XII

1.

Birds in the high Hall-garden

      When twilight was falling,

Maud, Maud, Maud, Maud,

      They were crying and calling.

2.

Where was Maud? in our wood;

      And I, who else, was with her,

Gathering woodland lilies,

      Myriads blow together.

3.

Birds in our wood sang

      Ringing thro' the vallies,

Maud is here, here, here

      In among the lilies.

4.

I kiss'd her slender hand,

      She took the kiss sedately;

Maud is not seventeen,

      But she is tall and stately.

5.

I to cry out on pride

      Who have won her favour!

Maud were sure of Heaven

      If lowliness could save her.

6.

I know the way she went

      Home with her maiden posy,

For her feet have touch'd the meadows

      And left the daisies rosy.

7.

Birds in the high Hall-garden

      Were crying and calling to her,

Where is Maud, Maud, Maud,

      One is come to woo her.

8.

Look, a horse at the door,

      And little King Charles is snarling,

Go back, my lord, across the moor,

      You are not her darling.