Francis James Child

“ Thou shalt have gentle Gawaine, my cozen,
And marry him with a ring.’
‘Why, if I help thee not, thou noble King Arthur,
Of thy owne hearts desiringe,
Of gentle Gawaine . . . . .
. . . . .
* * * * *
And when he came to the Tearne Wadling,
The baron there cold he finde,
With a great weapon on his backe,
Standing stiffe and stronge. ”

“ That
must marry her to his wife.’
‘What! wedd her to wiffe!’ then said Sir Kay,
‘In the diuells name anon!
Gett me a wiffe where-ere I may,
For I had rather be slaine!’
Then some tooke vp their hawkes in hast,
And some tooke vp their hounds,
And some sware thy wold not marry her
For citty nor for towne.
And then be-spake him noble King Arthur,
And sware there by this day,
‘For a litle foule sight and misliking
. . . . .
* * * * *
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. ”

“ For an euer I may thate fowle theefe get,
In a fyer I will her burne.
* * * * *
Sir Lancelott and Sir Steven bold,
They rode with them that day,
And the formost of the company
There rode the steward Kay. ”