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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FAUSE FOODRAGE, by ANONYMOUS First Line: King easter has courted her for her gowd Last Line: Wi' the truth of his right hand | |||
King Easter has courted her for her gowd, King Wester for her fee, King Honor for her lands sae braid And for her fair body. They had not been four months married, As I have heard them tell, Until the nobles of the land Against them did rebel. And they cast kaivles them amang And kaivles them between, And they cast kaivles them amang Wha shoud gae kill the king. O some said yea and some said nay, Their words did not agree; Till up it gat him Fa'se Footrage And sware it shoud be he. When bells were rung and mass was sung And a' man boon to bed, King Honor and his gay ladie In a hie chamber were laid. Then up it raise him Fa'se Footrage While a' were fast asleep, And slew the porter in his lodge That watch and ward did keep. O four and twenty silver keys Hang hie upon a pin, And ay as a door he did unlock He has fastn'd it him behind. Then up it raise him King Honor, Says, What means a' this din? Now what's the matter, Fa'se Footrage, O wha was was 't loot you in? O ye my errand well shall learn Before that I depart; Then drew a knife baith lang and sharp And pierced him thro' the heart. Then up it got the Queen hersell And fell low down on her knee: O spare my life now, Fa'se Footrage, For I never injured thee. O spare my life now, Fa'se Footrage, Until I lighter be, And see gin it be lad or lass King Honor has left me wi'. O gin it be a lass, he says, Well nursed she shall be; But gin it be a lad-bairn He shall be hanged hie. I winna spare his tender age Nor yet his hie, hie kin; But as soon as e'er he born is He shall mount the gallows-pin. O four and twenty valiant knights Were set the Queen to guard, And four stood ay at her bower-door To keep baith watch and ward. But when the time drew till an end That she should lighter be, She cast about to find a wile To set her body free. O she has birled these merry young men Wi' strong beer and wi' wine, Until she made them a' as drunk As any wallwood swine. O narrow, narrow is this window And big, big am I grown! Yet thro' the might of Our Ladie Out at it she has won. She wander'd up, she wander'd down, She wander'd out and in, And at last into the very swines' stye The Queen brought forth a son. Then they cast kaivles them amang Wha should gae seek the Queen, And the kaivle fell upon Wise William And he 's sent his wife for him. O when she saw Wise William's wife The Queen fell on her knee. Win up, win up, madame, she says, What means this courtesie? O out of this I winna rise Till a boon ye grant to me, To change your lass for this lad-bairn King Honor left me wi'. And ye maun learn my gay gose-hawke Well how to breast a steed, And I shall learn your turtle-dow As well to write and read. And ye maun learn my gay gose-hawke To wield baith bow and brand, And I shall learn your turtle-dow To lay gowd wi' her hand. At kirk or market where we meet We dare nae mair avow But, Dame, how does my gay gose-hawk? Madame, how does my dow? When days were gane and years came on Wise William he thought long; Out has he ta'en King Honor's son A hunting for to gang. It sae fell out at their hunting Upon a summer's day, That they cam by a fair castle, Stood on a sunny brae. O dinna ye see that bonny castle Wi' wa's and towers sae fair? Gin ilka man had back his ain Of it you shou'd be heir. How I shou'd be heir of that castle In sooth I canna see, When it belongs to Fa'se Footrage, And he 's nae kin to me. O gin ye shou'd kill him Fa'se Footrage You wou'd do what is right, For I wot he kill'd your father dear Ere ever you saw the light. Gin ye should kill him Fa'se Footrage There is nae man durst you blame, For he keeps your mother a prisoner And she dares no take you hame. The boy stared wild like a gray gose-hawke, Says, What may a' this mean? My boy, you are King Honor's son And your mother 's our lawful queen. O gin I be King Honor's son, By Our Ladie I swear This day I will that traytour slay And relieve my mother dear. He has set his bent bow till his breast And lap the castle-wa', And soon he 's siesed on Fa'se Footrage Wha loud for help gan ca'. O hold your tongue now, Fa'se Footrage, Frae me you shanna flee: Syne pierced him through the foul fa'se heart And set his mother free. And he has rewarded Wise William With the best half of his land, And sae has he the turtle-dow Wi' the truth of his right hand. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest... |
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