Читать книгу Story-Telling Ballads. Selected and Arranged for Story-Telling and Reading Aloud and for the Boys' and Girls' Own Reading онлайн

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And put my child in her stead.”

“Falsely, falsely have ye done,

O Mother,” she said, “if this be true,

To keep the best man under the sun

So many years from his due.”

“Nay now, my Child,” said Alice the nurse,

“But keep the secret for your life,

And all you have will be Lord Ronald’s

When you are man and wife.”

“If I’m a beggar born,” she said,

“I will speak out, for I dare not lie.

Pull off, pull off, the brooch of gold,

And fling the diamond necklace by.”

“Nay now, my Child,” said Alice the nurse,

“But keep the secret all ye can.”

She said, “Not so; but I will know

If there be any faith in man.”

“Nay now, what faith?” said Alice the nurse;

“The man will cleave unto his right.”

“And he shall have it,” the lady replied,

“Tho’ I should die to-night.”

“Yet give one kiss to your mother dear!

Alas, my Child, I sinned for thee!”

“O Mother, Mother, Mother,” she said,

“So strange it seems to me.

“Yet here’s a kiss for my mother dear,

My mother dear, if this be so,

And lay your hand upon my head,