He stroake upon his harpe againe,
And playd a pretty thinge;
The ladye lough[462] a loud laughter,235
As shee sate by the king.
Saies, sell me thy harpe, thou proud harper,
And thy stringès all,
For as many gold nobles 'thou shalt have'
As heere bee ringes in the hall.240
What wold ye doe with my harpe, 'he sayd,
If I did sell itt yee?
"To playe my wiffe and me a Fitt,[463]
When abed together wee bee."
Now sell me, quoth hee, thy bryde soe gay,245
As shee sitts by thy knee,
And as many gold nobles I will give,
As leaves been on a tree.
And what wold ye doe with my bryde soe gay,
Iff I did sell her thee?250
More seemelye it is for her fayre bodye
To lye by mee then thee.
Hee played agayne both loud and shrille,[464]
And Adler he did syng,
"O ladye, this is thy owne true love;255
Noe harper, but a kyng.
"O ladye, this is thy owne true love,
As playnlye thou mayest see;
And Ile rid thee of that foule paynim,
Who partes thy love and thee."260
The ladye looked, the ladye blushte,
And blushte and lookt agayne,
While Adler he hath drawne his brande,
And hath the Sowdan slayne.
Up then rose the kemperye men,265
And loud they gan to crye:
Ah! traytors, yee have slayne our kyng,
And therefore yee shall dye.
Kyng Estmere threwe the harpe asyde,
And swith[465] he drew his brand;[466]270
And Estmere he, and Adler yonge
Right stiffe in stour[467] can stand.