Nor joy nor smile for Helen sad; She sought the host in vain; For none could tell her William's fate, If faithless, or if slain.
The martial band is past and gone; She rends her raven hair, And in distraction's bitter mood She weeps with wild despair.
"O rise, my child," her mother said, "Nor sorrow thus in vain; A perjured lover's fleeting heart No tears recall again."—
"O mother, what is gone, is gone, What's lost forever lorn; Death, death alone can comfort me; O had I ne'er been born!
"O break, my heart,—O break at once! Drink my life-blood, Despair! No joy remains on earth for me, For me in heaven no share."—
"O enter not in judgment, Lord!" The pious mother prays; "Impute not guilt to thy frail child! She knows not what she says.
"O say thy pater noster, child! O turn to God and grace! His will, that turned thy bliss to bale, Can change thy bale to bliss."—
"O mother, mother, what is bliss? O mother, what is bale? My William's love was heaven on earth, Without it earth is hell.
"Why should I pray to ruthless Heaven, Since my loved William's slain? I only prayed for William's sake, And all my prayers were vain."—
"O take the sacrament, my child, And check these tears that flow; By resignation's humble prayer, O hallowed be thy woe!"—