Said, ‘Turne thou againe, thou messenger, Greete our Queen well from me; When bale[63] is at hyest, boote[64] is at nyest-- Helpe enough there may bee. XXXI ‘Bid our Queene remember what she did dreame In her bedd wheras shee lay; She dreamèd the grype and the grimlie beast Had carryed her crowne away; XXXII ‘Her gorgett and her kirtle of gold, Her head-geare [all soe drest] He wo’ld have worryed her with his tush, And borne her into his nest. XXXIII ‘Saving there came a little hawke, Men call him a merlion; ‘Did strike him downe untill the ground That dead he did fall downe. XXXIV ‘Bidd the Queene be merry att her heart, Evermore light and glad; When bale is at hyest, boote is at nyest, Helpe enough [shall be had’]. XXXV Then the Queen’s messenger rode backe, A gladded man then was hee; When that he came before our Queene, A gladd woman then was shee. XXXVI She gave the messenger twenty pound, O Lord, in gold and fee; Saies, ‘Spend, nor spare while this doth last, Then fetch thou more of me.’ XXXVII Our Queene was put in a tunne[65] to burn; She thought noe thing but death: When they were ware of the Little One ’Came ryding forth of the east. XXXVIII With a mu[le and a bridle all of bells] A lovelye child was hee; When that he came to that fyér He lighted the Queene full nigh. XXXIX Sayd, ‘Draw away these brands of fyer ’Lie burning before our Queene, And fetch me hither Sir Aldingar That is a knight soe keene.’ XL When Aldingar saw that Little One, Full little of him hee thought; If there had been halfe a hundred such Of them he would not have wrought[66]. XLI He sayd, ‘Come hither, Sir Aldingar, Thou seemest as big as a fooder[67]; I trust God ere I have done with thee God will send us an auger.’ XLII Sayes, ‘The first stroke that’s given, Sir Aldingar, I will give unto thee; And if the second give thou may, Looke then thou spare not mee.’ XLIII This Little One pull’d forth a well good sword, I wis it well all of gilte. It cast a light there over that field, It shone soe all of gilte. XLIV He stroke the first stroke at Aldingar; [Noe second needed hee; At the first stroke] he stroke away His leggs [all] by the knee. XLV Sayes, ‘Stand up, stand up, thou false traitor, And fight upon thy feete; For, an thou thrive as thou begins, Of a height we shall be meete[68].’ XLVI ‘A priest, a priest,’ sayes Aldingar, ‘Me for to housel and shrive! A priest, a priest,’ sayes Aldingar, ‘While I am a man living alive! XLVII