74 But shall I lose my ladye ffaire?
I thought shee shold haue beene my wiffe;
I pray thee, Lord Phenix, ryde not away,
For with thee I will loose my liffe.
75 Tho Thomas a Potts was a seruing-man,
He was alsoe a phisityan good;
He clapt his hand vpon his wound,
With some kind of words he stauncht the blood.
76 Then into his sadle againe hee leepe;
The blood in his body began to warme;
He mist Lord Phenix bodye there,
But he run him quite throw the brawne of the arme.
77 And he bore him quite out of his saddle ffaire;
Vpon the ground there did he lye;
He said, I pray thee, Lord Phenix, rise and ffight,
Or else yeeld this ladye sweete to mee.
78 'To ffight with thee,' quoth Phenix, 'I cannott stand,
Nor ffor to ffight, I cannott, sure;
Thou hast run me through the brawne of the arme;
Noe longer of thy spere I cannott endure.
79 'Thou'st haue that ladye with all my hart,
Sith itt was like neuer better to proue.
Nor neuer a noble-man this day,
That will seeke to take a pore man's loue.'
80 'Why then, be of good cheere,' saies Thomas Pott,
'Indeed your bucher I'le neuer bee,
For I'le come and stanche your bloode,
Giff any thankes you'le giue to mee.'
81 As he was stanching the Phenix blood,
These words Thomas a Pott cann to him proue:
'I'le neuer take a ladye of you thus,
But here I'le giue you another choice.
82 'Heere is a lane of two miles longe;
Att either end sett wee will bee;
The ladye shall sitt vs betweene,
And soe will wee sett this ladye ffree.'
83 'If thou'le doe soe,' Lord Phenix sayes,
'Thomas a Pott, as thou dost tell mee,
Whether I gett her or goe without her,
Heere's forty pounds I'le giue itt thee.'