Page 138 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

Upon her chin there grew a beard;
She was a gruesome sight.

‘And so with crawling step she came
And kneeled at Arthur’s feet;
Quoth Kay, ‘She is the foulest dame
That e’er my sight did greet.’

‘O mighty King! of thee I crave
A boon on bended knee’;
‘Twas thus she spoke. ‘What wouldst thou have.’
Quoth Arthur, King, ‘of me?’

‘Quoth she, ‘I have a foul disease
Doth gnaw my very heart,
And but one thing can bring me ease
Or cure my bitter smart.

‘There is no rest, no ease for me
North, east, or west, or south,
Till Christian knight will willingly
Thrice kiss me on the mouth.

‘Nor wedded may this childe have been
That giveth ease to me;
Nor may he be constrained, I ween,
But kiss me willingly.

‘So is there here one Christian knight

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