For, ah! her gentle heart is broke, And in grave soone must shee bee, Her father hath brought her a carlish' knight, 30 And within three dayes shee must him wedde, 35 Nowe hye thee backe, thou little foot-page, And telle her that I her owne true love Nowe hye thee backe, thou little foot-page, This night will I bee at her bowre-windòwe, The boye he tripped, the boye he ranne, Untill he came to fair Emmelines bowre, O ladye, I've been with thy own true love, This night will he bee at thy bowre-windowe, Nowe daye was gone, and night was come, All save the ladye Emmeline, Who sate in her bowre to weepe: And soone shee heard her true loves voice Lowe whispering at the walle, [1 churlish.] 45 50 Awake, awake, my deare ladyè, Tis I thy true love call. Awake, awake, my ladye deare, Come, mount this faire palfràye : This ladder of ropes will lette thee downe, Nowe nay, nowe nay, thou gentle knight, O ladye, thou with a knighte so true To my ladye mother I will thee bringe, My father he is a baron bolde, And what would he saye if his daughter Ah! well I wot, he never would rest,] 60 65 70 75 Nor his meate should doe him no goode, Until he had slayne thee, Child of Elle, O ladye, wert thou in thy saddle sette, I would not care for thy cruel father, O ladye, wert thou in thy saddle sette, I would not care for thy cruel father, [Faire Emmeline sighed, fair Emmeline wept, aye her heart was woe: And 85 90 At length he seized her lilly-white hand, And thrice he clasped her to his breste, The teares that fell from her fair eyes, Hee mounted himselfe on his steede so talle, And slung his bugle about his necke, [All this beheard her owne damsèlle, In her bed whereas shee ley, Quoth shee, My lord shall knowe of this, Awake, awake, thou baron bolde! 95 100 105 Your daughter is fledde with the Child of Elle, The baron he woke, the baron he rose, "And come thou forth, Sir John the knighte, Faire Emmeline scant had ridden a mile, When she was aware of her fathers men [And foremost came the carlish knight, "Nowe stop, nowe stop, thou false traitòure, [1 into captivity.] 115 120 For she is come of hye lineàge, And was of a ladye borne, And ill it beseems thee a false churl's sonne Nowe loud thou lyest, Sir John the knight, A knight mee gott, and a ladye me bore, But light nowe downe, my ladye faire, But light now downe, my deare ladyè, Fair Emmeline sighed, fair Emmeline wept, While twixt her love and the carlish knight Past many a baleful blowe. The Child of Elle hee fought soe well, As his weapon he waived amaine, That soone he had slaine the carlish knight, And nowe the baron, and all his men Ah! what may ladye Emmeline doe? Her lover he put his horne to his mouth, [no advantage.] 130 135 140 145 150 'Nowe hold thy hand, thou bold baròn, Nor ruthless rend two gentle hearts, Fast knit in true love's band. Thy daughter I have dearly loved O give consent, shee may be mine, My mother she was an earl's daughter, And a noble knyght my sire 155 160 165 The baron he frowned, and turn'd away Fair Emmeline sighed, faire Emmeline wept, And did all tremblinge stand: At lengthe she sprang upon her knee. Pardon, my lorde and father deare, This faire yong knyght and mee: Oft have you called your Emmeline O let not then your harsh resolves The baron he stroakt his dark-brown cheeke, And turned his heade asyde To whipe awaye the starting teare, He proudly strave to hyde. 170 175 180 |