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| AS I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, | |
| Merrie sang the Birde as she sat upon the spraye; | |
| There came a noble Knyghte, | |
| With his hauberke shynynge brighte, | |
| And his gallant heart was lyghte, | 5 |
| Free and gaye; | |
| As I laye a-thynkynge, he rode upon his waye. | |
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| As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, | |
| Sadly sang the Birde as she sat upon the tree! | |
| There seem’d a crimson plain, | 10 |
| Where a gallant Knyghte lay slayne, | |
| And a steed with broken rein | |
| Ran free, | |
| As I laye a-thynkynge, most pitiful to see! | |
| |
| As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, | 15 |
| Merrie sang the Birde as she sat upon the boughe; | |
| A lovely Mayde came bye, | |
| And a gentil youth was nyghe, | |
| And he breathèd many a syghe | |
| And a vowe; | 20 |
| As I laye a-thynkynge, her hearte was gladsome now. | |
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| As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, | |
| Sadly sang the Birde as she sat upon the thorne, | |
| No more a youth was there, | |
| But a Maiden rent her haire, | 25 |
| And cried in sad despaire, | |
| ‘That I was borne!’ | |
| As I laye a-thynkynge, she perished forlorne. | |
| |
| As I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, | |
| Sweetly sang the Birde as she sat upon the briar; | 30 |
| There came a lovely Childe, | |
| And his face was meek and mild, | |
| Yet joyously he smiled | |
| On his sire; | |
| As I laye a-thynkynge, a Cherub mote admire. | 35 |
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| But I laye a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, a-thynkynge, | |
| And sadly sang the Birde as it perch’d upon a bier; | |
| That joyous smile was gone, | |
| And the face was white and wan, | |
| As the downe upon the Swan | 40 |
| Doth appear, | |
| As I laye a-thynkynge—O! bitter flow’d the tear! | |
| |
| As I laye a-thynkynge, the golden sun was sinking, | |
| O merrie sang that Birde as it glitter’d on her breast | |
| With a thousand gorgeous dyes, | 45 |
| While, soaring to the skies, | |
| ’Mid the stars she seem’d to rise, | |
| As to her nest; | |
| As I laye a-thynkynge, her meaning was exprest:— | |
| ‘Follow, follow me away, | 50 |
| It boots not to delay,’— | |
| ’Twas so she seem’d to saye, | |
| ‘HERE IS REST!’ | |
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