“O ne’er at court shall it be said
That I, a knight, for warriors seven,
Or ten times seven, the straight road fled,
To match them all I trust in heaven.”
His sword to his side the warrior tied,
And then himself in his acton casing,
A fond adieu to the Damsel cried,
Who sadly stood behind him gazing.
The youth despising all alarms
With spur so keen his courser urges,
Seven knights he meets in burnished arms
From out the wood as he emerges.
“Ha, early met, thou warrior good,
Pray tell us what thou hast been doing!”
“O I have been to the good green-wood,
With hound and hawk the deer pursuing.”
“Where is thy hawk and greyhound, say?
Thy silvan spoil, we pray thee show it.”
“A good friend came across my way,
And on that friend I did bestow it.”
“No knight will part with his prey so light
For which in wood he’s toiled and panted;
With a maiden bright you slept last night,
Her brothers’ leave nor sought nor granted.”
“To chase the dun deer, Sirs, I rode,
Full little of your sister knowing,
The first fair deer itself that showed
I chased with heart and bosom glowing.
“It crouched beneath my scarlet cloak,
It pleased me, Sirs, beyond all measure;
With thanks to heaven the gift I took,
And made me happy with my treasure.
“I let my hounds the wild deer chase,
I thought but little of their capture;
But I took the hind to my embrace,
What moments then of bliss and rapture.
“Of all the world’s fair maids was she
The fairest both in face and carriage;
If she, Sir Knights, your sister be,
I beg your sister’s hand in marriage.