Then forward she stepped like a blushing rose,
She takes his hand and to dance she goes.
“Hear Signelil what I say to thee,
A ditty of love sing thou to me.”
“A ditty of love I will not, Sir King,
But as well as I can another I’ll sing.”
Proud Signil began, a ditty she sang,
To the ears of the Queen in her bed it rang.
Says the Queen in her chamber as she lay:
“O which of my maidens doth sing so gay?
“O which of my maidens doth sing so late,
To bed why followed they me not straight?”
Then answered the Queen the little foot page,
“’Tis none of thy maidens I’ll engage.
“’Tis none I’ll engage of the maiden band,
’Tis Signil proud from the islet’s strand.”
“O bring my red mantle hither to me,
For I’ll go down this maid to see.”
And when they came down to the castle gate
The dance it moved at so brave a rate.