| Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893. | | | | Translations | From the Anglo-Saxon.
The Grave |
| | | FOR thee was a house built | |
| Ere thou wast born, | |
| For thee was a mould meant | |
| Ere thou of mother camest. | |
| But it is not made ready, | 5 |
| Nor its depth measured, | |
| Nor is it seen | |
| How long it shall be. | |
| Now I bring thee | |
| Where thou shalt be; | 10 |
| Now I shall measure thee, | |
| And the mould afterwards. | |
| |
| Thy house is not | |
| Highly timbered, | |
| It is unhigh and low; | 15 |
| When thou art therein, | |
| The heel-ways are low, | |
| The side-ways unhigh. | |
| The roof is built | |
| Thy breast full nigh, | 20 |
| So thou shalt in mould | |
| Dwell full cold, | |
| Dimly and dark. | |
| |
| Doorless is that house, | |
| And dark it is within; | 25 |
| There thou art fast detained | |
| And Death hath the key. | |
| Loathsome is that earth-house, | |
| And grim within to dwell. | |
| There thou shalt dwell, | 30 |
| And worms shall divide thee. | |
| |
| Thus thou art laid, | |
| And leavest thy friends; | |
| Thou hast no friend, | |
| Who will come to thee, | 35 |
| Who will ever see | |
| How that house pleaseth thee; | |
| Who will ever open | |
| The door for thee, | |
| And descend after thee; | 40 |
| For soon thou art loathsome | |
| And hateful to see. | | | | |
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