Within one hand a knife he brought,
The child within the other;130
And holding it over the wall,
Saying, "Thus shall die thy mother,"
With that he cut the throat of it;
Then to the father he did call,
To look how he the head did cut,135
And down the head did fall.
This done, he threw it down the wall
Into the moat so deep;
Which made the father wring his hands,
And grievously to weep.140
Then to the lady went this rogue,
Who was near dead with fear,
Yet this vile wretch most cruelly
Did drag her by the hair;
And drew her to the very wall,145
Which when her lord did see,
Then presently he cried out,
And fell upon his knee:
Quoth he, "If thou wilt save her life,
Whom I do love so dear,150
I will forgive thee all is past,
Though they concern me near.
"O save her life, I thee beseech;
O save her, I thee pray,
And I will grant thee what thou wilt155
Demand of me this day."
"Well," quoth the moor, "I do regard
The moan that thou dost make:
If thou wilt grant me what I ask,
I'll save her for thy sake."160
"O save her life, and then demand
Of me what thing thou wilt."
"Cut off thy nose, and not one drop
Of her blood shall be spilt."
With that the lord presently took165
A knife within his hand,
And then his nose he quite cut off,
In place where he did stand.
"Now I have bought my lady's life,"
He to the moor did call;170
"Then take her," quoth this wicked rogue,
And down he let her fall.
Which when her gallant lord did see,
His senses all did fail;
Yet many sought to save his life,175
But nothing could prevail.
When as the moor did see him dead,
Then did he laugh amain
At them who for their gallant lord
And lady did complain:180
Quoth he, "I know you'll torture me,
If that you can me get,
But all your threats I do not fear,
Nor yet regard one whit.
"Wild horses shall my body tear,185
I know it to be true,