The Return of the Dead

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.