Where may I remaine, Gentle for'ster, shew me, 'Till I can obtaine A service in my neede? Paines I will not spare: 145 This kinde favour doe me, It will ease my care; Heaven shall be thy meede. The for'ster all amazed, On her beautye gazed, 150 Till his heart was set on fire. If, faire maid, quoth hee, You will goe with mee, You shall have your hearts desire. He brought her to his mother, 155 And above all other He sett forth this maidens praise. Long was his heart inflamed, At length her love he gained, And fortune crown'd his future dayes. 160
Thus unknowne he wedde With a kings faire daughter; Children seven they had, 'Ere she told her birth. Which when once he knew, 165 Humblye he besought her, He to the world might shew Her rank and princelye worth. He cloath'd his children then, (Not like other men) 170 In partye-colours strange to see; The right side cloth of gold, The left side to behold, Of woollen cloth still framed hee[386]. Men thereat did wonder; 175 Golden fame did thunder This strange deede in every place: The king of France came thither, It being pleasant weather, In those woods the hart to chase. 180
The children then they bring, So their mother will'd it, Where the royall king Must of force come bye: Their mothers riche array, 185 Was of crimson velvet: Their fathers all of gray, Seemelye to the eye. Then this famous king, Noting every thing, 190 Askt how he durst be so bold To let his wife soe weare, And decke his children there In costly robes of pearl and gold. The forrester replying, 195 And the cause descrying[387], To the king these words did say, Well may they, by their mother, Weare rich clothes with other, Being by birth a princesse gay. 200
The king aroused thus, More heedfullye beheld them, Till a crimson blush His remembrance crost. The more I fix my mind 205 On thy wife and children, The more methinks I find The daughter which I lost. Falling on her knee, I am that child, quoth shee; 210 Pardon mee, my soveraine liege. The king perceiving this, His daughter deare did kiss, While joyfull teares did stopp his speeche. With his traine he tourned, 215 And with them sojourned. Strait he dubb'd her husband knight; Then made him erle of Flanders, And chiefe of his commanders: Thus were their sorrowes put to flight. 220