Chapter V: Part THE FIRST (1)

King Arthur lives in merry Carleile,
And seemely is to see;
And there with him queene Guenever,
That bride soe bright of blee.[35]

And there with him queene Guenever, 5
That bride so bright in bowre:
And all his barons about him stoode,
That were both stiffe and stowre.[36]

The king a royale Christmasse kept,
With mirth and princelye cheare; 10
To him repaired many a knighte,
That came both farre and neare.

And when they were to dinner sette,
And cups went freely round;
Before them came a faire damsèlle, 15
And knelt upon the ground.

A boone, a boone, O kinge Arthùre,
I beg a boone of thee;
Avenge me of a carlish knighte,
Who hath shent[37] my love and mee. 20

At Tearne-Wadling[38] his castle stands,
Near to that lake so fair,
And proudlye rise the battlements,
And streamers deck the air.

Noe gentle knighte, nor ladye gay, 25
May pass that castle-walle:
But from that foule discurteous knighte,
Mishappe will them befalle.

Hee's twyce the size of common men,
Wi' thewes, and sinewes stronge, 30
And on his backe he bears a clubbe,
That is both thicke and longe.

This grimme baròne 'twas our harde happe,
But yester morne to see;
When to his bowre he bare my love, 35
And sore misused mee.

And when I told him, king Arthùre
As lyttle shold him spare;
Goe tell, sayd hee, that cuckold kinge,
To meete mee if he dare. 40

Upp then sterted king Arthùre,
And sware by hille and dale,
He ne'er wolde quitt that grimme baròne,
Till he had made him quail.

Goe fetch my sword Excalibar: 45
Goe saddle mee my steede;
Nowe, by my faye, that grimme baròne
Shall rue this ruthfulle deede.

And when he came to Tearne Wadlinge
Benethe the castle walle: 50
"Come forth; come forth; thou proude baròne,
Or yielde thyself my thralle."

On magicke grounde that castle stoode,
And fenc'd with many a spelle:
Noe valiant knighte could tread thereon, 55
But straite his courage felle.

Forth then rush'd that carlish[39] knight,
King Arthur felte the charme:
His sturdy sinewes lost their strengthe,
Downe sunke his feeble arme. 60

Nowe yield thee, yield thee, kinge Arthùre,
Now yield thee, unto mee:
Or fighte with mee, or lose thy lande,
Noe better termes maye bee,

Unlesse thou sweare upon the rood, 65
And promise on thy faye,
Here to returne to Tearne-Wadling,
Upon the new-yeare's daye;

And bringe me worde what thing it is
All women moste desyre; 70
This is thy ransome, Arthur, he sayes,
He have noe other hyre.

King Arthur then helde up his hande,
And sware upon his faye,[40]
Then tooke his leave of the grimme barone 75
And faste hee rode awaye.

And he rode east, and he rode west,
And did of all inquyre,
What thing it is all women crave,
And what they most desyre. 80

Some told him riches, pompe, or state;
Some rayment fine and brighte;
Some told him mirthe; some flatterye;
And some a jollye knighte.

In letters all king Arthur wrote, 85
And seal'd them with his ringe:
But still his minde was helde in doubte,
Each tolde a different thinge.

As ruthfulle he rode over a more,
He saw a ladye sette 90
Betweene an oke, and a greene holléye,
All clad in red[41] scarlette.

Her nose was crookt and turnd outwàrde,
Her chin stoode all awrye;
And where as sholde have been her mouthe, 95
Lo! there was set her eye:

Her haires, like serpents, clung aboute
Her cheekes of deadlye hewe:
A worse-form'd ladye than she was,
No man mote ever viewe. 100

To hail the king in seemelye sorte
This ladye was fulle faine;
But king Arthùre all sore amaz'd,
No aunswere made againe.

What wight art thou, the ladye sayd, 105
That wilt not speake to mee;
Sir, I may chance to ease thy paine,
Though I be foule to see.

If thou wilt ease my paine, he sayd,
And helpe me in my neede; 110
Ask what thou wilt, thou grimme ladyè,
And it shall bee thy meede.

O sweare mee this upon the roode,
And promise on thy faye;
And here the secrette I will telle, 115
That shall thy ransome paye.

King Arthur promis'd on his faye,
And sware upon the roode;
The secrette then the ladye told,
As lightlye well shee cou'de. 120

Now this shall be my paye, sir king,
And this my guerdon bee,
That some yong fair and courtlye knight,
Thou bringe to marrye mee.

Fast then pricked king Arthùre 125
Ore hille, and dale, and downe:
And soone he founde the barone's bowre:
And soone the grimme baroùne.

He bare his clubbe upon his backe,
Hee stoode bothe stiffe and stronge; 130
And, when he had the letters reade,
Awaye the lettres flunge.

Nowe yielde thee, Arthur, and thy lands,
All forfeit unto mee;
For this is not thy paye, sir king, 135
Nor may thy ransome bee.

Yet hold thy hand, thou proud baròne,
I praye thee hold thy hand;
And give mee leave to speake once more
In reskewe of my land. 140

This morne, as I came over a more,
I saw a ladye sette
Betwene an oke, and a greene hollèye,
All clad in red scarlètte.

Shee sayes, all women will have their wille, 145
This is their chief desyre;
Now yield, as thou art a barone true,
That I have payd mine hyre.

An earlye vengeaunce light on her!
The carlish baron swore: 150
Shee was my sister tolde thee this,
And shee's a mishapen whore.

But here I will make mine avowe,
To do her as ill a turne:
For an ever I may that foule theefe gette, 155
In a fyre I will her burne.

* * * * *

PART THE SECONDE.

Homewarde pricked king Arthùre,
And a wearye man was hee;
And soone he mette queene Guenever,
That bride so bright of blee.

What newes! what newes! thou noble king, 5
Howe, Arthur, hast thou sped?
Where hast thou hung the carlish knighte?
And where bestow'd his head?

The carlish knight is safe for mee,
And free fro mortal harme: 10
On magicke grounde his castle stands,
And fenc'd with many a charme.

To bowe to him I was fulle faine,
And yielde mee to his hand:
And but for a lothly ladye, there 15
I sholde have lost my land.

And nowe this fills my hearte with woe,
And sorrowe of my life;
I swore a yonge and courtlye knight,
Sholde marry her to his wife. 20

Then bespake him sir Gawàine,
That was ever a gentle knighte:
That lothly ladye I will wed;
Therefore be merrye and lighte.

Nowe naye, nowe naye, good sir Gawàine; 25
My sister's sonne yee bee;
This lothlye ladye's all too grimme,
And all too foule for yee.

Her nose is crookt and turn'd outwàrde;
Her chin stands all awrye; 30
A worse form'd ladye than shee is
Was never seen with eye.

What though her chin stand all awrye.
And shee be foule to see:
I'll marry her, unkle, for thy sake, 35
And I'll thy ransome bee.

Nowe thankes, nowe thankes, good sir Gawàine;
And a blessing thee betyde!
To-morrow wee'll have knights and squires,
And wee'll goe fetch thy bride. 40

And wee'll have hawkes and wee'll have houndes,
To cover our intent;
And wee'll away to the greene forèst,
As wee a hunting went.

Sir Lancelot, sir Stephen[42] bolde, 45
They rode with them that daye;
And foremoste of the companye
There rode the stewarde Kaye:

Soe did sir Banier[43] and sir Bore,[44]
And eke sir Garratte[45] keene; 50
Sir Tristram too, that gentle knight,
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 scarlètte 55
That unseemelye was to see.

Sir Kay beheld that lady's face,
And looked upon her sweere;[46]
Whoever kisses that ladye, he sayes,
Of his kisse he stands in feare. 60

Sir Kay beheld that ladye againe,
And looked upon her snout;
Whoever kisses that ladye, he sayes,
Of his kisse he stands in doubt.

Peace, brother Kay, sayde sir Gawàine, 65
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; 70
Gett mee a wife wherever I maye,
In sooth shee shall be none.

Then some tooke up their hawkes in haste,
And some took up their houndes;
And sayd they wolde not marry her, 75
For cities, nor for townes.

Then bespake him king Arthùre,
And sware there by this daye;
For a little foule sighte and mislikìnge,
Yee shall not say her naye. 80

Peace, lordings, peace; sir Gawaine sayd;
Nor make debate and strife;
This lothlye ladye I will take,
And marry her to my wife.

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 up they took that lothly dame,
And home anone they bringe: 90
And there sir Gawaine he her wed,
And married her with a ringe.

And when they were in wed-bed laid,
And all were done awaye:
"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, 105
Lying upon the sheete:
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: 110
"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 115
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? 120

"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."

What when gaye ladyes goe with their lordes 125
To drinke the ale and wine;
Alas! then I must hide myself,
I must not goe with mine?

"My faire ladyè, sir Gawaine sayd,
I yield me to thy skille; 130
Because thou art mine owne ladyè
Thou shalt have all thy wille."

Nowe blessed be thou, sweete Gawàine,
And the daye that I thee see;
For as thou seest mee at this time, 135
Soe shall I ever bee.

My father was an aged knighte,
And yet it chanced soe,
He tooke to wife a false ladyè,
Whiche broughte me to this woe. 140

Shee witch'd mee, being a faire yonge maide,
In the greene forèst to dwelle;
And there to abide in lothlye shape,
Most like a fiend of helle.

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; 150
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;
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

[***]

FOOTNOTES:

[34] [Percy folio MS. ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. i. p. 104.]

[35] [complexion.]

[36] [strong.]

[37] [abused.]

[38] _Tearne-Wadling_ is the name of a small lake [in Inglewood Forest] near Hesketh in Cumberland, on the road from Penrith to Carlisle. There is a tradition, that an old castle once stood near the lake, the remains of which were not long since visible. _Tarn_, in the dialect of that country, signifies a small lake, and is still in use. ["Tarn-Wadling ... has been for the last ten years a wide meadow grazed by hundreds of sheep."--J. S. GLENNIE, in _Macmillan's Mag._ Dec. 1867, p. 167, col. 2.]

[39] churlish.

[40] faith.

[41] This was a common phrase in our old writers; so Chaucer, in his prologue to the _Cant. Tales_, says of the wife of Bath:--

"Her hosen were of fyne scarlet red."

[42] Sir F. Madden remarks that Sir Stephen does not appear in the Round Table Romances.

[43] [Perhaps intended for Bedver, the King's Constable, Tennyson's Bedivere, but more probably Ban of Benoyk, the brother of Bors.]

[44] [Bors de Gauves, or Gaunes.]

[45] [Gareth, or Gaheret, Sir Gawain's younger brother.]

[46] [neck.]

III.

KING RYENCE'S CHALLENGE.

This song is more modern than many of those which follow it, but is placed here for the sake of the subject. It was sung before queene Elizabeth at the grand entertainment at Kenelworth-castle in 1575, and was probably composed for that occasion. In a letter describing those festivities, it is thus mentioned: "A Minstral came forth with a sollem song, warranted for story out of K. Arthur's acts, whereof I gat a copy, and is this:

"So it fell out on a Pentecost, &c."

After the song the narrative proceeds: "At this the Minstrell made a pause and a curtezy for Primus Passus. More of the song is thear, but I gatt it not."

The story in Morte Arthur, whence it is taken, runs as follows: "Came a messenger hastely from king Ryence of North-Wales,--saying, that king Ryence had discomfited and overcomen eleaven kings, and everiche of them did him homage, and that was this: they gave him their beards cleane flayne off.--wherefore the messenger came for king Arthur's beard, for king Ryence had purfeled a mantell with kings beards, and there lacked for one a place of the mantell, wherefore he sent for his beard, or else he would enter into his lands, and brenn and slay, and never leave till he have thy head and thy beard. Well, said king Arthur, thou hast said thy message, which is the most villainous and lewdest message that ever man heard sent to a king. Also thou mayest see my beard is full young yet for to make a purfell of, but tell thou the king that--or it be long he shall do to me homage on both his knees, or else he shall leese his head." [B. i. c. 24. See also the same Romance, b. i. c. 92.]

The thought seems to be originally taken from Jeff. Monmouth's _Hist._ b. x. c. 3. which is alluded to by Drayton in his _Poly-Olb. Song._ 4 and by Spenser in _Faer. Qu._ 6. 1. 13. 15. See the Observations on Spenser, vol. ii. p. 223.

The following text is composed of the best readings selected from three different copies. The first in Enderbie's _Cambria Triumphans_, p. 197. The second in the Letter abovementioned. And the third inserted in MS. in a copy of _Morte Arthur_, 1632, in the Bodleian Library.

Stow tells us, that king Arthur kept his round table at "diverse places, but especially at Carlion, Winchester, and Camalet in Somersetshire." This _Camalet_, sometimes a famous towne or castle, is situate on a very high tor or hill, &c. (See an exact description in Stowe's _Annals_, ed. 1631, p. 55.)

* * * * *

As it fell out on a Pentecost day,
King Arthur at Camelot kept his court royall,
With his faire queene dame Guenever the gay;
And many bold barons sitting in hall;
With ladies attired in purple and pall; 5
And heraults in hewkes,[47] hooting on high,
Cryed, _Largesse, Largesse, Chevaliers tres-hardie_.[48]

A doughty dwarfe to the uppermost deas[49]
Right pertlye gan pricke, kneeling on knee;
With steven[50] fulle stoute amids all the preas,[51] 10
Sayd, Nowe sir king Arthur, God save thee, and see!
Sir Ryence of North-gales[52] greeteth well thee,
And bids thee thy beard anon to him send,
Or else from thy jaws he will it off rend.

For his robe of state is a rich scarlet mantle, 15
With eleven kings beards bordered[53] about,
And there is room lefte yet in a kantle,[54]
For thine to stande, to make the twelfth out:
This must be done, be thou never so stout;
This must be done, I tell thee no fable, 20
Maugre[55] the teethe of all thy round table.

When this mortal message from his mouthe past,
Great was the noyse bothe in hall and in bower:
The king fum'd; the queene screecht; ladies were aghast;
Princes puffd; barons blustred; lords began lower;
Knights stormed; squires startled, like steeds in a stower; 26
Pages and yeomen yell'd out in the hall,
Then in came sir Kay, the 'king's' seneschal.

Silence, my soveraignes, quoth this courteous knight,
And in that stound the stowre[56] began still: 30
'Then' the dwarfe's dinner full deerely was dight;[57]
Of wine and wassel he had his wille:
And, when he had eaten and drunken his fill,
An hundred pieces of fine coyned gold
Were given this dwarf for his message bold. 35

But say to sir Ryence, thou dwarf, quoth the king,
That for his bold message I do him defye;
And shortlye with basins and pans will him ring
Out of North-gales; where he and I
With swords, and not razors, quickly shall trye, 40
Whether he, or king Arthur will prove the best barbor:
And therewith he shook his good sword Excalàbor.
* * * * *

* * * * *

[+±+] Strada, in his _Prolusions_, has ridiculed the story of the
Giant's Mantle, made of the Beards of Kings.

FOOTNOTES:

[47] [party-coloured coats.]

[48] _Largesse, Largesse._ The heralds resounded these words as oft as they received of the bounty of the knights. See _Memoires de la_ _Chevalerie_, tom. i. p. 99.--The expression is still used in the form of installing knights of the garter.

[49] [dais or upper table.]

[50] [voice.]

[51] [press.]

[52] [North Wales.]

[53] _i.e._ set round the border, as furs are now round the gowns of Magistrates.

[54] [corner.]

[55] [in spite of.]

[56] [that moment the tumult.]

[57] [decked.]

IV.

KING ARTHUR'S DEATH.

A FRAGMENT.

The subject of this ballad is evidently taken from the old romance _Morte Arthur_, but with some variations, especially in the concluding stanzas; in which the author seems rather to follow the traditions of the old Welsh Bards, who believed that King Arthur was not dead, "but conveied awaie by the Fairies into some pleasant place, where he should remaine for a time, and then returne againe and reign in as great authority as ever." Holinshed, b. 5, c. 14, or as it is expressed in an old Chronicle printed at Antwerp 1493, by Ger. de Leew, "The Bretons supposen, that he [K. Arthur]--shall come yet and conquere all Bretaigne, for certes this is the prophicye of Merlyn: He sayd, that his deth shall be doubteous; and sayd soth, for men thereof yet have doubte, and shullen for ever more,--for men wyt not whether that he lyveth or is dede." See more ancient testimonies in Selden's _Notes on Polyolbion, Song III._

This fragment being very incorrect and imperfect in the original MS. hath received some conjectural emendations, and even a supplement of three or four stanzas composed from the romance of _Morte Arthur_.

* * * * *

[The two ballads here entitled _King Arthur's Death_ and _The_
_Legend of King Arthur_ are united in the Folio MS. (ed. Hales and
Furnivall, vol. i. p. 497), but they are evidently two distinct
songs. The first ballad forms part ii. of the MS. copy, which
has fourteen verses at the end not printed here. The last four
verses are printed at the end of the next ballad. Percy has taken
great liberties with his original, and has not left a single line
unaltered, as will be seen by comparing it with the original
printed at the end. Additional lines are also interpolated which
are now enclosed within brackets, and it will be seen that these
unnecessary amplifications do not improve the effect of the poem.
It will also be seen that in vv. 41-44 the father and son of the
original are changed into uncle and nephew.

This last scene in the life of King Arthur is the most beautiful
and touching portion of his history, and the romancers and
minstrels were never tired of telling it in every form.

According to one tradition Arthur still sleeps under St. Michael's
Mount ("the guarded Mount" of Milton's _Lycidas_), and according to
another beneath Richmond Castle, Yorkshire.

Mr. Willmott, in his edition of the _Reliques_, writes, "according
to popular superstition in Sicily, Arthur is preserved alive by his
sister la Fata Morgana, whose fairy palace is occasionally seen
from Reggio in the opposite sea of Messina."]

* * * * *

* * * * *
On Trinitye Mondaye in the morne,
This sore battayle was doom'd to bee;
Where manye a knighte cry'd, Well-awaye!
Alacke, it was the more pittìe.

Ere the first crowinge of the cocke, 5
When as the kinge in his bed laye,
He thoughte sir Gawaine to him came,[58]
And there to him these wordes did saye.

Nowe, as you are mine unkle deare,
And as you prize your life, this daye 10
O meet not with your foe in fighte;
Putt off the battayle, if yee maye.

For sir Launcelot is now in Fraunce,
And with him many an hardye knighte:
Who will within this moneth be backe, 15
And will assiste yee in the fighte.

The kinge then call'd his nobles all,
Before the breakinge of the daye;
And tolde them howe sir Gawaine came,
And there to him these wordes did saye. 20

His nobles all this counsayle gave,
That earlye in the morning, hee
Shold send awaye an herauld at armes,
To aske a parley faire and free.

Then twelve good knightes king Arthure chose, 25
The best of all that with him were:
To parley with the foe in field,
And make with him agreement faire.

The king he charged all his hoste,
In readinesse there for to bee: 30
But noe man sholde noe weapon sturre,
Unlesse a sword drawne they shold see

And Mordred on the other parte,
Twelve of his knights did likewise bringe;
The beste of all his companye, 35
To hold the parley with the kinge.

Sir Mordred alsoe charged his hoste,
In readinesse there for to bee;
But noe man sholde noe weapon sturre,
But if a sworde drawne they shold see. 40

For he durste not his unkle truste,[59]
Nor he his nephewe, sothe to tell:[59]
Alacke! it was a woefulle case,
As ere in Christentye befelle.

But when they were together mette, 45
And both to faire accordance broughte;
And a month's league betweene them sette,
Before the battayle sholde be foughte;

An addere crept forth of a bushe,
Stunge one o' th' king's knightes on the knee: 50
Alacke! it was a woefulle chance,
As ever was in Christentìe.

When the knighte found him wounded sore,
And sawe the wild-worme[60] hanginge there;
His sworde he from his scabberde drewe; 55
A piteous case as ye shall heare.

For when the two hostes sawe the sworde,
They joyned battayle instantlye;
Till of soe manye noble knightes,
On one side there were left but three. 60

For all were slain that durst abide,
And but some fewe that fled awaye:
Ay mee! it was a bloodye fielde,
As ere was foughte on summer's daye.

Upon king Arthur's own partyè, 65
Onlye himselfe escaped there,
And Lukyn duke of Gloster free,
And the king's butler Bedevere.

And when the king beheld his knightes,
All dead and scattered on the molde; 70
[The teares fast trickled downe his face;
That manlye face in fight so bolde.

Nowe reste yee all, brave knights, he said,
Soe true and faithful to your trust:
And must yee then, ye valiant hearts, 75
Be lefte to moulder into dust!

Most loyal have yee been to mee,
Most true and faithful unto deathe:
And, oh! to rayse yee up againe,
How freelye could I yield my breathe!] 80

But see the traitor's yet alive,
Lo where hee stalkes among the deade!
Nowe bitterlye he shall abye:[61]
And vengeance fall upon his head.

O staye, my liege, then sayd the duke; 85
O staye for love and charitìe;
[Remember what the vision spake,
Nor meete your foe, if it may bee.

O, staye mee not, thou worthye wight,
This debt my loyal knights I owe: 90
Betide me life, betide me death,
I will avenge them of their foe.]

Then straite he grasp'd his trustye speare,
And on his horse then mounted hee:
As his butler holpe him to his horse, 95
His bowels gushed to his knee.

Alas! then sayd the noble king,
That I should live this sight to see!
To see this good knight here be slaine,
All for his love in helping mee! 100

He put his speare into his reste,
And to sir Mordred loud gan crye;
[Nowe sette thyself upon thy guarde,
For, traitor, nowe thy death is nye.

Sir Mordred lifted up his sworde, 105
And fierce to meet the king ran hee:]
The king his speare he through him thrust;
A fathom thorow his bodìe.

When Mordered felt the stroke of death,
And found that he was wounded soe; 110
He thruste himselfe upon the speare,
And strucke the king a deadlye blowe.

Then grimmlye dyed sir Mordered,
Presentlye upon that tree:
And bloody streames ranne from the kinge 115
Ere to the duke returned hee.

Sir Lukyn then he thus bespake,
Sir knighte, thou hast beene faithfulle tryde,
Nowe take my sword Excalibar,[62]
That hangs so freelye by my syde: 120

O take my sword Excalibar,
And there into the river throwe:
For here, henceforth, benethe this tree,
All use of weapons I foregoe.

[And fare thee well, thou trustye sword, 125
A better neer had valiant knighte,
With thee full ofte, and manye a daye,
Have I withstood my foe in fighte.

With this good fauchion in my hande,
Oft have I reapd the bloody feelde: 130
But nowe the fatalle houre is come,
That never more I may thee weelde.]

The duke to the river side he went,
And there his owne sword in threwe he:
But he kept back Excalibar, 135
He kept it back in privitie.

[For all of coleyne[63] was the blade;
And all the hilte of precious stone:
And ever alacke! then sayd the knighte,
Must such a sword awaye be throwne?] 140

Then backe he came unto the kinge,
Who sayd, Sir Lukyn, what did yee see?
Nothing, my liege, save that the winde
Blewe oer the waters faire and free.

O goe againe, then said the kinge, 145
O good sir Lukyn, goe againe:
Into the rivere throwe my sword,
Nor keepe me lingering here in paine.

The duke then to the river went,
And the kings scabberd in threwe hee; 150
But hee kept backe Excalibar,
And hid it undernethe a tree.

Then backe he came to tell the kinge,
Who sayde, Sir Lukyn sawe ye oughte?
Nothinge, my liege, save that the winde 155
Nowe with the angrye waters fought.

O Lukyn, Lukyn, said the kinge,
[Twice haste thou dealt deceytfullye:
Alacke, whom may wee ever truste,
When suche a knighte soe false can bee? 160

Saye, wouldst thou have thy master dead;
All for a sword, that wins thine eye:
Nowe goe againe, and throwe it in,
Or here the one of us shall dye.]

The duke, all shent with this rebuke, 165
No aunswere made unto the kinge:
But to the rivere tooke the sworde,
And threwe it far as he coulde flinge.

A hande and an arme did meete the sworde,
And flourishd three times in the air; 170
[Then sunke benethe the renninge streme,
And of the duke was seene noe mair.

All sore astonied stood the duke;
He stood as still, as still mote bee:]
Then hastend backe to telle the kinge; 175
But he was gone from under the tree.

But to what place he cold not tell,
For never after hee did him spye:[64]
But hee sawe a barge goe from the land,
And hee heard ladyes howle and crye[65]. 180

And whether the kinge were there, or not,
Hee never knewe, nor ever colde:
[For from that sad and direfulle daye,
Hee never more was scene on molde.]

[***]

* * * * *

[The following forms Part II. of a ballad entitled _King Arthur's Death_, in the folio MS. ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. i. p. 501.

but vpon a Monday after Trinity Sonday
this battaile foughten cold bee,
where many a Knight cryed well-away!
alacke, the more pittye!

but vpon Sunday in the euening then, 5
when the King in his bedd did Lye,
he thought Sir Gawaine to him came,
& thus to him did say:

"Now as you are my vnckle deere,
I pray you be ruled by mee, 10
doe not fight as to-morrow day,
but put the battelle of if you may;

"for Sir Lancelott is now in france,
& many Knights with him full hardye,
& with-in this Month here hee wilbe, 15
great aide wilbe to thee."

hee wakened forth of his dreames;
to his Nobles that told hee,
how he thought Sir Gawaine to him came,
& these words sayd Certainly. 20

& then thé gaue the King councell all,
vpon Munday Earlye
that hee shold send one of his heralds of armes
to parle with his sonne, if itt might bee.

& 12 knights King Arthur chose, 25
the best in his companye,
that they shold goe to meete his sonne,
to agree if itt cold bee.

& the King charged all his host
in readynesse for to bee, 30
that Noe man shold noe weapons stur
with-out a sword drawne amongst his Knights thé see.

& Mordred vpon the other part,
12 of his Knights chose hee
that they shold goe to meete his father 35
betweene those 2 hosts fayre & free.

& Mordred charged his ost
in like mannor most certaínely,
that noe man shold noe weapons sturr
with-out a sword drawne amongst them thé see; 40

for he durst not his father trust,
nor the father the sonne certainley.
Alacke! this was a woefull case
as euer was in christentye!

but when they were mett together there, 45
& agreed of all things as itt shold bee,
& a monthes League then there was
before the battele foughten shold bee,

an Adder came forth of Bush,
stunge one of king Arthirs Knights below his knee; 50
alacke! this was a woefull chance
as euer was in christentye!

the Knight he found him wounded there,
& see the wild worme there to bee;
his sword out of his scabberd he drew; 55
alas! itt was the more pittye!

& when these 2 osts saw they sword drawen,
thé Ioyned battell certainlye,
Till of a 100: 1000: men
of one side was left but 3. 60

but all were slaine that durst abyde,
but some awaye that did flee.
King Arthur upon his owne partye
himselfe aliue cold be,

& Lukin the Duke of Gloster, 65
& Bedever his Butler certainlye
the King looked about him there
& saw his Knights all slaine to bee;

"Alas!" then sayd noble King Arthur
"that ever this sight I see! 70
to see all my good Knights lye slaine,
& the traitor yett aliue to bee!

loe where he leanes vpon his sword hillts
amongst his dead men certainlye!
I will goe slay him att this time; 75
neuer att better advantage I shall him see."

"Nay! stay here, my Leege!" then said the Duke,
"for loue and charitye!
for wee haue the battell woone,
for yett aliue we are but 3:" 80

the king wold not be perswaded then,
but his horsse then mounted hee;
his Butler [that] helped him to horsse,
his bowells gushed to his knee.

"Alas!" then said noble king Arthur, 85
"that this sight I euer see,
to see this good knight for to be slaine
for loue for to helpe mee!"

he put his speare into his rest,
& att his sonne he ryd feirclye, 90
& through him there his speare he thrust
a fatham thorrow his body.

the sonne he felld him wounded there,
& knew his death then to bee;
he thrust himselfe vpon his speare, 95
& gaue his father a wound certainlye.

but there dyed Sir Mordred
presently vpon that tree.
but or ere the King returned againe,
his butler was dead certainlye. 100

then bespake him Noble King Arthur,
these were the words sayd hee,
sayes "take my sword Escalberd
from my side fayre & free,
& throw itt into this riuer heere; 105
for all the vse of weapons Ile deliuer vppe,
heere vnderneath this tree."

the Duke to the riuer side he went,
& his sword in threw hee;
& then he kept Escalberd, 110
I tell you certainlye;

& then he came to tell the King,
the king said, "Lukin what did thou see?"
noe thing, my leege," the[n] sayd the duke,
"I tell you certainlye." 115

"O goe againe," said the king
"for loue & charitye,
& throw my sword into that riuer,
that neuer I doe itt see."

the Duke to the riuer side he went, 120
& the kings scaberd in threw hee;
& still he kept Escalberd
for vertue sake faire & free.

he came againe to tell the King;
the King sayd, "Lukin what did thou see?" 125
"nothing my leege," then sayd the Duke,
"I tell you certainlye."

"O goe againe Lukin," said the King,
"or the one of vs shall dye."
then the Duke to the riuer sid went, 130
& then Kings sword then threw hee:

A hand & an arme did meete that sword,
& flourished 3 times certainlye
he came againe to tell the King,
but the king was gone from vnder the tree 135

but to what place, he cold not tell,
for neuer after hee did him see,
but he see a barge from the land goe,
& hearde Ladyes houle & cry certainlye;

but whether the king was there or noe 140
he knew not certainlye.
the Duke walked by that Riuers side
till a chappell there found hee,

& a preist by the aulter side there stood.
the Duke kneeled downe there on his knee 145
& prayed the preists, "for Christs sake
the rights of the church bestow on mee!"

for many dangerous wounds he had vpon him
& liklye he was to dye.
& there the Duke liued in prayer 150
till the time that hee did dye.

King Arthur liued King 22 yeere
in honor and great fame,
& thus by death suddenlye
was depriued from the same. 155

ffins.]

FOOTNOTES:

[58] Sir Gawaine had been killed at Arthur's landing on his return from abroad. See the next ballad, ver. 73.

[59] [Ver. 41, 42, the folio MS. reads father ... sonne.]

[60] [serpent.]

[61] [pay for or expiate.]

[62] More commonly called, _Caliburn_. In the folio MS. _Escallberd_. [Percy notes in the MS. that "Caliburn was presented A.D. 1191 to Tancred, King of Sicily, by our King Richard I. See Rapin, vol. i."]

[63] [Cologne steel.]

[64] Ver. 178, see MS.

[65] Not unlike that passage in Virgil.

"Summoque ulularunt vertice nymphæ."

_Ladies_ was the word our old English writers used for _Nymphs_: As in the following lines of an old song in the Editor's folio MS.

"When scorching Ph[oe]bus he did mount,
Then Lady Venus went to hunt;
To whom Diana did resort,
With all the Ladyes of hills, and valleys
Of springs, and floodes, &c."

V.

THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR.

We have here a short summary of K. Arthur's History as given by Jeff. of Monmouth and the old chronicles, with the addition of a few circumstances from the romance Morte Arthur.--The ancient chronicle of Ger. de Leew (quoted above in p. 28), seems to have been chiefly followed: upon the authority of which we have restored some of the names which were corrupted in the MS. and have transposed one stanza, which appeared to be misplaced, (_viz._ that beginning at ver. 49, which in the MS. followed ver. 36.)

Printed from the Editor's ancient folio Manuscript.

* * * * *

[This ballad as previously stated is the first part of the poem in
the MS. and precedes the one here printed before it. Percy made
comparatively few alterations in this part and all of them are now
noted at the foot of the page.]

* * * * *

Of Brutus' blood, in Brittaine borne,[66]
King Arthur I am to name;
Through Christendome, and Heathynesse,[67]
Well knowne is my worthy fame.

In Jesus Christ I doe beleeve; 5
I am a christyan bore:[68][69]
The Father, Sone, and Holy Gost
One God, I doe adore.

In the four hundred ninetieth yeere,[70]
Over Brittaine I did rayne, 10
After my savior Christ his byrth:
What time I did maintaine

The fellowshipp of the table round,
Soe famous in those dayes;
Whereatt a hundred noble knights, 15
And thirty sat alwayes:[71]

Who for their deeds and martiall feates,
As bookes done yett record,
Amongst all other nations[72]
Wer feared throwgh the world. 20

And in the castle off Tyntagill[73]
King Uther mee begate
Of Agyana a bewtyous ladye,[74]
And come of "hie" estate.[75]

And when I was fifteen yeere old, 25
Then was I crowned kinge:
All Brittaine that was att an upròre,
I did to quiett bringe.

And drove the Saxons from the realme,
Who had opprest this land; 30
All Scotland then throughe manly feats[76]
I conquered with my hand.[76]

Ireland, Denmarke, Norway,
These countryes wan I all;
Iseland, Gotheland, and Swethland; 35
And made their kings my thrall.

I conquered all Gallya,
That now is called France;
And slew the hardye Froll in feild[77]
My honor to advance. 40

And the ugly gyant Dynabus[78]
Soe terrible to vewe,
That in Saint Barnards mount did lye,
By force of armes I slew:

And Lucyus the emperour of Rome 45
I brought to deadly wracke;
And a thousand more of noble knightes
For feare did turne their backe:

Five kinges of "paynims"[79] I did kill[80][81]
Amidst that bloody strife;[81] 50
Besides the Grecian emperour[81]
Who alsoe lost his liffe.[81]

Whose carcasse I did send to Rome
Cladd poorlye on a beere;
And afterward I past Mount-Joye 55
The next approaching yeere.

Then I came to Rome, where I was mett
Right as a conquerour,
And by all the cardinalls solempnelye
I was crowned an emperour. 60

One winter there I made abode:
Then word to mee was brought
How Mordred had oppressd the crowne:
What treason he had wrought

Att home in Brittaine with my queene; 65
Therfore I came with speede
To Brittaine backe, with all my power,
To quitt that traiterous deede:

And soone at Sandwiche I arrivde,[82]
Where Mordred me withstoode: 70
But yett at last I landed there,
With effusion of much blood.

For there my nephew sir Gawaine dyed,
Being wounded in that sore,[83]
The whiche sir Lancelot in fight[84] 75
Had given him before.

Thence chased I Mordered away,
Who fledd to London right,
From London to Winchester, and
To Cornewalle tooke his flyght.[85] 80

And still I him pursued with speed
Till at the last we mett:
Whereby an appointed day of fight[86]
Was there agreed and sett.[87]

Where we did fight, of mortal life[88] 85
Eche other to deprive,[88]
Till of a hundred thousand men
Scarce one was left a live.

There all the noble chivalrye
Of Brittaine tooke their end. 90
O see how fickle is their state
That doe on feates depend![89][90]

There all the traiterous men were slaine
Not one escapte away;
And there dyed all my vallyant knightes. 95
Alas! that woefull day![91]

Two and twenty yeere I ware the crowne
In honor and great fame;
And thus by death was suddenlye
Deprived of the same. 100

FOOTNOTES:

[66] Ver. 1. Bruite his, MS.

[67] [heathendom.]

[68] [born.]

[69] [V. 6. borne, MS.]

[70] V. 9. He began his reign A.D. 515, according to the Chronicles.

[71] [V. 16. sit, MS.]

[72] [V. 19. all nations, MS.]

[73] [pronounced "Tintadgell;" the remains of the castle still exist on the north coast of Cornwall.]

[74] V. 23. She is named Igerna in the old Chronicles.

[75] V. 24. his, MS.

[76] [Ver. 31-2.

And then I conquered througe manly feats,
All Scottlande with my hands, MS.]

[77] V. 39. Froland feild, MS. Froll, according to the Chronicles, was a Roman knight governor of Gaul.

[78] V. 41. Danibus, MS.

[79] [Pagans.]

[80] V. 49. of Pavye, MS.

[81] [V. 49-52. this stanza occurs after v. 36 in the MS.]

[82] [Ver. 69. and when at Sandwich I did land.]

[83] [V. 74. on that.]

[84] [V. 75. that Sir Lancelott.]

[85] [V. 80. he tooke. MS.]

[86] [Ver. 83. Wherby appointed.]

[87] [V. 84. was agreed.]

[88] [V. 85-6.

Where wee did fight soe mortallye
Of live eche other to deprive.]

[89] [V. 92. upon.]

[90] V. 92. perhaps fates.

[91] [V. 96 is the end of the first part in the MS., the stanza

King Arthur lived King 22 yeere
in honor and great fame
and thus by death suddenlye
was deprived from the same

ends the second part, which is printed by Percy as _King Arthur's_ _death_, see previous ballad.]

VI.

A DYTTIE TO HEY DOWNE.

Copied from an old MS. in the Cotton Library [British Museum] (Vesp. A. xxv. fol. 170), intitled, "Divers things of Hen. viij's time."

* * * * *

Who sekes to tame the blustering winde,
Or causse the floods bend to his wyll,
Or els against dame nature's kinde
To "change" things frame by cunning skyll:[92]
That man I thinke bestoweth paine, 5
Thoughe that his laboure be in vaine.

Who strives to breake the sturdye steele,
Or goeth about to staye the sunne;
Who thinks to causse an oke to reele,
Which never can by force be done: 10
That man likewise bestoweth paine,
Thoughe that his laboure be in vaine.

Who thinks to stryve against the streame,
And for to sayle without a maste;
Unlesse he thinks perhapps to faine, 15
His travell ys forelorne and waste;
And so in cure of all his paine,
His travell ys his cheffest gaine.

So he lykewise, that goes about
To please eche eye and every eare,
Had nede to have withouten doubt
A golden gyft with hym to beare;
For evyll report shall be his gaine,
Though he bestowe both toyle and paine.

God grant eche man one to amend; 25
God send us all a happy place;
And let us pray unto the end,
That we may have our princes grace:
Amen, Amen! so shall we gaine
A dewe reward for all our paine. 30

FOOTNOTES:

[92] Ver. 4. causse, MS.

VII.

GLASGERION.

An ingenious Friend thinks that the following old Ditty (which is printed from the Editor's folio MS.) may possibly have given birth to the Tragedy of the _Orphan_, in which Polidore intercepts Monimia's intended favours to Castalio.

See what is said concerning the hero of this song, (who is celebrated by _Chaucer_ under the name of _Glaskyrion_) in the Essay affixed to vol. i. note H. pt. iv. (2).

* * * * *

[The hero of this ballad is the same as "gret Glascurion," placed
by Chaucer in the _House of Fame_ by the side of Orpheus, and
also associated with Orpheus by Gawain Douglas in the _Palice of
Honour_. Percy's note in the Folio MS. is "It was not necessary to
correct this much for the press;" (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. i.
p. 246). It will be seen, however, by the collations at the foot
of the page that several corrections were made, not always for the
better. Thus ver. 96, "who did his ladye grieve," is certainly
weaker than the original,--

"And asked noe man noe leave."

Jamieson (_Popular Ballads_, 1806, vol. i. p. 91) prints an
inferior version under the name of _Glenkindie_. Mr. Hale points
out, however, that "the Scotch version is more perfect in one
point--in the test question put to the page before the assignation
is disclosed to him:--

'O mith I tell you, Gib my man,
Gin I a man had slain?'

Some such question perhaps would give more force to vv. 85-88 of
our version." He also very justly observes, "perhaps there is no
ballad that represents more keenly the great gulf fixed between
churl and noble--a profounder horror at the crossing over it."]

* * * * *

Glasgerion was a kings owne sonne,
And a harper he was goode:
He harped in the kinges chambere,
Where cuppe and candle stoode.[93]

And soe did hee in the queens chamber, 5
Till ladies waxed "glad."[94]
And then bespake the kinges daughter;
And these wordes thus shee sayd.[95]

Strike on, strike on, Glasgèrion,[96]
Of thy striking doe not blinne:[97] 10
Theres never a stroke comes oer thy harpe,[98]
But it glads my hart withinne.

Faire might he fall,[99] ladye, quoth hee,[100]
Who taught you nowe to speake!
I have loved you, ladye, seven longe yeere[101] 15
My minde I neere durst breake.[102]

But come to my bower, my Glasgèrion,
When all men are att rest:
As I am a ladie true of my promise,
Thou shalt bee a welcome guest. 20

Home then came Glasgèrion,[103]
A glad man, lord! was hee.
And, come thou hither, Jacke my boy;
Come hither unto mee.[104]

For the kinges daughter of Normandye 25
Hath granted mee my boone:
And att her chambere must I bee
Beffore the cocke have crowen.

O master, master, then quoth hee,[105]
Lay your head downe on this stone: 30
For I will waken you, master deere,
Afore it be time to gone.

But up then rose that lither[106] ladd,
And hose and shoone did on:[107]
A coller he cast upon his necke, 35
Hee seemed a gentleman.

And when he came to the ladies chamber,
He thrild upon a pinn.[108]
The lady was true of her promise,
Rose up and lett him in. 40

He did not take the lady gaye
To boulster nor to bed:[109]
"Nor thoughe hee had his wicked wille,[110]
"A single word he sed."[110]

He did not kisse that ladyes mouthe,[111] 45
Nor when he came, nor youd:[112][113]
And sore mistrusted that ladye gay,
He was of some churls bloud.

But home then came that lither ladd,
And did off his hose and shoone; 50
And cast the coller from off his necke:[114]
He was but a churlès sonne.

Awake, awake, my deere master,[115]
[The cock hath well-nigh crowen.[116]
Awake, awake, my master deere,][116] 55
I hold it time to be gone.

For I have saddled your horsse, mastèr,
Well bridled I have your steede:
And I have served you a good breakfast:[117]
For thereof ye have need.[118] 60

Up then rose, good Glasgeriòn,[119]
And did on hose and shoone;
And cast a coller about his necke:
For he was a kinge his sonne.[120]

And when he came to the ladyes chamber,[121] 65
He thrild upon the pinne:[122]
The ladye was more than true of promise,
And rose and let him in.[123]

Saies, whether have you left with me
Your bracelett or your glove? 70
Or are you returned backe againe[124]
To know more of my love?

Glasgèrion swore a full great othe
By oake, and ashe, and thorne;
Lady, I was never in your chambèr. 75
Sith the time that I was borne.

O then it was your lither foot-page,[125]
He hath beguiled mee.[126]
Then shee pulled forth a little pen-kniffe,[127]
That hanged by her knee: 80

Sayes, there shall never noe churlès blood
Within my bodye spring:[128]
[No churlès blood shall ever defile[129]
The daughter of a kinge.][129]

Home then went Glasgèrion,[130] 85
And woe, good lord, was hee.[131]
Sayes, come thou hither, Jacke my boy,[132]
Come hither unto mee.[133]

If I had killed a man to night,[134]
Jacke, I would tell it thee: 90
But if I have not killed a man to night
Jacke, thou hast killed three.

And he puld out his bright browne sword,
And dryed it on his sleeve,
And he smote off that lither ladds head, 95
Who did his ladye grieve.[135]

He sett the swords poynt till his brest,
The pummil untill a stone:[136]
Throw the falsenesse of that lither ladd,
These three lives werne all gone. 100

FOOTNOTES:

[93] [Ver. 4. where cappe and candle yoode, MS.]

[94] V. 6. wood, MS.

[95] [V. 8. sayd shee, MS.]

[96] [V. 9. saide, strike.]

[97] [cease.]

[98] [V. 11. over this.]

[99] [well may be thine.]

[100] [V. 13. you fall.]

[101] [V. 15. 7 yeere.]

[102] [V. 16. my hart I durst neere breake.]

[103] [V. 21. but whom then.]

[104] [V. 24. her love is granted mee.]

[105] [Ver. 29. but come you hither Master, quoth he.]

[106] [wicked.]

[107] [V. 34. and did on hose and shoone.]

[108] This is elsewhere expressed "_twirled the pin_," or "_tirled at_ _the pin_" (see b. ii. s. vi. v. 3.) and seems to refer to the turning round the button on the outside of a door, by which the latch rises, still used in cottages.

[The explanation given by Percy in this note is an unfounded guess. The Risp or tirling pin was very generally used in the north to do the duty afterwards performed by the knocker. There are several of these curious contrivances in the Antiquarian Museum at Edinburgh, and they are described by D. Wilson in his _Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time_, as follows,--"These antique precursors of the knocker and bell are still frequently to be met with in the steep turnpikes of the Old Town, notwithstanding the cupidity of the Antiquarian collectors. The ring is drawn up and down the notched iron rod and makes a very audible noise within." (1848, vol. i. p. 97).]

[109] [V. 42. nor noe bed.]

[110] [V. 43-4.

but downe upon her chamber flore
full soone he hath her layd.]

[111] [Ver. 45. that lady gay.]

[112] [went.]

[113] [Ver. 46. when he came nor when he youd.]

[114] [V. 51. that coller from about.]

[115] [V. 53. awaken quoth hee my master deere.]

[116] [V. 54-5. not in MS.]

[117] [V. 59. have not I served a.]

[118] [V. 60. when times comes I have need.]

[119] [V. 61. but up.]

[120] [V. 64. he was a kinges sonne.]

[121] [V. 65. that ladies.]

[122] [V. 66. upon a.]

[123] [V. 68. rose up and.]

[124] [V. 71. you are. MS]

[125] Ver. 77. litle, MS.

[126] [V. 78. falsly hath.]

[127] [V. 79. and then.]

[128] [V. 82. spring within my body.]

[129] [V. 83-4. not in MS.]

[130] [V. 85. but home then.]

[131] [V. 86. a woe man good was hee.]

[132] [V. 87. come hither thou.]

[133] [V. 88. come thou.]

[134] [V. 89. ffor if.]

[135] [V. 96. and asked noe man noe leave.]

[136] [V. 98. till a. MS.]

VIII.

OLD ROBIN OF PORTINGALE.

From an ancient copy in the Editor's folio MS. which was judged to require considerable corrections.

In the former edition the hero of this piece had been called Sir Robin, but that title not being in the MS. is now omitted.

_Giles_, steward to a rich old merchant trading to _Portugal_, is qualified with the title of _Sir_, not as being a knight, but rather, I conceive, as having received an inferior order of priesthood.

* * * * *

[Percy's note in the MS. is as follows, "When I first set to
examine this I had not yet learnt to hold this old MS. in much
regard." Every line is altered, so that it has been necessary to
add a copy of the original, although the interest of the ballad
itself is not very great. Percy's most notable correction is the
introduction of 20 good knights to help Robin against his wife's
twenty-four traitors.]

* * * * *

Let never again soe old a man
Marrye soe yonge a wife,
As did old Robin of Portingale;
Who may rue all the dayes of his life.

For the mayors daughter of Lin, god wott, 5
He chose her to his wife,
And thought with her to have lived in love,
By they fell to hate and strife.

They scarce were in their wed-bed laid,
And scarce was hee asleepe, 10
But upp shee rose, and forth shee goes,
To the steward, and gan to weepe.

Sleepe you, wake you, faire sir Gyles?
Or be you not within?
Sleepe you, wake you, faire sir Gyles, 15
Arise and let me inn.

O, I am waking, sweete, he said,
Sweete ladye, what is your will?
I have unbethought me of a wile[137]
How my wed-lord weell spill.[138] 20

Twenty-four good knights, shee sayes.
That dwell about this towne,
Even twenty-four of my next cozèns,
Will helpe to dinge[139] him downe.