Noble Sisters

Lyrics

'Now did you mark a falcon Sister dear, sister dear Flying toward my window In the morning cool and clear? With jingling bells about her neck But what beneath her wing? It may have been a ribbon Or it may have been a ring.'— 'I marked a falcon swooping At the break of day; And for your love, my sister dove I 'frayed the thief away.'— 'Or did you spy a ruddy hound Sister fair and tall Went snuffing round my garden bound Or crouched by my bower wall? With a silken leash about his neck; But in his mouth may be A chain of gold and silver links Or a letter writ to me.'— 'I heard a hound, highborn sister Stood baying at the moon; I rose and drove him from your wall Lest you should wakе too soon.'— 'Or did you meet a pretty page Sat swinging on the gatе; Sat whistling whistling like a bird Or may be slept too late; With eaglets broidered on his cap And eaglets on his glove? If you had turned his pockets out You had found some pledge of love.'— 'I met him at this daybreak Scarce the east was red: Lest the creaking gate should anger you I packed him home to bed.'— 'Oh patience, sister. Did you see A young man tall and strong Swift-footed to uphold the right And to uproot the wrong Come home across the desolate sea To woo me for his wife? And in his heart my heart is locked And in his life my life.'— 'I met a nameless man, sister Hard by your chamber door: I said: Her husband loves her much And yet she loves him more.'— 'Fie, sister, fie, a wicked lie A lie, a wicked lie I have none other love but him Nor will have till I die And you have turned him from our door And stabbed him with a lie: I will go seek him thro' the world In sorrow till I die.'— 'Go seek in sorrow, sister And find in sorrow too: If thus you shame our father's name My curse go forth with you.'