nd they so cunningly contrived, With turnings round about,

That none, but with a clue of thread, Could enter in and out.

_nd for his love and lady's sake, That was so fair and bright, he keeping of this bower he gave Unto a valiant knight.

Eut fortune, that doth often frown
Where she before did smile,
The king's delight and lady's joy
Full soon she did beguile :

or why? the king's ungracious son, Whom he did high advance, gainst his father raised wars, Within the realm of France.

ut yet before our comely king
The English land forsook,
f Rosamund, his lady fair,
His farewell thus he took :

My Rosamund, my only rose,
That pleaseth best mine eye:
he fairest flower in all the world
To feed my fantasy;

The flower of mine affected heart,
Whose sweetness doth excel
ll roses else a thousand times,
I bid thee now farewell.'

When Rosamund, that lady bright,
Did hear the king say so,

The sorrow of her grieved heart
Her outward looks did show;

And from her clear and crystal eyes
The tears gush'd out apace,
Which like the silver pearled dew
Ran down her comely face.

'Why grieves my Rose, my sweetest Rose? The king did often say. 'Because,' quoth she, 'to bloody wars

My lord must part away.

'But since your Grace on foreign coasts,

Among your foes unkind,

Must go to hazard life and limb,
Why should I stay behind?

'Nay, rather let me, like a page,
Your sword and target bear,
That on my breast the blows may light,
Which would offend you there.

'So I your presence may enjoy
No toil I will refuse;

But wanting you, my life is death;
Nay, death I'd rather choose!'

'Content thyself, my dearest love,
Thy rest at home shall be

In England's sweet and pleasant isle ;
For travel fits not thee.

My Rose shall safely here abide, With music pass the day; Whilst I, among the piercing pikes, My foes seek far away.

And you, Sir Thomas, whom I trust To be my love's defence; Be careful of my gallant Rose When I am parted hence.'

And therewithal he fetch'd a sigh
As though his heart would break:
And Rosamund, for very grief,

Not one plain word could speak.

And at their parting well they might
In heart be grieved sore:
After that day fair Rosamund
The king did see no more.

For when his Grace had past the seas,
And into France was gone,
With envious heart queen Ellinor
To Woodstock came anone.

And forth she calls this trusty knight
In an unhappy hour;

Who with his clue of twined thread
Came from this famous bower.

And when that they had wounded him
The queen this thread did get,
And went, where lady Rosamund
Was like an angel set.

casting up her eyes to heaven he did for mercy call;

1 drinking up the poison strong, Her life she lost withal.

1 when that death through every limb Had showed its greatest spite,

r chiefest foes did plain confess Che was a glorious wight.

body then they did entomb,

When life was fled away,
Godstowe, near to Oxford town,

As may be seen this day.

T. Delone

CXV

HE HITCHEN MAY-DAY SONG

member us poor Mayers all !

And thus we do begin

lead our lives in righteousness,

Or else we die in sin.

have been rambling all the night, And almost all the day;

_d now returned back again,

We have brought you a branch of May.

branch of May we have brought you, And at your door it stands ;

is but a sprout, but it's well budded out By the work of our Lord's hands.