The Munster Knight

"Hail, O fair maiden, this morning fair,
Calm are thy slumbers — and I in despair;
Rise and make ready, and turning our steeds
We'll travel together to Munster's meads."

"Tell first thy Christian and clan-name too,
Lest what said about Munstermen might come true:
They'd take me in joy and they'd leave me in rue
To bear my kin's scorn my whole life through."

"I'll tell first my Christian and clan-name true: —
Ristard O'Broin from o'er Munster's dew,
I'm heir to an Earl and to tall towers white,
And for me dies the child of the Greenwood-Knight."

"If thou'rt heir to an Earl and to tall towers white,
Thou'lt have choice of rich damsels to be thy delight,
Who've peers as their fathers and hold the high cheer,
Thou need'st my humble self not, Cavalier!"

"Come with me and thou, too, shalt sit with peers,
Come with me and thou, too, shalt hold high cheers;
Thou'lt have halls where are dances and music old,
Thou'lt have couches the third of each red with gold!"

"I'm not used at my father's to sit with hosts,
I'm not used at the board to have wines and toasts,
I'm not used to the dance-halls, with music old,
Nor to couches the third of each red with gold."

"O would we were speeding in chariot fine,
A glitter of gold in the gay sunshine,
More welcome than sunlight thy gold tresses are,
And long I have pined for my Morning Star."