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C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

The Bridge of Dread

By Myths and Folk-Lore of the Aryan Peoples

  • From ‘Border Minstrelsy’
  • [“This dirge used to be sung in the North of England, over a dead body, previous to burial. The tune is weird and doleful, and joined to the mysterious import of the words, has a solemn effect. The word sleet, in the chorus, seems to be corrupted from selt, or salt.”—Sir Walter Scott’s note.]


  • THIS ae nighte, this ae nighte,

    Every night and alle;

    Fire and sleete, and candle lighte,

    And Christe receive thye saule.

    When thou from hence away are paste,

    Every night and alle;

    To Whinny-muir thou comest at laste:

    And Christe receive thye saule.

    If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon,

    Every night and alle;

    Sit thee down and put them on:

    And Christe receive thye saule.

    If hosen and shoon thou ne’er gavest nane,

    Every night and alle;

    The Whinnes shall pricke thee to the bare bane:

    And Christe receive thye saule.

    From Whinny-muir when thou mayst passe,

    Every night and alle;

    To Brigg o’ Dread thou comest at laste:

    And Christe receive thye saule.

    *****

    From Brigg o’ Dread when thou mayst passe,

    Every night and alle;

    To purgatory fire thou comest at laste:

    And Christe receive thye saule.

    If ever thou gavest meat or drink,

    Every night and alle;

    The fire shall never make thee shrinke:

    And Christe receive thye saule.

    If meat and drinke thou gavest nane,

    Every night and alle;

    The fire will burn thee to the bare bane:

    And Christe receive thye saule.

    This ae nighte, this ae nighte,

    Every night and alle;

    Fire and sleete, and candle lighte,

    And Christe receive thye saule.