1.
In a pleasant morning
in the merry month of May,
Among the fruitful meadows
a young man took his way;
And gazing around him
what pleasures he could see,
He spied a proper maiden
under an oaken tree.
2.
Comely was her countenance
and lovely was her looks,
Seeming that wanton Venus
had writ her in her books.
Many a smirking smile she lent
amidst those meadows green
The which he well perceived
yet was of her unseen.
3.
At length she changed her smiling
with a sighing song,
Bewailing her bad fortune
that was a maid so long:
‘For many are much younger’,
quoth she, ‘hath long been wed,
Yet do I fear that I shall die
and keep my maidenhead.
4.
‘My father’s rich and wealthy
and hath no child but I,
Yet want I still a husband
to keep me company.
My years are young and tender
and I am fair withal,
Yet is there now a young man
will comfort me at all?’
5.
The young man which listened
and marked her grievous moan,
Was sorry for to see her
sit musing all alone.
He nimbly leapt unto her
which made the maid to start,
But when he did embrace her,
it joyed her woeful heart.
6.
‘Fair maid,’ quoth he, ‘why mourn you?
What means your heavy cheer?
Be ruled by me, I pray you
and to my words give ear.
A pleasant note I’ll tell you,
your sadness to expel.’
‘Good sir, how do you call it?
The truth unto me tell.’
7.
‘’Tis called the carman’s whistle,
a note so sweet and good,
It will turn a woman’s sadness
into a merry mood.’
‘Good sir then, let me hear it,
if it be no harm.’
‘Doubt not,’ quoth he, ‘fair maiden,
I’ll keep you in mine arm.
8.
‘But first, let me entreat you
with patience to attend
Till I have brought my music
unto a perfect end.’
‘If I may hear your whistle,’
quoth she, ‘I will be still,
And think so I molest you,
’tis sore against my will.’
9.
When he to her had whistled
a merry note or two,
She was so blithe and pleasant
she knew not what to do.
Quoth she, ‘of all the music
that ever I did know,
The carman’s whistle
Shall for my money go.’
10.
‘Good sir,’ quoth she, ‘I pray you,
Who made this pleasant game?’
Quoth he, ‘a youthful carman
Did make it for his dame.’
And she was well contented
with him to bear a part.
‘God’s blessing,’ quoth the maiden,
‘light on the carman’s heart.
11.
‘For never was I pleased
more better in my life
Than with the carman’s whistle
which pleaseth maid and wife.
And sir, I do beseech you,
however I do speed,
To let me hear your whistle
when I so stand in need.’
12.
Quoth he, ‘farewell, fair maiden,
and as you like this sport,
So of the carman’s whistle
I pray you give good report.’
‘Good sir,’ quoth she, ‘I thank you
for this, your token pain,
But when shall we, I pray you,
meet in this place again?’
13.
Quoth he, ‘at any season
by day or else by night,
Command the carman’s whistle
for pleasure and delight;
And count me slack and slothful
if twice you send for me.’
‘I’faith then,’ quoth the maiden,
‘I’ll give thee kisses three.’