founded his 'Henry and Emma' upon it, fixes its date about 1400; but others, judging from its comparatively modern language, suppose it to have been composed subsequently to the time of Surrey. The poem opens with a declaration of the author that the faith of woman is stronger than is generally supposed; in proof of which he purposes to relate the trial to which the 'Nut-Brown Mayde' was exposed by her lover. The following stanzas form a dialogue between the pair: THE NUT-BROWN MAID. HE. It standeth so; a deed is do', My destiny is for to die A shameful death I trow; Or else to flee: the one must be, But to withdraw as an outlaw, And take me to my bow, Wherefore adieu, my own heart true! For I must to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man. SHE. O Lord what is this world's bliss, That changeth as the moon! My summer's day in lusty May Is darked before the noon. I hear you say, Farewell: Nay, nay, Why say ye so? whither will ye go? All my welfare to sorrow and care For in my mind, of all mankind HE.-I can believe, it shall you grieve, But afterwards, your paines hard Within a day or twain Shall soon aslake; and ye shall take Comfort to you again. Why should ye ought, for to make thought? Your labor were in vain. And thus I do, and pray to you, As heartily as I can; For I must to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man. SHE-Now sith that ye have showed to me The secret of your mind, I shall be plain to you again, G Shall never be said, the Nut-Brown Maid Was to her love unkind: Make you ready', for so am I, Although it were anon; For in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. HE.-I counsel you, remember how It is no maiden's law Nothing to doubt, but to run out For ye must there in your hand bear And as a thief, thus must you live, Ever in dread and awe. Whereby to you great harm might grow: Yet had I lever than, That I had to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man. SHE.-I think not nay, but, as ye say, It is no maiden's lore: But love may make me for your sake, As I have said before, To come on foot, to hunt and shoot To get us meat in store; For so that I your company May have, I ask no more: From which to part it makes my heart As cold as any stone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. HE.-Yet take good heed, for ever I dread That ye could not sustain The thorny ways, the deep valley's, The snow, the frost, the rain, The cold, the heat; for, dry or weet, We must lodge on the plain; And us above, none other roof But a brake bush or twain: Which soon should grieve you I believe, And ye would gladly than That I had to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man. SHE.-Sith I have here been partinèr With you of joy and bliss, I must also part of your wo Endure, as reason is. Yet I am sure of one pleasùre, And shortly, it is this, That, where ye be, me seemeth, pardie, I could not fare amiss. Without more speech, I you beseech That ye were soon agone, For, to my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. HE. If ye go thither, ye must consider, There shall no meat be for your gete, Nor drink, beer, ale, nor wine, Nor sheets clean, to lie between, Made of thread and twine; None other house but leaves and boughs, Wherefore I will to the green wood go, SHE.-Among the wild deer, such an archér, Shall be full sweet to me, With which in heal, I shall right weel Endure, as ye shall see; And, ere we go, a bed or two I can provide anone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. HE.-Lo yet before, ye must do more, If ye will go with me; As cut your hair up by your ear, Your kirtle to the knee; With bow in hand, for to withstand Your enemies, if need be; And this same night, before daylight, To the wood-ward will I flee. If that ye will all this fulfil, Do't shortly as ye can: Else will I to the green wood go, Alone, a banished man. SHE.-I shall, as now, do more for you, Than 'longeth to womanheed, To short my hair, a bow to bear, To shoot in time of need. Oh, my sweet mother, before all other For you I have most dread; But now adieu! I must ensue Where fortune doth me lead. All this make ye: Now let us flee; The day comes fast upon: For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. HE.-Nay, nay, not so; ye shall not go And I shall tell you why; Your appetite1 is to be light Of love I weel espy: For like as ye have said to me, In likewise, hardily, Ye would answer whoever it were, In way of company. It is said of old, soon hot, soon cold; Wherefore I to the wood will go, Alone, a banished man. SHE.-If ye take heed, it is no need For oft ye prayed and me assayed, And though that I, of ancestry, A baron's daughter be, Yet have you proved how I you loved, A squire of low degree; And ever shall whatso befal; To die therefore anon; For, in my mind, of all mankind HE.-A baron's child to be beguiled, It were a cursed deed! To be fellàw with an outlaw, Almighty God forbid ! It better were, the poor squièr Alone to forest yede, Than I should say, another day, That, by my cursed deed, We were betrayed: wherefore, good maid, The best rede that I can, Is that I to the green wood go SHE. Whatever befall, I never shall, Of this thing you upbraid; But, if ye go, and leave me so, Then have ye me betrayed; Remember weel, how that you deal; Be so unkind to leave behind, Your love, the Nut-Brown Maid, Trust me truly, that I shall die Soon after ye be gone; For in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. HE.-If that ye went, ye should repent; I have purveyed me of a maid, 1 Disposition. HE.-Mine own dear love, I see thee prove, That ye be kind and true; Of maid and wife, in all my life, The best that ever I knew. Be merry and glad; no more be sad; The case is changed now; For it were ruth, that, for your truth, Ye should have cause to rue. Be not dismayed; whatever I said I will not to the green wood go, I am no banished man. SHE. These tidings be more glad to me, Than to be made a queen, If I were sure they would endure: But it is often seen, When men will break promise, they speak The wordes on the spleen. Ye shape some wile me to beguile, And steel from me, I ween: Than were the case worse than it was, And I more woe-begone: For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone. HE.-Ye shall not need further to dread: I will not disparage, You (God defend!) sith ye descend Of so great a lineage. Now understand; to Westmoreland, Which is mine heritage, I will you bring; and with a ring, By way of marriàge, |