[27] fashion = form, beauty. [28] feere = mate, consort. [29] discreeve = discover. [30] may = maid. [31] dill = dole, grief. [32] dight = ordained. [33] care-bed = sick-bed. [34] bowne = made ready, gone. [35] without and, &c. = unless he have a good leech, or physician. [36] tine = lose. [37] wightlye = briskly, stoutly. [38] mores = moors. [39] brodinge = growing, sprouting. [40] examine = put to the test. [41] beforne = before (morning). [42] bents = rough grasses. [43] cryance = yielding, cowardice. [44] ming’d = mentioned, spoke the name of. [45] slode = split. [46] good loade = heavily. [47] aukeward = back-handed. [48] lay land = lea, land not under cultivation; here = ground. [49] he’s never = he will never. [50] middle-earth = this earth, as midway between heaven and hell. [51] lay = law, faith. [52] brent = smooth. [53] betaken = given, made over. [54] venison = i. e. deer-forests. _4. Sir Aldingar_ I Our King he kept a false steward, Men call’d him Sir Aldingar; [He would have woo’d our comely Queene To be his paramour]. II He would have woo’d our comely Queene, Her deere worship to betray: Our Queene she was a good woman And evermore said him nay. III Sir Aldingar was offended in ’s mind, With her he was ne’er content, But he sought what meanès he could find In a fyer to have her brent[55]. IV There came a lame lazar to the King’s gate, A lazar ’was blind and lame; He took the lazar upon his backe, Upon the Queene’s bed did him lay. V Said, ‘Lye still, lazar, whereas thou lyest, Looke thou goe not away; I’le make thee a whole man and a sound In two howres of a day.’ VI And then went forth Sir Aldingar Our Queene for to betray, And then he met with our comely King, Says, ‘God you save and see! VII ‘If I had space, as I have grace, A message I’d say to thee.’-- ‘Say on, say on, Sir Aldingar, Say thou on and unto me.’ VIII ‘I can shew you one of the grievous’t sights Ever Christian King did see; Our Queene hath chosen a new, new love, She will have none of thee. IX ‘If she had chosen a right good knight, The lesse had beene her shame; But she hath chosen a lazar man Which is both blind and lame.’-- X ‘If this be true, Sir Aldingar, That thou dost tell to me, Then will I make thee a rich knight Both of gold and fee. XI ‘But if it be false, Sir Aldingar, That thou dost tell to me, Then looke thou for no other death But to be hang’d on tree.’ XII When the King came into the Queene’s chamber, Standing her bed before, ‘There’s a lodly[56] lome[57],’ says Harry the King For our dame Queene Elinor! XIII