[29] [V. 155-6. these two lines belong to the former stanza.]
[30] Ver. 170. them upon, MS.
[31] [carved.]
[32] V. 175. or birtled, MS.
[33] [shed.]
II.
THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAINE
Is chiefly taken from the fragment of an old ballad in the Editor's MS., which he has reason to believe more ancient than the time of Chaucer, and what furnished that bard with his Wife of Bath's Tale. The original was so extremely mutilated, half of every leaf being torn away, that without large supplements, &c. it was deemed improper for this collection: these it has therefore received, such as they are. They are not here particularly pointed out, because the Fragment itself will now be found printed at the end of this volume.