But what helps complaining? In vaine I

complaine:

O willow, etc.

A sign of her falsenesse before me doth stand:

O willow, etc.

me,

O willow, etc.

I lye :

O willow, etc.

WHEN Arthur first in court began,

And was approved king,

By force of armes great victorys wanne,
And conquest home did bring,
Then into England straight he came
With fifty good and able
Knights, that resorted unto him,
And were of his round table :

And he had justs and turnaments,

Wherto were many prest,
Wherin some knights did far excell
And eke surmount the rest.

But one Sir Lancelot du Lake,
Who was approved well,

He for his deeds and feats of armes
All others did excell.

When he had rested him a while,
In play, and game, and sportt,
He said he wold goe prove himselfe
In some adventurous sort.

He armed rode in a forrest wide,
And met a damsell faire,
Who told him of adventures great,
Whereto he gave great eare.

Suche wold I find, quoth Lancelott:

For that cause came I hither.

Thou seemst, quoth shee, a knight full good,

And I will bring thee thither. Wheras a mighty knight doth dwell, That now is of great fame : Therfore tell me what wight thou art,

And what may be thy name.

"My name is Lancelot du Lake."

Quoth she, it likes me than :
Here dwelles a knight who never was
Yet matcht with any man:

Who has in prison threescore knights
And four, that he did wound;
Knights of king Arthurs court they be,
And of his table round.

She brought him to a river side,
And also to a tree,
Whereon a copper bason hung,
And many shields to see.

He struck soe hard, the bason broke;

And Tarquin soon he spyed: Who drove a horse before him fast, Whereon a knight lay tyed.

Sir knight, then sayd Sir Lancelott,

Bring me that horse-load hither, And lay him downe, and let him rest; Weel try our force together:

For, as I understand, thou hast,
Sce far as thou art able,

Done great despite and shame unto
The knights of the Round Table.

If thou be of the Table Round,
Quoth Tarquin speedilye,
Both thee and all thy fellowship

I utterly defye.

That's over much, quoth Lancelott tho, Defend thee by and by.

They sett their speares unto their steeds, And eache att other flie.

They coucht theire speares (their horses

ran,

As though there had been thunder), And strucke them each immidst their shields,

Wherewith they broke in sunder.

Their horsses backes brake under them, The knights were both astound:

To avoyd their horsses they made haste And light upon the ground.

They tooke them to their shields full fast,
Their swords they drew out than,
With mighty strokes most eagerlye
Each at the other ran.

They wounded were, and bled full sore,
'They both for breath did stand,
And leaning on their swords awhile,
Quoth Tarquine, Hold thy hand,

And tell to me what I shall aske,

Say on, quoth Lancelot tho.

His life was like a barrow hogge,

That liveth many a day,
Yet never once doth any good,
Until men will him slay.

Or like a filthy heap of dung,

That lyeth in a whoard; Which never can do any good, Till it be spread abroad.

So fares it with the usurer,

He cannot sleep in rest,

For feare the thiefe will him pursue
To plucke him from his nest.

His heart doth thinke on many a wile,
How to deceive the poore;
His mouth is almost ful of mucke,

Yet still he gapes for more.

His wife must lend a shilling,

For every weeke a penny,

Yet bring a pledge, that is double worth,
If that you will have any.

And see, likewise, you keepe your day,
Or else you loose it all:
This was the living of the wife,

Her cow she did it call.

Within that citie dwelt that time

A marchant of great fame, Which being distressed in his need, Unto Gernutus came:

Desiring him to stand his friend

For twelve month and a day, To lend to him an hundred crownes:

And he for it would pay

Whatsoever he would demand of him, And pledges he should have.

* Ver. 32. Her cow, etc., seems to have suggested to Shakespeare Shylock's argument for usury taken from Jacob's management of Laban's sheep, Act i., to which Antonio replies: "Was this inserted to make interest good?

Or are your gold and silver ewes and rams? Shylock. I cannot tell, I make it breed as fast."

No (quoth the Jew with flearing lookes),

Sir, aske what you will have.

No penny for the loane of it

For one year you shall pay ; You may doe me as good a turne, Before my dying day.

But we will have a merry jeast,

For to be talked long :
You shall make me a bond, quoth he,
That shall be large and strong:
And this shall be the forfeyture;
Of your owne fleshe a pound.
If you agree, make you the bond,

And here is a hundred crownes.

With right good will! the marchant says:
And so the bond was made.
When twelve month and a day drew on
That backe it should be payd,

The marchants ships were all at sea,

And money came not in ;
Which way to take, or what to doe
To thinke he doth begin :
And to Gernutus strait he comes
With cap and bended knee,
And sayde to him, of curtesie
I pray you beare with mee.
My day is come, and I have not
The
for to pay:
money
And little good the forfeyture
Will doe you, I dare say.

With all my heart, Gernutus sayd,
Commaund it to your minde:
In thinges of bigger waight then this
You shall me ready finde.

He goes his way; the day once past
Gernutus doth not slacke
To get a sergiant presently;

And clapt him on the backe:

And layd him into prison strong,
And sued his bond withall;
And when the judgement day was come,
For judgement he did call.