[BOOK III.]
Reading edition
The sun ascends in his altitude.
The long dirk paſag56 of the vinter, & the lycht
2472 Of phebus comprochit with his mycht;
The which, aſcending In his altitud,
Awodith saturñ with his ſtormys Rude;
The soft dew falls down from heaven.
The ſoft dew one fra the hewyne doune valis57
2476 Apone the erth, one hillis and on valis,
And throw the ſobir & the mwſt hwmouris
Vp nuriſit ar the erbis, and in the flouris
Nature decks the earth with various hues.
Natur the erth of many diuerß hew
2480 Our-fret, and cled with the tendir new.
[Fol. 31 a.]
The birdis may them hiding in the grawis
The birds may hide them from the hawk in the groves, and Scilla may ascend in the air.
Wel frome the halk, that oft ther lyf berevis;
And scilla hie aſcending in the ayre,
2484 That euery vight may heryng hir declar
Of the ſeſſone the paſſing luſtynes.
This was the tyme that phebus gan hym dreß
In to the rame, and haith his courß bygown,
2488 Or that the trewis and the ȝher vas Rown,
The time of combat between Galiot and the king drew near.
Which was y-ſet of galiot and the king
Of thar aſſemble, and of thar meting.
Arthur haith a xv dais before
2492 Aſſemblit al his barnag and more
That weryng wnder his ſubieccioune,
Or louith hyme, or longith to his crown;
And haith his Iornay tone, withouten let,
Arthur goes to the appointed place.
2496 On to the place the wich that was y-ſet,
Whar he hath found befor hyme mony o knycht
That cummyng war with al thar holl mycht,
Al enarmyt both with ſpere & ſcheld,
2500 And ful of lugis plantith haith the feld,
Hyme In the wer for to ſupport and ſerf
At al ther mycht, his thonk for to diſſerf.
GAWANE REJOINS ARTHUR.
And gawan, which was in the ſeking ȝhit
2504 Of the gud knycht, of hyme haith got no wit,
Gawane remembers the day,
Remembrith hyme apone the kingis day,
And to his falowis one this wys can ſay:
“To ȝhow is knowin the mater, in what wyß
2508 How that the king hath with his ennemys
A certan day, that now comprochit nere,
And one to ws war hewynes to here
That he var in to perell or in to dreid,
2512 And we away and he of ws haith neid;
For we but hyme no thing may eſchef,
And he but ws in honore well may lef;
For, be he loſt, we may no thing withſtond,
2516 Our-ſelf, our honore we tyne, & ek our lond.
and proposes to his fellows to go to help the king.
Tharfor, I red we pas on to the king,
Suppos our oth It hurt in to ſum thing,
And in the feld with hyme for til endur,
2520 Of lyf or deth and tak our aduentur.”
Thar-to thei ar conſentit euerilkon,
And but dulay the have thar Iorney toñe.
[Fol. 31 b.]
When that the king them ſaw, in his entent
Arthur is well content at their coming,
2524 Was of thar com Right wonder well content;
For he preſwmyt no thing that thei wold
not expecting them.
Have cummyne, but one furth to yer ſeking hold.
And thus the kinghis oſt aſſemblit has
2528 Aȝane the tyme, aȝaine the day that vas
Y-ſtatut and ordanit for to bee,
And euery thing hath ſet in the dogre.
[A]nd galiot, that haith no thing forȝhet
2532 The termys quhich that he befor had set,
Galiot also assembles his folk,
Aſſemblit has, apone his best maner,
His folk, and al his other thingis ſere,
That to o weryour longith to prouid,
2536 And is y-come apone the tothir ſyde.
doubling his army and artillery;
Whar he befor was one than vas he two,
And al his vthir artilȝery also
He dowblith hath, that merwell was to ſeñ;
and pitches on the green by the river.
2540 And by the rewere lychtit one the greñ,
And ſtronghar thane ony wallit toune
His oſt y-bout ycloſit in Randoune.
Thus war thei cummyne apone ather ſyd
Before the truce is ended,
2544 Be-for the tyme, them-ſelf for to prowid.
THE TRUCE ENDS.
Or that the trewis was complet & rwn,
Men mycht have ſen one euery ſid begwn
many combats are seen between lusty men;
Many a fair and knychtly Iuperty
2548 Of luſty men, and of ȝong chevalry,
Diſyrus In to armys for to pruf;
Sum for wynyng, ſum cauſith vas for luf,
Sum In to worſchip to be exaltate,
2552 Sum cauſit was of wordis he & hate,
That lykit not ydill for to ben;
a hundred pair at once.
A hundereth pair at onis one the gren.
Thir luſty folk thus can thar tyme diſpend,
2556 Whill that the trewis goith to the ende.
The truce past,
The trewis paſt, the day is cummyne onoñe,
One euery ſyd the can them to diſpone;
And thai that war moſt ſacret & moſt dere
Galiot’s friends inquire who shall fight on his side on the morrow.
2560 To galiot, at hyme the can enquere,
“Who ſal aſſemble one yhour ſyd to-morñe?
To-nycht the trewis to the end is worne.”
He anſuerit, “As yhit one to this were
2564 I ame awyſit I wil none armys bere,
[Fol. 32 a.]
Bot If It ſtond of more Neceſſitee;
Nor to the feld will pas, bot for to ſee
Yhone knycht, the which that berith ſich o fame.”
He commands the first-conquest king to take 30,000 men.
2568 Than clepit he the conquest king be name,
And hyme commandit xxx thouſand tak
Aȝaine the morne, and for the feld hyme mak.
And gawane haith, apone the toyer syde,
2572 Conſulit his Eme he ſchuld for them prowid,
And that he ſchuld none armys to hyme tak
Whill58 galiot will for the feld hyme mak.
“I grant,” quod [he59], “wharfor ȝhe mone diſpone
Gawane leads Arthur’s forces.
2576 Yhow to the feld with al my folk to-morne,
And thinkith in yhour manhed and curage
For to reciſt ȝhone folkis gret owtrag.”
The day comes.
[T]he nycht is gone, vp goith the morow gray,
2580 The brycht ſone ſo cherith al the day:
The knychtis gone to armys than, in haſt;
One goith the ſcheildis and the helmys laſt;
Arthur’s men cross the ford.
Arthuris oſt out our the furrde thai ryd.
2584 And thai agane, apone the toyer syd,
Galiot’s men assemble in a vale.
Aſſemblit ar apone o luſty greyne,
In to o waill, whar ſone thar mycht be ſeyne
Of knychtis to-gedder many o pair
2588 In to the feld aſſemblyng her & thair,
And ſtedis which that haith thar maſter lorne;60
The knychtis war done to the erth doune borne.
DEEDS OF SIR ESQUYRIS.
Sir Esquyris, a manly knight,
Sir eſquyris, which was o manly knycht
2592 In to hyme-ſelf, and hardy vas & wycht;
And in till armys gretly for to pryß,
Ȝhit he was pure, he prewit wel oft-ſyß;
at that time of Galiot’s company,
And that tyme was he of the cumpanee
2596 Of galiot, bot efterwart was hee
With arthur; and that day In to the feild
He come, al armyt boith with ſpere and ſcheld,
With ferß deſir, as he that had na dout,
attacks a band,
2600 And is aſſemblit ewyne apone a rowt;
His ſpere is gone, the knycht goith to the erd,
And out onon he pullith haith o ſwerd;
and proves his manhood.
That day In armys prewit he rycht well
2604 His ſtrenth, his manhed; arthuris folk thai fell.
DEEDS OF SIR GWYANS.
Then Galys Gwynans, brother of Ywan,
Than galys gwynans, with o manly hart,
Which broyer was of ywane the baſtart,
He cummyne Is onone one to the ſtour
[Fol. 32 b.]
2608 For conquering In armys of honour,
encounters him, and horse and man go all four to earth.
And cownterit with eſquyris hath so
That61 horß and man, al four, to erth thai go;
And ſtill o quhill lying at the ground.
2612 With that o part of arthuris folk thei found
Arthur’s folk rescue Gwyans;
Till gwyans, and haith hyme ſone reſkewit.
Aȝanis them til eſquyris thei ſewyt
thirty knights of Galiot’s arrive, and rescue Esquyris.
Of galiotis well xxxti knychtis & mo;
2616 Gwyans goith done, and vthir vij alſo,
The wich war tone & eſqwyris relewit.
Next Ywan comes to the mêlée.
Than ywane the anterus, aggrewit,
With kynniſmen one to the melle ſocht.
2620 The hardy knychtis, that one thar worſchip thocht,
Cownterit them In myddis of the ſcheld,
Whar many o knycht was born doñ in the feld;
Galiot’s men give way.
Bot thei wich ware on galiotis part,
2624 So wndertakand nor of ſo hardy hart
Ne ware thei not as was in ye contrare.
Gwyans is again rescued.
Sir galys gwyans was reſqwyt thare
With his falowis, and eſqwyris don bore.
2628 Thar al the batellis cam, withouten more,
On ather part, and is aſſemblit ſo
50,000 men are assembled.
Whar fyfty thouſand war thei, & no mo.
30,000 on Galiot’s side approach the river,
In o plane beſyd the gret Riwere
2632 Xxx thouſand one galiotis half thei vare;
and 10,000 on Arthur’s.
Of arthuris x thouſand and no mo
Thei ware, and ȝhit thai contenit them ſo
And in the feld ſo manly haith borñ,
2636 That of thar fois haith the feld forſworñ.
SIR GAWANE’S INTREPIDITY.
The conqueſt king, wich the perell knowith,
Gawane puts the conquest-king to flight.
Ful manly one to the feld he drowith;
The lord ſir gawan, couerit with his ſcheld,
2640 He ruſchit in myddis of the feld,
And haith them ſo in to his com aſſayt,
That of his manhed ware thei al affrait;
No langer mycht thei contrar hyme endur,
2644 Bot fled, and goith one to diſcumfiture.
Galiot, full of anger and grief, sends out a new band.
And galiot, wich haith the diſcumfit ſen,
Fulfillit ful of anger and of ten,
Incontinent he ſend o new poware,
2648 Whar-with the feldis al our-couerit ware
[Fol. 33 a.]
Of armyt ſtedis both in plait and maill,
With knychtis wich war reddy to aſſaill.
Gawane draws his men together, and shews them comfortable words.
Sir gawan, ſeing al the gret ſuppris
2652 Of fois cummyng In to ſich o wys,
Togiddir al his cumpany he drew,
And confortable wordis to them ſchew;
So at the cummyng of thar ennemys
They receive the foe in manly wise.
2656 Thei them reſauf, in ſo manly wyß,
That many one felith deithis wound,
And wnder horß lyith ſobing one the ground.
This vther cummyth in to gret deſir,
2660 Fulfillit ful of matelent and Ire,
So freſchly, with ſo gret o confluens,
Thar ſtrong aſſay hath don ſich vyolens,
And at thar come arthuris folk ſo led,
2664 That thai war ay abayſit and adred.
Bot gawan, wich that, by this vorldis fame,
Of manhed and of knychthed bur the name,
Haith prewit [hym] well be experiens;
2668 For only In til armys his defens
Gawane encourages his fellows,
Haith maid his falowis tak ſich hardyment,
That manfully thei biding one the bent.
Of his manhed war merwell to raherß;
2672 The knychtis throw the ſcheldis can he perß,
That many one thar dethis haith reſauit;
None armour frome his mychty hond them ſauit,
though their foes are three to one;
Ȝhit ay for one ther ennemys wor thre.
2676 Long mycht thei nocht endur in ſuch dugree;
The preß it wos ſo creuell & ſo ſtrong,
In gret anoy and haith continewit longe,
yet his men are forced to retreat to their tents.
That, magre them, thei nedis moſt abak
2680 The way one to thar lugis for to tak.
Sir gawan thar ſufferith gret myſchef,
And wonderis in his knychthed can he pref;
His falouſchip haith merwell that hym ſaw,
2684 So haith his fois that of his ſuerd ſtud aw.
SIR YWAN RESCUES GAWANE.
Arthur beholds the peril of the field, and sends Sir Ywan to help them,
King arthur, that al this whill beheld
The danger and the perell of the feld,
Sir ywan with o falowſchip he ſende,
2688 Them In that ned to help & to defend,
[Fol. 33 b.]
Qwich fond them In to danger and in were,
And enterit nere In to thar tentis were.
who finds Sir Gawane fighting on foot with only his sword.
Sir gawan fechtand was one fut At erde,
2692 And no defend, but only in his ſwerde,
Aȝanis them both with ſpere and ſcheld.
Of galowa the knycht goith to the erde.62
The battle was furious and wood.
Thar was the batell furyous and woud63
2696 Of armyt knychtis; to the grownde thai ȝhud.
Sir ywane, that was a noble knyght,
He ſchew his ſtrenth, he ſchew thar his gret mycht,
In al his tyme that neuer of before
2700 Off armys, nore of knychthed, did he more:
Sir Ywan rescues Sir Gawane,
Sir gawan thar reſkewit he of fors,
Magre his fois, and haith hyme ſet one horß
That frome the firſt conqueſt king he wañ;
who was so evilly wounded, that he was the worse thereof evermore.
2704 Bot ſir gawan ſo ewill was wondit than,
And in the feld ſuppriſit was ſo ſore,
That he the werß thar-of was euermore.
Thar ſchew the lord ſir ywan his curage,
2708 His manhed, & his noble waſſolage;
And gawan, in his doing, wald nocht irk;
END OF THE FIRST DAY’S BATTLE.
Darkness parts the combatants.
So al the day enduring to the dyrk
Sal them, magre of thar deſyre, conſtren
2712 On ayar half fore [to] depart in twen.
And when that gawan of his horß vas toñ,
The blud out of his noiß & mouth is goñ,
And largly ſo paſſith euery wounde,
Sir Gawane swoons,
2716 In ſwonyng thore he fell one to the ground:
Than of the puple petee was to here
The lemytable clamour, and the chere;
so that the king despairs of his “niece’s” life, and laments over him.
And of the king the ſorow and the care,
2720 That of his necis lyf was in diſſpare.
“Far well,” he ſais, “my gladnes, & my delyt,
Apone knychthed far well myne appetit,
Fare well of manhed al the gret curage,
2724 Yow flour of armys and of vaſſolage,
Gif yow be loſt!”—thus til his tent hyme brocht
The surgeons are sought,
With wofull hart, and al the ſurryȝenis ſocht,
Wich for to cum was reddy at his neid;
2728 Thai fond the lord was of his lyf in dreid,
For wondit was he, and ek wondit ſo,
who found he had two broken ribs, but no mortal wound.
And in his ſyd ware brokyne Ribys two.
Bot nocht for-thi the king thai maid beleif
[Fol. 34 a.]
2732 That at that tyme he ſhuld the deith eſchef.
[O]ff melyhalt the ladyis knychtis were
In to the feld, and can thir tithingis here,
The lady of Melyhalt’s knights tell her how the battle went,
And home to thar lady ar thai went,
2736 Til hir to ſchewing efter thar entent,
In euery poynt, how that the batell ſtud
Of galiot, and of his multitud;
and how Gawane bare him in the field, and of his wounds.
And how gawan hyme in the feld hath borñ,
2740 Throw quhoys ſwerd ſo many o knycht vas lorñ,
And of the knychtly wonderis that he wrocht,
Syne how that he one to his tent vas brocht.
The lady hard, that lowit gawan so,
She weeps for him.
2744 She gan to wep, in to64 hir hart vas wo.
Lancelot requests to see the lady;
Thir tythyngis one to lancelot ar goñ,
Whar-of that he was wonder wo-bygone,
And for the lady haſtely he sent,
2748 And ſche til hyme, at his command, Is went:
and inquires if Gawane is really likely to die.
He ſaluſt hir, and ſaid, “madem, Is trew
Thir tithingis I her report of new
Of the aſſemble, and meting of the oſt,
2752 And of ſir gawan, wich that ſhuld be loſt?
LANCELOT’S LAMENT FOR GAWANE.
If that be ſwth, adew the flour of armys,
He laments over him,
Now neuermore recoueryt be the harmys!
In hyme was manhed, curteſſy, and trouth,
2756 Beſy trawell In knychthed, ay but ſleuth,
Humilyte, [and] gentrice, and cwrag;
In hyme thar was no maner of outrage.
first apostrophizing himself,
Allace! knycht, allace! what ſhal yow ſay?
2760 Yow may complen, yow may bewail the day
As of his deith, and gladſchip aucht to ſes,
Baith menſtraſy and feſting at the des;
For of this lond he was the holl comfort,
2764 In tyme of ned al knychthed to ſupport!
and next blaming the lady for not having allowed him to be present in the battle.
Allace! madem, and I durſt ſay at ȝhe
Al yhour beheſt not kepit haith to me,
Whar-of that I was in to full belef
2768 Aȝañe this day that I ſchuld have my lef,
And nocht as cowart thus ſchamfully to ly
Excludit in to cage frome chewalry,
Whar othir knychtis anarmyt on thar ſtedis
2772 Hawntis ther ȝhouthhed in to knychtly dedis.”
“Sir,” quod ſche, “I red yhow not diſpleß,
[Fol. 34 b.]
Ȝhe may In tyme her-efter cum at es;
LANCELOT PREPARES FOR BATTLE.
She promises he shall go to the next battle,
For the thrid day Is ordanit, & ſhal be
2776 Of the oſtis a new aſſemble,
And I have gart ordan al the gere
That longith to ȝour body for to were,
saying that his sable armour is ready.
Boith horß and armour
2780 Of ſable, ewyne aftir ȝhour awn dewyß;
And yhe ſal her remayne one to the day;
Syne may ȝhe paß, fore well ȝhe knaw the way.”
“I will obey, madem, to yhour entent.”
2784 With that ſche goith, and to hir reſt is went:
In the morn she takes her leave, to go to the court.
One the morn arly vp ſche roß
Without delay, and to the knycht ſche gois,
And twk hir lef, and ſaid that ſcho vald fare
2788 On to the court, with-outen any mare.
He kneels, and thanks her often.
Than knelit he, and thankit hir oft-ſys,
That ſche ſo mych hath done hyme of gentriß,
And hir byhecht euer, at his myght,
2792 To be hir awn trew & ſtedfaſt knycht.
She goes unto the king,
Sche thonkith hyme, and ſyne ſche goith her way
On to the king, with-owten more delay,
Whar that in65 honour with king & qwen ſche ſall
2796 Rycht thonkfully reſauit be with-all.
Eft to ſir gawan thai hir led, & ſche
Ryght gladly hyme deſyrit for to ſee,
and finds Sir Gawane quite different from what had been told her.
And ſche hyme fond, and ſche was glad tharfore,
2800 All vthir ways than was hir told before.
The knycht, the wich in to hir keping vas,
The lady’s cousin cherishes Lancelot in her best manner.
Sche had commandit to hir cuſſynece,
Wich cheriſt hyme apone hir beſt manere,
2804 And comfort hyme, and maid hym rycht gud chere.
[T]he days goith, ſo paſſith als the nycht,
The third day, the maiden goes to his chamber, and fastens on his armour.
The thrid morow, as that the ſone vas lycht,
The knycht onon out of his bed aroß,
2808 The maden ſone one to his chalmer goß,
And ſacretly his armour one hyme ſpent.
He tuk his lef, and ſyne his way he went
He goes to the same green, beside the river, as before.
Ful prewaly, rycht to the ſamyne greñ
2812 One the rewere, whar he befor had ben,
Ewyne as the day [he] the first courß hath maad.
Alone rycht thar he howit, and abaade,
[Fol. 35 a.]
Behalding to the bertes, whar the qweñ
He abides there alone, looking towards the parapet where he saw the queen.
2816 Befor at the aſſemble he had señ
Rycht ſo the ſone ſchewith furth his lycht,
And to his armour went is euery wycht;
The jousting begins.
One athir half the Iusting is bygon,
2820 And many o fair and knych[t]ly courß is rown.
The black knight still halts on his steed.
The blak knycht ȝhit howyns on his ſted,
Of al thar doing takith he no hed,
Bot ay, apone the beſynes of thocht,
2824 In beholding his ey departit nocht.
THE QUEEN BEHOLDS THE BLACK KNIGHT.
The lady beholds him and knows him; but yet inquires who he is,
To quhom the lady of melyhalt beheld,
And knew hyme by his armour & his ſcheld,
Qwhat that he was; and thus ſche ſaid one hycht:
2828 “Who is he ȝone? who may he be, ȝhone knycht,
So ſtill that hovith and ſterith not his Ren,
And ſeith the knychtis rynyng one the greñ?”
thus calling the attention of Gawane,
Than al beholdith, and in princypale
2832 Sir gawan beholdith moſt of all;
Of melyha[l]t the lady to hyme maid
Incontinent, his couche and gart be had
Be-fore o wyndew thore, as he mycht se
2836 The knycht, the oſt, and al the aſſemble.
He lukith furth, and ſone the knycht hath ſen,
who saith to the queen:
And, but delay, he ſaith one to the qwen,
“Madam, remember that the red knight halted where yon knight halts.”
“Madem, if ȝhe remembir, ſo it was
2840 The red knycht in to the ſamyne place
That wencuſt al [at] the first aſſemble;
Whar that ȝone knycht howis, howit hee.”
“Why do you inquire?” she replies.
“Ȝha,” quod the qwen, “rycht well remembir I;
2844 Qwhat is the cauß at ȝhe inquere, & quhy?”
“Madem, of [al] this larg warld is he
“He is the knight, madam, whom I most desire to see.”
The knycht the wich I most deſir to ſee
His ſtrenth, his manhed, his curag, and his mycht,
2848 Or do in armys that longith to o knycht.”
THE ORDER OF BATTLE.
[B]y thus, arthur, with conſell well awyſit,
Arthur arranges his lines of battle.
Haith ordanit his batellis, and devyſit:
King Ydrus leads the first;
The firſt of them led ydrus king, & he
2852 O worthy man vas nemmyt for to bee.
Harwy the Reweyll, an aged knight, the second.
The ſecund led harwy the Reweyll,
That in this world was knycht that had moſt feill
For to prowid that longith to the were,
2856 One agit knycht, and well couth armys bere.
[Fol. 35 b.]
[T]he thrid feld [he] deliuerit in the hond
King Angus, a cousin of Arthur, leads the third.
Of angus, king of ylys of ſcotlande,
Wich cuſing was one to king arthur nere,
2860 One hardy knycht he was, withouten were.
King Ywons the fourth.
The ferd batell led ywons the king,
O manly knycht he was In to al thing.
And thus dewyſit ware his batellis ſere,
In every company are 15,000.
2864 In euery feld xv thouſand were.
[T]he fift66 batell the lord ſir ywan lede,
The lord Sir Ywan leads the rearguard.
Whois manhed was in euery cuntre dred,
Sone he was one to wryne the kyng,
2868 Forwart, ſtout, hardy, wyß, and ȝhing;
Xx thouſand in his oſt thai paſt,
Wich ordanit was for to aſſemble laſt.
Galiot’s armies.
[A]nd galiot, apone the tothir ſyde,
2872 Rycht wyſly gan his batellis to dewid.
Malenginys leads the first line;
The firſt of them led malenginys the king,
None hardyar In to this erth lewyng;
He neuer more out of his cuntre Raid,
2876 Nor he with hyme one hundereth knychtis hade.
the first-conquest king the second; Walydeyne the third;
[T]he ſecund the first-conqueſt king led,
That for no perell of armys vas adred;
The thrid, o king clepit walydeyne,
2880 He led, and was o manly knycht, but weyne.
Clamedeus the fourth;
[T]he ferd, king clamedeus has,
Wich that lord of far ylys was.
and King Brandymagus the fifth.
The fift67 batell, whar xl thouſand were,
2884 King brandymagus had to led and ſtere,
O manly knycht, and prewit well oft-ſyß,
And in his conſell wonder ſcharp & wyß.
Galiot bore no arms;
Galiot non armys bur that day,
2888 Nor as o knycht he wald hyme-ſelf aray,
but was arrayed as a servant in a habergeon with a “prekyne” hat, and a truncheon in his hand.
But as o ſeruand in o habariowne,
O prekyne hat, and ek o gret trownſciowñ
In til his hond, and one o curſour ſet,
2892 The beſt that was in ony lond to get.
Endlong the rewar men mycht behold & ſee,
Of knychtis weryne mony one aſſemble;
The black knight still remains looking towards the parapet.
And the blak knycht ſtill he couth abyde,
2896 Without remowyng, one the Riwer ſyde,
Bot to the bartes to behold and ſee
Thar as his hart deſyrit moſt to bee:
THE FIRST MESSAGE TO THE BLACK KNIGHT.
The lady says to the queen—
And quhen the lady of melyhalt haith ſeñ
[Fol. 36 a.]
2900 The knycht ſo ſtond, ſche ſaid one to the qweñ,
“Madam, pray commend yourself to yon knight.”
“Madem, It is my conſell at ȝhe send
One to ȝone knycht, ȝour-ſelf for to commend,
Beſeiching hyme that he wald wndertak
2904 This day to do of armys, for ȝour ſak.”
The queen replies
The quen anſuerit as that hir lykit nocht,
For othir thing was more In to hir thocht,
“For well ȝhe ſe the perell how disio[i]nt,
2908 The adwentur now ſtondith one the point
Boith of my lord his honore, and his lond,
And of his men, in68 danger how thai ſtond:
that the lady and the rest may send a message, but that she will not herself take part in it.
Bot ȝhe, and ek thir vthere ladice may,
2912 If that yhow lykith, to the knycht gar ſay
The meſag; is none that wil yhow let,
For I tharof ſal nocht me entermet.”
On to the quen ſcho ſaith, “her I,
2916 If ſo it pleß thir vthir ladice by,
Am for to ſend one to the knycht content;”
And al the ladice can thar-to aſſent,
Beſeching hir the meſag to dewyß,
2920 As ſche that was moſt prudent & moſt wyß.
The lady sends a discreet maiden,
Sche grantit, and o madeñ haith thai tone,
Diſcret, apone this meſag for till gone;
and Sir Gawane a squire, with two spears,
And ſir gawan a ſqwyar bad alſo,
2924 With two ſperis one to the knycht to go.
The lady than, withouten more dulay,
Haith chargit hir apone this wyß to ſay:
to say that all the ladies, the queen alone excepted, commend them to the black knight,
“Schaw to the knycht, the ladice euer-ilkone
2928 Ben In the court, excep the quen allon,
Til hyme them haith recommandit oft-ſyß,
Beſeching hyme of knychthed and gentriß,
(Or if It hapyne euermore that he ſhall
2932 Cum, quhar thai may, owther an or all,
In ony thing awail hyme or ſupport,
Or do hyme ony pleſans or comfort,)
and pray him to essay some deed of arms.
He wold wichſaif for loue of them this day
2936 In armys ſum manhed to aſſay;
And ſay, ſir gawan hyme the ſperis ſent;
Now go, this is the fek of our entent.”
The damsel and squire
The damyſell ſche hath hir palfray tone,
2940 The sqwyar with the ſperis with hir goñ;
[Fol. 36 b.]
The nereſt way thai paß one to ye knycht,
repeat the message.
Whar ſche repete hir meſag haith ful rycht:
SIR LANCELOT IS NOT CONTENT.
Sir Lancelot, finding the queen not in the message,
And quhen he hard, and planly wnderſtude,
2944 How that the quen not in the meſag ȝude,
was not content,
He ſpak no word, bot he was not content;
Bot, of ſir gawan, glaid in his entent,
He aſkit quhar he was, and of his fair?
2948 And thai to hyme the maner can duclair;
but asks the squire to hold the two spears ready for him.
Than the ſqwyar he prayth that he wold
Paß to the feld, the ſperis for to hold.
He ſaw the knychtis ſemblyng her and thare,
2952 The ſtedis Rynyng with the ſadillis bare;
His ſpuris goith in to the ſtedis syde,
That was ful ſwyft, and lykit not to byd;
HE USES UP SIR GAWANE’S TWO SPEARS.
And he that was hardy, ferß, and ſtout,
He attacks a company of a hundred knights, slays the nearest,
2956 Furth by o ſyd aſſemblyng on a rout
Whar that one hundereth knychtis was, & mo;
And with the firſt has Recounterit so,
That frome the deth not helpith hym his ſcheld,
2960 Boith horß and man is lying in the feld;
The ſpere is gone, and al in pecis brak,
and with the stump of his spear bereaves two or three of their saddles.
And he the trunſcyoune in his hand hath tak
That two or thre he haith the ſadillis reft,
2964 Whill in his hond ſchortly no thing is left.
Syne, to the ſquyar, of the feld is goñ,
He takes a new spear from the squire, and overthrows three knights.
Fro hyme o ſpere In to his hond haith ton,
And to the feld returnyt he aȝayne:
2968 The firſt he met, he goith one the plan,
And ek the next, and ſyne the thrid alſo;
Nor in his hond, nore in his ſtrak was ho.
His ennemys that veryng In affray
2972 Befor his ſtrok, and makith rovm alway;
And in ſich wyß ay in the feld he vrocht,
Whill that his ſperis gon var al to nocht;
Whar-of ſir gawan berith vitneſing
2976 Throw al this world that thar vas non levyng,
In ſo ſchort tyme ſo mych of armys wrocht.
His spears gone, he returns to his first position.
His ſperis gone, out of the feld he ſocht,
And paſſit is one to the Rewere syde,
2980 Rycht thore as he was wont for to abyde;
[Fol. 37 a.]
And ſo beholdyne In the ſamyne plañ,
As to the feld hyme lykit nocht aȝañ.
THE SECOND MESSAGE TO THE BLACK KNIGHT.
Sir Gawane says to the queen:
Sir gawan ſaw, and ſaith on to the quen,
“Madam, yon knight thinks himself despised, because you so specially excepted yourself in the message;
2984 “Madem, yhone knycht diſponit [not],69 I weyñ,
To help ws more, fore he ſo is awyſit;
As I preſume, he thinkith hyme diſpiſit
Of the meſag that we gart to hyme mak;
2988 Yhowre-ſelf yhe have ſo ſpecialy out-tak,
He thinkith ewill contempnit for to bee,
Conſidering how that the neceſſitee
Moſt prinſpally to yhowr ſupporting lyis.
2992 Tharfor my conſell is, yhow to dewyß,
And ek ȝhowre-ſelf in yhowr treſpas accuß,
ask him mercy, therefore, and excuse your guilt.
And aſk hyme mercy, and yhour gilt excuß.
For well it oucht o prince or o king
2996 Til honore and til cheriß in al thing
O worthi man, that is in knychthed prewit.
For throw the body of o man eſchevit
Mony o wondir, mony one aduenture,
3000 That merwell war til any creature.
And als oft-tyme is boith hard & ſen,
For often, by one knight’s prowess, have 40,000 been worsted by 5,000.
Quhar xl thouſand haith diſcumfit ben
Vith v thouſand, and only be o knycht;
3004 For throw his ſtrenth, his vorſchip, & his mycht,
His falowſchip ſich comfort of hym tais
That thai ne dreid the danger of thar fays.
And thus, madem, I wot, withouten were,
If yon knight will continue to help the king,
3008 If that ȝhone knycht this day will perſywere
With his manhed for helping of the king,
We ſal have cauß to dred in to no thing.
Our folk of hyme thai ſal ſich comfort tak,
3012 And ſo adred thar ennemys ſal mak,
That ſur I am, onys or the nycht,
yon folk shall perforce take to flight.”
Of forß ȝhone folk ſal tak one them the flycht:
Wharffor, madem, that ȝhe have gilt to mend,
3016 My conſell is one to ȝhon knycht ȝe ſend.”
She consents to send a message.
“Sir,” quod ſche, “quhat pleſſith yhow to do
Ȝhe may dewyß, and I conſent thar-to.”
Than was the lady of melyhalt content,
3020 And to ſir gawan in-to-contynent
[Fol. 37 b.]
Sche clepit the maid, wich that paſſit ar;
A maiden is therefore sent to say,
And he hir bad the meſag thus duclar.
“Say [to]70 the knycht, the quen hir recommendith,
3024 And ſal correk in quhat that ſche offendith
At his awn will, how ſo hyme liſt dewyß;
that the queen humbly exhorts him
And hyme exortith, in moſt humyll wyß,
As euer he will, whar that ſche can or may,
3028 Or powar haith hir charg, be ony way,
And for his worſchip and his hie manhede,
to help in that need to preserve the king’s honour, and to deserve her thanks.
And for hir luf, to helpen in that ned
The kingis honore, his land fore to preſerf,
3032 That he hir thonk for euer may deſerf.”
SIR GAWANE SENDS HIM TEN SPEARS MORE.
And four ſquyaris chargit he alſo
Sir Gawane also sends four squires with three horses and ten spears.
With thre horß and ſperis x to go
Furth to the knycht, hyme prayng for his ſak,
3036 At his raqueſt thame in his ned to tak.
[T]he maden furth with the ſqwyaris is went
One to the knycht, and ſchawith yar entent.
The message heard, he inquires about the queen,
Tho meſag hard, and ek ye preſent ſeñ,
3040 He anſwerit, and aſkith of the qwen;
and is told that from yon parapet she can witness his deeds.
“Sir,” quod ſche, [“sche]71 in to ȝhone bartiis lyis,
Whar that this day yhour dedis ſal dewyß,
Yhowr manhed, yhour worſchip, and affere,
3044 How ȝhe conteñ, and how yhe armys bere;
The quen hir-ſelf, and many o lady to,
Sal Iugis be, and vitnes how yhe do.”
Than he, whois hart ſtant in o new aray,
He returns a message that he is the queen’s knight.
3048 Saith, “damyceyll, on to my lady ſay,
How euer that hir lykith that it bee,
Als far as wit or powar is in me,
I am hir knycht, I ſal at hir command
3052 Do at I may, withouten more demand.
And to ſir gawan, for his gret gentriß,
Me recommend and thonk a thouſand ſyß.”
With that o ſper he takith in his hond,
He stands in his stirrups; and seems to increase a foot in height.
3056 And ſo in to his ſterapis can he ſtond
That to ſir gawan ſemyth that the knycht
Encreſyng gon o larg fut one hycht;
And to the ladice ſaith he, and the qwen,
3060 “Ȝhon is the knycht that euer I have ſen
In al my tyme moſt knychtly of affere,
And in hyme-ſelf gon fareſt armys bere.”
THE BLACK KNIGHT’S CHARGE.
[Fol. 38 a.]
[T]he knycht that haith Remembrit in his thocht
Greatly encouraged,
3064 The qwenys chargis, & how ſche hym beſocht,
Curag can encreſing to his hart;
His curſer lap, and gan onon to ſtart;
And he the ſqwaris haith reqwyrit ſo,
3068 That thai with hyme one to the feld wald go.
without delay he crosses over the river to the field;
Than goith he one, withouten mor abaid,
And our the reuar to the feld he raid;
Don goith his ſpere onone In to the Reſt,
and goes in wherever he sees most peril.
3072 And in he goith, withouten mor areſt,
Thar as he ſaw moſt perell and moſt dred
In al the feld, and moſt of help72 had ned,
Whar ſemblyt was the firſt-conqueſt king
3076 With mony o knycht that was in his leding.
He overthrows two knights.
The firſt he met, doune goith boith horß & man;
The ſper was holl, and to the next he Rañ
That helpit hyme his hawbrek nor his ſcheld,
3080 Bot throuch and throuch haith perſit in the feld.
SIX KNIGHTS FOLLOW HIM.
Sir Kay, Sir Sygramors, Sir Gresown, Sir Ywan, Sir Brandellis, and Gahers, all six in a race spur across the field with stretched spears,
Sir kay, the wich haith this encontyr ſen,
His horß he ſtrekith our the larg gren,
And ſir ſygramors ek the deſyrand,
3084 With ſir greſown cummyth at yar honde,
Son of the duk, and alſua ſir ywan
The baſtart, and ſir brandellis onan,
And gaherß, wich that broyir was
3088 To gawan; thir ſex in a Raß
Deliuerly com prekand our the feldis
With ſperis ſtraucht, and couerit with thar ſcheldis;
Sum for love, ſum honor to purcheß,
and 100 knights after them.
3092 And aftir them one hundereth knychtis was,
In ſamyne will, thar manhed to aſſay.
On his v falowis clepit than ſir kay,
Sir Kay exhorts them
And ſaith them, “ſiris, thar has ȝhonder ben
3096 A courß that neuer-more farar was ſen
Maid be o knycht, and we ar cummyn ilkon
Only ws one [his] worſchip to diſpone;
And neuer we in al our dais mycht
3100 Have bet axampil than iffith ws ȝone knycht
to keep near the black knight, and follow his guidance all day.
Of well doing; and her I hecht for me
Ner hyme al day, if that I may, to bee,
And folow hyme at al [my] mycht I ſall,
3104 Bot deth or vthir adwentur me fall.”
With that thir ſex, al in one aſſent,
With freſch curag In to the feld Is went.
[Fol. 38 b.]
The blak knychtis ſpere in pecis goñe,
With a second spear, the black knight seeks the field, closely followed by the six.
3108 Frome o ſqwyar oñe vthir haith he toñe,
And to the feld onone he goith ful rycht;
Thir ſex with hyme ay holdith at yar mycht.
And than bygan his wonderis in the feld;
3112 Thar was no helme, no hawbryk, nore no ſcheld,
No knight nor armour can withstand him.
Nor yhit no knycht ſo hardy, ferß, nore ſtout,
No ȝhit no maner armour mycht hald owt
His ſtrenth, nore was of powar to withſtond;
3116 So mych of armys dyde he with his honde,
Every wight wonders at his deeds.
That euery wight ferleit of his deid,
And al his fois ſtondith ful of dreid.
So beſely he can his tyme diſpend,
3120 That of the ſperis wich ſir gawan ſend,
He uses up all Gawane’s spears.
Holl of them all thar was not lewit oñe;
Throw wich but mercy to the deyth is gon
Ful many o knycht, and many o weriour,
3124 That couth ſuſten ful hardely o ſtour.
Two horses of his are killed, and he fights on foot.
And of his horß ſuppriſit ded ar two,
One of his awn, of gawanis one alſo,
And he one fut was fechtand one the gren,
3128 When that ſir kay haith with his falowis ſeñ;
The squire brings him a fresh horse;
The ſqwyar with his horß than to hym brocht;
Magre his fois he to his courſeir ſocht
Deliuerly, as of o mychty hart,
he leaps into the saddle without stirrups.
3132 Without ſteropis in to his ſadill ſtart,
That euery wycht beholding mervell has
Of his ſtrenth and deliuer beſynes.
SIR KAY ASKS WHO THE BLACK KNIGHT IS.
Sir Kay asks who he is,
Sir kay, ſeing his horß, and how that thai
3136 War cled in to ſir gawanis aray,
Aſkith at the ſquyar if he knewith
What that he was, this knycht? & he hym ſchewith
but the squire cannot tell.
He wiſt no thing quhat that he was, nore hee
3140 Befor that day hyme neuer ſaw with Ee.
Than aſkith he, how and one quhat wyß
On gawanis horß makith hyme ſich ſeruice?
The ſqw[y]ar ſaith, “forſuth y wot no more;
3144 My lord ws bad, I not the cauß quharfore.”
The black knight returns to the field.
The blak knycht, horſit, to the feld can ſew
Als freſch as he was in the morow new;
The six comrades follow him.
The ſex falowis folowit hyme ilkone,
3148 And al in front on to the feld ar goñ;
[Fol. 39 a.]
Rycht freſchly one thar ennemys thai ſoght,
And many o fair poynt of armys vroght.
Malangin’s host is discomfited by king Ydras; and retreats to join the second line, commanded by the Conquest-king;
[T]han hapnyt to king malangins oſt
3152 By ydras king diſcumfit was, & loſt,
And fled, and to the conqueſt-king ar goñe,
Thar boith the batellis aſſemblit In to one;
King malengynis in to his hart was wo,
3156 For of hyme-ſelf no better knycht mycht go;
so that 40,000 are now opposed to 15,000 of Arthur’s.
Thar xl thouſand war thai for xv.
Than mycht the feld rycht perellus be ſen
Of armyt knychtis gaping one the ground;
3160 Sum deith, and ſum with mony a grewous wond;
For arthuris knychtis, that manly war and gud,
Suppos that vthir was o multitude,
Reſauit tham well at the ſperis end;
3164 But one ſuch wyß thai may not lang defend.
THE BLACK KNIGHT’S PROWESS.
The black knight, knowing who is beholding him,
The blak knycht ſaw the danger of the feld,
And al his doingis knowith quho beheld,
And ek remembrith in to his entent
3168 Of the meſag that ſche haith to hyme ſent:
Than curag, ſtrenth encreſing with manhed,
Ful lyk o knycht one to the feld he raid,
thinks to have his lady’s love, or die before her.
Thinking to do his ladice love to have,
3172 Or than his deth befor hir to reſave.
Thar he begynyth in his ferß curag
Of armys, as o lyoune in his rag;
Than merwell was his doing to behold;
3176 Thar was no knycht ſo ſtrong, nor yhit ſo bold,
That in the feld befor his ſuerd he met,
Nor he ſo hard his ſtrok apone hyme ſet,
That ded or wondit to the erth he ſocht;
He works nothing but wonders;
3180 For thar was not bot wonderis that he wrocht.
And magre of his fois euerilkone,
and often passes alone through the field.
In to the feld oft tymys hyme aloñ
Throuch and throuch he paſſith to & fro;
3184 For in the ward73 it was the maner tho
That non o knycht ſhuld be the brydill tak
Hyme to oreſt, nore cum behynd his bak,
Nor mo than on at onys one o knycht
3188 Shuld ſtrik, for that tyme worſchip ſtud ſo rycht.
Ȝhit was the feld rycht perellus and ſtrong
Till arthuris folk, ſet thai contenyt longe;
[Fol. 39 b.]
Bot in ſich wyß this blak knycht can conten,
He fights in such wise as to encourage all who see his deeds.
3192 That thai, the wich that hath his manhed ſeñ,
Sich hardyment haith takyne In his ded,
Them thocht thai had no maner cauß of dred,
Als long as he mycht owthir ryd or go,
3196 At euery ned he them recomfort ſo.
Sir Kay and his fellows follow him all day.
Sir kay haith with his falowis al the day
Folowit hyme al that he can or may,
And wondir well thai have in armys prewit,
3200 And with thar manhed oft thar folk relewit;
Bot well thai faucht in diuerß placis ſere,
But at last they are nearly all overpowered by numbers.
With multitud yar folk confuſit were,
That long in ſich wyß mycht thai nocht conteñ.
SIR KAY’S MESSAGE TO SIR HARWY.
Sir Kay sends Gawane’s squire with a message to Sir Harwy that he ought not to suffer the best knight that ever bore arms to be surprised,
3204 Sir kay, that hath ſir gawans qſquyaris ſen,
He clepit hyme, and haith hyme prayt ſo,
That to ſir harwy the rewell wil he go,
And ſay to hyme, “ws think hyme ewil awyſit;
3208 For her throuch hyme he ſufferit be ſuppriſit
The beſt knycht that euer armys bur;
And if it ſo befell of adwentur,
In his defalt, that he be ded or lamyt,
3212 This warld ſal have hyme vtraly defamyt.
nor six knights of the Round Table to be discomfited.
And her ar of the round table alſo
A falouſchip, that ſall in well and wo
Abid with hyme, and furth for to endur
3216 Of lyf or deth, this day, thar adwentur;
And if ſo fal diſcumfyt at thai bee,
The king may ſay that wonder ewill haith he
Contenit hyme, and kepit his honore,
3220 Thus for to tyne of chevalry the flour!”
The squire takes the message.
The ſqw[y]ar hard, and furth his way Raid,
In termys ſchort he al his meſag ſaid.
Sir harwy ſaith, “y wytneß god, that I
3224 Neuer in my days comytit tratory,
And if I now begyne In to myne eld,
In ewill tyme fyrſt com I to this feld;
Sir Harwy says that Sir Kay shall have no cause to reprove him.
Bot, if god will, I ſal me ſon diſcharg.
3228 Say to ſir kay, I ſal not ber the charg,
He ſal no mater have me to rapref,
I ſal amend this mys if that I lef.”
The ſqwyar went and tellit to ſir kay;
GALIOT’S FOLK ARE WORSTED.
Sir Harwy comes to support them;
3232 And ſir harwy, in al the haſt he may,
Aſſemblyt hath his oſtis, & onoñ
[Fol. 40 a.]
In gret deſyre on the feld is gon
Before his folk, and haldith furth his way;
3236 Don goith his ſper, and ewyne before ſir kay
So hard o knycht he ſtrykith in his ten
That horß and he lay boith apone the gren.
Sir gawan ſaw the counter that he maad,
3240 And leuch for al the ſarues that he had:
and proves himself a better warrior than might have been expected of one so old.
That day ſir harwy prewyt in the feld
Of armys more than longith to his eld,
For he was more than fyfty yher of ag,
3244 Set he was ferß and ȝong in his curag;
And fro that he aſſemblyt his bataill
Galiot’s folk are beaten.
Doune goith the folk of galotis al haill;
For to withſtond thai war of no poware,
3248 And yhit of folk x thouſand mo thei vare.
King Valydone comes to support them.
Kyng valydone, that ſauch on ſuch o wyß
His falowis dangerit with thar ennemys,
With al his folk, being freß and new,
3252 Goith to the feld onon, them to reſſkew;
Thar was the feld rycht perellus aȝañe,
Of arthuris folk ful many on var ſlan.
Angus comes to aid Arthur’s men.
Bot angus, quhich that lykith not to bid,
3256 And ſaw the perell one the tother ſid,
His ſted he ſtrok, and with his oſt is gon
Whar was moſt ned, and thar the feld has ton.
Clamedyus comes to aid Galiot’s men.
Kyng clamedyus makith non abaid,
3260 Bot with his oſt one to the ſid he raid.
Ywons encounters Clamedyus.
And ywons king, that haith his cummyn ſen,
Encounterit hyme in myddis of the greñ.
The aucht batellis aſſemblyt one this wiß;
Great clamour and lamentable cries on either side.
3264 On ather half the clamore and the cryiß
Was lametable and petws for til her,
Of knychtis wich in diuerß placis ſere
Wondit war, and fallyng to and fro,
3268 Ȝhit galyotis folk war xx thouſand mo.
THE BLACK KNIGHT’S DARING RESOLUTION.
The black knight bids himself remember love’s power over him;
The blak knycht than on to hyme-ſelf he ſaid:
“Remembir the, how yhow haith ben araid,
Ay ſen ye hour that yow was makid knycht,
3272 With love, aȝane quhois powar & whois mycht
Yow haith no ſtrenth, yow may It not endur,
Nor ȝhit non vthir erthly creatur;
and that only his lady’s mercy or his life’s end can amend him.
And bot two thingis ar the to amend,
3276 Thi ladice mercy, or thi lyvys end.
And well yhow wot that on to hir preſens,
[Fol. 40 b.]
Til hir eſtat, nor til hir excellens,
Thi febilneß neuermore is able
3280 For to attan, ſche is ſo honorable.
And ſen no way yow may ſo hie extend,
He counsels himself to strive for her thanks,
My verray conſell is, that yow pretend
This day, (ſen yow becummyne art hir knycht
3284 Of hir comand, and fechtit in hir ſycht),
And well yow ſchaw, ſen yow may do no mor,
That of reſone ſche ſal the thank tharfore;
and to be ashamed of every point of cowardice.
Of euery poynt of cowardy yow ſcham,
3288 And in til armys purcheß the ſum nam.”
With that of love in to o new deſir
Swift as a crossbow-bolt he seeks the field.
His ſpere he ſtraucht, and ſwift as any wyre
With al his forß the nereſt feld he ſoght;
3292 His ful ſtrenth in armys thar he vroght,
In to the feld ruſching to and fro,
Doune goith the man, doune goith the horß also;
Sum throw the ſcheld is perſit to the hart,
3296 Sum throw the hed, he may It not aſtart.
His sword carves the head from some, and cuts the arms of others in twain.
His bludy ſuerd he dreuch, that carwit ſo
Fro ſum the hed, and ſum the arm in two;
Sum in the feld fellit is in ſwoñ,
3300 Throw ſum his ſuerd goith to the ſadill doune.
His fois waren abaſit of his dedis,
His mortell ſtrok ſo gretly for to dred Is;
When his foes see him, they leave the place for dread of death.
Whar thai hyme ſaw, within a lytall ſpace,
3304 For dreid of ded, thai levyng hyme the place,
That many o ſtrok ful oft he haith forlorñ;
The ſpedy horß away the knycht hath borñ.
In to his wyrking neuermore he ſeſt,
3308 Nor non abaid he makith, nor areſt.
His knightly deeds assure his fellows.
His falowis, ſo in his knychthed aſſuryd,
Thai ar recomfort, thar manhed is recoueryt,
And one thar fois ful ferſly thai ſoght,
3312 Thar goith the lyf of many o knycht to nocht.
So was the batell wonderful to tell,
Of knychtis to ſe the multitud that fell,
It was pitiful to see the knights gaping upon the green.
That pety was til ony knycht to ſeñ
3316 The knychtis lying gaping on the gren.
The blak knycht ay continewit ſo faſt,
Whill74 many one, diſcumfit at the laſt,
[Fol. 41 a.]
Are fled, and planly of the feld thei pas:
GALIOT WONDERS WHY HIS MEN FLEE.
Galiot asks his men why they flee.
3320 And galyot haith wondyr, for he was
Of mor powar, and aſkit at them qwhy
As cowartis thai fled ſa ſchamfully?
A knight replies, that whoever likes may go and see marvels.
Than ſaith o knycht, ſor wondit in the brayne,
3324 “Who lykith, he may Retwrn aȝayne
Frome qwhens we come, merwalis for to ſee,
That in his tyme neuer ſich ſauch hee.”
Galiot asks, what marvels; and the knight tells him there is a knight who vanquishes all;
“Marwell,” quod he, “that dar I boldly ſay
3328 Thay may be callit, and quhat thai ar, I pray?”
“Schir, in the feld forſuth thar is o knycht,
That only throw his body and his mycht
Wencuſſith all, that thar may non ſuſten
3332 His ſtrokis, thai ar ſo fureows and ken.
who fares as a lion or a bear;
He farith as o lyone or o beyre,
Wod in his rag, for ſich is his affere.
to whom the red knight hears no comparison.
Nor he the knycht in to the armys Red,
3336 Wich at the first aſſemble in this ſted
Wencuſſith all, and had the holl renown,
He may to this be no comparyſoune,
Fore neuer he ſeſith ſen the day vas goñ,
3340 Bot euermore continewit in to one.”
Galiot says he will go and see.
Quod galiot, “in nome of god and we
Al, be tyme, the ſuthfaſtneß ſal see.”
GALIOT RALLIES HIS MEN.
Galiot is armed, rallies the flyers, and encourages his men.
[T]han he in armys that he had is gon,
3344 And to the feld with hyme aȝane hath ton
Al the flearis, and foundyne [in]75 ſich aray
His folk, that ner diſcumfyt al war thay;
Bot quhen thai ſaw cummyne our the plan
3348 Thar lord, thai tuk ſich hardement aȝañ,
They shout their war-cries.
That thar eſſenȝeis lowd thai gon to cry.
He chargit tham to go, that ware hyme by,
Straucht to the feld, with al thar holl forß;
3352 And thai, the wich that ſparit not the horß,
All redy war to fillyng his command,
And freſchly went, withowten more demand:
Throw qwich thar folk recoueryt haith thar place,
All think a new host is coming.
3356 For al the feld preſwmyt that thar was
O new oſt, one ſuch o wyß thai ſoght;
Arthur’s folk determine rather to die than fly.
Whar arthuris folk had paſſith al to nocht,
Ne war that thai the better war ilkoñe,
3360 And at thai can them vtraly diſpoñe
[Fol. 41 b.]
Rathar to dee than flee, in thar entent,
And of the blak knycht haith ſich hardyment;
For at al perell, al harmys, and myſchef,
3364 In tyme of ned he can tham al ralef.
[T]har was the batell dangerus & ſtrong,
Gret was the pres, bath perellus & throng;
The black knight is borne to the ground.
The blak knycht is born on to the ground,
3368 His horß hyme falyth, that fellith dethis wound.
The six comrades go to the earth.
The vi falowis, that falowit hyme al day,
Sich was the preß, that to the erth go thay;
And thar in myd among his ennemys
3372 He was about encloſit one ſich wyß
None know where he is.
That quhare he was non of [his] falowis knew,
Nor mycht nocht cum to help hyme, nore reſkew.
And thus among his ennemys allon
He defends himself with his sword.
3376 His nakid ſuerd out of his hond haith ton;
And thar he prewit his wertew & his ſtrenth;
For thar was none within the ſuerdis lenth
That came, bot he goith to confuſioune.
No helm nor habergeon may resist his sword.
3380 Thar was no helme, thar was no habirioune,
That may reſiſt his ſuerd, he ſmytith so;
One euery ſyd he helpith to and fro,
That al about the compas thai mycht ken;
3384 The ded horß lyith virſlyng with the men.
Thai hyme aſſalȝeing both with ſcheld & ſpere,
He fares like a bear at the stake, that snubs the hardy hounds.
And he aȝane; as at the ſtok the bere
Snybbith the hardy houndis that ar ken,
3388 So farith he; for neuer mycht be ſen
His ſuerd to reſt, that in the gret rout
He rowmyth all the compas hyme about.
GALIOT WONDERS AT LANCELOT’S PROWESS.
[A]nd galiot, beholding his manhed,
Galiot wonders at his deeds;
3392 Within his-ſelf wonderith of his ded,
How that the body only of o knycht
Haith ſich o ſtrenth, haith ſich affere & mycht;
Than ſaid he thus, “I wald not that throw me,
and says that such a knight shall not die on his account.
3396 Or for my cauß, that ſuch o knycht ſuld dee,
To conquer all this world that is ſo larg.”
His horß than can he with his ſpuris charg,
A gret trunſioune In to his hond hath ton,
3400 And in the thikeſt of the preß is goñ,
He charges all his folk to cease;
And al his folk chargit he to ſeß.
At his command thai levyng al the preß;
[Fol. 42 a.]
And quhen he had departit all the rout,
3404 He ſaid, “ſir knycht, havith now no dout.”
Wich anſwerit, “I have no cauß to dred.”
and assures the black knight that he will himself warrant him from all harm.
“Ȝis,” quod he, “ſa euer god me ſped,
Bot apone fut quhill ȝe ar fechtand here,
3408 And yhow defendith apone ſich manere,
So hardely, and ek ſo lyk o knycht,
I ſal my-ſelf with al my holl mycht
Be yhour defens, and varand fra al harmys;
3412 Bot had yhe left of worſchip In til armys,
What I have don I wold apone no wyß;
Bot ſen yhe ar of knychthed ſo to prys,
Ȝhe ſal76 no maner cauß have for to dred:
He offers him as many horses as he needs; and proposes that they shall never again part.
3416 And ſet yhour horß be falit at this ned,
Diſpleß yhow not, for-quhy ȝe ſal not want
Als many as yhow lykith for to hawnt;
GALIOT GIVES LANCELOT HIS OWN HORSE.
And I my-ſelf, I ſal yhowr ſqwyar bee,
3420 And, if god will, neuer more ſal wee
He ’lights from his horse, and gives him to Lancelot, who thanks him.
Depart;” with that, anon he can to lycht
Doune frome his horß, and gaf hyme to ye knycht.
The lord he thonkit, and the horß hath ton,
3424 And als ſo freſch one to the feld is gon,
As at no ſtrokis he that day had ben.
His falowis glad, one horß that hath hym ſen,
To galiot one vthir horß thai broght;
3428 And he goith one, and frome the feld he ſocht,
Galiot returns to his host, and chooses a band of 10,000 men.
And to the plan quhar that his oſtis were;
And brandymagus chargit he to ſtere
Efter hyme, within a lytill ſpace,
3432 And x thouſand he takyne with hym haß.
Towart the feld onon he can to Rid,
And chargit them befor ye oſt to byd.
The trumpets, clarions, horns, and bugles are sounded.
Wp goith the trumpetis, and the claryownis,
3436 Hornys, bugillis blawing furth thar ſownis,
That al the cuntre reſownit hath about;
Arthur’s folk despair.
Than arthuris folk var in diſpar & dout,
That hard the noys, and ſaw the multitud
3440 Of freſch folk; thai cam as thai war wod.
LANCELOT HARANGUES ARTHUR’S HOST.
The sable knight, still fearless,
[B]ot he that was withowten any dred,
In ſabill cled, and ſaw the gret ned,
Aſſemblyt al his falowis, and arayd;
harangues his men, saying,
3444 And thus to them in manly termes ſaid:
[Fol. 42 b.]
“What that ȝe ar I knaw not yhour eſtat,
“I know not who ye are, but I know that ye ought to be commended.
Bot of manhed and worſchip, well I wat,
Out throuch this warld yhe aw to be commendit,
3448 This day ȝe have ſo knychtly yhow defendit.
Ye see how your enemies, as night approaches, are striving to give you an outrage or a fright.
And now yhe ſee how that, aȝanis the nycht,
Yhour ennemys pretendit with thar myght
Of multitud, and with thar new oſt,
3452 And with thar buglis and thar wyndis boſt
Freſchly cummyng In to ſich aray,
To ifyne yhow one owtrag77 or affray.
And now almoſt cummyne Is the nycht,
Employ then your courage, so that the honour ye have won be not again lost.
3456 Quharfor yhour ſtrenth, yhour curag, & yhovr mycht
Yhe occupye in to ſo manly wyß,
That the worſchip of knychthed & empryß
That yhe have wonyng, and ye gret renown
3460 Be not yloſt, be not ylaid doune.
For one hour the ſufferyng of diſtreß,
Gret harm It war yhe tyne the hie encreß
Of vorſchip, ſeruit al this day before.
3464 And to yhow al my conſell is, tharfore,
Resolve then to meet them sharply, without fear, so that they may feel the cold spear in their hearts.
With manly curag, but radour, yhe pretend
To met tham ſcharply at the ſperis end,
So that thei feil the cold ſperis poynt
3468 Out-throw thar ſcheldis, in thar hartis poynt.
So ſal thai fynd we ar no-thing affrayt;
Whar-throuch we ſall the well leß be aſſayt.
Perhaps then the foremost will make the rest afraid.”
If that we met them ſcharply in the berd,
3472 The formeſt ſal mak al the laif afferd.”
And with o woyß thai cry al, “ſir knycht,
Apone yhour manhed, and yhour gret mycht,
They promise to stand firm.
We ſal abid, for no man ſhall eſchef
3476 Frome yhow this day, his manhed for to pref.”
Sir Yvan also bids his men be comforted; for that they see all the strength of their enemies.
And to his oſt the lord ſir yvane ſaid,
“Yhe comfort yow, yhe be no-thing affrayd,
Ws ned no more to dreding of ſuppriß;
3480 We ſe the ſtrenth of al our ennemys.”
Thus he ſaid, for he wend thai var no mo,
Sir Gawane, however, knew better.
Bot ſir gawan knew well It vas not ſo;
For al the oſtis mycht he ſe al day,
3484 And the gret hoſt he ſaw quhar yat it lay.
THE POEM ABRUPTLY ENDS.
Galiot also exhorts his men.
[A]nd galiot he can his folk exort,
Beſeching them to be of good comfort,
And ſich enconter