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PRINCE EDWARDE AND ADAM
GORDON.

T

Adam Gordon's gloomye haunte
Prince Edwarde wounde bys waye:

"And coulde I but meete that bold outlawe,
"In the wolde where he doth laye!

Prince Edwarde boldlye wounde his waye
The briars and bogs amonge:

"And coulde I but finde that bolde outlawe,

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Hys lyfe fhould not be longe.

"For hee hath harrowed merrye Hampshire, "And manye a spoile poffefte;

"A bolder outlawe than this wight "Ne'er trod by easte and wefte.

"And now come on, my merrye men all, "Nor heede the drearye waye;

"For coulde I but meete that bolde outlawe, "Fulle foone I woulde hym flaye.

"And when wee meete in hardye fyghte,

"Let no one come betweene; "For Adam o'Gordon's as brave a man "As ever foughte on greene."

Then fpake a knighte, "It may be longe 66 Ere Gordon you fhall fynde;

"For hee dothe dwelle in a drearye haunte, Remote from human kynde.

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Among the woldes and deepe moraffe
Hys lodging hee hath ta'en;

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"And never that wand'ring wight wente in,

"That ere came out agay ne.

"So darke, fo narrowe, and fo dreare,

"The wyndings all aboute,

"That scarce the birdes that fcim the aire "Can fynde their way throoute."

Prince Edwarde drewe hys darke browne fworde, And fhooke hys fhynyng lance:

“And rather I'd fyghte thys bolde outlawe,

"Then alle the peers of France."

Prince Edwarde grafp'd his buckler strong,
And proudly marched forthe:

"And rather I'd conquer thys bolde outlawe,

"Then alle the knightes o'the northe."

And then befpake a valiante knyghte:

“Now, prince, thy wordes make goode; "For yonder I fee that proude outlawe, "A cominge forthe the woode."

Then quick the prince lit off hys steede,
And onwarde wounde hys waye:
"Now ftande yee bye, my merrye men alle,
"And yee fhall fee brave playe."

Brave Adam o'Gordon fawe the prince,
As hee cam for the the wolde;

And foone he knewe hym by hys fhielde,
And hys banners all of golde.

"Arouze," he criede, "

my merrye men alle,

"And ftande yee welle your grounde; "For yonder great prince Edwarde coms, "For valoure fo renownde."

"Now welcom, welcom, Adam Gordon,
"I'm gladde I have thee founde;
"For manye a daye I've foughte for thee,
"Thro' alle the countrye rounde.”

"Nowe heare I fweare," brave Adam cried, "Had I but fo beene tolde,

"I woulde have met thee longe 'ere nowe, "In citie or in wolde."

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Oh then began as fiercc a fyghte

As 'ere was foughte in fielde;

The prince was floute, the outlawe strong,
Their heartes with courage fteel'de.

Fulle manye an houre in valiante fyghte
These chieftaines bolde did clofe;
Fulle manye an houre the hilles and woodes
Reechoed with their blowes.

Full many a warriour floode arounde
That marvellous fighte to fee,

While from their woundes the gufhing bloode
Ranne like the fountaine free.

Thrice they agreede, o'erfpent with toyle,
To cease their flurdye blowes;

And thrice they flopp'd to quench their thirfte,
And wipe their bloodye browes.

Edward aye

lov'd that braverye

Which Adam prov'd in fighte,

And, with congenial virtue fir'd,

Refolv'd to do him righte.

"Adam, thy valour charms my foule,

"I ever love the brave;

"And tho? I feare not thy dread fworde, "Thy honoure I woulde fave.

"Here, Gordon, do I plighte my hande,

"My honour and renowne,

"That, if thou to my fworde wilt yeilde,
"And my allegiance owne--

"But more,-if thou wilt be my friende,
"And faithful fhare my hearte,
"I'll ever prove gentle unto thee-
"Wee never more wille parte.

"Thou, in the raging battle's houre,
"Shalle aye fighte by my fide,
"And at my table and my court,
"In time of peace prefide.

"When profperous fate fhall gilde my throne,
"Thou fhalt partake my joye;
"When troubles low're, to foothe thy prince
"Shall be thy fole employe.

"And I to thee the fame will prove,

"A gentle bofom friend; "In joy to fhare thy happineffe,

"In woe thy care to end.

" Nowe, Adam, take thy lasting choice, 66 Thy prince awaites thy worde:

"Accepte, brave man, my smile or frowne→→ "My friendship or my fworde."

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