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Fast then pricked king Arthùre

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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;

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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,

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Nor may thy ransome bee.

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I saw a ladye sette

Betwene an oke, and a greene hollèye,

All clad in red scarlette.

Shee sayes,

all women will have their wille,

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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:

Shee was my sister tolde thee this,

And shee's a mishapen whore.

But here I will make mine avowe,

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To do her as ill a turne:

For an ever I may that foule theefe gette,
In a fyre I will her burne.

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PART THE SECONDE.

HOMEWARDE pricked king Arthure,

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,

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Howe, Arthur, hast thou sped?

Where hast thou hung the carlish knighte?

And where bestow'd his head?

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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.

Then bespake him sir Gawaine,

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That was ever a gentle knighte:

That lothly ladye I will wed;

Therefore be merrye and lighte.

Now naye, nowe naye, good sir Gawàine;
My sister's sonne yee bee;

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This lothlye ladye's all too grimme,

And all too foule for yee.

Her nose is crookt and turn'd outwarde;

Her chin stands all awrye;

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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,

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.

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.

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And when they came to the greene forrèst,
Beneathe a faire holley tree

There sate that ladye in red scarlette
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.

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

Percy. III.

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And when they were in wed-bed laid,

And all were done awaye:

"Come turne to mee, mine owne wed-lord, Come turne to mee I praye."

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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.

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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 so sweete.

Sir Gawaine kiss'd that lady brighte,

Lying there by his side:

"The fairest flower is not soe faire: Thou never can'st bee my bride."

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I am thy bride, mine owne deare lorde,
The same whiche thou didst knowe,

That was soe lothlye, and was wont

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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?

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"To have thee foule still in the night, When I with thee should playe!

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