Page images
PDF
EPUB

I said, "My sweet, forsooth I shall "For ever love you, and no mo: "Though others love, and leave withall, "Most certainly I do not so. "I do you true love hecht,1 "By all thy beauties bright!

"Ye are so fair- be not my foe! "Ye shall have sin an ye me slo2 "Thus through a sudden sight."

"That I you slay, that God forshield!
"What have I done or said yoù till?
"I was not wont weapons to wield—
"But am a woman-
-if ye will,
"That sorely fearis you,

"And ye not me I trow.

"Therefore, good sir, take in none ill,

"Shall never bairn gar brief the bill

"At bidding me to bow.3

"Into this wood aye walk I shall,

"Leading my life as woful wight;

"Here I forsake both bow'r and hall,

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

3 I do not understand these two lines.

These buildings. Rudd. Gloss.

"My bed is made full cold

"With beastis brim and bold;

“That gars me say, both day and night,
"Alas that ever the tongue should hecht
"That heart thought not to hold!"

These words out through my heart so went,
That near I weeped for her woe,

But thereto would I not consent,

And said, that it should not be so;

Into my armis swithe 2

Embraced I that blithe,3

Saying, "sweet-heart, of harmis ho! 4
"Fond 5 shall I never this forest fro
"While ye me comfort kyth."
"6

Then kneeled I before that clear,"

And meekly could her mercy crave.

Fierce. Rudd. Gloss.

• Quickly.

"An interjection, commanding to desist or leave off."

Rudd. Gloss.

"That can of wrath and malice never ho."

b Go.

G. Doug. Virg. p. 148, 1. 2.

6 Shew.

378 This use of the adjective was probably a Gallicism. As the French would say cette belle, this author employs

8

That seemly then, with sober cheer,

Me, of her goodliness, forgave.

It was no need, I wis,

To bid us other kiss;

There might no hearts more joy receive,

Nor9 either could of other have.

Thus brought were we to bliss.

"that hend-that blithe-that clear-that seemly." Such

was the usage of the times.

• Than.

SPECIMENS, &c.

Henry VIII.

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »