down by the rushing river

down by the rushing river, there I laid
our noble queen whose sorcery so beguiled
the king’s proud daughter, that fairest maid

who, for her crime of beauty, in shade
I led, deep in the forest, poor child,
down by the rushing river, there I laid

her head upon the ground, but not one braid
could I sever, so sad her eyes, so mild,
the king’s proud daughter, that fairest maid

said, ‘It’s okay, I will go, I will fade
into the woods, never seen, living wild…’
down by the rushing river, there I laid

her cloak and slaughtered pig, I played
a trick to fool the queen who so reviled
the king’s proud daughter, that fairest maid

‘where is she?’ demanded the regal jade
I loved too well; said I, ‘her bones are piled
down by the rushing river, there I laid
the king’s proud daughter, that fairest maid’