Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SIR AMADACE, by ANONYMOUS


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SIR AMADACE, by                    
First Line: Then the good knight and his steward true
Last Line: And keep us safe in his hand!
Subject(s): Friendship;gratitude


THEN the good knight and his steward true
They sat them down, and counsel drew
Alike from far and near;
Quoth the steward: "Sir ye owe yet more
Than your lands have yielded heretofore
E'en for this seven year,
Of whom ye can, I beseech you pray
He give you grace to a further day;
Then call your household here,
And put away many of your men,
And keep but one where ye now keep ten
Tho' they be ne'er so dear."

Sir Amadace quoth: "'T were long, to wit,
Ere I of all these, my debts, were quit
Altho' I naught might spend,
Did I dwell the while where I was born
I were held of every man in scorn
Who now have many a friend!
Accursed of all men should I be
Since I of their goods had been so free
That they erst while did lend.
Or I must hold them by fear and threat
Lest that which was theirs again they get
Thus made I a sorry end!

"I will take unto me another rede,
And another counsel, in this my need,
Hid sorrow is better than seen!
But now good Steward, as thou hold'st me dear,
Of my plight so sore let no man hear,
Hide it us twain between!
My land in pledge for seven years set,
To the worth of all that I be in debt,
So shall I be freed, I ween!
For out of this land I think to wend
The while I have silver and gold to spend
Till of debt I be quit full clean.

"But certes ere yet afar I fare
My goods in right royal wise I'll share
To aid me thou shalt not fail:
Rich gifts will I give at each man's desire
To noble knight and to humble squire,
The poor shall his portion hail,
For some there be, an they knew my woe,
Who were even fain that it should be so,
And naught would better my bale,
So courteous a man was never born
Who should 'scape from every breath of scorn
When each man had told his tale!"

Sir Amadace, so the tale doth say,
Would get him forth, as fell the day,
From his country in that stound,
But first full rich were the gifts he gave
Alike to squire and knight so brave,
Of steed and hawk and hound.
Thereafter, so doth it run, my tale,
He made him ready withouten fail
And to his woe he found,
When he upon his way would wend,
Naught in his coffers had he to spend
But barely forty pound!

Thus as I tell ye Sir Amadace
Gat him forth on his way apace
As fast as ever he might,
He rode thro' a wood right cheerily
Till he came to a chapel of stone and tree
Wherein there burnt a light;
He bade his servant thither speed,
And take of that light therein good heed
And tidings bear forthright.
The servant, he hasted to do his will,
But the stench of the chapel, he liked it ill,
Withstand it no man might!

His hood he drew over mouth and nose,
And came to the chapel door full close,
Tidings he fain would hear:
He turned his eye to a pane of glass
To see what marvels within might pass,
And lo! there stood a bier,
Around it candles, a goodly store,
A woman watcher, and no man more,
Christ, she was sad of cheer!
To tarry there was he no-wise fain,
Back to his master he sped again
And told him the tale so drear.

He quoth: "At yon chapel have I been,
A wondrous sight I there have seen,
My heart is heavy as lead;
There standeth a bier, of lights great store,
There sitteth a woman, and no man more,
Bitter the tears she shed!
So evil a savour there was alway
That certes never before to-day
Have I been so sore bestead!
By grace of the palfrey that I bestride
But short while did I in that stress abide,
I trow I had soon been dead!"

Sir Amadace bade his squire to fare:
"Ask thou of the woman what doth she there,
True tidings bring to me!"
The squire he gat to the chapel wall,
And e'en as he said he saw withal,
It vexed him right bitterly;
But his nostrils were smitten with such a smell
He might there in no-wise longer dwell,
Back to his lord went he,
And quoth: "Good Master, by your leave,
Altho' I be loath your heart to grieve
Naught may ye know thro' me!

"A bier and candles, and nothing more,
A woman watching, and weeping sore,
Christ, she hath mickle care!
She sigheth sore, and her hands doth wring,
And ever she calls on Heaven's King
How long must he lie there?
She saith: 'Dear God, why must this be,
This sorrow that I needs must see,
Why should he so foully fare?'
She saith she will leave him not alone
Till she lieth dead on that floor of stone
For the love that to him she bare."

Sir Amadace hearkened, and spurred his steed,
To the chapel door he came with speed,
And hastily did alight;
As his squire had said, so he found it truth,
'T was the wickedest whiff he had smelt, i-sooth,
Yet in went that gallant knight,
And he quoth: "Dame, God's mercy be with thee."
She answered: "Sir, welcome may ye be,"
Greeting she gave aright.
He quoth: "Say, Lady, what dost thou here,
Watching this dead corpse on this bier
Thus lonely throughout the night?"

She saith: "Sir, my place is at his side
For in sooth none other will here abide,
He was my husband dear."
Sir Amadace quoth: "I like it not,
'T will be your death, so God me wot,
He lieth o'er long on bier!
But say, what manner of man was he?"
"Sir, a merchant of good degree
In this city; every year
Of rent had he full three hundred pound,
Of ready money, good and round,
And for debt he lieth here!"

Sir Amadace quoth: "By the Holy Rood,
In what manner hath he so spent his good
That thus it be all away?"
"Sir, on knights, and squires, and officers,
And lordings great who were his peers,
He gave them gifts alway.
Right royal feast he loved to make;
The poor folk, too, for Christ's dear sake,
He fed them every day;
Who to his door should come anon
And for love of God would pray a boon
He ne'er would say him nay.

"Yet in sooth he wrought as doth a fool,
For he clad more men at every Yule
Than ever a noble knight!
His meat he thought in no wise to spare,
The board in his hall was never bare
With fair cloth richly dight;
And if I said that he did amiss,
He sware 'God would all repay,' I wis,
And made of my words full light.
To so much had he pledged his name
I dare not say for very shame
How sorry was his plight!

"And then came death -- Ah, woe is me!
My lord and I must sundered be,
He left me sorrow sore!
When the neighbours heard that sick he lay
They came in haste, nor made delay,
Of their goods they asked the store:
All that was ever his or mine,
House or oxen, sheep or swine,
Forthwith from me they tore.
My marriage portion then I sold,
And all the pennies in payment told,
And yet he owed still more!

"For when my quittance thus was told
Yet thirty pounds of good red gold
As debt remained alway,
To a merchant of this city good
Who fared afar by field and flood
Nor came till dead he lay.
Soon as he knew my sorry fare
He came as grim as any bear
The burial rites to stay:
He sware dogs should his body draw
And on the field his bones should gnaw --
Drear is my lot alway!

"These sixteen weeks I have sat me here
Guarding this dead corpse on the bier
With candles burning bright,
And so I think to do alway
Till death shall take me hence away
By Mary, Maid of might!"
Sir Amadace asked the merchant's name
Who thus had done her grievous shame, --
She told him how he hight.
He quoth: "God's Power may well avail
To comfort thee, and cure thy bale,
I bid thee, Dame, good-night!"

Fytte

Sir Amadace on his palfrey leapt,
Nor might forbear, but sorely wept,
On his deeds he him bethought:
He quoth: "He who lieth those walls within
Of a truth he and I might well be kin
For right so have I wrought!"
He told his squire how the merchant hight,
And said: "In his house I will lie tonight
By Christ Who dear me bought!
Go, look that the supper be ordered fair
With royal meats, and dainties rare,
Of spices spare thou naught!"

Soon as the squire he heard the tale
To seek the merchant he did not fail
And made ready for the knight.
Sir Amadace came with valiant show
But in his heart was mickle woe,
Hastily down he light,
He gat him into a chamber there,
And robed him in raiment rich and rare,
Set torches burning bright;
Forthwith he bade his squire to go
And pray his host, and his wife also,
To sup with him that night.

Straightway the squire he went his way,
And came to the merchant without delay,
His errand told anon:
The host right joyfully he sware:
"By Christ Whom Mary Maid did bear,
Thy lord's will shall be done!"
The board was set, and the cloth was laid,
The meal with dainties fair displayed,
Thus to the dais they won;
Sir Amadace sat, and made good cheer,
But he thought of the dead man on the bier,
Full sadly he mused thereon.

He quoth: "As I rode my way, I trow,
I saw a sight which I think on now
It grieveth me evermore,
In a lonely chapel beside the way
All on a bier a body lay,
With a woman weeping sore."
"Yea," quoth his host, "God give him woe,
And all such wastrels as he also,
He wrought me ill of yore;
He lieth there with my thirty pound
Of honest money, red gold and round,
I shall see it never more!"

Quoth the knight: "I will tell thee a better rede
Forgive, e'en as God has forgiven, his deed,
And merit thou sure shalt have;
Think thou how God ordained for thee
A better lot than this man might see,
Let the corse be laid in grave!"
Then he sware: "By Jesu, Mary's Son,
That body its rest shall ne'er have won
Till I have the price I crave;
Let the woman die, as well as he,
Dogs shall gnaw their bones, as I fain would see,
Wastrel was he, and knave!"

When Sir Amadace heard what the merchant sware
He bade his steward in haste to fare,
Great kindness he did that day:
He said: "Go fetch me thirty pound
Of ready money good and round,
Nor tarry upon the way."
The steward, he held it for little skill,
Yet needs must he do his master's will,
Now hearken, for well ye may!
Full thirty pound the knight paid him there,
Then bade them the wine cup around to bear,
And prayed his host be gay.

Sir Amadace quoth: "Sir Host, now tell,
Doth he owe thee more?" "Nay, God keep thee well,
Thou hast paid me all, Sir Knight."
Then he quoth: "So far as ten pound will take
That will I do for the dead man's sake,
So far shall he have his right;
Mass for his soul shall they say and sing,
His body to Christian burial bring,
That shalt thou see with sight.
Bishop and priest shalt thou aye entreat
That to-morrow they eat with me at meat,
And see that the feast be dight."

Whenever it came to dawning time
Then all the bells began to chime
To bring that soul from stress;
All the religious, every one,
Towards that dead corpse are they gone
With many a rich burgess.
Thirty the priests who that day did sing,
And that gentle knight, he gave a ring
At every Mass, no less.
And then, when the service was done, full soon
He prayed them to eat with him at noon
Great, and small, in gentleness.

The host, by a pillar he took his stand
And men drew nigh him on either hand
To wit what he would say --
He said: "Sirs, of late there hath lain here
The corpse of a man upon a bier,
Ye know the cause alway;
Hither a royal knight he rode,
Of all the money the dead man owed
Hath he made me ready pay;
Then from his coffer he bade them bring
Ten pounds, with many a goodly ring
For his burying here to-day.

"In his name, and in that of the Dead, 't is meet
I bid ye to-day with him to eat
All of ye who be here."
As Sir Amadace prayed so did they all,
Of meat and drink took their fill withal,
Rich wine and food full dear.
But Sir Amadace spared to sit adown,
He served the poor folk of that town,
They lay to his heart anear.
When they had eaten their fill withal
Sir Amadace took his leave of all,
It seemed, of right good cheer.

When all the folk thus had had their fill
They saddled his palfrey at his will
And brought it before the door;
Sir Amadace, he was ready dight,
But he knew not where he should lie that night,
Of money had he no more!
Small wonder if he were sad at heart
When from all his goods he thus must part,
In sooth it was sorry lore!
Then, e'en as a courteous knight became,
He prayed leave of the master of noblest name,
So gentles were wont of yore!

And scarcely the knight had gone his way
When every man would have his say
Ere he had passed the gate;
Some said: "This money was lightly won
When thus like water he lets it run,
And spendeth both morn and late."
Some said: "He was born in a lucky day
Who might win a penny of that man's pay!"
Little they knew his state!
Lo! how they misjudged that gentle knight
Who had spent even more than he justly might,
Sorrow was now his mate!

At the six-mile stone he drew his rein
Where a cross, it parted the way in twain,
And he quoth, Sir Amadace,
To his faithful steward, ('t was him full loth,)
To his sumpterman, and his squires both,
And said: "Now by Christ, His Grace,
Good Sirs, I pray ye do not grieve
But now must ye take from me your leave
Yourselves, ye know my case;
No man will I longer with me lead
When I have no silver that man to feed
Or clothe, in any place!"

Never a man was so hard of heart
But when he thus from his lord must part,
He made mourning, loud and low.
Sir Amadace quoth: "Nay, have no care,
For ye shall find masters everywhere,
I wot well it shall be so.
And God of His mercy, I give ye rede,
May send me counsel in this my need,
And bring me clean out of woe;
Merry of heart shall I once more be,
Then a welcome glad shall ye have from me,
That would I have ye know."

He quoth to his servants in that stound:
"The worst steed here is worth full ten pound,
That shall ye have anon;
Sumpterman, steward, squire and knave,
Each of you all for his own shall have
The horse that he rides upon,
Saddle, and bridle, and other gear,
Altho' I bought it never so dear,
I give it ye, by Saint John!
God keep ye all good men, I trow!
To the keeping of Christ I commit ye now --"
So they left him, every one.

Thus all his men they went their way
And the knight, in sorrow he rode that day,
All by himself alone.
Through the forest thick the road led right,
Down from his palfrey would he alight
And, mournful, he made his moan,
When he thought of his lands, so fair and good,
His towns and castles that stately stood,
How all were set on loan;
And how he was now so sore bestead
That for poverty he afar had fled,
For folly must thus atone.

Then in sorrow he spake, Sir Amadas:
"A man that of good but little has,
Men set him lightly by;
When I had three hundred pound of rent
Two hundred I spent in that intent
Of such forethought was I!
The while I such household had at hand
Men held me a noble lord in land,
And gave to me honour high.
But now may the wise man dwell at home
While fools are forced afar to roam,
And Christ wot, so may I!"

He said: "Sweet Jesu, Who died on Rood,
Who shed for me Thy Precious Blood,
And all this world hath won,
I pray that I come not in the sight
Of any who knew me afore as knight,
Save I prosper, 'neath moon and sun.
And grant that I win unto me again
Those who their way from me have ta'en,
Who have loyal service done.
Or else, Lord, I humbly pray of Thee
That Death may come swiftly unto me,
And my race betimes be run.

"For want of wit, so it seemeth me,
Out of the land I needs must flee,
From friendship I find small grace:
Thro' naught save good will and kindliness
Have I brought myself to this sorry stress --"
Thus prayed Sir Amadace:
And he quoth: "Lord Jesu, Who died on Tree,
I pray Thee Thy succour send now to me
Speedily, in this place;
For if but a measure of help thou send
I wot of that measure I fain would lend,
Nor turn from the poor my face!"

Thus he rode thro' the forest ways alone
And deemed that no man might hear his moan,
For no man was there in sight;
Yet sudden a horseman was at his side,
And spake to him hastily in that tide,
Thereof was he sore affright:
The horseman, he rode a milk-white steed,
And milk-white, I ween, was all his weed
He seemed a full gallant knight.
Tho' Sir Amadace was to sorrow brought
In courtesy was he lacking naught,
Greeting he gave aright.

Quoth the White Knight: "Say, Friend, shalt thou be he
Who maketh his moan thus bitterly,
With sad and sorry cheer?"
Sir Amadace, he made answer, "Nay!"
Quoth the knight: "That availeth thee naught alway,
This long while have I been here;
I rede thee to mourn not in such wise,
He who falls, by the grace of God may rise,
For His help is ever near.
Riches are but a loan, I wot.
Which thou hast, and again thou hast it not,
Thou shalt find full many a peer!

"Now think thou on Him Who died on Rood,
Who shed for the world His Precious Blood,
For thee, and for mankind all;
The man who giveth in fashion free
To his fellow of high, or of low, degree
Shall reap his reward withal;
He who ever dealeth in customs kind
A courteous man, forsooth, shall find
Who shall his need forestall.
Repent thee of naught that thou hast done,
For God, He Who shapeth moon and sun,
Shall yet repay thee all.

"Say, would'st thou love him o'er everything
Who should thee out of thy sorrow bring,
And set thee free from care?
To the land of a king art thou full near
Who hath no treasure so close and dear
As his daughter young and fair:
He hath sworn to no man her hand to yield
Save to him whom men reckon the first in field,
Who the prize of the joust shall bear,
Now I hold thee well for the goodliest knight
That ever mine eyes have seen with sight
Of all men who harness wear.

"Thou shalt ride to the joust in such fair array
As ever a knight of worship may,
But thou needs must go alone:
Thou shalt say: the folk who set forth with thee
Were drowned in a tempest upon the sea,
Thou hast lost them every one.
Rich gifts shalt thou scatter with open hand,
And shalt win thee the nobles of the land,
I would have thee spare for none;
See thou be fair of speech and free
Till thou draw a following unto thee,
From me is their payment won!"

He quoth: "Be thou free of hand alway,
The cost of thy household will I pay
Tho' it count ten thousand head:
For mickle honour thy deeds shall crown,
Fair fields and forests, tower and town,
That lady shalt thou wed!
And when thou hast won thy friends to thee
Then look thou again my face to see,
I will seek thee in that stead.
But a covenant make ere hence I fare
That thou wilt freely with me share
In such wise as thou hast sped!"

Then answered him fair, Sir Amadace:
"An thou hast power, by God's good grace,
In this wise to comfort me,
Thou shalt find me in all things true and leal,
All that I have will I fairly deal
In twain, 'twixt me and thee."
The White Knight quoth: "Now Friend, Farewell,
The blessing of God upon thee dwell,
And work with thee verily."
Sir Amadace answered: "Friend, God speed,
I trow thou shalt find me in act and deed
True as a man may be!"
Fytte

Sir Amadace came to the salt sea strand,
And lo! ships lay broken upon the sand,
A marvel it was to see!
Wreckage lay scattered here and there,
Knights in armour and minevere,
And strong steeds white and gray.
Riches and goods in every guise
That the heart of man might well devise
Cast up by the waters lay;
Chests and coffers of gold and good,
Scattered among the wreckage stood,
No man had borne aught away!

Sir Amadace robed himself with speed
In a web of gold, a goodly weed,
Better there might not be;
He chose him a steed whereon to ride,
A better methinks, might none bestride,
Who jousting were fain to see.
This chance befell him beside a tower,
Thereafter he won to him great honour
Within that fair citie.
The king beheld that goodly knight,
He, and his daughter fair and bright,
The prize of the joust was she.

The king to his daughter quoth that tide:
"Lo! yonder a gallant knight doth ride."
Messengers took he there,
His body-squire, and of good knights three,
And saith: "Go, see who yon man may be
And whence he did hither fare.
Tell him his goods shall be held in hand
Wholly as he shall here command,
For that shall he have no care.
If he asketh aught that ye well may do
Say ye that your will is good thereto,
If hither in peace he fare."

The messengers came to the salt sea strand,
They took Sir Amadace by the hand,
Tidings of him they pray:
"Our lord, the king, us hath hither sent
To welcome your coming with good intent
An ye your will shall say.
He saith, your goods shall be held in hand
Wholly as ye shall here command,
No lie do we speak to-day.
Whatsoever ye will that the king's men do
Ye have but to give them command thereto
For service right glad and gay."

Quoth Sir Amadace: "I was a prince of pride,
And I had bethought me at this tide,
At the tourney here to be:
I was victualled well with meat and wine,
With gallant steeds and harness fine,
And good knights, verily,
But such a storm did upon us break
That my goodly ships are gone to wreck,
As ye yourselves may see.
Of gold and silver have I enow,
But the men who sailed with me, I trow,
Not one is left to me."

Sir Amadace on his gallant steed
Anon to the castle gates they lead,
And told the king his case;
The king, he quoth: "Thou art welcome here,
I rede thee to be of joyful cheer,
Thank Jesu for His Grace!
So fierce a tempest hast thou been in,
'T was a right fair hap that thou should'st win
To shelter in this place.
But of all the men I have seen, I trow,
None have come so near to my heart as thou
Who art fair of speech and face."

Thereon the king, for that good knight's sake,
A cry through the city bade them make,
And stablished it by decree,
That all who a master were fain to find
Of knight or squire, of knave or hind,
Each man in his degree,
Should get him unto Sir Amadace,
Who found himself in such sorry case,
His men had been drowned at sea.
He would give them payment as much and more
As any master had done before,
An they would with him be.

The gentlemen all who heard that cry
They gat them to him right hastily,
Of his service were they fain,
So when the Tourney abroad was cried
There was no lord on either side
With half such gallant train!
There did he win to him great renown
In field and meadow, tower and town,
Castles he held again;
A hundred steeds and more he won,
One half he gave to the King anon,
Parting his prize in twain.

Thence to the palace the knights would fare,
Thither they went, and would not spare,
As fast as they might ride;
The King made that knight full noble cheer,
And saith: "Now welcome my friend so dear,
Ye be come in a happy tide!"
He called him his daughter so fair and sweet,
And they sat them down to the board at meat,
The knight by the maiden's side;
Each on the other to gaze was fain,
The love-light was kindled betwixt the twain,
True lovers were they and tried!

Then the king, he led Sir Amadace
Aside with him for a little space,
And thus to him did say:
"Sir Knight, I have but one daughter fair,
Of all my lands shall she be the heir,
She ate with thee to-day:
An thou be a man who would wed a wife,
I swear to thee truly by my life,
I will give thee that gentle may;
And another gift I will with her give,
The half of my kingdom while I live,
And the whole when I be away!"

"Gramercy, Sire!" quoth Sir Amadace:
He thanked the king for his royal grace,
And for his gifts so good.
Thereafter, so the tale doth say,
They made forthwith to the kirk their way,
He wedded her, by the Rood!
Of gold he gave freely in that stound,
Largesse of silver, many a pound,
As on their way they rode;
Then they sat them down to feast in hall
Full many a lord and lady, all
Who were of gentle blood.

Thus came Sir Amadace forth of woe,
God grant us His grace, that we find it so --
Great feasting did they make!
The revel lasted a good fortnight,
With meat and drink the board was dight,
Nor spears they spared to break;
A year and a half with that lady fair
He dwelt, and a son unto him she bare,
Great mirth made for his sake!
Now listen, lordings, and ye shall hear
How there came to him his comrade dear,
His share of all to take.

He came in raiment so sheen and fair,
Even as he an angel were,
Clad was he all in white:
The porter his errand fain would know, --
He quoth: "Do thou to thy master go
And bear my words aright;
Go quickly, and if he ask aught of me,
Whence I be come, and of what countrie,
Say, I ride all in white;
And say that we twain have together been,
Methinks, he aforetime my face hath seen,
If he be a loyal knight!"

The porter, he sped to the castle hall,
Full soon he had sought out his lord withal,
And he hailed him thus anon:
"Lord, lord, there be come the fairest knight
Whom ever mine eyes have seen with sight,
Beneath or sun or moon,
White as the snow his gallant steed,
White as the snow his knightly weed,
He asketh of thee no boon,
He saith that ye have together been --
I trow who aforetime his face hath seen
Shall know him again eftsoon!"

"Is he come?" quoth the knight, "my comrade dear,
I trow me he is right welcome here,
As behoveth him well to be!
Now one and all, here I make command
That ye do to this knight, with foot and hand,
Such service as due to me!"
Sir Amadace straight to the portal drew,
And with him she went, his lady true,
Who was right fair to see;
And she made him welcome with right good cheer,
For the friends of her lord to her heart were dear,
Blessed such wives as she!

Who should stable his charger then?
Knight, squire, yeoman, nor serving men,
No one with him he brought:
Gentlemen gladly would take his steed,
Knights would him fain to his chamber lead,
Thereof would he have naught.
He saith: "Nay, certes, the sooth to tell,
Here will I eat, nor drink, nor dwell,
By Christ, Who dear me bought!
But now shalt thou deal thy goods in two,
Give me my portion, and let me go,
If I be worthy aught!"

Then quoth Sir Amadace fair and free:
"For the love of God, let such words be,
They grieve my heart full sore,
For we may not part in equal share
Our lands that lie so broad and fair,
In a fortnight's space, and more!
But let us dwell together here,
E'en as we twain were brethren dear,
And thine the treasure store!
'T were well the rest should not parted be,
But we hold it all as due to thee,
Methinks 't were the better lore!"

The White Knight quoth: "Keep thy lands so wide,
Thy towers, and castles, on every side,
Of these do I covet none:
Keep thou thy woods, thy waters clear,
Thy fields and forests far and near,
Thy rings with sparkling stone;
Thy silver and thy gold so red,
I trow they may stand me in no stead,
I swear it by Saint John!
But upon thy faith, and without strife,
Give me half thy child, and half thy wife,
To fare with me anon!"

Then Sir Amadace cried with woeful cheer:
"Alas, that I won this lady dear,
Or aught of this world's good!
For the love of Him Who died on tree,
Whatsoever thou wilt, that do with me,
By Him Who died on Rood!
Yea, take all the goods that here I have
With thee, but her life I prithee save!"
The knight, he understood,
And he sware: "By God, Who dear me bought,
Of other things I will have naught
Of all thy worldly good!

"Think thou on the covenant that we made
In the wood, when thou wast so sore dismayed,
How thou didst speak me fair!" --
Sir Amadace quoth: "'T is truth alway,
But methinks should I now my lady slay
A deadly sin it were!"
The lady fair, right well she knew
How the matter stood betwixt the two,
She stayed her weeping there --
And spake: "As thou art a loyal knight
Thy covenant shalt thou keep aright,
Nor for love of me forbear!"

Then bravely she spake, that lady bright,
"Thou shalt keep thy faith with this goodly knight,
By the Blessed Trinity;
Ye made a covenant true and fast,
Look it be holden to the last,
By Him Who died on Tree!
If the Will of Christ must needs be so
Take me, and part me here in two,
My lord art thou verily!
God forbid that for true love's sake
A scorn of thy name in the land I make,
And falsehood of fealty!"

Steadfast she stood, and fair of face,
Nor shed a tear, a little space,
Then quoth that lady dear:
"Fetch me my little son so fair
Whom a while since I of my body bare,
Lay him my heart anear." --
"Now," quoth the White Knight: "answer me,
Which of the twain shall more precious be?"
He saith: "My wife so dear!"
"Then since thou lovest her the best
Thou shalt part her in twain at my behest,
Her flesh asunder shear!"

Then when Sir Amadace needs must see
That never a better lot might be
He fared as he were wood;
And all the men who were in that hall
Swooning for sorrow adown they fall,
Who erst by their master stood:
They made ready a board whereon to lie,
She kissed her lord full tenderly,
And signed her with Holy Rood.
Then meekly she laid her down in place,
And they drew a cloth across her face,
That lady mild of mood!

Quoth the White Knight: "I would not do thee wrong,
The goods which of right unto thee belong,
Thou shalt part them at thy will:" --
Then answered Sir Amadace fair and free:
"E'en as thou sayest, so shall it be,
Thy wish would I fulfil."
Sir Amadace lifted his sword alway
To smite the lady who lowly lay --
Quoth the White Knight: "Peace, be still!"
He lifted the lady and child so fair,
And gave them again to Sir Amadace there,
And quoth, "That were little skill!

"I blame thee little, by this my troth,
If to slay such lady thou wert full loth,
Tho' it were thy pledge to save:
But now shalt thou know I was e'en as glad
When thou gavest all that ever thou had
My body to lay in grave!
Unburied, I lay, doomed the hounds to feed,
First thirty pounds didst thou pay at need,
Then all that thou didst have.
I prayed God to bring thee forth from care
Who hadst made thyself of goods so bare,
Mine honour and name to save!

"Now, farewell," he said: "my comrade dear,
For no longer may I linger here
Nor speak with thee at will:
But see thou cherish her as thy life
Who had given her body withouten strife
Thy covenant to fulfil!"
With that he swift from their sight did pass
As dew it melteth from off the grass,
And the twain abode there still;
Then down they knelt them upon their knee,
And gave thanks to God, and to Mary free,
Who had guarded them from ill!

Thus Sir Amadace, and his gentle wife,
With joy and bliss they passed their life
Unto their dying day.
I wot there be ladies not a few
To-day, who had been to their lord as true,
Yet some would have said him nay!
But whoso serveth right faithfully
Our Lord, and His Mother Maid Marie
Of him would I soothly say,
Tho' like misfortune at times befall
Yet God shall grant Him his will withal,
And lead him in Heaven's way.

His messengers then that good knight sent,
Far and near thro' the land they went
E'en to his own countrie,
Till all unto whom his lands he sold,
Field or forest, town or hold,
Were bought out rightfully.
His steward and those who to him were dear
He sent, and called them again anear,
And dowered with gold and fee,
That they with him their days might spend
Evermore, unto their life's end,
In gladness and peace to be.

And then it chanced, at God's good will,
The king died, and the knight abode there still,
As ye shall understand:
And now was he lord of town and tower,
They came to his bidding in that hour
The knights throughout the land:
They crowned Sir Amadace on that day
With golden crown, in royal array,
And bowed to his command. --
Now pray we One God, in Persons Three,
To gladden and comfort this companie,
And keep us safe in His Hand!





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