14.
He sayes, 'Sees thou yonder water, Ellen,
That fflowes from banke to brim?'
'I trust to God, Child Waters,' shee sayd,
'You will neuer see mee swime.'

15.
But when shee came to the waters side,
Shee sayled to the chinne:
'Except the lord of heauen be my speed,
Now must I learne to swime.'

16.
The salt waters bare vp Ellens clothes,
Our Ladye bare vpp her chinne,
& Child Waters was a woe man, good Lord,
To ssee faire Ellen swime.

17.
& when shee ouer the water was,
Shee then came to his knee:
He said, 'Come hither, ffaire Ellen,
Loe yonder what I see!

18.
'Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen?
Of redd gold shine the yates;
There's four and twenty ffayre ladyes,
The ffairest is my wordlye make.

19.
'Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen?
Of redd gold shineth the tower;
There is four and twenty ffaire ladyes,
The fairest is my paramoure.'

20.
'I doe see the hall now, Child Waters,
That of redd gold shineth the yates;
God giue good then of your selfe,
& of your wordlye make!

21.
'I doe see the hall now, Child Waters,
That of redd gold shineth the tower;
God giue good then of your selfe,
And of your paramoure!'

22.
There were four and twenty ladyes,
Were playing att the ball;
& Ellen, was the ffairest ladye,
Must bring his steed to the stall.

23.
There were four and twenty faire ladyes
Was playing att the chesse;
& Ellen, shee was the ffairest ladye,
Must bring his horsse to grasse.

24.
& then bespake Child Waters sister,
& these were the words said shee:
'You haue the prettyest ffootpage, brother,
That ever I saw with mine eye;

25.
'But that his belly it is soe bigg,
His girdle goes wonderous hye;
& euer I pray you, Child Waters,
Let him go into the chamber with me.'

26.
'It is more meete for a litle ffootpage,
That has run through mosse and mire,
To take his supper vpon his knee
& sitt downe by the kitchin fyer,
Then to go into the chamber with any ladye
That weares so [rich] attyre.'

27.
But when the had supped euery one,
To bedd they tooke the way;
He sayd, 'Come hither, my litle footpage,
Hearken what I doe say!

28.
'& goe thee downe into yonder towne,
& low into the street;
The ffarest ladye that thou can find,
Hyer her in mine armes to slee