420 THE WIFE LAPPED
She welcorameth agayne the fayre yong man,
And bid him come neare, gentle friende:
Full curteously he thanked the good dame than,
And thought her wordes full good and kinde.
Then he began, I shall you tell,
Unto the mother thus to say,
With wordes fayre that become him well,
For her deare daughter thus to pray :
Saying, good dame, now by your leaue,
Take it for none euell though I come here,
If you to me good leaue would giue,
With you right fayne would I make good chere.
The dame sayd: syt downe, a while abyde, Good chere anon than will we make: My daughter shall sit downe by thy syde, I know well thou commest onely for her sake. You say full true forsooth, sayd he, My minde is stedfastly on her set: To haue that mayde fayre and free, I would be fayne, if I coulde her get.
The mother thanked him for his good will, That he her daughter so did desyre: Saying, I hope you come for none euell, But in good honesty her to requyre. For if ye did, I will be playne, Right soone it shoulde turne you vnto griefe, And also your comming I would disdayne, And bid you walke with a wylde mischiefe.
But surely I take you for none of those, Your condiscions shew it in no wise : Wherefore me thinke you doe not glose, Nor I will not counsell you by mine aduise. For I loue rny Daughter as my harte, And loth I were, I will be playne, To see her suffer payne and smarte, For if I did my harte were slayne.