_She._ Though in the wood I understood Ye had a paramour, All this may nought remove my thought, But that I will be yours: And she shall find me soft and kind, And courteous every hour; Glad to fulfil all that she will Command me to my power: For had ye, lo, an hundred mo, Yet would I be that one, For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone.
_He._ Mine own dear love, I see the prove That ye be kind and true; Of maid, and wife, in all my life, The best that ever I knew. Be merry and glad, be no more sad, The case is changèd new; For it were ruth, that, for your truth, Ye should have cause to rue. Be not dismayed; whatsoever I said To you when I began; I will not to the green-wood go; I am no banished man.
_She._ These tidings be more glad to me, Than to be made a queen, If I were sure they should endure; But it is often seen, When men will break promise, they speak The wordis on the spleen. Ye shape some wile me to beguile, And steal from me, I ween: Then were the case worse than it was, And I more wobegone; For, in my mind, of all mankind I love but you alone.
_He._ Ye shall not need further to dread; I will not disparàge You (God defend), sith ye descend Of so great lineàge. Now understand; to Westmoreland, Which is my heritage, I will you bring; and with a ring, By way of marriàge I will you take, and lady make, As shortly as I can. Thus have you won an Erle's son, And not a banished man.
_Here may ye see, that woman be In love, meek, kind, and stable: Let never man reprove them than, Or call them variable; But rather pray God that we may To them be comfortable; Which sometimes proveth such, as He loveth, If they be charitable. For sith men would that women should Be meek to them each one; Much more ought they to God obey, And serve but Him alone._
Four and twenty bonny boys War playing at the ba'; Then up and started sweet Sir Hugh, The flower amang them a'.
He hit the ba' a kick wi's fit, And kept it wi' his knee, That up into the Jew's window He gart the bonny ba' flee.
'Cast doun the ba' to me, fair maid, Cast doun the ba' to me'; 'O ne'er a bit o' the ba' ye get Till ye cum up to me.'
'Cum up, sweet Hugh, cum up, dear Hugh, Cum up and get the ba''; 'I canna cum, I darna cum, Without my playferes twa.'