fellow moved more That now is past in such degree And I wite none Lady but ye While I hear word of him again Whether he slayes or bees slain Have more of my collation hold The Lady went where that she would But they bode in their chamber still At leasure and at their own will ¶ Now we will let them all alone Carpe of sir Grahame that forth is gone He countered in the west-land Beyond the Fell the water fand And followed as he was bidden And to the forrest he is ridden And passed it in dayes three That they said fifteen it should be And then he saw a tokening A reek did rise and a gladning He saw before him on the way A yeoman ride on an hacknay Entring in at the forrest side He call'd on him and bade him bide The yeoman hover'd and stood still And said Sir what is your will He said Fellow thou tell to me Who is the Lord of this countrie Whether that he is old or young Or who hath it in governing The yeoman said I understand He is an Earl that ought this Land They do call him Earl Gorius And hath none heir but Lillias Is she a widow then said he She is a maiden certainlie Sir Alistoun that gentle knight She and he elle hath their troth plight The Earl that heâ—h◠〈◊〉 Garrentine Was slain by Gray-steel on a time And for sir Garrentine his head Sir Alistoun had him at â—ead And so he thought him to have won But sped as ill as others have done The yeoman said I understand That ye are unknown in this Land The Earl is fair-calling and free And there ye may well eased be There may ye have right good gaistning If that ye will make so journing The knight he said all these words syne How farre is 't to the castle hyne But miles three it is no mo With you I shal ride of them two The yeoman rode forth with the Knight While of the castle he got sight Syne took his leave and from him rade The knight to him great thanks he made He waild an Inne into the town Before the gate he lighted down And there they came to him on hie Great gentle-men and squyarie And from him they took his good steed And to his stable could him lead To hecks full of corn and hay And other horse were led away The master-houshold was therein And he betaught them unto him Both his good horse and his armour And all that fell to his honour And he from him took them on hand And said that he should them warrand And profferâ—d him a squarie To go with him in company But he said Nay he needed none But raiked forth his way is gone And when he came the town without He looked then him round about Orchards harbers and all eyes green The wether-cock stood fair and sheen The samine bower as he me told He was of all his tokens bold He had gone right and nothing wrong Ioyful in heart was he among He thought if he might get a sight Of the Lady both fair and bright He would think the better to speed In any journey where he yeed He stood a while such hap he had He saw the Lady and was glad Coming was with a Damosell He perceived wonder well It was the same Lady he sought By all the tokens and faâ—led nought He raiked to the fair Lady And hailsed her right courteously And in his visage could he mean As he before had done her seen But the did know him in nothing Neither did he her but faining And he seemed a courteous knight Of any that came in her sight Reverently she made him state But quantance none other they wate Then hastilie he could out draw His sark of silk and could it shaw And costlie jewels al 's but miss Sir then she said so have you bliss How fares the knight that did send this He sayes Lady I do not lane He that it bure brought it again Then blithly on him could she look Courteously to him could she mute And swore by Iesus Heavens King I am right glad of your coming And certainly by Gods grace Have ye gotten ought at this place Or any thing that could you bet I would think that it were right fit Then sayes he here was a bet Which I think never to forget Wherefore to you I make living Of my life and no other thing Then courteously she spake to him And to his gastning bade him come He said Lady my Inne is tane And squyers with me are mo then ane I bade the Ostler certainlie To purvey both for them and me He would been glad if that he might Have been out of the Ladyes sight For he was dreading for kenning He would have been out of feeling He could not get away so soon As mister was for to have done His fellowes visage it was fair But he was hurt under the hair A courcher over it was drawn To let it for to be unknawn An oyntment over the skin he drew To make the hide another hew He did work wisely in that case But in some things he was rackless Talking as she then by him stood For to see if his hands were good She took the glove as she could stand And turned down over his hand Syne when she saw his hands bare And all his fingers standing there She perceived that it was not he And kindly carping she let be And drylie to him could she speak Where is the knight that here lay sick He said Lady as ye may see yet did she say that might well be What ferlie was he though long home For here such leeching there was none There is no Leech in all the land Can put a finger to an hand The finger that he left in wed That is another in its steed Both as fair as whole and as clean As ever it was or yet hath been ye should not sir in a strange land Mock or yet be over bourdand And if ye will with bourding dail Right cleanlie then ye should them wail Your bourding could I well consider But scorn and heeding goes together Yet never allowed will ye be Nor yet in no good companie Sir if that ye was hither sent And to scorn me in your intent Ye shal not be but scornd of me And ere ye pass off this counâ—rie First she was both right mild and meek Kind and courteous for to speak Then waxt she angry and so hate And all into another state The Iewels that the knight had brought The Lady set them alâ— at nought Down at his feet she let them fall And wrathfullie turned her withall And to her chamber bowned her to gang The knight his hands in hers could fang She shoot his hands and bade let go But he to hold she would not so I pray you Lady of your grace Your meekness and your soberness Let not your will over-gang your wit While ye be advised with it Whether there be cause
waxed cold and syn to teen Her hew it changed pale and wan The knight he well perceived than That the Lady was in distress And he thought ferâ—y what it was He said Lady why do ye so I thought this had been one of tho For ye desired for to see And ye heght some reward to me And I have brought them in your sight Through grace of God and of his might And ever I had mind of you The land of doubt when I rode throw All that I heght have ye not dread But sir she said ye shal come speed It shal be holden and well mare Ere that ye off this countrey fare Ye might have letten such go by What needs you to be so hasty Then to the burgess can she speak She bade him wash and go to meat The burgess said I will go home My menyie are biding eachone They brought the burgess bread and wine When he had drunk took his leave syne They clos'd the door soon at his back And off the knight his gear can take The Lady was leech and had skil And spared not but laid him till Both for the stang and for the stound And also for his bloody wound She handled him as tenderlie As she had been his own Ladie With handling of the Lady bright Swat sore so then the noble knight That she behov'd to try his will Ye have my trowth now there intil And in the bower while I do bide For any thing that may betide I shal be at your bidding hail And govern me at your counsel While ye be come to your estate Whereto will ye make now debate â—or I heght you this hinder night â—f ye had hope to slay the knight â—nd force of fortune with you stood â—hen neither gold nor yet should good â—or nobleness nor yet treasures â—r ought was mine but it was yours â—ut a fair tale it may be shown â—nother in the heart be known â—alset is ay a fained friend â—nd it cometh ay at the last end But I trust well to heavens King â— loved you above all thing â—oubtless I may not be put back â—nd in lawtie there is no lack â—nd since I know your daughty deed â—ow ye have put your self in dread Through hardiness of heart and hand â—e hurt him so he might not stand The worst that ever rade or yeed Through your counsel may think to speed â—our lawtie is above all other That ye had rather given your brother All the worship and al 's the name Thaâ— lyes into his bed at hame The Lady said by heavens King Me marvels of your governing That ye should pass off this countrie And make your quaintance but with me If ye do so into this land My friends they would do on each hand And ferlie wonder greatumly For what ferlie it were and why That ye should have my love so well Because your brother slew Gray-steel Ye do my counsel ere you go You shal acquaint you with some mo My father is a man of might Gentle and free to every knight When that he was in his youth age â—e was a man of stout courage Fur thy and for ward in the field But he is now bouden with eild That he may not in his own feer Busk not yet ride in land of weer But he is wise gentle and free A kinder shal ye never see Fast and sicker of his tongue Both to the old and eke the young Fra he hath known your daughty deed How ye have put your self in dread How worthily that ye have won And ye but young and new begun He will reward you ere ye pass Of reason what ye will him as Whether ye would have gold or land The knight he said Nothing but your hand Yea then she sayes it may well be If it be so so it likes me For he that hath my marriage Shal have my fathers heritage An hundred pound he may well spend Of pennie meale each year to end Withoutten warns or relesies Great Lords hold him all their chiefes Earles and Bishops and al 's Barouns And many royal borrow towns Ye and I shal have such gentrice And work all whole at my device Ye put upon you all your gear As ye should ride in fair of weer And in a chair ye set you down And my maidens in their fashioun Shal stand and make you comforting And serve you both with spice and wine And be you blyth and make good chear I will go bring my father here And my dear mother the Countess And show to them of all the case To me and my mother us two I shal not kyth you to no mo Be that the Earl into the hall Had supped and his knights all They went in royalty to sing The Earl bethought him on a thing How this young Lord sir Garrentine In armes that was both fresh and fine Was brought to dead upon a bear Soon after that within a half year Sir Alistoun that gentle knight Who should have had the Lady bright And fra the time he caus'd her die That was both might and al 's manlie For great man-hood and al 's nurtour He might have been an Emperour He had an hoast in governing But Gray-steel had such chance given In world was never none so good Had strength that yet against him stood When that came to the Earls thought He left this play and held it nought And in the chamber walkt a space In came the Lady fair of face With laughing mouth and lovesome chear He said Welcome my daughter dear The comforter of all my care Sen he is dead that was my fare Mine heart is bound and also broken I am full wo while I be wroken The Lady said to him again Sir he that slayes he will be slain Therefore be blyth and make good chear For I am come with tidings here To comfort you and make you glad That ye would passing fain have had A man may covet many a year That many right hastilie appear And he may soon have all his will That felloun freek that was so fell He lyes low and is right cold That right redoubted was and bold And the right ablest in his gear That ever rade with shield spear His helm of gold that was so bright It stands at my bed-side this night And the hand liggs upon my bed That hath tane many wrongous wed The Earl asked Who did the deed The Lady said so God me speed It is a quarter of a year Sen that time that a knight came here Right sore wounded with sword and knife Scantly was left in him his life Yet I perceived by his affeer He was a ventrous Knight of weer And he had met with sir Gray-steel As many did and he might feel When I had seen that of the knight I held him in my bower all night Dispoyled him of all his gear Then the most wound that did him dear My stones of vertue stemd the blood I made him salve both fine
and then laid the Rosts to Both of wild fowles and al 's of tame Of each good thing they wanted nane The Burgess said I have sons fair Two are great Clarkes and great of lare The eldest is a young merchand He is right fair and well farrand They bade the hall soon should be dight And a fair fire was burning bright And then belyve they set up light To keep the coming of the Knight As they were entered in the town The burgess said in fair fashioun It shal not turn you to your skaith I have an Inne may serve us baith Will ye vouchsafe to pass with me To take such a simple harberie We shal not twin sir all this night Greatumlie thanked him the knight The fairest inne in all the town Before the yate they lighted down Two yeomen came out of the hall When that they heard the Burgess call Each one of them hath tane a steed A boy syne to the hakney yeed Then to the Burgess could he say Good sir while it be near the day Ye must these steeds both look and see And for to govern them and me The burgess said it shal be done And bade they should be stabled soon Dight ye them well while it be day And bed them soft where they do lay Feed them right well with hay and corn Make them good chear until the morn And ye shal have none other meeds But I shal quite you all your deeds The Clerks they came and bare in light Past to the hall before the Knight Took off his gear and laid it by The eldest brother yeed on hy And brought in soon a stowp of wine With baken meat and spices fine While that the supper it was dight The spice and wine then drank the knight For he had been in travel long Then fell a talking them among Then at the burgess could he speer Whom off have ye your holding here Whether of Earl Lord or Baroun Of Bishop or of King with Crown He is an Earl that ought this town And holds it in possession The Knight he said where wins his hold The burgess said as I have told Betwixt the forrest and the sea In Galias that great Countrie When he heard tell of Galias Then thought he on of Lilias That was ay worthy ware and wise And joyned full of great gentrice Be that the supper then was dight Boords covered and set on light Then the good-wife made the good chear And said ye are all welcome here I pray you take it as your own For of your quantance I am fain When they had eaten they drew the cleas The clarks they stood and said the grace Then brought they water to the Knight While it was bed time of the night They carped and drank of the wine They bade him to a chamber syne Then said the knight to the burgess I pray you sir of your gentrice That ye will rise before the day And put me forward in the way If ever ye come where that I dwel I shal quite you of your travel The burgess said so mot I thrive Although your charge were greater five I should be furthered in that I might Greatumlie thanked him the knight He bade the yeoman he should not sleep For they had two steeds for to keep But â—o wake him before the day And put him forward in the way And laid the shield upon the soar And then he rade the knight before Himself lap on upon his own The worst of them might well have gaind For King or Bishop or Baron For they were steeds of great renown The Burgess rade on his Hakuey And rade before to guide the way Thus rade they but two miles or three Before it was day-light to see And when the light of day was plain The burgess said I will again Now may ye ride where ever ye will I pray God keep you from all ill The knight he said Farewel adew Trust ye right well I shal be trew Sir Grahame when he saw the West-land And great mountains on his right hand Both Daes and Raes down and red And Harts ay casting up their head Buckes that brayes and Harts that hailes And hindes running into the fields And he saw neither rich nor poor But moss and ling and bare wild moor So it was then four dayes and mare Ere he could win to sir Eger Who lived into great distress Byding at home in longsomness Then came he home within the night And no man got of him a sight Nor young nor old into that place While that he came to the Palace He past into the chamher than Sir Eger was right wonder fain For nothing was into that time Could be more welcom then sir Grahame Pallias then with little din He privily took the steeds in Ere any day was dawning light Then said sir Grahame unto the knighâ—â— Now arm you soon in right effeir And he put on sir Grahame his gear Sir Grahame into the bed down lay Then to Pallias could he say Into the hall go ye right swyth And see if that the Earl be blyth Then he is at his bidding gane He went full soon and came again And said the Earl was gone to meat With Lords and Ladies that are sweet The Earl served us of his bread Sir Grahame sayes Now it is my reid That ye shal pass into the hall And show to them thir tokens all And though that fair young Lady Would come and kiss you courteously Keep no kindness to her now And love her as she loveth you The knight he went and would not cease Laid down the jewels on the dais Halist the Earl and the Countess And Barouns that full worthy was And Ladies quyet as any fame Then courteously rose fair Winliane But he did hold his head on hight She kneel'd and would have kist the knight She laid her hands about his hals He said Lady will I be false For I may no Ladies mouth kiss Until I come where my Lady is I am but a simple Batcheler And may not be to you a peer We may then choose and let all go To win a friend and tine a so I will not say alâ— that I think As ye have brewd so shal ye drink And then she would no longer pine And to the chamber to sir Grahame But she said My Lord sir Eger Is none in world to me so dear At 〈◊〉 he is grieved greatly And I wot not wherefore nor why He was never christned with salt That could on me set any fault In open nor in privitie But that I tarryed cruellie And that was not in grief nor spite But lawfully I may that quite Whither he would in Church or Queer The Lady wept and made ill chear Sir Grahame he said Let be Madame For he tels in his coming hame That he hath spyed a Ladie gent A brighter Bride with browes brent That is as great of kin and blood And al 's for riches by the Rood She is of