HERNE THE HUNTER

Green the woods at break of day

Yellow now the dawn

Silent is the forest but for

Herne the hunter's horn

There as I was walking

I met a hunting swain

Soon we fell a-talking

And these words I did say

Go you to the gay green woods

Thick with leaf and vine

Do you hunt the milk white stag

With ivy in its tines

Once I saw the milk white stag

Running by the way

With my bow and my good steed

I thought to give it chase

Cold as snow the sacred hide

His antlers thick with vine

Ever did he look at me

With fire in his eyes

Go you to the gay green woods

Thick with leaf and vine

Do you hunt the milk white stag

With ivy in its tines

Through the woods he gave me chase

Wet my horses sides

Ever did he look at me

With fire in his eyes

Till at last we came to rest

In a meadow thick with thorn

Just as I had him in my sights

I heard the hunter's horn

There stood Herne the hunter

Terrible and grey

And with a voice like thunder

These words to me did say

Well my friend you hunted now

The prey that I made thine

Know that if you hit your mark

Your soul's forever mine

I drew the string back to my ear

But fear was in my heart

Wild and high my arrow flew

Swiftly ran the hart

Breathlessly I turned around, but

Herne was there no more

My arrow it lay shattered on the

Brackened forest floor

Go you to the gay green woods

Thick with leaf and vine

Do you hunt the milk white stag

With ivy in its tines

So good swain you know I said

The pain that I endure

For Herne the hunter lives within

My heart forever more

And if you go a-hunting and you

Seek the milk white heart

Prepare to pledge your soul to Herne or

Put away your dart

And I will never hunt again

I curse my bow and dart

That kept me from the forest God

That lives within my heart

Go you to the gay green woods

Thick with leaf and vine

Do you hunt the milk white stag

With ivy in its tines