Gallant captain, fhow fome pity To a lady in diftrefs; Leave me not within this city, For to die in heaviness: Thou haft fet, this prefent day, my body free, heart in prison still remains with thee. But my "How should'st thou, fair lady, love me, All the harm I wish on thee, most courteous knight, Bleffed be the time and feafon, That thou came on Spanish ground; If you may our foes be termed, Gentle foes we have you found: With our city, you have won our hearts each one, "Reft you fill, moft gallant lady; Reft you ftill and weep no more; Of fair flowers you have plenty, Spain doth yield you wonderous ftore." Spaniards fraught with jealoufy we oft do find, But Englishmen throughout the world are counted kind. Leave me not unto a Spaniard, Still to ferve thee day and night my mind is preft; "It would be a shame, fair lady, For to bear a woman hence; English foldiers never carry Any fuch without offence." I will quickly change myself, if it be so, "I have neither gold nor filver To maintain thee in this cafe, And to travel is great charges, As you know, in every place." My chains and jewels every one shall be thy own, "On the feas are many dangers, Many ftorms do there arise, Which will be to ladies dreadful, And force tears from watery eyes." Well in troth I fhall endure extremity, For I could find in heart to lose my life for thee. "Courteous "Courteous lady, leave this folly, Here comes all that breeds the ftrife; I, in England, have already A fweet woman to my wife; I will not falfify my vow for gold nor gain, O how happy is that woman And of my fuit I'll make an end : On my knees I pardon crave for my offence, Commend me to that gallant lady, Bear to her this chain of gold, All my jewels, in like fort, take thou with thee; I will spend my days in prayer, Far from any company : But, ere my prayers have an end, be sure of this, pray for thee and for thy love I will not miss. Το Thus Thus farewell, moft gallant captain! Though to thee my mind was bent: Joy and true profperity go ftill with thee! THE BALLAD VI. LADYS FALL. M ARK well my heavy doleful tale, You loyal lovers all, And heedfully bear in your breast A gallant ladys fall. Long was the woo'd, ere fhe was won To taste a wedded life, But folly wrought her overthrow, Before he was a wife. Too foon, alas! fhe gave confent To yield unto his will, Though he protested to be true, And faithful to her ftill. She felt her body alter'd quite, Her bright hue waxed pale, Her fair red cheeks turn'd colour white, Her ftrength began to fail. VOL. II. P So, So that, with many a forrowful figh, Unto her lover, fecretly, Her grief fhe did bewray, And, walking with him hand in hand, Come, come, my love, perform thy vow, And wed me out of hand; O leave me not in this extreme, Think on thy former promise made, Convey |