Or wilt thou be my chamberlain, 'To make my bed both soft and fine? 'Or wilt thou be one of my guard? ' And I will give thee thy reward.' Sweet William, with a smiling face, 6 Said to the king, 'If't please your grace, To show such favour unto me, 'Your chamberlain I fain would be.' The king then did the nobles call, To ask the counsel of them all ; Now mark what strange thing came to pass, Sweet William had no company then Upon the lute Sweet William play'd, Which made the old man to rejoice : 'My mother was a lady bright, My husband was a valiant knight : ‹ And I myself, a lady gay, * Bedeck'd with gorgeous rich array ; 'The bravest lady in the land < Had not more pleasure at command. I had my music every day, 'Harmonious lessons for to play; I had my virgins fair and free, ⚫ Continually to wait on me. 'But now, alas! my husband's dead, And all my friends are from me fled; My former joys are past and gone, For I am now a serving-man.' At last the king from hunting came, And thus to speak the king began: 'What news, what news, old man? (quoth he ;) 'What news hast thou to tell to me?' Brave news, the old man he did say, ⚫ Sweet William is a lady gay.' с If this be true thou tell'st to me But when the king the truth had found, Therefore the king, without delay, And upon her head a crown of gold, And then, for fear of further strife, BALLAD XIII. THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD: OR, THE NORFOLK GENTLEMAN'S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT. Now ponder well, you parents dear, The words which I shall write; A doleful story you shall hear, A gentleman of good account Whose wealth and riches did surmount Sore sick he was, and like to die, No help that he could have ; And both possess'd one grave. No love between these two was lost, In love they liv'd, in love they died, The one a fine and pretty boy, The father left his little son, As plainly doth appear, When he to perfect age should come, And to his little daughter Jane Their uncle should possess their wealth ; For so the will did run. Now, brother, (said the dying man) 'Look to my children dear ; 'Be good unto my boy and girl, 'No friends else I have here: To God and you I do commend My children night and day; But little while, be sure, we have • Within this world to stay. You must be father and mother both, 'God knows what will become of them, When I am dead and gone.' With that bespake their mother dear, You are the man must bring our babes And if you keep them carefully, Then God will you reward 1; 'If otherwise you seem to deal, 'God will your deeds regard.' With lips as cold as any stone, She kiss'd her children small: 'God bless you both, my children dear!' With that the tears did fall. These speeches then their brother spoke 'The keeping of your children dear, Their parents being dead and gone, |