He that would climb so lofty a tree, Or spring such a gulf as divides her from thee, 'Therefore thus speaks my lady,' the fair page he said, Untroubled in his look, and untroubled in his breast, The knight the weed hath taken, and reverently hath kissed: 'Now blessed be the moment, the messenger be blest! Much honoured do I hold me in my lady's high behest; And say unto my lady, in this dear night-weed dressed, To the best armed champion I will not veil my crest; But if I live and bear me well, 't is her turn to take the test.' Here, gentles, ends the foremost fytte of the Lay of the Bloody Vest. FYTTE SECOND The Baptist's fair morrow beheld gallant feats: There was winning of honour, and losing of seats: There was hewing with falchions, and splintering of staves, The victors won glory, the vanquished won graves. And 't was he whose sole armour on body and breast There were some dealt him wounds, that were bloody and sore, But others respected his plight, and forebore. 'It is some oath of honour,' they said, 'and I trow, 'T were unknightly to slay him achieving his vow.' Then the Prince, for his sake, bade the tournament cease, He flung down his warder, the trumpets sung peace; And the judges declare, and competitors yield, That the Knight of the Night-gear was first in the field. The feast it was nigh, and the mass it was nigher, With sword-cut and spear-thrust, all hacked and pierced through; All rent and all tattered, all clotted with blood, 'This token my master, Sir Thomas à Kent, Restores to the Princess of fair Benevent: He that climbs the tall tree has won right to the fruit, 'I restore,' says my master, 'the garment I've worn, And I claim of the Princess to don it in turn. For its stains and its rents she should prize it the more, Since by shame 't is unsullied, though crimsoned with gore.' Then deep blushed the Princess, yet kissed she and pressed The blood-spotted robes to her lips, and her breast. 'Go tell my true knight, church and chamber shall show If I value the blood on this garment or no.' And when it was time for the nobles to pass The first walked the Princess in purple and pall, When she knelt to her father and proffered the wine, Then lords whispered ladies, as well you may think, And ladies replied, with nod, titter, and wink: And the Prince, who in anger and shame had looked down, Turned at length to his daughter, and spoke with a frown: 'Now since thou hast published thy folly and guilt, Then out spoke stout Thomas, in hall where he stood, 'The blood that I lost for this daughter of thine, VERSES FROM WOODSTOCK Published in 1826 I 'BY PATHLESS MARCH, BY GREENWOOD TREE' From Chapter XIV By pathless march, by greenwood tree, To follow me through the ghastly moonlight, II GLEE FOR KING CHARLES From Chapter xx BRING the bowl which you boast, Fill it up to the brim; 'Tis to him we love most, And to all who love him. |