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Title: The Return Of The Dead
Author: George Borrow [
More Titles by Borrow]
Swayne Dyring o'er to the island strayed;
_And were I only young again_!
He wedded there a lovely maid--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
Together they lived seven years and more;
_And were I only young again_!
And seven fair babes to him she bore--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
Then death arrived in luckless hour;
_And were I only young again_!
Then died the lovely lily flower--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
The Swayne he has crossed the salt sea way,
_And were I only young again_!
And he has wedded another may--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
And he that may to his home has brought;
_And were I only young again_!
But peevish was she, and with malice fraught--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
And when she came to the castle gate,
_And were I only young again_!
The seven children beside it wait--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
The children stood in sorrowful mood,
_And were I only young again_!
She spurned them away with her foot so rude--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
Nor bread nor meat will she bestow;
_And were I only young again_!
Said "Hate ye shall have and the hunger throe"--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
She took away the bolsters blue;
_And were I only young again_!
"Bare straw will serve for the like of you"--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
Away she's ta'en the big wax light;
_And were I only young again_!
Said she "Ye shall lie in the murky night"--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
The babies at night with hunger weep;
_And were I only young again_!
The woman heard that in the grave so deep--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
To God's high throne such haste she made;
_And were I only young again_!
"O I must go to my babies' aid"--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
She begged so loud, and she begged so long,
_And were I only young again_!
That at length consent from her God she wrung--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
"But thou must return when the cock shall crow,
_And were I only young again_!
"No longer tarry must thou below"--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
Then up she struck with her stark thigh bone,
_And were I only young again_!
And burst through wall and marble stone--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
And when to the dwelling she drew nigh,
_And were I only young again_!
The hounds they yelled to the clouds so high--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
And when to the castle gate she won,
_And were I only young again_!
Her eldest daughter stood there alone--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
"Hail daughter mine, what dost thou here?
_And were I only young again_!
How fare thy brothers and sisters dear?"--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
"O dame thou art no mother of mine,
_And were I only young again_!
For she was a lady fair and fine--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
"A lady fine with cheeks so red,
_And were I only young again_!
But thou art pale as the sheeted dead"--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
"O how should I be fine and sleek?
_And were I only young again_!
How else than pale should be my cheek?--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
"And how should I be white and red?
_And were I only young again_!
Beneath the mould I've long been dead"--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
And when she entered the high, high hall,
_And were I only young again_!
Drowned with tears stood the babies all--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
The one she combed, the other she brushed,
_And were I only young again_!
The third she dandled, the fourth she hushed--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
The fifth upon her breast she plac'd,
_And were I only young again_!
And allowed the babe of the breast to taste--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
To her eldest daughter she turned her eye;
_And were I only young again_!
"Go call Swayne Dyring instantly"--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
And when Swayne Dyring before her stood,
_And were I only young again_!
She spake to him thus in wrathful mood--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
"I left behind both ale and bread;
_And were I only young again_!
My children with hunger are nearly dead--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
"I left behind me bolsters blue;
_And were I only young again_!
Upon bare straw my babes I view--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
"I left behind the big wax light;
_And were I only young again_!
My children lie in the murk at night--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
"If again I'm forced to seek thee here,
_And were I only young again_!
Befall thee shall a fate so drear--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
"But hark! the ruddy cock has crow'd,
_And were I only young again_!
The dead must return to their abode--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
"I hear, I hear the black cock crow;
_And were I only young again_!
The gates of heaven are opening now--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
The white cock claps his wings so wide,
_And were I only young again_!
No longer here I dare to bide"--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
Each time the dogs began to yell,
_And were I only young again_!
They gave the children bread and ale--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
As soon as they heard of the hounds the cry,
_And were I only young again_!
They feared the ghost was drawing nigh--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
Whene'er the dogs were heard to rave,
_And were I only young again_!
They feared the woman had left her grave--
_To honied words we list so fain_.
[The end]
George Borrow's poem: The Return Of The Dead
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