Poems By Richard Chenevix Trench: New ed |
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THE CORREGAN.
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57
THE CORREGAN.
A BALLAD OF BRITTANY.
They were affianced, a youthful pair;
In youth, alas! they divided were.
In youth, alas! they divided were.
Lovely twins she has brought to light,
A boy and a girl, both snowy white.
A boy and a girl, both snowy white.
—‘What shall now for thee be done,
Who hast brought me this longed-for son?
Who hast brought me this longed-for son?
Shall I fetch thee fowl from the sedgy mere?
Or strike in the greenwood the flying deer?’
Or strike in the greenwood the flying deer?’
—‘Wild deer's flesh would please me best,
Yet wherefore go to the far forèst?’
Yet wherefore go to the far forèst?’
He snatched his spear, he mounted his steed;
He to the greenwood is gone with speed.
He to the greenwood is gone with speed.
When there he came, a milk-white hind
Started before him as swift as wind.
Started before him as swift as wind.
He pursued it with foot so fleet,
On his forehead stood the heat,
On his forehead stood the heat,
And down his courser's flanks it ran;
—Evening now to close began;
—Evening now to close began;
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When he espied a stream that flowed
Near the Corregan's abode.
Near the Corregan's abode.
Smoothest turf encircled its brink;
Down from his steed he alit to drink.
Down from his steed he alit to drink.
By its margin was seated there
The Corregan, combing her golden hair,
The Corregan, combing her golden hair,
Combing it with a comb of gold;
Richly clad, and bright to behold.
Richly clad, and bright to behold.
—“Thou art bolder than thou dost know,
Daring to trouble my waters so.
Daring to trouble my waters so.
“Me shalt thou on the instant wed,
Or in three days shalt be dead.”
Or in three days shalt be dead.”
—‘I will not wed on the instant thee,
Nor yet in three days dead will be.
Nor yet in three days dead will be.
‘When God pleases I shall die,
And already wedded am I;
And already wedded am I;
‘And besides I had rather died
Than to make a fairy my bride.’
Than to make a fairy my bride.’
—‘Sick am I, mother, at heart; oh, spread,
If thou lovest me, my death-bed.
If thou lovest me, my death-bed.
‘Me the fairy has looked to death:
In three days shall I yield my breath.
In three days shall I yield my breath.
‘Yet though my body in earth they lay,
To her I love, oh, nothing say.’
To her I love, oh, nothing say.’
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—Three days after, ‘O mother, tell,’
She exclaimed, ‘why tolls the bell?
She exclaimed, ‘why tolls the bell?
‘Why do the priests so mournfully go,
Clad in white, and chanting low?’
Clad in white, and chanting low?’
—“A beggar we lodged died yesternight;
They bury him with the morning light.”
They bury him with the morning light.”
—‘O mother, where is my husband gone?’
—“He from the town will return anon.”
—“He from the town will return anon.”
—‘O mother, I would to church repair;
Tell me what were meetest to wear:
Tell me what were meetest to wear:
‘Shall it be my robe of blue,
Or my vest of scarlet hue?’
Or my vest of scarlet hue?’
—“It is now the manner to wear
Garments of black, my daughter, there.”
Garments of black, my daughter, there.”
When she came to the churchyard ground,
Her husband's grave was the first she found.
Her husband's grave was the first she found.
—‘Death of kin I have not heard,
Yet this earth has been newly stirred.’
Yet this earth has been newly stirred.’
—“My daughter, the truth I needs must show;
’Tis thy husband that lies below.”
’Tis thy husband that lies below.”
Down she fell upon that floor;
Thence she rose not any more.
Thence she rose not any more.
But the night next after the day,
When by his body her body lay,
When by his body her body lay,
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Two tall oaks, both stately and fair,
Marvel to see! arose in air;
Marvel to see! arose in air;
And upon their uppermost spray
Two white doves, delightsome and gay:
Two white doves, delightsome and gay:
At dawn of morn they sweetly sung;
And lightly toward heaven at noon they sprung.
And lightly toward heaven at noon they sprung.
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