THE GHOST'S PETITION.
71
We are trees which have shed their leaves:
Our heads lie low there, but no tears flow there;
Only I grieve for my wife who grieves.
Our heads lie low there, but no tears flow there;
Only I grieve for my wife who grieves.
"I could rest if you would not moan
Hour after hour; I have no power
To shut my ears where I lie alone.
Hour after hour; I have no power
To shut my ears where I lie alone.
"I could rest if you would not cry;
But there's no sleeping while you sit weeping—
Watching, weeping so bitterly."—
But there's no sleeping while you sit weeping—
Watching, weeping so bitterly."—
"Woe's me! woe's me! for this I have heard.—
Oh, night of sorrow!—oh, black to-morrow!
Is it thus that you keep your word?
Oh, night of sorrow!—oh, black to-morrow!
Is it thus that you keep your word?
"O you who used so to shelter me
Warm from the least wind—why, now the east wind
Is warmer than you, whom I quake to see."
Warm from the least wind—why, now the east wind
Is warmer than you, whom I quake to see."
O my husband of flesh and blood,
For whom my mother I left, and brother,
And all I had, accounting it good,
For whom my mother I left, and brother,
And all I had, accounting it good,
"What do you do there, underground,
In the dark hollow? I'm fain to follow.
What do you do there?—what have you found?"—
In the dark hollow? I'm fain to follow.
What do you do there?—what have you found?"—
"What I do there I must not tell:
But I have plenty: kind wife, content ye:
It is well with us—it is well.
But I have plenty: kind wife, content ye:
It is well with us—it is well.
