In : Barwicke Low, as late beffell,
a great mishap happened therin
wold peaine a stonye hart to tell:
the great discourse that did begin

Betwixt 2 youthes of gentle blood.
as they were walking all alone,
they wrought their wills as they thought good,
w HI ch made their ffreinds to waile & mone.

The one hight Scroope, as I heard tell,
the other browne, as I hard say:
betwixt these 2 itt soe beffell,
tha t hand to hand the made affray.

Saith Scroope to Browne, " what dost thou meane
to come all naked thus to mee?
itt meaneth sure, by thy com m ing,
thou wilt not ffight, but rather fflee. "

Qu o th Browne, " my weapons are att hand,
as to thy paine shall soone bee seene;
ffor while tha t I may goe or stand,
one ffoote to ffly I doe not meane. "

They drew fforth their swords anon,
they ffought together manffullye,
they bright blades in the sun shone, —
O Lord, itt was great Ioy to see! —

They Laid on strokes tha t were soe strong,
they ffought together manffullye.
att Lenght Scroope [pressed] vnto Browne,
[&] w i th his sword ffull Egarlye

Hee hitt Browne on the legg, god wott,
hee cutt him vaines 2 or 3;
a man might haue seene where tha t stroke bo[te;]
O Lo rd , itt pearced him cruelly!

They tooke their breath, & still they stoode:
Q uo th Scroope, " thou Browne, yeelde thee to mee! "
[on] w hi ch, Browne waxing neere hand wood,
together ffearfullye they cold fflee.

They Lady came runinge apace:
Browne cast vp his head & did her see;
w i th that hee cut Scroope in the fface;
[the sword to the brain went through his ee.]

" Out & alas! " q uo th this gay Ladye,
" Browne! why wouldest thou doe this deede?
I loued him better then I loued thee! "
shee kist his wounds as they did bleede

" Ladye, " q uo th Browne, " my owne thou art!
o u r trothes together plighted they bee;
ffor shame lett this deede neuer be knowne,
nor neu er show extremitye. "

" As ffor our trothes plighting, " shee saith,
" is not the thing tha t greeueth mee;
but ffor his sake tha t heere is dead,
taken soone tha t thou shalt bee. "

" O No, No, No, Ladye! " he sayes,
" if tha t thou wilt thy troth deniye,
yett ffor his sake tha t heere Lyes dead,
taken will Ineu er bee. "

Hee tooke the sword then by the blade,
the heauye hilt on ground did Lye;
quite through his body a wound hee made,
& there hee dye[d] beffore her eye.

The ffattall end of Scroope & Browne,
of bothe their ffreinds Lamented was;
& eke the crye through Barwicke towne
was " wellaway, & out alas! "

But of this Ladye, marke the end,
tha t causer was of deadlye fuyde:
a swoning trance god did her send
tha t shee ffell dead vpon the ground.

You Ladyes all tha t heere my song,
& maidens all of Eche degree,
see yee neu er speake word w i th yo u r tounge,
but keepe itt till the day you dye.

And young men all tha t heere my song,
to seeke true loue doe you not spare;
though P IRAMUS be eft to find,
yett Thisbye is a bird most rare.