The Game of Dice

“Harken here, thou good young swain,
And play at dice with me!”
“Oh, ne’er have I the ruddy gold
To wager here with thee.”
—Because they played, and threw the dice of gold.

“Oh, wager now thy goodly hat,
Altho’ it be of grey,
And I will wager my snood of pearl,
Shalt take it, an thou may!”

When first the dice of gold
Upon the board did run,
The youth he lost his wager,
And glad the maiden won.

“Harken here, thou good young swain,
And cast the dice with me!”
“Oh, ne’er have I the ruddy gold
To wager here with thee.”

“Now wager thou thy kirtle,
Altho’ it be of grey,
And I will wager my golden crown,
Shalt take it, an thou may!”

When next the dice of gold
Upon the board did run,
The youth he lost his wager,
And glad the maiden won.

“Harken here, thou good young swain,
And play at dice with me!”
“Oh, ne’er have I the ruddy gold
To wager here with thee.”

“Thy hosen shalt thou wager,
And shoon shalt wager both;
I’ll set thereto my honour,
But and my plighted troth.”

And when the dice of gold
Upon the board were cast,
The youth he won the wager,
And sad the maiden lost.

“Harken here, young jackanapes,
And get thee gone from me!
My knife adorned with silver
That will I give to thee.”

“Thy knife adorned with silver
I’ll take it when I may;
But I will have the maiden
I won with dice at play!”

“Harken here, young jackanapes,
And get thee gone from me!
Seven silk-sewn kirtles
All will I give to thee.”

“Thy seven silk-sewn kirtles
I’ll take whenas I may;
But I will have the maiden
I won with dice at play!”

“Harken here, young jackanapes,
And get thee gone from me!
A white steed and saddle
Those will I give to thee.”

“White steed and saddle
I’ll take whene’er I may;
But I will have the maiden
I won with dice at play!”

“Harken here, young jackanapes,
And get thee gone from me!
My hold and my castle
Those will I give to thee.”

“Thy hold and thy castle
I’ll take them when I may;
But I will have the maiden
I won with dice at play!”

The maiden sought her bower,
And there her locks arrayed:
“Now for the match that I must make
GOD help me, luckless maid!”

All with his sword a-playing
The youth he up and spake:
“Oh, better far than thy deserts
The match that thou shalt make!

“For I am ne’er a jackanapes,
Altho’ it be thy word;
I am the noblest son of kings
That ever walked abroad!”

“Art thou the noblest son of kings
That ever walked abroad,
Then shalt thou have mine honour,
But and my plighted word!”
—Because they played, and threw the dice of gold.