XVI
And then bespake him noble King Arthur,
These were the words sayes hee:
‘I have two poore rings of my finger,
The better of them I’le give thee,
If thou wilt greete him well, Cornewall King,
And greete him well from me.
XVII
‘Pray him for one night’s lodging and two meales’ meate,
For his love that dyed uppon a tree;
Of one ghesting[179] and two meales’ meate,
For his love that dyed uppon tree.
XVIII
‘Of one ghesting, of two meales’ meate,
For his love that was of virgin borne,
And in the morning that we may scape away,
Either without scath or scorne.’
XIX
Then forth is gone this proud portèr,
As fast as he co’ld hye,
And when he came befor Cornewall King,
He kneelèd downe on his knee.
XX
Sayes, ‘I have beene porter-man at thy gate
This thirty winter and three,
[But there is ffive knights before itt now,
The like I never did see.’]