Kinge Arthur liues in merry Carleile,And seemely is to see;And there he hath with him Queene Genever,That bride so bright of blee.And there he hath with him Queene Genever,5That bride soe bright in bower;And all his barons about him stoode,That were both stiffe and stowre.The King kept a royall Christmasse,10Of mirth & great honor;...when..[About nine stanzas wanting.]"And bring me word what thing it isThatwomenmost desire;This shalbe thy ransome, Arthur," he sayes,15"For Ile haue no other hier."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.20And when he came to merry Carlile,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, SirGawaine,25That was a curteous knight;"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;30For if thou knew my sighing soe deepe,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,35Standing stiffe & strong."And he asked me wether I wold fightOr from him I shold be gone;Or elseI must him a ransome pay,And soe depart him from.40"To fight with him I saw noe cause,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,45I ought to him to pay;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,50In one soe riche array,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,55Betwixt an oke and a greene hollen;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,60The way that she might see.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.65To halch vpon him, King Arthur,This lady was full faine;But King Arthur had forgott his lesson,What he shold say againe."What knight art thou," the lady sayd,70"That wilt not speake to me?Of me [be] thou nothing dismayd,Tho I be vgly to see."For I haue halched you curteouslye,And you will not me againe;75Yett I may happen, Sir knight," shee said,"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,80And marry him with a ring.""Why if I helpe thee not, thou noble King Arthur,Of thy owne hearts desiringe,Of gentle Gawaine....[About nine stanzas wanting.]And when he came to the Tearne-wadling,85The baron there cold hefinde;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;90And then he puld out a good browne sword,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,95Therfore yeeld thee to me."And then bespoke him noble Arthur,And bade him hold hishand;"And give me leave to speake my mind,In defence of all my land."100He said, "as I came overamore,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,105And this is all her cheef desire;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;110It was my sister, that told thee this,She is a misshapen hore."But heer Ile make mine avow to God,To do her an euill turne;For an euer I may thate fowle theefe get,115In a fyer I will her burne."[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.120Soe did Sir Banier, & Sir Bore,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,125Vnderneath a greene holly tree,Their sate that lady in red scarlet,That vnseemly was to see.Sir Kay beheld this ladys face,And looked vppon her suire,—130"Whosoeuer kisses this lady," he sayes,"Of his kisse he stands in feare!"Sir Kay beheld the lady againe,And looked vpon her snout;"Whosoeuer kisses this lady," he saies,135"Of his kisse he stands in doubt!""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."140"What! wedd her to wiffe," then said Sir Kay,"In the diuells name anon,Get me a wiffe whereere I may,For I had rather be slaine!"Thensometooke vp their hawkes in hast,145And some tooke vp their hounds;And some sware they wold not marry her,For citty nor for towne.And then bespake him noble King Arthur,And sware there, "by this day,150For a litle foule sight & misliking,[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."155And then bespake him gentle Gawaine,With one soe mild of moode;Sayes, "well I know what I wold say,God grant it may be good!"To haue thee fowle in the night,160When I with thee shold play—Yet I had rather, if I might,Haue thee fowle in the day.""What, when lords goe with therfeires," shee said,"Both to the ale and wine;165Alas! then I must hyde my selfe,I must not goe withinne."And then bespake him gentle Gawaine,Said, "Lady, thats but a skill;And because thou art my owne lady,170Thou shall haue all thy will."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.175"My father was an old knight,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,180To the greene forrest to dwell;And there I must walke in womans liknesse,Most like a feeind of hell."She witched my brother to a carlist b....[About nine stanzas wanting.]That looked soe foule, and that was wont185On the wild more to goe."Come kisse her, brother Kay," then said Sir Gawaine,"And amend the of thy liffe;I sweare this is the same ladyThat I marryed to my wiffe."190Sir Kay kissed that lady bright,Standing vpon his ffeete;He swore, as he was trew knight,The spice was neuer soe sweete."Well, cozen Gawaine," sayes Sir Kay,195"Thy chance is fallen arright;For thou hast gotten one of the fairest maids,I euer saw with my sight.""It is my fortune," said Sir Gawaine;"For my vnckle Arthurs sake,200I am glad as grasse wold be of raine,Great joy that I may take."Sir Gawaine tooke the lady by the one arme,Sir Kay tooke her by the tother;They led her straight to King Arthur,205As they were brother and brother.King Arthur welcomed them there all,And soe did lady Geneuer, his queene;With all the knights of the Round Table,Most seemly to be seene.210King Arthur beheld that lady faire,That was soe faire & bright;He thanked Christ in TrinityFor Sir Gawaine, that gentle knight.215Soe did the knights, both more and lesse,Rejoyced all that day,For the good chance that hapened wasTo Sir Gawaine and his lady gay.
Kinge Arthur liues in merry Carleile,And seemely is to see;And there he hath with him Queene Genever,That bride so bright of blee.
Kinge Arthur liues in merry Carleile,
And seemely is to see;
And there he hath with him Queene Genever,
That bride so bright of blee.
And there he hath with him Queene Genever,5That bride soe bright in bower;And all his barons about him stoode,That were both stiffe and stowre.
And there he hath with him Queene Genever,
That bride soe bright in bower;
And all his barons about him stoode,
That were both stiffe and stowre.
The King kept a royall Christmasse,10Of mirth & great honor;...when..[About nine stanzas wanting.]
The King kept a royall Christmasse,
Of mirth & great honor;
...when..
[About nine stanzas wanting.]
"And bring me word what thing it isThatwomenmost desire;This shalbe thy ransome, Arthur," he sayes,15"For Ile haue no other hier."
"And bring me word what thing it is
Thatwomenmost desire;
This shalbe thy ransome, Arthur," he sayes,
"For Ile haue no other hier."
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.
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.
20And when he came to merry Carlile,To his chamber he is gone;And ther came to him his cozen, Sir Gawaine,As he did make his mone.
And when he came to merry Carlile,
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, SirGawaine,25That was a curteous knight;"Why sigh you soe sore, vnckle Arthur," he said,"Or who hath done thee vnright?"
And there came to him his cozen, SirGawaine,
That was a curteous knight;
"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;30For if thou knew my sighing soe deepe,Thou wold not meruaile att all.
"O peace! o peace! thou gentle Gawaine,
That faire may thee beffall;
For if thou knew my sighing soe deepe,
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,35Standing stiffe & strong.
"Ffor when I came to Tearne-wadling,
A bold barron there I fand;
With a great club vpon his backe,
Standing stiffe & strong.
"And he asked me wether I wold fightOr from him I shold be gone;Or elseI must him a ransome pay,And soe depart him from.
"And he asked me wether I wold fight
Or from him I shold be gone;
Or elseI must him a ransome pay,
And soe depart him from.
40"To fight with him I saw noe cause,Me thought it was not meet;For he was stiffe and strong with all;His strokes were nothing sweete.
"To fight with him I saw noe cause,
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,45I ought to him to pay;I must come againe, as I am sworne,Vpon the Newyeers day.
"Therefor this is my ransome, Gawaine,
I ought to him to pay;
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.]
"And I must bring him word what thing it is
Then King Arthur drest him for to ryde,50In one soe riche array,Towards the foresaid Tearne-wadling,That he might keepe his day.
Then King Arthur drest him for to ryde,
In one soe riche array,
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,55Betwixt an oke and a greene hollen;She was clad in red scarlett.
And as he rode over a more,
Hee see a lady, where shee sate,
Betwixt an oke and a greene hollen;
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,60The way that she might see.
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.
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.
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.
65To halch vpon him, King Arthur,This lady was full faine;But King Arthur had forgott his lesson,What he shold say againe.
To halch vpon him, King Arthur,
This lady was full faine;
But King Arthur had forgott his lesson,
What he shold say againe.
"What knight art thou," the lady sayd,70"That wilt not speake to me?Of me [be] thou nothing dismayd,Tho I be vgly to see.
"What knight art thou," the lady sayd,
"That wilt not speake to me?
Of me [be] thou nothing dismayd,
Tho I be vgly to see.
"For I haue halched you curteouslye,And you will not me againe;75Yett I may happen, Sir knight," shee said,"To ease thee of thy paine."
"For I haue halched you curteouslye,
And you will not me againe;
Yett I may happen, Sir knight," shee said,
"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,80And marry him with a ring."
"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."
"Why if I helpe thee not, thou noble King Arthur,Of thy owne hearts desiringe,Of gentle Gawaine....[About nine stanzas wanting.]
"Why if I helpe thee not, thou noble King Arthur,
Of thy owne hearts desiringe,
Of gentle Gawaine....
[About nine stanzas wanting.]
And when he came to the Tearne-wadling,85The baron there cold hefinde;With a great weapon on his backe,Standinge stiffe and stronge.
And when he came to the Tearne-wadling,
The baron there cold hefinde;
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;90And then he puld out a good browne sword,And cryd himselfe a king.
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,
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,95Therfore yeeld thee to me."
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."
And then bespoke him noble Arthur,And bade him hold hishand;"And give me leave to speake my mind,In defence of all my land."
And then bespoke him noble Arthur,
And bade him hold hishand;
"And give me leave to speake my mind,
In defence of all my land."
100He said, "as I came overamore,I see a lady, where shee sate,Betweene an oke & a green hollen;Shee was clad in red scarlette.
He said, "as I came overamore,
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,105And this is all her cheef desire;Doe me right, as thou art a baron of sckill,This is thy ransome, & all thy hyer."
"And she says a woman will haue her will,
And this is all her cheef desire;
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;110It was my sister, that told thee this,She is a misshapen hore.
He sayes, "an early vengeance light on her!
She walkes on yonder more;
It was my sister, that told thee this,
She is a misshapen hore.
"But heer Ile make mine avow to God,To do her an euill turne;For an euer I may thate fowle theefe get,115In a fyer I will her burne."[About nine stanzas wanting.]
"But heer Ile make mine avow to God,
To do her an euill turne;
For an euer I may thate fowle theefe get,
In a fyer I will her burne."
Sir Lancelott, & Sir Steven, bold,They rode with them that day;And the formost of the company,There rode the steward Kay.
Sir Lancelott, & Sir Steven, bold,
They rode with them that day;
And the formost of the company,
There rode the steward Kay.
120Soe did Sir Banier, & Sir Bore,Sir Garrett with them, soe gay;Soe did Sir Tristeram, that gentle knight,To the forrest, fresh & gay.
Soe did Sir Banier, & Sir Bore,
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,125Vnderneath a greene holly tree,Their sate that lady in red scarlet,That vnseemly was to see.
And when he came to the greene forrest,
Vnderneath a greene holly tree,
Their sate that lady in red scarlet,
That vnseemly was to see.
Sir Kay beheld this ladys face,And looked vppon her suire,—130"Whosoeuer kisses this lady," he sayes,"Of his kisse he stands in feare!"
Sir Kay beheld this ladys face,
And looked vppon her suire,—
"Whosoeuer kisses this lady," he sayes,
"Of his kisse he stands in feare!"
Sir Kay beheld the lady againe,And looked vpon her snout;"Whosoeuer kisses this lady," he saies,135"Of his kisse he stands in doubt!"
Sir Kay beheld the lady againe,
And looked vpon her snout;
"Whosoeuer kisses this lady," he saies,
"Of his kisse he stands in doubt!"
"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."
"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."
140"What! wedd her to wiffe," then said Sir Kay,"In the diuells name anon,Get me a wiffe whereere I may,For I had rather be slaine!"
"What! wedd her to wiffe," then said Sir Kay,
"In the diuells name anon,
Get me a wiffe whereere I may,
For I had rather be slaine!"
Thensometooke vp their hawkes in hast,145And some tooke vp their hounds;And some sware they wold not marry her,For citty nor for towne.
Thensometooke vp their hawkes in hast,
And some tooke vp their hounds;
For citty nor for towne.
And then bespake him noble King Arthur,And sware there, "by this day,150For a litle foule sight & misliking,[About nine stanzas wanting.]
And then bespake him noble King Arthur,
And sware there, "by this day,
For a litle foule sight & misliking,
[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."
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."
155And then bespake him gentle Gawaine,With one soe mild of moode;Sayes, "well I know what I wold say,God grant it may be good!
And then bespake him gentle Gawaine,
With one soe mild of moode;
Sayes, "well I know what I wold say,
God grant it may be good!
"To haue thee fowle in the night,160When I with thee shold play—Yet I had rather, if I might,Haue thee fowle in the day."
"To haue thee fowle in the night,
When I with thee shold play—
Yet I had rather, if I might,
Haue thee fowle in the day."
"What, when lords goe with therfeires," shee said,"Both to the ale and wine;165Alas! then I must hyde my selfe,I must not goe withinne."
"What, when lords goe with therfeires," shee said,
"Both to the ale and wine;
Alas! then I must hyde my selfe,
I must not goe withinne."
And then bespake him gentle Gawaine,Said, "Lady, thats but a skill;And because thou art my owne lady,170Thou shall haue all thy will."
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."
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.
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.
175"My father was an old knight,And yett it chanced soe,That he married a younge lady,That brought me to this woe.
"My father was an old knight,
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,180To the greene forrest to dwell;And there I must walke in womans liknesse,Most like a feeind of hell.
"Shee witched me, being a faire young lady,
To the greene forrest to dwell;
And there I must walke in womans liknesse,
Most like a feeind of hell.
"She witched my brother to a carlist b....[About nine stanzas wanting.]
"She witched my brother to a carlist b....
[About nine stanzas wanting.]
That looked soe foule, and that was wont185On the wild more to goe.
That looked soe foule, and that was wont
On the wild more to goe.
"Come kisse her, brother Kay," then said Sir Gawaine,"And amend the of thy liffe;I sweare this is the same ladyThat I marryed to my wiffe."
"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."
190Sir Kay kissed that lady bright,Standing vpon his ffeete;He swore, as he was trew knight,The spice was neuer soe sweete.
Sir Kay kissed that lady bright,
Standing vpon his ffeete;
He swore, as he was trew knight,
The spice was neuer soe sweete.
"Well, cozen Gawaine," sayes Sir Kay,195"Thy chance is fallen arright;For thou hast gotten one of the fairest maids,I euer saw with my sight."
"Well, cozen Gawaine," sayes Sir Kay,
"Thy chance is fallen arright;
For thou hast gotten one of the fairest maids,
I euer saw with my sight."
"It is my fortune," said Sir Gawaine;"For my vnckle Arthurs sake,200I am glad as grasse wold be of raine,Great joy that I may take."
"It is my fortune," said Sir Gawaine;
"For my vnckle Arthurs sake,
I am glad as grasse wold be of raine,
Great joy that I may take."
Sir Gawaine tooke the lady by the one arme,Sir Kay tooke her by the tother;They led her straight to King Arthur,205As they were brother and brother.
Sir Gawaine tooke the lady by the one arme,
Sir Kay tooke her by the tother;
They led her straight to King Arthur,
As they were brother and brother.
King Arthur welcomed them there all,And soe did lady Geneuer, his queene;With all the knights of the Round Table,Most seemly to be seene.
King Arthur welcomed them there all,
And soe did lady Geneuer, his queene;
With all the knights of the Round Table,
Most seemly to be seene.
210King Arthur beheld that lady faire,That was soe faire & bright;He thanked Christ in TrinityFor Sir Gawaine, that gentle knight.
King Arthur beheld that lady faire,
That was soe faire & bright;
He thanked Christ in Trinity
For Sir Gawaine, that gentle knight.
215Soe did the knights, both more and lesse,Rejoyced all that day,For the good chance that hapened wasTo Sir Gawaine and his lady gay.
Soe did the knights, both more and lesse,
Rejoyced all that day,
For the good chance that hapened was
To Sir Gawaine and his lady gay.
13, Yea woman.
13, Yea woman.
24, Cawaine.
24, Cawaine.
38, O else.
38, O else.
85, srinde.
85, srinde.
97, hands.
97, hands.
100, The.
100, The.
144, soome.
144, soome.
163, seires.
163, seires.
"The subject of this ballad is evidently taken from the old romanceMorte Arthur, but with some variations, especially in the concluding stanzas; in which the author seems rather to follow the traditions of the old Welsh Bards, who 'believed that King Arthur was not dead, but conveied awaie by the Fairies into some pleasant place, where he should remaine for a time, and then returne againe and reign in as great authority as ever.' (Holinshed, B. 5, c. 14.) Or, as it is expressed in an old chronicle printed at Antwerp, 1493, by Ger. de Leew: 'The Bretons supposen, that he [King Arthur] shall come yet and conquere all Bretaigne, for certes this is the prophicye of Merlyn, He sayd, that his deth shall be doubteous; and sayd soth, for men thereof yet have doubte, and shullen for ever more,—for men wyt not whether that he lyveth or is dede.' See more ancient testimonies in Selden's Notes on Polyolbion, Song 3.
"This fragment, being very incorrect and imperfectin the original MS., hath received some conjectural emendations, and even a supplement of three or four stanzas composed from the romance ofMorte Arthur." PERCY.
On Trinitye Mondaye in the morne,This sore battayle was doom'd to bee,Where manye a knighte cry'd, Well-awaye!Alacke, it was the more pittìe.5Ere the first crowinge of the cocke,When as the kinge in his bed laye,He thoughteSir Gawaineto him came,And there to him these wordes did saye."Nowe, as you are mine unkle deare,10And as you prize your life, this dayeO meet not with your foe in fighte;Putt off the battayle, if yee maye."For Sir Launcelot is nowe in Fraunce,And with him many an hardye knighte:15Who will within this moneth be backe,And will assiste yee in the fighte."The kinge then call'd his nobles all,Before the breakinge of the daye;And tolde them howe Sir Gawaine came,20And there to him these wordes did saye.His nobles all this counsayle gave,That earlye in the morning, heeShold send awaye an herauld at armes,To aske a parley faire and free.Then twelve good knightes King Arthur chose,25The best of all that with him were,To parley with the foe in field,And make with him agreement faire.The king he charged all his hoste,30In readinesse there for to bee;But noe man sholde noe weapon sturre,Unlesse a sword drawne they shold see.And Mordred, on the other parte,Twelve of his knights did likewise bringe,35The beste of all his companye,To holde the parley with the kinge.Sir Mordred alsoe charged his hoste,In readinesse there for to bee;But noe man sholde noe weapon sturre,40But if a sworde drawne they shold see.For he durste not hisunkletruste,Nor he hisnephewe, sothe to tell;Alacke! it was a woefulle case,As ere in Christentye befelle.45But when they were together mette,And both to faire accordance broughte,And a month's league betweene them sette,Before the battayle sholde be foughte,An addere crept forth of a bushe,50Stunge one o' the king's knightes on the knee;Alacke! it was a woefulle chance,As ever was in Christentìe.When the knighte found him wounded sore,And sawe the wild-worme hanginge there,55His sworde he from his scabberde drewe;A piteous case, as ye shall heare.For when the two hostes sawe the sworde,They joyned battayle instantlye;Till of so manye noble knightes,60On one side there were left but three.For all were slaine that durst abide,And but some fewe that fled awaye:Ah mee! it was a bloodye fielde,As ere was foughte on summer's daye.65Upon King Arthur's own partyè,Onlye himselfe escaped there,And Lukyn Duke of Gloster free,And the king's butler Bedevere.And when the king beheld his knightes70All dead and scattered on the molde,The teares fast trickled downe his face;That manlye face in fight so bolde."Nowe reste yee all, brave knights," he said,"Soe true and faithful to your trust:75And must yee then, yee valiant hearts,Be lefte to moulder into dust!"Most loyal have yee been to mee,Most true and faithful unto deathe:And, oh! to rayse yee up againe,80How freelye could I yield my breathe!"But see, the traitor's yet alive!Lo where hee stalkes among the deade!Nowe bitterlye he shall abye,And vengeance fall upon his head."85"O staye, my liege," then sayd the duke;"O staye for love and charitìe;Remember what the vision spake,Nor meete your foe, if it may bee.""O staye mee not, thou worthye wight,90This debt my loyal knights I owe:Betide me life, betide me death,I will avenge them of their foe."Then straite he grasp'd his trustye speare,And on his horse then mounted hee:95As his butler holpe him to his horse,His bowels gushed to his knee."Alas!" then sayd the noble king,"That I should live this sight to see!To see this good knight here be slaine,100All for his love in helping mee!"He put his speare into his reste,And to Sir Mordred loud gan crye;"Nowe sette thyself upon thy guarde,For, traitor, nowe thy death is nye."105Sir Mordred lifted up his sworde,And fierce to meet the king ran hee:The king his speare he through him thrust,A fathom thorow his bodìe.When Mordred felt the stroke of death,110And found that he was wounded soe,He thruste himselfe upon the speare,And strucke the king a deadlye blowe.Then grimmlye dyed Sir Mordered,Presentlye upon that tree:115And bloody streames ranne from the kinge,Ere to the duke returned hee.Sir Lukyn then he thus bespake:"Sir knighte, thou hast been faithfulle tryde;Nowe take my swordExcalibar,120That hangs so freelye by my syde,"O take my sword Excalibar,And there into the river throwe:For here, henceforth, benethe this tree,All use of weapons I foregoe.125"And fare thee well, thou trustye sword,A better neer had valiant knighte;With thee full ofte, and many a dayeHave I withstood my foe in fighte."With this good fauchion in my hande,130Oft have I reapd the bloody feelde:But nowe the fatalle houre is come,That never more I may thee weelde."The duke to the river side he went,And there his owne sword in threwe he;135But he kept back Excalibar,He kept it back in privitie.For all of coleyne was the blade,And all the hilte of precious stone:140"And ever alacke!" then sayd the knighte,"Must such a sword awaye be throwne?"Then backe he came unto the kinge,Who sayd, "Sir Lukyn, what did yee see?""Nothing, my liege, save that the windeBlewe oer the waters faire and free."145"O goe againe," then said the kinge,"O good Sir Lukyn, goe againe:Into the rivere throwe my sword,Nor keepe me lingering here in paine."The duke then to the river went,150And the kings scabbard in threwe hee;But hee kept backe Excalibar,And hid it undernethe a tree.Then backe he came to tell the kinge,Who sayde, "Sir Lukyn, sawe ye oughte?"155"Nothinge, my liege, save that the windeNowe with the angrye waters fought.""O Lukyn, Lukyn," said the kinge,"Twice haste thou dealt deceytfullye:Alacke, whom may wee ever truste,160When suche a knighte soe false can bee!"Saye, wouldst thou have thy master dead,All for a sword that wins thine eye?Now goe againe, and throwe it in,Or here the one of us shall dye."165The duke, all shent with this rebuke,No aunswere made unto the kinge;But to the rivere tooke the sworde,And threwe it far as he coulde flinge.A hande and an arme did meete the sworde,170And flourishd three times in the air;Then sunke benethe the renninge streme,And of the duke was seene noe mair.All sore astonied stood the duke,He stood as still, as still mote bee;175Then hastend backe to tell the kinge,But he was gone from under the tree.But to what place, he cold not tell,For never after hee did him see;But hee sawe a barge goe from the land,180And hee heard ladyes howle and crye.And whether the kinge were there, or not,Hee never knewe, nor ever colde;For from that sad and direfulle daye,Hee never more was seene on molde.
On Trinitye Mondaye in the morne,This sore battayle was doom'd to bee,Where manye a knighte cry'd, Well-awaye!Alacke, it was the more pittìe.
On Trinitye Mondaye in the morne,
This sore battayle was doom'd to bee,
Where manye a knighte cry'd, Well-awaye!
Alacke, it was the more pittìe.
5Ere the first crowinge of the cocke,When as the kinge in his bed laye,He thoughteSir Gawaineto him came,And there to him these wordes did saye.
Ere the first crowinge of the cocke,
When as the kinge in his bed laye,
He thoughteSir Gawaineto him came,
And there to him these wordes did saye.
"Nowe, as you are mine unkle deare,10And as you prize your life, this dayeO meet not with your foe in fighte;Putt off the battayle, if yee maye.
"Nowe, as you are mine unkle deare,
And as you prize your life, this daye
O meet not with your foe in fighte;
Putt off the battayle, if yee maye.
"For Sir Launcelot is nowe in Fraunce,And with him many an hardye knighte:15Who will within this moneth be backe,And will assiste yee in the fighte."
"For Sir Launcelot is nowe in Fraunce,
And with him many an hardye knighte:
Who will within this moneth be backe,
And will assiste yee in the fighte."
The kinge then call'd his nobles all,Before the breakinge of the daye;And tolde them howe Sir Gawaine came,20And there to him these wordes did saye.
The kinge then call'd his nobles all,
Before the breakinge of the daye;
And tolde them howe Sir Gawaine came,
And there to him these wordes did saye.
His nobles all this counsayle gave,That earlye in the morning, heeShold send awaye an herauld at armes,To aske a parley faire and free.
His nobles all this counsayle gave,
That earlye in the morning, hee
Shold send awaye an herauld at armes,
To aske a parley faire and free.
Then twelve good knightes King Arthur chose,25The best of all that with him were,To parley with the foe in field,And make with him agreement faire.
Then twelve good knightes King Arthur chose,
The best of all that with him were,
To parley with the foe in field,
And make with him agreement faire.
The king he charged all his hoste,30In readinesse there for to bee;But noe man sholde noe weapon sturre,Unlesse a sword drawne they shold see.
The king he charged all his hoste,
In readinesse there for to bee;
But noe man sholde noe weapon sturre,
Unlesse a sword drawne they shold see.
And Mordred, on the other parte,Twelve of his knights did likewise bringe,35The beste of all his companye,To holde the parley with the kinge.
And Mordred, on the other parte,
Twelve of his knights did likewise bringe,
The beste of all his companye,
To holde the parley with the kinge.
Sir Mordred alsoe charged his hoste,In readinesse there for to bee;But noe man sholde noe weapon sturre,40But if a sworde drawne they shold see.
Sir Mordred alsoe charged his hoste,
In readinesse there for to bee;
But noe man sholde noe weapon sturre,
But if a sworde drawne they shold see.
For he durste not hisunkletruste,Nor he hisnephewe, sothe to tell;Alacke! it was a woefulle case,As ere in Christentye befelle.
For he durste not hisunkletruste,
Nor he hisnephewe, sothe to tell;
Alacke! it was a woefulle case,
As ere in Christentye befelle.
45But when they were together mette,And both to faire accordance broughte,And a month's league betweene them sette,Before the battayle sholde be foughte,
But when they were together mette,
And both to faire accordance broughte,
And a month's league betweene them sette,
Before the battayle sholde be foughte,
An addere crept forth of a bushe,50Stunge one o' the king's knightes on the knee;Alacke! it was a woefulle chance,As ever was in Christentìe.
An addere crept forth of a bushe,
Stunge one o' the king's knightes on the knee;
Alacke! it was a woefulle chance,
As ever was in Christentìe.
When the knighte found him wounded sore,And sawe the wild-worme hanginge there,55His sworde he from his scabberde drewe;A piteous case, as ye shall heare.
When the knighte found him wounded sore,
And sawe the wild-worme hanginge there,
His sworde he from his scabberde drewe;
A piteous case, as ye shall heare.
For when the two hostes sawe the sworde,They joyned battayle instantlye;Till of so manye noble knightes,60On one side there were left but three.
For when the two hostes sawe the sworde,
They joyned battayle instantlye;
Till of so manye noble knightes,
On one side there were left but three.
For all were slaine that durst abide,And but some fewe that fled awaye:Ah mee! it was a bloodye fielde,As ere was foughte on summer's daye.
For all were slaine that durst abide,
And but some fewe that fled awaye:
Ah mee! it was a bloodye fielde,
As ere was foughte on summer's daye.
65Upon King Arthur's own partyè,Onlye himselfe escaped there,And Lukyn Duke of Gloster free,And the king's butler Bedevere.
Upon King Arthur's own partyè,
Onlye himselfe escaped there,
And Lukyn Duke of Gloster free,
And the king's butler Bedevere.
And when the king beheld his knightes70All dead and scattered on the molde,The teares fast trickled downe his face;That manlye face in fight so bolde.
And when the king beheld his knightes
All dead and scattered on the molde,
The teares fast trickled downe his face;
That manlye face in fight so bolde.
"Nowe reste yee all, brave knights," he said,"Soe true and faithful to your trust:75And must yee then, yee valiant hearts,Be lefte to moulder into dust!
"Nowe reste yee all, brave knights," he said,
"Soe true and faithful to your trust:
And must yee then, yee valiant hearts,
Be lefte to moulder into dust!
"Most loyal have yee been to mee,Most true and faithful unto deathe:And, oh! to rayse yee up againe,80How freelye could I yield my breathe!
"Most loyal have yee been to mee,
Most true and faithful unto deathe:
And, oh! to rayse yee up againe,
How freelye could I yield my breathe!
"But see, the traitor's yet alive!Lo where hee stalkes among the deade!Nowe bitterlye he shall abye,And vengeance fall upon his head."
"But see, the traitor's yet alive!
Lo where hee stalkes among the deade!
Nowe bitterlye he shall abye,
And vengeance fall upon his head."
85"O staye, my liege," then sayd the duke;"O staye for love and charitìe;Remember what the vision spake,Nor meete your foe, if it may bee."
"O staye, my liege," then sayd the duke;
"O staye for love and charitìe;
Remember what the vision spake,
Nor meete your foe, if it may bee."
"O staye mee not, thou worthye wight,90This debt my loyal knights I owe:Betide me life, betide me death,I will avenge them of their foe."
"O staye mee not, thou worthye wight,
This debt my loyal knights I owe:
Betide me life, betide me death,
I will avenge them of their foe."
Then straite he grasp'd his trustye speare,And on his horse then mounted hee:95As his butler holpe him to his horse,His bowels gushed to his knee.
Then straite he grasp'd his trustye speare,
And on his horse then mounted hee:
As his butler holpe him to his horse,
His bowels gushed to his knee.
"Alas!" then sayd the noble king,"That I should live this sight to see!To see this good knight here be slaine,100All for his love in helping mee!"
"Alas!" then sayd the noble king,
"That I should live this sight to see!
To see this good knight here be slaine,
All for his love in helping mee!"
He put his speare into his reste,And to Sir Mordred loud gan crye;"Nowe sette thyself upon thy guarde,For, traitor, nowe thy death is nye."
He put his speare into his reste,
And to Sir Mordred loud gan crye;
"Nowe sette thyself upon thy guarde,
For, traitor, nowe thy death is nye."
105Sir Mordred lifted up his sworde,And fierce to meet the king ran hee:The king his speare he through him thrust,A fathom thorow his bodìe.
Sir Mordred lifted up his sworde,
And fierce to meet the king ran hee:
The king his speare he through him thrust,
A fathom thorow his bodìe.
When Mordred felt the stroke of death,110And found that he was wounded soe,He thruste himselfe upon the speare,And strucke the king a deadlye blowe.
When Mordred felt the stroke of death,
And found that he was wounded soe,
He thruste himselfe upon the speare,
And strucke the king a deadlye blowe.
Then grimmlye dyed Sir Mordered,Presentlye upon that tree:115And bloody streames ranne from the kinge,Ere to the duke returned hee.
Then grimmlye dyed Sir Mordered,
Presentlye upon that tree:
And bloody streames ranne from the kinge,
Ere to the duke returned hee.
Sir Lukyn then he thus bespake:"Sir knighte, thou hast been faithfulle tryde;Nowe take my swordExcalibar,120That hangs so freelye by my syde,
Sir Lukyn then he thus bespake:
"Sir knighte, thou hast been faithfulle tryde;
Nowe take my swordExcalibar,
That hangs so freelye by my syde,
"O take my sword Excalibar,And there into the river throwe:For here, henceforth, benethe this tree,All use of weapons I foregoe.
"O take my sword Excalibar,
And there into the river throwe:
For here, henceforth, benethe this tree,
All use of weapons I foregoe.
125"And fare thee well, thou trustye sword,A better neer had valiant knighte;With thee full ofte, and many a dayeHave I withstood my foe in fighte.
"And fare thee well, thou trustye sword,
A better neer had valiant knighte;
With thee full ofte, and many a daye
Have I withstood my foe in fighte.
"With this good fauchion in my hande,130Oft have I reapd the bloody feelde:But nowe the fatalle houre is come,That never more I may thee weelde."
"With this good fauchion in my hande,
Oft have I reapd the bloody feelde:
But nowe the fatalle houre is come,
That never more I may thee weelde."
The duke to the river side he went,And there his owne sword in threwe he;135But he kept back Excalibar,He kept it back in privitie.
The duke to the river side he went,
And there his owne sword in threwe he;
But he kept back Excalibar,
He kept it back in privitie.
For all of coleyne was the blade,And all the hilte of precious stone:140"And ever alacke!" then sayd the knighte,"Must such a sword awaye be throwne?"
For all of coleyne was the blade,
And all the hilte of precious stone:
"And ever alacke!" then sayd the knighte,
"Must such a sword awaye be throwne?"
Then backe he came unto the kinge,Who sayd, "Sir Lukyn, what did yee see?""Nothing, my liege, save that the windeBlewe oer the waters faire and free."
Then backe he came unto the kinge,
Who sayd, "Sir Lukyn, what did yee see?"
"Nothing, my liege, save that the winde
Blewe oer the waters faire and free."
145"O goe againe," then said the kinge,"O good Sir Lukyn, goe againe:Into the rivere throwe my sword,Nor keepe me lingering here in paine."
"O goe againe," then said the kinge,
"O good Sir Lukyn, goe againe:
Into the rivere throwe my sword,
Nor keepe me lingering here in paine."
The duke then to the river went,150And the kings scabbard in threwe hee;But hee kept backe Excalibar,And hid it undernethe a tree.
The duke then to the river went,
And the kings scabbard in threwe hee;
But hee kept backe Excalibar,
And hid it undernethe a tree.
Then backe he came to tell the kinge,Who sayde, "Sir Lukyn, sawe ye oughte?"155"Nothinge, my liege, save that the windeNowe with the angrye waters fought."
Then backe he came to tell the kinge,
Who sayde, "Sir Lukyn, sawe ye oughte?"
"Nothinge, my liege, save that the winde
Nowe with the angrye waters fought."
"O Lukyn, Lukyn," said the kinge,"Twice haste thou dealt deceytfullye:Alacke, whom may wee ever truste,160When suche a knighte soe false can bee!
"O Lukyn, Lukyn," said the kinge,
"Twice haste thou dealt deceytfullye:
Alacke, whom may wee ever truste,
When suche a knighte soe false can bee!
"Saye, wouldst thou have thy master dead,All for a sword that wins thine eye?Now goe againe, and throwe it in,Or here the one of us shall dye."
"Saye, wouldst thou have thy master dead,
All for a sword that wins thine eye?
Now goe againe, and throwe it in,
Or here the one of us shall dye."
165The duke, all shent with this rebuke,No aunswere made unto the kinge;But to the rivere tooke the sworde,And threwe it far as he coulde flinge.
The duke, all shent with this rebuke,
No aunswere made unto the kinge;
But to the rivere tooke the sworde,
And threwe it far as he coulde flinge.
A hande and an arme did meete the sworde,170And flourishd three times in the air;Then sunke benethe the renninge streme,And of the duke was seene noe mair.
A hande and an arme did meete the sworde,
And flourishd three times in the air;
Then sunke benethe the renninge streme,
And of the duke was seene noe mair.
All sore astonied stood the duke,He stood as still, as still mote bee;175Then hastend backe to tell the kinge,But he was gone from under the tree.
All sore astonied stood the duke,
He stood as still, as still mote bee;
Then hastend backe to tell the kinge,
But he was gone from under the tree.
But to what place, he cold not tell,For never after hee did him see;But hee sawe a barge goe from the land,180And hee heard ladyes howle and crye.
But to what place, he cold not tell,
For never after hee did him see;
But hee sawe a barge goe from the land,
And hee heard ladyes howle and crye.
And whether the kinge were there, or not,Hee never knewe, nor ever colde;For from that sad and direfulle daye,Hee never more was seene on molde.
And whether the kinge were there, or not,
Hee never knewe, nor ever colde;
For from that sad and direfulle daye,
Hee never more was seene on molde.
7. Sir Gawaine had been killed at Arthur's landing on his return from abroad. See the next ballad, ver. 73. P.
7. Sir Gawaine had been killed at Arthur's landing on his return from abroad. See the next ballad, ver. 73. P.
41, 42, the folio MS. reads father ... sonne.
41, 42, the folio MS. reads father ... sonne.
119. More commonly calledCaliburn.In the folio MS.Escalberd. P.
119. More commonly calledCaliburn.In the folio MS.Escalberd. P.
"We have here a short summary of King Arthur's History as given by Jeff. of Monmouth and the old Chronicles, with the addition of a few circumstances from the romanceMorte Arthur.—The ancient chronicle of Ger. de Leew (quoted above in p. 40,) seems to have been chiefly followed: upon the authority of which we have restored some of the names which were corrupted in the MS., and have transposed one stanza, which appeared to be misplaced:viz., that beginning at v. 49, which in the MS. followed v. 36.
"Printed from the Editor's ancient folio MS."
PERCY.
OfBrutus'blood, in Brittaine borne,King Arthur I am to name;Through Christendome and HeathynesseWell knowne is my worthy fame.5In Jesus Christ I doe beleeve;I am a Christyan bore;The Father, Sone, and Holy Gost,One God, I doe adore.In thefour hundred ninetieth yeere,10Oer Brittaine I did rayne,After my Savior Christ his byrth,What time I did maintaineThe fellowshipp of the Table Round,Soe famous in those dayes;15Whereatt a hundred noble knightsAnd thirty sat alwayes:Who for their deeds and and martiall feates,As bookes done yett record,Amongst all other nations20Wer feared through the world.And in the castle off TyntagillKing Uther mee begate,OfAgyana, a bewtyous ladye,And come of'hie'estate.25And when I was fifteen yeere old,Then was I crowned kinge:All Brittaine, that was att an upròre,I did to quiett bringe;And drove the Saxons from the realme,30Who had opprest this land;All Scotland then, throughe manly feates,I conquered with my hand.Ireland, Denmarke, Norwaye,These countryes wan I all;35Iseland, Gotheland, and Swetheland;And made their kings my thrall.I conquered all Gallya,That now is called France;And slew the hardyeFroll in feild,40My honor to advance.And the ugly gyantDynabus,Soe terrible to vewe,That in Saint Barnards mount did lye,By force of armes I slew.45And Lucyus, the emperour of Rome,I brought to deadly wracke;And a thousand more of noble knightesFor feare did turne their backe.Five kinges of Pavye I did kill50Amidst that bloody strife;Besides the Grecian emperour,Who alsoe lost his liffe.Whose carcasse I did send to Rome,Cladd poorlye on a beere;55And afterward I past Mount-JoyeThe next approaching yeere.Then I came to Rome, where I was mettRight as a conquerour,And by all the cardinalls solempnelye60I was crowned an emperour.One winter there I made abode,Then word to mee was brought,Howe Mordred had oppressed the crowne,What treason he had wrought65Att home in Brittaine with my queene:Therfore I came with speedeTo Brittaine backe, with all my power,To quitt that traitorous deede;And soone at Sandwiche I arrivde,70Where Mordred me withstoode:But yett at last I landed there,With effusion of much blood.For there my nephew Sir Gawaine dyed,Being wounded in that sore75The whiche Sir Lancelot in fightHad given him before.Thence chased I Mordered away,Who fledd to London right,From London to Winchester, and80To Cornewalle tooke his flyght.And still I him pursued with speed,Till at last wee mett;Wherby an appointed day of fightWas there agreed and sett:85Where we did fight, of mortal lifeEche other to deprive,Till of a hundred thousand menScarce one was left alive.There all the noble chivalrye90Of Brittaine tooke their end:O see how fickle is their stateThat doe onfatesdepend!There all the traiterous men were slaine,Not one escapte away;95And there dyed all my vallyant knightesAlas! that woefull day!Two and twenty yeere I ware the crowneIn honor and great fame,And thus by death was suddenlye100Deprived of the same.
OfBrutus'blood, in Brittaine borne,King Arthur I am to name;Through Christendome and HeathynesseWell knowne is my worthy fame.
OfBrutus'blood, in Brittaine borne,
King Arthur I am to name;
Through Christendome and Heathynesse
Well knowne is my worthy fame.
5In Jesus Christ I doe beleeve;I am a Christyan bore;The Father, Sone, and Holy Gost,One God, I doe adore.
In Jesus Christ I doe beleeve;
I am a Christyan bore;
The Father, Sone, and Holy Gost,
One God, I doe adore.
In thefour hundred ninetieth yeere,10Oer Brittaine I did rayne,After my Savior Christ his byrth,What time I did maintaine
In thefour hundred ninetieth yeere,
Oer Brittaine I did rayne,
After my Savior Christ his byrth,
What time I did maintaine
The fellowshipp of the Table Round,Soe famous in those dayes;15Whereatt a hundred noble knightsAnd thirty sat alwayes:
The fellowshipp of the Table Round,
Soe famous in those dayes;
Whereatt a hundred noble knights
And thirty sat alwayes:
Who for their deeds and and martiall feates,As bookes done yett record,Amongst all other nations20Wer feared through the world.
Who for their deeds and and martiall feates,
As bookes done yett record,
Amongst all other nations
Wer feared through the world.
And in the castle off TyntagillKing Uther mee begate,OfAgyana, a bewtyous ladye,And come of'hie'estate.
And in the castle off Tyntagill
King Uther mee begate,
OfAgyana, a bewtyous ladye,
And come of'hie'estate.
25And when I was fifteen yeere old,Then was I crowned kinge:All Brittaine, that was att an upròre,I did to quiett bringe;
And when I was fifteen yeere old,
Then was I crowned kinge:
All Brittaine, that was att an upròre,
I did to quiett bringe;
And drove the Saxons from the realme,30Who had opprest this land;All Scotland then, throughe manly feates,I conquered with my hand.
And drove the Saxons from the realme,
Who had opprest this land;
All Scotland then, throughe manly feates,
I conquered with my hand.
Ireland, Denmarke, Norwaye,These countryes wan I all;35Iseland, Gotheland, and Swetheland;And made their kings my thrall.
Ireland, Denmarke, Norwaye,
These countryes wan I all;
Iseland, Gotheland, and Swetheland;
And made their kings my thrall.
I conquered all Gallya,That now is called France;And slew the hardyeFroll in feild,40My honor to advance.
I conquered all Gallya,
That now is called France;
And slew the hardyeFroll in feild,
My honor to advance.
And the ugly gyantDynabus,Soe terrible to vewe,That in Saint Barnards mount did lye,By force of armes I slew.
And the ugly gyantDynabus,
Soe terrible to vewe,
That in Saint Barnards mount did lye,
By force of armes I slew.
45And Lucyus, the emperour of Rome,I brought to deadly wracke;And a thousand more of noble knightesFor feare did turne their backe.
And Lucyus, the emperour of Rome,
I brought to deadly wracke;
And a thousand more of noble knightes
For feare did turne their backe.
Five kinges of Pavye I did kill50Amidst that bloody strife;Besides the Grecian emperour,Who alsoe lost his liffe.
Five kinges of Pavye I did kill
Amidst that bloody strife;
Besides the Grecian emperour,
Who alsoe lost his liffe.
Whose carcasse I did send to Rome,Cladd poorlye on a beere;55And afterward I past Mount-JoyeThe next approaching yeere.
Whose carcasse I did send to Rome,
Cladd poorlye on a beere;
And afterward I past Mount-Joye
The next approaching yeere.
Then I came to Rome, where I was mettRight as a conquerour,And by all the cardinalls solempnelye60I was crowned an emperour.
Then I came to Rome, where I was mett
Right as a conquerour,
And by all the cardinalls solempnelye
I was crowned an emperour.
One winter there I made abode,Then word to mee was brought,Howe Mordred had oppressed the crowne,What treason he had wrought
One winter there I made abode,
Then word to mee was brought,
Howe Mordred had oppressed the crowne,
What treason he had wrought
65Att home in Brittaine with my queene:Therfore I came with speedeTo Brittaine backe, with all my power,To quitt that traitorous deede;
Att home in Brittaine with my queene:
Therfore I came with speede
To Brittaine backe, with all my power,
To quitt that traitorous deede;
And soone at Sandwiche I arrivde,70Where Mordred me withstoode:But yett at last I landed there,With effusion of much blood.
And soone at Sandwiche I arrivde,
Where Mordred me withstoode:
But yett at last I landed there,
With effusion of much blood.
For there my nephew Sir Gawaine dyed,Being wounded in that sore75The whiche Sir Lancelot in fightHad given him before.
For there my nephew Sir Gawaine dyed,
Being wounded in that sore
The whiche Sir Lancelot in fight
Had given him before.
Thence chased I Mordered away,Who fledd to London right,From London to Winchester, and80To Cornewalle tooke his flyght.
Thence chased I Mordered away,
Who fledd to London right,
From London to Winchester, and
To Cornewalle tooke his flyght.
And still I him pursued with speed,Till at last wee mett;Wherby an appointed day of fightWas there agreed and sett:
And still I him pursued with speed,
Till at last wee mett;
Wherby an appointed day of fight
Was there agreed and sett:
85Where we did fight, of mortal lifeEche other to deprive,Till of a hundred thousand menScarce one was left alive.
Where we did fight, of mortal life
Eche other to deprive,
Till of a hundred thousand men
Scarce one was left alive.
There all the noble chivalrye90Of Brittaine tooke their end:O see how fickle is their stateThat doe onfatesdepend!
There all the noble chivalrye
Of Brittaine tooke their end:
O see how fickle is their state
That doe onfatesdepend!
There all the traiterous men were slaine,Not one escapte away;95And there dyed all my vallyant knightesAlas! that woefull day!
There all the traiterous men were slaine,
Not one escapte away;
And there dyed all my vallyant knightes
Alas! that woefull day!
Two and twenty yeere I ware the crowneIn honor and great fame,And thus by death was suddenlye100Deprived of the same.
Two and twenty yeere I ware the crowne
In honor and great fame,
And thus by death was suddenlye
Deprived of the same.
1. MS., Bruitehis.
1. MS., Bruitehis.
9, He began his reign A.D. 515, according to the Chronicles.
9, He began his reign A.D. 515, according to the Chronicles.
23, She is namedIgernain the old Chronicles.
23, She is namedIgernain the old Chronicles.
24, his, MS.
24, his, MS.
39, Froland field, MS. Froll, according to the Chronicles, was a Roman knight, governor of Gaul.
39, Froland field, MS. Froll, according to the Chronicles, was a Roman knight, governor of Gaul.
41, Danibus, MS. 49, see p. 134, v. 55.
41, Danibus, MS. 49, see p. 134, v. 55.
49, feates, MS.
49, feates, MS.
This ballad first occurs in theGarland of Good Will, and is attributed to Thomas Deloney, whose career as a song-writer extends from about 1586 to 1600. It is merely a rhymed version of a passage in theMorte D'Arthur, (Book vi. ch. 7, 8, 9, of Southey's ed.) The first two lines are quoted in the Second Part of Henry IV., A. ii. sc. 4.
The present text is nearly that of theGarland of Good Will(Percy Society, vol. xxx. p. 38), and differs considerably from that of Percy, (Reliques,i. 215.) The same, with very trifling variations, is found inOld Ballads, (1723,) ii. 21; Ritson'sAncient Songs, ii. 188; Evans'sOld Ballads, ii. 5.
When Arthur first in court began,And was approvèd king,By force of arms great victories won,And conquests home did bring;5Then into Britain straight he came,Where fifty good and ableKnights then repairèd unto him,Which were of the Round Table;And many justs and tournaments10Before them there were drest,Where valiant knights did then excel,And far surmount the rest.But one Sir Lancelot du Lake,Who was approvèd well,15He in his fights and deeds of arms,All others did excel.When he had rested him a while,To play, to game, and sport,He thought he would go try himself,20In some adventurous sort.He armèd rode in forest wide,And met a damsel fair,Who told him of adventures great,Whereto he gave good ear.25"Why should I not?" quoth Lancelot tho,"For that cause I came hither.""Thou seem'st," quoth she, "a goodly knight,And I will bring thee thither"Whereasamighty knight doth dwell,30That now is of great fame;Therefore tell me what knight thou art,And then what is your name.""My name is Lancelot du Lake."Quoth she, "it likes me than;35Here dwells a knight that never wasO'ermatch'dwith any man;"Who has in prison threescore knightsAnd four, that he has bound;Knights of King Arthur's court they be,40And of his Table Round."She brought him to a river side,And also to a tree,Whereon a copper bason hung,Hisfellowsshields to see.45He struck so hard, the bason broke:When Tarquin heard the sound,He drove a horse before him straight,Whereon a knight lay bound."Sir knight," then said Sir Lancelot,50"Bring me that horse-load hither,And lay him down, and let him rest;We'll try our force together."And as I understand, thou hast,So far as thou art able,55Done great despite and shame untoThe knights of the Round Table.""If thou be of the Table Round"(Quoth Tarquin, speedilye),"Both thee and all thy fellowship60I utterly defie.""That's overmuch," quoth Lancelot tho;"Defend thee by and by."They put their spurs unto their steeds,And each at other fly.65They coucht their spears, and horses ranAs though there had been thunder;And each struck them amidst the shield,Wherewith they broke in sunder.Their horses backs brake under them.70The knights were both astound;To void their horses they made great haste,To light upon the ground.They took them to their shields full fast,Their swords they drew out than;75With mighty strokes most eagerlyEach one at other ran.They wounded were, and bled full sore,For breath they both did stand,And leaning on their swords awhile,80Quoth Tarquin, "Hold thy hand,"And tell to me what I shall ask;""Say on," quoth Lancelot tho;"Thou art," quoth Tarquin, "the best knightThat ever I did know;85"And like a knight that I did hate;So that thou be not he,I will deliver all the rest,And eke accord with thee.""That is well said," quoth Lancelot then;90"But sith it must be so,What is the knight thou hatestthus?I pray thee to me show.""His name is Lancelot du Lake,He slew my brother dear;95Him I suspect of all the rest;I would I had him here.""Thy wish thou hast, but yet unknown;I am Lancelot du Lake!Now knight of Arthur's Table Round,100King Ban's son of Benwake;"And I desire thee do thy worst.""Ho! ho!" quoth Tarquin tho,"One of us two shall end our lives,Before that we do go.105"If thou be Lancelot du Lake,Then welcome shalt thou be;Wherefore see thou thyself defend,For now defie I thee."They buckled then together so,110Like two wild boars rashing,And with their swords and shields they ranAt one anotherslashing.The ground besprinkled was with blood,Tarquin began to faint;115For he gave back, and bore his shieldSo low, he did repent.This soonespiedSir Lancelot tho;He leapt upon him then,He pull'd him down upon his knee,120Andrushedoff his helm.And then he struck his neck in two;And when he had done so,From prison, threescore knights and fourLancelot delivered tho.
When Arthur first in court began,And was approvèd king,By force of arms great victories won,And conquests home did bring;
When Arthur first in court began,
And was approvèd king,
By force of arms great victories won,
And conquests home did bring;
5Then into Britain straight he came,Where fifty good and ableKnights then repairèd unto him,Which were of the Round Table;
Then into Britain straight he came,
Where fifty good and able
Knights then repairèd unto him,
Which were of the Round Table;
And many justs and tournaments10Before them there were drest,Where valiant knights did then excel,And far surmount the rest.
And many justs and tournaments
Before them there were drest,
Where valiant knights did then excel,
And far surmount the rest.
But one Sir Lancelot du Lake,Who was approvèd well,15He in his fights and deeds of arms,All others did excel.
But one Sir Lancelot du Lake,
Who was approvèd well,
He in his fights and deeds of arms,
All others did excel.
When he had rested him a while,To play, to game, and sport,He thought he would go try himself,20In some adventurous sort.
When he had rested him a while,
To play, to game, and sport,
He thought he would go try himself,
In some adventurous sort.
He armèd rode in forest wide,And met a damsel fair,Who told him of adventures great,Whereto he gave good ear.
He armèd rode in forest wide,
And met a damsel fair,
Who told him of adventures great,
Whereto he gave good ear.
25"Why should I not?" quoth Lancelot tho,"For that cause I came hither.""Thou seem'st," quoth she, "a goodly knight,And I will bring thee thither
"Why should I not?" quoth Lancelot tho,
"For that cause I came hither."
"Thou seem'st," quoth she, "a goodly knight,
And I will bring thee thither
"Whereasamighty knight doth dwell,30That now is of great fame;Therefore tell me what knight thou art,And then what is your name."
"Whereasamighty knight doth dwell,
That now is of great fame;
Therefore tell me what knight thou art,
And then what is your name."
"My name is Lancelot du Lake."Quoth she, "it likes me than;35Here dwells a knight that never wasO'ermatch'dwith any man;
"My name is Lancelot du Lake."
Quoth she, "it likes me than;
Here dwells a knight that never was
O'ermatch'dwith any man;
"Who has in prison threescore knightsAnd four, that he has bound;Knights of King Arthur's court they be,40And of his Table Round."
She brought him to a river side,And also to a tree,Whereon a copper bason hung,Hisfellowsshields to see.
45He struck so hard, the bason broke:When Tarquin heard the sound,He drove a horse before him straight,Whereon a knight lay bound.
"Sir knight," then said Sir Lancelot,50"Bring me that horse-load hither,And lay him down, and let him rest;We'll try our force together.
"And as I understand, thou hast,So far as thou art able,55Done great despite and shame untoThe knights of the Round Table."
"If thou be of the Table Round"(Quoth Tarquin, speedilye),"Both thee and all thy fellowship60I utterly defie."
"That's overmuch," quoth Lancelot tho;"Defend thee by and by."They put their spurs unto their steeds,And each at other fly.
65They coucht their spears, and horses ranAs though there had been thunder;And each struck them amidst the shield,Wherewith they broke in sunder.
Their horses backs brake under them.70The knights were both astound;To void their horses they made great haste,To light upon the ground.
They took them to their shields full fast,Their swords they drew out than;75With mighty strokes most eagerlyEach one at other ran.
They wounded were, and bled full sore,For breath they both did stand,And leaning on their swords awhile,80Quoth Tarquin, "Hold thy hand,
"And tell to me what I shall ask;""Say on," quoth Lancelot tho;"Thou art," quoth Tarquin, "the best knightThat ever I did know;
85"And like a knight that I did hate;So that thou be not he,I will deliver all the rest,And eke accord with thee."
"That is well said," quoth Lancelot then;90"But sith it must be so,What is the knight thou hatestthus?I pray thee to me show."
"His name is Lancelot du Lake,He slew my brother dear;95Him I suspect of all the rest;I would I had him here."
"Thy wish thou hast, but yet unknown;I am Lancelot du Lake!Now knight of Arthur's Table Round,100King Ban's son of Benwake;
"And I desire thee do thy worst.""Ho! ho!" quoth Tarquin tho,"One of us two shall end our lives,Before that we do go.
105"If thou be Lancelot du Lake,Then welcome shalt thou be;Wherefore see thou thyself defend,For now defie I thee."They buckled then together so,110Like two wild boars rashing,And with their swords and shields they ranAt one anotherslashing.
The ground besprinkled was with blood,Tarquin began to faint;115For he gave back, and bore his shieldSo low, he did repent.
This soonespiedSir Lancelot tho;He leapt upon him then,He pull'd him down upon his knee,120Andrushedoff his helm.
And then he struck his neck in two;And when he had done so,From prison, threescore knights and fourLancelot delivered tho.