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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=346111" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>The Lady Turned Serving-Man</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">You beauteous ladyes, great and small,<br>I write unto you one and all,<br>Whereby that you may understand<br>What I have suffered in the land.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">I was by birth a ladye faire,<br>An ancient barons only heire,<br>And when my good old father dyed,<br>Then I became a young knightes bride.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And there my love built me a bower,<br>Bedeck'd with many a fragrant flower;<br>A braver bower you ne'er did see<br>Then my true-love did build for mee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And there I livde a ladye gay,<br>Till fortune wrought our loves decay;<br>For there came foes so fierce a band,<br>That soon they over-run the land.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">They came upon us in the night,<br>And brent my bower, and slew my knight;<br>And trembling hid in mans array,<br>I scant with life escap'd away.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">In the midst of this extremitie,<br>My servants all did from me flee:<br>Thus was I left myself alone,<br>With heart more cold than any stone.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Yet though my heart was ful of care,<br>Heaven would not suffer me to dispaire.<br>Wherefore in haste I change'd my name<br>From faire Elise, to sweet Williame;</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And therewithall I cut my haire,<br>Resolv'd my mans attire to weare;<br>And in my beaver, hose and band,<br>I travell'd far through many a land.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">At length all wearied with my toil,<br>I sate me downe to rest awhile;<br>My heart it was so fill'd with woe<br>That downe my cheeke the teares did flow.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">It chanc'd the king of that same place<br>With all his lords a hunting was,<br>And seeing me weepe, upon the same,<br>Askt who I was and whence I came.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then to his Grace I did replye,<br>'I am a poore and friendlesse boye,<br>Though nobly borne, nowe forc'd to bee<br>A serving-man of lowe degree.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Stand up, faire youth,' the king reply'd,<br>'For thee a service I'll provyde.<br>But tell me first what thou canst do; <br>Thou shalt be fitted thereunto.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Wilt thou be usher of my hall,<br>To wait upon my nobles all?<br>Or wilt be taster of my wine,<br>To 'tend on me when I shall dine?</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Or wilt thou be my chamberlaine,<br>About my person to remaine?<br>Or wilt thou be one of my guard,<br>And I will give thee great reward?</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Chuse, gentle youth,' said he, 'thy place.'<br>Then I reply'd, 'If it please Your Grace<br>To shew such favour unto mee,<br>Your chamberlaine I faine would bee.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The king then smiling gave consent,<br>And straitwaye to his court I went;<br>Where I behavde so faithfullie<br>That hee great favour showd to mee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Now marke what fortune did provide:<br>The king he would a hunting ride<br>With all his lords and noble traine,<br>Sweet William must at home remaine.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Thus being left alone behind,<br>My former state came in my mind;<br>I wept to see my mans array;<br>No longer now a ladye gay.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And meeting with a ladyes vest,<br>Within the same myself I drest;<br>With silken robes and jewels rare,<br>I deckt me, as a ladye faire;</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And taking up a lute straitwaye,<br>Upon the same I strove to play;<br>And sweetly to the same did sing,<br>As made both hall and chamber ring.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'My father was as brave a lord,<br>As ever Europe might afford;<br>My mother was a lady bright;<br>My husband was a valiant knight;</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'And I myself a ladye gay,<br>Bedeckt with gorgeous rich array;<br>The happiest lady in the land<br>Had not more pleasure at command.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'I had my musicke every day<br>Harmonious lessons for to play;<br>I had my virgins faire and free<br>Continually to wait on mee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'But now, alas! my husband's dead,<br>And all my friends are from me fled;<br>My former days are past and gone,<br>And I am now a serving-man.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And fetching many a tender sigh,<br>As thinking no one then was nigh,<br>In pensive mood I laid me lowe,<br>My heart was full, the tears did flowe.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The king, who had a huntinge gone,<br>Grewe weary of his sport anone,<br>And leaving all his gallant traine,<br>Turn'd on the sudden home againe;</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And when he reach'd his statelye tower,<br>Hearing one sing within his bower,<br>He stopt to listen and to see<br>Who sung there so melodiouslie.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Thus heard he everye word I sed,<br>And saw the pearlye teares I shed,<br>And found to his amazement there<br>Sweet William was a ladye faire.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then stepping in, 'Faire ladye, rise<br>And dry,' said he, 'those lovelye eyes,<br>For I have heard thy mournful tale,<br>The which shall turne to thy availe.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">A crimson dye my face orespred,<br>I blusht for shame and hung my head<br>To find my sex and story knowne,<br>When as I thought I was alone.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">But to be briefe, his Royal Grace<br>Grewe so enamour'd of my face,<br>The richest gifts he proffered mee,<br>His mistress if that I would bee.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Ah! no, my liege,' I firmlye sayd,<br>'I'll rather in my grave be layd;<br>And though Your Grace hath won my heart,<br>I ne'er will act soe base a part.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">'Faire ladye, pardon me,' sayd hee,<br>'Thy virtue shall rewarded bee,<br>And since it is soe fairly tryde<br>Thou shalt become my royal bride.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then strait to end his amorous strife,<br>He tooke sweet William to his wife.<br>The like before was never seene:<br>A serving-man became a queene.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=Anonymous+Olde+English">Anonymous Olde English</a><div class=q>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=346111" data-title="The Lady Turned Serving-Man de Anonymous Olde English" data-description="You beauteous ladyes, great and small,
I write unto you one and all,
Whereby that you may understand
What I have suffered in the land.

I was by birth a ladye faire,
An ancient barons only heire,
And when my good old father dyed,
Then I became a y..."></div>
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