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Cry not, and cease lamenting,
Young widow, as fair as a rose,
Since you have lost your husband,
Let me once more propose.

One day she spent in weeping,
Quiet the second day,
Before the third day vanished
Her grief hath passed away.

Before a week passed by
Thoughts of the dead had parted,
Within another month
A wedding gown she started.

Along the old grave yard
Now jollier the way,
As the bridal pair rides by
To the wedding feast today.

The wedding was so gay,
And full of noisy jesting,
In the bridegroom’s fond embrace
The bride at length was resting.

The wedding was so gay,
Music rang with gladness,
He pressed her to his bosom,
She laughed in joyous madness.

Laugh fair bride . . . keep laughing
It doth become you well,
The dead man ‘neath the earth
Hears not and cannot tell.

Embrace and love your dear one,
Fears do not entertain,
The casket’s tight and narrow,
The dead shan’t turn again.

Now you can kiss and treasure
The cheeks for which you sighed;
For he, who drank your potion
Can never be revived.

***

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