‘But I will for your sake, ladye, Walk on the bents[42] soe browne, And I’ll either bring you a readye token, Or I’ll ne’er come to you again.’ XVII But this ladye is gone to her chamber, Her maydens following bright; And Sir Cawline’s gone to the mores soe broad, For to wake there all night. XVIII Unto midnight that the moone did rise He walkèd up and downe, And a lightsome bugle then heard he blow Over the bents so browne; Sayes he, ‘And if cryance[43] come to my heart, I am farr from any good towne.’ XIX And he spyèd, e’en a little him by, A furyous king and a fell, And a ladye bright his brydle led [More] seemlye [than onie can tell]. XX Soe fast he call’d on Sir Cawline, ‘O man, I rede thee flye! For if cryance come untill thy heart I’m afeard lest thou maun dye!’-- XXI He sayes, ‘No cryance comes to my heart, Nor i’faith I fear not thee; For because thou ming’d[44] not Christ before, The lesse me dreadeth thee.’ XXII But Sir Cawline then he shooke a speare; The King was bold, and abode: And the timber those two children bare Soe soon in sunder slode[45]: Forth they tooke and two good swords, And they layden on good loade[46]. XXIII The Eldritch King was mickle of might, And stiffly to the ground did stand; But Sir Cawline with an aukeward[47] stroke He brought from him his hand-- Ay, and flying over his head so hye It fell down of that lay land[48]. XXIV His ladye stood a little thereby, Fast her hands wringìnge: ‘For the mayden’s love that you have most minde, Smyte you noe more [this King]. XXV ‘And he’s never[49] come upon Eldritch Hill Him to sport, gammon or play, And to meet no man of middle-earth[50] That lives on Christ his lay[51].’ XXVI But he then up, that Eldritch King, Set him in his sadle againe, And that Eldritch King and his ladye To their castle are they gone. XXVII Sir Cawline took up that eldritch sword As hard as any flynt, Soe did he [the hand with] ringès five Harder than fyer, and brent[52]. XXVIII The watchmen cryed upon the walls And sayd, ‘Sir Cawline’s slaine!’ Then the King’s daughter she fell downe, ‘For peerlesse is my payne!’-- XXIX ‘O peace, my ladye!’ sayes Sir Cawline, ‘I have bought thy love full deare; O peace, my ladye!’ sayes Sir Cawline, ‘Peace, ladye, for I am heere!’ XXX He’s presented to the King’s daughter The hand, and then the sword [And he has claimed the King’s daughter According to her word]. XXXI And the King has betaken[53] him his broad lands And all his venison[54]; [Sayes] ‘Thou shalt have my daughter deare, [And be my onelye son’]. FOOTNOTES: