LI Up he has ta’en his bonny young son, Gar’d wash him wi’ the milk; And up he has taken his fair lady, Gar’d row[338] her in the silk. LII ‘Peace now,’ he said, ‘Burd Ellen, And be of good cheer, I pray; Your bridal and your churching both Shall be upon one day.’ FOOTNOTES: [333] yeard-fast = fast in earth. [334] Dries = endures. [335] pine = pain. [336] skilly = wise, knowledgeable. [337] monand = moaning. [338] row = wrap. _47. Childe Maurice_ I Childe Maurice hunted the Silver Wood, He whistled and he sang: ‘I think I see the woman yonder That I have lovèd lang.’ II He callèd to his little man John, ‘You don’t see what I see; For yonder I see the very first woman That ever lovèd me.’ III He says, ‘Come hither, my little man John, That I pay meat and fee, For thou shalt go to John Steward’s wife And greet her well from me; IV ‘And as it falls as many times As knots be knit in a kell[339], Or merchantmen go to leeve[340] Londòn To buy ware or to sell; V ‘And as it falls as many times As any heart can think, Or school-masters are in any school Writing with pen and ink. VI ‘Here is a glove, a glove,’ he says, ‘Lined wi’ the silver-gris[341]; Bid her to come to Silver Wood To speak with Childe Maurice. VII ‘And here is a ring, a ring,’ he says, ‘A ring of the precious stone: He prays her come to Silver Wood And ask the leave of none.’-- VIII ‘Well do I love your errand, master, But better I love my life. Would ye have me go to John Steward’s castle, To tryst away his wife?’-- IX ‘Do not I give you meat?’ he says, ‘Do not I give you fee? How daur you stop my errand When that I bid you flee?’ X This little man John one while he yode[342], Another while he ran; Until he came to John Steward’s castle I wis he never blan[343]. XI He ask’d no porter’s leave, but ran Up hall and bower free, And when he came to John Steward’s wife, Says, ‘God you save and see! XII ‘I come, I am come from Childe Maurice-- A message unto thee! And Childe Maurice he greets you well, And ever so well from me, XIII ‘And as it falls as oftentimes As knots be knit in a kell, Or merchantmen go to leeve Londòn To buy ware or to sell; XIV ‘And as oftentimes he greets you well As any heart can think, Or schoolmasters are in any school Writing with pen and ink. XV ‘Here is a glove, a glove,’ he says, ‘Lined wi’ the silver-gris; Ye’re bidden to come to Silver Wood To speak with Childe Maurice. XVI