Classic Poem

1.

Three maidens in their chamber,
The two were weaving gold,
And wept the third her bridegroom,
Lay buried in the mould.

2.

It was the rich Sir Ogey,
He rode to an isle away,
He wooed the Lady Elsey,
And won that lovely may.

3.

He won the Lady Elsey,
Betroth'd his gentle bride,
And on his very wedding night
Before her eyes he died.

4.

So sorely wept the lady
And wrung her hands for woe,
The knight Sir Ogey heard it
Down in his grave below.

5.

So sorely wept the lady,
So sorely beat her breast,
The knight Sir Ogey heard it,
No longer could he rest.

6.

He rose, the knight Sir Ogey,
With coffin on his back,
And stagger'd towards her chamber
A dismal weary track.

7.

He tapped her door with coffin,
He wore no robe of skin;
" Wake up, my gentle Elsey,
And let thy bridegroom in. "

8.

Some while lay Lady Elsey,
And much in doubt was she;
" But can it be Sir Ogey
Is hither come to me? "

9.

Up spake the Lady Elsey,
And tears were on her cheek;
" Come, if the name of Jesus
Thou still dost dare to speak. "

10.

" Rise then, dear Lady Elsey,
And open me the door,
For name I can Lord Jesus,
As I could do before. "

11.

Up rose the Lady Elsey
And bitter tears she shed,
And let him in to her chamber,
The cold buried dead:

12.

She took her comb, fair Elsey,
She comb'd his tangled hair,
And every lock she straighten'd,
She dropp'd on it a tear.

13.

" Now hear me, dear Sir Ogey,
The truth I pray thee tell,
How under ground thou farest
Down in thy cell. "

14.

" 'Tis so down in that earth house,
Where I must tarry now,
'Tis as the joys of heaven,
If happy thou. "

15.

" Then hear me, knight Sir Ogey,
And grant the boon I crave,
To go with thee, my dearest,
And share thy grave. "

16.

" 'Tis so down in that earth-house,
My narrow lonely cell,
'Tis like to hellish torture,
O cross thyself well!

17.

" So oft as thou art weeping,
And grievest thee so sore,
Is brimming full my coffin
With blood and gore.

18.

" Above my head is growing
The grass so sweet,
But lothely snakes are twining
About my feet.

19.

" Yet when I hear thee singing,
And thou art glad,
Then is my grave's small chamber
With roses clad.

20.

" The white cock now is crowing,
And down must I below;
To earth wend all my fellows,
And with them I must go.

21.

" The red cock now is crowing,
And down must I below;
To earth must wend all dead men,
And I too must go.

22.

" And now the black cock's crowing
Home I must go below;
Unlock'd are all the portals,
And I too must go. "

23.

Uprose the knight Sir Ogey,
Took coffin on his back,
And stagger'd towards the churchyard
A dismal weary track.

24.

And what did Lady Elsey
So sorrowful of mood?
She walk'd beside her bridegroom
Across the murky wood.

25.

But when she reach'd the churchyard,
She saw his golden hair,
How pale it grew and paler,
That once had been so fair.

26.

And when she had cross'd the churchyard
Up to the church's door,
Grew pale Sir Ogey's cheek too,
As roses red before.

27.

At hand and foot Sir Ogey
Was fading away,
Fading his cheerful rosy cheeks
To clods of clay.

28.

" Now hear me, Lady Elsey,
Hear me, my bride so dear,
No longer mourn thy husband,
Nor drop for him a tear.

29.

" But wend thee home, dear Elsey,
In peace to sleep;
No longer mourn thy bridegroom,
No longer weep.

30.

" See yon small stars above thee,
How wanes their light;
And see how fast is fleeting
The hour of night. "

31.

She turn'd her towards the heavens,
The stars, she saw them wane,
But slipp'd to his grave the deadman,
She saw him not again.

32.

He slipp'd away, the deadman,
And down he went below,
And full of grief his lady
Must homeward go.

33.

Sorely she wept, fair Elsey,
And daily did she pray,
That live she might no longer
Than year and day.

34.

So sick she grew for sorrow,
She laid her on her bed,
And, ere that month was ended,
Was on her bier, and dead.