Young edward did a hawking go beneath the linden tree
And his heart it twas so full of woe of a love of a fair lady
For the love of a fair lady
He tied his ring in a silken thread and cast his hawk to flight
O' give my love this pledge of troth before the day goes bright
Before the day grows bright
Young Elinor in a chamber wept
Within her canopied bed
For on the morrow another lord
And father would have her wed
And father would have her wed
Then into the room with a rush of wings and a cry both piercing and keen
Came a goshawk bearing a golden ring
Bound up in silk of green
Bound up in silk of green
I give thee thanks gentle hawk to know that my love is pledged to me
Oh would not I could a bird become and fly away with thee
And fly away with thee
A glimmering light from the ring did shine and the taperstries gleamed above
And there where a maiden once had stood twas now a morning dove
Twas now a morning dove
Young Edward did a hunting go and he let his arrow soar
He shot a dove but at his feet
There lay the fair Elinor
There lay the fair Elinor
On her head a circlet of woven gems and a veil of silvery sheen
On her hand there was a golden ring bound up in silk of green
Bound up in silk of green
Oh what ill chance hath befallen here with the rising of the sun
For I have slain what I most have loved
By mine own hand it was done
By mine own hand it was done
Young Edward's heart it broke in twa he died upon that eve
They burried were in a single grave and many did come to grieve
And many did come to grieve
Yet since that day every early morn
A hawk in flight doth soar
And by its side is a morning dove
'Tis Edward and his Elinor
'Tis Edward and his Elinor