The loveliest girl in all our country-side,
To-day forsaken, yesterday a bride,
Seeing her love ride forth to join the wars,
With breaking heart and trembling lip implores:
"My hope is dead, my tears are blinding me,
Oh let me walk alone where breaks the sea!

"You told me, Mother, what too well I know,
How grief is long, and joy is quick to go,
But you have given him my heart that he
Might hold it captive with love's bitter key,—
My hope is dead, my tears are blinding me.

"My eyes are dim, that once were full of grace,
And ever bright with gazing on his face,
But now the tears come hot and never cease,
Since he is gone in whom my heart found peace,
My hope is dead, my tears are blinding me.

"Then do not seek to stay my grief, nor yet
To blame a sin my heart must needs forget;
For though blame were spoken in good part,
Yet speak it not, lest you should break my heart.
My hope is dead, my tears are blinding me.

"Sweet Mother mine, who would not weep to see
The glad years of my youth so quickly flee,
Although his heart were flint, his breast a stone?
Yet here I stand, forsaken and alone,
My hope is dead, my tears are blinding me.

"And still may night avoid my lonely bed,
Now that my eyes are dull, my soul is dead.
Since he is gone for whom they vigil keep,
Too long is night, my tears are blinding me,
Oh let me walk alone where breaks the sea!"