AWAY to the well lilted Annie—
Away with her skiel to the well;
Away to the well whistled Johnnie,
The pride and delight of the dell.
Sweet, sweet is the well; but ah, sweeter,
The words of the silver-tongued elf;
I counsel the youth who shall meet her,
To keep a strict guard on himself.
Deep, deep is the well; but ah, deeper,
The guile of the silver-tongued elf;
And the laugher she'll turn to a weeper,
Unless he look well to himself.
'Twas thus proved the mortal to Johnnie:
Lo, pale, now, he wanders the dell,—
Pale, pale with the potion that Annie
Had caused him to drink at the well.