Now, dame, that traitor should be sent Across the salt sea foam: But here I will make thee a band- All woe-begone was that gentle knight, Fair Christabelle, from thee to part, Fair Christabelle, that lady bright, And ever she doth lament and weep, To tint + her lover so : Sir Cauline, thou little think'st on me, Many a king, and many a duke, But never she would them nee. ‡ When many a day was passed and gone, The king proclaimed a Tournament, To cheer his daughter's inind. And there came lords, and there came knights, From many a far country, To break a spear for their lady's love, Before that fair lady. * Rather. + Lose. + Approach. And many a lady there was set In purple and in pall :* But fair Christabelle so woe begone, Then many a knight was mickle of might, But a Stranger wight, whom no man knew, His acton + it was all of black, His hewberke, and his shield; Nor no man wist whence he did come, And now three days were prestly past When lo! upon the fourth morning, A hughy giant stiff and stark, Too goggling eyen, like fire farden, Before him came a dwarf full low, That waited at his knee; And at his back five heads he bore, * From pallium, Lat.—any cloak or robe, of velvet, or other rich stuff. + A quilted vest of taffety, worn under the armour, to protect the body from bruises; but sometimes it is taken for the armour itself: its proper title is acquetoun, or hocqueton. A coat of armour, composed of an infinite number of small chains or rings, so close as to be impervious to the point of a weapon: chain-mail. § Complexion. Sir, quoth the dwarf, and louted low, Behold these heads I bear with me, They are kings which he hath slain. The Eldridge knight, is his own cousin, But yet he will appease his wrath, And, but thou yield him that fair maid, Thy head, Sir King, must go with me, Or else within these lists so broad, The king he turned him round about, Is there never a knight of my round table, §, Is there never a knight amongst ye all, Will fight for my daughter and me? * Soldan, or soudain, a corruption of sultan.-Hend, according to Dr. Percy, is kind, or gentle. + Burn. An equal champion.-PAR, Lat. The title of round table was not confined to the time of King Arthur, but was often applied to lists and tournaments: it is said, in these later instances, to have been derived from the circular form of the enclosed ground. For he shall have my broad lay lands, But every knight of his round table Did stand both still and pale, For whenever they looked on the grim Soldan, It made their hearts to quail. All woe-begone was that fair lady, When she saw no help was nigh; She cast her thought on her own true love, Up then starts the Stranger knight, Said, Lady be not afraid, I'll fight for thee with this grim Soldan, And if thou wilt lend me the Eldridge sword I trust in Christ for to slay this fiend, Go fetch him down the Eldridge sword, Now Heaven assist thee, courteous knight! The giant he stepped into the lists, And said, Away! away! I swear, as I am the hend Soldan, Thou lettest + me here all day. Then forth the Stranger knight he came, The lady sighed a gentle sigh, And now the giant and knight be met And now with swords so sharp of steel The Soldan struck the knight a stroke The Soldan struck a second stroke, The Soldan struck a third fell stroke, And she shrieked loud shriekings three. The knight he leapt upon his feet, All reckless of the pain; Quoth he, But Heaven be now my speed, Or else I shall be slain ! He grasped his sword with main and might, He drave it into the Soldan's side, Then all the people gave a shout And now the king with all his barons, up |