Then bespake him Sir Gawaine, Now nay, now nay, good Sir Gawaine, My sister's son ye be; This loathly lady's all too grim, And all too foul for ye. Her nose is crooked, and turned outward, A worse-formed lady than she is, Was never seen with eye. What though her chin stand all awry, And she be foul to see; I'll marry her, uncle, for thy sake, And I'll thy ransom be! Now thanks, now thanks, good Sir Gawaine, And a blessing thee betide; To-morrow we'll have knights and squires, And we'll go fetch the bride. And we'll have hawks, and we'll have hounds, To cover our intent; And we'll away to the green forest, As we a hunting went. Sir Lancelot, Sir Stephen bold, So did Sir Banier and Sir Bore, And when they came to the green forest, Beneath a fair holly-tree, There sat that lady in red scarlet, That unseemly was to see. Sir Kay beheld that lady's face, Sir Kay beheld that lady again, Peace! brother Kay, said Sir Gawaine, Marry I'faith, then said Sir Kay, Then some took up their hawks in haste, And some took up their hounds, For cities, nor for towns. Then bespake him King Arthur, And sware there by his faye, Peace! lordings, peace! Sir Gawaine said, Nor make debate and strife, * Neck-suire, in the original. The next very irreverent term is literal. This loathly lady I will take, And marry her to my wife. Now thanks! now thanks! good Sir Gawaine, And a blessing be thy meed, For as I am thine own lady, Thou never shall rue this deed. Then up they took that loathly dame, And when they were in wed-bed laid, Sir Gawaine scant could lift his head, When lo! instead of that loathly dame, Sweet blushes stained her rud-red cheek, And all her neck was snow. Sir Gawaine kissed that lady fair, And swore, as he was a true knight, Sir Gawaine kissed that lady bright, Thou never can'st be my bride! I am thy bride, mine own dear lord! The same which thou didst know, Now gentle Gawaine, choose, quoth she, My fair lady! Sir Gawaine said, Now blessed be thou, sweet Gawaine! My father was an aged knight, And yet it chanced so, He took to wife a false lady, Which brought me to this woe. She witched me, being a fair young maid, In the green forest to dwell, And there to abide in loathly shape, Most like a fiend of hell. Midst moors and mosses, woods and wilds, To lead a lonesome life, Till some young, fair, and courtly knight Would marry me to his wife. Nor fully to gain my own true shape,- Until he would yield to be ruled by me, She witched my brother to a carlish boor, But now the spell is broken through, [The original contains nine more stanzas, which describe the subsequent congratulations of the monarch and his courtiers]. Well Coz Gawaine sayes S' Kay thy chance is fallen arright for thou hast gotten one of the fairest maids I euer saw wth my sight It is my fortune said S' Gawaine for my Vncle Arthurs sake I am glad as grasse wold be of raine |