 | Ballads of Irish chivalry |  |
74
ROSSNALEE.
I
The fairy woman of the wood,Rossnalee! oh, Rossnalee!
Hath set the spell in her cave so rude,
And she cries, “Is't for sorrow, or all for good,
That the lovers shall meet in the secret wood,
By the crystal waters of Rossnalee?”
II
The fairy woman of the wood,Rossnalee! oh, Rossnalee!
With her crimson gown and her scarlet hood,
Cries again, “'Tis for sorrow, and nought for good,
That the lovers shall meet in the secret wood,
By the crystal waters of Rossnalee!”
III
Many hearts the wild wars rue,Rossnalee! oh, Rossnalee!
Mac Donogh's daughter weepeth too,
As she cometh to meet her lover true,
For war's sad chances well she knew,
By the crystal waters of Rossnalee.
IV
The first step she took from her father's door,Rossnalee! oh, Rossnalee!
The ban-dog howled on the barbican floor,
And her little dove cooed in the turret o'er,
With a voice of wailing and sadness sore,
By the crystal waters of Rossnalee!
75
V
The next step she took from her home so dear,Rossnalee! oh, Rossnalee!
She heard a low voice in her ear,
Though she saw but a white owl floating near—
“Thou'rt the sweetest blossom to grace a bier,
By the crystal waters of Rossnalee!”
VI
As she went down where the crags are piled,Rossnalee! oh, Rossnalee!
She saw a little elfish child,
And it cried with a voice all strange and wild,
“Go back! thou lady fair and mild,
By the crystal waters of Rossnalee!”
VII
As she crossed the rath and the war-grave rude,Rossnalee! oh, Rossnalee!
Cried she of the spells and the scarlet hood,
“If thou goest, thou goest for sorrow, not good,
And the earth shall be dyed with my darling's blood,
By the crystal waters of Rossnalee!”
VIII
But 'gainst fair warning and friendly threat,Rossnalee! oh, Rossnalee!
She answers, “My heart's on the trysting set,
And how can I mourn, and how regret,
That I meet with my gallant De Barrette
By the crystal waters of Rossnalee?”
76
IX
Where the mountain ash bends over the wave,Rossnalee! oh, Rossnalee!
She's clasped in the arms of her lover brave,
Who cries, “Ten kisses for love I crave,
For my new-won knighthood and conquering glaive,
By the crystal waters of Rossnalee!”
X
“Mac Donogh, aboo!” From the darksome wood,Rossnalee! oh, Rossnalee!
Rushed her sire and his vassals in savage mood,—
“Ho! traitor, my vengeance this hour is good,
For thou'st won thy spurs with my best son's blood,
By the crystal waters of Rossnalee!”
XI
Three vassals were cloven through basnet and brain,Rossnalee! oh, Rossnalee!
When an arrow shot from the wood amain,
To stretch De Barrette upon the plain,
But the heart of the maiden it cleft in twain,
By the crystal waters of Rossnalee!
XII
Down fell the knight by his true love's side,Rossnalee! oh, Rossnalee!
With a wound in his breast both deep and wide,—
“Oh! death in thy arms is sweet!” he cried;
And thus these lovers so faithful died
By the crystal waters of Rossnalee!
77
XIII
De Barrette he sleeps in that lonely dell,Rossnalee! oh, Rossnalee!
Where like a knight in his harness he fell:
But she that he loved so true and well
Lies low in the vault of her sire's chapelle
By the crystal waters of Rossnalee!
| Ballads of Irish chivalry | |