ell us what thou hast been doing!"
"O I have been to the good green-wood,
With hound and hawk the deer pursuing."

"Where is thy hawk and greyhound, say?
Thy silvan spoil, we pray thee show it."
"A good friend came across my way,
And on that friend I did bestow it."

"No knight will part with his prey so light
For which in wood he's toiled and panted;
With a maiden bright you slept last night,
Her brothers' leave nor sought nor granted."

"To chase the dun deer, Sirs, I rode,
Full little of your sister knowing,
The first fair deer itself that showed
I chased with heart and bosom glowing.

"It crouched beneath my scarlet cloak,
It pleased me, Sirs, beyond all measure;
With thanks to heaven the gift I took,
And made me happy with my treasure.

"I let my hounds the wild deer chase,
I thought but little of their capture;
But I took the hind to my embrace,
What moments then of bliss and rapture.

"Of all the world's fair maids was she
The fairest both in face and carriage;
If she, Sir Knights, your sister be,
I beg your sister's hand in marriage.

"A faithful brother I will be,
And in your cause I death will suffer;
And her I'll hold in respect and love,
And nothing more a knight can proffer."

"Thou shalt not get the maid for mate,
But thou shalt die, thou knight enamour'd;
So make thy shrift 'neath the linden straight,
The little birds shall hear it stammer'd.

"Now wilt thou stand, or wilt thou fly
Into the deep wood for protection;
Or guard thy young life valiantly,
To prove thy courage and affection?"

"O I will stand, nor craven fly
Unto the murky wood for cover,
I'll guard my life right valiantly,
And thus I'll prove me worthy of her."

First one he slew, then quickly two,
His knightly courage well display'd he;
But, though his seven foes he slew,
With his own life full dearly paid he.

When the tidings reached the maiden's ear
She let fall briny tears in plenty;
But if for her kin she shed one tear,
She shed I ween for the bold knight twenty.

DAMSEL METTIE.

Knights Peter and Olaf they sat o'er the board,
Betwixt them in jesting passed many a word.

"Now hear thou, Sir Olaf my comrade, do tell
Why thou hast ne'er wedded some fair demoiselle?"

"What need with a housewife myself to distress,
So long as my little gold horn I possess?

"So long as my little gold horn I possess,
I lure every maid I m