Classic Poem

My heart of gold as true as steel,
As I me leaned to a bough,
In faith but if ye love me well,
Lord, so Robin lough!

My lady went to Canterbury,
The saint to be her boot;
She met with Kate of Malmesbury:
Why sleepest thou in an apple root?

Nine mile to Michaelmas,
Our dame began to brew;
Michael set his mare to grass,
Lord, so fast it snew!

For you, love, I brake my glass,
Your gown is furred with blue;
The devil is dead, for there I was;
Iwis it is full true.

And if ye sleep, the cock will crow,
True heart, think what I say;
Jackanapes will make a mow,
Look, who dare say him nay?

I pray you have me now in mind,
I tell you of the matter;
He blew his horn against the wind;
The crow goeth to the water.

Yet I tell you mickle more;
The cat lieth in the cradle;
I pray you keep true heart in store;
A penny for a ladle.

I swear by Saint Katherine of Kent,
The goose goeth to the green;
All our dogges tail is brent,
It is not as I ween

Tirlery lorpin, the laverock sang,
So merrily pipes the sparrow,
The cow brake loose, the rope ran home,
Sir, God give you good-morrow!