And then bespake him the Greene Knight, These were the words said hee: ‘If you’le stand stifly in the battell stronge, For I have won all the victory.’
Then bespake him the king againe, And these were the words said hee: ‘If wee stand not stifly in this battell strong, Wee are worthy to be hang’d on a tree.’
Then bespake him the Greene Knight, These were the words said he: Saies, ‘I doe conjure thee, thou fowle feend, In the same licknesse thou stood unto me.’
With that start out a lodly feend, With seven heads, and one bodỳ; The fier towards the element flew Out of his mouth, where was great plentie.
But now with the aid of the book Sir Bredbittle has the fiend wholly at command. He is sent first to fetch the steed.
And then bespake him the Greene Knight, And these were the words said he: Saith, ‘I conjure thee, thou fowle feend, That thou feitch downe the steed, that we see.’
And then forth is gone Burlow-beanie, As fast as he co’ld hie, And feitch he did that fairè steed, And came againe by and by.
Then bespake him Sir Marramiles, And these were the words said hee: ‘Ryding of this steed, brother Bredbeddle, The mastery belongs to me.’
Marramiles tooke the steed to his hand, To ryd him he was full bold; He co’ld noe more make him goe Then a child of three yeere old.
He laid uppon him with heele and hand, With yard that was soe fell; ‘Helpe! brother Bredbeddle,’ says Marramile, ‘For I thinke he be the devill of hell.
‘Helpe! brother Bredbeddle,’ says Marramile, ‘Helpe! for Christ’s pittye; Ffor without thy help, brother Bredbeddle, He will never be rydden for me.’
Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle, These were the words said he: ‘I conjure thee tell, thou Burlow-beanie, How this steed was riddin in his country.’
‘In Cornewall’s window is a gold wand; Let him strike three strokes on that steed, And then he will spring forth of his hand As sparke doth out of gleede[187].’
Then Sir Tristram requires a horn. At Sir Bredbittle’s command the sprite fetches it; but the horn will not sound until anointed with a certain powder. This also the sprite is sent to fetch.
And then bespake Sir Bredebeddle, To the ffeend these words said hee: Says, ‘I conjure thee, thou Burlow-beanie, The powder-box thou feitch me.’