I

ISaies, ‘Come here, cuzen Gawaine so gay,My sisters sonne be yee;Ffor you shall see one of the fairest round tablesThat ever you see with your eye.’IIThen bespake Lady Queen Guenever,And these were the words said shee:‘I know where a round table is, thou noble king,Is worth thy round table and other such three.III‘The trestle that stands under this round table,’ she said,‘Lowe downe to the mould,It is worth thy round table, thou worthy king,Thy halls, and all thy gold.IV‘The place where this round table stands in,[Is fencèd round amaine]It is worth thy castle, thy gold, thy fee,And all good Litle Britaine.’V‘Where may that table be, lady?’ quoth hee,‘Or where may all that goodly building be?’‘You shall it seeke,’ shee says, ‘till you it find;You shall never gett more of me.’VIThen bespake him noble King ArthurThese were the words said hee:‘I’le make mine avow to God,And alsoe to the Trinity,VII‘I’le never sleepe one night there as I doe another’Till that round table I see:Sir Marramiles and Sir Tristeram,Fellowes that ye shall bee.VIII[‘Sir Gawaine and Sir BredbettleBe fellowes eke with me,]Weele be clad in palmers’ weede,Five palmers we will bee;IX‘There is noe outlandish man will us abide,Nor will us come nye.’Then they rived[177]east and they rived west,In many a strange countrỳ.XThen they tranckled[178]a litle further,They saw a battle new sett:‘Now, by my faith,’ saies noble King Arthur,[‘These armies be well met.’]

Saies, ‘Come here, cuzen Gawaine so gay,My sisters sonne be yee;Ffor you shall see one of the fairest round tablesThat ever you see with your eye.’

Then bespake Lady Queen Guenever,And these were the words said shee:‘I know where a round table is, thou noble king,Is worth thy round table and other such three.

‘The trestle that stands under this round table,’ she said,‘Lowe downe to the mould,It is worth thy round table, thou worthy king,Thy halls, and all thy gold.

‘The place where this round table stands in,[Is fencèd round amaine]It is worth thy castle, thy gold, thy fee,And all good Litle Britaine.’

‘Where may that table be, lady?’ quoth hee,‘Or where may all that goodly building be?’‘You shall it seeke,’ shee says, ‘till you it find;You shall never gett more of me.’

Then bespake him noble King ArthurThese were the words said hee:‘I’le make mine avow to God,And alsoe to the Trinity,

‘I’le never sleepe one night there as I doe another’Till that round table I see:Sir Marramiles and Sir Tristeram,Fellowes that ye shall bee.

[‘Sir Gawaine and Sir BredbettleBe fellowes eke with me,]Weele be clad in palmers’ weede,Five palmers we will bee;

‘There is noe outlandish man will us abide,Nor will us come nye.’Then they rived[177]east and they rived west,In many a strange countrỳ.

Then they tranckled[178]a litle further,They saw a battle new sett:‘Now, by my faith,’ saies noble King Arthur,[‘These armies be well met.’]

After travelling in many strange lands they arrive at the castle of King Cornwall, not a great way from home.

XIBut when he cam to this [Cornwall castle]And to the palace gate,Soe ready was ther a proud portèr,And met him soone therat.XIIShooes of gold the porter had on,And all his other rayment was unto the same:‘Now, by my faith,’ saies noble King Arthur,‘Yonder is a minion swaine.’XIIIThen bespake noble King Arthur,These were the words says hee:‘Come thou hither, thou proud portèr,I pray thee come hither to me.XIV‘I have two poore rings, of my finger,The better of them I’le give to thee;Tell who may be lord of this castle,Or who is lord in this cuntry?’XV‘Cornewall King,’ the porter sayes,‘There is none soe rich as hee;Neither in christendome, nor yet in heathendom,None hath soe much gold as he.’XVIAnd then bespake him noble King Arthur,These were the words sayes hee:‘I have two poore rings of my finger,The better of them I’le give thee,If thou wilt greete him well, Cornewall King,And greete him well from me.XVII‘Pray him for one night’s lodging and two meales’ meate,For his love that dyed uppon a tree;Of one ghesting[179]and two meales’ meate,For his love that dyed uppon tree.XVIII‘Of one ghesting, of two meales’ meate,For his love that was of virgin borne,And in the morning that we may scape away,Either without scath or scorne.’XIXThen forth is gone this proud portèr,As fast as he co’ld hye,And when he came befor Cornewall King,He kneelèd downe on his knee.XXSayes, ‘I have beene porter-man at thy gateThis thirty winter and three,[But there is ffive knights before itt now,The like I never did see.’]

But when he cam to this [Cornwall castle]And to the palace gate,Soe ready was ther a proud portèr,And met him soone therat.

Shooes of gold the porter had on,And all his other rayment was unto the same:‘Now, by my faith,’ saies noble King Arthur,‘Yonder is a minion swaine.’

Then bespake noble King Arthur,These were the words says hee:‘Come thou hither, thou proud portèr,I pray thee come hither to me.

‘I have two poore rings, of my finger,The better of them I’le give to thee;Tell who may be lord of this castle,Or who is lord in this cuntry?’

‘Cornewall King,’ the porter sayes,‘There is none soe rich as hee;Neither in christendome, nor yet in heathendom,None hath soe much gold as he.’

And then bespake him noble King Arthur,These were the words sayes hee:‘I have two poore rings of my finger,The better of them I’le give thee,If thou wilt greete him well, Cornewall King,And greete him well from me.

‘Pray him for one night’s lodging and two meales’ meate,For his love that dyed uppon a tree;Of one ghesting[179]and two meales’ meate,For his love that dyed uppon tree.

‘Of one ghesting, of two meales’ meate,For his love that was of virgin borne,And in the morning that we may scape away,Either without scath or scorne.’

Then forth is gone this proud portèr,As fast as he co’ld hye,And when he came befor Cornewall King,He kneelèd downe on his knee.

Sayes, ‘I have beene porter-man at thy gateThis thirty winter and three,[But there is ffive knights before itt now,The like I never did see.’]

King Cornwall questioning the strangers, they happen to speak of a certain shrine of Our Lady, from which he gathers that they have been in Little Britain. This leads him to question them concerning King Arthur.

XXIOur Lady was borne; then thought Cornewall King‘These palmers had beene in Brittaine.’XXIIThen bespake him Cornewall King,These were the words he said there:‘Did you ever know a comely king,His name was King Arthùr?’XXIIIAnd then bespake him noble King Arthùr,These were the words said hee:‘I doe not know that comly king,But once my selfe I did him see.’Then bespake Cornewall King againe,These were the words said he:XXIVSayes, ‘Seven yeere I was clad and fed,In Litle Brittaine, in a bower;I had a daughter by King Arthur’s wife,That now is called my flower;For King Arthur, that kindly cockward,Hath none such in his bower.XXV‘For I durst sweare, and save my othe,That same lady soe bright,That a man that were laid on his death bedWo’ld open his eyes on her to have sight.’—‘Now, by my faith,’ sayes noble King Arthur,‘And that’s a full faire wight!’XXVIAnd then bespake Cornewall [King] againe,And these were the words he said:‘Come hither, five or three of my knights,And feitch me downe my steed;King Arthur, that foule cockeward,Hath none such, if he had need.XXVII‘For I can ryde him as far on a dayAs King Arthur can any of his on three;And is it not a pleasure for a kingWhen he shall ryde forth on his journèy?XXVIII‘For the eyes that beene in his head,They glister as doth the gleed[180].’‘Now, by my faith,’ says noble King Arthur,‘That is a well faire steed.’

Our Lady was borne; then thought Cornewall King‘These palmers had beene in Brittaine.’

Then bespake him Cornewall King,These were the words he said there:‘Did you ever know a comely king,His name was King Arthùr?’

And then bespake him noble King Arthùr,These were the words said hee:‘I doe not know that comly king,But once my selfe I did him see.’Then bespake Cornewall King againe,These were the words said he:

Sayes, ‘Seven yeere I was clad and fed,In Litle Brittaine, in a bower;I had a daughter by King Arthur’s wife,That now is called my flower;For King Arthur, that kindly cockward,Hath none such in his bower.

‘For I durst sweare, and save my othe,That same lady soe bright,That a man that were laid on his death bedWo’ld open his eyes on her to have sight.’—‘Now, by my faith,’ sayes noble King Arthur,‘And that’s a full faire wight!’

And then bespake Cornewall [King] againe,And these were the words he said:‘Come hither, five or three of my knights,And feitch me downe my steed;King Arthur, that foule cockeward,Hath none such, if he had need.

‘For I can ryde him as far on a dayAs King Arthur can any of his on three;And is it not a pleasure for a kingWhen he shall ryde forth on his journèy?

‘For the eyes that beene in his head,They glister as doth the gleed[180].’‘Now, by my faith,’ says noble King Arthur,‘That is a well faire steed.’

After showing them other of his possessions, King Cornwall has the strangers conducted to bed; but first takes the precaution to conceal the Burlow Beanie, or Billy Blind—friendly household spirit—in a rubbish-barrel by the bedside, to listen and overhear their conversation.

XXXThen King Arthur to his bed was brought,A greivèd man was hee;And soe were all his fellowes with him.From him they thought never to flee.XXXIThen take they did that lodly[181]groome,And under the rub-chadler[182]closed was hee,And he was set by King Arthur’s bed-side,To heere theire talke and theire comunye;XXXIIThat he might come forth, and make proclamation,Long before it was day;It was more for King Cornewall’s pleasure,Then it was for King Arthur’s pay[183].XXXIIIAnd when King Arthur in his bed was laid,These were the words said hee:‘I’le make mine avow to God,And alsoe to the Trinity,That I’le be the bane of Cornewall KingeLitle Brittaine or ever I see!’XXXIV‘It is an unadvised vow,’ saies Gawaine the gay,‘As ever king hard make I;But wee that beene five christian men,Of the christen faith are wee,And we shall fight against anoynted kingAnd all his armorie.’XXXVAnd then bespake him noble Arthur,And these were the words said he:‘Why, if thou be afraid, Sir Gawaine the gay,Goe home, and drinke wine in thine owne country.’XXXVIAnd then bespake Sir Gawaine the gay,And these were the words said hee:‘Nay, seeing you have made such a hearty vow,Heere another vow make will I.XXXVII‘I’le make mine avow to God,And alsoe to the Trinity,That I will have yonder faire ladyTo Litle Brittaine with mee.

Then King Arthur to his bed was brought,A greivèd man was hee;And soe were all his fellowes with him.From him they thought never to flee.

Then take they did that lodly[181]groome,And under the rub-chadler[182]closed was hee,And he was set by King Arthur’s bed-side,To heere theire talke and theire comunye;

That he might come forth, and make proclamation,Long before it was day;It was more for King Cornewall’s pleasure,Then it was for King Arthur’s pay[183].

And when King Arthur in his bed was laid,These were the words said hee:‘I’le make mine avow to God,And alsoe to the Trinity,That I’le be the bane of Cornewall KingeLitle Brittaine or ever I see!’

‘It is an unadvised vow,’ saies Gawaine the gay,‘As ever king hard make I;But wee that beene five christian men,Of the christen faith are wee,And we shall fight against anoynted kingAnd all his armorie.’

And then bespake him noble Arthur,And these were the words said he:‘Why, if thou be afraid, Sir Gawaine the gay,Goe home, and drinke wine in thine owne country.’

And then bespake Sir Gawaine the gay,And these were the words said hee:‘Nay, seeing you have made such a hearty vow,Heere another vow make will I.

‘I’le make mine avow to God,And alsoe to the Trinity,That I will have yonder faire ladyTo Litle Brittaine with mee.

While they lie talking, an unguarded movement of the sprite in the barrel leads to his discovery. Then follows a great combat.

XXXIX[O then bespake Sir Tristram,]These were the words sayd hee:‘Befor I wold wrestle with yonder feend,It is better to be drown’d in the sea.’XLAnd then bespake Sir Bredbeddle,And these were the words said he‘Why, I will wrestle with yon lodly feend,God, my governor thou wilt bee!’XLIThen bespake him noble Arthur,And these were the words said he:‘What weapons wilt thou have, thou gentle knight?I pray thee tell to me.’XLIIHe sayes, ‘Collen brand[184]I’le have in my hand,And a Millaine[185]knife fast by my knee,And a Danish axe fast in my hands,That a sure weapon I thinke will be.’XLIIIThen with his Collen brand that he had in his hand,The bunge of that rub-chandler he burst in three;With that start out a lodly feend,With seven heads, and one body.XLIVThe fyer towards the element[186]flew,Out of his mouth, where was great plentie;The knight stoode in the middle and fought,That it was great joy to see.XLVTill his Collaine brand brake in his hand,And his Millaine knife burst on his knee,And then the Danish axe burst in his hand first,That a sure weapon he thought sho’ld be.XLVIBut now is the knight left without any weapons,And alacke! it was the more pittye;But a surer weapon then he had one,Had neuer lord in Christentye;And all was but one litle booke,He found it by the side of the sea.XLVIIHe found it at the sea-side,Wruckèd upp in a floode;Our Lord had written it with his hands,And sealed it with his bloode.

[O then bespake Sir Tristram,]These were the words sayd hee:‘Befor I wold wrestle with yonder feend,It is better to be drown’d in the sea.’

And then bespake Sir Bredbeddle,And these were the words said he‘Why, I will wrestle with yon lodly feend,God, my governor thou wilt bee!’

Then bespake him noble Arthur,And these were the words said he:‘What weapons wilt thou have, thou gentle knight?I pray thee tell to me.’

He sayes, ‘Collen brand[184]I’le have in my hand,And a Millaine[185]knife fast by my knee,And a Danish axe fast in my hands,That a sure weapon I thinke will be.’

Then with his Collen brand that he had in his hand,The bunge of that rub-chandler he burst in three;With that start out a lodly feend,With seven heads, and one body.

The fyer towards the element[186]flew,Out of his mouth, where was great plentie;The knight stoode in the middle and fought,That it was great joy to see.

Till his Collaine brand brake in his hand,And his Millaine knife burst on his knee,And then the Danish axe burst in his hand first,That a sure weapon he thought sho’ld be.

But now is the knight left without any weapons,And alacke! it was the more pittye;But a surer weapon then he had one,Had neuer lord in Christentye;And all was but one litle booke,He found it by the side of the sea.

He found it at the sea-side,Wruckèd upp in a floode;Our Lord had written it with his hands,And sealed it with his bloode.

With this book of Evangiles Sir Bredbittle, otherwise the Green Knight, overcomes the sprite, and having conjured him into a wall of stone, returns with report to King Arthur.

XLVIII[Saies] ‘That thou doe not [stir a foot]But ly still in that wall of stone,Till I have beene with noble King Arthur,And told him what I have done.’XLIXAnd when he came to the king’s chamber,He co’ld of his curtesie:Says, ‘Sleepe you, wake you, noble King Arthur?And ever Jesus waken yee!’L‘Nay, I am not sleeping, I am waking,’These were the words said hee;‘Ffor thee I have car’d; how hast thou fared?O gentle knight, let me see.’LIThe knight wrought the king his booke,Bad him behold, reede and see;And ever he found it on the back of the leafeAs noble Arthur wo’ld wish it to be.LIIAnd then bespake him King Arthur,‘Alas! thow gentle knight, how may this be,That I might see him in the same licknesseThat he stood unto thee?’LIIIAnd then bespake him the Greene Knight,These were the words said hee:‘If you’le stand stifly in the battell stronge,For I have won all the victory.’LIVThen bespake him the king againe,And these were the words said hee:‘If wee stand not stifly in this battell strong,Wee are worthy to be hang’d on a tree.’LVThen bespake him the Greene Knight,These were the words said he:Saies, ‘I doe conjure thee, thou fowle feend,In the same licknesse thou stood unto me.’LVIWith that start out a lodly feend,With seven heads, and one bodỳ;The fier towards the element flewOut of his mouth, where was great plentie.

[Saies] ‘That thou doe not [stir a foot]But ly still in that wall of stone,Till I have beene with noble King Arthur,And told him what I have done.’

And when he came to the king’s chamber,He co’ld of his curtesie:Says, ‘Sleepe you, wake you, noble King Arthur?And ever Jesus waken yee!’

‘Nay, I am not sleeping, I am waking,’These were the words said hee;‘Ffor thee I have car’d; how hast thou fared?O gentle knight, let me see.’

The knight wrought the king his booke,Bad him behold, reede and see;And ever he found it on the back of the leafeAs noble Arthur wo’ld wish it to be.

And then bespake him King Arthur,‘Alas! thow gentle knight, how may this be,That I might see him in the same licknesseThat he stood unto thee?’

And then bespake him the Greene Knight,These were the words said hee:‘If you’le stand stifly in the battell stronge,For I have won all the victory.’

Then bespake him the king againe,And these were the words said hee:‘If wee stand not stifly in this battell strong,Wee are worthy to be hang’d on a tree.’

Then bespake him the Greene Knight,These were the words said he:Saies, ‘I doe conjure thee, thou fowle feend,In the same licknesse thou stood unto me.’

With that start out a lodly feend,With seven heads, and one bodỳ;The fier towards the element flewOut of his mouth, where was great plentie.

But now with the aid of the book Sir Bredbittle has the fiend wholly at command. He is sent first to fetch the steed.

LIXAnd then bespake him the Greene Knight,And these were the words said he:Saith, ‘I conjure thee, thou fowle feend,That thou feitch downe the steed, that we see.’LXAnd then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,As fast as he co’ld hie,And feitch he did that fairè steed,And came againe by and by.LXIThen bespake him Sir Marramiles,And these were the words said hee:‘Ryding of this steed, brother Bredbeddle,The mastery belongs to me.’LXIIMarramiles tooke the steed to his hand,To ryd him he was full bold;He co’ld noe more make him goeThen a child of three yeere old.LXIIIHe laid uppon him with heele and hand,With yard that was soe fell;‘Helpe! brother Bredbeddle,’ says Marramile,‘For I thinke he be the devill of hell.LXIV‘Helpe! brother Bredbeddle,’ says Marramile,‘Helpe! for Christ’s pittye;Ffor without thy help, brother Bredbeddle,He will never be rydden for me.’LXVThen bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,These were the words said he:‘I conjure thee tell, thou Burlow-beanie,How this steed was riddin in his country.’LXVI‘In Cornewall’s window is a gold wand;Let him strike three strokes on that steed,And then he will spring forth of his handAs sparke doth out of gleede[187].’

And then bespake him the Greene Knight,And these were the words said he:Saith, ‘I conjure thee, thou fowle feend,That thou feitch downe the steed, that we see.’

And then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,As fast as he co’ld hie,And feitch he did that fairè steed,And came againe by and by.

Then bespake him Sir Marramiles,And these were the words said hee:‘Ryding of this steed, brother Bredbeddle,The mastery belongs to me.’

Marramiles tooke the steed to his hand,To ryd him he was full bold;He co’ld noe more make him goeThen a child of three yeere old.

He laid uppon him with heele and hand,With yard that was soe fell;‘Helpe! brother Bredbeddle,’ says Marramile,‘For I thinke he be the devill of hell.

‘Helpe! brother Bredbeddle,’ says Marramile,‘Helpe! for Christ’s pittye;Ffor without thy help, brother Bredbeddle,He will never be rydden for me.’

Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,These were the words said he:‘I conjure thee tell, thou Burlow-beanie,How this steed was riddin in his country.’

‘In Cornewall’s window is a gold wand;Let him strike three strokes on that steed,And then he will spring forth of his handAs sparke doth out of gleede[187].’

Then Sir Tristram requires a horn. At Sir Bredbittle’s command the sprite fetches it; but the horn will not sound until anointed with a certain powder. This also the sprite is sent to fetch.

LXXAnd then bespake Sir Bredebeddle,To the ffeend these words said hee:Says, ‘I conjure thee, thou Burlow-beanie,The powder-box thou feitch me.’LXXIThen forth is gone Burlow-beanie,As fast as he co’ld hie,And feich he did the powder-box,And came againe by and by.LXXIIThen Sir Tristeram tooke powder forth of that box,And blent it with warme sweet milke,And there put it unto that horne,And swill’d it about in that ilke.LXXIIIThen he tooke the horne into his hand,And a lowd blast he blew;He rent the horne up to the midst,All his ffellowes this they knew.LXXIVThen bespake him the Greene Knight,These were the words said he:Saies, ‘I conjure thee, thou Burlow-beanie,That thou feitch me the sword, that I see.’LXXVThen forth is gone Burlow-beanie,As fast as he co’ld hie,And feitch he did that fairè sword,And came againe by and by.LXXVIThen bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,To the king these words said he:‘Take this sword in thy hand, thou noble King Arthur,For thy vowes sake I’le give it thee,And goe strike off King Cornewall’s head,In bed where he doth lye.’LXXVIIThen forth is gone noble King Arthur,As fast as he co’ld hye,And strucken he hath off King Cornewall’s head,And came againe by and by.

And then bespake Sir Bredebeddle,To the ffeend these words said hee:Says, ‘I conjure thee, thou Burlow-beanie,The powder-box thou feitch me.’

Then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,As fast as he co’ld hie,And feich he did the powder-box,And came againe by and by.

Then Sir Tristeram tooke powder forth of that box,And blent it with warme sweet milke,And there put it unto that horne,And swill’d it about in that ilke.

Then he tooke the horne into his hand,And a lowd blast he blew;He rent the horne up to the midst,All his ffellowes this they knew.

Then bespake him the Greene Knight,These were the words said he:Saies, ‘I conjure thee, thou Burlow-beanie,That thou feitch me the sword, that I see.’

Then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,As fast as he co’ld hie,And feitch he did that fairè sword,And came againe by and by.

Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,To the king these words said he:‘Take this sword in thy hand, thou noble King Arthur,For thy vowes sake I’le give it thee,And goe strike off King Cornewall’s head,In bed where he doth lye.’

Then forth is gone noble King Arthur,As fast as he co’ld hye,And strucken he hath off King Cornewall’s head,And came againe by and by.

So King Arthur fulfils his vow; and, if the rest of the Ballad had been preserved, no doubt it would have told us how his companions fulfilled theirs.

FOOTNOTES:[177]rived = arrived, travelled.[178]tranckled = travelled.[179]ghesting = guesting, lodging.[180]gleed = live coal.[181]lodly = loathly.[182]rub-chadler = rubbish-tub.[183]pay = satisfaction.[184]Collen brand = sword of Cologne steel.[185]Millaine = Milanese.[186]element = sky.[187]gleede = live coal.

[177]rived = arrived, travelled.

[178]tranckled = travelled.

[179]ghesting = guesting, lodging.

[180]gleed = live coal.

[181]lodly = loathly.

[182]rub-chadler = rubbish-tub.

[183]pay = satisfaction.

[184]Collen brand = sword of Cologne steel.

[185]Millaine = Milanese.

[186]element = sky.

[187]gleede = live coal.

IKinge Arthur lives in merry Carleile,And seemely is to see,And there he hath with him Queene Genever,That bride soe bright of blee[188].IIAnd 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[189].IIIThe king kept a royall Christmasse,Of mirth and great honor.

Kinge Arthur lives in merry Carleile,And seemely is to see,And there he hath with him Queene Genever,That bride soe bright of blee[188].

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[189].

The king kept a royall Christmasse,Of mirth and great honor.

Soon after Christmas the King chanced to ride by Tarn Wadling[190], in the forest of Inglewood, when he was met by a fierce baron armed with a club, who offered him choice between fighting and ransom. For ransom, the King must return on New Year’s Day—

IV‘And bring me word what thing it isThat a woman will most desire;This shalbe thy ransome, Arthur,’ he sayes,‘For I’le have noe other hier.’VKing Arthur then held up his hand,According thene as was the law;He tooke his leave of the baron there,And homward can he draw.VIAnd when he came to merry Carleile,To his chamber he is gone,And ther came to him his cozen Sir Gawaine,As he did make his mone.VIIAnd there came to him his cozen Sir Gawaine,That was a curteous knight;‘Why sigh you soe sore, unckle Arthur,’ he said,‘Or who hath done thee unright?’—VIII‘O peace, O peace, thou gentle Gawaine,That faire may thee beffall!For if thou knew my sighing soe deepe,Thou wo’ld not mervaile att all.IX‘Ffor when I came to Tearne Wadling,A bold barron there I fand,With a great club upon his backe,Standing stiffe and strong.X‘And he asked me wether I wo’ld fightOr from him I shold begone,Or else I must him a ransome pay,And soe depart him from.XI‘To fight with him I saw noe cause;Methought it was not meet;For he was stiffe and strong with-all,His strokes were nothing sweete.XII‘Therefor this is my ransome, Gawaine,I ought to him to pay;I must come againe, as I am sworne,Upon the New Yeer’s day;XIII‘And I must bring him word what thing it is[That a woman will most desire].

‘And bring me word what thing it isThat a woman will most desire;This shalbe thy ransome, Arthur,’ he sayes,‘For I’le have noe other hier.’

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

And when he came to merry Carleile,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,That was a curteous knight;‘Why sigh you soe sore, unckle Arthur,’ he said,‘Or who hath done thee unright?’—

‘O peace, O peace, thou gentle Gawaine,That faire may thee beffall!For if thou knew my sighing soe deepe,Thou wo’ld not mervaile att all.

‘Ffor when I came to Tearne Wadling,A bold barron there I fand,With a great club upon his backe,Standing stiffe and strong.

‘And he asked me wether I wo’ld fightOr from him I shold begone,Or else I must him a ransome pay,And soe depart him from.

‘To fight with him I saw noe cause;Methought 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;I must come againe, as I am sworne,Upon the New Yeer’s day;

‘And I must bring him word what thing it is[That a woman will most desire].

Arthur, having collected and written down many answers to the baron’s riddle, was true to his promise, thus—

XIVThen king Arthur drest him for to ryde,In one soe rich array,Toward the fore-said Tearne Wadling,That he might keepe his day.XVAnd as he rode over a more,Hee see a lady where shee sateBetwixt an oke and a greene hollen[191];She was cladd in red scarlett.XVIThen thereas shold have stood her mouth,Then there was sett her eye;The other was in her forhead fast,The way that she might see.XVIIHer nose was crooked and turn’d outward,Her mouth stood foule a-wry;A worse form’d lady than shee was,Never man saw with his eye.XVIIITo halch upon[192]him, King Arthur,This lady was full faine,But King Arthur had forgott his lesson,What he sho’ld say againe.XIX‘What knight art thou,’ the lady sayd,‘That will not speak to me?Of me be thou nothing dismay’d,Tho I be ugly to see.XX‘For I have halched you curteouslye,And you will not me againe;Yett I may happen Sir Knight,’ shee said,‘To ease thee of thy paine.’XXI‘Give thou ease me, lady,’ he said,‘Or helpe me any thing,Thou shalt have gentle Gawaine, my cozen,And marry him with a ring.’

Then king Arthur drest him for to ryde,In one soe rich array,Toward the fore-said Tearne Wadling,That he might keepe his day.

And as he rode over a more,Hee see a lady where shee sateBetwixt an oke and a greene hollen[191];She was cladd in red scarlett.

Then thereas 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 and turn’d outward,Her mouth stood foule a-wry;A worse form’d lady than shee was,Never man saw with his eye.

To halch upon[192]him, King Arthur,This lady was full faine,But King Arthur had forgott his lesson,What he sho’ld say againe.

‘What knight art thou,’ the lady sayd,‘That will not speak to me?Of me be thou nothing dismay’d,Tho I be ugly to see.

‘For I have halched you curteouslye,And you will not me againe;Yett I may happen Sir Knight,’ shee said,‘To ease thee of thy paine.’

‘Give thou ease me, lady,’ he said,‘Or helpe me any thing,Thou shalt have gentle Gawaine, my cozen,And marry him with a ring.’

The hag thereupon gave him the right answer and he rode forward.

XXIIIAnd when he came to the Tearne Wadling,The baron there co’ld he finde,With a great weapon on his backe,Standing stiffe and stronge.XXIVAnd then he tooke King Arthur’s letters in his hands,And away he co’ld them fling,And then he puld out a good browne sword,And cryd himselfe a king.XXVAnd he sayd, ‘I have thee and thy land, Arthur,To doe as it pleaseth me,For this is not thy ransome sure,Therfore yeeld thee to me.’XXVIAnd then bespoke him noble Arthur,And bad him hold his hand:‘And give me leave to speake my mindIn defence of all my land.’XXVIIHe said, ‘As I came over a more,I see a lady where shee sateBetweene an oke and a green hollen;Shee was clad in red scarlett.XXVIII‘And she says a woman will have her will,And this is all her cheef desire:Doe me right, as thou art a baron of sckill[193],This is thy ransome and all thy hyer.’XXIXHe sayes, ‘An early vengeance light on her!She walkes on yonder more;It was my sister that told thee this,[As shee heard it of me before.]XXX‘But heer I’le make mine avow to GodTo doe her an evill turne;For an’ ever I may thate fowle theefe get,In a fyer I will her burne.’

And when he came to the Tearne Wadling,The baron there co’ld he finde,With a great weapon on his backe,Standing stiffe and stronge.

And then he tooke King Arthur’s letters in his hands,And away he co’ld them fling,And then he puld out a good browne sword,And cryd himselfe a king.

And he sayd, ‘I have thee and 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 bad him hold his hand:‘And give me leave to speake my mindIn defence of all my land.’

He said, ‘As I came over a more,I see a lady where shee sateBetweene an oke and a green hollen;Shee was clad in red scarlett.

‘And she says a woman will have her will,And this is all her cheef desire:Doe me right, as thou art a baron of sckill[193],This is thy ransome and all thy hyer.’

He sayes, ‘An early vengeance light on her!She walkes on yonder more;It was my sister that told thee this,[As shee heard it of me before.]

‘But heer I’le make mine avow to GodTo doe her an evill turne;For an’ ever I may thate fowle theefe get,In a fyer I will her burne.’

The King, having returned home, told his knights that he had in the forest a bride for one of them, and a number rode out in his company to find her.

XXXISir Lancelott and Sir Steven bold,They rode with them that day,And the formost of the companyThere rode the steward Kay.XXXIISoe did Sir Banier and Sir Bore,Sir Garrett with them soe gay,Soe did Sir Tristeram that gentle knight,To the forrest fresh and gay.XXXIIIAnd when he came to the greene forrest,Underneath a greene holly tree,Their sate that lady in red scarletThat unseemly was to see.XXXIVSir Kay beheld this lady’s face,And looked uppon her swire[194];‘Whosoever kisses this lady,’ he sayes,‘Of his kisse he stands in feare.’XXXVSir Kay beheld the lady againe,And looked upon her snout;‘Whosoever kisses this lady,’ he saies,‘Of his kisse he stands in doubt.’XXXVI‘Peace, cozen Kay,’ then said Sir Gawaine,‘Amend thee of thy life;For there is a knight amongst us allThat must marry her to his wife.’XXXVII‘What! wedd her to wiffe!’ then said Sir Kay,‘In the divell’s name anon!Gett me a wiffe where-ere I may,For I had rather be slaine!’XXXVIIIThen some tooke up their hawkes in hast.And some tooke up their hounds,And some sware they wo’ld not marry herFor citty nor for towne.XXXIXAnd then be-spake him noble King Arthur,And sware there by this day,For a litle foule sight and misliking[They should not say her Nay].

Sir Lancelott and Sir Steven bold,They rode with them that day,And the formost of the companyThere rode the steward Kay.

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

And when he came to the greene forrest,Underneath a greene holly tree,Their sate that lady in red scarletThat unseemly was to see.

Sir Kay beheld this lady’s face,And looked uppon her swire[194];‘Whosoever kisses this lady,’ he sayes,‘Of his kisse he stands in feare.’

Sir Kay beheld the lady againe,And looked upon her snout;‘Whosoever 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 allThat must marry her to his wife.’

‘What! wedd her to wiffe!’ then said Sir Kay,‘In the divell’s name anon!Gett me a wiffe where-ere I may,For I had rather be slaine!’

Then some tooke up their hawkes in hast.And some tooke up their hounds,And some sware they wo’ld not marry herFor citty nor for towne.

And then be-spake him noble King Arthur,And sware there by this day,For a litle foule sight and misliking[They should not say her Nay].

At length Sir Gawain, for Arthur’s sake, consented. The ugly bride was taken home and bedded, when to Gawain’s delight in his arms she turned to a beautiful woman. She then offered him a choice.—

XLThen shee said, ‘Choose thee, gentle Gawaine,Truth as I doe say,Wether thou wilt have me in this liknesseIn the night or else in the day.’XLIAnd then bespake him gentle Gawaine,Was one soe mild of moode,Sayes, ‘Well I know what I wo’ld say,God grant it may be good!XLII‘To have thee fowle in the nightWhen I with thee sho’ld play—Yet I had rather, if I might,Have thee fowle in the day.’XLIII‘What! when lords goe with ther feires[195],’ shee said,‘Both to the ale and wine,Alas! then I must hyde my selfe,I must not goe withinne.’XLIVAnd then bespake him gentle Gawaine,Said, ‘Lady, that’s but skill;And because thou art my owne lady,Thou shall have all thy will.’XLVThen she said, ‘Blesed be thou, gentle Gawain,This day that I thee see!For as thou seest me att this time,From hencforth I wilbe.XLVI‘My father was an old knight,And yett it chancèd soeThat he marryed a younge ladyThat brought me to this woe.XLVII‘Shee witched me, being a faire young lady,To the greene forrest to dwell,And there I must walke in woman’s liknesse,Most like a feend of hell.XLVIII‘She witched my brother to a carlish [boore]

Then shee said, ‘Choose thee, gentle Gawaine,Truth as I doe say,Wether thou wilt have me in this liknesseIn the night or else in the day.’

And then bespake him gentle Gawaine,Was one soe mild of moode,Sayes, ‘Well I know what I wo’ld say,God grant it may be good!

‘To have thee fowle in the nightWhen I with thee sho’ld play—Yet I had rather, if I might,Have thee fowle in the day.’

‘What! when lords goe with ther feires[195],’ 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, that’s but skill;And because thou art my owne lady,Thou shall have all thy will.’

Then she said, ‘Blesed be thou, gentle Gawain,This day that I thee see!For as thou seest me att this time,From hencforth I wilbe.

‘My father was an old knight,And yett it chancèd soeThat he marryed a younge ladyThat brought me to this woe.

‘Shee witched me, being a faire young lady,To the greene forrest to dwell,And there I must walke in woman’s liknesse,Most like a feend of hell.

‘She witched my brother to a carlish [boore]

Being thus given what a woman most desires (that is, her will) she is released from the spell and becomes beautiful at all times: and Sir Gawain leads his lady in triumph among the knights, to present her to the King and Queen.

L‘Come kisse her, brother Kay,’ then said Sir Gawaine,‘And amend thé of thy liffe;I sweare this is the same ladyThat I marryed to my wiffe.’LISir Kay kissed that lady bright,Standing upon his ffeete;He swore, as he was trew knight,The spice was never soe sweete.LII‘Well, cozen Gawaine,’ sayes Sir Kay,‘Thy chance is fallen arright,For thou hast gotten one of the fairest maidsI ever saw with my sight.’—LIII‘It is my fortune,’ said Sir Gawaine;‘For my unckle Arthurs sakeI am glad as grasse wold be of raine,Great joy that I may take.’LIVSir 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.LVKing Arthur welcomed them there all,And soe did Lady Genever his queene,With all the knights of the Round Table,Most seemly to be seene.LVIKing Arthur beheld that lady faireThat was soe faire and bright,He thanked Christ in TrinityFor Sir Gawaine that gentle knight.LVIISoe did the knights, both more and lesse,Rejoyced all that dayFor the good chance that hapened wasTo Sir Gawaine and his lady gay.

‘Come kisse her, brother Kay,’ then said Sir Gawaine,‘And amend thé of thy liffe;I sweare this is the same ladyThat I marryed to my wiffe.’

Sir Kay kissed that lady bright,Standing upon his ffeete;He swore, as he was trew knight,The spice was never soe sweete.

‘Well, cozen Gawaine,’ sayes Sir Kay,‘Thy chance is fallen arright,For thou hast gotten one of the fairest maidsI ever saw with my sight.’—

‘It is my fortune,’ said Sir Gawaine;‘For my unckle Arthurs sakeI 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,As they were brother and brother.

King Arthur welcomed them there all,And soe did Lady Genever his queene,With all the knights of the Round Table,Most seemly to be seene.

King Arthur beheld that lady faireThat was soe faire and bright,He thanked Christ in TrinityFor Sir Gawaine that gentle knight.

Soe did the knights, both more and lesse,Rejoyced all that dayFor the good chance that hapened wasTo Sir Gawaine and his lady gay.

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