COUSIN KATE.

I was a cottage maiden

Hardened by sun and air,

Contented with my cottage mates,

Not mindful I was fair.

Why did a great lord find me out, And praise my flaxen hair?

Why did a great lord find me out To fill my heart with care?

He lured me to his palace homeWoe's me for joy thereof—

To lead a shameless shameful life, His plaything and his love.

He wore me like a silken knot,

He changed me like a glove;

So now I moan, an unclean thing,
Who might have been a dove.

O Lady Kate, my cousin Kate,
You grew more fair than I :

He saw you at your father's gate,
Chose you, and cast me by.

He watched your steps along the lane,

Because you were so good and pure

He bound you with his ring:

The neighbours call you good and pure,

Call me an outcast thing.

Even so I sit and howl in dust,

You sit in gold and sing:

Now which of us has tenderer heart?

You had the stronger wing.

O cousin Kate, my love was true,

Your love was writ in sand:

If he had fooled not me but you,

If you stood where I stand,

He'd not have won me with his love
Nor bought me with his land;

I would have spit into his face

And not have taken his hand.

Yet I've a gift you have not got,
And seem not like to get :

For all your clothes and wedding-ring

I've little doubt you fret.

My fair-haired son, my shame, my pride,

Cling closer, closer yet:

Your father would give lands for one

To wear his coronet.

NOBLE SISTERS.

"Now did

you mark a falcon,

Sister dear, sister dear,

Flying toward my window

In the morning cool and clear?

With jingling bells about her neck,

But what beneath her wing?

Or it may have been a ring."

"I marked a falcon swooping

At the break of day:

And for your love, my sister dove,

I 'frayed the thief away."

"Or did you spy a ruddy hound,

Sister fair and tall,

Went snuffing round my garden bound,

Or crouched by my bower wall?

With a silken leash about his neck;
But in his mouth may be

A chain of gold and silver links,

Or a letter writ to me."

"I heard a hound, highborn sister,

Stood baying at the moon :

I rose and drove him from your wall
Lest you should wake too soon."

"Or did you meet a pretty page

Sat swinging on the gate;

Sat whistling whistling like a bird,

Or

may be slept too late :

With eaglets broidered on his cap,

And eaglets on his glove?