XXXVIII
Then some tooke up their hawkes in hast.
And some tooke up their hounds,
And some sware they wo’ld not marry her
For citty nor for towne.
XXXIX
And then be-spake him noble King Arthur,
And sware there by this day,
For a litle foule sight and misliking
[They should not say her Nay].
At length Sir Gawain, for Arthur’s sake, consented. The ugly bride was taken home and bedded, when to Gawain’s delight in his arms she turned to a beautiful woman. She then offered him a choice.—
XL
Then shee said, ‘Choose thee, gentle Gawaine,
Truth as I doe say,
Wether thou wilt have me in this liknesse
In the night or else in the day.’
XLI
And then bespake him gentle Gawaine,
Was one soe mild of moode,
Sayes, ‘Well I know what I wo’ld say,
God grant it may be good!