| The king has been a prisoner
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| And a prisoner long in Spain
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| And Willie of the Winsbury
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| Has lain long with his daughter Jane
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| «What ails you, what ails you, my daughter Jane?
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| Why, you look so pale and wan
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| Oh, have you had any ill sickness
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| Or yet been sleeping with a man?»
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| «I have not had any ill sickness
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| Nor yet been sleeping with a man
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| It is for you my father dear
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| For biding so long in Spain»
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| «Cast off, cast off your robe and gown
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| Stand naked on the stone
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| That I might know you by your shape
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| If you be maiden or none»
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| And she’s cast off her robe and gown
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| Stood naked on a stone
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| Her apron was tight and her waist was round
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| Her face was pale and wan
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| «And was it with a lord or a gentleman
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| Or a man of wealth and fame?
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| Or was it with one of my servingmen
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| While I was a prisoner in Spain?»
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| «No, it wasn’t with a lord or a gentlemen
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| Or a man of wealth and fame
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| It was with Willie of Winsbury
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| I could bide no longer alone»
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| And the king has called his servingmen
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| By one, by two, by three
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| Saying «Where is this Willie of Winsbury?
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| For hanged he shall be»
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| And when they came before the king
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| By one, by two, and by three
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| Willie should have been the first of them
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| But the last of them was he
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| And Willie of the Winsbury
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| All dressed up in red silk
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| His hair hung like the strands of gold
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| His breast was white as milk
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| «No wonder, no wonder», the king he said
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| «That my daughter’s love you did win
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| If I were a woman as I am a man
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| In my own bed you would have been —
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| And will you marry my daughter Jane
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| By the faith of your right hand?
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| And I’ll make you the lord of my servingmen
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| I’ll make you the heir to my land"
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| «Oh yes, I’ll marry your daughter Jane
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| By the faith of my right hand
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| But I’ll not be the lord of any man
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| I’ll be not be the heir to your land»
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| And he’s raised her up on a milk white steed
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| And himself on a dapple gray
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| He has made her the lady of as much land
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| As she can ride on a long summer’s day |