17. & when shee ouer the water was, Shee then came to his knee: He said, ‘Come hither, ffaire Ellen, Loe yonder what I see! 18. ‘Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen? Of redd gold shine the yates; There’s four and twenty ffayre ladyes, The ffairest is my wordlye make. 19. ‘Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen? Of redd gold shineth the tower; There is four and twenty ffaire ladyes, The fairest is my paramoure.’ 20. ‘I doe see the hall now, Child Waters, That of redd gold shineth the yates; God giue good then of your selfe, & of your wordlye make! 21. ‘I doe see the hall now, Child Waters, That of redd gold shineth the tower; God giue good then of your selfe, And of your paramoure!’ 22. There were four and twenty ladyes, Were playing att the ball; & Ellen, was the ffairest ladye, Must bring his steed to the stall. 23. There were four and twenty faire ladyes Was playing att the chesse; & Ellen, shee was the ffairest ladye, Must bring his horsse to grasse. 24. & then bespake Child Waters sister, & these were the words said shee: ‘You haue the prettyest ffootpage, brother, That ever I saw with mine eye; 25. ‘But that his belly it is soe bigg, His girdle goes wonderous hye; & euer I pray you, Child Waters, Let him go into the chamber with me.’ 26. ‘It is more meete for a litle ffootpage, That has run through mosse and mire, To take his supper vpon his knee & sitt downe by the kitchin fyer, Then to go into the chamber with any ladye That weares so [rich] attyre.’ 27. But when thé had supped euery one, To bedd they tooke the way; He sayd, ‘Come hither, my litle footpage, Hearken what I doe say! 28. ‘& goe thee downe into yonder towne, & low into the street; The ffarest ladye that thou can find, Hyer her in mine armes to sleepe, & take her vp in thine armes two, For filinge of her ffeete.’ 29. Ellen is gone into the towne, & low into the streete: The fairest ladye that shee cold find She hyred in his armes to sleepe, & tooke her in her armes two, For filing of her ffeete. 30. ‘I pray you now, good Child Waters, That I may creepe in att your bedds feete, For there is noe place about this house Where I may say a sleepe.’ 31. This [night] & itt droue on affterward Till itt was neere the day: He sayd, ‘Rise vp, my litle ffoote page, & giue my steed corne & hay; & soe doe thou the good blacke oates, That he may carry me the better away.’ 32. And vp then rose ffaire Ellen, & gave his steed corne & hay, & soe shee did and the good blacke oates, That he might carry him the better away. 33. Shee layned her backe to the manger side, & greiuouslye did groane; & that beheard his mother deere, And heard her make her moane.