Here where the Mississippi
Snakes past the crescent city
A story I will tell you
Of love and fallen glory
She was a southern beauty
Well-born and scorning duty
He was a rich landowner
Well-learned and growing older
They were married on August first
A month of thirst
She spilled wine on her satin gown
From London town
His name was Almonaster
The city's fencing-master
One day in early spring
She flung aside her ring
I will love you although
My fate will make us wait
He grows older and someday
He'll pass away
When the landowner
Learned of her betrayal
He took action but
Knowing he would fail
Beneath the dueling oaks
A crowd of somber folks
Watched Almonaster win
The rich man had met his end
Almonaster was tried
And found guilty
From the gallows he swung until
He was still
In her sorrow she leapt into
The river
Now their bodies lie
In marble side by side