LORD Thomas he was a bold forestèr, And a chaser of the king's deer; Fair Eleanor was a fine woman, And Lord Thomas he lov'd her dear. 'Come riddle my riddle, dear mother, (he said,) And riddle us both as one; 'Whether I shall marry with fair Eleanor, And let the brown girl alone?' 'The brown girl she has got houses and lands, ( Fair Eleanor she has got none; Therefore I charge thee, on my blessing, To bring me the brown girl home.' And as it befel on a high holidày, As many did more beside, Lord Thomas he went to fair Eleanor, But when he came to fair Eleanor's bower, He knocked there at the ring, But who was so ready as fair Eleanòr, To let lord Thomas within. What news, what news, lord Thomas? (she said,) • What news hast thou brought unto me › I am come to bid thee to my wedding, O God forbid, lord Thomas, (she said,) • That such a thing should be done ; * I thought to have been thy bride my own self, And you to have been the bridegroom.' Come riddle my riddle, dear mother, (she said.) * And riddle it all in one ; • Whether I shall go to lord Thomas's wedding, * Or whether I shall tarry at home » * There's many that are your friends, daughtèr, * And many that are your foe ; * Therefore I charge you, on my blessing, • To lord Thomas's wedding don't go.” 'There's many that are my friends, mother, To lord Thomas's wedding I'll go.' She clothed herself in gallant attire, But when she came to lord Thomas's gate, But who was so ready as lord Thomas, 'Is this your bride? (fair Ellen she said,) 'Despise her not, fair Ellen, (he said,) Despise her not unto me For better I love thy little-finger, ‹ Than all her whole body.' This brown bride had a little penknife, And betwixt the short ribs and the long, 'Oh! Christ now save thee; (lord Thomas, he said, 'Methinks thou look'st wonderous wan; 'Thou wast us'd for to look with as fresh a colòur, 'As ever the sun shin'd on.' 'Oh! art thou blind, lord Thomas? (she said,) 'Or can'st thou not very well see? 'Oh! dost thou not see my own heart's blood Runs trickling down my knee?' Lord Thomas he had a sword by his side As he walk'd about the hall, He cut off his bride's head from her shouldèrs, And he threw it against the wall. He set the hilt against the ground, And the point against his heart; There was never three lovers that ever met, More sooner they did depart. BALLAD II. FAIR MARGARET AND SWEET WILLIAM. As it fell out upon a day, Two lovers they sat on a hill; They sat together a long summer's day, 'I see no harm by you, Margarèt, And you see none by me; · 'Before to-morrow at eight o'clock 'A rich wedding you shall see.' Fair Margaret sate in her bower-window, A combing of her hair; There she espied sweet William and his bride, As they were a riding near. She went away first from the bower, When day was gone, and night was come, And all men fast asleep, Then came the spirit of fair Margaret, 'God give you joy, you true lovèrs, 'In bride-bed fast asleep; 'Lo! I am going to my grass-green grave, ' And I am in my winding sheet.' When day was come, and night was gone, ́ I dream'd a dream, my dear lady, 'Such dreams are never good; I dream'd my bower was full of red swine, 'And my bride-bed full of blood.' 'Such dreams, such dreams, my honour'd sir, 'They never do prove good; To dream thy bower was full of swine, ' And thy bride-bed full of blood.' He called his merry men all, By one, by two, and by three, Saying, 'I'll away to fair Margaret's bower, "By the leave of my lady.' |