Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. I. Early Poetry: Chaucer to Donne

Ballads

Supernatural: A Lyke-Wake Dirge

THIS ae nighte, this ae nighte,

Every night and alle,

Fire and sleet, and candle lighte,

And Christe receive thy saule.

When thou from hence away are paste,

Every night and alle;

To Whinny-muir thou comest at laste;

And Christe receive thye saule.

If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon,

Every night and alle;

Sit thee down, and put them on;

And Christe receive thye saule.

If hosen and shoon thou ne’er gavest nane,

Every night and alle:

The whinnes shall pricke thee to the bare bane;

And Christe receive thye saule.

From Whinny-muir when thou mayst passe,

Every night and alle;

To Brigg o’ Dread thou comest at laste;

And Christe receive thye saule.

From Brigg o’ Dread when thou mayst passe,

Every night and alle;

To Purgatory fire thou comest at laste;

And Christe receive thye saule.

If ever thou gavest meat or drink,

Every night and alle;

The fire shall never make thee shrinke;

And Christe receive thye saule.

If meate or drinke thou never gavest nane,

Every night and alle;

The fire will burn thee to the bare bane;

And Christe receive thy saule.

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,

Every nighte and alle;

Fire and sleet, and candle lighte,

And Christe receive thye saule.