Percy Manuscript, p. 94;
Hales and Furnivall, I, 248.
| 1 |
Glasgerion was a kings owne sonne,
And a harper he was good;
He harped in the kings chamber,
Where cuppe and candle stoode,
And soe did hee in the queens chamber,
Till ladies waxed wood. |
| 2 |
And then bespake the kings daughter,
And these words thus sayd shee:
. . . .
. . . . . |
| 3 |
Saide, Strike on, strike on, Glasgerrion,
Of thy striking doe not blinne;
There's neuer a stroke comes ouer thin harpe
But it glads my hart within. |
| 4 |
'Faire might you fall, lady!' quoth hee;
'Who taught you now to speake?
I haue loued you, lady, seuen yeere;
My hart I durst neere breake.' |
| 5 |
'But come to my bower, my Glasgerryon,
When all men are att rest;
As I am a ladie true of my promise,
Thou shalt bee a welcome guest.' |
| 6 |
But hom then came Glasgerryon,
A glad man, Lord, was hee:
'And come thou hither, Iacke, my boy,
Come hither vnto mee. |
| 7 |
'For the kings daughter of Normandye,
Her loue is granted mee,
And beffore the cocke haue crowen,
Att her chamber must I bee.' |
| 8 |
'But come you hither master,' quoth hee,
'Lay your head downe on this stone;
For I will waken you, master deere,
Afore it be time to gone.' |
| 9 |
But vpp then rose that lither ladd,
And did on hose and shoone;
A coller he cast vpon his necke,
Hee seemed a gentleman. |
| 10 |
And when he came to that ladies chamber,
He thrild vpon a pinn;
The lady was true of her promise,
Rose vp and lett him in. |
| 11 |
He did not take the lady gay
To boulster nor to bedd,
But down vpon her chamber-flore
Full soone he hath her layd. |
| 12 |
He did not kisse that lady gay
When he came nor when he youd;
And sore mistrusted that lady gay
He was of some churl s blood. |
| 13 |
But home then came that lither ladd,
And did of his hose and shoone,
And cast that coller from about his necke;
He was but a churl s sonne:
'Awaken,' quoth hee, 'My master deere,
I hold it time to be gone. |
| 14 |
'For I haue sadled your horsse, master,
Well bridled I haue your steed;
Haue not I serued a good breakfast,
When time comes I haue need.' |
| 15 |
But vp then rose good Glasgerryon,
And did on both hose and shoone,
And cast a coller about his necke;
He was a kingees sonne. |
| 16 |
And when he came to that ladies chamber,
He thrild vpon a pinn;
The lady was more then true of promise,
Rose vp and let him in. |
| 17 |
Saies, Whether haue you left with me
Your braclett or your gloue?
Or are you returned backe againe
To know more of my loue?' |
| 18 |
Glasgerryon swore a full great othe,
By oake and ashe and thorne,
'Lady, I was neuer in your chamber
Sith the time that I was borne.' |
| 19 |
'O then it was your litle foote-page
Falsly hath beguiled me:'
And then shee pulld forth a litle pen-kniffe,
That hanged by her knee,
Says, There shall neuer noe churl s blood
Spring within my body. |
| 20 |
But home then went Glasgerryon,
A woe man, good [Lord], was hee;
Sayes, Come hither, thou Iacke, my boy,
Come thou hither to me. |
| 21 |
Ffor if I had killed a man to-night,
Iacke, I wold tell it thee;
But if I haue not killed a man to-night,
Iacke, thou hast killed three! |
| 22 |
And he puld out his bright browne sword,
And dryed it on his sleeue,
And he smote off that lither ladds head,
And asked noe man noe leaue. |
| 23 |
He sett the swords poynt till his brest,
The pumill till a stone;
Thorrow that falsenese of that lither ladd
These three liues werne all gone. |
