III
The bridesmaids slept in their chambers apart:
There is a rose that’s ready;
Tall Margaret walked with her thumping heart:
There’s a rose that’s ready for clipping.
The frill of her nightgown below the left breast:
There is a rose that’s ready;
Had fall’n like a cloud of the moonlighted West:
There’s a rose that’s ready for clipping.
But where the West-cloud breaks to a star:
There is a rose that’s ready;
Pale Margaret’s breast showed a winding scar:
There’s a rose that’s ready for clipping.
O few are the brides with such a sign!
There is a rose that’s ready;
Though I went mad the fault was mine:
There’s a rose that’s ready for clipping.
I must speak to him under this roof to-night:
There is a rose that’s ready;
I shall burn to death if I speak in the light:
There’s a rose that’s ready for clipping.
O my breast! I must strike you a bloodier wound:
There is a rose that’s ready;
Than when I scored you red and swooned:
There’s a rose that’s ready for clipping.
I will stab my honour under his eye:
There is a rose that’s ready;
Though I bleed to the death, I shall let out the lie:
There’s a rose that’s ready for clipping.
O happy my bridesmaids! white sleep is with you!
There is a rose that’s ready;
Had he chosen among you he might sleep too!
There’s a rose that’s ready for clipping.
O happy my bridesmaids! your breasts are clean:
There is a rose that’s ready;
You carry no mark of what has been!
There’s a rose that’s ready for clipping.