Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/68

He. I can believe it shall you grieve,
         And somewhat you distrain;
       But afterward, your paines hard
         Within a day or twain
       Shall soon aslake; and ye shall take
         Comfort to you again.
       Why should ye ought? for, to make thought,
         Your labour were in vain.
       And thus I do; and pray you to,
         As hartely as I can:
       For I must to the green-wood go,
         Alone, a banished man.

She. Now, sith that ye have showed to me
         The secret of your mind,
       I shall be plain to you again,
         Like as ye shall me find.
       Sith it is so that ye will go,
         I will not live behind.
       Shall never be said the Nut-brown Maid
         Was to her love unkind.
       Make you read?, for so am I,
         Although it were anone:
       For, in my mind, of all mankind
         I love but you alone.

He. Yet I you rede to take good heed
         What men will think and say:
       Of young, of old, it shall be told
         That ye be gone away
       Your wanton will for to fulfil,
         In green-wood you to play;