He. I can believe it shall you grieve,
And somewhat you distrain;
But afterward, your paines hard
Within a day or twain

Shall soon aslake; and ye shall take

Comfort to you again.

Why should ye ought? for, to make thought,

Your labour were in vain.

And thus I do; and pray you to,

As hartely as I can:

For I must to the green-wood go,
Alone, a banished man.

She. Now, sith that ye have showed to me
The secret of your mind,

I shall be plain to you again,

Like as ye shall me find.

Sith it is so that

ye

will go,

I will not live behind.

Shall never be said the Nut-brown Maid

Was to her love unkind.

Make you readỳ, for so am 1,

Although it were anone:

For, in my mind, of all mankind
I love but you alone.

He. Yet I you rede to take good heed
What men will think and say:

Of young, of old, it shall be told
ye be gone away

That

Your wanton will for to fulfil,

In green-wood you to play;

And that ye might for your delight
No longer make delay.

Rather than ye should thus for me
Be called an ill woman

Yet would I to the green-wood go,
Alone, a banished man.

She. Though it be sung of old and young
That I should be to blame,

Theirs be the charge that speak so large
In hurting of my name:
For I will prove that faithful love
It is devoid of shame;
In your distress and heaviness

To part with you the same:
And sure all tho that do not so
True lovers are they none:
For in my mind, of all mankind
I love but you alone.

He. I counsel you, Remember how
It is no maiden's law

Nothing to doubt, but to run out
To wood with an outlaw.

For ye must there in your hand bear
A bow ready to draw;

And as a thief thus must you live

Ever in dread and awe;

Whereby to you great harm might grow:

Yet 'had I liever than

That I had to the green-wood go,

Alone, a banished man.

part with] share with.

tho] those.

She.

I think not nay but as ye say;

It is no maiden's lore;

But love may make me for your sake,
As I have said before,

To come on foot, to hunt and shoot,
To get us meat and store;
For so that I your company

May have, I ask no more.

From which to part it maketh my heart

As cold as any stone;

For, in my mind, of all mankind
I love but you alone.

He. For an outlaw this is the law,
That men him take and bind:
Without pitie, hangèd to be,
And waver with the wind.
If I had need (as God forbede!)
What socours could ye find?
Forsooth I trow, you and your bow

For fear would draw behind.
And no mervail; for little avail

Were in your counsel than:
Wherefore I'll to the green-wood go,
Alone, a banished man.

She. Right well know ye that women be
But feeble for to fight;

No womanhede it is, indeed,

To be bold as a knight:

Yet in such fear if that ye were
With enemies day and night,

I would withstand, with bow in hand,
To grieve them as I might,
And you to save; as women have
From death men many one:
For, in my mind, of all mankind
I love but you alone.

He. Yet take good hede; for ever I drede That ye could not sustain

She.

The thorny ways, the deep valleys,
The snow, the frost, the rain,
The cold, the heat; for dry or wete,

We must lodge on the plain;

And, us above, no other roof

But a brake bush or twain:

Which soon should grieve you, I believe;

And ye would gladly than

That I had to the green-wood go,

Alone, a banished man.

Sith I have here been partynere
With you of joy and bliss,

I must alsò part of your woe
Endure, as reason is:

Yet I am sure of one pleasure,

And shortly it is this

That where ye be, me seemeth, pardé,

I could not fare amiss.

Without more speech I you beseech

That we were shortly gone;

For, in my mind, of all mankind

I love but you alone.

He. If ye go thyder, ye must consider,
When ye have lust to dine,

There shall no meat be for to gete,
Nether bere, ale, ne wine,

Ne shetès clean, to lie between,

Made of thread and twine;

None other house, but leaves and boughs,
To cover your head and mine.
Lo, mine heart sweet, this ill diète
Should make you pale and wan:
Wherefore I'll to the green-wood go,
Alone, a banished man.

She. Among the wild deer such an archère,
As men say that ye be,

Ne may not fail of good vitayle
Where is so great plentè:

And water clear of the rivere
Shall be full sweet to me;
With which in hele I shall right wele
Endure, as ye shall see;
And, or we go, a bed or two

I can provide anone;

For, in my mind, of all mankind
I love but you alone.

He. Lo yet, before, ye must do more,
If ye will go with me:

hele] health.

As, cut your hair up by your ear,
Your kirtle by the knee;

With bow in hand for to withstand
Your enemies, if need be: