O lord, what is this worldys blyffe,.

That changeth as the mone!

My fomers day in lufty may

Is derked before the none.

I here you fay, farewell; Nay, nay,
We départ nat fo fone:

Why say ye fo? wheder wyll ye go?
Alas! what have ye done?

All my welfare to forrowe and care

Sholde chaunge, yf ye were gone; For, in my mynde, of all mankynde

I love but you alone.

Ver. 63. The fomers. Prof.

HE.

I can beleve, it shall you greve,
And fomewhat you dystrayne;

But, aftyrwarde, your paynes harde

75

Shall fone aflake; and ye

fhall take

Within a day or twayne

Comfort to you agayne.

Why fholde ye ought? for, to make thought,

Your labour were in vayne.

And thus I do; and pray you to,

As hartely, as I can ;

For I must to the grene wode go,

Alone, a banyfhed man.

SHE.

Now, fyth that ye have fhewed to me

The fecret of your mynde,

I fhall be playne to you agayne,

Lyke as ye fhall me fynde:

Syth it is fo, that ye wyll go,

I wolle not leve behynde;

80

85

90

Shall never be fayd, the not-browne mayd

Was to her love unkynde :

Make you redy`, for so am I,

Allthough it were anone;

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
I love but you alone.

95

HE

Ver. 91. Shall it never, Prol, and Mr. W. Mr. W.

Ver. 94. Althought,

H E.

Yet I you rede to take good hede

What men wyll thynke, and fay: Of yonge, and olde it fhall be tolde,

That ye be gone away; Your wanton wyll for to fulfill,

In grene wode you to play;

And that ye myght from your delight
No lenger make delay :

Rather than ye fholde thus for

Be called an yll woman,

100

r me

105

Yet wolde I to the grene wode go,

Alone, a banyfhed man.

SHE.

Though it be fonge of old and yonge,

That I fholde be to blame,

Theyrs be the charge, that speke so large

In hurtynge of my name:

For I wyll prove, that faythfulle love

It is devoyd of shame;

In your dyftreffe, and hevyneffe,

Το part with you, the fame ; And fure all tho, that do not fo,

True lovers are they none:

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
I love but you alone.

Ver. 117. To fhewe all. Prol. and Mr. W".

H E.

I counceyle you, remember howe
It is no maydens lawe,

Nothynge to dout, but to renne out

To wode with an outlawe :

For ye must there in your hand bere

;

A bowe, redy to drawe
And, as a thefe, thus muft you lyve,

Ever in drede and awe;

Wherby to you grete harme myght growe:

Yet had I lever than,

That I had to the grene wode go,

Alone, a banyfhed man.

SHE.

-125

130

I thinke nat nay, but as ye say,

It is no maydens lore:

But love may make me for your fake,

135

As I have fayd before

To come on fote, to hunt, and fhote

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde

I love but you alone.

HE

Ver. 133. I fay nat, Prel, and Mr. W, Camb, copy.

Ver. 138. and flore,

HE.

For an outlawe this is the lawe,

145

That men hym take and bynde;

Without pytè, hanged to be,

And waver with the wynde.
If I had nede, (as God forbede!)
What refcous coude ye fynde?

Forfoth, I trowe, ye and your bowe

For fere wolde drawe behynde :

150

Ryght wele knowe ye, that women be

But feble for to fyght;

No womanhede it is indede

To be bolde as a knyght:

Yet, in fuch fere yf that ye were

160

With enemyes day or nyght,

I wolde withstande, with bowe in hande,

To greve them as I myght,

And you to fave; as women have

From deth men' many one :

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde
I love but you alone.

D2

165

HE.

Ver. 162. and night.

Ver. 164. to helpe ye with my myght. Prol. and

Ver. 150. focours. Prol. and Mr. W.

Camb. Copy