by Reginald Arkell (1882 - 1959)
Legend of Rosemary
Language: English
There once was a lady, divinely tall, Who lived high up in a castle wall, And longed to be lord in her husband's hall. (Rosemary) A troubadour chanced to be passing by, As the lady looked down from her casement high. He stood at the foot of the castle wall, And sang to the lady divinely tall, Who longed to be lord in her husband's hall: (Rosemary) "A holy father, from over the sea, Has brought me this cutting of Rosemary." (Rosemary) "Plant it carefully by the wall If it grows a tree, both heavy and tall, You shall be lord in your husband's hall." The lady listened, and so it befell. She wore the doublet and hose as well. And even today there are cynics who say: The wife who means to master her man Will trot down the path with her watering can And if you follow her, you will see She always waters her Rosemary, Rosemary, Rosemary.
Authorship:
- by Reginald Arkell (1882 - 1959), "Legend of Rosemary" [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Betty Roe (b. 1930), "Legend of Rosemary", published 1989. [soprano and Piano] [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-10-15
Line count: 23
Word count: 160