25

Than betwaine us late us dyscus

What was all the manere Betwayne them two: we wyll also Tell all the payne, and fere,1 That she was in. Nowe I begyn,

So that ye me answère;

Wherfore, all ye, that present be

I

pray you, gyve an ere.

"I am the knyght; I come by nyght,
As secret as I can ;

Sayinge, Alas! thus standeth the case,
I am a banyshed man."

And I your wyll for to fulfyll

In this wyll nat refuse;

Trustying to shewe, in wordès fewe,

That men have an yll use

(To theyr own shame) women to blame,

And causelesse them accuse :

Therfore to you I answere nowe,

All women to excuse,

SHE.*

Myne owne hart dere, with you what chere?

I pray you, tell anone;

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde

I love but you alone.

30

35

40

45

HE.

It standeth so; a dede is do2

Wherof grete harme shall

growe:

50

Or elles to fle: the one must be.

None other way I knowe,

But to withdrawe as an outlawe,
And take me to my bowe.
Wherfore, adue, my owne hart true!
None other rede I can :1

For I must to the grene wode go,
Alone, a banyshed man.

SHE.

O lord, what is thys worldys blysse,
That changeth as the mone!
My somers day in lusty may
Is derked' before the none.

I here you say, farewell: Nay, nay,
We depart3 nat so sone.

Why say ye so? wheder wyll ye go ?
Alas! what have ye done?

All my welfare to sorrowe and care
Sholde chaunge, yf ye were gone;
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
I love but you alone.

HE.

I can beleve, it shall you greve,
And somewhat you dystrayne;5
But, aftyrwarde, your paynes harde

Within a day or twayne

Shall sone aslake; and ye shall take

Comfort to you agayne.

Why sholde ye ought? for, to make thought,
Your labour were in vayne.

55

60

65

70

75

80

Ver. 63. The somers, Prol.

2 darkened.

And thus I do; and pray you to,

As hartely,' as I can;

For I must to the grene wode go,

Alone, a banyshed man.

SHE.

Now, syth that ye have shewed to me
The secret of your mynde,

I shall be playne to you agayne,
Lyke as ye shall me fynde.
Syth it is so, that ye wyll go,

I wolle not leve2 behynde;

Shall never be sayd, the Not-browne Mayd
Was to her love unkynde:
Make you redy, for so am I,
Allthough it were anone;

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
I love but you alone.

HE.

Yet I you rede3 to take good hede
What men wyll thynke, and say:
Of yonge, and olde it shall be tolde,
That
ye be

gone away,

Your wanton wyll for to fulfill,

In grene wode you to play;

And that ye myght from your delyght
No lenger make delay.

Rather than ye sholde thus for me
Be called an yll woman,

SHE.

Though it be songe of old and yonge,
That I sholde be to blame,

Theyrs be the charge, that speke so large

In hurtynge of my name:
For I wyll prove, that faythfulle love
It is devoyd of shame;

In your dystresse, and hevynesse,
To part with you, the same :
And sure all tho,1 that do not so,
True lovers are they none;
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
I love but you alone.

HE.

I counceyle you, remember howe,
It is no maydens lawe,

Nothynge to dout, but to renne out
To wode with an outlawe:

For ye must there in your hand bere
A bowe, redy to drawe;
And, as a thefe, thus must you lyve,
Ever in drede and awe;

Wherby to you grete harme myght growe:

Yet had I lever than,3

That I had to the grene wode go,

Alone, a banyshed man.

SHE.

I thinke nat nay, but as ye say,

It is no maydens lore :

But love may make me for your sake,

As I have sayd before

110

115

120

125

130

135

To come on fote, to hunt, and shote
To gete us mete in store;
For so that I your company

May have, I aske no more:
From which to part, it maketh my hart
As colde as ony stone;
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
I love but you alone.

HE.

For an outlawe this is the lawe,
That men hym take and bynde;
Without pytè, hanged to be,
And waver with the wynde.
If I had nede, (as God forbede!)
What rescous1 coude ye fynde ?
Forsoth, I trowe, ye and your bowe
For fere wolde drawe behynde:
And no mervayle; for lytell avayle
Were in your counceyle than :
Wherfore I wyll to the grene wode go,

Alone, a banyshed man.

SHE.

Ryght wele knowe ye, that women be
But feble for to fyght;
No womanhede it is indede

To be bolde as a knyght:
Yet, in such fere yf that ye were

With enemyes day or nyght,
I wolde withstande, with bowe in hande,
To greve them as I myght,

140

145

150

155

160

V. 150. succours, Prol.

Ver. 138. and store, Camb. copy. and Mr. W. V. 162. and night, Camb. copy. V. 164. to helpe

ye with my myght, Prol. and Mr. W.

[1 rescue.]