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Flower Pieces and other poems

By William Allingham: With two designs by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
  

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 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
 VII. 
 VIII. 
 IX. 
 X. 
 XI. 
 XII. 
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SAINT MARGARET'S EVE.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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135

SAINT MARGARET'S EVE.

I built my castle upon the sea-side,
The waves roll so gaily O,
Half on the land and half in the tide,
Love me true!
Within was silk, without was stone,
The waves roll so gaily O,
It lacks a queen, and that alone,
Love me true!
The gray old harper sung to me,
The waves roll so gaily O,
Beware of the Damsel of the Sea!
Love me true!
Saint Margaret's Eve it did befall,
The waves roll so gaily O,
The tide came creeping up the wall,
Love me true!
I open'd my gate; who there should stand—
The waves roll so gaily O,
But a fair lady, with a cup in her hand,
Love me true!
The cup was gold, and full of wine,
The waves roll so gaily O,
‘Drink,’ said the lady, ‘and I will be thine,’
Love me true!

136

‘Enter my castle, lady fair,’
The waves roll so gaily O,
‘You shall be queen of all that's there,’
Love me true!
‘A gray old harper sung to me,
The waves roll so gaily O,
“Beware of the Damsel of the Sea!”
Love me true!
‘In hall he harpeth many a year,
The waves roll so gaily O,
‘And we will sit his song to hear,
Love me true!
‘I love thee deep, I love thee true,’
The waves roll so gaily O,
‘But ah! I know not how to woo,’
Love me true!
Down dash'd the cup, with a sudden shock,
The waves roll so gaily O,
The wine like blood ran over the rock,
Love me true!
She said no word, but shriek'd aloud,
The waves roll so gaily O,
And vanish'd away from where she stood,
Love me true!
I lock'd and barr'd my castle door,
The waves roll so gaily O,
Three summer days I grieved sore,
Love me true!
For myself a day and night,
The waves roll so gaily O,
And two to moan that lady bright,
Love me true!