"Cast [off, cast off now, May Collin,]
Your sark that's of the holland;
For [it's oer good and oer costly]
To rot in the sea-bottom."
"Turn you about now, falsh Mess John,
To the green leaf of the tree;
It does not fit a mansworn man
A naked woman to see."
He turnd him quickly round about,
To the green leaf of the tree;
She took him hastly in her arms
And flung him in the sea.
"Now lye you there, you falsh Mess John,
My mallasin go with thee!
You thought to drown me naked and bare,
But take your cloaths with thee,
And if there be seven king's daughters there
Bear you them company"
She lap on her milk steed
And fast she bent the way,
And she was at her father's yate
Three long hours or day.
Up and speaks the wylie parrot,
So wylily and slee:
"Where is the man now, May Collin,
That gaed away wie thee?"
"Hold your tongue, my wylie parrot,
And tell no tales of me,
And where I gave a pickle befor
It's now I'll give you three."
[THE BLIND BEGGAR'S DAUGHTER OF BEDNALL GREEN]
