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OLD ROBIN OF PORTINGALE. 39 |
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The first thinge that she stumbled on
It was Sir Gyles his foote; Sayes, " Eyer alacke, and woe is mee !
Here lyes my sweete hart-roote."
The next thinge that she stumbled on 105
It was Sir Gyles his heade; Sayes, " Ever alacke, and woe is me !
Heere lyes my true love deade."
Hee cutt the pappes beside her brest,
And didd her body spille ; 110
He cutt the eares beside her heade, And bade her love her fille.
He called up then up his litle foot-page,
And made him there his heyre ; And sayd," Henceforth my worldlye goodes, 115
And countrie I forsweare."
He shope the crosse on his right shoulder, Of the white clothe and the redde,
And went him into the holy land,
Wheras Christ was quicke and dead. 120
117. Every person who went on a Croisade to the Holy Land usually wore a cross on his upper garment, on the right shoulder, as a badge of his profession. Different nations were distinguished by crosses of different colors: the English wore white, the French red, &c. This circumstance seems to be confounded in the ballad. Percy.
MS. 118, fleshe. |
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