{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch030.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch030.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch030.htm","text":"30.1 * * * *\n[SAIES, \u2018Come here, cuzen Gawaine so gay,]\nMy sisters sonne be yee;\nFfor you shall see one of the fairest round tables\nThat euer you see with your eye.\u2019\n30.2 Then bespake Lady Queen Gueneuer,\nAnd these were the words said shee:\n\u2018I know where a round table is, thou noble king,\nIs worth thy round table and other such three.\n30.3 \u2018The trestle that stands vnder this round table,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Lowe downe to the mould,\nIt is worth thy round table, thou worthy king,\nThy halls, and all thy gold.\n30.4 \u2018The place where this round table stands in,\n. . . . . .\nIt is worth thy castle, thy gold, thy fee,\nAnd all good Litle Britaine.\u2019\n30.5 \u2018Where may that table be, lady?\u2019 quoth hee,\n\u2018Or where may all that goodly building be?\u2019\n\u2018You shall it seeke,\u2019 shee says, \u2019Till you it find,\nFor you shall neuer gett more of me.\u2019\n30.6 Then bespake him noble King Arthur,\nThese were the words said hee:\n\u2018Ile make mine avow to God,\nAnd alsoe to the Trinity,\n30.7 \u2018Ile never sleepe one night there as I doe another,\nTill that round table I see:\nSir Marramiles and Sir Tristeram,\nFellowes that ye shall bee.\n30.8 . . . . .\n. . . . .\n\u2018Weele be clad in palmers weede,\nFiue palmers we will bee;\n30.9 \u2018There is noe outlandish man will vs abide,\nNor will vs come nye.\u2019\nThen they riued east and th riued west,\nIn many a strange country.\n30.10 Then they tranckled a litle further,\nThey saw a battle new sett:\n\u2018Now, by my faith,\u2019 saies noble King Arthur,\n. . . . . . well .\n* * * * *\n30.11 But when he cam to this . . c . .\nAnd to the palace gate,\nSoe ready was ther a proud porter,\nAnd met him soone therat.\n30.12 Shooes of gold the porter had on,\nAnd all his other rayment was vnto the same:\n\u2018Now, by my faith,\u2019 saies noble King Arthur,\n\u2018Yonder is a minion swaine.\u2019\n30.13 Then bespake noble King Arthur,\nThese were the words says hee:\n\u2018Come hither, thou proud porter,\nI pray thee come hither to me.\n30.14 \u2018I haue two poore rings of my finger,\nThe better of them Ile giue to thee;\nTell who may be lord of this castle,\u2019 he sayes,\n\u2018Or who is lord in this cuntry?\u2019\n30.15 \u2018Cornewall King,\u2019 the porter sayes,\n\u2018There is none soe rich as hee;\nNeither in christendome, nor yet in heathennest,\nNone hath soe much gold as he.\u2019\n30.16 And then bespake him noble King Arthur,\nThese were the words sayes hee:\n\u2018I haue two poore rings of my finger,\nThe better of them Ile giue thee,\nIf thou wilt greete him well, Cornewall King,\nAnd greete him well from me.\n30.17 \u2018Pray him for one nights lodging and two meales meate,\nFor his love that dyed vppon a tree;\nOf one ghesting and two meales meate,\nFor his loue that dyed vppon a tree.\n30.18 \u2018Of one ghesting, of two meales meate,\nFor his love that was of virgin borne,\nAnd in the morning that we may scape away,\nEither without scath or scorne.\u2019\n30.19 Then forth is gone this proud porter,\nAs fast as he cold hye,\nAnd when he came befor Cornewall King,\nHe kneeled downe on his knee.\n30.20 Sayes, \u2018I haue beene porter-man, at thy gate,\nThis thirty winter and three . .\n. . . . . .\n. . . . .\n* * * * *\n30.21 . . . . . .\n. . . . .\nOur Lady was borne; then thought Cornewall King\nThese palmers had beene in Brittaine.\n30.22 Then bespake him Cornwall King,\nThese were the words he said there:\n\u2018Did you euer know a comely king,\nHis name was King Arthur?\u2019\n30.23 And then bespake him noble King Arthur,\nThese were the words said hee:\n\u2018I doe not know that comly king,\nBut once my selfe I did him see.\u2019\nThen bespake Cornwall King againe,\nThese were the words said he:\n30.24 Sayes, \u2018Seuen yeere I was clad and fed,\nIn Litle Brittaine, in a bower;\nI had a daughter by King Arthurs wife,\nThat now is called my flower;\nFor King Arthur, that kindly cockward,\nHath none such in his bower.\n30.25 \u2018For I durst sweare, and saue my othe,\nThat same lady soe bright,\nThat a man that were laid on his death bed\nWold open his eyes on her to haue sight.\u2019\n\u2018Now, by my faith,\u2019 sayes noble King Arthur,\n\u2018And that\u2019s a full faire wight!\u2019\n30.26 And then bespake Cornewall [King] againe,\nAnd these were the words he said:\n\u2018Come hither, fiue or three of my knights,\nAnd feitch me downe my steed;\nKing Arthur, that foule cockeward,\nHath none such, if he had need.\n30.27 \u2018For I can ryde him as far on a day\nAs King Arthur can doe any of his on three;\nAnd is it not a pleasure for a king\nWhen he shall ryde forth on his iourney?\n30.28 \u2018For the eyes that beene in his head,\nTh glister as doth the gleed.\u2019\n\u2018Now, by my faith,\u2019 says noble King Arthur,\n\u2019That is a well faire steed.\u2019\n* * * * *\n30.29 . . . . . .\n. . . . .\n\u2018Nobody say . . . .\nBut one that\u2019s learned to speake.\u2019\n30.30 Then King Arthur to his bed was brought,\nA greeiued man was hee;\nAnd soe were all his fellowes with him,\nFrom him th thought neuer to flee.\n30.31 Then take they did that lodly groome,\nAnd under the rub-chadler closed was hee,\nAnd he was set by King Arthurs bed-side,\nTo heere theire talke and theire comunye;\n30.32 That he might come forth, and make Proclamation,\nLong before it was day;\nIt was more for King Cornwalls pleasure,\nThen it was for King Arthurs pay.\n30.33 And when King Arthur in his bed was laid,\nThese were the words said hee:\n\u2018Ile make mine avow to God,\nAnd alsoe to the Trinity,\nThat Ile be the bane of Cornwall Kinge,\nLitle Brittaine or euer I see!\u2019\n30.34 \u2018It is an vnaduised vow,\u2019 saies Gawaine the gay,\n\u2018As ever king hard make I;\nBut wee that beene five christian men,\nOf the christen faith are wee,\nAnd we shall fight against anoynted king\nAnd all his armorie.\u2019\n30.35 And then bespake him noble Arthur,\nAnd these were the words said he:\n\u2018Why, if thou be afraid, Sir Gawaine the gay,\nGoe home, and drinke wine in thine owne country.\u2019\n30.36 And then bespake Sir Gawaine the gay,\nAnd these were the words said hee:\n\u2018Nay, seeing you have made such a hearty vow,\nHeere another vow make will I.\n30.37 \u2018Ile make mine avow to God,\nAnd alsoe to the Trinity,\nThat I will haue yonder faire lady\nTo Litle Brittaine with mee.\n30.38 \u2018Ile hose her hourly to my heart,\nAnd with her Ile worke my will;\u2019\n. . . . .\n. . . . .\n* * * * *\n30.39 . . . . .\nThese were the words sayd hee:\n\u2018Befor I wold wrestle with yonder feend,\nIt is better be drowned in the sea.\u2019\n30.40 And then bespake Sir Bredbeddle,\nAnd these were the words said he:\n\u2018Why, I will wrestle with yon lodly feend,\nGod, my gouernor thou wilt bee!\u2019\n30.41 Then bespake him noble Arthur,\nAnd these were the words said he:\n\u2018What weapons wilt thou haue, thou gentle knight?\nI pray thee tell to me.\u2019\n30.42 He sayes, \u2018Collen brand Ile haue in my hand,\nAnd a Millaine knife fast by me knee,\nAnd a Danish axe fast in my hands,\nThat a sure weapon I thinke wilbe.\u2019\n30.43 Then with his Collen brand that he had in his hand\nThe bunge of that rub-chandler he burst in three;\nWith that start out a lodly feend,\nWith seuen heads, and one body.\n30.44 The fyer towards the element flew,\nOut of his mouth, where was great plentie;\nThe knight stoode in the middle and fought,\nThat it was great ioy to see.\n30.45 Till his Collaine brand brake in his hand,\nAnd his Millaine knife burst on his knee,\nAnd then the Danish axe burst in his hand first,\nThat a sur weapon he thought shold be.\n30.46 But now is the knight left without any weapons,\nAnd alacke! it was the more pitty;\nBut a surer weapon then he had one,\nHad neuer lord in Christentye;\nAnd all was but one litle booke,\nHe found it by the side of the sea.\n30.47 He found it at the sea-side,\nWrucked upp in a floode;\nOur Lord had written it with his hands,\nAnd sealed it with his bloode.\n* * * * *\n30.48 \u2018That thou doe not s . . . .\nBut ly still in that wall of stone,\nTill I haue beene with noble King Arthur,\nAnd told him what I haue done.\u2019\n30.49 And when he came to the kings chamber,\nHe cold of his curtesie:\nSays, \u2018Sleepe you, wake you, noble King Arthur?\nAnd euer Iesus waken yee!\u2019\n30.50 \u2018Nay, I am not sleeping, I am waking,\u2019\nThese were the words said hee;\n\u2018Ffor thee I haue card; how hast thou fared?\nO gentle knight, let me see.\u2019\n30.51 The knight wrought the king his booke,\nBad him behold, reede and see;\nAnd euer he found it on the backside of the leafe\nAs noble Arthur wold wish it to be.\n30.52 And then bespake him King Arthur,\n\u2018Alas! thow gentle knight, how may this be,\nThat I might see him in the same licknesse\nThat he stood vnto thee?\u2019\n30.53 And then bespake him the Greene Knight,\nThese were the words said hee:\n\u2018If youle stand stifly in the battell stronge,\nFor I haue won all the victory.\u2019\n30.54 Then bespake him the King againe,\nAnd these were the words said hee:\n\u2018If wee stand not stifly in this battell strong,\nWee are worthy to be hanged all on a tree.\u2019\n30.55 Then bespake him the Greene Kinght,\nThese were the words said he:\nSaies, \u2018I doe coniure thee, thou fowle feend,\nIn the same licknesse thou stood vnto me.\u2019\n30.56 With that start out a lodly feend,\nWith seuen heads, and one body;\nThe fier towards the element flaugh,\nOut of his mouth, where was great plenty.\n30.57 The knight stood in the middle p . . .\n. . . . . .\n. . . . . .\n. . . . .\n* * * * *\n30.58 . . . . . .\n. . . . .\n. . . they stood the space of an houre,\nI know not what they did.\n30.59 And then bespake him the Greene Knight,\nAnd these were the words said he:\nSaith, \u2018I coniure thee, thou fowle feend,\nThat thou feitch downe the steed that we see.\u2019\n30.60 And then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,\nAs fast as he cold hie,\nAnd feitch he did that faire steed,\nAnd came againe by and by.\n30.61 Then bespake him Sir Marramiles,\nAnd these were the words said hee:\n\u2018Riding of this steed, brother Bredbeddle,\nThe mastery belongs to me.\u2019\n30.62 Marramiles tooke the steed to his hand,\nTo ryd him he was full bold;\nHe cold noe more make him goe\nThen a child of three yeere old.\n30.63 He laid vppon him with heele and hand,\nWith yard that was soe fell;\n\u2018Helpe! brother Bredbeddle,\u2019 says Marramile,\n\u2018For I thinke he be the devill of hell.\n30.64 \u2018Helpe! brother Bredbeddle,\u2019 says Marramile,\n\u2018Helpe! for Christs pittye;\nFfor without thy help, brother Bredbeddle,\nHe will neuer be rydden for me.\u2019\n30.65 Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,\nThese were the words said he:\n\u2018I coniure thee, thou Burlow-beane,\nThou tell me how this steed was riddin in his country.\n30.66 He saith, \u2019There is a gold wand\nStands in King Cornwalls study windowe;\n. . . . . .\n. . . . . .\n30.67 \u2018Let him take that wand in that window,\nAnd strike three strokes on that steed;\nAnd then he will spring forth of his hand\nAs sparke doth out of gleede.\u2019\n30.68 And then bespake him the Greene Knight,\n. . . . .\n. . . . . .\n. . . . .\n* * * * *\n30.69 . . . . . .\n. . . . .\n. . . . . .\nA lowd blast he may blow then.\n30.70 And then bespake Sir Bredebeddle,\nTo the feend these words said hee:\nSays, \u2018I coniure thee, thou Burlow-beanie,\nThe powder-box thou feitch me.\u2019\n30.71 Then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,\nAs fast as he cold hie,\nAnd feich he did the powder-box,\nAnd came againe by and by.\n30.72 Then Sir Tristeram tooke powder forth of that box,\nAnd blent it with warme sweet milke,\nAnd there put it vnto that horne,\nAnd swilled it about in that ilke.\n30.73 Then he tooke the horne in his hand,\nAnd a lowd blast he blew;\nHe rent the horne vp to the midst,\nAll his fellowes this th knew.\n30.74 Then bespake him the Greene Knight,\nThese were the words said he:\nSaies, \u2018I coniure thee, thou Burlow-beanie,\nThat thou feitch me the sword that I see.\u2019\n30.75 Then forth is gone Burlow-beanie,\nAs fast as he cold hie,\nAnd feitch he did that faire sword,\nAnd came againe by and by.\n30.76 Then bespake him Sir Bredbeddle,\nTo the king these words said he:\n\u2018Take this sword in thy hand, thou noble King Arthur,\nFor the vowes sake that thou made Ile giue it th[ee,]\nAnd goe strike off King Cornewalls head,\nIn bed were he doth lye.\u2019\n30.77 Then forth is gone noble King Arthur,\nAs fast as he cold hye,\nAnd strucken he hath off King Cornwalls head,\nAnd came againe by and by.\n30.78 He put the head vpon a swords point,\n. . . . .\n. . . . . .\n. . . . .\n* * * * *","title":"The Child Ballads: 30. King Arthur and King Cornwall","type":"page"}