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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  381. A Lyke-Wake Dirge

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Anonymous. 17th Cent.

381. 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,         5
  —Every nighte and alle, 
To Whinny-muir thou com’st at last; 
  And Christe receive thy saule. 
 
If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon, 
  —Every nighte and alle,  10
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;  15
  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.  20
 
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. 
 
If ever thou gavest meat or drink,  25
  —Every nighte and alle, 
The fire sall never make thee shrink; 
  And Christe receive thy saule. 
 
If meat or drink thou ne’er gav’st nane, 
  —Every nighte and alle,  30
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,  35
  And Christe receive thy saule. 
 
GLOSS:  fleet] house-room.