I counsel you, remember how, It is no maiden's law, Nothing to doubt, but to renne out To wood with an outlaw: For ye must there in your hand bear A bow, ready to draw; And, as a thief, thus must you live, Ever in dread and awe; Whereby to you great harm might grow: Yet had I lever than, That I had to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man. SHE I think not nay, but as ye say, It is no maiden's lore; But love may make me for your sake, As I have said before, To come on foot, to hunt, and shoot To get us meat in store; For so that I your company May have, I ask no more: From which to part, it maketh my heart As cold as any stone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. HE 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 nede, (as God forbede!) What rescue could ye find? Forsooth, I trow, ye and your bow For fear would draw behind: And no mervayle: for little avail Were in your counsel then: Wherefore I will to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man. SHE Right well know ye, that women be But feeble for to fight; No womanhede it is indeed To be bold as a knight: Yet, in such fear if that ye were With enemies day or night, I would withstand, with bow in hand, To greve them as I might, And you to save; as women have From death men many a one: For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. HE Yet take good hede; for ever I drede That ye could not sustain The thorny ways, the deep valleys, The snow, the frost, the rain, The cold, the heat: for dry, or wet, We must lodge on the plain; And, us above, none other roof But a brake bush, or twain; Which soon should grieve you, I believe, And ye would gladly then That I had to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man. SHE Sith I have here been partynere With you of joy and bliss, I must als part of your woe Endure, as reason is: Yet am I sure of one pleasure; And, shortly, it is this: That, where ye be, me seemeth, parde, I could not fare amiss. Without more speech, I you beseech That we were soon agone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. HE If ye go thyder, ye must consider, When ye have lust to dine, There shall no meat be for you gete, Nor drink, beer, ale, nor wine. No shetes clean, to lie between, Made of thread and twine; None other house, but leaves and boughs, To cover your head and mine; O mine heart sweet, this evil diete Should make you pale and wan; Wherefore I will to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man. SHE