The carlish knight is safe for mee, And free fro mortal harme: 10 On magicke grounde his castle stands, And fenc'd with many a charme.
To bowe to him I was fulle faine, And yielde mee to his hand: And but for a lothly ladye, there 15 I sholde have lost my land.
And nowe this fills my hearte with woe, And sorrowe of my life; I swore a yonge and courtlye knight, Sholde marry her to his wife. 20
Then bespake him sir Gawàine, That was ever a gentle knighte: That lothly ladye I will wed; Therefore be merrye and lighte.
Nowe naye, nowe naye, good sir Gawàine; 25 My sister's sonne yee bee; This lothlye ladye's all too grimme, And all too foule for yee.
Her nose is crookt and turn'd outwàrde; Her chin stands all awrye; 30 A worse form'd ladye than shee is Was never seen with eye.
What though her chin stand all awrye. And shee be foule to see: I'll marry her, unkle, for thy sake, 35 And I'll thy ransome bee.
Nowe thankes, nowe thankes, good sir Gawàine; And a blessing thee betyde! To-morrow wee'll have knights and squires, And wee'll goe fetch thy bride. 40
And wee'll have hawkes and wee'll have houndes, To cover our intent; And wee'll away to the greene forèst, As wee a hunting went.
Sir Lancelot, sir Stephen[42] bolde, 45 They rode with them that daye; And foremoste of the companye There rode the stewarde Kaye:
Soe did sir Banier[43] and sir Bore,[44] And eke sir Garratte[45] keene; 50 Sir Tristram too, that gentle knight, To the forest freshe and greene.
And when they came to the greene forrèst, Beneathe a faire holley tree There sate that ladye in red scarlètte 55 That unseemelye was to see.
Sir Kay beheld that lady's face, And looked upon her sweere;[46] Whoever kisses that ladye, he sayes, Of his kisse he stands in feare. 60
Sir Kay beheld that ladye againe, And looked upon her snout; Whoever kisses that ladye, he sayes, Of his kisse he stands in doubt.
Peace, brother Kay, sayde sir Gawàine, 65 And amend thee of thy life: For there is a knight amongst us all, Must marry her to his wife.
What marry this foule queane, quoth Kay, I' the devil's name anone; 70 Gett mee a wife wherever I maye, In sooth shee shall be none.
Then some tooke up their hawkes in haste, And some took up their houndes; And sayd they wolde not marry her, 75 For cities, nor for townes.