Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/147

Rh  attend. Thou must go hither, attired as a rich farmer’s son, and for my sake keep away all other suitors from sweet Margaret’s side, while you woo her in my behalf. Buy her rich fairings, give her the choicest gifts, and tell her that the gallant dressed in Lincoln-green, who in her milk-rooms helped her run her cheese, sends all these tokens, and his heart with them. How sayest thou to this, Lacy?”

“That if thou wilt promise to stand betwixt me and thy father’s wrath in this, I will woo the maid for you as if I were in love with her myself.”

“Thanks! thanks! sweet Ned. And now I will to horse and ride to Oxford. Adieu. Forget not your promise, and by Friar Bacon’s arts and your wooing, I shall yet have the fairest bride in all England.”

Fair little Margaret was not unconscious of the admiration written in all faces that looked on her; and when she had attired herself for the day’s pleasure at Suffolk fair, it was with no careless disregard of her prettiness. Among the booths and in the fields, her track was followed by a train of admirers; and even the keeper’s portly presence could not fright away the bolder swains, who pressed close enough to offer her their gifts and whisper their most delitate flatteries into her ear. But all compliments