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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Bedeckt with many a fragrant flower;

A braver bower you never did see

Then my true-love did build for me.

But there came thieves late in the night,

They rob’d my bower, and slew my knight,

And after that my knight was slain,

I could no longer there remain.

My servants all from me did flye,

In the midst of my extremity,

And left me by my self alone,

With a heart more cold then any stone.

Yet, though my heart was full of care,

Heaven would not suffer me to despair;

Wherefore in hast I chang’d my name

From Fair Elise to Sweet William.

And therewithal I cut my hair,

And drest my self in man’s attire,

My doublet, hose, and bever-hat,

And a golden band about my neck.

With a silver rapier by my side,

So like a gallant I did ride;

The thing that I delighted on,

Was for to be a serving-man.

Thus in my sumptuous man’s array

I bravely rode along the way;

And at the last it chanced so

That I unto the king’s court did go.

Then to the king I bowed full low,

My love and duty for to show,

And so much favour I did crave