Signelil, A Tale from the Cornish, and Other Ballads

Transcribed from the 1913 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
by GEORGE BORROW
London: printed for private circulation 1913
Copyright in the United States of America by Houghton , Mifflin & Co. for Clement Shorter .
The Lady her handmaid to questioning took: “Why dost thou so sickly and colourless look?” But sorrow gnaws so sorely !
“’Tis little wonder if sickly I’m growing, Malfred my lady ! So much am I busied with cutting and sewing.”
“Erewhile was thy cheek as the blooming rose red, But now thou art pale, even pale as the dead.”
“To conceal the truth longer ’tis vain to essay, My gallant young master has led me astray.”
“And if the young noble has led thee astray, Say, what gave he thee for thy virtue in pay?”
“He gave to me shoes were gold spangled all o’er, And them have I worn with affliction so sore.
“He gave to me also of silk a soft shift, And with sorrow most painful I’ve worn the fair gift.
“He gave me, Christ sain him! a gold ring so fine, Whose match I can see on no finger of thine.”