4. ‘And bring me word what thing it is That a woman [will] most desire; This shalbe thy ransome, Arthur,’ he sayes, ‘For I’le haue noe other hier.’ 5. King Arthur then held vp his hand, According thene as was the law; He tooke his leaue of the baron there, & homward can he draw. 6. And when he came to merry Carlile, To his chamber he is gone, & ther came to him his cozen Sir Gawaine As he did make his mone. 7. And there came to him his cozen Sir Gawaine That was a curteous knight; ‘Why sigh you soe sore, vnckle Arthur,’ he said, ‘Or who hath done thee vnright?’ 8. ‘O peace, O peace, thou gentle Gawaine, That faire may thee beffall! For if thou knew my sighing soe deepe, Thou wold not meruaile att all; 9. ‘Ffor when I came to Tearne Wadling, A bold barron there I fand, With a great club vpon his backe, Standing stiffe and strong; 10. ‘And he asked me wether I wold fight, Or from him I shold begone, Or else I must him a ransome pay & soe depart him from. 11. ‘To fight with him I saw noe cause, Methought it was not meet, For he was stiffe & strong with-all, His strokes were nothing sweete; 12. ‘Therefor this is my ransome, Gawaine, I ought to him to pay: I must come againe, as I am sworne, Vpon the Newyeer’s day. 13. ‘And I must bring him word what thing it is ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... *** *** *** 14. Then King Arthur drest him for to ryde In one soe rich array Toward the fore-said Tearne Wadling, That he might keepe his day. 15. And as he rode over a more, Hee see a lady where shee sate Betwixt an oke & a greene hollen; She was cladd in red scarlett. 16. Then there as shold haue stood her mouth, Then there was sett her eye, The other was in her forhead fast The way that she might see. 17. Her nose was crooked & turnd outward, Her mouth stood foule a-wry; A worse formed lady than shee was, Neuer man saw with his eye. 18. To halch vpon him, King Arthur, This lady was full faine, But King Arthur had forgott his lesson, What he shold say againe. 19. ‘What knight art thou,’ the lady sayd, ‘That will not speak to me? Of me be thou nothing dismayd Tho’ I be vgly to see; 20. ‘For I haue halched you curteouslye, & you will not me againe; Yett I may happen, Sir Knight,’ shee said, ‘To ease thee of thy paine.’ 21. ‘Giue thou ease me, lady,’ he said, ‘Or helpe me any thing, Thou shalt have gentle Gawaine, my cozen, & marry him with a ring.’ 22. ‘Why, if I help thee not, thou noble King Arthur, Of thy owne heart’s desiringe, Of gentle Gawaine . . . ... ... ... *** *** *** 23. And when he came to the Tearne Wadling The baron there cold he finde, With a great weapon on his backe, Standing stiffe and stronge.