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Translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
JOHN of Tours is back with peace, | |
| But he comes home ill at ease. | |
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| “Good morrow, mother.” “Good morrow, son; | |
| Your wife has borne you a little one.” | |
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| “Go now, mother, go before, | 5 |
| Make me a bed upon the floor; | |
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| “Very low your foot must fall, | |
| That my wife hear not at all.” | |
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| As it neared the midnight toll, | |
| John of Tours gave up his soul. | 10 |
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| “Tell me, now, my mother my dear, | |
| What ’s the crying that I hear?” | |
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| “Daughter, it ’s the children wake | |
| Crying with their teeth that ache.” | |
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| “Tell me though, my mother my dear, | 15 |
| “What ’s the knocking that I hear?” | |
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| “Daughter, it ’s the carpenter | |
| Mending planks upon the stair.” | |
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| “Tell me, too, my mother my dear, | |
| What ’s the singing that I hear?” | 20 |
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| “Daughter, it ’s the priests in rows | |
| Going round about our house.” | |
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| “Tell me then, my mother my dear, | |
| What ’s the dress that I should wear?” | |
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| “Daughter, any reds or blues, | 25 |
| But the black is most in use.” | |
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| “Nay, but say, my mother my dear, | |
| Why do you fall weeping here?” | |
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| “O, the truth must be said,— | |
| It ’s that John of Tours is dead.” | 30 |
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| “Mother, let the sexton know | |
| That the grave must be for two; | |
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| Ay, and still have room to spare, | |
| For you must shut the baby there.” | |
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