The knight in green said, "Mr. Jew,
There's nothing else but flesh your due; 150
Then see no drop of blood you shed,
For if you do, off goes your head.
"Pray take your due, with all my heart,
But with his blood I will not part."
With that the Jew sneaked away, 155
And had not one word more to say.
No sooner were these troubles past,
But his wife's father came at last,
Resolving for to have his life,
For drowning his beloved wife. 160
Over the seas her father brought
Many brave horses; one was bought
By the pretended knight in green,
Which was the best that e'er was seen.
So to the German court he came, 165
Declaring, such a one by name
Had drowned his fair daughter dear,
And ought to die a death severe.
They brought him from the prison then,
Guarded by many armed men, 170
Unto the place where he must die,
And the young knight was standing by.
Then from her side her sword she drew,
And run her gelding through and through.
Her father said, "Why do you so?" 175
"I may; it is my own, you know.
"You sold your gelding, 'tis well known;
I bought it, making it my own,
And may do what I please with it;"
And then to her he did submit. 180
"Here is a man arraign'd and cast,
And brought to suffer death at last,
Because your daughter dear he slew;
Which if he did, what's that to you?
"You had your money, when you sold 185
Your daughter for her weight in gold;
Wherefore he might, it is well known,
Do what he pleased with his own."