"Now, by the mass," the King he said,
"This is a comely sight;
I trow, instead of a forester's man,
This is a ladye bright!"
O out and spake her, Rose the Red,205
And fell low on her knee:—
"O pardon us, my gracious liege,
And our story I'll tell thee.
"Our father is a wealthy lord,
Lives into Barnisdale;210
But we had a wicked step-mother,
That wrought us meikle bale.
"Yet had she twa as fu' fair sons
As e'er the sun did see;
And the tane o' them lo'ed my sister deir,215
And the tother said he lo'ed me."
Then out and cried him Bauld Arthur,
As by the King he stood,—
"Now, by the faith of my body,
This suld be Rose the Red!"220
The king has sent for robes o' green,
And girdles o' shining gold;
And sae sune have the ladyes busked themselves,
Sae glorious to behold.
Then in and came him, Brown Robin,225
Fra hunting o' the King's deer,
But when he saw the King himsell,
He started back for fear.
The King has ta'en Robin by the hand,
And bade him nothing dread,230
But quit for aye the gude grene-wood,
And come to the court wi' speed.
The King has ta'en White Lilly's son,
And set him on his knee;
Says, "Gin ye live to wield a brand,235
My bowman thou sall be."
Then they have ta'en them to the holy chapelle,
And there had fair wedding;
And when they cam to the King's court,
For joy the bells did ring.240