Why fholde ye ought? for, to make thought,

Your labour were in vayne.

And thus I do; and pray you to,

80

Shall never be fayd, the not-browne mayd

Ver. 91. Shall it never. Prol. Ver. 94. Although. Prol.

3.

HE.

Yet I you rede to take good hede
What men wyll thynke, and fay:
Of yonge, and olde it shall be tolde,
That ye be gone away;

Your wanton wyll for to fulfill,

In grene wode yon to play;

And that ye myght from your delight
No lenger make delay :

Rather than ye fholde thus for me

Be called an yll woman,

100

105

wode go,

Alone, a banyshed man.

SHE.

Though it be fonge of old and yonge,

That I fholde be to blame,

Theyrs be the charge, that speke fo large

In hurtynge of my name :

For I wyll prove, that faythfulle love

It is devoy'd of fhame;

In your dyftreffe, and hevyneffe,

110

115

the fame ;

And fure all tho' that do not so,

Ver. 133. fay nat, Prel. Ver. 138. and store. Camb. copy,

Hr.

Were in your counceyle than : Wherfore I wyll to the grene wode go,

155

Alone, a banyfhed man.

SHE.

Ryght wele knowe ye, that women be

But feble for to fyght;

No womanhede it is indede

To be bolde as a knyght:

160

The colde, the hete: for dry, or wete,

We must lodge on the playne;

175

And, us above, none other rofe

But a brake bush, or twayne :

Which fone sholde greve you, I beleve;

Syth I have here bene partynère
With you of joy and blyffe,
I must also parte of your wo

Endure, as refon is:

Yet am I fure of one plefùre;

And, fhortely, it is this:

That, where ye be, me femeth, pardè,

I coude nat fare amyffe.

Without more speche, I you befeche

That we were fone agone;

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde

I love but you alone.

180

185

190

D 2

HE.

Ver. 174. Ye must. Prol.

Ver. 190. fher ley gone. Prol

I