A TROUBADOUR he played Without a castle wall,Within,a hapless maid Responded to his call.
"Oh,willow,woe is me!
Alack and welladay!
If I were only free I'd hie me far away!"
Unknown her face and name,But this he knew right well,The maiden's wailing came From out a dungeon cell.
A hapless woman lay Within that dungeon grim That fact,I've heard him say,Was quite enough for him.
"I will not sit or lie,Or eat or drink,I vow,Till thou art free as I,Or I as pent as thou."
Her tears then ceased to flow,Her wails no longer rang,And tuneful in her woe The prisoned maiden sang:
"Oh,stranger,as you play,I recognize your touch;And all that I can say Is,thank you very much."
He seized his clarion straight,And blew thereat,until A warden oped the gate.
"Oh,what might be your will?"
"I've come,Sir Knave,to see The master of these halls:
A maid unwillingly Lies prisoned in their walls."'With barely stifled sigh That porter drooped his head,With teardrops in his eye,"A many,sir,"he said.
He stayed to hear no more,But pushed that porter by,And shortly stood before SIR HUGH DE PECKHAM RYE.
SIR HUGH he darkly frowned,"What would you,sir,with me?"