‘For I have slain the fairest lady That ever wore woman’s weed, Soe I have slain the fairest lady That ever did woman’s deed. XXVIII ‘A grave, a grave,’ Lord Barnard cried, ‘To put these lovers in! But lay my lady on the upper hand, For she comes of the nobler kin.’ FOOTNOTES: [353] pall = fine cloth. [354] lig = lie. [355] wood = mad, fierce. _51. Lord Ingram and Childe Vyet_ I Lord Ingram and Childe Vyet Were both born in one hall; Laid both their hearts on one lady; The worse did them befall. II Lord Ingram woo’d Lady Maisry From father and from mother; Lord Ingram woo’d Lady Maisry From sister and from brother; III Lord Ingram woo’d Lady Maisry With leave of all her kin; And every one gave full consent, But she said ‘no’ to him. IV Now it fell out, upon a day She was dressing of her head, That in did come her father dear, Wearing the gold so red. V ‘Get up now, Lady Maisry, Put on your wedding-gown; For Lord Ingram he will be here, Your wedding must be done.’-- VI ‘I’d rather be Childe Vyet’s wife, The white fish for to sell, Before I were Lord Ingram’s wife, To wear the silk so well. VII ‘I’d rather be Childe Vyet’s wife, With him to beg my bread, Before I were Lord Ingram’s wife, To wear the gold so red.... VIII ‘O where will I get a bonny boy, Will win gold to his fee, And will run unto Childe Vyet With this letter from me?’-- IX ‘O here I am, the boy,’ says one, ‘Will win gold to my fee, And carry away any letter To Childe Vyet from thee.’ X The first line that Childe Vyet read, A grievèd man was he; The next line that Childe Vyet read, A tear blinded his e’e. ‘I wonder what ails my one brother, He’ll not let my love be! XI ‘But I’ll send to my brother’s bridal-- The gammons o’ the swine-- With four and twenty buck and roe, And ten tun of the wine; And bid my love be blithe and glad, And I will follow syne.’ XII There was no groom in that castle But got a gown of green; And all was blithe, and all was glad, But Lady Maisry was neen[356]. XIII There was no cook in that kitchen But got a gown of grey; And all was blithe, and all was glad, But Lady Maisry was wae. XIV O sweetly play’d the merry organs Within her mother’s bower; But dumb stood Lady Maisry, And let the tears down pour. XV O sweetly play’d the harp so fine Within her father’s hall; But still stood Lady Maisry, And let the tears down fall. XVI ’Tween Mary Kirk and the castle Was all spread o’er with garl[357], To keep Lady Maisry and her maidens From tramping on the marl. XVII