An hour before the chilly beam:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
The bridegroom started out of a dream:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
He went to the door, and there espied:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
The figure of his silent bride:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
He went to the door, and let her in:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
Whiter looked she than a child of sin:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
She looked so white, she looked so sweet:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
She looked so pure he fell at her feet:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
He fell at her feet with love and awe:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
A stainless body of light he saw:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
O Margaret, say you are not of the dead!
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
My bride! by the angels at night are you led?
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
I am not led by the angels about:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
But I have a devil within to let out:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
O Margaret! my bride and saint!
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
There is on you no earthly taint:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
I am no saint, and no bride can I be:
_Red rose and while in the garden_;
Until I have opened my bosom to thee:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
To catch at her heart she laid one hand:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
She told the tale where she did stand:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
She stood before him pale and tall:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
Her eyes between his, she told him all:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
She saw how her body grow freckled and foul:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
She heard from the woods the hooting owl:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
With never a quiver her mouth did speak:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
O when she had done she stood so meek!
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
The bridegroom stamped and called her vile:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
He did but waken a little smile:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
The bridegroom raged and called her foul:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
She heard from the woods the hooting owl:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
He muttered a name full bitter and sore:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
She fell in a lump on the still dead floor:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
O great was the wonder, and loud the wail:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
When through the household flew the tale:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
The old grey mother she dressed the bier:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
With a shivering chin and never a tear:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
O had you but done as I bade you, my child!
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
You would not have died and been reviled:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
The bridegroom he hung at midnight by the bier:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
He eyed the white girl thro’ a dazzling tear:
_And the bird sings over the roses_.
O had you been false as the women who stray:
_Red rose and white in the garden_;
You would not be now with the Angels of Day!
_And the bird sings over the roses_.