[BOOK I.]
Reading edition
[Fol. 5 b.]
Quhen [that] tytan, withe his lusty heit,
336 Twenty dais In to the aryeit
When Titan, being in Aries, had apparelled the fields,
Haith maid his courß, and all with diuerß hewis
Aparalit haith the feldis and the bewis;
and birds began to make their bowers;
The birdis amyd the erbis and the flouris,
340 And one the branchis, makyne gone thar bouris,
And be the morow ſinging in ther chere
Welcum to the luſty ſeſſone of the ȝere.
In to this tyme the worthi conqueroure
king Arthur was at Carlisle.
344 Arthure, wich had of al this worlde the floure
Of cheuelry auerding to his crown,
So paſing war his knychtis in renoune,
Was at carlill; and hapynnit ſo that hee
348 Soiornyt well long in that faire cuntree.
His knights, hearing of no adventure, were annoyed.
In to whilk tyme In to the court thai heire
None awenture, for wich the knyghtis weire
Anoit all at the abiding thare.
352 For-why, beholding one the ſobir ayre
And of the tyme the paſing luſtynes,
Can ſo thir knyghtly hartis to encreß,
They therefore sent Sir Kay to pray the king to go to Camelot.
That thei ſhir kay one to the king haith ſende,
356 Beſeiching hyme he wold wichſaif to wende
To camelot the Cetee, whare that thei
Ware wont to heryng of armys day be day.
The king forſuth, heryng thare entent,
360 To thare deſir, be ſchort awyſment,
The king proposed to do so on the morrow.
Ygrantid haith; and ſo the king proponit
And for to pas hyme one8 the morne diſponit.
ARTHUR’S TWO DREAMS.
Bot ſo befell hyme [on] that nycht to meit
364 An aperans, the wich one to his ſpreit
That night he dreamt that his hair all fell off;
It ſemyth that of al his hed ye hore
Of fallith and maid deſolat; wharfore
The king therof was pensyve in his mynd,
368 That al the day he couth no reſting fynde,
which made him delay his journey.
Wich makith hyme his Iorneye to delaye.
And ſo befell apone the thrid day,
The bricht ſone, paſing in the weſt,
372 Haith maid his courß, and al thing goith to Reſt;
Again he dreamt, that his bowels fell out, and lay beside him.
The king, ſo as the ſtory can dewyß,
He thoght aȝeine, apone the ſamyne wyß,
[Fol. 6.]
His vombe out fallith vith his hoil syde
376 Apone the ground, and liging hyme beſid;
Throw wich anon out of his ſlep he ſtert,
Abaſit and adred in to his hart.
He told the queen, who answered, “No man should respect vain dreams.”
The wich be morow one to the qwen he told,
380 And ſhe aȝeine to hyme haith anſuer ȝolde;
“To dremys, ſir, ſhuld no man have Reſpek,
For thei ben thingis weyn, of non affek.”
“Well,” quod the king, “god grant It ſo befall!”
The king next shewed his dream to a clerk,
384 Arly he roß, and gert one to hyme call
O clerk, to whome that al his hewynes
Tweching his drem ſhewith he expreß,
who said, “Sir, such things testify nothing.”
Wich anſuer yaf and ſeith one to the kinge;
388 “Shir, no Record lyith to ſuch thing;
Wharfor now, ſhir, I praye yow tak no kep,
Nore traiſt in to the vanyteis of slep;
For thei are thingis that aſkith no credens,
392 But cauſith of ſum maner influens,
Empriß of thoght, ore ſuperfleuytee,
Or than ſum othir caſualytee.”
“Yet,” replied he, “I shall not leave it so.”
“Ȝit,” quod the king, “I ſal nocht leif It so;”
HE SENDS FOR HIS CLERKS.
396 And furth he chargit meſingeris to go
Throgh al his Realm, withouten more demande,
He bade all the bishops and clergy come to Camelot within twenty days.
And bad them ſtratly at thei ſhulde comande
All the biſhopes, and makyng no delay
400 The ſhuld appere be the tuenty day
At camelot, with al thar hol clergy
That moſt expert war, for to certefye
A mater tueching to his goſt be nyght;
404 The meſag goith furth with the lettres Right.
The king eft ſone, within a litill ſpace,
His Iornay makith haith frome place to place,
He goes to Camelot, and finds the clerks assembled.
Whill that he cam to camelot; and there
408 The clerkis all, as that the chargit were,
Aſſemblit war, and came to his preſens,
Of his deſir to viting the ſentens.
To them that war to hyme moſt ſpeciall
412 Furth his entent ſhauyth he al hall;
He discloses all to the ten that are most expert,
By whois conſeil, of the worthieſt
He cheſith ten, yclepit for the beſt,
And moſt expert and wiſeſt was ſuppoſit,
[Fol. 6 b.]
416 To qwhome his drem all hail he haith diſcloſſit;
The houre, the nyght, and al the cercumſtans;
and beseeches them to explain the dreams.
Beſichyne them that the ſignifycans
Thei wald hyme ſhaw, that he mycht reſting fynde
420 Of It, the wich that occupeid his mynde.
And one of them with9 al ther holl aſſent
One of them asks for nine days to advise upon the matter.
Saith, “ſhire, fore to declare our entent
Vpone this matere, ye wil ws delay
424 Fore to awyſing one to the ix day.”
The king ther-to grantith haith, bot hee
The king complies, but shuts them up in a strong place.
In to o place, that ſtrong was and hye,
He cloſith them, whare thei may no whare get,
428 Vn to the day, the wich he to them set.
Than goith the clerkis ſadly to awyß
Of this mater, to ſeing in what wyß
The kingis drem thei ſhal beſt ſpecefy.
The masters of astronomy fetch their books,
432 And than the maiſtris of aſtronomy
The bookis longyne to ther artis set;10
Not was the bukis of arachell forget,
Of nembrot, of danȝhelome, thei two,
436 Of moyſes, and of herynes all soo;
and calculate the disposition of the planets.
And ſeking be ther calcolacioune
To fynd the planetis diſpoſicioune,
The wich thei fond ware wonder ewill yſet
440 The ſamyne nyght the king his ſweuen met.
THEY REFUSE TO EXPLAIN THEM.
So ner the point ſocht thei have the thing,
They found the matter heavy for the king, and doubted if they should tell him so.
Thei fond It wonder hewy to the king,
Of wich thing thei waryng in to were
444 To ſhew the king, for dreid of his danger.
Of ane accorde thei planly haue proponit
No worde to ſhow, and ſo thei them diſponit.
Being sent for,
The day is cumyng, and he haith fore them ſent,
448 Beſichyne them to ſhewing ther entent.
they all spake, “Sir, we can find no evidence.”
Than ſpak they all, and that of an accorde;
“Shir, of this thing we can no thing Recorde,
For we can noght fynd in til our ſciens
452 Tweching this mater ony ewydens.”
“Ere we part,” quoth the king, “ye shall witness something.”
“Now,” quod the king, “and be the glorius lorde,
Or we depart ye ſhall ſum thing recorde;
So pas yhe not, nor ſo It ſall not bee.”
456 “Than,” quod the clerkis, “grant ws dais three.”
[Fol. 7.]
He grants them three days more.
The wich he grantid them, and but delay,
The term paſſith, no thing wold the ſay,
Wharof the king ſtondith heuy cherith,
460 And to the clerkis his viſag ſo apperith,
That all thei dred them of the kingis myght.
They pray for a further delay of three days.
Than ſaith o clerk, “sir, as the thrid nyght
Ye dremyt, ſo [now] giffis ws delay
464 The thrid tyme, and to the thrid day.”
By whilk tyme thei fundyng haith the ende
Of this mater, als far as ſhal depend
To ther ſciens; yit can thei not awyß
468 To ſchewing to the king be ony wyß.
They still refuse to declare their thought.
The day is cum, the king haith them beſocht,
But one no wyß thei wald declar ther thoght;
Than was he wroth in to his ſelf and noyt,
The king vows to destroy them;
472 And maid his wow that thei ſhal11 ben diſtroyt.
His baronis he commandit to gar tak
Fyve of them one to the fir-ſtak,
And vther fyue be to the gibbot tone;
476 And the furth with the kingis charg ar gone.
but secretly charges his knights not to harm them.
He bad them in to ſecret wyß that thei
Shud do no harm, but only them aßey.
The clarkis, dredful of the kingis Ire,
480 And ſaw the perell of deth and of the fyre,
Fyve, as thei can, has grantit to record;
That vther herde and ben of ther accorde;
INTERPRETATION OF THE DREAMS.
And al thei ben yled one to the king,
They yield at last, and say,
484 And ſhew hyme thus as tueching of this thing.
“Shir, ſen that we conſtrenyt ar by myght
To ſhaw that wich12 we knaw no thing aricht;
For thing to cum preſeruith It allan
488 To hyme the wich is euery thing certañ,
Excep the thing that til our knawleg hee
Hath ordynat of certan for to bee;
Therfor, ſhir king, we your magnificens
492 Beſeich It turne till ws to non offens,
“Hold us not as liars, though it happen not as we say.
Nor hald was nocht as learis, thoght It fall
Not in this mater, as that we telen ſhall.”
And that the king haith grantit them, and thei
496 Has chargit one, that one this wiß ſall ſeye.
“Preſumyth, ſhir, that we have fundyne so;
You must forego all earthly honour;
All erdly honore ye nedis13 moſt for-go,
[Fol. 7 b.]
and those on whom you most rely, will fail you.”
And them the wich ye moſt affy in-tyll
500 Shal failye ȝow, magre of ther will;
And thus we haue in to this matere founde.”
The king, quhois hart was al wyth dred ybownd,
And aſkit at the clerkis, if thei fynde
504 By there clergy, that ſtant in ony kynde
The king asks if his destiny can be altered.
Of poſſibilitee, fore to reforme
His deſteny, that ſtud in ſuch a forme;
If in the hewyne Is preordynat
508 On ſuch o wiß his honor to tranſlat.
The clerkis ſaith, “forſuth, and we haue ſene
They reply, that the matter is dark.
O thing whar-of, if we the trouth ſhal meñ,
Is ſo obſcure and dyrk til our clergye,
512 That we wat not what It ſhal ſignefye,
Wich cauſith ws we can It not furth ſay.”
“Yis,” quod the king, “as lykith yow ye may,
For wers than this can nat be ſaid for me.”
A master says, there is no help but in the true watery lion, and in the leech, and in the flower.
THE CLERKS GIVE MYSTERIOUS ADVICE.
516 Thane ſaith o maiſtir, “than ſuthly thus finde we;
Thar is no thing ſal ſucour nor reſkew,
Your worldly honore nedis moſt adew,
But throuch the watrye lyone and ek fyne,
520 On throuch the liche and ek the wattir ſyne,
God knows what this should mean.
And throuch the conſeill of the flour; god wot
What this ſhude meñ, for mor ther-of we not.”
No word the king anſuerid ayane,
524 For al this reſone thinkith bot in weyne.
The king shews no outward grief,
He ſhawith outwart his contenans
As he therof takith no greuans;
but is not rid of anxiety all night.
But al the nyght it paſſid nat his thoght.
528 The dais courß with ful deſir he ſocht,
And furth he goith to bring his mynd in reſt
Next day he goes to the forest.
With mony O knyght vn to the gret foreſt;
The rachis gon wn-copelit for the deire,
532 That in the wodis makith nois and cheir:
The knychtis, with the grewhundis in aweit,
Secith boith the planis and the ſtreit.
The chase.
Doune goith the hart, doune goith the hynd alſo;
536 [In to the feld can ruſching to and fro]14
The ſwift grewhund, hardy of aſſay;
Befor ther hedis no thing goith away.
The king of hunting takith haith his ſport,
The king returns.
540 And to his palace home he can Reſort,
Ayan the noon; and as that he was set
[Fol. 8.]
As they sit at meat, an aged knight enters, fully armed.
Vith all his noble knyghtis at the met,
So cam ther in an agit knyght, and hee
544 Of gret eſſtat ſemyt for to bee;
Anarmyt all, as tho It was the gyß,
And thus the king he ſaluſt, one this wiß,
GALIOT’S MESSAGE.
The knight’s message is that king Galiot bids Arthur to yield to him his kingdom.
“Shir king, one to yow am y ſende
548 Frome the worthieſt that in world is kend,
That leuyth now of his tyme and age,
Of manhed, wiſdome, and of hie curag,
Galiot, ſone of the fare gyande;
552 And thus, at ſhort, he bidis yow your londe
Ye yald hyme our, without Impedyment;
Or of hyme holde, and if tribut and rent.
This is my charge at ſhort, whilk if youe leſt
556 For to fulfill, of al he haith conqueſt
He ſais that he moſt tendir ſhal youe hald.”
The king refuses.
By ſhort awys the king his anſuer yald;
“Shir knycht, your lorde wondir hie pretendis,
560 When he to me ſic ſalutatioune sendis;
For I as yit, in tymys that ar gone,
Held neuer lond excep of god alone,
Nore neuer thinkith til erthly lord to yef
564 Trybut nor rent, als long as I may lef.”
The knight replies, that his lord bids him defiance, and will invade his land in a month;
“Well,” quod the knycht, “ful ſor repentith me;
Non may reciſt the thing the wich mone bee.
To yow, ſir king, than frome my lord am I
568 With diffyans ſent, and be this reſone why;
His purpos Is, or this day moneth day,
With all his oſt, planly to aſſay
Your lond, with mony manly man of were,
not to return till he has conquered;
572 And helmyt knychtis, boith with ſheld and ſpere;
And neuer thinkith to retwrn home whill
That he this lond haith conqueſt at his will;
and he intends to possess queen Vanour.
And ek vanour the quen, of whome that hee
576 Herith report of al this world that ſhee
In fairhed and in wertew doith excede,
He bad me ſay he thinkis to poſſede.”
ARTHUR DEFIES GALIOT.
Arthur returns his defiance.
“Schir,” quod the king, “your meſag me behufis
580 Of reſone and of curtaſy excuſß;
But tueching to your lord and to his oſt,
His powar [and] his meſag and his boſt,
That pretendith my lond for to diſtroy,
584 Thar-of as ȝit tak I non anoye;
[Fol. 8 b.]
And ſay your lord one my behalf, when hee
Haith tone my lond, that al the world ſhal see
That It ſhal be magre myne entent.”
The knight departs, lamenting Arthur’s adventurous spirit.
588 With that the knycht, withouten leif, is went,
And richt as he was paſing to the dure,
He ſaith, “a gode!15 what wykyt aduenture
Apperith!” with that his hors he nome,
592 Two knichtis kepit, waiting his outcome.
The knicht is gon, the king he gan Inquere
At gawan, and at other knychtis sere,
Arthur asks Gawane who Galiot is.
If that thei knew or euer hard recorde
596 Of galiot, and wharof he wes lorde;
And ther was non among his knychtis all
Which anſuerd o word in to the hall.
Than galygantynis of walys raſe,
Galygantynis of Wales replies,
600 That trauelit in diuerß londis has,
In mony knychtly auentur haith ben;
And to the king he ſaith, “ſir, I haue sen
Galiot, which is the fareſt knycht,
that Galiot is the tallest knight by half a foot of all he ever saw; that he is wise, liberal, humble,
604 And hieſt be half a fut one hycht,
That euer I saw, and ek his men accordith;
Hyme lakid nocht that to a lord recordith.
For viſare of his ag is non than hee,
608 And ful of larges and humylytee;
courageous, and under xxiv years of age.
An hart he haith of paſing hie curag,
And is not xxiiij ȝer of age,
And of his tyme mekil haith conquerit;
Ten kings obey him.
612 Ten kingis at his command ar ſterit.
He vith his men ſo louit is, y geß,
That hyme to pleß is al ther beſynes.
Not ſay I this, ſir, in to ye entent
616 That he, nor none wnder the firmament,
Shal pouere haue ayane your maieſtee;
And or thei ſhuld, this y ſey for mee,
Rather I ſhall knychtly in to feild
620 Reſaue my deith anarmyt wnder ſheld.
This ſpek y leſt;”—the king, ayan the morn,
The king goes again to the chase.
Haith varnit huntaris baith with hund and horne,
And arly gan one to the foreſt ryd,
624 With mony manly knyghtis by his ſid,
Hyme for to ſport and comfort with the dere,
Set contrare was the ſeſone of ye yere.
He likes boar-hunting best.
His moſt huntyng was atte wyld bore;
[Fol. 9.]
628 God wot a luſtye cuntree was It thoore,
In the ilk tyme! weil long this noble king
In to this lond haith maid his ſuiornyng;
THE LADY OF MELYHALT’S MESSAGE.
A messenger comes from the lady of Melyhalt,
Frome the lady was send o meſinger
632 Of melyhalt, wich ſaith one this maner,
As that the ſtory ſhewith by recorde:
“TO yow, ſir king, as to hir ſoueran lorde,
My lady hath me chargit for to ſay
636 How that your lond ſtondith in affray;
to say that Galiot has entered Arthur’s land,
For galiot, ſone of the fare gyande,
Enterit Is by armys in your land,
And ſo the lond and cuntre he anoyth,
640 That quhar he goith planly he diſtroyth,
And makith al obeiſand to his honde,
and has conquered all but two castles belonging to his mistress.
That nocht is left wnconqueſt in that lond,
Excep two caſtellis longing to hir cwre,
644 Wich to defend ſhe may nocht long endure.
Wharfor, ſir, in wordis plan and ſhort,
Ye mon diſpone your folk for to ſupport.”
The king promises not to delay, and inquires the number of the foe.
“Wel,” quod the king, “one to thi lady ſay
648 The neid is myne, I fall It not delay;
But what folk ar thei nemmyt for to bee,
That in my lond is cumyne in ſich degree?”
“A hundred thousand,” is the reply.
“An hundreth thouſand boith vith ſheld and ſpere
652 On hors ar armyt, al redy for the were.”
ARTHUR’S READINESS FOR WAR.
“Wel,” quod the king, “and but delay this nycht,
Or than to morn as that the day is lycht,
The king says he will set off that very night.
I ſhal remuf; ther ſhal no thing me mak
656 Impedyment, my Iorney for to tak.”
Than ſeith his knychtis al with one aſſent,
His knights advise him to wait till he has raised an army.
“Shir, that is al contrare our entent;
For to your folk this mater is wnwiſt,
660 And ye ar here our few for to reciſt
Ȝone power, and youre cuntre to defende;
Tharfor abid, and for your folk ye send,
That lyk a king and lyk a weriour
664 Ye may ſuſten in armys your honoure.”
“Now,” quod the king, “no langer that I ȝeme
My crowne, my ſepture, nor my dyademe,
Frome that I here, ore frome I wnderſtand,
668 That ther by fors be entrit in my land
Men of armys, by ſtrenth of vyolens,
He refuses to wait longer than till the morrow.
If that I mak abid or reſydens
In to o place langar than o nycht,
672 For to defend my cuntre and my rycht.”
[Fol. 9 b.]
The king that day his meſage haith furth sent
Throuch al his realme, and ſyne to reſt is went.
Up goith the morow, wp goith the brycht day,
676 Wp goith the sone in to his freſh aray;
Richt as he ſpred his bemys frome northeſt,
The king arises next morning without delay,
The king wpraß withouten more areſt,
And by his awn conſeil and entent
680 His Iornaye tuk at ſhort awyſment.
And but dulay he goith frome place to place
Whill that he cam nere whare16 the lady was,
and reaches a plain by the river side,
And in one plane, apone o reuer ſyde,
684 He lichtit doune, and ther he can abide;
And yit with hyme to batell fore to go
having only seven thousand with him.
Vij thousand fechteris war thei, and no mo.
LANCELOT’S LAMENT.
This was the lady, of qwhome befor I tolde,
Lancelot, having been imprisoned by the lady of Melyhalt,
688 That lancilot haith in to hir kepinge holde;
But for to tell his paſing hewyneſſe,
His peyne, his ſorow, and his gret diſtreſſe
Of preſone and of loues gret ſuppris,
692 It war to long to me for to dewys.
When he remembrith one his hewy charge
Of loue, wharof he can hyme not diſcharge,
He wepith and he ſorowith in his chere,
696 And euery nyght ſemyth hyme o yere.
Gret peite was the ſorow that he maad,
laments his fate.
And to hyme-ſelf apone this wiß he ſaade:
Lancelot’s lament;
“Qwhat haue y gilt, allace! or qwhat deſeruit?
700 That thus myne hart ſhal vondit ben and carwit
One by the ſuord of double peine and wo?
his pleasure is gone;
My comfort and my pleſans is ago,
To me is nat that ſhuld me glaid reſeruit.
he curses his natal day;
704 I curß the tyme of myne Natiuitee,
Whar in the heuen It ordinyd was for me,
In all my lyue neuer til haue eeß;
But for to be example of diſeß,
708 And that apperith that euery vicht may see.
Sen thelke tyme that I had ſufficians
Of age, and chargit thoghtis ſufferans,
he has never spent a single day free from anxiety,
Nor neuer I continewite haith o day
712 With-out the payne of thoghtis hard aſſay;
Thus goith my youth in tempeſt and penans.
and is now in prison;
And now my body is In preſone broght;
[Fol. 10.]
But of my wo, that in Regard is noght,
716 The wich myne hart felith euer more.
and invokes Death.
O deth, allace! whi hath yow me forbore
That of remed haith the ſo long beſoght!”
Thus neueremore he ſeſith to compleine,
720 This woful knyght that felith not bot peine;
Thus the smart of love’s sorrow pricketh him.
So prekith hyme the ſmert of loues ſore,
And euery day encreſſith more and more.
And with this lady takine is alſo,
He is kept by her from the exercise of knighthood;
724 And kepit whar he may no whare go
To haunt knychthed, the wich he moſt deſirit;
And, thus his hart with dowbil wo yfirite,
and there we let him dwell.
We lat hyme duel here with the lady ſtill,
728 Whar he haith laiſere for to compleine his fyll.
GALIOT BESIEGES A CASTLE.
Meanwhile, Galiot besieged a castle.
And galiot in this meyne tyme he laie
By ſtrong myght o caſtell to aſſay,
With many engyne and diuerß wais ſere,
732 For of fute folk he had a gret powere
That bowis bur, and vther Inſtrumentis,
His army had pavilions, tents, and iron-wheeled chariots.
And with them lede ther palȝonis and ther tentis,
With mony o ſtrong chariot and cher
736 With yrne qwhelis and barris long and ſqwar;
Well ſtuffit with al maner apparell
That longith to o ſege or to batell;
Whar-with his oſt was cloſit al about,
740 That of no ſtrenth nedith hyme to dout.
When he heard of Arthur’s coming,
And when he hard the cumyne of the king,
And of his oſt, and of his gaderyng,
The wich he reput but of febil myght
744 Ayanis hyme for to ſuſten the ficht,
His conſell holl aſſemblit he, but were,
he assembled his council,
Ten knightis with other lordis ſere,
And told theme of the cuming of the king,
748 And aſkit them there conſell of that thing.
who thought it would degrade him, to fight in proper person against so few.
Hyme thoght that it his worſchip wold degrade,
If he hyme ſelf in propir perſone raide
Enarmyt ayane ſo few menye
752 As It was told arthur[is] fore to bee;
PREPARATION FOR THE BATTLE.
And thane the kyng-An-hundereth-knychtis cold,
(And ſo he hot, for neuermore he wolde
Ryd of his lond, but In his cumpany
756 O hundyre knyghtis ful of chiuellry).
[Fol. 10 b.]
The king of a hundred knights (Maleginis) undertakes the exploit;
He ſaith, “shir, ande I one hond [may] tak,
If It you pleß, this Iorney ſhal I mak.”
Quod galiot, “I grant It yow, but ye
760 Shal firſt go ryd, yone knychtis oſt and see.”
With-outen more he ridith our the plan,
And ſaw the oſt and is returnyd ayañ;
And callit them mo than he hade ſen, for why
764 He dred the reprefe of his cumpany.
who reconnoitres Arthur’s host, and says it is 10,000 strong: whereon Galiot charges him to take the same number.
And to his lord apone this wys ſaith hee,
“Shir, ten thouſand y ges them for to bee.”
And galiot haith chargit hyme to tak
768 Als fell folk, and for the feld hyme mak.
And ſo he doith and haith them wel Arayt;
Apone the morne his banaris war diſplayt.
Up goth the trumpetis with the clariounis,
772 Ayaine the feld blawen furth ther ſownis,
Galiot’s host set out.
Furth goth this king with al his oſt anon.
Be this the word wes to king arthur gone,
That knew no thing, nor wiſt of ther entent,
Arthur’s host don their armour.
776 But ſone his folk ar one to armys went;
But arthur by Report hard saye
Arthur, hearing that Galiot is unarmed, will not arm himself;
How galiot non armys bur that day,
Wharfor he thoght of armys nor of ſheld
780 None wald he tak, nor mak hyme for the feld.
but calls Gawane, and tells him how to order his battalions.
But gawane haith he clepit, was hyme by,
In qwhome Rignith the flour of cheuelry;
And told one what maner, and one what wyß
784 He ſhuld his batelles ordand and dewys;
Beſeching hyme, [hyme] wiſly to for-see
Aȝaine thei folk, wich was far mo than hee.
He knew the charg and paſſith one his way
788 Furth to his horß, and makith no dulay;
The clariounis blew and furth goth al onoñ,
Gawane and his men cross over the water at the ford.
And our ye watter and the furd ar goñe.
Within o playne vpone that other ſyd
792 Ther gawan gon his batellis to dewide,
As he wel couth, and set them in aray,
Syne with o manly contynans can ſay,
GAWANE HARANGUES HIS MEN.
He harangues his men.
“Ye falowis wich of the round table beñ,
796 Through al this erth whois fam is hard and ſen,
Remembrith now It ſtondith one the poynt,
For why It lyith one your ſperis poynt,17
[Fol. 11.]
The well-fare of the king and of our londe;
800 And ſen the ſucour lyith in your honde,
And hardement is thing ſhall moſt awaill
Frome deth ther men of armys in bataill,
Lat now your manhed and your hie curage
804 The pryd of al thir multitude aſſuage;
Deth or defence, non other thing we wot.”
Maleginis and all his host come over the plain, and Gawane sends a company against them.
This freſch king, that maleginis was hot,
With al his oſt he cummyne our the plañ,
808 And gawan ſend o batell hyme agañ;
In myde the borde,18 and feſtinit in the ſtell
The ſperithis poynt, that bitith ſcharp and well;
But they were all too few; wherefore Gawane sends a second company;
Bot al to few thei war, and mycht nocht leſt
812 This gret Rout that cummyth one ſo faſt.
Than haith ſir gawan ſend, them to ſupport,
One othir batell with one knychtly sorte;
then a third; then a fourth; and then sets out himself, to resist the 10,000.
And ſyne the thrid, and ſyne the ferde alſo;
816 And ſyne hyme-ſelf one to the feld can go,
When that he ſauch thar latter batell ſteir,
And the ten thouſand cummyne al thei veir;
Qwhar that of armes prewit he so well,
820 His ennemys gane his mortall [ſtrokis] fell.
He goes among them in his courage,
He goith ymong them in his hie curage,
As he that had of knyghthed the wſage,
And couth hyme weill conten in to on hour;
824 Aȝaine his ſtrok reſiſtit non armour;
and many other of Arthur’s knights perform wonders.
And mony knycht, that worth ware and bolde,
War thore with hyme of arthuris houſhold,
And knyghtly gan one to the feld them bere,
828 And mekil wroght of armys In to were;
GAWANE DEFEATS MALEGINIS.
Sir gawan than vpone ſuch wyß hyme bure,
Maleginis goeth to discomfiture, and 7,000 of his men flee.
This othere goith al to diſcumfitoure;
Sewyne thouſand fled, and of the feld thei go,
832 Whar-of this king in to his hart was wo,
For of hyme ſelf he was of hie curage.
To galiot than ſend he in meſag,
That he ſhuld help his folk for to defende;
Galiot sends him 30,000 more.
836 And he to hyme hath xxxte thousand sende;
Whar-of this king gladith in his hart,
And thinkith to Reweng all the ſmart
[Fol. 11 b.]
That he to-for haith ſuffirit and the payne.
His folk return across the field as thick as hail.
840 And al his folk returnyt Is ayayne
Atour the feld, and cummyne thilk as haill;19
The ſwyft horß goith firſt to the aſſall.
This noble knyght that ſeith the grete forß
844 Of armyt men, that cummyne vpone horß,
To-giddir ſemblit al his falowſchip,
And thoght them at the ſharp poynt to kep,
So that thar harm̅ ſhal be ful deir yboght.
848 This vthere folk with ſtraucht courß hath ſocht
Out of aray atour the larg felld;
Thar was the ſtrokis feſtnit in the ſhelde,
Thei war Reſauit at the ſperis end.
Arthur’s folk receive them manfully.
852 So arthuris folk can manfully defend;
The formeſt can thar lyues end conclude,
Whar ſone aſſemblit al the multitude.
Thar was defens, ther was gret aſſaill,
856 Richt wonderfull and ſtrong was ye bataill,
but sustain much pain,
Whar arthuris folk ſuſtenit mekil payn,
And knychtly them defendit haith aȝaine.
and cannot endure against so many.
Bot endur thei mycht, apone no wyß,
860 The multitude and ek the gret ſuppriß;
GAWANE’S VALIANT DEEDS.
But gawan, wich that ſetith al his payn
Vpone knyghthed, defendid ſo aȝaine,
That only in the manhede of this knyght
864 His folk reIoſit them of his gret myght,
And ek abaſit hath his ennemys;
For throw the feld he goith in ſuch wyß,
And in the preß ſo manfully them ſeruith,
Gawane carves helmets in two, and smites heads off shoulders;
868 His ſuerd atwo the helmys al to-kerwith,
The hedis of he be the ſhouderis ſmat;
The horß goith, of the maiſter deſolat.
But what awaleth al his beſynes,
872 So ſtrong and ſo inſufferable vas the preß?
but his men recross the ford to go to their lodges.
His folk are paſſit atour the furdis ilkon,
Towart ther bretis and to ther luges gon;
Whar he and many worthy knyght alſo
876 Of arthuris houß endurit mekill wo,
That neuer men mar in to armys vroght
Of manhed, ȝit was It al for noght.
[Fol. 12.]
Thar was the ſtrenth, ther was the paſing myght
Gawane fights alone till night,
880 Of gawan, wich that whill the dirk nyght
Befor the luges faucht al hyme aloñ,
When that his falowis entrit ware ilkoñ,
On arthuris half war mony tan and ſlan;
when Galiot’s folk return home.
884 And galotis folk Is hame returnyd aȝaine,
For it was lait; away the oſtis ridith,
And gawan ȝit apone his horß abidith,
With ſuerd in hond, when thei away var gon,
888 And so for-wrocht hys lymmys ver ilkon,
And wondit ek his body vp and doune,
Gawane swoons upon his horse.
Vpone his horß Right thore he fel in ſwoune;
And thei hyme tuk and to his lugyne bare,
The king and queen fear he has brought himself to confusion.
892 Boith king and qwen of hyme vare in diſpare;
For thei ſuppoſit, throw marwellis that he vroght,
He had hyme-ſelf to his confuſioune broght.
[T]his20 was nere by of melyhalt, the hyll,
896 Whar lanſcelot ȝit was with the lady ſtill.
The knychtis of the court [can] paſing hom̅e;
This ladiis knychtis to hir palice com,
And told to hir, how that the feld was vent,
The lady of Melyhalt hears of Gawane’s deeds;
900 And of gawan, and of his hardyment,
That merwell was his manhed to behold;
and Lancelot also,
And ſone thir tithingis to the knycht vas told,
That was with wo and hewyneſs oppreſt;
904 So noyith hyme his ſuiorne and his reſt,
who sends for a knight to take a message to the lady;
And but dulay one for o knycht he send,
That was moſt ſpeciall with the lady kend.
He comyne, and the knycht vn to hyme ſaid,
908 “Diſpleß yow not, ſir, be ȝhe not ill paid,
So homly thus I yow exort to go,
To gare my lady ſpek o word or two
With me, that am a carful preſonere.”21
912 “Sir, your commande y ſhall, withouten were,
Fulfill;” and to his lady paſſit hee
In lawly wyß beſiching hir, that ſhe
Wald grant hyme to pas at his requeſt,
916 Vnto hir knycht, ſtood wnder hir areſt;
And ſhe, that knew al gentilleß aright,
who comes to his chamber.
Furth to his chamber paſſit wight22 the licht.
LANCELOT PRAYS TO BE RELEASED.
[Fol. 12 b.]
And he aroß and ſaluſt Curtaſly
Lancelot beseeches her to appoint his ransom,
920 The lady, and ſaid, “madem, her I,
Your preſoner, beſekith yow that ȝhe
Wold merſy and compaſſione have of me,
And mak the ranſone wich that I may yeif;
924 I waiſt my tyme in presoune thus to leife.
For why I her on be report be told,
That arthur, with the flour of his houſholde,
Is cummyne here, and in this cuntre lyis,
928 And ſtant In danger of his ennemyis,
And haith aſſemblit; and eft this ſhalt bee
Within ſhort tyme one new aſſemblee.
Thar-for, my lady, y youe grace beſech,
932 That I mycht pas, my Ranſon for to fech;
presuming that some of Arthur’s knights will pay it.
Fore I preſume thar longith to that ſort
That louid me, and ſhal my nede ſupport.”
THE LADY AT FIRST REFUSES;
“Shire knycht, It ſtant nocht in ſich dugree;
She replies that she does not want a ransom, but has imprisoned him for his guilt.
936 It is no ranſone wich that cauſith me
To holden yow, or don yow ſich offens;
It is your gilt, It is your wiolens,
Whar-of that I deſir no thing but law,
940 Without report your awñ treſpas to knaw.”
“Madem, your pleſance may ye wel fulfill
Of me, that am in preſone at your will.
He prays for pardon,
Bot of that gilt, I was for til excuß,
944 For that I did of werrey nede behwß,
It tuechit to my honore and my fame;
I mycht nocht lefe It but hurting of my nam,
And ek the knycht was mor to blam than I.
948 But ye, my lady, of your curteſſy,
Wold ȝe deden my Ransoune to reſaue,
and begs for liberty:
Of preſone ſo I my libertee myght haue,
Y ware ȝolde euermore [to be] your knyght,
952 Whill that I leif, with al my holl myght.
And if ſo be ye lykith not to ma
or at least to be allowed to go to the next battle,
My ranſone, [madem,] if me leif to ga
To the aſſemble, wich ſal be of new;
under a promise to return at night.
956 And as that I am feithful knycht and trew,
At nycht to yow I enter ſhall aȝaine,
But if that deth or other lat certañ,
Throw wich I [may] have ſuch Impediment,
[Fol. 13.]
960 That I be hold,23 magre myne entent.”
BUT AT LAST GRANTS HIS BOON.
She consents, if he will specify to her his name.
“Sir knycht,” quod ſhe, “I grant yow leif, withthy
Your name to me that ȝe wil ſpecify.”
“Madem, as ȝit, ſutly I ne may
964 Duclar my name, one be no maner way;
He refuses for the present.
But I promyt, als faſt as I haue tyme
Conuenient, or may vith-outen cryme,
I ſhall;” and than the lady ſaith hyme tyll,
968 “And I, ſchir knycht, one this condiſcione will
She grants him leave, under the proposed condition.
Grant yow leve, ſo that ye obliſt bee
For to Return, as ye haue ſaid to me.”
Thus thei accord, the lady goith to reſt,
972 The ſone diſcending cloſit in the veſt;
The ferd day was dewyſit for to bee
Betuex the oſtis of the aſſemblee.
And galiot Richt arly by the day,
976 Ayane the feld he can his folk aray;
Galiot assembles 40,000 fresh men.
And fourty thouſand armyt men haith he,
That war not at the othir aſſemble,
Commandit to the batell for to gon;
980 “And I my-ſelf,” quod he, “ſhal me diſpone
On to the feild aȝaine the thrid day;
Whar of this were we ſhal the end aſſay.”
Arthur also provides his men for the field.
ANd arthuris folk that come one euery ſyd,
984 He for the feld can them for to prouide,
Wich ware to few aȝaine the gret affere
Of galiot ȝit to ſuſten the were.
The knights of Melyhalt join him.
The knychtis al out of the cete roß
988 Of melyholt, and to the ſemble gois.
The lady secretly provides Lancelot with a red courser, and a shield and spear, both red also.
And the lady haith, in to ſacret wyß,
Gart for hir knycht and preſoner dewyß
In red al thing, that ganith for the were;
992 His curſeir red, ſo was boith ſcheld and ſpere.
And he, to qwham the preſone hath ben ſmart,
With glaid deſir apone his curſour ſtart;
He rides towards the field, and halts in a plain by the river-side.
Towart the feld anon he gan to ryd,
996 And in o plan houit one reuer syde.
LANCELOT ENCOURAGES HIMSELF.
This knycht, the wich that long haith ben in cag,
Lancelot is encouraged, seeing the blithe morn, the mead, the river, the green woods, and the knights and banners.
He grew in to o freſch and new curage,
Seing the morow blythfull and amen,
1000 The med, the Reuer, and the vodis gren,
The knychtis in [ther] armys them arayinge,
[Fol. 13 b.]
The baneris ayaine the feld diſplayng,
His ȝouth in ſtrenth and in proſperytee,
1004 And ſyne of luſt the gret aduerſytee.24
Thus in his thocht remembryng at the laſt,
Casting his eyes aside, he sees the queen looking over a parapet.
Efterward one ſyd he gan his Ey to caſt,
Whar our a bertes25 lying haith he sen
1008 Out to the feld luking was the qwen;
Sudandly with that his goſt aſtart
Love catches him by the heart.
Of loue anone haith caucht hyme by the hart;
Than ſaith he, “How long ſhall It be so,
1012 Loue, at yow ſhall wirk me al this wo?
Apone this wyß to be Infortunat,
Hir for to ſerue the wich thei no thing wate
What ſufferance I in hir wo endure,
1016 Nor of my wo, nor of myne aduenture?
And I wnworthy ame for to attane
To hir presens, nor dare I noght complane.
He counsels his heart to help itself at need,
Bot, hart, ſen at yow knawith ſhe is here,
1020 That of thi lyue and of thi deith is ſtere,
Now is thi tyme, now help thi-ſelf at neid,
And the dewod of euery point of dred,
to forego cowardice,
That cowardy be none In to the señ,
1024 Fore and yow do, yow knowis thi peyne, I weyn;
Yow art wnable euer to attane
To hir mercy, or cum be ony mayne.
and to deserve her thanks or die.
Tharfor y red hir thonk at yow diſſerue,
1028 Or in hir presens lyk o knycht to ſterf.”
THE RED KNIGHT’S TRANCE.
Confused with a heavy thought,
With that confuſit with an hewy thocht,
Wich ner his deith ful oft tyme haith hyme ſocht,
Deuoydit was his spritis and his goſt,
1032 He wiſt not of hyme-ſelf nor of his oſt;
he [sits] on his horse as still as stone.
Bot one his horß, als ſtill as ony ſton.
When that the knychtis armyt war ilkon,
The bugles are blown, and the knights are ready on horseback, 20,000 in number.
To warnnyng them vp goith the bludy ſown,
1036 And euery knyght vpone his horß is bown;
Twenty thouſand armyt men of were.
The king that day he wold non armys bere;
His batellis ware devyſit euerilkon,
They are forbidden to cross the fords, but cannot be restrained.
1040 And them forbad out our the furdis to gon.
Bot frome that thei ther ennemys haith sen,
In to ſuch wys thei couth them noght ſuſteñ;
[Fol. 14.]
Bot ovr thei went vithouten more delay,
1044 And can them one that oyer sid aſſay.
The red knight still halting by the ford, a herald seizes his bridle, and bids him awake.
The red knycht ſtill in to his hewy thoght
Was hufyng ȝit apone the furd, and noght
Wiſt of hime ſelf; with that a harrold com,
1048 And ſone the knycht he be the brydill nom,
Saying, “awalk! It is no tyme to ſlep;
Your worſchip more expedient vare to kep.”
No word he ſpak, ſo prikith hyme the ſmart
1052 Of hevynes, that ſtood vnto his hart.
Two shrews next approach; one takes his shield off his neck,
Two ſcrewis cam with that, of quhich [that] oñ
The knychtis ſheld rycht frome his hals haith toñ;
the other casts water at his ventayle, which causes him to wink, and arouse himself.
That vthir watter takith atte laſt,
1056 And in the knychtis wentail haith It caſt;
When that he felt the vatter that vas cold,
He wonk, and gan about hyme to behold,
And thinkith how he ſum-quhat haith myſgoñ.
1060 With that his ſpere In to his hand haith ton,
THE RED KNIGHT FIGHTS LIKE A LION.
He goes to the field, and sees the first-conquest king.
Goith to the feild withouten vordis more;
So was he vare whare that there cam before,
O manly man he was in to al thing,
1064 And clepit was the ferſt-conquest king.
The Red knycht with [the] ſpuris ſmat the ſted,
The tother cam, that of hyme hath no drede;
They meet.
With ferß curag ben the knychtis met,
1068 The king his ſpere apone the knycht hath set,
That al in peciß flaw in to the felde;
The red knight, though shieldless, overthrows his foe.
His hawbrek helpit, ſuppos he had no ſcheld.
And he the king in to the ſcheld haith ton,
1072 That horß and man boith to the erd ar gon.
The shrew restores his shield.
Than to the knycht he cummyth, that haith tan
His ſheld, to hyme deliuerith It ayane,
Beſiching hyme that of his Ignorance,
1076 That knew hyme nat, as takith no grewance.
The knycht his ſche[l]d but mor delay haith tak,
And let hyme go, and no thing to hyme ſpak.
Than thei the26 wich that ſo at erth haith ſen
The men of the first-conquest king come to the rescue.
1080 Ther lord, the ferſt-conqueſt king, y meñ,
In haiſt thei cam, as that thei var agrevit,
And manfully thei haith ther king Releuit.
[A]nd Arthuris folk, that lykith not to byde,
1084 In goith the spuris in the ſtedis syde;
[Fol. 14 b.]
To-giddir thar aſſemblit al the oſt:
At whois meting many o knycht was loſt.
The battle was right cruel to behold.
The batell was richt crewell to behold,
1088 Of knychtis wich that haith there lyvis ȝolde.
One to the hart the ſpere goith throw the ſcheld,
The knychtis gaping lyith in the feld.
The red knycht, byrnyng in loues fyre,
1092 Goith to o knycht, als ſwift as ony vyre,
The wich he perſit throuch and throuch the hart;
The red knight loses his spear, but draws his sword, and roams the field like a lion.
The ſpere is went; with that anon he ſtart,
And out o ſuerd in to his hond he tais;
1096 Lyk to o lyone in to the feld he gais,
In to his Rag ſmyting to and fro
Fro ſum the arm, fro ſum the nek in two,
Sum in the feild lying is in ſwoun,
Some he cleaves to the belt.
1100 And sum his ſuerd goith to the belt al douñe.
For qwhen that he beholdith to the qwen,
Who had ben thore his manhed to haue sen,
His doing in to armys and his myght,
1104 Shwld ſay in world war not ſuch o wight.
His fellows take comfort from his deeds,
His falouſchip siche comfort of his dede
Haith ton, that thei ther ennemys ne dreid;
But can them-self ay manfoly conten
1108 In to the ſtour, that hard was to ſuſten;
though Galiot’s host was a surpassing multitude.
For galyot was O paſing multitude
Of prewit men in armys that war gude,
The wich can with o freſch curag aſſaill
1112 Ther ennemys that day In to batell;
Had it not been for the manhood of the red knight, Arthur’s folk had been in peril.
That ne ware not the vorſchip and manhede
Of the red knycht, in perell and in dreid
Arthuris folk had ben, vith-outen vere;
1116 Set thei var good, thei var of ſmal powere.
GAWANE BEHOLDS THE RED KNIGHT.
Gawane is led to the parapet,
And gawan, wich gart bryng hyme-ſelf befor
To the bertes, set he was vondit sore,
Whar the qwen vas, and whar that he mycht see
1120 The manere of the oſt and aſſemble;
And when that he the gret manhed haith sen
and saith to the queen, that none ever did better than yon red knight.
Of the red knycht, he ſaith one to the qwen,
“Madem, ȝone knyght in to the armys Rede,
1124 Nor neuer I hard nore ſaw in to no ſted
O knycht, the wich that in to ſchortar ſpace
In armys haith mor forton nore mor grace;
Nore bettir doith boith with ſper and ſcheild,
[Fol. 15.]
1128 He is the hed and comfort of our feild.”
The queen prays for Lancelot.
“Now, ſir, I traiſt that neuer more vas ſen
No man in feild more knyghtly hyme conten;
I pray to hyme that euery thing hath cure,
1132 Saif hyme fro deth or wykit aduenture.”
The field was perilous on both sides,
The feild It was rycht perellus and ſtrong
On boith the ſydis, and continewit long,
from early morn till the sun had gone down.
Ay from the ſone the varldis face gan licht
1136 Whill he was gone and cumyne vas the nycht;
And than o forß thei mycht It not aſſtart,
On euery ſyd behouit them depart.
Every knight then returns home, and the red knight privily goes back to the city.
The feild is don and ham goith euery knycht,
1140 And prevaly, unwiſt of any wicht,
The way the red knycht to the cete taiis,
As he had hecht, and in his chambre gais.
When arthure hard how the knycht Is gon,
1144 He blamyt ſore his lordis euerilk-one;
And oft he haith remembrit in his thoght,
Arthur, seeing the multitude of Galiot’s men, recalls his dream, saying,
What multitud that galiot had broght;
Seing his folk that ware so ewil arayt,
1148 In to his mynd he ſtondith al affrayt,
And ſaith, “I traiſt ful ſuth It ſal be founde
My drem Richt as the clerkis gan expounde;
“My men now fail me at need.”
For why my men failȝeis now at neid,
1152 My-ſelf, my londe, in perell and in dreide.”
GALIOT PROPOSES A TRUCE.
Galiot tells his council
And galiot vpone hie worſchip set,
And his conſell anon he gart be fet,
To them he ſaith, “with arthur weil ȝe see
1156 How that It ſtant, and to qwhat degre,
Aȝanis ws that he is no poware;
that there is no honour in conquering Arthur,
Wharfor, me think, no worſchip to ws ware
In conqueryng of hyme, nor of his londe,
1160 He haith no ſtrenth, he may ws not vithſtonde.
Wharfor, me think It beſt is to delay,
and proposes a twelvemonth’s truce.
And reſput hyme for a tuelmoñeth day,
Whill that he may aſſemble al his myght;
1164 Than is mor worſchip aȝanis hyme to ficht;”
And thus concludit thoght hyme for the beſt.
The very knychtis paſſing to there Reſt;
Of melyholt the ladeis knychtis ilkone
1168 Went home, and to hir presens ar thei gon;
The lady of Melyholt asks her knights who hath won most honour.
At qwhome ful ſone than gan ſcho to Inquere,
And al the maner of the oſtis till spere;
How that It went, and in what maner wyß,
1172 Who haith moſt worſchip, and who is moſt to pryß?
[Fol. 15 b.]
“Madem,” quod thei, “O knycht was In the feild,
They reply, that a red knight had exceeded all others.
Of Red was al his armour and his ſheld,
Whois manhed can al otheris to exced,
1176 May nan report in armys half his deid;
Ne wor his worſchip, ſhortly to conclud,
Our folk of help had ben al deſtitud.
He haith the thonk, the vorſchip in hyme lyis,
1180 That we the feld defendit in ſich wyß.”
The lady wonders if her prisoner is meant.
The lady thane one to hir-ſelf haith thocht,
“Whether Is ȝone my preſonar, ore noght?
The ſuthfaſtneß that ſhal y wit onon.”
THE LADY VISITS LANCELOT.
1184 When euery wight vn to ther Reſt war gon,
She calls her cousin,
She clepith one hir cwſynes ful nere
Wich was to hir moſt ſpeciall and dere,
And ſaith to hir, “qwheyar if yone bee
1188 Our preſoner, my consell Is we see.”
who takes a torch, and they go to the stable,
With that the maden In hir hand hath ton
O torche, and to the ſtabille ar thei gon;
and find his steed wounded.
And fond his ſted lying at the ground,
1192 Wich wery was, ywet with mony wounde.
The maden ſaith, “vpone this horß is ſen,
He in the place quhar strokis was hath beñ;
And ȝhit the horß It is nocht wich that hee
1196 Furth with hyme hade;”—the lady ſaid, “per dee,
He vſyt haith mo horß than one or two;
Next they view his armour,
I red one to his armys at we go.”
Tharwith one to his armys ar thei went;
and find his hauberk rent, and his shield frushed all to naught.
1200 Thei fond his helm, thei fond his hawbrek rent,
Thei fond his ſcheld was fruſchit al to nocht;
At ſchort, his armour In sich wyß vas vrocht
In euery place, that no thing was left haill,
1204 Nore neuer eft accordith to bataill.
They think he has well used his armour.
Than ſaith the lady to hir cuſyneß,
“What ſal we ſay, what of this mater geß?”
“Madem, I ſay, thei have nocht ben abwsyt;
1208 He that them bur ſchortly he has them vſyt.”
“That may ȝe ſay, ſuppos the beſt that lewis,
Or moſt of worſchip in til armys prewis,
Or ȝhit haith ben in ony tyme beforñ,
1212 Had them in feld in his maſt curag borñ.”
They next visit the knight himself,
“Now,” quod the lady, “will we paß, and see
The knycht hyme-self, and ther the ſuth may we
[Fol. 16.]
Knaw of this thing.” Incontynent them27 boith
1216 Thir ladeis vn to his chambre goith.
who was now asleep.
The knycht al wery fallyng was on ſlep;
This maden paſſith In, and takith kep.
The lady’s cousin observes his breast and shoulders bloody, his face hurt, and his fists swollen.
Sche ſauch his breſt with al his ſchowderis bare,
1220 That bludy war and woundit her and thare;
His face was al to-hurt and al to-ſchent,
His newis ſwellyng war and al to-Rent.
Sche ſmylyt a lyt, and to hir lady ſaid,
1224 “It ſemyth weill this knycht hath ben aſſaid.”
THE LADY IS LOVE-SMITTEN.
The lady next observes him,
The lady ſauch, and rewit in hir thoght
The knychtis worſchip wich that he haith vroght.
and is smitten to the heart by the dart of love,
In hire Remembrance loues fyre dart
1228 With hot deſyre hir ſmat one to the hart;
And then a quhill, with-outen wordis mo,
In to hir mynd thinking to and fro,
She ſtudeit ſo, and at the laſt abraid
and prays her cousin to draw aside, while she kisses the knight.
1232 Out of hir thocht, and ſudandly thus ſaid,
“With-draw,” quod ſhe, “one ſyd a lyt28 the lyght,
Or that I paß that I may kyß the knyght.”
HER COUSIN REPROVES HER.
Her cousin reproves her,
“Madem,” quod ſche, “what is It at ȝe meñ?
1236 Of hie worſchip our mekill have ȝe señ
So sone to be ſuppriſit with o thoght.
lest the knight should awake.
What is It at ȝhe think? preſwm ȝe noght
That if yon knycht wil walkin, and perſaif,
1240 He ſhal yarof no thing bot ewill conſaif;
In his entent Ruput yow therby
The ablare to al lychtneß and foly?
And blam the more al vtheris in his mynd,
1244 If your gret wit in ſich deſire he fynde?”
The lady replies.
“Nay,” quod the lady, “no thing may I do
For ſich o knycht may be defam me to.”
Her cousin next argues the point;
“Madem, I wot that for to loue yone knycht,
1248 Conſidir his fame, his worſchip, and his mycht;
And to begyne as worſchip wil dewyß,
Syne he ayaine mycht lowe yow one ſuch wyß,
And hold yow for his lady and his loue,
1252 It war to yow no maner of Reprwe.
“What if he loves another?”
But quhat if he appelit be and thret
His hart to lowe, and ellis whar y-ſet?
And wel y wot, madem, if It be so,
1256 His hart hyme sal not ſuffir to loue two,
[Fol. 16 b.]
For noble hart wil have no dowbilneß;
If It be ſo, ȝhe tyne yowr low, I geß;
Than is your-ſelf, than is your loue Refuſit,
1260 Your fam is hurt, your gladneß is concluſit.
My conſell is, therfore, you to abſten
Whill that to yow the werray Rycht be ſeñ
Of his entent, the wich ful ſon ȝhe may
1264 Have knawlag, If yow lykith to aſſay.”
She persuades the lady to return to her chamber, without further delay.
So mokil to hir lady haith ſhe vroght
That at that tyme ſhe haith Returnyt hir thocht,
And to hir chambre went, withouten more,
1268 Whar loue of new aſſaith hir ful sore.
So well long thei ſpeking of the knycht,
Her cousin labours to expel her love for Lancelot from her thoughts, but her labour is in vain.
Hir cuſynace hath don al at ſhe mycht
For to expel that thing out of hir thocht;
1272 It wil not be, hir labour Is for nocht.
Now leif we hir In to hir neweſt pan,
And to arthur we wil retwrn agañ.
EXPLICIT PRIMUS LIBER, INCIPIT SECUNDUS.
ARTHUR’S GREAT ANXIETY.