And when he came to that lady’s chamber He tirl’d[289] upon a pin; The lady was true of her promise, Rose up and let him in.
He did not kiss that lady gay When he came nor when he yode[290]; And sore mistrusted that lady gay He was of some churle’s blood.
But home then came that lither lad, And did off his hose and shoon, And cast that collar from ’bout his neck; He was but a churlè’s son: ‘Awaken,’ quoth he, ‘my master dear, I hold it time to be gone.
‘For I have saddled your horse, master, Well bridled I have your steed; Have not I served a good breakfast When time comes I have need?’
But up then rose good Glasgerion, And did on both hose and shoon, And cast a collar about his neck; He was a Kingé’s son.
And when he came to that lady’s chamber, He tirl’d upon a pin; The lady was more than true of her promise, Rose up, and let him in.
Says, ‘Whether have you left with me Your bracelet or your glove? Or are you back return’d again To know more of my love?’
Glasgerion swore a full great oath By oak and ash and thorn, ‘Lady, I was never in your chamber Sith the time that I was born.’--
‘O then it was your little foot-page Falsely hath beguiled me’: And then she pull’d forth a little pen-knife That hangèd by her knee, Says, ‘There shall never no churlè’s blood Spring within my bodye.’
But home then went Glasgerion, A woe man, Lord, was he; Sayes, ‘Come hither, thou Jack, my boy, Come thou hither to me.
‘For if I had kill’d a man to-night, Jack, I would tell it thee, But if I have not kill’d a man to-night, Jack, thou hast killéd three!’
And he pull’d out his bright brown sword, And dried it on his sleeve, And he smote off that lither lad’s head And ask’d no man no leave.
He set the sword’s point till his breast, The pommel till a stone; Through the falseness of that lither lad These three lives wern all gone.
Hearken to me, gentlemen, Come and you shall heare; Ile tell you of two of the boldest brether That ever bornè were.
The tone of them was Adler Younge, The tother was Kyng Estmere; They were as bolde men in their deeds As any were, farr and neare.
As they were drinking ale and wine Within his brother’s hall, ‘When will ye marry a wyfe, brother, A wyfe to glad us all?’
Then bespake him Kyng Estmere, And answered him hartilye: ‘I know not that ladye in any land, That’s able to marrye with mee.’--