Page:Songs from Vagabondia (1897).djvu/56
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“And are you one that a golden crown,
Or the lust of a name can lure?
You had better wed with a country clown,
And keep your young heart pure.”
Or the lust of a name can lure?
You had better wed with a country clown,
And keep your young heart pure.”
“Mother, the King has sworn, and said
That his son shall wed but me;
And I must gang to the prince’s bed,
Or a traitor I shall be.”
That his son shall wed but me;
And I must gang to the prince’s bed,
Or a traitor I shall be.”
“Oh, what care you for an old man’s wrath?
Or what care you for a king?
I had rather you fled on an outlaw’s path,
A rebel, a hunted thing.”
Or what care you for a king?
I had rather you fled on an outlaw’s path,
A rebel, a hunted thing.”
“Mother, it is my father’s will,
For the King has promised him fair
A goodly earldom of hollow and hill,
And a coronet to wear.”
For the King has promised him fair
A goodly earldom of hollow and hill,
And a coronet to wear.”
“Then woe is worth a father’s name,
For it names your dourest foe!
I had rather you came the child of shame
Than to have you fathered so.”
For it names your dourest foe!
I had rather you came the child of shame
Than to have you fathered so.”
“Mother, I shall have gold enow,
Though love be never mine,
To buy all else that the world can show
Of good and fair and fine.”
Though love be never mine,
To buy all else that the world can show
Of good and fair and fine.”
“Oh, what care you for a prince’s gold,
Or the key of a kingdom’s till?
I had rather see you a harlot bold
That sins of her own free will.
Or the key of a kingdom’s till?
I had rather see you a harlot bold
That sins of her own free will.
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