"Ride softlye," shee sayd, "O Childe Waters: Why doe you ryde so fast? The childe, which is no mans but thine, 55 My bodye itt will brast." Hee sayth, "seest thou yond water, Ellen, That flows from banke to brimme?" "I trust to God, O Childe Waters, You never will see me swimme." 60 But when shee came to the water side, She sayled to the chinne: "Now the Lord of heaven be my speede, For I must learne to swimme." The salt waters bare up her clothes, 65 Our Ladye bare up her chinne; Childe Waters was a woe man, good Lord, To see faire Ellen swimme! And when shee over the water was, Shee then came to his knee: 70 Hee sayd, "Come hither, thou fayre Ellen, Loe yonder what I see. "Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen? Of redd gold shines the yate: Of twenty foure faire ladyes there, 75 The fairest is my mate. "Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen? Of redd golde shines the towre: There are twenty four fayre ladyes there, The fayrest is my paramoure." 80 "I see the hall now, Childe Waters, Of redd golde shines the yate: God give you good now of yourselfe, And of your worldlye mate. "I see the hall now, Childe Waters, 85 Of redd golde shines the towre: God give you good now of yourselfe, And of your paramoure." There twenty four fayre ladyes were A playing at the ball, 90 And Ellen, the fayrest ladye there, Must bring his steed to the stall. There twenty four fayre ladyes were A playinge at the chesse, And Ellen, the fayrest ladye there, 95 Must bring his horse to gresse. And then bespake Childe Waters sister, These were the wordes sayd shee: "You have the prettyest page, brother, That ever I did see; 100 "But that his bellye it is soe bigge, His girdle stands soe hye; And ever, I pray you, Childe Waters, Let him in my chamber lye." "It is not fit for a little foot-page, 105 That has run throughe mosse and myre, To lye in the chamber of any ladye, That weares soe riche attyre. "It is more meete for a little foot-page, That has run throughe mosse and myre, 110 To take his supper upon his knee, And lye by the kitchen fyre." Now when they had supped every one, To bedd they tooke theyr waye: He sayd, "Come hither, my little foot-page, 115 And hearken what I saye.