Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume 3 (of 3) / Consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs and Other Pieces of Our Earlier Poets Together With Some Few of Later Date - Unknown

Sir Lancelott & S^r Steven bold
they rode w^th them that day,
and the formost of the company
there rode the steward Kay,

Soe did S^r Banier & S^r Bore
S^r Garrett w^th them soe gay,
soe did S^r Tristeram y^t gentle k^t,
to the forrest fresh & gay

And when he came to the greene forrest
vnderneath a greene holly tree
their sate that lady in red scarlet
y^t vnseemly was to see.

S^r Kay beheld this Ladys face,
& looked vppon her smire [461]
whosoeuer kisses this lady, he sayes
of his kisse he standes in feare.

Sir Kay beheld the lady againe,
& looked vpon her snout,
whosoeuer kisses this lady, he saies,
of his kisse he stands in doubt.

Peace coz. Kay, then said S^r Gawaine
amend thee of thy life;
for there is a knight amongst us all
y^t must marry her to his wife.

What, wedd her to wiffe, then said S^r Kay,
in the diuells name anon,
gett me a wiffe where ere I may,
for I had rather be slaine.

Then soome tooke vp their hawkes in hast
& some tooke vp their hounds,
& some sware they wold not marry her
for Citty nor for towne.

And then be spake him noble k. Arthur,
& sware there by this day,
for a litle foule sight and misliking