Glasgerion was a king's own son,

And a harper he was good;

He harped in the king's chamber,

Where cup and candle stood,

And so did he in the queens chamber,

Till ladies waxed wood,

And then bespake the king's daughter,

And these words thus said she.=

Said "strike on, strike on, Glasgerion,

Of thy striking do not blin;

There's never a stroke comes over thine harp,

But it glads my heart within."

"Fair might you fall, lady," quoth he,

"Who taught you now to speak?

I have loved you, lady, seven year;

My heart I durst ne'er break."

"But come to my bower, my Glasgerion,

When all men are at rest;

As I am a lady true of my promise,

Thou shalt be a welcome guest."

But home then came Glasgerion,

A glad man, Lord, was he:

And, "come thou hither, Jack, my boy,

Come hither unto me.

"For the king's daughter of Normandy

Her love is granted me;

And before the cock have crowen

At her chamber must I be."

"But come you hither, master," quoth he,

"Lay your head down on this stone;

For I will waken you, master dear,

Afore it be time to gone."

But up then rose that lither lad,

And did on hose and shoon;

A collar he cast upon his neck,

He seemed a gentleman.

And when he came to that lady's chamber,

He tirled upon a pin:

The lady was true of her promise,

Rose up and let him in.

He did not take the lady gay,

To bolster nor to bed:

But down upon her chamber floor,

Full soon he hath her laid.

He did not kiss that lady gay

When he came nor when he youd:

And sore mistrusted that lady gay,

He was of some churlÈs blood.

But home then came that lither lad,

And did off his hose and shoon;

And cast that collar from about his neck:

He was but a churlÈs son.

"Awaken," quoth he, "my master dear,

I hold it time to be gone.

"For I have saddled your horse, master,

Well bridled I have your steed,

Have I not served a good breakfast,

When time comes I have need."

But up then rose good Glasgerion,

And did on hose and shoon,

And cast a collar about his neck:

He was a kingÉs son.

And when he came to that ladys chamber,

He tirled upon a pin -,

The lady was more than true of promise,

Rose up and let him in.

Says "whether have you left with me

Your bracelet or your glove?

Or are you returned back again

To know more of my love?"

Glasgerion swore a full great oath,

By oak, and ash, and thorn;

"Lady, I was never in your chamber,

Sith the time that I was born."

"O then it was your little foot-page,

Falsely hath beguiled me:"

And then she pulled forth a little pen-knife,

That hanged by her knee.

Says, "there shall never no churlÈs blood

Spring within my body."

But home then went Glasgerion,

A woe man, good [lord] was he.

Says, "come hither thou, Jack my boy,

Come thou hither to me.

"For if I had killed a man to-night,

Jack, I would tell it thee:

But if I have not killed a man to-night,

Jack, thou hast killed three."

And he pulled out his bright brown sword,

And dried it on his sleeve,

And he smote off that lither lads head,

And asked no man no leave.

He set the sword's point til his breast,

The pummel till a stone:

Through that falseness of that lither lad,

These three lives were all gone.