These two thy own children be."
The youthful lady on her knees did blessing crave,175
The brother as willing as she.
"And you that envy her estate,
Whom I have made my loving mate,
Now blush for shame, and honour vertuous life;
The chronicles of lasting fame180
Shall evermore extol the name
Of patient Grissel, my most constant wife."
[36], G. G. W., in her sight.
THE KING OF FRANCE'S DAUGHTER.
From Thomas Deloney's Garland of Good Will, as reprinted by the Percy Society, vol. xxx. p. 52. Other copies are in Old Ballads, (1723,) i. 181, Ritson's Ancient Songs, ii. 136, and Percy's Reliques, iii. 207,—the last altered by the editor.
In the days of old,
When fair France did flourish,
Stories plainly told
Lovers felt annoy.
The king a daughter had,5
Beauteous, fair, and lovely,
Which made her father glad,
She was his only joy.
A prince of England came,
Whose deeds did merit fame,10
He woo'd her long, and lo, at last,
[Look], what he did require,
She granted his desire,
Their hearts in one were linked fast.
Which when her father proved,15
Lord, how he was moved
And tormented in his mind;
He sought for to prevent them,
And to discontent them,—
Fortune crosses lovers kind.20
Whenas these princely twain
Were thus debarr'd of pleasure,
Through the king's disdain,
Which their joys withstood,
The lady lockt up close25
Her jewels and her treasure,
Having no remorse
Of state or royal blood.
In homely poor array,
She went [from court] away,30
To meet her love and heart's delight;
Who in a forest great,
Had taken up his seat,
To wait her coming in the night.
But lo, what sudden danger,35
To this princely stranger,
Chancèd as he sat alone,
By outlaws he was robbed,
And with poinard stabbed,