Ballad III: Jephthah Judge of Israel

"A sacrifice to God on high;

Have you not heard these many years agoJeptha was judge of Israel?He had one only daughter and no mo,The which he loved passing well:And, as by lott,God wot,It so came to pass,As Gods will was,That great wars there should be,And none should be chosen chief but he

And when he was appointed judge,And chieftain of the company,A solemn vow to God he made;If he returned with victory,At his returnTo burnThe first live thing,That should meet with him then,Off his house, when he should return agen.

It came to pass, the wars was oer,And he returned with victory;His dear and only daughter first of allCame to meet her father foremostly:And all the wayShe did playOn tabret and pipe,Full many a stripe,With note so high,For joy that her father is come so nigh.

But when he saw his daughter dearComing on most foremostly,He wrung his hands, and tore his hair,And cryed out most piteously;Oh! it's thou, said he,That have brought meLow,And troubled me so,That I know not what to do.For I have made a vow, he sed,The which must be replenished:"What thou hast spokeDo not revoke:What thou hast said,Be not affraid;Altho' it be I;Keep promises to God on high.

But, dear father, grant me one request,That I may go to the wilderness,Three months there with my friends to stay;There to bewail my virginity;And let there be,Said she,Some two or threeYoung maids with me."So he sent her away,For to mourn, for to mourn, till her dying day.

"Hey, jolly Robin, tell to meHow does thy lady do?My lady is unkind perdy--Alas, why is she so?"

A Robyn,Jolly Robyn,Tell me how thy leman doeth,And thou shalt knowe of myn.

'My lady is unkynde perde.'Alack! why is she so?'She loveth an other better than me;And yet she will say no.'

I fynde no such doublenes:I fynde women true.My lady loveth me dowtles,And will change for no newe.

'Thou art happy while that doeth last;But I say, as I fynde,That women's love is but a blast,And torneth with the wynde.'

Suche folkes can take no harme by love,That can abide their torn.'But I alas can no way proveIn love but lake and morn.'

But if thou wilt avoyde thy harmeLerne this lessen of me,At others fieres thy selfe to warme,And let them warme with the.