But some they whistled, and some they sung, And some they thus could say, Whenever Lord Barnard’s horn it blew: _‘Away, Musgrave, away!..._
‘Methinks I hear the threstle cock, Methinks I hear the jay; Methinks I hear Lord Barnard’s horn, _Away, Musgrave, away!_’--
‘Lie still, lie still, thou little Musgrave, And huggle me from the cold; ’Tis nothing but a shepherd’s boy A-driving his sheep to the fold.’
By this, Lord Barnard came to his door And lighted a stone upon; And he’s pull’d out three silver keys, And open’d the doors each one.
He lifted up the coverlet, He lifted up the sheet: ‘Dost thou like my bed, Little Musgrave? Dost thou find my lady sweet?’--
‘I find her sweet,’ quoth Little Musgrave, ‘The more ’tis to my pain; I would gladly give three hundred pounds That I were on yonder plain.’--
‘Arise, arise, thou Little Musgrave, And put thy clothès on; It shall ne’er be said in my country I have kill’d a naked man.
‘I have two swords in one scabbard, They are both sharp and clear; Take you the best, and I the worst, We’ll end the matter here.’
The first stroke Little Musgrave struck, He hurt Lord Barnard sore; The next stroke that Lord Barnard struck, Little Musgrave ne’er struck more.
With that bespake this fair lady, In bed where as she lay: ‘Although thou’rt dead, thou Little Musgrave, Yet I for thee will pray.
‘And wish well to thy soul will I So long as I have life; So will I not for thee, Barnard, Although I’m thy wedded wife.’
He cut her paps from off her breast; Great pity it was to see That some drops of this lady’s heart’s blood Ran trickling down her knee.
‘Woe worth you, woe worth, my merry men all, You were ne’er born for my good! Why did you not offer to stay my hand When you saw me wax so wood[355]?
‘For I have slain the fairest lady That ever wore woman’s weed, Soe I have slain the fairest lady That ever did woman’s deed.
‘A grave, a grave,’ Lord Barnard cried, ‘To put these lovers in! But lay my lady on the upper hand, For she comes of the nobler kin.’
Lord Ingram and Childe Vyet Were both born in one hall; Laid both their hearts on one lady; The worse did them befall.
Lord Ingram woo’d Lady Maisry From father and from mother; Lord Ingram woo’d Lady Maisry From sister and from brother;