"And is there none shall ransom thee? Mayst thou no borrow find?" "Nay, what man may my borrow be, When all my wealth is left behind?" "Perchance some ring is left with thee, Some belt that did thy body bind?" "Nay, no man may my borrow be, My rings and belt are left behind." "The shoes that the May-blooms kissed on thee Might yet be things to some men's mind." "Nay, no man may my borrow be, My golden shoes are left behind." "The milk-white sark that covered thee A dear-bought token some should find." "Nay, no man may my borrow be, My silken sark is left behind." "The kiss of thy mouth and the love of thee Better than world's wealth should I find." "Nay, thou mayst not my borrow be, For all my love is left behind. "A year agone come Midsummer-night I woke by the Northern sea; I lay and dreamed of my delight Till love no more would let me be. "Seaward I went by night and cloud To hear the white swans sing; But though they sang both clear and loud, I hearkened a sweeter thing. "O sweet and sweet as none may tell Was the speech so close 'twixt lip and lip: But fast, unseen, the black oars fell That drave to shore the rover's ship. "My love lay bloody on the strand Ere stars were waxen wan: Naught lacketh graves the Northern land If to-day it lack a lovelier man. "I sat and wept beside the mast When the stars were gone away. Naught lacketh the Northland joy gone past If it lack the night and day." "Is there no place in any land Where thou wouldst rather be than here?" "Yea, a lone grave on a cold sea-strand My heart for a little holdeth dear." "Of all the deeds that women do Is there none shall bring thee some delight?" "To lie down and die where lay we two Upon Midsummer night." "I will bring thee there where thou wouldst be, A borrow shalt thou find." "Wherewith shall I reward it thee For wealth and good-hap left behind?" "A kiss from lips that love not me, A good-night somewhat kind; A narrow house to share with thee When we leave the world behind." They have taken ship and sailed away Across the Southland main; They have sailed by hills were green and gay, A land of goods and gain. They have sailed by sea-cliffs stark and white And hillsides fair enow; They have sailed by lands of little night Where great the groves did grow. They have sailed by islands in the sea That the clouds lay thick about; And into a main where few ships be Amidst of dread and doubt. With broken mast and battered side They drave amidst the tempest's heart; But why should death to these betide Whom love did hold so well apart? The flood it drave them toward the strand, The ebb it drew them fro; The swallowing seas that tore the land Cast them ashore and let them go. "Is this the land? is this the land, Where life and I must part a-twain?" "Yea, this is e'en the sea-washed strand That made me yoke-fellow of pain.