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I said, "My sweet, forsooth I shall
"For ever love you, and no mo.
"Though others love and leave withal,
"Maist certainly I do not so.
"I do you true love hecht,1
"By all thy beauties bright!

"Ye are so fair-be not my foe!
"Ye shall have sin and

ye me slo "Thus through ane sudden sight."

"That I you slay, that God forshield ! "What have I done or said you till? "I was not wont weapons to wield; "But am a woman, gif ye will, "That sorely fearis you,

"And ye not me, I trow.

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Therefore, good sir, take in none ill, "Shall never berne gar breif the bill "At bidding me to bow. 3

"Into this wood aye walk I shall,

"Leadand my life as woful wight:

"Here I forsake bayth bower and hall, "And all thir bygings that are bright!

I Promise.

2 Slay.

3 I do not understand these two lines.

4 These buildings. Rudd, Gloss.

"My bed is made full cold

"With beastis bryme1 and bold :

"That gars me say, bayth day and night, "Alas that ever the tongue should hecht "That heart thought not to hold !"

These words out through my heart so went,
That near I weepit for her wo.

But thereto would I not consent,
And said that it should not be so.

Into my armis swythe

2

Embracit I that blithe, 3

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Saying, "Sweet-hearts of harmis ho!" "Found 5 shall I ne'er this forest fro "While ye me comfort kyth.”

Then kneelit I before that clear,"
And meekly could her mercy crave.
That seemly then, with sober cheer,

1 Brim, fierce. Rudd. Gloss.

2 Quickly.

4 An interjection, commanding to desist or leave off. Rudd. Gloss.

"That can of wrath and malice never ho."

5 Go.

[G Doug. Virg. p. 148, 1. 2.]

6 Shew.

378 This use of the adjective was probably a Gallicism.

As the French would say cette belle, this author employs

Me, of her goodliness, forgave.

It was no need, I wis,

To bid us other kiss;

There might no hearts mair joy receive,

Nor either could of other have.

Thus brought were we to bliss.

that hend—that blithe-that clear-that seemly. Such was

the use of the times,

1 Than,

SPECIMENS, &c.

Henry VIII.

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