ore yeeld thee to me.'

26.
And then bespoke him noble Arthur,
& bad him hold his hand;
'& giue me leaue to speake my mind
In defence of all my land.'

27.
He said, 'As I came over a more,
I see a lady where shee sate
Betweene an oke & a green hollen;
She was clad in red scarlett;

28.
'And she says a woman will haue her will,
& this is all her cheef desire:
Doe me right, as thou art a baron of sckill,
This is thy ransome & all thy hyer.'

29.
He sayes, 'An early vengeance light on her!
She walkes on yonder more;
It was my sister that told thee this;
& she is a misshappen hore!

30.
'But heer He make mine avow to God
To doe her an euill turne,
For an euer I may thate fowle theefe get,
In a fyer I will her burne.'

*** *** ***

[Annotations:
1.4: 'blee,' complexion.
2.4: Perhaps we should read 'stiff in stowre,' a constant expression
in ballads, 'sturdy in fight.'
11: Arthur's customary bravery and chivalry are not conspicuous in
this ballad.
18.1: 'halch upon,' salute.
21.1: 'Giue,' If.
27.3: 'hollen,' holly.
28.3: 'sckill,' reason, judgment.]

+The 2d Part+

31.
Sir Lancelott & Sir Steven bold
They rode with them that day,
And the formost of the company
There rode the steward Kay.

32.
Soe did Sir Bauier and Sir Bore,
Sir Garrett with them soe gay,
Soe did Sir Tristeram that gentle knight,
To the forrest fresh & gay.

33.
And when he came to the greene fforrest,
Vnderneath a greene holly tree
Their sate that lady in red scarlet
That vnseemly was to see.

34.
Sir Kay beheld this ladys face,
& looked vppon her swire;
'Whosoeuer kisses this lady,' he sayes,
'Of his kisse he stands in feare.'

35.
Sir Kay beheld the lady againe,
& looked vpon her snout;
'Whosoeuer kisses this lady,' he saies,
'Of his kisse he stands in doubt.'

36.
'Peace, cozen Kay,' then said Sir Gawaine,
'Amend thee of thy life;
For there is a knight amongst vs all
That must marry her to his wife.'

37.
'What! wedd her to wiffe!' then said Sir Kay,
'In the diuells name, anon!
Gett me a wiffe whereere I may,
For I had rather be slaine!'

38.
Then some tooke vp their hawkes in hast,
& some tooke vp their hounds,
& some sware they wold not marry her
For citty nor for towne.

39.
And