'My Rose shall safely here abide, 'And you, Sir Thomas, whom I trust And therewithal he fetch'd a sigh Not one plain word could speak. And at their parting well they might For when his Grace had past the seas, And forth she calls this trusty knight In an unhappy hour; Who with his clue of twined thread And when that they had wounded him But when the queen with steadfast eye She was amazed in her mind 'Cast off from thee those robes,' she said, 'That rich and costly be; And drink thou up this deadly draught, Which I have brought to thee.' Then presently upon her knees And pardon of the queen she craved Take pity on my youthful years,' Fair Rosamund did cry; 'And let me not with poison strong Enforced be to die.' And with these words, her lily hands But nothing could this furious queen She gave this comely dame to drink, Who took it in her hand, And from her bended knee arose, And on her feet did stand; And casting up her eyes to heaven And drinking up the poison strong, Her life she lost withal. And when that death through every limb Her body then they did entomb, At Godstowe, near to Oxford town, As may be seen this day. T. Delone CXV THE HITCHEN MAY-DAY SONG Remember us poor Mayers all ! To lead our lives in righteousness, We have been rambling all the night, And now returned back again, We have brought you a branch of May. A branch of May we have brought you, It is but a sprout, but it's well budded out The hedges and trees they are so green, Our heavenly Father He water'd them The heavenly gates are open wide, The life of man is but a span, It flourishes like a flower; We are here to-day and gone to-morrow, And we are dead in an hour. The moon shines bright, and the stars give a light, A little before it is day: So God bless you all, both great and small, And send you a joyful May! Old Song CXVI THE SPANISH LADY'S LOVE Will you hear a Spanish lady How she woo'd an English man? Decked with jewels, had she on ; Of a comely countenance and grace was she, As his prisoner there he kept her, In his hands her life did lie; Cupid's bands did tie her faster, By the liking of an eye; In his courteous company was all her joy, At the last there came commandment With their jewels still adorned, 6 None to do them injury: Alas!' then said this lady gay, 'full woe is me ; O let me still sustain this kind captivity! 'O gallant captain, show some pity To a lady in distress; Leave me not within the city, For to die in heaviness; Thou hast set this present day my body free, 'How should'st thou, fair lady, love me, 'All the evil I think to thee, most gracious knight, God grant unto myself the same may fully light: 'Blessed be the time and season That you came on Spanish ground ; If you may our foes be termed, Gentle foes we have you found. With our city you have won our hearts each one; Then to your country bear away that is your own.' |