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

And there sir Gawaine he her wed,
And married her with a ringe,

And when they were in wed-bed laid,
And all were done awaye:

61

90

"Come turne to mee, mine owne wed-lord, 95 Come turne to mee I praye."

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.

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.

100

Sir Gawaine kiss'd that lady faire,
Lying upon the sheete:

105

And swore, as he was a true knighte,
The spice was never soe sweete.

Sir Gawaine kiss'd that lady brighte,
Lying there by his side:

110

"The fairest flower is not soe faire:

Thou never can'st bee my bride."

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.

Now, 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,
When I with thee should playe!

I had rather farre, my lady deare,
To have thee foule by daye."

115

120

What when gaye ladyes goe with their lordes 125

To drink the ale and wine;

Alas! then I must hide myself,
I must not goe with mine?

"My faire ladyè, sir Gawaine sayd,
I yield me to thy skille;
Because thou art mine owne ladyè
Thou shalt have all thy wille."

Nowe blessed be thou, sweete Gawaine,
And the daye that I thee see;
For as thou seest mee at this time,
Soe shall I ever bee.

130

135

My father was an aged knighte,

And yet it chanced soe,

He tooke to wife a false ladyè,

Whiche broughte me to this woe.

140

Shee witch'd mee, being a faire yonge maide,

In the greene forèst to dwelle;

And there to abide in lothlye shape,

Most like a fiend of helle.

Midst mores and mosses; woods, and wilds; 145

To lead a lonesome life:

Till some yong faire and courtlye knighte
Wolde marrye me to his wife:

Nor fully to gaine mine owne trewe shape,
Such was her devilish skille;
Until he wolde yielde to be rul'd by mee,
And let mee have all my wille.

She witchd my brother to a carlish boore,
And made him stiffe and stronge;

150

And built him a bowre on magicke grounde, 155 To live by rapine and wronge.

But now the spelle is broken throughe,
And wronge is turnde to righte;
Henceforth I shall bee a faire ladyè,

And hee be a gentle knighte.

160

III.

KING RYENCE'S CHALLENGE.

This song is more modern than many of those which follow it, but is placed here for the sake of the subject. It was sung before queen Elizabeth at the grand entertainment at Kenelworth castle in 1575, and was probably composed for that occasion. In a letter describing those festivities it is thus mentioned: “A "Minstral came forth with a sollem song, warranted "for story out of K. Arthur's acts, whereof I gat a "copy, and is this:

"So it fell out on a Pentecost, &c."

After the song the narrative proceeds: "At this the "Minstrell made a pause and a curtezy for Primus "Passus. More of the song is thear, but I gatt it not."

The story in Morte Arthur, whence it is taken, runs as follows: "Came a messenger hastely from king "Ryence of North Wales,-saying, that king Ryence "had discomfited and overcomen eleaven kings, and "everiche of them did him homage, and that was "this: they gave him their beards cleane flayne off,— "wherefore the messenger came for king Arthur's "beard, for king Ryence had purfeled a mantell with "kings beards, and there lacked for one a place of the "mantell, wherefore he sent for his beard, or else he "would enter into his lands, and brenn and slay, and "never leave till he have thy head and thy beard. "Well, said king Arthur, thou hast said thy mes"sage, which is the most villainous and lewdest mes66 sage that ever man heard sent to a king. Also thou "mayest see my beard is full young yet for to make

a purfell of, but tell thou the king that-or it be "long he shall do to me homage on both his knees, "or else he shall leese his head." [B. I. c. 24. See also the same Romance, B. I. c. 92.]

The thought seems to be originally taken from Jeff. Monmouth's Hist. B. X. c. 3. which is alluded to by Drayton in his Poly-Olb. Song 4. and by Spenser in Faer. Qu. 6. 1. 13. 15. See the Observations on Spenser, vol. II. p. 223.

The following text is composed of the best readings selected from three different copies. The first in Enderbie's Cambria Triumphans, p. 197. The second in the Letter above mentioned. And the third inserted in MS. in a copy of Morte Arthur, 1632, in the Bodl. Library.

Stow tells us, that king Arthur kept his round table at "diverse places, but especially at Carlion, "Winchester, and Camalet in Somersetshire." This CAMALEг, "Sometimes a famous towne or castle, is "situate on a very high tor or hill, &c." [See an exact description in Stow's Annals, Ed. 1631, p. 55.]

As it fell out on a Pentecost day,

King Arthur at Camelot kept his court royall,
With his faire queene dame Guenever the gay;
And many bold barons sitting in hall;
With ladies attired in purple and pall;
And heraults in hewkes, hooting on high,
Cryed, Largesse, Largesse, Chevaliers tres-hardie.*

A doughty dwarfe to the uppermost deas
Right pertlye gan pricke, kneeling on knee;
With steven fulle stoute amids all the preas,
Sayd, Nowe sir king Arthur, God save thee, and see!
Sir Ryence of North-gales greeteth well thee,

*Largesse, Largesse. The heralds resounded these words as oft as they received of the bounty of the knights. See "Me"moires de la Chevalerie," tom. I p. 99-The expression is still used in the form of installing knights of the garter.