"That's overmuch," quoth Lancelot tho;
"Defend thee by and by."

They put their spurs unto their steeds,
And each at other fly.

They coucht their spears, and horses ran
As though there had been thunder;
And each struck them amidst the shield,
Wherewith they broke in sunder.

Their horses' backs brake under them,
The knights were both astound;

串

To void their horses they made great haste, To light upon the ground.

They took them to their shields full fast,
Their swords they drew out than;
With mighty strokes most eagerly

Each one at other ran.

They wounded were, and bled full sore,
For breath they both did stand,
And leaning on their swords awhile,
Quoth Tarquin, "Hold thy hand,

And tell to me what I shall ask;" "Say on," quoth Lancelot tho; "Thou art," quoth Tarquin, "the best knight That ever I did know;

And like a knight that I did hate;

So that thou be not he

I will deliver all the rest,

And eke accord with thee."

"That is well said," quoth Lancelot then;

"But sith it must be so,

What is the knight thou hatest thus ?

I pray thee to me show."

* then.

"His name is Lancelot du Lake,

He slew my brother dear; Him I suspect of all the rest ;

I would I had him here."

"Thy wish thou hast, but yet unknown;

I am Lancelot du Lake!

Now knight of Arthur's Table Round,
King Ban's son of Benwake;

And I desire thee do thy worst."
"Ho! ho!" quoth Tarquin tho,
"One of us two shall end our lives,
Before that we do go.

If thou be Lancelot du Lake,

Then welcome shalt thou be; Wherefore see thou thyself defend, For now defie I thee."

They buckled then together so,

Like two wild boars rashing,

And with their swords and shields they ran

At one another slashing.

The ground besprinkled was with blood,

Tarquin began to faint;

For he gave back, and bore his shield

So low, he did repent.

This soon espied Sir Lancelot tho;

He leapt upon him then,

He pull'd him down upon his knee,

And rushed off his helm.

And then he struck his neck in two;
And when he had done so,

From prison threescore knights and four
Lancelot delivered tho.

THE LEGEND OF SIR GUY.

"Published from an ancient MS. copy in the Editor's old folio volume, collated with two printed ones, one of which is in black-letter in the Pepys collection."-PERCY.

AS ever knight for ladye's sake
Soe tost in love, as I, Sir Guy,
For Phelis fayre, that lady bright
As ever man beheld with eye?

She gave me leave myself to try,

The valiant knight with sheeld and speare,
Ere that her love she would grant me;
Which made mee venture far and neare.

Then proved I a baron bold,

In deeds of arms the doughtyest knight
That in those dayes in England was,
With sworde and speare in feild to fight.

An English man I was by birthe:

In faith of Christ a christyan true :

The wicked lawes of infidells

I sought by prowesse to subdue.

Nine' hundred twenty yeere and odde

After our Saviour Christ his birth,
When King Athèlstone wore the crowne,
I lived heere upon the earth.

Sometime I was of Warwicke erle,

And, as I sayd, of very truth

A ladyes love did me constraine

To seeke strange ventures in my youth;

To win me fame by feates of armes

In strange and sundry heathen lands; Where I atchieved for her sake

Right dangerous conquests with my hands.

For first I sayled to Normandye,

And there I stoutlye wan in fight
The emperours daughter of Almaine,
From manye a vallyant worthye knight.

Then passed I the seas to Greece,
To helpe the emperour in his right,
Against the mightye souldan's hoaste
Of puissant Persians for to fight:

Where I did slay of Sarazens,

And heathen pagans, manye a man; And slew the souldan's cozen* deere, Who had to name doughtye Coldràn.

Eskeldered, a famous knight,

To death likewise I did pursue : And Elmayne, King of Tyre, alsoe, Most terrible in fight to viewe.

I went into the souldan's hoast,
Being thither on embassage sent,
And brought his head awaye with mee;
I having slaine him in his tent.

There was a dragon in that land

Most fiercelye mett me by the waye,

As hee a lyon did pursue,

Which I myself did alsoe slay.

Then soon I past the seas from Greece,
And came to Pavye land aright;
Where I the duke of Pavye killed,
His hainous treason to requite.

* Sultan's cousin

To England then I came with speede,
To wedd faire Phelis, lady bright;
For love of whome I travelled farr
To try my manhood and my might.

But when I had espoused her,

I stayd with her but fortye dayes,

Ere that I left this ladye faire,

And went from her beyond the seas.