'Tell me, thou bonny bird, When shall I marry me?' 'When six braw gentlemen Kirkward shall carry ye.

'Who makes the bridal bed,
Birdie, say truly??
'The grey-headed sexton
That delves the grave duly.

'The glow-worm o'er grave and stone Shall light thee steady;

The owl from the steeple sing

Welcome, proud lady.'

Sir W. Scott

CLIV

SIR LANCELOT DU LAKE

When Arthur first in court began,
'And was approved king,

By force of arms great victories wan
And conquest home did bring,

Then into England straight he came
With fifty good and able
Knights, that resorted unto him,
And were of his round table:

And he had jousts and tournaments,
Whereto were many prest,
Wherein some knights did far excel
And eke surmount the rest.

But one Sir Lancelot du Lake,
Who was approved well,

He for his deeds and feats of arms
All others did excel.

When he had rested him awhile,
In play, and game, and sport,
He said he would go prove himself
In some adventurous sort.

He armed rode in a forest wide,
And met a damsel fair

Who told him of adventures great,
Whereto he gave great ear.

Such would I find, quoth Lancelot : 'For that cause came I hither.'

'Thou seem'st,' quoth she, 'a knight full good, And I will bring thee thither,

'Whereas a mighty knight doth dwell,

That now is of great fame : Therefore tell me what wight thou art, And what may be thy name.'

My name is Lancelot du Lake.' Quoth she, 'It likes me than ; Here dwells a knight who never was Yet match'd with any man :

'Who has in prison three-score knights
And four that he did wound;

Knights of King Arthur's court they be,
And of his table round.'

She brought him to a river side,
And also to a tree,

Whereon a copper basin hung,
And many shields to see.

He struck so hard the basin broke;
And Tarquin soon he spied:
Who drove a horse before him fast,
Whereon a knight lay tied.

'Sir knight,' then said Sir Lancelot, 'Bring me that horse-load hither, And lay him down and let him rest; We'll try our force together:

'For, as I understand, thou hast,
So far as thou art able,

Done great despite and shame unto
The knights of the round table.'

'If thou be of the table round,'
Quoth Tarquin speedily,
'Both thee and all thy fellowship
I utterly defy.'

'That's overmuch,' quoth Lancelot, 'tho,

Defend thee bye and bye,'

They set their spears unto their steeds,
And each at other fly.

They couch'd their spears, (their horses ran
As though there had been thunder,)
And struck them each immidst their shields,
Wherewith they broke in sunder.

Their horses' backs brake under them,
The knights were both astound:
To avoid their horses they made haste
To light upon the ground.

They took them to their shields full fast,
Their swords they drew out then,
With mighty strokes most eagerly,
Each at the other ran.

They wounded were and bled full sore,
They both for breath 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 ;
But sith it must be so,

What knight is that thou hatest thus?
I pray thee to me show.'

'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 Haud's son of Schuwake;

'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 defy I thee.'

They buckled then together so

Like unto wild boars rashing;

And with their swords and shields they ran, At one another slashing:

The ground besprinkled was with blood :
Tarquin began to yield;

For he gave back for weariness,

And low did bear his shield.

This soon Sir Lancelot espied,
He leapt upon him then,
He pull'd him down upon his knee,
And, rushing off his helm,

Forthwith he struck his neck in two,

And, when he had so done,

From prison threescore knights and four
Delivered every one.

Old Ballad