The King's Son.

"Daughter, daughter, marry no man,     Though a king's son come to woo,     If he be not more than blessing or ban     To the secret soul of you."     "'Tis the King's son, indeed, I ween,     And he left me even but now,     And he shall make me a dazzling queen,     With a gold crown on my brow."     "And are you one that a golden crown,     Or the lust of a name can lure?     You had better wed with a country clown,     And keep your young heart pure."     "Mother, the King has sworn, and said     That his son shall wed but me;     And I must gang to the prince's bed,     Or a traitor I shall be."     "Oh, what care you for an old man's wrath?     Or what care you for a king?     I had rather you fled on an outlaw's path,     A rebel, a hunted thing."     "Mother, it is my father's will,     For the King has promised him fair     A goodly earldom of hollow and hill,     And a coronet to wear."     "Then woe is worth a father's name,     For it names your dourest foe!     I had rather you came the child of shame     Than to have you fathered so."     "Mother, I shall have gold enow,     Though love be never mine,     To buy all else that the world can show     Of good and fair and fine."     "Oh, what care you for a prince's gold,     Or the key of a kingdom's till?     I had rather see you a harlot bold     That sins of her own free will.     "For I have been wife for the stomach's sake,     And I know whereof I say;     A harlot is sold for a passing slake,     But a wife is sold for aye.     "Body and soul for a lifetime sell,     And the price of the sale shall be     That you shall be harlot and slave as well     Until Death set you free."