Was won through Sir Gawaine, and through his wit

only.

Alas," said Sir Arthur, "now ekes my sorrow;

I am utterly undone in mine own lands.

4

Ah, duteous daring deed, thou duellis too long, Why draws thou so on dreghe, thou drowns my

heart."

5

(Early English Text Society.)

4 Stayedst?

5 Delay.

E

KING ARTHUR'S LAMENT FOR HIS

K

KNIGHTS.

ING comely with crown, in care am I left;
All my lordship low in land is laid under,
That me has given guerdons by grace
of themselves,

Maintained my manhood by might of their hands,
Made me manly on mould, and master in earth.
In a teenful time this trouble was reared,
That for a traitor has tint all my true lords;
Here rests the rich blood of the round table,
Rebuked with a ribald, and ruth is the more ;
I may helpless one hethe 1 house be mine own;
All as a woeful widow that wants her burying,
I may weary and weep, and wring my hands,
For my wit and my worship away is for ever;
Of all lordship I take leave to mine end;
Here is the Briton's blood brought out of life,
And now in this journeé2 all my joy ends."

1 Wretched.

(Early English Text Society.)

2 Day.

INTER wakeneth all my care,
Now these leaves waxeth bare.
Oft I sigh, and mourn sare,

When it cometh in my thought

Of this world's joy, how it goeth all to nought.

Now it is, and now it n'is,

All so as it ne'er were, I wis;

That many men saith, sooth it is,

All goeth but God's will:

All we shall die, though us like ill.

All that grain me groweth green,

Now, it fadeth all by-dene.'
Jesu's help, that it be seen,

And shield us from hell,

For I ne wot whither I shall, ne how long here

dwell.

(Unknown.)

1 Presently.

A LYKEWAKE DIRGE.

HIS ae night, this ae night,
Everie night and alle,

Fire, and sleete, and candle-lighte,

And Christe receive thy saule.

When thou from hence away art past,

Everie night and alle,

To Whinny muir thou comest at last,
And Christe receive thy saule.

If ever thou gavest hosen and shoon,
Everie night and alle,

Sit thee down and put them on,

And Christe receive thy saule.

If hosen and shoon thou gavest nane,

Everie night and alle,

The whinnes shall prick thee to the bare bane,

And Christe receive thy saule.

From Whinny muir when thou mayst pass,

Everie night and alle,

To Brigg o' Dread thou comest at last,

And Christe receive thy saule.

From Brigg o' Dread when thou mayst pass,

Everie night and alle,

To Purgatory Fire thou comest at last,

And Christe receive thy saule.

If ever thou gavest meate or drinke,
Everie nighte and alle,

The fire shall never make thee shrinke,
And Christe receive thy saule.

If meate or drinke thou gavest nane,
Everie night and alle,

The fire will burn thee to the bare bane,
And Christe receive thy saule.

This ae night, this ae night,

Everie night and alle,

Fire, and sleete, and candle-lighte,

And Christe receive thy saule.

(Ballad Book.)