Then to his grace I did replye, Stand up, faire youth, the king reply'd, But tell me first what thou canst do ; Wilt thou be usher of my hall, Or wilt be taster of my wine, To 'tend on me when I shall dine? Or wilt thou be my chamberlaine, 45 50 Or wilt thou be one of my guard, 55 And I will give thee great reward? Chuse, gentle youth, said he, thy place. To shew such favour unto mee, Your chamberlaine I faine would bee. 6Q The king then smiling gave consent, VOL. III. K Now Now marke what fortune did provide ; The king he would a hunting ride With all his lords and noble traine, Thus being left alone behind, My former state came in my mind: And meeting with a ladyes vest, And taking up a lute straitwaye, And sweetly to the same did sing, As made both hall and chamber ring. 80 "My father was as brave a lord, "As ever Europe might afford; "My mother was a lady bright; "And I myself a ladye gay, "Had not more pleasure at command. 85 "But now, alas! my husband's dead, "And all my friends are from me fled, My former days are past and gone, "And I am now a serving-man." And fetching many a tender sigh, 90 95 100 The king, who had a huntinge gone, Then stepping in, Faire ladye, rise, The which shall turne to thy availe. A crimson dye my face orespred, I blusht for shame, and hung my head, But to be briefe, his royall grace Ah! no, my liege, I firmlye sayd, I'll rather in my grave be layd, And though your grace hath won my heart, Faire ladye, pardon me, sayd hee, Thy virtue shall rewarded bee, Then strait to end his amorous strife, 115 120 125 130 1 135 XVIII. GIL MORRICE. A SCOTTISH BALLAD. The following piece hath run through two editions in Scotland the second was printed at Glasgow in 1755, 8vo. Prefixed to them both is an advertisement, setting forth that the preservation of this poem was owing "to a lady, who favoured the printers with a copy, as it was carefully collected from the mouths of old women and nurses;" and " any reader that can render it more correct or complete," is desired to oblige the public with such improvements. In consequence of this advertisement, sixteen additional verses have been produced and handed about in manuscript, which are here inserted in their proper places: (these are from ver. 109 to ver. 121, and from ver. 124 to ver. 129, but are perhaps, after all, only an ingenious interpolation.) σε As this poem lays claim to a pretty high antiquity, we have assigned it a place among our early pieces : though, after all, there is reason to believe it has received very considerable modern improvements: for in the Editor's ancient MS collection is a very old imperfect copy of the same ballad: wherein though the leading features of the story are the same, yet the colouring here is so much improved and heightened, and so many additional strokes are thrown in, that it is evident the whole has undergone a revisal. N. B. The Editor's MS. instead of "lord Barnard,” has "John Stewart ;" and instead of "Gil Morrice," CHILD MAURICE, which last is probably the original title. See above, p. 95. |