The Northern LORD.
In FOUR PARTS.
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A Noble Lord of high renown
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Two daughters had; the eldest brown,
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The youngest beautiful and fair.
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By chance a noble Knight came there.
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Her father said, kind sir, I have
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Two daughters, which do you crave?
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One that is beautiful, he cry'd,
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The noble knight he then reply'd:
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She's young she's beautiful and gay,
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And is not to be giv'n away.
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But as jewels are bought and sold,
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She shall bring me her weight in gold.
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The price I think you need not grudge,
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Since I will freely give as much
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With her one sister, if I can
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Find out some other nobleman.
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With that bespoke the noble knight,
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I'd sooner have the beauty bright
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At that vast rate, renowned lord,
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Then then the other with a vast reward,
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So then the bargain it was made,
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But e'er the money could be paid,
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He had it of a wealthy Jew,
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The sum so large, the writings drew
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That if he fail'd, or miss'd the day,
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So many ounces he should pay.
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Of his own flesh, instead of gold,
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All was agreed, the sum was told.
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So he return'd immediately,
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Unto the lord, where he did buy
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His daughter fine, I do declare.
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And paid him down the money there,
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He bought her too, it was well known
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Unto mankind she was his own.
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By her a son he did enjoy.
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A sweet and comely handsome boy,
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At length the time of pay drew near
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When the knight did begin to fear;
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He dreaded much the cruel Jew
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Because the money it was dew.
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His lady ask'd him Why he griev'd?
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He said, My jewel, I receiv'd
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Such a sum of money of a Jew,
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And now the money it is due,
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And now the day of payment's come,
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I'm sure I cannot raise the sum,
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He'll have my flesh, weight for weight,
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Which makes my grief and sorrow great.
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Tush! never fear him, she reply'd
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We'll cross the raging ocean wide
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And so secure you from the fate,
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To her request he yielded strait.
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PART II
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THEN having pass'd the raging seas,
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They travel'd on, 'till by degrees
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Unto the German court he came,
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The knight his son, and comely dame.
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Unto the Emperor he told
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His story of the sum of gold,
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That he had borrow'd of a Jew,
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And that for fear of death he flew.
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The Emperor he did erect
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A court for them and shew'd respect
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Unto his guests, because they came
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From BRITON, that blest land of fame.
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As here he lived in delight,
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A Dutch lord told our English knight.
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That he a ton of gold would lay,
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He could enjoy his lady gay.
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From her the lord he was to bring
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A rich and costly diamond-ring,
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That was to prove and testify
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How he did with his lady lie.
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He tries, but never could obtain
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Her favour but with high disdain;
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She did abhor his base intent,
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So to her chamber-maid he went.
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And told her if she would but steal
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Her lady's ring and to conceal
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The same, and bring it to him strait,
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She should enjoy a fine estate,
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In hopes of such a fine reward
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The ring she stole, then the Dutch lord
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Did take it to the noble knight
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Who almost swooned at the sight.
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Home he goes to the lady strait
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Meeting her at the palace gate,
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He flung her headlong into the mote.
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And left her there to sink or float.
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Soon after that in cloaths of green,
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She like a war like knight was seen,
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And in most gallant gay deport
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She rode unto the Emperor's court,
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Now when the Emperor beheld
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Her brave deportment, he was fill'd
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With admiration at the sight,
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Who call'd herself an English knight.
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The Emperor did then reply,
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We have an English knight to die,
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For drowning of his lady gay,
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Quoth she, I'd see him, if I may.
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granted, so to him she came,
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And calling of him by his name,
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She said, Kind sir, be of good cheer
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Your friend I'll be you need not fear.
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PART III
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SHE to the Emperor did ride,
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And said, Now let this cause be try'd,
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Once more, for I've a mind to save
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This noble gallant from the grave.
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It being done, the court was set,
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The Dutch lord came, seeming to fret
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About the ring, seeming to fear,
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How truth world make his shame appear.
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And so it did, for soon they call
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The maid, who on kees did fall,
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Before the court and did confess
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The Dutch lord's unworthiness,
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The court reply'd, Is it so?
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The lady too for ought we know,
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May be alive, therefore we'll stay
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The sentence till another day.
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Now the Dutch lord gave him a ton
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Of Gold which he had justly won;
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And so he did with shame and grief,
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And thus the knight obtain'd relief.
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The Dutch lord to revenge the spite
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Upon our noble English knight,
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Did send a letter out of hand,
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And so Jew did understand.
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How he was in a German Court,
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So here upon this good report,
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The Jew he cross'd the ocean wide,
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Resolving to be satisfied.
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Soon as e'er he fix'd his eyes
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Unto the knight, in wrath he cries
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Your hand and seal I pray behold:
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Your flesh I'll have instead of gold.
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Said the noble knight in green,
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Sir, may not your articles be seen?
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Yes, that they may reply'd the Jew,
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And I resolve to have my due.
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Lo then the knight began to read,
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At length she said, I find indeed,
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Nothing but flesh you are to have,
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Answers the Jew, That's all I crave.
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The poor distressed knight was brought.
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The bloody-minded Jew he thought
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That day to be revenged on him,
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And part his flesh from ev'ry limb.
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The knight in green said, Mr. Jew,
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There's nothing else but flesh your due,
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Then see no drop of blood you shed.
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For if you do off goes your head,
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Pray take your due with all my heart,
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But with his blood we will not part.
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With that the Jew sneaked away,
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And had not one word more to say.
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PART IV,
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NO sooner were these troubles past
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But his wife's father came at last,
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Resolving for to have his life.
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For drowning his beloved wife.
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Over the seas her father brought
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Many brave horses: One was bought
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By the pretended knight in green.
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Which was the best that e're was seen,
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So to the German court he came,
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Declaring such a one by name,
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Had drowned his fair daughter dear,
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And ought to die a death severe,
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They brought him from the prison then,
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Guarded by many armed men,
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Unto the place where he must die.
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And the young knight was standing by,
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And from her side her sword he drew,
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And run her gelding thro' and thro',
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Her father said, Why do you so?
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I may, it is my own, you know,
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You sold your gelding, 'tis well known.
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I bought it, making it my own;
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And may do what I please with it,
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And then to her he did submit.
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Here is a man arraign'd and cast,
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And brought to suffer death at last,
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Because your daughter dear he slew;
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Which if he did, what's that to you.
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You had your money when you sold
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Your daughter for her weight in gold;
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Wherefore he might, it is well known.
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Do what he pleased with his own.
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So having chang'd her garments green,
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And drest herself like a fair queen,
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Her father and her husband strait
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Both knew her and their joys were great.
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Soon they did carry this report
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Unto the famous German-Court,
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How the renowned English knight
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Had found his charming lady bright.
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So the Emrpeor, and the lords of fame
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With chearful hearts they did proclaim,
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An universal joy to see
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His lady's life at liberty.
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