[169] For why = because. [170] dinne = noise, i. e. ado. [171] crowt = pucker. [172] shreeven = shriven, confessed. [173] werryed = worried. [174] birtled = brittled, cut up. [175] ronge = rung, resounded. [176] sheede = shed, spill. _18. King Arthur and King Cornwall_ _A Fragment_ King Arthur of Little Britain unwisely boasts the beauty of his famous Round Table. I Saies, ‘Come here, cuzen Gawaine so gay, My sisters sonne be yee; Ffor you shall see one of the fairest round tables That ever you see with your eye.’ II Then bespake Lady Queen Guenever, And these were the words said shee: ‘I know where a round table is, thou noble king, Is worth thy round table and other such three. III ‘The trestle that stands under this round table,’ she said, ‘Lowe downe to the mould, It is worth thy round table, thou worthy king, Thy halls, and all thy gold. IV ‘The place where this round table stands in, [Is fencèd round amaine] It is worth thy castle, thy gold, thy fee, And all good Litle Britaine.’ V ‘Where may that table be, lady?’ quoth hee, ‘Or where may all that goodly building be?’ ‘You shall it seeke,’ shee says, ‘till you it find; You shall never gett more of me.’ VI Then bespake him noble King Arthur These were the words said hee: ‘I’le make mine avow to God, And alsoe to the Trinity, VII ‘I’le never sleepe one night there as I doe another ’Till that round table I see: Sir Marramiles and Sir Tristeram, Fellowes that ye shall bee. VIII [‘Sir Gawaine and Sir Bredbettle Be fellowes eke with me,] Weele be clad in palmers’ weede, Five palmers we will bee; IX ‘There is noe outlandish man will us abide, Nor will us come nye.’ Then they rived[177] east and they rived west, In many a strange countrỳ. X Then they tranckled[178] a litle further, They saw a battle new sett: ‘Now, by my faith,’ saies noble King Arthur, [‘These armies be well met.’] After travelling in many strange lands they arrive at the castle of King Cornwall, not a great way from home. XI But when he cam to this [Cornwall castle] And to the palace gate, Soe ready was ther a proud portèr, And met him soone therat. XII Shooes of gold the porter had on, And all his other rayment was unto the same: ‘Now, by my faith,’ saies noble King Arthur, ‘Yonder is a minion swaine.’ XIII Then bespake noble King Arthur, These were the words says hee: ‘Come thou hither, thou proud portèr, I pray thee come hither to me. XIV ‘I have two poore rings, of my finger, The better of them I’le give to thee; Tell who may be lord of this castle, Or who is lord in this cuntry?’ XV