28 His master took this letter in hand,
And looked ore it with his eye;
'In faith, I am fain, my man,' he said,
'As thou hast a lady so true to thee.'
29 'I have a lady true to me,
And false to her I'le never be;
But ere this day sennight, and no longer hence,
I must lose my love through povertie.
30 'Lord Fenix he will her have,
Because he hath more wealth then I:'
'Now hold thy tongue, my man,' he said,
'For before that day many a one shall die.
31 'O Tomey,' said he, 'I love thee well,
And something for thee I will doo;
For Strawbery Castle shall be thine own
So long as thou dost mean to woo.
32 'One half of my lands I'le give thee a year,
The which will raise thee many a pound;
Before that thou lose thy bonny sweet-hart,
Thou shalt drop angels with him to the ground.
33 'I have thirty steeds in my stable strong.
Which any of them is good indeed,
And a bunch of spears hangs them among,
And a nag to carry thee swift with speed.
34 'My sute of armour thou shalt put on—
So well it becomes thy fair body—
And when thou comst on Gilford Green
Thou'll look more like a lord then he.
35 'My men shall all rise and with thee go,
And I my self with thee will ride;
And many a bloody wound will we make
Before that thou shalt lose thy bride.'
36 'Now Christ reward you, dear master,' he said,
'For the good will you bear to me;
But I trust to God, in a little space,
With my own hands to set her free.
37 'I'le none of your horses, master,' he said,
'For they cannot well skill of their trade;
None but your gray nag that hath a cut tail,
For hee'll either stand or turn again.