LIVRE ONZIÈME

SIHVENTI DE IICHAID GOBOK DE LlON SUm SA CAPTIVITÉ '.

^. Ja unis bom près non dira sa razon Adrechament , si com bom dolens non ; Mas per conort deu bom faire canson : Pro n'ay d'amis , mas paure son K don', Ancta lur es, si per ma rezenson Soi sai dos yvers près.

Rsynonard, Choix des poésies des Trooindoiin, t. V. p. 86. > Raynooanl, Choii des poésies des Troiibsdoin, t IV, p. 48S.

Or sapchon heu miey bom e miey baron, Angles , Norman, Peytavin et Gascon, Qn'ieu non ay ja si panre .compagnon Qu'ien laissasse , per ayer, en preison , Non ho die mia per noUa letraison , Mas anqoar soi ie près*

Car sai eu hen per ver, certanament , Qn'hom mort ni près n'a amie ni parent , Et si m laissan per àur ni per argent , Mal m'es per mi, mas pieg m'es per ma gent. Qu'après ma mort n'auran reprochament.

Si sai mi laisson près.

No m merayilh s'ien ay b cor dolent , Que mos senher met ma terra en tnrment ; No li memhra del nostre sagrament Que nos feimes el Sans cominalment ;

Ben sai de ver que gaire longament

Non serai eu sai près.

Suer comtessa, vostre pretz soheiran Sai dieus, et gard la hella qu'ieu am tan ,

Ni per cui soi ja près.

No 2.

BALLADE POPDLAIKS SUE OlfB aSMCOMT» SUPPOSEE DO ftOI IICHAKD ET DE lOBm HOOD '.

King Richard hearing of the pranks

Of Robin Hood and bis men , He much admir'd and more desir'd

To see hotb him and tbem.

Tben with a dozen of bis Lords

To Nottingham be rode :

Wben he came |here , be made good cheer .

And took up bis abode. ,

He baving staid there some time ,

But bad uo hopes to speed , He ànd bis lords, with one accord ,

AU put ou mouks weeds.

Evan's OM billads hi8U>rieal aiMi narrative, vol. 1 , p. StS-asr».

PIÈCES JUSTIFICATIVES. it^

From FountainHibbey fhey did ride ,

Down to Bamsdâle , Where Robin Hood prepared stood

Ail Company to assail.

The king was higher fhan tbe rest ;

And Robin thought he bad An abbot been whom be had seen ;

To Tob him be was glad.

He took ibe king's borse by fhe bead:

— « Abbot , says be , abide ; I am bound to rue sucb knayes as you ,

Tbat live in pomp and prid$. »

— « But we are messengers from tbe king , Tbe king bimself did say ;

Near to this place , bis royal grâce To speak witb tbee does stay. »

— « God saye tbe king , said Robin Hood , And ail tbat wisb him well ,

He tbat does deny bis sovereignty , I wisb he was in bell. »

^ « Thyself thon cursest , said tbe king ,

For thon a traitor art :

Nay, but tbat you are bis messenger,

I swear you lie in beart. »

« For I never yet burt any man

Tbat bonest is and tme ; But those wbo give their minds to live

Upon otber men's due. »

« For I never burt tbe busbandman

Tbat use to till the ground ; Nor spill their biood , tbat range the wood ,

To follow hawk or bound. »

« My chiefest spite to dergy is ,

Wbo in thèse days beax sway ; Witb firyars and monks , witb their fine sprunks

I make my chiefest prey. »

« But I am very glad , says Robin Hood ,

Tbat I bave met you hère; Gome , before we end, you sball , my friend ,

Taste of our green wood cheer. »