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

The Bridge of Dread

By Myths and Folk-Lore of the Aryan Peoples

From ‘Border Minstrelsy’

[“This dirge used to be sung in the North of England, over a dead body, previous to burial. The tune is weird and doleful, and joined to the mysterious import of the words, has a solemn effect. The word sleet, in the chorus, seems to be corrupted from selt, or salt.”—Sir Walter Scott’s note.]

THIS ae nighte, this ae nighte,

Every night and alle;

Fire and sleete, and candle lighte,

And Christe receive thye saule.

When thou from hence away are paste,

Every night and alle;

To Whinny-muir thou comest at laste:

And Christe receive thye saule.

If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon,

Every night and alle;

Sit thee down and put them on:

And Christe receive thye saule.

If hosen and shoon thou ne’er gavest nane,

Every night and alle;

The Whinnes shall pricke thee to the bare bane:

And Christe receive thye saule.

From Whinny-muir when thou mayst passe,

Every night and alle;

To Brigg o’ Dread thou comest at laste:

And Christe receive thye saule.

From Brigg o’ Dread when thou mayst passe,

Every night and alle;

To purgatory fire thou comest at laste:

And Christe receive thye saule.

If ever thou gavest meat or drink,

Every night and alle;

The fire shall never make thee shrinke:

And Christe receive thye saule.

If meat and drinke thou gavest nane,

Every night and alle;

The fire will burn thee to the bare bane:

And Christe receive thye saule.

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,

Every night and alle;

Fire and sleete, and candle lighte,

And Christe receive thye saule.

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