The Willow-Tree

Know ye the willow-tree
  Whose gray leaves quiver,
Whispering gloomily
  To yon pale river;
Lady, at even-tide
  Wander not near it,
They say its branches hide
  A sad, lost spirit?



Once to the willow-tree
  A maid came fearful,
Pale seemed her cheek to be,
  Her blue eye tearful;
Soon as she saw the tree,
  Her step moved fleeter,
No one was there--ah me!
  No one to meet her!
Quick beat her heart to hear
  The far bell's chime
Toll from the chapel-tower
  The trysting time:
But the red sun went down
  In golden flame,
And though she looked round,
  Yet no one came!
Presently came the night,
  Sadly to greet her,--
Moon in her silver light,
  Stars in their glitter;
Then sank the moon away
  Under the billow,
Still wept the maid alone--
  There by the willow!
Through the long darkness,
  By the stream rolling,
Hour after hour went on
  Tolling and tolling.
Long was the darkness,
  Lonely and stilly;
Shrill came the night-wind,
  Piercing and chilly.
Shrill blew the morning breeze,
  Biting and cold,
Bleak peers the gray dawn
  Over the wold.
Bleak over moor and stream
  Looks the grey dawn,
Gray, with dishevelled hair,
Still stands the willow there--
  The maid is gone!
Domine, Domine!
  Sing we a litany,--
Sing for poor maiden-hearts broken and weary;
  Domine, Domine!
Sing we a litany,
  Wail we and weep we a wild Miserere!

THE WILLOW-TREE.

(ANOTHER VERSION).

I.
Long by the willow-trees
  Vainly they sought her,
Wild rang the mother's screams
  O'er the gray water:
"Where is my lovely one?
  Where is my daughter?
II.
"Rouse thee, sir constable--
  Rouse thee and look;
Fisherman, bring your net,
  Boatman your hook.
Beat in the lily-beds,
  Dive in the brook!"
III.
Vainly the constable
  Shouted and called her;
Vainly the fisherman
  Beat the green alder,
Vainly he flung the net,
  Never it hauled her!
IV.
Mother beside the fire
  Sat, her nightcap in;
Father, in easy chair,
  Gloomily napping,
When at the window-sill
  Came a light tapping!
V.
And a pale countenance
  Looked through the casement.
Loud beat the mother's heart,
  Sick with amazement,
And at the vision which
  Came to surprise her,
Shrieked in an agony--
  "Lor! it's Elizar!"
VI.
Yes, 'twas Elizabeth--
  Yes, 'twas their girl;
Pale was her cheek, and her
  Hair out of curl.
"Mother!" the loving one,
  Blushing, exclaimed,
"Let not your innocent
  Lizzy be blamed.
VII.
"Yesterday, going to aunt
  Jones's to tea,
Mother, dear mother, I
  Forgot the door key!
And as the night was cold,
  And the way steep,
Mrs. Jones kept me to
  Breakfast and sleep."
VIII.
Whether her Pa and Ma
  Fully believed her,
That we shall never know,
  Stern they received her;
And for the work of that
  Cruel, though short, night,
Sent her to bed without
  Tea for a fortnight.
IX.
MORAL.
  Hey diddle diddlety,
  Cat and the Fiddlety,
Maidens of England take caution by she!
  Let love and suicide
  Never tempt you aside,
And always remember to take the door-key.