King Arthur promis'd on his faye,

And sware upon the roode;

The secrette then the ladye told,
As lightlye well shee cou'de.

120

"Now this shall be my paye, Sir King,

And this my guerdon bee,

That some yong, fair and courtlye knight
Thou bringe to marrye mee.'

Fast then pricked King Arthure

125

Ore hille, and dale, and downe:

And soone he founde the barone's bowre,
And soone the grimme baroùne.

He kare his clubbe upon his backe,

Hee stoode bothe stiffe and stronge;

130

And, when he had the letters reade,

Awaye the lettres flunge.

"Nowe yielde thee, Arthur, and thy lands,

All forfeit unto mee;

For this is not thy paye, Sir King,

135

Nor may thy ransome bee."

"Yet hold thy hand, thou proud baròne,

I

pray thee hold thy hand;

And give mee leave to speake once more

In reskewe of my land.

140

"Shee sayes, all women will have their wille,

"But here I will make mine avowe,

To do her as ill a turne:

For an ever I may that foule theefe gette,
In a fyre I will her burne."

155

PART THE SECOND.

HOMEWARDE pricked King Arthure,

And a wearye man was hee;

And soone he mette Queene Guenever,

That bride so bright of blee.

"What newes! what newes! thou noble king, Howe, Arthur, hast thou sped?

5

Where hast thou hung the carlish knighte?
And where bestow'd his head?"

"Now naye, nowe naye, good Sir Gawàine, My sister's sonne yee bee;

25

This lothlye ladye's all too grimme,

And all too foule for yee.

"Her nose is crookt and turn'd outwàrde,

Her chin stands all awrye;

A worse form'd ladye than shee is

Was never seen with eye."

30

"What though her chin stand all awrye,

And shee be foule to see;

I'll marry her, unkle, for thy sake,

And I'll thy ransome bee."

"Nowe thankes, nowe thankes, good Sir Gawàine,

And a blessing thee betyde!

To-morrow wee'll have knights and squires,

And wee'll goe fetch thy bride.

“And wee'll have hawkes and wee'll have houndes,

To cover our intent;

And wee'll away to the greene forèst,

As wee a hunting went."

Sir Kay beheld that ladye againe,
And looked upon her snout;
"Whoever kisses that ladye," he sayes,
"Of his kisse he stands in doubt."

"Peace, brother Kay," sayde Sir Gawaine,
"And amend thee of thy life:

For there is a knight amongst us all

Must marry her to his wife."

65

What, marry this foule queane ? " quoth Kay,

"I' the devil's name anone;

70

Gette mee a wife wherever I maye,

"Peace, lordings, peace," Sir Gawaine sayd,

"Nor make debate and strife;

"Nowe thankes, nowe thankes, good Sir Gawàine,

And a blessinge be thy meede!

For as I am thine owne ladyè,

Thou never shalt rue this deede."

Then up they took that lothly dame,
And home anone they bringe :

85

90

And all were done awaye :

"Come turne to mee, mine owne wed-lord, Come turne to mee, I praye."

95

Sir Gawaine scant could lift his head,

For sorrowe and for care;

When lo! instead of that lothelye dame,

Hee sawe a young ladye faire.

100

Sweet blushes stayn'd her rud-red cheeke,
Her eyen were blacke as sloe :

The ripening cherrye swellde her lippe,
And all her necke was snowe.

"I am thy bride, mine owne deare lorde;

The same whiche thou didst knowe,

That was soe lothlye, and was wont

Upon the wild more to goe.

"Nowe, gentle Gawaine, chuse," quoth shee,

"And make thy choice with care;

Whether by night, or else by daye,

Shall I be foule or faire ?"

"To have thee foule still in the night,

105

110

115

120

When I with thee should playe!

I had rather farre, my lady deare,

To have thee foule by daye."

"What! when gaye ladyes goe with their lordes

125