He.

She.

He.

THE NUT-BROWN MAID

Be it right or wrong, these men among
On women do complain;
Affirming this, how that it is

A labour spent in vain

To love them wele; for never a dele

They love a man again :
For let a man do what he can
Their favour to attain,
Yet if a new to them pursue,
Their first true lover than

Laboureth for naught; for from her thought
He is a banished man.

I say not nay, but that all day

It is both written and said

That woman's faith is, as who saith,
All utterly decayed:

But nevertheless, right good witness

In this case might be laid

That they love true and continue :
Record the Nut-brown Maid,
Which, when her love came her to prove,
To her to make his moan,

Would not depart ; for in her heart

She loved but him alone.

Then between us let us discuss

What was all the manere
Between them two we will also

Tell all the pain in fere
That she was in. Now I begin,
So that ye me answere:
Wherefore all ye that present be,
I pray you, give an ear.

87

She.

He.

She.

THE NUT-BROWN MAID
I am the Knight. I come by night,
As secret as I can,

Saying, Alas! thus standeth the case,
I am a banished man.

And I your will for to fulfil
In this will not refuse;
Trusting to shew, in wordes few,

That men have an ill use

To their own shame-women to blame,
And causeless them accuse.
Therefore to you I answer now,

All women to excuse

Mine own heart dear, with you what cheer?

I pray you, tell anone ;

For, in my mind, of all mankind

I love but you alone.

It standeth so: a deed is do

Whereof great harm shall grow :

My destiny is for to die

A shameful death, I trow;

Or else to flee. The t'one must be.

None other way I know

But to withdraw as an outlaw,

And take me to my bow.

Wherefore adieu, mine own heart true!

None other rede I can :

For I must to the green-wood go,
Alone, a banished man.

O Lord, what is this worldis 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,
We depart not so soon.

What say ye so? whither will ye go?
Alas! what have ye done?

D

He.

She.

He.

All my welfare to sorrow and care
Should change, if ye were gone :
For, in my mind, of all mankind
I love but you alone.

I can believe it shall you grieve,
And somewhat you distrain;
But afterward, 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 labour were in vain.

And thus I do; and pray you to,

As hartely as I can :

For I must to the green-wood go,

Alone, a banished man.

Now, sith that ye have showed to me

The secret of your mind,

I shall be plain to you again,
Like as ye shall me find.
Sith it is so that ye will go,

I will not live behind.

Shall never be said the Nut-brown Maid

Was to her love unkind.

Make you ready, for so am I,

Although it were anone :

For, in my mind, of all mankind
I love but you alone.

Yet I you rede to take good heed
What men will think and say:
Of young, of old, it shall be told
That ye be gone away

Your wanton will for to fulfil,

In green-wood you to play;
And that ye might for your delight
No longer make delay.

She.

He.

She.

THE NUT-BROWN MAID

Rather than ye should thus for me
Be called an ill woman

Yet would I to the green-wood go,
Alone, a banished man.

Though it be sung of old and young
That I should be to blame,

Theirs be the charge that speak so large
In hurting of my name :
For I will prove that faithful love
It is devoid of shame ;
In your distress and heaviness

To part with you the same :
And sure all tho that do not so
True lovers are they none :
For in my mind, of all mankind
I love but you alone.

I counsel you, Remember how
It is no maiden's law

Nothing to doubt, but to run out

To wood with an outlaw.

For ye must there in your hand bear
A bow ready to draw;

And as a thief thus must you live

Ever in dread and awe ;

Whereby to you great harm might grow:

Yet had I liever than

That I had to the green-wood go,

Alone, a banished man.

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 and store;
For so that I your company
May have, I ask no more.

89

He.

She.

He.

From which to part it maketh my heart
As cold as any stone;

For, in my mind, of all mankind

I love but you alone.

For an outlaw this is the law,

That men him take and bind :
Without pitie, hanged to be,
And waver with the wind.
If I had need (as God forbede!)
What socours could ye find?
Forsooth I trow, you and your bow
For fear would draw behind.
And no mervail; for little avail
Were in your counsel than :
Wherefore I'll to the green-wood go,
Alone, a banished man.

Right well know ye that women be
But feeble for to fight;

No womanhede it is, indeed,

To be bold as a knight:

Yet in such fear if that ye were
With enemies day and night,

I would withstand, with bow in hand,
To grieve them as I might,
And you to save; as women have
From death men many one :
For, in my mind, of all mankind
I love but you alone.

Yet take good hede; for ever I drede

That

ye

could not sustain

The thorny ways, the deep valleys,

The snow, the frost, the rain,
The cold, the heat; for dry or wete,
We must lodge on the plain;
And, us above, no other roof

But a brake bush or twain: