He ftruck foe hard, the bason broke;
And Tarquin foon he spyed:
Who drove a horfe before him faft,
Whereon a knight lay tyed.

Sir knight, then fayd Sir Lancelott,
Bring me that horfe-load hither,
And lay him downe, and let him reft;
Weel try our force together.

For, as I understand, thou haft,
Soe far as thou art able,
Done great defpite and fhame unto
The knights of the Round Table.

If thou be of the Table Round,
Quoth Tarquin speedilye,
Both thee and all thy fellowship
I utterly defye.

That's over much, quoth Lancelott;

Defend thee by and by.

They fett their fpears unto their steeds,

And each att other flye.

They coucht their spears, (their horses ran
As though there had been thunder
And ftrucke them each amidft their fhields,
Wherewith they broke in funder.

Their horfes backes brake under them,

The knights were both astound:
To avoyd their horfes they made hafte
And light upon the ground.

They tooke them to their shields full fast, Their fwords they drew out than, With mighty ftrokes most eagerlye Eache at the other ran.

They wounded were, and bled full fore,
For breath they both did ftand,
And leaning on their fwordes awhile,
Quoth Tarquine, Hold thy hand,

And tell to me what I fhall afke.
Say on, quoth Lancelott tho.

Thou art, quoth Tarquine, the best knight
That ever I did know;

And like a knight, that I did hate:

Soe that thou be not hee,

I will deliver all the reft,

And eke accord with thee.

That is well fayd, quoth Lancelott;

But fith it must be foe,

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

His name is Lancelott du Lake,

He flew my brother deere ; Him I fufpect of all the reft: I would I had him here.

Thy wish thou haft, but yet unknowne,
I am Lancelott du Lake,

Now knight of Arthurs Table Round;
King Hauds fon of Schuwake;

And I defire thee do thy worst.
Ho, ho, quoth Tarquin tho,
One of us two fhall end our lives
Before that we do go.

If thou be Lancelott du Lake,
Then welcome fhalt thou bee:
Wherfore fee thou thy felf defend,
For now defye I thee.

They buckled then together so,

Like unto wild boares rufhing,

And with their fwords and fhields they ran

At one another flashing:

The ground besprinkled was with blood:

Tarquin began to yield,

For he gave backe for wearineffe,

And lowe did beare his shield.

E

This foone Sir Lancelott efpyde,

He leapt upon him then,

He pull'd him downe upon his knee,
And rufhing off his helm,

Forthwith he ftrucke his necke in two,
And, when he had foe done,

From prison threescore knights and four
Delivered everye one.

THE PASSIONATE SHEPHERD TO HIS

L

LOVE.

IVE with me, and be my love,
And we wil all the pleasures prove
That hils and vallies, dale and field,
And all the craggy mountains yield.

There will we fit upon the rocks,
And fee the fhepherds feed their flocks,
By fhallow rivers, to whofe falls
Melodious birds fing madrigrals.

There will I make thee beds of rofes
With a thousand fragrant pofies,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Imbrodered all with leaves of mirtle;

A gown made of the finest wool,
Which from our pretty lambs we pull;
Slippers lin'd choicely for the cold,
With buckles of the pureft gold;

A belt of ftraw, and ivie buds,
With coral clafps, and amber ftuds:
And if thefe pleasures may thee move,
Then live with me, and be my love.

The shepherd fwains fhall dance and fing
For thy delight each May morning:
If thefe delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me, and be my love.

THE NYMPH'S REPLY.

F that the World and Love were young,
And truth in every shepherd's toung,
These pretty pleasures might me move
To live with thee, and be thy love.

But time drives flocks from field to fold,
When rivers rage, and rocks grow cold,
And Philomel becometh dumb,
And all complain of cares to come.