|
And so bifel it that this kyng Arthour |
| Hadde in his hous a lusty bacheler, |
| 890 | That on a day cam ridynge fro ryver; |
| And happed that, allone as she was born, |
| He saugh a mayde walkynge hym biforn, |
| Of whiche mayde anon, maugree hir heed, |
| By verray force he rafte hir maydenhed; |
| 895 | For which oppressioun was swich clamour |
| And swich pursute unto the kyng Arthour, |
| That dampned was this knyght for to be deed, |
| By cours of lawe, and sholde han lost his heed - |
| Paraventure, swich was the statut tho - |
| 900 | But that the queene and othere ladyes mo |
| So longe preyeden the kyng of grace, |
| Til he his lyf hym graunted in the place, |
| And yaf hym to the queene al at hir wille, |
| To chese wheither she wolde hym save or spille. |
|
|
And so it happened that this King Arthur |
| Had at his court a lusty bachelor |
| 890 | Who, on a day, came riding from river; |
| And happened that, alone as she was born, |
| He saw a maiden walking through the corn, |
| From whom, in spite of all her screams of pity, |
| Straightway by force he took her virginity; |
| 895 | For which violation was there such clamour, |
| And such appealing unto King Arthur, |
| That soon condemned was this knight to be dead |
| By course of law, and should have lost his head, |
| Peradventure, such being the statute then; |
| 900 | But that the other ladies and the queen |
| So long prayed of the king to show him grace, |
| He granted life, at last, in the law's place, |
| And gave him to the queen, as she should will, |
| Whether she'd save him, or his blood should spill. |
|
