William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Restoration Verse. 1910.
Burd HelenAnonymous
I
Night and day on me she cries;
O that I were where Helen lies,
On fair Kirconnell lea!
And curst the hand that fired the shot,
When in my arms burd Helen dropt,
And died to succour me!
When my Love dropt and spak nae mair!
There did she swoon wi’ meikle care,
On fair Kirconnell lea.
None but my foe to be my guide,
None but my foe to be my guide,
On fair Kirconnell lea;
I hackèd him in pieces sma’,
I hackèd him in pieces sma’,
For her sake that died for me.
I’ll make a garland of thy hair,
Shall bind my heart for evermair,
Until the day I die.
Night and day on me she cries;
Out of my bed she bids me rise,
Says, ‘Haste, and come to me!’
If I were with thee, I were blest,
Where thou lies low and takes thy rest,
On fair Kirconnell lea.
A winding-sheet drawn ower my een,
And I in Helen’s arms lying,
On fair Kirconnell lea.
Night and day on me she cries;
And I am weary of the skies,
For her sake that died for me.