The Ballad Of Rosalie Poem by Cicely Fox Smith

There came a knight to the river-side -
Ah, Rosalie!
With his false cousin at his side -
Ah, Rosalie!
And o'er the ford he fain would ride
To see his bride, fair Rosalie!

His cousin rode with purpose fell -
Ah, Rosalie!
For oh! He loved the bride full well -
Ah, Rosalie!
And his envy was deep as the flames of hell.
Alas, alas for Rosalie!

Amid the stream they spurred amain -
Ah, Rosalie!
The false, false traitor knew his gain -
Ah, Rosalie!
And seized her true knight's bridle-rein.
Alas, alas for Rosalie!

The stream runs deep and the stream is wide -
Ah, Rosalie!
Where from the ford he reels aside -
Ah, Rosalie!
And never again he'll see his bride.
Alas, alas for Roalie!

She came at sunset to the ford -
Ah, Rosalie!
Where the stream runs deep and the stream is wide -
Ah, Rosalie!
And there she saw her own true lord.
Alas, alas for Rosalie!

She laid her down upon the strand -
Ah, Rosalie!
And reached and caught him by the hand -
Ah, Rosalie!
And drew his body to the land.
Alas, alas for Rosalie!

She combed his locks of ruddy gold, -
Ah, Rosalie!
She kissed his cheeks so lily-cold, -
Ah, Rosalie!
And lapped him in her mantle's fold:
Alas, alas for Rosalie!

Of rushes green she made his bed:
Ah, Rosalie!
With sweetest flowers beneath his head -
Ah, Rosalie!
And crooned sad dirges o'er her dead.
Alas, alas for Rosalie!

They could not draw the maid away: -
Ah, Rosalie!
She watched beside him night and day: -
Ah, Rosalie!
And to herself would softly say,
'Alas, alas for Rosalie!'

Upon the ground she made her bed -
Ah, Rosalie!
And strewed his couch with roses red -
Ah, Rosalie!
Till by his side they found her dead.
Alas, alas for Rosalie!