Page:Early poems of William Morris.djvu/184



Gold on her head, and gold on her feet,

And gold where the hems of her kirtle meet,

And a golden girdle round my sweet;—

''Ah! qu'elle est belle La Marguerite''.

Margaret's maids are fair to see,

Freshly dress'd and pleasantly;

Margaret's hair falls down to her knee;—

''Ah! qu'elle est belle La Marguerite''.

If I were rich I would kiss her feet,

I would kiss the place where the gold hems meet,

And the golden girdle round my sweet—

''Ah! qu'elle est belle La Marguerite''.

Ah me! I have never touch'd her hand;

When the arriere-ban goes through the land,

Six basnets under my pennon stand;—

''Ah! qu'elle est belle La Marguerite''.

And many an one grins under his hood:

"Sir Lambert de Bois, with all his men good,

Has neither food nor firewood;"—

''Ah! qu'elle est belle La Marguerite''.

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