A Bundle of Ballads Part 3

This vow the king did well perform After on Humble Down; In one day fifty knights were slain, With lords of great renown,

And of the rest of small account, Did many hundreds die: Thus ended the hunting in Chevy Chase Made by the Earl Piercy.

G.o.d save our king, and bless this land With plenty, joy, and peace, And grant henceforth that foul debate Twixt n.o.ble men may cease!

THE NUT-BROWN MAID

Be it right or wrong, these men among On women do complain; Affirming this, how that it is A labour spent in vain To love them wele; for never a dele They love a man again: For let a man do what he can, Their favour to attain, Yet, if a new to them pursue, Their first true lover than Laboureth for naught; and from her thought He is a banished man.

I say not nay, but that all day It is both writ and said That woman's faith is, as who saith, All utterly decayed; But nevertheless, right good witn-ess In this case might be laid.

That they love true, and contin-ue, Record the Nut-brown Maid: Which from her love, when her to prove He came to make his moan, Would not depart; for in her heart She loved but him alone.

Then between us let us discuss What was all the manere Between them two: we will also Tell all the pain in fere That she was in. Now I begin, So that ye me answere: Wher-efore, ye, that present be I pray you give an ear.

I am the knight. I come by night, As secret as I can; Saying, "Alas! thus standeth the case, I am a banished man."

And I your will for to fulfil In this will not refuse; Trusting to shew, in word-es few, That men have an ill use (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."

HE.

"It standeth so: a deed is do Whereof much harm shall grow; My destiny is for to die A shameful death, I trow; Or else to flee. The one must be.

None other way I know, But to withdraw as an out-law, And take me to my bow.

Wherefore, adieu, my own heart true!

None other rede I can: For I must to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man."

SHE.

"O Lord, what is this world-es bliss, That changeth as the moon!

My summer's day in l.u.s.ty May Is darked before the noon.

I hear you say, farewell: Nay, nay!

We de-part not so soon.

Why say ye so? whither will ye go?

Alas! what have ye done?

All my welf-are to sorrow and care Should change, if ye were gone: For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone."

HE.

"I can believe, it shall you grieve, And somewhat you distrain; But, afterward, your pain-es hard Within a day or twain Shall soon aslake; and ye shall take Com-fort to you again.

Why should ye nought? for, to make thought, Your labour were in vain.

And thus I do; and pray you, lo, As heartily as I can: For I must to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man."

SHE.

"Now, sith that ye have shewed to me The secret of your mind, I shall be plain to you again, Like as ye shall me find.

Sith it is so, that ye will go, I will not leave behind.

Shall never be said, the Nut-brown Maid Was to her love unkind: Make you read-y, for so am I, Although it were anone: For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone."

HE.

"Yet I you re-de, take good heed When men will think and say: Of young, of old, it shall be told, That ye be gone away Your wanton will for to fulfil, In green wood you to play; And that ye might from your delight No longer make delay.

Rather than ye should thus for me Be called an ill wom-an, Yet would I to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man."

SHE.

"Though it be sung of old and young, That I should be to blame, Theirs be the charge that speak so large In hurting of my name: For I will prove, that faithful love It is devoid of shame In your distress and heaviness To part with you the same: And sure all tho that do not so, True lovers are they none: For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone."

HE.

"I counsel you, Remember how It is no maiden's law Nothing to doubt, but to run out To wood with an out-law; For ye must there in your hand bear A bow to bear and draw; And, as a thief, thus must ye live, Ever in dread and awe; By which to you great harm might grow: Yet had I liever than That I had to the green wood go Alone, a banished man."

SHE.

"I think not nay, but as ye say, It is no maiden's lore; But love may make me for your sake, As ye have said before, To come on foot, to hunt and shoot To get us meat and store; For so that I your company May have, I ask no more; From which to part, it maketh mine heart As cold as any stone: For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone."

HE.

"For an out-law, this is the law, That men him take and bind; Without pit-ie, hang-ed to be, And waver with the wind.

If I had nede (as G.o.d forbede!) What rescues could ye find?

Forsooth, I trow, you and your bow Should draw for fear behind.

And no mervayle: for little avail Were in your counsel than: Wherefore I to the wood will go, Alone, a banished man."

SHE "Full well know ye, that women be Full feeble for to fight; No womanhede it is indeed To be bold as a knight; Yet, in such fear if that ye were Among enemies day and night, I would withstand, with bow in hand, To grieve them as I might, And you to save; as women have From death many a one: For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone."

HE.

"Yet take good hede; for ever I drede That ye could not sustain The th.o.r.n.y ways, the deep vall-eys, The snow, the frost, the rain, The cold, the heat: for dry or wet, We must lodge on the plain; And, us above, none other roof But a brake bush or twain: Which soon should grieve you, I believe: And ye would gladly than That I had to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man."

SHE.

"Sith I have here been partynere With you of joy and bliss, I must al-so part of your woe Endure, as reason is: Yet am I sure of one pleas-ure; And, shortly, it is this: That, where ye be, me seemeth, perde, I could not fare amiss.

Without more speech, I you beseech That we were soon agone: For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone."

HE.

"If ye go thyder, ye must consider, When ye have l.u.s.t to dine, There shall no meat be for to gete, Nor drink, beer, ale, ne wine.

Ne sheet-es clean, to lie between, Ymade of thread and twine; None other house, but leaves and boughs, To cover your head and mine; Lo mine heart sweet, this ill di-ete Should make you pale and wan: Wherefore I to the wood will go, Alone, a banished man."

SHE.

"Among the wild deer, such an archere, As men say that ye be, Ne may not fail of good vitayle, Where is so great plent-y: And water clear of the rivere Shall be full sweet to me; With which in hele I shall right wele Endure, as ye shall see; And, ere we go, a bed or two I can provide anone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone."

HE.

"Lo yet, before, ye must do more, If ye will go with me: As cut your hair up by your ear, Your kirtle by the knee, With bow in hand, for to withstand Your enemies, if need be: And this same night, before daylight, To woodward will I flee.

An ye will all this fulfil, Do it shortly as ye can: Else will I to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man."

SHE.

"I shall as now do more for you Than 'longeth to womanhede; To short my hair, a bow to bear, To shoot in time of need.

O my sweet mother! before all other For you have I most drede!

But now, adieu! I must ensue, Where fortune doth me lead.

All this make ye. Now let us flee; The day comes fast upon: For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone."

HE.

"Nay, nay, not so; ye shall not go, And I shall tell you why,-- Your appet.i.te is to be light Of love, I well espy: For, right as ye have said to me, In like wise hardily Ye would answere whosoever it were, In way of company, It is said of old, Soon hot, soon cold; And so is a wom-an: Wherefore I to the wood will go, Alone, a banished man."

SHE.

"If ye take heed, it is no need Such words to say by me; For oft ye prayed, and long a.s.sayed, Or I you loved, pard-e; And though that I of ancestry A baron's daughter be, Yet have you proved how I you loved.

A squire of low degree; And ever shall, whatso befall; To die therefore anone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone."

HE.