[A] Lit. Be ye well boun
RIME OF THE DEAD LOVER
Three maidens sat in a bower,
Two broidered with gold—
The third she wept her lover
Under darksome mould.
(For she loved the knight so truly.)
It was the knight Sir Aager
Rode in his own countrie;
He loved the lady Elsa,
So fair was she.
He wooed the lady Elsa
With gifts and gold—
On Monday thereafter
Lay he i’ the mould.
She wrung her hands, fair Elsa,
With wellaway—
That heard the knight Sir Aager
Low where he lay.
Up stood the knight Sir Aager,
His coffin took amain,
And forth he fared to his true-love’s bower
With mickle pain.
There knocked he with his coffin—
No sword had he—
“Stand up, thou Lady Elsa!
Open to me!”
Then spake the lady Elsa,
With tears spake she:
“Canst thou name our Saviour
I’ll open to thee.”