THE RIVER ROE
(SONGS AND BALLADS OF IRELAND - p47)

As I went our one evening, all in the month of June,
The primroses and daisies and violets were in bloom;
I espied a lovely fair one, and her I did not know,
I took her for an angel that was bathing in the Roe.
Her teeth were like ivory, her skin a lily white,
Her cheeks as red as roses, her eyes like diamonds bright,
Her surname I'll not tell, lest you might her know,
But her master's habitation is on the river Roe.

I quickly stepped up to her, and this to her did say;
Are you a goddess, or what brought you this way?
She snawered me right modestly, and said: I am not so.
I'm but a servant maid that was bathing in the Roe.
I said: My pretty fair maid, if with me you'll agree,
We'll join our hands in wedlock and wedded we will be:
My father, he's a nobleman, the country well does know,
And his dwelling lies convenient to the river Roe.

She quickly made me answere, and this to me did say:
My mistress she is waiting, I have no time to stay,
I'll meet lyou to-morrow and my mistress won't know,
We'll have som econversing on the river Roe,
They both shook hands and parted, from each other did go,
In hopes to meet next morning along the river Roe;
She dressed herself in private, away then she did go
Her true love he was waiting along the river Roe.