The Gilliflower of Gold

A golden gilliflower today

I wore upon my helm alway,

And won the prize of this tourney.

Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.

However well Sir Giles might sit,

His sun was weak to wither it,

Lord Miles’s blood was dew on it:

Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.

Although my spear in splinters flew,

From John’s steel-coat, my eye was true;

I wheel’d about, and cried for you,

Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.

Yea, do not doubt my heart was good,

Though my sword flew like rotten wood,

To shout, although I scarcely stood,

Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.

My hand was steady too, to take

My axe from round my neck, and break

John’s steel-coat up for my love’s sake.

Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.

When I stood in my tent again,

Arming afresh, I felt a pain

Take hold of me, I was so fain,

Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.

To hear: Honneur aux fils des preux!

Right in my ears again, and shew

The gilliflower blossom’d new.

Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.

The Sieur Guillaume against me came,

His tabard bore three points of flame

From a red heart: with litt............