And when she came to the castle gate,
And were I only young again!
The seven children beside it wait—
To honied words we list so fain.
The children stood in sorrowful mood,
And were I only young again!
She spurned them away with her foot so rude—
To honied words we list so fain.
Nor bread nor meat will she bestow;
And were I only young again!
Said “Hate ye shall have and the hunger throe”—
To honied words we list so fain.
She took away the bolsters blue;
And were I only young again!
“Bare straw will serve for the like of you”—
To honied words we list so fain.
Away she’s ta’en the big wax light;
And were I only young again!
Said she “Ye shall lie in the murky night”—
To honied words we list so fain.
The babies at night with hunger weep;
And were I only young again!
The woman heard that in the grave so deep—
To honied words we list so fain.
To God’s high throne such haste she made;
And were I only young again!
“O I must go to my babies’ aid”—
To honied words we list so fain.
She begged so loud, and she begged so long,
And were I only young again!
That at length consent from her God she wrung—
To honied words we list so fain.
“But thou must return when the cock shall crow,
And were I only young again!
“No longer tarry must thou below”—
To honied words we list so fain.
Then up she struck with her stark thigh bone,
And were I only young again!
And burst through wall and marble stone—
To honied words we list so fain.