The Collected Works of William Morris With Introductions by his Daughter May Morris |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III, IV, V, VI. |
| VII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XXI. |
 | XXIV. |
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THE MOTHER UNDER THE MOULD |
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 | The Collected Works of William Morris |  |
352
THE MOTHER UNDER THE MOULD
1
Svend dyring rode on the island-wayYea have I not myself been young,
And there he's wedded so fair a may
Fair words give joy to many a heart.
2
Seven years the twain together satAnd children six between them gat.
3
Then came a death into the landAnd died that lovely lily-wand.
4
Then Svend he rode on the island-wayAnd there he's wedded another may,
5
He's wedded a may and home is sheAs grim and evil as may be.
6
When she came a-driving to the doorThere stood the six babies weeping sore,
7
There stood they weeping many a tear,With her foot she thrust them forth from her.
8
She gave them neither ale nor meat:O ye shall have both hunger and hate.
9
She took from them the bolster blue,Said, [In] the bare straw lie alow.
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10
She's taken from them the great wax lights:In murk house shall ye lie anights.
11
Late in the eve the bairns they grat,The Mother under the Mould heard that.
12
That heard she under earth as she lay:O now must I to my babes away.
13
Then did she stand the Lord before:O may I go see my babes once more?
14
So long there did she stand and prayThat the Lord let her go her way.
15
But come thou back at cock-crow-tide,No longer away must thou abide.
16
Then forth her weary feet put sheTo meet both wall and imagery.
17
But when she came unto the steadUnder the sky the hounds they bayed,
18
And when to the door she drew near-handThere did her eldest daughter stand.
19
O daughter mine, why stand'st thou there,How do thy little brethren fare?
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20
Thou art never Mother of mine,For ever was she fair and fine.
21
My Mother was white with cheeks full red,But thou art pale and like the dead.”
22
O how should I be fine and fair,For dead folk all pale cheeks must bear.
23
O how should I be white and redSo long as I've been cold and dead.
24
But when she came to the chamber door,There were [the] bairns and grat right sore.
25
The first she brushed, the second she plaited,The third she dandled, the fourth she patted,
26
The fifth upon her breast she setAs though sweet food it thence should get.
27
Then to her eldest daughter said she,Go bid Svend Dyring come to me.
28
So when within the hall he stoodShe spake to him in wrathful mood.
29
I left behind me ale and breadYet must my babes [of both] have need.
355
30
Bolsters blue did I leave enow,In the bare straw lie my babes alow.
31
I left behind me waxlights highBut in chamber dark must my little ones lie.
32
Look to it that if I come once moreIll fate for you there lieth in store.
33
But now is the red red cock a crowingAnd under the earth must the dead be a going,
34
Now croweth the black cock on highAnd heaven's gate openeth presently.
35
And now the white cock croweth clear,No longer is there biding here.
36
So every time the hounds they bayedThey gave the children ale and bread.
37
No sooner did they hear them bayBut they thought the dead was on the way.
38
The hound's voice did they no sooner hearThan sure they thought the dead was there.
| The Collected Works of William Morris | |