There twenty four fayre ladyes were
A playinge at the chesse,
And Ellen, the fayrest ladye there,95
Must bring his horse to gresse.
And then bespake Childe Waters sister,
These were the wordes sayd shee:
"You have the prettyest page, brother,
"But that his bellye it is soe bigge,
His girdle stands soe hye;
And ever, I pray you, Childe Waters,
Let him in my chamber lye."
"It is not fit for a little foot-page,105
That has run throughe mosse and myre,
To lye in the chamber of any ladye,
That weares soe riche attyre.
"It is more meete for a little foot-page,
That has run throughe mosse and myre,110
To take his supper upon his knee,
And lye by the kitchen fyre."
Now when they had supped every one,
To bedd they tooke theyr waye:
He sayd, "Come hither, my little foot-page,115
And hearken what I saye.
"Goe thee downe into yonder towne,
And lowe into the streete;
The fayrest ladye that thou canst finde,
Hyre in mine armes to sleepe;120
And take her up in thine armes twaine,
For filing of her feete."
Ellen is gone into the towne,
And lowe into the streete;
The fayrest ladye that shee colde finde,125
She hyred in his armes to sleepe;
And tooke her up in her armes twayne,
For filing of her feete.