In green wood ye had on thee?" "My mother she's a poor woman, She nursed earls children three; And I got them from a foster sister, For to beguile such sparks as thee." "But if you be a carl's daughter, As I believe you be, How did you learn the good Latin, In green wood ye spoke to me?" "My mother she's a mean woman, She nursed earl's children three; I learned it from their chaplain, To beguile such sparks as ye." When mass was sung, and bells were rung, And all men bound for bed, Then Earl Richard and this lady In ae bed they were laid. He turned his face unto the stock, And she hers to the stane; And cauld and dreary was the love That was these twa between. Great mirth was in the kitchen, Likewise intill the ha'; But in his bed lay Earl Richard, Wiping the tears awa'. He wept till he fell fast asleep, Then slept till light was come; Then he did hear the gentlemen That talked in the room: Said,--"Saw ye ever a fitter'match, Betwixt the ane and ither; The King o' Scotland's fair dochter, And the Queen of England's brither?" "And is she the King o' Scotland's fair dochter? This day, oh, weel is me! For seven times has my steed been saddled, To come to court with thee; And with this witty lady fair, How happy must I be!" ADAM BEL, CLYM OF THE CLOUGH,AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLE [Illustration: 0160] |Merry it was in green forest, Among the leaves green, Where that men walk east and west, With bows and arrows keen. To raise the deer out of their den,-- Such sights hath oft been seen,-- As by three yeomen of the north country, By them it is I mean. The one of them hight Adam Bel, The other Clym of the Clough, The third was. William of Cloudesle, An archer good enough. They were outlawed for venison, These yeomen every one; They swore them brethren upon a day, To English-wood for to gone. Now lith and listen, gentlemen, That of mirths loveth to hear: Two of them were single men, The third had a wedded fere. William was the wedded man, Much more then was his care: He said to his brethren upon a day, To Carlisle he would fare, For to speak with fair Alice his wife, And with his children three. "By my troth," said Adam Bel, "Not by the counsel of me. "For if ye go to Carlisle, brother. And from this wild wood wend, If the justice may you take, Your life were at an end." (_hight_, was called. _lith_, listen. _fere_, mate.) "If that I come not tomorrow, brother, By prime to you again, Trust not else but that I am take, Or else that I am slain." He took his leave of his brethren two, And to Carlisle he is gone; There he knocked at his own window, Shortly and anon. "Where be you, fair Alice, my wife, And my children three?