Gloranthan songs: the Grey Hawk

Written in Sun County around 1612. Banned by Solanthos shortly before his divorce from Penta (who then married his friend Invictus).

The song is traditional: this version of the words is taken unchanged from "The Yetties Songbook".

Once I had a grey hawk and a pretty grey hawk,
A sweet pretty bird of my own.
But she took a flight, she flew away quite,
And there's nobody knows where she's gone, me brave boys,
And there's nobody knows where she's gone.

It's over the wide forest I rambled away,
And through the green fields I did stray.
I holla'd - I whooped - I played on my flute,
Not my sweet pretty bird could I find, me brave boys,
Not my sweet pretty bird could I find.

Then it's over the green hills I rambled away
And through the green paths I did stray.
Oh there I did spy my sweet pretty bird,
She was close by the side of a man, me brave boys,
She was close by the side of a man.

Now he that has got her is welcome to keep her,
And do the best with her he can.
But whiles he have her and I have her not,
I will hawk with her once now and then, me brave boys,
I will hawk with her once now and then.

How happy's the man that has a good wife,
Much better is he that's got none.
But cursed is he that courteth another's,
When he has a good wife of his own, me brave boys,
When he has a good wife of his own.