The Ballad of Rosalie by George Arnold Lyrics

Rosalie was strangely fair
-Slow and weary the days go by-
With her splendid torrent of tawny hair,
And her terrible, beautiful eye.

Love for her had made me blind,
-Slow and weary the days go by-
Her heart was false as the summer wind,
Her truest truth was a lie.

O, but she vowed by that and by this!
-Slow and weary the days go by-
O, but her lips were sweet to kiss,
And, O, but her heart was dry.

A chaplet once I saw her weave,
-Slow and weary the days go by-
Her girdle pressed against my sleeve;
My cheek warmed to her sigh.

That night, wine in the cup was red,
-Slow and weary the days go by-
The chaplet shone on Rosalie’s head,
So Roland’s time drew nigh.
Song and laughter, peal on peal!
-Slow and weary the days go by-
They could not hear the clash of steel,
Their merriment rang so high.

Under the trees I left the knight,
-Slow and weary the days go by-
My blade was crimson; his face was white;
I wear good steal on thigh.

Morning came and the broad light shone,
-Slow and weary the days go by-
The dancers and revelers all had gone
When the sun climbed up the sky.

Rosalie lay by the castle moat,
-Slow and weary the days go by-
A dark, red line across her throat.
-T’were pity that she should die!

Her bright hair gleamed by the water-side,
-Slow and weary the days go by-
How she was loved and how she died
Nobody knows but I.