Saint Margaret's Eve it did befall, <br />The waves roll so gayly O, <br />The tide came creeping up the wall, <br />Love me true! <br /> <br />I opened my gate; who there should stand-- <br />The waves roll so gayly O, <br />But a fair lady, with a cup in her hand, <br />Love me true! <br /> <br />The cup was gold, and full of wine, <br />The waves roll so gayly O, <br />'Drink,' said the lady, 'and I will be thine,' <br />Love me true! <br /> <br />'Enter my castle, lady fair,' <br />The waves roll so gayly O, <br />'You shall be queen of all that's there,' <br />Love me true! <br /> <br />A gray old harper sang to me, <br />The waves roll so gayly O, <br />'Beware of the Damsel of the Sea!' <br />Love me true! <br /> <br />In hall he harpeth many a year, <br />The waves roll so gayly O, <br />And we will sit his song to hear, <br />Love me true! <br /> <br />'I love thee deep, I love thee true,' <br />The waves roll so gayly O, <br />'But ah! I know not how to woo,' <br />Love me true! <br /> <br />Down dashed the cup, with a sudden shock, <br />The waves roll so gayly O, <br />The wine like blood ran over the rock, <br />Love me true! <br /> <br />She said no word, but shrieked aloud, <br />The waves roll so gayly O, <br />And vanished away from where she stood, <br />Love me true! <br /> <br />I locked and barred my castle door, <br />The waves roll so gayly O, <br />Three summer days I grieved sore, <br />Love me true! <br /> <br />For myself a day, a night, <br />The waves roll so gayly O, <br />And two to moan that lady bright, <br />Love me true!<br /><br />William Allingham<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/st-margaret-s-eve/
