The Adventures of Robin Hood

by Howard Pyle

the Tanner, without more ado, began to sing: THE WOOING OF SIR KEITH "King Arthur sat in his royal hall, And about on either hand Was many a noble lordling tall, The greatest in the land. "Sat Lancelot with raven locks, Gawaine with golden hair, Sir Tristram, Kay who kept the locks, And many another there. "And through the stained windows bright, From o'er the red-tiled eaves, The sunlight blazed with colored light On golden helms and greaves. "But suddenly a silence came About the Table Round, For up the hall there walked a dame Bent nigh unto the ground. "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,...