I Had A Dove, And The Sweet Dove Died

I had a dove, and the sweet dove died And I have thought it died of grieving; O what could it grieve for? Its feet were tied With a silken thread of my own hand’s weaving: Sweet little red feet! why would you die? Why would you leave me, sweet bird, why? You liv’d alone on the forest tree, Why, pretty thing, could you not live with me? I kiss’d you oft, and gave you white pease; Why not live sweetly as in the green trees?