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.