LADY CLARE. LORD RONALD Courted Lady Clare, "He does not love me for my birth, Nor for my lands so broad and fair; He loves me for my own true worth, And that is well," said Lady Clare. In there came old Alice the nurse, Said, "Who was this that went from thee?" "It was my cousin," said Lady Clare, "To-morrow he weds with me." "O God be thanked!" said Alice the nurse, "That all comes round so just and fair : Lord Ronald is heir of all your lands, "Are ye out of your mind, my nurse, my nurse?" Said Lady Clare, "that ye speak so wild?" "As God's above," said Alice the nurse, "I speak the truth: you are my child. "The old Earl's daughter died at my breast, "Falsely, falsely have ye done, O mother," she said, "if this be true, To keep the best man under the sun Nay now, my child," said Alice the nurse, "If I'm a beggar born," she said, "Nay now, my child," said Alice the nurse, "But keep the secret all ye can." She said "Not so: but I will know Nay now, what faith?" said Alice the nurse, "The man will cleave unto his right." "And he shall have it," the lady replied, "Though I should die to-night." "Yet give one kiss to your mother dear! "Yet here's a kiss for my mother dear, And lay your hand upon my head, She clad herself in a russet gown, A lily-white doe Lord Ronald had brought Dropt her head in the maiden's hand, Down stept Lord Ronald from his tower: "O Lady Clare, you shame your worth! Why come you drest like a village maid, That are the flower of the earth?" "If I come drest like a village maid, I am but as my fortunes are: Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald, "For I am yours in word and deed. Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald, "Your riddle is hard to read." O and proudly stood she up! Her heart within her did not fail : She looked into Lord Ronald's eyes, "Nay now, my child," said Alice the nurse, "But keep the secret all ye can." She said "Not so: but I will know 66 If there be any faith in man." Nay now, what faith?" said Alice the nurse, "The man will cleave unto his right." "And he shall have it," the lady replied, "Though I should die to-night." "Yet give one kiss to your mother dear! "Yet here's a kiss for my mother dear, And lay your hand upon my head, She clad herself in a russet gown, |