29. 'For on every finger she has a ring,

And on the mid-finger she has three,
And as mickle gold she has on her brow

'Would buy an earldome o' land to me.

30. And this golden ring that's broken in twa,
She sends the half o' this golden ring,
And bids you speak with a lady fair,
That out o' prison did you bring.'

31. Then up and started Young Beichan
And sware so loud by Our Ladye,
'It can be none but Susie Pye,

That has come over the sea to me!

32. O quickly ran he down the stair,

Of fifteen steps he made but three;
He's ta'en his bonny love in his arms
And kiss'd and kiss'd her tenderlie.

33. 'O have ye ta'en another bride,

And have ye quite forsaken me?
And have ye clean forgotten her
That gave you life and libertie?'

34. She's lookèd over her left shoulder
To hide the tears stood in her e'e;
'Now fare-thee-well, Young Beichan,' she

says,

'I'll strive to think no more on thee.'

35. 'O never, never, Susie Pye,

For surely this can never be,
That ever I shall wed but her

That's done and dreed so much for me!'

36. Then up bespake the bride's mother She never was heard to speak so free: 'Ye'll not forsake my only daughter, Though Susie Pye has cross'd the sea.'

37. 'Take home, take home your daughter, madam,

She's never a bit the worse for me;
For saving a kiss of her bonny lips
Of your daughter's body I am free.'

38. He's ta'en her by the milk-white hand
And led her to yon fountain-stone;
He's changed her name from Susie Pye
And call'd her his bonny love Lady Joan.

CHILDE MAURICE

1. CHILDE MAURICE hunted the Silver Wood. He whistled and he sang:

'I think I see the woman yonder

That I have loved lang.'

2. He called to his little man John,
'You don't see what I see;

For yonder I see the very first woman
That ever lovèd me.'

3. 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;

4. 'And as it falls as many times As knots be knit in a kell,

Or merchantmen go to leeve London

To buy ware or to sell;

5. 'And as it falls as many times
As any heart can think,

Or school-masters are in any school
Writing with pen and ink.

6. '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.

7. 'And here is a ring, a ring,' he says, 'A ring of the precious stone: prays her come to Silver Wood And ask the leave of none.'

He

8. '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?'—

9. '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?'

10. This little man John one while he yode,
Another while he ran;

Until he came to John Steward's castle
I wis he never blan.

11. 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!

12. '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,

13. '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;

14. ‘And as oftentimes he greets you well
As any heart can think,

Or schoolmasters are in any school
Writing with pen and ink.

15. ‘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.

16. '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.'—

17. ‘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!'

18. O aye she stampèd with her foot
And winked with her e'e;

But for all that she could say or do
Forbidden he would not be.

19. '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.'