T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Courteous Knight
Anonymous(Deuteromelia [with music]; 1609; cf. “The Baffled Knight: or The Lady’s Policy” [Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 281]) |
YONDER comes a courteous Knight, | |
| Lustily raking over the hay, | |
| He was well ’ware of a bonny lass, | |
| As she came wandering over the way: | |
| Then she sang down a down, | 5 |
| Hey down derry. | |
| Then she sang down a down, | |
| Hey down derry. | |
| Jove you speed, fair Lady, he said, | |
| Amongst the leaves that be so green; | 10 |
| If I were a King, and wore a Crown, | |
| Full soon fair Lady, should thou be a Queen. Then she sang down a down, etc. | |
| Also Jove save you, fair Lady, | |
| Among the Roses that be so red; | |
| If I have not my will of you, | 15 |
| Full soon fair Lady, shall I be dead. Then she sang down a down, etc. | |
| Then he looked East, then he looked West, | |
| He looked North, so did he South: | |
| He could not find a privy place, | |
| For all lay in the Devil’s mouth. Then she sang down a down, etc. | 20 |
| If you will carry me, gentle Sir, | |
| A maid unto my father’s hall; | |
| Then you shall have your will of me | |
| Under purple and under Pall. Then she sang down a down, etc. | |
| He set her upon a steed, | 25 |
| And himself upon another; | |
| And all the day he rode her by, | |
| As tho’ they had been sister and brother. Then she sang down a down, etc. | |
| When she came to her father’s hall, | |
| It was well walled round about; | 30 |
| She rode in at the wicket gate, | |
| And shut the four ear’d fool without. Then she sang down a down, etc. | |
| You had me (quoth she) abroad in the field, | |
| Among the corn, amidst the hay, | |
| Where you might had your will of me, | 35 |
| For, in good faith, Sir, I ne’er said nay. Then she sang down a down, etc. | |
| You had me also amid the field, | |
| Among the rushes that were so brown; | |
| Where you might had your will of me, | |
| But you had not the face to lay me down. Then she sang down a down, etc. | 40 |
| He pull’d out his nut-brown sword, | |
| And wip’d the rust off with his sleeve: | |
| And said: Jove’s Curse come to his heart, | |
| That any Woman would believe. Then she sang down a down, etc. | |
| When you have your own true love, | 45 |
| A mile or twain out of the Town, | |
| Spare not for her gay clothing, | |
| But lay her body flat on the ground. Then she sang down a down, etc. | |