Whorfore I wyll to the grene wode go, alone, a baryshed man.

B.

Ryght wele know ye, that women be but feble for to fyght;

No womanhede it is, indede, to be bolde as a knyght: Yet, in such fere yf that ye were with enemyes day and nyght,

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I wolde withstande, with bowe in hande, to helpe you with my myght,

And you to save; as women have from deth many

& one;

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde I love but you

alone.

Yet take good hede; for ever I drede that

nat sustayne

ye coude

The thornie wayes, the depe valèies, the snowe, the frost, the rayne,

The colde, the hete: for, drye, or wete, ye must lodge on the playne;

And, us above, none other rofe but a brake, bush, or twayne:

Which sone sholde greve you, I beleve; and ye wolde gladly than

That I had to the grene wode go, alone, a banyshed

man.

B.

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Syth I have here been partynère with you of joy

and blysse,

VOL. I.

I must also parte of your wo endure, as reson is: Yet am I sure of one plesùre; and shortely, it is

this,

That, where ye be, me semeth, pardè, I coude not fare amysse.

Without more speche, I you beseche that we were shortely gone;

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde I love but you alone.

A.

Yf ye go thyder, ye must consider,-whan ye have lust to dyne,

There shall no mete, be for to gete, neyther bere, ale, ne wyne;

Ne shetes clene to lye betwene, maden of threde and twyne;

None other house, but leves and bowes, to cover your hed and myne:

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O myne hart swete, this evyll dyète sholde make you pale and wan;

Wherfore I wyll to the grene wode go, alone, a banyshed man.

B.

Amonge the wylde dere, such an archère as men say that ye be,

May ye nat fayle of good vitayle, where is so grete plentè?

And water clere of the ryvère shall be full swete

to me;

With which in hele I shall ryght wele endure, as shall see:

ye

And, or we go, a bedde or two I can provyde anone;

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde I love but you

alone.

A.

Lo yet, before, ye must do more, yf ye wyll go wyth

me:

As cut your here above your ere, your kyrtel above

the kne;

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With bowe in hande, for to withstande your enemyes,

yf nede be:

And, this same nyght, before day-lyght, to wodewarde wyll I fle.

Yf that ye wyll all this fulfill, do it shortely as ye

can;

Els wyll I to the grene wode go, alone, a banyshed

man.

B.

I shall as nowe do more for you than longeth to womanhede;

To shorte my here, a bow to bere, to shote in tyme of nede :

O my swete mother, before all other for you I have most drede:

But nowe, adue! I must ensue where fortune doth me lede.

All this make ye: nowe let us fle; the day cometh fast upon;

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde I love but you alone.

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Nay, nay, nat so; ye shal nat go, and I shall tell

you why,

Your appetyght is to be lyght of love, I wele espy: For, lyke as ye have sayed to me, in lyke wyse hardely

Ye wolde answère, whosoever it were, in way of company.

It is sayd of olde,-Sone hote, sone colde; and so is a woman:

For I must to the grene wode go, alone, a banyshed

man.

B.

Yf ye take hede, it is no nede such wordes to say by me;

For oft ye prayed, and long assayed, or I you loved,

pardė:

And though that I of auncestry a baron's daughter

be,

Yet have you proved howe I you loved, a squyer of lowe degre;

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And ever shall, whatso befall; to dye therefore

anone;

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde I love but you alone.

A.

A baron's chylde to be begylde! it were a cursed

dede:

To be felàwe with an outlawe! Almighty God for

bede!

Yea, beter were, the pore squyère alone to forest

yede,

sholde say

Than ye dede

another day, that by my cursed

Ye were betrayed: wherfore, good mayd, the best rede that I can,

Is, that I to the grene wode go, alone, a banyshed

man.

B.

Whatever befall, I never shall of this thyng you outbrayd:

But yf ye go, and leve me so, than have ye me be

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trayed. Remember you wele howe that ye dele; for, yf ye be as ye sayd,

Ye were unkynde, to leue behynde, your love, the notbrowne mayd.

Trust me truly, that I shall dy sone after ye be gone; For, in my mynde, of all mankynde I love but you alone.

A.

Yf that ye went, ye sholde repent; for in the forest

nowe

I have purvayed me of a mayd, whom I love more than you;

Another fayrère than ever ye were, I dare it wele

avowe;

And of you bothe eche sholde be wrothe with other, as I trowe:

It were myne ese, to lyve in pese; so wyll I, yf I

can;

Wherfore I to the grene wode go, alone, a banyshed man.

B.

15C

Though in the wode I undyrstode ye had a para

mour,