The Oxford Book of Ballads

Ballads, English -- Great Britain -- Texts

_He._ _Be it right or wrong, these men among
          On women do complain;
        Affirming this, how that it is
          A labour spent in vain
        To love them wele; for never a dele[439]
          They love a man again:
        For let a man do what he can
          Their favour to attain,
        Yet if a new to them pursue,
          Their first true lover than[440]
        Laboureth for naught; for from her thought
          He is a banished man._

        II

 _She._ _I say not nay, but that all day
          It is both written and said
        That woman’s faith is, as who saith
          All utterly decay’d:
        But nevertheless, right good witnèss
          In this case might be laid
        That they love true and continùe:
          Record the Nut-brown Maid,
        Which, when her love came her to prove,
          To her to make his moan,
        Would not depart; for in her heart
          She loved but him alone._

        III

  _He._ _Then between us let us discuss
          What was all the manere
        Between them two: we will also
          Tell all the pain in fere[441]
        That she was in. Now I begin,
          So that ye me answere:
        Wherefore all ye that present be,
          I pray you, give an ear.
        I am the Knight. I come by night,
          As secret as I can,
        Saying,_ Alas! thus standeth the case,
          I am a banished man.

        IV

 _She._ _And I your will for to fulfil
          In this will not refuse;
        Trusting to show, in wordès few,
          That men have an ill use--
        To their own shame--women to blame,
          And causeless them accuse.
        Therefore to you I answer now,
          All women to excuse:_
        Mine own heart dear, with you what cheer?
          I pray you, tell anone;
        For, in my mind, of all mankind
          I love but you alone.

        V

  _He._ It standeth so: a deed is do
          Whereof great harm shall grow:
        My destiny is for to die
          A shameful death, I trow;
        Or else to flee. The t’ one must be.
          None other way I know
        But to withdraw as an outlàw,
          And take me to my bow.
        Wherefore adieu, mine own heart true!
          None other rede I can[442]:
        For I must to the green-wood go,
          Alone, a banished man.

        VI

 _She._ O Lord, what is this worldis bliss,
          That changeth as the moon!
        My summer’s day in lusty May
          Is darked before the noon.
        I hear you say, farewell: Nay, nay,
          We dèpart not so soon.
        Why say ye so? whither will ye go?
          Alas! what have ye done?
        All my welfàre to sorrow and care
          Should change, if ye were gone:
        For, in my mind, of all mankind
          I love but you alone.

        VII

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

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The Oxford Book of Ballads

Ballads, English -- Great Britain -- Texts

_He._ _Be it right or wrong, these men among
          On women do complain;
        Affirming this, how that it is
          A labour spent in vain
        To love them wele; for never a dele[439]
          They love a man again:
        For let a man do what he can
          Their favour to attain,
        Yet if a new to them pursue,
          Their first true lover than[440]
        Laboureth for naught; for from her thought
          He is a banished man._

        II

 _She._ _I say not nay, but that all day
          It is both written and said
        That woman’s faith is, as who saith
          All utterly decay’d:
        But nevertheless, right good witnèss
          In this case might be laid
        That they love true and continùe:
          Record the Nut-brown Maid,
        Which, when her love came her to prove,
          To her to make his moan,
        Would not depart; for in her heart
          She loved but him alone._

        III

  _He._ _Then between us let us discuss
          What was all the manere
        Between them two: we will also
          Tell all the pain in fere[441]
        That she was in. Now I begin,
          So that ye me answere:
        Wherefore all ye that present be,
          I pray you, give an ear.
        I am the Knight. I come by night,
          As secret as I can,
        Saying,_ Alas! thus standeth the case,
          I am a banished man.

        IV

 _She._ _And I your will for to fulfil
          In this will not refuse;
        Trusting to show, in wordès few,
          That men have an ill use--
        To their own shame--women to blame,
          And causeless them accuse.
        Therefore to you I answer now,
          All women to excuse:_
        Mine own heart dear, with you what cheer?
          I pray you, tell anone;
        For, in my mind, of all mankind
          I love but you alone.

        V

  _He._ It standeth so: a deed is do
          Whereof great harm shall grow:
        My destiny is for to die
          A shameful death, I trow;
        Or else to flee. The t’ one must be.
          None other way I know
        But to withdraw as an outlàw,
          And take me to my bow.
        Wherefore adieu, mine own heart true!
          None other rede I can[442]:
        For I must to the green-wood go,
          Alone, a banished man.

        VI

 _She._ O Lord, what is this worldis bliss,
          That changeth as the moon!
        My summer’s day in lusty May
          Is darked before the noon.
        I hear you say, farewell: Nay, nay,
          We dèpart not so soon.
        Why say ye so? whither will ye go?
          Alas! what have ye done?
        All my welfàre to sorrow and care
          Should change, if ye were gone:
        For, in my mind, of all mankind
          I love but you alone.

        VII

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Oxford Book of Ballads

The Oxford Book of Ballads

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