"Or wilt thou be my chamberlain,
To make my bed both soft and fine?50
Or wilt thou be one of my guard?
And I will give thee thy reward."
Sweet William, with a smiling face,
Said to the king, "If't please your grace
To show such favour unto me,55
Your chamberlain I fain would be."
The king then did the nobles call,
To ask the counsel of them all;
Who gave consent Sweet William he
The king's own chamberlain should be.60
Now mark what strange thing came to pass:
As the king one day a hunting was,
With all his lords and noble train,
Sweet William did at home remain.
Sweet William had no company then65
With him at home, but an old man;
And when he saw the house was clear,
He took a lute which he had there:
Upon the lute Sweet William play'd,
And to the same he sung and said,70
With a sweet and noble voice,
Which made the old man to rejoice:
"My father was as brave a lord
As ever Europe did afford,
My mother was a lady bright,75
My husband was a valiant knight:
"And I myself a lady gay,
Bedeck'd with gorgeous rich array;
The bravest lady in the land
Had not more pleasure at command.80