Читать книгу English and Scottish Ballads (Vol. 1-8) - Various Authors - Страница 14

Sir Lancelott, & Sir Steven, bold,

They rode with them that day;

And the formost of the company,

There rode the steward Kay.

120

Soe did Sir Banier, & Sir Bore,

Sir Garrett with them, soe gay;

Soe did Sir Tristeram, that gentle knight,

To the forrest, fresh & gay.

And when he came to the greene forrest,

125

Vnderneath a greene holly tree,

Their sate that lady in red scarlet,

That vnseemly was to see.

Sir Kay beheld this ladys face,

And looked vppon her suire—

130

"Whosoeuer kisses this lady," he sayes,

"Of his kisse he stands in feare!"

Sir Kay beheld the lady againe,

And looked vpon her snout;

"Whosoeuer kisses this lady," he saies,

135

"Of his kisse he stands in doubt!"

"Peace, cozen Kay," then said Sir Gawaine,

"Amend thee of thy life;

For there is a knight amongst us all,

That must marry her to his wife."

140

"What! wedd her to wiffe," then said Sir Kay,

"In the diuells name anon,

Get me a wiffe whereere I may,

For I had rather be slaine!"

Then some tooke vp their hawkes in hast,

145

And some tooke vp their hounds;

And some sware they wold not marry her,

For citty nor for towne.

And then bespake him noble King Arthur,

And sware there, "by this day,

150

For a litle foule sight & misliking,

About nine stanzas wanting.

Then shee said, "choose thee, gentle Gawaine,

Truth as I doe say;

Wether thou wilt haue me in this liknesse,

In the night, or else in the day."

155

And then bespake him gentle Gawaine,

With one soe mild of moode;

Sayes, "well I know what I wold say,

God grant it may be good!

"To haue thee fowle in the night,

160

When I with thee shold play—

Yet I had rather, if I might,

Haue thee fowle in the day."

"What, when lords goe with ther feires," shee said,

"Both to the ale and wine;

165

Alas! then I must hyde my selfe,

I must not goe withinne."

And then bespake him gentle Gawaine,

Said, "Lady, thats but a skill;

And because thou art my owne lady,

170

Thou shall haue all thy will."

Then she said, "blessed be thou, gentle Gawaine,

This day that I thee see;

For as thou see me att this time,

From hencforth I wil be.

175

"My father was an old knight,

And yett it chanced soe,

That he married a younge lady,

That brought me to this woe.

"Shee witched me, being a faire young lady,

180

To the greene forrest to dwell;

And there I must walke in womans liknesse,

Most like a feeind of hell.

"She witched my brother to a carlist b. …

About nine stanzas wanting.

That looked soe foule, and that was wont

185

On the wild more to goe.

"Come kisse her, brother Kay," then said Sir Gawaine,

"And amend the of thy liffe;

I sweare this is the same lady

That I marryed to my wiffe."

190

Sir Kay kissed that lady bright,

Standing vpon his ffeete;

He swore, as he was trew knight,

The spice was neuer soe sweete.

"Well, cozen Gawaine," sayes Sir Kay,

195

"Thy chance is fallen arright;

For thou hast gotten one of the fairest maids,

I euer saw with my sight."

"It is my fortune," said Sir Gawaine;

"For my vnckle Arthurs sake,

200

I am glad as grasse wold be of raine,

Great joy that I may take."

Sir Gawaine tooke the lady by the one arme,

Sir Kay tooke her by the tother;

They led her straight to King Arthur,

205

As they were brother and brother.

King Arthur welcomed them there all,

And soe did lady Geneuer, his queene;

With all the knights of the Round Table,

Most seemly to be seene.

210

King Arthur beheld that lady faire,

That was soe faire & bright;

He thanked Christ in Trinity

For Sir Gawaine, that gentle knight.

215

Soe did the knights, both more and lesse,

Rejoyced all that day,

For the good chance that hapened was

To Sir Gawaine and his lady gay.