Sir Norman and Christine

Some knights, while at an isle they stay'd,
Wrangled about a pretty maid.

"I'd wager all my gold so red,
"Christine cared not, were Norman dead.

"I'd wager gold and neckbone too,
"Christine is not to Norman true."

Sir Norman all their doubts had heard,
"Come now, my friends, I'll prove your word."

Sir Norman, clothed in silk so red,
Lay down, stretch'd out, as he were dead.

The King's men steer'd their ship to land,
Where paced Christine along the sand.

"Welcome, ye King's men, home again!
"How have ye fared in this campaign?"

"Dear has our troop this voyage cost,
"So fine a man we've lately lost.

"We've lost a handsome gallant knight,
"The young Sir Norman he was hight."

The news she scarcely heard them tell,
Ere fainting on the ground she fell.

"And is it true that Nonnan's kill'd?
"Then o'er his corpse a church I'll build.

"Its walls shall be of marble stone,
"The tomb of whitest whalefish bone.

"His coffin I'll with silver dight,
"And golden letters on it write;

" So there' shall say the passers by,
" The bones of Christine's lover lie.' "

Her sorrow he could bear no more,
But rose and kiss'd her o'er and o'er.

Good loyal knight, without delay
Sir Norman fix'd the wedding day.

Well done the gentle lady too!
She show'd herself so good and true.

And now she is free from all alarm,
And nightly sleeps on Norman's arm.