Frank Sidgwick

“ Of town and tower it bears the bell, In earth is none like it untill. For sooth, Thomas, yon is mine own, And the king's of this country; But me were lever [42] be hanged and drawn Or that [43] he wist thou lay me by. When thou com'st to yon castle gay, I pray thee courteous man to be, And whatso any man to thee say, Look thou answer none but me. My lord is servèd at each mess With thirty knightès fair and free; I shall say, sitting at the dess [44] , I took thy speech beyond the sea." Thomas still as stone he stood, And he beheld that lady gay ”

“ If thou it pluck, soothly to say, Thy soul goes to the fire of hell; It comes never out or Doomèsday, But there in pain aye for to dwell. Thomas, soothly, I thee hight [35] , Come lay thy head down on my knee, And thou shalt see the fairest sight That ever saw man of thy country." He did in hight [36] as she him bade; Upon her knee his head he laid, For her to pay [37] he was full glad, And then that lady to him said: "Seest thou [38] now yon fair [39] way, That lieth over yon high mountain? Yon is the way to heaven for aye When sinful souls are past their pain. ”

“ Till on a day, so have I grace, My lovely lady said to me [53] ; "Do busk thee, Thomas; thee buse [54] again; For thou may here no longer be; Hie thee fast with might and main; I shall thee bring till Eildon tree." Thomas said then with heavy cheer [55] , "Lovely lady, now let me be; For certes, lady, I have been here Nought but the space of dayès three!" "For sooth, Thomas, as I thee tell, Thou hast been here three year and more; But longer here thou may not dwell; [56] The skill [57] I shall thee tell wherefore. To-morn [58] , of hell the foulè fiend Among this folk will fetch his fee ”