Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/80

 ANONYMOUS

Forsooth I trow, you and your bow For fear would draw behind.

And no mervail; for little avail Were in your counsel than:

Wherefore I'll to the green-wood go, Alone, a banished man.

She. Right well know ye that women be

But feeble for to fight; No womanhede it is, indeed,

To be bold as a knight: Yet in such fear if that ye were

With enemies day and night, I would withstand, witJi bow in hand,

To grieve them as I might, And you to save; as women have

From death men many one: For, in my mind, of all mankind

I love but you alone.

He. Yet take good hede; for ever I drede

That ye could not sustain The thorny ways, the deep valleys,

The snow, the frost, the rain, The cold, the heat; for dry or wete,

We must lodge on the plain; And, us above, no other roof

But a brake bush or twain: Which soon should grieve you, I believe:

And ye would gladly than That I had to the green -wood go,

Alone, a banished man.

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