‘Shee witched me, being a faire young lady, To the greene forrest to dwell, And there I must walke in woman’s liknesse, Most like a feend of hell. XLVIII ‘She witched my brother to a carlish [boore] Being thus given what a woman most desires (that is, her will) she is released from the spell and becomes beautiful at all times: and Sir Gawain leads his lady in triumph among the knights, to present her to the King and Queen. L ‘Come kisse her, brother Kay,’ then said Sir Gawaine, ‘And amend thé of thy liffe; I sweare this is the same lady That I marryed to my wiffe.’ LI Sir Kay kissed that lady bright, Standing upon his ffeete; He swore, as he was trew knight, The spice was never soe sweete. LII ‘Well, cozen Gawaine,’ sayes Sir Kay, ‘Thy chance is fallen arright, For thou hast gotten one of the fairest maids I ever saw with my sight.’-- LIII ‘It is my fortune,’ said Sir Gawaine; ‘For my unckle Arthurs sake I am glad as grasse wold be of raine, Great joy that I may take.’ LIV Sir Gawaine tooke the lady by the one arme, Sir Kay tooke her by the tother, They led her straight to King Arthur, As they were brother and brother. LV King Arthur welcomed them there all, And soe did Lady Genever his queene, With all the knights of the Round Table, Most seemly to be seene. LVI King Arthur beheld that lady faire That was soe faire and bright, He thanked Christ in Trinity For Sir Gawaine that gentle knight. LVII Soe did the knights, both more and lesse, Rejoyced all that day For the good chance that hapened was To Sir Gawaine and his lady gay. FOOTNOTES: [188] blee = hue, complexion. [189] stowre = strong or perhaps we should read ‘stiff in stowre’ = sturdy in fight. [190] Tarn Wadling = The place--near Hesketh in Cumberland, on the road from Carlisle to Penrith--keeps its name to this day. But the tarn has been drained and its site is now a pasture for sheep. [191] hollen = holly-tree. [192] halch upon = salute. [193] sckill = wit, judgement. [194] swire = neck. [195] feires = mates. _20. Bonnie Annie_ I There was a rich lord, and he lived in Forfar, He had a fair lady and one only dochter. II O she was fair! O dear, she was bonnie! A ship’s captain courted her to be his honey. III ‘Ye’ll steal your father’s gowd, and your mother’s money, And I’ll make ye a lady in Ireland bonnie.’ IV She’s stown her father’s gowd, and her mother’s money, But she was never a lady in Ireland bonnie. V They hadna sail’d far till the young thing cried ‘Woman!’ ‘What can a woman do, love, I will do for ye. VI ‘Lay about, steer about, lay our ship cannie[196], Do all ye can to save my dear Annie.’ VII