MARGARET'S BRIDAL EVE by GEORGE MEREDITH

I

THE old grey mother she thrummed on her knee:
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
And which of the handsome young men shall it be?
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

My daughter, come hither, come hither to me:
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
Come, point me your finger on him that you see:
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

O mother, my mother, it never can be:
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
For I shall bring shame on the man marries me:
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

Now let your tongue be deep as the sea:
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
And the man 'll jump for you, right briskly will he:
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

Tall Margaret wept bitterly:
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
And as her parent bade did she:
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

O the handsome young man dropped down on his knee:
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
Pale Margaret gave him her hand, woe's me!
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

II

O mother, my mother, this thing I must say:
@3There is a rose in the garden;@1
Ere he lies on the breast where that other lay:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

Now, folly, my daughter, for men are men:
@3There is a rose in the garden;@1
You marry them blindfold, I tell you again:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

O mother, but when he kisses me!
@3There is a rose in the garden;@1
My child, 'tis which shall sweetest be!
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

O mother, but when I awake in the morn!
@3There is a rose in the garden;@1
My child, you are his, and the ring is worn:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

Tall Margaret sighed and loosened a tress:
@3There is a rose in the garden;@1
Poor comfort she had of her comeliness:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

My mother will sink if this thing be said:
@3There is a rose in the garden;@1
That my first betrothed came thrice to my bed:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

He died on my shoulder the third cold night:
@3There is a rose in the garden;@1
I dragged his body all through the moonlight:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

But when I came by my father's door:
@3There is a rose in the garden;@1
I fell in a lump on the stiff dead floor:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

O neither to heaven, nor yet to hell:
@3There is a rose in the garden;@1
Could I follow the lover I loved so well!
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

III

The bridesmaids slept in their chambers apart:
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
Tall Margaret walked with her thumping heart:
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

The frill of her nightgown below the left breast:
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
Had fall'n like a cloud of the moonlighted West:
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

But where the West-cloud breaks to a star:
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
Pale Margaret's breast showed a winding scar:
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

O few are the brides with such a sign!
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
Though I went mad the fault was mine:
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

I must speak to him under this roof to-night:
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
I shall burn to death if I speak in the light:
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

O my breast! I must strike you a bloodier wound:
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
Than when I scored you red and swooned:
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

I will stab my honour under his eye:
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
Though I bleed to the death, I shall let out the lie:
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

O happy my bridesmaids! white sleep is with you!
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
Had he chosen among you he might sleep too!
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

O happy my bridesmaids! your breasts are clean:
@3There is a rose that's ready;@1
You carry no mark of what has been!
@3There's a rose that's ready for clipping.@1

IV

An hour before the chilly beam:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
The bridegroom started out of a dream:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

He went to the door, and there espied:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
The figure of his silent bride:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

He went to the door, and let her in:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
Whiter looked she than a child of sin:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

She looked so white, she looked so sweet:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
She looked so pure he fell at her feet:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

He fell at her feet with love and awe:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
A stainless body of light he saw:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

O Margaret, say you are not of the dead!
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
My bride! by the angels at night are you led?
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

I am not led by the angels about:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
But I have a devil within to let out:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

O Margaret! my bride and saint!
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
There is on you no earthly taint:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

I am no saint, and no bride can I be:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
Until I have opened my bosom to thee:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

To catch at her heart she laid one hand:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
She told the tale where she did stand:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

She stood before him pale and tall:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
Her eyes between his, she told him all:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

She saw how her body grew freckled and foul:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
She heard from the woods the hooting owl:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

With never a quiver her mouth did speak:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
O when she had done she stood so meek!
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

The bridegroom stamped and called her vile:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
He did but waken a little smile:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

The bridegroom raged and called her foul:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
She heard from the woods the hooting owl:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

He muttered a name full bitter and sore:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
She fell in a lump on the still dead floor:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

O great was the wonder, and loud the wail:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
When through the household flew the tale:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

The old grey mother she dressed the bier:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
With a shivering chin and never a tear:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

O had you but done as I bade you, my child!
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
You would not have died and been reviled:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

The bridegroom he hung at midnight by the bier:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
He eyed the white girl thro' a dazzling tear:
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

O had you been false as the women who stray:
@3Red rose and white in the garden;@1
You would not be now with the Angels of Day!
@3And the bird sings over the roses.@1

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