  IChilde Maurice hunted the Silver Wood, He whistled and he sang: ‘I think I see the woman yonder That I have lovÈd lang.’ IIHe 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.’ IIIHe 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 Or merchantmen go to leeve 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 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?’ XThis little man John one while he yode Another while he ran; Until he came to John Steward’s castle I wis he never blan XIHe 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‘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!’ XVIIIO 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.’ XXOut 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.’ XXIIThen 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!’ XXIIIHe struck the table wi’ his foot, And kepp’d Till silver cup and ezar In flinders they did flee. XXIVHe call’d unto his horse-keeper, ‘Make ready you my steed!’ So did he to his chamberlain, ‘Go fetch |
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