The first thinge that she stumbled on
It was Sir Gyles his foote;
Sayes, "Ever alacke, and woe is mee!
Here lyes my sweete hart-roote."
The next thinge that she stumbled on105
It was Sir Gyles his heade;
Sayes, "Ever alacke, and woe is me!
Heere lyes my true love deade."
Hee cutt the pappes beside her brest,
And didd her body spille;110
He cutt the eares beside her heade,
And bade her love her fille.
He called up then up his litle foot-page,
And made him there his heyre;
And sayd, "Henceforth my worldlye goodes,115
And countrie I forsweare."
[He shope the crosse on his right shoulder],
Of the white [clothe] and the redde,
And went him into the holy land,
Wheras Christ was quicke and dead.120
[19], unbethought.
MS. [32], blend.
[47], or to-morrow.
MS. [75], first.
[117]. Every person who went on a Croisade to the Holy Land usually wore a cross on his upper garment, on the right shoulder, as a badge of his profession. Different nations were distinguished by crosses of different colors: the English wore white, the French red, &c. This circumstance seems to be confounded in the ballad. Percy.