And he was riding burd alane,
On a horse as black as jet;
But tho' she followed him fast and fell,
40 No nearer could she get.
"O stop! O stop! young man," she said,
"For I in dule am dight;
O stop, and win a fair lady's luve,
If you be a leal true knight."
45 But nothing did the tall knight say,
And nothing did he blin;
Still slowly rode he on before,
And fast she rade behind.
She whipped her steed, she spurred her steed,
50 Till his breast was all a foam;
But nearer unto that tall young knight,
By Our Ladye, she could not come.
"O if you be a gay young knight,
As well I trow you be,
55 Pull tight your bridle reins, and stay
Till I come up to thee."
But nothing did that tall knight say,
And no whit did he blin,
Until he reached a broad river's side,
60 And there he drew his rein.
"O is this water deep," he said,
"As it is wondrous dun?
Or it is sic as a saikless maid
And a leal true knight may swim?"
65 "The water it is deep," she said,
"As it is wondrous dun;
But it is sic as a saikless maid
And a leal true knight may swim."
The knight spurred on his tall black steed,
70 The lady spurred on her brown;
And fast they rade unto the flood,
And fast they baith swam down.