A Crovvne-Garland of Govlden Roses Gathered out of Englands royall garden. Being the liues and strange fortunes of many great personages of this Land. Set forth in many pleasant new songs and sonetts neuer before imprinted. By Richard Iohnson |
 |
A New sonnet of a Knight and a faire Virgin.
|
 | A Crovvne-Garland of Govlden Roses |  |
A New sonnet of a Knight and a faire Virgin.
I read
how in King Arthurs time,
a Knight as he did ride:
Did meet a Uirgin faire and bright,
about the greenewood side.
Could she well or could she wo,
he lighted of his steed:
And there he tooke against her will,
her maiden head indeed.
a Knight as he did ride:
Did meet a Uirgin faire and bright,
about the greenewood side.
Could she well or could she wo,
he lighted of his steed:
And there he tooke against her will,
her maiden head indeed.
When this was done this maiden then,
went raging to the King:
Bewailing of her pitteous case,
and told him euery thing:
The King now hearing her complaint,
in Stories as I read,
Commanded the Knight he should be hangd,
for this his hainous deed:
went raging to the King:
Bewailing of her pitteous case,
and told him euery thing:
The King now hearing her complaint,
in Stories as I read,
Commanded the Knight he should be hangd,
for this his hainous deed:
The Queene alas considering this,
it was a pitteous thing:
To cast away so faire a man,
she begd him of the King.
Unto the Knight then she began,
now prisoner art thou mine:
For thou shalt dye for ought I know,
except thy wittes are fine.
it was a pitteous thing:
To cast away so faire a man,
she begd him of the King.
Unto the Knight then she began,
For thou shalt dye for ought I know,
except thy wittes are fine.
Yet I will giue thee a whole yeares space,
to know of woemens kind:
What thing it is that woemen loue best,
if they may haue their mind.
Full sadly went this Knight away,
some councell for to find,
To know the cause, to keepe the day,
that was to him assign'd.
to know of woemens kind:
What thing it is that woemen loue best,
if they may haue their mind.
Full sadly went this Knight away,
some councell for to find,
To know the cause, to keepe the day,
that was to him assign'd.
When that the yeare was almost out,
he came where he had seene:
Twenty Ladies in a rout,
all dancing on a greene.
When he drew neere vnto the place,
his Question to haue told:
They vaded all before his face,
saue one that was ful old.
he came where he had seene:
Twenty Ladies in a rout,
all dancing on a greene.
When he drew neere vnto the place,
his Question to haue told:
They vaded all before his face,
saue one that was ful old.
Amaz'd be yee sir Knight quoth she,
what ist that you mislike:
Perchance you may pick out of me,
the thing that you do seeke.
He told her then, she said againe,
if I do it for you:
You must agree to grant it me,
that you may easily doe.
what ist that you mislike:
Perchance you may pick out of me,
the thing that you do seeke.
if I do it for you:
You must agree to grant it me,
that you may easily doe.
Content quoth he, come on quoth she,
haue with you to the Queene:
And say that it is Soueraignty,
that women loue as I weene.
Onward they go, the Queene did know
the Knight was neere at hand,
She placed her Ladies all on a row,
to heare the matter scand.
haue with you to the Queene:
And say that it is Soueraignty,
that women loue as I weene.
Onward they go, the Queene did know
the Knight was neere at hand,
She placed her Ladies all on a row,
to heare the matter scand.
The Knight he gaue his question this,
my tale was soone exprest:
It seemes to me, that Soueraigntie,
is that that women loue best.
The Ladies all about the hall,
their verdits soone did giue:
This worthy Knight, hath hit so right,
hath well deserued to liue.
my tale was soone exprest:
It seemes to me, that Soueraigntie,
is that that women loue best.
The Ladies all about the hall,
their verdits soone did giue:
This worthy Knight, hath hit so right,
hath well deserued to liue.
Then Beldam stept before the Queene,
desiring that the Knight:
Might grant to her vpon the greene,
the troth that he did plight.
What is that quoth he, mary quoth shee,
that I may bee your wife:
Alas quod he, then woe is mee,
yet rather take my life.
desiring that the Knight:
Might grant to her vpon the greene,
What is that quoth he, mary quoth shee,
that I may bee your wife:
Alas quod he, then woe is mee,
yet rather take my life.
There was no shift, but marriage swift,
and both laid in a bed:
When she did ioy to prooue a toy,
he turned away his head.
Sir quoth she, were not you better haue me,
being both shrewd and old:
Then to haue youth, that for a truth,
should make you a Cuckold.
and both laid in a bed:
When she did ioy to prooue a toy,
he turned away his head.
Sir quoth she, were not you better haue me,
being both shrewd and old:
Then to haue youth, that for a truth,
should make you a Cuckold.
But all this while she saw no smile,
nor countenance of the Knight:
She changed hew, she made her selfe new,
her beauty was braue and bright.
Then fell the Knight to louers delight,
good Lord what dayes are these.
It was so strange to see the change,
a could not sleepe for fleas.
nor countenance of the Knight:
She changed hew, she made her selfe new,
her beauty was braue and bright.
Then fell the Knight to louers delight,
good Lord what dayes are these.
It was so strange to see the change,
a could not sleepe for fleas.
FINIS.
| A Crovvne-Garland of Govlden Roses | |