{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/wikisource_The_Reciter_The_well_of_St_Keyne/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/wikisource_The_Reciter_The_well_of_St_Keyne","id":"wikisource_The_Reciter_The_well_of_St_Keyne","license":"Public Domain / CC-BY-SA (see source)","rights_basis":"wikisource_site_inclusion_policy","source":"wikisource","source_url":"https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Reciter/The_well_of_St._Keyne","summary":null,"tags":["Chapbooks","Headers_applying_DefaultSort_key","Marriage","Pages_with_contributor","Scottish_poetry","Subpages","Works_using_categories_parameter"],"text":"\u2014\u2014\u2014\n\nTHE WELL OF ST. KEYNE.\n\nA well there is in the west country,\n\nAnd a clearer one never was seen;\n\nThere is not a wife in the west country\n\nBut has heard of the well of St. Keyne.\n\nAn oak and an elm-tree stand beside,\n\nAnd behind does an ash-tree grow,\n\nAnd a willow from the bank above\n\nDroops to the water below.\n\nA traveller came to the well of St. Keyne;\n\nJoyfully he drew nigh,\n\nFor from cock-crow he had been travelling,\n\nAnd there was not a cloud in the sky.\n\nHe drank of the water so cool and clear,\n\nFor thirsty and hot was he,\n\nAnd he sat down upon the bank\n\nUnder the willow tree.\n\nThere came a man from the neighbouring town\n\nAt the well to fill his pail;\n\nOn the well-side he rested it,\n\nAnd he bade the stranger hail.\n\n\"Now art thou a bachelor, stranger?\" quoth he,\n\n\"For an if thou hast a wife,\n\nThe happiest draught thou hast drunk this day\n\nThat ever thou didst in thy life.\n\n\"Or, has thy good woman, if one thou hast,\n\nEver here in Cornwall been?\n\nFor an if she have, I'll venture my life\n\nShe has drunk of the well of St. Keyne.\"\n\n\"I have left a good woman who never was here,\"\n\nThe stranger he made reply,\n\n\"But that my draught should be better for that,\n\nI pray you answer me why?\"\n\n\"St. Keyne,\" quoth the Cornishman, \"many a time\n\nDrank of this crystal well,\n\nAnd before the Angel summon'd her,\n\nShe laid on the water a spell:---\n\n\"If the husband---of this gifted well\n\nShall drink before his wife,\n\nA happy man henceforth is he,\n\nFor he shall be master for life.\n\n\"But if the wife should drink of it first,---\n\nOh, pity the husband then!\"\n\nThe stranger stoop'd to the well of St. Keyne,\n\nAnd drank of the water again.\n\n\"You drank of the well I warrant betimes?\"\n\nHe to the Cornishman said:\n\nBut the Cornishman smiled as the stranger spake,\n\nAnd sheepishly shook his head.\n\n\"I hasten'd as soon as the wedding was done\n\nAnd left my wife in the porch;\n\nBut in truth she'd been wiser than I,\n\nFor she took a bottle to church.\"","title":"The Reciter/The well of St. Keyne","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":374}