English and Scottish Ballads Volume I Part 8

King Arthur then held vp his hand, According thene as was the law; He tooke his leaue of the baron there, And homword can he draw.

And when he came to merry Carlile, 20 To his chamber he is gone; And ther came to him his cozen, Sir Gawaine, As he did make his mone.

And there came to him his cozen, Sir Gawaine[L24], That was a curteous knight; 25 "Why sigh you soe sore, vnckle Arthur," he said, "Or who hath done thee vnright?"

"O peace! o peace! thou gentle Gawaine, That faire may thee beffall; For if thou knew my sighing soe deepe, 30 Thou wold not meruaile att all.

"Ffor when I came to Tearne-wadling, A bold barron there I fand; With a great club vpon his backe, Standing stiffe & strong. 35

"And he asked me wether I wold fight Or from him I shold be gone; Or else[L38] I must him a ransome pay, And soe depart him from.

"To fight with him I saw noe cause, 40 Me thought it was not meet; For he was stiffe and strong with all; His strokes were nothing sweete.

"Therefor this is my ransome, Gawaine, I ought to him to pay; 45 I must come againe, as I am sworne, Vpon the Newyeers day.

"And I must bring him word what thing it is [_About nine stanzas wanting._]

Then King Arthur drest him for to ryde, In one soe riche array, 50 Towards the foresaid Tearne-wadling, That he might keepe his day.

And as he rode over a more, Hee see a lady, where shee sate, Betwixt an oke and a greene hollen; 55 She was clad in red scarlett.

Then there as shold have stood her mouth, Then there was sett her eye; The other was in her forhead fast, The way that she might see. 60

Her nose was crooked, & turnd outward, Her mouth stood foule a-wry; A worse formed lady then shee was, Neuer man saw with his eye.

To halch vpon him, King Arthur, 65 This lady was full faine; But King Arthur had forgott his lesson, What he shold say againe.

"What knight art thou," the lady sayd, "That wilt not speake to me? 70 Of me [be] thou nothing dismayd, Tho I be vgly to see.

"For I haue halched you curteouslye, And you will not me againe; Yett I may happen, Sir knight," shee said, 75 "To ease thee of thy paine."

"Giue thou ease me, lady," he said, "Or helpe me any thing, Thou shalt haue gentle Gawaine, my cozen, And marry him with a ring." 80

"Why if I helpe thee not, thou n.o.ble King Arthur, Of thy owne hearts desiringe, Of gentle Gawaine....

[_About nine stanzas wanting._]

And when he came to the Tearne-wadling, The baron there cold he finde[L85]; 85 With a great weapon on his backe, Standinge stiffe and stronge.

And then he tooke King Arthurs letters in his hands, And away he cold them fling; And then he puld out a good browne sword, 90 And cryd himselfe a king.

And he sayd, "I haue thee, & thy land, Arthur, To doe as it pleaseth me; For this is not thy ransome sure, Therfore yeeld thee to me." 95

And then bespoke him n.o.ble Arthur, And bade him hold his hand[L97]; "And give me leave to speake my mind, In defence of all my land."

He said, "as I came over a[L100] more, 100 I see a lady, where shee sate, Betweene an oke & a green hollen; Shee was clad in red scarlette.

"And she says a woman will haue her will, And this is all her cheef desire; 105 Doe me right, as thou art a baron of sckill, This is thy ransome, & all thy hyer."

He sayes, "an early vengeance light on her!

She walkes on yonder more; It was my sister, that told thee this, 110 She is a misshapen h.o.r.e.

"But heer Ile make mine avow to G.o.d, To do her an euill turne; For an euer I may thate fowle theefe get, In a fyer I will her burne." 115

[_About nine stanzas wanting._]

THE SECOND PART.

Sir Lancelott, & Sir Steven, bold, They rode with them that day; And the formost of the company, There rode the steward Kay.

Soe did Sir Banier, & Sir Bore, 120 Sir Garrett with them, soe gay; Soe did Sir Tristeram, that gentle knight, To the forrest, fresh & gay.

And when he came to the greene forrest, Vnderneath a greene holly tree, 125 Their sate that lady in red scarlet, That vnseemly was to see.

Sir Kay beheld this ladys face, And looked vppon her suire,-- "Whosoeuer kisses this lady," he sayes, 130 "Of his kisse he stands in feare!"

Sir Kay beheld the lady againe, And looked vpon her snout; "Whosoeuer kisses this lady," he saies, "Of his kisse he stands in doubt!" 135

"Peace, cozen Kay," then said Sir Gawaine, "Amend thee of thy life; For there is a knight amongst us all, That must marry her to his wife."

"What! wedd her to wiffe," then said Sir Kay, 140 "In the diuells name anon, Get me a wiffe whereere I may, For I had rather be slaine!"

Then some[L144] tooke vp their hawkes in hast, And some tooke vp their hounds; 145 And some sware they wold not marry her, For citty nor for towne.

And then bespake him n.o.ble King Arthur, And sware there, "by this day, For a litle foule sight & misliking, 150 [_About nine stanzas wanting._]

Then shee said, "choose thee, gentle Gawaine, Truth as I doe say; Wether thou wilt haue me in this liknesse, In the night, or else in the day."

And then bespake him gentle Gawaine, 155 With one soe mild of moode; Sayes, "well I know what I wold say, G.o.d grant it may be good!

"To haue thee fowle in the night, When I with thee shold play-- 160 Yet I had rather, if I might, Haue thee fowle in the day."

"What, when lords goe with ther feires[L163]," shee said, "Both to the ale and wine; Alas! then I must hyde my selfe, 165 I must not goe withinne."

And then bespake him gentle Gawaine, Said, "Lady, thats but a skill; And because thou art my owne lady, Thou shall haue all thy will." 170

Then she said, "blessed be thou, gentle Gawaine, This day that I thee see; For as thou see me att this time, From hencforth I wil be.

"My father was an old knight, 175 And yett it chanced soe, That he married a younge lady, That brought me to this woe.

"Shee witched me, being a faire young lady, To the greene forrest to dwell; 180 And there I must walke in womans liknesse, Most like a feeind of h.e.l.l.

"She witched my brother to a carlist b....

[_About nine stanzas wanting._]

That looked soe foule, and that was wont On the wild more to goe. 185 "Come kisse her, brother Kay," then said Sir Gawaine, "And amend the of thy liffe; I sweare this is the same lady That I marryed to my wiffe."

Sir Kay kissed that lady bright, 190 Standing vpon his ffeete; He swore, as he was trew knight, The spice was neuer soe sweete.