Songs from Vagabondia

<h3><SPAN name="THE_KINGS_SON" name="THE_KINGS_SON"></SPAN>THE KING'S SON.</h3> <p>"Daughter, daughter, marry no man, <br/>Though a king's son come to woo, <br/>If he be not more than blessing or ban <br/>To the secret soul of you." <br/> <br/>"'Tis the King's son, indeed, I ween, <br/>And he left me even but now, <br/>And he shall make me a dazzling queen, <br/>With a gold crown on my brow." <br/> <br/>"And are you one that a golden crown, <br/>Or the lust of a name can lure? <br/>You had better wed with a country clown, <br/>And keep your young heart pure." <br/> <br/>"Mother, the King has sworn, and said <br/>That his son shall wed but me; <br/>And I must gang to the prince's bed, <br/>Or a traitor I shall be." <br/> <br/>"Oh, what care you for an old man's wrath? <br/>Or what care you for a king? <br/>I had rather you fled on an outlaw's path, <br/>A rebel, a hunted thing." <br/> <br/>"Mother, it is my father's will, <br/>For the King has promised him fair <br/>A goodly earldom of hollow and hill, <br/>And a coronet to wear." <br/> <br/>"Then woe is worth a father's name, <br/>For it names your dourest foe! <br/>I had rather you came the child of shame <br/>Than to have you fathered so." <br/> <br/>"Mother, I shall have gold enow, <br/>Though love be never mine, <br/>To buy all else that the world can show <br/>Of good and fair and fine." <br/> <br/>"Oh, what care you for a prince's gold, <br/>Or the key of a kingdom's till? <br/>I had rather see you a harlot bold <br/>That sins of her own free will. <br/> <br/>"For I have been wife for the stomach's sake, <br/>And I know whereof I say; <br/>A harlot is sold for a passing slake, <br/>But a wife is sold for aye. <br/> <br/>"Body and soul for a lifetime sell, <br/>And the price of the sale shall be <br/>That you shall be harlot and slave as well <br/>Until Death set you free."</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />