10. 'Bring a peasant's coat, my young foot-page, With hose and shoon also, And artfully disguise my face That no one may me know. 11. ' And when I go, and when I come, And thou shalt have gold and fee.' The new-waked birds their matins sung In wildly-warbling lay, While through full many a lonely path The baron took his way. 15. And blithe and merrily did he wend, And blithe and merrily hied Until he came to a rural cot, Where a maiden fair did bide. 16. Though lowly and unknown to fame, Like some sweet violet that in vale 17. Sweet was the melody of her voice So sweet that woodweles on the spray 18. But, more than all, her youthful heart 19. The maiden stood at her cottage gate, And she saw the blithesome stranger youth 20. And lo! with many a fond excuse 21. And soon her sighs and blushes told She did the youth approve; For where's the maid that can resist The vows of faithful love? * Supremely, surpassing all others. + Thrushes. + Retired. § Stored. 22. 'Lo! I've a cottage, and I've a cow, And many sheep beside; And I've a field of ripening corn; 23. The listening damsel heard his vows, 24. And oft her mother heard the tale, Nor did the dame repine : 'And if thou canst keep her, stranger youth, The damsel shall be thine.' 25. 'Ah! then, farewell, my charming fair!" The seeming peasant cries, 'For I must wend for many a mile Ere I can take a bride.' 26. 'Oh! say not so, thou stranger youth; Oh! say not So, I pray! For if thou dost go, oh! I shall rue That e'er you came this way.' 27. 'Yes, I must go, thou charming maid, I can no longer stay; Though ever until I here return Must I moan the livelong day. 28. 'But if before I come again, This passing month shall slide, Oh! then no more await for me, But be another's bride. 29. 'For death may meet me on the way, 30. Oh! then fast flowed the maiden's tears, While tenderly she cried : 'Oh! no, dear youth, though thou shouldst die, I'll be no other's bride!' 31. The maiden's face with grief was sad, Her cheek was wet with tears: So the pale lily besprent* with rain Or dew-dropped rose appears. PART SECOND. 32. And now for many weeks and months The baron he did stay, Nor did he seek his much-loved maid For many a livelong day. 33. And, though the tender sigh it cost, Her constancy to prove. * Besprinkled. G 34. At length he calls his knights and squires, And neighbours of high degree, To travel in all the pomp of state The lovely maid to see. 35. And he hath called his young foot-page, And thus full loud did say, With costly gems, and with robes of state, O deck me forth this day.' 36. And now, with gay and gallant train, That baron took his way : The golden sun that so bright doth shine Did gild his pomp that day. 37. The maiden stood at her garden pale,* In hopes her love to espy; And every peasant that she saw She heaved a heartfelt sigh. 38. 'Alas! and woe is me!' she cried, 39. Thus sighed the maid, as o'er the plain When sudden she saw the gallant train * Fence. |