ANCIENT POEMS. 53 Now God you fave, our queene, madame, Heere you have chofen a newe newe love, And you will have none of mee. If you had chofen a right good knight, But Therfore a fyer there fhall be built, And brent all fhalt thou bee. "Now out alacke! fand our comly queene, Now out alacke! fayd our comlye queene, I had thought fwevens had never been true; 55 60 65 بورر Saving there came a litle 'grey' hawke, Which untill the grounde did ftrike the grype, Giffe I were a man, as now I am none, A battell wold I.prove, To fight with that traitor Aldingar; Att him I caft my glove. But feeing Ime able noe battell to make, "Now forty dayes I will give thee To feeke thee a knight therin: If thou find not a knight in forty dayes Thy bodye it must brenn." Then thee fent eaft, and fhee fent weft, By north and fouth bedeene: But never a champion colde fhe find, Wolde fight with that knight foe keene, Now twenty dayes were spent and gone, And aye her hart was fad. 80 85 ANCIENT POEMS. Then came one of the queenes damsèlles, "Cheare up, cheare up, my gracious dame, I trust yet helpe may be: And here I will make mine avowe, And with the fame me binde; That never will I return to thee, Till I fome helpe may finde." Then forth the rode on a faire palfràye But never a champion colde fhe finde, And nowe the daye drewe on a pace, All woe-begone was that faire damsèlle, 115 |