SAY, fair maids, maying 
In gardens green, 
In deep dells straying, 
What end hath been 
Two Mays between 
Of the flowers that shone 
And your own sweet queen?? 
?They are dead and gone!? 
 
Say, grave priests, praying 
In dule and teen, 
From cells decaying 
What have ye seen 
Of the proud and mean, 
Of Judas and John, 
Of the foul and clean?? 
?They are dead and gone!? 
 
Say, kings, arraying 
Loud wars to win, 
Of your manslaying 
What gain ye glean? 
?They are fierce and keen, 
But they fall anon, 
On the sword that lean,? 
They are dead and gone!? 
 
ENVOY

Through the mad world?s scene 
We are drifting on, 
To this tune, I ween, 
?They are dead and gone!?