229
Clerke Richard and Maid Margaret.
A man must nedes love maugre his hed,
He may not fleen it though he should be ded.
—Chaucer.
There were two lovers who loved each other
For many years, till hate did start,
And yet they never quite could smother
The former love that warmed their heart ;
And both did love, and both did hate,
Till both fulfilled the will of fate.
Years after, and the maid did marry
One that her heart had ne’er approved,
Nor longer could Clerke Richard tarry
Where he had lost all that he loved.
To foreign lands he reckless went
To nourish love—hate—discontent.
A word—-an idle word of folly,
Had spilled their love when it was young,
