my beauty wilt thou spill." 80
Down then light that lady bright
Underneath that greenwood spray.
And, as the story tells full right,
Seven times by her he lay.
She said "Man, thee likes thy play; 85
What byrde[22] in bower may deal with thee?
Thou marrest me all this longe day;
I pray thee, Thomas, let me be!"
Thomas stood up in that stead[23],
And he beheld that lady gay; 90
Her hair it hang all over her head;
Her eyne were out, that ere were gray;
And all the rich clothing was away
That he before saw in that stead;
Her one shank black, her other gray, 95
And all her body like the lead.
Then said Thomas "Alas, alas!
In faith this is a duleful[24] sight;
How art thou faded thus in the face,
That shone before as the sun so bright!" 100
She said, "Thomas, take leave at sun and moon,
And also at leaf that grows on tree;
This twelvemonth shalt thou with me gone[25],
And Middle-earth[26] shalt thou none see."
He kneeled down upon his knee, 105
Underneath that greenwood spray,
And said "Lovely lady[27], rue on me,
Mild queen of heaven, as thou best may!
Alas!" he said, "and woe is me!
I trow my deeds will work me care; 110
My soul, Jesu, beteach[28] I thee,
Whithersoever my bones shall fare."
She led him in at Eildon hill
Underneath a derne[29] lea,
Where it was dark as midnight mirk, 115
And ever the water till his knee.
The mountenance[30] of dayes three
He heard but swoughing of the flood;
At the last he said "Full woe is me!
Almost I die for fault of food." 120
She led him intill a fair herbere[31]
Where fruit was growing great plenty;
Pear and apple, both ripe they were,
The date, and also the damasee,
The fig, and also the wine-berry; 125
The nightegales bigging[32] on their nest;
The papejoys[33] fast about gan fly,
And throstles sang, would have no rest.
He pressed to pull fruit with his hand,
As man for food that was near faint. 130
She said "Thomas, thou let them stand,[34]
Or else the fiend thee will attaint!
If thou it pluck, soothly to say,
Thy soul goes to the fir