Page 175 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

from bursting forth; for, truly, he would not have spoiled
such a goodly jest for the half of Nottinghamshire.
Having gotten his breath from his last draught, the Fri-
ar began talking again in this wise: ‘Now, sweet lad, canst
thou not sing me a song? La, I know not, I am but in an ill
voice this day; prythee ask me not; dost thou not hear how
I croak like a frog? Nay, nay, thy voice is as sweet as any
bullfinch; come, sing, I prythee, I would rather hear thee
sing than eat a fair feast. Alas, I would fain not sing before
one that can pipe so well and hath heard so many goodly
songs and ballads, ne’ertheless, an thou wilt have it so, I will
do my best. But now methinks that thou and I might sing
some fair song together; dost thou not know a certain dain-
ty little catch called ‘The Loving Youth and the Scornful
Maid’? Why, truly, methinks I have heard it ere now. Then
dost thou not think that thou couldst take the lass’s part gif
I take the lad’s? I know not but I will try; begin thou with
the lad and I will follow with the lass.’
Then, singing first with a voice deep and gruff, and anon
in one high and squeaking, he blithely trolled the merry
catch of

THE LOVING YOUTH AND THE SCORNFUL MAID HE
‘Ah, it’s wilt thou come with me, my love?
And it’s wilt thou, love, he mine?
For I will give unto thee, my love,
Gay knots and ribbons so fine.
I’ll woo thee, love, on my bended knee,
And I’ll pipe sweet songs to none but thee.

1 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood