A holiday, a holiday, and the first one of the Lord DArlen's wife into the church, the for to hear.
And the meeting it was done, she cast her eyes about And there she saw little Matty Groves, in the crowd "Come home with me, Matty Groves, come home with me tonight Come home me, little Matty Groves, and sleep with me till light" "Oh, I can't home, I won't come home and sleep with you tonight By the rings on your fingers I can you are my master's wife" "But if I am Lord Arlen 's wife, Lord Arlen's not at He is out in the far bringing the yearlings home"
And a servant who was by and hearing what was said He swore Lord Arlen he know before the sun would set And in his to carry the news, he bent his breast and ran And when he to the broad millstream, he took off his shoes and he swam
Little Matty Groves, he lay and took a little sleep he awoke, Lord Arlen was standing at his feet Saying "How do you like my feather bed and how do you my sheets How do you like my lady who lies in your asleep?" "Oh, well I like your bed and well I like your sheets But better I like lady gay who lies in my arms asleep" "Well, get up, get up," Lord cried, "get up as quick as you can It'll never be said in fair England I slew a naked man" "Oh, I get up, I won't get up, I can't get up for my life For you have two long swords and I not a pocket knife" "Well it's true I have two swords and they cost me deep in the purse But you will have the better of them and I will the worse And you will strike the very first and strike it like a man I will strike the very next and I'll kill you if I can"
So Matty the very first blow and he hurt Lord Arlen sore Lord Arlen struck the next blow and Matty struck no more And then Lord Arlen took his and he sat her on his knee Saying "Who do you the best of us, Matty Groves or me?" And then up spoke his own dear wife, never heard to speak so "I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips you or your finery"
Lord Arlen he jumped up and loudly he did He struck his wife right through the heart and her against the wall "A grave, a grave," Lord cried, "to put these lovers in But bury my at the top for she was of noble kin"