Ballad: A Lyke-Wake Dirge

(Border Minstrelsy, vol. ii., p. 357.)

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,
Every nighte and alle ,
Fire, and sleet, and candle-lighte,
And Christe receive thye saule .

When thou from hence away art paste,
Every nighte and alle ,
To Whinny-muir thou comest at laste;
And Christe receive thye saule .

If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon,
Every nighte and alle ,
Sit thee down and put them on;
And Christe receive thye saule .

If hosen and shoon thou ne’er gavest nane,
Every nighte and alle ,
The whinnes sall pricke thee to the bare bane;
And Christe receive thye saule .

From Whinny-muir when thou mayst passe,
Every nighte and alle ,
To Brigg o’ Dread thou comest at laste,
And Christe receive thye saule .

From Brigg o’ Dread when thou mayst passe,
Every nighte and alle ,
To Purgatory fire thou comest at last,
And Christe receive thye saule .

If ever thou gavest meat or drink,
Every nighte and alle ,
The fire sall never make thee shrinke;
And Christe receive thye saule .

If meate or drinke thou never gavest nane,
Every nighte and alle ,
The fire will burn thee to the bare bane;
And Christe receive thye saule .

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,
Every nighte and alle ,
Fire, and sleet, and candle-lighte,
And Christe receive thye saule .