How grett glorious Godd, thurgh grace of Hym seluen,
And the precyous prayere of Hys prys Modyr,
Schelde vs fro schamesdede and synfull werkes,
And gyffe vs grace to gye and gouerne vs here,
In this wrechyd werld, thorowe vertous lywynge,
That we may kayre til Hys courte, the kyngdom of Hevyne,
When oure saules schall parte and sundyre fra the body,
Ewyre to belde and to byde in blysse wyth Hym seluen;
And wysse me to werpe owte som worde at this tym
That nothyre voyde be ne vayne, bot wyrchip till Hym selvyn,
Plesande and profitabill to the popule \at them heres.
~e that liste has to lyth or luffes for to here
Off elders of alde tym and of theire awke dedys,
How they were lele in theire lawe and louede God Almyghty,
Herkynes me heyndly and holdys |ow styll,
And I sall tell |ow a tale \at trewe es and nobyll,
Off the ryeall renkys of the Rownnde Table,
That chefe ware of cheualrye and cheftans nobyll,
Bathe ware in thire werkes and wyse men of armes,
Doughty in theire doyngs and dredde ay schame,
Kynde men and courtays and couthe of courte thewes;
How they whanne wyth were wyrchippis many,
Sloughe Lucyus \e lythyre, that Lorde was of Rome,
And conqueryd that kyngryke thorowe craftys of armes;
Herkenes now hedyrwarde and herys this storye.
Qwen that the kyng Arthur by conqueste hade wonnyn
Castells and kyngdoms and contreez many,
And he had couerede the coroun of the kyth ryche,
Of all that Vter in erthe aughte in his tym:
Orgayle and Orkenay and all this owte iles,
Irelande vttirly, as occyane rynnys;
Scathyll Scottlande by skyll he skyftys as hym lykys,
And Wales of were he wane at hys will;
Bathe Flaundrez and Fraunce fre til him seluyn,
Holaund and Henawde they helde of hym bothen,
Burgoyne and Brabane and Bretayn the Lasse,
Gyan and Gothelande and Grace the ryche;
Bayon and Burdeux he beldytt full faire,
Turoyn and Tholus, with toures full hye;
Off Peyters and of Prouynce he was prynce holdyn,
Of Valence and Vyenne, off value so noble,
Of Ouergne and Anyou, thos erledoms ryche_
By conqueste full cruell \ey knewe hym fore lorde;
Of Nauerne and Norwaye and Normaundye eke,
Of Almayne, of Estriche, and o\er ynowe;
Danmarke he dryssede all by drede of hym seluyn,
Fra Swynn vnto Swetherwyke, wi\ his swerde kene.
Qwenn he thes dedes had don, he doubbyd hys knyghtez,
Dyuysyde dowcherys and delte in dyuerse remmes,
Mad of his cosyns kyngys ennoyntede,
In kyth there they couaitte crounes to bere.
Whene he thys rewmes hade redyn and rewlyde the popule,
Then rystede that ryall and helde \e Rounde Tabyll;
Suggeourns \at seson to solace hym seluen
In Bretayn \e Braddere, as hym beste lykes.
Sythyn wente into Wales with his wyes all,
Sweys into Swaldye with his snell houndes,
For to hunt at \e hartes in thas hye laundes,
In Glamorgan with glee, thare gladchipe was euere.
And thare a citee he sette, be assentte of his lordys,
That Caerlyon was callid, with curius walles,
On the riche reuare \at rynnys so faire,
There he myghte semble his sorte to see whenn hym lykede.
Thane aftyre at Carlele a Cristynmese he haldes,
This ilke kyde conquerour, and helde hym for lorde,
Wyth dukez and duspers of dyuers rewmes,
Erles and ercheuesqes and o\er ynowe,
Byschopes and bachelers and banerettes nobill,
`at bowes to his banere, buske when hym lykys.
Bot on the Cristynmes Daye, when they were all semblyde,
That comlyche conquerour commaundez hym seluyn
`at ylke a lorde sulde lenge and no lefe take
To the tende day fully ware takyn to \e ende.
Thus on ryall araye he helde his Rounde Table,
With semblant and solace and selcouthe metes;
Whas neuer syche noblay in no manys tym
Mad in mydwynter in \a weste marchys.
Bot on the New|ere Daye, at \e none euyne,
As the bolde at the borde was of brede seruyde,
So come in sodanly a senatour of Rome,
Wyth sexten knyghtes in a soyte, sewande hym one.
He salu|ed the souerayne, and the sale aftyr,
Ilke a kyng aftyre kyng, and mad his enclines;
Gaynour in hir degre he grette as hym lykyde,
And syne agayne to \e gome he gaffe vp his nedys:
"Sir Lucius Iberius, the Emperour of Rome,
Saluz the as sugett, vndyre his sele ryche;
It es credens, Sir Kyng, with cruell wordez;
Trow it for no trufles: his targe es to schewe.
Now in this New|ers Daye, with notaries synge,
I make the somouns in sale to sue for \i landys,
That on Lammesse Daye thare be no lette founden,
`at thow bee redy at Rome with all thi Rounde Table,
Appere in his presens with thy price knyghtez,
At pryme of the daye, in payne of |our lyvys,
In \e kydd capytoile, before \e kyng selvyn,
When he and his senatours bez sette as them lykes,
To ansuere anely why thow ocupyes the laundez
That awe homage of alde till hym and his eldyrs;
Why thow has redyn and raymede and raunsound \e pople,
And kyllyde doun his cosyns, kyngys ennoynttyde;
Thare schall thow gyffe rekkynyng for all thy Round Table
Why thow arte rebell to Rome and rentez them wytholdez.
~iff thow theis somouns wythsytte, he sendes thie thies wordes:
He sall the seke ouer \e see wyth sexten kynges,
Bryne Bretayn \e Brade and bryttyn thy knyghtys,
And bryng the bouxsomly as a beste with brethe whare hym lykes,
That thow ne schall rowte ne ryste vndyr the heuene ryche,
`ofe thow for reddour of Rome ryne to \e erthe;
For if thow flee into Fraunce or Freselaund ow\er,
`ou sall be feched with force and ouersette fore euer]
Thy fadyr mad fewtee, we fynde in oure rollez,
In the regestre of Rome, who-so ryghte lukez.
Withowttyn more trouflyng the trebute we aske
That Iulius Cesar wan with his ientill knyghttes."
The Kyng blyschit on the beryn with his brode eghn,
`at full brymly for breth brynte as the gledys,
Keste colours as Kyng, with crouell lates,
Luked as a lyon, and on his lyppe bytes.
The Romaynes for radnesse ruschte to \e erthe,
Fore ferdnesse of hys face, as they fey were;
Cowchide as kenetez before \e Kyng seluyn:
Because of his contenaunce confusede them semede.
Then couerd vp a knyghte and criede ful lowde,
"Kyng corounede of kynd, curtays and noble,
Misdoo no messangere for menske of \i seluyn,
Sen we are in thy manrede and mercy \e besekes.
We lenge with Sir Lucius, that Lorde es of Rome,
That es \e meruelyousteste man \at on molde lengez;
It is lefull till vs his likyng till wyrche;
We come at his commaundment; haue vs excusede."
Then carpys \e Conquerour crewell wordez:
"Haa, crauaunde knyghte, a cowarde \e semez]
`are Õiså some segge in this sale, and he ware sare greuede,
Thow durste noghte for all Lumberdye luke on hym ones."
"Sir," sais \e Senatour, "so Crist mott me helpe,
`e voute of thi vesage has woundyde vs all]
Thow arte \e lordlyeste lede \at euer I one lukyde;
By lukyng, withowttyn lesse, a lyon the semys]"
"Thow has me somond," quod \e Kyng, "and said what \e lykes;
Fore sake of thy soueraynge I suffre the \e more;
Sen I Õwaså coround in kyth, wyth crysum enoyntede,
Was neuer creature to me \at carpede so large.
Bot I sall tak concell at kynges enoyntede,
Off dukes and duspers and doctours noble,
Offe peres of \e parlement, prelates and o\er,
Off \e richeste renkys of \e Rounde Table;
`us schall I take avisemente of valiant beryns,
Wyrke aftyre the wytte of my wyes knyghttes;
To warpe wordez in waste no wyrchip it were,
Ne wilfully in \is wrethe to wreken my seluen.
For\i sall \ow lenge here and lugge wyth \ise lordes,
This seuenyghte in solace, to suggourne |our horses,
To see whatte lyfe \at wee leede in thees lawe laundes,
Forby \e realtee of Rome, \at recheste was euere."
He command Sir Cayous, "Take kepe to thoos lordez,
To styghtyll \a steryn men as theire statte askys,
That they bee herberde in haste in thoos heghe chambres,
Sythin sittandly in sale seruyde theraftyr.
That they fynd na fawte of fude to thiere horsez,
Nowthire weyn, ne waxe, ne welthe in \is erthe,
Spare for no spycerye, bot spende what \e lykys,
That there be largesce on lofte and no lake founden.
If \ou my wyrchip wayte, wy, be my trouthe,
`ou sall haue gersoms full grett, that gayne sall \e euere."
Now er they herberde in hey and in oste holden,
Hastyly wyth hende men within thees heghe wallez;
In chambyrs with chympnes \ey chaungen \eire wedez,
And sythyn the chauncelere \em fecchede with cheualrye noble.
Sone \e Senatour was sett, as hym wele semyde;
At \e Kyngez ownn borde twa knyghtes hym seruede,
Singulere sothely, as Arthure hym seluyn,
Richely on \e ryghte hannde at the Round Table,
Be resoun \at \e Romaynes whare so ryche holden,
As of \e realeste blode \at reynede in erthe.
There come in at \e fyrste course, befor \e Kyng seluen,
Bareheuedys \at ware bryghte, burnyste with syluer,
All with taghte men and town in togers full ryche,
Of saunke reall in suyte, sexty at ones;
Flesch fluriste of fermyson with frumentee noble,
Therto wylde to wale and wynlyche bryddes,
Pacokes and plouers in platers of golde,
Pygges of porke despyne \at pasturede neuer,
Sythen herons in hedoyne, hyled full faire,
Grett swannes full swythe in silueryn chargeours,
Tartes of turky_taste wham \em lykys_
Gumbaldes grathely, full gracious to taste,
Seyne bowes of wylde bores with \e braune lechyde,
Bernakes and botures in baterde dysches,
`areby braunchers in brede_bettyr was neuer_
With brestez of barowes \at bryghte ware to schewe;
Seyn come \er sewes sere, with solace \erafter_
Ownd of azure all ouer and ardant \em semyde_
Of ilke a leche \e lowe launschide full hye,
`at all ledes myghte lyke \at lukyde \em apon;
`an cranes and curlues craftyly rosted,
Connygez in cretoyne, colourede full faire,
Fesauntez enflureschit on flammande siluer,
With dariells endoride and daynteez ynewe;
`ane clarett and creette, clergyally rennen,
With condethes full curious, all of clene siluyre,
Osay aÕnåd algarde and o\er ynewe,
Rynisch wyne and rochell_richere was neuer_
Vernage of Venyce vertuouse and Crete,
In faucetez of fyn golde_fonode whoso lykes.
The Kyngez cope-borde was closed in siluer,
In grete goblettez ouergylte, glorious of hewe;
There was a cheefe buttlere, a cheualere noble,
Sir Cayous \e curtaise, \at of \e cowpe seruede:
Sexty cowpes of suyte fore \e Kyng seluyn,
Crafty and curious, coruen full faire,
In euerilk a party pyghte with precyous stones,
That nan enpoyson sulde goo preuely \ervndyre,
Bot \e bryght golde for brethe sulde briste al to peces,
Or ells \e venym sulde voyde thurghe vertue of \e stones.
And the Conquerour hym seluen, so clenly arayede,
In colours of clene golde cleede, wyth his knyghttys,
Drissid with his dyademe on his deesse ryche,
Fore he was demyd \e doughtyeste \at duellyde in erthe.
Thane \e Conquerour kyndly carpede to \ose lordes,
Rehetede \e Romaynes with realle speche:
"Sirs, bez knyghtly of contenaunce, and comfurthes |our seluyn;
We knowe noghte in \is countre of curious metez,
In thees barayne landez, bredes none o\er;
Forethy, wythowttyn feynyng, enforce |ow \e more
To feede |ow with syche feble as |e before fynde."
"Sir," sais \e Senatour, "soo Criste motte me helpe,
There ryngnede neuer syche realtee within Rome walles]
There ne es prelatte, ne pape, ne prynce in \is erthe,
That he ne myghte be wele payede of \ees pryce metes."
Aftyre theyre welthe \ey wesche and went vnto chambyre,
`is ilke kydde Conquerour, with knyghtes ynewe;
Sir Gaywayne \e worthye Dame Waynour he ledys;
Sir Owghtreth on the to\er syde, of Turry was lorde.
Thane spyces vnsparyly \ay spendyde thereaftyre:
Maluesye and muskadell, \ase meruelyous drynkes,
Raykede full rathely in rossete cowpes,
Till all \e riche on rawe, Romaynes and o\er.
Bot the soueraingne sothely, for solauce of hym seluen,
Assingnyde to \e Senatour certaygne lordes,
To lede to his leuere, whene he leue askes,
With myrthe and with melodye of mynstralsy noble.
Thane \e Conquerour to concell cayres thereaftyre,
Wyth lordes of his lygeaunce \at to hym selfe langys;
To \e geauntes toure iolily he wendes,
Wyth justicez and iuggez and gentill knyghtes.
Sir Cador of Cornewayle to \e Kyng carppes,
Lughe on hym luffly with lykande lates:
"I thanke Gode of \at thraa \at vs \us thretys]
~ow moste be traylede, I trowe, bot |ife |e trett bettyre.
`e lettres of Sir Lucius lyghttys myn herte]
We hafe as losels liffyde many longe daye,
Wyth delyttes in this land with lordchipez many,
And forelytenede the loos \at we are layttede;
I was abaischite, be oure Lorde, of oure beste bernes,
Fore gret dule of deffuse of dedez of armes.
Now wakkenyse \e were] Wyrchipide be Cryste]
And we sall wynn it agÕaåyne be wyghtnesse and strenghe]"
"Sir Cadour," quod \e Kyng, "thy concell es noble;
Bot \ou arte a meruailous man with thi mery wordez;
For thow countez no caas, ne castes no forthire,
Bot hurles furthe appon heuede, as thi herte thynkes.
I moste trette of a trew towchande \ise nedes,
Talke of thies tythdands \at tenes myn herte:
`ou sees \at \e Emperour es angerde a lyttill;
Yt semes be his sandismen \at he es sore greuede;
His senatour has sommonde me and said what hym lykyde,
Hethely in my hall, wyth heyn|ous wordes,
In speche disspyszede me and sparede me lyttill_
I myght noghte speke for spytte, so my herte trymblyde]
He askyde me tyrauntly tribute of Rome,
That tenefully tynt was in tym of myn elders,
There alyenes, in absence of all men of armes,
Couerd it of comons, as cronicles telles.
I have title to take tribute of Rome;
Myne ancestres ware emperours and aughte it \em seluen,
Belyn and Brene and Bawdewyne the Thyrde;
They ocupyede \e Empyre aughte score wynnttyrs,
Ilkane ayere aftyre o\er, as awlde men telles;
Thei couerde \e capitoile and keste doun \e walles,
Hyngede of \eire heddys-men by hundrethes at ones.
Seyn Constantyne, our kynsmane, conquerid it aftyre,
`at ayere was of Ynglande and Emperour of Rome,
He \at conquerid \e crosse be craftez of armes
That Criste was on crucifiede, \at Kyng es of Heuen.
Thus hafe we euydens to aske \e Emperour \e same,
That \us regnez at Rome, whate ryghte \at he claymes."
`an answarde Kyng Aungers to Arthure hym seluyn,
Thow aughte to be ouerlynge ouer all o\er kynges,
Fore wyseste and worthyeste and wyghteste of hanndes,
The knyghtlyeste of counsaile \at euer coron bare;
I dare saye fore Scottlande \at we them schathe lympyde:
When \e Romaynes regnede \ay raunsound oure eldyrs,
And rade in theire ryotte and rauyschett oure wyfes,
Withowttyn reson or ryghte refte vs oure gudes.
And I sall make myn avowe deuotly to Criste,
And to \e haly vernacle, vertuus and noble,
Of this grett velany I sall be vengede ones,
On |one venemus men, wyth valiant knyghtes]
I sall the forthire of defence, fosterde ynewe,
Fifty thowsande men, wythin two eldes,
Of my wage for to wende whare so the lykes,
To fyghte wyth thy faamen, \at vs vnfaire ledes]
Thane the burelyche Beryn of Bretayne \e Lyttyll
Counsayles Sir Arthure, and of hym besekys
To ansuere \e alyenes wyth austeren wordes,
To entyce the Emperour to take ouere the mounttes.
He said, I make myn avowe verreilly to Cryste
And to \e haly vernacle \at voide schall I neuere,
For radnesse of na Romayne \at regnes in erthe,
Bot ay be redye in araye and at areste founden.
No more dowtte the dynte of theire derfe wapyns,
`an \e dewe \at es dannke when \at it doun falles:
Ne no more schoune fore \e swape of theire scharpe suerddes,
Then fore \e faireste flour \att on the folde growes]
I sall to batell the brynge of brenyede knyghtes
Thyrtty thosannde be tale, thryftye in armes,
Wythin a monethe daye into whatte marche
`at \ow wyll sothelye assygne, when thy selfe lykes.
A] A] sais \e Walsche kyng, wirchipid be Criste]
Now schalle we wreke full wele \e wrethe of oure elders]
In West Walys iwysse syche wonndyrs \ay wroghte,
`at all for wandrethe may wepe \at on \at were thynkes.
I sall haue the avanttwarde wytterly my seluen,
Tyll \at I haue venquiste \e Vicounte of Rome,
`at wroghte me at Viterbe a velanye ones,
As I paste in pylgremage by the Pounte Tremble;
He was in Tuskayne \at tyme and tuke of oure knyghttes,
Areste them vnryghttwyslye and raunsound \am aftyre;
I sall hym surelye ensure \at saghetyll sall we neuer,
Are we sadlye assemble by oure selfen ones,
And dele dynttys of dethe with oure derfe wapyns]
And I sall wagge to \at were, of wyrchipfull knyghtes,
Of Wyghte and of Walschelande and of the weste marches,
Twa thosande in tale, horsede one stedys,
Of \e wyghteste wyes in all |one weste landys]"
Syre Ewan fytz Vryence \ane egerly fraynez_
Was cosyn to \e Conquerour, corageous hym selfen_
"Sir, and we wyste |our wyll, we walde wirke \eraftyre:
~if \is journee sulde halde or be ajournede forthyre,
To ryde one |one Romaynes and ryott theire landez,
We walde schape vs therefore to schippe whene |ow lykys."
"Cosyn," quod \e Conquerour, "kyndly \ou asches;
~ife my concell accorde to conquere |one landez,
By \e kalendez of Iuny we schall encountre ones,
Wyth full creuell knyghtez, so Cryste mot me helpe]
Thereto make I myn avowe devottly to Cryste,
And to the holy vernacle, vertuous and noble,
I sall at Lammesse take leue to lenge at my large
In Lorayne or Lumberdye, whethire me leue thynkys;
Merke vnto Meloyne and myne doun \e wallez,
Bathe of Petyrsande and of Pys and of \e Pounte Tremble;
In \e Vale of Viterbe vetaile my knyghttes,
Suggourne there sex wokes and solace my selfen;
Send prekers to \e price toun and plaunte there my segge,
Bot if \ay profre me \e pece be processe of tym."
"Certys," sais Sir Ewayn, "and I avowe aftyre,
And I \at hathell may see euer with myn eghn,
`at ocupies thin heritage, \e Empyere of Rome,
I sall auntyre me anes hys egle to touche,
`at borne es in his banere of brighte golde ryche,
And raas it from his riche men and ryfe it in sondyre,
Bot he be redily reschowede with riotous knyghtez]
I sall enforsse |owe in \e felde with fresche men of armes,
Fyfty thosande folke apon faire stedys,
On thi foomen to foonde, there the faire thynkes,
In Fraunce or in Friselande_feghte when \e lykes]
By oure Lorde, quod Sir Launcelott, now lyghttys myn herte]
I loue Gode of \is loue \is lordes has avowede.
Nowe may lesse men haue leue to say whatt them lykes,
And hafe no lettyng be lawe, bot lystynnys \ise wordez:
I sall be at journee with gentill knyghtes,
On a jamby stede, full jolyly graythide,
Or any journee begane to juste with hym selfen,
Emange all his geauntez, Genyuers and o\er,
Stryke hym styfflye fro his stede, with strenghe of myn handys,
For all \a steryn in stour \at in his stale houys]
Be my retenu arayede, I rekke bott a lyttill
To make rowtte into Rome with ryotous knyghtes;
Within a seuenyghte daye, with sex score helmes,
I sall be seen on the see_saile when \e lykes]
Thane laughes Sir Lottez and all on lowde meles:
Me likez \at Sir Lucius lannges aftyre sorowe;
Now he wylnez \e were, hys wanedrethe begynnys]
It es owre weredes to wreke the wrethe of oure elders.
I make myn avowe to Gode and to \e holy vernacle,
And I may se \e Romaynes, \at are so ryche halden,
Arayede in \eire riotes on a rounde felde,
I sall at \e reuerence of \e Rounde Table,
Ryde thrughte all \e rowtte, rerewarde and o\er,
Redy wayes to make and renkkes full rowme,
Rynnande on rede blode as my stede ruschez]
He \at folowes my fare and fyrste commes aftyre
Sall fynde in my farewaye many fay leuyde]
Thane \e Conquerour kyndly comforthes \ese knyghtes,
Alowes \aim gretly theire lordly avowes:
Alweldande Gode wyrchip |ow all,
And latte me neuere wanntte |ow, whylls I in werlde regne;
My menske and my manhede |e mayntene in erthe,
Myn honour all vtterly in o\er kyngys landes;
My wele and my wyrchipe, of all \is werlde ryche,
~e haue knyghtly conqueryde, \at to my coroun langes;
Hym thare be ferde for no faees \at swylke a folke ledes,
Bot euer fresche for to fyghte in felde when hym lykes;
I acounte no kynge \at vndyr Criste lyffes;
Whills I see |owe all sounde, I sette be no more."
Qwhen they tristily had tretyd, \ay trumppede vp aftyre,
Descendyd doune with a daunce of dukes and erles.
Thane \ey semblede to sale and sowpped als swythe,
All \is semly sorte, wyth semblante full noble.
Thene the roy reall rehetes thes knyghttys,
Wyth reuerence and ryotte of all his Rounde Table,
Till seuen dayes was gone_\e Senatour askes
Answere to \e Emperour with austeryn wordez.
Aftyre \e Epiphanye, when \e purpos was takyn,
Of peris of \e parlement, prelates and o\er,
The Kyng in his concell, curtaise and noblee,
Vtters \e alienes and ansuers hym seluen:
"Gret wele Lucius, thi lorde, and layne noghte \ise wordes:
Ife \ow be lygmane lele, late hym wiet sone
I sall at Lammese take leue and loge at my large
In delitte in his laundez, wyth lordes ynewe,
Regne in my realtee and ryste when me lykes,
By \e reyuere of Reone halde my Rounde Table,
Fannge the fermes, in faithe, of all \a faire rewmes,
For all \e manace of hys myghte and mawgree his eghne]
And merke sythen ouer the mounttez into his mayne londez,
To Meloyne the meruaylous, and myn doun the walles;
In Lorrayne ne in Lumberdye lefe schall I nowthire
Nokyn lede appon liffe \at \are his lawes |emes;
And turne into Tuschayne, whene me tyme thynkys,
Ryde all \as rowme landes wyth ryotous knyghttes;
Byde hyÕmå make reschewes, fore menske of hym seluen,
And mette me fore his manhede in \ase mayne landes.
I sall be foundyn in Fraunce_fraiste when hym lykes_
The fyrste daye of Feuer|ere, in thas faire marches;
Are I be fechyde wyth force or forfette my landes,
`e flour of his faire folke full fay sall be leuyde]
I sall hym sekyrly ensure, vndyre my seele ryche,
To seege \e cetee of Rome wythin seuen wyntyre,
And that so sekerly ensege apon sere halfes,
That many a senatour sall syghe for sake of me one]
My sommons er certified, and thow arte full seruyde
Of cundit and credense_kayre the lykes;
I sall thi journaye engyste, enjoyne them my seluen,
Fro this place to \e porte, there \ou sall passe ouer;
Seuen dayes to Sandewyche I sette at the large,
Sexty myle on a daye_\e somme es bott lyttill.
Thowe moste spede at the spurs and spare noghte thi fole;
Thow weyndez by Watlyng Strette and by no waye ells;
Thare thow nyghes on nyghte nedez moste \ou lenge:
Be it foreste or felde, found \ou no forthire;
Bynde thy blonke by a buske with thy brydill euen,
Lugge \i selfe vndyre lynde, as \e leefe thynkes;
There awes none alyenes to ayer appon nyghttys,
With syche a rebawdous rowtte to ryot thy seluen.
Thy lycence es lemete in presence of lordys;
Be now lathe or lette, ryghte as \e thynkes,
For bothe \i lyffe and thi lym lygges \erappon,
`ofe Sir Lucius had laide \e lordchipe of Rome;
For \e \ow founden a fute withowte \e flode merkes,
Aftyr \e aughtende day, when vndroun es rungen,
`ou sall be heuedede in hye and with horsse drawen,
And seyn heyly be hangede, houndes to gnawen]
The rente ne rede golde \at vnto Rome langes
Sall noghte redily, renke, raunson thyn one]"
"Sir," sais \e Senatour, "so Crist mot me helpe,
Might I with wirchip wyn awaye ones,
I sulde neuer fore emperour \at on erthe lenges,
Efte vnto Arthure ayere on syche nedys;
Bot I am sengilly here, with sex sum of knyghtes;
I beseke |ow, Sir, that we may sounde passe:
In any vnlawefull lede lette vs by \e waye,
Within thy lycence, lorde, thy loosse es enpeyrede."
"Care noghte," quod the Kyng; "thy coundyte es knawen
Fro Carlele to \e coste, there thy cogge lengges;
`oghe thy cofers ware full, cramede with syluer,
Thow myghte be sekyre of my sele sexty myle forthire."
They enclined to \e Kyng, and counge \ay askede,
Cayers owtt of Carelele, catchez on theire horsez;
Sir Cadore \e curtayes kende them the wayes,
To Catrike \em cunvayede and to Crist \em bekennyde.
So \ey spede at \e spoures, \ey sprangen \eire horses,
Hyres \em hakenayes hastyly \ereaftyre;
So fore reddour \ey reden and risted them neuer,
Bot |if they luggede vndire lynd whills \em lyghte failede;
Bot euere \e Senatour forsothe soghte at \e gayneste.
By \e sevend day was gone \e cetee \ai rechide;
Of all \e glee vndire Gode so glade ware \ey neuere,
As of \e sounde of \e see and Sandwyche belles.
Wythowttyn more stownntyng \ey schippide \eire horsez,
Wery, to \e wane see \ey went all att ones;
With \e men of \e walle they weyde vp \eire ankyrs,
And fleede at \e fore flude; in Flaundrez \ey rowede,
And thorughe Flaundres \ey founde, as \em faire thoghte,
Till Akyn in Almayn, in Arthur landes;
Gosse by \e Mount Goddarde full greuous wayes,
And so into Lumberddye, lykande to schewe.
They turne thurghe Tuskayne, with towres full heghe,
In Pis appairells them in precious wedez;
The Sonondaye in Suters \ay suggourne \eire horsez,
And sekes \e seyntez of Rome, be assente of knyghtes;
Sythyn prekes to \e pales, with portes so ryche,
`are Sir Lucius lenges, with lordes enowe;
Lowttes to hym lufly, and lettres hym bedes,
Of credence enclosyde, with knyghtlyche wordez.
Then \e Emperour was egree and enkerly fraynes;
`e answere of Arthure he askes hym sone,
How he arayes \e rewme and rewlys \e pople,
~if he be rebell to Rome whate ryghte \at he claymes.
"Thow sulde his ceptre haue sesede and syttyn aboun,
Fore reuerence and realtee of Rome \e noble;
By sertes \ow was my sandes and senatour of Rome;
He sulde, fore solempnitee, hafe seruede \e hym seluen]"
"That will he neuer for no wye of all \is werlde ryche,
Bot who may wynn hym of werre, by wyghtnesse of handes;
Many fey schall be fyrste appon \e felde leuyde,
Are he appere in this place profre when \e likes.
I saye the, Sir, Arthure es thyn enmye fore euer,
And ettells to bee ouerlyng of \e Empyre of Rome,
That alle his ancestres aughte, bot Vtere hym selfe.
Thy nedes this Newe ~ere I notifiede my selfen,
Before \at noble of name and neynesom of kynges;
In the moste reale place of \e Rounde Table,
I somounde hym solepnylye, one-seeande his knyghtez.
Sen I was formyde, in faythe, so ferde was I neuere,
In all \e placez ther I passede of pryncez in erthe.
I wolde foresake all my suyte of segnourry of Rome,
Or I efte to \at soueraygne whare sente one suyche nedes]
He may be chosyn cheftayne, cheefe of all o\er,
Bathe be chauncez of armes and cheuallrye noble,
For whyeseste and worthyeste and wyghteste of hanndez;
Of all the wyes \ate I watte in this werlde ryche,
The knyghtlyeste creatoure in Cristyndome halden,
Of kyng or of conquerour crownede in erthe;
Of countenaunce, of corage, of crewelle lates,
The comlyeste of knyghtehode \at vndyre Cryste lyffes.
He maye be spoken in dyspens despysere of syluere,
That no more of golde gyffes \an of grette stones,
No more of wyne \an of watyre \at of \e welle rynnys,
Ne of welthe of \is werlde bot wyrchipe allone.
Syche contenaunce was neuer knowen in no kythe ryche,
As was with \at conquerour in his courte halden;
I countede at this Crystynmesse of kyngez enoynttede
Hole ten at his table \at tym with hym selfen.
He wyll werraye iwysse_be ware |if \e lykes;
Wage many wyghtemen and wache thy marches,
That they be redye in araye and at areste foundyn;
For |ife he reche vnto Rome, he raunsouns it for euere]
I rede \ow dresce the \erfore, and drawe no lytte langere;
Be sekyre of \i sowdeours and sende to \e mowntes;
Be \e quartere of \is |ere, and hym quarte stannde,
He wyll wyghtlye in a qwhyle on his wayes hye."
"Bee estyre," sais \e Emperour, "I ettyll my selfen
To hostaye in Almayne with armede knyghtez;
Sende freklye into Fraunce, \at flour es of rewmes,
Fande to fette \at freke and forfette his landez;
For I sall sette kepers, full conaunde and noble,
Many geaunte of Geen, justers full gude,
To mete hym in the mountes and martyre hys knyghtes,
Stryke \em doun in strates and struye them fore euere]
There sall appon Godarde a garette be rerede,
That schall be garneschte and kepyde with gude men of armes,
And a bekyn abouen to brynne when \em lykys,
`at nane enmye with hoste sall entre the mountes;
There schall one Mounte Bernarde be beyldede ano\ere,
Buschede with banerettes and bachelers noble;
In at the portes of Pavye schall no prynce passe,
Thurghe the perelous places, for my pris knyghtes."
Thane Sir Lucius lordlyche lettres he sendys
Onone into \e Oryente, with austeryn knyghtez,
Till Ambyganye and Orcage and Alysaundyre eke,
To Inde and to Ermonye, as Ewfrates rynnys,
To Asye and to Affrike and Ewrope \e large,
To Irritayne and Elamet and all \ase owte ilez,
To Arraby and Egipt, till erles and o\er,
That any erthe ocupyes in \ase este marches,
Of Damaske and Damyat, and dukes and erles,
For drede of his daungere they dresside \em sone;
Of Crete and of Capados the honourable kyngys
Come at his commandmente clenly at ones,
To Tartary and Turky, when tythynngez es comen;
They turne in by Thebay, terauntez full hugge,
The flour of \e faire folke of Amazonnes landes_
All thate faillez on \e felde be forfette fore euere]
Of Babyloyn and Baldake the burlyche knyghtes,
Bayous with theire baronage bydez no langere;
Of Perce and of Pamphile and Preter Iohne landes,
Iche prynce with his powere appertlyche graythede;
The Sowdane of Surrye assemblez his knyghtes,
Fra Nylus to Nazarethe, nommers full huge;
To Garyere and to Galele \ey gedyre all at ones,
The sowdanes that ware sekyre sowdeours to Rome;
They gadyrede ouere \e Grekkes See with greuous wapyns,
In theire grete galays, wyth gleterande scheldez;
The kynge of Cyprys on the see \e Sowdane habydes,
With all \e realls of Roodes arayede with hym one.
They sailede with a syde wynde oure \e salte strandez,
Sodanly \e Sarezenes, as them selfe lykede;
Craftyly at Cornett the kynges are aryefede,
Fra \e cete of Rome sexti myle large.
Be that the Grekes ware graythede, a full gret nombyre,
The myghtyeste of Macedone, with men of \a marches;
Pulle and Pruyslande presses with o\er,
The legemen of Lettow with legyons ynewe.
Thus they semble in sortes, summes full huge,
Sowdanes and Sarezenes owt of sere landes;
The Sowdane of Surry and sextene kynges,
At the cetee of Rome assemblede at ones.
Thane yschewes \e Emperour, armede at ryghtys,
Arayede with his Romaynes appon ryche stedys;
Sexty geauntes before, engenderide with fendez,
With weches and warlaws to wacchen his tentys,
Ayware whare he wendes, wyntres and |eres.
Myghte no blonkes them bere, thos bustous churlles,
Bot couerde camellez of tourse, enclosyde in maylez.
He ayerez oute with alyenez, ostes full huge,
Ewyn into Almayne, \at Arthure hade wonnyn;
Rydes in by \e ryuere and ryottez hym seluen,
And ayerez with a huge wyll all \as hye landez.
All Westwale of werre he wynnys as hym lykes,
Drawes in by Danuby and dubbez hys knyghtez;
In the contre of Coloine castells enseggez,
And suggeournez \at seson wyth Sarazenes ynewe.
At the vtas of Hillary, Syr Arthure hym seluen
In his kydde councell commande \e lordes:
"Kayere to |our cuntrez and semble |our knyghtes,
And kepys me at Constantyne clenlyche arayede;
Byddez me at Bareflete apon \a blythe stremes,
Baldly within borde, with |owre beste beryns;
I schall menskfully |owe mete in thos faire marches."
He sendez furthe sodaynly sergeantes of armes
To all hys mariners on rawe, to areste hym schippys.
Wythin sexten dayes hys fleet whas assemblede,
At Sandwyche on \e see_saile when hym lykes.
In the palez of ~orke a parlement he haldez,
With all \e perez of \e rewme, prelates and o\er;
And aftyre \e prechynge, in presence of lordes,
The Kyng in his concell carpys \es wordes:
"I am in purpos to passe perilous wayes,
To kaire with my kene men to conquere |one landes,
To owttraye myn enmy, |if auenture it schewe,
That ocupyes myn heritage, \e Empyre of Rome.
I sett |ow here a soueraynge_ascente |if |owe lykys_
That es me sybb, my syster son, Sir Mordrede hym seluen,
Sall be my leuetenaunte, with lordchipez ynewe,
Of all my lele legemen \at my landez |emes."
He carpes till his cosyne \ane, in counsaile hym seluen:
"I make the kepare, Sir Knyghte, of kyngrykes manye,
Wardayne wyrchipfull, to weilde al my landes,
That I haue wonnen of werre, in all \is werlde ryche.
I wyll \at Waynour, my weife, in wyrchipe be holden,
That hire wannte noo wele ne welthe \at hire lykes;
Luke my kydde castells be clenlyche arrayede,
There cho maye suggourne hire selfe wyth semlyche berynes;
Fannde my forestez be frythede o frenchepe for euere,
That nane werreye my wylde botte Waynour hir seluen,
And \at in \e seson whene grees es assignyde,
That cho take hir solauce in certayne tymms.
Chauncelere and chambyrleyn chaunge as \e lykes;
Audytours and offycers ordayne thy seluen,
Bathe jureez and juggez and justicez of landes;
Luke thow justifye them wele that injurye wyrkes.
If me be destaynede to dye at Dryghtyns wyll,
I charge the my sektour, cheffe of all o\er,
To mynystre my mobles fore mede of my saule
To mendynauntez and mysese in myschefe fallen;
Take here my testament of tresoure full huge:
As I trayste appon the, betraye thowe me neuer]
As \ow will answere before the austeryn Jugge,
That all \is werlde wynly wysse as Hym lykes,
Luke \at my laste wyll be lelely perfournede.
Thow has clenly \e cure that to my coroune langez
Of all my werÕlådez wele, and my weyffe eke;
Luke \owe kepe the so clere there be no cause fonden
When I to contre come, if Cryste will it thole;
And thow haue grace gudly to gouerne thy seluen,
I sall coroune \e, knyghte, kyng with my handez."
`an Sir Modrede full myldly meles hym seluen,
Knelyd to \e Conquerour and carpes \ise wordez:
"I beseke |ow, Sir, as my sybbe lorde,
`at |e will for charyte cheese |ow ano\er;
For if |e putte me in \is plytte, |owre pople es dyssauyde;
To presente a prynce astate my powere es symple.
When o\er of werre wysse are wyrchipide hereaftyre,
Than may I forsothe be sette bott at lyttill.
To passe in |our presance my purpos es takyn,
And all my purueaunce apperte fore my pris knyghtez."
"Thowe arte my neuewe full nere, my nurree of olde,
That I haue chastyede and chosen, a childe of my chambyre;
For the sybredyn of me, foresake noghte \is offyce;
That thow ne wyrk my will, thow watte whatte it menes."
Nowe he takez hys leue and lengez no langere,
At lordez at legemen, \at leues hym byhynden.
And seyne \at worthilyche wy went vnto chambyre,
For to comfurthe \e Qwene, \at in care lenges.
Waynour, waykly wepande, hym kyssiz,
Talkez to hym tenderly with teres ynewe:
"I may wery the wye thatt this werre mouede,
That warnes me wyrchippe of my wedde lorde;
All my lykyng of lyfe owte of lande wendez,
And I in langour am lefte, leue |e, for euere.
Whyne myghte I, dere lufe, dye in |our armes,
Are I \is destanye of dule sulde drye by myne one?"
"Grefe \e noghte, Gaynour, fore Goddes lufe of Hewen,
Ne gruche noghte my ganggyng: it sall to gude turne.
Thy wonrydez and thy wepyng woundez myn herte;
I may noghte wit of \is woo, for all \is werlde ryche]
I haue made a kepare, a knyghte of thyn awen,
Ouerlyng of Ynglande, vndyre thy seluen,
And that es Sir Mordrede, \at \ow has mekyll praysede,
Sall be thy dictour, my dere, to doo whatte the lykes."
Thane he takes hys leue at ladys in chambyre,
Kysside them kyndlyche and to Criste beteches;
And then cho swounes full swythe, wheÕnå he hys swerde aschede,
Twys in a swounyng, swelte as cho walde.
He pressed to his palfray, in presance of lordes,
Prekys of the palez with his prys knyghtes;
Wyth a reall rowte of \e Rounde Table
Soughte towarde Sandwyche_cho sees hym no more.
Thare the grete ware gederyde, wyth galyarde knyghtes,
Garneschit on \e grene felde and graythelyche arayede;
Dukkes and duzseperez daynttehely rydes,
Erles of Ynglande, with archers ynewe;
Schirreues scharply schiftys the comouns,
Rewlys before \e ryche of the Rounde Table;
Assingnez ilke a contree to certayne lordes,
In the southe on \e see banke, saile when \em lykes.
Thane bargez them buskez and to \e baunke rowes,
Bryngez blonkez on bourde and burlyche helmes;
Trussez in tristly trappyde stedes,
Tentez and othire toylez and targez full ryche,
Cabanes and clathe-sekkes and coferez full noble,
Hekes and haknays and horsez of armez;
Thus they stowe in the stuffe of full steryn knyghtez.
Qwen all was schyppede that scholde they schounte no lengere,
Bot ventelde them tyte, as \e tyde rynnez;
Coggez and crayers \an crossez \aire mastez,
At the comandment of \e Kynge vncouerde at ones.
Wyghtly on \e wale \ay wye vp \aire ankers,
By wytt of \e watyre-men of \e wale ythez;
Frekes on \e forestavne faken \eire coblez,
In floynes and fercostez and Flemesche schyppes;
Tytt saillez to \e toppe and turnez \e lufe,
Standez appon stere-bourde, sternly \ay songen.
The pryce schippez of the porte prouen theire depnesse,
And fondez wyth full saile ower \e fawe ythez;
Holly withowttyn harme \ay hale in bottes;
Schipemen scharply schoten \aire portez,
Launchez lede apon lufe, lacchen \er depez;
Lukkez to \e lade-sterne when \e lyghte faillez,
Castez coursez be crafte when \e clowde rysez,
With \e nedyll and \e stone one \e nyghte tydez;
For drede of \e derke nyghte \ay drecchede a lyttill,
And all \e steryn of \e streme strekyn at onez.
The Kynge was in a gret cogge, with knyghtez full many,
In a cabane enclosede, clenlyche arayede;
Within on a ryche bedde rystys a littyll,
And with \e swoghe of \e see in swefnyng he fell.
Hym dremyd of a dragon, dredfull to beholde,
Come dryfande ouer \e depe to drenschen hys pople,
Ewen walkande owte of the weste landez,
Wanderande vnworthyly ouere the wale ythez;
Bothe his hede and hys hals ware halely all ouer
Oundyde of azure, enamelde full faire;
His scoulders ware schalyde all in clene syluere,
Schreede ouer all \e schrympe with schrinkande poyntez;
Hys wombe and hys wenges of wondyrfull hewes,
In meruaylous maylys he mountede full hye;
Whaym \at he towchede he was tynt for euer.
Hys feete ware floreschede all in fyne sabyll,
And syche a vennymous flayre flowe fro his lyppez,
That the flode of \e flawez all on fyre semyde.
Thane come of \e oryente, ewyn hym agaynez,
A blake, bustous bere abwen in the clowdes,
With yche a pawe as a poste and paumes full huge,
With pykes full perilous_all plyande \am semyde;
Lothen and lothely lokkes and o\er,
All with lutterde legges, lokerde vnfaire,
Filtyrde vnfrely, with fomaunde lyppez,
The foulleste of fegure that fourmede was euer.
He baltyrde, he bleryde, he braundyschte \erafter;
To bataile he bounnez hym with bustous clowez;
He romede, he rarede, that roggede all \e erthe,
So ruydly he rappyd at to ryot hym seluen.
Thane the dragon on dreghe dressede hym a|aynez,
And with hys dÕiånttez hym drafe on dreghe by \e walkyn;
He fares as a fawcon: frekly he strykez;
Bothe with feete and with fyre he feghttys at ones.
The bere in the bataile \e bygger hym semyde,
And byttes hym boldlye wyth balefull tuskez;
Syche buffetez he hym rechez with hys brode klokes,
Hys brest and his brayell whas blodye all ouer.
He rawmpyde so ruydly that all \e erthe ryfez,
Rynnande on reede blode as rayne of the heuen.
He hade weryede the worme by wyghtnesse of strenghte,
Ne ware it fore the wylde fyre \at he hym wyth defendez.
Thane wandyrs \e worme awaye to hys heghttez,
Commes glydande fro \e clowddez and cowpez full euen,
Towchez hym wyth his talounez and terez hys rigg,
Betwyx \e taile and the toppe ten fote large.
Thus he brittenyd the bere and broghte hym o lyfe_
Lette hym fall in the flode, fleete whare hym lykes.
So they \ryng \e bolde kyng bynne \e schippe-burde,
`at nere he bristez for bale, on bede whare he lyggez.
Than waknez \e wyese kyng, wery foretrauaillede,
Takes hym two phylozophirs that folowede hym euer,
In the seuyn scyence the suteleste fonden,
The conyÕnågeste of clergye vndyre Criste knowen.
He tolde \em of hys tourmente \at tym \at he slepede:
"Drechede with a dragon, and syche a derfe beste,
Has mad me full wery; |e tell me my swefen,
Ore I mon swelte as swythe, as wysse me oure Lorde]"
"Sir," saide \ey son thane, thies sagge philosopherse,
"The dragon \at \ow dremyde of, so dredfull to schewe,
That come dryfande ouer \e deepe to drynchen thy pople,
Sothely and certayne, thy seluen it es,
That thus saillez ouer \e see with thy sekyre knyghtez;
The colurez \at ware castyn appon his clere wengez,
May be thy kyngrykez all, that thow has ryghte wonnyn;
And the tatterede taile with tonges so huge,
Betakyns \is faire folke that in thy fleet wendez;
The bere that bryttenede was abowen in \e clowdez
Betakyns the tyrauntez \at tourmentez thy pople;
Or ells with somme gyaunt some journee sall happyn,
In syngulere batell by |oure selfe one,
And \ow sall hafe \e victorye, thurghe helpe of oure Lorde,
As \ow in thy visione was opynly schewede.
Of this dredfull dreme ne drede the no more;
Ne kare noghte, Sir Conquerour, bot comforth thy seluen;
And thise \at saillez ouer \e see, with thy sekyre knyghtez."
With trumppez then trystly they trisen vpe \aire saillez,
And rowes ouer the ryche see, this rowtte all at onez;
The comely coste of Normandye they cachen full euen,
And blythely at Barflete theis bolde are arryfede,
And fyndys a flete there of frendez ynewe,
The floure and \e faire folke of fyftene rewmez;
Fore kyngez and capytaynez kepyde hym fayre,
As he at Carelele commaundyde at Cristynmesse hym seluen.
Be they had taken the lande and tentez vpe rerede,
Comez a templere tyte and towchide to \e Kynge:
"Here es a teraunt besyde that tourmentez thi pople,
A grett geaunte of Geen, engenderde of fendez;
He has fretyn of folke mo than fyfe hondrethe,
And als fele fawntekyns of freeborne childyre.
This has bene his sustynaunce all this seuen wyntteres,
And |itt es that sotte noghte sadde, so wele hym it lykez]
In \e contree of Constantyne ne kynde has he leuede,
Withowttyn kydd castells enclosid wyth walles,
That he ne has clenly dystroyede all the knaue childyre,
And them caryede to \e cragge and clenly deworyd]
The Duchez of Bretayne todaye has he takyn,
Beside Reynes as scho rade with hire ryche knyghttes;
Ledd hyre to \e mountayne thare \at lede lengez,
To lye by that lady aye whyls hir lyfe lastez.
We folowede o ferrom, moo then fyfe hundrethe
Of beryns and of burgeys and bachelers noble,
Bot he couerde the cragge_cho cryede so lowde,
The care of \at creatoure couer sall I neuer]
Scho was flour of all Fraunce, or of fyfe rewmes,
And one of the fayreste that fourmede was euere,
The gentileste jowell ajuggede with lordes
Fro Geen vnto Geron, by Ihesu of Heuen]
Scho was thy wyfes cosyn_knowe it if \e lykez_
Comen of \e rycheste that rengnez in erthe;
As thow arte ryghtwise Kyng, rewe on thy pople,
And fande for to venge them that thus are rebuykyde]"
"Allas]" sais Sir Arthure, "so lange haue I lyffede;
Hade I wyten of this, wele had me chefede;
Me es noghte fallen faire, bot me es foule happynede,
That thus this faire ladye this fende has dystroyede]
I had leuere thane all Fraunce this fyftene wynter
I hade bene before thate freke a furlange of waye,
When he that ladye had laghte and ledde to \e montez;
I hadde lefte my lyfe are cho hade harme lymppyde.
Bot walde \ow kene me to \e crage thare \at kene lengez;
I walde cayre to \at coste and carpe wythe hym seluen,
To trette with that tyraunt fore treson of londes,
And take trewe for a tym, till it may tyde bettyr."
"Sire, see |e |one farlande, with |one two fyrez?
`ar filsnez \at fende_fraiste when the lykes_
Appone the creste of the cragge, by a colde welle,
That enclosez \e clyfe with \e clere strandez;
Ther may thow fynde folke fay wythowttyn nowmer,
Mo florenez, in faythe, than Fraunce es in aftyre;
And more tresour vntrewely that traytour has getyn
Thane in Troye was, as I trowe, \at tym \at it was wonn."
Thane romyez the ryche kynge for rewthe of \e pople,
Raykez ryghte to a tente and restez no lengere;
He welterys, he wristeles, he wryngez hys handez;
Thare was no wy of \is werlde that wyste whatt he menede.
He calles Sir Cayous, \at of \e cowpe serfede,
And Sir Bedvere \e bolde, \at bare hys brande ryche:
"Luke |e aftyre euensang be armyde at ryghttez,
On blonkez by |one buscayle, by |one blythe stremez,
Fore I will passe in pilgremage preuely hereaftyre,
In the tyme of suppere, whene lordez are servede,
For to seken a saynte be |one salte stremes,
In Seynt Mighell Mount, there myraclez are schewede."
Aftyre euesange, Sir Arthure hym seÕlåfen
Wente to hys wardrop and warp of hys wedez,
Armede hym in a acton with orfraeez full ryche,
Abouen on \at a jeryn of Acres owte ouer,
Abouen \at a jesseraunt of jentyll maylez,
A jupon of Ierodyn, jaggede in schredez;
He brayedez one a bacenett, burneschte of syluer,
The beste \at was in Basill, wyth bordurs ryche;
The creste and \e coronall enclosed so faire
Wyth clasppis of clere golde, couched wyth stones;
The vesare, \e aventaile, enarmede so faire,
Voyde withowttyn vice, with wyndowes of syluer;
His gloues gaylyche gilte and grauen at \e hemmez,
With graynez and gobelets, glorious of hewe.
He bracez a brade schelde and his brande aschez,
Bounede hym a broun stede and on \e bente houys;
He sterte till his sterep and stridez on lofte,
Streynez hym stowttly and sterys hym faire,
Brochez \e baye stede and to \e buske rydez,
And there hys knyghtes hym kepede full clenlyche arayede.
Than they roode by \at ryuer \at rynnyd so swythe,
`are \e ryndez ouerrechez with reall bowghez;
The roo and \e raynedere reklesse thare ronnen,
In ranez and in rosers, to ryotte \am seluen;
The frithez ware floreschte with flourez full many,
Wyth fawcouns and fesantez of ferlyche hewez;
All \e feulez thare fleschez that flyez with wengez,
Fore thare galede \e gowke one greuez full lowde:
Wyth alkyn gladchipe \ay gladden \em seluen;
Of \e nyghtgale notez \e noisez was swette_
They threpide wyth the throstills, thre hundreth at ones;
`at whate swowyng of watyr and syngyng of byrdez,
It myghte salue hym of sore \at sounde was neuere.
Than ferkez this folke and on fotte lyghttez,
Festenez theire faire stedez o ferrom bytwene;
And thene the Kyng kenely comandyde hys knyghtez
For to byde with theire blonkez and bowne no forthyre:
"Fore I will seke this seynte by my selfe one,
And mell with this mayster mane \at this monte |emez;
And seyn sall |e offyre, aythyre aftyre o\er,
Menskfully at Saynt Mighell full myghtty with Criste."
The Kyng coueris \e cragge wyth cloughes full hye,
To the creste of the clyffe he clymbez on lofte;
Keste vpe hys vmbrer and kenly he lukes,
Caughte of \e colde wynde to comforthe hym seluen.
Two fyrez fyndez, flawmande full hye;
The fourtedele a furlang betwene \us he walkes;
The waye by \e welle strandez he wandyrde hym one,
To wette of \e warlawe, whare \at he lengez.
He ferkez to \e fyrste fyre, and euen there he fyndez
A wery wafull wedowe, wryngande hire handez,
And gretande on a graue grysely teres;
Now merkyde on molde sen myddaye it semede.
He salu|ede \at sorowfull with sittande wordez,
And fraynez aftyre the fende fairely thereaftyre.
Thane this wafull wyfe vnwynly hym gretez,
Couerd vp on hire kneess and clappyde hire handez;
Said "Carefull careman, thow carpez to lowde;
May |one warlawe wyt, he worows vs all]
Weryd worthe \e wyghte ay that \e thy wytt refede,
That mase the to wayfe here in \ise wylde lakes.
I warne \e fore wyrchipe \ou wylnez aftyr sorowe;
Whedyre buskes \ow, berne? Vnblysside \ow semes.
Wenez thow to britten hym with thy brande ryche?
Ware thow wyghttere than Wade or Wawayn owthire,
Thow wynnys no wyrchip, I warne the before.
Thow saynned the vnsekyrly to seke to \ese mountez;
Siche sex ware to symple to semble with hym one,
For and thow see hym with syghte, the seruez no herte
To sayne the sekerly, so semez hym huge]
Thow arte frely and faire and in thy fyrste flourez,
Bot thow arte fay, be my faythe, and \at me forthynkkys.
Ware syche fyfty on a felde or one a faire erthe,
The freke walde with hys fyste fell |ow at ones]
Loo, here the duchez dere_todaye was cho takyn_
Depe doluen and dede, dyked in moldez;
He hade morthirede this mylde be myddaye war rongen,
Withowttyn mercy one molde_I not watte it ment.
He has forsede hir and fylede, and cho es fay leuede;
He slewe hir vnslely and slitt hir to \e nauyll.
And here haue I bawmede hir and beryede \eraftyr;
For bale of \e botelesse, blythe be I neuer.
Of alle \e frendez cho hade, \ere folowede none aftyre,
Bot I, hir foster modyr of fyftene wynter;
To ferke of this farlande, fande sall I neuer,
Bot here be founden on felde till I be fay leuede."
Thane answers Sir Arthure to \at alde wyf,
"I am comyn fra \e Conquerour, curtaise and gentill,
As one of \e hathelest of Arthur knyghtez,
Messenger to \is myx, for mendemente of \e pople,
To mele with this maister man that here this mounte |emez;
To trete with this tyraunt for tresour of landez,
And take trew for a tym, to bettyr may worthe."
"~a, thire wordis are bot waste," quod this wif thane,
"For bothe landez and lythes full lyttill by he settes;
Of rentez ne of rede golde rekkez he neuer,
For he will lenge owt of lawe, as hym selfe thynkes,
Withowten licence of lede, as lorde in his awen.
Bot he has a kyrtill one, kepide for hym seluen,
That was sponen in Spayne with specyall byrdez,
And sythyn garnescht in Grece full graythly togedirs.
It es hyded all with har hally al ouere,
And bordyrde with the berdez of burlyche kyngez,
Crispid and kombide, that kempis may knawe
Iche kyng by his colour, in kythe there he lengez;
Here the fermez he fangez of fyftene rewmez:
For ilke Esterne ewyn, howeuer that it fall,
They send it hym sothely for saughte of \e pople,
Sekerly at \at seson, with certayne knyghtez.
And he has aschede Arthure all \is seuen wynntter:
Forthy hurdez he here, to owttraye hys pople,
Till \e Bretons kyng haue burneschte his lyppys,
And sent his berde to that bolde wyth his beste berynes.
Bot thowe hafe broghte \at berde, bowne the no forthire,
For it es buteless bale thowe biddez oghte ells;
For he has more tresour to take when hym lykez
Than euere aughte Arthure or any of hys elders;
If thowe hafe broghte \e berde he bese more blythe
Thane \owe gafe hym Burgoyne or Bretayne \e More.
Bot luke nowe for charitee \ow chasty thy lyppes,
That the no wordez eschape, whateso betydez;
Luke \i presante be priste, and presse hym bott lytill,
For he es at his sowper, he will be sone greuyde;
And \ow my concell doo, \ow dosse of thy clothes,
And knele in thy kyrtyll, and call hym thy lorde.
He sowppes all \is seson with seuen knaue childre,
Choppid in a chargour of chalke-whytt syluer,
With pekill and powdyre of precious spycez,
And pyment full plenteuous of Portyngale wynes;
Thre balefull birdez his brochez \ey turne,
`at byddez his bedgatt, his byddyng to wyrche;
Siche foure scholde be fay within foure hourez,
Are his fylth ware filled that his flesch |ernes."
"~a, I haue broghte \e berd," quod he, "the bettyr me lykez;
Forthi will I boun me, and bere it my seluen;
Bot, lefe, walde \ow lere me whare \at lede lengez,
I sall alowe \e and I liffe, oure Lorde so me helpe."
"Ferke fast to \e fyre," quod cho, "that flawmez so hye;
Thare fillis \at fende hym, fraist when the lykez;
Bot thowe moste seke more southe, sydlyngs a lyttill,
For he will hafe sent hym selfe sex myle large."
To \e sow\e of \e reke he soghte at \e gayneste,
Sayned hym sekerly with certeyne wordez,
And sydlyngs of \e segge the syghte had he rechid,
How vnsemly \at sott satt sowpand hym one;
He lay lenand on lang, lugand vnfaire,
`e thee of a manns lymme lyfte vp by \e haunche;
His bakke and his bewschers and his brode lendez
He bekez by \e bale-fyre, and breklesse hym semede.
`are ware rostez full ruyd and rewfull bredez,
Beerynes and bestaile brochede togeders,
Cowle full cramede of crysmed childyre,
Sum as brede brochede, and bierdez \am tournede.
And \an this comlych kyng, bycause of his pople,
His herte bledez for bale, one bent ware he standez.
Thane he dressede one his schelde, schuntes no lengere,
BraundeschÕtåe his bryghte swerde by \e bryghte hiltez,
Raykez towarde \e renke reghte with a ruyd will,
And hyely hailsez \at hulke with hawtayne wordez:
"Now allweldand Gode, \at wyrscheppez vs all,
Giff the sorowe and syte, sotte, there thow lygges,
For the fulsomeste freke that fourmede was euere;
Foully thow fedys the, \e Fende haue thi saule]
Here es cury vnclene, carle, be my trowthe,
Caffe of creatours all, thow curssede wriche]
Because that \ow killide has \ise cresmede childyre,
Thow has marters made, and broghte oute of lyfe,
`at here are brochede on bente and brittened with thi handez,
I sall merke \e thy mede, as \ou has myche serfed,
Thurghe myghte of Seynt Mighell, \at \is monte |emes;
And for this faire ladye, \at \ow has fey leuyde,
And \us forced one foulde, for fylth of \i selfen.
Dresse the now, dogge-sone_the Deuell haue \i saule_
For \ow sall dye this day, thurghe dynt of my handez]"
Than glopned \e gloton and glored vnfaire;
He grenned as a grewhounde, with grysly tuskes;
He gaped, he groned faste, with grucchand latez,
For grefe of \e gude kyng \at hym with grame gretez.
His fax and his foretoppe was filterede togeders,
And owte of his face come ane halfe fote large;
His frount and his forheued all was it ouer,
As \e fell of a froske, and fraknede it semede;
Huke-nebbyde as a hawke, and a hore berde,
And herede to \e hole eyghn with hyngande browes;
Harske as a hunde-fisch hardly whoso lukez,
So was \e hyde of \at hulke hally al ouer.
Erne had he full huge and vgly to schewe,
With eghne full horreble and ardauunt forsothe;
Flatt-mowthede as a fluke, with fleryand lyppys,
And \e flesche in his fortethe fowly as a bere.
His berde was brothy and blake, \at till his brest rechede,
Grassede as a mereswyne, with corkes full huge,
And all falterd \e flesche in his foule lippys,
Ilke wrethe as a wolfe-heuede, it wraythe owtt at ones.
Bulle-nekkyde was \at bierne and brade in the scholders,
Brok-brestede as a brawne, with brustils full large,
Ruyd armes as an ake with rusclede sydes,
Lym and leskes full lothyn, leue |e forsothe.
Schouell-foted was \at schalke, and schaylande hyn semyde,
With schankez vnschaply, schowand togedyrs;
Thykke theese as a thursse, and thikkere in \e hanche,
Greesse growen as a galte, full gryÕsålych he lukez.
Who \e lenghe of \e lede lelly accountes,
Fro \e face to \e fote was fyfe fadom lange.
Thane stertez he vp sturdely on two styffe schankez,
And sone he caughte hym a clubb all of clene yryn;
He walde hafe kyllede \e Kyng with his kene wapen,
Bot thurghe \e crafte of Cryste |it \e carle failede;
The creest and \e coronall, \e claspes of syluer,
Clenly with his clubb he crassched doune at onez.
The Kyng castes vp his schelde and couers hym faire,
And with his burlyche brande a box he hym reches;
Full butt in \e frunt the fromonde he hittez,
That the burnyscht blade to \e brayne rynnez.
He feyed his fysnamye with his foule hondez,
And frappez faste at his face fersely \eraftyre;
The Kyng chaungez his fote, eschewes a lyttill_
Ne had he eschapede \at choppe, cheuede had euyll;
He folowes in fersly and festenesse a dynte
Hye vpe on \e hanche with his harde wapyn,
That he hillid \e swerde halfe a fote large_
The hott blode of \e hulke vnto \e hilte rynnez;
Ewyn into inmette the gyaunt he hyttez,
Iust to \e genitales and jaggede \am in sondre.
Thane he romyed and rared, and ruydly he strykez
Full egerly at Arthur, and on the erthe hittez;
A swerde lenghe within \e swarthe he swappez at ones,
That nere swounes \e Kyng for swoughe of his dynnttez.
Bot |it the Kyng sweperly full swythe he byswenkez,
Swappez in with the swerde \at it \e swange brystedd;
Bothe \e guttez and the gorr guschez owte at ones,
`at all englaymez \e gresse one grounde \er he standez.
Thane he castez the clubb and the Kyng hentez:
On \e creeste of \e cragg he caughte hym in armez,
And enclosez hym clenly, to cruschen hys rybbez_
So hard haldez he \at hende \at nere his herte brystez.
`ane \e balefull bierdez bownez to \e erthe,
Kneland and cryande, and clappide \eire handez:
"Criste comforthe |one knyghte, and kepe hym fro sorowe,
And latte neuer |one fende fell hym o lyfe."
~itt es \e warlow so wyghte, he welters hym vnder,
Wrothely \ai wrythyn and wrystill togederz,
Welters and walowes ouer within \ase buskez,
Tumbellez and turnes faste and terez \aire wedez;
Vntenderly fro \e toppe \ai tiltin togederz,
Whilom Arthure ouer and o\erwhile vndyre;
Fro \e heghe of \e hyll vnto \e harde roche,
They feyne neuer are they fall at \e flode merkes.
Bot Arthur with ane anlace egerly smyttez,
And hittez euer in the hulke vp to \e hiltez;
`e theefe at \e dede-thrawe so throly hym thryngez,
`at three rybbys in his syde he thrystez in sunder.
Then Sir Kayous \e kene vnto \e Kyng styrtez:
Said "Allas, we are lorne_my lorde es confundede;
Ouerfallen with a fende_vs es full hapnede]
We mon be forfeted, in faith, and flemyde for euer]"
`ay hafe vp hys hawberke \an and handilez \ervndyr
His hyde and his haunche eke, on heghte to \e schuldrez,
His flawnke and his feletez and his faire sydez,
Bothe his bakke and his breste and his bryghte armez;
`ay ware fayne \at \ey fande no flesche entamed,
And for \at journee made joye, \ir gentill knyghttez.
"Now certez," saise Sir Bedwere, "it semez, be my Lorde,
He sekez seyntez bot selden, \e sorer he grypes,
`at \us clekys this corsaunt owte of \ir heghe clyffez,
To carye forthe siche a carle at close hym in siluer.
Be Myghell, of syche a makk I hafe myche wondyre
That euer owre soueraygne Lorde suffers hym in Heuen;
And all seyntez be syche \at seruez oure Lorde,
I sall neuer no seynt bee, be my fadyre sawle]"
Thane bourdez \e bolde kyng at Bedvere wordez:
"`is seynt haue I soghte, so helpe me owre Lorde]
Forthy brayd owtte \i brande, and broche hym to \e herte;
Be sekere of this sergeaunt, he has me sore greuede.
I faghte noghte wyth syche a freke \is fyftene wyntyre;
Bot in \e montez of Araby I mett syche ano\er:
He was \e forcyer be ferre \at had I nere funden_
Ne had my fortune bene faire, fey had I leuede.
Onone stryke of his heuede, and stake it thereaftyre,
Gife it to thy sqwyere, fore he es wele horsede,
Bere it to Sir Howell, \at es in harde bandez,
And byd hym herte hym wele, his enmy es destruede.
Syne bere it to Bareflete, and brace it in yryne,
And sett it on the barbycane, biernes to schewe.
My brande and my brode schelde apon \e bent lyggez,
On \e creeste of \e cragge, thare fyrste we encontrede,
And \e clubb \arby, all of clene iren,
`at many Cristen has kyllyde in Constantyne landez;
Ferke to the farlande, and fetche me \at wapen,
And late founde till oure flete, in flode \are it lengez.
If thow wyll any tresour, take whate the lykez;
Haue I the kyrtyll and \e clubb, I coueite noghte ells."
Now \ey caire to \e cragge, \ise comlyche knyghtez,
And broghte hym \e brade schelde and his bryghte wapen,
`e clubb and \e cotte alls, Syr Kayous hym seluen,
And kayres with Õtheå Conquerour, the kyngez to schewe
That in couerte \e Kyng helde closse to hym seluen,
Whills clene day fro \e clowde clymbyd on lofte.
Be that to courte was comen clamour full huge;
And before \e comlyche kyng they knelyd all at ones:
"Welcom, our liege lorde, to lang has thow duellyde_
Gouernour vndyr Gode, graytheste and noble,
To wham grace es graunted and gyffen at His will;
Now thy comly come has comforthede vs all.
Thow has in thy realtee reuengyde thy pople;
Thurghe helpe of thy hande, thyne enmyse are struyede,
That has thy renkes ouerronne and refte them theire childyre;
Whas neuer rewme owte of araye so redyly releuede]"
Than \e Conquerour Cristenly carpez to his pople:
"Thankes Gode," quod he, "of \is grace, and no gome ells,
For it was neuer manns dede, bot myghte of Hym selfen,
Or myracle of Hys Modyr, \at mylde es till all."
He somond \an \e schippemen scharpely \eraftyre,
To schake furthe with \e schyremen to schiffe \e gudez,
All \e myche tresour \at traytour had wonnen,
To comouns of the contre, clergye and o\er:
"Luke it be done and delte to my dere pople,
That none pleyn of theire parte, o peyne of |our lyfez."
He comande hys cosyn, with knyghtlyche wordez,
To make a kyrke on \e cragg, ther the corse lengez,
And a couent therein, Criste for to serfe,
In mynde of \at martyre, \at in \e monte rystez.
Qwen Sir Arthur the Kyng had kylled \e gyaunt,
Than blythely fro Bareflete he buskes on \e morne;
With his batell on brede, by \a blythe stremes,
Towarde Castell Blanke he chesez hym the waye;
Thurghe a faire champayne, vndyr schalke hyllis,
The Kyng fraystez a furth ouer the fresche strandez,
Foundez with his faire folke ouer as hym lykez;
Furthe stepes that steryn and strekez his tentis
One a strenghe by a streme, in \as straytt landez.
Onone aftyre myddaye, in the mene-while,
`are comez two messangers of tha fere marchez,
Fra \e Marschall of Fraunce, and menskfully hym gretes,
Besoghte hym of sucour and saide hym \ise wordez:
"Sir, thi marschall, \i mynistre, thy mercy besekez,
Of thy mekill magestee, fore mendement of thi pople,
Of \ise marchez-men, that thus are myskaryede,
And thus merred amang, maugree theire eghne.
I witter \e \e Emperour es entirde into Fraunce,
With ostes of enmyse, orrible and huge;
Brynnez in Burgoyne thy burghes so ryche,
And brittenes thi baronage, that bieldez \arein;
He encrochez kenely by craftez of armez,
Countrese and castells \at to thy coroun langez,
Confoundez thy comouns, clergy and o\er:
Bot thow comfurth them, Sir Kyng, couer sall they neuer]
He fellez forestez fele, forrayse thi landez,
Frysthez no fraunchez, bot fraiez the pople;
`us he fellez thi folke and fangez theire gudez:
Fremedly the Franche tung fey es belefede.
He drawes into douce Fraunce, as Duchemen tellez,
Dresside with his dragouns, dredfull to schewe;
All to dede they dyghte with dynnttys of swerddez,
Dukez and dusperes \at dreches tharein.
Forthy the lordez of the lande, ladys and o\er,
Prayes the for Petyr luffe, \e Apostyll of Rome,
Sen thow arte presant in place, \at \ow will profyre make
To \at perilous prynce, be processe of tym.
He ayers by |one hilles, |one heghe holtez vndyr,
Hufes thare with hale strenghe of haythen kyngez;
Helpe nowe for His lufe, that heghe in Heuen sittez,
And talke tristly to them \at thus vs destroyes."
The Kyng biddis Sir Boice, "Buske the belyfe;
Take with the Sir Berill and Bedwere the ryche,
Sir Gawayne and Sir Geryn, these galyarde knyghtez,
And graythe |owe to |one grene wode, and gose on \er nedes:
Saise to Syr Lucius, to vnlordly he wyrkez,
Thus letherly agaynes law to lede my pople;
I lette hym or oghte lange, |if me \e lyffe happen,
Or many lyghte sall lawe \at hym ouere lande folowes.
Comande hym kenely wyth crewell wordez,
Cayre owte of my kyngryke with his kydd knyghtez:
In caase that he will noghte, \at cursede wreche,
Com for his curtaisie, and countere me ones.
Thane sall we rekken full rathe whatt ryghte \at he claymes,
Thus to ryot \is rewme and raunsone the pople.
Thare sall it derely be delte with dynttez of handez_
The Dryghtten at Domesdaye dele as Hym lykes]"
Now thei graythe them to goo, theis galyarde knyghttez,
All gleterande in golde, appon grete stedes,
Towarde \e grene wode, with grownden wapyn,
To grete wele the grett lorde, that wolde be grefede sone.
Thise hende houez on a hill by \e holte eyues,
Behelde \e howsyng full hye of hathen kynges:
They herde in theire herbergage hundrethez full many
Hornez of olyfantez full helych blawen;
Palaisez proudliche pyghte, \at palyd ware ryche,
Of pall and of purpure, with precyous stones;
Pensels and pomell of ryche prynce armez,
Pighte in \e playn mede, \e pople to schewe.
And than the Romayns so ryche had arayede their tentez,
On rawe by \e ryuer, vndyr \e round hillez,
The Emperour for honour ewyn in the myddes,
Wyth egles al ouer, ennelled so faire;
And saw hym and \e Sowdane, and senatours many
Seke towarde a sale with sextene kyngez,
Syland softely in, swettly by them selfen,
To sowpe withe \at soueraygne full selcouthe metez.
Nowe they wende ouer the watyre, \ise wyrchipfull knyghttez,
Thurghe \e wode to \e wone there the wyese rystez;
Reght as \ey weschen and went to \e table,
Sir Wawayne \e worthy vnwynly he spekes:
The myghte and \e maiestee \at menskes vs all,
That was merked and made thurghe \e myghte of Hym seluen,
Gyffe |ow sytte in |our sette, Sowdane and o\er,
That here are semblede in sale_vnsawghte mott |e worthe]
And \e fals heretyke \at Emperour hym callez,
That ocupyes in erroure the Empyre of Rome,
Sir Arthure herytage, \at honourable kyng,
That all his auncestres aughte but Vtere hym one,
That ilke cursynge \at Cayme kaghte for his brothyre
Cleffe on \e, cukewalde, with croune ther thow lengez,
For the vnlordlyeste lede \at I on lukede euer]
My lorde meruailles hym mekyll, man, be my trouthe,
Why thow morthires his men, \at no mysse serues,
Comouns of \e countre, clergye and o\er,
`at are noghte coupable \erin, ne knawes noght in armez.
Forthi the comelyche kynge, curtays and noble,
Comandez \e kenely to kaire of his landes,
Ore ells for thy knyghthede encontre hym ones;
Sen \ow couettes the coroune, latte it be declarede]
I hafe dyschargide me here_chalange whoo lykez_
Before all thy cheualrye, cheftaynes and o\er;
Schape vs an ansuere, and schunte \ow no lengere,
`at we may schifte at \e schorte and schewe to my lorde.
The Emperour ansuerde wyth austeryn wordez:
~e are with myn enmy, Sir Arthur hym seluen;
It es non honour to me to owttray hys knyghttez,
`oghe |e bee irous men \at ayres on his nedez;
Bot say to thy soueraygne I send hym thes wordez,
Ne ware it for reuerence of my ryche table,
`ou sulde repent full rathe of \i ruyde wordez_
Siche a rebawde as \owe rebuke any lordez,
Wyth theire retenuz arrayede, full reall and noble_
Here will I suggourne whills me lefe thynkes,
And sythen seke in by Sayne with solace \eraftere,
Ensegge al \a cetese be \e salte strandez,
And seyn ryde in by Rone, \at rynnez so faire,
And of all his ryche castells rusche doun \e wallez;
I sall noghte lefe in Paresche, by processe of tyme,
His parte of a pechelyne_proue when hym lykes]"
"Now certez," sais Sir Wawayne, "myche wondyre haue I
`at syche an alfyn as thow dare speke syche wordez]
I had leuer then all Fraunce, that heuede es of rewmes,
Fyghte with the faythefully on felde be oure one."
Thane answers Sir Gayous full gobbede wordes_
Was eme to \e Emperour and erle hym selfen_
"Euere ware \es Bretouns braggers of olde]
Loo, how he brawles hym for hys bryghte wedes,
As he myghte bryttyn vs all with his brande ryche;
~itt he berkes myche boste, |one boy \ere he standes]"
Than greuyde Sir Gawayne at his grett wordes,
Graythes towarde \e gome with grucchande herte;
With hys stelyn brande he strykes of hys heuede,
And sterttes owtte to hys stede, and with his stale wendes.
Thurghe \e wacches \ey wente, thes wirchipfull knyghtez,
And feyndez in theire farewaye wondyrlyche many;
Ouer \e watyre \ey wente by wyghtnesse of horses,
And tuke wynde as \ey walde by \e wodde hemmes.
Thane folous frekly one fote frekkes ynewe,
And of \e Romayns arrayed appon ryche stedes,
Chasede thurghe a champayne oure cheualrous knyghtez,
Till a cheefe forest, on scalke-whitte horses.
Bot a freke all in fyne golde, and fretted in sable,
Come for\ermaste on a freson, in flawmande wedes;
A faire floreschte spere in fewtyre he castes,
And folowes faste on owre folke and freschelye ascryez.
Thane Sir Gawayne the gude, appone a graye stede,
He gryppes hym a grete spere and graythely hym hittez;
Thurghe \e guttez into \e gorre he gyrdes hym ewyn,
That the grounden stele glydez to his herte;
The gome and \e grette horse at \e grounde lyggez,
Full gryselyche gronande, for grefe of his woundez.
`ane presez a preker in, full proudely arayede,
That beres all of pourpour, palyde with syluer;
Bryggly on a broune stede he profers full large_
He was a paynyme of Perse \at \us hym persuede.
Sir Boys, vnabaiste all, he buskes hym agaynes,
With a bustous launce he berez hym thurghe,
`at \e breme and \e brade schelde appon \e bente lyggez;
And he bryngez furthe the blade and bownez to his felowez.
Thane Sir Feltemour of myghte, a man mekyll praysede,
Was mouede on his manere and manacede full faste;
He graythes to Sir Gawayne graythely to wyrche,
For grefe of Sir Gayous, \at es on grounde leuede.
Than Sir Gawayne was glade: agayne hym he rydez,
Wyth Galuth his gude swerde graythely hym hyttez;
The knyghte on \e coursere he cleuede in sondyre_
Clenlyche fro \e croune his corse he dyuysyde,
And \us he killez \e knyghte with his kydd wapen.
Than a ryche man of Rome relyede to his byerns:
"It sall repent vs full sore and we ryde forthire]
~one are bolde bosturs \at syche bale wyrkez;
It befell hym full foule \at \am so fyrste namede."
Thane \e riche Romayns retournes \aire brydills
To \aire tentis in tene, telles theire lordez
How Sir Marschalle de Mowne es on \e monte lefede,
Forejustyde at that journee for his grett japez.
Bot thare chasez on oure men cheuallrous knyghtez,
Fyfe thosande folke appon faire stedes,
Faste to a foreste ouer a fell watyr,
That fillez fro \e falow see fyfty myle large.
Thare ware Bretons enbuschide, and banarettez noble,
Of \e cheualrye cheefe of \e kyngez chambyre,
Seese them chase oure men and changen \eire horsez,
And choppe doun cheftaynes that they moste chargyde.
Thane \e enbuschement of Bretons brake owte at ones,
Brothely at baner, and Bedwyne knyghtez
Arrestede of \e Romayns \at by \e fyrthe rydez
All \e realeste renkes \at to Rome lengez;
Thay iche on \e enmyse and egerly strykkys,
Erles of Ingland, and "Arthure]" ascryes;
Thrughe brenes and bryghte scheldez brestez they thyrle,
Bretons of the boldeste, with theire bryghte swerdez.
Thare was Romayns ouerredyn and ruydly wondyde,
Arrestede as rebawdez with ryotous knyghttez;
The Romaynes owte of araye remouede at ones,
And rydes awaye in a rowtte, for reddoure it semys.
To \e Senatour Petyr a sandesmane es commyn,
And saide "Sir, sekerly, |our seggez are supprysside."
Than ten thowsande men he semblede at ones,
And sett sodanly on our seggez, by \e salte strandez;
Than ware Bretons abaiste and greuede a lyttill,
Bot |it the banerettez bolde and bachellers noble
Brekes that battailes with brestez of stedes;
Sir Boice and his bolde men myche bale wyrkes.
The Romayns redyes \am, arrayez \am better,
And al toruscheez oure men withe theire ryste horsez,
Arestede of the richeste of \e Rounde Table,
Ouerrydez oure rerewarde and grette rewthe wyrkes.
Thane the Bretons on \e bente habyddez no lengere,
Bot fleede to \e foreste and the feelde leuede;
Sir Beryll es born down and Sir Boice taken,
The beste of our bolde men vnblythely wondyde;
Bot |itt our stale on a strenghe stotais a lyttill,
All tostonayede with \e stokes of \a steryn knyghtez;
Made sorowe fore theire soueraygne, \at so \are was nomen,
Besoughte Gode of socure, sende whene Hym lykyde.
Than commez Sir Idrus, armede vp at all ryghttez,
Wyth fyue hundrethe men appon faire stedes;
Fraynez faste at oure folke freschely \areaftyre,
~if \er frendez ware ferre, \at on \e felde foundide.
Thane sais Sir Gawayne, "So me God helpe,
We hafe bene chased todaye and chullede as hares,
Rebuyked with Romaynes appon \eire ryche stedez,
And we lurkede vndyr lee as lowrande wreches]
I luke neuer on my lorde \e dayes of my lyfe,
And we so lytherly hym helpe \at hym so wele lykede."
Thane the Bretons brothely brochez theire stedez,
And boldly in batell appon \e bent rydes;
All \e ferse men before frekly ascryes,
Ferkand in \e foreste, to freschen \am selfen.
The Romaynes than redyly arrayes them bettyre,
One rawe on a rowm felde, reghttez theire wapyns,
By \e ryche reuere, and rewles \e pople;
And with reddour Sir Boice es in areste halden.
Now thei semblede vnsaughte by \e salte strandez:
Saddly theis sekere menn settys \eire dynttez;
With lufly launcez on lofte they luyschen togedyres,
In lorayne so lordlye on leppande stedes.
Thare ware gomes thurghegirde with grundyn wapyns,
Grisely gayspand with grucchande lotes;
Grete lordes of Greke greffede so hye.
Swyftly with swerdes they swappen thereaftyre,
Swappez doun full sweperlye swelltande knyghtez,
That all swellttez one swarthe that they ouerswyngen;
So many sweys in swoghe, swounande att ones.
Syr Gaweayne the gracyous full graythelye he wyrkkes:
The gretteste he gretez wyth gryselye wondes;
Wyth Galuth he gyrdez doun full galyard knyghtez_
Fore greefe of \e grett lorde so grymlye he strykez.
He rydez furthe ryallye and redely thereaftyre,
Thare this reall renke was in areste halden;
He ryfez \e raunke stele, he ryghttez \eire brenez,
And refte them the ryche man and rade to his strenghes.
The Senatour Peter thane persewede hym aftyre,
Thurghe \e presse of \e pople, wyth his pryce knyghttes;
Appertly fore \e prysonere proues his strenghes,
Wyth prekers the proudeste that to \e presse lengez.
Wrothely on the wrange hande Sir Gawayne he strykkes,
Wyth a wapen of were vnwynnly hym hittez;
The breny one \e bakhalfe he brystez in sondyre_
Bot |it he broghte forthe Sir Boyce, for all \eire bale biernez.
Thane \e Bretons boldely braggen \eire tromppez,
And fore blysse of Sir Boyce was broghte owtte of bandez,
Boldely in batell they bere doun knyghtes;
With brandes of broun stele \ey brettened maylez;
`ay stekede stedys in stour with stelen wapyns,
And all stewede with strenghe \at stode \em agaynes.
Sir Idrus fitz Ewayn \an "Arthur]" ascryeez,
Assemblez on \e Senatour wyth sextene knyghttez,
Of \e sekereste men \at to oure syde lengede.
Sodanly in a soppe they sett in att ones,
Foynes faste att \e forebreste with flawmande swerdez,
And feghttes faste att \e fronte freschely \areaftyre,
Felles fele on \e felde appon \e ferrere syde,
Fey on \e faire felde by \a fresche strandez.
Bot Sir Idrus fytz Ewayn anters hym seluen,
And enters in anly and egyrly strykez,
Sekez to \e Senatour and sesez his brydill;
Vnsaughtely he saide hym \ese sittande wordez:
"~elde \e, Sir, |apely, |ife \ou \i lyfe |ernez;
Fore gyftez \at \ow gyffe may \ou |eme now \e selfen.
Fore dredlez dreche \ow or droppe any wylez,
Thow sall dy \is daye thorowe dyntt of my handez]"
"I ascente," quod \e Senatour, "so me Criste helpe;
So \at I be safe broghte before \e Kyng seluen,
Raunson me resonabillye, as I may ouerreche
Aftyre my renttez in Rome may redyly forthire."
Thane answers Sir Idrus with austeryn wordez:
"Thow sall hafe condycyon, as \e Kyng lykes,
When thow comes to \e kyth there the courte haldez,
In caase his concell bee to kepe the no langere,
To be killyde at his commandment his knyghttez before."
`ay ledde hym furthe in \e rowte and lached ofe his wedes,
Lefte hym wyth Lyonell and Lowell, hys brothire.
O lawe in \e launde \an, by \e lythe strandez,
Sir Lucius lyggemen loste are fore euer.
The Senatour Peter es prysoner takyn;
Of Perce and of Porte Iaffe full many price knyghtez,
And myche pople wythall perischede \am selfen_
For presse of \e passage they plungede at onez.
Thare myghte men see Romaynez rewfully wondyde,
Ouerredyn with renkes of the Round Table.
In \e raike of \e furthe they righten \eire brenys,
`at rane all on reede blode redylye all ouer.
They raughte in \e rerewarde full ryotous knyghtez
For raunsone of rede golde and reall stedys;
Radly relayes and restez theire horsez,
In rowtte to \e ryche kynge they rade al at onez.
A knyghte cayrez before and to \e Kynge telles,
"Sir, here commez thy messangerez with myrthez fro \e mountez;
`ay hafe bene machede todaye with men of \e marchez,
Foremaglede in \a marras with meruailous knyghtez.
We hafe foughten, in faithe, by |one fresche strandez,
With \e frekkeste folke that to \i foo langez;
Fyfty thosaunde on felde of ferse men of armez,
Wythin a furlange of waye, fay ere bylefede.
We hafe eschewede \is chekke thurghe chance of oure Lorde,
Of tha cheualrous men that chargede thy pople.
The cheefe chaunchelere of Rome, a cheftayne full noble,
Will aske \e chartyre of pesse, for charitee, hym selfen.
And the Senatour Petire to presoner es takyn;
Of Perse and of Porte Iaffe paynymmez ynewe
Commez prekande in the presse with thy prysse knyghttez,
With pouerte in thi preson theire paynez to drye.
I beseke |ow, Sir, say whate |owe lykes,
Whethire |e suffyre them saughte or sone delyuerde.
~e may haue fore \e Senatour sextie horse chargede
Of siluer be Seterdaye, full sekyrly payede;
And for \e cheefe chauncelere, \e cheualere noble,
Charottez chokkefull charegyde with golde;
The remenaunt of \e Romaynez be in areste halden,
Till thiere renttez in Rome be rightewissly knawen.
I beseke |ow, Sir, certyfye |one lordez,
~if |e will send \am ouer \e see or kepe \am |our selfen.
All |our sekyre men, forsothe, sounde are byleuyde,
Saue Sir Ewayne fytz Henry es in \e side wonddede."
"Crist be thankyde," quod the Kyng, "and hys clere Modyre,
That |owe comforthed and helpede be crafte of Hym selfen;
Skilfull skomfyture he skiftez as Hym lykez;
Is none so skathlye may skape ne skewe fro His handez.
Desteny and doughtynes of dedys of armes,
All es demyd and delte at Dryghtynez will.
I kwn the thanke for thy come_it comfortes vs all.
Sir Knyghte," sais \e Conquerour, "so me Criste helpe,
I |if the for thy thy|andez Tolouse \e riche,
The toll and \e tachementez, tauernez and o\er,
`e town and \e tenementez, with towrez so hye,
That towchez to \e temporaltee, whills my tym lastez.
Bot say to \e Senatour I sende hym \es wordez:
Thare sall no siluer hym saue bot Ewayn recouer;
I had leuer see hym synke on the salte strandez,
Than the seegge ware seke, \at es so sore woundede.
I sall disseuere that sorte, so me Criste helpe,
And sett them full solytarie, in sere kyngez landez.
Sall he neuer sownde see his seynowres in Rome,
Ne sitt in \e assemble in syghte wyth his feris;
For it comes to no kyng \at Conquerour es holden,
To comon with his captifis fore couatys of siluer.
It come neuer of knyghthede_knawe if |if hym lyke_
To carpe of coseri when captyfis ere takyn;
It aughte to no presoners to prese no lordez,
Ne come in presens of pryncez whene partyes are mouede.
Comaunde |one constable, \e castell \at |emes,
That he be clenlyche kepede, and in close halden;
He sall haue maundement tomorne, or myddaye be roungen,
To what marche \ay sall merke, with mauger to lengen."
`ay conuaye this captyfe with clene men of armez,
And kend hym to \e constable, alls \e Kynge byddez;
And seyn to Arthure \ey ayr and egerly hym towchez
The answere of \e Emperour, irows of dedez.
Thane Sir Arthur, on erthe atheliste of o\ere,
At euen at his awen borde auantid his lordez:
"Me aughte to honour them in erthe ouer all o\er thyngez
`at \us in myn absens awnters \em selfen;
I sall them luffe whylez I lyffe, so me our Lorde helpe,
And gyfe \em landys full large whare them beste lykes;
Thay sall noghte losse on \is layke, |if me lyfe happen,
`at \us are lamede for my lufe be \is lythe strandez."
Bot in \e clere daweyng, \e dere kynge hym selfen
Comaundyd Sir Cadore, with his dere knyghttes,
Sir Cleremus, Sir Cleremonde, with clene men of armez,
Sir Clowdmur, Sir Clegis, to conuaye theis lordez;
Sir Boyce and Sir Berell, with baners displayede,
Sir Bawdwyne, Sir Bryane, and Sir Bedwere \e ryche,
Sir Raynalde and Sir Richere, Rawlaund childyre,
To ryde with \e Romaynes in rowtte wyth theire feres.
"Prekez now preualye to Parys the ryche,
Wyth Petir the pryssonere and his price knyghttez;
Beteche \am \e proueste, in presens of lordez,
O payne and o perell \at pendes theretoo;
That they be weisely wachede and in warde holden,
Warded of warantizez with wyrchipfull knyghttez,
Wagge hym wyghte men, and woonde for no siluyre_
I haffe warnede \at wy, be ware |if hym lykes."
Now bownes \e Bretons, als \e Kynge byddez,
Buskez theire batells, theire baners displayez;
Towardez Chartris they chese, thes cheualrous knyghttez,
And in the champayne lande full faire \ay eschewede:
For \e Emperour of myghte had ordand hym selfen
Sir Vtolfe and Sir Ewandyre, two honourable kyngez,
Erles of \e Orient, with austeryn knyghttez,
Of \e awntrouseste men \at to his oste lengede,
Sir Sextynour of Lyby and senatours many,
The Kyng of Surrye hym selfe, with Sarzynes ynowe,
The Senatour of Sutere, wyth sowmes full huge,
Whas assygnede to \at courte be sent of his peres,
Traise towarde Troys \e treson to wyrke,
To hafe betrappede with a trayne oure traueland knyghttez,
That hade persayfede \at Peter at Parys sulde lenge,
In presonne with \e prouoste, his paynez to drye.
Forthi they buskede them bownn, with baners displayede,
In the buskayle of his waye, on blonkkes full hugge;
Planttez them in the pathe with powere arrayede,
To pyke vp \e presoners fro oure pryse knyghttez.
Syr Cadore of Cornewalle comaundez his peris,
Sir Clegis, Sir Cleremus, Sir Cleremownnde \e noble,
"Here es \e close of Clyme, with clewes so hye:
Lokez the contree be clere, the corners are large;
Discoueres now sekerly skrogges and o\er,
That no skathell in \e skroggez skorne vs hereaftyre;
Loke |e skyfte it so \at vs no skathe lympe,
For na skomfitoure in skoulkery is skomfite euer."
Now \ey hye to \e holte, thes harageous knyghttez,
To herken of \e hye men, to helpen theis lordez;
Fyndez them helmede hole and horsyde on stedys,
Houande on \e hye waye by \e holte hemmes.
With knyghttly contenaunce Sir Clegis hym selfen
Kryes to \e companye and carpes thees wordez:
"Es there any kyde knyghte, kaysere or o\er,
Will kyth for his kyng lufe craftes of armes?
We are comen fro \e Kyng of \is kythe ryche,
That knawen as for conquerour, corownde in erthe,
His ryche retenuz here all of his Round Table,
To ryde with \at reall rowtt where hym lykes;
We seke justyng of werre, |if any will happyn,
Of \e jolyeste men ajuggede be lordes,
If here be any hathell man, erle or o\er,
That for \e Emperour lufe will awntere hym selfen."
And ane erle \ane in angere answeres hym son:
"Me angers at Arthure, and att his hathell bierns,
That thus in his errour ocupyes theis rewmes,
And owtrayes \e Emperour, his erthely lorde.
The araye and \e ryalltez of \e Rounde Table
Es wyth rankour rehersede in rewmes full many;
Of oure renttez of Rome syche reuell he haldys,
He sall |ife resoun full rathe, |if vs reghte happen,
That many sall repente that in his rowtte rydez,
For the reklesse roy so rewlez hym selfen]"
"A]" sais Sir Clegis \an, "so me Criste helpe,
I knawe be thi carpyng a cowntere \e semes]
Bot be \ou auditoure or erle or Emperour thi selfen,
Appon Arthurez byhalue I answere the sone:
The renke so reall \at rewllez vs all,
The ryotous men and \e ryche of \e Rounde Table,
He has araysede his accownte and redde all his rollez,
For he wyll gyfe a rekenyng that rewe sall aftyre,
That all \e ryche sall repente \at to Rome langez,
Or \e rereage be requit of rentez \at he claymez.
We crafe of |our curtaisie three coursez of werre,
And claymez of knyghthode, take kepe to |our selfen]
~e do bott trayne vs todaye wyth trofeland wordez;
Of syche trauaylande men trecherye me thnykes.
Sende owte sadly certayne knyghttez,
Or say me sekerly sothe_forsake |if |owe lykes."
`ane sais \e Kynge of Surry, "Alls saue me oure Lorde,
~if \ow hufe all \e daye, \ou bees noghte delyuerede,
Bot thow sekerly ensure with certeyne knyghtez,
`at \i cote and thi breste be knawen with lordez,
Of armes of ancestrye entyrde with londez."
"Sir Kyng," sais Sir Clegys, "full knyghttly \ow askez;
I trowe it be for cowardys thow carpes thes wordez.
Myn armez are of ancestrye enueryd with lordez,
And has in banere bene borne sen Sir Brut tyme;
At the cite of Troye \at tymme was ensegede,
Ofte seen in asawtte with certayne knyghttez,
Fro \e Borghte broghte vs and all oure bolde elders
To Bretayne \e Braddere, within chippe-burdez."
"Sir," sais Sir Sextenour, "saye what \e lykez,
And we sall suffyre the, als vs beste semes;
Luke thi troumppez be trussede, and trofull no lengere,
For \oghe \ou tarye all \e daye, the tyddes no bettyr.
For there sall neuer Romayne \at in my rowtt rydez
Be with rebawdez rebuykyde whills I in werlde regne]"
Thane Sir Clegis to \e Kyng a lyttill enclinede,
Kayres to Sir Cadore and knyghtly hym tellez,
"We hafe founden in |one firthe, floresched with leues,
`e flour of \e faireste folke \at to \i foo langez:
Fifty thosandez of folke of ferse men of armez,
`at faire are fewteride on frounte vndyr |one fre bowes;
They are enbuschede on blonkkes, with baners displayede,
In |one bechen wode appon the waye sydes.
Thay hafe the furthe forsette all of \e faire watyre,
That fayfully of force feghte vs byhowys;
For thus vs schappes todaye, schortly to tell,
Whedyre we schone or schewe_schyft as \e lykes."
"Nay," quod Cador, "so me Criste helpe,
It ware schame \at we scholde schone for so lytyll.
Sir Lancelott sall neuer laughe, \at with \e Kyng lengez,
That I sulde lette my waye for lede appon erthe;
I sall be dede and vndone ar I here dreche,
For drede of any doggeson in |one dym schawes]"
Syr Cador thane knyghtly comforthes his pople,
And with corage kene he karpes \es wordes:
"Thynk on \e valyaunt prynce \at vesettez vs euer
With landez and lordcheppez, whare vs beste lykes;
That has vs ducheres delte and dubbyde vs knyghttez,
Gifen vs gersoms and golde and gardwynes many,
Grewhoundez and grett horse and alkyn gamnes,
That gaynez till any gome that vndyre God leuez.
Thynke on riche renoun of \e Rounde Table,
And late it neuer be refte vs fore Romayne in erthe;
Feyne |ow noghte feyntly, ne frythes no wapyns,
Bot luke |e fyghte faythefully, frekes, |our selfen;
I walde be wellyde all qwyke and quarterde in sondre,
Bot I wyrke my dede, whils I in wrethe lenge."
Than this doughtty duke buddyd his knyghttez,
Ioneke and Askanere, Aladuke and o\er,
That ayerez were of Esex and all \ase este marchez,
Howell and Hardelfe, happy in armez,
Sir Heryll and Sir Herygall, \ise harageouse knyghttez.
Than the souerayn assignede certayne lordez,
Sir Wawayne, Sir Vryell, Sir Bedwere \e ryche,
Raynallde and Richeere and Rowlandez childyre:
"Takez kepe on this prynce with |oure price knyghtez,
And |ife we in \e stour withstonden the better,
Standez here in this stede, and stirrez no forthire;
And |if \e chaunce falle \at we bee ouercharggede,
Eschewes to som castell, and chewyse |our selfen,
Or ryde to \e riche Kyng, |if |ow roo happyn,
And bidde hym com redily to rescewe hys biernez."
And than the Bretons brothely enbrassez \eire scheldez,
Braydez one bacenetez and buskes theire launcez;
Thus he fittez his folke and to \e felde rydez,
Fif hundreth on a frounte fewtrede at onez.
With trompes \ay trine, and trappede stedes,
With cornettes and clarions and clergiall notes;
Schokkes in with a schakke and schontez no langere,
There schawes ware scheen vndyr \e schire eyuez.
And thane the Romaynez rowtte remowes a lyttill,
Raykes with a rerewarde \as reall knyghttez;
So raply \ay ryde thare that all \e rowte ryngez
Of ryues and raunke stele and ryche golde maylez.
Thane schotte owtte of \e schawe schiltrounis many,
With scharpe wapynns of were schotand at ones;
The Kyng of Lebe before the wawarde he ledez,
And all his lele ligemen o laundon ascriez.
Thane this cruell kyng castis in fewtire,
Kaghte hym a couerde horse and his course haldez,
Beris to Sir Berill and brathely hym hittes_
Throwghe golet and gorger he hurtez hym ewyne;
The gome and \e grette horse at \e ground liggez,
And gretez graythely to Gode and gyffes Hym \e saule.
Thus es Berell the bolde broghte owtte of lyue,
And byddez aftyre beryell \at hym beste lykez.
And thane Sir Cador of Cornewayle es carefull in herte,
Because of his kynysemane, \at \us es myscaryede;
Vmbeclappes the cors and kyssez hym ofte,
Gerte kepe hym couerte with his clere knyghttez.
Thane laughes the Lebe Kyng and all on lowde meles,
"~one lorde es lyghttede_me lykes the bettyre;
He sall noghte dere vs todaye, the Deuyll haue Õhiså bones]"
"~one kyng," said Cador, "karpes full large,
Because he killyd \is kene_Criste hafe \i saule:
He sall hafe corne-bote, so me Criste helpe;
Or I kaire of \is coste, we sall encontre ones.
So may \e wynde weile turnne, I quytte hym or ewyn,
Sothely hym selfen or summ of his ferez."
Thane Sir Cador \e kene knyghttly he wyrkez,
Cryez "A Cornewale]" and castez in fewtere,
Girdez streke thourghe \e stour on a stede ryche;
Many steryn mane he steride by strenghe of hym one.
Whene his spere was sprongen, he spede hym full |erne,
Swappede owtte with a swerde that swykede hym neuer,
Wroghte wayes full wyde and wounded knyghttez,
Wyrkez in his wayfare full werkand sydez,
And hewes of \e hardieste halsez in sondyre,
That all blendez with blode thare his blanke rynnez.
So many biernez the bolde broughte owt of lyfe,
Tittez tirauntez doun and temez theire sadills,
And turnez owte of \e toile when hym tyme thynkkez.
Thane the Lebe Kynge criez full lowde
One Sir Cador the kene, with cruell wordez,
"Thowe hase wyrchipe wonne and wondyde knyghttez;
Thowe wenes for thi wightenez the werlde es thy nowen.
I sall wayte at thyne honnde, wy, be my trowthe;
I haue warnede \e wele, be ware |if the lykez]"
With cornuse and clariones \eis newe-made knyghttez
Lythes vnto \e crye and castez in fewtire;
Ferkes in on a frounte one feraunte stedez,
Fellede at \e fyrste come fyfty att ones.
Schotte thorowe the schiltrouns and scheuerede launcez,
Laid doun in \e lumppe lordly biernez.
And thus nobilly oure newe men notez \eire strenghez_
Bot new notte es onon \at noyes me sore.
The Kyng of Lebe has laughte a stede \at hym lykede,
And comes in lordely in lyonez of siluere,
Vmbelappez \e lumpe and lattes in sondre_
Many lede with his launce \e liffe has he refede.
Thus he chaces \e childire of \e Kyngez chambire,
And killez in \e champanyse cheualrous knyghttez;
With a chasyng spere he choppes doun many.
Thare was Sir Alyduke slayne and Achinour wondyde,
Sir Origg and Sir Ermyngall hewen al to pecez.
And ther was Lewlyn laughte and Lewlyns brothire,
With lordez of Lebe, and lede to \eire strenghez.
Ne hade Sir Clegis comen and Clemente \e noble,
Oure newe men hade gone to noghte and many ma o\er.
`ane Sir Cador \e kene castez in fewtire
A cruell launce and a kene and to \e Kynge rydez,
Hittez hym heghe on \e helme with his harde wapen,
That all \e hotte blode of hym to his hande rynnez.
The hethen harageous kynge appon \e hethe lyggez,
And of his hertly hurte helyde he neuer.
Thane Sir Cador \e kene cryez full lowde,
"Thow has corne-botte, Sir Kyng, \are God gyfe \e sorowe;
Thow killyde my cosyn, my kare es the lesse.
Kele the nowe in the claye, and comforthe thi selfen]
Thow skornede vs lang ere with thi skornefull wordez,
And nowe has \ow cheuede soo, it es thyn awen skathe.
Holde at \ow hente has, it harmez bot lyttill,
For hethynge es hame-holde, vse it who-so will."
The Kyng of Surry \an es sorowfull in herte,
For sake of this soueraygne, \at \us was supprissede;
Semblede his Sarazenes and senatours manye:
Vnsaughtyly \ey sette thane appon oure sere knyghttez.
Sir Cador of Cornewaile he cownterez them sone,
With his kydde companye clenlyche arrayede;
In the frount of \e fyrthe, as \e waye forthis,
Fyfty thosande of folke was fellide at ones.
Thare was at \e assemble certayne knyghttez
Sore wondede sone appone sere halfes;
The sekereste Sarzanez that to \at sorte lengede,
Behynde the sadylls ware sette sex fotte large.
They scherde in the schiltrone scheldyde knyghttez,
Schalkes they schotte thrughe schrenkande maylez,
Thurghe brenys browden brestez they thirllede,
Brasers burnyste bristez in sondyre,
Blasons blode and blankes they hewen,
With brandez of browne stele brankkand stedez.
The Bretons brothely brittenez so many,
The bente and \e brode felde all on blode rynnys.
Be thane Sir Cayous \e kene a capitayne has wonnen,
Sir Clegis clynges in and clekes ano\er,
The capitayne of Cordewa, vndire \e Kynge selfen,
That was keye of \e kythe of all \at coste ryche;
Vtolfe and Ewandre Ioneke had nommen,
With \e Erle of Affryke and o\er grette lordes;
The Kyng of Surry the kene to Sir Cador es |elden,
`e Synechall of Soter to Segramoure hym selfen.
When \e cheualrye saw theire cheftanes were nommen,
To a cheefe foreste they chesen theire wayes,
And felede them so feynte, they fall in \e greues,
In the ferynne of \e fyrthe, fore ferde of oure pople.
Thare myght men see the ryche ryde in the schawes,
To rype vpe the Romaynez ruydlyche wondyde;
Schowttes aftyre men, harageous knyghttez,
Be hunndrethez they hewede doun be \e holte eyuys.
Thus oure cheualrous men chasez \e pople;
To a castell they eschewede, a fewe \at eschappede.
Thane relyez \e renkez of \e Rounde Table,
For to ryotte \e wode \er \e duke restez;
Ransakes the ryndez all, raughte vp theire feres,
That in \e fightyng before fay ware byleuyde.
Sir Cador garte chare theym and couere them faire,
Kariede them to \e Kyng with his beste knyghttez;
And passez vnto Paresche with presoners hym selfen,
Betoke theym the proueste, pryncez and o\er;
Tase a sope in the toure and taryez no langere,
Bot tournes tytte to \e Kynge and hym wyth tunge telles.
"Syr," sais Sir Cador, "a caas es befallen;
We hafe cowntered today, in |one coste ryche
With kyngez and kayseres, krouell and noble,
And knyghtes and kene men, clenlych arayede.
They hade at |one foreste forsette vs \e wayes,
At the furthe in \e fyrthe, with ferse men of armes;
Thare faughtte we, in faythe, and foynede with sperys,
One felde with thy foomen and fellyd them on lyfe.
The Kyng of Lebe es laide and in \e felde leuyde,
And manye of his legemen \at \are to hym langede.
O\er lordez are laughte of vncouthe ledes;
We hafe lede them at lenge, to lyf whilles \e lykez.
Sir Vtolfe and Sir Ewaynedyr, theis honourable knyghttez,
Be a nawntere of armes Ioneke has nommen,
With erlez of \e Oryentte and austeren knyghttez,
Of awncestrye \e beste men \at to \e oste langede;
The Senatour Carous es kaughte with a knyghtte,
The Capitayne of Cornette, that crewell es halden,
The Syneschall of Suter vnsaughte wyth \es o\er,
The Kyng of Surry hym selfen and Sarazenes Õynoweå.
Bot fay of ours in \e felde a fourtene knyghttez,
I will noghte feyne ne forbere, bot faythfully tellen;
Sir Berell es one, a banerette noble,
Was killyde at \e fyrste come with a kyng ryche;
Sir Alidoyke of Towell, with his tende knyghtez,
Emange \e Turkys was tynte and in tym fonden;
Gude Sir Mawrell of Mauncez and Mawren his bro\er,
Sir Meneduke of Mentoche, with meruailous knyghttez."
Thane the worthy Kyng wrythes and wepede with his eughne,
Karpes to his cosyn Sir Cador theis wordez:
"Sir Cador, thi corage confundez vs all]
Kowardely thow castez owtte all my beste knyghttez.
To putte men in perille, it es no pryce holden,
Bot \e partyes ware puruayede and powere arayede;
When they ware stade on a strenghe, \ou sulde hafe withstonden,
Bot |if thowe wolde all my steryn stroye for \e nonys]"
"Sir," sais Sir Cador, "|e knowe wele |our selfen
~e are kyng in \is kythe, karpe whatte |ow lykys;
Sall neuer vpbrayde me, \at to \i burde langes,
That I sulde blyn fore theire boste thi byddyng to wyrche;
When any stirttez to stale, stuffe \am \e bettere,
Ore thei will be stonayede and stroyede in |one strayte londez.
I dide my delygens todaye, I doo me one lordez,
And in daungere of dede fore dyuerse knyghttez;
I hafe no grace to \i gree, bot syche grett wordez_
~if I heuen my herte, my hape es no bettyre."
`ofe Sir Arthure ware angerde, he ansuers faire;
"Thow has doughttily donn, Sir Duke, with thi handez,
And has donn thy deuer with my dere knyghttez;
Forthy thow arte demyde, with dukes and erlez,
For one of \e doughtyeste \at dubbede was euer.
Thare es non ischewe of vs on this erthe sprongen;
Thow arte apparant to be ayere, are one of thi childyre_
Thow arte my sister sone, forsake sall I neuer."
Thane gerte he in his awen tente a table be sette,
And tryede in with tromppez trauaillede biernez;
Serfede them solempnely with selkouthe metez,
Swythe semly in syghte with sylueren dischees.
Whene the senatours harde saye \at it so happenede,
They saide to \e Emperour, "Thi seggez are suppryssede;
Sir Arthure, thyn enmy, has owterayede \i lordez,
That rode for \e rescowe of |one riche knyghttez.
Thow dosse bot tynnez \i tym and turmenttez \i pople;
Thow arte betrayede of \i men that moste thow on traystede,
That schall turne the to tene and torfere for euer."
Than the Emperour irus was angerde at his herte,
For oure valyant biernez siche prowesche had wonnen.
With kyng and with kaysere to consayle they wende,
Souerayngez of Sarazenez and senatours manye;
Thus he semblez full sone certayne lordez,
And in the assemble thane he sais them theis wordez:
"My herte sothely es sette_assente |if |owe lykes_
To seke into Sexon, with my sekyre knyghttez,
To fyghte with my foomen, if fortune me happen,
~if I may fynde the freke within the four haluez;
Or entir into Awguste, awnters to seke,
And byde with my balde men within \e burghe ryche;
Riste vs and reuell and ryotte oure selfen,
Lende \are in delytte in lordechippez ynewe,
To Sir Leo be comen with all his lele knyghtez,
With lordez of Lumberdye, to lette hym \e wayes."
Bot owre wyese Kyng es warre to waytten his renkes,
And wysely by \e woddez voydez his oste;
Gerte felschen his fyrez, flawmande full heghe,
Trussen full traystely and treunt thereaftyre.
Se\en into Sessoyne he soughte at the gayneste,
And at the surs of \e sonne disseuerez his knyghttez;
Forsette them the cite appon sere halfez,
Sodaynly on iche halfe, with seuen grett stales.
Anely in the vale a vawewarde enbusches:
Sir Valyant of Vyleris, with valyant knyghttez,
Before \e Kyngez visage made siche avowez
To venquyse by victorie the Vescownte of Rome;
Forthi the Kyng chargez hym, what chaunce so befall,
Cheftayne of \e cheekke, with cheualrous knyghttez.
And sythyn meles with mouthe, \at he moste traistez;
Demenys the medylwarde menskfully hym selfen:
Fittes his fotemen alls hym faire thynkkes,
On frounte in the forebreste the flour of his knyghtez;
His archers on aythere halfe he ordaynede \eraftyre
To schake in a sheltrone, to schotte when \am lykez.
He arrayed in \e rerewarde full riall knyghtez,
With renkkes renownnd of \e Round Table,
Sir Raynalde, Sir Richere, that rade was neuer,
The riche Duke of Rown wytÕhå ryders ynewe.
Sir Cayous, Sir Clegis, and clene men of armes,
The Kyng casts to kepe be \aa clere strandes;
Sir Lott and Sir Launcelott, \ise lordly knyghttez,
Sall lenge on his lefte hande, with legyones ynewe,
To meue in \e morne-while, |if \e myste happynne;
Sir Cador of Cornewaile and his kene knyghtez,
To kepe at \e karfuke, to close in \er o\ere;
He plantez in siche placez pryncez and erlez,
That no powere sulde passe be no preue wayes.
Bot the Emperour onone, with honourable knyghtez
And erlez enteres the vale, awnters to seke,
And fyndez Sir Arthure with hostez arayede;
And at his income, to ekken his sorowe,
Oure burlyche bolde Kyng appon the bente howes,
With his bataile on brede and baners displayede.
He hade \e cete forsett appon sere halfes,
Bothe the clewez and \e clyfez with clene men of armez,
The mosse and \e marrasse, the mounttez so hye,
With gret multytude of men, to marre hym in \e wayes.
When Sir Lucius sees, he sais to his lordez,
"This traytour has treunt this treson to wyrche;
He has the cete forsett appon sere halfez,
All \e clewez and the cleyffez with clene men of armez;
Here es no waye, iwys, ne no wytt ells,
Bot feghte with oure foomen, for flee may we neuer."
Thane this ryche mane rathe arayes his byernez,
Rewlede his Romaynez and reall knyghtez;
Buschez in the avawmewarde the Vescounte of Rome,
Fro Viterbe to Venyse theis valyante knyghtez;
Dresses vp dredfully the dragone of golde,
With egles alouer, enamelede of sable;
Drawen dreghely the wyne and drynkyn thareaftyre,
Dukkez and dusseperez, dubbede knyghtez;
For dauncesyng of Duchemen and dynnyng of pypez,
All dynned fore dyn that in \e dale houede.
And thane Sir Lucius on lowde said lordlyche wordez:
"Thynke on the myche renownn of |our ryche fadyrs,
And the riatours of Rome, \at regnede with lordez,
And the renkez ouerrane all that regnede in erthe,
Encrochede all Cristyndome be craftes of armes_
In eueriche a viage the victorie was halden;
Insette all \e Sarazenes within seuen wyntter,
The parte fro the Porte Iaffe to Paradyse |atez.
Thoghe a rewme be rebelle, we rekke it bot lyttill;
It es resone and righte the renke be restreynede.
Do dresse we tharefore and byde we no langere,
Fore dredlesse withowttyn dowtte, the daye schall be ourez]"
Whene \eise wordez was saide, the Walsche kyng hym selfen
Whas warre of this wyderwyn \at werrayede his knyghttez;
Brothely in the vale with voyce he ascryez,
"Viscownte of Valewnce, enuyous of dedys,
The vassallage of Viterbe todaye schall be reuengede;
Vnuenquiste fro \is place voyde schall I neuer]"
Thane the Vyscownte valiante, with a voute noble,
Auoyeddyde the avawewarde, enuerounde his horse;
He drissede in a derfe schelde, endenttyd with sable,
With a dragone engowschede, dredfull to schewe,
Deuorande a dolphyn with dolefull lates,
In seyne that oure soueraygne sulde be distroyede,
And all don of dawez with dynntez of swerddez_
For thare es noghte bot dede thare the dragone es raissede.
Thane the comlyche kyng castez in fewtyre,
With a crewell launce cowpez dull euen,
Abowne \e spayre a spanne, emange \e schortte rybbys,
That the splent and the spleen on the spere langez;
The blode sprente owtte and sprede as \e horse spryngez,
And he sproulez full spakely, bot spekes he no more.
And thus has Sir Valyantt halden his avowez,
And venqwyste \e Viscownte, \ate victor was halden.
Thane Sir Ewayne fitz Vriene full enkerlye rydez
Onone to the Emperour, his egle to towche;
Thrughe his brode bataile he buskes belyfe,
Braydez owt his brande with a blyth chere,
Reuerssede it redelye and awaye rydys;
Ferkez in with the fewle in his faire handez,
And fittez in freely one frounte with his feris.
Now buskez Sir Launcelot and braydez full euen
To Sir Lucius the lorde and lothelye hym hyttez;
Thurghe pawnce and platez he percede the maylez,
That the prowde pensell in his pawnche lengez;
The hede hayled owtt behynde ane halfe fote large,
Thurghe hawberke and hanche, with \e harde wapyn,
The stede and the steryn mane strykes to \e grownde,
Strake down a standerde and to his stale wendez.
"Me lykez wele," sais Sir Loth, "|one lordez are delyuerede]
The lott lengez nowe on me, with leue of my lorde;
Today sall my name be laide and my life aftyre,
Bot some leppe fro the lyfe that on |one lawnde houez]"
Thane strekez the steryn and streynys his brydyll,
Strykez into the stowre on a stede ryche,
Enjoynede with a geaunt and jaggede hym thorowe;
Jolyly this gentill forjustede ano\er,
Wroghte wayes full wyde, werrayande knyghtez,
And wondes all wathely that in \e waye stondez;
Fyghttez with all the frappe a furlange of waye,
Felled fele appon felde with his faire wapen,
Venqwiste and has the victorie of valyaunt knyghtez,
And all enverounde the vale and voyde when hym likede.
Thane bowmen of Bretayne brothely thereaftyre
Bekerde with bregaundez of ferre in tha laundez;
With flonez fleterede \ay flitt full frescly \er frekez,
That flowe o ferrome in flawnkkes of stedez.
Fichene with fetheris thurghe \e fyne maylez_
Siche flyttyng es foule \at so \e flesche derys.
Dartes the Duchemen dalten a|aynes,
With derfe dynttez of dede dagges thurghe scheldez;
Qwarells qwayntly swappez thorowe knyghtez,
With iryn so wekyrly, that wynche they neuer:
So they scherenken fore schotte of \e scharppe arowes,
That all the scheltron schonte and schoderide at ones,
Thane riche stedes rependez and rasches on armes_
The hale howndrethe on hye appon heythe lygges;
Bott |itte \e hathelieste on hy, haythen and o\er,
All hoursches ouer hede harmes to wyrke.
And all theis geauntez before, engenderide with fendez,
Ioynez on Sir Ionathal and gentill knyghtez;
With clubbez of clene stele clenkkede in helmes,
Craschede doun crestez and craschede braynez,
Kyllede couÕråsers and couerde stedes,
Choppode thurghe cheualers on chalke-whytte stedez;
Was neuer stele ne stede mighte stande them a|aynez,
Bot stonays and strykez doun that in \e stale houys,
Till \e Conquerour come with his kene knyghttez,
With crewell contenaunce he cryede full lowde,
"I wende no Bretons walde bee basschede for so lyttill,
And fore barelegyde boyes \at on the bente houys]"
He clekys owtte Collbrande, full clenlyche burneschte,
Graythes hym to Golapas, \at greuyde moste,
Kuttes hym euen by \e knees clenly in sondyre.
"Come down," quod the Kyng, "and karpe to thy ferys;
Thowe arte to hye by \e halfe, I hete \e in trouthe:
Thow sall be handsomere in hye, with \e helpe of my Lorde]"
With \at stelen brande he strake ofe his hede.
Sterynly in \at stoure he strykes ano\er;
Thus he settez on seuen with his sekyre knyghttez_
Whylles sexty ware seruede soo ne sessede they neuer.
And thus at the joynynge the geauntez are distroyede,
And at \at journey forjustede with gentill lordez.
Than the Romaynes and the rennkkez of \e Rounde Table
Rewles them in arraye, rerewarde ande o\er;
With wyghte wapynez of werre thay wroghten on helmes,
Rittez with raunke stele full ryalle maylez.
Bot they fitt them fayre, thes frekk byernez,
Fewters in freely one feraunte stedes,
Foynes ful felly with flyschande speris,
Freten of orfrayes feste appon scheldez;
So fele fay es in fyghte appon \e felde leuyde,
That iche a furthe in the firthe of rede blode rynnys.
By that swyftely one swarthe \e swett es byleuede,
Swerdez swangen in two sweltand knyghtez,
Lyes wyde opyn, welterande on walopande stedez;
Wondes of wale men, werkande sydys,
Facez fetteled vnfaire in filterede lakes,
All craysed, fortrodyn with trappede stedez,
The faireste on folde that fygurede was euer,
Alls ferre alls a furlang, a thosande at ones.
Be than the Romaynez ware rebuykyde a lyttill,
Withdrawes theym drerely and dreches no lengare;
Oure prynce with his powere persewes theyme aftyre,
Prekez on \e proudeste with his price knyghttez.
Sir Kayous, Sir Clegis, Sir Cleremond the noble
Enconters them at \e clyffe with clene men of armes;
Fyghttes faste in \e fyrth, frythes no wapen,
Felled at \e firste come fyfe hundrethe at ones.
And when they fande theym foresett with oure fers knyghtez,
Fewe men agayne fele mot fyche them bettyre,
Feghttez with all \e frappe, foynes with speres,
And faughte with the frekkeste \at to Fraunce langez.
Bot Sir Kayous \e kene castis in fewtyre,
Chasez one a coursere and to a kyng rydys;
With a launce of Lettowe he thirllez his sydez,
That the lyuer and \e lunggez on \e launce lengez;
The schafte scÕhåodyrde and schott in the schire byerne,
And soughte thorowowte \e schelde and in \e schalke rystez.
Bot Kayous at the income was kepyd vnfayre
With a cowarde knyghte of \e kythe ryche;
At \e turnyng that tym the traytoure hym hitte,
In thorowe the felettes, and in \e flawnke aftyre,
That the boustous launce \e bewells attamede,
`at braste at \e brawlyng and brake in \e myddys.
Sir Kayous knewe wele, be \at kyde wounde,
That he was dede of \e dynte and don owte of lyfe;
Than he raykes in arraye and one rawe rydez,
One this reall his dede to reuenge;
"Kepe the, cowarde," he calles hym sone,
Cleues hym wyth his clere brande clenliche in sondire.
"Hadde thow wele delte thy dynt with thi handes,
I hade forgeffen \e my dede, be Crist now of Hewyn."
He weyndes to \e wyese kyng and wynly hym gretes:
"I am wathely woundide_waresche mon I neuer;
Wirke nowe thi wirchipe, as \e worlde askes,
And brynge me to beryell_byd I no more.
Grete wele my ladye, \e Qwene, |ife \e werlde happyne,
And all \e burliche birdes \at to hir boure lengez,
And my worthily weife, \at wrethide me neuer,
Bid hire, fore hir wyrchipe, wirke for my saulle."
The Kyngez confessour come, with Criste in his handes,
For to comforthe the knyghte, kende hym \e wordes;
The knyghte coueride on his knees with a kaunt herte,
And caughte his Creatoure, \at comfurthes vs all.
Thane remmes \e riche kynge fore rewthe at his herte,
Rydes into rowte, his dede to reuenge;
Presede into \e plumpe, and with a prynce metes,
That was ayere of Egipt in thos este marches,
Cleues hym with Collbrande clenlyche in sondyre;
He broches euen thorowe \e byerne and \e sadill bristes,
And at \e bake of \e blonke \e bewells entamede.
Manly in his malycoly he metes ano\er,
The medill of \at myghtty, \at hym myche greuede;
He merkes thurghe the maylez the myddes in sondyre,
That the myddys of \e mane on \e mounte fallez,
`e to\er halfe of \e haunche on \e horse leuyde_
Of \at hurte, alls I hope, heles he neuer.
He schotte thorowe \e schiltrouns with his scharpe wapen,
Schalkez he schrede thurghe and schrenkede maylez,
Baneres he bare downne, bryttenede scheldes,
Brothely with brown stele his brethe he \are wrekes;
Wrothely he wryththis by wyghtnesse of strenghe,
Woundes \ese whydyrewyns, werrayede knyghttes,
Threppede thorowe \e thykkys thryttene sythis,
Thryngez throly in the thrange and chis euen aftyre.
Thane Sir Gawayne the gude, with wyrchipfull knyghttez,
Wendez in the avawewarde be tha wodde hemmys;
Was warre of Sir Lucius, one launde there he houys,
With lordez and liggemen that to hym selfe lengede.
Thane the Emperour enkerly askes hym sonne,
"What will thow, Gawayne, wyrke with thi wapyn?
I watte be thi waueryng thow willnez aftyre sorowe;
I sall be wrokyn on thi wrethe, fore all thi grete wordez]"
He laughte owtte a lange swerde and luyschede one faste,
And Sir Lyonell in the launde lordely he hym strykes:
Hittes hym on \e hede, \at \e helme bristis,
Hurttes his herne-pane an hannde-brede large.
Thus he layes one \e lumppe and lordlye \em serued,
Wondide worthily wirchipfull knyghttez;
Fighttez with Florent, that beste es of swerdez,
Till \e fomande blode till his fyste rynnes.
Thane \e Romayns releuyde, \at are ware rebuykkyde,
And all torattys oure men with theire riste horsses;
Fore they see \aire cheftayne be chauffede so sore,
They chasse and choppe doun oure cheualrous knyghttes.
Sir Bedwere was borne thurghe, and his breste thyrllede,
With a burlyche brannde, brode at \e hiltes;
The ryall raunke stele to his herte rynnys,
And he rusches to \e erthe_rewthe es the more.
Thane \e Conquerour tuke kepe and come with his strenghes
To reschewe \e ryche men of \e Rounde Table,
To owttraye \e Emperour, |if auntire it schewe,
Ewyn to \e egle, and "Arthure]" askryes.
The Emperour thane egerly at Arthure he strykez,
Awkwarde on \e vmbrere and egerly hym hittez;
The nakyde swerde at \e nese noyes hym sare,
The blode of Õtheå bolde kyng ouer \e breste rynnys,
Beblede at \e brode schelde and \e bryghte mayles.
Oure bolde kyng bowes \e blonke be \e bryghte brydyll,
With his burlyche brande a buffette hym reches,
Thourghe \e brene and \e breste with his bryghte wapyn:
O slante doun fro \e slote he slyttes at ones.
Thus endys \e Emperour of Arthur hondes,
And all his austeryn oste \areofe ware affrayede.
Now they ferke to \e fyrthe, a fewe \at are leuede,
For ferdnesse of oure folke, by \e fresche strandez;
The floure of oure ferse men one ferant stedez
Folowes frekly on \e frekes, thate frayede was neuer.
Thane \e kyde conquerour cryes full lowde,
"Cosyn of Cornewaile, take kepe to \i selfen
That no captayne be kepyde for non siluer,
Or Sir Kayous dede be cruelly vengede."
"Nay," sais Sir Cador, "so me Cryste helpe,
Thare ne es kaysere ne kyng \at vndire Criste ryngnes
`at I ne schall kill colde dede be crafte of my handez]"
Thare myghte men see chiftaynes on chalke-whitte stedez
Choppe doun in the chaas cheualrye noble;
Romaynes \e rycheste and ryall kynges
Braste with ranke stele theire rybbys in sondyre;
Braynes forebrusten thurghe burneste helmes,
With brandez forbrittenede one brede in \e laundez;
They hewede doun haythen men with hiltede swerdez
Be hole hundrethez on hye, by \e holte eyuyes.
Thare myghte no siluer thaym saue ne socoure theire lyues,
Sowdane ne Sarazene ne senatour of Rome.
Thane releuis \e renkes of the Rounde Table
Be \e riche reuare that rynnys so faire;
Lugez thaym luflye by \a lyghte strandez,
All on lawe in \e lawnde, thas lordlyche byernes.
Thay kaire to \e karyage and tuke whate them likes,
Kamells and cokadrisses and cofirs full riche,
Hekes and hakkenays and horses of armes,
Howsyng and herbergage of heythen kyngez;
They drewe owt of dromondaries dyuerse lordes,
Moyllez mylke whitte and meruayllous bestez,
Olfendes and arrabys and olyfauntez noble,
`er are of \e Oryent, with honourable kynges.
Bot Sir Arthure onone ayeres \eraftyre
Ewyn to \e Emperour, with honourable kyngis;
Laughte hym vpe full louelyly with lordlyche knyghttez,
And ledde hym to \e layere thare the Kyng lygges.
Thane harawdez heghely, at heste of the lordes,
Hunttes vpe the haythemen that on heghte lygges:
The Sowdane of Surry and certayne kynges,
Sexty of \e cheefe senatours of Rome.
Thane they bussches and bawmede \aire honourliche kyngis,
Sewed them in sendell sexti-faulde aftire,
Lappede them in lede, lesse that they schulde
Chawnge or chawffe, |if \ay myghte escheffe;
Closed in kystys clene vnto Rome,
With theire baners abowne, theire bagis therevndyre,
In whate countre \ay kaire that knyghttes myghte knawe
Iche kynge be his colours, in kyth whare Õheå lengede.
Onone on \e secounde daye, sone by \e morne,
Twa senatours ther come, and certayne knyghttez,
Hodles fro \e hethe, ouer \e holte eyues,
Barefote ouer \e bente, with brondes so ryche;
Bowes to \e bolde kyng and biddis hym \e hiltes,
Whethire he will hang theym or hedde or halde theym on lyfe.
Knelyde before \e Conquerour in kyrtills allone;
With carefull contenaunce \ay karpide \ese wordes:
"Twa senatours we are, thi subgettez of Rome,
That has sauede oure lyfe by \eise salte strandys,
Hyd vs in \e heghe wode, thurghe \e helpyng of Criste,
Besekes the of socoure, as Soueraygne and Lorde;
Grante vs lyffe and lym with leberall herte,
For His luffe that the lente this lordchipe in erthe."
"I graunte," quod Õtheå gude kyng, "thurghe grace of my selfen:
I giffe |owe lyffe and lyme and leue for to passe,
So |e doo my message menskefully at Rome,
That ilke charge \at I |ow |iffe here before my cheefe knyghttez."
"~is," sais the senatours, "that sall we ensure,
Sekerly be oure trowhes thi sayenges to fullfill;
We sall lett for no lede \at lyffes in erthe,
Fore pape, ne for potestate, ne prynce so noble,
That ne sall lelely in lande thi letteres pronounce,
For duke ne for dussepere, to dye in \e payne."
Thane the banerettez of Bretayne broghte \em to tentes,
There barbours ware bownn, with basyns on lofte,
With warme watire, iwys, they wette them full son;
They schouen thes schalkes schappely theraftyre,
To rekken theis Romaynes recreaunt and |olden;
Forthly schoue they them to schewe, for skomfite of Rome.
They coupylde \e kystys on kameles belyue,
On asses and arrabyes theis honourable kynges_
The Emperoure for honoure all by hym one,
Euen appon an olyfaunte, hys egle owtt ouere_
Bekende them the captyfis, the Kynge dide hym selfen,
And all byfore his kene men karpede thees wordes:
"Here are the kystis," quod the Kyng, "kaire ouer \e mownttez:
Mette full monee, \at |e haue mekyll |ernede,
The taxe and \e trebutte of tene schore wynteres,
That was tenefully tynte in tym of oure elders;
Saye to \e Senatoure \e cete \at |emes,
That I sende hym \e somme, assaye how hym likes.
Bott byde them neuere be so bolde, whylls my blode regnes,
Efte for to brawlle \em for my brode landez,
Ne to aske trybut ne taxe be nakyn tytle,
Bot syche tresoure as this, whilles my tym lastez."
Nowe they raike to Rome the redyeste wayes,
Knylles in the Capatoylle and comowns assembles,
Souerayngez and senatours the cete \at |emes,
Bekende them the caryage, kystis and o\er,
Alls \e Conquerour comaunde with cruell wordes.
"We hafe trystily trayuellede \is tributte to feche,
The taxe and \e trewage of fowre score wynteris,
Of IÕnåglande, of Irelande, and all \ir owtt illes,
That Arthure in the Occedente ocupyes att ones.
He byddis |ow neuere be so bolde, whills his blode regnes,
To brawle |owe fore Bretayne ne his brode landes,
Ne aske hym trebute ne taxe be nonkyns title,
Bot syche tresoure as this, whills his tyme lastis.
We haffe foughtten in France, and vs es foule happenede,
And all oure myche faire folke faye are byleuede;
Eschappide there ne cheuallrye, ne cheftaynes no\er,
Bott choppede downn in the chasse, syche chawnse es befallen.
We rede |e store |owe of stone and stuffen |our walles:
~ow wakkens wandrethe and werre_be ware |if |ow lykes."
In the kalendez of Maye this caas es befallen:
The roy ryalle renownde, with his Rownde Table,
One the coste of Costantyne, by \e clere strandez,
Has \e Romaynes ryche rebuykede for euer.
Whene he hade foughtten in Fraunce and the felde wonnen,
And fersely his foomen fellde owtte of lyfe,
He bydes for \e beryenge of his bolde knyghtez
That in batell with brandez ware broughte owte of lyfe.
He beryes at Bayone Sir Bedwere \e ryche;
The cors of Kayon \e kene at Came es beleuefede,
Koueride with a crystall clenly all ouer_
His fadyre conqueride \at kyth knyghtly with hondes.
Seyn in Burgoyne he bade to bery mo knyghttez,
Sir Berade and Bawdwyne, Sir Bedwar \e ryche,
Gud Sir Cador at Came, as his kynde askes.
Thane Sir Arthure onone, in \e Auguste \eraftyre,
Enteres to Almayne wyth ostez arrayed;
Lengez at Lusscheburghe, to lechen hys knyghttez,
With his lele liggemen, as lorde in his awen.
And on Christofre Daye a concell he haldez,
Withe kynges and kaysers, clerkkes and o\er;
Comandez them kenely to caste all \eire wittys,
How he may conquere by crafte the kythe \at he claymes.
Bot the Conquerour kene, curtais and noble,
Karpes in the concell theys knyghtly wordez:
"Here es a knyghte in theis kleuys, enclosside with hilles,
That I haue cowayte to knawe, because of his wordez:
That es Lorayne \e lele, I kepe noghte to layne;
The lordchipe es louely, as ledes me telles.
I will ducherye devyse and dele as me lykes,
And seyn dresse wyth \e Duke, if destyny suffre;
The renke rebell has bene vnto my Rownde Table,
Redy aye with Romaynes to ryotte my landes;
We sall rekken full rathe, if reson so happen,
Who has ryghte to \at rente, by ryche Gode of Heuen]
Than will I by Lumbardye, lykande to schawe,
Sett lawe in \e lande, \at laste sall euer;
The tyrauntez of Tuskayn tempeste a littyll,
Talke with \e temperall, whills my tym lastez.
I gyffe my protteccione to all \e Pope landez,
My ryche pensell of pes my pople to schewe;
It es a foly to offende oure fadyr vndire Gode,
Ow\er Peter or Paule, \a postles of Rome.
~if we spare the spirituell, we spede bot the bettire;
Whills we haue for to speke, spille sall it neuer."
Now they spede at \e spurres, withowttyn speche more,
To \e marche of Meyes, theis manliche knyghtez,
That es Õinå Lorrayne alofede, as London es here,
Cete of \at seyn|owre, that soueraynge es holden.
The Kyng ferkes furthe on a faire stede,
With Ferrer and Ferawnte and o\er foure knyghtez;
Abowte the cete \a seuen they soughte at \e nextte,
To seke them a sekyre place to sett withe engeynes.
Thane they bendyde in burghe bowes of vyse,
Bekyrs at \e bolde kyng with boustouse lates;
Allblawsters at Arthure egerly schottes,
For to hurte hym or his horse with \at hard wapen.
The Kynge schonte for no schotte, ne no schelde askys,
Bot schewes hym scharpely in his schene wedys;
Lenges all at laysere and lokes on the wallys,
Whare \ey ware laweste the ledes to assaille.
"Sir," said Sir Ferrer, "a foly thowe wirkkes,
Thus nakede in thy noblaye to neghe to \e walles,
Sengely in thy surcotte, this cete to reche,
And schewe \e within, there to schende vs all.
Hye vs hastylye heynne, or we mon full happen,
For hitt they the or thy horse, it harmes for euer."
"Ife thow be ferde," quod the Kyng, "I rede thow ryde vttere,
Lesse \at \ey rywe the with theire rownnd wapyn]
Thow arte bot a fawntkyn_no ferly me thynkkys,
`ou will be flayede for a flye \at on thy flesche lyghttes.
I am nothyng agaste, so me Gode helpe:
`of siche gadlynges be greuede, it greues me bot lyttill;
Thay wyn no wirchipe of me, bot wastys theire takle_
They sall wante or I weende, I wagen myn hevede.
Sall neuer harlott haue happe, thorowe helpe of my Lorde,
To kyll a corownde kyng with krysom enoynttede]"
Thane come \e herbariours, harageous knyghtez,
The hale batells on hye harrawnte theraftyre;
And oure forreours ferse, appon fele halfes,
Come flyeande before one ferawnte stedes,
Ferkande in arraye theire ryall knyghttez,
The renkez renownde of \e Rounnd Table.
All \e frekke men of Fraunce folowede thareaftyre,
Faire fittyde on frownte, and on the felde houys.
Thane the schalkes scharpelye scheftys theire horsez,
To schewen them semly in theire scheen wedes;
Buskes in batayle with baners displayede,
With brode scheldes enbrassede and burlyche helmys,
With penouns and pensells of ylke prynce armes,
Appayrellde with perrye and precious stones;
The lawnces with loraynes and lemande scheldes,
Lyghtenande as \e leuenyng and lemand al ouer.
Thane the price men prekes and proues \eire horsez,
Satills to \e cete appon sere halfes;
Enserches the subbarbes sadly thareaftyre,
Discoueris of schotte-men and skyrmys a lytill;
Skayres \aire skottefers and theire skowtte-waches,
Brittenes theire barrers with theire bryghte wapyns,
Bett down a barbycan and \e brygge wynnys;
Ne hade the garnyson bene gude at \e grete |ates,
Thay hade wonn that wone be theire awen strenghe.
Than withdrawes oure men and drisses them bettyre,
For dred of \e drawe-brigge dasschede in sondre;
Hyes to \e harbergage thare the Kyng houys,
With his batell on heghe, horsyde on stedys.
Thane was \e Prynce puruayede and \eire places nommen,
Pyghte pauyllyons of palle and plattes in seegge;
Thane lenge they lordly, as \em leefe thoghte,
Waches in ylke warde, as to \e werre falles,
Settes vp sodaynly certayne engynes.
One Sonondaye be \e soone has a flethe |olden,
The Kyng calles on Florente, \at flour was of knyghttez:
"The Fraunchemene enfeblesches, ne farly me thynkkys;
They are vnfondyde folke in \e faire marches,
For them wantes \e flesche and fude that them lykes.
Here are forestez faire appon fele halues,
And thedyre feemen are flede with freliche bestes.
Thow sall foonde to \e fell and forraye the mountes;
Sir Forawnt and Sir Florydas sall folowe thi brydyll.
Vs moste with some fresche mette refresche oure pople,
That are feedde in \e fyrthe with \e froyte of \e erthe.
Thare sall weende to \is viage Sir Gawayne hym selfen,
Wardayne full wyrchipfull, and so hym wele semes;
Sir Wecharde, Sir Waltyre, theis wyrchipfull knyghtes,
With all wyseste men of \e weste marches;
Sir Clegis, Sir Clarybalde, Sir Clarymownde \e noble,
The Capytayne oo Cardyfe clenlyche arrayede.
Goo now, warne all \e wache, Gawayne and o\er,
And weendes furthe on |our waye withowttyn moo wordes."
Now ferkes to \e fyrthe thees fresche men of armes,
To \e fell so fewe, theis fresclyche byernes,
Thorowe hopes and hymland, hillys and o\er,
Holtis and hare woddes with heslyn schawes,
Thorowe marasse and mosse and montes so heghe;
And in the myste Õofå mornyng one a mede falles,
Mawen and vnmade, maynoyrede bott lyttyll,
In swathes sweppen down, full of swete floures.
Thare vnbrydills theis bolde and baytes \eire horses,
To \e grygynge of \e daye, \at byrdez gan synge,
Whylls the surs of \e sonne, \at sonde es of Cryste,
That solaces all synfull \at syghte has in erthe.
Thane weendes owtt the wardayne, Sir Gawayne hym selfen,
Alls he \at weysse was and wyghte, wondyrs to seke;
Than was he warre of a wye, wondyre wele armyde,
Baytand on a wattire banke by \e wodde eyuis,
Buskede in brenyes bryghte to behalde,
Enbrassede a brode schelde on a blonke ryche,
Withowttyn ony berne, bot a boye one,
Houes by hym on a blonke and his spere holdes.
He bare gessande in golde thre grayhondes of sable,
With chapes and cheynes of chalke-whytte slyuer,
A charebocle in \e cheefe, chawngawnde of hewes,
And a cheefe anterous, chalange who lykes.
Sir Gawayne glyftes on the gome with a glade will;
A grete spere fro his grome he grypes in hondes,
Gyrdes ewen ouere \e streme on a stede ryche,
To \at steryn in stour, one strenghe \are he houys.
Egerly one Inglisce "Arthure]" he askyres;
The to\er irouslye ansuers hym sone,
On a launde of Lorrayne with a lowde steuen,
That ledes myghte lysten \e lenghe of a myle:
"Whedyr prykkes thow, pilouur, \at profers so large?
Here pykes thowe no praye, profire when \e lykes]
Bot thow in \is perell put of the bettire,
Thow sall be my presonere, for all thy prowde lates]"
"Sir," sais Sir Gawayne, "so me Gode helpe,
Siche glauerande gomes greues me bot lyttill]
Bot if thowe graythe thy gere, the will grefe happen,
Or thowe goo of \is greue, for all thy grete wordes]"
Than \eire launces they lachen, thes lordlyche byernez,
Laggen with longe speres one lyarde stedes;
Cowpen at awntere be kraftes of armes,
Till bothe \e crowell speres brousten att ones.
Thorowe scheldys \ey schotte and scherde thorowe maÕyåles,
Bothe schere thorowe schoulders a schaftmonde large.
Thus worthylye \es wyes wondede ere bothen_
Or they wreke \em of wrethe awaye will \ey neuer.
Than they raughte in the reyne and agayne rydes,
Redely theis rathe mene rusches owtte swerdez,
Hittes one hellmes full hertelyche dynttys,
Hewes appon hawberkes with full harde wapyns;
Full stowttly \ey stryke, thire steryn knyghttes,
Stokes at \e stomake with stelyn poyntes,
Feghtten and floresche withe flawmande swerdez,
Till \e flawes of fyre flawmes one theire helmes.
Thane Sir Gawayne was greuede and grychgide full sore;
With Galuthe his gude swerde grymlye he strykes:
Clefe \e knyghttes schelde clenliche in sondre_
Who lukes to \e lefte syde when his horse launches
With \e lyghte of \e sonne men myghte see his lyuere.
Thane granes \e gome fore greefe of his wondys,
And gyrdis at Sir Gawayne, as he by glentis;
And awkewarde egerly sore he hym smyttes:
An alet enamelde he oches in sondire,
Bristes \e rerebrace with the bronde ryche,
Kerues of at \e coutere with \e clene egge,
AneÕnåtis \e avawmbrace, vayllede with siluer.
Thorowe a dowble vesture of veluett ryche
With \e venymous swerde a vayne has he towchede,
That voydes so violently \at all his witte changede;
The vesere, the aventaile, his vesturis ryche,
With the valyant blode was verrede all ouer.
Thane this tyrante tite turnes \e brydill,
Talkes vntendirly and sais "`ow arte towchede;
Vs bus haue a blode-bande or thi ble change,
For all \e barbours of Bretayne sall noghte thy blode stawnche;
For he \at es blemeste with \is brade brande blyne schall he neuer."
"~a," quod Sir Gawayne, "thow greues me bot lyttill;
Thowe wenys to glopyne me with thy gret wordez;
Thow trowes with thy talkyng \at my harte talmes.
Thow betydes tourfere or thowe hyen turne,
Bot thowe tell me tytte, and tarye no lengere,
What may staunche this blode \at thus faste rynnes."
"~ise, I say \e sothely, and sekire \e my trowthe:
No surgyon in Salarne sall saue \e bettyre;
Withthy \at thowe suffre me, for sake of thy Cryste,
To schewe schortly my schrifte and schape for myn ende."
"~is," quod Sir Gawayne, "so me God helpe,
I gyfe \e grace and graunt, \ofe \ou hafe grefe seruede,
Withthy thowe say me sothe what thowe here sekes,
Thus sengilly and sulayne all \i selfe one;
And whate laye thow leues one, layne noghte \e sothe,
And whate legyaunce and whare \ow arte lorde."
"My name es Sir Priamus; a prynce es my fadyre,
Praysede in his partyes with prouede kynges;
In Rome thare he regnes he es riche halden.
He has bene rebell to Rome and reden theire landes,
Werreyand weisely wyntters and |eres;
Be witt and be wyssdome and be wyghte strenghe,
And be wyrchipfull werre, his awen has he wonn.
He es of Alexandire blode, ouerlyng of kynges,
The vncle of his ayele, Sir Ector of Troye;
And here es the kynreden that I of come,
And Iudas and Iosue, \ise gentill knyghtes.
I ame apparaunt his ayere, and eldeste of o\er,
Of Alexandere and Aufrike and all \a owte landes;
I am in possessione and plenerly sessede
In all \e price cetees that to \e porte langes;
I sall hafe trewly the tresour and the londes,
And bothe trebute and taxe whills my tym lastes.
I was so hawtayne of herte, whills I at home lengede,
I helde nane my hippe heghte vndire heuen ryche;
Forthy was I sente hedire with seuen score knyghttez,
To asaye of this werre, be sente of my fadire,
And I am for cirqwitrye schamely supprisede,
And be awÕnåtire of armes owtrayede fore euere.
Now hafe I taulde the \e kyne that I ofe come,
Will thow, for knyghthede, kene me thy name?"
"Be Criste," quod Sir Gawayne, "knyghte was I neuer;
With \e kydde Conquerour a knafe of his chambyre,
Has wroghte in his wardrope wynters and |eres,
One his long armour that hym beste lykid;
I poyne all his pavelyouns \at to hym selfe pendes,
Dyghttes his dowblettez for dukes and erles,
Aketouns auenaunt fore Arthure hym selfen,
That he vsede in werre all this aughte wyntter.
He made me |omane at ~ole, and gafe me gret gyftes,
And c. pound and a horse and harnayse full ryche;
Gife I happe to my hele that hende for to serue,
I be holpen in haste, I hette the forsothe."
"Giffe his knafes be syche, his knyghttez are noble]
There es no kyng vndire Criste may kemp with hym on;
He will be Alexander ayre, that all \e erthe lowttede,
Abillere \an euer was Sir Ector of Troye.
Now fore the krisome \at \ou kaghte \at day \ou was crystenede,
Whethire thowe be knyghte or knaffe, knawe now \e sothe."
"My name es Sir Gawayne, I graunt \e forsothe,
Cosyn to \e Conquerour, he knawes it hym selfen;
Kydd in his kalander a knyghte of his chambyre,
And rollede the richeste of all \e Rounde Table.
I ame \e dussepere and duke he dubbede with his hondes,
Deynttely on a daye before his dere knyghtes;
Gruche noghte, gude sir, \ofe me this grace happen:
It es \e gifte of Gode, the gree es Hys awen."
"Petire]" sais Priamus, "Now payes me bettire
Thane I of Provynce warre prynce and of Paresche ryche;
Fore me ware leuer preuely by prykkyd to \e harte,
Than euer any prikkere had siche a pryse wonnyn.
Bot here es herberde at hand, in |one huge holtes,
Halle bataile one heyghe_take hede |if the lyke_
The Duke of Lorrayne the derfe, with his dere knyghtes,
The doughtyest of Dolfinede and Duchemen many,
The lordes of Lumbardye, that leders are halden,
The garnyson of Godard gaylyche arrayede,
The wyese of \e Westuale, wirchipfull biernez,
Of Sessoyn and Surylande Sarazenes enewe;
They are nowmerde full neghe and namede in rollez,
Sexty thowsande and ten, forsothe, of sekyre men of armez;
Bot |if thow hye fro \is hethe, it harmes vs bothe,
And bot my hurtes be son holpen, hole be I neuer.
Take heede to \is hanseman \at he no horne blawe,
Are thowe heyly in haste beese hewen al to peces;
For they are my retenuz, to ryde whare I wyll,
Es non redyare renkes regnande in erthe;
Be thow raghte with \at rowtt, thow rydes no for\er,
Ne thow bees neuer rawnsonede for reches in erthe."
Sir Gawayn wente or \e wathe com whare hym beste lykede,
With this wortheliche wye, that wondyd was sore;
Merkes to \e mountayne there oure men lenges,
Baytaynde theire blonkes \er on \e brode mede:
Lordes lenande lowe on lemand scheldes,
With lowde laghttirs on lofte for lykyng of byrdez,
Of larkes, of lynkwhyttez, \at lufflyche songen;
And some was sleghte one slepe with sleyghte of \e pople,
`at sange in \e seson in the schenne schawes,
So lawe in \e lawndez so lykand notes.
Thane Sir Whycher whas warre \aire wardayne was wondyde,
And went to hym wepand and wryngande his handes;
Syr Wycherd, Sir Walthere, theis weise men of armes,
Had wondyre of Sir Gawayne, and wente hym agayns,
Mett hym in the mydwaye and meruaile them tÕhåoghte
How he maisterede \at man, so myghtty of strenghes.
Be all \e welthe of \e werlde, so woo was \em neuer:
"For all oure wirchipe, iwysse, awaye es in erthe]"
"Greue |ow noghte," quod Gawayne, "for Godis luffe of Heuen;
For this es bot gosomer and gyffen on erles;
`offe my schouldire be schrede and my schelde thyrllede,
And the wielde of myn arme werkkes a littill,
This prissonere, Sir Priamus, \at has perilous wondes,
Sais \at he has saluez sall soften vs bothen."
Thane stirttes to his sterape sterynfull knyghttez,
And he lordely lyghttes and laghte of his brydill,
And lete his burlyche blonke baite on \e flores;
Braydes of his bacenette and his ryche wedis,
Bownnes to his brode schelde and bowes to \e erthe_
In all the bodye of that bolde es no blode leued.
Than preses to Sir Priamous precious knyghtes,
Auyssely of his horse hentes hym in armes;
His helme and of his hawberke \ay taken of aftyre,
And hastily for his hurtte all his herte chawngyd,
They laide hym down in the lawndez and laghte of his wedes,
And he lenede hym on lange, or how hym beste lykede.
A fyole of fyne golde they fande at his gyrdill,
`at es full of \e flour of \e fouur well,
`at flowes owte of Paradice when \e flode ryses,
That myche froyt of fallez, \at feede schall vs all;
Be it frette on his flesche, \are synues are entamede,
The freke schalle be fische-halle within fowre howres.
They vncouere \at cors with full clene hondes;
With clere watire a knyghte clensis theire wondes,
Keled theym kyndly and comforthed \er hertes.
And whene \e carffes ware clene, \ay clede them a|ayne;
Barell-ferrers they brochede and broghte them the wyne,
Bothe brede and brawn and bredis full ryche.
When \ay hade eten anon they armede after;
Thane tha awntrende men "As armes]" askryes.
With a claryoune clere thire knyghtez togedyre,
Callys to concell and of this case tellys:
"~ondyr es a companye of clene men of armes,
The keneste in contek \at vndir Criste lenges;
In |one oken wode an oste are arrayede,
Vndirtakande men of \iese owte londes,
As sais vs Sir Priamous, so helpe Seynt Peter]
Go men," quod Gawayne, "and grape in |oure hertez,
Who sall graythe to |one greue to |one gret lordes;
~if we gettlesse goo home, the Kyng will be greuede,
And say we are gadlynges, agaste for a lyttill,
We are with Sir Florente, as todaye falles,
That es floure of Fraunce, for he fleede neuer;
He was chosen and chargegide in chambire of \e Kyng,
Chiftayne of \is journee with cheualrye noble;
Whethire he fyghte or he flee, we sall folowe aftyre;
Fore all \e fere of |one folke forsake sall I neuer]"
"Fadyre," sais Sir Florent, "full faire |e it tell.
Bot I ame bot a fawntkyn, vnfraystede in armes;
~if any foly befall, \e fawte sall be owrs,
And fremdly o Fraunce be flemede for euer.
Woundes noghte, |our wirchip, my witte es bot symple;
~e are owre wardayne, iwysse, wyrke as |owe lykes;
~e are at the ferreste noghte passande fyve hundrethe,
And \at es fully to fewe to feghte with them all,
Fore harlottez and hansemene sall helpe bott littill_
They will hye theym hyen, for all \eire gret wordes.
I rede |e wyrke aftyre witte, as wyesse men of armes,
And warpes wylily awaye, as wirchipfull knyghtes."
"I grawnte," quod Sir Gawayne, "so me Gode helpe;
Bot here are galyarde gomes \at of \e gre seruis,
The kreuelleste knyghttes of \e Kynges chambyre,
That kane carpe with the coppe knyghtly wordes_
We sall proue todaye who sall the prys wyn."
Nowe ferriours fers vnto \e fyrthe rydez,
And fongez a faire felde and on fotte lyghttez;
Prekes aftyre \e pray, as pryce men of armes.
Florent and Floridas, with fyve score knyghttez,
Folowede in \e foreste, and on \e way fowndys,
Flyngande a faste trott, and on \e folke dryffes.
Than felewes fast to oure folke wele a fyve hundreth
Of freke men to \e fyrthe, appon fresche horses;
One Sir Feraunt before, apon a fayre stede,
Was fosterede in Famacoste_the Fende was his fadyre.
He flenges to Sir Florent, and pristly he kryes,
"Why flees thow, falls knyghte? The Fende hafe \i saule]"
Thane Sir Florent was fayne, and in fewter castys;
One Fawuell of Fryselande to Feraunt he rydys,
And raghte in \e reyne on \e stede ryche,
And rydes towarde the rowte, restes he no lengere:
Full butt in \e frounte he flysches hym euen,
And all disfegoures his face with his fell wapen;
Thurghe his bryghte bacenette his brayne has he towchede,
And brusten his neke-bone, \at all his breste stoppede.
Thane his cosyn askryede and cryede full lowde,
"Thowe has killede colde dede \e kynge of all knyghttes]"
He has bene fraistede on felde in fyftene rewmes;
He fonde neuer no freke myghte feghte with hym one.
Thow schall dye for his dede with my derfe wapen,
And all \e doughtty for dule \at in |one dale houes]"
"Fy," sais Sir Floridas, "thow fleryande wryche]
Thow wenes for to flay vs, floke-mowthede schrewe]"
Bot Floridas with a swerde, as he by glenttys,
All \e flesche of \e flanke he flappes in sondyre,
That all \e filthe of \e freke and fele of \e guttes
Foloes his fole fotte, whene he furthe rydes.
Than rydes a renke to reschewe \at byerne,
`at was Raynalde of \e Rodes and rebell to Criste,
Peruertede with paynyms \at Cristen persewes;
Presses in prowdly, as \e praye wendes,
Fore he hade in Prewsslande myche pryce wonnen_
Forthi in presence thare he profers so large.
Bot thane a renke, Sir Richere of \e Rounde Table,
One a ryall stede rydes hym a|aynes;
Thorowe a rownnde rede schelde he ruschede hym sone,
That the rosselde spere to his herte rynnes;
The renke relys abowte and rusches to \e erthe,
Roris full ruydlye, bot rade he no more.
Now all \at es fere and vnfaye of \es fyve hundreth
Falles on Sir Florent, a fyve score knyghttes;
Betwyx a plasche and a flode, appon a flate lawnde,
Oure folke fongen theire felde and fawghte them agaynes.
Than was lowde appon lofte "Lorrayne]" askryede,
When ledys with longe speris lasschen togedyrs,
And "Arthure]" on our syde, when theyme oghte aylede.
Than Sir Florent and Floridas in fewtyre \ey caste,
Fruschen on all \e frape and biernes affrayede,
Fellis fyve at \e frounte thare they fyrste enteride,
And, or they ferke forthire, fele of \ese o\ere.
Brenyes browdden they briste, brittenede scheldes,
Bettes and beres down the best \at \em byddes;
All \at rewlyd in the rowtte they ryden awaye,
So rewdly they rere theys ryall knyghttes.
When Sir Priamous, \at prince, persayuede theire gamen,
He hade pete in herte \at he ne durste profire;
He wente to Sir Gawayne and sais hym \ese wordes:
"Thi price men fore thy praye putt are all vndyre;
They are with Sarazenes ouersette, mo \an seuen hundreth
Of \e Sowdanes knyghtes owt of sere londes;
Walde \ow suffire me, Sir, for sake of thi Criste,
With a soppe of thi men suppowell theym ones?"
"I grouche noghte," quod Gawayne, "\e gree es \aire awen]
They mon hafe gwerddouns full grett graunt of my lorde;
Bot the freke men of Fraunce fraiste them selfen_
Frekes faughte noghte \eire fill this fyftene wynter.
I will noghte stire with my stale halfe a stede lenghe,
Bot they be stedde with more stuffe than on |one stede houys."
Than Sir Gawayne was warre, withowttyn \e wode hemmes,
Wyes of \e Westfale appon wyght horsez,
Walopande wodely, as \e waye forthes,
With all \e wapyns, iwys, \at to \e werre longez.
The erle Antele the Olde the avawmwarde he buskes,
Ayerande on ayther hande heghte thosande knyghtez;
His pelours and pauysers passede all nombyre
That euer any prynce lede puruayede in erthe.
Than \e Duke of Lorrayne dresesse thareaftyre,
With dowbill of \e Duchemen, \at doughtty ware holden;
Paynymes of Pruyslande, prekkers full noble,
Come prekkande before with Priamous knyghttez.
Than saide the erle Antele to Algere, his bro\er,
"Me angers ernestly at Arthure knyghtez,
Thus enkerly on an oste awnters \em selfen;
They will be owttrayede anon, are vndron ryng,
Thus folily on a felde to fyghte with vs all;
Bot they be fesede in faye ferly me thynkes.
Walde they purposse take and passe on theire wayes,
Prike home to theire prynce and theire pray leue,
They myghte lenghen theire lyefe and lossen bott littill_
It wolde lyghte my herte, so helpe me oure Lorde]"
"Sir," sais Sir Algere, "thay hafe littill vsede
To be owttrayede withe oste_me angers \e more;
The fayreste schall be full feye \at in oure floke ryddez
Alls fewe as they bene, are they the felde leue."
Than gud Gawayne, gracious and noble,
All with glorious gle he gladdis his knyghtes:
"Gloppyns noghte, gud men, for gleterand scheldes,
`ofe |one gadlyngez be gaye on |one gret horses;
Banerettez of Bretayne, buskes vp |our hertes]
Bees noghte baiste of |one boyes, ne of \aire bryghte wedis.
We sall blenke theire boste for all theire bolde profire,
Als bouxom as birde es in bede to hir lorde.
~effe we feghte todaye, \e felde schall be owrs,
The fekill faye sall faile and falssede be distroyede]
~one folk is one frountere, vnfraistede theym semes;
Thay make faythe and faye to \e Fend seluen]
We sall in this viage victoures be holden,
And avauntede with voycez of valyant biernez,
Praysede with pryncez in presence of lordes,
And luffede with ladyes in dyuerse londes;
Aughte neuer siche honoure none of oure elders_
Vnwyn ne Absolon ne non of thies o\er.
When we are moste in destresse Marie we mene,
That es oure maisters seyne, \at he myche traistez,
Melys of \at mylde Qwene that menskes vs all_
Who-so meles of \at Mayde myskaries he neuer."
Be \ese wordes ware saide, they ware noghte ferre behynd
Bot the lenghe of a launde, and "Lorayne]" askryes.
Was neuer siche a justyng at journe in erthe,
In the Vale of Iosephate, as gestes vs telles,
When Iulyus and Ioatall ware juggede to dy,
As was when \e ryche men of \e Rownde Table
Ruschede into \e rowte one ryall stedes;
For so raythely \ay rusche with roselde speris,
That the raskaille was rade, and rane to \e grefes,
And karede to \at courte as cowardes for euer.
"Peter]" sais Sir Gawayne; "This gladdez myn herte,
That |one gedlynges are non that made gret nowmbre;
I hope that thees harlottez sall harme vs bot littill,
Fore they will hyde them in haste within |one holte euis.
Thay are fewere one felde \an \ay were fyrste nombird,
Be fourtty thousande, in faythe, for all theyre faire hostes]"
Bot one Iolyan of Iene, a geante full howge,
Has jonede on Sir Ierant, a justis of Walis;
Thorowe a jerownde schelde he jogges hym thorowe,
And a fyn gesserawnte of gentill mayles_
Ioynter and gemows he jogges in sondyre.
One a jambe stede \is jurnee he makes;
Thus es \e geante forjuste, that errawnte Iewe,
And Gerard es jocunde, and joyes hym \e more.
Than the genatours of Genne enjoynes att ones,
And frykis on \e frowntere well a fyve hundreth;
A freke highte Sir Federike, with full fele o\er,
Ferkes on a frusche and fresclyche askryes,
To fyghte with oure forreours, \at on felde houis.
And thane the ryalle renkkes of \e Rownde Table
Rade furth full ernestly and rydis them agaynes,
Mellis with the medillwarde, bot they ware ill machede,
Of siche a grett multytude was meruayle to here.
Seyne at \e assemble the Sarazenes discoueres
The soueraygne of Sessoyne, that saluede was neuer;
Gyawntis forjustede with gentill knyghtes,
Thorowe gesserawntes of Iene jaggede to \e herte.
They hewe thorowe helmes hawtayne biernez,
`at \e hiltede swerdes to \aire hertes rynnys.
Than \e renkes renownd of \e Rownd Table
Ryffes and ruyssches down renayede wreches;
And thus they dreuen to \e dede dukes and erles,
All \e dreghe of \e daye, with dredfull werkes.
Than Sir Priamous \e prynce, in presens of lordes,
Presez to his penown and pertly it hentes,
Reuertede it redily and awaye rydys,
To \e ryall rowte of \e Rownde Table;
And heyly his retenus raykes hym aftyre,
For they his reson had rede on his schelde ryche.
Owte of \e scheltrone \ey schede, as schepe of a folde,
And steris furth to \e stowre and stode be \eire lorde.
Seyne they sent to \e Duke and saide hym \ise wordes:
"We hafe bene thy sowdeours this sex |ere and more;
We forsake \e todaye be serte of owre lorde;
We sewe to oure soueraynge in sere kynges londe.
Vs defawtes oure feez of \is foure wyntteres:
Thow arte feble and false and noghte bot faire wordes.
Oure wages are werede owte and \i werre endide;
We maye with oure wirchipe weend whethire vs lykes.
I red \owe trette of a trewe and trofle no lengere,
Or \ow sall tyne of thi tale ten thosande or euen."
"Fy a debles]" saide \e Duke; "The Deuell haue |our bones]
The dawngere of |on doggez drede schall I neuer.
We sall dele this daye, be dedes of armes,
My dede, and my ducherye, and my dere knyghtes.
Siche sowdeours as |e I sett bot att lyttill,
That sodanly in defawte forsakes theire lorde."
The Duke in his scheltrone dreches no lengere,
Drawes hym a dromedarie, with dredfull knyghtez;
Graythes to Sir Gawayne, with full gret nowmbyre
Of gomes of Gernaide, that greuous are holden;
Thas fresche horsede men to \e frownt rydes,
Felles of oure forreours be fourtty at ones_
They hade foughtten before with a fyve hundrethe;
It was no ferly, in faythe, \ofe they faynt waxen.
Thane Sir Gawayne was grefede and grypys his spere,
And gyrdez in agayne with galyarde knyghttez;
Metes \e Marches of Mees and melles hym thorowe,
As man of \is medill-erthe \at moste hade greuede.
Bot on Chastelayne, a childe of \e Kynges chambyr,
Was warde to Sir Wawayn of \e weste marches,
Cheses to Sir Cheldrike, a cheftayne noble,
With a chasyng he chokkes hym thurghe_
This chekke hym eschewede be chauncez of armes.
So \ay chase \at childe, eschape may he neuer;
Bot on Swyan of Swecy, with a swerde egge,
The swyers swyre-bane he swappes in sondyre;
He swounande diede and on \e swarthe lengede,
Sweltes ewynne swiftly, and swanke he no more.
`an Sir Gawayn gretes with his gray eghne_
The guyte was a gude man, begynnande of armes;
Fore the charry childe so his chere chawngide,
That the chillande watire on his chekes rynnyde.
"Woo es me," quod Gawayne, "that I ne weten hade;
I sall wage for that wye all \at I welde,
Bot I be wroken on that wye that thus has hym wondyde."
He dresses hym drerily and to \e Duke rydes,
Bot one Sir Dolphyn the derfe dyghte hym agaynes,
And Sir Gawayne hym gyrd with a grym launce,
That the grounden spere glade to his herte.
And egerly he hente owte and hurte ano\er,
An haythen knyghte, Hardolfe, happye in armes;
Sleyghly in at the slotte slyttes hym thorowe,
That the slydande spere of his hande sleppes.
Thare es slayne in \at slope, be sleyghte of his hondes,
Sexty slongen in a slade of sleghe men of armes.
`ofe Sir Gawaynne ware wo, he wayttes hym by,
And was warre of \at wye that the childe wondyde,
And with a swerde swiftly he swappes hym thorowe,
That he swyftly swelte and on \e erthe swounes.
And thane he raykes to \e rowte and ruysches one helmys,
Riche hawberkes he rente and rasede schyldes,
Rydes on a rawndoune and his rayke holdes,
Thorowowte \e rerewarde he holdes wayes;
And thare raughte in the reyne this ryall \e ryche,
And rydez into \e rowte of \e Rownde Table.
`ane oure cheualrous men changen theire horsez,
Chases and choppes down cheftaynes noble,
Hittes full hertely on helmes and scheldes,
Hurtes and hewes down haythen knyghtez;
Ketell-hattes they cleue euen to \e scholdirs_
Was neuer siche a clamour of capitaynes in erthe.
Thare was kynges sonnes kaughte, curtays and noble,
And knyghtes of \e contre, that knawen was ryche;
Lordes of Lorayne and Lumbardye bothen
LaughÕtåe was and lede in with oure lele knyghttez.
Thas \at chasede that daye, theire chaunce was bettire_
Swiche a cheke at a chace escheuede theym neuer.
When Sir Florent be fyghte had \e felde wonen,
He ferkes ine before with fyve score knyghttez;
Theire prayes and \eire presoneres passes one aftyre,
With pylours and pauysers and pryse men of armes.
Thane gudly Sir Gawayne gydes his knyghttez,
Gas in at \e gayneste, as gydes hym telles,
Fore greffe on a garysone of full gret lordes
Sulde noghte gripe vpe his gere, ne swyche grame wirche.
Forethy they stode at the straytez and with his stale houede,
Till his prayes ware paste the pathe that he dredis;
When they the cete myghte see that the Kyng seggede_
Sothely the same daye was witÕhå asawte wonnen_
An hawrawde hyes before, the beste of the lordes,
Hom at \e herbergage, owt of tha hyghe londes,
Tornys tytte to \e tente and to the Kyng telles
All the tale sothely, and how they hade spede:
"All thy forreours are fere, that forrayede withowttyn,
Sir Florent and Sir Floridas and all thy ferse knyghttez;
Thay hafe forrayede and foghten with full gret nowmbyre,
And fele of thy foomen has broghte owt of lyffe.
Oure wirchipfull wardayne es wele escheuyde,
For he has wonn todaye wirchip for euere;
He has Dolfyn slayne and \e Duke takyn;
Many dowghty es dede be dynt of his hondes.
He has presoners price, pryncez and erles,
Of \e richeste blode \at regnys in erthe;
All thy cheuallrous men faire are eschewede;
Bot a childe Chasteleynne myschance es befallen."
"Hawtayne," sais \e Kyng, "harawde, be Criste,
Thow has helyd myn herte, I hete the forsothe;
I |ife the in Hamptone a hundreth pownde large."
The Kynge \an to assawte he sembles his knyghtez,
With somercastell and sowe appon sere halfes;
Skyftis his skotiferis and skayles the wallis,
And iche wache has his warde with wiese men of armes.
Thane boldly \ay buske and bendes engynes,
Payses in pylotes and proues theire castes;
Mynsteris and masondewes they malle to \e erthe,
Chirches and chapells chalke-whitte blawnchede.
Stone Õsåtepells full styffe in \e strete ligges,
Chawmbyrs with chymnes and many cheefe inns;
Paysede and pelid down playsterede walles_
The pyne of \e pople was pete for to here.
Thane \e Duchez hire dyghte with damesels ryche,
The Cowntas of Crasyn, with hir clere maydyns,
Knelis down in \e kyrnelles thare the Kyng houede,
On a couerede horse comlyli arayede.
They knewe hym by contenaunce and criede full lowde,
"Kyng crownede of kynde, take kepe to \ese wordes]
We beseke |ow, Sir, as soueraynge and lorde,
That |e safe vs todaye, for sake of |oure Criste;
Send vs some socoure and saughte with the pople,
Or \e cete be sodaynly with assawte wonnen."
He weres his vesere with a vowt noble;
With vesage vertouous, this valyante bierne
Meles to hir myldly with full meke wordes:
"Sall no mysse do |ow, ma dame, \at to me lenges;
I gyf |ow chartire of pes, and |oure cheefe maydens,
The childire and \e chaste men, the cheualrous knyghtez;
The Duke es in dawngere, dredis it bott littyll.
He sall be demyd full wele, dout |ow noghte elles."
Thane sent he on iche a syde to certayne lordez,
For to leue \e assawte, the cete was |olden;
With \e Erle eldeste son he sent hym \e kayes,
And seside \e same nyghte, be sent of \e lordes.
The Duke to Douere es dyghte, and all his dere knyghtez,
To duelle in dawngere and dole \e dayes of hys lyue.
Thare fleede at the ferrere |ate folke withowttyn nombyre,
For ferde of Sir Florent and his fers knyghtez;
Voydes the cete and to the wode rynnys,
With vetaile and vessell and vestoure so ryche.
Thay buske vpe a banere abown \e brode |ates_
Of Sir Florent, in fay, so fayne was he neuer;
The knyghte houys on a hyll, behelde to \e wallys,
And saide, "I see be |one syngne the cete es oures."
Sir Arthure enters anon, with hostes arayede,
Euen at \e vndrone etles to lenge.
In iche leuere on lowde the Kynge did crye,
Of payne of lyf and lym and lesyng of londes,
That no lele ligemane, that to hym lonngede,
Sulde lye be no ladysse, no be no lele maydyns,
Ne be no burgesse wyffe, better ne werse,
Ne no biernez mysebide, that to \e burghe longede.
When \e Kyng Arthure had lely conquerid,
And the castell couerede of \e kythe riche,
All \e crowell and kene, be craftes of armes,
Captayns and constables knewe hym for lorde.
He deuysede and delte to dyuerse lordez
A dowere for \e Duchez and hir dere childire;
Wroghte wardaynes by wytte to welde all \e londez,
That he had wonnen of werre, thorowe his weise knyghtez.
Thus in Lorayne he lenges, as lorde in his awen,
Settez lawes in the lande, as hym leefe tÕhåoghte.
And one \e Lammese Day to Lucerne he wendez,
Lengez thare at laysere with lykyng inowe;
Thare his galays ware graythede, a full gret nombyre,
All gleterand as glase, vndire grene hyllys,
With cabanes couerede for kynges anoyntede,
With clothes of clere golde for knyghtez and o\er,
Sone stowede theire stuffe and stablede \eire horses,
Strekes streke ouer \e strem into \e strayte londez.
Now he moues his myghte with myrthes of herte,
Ouere mowntes so hye, \ase meruailous wayes;
Gosse in by Goddarde, the garett he wynnys,
Graythes the garnison grisely wondes.
When he was passede the heghte, than the Kyng houys
With his hole bataylle, behaldande abowte,
Lukand one Lumbarddye, and one lowde melys,
"In |one lykand londe, lorde be I thynke."
Thane they cayre to Combe, with kyngez anoyntede,
That was kyde of \e coste, kay of all o\er.
Sir Florent and Sir Floridas \an fowndes before,
With freke men of Fraunce well a fyve hundreth;
To \e cete vnsene thay soghte at \e gayneste,
And sett an enbuschement, als \em selfe lykys.
Thane ischewis owt of \at cete, full sone be \e morne,
Slely discouerours, skyftes theire horses;
Than skyftes \es skouerours and skippes on hyllis,
Diskoueres for skulkers that they no skathe lymppen.
Pouerall and pastorelles passede on aftyre,
With porkes to pasture at the price |ates;
Boyes in \e subarbis bourden full heghe,
At a bare synglere that to \e bente rynnys.
Thane brekes oure buschement and the brigge wynnes,
Brayedez into \e burghe with baners displayede;
Stekes and stabbis thorowe that them a|aynes-stondes;
Fowre stretis or \ay stynte they stroyen fore euere.
Now es the Conquerour in Combe and his courte holdes
Within \e kyde castelll, with kynges enoynttede;
Reconsaillez the comouns \at to \e kyth lengez,
Comfourthes \e carefull with knyghtly wordez;
Made a captayne kene a knyghte of hys awen,
Bot all \e contre and he full sone ware accordide.
The Syre of Melane herde saye \e cete was wonnen,
And send to Arthure sertayne lordes,
Grete sommes of golde, sexti horse chargegid,
Besoghte hym as souerayne to socoure \e pople,
And saide he wolde sothely be sugette for euer,
And make hym seruece and suytte for his sere londes;
For Plesaunce, for Pawnce, and for Pownte Tremble,
For Pyse, and for Pavy, he profers full large,
Bothe purpur and palle and precious stonys,
Palfrayes for any prynce and prouede stedes;
And ilke a |ere for Melan a melion of golde,
Mekely at Martynmesse to menske with his hordes;
And euer withowttyn askyng he and his ayers
Be homagers to Arthure, whills his lyffe lastis.
The Kyng be his concell a condethe hym sendis,
And he es comen to Combe, and knewe hym as lorde.
Into Tuskane he tournez, when \us wele tymede,
Takes townnes full tyte, with towrres full heghe;
Walles he welte down, wondyd knyghtez,
Towrres he turnes and turmentez \e pople,
Wroghte wedewes full wlonke wrotherayle synges,
Ofte wery and wepe and wryngen theire handis;
And all he wastys with werre, thare he awaye rydez,
Thaire welthes and theire wonnyÕnåges, wandrethe he wroghte.
Thus they spryngen and sprede and sparis bot lyttill,
Spoylles dispetouslye and spillis theire vynes,
Spendis vnsparely \at sparede was lange,
Spedis them to Spolett with speris inewe.
Fro Spayne into Spruyslande the worde of hym sprynges,
And spekynngs of his spencis_disspite es full hugge.
Towarde Viterbe this valyant avires the reynes;
Avissely in \at vale he vetailles his biernez,
With vernage and o\er wyne and venyson baken;
And one the Vicounte londes he visez to lenge.
Vertely the avawmwarde voydez theire horsez,
In the Vertennon Vale, the vines imangez;
Thare suggeournes this souerayne with solace in herte,
To see when the senatours sent any wordes.
Reuell with riche wyne, riotes hym selfen,
This roy with his ryall men of \e Rownde Table,
With myrthis and melodye and manykyn gamnes_
Was neuer meriere men made on this erthe.
Bot one a Seterdaye at none, a seuenyghte thareaftyre,
The konyngeste cardynall that to the courte lengede,
Knelis to \e Conquerour and karpes thire wordes:
Prayes hym for \e pes and profyrs full large,
To hafe pete of \e Pope, \at put was atvndyre;
Besoghte hym of surrawns, for sake of oure Lorde,
Bot a seuenyghte daye to \ay ware all semblede,
And they schulde sekerlye hym see the Sonondaye \eraftyre,
In the cete of Rome, as soueraynge and lorde;
And crown hym kyndly with krysomede hondes,
With his ceptre and swerde, as soueraynge and lorde.
Of this vndyrtakyng ostage are comyn,
Of ayers full auenaunt awughte score childrenne,
In toges of tarsse full richelye attyryde,
And betuke them the Kynge and his clere knyghttes.
When they had tretide thiere trewe, with trowmpynge \erafter,
They tryne vnto a tente, whare tables whare raysede;
The Kynge hym selfen es sette, and certayne lordes,
Vndyre a sylure of sylke, sawghte at the burdez;
All the senatours are sette sere be \am one,
Serfed solemply with selcouthe metes.
The Kyng myghtty of myrthe, with his mylde wordes,
Rehetez the Romaynes at his riche table,
Comforthes the Cardynall so knyghtly hym seluen;
And this roye ryall, as romawns vs tellis,
Reuerence the Romayns in his riche table.
The tawghte men and \e conynge, when them tym thoghte,
Tas theire lefe at \e Kynge and tornede agayne:
To \e cete \at nyghte thaye soughte at \e gayneste,
And thus the ostage of Rome with Arthure es leuede.
Than this roy royall rehersys theis wordes:
"Now may we reuell and riste, fore Rome es oure awen]
Make oure ostage at ese, \ise auenaunt childyren,
And luk |e honden them all that in myn oste lengez.
The Emperour of Almayne and all theis este marches,
We sall be ouerlynge of all \at on the erthe lengez]
We will by \e Crosse Dayes encroche \eis londez,
And at \e Crystynmesse Daye be crowned theraftyre;
Ryngne in my ryalltes, and holde my Rownde Table,
Withe the rentes of Rome, as me beste lykes;
Syne graythe ouer \e grette see with gud men of armes,
To reuenge the Renke that on the Rode dyede."
Thane this comlyche Kynge, as cronycles tellys,
Bownnys brathely to bede with a blythe herte;
Of he slynges with sleghte and slakes gyrdill,
And fore slewthe of slomowre on a slepe fallis.
Bot be ane aftyre mydnyghte all his mode changede:
He mett in the morne-while full meruaylous dremes.
And when his dredefull drem whas drefen to \e ende,
The Kynge dares for dowte, dye as he scholde;
Sendes aftyre phylosophers, and his affraye telles:
"Sen I was formede, in fayth, so ferde whas I neuer]
Forthy rawnsakes redyly and rede me my swefennys,
And I sall redily and ryghte rehersen the sothe.
Me thoughte I was in a wode willed myn one,
That I ne wiste no waye whedire \at I scholde,
Fore woluez and whilde swynne and wykkyde bestez
Walkede in that wasternne, wathes to seche;
Thare lyouns full lothely lykkyde \eire tuskes,
All fore lapynge of blude of my lele knyghtez.
Thurghe \at foreste I flede, thare floures whare heghe,
For to fele me for ferde of tha foule thyngez;
Merkede to a medowe with montayngnes enclosyde,
The meryeste of medillerthe that men myghte beholde.
The close was in compas castyn all abowte
With clauer and clereworte clede euen ouer;
The vale was enuerownde with vynes of siluer,
All with grapis of golde, gretter ware neuer;
Enhorilde with arborye and alkyns trees,
Erberis full honeste and hyrdez \erevndyre;
All froytez foddenid was \at floreschede in erthe,
Faire frithed in frawnke appon tha free bowes;
Whas thare no downkynge of dewe that oghte dere scholde:
With \e drowghte of \e daye all drye ware \e flores.
Than discendis in the dale, down fra \e clowddez,
A duches dereworthily dyghte in dyaperde wedis,
In a surcott of sylke selkouthely hewede,
All with loyotour ouerlaide lowe to pe hemmes,
And with ladily lappes the lenghe of a |erde,
And all redily reuersside with rebanes of golde;
Bruchez and besauntez and o\er bryghte stonys
With hir bake and hir breste was brochede all ouer;
With kelle and with corenall clenliche arrayede,
And \at so comly of colour on knowen was neuer.
Abowte cho whirllide a whele with hir whitte hondez,
Ouerwhelme all qwayntely \e whele as cho scholde;
The rowell whas rede golde with ryall stonys,
Raylide with reches and rubyes inewe;
The spekes was splentide all with speltis of siluer,
The space of a spere lenghe springande full faire;
Thereone was a chayere of chalke-whytte siluer,
And chekyrde with charebocle, chawngynge of hewes.
Appon \e compas ther clewide kyngis one rawe,
With corowns of clere golde \at krakede in sondire;
Sex was of \at setill full sodaynliche fallen,
Ilke a segge by hym selfe, and saide theis wordez:
'That euer I rengnede on \ir roo me rewes it euer]
Was neuer roye so riche that regnede in erthe;
Whene I rode in my rowte, roughte I noghte ells,
Bot reuaye and reuell and rawnson the pople;
And thus I drife forthe my dayes, whills I dreghe myghte,
And therefore derflyche I am dampnede for euer.'
The laste was a lityll man that laide was benethe;
His leskes laye all lene and latheliche to schewe,
The lokkes lyarde and longe, the lenghe of a |erde,
His lire and his lygham lamede full sore;
`e tone eye of \e byeryn was brighttere \an siluer,
The to\er was |alowere then the |olke of a naye.
'I was lorde,' quod the lede, 'of londes inewe,
And all ledis me lowttede that lengede in erthe;
And nowe es lefte me no lappe my lygham to hele,
Bot lightly now am I loste, leue iche mane the sothe.'
The secunde sir, forsothe, \at sewede them aftyre,
Was sekerare to my sighte and saddare in armes;
Ofte he syghede vnsownde and said theis wordes:
'On |one see hafe I sitten als souerayne and lorde,
And ladys me louede to lappe in theyre armes;
And nowe my lordchippes are loste and laide for euer.'
The thirde thorowely was throo and thikke in the schuldyrs,
A thra man to thrette of, there thretty ware gaderide;
His dyadem was droppede down, dubbyde with stonys,
Endente all with diamawndis and dighte for \e nonis;
'I was dredde in my dayes,' he said, 'in dyuerse rewmes,
And now dampnede to \e dede, and dole es the more.'
The fourte was a faire mane and forsy in armes,
`e fayreste of fegure that fourmede was euer:
'I was frekke, in my faithe,' he said, 'whills I one fowlde regnede,
Famows in ferre londis and floure of all knyges;
Now es my face defadide, and foule es me hapnede,
For I am fallen fro ferre and frendles byleuyde.'
The fifte was a faire man \an fele of \ies o\er,
A forsy man and a ferse, with fomand lippis;
He fongede faste on \e feleyghes and falded his armes,
Bot |it he failede and fell a fyfty fote large;
Bot |it he sprange and sprente and spradden his armes,
And one \e spere-lenghe spekes, he spekes \ire wordes:
'I was in Surrye a syr and sett be myn one,
As souerayne and seyngnour of sere kynges londis;
Now of my solace I am full sodanly fallen,
And for sake of my syn, |one sete es me rewede.'
The sexte hade a sawtere semliche bownden,
With a surepel of silke sewede full faire,
A harpe and a hande-slynge with harde flynte stones;
What harmes he has hente he halowes full sone:
'I was demede in my dayes,' he said, 'of dedis of armes,
One of the doughtyeste that duellede in erthe;
Bot I was merride one molde in my moste strenghethis,
With this mayden so mylde, \at mofes vs all.'
Two kynges ware clymbande and clauerande one heghe.
The creste of \e compas they couette full |erne;
'This chaire of charbokle,' they said, 'we chalange hereaftyre,
As two of \e cheffeste chosen in erthe.'
The childire ware chalke-whitte, chekys and o\er,
Bot the chayere abownne cheuede they neuer;
The forthirmaste was freely, with a frount large,
The faireste of fyssnamy \at fourmede was euer;
And he was buskede in a blee of a blewe noble,
With flourdelice of golde floreschede al ouer;
The to\er was cledde in a cote all of clene siluer,
With a comliche crosse coruen of golde,
Fowre crosselettes krafty by \e crosse ristes,
And therby knewe I the kyng, \at crystnede hym semyde.
Than I went to \at wlonke and wynly hire gretis,
And cho said, 'Welcom iwis; wele arte thow fownden;
The aughte to wirchipe my will, and thow wele cowthe,
Of all the valyant men that euer was in erthe;
Fore all thy wirchipe in werre by me has thow wonnen.
I hafe bene frendely, freke, and fremmede till o\er,
That has \ow fownden in faithe, and fele of \i biernez:
Fore I fellid down Sir Frolle with frowarde knyghtes;
Forethi the fruytes of Fraunce are freely thynne awen.
Thow sall \e chayere escheue, I chese \e my selfen,
Before all \e cheftaynes chosen in this erthe.'
Scho lifte me vp lightly with hir lene hondes,
And sette me softely in the see, \e septre me rechede;
Craftely with a kambe cho kembede myn heuede,
That the krispane kroke to my crownne raughte;
Dressid one me a diademe that dighte was full faire,
And syne profres me a pome pighte full of faire stonys,
Enamelde with azoure, the erth thereon depayntide,
Serkylde with the salte see appone sere halfes,
In sygne \at I sothely was souerayne in erthe.
Than broght cho me a brande with full bryghte hiltes,
And bade me 'Brawndysche \e blade, \e brande es myn awen;
Many swayn with \e swynge has the swÕeåtte leuede,
For whills thow swanke with the swerde, it swykkede \e neuer.'
Than raykes cho with roo and riste when hir likede,
To \e ryndes of \e wode_richere was neuer;
Was no pomarie so pighte of pryncez in erthe,
Ne nonne apparayll so prowde, bot Paradys one.
Scho bad \e bewes scholde bewe down and bryng to my hondes
Of \e beste that they bare one brawnches so heghe;
Than they heldede to hir heste all holly at ones,
The hegheste of iche a hirste, I hette |ow forsothe.
Scho bade me fyrthe noghte \e fruyte, bot fonde whills me likede:
'Fonde of \e fyneste, thow frelich byerne,
And reche to \e ripeste and ryotte thy seluen.
Riste, thow ryalle roye, for Rome es thyn awen]
And I sall redily roll \e roo at \e gayneste,
And reche the \e riche wyne in rynsede coupes.'
Thane cho wente to \e welle by \e wode euis,
That all wellyde of wyne and wondirliche rynnes;
Kaughte vy a coppe-full and couerde it faire;
Scho bad me dereliche drawe and drynke to hir selfen.
And thus cho lede me abowte the lenghe of an owre,
With all likyng and luffe \at any lede scholde;
Bot at \e myddaye full ewyn all hir mode chaungede,
And mad myche manace with meruayllous wordez.
When I cryede appon hire, cho kest down hir browes:
'Kyng, thow karpes for noghte, be Criste \at me made]
For thow sall lose this layke and thi lyfe aftyre;
Thow has lyffede in delytte and lordchippes inewe]'
Abowte scho whirles the whele and whirles me vndire,
Till all my qwarters \at whille whare qwaste al to peces,
And with that chayere my chyne was chopped in sondire]
And I hafe cheueride for chele sen me this chance happenede.
Than wakkenyde I iwys, all wery fordremyde,
And now wate thow my woo, worde as \e lykes.
Freke, sais the philosophre, thy fortune es passede;
For thow sall fynd hir thi foo_frayste when the lykes.
Thow arte at \e hegheste, I hette the forsothe;
Chalange nowe when thow will, thow cheuys no more.
Thow has schedde myche blode and schalkes distroyede,
Sakeles, in cirquytrie, in sere kynges landis.
Schryfe the of thy schame and schape for thyn ende;
Thow has a schewynge, Sir Kynge_take kepe |if the lyke;
For thow sall fersely fall within fyve wynters.
Fownde abbayes in Fraunce_\e froytez are theyn awen_
Fore Froill and for Ferawnt and for thir ferse knyghttis,
That thowe fremydly in Fraunce has faye beleuede.
Take kepe |itte of o\er kynges and kaste in thyne herte,
That were conquerours kydde and crownnede in erthe:
The eldeste was Alexandere, \at all \e erthe lowttede,
The to\er Ector of Troye, the cheualrous gume;
The thirde Iulyus Cesare, \at geant was holden,
In iche jorne jentill, ajuggede with lordes;
The ferthe was Sir Iudas, a justere full nobill,
The maysterfull Makabee, the myghttyeste of strenghes;
The fyfte was Iosue, \at joly mane of armes,
`at in Ierusalem oste full myche joye lymppede;
The sexte was Dauid \e dere, demyd with kynges
One of \e doughtyeste \at dubbede was euer;
For he slewe with a slynge, be sleyghte of his handis,
Golyas the grette gome, grymmeste in erthe,
Syne endittede in his dayes all the dere psalmes,
`at in \e sawtire ere sette with selcouthe wordes;
The two clymbande kynges, I knawe it forsothe,
Sall Karolus be callide, the kyng son of Fraunce;
He sall be crowell and kene, and conquerour holden,
Couere be conqueste contres ynewe;
He sall encroche the crowne that Crist bare hym selfen,
And \at lifeliche launce that lepe to his herte,
When he was crucyfiede one Crose, and all \e kene naylis,
Knyghtly he sall conquere to Cristyn men hondes.
The to\er sall be Godfraye, that Gode schall reuenge
One \e Gud Frydaye with galyarde knyghtes;
He sall of Lorrayne be lorde, be leefe of his fadire,
And syne in Ierusalem myche joye happyn,
For he sall couer the Crosse be craftes of armes,
And synne be corownde kynge with krysome enoynttede;
Sall no duke in his dayes siche destanye happyn,
Ne siche myschefe dreghe when trewthe sall be tryede.
Forethy Fortune \e fetches to fulfill the nowmbyre,
Alls nynne of \e nobileste namede in erthe:
This sall in romance be redde with ryall knyghttes,
Rekkenede and renownde with ryotous kynges,
And demyd on Domesdaye, for dedis of armes,
For \e doughtyeste \at euer was duelland in erthe;
So many clerkis and kynges sall karpe of |oure dedis,
And kepe |oure conquestez in cronycle for euer.
Bot the wolfes in the wode and the whilde bestes,
Are some wikkyd men that werrayes thy rewmes,
Es entirde in thyn absence to werraye thy pople,
And alyenys and ostes of vncouthe landis.
Thow getis tydandis, I trowe, within ten dayes,
That some torfere es tydde, sen thow fro home turnede;
I rede thow rekkyn and reherse vnresonable dedis,
Ore the repenttes full rathe all thi rewthe werkes.
Mane, amende thy mode, or thow myshappen,
And mekely aske mercy for mede of thy saule.
Thane rysez the riche Kyng and rawghte on his wedys,
A reede acton of rosse, the richeste of floures,
A pesane and a paunson and a pris girdill;
And one he henttis a hode of scharlette full riche,
A pauys pillion hatt, \at pighte was full faire
With perry of \e Oryent and precyous stones;
His gloues gayliche gilte and grauen by \e hemmys
With graynes of rubyes full gracious to schewe.
His bede grehownde and his bronde ande no byerne ells,
And bownnes ouer a brode mede, with breth at his herte;
Furth he stalkis a stye by \a still euys,
Stotays at a hey strette, studyande hym one.
Att the surs of \e sonne he sees there commande,
Raykande to Romewarde the redyeste wayes,
A renke in a rownde cloke with righte rowmme clothes,
With hatte and with heyghe schone homely and rownde;
With flatte ferthynges the freke was floreschede all ouer,
Manye schredys and schragges at his skyrttes hynnges;
With scrippe ande with slawyn and skalopis inewe,
Both pyke and palme alls pilgram hym scholde.
The gome graythely hym grette and bade gode morwen;
The Kyng lordelye hym selfe, of langage of Rome,
Of Latyn corroumppede all, full louely hym menys:
Whedire wilnez thowe, wye, walkande thyn one?
Qwhylls \e werlde es o werre, a wawhte I it holde.
Here es ane enmye with oste vndire |one vynes:
And they see the, forsothe, sorowe the betyddes;
Bot |if thow hafe condethe of \e Kynge selfen,
Knaues will kill the and keppe at thow haues;
And if \ou halde \e hey waye, they hente the also,
Bot if thow hastyly hafe helpe of his hende knyghttes.
Than karpes Sir Cradoke to the Kynge selfen:
I sall forgyffe hym my dede, so me Gode helpe,
Onye grome vndire Gode that one this grownde walkes.
Latte the keneste come that to \e Kyng langes,
I sall encountire hym as knyghte, so Criste hafe my sawle]
For thow may noghte reche me, no areste thy selfen,
`offe \ou \e richely arayede in full riche wedys.
I will noghte wonde for no werre to wende whare me likes,
Ne for no wy of this werlde \at wroghte es on erthe]
Bot I will passe in pilgremage \is \as vnto Rome,
To purchese me pardone of the Pape selfen,
And of paynes of Purgatorie be plenerly assoyllede.
Thane sall I seke sekirly my souerayne lorde,
Sir Arthure of Inglande, that auenaunt byerne;
For he es in this empire, as hathell men me telles,
Ostayande in this Oryente with awfull knyghtes.
Fro qwyn come \ou, kene man, quod \e Kynge than,
That knawes Kynge Arthure and his knyghttes also?
Was \ou euer in his courte, qwylls he in kyth lengede?
Thow karpes so kyndly, it comforthes myn herte.
Well wele has \ou wente and wysely \ou sechis,
For \ou arte Bretowne bierne, as by thy brode speche.
Me awghte to knowe \e Kynge: he es my kydde lorde,
And I calde in his courte a knyghte of his chambire;
Sir Craddoke was I callide in his courte riche,
Kepare of Karlyon vndir the Kynge selfen:
Nowe am I cachede owtt of kyth with kare at my herte,
And that castell es cawghte with vncowthe ledys.
Than the comliche kynge kaughte hym in armes,
Keste of his ketill-hatte and kyssede hym full sone,
Saide, Welcom, Sir Craddoke, so Criste mott me helpe]
Dere cosyn of kynde, thowe coldis myn herte;
How faris it in Bretayne, with all my bolde beryns?
Are they brettenede or brynte or broughte owte of lyue?
Ken \ou me kyndely whatte caase es befallen;
I kepe no credens to crafe_I knawe the for trewe.
Sir, thi wardane es wikkede and wilde of his dedys,
For he wandreth has wroghte sen \ou awaye passede:
He has castells encrochede and corownde hym seluen,
Kaughte in all \e rentis of \e Rownde Tabill;
He devisede \e rewme and delte as hym likes,
Dubbede of \e Danmarkes dukes and erlles,
Disseueride \em sondirwise and cites dystroyede.
To Sarazenes and Sessoynes appon sere halues,
He has semblede a sorte of selcouthe berynes;
Soueraynes of Surgenale and sowdeours many,
Of Peyghtes and paynyms and prouede knyghttes,
Of Irelande and Orgaile owtlawede berynes.
All thaa laddes are knyghttes \at lange to \e mowntes,
And ledynge and lordechipe has all, alls them selfe likes;
And there es Sir Childrike a cheftayne holdyn,
That ilke cheualrous man, he chargges thy pople;
They robbe thy religeous and ravische thi nones,
And redy ryddis with his rowtte to rawnsone \e pouere;
Fro Humbyre to Hawyke he haldys his awen,
And all \e cowntre of Kentt be couenawnte entayllide;
The comliche castells that to the corown langede,
The holttes and the hare wode and the harde bankkes_
All \at Henguste and Hors hent in \eire tym;
Att Southampton on the see es seuen skore chippes,
Frawghte full of ferse folke owt of ferre landes,
For to fyghte with thy frappe when \ow them assailles.
Bot |itt a worde witterly, thowe watte noghte \e werste:
He has weddede Waynore, and hir his wieffe holdis,
And wonnys in the wilde bowndis of \e weste marches,
And has wroghte hire with childe, as wittnesse tellis.
Off all \e wyes of \is worlde, woo motte hym worthe,
Alls wardayne vnworthye women to |eme.
Thus has Sir Modrede merrede vs all]
Forthy I merkede ouer thees mowntes to mene \e the sothe.
Than the burliche kynge, for brethe at his herte,
And for this botelesse bale, all his ble chaungede.
By \e Rode, sais \e Roye, I sall it revenge]
Hym sall repente full rathe all his rewthe werkes]
All wepande for woo he went to his tentis;
Vnwynly this wyesse kynge he wakkenysse his beryns,
Clepid in a clarioune kynges and othire,
Callys them to concell and of \is cas tellys:
I am with treson betrayede, for all my trewe dedis;
And all my trauayle es tynt, me tydis no bettire]
Hym sall torfere betyde \is tresone has wroghte,
And I may traistely hym take, as I am trew lorde.
This es Modrede, \e mane that I moste trystede,
Has my castells encrochede and corownde hym seluen,
With renttes and reches of the Rownde Table;
Has made all hys retenewys of renayede wrechis,
And devysed my rewme to dyverse lordes,
To sowdeours and to Sarazenes owtte of sere londes.
He has weddyde Waynore and hyr to wyefe holdes;
And a childe es eschapede, the chaunce es no bettire.
They hafe semblede on the see seuen schore chippis,
Full of ferrom folke to feghte with myn one;
Forthy to Bretayne the Brode buske vs byhouys,
For to brettyn the beryne that has this bale raysede.
Thare sall no freke men fare bott all one fresche horses,
That are fraistede in fyghte and floure of my knyghttez;
Sir Howell and Sir Hardolfe here sall beleue,
To be lordes of the ledis that here to me lenges;
Lokes into Lumbardye \at thare no lede chaunge,
And tendirly to Tuskayne take tente alls I byde;
Resaywe the rentis of Rome qwen \ay are rekkenede;
Take sesyn the same daye that laste was assygnede,
Or elles all \e ostage withowttyn \e wallys,
Be hynggyde hye appon hyghte all holly at ones.
Nowe bownes the bolde kynge with Õhiså beste knyghtes,
Gers trome and trusse and trynes forth aftyre;
Turnys thorowe Tuskayne, taries bot littill,
Lyghte noghte in Lumbarddye bot when \e lyghte failede;
Merkes ouer the mowntaynes full mervaylous wayes,
Ayres thurghe Almaygne evyne at the gayneste,
Ferkes evyne into Flawndresche with hys ferse knyghttes.
Within fyftene dayes his flete es assemblede,
And thane he schoupe hym to chippe and schownes no lengere,
Scherys with a charpe wynde ouer \e schyre waters.
By \e roche with ropes he rydes on ankkere,
Thare the false men fletyde and one flode lengede,
With chefe chaynes of chare chokkode togedyrs,
Charggede evyn chekeful of cheualrous knyghtes,
And in \e hynter one heghte helmes and crestes;
Hatches with haythen men hillyd ware tharevndyre,
Prowdliche purtrayede with payntede clothys,
Iche a pece by pece prykkyde tyll o\er_
Dubbyde with dagswaynnes dowblede they seme;
And thus \e derfe Danamarkes had dyghte all theyre chippys,
That no dynte of no darte dere them ne schoulde.
Than the Roye and \e renkes of the Rownde Table
All ryally in rede arrayes his chippis;
That daye ducheryes he delte and doubbyde knyghttes,
Dresses dromowndes and dragges and drawen vpe stonys;
The toppe-castells he stuffede with toyelys, as hym lykyde.
Bendys bowes of vys brothly \areaftyre;
Tolowris tentyly takell they ryghtten,
Brasen hedys full brode buskede one flones,
Graythes for garnysons gomes arrayes;
Gryme gaddes of stele, ghywes of iryn,
Sti|ttelys steryn one steryne with styffe men of armes;
Mony lufliche launce appon lofte stondys,
Ledys one leburde, lordys and o\er,
Pyghte payvese one porte, payntede scheldes,
One hyndire hurdace one highte helmede knyghtez.
Thus they scheften fore schotys one thas schire strandys,
Ilke schalke in his schrowde_full scheen ware \eire wedys.
The bolde kynge es in a barge and abowtte rowes,
All bare-heuvede for besye with beueryn lokkes,
And a beryn with his bronde and ane helme betyn,
Mengede with a mawntelet of maylis of siluer,
Compaste with a coronall and couerde full riche;
Kayris to yche a cogge to comfurthe his knyghttes:
To Clegys and Cleremownde he cryes one lowde,
O Gawayne, O Galyran, thies gud mens bodyes.
To Loth and to Lyonell full louefly he melys,
And to Sir Lawncelot de Lake lordiche wordys:
Lat vs couere \e kythe_the coste es owre ownn_
And gere them brotheliche blenke, all |one blod-hondes,
Bryttyn them within bourde and brynne them \areaftyre;
Hewe down hertly |one heythen tykes]
Thay are harlotes halfe, I hette |ow myn honnde]
Than he coueres his cogge and caches one ankere,
Kaughte his comliche helme with \e clere maylis,
Buskes baners one brode, betyn of gowles,
With corowns of clere golde, clenliche arraiede;
Bot \are was chosen in \e chefe a chalke-whitte Mayden,
And a Childe in hir arme, \at Chefe es of Hevyne;
Withowtten changyng in chace, thies ware \e cheefe armes
Of Arthure \e auenaunt, qwhylls he in erthe lengede.
Thane the marynerse mellys and maysters of chippis;
Merily iche a mate menys till o\er:
Of theire termys they talke, how \ay ware tydd,
Towyn trvssell one trete, trvssen vpe sailes,
Bet bonettez one brede, bettrede hatches,
Brawndeste brown stele, braggede in trompes,
Standis styffe one the stamyn, steris one aftyre,
Strekyn ouer \e streme thare stryvynge begynnes.
Fro \e wagande wynde owte of \e weste rysses,
Brethly bessomes with byrre in beryns sailles;
With hir bryngges one burde burliche cogges,
Qwhylls \e bilyge and \e beme brestys in sondyre;
So stowttly \e forsterne one \e stam hyttis,
`at stokkes of \e stere-burde strykkys in peces.
Be than cogge appon cogge, krayers and o\er,
Castys crepers one crosse als to \e crafte langes.
Thane was hede-rapys hewen \at helde vpe \e mastes;
Thare was conteke full kene and crachynge of chippys:
Grett cogges of kampe crasseches in sondyre;
Mony kaban clevede, cabills destroyede.
Knyghtes and kene men killide the braynes;
Kidd castells were corven with all theire kene wapen,
Castells full comliche \at coloured ware faire.
Vptyhes eghelyng \ay ochen \areaftyre:
With \e swynge of \e swerde sweys \e mastys,
Ovyrefallys in \e firste frekis and othire;
Frekke in \e forchipe fey es byleuefede.
Than brothely they bekyre with boustouse tacle;
Bruschese boldlye on burde brynyede knyghtes,
Owt of botes one burd was buskede with stonys,
Bett down of \e beste, brystis the hetches;
Som gomys thourghegyrde with gaddys of yryn:
Gomys gayliche clede englaymes wapen.
Archers of Inglande full egerly schottes,
Hittis thourghe \e harde stele full hertly dynttis.
Sone hotchen in holle the he\ene knyghtes_
Hurte thourghe \e harde stele, hele they neuer.
Than they fall to \e fyghte, foynes with sperys,
All the frekkeste one frownte \at to \e fyghte langes;
And ilkon frechely fraystez theire strenghes,
Were to fyghte in \e flete with theire fell wapyn.
Thus they dalte \at daye, thire dubbide knyghtes,
Till all \e Danes ware dede and in \e depe throwen.
Than Bretons brothely with brondis they hewen,
Lepys in vpone lofte lordeliche berynes;
When ledys of owt-londys leppyn in waters,
All oure lordes one lowde laughen at ones.
Be thane speris whare sprongen, spalddyd chippys,
Spanyolis spedily sprentyde ouer burdez;
All \e kene men of kampe, knyghtes and o\er,
Killyd are colde dede and castyn ouer burdez.
Theire swyers sweyftly has \e swete leuyde;
He\en heuande on hatche in \er hawe ryses,
Synkande in \e salte see seuen hundrethe at ones.
Thane Sir Gawayne the gude, he has \e gree wonnen,
And all \e cogges grete he gafe to his knyghtes,
Sir Geryn and Sir Grisswolde and othir gret lordes,
Garte Galuth, a gud gome, girde of \aire hedys.
Thus of \e false flete appon \e flode happenede,
And thus \eis feryne folke fey are beleuede.
~itt es \e traytoure one londe with tryede knyghttes,
And all trompede they trippe one trappede stedys,
Schewes them vndir schilde one \e schire bankkes_
He ne schownttes for no schame but schewes full heghe.
Sir Arthure and Gawayne avyede them bothen,
To sexty thosandez of men \at in theire syghte houede.
Be this the folke was fellyde, thane was \e flode passede;
Thane was it slyke a slowde in slakkes full hugge,
That let \e Kyng for to lande in the lawe watyre;
Forthy he lengede on laye for lesyng of horsys,
To loke of his legemen and of his lele knyghtes,
~if any ware lamede or loste, life |ife they scholde.
Than Sir Gawayn \e gude a galaye he takys,
And glides vp at a gole with gud men of armes;
When he growndide, for grefe he gyrdis in \e watere,
That to \e girdyll he gos in all his gylte wedys;
Schottis vpe appon \e sonde in syghte of \e lordes,
Sengly with hys soppe_my sorowe es the more.
With baners of his bagys, beste of his armes,
He braydes vp on the banke in his bryghte wedys;
He byddys his baneoure, Buske \ow belyfe
To |one brode batayle that one |one banke houes,
And I ensure |ow sothe I sall |owe sewe aftyre.
Loke |e blenke for no bronde, ne for no bryghte wapyn,
Bot beris down of \e beste and bryng them o dawe;
Bees noghte abayste of theire boste, abyde on \e erthe.
~e haue my baneres borne in batailles full hugge;
We sall fell |one false, \e Fende hafe theire saules]
Fightes faste with \e frape, \e felde sall be owres;
May I \at traytoure ouertake, torfere hym tyddes,
That this treson has tymbyrde to my trewe lorde.
Of siche a engendure full littyll joye happyns,
And \at sall in this journee be juggede full euen.
Now they seke ouer \e sonde \is soppe at \e gayneste,
Sembles one \e sowdeours and settys theire dyntys:
Thourghe \e scheldys so schene schalkes \ey towche,
With schaftes scheueride schorte of \as schene launces;
Derfe dynttys they dalte with daggande sperys.
One \e danke of \e dewe many dede lyggys:
Dukes and duszeperis and dubbide knyghttys;
The doughttyeste of Danemarke vndone are for euer.
Thus thas renkes in rewthe rittis theire brenyes,
And rechis of \e richeste vnreken dynttis;
Thare they thronge in the thikke and thristis to \e erthe
Of the thraeste men thre hundrethe at ones.
Bot Sir Gawayne for grefe myghte noghte agayne-stande,
Vmbegrippys a spere and to a gome rynnys,
`at bare of gowles full gaye with gowtes of syluere;
He gyrdes hym in at \e gorge with his grym launce,
`at \e grownden glayfe graythes in sondyre;
With \at boystous brayde he bownes hym to dye_
`e Kyng of Gutlande it was, a gude man of armes.
Thayre avawwarde than all voydes \areaftyre,
Alls venqueste verrayely with valyant beryns.
Metis with medilwarde, that Modrede ledys;
Oure men merkes them to, as them myshappenede.
For hade Sir Gawayne hade grace to halde \e grene hill,
He had wirchipe, iwys, wonnen for euer.
Bot \an Sir Gawayne, iwysse, he waytes hym wele
To wreke hym on this werlaughe \at \is werre mouede;
And merkes to Sir Modrede amonge all his beryns,
With the Mownttagus and o\er gret lordys.
`an Sir Gawayne was greuede and with a gret wyll
Fewters a faire spere and freschely askryes:
Fals fosterde foode, the Fende haue thy bonys]
Fy one the, felone, and thy false werkys]
Thow sall be dede and vndon for thy derfe dedys,
Or I sall dy this daye, |if destanye worthe]
Thane his enmye, with oste of owtlawede beryns,
All enangylls abowte oure excellente knyghttez,
That the traytoure be tresone had tryede hym seluen;
Dukes of Danemarke he dyghttes full sone,
And leders of Lettowe, with legyons inewe;
Vmbylappyde oure men with launcez full kene.
Sowdeours and Sarazenes owte of sere landys,
Sexty thosande men semlyly arrayede,
Sekerly assembles thare one seuen schore knyghtes,
Sodaynly in dischayte by tha salte strandes.
Thane Sir Gawayne grette with his gray eghen,
For grefe of his gud men that he gyde schulde;
He wyste that \ay wondyde ware and wery forfoughtten,
And what for wondire and woo, all his witte faylede.
And thane syghande he saide, with sylande terys,
We are with Sarazenes besett appon sere halfes.
I syghe noghte for my selfe, sa helpe oure Lorde;
Bot for to Õseeå vs supprysede, my sorowe es the more.
Bes dowghtty todaye, |one dukes schall be |oures;
For dere Dryghttyn this daye, dredys no wapyn.
We sall ende this daye alls excellent knyghttes,
Ayere to endelesse joye with angells vnwemyde.
`ofe we hafe vnwittyly wastede oure selfen,
We sall wirke all wele in \e wirchipe of Cryste.
We sall for |one Sarazenes, I sekire |ow my trowhe,
Souppe with oure Saueoure solemply in Heuen,
In presence of \at precious Prynce of all o\er,
With prophetes and patriarkes and apostlys full nobill,
Before His freliche face that fourmede vs all.
~ondire to |one |aldsons, he \at |eldes hym euer,
Qwhylls he es qwykke and in qwerte, vnquellyde with handis,
Be he neuer mo sauede, ne socourede with Cryste,
Bot Satanase his sawle mowe synke into Helle]
Than grymly Sir Gawayne gryppis hys wapyn;
Agayne \at gret bataille he graythes hym son:
Radly of his riche swerde he reghttes \e cheynys,
In he schokkes his schelde, schountes he no lengare;
Bot alls vnwyse, wodewyse, he wente at \e gayneste,
Wondis of thas wedirwyns with wrakfull dynttys_
All wellys full of blode thare he awaye passes;
And \ofe hym ware full woo, he wondys bot lyttill,
Bot wrekys at his wirchip \e wrethe of hys lorde.
He stekys stedis in stoure and sterenefull knyghttes,
That steryn men in theire sterapes stone-dede \ay lygge;
He ryvys \e ranke stele, he rittes \e mayles_
Thare myghte no renke hym areste, his reson was passede.
He fell in a fransye for fersenesse of herte;
He feghttis and fellis down \at hym before standis_
Fell neuer fay man siche fortune in erthe.
Into \e hale bataile hedlyngs he rynys,
And hurtes of \e hardieste \at one the erthe lenges.
Letande alls a lyon he lawnches them thorowe,
Lordes and ledars that one the launde houes.
~it Sir Gawayne for wo wondis bot lyttill,
Bot woundis of thas wedirwyns with wondirfull dyntes,
Alls he \at wold wilfully wasten hym selfen;
And for wondsom and will all his wit failede,
That wode alls a wylde beste he wente at \e gayneste;
All walewede one blode, thare he awaye passede_
Iche a wy may be warre be wreke of ano\er.
`an he moues to Sir Modrede amange all his knyghttes,
And mett hym in \e myde-schelde and mallis hym thorowe;
Bot the schalke for the scharpe he schownttes a littill,
He schare hym one \e schorte rybbys a schaftmonde large:
The schafte schoderede and schotte in the schire beryn,
`at \e schadande blode ouer his schanke rynnys,
And schewede on his schynbawde, \at was schire burneste.
And so they schyfte and schove, he schotte to \e erthe;
With \e lussche of \e launce he lyghte one hys schuldyrs,
Ane akere lenghe one a launde, full lothely wondide.
Than Gawayne gyrde to \e gome and one \e groffe fallis_
Alls his grefe was graythede, his grace was no bettyre_
He schokkes owtte a schorte knyfe schethede with siluere,
And scholde haue slottede hym in, bot no slytte happenede:
His hand sleppid and solde o slante one \e mayles,
And \e to\er slely slynges hym vndire;
With a trenchande knyfe the traytoure hym hyttes,
Thorowe \e helme and \e hede, one heyghe one \e brayne:
And thus Sir Gawayne es gon, the gude man of armes,
Withowttyn reschewe of renke and rewghe es \e more;
Thus Sir Gawayne es gon, that gyede many othire_
Fro Gowere to Gernesay, all \e gret lordys,
Of Glamour, of Galys londe, \is galyarde knyghtes,
For glent of gloppynyng glade be they neuer.
Kyng Froderike of Fres faythely \areaftyre
Fraynes at the false mane of owre ferse knyghte:
Knew thow euer this knyghte in thi kithe ryche,
Of whate kynde he was comen? Beknowe no \e sothe;
Qwat gome was he this with the gaye armes,
With \is gryffoune of golde, \at es one growffe fallyn?
He has grettly greffede vs, so me Gode helpe,
Gyrde down oure gude men and greuede vs sore;
He was \e sterynneste in stoure that euer stele werryde,
Fore he has stonayede oure stale and stroyede for euer]
Than Sir Mordrede with mouthe melis full faire:
He was makles one molde, mane, be my trowhe;
This was Sir Gawayne the gude, \e gladdeste of othire,
And the graciouseste gome that vndire God lyffede,
Mane hardyeste of hande, happyeste in armes,
And \e hendeste in hawle vndire heuen riche,
`e lordelieste of ledyng qwhylls he lyffe myghte,
Fore he was lyone allossede in londes inewe;
Had thow knawen hym, Sir Kyng, in kythe thare he lengede,
His konynge, his knyghthode, his kyndly werkes,
His doyng, his doughtynesse, his dedis of armes,
Thow wolde hafe dole for his dede \e dayes of thy lyfe.
~it \at traytour alls tite teris lete he fall,
Turnes hym furthe tite, and talkes no more,
Went wepand awaye and weries the stowndys,
`at euer his werdes ware wroghte siche wandrethe to wyrke.
Whene he thoghte on \is thynge, it thirllede his herte:
For sake of his sybb blode sygheande he rydys;
When \at renayede renke remembirde hym seluen
Of reuerence and ryotes of \e Rownde Table,
He remyd and repent hym of all his rewthe werkes;
Rode awaye with his rowte, ristys he no lengere,
For rade of oure riche kynge, ryve \at he scholde.
Thane kayres he to Cornewaile, carefull in herte,
Because of his kynsemane that one the coste ligges;
He taries tremlande ay, tydandis to herken.
Than the traytoure treunted \e Tyseday \areaftyre,
Trynnys in with a trayne treson to wirke;
And by \e Tambire \at tide his tentis he reris,
And thane in a mette-while a messangere he sendes,
And wraite vnto Waynor how the werlde chaungede,
And what comliche coste the Kyng was aryuede,
One floode foughten with his fleete and fellyd them o lyfe;
Bade hir ferken oo ferre and flee with hir childire,
Whills he myghte wile hym awaye and wyn to hir speche,
Ayere into Irelande, into \as owte-mowntes,
And wonn thare in wildernesse, within \a wast landys.
Than cho |ermys and |e|es at ~orke in hir chambire,
Gronys full grysely with gretand teres,
Passes owte of \e palesse with all hir pryce maydenys,
Towarde Chestyre in a charre thay chese hir \e wayes,
Dighte hir ewyn for to dye, with dule at hir herte;
Scho kayres to Karelyone and kawghte hir a vaile,
Askes thare \e habite in \e honoure of Criste,
And all for falsede and frawde and fere of hir louerde.
Bot whene oure wiese kyng wiste \at Gawayne was landede,
He al towrythes for woo, and, wryngande his handes,
Gers lawnche his botes appon a lawe watire,
Londis als a lyon with lordliche knyghtes,
Slippes in in the sloppes o slante to \e girdyll,
Swalters vpe swyftly with his swerde drawen,
Bownnys his bataile and baners displayes,
Buskes ouer \e brode sandes with breth at his herte,
Ferkes frekkly one felde \are \e feye lygges.
Of the traytours men one trappede stedis,
Ten thosandez ware tynte, \e trewghe to acownt,
And certane on owre syde seuen score knyghtes,
In soyte with theire souerayne vnsownde are beleuede.
`e Kyng comly ouerkeste knyghtes and othire,
Erlles of Awfrike and Estriche berynes,
Of Orgaile and Orekenay, \e Iresche kynges,
The nobileste of Norwaye, nowmbirs full hugge,
Dukes of Danamarke and dubbid knyghtes;
And the Guthede kynge in the gay armes
Lys gronande on \e grownde and girde thorowe even.
The riche kynge ransakes with rewthe at his herte,
And vp rypes the renkes of all \e Rownde Tabyll;
Ses them all in a soppe in sowte by them one,
With the Sarazenes vnsownde enserclede abowte;
And Sir Gawayne the gude in his gaye armes,
Vmbegrippede the girse and one grouffe fallen,
His baners brayden down, betyn of gowlles,
His brand and his brade schelde all blody beronen;
Was neuer oure semliche kynge so sorowfull in herte,
Ne \at sanke hym so sade bot \at sighte one.
Than gliftis \e gud kynge and glopyns in herte,
Gronys full grisely with gretande teris;
Knelis down to \e cors and kaught it in armes,
Kastys vpe vmbrere and kyssis hym sone,
Lokes one his eye-liddis, \at lowkkide ware faire,
His lippis like to \e lede and his lire falowede.
`an the corownde kyng cryes full lowde,
Dere kosyn o kynde, in kare am I leuede,
For nowe my wirchipe es wente and my were endide;
Here es \e hope of my hele, my happynge of armes_
My herte and my hardynes hale one hym lengede,
My concell, my comforthe, \at kepide myn herte.
Of all knyghtes \e kynge \at vndir Criste lifede,
`ou was worthy to be kyng, \ofe I \e corown bare;
My wele and my wirchipe of all \is werlde riche
Was wonnen thourghe Sir Gawayne and thourghe his witt one.
Allas] saide Sir Arthure, Nowe ekys my sorowe;
I am vttirly vndon in myn awen landes.
A, dowttouse, derfe dede, \ou duellis to longe]
Why drawes \ou so one dreghe? Thow drownnes myn herte]
Than sweÕlåtes the swete kyng and in swoun fallis,
Swafres vp swiftely and swetly hym kysses,
Till his burliche berde was blody berown,
Alls he had bestes birtenede and broghte owt of life;
Ne had Sir Ewayne comen and othire grete lordys,
His bolde herte had brousten for bale at \at stownde.
Blyne, sais thies bolde men, thow blondirs \i selfen;
`is es botles bale, for bettir bees it neuer.
It es no wirchipe, iwysse, to wryng thyn hondes;
To wepe als a woman it es no witt holden.
Be knyghtly of contenaunce, als a kyng scholde,
And leue siche clamoure, for Cristes lufe of Heuen]
For blode, said the bolde kyng, blyn sall I neuer,
Or my brayne tobriste, or my breste o\er]
Was neuer sorowe so softe that sanke to my herte;
Itt es full sibb to my selfe, my sorowe es the more.
Was neuer so sorowfull a syghte seyn with myn eyghen;
He es sakles supprysede for syn of myn one.
Down knelis \e Kyng and kryes full lowde;
With carefull contenaunce he karpes thes wordes:
O rightwis, riche Gode, this rewthe Thow beholde,
`is ryall, rede blode ryn appon erthe;
It ware worthy to be schrede and schrynede in golde,
For it es sakles of syn, sa helpe me oure Lorde.
Down knelis \e Kyng with kare at his herte,
Kaughte it vpe kyndly with his clene handis,
Keste it in a ketill-hatte and couerde it faire,
And kayres furthe with \e cors in kyghte \are he lenges.
Here I make myn avowe, quod the Kynge than,
To Messie, and to Marie, the mylde Qwene of Heuen,
I sall neuer ryvaye, ne raches vncowpyll
At roo ne raynedere \at rynnes appone erthe;
Neuer grewhownde late glyde, ne gossehawke latt flye,
Ne neuer fowle see fellide \at flieghes with wenge;
Fawkon ne formaylle appon fiste handill,
Ne |itt with gerefawcon rejoyse me in erthe;
Ne regne in my royaltez, ne halde my Rownde Table,
Till thi dede, my dere, be dewly reuengede;
Bot euer droupe and dare, qwylls my lyfe lastez,
Till Drighten and derfe dede hafe don qwate them likes.
Than kaughte they vpe \e cors with kare at theire hertes,
Karyed one a coursere with \e Kynge selfen;
The waye vnto Wynchestre \ay wente at the gayneste,
Wery and wandsomdly, with wondide knyghtes.
Thare come \e prior of \e plas and professide monkes,
Apas in processione and with the Prynce metys;
And he betuke \am the cors of \e knyghte noble.
"Lokis it be clenly kepyd," he said, "and in \e kirke holden,
Done for derygese, as to \e ded fallys,
Menskede with messes for mede of \e saule;
Loke it wante no waxe, ne no wirchipe ells,
And at \e body be bawmede and one erthe holden;
~iff \ou kepe thi couent encroche any wirchipe
At my comyng agayne, |if Crist will it thole,
Abyde of \e beryeng till they be broughte vndire,
`at has wroghte vs this woo and \is werre mouede."
`an sais Sir Wychere \e wy, a wyese mane of armes,
"I rede |e warely wende and wirkes the beste;
Soiorne in this cete and semble thi berynes,
And bidde with thi bolde men in thi burghe riche;
Get owt knyghttez of contres that castells holdes,
And owt of garysons grete gude men of armes,
For we are fraithely to fewe to feghte with them all,
`at we see in his sorte appon \e see bankes."
With krewell contenaunce thane the Kyng karpis theis wordes:
"I praye the, kare noghte, Sir Knyghte, ne caste \ou no dredis;
Hadde I no segge bot my selfe one vndir sone,
And I may hym see with sighte or one hym sette hondis,
I sall even amange his mene malle hym to dede]
Are I of \e stede styre halfe a stede lenghe,
I sall Õstrykeå hym in his stowre and stroye hym for euer;
And \areto make I myn avowe devottly to Cryste,
And to Hys Modyre Marie, \e mylde Qwene of Heuen,
I sall neuer soiourne sounde, ne sawghte at myne herte,
In cete ne in subarbe sette appon erthe,
Ne |itt slomyre ne slepe with my slawe eyghne,
Till he be slayne \at hym slowghe, |if any sleyghte happen;
Bot euer pursue the payganys \at my pople distroyede,
Qwylls I may pare them and pynne, in place \are me likes."
Thare durste no renke hym areste of all \e Rownde Table,
Ne none paye \at Prynce with plesande wordes,
Ne none of his ligemene luke hym in the eyghne,
So lordely he lukes for losse of his knyghttes.
Thane drawes he to Dorsett and dreches no langere,
Derefull dredlesse with drowppande teris;
Kayeris into Kornewayle with kare at his herte:
The trays of \e traytoure he trynys full euene,
And turnys in be \e Treyntis \e traytoure to seche,
Fyndis hym in a foreste \e Frydaye thereaftire;
The Kyng lyghttes one fott and freschely askryes,
And with his freliche folke he has \e felde nomen.
Now isschewis his enmye vndire \e wode eyuys,
With ostes of alynes full horrebill to schewe.
Sir Mordrede the Malebranche, with his myche pople,
Foundes owt of the foreste appon fele halfes,
In seuen grett batailles semliche arrayede,
Sexty thowsande men_the syghte was full hugge_
All fyghtande folke of \e ferre laundes,
Faire fettede one frownte be tha fresche strondes.
And all Arthurs oste was amede with knyghtes,
Bot awghtene hundrethe of all, entrede in rolles;
This was a mache vnmete, bot myghttis of Criste,
To melle with \at multitude in \ase man londis.
Than the royall roy of \e Rownde Table
Rydes one a riche stede, arrayes his beryns,
Buskes his avawmwarde, als hym beste likes;
Sir Ewayne and Sir Errake and othire gret lordes,
Demenys the medilwarde menskefully thareaftyre,
With Merrake and Meneduke, myghtty of strenghes;
Idirous and Alymere, \ire auenaunt children,
Ayers with Arthure, with seuen score of knyghtes;
He rewlis \e rerewarde redyly thareaftyre,
The rekeneste redy men of \e Rownde Table,
And thus he fittis his folke and freschely askryes,
And syen comforthes his men with knyghtlyche wordes:
I beseke |ow, Sirs, for sake of oure Lorde,
That |e doo wele todaye and dredis no wapen;
Fighttes fersely nowe and fendis |oure seluen,
Fellis down |one feye folke, the felde sall be owrs;
They are Sarazenes, |one sorte_vnsownde motte they worthe]
Sett one them sadlye, for sake of oure Lorde.
~if vs be destaynede to dy todaye one this erthe,
We sall be hewede vnto Heuen, or we be halfe colde.
Loke |e lett for no lede lordly to wirche:
Layes |one laddes lowe be the layke ende.
Take no tente vnto me, ne tale of me rekke;
Bes besy one my baners with |oure brighte wapyns,
That they be strenghely stuffede with steryn knyghtes,
And holden lordly one lofte, ledys to schewe;
~if any renke them arase, reschowe them sone.
Wirkes now my wirchipe, todaye my werre endys;
~e wotte my wele and my woo_wirkkys as |ow likys.
Crist comly with crown comforthe |ow all,
For \e kyndeste creatours that euer kynge ledde;
I gyffe |ow all my blyssyng with a blithe will,
And all Bretowns bolde_blythe mote |e worthe.
They pype vpe at pryme tyme, approches them nere:
Pris men and priste proues theire strenghes;
Bremly the brethemen bragges in troumppes,
In cornettes comlyly, when knyghttes assembles,
And thane jolyly enjoynys \eis jentyll knyghttes;
A jolyere journe ajuggede was neuer,
Whene Bretons boldly enbraces theire scheldes,
And Cristyn encroyssede them and castis in fewtire.
`an Sir Arthure oste his enmye askryes,
And in they schokke theire scheldes, schontes no lengare;
Schotte to \e schiltrons and schowttes full heghe,
Thorowe scheldis full schene schalkes they touche.
Redily thas rydde men of the Rownde Table
With ryall raunke stele rittys theire mayles;
Bryneys browdden they briste and burneste helmys,
Hewes haythen men down, halses in sondre.
Fyghtande with fyne stele, \e feye blod rynnys;
Of \e frekkeste of frounte, vnfers ere belevede.
Ethyns of Argayle and Irische kynges
Enverounes oure avawmwarde with venymos beryns;
Peghttes and paynymes with perilous wapyns,
With speres disspetousely disspoylles oure knyghttes,
And hewede down the hendeste with hertly dynttys;
Thorow the holle batayle they holden theire wayes.
`us fersly they fyghte appon sere halfes,
That of \e bolde Bretons myche blode spillis;
Thare durste non rescowe them for reches in erthe,
`e steryn ware \are so stedde and stuffede witÕhå othire;
He durste noghte stire a steppe, bot stodde for hym seluen,
Till thre stalis ware stroyede be strenghe of hym one.
Idrous, quod Arthure, ayre the byhoues;
I see Sir Ewayne ouersette with Sarazenes kene.
Redy the for rescows, arraye thee sone;
Hye \e with hardy men in helpe of thy fadire.
Sett in one the syde and socoure |one lordes:
Bot they be socourrede and sownde, vnsawghte be I euer.
Idrous hym ansuers ernestly \areaftyre:
He es my fadire, in faithe_forsake sall I neuer;
He has me fosterde and fedde and my faire bretheren.
Bot I forsake this gate, so me Gode helpe,
And sothely all sybredyn bot thy selfe one;
I breke neuer his biddyng for beryn one lyfe,
Bot euer bouxvm as beste blethely to wyrke.
He comande me kyndly, with knyghtly wordes,
That I schulde lelely one \e lenge and one noo lede ells;
I sall hys comandement holde, |if Criste wil me thole.
He es eldare than I, and ende sall we bothen:
He sall ferkke before, and I sall come aftyre;
~iffe hym be destaynede to dy todaye one \is erthe,
Criste comly with crown take kepe to hys saule.
`an remys the riche kyng with rewthe at his herte,
Hewys hys handys one heghte and to \e heuen lokes:
Qwythen hade Dryghttyn destaynede at his dere will,
`at he hade demyd me todaye to dy for |ow all;
That had I leuer than be lorde all my lyfe tym
Off all \at Alexandere aughte qwhills he in erthe lengede.
Sir Ewayne and Sir Errake, \es excellente beryns,
Enters in one \e oste and egerly strykes;
The ethenys of Orkkenaye and Irische kynges,
`ay gobone of \e gretteste with growndene swerdes,
Hewes one \as hulkes with \eire harde wapyns,
Layed down \as ledes with lothely dynttys;
Schuldirs and scheldys \ay schrede to \e hawnches,
And medills thourghe mayles \ay merken in sondire_
Siche honoure neuer aughte none erthely kyng
At theire endyng daye, bot Arthure hym seluen.
So \e droughte of \e daye dryede theire hertes,
That bothe drynkles they dye_dole was \e more.
Now mellys oure medillwarde and mengen togedire
Sir Mordrede \e Malebranche, with his myche pople;
He had hide hym behynde within thas holte eyuys,
With halle bataile on hethe_harme es \e more;
He hade sene \e conteke al clene to \e ende,
How oure cheualrye cheuyde be chaunces of armes;
He wiste oure folke was forfoughtten, \at \are was feye leuede;
To encowntere \e Kyng he castes hym sone.
Bot the churles chekyn hade chaungyde his armes:
He had sothely forsaken \a sawturoure engrelede,
And laughte vpe thre lyons all of whitte siluyre,
Passande in purpre of perrie full riche,
For \e Kyng sulde noghte knawe \e cawtelous wriche;
Because of his cowardys he keste of his atyre,
Bot the comliche kyng knewe hym full swythe,
Karpis to Sir Cadors \es kyndly wordez:
I see \e traytoure come |ondyr trynande full |erne:
~one ladde with \e lyones es like to hym selfen;
Hym sall torfere betyde, may I touche ones,
For all his treson and trayne, alls I am trew lorde.
Today Clarente and Caliburne sall kythe them togedirs,
Whilke es kenere of kerfe or hardare of eghge;
Fraiste sall we fyne stele appone fyne wedis.
Itt was my derlyng daynteuous and full dere holden,
Kepede fore encorownmentes of kynges enoynttede;
One dayes when I dubbyde dukkes and erlles,
It was burliche borne be \e bryghte hiltes;
I durste neuer dere it in dedis of armes,
Bot euer kepide clene, because of my seluen.
For I see Clarent vnclede, \at crowne es of swerdes,
My wardrop of Walyngfordhe I wate es distroyede;
Wist no wy wone bot Waynor hir seluen;
Scho hade \e kepynge hir selfe of \at kydde wapyn,
Off cofres enclosede \at to \e crown lengede,
With rynges and relikkes and \e Regale of Fraunce,
That was fownden on Sir Froll when he was feye leuyde.
Than Sir Marrike in malyncoly metys hym sone,
With a mellyd mace myghtyly hym strykes;
The bordour of his bacenett he bristes in sondire,
`at \e schire rede blode ouer his brene rynnys.
The beryn blenkes for bale, and all his ble chaunges,
Bot |itt he byddys as a bore and brymly he strykes;
He braydes owte a brande, bryghte als euer ony syluer,
`at was Sir Arthure awen and Vtere his fadirs,
In \e wardrop of Walyngfordhe was wonte to be kepede;
`arewith \e derfe dogge syche dynttes he rechede,
`e to\er withdrewe one dreghe and durste do non o\er;
For Sir Marrake was man merrede in elde,
And Sir Mordrede was myghty and Õinå his moste strenghis;
Come non within \e compas, knyghte ne non o\er,
Within \e swyng of swerde, \at ne he \e swete leuyd.
`at persayfes oure Prynce and presses to faste,
Strykes into \e stowre by strenghe of hys handis,
Metis with Sir Mordrede, he melis vnfaire:
Turne, traytoure vntrewe_\e tydys no bettyre;
Be gret Gode, thow sall dy with dynt of my handys]
The schall rescowe no renke, ne reches in erthe.
The Kyng with Calaburn knyghtly hym strykes:
`e cantell of \e clere schelde he kerfes in sondyre,
Into \e schuldyre of \e schalke a schaftmonde large,
`at \e schire rede blode schwede one \e maylys.
He schodirde and schrenkys and schontes bott lyttill,
Bott schokkes in scharpely in his schene wedys:
The felone with \e fyn swerde freschely he strykes;
The felettes of \e ferrere syde he flassches in sondyre,
Thorowe jopown and jesserawnte of gentill mailes_
The freke fichede in \e flesche an halfe fotte large;
That derfe dynt was his dede, and dole was \e more
That euer \at doughtty sulde dy, bot at Dryghttyns wyll.
~itt with Calyburn his swerde full knyghttly he strykes,
Kastes in his clere schelde and coueres hym full faire;
Swappes of \e swerde hande, als he by glentes:
Ane inche from \e elbowe he ochede it in sondyre,
`at he swounes one \e swarthe and one swym fallis;
Thorowe bracer of brown stele and \e bryghte mayles,
That the hilte and \e hande appon \e hethe ligges.
Thane frescheliche \e freke the fente vpe rerys,
Brochis hym in with the bronde to \e bryghte hiltys,
And he brawles one the bronde and bownes to dye.
In faye, says \e feye kynge, sore me forthynkkes
That euer siche a false theefe so faire an ende haues.
Qwen they had fenyste \is feghte, thane was \e felde wonen,
And the false folke in \e felde feye are byleuede;
Till a foreste they fledde and fell in the greuys,
And fers feghtande folke folowes them aftyre,
Howntes and hewes down the heythen tykes,
Mourtherys in the mowntaygnes Sir Mordrede knyghtes;
Thare chapyde neuer no childe, cheftayne ne o\er,
Bot choppes them down in the chace_it chargys bot littyll.
Bot when Sir Arthure anon Sir Ewayne he fyndys,
And Errake \e auenaunt and o\er grett lordes,
He kawghte vp Sir Cador with care at his herte,
Sir Clegis, Sir Cleremonde, \es clere men of armes,
Sir Lothe and Sir Lyonell, Sir Lawncelott and Lowes,
Marrake and Meneduke, \at myghty ware euer.
With langoure in the launde thare he layes them togedire,
Lokede on theyre lighames and with a lowde steuen,
Alls lede \at liste noghte lyfe and loste had his myrthis,
Than he stotays for made and all his strenghe faylez,
Lokes vpe to \e lyfte and all his lyre chaunges,
Downne he sweys full swythe and in a swoun fallys,
Vpe he coueris one kneys and kryes full often:
"Kyng comly with crowne, in care am I leuyde;
All my lordchipe lawe in lande es layde vndyre,
That me has gyfen gwerdons, br grace of Hym seluen,
Mayntenyde my manhede be myghte of theire handes,
Made me manly on molde and mayster in erthe,
In a tenefull tym this torfere was reryde,
That for a traytoure has tynte all my trewe lordys.
Here rystys the riche blude of the Rownde Table,
Rebukkede with a rebawde, and rewthe es the more]
I may helples one hethe house be myn one,
Alls a wafull wedowe \at wannttes hir beryn;
I may werye and wepe and wrynge myn handys,
For my wytt and my wyrchipe awaye es for euer;
Off all lordchips I take leue to myn ende.
Here es \e Bretons blode broughte owt of lyfe,
And nowe in \is journee all my joy endys."
Thane relyes \e renkes of all \e Rownde Table:
To \e ryall roy thay ride \am all;
Than assembles full sone seuen score knyghtes,
In sighte to \aire souerayne, \at was vnsownde leuede.
Than knelis the crownede kynge and kryes one lowde,
"I thanke \e, Gode, of Thy grace, with a gud wyll,
That gafe vs vertue and witt to vencows \is beryns;
And vs has grauntede \e gree of theis gret lordes.
He sent vs neuer no schame, ne schenchipe in erthe,
Bot euer |it \e ouerhande of all o\er kynges.
We hafe no laysere now \ese lordys to seke,
For |one laythely ladde me lamede so sore;
Graythe vs to Glasthenbery_vs gaynes non o\er_
Thare we may ryste vs with roo and raunsake oure wondys.
Of \is dere day werke, \e Dryghtten be loued,
That vs has destaynede and demyd to dye in oure awen."
Thane they holde at his heste hally at ones,
And graythes to Glassthenberye \e gate at \e gayneste;
Entres \e Ile of Aueloyne, and Arthure he lyghttes,
Merkes to a manere there, for myghte he no forthire;
A surgyn of Salerne enserches his wondes,
The Kyng sees be asaye \at sownde bese he neuer,
And sone to his sekire men he said theis wordes:
"Doo calle me a confessour, with Criste in his armes;
I will be howselde in haste, whate happe so betyddys.
Constantyn, my cosyn, he sall the corown bere,
Alls becomys hym of kynde, |ife Criste will hym thole;
Beryn, fore my benyson, thowe berye |one lordys,
That in baytaille with brondez are broghte owte of lyfe;
And sythen merke manly to Mordrede children,
That they bee sleyghely slayne and slongen in watyrs;
Latt no wykkyde wede waxe, no wrythe one this erthe_
I warne fore thy wirchipe, wirke alls I bydde.
I foregyffe all greffe, for Cristez lufe of Heuen;
~ife Waynour hafe wele wroghte, wele hir betydde."
He saide In manus with mayne one molde whare he ligges,
And thus passes his speryt, and spekes he no more.
The baronage of Bretayne thane, bechopes and othire,
Graythes them to Glasthenbery with gloppynnande hertes,
To bery thare the bolde kynge and bryng to \e erthe,
With all wirchipe and welthe \at any wy scholde.
Throly belles thay rynge and Requiem syngys,
Dosse messes and matyns with mournande notes:
Relygeous reueste in theire riche copes,
Pontyficalles and prelates in precyouse wedys,
Dukes and dusszeperis in theire dule-cotes,
Cowntasses knelande and claspande theire handes,
Ladys languessande and lowrande to schewe;
All was buskede in blake, birdes and othire,
That schewede at the sepulture, with sylande teris_
Whas neuer so sorowfull a syghte seen in theire tym.
Thus endis Kyng Arthure, as auctors alegges,
That was of Ectores blude, the kynge son of Troye,
And of Sir Pryamous the prynce, praysede in erthe;
Fro thythen broghte the Bretons all his bolde eldyrs
Into Bretayne the Brode, as \e Bruytte tellys.