The Nameless Day by Sara Douglass

“theres time enough; another Father take;

heele loue thee well, and not thy child forsake.”

“And haue I doted ouer thy sweetest face?

And dost infring the things I haue in chase,

thy faith, I meane? hut I will wend with thee.”

“itt is to farr for Pegg to goe with mee.”

“I will goe with thee, my loue, both night and day, and I will beare thy sword like lakyney; Lead the way!”

“but we must ride, and will you follow then

among a troope of vs thats armed men?”

“Ile beare thy Lance, and grinde thy stirrup too, Ile rub thy horsse, and more then that Ile doo.”

“but Margretts fingars, they be all to fine

to stand and waite when she shall see mee dine.”

“Ile see you dine, and wayte still att your backe, Ile giue you wine or any thing you Lacke.”

“but youle repine when you shall see mee haue

a dainty wench that is both fine and braue.”

“He love thy wench, my sweetest loue, I vow,

lie watch the time when she may pleasure you!”

“but you will greeue to see vs lye in bedd;

And you must watch still in anothers steede.”

“Ile watch my loue to see you take your rest;

And when you sleeps, then shall I thinke me blest.”

“the time will come, deliuered you must be;

then in the campe you will descredditt mee.”

“Ile goe from thee befor that time shalbee;

when all is well, my loue again He see.”

“all will not serue, for Margarett may not goe;

then doe resolue, my loue, what else to doe.”

“Must I not goe? why then sweete loue, adew!

needs must I dye, but yet in dying trew!”

“a! stay my loue! I loue my Margarett well,

And heere I vow with Margarett still to dwell!”

“Giue me thy hand! thy Margarett liues againe!”

“heeres my hand! Ile neuer breed thee paine!

I kisse my loue in token that is soe;

wee will be wedd: come, Margarett, let us go.”

Medieval English Ballad

A JIGGE (FOR MARGRETT)

(Modernized Version)

“Margaret, my sweetest Margaret! I must go!

Most dear to me that never may be so;

As Fortune wills, I cannot it deny.”

“Then know thy love, thy Margaret, she must die”

“Not for the gold that ever Croesus had, Would I once see thy sweetest looks so fade;

Nor for all that my eyes did ever see,

Would I once part my sweetest love from me;

The King comands, and I must to the wars.”

“There’s others more enough to end those cares”

“But I am one appointed for to go,

And dare not for my life once say no.”

“Oh, marry me, and you may stay at home!

Full thirty weeks you know that I am gone.”

“There’s time enough, another father take,

He’ll love thee well, and not thy child forsake.”

“And have I doted over thy sweetest face?

And dost infringe the things I have in chase,

Thy faith, I mean? But I will wend with thee.”

“It is too far for Peg to go with me.”

“I will go with thee, my lave, both night and day, And I will bear thy sword like a lackey; Lead the way!”

“But we must ride, and will you follow then

Among a troop of us that are armed men?”

“I’ll bear thy lance, and attend thy stirrup too, I’ll rub thy horse, and more than that I’ll do.”

“But Margaret’s fingers, they be all too fine

To stand and wait when she shall see me dine.”

” I’ll see you dine, and wait still at your back, I’ll give you wine or anything you lack.”

“But you’ll repine when you shall see me have

A dainty wench that is both fine and brave.”

“I’ll love thy wench, my sweetest love, I vow,

I’ll watch the time when she may pleasure you!”

“But you will grieve to see us lie in bed; And you must watch still in another’s stead.”

“I’ll watch my lave to see you take your rest;

And when you sleep, then shall I think me blessed.”

“All will not serve, for Margaret may not go;

Then do resolve, my love, what else to do.”

“Must I not go? When then, sweet love, adieu!

Needs must I die, but yet in dying true!”

“Ah! Stay, my love! I love my Margaret well.

And here I vow with Margaret still to dwell.”

“Give me thy hand! Thy Margaret lives again!”

“Here’s my hand! I’ll never breed thee pain!

I kiss my love in token that is so;

We will be wed: come, Margaret, let us go.”