VI “Now would you see this aged Thorn,
          This pond, and beauteous hill of moss,
          You must take care and choose your time
          The mountain when to cross. 
          For oft there sits between the heap 60
          So like [6] an infant’s grave in size,
          And that same pond of which I spoke,
          A Woman in a scarlet cloak,
          And to herself she cries,
          ’Oh misery! oh misery! 65
          Oh woe is me! oh misery!’

VII “At all times of the day and night
          This wretched Woman thither goes;
          And she is known to every star,
          And every wind that blows; 70
          And there, beside the Thorn, she sits
          When the blue daylight’s in the skies,
          And when the whirlwind’s on the hill,
          Or frosty air is keen and still
          And to herself she cries, 75
          ’Oh misery! oh misery! 
          Oh woe is me! oh misery!’”

VIII “Now wherefore, thus, by day and night,
          In rain, in tempest, and in snow,
          Thus to the dreary mountain-top 80
          Does this poor Woman go? 
          And why sits she beside the Thorn
          When the blue daylight’s in the sky,
          Or when the whirlwind’s on the hill,
          Or frosty air is keen and still, 85
          And wherefore does she cry?—­
          O wherefore? wherefore? tell me why
          Does she repeat that doleful cry?”

IX “I cannot tell; I wish I could;
          For the true reason no one knows:  90
          But would you [7] gladly view the spot,
          The spot to which she goes;
          The hillock like [8] an infant’s grave,
          The pond—­and Thorn, so old and grey;
          Pass by her door—­’tis seldom shut—­ 95
          And, if you see her in her hut—­
          Then to the spot away! 
          I never heard of such as dare
          Approach the spot when she is there.”

X “But wherefore to the mountain-top 100
          Can this unhappy Woman go,
          Whatever star is in the skies,
          Whatever wind may blow?” [9]
          “Full twenty years are past and gone [10]
          Since she (her name is Martha Ray) 105
          Gave with a maiden’s true good-will
          Her company to Stephen Hill;
          And she was blithe and gay,
          While friends and kindred all approved
          Of him whom tenderly she loved. [11] 110