And lay an apple upon his head,
And go six score pace him fro',
And I myself with a broad arrow
Shall cleave the apple in two.
Now haste thee, then said the king,
By Him that died on a tree,
But if thou do not as thou hast said,
Hanged shalt thou be.
An thou touch his head or gown,
In sight that men may see,
By all the saints that be in heaven,
I shall hang you all three.
That I have promised, said William,
That I will never forsake.
And there even before the king
In the earth he drove a stake:
And bound thereto his eldest son,
And bade him stand still thereat;
And turned the child's face him from,
Because he should not start.
An apple upon his head he set,
And then his bow he bent:
Six score paces they were meaten,[73]
And thither Cloudesly went.
There he drew out a fair broad arrow,
His bow was great and long,
He set that arrow in his bow,
That was both stiff and strong.
He prayed the people that were there,
That they all still would stand,
For he that shooteth for such a wager,
Behoveth a stedfast hand.
Much people prayed for Cloudesly,
That his life saved might be,
And when he made him ready to shoot,
There was many a weeping ee.
But Cloudesly cleft the apple in two,
His son he did not nee.[74]
Over Gods forebode,[75] said the king,
That thou should shoot at me.