.

9

" Oh fair Marg'ret, oh sweet Marg'ret,
We now maun parted be,
If in the last trail thou shalt go through
Thy heart should fail in thee. "

10

On glided the ghost, while the starry host
Glittered down on the sleeping stream;
O'er the waves glided he impalpably,
Then vanished like a dream.

11

Fair Margaret still followed him,
Till she sank amid the wave;
Thus died for each other these lovers true,
And were joined in the grave.