Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads ...

14
ANCIENT SONGS
Forth then rufh'd that carlifh knight,
King Arthur felte the charme :
His fturdy fmewes loft" their ftrengthe,
Downe funke his feeble arme. 60
Nowe yield thee, yield thee, kinge Arthure,
Now yield thee, unto mee :
Or fighte with mee, or lofe thy lande,
Noe better termes maye bee.
UnlelTe thou fvveare upon the rood, 65
And promife on thy faye,
Here to returne to Tearne Wadling,
Upon the new-yeare's daye-
And bringe me worde what thing it is
All women mofte defyre : 70
This is thy ranfome, Arthur, he fayes,
He have noe other hyre.
King Arthur then helde up his hande,
And fware upon his faye,
Then tooke his leav,e of the grimme barone 75
And fafle hee rode awaye.
And he rode eafl, and he rode well,
And did of all inquyre,
What thing it is all women crave,
And what they moil defyre. 80
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