XVIt was a lording’s daughter, the fairest one of three,That liked of her master as well as well might be,Till looking on an Englishman, the fairest that eye could see,Her fancy fell a-turning.Long was the combat doubtful, that love with love did fight,To leave the master loveless, or kill the gallant knight;To put in practice either, alas, it was a spiteUnto the silly damsel!But one must be refused; more mickle was the pain,That nothing could be used to turn them both to gain,For of the two the trusty knight was wounded with disdain:Alas she could not help it!Thus art with arms contending was victor of the day,Which by a gift of learning did bear the maid away:Then lullaby, the learned man hath got the lady gay;For now my song is ended.
It was a lording’s daughter, the fairest one of three,That liked of her master as well as well might be,Till looking on an Englishman, the fairest that eye could see,Her fancy fell a-turning.Long was the combat doubtful, that love with love did fight,To leave the master loveless, or kill the gallant knight;To put in practice either, alas, it was a spiteUnto the silly damsel!But one must be refused; more mickle was the pain,That nothing could be used to turn them both to gain,For of the two the trusty knight was wounded with disdain:Alas she could not help it!Thus art with arms contending was victor of the day,Which by a gift of learning did bear the maid away:Then lullaby, the learned man hath got the lady gay;For now my song is ended.