Tarrant Moss

1 
I closed and drew for my love's sake
That now is false to me,
And I slew the Reiver of Tarrant Moss
And set Dumeny free.
2 
They have gone down, they have gone down,
They are standing all arow–
Twenty knights in the peat-water,
That never struck a blow!
3 
Their armour shall not dull nor rust,
Their flesh shall not decay,
For Tarrant Moss holds them in trust,
Until the Judgment Day.
4 
Their soul went from them in their youth,
Ah, God, that mine had gone,
When as I leaned on my love's truth
And not on my sword alone!
5 
When as I leaned on lad's belief
And not on my naked blade–
And I slew a thief, and an honest thief,
For the sake of a worthless maid.
6 
They have laid the Reiver low in his place,
They have set me up on high.
But the twenty knights in the peat-water
Are luckier than I !
7 
And ever they give me gold and praise
And ever I mourn my loss–
For I struck the blow for my false love's sake
And not for the Men of the Moss!

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