1.
Lord Lovel he stood at his castle-gate,
Combing his milk-white steed,
When up came Lady Nancy Belle,
‖: To wish her lover good speed. :‖
2.
Where are you going, Lord Lovel?
she said,
Oh where are you going?
said she.
I’m going, my Lady Nancy Belle,
:‖
‖: Strange countries for to see.
3.
When will you be back, Lord Lovel?
she said,
Oh when will you come back?
said she.
In a year, or two, or three at the most,
:‖
‖: I’ll return to my fair Nancy.
4.
But he had not been gone a year and a day,
Strange countries for to see,
When languishing thoughts came into his head,
‖: Lady Nancy Belle he would go see. :‖
5.
So he rode, and he rode, on his milk-white steed,
Till he came to London town,
And there he heard St. Pancras’ bells,
‖: And the people all mourning round. :‖
6.
Oh what is the matter?
Lord Lovel he said,
Oh what is the matter?
said he;
A lord’s lady is dead
, a woman replied,
‖: And some call her Lady Nancy.
:‖
7.
So he ordered the grave to be opened wide,
And the shroud he turnèd down,
And there he kissed her clay-cold lips,
‖: Till the tears came trickling down. :‖
8.
Lady Nancy she died, as it might be, today,
Lord Lovel he died as tomorrow;
Lady Nancy she died out of pure, pure grief,
‖: Lord Lovel he died out of sorrow. :‖
9.
Lady Nancy was laid in St. Pancras’ Church,
Lord Lovel was laid in the choir;
And out of her bosom there grew a red rose,
‖: And out of her lover’s a briar. :‖
10.
They grew, and they grew, to the church-steeple top,
And then they could grow no higher;
So there they entwined in a true-lovers’ knot,
‖: For all lovers true to admire. :‖