Page:Sibylline Leaves (Coleridge).djvu/246

 O hear me, hear me, Lord in Heaven,
 * Altho' thou take my life—

O curse this woman, at whose house
 * Young Edward wooed his wife.

By night and day, in bed and bower,
 * O let her cursed be!!!

So having pray'd, steady and slow.
 * She rose up from her knee!

And left the church, nor e'er again
 * The church-door enter'd she.

I saw poor Ellen kneeling still,
 * So pale! I guess'd not why:

When she stood up, there plainly was
 * A trouble in her eye.

And when the prayers were done, we all
 * Came round and ask'd her why:

Giddy she seem'd, and, sure, there was
 * A trouble in her eye.

But ere she from the church-door stepp'd
 * She smil'd and told us why:

"It was a wicked woman's curse" Quoth she, "and what care I?"