Among these knights, Sir Lancelot du Lake, Sir Bevis, and Sir Gawaine are the most conspicuous in tradition. One of the most celebrated of our most ancient ballads relates to the latter, and to his marriage with the mis-shapen lady that afterwards became so fair. The story is a very beautiful one; and was the model upon which Chaucer founded his Wife of Bath's Tale. It is worth repeating, for the sake of those to whom the uncouth rhymes of ancient days are not familiar; but though it is likely enough that the number of these is but few, it is too interesting, as connected with Carlisle, to be left unmentioned in a chapter expressly devoted to the poetical antiquities of the place. THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAINE. King Arthur lives in merry Carleile, And seemly is to see: And there with him queene Guenever, That bride so bright of blee. And there with him queene Guenever, That bride so bright in bowre; And all his barons about him stoode, That were both stiffe and stowre. The king a royale Christmasse kept, With mirth and princelye cheare; To him repaired many a knighte, That came both farre and neare. And when they were to dinner sette, And cups went freely round: Before them came a faire damsèlle, And knelt upon the ground. A boone! a boone! O kinge Arthùre, I beg a boone of thee; Avenge me of a carlish knighte, Who hath shent my love and me. At Tearne-Wadling,[4] his castle stands, Near to that lake so fair, And proudlye rise the battlements, And streamers deck the air. Noe gentle knighte, nor ladye gay, May pass that castle-walle; But from that foule discurteous knighte, Mishappe will them befalle. Hee's twyce the size of common men, Wi' thewes, and sinewes stronge, And on his backe he bears a clubbe, That is both thicke and longe. This grimme baròne, 'twas our harde happe, But yester morne to see; When to his bowre he bare my love, And sore misused me. And when I told him, King Arthùre As lyttle shold him spare; Goe tell, sayd he, that cuckold kinge, To meete me if he dare. Upp then sterted King Arthùre, And sware by hille and dale, He ne'er wolde quitt that grimme baròne, Till he had made him quail. King Arthur sets off in a great rage. The opprobrious term, which galled him the more because it was true, fired his blood, and he challenged the "grimme baròne" to mortal combat.