Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MAID AND THE PALMER (1), by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MAID AND THE PALMER (1), by                    
First Line: The maid she went to the well to wash
Last Line: Then thou'st come a maiden home
Subject(s): Repentance; Penitence


The maid she went to the well to wash,
Dew fell off her lily-white flesh.
White she washed, and white she wrung,
White she hang'd on the hazel wand.
There came an old palmer by the way,
Says, "God speed thee well, thou fair may.
"Hast thou either cup or can,
To give an old palmer drink therein?"
Says, "I have neither cup nor can,
To give an old palmer drink therein."
"But an thy leman come from Rome,
Cups and cans thou wilt find soon."
She swore by God and good Saint John
Leman she had never none.
Says, "Peace, fair maid, you are foresworn,
Nine children have you borne.
"Three were buried under thy bed's head,
Other three under thy brewing lead.
"Other three play on yon green;
Count, maid, and there be nine."
"But I hope you are the good old man
That all the world believes upon.
"Old palmer, I pray thee,
Penance thou wilt give to me."
"Penance I can give thee none
But seven year to be a stepping stone.
"Other seven a clapper in a bell,
Other seven to lead an ape in hell.
"When thou hast they penance done,
Then thou'st come a maiden home."






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