That she was in. Now I begin I am the Knight. I come by night, Saying, Alas! thus standeth the case, I am a banished man. SHE. And I your will for to fulfil In this will not refuse; HE. 20 5 Trusting to show, in wordes few, That men have an ill use 309 35 40 To their own shame-women to blame, And causeless them accuse. Therefore to you I answer now, All women to excuse Mine own heart dear, with you what cheer? I pray you, tell anone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. It standeth so: a deed is do Whereof great harm shall grow: My destiny is for to die A shameful death, I trow; Or else to flee. The t' one must be. None other way I know But to withdraw as an outlaw, And take me to my bow. Wherefore adieu, mine own heart true! None other rede2 I can.3 For I must to the green-wood go, Alone, a banished man. SHE. O Lord, what is this worldis bliss, My summer's day in lusty May I hear you say, farewell: Nay, nay, Why say ye so? Whither will ye go? 45 50 55 60 65 10 All my welfare to sorrow and care 70 Their first true lover than Laboureth for naught; for from her thought He is a banished man. SHE. I say not nay, but that all day It is both written and said Should change, if ye were gone: For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. HE. HE. That woman's faith is, as who saith, 15 All utterly decayed: I can believe it shall you grieve, And somewhat you distrain; But nevertheless, right good witness In this case might be laid But afterward, your painės hard Shall soon aslake; and ye shall take 75 Why should ye ought? for, to make thought, Your labour were in vain. And thus I do; and pray you to, As heartily as I can: For I must to the green-wood go, 80 If I had need (as God forbede!) What socours could ye find?" Forsooth I trow, you and your bow For fear would draw behind. And no mervail; for little avail Were in your counsel than: 150 Wherefore I'll to the green-wood go, 155 SHE. Right well know ye that women be No womanhede it is, indeed, I would withstand, with bow in hand, I love but you alone. 160 165 115 120 But a brake bush or twain: 175 SHE. Among the wild deer such an archére 205 Ne may not fail of such vitayle • Thither. 230 HE. I have purveyed me of a maid Whom I love more than you: Another more fair than ever ye were 235 240 For, right as ye have said to me, 245 In likewise hardily Ye would answere whosoever it were, In way of company: It is said of old, Soon hot, soon cold; 250 It were mine ease to live in peace; Wherefore I to the wood will go, SHE. Though in the wood I understood HE. 254 300 All this may nought remove my thought, And she shall find me soft and kind 305 Command me, to my power: For, in my mind, of all mankind Mine own dear love, I see the proves Of maid, of wife, in all my life Be merry and glad; be no more sad; For it were ruth that for your truth I will not to the green-wood go; SHE. These tidings be more glad to me If I were sure they should endure; 7 Went. 310 315 320 325 • Proof. Yet have you proved how I you loved, And ever shall, whatso befall, To die therefore anone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. A baron's child to be beguiled, To be feláw with an outlaw- 6 Health. 260 265 To Brigg o' Dread thou comest at last, And Christ receive thy saule. . . . 20 1 A lyke-wake is the watch or vigil over a corpse. (O. E. lic, a dead body). The dirge here given is said to have been sung at funerals in Yorkshire "down to 1624." 2 Probably a corruption of salt, which, through a popular superstition, was often placed on the breast of a corpse. The whin is a furze or gorse, the moor-whin grows on bleak heaths, and has sharp spines or needles. "Whinnymuir" therefore suggests a great plain full of prickles, and most painful to traverse. |