May Janet
By Algernon Charles Swinburne
(BRETON.)
Stand up, stand up, thou May Janet,
And go to the wars with me.
Hes drawn her by both hands
With her face against the sea.
He that strews red shall gather white,
He that sows white reap red,
Before your face and my daughters
Meet in a marriage-bed.
Gold coin shall grow in the yellow field,
Green corn in the green sea-water,
And red fruit grow of the roses red,
Ere your fruit grow in her.
But I shall have her by land, he said,
Or I shall have her by sea,
Or I shall have her by strong treason
And no grace go with me.
Her fathers drawn her by both hands,
Hes rent her gown from her,
Hes taen the smock round her body,
Cast in the sea-water.
The captains drawn her by both sides
Out of the fair green sea;
Stand up, stand up, thou May Janet,
And come to the war with me.
The first town they came to
There was a blue bride-chamber;
He clothed her on with silk
And belted her with amber.
The second town they came to
The bridesmen feasted knee to knee;
He clothed her on with silver,
A stately thing to see.
The third town they came to
The bridesmaids all had gowns of gold;
He clothed her on with purple,
A rich thing to behold.
The last town they came to
He clothed her white and red,
With a green flag either side of her
And a gold flag overhead.