Maid Agnes musing sat alane
Upon the wave sat she
When up a beauteous merman rose
From the bottom of the sea
And he was clad unto the waist
With scales like silver white
And on his breast the setting sun
Shone rosy beams of light
He's ta'en her doun the deep, deep sea
And made her his lady fair
In his palace where a king is he
And minnows follow him there
And all along the green, green deeps
Grow flowers wondrous fair
They drink the wave and grow as tall
As those that breathe the air
Eight happy years fair Agnes dwelt
Under the green-sea wave
And seven beauteous little ones
She to the merman gave
She sat beneath the tall sea-plant
And softly took his hand
"I must return, but only once
To see again my land"
A thousand times "Goodnight" she said
Unto her children small
And ere she went away she stooped
And softly kissed them all
Now Agnes sees the sun again
And steps upon the strand
She trembles at the light, and hides
Her eyes with her white hand
Among the folk she used to know
As they walk to the kirk, steps she
"We know thee not, thou woman wild
Come from a far countrie"
Then folded she her thin, white hands,
The merman's weary wife: saying,
"Heaven help me in my wickedness
And take away my life!"
All in the twilight, when the sun
Sank down behind the main
Her hands were pressed upon her heart
Her heart had broke in twain
The waves creep up across the strand
Sighing so mournfullie
And tenderly they washed the corse
To the bottom of the sea
Three days she lay beneath the waves
Till she was washed ashore
Now under stone the maiden's bones
Shall lie for ever more
Each evening and each morning
The stone is wet above
The merman hath wept (so they say)
Over his lost true-love