The Jovial Rake's Garland, n. d., p. 6, No 4, Bodleian Library,
Douce PP, 164.
| 1 |
lady Margery May sits in her bower,
Sewing at her seem;
By there comes a heathen knight,
From her her maidenhead has tane. |
| 2 |
He has put her in a tower strong,
With double locks on fifty doors:
'Lady Margery May, will you ga now?'
'O ye heathen knight, not yet for you. |
| 3 |
'I am asking, you heathen knight;
What I am asking will you grant to me?
Will ye let one of your waitmen
A drink of your well bring to me?' |
| 4 |
'Meat nor drink you shall never get,
Nor out of that shall you never come,
Meat nor drink shall you never get,
Until you bear to me daughter or son.' |
| 5 |
Thus time drew on, and further on,
For travail came this young lady to;
She travailed up, so did she down,
But lighter could she never be. |
| 6 |
'An asking, an asking, you heathen knight;
An asking will you grant to me?
Will you give me a scread of silk,
For to row your young son wi?' |
| 7 |
He took the horse-sheet in his hand,
The tears came twinkling down:
'Lady Margaret May, will ye ga now?'
'O ye heathen knight, not yet for you.' |
| 8 |
'I'll wash my young son with the milk,
I will dry my young son with the silk;
For hearts will break, and bands will bow;
So dear will I love my lady now!' |
