May Janet

(BRETON)

	‘Stand up, stand up, thou May Janet,
	And go to the wars with me.’
	He’s drawn her by both hands
	With her face against the sea.
	‘He that strews red shall gather white,
	He that sows white reap red,
	Before your face and my daughter’s
	Meet in a marriage-bed.
	‘Gold coin shall grow in the yellow field,
10	Green coin in the green sea-water,
	And red fruit grow of the rose’s red,
	Ere your fruit grow in her.’
	‘But I shall have her by land,’ he said,
	‘Or I shall have her by sea,
	Or I shall have her by strong treason
	And no grace go with me.’
	Her father’s drawn her by both hands,
	He’s rent her gown from her,
	He’s ta’en the smock round her body,
20	Cast in the sea-water.
	The captain’s drawn her by both sides
	Out of the fair green sea;
	‘Stand up, stand up, thou May Janet,
	And come to the war with me.’
	The first town they came to
	There was a blue bride-chamber;
	He clothed her on with silk
	And belted her with amber.
	The second town they came to
30	The bridesmen feasted knee to knee;
	He clothed her on with silver,
	A stately thing to see.
	The third town they came to
	The bridesmaids all had gowns of gold;
	He clothed her on with purple,
	A rich thing to behold.
	The last town they came to
	He clothed her white and red,
	With a green flag either side of her
40	And a gold flag overhead.