And when we parted we were at one,
God forbid we be now wrath,

We meet so seldom by stock or stone.
Though courteously ye carp can,
I am but moe and mareres mysse,3
But Christ's mercy, and Mary, and John,
These are the grounds of all my bliss.
In bliss I see thee blithely blent,
And I a man all mournful mate ;*
Ye take thereon full little tent,
Though I hent oft harm's hate.
But now I am here in your presence,
I would beseech, without debate,
Ye would me say, in sober assent,
What life ye lead early and late?

For I am full fain that your estate

6

Is worthen to worship and weal iwysse,
Of all my joy the high gate,

It is in ground ofall my bliss.”

"Now bliss, burne, may thee betide,”

Then said that lovesome of lyth and lere,
"And welcome here to walk and bide,

For now thy speech is to me dear;

3 Dust and Rubbish.

• Changed.

• Dejected. 7 Truly.

9 Limb and feature.

5 Receive.

s Man.

Masterful mood, and high pride,

I hight thee, are utterly hated here;
My Lord ne loves not for to chide,
For meek are all that dwell Him near;
And when in His place thou shalt appear,
Be deep devote in holy meekness;

My Lord the Lamb loves aye such cheer,
That is the ground of all my bliss.
A blissful life, thou says, I lead,

Thou wouldest know thereof the stage ;
Thou wott'st well, when thy pearl can schede,*
I was full young and tender of age;

But my Lord the Lamb, through His Godhead,
He took myself to his marriage,

Crowned me queen in bliss to bide,

In length of days that ever shall wage,
And seized in all His heritage;

His lief is, I am wholly His,

His praise, his prize, and his parage,
Is root and ground of all my bliss."

*

1 Depart.

*

(Early English Text Society.)

2 Kindred.

SIR GAWAINE'S LAST FIGHT.

HEN Sir Gawaine grat1 with his gray eyen,
For grief of his good men that he guide

should;

He wist that they wounded were, and weary forfoughten;

And, what for wonder and woe, all his wit failed.
And then sighing he said, with streaming tears,—
"We are with Saracens beset upon many sides.
I sigh not for myself, so help our Lord,
But for us surprised, my sorrow is the more.
Be ye doughty to-day, yon dukes shall be yours,
For dear Lord this day dread no weapon.
We shall end this day as excellent knights,
Ayere to endless joy with angels unwemmyde.3
Though we have unwittingly wasted ourselves,
We shall work all well in the worship of Christ.
We shall for yon Saracens, I pledge you my troth,
Sup with our Saviour solemnly in heaven,

In presence of that precious prince of all other,

1 Wept.

3 Unspotted.

To go.

With prophets, and patriarchs, and apostles full

noble,

4

Before his freliche face that formed us all.

Yonder to yon Yaldsones he that yields him ever, Whiles he is quick, and in querte unquelled with

hands,

5

Be he never more saved nor succoured with Christ, But Satanas his soul may sink into hell.”

(Early English Text Society.)

KING ARTHUR'S GRIEF FOR SIR

GAWAINE.

HEN gazes the good king, and glapyns' in heart,

Groans full grisly with greeting tears, Kneels down to the corse and caught it in arms, Hastes up his vizor and kisses him soon,

Looks on his eyelids, that locked were fair,

2

His lips like to the lead, and his lire falowede."
Then the crowned king cries full loud,

"Dear cousin of kind, in care am I left;

For now my worship is went, and my war ended; Here is the hope of my health, my happing of

arms,

My heart and my hardiness wholly on him lying;
My counsel, my comfort, that keeped my heart,
Of all knights the king that under Christ lived.
Thou was worthy to be king, though I the crown
bare.

My weal and my worship of all this world rich

J Fears.

? Face.

3 Withered.