All my welfare to sorrow and care Should change, if ye were gone: For in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone." "I can believe it shall you grieve, And somewhat you distrain; But afterward your painés hard, Within a day or twain, Shall soon aslake, and ye shall take Comfort to you again. Why should ye nought? for, to make thought Your labour were in vain: And thus I do, and pray you, too, As heartily as I can: For I must to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man." "Now sith that ye have shewed to me The secret of your mind, I shall be plain to you again, Like as ye shall me find: Sith it is so that ye will go, I will not leave behind; Shall never be said the Nutbrown Maid Was to her love unkind. Make you ready, for so am I, Although it were anon; For in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone." "Yet I you rede to take good heed What men will think and say -, Of young and old it shall be told, That ye be gone away Your wanton will for to fulfil, In green wood you to play; And that ye might from your delight No longer make delay.' Rather than ye should thus for me Be called an ill woman, Yet would I to the green wood go Alone, a banished man." "Though it be sung of old and young That I should be to blame, Theirs be the charge that speak so large In hurting of my name. For I will prove that faithful love It is devoid of shame, In your distress and heaviness, To part with you the same; And sure all tho that do not so, True lovers are they none; But in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone." "I counsel yow remember how It is no maiden's law, Nothing to doubt, but to renne out To wood with an outlaw. (_tho_, those. _renne_, run.) For ye must there in your hand bear A bow to bear and draw, And as a thief thus must ye live, Ever in dread and awe; By which to yow great harm might grow;-- Yet had I liefer than That I had to the greenwood go Alone, a banished man." "I think not nay; but, as ye say, It is no maiden's lore; But love may make me for your sake, As ye have said before, To come on foot, to hunt and shoot To get us meat and store; For so that I your company May have, I ask no more; From which to part, it maketh mine heart As cold as any stone: For in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone." "For an outlaw this is the law, That men him take and bind, Without pity hanged to be, And waver with the wind. If I had need, as God forbid, What rescue could ye find? For sooth, I trow, you and your bow Should draw for fear behind: And no merveil; for little avail Were in your counsel than; Wherefore I to the wood will go Alone, a banished man." "Full well know ye that women be Full feeble for to fight;