When I was bold, when I was bold
And that's a hundred years!
Oh, never I thought my breast could hold
The terrible weight of tears

I said: "Now some be dolorous
I hear them wail and sigh
And if it be Love that play them thus
Then never a love will I."

I said: "I see them rack and rue
I see them wring and ache
And little I'll crack my heart in two
With little the heart can break."

When I was gay, when I was gay
It's ninety years and nine!
Oh, never I thought that Death could lay
His terrible hand in mine

I said: "He plies his trade among
The musty and infirm
A body so hard and bright and young
Could never be meat for worm."

"I see him dull their eyes," I said
"And still their rattling breath
And how under God could I be dead
That never was meant for Death?"

But Love came by, to quench my sleep
And here's my sundered heart
And bitter's my woe, and black, and deep
And little I guessed a part

Yet this there is to cool my breast
And this to ease my spell
Now if I were Love's, like all the rest
Then can I be Death's, as well

And he shall have me, sworn and bound
And I'll be done with Love
And better I'll be below the ground
Than ever I'll be above