No 48 THE LOVER’S TASKS

1 He: O buy me, my Lady, a cambric shirt Whilst every grove rings with a merry antine (antienne anthem) And stitch it without any needle work And thou shalt be a true lover of mine. 2 O thou must wash it in yonder well, Whilst every grove &c. Where never a drop of water in fell, And thou shalt &c. 3 And thou must bleach it on yonder grass, Whilst every grove &c. Where never a foot or hoof did pass. And thou shalt &c. 4 And thou must hang it upon a white thorn, Whilst every grove &c. That never blossom'd since Adam was born And thou shalt &c. 5 And when these works are finished and done Whilst every grove &c. I'll take and marry thee under the sun. And thou shalt &c. 6[13] She: Thou must buy for me an acre of land, Whilst every grove &c. Between the salt sea and the yellow sand And thou shalt &c. 7 Thou must plough it o'er with a horses horn Whilst every grove &c. And sow it over with a pepper corn, And thou shalt &c. 8 Thou must reap it, too, with a piece of leather, Whilst every grove &c. And bind it up with a peacock's feather, And thou shalt &c. 9 Thou must take it up in a bottomless sack, Whilst every grove &c. And bear it to the mill on a butterfly's back. And thou shalt &c. 10 And when these works are finished and done Whilst every grove &c. I'll take and marry thee under the sun. And thou shalt &c.