Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 7 1889.djvu/42

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He dressed himself in skylight green,
 * His groomsmen all in red;

And every town as he rode through,
 * They took him to be some king.

He rode and he rode until he came to fair Ellinter's door.
 * He knocked so loud at the ring,

There was none so ready as fair Ellinter herself
 * To rise and let him in.

O what is the news, Lord Thomas," she said;
 * "O what is the news to thee?"

I've come to invite you to my wedding,
 * And that is bad news to thee."

God forbid, Lord Thomas!" she said,
 * "That any such thing should be;

For I should have been the bride myself,
 * And you should the bridegroom be."

O mother, O mother, come read this to me,
 * And regulate all as one,

Whether I shall go to Lord Thomas' wed,
 * Or stay with you at home."

Here you have one thousand friends,
 * Where there you would but one;

So I will invite you, with my blessing,
 * To stay with me at home."

But she dressed herself in skylight red,
 * Her waiting-maids all in green,

And every town as she rode through
 * They took her to be some queen.

She rode and she rode till she came to Lord Thomas's door;
 * She knocked so loud at the ring,

There was none so ready as Lord Thomas himself
 * To rise and let her in.

He took her by her lily-white hand,
 * He led her across the hall,

Sing, "Here are five and twenty gay maids,
 * She is the flower of you all."

He took her by her lily-white hand,
 * He led her across the hall,

He sat her down in a big arm chair,
 * And kissed her before them all.