HE.

I counceyle you, remember howe,
It is no maydens lawe,

Nothynge to dout, but to renne out

To wode with an outlawe:

For

ye must there in your hand bere

125

A bowe, redy to drawe;

And, as a thefe, thus muft you lyve,

Ever in drede and awe;

To come on fote, to hunt, and shote

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde

I love but you alone.

Ver. 133. Ifay nat. Prol. and Mr.W. Camb. copy.

Ver. 138. and ftore.

HE.

Ryght wele knowe ye, that women be

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

Ver. 150. focours. Prol. and Mr. W.

Ver. 162. and night.

Camb. Copy

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

and Mr. W.

Yet take good hede; for ever I drede
That ye coude nat fuftayne
The thornie wayes, the depe valèies,

The fnowe, the frost, the rayne,

The colde, the hete: for dry, or wete,

We must lodge on the playne;

And, us above, none other rofe

But a brake bush, or twayne:

Which fone fholde greve you, I beleve;
And ye wolde gladly than

SHE.

Syth I have here bene partynère
With you of joy and blysse,
I must also parte of your wo

Endure, as refon is:

Yet am I fure of one plefùre;

And, fhortely, it is this:

That, where ye be, me femeth, pardè,

I coude nat fare amyffe.

Without more fpeche, I you befeche

That we were fone agone;

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde

185

199

Ter. 174. Ye must, Prol,

Ver. 190. fhortley gone. Prol. and. Mr. W.

HE

If

HE.

ye go thyder, ye must confyder, Whan ye have luft to dyne,

There fhall no mete be for you gete,

Nor drinke, bere, ale, ne wyne.

No fhetés clene, to lye betwene,

Made of threde and twyne;

None other house, but leves and bowes,

To cover your hed and myne,

O myne harte swete, this evyll dyéte

Sholde make you pale and wan;
Wherfore I wyll to the grene wode go,

Alone, a banyfhed man.

195

200

SHE.

Amonge the wylde dere, fuch an archère,

205

As men say that ye be,

Ne may nat fayle of good vitayle,

Where is fo grete plentè:

And water clere of the ryvére

Shall be full fwete to me;

With which in hele I shall ryght wele

Endure, as ye fhail fee;

And, or we go, a bedde or two

I can provyde anone;

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde

I love but you alone.

Ver. 196. Neyther bere. Prol. and Mr. W.

210

215

Ver. 201. Lo myn.

Mr. W. Ver. 207. May ye nat fayle. Prol. Ib. May nat fayle. Mr. W.

All this make ye: Now let us fie;

The day cometh fast upon;

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde

I love but you alone.

240