Here is a hill,
And there is a hill.
And between them shines
A bright, bright star.
What I thought a star
My sweetheart was—
She for water went
And I followed her
As I would seek
A star in the sky.
My fine grey horse
With me I took.
“My sweetheart dear,
Now what woke thee
In the early dawn?”
“Nay, no one woke—
When I arose
In the first starlight
I bathed my face.
With the second stars
I went to the well.”
“O my dear sweetheart,
Wilt water my horse?”
“I will not water
Thy thirsty horse,
Because I fear;
For I am not thine.
If thine I were,
From the bubbling spring
And with new pails
I would quench the thirst
Of horses twain.”
“O dear my love,
Sit now with me
On my fine grey horse!
Homeward we’ll go.
Four splendid rooms
In my home have I.
The fifth one, love,
Waits but for thee.
It is lighted up
For us two alone.”
When they went through the town
None saw them go;
When they went on the steppes
The fine grey horse
Took bit in mouth,
Plunged in the stream
And its rider slew.
“O love of mine,
Lean close, lean close!
Till he bring you safe
To the farther shore.
Look now, I drown
While yet so young!
Good-bye, sweetheart,
Good-bye, good-bye!
Heed not strange men
Who’d speak with thee,
For thou art young,
Alas, so young!”
“GIRL O’ MINE”
(VARIANT)
“Girl o’ mine,
Give my horse a drink!”
“Not yet am I your wife.
Were that my lot in life
My widra[61] from the spring
Cold water then would bring.”
“Girl o’ mine,
Get up behind this horse!
Ride we at swiftest gait!
Rooms in my house await.
The guest-room, O so fine!
Shall couch this girl o’ mine.
Girl o’ mine,
My horse needs better guard!”
“Ah, but the road is hard;
The dew’s on the grass yet,
My bare feet would get wet.”
“My coat around your feet
Shall keep them warm, my sweet.
And when God wills, I’ll buy
New shoon to keep them dry.”
“Nay, buy no shoes for me—
Your own might better be.
There’s one likes my feet bare—
Now run and catch your mare!”