Chapter XXXIII: Part I

There was a maid, richly arrayd,
In robes were rare to see,
For seven years and something mair
She servd a gay ladie.

But being fond o a higher place,
In service she thought lang;
She took her mantle her about,
Her coffer by the band.

And as she walkd by the shore-side,
As blythe’s a bird on tree,
Yet still she gaz’d her round about,
To see what she could see.

At last she spied a little castle,
That stood near by the sea;
She spied it far and drew it near,
To that castle went she.

And when she came to that castle
She tirled at the pin,
And ready stood a little wee boy
To lat this fair maid in.

“O who’s the owner of this place,
O porter-boy, tell me;”
“This place belongs unto a queen
O birth and high degree.”

She put her hand in her pocket,
And gae him shillings three:
“O porter, bear my message well
Unto the queen frae me.”

The porter’s gane before the queen,
Fell low down on his knee:
“Win up, win up, my porter-boy,
What makes this courtesie?”

“I hae been porter at your yetts,
My dame, these years full three,
But see a ladie at your yetts
The fairest my eyes did see.”

“Cast up my yetts baith wide and braid,
Lat her come in to me,
And I’ll know by her courtesie
Lord’s daughter if she be.”

When she came in before the queen,
Fell low down on her knee:
“Service frae you, my dame the queen,
I pray you grant it me.”

“If that service ye now do want,
What station will ye be?
Can ye card wool, or spin, fair maid,
Or milk the cows to me?”

“No, I can neither card nor spin,
Nor cows I canno milk,
But sit into a lady’s bower
And sew the seams o silk.”

“What is your name, ye comely dame?
Pray tell this unto me:”
“O Blancheflour, that is my name,
Born in a strange countrie.”

“O keep ye well frae Jellyflorice--
My ain dear son is he--
When other ladies get a gift,
O that ye shall get three.”