The magpie is a most illustrious bird

dwells in a diamond tree

one brings sorrow and one brings joy

sorrow and joy for me



The magpie is a most royal bird

black and blue as night

i would that I had feathers three

black and blue and white



I saw the gentle magpie bird

in  dusky yester-eve

one brought sorrow and one brought joy

and sooner than soon did leave