Classic Poem

A POOR soul sat sighing under a sycamore tree;
" O willow, willow, willow! "
With his hand on his bosom, his head on his knee:
" O willow, willow, willow!
O willow, willow, willow!
Sing, O the green willow shall be my garland. "

He sighed in his singing, and after each groan,
" Come willow, " &c.
" I am dead to all pleasure, my true-love is gone;
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" My love she is turned; untrue she doth prove:
O willow, " &c.
" She renders me nothing but hate for my love.
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" O pity me, " cried he, " ye lovers, each one;
O willow, " &c.
" Her heart's hard as marble; she rues not my moan.
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

The cold streams ran by him, his eyes wept apace;
" O willow, " &c.
The salt tears fell from him, which drowned his face:
" O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

The mute birds sat by him, made tame by his moans:
" O willow, " &c.
The salt tears fell from him, which softened the stones.
" O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" Let nobody blame me, her scorns I do prove;
O willow, " &c.
" She was born to be fair; I, to die for her love.
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" O that beauty should harbour a heart that's so hard!
Sing willow, " &c.
" My true love rejecting without all regard.
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" Let love no more boast him in palace or bower;
O willow, " &c.
" For women are trothless, and fleet in an hour
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" But what helps complaining? In vain I complain:
O willow, " &c.
" I must patiently suffer her scorn and disdain.
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" Come, all you forsaken, and sit down by me,
O willow, " &c.
" He that plains of his false love, mine's falser than she.
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.
" The willow wreath wear I, since my love did fleet;
O willow, " &c.
" A garland for lovers forsaken most meet.
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.


PART THE SECOND.

" Low laid by my sorrow, begot by disdain;
O willow, willow, willow!
Against her too cruel, still still I complain,
O willow, willow, willow!
O willow, willow, willow!
Sing, O the green willow shall be my garland!

" O love too injurious, to wound my poor heart!
O willow, " &c.
" To suffer the triumph, and joy in my smart:
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" O willow, willow, willow ! the willow garland,
O willow, " &c.
" A sign of her falseness before me doth stand:
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" As here it doth bid to despair and to die,
O willow, " &c.
" So hang it, friends, o'er me in grave where I lie:
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" In grave where I rest me, hang this to the view,
O willow, " &c.
" Of all that do know her, to blaze her untrue.
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.
" With these words engraven, as epitaph meet,
O willow, " &c.
" " Here lies one drank poison for potion most sweet,"
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" Though she thus unkindly hath scorned my love,
O willow, " &c.
" And carelessly smiles at the sorrows I prove;
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" I cannot against her unkindly exclaim,
O willow, " &c.
" Cause once well I loved her, and honoured her name:
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" The name of her sounded so sweet in mine ear,
O willow, " &c.
" It raised my heart lightly, the name of my dear;
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" As then 'twas my comfort, it now is my grief;
O willow, " &c.
" It now brings me anguish; then brought me relief.
O willow, " &c.
" Sing, O the green willow, " &c.

" Farewell, fair false-hearted: plaints end with my breath!
O willow, willow, willow!
Thou dost loathe me, I love thee, though cause of my death.
O willow, willow, willow!
O willow, willow, willow!
Sing, O the green willow shall be my garland. "