Fair Isabel, on the other side, 65
As far in love was found;
So long brave Armstrong she had ey'd,
Till love her heart did wound;
"Brave Armstrong is my joy," quoth she,
"Would Christ he were alone with me, 70
To talk an hour, two, or three,
With his fair bonny lass."
But as these knights together rode,
And homeward did repair,
Their talk and eke their countenance shew'd 75
Their hearts were clogg'd with care.
"Fair Isabel," the one did say,
"Thou hast subdu'd my heart this day;"
"But she's my joy," did Musgrave say,
"My bright and bonny lass." 80
With that these friends incontinent
Became most deadly foes;
For love of beauteous Isabel,
Great strife betwixt them rose:
Quoth Armstrong, "She shall be my wife, 85
Although for her I lose my life;"
And thus began a deadly strife,
And for one bonny lass.
Thus two years long this grudge did grow
These gallant knights between, 90
While they a-wooing both did go,
Unto this beauteous queen;
And she who did their furies prove,
To neither would bewray her love,
The deadly quarrel to remove 95
About this bonny lass.
But neither, for her fair intreats,
Nor yet her sharp dispute,
Would they appease their raging ire,
Nor yet give o'er their suit. 100
The gentlemen of the North Country
At last did make this good decree,
All for a perfect unity
About this bonny lass.
The love-sick knights should be set 105
Within one hall so wide,
Each of them in a gallant sort
Even at a several tide;
And 'twixt them both for certainty
Fair Isabel should placed be, 110
Of them to take her choice full free,
Most like a bonny lass.
And as she like an angel bright
Betwixt them mildly stood,
She turn'd unto each several knight 115
With pale and changed blood;
"Now am I at liberty
To make and take my choice?" quoth she:
"Yea," quoth the knights, "we do agree;
Then chuse, thou bonny lass." 120
"O Musgrave, thou art all too hot
To be a lady's love,"
Quoth she, "and Armstrong seems a sot,
Where love binds him to prove.
Of courage great is Musgrave still, 125
And sith to chuse I have my will,
Sweet Armstrong shall my joys fulfil,
And I his bonny lass."
The nobles and the gentles both
That were in present place, 130
Rejoiced at this sweet record;
But Musgrave, in disgrace,
Out of the hall did take his way,
And Armstrong marryed was next day
With Isabel his lady gay, 135
A bright and bonny lass.
But Musgrave on the wedding-day,
Like to a Scotchman dight,
In secret sort allured out
The bridegroom for the fight; 140
And he, that will not outbraved be,
Unto his challenge did agree,
Where he was slain most suddenly
For his fair bonny lass.