"Upon Eldridge hill there groweth a thorne, The Eldridge knighte, he pricked his steed; Upon the mores brodinge; Syr Cauline bold abode: And dare ye, syr knighte, wake there all Then either shooke his trustye speare, He sayth, "No cryance comes till my heart, And he then up, and the Eldridge knighte Nor, in faith, I wyll not flee; For, cause thou minged not Christ before, The less me dreadeth thee." Sett him in his saddle anone; And the Eldridge knighte and his ladye, To theyr castle are they gone. But every knighte of his round table Did stand both still and pale; The Soldan strucke a third fell stroke, For, whenever they lookt on the grim Soldan, Sad sorrow pierced that ladyes heart, It made their hearts to quail. All woe-begone was that fayre ladye, She cast her thought on her owne true-love, Up then sterte the stranger knighte, Ile fight for thee with this grimme Soldan, "And if thou wilt lend me the Eldridge sworde, That lyeth within thy bowre, I truste in Christe for to slay this fiende, "Goe fetch him downe the Eldridge sworde," The gyaunt he stepped into the lists, Then forthe the stranger knight he came, And nowe the gyaunt and knight be mett And she shriekt loud shriekings three. The knighte he leapt upon his feete, Quoth hee, "But heaven be now my speede, He grasped his sworde with mayne and mighte, He drave it into the Soldans syde, And pierced him to the heart. Then all the people gave a shoute, Whan they sawe the Soldan falle; And nowe the kinge, with all his barons, That curteous knighte to greete. But he, for payne and lacke of bloude, And there, all walteringe in his gore, "Come downe, come downe, my daughter deare, Thou art a leeche of skille; Farre lever had I lose halfe my landes Than this good knighte sholde spille." Downe then steppeth that fayre ladye, And now, with swordes soe sharpe of steele, "It is my life, my lord!" she sayes, They gan to lay on load. The Soldan strucke the knighte a stroke The Soldan strucke a second stroke, And shriekte and swound awaye. Sir Cauline juste lifte up his eyes, When he heard his ladye crye: Then giving her one partinge looke, |