Sir Peter and Dame Margaret

Sir Peter it was, a wealthy knight.
On pilgrimage went to Rome,
And Margaret left, his graceful wife,
To tarry the while at home.

But when he returned from Rome again,
That gallant and wealthy knight,
His wife Dame Margaret went not oat
To bid him, her lord, alight

He mounted the stair to the ladies' bower,
Mid matrons and maidens stood;
Dame Margaret only rose not up,
So gloomy she was of mood.

They fain, those matrons and maids, would know,
How fared Sir Peter at Rome,
And he. Sir Peter, about his wife.
How she too had fared at home.

"Tis well that I fared in foreign lands
"Through wintery frost and rain,
"But tell me why Margaret came not out
"To welcome me home again/'

Sir Peter, as over his board he sat,
Thus darkly began to rime;
"Now here in my house there serves a swain
"Was born at a luckless time.

"I planted and nurs'd in my garden ground
"The lily and blushing rose;
"But spite of my care amidst my flowers
"A weed in my border grows.

"I planted and nursed in my garden ground
"Each pleasant and lovely bloom,
"But sprung has there up a noxious weed,
"While I was delayed at Rome.

"A stag has housed in my fenced yard,
"He treads on my flowers so bright;
"He thinks to destroy the only plant,
"That once was my heart's delight"

Sir Peter he sits at his table's head,
Sits riming a bitter strain;
Dame Margaret paces the chamber floor,
So racked is her heart with pain.

The Dame retires to her bower aloft,
And deeply she feels her crime;
In sobbing and sighs she vents her grief,
So keen is Sir Peter's rime.

She quits her work, and in gilded chest
Lays scissors and broider'd lace,
And goes to the room, where sits her lord.
And stands before the deis.

"O grant me a favour, my noble lord,
"Nor be my request denied;
"I fain would go to my father's house,
"Tonight thither I would ride.

"For news is told me that he is sick,
"And lies at the point of death,
"Nor would I for all the gold I own
"Not list to his latest breath."

"If 'tis to thy father that thou wilt go,
"That boon I will not deny;
"And if thou stayest a whole year round,
"As happy alone live I.

"Aye, if thou stayest a whole year round,
"And if thou shalt stay there two,
"And if thy lifelong, I grant thee leave
"As pleases thyself to do."

"My father he gave me, my wedding day,
"Five carriages bright with gold,
"I prythee, Sir Peter, my gracious lord,
"That one of them I may hold."

"The day thou camest from home to me,
"He carriages gave thee five,
"But forth, Dame Margaret, forth on foot,
"Not one of them thou shalt drive."

Dame Margaret left her lord, and went
In safety to place her store;
In casket and chest she lock'd her gold.
But friend she had now no more.

Dame Margaret down to the drawbridge went,
And gazed on the towers so red,
"Lord God, look down on a poor lone wife,
"With grief I shall soon be dead."

Her bundle of keys Sir Peter took,
And laid in his daughter's hand;
"Thy mother thou never shalt see again,
"Or listen to her command."

His daughter with maidenly grace replied.
For well she her duty knew;
"Indeed, my father, the truth I tell,
"Full loth were I that to do."

Dame Margaret came to her father's house
As red as a rose in bloom,
And all that were there, came gaily forth
To bid her a welcome home.

Her father went to the courtyard gate
So hearty and gay of cheer;
"My daughter Margaret, welcome home!
"How gladly I see thee here!

"Right welcome to me, my graceful child!
"My daughter, and none but she!
"And how does thy lord and husband fare,
"The gallant Sir Peter, he?"

"'Tis well that the Knight Sir Peter fares,
"He's newly return'd from Home;
"A sad and a luckless day was that,
"He took me to share his home/'

"I gave thee for husband as brave a man,
"As over on earth was seen,
"And thine is the fault, and thine alone,
"If any thing's come between,"

"You gave me for husband as brave a man
"As walks in the light of day,
"But what has happened to mar our peace
"Too well do my cheeks betray.

"You gave me for dowry both fertile land
"And castles with moated wall,
"But now whatever has marr'd our peace,
"'Tis he is the cause of all.

"Sir Peter has tarried so long at Rome,
"And there he has learnt to rime,
"And when he entered his house again,
"For both was a dismal time."

"Now list to my voice, my daughter dear,
"And this is the rede I give;
"We'll build thee a cloister, where all thy days
"In happiness thou shalt live/'

"And though a cloister you build for me
"Henceforth to the end of time
"I never shall find my peace therein,
"Till pardons me God my crime."

"Then off with thee, Margaret, daughter mine
"And out of my sight away!
"Nor ever again to rest thy head
"Come hither at close of day."

"Yet" answer'd her mother with tearful eyes,
For pity had touch'd her heart,
"Here let her remain this single night,
"Tomorrow again depart."

"Twas late, and the cheerful day had closed,
And fallen the misty dew,
As up from her seat Dame Margaret rose
And off to her bed withdrew. "

As soon as had risen the morning sun,
And daylight abroad had shed,
Dame Ingerlille mounted the chamber stair,
And went to her daughter's bed.

She came to the room, Dame Ingerlille,
Where Margaret's body lay.
For stretched on her bed she found her there
As cold and as pale as clay.

With sorrow her heart had burst in twain,
And so had the guilty died;
Sir Peter courted a wealthy maid,
And won her to be his bride.