BE

E it ryght, or wrong, these men among
On women do complayne * ;
Affyrmynge this, how that it is

A labour spent in vayne,

To love them wele; for never a dele

They love a man agayne:

For late a man do what he can,

Theyr favour to attayne,
Yet, yf a newe do them perfue,

Theyr first true lover than

Laboureth for nought; for from her thought
He is a banyfhed man.

I say nat nay, but that all day

But, neverthelesse, ryght good wytnèsse

In this cafe might be layd,

That they love true, and continue:

Recorde the Not-browne Mayde:

Which, when her love came, her to prove,

To her to make his mone,

Wolde nat depart; for in her hart

She loved but hym alone.

20

My friend Mr. Farmer proposes to read the firft lines thus as a La

tinifm:

Be it right or wrong, 'tis men among,

On women to complayne.

Ver. 2. Woman. Prolufions, and Mr. Weft's copy.

1.4. their.

Ver. 11. her.

Than

Than betwaine us late us dyfcus

What was all the manere

Betwayne them two: we wyll alfo
Tell all the payne, and fere,
That she was in. Nowe I begyn,

So that ye me answère;
Wherfore, all ye, that present be

I pray you, gyve an ere.

25

30

"I am the knyght; I come by nyght,

As fecret as I can;

Sayinge, Alas! thus ftandeth the case,

35

I am a banyshed man."

SHE.

And I your wyll for to fulfyll

In this wyll nat refuse;

Truftying to fhewe, in wordès fewe,

That men have an yll use

40

(To theyr own fhame) women to blame,

And caufeleffe them accufe:

Therfore to you I answere nowe,

All women to excufe,

Myne owne hart dere, with you what chere?

45

I pray you, tell anone;

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde

I love but you alone.

HE.

HE.

It ftandeth fo; a dede is do

Wherof grete harme fhall growe:

My destiny is for to dy

A fhamefull deth, I trowe;

Or elles to fle: the one must be.
None other way I knowe,
But to withdrawe as an outlawe,

And take me to my bowe.

Wherfore, adue, my owne hart true!
None other rede I can:

For I must to the grene wode go,

Alone, a banyshed man.

SHE.

O lord, what is thys 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 depart nat fo fone.

Why fay ye fo? wheder wyll ye go?

Alas! what have ye done?

All my welfare to forrowe and care

50

55

60

65

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

70

I love but you alone.

Ver. 63. The fomers. Prol.

HE.

Why fholde ye ought? for, to make thought,

Now, fyth that ye have fhewed to me

85

The fecret of your mynde,

I shall be playne to you agayne,
Lyke as ye fhall me fynde.

Syth it is fo, that ye wyll go,

I wolle not leve behynde;

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.

90

95

Ver. 91. Shall it never. Prol, and Mr. W. Ver. 94. Althought.

Mr. W

HE.

HE.

Yet I you rede to take good hede
What men wyll thynke, and say:
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 delyght

No lenger make delay.

Rather than ye fholde thus for me

Be called an yll woman,

Yet wolde I to the grene wode

100

105

go,

Alone, a banyshed 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 fhame;

In your dyftreffe, and hevyneffe,

To 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.

VOL. II.

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

110

115

120

HE.