A ring of gold and a milk-white dove
Are goodly gifts for thee,
And a hempen rope for your own love
To hang upon a tree.
For you a House of Ivory,
( Roses are white in the rose-bower )!
A narrow bed for me to lie,
( White, O white, is the hemlock flower )!
Myrtle and jessamine for you,
( O the red rose is fair to see )!
For me the cypress and the rue,
( Finest of all is rosemary )!
For you three lovers of your hand,
( Green grass where a man lies dead )!
For me three paces on the sand,
( Plant lilies at my head )!