Part 1 / Book 2 — 47. Childe Maurice

I Childe Maurice hunted the Silver Wood, He whistled and he sang: ‘I think I see the woman yonder That I have lovèd lang.’ II He callèd to his little man John, ‘You don’t see what I see; For yonder I see the very first woman That ever lovèd me.’ III He says, ‘Come hither, my little man John, That I pay meat and fee, For thou shalt go to John Steward’s wife And greet her well from me; IV ‘And as it falls as many times As knots be knit in a kell[339], Or merchantmen go to leeve[340] Londòn To buy ware or to sell; V ‘And as it falls as many times As any heart can think, Or school-masters are in any school Writing with pen and ink. VI ‘Here is a glove, a glove,’ he says, ‘Lined wi’ the silver-gris[341]; Bid her to come to Silver Wood To speak with Childe Maurice. VII ‘And here is a ring, a ring,’ he says, ‘A ring of the precious stone: He prays her come to Silver Wood And ask the leave of none.’— VIII ‘Well do I love your errand, master, But better I love my life. Would ye have me go to John Steward’s castle, To tryst away his wife?’— IX ‘Do not I give you meat?’ he says, ‘Do not I give you fee? How daur you stop my errand When that I bid you flee?’ X This little man John one while he yode[342], Another while he ran; Until he came to John Steward’s castle I wis he never blan[343]. XI He ask’d no porter’s leave, but ran Up hall and bower free, And when he came to John Steward’s wife, Says, ‘God you save and see! XII ‘I come, I am come from Childe Maurice— A message unto thee! And Childe Maurice he greets you well, And ever so well from me, XIII ‘And as it falls as oftentimes As knots be knit in a kell, Or merchantmen go to leeve Londòn To buy ware or to sell; XIV ‘And as oftentimes he greets you well As any heart can think, Or schoolmasters are in any school Writing with pen and ink. XV ‘Here is a glove, a glove,’ he says, ‘Lined wi’ the silver-gris; Ye’re bidden to come to Silver Wood To speak with Childe Maurice. XVI ‘And here is a ring, a ring of gold, Set wi’ the precious stone: He prays you to come to Silver Wood And ask the leave of none.’— XVII ‘Now peace, now peace, thou little man John, For Christ’s sake I pray thee! For gif my lord heard one o’ thy words Thou must be hangèd hie!’ XVIII O aye she stampèd with her foot And winkèd with her e’e; But for all that she could say or do Forbidden he would not be. XIX ‘It’s surely to my bower-woman, It cannot be to me!’— ‘Nay, I brought it to John Steward’s lady, And I trow that thou art she.’ XX Out then spake the wily nurse, Wi’ the bairn just on her knee: ‘If this be come from Childe Maurice It’s dear welcome to me.’— XXI ‘Thou liest, thou liest, thou wily nurse, So loud as I hear thee lie! I brought it to John Steward’s lady, And I trow thou be not she.’ XXII Then up and rose him John Steward, And an angry man was he: ‘Did I think there was a lord in the world My lady loved but me!’ XXIII He struck the table wi’ his foot, And kepp’d[344] it with his knee, Till silver cup and ezar[345] dish In flinders they did flee. XXIV He call’d unto his horse-keeper, ‘Make ready you my steed!’ So did he to his chamberlain, ‘Go fetch my lady’s weed[346]!’ XXV O he dress’d himself in the holland smock, [The mantle and the snood], And he cast a lease[347] upon his back, And he rode to Silver Wood. XXVI And when he came to Silver Wood, No body saw he there But Childe Maurice upon a block Combing his yellow hair. XXVII Childe Maurice sat in Silver Wood, He whistled and he sang: ‘I think I see the woman come That I have lovèd lang.’ XXVIII But then stood up him Childe Maurice His mother to help from horse: ‘O alas, alas!’ says Childe Maurice, ‘My mother was ne’er so gross!’ XXIX ‘No wonder, no wonder,’ John Steward he said, ‘My lady loved thee well, For the fairest part of my body Is blacker than thy heel.’ XXX John Steward had a little brown sword That hung low down by his knee; He has cut the head off Childe Maurice And the body put on a tree. XXXI And he prick’d the head on his sword’s point, Went singing there beside, And he rode till he came to the castle Whereas his lady ly’ed[348]. XXXII And when he came to his lady— Look’d o’er the castle-wall— He threw the head into her lap, Saying ‘Lady, tak’[349] the ball!’ XXXIII Says, ‘Dost thou know Childe Maurice’ head, If that thou dost it see? And lap it soft, and kiss it oft, For thou loved’st him better than me.’ XXXIV But when she look’d on Childe Maurice’ head She ne’er spake words but three: ‘I never bare no child but one, And you have slain him, trulye.’ XXXV And she has taken the bloody head And kiss’d it, cheek and chin: ‘I was once as full o’ Childe Maurice As the hip is o’ the stane. XXXVI ‘I got him in my mother’s bower Wi’ mickle sin and shame; I brought him up in the good greenwood Under the shower and rain.’ XXXVII And she has taken her Childe Maurice And kiss’d him, mouth and chin: ‘O better I love my Childe Maurice Than all my royal kin!’ XXXVIII ‘Woe be to thee!’ John Steward he said, And a woe, woe man was he; ‘For if you had told me he was your son He had never been slain by me.’ XXXIX Says, ‘Wicked be my merry men all, I gave meat, drink and cloth! But could they not have holden me When I was in all that wrath?’