Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/73

       And this same night, before daylight,
         To woodward will I flee.
       If that ye will all this fulfil,
         Do it shortly as ye can:
       Else will I to the green-wood go,
         Alone, a banished man.

She. I shall as now do more for you
         Than 'longeth to womanhede;
       To short my hair, a bow to bear,
         To shoot in time of need.
       O my sweet mother! before all other
         For you I have most drede!
       But now, adieu! I must ensue
         Where fortune doth me lead.
       All this make ye: Now let us flee;
         The day cometh fast upon:
       For, in my mind, of all mankind
         I love but you alone.

He. Nay, nay, not so; ye shall not go,
         And I shall tell you why—
       Your appetite is to be light
         Of love, I well espy:
       For, right as ye have said to me,
         In likewise hardily
       Ye would answere whosoever it were,
         In way of compan?:
       It is said of old, Soon hot, soon cold;
         And so is a womàn:
       Wherefore I to the wood will go,
         Alone, a banished man.