‘And here is a ring, a ring of gold, Set wi’ the precious stone: He prays you to come to Silver Wood And ask the leave of none.’-- XVII ‘Now peace, now peace, thou little man John, For Christ’s sake I pray thee! For gif my lord heard one o’ thy words Thou must be hangèd hie!’ XVIII O aye she stampèd with her foot And winkèd with her e’e; But for all that she could say or do Forbidden he would not be. XIX ‘It’s surely to my bower-woman, It cannot be to me!’-- ‘Nay, I brought it to John Steward’s lady, And I trow that thou art she.’ XX Out then spake the wily nurse, Wi’ the bairn just on her knee: ‘If this be come from Childe Maurice It’s dear welcome to me.’-- XXI ‘Thou liest, thou liest, thou wily nurse, So loud as I hear thee lie! I brought it to John Steward’s lady, And I trow thou be not she.’ XXII Then up and rose him John Steward, And an angry man was he: ‘Did I think there was a lord in the world My lady loved but me!’ XXIII He struck the table wi’ his foot, And kepp’d[344] it with his knee, Till silver cup and ezar[345] dish In flinders they did flee. XXIV He call’d unto his horse-keeper, ‘Make ready you my steed!’ So did he to his chamberlain, ‘Go fetch my lady’s weed[346]!’ XXV O he dress’d himself in the holland smock, [The mantle and the snood], And he cast a lease[347] upon his back, And he rode to Silver Wood. XXVI And when he came to Silver Wood, No body saw he there But Childe Maurice upon a block Combing his yellow hair. XXVII Childe Maurice sat in Silver Wood, He whistled and he sang: ‘I think I see the woman come That I have lovèd lang.’ XXVIII But then stood up him Childe Maurice His mother to help from horse: ‘O alas, alas!’ says Childe Maurice, ‘My mother was ne’er so gross!’ XXIX ‘No wonder, no wonder,’ John Steward he said, ‘My lady loved thee well, For the fairest part of my body Is blacker than thy heel.’ XXX John Steward had a little brown sword That hung low down by his knee; He has cut the head off Childe Maurice And the body put on a tree. XXXI And he prick’d the head on his sword’s point, Went singing there beside, And he rode till he came to the castle Whereas his lady ly’ed[348]. XXXII And when he came to his lady-- Look’d o’er the castle-wall-- He threw the head into her lap, Saying ‘Lady, tak’[349] the ball!’ XXXIII Says, ‘Dost thou know Childe Maurice’ head, If that thou dost it see? And lap it soft, and kiss it oft, For thou loved’st him better than me.’ XXXIV