Now ye're a maiden sweet,
And ye're a lady fine;
He bid ye take his offers on your trust.
Yet hark ye for a space
To a little song of mine:
I will tell ye of my lord so fair and just.
Refrain:
Fair and just, fair and just,
I will tell ye of my lord so fair and just.
(repeat last 2 lines)
Aye, fair his chestnut mane,
And fair his darksome eyen,
And fair to bursting his full store of lust:
And just his troth be made,
For a little spot in time,
'Twill endure no more than he shall deem it just.
Refrain: repeat, with last line of new verse.
In solitude ye'll feast,
When with my lord ye dine;
In company ye will not get a crust!
And he'll surely pour ye spleen
If ye dare ask him for wine:
'Tis your portion in his bargain fair and just.
Refrain: repeat, with last line of new verse.
O, fair, my maiden sweet,
O, just, my lady fine!
Then suddenly he'll end it with a thrust...
Away with thee, and done!
And the fault will all be thine:
'Tis ye did fail to be both fair and just.
Refrain: repeat, with last line of new verse.
Still, do ye find him sweet?
And do ye find him fine?
Then fall beneath his sway I guess ye must.
But I will hie me hence
To a new affair of mine:
All's fair when no one careth to be just.
Refrain: repeat, with last line of new verse
Rosamunde del Shore A.S. XXXII
