Let never a man a-wooing wend that lacketh thing's o' three:
A store of gold, an open heart, and full of charity
And this was said of King Henry, as he lay quite alone
For he's taken him to a haunted hall, seven miles from the town
O, he has driven him deer before, the doe down by the glen
'til the fattest buck in all the flock, King Henry he has slain
His huntsmen followed him to the hall, to make them burly cheer
When loud the wind was heard to howl, and an earthquake rocked the floor
As darkness covered all the hall where they sat at their meat
The greyhounds, yowling, left their food and crept to Henry's feet
And louder howled the rising wind that burst the fastened door
And in there came a grisly ghost, stamping across the floor!
Her head hit the rooftop of the house, her middle you could not span
Each frightened huntsman fled the hall, and left the king alone
Her teeth were like the tether-stakes, her nose like club or mell
And nothing less she seemed to be than a fiend that comes from hell!
Some meat, some meat, you King Henry, some meat you bring to me
Go k** your horse, you King Henry, and bring some meat to me!
He has slain his berry-brown steed, it made his heart full sore
For she's eaten it up, both skin and bone, left nothing but hide and hair!
More meat, more meat, you King Henry, more meat you bring to me
Go k** your greyhounds, King Henry, and bring some meat to me!
He has slain his good greyhounds, it made his heart full sore
For she's eaten them up, both skin and bone, left nothing but hide and hair!
More meat, more meat, you King Henry, more meat you bring to me
Go k** your goshawks, King Henry, and bring some meat to me!
He has slain his good goshawks, it made his heart full sore
For she's eaten them up, both skin and bone, left nothing but feathers bare!
A drink, a drink, you King Henry, a drink you bring to me
Sew up your horse hide, King Henry, and bring some drink to me!
He has sewn the bloody hide, a pipe of wine put in
And she's drank it down all in one drop, left never a drop therein!
A bed, a bed, you King Henry, a bed you'll make for me!
Oh you must pull the heather green, and make it soft for me!
He has pulled the heather green, and made for her a bed
And taken has he his good mantle, and over it he has spread.
Take off your clothes, now King Henry, and lay down by my side!
O, swear, O, swear, you King Henry, to take me as your bride!
God forbid, said King Henry, that ever the like betide;
That ever a fiend that comes from hell should stretch down by my side!
The dark has gone, the day is come, the sunlight fills the hall
The fairest Lady that ever was seen lay twixt him and the wall!
I've laid for many a gentle knight that gave me such a thrill.
But never before with a perfect knight, that gave me all my will!