Seven stars in the still water
And seven in the sky;
Seven sins on the King's daughter
Deep in her soul to lie

Roses are at her feet
(Roses are red in her red-gold hair)
And O where her bosom and girdle meet
Red roses are hidden there

Fair is the knight who lies slain
Amid the rush and reed
See the lean fishes that are fain
Upon dead men to feed

Sweet is the page that lies there
(Cloth of gold is goodly prey,)
See the black ravens in the air
Black, O black as the night are they

What do they there so stark and dead?
(There is blood upon his hand)
Why are the lilies flecked with red?
(There is blood on the river sand.)

There are two that ride from the south and east
And two from the north and west
For the black raven a goodly feast
For the King's daughter rest
There is one man who loves her true
(Red, O red, is the stain of gore!)
He dug a grave by the darksome yew
(One grave will do for four.)

No moon in the still heaven
In the black water none
The sins on her soul are seven
The sin upon his is one