And eke Sir Garratte keene;
Sir Tristram too, that gentle knight,

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To the forest freshe and greene.

And when they came to the greene forrèst,

Beneathe a faire holley tree

There sate that ladye in red scarlette

55

That unseemelye was to see.

Sir Kay beheld that lady's face,

And looked upon her sweere;

Whoever kisses that ladye, he sayes,
Of his kisse he stands in feare.

Sir Kay beheld that ladye againe,
And looked upon her snout;
Whoever kisses that ladye, he sayes,

Of his kisse he stands in doubt.

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Peace,

Peace, brother Kay, sayde sir Gawàine,

And amend thee of thy life: *
For there is a knight amongst us all,

Must marry her to his wife.

What marry this foule queane, quoth Kay,

I' the devil's name anone;

Gett mee a wife wherever I maye,

In sooth shee shall be none.

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70

Then some tooke up

their hawkes in haste,

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And some took up their houndes; And sayd they wolde not marry her,

For cities, nor for townes.

Then bespake him king Arthure,

And sware there by this daye;

For a little foule sighte and mislikìnge,

Yee shall not say her naye.

Peace, lordings, peace; sir Gawaine sayd;

Nor make debate and strife;

This lothlye ladye I will take,

And marry her to my

wife.

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Nowe thankes, nowe thankes, good sir Gawaine, 85

And a blessinge be thy meede!

For as I am thine owne ladyè,

Thou never shalt rue this deede.

Then

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,

"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.

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.

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

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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:

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"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.

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,
When I with thee should playe!

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

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120

What when gaye ladyes goe with their lordes 125

To drinke the ale and wine;

Alas! then I must hide myself,

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.

ઉ

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My

My father was an aged knighte,
And yet it chanced soe,

He tooke to wife a false ladyè,
Whiche broughte me to this woe.

Shee witch'd mee, being a faire

yonge

In the greene forèst to dwelle;

And there to abide in lothlye shape,

Most like a fiend of helle.

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maide,

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;

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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