{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch106.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch106.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch106.htm","text":"106.1 YOU beautious ladies, great and small,\nI write unto you one and all,\nWhereby that you may understand\nWhat I have suffered in this land.\n106.2 I was by birth a lady fair,\nMy father\u2019s chief and onely heir,\nBut when my good old father dy\u2019d,\nThen was I made a young knight\u2019s bride.\nBut when my good old father dy\u2019d,\nThen was I made a young knight\u2019s bride.\nBut when my good old father dy\u2019d,\nThen was I made a young knight\u2019s bride.\n106.3 And then my love built me a bower,\nBedeckt with many a fragrant flower;\nA braver bower you never did see\nThen my true-love did build for me.\n106.4 But there came thieves late in the night,\nThey rob\u2019d my bower, and slew my knight,\nAnd after that my knight was slain,\nI could no longer there remain.\n106.5 ould no longer there remain.\n106.5 My servants all from me did flye,\nIn the midst of my extremity,\nAnd left me by my self alone,\nIn the midst of my extremity,\nAnd left me by my self alone,\nWith a heart more cold then any stone.\n106.6 Yet, though my heart was full of care,\nHeaven would not suffer me to despair;\nWherefore in hast I chang\u2019d my name\nFrom Fair Elise to Sweet William.\n106.7 And therewithal I cut my hair,\nAnd drest my self in man\u2019s attire,\nMy doublet, hose, and bever-hat,\nAnd a golden band about my neck.\n106.8 With a silver rapier by my side,\nSo like a gallant I did ride;\nThe thing that I delighted on,\nWas for to be a serving-man.\n106.9 for to be a serving-man.\n106.9 for to be a serving-man.\n106.9 Thus in my sumptuous man\u2019s array,\nI bravely rode along the way;\nAnd at the last it chanced so\nThat I unto the king\u2019s court did go.\n106.10 Then to the king I bowed full low,\nMy love and duty for to show,\nAnd so much favour I did crave\nMy love and duty for to show,\nAnd so much favour I did crave\nMy love and duty for to show,\nAnd so much favour I did crave\nMy love and duty for to show,\nAnd so much favour I did crave\nMy love and duty for to show,\nAnd so much favour I did crave\nThat I a serving-man\u2019s place might have.\n106.11 \u2018Stand up, brave youth, the king replyd,\n\u2018Thy service shall not be denyd;\nBut tell me first what thou canst do;\nThou shalt be fitted thereunto.\n106.12 \u2018Wilt thou be usher of my hall,\nTo wait upon my nobles all?\nOr wilt thou be taster of my wine,\nTo wait on me when I shall dine?\n106.13 \u2018Or wilt thou be my chamberlain,\nTo make my bed both soft and fine?\nOr wilt thou be one of my guard?\nAnd I will give thee thy reward.\u2019\n106.14 Sweet William, with a smiling face,\nSaid to the king, If\u2019t please your grace\nTo show such favour unto me,\nYour chamberlain I fain would be.\n106.15 The king then did the nobles call,\nTo ask the counsel of them all,\nWho gave consent Sweet William he\nThe king\u2019s own chamberlain should be.\n106.16 Now mark what strange things come to pass:\nAs the king one day a hunting was,\nWith all his lords and noble train,\nSweet William did at home remain.\n106.17 Sweet William had no company then\nWith him at home but an old man;\nAnd when he saw the coast was clear,\nHe took a lute which he had there.\nAnd when he saw the coast was clear,\nHe took a lute which he had there.\nAnd when he saw the coast was clear,\nHe took a lute which he had there.\n106.18 took a lute which he had there.\n106.18 Upon the lute Sweet William plaid,\nAnd to the same he sung and said,\nWith a pleasant and most noble voice,\nWhich made the old man to rejoyce:\n106.19 \u2018My father was as brave a lord\nAs ever Europe did afford;\n?? \u2018My father was as brave a lord\nAs ever Europe did afford;\nMy mother was a lady bright,\nMy husband was a valiant knight.\nMy mother was a lady bright,\nMy husband was a valiant knight.\nMy mother was a lady bright,\nMy husband was a valiant knight.\n106.20 \u2018And I my self a lady gay,\nBedeckt with gorgious rich array;\nThe bravest lady in the land\nHad not more pleasures to command.\n106.21 \u2018I had my musick every day,\nHarmonious lessons for to play;\nI had my virgins fair and free,\nHarmonious lessons for to play;\nI had my virgins fair and free,\nContinually to wait on me.\nI had my virgins fair and free,\nContinually to wait on me.\n106.22 \u2018But now, alas! my husband\u2019s dead,\nAnd all my friends are from me fled;\nMy former joys are past and gone,\nFor now I am a serving-man.\u2019\nMy former joys are past and gone,\nFor now I am a serving-man.\u2019\n106.23 At last the king from hunting came,\nAnd presently upon the same\nHe called for the good old man,\nAnd thus to speak the king began.\n106.24 \u2018What news, what news, old man?\u2019 quod he;\n\u2018What news hast thou to tell to me?\u2019\n\u2018Brave news,\u2019 the old man he did say;\n\u2018Sweet William is a lady gay.\u2019\n106.25 \u2018If this be true thou tellest me\nI\u2019le make thee a lord of high degree;\nBut if thy words do prove a lye,\nThou shalt be hanged up presently.\u2019\n106.26 But when the king the truth had found,\nHis joys did more and more abound;\nAccording as the old man did say,\nSweet William was a lady gay.\n106.27 Therefore the king without delay\nPut on her glorious rich array,\nAnd upon her head a crown of gold,\nWhich was most famous to behold.\n106.28 And then, for fear of further strife,\nHe took Sweet William for his wife;\nThe like before was never seen,\nA serving-man to be a queen.","title":"The Child Ballads: 106. The Famous Flower of Serving Men","type":"page"}