_She._ Whatever befall, I never shall Of this thing be upbraid: But if ye go, and leave me so, Then have ye me betrayed. Remember you well, how that ye deal; For, if ye, as ye said, Be so unkind, to leave behind, Your love, the Nut-brown Maid, Trust me truly, that I shall die Soon after ye be gone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. _He._ If that ye went, ye should repent; For in the forest now I have purvayed me of a maid, Whom I love more than you; Another more fair than ever ye were, I dare it well avow; And of you both each should be wroth With other, as I trow: It were mine ease to live in peace; So will I, if I can; Wherefore I to the wood will go, Alone, a banished man. _She._ Though in the wood I understood Ye had a paramour, All this may nought remove my thought, But that I will be yours: And she shall find me soft and kind, And courteous every hour; Glad to fulfil all that she will Command me to my power: For had ye, lo, an hundred mo, Yet would I be that one, For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. _He._ Mine own dear love, I see the prove That ye be kind and true; Of maid, and wife, in all my life, The best that ever I knew. Be merry and glad, be no more sad, The case is changèd new; For it were ruth, that, for your truth, Ye should have cause to rue. Be not dismayed; whatsoever I said To you when I began; I will not to the green-wood go; I am no banished man. _She._ These tidings be more glad to me, Than to be made a queen, If I were sure they should endure; But it is often seen, When men will break promise, they speak The wordis on the spleen. Ye shape some wile me to beguile, And steal from me, I ween: Then were the case worse than it was, And I more wobegone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. _He._ Ye shall not need further to dread; I will not disparàge You (God defend), sith ye descend Of so great lineàge. Now understand; to Westmoreland, Which is my heritage, I will you bring; and with a ring, By way of marriàge I will you take, and lady make, As shortly as I can. Thus have you won an Erle's son, And not a banished man. _Here may ye see, that woman be In love, meek, kind, and stable: Let never man reprove them than, Or call them variable; But rather pray God that we may To them be comfortable; Which sometimes proveth such, as He loveth, If they be charitable. For sith men would that women should Be meek to them each one; Much more ought they to God obey, And serve but Him alone._ SIR HUGH OF LINCOLN