Tekst piosenki
Out of the church she followed them
With a lofty step and mien:
His bride was like a village maid,
Maude Clare was like a queen.
„Son Thomas,” his lady mother said,
With smiles, almost with tears:
„May Nell and you but live as true
As we have done for years;
„Your father thirty years ago
Had just your tale to tell;
But he was not so pale as you,
Nor I so pale as Nell.”
My lord was pale with inward strife,
And Nell was pale with pride;
My lord gazed long on pale Maude Clare
Or ever he kissed the bride.
„Lo, I have brought my gift, my lord,
Have brought my gift,” she said:
„To bless the hearth, to bless the board,
To bless the marriage-bed.
„Here’s my half of the golden chain
You wore about your neck,
That day we waded ankle-deep
For lilies in the beck:
„Here’s my half of the faded leaves
We plucked from budding bough,
With feet amongst the lily-leaves,–
The lilies are budding now.”
He strove to match her scorn with scorn,
He faltered in his place:
„Lady,” he said,–„Maude Clare,” he said,–
„Maude Clare”:–and hid his face.
She turned to Nell: „My Lady Nell,
I have a gift for you;
Though, were it fruit, the bloom were gone,
Or, were it flowers, the dew.
„Take my share of a fickle heart,
Mine of a paltry love:
Take it or leave it as you will,
I wash my hands thereof.”
„And what you leave,” said Nell, „I’ll take,
And what you spurn, I’ll wear;
For he’s my lord for better and worse,
And him I love, Maude Clare.
„Yea, though you’re taller by the head,
More wise, and much more fair;
I’ll love him till he loves me best,
Me best of all, Maude Clare.”
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