Arthur, having collected and written down many answers to the baron’s riddle, was true to his promise, thus-- XIV 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. XV And as he rode over a more, Hee see a lady where shee sate Betwixt an oke and a greene hollen[191]; She was cladd in red scarlett. XVI Then thereas shold have stood her mouth, Then there was sett her eye; The other was in her forhead fast, The way that she might see. XVII Her nose was crooked and turn’d outward, Her mouth stood foule a-wry; A worse form’d lady than shee was, Never man saw with his eye. XVIII To halch upon[192] him, King Arthur, This lady was full faine, But King Arthur had forgott his lesson, What he sho’ld say againe. XIX ‘What knight art thou,’ the lady sayd, ‘That will not speak to me? Of me be thou nothing dismay’d, Tho I be ugly to see. XX ‘For I have halched you curteouslye, And you will not me againe; Yett I may happen Sir Knight,’ shee said, ‘To ease thee of thy paine.’ XXI ‘Give thou ease me, lady,’ he said, ‘Or helpe me any thing, Thou shalt have gentle Gawaine, my cozen, And marry him with a ring.’ The hag thereupon gave him the right answer and he rode forward. XXIII And when he came to the Tearne Wadling, The baron there co’ld he finde, With a great weapon on his backe, Standing stiffe and stronge. XXIV And then he tooke King Arthur’s letters in his hands, And away he co’ld them fling, And then he puld out a good browne sword, And cryd himselfe a king. XXV And he sayd, ‘I have thee and thy land, Arthur, To doe as it pleaseth me, For this is not thy ransome sure, Therfore yeeld thee to me.’ XXVI And then bespoke him noble Arthur, And bad him hold his hand: ‘And give me leave to speake my mind In defence of all my land.’ XXVII He said, ‘As I came over a more, I see a lady where shee sate Betweene an oke and a green hollen; Shee was clad in red scarlett. XXVIII ‘And she says a woman will have her will, And this is all her cheef desire: Doe me right, as thou art a baron of sckill[193], This is thy ransome and all thy hyer.’ XXIX He sayes, ‘An early vengeance light on her! She walkes on yonder more; It was my sister that told thee this, [As shee heard it of me before.] XXX ‘But heer I’le make mine avow to God To doe her an evill turne; For an’ ever I may thate fowle theefe get, In a fyer I will her burne.’ The King, having returned home, told his knights that he had in the forest a bride for one of them, and a number rode out in his company to find her. XXXI