C.D. Warner, et al., comp.
The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

St. Margaret’s Eve

By William Allingham (1824–1889)

I BUILT my castle upon the seaside,

The waves roll so gayly O,

Half on the land and half in the tide,

Love me true!

Within was silk, without was stone,

The waves roll so gayly O,

It lacks a queen, and that alone,

Love me true!

The gray old harper sang to me,

The waves roll so gayly O,

“Beware of the Damsel of the Sea!”

Love me true!

Saint Margaret’s Eve it did befall,

The waves roll so gayly O,

The tide came creeping up the wall,

Love me true!

I opened my gate; who there should stand—

The waves roll so gayly O,

But a fair lady, with a cup in her hand,

Love me true!

The cup was gold, and full of wine,

The waves roll so gayly O,

“Drink,” said the lady, “and I will be thine,”

Love me true!

“Enter my castle, lady fair,”

The waves roll so gayly O,

“You shall be queen of all that’s there,”

Love me true!

A gray old harper sang to me,

The waves roll so gayly O,

“Beware of the Damsel of the Sea!”

Love me true!

In hall he harpeth many a year,

The waves roll so gayly O,

And we will sit his song to hear,

Love me true!

“I love thee deep, I love thee true,”

The waves roll so gayly O,

“But ah! I know not how to woo,”

Love me true!

Down dashed the cup, with a sudden shock,

The waves roll so gayly O,

The wine like blood ran over the rock,

Love me true!

She said no word, but shrieked aloud,

The waves roll so gayly O,

And vanished away from where she stood,

Love me true!

I locked and barred my castle door,

The waves roll so gayly O,

Three summer days I grieved sore,

Love me true!

For myself a day, a night,

The waves roll so gayly O,

And two to moan that lady bright,

Love me true!

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