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The king had been a prisoner |
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And a prisoner long in Spain, |
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And Willie of the Winsbury |
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Has lain long with his daughter at hame. |
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"What ails ye, what ails ye, my daughter Janet, |
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Why you look so pale and wan? |
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Oh have you had any sore sickness |
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Or yet been sleeping with a man?" |
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"I have not had any sore sickness |
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Nor yet been sleeping wi' a man. |
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It is for you, my father dear, |
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For biding so long in Spain" |
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"Cast off, cast off your berry-brown gown, |
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You stand naked upon the stane, |
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That I may ken ye by your shape |
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Whether you be a maiden or none." |
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And she's cast off her berry-brown gown, |
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She stood naked upon the stone. |
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Her apron was low and her haunches were round, |
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Her face was pale and wan. |
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"Oh, was it with a lord or a duke or a knight |
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Or a man of birth and fame? |
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Or was it with one of me serving men |
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That's lately come out of Spain?" |
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"No, it wasn't with a lord, nor a duke, nor a knight, |
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Or a man of birth and fame. |
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But it was with Willie of Winsbury, |
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I could bide no longer alone." |
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And the king he has called on his merry men all, |
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By thirty and by three, |
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Says, "Fetch me this Willie of Winsbury, |
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For hanged he shall be." |
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But when he came the king before, |
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He was clad all in the red silk. |
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His hair was like the strands of gold, |
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His skin was as white as the milk. |
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"And it is no wonder," said the king, |
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"That my daughter's love you did win. |
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If I was a woman, as I am a man, |
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My bedfellow you would have been." |
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"And will you marry my daughter Janet |
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By the truth of your right hand? |
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Oh, will you marry my daughter Janet? |
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I'll make you the lord of my land." |
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"Yes, I will marry your daughter Janet |
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By the truth of my right hand. |
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Yes I will marry your daughter Janet, |
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But I'll not be the lord of your land." |
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And he's mounted her on a milk-white steed |
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And himself on a dapple grey. |
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He has made her the lady of as much land |
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As she'll ride in a long summer's day. |
