And I said, "The thing is precious to me,

They will bury her soon in the church-yard clay;

It lies on her heart, and lost must be,

If I do not take it away."

I lighted my lamp at the dying flame,

And crept up the stairs that creaked from fright,

Till into the chamber of death I came,

Where she lay all in white.

The moon shone over her winding-sheet.

There, stark she lay on her carven bed;