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

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.