The birds all sang, as tho’ ’twere May;
The spearhawk, [32] and the popinjay,
It was a joy to hear;
The throstle cock made eke his lay,
The wood-dove sung upon the spray,
With note full loud and clear.
11.
Sir Thopas fell in love-longing
All when he heard the throstle sing,
And spurred his horse like mad,
So that all o’er the blood did spring,
And eke the white foam you might wring:
The steed in foam seemed clad.
12.
Sir Thopas eke so weary was
Of riding on the fine soft grass,
While love burnt in his breast,
That down he laid him in that place
To give his courser some soláce,
Some forage and some rest.
13.
Saint Mary! benedicite!
What meaneth all this love in me,
That haunts me in the wood?
This night, in dreaming, did I see
An elf queen shall my true love be,
And sleep beneath my hood.
14.
An elf queen will I love, I wis,
For in this world no woman is
Worthy to be my bride;
All other damsels I forsake,
And to an elf queen will I take,
By grove and streamlet’s side.
15.