"Except the Lord of heaven be my speed, Now must I learn to swim." The salt waters bare up Ellen's clothes, Our Lady bare up her chin; Child Waters was a woe man, good Lord, To see fair Ellen swim! And when she over the water was, She then came to his knee: He said, "Come hither, fair Ellen, Lo yonder what I see. "Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen? Of red gold shine the gates: There's four and twenty fair ladies, The fairest is my worldly make. "Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen? Of red gold shineth the tower: There is four and twenty fair ladies, The fairest is my paramour." "I do see the hall now, Child Waters, That of red gold shineth the gates: God give good then of yourself, And of your worldly make. (_make_, mate.) "I do see the hall now, Child Waters, That of red gold shineth the tower: God give good then of yourself, And of your paramour." There were four and twenty ladies Were playing at the ball, And Ellen, was the fairest lady, Must bring his steed to the stall. There were four and twenty fair ladies Was a playing at the chess, And Ellen, she was the fairest lady, Must bring his horse to grass. And then bespake Child Waters sister, And these were the words said she: "You have the prettiest foot-page, brother, That ever I saw with mine eye. "But that his belly it is so big, His girdle goes wondrous high; And ever, I pray you, Child Waters, Let him go into the chamber with me." "It is more meet for a little foot-page, That has run through moss and mire, To take his supper upon his knee, And sit down by the kitchen fire, Then to go into the chamber with any lady, That wears so [rich] attire." But when they had supped every one, To bed they took the way: He said, "Come hither, my little foot-page. Hearken what I do say. "And go thee down into yonder town, And low into the street; The fairest lady that thou canst find, Hire her in mine arms to sleep; And take her up in thine arms two, For filing of her feet." Ellen is gone into the town, And low into the street; The fairest lady that she could find, She hired in his arms to sleep; And took her up in her arms two, For filing of her feet. "I pray you now, good Child Waters, That I may creep in at your bed's feet; For there is no place about this house, Where I may say a sleep." This [night] and it drove on afterward, Till it was near the day, He said, "Rise up, my little foot-page, And give my steed corn and hay; And so do thou the good black oats, That he may carry me the better away." (_for filing_, to keep clean.) And up then rose fair Ellen, And gave his steed corn and hay; And so she did and the good black oats, That he might carry him the better away.