Proud Margaret's[165] father of wealth had store, Time with me goes slow.-- And he was a king seven kingdoms o'er, But that grief is heavy I know.[166]
To her came wooing good earls two, Time with me goes slow.-- But neither of them would she hearken unto, But that grief is heavy I know.
To her came wooing princes five, Time with me goes slow.-- Yet not one of them would the maiden have, But that grief is heavy I know.
To her came wooing kings then seven, Time with me goes slow.-- But unto none her hand has she given, But that grief is heavy I know.
And the hill-king asked his mother to read, Time with me goes slow.-- How to win proud Margaret he might speed, But that grief is heavy I know.
"And say how much thou wilt give unto me," Time with me goes slow.-- "That herself may into the hill come to thee?" But that grief is heavy I know.
"Thee will I give the ruddiest gold," Time with me goes slow.-- "And thy chests full of money as they can hold," But that grief is heavy I know.
One Sunday morning it fell out so, Time with me goes slow.-- Proud Margaret unto the church should go, But that grief is heavy I know.
And all as she goes, and all as she stays, Time with me goes slow.-- All the nearer she comes where the high hill lay, But that grief is heavy I know.
So she goeth around the hill compassing, Time with me goes slow.-- So there openeth a door, and thereat goes she in, But that grief is heavy I know.
Proud Margaret stept in at the door of the hill, Time with me goes slow.-- And the hill-king salutes her with eyes joyfúl, But that grief is heavy I know.
So he took the maiden upon his knee, Time with me goes slow.-- And took the gold rings and therewith her wed he, But that grief is heavy I know.
So he took the maiden his arms between, Time with me goes slow.-- He gave her a gold crown and the name of queen, But that grief is heavy I know.
So she was in the hill for eight round years, Time with me goes slow.-- There bare she two sons and a daughter so fair, But that grief is heavy I know.
When she had been full eight years there, Time with me goes slow.-- She wished to go home to her mother so dear, But that grief is heavy I know.
And the hill-king spake to his footpages twain, Time with me goes slow.-- "Put ye the gray paeers now unto the wain,"[167] But that grief is heavy I know.