Agnes and the Merman

Fair Agnes, on Hoveland bridge she stands,
As up from the sea a Merman lands.
Ha! ha! ha!
And up from the sea a Merman lands.

"O turn thee, my Agnes, and list to me;
"Say wilt thou come and my trulove be?

"Aye gladly I will, and at once I go,
"If thou wilt take me with thee below."

Her ears he stopp'd, and her mouth he stopp'd,
And down to the bottom of ocean dropp'd.

Eight years she dwelt with the Merman there,
And under the sea seven children bare.

But while at her cradle she sat to sing,
"She heard church-bells in England ring.

Before the Merman she went to stand;
"O may I not go to church on land?"

"Thou'rt welcome, my Agnes, to church to go,
"But back to thy children return below."

He stopp'd her ears, and her mouth he bound,
And landed her safely on English ground.

Her steps to the church fair Agnes bent,
And close behind her her mother went.

"O hear me, my Agnes, and still my fears;
"Now where hast thou lived these eight long years?"

"In th' ocean, dear mother, and on its floor
"I seven small sons to the Merman bore."

"The day that he took thee with him to live,
"To pay thine honour what gift did he give?"

"He gave me of gold as rich a band,
"As any that glows on the queen's own hand."

In strode the Merman: the statues all
Turn'd round their face to the church's wall.

His hair it glitter'd like purest gold.
And blithe and joyous his eyes he roll'd.

"Now hark thee, my Agnes, and come with me,
"Thy seven little children all long for thee."

"And long as they may, their longings are vain,
"I'll never go back with thee there again."

"O think of the big ones, and think of the small,
"And think of the infant can hardly crawl."

"I think not of big ones, I think not of small;
"Of th' infant in cradle think least of all."
Ha! ha! ha!
"Of th' infant in cradle think least of all."