The Unquiet Grave

Cold blows the wind to my true love,
And gently drops the rain.
I've never had but one true love,
And in green-wood she lies slain.

I'll do as much for my true love,
As any young man may,
I'll sit and mourn all on her grave,
For twelve months and a day.

And when twelve months and a day was passed,
The ghost did rise and speak,
"why sittest thou all on my grave
And will no let me sleep?"

‘There’s one thing that I want, sweetheart,

There’s one thing that I crave,

And that is a kiss your lily-white lips,

Then I’ll go from your grave’

"Go fetch me water from the desert,
And blood from out the stone,
Go fetch me milk from a fair maid's breast
That young man never has known."

"My breast is cold as clay,
My breath is earthly strong,
And if you kiss my cold clay lips,
You days they won't be long."

‘How oft on yonder grave, sweetheart,
Where we were want to walk,
The fairest flower that e'er I saw
Has withered to a stalk.

The stalk is wither’d and dry, sweetheart,

And the flower will never return

And since I lost my own sweetheart,

What can I do but mourn?’

"when will we meet again, sweetheart,
When will we meet again?"
"when the autumn leaves that fall from the trees
Are green and spring up again."

Vocabulary practice:

Translate the words and learn them by heart:

to mourn, to crave, clay, to wither, a stalk;

Translation exercises:

Translate the following expression:

m y breath is earthly strong;

Translate the following fragments:

1. "Go fetch me water from the desert,
   And blood from out the stone,
   Go fetch me milk from a fair maid's breast
   That young man never has known."
2. The fairest flower that e'er I saw
   Has withered to a stalk.

Comprehension questions:

1. What sad event does the young man announce in the opening stanza?
2. How does the weather reflect his state of mind?
3. What does the young man decide to do?
4. After how long does the ghost start to speak?
5. What does the young man want form her?
6. What will happen if the young man kisses her?
7. Do you think they will meet again and if so, when?

Additional task:

This ballad is still extremely popular nowadays. Listen to 3 different versions of the ballad performed by contemporary singers. What changes in the text of the ballad have you noticed depending on the sex of the performer? In what way do these changes influence the perception of the ballad by listeners? Are there any other differences? Can you explain the existence of them?

Focus on the text:

What do you know about Robin Hood? Do you consider him to be a popular character in the contemporary world? Can you think of any reason for such popularity?