The Bloody Gardener

Its of a girl so fair and a shepherds daughter dear,
She was courted by her own dear hearts delight.
But his mother laid a snare and false letters did prepare,
Saying, 'Meet me in the garden here this night.'
So this young girl arose and into the garden goes
Expecting there to meet her hearts delight,
Oh she searched the garden around but no true love could be found
Till at length the bloody gardener came in sight.
Said he, 'My pretty maid and what brings you this way,
Oh have you come to rob my flowers so gay?'
She cries, 'No thief I am but I am in search of some young man
Who promised that hed meet me here today.'
But he took out his knife and cut her tender thread of life
And he laid her virtuous body to bleed on the ground;
And with those flowers fine and gay this girl he did overlay
In a way her body never would be found.
Then her true love arose and into the garden goes
And a milk-white dove come fluttering where she lay;
And with battering wings so sweet all around this young mans feet,
But when he rose this dove she flew away.
Oh the dove, she flew away and into some myrtle tree
And the young man followed after full of pain.
And its from this tree so tall down on her grave did fall
The fresh blood from off her breast like crimson rain.
The young man in anger rose and back to his home he goes
Crying, 'Cursed be my mother here this day!
Oh youve robbed me of my joy, my jewel and my toy,
And I rue the life you ever gave to me.'