The bitter arrow went aside, Oriana: The false, false arrow went aside, The damned arrow glanced aside, And pierced thy heart, my love, my bride, Thy heart, my life, my love, my bride, O! narrow, narrow was the space, Loud, loud rung out the bugle's brays, O! deathful stabs were dealt apace, The battle deepened in its place, Oriana ; But I was down upon my face, Oriana. They should have stabbed me where I lay, Oriana! How could I rise and come away, Oriana? How could I look upon the day? They should have stabbed me where I lay, They should have trod me into clay, O! breaking heart that will not break, Oriana; O! pale, pale face so sweet and meek, Thou smilest, but thou dost not speak, Oriana: What wantest thou? whom dost thou seek, Oriana? I cry aloud: none hear my cries, Oriana. Thou comest atween me and the skies, Oriana. I feel the tears of blood arise Up from my heart unto my eyes, Within thy heart my arrow lies, O cursed hand! oh cursed blow! Oriana! O happy thou that liest low, Oriana! All night the silence seems to flow Beside me in my utter woe, Oriana. A weary, weary way I go, Oriana. When Norland winds pipe down the sea, Oriana, I walk, I dare not think of thee, Oriana. Thou liest beneath the greenwood tree, I dare not die and come to thee, Oriana. I hear the roaring of the sea, CIRCUMSTANCE. Two children in two neighbor villages Two lovers whispering by an orchard wall; THE MERMAN. WHO would be A merman bold Sitting alone, Under the sea, With a crown of gold, On a throne? I would be a merman bold; I would sit and sing the whole of the day; Laughingly, laughingly; |