ANCIENT POEMS. 35

HE.

For an outlawe this is the lawe,

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 :
And no mervayle: for lytell avayle

Were in your counceyle than :
Wherfore I wyll to the grene wode

Alone, a banyfhed man.

go,

145

150

155

SHE.

Ryght wele knowe

But feble for to fyght;

No womanhede it is indede

To be bolde as a knyght:

Yet, in fuch fere yf that ye were

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.

160

165

HE.

Ver. 162. and night.

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