The Raven

The Raven he flew at eventide,
By day he did not dare;
Ill luck must they be fain to meet.
Who better cannot fare.

Over the walls the Raven flew.
And round the dwelling swept.
And saw, where in her lonely bower
Sat Ermeline and wept.

He flew to South, he flew to North,
He flew to the clouds so high,
And still he saw fair Ermeline
With grief her needle ply.

"Now tell me, Lady Ermeline,
"Why sheddest thou the tear?
"Is mother, father, brother dead,
"Or any friend as dear?"

Fair Ermeline to her window stepped,
Look'd up and looked below;
"Now who is here will comfort me,
"And hear my tale of woe?

"O thou, Wild raven, stay thy flight, i
"And hither come to me,
"My tale of sorrow thou shalt hear,
"I'll tell it all to thee.

"To one, my equal, and a Prince,
"My father gave my hand,
"But him my harsh stepmother drove
"Afar to an eastern land.

"And much as each the other loved,
"And would together live,
"She me to a foul mis-shapen imp,
"Her sister's son, would give.

"A brother too that once I had,
"Sir Verner, knight so brave,
"Him too my stepmother transformed,
And from his country drave."

"Now tell me, Lady Ermeline,
"What wilt thou me repay,
"If to thy trulove on my wing
"I bear thee hence away?"

"I'll give thee silver, give thee gold,
"And jewels bright and rare,
"If thou wilt carry me to my Prince,
"And still my grief and care/'

"Thy silver need I not, nor gold,
"Nor jewels' costly shine,
"But let for my reward thy son,
"Thine eldest son, be mine."

She stretch'd him forth her lily hand,
She grasp'd his foot with joy,
And on her Christian faith she sware
To give her eldest boy.

He took the Lady Ermeline,
And set her on his back.
And flew above the stormy sea
A high and giddy track.

He rested on a castle tower.
And closed his swarthy wing;
"Now hero, dear Lady, dwells the Prince,
"To whom I thee should bring."

And there the brave Sir Nilus stood
With silver cup in hand;
"Welcome, dear Lady Ermeline,
"To this our foreign land.

"How, Raven, shall I thee repay
"For bringing me my bride?
"I've, since I loft my Danish home,
"Heard no good news beside."

The good Sir Nilus, gallant knight,
He made no long delay,
Bat held his troth, and that day month
Was kept his wedding day,

With joy and peace they quaff'd the wine,
Forgot their grief and care,
And, soon as forty weeks were past,
A son that lady bare.

That very night the raven came,
And Hat upon the roof.
And claim'd, what Lady Ermeline
Had vow'd in his behoof

She wrung her hands, and wept and griev'd,
She had not borne a maid;
"And, tho' it cost thy tender life,
"The bird must be repaid."

Around the house the raven flew,
A foul and fearful bird,
And maids and matrons wrung their hands.
And doleful cries were heard.

Sir Nilus proffered gold and towers.
So massive every one;
Would give the Raven half his land,
Could he but keep his son.

"Unless I get that little babe,
"Mine anger thou shalt taste;
"I'll slay thyself, devour thy flesh,
"And all thy realm lay waste."

Her child then took fair Ermeline,
Wrapt him in linen fine;
"Farewell my son! Of this thy death
"The guilt alas is mine."

They carried out the infant babe,
That on her bosom slept;
And loud were then the cries of woe,
And many those that wept

Fast in his claw he seized the child,
And croak'd a dismal joy;
Sir Nilus stood, and deeply groan'd
To see him clutch the boy.

The right eye out of his head he peeked
And half his hearths blood drank,
And straight became the ravenous bird
A knight of princely rank.

And in that knight, as brave a one
As ever brake a spear,
Beheld the Lady Ermeline
Her long-lost brother dear.

The people all, who throng'd the yard,
Knelt bare-kneed on the ground,
And pray'd to God his grace to show.
And heal the infants wound.

Full happy now is Ermeline,
Nor longer moans and weeps;
Has son and brother both restored,
And with Sir Nilus sleeps.