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 yo