He spy’d the young maiden in the garden to walk. She look’d most beautiful, pleasant, and gay, Like to sweet Aurora, or the goddess of May. He was in a passion when he did her spy, And instantly unto his brother did cry, ‘Why did you not do as in the letter I writ?’ His brother replied, ‘It is done every bit.’ ‘No, no,’ said the Knight, ‘it is not so I see, Therefore she shall back again go with me;’ But his brother showed him the letter that day, Then he was amazed, but nothing did say. Soon after the Knight took this maiden away, And with her did ride till he came to the sea, Then looking upon her with anger and spite, He spoke to the maiden and bade her alight. The maid from the horse immediately went And trembled to think what was his intent. ‘Ne’er tremble,’ said he, ‘for this hour’s your last; So pull off your clothes, I command you, in haste.’ This virgin, with tears, on her knees did reply, ‘Oh! what have I done, sir, that now I must die? Oh! let me but know how I offend I’ll study each hour my life to amend, Oh! spare my life and I’ll wander till death, And never come near you while I have breath.’ He hearing the pitiful moan she did make Straight from his finger a ring did take, He then to the maiden these words did say, ‘This ring in the water I’ll now throw away; Pray look on it well, for the posy is plain, That you when you see it may know it again. I charge you for life never come in my sight, For if you do I shall owe you a spite, Unless you do bring the same unto me:’ With that he let the ring drop in the sea, Which when he had done away he did go, And left her to wander in sorrow and woe. She rambled all night, and at length did espy A homely poor cottage, and to it did hie, Being hungry with cold, and a heart full of grief, She went to this cottage to seek for relief; The people reliev’d her, and the next day They got her to service, as I did hear say, At a nobleman’s house, not far from this place Where she did behave with a modest grace. She was a cookmaid and forgot the time past, But observe the wonder that comes at last. As she for dinner was dressing one day, And opened the head of a cod, they say, She found such a ring, and was in amaze And she, in great wonder, upon it did gaze And viewing it well she found it to be The very same the Knight dropped in the sea, She smil’d when she saw it, and bless’d her kind fate, But did to no creature the secret relate.