And this same nyght, before daylyght, Yf that ye wyll all this fulfill, Do it shortely as ye can: She."I shall as nowe do more for you But nowe, adue! I must ensue For in my mynde, of all mankynde He.-"Nay, nay, nat so; ye shall nat go; For lyke as ye have sayed to me, Ye wolde answére, whosoever it were, In way of company. It is sayd of olde, Sone hote, sone colde, Wherfore I to the wode wyll go "Yf ye take hede, it is no nede Such wordes to say by me; For oft ye prayed, and longe assayed, Or I you loved, pardé. And though that I of auncestry A barons daughter be, Yet have you proved howe I you loved, A squyer of lowe degré; And ever shall, whatso befall, To dy therfore anone: For in my mynde, of all mankynde I love but you alone." He."A barons chylde to be begylde, She. It were a cursed dede! To be feláwe with an outlawe, Than ye sholde say another day, That by my cursed dede Ye were betrayed; wherfore, good mayd, Is that I to the grene wode go "Whatever befall, I never shall Of this thyng you upbrayd; Remember you wele, howe that ye dele, For yf ye, as ye sayd, Be so unkynde to leve behynde Your love, the Not-browne Mayd, Trust me truly, that I shall dy, Sone after ye be gone; For in my mynde, of all mankynde He."Yf that ye went, ye sholde repent, I have purvayed me of a mayd, I dare it wele avowe: And of you bothe eche sholde be wrothe With other, as I trowe. It were myne ese to lyve in pese; So wyll I, yf I can: Wherfore I to the wode wyll go She."Though in the wode I undyrstode All this may naught remove my thought, And she shall fynde me soft and kynde, Glad to fulfyll all that she wyll Commaunde me, to my power: He.-"Myne own dere love, I se the prove "These tidings be more gladd to me Than to be made a quene, Yf I were sure they sholde endure; But it is often sene, Whan men wyll breke promýse, they speke The wordès on the splene. Ye shape some wyle me to begyle, And stele from me, I wene: Than were the case worse than it was, And I more woe-begone; For in my mynde, of all mankynde I love but you alone." "Ye shall nat nede further to drede: I wyll nat dysparáge You (God defend!), syth ye descend Now undyrstande, to Westmarlande, I wyll you brynge, and with a rynge, I wyll you take, and lady make, As shortely as I can: Thus have you won an erlys son, VOL. II.-10 Here may ye se, that women be In love meke, kynde, and stable: But rather pray God that we may To them be comfortable, Which sometyme proveth such as he loveth, For syth men wolde that women sholde Be meke to them each one, Moche more ought they to God obey, And serve but hym alone. TAKE THY OLD CLOAK ABOUT THEE. This winters weather itt waxeth cold, "Rise up, and save cow Crumbockes liffe, "O Bell, why dost thou flyte and scorne? Itt is soe bare and overworne, A cricke he theron cannot runn: For Ile have a new cloake about mee." She.-"Cow Crumbocke is a very good cowe, She has beene alwayes true to the payle, Shee has helpt us to butter and cheese, I trow, And other things shee will not fayle; I wold be loth to see her pine: Good husband, councell take of mee, It is not for us to go soe fine, Man, take thine old cloake about thee." He."My cloake it was a verry good cloake, But now it is not worth a groat, I have had it four and forty yeere: "Tis now but a sigh clout, as you may see; And Ile have a new cloake about mee." She. "It is four and fortye yeeres agoe Since the one of us the other did ken, Of children either nine or ten; Wee have brought them up to women and men, And why wilt thou thyself misken? Man, take thine old cloake about thee." He.-"O Bell my wiffe, why dost thou floute! Seeke now all the world throughout, Thou kenst not clownes from gentlemen; Once in my life Ile doe as they, For Ile have a new cloake about mee." She."King Stephen was a worthy peere, His breeches cost him but a crowne; And thouse but of a low degree; Itt's pride that putts the countrye downe: He. "Bell my wife she loves not strife, And oft, to live a quiet life, I am forced to yield, though Ime goodman. As wee began wee now mun leave, And Ile take mine old cloake about mee." |