Come hearken, hearken, gentles all, Come hearken unto me, And I'll sing you a song of a Wood-Lyon Came swimming out over the sea.
He ranged west, he ranged east, And far and wide ranged he; He took his bite out of every beast Lives under the greenwood tree.
Then by there came a silly old wolf, ‘ And I'll serve you,’ quoth he; Quoth the Lyon,‘ My paw is heavy enough, So what wilt thou do for me?’
Then by there came a cunning old fox, ‘ And I'll serve you,’ quoth he; Quoth the Lyon,‘ My wits are sharp enough So what wilt thou do for me?’
Then by there came a white, white dove, Flew off Our Lady's knee; Sang‘ It's I will be your true, true love, If you'll be true to me.’
‘ And what will you do, you bonny white dove? And what will you do for me?’ ‘ Oh, it's I'll bring you to Our Lady's love, In the ways of chivalrie.’
He followed the dove that Wood-Lyon By mere and wood and wold, Till he is come to a perfect knight, Like the Paladin of old.
He ranged east, he ranged west, And far and wide ranged he — And ever the dove won him honour and fame In the ways of chivalrie.
Then by there came a foul old sow, Came rookling under the tree; And‘ It's I will be true love to you, If you'll be true to me.’
‘ And what wilt thou do, thou foul old sow? And what wilt thou do for me?’ ‘ Oh, there hangs in my snout a jewel of gold, And that will I give to thee.’
He took to the sow that Wood-Lyon; To the rookling sow took he; And the dove flew up to Our Lady's bosom; And never again throve he.
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