Ballads and Lyrics of Old France (32)

    ALL beneath the white-rose tree Walks a lady fair to see, She is as white as the snows, She is as fair as the day： From her father's garden close Three knights¹ have ta'en her away.

    He has ta'en her by the hand, The youngest of the three - 'Mount and ride, my bonnie bride, On my white horse with me.'

    And ever they rode, and better rode, Till they came to Senlis town, The hostess she looked hard at them As they were lighting² down.

    'And are ye here by force,' she said, 'Or are ye here for play？ From out my father's garden close Three knights me stole away.

    'And fain would I win back,' she said, 'The weary way I come； And fain would see my father dear, And fain go maiden³ home.'

    'Oh, weep not, lady fair,' said she, 'You shall win back,' she said, 'For you shall take this draught⁴ from me Will make you lie for dead.'

    'Come in and sup, fair lady,' they said, 'Come busk ye and be bright； It is with three bold captains That ye must be this night.'

    When they had eaten well and drunk, She fell down like one slain⁵： 'Now, out and alas⁶！ for my bonny may Shall live no more again.'

    'Within her father's garden stead There are three white lilies； With her body to the lily bed, With her soul to Paradise.'

    They bore her to her father's house, They bore her all the three, They laid her in her father's close, Beneath the white-rose tree.

    She had not lain a day, a day, A day but barely three, When the may awakes, 'Oh, open, father, Oh, open the door for me.

    ''Tis I have lain for dead, father, Have lain the long days three, That I might maiden come again To my mother and to thee.'