X.

THE LADY'S FALL

Is given (with corrections) from the Editor's ancient folio MS.[323] collated with two printed copies in black-letter; one in the British Museum, the other in the Pepys Collection. Its old title is, _A lamentable ballad of the Lady's fall_. To the tune of, _In Pescod time, &c._--The ballad here referred to is preserved in the _Muses Library_, 8vo. p. 281. It is an allegory or vision, intitled, _The Shepherd's Slumber_, and opens with some pretty rural images, viz.

"In pescod time when hound to horn Gives eare till buck be kil'd, And little lads with pipes of corne Sate keeping beasts a-field."

"I went to gather strawberries By woods and groves full fair, &c."

* * * * *

[Mr. Hales thinks it possible that this ballad was written by the same author as _The Children in the Wood_--"the same facility of language and of rhyme, the same power of pathos, the same extreme simplicity characterise both ballads."

Mr. Chappell says that _Chevy Chace_ was sometimes sung to the tune of _In Pescod time_, as were the _Bride's burial_ (No. 12), and _Lady Isabella's Tragedy_ (No. 14). The various readings from the original MS. are noted at the foot of the page.]

* * * * *

Marke well my heavy dolefull tale, You loyall lovers all, And heedfully beare in your brest, A gallant ladyes fall. Long was she wooed, ere shee was wonne, 5 To lead a wedded life, But folly wrought her overthrowe Before she was a wife.

Too soone, alas! shee gave consent And yeelded to his will, 10 Though he protested to be true, And faithfull to her still. Shee felt her body altered quite, Her bright hue waxed pale, Her lovelye cheeks chang'd color white,[324] 15 Her strength began to fayle.

Soe that with many a sorrowful sigh,[325] This beauteous ladye milde, With greeved hart, perceived herselfe To have conceived with childe.[326] 20 Shee kept it from her parents sight As close as close might bee, And soe put on her silken gowne None might her swelling see.[327]

Unto her lover secretly 25 Her greefe shee did bewray, And walking with him hand in hand, These words to him did say; Behold, quoth shee, a maids distresse[328] By love brought to thy bowe;[329] 30 Behold I goe with childe by thee,[330] Tho none thereof doth knowe.

The litle babe springs in my wombe[331] To heare its fathers voyce, Lett it not be a bastard called,[332] 35 Sith I made thee my choyce: [Come, come, my love, perform thy vowe[333] And wed me out of hand;[333] O leave me not in this extreme[333] Of griefe, alas! to stand.][333] 40

Think on thy former promises, Thy oathes and vowes eche one;[334] Remember with what bitter teares To mee thou madest thy moane. Convay me to some secrett place, 45 And marry me with speede; Or with thy rapyer end my life, Ere further shame proceede.[335]

Alacke! my beauteous love, quoth hee,[336] My joye, and only dear;[337] 50 Which way can I convay thee hence,[338] When dangers are so near?[339] Thy friends are all of hye degree,[340] And I of meane estate; Full hard it is to gett thee forthe[341] 55 Out of thy fathers gate.[342]

Dread not thy life to save my fame,[343] For if thou taken bee,[344] My selfe will step betweene the swords,[345] And take the harme on mee:[346] 60 Soe shall I scape dishonor quite;[347] And if I should be slaine[348] What could they say, but that true love Had wrought a ladyes bane.[349]

But feare not any further harme; 65 My selfe will soe devise, That I will ryde away with thee[350] Unknowen of mortall eyes: Disguised like some pretty page Ile meete thee in the darke, 70 And all alone Ile come to thee Hard by my fathers parke.

And there, quoth hee, Ile meete my deare If God soe lend me life, On this day month without all fayle 75 I will make thee my wife.[351] Then with a sweet and loving kisse,[352] They parted presentlye, And att their partinge brinish teares Stoode in eche others eye, 80

Att length the wished day was come,[353] On which this beauteous mayd, With longing eyes, and strange attire, For her true lover stayd. When any person shee espyed[354] 85 Come ryding ore the plaine,[355] She hop'd it was her owne true love:[356] But all her hopes were vaine.

Then did shee weepe and sore bewayle Her most unhappy fate; 90 Then did shee speake these woefull words, As succourless she sate;[357] O false, forsworne, and faithlesse man,[358] Disloyall in thy love, Hast thou forgott thy promise past, 95 And wilt thou perjured prove?

And hast thou now forsaken mee In this my great distresse, To end my dayes in open shame,[359] Which thou mightst well redresse?[360] 100 Woe worth the time I eer believ'd[361] That flattering tongue of thine: Wold God that I had never seene The teares of thy false eyne.

And thus with many a sorrowful sigh,[362] 105 Homewards shee went againe;[363] Noe rest came in her waterye eyes, Shee felt such privye paine.[364] In travail strong shee fell that night, With many a bitter throwe;[365] 110 What woefull paines shee then did feel,[366] Doth eche good woman knowe.

Shee called up her waiting mayd,[367] That lay at her bedds feete,[368] Who musing at her mistress woe,[369] 115 Began full fast to weepe. Weepe not, said shee, but shutt the dores,[370] And windowes round about,[371] Let none bewray my wretched state, But keepe all persons out. 120

O mistress, call your mother deare; Of women you have neede, And of some skilfull midwifes helpe,[372] That better may you speed.[373] Call not my mother for thy life, 125 Nor fetch no woman here; The midwives helpe comes all too late, My death I doe not feare.

With that the babe sprang from her wombe No creature being nye,[374] 130 And with one sighe, which brake her hart, This gentle dame did dye.[375] The lovely litle infant younge,[376] [The mother being dead,][377] Resigned its new received breath, 135 To him that had it made.

Next morning came her own true love, Affrighted at the newes,[378] And he for sorrow slew himselfe, Whom eche one did accuse. 140 The mother with her new borne babe, Were laide both in one grave: Their parents overworne with woe, No joy thenceforth cold have.[379]

Take heed, you dayntye damsells all, 145 Of flattering words beware, And to the honour of your name Have an especial care.[380] [Too true, alas! this story is,[381] As many one can tell:[381] 150 By others harmes learne to be wise,[381] And you shall do full well.][381]

FOOTNOTES:

[323] [Ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 246.]

[324] [Ver. 15. her faire red cheekes changed color quite.]

[325] [V. 17. and soe with.]

[326] [V. 20. to be conceived.]

[327] [V. 24. none shold. MS.]

[328] [Ver. 29. a ladyes distress.]

[329] [V. 30. your bowe.]

[330] [V. 31. See how I goe with chyld with thee.]

[331] [V. 33. my litle.]

[332] [V. 35. O lett.]

[333] [V. 37-40. not in MS.]

[334] [V. 42. thy wordes.]

[335] [V. 48. lest further.]

[336] [V. 49. my derest.]

[337] [V. 50. my greatest joy on earthe.]

[338] [V. 51. shold I convay you.]

[339] [V. 52. to scape a sudden death.]

[340] [Ver. 53. your friends.]

[341] [V. 55. gett you.]

[342] [V. 56. your ffathers.]

[343] [V. 57. your liffe ... your fame.]

[344] [V. 58. you.]

[345] [V. 59. sword.]

[346] [V. 60. to take ... of thee.]

[347] [V. 61. soe may you.]

[348] [V. 62. if soe you.]

[349] [V. 64. ladyes paine.]

[350] [V. 67. I will safely ryd with thee.]

[351] [V. 76. Ile make the then.]

[352] [V. 77. and with.]

[353] [Ver. 81. wherin this lovely maid.]

[354] [V. 85. if any person shee had spyed.]

[355] [V. 86. came.]

[356] [V. 87. shee thought.]

[357] [V. 92. when succourles.]

[358] [V. 93. _and_ not in MS.]

[359] [V. 99. in heavinesse.]

[360] [V. 100. which well thou might.]

[361] [V. 101. I did beleeve.]

[362] [V. 105. soe that with many a grievous groane.]

[363] [V. 106. amaine.]

[364] [V. 108. shee found.]

[365] [Ver. 110. thraw.]

[366] [V. 111. shee felt that night.]

[367] [V. 113. mayd.]

[368] [V. 114. who lay.]

[369] [V. 115. and musing at her great woe.]

[370] [V. 117. shee sayth.]

[371] [V. 118. all about.]

[372] [V. 123. and to some.]

[373] [V. 124. the better.]

[374] [V. 130. being by.]

[375] [V. 132. gallant dame.]

[376] [V. 133. litle lovely.]

[377] [V. 134. the pretty smiling babe.]

[378] [Ver. 138. with this newes.]

[379] [V. 144. no joy that they.]

[380] [V. 148. have you a specyall care.]

[381] [V. 149-152. not in MS.]