And as it befelle on a high holidaye. As many there are beside, Lord Thomas he went to faire Ellinòr, And when he came to faire Ellinors bower, And who was so readye as faire Ellinòr, To lett lord Thomas withinn. 15 20 'What newes, what newes, lord Thomas,' she sayd? 'What newes dost thou bring to mee?' 'I am come to bid thee to my wedding, And that is bad newes for thee.' 'O God forbid, lord Thomas,' she sayd, I thought to have been the bride my selfe, 'Come riddle my riddle, dear mother,' she sayd, Whether I shall goe to lord Thomas his wedding, Or whether shall tarry at home?' 25 39 "There are manye that are your friendes, daughtèr, And manye a one your foe, Therefore I charge you on my blessing, To lord Thomas his wedding don't goe.' 'There are manye that are my friendes, mother ; But were every one my foe, Betide me life, betide me death, To lord Thomas his wedding I'ld goe.' 3.5 40 Ver. 29, It should probably be, Reade me, read, &c. i.e. Advise me, advise. She cloathed herself in gallant attire, But when she came to lord Thomas his gate, And who was so readye as lord Thomas, 'Is this your bride?' fair Ellinor sayd, 'Despise her not, fair Ellin,' he sayd, 'Despise her not unto mee; For better I love thy little finger, Than all her whole bodèe.' This browne bride had a little penknife, And betwixt the short ribs and the long, 'O Christ thee save,' lord Thomas, hee sayd, "Oh, art thou blind, lord Thomas?' she sayd, Oh! dost thou not see my owne hearts bloode Lord Thomas he had a sword by his side; He cut off his brides head from her shoulders, He set the hilte against the grounde, There never three lovers together did meete, 70 75 *** The reader will find a Scottish song on a similar subject to this, towards the end of this volume, intitled, 'Lord Thomas and Lady Annet.' XVI. CUPID AND CAMPASPE. This elegant little sonnet is found in the third act of an old play intitled, 'Alexander and Campaspe,' written by John Lyly, a celebrated writer in the time of queen Elizabeth. That play was first printed in 1591: but this copy is given from a later edition.1 CUPID and my Campaspe playd At cardes for kisses; Cupid payd: Growing on's cheek (but none knows how) O Love! has she done this to thee? 5 10 1 Lyly wrote 'Euphues,' and was the originator of Euphuism. See the 'Monastery.'-ED. XVII. THE LADY TURNED SERVING-MAN, -is given from a written copy, containing some improvements (perhaps modern ones), upon the popular ballad, entitled, The famous flower of Serving-men or the Lady turned Serving-man.' You beauteous ladyes, great and small, I was by birth a lady faire, 5 An ancient barons only heire, And when my good old father dyed, And there my love built me a bower, And there I livde a ladye gay, They came upon us in the night, And brent my bower, and slew my knight; I scant with life escap'd away. In the midst of this extremitic, With heart more cold than any stone. 10 15 20 Yet though my heart was full of care, And therewithall I cut my haire, At length all wearied with my toil, That downe my cheeke the teares did flow. It chanc'd the king of that same place Then to his grace I did replye, 'Stand up, faire youth,' the king reply'd, Wilt thou be usher of my hall, To wait upon my nobles all? |