‘O peace, O peace, thou gentle Gawaine,
That faire may thee beffall!
For if thou knew my sighing soe deepe,
Thou wo’ld not mervaile att all.
IX
‘Ffor when I came to Tearne Wadling,
A bold barron there I fand,
With a great club upon his backe,
Standing stiffe and strong.
X
‘And he asked me wether I wo’ld fight
Or from him I shold begone,
Or else I must him a ransome pay,
And soe depart him from.
XI
‘To fight with him I saw noe cause;
Methought it was not meet;
For he was stiffe and strong with-all,
His strokes were nothing sweete.
XII
‘Therefor this is my ransome, Gawaine,
I ought to him to pay;
I must come againe, as I am sworne,
Upon the New Yeer’s day;