25 Than betweene us lettens discusse, What was all the maner Between them too: we wyl also Telle all the peyne and fere That she was in. Now I begynne, So that ye me answere. Wherefore all ye that present be I pray ye give an eare. MAN. I am the knyght, I come by nyght As secret as I can, Saying, alas! thus standeth the case, I am a banishyd man. WOM. And I your wylle for to fulfylle In this wyl not refuse, Trusting to shew, in wordis fewe, 30 35 That men have an ill use,' 46 (To ther own shame) women to blame, And causelese them accuse : 'Therefore to you I answere now, Alle women to excuse. Myn own herte dere, with you what chere, 45 I pray you telle anone; For in my mynde, of al mankynde, I love but you alone. MAN. It stondeth so; a dede is do, My desteney is for to dey Volume III. 59 Or ellis to flee: the one must be, None other way I knowe, But to withdrawe, as an outlawe, And take me to my bowe. Wherefore adew, my owne herte trewe, None other red I can; For I must to the grene wode goe, Alone, a banishyd man. WOм. O Lord! what is this worldis blysse, That chaungeth as the mone? My somer's day, in lusty May, Is derked before the none. here you saye farewell: nay, nay, We departe not soo sone Why say ye so? wheder wyl ye goe? Alle my welfare to sorrow and care I love but you alone, 55 60 65 70 MAN. I can beleve it shall you greeve, And shomwhat you distrayne, But aftyrwarde your paynes harde, 75 Within a day or tweyne, Shal sone as lake, and ye shal take Comfort to you agayne. Why shuld ye nought? for to make thought 80 And thus I do, and pray you too, As hertely as I can; For I muste to the grene wode goe, Alone, a banishyd man. WOM. Now sythe that ye have shewed to me 85 The secret of your mynde, I shal be plaine to you againe, I wol not leve behynde: Shal never be sayd the Nut-brown Mayde Was to her love unkynde. 90 Make you redy, for so am I, Altho' it were anone; For in my mynde, of al mankynde, I love but you alone. MAN. Yet I you rede to take good hede What men wyl think and sey; Of yonge and olde it shall be tolde That ye be gone away; Your wanton wylle for to fulfylle, In grene wode you to play; And that ye myght from your delyte Noo lenger make delay. Rather than ye shuld thus for me Be called an ylle woman, Yet wold I to the grene wode goe, 95 100 105 WOM. Tho' it be songe of olde and yonge That I shuld be to blame, Thers be the charge that speke so large In hurting of my name : For I wyll prove that feythful love It is devoyd of shame ; In your distress and hevyness To parte wyth you the same, And sure all thoo that doo not so, I love but you alone. MAN. I counsel you, remember how Nothing to dought, but to renne out For 110 115 120 ye must there in your hand bere 125 A bowe redy to drawe; And as a theef, thus must ye lyve, Ever in drede and awe. Whereby to you gret harme myght growe; Yet I had lever than That I had to the grene wode goe, 130 Alone, a banishyd man. WOм. I think not nay; but as ye saye, It is noo mayden's lore; But love may make me for your sake, 135 As I have said before, To com on fote to hunte and shote, To gete us mete in store: For so that I your company May have, I ask noo more: From which to parte, it makith myn herte As colde as ony stone; 140 For in my mynde, of al mankynde, I love but you alone. MAN. For an outlawe, this is the lawe, 145 Alone, a banishyd man. WOM. Full well knowe ye that women be But febyl for to fyght: Noo womanhede it is in deede, To bee bold as a knyght: Yet in such fere yf that ye were With enemys day and nyght, Iwolde withstonde wyth bowe in honde, 160 |