The Beltane Chase
Traditional
Ladies:
I shall go as a wren in spring
With sorrow and sighing on silent wing
And I shall go in our Lady's name
Aye, till I come home again.Men:
And we shall follow as falcons grey
And hunt thee cruelly as our prey
And we shall go in our Master's name
Aye, to fetch thee home again.Ladies:
Then I shall go as a mouse in May
In the fields by night and cellars by day
And I shall go in our Lady's name
Aye, till I come home again.Men:
But we shall follow as fat tom cats
And chase thee through the corn and vats
And we shall go in our Master's name
Aye, to fetch thee home again.Ladies:
Then I shall go as an Autumn hare
With sorrow and sighing and mickle care
And I shall go in our Lady's name
Aye, till I come home again.Men:
But we shall follow as swift grey hounds
And dog thy tracks by leaps and bounds
And we shall go in our Master's name
Aye, to fetch thee home again.Ladies:
Then I shall go as a Winter trout
With sorrow sighing and mickle doubt
And I shall go in our Lady's name
Aye, till I come home again.Men:
But we shall follow as otter's swift
And snare thee faster thou can'st shift
And we shall go in our Master's name
Aye, to fetch thee home again.Ladies:
Aye, and I'll come home again.