Classic Poem

There came a ghost to Margaret's door,
With many a grievous groan,
And aye he tirled at the pin;
But answer made she none.

" Is this my father Philip?
Or is 't my brother John?
Or is 't my true love Willie,
From Scotland new come home? "

" 'Tis not thy father Philip;
Nor yet thy brother John;
But 'tis thy true love Willie
From Scotland new come home.

" O sweet Margret! O dear Margret!
I pray thee speak to me:
Give me my faith and troth, Margret,
As I gave it to thee. "

" Thy faith and troth thou'se never get,
Of me shalt never win,
Till that thou come within my bower,
And kiss my cheek and chin. "

" If I should come within thy bower,
I am no earthly man:
And should I kiss thy rosy lip,
Thy days will not be lang.

" O sweet Margret, O dear Margret,
I pray thee speak to me:
Give me my faith and troth, Margret,
As I gave it to thee. " —

" Thy faith and troth thou'se never get,
Of me shalt never win,
Till thou take me to yon kirkyard,
And wed me with a ring. " —

" My bones are buried in a kirkyard
Afar beyond the sea,
And it is but my sprite, Margret,
That's speaking now to thee. "

She stretched out her lily-white hand,
As for to do her best:
" Hae there your faith and troth, Willie,
God send your soul good rest! "

Now she has kilted her robes of green,
A piece below her knee:
And a' the live-lang winter night
The dead corpse followed she.

" Is there any room at your head, Willie?
Or any room at your feet?
Or any room at your side, Willie,
Wherein that I may creep? "

" There's nae room at my head, Margret,
There's nae room at my feet,
There's nae room at my side, Margret,
My coffin is made so meet. "

Then up and crew the red red cock,
And up then crew the gray:
" 'Tis time, 'tis time, my dear Margret,
That I were gane away. "

No more the ghost to Margret said,
But, with a grievous groan,
Evanished in a cloud of mist,
And left her all alone.

" O stay, my only true love, stay! "
The constant Margret cried:
Wan grew her cheeks, she closed her een,
Stretched her saft limbs, and died.