Page:Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, Etc., with an Appendix Containing a Rare Tract.djvu/318



'Who has in prison threescore knights
 * And four, that he did wound;

Knights of King Arthur's court they be,
 * And of his Table Round.'

She brought him to the [Irwell] side,
 * And also to a tree,

Whereon a copper bason hung,
 * And many shields to see.

He struck soe hard, the bason broke;
 * Sir Tarquin soon he spyed;

Who drove a horse before him fast,
 * Whereon a knight lay tyed.

'Sir knight,' then said Sir Lancelot,
 * 'Bring me that horse-load hither,

And lay him down and let him reste,
 * We'll try our force together:

'For, as I understand thou hast,
 * Soe far as thou art able,

Done great despite and shame unto
 * The knights of the Round Table.'

'If thou be of the Table Round;'
 * Quoth Tarquin speedily,

'Both thee and all thy fellowship
 * I utterlye defye.'

'That's over much,' quoth Lancelot, tho'
 * 'Defend thee by and by:'—

They sett their speares unto their steedes,
 * And eache att other flye.

They coucht their speares (their horses ran
 * As though there had been thunder),

And strucke them each immidst their shields,
 * Wherewith they broke insunder.

Their horses' backs brake under them,
 * The knights were both astounde;

To voyd their horses they made haste,
 * And light upon the grounde.