II.

The Marriage of Sir Gawaine,

Is chiefly taken from the fragment of an old ballad in the Editor's MS., which he has reason to believe more ancient than the time of Chaucer, and what furnished that bard with his Wife of Bath's Tale. The original was so extremely mutilated, half of every leaf being torn away, that without large supplements, &c., it was deemed improper for this collection: these it has therefore received, such as they are. They are not here particularly pointed out, because the "Fragment" itself will now be found printed at the end of this volume.

And proudlye rise the battlements,
And streamers deck the air.

Noe gentle knighte, nor ladye gay,
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,
And on his backe he bears a clubbe,
That is both thicke and longe.

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keth in Cumberland, on the road from Penrith to Carlisle. Forth then rush'd that carlish knight,

There is a tradition, that an old castle once stood near the lake, the remains of which were not long since visible. Tearn, in the dialect of that country, signifies a small lake, and is still in use.

King Arthur felte the charme:
His sturdy sinewes lost their strengthe,
Downe sunke his feeble arme.

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Now thankes, nowe thankes, good Sir Ga- Alas! then I must hide myself,

I must not goe with mine?

And when they were in wed-bed laid,
And all were done awaye:

For as thou seest mee at this time,
Soe shall I ever bee.

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"Come turne to mee, mine own wed-lord, 95 My father was an aged knighte, Come turne to mee I praye."

And yet it chanced soe,

He tooke to a wife a false ladyè,

Nor fully to gaine mine owne trewe shape,
Such was her devilish skille;
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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,
To live by rapine and wronge.

115 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.

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160