| |
I
ALL the trees they are so high, | |
| The leaves they are so green, | |
| The day is past and gone, sweet-heart, | |
| That you and I have seen. | |
| It is cold winter’s night, | 5 |
| You and I must bide alone: | |
| Whilst my pretty lad is young | |
| And is growing. | |
| |
II
In a garden as I walked, | |
| I heard them laugh and call; | 10 |
| There were four and twenty playing there, | |
| They played with bat and ball. | |
| O the rain on the roof, | |
| Here and I must make my moan: | |
| Whilst my pretty lad is young | 15 |
| And is growing. | |
| |
III
I listen’d in the garden, | |
| I lookèd o’er the wall; | |
| ’Midst five and twenty gallants there | |
| My love exceeded all. | 20 |
| O the wind on the thatch, | |
| Here and I alone must weep: | |
| Whilst my pretty lad is young | |
| And is growing. | |
| |
IV
O father, father dear, | 25 |
| Great wrong to me is done, | |
| That I should married be this day, | |
| Before the set of sun. | |
| At the huffle of the gale, | |
| Here I toss and cannot sleep: | 30 |
| Whilst my pretty lad is young | |
| And is growing. | |
| |
V
My daughter, daughter dear, | |
| If better be, more fit, | |
| I’ll send him to the court awhile, | 35 |
| To point his pretty wit. | |
| But the snow, snowflakes fall, | |
| O and I am chill as dead: | |
| Whilst my pretty lad is young | |
| And is growing. | 40 |
| |
VI
To let the lovely ladies know | |
| They may not touch and taste, | |
| I’ll bind a bunch of ribbons red | |
| About his little waist. | |
| But the raven hoarsely croaks, | 45 |
| And I shiver in my bed; | |
| Whilst my pretty lad is young | |
| And is growing. | |
| |
VII
I married was, alas, | |
| A lady high to be, | 50 |
| In court and stall and stately hall, | |
| And bower of tapestry. | |
| But the bell did only knell, | |
| And I shuddered as one cold: | |
| When I wed the pretty lad | 55 |
| Not done growing. | |
| |
VIII
At fourteen he wedded was, | |
| A father at fifteen, | |
| At sixteen ’s face was white as milk, | |
| And then his grave was green; | 60 |
| And the daisies were outspread, | |
| And buttercups of gold, | |
| O’er my pretty lad so young | |
| Now ceased growing. | |
| |
