[Page 138]
Florella
1
(1)
Down by the drooping willows,
Where violets gently
bloom,
There lies the young Florella,
So silent in her tomb.
[Page 138]
(2)
She died not broken hearted,
No sickness her befell,
But in one moment parted
From those she
loved so well.
[Page
138]
(3)
One eve the moon shone brightly,
Those efforts gently bloom,
When to her dwelling
lightly,
Her treacherous lover drew.
[Page 138]
(4)
"Come love, said he, "let's wander,
Down by yon
meadows gay,
And undisturbed we'll ponder,
Upon our wedding day."
[Page 138]
(5)
"Those woods look dark and
dreary,
And I'm afriad to stray.
Of
wandering I am weary,
I would retrace my way."
[Page 139]
(6)
"Retrace your way, no never,
Those woods no more
you'll roam,
So bid adieu forever,
To
parents, friends and home.
[Page 139]
(7)
"Now in
these woods I have you,
Nor from me can you fly,
No human aid can save you,
You truly now must
die."
[Page
139]
(8)
Down on her knees before him,
She begged him spare her life,
When deep into her
bosom,
He plunged the fatal knife.
[Page 139]
(9)
"Dear William, I forgive you,"
Were her last dying breath.
Her pulses ceased their
motion,
Her eyelids closed in death.
[Page 139]
(10)
'Twas early the next morning,
Her parents did prepare,
And there in death so comely,
Florella
slumbered there.
[Page
140]
(11)
So by this wilful murder,
The young man he was hung,
. . . . . . . . . . . .
.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
[Page 140]
(12)
Trust not
your hearts to young men,
For they will sure betray,
Nor with them do not wander,
Down by the meadows
gay.
Finis.
Notes
1
Florella:
also known as "The Jealous Lover"
2
Mrs. S. Turple: unknown person. Possibly the story teller, author,
or contributer to the ballad
