They dragged him off captive,
And they left her tears flowing,
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
But the Virgin pursued them
Through the wilderness going,
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
"Oh, who is yon woman?
Through the waste comes another,"
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
"If there comes any woman
It is surely my mother,"
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
"Oh John, care her, keep her,
Who comes in this fashion,"
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
"But Oh, hold her from me
Till I finish this passion,"
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
When the Virgin had heard him
And his sorrowful saying,
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
She sprang past his keepers
To the tree of his slaying,
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
"What fine man hangs there
In the dust and the smother?"
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
"And do you not know him,
He is your son, O Mother."
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
"Oh, is that the child whom
I bore in this bosom,
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
Or is that the child who
Was Mary's fresh blossom"
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
They cast him down from them
A mass of limbs bleeding,
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
"There now he is for you,
Now go and be keening."
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
Go call the three Marys
Till we keene him forlorn,
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
O Mother thy keeners
Are yet to be born,
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
Thyself shall come with me
Into Paradise garden,
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)
To a fair place in heaven
At the side of thy darling,
(Ochone agus ochone, O!)