That was for nought. Would he not, the king sent yet his sond,
That he byleved at his parlement, for need of the lond.
The king was, when he n'olde not, anguyssous and wroth.
For despite he would a-wreak be he swore his oath,
But he come to amendement. His power atte last
He garked, and went forth to Cornewall fast.
Gorloys his castles a store all about.
In a strong castle he did his wife, for of her was all his doubt,
In another himself he was, for he n'olde nought,
If cas[6] come, that they were both to death ybrought.
The castle, that the earl in was, the king besieged fast,
For he might not his gins for shame to the other cast.
Then he was there seen not, and he spedde nought,
Ygerne, the countesse, so much was in his thought,
That he nuste none other wit, ne he ne might for shame
Tell it but a privy knight, Ulfyn was his name,
That he truste most to. And when the knight heard thia,
'Sir,' he said, 'I ne can wit, what rede hereof is,
For the castle is so strong, that the lady is in,
For I ween all the land ne should it myd strengthe win.
For the sea goeth all about, but entry one there n'is,
And that is up on harde rocks, and so narrow way it is,
That there may go but one and one, that three men within
Might slay all the laud, ere they come therein.
And nought for then, if Merlin at the counsel were,
If any might, he couthe the best rede thee lere.'[7]
Merlin was soon of sent, pled it was him soon,
That he should the best rede say, what were to don.
Merlin was sorry enow for the kinge's folly,
And natheless, 'Sir king,' he said, 'there may to mast'ry,