"The brown girl she has got houses and land,
And fair Ellinor she has got none;10
Therefore I charge you on my blessing,
Bring me the brown girl home."
As it befell on a high holiday,
As many more did beside,
Lord Thomas he went to fair Ellinor,15
That should have been his bride.
But when he came to fair Ellinors bower,
He knocked there at the ring;
But who was so ready as fair Ellinor,
For to let Lord Thomas in.20
"What news, what news, Lord Thomas?" she said,
"What news hast thou brought unto me?"
"I am come to bid thee to my wedding,
And that is bad news for thee."
"O God forbid, Lord Thomas," she said,25
"That such a thing should be done;
I thought to have been thy bride my own self,
And you to have been the bridegrom."
"Come riddle my riddle, dear mother," she said,
"And riddle it all in one;30
Whether I shall go to Lord Thomas's wedding,
Or whether I shall tarry at home?"
"There are many that are your friends, daughter,
And many that are your foe;
Therefore I charge you on my blessing,35
To Lord Thomas's wedding don't go."
"There's many that are my friends, mother;
And if a thousand more were my foe,
Betide my life, betide my death,
To Lord Thomas's wedding I'll go."40