HE.

I can beleve, it shall you greve,

And fomwhat you dyftrayne:

But, aftyrwarde, your paynes harde

75

Within a day or twayne

Shall fone aflake; and ye fhall take

Comfort to you agayne.

Why fholde ye ought? for, to make thought,

Your labour were in vayne.

And thus I do; and pray you to,

As hartely, as I can ;

wode go,

Alone, a banyshed man.

SHE.

Now, fyth that ye have shewed to me
The fecret of your mynde,

I fhall be playne to you agayne,
Lyke as ye fhall me fynde:

Syth it is fo, that ye wyll go,

I wolle not leve behynde;

85

Shall never be fayd, the not-browne mayd

Ver. 91. Shall it never. Prol. Ver. 94. Although. Prol.

HE.

Yet I you rede to take good hede
What men wyll thynke, and say:
Of yonge, and olde it fhall be tolde,

That ye be gone away;
Your wanton wyll for to fulfill,

In grene wode yon to play;

And that ye myght from your delÿght

No lenger make delay :

Rather than ye fholde thus for me

Be called an yll woman,

Yet wolde I to the grene wode go,

Alone, a banished man.

SHE.

Though it be fonge of old and yonge,

That I fholde be to blame,

Theyrs be the charge, that speke fo large

In hurtynge of my name:

For I wyll prove, that faythfulle love

It is devoyd of shame;

In your dyftreffe, and hevyneffe,

To part with you, the fame;

And fure all tho, that do not so,

True lovers are they none:

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde

I love but you alone.

Ver. 117. To fhewe all. Pre

Ever in drede and awe;

Wherby to you grete harme myght growe:

But love may make me, for your fake,

135

Ryght wele knowe ye, that women be

But feble for to fyght;

No womanhede it is, indede,

To be bolde as a knyght:

160

HE.

Yet take good hede; for ever I drede
That ye coude nat fuftayne
The thornie wayes, the depe valèies,
The fnowe, the froft, the rayne,
The colde, the hete: for dry, or wete,

We muft lodge on the playne;

And, us above, none other rofe

But a brake bush, or twayne:

Which fone sholde greve you, I beleve;
And ye wolde gladly than

That I had to the grene wode

Alone, a banyfhed man.

SHE.

go,

Syth I have here bene partynère
With you of joy and blyffe,
I must also parte of your wo

Endure, as refon is:

Yet am I fure of one plesùre;

And, fhortely, it is this:

That, where ye be, me femeth, pardè,

I coude nat fare amyffe.

Without more fpeche, I you befeche

That we were fone agone;

For, in my mynde, of all mankynde

170

. 175

D 2

Ver. 174. Ye muft. Prol.

Ver. 190. fhortley gone. Prol.

180

185

190

HE.