A Tragical BALLAD
Of the Unfortunate LOVES of
Lord THOMAS and Fair ELEANOR:
TOGETHER WITH
The Downfal of the BROWN GIRL.
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LORD THOMAS he was a bold Forester,
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And a chacer of the King's Deer;
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Fair ELEANOR was a fine Woman,
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And Lord THOMAS he loved her dear.
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Come riddle my riddle, dear Mother he said,
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And riddle us both in one,
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Whether I shall marry with Fair ELEANOR,
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And let the BROWN GIRL alone?
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The BROWN GIRL she has got houses and lands,
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And Fair ELEANOR she has got none;
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Therefore I charge thee on my Blessing,
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Bring me the BROWN GIRL home.
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And as it befel on a high holiday,
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As many more do beside,
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Lord THOMAS he went to Fair ELEANOR,
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That should have been his bride.
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But when he came to Fair ELEANOR's bower,
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He knocked at the ring;
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Then who so ready as Fair ELEANOR,
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For to let Lord THOMAS in.
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What news, what news, Lord THOMAS she said,
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What news hast thou brought unto me?
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I am come to bid thee to my wedding,
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And that is sad news for thee.
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O God forbid! Lord THOMAS she said,
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That such a thing should be done;
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I thought to have been thy bride myself,
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And Thou to have been the Bridegroom.
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Come riddle, my riddle, dear Mother, she said,
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And riddle it all in one
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Whether I shall go to Lord THOMAS's Wedding.
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Or whether I shall let it alone;
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There's many that are our Friends, daughter,
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And many that are our Foes;
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Therefore I charge you on my Blessing,
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To Lord THOMAS's Wedding don't go.
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There's many that are our Friends, mother,
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If a thousand were our Foes;
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Betide me Life, betide me Death,
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To Lord THOMAS's Wedding I'll go.
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She cloathed herself in gallant Attire,
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And her merry Men all in green;
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And as she rode thro' every place,
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They took her to be some Queen.
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When she came to Lord THOMAS's gate,
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She knocked at the Ring;
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And who was so ready as Lord THOMAS
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To let Fair ELEANOR in.
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Is this your bride Fair ELEANOR said,
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Methinks she looks wonderous Brown;
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Thou might'st have had as fair a Woman,
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As ever trod upon the ground.
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Despise her not, Lord THOMAS he said,
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Despise her not unto me;
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For better I love thy little finger,
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Than all her whole body.
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This BROWN GIRL had a little penknife,
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Which was both long and sharp,
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And betwixt the short Ribs and the long,
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She prick'd Fair ELEANOR to the heart.
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O Christ! now save me, Lord THOMAS he said,
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Methinks thou look'st wonderous van;
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Thou used'st to look as good colour
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As ever the sun shin'd on.
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O art thou blind, Lord THOMAS she said,
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Or can'st thou not very well see?
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O dost thou not see my own heart's blood
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Run trickling down my knee.
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Lord THOMAS he had a Sword by his side,
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As he walked about the hall,
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He cut his bride's head from off her shoulders,
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And he flung it against the wall.
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He set his sword upon the ground,
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And the hilt against his heart;
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There never were three lovers sure,
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That sooner did depart.
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