The Dole Of The King's Daughter （Breton）

The Dole¹ Of The King's Daughter （Breton）

　　Seven stars in the still water，

　　And seven in the sky；

　　Seven sins on the King's daughter，

　　Deep in her soul to lie.

　　Red roses are at her feet，

　　（Roses are red in her red-gold hair）

　　And O where her bosom² and girdle meet

　　Red roses are hidden there.

　　Fair is the knight³ who lieth slain⁴

　　Amid the rush and reed，

　　See the lean fishes that are fain

　　Upon dead men to feed.

　　Sweet is the page that lieth there，

　　（Cloth of gold is goodly prey⁵，）

　　See the black ravens⁷ in the air，

　　Black， O black as the night are they.

　　What do they there so stark⁸ and dead？

　　（There is blood upon her hand）

　　Why are the lilies flecked with red？

　　（There is blood on the river sand.）

　　There are two that ride from the south and east，

　　And two from the north and west，

　　For the black raven⁶ a goodly feast，

　　For the King's daughter rest.

　　There is one man who loves her true，

　　（Red， O red， is the stain of gore⁹！）

　　He hath duggen a grave by the darksome yew¹⁰，

　　（One grave will do for four.）

　　No moon in the still heaven，

　　In the black water none，

　　The sins on her soul are seven，

　　The sin upon his is one.