The Little Horseboy

"Come bring the board, my gentle page,
"And venture a game with me,
"I've here no glittering gold in purse
"To stake it at play with thee:

"But wager thou that dandy hat,
"Tho' true it is somewhat gray,
"And I'll put up my necklace pearls,
"To win, if thou canst, away."

A first time upon the checquer'd board
The golden cubes have run,
The Page it is has lost his stake,
The Lady it is has won.

"Come bring the board, my gentle page,
"And venture a game with me,
"I've here no glittering gold in purse.
"To stake it at play with thee:

"But wager thou that holiday coat,
"Tho' true it is somewhat gray,
"And I'll put up my crown of gold,
"To win, if thou canst, away."

A second time on the checquer'd board
The golden cubes have run,
The Page it is has lost his stake.
And Lady it is has won.

"Come, bring the board, my gentle page,
"And venture a game with me,
"I've here no glittering gold in purse
"To stake it at play with thee:

"But wager thou thy scarlet hose,
"Thine hose and a pair of shoes,
"And I'll my honour and troth put up,
"And truly pay if I lose/'

A third time upon the chequer'd board
The golden cubes have run.
The Lady now has lost her stake,
The Page it is has won.

"But hark thee now, little horseboy dear,
"Up, leave me, I pray, and go;
"And then my silver-mounted knives (
" "On thee I will all bestow."

"Now as to thy silver-mounted knives,
"I'll take them too, if I may,
"But 'faith I'll have the pretty maid,
"I fairly have won in play,"

"But hark thee now, little horseboy dear,
"Up, leave me, I pray, and go;
"And then these silk-embroider'd shirts
"On thee I will all bestow."

"Now as to thy silk-embroider'd shirts,
"I'll take them too, if I may,
"But 'faith I'll have the pretty maid,
"I fairly have won in play."

"Nay! hark thee now, little horseboy dear,
"Up, leave me, I pray, and go:
"And then my palfrey and saddle too,
"On thee will I both bestow."

"Now as to thy palfrey and saddle too,
"I'll take them both, if I may,
"But 'faith I'll have the pretty maid,
"I fairly have won in play."

"Nay, hark thee now, little horseboy dear,
"Up, leave me, I pray, and go;
"And then my castle and all its towers
"I'll gladly on thee bestow."

"Now as to thy castle and towers and all,
"I'll take them too, if I may,
"But 'faith I'll have the pretty maid,
"I fairly have won in play."

The Lady alone in her chamber stands,
To comb and to dress her hair;
"God pity and better me simple maid,
"And me for the match prepare."

The page is standing in castle yard.
And leans him upon his sword;
"As good a marriage wilt thou have made,
"As doth with thy birth accord.

"Nor Page nor Horseboy at all am I,
"Tho' mean may have seem'd my birth,
"But son of one as noble a king,
"As ever held rule on earth/'

"A son of one as noble a king,
"As ever held rule on earth?
"Then thou my honour shalt have and troth,
"And all that beside I'm worth."