And when to the dwelling she drew nigh,
And were I only young again!
The hounds they yelled to the clouds so high—
To honied words we list so fain.
And when to the castle gate she won,
And were I only young again!
Her eldest daughter stood there alone—
To honied words we list so fain.
“Hail daughter mine, what dost thou here?
And were I only young again!
How fare thy brothers and sisters dear?”—
To honied words we list so fain.
“O dame thou art no mother of mine,
And were I only young again!
For she was a lady fair and fine—
To honied words we list so fain.
“A lady fine with cheeks so red,
And were I only young again!
But thou art pale as the sheeted dead”—
To honied words we list so fain.
“O how should I be fine and sleek?
And were I only young again!
How else than pale should be my cheek?—
To honied words we list so fain.
“And how should I be white and red?
And were I only young again!
Beneath the mould I’ve long been dead”—
To honied words we list so fain.
And when she entered the high, high hall,
And were I only young again!
Drowned with tears stood the babies all—
To honied words we list so fain.
The one she combed, the other she brushed,
And were I only young again!
The third she dandled, the fourth she hushed—
To honied words we list so fain.
The fifth upon her breast she plac’d,
And were I only young again!
And allowed the babe of the breast to taste—
To honied words we list so fain.