"Awake, awake, arise, my love! How, Helen, dost thou fare? Wakest thou, or sleepest? laughest thou, or weepest? Hast thought on me, my fair?"—
"My love! my love!—so late by night!— I waked, I wept for thee: Much have I borne since dawn of morn; Where, William, couldst thou be!"—
"We saddle late—from Hungary I rode since darkness fell; And to its bourne we both return Before the matin-bell."—
"O rest this night within my arms, And warm thee in their fold! Chill howls through hawthorn bush the wind:— My love is deadly cold."—
"Let the wind howl through hawthorn bush! This night we must away; The steed is wight, the spur is bright; I cannot stay till day.
"Busk, busk, and boune![1] Thou mount'st behind Upon my black barb steed: O'er stock and stile, a hundred miles, We haste to bridal bed."—
"To-night—to-night a hundred miles!— O dearest William, stay! The bell strikes twelve—dark, dismal hour? O wait, my love, till day!"—
"Look here, look here—the moon shines clear— Full fast I ween we ride; Mount and away! for ere the day We reach our bridal bed.
"The black barb snorts, the bridle rings; Haste, busk, and boune, and seat thee! The feast is made, the chamber spread, The bridal guests await thee."—
Strong love prevailed: she busks, she bounes, She mounts the barb behind, And round her darling William's waist Her lily arms she twines.