Sixteen Poems

<h2><SPAN name="THE_NOBLEMANS_WEDDING" id="THE_NOBLEMANS_WEDDING"></SPAN>THE NOBLEMAN'S WEDDING</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">I once was a guest at a Nobleman's wedding;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Fair was the Bride, but she scarce had been kind,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And now in our mirth, she had tears nigh the shedding<br/></span> <span class="i0">Her former true lover still runs in her mind.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Attired like a minstrel, her former true lover<br/></span> <span class="i0">Takes up his harp, and runs over the strings;<br/></span> <span class="i0">And there among strangers, his grief to discover,<br/></span> <span class="i0">A fair maiden's falsehood he bitterly sings.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">'Now here is the token of gold that was broken;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Seven long years it was kept for your sake;<br/></span> <span class="i0">You gave it to me as a true lover's token;<br/></span> <span class="i0">No longer I'll wear it, asleep or awake.'<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_21" id="Page_21"></SPAN>[21]</span><span class="i0">She sat in her place by the head of the table,<br/></span> <span class="i0">The words of his ditty she mark'd them right well:<br/></span> <span class="i0">To sit any longer this bride was not able,<br/></span> <span class="i0">So down at the bridegroom's feet she fell.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">'O one, one request, my lord, one and no other,<br/></span> <span class="i0">O this one request will you grant it to me?<br/></span> <span class="i0">To lie for this night in the arms of my mother,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And ever, and ever thereafter with thee.'<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Her one, one request it was granted her fairly;<br/></span> <span class="i0">Pale were her cheeks as she went up to bed;<br/></span> <span class="i0">And the very next morning, early, early,<br/></span> <span class="i0">They rose and they found this young bride was dead.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">The bridegroom ran quickly, he held her, he kiss'd her,<br/></span> <span class="i0">He spoke loud and low, and listen'd full fain;<br/></span> <span class="i0">He call'd on her waiting-maids round to assist her<br/></span> <span class="i0">But nothing could bring the lost breath back again.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">O carry her softly! the grave is made ready;<br/></span> <span class="i0">At head and at foot plant a laurel-bush green;<br/></span> <span class="i0">For she was a young and a sweet noble lady,<br/></span> <span class="i0">The fairest young bride that I ever have seen.<br/></span></div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_22" id="Page_22"></SPAN>[22]</span></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />