 | Ballads in Imitation of the Antient |  |
193
The MAID of the BROOK.
Sadly sat a weeping maiden,
All beside the rippling stream;
Green the turf, and clear the waters
Bright the spangling noon tide beam.
To each breeze the maid did sigh
Willow, willow, willow,
Death shall sing my lullaby;
Willow, willow, willow.
All beside the rippling stream;
Green the turf, and clear the waters
Bright the spangling noon tide beam.
To each breeze the maid did sigh
Willow, willow, willow,
Death shall sing my lullaby;
Willow, willow, willow.
194
Lillies white as snow from heaven,
Did this maiden's cheek outvie:
But the Rose's bloom was wither'd,
Dew dank'd violet was her eye;
To the brook she made her moan,
Willow, willow, willow,
Death's for me now Edrick's flown,
Willow, willow, willow.
Did this maiden's cheek outvie:
But the Rose's bloom was wither'd,
Dew dank'd violet was her eye;
To the brook she made her moan,
Willow, willow, willow,
Death's for me now Edrick's flown,
Willow, willow, willow.
Bright the bed on which the waters
Did in gentle murmurs glide,
But this maiden's locks more glossy
Careless hung adown each side.
To the rippling sound she'd say
Willow, willow, willow.
Death's my bride, ah well away,
Willow, Willow, willow.
Did in gentle murmurs glide,
195
Careless hung adown each side.
To the rippling sound she'd say
Willow, willow, willow.
Death's my bride, ah well away,
Willow, Willow, willow.
Thus forlorn the hapless maiden
Long did make her doleful wail,
Edrick heard, he stood, and listen'd,
Edrick pitied the sad tale.
To the maid the swain did cry,
Cease the sad song willow,
Sorrow fled, the maid did sigh,
And sung no more the willow.
Long did make her doleful wail,
Edrick heard, he stood, and listen'd,
Edrick pitied the sad tale.
To the maid the swain did cry,
Cease the sad song willow,
Sorrow fled, the maid did sigh,
And sung no more the willow.
This word, Willow, occurs frequently at the termination of the stanzas of sorrowful Ballads. We find Shakspear very affectingly introduce it in Othello, Act IV. Scene 3. when Desdemona repeats the ensuing lines, alluding to a Ballad in two parts now extant, entitled Willow, Willow, Willow.
“My mother had a maid call'd Barbarie:
“She was in love; and he she lov'd forsook her,
“And she prov'd mad. She had a song of Willow,
“An old thing 'twas, but it express'd her fortune;
“And she dyed singing it.”
“She was in love; and he she lov'd forsook her,
“And she prov'd mad. She had a song of Willow,
“An old thing 'twas, but it express'd her fortune;
“And she dyed singing it.”
| Ballads in Imitation of the Antient | |