The Maiden In Birds Plumage

Dm Am Dm Am It was Nilus Erlandson Dm Gm Rode forth the deer to take Dm Bb Am And there he saw the lily-white hind Dm Am Dm Am That ran through bush and brake Dm Am He chased her, Nilus Erlandson Dm Gm That longed for her so sore Dm Bb Am But swift was she, and still did flee Dm Gm For three days' space and more, more Dm Am Dm For three days' space and more Am Now snares he set on every path Dm Gm Where'er a beast might go Dm Bb Am But all so wise was the lily-white hind Dm Am Dm Am That he could not take her so Dm Am Sir Nilus all through the greenwood Dm Gm Rode and rode in vain Dm Bb Am His hounds loosed he by two, by three Dm Gm To run her down a-main, main Dm Am Dm To run her down a-main Am Now can she spy no way to fly Dm Gm So hot the hounds pursue Dm Bb Am Her shape she changed to a falcon fierce Dm Am Dm Am And aloft in the air she flew Dm Am Her shape she changed to a falcon fleet Dm Gm And perched on a linden green Dm Bb Am And under the boughs Sir Nilus stood Dm Gm And sighed for toil and tane, tane Dm Am And sighed for toil and tane Dm Am Sir Nilus has taken his axe in his hand Dm Gm To fell the linden tree Dm Bb Am When forth there sprang a forester Dm Am Dm Am That smote the haft in three Dm Am "Oh, would you take my father's wood Dm Gm And all to do me wrong Dm Bb Am For I promise thee, Nilus Erlandson Dm Gm That thou shalt rue it long, long! Dm Am That thou shalt rue it long!" Dm Am "Oh, let me take this single tree Dm Gm This tree alone of thine Dm Bb Am For but I can take the falcon fell Dm Am Dm Am I die of toil and pain!" Dm Am "Oh, hark and heed, thou fair young knight Dm Gm This counsel that I bring Dm Bb Am Ne'er shalt thou take her till she taste Dm Gm The blood of a tamed thing, thing! Dm Am Dm The blood of a tamed thing!" Am A gobbet he cut of his bleeding breast Dm Gm Right bitter pain he knew Dm Bb Am She flapped her wings and down she fell Dm Am Dm Am And on the bait she flew Dm Am She flapped her wings and down she flew Dm Gm And on the bait she fell Dm Bb Am And she changed her shape to the fairest maid Dm Gm That ever a tongue can tell, tell Dm Am Dm That ever a tongue can tell Am She stood in a sark of silk so red Dm Gm Where the linden tree did grow Dm Bb Am And in the arms of Nilus Erlandson Dm Am Dm Am She told her word of woe Dm Am "I sat and broidered lily and rose Dm Gm My father's board beside Dm Bb Am When in there came my dear stepdame Dm Gm Whose wrath was ill to bide, bide Dm Am Whose wrath was ill to bide" Dm Am "My shape she changed to the lily-white hind Dm Gm To run in wild greenwood Dm Bb Am And my seven maidens to seven grey wolves Dm Am Dm Am And bade them drink my blood" Dm Am The damsel stood 'neath the linden tree Dm Gm And loosed her golden hair Dm Bb Am And then there came, what erst were wolves Dm Gm But now were maidens fair, fair Dm Am Dm But now were maidens fair Am "Oh, thanks to thee, Nilus Erlandson! Dm Gm Hast saved me from hurt and harm Dm Bb Am Never shalt thou seek thy slumber Dm Am Dm Am But on my lily-white arm" Dm Am "Oh, thanks to thee, Nilus Erlandson Dm Gm Hast set my sorrow to rest! Dm Bb Am Never shalt thou seek thy slumber Dm Gm But on my lily-white breast, breast Dm Am But on my lily-white breast"