22 WILLIAM AND MARGARET. Then to her new love let her go, And frolic it all the long day : WILLIAM AND MARGARET. WHEN all was wrapt in dark midnight, And all were fast asleep, In glided Margaret's grimly ghost, And stood at William's feet. Her face was like the April morn, Clad in a wintry cloud; And clay-cold was her lily band, That held the sable showd, ROWE. THYRSIS ET CHLOE. Tum gemmis multoque nitens lasciviat auro, Perpetuum, nitidas inter nitidissima nymphas, Longum abes interea, Corydon, longumque licebit THIRSIS FT CHLOE. 23 OMNIA nox tenebris, tacitaque involverat umbra, Cum valvæ patuere, et gressu illapsa silenti, Vultus, erat qualis lacrymosi vultus Aprilis, 24 WILLIAM AND MARGARET. So shall the fairest face appear, When youth and years are flown; Such is the robe that kings must wear, When death has reft their crown. Her bloom was like the springing flower, The rose was budded in her cheek, But love had, like the canker-worm, Consum'd her early prime : The rose grew pale, and left her cheek; She dy'd before her time. Awake, she cried, thy true love calls, Come from her midnight grave; Now let thy pity hear the maid, This is the dark and fearful hour, Bethink thee, William, of thy fault, And give me back my maiden-vow, THYRSIS ET CHLOE. Cumque dies aberunt molles, et læta juventus, Forma fuit (dum forma fuit) nascentis ad instar Sed lenta exedit tabes mollemque ruborem, 25 Excute te somnis; nocturno egressa sepulchro, Hæ tenebræ querulos manes, hæc elicit hora, Thyrsi, tuum crimen, solenne recollige fœdus, C 26 WILLIAM AND MARGARET. How could you say my face was fair, How could you win my virgin-heart, How could you promise love to me, Why did you swear mine eyes were bright, How could you say, my lip was sweet, And made the scarlet pale? And why did I, young witless maid, That face, alas! no more is fair; That lip no longer red; Dark are mine eyes, now clos'd in death, The hungry worm my sister is ; This winding-sheet I wear; And cold and weary lasts our night, "Till that last morn appear. But hark! the cock has warn'd me hence : A long and last adieu ! Come see, false man! how low she lies, That died for love of you. 3 |