O moon, in harvest heaven
        Silver bright!
She is coming -- my beloved --
        All in white;
Thro' the dewy, dewy grass
I shall hear the maiden pass
        Tripping light.

O changing moon in heaven!
        Clouding fate!
I have waited, I have waited,
        And I wait;
There's a rustle in the grass,
Yet my maiden doth not pass;
        She is late.

O lurid moon in heaven,
        Dim and red!
In the darkness I have hearkened
        For her tread;
O alas ! and alas!
Where my love was fain to pass
Lay a viper in the grass;
        She is dead.