The Book of Old English Ballads Part 11

I can believe, it shall you grieve, And somewhat you distrain; But, afterward, your paines hard Within a day or twain Shall soon aslake; and ye shall take Comfort to you again.

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, 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 wolle not leave behind; Shall never be said, the Nut-brown Maid Was to her love unkind: Make you ready, for so am I, Although it were anone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone.

HE

Yet I you rede to take good heed What men will think and say: Of young and 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 woman, 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 renne out To wood with an outlaw: For ye must there in your hand bear A bow, ready to draw; And, as a thief, thus must you live, Ever in dread and awe; Whereby to you great harm might grow: Yet had I lever 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 I have said before, To come on foot, to hunt, and shoot To get us meat in store; For so that I your company May have, I ask no more: From which to part, it maketh my heart As cold as any stone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone.

HE

For an outlaw this is the law, That men him take and bind; Without pity, hanged to be, And waver with the wind.

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

Forsooth, I trow, ye and your bow For fear would draw behind: And no mervayle: for little avail Were in your counsel then: Wherefore I will to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man.

SHE

Right well know ye, that women be But feeble for to fight; No womanhede it is indeed To be bold as a knight: Yet, in such fear if that ye were With enemies day or night, I would withstand, with bow in hand, To greve them as I might, And you to save; as women have From death men 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 valleys, 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 then 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 als part of your woe Endure, as reason is: Yet am I sure of one pleasure; And, shortly, it is this: That, where ye be, me seemeth, parde, 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 you gete, Nor drink, beer, ale, nor wine.

No shetes clean, to lie between, Made of thread and twine; None other house, but leaves and boughs, To cover your head and mine; O mine heart sweet, this evil diete Should make you pale and wan; Wherefore I will to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man.

SHE

Among the wild dere, such an archere, As men say that ye be, Ne may not fail of good vitayle, Where is so great plenty: And water clear of the ryvere Shall be full sweet to me; With which in hele I shall right wele Endure, as ye shall see; And, or 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 day-light, To wood-ward will I flee.

If that 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 shorte my hair, a bow to bear, To shoot in time of need.

O my sweet mother, before all other For you I have most drede: But now, adieu! I must ensue, Where fortune doth me lead.

All this make ye: Now let us flee; The day cometh 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 ye why,-- Your appet.i.te is to be light Of love, I wele espy: For, like as ye have said to me, In like wise hardely Ye would answere whosoever it were In way of company.

It is said of old, Soon hot, soon cold And so is a woman.

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, parde: 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

A baron's child to be beguiled!

It were a cursed dede; To be felawe with an outlawe!

Almighty G.o.d forbede!

Yet better were, the poor squyere Alone to forest yede, Than ye should say another day, That, by my cursed dede, Ye were betrayed: Wherefore, good maid, The best rede that I can, Is, that I to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man.