33. A Lyke-Wake Dirge. Quiller-Couch, Arthur, ed. 1910. The Oxford Book of Ballads

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. (1863–1944). The Oxford Book of Ballads. 1910.

33. A Lyke-Wake Dirge

THIS ae nighte, this ae nighte,

—Every nighte and alle,

Fire and fleet and candle-lighte,

And Christe receive thy saule.

When thou from hence away art past,

—Every nighte and alle,

To Whinny-muir thou com’st at last:

And Christe receive thy saule.

III

If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon,

—Every nighte and alle,

Sit thee down and put them on:

And Christe receive thy saule.

If hosen and shoon thou ne’er gav’st nane

—Every nighte and alle,

The whinnes sall prick thee to the bare bane;

And Christe receive thy saule.

From whinny-muir when thou may’st pass,

—Every nighte and alle,

To Brig o’ Dread thou com’st at last;

And Christe receive thy saule.

From Brig o’ Dread when thou may’st pass,

—Every nighte and alle,

To Purgatory fire thou com’st at last;

And Christe receive thy saule.

VII

If ever thou gavest meat or drink,

—Every nighte and alle,

The fire sall never make thee shrink;

And Christe receive thy saule.

VIII

If meat or drink thou ne’er gav’st nane,

—Every nighte and alle,

The fire will burn thee to the bare bane;

And Christe receive thy saule.

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,

—Every nighte and alle,

Fire and fleet and candle-lighte,

And Christe receive thy saule.

GLOSS: channerin’] fretting. fleet] floor. Other readings are ‘sleet’ and ‘salt’.