Howard Pyle: The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

10. The Adventure with Midge the Miller's Son (continued)

"Her nose was hooked, her eyes were bleared,
Her locks were lank and white;
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
Of such a noble strain
That he will give a tortured wight
Sweet ease of mortal pain?'

" `A wedded man,' quoth Arthur, King,
`A wedded man I be
Else would I deem it noble thing
To kiss thee willingly.

" `Now, Lancelot, in all men's sight
Thou art the head and chief
Of chivalry. Come, noble knight,
And give her quick relief.'

"But Lancelot he turned aside
And looked upon the ground,
For it did sting his haughty pride
To hear them laugh around.

" `Come thou, Sir Tristram,' quoth the King.
Quoth he, `It cannot be,
For ne'er can I my stomach bring
To do it willingly.'

" `Wilt thou, Sir Kay, thou scornful wight?'
Quoth Kay, `Nay, by my troth!
What noble dame would kiss a knight
That kissed so foul a mouth?'