FOOTNOTES:

FOOTNOTES:[626]In fere = in company.[627]endris = last.[628]ying = young.[629]slone = slay.[630]lay = law.[631]By dene = at once, or all together.

[626]In fere = in company.

[627]endris = last.

[628]ying = young.

[629]slone = slay.

[630]lay = law.

[631]By dene = at once, or all together.

IMark this song, for it is true,For it is true as clerkès tell:In old time strange things came to pass,Great wonder and great marvel wasIn Israel.IIThere was one Octavian,Octavian of Rome Emperour,As bookès old doe specify,Of all the wide world truëlyHe was lord and governour.IIIThe Jews that time lackèd a king,They lackèd a king to guide them well,The Emperour of power and might,Chose one Herod against all right,In Israel.IVThis Herod then was King of JewsWas King of Jews, and he no Jew.Forsooth he was a Paynim born,Wherefore on faith it may be swornHe reignèd King untrue.VBy prophecy one Isaï,One Isaï at least did tellA child should come (wondrous news)That should be born true King of JewsIn Israel.VIThis Herod knew one born should be,One born should be of true linàge,That should be right heritour;For he but by the EmperourWas made by usurpage.VIIWherefore of thought this King Herod,This King Herod in great fear fell,For all the days most in his mirth,Ever he fearèd Christ his birthIn Israel.VIIIThe time came it pleasèd God,It pleasèd God so to come to pass,For man’s soul indeedHis blessed Son was born with speedAs his will was.IXTidings came to King Herod,To King Herod, and did him tell,That one born forsooth is he,Which lord and king of all shall beIn Israel.XHerod then raged as he were wode[632],As he were wode of this tidìng,And sent for all his scribès sure,Yet would he not trust the Scripture,Nor of their counselling.XIThen this was the conclusion,The conclusion of his counsèl;To send unto his knights anonTo slay the children every oneIn Israel.XIIThis cruel king this tyranny,This tyranny did put in ure[633];Between a day and years twoAll men-children he did slew,Of Christ for to be sure.XIIIYet Herod miss’d his cruel prey,His cruel prey as was God’s will;Joseph with Mary then did flee;With Christ to Egypt gone was sheFrom Israel.XIVAll the while these tyrànts,These tyrànts would not convert,But innocents ying[634]That lay sucking,They thrust to the heart.XVThis Herod sought the children ying,The children ying, with courage fell,But in doing this vengeànceHis own son was slain by chanceIn Israel.XVIAlace! I think the mothers were woe,The mothers were woe, it was great skill[635]:What motherly painTo see them slainIn cradles lying still!XVIIBut God Himself hath them elect,Hath them elect, in heaven to dwell:For they were bathèd in their blood,For their Baptism forsooth it stoodIn Israel.XVIIIAlace! again what hearts had they,What hearts had they those babes to kill!With swords when they them caught,In cradles they lay and laught,And never thought ill.

Mark this song, for it is true,For it is true as clerkès tell:In old time strange things came to pass,Great wonder and great marvel wasIn Israel.

There was one Octavian,Octavian of Rome Emperour,As bookès old doe specify,Of all the wide world truëlyHe was lord and governour.

The Jews that time lackèd a king,They lackèd a king to guide them well,The Emperour of power and might,Chose one Herod against all right,In Israel.

This Herod then was King of JewsWas King of Jews, and he no Jew.Forsooth he was a Paynim born,Wherefore on faith it may be swornHe reignèd King untrue.

By prophecy one Isaï,One Isaï at least did tellA child should come (wondrous news)That should be born true King of JewsIn Israel.

This Herod knew one born should be,One born should be of true linàge,That should be right heritour;For he but by the EmperourWas made by usurpage.

Wherefore of thought this King Herod,This King Herod in great fear fell,For all the days most in his mirth,Ever he fearèd Christ his birthIn Israel.

The time came it pleasèd God,It pleasèd God so to come to pass,For man’s soul indeedHis blessed Son was born with speedAs his will was.

Tidings came to King Herod,To King Herod, and did him tell,That one born forsooth is he,Which lord and king of all shall beIn Israel.

Herod then raged as he were wode[632],As he were wode of this tidìng,And sent for all his scribès sure,Yet would he not trust the Scripture,Nor of their counselling.

Then this was the conclusion,The conclusion of his counsèl;To send unto his knights anonTo slay the children every oneIn Israel.

This cruel king this tyranny,This tyranny did put in ure[633];Between a day and years twoAll men-children he did slew,Of Christ for to be sure.

Yet Herod miss’d his cruel prey,His cruel prey as was God’s will;Joseph with Mary then did flee;With Christ to Egypt gone was sheFrom Israel.

All the while these tyrànts,These tyrànts would not convert,But innocents ying[634]That lay sucking,They thrust to the heart.

This Herod sought the children ying,The children ying, with courage fell,But in doing this vengeànceHis own son was slain by chanceIn Israel.

Alace! I think the mothers were woe,The mothers were woe, it was great skill[635]:What motherly painTo see them slainIn cradles lying still!

But God Himself hath them elect,Hath them elect, in heaven to dwell:For they were bathèd in their blood,For their Baptism forsooth it stoodIn Israel.

Alace! again what hearts had they,What hearts had they those babes to kill!With swords when they them caught,In cradles they lay and laught,And never thought ill.

FOOTNOTES:[632]wode = mad.[633]ure = practice.[634]ying = young.[635]skill = reason.

[632]wode = mad.

[633]ure = practice.

[634]ying = young.

[635]skill = reason.

IAs it fell out upon a day,Rich Dives he made a feast,And he invited all his friendsAnd gentry of the best.IIThen Lazarus laid him down and down,And down at Dives’ door;‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,Bestow upon the poor!’—III‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,That lies begging at my door;No meat nor drink will I give thee,Nor bestow upon the poor.’IVThen Lazarus laid him down and down.And down at Dives’ wall,‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,Or with hunger starve I shall!’—V‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,That lies begging at my wall;No meat nor drink will I give thee,But with hunger starve you shall.’VIThen Lazarus laid him down and down,And down at Dives’ gate:‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,For Jesus Christ his sake!’—VII‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,That lies begging at my gate;No meat nor drink will I give thee,For Jesus Christ his sake.’VIIIThen Dives sent out his merry men,To whip poor Lazarus away;They had no power to strike a stroke,But flung their whips away.IXThen Dives sent out his hungry dogs,To bite him as he lay;They had no power to bite at all,But lickèd his sores away.XAs it fell out upon a day,Poor Lazarus sicken’d and died;Then came two angels out of heavenHis soul therein to guide.XI‘Rise up, rise up, brother Lazarus,And go along with me;For you’ve a place prepared in heaven,To sit on an angel’s knee.’XIIAs it fell out upon a day,Rich Dives sicken’d and died;Then came two serpents out of hell,His soul therein to guide.XIII‘Rise up, rise up, brother Dives,And go with us to seeA dismal place, prepared in hell,To sit on a serpent’s knee.’XIVThen Dives look’d up with his eyes,And saw poor Lazarus blest:‘Give me one drop of water, brother Lazarus,To quench my flaming thirst.XV‘Oh had I as many years to abideAs there are blades of grass,Then there would be an end, but nowHell’s pains will ne’er be past!XVI‘Oh was I now but alive again,The space of one half hour!Oh that I had my peace secure!Then the devil should have no power.’

As it fell out upon a day,Rich Dives he made a feast,And he invited all his friendsAnd gentry of the best.

Then Lazarus laid him down and down,And down at Dives’ door;‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,Bestow upon the poor!’—

‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,That lies begging at my door;No meat nor drink will I give thee,Nor bestow upon the poor.’

Then Lazarus laid him down and down.And down at Dives’ wall,‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,Or with hunger starve I shall!’—

‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,That lies begging at my wall;No meat nor drink will I give thee,But with hunger starve you shall.’

Then Lazarus laid him down and down,And down at Dives’ gate:‘Some meat, some drink, brother Dives,For Jesus Christ his sake!’—

‘Thou art none of my brother, Lazarus,That lies begging at my gate;No meat nor drink will I give thee,For Jesus Christ his sake.’

Then Dives sent out his merry men,To whip poor Lazarus away;They had no power to strike a stroke,But flung their whips away.

Then Dives sent out his hungry dogs,To bite him as he lay;They had no power to bite at all,But lickèd his sores away.

As it fell out upon a day,Poor Lazarus sicken’d and died;Then came two angels out of heavenHis soul therein to guide.

‘Rise up, rise up, brother Lazarus,And go along with me;For you’ve a place prepared in heaven,To sit on an angel’s knee.’

As it fell out upon a day,Rich Dives sicken’d and died;Then came two serpents out of hell,His soul therein to guide.

‘Rise up, rise up, brother Dives,And go with us to seeA dismal place, prepared in hell,To sit on a serpent’s knee.’

Then Dives look’d up with his eyes,And saw poor Lazarus blest:‘Give me one drop of water, brother Lazarus,To quench my flaming thirst.

‘Oh had I as many years to abideAs there are blades of grass,Then there would be an end, but nowHell’s pains will ne’er be past!

‘Oh was I now but alive again,The space of one half hour!Oh that I had my peace secure!Then the devil should have no power.’

IAs it fell out one May morning,And upon one bright holiday,Sweet Jesus asked of his dear mother,If he might go to play.II‘To play, to play, sweet Jesus shall go,And to play pray get you gone;And let me hear of no complaintAt night when you come home.’IIISweet Jesus went down to yonder town,As far as the Holy Well,And there did see as fine childrenAs any tongue can tell.IVHe said, ‘God bless you every one,And your bodies Christ save and see:Little children, shall I play with you,And you shall play with me?’VBut they made answer to him, ‘No:They were lords and ladies all;And he was but a maiden’s child,Born in an ox’s stall.’VISweet Jesus turnèd him around,And he neither laughed nor smiled,But the tears came trickling from his eyesTo be but a maiden’s child.VIISweet Jesus turnèd him about,To his mother’s dear home went he,And said, ‘I have been in yonder town,As far as you can see.VIII‘I have been down in yonder townAs far as the Holy Well,There did I meet as fine childrenAs any tongue can tell.IX‘I bid God bless them every one,And their bodies Christ save and see:Little children, shall I play with you,And you shall play with me?X‘But they made answer to me, No:They were lords and ladies all;And I was but a maiden’s child,Born in an ox’s stall.’—XI‘Though you are but a maiden’s child,Born in an ox’s stall,Thou art the Christ, the King of heaven,And the Saviour of them all.XII‘Sweet Jesus, go down to yonder townAs far as the Holy Well,And take away those sinful souls,And dip them deep in hell.’XIII‘Nay, nay,’ sweet Jesus said,‘Nay, nay, that may not be,For there are too many sinful soulsCrying out for the help of me.’

As it fell out one May morning,And upon one bright holiday,Sweet Jesus asked of his dear mother,If he might go to play.

‘To play, to play, sweet Jesus shall go,And to play pray get you gone;And let me hear of no complaintAt night when you come home.’

Sweet Jesus went down to yonder town,As far as the Holy Well,And there did see as fine childrenAs any tongue can tell.

He said, ‘God bless you every one,And your bodies Christ save and see:Little children, shall I play with you,And you shall play with me?’

But they made answer to him, ‘No:They were lords and ladies all;And he was but a maiden’s child,Born in an ox’s stall.’

Sweet Jesus turnèd him around,And he neither laughed nor smiled,But the tears came trickling from his eyesTo be but a maiden’s child.

Sweet Jesus turnèd him about,To his mother’s dear home went he,And said, ‘I have been in yonder town,As far as you can see.

‘I have been down in yonder townAs far as the Holy Well,There did I meet as fine childrenAs any tongue can tell.

‘I bid God bless them every one,And their bodies Christ save and see:Little children, shall I play with you,And you shall play with me?

‘But they made answer to me, No:They were lords and ladies all;And I was but a maiden’s child,Born in an ox’s stall.’—

‘Though you are but a maiden’s child,Born in an ox’s stall,Thou art the Christ, the King of heaven,And the Saviour of them all.

‘Sweet Jesus, go down to yonder townAs far as the Holy Well,And take away those sinful souls,And dip them deep in hell.’

‘Nay, nay,’ sweet Jesus said,‘Nay, nay, that may not be,For there are too many sinful soulsCrying out for the help of me.’

IAll under the leaves and the leaves of lifeI met with virgins seven,And one of them was Mary mild,Our Lord’s mother of Heaven.II‘O what are you seeking, you seven fair maids,All under the leaves of life?Come tell, come tell, what seek youAll under the leaves of life?’III‘We’re seeking for no leaves, Thomas,But for a friend of thine;We’re seeking for sweet Jesus Christ,To be our guide and thine.’IV‘Go down, go down, to yonder town,And sit in the gallery,And there you’ll see sweet Jesus ChristNail’d to a big yew-tree.’VSo down they went to yonder townAs fast as foot could fall,And many a grievous bitter tearFrom the virgins’ eyes did fall.VI‘O peace, Mother, O peace, Mother,Your weeping doth me grieve:I must suffer this,’ He said,‘For Adam and for EveVII‘O Mother, take you John EvangelistAll for to be your son,And he will comfort you sometimes,Mother, as I have done.’VIII‘O come, thou John Evangelist,Thou’rt welcome unto me;But more welcome my own dear Son,Whom I nursed on my knee.’IXThen He laid his head on His right shoulder.Seeing death it struck Him nigh—‘The Holy Ghost be with your soul,I die, Mother dear, I die.’XO the rose, the gentle rose,And the fennel that grows so green!God give us grace in every placeTo pray for our king and queen.XIFurthermore for our enemies allOur prayers they should be strong:Amen, good Lord; your charityIs the ending of my song.

All under the leaves and the leaves of lifeI met with virgins seven,And one of them was Mary mild,Our Lord’s mother of Heaven.

‘O what are you seeking, you seven fair maids,All under the leaves of life?Come tell, come tell, what seek youAll under the leaves of life?’

‘We’re seeking for no leaves, Thomas,But for a friend of thine;We’re seeking for sweet Jesus Christ,To be our guide and thine.’

‘Go down, go down, to yonder town,And sit in the gallery,And there you’ll see sweet Jesus ChristNail’d to a big yew-tree.’

So down they went to yonder townAs fast as foot could fall,And many a grievous bitter tearFrom the virgins’ eyes did fall.

‘O peace, Mother, O peace, Mother,Your weeping doth me grieve:I must suffer this,’ He said,‘For Adam and for Eve

‘O Mother, take you John EvangelistAll for to be your son,And he will comfort you sometimes,Mother, as I have done.’

‘O come, thou John Evangelist,Thou’rt welcome unto me;But more welcome my own dear Son,Whom I nursed on my knee.’

Then He laid his head on His right shoulder.Seeing death it struck Him nigh—‘The Holy Ghost be with your soul,I die, Mother dear, I die.’

O the rose, the gentle rose,And the fennel that grows so green!God give us grace in every placeTo pray for our king and queen.

Furthermore for our enemies allOur prayers they should be strong:Amen, good Lord; your charityIs the ending of my song.

II herde a carpyng[636]of a clerk,Al at yone wodes ende,Of gode Robyn and Gandeleyn;Was ther non other thynge.Robynn lyth in grene wode bowndyn.IIStronge thevys wern tho chylderin none,But bowmen gode and hende[637];He[638]wentyn to wode to getyn hem fleych,If God wold it hem sende.IIIAl day wentyn tho chylderin two,And fleych fowndyn he non,Til it were ageyn evyn[639];The chylderin wold gon hom.IVHalf an honderid of fat falyf derHe comyn ayon[640],And alle he wern fayr and fat i-now,But markyd was ther non:‘Be dere God,’ seyde gode Robyn,‘Hereof we shul have on[641].’VRobyn bent his joly bowe,Ther in he set a flo[642];The fattest der of alleThe herte he clef a to[643].VIHe hadde not the der i-flawe[644],Ne half out of the hyde,There cam a schrewde[645]arwe out of the west,That felde Robertes pryde.VIIGandeleyn lokyd hym est and west,Be every syde:‘Hoo hat myn mayster slayin?Ho hat don this dede?Shal I never out of grene wode goTil I se his sydis blede.’VIIIGandeleyn lokyd hym est and west,And sowt under the sunne;He saw a lytil boy,He clepyn[646]Wrennok of Donne.IXA good bowe in his hond,A brod arwe ther-ine,And fowre and twenti goode arwys,Trusyd[647]in a thrumme[648]:‘Be war the, war the, Gandeleyn,Her-of thu shalt han summe!X‘Be war the, war the, Gandeleyn,Her of thu gyst[649]plenté!’—‘Ever on for an other,’ seyde Gandeleyn;‘Mysaunter[650]have he shal fle.XI‘Qwer-at shal our marke be?’Seyde Gandeleyn.—‘Everyche at otheris herte,’Seyde Wrennok ageyn.XII‘Ho[651]shal yeve the ferste schote?’Seyde Gandeleyn.‘And I shul yeve[652]the on be-forn,’Seyde Wrennok ageyn.XIIIWrennok schette a ful good schote,And he schet not to hye;Throw the sanchothis[653]of his bryk[654];It towcyhd neyther thye.XIV‘Now hast thu yovyn me on[655]be-forn,’Al thus to Wrennok seyde he,‘And throw the myyt of our ladyA bettere I shal yeve the.’XVGandeleyn bent his goode bowe,And set ther-in a flo;He schet throw his grene certyl[656],His herte he clef on too.XVI‘Now shall thu never yelpe[657], Wrennok,At ale ne at wyn,That thu hast slawe goode Robyn,And his knave Gandeleyn.XVII‘Now shalt thu never yelpe, Wrennok,At wyn ne at ale,That thu hast slawe goode Robyn,And Gandeleyn his knave.’Robyn lyth in grene wode bowndyn.

I herde a carpyng[636]of a clerk,Al at yone wodes ende,Of gode Robyn and Gandeleyn;Was ther non other thynge.Robynn lyth in grene wode bowndyn.

Stronge thevys wern tho chylderin none,But bowmen gode and hende[637];He[638]wentyn to wode to getyn hem fleych,If God wold it hem sende.

Al day wentyn tho chylderin two,And fleych fowndyn he non,Til it were ageyn evyn[639];The chylderin wold gon hom.

Half an honderid of fat falyf derHe comyn ayon[640],And alle he wern fayr and fat i-now,But markyd was ther non:‘Be dere God,’ seyde gode Robyn,‘Hereof we shul have on[641].’

Robyn bent his joly bowe,Ther in he set a flo[642];The fattest der of alleThe herte he clef a to[643].

He hadde not the der i-flawe[644],Ne half out of the hyde,There cam a schrewde[645]arwe out of the west,That felde Robertes pryde.

Gandeleyn lokyd hym est and west,Be every syde:‘Hoo hat myn mayster slayin?Ho hat don this dede?Shal I never out of grene wode goTil I se his sydis blede.’

Gandeleyn lokyd hym est and west,And sowt under the sunne;He saw a lytil boy,He clepyn[646]Wrennok of Donne.

A good bowe in his hond,A brod arwe ther-ine,And fowre and twenti goode arwys,Trusyd[647]in a thrumme[648]:‘Be war the, war the, Gandeleyn,Her-of thu shalt han summe!

‘Be war the, war the, Gandeleyn,Her of thu gyst[649]plenté!’—‘Ever on for an other,’ seyde Gandeleyn;‘Mysaunter[650]have he shal fle.

‘Qwer-at shal our marke be?’Seyde Gandeleyn.—‘Everyche at otheris herte,’Seyde Wrennok ageyn.

‘Ho[651]shal yeve the ferste schote?’Seyde Gandeleyn.‘And I shul yeve[652]the on be-forn,’Seyde Wrennok ageyn.

Wrennok schette a ful good schote,And he schet not to hye;Throw the sanchothis[653]of his bryk[654];It towcyhd neyther thye.

‘Now hast thu yovyn me on[655]be-forn,’Al thus to Wrennok seyde he,‘And throw the myyt of our ladyA bettere I shal yeve the.’

Gandeleyn bent his goode bowe,And set ther-in a flo;He schet throw his grene certyl[656],His herte he clef on too.

‘Now shall thu never yelpe[657], Wrennok,At ale ne at wyn,That thu hast slawe goode Robyn,And his knave Gandeleyn.

‘Now shalt thu never yelpe, Wrennok,At wyn ne at ale,That thu hast slawe goode Robyn,And Gandeleyn his knave.’Robyn lyth in grene wode bowndyn.

FOOTNOTES:[636]carpyng = talking, tale.[637]hende = gracious, courteous.[638]He = they.[639]ageyn evyn = towards evening.[640]He comyn ayon = came over against them, in their path.[641]on = one.[642]flo = arrow.[643]a to = in two.[644]i-flawe = flayed.[645]schrewde = sharp.[646]He clepyn = whom they call.[647]Trusyd = trussed, bound up.[648]thrumme = end of a warp.[649]gyst = gettest.[650]Mysaunter = misadventure.[651]Ho = who.[652]yeve = give.[653]sanchothis = fork.[654]bryk = breeches.[655]yovyn me on = given me one.[656]certyl = kirtle.[657]yelpe = brag.

[636]carpyng = talking, tale.

[637]hende = gracious, courteous.

[638]He = they.

[639]ageyn evyn = towards evening.

[640]He comyn ayon = came over against them, in their path.

[641]on = one.

[642]flo = arrow.

[643]a to = in two.

[644]i-flawe = flayed.

[645]schrewde = sharp.

[646]He clepyn = whom they call.

[647]Trusyd = trussed, bound up.

[648]thrumme = end of a warp.

[649]gyst = gettest.

[650]Mysaunter = misadventure.

[651]Ho = who.

[652]yeve = give.

[653]sanchothis = fork.

[654]bryk = breeches.

[655]yovyn me on = given me one.

[656]certyl = kirtle.

[657]yelpe = brag.

IO Willie’s large o’ limb and lith[658],And come o’ high degree,And he is gane to Earl Richard,To serve for meat and fee.IIEarl Richard had but ae daughter,Fair as a lily-flower,And they made up their love-contractLike proper paramour.IIIIt fell upon a simmer’s nicht,Whan the leaves were fair and green,That Willie met his gay ladieIntil the wood alane.IV‘O narrow is my gown, Willie,That wont to be sae wide;And gane is a’ my fair colour,That wont to be my pride.V‘But gin my father should get wordWhat’s past between us twa,Before that he should eat or drink,He’d hang you o’er that wa’.VI‘But ye’ll come to my bower, Willie,Just as the sun gaes down,And kep[659]me in your arms twa,And latna me fa’ down.’VIIO whan the sun was now gane down,He’s doen him till her bower,And there, by the lee licht o’ the moon,Her window she lookit o’er.VIIIIntill a robe o’ red scarlètShe lap, fearless o’ harm;And Willie was large o’ lith and limb,And keppit her in his arm.IXAnd they’ve gane to the gude green-wood,And, ere the night was deen,She’s born to him a bonny young son,Amang the leaves sae green.XWhan night was gane, and day was come,And the sun began to peep,Up and raise the Earl RichardOut o’ his drowsy sleep.XIHe’s ca’d upon his merry young men,By ane, by twa, and by three:‘O what’s come o’ my daughter dear,That she’s nae come to me?XII‘I dreamt a dreary dream last night,God grant it come to gude!I dreamt I saw my daughter dearDrown in the saut sea flood.XIII‘But gin my daughter be dead or sick,Or yet be stown awa’,I mak a vow, and I’ll keep it true,I’ll hang ye ane and a’!’XIVThey sought her back, they sought her fore,They sought her up and down;They got her in the gude green-wood,Nursing her bonny young son.XVHe took the bonny boy in his arms,And kist him tenderlie;Says, ‘Though I would your father hang,Your mother’s dear to me.’XVIHe kist him o’er and o’er again:‘My grandson I thee claim,And Robin Hood in gude green-wood,And that shall be your name.’XVIIAnd mony ane sings o’ grass, o’ grass,And mony ane sings o’ corn,And mony ane sings o’ Robin HoodKens little whare he was born.XVIIIIt wasna in the ha’, the ha’,Nor in the painted bower;But it was in the gude green-wood,Amang the lily-flower.

O Willie’s large o’ limb and lith[658],And come o’ high degree,And he is gane to Earl Richard,To serve for meat and fee.

Earl Richard had but ae daughter,Fair as a lily-flower,And they made up their love-contractLike proper paramour.

It fell upon a simmer’s nicht,Whan the leaves were fair and green,That Willie met his gay ladieIntil the wood alane.

‘O narrow is my gown, Willie,That wont to be sae wide;And gane is a’ my fair colour,That wont to be my pride.

‘But gin my father should get wordWhat’s past between us twa,Before that he should eat or drink,He’d hang you o’er that wa’.

‘But ye’ll come to my bower, Willie,Just as the sun gaes down,And kep[659]me in your arms twa,And latna me fa’ down.’

O whan the sun was now gane down,He’s doen him till her bower,And there, by the lee licht o’ the moon,Her window she lookit o’er.

Intill a robe o’ red scarlètShe lap, fearless o’ harm;And Willie was large o’ lith and limb,And keppit her in his arm.

And they’ve gane to the gude green-wood,And, ere the night was deen,She’s born to him a bonny young son,Amang the leaves sae green.

Whan night was gane, and day was come,And the sun began to peep,Up and raise the Earl RichardOut o’ his drowsy sleep.

He’s ca’d upon his merry young men,By ane, by twa, and by three:‘O what’s come o’ my daughter dear,That she’s nae come to me?

‘I dreamt a dreary dream last night,God grant it come to gude!I dreamt I saw my daughter dearDrown in the saut sea flood.

‘But gin my daughter be dead or sick,Or yet be stown awa’,I mak a vow, and I’ll keep it true,I’ll hang ye ane and a’!’

They sought her back, they sought her fore,They sought her up and down;They got her in the gude green-wood,Nursing her bonny young son.

He took the bonny boy in his arms,And kist him tenderlie;Says, ‘Though I would your father hang,Your mother’s dear to me.’

He kist him o’er and o’er again:‘My grandson I thee claim,And Robin Hood in gude green-wood,And that shall be your name.’

And mony ane sings o’ grass, o’ grass,And mony ane sings o’ corn,And mony ane sings o’ Robin HoodKens little whare he was born.

It wasna in the ha’, the ha’,Nor in the painted bower;But it was in the gude green-wood,Amang the lily-flower.

FOOTNOTES:[658]lith = joint.[659]kep = catch.

[658]lith = joint.

[659]kep = catch.

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