Alliterative Morte Arthure, The

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The alliterative Morte Arthure

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The alliterative Morte Arthure : a critical edition

edited, with an introduction, notes, and glossary by: Valerie Krishnapreface by: Rossell Hope Robbins xiv, 361 p., [8] leaves of plates : ill. ;24 cm. : Burt FranklinNew York c.1976Note: The printed text contained illustrations which are not noted in theelectronic textPublished: 1440

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The Thornton Ms., Folios 53r-64r (lines 1-985)

1: How grett glorious Godd, thurgh grace of Hym seluen,2: And the precyous prayere of Hys prys Modyr,3: Schelde vs fro schamesdede and synfull werkes,4: And gyffe vs grace to gye and gouerne vs here,5: In this wrechyd werld, thorowe vertous lywynge,6: That we may kayre til Hys courte, the kyngdom of Hevyne,7: When oure saules schall parte and sundyre fra the body,8: Ewyre to belde and to byde in blysse wyth Hym seluen;9: And wysse me to werpe owte som worde at this tym10: That nothyre voyde be ne vayne, bot wyrchip till Hym selvyn,11: Plesande and profitabill to the popule þat them heres.12: 3e that liste has to lyth or luffes for to here13: Off elders of alde tym and of theire awke dedys,14: How they were lele in theire lawe and louede God Almyghty,15: Herkynes me heyndly and holdys 3ow styll,16: And I sall tell 3ow a tale þat trewe es and nobyll,17: Off the ryeall renkys of the Rownnde Table,18: That chefe ware of cheualrye and cheftans nobyll,19: Bathe ware in thire werkes and wyse men of armes,20: Doughty in theire doyngs and dredde ay schame,21: Kynde men and courtays and couthe of courte thewes;22: How they whanne wyth were wyrchippis many,

23: Sloughe Lucyus þe lythyre, that Lorde was of Rome,24: And conqueryd that kyngryke thorowe craftys of armes;25: Herkenes now hedyrwarde and herys this storye.26: Qwen that the kyng Arthur by conqueste hade wonnyn27: Castells and kyngdoms and contreez many,28: And he had couerede the coroun of the kyth ryche,29: Of all that Vter in erthe aughte in his tym:30: Orgayle and Orkenay and all this owte iles,31: Irelande vttirly, as occyane rynnys;32: Scathyll Scottlande by skyll he skyftys as hym lykys,33: And Wales of were he wane at hys will;34: Bathe Flaundrez and Fraunce fre til him seluyn,35: Holaund and Henawde they helde of hym bothen,

36: Burgoyne and Brabane and Bretayn the Lasse,37: Gyan and Gothelande and Grace the ryche;38: Bayon and Burdeux he beldytt full faire,39: Turoyn and Tholus, with toures full hye;40: Off Peyters and of Prouynce he was prynce holdyn,41: Of Valence and Vyenne, off value so noble,42: Of Ouergne and Anyou, thos erledoms ryche,43: By conqueste full cruell þey knewe hym fore lorde;44: Of Nauerne and Norwaye and Normaundye eke,45: Of Almayne, of Estriche, and oþer ynowe;46: Danmarke he dryssede all by drede of hym seluyn,47: Fra Swynn vnto Swetherwyke, wiþ his swerde kene.48: Qwenn he thes dedes had don, he doubbyd hys knyghtez,

49: Dyuysyde dowcherys and delte in dyuerse remmes,50: Mad of his cosyns kyngys ennoyntede,51: In kyth there they couaitte crounes to bere.52: Whene he thys rewmes hade redyn and rewlyde the popule,53: Then rystede that ryall and helde þe Rounde Tabyll;54: Suggeourns þat seson to solace hym seluen55: In Bretayn þe Braddere, as hym beste lykes.56: Sythyn wente into Wales with his wyes all,57: Sweys into Swaldye with his snell houndes,58: For to hunt at þe hartes in thas hye laundes,



59: In Glamorgan with glee, thare gladchipe was euere.60: And thare a citee he sette, be assentte of his lordys,61: That Caerlyon was callid, with curius walles,62: On the riche reuare þat rynnys so faire,63: There he myghte semble his sorte to see whenn hym lykede.64: Thane aftyre at Carlele a Cristynmese he haldes,65: This ilke kyde conquerour, and helde hym for lorde,66: Wyth dukez and duspers of dyuers rewmes,67: Erles and ercheuesqes and oþer ynowe,68: Byschopes and bachelers and banerettes nobill,69: Þat bowes to his banere, buske when hym lykys.70: Bot on the Cristynmes Daye, when they were all semblyde,71: That comlyche conquerour commaundez hym seluyn72: Þat ylke a lorde sulde lenge and no lefe take73: To the tende day fully ware takyn to þe ende.74: Thus on ryall araye he helde his Rounde Table,75: With semblant and solace and selcouthe metes;76: Whas neuer syche noblay in no manys tym77: Mad in mydwynter in þa weste marchys.78: Bot on the New3ere Daye, at þe none euyne,79: As the bolde at the borde was of brede seruyde,80: So come in sodanly a senatour of Rome,81: Wyth sexten knyghtes in a soyte, sewande hym one.82: He salu3ed the souerayne, and the sale aftyr,

83: Ilke a kyng aftyre kyng, and mad his enclines;84: Gaynour in hir degre he grette as hym lykyde,85: And syne agayne to þe gome he gaffe vp his nedys:86: "Sir Lucius Iberius, the Emperour of Rome,87: Saluz the as sugett, vndyre his sele ryche;88: It es credens, Sir Kyng, with cruell wordez;89: Trow it for no trufles: his targe es to schewe.90: Now in this New3ers Daye, with notaries synge,91: I make the somouns in sale to sue for þi landys,92: That on Lammesse Daye thare be no lette founden,93: Þat thow bee redy at Rome with all thi Rounde Table,94: Appere in his presens with thy price knyghtez,95: At pryme of the daye, in payne of 3our lyvys,

96: In þe kydd capytoile, before þe kyng selvyn,97: When he and his senatours bez sette as them lykes,98: To ansuere anely why thow ocupyes the laundez99: That awe homage of alde till hym and his eldyrs;100: Why thow has redyn and raymede and raunsound þe pople,101: And kyllyde doun his cosyns, kyngys ennoynttyde;102: Thare schall thow gyffe rekkynyng for all thy Round Table103: Why thow arte rebell to Rome and rentez them wytholdez.104: 3iff thow theis somouns wythsytte, he sendes thie thies wordes:105: He sall the seke ouer þe see wyth sexten kynges,106: Bryne Bretayn þe Brade and bryttyn thy knyghtys,107: And bryng the bouxsomly as a beste with brethe whare hym lykes,108: That thow ne schall rowte ne ryste vndyr the heuene ryche,

109: Þofe thow for reddour of Rome ryne to þe erthe;110: For if thow flee into Fraunce or Freselaund owþer,111: Þou sall be feched with force and ouersette fore euer!112: Thy fadyr mad fewtee, we fynde in oure rollez,113: In the regestre of Rome, who-so ryghte lukez.114: Withowttyn more trouflyng the trebute we aske115: That Iulius Cesar wan with his ientill knyghttes."116: The Kyng blyschit on the beryn with his brode eghn,117: Þat full brymly for breth brynte as the gledys,118: Keste colours as Kyng, with crouell lates,



119: Luked as a lyon, and on his lyppe bytes.120: The Romaynes for radnesse ruschte to þe erthe,121: Fore ferdnesse of hys face, as they fey were;122: Cowchide as kenetez before þe Kyng seluyn:123: Because of his contenaunce confusede them semede.124: Then couerd vp a knyghte and criede ful lowde,125: "Kyng corounede of kynd, curtays and noble,126: Misdoo no messangere for menske of þi seluyn,127: Sen we are in thy manrede and mercy þe besekes.128: We lenge with Sir Lucius, that Lorde es of Rome,129: That es þe meruelyousteste man þat on molde lengez;130: It is lefull till vs his likyng till wyrche;131: We come at his commaundment; haue vs excusede."132: Then carpys þe Conquerour crewell wordez:133: "Haa, crauaunde knyghte, a cowarde þe semez!134: Þare Õiså some segge in this sale, and he ware sare greuede,135: Thow durste noghte for all Lumberdye luke on hym ones."136: "Sir," sais þe Senatour, "so Crist mott me helpe,137: Þe voute of thi vesage has woundyde vs all!138: Thow arte þe lordlyeste lede þat euer I one lukyde;139: By lukyng, withowttyn lesse, a lyon the semys!"140: "Thow has me somond," quod þe Kyng, "and said what þe lykes;141: Fore sake of thy soueraynge I suffre the þe more;142: Sen I Õwaså coround in kyth, wyth crysum enoyntede,

143: Was neuer creature to me þat carpede so large.144: Bot I sall tak concell at kynges enoyntede,145: Off dukes and duspers and doctours noble,146: Offe peres of þe parlement, prelates and oþer,147: Off þe richeste renkys of þe Rounde Table;148: Þus schall I take avisemente of valiant beryns,149: Wyrke aftyre the wytte of my wyes knyghttes;150: To warpe wordez in waste no wyrchip it were,151: Ne wilfully in þis wrethe to wreken my seluen.152: Forþi sall þow lenge here and lugge wyth þise lordes,153: This seuenyghte in solace, to suggourne 3our horses,154: To see whatte lyfe þat wee leede in thees lawe laundes,155: Forby þe realtee of Rome, þat recheste was euere."

156: He command Sir Cayous, "Take kepe to thoos lordez,157: To styghtyll þa steryn men as theire statte askys,158: That they bee herberde in haste in thoos heghe chambres,159: Sythin sittandly in sale seruyde theraftyr.160: That they fynd na fawte of fude to thiere horsez,161: Nowthire weyn, ne waxe, ne welthe in þis erthe,162: Spare for no spycerye, bot spende what þe lykys,163: That there be largesce on lofte and no lake founden.164: If þou my wyrchip wayte, wy, be my trouthe,165: Þou sall haue gersoms full grett, that gayne sall þe euere."166: Now er they herberde in hey and in oste holden,167: Hastyly wyth hende men within thees heghe wallez;168: In chambyrs with chympnes þey chaungen þeire wedez,

169: And sythyn the chauncelere þem fecchede with cheualrye noble.170: Sone þe Senatour was sett, as hym wele semyde;171: At þe Kyngez ownn borde twa knyghtes hym seruede,172: Singulere sothely, as Arthure hym seluyn,173: Richely on þe ryghte hannde at the Round Table,174: Be resoun þat þe Romaynes whare so ryche holden,175: As of þe realeste blode þat reynede in erthe.176: There come in at þe fyrste course, befor þe Kyng seluen,177: Bareheuedys þat ware bryghte, burnyste with syluer,178: All with taghte men and town in togers full ryche,



179: Of saunke reall in suyte, sexty at ones;180: Flesch fluriste of fermyson with frumentee noble,181: Therto wylde to wale and wynlyche bryddes,182: Pacokes and plouers in platers of golde,183: Pygges of porke despyne þat pasturede neuer,184: Sythen herons in hedoyne, hyled full faire,185: Grett swannes full swythe in silueryn chargeours,186: Tartes of turky, taste wham þem lykys,187: Gumbaldes grathely, full gracious to taste,188: Seyne bowes of wylde bores with þe braune lechyde,189: Bernakes and botures in baterde dysches,190: Þareby braunchers in brede, bettyr was neuer,191: With brestez of barowes þat bryghte ware to schewe;192: Seyn come þer sewes sere, with solace þerafter,193: Ownd of azure all ouer and ardant þem semyde,194: Of ilke a leche þe lowe launschide full hye,195: Þat all ledes myghte lyke þat lukyde þem apon;196: Þan cranes and curlues craftyly rosted,197: Connygez in cretoyne, colourede full faire,198: Fesauntez enflureschit on flammande siluer,199: With dariells endoride and daynteez ynewe;200: Þane clarett and creette, clergyally rennen,201: With condethes full curious, all of clene siluyre,202: Osay aÕnåd algarde and oþer ynewe,

203: Rynisch wyne and rochell, richere was neuer,204: Vernage of Venyce vertuouse and Crete,205: In faucetez of fyn golde, fonode whoso lykes.206: The Kyngez cope-borde was closed in siluer,207: In grete goblettez ouergylte, glorious of hewe;208: There was a cheefe buttlere, a cheualere noble,209: Sir Cayous þe curtaise, þat of þe cowpe seruede:210: Sexty cowpes of suyte fore þe Kyng seluyn,211: Crafty and curious, coruen full faire,212: In euerilk a party pyghte with precyous stones,213: That nan enpoyson sulde goo preuely þervndyre,214: Bot þe bryght golde for brethe sulde briste al to peces,215: Or ells þe venym sulde voyde thurghe vertue of þe stones.

216: And the Conquerour hym seluen, so clenly arayede,217: In colours of clene golde cleede, wyth his knyghttys,218: Drissid with his dyademe on his deesse ryche,219: Fore he was demyd þe doughtyeste þat duellyde in erthe.220: Thane þe Conquerour kyndly carpede to þose lordes,221: Rehetede þe Romaynes with realle speche:222: "Sirs, bez knyghtly of contenaunce, and comfurthes 3our seluyn;223: We knowe noghte in þis countre of curious metez,224: In thees barayne landez, bredes none oþer;225: Forethy, wythowttyn feynyng, enforce 3ow þe more226: To feede 3ow with syche feble as 3e before fynde."227: "Sir," sais þe Senatour, "soo Criste motte me helpe,228: There ryngnede neuer syche realtee within Rome walles!

229: There ne es prelatte, ne pape, ne prynce in þis erthe,230: That he ne myghte be wele payede of þees pryce metes."231: Aftyre theyre welthe þey wesche and went vnto chambyre,232: Þis ilke kydde Conquerour, with knyghtes ynewe;233: Sir Gaywayne þe worthye Dame Waynour he ledys;234: Sir Owghtreth on the toþer syde, of Turry was lorde.235: Thane spyces vnsparyly þay spendyde thereaftyre:236: Maluesye and muskadell, þase meruelyous drynkes,237: Raykede full rathely in rossete cowpes,238: Till all þe riche on rawe, Romaynes and oþer.



239: Bot the soueraingne sothely, for solauce of hym seluen,240: Assingnyde to þe Senatour certaygne lordes,241: To lede to his leuere, whene he leue askes,242: With myrthe and with melodye of mynstralsy noble.243: Thane þe Conquerour to concell cayres thereaftyre,244: Wyth lordes of his lygeaunce þat to hym selfe langys;245: To þe geauntes toure iolily he wendes,246: Wyth justicez and iuggez and gentill knyghtes.247: Sir Cador of Cornewayle to þe Kyng carppes,248: Lughe on hym luffly with lykande lates:249: "I thanke Gode of þat thraa þat vs þus thretys!250: 3ow moste be traylede, I trowe, bot 3ife 3e trett bettyre.251: Þe lettres of Sir Lucius lyghttys myn herte!252: We hafe as losels liffyde many longe daye,253: Wyth delyttes in this land with lordchipez many,254: And forelytenede the loos þat we are layttede;255: I was abaischite, be oure Lorde, of oure beste bernes,256: Fore gret dule of deffuse of dedez of armes.257: Now wakkenyse þe were! Wyrchipide be Cryste!258: And we sall wynn it agÕaåyne be wyghtnesse and strenghe!"259: "Sir Cadour," quod þe Kyng, "thy concell es noble;260: Bot þou arte a meruailous man with thi mery wordez;261: For thow countez no caas, ne castes no forthire,262: Bot hurles furthe appon heuede, as thi herte thynkes.

263: I moste trette of a trew towchande þise nedes,264: Talke of thies tythdands þat tenes myn herte:265: Þou sees þat þe Emperour es angerde a lyttill;266: Yt semes be his sandismen þat he es sore greuede;267: His senatour has sommonde me and said what hym lykyde,268: Hethely in my hall, wyth heyn3ous wordes,269: In speche disspyszede me and sparede me lyttill,270: I myght noghte speke for spytte, so my herte trymblyde!271: He askyde me tyrauntly tribute of Rome,272: That tenefully tynt was in tym of myn elders,273: There alyenes, in absence of all men of armes,274: Couerd it of comons, as cronicles telles.275: I have title to take tribute of Rome;

276: Myne ancestres ware emperours and aughte it þem seluen,277: Belyn and Brene and Bawdewyne the Thyrde;278: They ocupyede þe Empyre aughte score wynnttyrs,279: Ilkane ayere aftyre oþer, as awlde men telles;280: Thei couerde þe capitoile and keste doun þe walles,281: Hyngede of þeire heddys-men by hundrethes at ones.282: Seyn Constantyne, our kynsmane, conquerid it aftyre,283: Þat ayere was of Ynglande and Emperour of Rome,284: He þat conquerid þe crosse be craftez of armes285: That Criste was on crucifiede, þat Kyng es of Heuen.286: Thus hafe we euydens to aske þe Emperour þe same,287: That þus regnez at Rome, whate ryghte þat he claymes."288: Þan answarde Kyng Aungers to Arthure hym seluyn,

289: Thow aughte to be ouerlynge ouer all oþer kynges,290: Fore wyseste and worthyeste and wyghteste of hanndes,291: The knyghtlyeste of counsaile þat euer coron bare;292: I dare saye fore Scottlande þat we them schathe lympyde:293: When þe Romaynes regnede þay raunsound oure eldyrs,294: And rade in theire ryotte and rauyschett oure wyfes,295: Withowttyn reson or ryghte refte vs oure gudes.296: And I sall make myn avowe deuotly to Criste,297: And to þe haly vernacle, vertuus and noble,298: Of this grett velany I sall be vengede ones,



299: On 3one venemus men, wyth valiant knyghtes!300: I sall the forthire of defence, fosterde ynewe,301: Fifty thowsande men, wythin two eldes,302: Of my wage for to wende whare so the lykes,303: To fyghte wyth thy faamen, þat vs vnfaire ledes!304: Thane the burelyche Beryn of Bretayne þe Lyttyll305: Counsayles Sir Arthure, and of hym besekys306: To ansuere þe alyenes wyth austeren wordes,307: To entyce the Emperour to take ouere the mounttes.308: He said, I make myn avowe verreilly to Cryste309: And to þe haly vernacle þat voide schall I neuere,310: For radnesse of na Romayne þat regnes in erthe,311: Bot ay be redye in araye and at areste founden.312: No more dowtte the dynte of theire derfe wapyns,313: Þan þe dewe þat es dannke when þat it doun falles:314: Ne no more schoune fore þe swape of theire scharpe suerddes,315: Then fore þe faireste flour þatt on the folde growes!316: I sall to batell the brynge of brenyede knyghtes317: Thyrtty thosannde be tale, thryftye in armes,318: Wythin a monethe daye into whatte marche319: Þat þow wyll sothelye assygne, when thy selfe lykes.320: A! A! sais þe Walsche kyng, wirchipid be Criste!321: Now schalle we wreke full wele þe wrethe of oure elders!322: In West Walys iwysse syche wonndyrs þay wroghte,

323: Þat all for wandrethe may wepe þat on þat were thynkes.324: I sall haue the avanttwarde wytterly my seluen,325: Tyll þat I haue venquiste þe Vicounte of Rome,326: Þat wroghte me at Viterbe a velanye ones,327: As I paste in pylgremage by the Pounte Tremble;328: He was in Tuskayne þat tyme and tuke of oure knyghttes,329: Areste them vnryghttwyslye and raunsound þam aftyre;330: I sall hym surelye ensure þat saghetyll sall we neuer,331: Are we sadlye assemble by oure selfen ones,332: And dele dynttys of dethe with oure derfe wapyns!333: And I sall wagge to þat were, of wyrchipfull knyghtes,334: Of Wyghte and of Walschelande and of the weste marches,335: Twa thosande in tale, horsede one stedys,

336: Of þe wyghteste wyes in all 3one weste landys!"337: Syre Ewan fytz Vryence þane egerly fraynez,338: Was cosyn to þe Conquerour, corageous hym selfen,339: "Sir, and we wyste 3our wyll, we walde wirke þeraftyre:340: 3if þis journee sulde halde or be ajournede forthyre,341: To ryde one 3one Romaynes and ryott theire landez,342: We walde schape vs therefore to schippe whene 3ow lykys."343: "Cosyn," quod þe Conquerour, "kyndly þou asches;344: 3ife my concell accorde to conquere 3one landez,345: By þe kalendez of Iuny we schall encountre ones,346: Wyth full creuell knyghtez, so Cryste mot me helpe!347: Thereto make I myn avowe devottly to Cryste,348: And to the holy vernacle, vertuous and noble,

349: I sall at Lammesse take leue to lenge at my large350: In Lorayne or Lumberdye, whethire me leue thynkys;351: Merke vnto Meloyne and myne doun þe wallez,352: Bathe of Petyrsande and of Pys and of þe Pounte Tremble;353: In þe Vale of Viterbe vetaile my knyghttes,354: Suggourne there sex wokes and solace my selfen;355: Send prekers to þe price toun and plaunte there my segge,356: Bot if þay profre me þe pece be processe of tym."357: "Certys," sais Sir Ewayn, "and I avowe aftyre,358: And I þat hathell may see euer with myn eghn,



359: Þat ocupies thin heritage, þe Empyere of Rome,360: I sall auntyre me anes hys egle to touche,361: Þat borne es in his banere of brighte golde ryche,362: And raas it from his riche men and ryfe it in sondyre,363: Bot he be redily reschowede with riotous knyghtez!364: I sall enforsse 3owe in þe felde with fresche men of armes,365: Fyfty thosande folke apon faire stedys,366: On thi foomen to foonde, there the faire thynkes,367: In Fraunce or in Friselande, feghte when þe lykes!368: By oure Lorde, quod Sir Launcelott, now lyghttys myn herte!369: I loue Gode of þis loue þis lordes has avowede.370: Nowe may lesse men haue leue to say whatt them lykes,371: And hafe no lettyng be lawe, bot lystynnys þise wordez:372: I sall be at journee with gentill knyghtes,373: On a jamby stede, full jolyly graythide,374: Or any journee begane to juste with hym selfen,375: Emange all his geauntez, Genyuers and oþer,376: Stryke hym styfflye fro his stede, with strenghe of myn handys,377: For all þa steryn in stour þat in his stale houys!378: Be my retenu arayede, I rekke bott a lyttill379: To make rowtte into Rome with ryotous knyghtes;380: Within a seuenyghte daye, with sex score helmes,381: I sall be seen on the see, saile when þe lykes!382: Thane laughes Sir Lottez and all on lowde meles:

383: Me likez þat Sir Lucius lannges aftyre sorowe;384: Now he wylnez þe were, hys wanedrethe begynnys!385: It es owre weredes to wreke the wrethe of oure elders.386: I make myn avowe to Gode and to þe holy vernacle,387: And I may se þe Romaynes, þat are so ryche halden,388: Arayede in þeire riotes on a rounde felde,389: I sall at þe reuerence of þe Rounde Table,390: Ryde thrughte all þe rowtte, rerewarde and oþer,391: Redy wayes to make and renkkes full rowme,392: Rynnande on rede blode as my stede ruschez!393: He þat folowes my fare and fyrste commes aftyre394: Sall fynde in my farewaye many fay leuyde!395: Thane þe Conquerour kyndly comforthes þese knyghtes,

396: Alowes þaim gretly theire lordly avowes:397: Alweldande Gode wyrchip 3ow all,398: And latte me neuere wanntte 3ow, whylls I in werlde regne;399: My menske and my manhede 3e mayntene in erthe,400: Myn honour all vtterly in oþer kyngys landes;401: My wele and my wyrchipe, of all þis werlde ryche,402: 3e haue knyghtly conqueryde, þat to my coroun langes;403: Hym thare be ferde for no faees þat swylke a folke ledes,404: Bot euer fresche for to fyghte in felde when hym lykes;405: I acounte no kynge þat vndyr Criste lyffes;406: Whills I see 3owe all sounde, I sette be no more."407: Qwhen they tristily had tretyd, þay trumppede vp aftyre,408: Descendyd doune with a daunce of dukes and erles.

409: Thane þey semblede to sale and sowpped als swythe,410: All þis semly sorte, wyth semblante full noble.411: Thene the roy reall rehetes thes knyghttys,412: Wyth reuerence and ryotte of all his Rounde Table,413: Till seuen dayes was gone, þe Senatour askes414: Answere to þe Emperour with austeryn wordez.415: Aftyre þe Epiphanye, when þe purpos was takyn,416: Of peris of þe parlement, prelates and oþer,417: The Kyng in his concell, curtaise and noblee,418: Vtters þe alienes and ansuers hym seluen:



419: "Gret wele Lucius, thi lorde, and layne noghte þise wordes:420: Ife þow be lygmane lele, late hym wiet sone421: I sall at Lammese take leue and loge at my large422: In delitte in his laundez, wyth lordes ynewe,423: Regne in my realtee and ryste when me lykes,424: By þe reyuere of Reone halde my Rounde Table,425: Fannge the fermes, in faithe, of all þa faire rewmes,426: For all þe manace of hys myghte and mawgree his eghne!427: And merke sythen ouer the mounttez into his mayne londez,428: To Meloyne the meruaylous, and myn doun the walles;429: In Lorrayne ne in Lumberdye lefe schall I nowthire430: Nokyn lede appon liffe þat þare his lawes 3emes;431: And turne into Tuschayne, whene me tyme thynkys,432: Ryde all þas rowme landes wyth ryotous knyghttes;433: Byde hyÕmå make reschewes, fore menske of hym seluen,434: And mette me fore his manhede in þase mayne landes.435: I sall be foundyn in Fraunce, fraiste when hym lykes,436: The fyrste daye of Feuer3ere, in thas faire marches;437: Are I be fechyde wyth force or forfette my landes,438: Þe flour of his faire folke full fay sall be leuyde!439: I sall hym sekyrly ensure, vndyre my seele ryche,440: To seege þe cetee of Rome wythin seuen wyntyre,441: And that so sekerly ensege apon sere halfes,442: That many a senatour sall syghe for sake of me one!

443: My sommons er certified, and thow arte full seruyde444: Of cundit and credense, kayre the lykes;445: I sall thi journaye engyste, enjoyne them my seluen,446: Fro this place to þe porte, there þou sall passe ouer;447: Seuen dayes to Sandewyche I sette at the large,448: Sexty myle on a daye, þe somme es bott lyttill.449: Thowe moste spede at the spurs and spare noghte thi fole;450: Thow weyndez by Watlyng Strette and by no waye ells;451: Thare thow nyghes on nyghte nedez moste þou lenge:452: Be it foreste or felde, found þou no forthire;453: Bynde thy blonke by a buske with thy brydill euen,454: Lugge þi selfe vndyre lynde, as þe leefe thynkes;455: There awes none alyenes to ayer appon nyghttys,

456: With syche a rebawdous rowtte to ryot thy seluen.457: Thy lycence es lemete in presence of lordys;458: Be now lathe or lette, ryghte as þe thynkes,459: For bothe þi lyffe and thi lym lygges þerappon,460: Þofe Sir Lucius had laide þe lordchipe of Rome;461: For þe þow founden a fute withowte þe flode merkes,462: Aftyr þe aughtende day, when vndroun es rungen,463: Þou sall be heuedede in hye and with horsse drawen,464: And seyn heyly be hangede, houndes to gnawen!465: The rente ne rede golde þat vnto Rome langes466: Sall noghte redily, renke, raunson thyn one!"467: "Sir," sais þe Senatour, "so Crist mot me helpe,468: Might I with wirchip wyn awaye ones,

469: I sulde neuer fore emperour þat on erthe lenges,470: Efte vnto Arthure ayere on syche nedys;471: Bot I am sengilly here, with sex sum of knyghtes;472: I beseke 3ow, Sir, that we may sounde passe:473: In any vnlawefull lede lette vs by þe waye,474: Within thy lycence, lorde, thy loosse es enpeyrede."475: "Care noghte," quod the Kyng; "thy coundyte es knawen476: Fro Carlele to þe coste, there thy cogge lengges;477: Þoghe thy cofers ware full, cramede with syluer,478: Thow myghte be sekyre of my sele sexty myle forthire."



479: They enclined to þe Kyng, and counge þay askede,480: Cayers owtt of Carelele, catchez on theire horsez;481: Sir Cadore þe curtayes kende them the wayes,482: To Catrike þem cunvayede and to Crist þem bekennyde.483: So þey spede at þe spoures, þey sprangen þeire horses,484: Hyres þem hakenayes hastyly þereaftyre;485: So fore reddour þey reden and risted them neuer,486: Bot 3if they luggede vndire lynd whills þem lyghte failede;487: Bot euere þe Senatour forsothe soghte at þe gayneste.488: By þe sevend day was gone þe cetee þai rechide;489: Of all þe glee vndire Gode so glade ware þey neuere,490: As of þe sounde of þe see and Sandwyche belles.491: Wythowttyn more stownntyng þey schippide þeire horsez,492: Wery, to þe wane see þey went all att ones;493: With þe men of þe walle they weyde vp þeire ankyrs,494: And fleede at þe fore flude; in Flaundrez þey rowede,495: And thorughe Flaundres þey founde, as þem faire thoghte,496: Till Akyn in Almayn, in Arthur landes;497: Gosse by þe Mount Goddarde full greuous wayes,498: And so into Lumberddye, lykande to schewe.499: They turne thurghe Tuskayne, with towres full heghe,500: In Pis appairells them in precious wedez;501: The Sonondaye in Suters þay suggourne þeire horsez,502: And sekes þe seyntez of Rome, be assente of knyghtes;

503: Sythyn prekes to þe pales, with portes so ryche,504: Þare Sir Lucius lenges, with lordes enowe;505: Lowttes to hym lufly, and lettres hym bedes,506: Of credence enclosyde, with knyghtlyche wordez.507: Then þe Emperour was egree and enkerly fraynes;508: Þe answere of Arthure he askes hym sone,509: How he arayes þe rewme and rewlys þe pople,510: 3if he be rebell to Rome whate ryghte þat he claymes.511: "Thow sulde his ceptre haue sesede and syttyn aboun,512: Fore reuerence and realtee of Rome þe noble;513: By sertes þow was my sandes and senatour of Rome;514: He sulde, fore solempnitee, hafe seruede þe hym seluen!"515: "That will he neuer for no wye of all þis werlde ryche,

516: Bot who may wynn hym of werre, by wyghtnesse of handes;517: Many fey schall be fyrste appon þe felde leuyde,518: Are he appere in this place profre when þe likes.519: I saye the, Sir, Arthure es thyn enmye fore euer,520: And ettells to bee ouerlyng of þe Empyre of Rome,521: That alle his ancestres aughte, bot Vtere hym selfe.522: Thy nedes this Newe 3ere I notifiede my selfen,523: Before þat noble of name and neynesom of kynges;524: In the moste reale place of þe Rounde Table,525: I somounde hym solepnylye, one-seeande his knyghtez.526: Sen I was formyde, in faythe, so ferde was I neuere,527: In all þe placez ther I passede of pryncez in erthe.528: I wolde foresake all my suyte of segnourry of Rome,

529: Or I efte to þat soueraygne whare sente one suyche nedes!530: He may be chosyn cheftayne, cheefe of all oþer,531: Bathe be chauncez of armes and cheuallrye noble,532: For whyeseste and worthyeste and wyghteste of hanndez;533: Of all the wyes þate I watte in this werlde ryche,534: The knyghtlyeste creatoure in Cristyndome halden,535: Of kyng or of conquerour crownede in erthe;536: Of countenaunce, of corage, of crewelle lates,537: The comlyeste of knyghtehode þat vndyre Cryste lyffes.538: He maye be spoken in dyspens despysere of syluere,



539: That no more of golde gyffes þan of grette stones,540: No more of wyne þan of watyre þat of þe welle rynnys,541: Ne of welthe of þis werlde bot wyrchipe allone.542: Syche contenaunce was neuer knowen in no kythe ryche,543: As was with þat conquerour in his courte halden;544: I countede at this Crystynmesse of kyngez enoynttede545: Hole ten at his table þat tym with hym selfen.546: He wyll werraye iwysse, be ware 3if þe lykes;547: Wage many wyghtemen and wache thy marches,548: That they be redye in araye and at areste foundyn;549: For 3ife he reche vnto Rome, he raunsouns it for euere!

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550: I rede þow dresce the þerfore, and drawe no lytte langere;551: Be sekyre of þi sowdeours and sende to þe mowntes;552: Be þe quartere of þis 3ere, and hym quarte stannde,553: He wyll wyghtlye in a qwhyle on his wayes hye."554: "Bee estyre," sais þe Emperour, "I ettyll my selfen555: To hostaye in Almayne with armede knyghtez;556: Sende freklye into Fraunce, þat flour es of rewmes,557: Fande to fette þat freke and forfette his landez;558: For I sall sette kepers, full conaunde and noble,

559: Many geaunte of Geen, justers full gude,560: To mete hym in the mountes and martyre hys knyghtes,561: Stryke þem doun in strates and struye them fore euere!562: There sall appon Godarde a garette be rerede,563: That schall be garneschte and kepyde with gude men of armes,564: And a bekyn abouen to brynne when þem lykys,565: Þat nane enmye with hoste sall entre the mountes;566: There schall one Mounte Bernarde be beyldede anoþere,567: Buschede with banerettes and bachelers noble;568: In at the portes of Pavye schall no prynce passe,569: Thurghe the perelous places, for my pris knyghtes."570: Thane Sir Lucius lordlyche lettres he sendys571: Onone into þe Oryente, with austeryn knyghtez,

572: Till Ambyganye and Orcage and Alysaundyre eke,573: To Inde and to Ermonye, as Ewfrates rynnys,574: To Asye and to Affrike and Ewrope þe large,575: To Irritayne and Elamet and all þase owte ilez,576: To Arraby and Egipt, till erles and oþer,577: That any erthe ocupyes in þase este marches,578: Of Damaske and Damyat, and dukes and erles,579: For drede of his daungere they dresside þem sone;580: Of Crete and of Capados the honourable kyngys581: Come at his commandmente clenly at ones,582: To Tartary and Turky, when tythynngez es comen;583: They turne in by Thebay, terauntez full hugge,584: The flour of þe faire folke of Amazonnes landes,

585: All thate faillez on þe felde be forfette fore euere!586: Of Babyloyn and Baldake the burlyche knyghtes,

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587: Bayous with theire baronage bydez no langere;588: Of Perce and of Pamphile and Preter Iohne landes,589: Iche prynce with his powere appertlyche graythede;590: The Sowdane of Surrye assemblez his knyghtes,



591: Fra Nylus to Nazarethe, nommers full huge;592: To Garyere and to Galele þey gedyre all at ones,593: The sowdanes that ware sekyre sowdeours to Rome;594: They gadyrede ouere þe Grekkes See with greuous wapyns,595: In theire grete galays, wyth gleterande scheldez;596: The kynge of Cyprys on the see þe Sowdane habydes,597: With all þe realls of Roodes arayede with hym one.598: They sailede with a syde wynde oure þe salte strandez,599: Sodanly þe Sarezenes, as them selfe lykede;600: Craftyly at Cornett the kynges are aryefede,601: Fra þe cete of Rome sexti myle large.602: Be that the Grekes ware graythede, a full gret nombyre,603: The myghtyeste of Macedone, with men of þa marches;604: Pulle and Pruyslande presses with oþer,605: The legemen of Lettow with legyons ynewe.606: Thus they semble in sortes, summes full huge,607: Sowdanes and Sarezenes owt of sere landes;608: The Sowdane of Surry and sextene kynges,609: At the cetee of Rome assemblede at ones.610: Thane yschewes þe Emperour, armede at ryghtys,611: Arayede with his Romaynes appon ryche stedys;612: Sexty geauntes before, engenderide with fendez,613: With weches and warlaws to wacchen his tentys,614: Ayware whare he wendes, wyntres and 3eres.

615: Myghte no blonkes them bere, thos bustous churlles,616: Bot couerde camellez of tourse, enclosyde in maylez.617: He ayerez oute with alyenez, ostes full huge,618: Ewyn into Almayne, þat Arthure hade wonnyn;619: Rydes in by þe ryuere and ryottez hym seluen,620: And ayerez with a huge wyll all þas hye landez.621: All Westwale of werre he wynnys as hym lykes,622: Drawes in by Danuby and dubbez hys knyghtez;623: In the contre of Coloine castells enseggez,624: And suggeournez þat seson wyth Sarazenes ynewe.625: At the vtas of Hillary, Syr Arthure hym seluen

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626: In his kydde councell commande þe lordes:627: "Kayere to 3our cuntrez and semble 3our knyghtes,628: And kepys me at Constantyne clenlyche arayede;629: Byddez me at Bareflete apon þa blythe stremes,630: Baldly within borde, with 3owre beste beryns;631: I schall menskfully 3owe mete in thos faire marches."632: He sendez furthe sodaynly sergeantes of armes633: To all hys mariners on rawe, to areste hym schippys.634: Wythin sexten dayes hys fleet whas assemblede,635: At Sandwyche on þe see, saile when hym lykes.636: In the palez of 3orke a parlement he haldez,

637: With all þe perez of þe rewme, prelates and oþer;638: And aftyre þe prechynge, in presence of lordes,639: The Kyng in his concell carpys þes wordes:640: "I am in purpos to passe perilous wayes,641: To kaire with my kene men to conquere 3one landes,642: To owttraye myn enmy, 3if auenture it schewe,643: That ocupyes myn heritage, þe Empyre of Rome.644: I sett 3ow here a soueraynge, ascente 3if 3owe lykys,645: That es me sybb, my syster son, Sir Mordrede hym seluen,646: Sall be my leuetenaunte, with lordchipez ynewe,



647: Of all my lele legemen þat my landez 3emes."648: He carpes till his cosyne þane, in counsaile hym seluen:649: "I make the kepare, Sir Knyghte, of kyngrykes manye,650: Wardayne wyrchipfull, to weilde al my landes,651: That I haue wonnen of werre, in all þis werlde ryche.652: I wyll þat Waynour, my weife, in wyrchipe be holden,653: That hire wannte noo wele ne welthe þat hire lykes;654: Luke my kydde castells be clenlyche arrayede,655: There cho maye suggourne hire selfe wyth semlyche berynes;656: Fannde my forestez be frythede o frenchepe for euere,657: That nane werreye my wylde botte Waynour hir seluen,658: And þat in þe seson whene grees es assignyde,659: That cho take hir solauce in certayne tymms.660: Chauncelere and chambyrleyn chaunge as þe lykes;661: Audytours and offycers ordayne thy seluen,662: Bathe jureez and juggez and justicez of landes;663: Luke thow justifye them wele that injurye wyrkes.

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664: If me be destaynede to dye at Dryghtyns wyll,665: I charge the my sektour, cheffe of all oþer,666: To mynystre my mobles fore mede of my saule

667: To mendynauntez and mysese in myschefe fallen;668: Take here my testament of tresoure full huge:669: As I trayste appon the, betraye thowe me neuer!670: As þow will answere before the austeryn Jugge,671: That all þis werlde wynly wysse as Hym lykes,672: Luke þat my laste wyll be lelely perfournede.673: Thow has clenly þe cure that to my coroune langez674: Of all my werÕlådez wele, and my weyffe eke;675: Luke þowe kepe the so clere there be no cause fonden676: When I to contre come, if Cryste will it thole;677: And thow haue grace gudly to gouerne thy seluen,678: I sall coroune þe, knyghte, kyng with my handez."679: Þan Sir Modrede full myldly meles hym seluen,

680: Knelyd to þe Conquerour and carpes þise wordez:681: "I beseke 3ow, Sir, as my sybbe lorde,682: Þat 3e will for charyte cheese 3ow anoþer;683: For if 3e putte me in þis plytte, 3owre pople es dyssauyde;684: To presente a prynce astate my powere es symple.685: When oþer of werre wysse are wyrchipide hereaftyre,686: Than may I forsothe be sette bott at lyttill.687: To passe in 3our presance my purpos es takyn,688: And all my purueaunce apperte fore my pris knyghtez."689: "Thowe arte my neuewe full nere, my nurree of olde,690: That I haue chastyede and chosen, a childe of my chambyre;691: For the sybredyn of me, foresake noghte þis offyce;692: That thow ne wyrk my will, thow watte whatte it menes."

693: Nowe he takez hys leue and lengez no langere,694: At lordez at legemen, þat leues hym byhynden.695: And seyne þat worthilyche wy went vnto chambyre,696: For to comfurthe þe Qwene, þat in care lenges.697: Waynour, waykly wepande, hym kyssiz,698: Talkez to hym tenderly with teres ynewe:699: "I may wery the wye thatt this werre mouede,

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700: That warnes me wyrchippe of my wedde lorde;701: All my lykyng of lyfe owte of lande wendez,702: And I in langour am lefte, leue 3e, for euere.703: Whyne myghte I, dere lufe, dye in 3our armes,704: Are I þis destanye of dule sulde drye by myne one?"705: "Grefe þe noghte, Gaynour, fore Goddes lufe of Hewen,706: Ne gruche noghte my ganggyng: it sall to gude turne.707: Thy wonrydez and thy wepyng woundez myn herte;708: I may noghte wit of þis woo, for all þis werlde ryche!709: I haue made a kepare, a knyghte of thyn awen,710: Ouerlyng of Ynglande, vndyre thy seluen,711: And that es Sir Mordrede, þat þow has mekyll praysede,712: Sall be thy dictour, my dere, to doo whatte the lykes."713: Thane he takes hys leue at ladys in chambyre,714: Kysside them kyndlyche and to Criste beteches;715: And then cho swounes full swythe, wheÕnå he hys swerde aschede,716: Twys in a swounyng, swelte as cho walde.717: He pressed to his palfray, in presance of lordes,718: Prekys of the palez with his prys knyghtes;719: Wyth a reall rowte of þe Rounde Table720: Soughte towarde Sandwyche, cho sees hym no more.721: Thare the grete ware gederyde, wyth galyarde knyghtes,722: Garneschit on þe grene felde and graythelyche arayede;

723: Dukkes and duzseperez daynttehely rydes,724: Erles of Ynglande, with archers ynewe;725: Schirreues scharply schiftys the comouns,726: Rewlys before þe ryche of the Rounde Table;727: Assingnez ilke a contree to certayne lordes,728: In the southe on þe see banke, saile when þem lykes.729: Thane bargez them buskez and to þe baunke rowes,730: Bryngez blonkez on bourde and burlyche helmes;731: Trussez in tristly trappyde stedes,732: Tentez and othire toylez and targez full ryche,733: Cabanes and clathe-sekkes and coferez full noble,734: Hekes and haknays and horsez of armez;735: Thus they stowe in the stuffe of full steryn knyghtez.

736: Qwen all was schyppede that scholde they schounte no lengere,

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737: Bot ventelde them tyte, as þe tyde rynnez;738: Coggez and crayers þan crossez þaire mastez,739: At the comandment of þe Kynge vncouerde at ones.740: Wyghtly on þe wale þay wye vp þaire ankers,741: By wytt of þe watyre-men of þe wale ythez;742: Frekes on þe forestavne faken þeire coblez,743: In floynes and fercostez and Flemesche schyppes;744: Tytt saillez to þe toppe and turnez þe lufe,

745: Standez appon stere-bourde, sternly þay songen.746: The pryce schippez of the porte prouen theire depnesse,747: And fondez wyth full saile ower þe fawe ythez;748: Holly withowttyn harme þay hale in bottes;749: Schipemen scharply schoten þaire portez,750: Launchez lede apon lufe, lacchen þer depez;751: Lukkez to þe lade-sterne when þe lyghte faillez,752: Castez coursez be crafte when þe clowde rysez,753: With þe nedyll and þe stone one þe nyghte tydez;754: For drede of þe derke nyghte þay drecchede a lyttill,



755: And all þe steryn of þe streme strekyn at onez.756: The Kynge was in a gret cogge, with knyghtez full many,757: In a cabane enclosede, clenlyche arayede;758: Within on a ryche bedde rystys a littyll,759: And with þe swoghe of þe see in swefnyng he fell.760: Hym dremyd of a dragon, dredfull to beholde,761: Come dryfande ouer þe depe to drenschen hys pople,762: Ewen walkande owte of the weste landez,763: Wanderande vnworthyly ouere the wale ythez;764: Bothe his hede and hys hals ware halely all ouer765: Oundyde of azure, enamelde full faire;766: His scoulders ware schalyde all in clene syluere,767: Schreede ouer all þe schrympe with schrinkande poyntez;768: Hys wombe and hys wenges of wondyrfull hewes,769: In meruaylous maylys he mountede full hye;770: Whaym þat he towchede he was tynt for euer.771: Hys feete ware floreschede all in fyne sabyll,772: And syche a vennymous flayre flowe fro his lyppez,773: That the flode of þe flawez all on fyre semyde.

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774: Thane come of þe oryente, ewyn hym agaynez,

775: A blake, bustous bere abwen in the clowdes,776: With yche a pawe as a poste and paumes full huge,777: With pykes full perilous, all plyande þam semyde;778: Lothen and lothely lokkes and oþer,779: All with lutterde legges, lokerde vnfaire,780: Filtyrde vnfrely, with fomaunde lyppez,781: The foulleste of fegure that fourmede was euer.782: He baltyrde, he bleryde, he braundyschte þerafter;783: To bataile he bounnez hym with bustous clowez;784: He romede, he rarede, that roggede all þe erthe,785: So ruydly he rappyd at to ryot hym seluen.786: Thane the dragon on dreghe dressede hym a3aynez,787: And with hys dÕiånttez hym drafe on dreghe by þe walkyn;

788: He fares as a fawcon: frekly he strykez;789: Bothe with feete and with fyre he feghttys at ones.790: The bere in the bataile þe bygger hym semyde,791: And byttes hym boldlye wyth balefull tuskez;792: Syche buffetez he hym rechez with hys brode klokes,793: Hys brest and his brayell whas blodye all ouer.794: He rawmpyde so ruydly that all þe erthe ryfez,795: Rynnande on reede blode as rayne of the heuen.796: He hade weryede the worme by wyghtnesse of strenghte,797: Ne ware it fore the wylde fyre þat he hym wyth defendez.798: Thane wandyrs þe worme awaye to hys heghttez,799: Commes glydande fro þe clowddez and cowpez full euen,800: Towchez hym wyth his talounez and terez hys rigg,

801: Betwyx þe taile and the toppe ten fote large.802: Thus he brittenyd the bere and broghte hym o lyfe,803: Lette hym fall in the flode, fleete whare hym lykes.804: So they þryng þe bolde kyng bynne þe schippe-burde,805: Þat nere he bristez for bale, on bede whare he lyggez.806: Than waknez þe wyese kyng, wery foretrauaillede,807: Takes hym two phylozophirs that folowede hym euer,808: In the seuyn scyence the suteleste fonden,809: The conyÕnågeste of clergye vndyre Criste knowen.810: He tolde þem of hys tourmente þat tym þat he slepede:



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811: "Drechede with a dragon, and syche a derfe beste,812: Has mad me full wery; 3e tell me my swefen,813: Ore I mon swelte as swythe, as wysse me oure Lorde!"814: "Sir," saide þey son thane, thies sagge philosopherse,815: "The dragon þat þow dremyde of, so dredfull to schewe,816: That come dryfande ouer þe deepe to drynchen thy pople,817: Sothely and certayne, thy seluen it es,818: That thus saillez ouer þe see with thy sekyre knyghtez;819: The colurez þat ware castyn appon his clere wengez,820: May be thy kyngrykez all, that thow has ryghte wonnyn;821: And the tatterede taile with tonges so huge,822: Betakyns þis faire folke that in thy fleet wendez;823: The bere that bryttenede was abowen in þe clowdez824: Betakyns the tyrauntez þat tourmentez thy pople;825: Or ells with somme gyaunt some journee sall happyn,826: In syngulere batell by 3oure selfe one,827: And þow sall hafe þe victorye, thurghe helpe of oure Lorde,828: As þow in thy visione was opynly schewede.829: Of this dredfull dreme ne drede the no more;830: Ne kare noghte, Sir Conquerour, bot comforth thy seluen;

831: And thise þat saillez ouer þe see, with thy sekyre knyghtez."832: With trumppez then trystly they trisen vpe þaire saillez,833: And rowes ouer the ryche see, this rowtte all at onez;834: The comely coste of Normandye they cachen full euen,835: And blythely at Barflete theis bolde are arryfede,836: And fyndys a flete there of frendez ynewe,837: The floure and þe faire folke of fyftene rewmez;838: Fore kyngez and capytaynez kepyde hym fayre,839: As he at Carelele commaundyde at Cristynmesse hym seluen.840: Be they had taken the lande and tentez vpe rerede,841: Comez a templere tyte and towchide to þe Kynge:842: "Here es a teraunt besyde that tourmentez thi pople,843: A grett geaunte of Geen, engenderde of fendez;

844: He has fretyn of folke mo than fyfe hondrethe,845: And als fele fawntekyns of freeborne childyre.846: This has bene his sustynaunce all this seuen wyntteres,

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847: And 3itt es that sotte noghte sadde, so wele hym it lykez!848: In þe contree of Constantyne ne kynde has he leuede,849: Withowttyn kydd castells enclosid wyth walles,850: That he ne has clenly dystroyede all the knaue childyre,851: And them caryede to þe cragge and clenly deworyd!852: The Duchez of Bretayne todaye has he takyn,

853: Beside Reynes as scho rade with hire ryche knyghttes;854: Ledd hyre to þe mountayne thare þat lede lengez,855: To lye by that lady aye whyls hir lyfe lastez.856: We folowede o ferrom, moo then fyfe hundrethe857: Of beryns and of burgeys and bachelers noble,858: Bot he couerde the cragge, cho cryede so lowde,859: The care of þat creatoure couer sall I neuer!860: Scho was flour of all Fraunce, or of fyfe rewmes,861: And one of the fayreste that fourmede was euere,862: The gentileste jowell ajuggede with lordes



863: Fro Geen vnto Geron, by Ihesu of Heuen!864: Scho was thy wyfes cosyn, knowe it if þe lykez,865: Comen of þe rycheste that rengnez in erthe;866: As thow arte ryghtwise Kyng, rewe on thy pople,867: And fande for to venge them that thus are rebuykyde!"868: "Allas!" sais Sir Arthure, "so lange haue I lyffede;869: Hade I wyten of this, wele had me chefede;870: Me es noghte fallen faire, bot me es foule happynede,871: That thus this faire ladye this fende has dystroyede!872: I had leuere thane all Fraunce this fyftene wynter873: I hade bene before thate freke a furlange of waye,874: When he that ladye had laghte and ledde to þe montez;875: I hadde lefte my lyfe are cho hade harme lymppyde.876: Bot walde þow kene me to þe crage thare þat kene lengez;877: I walde cayre to þat coste and carpe wythe hym seluen,878: To trette with that tyraunt fore treson of londes,879: And take trewe for a tym, till it may tyde bettyr."880: "Sire, see 3e 3one farlande, with 3one two fyrez?881: Þar filsnez þat fende, fraiste when the lykes,882: Appone the creste of the cragge, by a colde welle,883: That enclosez þe clyfe with þe clere strandez;884: Ther may thow fynde folke fay wythowttyn nowmer,

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-65-885: Mo florenez, in faythe, than Fraunce es in aftyre;886: And more tresour vntrewely that traytour has getyn887: Thane in Troye was, as I trowe, þat tym þat it was wonn."888: Thane romyez the ryche kynge for rewthe of þe pople,889: Raykez ryghte to a tente and restez no lengere;890: He welterys, he wristeles, he wryngez hys handez;891: Thare was no wy of þis werlde that wyste whatt he menede.892: He calles Sir Cayous, þat of þe cowpe serfede,893: And Sir Bedvere þe bolde, þat bare hys brande ryche:894: "Luke 3e aftyre euensang be armyde at ryghttez,895: On blonkez by 3one buscayle, by 3one blythe stremez,

896: Fore I will passe in pilgremage preuely hereaftyre,897: In the tyme of suppere, whene lordez are servede,898: For to seken a saynte be 3one salte stremes,899: In Seynt Mighell Mount, there myraclez are schewede."900: Aftyre euesange, Sir Arthure hym seÕlåfen901: Wente to hys wardrop and warp of hys wedez,902: Armede hym in a acton with orfraeez full ryche,903: Abouen on þat a jeryn of Acres owte ouer,904: Abouen þat a jesseraunt of jentyll maylez,905: A jupon of Ierodyn, jaggede in schredez;906: He brayedez one a bacenett, burneschte of syluer,907: The beste þat was in Basill, wyth bordurs ryche;908: The creste and þe coronall enclosed so faire

909: Wyth clasppis of clere golde, couched wyth stones;910: The vesare, þe aventaile, enarmede so faire,911: Voyde withowttyn vice, with wyndowes of syluer;912: His gloues gaylyche gilte and grauen at þe hemmez,913: With graynez and gobelets, glorious of hewe.914: He bracez a brade schelde and his brande aschez,915: Bounede hym a broun stede and on þe bente houys;916: He sterte till his sterep and stridez on lofte,917: Streynez hym stowttly and sterys hym faire,918: Brochez þe baye stede and to þe buske rydez,



919: And there hys knyghtes hym kepede full clenlyche arayede.920: Than they roode by þat ryuer þat rynnyd so swythe,921: Þare þe ryndez ouerrechez with reall bowghez;922: The roo and þe raynedere reklesse thare ronnen,

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923: In ranez and in rosers, to ryotte þam seluen;924: The frithez ware floreschte with flourez full many,925: Wyth fawcouns and fesantez of ferlyche hewez;926: All þe feulez thare fleschez that flyez with wengez,927: Fore thare galede þe gowke one greuez full lowde:928: Wyth alkyn gladchipe þay gladden þem seluen;929: Of þe nyghtgale notez þe noisez was swette,930: They threpide wyth the throstills, thre hundreth at ones;931: Þat whate swowyng of watyr and syngyng of byrdez,932: It myghte salue hym of sore þat sounde was neuere.933: Than ferkez this folke and on fotte lyghttez,934: Festenez theire faire stedez o ferrom bytwene;935: And thene the Kyng kenely comandyde hys knyghtez936: For to byde with theire blonkez and bowne no forthyre:937: "Fore I will seke this seynte by my selfe one,938: And mell with this mayster mane þat this monte 3emez;

939: And seyn sall 3e offyre, aythyre aftyre oþer,940: Menskfully at Saynt Mighell full myghtty with Criste."941: The Kyng coueris þe cragge wyth cloughes full hye,942: To the creste of the clyffe he clymbez on lofte;943: Keste vpe hys vmbrer and kenly he lukes,944: Caughte of þe colde wynde to comforthe hym seluen.945: Two fyrez fyndez, flawmande full hye;946: The fourtedele a furlang betwene þus he walkes;947: The waye by þe welle strandez he wandyrde hym one,948: To wette of þe warlawe, whare þat he lengez.949: He ferkez to þe fyrste fyre, and euen there he fyndez950: A wery wafull wedowe, wryngande hire handez,951: And gretande on a graue grysely teres;

952: Now merkyde on molde sen myddaye it semede.953: He salu3ede þat sorowfull with sittande wordez,954: And fraynez aftyre the fende fairely thereaftyre.955: Thane this wafull wyfe vnwynly hym gretez,956: Couerd vp on hire kneess and clappyde hire handez;957: Said "Carefull careman, thow carpez to lowde;958: May 3one warlawe wyt, he worows vs all!959: Weryd worthe þe wyghte ay that þe thy wytt refede,960: That mase the to wayfe here in þise wylde lakes.

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961: I warne þe fore wyrchipe þou wylnez aftyr sorowe;962: Whedyre buskes þow, berne? Vnblysside þow semes.963: Wenez thow to britten hym with thy brande ryche?964: Ware thow wyghttere than Wade or Wawayn owthire,965: Thow wynnys no wyrchip, I warne the before.966: Thow saynned the vnsekyrly to seke to þese mountez;967: Siche sex ware to symple to semble with hym one,968: For and thow see hym with syghte, the seruez no herte969: To sayne the sekerly, so semez hym huge!970: Thow arte frely and faire and in thy fyrste flourez,



971: Bot thow arte fay, be my faythe, and þat me forthynkkys.972: Ware syche fyfty on a felde or one a faire erthe,973: The freke walde with hys fyste fell 3ow at ones!974: Loo, here the duchez dere, todaye was cho takyn,975: Depe doluen and dede, dyked in moldez;976: He hade morthirede this mylde be myddaye war rongen,977: Withowttyn mercy one molde, I not watte it ment.978: He has forsede hir and fylede, and cho es fay leuede;979: He slewe hir vnslely and slitt hir to þe nauyll.980: And here haue I bawmede hir and beryede þeraftyr;981: For bale of þe botelesse, blythe be I neuer.982: Of alle þe frendez cho hade, þere folowede none aftyre,983: Bot I, hir foster modyr of fyftene wynter;984: To ferke of this farlande, fande sall I neuer,985: Bot here be founden on felde till I be fay leuede."

The Thornton Ms., Folios 64r-74v (lines 986-1992)

986: Thane answers Sir Arthure to þat alde wyf,987: "I am comyn fra þe Conquerour, curtaise and gentill,988: As one of þe hathelest of Arthur knyghtez,989: Messenger to þis myx, for mendemente of þe pople,990: To mele with this maister man that here this mounte 3emez;991: To trete with this tyraunt for tresour of landez,

992: And take trew for a tym, to bettyr may worthe."993: "3a, thire wordis are bot waste," quod this wif thane,994: "For bothe landez and lythes full lyttill by he settes;995: Of rentez ne of rede golde rekkez he neuer,996: For he will lenge owt of lawe, as hym selfe thynkes,997: Withowten licence of lede, as lorde in his awen.

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998: Bot he has a kyrtill one, kepide for hym seluen,999: That was sponen in Spayne with specyall byrdez,1000: And sythyn garnescht in Grece full graythly togedirs.

1001: It es hyded all with har hally al ouere,1002: And bordyrde with the berdez of burlyche kyngez,1003: Crispid and kombide, that kempis may knawe1004: Iche kyng by his colour, in kythe there he lengez;1005: Here the fermez he fangez of fyftene rewmez:1006: For ilke Esterne ewyn, howeuer that it fall,1007: They send it hym sothely for saughte of þe pople,1008: Sekerly at þat seson, with certayne knyghtez.1009: And he has aschede Arthure all þis seuen wynntter:1010: Forthy hurdez he here, to owttraye hys pople,1011: Till þe Bretons kyng haue burneschte his lyppys,1012: And sent his berde to that bolde wyth his beste berynes.1013: Bot thowe hafe broghte þat berde, bowne the no forthire,

1014: For it es buteless bale thowe biddez oghte ells;1015: For he has more tresour to take when hym lykez1016: Than euere aughte Arthure or any of hys elders;1017: If thowe hafe broghte þe berde he bese more blythe1018: Thane þowe gafe hym Burgoyne or Bretayne þe More.1019: Bot luke nowe for charitee þow chasty thy lyppes,1020: That the no wordez eschape, whateso betydez;1021: Luke þi presante be priste, and presse hym bott lytill,1022: For he es at his sowper, he will be sone greuyde;1023: And þow my concell doo, þow dosse of thy clothes,



1024: And knele in thy kyrtyll, and call hym thy lorde.1025: He sowppes all þis seson with seuen knaue childre,1026: Choppid in a chargour of chalke-whytt syluer,1027: With pekill and powdyre of precious spycez,1028: And pyment full plenteuous of Portyngale wynes;1029: Thre balefull birdez his brochez þey turne,1030: Þat byddez his bedgatt, his byddyng to wyrche;1031: Siche foure scholde be fay within foure hourez,1032: Are his fylth ware filled that his flesch 3ernes."1033: "3a, I haue broghte þe berd," quod he, "the bettyr me lykez;1034: Forthi will I boun me, and bere it my seluen;

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1035: Bot, lefe, walde þow lere me whare þat lede lengez,1036: I sall alowe þe and I liffe, oure Lorde so me helpe."1037: "Ferke fast to þe fyre," quod cho, "that flawmez so hye;1038: Thare fillis þat fende hym, fraist when the lykez;1039: Bot thowe moste seke more southe, sydlyngs a lyttill,1040: For he will hafe sent hym selfe sex myle large."1041: To þe sowþe of þe reke he soghte at þe gayneste,1042: Sayned hym sekerly with certeyne wordez,1043: And sydlyngs of þe segge the syghte had he rechid,

1044: How vnsemly þat sott satt sowpand hym one;1045: He lay lenand on lang, lugand vnfaire,1046: Þe thee of a manns lymme lyfte vp by þe haunche;1047: His bakke and his bewschers and his brode lendez1048: He bekez by þe bale-fyre, and breklesse hym semede.1049: Þare ware rostez full ruyd and rewfull bredez,1050: Beerynes and bestaile brochede togeders,1051: Cowle full cramede of crysmed childyre,1052: Sum as brede brochede, and bierdez þam tournede.1053: And þan this comlych kyng, bycause of his pople,1054: His herte bledez for bale, one bent ware he standez.1055: Thane he dressede one his schelde, schuntes no lengere,1056: BraundeschÕtåe his bryghte swerde by þe bryghte hiltez,

1057: Raykez towarde þe renke reghte with a ruyd will,1058: And hyely hailsez þat hulke with hawtayne wordez:1059: "Now allweldand Gode, þat wyrscheppez vs all,1060: Giff the sorowe and syte, sotte, there thow lygges,1061: For the fulsomeste freke that fourmede was euere;1062: Foully thow fedys the, þe Fende haue thi saule!1063: Here es cury vnclene, carle, be my trowthe,1064: Caffe of creatours all, thow curssede wriche!1065: Because that þow killide has þise cresmede childyre,1066: Thow has marters made, and broghte oute of lyfe,1067: Þat here are brochede on bente and brittened with thi handez,1068: I sall merke þe thy mede, as þou has myche serfed,1069: Thurghe myghte of Seynt Mighell, þat þis monte 3emes;

1070: And for this faire ladye, þat þow has fey leuyde,1071: And þus forced one foulde, for fylth of þi selfen.

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1072: Dresse the now, dogge-sone, the Deuell haue þi saule,1073: For þow sall dye this day, thurghe dynt of my handez!"1074: Than glopned þe gloton and glored vnfaire;1075: He grenned as a grewhounde, with grysly tuskes;



1076: He gaped, he groned faste, with grucchand latez,1077: For grefe of þe gude kyng þat hym with grame gretez.1078: His fax and his foretoppe was filterede togeders,1079: And owte of his face come ane halfe fote large;1080: His frount and his forheued all was it ouer,1081: As þe fell of a froske, and fraknede it semede;1082: Huke-nebbyde as a hawke, and a hore berde,1083: And herede to þe hole eyghn with hyngande browes;1084: Harske as a hunde-fisch hardly whoso lukez,1085: So was þe hyde of þat hulke hally al ouer.1086: Erne had he full huge and vgly to schewe,1087: With eghne full horreble and ardauunt forsothe;1088: Flatt-mowthede as a fluke, with fleryand lyppys,1089: And þe flesche in his fortethe fowly as a bere.1090: His berde was brothy and blake, þat till his brest rechede,1091: Grassede as a mereswyne, with corkes full huge,1092: And all falterd þe flesche in his foule lippys,1093: Ilke wrethe as a wolfe-heuede, it wraythe owtt at ones.1094: Bulle-nekkyde was þat bierne and brade in the scholders,1095: Brok-brestede as a brawne, with brustils full large,1096: Ruyd armes as an ake with rusclede sydes,1097: Lym and leskes full lothyn, leue 3e forsothe.1098: Schouell-foted was þat schalke, and schaylande hyn semyde,1099: With schankez vnschaply, schowand togedyrs;

1100: Thykke theese as a thursse, and thikkere in þe hanche,1101: Greesse growen as a galte, full gryÕsålych he lukez.1102: Who þe lenghe of þe lede lelly accountes,1103: Fro þe face to þe fote was fyfe fadom lange.1104: Thane stertez he vp sturdely on two styffe schankez,1105: And sone he caughte hym a clubb all of clene yryn;1106: He walde hafe kyllede þe Kyng with his kene wapen,1107: Bot thurghe þe crafte of Cryste 3it þe carle failede;1108: The creest and þe coronall, þe claspes of syluer,

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1109: Clenly with his clubb he crassched doune at onez.1110: The Kyng castes vp his schelde and couers hym faire,1111: And with his burlyche brande a box he hym reches;1112: Full butt in þe frunt the fromonde he hittez,1113: That the burnyscht blade to þe brayne rynnez.1114: He feyed his fysnamye with his foule hondez,1115: And frappez faste at his face fersely þeraftyre;1116: The Kyng chaungez his fote, eschewes a lyttill,1117: Ne had he eschapede þat choppe, cheuede had euyll;1118: He folowes in fersly and festenesse a dynte1119: Hye vpe on þe hanche with his harde wapyn,1120: That he hillid þe swerde halfe a fote large,1121: The hott blode of þe hulke vnto þe hilte rynnez;

1122: Ewyn into inmette the gyaunt he hyttez,1123: Iust to þe genitales and jaggede þam in sondre.1124: Thane he romyed and rared, and ruydly he strykez1125: Full egerly at Arthur, and on the erthe hittez;1126: A swerde lenghe within þe swarthe he swappez at ones,1127: That nere swounes þe Kyng for swoughe of his dynnttez.1128: Bot 3it the Kyng sweperly full swythe he byswenkez,1129: Swappez in with the swerde þat it þe swange brystedd;1130: Bothe þe guttez and the gorr guschez owte at ones,1131: Þat all englaymez þe gresse one grounde þer he standez.



1132: Thane he castez the clubb and the Kyng hentez:1133: On þe creeste of þe cragg he caughte hym in armez,1134: And enclosez hym clenly, to cruschen hys rybbez,1135: So hard haldez he þat hende þat nere his herte brystez.1136: Þane þe balefull bierdez bownez to þe erthe,1137: Kneland and cryande, and clappide þeire handez:1138: "Criste comforthe 3one knyghte, and kepe hym fro sorowe,1139: And latte neuer 3one fende fell hym o lyfe."1140: 3itt es þe warlow so wyghte, he welters hym vnder,1141: Wrothely þai wrythyn and wrystill togederz,1142: Welters and walowes ouer within þase buskez,1143: Tumbellez and turnes faste and terez þaire wedez;1144: Vntenderly fro þe toppe þai tiltin togederz,1145: Whilom Arthure ouer and oþerwhile vndyre;

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1146: Fro þe heghe of þe hyll vnto þe harde roche,1147: They feyne neuer are they fall at þe flode merkes.1148: Bot Arthur with ane anlace egerly smyttez,1149: And hittez euer in the hulke vp to þe hiltez;1150: Þe theefe at þe dede-thrawe so throly hym thryngez,1151: Þat three rybbys in his syde he thrystez in sunder.

1152: Then Sir Kayous þe kene vnto þe Kyng styrtez:1153: Said "Allas, we are lorne, my lorde es confundede;1154: Ouerfallen with a fende, vs es full hapnede!1155: We mon be forfeted, in faith, and flemyde for euer!"1156: Þay hafe vp hys hawberke þan and handilez þervndyr1157: His hyde and his haunche eke, on heghte to þe schuldrez,1158: His flawnke and his feletez and his faire sydez,1159: Bothe his bakke and his breste and his bryghte armez;1160: Þay ware fayne þat þey fande no flesche entamed,1161: And for þat journee made joye, þir gentill knyghttez.1162: "Now certez," saise Sir Bedwere, "it semez, be my Lorde,1163: He sekez seyntez bot selden, þe sorer he grypes,1164: Þat þus clekys this corsaunt owte of þir heghe clyffez,

1165: To carye forthe siche a carle at close hym in siluer.1166: Be Myghell, of syche a makk I hafe myche wondyre1167: That euer owre soueraygne Lorde suffers hym in Heuen;1168: And all seyntez be syche þat seruez oure Lorde,1169: I sall neuer no seynt bee, be my fadyre sawle!"1170: Thane bourdez þe bolde kyng at Bedvere wordez:1171: "Þis seynt haue I soghte, so helpe me owre Lorde!1172: Forthy brayd owtte þi brande, and broche hym to þe herte;1173: Be sekere of this sergeaunt, he has me sore greuede.1174: I faghte noghte wyth syche a freke þis fyftene wyntyre;1175: Bot in þe montez of Araby I mett syche anoþer:1176: He was þe forcyer be ferre þat had I nere funden,1177: Ne had my fortune bene faire, fey had I leuede.

1178: Onone stryke of his heuede, and stake it thereaftyre,1179: Gife it to thy sqwyere, fore he es wele horsede,1180: Bere it to Sir Howell, þat es in harde bandez,1181: And byd hym herte hym wele, his enmy es destruede.1182: Syne bere it to Bareflete, and brace it in yryne,1183: And sett it on the barbycane, biernes to schewe.

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1184: My brande and my brode schelde apon þe bent lyggez,1185: On þe creeste of þe cragge, thare fyrste we encontrede,1186: And þe clubb þarby, all of clene iren,1187: Þat many Cristen has kyllyde in Constantyne landez;1188: Ferke to the farlande, and fetche me þat wapen,1189: And late founde till oure flete, in flode þare it lengez.1190: If thow wyll any tresour, take whate the lykez;1191: Haue I the kyrtyll and þe clubb, I coueite noghte ells."1192: Now þey caire to þe cragge, þise comlyche knyghtez,1193: And broghte hym þe brade schelde and his bryghte wapen,1194: Þe clubb and þe cotte alls, Syr Kayous hym seluen,1195: And kayres with Õtheå Conquerour, the kyngez to schewe1196: That in couerte þe Kyng helde closse to hym seluen,1197: Whills clene day fro þe clowde clymbyd on lofte.1198: Be that to courte was comen clamour full huge;1199: And before þe comlyche kyng they knelyd all at ones:1200: "Welcom, our liege lorde, to lang has thow duellyde,1201: Gouernour vndyr Gode, graytheste and noble,1202: To wham grace es graunted and gyffen at His will;1203: Now thy comly come has comforthede vs all.1204: Thow has in thy realtee reuengyde thy pople;1205: Thurghe helpe of thy hande, thyne enmyse are struyede,1206: That has thy renkes ouerronne and refte them theire childyre;1207: Whas neuer rewme owte of araye so redyly releuede!"

1208: Than þe Conquerour Cristenly carpez to his pople:1209: "Thankes Gode," quod he, "of þis grace, and no gome ells,1210: For it was neuer manns dede, bot myghte of Hym selfen,1211: Or myracle of Hys Modyr, þat mylde es till all."1212: He somond þan þe schippemen scharpely þeraftyre,1213: To schake furthe with þe schyremen to schiffe þe gudez,1214: All þe myche tresour þat traytour had wonnen,1215: To comouns of the contre, clergye and oþer:1216: "Luke it be done and delte to my dere pople,1217: That none pleyn of theire parte, o peyne of 3our lyfez."1218: He comande hys cosyn, with knyghtlyche wordez,1219: To make a kyrke on þe cragg, ther the corse lengez,1220: And a couent therein, Criste for to serfe,

1221: In mynde of þat martyre, þat in þe monte rystez.

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1222: Qwen Sir Arthur the Kyng had kylled þe gyaunt,1223: Than blythely fro Bareflete he buskes on þe morne;1224: With his batell on brede, by þa blythe stremes,1225: Towarde Castell Blanke he chesez hym the waye;1226: Thurghe a faire champayne, vndyr schalke hyllis,1227: The Kyng fraystez a furth ouer the fresche strandez,1228: Foundez with his faire folke ouer as hym lykez;1229: Furthe stepes that steryn and strekez his tentis

1230: One a strenghe by a streme, in þas straytt landez.1231: Onone aftyre myddaye, in the mene-while,1232: Þare comez two messangers of tha fere marchez,1233: Fra þe Marschall of Fraunce, and menskfully hym gretes,1234: Besoghte hym of sucour and saide hym þise wordez:1235: "Sir, thi marschall, þi mynistre, thy mercy besekez,1236: Of thy mekill magestee, fore mendement of thi pople,1237: Of þise marchez-men, that thus are myskaryede,1238: And thus merred amang, maugree theire eghne.1239: I witter þe þe Emperour es entirde into Fraunce,



1240: With ostes of enmyse, orrible and huge;1241: Brynnez in Burgoyne thy burghes so ryche,1242: And brittenes thi baronage, that bieldez þarein;1243: He encrochez kenely by craftez of armez,1244: Countrese and castells þat to thy coroun langez,1245: Confoundez thy comouns, clergy and oþer:1246: Bot thow comfurth them, Sir Kyng, couer sall they neuer!1247: He fellez forestez fele, forrayse thi landez,1248: Frysthez no fraunchez, bot fraiez the pople;1249: Þus he fellez thi folke and fangez theire gudez:1250: Fremedly the Franche tung fey es belefede.1251: He drawes into douce Fraunce, as Duchemen tellez,1252: Dresside with his dragouns, dredfull to schewe;1253: All to dede they dyghte with dynnttys of swerddez,1254: Dukez and dusperes þat dreches tharein.1255: Forthy the lordez of the lande, ladys and oþer,1256: Prayes the for Petyr luffe, þe Apostyll of Rome,1257: Sen thow arte presant in place, þat þow will profyre make1258: To þat perilous prynce, be processe of tym.

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1259: He ayers by 3one hilles, 3one heghe holtez vndyr,

1260: Hufes thare with hale strenghe of haythen kyngez;1261: Helpe nowe for His lufe, that heghe in Heuen sittez,1262: And talke tristly to them þat thus vs destroyes."1263: The Kyng biddis Sir Boice, "Buske the belyfe;1264: Take with the Sir Berill and Bedwere the ryche,1265: Sir Gawayne and Sir Geryn, these galyarde knyghtez,1266: And graythe 3owe to 3one grene wode, and gose on þer nedes:1267: Saise to Syr Lucius, to vnlordly he wyrkez,1268: Thus letherly agaynes law to lede my pople;1269: I lette hym or oghte lange, 3if me þe lyffe happen,1270: Or many lyghte sall lawe þat hym ouere lande folowes.1271: Comande hym kenely wyth crewell wordez,1272: Cayre owte of my kyngryke with his kydd knyghtez:

1273: In caase that he will noghte, þat cursede wreche,1274: Com for his curtaisie, and countere me ones.1275: Thane sall we rekken full rathe whatt ryghte þat he claymes,1276: Thus to ryot þis rewme and raunsone the pople.1277: Thare sall it derely be delte with dynttez of handez,1278: The Dryghtten at Domesdaye dele as Hym lykes!"1279: Now thei graythe them to goo, theis galyarde knyghttez,1280: All gleterande in golde, appon grete stedes,1281: Towarde þe grene wode, with grownden wapyn,1282: To grete wele the grett lorde, that wolde be grefede sone.1283: Thise hende houez on a hill by þe holte eyues,1284: Behelde þe howsyng full hye of hathen kynges:1285: They herde in theire herbergage hundrethez full many

1286: Hornez of olyfantez full helych blawen;1287: Palaisez proudliche pyghte, þat palyd ware ryche,1288: Of pall and of purpure, with precyous stones;1289: Pensels and pomell of ryche prynce armez,1290: Pighte in þe playn mede, þe pople to schewe.1291: And than the Romayns so ryche had arayede their tentez,1292: On rawe by þe ryuer, vndyr þe round hillez,1293: The Emperour for honour ewyn in the myddes,1294: Wyth egles al ouer, ennelled so faire;



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1295: And saw hym and þe Sowdane, and senatours many1296: Seke towarde a sale with sextene kyngez,1297: Syland softely in, swettly by them selfen,1298: To sowpe withe þat soueraygne full selcouthe metez.1299: Nowe they wende ouer the watyre, þise wyrchipfull knyghttez,1300: Thurghe þe wode to þe wone there the wyese rystez;1301: Reght as þey weschen and went to þe table,1302: Sir Wawayne þe worthy vnwynly he spekes:1303: The myghte and þe maiestee þat menskes vs all,1304: That was merked and made thurghe þe myghte of Hym seluen,1305: Gyffe 3ow sytte in 3our sette, Sowdane and oþer,1306: That here are semblede in sale, vnsawghte mott 3e worthe!1307: And þe fals heretyke þat Emperour hym callez,1308: That ocupyes in erroure the Empyre of Rome,1309: Sir Arthure herytage, þat honourable kyng,1310: That all his auncestres aughte but Vtere hym one,1311: That ilke cursynge þat Cayme kaghte for his brothyre1312: Cleffe on þe, cukewalde, with croune ther thow lengez,1313: For the vnlordlyeste lede þat I on lukede euer!1314: My lorde meruailles hym mekyll, man, be my trouthe,1315: Why thow morthires his men, þat no mysse serues,

1316: Comouns of þe countre, clergye and oþer,1317: Þat are noghte coupable þerin, ne knawes noght in armez.1318: Forthi the comelyche kynge, curtays and noble,1319: Comandez þe kenely to kaire of his landes,1320: Ore ells for thy knyghthede encontre hym ones;1321: Sen þow couettes the coroune, latte it be declarede!1322: I hafe dyschargide me here, chalange whoo lykez,1323: Before all thy cheualrye, cheftaynes and oþer;1324: Schape vs an ansuere, and schunte þow no lengere,1325: Þat we may schifte at þe schorte and schewe to my lorde.1326: The Emperour ansuerde wyth austeryn wordez:1327: 3e are with myn enmy, Sir Arthur hym seluen;1328: It es non honour to me to owttray hys knyghttez,

1329: Þoghe 3e bee irous men þat ayres on his nedez;1330: Bot say to thy soueraygne I send hym thes wordez,1331: Ne ware it for reuerence of my ryche table,

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1332: Þou sulde repent full rathe of þi ruyde wordez,1333: Siche a rebawde as þowe rebuke any lordez,1334: Wyth theire retenuz arrayede, full reall and noble,1335: Here will I suggourne whills me lefe thynkes,1336: And sythen seke in by Sayne with solace þeraftere,1337: Ensegge al þa cetese be þe salte strandez,

1338: And seyn ryde in by Rone, þat rynnez so faire,1339: And of all his ryche castells rusche doun þe wallez;1340: I sall noghte lefe in Paresche, by processe of tyme,1341: His parte of a pechelyne, proue when hym lykes!"1342: "Now certez," sais Sir Wawayne, "myche wondyre haue I1343: Þat syche an alfyn as thow dare speke syche wordez!1344: I had leuer then all Fraunce, that heuede es of rewmes,1345: Fyghte with the faythefully on felde be oure one."1346: Thane answers Sir Gayous full gobbede wordes,1347: Was eme to þe Emperour and erle hym selfen,



1348: "Euere ware þes Bretouns braggers of olde!1349: Loo, how he brawles hym for hys bryghte wedes,1350: As he myghte bryttyn vs all with his brande ryche;1351: 3itt he berkes myche boste, 3one boy þere he standes!"1352: Than greuyde Sir Gawayne at his grett wordes,1353: Graythes towarde þe gome with grucchande herte;1354: With hys stelyn brande he strykes of hys heuede,1355: And sterttes owtte to hys stede, and with his stale wendes.1356: Thurghe þe wacches þey wente, thes wirchipfull knyghtez,1357: And feyndez in theire farewaye wondyrlyche many;1358: Ouer þe watyre þey wente by wyghtnesse of horses,1359: And tuke wynde as þey walde by þe wodde hemmes.1360: Thane folous frekly one fote frekkes ynewe,1361: And of þe Romayns arrayed appon ryche stedes,1362: Chasede thurghe a champayne oure cheualrous knyghtez,1363: Till a cheefe forest, on scalke-whitte horses.1364: Bot a freke all in fyne golde, and fretted in sable,1365: Come forþermaste on a freson, in flawmande wedes;1366: A faire floreschte spere in fewtyre he castes,1367: And folowes faste on owre folke and freschelye ascryez.1368: Thane Sir Gawayne the gude, appone a graye stede,1369: He gryppes hym a grete spere and graythely hym hittez;

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-78-1370: Thurghe þe guttez into þe gorre he gyrdes hym ewyn,1371: That the grounden stele glydez to his herte;1372: The gome and þe grette horse at þe grounde lyggez,1373: Full gryselyche gronande, for grefe of his woundez.1374: Þane presez a preker in, full proudely arayede,1375: That beres all of pourpour, palyde with syluer;1376: Bryggly on a broune stede he profers full large,1377: He was a paynyme of Perse þat þus hym persuede.1378: Sir Boys, vnabaiste all, he buskes hym agaynes,1379: With a bustous launce he berez hym thurghe,1380: Þat þe breme and þe brade schelde appon þe bente lyggez;

1381: And he bryngez furthe the blade and bownez to his felowez.1382: Thane Sir Feltemour of myghte, a man mekyll praysede,1383: Was mouede on his manere and manacede full faste;1384: He graythes to Sir Gawayne graythely to wyrche,1385: For grefe of Sir Gayous, þat es on grounde leuede.1386: Than Sir Gawayne was glade: agayne hym he rydez,1387: Wyth Galuth his gude swerde graythely hym hyttez;1388: The knyghte on þe coursere he cleuede in sondyre,1389: Clenlyche fro þe croune his corse he dyuysyde,1390: And þus he killez þe knyghte with his kydd wapen.1391: Than a ryche man of Rome relyede to his byerns:1392: "It sall repent vs full sore and we ryde forthire!1393: 3one are bolde bosturs þat syche bale wyrkez;

1394: It befell hym full foule þat þam so fyrste namede."1395: Thane þe riche Romayns retournes þaire brydills1396: To þaire tentis in tene, telles theire lordez1397: How Sir Marschalle de Mowne es on þe monte lefede,1398: Forejustyde at that journee for his grett japez.1399: Bot thare chasez on oure men cheuallrous knyghtez,1400: Fyfe thosande folke appon faire stedes,1401: Faste to a foreste ouer a fell watyr,1402: That fillez fro þe falow see fyfty myle large.1403: Thare ware Bretons enbuschide, and banarettez noble,



1404: Of þe cheualrye cheefe of þe kyngez chambyre,1405: Seese them chase oure men and changen þeire horsez,1406: And choppe doun cheftaynes that they moste chargyde.1407: Thane þe enbuschement of Bretons brake owte at ones,

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1408: Brothely at baner, and Bedwyne knyghtez1409: Arrestede of þe Romayns þat by þe fyrthe rydez1410: All þe realeste renkes þat to Rome lengez;1411: Thay iche on þe enmyse and egerly strykkys,1412: Erles of Ingland, and "Arthure!" ascryes;1413: Thrughe brenes and bryghte scheldez brestez they thyrle,1414: Bretons of the boldeste, with theire bryghte swerdez.1415: Thare was Romayns ouerredyn and ruydly wondyde,1416: Arrestede as rebawdez with ryotous knyghttez;1417: The Romaynes owte of araye remouede at ones,1418: And rydes awaye in a rowtte, for reddoure it semys.1419: To þe Senatour Petyr a sandesmane es commyn,1420: And saide "Sir, sekerly, 3our seggez are supprysside."1421: Than ten thowsande men he semblede at ones,1422: And sett sodanly on our seggez, by þe salte strandez;1423: Than ware Bretons abaiste and greuede a lyttill,

1424: Bot 3it the banerettez bolde and bachellers noble1425: Brekes that battailes with brestez of stedes;1426: Sir Boice and his bolde men myche bale wyrkes.1427: The Romayns redyes þam, arrayez þam better,1428: And al toruscheez oure men withe theire ryste horsez,1429: Arestede of the richeste of þe Rounde Table,1430: Ouerrydez oure rerewarde and grette rewthe wyrkes.1431: Thane the Bretons on þe bente habyddez no lengere,1432: Bot fleede to þe foreste and the feelde leuede;1433: Sir Beryll es born down and Sir Boice taken,1434: The beste of our bolde men vnblythely wondyde;1435: Bot 3itt our stale on a strenghe stotais a lyttill,1436: All tostonayede with þe stokes of þa steryn knyghtez;

1437: Made sorowe fore theire soueraygne, þat so þare was nomen,1438: Besoughte Gode of socure, sende whene Hym lykyde.1439: Than commez Sir Idrus, armede vp at all ryghttez,1440: Wyth fyue hundrethe men appon faire stedes;1441: Fraynez faste at oure folke freschely þareaftyre,1442: 3if þer frendez ware ferre, þat on þe felde foundide.1443: Thane sais Sir Gawayne, "So me God helpe,1444: We hafe bene chased todaye and chullede as hares,

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1445: Rebuyked with Romaynes appon þeire ryche stedez,

1446: And we lurkede vndyr lee as lowrande wreches!1447: I luke neuer on my lorde þe dayes of my lyfe,1448: And we so lytherly hym helpe þat hym so wele lykede."1449: Thane the Bretons brothely brochez theire stedez,1450: And boldly in batell appon þe bent rydes;1451: All þe ferse men before frekly ascryes,1452: Ferkand in þe foreste, to freschen þam selfen.1453: The Romaynes than redyly arrayes them bettyre,1454: One rawe on a rowm felde, reghttez theire wapyns,1455: By þe ryche reuere, and rewles þe pople;



1456: And with reddour Sir Boice es in areste halden.1457: Now thei semblede vnsaughte by þe salte strandez:1458: Saddly theis sekere menn settys þeire dynttez;1459: With lufly launcez on lofte they luyschen togedyres,1460: In lorayne so lordlye on leppande stedes.1461: Thare ware gomes thurghegirde with grundyn wapyns,1462: Grisely gayspand with grucchande lotes;1463: Grete lordes of Greke greffede so hye.1464: Swyftly with swerdes they swappen thereaftyre,1465: Swappez doun full sweperlye swelltande knyghtez,1466: That all swellttez one swarthe that they ouerswyngen;1467: So many sweys in swoghe, swounande att ones.1468: Syr Gaweayne the gracyous full graythelye he wyrkkes:1469: The gretteste he gretez wyth gryselye wondes;1470: Wyth Galuth he gyrdez doun full galyard knyghtez,1471: Fore greefe of þe grett lorde so grymlye he strykez.1472: He rydez furthe ryallye and redely thereaftyre,1473: Thare this reall renke was in areste halden;1474: He ryfez þe raunke stele, he ryghttez þeire brenez,1475: And refte them the ryche man and rade to his strenghes.1476: The Senatour Peter thane persewede hym aftyre,1477: Thurghe þe presse of þe pople, wyth his pryce knyghttes;1478: Appertly fore þe prysonere proues his strenghes,1479: Wyth prekers the proudeste that to þe presse lengez.

1480: Wrothely on the wrange hande Sir Gawayne he strykkes,1481: Wyth a wapen of were vnwynnly hym hittez;

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1482: The breny one þe bakhalfe he brystez in sondyre,1483: Bot 3it he broghte forthe Sir Boyce, for all þeire bale biernez.1484: Thane þe Bretons boldely braggen þeire tromppez,1485: And fore blysse of Sir Boyce was broghte owtte of bandez,1486: Boldely in batell they bere doun knyghtes;1487: With brandes of broun stele þey brettened maylez;1488: Þay stekede stedys in stour with stelen wapyns,

1489: And all stewede with strenghe þat stode þem agaynes.1490: Sir Idrus fitz Ewayn þan "Arthur!" ascryeez,1491: Assemblez on þe Senatour wyth sextene knyghttez,1492: Of þe sekereste men þat to oure syde lengede.1493: Sodanly in a soppe they sett in att ones,1494: Foynes faste att þe forebreste with flawmande swerdez,1495: And feghttes faste att þe fronte freschely þareaftyre,1496: Felles fele on þe felde appon þe ferrere syde,1497: Fey on þe faire felde by þa fresche strandez.1498: Bot Sir Idrus fytz Ewayn anters hym seluen,1499: And enters in anly and egyrly strykez,1500: Sekez to þe Senatour and sesez his brydill;1501: Vnsaughtely he saide hym þese sittande wordez:

1502: "3elde þe, Sir, 3apely, 3ife þou þi lyfe 3ernez;1503: Fore gyftez þat þow gyffe may þou 3eme now þe selfen.1504: Fore dredlez dreche þow or droppe any wylez,1505: Thow sall dy þis daye thorowe dyntt of my handez!"1506: "I ascente," quod þe Senatour, "so me Criste helpe;1507: So þat I be safe broghte before þe Kyng seluen,1508: Raunson me resonabillye, as I may ouerreche1509: Aftyre my renttez in Rome may redyly forthire."1510: Thane answers Sir Idrus with austeryn wordez:1511: "Thow sall hafe condycyon, as þe Kyng lykes,



1512: When thow comes to þe kyth there the courte haldez,1513: In caase his concell bee to kepe the no langere,1514: To be killyde at his commandment his knyghttez before."1515: Þay ledde hym furthe in þe rowte and lached ofe his wedes,1516: Lefte hym wyth Lyonell and Lowell, hys brothire.1517: O lawe in þe launde þan, by þe lythe strandez,1518: Sir Lucius lyggemen loste are fore euer.1519: The Senatour Peter es prysoner takyn;

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1520: Of Perce and of Porte Iaffe full many price knyghtez,1521: And myche pople wythall perischede þam selfen,1522: For presse of þe passage they plungede at onez.1523: Thare myghte men see Romaynez rewfully wondyde,1524: Ouerredyn with renkes of the Round Table.1525: In þe raike of þe furthe they righten þeire brenys,1526: Þat rane all on reede blode redylye all ouer.1527: They raughte in þe rerewarde full ryotous knyghtez1528: For raunsone of rede golde and reall stedys;1529: Radly relayes and restez theire horsez,1530: In rowtte to þe ryche kynge they rade al at onez.1531: A knyghte cayrez before and to þe Kynge telles,

1532: "Sir, here commez thy messangerez with myrthez fro þe mountez;1533: Þay hafe bene machede todaye with men of þe marchez,1534: Foremaglede in þa marras with meruailous knyghtez.1535: We hafe foughten, in faithe, by 3one fresche strandez,1536: With þe frekkeste folke that to þi foo langez;1537: Fyfty thosaunde on felde of ferse men of armez,1538: Wythin a furlange of waye, fay ere bylefede.1539: We hafe eschewede þis chekke thurghe chance of oure Lorde,1540: Of tha cheualrous men that chargede thy pople.1541: The cheefe chaunchelere of Rome, a cheftayne full noble,1542: Will aske þe chartyre of pesse, for charitee, hym selfen.1543: And the Senatour Petire to presoner es takyn;1544: Of Perse and of Porte Iaffe paynymmez ynewe

1545: Commez prekande in the presse with thy prysse knyghttez,1546: With pouerte in thi preson theire paynez to drye.1547: I beseke 3ow, Sir, say whate 3owe lykes,1548: Whethire 3e suffyre them saughte or sone delyuerde.1549: 3e may haue fore þe Senatour sextie horse chargede1550: Of siluer be Seterdaye, full sekyrly payede;1551: And for þe cheefe chauncelere, þe cheualere noble,1552: Charottez chokkefull charegyde with golde;1553: The remenaunt of þe Romaynez be in areste halden,1554: Till thiere renttez in Rome be rightewissly knawen.1555: I beseke 3ow, Sir, certyfye 3one lordez,1556: 3if 3e will send þam ouer þe see or kepe þam 3our selfen.

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1557: All 3our sekyre men, forsothe, sounde are byleuyde,1558: Saue Sir Ewayne fytz Henry es in þe side wonddede."1559: "Crist be thankyde," quod the Kyng, "and hys clere Modyre,1560: That 3owe comforthed and helpede be crafte of Hym selfen;1561: Skilfull skomfyture he skiftez as Hym lykez;1562: Is none so skathlye may skape ne skewe fro His handez.1563: Desteny and doughtynes of dedys of armes,



1564: All es demyd and delte at Dryghtynez will.1565: I kwn the thanke for thy come, it comfortes vs all.1566: Sir Knyghte," sais þe Conquerour, "so me Criste helpe,1567: I 3if the for thy thy3andez Tolouse þe riche,1568: The toll and þe tachementez, tauernez and oþer,1569: Þe town and þe tenementez, with towrez so hye,1570: That towchez to þe temporaltee, whills my tym lastez.1571: Bot say to þe Senatour I sende hym þes wordez:1572: Thare sall no siluer hym saue bot Ewayn recouer;1573: I had leuer see hym synke on the salte strandez,1574: Than the seegge ware seke, þat es so sore woundede.1575: I sall disseuere that sorte, so me Criste helpe,1576: And sett them full solytarie, in sere kyngez landez.1577: Sall he neuer sownde see his seynowres in Rome,1578: Ne sitt in þe assemble in syghte wyth his feris;1579: For it comes to no kyng þat Conquerour es holden,1580: To comon with his captifis fore couatys of siluer.1581: It come neuer of knyghthede, knawe if 3if hym lyke,1582: To carpe of coseri when captyfis ere takyn;1583: It aughte to no presoners to prese no lordez,1584: Ne come in presens of pryncez whene partyes are mouede.1585: Comaunde 3one constable, þe castell þat 3emes,1586: That he be clenlyche kepede, and in close halden;1587: He sall haue maundement tomorne, or myddaye be roungen,

1588: To what marche þay sall merke, with mauger to lengen."1589: Þay conuaye this captyfe with clene men of armez,1590: And kend hym to þe constable, alls þe Kynge byddez;1591: And seyn to Arthure þey ayr and egerly hym towchez1592: The answere of þe Emperour, irows of dedez.1593: Thane Sir Arthur, on erthe atheliste of oþere,1594: At euen at his awen borde auantid his lordez:

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1595: "Me aughte to honour them in erthe ouer all oþer thyngez1596: Þat þus in myn absens awnters þem selfen;

1597: I sall them luffe whylez I lyffe, so me our Lorde helpe,1598: And gyfe þem landys full large whare them beste lykes;1599: Thay sall noghte losse on þis layke, 3if me lyfe happen,1600: Þat þus are lamede for my lufe be þis lythe strandez."1601: Bot in þe clere daweyng, þe dere kynge hym selfen1602: Comaundyd Sir Cadore, with his dere knyghttes,1603: Sir Cleremus, Sir Cleremonde, with clene men of armez,1604: Sir Clowdmur, Sir Clegis, to conuaye theis lordez;1605: Sir Boyce and Sir Berell, with baners displayede,1606: Sir Bawdwyne, Sir Bryane, and Sir Bedwere þe ryche,1607: Sir Raynalde and Sir Richere, Rawlaund childyre,1608: To ryde with þe Romaynes in rowtte wyth theire feres.1609: "Prekez now preualye to Parys the ryche,

1610: Wyth Petir the pryssonere and his price knyghttez;1611: Beteche þam þe proueste, in presens of lordez,1612: O payne and o perell þat pendes theretoo;1613: That they be weisely wachede and in warde holden,1614: Warded of warantizez with wyrchipfull knyghttez,1615: Wagge hym wyghte men, and woonde for no siluyre,1616: I haffe warnede þat wy, be ware 3if hym lykes."1617: Now bownes þe Bretons, als þe Kynge byddez,1618: Buskez theire batells, theire baners displayez;1619: Towardez Chartris they chese, thes cheualrous knyghttez,



1620: And in the champayne lande full faire þay eschewede:1621: For þe Emperour of myghte had ordand hym selfen1622: Sir Vtolfe and Sir Ewandyre, two honourable kyngez,1623: Erles of þe Orient, with austeryn knyghttez,1624: Of þe awntrouseste men þat to his oste lengede,1625: Sir Sextynour of Lyby and senatours many,1626: The Kyng of Surrye hym selfe, with Sarzynes ynowe,1627: The Senatour of Sutere, wyth sowmes full huge,1628: Whas assygnede to þat courte be sent of his peres,1629: Traise towarde Troys þe treson to wyrke,1630: To hafe betrappede with a trayne oure traueland knyghttez,1631: That hade persayfede þat Peter at Parys sulde lenge,

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1632: In presonne with þe prouoste, his paynez to drye.1633: Forthi they buskede them bownn, with baners displayede,1634: In the buskayle of his waye, on blonkkes full hugge;1635: Planttez them in the pathe with powere arrayede,1636: To pyke vp þe presoners fro oure pryse knyghttez.1637: Syr Cadore of Cornewalle comaundez his peris,1638: Sir Clegis, Sir Cleremus, Sir Cleremownnde þe noble,1639: "Here es þe close of Clyme, with clewes so hye:

1640: Lokez the contree be clere, the corners are large;1641: Discoueres now sekerly skrogges and oþer,1642: That no skathell in þe skroggez skorne vs hereaftyre;1643: Loke 3e skyfte it so þat vs no skathe lympe,1644: For na skomfitoure in skoulkery is skomfite euer."1645: Now þey hye to þe holte, thes harageous knyghttez,1646: To herken of þe hye men, to helpen theis lordez;1647: Fyndez them helmede hole and horsyde on stedys,1648: Houande on þe hye waye by þe holte hemmes.1649: With knyghttly contenaunce Sir Clegis hym selfen1650: Kryes to þe companye and carpes thees wordez:1651: "Es there any kyde knyghte, kaysere or oþer,1652: Will kyth for his kyng lufe craftes of armes?

1653: We are comen fro þe Kyng of þis kythe ryche,1654: That knawen as for conquerour, corownde in erthe,1655: His ryche retenuz here all of his Round Table,1656: To ryde with þat reall rowtt where hym lykes;1657: We seke justyng of werre, 3if any will happyn,1658: Of þe jolyeste men ajuggede be lordes,1659: If here be any hathell man, erle or oþer,1660: That for þe Emperour lufe will awntere hym selfen."1661: And ane erle þane in angere answeres hym son:1662: "Me angers at Arthure, and att his hathell bierns,1663: That thus in his errour ocupyes theis rewmes,1664: And owtrayes þe Emperour, his erthely lorde.1665: The araye and þe ryalltez of þe Rounde Table

1666: Es wyth rankour rehersede in rewmes full many;1667: Of oure renttez of Rome syche reuell he haldys,1668: He sall 3ife resoun full rathe, 3if vs reghte happen,

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1669: That many sall repente that in his rowtte rydez,1670: For the reklesse roy so rewlez hym selfen!"1671: "A!" sais Sir Clegis þan, "so me Criste helpe,



1672: I knawe be thi carpyng a cowntere þe semes!1673: Bot be þou auditoure or erle or Emperour thi selfen,1674: Appon Arthurez byhalue I answere the sone:1675: The renke so reall þat rewllez vs all,1676: The ryotous men and þe ryche of þe Rounde Table,1677: He has araysede his accownte and redde all his rollez,1678: For he wyll gyfe a rekenyng that rewe sall aftyre,1679: That all þe ryche sall repente þat to Rome langez,1680: Or þe rereage be requit of rentez þat he claymez.1681: We crafe of 3our curtaisie three coursez of werre,1682: And claymez of knyghthode, take kepe to 3our selfen!1683: 3e do bott trayne vs todaye wyth trofeland wordez;1684: Of syche trauaylande men trecherye me thnykes.1685: Sende owte sadly certayne knyghttez,1686: Or say me sekerly sothe, forsake 3if 3owe lykes."1687: Þane sais þe Kynge of Surry, "Alls saue me oure Lorde,1688: 3if þow hufe all þe daye, þou bees noghte delyuerede,1689: Bot thow sekerly ensure with certeyne knyghtez,1690: Þat þi cote and thi breste be knawen with lordez,1691: Of armes of ancestrye entyrde with londez."1692: "Sir Kyng," sais Sir Clegys, "full knyghttly þow askez;1693: I trowe it be for cowardys thow carpes thes wordez.1694: Myn armez are of ancestrye enueryd with lordez,1695: And has in banere bene borne sen Sir Brut tyme;

1696: At the cite of Troye þat tymme was ensegede,1697: Ofte seen in asawtte with certayne knyghttez,1698: Fro þe Borghte broghte vs and all oure bolde elders1699: To Bretayne þe Braddere, within chippe-burdez."1700: "Sir," sais Sir Sextenour, "saye what þe lykez,1701: And we sall suffyre the, als vs beste semes;1702: Luke thi troumppez be trussede, and trofull no lengere,1703: For þoghe þou tarye all þe daye, the tyddes no bettyr.1704: For there sall neuer Romayne þat in my rowtt rydez1705: Be with rebawdez rebuykyde whills I in werlde regne!"

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1706: Thane Sir Clegis to þe Kyng a lyttill enclinede,1707: Kayres to Sir Cadore and knyghtly hym tellez,1708: "We hafe founden in 3one firthe, floresched with leues,1709: Þe flour of þe faireste folke þat to þi foo langez:1710: Fifty thosandez of folke of ferse men of armez,1711: Þat faire are fewteride on frounte vndyr 3one fre bowes;1712: They are enbuschede on blonkkes, with baners displayede,1713: In 3one bechen wode appon the waye sydes.1714: Thay hafe the furthe forsette all of þe faire watyre,1715: That fayfully of force feghte vs byhowys;1716: For thus vs schappes todaye, schortly to tell,1717: Whedyre we schone or schewe, schyft as þe lykes."

1718: "Nay," quod Cador, "so me Criste helpe,1719: It ware schame þat we scholde schone for so lytyll.1720: Sir Lancelott sall neuer laughe, þat with þe Kyng lengez,1721: That I sulde lette my waye for lede appon erthe;1722: I sall be dede and vndone ar I here dreche,1723: For drede of any doggeson in 3one dym schawes!"1724: Syr Cador thane knyghtly comforthes his pople,1725: And with corage kene he karpes þes wordes:1726: "Thynk on þe valyaunt prynce þat vesettez vs euer1727: With landez and lordcheppez, whare vs beste lykes;



1728: That has vs ducheres delte and dubbyde vs knyghttez,1729: Gifen vs gersoms and golde and gardwynes many,1730: Grewhoundez and grett horse and alkyn gamnes,1731: That gaynez till any gome that vndyre God leuez.1732: Thynke on riche renoun of þe Rounde Table,1733: And late it neuer be refte vs fore Romayne in erthe;1734: Feyne 3ow noghte feyntly, ne frythes no wapyns,1735: Bot luke 3e fyghte faythefully, frekes, 3our selfen;1736: I walde be wellyde all qwyke and quarterde in sondre,1737: Bot I wyrke my dede, whils I in wrethe lenge."1738: Than this doughtty duke buddyd his knyghttez,1739: Ioneke and Askanere, Aladuke and oþer,1740: That ayerez were of Esex and all þase este marchez,1741: Howell and Hardelfe, happy in armez,1742: Sir Heryll and Sir Herygall, þise harageouse knyghttez.1743: Than the souerayn assignede certayne lordez,

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1744: Sir Wawayne, Sir Vryell, Sir Bedwere þe ryche,1745: Raynallde and Richeere and Rowlandez childyre:1746: "Takez kepe on this prynce with 3oure price knyghtez,1747: And 3ife we in þe stour withstonden the better,

1748: Standez here in this stede, and stirrez no forthire;1749: And 3if þe chaunce falle þat we bee ouercharggede,1750: Eschewes to som castell, and chewyse 3our selfen,1751: Or ryde to þe riche Kyng, 3if 3ow roo happyn,1752: And bidde hym com redily to rescewe hys biernez."1753: And than the Bretons brothely enbrassez þeire scheldez,1754: Braydez one bacenetez and buskes theire launcez;1755: Thus he fittez his folke and to þe felde rydez,1756: Fif hundreth on a frounte fewtrede at onez.1757: With trompes þay trine, and trappede stedes,1758: With cornettes and clarions and clergiall notes;1759: Schokkes in with a schakke and schontez no langere,1760: There schawes ware scheen vndyr þe schire eyuez.

1761: And thane the Romaynez rowtte remowes a lyttill,1762: Raykes with a rerewarde þas reall knyghttez;1763: So raply þay ryde thare that all þe rowte ryngez1764: Of ryues and raunke stele and ryche golde maylez.1765: Thane schotte owtte of þe schawe schiltrounis many,1766: With scharpe wapynns of were schotand at ones;1767: The Kyng of Lebe before the wawarde he ledez,1768: And all his lele ligemen o laundon ascriez.1769: Thane this cruell kyng castis in fewtire,1770: Kaghte hym a couerde horse and his course haldez,1771: Beris to Sir Berill and brathely hym hittes,1772: Throwghe golet and gorger he hurtez hym ewyne;1773: The gome and þe grette horse at þe ground liggez,

1774: And gretez graythely to Gode and gyffes Hym þe saule.1775: Thus es Berell the bolde broghte owtte of lyue,1776: And byddez aftyre beryell þat hym beste lykez.1777: And thane Sir Cador of Cornewayle es carefull in herte,1778: Because of his kynysemane, þat þus es myscaryede;1779: Vmbeclappes the cors and kyssez hym ofte,1780: Gerte kepe hym couerte with his clere knyghttez.

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1781: Thane laughes the Lebe Kyng and all on lowde meles,1782: "3one lorde es lyghttede, me lykes the bettyre;1783: He sall noghte dere vs todaye, the Deuyll haue Õhiså bones!"1784: "3one kyng," said Cador, "karpes full large,1785: Because he killyd þis kene, Criste hafe þi saule:1786: He sall hafe corne-bote, so me Criste helpe;1787: Or I kaire of þis coste, we sall encontre ones.1788: So may þe wynde weile turnne, I quytte hym or ewyn,1789: Sothely hym selfen or summ of his ferez."1790: Thane Sir Cador þe kene knyghttly he wyrkez,1791: Cryez "A Cornewale!" and castez in fewtere,1792: Girdez streke thourghe þe stour on a stede ryche;1793: Many steryn mane he steride by strenghe of hym one.1794: Whene his spere was sprongen, he spede hym full 3erne,1795: Swappede owtte with a swerde that swykede hym neuer,1796: Wroghte wayes full wyde and wounded knyghttez,1797: Wyrkez in his wayfare full werkand sydez,1798: And hewes of þe hardieste halsez in sondyre,1799: That all blendez with blode thare his blanke rynnez.1800: So many biernez the bolde broughte owt of lyfe,1801: Tittez tirauntez doun and temez theire sadills,1802: And turnez owte of þe toile when hym tyme thynkkez.1803: Thane the Lebe Kynge criez full lowde

1804: One Sir Cador the kene, with cruell wordez,1805: "Thowe hase wyrchipe wonne and wondyde knyghttez;1806: Thowe wenes for thi wightenez the werlde es thy nowen.1807: I sall wayte at thyne honnde, wy, be my trowthe;1808: I haue warnede þe wele, be ware 3if the lykez!"1809: With cornuse and clariones þeis newe-made knyghttez1810: Lythes vnto þe crye and castez in fewtire;1811: Ferkes in on a frounte one feraunte stedez,1812: Fellede at þe fyrste come fyfty att ones.1813: Schotte thorowe the schiltrouns and scheuerede launcez,1814: Laid doun in þe lumppe lordly biernez.1815: And thus nobilly oure newe men notez þeire strenghez,1816: Bot new notte es onon þat noyes me sore.

1817: The Kyng of Lebe has laughte a stede þat hym lykede,

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1818: And comes in lordely in lyonez of siluere,1819: Vmbelappez þe lumpe and lattes in sondre,1820: Many lede with his launce þe liffe has he refede.1821: Thus he chaces þe childire of þe Kyngez chambire,1822: And killez in þe champanyse cheualrous knyghttez;1823: With a chasyng spere he choppes doun many.1824: Thare was Sir Alyduke slayne and Achinour wondyde,1825: Sir Origg and Sir Ermyngall hewen al to pecez.

1826: And ther was Lewlyn laughte and Lewlyns brothire,1827: With lordez of Lebe, and lede to þeire strenghez.1828: Ne hade Sir Clegis comen and Clemente þe noble,1829: Oure newe men hade gone to noghte and many ma oþer.1830: Þane Sir Cador þe kene castez in fewtire1831: A cruell launce and a kene and to þe Kynge rydez,1832: Hittez hym heghe on þe helme with his harde wapen,1833: That all þe hotte blode of hym to his hande rynnez.1834: The hethen harageous kynge appon þe hethe lyggez,1835: And of his hertly hurte helyde he neuer.



1836: Thane Sir Cador þe kene cryez full lowde,1837: "Thow has corne-botte, Sir Kyng, þare God gyfe þe sorowe;1838: Thow killyde my cosyn, my kare es the lesse.1839: Kele the nowe in the claye, and comforthe thi selfen!1840: Thow skornede vs lang ere with thi skornefull wordez,1841: And nowe has þow cheuede soo, it es thyn awen skathe.1842: Holde at þow hente has, it harmez bot lyttill,1843: For hethynge es hame-holde, vse it who-so will."1844: The Kyng of Surry þan es sorowfull in herte,1845: For sake of this soueraygne, þat þus was supprissede;1846: Semblede his Sarazenes and senatours manye:1847: Vnsaughtyly þey sette thane appon oure sere knyghttez.1848: Sir Cador of Cornewaile he cownterez them sone,1849: With his kydde companye clenlyche arrayede;1850: In the frount of þe fyrthe, as þe waye forthis,1851: Fyfty thosande of folke was fellide at ones.1852: Thare was at þe assemble certayne knyghttez1853: Sore wondede sone appone sere halfes;1854: The sekereste Sarzanez that to þat sorte lengede,1855: Behynde the sadylls ware sette sex fotte large.

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1856: They scherde in the schiltrone scheldyde knyghttez,1857: Schalkes they schotte thrughe schrenkande maylez,1858: Thurghe brenys browden brestez they thirllede,1859: Brasers burnyste bristez in sondyre,1860: Blasons blode and blankes they hewen,1861: With brandez of browne stele brankkand stedez.1862: The Bretons brothely brittenez so many,1863: The bente and þe brode felde all on blode rynnys.1864: Be thane Sir Cayous þe kene a capitayne has wonnen,1865: Sir Clegis clynges in and clekes anoþer,1866: The capitayne of Cordewa, vndire þe Kynge selfen,1867: That was keye of þe kythe of all þat coste ryche;1868: Vtolfe and Ewandre Ioneke had nommen,

1869: With þe Erle of Affryke and oþer grette lordes;1870: The Kyng of Surry the kene to Sir Cador es 3elden,1871: Þe Synechall of Soter to Segramoure hym selfen.1872: When þe cheualrye saw theire cheftanes were nommen,1873: To a cheefe foreste they chesen theire wayes,1874: And felede them so feynte, they fall in þe greues,1875: In the ferynne of þe fyrthe, fore ferde of oure pople.1876: Thare myght men see the ryche ryde in the schawes,1877: To rype vpe the Romaynez ruydlyche wondyde;1878: Schowttes aftyre men, harageous knyghttez,1879: Be hunndrethez they hewede doun be þe holte eyuys.1880: Thus oure cheualrous men chasez þe pople;1881: To a castell they eschewede, a fewe þat eschappede.

1882: Thane relyez þe renkez of þe Rounde Table,1883: For to ryotte þe wode þer þe duke restez;1884: Ransakes the ryndez all, raughte vp theire feres,1885: That in þe fightyng before fay ware byleuyde.1886: Sir Cador garte chare theym and couere them faire,1887: Kariede them to þe Kyng with his beste knyghttez;1888: And passez vnto Paresche with presoners hym selfen,1889: Betoke theym the proueste, pryncez and oþer;1890: Tase a sope in the toure and taryez no langere,1891: Bot tournes tytte to þe Kynge and hym wyth tunge telles.



1892: "Syr," sais Sir Cador, "a caas es befallen;1893: We hafe cowntered today, in 3one coste ryche

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1894: With kyngez and kayseres, krouell and noble,1895: And knyghtes and kene men, clenlych arayede.1896: They hade at 3one foreste forsette vs þe wayes,1897: At the furthe in þe fyrthe, with ferse men of armes;1898: Thare faughtte we, in faythe, and foynede with sperys,1899: One felde with thy foomen and fellyd them on lyfe.1900: The Kyng of Lebe es laide and in þe felde leuyde,1901: And manye of his legemen þat þare to hym langede.1902: Oþer lordez are laughte of vncouthe ledes;1903: We hafe lede them at lenge, to lyf whilles þe lykez.1904: Sir Vtolfe and Sir Ewaynedyr, theis honourable knyghttez,1905: Be a nawntere of armes Ioneke has nommen,1906: With erlez of þe Oryentte and austeren knyghttez,1907: Of awncestrye þe beste men þat to þe oste langede;1908: The Senatour Carous es kaughte with a knyghtte,1909: The Capitayne of Cornette, that crewell es halden,1910: The Syneschall of Suter vnsaughte wyth þes oþer,1911: The Kyng of Surry hym selfen and Sarazenes Õynoweå.

1912: Bot fay of ours in þe felde a fourtene knyghttez,1913: I will noghte feyne ne forbere, bot faythfully tellen;1914: Sir Berell es one, a banerette noble,1915: Was killyde at þe fyrste come with a kyng ryche;1916: Sir Alidoyke of Towell, with his tende knyghtez,1917: Emange þe Turkys was tynte and in tym fonden;1918: Gude Sir Mawrell of Mauncez and Mawren his broþer,1919: Sir Meneduke of Mentoche, with meruailous knyghttez."1920: Thane the worthy Kyng wrythes and wepede with his eughne,1921: Karpes to his cosyn Sir Cador theis wordez:1922: "Sir Cador, thi corage confundez vs all!1923: Kowardely thow castez owtte all my beste knyghttez.1924: To putte men in perille, it es no pryce holden,

1925: Bot þe partyes ware puruayede and powere arayede;1926: When they ware stade on a strenghe, þou sulde hafe withstonden,1927: Bot 3if thowe wolde all my steryn stroye for þe nonys!"1928: "Sir," sais Sir Cador, "3e knowe wele 3our selfen1929: 3e are kyng in þis kythe, karpe whatte 3ow lykys;1930: Sall neuer vpbrayde me, þat to þi burde langes,

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1931: That I sulde blyn fore theire boste thi byddyng to wyrche;1932: When any stirttez to stale, stuffe þam þe bettere,1933: Ore thei will be stonayede and stroyede in 3one strayte londez.

1934: I dide my delygens todaye, I doo me one lordez,1935: And in daungere of dede fore dyuerse knyghttez;1936: I hafe no grace to þi gree, bot syche grett wordez,1937: 3if I heuen my herte, my hape es no bettyre."1938: Þofe Sir Arthure ware angerde, he ansuers faire;1939: "Thow has doughttily donn, Sir Duke, with thi handez,1940: And has donn thy deuer with my dere knyghttez;1941: Forthy thow arte demyde, with dukes and erlez,1942: For one of þe doughtyeste þat dubbede was euer.1943: Thare es non ischewe of vs on this erthe sprongen;



1944: Thow arte apparant to be ayere, are one of thi childyre,1945: Thow arte my sister sone, forsake sall I neuer."1946: Thane gerte he in his awen tente a table be sette,1947: And tryede in with tromppez trauaillede biernez;1948: Serfede them solempnely with selkouthe metez,1949: Swythe semly in syghte with sylueren dischees.1950: Whene the senatours harde saye þat it so happenede,1951: They saide to þe Emperour, "Thi seggez are suppryssede;1952: Sir Arthure, thyn enmy, has owterayede þi lordez,1953: That rode for þe rescowe of 3one riche knyghttez.1954: Thow dosse bot tynnez þi tym and turmenttez þi pople;1955: Thow arte betrayede of þi men that moste thow on traystede,1956: That schall turne the to tene and torfere for euer."1957: Than the Emperour irus was angerde at his herte,1958: For oure valyant biernez siche prowesche had wonnen.1959: With kyng and with kaysere to consayle they wende,1960: Souerayngez of Sarazenez and senatours manye;1961: Thus he semblez full sone certayne lordez,1962: And in the assemble thane he sais them theis wordez:1963: "My herte sothely es sette, assente 3if 3owe lykes,1964: To seke into Sexon, with my sekyre knyghttez,1965: To fyghte with my foomen, if fortune me happen,1966: 3if I may fynde the freke within the four haluez;1967: Or entir into Awguste, awnters to seke,

1968: And byde with my balde men within þe burghe ryche;---------------------------------------------------------

-94-

1969: Riste vs and reuell and ryotte oure selfen,1970: Lende þare in delytte in lordechippez ynewe,1971: To Sir Leo be comen with all his lele knyghtez,1972: With lordez of Lumberdye, to lette hym þe wayes."1973: Bot owre wyese Kyng es warre to waytten his renkes,1974: And wysely by þe woddez voydez his oste;1975: Gerte felschen his fyrez, flawmande full heghe,1976: Trussen full traystely and treunt thereaftyre.

1977: Seþen into Sessoyne he soughte at the gayneste,1978: And at the surs of þe sonne disseuerez his knyghttez;1979: Forsette them the cite appon sere halfez,1980: Sodaynly on iche halfe, with seuen grett stales.1981: Anely in the vale a vawewarde enbusches:1982: Sir Valyant of Vyleris, with valyant knyghttez,1983: Before þe Kyngez visage made siche avowez1984: To venquyse by victorie the Vescownte of Rome;1985: Forthi the Kyng chargez hym, what chaunce so befall,1986: Cheftayne of þe cheekke, with cheualrous knyghttez.1987: And sythyn meles with mouthe, þat he moste traistez;1988: Demenys the medylwarde menskfully hym selfen:1989: Fittes his fotemen alls hym faire thynkkes,

1990: On frounte in the forebreste the flour of his knyghtez;1991: His archers on aythere halfe he ordaynede þeraftyre1992: To schake in a sheltrone, to schotte when þam lykez.

The Thornton Ms., Folios 74v-84v (lines 1993-2934)

1993: He arrayed in þe rerewarde full riall knyghtez,1994: With renkkes renownnd of þe Round Table,1995: Sir Raynalde, Sir Richere, that rade was neuer,1996: The riche Duke of Rown wytÕhå ryders ynewe.



1997: Sir Cayous, Sir Clegis, and clene men of armes,1998: The Kyng casts to kepe be þaa clere strandes;1999: Sir Lott and Sir Launcelott, þise lordly knyghttez,2000: Sall lenge on his lefte hande, with legyones ynewe,2001: To meue in þe morne-while, 3if þe myste happynne;2002: Sir Cador of Cornewaile and his kene knyghtez,2003: To kepe at þe karfuke, to close in þer oþere;2004: He plantez in siche placez pryncez and erlez,2005: That no powere sulde passe be no preue wayes.

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2006: Bot the Emperour onone, with honourable knyghtez2007: And erlez enteres the vale, awnters to seke,2008: And fyndez Sir Arthure with hostez arayede;2009: And at his income, to ekken his sorowe,2010: Oure burlyche bolde Kyng appon the bente howes,2011: With his bataile on brede and baners displayede.2012: He hade þe cete forsett appon sere halfes,2013: Bothe the clewez and þe clyfez with clene men of armez,2014: The mosse and þe marrasse, the mounttez so hye,2015: With gret multytude of men, to marre hym in þe wayes.2016: When Sir Lucius sees, he sais to his lordez,

2017: "This traytour has treunt this treson to wyrche;2018: He has the cete forsett appon sere halfez,2019: All þe clewez and the cleyffez with clene men of armez;2020: Here es no waye, iwys, ne no wytt ells,2021: Bot feghte with oure foomen, for flee may we neuer."2022: Thane this ryche mane rathe arayes his byernez,2023: Rewlede his Romaynez and reall knyghtez;2024: Buschez in the avawmewarde the Vescounte of Rome,2025: Fro Viterbe to Venyse theis valyante knyghtez;2026: Dresses vp dredfully the dragone of golde,2027: With egles alouer, enamelede of sable;2028: Drawen dreghely the wyne and drynkyn thareaftyre,2029: Dukkez and dusseperez, dubbede knyghtez;

2030: For dauncesyng of Duchemen and dynnyng of pypez,2031: All dynned fore dyn that in þe dale houede.2032: And thane Sir Lucius on lowde said lordlyche wordez:2033: "Thynke on the myche renownn of 3our ryche fadyrs,2034: And the riatours of Rome, þat regnede with lordez,2035: And the renkez ouerrane all that regnede in erthe,2036: Encrochede all Cristyndome be craftes of armes,2037: In eueriche a viage the victorie was halden;2038: Insette all þe Sarazenes within seuen wyntter,2039: The parte fro the Porte Iaffe to Paradyse 3atez.2040: Thoghe a rewme be rebelle, we rekke it bot lyttill;2041: It es resone and righte the renke be restreynede.2042: Do dresse we tharefore and byde we no langere,

2043: Fore dredlesse withowttyn dowtte, the daye schall be ourez!"

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2044: Whene þeise wordez was saide, the Walsche kyng hym selfen2045: Whas warre of this wyderwyn þat werrayede his knyghttez;2046: Brothely in the vale with voyce he ascryez,2047: "Viscownte of Valewnce, enuyous of dedys,2048: The vassallage of Viterbe todaye schall be reuengede;



2049: Vnuenquiste fro þis place voyde schall I neuer!"2050: Thane the Vyscownte valiante, with a voute noble,2051: Auoyeddyde the avawewarde, enuerounde his horse;2052: He drissede in a derfe schelde, endenttyd with sable,2053: With a dragone engowschede, dredfull to schewe,2054: Deuorande a dolphyn with dolefull lates,2055: In seyne that oure soueraygne sulde be distroyede,2056: And all don of dawez with dynntez of swerddez,2057: For thare es noghte bot dede thare the dragone es raissede.2058: Thane the comlyche kyng castez in fewtyre,2059: With a crewell launce cowpez dull euen,2060: Abowne þe spayre a spanne, emange þe schortte rybbys,2061: That the splent and the spleen on the spere langez;2062: The blode sprente owtte and sprede as þe horse spryngez,2063: And he sproulez full spakely, bot spekes he no more.2064: And thus has Sir Valyantt halden his avowez,2065: And venqwyste þe Viscownte, þate victor was halden.2066: Thane Sir Ewayne fitz Vriene full enkerlye rydez2067: Onone to the Emperour, his egle to towche;2068: Thrughe his brode bataile he buskes belyfe,2069: Braydez owt his brande with a blyth chere,2070: Reuerssede it redelye and awaye rydys;2071: Ferkez in with the fewle in his faire handez,2072: And fittez in freely one frounte with his feris.

2073: Now buskez Sir Launcelot and braydez full euen2074: To Sir Lucius the lorde and lothelye hym hyttez;2075: Thurghe pawnce and platez he percede the maylez,2076: That the prowde pensell in his pawnche lengez;2077: The hede hayled owtt behynde ane halfe fote large,2078: Thurghe hawberke and hanche, with þe harde wapyn,2079: The stede and the steryn mane strykes to þe grownde,

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2080: Strake down a standerde and to his stale wendez.2081: "Me lykez wele," sais Sir Loth, "3one lordez are delyuerede!

2082: The lott lengez nowe on me, with leue of my lorde;2083: Today sall my name be laide and my life aftyre,2084: Bot some leppe fro the lyfe that on 3one lawnde houez!"2085: Thane strekez the steryn and streynys his brydyll,2086: Strykez into the stowre on a stede ryche,2087: Enjoynede with a geaunt and jaggede hym thorowe;2088: Jolyly this gentill forjustede anoþer,2089: Wroghte wayes full wyde, werrayande knyghtez,2090: And wondes all wathely that in þe waye stondez;2091: Fyghttez with all the frappe a furlange of waye,2092: Felled fele appon felde with his faire wapen,2093: Venqwiste and has the victorie of valyaunt knyghtez,2094: And all enverounde the vale and voyde when hym likede.

2095: Thane bowmen of Bretayne brothely thereaftyre2096: Bekerde with bregaundez of ferre in tha laundez;2097: With flonez fleterede þay flitt full frescly þer frekez,2098: That flowe o ferrome in flawnkkes of stedez.2099: Fichene with fetheris thurghe þe fyne maylez,2100: Siche flyttyng es foule þat so þe flesche derys.2101: Dartes the Duchemen dalten a3aynes,2102: With derfe dynttez of dede dagges thurghe scheldez;2103: Qwarells qwayntly swappez thorowe knyghtez,2104: With iryn so wekyrly, that wynche they neuer:



2105: So they scherenken fore schotte of þe scharppe arowes,2106: That all the scheltron schonte and schoderide at ones,2107: Thane riche stedes rependez and rasches on armes,2108: The hale howndrethe on hye appon heythe lygges;2109: Bott 3itte þe hathelieste on hy, haythen and oþer,2110: All hoursches ouer hede harmes to wyrke.2111: And all theis geauntez before, engenderide with fendez,2112: Ioynez on Sir Ionathal and gentill knyghtez;2113: With clubbez of clene stele clenkkede in helmes,2114: Craschede doun crestez and craschede braynez,2115: Kyllede couÕråsers and couerde stedes,2116: Choppode thurghe cheualers on chalke-whytte stedez;

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2117: Was neuer stele ne stede mighte stande them a3aynez,2118: Bot stonays and strykez doun that in þe stale houys,2119: Till þe Conquerour come with his kene knyghttez,2120: With crewell contenaunce he cryede full lowde,2121: "I wende no Bretons walde bee basschede for so lyttill,2122: And fore barelegyde boyes þat on the bente houys!"2123: He clekys owtte Collbrande, full clenlyche burneschte,2124: Graythes hym to Golapas, þat greuyde moste,

2125: Kuttes hym euen by þe knees clenly in sondyre.2126: "Come down," quod the Kyng, "and karpe to thy ferys;2127: Thowe arte to hye by þe halfe, I hete þe in trouthe:2128: Thow sall be handsomere in hye, with þe helpe of my Lorde!"2129: With þat stelen brande he strake ofe his hede.2130: Sterynly in þat stoure he strykes anoþer;2131: Thus he settez on seuen with his sekyre knyghttez,2132: Whylles sexty ware seruede soo ne sessede they neuer.2133: And thus at the joynynge the geauntez are distroyede,2134: And at þat journey forjustede with gentill lordez.2135: Than the Romaynes and the rennkkez of þe Rounde Table2136: Rewles them in arraye, rerewarde ande oþer;2137: With wyghte wapynez of werre thay wroghten on helmes,

2138: Rittez with raunke stele full ryalle maylez.2139: Bot they fitt them fayre, thes frekk byernez,2140: Fewters in freely one feraunte stedes,2141: Foynes ful felly with flyschande speris,2142: Freten of orfrayes feste appon scheldez;2143: So fele fay es in fyghte appon þe felde leuyde,2144: That iche a furthe in the firthe of rede blode rynnys.2145: By that swyftely one swarthe þe swett es byleuede,2146: Swerdez swangen in two sweltand knyghtez,2147: Lyes wyde opyn, welterande on walopande stedez;2148: Wondes of wale men, werkande sydys,2149: Facez fetteled vnfaire in filterede lakes,2150: All craysed, fortrodyn with trappede stedez,

2151: The faireste on folde that fygurede was euer,2152: Alls ferre alls a furlang, a thosande at ones.2153: Be than the Romaynez ware rebuykyde a lyttill,

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2154: Withdrawes theym drerely and dreches no lengare;2155: Oure prynce with his powere persewes theyme aftyre,2156: Prekez on þe proudeste with his price knyghttez.



2157: Sir Kayous, Sir Clegis, Sir Cleremond the noble2158: Enconters them at þe clyffe with clene men of armes;2159: Fyghttes faste in þe fyrth, frythes no wapen,2160: Felled at þe firste come fyfe hundrethe at ones.2161: And when they fande theym foresett with oure fers knyghtez,2162: Fewe men agayne fele mot fyche them bettyre,2163: Feghttez with all þe frappe, foynes with speres,2164: And faughte with the frekkeste þat to Fraunce langez.2165: Bot Sir Kayous þe kene castis in fewtyre,2166: Chasez one a coursere and to a kyng rydys;2167: With a launce of Lettowe he thirllez his sydez,2168: That the lyuer and þe lunggez on þe launce lengez;2169: The schafte scÕhåodyrde and schott in the schire byerne,2170: And soughte thorowowte þe schelde and in þe schalke rystez.2171: Bot Kayous at the income was kepyd vnfayre2172: With a cowarde knyghte of þe kythe ryche;2173: At þe turnyng that tym the traytoure hym hitte,2174: In thorowe the felettes, and in þe flawnke aftyre,2175: That the boustous launce þe bewells attamede,2176: Þat braste at þe brawlyng and brake in þe myddys.2177: Sir Kayous knewe wele, be þat kyde wounde,2178: That he was dede of þe dynte and don owte of lyfe;2179: Than he raykes in arraye and one rawe rydez,2180: One this reall his dede to reuenge;

2181: "Kepe the, cowarde," he calles hym sone,2182: Cleues hym wyth his clere brande clenliche in sondire.2183: "Hadde thow wele delte thy dynt with thi handes,2184: I hade forgeffen þe my dede, be Crist now of Hewyn."2185: He weyndes to þe wyese kyng and wynly hym gretes:2186: "I am wathely woundide, waresche mon I neuer;2187: Wirke nowe thi wirchipe, as þe worlde askes,2188: And brynge me to beryell, byd I no more.2189: Grete wele my ladye, þe Qwene, 3ife þe werlde happyne,2190: And all þe burliche birdes þat to hir boure lengez,

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2191: And my worthily weife, þat wrethide me neuer,2192: Bid hire, fore hir wyrchipe, wirke for my saulle."2193: The Kyngez confessour come, with Criste in his handes,2194: For to comforthe the knyghte, kende hym þe wordes;2195: The knyghte coueride on his knees with a kaunt herte,2196: And caughte his Creatoure, þat comfurthes vs all.2197: Thane remmes þe riche kynge fore rewthe at his herte,2198: Rydes into rowte, his dede to reuenge;2199: Presede into þe plumpe, and with a prynce metes,2200: That was ayere of Egipt in thos este marches,2201: Cleues hym with Collbrande clenlyche in sondyre;2202: He broches euen thorowe þe byerne and þe sadill bristes,

2203: And at þe bake of þe blonke þe bewells entamede.2204: Manly in his malycoly he metes anoþer,2205: The medill of þat myghtty, þat hym myche greuede;2206: He merkes thurghe the maylez the myddes in sondyre,2207: That the myddys of þe mane on þe mounte fallez,2208: Þe toþer halfe of þe haunche on þe horse leuyde,2209: Of þat hurte, alls I hope, heles he neuer.2210: He schotte thorowe þe schiltrouns with his scharpe wapen,2211: Schalkez he schrede thurghe and schrenkede maylez,2212: Baneres he bare downne, bryttenede scheldes,



2213: Brothely with brown stele his brethe he þare wrekes;2214: Wrothely he wryththis by wyghtnesse of strenghe,2215: Woundes þese whydyrewyns, werrayede knyghttes,2216: Threppede thorowe þe thykkys thryttene sythis,2217: Thryngez throly in the thrange and chis euen aftyre.2218: Thane Sir Gawayne the gude, with wyrchipfull knyghttez,2219: Wendez in the avawewarde be tha wodde hemmys;2220: Was warre of Sir Lucius, one launde there he houys,2221: With lordez and liggemen that to hym selfe lengede.2222: Thane the Emperour enkerly askes hym sonne,2223: "What will thow, Gawayne, wyrke with thi wapyn?2224: I watte be thi waueryng thow willnez aftyre sorowe;2225: I sall be wrokyn on thi wrethe, fore all thi grete wordez!"2226: He laughte owtte a lange swerde and luyschede one faste,2227: And Sir Lyonell in the launde lordely he hym strykes:2228: Hittes hym on þe hede, þat þe helme bristis,

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2229: Hurttes his herne-pane an hannde-brede large.2230: Thus he layes one þe lumppe and lordlye þem serued,2231: Wondide worthily wirchipfull knyghttez;2232: Fighttez with Florent, that beste es of swerdez,

2233: Till þe fomande blode till his fyste rynnes.2234: Thane þe Romayns releuyde, þat are ware rebuykkyde,2235: And all torattys oure men with theire riste horsses;2236: Fore they see þaire cheftayne be chauffede so sore,2237: They chasse and choppe doun oure cheualrous knyghttes.2238: Sir Bedwere was borne thurghe, and his breste thyrllede,2239: With a burlyche brannde, brode at þe hiltes;2240: The ryall raunke stele to his herte rynnys,2241: And he rusches to þe erthe, rewthe es the more.2242: Thane þe Conquerour tuke kepe and come with his strenghes2243: To reschewe þe ryche men of þe Rounde Table,2244: To owttraye þe Emperour, 3if auntire it schewe,2245: Ewyn to þe egle, and "Arthure!" askryes.

2246: The Emperour thane egerly at Arthure he strykez,2247: Awkwarde on þe vmbrere and egerly hym hittez;2248: The nakyde swerde at þe nese noyes hym sare,2249: The blode of Õtheå bolde kyng ouer þe breste rynnys,2250: Beblede at þe brode schelde and þe bryghte mayles.2251: Oure bolde kyng bowes þe blonke be þe bryghte brydyll,2252: With his burlyche brande a buffette hym reches,2253: Thourghe þe brene and þe breste with his bryghte wapyn:2254: O slante doun fro þe slote he slyttes at ones.2255: Thus endys þe Emperour of Arthur hondes,2256: And all his austeryn oste þareofe ware affrayede.2257: Now they ferke to þe fyrthe, a fewe þat are leuede,2258: For ferdnesse of oure folke, by þe fresche strandez;

2259: The floure of oure ferse men one ferant stedez2260: Folowes frekly on þe frekes, thate frayede was neuer.2261: Thane þe kyde conquerour cryes full lowde,2262: "Cosyn of Cornewaile, take kepe to þi selfen2263: That no captayne be kepyde for non siluer,2264: Or Sir Kayous dede be cruelly vengede."2265: "Nay," sais Sir Cador, "so me Cryste helpe,

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2266: Thare ne es kaysere ne kyng þat vndire Criste ryngnes2267: Þat I ne schall kill colde dede be crafte of my handez!"2268: Thare myghte men see chiftaynes on chalke-whitte stedez2269: Choppe doun in the chaas cheualrye noble;2270: Romaynes þe rycheste and ryall kynges2271: Braste with ranke stele theire rybbys in sondyre;2272: Braynes forebrusten thurghe burneste helmes,2273: With brandez forbrittenede one brede in þe laundez;2274: They hewede doun haythen men with hiltede swerdez2275: Be hole hundrethez on hye, by þe holte eyuyes.2276: Thare myghte no siluer thaym saue ne socoure theire lyues,2277: Sowdane ne Sarazene ne senatour of Rome.2278: Thane releuis þe renkes of the Rounde Table2279: Be þe riche reuare that rynnys so faire;2280: Lugez thaym luflye by þa lyghte strandez,2281: All on lawe in þe lawnde, thas lordlyche byernes.2282: Thay kaire to þe karyage and tuke whate them likes,2283: Kamells and cokadrisses and cofirs full riche,2284: Hekes and hakkenays and horses of armes,2285: Howsyng and herbergage of heythen kyngez;2286: They drewe owt of dromondaries dyuerse lordes,2287: Moyllez mylke whitte and meruayllous bestez,2288: Olfendes and arrabys and olyfauntez noble,

2289: Þer are of þe Oryent, with honourable kynges.2290: Bot Sir Arthure onone ayeres þeraftyre2291: Ewyn to þe Emperour, with honourable kyngis;2292: Laughte hym vpe full louelyly with lordlyche knyghttez,2293: And ledde hym to þe layere thare the Kyng lygges.2294: Thane harawdez heghely, at heste of the lordes,2295: Hunttes vpe the haythemen that on heghte lygges:2296: The Sowdane of Surry and certayne kynges,2297: Sexty of þe cheefe senatours of Rome.2298: Thane they bussches and bawmede þaire honourliche kyngis,2299: Sewed them in sendell sexti-faulde aftire,2300: Lappede them in lede, lesse that they schulde2301: Chawnge or chawffe, 3if þay myghte escheffe;

2302: Closed in kystys clene vnto Rome,

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2303: With theire baners abowne, theire bagis therevndyre,2304: In whate countre þay kaire that knyghttes myghte knawe2305: Iche kynge be his colours, in kyth whare Õheå lengede.2306: Onone on þe secounde daye, sone by þe morne,2307: Twa senatours ther come, and certayne knyghttez,2308: Hodles fro þe hethe, ouer þe holte eyues,2309: Barefote ouer þe bente, with brondes so ryche;2310: Bowes to þe bolde kyng and biddis hym þe hiltes,

2311: Whethire he will hang theym or hedde or halde theym on lyfe.2312: Knelyde before þe Conquerour in kyrtills allone;2313: With carefull contenaunce þay karpide þese wordes:2314: "Twa senatours we are, thi subgettez of Rome,2315: That has sauede oure lyfe by þeise salte strandys,2316: Hyd vs in þe heghe wode, thurghe þe helpyng of Criste,2317: Besekes the of socoure, as Soueraygne and Lorde;2318: Grante vs lyffe and lym with leberall herte,2319: For His luffe that the lente this lordchipe in erthe."2320: "I graunte," quod Õtheå gude kyng, "thurghe grace of my selfen:



2321: I giffe 3owe lyffe and lyme and leue for to passe,2322: So 3e doo my message menskefully at Rome,2323: That ilke charge þat I 3ow 3iffe here before my cheefe knyghttez."2324: "3is," sais the senatours, "that sall we ensure,2325: Sekerly be oure trowhes thi sayenges to fullfill;2326: We sall lett for no lede þat lyffes in erthe,2327: Fore pape, ne for potestate, ne prynce so noble,2328: That ne sall lelely in lande thi letteres pronounce,2329: For duke ne for dussepere, to dye in þe payne."2330: Thane the banerettez of Bretayne broghte þem to tentes,2331: There barbours ware bownn, with basyns on lofte,2332: With warme watire, iwys, they wette them full son;2333: They schouen thes schalkes schappely theraftyre,2334: To rekken theis Romaynes recreaunt and 3olden;2335: Forthly schoue they them to schewe, for skomfite of Rome.2336: They coupylde þe kystys on kameles belyue,2337: On asses and arrabyes theis honourable kynges,2338: The Emperoure for honoure all by hym one,2339: Euen appon an olyfaunte, hys egle owtt ouere,

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2340: Bekende them the captyfis, the Kynge dide hym selfen,

2341: And all byfore his kene men karpede thees wordes:2342: "Here are the kystis," quod the Kyng, "kaire ouer þe mownttez:2343: Mette full monee, þat 3e haue mekyll 3ernede,2344: The taxe and þe trebutte of tene schore wynteres,2345: That was tenefully tynte in tym of oure elders;2346: Saye to þe Senatoure þe cete þat 3emes,2347: That I sende hym þe somme, assaye how hym likes.2348: Bott byde them neuere be so bolde, whylls my blode regnes,2349: Efte for to brawlle þem for my brode landez,2350: Ne to aske trybut ne taxe be nakyn tytle,2351: Bot syche tresoure as this, whilles my tym lastez."2352: Nowe they raike to Rome the redyeste wayes,2353: Knylles in the Capatoylle and comowns assembles,

2354: Souerayngez and senatours the cete þat 3emes,2355: Bekende them the caryage, kystis and oþer,2356: Alls þe Conquerour comaunde with cruell wordes.2357: "We hafe trystily trayuellede þis tributte to feche,2358: The taxe and þe trewage of fowre score wynteris,2359: Of IÕnåglande, of Irelande, and all þir owtt illes,2360: That Arthure in the Occedente ocupyes att ones.2361: He byddis 3ow neuere be so bolde, whills his blode regnes,2362: To brawle 3owe fore Bretayne ne his brode landes,2363: Ne aske hym trebute ne taxe be nonkyns title,2364: Bot syche tresoure as this, whills his tyme lastis.2365: We haffe foughtten in France, and vs es foule happenede,2366: And all oure myche faire folke faye are byleuede;

2367: Eschappide there ne cheuallrye, ne cheftaynes noþer,2368: Bott choppede downn in the chasse, syche chawnse es befallen.2369: We rede 3e store 3owe of stone and stuffen 3our walles:2370: 3ow wakkens wandrethe and werre, be ware 3if 3ow lykes."2371: In the kalendez of Maye this caas es befallen:2372: The roy ryalle renownde, with his Rownde Table,2373: One the coste of Costantyne, by þe clere strandez,2374: Has þe Romaynes ryche rebuykede for euer.2375: Whene he hade foughtten in Fraunce and the felde wonnen,2376: And fersely his foomen fellde owtte of lyfe,



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2377: He bydes for þe beryenge of his bolde knyghtez2378: That in batell with brandez ware broughte owte of lyfe.2379: He beryes at Bayone Sir Bedwere þe ryche;2380: The cors of Kayon þe kene at Came es beleuefede,2381: Koueride with a crystall clenly all ouer,2382: His fadyre conqueride þat kyth knyghtly with hondes.2383: Seyn in Burgoyne he bade to bery mo knyghttez,2384: Sir Berade and Bawdwyne, Sir Bedwar þe ryche,2385: Gud Sir Cador at Came, as his kynde askes.2386: Thane Sir Arthure onone, in þe Auguste þeraftyre,2387: Enteres to Almayne wyth ostez arrayed;2388: Lengez at Lusscheburghe, to lechen hys knyghttez,2389: With his lele liggemen, as lorde in his awen.2390: And on Christofre Daye a concell he haldez,2391: Withe kynges and kaysers, clerkkes and oþer;2392: Comandez them kenely to caste all þeire wittys,2393: How he may conquere by crafte the kythe þat he claymes.2394: Bot the Conquerour kene, curtais and noble,2395: Karpes in the concell theys knyghtly wordez:2396: "Here es a knyghte in theis kleuys, enclosside with hilles,

2397: That I haue cowayte to knawe, because of his wordez:2398: That es Lorayne þe lele, I kepe noghte to layne;2399: The lordchipe es louely, as ledes me telles.2400: I will ducherye devyse and dele as me lykes,2401: And seyn dresse wyth þe Duke, if destyny suffre;2402: The renke rebell has bene vnto my Rownde Table,2403: Redy aye with Romaynes to ryotte my landes;2404: We sall rekken full rathe, if reson so happen,2405: Who has ryghte to þat rente, by ryche Gode of Heuen!2406: Than will I by Lumbardye, lykande to schawe,2407: Sett lawe in þe lande, þat laste sall euer;2408: The tyrauntez of Tuskayn tempeste a littyll,2409: Talke with þe temperall, whills my tym lastez.

2410: I gyffe my protteccione to all þe Pope landez,2411: My ryche pensell of pes my pople to schewe;2412: It es a foly to offende oure fadyr vndire Gode,2413: Owþer Peter or Paule, þa postles of Rome.

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2414: 3if we spare the spirituell, we spede bot the bettire;2415: Whills we haue for to speke, spille sall it neuer."2416: Now they spede at þe spurres, withowttyn speche more,2417: To þe marche of Meyes, theis manliche knyghtez,2418: That es Õinå Lorrayne alofede, as London es here,

2419: Cete of þat seyn3owre, that soueraynge es holden.2420: The Kyng ferkes furthe on a faire stede,2421: With Ferrer and Ferawnte and oþer foure knyghtez;2422: Abowte the cete þa seuen they soughte at þe nextte,2423: To seke them a sekyre place to sett withe engeynes.2424: Thane they bendyde in burghe bowes of vyse,2425: Bekyrs at þe bolde kyng with boustouse lates;2426: Allblawsters at Arthure egerly schottes,2427: For to hurte hym or his horse with þat hard wapen.2428: The Kynge schonte for no schotte, ne no schelde askys,



2429: Bot schewes hym scharpely in his schene wedys;2430: Lenges all at laysere and lokes on the wallys,2431: Whare þey ware laweste the ledes to assaille.2432: "Sir," said Sir Ferrer, "a foly thowe wirkkes,2433: Thus nakede in thy noblaye to neghe to þe walles,2434: Sengely in thy surcotte, this cete to reche,2435: And schewe þe within, there to schende vs all.2436: Hye vs hastylye heynne, or we mon full happen,2437: For hitt they the or thy horse, it harmes for euer."2438: "Ife thow be ferde," quod the Kyng, "I rede thow ryde vttere,2439: Lesse þat þey rywe the with theire rownnd wapyn!2440: Thow arte bot a fawntkyn, no ferly me thynkkys,2441: Þou will be flayede for a flye þat on thy flesche lyghttes.2442: I am nothyng agaste, so me Gode helpe:2443: Þof siche gadlynges be greuede, it greues me bot lyttill;2444: Thay wyn no wirchipe of me, bot wastys theire takle,2445: They sall wante or I weende, I wagen myn hevede.2446: Sall neuer harlott haue happe, thorowe helpe of my Lorde,2447: To kyll a corownde kyng with krysom enoynttede!"2448: Thane come þe herbariours, harageous knyghtez,2449: The hale batells on hye harrawnte theraftyre;

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2450: And oure forreours ferse, appon fele halfes,2451: Come flyeande before one ferawnte stedes,2452: Ferkande in arraye theire ryall knyghttez,2453: The renkez renownde of þe Rounnd Table.2454: All þe frekke men of Fraunce folowede thareaftyre,2455: Faire fittyde on frownte, and on the felde houys.2456: Thane the schalkes scharpelye scheftys theire horsez,2457: To schewen them semly in theire scheen wedes;2458: Buskes in batayle with baners displayede,2459: With brode scheldes enbrassede and burlyche helmys,2460: With penouns and pensells of ylke prynce armes,2461: Appayrellde with perrye and precious stones;

2462: The lawnces with loraynes and lemande scheldes,2463: Lyghtenande as þe leuenyng and lemand al ouer.2464: Thane the price men prekes and proues þeire horsez,2465: Satills to þe cete appon sere halfes;2466: Enserches the subbarbes sadly thareaftyre,2467: Discoueris of schotte-men and skyrmys a lytill;2468: Skayres þaire skottefers and theire skowtte-waches,2469: Brittenes theire barrers with theire bryghte wapyns,2470: Bett down a barbycan and þe brygge wynnys;2471: Ne hade the garnyson bene gude at þe grete 3ates,2472: Thay hade wonn that wone be theire awen strenghe.2473: Than withdrawes oure men and drisses them bettyre,2474: For dred of þe drawe-brigge dasschede in sondre;

2475: Hyes to þe harbergage thare the Kyng houys,2476: With his batell on heghe, horsyde on stedys.2477: Thane was þe Prynce puruayede and þeire places nommen,2478: Pyghte pauyllyons of palle and plattes in seegge;2479: Thane lenge they lordly, as þem leefe thoghte,2480: Waches in ylke warde, as to þe werre falles,2481: Settes vp sodaynly certayne engynes.2482: One Sonondaye be þe soone has a flethe 3olden,2483: The Kyng calles on Florente, þat flour was of knyghttez:2484: "The Fraunchemene enfeblesches, ne farly me thynkkys;



2485: They are vnfondyde folke in þe faire marches,2486: For them wantes þe flesche and fude that them lykes.2487: Here are forestez faire appon fele halues,

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2488: And thedyre feemen are flede with freliche bestes.2489: Thow sall foonde to þe fell and forraye the mountes;2490: Sir Forawnt and Sir Florydas sall folowe thi brydyll.2491: Vs moste with some fresche mette refresche oure pople,2492: That are feedde in þe fyrthe with þe froyte of þe erthe.2493: Thare sall weende to þis viage Sir Gawayne hym selfen,2494: Wardayne full wyrchipfull, and so hym wele semes;2495: Sir Wecharde, Sir Waltyre, theis wyrchipfull knyghtes,2496: With all wyseste men of þe weste marches;2497: Sir Clegis, Sir Clarybalde, Sir Clarymownde þe noble,2498: The Capytayne oo Cardyfe clenlyche arrayede.2499: Goo now, warne all þe wache, Gawayne and oþer,2500: And weendes furthe on 3our waye withowttyn moo wordes."2501: Now ferkes to þe fyrthe thees fresche men of armes,2502: To þe fell so fewe, theis fresclyche byernes,2503: Thorowe hopes and hymland, hillys and oþer,2504: Holtis and hare woddes with heslyn schawes,

2505: Thorowe marasse and mosse and montes so heghe;2506: And in the myste Õofå mornyng one a mede falles,2507: Mawen and vnmade, maynoyrede bott lyttyll,2508: In swathes sweppen down, full of swete floures.2509: Thare vnbrydills theis bolde and baytes þeire horses,2510: To þe grygynge of þe daye, þat byrdez gan synge,2511: Whylls the surs of þe sonne, þat sonde es of Cryste,2512: That solaces all synfull þat syghte has in erthe.2513: Thane weendes owtt the wardayne, Sir Gawayne hym selfen,2514: Alls he þat weysse was and wyghte, wondyrs to seke;2515: Than was he warre of a wye, wondyre wele armyde,2516: Baytand on a wattire banke by þe wodde eyuis,2517: Buskede in brenyes bryghte to behalde,

2518: Enbrassede a brode schelde on a blonke ryche,2519: Withowttyn ony berne, bot a boye one,2520: Houes by hym on a blonke and his spere holdes.2521: He bare gessande in golde thre grayhondes of sable,2522: With chapes and cheynes of chalke-whytte slyuer,

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2523: A charebocle in þe cheefe, chawngawnde of hewes,2524: And a cheefe anterous, chalange who lykes.2525: Sir Gawayne glyftes on the gome with a glade will;2526: A grete spere fro his grome he grypes in hondes,

2527: Gyrdes ewen ouere þe streme on a stede ryche,2528: To þat steryn in stour, one strenghe þare he houys.2529: Egerly one Inglisce "Arthure!" he askyres;2530: The toþer irouslye ansuers hym sone,2531: On a launde of Lorrayne with a lowde steuen,2532: That ledes myghte lysten þe lenghe of a myle:2533: "Whedyr prykkes thow, pilouur, þat profers so large?2534: Here pykes thowe no praye, profire when þe lykes!2535: Bot thow in þis perell put of the bettire,2536: Thow sall be my presonere, for all thy prowde lates!"



2537: "Sir," sais Sir Gawayne, "so me Gode helpe,2538: Siche glauerande gomes greues me bot lyttill!2539: Bot if thowe graythe thy gere, the will grefe happen,2540: Or thowe goo of þis greue, for all thy grete wordes!"2541: Than þeire launces they lachen, thes lordlyche byernez,2542: Laggen with longe speres one lyarde stedes;2543: Cowpen at awntere be kraftes of armes,2544: Till bothe þe crowell speres brousten att ones.2545: Thorowe scheldys þey schotte and scherde thorowe maÕyåles,2546: Bothe schere thorowe schoulders a schaftmonde large.2547: Thus worthylye þes wyes wondede ere bothen,2548: Or they wreke þem of wrethe awaye will þey neuer.2549: Than they raughte in the reyne and agayne rydes,2550: Redely theis rathe mene rusches owtte swerdez,2551: Hittes one hellmes full hertelyche dynttys,2552: Hewes appon hawberkes with full harde wapyns;2553: Full stowttly þey stryke, thire steryn knyghttes,2554: Stokes at þe stomake with stelyn poyntes,2555: Feghtten and floresche withe flawmande swerdez,2556: Till þe flawes of fyre flawmes one theire helmes.2557: Thane Sir Gawayne was greuede and grychgide full sore;2558: With Galuthe his gude swerde grymlye he strykes:2559: Clefe þe knyghttes schelde clenliche in sondre,

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2560: Who lukes to þe lefte syde when his horse launches2561: With þe lyghte of þe sonne men myghte see his lyuere.2562: Thane granes þe gome fore greefe of his wondys,2563: And gyrdis at Sir Gawayne, as he by glentis;2564: And awkewarde egerly sore he hym smyttes:2565: An alet enamelde he oches in sondire,2566: Bristes þe rerebrace with the bronde ryche,2567: Kerues of at þe coutere with þe clene egge,2568: AneÕnåtis þe avawmbrace, vayllede with siluer.2569: Thorowe a dowble vesture of veluett ryche

2570: With þe venymous swerde a vayne has he towchede,2571: That voydes so violently þat all his witte changede;2572: The vesere, the aventaile, his vesturis ryche,2573: With the valyant blode was verrede all ouer.2574: Thane this tyrante tite turnes þe brydill,2575: Talkes vntendirly and sais "Þow arte towchede;2576: Vs bus haue a blode-bande or thi ble change,2577: For all þe barbours of Bretayne sall noghte thy blode stawnche;2578: For he þat es blemeste with þis brade brande blyne schall he neuer."2579: "3a," quod Sir Gawayne, "thow greues me bot lyttill;2580: Thowe wenys to glopyne me with thy gret wordez;2581: Thow trowes with thy talkyng þat my harte talmes.2582: Thow betydes tourfere or thowe hyen turne,

2583: Bot thowe tell me tytte, and tarye no lengere,2584: What may staunche this blode þat thus faste rynnes."2585: "3ise, I say þe sothely, and sekire þe my trowthe:2586: No surgyon in Salarne sall saue þe bettyre;2587: Withthy þat thowe suffre me, for sake of thy Cryste,2588: To schewe schortly my schrifte and schape for myn ende."2589: "3is," quod Sir Gawayne, "so me God helpe,2590: I gyfe þe grace and graunt, þofe þou hafe grefe seruede,2591: Withthy thowe say me sothe what thowe here sekes,2592: Thus sengilly and sulayne all þi selfe one;



2593: And whate laye thow leues one, layne noghte þe sothe,2594: And whate legyaunce and whare þow arte lorde."2595: "My name es Sir Priamus; a prynce es my fadyre,2596: Praysede in his partyes with prouede kynges;

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2597: In Rome thare he regnes he es riche halden.2598: He has bene rebell to Rome and reden theire landes,2599: Werreyand weisely wyntters and 3eres;2600: Be witt and be wyssdome and be wyghte strenghe,2601: And be wyrchipfull werre, his awen has he wonn.2602: He es of Alexandire blode, ouerlyng of kynges,2603: The vncle of his ayele, Sir Ector of Troye;2604: And here es the kynreden that I of come,2605: And Iudas and Iosue, þise gentill knyghtes.2606: I ame apparaunt his ayere, and eldeste of oþer,2607: Of Alexandere and Aufrike and all þa owte landes;2608: I am in possessione and plenerly sessede2609: In all þe price cetees that to þe porte langes;2610: I sall hafe trewly the tresour and the londes,2611: And bothe trebute and taxe whills my tym lastes.2612: I was so hawtayne of herte, whills I at home lengede,

2613: I helde nane my hippe heghte vndire heuen ryche;2614: Forthy was I sente hedire with seuen score knyghttez,2615: To asaye of this werre, be sente of my fadire,2616: And I am for cirqwitrye schamely supprisede,2617: And be awÕnåtire of armes owtrayede fore euere.2618: Now hafe I taulde the þe kyne that I ofe come,2619: Will thow, for knyghthede, kene me thy name?"2620: "Be Criste," quod Sir Gawayne, "knyghte was I neuer;2621: With þe kydde Conquerour a knafe of his chambyre,2622: Has wroghte in his wardrope wynters and 3eres,2623: One his long armour that hym beste lykid;2624: I poyne all his pavelyouns þat to hym selfe pendes,2625: Dyghttes his dowblettez for dukes and erles,

2626: Aketouns auenaunt fore Arthure hym selfen,2627: That he vsede in werre all this aughte wyntter.2628: He made me 3omane at 3ole, and gafe me gret gyftes,2629: And c. pound and a horse and harnayse full ryche;2630: Gife I happe to my hele that hende for to serue,2631: I be holpen in haste, I hette the forsothe."2632: "Giffe his knafes be syche, his knyghttez are noble!2633: There es no kyng vndire Criste may kemp with hym on;2634: He will be Alexander ayre, that all þe erthe lowttede,

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2635: Abillere þan euer was Sir Ector of Troye.2636: Now fore the krisome þat þou kaghte þat day þou was crystenede,2637: Whethire thowe be knyghte or knaffe, knawe now þe sothe."2638: "My name es Sir Gawayne, I graunt þe forsothe,2639: Cosyn to þe Conquerour, he knawes it hym selfen;2640: Kydd in his kalander a knyghte of his chambyre,2641: And rollede the richeste of all þe Rounde Table.2642: I ame þe dussepere and duke he dubbede with his hondes,2643: Deynttely on a daye before his dere knyghtes;2644: Gruche noghte, gude sir, þofe me this grace happen:



2645: It es þe gifte of Gode, the gree es Hys awen."2646: "Petire!" sais Priamus, "Now payes me bettire2647: Thane I of Provynce warre prynce and of Paresche ryche;2648: Fore me ware leuer preuely by prykkyd to þe harte,2649: Than euer any prikkere had siche a pryse wonnyn.2650: Bot here es herberde at hand, in 3one huge holtes,2651: Halle bataile one heyghe, take hede 3if the lyke,2652: The Duke of Lorrayne the derfe, with his dere knyghtes,2653: The doughtyest of Dolfinede and Duchemen many,2654: The lordes of Lumbardye, that leders are halden,2655: The garnyson of Godard gaylyche arrayede,2656: The wyese of þe Westuale, wirchipfull biernez,2657: Of Sessoyn and Surylande Sarazenes enewe;2658: They are nowmerde full neghe and namede in rollez,2659: Sexty thowsande and ten, forsothe, of sekyre men of armez;2660: Bot 3if thow hye fro þis hethe, it harmes vs bothe,2661: And bot my hurtes be son holpen, hole be I neuer.2662: Take heede to þis hanseman þat he no horne blawe,2663: Are thowe heyly in haste beese hewen al to peces;2664: For they are my retenuz, to ryde whare I wyll,2665: Es non redyare renkes regnande in erthe;2666: Be thow raghte with þat rowtt, thow rydes no forþer,2667: Ne thow bees neuer rawnsonede for reches in erthe."2668: Sir Gawayn wente or þe wathe com whare hym beste lykede,

2669: With this wortheliche wye, that wondyd was sore;2670: Merkes to þe mountayne there oure men lenges,2671: Baytaynde theire blonkes þer on þe brode mede:2672: Lordes lenande lowe on lemand scheldes,

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2673: With lowde laghttirs on lofte for lykyng of byrdez,2674: Of larkes, of lynkwhyttez, þat lufflyche songen;2675: And some was sleghte one slepe with sleyghte of þe pople,2676: Þat sange in þe seson in the schenne schawes,2677: So lawe in þe lawndez so lykand notes.

2678: Thane Sir Whycher whas warre þaire wardayne was wondyde,2679: And went to hym wepand and wryngande his handes;2680: Syr Wycherd, Sir Walthere, theis weise men of armes,2681: Had wondyre of Sir Gawayne, and wente hym agayns,2682: Mett hym in the mydwaye and meruaile them tÕhåoghte2683: How he maisterede þat man, so myghtty of strenghes.2684: Be all þe welthe of þe werlde, so woo was þem neuer:2685: "For all oure wirchipe, iwysse, awaye es in erthe!"2686: "Greue 3ow noghte," quod Gawayne, "for Godis luffe of Heuen;2687: For this es bot gosomer and gyffen on erles;2688: Þoffe my schouldire be schrede and my schelde thyrllede,2689: And the wielde of myn arme werkkes a littill,2690: This prissonere, Sir Priamus, þat has perilous wondes,

2691: Sais þat he has saluez sall soften vs bothen."2692: Thane stirttes to his sterape sterynfull knyghttez,2693: And he lordely lyghttes and laghte of his brydill,2694: And lete his burlyche blonke baite on þe flores;2695: Braydes of his bacenette and his ryche wedis,2696: Bownnes to his brode schelde and bowes to þe erthe,2697: In all the bodye of that bolde es no blode leued.2698: Than preses to Sir Priamous precious knyghtes,2699: Auyssely of his horse hentes hym in armes;2700: His helme and of his hawberke þay taken of aftyre,



2701: And hastily for his hurtte all his herte chawngyd,2702: They laide hym down in the lawndez and laghte of his wedes,2703: And he lenede hym on lange, or how hym beste lykede2704: A fyole of fyne golde they fande at his gyrdill,2705: Þat es full of þe flour of þe fouur well,2706: Þat flowes owte of Paradice when þe flode ryses,2707: That myche froyt of fallez, þat feede schall vs all;2708: Be it frette on his flesche, þare synues are entamede,

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2709: The freke schalle be fische-halle within fowre howres.2710: They vncouere þat cors with full clene hondes;2711: With clere watire a knyghte clensis theire wondes,2712: Keled theym kyndly and comforthed þer hertes.2713: And whene þe carffes ware clene, þay clede them a3ayne;2714: Barell-ferrers they brochede and broghte them the wyne,2715: Bothe brede and brawn and bredis full ryche.2716: When þay hade eten anon they armede after;2717: Thane tha awntrende men "As armes!" askryes.2718: With a claryoune clere thire knyghtez togedyre,2719: Callys to concell and of this case tellys:2720: "3ondyr es a companye of clene men of armes,

2721: The keneste in contek þat vndir Criste lenges;2722: In 3one oken wode an oste are arrayede,2723: Vndirtakande men of þiese owte londes,2724: As sais vs Sir Priamous, so helpe Seynt Peter!2725: Go men," quod Gawayne, "and grape in 3oure hertez,2726: Who sall graythe to 3one greue to 3one gret lordes;2727: 3if we gettlesse goo home, the Kyng will be greuede,2728: And say we are gadlynges, agaste for a lyttill,2729: We are with Sir Florente, as todaye falles,2730: That es floure of Fraunce, for he fleede neuer;2731: He was chosen and chargegide in chambire of þe Kyng,2732: Chiftayne of þis journee with cheualrye noble;2733: Whethire he fyghte or he flee, we sall folowe aftyre;

2734: Fore all þe fere of 3one folke forsake sall I neuer!"2735: "Fadyre," sais Sir Florent, "full faire 3e it tell.2736: Bot I ame bot a fawntkyn, vnfraystede in armes;2737: 3if any foly befall, þe fawte sall be owrs,2738: And fremdly o Fraunce be flemede for euer.2739: Woundes noghte, 3our wirchip, my witte es bot symple;2740: 3e are owre wardayne, iwysse, wyrke as 3owe lykes;2741: 3e are at the ferreste noghte passande fyve hundrethe,2742: And þat es fully to fewe to feghte with them all,2743: Fore harlottez and hansemene sall helpe bott littill,2744: They will hye theym hyen, for all þeire gret wordes.2745: I rede 3e wyrke aftyre witte, as wyesse men of armes,2746: And warpes wylily awaye, as wirchipfull knyghtes."

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2747: "I grawnte," quod Sir Gawayne, "so me Gode helpe;2748: Bot here are galyarde gomes þat of þe gre seruis,2749: The kreuelleste knyghttes of þe Kynges chambyre,2750: That kane carpe with the coppe knyghtly wordes,2751: We sall proue todaye who sall the prys wyn."2752: Nowe ferriours fers vnto þe fyrthe rydez,



2753: And fongez a faire felde and on fotte lyghttez;2754: Prekes aftyre þe pray, as pryce men of armes.2755: Florent and Floridas, with fyve score knyghttez,2756: Folowede in þe foreste, and on þe way fowndys,2757: Flyngande a faste trott, and on þe folke dryffes.2758: Than felewes fast to oure folke wele a fyve hundreth2759: Of freke men to þe fyrthe, appon fresche horses;2760: One Sir Feraunt before, apon a fayre stede,2761: Was fosterede in Famacoste, the Fende was his fadyre.2762: He flenges to Sir Florent, and pristly he kryes,2763: "Why flees thow, falls knyghte? The Fende hafe þi saule!"2764: Thane Sir Florent was fayne, and in fewter castys;2765: One Fawuell of Fryselande to Feraunt he rydys,2766: And raghte in þe reyne on þe stede ryche,2767: And rydes towarde the rowte, restes he no lengere:2768: Full butt in þe frounte he flysches hym euen,2769: And all disfegoures his face with his fell wapen;2770: Thurghe his bryghte bacenette his brayne has he towchede,2771: And brusten his neke-bone, þat all his breste stoppede.2772: Thane his cosyn askryede and cryede full lowde,2773: "Thowe has killede colde dede þe kynge of all knyghttes!"2774: He has bene fraistede on felde in fyftene rewmes;2775: He fonde neuer no freke myghte feghte with hym one.2776: Thow schall dye for his dede with my derfe wapen,

2777: And all þe doughtty for dule þat in 3one dale houes!"2778: "Fy," sais Sir Floridas, "thow fleryande wryche!2779: Thow wenes for to flay vs, floke-mowthede schrewe!"2780: Bot Floridas with a swerde, as he by glenttys,2781: All þe flesche of þe flanke he flappes in sondyre,2782: That all þe filthe of þe freke and fele of þe guttes2783: Foloes his fole fotte, whene he furthe rydes.

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2784: Than rydes a renke to reschewe þat byerne,2785: Þat was Raynalde of þe Rodes and rebell to Criste,

2786: Peruertede with paynyms þat Cristen persewes;2787: Presses in prowdly, as þe praye wendes,2788: Fore he hade in Prewsslande myche pryce wonnen,2789: Forthi in presence thare he profers so large.2790: Bot thane a renke, Sir Richere of þe Rounde Table,2791: One a ryall stede rydes hym a3aynes;2792: Thorowe a rownnde rede schelde he ruschede hym sone,2793: That the rosselde spere to his herte rynnes;2794: The renke relys abowte and rusches to þe erthe,2795: Roris full ruydlye, bot rade he no more.2796: Now all þat es fere and vnfaye of þes fyve hundreth2797: Falles on Sir Florent, a fyve score knyghttes;2798: Betwyx a plasche and a flode, appon a flate lawnde,

2799: Oure folke fongen theire felde and fawghte them agaynes.2800: Than was lowde appon lofte "Lorrayne!" askryede,2801: When ledys with longe speris lasschen togedyrs,2802: And "Arthure!" on our syde, when theyme oghte aylede.2803: Than Sir Florent and Floridas in fewtyre þey caste,2804: Fruschen on all þe frape and biernes affrayede,2805: Fellis fyve at þe frounte thare they fyrste enteride,2806: And, or they ferke forthire, fele of þese oþere.2807: Brenyes browdden they briste, brittenede scheldes,2808: Bettes and beres down the best þat þem byddes;



2809: All þat rewlyd in the rowtte they ryden awaye,2810: So rewdly they rere theys ryall knyghttes.2811: When Sir Priamous, þat prince, persayuede theire gamen,2812: He hade pete in herte þat he ne durste profire;2813: He wente to Sir Gawayne and sais hym þese wordes:2814: "Thi price men fore thy praye putt are all vndyre;2815: They are with Sarazenes ouersette, mo þan seuen hundreth2816: Of þe Sowdanes knyghtes owt of sere londes;2817: Walde þow suffire me, Sir, for sake of thi Criste,2818: With a soppe of thi men suppowell theym ones?"2819: "I grouche noghte," quod Gawayne, "þe gree es þaire awen!2820: They mon hafe gwerddouns full grett graunt of my lorde;2821: Bot the freke men of Fraunce fraiste them selfen,

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2822: Frekes faughte noghte þeire fill this fyftene wynter.2823: I will noghte stire with my stale halfe a stede lenghe,2824: Bot they be stedde with more stuffe than on 3one stede houys."2825: Than Sir Gawayne was warre, withowttyn þe wode hemmes,2826: Wyes of þe Westfale appon wyght horsez,2827: Walopande wodely, as þe waye forthes,2828: With all þe wapyns, iwys, þat to þe werre longez.

2829: The erle Antele the Olde the avawmwarde he buskes,2830: Ayerande on ayther hande heghte thosande knyghtez;2831: His pelours and pauysers passede all nombyre2832: That euer any prynce lede puruayede in erthe.2833: Than þe Duke of Lorrayne dresesse thareaftyre,2834: With dowbill of þe Duchemen, þat doughtty ware holden;2835: Paynymes of Pruyslande, prekkers full noble,2836: Come prekkande before with Priamous knyghttez.2837: Than saide the erle Antele to Algere, his broþer,2838: "Me angers ernestly at Arthure knyghtez,2839: Thus enkerly on an oste awnters þem selfen;2840: They will be owttrayede anon, are vndron ryng,2841: Thus folily on a felde to fyghte with vs all;

2842: Bot they be fesede in faye ferly me thynkes.2843: Walde they purposse take and passe on theire wayes,2844: Prike home to theire prynce and theire pray leue,2845: They myghte lenghen theire lyefe and lossen bott littill,2846: It wolde lyghte my herte, so helpe me oure Lorde!"2847: "Sir," sais Sir Algere, "thay hafe littill vsede2848: To be owttrayede withe oste, me angers þe more;2849: The fayreste schall be full feye þat in oure floke ryddez2850: Alls fewe as they bene, are they the felde leue."2851: Than gud Gawayne, gracious and noble,2852: All with glorious gle he gladdis his knyghtes:2853: "Gloppyns noghte, gud men, for gleterand scheldes,2854: Þofe 3one gadlyngez be gaye on 3one gret horses;

2855: Banerettez of Bretayne, buskes vp 3our hertes!2856: Bees noghte baiste of 3one boyes, ne of þaire bryghte wedis.2857: We sall blenke theire boste for all theire bolde profire,2858: Als bouxom as birde es in bede to hir lorde.2859: 3effe we feghte todaye, þe felde schall be owrs,

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2860: The fekill faye sall faile and falssede be distroyede!



2861: 3one folk is one frountere, vnfraistede theym semes;2862: Thay make faythe and faye to þe Fend seluen!2863: We sall in this viage victoures be holden,2864: And avauntede with voycez of valyant biernez,2865: Praysede with pryncez in presence of lordes,2866: And luffede with ladyes in dyuerse londes;2867: Aughte neuer siche honoure none of oure elders,2868: Vnwyn ne Absolon ne non of thies oþer.2869: When we are moste in destresse Marie we mene,2870: That es oure maisters seyne, þat he myche traistez,2871: Melys of þat mylde Qwene that menskes vs all,2872: Who-so meles of þat Mayde myskaries he neuer."2873: Be þese wordes ware saide, they ware noghte ferre behynd2874: Bot the lenghe of a launde, and "Lorayne!" askryes.2875: Was neuer siche a justyng at journe in erthe,2876: In the Vale of Iosephate, as gestes vs telles,2877: When Iulyus and Ioatall ware juggede to dy,2878: As was when þe ryche men of þe Rownde Table2879: Ruschede into þe rowte one ryall stedes;2880: For so raythely þay rusche with roselde speris,2881: That the raskaille was rade, and rane to þe grefes,2882: And karede to þat courte as cowardes for euer.2883: "Peter!" sais Sir Gawayne; "This gladdez myn herte,2884: That 3one gedlynges are non that made gret nowmbre;

2885: I hope that thees harlottez sall harme vs bot littill,2886: Fore they will hyde them in haste within 3one holte euis.2887: Thay are fewere one felde þan þay were fyrste nombird,2888: Be fourtty thousande, in faythe, for all theyre faire hostes!"2889: Bot one Iolyan of Iene, a geante full howge,2890: Has jonede on Sir Ierant, a justis of Walis;2891: Thorowe a jerownde schelde he jogges hym thorowe,2892: And a fyn gesserawnte of gentill mayles,2893: Ioynter and gemows he jogges in sondyre.2894: One a jambe stede þis jurnee he makes;2895: Thus es þe geante forjuste, that errawnte Iewe,2896: And Gerard es jocunde, and joyes hym þe more.2897: Than the genatours of Genne enjoynes att ones,

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2898: And frykis on þe frowntere well a fyve hundreth;2899: A freke highte Sir Federike, with full fele oþer,2900: Ferkes on a frusche and fresclyche askryes,2901: To fyghte with oure forreours, þat on felde houis.2902: And thane the ryalle renkkes of þe Rownde Table2903: Rade furth full ernestly and rydis them agaynes,2904: Mellis with the medillwarde, bot they ware ill machede,2905: Of siche a grett multytude was meruayle to here.2906: Seyne at þe assemble the Sarazenes discoueres

2907: The soueraygne of Sessoyne, that saluede was neuer;2908: Gyawntis forjustede with gentill knyghtes,2909: Thorowe gesserawntes of Iene jaggede to þe herte.2910: They hewe thorowe helmes hawtayne biernez,2911: Þat þe hiltede swerdes to þaire hertes rynnys.2912: Than þe renkes renownd of þe Rownd Table2913: Ryffes and ruyssches down renayede wreches;2914: And thus they dreuen to þe dede dukes and erles,2915: All þe dreghe of þe daye, with dredfull werkes.2916: Than Sir Priamous þe prynce, in presens of lordes,



2917: Presez to his penown and pertly it hentes,2918: Reuertede it redily and awaye rydys,2919: To þe ryall rowte of þe Rownde Table;2920: And heyly his retenus raykes hym aftyre,2921: For they his reson had rede on his schelde ryche.2922: Owte of þe scheltrone þey schede, as schepe of a folde,2923: And steris furth to þe stowre and stode be þeire lorde.2924: Seyne they sent to þe Duke and saide hym þise wordes:2925: "We hafe bene thy sowdeours this sex 3ere and more;2926: We forsake þe todaye be serte of owre lorde;2927: We sewe to oure soueraynge in sere kynges londe.2928: Vs defawtes oure feez of þis foure wyntteres:2929: Thow arte feble and false and noghte bot faire wordes.2930: Oure wages are werede owte and þi werre endide;2931: We maye with oure wirchipe weend whethire vs lykes.2932: I red þowe trette of a trewe and trofle no lengere,2933: Or þow sall tyne of thi tale ten thosande or euen."2934: "Fy a debles!" saide þe Duke; "The Deuell haue 3our bones!

The Thornton Ms., Folios 84v-94r (lines 2935-3881)

2935: The dawngere of 3on doggez drede schall I neuer.

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-120-2936: We sall dele this daye, be dedes of armes,2937: My dede, and my ducherye, and my dere knyghtes.2938: Siche sowdeours as 3e I sett bot att lyttill,2939: That sodanly in defawte forsakes theire lorde."2940: The Duke in his scheltrone dreches no lengere,2941: Drawes hym a dromedarie, with dredfull knyghtez;2942: Graythes to Sir Gawayne, with full gret nowmbyre2943: Of gomes of Gernaide, that greuous are holden;2944: Thas fresche horsede men to þe frownt rydes,2945: Felles of oure forreours be fourtty at ones,2946: They hade foughtten before with a fyve hundrethe;

2947: It was no ferly, in faythe, þofe they faynt waxen.2948: Thane Sir Gawayne was grefede and grypys his spere,2949: And gyrdez in agayne with galyarde knyghttez;2950: Metes þe Marches of Mees and melles hym thorowe,2951: As man of þis medill-erthe þat moste hade greuede.2952: Bot on Chastelayne, a childe of þe Kynges chambyr,2953: Was warde to Sir Wawayn of þe weste marches,2954: Cheses to Sir Cheldrike, a cheftayne noble,2955: With a chasyng he chokkes hym thurghe,2956: This chekke hym eschewede be chauncez of armes.2957: So þay chase þat childe, eschape may he neuer;2958: Bot on Swyan of Swecy, with a swerde egge,2959: The swyers swyre-bane he swappes in sondyre;

2960: He swounande diede and on þe swarthe lengede,2961: Sweltes ewynne swiftly, and swanke he no more.2962: Þan Sir Gawayn gretes with his gray eghne,2963: The guyte was a gude man, begynnande of armes;2964: Fore the charry childe so his chere chawngide,2965: That the chillande watire on his chekes rynnyde.2966: "Woo es me," quod Gawayne, "that I ne weten hade;2967: I sall wage for that wye all þat I welde,2968: Bot I be wroken on that wye that thus has hym wondyde."2969: He dresses hym drerily and to þe Duke rydes,



2970: Bot one Sir Dolphyn the derfe dyghte hym agaynes,2971: And Sir Gawayne hym gyrd with a grym launce,

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2972: That the grounden spere glade to his herte.2973: And egerly he hente owte and hurte anoþer,2974: An haythen knyghte, Hardolfe, happye in armes;2975: Sleyghly in at the slotte slyttes hym thorowe,2976: That the slydande spere of his hande sleppes.2977: Thare es slayne in þat slope, be sleyghte of his hondes,2978: Sexty slongen in a slade of sleghe men of armes.2979: Þofe Sir Gawaynne ware wo, he wayttes hym by,2980: And was warre of þat wye that the childe wondyde,2981: And with a swerde swiftly he swappes hym thorowe,2982: That he swyftly swelte and on þe erthe swounes.2983: And thane he raykes to þe rowte and ruysches one helmys,2984: Riche hawberkes he rente and rasede schyldes,2985: Rydes on a rawndoune and his rayke holdes,2986: Thorowowte þe rerewarde he holdes wayes;2987: And thare raughte in the reyne this ryall þe ryche,2988: And rydez into þe rowte of þe Rownde Table.2989: Þane oure cheualrous men changen theire horsez,

2990: Chases and choppes down cheftaynes noble,2991: Hittes full hertely on helmes and scheldes,2992: Hurtes and hewes down haythen knyghtez;2993: Ketell-hattes they cleue euen to þe scholdirs,2994: Was neuer siche a clamour of capitaynes in erthe.2995: Thare was kynges sonnes kaughte, curtays and noble,2996: And knyghtes of þe contre, that knawen was ryche;2997: Lordes of Lorayne and Lumbardye bothen2998: LaughÕtåe was and lede in with oure lele knyghttez.2999: Thas þat chasede that daye, theire chaunce was bettire,3000: Swiche a cheke at a chace escheuede theym neuer.3001: When Sir Florent be fyghte had þe felde wonen,3002: He ferkes ine before with fyve score knyghttez;

3003: Theire prayes and þeire presoneres passes one aftyre,3004: With pylours and pauysers and pryse men of armes.3005: Thane gudly Sir Gawayne gydes his knyghttez,3006: Gas in at þe gayneste, as gydes hym telles,3007: Fore greffe on a garysone of full gret lordes3008: Sulde noghte gripe vpe his gere, ne swyche grame wirche.

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3009: Forethy they stode at the straytez and with his stale houede,3010: Till his prayes ware paste the pathe that he dredis;3011: When they the cete myghte see that the Kyng seggede,

3012: Sothely the same daye was witÕhå asawte wonnen,3013: An hawrawde hyes before, the beste of the lordes,3014: Hom at þe herbergage, owt of tha hyghe londes,3015: Tornys tytte to þe tente and to the Kyng telles3016: All the tale sothely, and how they hade spede:3017: "All thy forreours are fere, that forrayede withowttyn,3018: Sir Florent and Sir Floridas and all thy ferse knyghttez;3019: Thay hafe forrayede and foghten with full gret nowmbyre,3020: And fele of thy foomen has broghte owt of lyffe.3021: Oure wirchipfull wardayne es wele escheuyde,



3022: For he has wonn todaye wirchip for euere;3023: He has Dolfyn slayne and þe Duke takyn;3024: Many dowghty es dede be dynt of his hondes.3025: He has presoners price, pryncez and erles,3026: Of þe richeste blode þat regnys in erthe;3027: All thy cheuallrous men faire are eschewede;3028: Bot a childe Chasteleynne myschance es befallen."3029: "Hawtayne," sais þe Kyng, "harawde, be Criste,3030: Thow has helyd myn herte, I hete the forsothe;3031: I 3ife the in Hamptone a hundreth pownde large."3032: The Kynge þan to assawte he sembles his knyghtez,3033: With somercastell and sowe appon sere halfes;3034: Skyftis his skotiferis and skayles the wallis,3035: And iche wache has his warde with wiese men of armes.3036: Thane boldly þay buske and bendes engynes,3037: Payses in pylotes and proues theire castes;3038: Mynsteris and masondewes they malle to þe erthe,3039: Chirches and chapells chalke-whitte blawnchede.3040: Stone Õsåtepells full styffe in þe strete ligges,3041: Chawmbyrs with chymnes and many cheefe inns;3042: Paysede and pelid down playsterede walles,3043: The pyne of þe pople was pete for to here.3044: Thane þe Duchez hire dyghte with damesels ryche,3045: The Cowntas of Crasyn, with hir clere maydyns,

3046: Knelis down in þe kyrnelles thare the Kyng houede,---------------------------------------------------------

-123-

3047: On a couerede horse comlyli arayede.3048: They knewe hym by contenaunce and criede full lowde,3049: "Kyng crownede of kynde, take kepe to þese wordes!3050: We beseke 3ow, Sir, as soueraynge and lorde,3051: That 3e safe vs todaye, for sake of 3oure Criste;3052: Send vs some socoure and saughte with the pople,3053: Or þe cete be sodaynly with assawte wonnen."3054: He weres his vesere with a vowt noble;

3055: With vesage vertouous, this valyante bierne3056: Meles to hir myldly with full meke wordes:3057: "Sall no mysse do 3ow, ma dame, þat to me lenges;3058: I gyf 3ow chartire of pes, and 3oure cheefe maydens,3059: The childire and þe chaste men, the cheualrous knyghtez;3060: The Duke es in dawngere, dredis it bott littyll.3061: He sall be demyd full wele, dout 3ow noghte elles."3062: Thane sent he on iche a syde to certayne lordez,3063: For to leue þe assawte, the cete was 3olden;3064: With þe Erle eldeste son he sent hym þe kayes,3065: And seside þe same nyghte, be sent of þe lordes.3066: The Duke to Douere es dyghte, and all his dere knyghtez,3067: To duelle in dawngere and dole þe dayes of hys lyue.

3068: Thare fleede at the ferrere 3ate folke withowttyn nombyre,3069: For ferde of Sir Florent and his fers knyghtez;3070: Voydes the cete and to the wode rynnys,3071: With vetaile and vessell and vestoure so ryche.3072: Thay buske vpe a banere abown þe brode 3ates,3073: Of Sir Florent, in fay, so fayne was he neuer;3074: The knyghte houys on a hyll, behelde to þe wallys,3075: And saide, "I see be 3one syngne the cete es oures."3076: Sir Arthure enters anon, with hostes arayede,3077: Euen at þe vndrone etles to lenge.



3078: In iche leuere on lowde the Kynge did crye,3079: Of payne of lyf and lym and lesyng of londes,3080: That no lele ligemane, that to hym lonngede,3081: Sulde lye be no ladysse, no be no lele maydyns,3082: Ne be no burgesse wyffe, better ne werse,

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3083: Ne no biernez mysebide, that to þe burghe longede.3084: When þe Kyng Arthure had lely conquerid,3085: And the castell couerede of þe kythe riche,3086: All þe crowell and kene, be craftes of armes,3087: Captayns and constables knewe hym for lorde.3088: He deuysede and delte to dyuerse lordez3089: A dowere for þe Duchez and hir dere childire;3090: Wroghte wardaynes by wytte to welde all þe londez,3091: That he had wonnen of werre, thorowe his weise knyghtez.3092: Thus in Lorayne he lenges, as lorde in his awen,3093: Settez lawes in the lande, as hym leefe tÕhåoghte.3094: And one þe Lammese Day to Lucerne he wendez,3095: Lengez thare at laysere with lykyng inowe;3096: Thare his galays ware graythede, a full gret nombyre,3097: All gleterand as glase, vndire grene hyllys,

3098: With cabanes couerede for kynges anoyntede,3099: With clothes of clere golde for knyghtez and oþer,3100: Sone stowede theire stuffe and stablede þeire horses,3101: Strekes streke ouer þe strem into þe strayte londez.3102: Now he moues his myghte with myrthes of herte,3103: Ouere mowntes so hye, þase meruailous wayes;3104: Gosse in by Goddarde, the garett he wynnys,3105: Graythes the garnison grisely wondes.3106: When he was passede the heghte, than the Kyng houys3107: With his hole bataylle, behaldande abowte,3108: Lukand one Lumbarddye, and one lowde melys,3109: "In 3one lykand londe, lorde be I thynke."3110: Thane they cayre to Combe, with kyngez anoyntede,

3111: That was kyde of þe coste, kay of all oþer.3112: Sir Florent and Sir Floridas þan fowndes before,3113: With freke men of Fraunce well a fyve hundreth;3114: To þe cete vnsene thay soghte at þe gayneste,3115: And sett an enbuschement, als þem selfe lykys.3116: Thane ischewis owt of þat cete, full sone be þe morne,3117: Slely discouerours, skyftes theire horses;3118: Than skyftes þes skouerours and skippes on hyllis,3119: Diskoueres for skulkers that they no skathe lymppen.

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3120: Pouerall and pastorelles passede on aftyre,3121: With porkes to pasture at the price 3ates;3122: Boyes in þe subarbis bourden full heghe,3123: At a bare synglere that to þe bente rynnys.3124: Thane brekes oure buschement and the brigge wynnes,3125: Brayedez into þe burghe with baners displayede;3126: Stekes and stabbis thorowe that them a3aynes-stondes;3127: Fowre stretis or þay stynte they stroyen fore euere.3128: Now es the Conquerour in Combe and his courte holdes3129: Within þe kyde castelll, with kynges enoynttede;



3130: Reconsaillez the comouns þat to þe kyth lengez,3131: Comfourthes þe carefull with knyghtly wordez;3132: Made a captayne kene a knyghte of hys awen,3133: Bot all þe contre and he full sone ware accordide.3134: The Syre of Melane herde saye þe cete was wonnen,3135: And send to Arthure sertayne lordes,3136: Grete sommes of golde, sexti horse chargegid,3137: Besoghte hym as souerayne to socoure þe pople,3138: And saide he wolde sothely be sugette for euer,3139: And make hym seruece and suytte for his sere londes;3140: For Plesaunce, for Pawnce, and for Pownte Tremble,3141: For Pyse, and for Pavy, he profers full large,3142: Bothe purpur and palle and precious stonys,3143: Palfrayes for any prynce and prouede stedes;3144: And ilke a 3ere for Melan a melion of golde,3145: Mekely at Martynmesse to menske with his hordes;3146: And euer withowttyn askyng he and his ayers3147: Be homagers to Arthure, whills his lyffe lastis.3148: The Kyng be his concell a condethe hym sendis,3149: And he es comen to Combe, and knewe hym as lorde.3150: Into Tuskane he tournez, when þus wele tymede,3151: Takes townnes full tyte, with towrres full heghe;3152: Walles he welte down, wondyd knyghtez,3153: Towrres he turnes and turmentez þe pople,

3154: Wroghte wedewes full wlonke wrotherayle synges,3155: Ofte wery and wepe and wryngen theire handis;

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3156: And all he wastys with werre, thare he awaye rydez,3157: Thaire welthes and theire wonnyÕnåges, wandrethe he wroghte.3158: Thus they spryngen and sprede and sparis bot lyttill,3159: Spoylles dispetouslye and spillis theire vynes,3160: Spendis vnsparely þat sparede was lange,3161: Spedis them to Spolett with speris inewe.3162: Fro Spayne into Spruyslande the worde of hym sprynges,

3163: And spekynngs of his spencis, disspite es full hugge.3164: Towarde Viterbe this valyant avires the reynes;3165: Avissely in þat vale he vetailles his biernez,3166: With vernage and oþer wyne and venyson baken;3167: And one the Vicounte londes he visez to lenge.3168: Vertely the avawmwarde voydez theire horsez,3169: In the Vertennon Vale, the vines imangez;3170: Thare suggeournes this souerayne with solace in herte,3171: To see when the senatours sent any wordes.3172: Reuell with riche wyne, riotes hym selfen,3173: This roy with his ryall men of þe Rownde Table,3174: With myrthis and melodye and manykyn gamnes,3175: Was neuer meriere men made on this erthe.

3176: Bot one a Seterdaye at none, a seuenyghte thareaftyre,3177: The konyngeste cardynall that to the courte lengede,3178: Knelis to þe Conquerour and karpes thire wordes:3179: Prayes hym for þe pes and profyrs full large,3180: To hafe pete of þe Pope, þat put was atvndyre;3181: Besoghte hym of surrawns, for sake of oure Lorde,3182: Bot a seuenyghte daye to þay ware all semblede,3183: And they schulde sekerlye hym see the Sonondaye þeraftyre,3184: In the cete of Rome, as soueraynge and lorde;3185: And crown hym kyndly with krysomede hondes,



3186: With his ceptre and swerde, as soueraynge and lorde.3187: Of this vndyrtakyng ostage are comyn,3188: Of ayers full auenaunt awughte score childrenne,3189: In toges of tarsse full richelye attyryde,3190: And betuke them the Kynge and his clere knyghttes.3191: When they had tretide thiere trewe, with trowmpynge þerafter,3192: They tryne vnto a tente, whare tables whare raysede;

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3193: The Kynge hym selfen es sette, and certayne lordes,3194: Vndyre a sylure of sylke, sawghte at the burdez;3195: All the senatours are sette sere be þam one,3196: Serfed solemply with selcouthe metes.3197: The Kyng myghtty of myrthe, with his mylde wordes,3198: Rehetez the Romaynes at his riche table,3199: Comforthes the Cardynall so knyghtly hym seluen;3200: And this roye ryall, as romawns vs tellis,3201: Reuerence the Romayns in his riche table.3202: The tawghte men and þe conynge, when them tym thoghte,3203: Tas theire lefe at þe Kynge and tornede agayne:3204: To þe cete þat nyghte thaye soughte at þe gayneste,3205: And thus the ostage of Rome with Arthure es leuede.

3206: Than this roy royall rehersys theis wordes:3207: "Now may we reuell and riste, fore Rome es oure awen!3208: Make oure ostage at ese, þise auenaunt childyren,3209: And luk 3e honden them all that in myn oste lengez.3210: The Emperour of Almayne and all theis este marches,3211: We sall be ouerlynge of all þat on the erthe lengez!3212: We will by þe Crosse Dayes encroche þeis londez,3213: And at þe Crystynmesse Daye be crowned theraftyre;3214: Ryngne in my ryalltes, and holde my Rownde Table,3215: Withe the rentes of Rome, as me beste lykes;3216: Syne graythe ouer þe grette see with gud men of armes,3217: To reuenge the Renke that on the Rode dyede."3218: Thane this comlyche Kynge, as cronycles tellys,

3219: Bownnys brathely to bede with a blythe herte;3220: Of he slynges with sleghte and slakes gyrdill,3221: And fore slewthe of slomowre on a slepe fallis.3222: Bot be ane aftyre mydnyghte all his mode changede:3223: He mett in the morne-while full meruaylous dremes.3224: And when his dredefull drem whas drefen to þe ende,3225: The Kynge dares for dowte, dye as he scholde;3226: Sendes aftyre phylosophers, and his affraye telles:3227: "Sen I was formede, in fayth, so ferde whas I neuer!3228: Forthy rawnsakes redyly and rede me my swefennys,3229: And I sall redily and ryghte rehersen the sothe.

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-128-

3230: Me thoughte I was in a wode willed myn one,3231: That I ne wiste no waye whedire þat I scholde,3232: Fore woluez and whilde swynne and wykkyde bestez3233: Walkede in that wasternne, wathes to seche;3234: Thare lyouns full lothely lykkyde þeire tuskes,3235: All fore lapynge of blude of my lele knyghtez.3236: Thurghe þat foreste I flede, thare floures whare heghe,3237: For to fele me for ferde of tha foule thyngez;



3238: Merkede to a medowe with montayngnes enclosyde,3239: The meryeste of medillerthe that men myghte beholde.3240: The close was in compas castyn all abowte3241: With clauer and clereworte clede euen ouer;3242: The vale was enuerownde with vynes of siluer,3243: All with grapis of golde, gretter ware neuer;3244: Enhorilde with arborye and alkyns trees,3245: Erberis full honeste and hyrdez þerevndyre;3246: All froytez foddenid was þat floreschede in erthe,3247: Faire frithed in frawnke appon tha free bowes;3248: Whas thare no downkynge of dewe that oghte dere scholde:3249: With þe drowghte of þe daye all drye ware þe flores.3250: Than discendis in the dale, down fra þe clowddez,3251: A duches dereworthily dyghte in dyaperde wedis,3252: In a surcott of sylke selkouthely hewede,3253: All with loyotour ouerlaide lowe to pe hemmes,3254: And with ladily lappes the lenghe of a 3erde,3255: And all redily reuersside with rebanes of golde;3256: Bruchez and besauntez and oþer bryghte stonys3257: With hir bake and hir breste was brochede all ouer;3258: With kelle and with corenall clenliche arrayede,3259: And þat so comly of colour on knowen was neuer.3260: Abowte cho whirllide a whele with hir whitte hondez,3261: Ouerwhelme all qwayntely þe whele as cho scholde;

3262: The rowell whas rede golde with ryall stonys,3263: Raylide with reches and rubyes inewe;3264: The spekes was splentide all with speltis of siluer,3265: The space of a spere lenghe springande full faire;3266: Thereone was a chayere of chalke-whytte siluer,

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3267: And chekyrde with charebocle, chawngynge of hewes.3268: Appon þe compas ther clewide kyngis one rawe,3269: With corowns of clere golde þat krakede in sondire;3270: Sex was of þat setill full sodaynliche fallen,

3271: Ilke a segge by hym selfe, and saide theis wordez:3272: 'That euer I rengnede on þir roo me rewes it euer!3273: Was neuer roye so riche that regnede in erthe;3274: Whene I rode in my rowte, roughte I noghte ells,3275: Bot reuaye and reuell and rawnson the pople;3276: And thus I drife forthe my dayes, whills I dreghe myghte,3277: And therefore derflyche I am dampnede for euer.'3278: The laste was a lityll man that laide was benethe;3279: His leskes laye all lene and latheliche to schewe,3280: The lokkes lyarde and longe, the lenghe of a 3erde,3281: His lire and his lygham lamede full sore;3282: Þe tone eye of þe byeryn was brighttere þan siluer,3283: The toþer was 3alowere then the 3olke of a naye.

3284: 'I was lorde,' quod the lede, 'of londes inewe,3285: And all ledis me lowttede that lengede in erthe;3286: And nowe es lefte me no lappe my lygham to hele,3287: Bot lightly now am I loste, leue iche mane the sothe.'3288: The secunde sir, forsothe, þat sewede them aftyre,3289: Was sekerare to my sighte and saddare in armes;3290: Ofte he syghede vnsownde and said theis wordes:3291: 'On 3one see hafe I sitten als souerayne and lorde,3292: And ladys me louede to lappe in theyre armes;3293: And nowe my lordchippes are loste and laide for euer.'



3294: The thirde thorowely was throo and thikke in the schuldyrs,3295: A thra man to thrette of, there thretty ware gaderide;3296: His dyadem was droppede down, dubbyde with stonys,3297: Endente all with diamawndis and dighte for þe nonis;3298: 'I was dredde in my dayes,' he said, 'in dyuerse rewmes,3299: And now dampnede to þe dede, and dole es the more.'3300: The fourte was a faire mane and forsy in armes,3301: Þe fayreste of fegure that fourmede was euer:3302: 'I was frekke, in my faithe,' he said, 'whills I one fowlde regnede,

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3303: Famows in ferre londis and floure of all knyges;3304: Now es my face defadide, and foule es me hapnede,3305: For I am fallen fro ferre and frendles byleuyde.'3306: The fifte was a faire man þan fele of þies oþer,3307: A forsy man and a ferse, with fomand lippis;3308: He fongede faste on þe feleyghes and falded his armes,3309: Bot 3it he failede and fell a fyfty fote large;3310: Bot 3it he sprange and sprente and spradden his armes,3311: And one þe spere-lenghe spekes, he spekes þire wordes:3312: 'I was in Surrye a syr and sett be myn one,3313: As souerayne and seyngnour of sere kynges londis;

3314: Now of my solace I am full sodanly fallen,3315: And for sake of my syn, 3one sete es me rewede.'3316: The sexte hade a sawtere semliche bownden,3317: With a surepel of silke sewede full faire,3318: A harpe and a hande-slynge with harde flynte stones;3319: What harmes he has hente he halowes full sone:3320: 'I was demede in my dayes,' he said, 'of dedis of armes,3321: One of the doughtyeste that duellede in erthe;3322: Bot I was merride one molde in my moste strenghethis,3323: With this mayden so mylde, þat mofes vs all.'3324: Two kynges ware clymbande and clauerande one heghe.3325: The creste of þe compas they couette full 3erne;3326: 'This chaire of charbokle,' they said, 'we chalange hereaftyre,

3327: As two of þe cheffeste chosen in erthe.'3328: The childire ware chalke-whitte, chekys and oþer,3329: Bot the chayere abownne cheuede they neuer;3330: The forthirmaste was freely, with a frount large,3331: The faireste of fyssnamy þat fourmede was euer;3332: And he was buskede in a blee of a blewe noble,3333: With flourdelice of golde floreschede al ouer;3334: The toþer was cledde in a cote all of clene siluer,3335: With a comliche crosse coruen of golde,3336: Fowre crosselettes krafty by þe crosse ristes,3337: And therby knewe I the kyng, þat crystnede hym semyde.3338: Than I went to þat wlonke and wynly hire gretis,3339: And cho said, 'Welcom iwis; wele arte thow fownden;

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3340: The aughte to wirchipe my will, and thow wele cowthe,3341: Of all the valyant men that euer was in erthe;3342: Fore all thy wirchipe in werre by me has thow wonnen.3343: I hafe bene frendely, freke, and fremmede till oþer,3344: That has þow fownden in faithe, and fele of þi biernez:3345: Fore I fellid down Sir Frolle with frowarde knyghtes;



3346: Forethi the fruytes of Fraunce are freely thynne awen.3347: Thow sall þe chayere escheue, I chese þe my selfen,3348: Before all þe cheftaynes chosen in this erthe.'3349: Scho lifte me vp lightly with hir lene hondes,3350: And sette me softely in the see, þe septre me rechede;3351: Craftely with a kambe cho kembede myn heuede,3352: That the krispane kroke to my crownne raughte;3353: Dressid one me a diademe that dighte was full faire,3354: And syne profres me a pome pighte full of faire stonys,3355: Enamelde with azoure, the erth thereon depayntide,3356: Serkylde with the salte see appone sere halfes,3357: In sygne þat I sothely was souerayne in erthe.3358: Than broght cho me a brande with full bryghte hiltes,3359: And bade me 'Brawndysche þe blade, þe brande es myn awen;3360: Many swayn with þe swynge has the swÕeåtte leuede,3361: For whills thow swanke with the swerde, it swykkede þe neuer.'3362: Than raykes cho with roo and riste when hir likede,3363: To þe ryndes of þe wode, richere was neuer;3364: Was no pomarie so pighte of pryncez in erthe,3365: Ne nonne apparayll so prowde, bot Paradys one.3366: Scho bad þe bewes scholde bewe down and bryng to my hondes3367: Of þe beste that they bare one brawnches so heghe;3368: Than they heldede to hir heste all holly at ones,3369: The hegheste of iche a hirste, I hette 3ow forsothe.

3370: Scho bade me fyrthe noghte þe fruyte, bot fonde whills me likede:3371: 'Fonde of þe fyneste, thow frelich byerne,3372: And reche to þe ripeste and ryotte thy seluen.3373: Riste, thow ryalle roye, for Rome es thyn awen!3374: And I sall redily roll þe roo at þe gayneste,3375: And reche the þe riche wyne in rynsede coupes.'3376: Thane cho wente to þe welle by þe wode euis,

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3377: That all wellyde of wyne and wondirliche rynnes;3378: Kaughte vy a coppe-full and couerde it faire;

3379: Scho bad me dereliche drawe and drynke to hir selfen.3380: And thus cho lede me abowte the lenghe of an owre,3381: With all likyng and luffe þat any lede scholde;3382: Bot at þe myddaye full ewyn all hir mode chaungede,3383: And mad myche manace with meruayllous wordez.3384: When I cryede appon hire, cho kest down hir browes:3385: 'Kyng, thow karpes for noghte, be Criste þat me made!3386: For thow sall lose this layke and thi lyfe aftyre;3387: Thow has lyffede in delytte and lordchippes inewe!'3388: Abowte scho whirles the whele and whirles me vndire,3389: Till all my qwarters þat whille whare qwaste al to peces,3390: And with that chayere my chyne was chopped in sondire!3391: And I hafe cheueride for chele sen me this chance happenede.

3392: Than wakkenyde I iwys, all wery fordremyde,3393: And now wate thow my woo, worde as þe lykes.3394: Freke, sais the philosophre, thy fortune es passede;3395: For thow sall fynd hir thi foo, frayste when the lykes.3396: Thow arte at þe hegheste, I hette the forsothe;3397: Chalange nowe when thow will, thow cheuys no more.3398: Thow has schedde myche blode and schalkes distroyede,3399: Sakeles, in cirquytrie, in sere kynges landis.3400: Schryfe the of thy schame and schape for thyn ende;3401: Thow has a schewynge, Sir Kynge, take kepe 3if the lyke;



3402: For thow sall fersely fall within fyve wynters.3403: Fownde abbayes in Fraunce, þe froytez are theyn awen,3404: Fore Froill and for Ferawnt and for thir ferse knyghttis,3405: That thowe fremydly in Fraunce has faye beleuede.3406: Take kepe 3itte of oþer kynges and kaste in thyne herte,3407: That were conquerours kydde and crownnede in erthe:3408: The eldeste was Alexandere, þat all þe erthe lowttede,3409: The toþer Ector of Troye, the cheualrous gume;3410: The thirde Iulyus Cesare, þat geant was holden,3411: In iche jorne jentill, ajuggede with lordes;3412: The ferthe was Sir Iudas, a justere full nobill,3413: The maysterfull Makabee, the myghttyeste of strenghes;

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3414: The fyfte was Iosue, þat joly mane of armes,3415: Þat in Ierusalem oste full myche joye lymppede;3416: The sexte was Dauid þe dere, demyd with kynges3417: One of þe doughtyeste þat dubbede was euer;3418: For he slewe with a slynge, be sleyghte of his handis,3419: Golyas the grette gome, grymmeste in erthe,3420: Syne endittede in his dayes all the dere psalmes,3421: Þat in þe sawtire ere sette with selcouthe wordes;

3422: The two clymbande kynges, I knawe it forsothe,3423: Sall Karolus be callide, the kyng son of Fraunce;3424: He sall be crowell and kene, and conquerour holden,3425: Couere be conqueste contres ynewe;3426: He sall encroche the crowne that Crist bare hym selfen,3427: And þat lifeliche launce that lepe to his herte,3428: When he was crucyfiede one Crose, and all þe kene naylis,3429: Knyghtly he sall conquere to Cristyn men hondes.3430: The toþer sall be Godfraye, that Gode schall reuenge3431: One þe Gud Frydaye with galyarde knyghtes;3432: He sall of Lorrayne be lorde, be leefe of his fadire,3433: And syne in Ierusalem myche joye happyn,3434: For he sall couer the Crosse be craftes of armes,

3435: And synne be corownde kynge with krysome enoynttede;3436: Sall no duke in his dayes siche destanye happyn,3437: Ne siche myschefe dreghe when trewthe sall be tryede.3438: Forethy Fortune þe fetches to fulfill the nowmbyre,3439: Alls nynne of þe nobileste namede in erthe:3440: This sall in romance be redde with ryall knyghttes,3441: Rekkenede and renownde with ryotous kynges,3442: And demyd on Domesdaye, for dedis of armes,3443: For þe doughtyeste þat euer was duelland in erthe;3444: So many clerkis and kynges sall karpe of 3oure dedis,3445: And kepe 3oure conquestez in cronycle for euer.3446: Bot the wolfes in the wode and the whilde bestes,3447: Are some wikkyd men that werrayes thy rewmes,

3448: Es entirde in thyn absence to werraye thy pople,3449: And alyenys and ostes of vncouthe landis.3450: Thow getis tydandis, I trowe, within ten dayes,3451: That some torfere es tydde, sen thow fro home turnede;

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3452: I rede thow rekkyn and reherse vnresonable dedis,3453: Ore the repenttes full rathe all thi rewthe werkes.



3454: Mane, amende thy mode, or thow myshappen,3455: And mekely aske mercy for mede of thy saule.3456: Thane rysez the riche Kyng and rawghte on his wedys,3457: A reede acton of rosse, the richeste of floures,3458: A pesane and a paunson and a pris girdill;3459: And one he henttis a hode of scharlette full riche,3460: A pauys pillion hatt, þat pighte was full faire3461: With perry of þe Oryent and precyous stones;3462: His gloues gayliche gilte and grauen by þe hemmys3463: With graynes of rubyes full gracious to schewe.3464: His bede grehownde and his bronde ande no byerne ells,3465: And bownnes ouer a brode mede, with breth at his herte;3466: Furth he stalkis a stye by þa still euys,3467: Stotays at a hey strette, studyande hym one.3468: Att the surs of þe sonne he sees there commande,3469: Raykande to Romewarde the redyeste wayes,3470: A renke in a rownde cloke with righte rowmme clothes,3471: With hatte and with heyghe schone homely and rownde;3472: With flatte ferthynges the freke was floreschede all ouer,3473: Manye schredys and schragges at his skyrttes hynnges;3474: With scrippe ande with slawyn and skalopis inewe,3475: Both pyke and palme alls pilgram hym scholde.3476: The gome graythely hym grette and bade gode morwen;3477: The Kyng lordelye hym selfe, of langage of Rome,

3478: Of Latyn corroumppede all, full louely hym menys:3479: Whedire wilnez thowe, wye, walkande thyn one?3480: Qwhylls þe werlde es o werre, a wawhte I it holde.3481: Here es ane enmye with oste vndire 3one vynes:3482: And they see the, forsothe, sorowe the betyddes;3483: Bot 3if thow hafe condethe of þe Kynge selfen,3484: Knaues will kill the and keppe at thow haues;3485: And if þou halde þe hey waye, they hente the also,3486: Bot if thow hastyly hafe helpe of his hende knyghttes.3487: Than karpes Sir Cradoke to the Kynge selfen:3488: I sall forgyffe hym my dede, so me Gode helpe,3489: Onye grome vndire Gode that one this grownde walkes.

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3490: Latte the keneste come that to þe Kyng langes,3491: I sall encountire hym as knyghte, so Criste hafe my sawle!3492: For thow may noghte reche me, no areste thy selfen,3493: Þoffe þou þe richely arayede in full riche wedys.3494: I will noghte wonde for no werre to wende whare me likes,3495: Ne for no wy of this werlde þat wroghte es on erthe!3496: Bot I will passe in pilgremage þis þas vnto Rome,3497: To purchese me pardone of the Pape selfen,3498: And of paynes of Purgatorie be plenerly assoyllede.3499: Thane sall I seke sekirly my souerayne lorde,

3500: Sir Arthure of Inglande, that auenaunt byerne;3501: For he es in this empire, as hathell men me telles,3502: Ostayande in this Oryente with awfull knyghtes.3503: Fro qwyn come þou, kene man, quod þe Kynge than,3504: That knawes Kynge Arthure and his knyghttes also?3505: Was þou euer in his courte, qwylls he in kyth lengede?3506: Thow karpes so kyndly, it comforthes myn herte.3507: Well wele has þou wente and wysely þou sechis,3508: For þou arte Bretowne bierne, as by thy brode speche.3509: Me awghte to knowe þe Kynge: he es my kydde lorde,



3510: And I calde in his courte a knyghte of his chambire;3511: Sir Craddoke was I callide in his courte riche,3512: Kepare of Karlyon vndir the Kynge selfen:3513: Nowe am I cachede owtt of kyth with kare at my herte,3514: And that castell es cawghte with vncowthe ledys.3515: Than the comliche kynge kaughte hym in armes,3516: Keste of his ketill-hatte and kyssede hym full sone,3517: Saide, Welcom, Sir Craddoke, so Criste mott me helpe!3518: Dere cosyn of kynde, thowe coldis myn herte;3519: How faris it in Bretayne, with all my bolde beryns?3520: Are they brettenede or brynte or broughte owte of lyue?3521: Ken þou me kyndely whatte caase es befallen;3522: I kepe no credens to crafe, I knawe the for trewe.3523: Sir, thi wardane es wikkede and wilde of his dedys,3524: For he wandreth has wroghte sen þou awaye passede:3525: He has castells encrochede and corownde hym seluen,3526: Kaughte in all þe rentis of þe Rownde Tabill;3527: He devisede þe rewme and delte as hym likes,

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3528: Dubbede of þe Danmarkes dukes and erlles,3529: Disseueride þem sondirwise and cites dystroyede.

3530: To Sarazenes and Sessoynes appon sere halues,3531: He has semblede a sorte of selcouthe berynes;3532: Soueraynes of Surgenale and sowdeours many,3533: Of Peyghtes and paynyms and prouede knyghttes,3534: Of Irelande and Orgaile owtlawede berynes.3535: All thaa laddes are knyghttes þat lange to þe mowntes,3536: And ledynge and lordechipe has all, alls them selfe likes;3537: And there es Sir Childrike a cheftayne holdyn,3538: That ilke cheualrous man, he chargges thy pople;3539: They robbe thy religeous and ravische thi nones,3540: And redy ryddis with his rowtte to rawnsone þe pouere;3541: Fro Humbyre to Hawyke he haldys his awen,3542: And all þe cowntre of Kentt be couenawnte entayllide;

3543: The comliche castells that to the corown langede,3544: The holttes and the hare wode and the harde bankkes,3545: All þat Henguste and Hors hent in þeire tym;3546: Att Southampton on the see es seuen skore chippes,3547: Frawghte full of ferse folke owt of ferre landes,3548: For to fyghte with thy frappe when þow them assailles.3549: Bot 3itt a worde witterly, thowe watte noghte þe werste:3550: He has weddede Waynore, and hir his wieffe holdis,3551: And wonnys in the wilde bowndis of þe weste marches,3552: And has wroghte hire with childe, as wittnesse tellis.3553: Off all þe wyes of þis worlde, woo motte hym worthe,3554: Alls wardayne vnworthye women to 3eme.3555: Thus has Sir Modrede merrede vs all!

3556: Forthy I merkede ouer thees mowntes to mene þe the sothe.3557: Than the burliche kynge, for brethe at his herte,3558: And for this botelesse bale, all his ble chaungede.3559: By þe Rode, sais þe Roye, I sall it revenge!3560: Hym sall repente full rathe all his rewthe werkes!3561: All wepande for woo he went to his tentis;3562: Vnwynly this wyesse kynge he wakkenysse his beryns,3563: Clepid in a clarioune kynges and othire,3564: Callys them to concell and of þis cas tellys:



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3565: I am with treson betrayede, for all my trewe dedis;3566: And all my trauayle es tynt, me tydis no bettire!3567: Hym sall torfere betyde þis tresone has wroghte,3568: And I may traistely hym take, as I am trew lorde.3569: This es Modrede, þe mane that I moste trystede,3570: Has my castells encrochede and corownde hym seluen,3571: With renttes and reches of the Rownde Table;3572: Has made all hys retenewys of renayede wrechis,3573: And devysed my rewme to dyverse lordes,3574: To sowdeours and to Sarazenes owtte of sere londes.3575: He has weddyde Waynore and hyr to wyefe holdes;3576: And a childe es eschapede, the chaunce es no bettire.3577: They hafe semblede on the see seuen schore chippis,3578: Full of ferrom folke to feghte with myn one;3579: Forthy to Bretayne the Brode buske vs byhouys,3580: For to brettyn the beryne that has this bale raysede.3581: Thare sall no freke men fare bott all one fresche horses,3582: That are fraistede in fyghte and floure of my knyghttez;3583: Sir Howell and Sir Hardolfe here sall beleue,3584: To be lordes of the ledis that here to me lenges;3585: Lokes into Lumbardye þat thare no lede chaunge,

3586: And tendirly to Tuskayne take tente alls I byde;3587: Resaywe the rentis of Rome qwen þay are rekkenede;3588: Take sesyn the same daye that laste was assygnede,3589: Or elles all þe ostage withowttyn þe wallys,3590: Be hynggyde hye appon hyghte all holly at ones.3591: Nowe bownes the bolde kynge with Õhiså beste knyghtes,3592: Gers trome and trusse and trynes forth aftyre;3593: Turnys thorowe Tuskayne, taries bot littill,3594: Lyghte noghte in Lumbarddye bot when þe lyghte failede;3595: Merkes ouer the mowntaynes full mervaylous wayes,3596: Ayres thurghe Almaygne evyne at the gayneste,3597: Ferkes evyne into Flawndresche with hys ferse knyghttes.3598: Within fyftene dayes his flete es assemblede,

3599: And thane he schoupe hym to chippe and schownes no lengere,3600: Scherys with a charpe wynde ouer þe schyre waters.3601: By þe roche with ropes he rydes on ankkere,3602: Thare the false men fletyde and one flode lengede,

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3603: With chefe chaynes of chare chokkode togedyrs,3604: Charggede evyn chekeful of cheualrous knyghtes,3605: And in þe hynter one heghte helmes and crestes;3606: Hatches with haythen men hillyd ware tharevndyre,3607: Prowdliche purtrayede with payntede clothys,

3608: Iche a pece by pece prykkyde tyll oþer,3609: Dubbyde with dagswaynnes dowblede they seme;3610: And thus þe derfe Danamarkes had dyghte all theyre chippys,3611: That no dynte of no darte dere them ne schoulde.3612: Than the Roye and þe renkes of the Rownde Table3613: All ryally in rede arrayes his chippis;3614: That daye ducheryes he delte and doubbyde knyghttes,3615: Dresses dromowndes and dragges and drawen vpe stonys;3616: The toppe-castells he stuffede with toyelys, as hym lykyde.3617: Bendys bowes of vys brothly þareaftyre;



3618: Tolowris tentyly takell they ryghtten,3619: Brasen hedys full brode buskede one flones,3620: Graythes for garnysons gomes arrayes;3621: Gryme gaddes of stele, ghywes of iryn,3622: Sti3ttelys steryn one steryne with styffe men of armes;3623: Mony lufliche launce appon lofte stondys,3624: Ledys one leburde, lordys and oþer,3625: Pyghte payvese one porte, payntede scheldes,3626: One hyndire hurdace one highte helmede knyghtez.3627: Thus they scheften fore schotys one thas schire strandys,3628: Ilke schalke in his schrowde, full scheen ware þeire wedys.3629: The bolde kynge es in a barge and abowtte rowes,3630: All bare-heuvede for besye with beueryn lokkes,3631: And a beryn with his bronde and ane helme betyn,3632: Mengede with a mawntelet of maylis of siluer,3633: Compaste with a coronall and couerde full riche;3634: Kayris to yche a cogge to comfurthe his knyghttes:3635: To Clegys and Cleremownde he cryes one lowde,3636: O Gawayne, O Galyran, thies gud mens bodyes.3637: To Loth and to Lyonell full louefly he melys,3638: And to Sir Lawncelot de Lake lordiche wordys:3639: Lat vs couere þe kythe, the coste es owre ownn,

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-139-3640: And gere them brotheliche blenke, all 3one blod-hondes,3641: Bryttyn them within bourde and brynne them þareaftyre;3642: Hewe down hertly 3one heythen tykes!3643: Thay are harlotes halfe, I hette 3ow myn honnde!3644: Than he coueres his cogge and caches one ankere,3645: Kaughte his comliche helme with þe clere maylis,3646: Buskes baners one brode, betyn of gowles,3647: With corowns of clere golde, clenliche arraiede;3648: Bot þare was chosen in þe chefe a chalke-whitte Mayden,3649: And a Childe in hir arme, þat Chefe es of Hevyne;3650: Withowtten changyng in chace, thies ware þe cheefe armes

3651: Of Arthure þe auenaunt, qwhylls he in erthe lengede.3652: Thane the marynerse mellys and maysters of chippis;3653: Merily iche a mate menys till oþer:3654: Of theire termys they talke, how þay ware tydd,3655: Towyn trvssell one trete, trvssen vpe sailes,3656: Bet bonettez one brede, bettrede hatches,3657: Brawndeste brown stele, braggede in trompes,3658: Standis styffe one the stamyn, steris one aftyre,3659: Strekyn ouer þe streme thare stryvynge begynnes.3660: Fro þe wagande wynde owte of þe weste rysses,3661: Brethly bessomes with byrre in beryns sailles;3662: With hir bryngges one burde burliche cogges,3663: Qwhylls þe bilyge and þe beme brestys in sondyre;

3664: So stowttly þe forsterne one þe stam hyttis,3665: Þat stokkes of þe stere-burde strykkys in peces.3666: Be than cogge appon cogge, krayers and oþer,3667: Castys crepers one crosse als to þe crafte langes.3668: Thane was hede-rapys hewen þat helde vpe þe mastes;3669: Thare was conteke full kene and crachynge of chippys:3670: Grett cogges of kampe crasseches in sondyre;3671: Mony kaban clevede, cabills destroyede.3672: Knyghtes and kene men killide the braynes;3673: Kidd castells were corven with all theire kene wapen,



3674: Castells full comliche þat coloured ware faire.3675: Vptyhes eghelyng þay ochen þareaftyre:3676: With þe swynge of þe swerde sweys þe mastys,

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3677: Ovyrefallys in þe firste frekis and othire;3678: Frekke in þe forchipe fey es byleuefede.3679: Than brothely they bekyre with boustouse tacle;3680: Bruschese boldlye on burde brynyede knyghtes,3681: Owt of botes one burd was buskede with stonys,3682: Bett down of þe beste, brystis the hetches;3683: Som gomys thourghegyrde with gaddys of yryn:3684: Gomys gayliche clede englaymes wapen.3685: Archers of Inglande full egerly schottes,3686: Hittis thourghe þe harde stele full hertly dynttis.3687: Sone hotchen in holle the heþene knyghtes,3688: Hurte thourghe þe harde stele, hele they neuer.3689: Than they fall to þe fyghte, foynes with sperys,3690: All the frekkeste one frownte þat to þe fyghte langes;3691: And ilkon frechely fraystez theire strenghes,3692: Were to fyghte in þe flete with theire fell wapyn.3693: Thus they dalte þat daye, thire dubbide knyghtes,

3694: Till all þe Danes ware dede and in þe depe throwen.3695: Than Bretons brothely with brondis they hewen,3696: Lepys in vpone lofte lordeliche berynes;3697: When ledys of owt-londys leppyn in waters,3698: All oure lordes one lowde laughen at ones.3699: Be thane speris whare sprongen, spalddyd chippys,3700: Spanyolis spedily sprentyde ouer burdez;3701: All þe kene men of kampe, knyghtes and oþer,3702: Killyd are colde dede and castyn ouer burdez.3703: Theire swyers sweyftly has þe swete leuyde;3704: Heþen heuande on hatche in þer hawe ryses,3705: Synkande in þe salte see seuen hundrethe at ones.3706: Thane Sir Gawayne the gude, he has þe gree wonnen,

3707: And all þe cogges grete he gafe to his knyghtes,3708: Sir Geryn and Sir Grisswolde and othir gret lordes,3709: Garte Galuth, a gud gome, girde of þaire hedys.3710: Thus of þe false flete appon þe flode happenede,3711: And thus þeis feryne folke fey are beleuede.3712: 3itt es þe traytoure one londe with tryede knyghttes,3713: And all trompede they trippe one trappede stedys,

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3714: Schewes them vndir schilde one þe schire bankkes,3715: He ne schownttes for no schame but schewes full heghe.

3716: Sir Arthure and Gawayne avyede them bothen,3717: To sexty thosandez of men þat in theire syghte houede.3718: Be this the folke was fellyde, thane was þe flode passede;3719: Thane was it slyke a slowde in slakkes full hugge,3720: That let þe Kyng for to lande in the lawe watyre;3721: Forthy he lengede on laye for lesyng of horsys,3722: To loke of his legemen and of his lele knyghtes,3723: 3if any ware lamede or loste, life 3ife they scholde.3724: Than Sir Gawayn þe gude a galaye he takys,3725: And glides vp at a gole with gud men of armes;



3726: When he growndide, for grefe he gyrdis in þe watere,3727: That to þe girdyll he gos in all his gylte wedys;3728: Schottis vpe appon þe sonde in syghte of þe lordes,3729: Sengly with hys soppe, my sorowe es the more.3730: With baners of his bagys, beste of his armes,3731: He braydes vp on the banke in his bryghte wedys;3732: He byddys his baneoure, Buske þow belyfe3733: To 3one brode batayle that one 3one banke houes,3734: And I ensure 3ow sothe I sall 3owe sewe aftyre.3735: Loke 3e blenke for no bronde, ne for no bryghte wapyn,3736: Bot beris down of þe beste and bryng them o dawe;3737: Bees noghte abayste of theire boste, abyde on þe erthe.3738: 3e haue my baneres borne in batailles full hugge;3739: We sall fell 3one false, þe Fende hafe theire saules!3740: Fightes faste with þe frape, þe felde sall be owres;3741: May I þat traytoure ouertake, torfere hym tyddes,3742: That this treson has tymbyrde to my trewe lorde.3743: Of siche a engendure full littyll joye happyns,3744: And þat sall in this journee be juggede full euen.3745: Now they seke ouer þe sonde þis soppe at þe gayneste,3746: Sembles one þe sowdeours and settys theire dyntys:3747: Thourghe þe scheldys so schene schalkes þey towche,3748: With schaftes scheueride schorte of þas schene launces;3749: Derfe dynttys they dalte with daggande sperys.

3750: One þe danke of þe dewe many dede lyggys:---------------------------------------------------------

-142-

3751: Dukes and duszeperis and dubbide knyghttys;3752: The doughttyeste of Danemarke vndone are for euer.3753: Thus thas renkes in rewthe rittis theire brenyes,3754: And rechis of þe richeste vnreken dynttis;3755: Thare they thronge in the thikke and thristis to þe erthe3756: Of the thraeste men thre hundrethe at ones.3757: Bot Sir Gawayne for grefe myghte noghte agayne-stande,3758: Vmbegrippys a spere and to a gome rynnys,

3759: Þat bare of gowles full gaye with gowtes of syluere;3760: He gyrdes hym in at þe gorge with his grym launce,3761: Þat þe grownden glayfe graythes in sondyre;3762: With þat boystous brayde he bownes hym to dye,3763: Þe Kyng of Gutlande it was, a gude man of armes.3764: Thayre avawwarde than all voydes þareaftyre,3765: Alls venqueste verrayely with valyant beryns.3766: Metis with medilwarde, that Modrede ledys;3767: Oure men merkes them to, as them myshappenede.3768: For hade Sir Gawayne hade grace to halde þe grene hill,3769: He had wirchipe, iwys, wonnen for euer.3770: Bot þan Sir Gawayne, iwysse, he waytes hym wele3771: To wreke hym on this werlaughe þat þis werre mouede;

3772: And merkes to Sir Modrede amonge all his beryns,3773: With the Mownttagus and oþer gret lordys.3774: Þan Sir Gawayne was greuede and with a gret wyll3775: Fewters a faire spere and freschely askryes:3776: Fals fosterde foode, the Fende haue thy bonys!3777: Fy one the, felone, and thy false werkys!3778: Thow sall be dede and vndon for thy derfe dedys,3779: Or I sall dy this daye, 3if destanye worthe!3780: Thane his enmye, with oste of owtlawede beryns,3781: All enangylls abowte oure excellente knyghttez,



3782: That the traytoure be tresone had tryede hym seluen;3783: Dukes of Danemarke he dyghttes full sone,3784: And leders of Lettowe, with legyons inewe;3785: Vmbylappyde oure men with launcez full kene.3786: Sowdeours and Sarazenes owte of sere landys,3787: Sexty thosande men semlyly arrayede,3788: Sekerly assembles thare one seuen schore knyghtes,

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3789: Sodaynly in dischayte by tha salte strandes.3790: Thane Sir Gawayne grette with his gray eghen,3791: For grefe of his gud men that he gyde schulde;3792: He wyste that þay wondyde ware and wery forfoughtten,3793: And what for wondire and woo, all his witte faylede.3794: And thane syghande he saide, with sylande terys,3795: We are with Sarazenes besett appon sere halfes.3796: I syghe noghte for my selfe, sa helpe oure Lorde;3797: Bot for to Õseeå vs supprysede, my sorowe es the more.3798: Bes dowghtty todaye, 3one dukes schall be 3oures;3799: For dere Dryghttyn this daye, dredys no wapyn.3800: We sall ende this daye alls excellent knyghttes,3801: Ayere to endelesse joye with angells vnwemyde.

3802: Þofe we hafe vnwittyly wastede oure selfen,3803: We sall wirke all wele in þe wirchipe of Cryste.3804: We sall for 3one Sarazenes, I sekire 3ow my trowhe,3805: Souppe with oure Saueoure solemply in Heuen,3806: In presence of þat precious Prynce of all oþer,3807: With prophetes and patriarkes and apostlys full nobill,3808: Before His freliche face that fourmede vs all.3809: 3ondire to 3one 3aldsons, he þat 3eldes hym euer,3810: Qwhylls he es qwykke and in qwerte, vnquellyde with handis,3811: Be he neuer mo sauede, ne socourede with Cryste,3812: Bot Satanase his sawle mowe synke into Helle!3813: Than grymly Sir Gawayne gryppis hys wapyn;3814: Agayne þat gret bataille he graythes hym son:

3815: Radly of his riche swerde he reghttes þe cheynys,3816: In he schokkes his schelde, schountes he no lengare;3817: Bot alls vnwyse, wodewyse, he wente at þe gayneste,3818: Wondis of thas wedirwyns with wrakfull dynttys,3819: All wellys full of blode thare he awaye passes;3820: And þofe hym ware full woo, he wondys bot lyttill,3821: Bot wrekys at his wirchip þe wrethe of hys lorde.3822: He stekys stedis in stoure and sterenefull knyghttes,3823: That steryn men in theire sterapes stone-dede þay lygge;3824: He ryvys þe ranke stele, he rittes þe mayles,3825: Thare myghte no renke hym areste, his reson was passede.3826: He fell in a fransye for fersenesse of herte;

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3827: He feghttis and fellis down þat hym before standis,3828: Fell neuer fay man siche fortune in erthe.3829: Into þe hale bataile hedlyngs he rynys,3830: And hurtes of þe hardieste þat one the erthe lenges.3831: Letande alls a lyon he lawnches them thorowe,3832: Lordes and ledars that one the launde houes.3833: 3it Sir Gawayne for wo wondis bot lyttill,



3834: Bot woundis of thas wedirwyns with wondirfull dyntes,3835: Alls he þat wold wilfully wasten hym selfen;3836: And for wondsom and will all his wit failede,3837: That wode alls a wylde beste he wente at þe gayneste;3838: All walewede one blode, thare he awaye passede,3839: Iche a wy may be warre be wreke of anoþer.3840: Þan he moues to Sir Modrede amange all his knyghttes,3841: And mett hym in þe myde-schelde and mallis hym thorowe;3842: Bot the schalke for the scharpe he schownttes a littill,3843: He schare hym one þe schorte rybbys a schaftmonde large:3844: The schafte schoderede and schotte in the schire beryn,3845: Þat þe schadande blode ouer his schanke rynnys,3846: And schewede on his schynbawde, þat was schire burneste.3847: And so they schyfte and schove, he schotte to þe erthe;3848: With þe lussche of þe launce he lyghte one hys schuldyrs,3849: Ane akere lenghe one a launde, full lothely wondide.3850: Than Gawayne gyrde to þe gome and one þe groffe fallis,3851: Alls his grefe was graythede, his grace was no bettyre,3852: He schokkes owtte a schorte knyfe schethede with siluere,3853: And scholde haue slottede hym in, bot no slytte happenede:3854: His hand sleppid and solde o slante one þe mayles,3855: And þe toþer slely slynges hym vndire;3856: With a trenchande knyfe the traytoure hym hyttes,3857: Thorowe þe helme and þe hede, one heyghe one þe brayne:

3858: And thus Sir Gawayne es gon, the gude man of armes,3859: Withowttyn reschewe of renke and rewghe es þe more;3860: Thus Sir Gawayne es gon, that gyede many othire,3861: Fro Gowere to Gernesay, all þe gret lordys,3862: Of Glamour, of Galys londe, þis galyarde knyghtes,3863: For glent of gloppynyng glade be they neuer.

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3864: Kyng Froderike of Fres faythely þareaftyre3865: Fraynes at the false mane of owre ferse knyghte:3866: Knew thow euer this knyghte in thi kithe ryche,

3867: Of whate kynde he was comen? Beknowe no þe sothe;3868: Qwat gome was he this with the gaye armes,3869: With þis gryffoune of golde, þat es one growffe fallyn?3870: He has grettly greffede vs, so me Gode helpe,3871: Gyrde down oure gude men and greuede vs sore;3872: He was þe sterynneste in stoure that euer stele werryde,3873: Fore he has stonayede oure stale and stroyede for euer!3874: Than Sir Mordrede with mouthe melis full faire:3875: He was makles one molde, mane, be my trowhe;3876: This was Sir Gawayne the gude, þe gladdeste of othire,3877: And the graciouseste gome that vndire God lyffede,3878: Mane hardyeste of hande, happyeste in armes,3879: And þe hendeste in hawle vndire heuen riche,

3880: Þe lordelieste of ledyng qwhylls he lyffe myghte,3881: Fore he was lyone allossede in londes inewe;

The Thornton Ms., Folios 94r-98v (lines 3882-4345)

3882: Had thow knawen hym, Sir Kyng, in kythe thare he lengede,3883: His konynge, his knyghthode, his kyndly werkes,3884: His doyng, his doughtynesse, his dedis of armes,3885: Thow wolde hafe dole for his dede þe dayes of thy lyfe.3886: 3it þat traytour alls tite teris lete he fall,



3887: Turnes hym furthe tite, and talkes no more,3888: Went wepand awaye and weries the stowndys,3889: Þat euer his werdes ware wroghte siche wandrethe to wyrke.3890: Whene he thoghte on þis thynge, it thirllede his herte:3891: For sake of his sybb blode sygheande he rydys;3892: When þat renayede renke remembirde hym seluen3893: Of reuerence and ryotes of þe Rownde Table,3894: He remyd and repent hym of all his rewthe werkes;3895: Rode awaye with his rowte, ristys he no lengere,3896: For rade of oure riche kynge, ryve þat he scholde.3897: Thane kayres he to Cornewaile, carefull in herte,3898: Because of his kynsemane that one the coste ligges;3899: He taries tremlande ay, tydandis to herken.3900: Than the traytoure treunted þe Tyseday þareaftyre,3901: Trynnys in with a trayne treson to wirke;

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3902: And by þe Tambire þat tide his tentis he reris,3903: And thane in a mette-while a messangere he sendes,3904: And wraite vnto Waynor how the werlde chaungede,3905: And what comliche coste the Kyng was aryuede,3906: One floode foughten with his fleete and fellyd them o lyfe;

3907: Bade hir ferken oo ferre and flee with hir childire,3908: Whills he myghte wile hym awaye and wyn to hir speche,3909: Ayere into Irelande, into þas owte-mowntes,3910: And wonn thare in wildernesse, within þa wast landys.3911: Than cho 3ermys and 3e3es at 3orke in hir chambire,3912: Gronys full grysely with gretand teres,3913: Passes owte of þe palesse with all hir pryce maydenys,3914: Towarde Chestyre in a charre thay chese hir þe wayes,3915: Dighte hir ewyn for to dye, with dule at hir herte;3916: Scho kayres to Karelyone and kawghte hir a vaile,3917: Askes thare þe habite in þe honoure of Criste,3918: And all for falsede and frawde and fere of hir louerde.3919: Bot whene oure wiese kyng wiste þat Gawayne was landede,

3920: He al towrythes for woo, and, wryngande his handes,3921: Gers lawnche his botes appon a lawe watire,3922: Londis als a lyon with lordliche knyghtes,3923: Slippes in in the sloppes o slante to þe girdyll,3924: Swalters vpe swyftly with his swerde drawen,3925: Bownnys his bataile and baners displayes,3926: Buskes ouer þe brode sandes with breth at his herte,3927: Ferkes frekkly one felde þare þe feye lygges.3928: Of the traytours men one trappede stedis,3929: Ten thosandez ware tynte, þe trewghe to acownt,3930: And certane on owre syde seuen score knyghtes,3931: In soyte with theire souerayne vnsownde are beleuede.3932: Þe Kyng comly ouerkeste knyghtes and othire,

3933: Erlles of Awfrike and Estriche berynes,3934: Of Orgaile and Orekenay, þe Iresche kynges,3935: The nobileste of Norwaye, nowmbirs full hugge,3936: Dukes of Danamarke and dubbid knyghtes;3937: And the Guthede kynge in the gay armes3938: Lys gronande on þe grownde and girde thorowe even.

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3939: The riche kynge ransakes with rewthe at his herte,3940: And vp rypes the renkes of all þe Rownde Tabyll;3941: Ses them all in a soppe in sowte by them one,3942: With the Sarazenes vnsownde enserclede abowte;3943: And Sir Gawayne the gude in his gaye armes,3944: Vmbegrippede the girse and one grouffe fallen,3945: His baners brayden down, betyn of gowlles,3946: His brand and his brade schelde all blody beronen;3947: Was neuer oure semliche kynge so sorowfull in herte,3948: Ne þat sanke hym so sade bot þat sighte one.3949: Than gliftis þe gud kynge and glopyns in herte,3950: Gronys full grisely with gretande teris;3951: Knelis down to þe cors and kaught it in armes,3952: Kastys vpe vmbrere and kyssis hym sone,3953: Lokes one his eye-liddis, þat lowkkide ware faire,3954: His lippis like to þe lede and his lire falowede.3955: Þan the corownde kyng cryes full lowde,3956: Dere kosyn o kynde, in kare am I leuede,3957: For nowe my wirchipe es wente and my were endide;3958: Here es þe hope of my hele, my happynge of armes,3959: My herte and my hardynes hale one hym lengede,3960: My concell, my comforthe, þat kepide myn herte.3961: Of all knyghtes þe kynge þat vndir Criste lifede,3962: Þou was worthy to be kyng, þofe I þe corown bare;

3963: My wele and my wirchipe of all þis werlde riche3964: Was wonnen thourghe Sir Gawayne and thourghe his witt one.3965: Allas! saide Sir Arthure, Nowe ekys my sorowe;3966: I am vttirly vndon in myn awen landes.3967: A, dowttouse, derfe dede, þou duellis to longe!3968: Why drawes þou so one dreghe? Thow drownnes myn herte!3969: Than sweÕlåtes the swete kyng and in swoun fallis,3970: Swafres vp swiftely and swetly hym kysses,3971: Till his burliche berde was blody berown,3972: Alls he had bestes birtenede and broghte owt of life;3973: Ne had Sir Ewayne comen and othire grete lordys,3974: His bolde herte had brousten for bale at þat stownde.3975: Blyne, sais thies bolde men, thow blondirs þi selfen;

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3976: Þis es botles bale, for bettir bees it neuer.3977: It es no wirchipe, iwysse, to wryng thyn hondes;3978: To wepe als a woman it es no witt holden.3979: Be knyghtly of contenaunce, als a kyng scholde,3980: And leue siche clamoure, for Cristes lufe of Heuen!3981: For blode, said the bolde kyng, blyn sall I neuer,3982: Or my brayne tobriste, or my breste oþer!3983: Was neuer sorowe so softe that sanke to my herte;3984: Itt es full sibb to my selfe, my sorowe es the more.

3985: Was neuer so sorowfull a syghte seyn with myn eyghen;3986: He es sakles supprysede for syn of myn one.3987: Down knelis þe Kyng and kryes full lowde;3988: With carefull contenaunce he karpes thes wordes:3989: O rightwis, riche Gode, this rewthe Thow beholde,3990: Þis ryall, rede blode ryn appon erthe;3991: It ware worthy to be schrede and schrynede in golde,3992: For it es sakles of syn, sa helpe me oure Lorde.3993: Down knelis þe Kyng with kare at his herte,3994: Kaughte it vpe kyndly with his clene handis,



3995: Keste it in a ketill-hatte and couerde it faire,3996: And kayres furthe with þe cors in kyghte þare he lenges.3997: Here I make myn avowe, quod the Kynge than,3998: To Messie, and to Marie, the mylde Qwene of Heuen,3999: I sall neuer ryvaye, ne raches vncowpyll4000: At roo ne raynedere þat rynnes appone erthe;4001: Neuer grewhownde late glyde, ne gossehawke latt flye,4002: Ne neuer fowle see fellide þat flieghes with wenge;4003: Fawkon ne formaylle appon fiste handill,4004: Ne 3itt with gerefawcon rejoyse me in erthe;4005: Ne regne in my royaltez, ne halde my Rownde Table,4006: Till thi dede, my dere, be dewly reuengede;4007: Bot euer droupe and dare, qwylls my lyfe lastez,4008: Till Drighten and derfe dede hafe don qwate them likes.4009: Than kaughte they vpe þe cors with kare at theire hertes,4010: Karyed one a coursere with þe Kynge selfen;4011: The waye vnto Wynchestre þay wente at the gayneste,4012: Wery and wandsomdly, with wondide knyghtes.

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4013: Thare come þe prior of þe plas and professide monkes,4014: Apas in processione and with the Prynce metys;

4015: And he betuke þam the cors of þe knyghte noble.4016: "Lokis it be clenly kepyd," he said, "and in þe kirke holden,4017: Done for derygese, as to þe ded fallys,4018: Menskede with messes for mede of þe saule;4019: Loke it wante no waxe, ne no wirchipe ells,4020: And at þe body be bawmede and one erthe holden;4021: 3iff þou kepe thi couent encroche any wirchipe4022: At my comyng agayne, 3if Crist will it thole,4023: Abyde of þe beryeng till they be broughte vndire,4024: Þat has wroghte vs this woo and þis werre mouede."4025: Þan sais Sir Wychere þe wy, a wyese mane of armes,4026: "I rede 3e warely wende and wirkes the beste;4027: Soiorne in this cete and semble thi berynes,

4028: And bidde with thi bolde men in thi burghe riche;4029: Get owt knyghttez of contres that castells holdes,4030: And owt of garysons grete gude men of armes,4031: For we are fraithely to fewe to feghte with them all,4032: Þat we see in his sorte appon þe see bankes."4033: With krewell contenaunce thane the Kyng karpis theis wordes:4034: "I praye the, kare noghte, Sir Knyghte, ne caste þou no dredis;4035: Hadde I no segge bot my selfe one vndir sone,4036: And I may hym see with sighte or one hym sette hondis,4037: I sall even amange his mene malle hym to dede!4038: Are I of þe stede styre halfe a stede lenghe,4039: I sall Õstrykeå hym in his stowre and stroye hym for euer;4040: And þareto make I myn avowe devottly to Cryste,

4041: And to Hys Modyre Marie, þe mylde Qwene of Heuen,4042: I sall neuer soiourne sounde, ne sawghte at myne herte,4043: In cete ne in subarbe sette appon erthe,4044: Ne 3itt slomyre ne slepe with my slawe eyghne,4045: Till he be slayne þat hym slowghe, 3if any sleyghte happen;4046: Bot euer pursue the payganys þat my pople distroyede,4047: Qwylls I may pare them and pynne, in place þare me likes."4048: Thare durste no renke hym areste of all þe Rownde Table,4049: Ne none paye þat Prynce with plesande wordes,



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4050: Ne none of his ligemene luke hym in the eyghne,4051: So lordely he lukes for losse of his knyghttes.4052: Thane drawes he to Dorsett and dreches no langere,4053: Derefull dredlesse with drowppande teris;4054: Kayeris into Kornewayle with kare at his herte:4055: The trays of þe traytoure he trynys full euene,4056: And turnys in be þe Treyntis þe traytoure to seche,4057: Fyndis hym in a foreste þe Frydaye thereaftire;4058: The Kyng lyghttes one fott and freschely askryes,4059: And with his freliche folke he has þe felde nomen.4060: Now isschewis his enmye vndire þe wode eyuys,4061: With ostes of alynes full horrebill to schewe.4062: Sir Mordrede the Malebranche, with his myche pople,4063: Foundes owt of the foreste appon fele halfes,4064: In seuen grett batailles semliche arrayede,4065: Sexty thowsande men, the syghte was full hugge,4066: All fyghtande folke of þe ferre laundes,4067: Faire fettede one frownte be tha fresche strondes.4068: And all Arthurs oste was amede with knyghtes,4069: Bot awghtene hundrethe of all, entrede in rolles;4070: This was a mache vnmete, bot myghttis of Criste,

4071: To melle with þat multitude in þase man londis.4072: Than the royall roy of þe Rownde Table4073: Rydes one a riche stede, arrayes his beryns,4074: Buskes his avawmwarde, als hym beste likes;4075: Sir Ewayne and Sir Errake and othire gret lordes,4076: Demenys the medilwarde menskefully thareaftyre,4077: With Merrake and Meneduke, myghtty of strenghes;4078: Idirous and Alymere, þire auenaunt children,4079: Ayers with Arthure, with seuen score of knyghtes;4080: He rewlis þe rerewarde redyly thareaftyre,4081: The rekeneste redy men of þe Rownde Table,4082: And thus he fittis his folke and freschely askryes,4083: And syen comforthes his men with knyghtlyche wordes:

4084: I beseke 3ow, Sirs, for sake of oure Lorde,4085: That 3e doo wele todaye and dredis no wapen;4086: Fighttes fersely nowe and fendis 3oure seluen,4087: Fellis down 3one feye folke, the felde sall be owrs;

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4088: They are Sarazenes, 3one sorte, vnsownde motte they worthe!4089: Sett one them sadlye, for sake of oure Lorde.4090: 3if vs be destaynede to dy todaye one this erthe,4091: We sall be hewede vnto Heuen, or we be halfe colde.4092: Loke 3e lett for no lede lordly to wirche:

4093: Layes 3one laddes lowe be the layke ende.4094: Take no tente vnto me, ne tale of me rekke;4095: Bes besy one my baners with 3oure brighte wapyns,4096: That they be strenghely stuffede with steryn knyghtes,4097: And holden lordly one lofte, ledys to schewe;4098: 3if any renke them arase, reschowe them sone.4099: Wirkes now my wirchipe, todaye my werre endys;4100: 3e wotte my wele and my woo, wirkkys as 3ow likys.4101: Crist comly with crown comforthe 3ow all,4102: For þe kyndeste creatours that euer kynge ledde;



4103: I gyffe 3ow all my blyssyng with a blithe will,4104: And all Bretowns bolde, blythe mote 3e worthe.4105: They pype vpe at pryme tyme, approches them nere:4106: Pris men and priste proues theire strenghes;4107: Bremly the brethemen bragges in troumppes,4108: In cornettes comlyly, when knyghttes assembles,4109: And thane jolyly enjoynys þeis jentyll knyghttes;4110: A jolyere journe ajuggede was neuer,4111: Whene Bretons boldly enbraces theire scheldes,4112: And Cristyn encroyssede them and castis in fewtire.4113: Þan Sir Arthure oste his enmye askryes,4114: And in they schokke theire scheldes, schontes no lengare;4115: Schotte to þe schiltrons and schowttes full heghe,4116: Thorowe scheldis full schene schalkes they touche.4117: Redily thas rydde men of the Rownde Table4118: With ryall raunke stele rittys theire mayles;4119: Bryneys browdden they briste and burneste helmys,4120: Hewes haythen men down, halses in sondre.4121: Fyghtande with fyne stele, þe feye blod rynnys;4122: Of þe frekkeste of frounte, vnfers ere belevede.4123: Ethyns of Argayle and Irische kynges4124: Enverounes oure avawmwarde with venymos beryns;4125: Peghttes and paynymes with perilous wapyns,

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4126: With speres disspetousely disspoylles oure knyghttes,4127: And hewede down the hendeste with hertly dynttys;4128: Thorow the holle batayle they holden theire wayes.4129: Þus fersly they fyghte appon sere halfes,4130: That of þe bolde Bretons myche blode spillis;4131: Thare durste non rescowe them for reches in erthe,4132: Þe steryn ware þare so stedde and stuffede witÕhå othire;4133: He durste noghte stire a steppe, bot stodde for hym seluen,4134: Till thre stalis ware stroyede be strenghe of hym one.4135: Idrous, quod Arthure, ayre the byhoues;

4136: I see Sir Ewayne ouersette with Sarazenes kene.4137: Redy the for rescows, arraye thee sone;4138: Hye þe with hardy men in helpe of thy fadire.4139: Sett in one the syde and socoure 3one lordes:4140: Bot they be socourrede and sownde, vnsawghte be I euer.4141: Idrous hym ansuers ernestly þareaftyre:4142: He es my fadire, in faithe, forsake sall I neuer;4143: He has me fosterde and fedde and my faire bretheren.4144: Bot I forsake this gate, so me Gode helpe,4145: And sothely all sybredyn bot thy selfe one;4146: I breke neuer his biddyng for beryn one lyfe,4147: Bot euer bouxvm as beste blethely to wyrke.4148: He comande me kyndly, with knyghtly wordes,

4149: That I schulde lelely one þe lenge and one noo lede ells;4150: I sall hys comandement holde, 3if Criste wil me thole.4151: He es eldare than I, and ende sall we bothen:4152: He sall ferkke before, and I sall come aftyre;4153: 3iffe hym be destaynede to dy todaye one þis erthe,4154: Criste comly with crown take kepe to hys saule.4155: Þan remys the riche kyng with rewthe at his herte,4156: Hewys hys handys one heghte and to þe heuen lokes:4157: Qwythen hade Dryghttyn destaynede at his dere will,4158: Þat he hade demyd me todaye to dy for 3ow all;



4159: That had I leuer than be lorde all my lyfe tym4160: Off all þat Alexandere aughte qwhills he in erthe lengede.4161: Sir Ewayne and Sir Errake, þes excellente beryns,4162: Enters in one þe oste and egerly strykes;

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4163: The ethenys of Orkkenaye and Irische kynges,4164: Þay gobone of þe gretteste with growndene swerdes,4165: Hewes one þas hulkes with þeire harde wapyns,4166: Layed down þas ledes with lothely dynttys;4167: Schuldirs and scheldys þay schrede to þe hawnches,4168: And medills thourghe mayles þay merken in sondire,4169: Siche honoure neuer aughte none erthely kyng4170: At theire endyng daye, bot Arthure hym seluen.4171: So þe droughte of þe daye dryede theire hertes,4172: That bothe drynkles they dye, dole was þe more.4173: Now mellys oure medillwarde and mengen togedire4174: Sir Mordrede þe Malebranche, with his myche pople;4175: He had hide hym behynde within thas holte eyuys,4176: With halle bataile on hethe, harme es þe more;4177: He hade sene þe conteke al clene to þe ende,4178: How oure cheualrye cheuyde be chaunces of armes;

4179: He wiste oure folke was forfoughtten, þat þare was feye leuede;4180: To encowntere þe Kyng he castes hym sone.4181: Bot the churles chekyn hade chaungyde his armes:4182: He had sothely forsaken þa sawturoure engrelede,4183: And laughte vpe thre lyons all of whitte siluyre,4184: Passande in purpre of perrie full riche,4185: For þe Kyng sulde noghte knawe þe cawtelous wriche;4186: Because of his cowardys he keste of his atyre,4187: Bot the comliche kyng knewe hym full swythe,4188: Karpis to Sir Cadors þes kyndly wordez:4189: I see þe traytoure come 3ondyr trynande full 3erne:4190: 3one ladde with þe lyones es like to hym selfen;4191: Hym sall torfere betyde, may I touche ones,

4192: For all his treson and trayne, alls I am trew lorde.4193: Today Clarente and Caliburne sall kythe them togedirs,4194: Whilke es kenere of kerfe or hardare of eghge;4195: Fraiste sall we fyne stele appone fyne wedis.4196: Itt was my derlyng daynteuous and full dere holden,4197: Kepede fore encorownmentes of kynges enoynttede;4198: One dayes when I dubbyde dukkes and erlles,4199: It was burliche borne be þe bryghte hiltes;4200: I durste neuer dere it in dedis of armes,

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4201: Bot euer kepide clene, because of my seluen.4202: For I see Clarent vnclede, þat crowne es of swerdes,4203: My wardrop of Walyngfordhe I wate es distroyede;4204: Wist no wy wone bot Waynor hir seluen;4205: Scho hade þe kepynge hir selfe of þat kydde wapyn,4206: Off cofres enclosede þat to þe crown lengede,4207: With rynges and relikkes and þe Regale of Fraunce,4208: That was fownden on Sir Froll when he was feye leuyde.4209: Than Sir Marrike in malyncoly metys hym sone,4210: With a mellyd mace myghtyly hym strykes;



4211: The bordour of his bacenett he bristes in sondire,4212: Þat þe schire rede blode ouer his brene rynnys.4213: The beryn blenkes for bale, and all his ble chaunges,4214: Bot 3itt he byddys as a bore and brymly he strykes;4215: He braydes owte a brande, bryghte als euer ony syluer,4216: Þat was Sir Arthure awen and Vtere his fadirs,4217: In þe wardrop of Walyngfordhe was wonte to be kepede;4218: Þarewith þe derfe dogge syche dynttes he rechede,4219: Þe toþer withdrewe one dreghe and durste do non oþer;4220: For Sir Marrake was man merrede in elde,4221: And Sir Mordrede was myghty and Õinå his moste strenghis;4222: Come non within þe compas, knyghte ne non oþer,4223: Within þe swyng of swerde, þat ne he þe swete leuyd.4224: Þat persayfes oure Prynce and presses to faste,4225: Strykes into þe stowre by strenghe of hys handis,4226: Metis with Sir Mordrede, he melis vnfaire:4227: Turne, traytoure vntrewe, þe tydys no bettyre;4228: Be gret Gode, thow sall dy with dynt of my handys!4229: The schall rescowe no renke, ne reches in erthe.4230: The Kyng with Calaburn knyghtly hym strykes:4231: Þe cantell of þe clere schelde he kerfes in sondyre,4232: Into þe schuldyre of þe schalke a schaftmonde large,4233: Þat þe schire rede blode schwede one þe maylys.4234: He schodirde and schrenkys and schontes bott lyttill,

4235: Bott schokkes in scharpely in his schene wedys:4236: The felone with þe fyn swerde freschely he strykes;4237: The felettes of þe ferrere syde he flassches in sondyre,

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4238: Thorowe jopown and jesserawnte of gentill mailes,4239: The freke fichede in þe flesche an halfe fotte large;4240: That derfe dynt was his dede, and dole was þe more4241: That euer þat doughtty sulde dy, bot at Dryghttyns wyll.4242: 3itt with Calyburn his swerde full knyghttly he strykes,4243: Kastes in his clere schelde and coueres hym full faire;

4244: Swappes of þe swerde hande, als he by glentes:4245: Ane inche from þe elbowe he ochede it in sondyre,4246: Þat he swounes one þe swarthe and one swym fallis;4247: Thorowe bracer of brown stele and þe bryghte mayles,4248: That the hilte and þe hande appon þe hethe ligges.4249: Thane frescheliche þe freke the fente vpe rerys,4250: Brochis hym in with the bronde to þe bryghte hiltys,4251: And he brawles one the bronde and bownes to dye.4252: In faye, says þe feye kynge, sore me forthynkkes4253: That euer siche a false theefe so faire an ende haues.4254: Qwen they had fenyste þis feghte, thane was þe felde wonen,4255: And the false folke in þe felde feye are byleuede;4256: Till a foreste they fledde and fell in the greuys,

4257: And fers feghtande folke folowes them aftyre,4258: Howntes and hewes down the heythen tykes,4259: Mourtherys in the mowntaygnes Sir Mordrede knyghtes;4260: Thare chapyde neuer no childe, cheftayne ne oþer,4261: Bot choppes them down in the chace, it chargys bot littyll.4262: Bot when Sir Arthure anon Sir Ewayne he fyndys,4263: And Errake þe auenaunt and oþer grett lordes,4264: He kawghte vp Sir Cador with care at his herte,4265: Sir Clegis, Sir Cleremonde, þes clere men of armes,4266: Sir Lothe and Sir Lyonell, Sir Lawncelott and Lowes,



4267: Marrake and Meneduke, þat myghty ware euer.4268: With langoure in the launde thare he layes them togedire,4269: Lokede on theyre lighames and with a lowde steuen,4270: Alls lede þat liste noghte lyfe and loste had his myrthis,4271: Than he stotays for made and all his strenghe faylez,4272: Lokes vpe to þe lyfte and all his lyre chaunges,4273: Downne he sweys full swythe and in a swoun fallys,4274: Vpe he coueris one kneys and kryes full often:

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4275: "Kyng comly with crowne, in care am I leuyde;4276: All my lordchipe lawe in lande es layde vndyre,4277: That me has gyfen gwerdons, br grace of Hym seluen,4278: Mayntenyde my manhede be myghte of theire handes,4279: Made me manly on molde and mayster in erthe,4280: In a tenefull tym this torfere was reryde,4281: That for a traytoure has tynte all my trewe lordys.4282: Here rystys the riche blude of the Rownde Table,4283: Rebukkede with a rebawde, and rewthe es the more!4284: I may helples one hethe house be myn one,4285: Alls a wafull wedowe þat wannttes hir beryn;4286: I may werye and wepe and wrynge myn handys,

4287: For my wytt and my wyrchipe awaye es for euer;4288: Off all lordchips I take leue to myn ende.4289: Here es þe Bretons blode broughte owt of lyfe,4290: And nowe in þis journee all my joy endys."4291: Thane relyes þe renkes of all þe Rownde Table:4292: To þe ryall roy thay ride þam all;4293: Than assembles full sone seuen score knyghtes,4294: In sighte to þaire souerayne, þat was vnsownde leuede.4295: Than knelis the crownede kynge and kryes one lowde,4296: "I thanke þe, Gode, of Thy grace, with a gud wyll,4297: That gafe vs vertue and witt to vencows þis beryns;4298: And vs has grauntede þe gree of theis gret lordes.4299: He sent vs neuer no schame, ne schenchipe in erthe,

4300: Bot euer 3it þe ouerhande of all oþer kynges.4301: We hafe no laysere now þese lordys to seke,4302: For 3one laythely ladde me lamede so sore;4303: Graythe vs to Glasthenbery, vs gaynes non oþer,4304: Thare we may ryste vs with roo and raunsake oure wondys.4305: Of þis dere day werke, þe Dryghtten be loued,4306: That vs has destaynede and demyd to dye in oure awen."4307: Thane they holde at his heste hally at ones,4308: And graythes to Glassthenberye þe gate at þe gayneste;4309: Entres þe Ile of Aueloyne, and Arthure he lyghttes,4310: Merkes to a manere there, for myghte he no forthire;4311: A surgyn of Salerne enserches his wondes,

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4312: The Kyng sees be asaye þat sownde bese he neuer,4313: And sone to his sekire men he said theis wordes:4314: "Doo calle me a confessour, with Criste in his armes;4315: I will be howselde in haste, whate happe so betyddys.4316: Constantyn, my cosyn, he sall the corown bere,4317: Alls becomys hym of kynde, 3ife Criste will hym thole;4318: Beryn, fore my benyson, thowe berye 3one lordys,



4319: That in baytaille with brondez are broghte owte of lyfe;4320: And sythen merke manly to Mordrede children,4321: That they bee sleyghely slayne and slongen in watyrs;4322: Latt no wykkyde wede waxe, no wrythe one this erthe,4323: I warne fore thy wirchipe, wirke alls I bydde.4324: I foregyffe all greffe, for Cristez lufe of Heuen;4325: 3ife Waynour hafe wele wroghte, wele hir betydde."4326: He saide In manus with mayne one molde whare he ligges,4327: And thus passes his speryt, and spekes he no more.4328: The baronage of Bretayne thane, bechopes and othire,4329: Graythes them to Glasthenbery with gloppynnande hertes,4330: To bery thare the bolde kynge and bryng to þe erthe,4331: With all wirchipe and welthe þat any wy scholde.4332: Throly belles thay rynge and Requiem syngys,4333: Dosse messes and matyns with mournande notes:4334: Relygeous reueste in theire riche copes,4335: Pontyficalles and prelates in precyouse wedys,4336: Dukes and dusszeperis in theire dule-cotes,4337: Cowntasses knelande and claspande theire handes,4338: Ladys languessande and lowrande to schewe;4339: All was buskede in blake, birdes and othire,4340: That schewede at the sepulture, with sylande teris,4341: Whas neuer so sorowfull a syghte seen in theire tym.4342: Thus endis Kyng Arthure, as auctors alegges,

4343: That was of Ectores blude, the kynge son of Troye,4344: And of Sir Pryamous the prynce, praysede in erthe;4345: Fro thythen broghte the Bretons all his bolde eldyrs4346: Into Bretayne the Brode, as þe Bruytte tellys.------------------------------------------------------------------------

Documents

Alliterative Morte Arthure, The