Middle English Metrical Romances [2]

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LIBRARY BLOOMSBURG STATE COLLEGE Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania

Digitized by the Internet Archive in

2010

http://www.archive.org/details/middleenglishmetOOfren

MibMe

Sngltah

iHptrtral ISninanrea

PR2064.F7

Ult&M?

iEttnltah

•b»is3hb. 'ffllllllll'IU

edited

by

Walter Hoyt French and Charles Brockway Hale

VOLUME

II

NEW YORK RUSSELL & RUSSELL 1964

•

INC

pi

02,

FIRST PUBLISHED IN I930

REISSUED, I964, BY RUSSELL & RUSSELL, INC.

BY ARRANGEMENT WITH WALTER L. C.

H.

FRENCH

CATALOG CARD NO: 64— 18606

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

SIR

PERCEVAL OF GALLES

e knyghte 3ode For to wedde bat frely fode, 11 For be gyftes bat ware gude

And

for hir

ownn

35

sake.

40

Sythen, withowtten any bade, 12 A grete brydale 13 bay made, For hir sake bat hym hade

Chosen to hir make; 14 And after, withowtten any lett, A grete iustyng ber was sett; Off all be kempes 15 bat he mett Wolde he none forsake. 16

45

Wolde he none forsake, The Rede Knyghte ne be Blake,

50

bat wolde to hym take 17 schafte ne with schelde;

Ne none With

He

dose als a noble knyghte,

Wele haldes bat he highte; Faste preues he his myghte:

55

Deres hym none elde. Sexty schaftes, i say, Sir Percyuell brake bat ilke day,

And

euer bat riche lady lay walle and byhelde. 18 J)ofe be Rede Knyghte hade sworne, Oute of his sadill is he borne And almoste his lyfe forlorne, And lygges in the felde.

One

10

countless furnishings.

wedding festival. sworn the contrary. 13

,4

n lovely maid. mate.

l2

"warriors.

delay (a tag I6

60

common

refuse battle.

l7

in this

come.

poem). ls

i.e.,

46. On the custom of holding tournaments at the wedding of a lord or the birth of an heir, see W. C. Meller, "The Knight's Life in the Days of Chivalry," 134. 50. A Red Knight and a Black Knight are two of the villains of the

piece; but possibly this line

means merely "knights

of all sorts."

—— ARTHURIAN PIECES

534

There he lygges in the felde Many men one hym byhclde Thurgh his armour and his schelde Stoneydc 19 bat tyde. pat arghede 20 all bat ber ware, Bothe be lesse and be mare, pat noble Percy uell so wele dare Syche dynttys habyde. Was ber nowthir more ne lasse Off

all

65

vo

bose bat ber was

pat durste mete

Agaynes

hym

hym

one be grasse,

75

to ryde.

J)ay gaffe Sir Percyuell be gree: Beste worthy was he;

And hamewarde3 ban And blythe was his

rode he, bryde.

so

And

bofe be bryde blythe be pat Percyuell hase wone be gree, 3ete be Rede Knyghte, es he Hurte of his honde; And berfore gyffes he a gyfte 21 pat if he euer couere 22 myghte Owthir by day or by nyghte, In felde for to stonde, pat he scholde qwyte hym bat dynt pat he of his handes hynte; 23 Sail neuer bis trauell be tynt,

85

90

Ne tolde in be londe pat Percyuell in the felde Schulde hym schende bus vndire schelde, 19

stunned.

20

made

fearful,

"assurance,

"recover.

- 3

labor be lost:

i.e.,

his effort be in vain.

74. Was and pat agree with the singular subject of the main clause, not with their real antecedent pose. The text lacks a stressed 78. Holthausen emended to was pat fre. syllable.

83.

MS.

kynghte.

— SIR

PERCEVAL OF GALLES

Bot he scholde agayne

it

3elde,

535 95

bat he were leueande.

If

Now

ban are bay leueande bathe; no3te be Rede Knyghte so rathe For to wayte hym with skathe 24 Er ber be harmes felle; 25

Was Ne

befelle ber

Till Percyuell

A

no

100

stryffe

had

in his lyffe

son by his 3onge wyffe,

Aftir hym to duelle. When be child was borne, He made calle it one be morne

105

Als his ffadir highte byforne 3onge Percyuell. The knyghte was fayne, a feste made For a knaue 26-childe bat he hade; And sythen, withowtten any bade, Offe justynge3 bay

Now

of justynge3

pay sayne bat

telle.

bay

no

27

tell:

Sir Percyuell,

pat he will in be felde duelle, 28 Als he hase are done. A grete justynge was ber sett

115

Of all be kempes 29 bat ber nictt, For he wolde his son were gette In be same wonne. 30 peroff be Rede Knyghte was blythe,

120

" bring violence upon him. " before dissension occurred. 26 male. 2 announce. 29 warriors, champions. ° brought into the same await all comers. habit; i.e., would grow up enjoying combat.

24

28 i.e.,

:1

Holthausen's emendation. be a mistake for pal. 106. The baptising and christening of infants was never long delayed; the child was thus enabled at once to enjoy the benefits of the sacrament, which purged it of original sin. Cf. Ciautier, Ch. V. He was also proCf. tect cd against being carried off by monsters or demons or fairies. Ian laud's "Science of Fairy Tales," Ch. V. 95.

MS.

it

scholde agayne be golden.

100. per, abbreviated in the

I

MS.,

may

ARTHURIAN PIECES

536

When he herde of bat justynge kythe, 31 And graythed hym armour ful swythe, And rode thedir ri3te sone. Agayne Percyuell he rade, With schafte and with schelde brade, 32

To

125

holde his heste 33 bat he made,

Of maistres

to

mone. 34

Now

of maistres to mone, Percyuell hase wele done, For be loue of his 3onge sone, One be firste day.

130

Ere be Rede Knyghte was bownn, Percyuell hase borne downn Knyght, duke, erle, and baroun, And vencusede the play. 35 Right als he hade done bis honour, So come be Rede Knyghte to be stowre; Bot "Wo worthe wykkyde armour!" Percyuell

For ber was

And

be

may

135

say;

140

Sir Percyuell slayne,

Rede Knyghte fayne

(In herte

When

is no3te for to layne), he went on his way.

When

he went on his way, Durste ber no man to hym say, 36 Nowber in erneste ne in play, To byd hym habyde; For he had slayne ri3te bare The beste body at 37 bare ware: Sir Percyuell, with wounde3 sare, 31

lit.,

when he heard

33

promise. the sport.

34 38

call to

speak.

(it)

mind 3V

made known concerning injuries;

i.e.,

145

150

the jousting.

his past disgrace.

36

32

broad.

vanquished

in

person that.

139. "A curse on faulty armor!" The references to untrustworthy arms are numerous. When a sword proved trustworthy, the knight often gave it a name, and prized it greatly, for his very life might depend on its durability. Cf. Meller, op. cit., 73 ff.

— SIR

PERCEVAL OF GALLES

And stonayed bat tyde. And ban bay couthe no better Bot put

hym

537

rede

in a preuee stede,

Als bat men dose with be dede In erthe for to hyde.

155

Scho bat was his lady Mighte be full sary, pat lorne hade siche a body: Hir aylede no pryde.

160

And now

is Percyuell be wighte Slayne in batelle and in fyghte, And be lady hase gyffen a gyfte, 38 Holde if scho may, pat scho schall neuer mare wone In stede, with hir 3onge sone, per dede3 of arme3 schall be done, By nyghte ne be daye; Bot in be wodde schall he be: Sail he no thyng see

Bot be leues

165

no

of the tree

be greues graye; 39 40 Schall he nowber take tent

And

To

juste3 ne to tournament,

Bot in be wilde wodde went, 41 With beste3 to playe.

With wilde

175

beste3 for to playe,

Scho tuke hir leue and went hir waye, Bothe at baron and at raye, 42 And went to be wodde. Byhynde scho leued boure and haulle;

iso

A mayden

scho tuke hir withalle, pat scho my3te appon calle When bat hir nede stode. 38

assurance. 160.

a

*

grey groves.

Holthausen suggested

more common than

aylede.

i0 i.e.,

know.

41

go about.

[v\aylede, availed; as

42

king.

an idiom,

it

is

much

ARTHURIAN PIECES

538

Ober gude3 wolde scho nonne nayte, 43 Bot with hir tuke a tryppe of gayte, 44 With mylke of bam for to bayte 45

To Off

185

hir lyues fode. 46

all

hir lordes faire gere,

Wolde scho no3te with

hir bere

190

Bot a lyttill Scottes spere, Agayne hir son 3ode. 47

And when

hir 3ong son 3ode,

Scho bade

hym

walke

Tuke hym be Scottes

And

hym

in be

wodde,

spere gude,

195

hande. "Swete modir," sayde he, gaffe

"What manere

of

in

thyng

may

bis

bee

nowe hafe taken mee? What calle 3ee this wande?" 48 Than byspakke the lady: ))at 3e

200

"Son," scho sayde, "sekerly, doghty;

It is a dart

In be wodde i it fande." childe es payed, of his parte, His modir hase gyffen hym bat darte; J)erwith made he many marte 49 In that wodde-lande.

The

205

Thus he welke in be lande, With hys darte in his hande; Vnder be wilde wodde-wande 50

210

46 as sustenance for their lives. 45 feed. 44 flock of goats. " in use, have. 4* *» staff. slaughtered anticipation of (the time when) her son should walk. i0 animal. branches. 4 *

191. The weapon is obviously a dart, which might be cast at a mark or animal, but was unsuitable for tilting or thrusting. For much material on this and other details of the plot, see 11. H. Griffith's "Sir Perceval of Galles" (University of Chicago thesis); lie points out (22) that the weapon is elsewhere described as short (478), and suggests that the word in the text is a corruption of this. The word also bears a resemblance to sckot, cast. Evidently it is a talismanic spear, which alone can accomplish the death of the Red Knight.

—

— SIR

PERCEVAL OF GALLES

539

He wexe and wele thrafe. He wolde schote with his spere 1

2

Bestes and ober gere, As many als he myghte He was a gude knaue

215

bere; !

Smalle birdes wolde he slo, Hertys, hynde3 also; Broghte his moder of thoo:

Thurte

none craue. 3

hir

220

So wele he lernede hym to schote, per was no beste bat welke one fote To fle fro hym was it no bote, When bat he wolde hym haue

Euen when he wolde hym haue. Thus he wexe and wele thraue,

225

And was

reghte a gude knaue Within a fewe 3ere. Fyftene wynter and mare

He

duellede in those holtes hare;

Nowber nurture ne

230

lare 4

hym

none lere. on a day, pe lady till hir son gun say, "Swete childe, i rede bou praye To Godde3 Sone dere, pat he wolde helpe the Scho wolde

Till it byfelle,

Lorde, for his poustee 5

A

man

gude

And

—

for to bee,

"Swete moder," sayde

schall to

i

Then byspakke "It es be grete throve, learning. 1

'.strike 6

power.

240

longe to duelle here." ho,

"Whatkyns 6 a godd may pat 30 nowe bydd mee pat

235

by casting. 6

bat be

pray?" bo lady euen: 7

Godd 3

she had not to

what manner of

.

245

of heuen: !>at be Kynge hade

625

:

Mighte no tonge tell. dere God/' said J?e Kyng

"A

!

"J)at all this

J?an,

wyde we ride wan,

630

euer hafe bat man May make 3one fende duelle? Fyve 3eres hase he bus gane, And my coupes fro me tane,

Whethir

i

sail

And my gude knyghte

Men

slayne,

635

calde Sir Percyuell

Sythen taken hase he three, And ay awaye will he bee, Or may harnayse 41 me i

In felde "Petir

!" 42

hym

to felle."

640

quod Percyuell be 3ynge,

"Hym

ban wil [i] down dynge And be coupe agayne brynge, And bou will make me knyghte." "Als i am trewe kyng," said he, "A knyghte sail i make the, Forthi bou will brynge mee The coupe of golde bryghte."

645

Vp ryses Sir Arthoure, Went to a chamboure To feche doun armoure,

650

J)e

childe in to dyghte;

Bot are 40 i.e.,

it

was doun

the poet's original,

caste, 43

" by

'"arm.

St. Peter!

*3

i.e.,

taken from the

hooks. 633. Campion emended to fijftene. The other versions do not help in establishing the right reading; but it seems that the knight takes a cup fifth year (637); and the poet may have eonfused this with the fifteen-year period elapsing after the death of Perceval's father. Cf.

every

Griffith 49. n.l.

653. The construction are dant, is fairly common.

.

.

.

ere,

the second correlative being redun-

— SIR

!

PERCEVAL OF GALLES

553

Ere was Percyuell paste, And on his 44 way folowed faste pat he solde with fyghte.

655

Wi[t]h his foo for to fighte, None obergates 45 was he dighte,

Bot

in thre

A

fole als

gayt-skynnes righte, he ware.

660

"How, 46 man on thi mere Bryng agayne be Kynges gere, Or with my dart sail be fere 47 And make be vnfere !" 48 And after be Rede Knyghte he rade,

He

cryed,

i

665

Baldely, withowtten bade:

"A knyght i sail be made For som of thi gere." He sware by mekill Godde3 payne, "Bot if bou brynge be coupe agayne, With my dart bou sail be slayne Sayd,

And

670

slongen of thi mere."

The knyghte byhaldes hym in throo, 49 Calde hym fole bat was hys foo, For he named hym soo pe stede bat

hym

675

be re.

And for to see hym with syghte, He putt his vmbrere on highte, To byhalde how he was dyghte 1

pat so

He

I sail

For

hym spake; "Come to the, i

1

i.e.,

visor.

the 2

Red

appert 2

fole,

caste be in be pole,

be heghe days of Als ane olde sakke."

44

680

till

sayde, all

Knight's.

4i

otherwise.

4e

Sole,

stop.

47

terrify.

48

infirm.

49

anger.

impudent.

682. Apparently a common way of disposing of dead wretches was to throw them into marshes and pools; cf. "Haveiok" 2110. 683. The Yule-season lasted about twelve days, and during this period all righting was forbidden. See Brand, on Yule.

ARTHURIAN PIECES

554

Than sayd Percyuell "Be fole, or whatte

i

Now

wee

i

sone of bat

Whose browes

sail

J?e

free,

see

schall blakke." 3

Of schottyng was be child slee At be knyghte lete he flee, Smote hym in at be eghe

And

685

bee,

4 :

690

oute at be nakke.

For be dynt bat he tuke, Oute of sadill he schoke, 5

Whoso And

be sothe will luke, 6 ber

was he

He falles down one be hill; His stede rynnes whare he J)an saide Percyuell

"pou

695

slayne.

hym

will.

till,

art a lethir swayne." 7

700

Then saide be childe in bat tyde, "And bou woldeste me here byde, mere scholde

i ryde agayne: pen my3te we bothe with my3te Menskfully 8 togedir fyghte, Ayther of vs, as he were a knyghte, Till tyme be tone ware slayne."

After

bi

And brynge

hir

705

Now

es be Rede Knyghte slayne, Lefte dede in the playne;

The

childe

gon

his

710

mere mayne 9

After be stede.

pe stede was swifter ban be mere, For he hade no thynge to bere Bot his sadill and his gere, Fro hym bofc he 3ede. The mere was bagged with fole; 10

And 3

grow

ine;

with

hirselfe a grete bole; 11

tumbled. the boy was skillful at casting al ;i mark. 7 evil knave. s honorably; i.e., as befits us. 'ride. '-

in truth.

foal.

716.

4

pale.

i.e.,

I.e.,

"

715

i.e.,

'

l0

examheavy

swelled.

"Though he was being pursued;"

but possibly f)ofe=paa.

PERCEVAL OF GALLES

SIR For

rynne scho my3te not thole, 12 hym no spede.

to

Ne

555

folowe

The

childe

And

till

saw bat

720

was soo, he gan hym too;

his fete

it

The gates bat he scholde goo

Made

he

gnede. 13

full

gates made he full gnede In be waye ber he 3ede; With strenght tuke he be stede And broghte to be knyghte. "Me thynke," he sayde, "bou arte pat bou ne will away stele; Now i houppe bat bou will dele Strokes appon hyghte. 15 I hafe broghte to the thi mere And mekill of thyn ober gere;

The

725

fele 14 730

Lepe on hir, as bou was ere, And bou will more fighte !" The knyghte lay still in be stede: What sulde he say, when he was dede? The childe couthe no better rede, Bot down gun he lyghte.

Now

735

740

es Percyuell lyghte

To vnspoyle 16

be Rede Knyghte, Bot he ne couthe neuer fynd righte

The lacynge

of his wede;

He was armede

so wcle

745

In gudc iryn and in stele,

He

couthe not gett of 17 a dele,

For nonkyns nede. 12

bear.

l3

stingy;

i.e.,

from on horseback.

16

took

no extra steps, ran straight.

despoil.

17

M trusty.

1S

i.e.,

off.

720. too, for Ida; take, get. 738. Cf. "< >gier de Danemarche" sit J. The dead men on the walls are addressed by Charlemagne: CU sunt tot qoi qenus n'a mot soni: Com

parlera qi ne put

1

ne ne sett

ARTHURIAN PIECES

556

He sayd, "My moder bad me, When my dart solde broken be, Owte

750

of be iren bren be tree: 18

Now es me fyre gnede." 19 Now he getis hym flynt, His fyre-iren 20 he hent, And ben, withowtten any stynt,

He

Now

755

kyndilt a glede. 21

he kyndils a glede:

Amonge be buskes 22 he 3ede And gedirs, full gude spede,

A

Wodde, a

fyre to

grete fyre

made he

The Rede Knyghte

make.

760

ban,

in to bren,

For he ne couthe nott ken His gere

off to take.

Be ban was

Sir

Gawayne

dyght,

765

Folowede after be fyghte Betwene hym and be Rede Knyghte, For be childes sake.

He

fande be Rede Knyght lyggand, Slayne of Percyuell hande,

770

Besyde a fyre brynnande Off byrke and of akke. 23 per brent of birke and of ake Gret brandes and blake. 24 "What wylt bou with this fyre make?"

Sayd Gawayne hym till. "Petir!" quod Percyuell then, "And myghte hym bus ken, 25 Out of his iren i wolde hym bren Righte here on this hill." Bot ben sayd Sir Gawayne, "The Rede Knyghte for bou has slayne, I sail vnarme hym agayne,

775

i

And bou 18 '''

will

holde be

780

still."

burn the wood out of the iron (head). 19 lacking. 20 steel, to strike on flint. tin' of coals. " bushes. " birch and oak. " charred. " i.e., get to see.

!

!

PERCEVAL OF GALLES

SIR pan

Sir

Gawayn doun

557

lyghte,

785

Vnlacede be Rede Knyghte;

The childe in his armour dight At his awnn will.

When he was dighte in his atire, He tase be knyghte bi be swire, 26 Keste hym reghte in the fyre,

790

pe brandes to balde. 27 Bot ben said Percyuell on bost, "Ly still berin now and roste I kepe nothynge of bi coste, 28

795

Ne

noghte of thi spalde !" 29 The knyghte lygges ber on brede; 30 The childe es dighte in his wede, And lepe vp apon his stede, Als hymselfe wolde. He luked doun to his fete, Saw his gere faire and mete: "For a knyghte i may be lete 31 And myghte be calde."

800

Then sayd Sir Gawayn hym till, "Goo we faste fro this hill pou hase done what bou will;

805

neghes nere nyghte."

It

"What! trowes bou," quod "pat

i

Vntill

Percyuell be 3ynge,

agayn brynge Arthoure be Kynge

810

will

pe golde bat es bryghte?

Nay, so mote

thryfe or thee, a lorde als he; To-day ne schall he make me None oJ>er gates 32 knyghte. Take be coupe in thy hande And mak piselfo be presande, 83 I

29

neck,

i.e.,

i

als grete

"embolden;

"shoulder; wise.

am

i.e.,

replenish,

strength of arm.

' presentation.

"care nothing

"sprawling,

"may

m

for

your

pass,

(evil)

-

ways,

"in any other

— ARTHURIAN PIECES

558

For i will forthire into be lande, Are i doun lyghte."

820

Nowber woldc he doun lyghte, Ne he wolde wende with be knyght, Bot rydes forthe all be nyghte: So prowde was he than. Till on be morne at forthe dayes, 34 He mett a wyche, as men says; His horse and his harnays Couthe scho wele ken. Scho wende bat it hade bene J)e Rede Knyghte bat scho hade sene, Was wonnt in bose armes to bene,

825

830

To gerre be stede rynne. In haste scho come hym agayne, Sayde, "It is not to layne, Men tolde me bat bou was slayne

835

With Arthours men. Ther come one Till

3onder

hill

of

my

men:

he gan

me

kenne, 35

There bou sees be fyre brene, And sayde bat bou was thare." Euer satt Percyuell stone-still, And spakke no thynge hir till Till scho hade sayde all hir will, And spakke lesse ne mare. 36

8 40

"At 3ondere hill hafe bone: Nothynge hafe there sene Bot gayte-skynncs, wene

845

i

i

i

Siche ill-farande fare. 37 Mi sone, and bou ware thare slayne

And thyn amies "Into

in

tho morning.

"show.

of drawen, 3fi

i.e.,

neither loss nor more,

850

"poor

stuff.

826. On the witch, see Griffith, Ch. III. By healing him alter a disastrous encounter, she prevents (he enchanter's enemies from vanquishIn^ him.

:

SIR I

;

PERCEVAL OF GALLES

559

couthe hele the agayne Als wele als bou was are."

Than

wist Percyuell

hym

by

thatt,

somwhatt, 38 39 The wylde fyre bat he gatt When be knyghte was slayne; And righte so wolde he, thare pat be olde wiche ware. It seruede

of

855

Oppon his spere he hir bare To be fyre agayne; wrethe 40 and in grete, He keste be wiche in be hete; He sayde, "Ly still and swete 41 Bi bi son, bat lyther 42 swayne Thus he leues thaym twoo, And on his gates gan he goo Siche dedis to do moo In

seo

ill

Was

!"

865

be childe fayne.

Als he come by a wodd-syde, He sawe ten men ryde; He said, "For oughte bat may betyde,

To bam

s-o

me." 43 When bose ten saw hym bare, pay wende be Rede Knyghte it ware, pat wolde bam all forfare, And faste gan bay flee; For he was sogates 44 cledde, Alio belyffe fro hym bay fiedde;

And

will

i

875

euer be faster bat ]>ay spedde,

The

swiftlyere

sewed 48

hee,

sso

he was warre of a knyghte, And of be menevaire 46 he had syghl Be put vp his vmbrere 47 od hight, Till

And was "will 48

of I

Borne [hie]

may God

!>
is lande, Als man }>at mekill moghte. 2 J)at tyme was here fast by Wonna[n]de a lady, And hir wele and lely 3

He So

luffede, als

byfelle

it

Now

J?e

me

2135

thoghte.

2140

appon a day,

sothe als

i

sail say,

Mi lorde went hym to play, And the lady bysoghte. 4

Now

J>e lady byseches he pat scho wolde his leman be; Fast he frayned J?at free,

48 *

ground,

truly.

*

turf.

4>

flew.

60

cursed

importuned.

2138. Campion's emendation.

it

so violently.

2145

'

fealty.

2

had great power.

SIR

PERCEVAL OF GALLES

599

For any kyns aughte. 5 At be firste bygynnyng,

He wolde hafe gyffen hir be ryng; And when scho sawe be tokynyng,

2150

Then was scho vn-saughte. 6 Scho gret and cried in hir mone; Sayd, 'Thefe, hase bou

And

hym

the ryng fro

J)at

hym

i

my

sone slone

tone,

2155

bitaughte?'

Hir clothes ther scho rafe 7 hir And to be wodd gan scho go; Thus es be lady so wo,

And

this

is

fro,

the draghte. 8

2160

For siche draghtis als this, Now es be lady wode, iwys,

And wilde in Ay sythen

be wodde scho bat ilke tyde. Fayne wolde i take bat free, Bot alsone als scho sees me, Faste awaye dose scho flee: Will scho noghte abyde."

Then sayde

es,

2165

Sir Perceuell,

"I will assaye full snelle

2170

To make Bot

One

i

bat lady to duelle; will noghte ryde:

my

fete will

i

ga,

lady to ta. aughte to bryng hir of wa: laye in hir syde." 9

J)at faire

Me I

He

sayse, "I laye in hir syde;

I sail

Till

'i.e.,

i

neuer one horse ryde hafe scne hir in tyde, 10

: wealth being no object; on any terms, "distressed. tore, bad luck, 'i.e., Bhe was my mother. 10 time; at once.

(of fate),

2162. 2175.

On On

the mother's madness, see Loomis, Ch. 27. the impersonal construction, cf. Int. YII.A.l.

2175

ARTHURIAN PIECES

600

Spede

if

i

may;

2180

Ne none armoure

bat

Sail

come appone me

Till

i

my

modir

may

may

be

see,

Be nyghte or by day. Bot reghte in be same wode J)at

i

2185

firste fro hir 3ode,

be in my mode ober play; 11 Ne i ne sail neuer mare Come owt of 3one holtis hare Till i wete how scho fare,

That

sail

Aftir

myn

For sothe,

Now

als

2190

saye."

i

for sothe, als

i

say,

With bat he helde one his way, And one be morne, when it was day, Forthe gonn he fare. His armour he leued berin, Toke one hym a gayt-skynne, And to be wodde gan he wyn,

Among

2195

be holtis hare.

2200

A

seuenyght long hase he soghte; His modir ne fyndis he noghte; Of mete ne drynke he ne roghte, So full he was of care. Till be nynte day, byfell 12 pat he come to a welle per he was wonte for to duelle

And drynk

take

hym

2205

thare.

When

he had dronken bat tyde, Forthirmare 13 gan he glyde; Than was he warre, hym besyde, Of be lady so fre; Bot when scho sawe hym thare, Scho bygan for to dare, 14 11

deeds;

i.e.,

despite anything.

12 it

rhaneed.

"

farther.

2210

u

hide.

— !

SIR

PERCEVAL OF GALLES

601

sone gaffe hym answare, pat brighte was of ble. Scho bigan to call and cry: !" Sayd, "Siche a sone hade i His hert lightened in hy, Blythe for to bee. Be bat he come hir nere pat scho myght hym here,

And

He

said,

"My

Wele byde

modir 3e

2215

2220

full dere,

me !"

Be

that, so nere getis he pat scho myghte nangatis 15 fie; I say 30W full certeynly, Hir byhoued ber to byde. Scho stertis appon hym in tene; Wete 3e wele, withowtten wene,

Had

2225

2230

myghte so mekill bene, 16 Scho had hym slayne bat tyde Bot his myghte was be mare, And vp he toke his modir thare; One his bake he hir bare: Pure 17 was his pryde. hir

2235

To

be castell, withowtten mare, pe righte way gon he fare; The portare was redy 3are,

And

lete

hym

in glyde.

2240

In with his modir he glade, Als he sayse bat it made; With siche clothes als bay hade,

pay happed 18

hir forthy.

pe gcant had a drynk wroghte; ])c portere sone it forthe broghte For no man was his thoghte

Bot 15

in

no

'J'-'l-'.

wise. '

'*

2245

for that lady.

strength been treat enough.

\s he s:iys

who composed

the tale."

i:

poor,

little.

18

clad.

— ARTHURIAN PIECES

602

pay wolde not lett long thon, Bot lauede 19 in hir with a spone; pen scho one slepe fell also sone, Reght certeyne in hy.

Thus the lady

2250

there lyes

Thre nyghttis and thre dayes, And be portere alwayes

Lay wakande Thus Ther

be portare

2255

hir by.

woke

[hir by]

whills 20 hir luffed se[kerly],

—

lady wene.

Till at be laste the

Wakede, als i pen scho was in

hir

2260

awenn

[state] 21

And

als wele in hir gate 22 Als scho hadde nowthir arely ne late Neuer berowte bene. Thay sett bam down one baire kne,

Thanked Godde, alle three, That he wolde so appon bam As it was there sene. Sythen

A

aftir

2265

see 23

gan bay ta 24 ma,

riche bathe for to

2270

And made

be lady in to ga, In graye and in grene.

Than

Sir Perceuell in

Toke

his

I

19

hy modir hym by, say 30W than certenly, And home went hee.

poured, dosed.

graciously.

24

20 all

the while (he).

2I

right mind.

2275

**

way;

i.e.,

sane.

:3

look

set about.

2257. A corner of the page is missing. Halli well's conjectures. 2261. Campion's conjecture. 2270. On medieval notions of the properties of colors, cf. W. G. Black, "Folk Medicine," Ch. 7. Cf. also "Eger and Grime." Green was especially effective in soothing and restoring. Grey is the traditional color of wild vegetation; cf. holies horc. 2275. M.S. centenly.

!

SIR

PERCEVAL OF GALLES

Grete lordes and the Qwene al bydene; When bay hym one lyfe sene, pan blythe myghte bay bee. Sythen he went into be Holy Londe,

603

Welcomed hym

2280

Wanne many cites full stronge, And there was he slayne, vndirstonde; i

Thusgatis endis hee. Now Ihesu Criste, heuens Kyng, Als he es lorde of all thyng, Grante vs all His blyssyng Amen, for charyte

2285

!

Explicit Sir Perceuell de quod Robert Thornton. Here endys bE romance of Sir Percevell of Gales. Gales, cosyn to Kyng Arthoure.

2279. Sene

is

preterite plural, saw.

THE AVOWING OF ARTHUR

THE AVOWING OF KING ARTHUR, SIR GAWAIN, SIR KAY, AND BALDWIN OF BRITAIN This romance is in the dialect of the northwest midlands of before The manuscript is in the possession of Colonel R. Ireland Blackburne; through his kindness and that of the late H. B. Melville, Robson's it has been possible to prepare the text from photographs. edition for the Camden Society, however, is very exact; for conFinal -11 venience, his numbering of the stanzas has been retained. Final -h is expanded to -lie only when the cross-stroke is very plain. is crossed except in lines 51 and 474, but since the stroke evidently has little significance (in lines 237, 510, 1036, and others, it is followed by an -e), it has usually been ignored. Flourishes after -n and other letters have been disregarded. The story is a skillful compilation: it introduces popular heroes, and blends several familiar anecdotes and traditional practical jokes 1400.

in a narrative that

is

by turns swaggering,

heroic, comic,

and

ex-

the Latin prose tale "Arthur and Gorlagon" (Haw. St. N. viii), and may very well have been adapted from a Welsh original. The sources and discussions of the different incidents are indicated in the notes to the text. On the verse, see Rom. Rev. 7.243. The poem shows several dialectal peculiarities: the omission of relatives, the assimilation of -n by pronouns {thi none, thine own),

tremely cynical.

In

all

these particulars,

it

is

like

plurals in -us, preterites in -ut, an extra -u after -w (dowun; Tabull), singular forms

where plurals seem called

for,

and the

Rowun spelling

qu- for wh- or w-. For a careful discussion of the dialect, see Review of English Studies 3.54, 186, and especially 328. I

He bat made vs on be mulde And fare fourmet bo folde 2 Atte his

The •

-:irtli.

'

will as

see

he wold,

and the sande,

formed the dry land. 607

1

ARTHURIAN PIECES

608

Giffe horn ioy bat wille here

6

Of du3ti men and of dere, Of haldurs 3 bat before vs were, pat lifd in this londe One was Arther the Kinge, !

Withowtun any letting; With him was mony lordinge Hardi

of

10

honde;

Wice and war ofte bay were, Bold vndur banere, And wi3te weppuns wold were, 4

And

stifly

15

wold stond. II

no fantum ne no fabulle: wote wele of be Rowun Tabull,

))is is

3e

Of prest men and priueabulle, 5 Was holdun in prise: Cheuetan 6 of chiualry, Kyndenesse of curtesy, 7 Hunting full warly, 8 As wayt 9 men and wise.

To be forest ba[y] fare To hunte atte buk and To be herte 11 and to be pat bredus in be

rise.

20

25

atte bare, 10

hare, 12

pe King atte Carlele he lay; pe hunter cummys on a day: Sayd, "Sir, ber walkes in A well grim gryse. 13

30

my way

Ill

He

a balefulle bare; Seche on segh i neuyr are; 3

elders.

ness.

8

*

bear.

alertly.

is

6 9

meritorious. 6 chief lord. brave. 10 boar. "hart.

7

lJ

i.e.,

courteous kind"horror.

(chief of)

thickets,

In northern poems, Carlisle was confused with Caerleon, and beof Arthur's principal seats. 30. Attached to each court was a professional huntsman, who attended to the mechanical details of the chase. 29.

came one

!

THE AVOWING OF ARTHUR

609

He hase wrc>3te me myculle care, And hurte of my howundes: Slayn horn downe

35

slely 14

With fe3ting full furcely; Wasse ber none so hardi Durste bide in his bandus. 15

On him spild my And mycull of my i

mone no

per

40

spere

nothir gere; dintus him dere,

Ne wurche him no wowundes. He is masly 16 made,

45

All of fellus 17 bat he bade; J)er is

no bulle so brade

That

in frith 18 foundes.

IV

He

is

he3er benne a horse,

That vncumly corse; 19 In fayth him faylis no force Quen bat he shalle fe3te

And Feye

50

berto blake as a bere, folk will he fere: 20

may no dyntus him dere, Ne him to dethe di3te.

per

55

Quen he quettus 21 his tusshes, Thenne he betus on be busshes: All 22 he rinnes

and he russhes, pat be rote is vnry3te. 23 He hase a laythelych luffe: 24 Quen he castus vppe his stuffe, 25

ls stay "craftily. in his neighborhood. hulk. 20 cowardly folk will he frighten. 25 dust cloud. a violent rage. 19

:l

16 massively. whets. n so.

60

17

"

hide.

torn up.

,s

field.

:< i.e.,

Bade

for hade? But then the tense is wrong. Destructive boars are found in many Celtic pieces, but wore not peculiar to them (cf. "Auberi"). Cf. "Kilhwch and Olwen," "Gawain and

46.

55.

the Green Knight" 1440, "Guy of Warwick" 6417, and "Sir Eglamoure." Wordsworth is said to have written Cunningham a letter including a rhyme thai "Arthur's boar" was loose and was ravaging the land. (Rom. Rev. 3.192.)

— ARTHURIAN PIECES

610

durst abide him a buffe, 26 Iwisse he were \vi3te."

Quo

He

sais, "In Ingulwode is hee." pe tober 27 biddus, "Lette him bee;

We

65

schall bat satnace 28 see,

Giffe bat he be bare." pe King callut on kny3tis thre: Himseluun wold be fuyrthe be; He sayd, "pere schalle no mo men6

Wynde

70

to be bore."

Bothe Kay and

Sir

And Bowdewynne

Gauan

of Bretan,

pe hunter and be howundus-squayn 29

Hase 3arket 30 hom 3are. J)e Kinge hase armut him in

75

hie,

bo thre buirnes 31 hym bie; Now ar bay fawre alle redie,

And

And

furthe conne bay fare.

so

VI Vnto be forest bay weynde pat 32 was hardy and heynde; pe huntur atte be northe ende His bugulle con he blaw, Vncoupult kenettis 33 as he couthe; Witturly bay S03te be southe Raches 34 with opon mouthe, Rennyng on a raw, 38

85

fute 36 of be bore, Faste folutte to him thore.

Funde "

blow.

27

31

men.

32

pack.

36

the king. those men who. i.e.,

28

fiend. 33

M master

90 of

hounds.

loosed the small dogs,

30

"dogs.

made 3b

ready.

row;

i.e.,

scent.

Inglewood is a forest in Cumberland, south of Carlisle. Baldwin appears as a knight in Malory, the Morte Arthur poems, and here. As a bishop, he appears in several Gawain poems and the Mabinogion. He seems to have been a Celtic hero. Cf. Loomis 172. 83. I.e., as they entered the forest; they were going south. 65.

74.

!

:

THE AVOWING OF ARTHUR Quen To

He

bat he herd, he hade care; be denne conne he draw:

slo3e horn

With fe3ting But witte 3e

He

611

downe full

sirs,

stode butte

slely

fuyrsly; witturly, litull

95

awe. 37

VII

pay held him

He

fast in his hold; 38

brittunt bercelettus 39 bold,

Bothe be 3unge and be

And

rafte

hom

old,

\>e rest.

40

100

pe raches comun rennyng him by, And bayes 41 him full boldely, Butte ber was non so hardy Durste on be fynde fast. 42 penne ]>e huntur sayd, "Lo, him bare 3a w bar such 43 him no mare;

!

105

Now may

3c sone to him fare; Lette see quo dose beste 3aw bar such him neuyr more 44 I sette my hed opon a store Butte-giffe he slaey 30 alle fawre, pat griselich geste !" 45

110

VIII

penne }>e hunter turnes home agayn; pe King callut on Sir Gauan,

On Bawdewin of Bretan, And on kene Kay. He sayd, "Sirs, in 30ur cumpany, Myne avow make

115

i,

Were he neuyr

so hardy,

3one satenas to say; 40 ,T

had

41

bririR

*b

little fear.

him

38

den. *2

to hay.

fearful stranger.

M

4t

120

cut hounds to pieces.

seize the fiend,

"need

seek.

took away their comfort. iA as I value my head.

attempt, attack.

110.

MS. raste. MS. BtUte

111.

"Slay" has been altered to "Hay"

100.

40

setle,

anticipating the next in

lino.

the

MS.

!

ARTHURIAN PIECES

612

To brittun 47 him and downe bringe Withoute any helpinge, And may haue my leuynge 48 Hentill to morne atte day And now, sir, cummaunde 30 To do as i haue done no we: Ichone make 30ur avowe." Gladdely grawuntutte bay. i

125

i

IX pen vnsquarut Gauan

And sayd "I

godely agayn,

130

avowe to 49 Tarne Wathelan To wake hit 50 all ny3te."

"And avow," sayd Kaye, "To ride bis forest or daye, Quo so wernes 2 me be waye, i

1

Hym

135

to dethe di3te."

Quod Baudewyn, "To stynte 3 owre I avow bi my life Neuyr to be ielus of my wife,

Ne

strife,

no birde 4 bry3te; Nere werne 5 no mon my mete Quen gode may gete; Ne drede my dethe for no threte, Nauthir of king ner kny^te."

140

Butte now bay haue bay re vowes made, ])ay buskute horn and furth rade

145

of

i

47 3

cut to pieces.

make an end

48 if I

of.

4

live.

woman.

49

at. 6

50

keep watch.

'

i.e.,

patrol.

:

contests.

refuse.

127. On the practice of vowing, cf. Koschwitz's later editions of "Karls des Grossen Reise nach Jerusalem," Introduction; STS 17, xxxv; and 21, Preface; cf. "Bricriu's Feast," and "The Tournament of Tottenham." It was usually a sort of literary exercise; but here the vows are actually carried out. Cf. ESt. 36.337; also MPkil 25.349. 131. The Tarn Wadling was a small lake about ten miles southeast of It was Carlisle. Arthur's knights often found adventures on its shores. drained long ago.

— THE AVOWING OF ARTHUR To

613

hold bat bay he3te hade,

Ichone sere 6 way. The King turnus to be bare; Gauan, with[oute] any more, To be tame 7 con he fore,

To wake

150

hit to day.

conne roune, 8 He rode be forest vppe and downe. Boudewynne turnes to toune J)enne

Kay, as

Quer bat

i

155

his gate lay,

And

sethun to bed bownus he; Butte carpe we now of ber 9 othir thre, How bay preuyd hor wedde-fee, 10 J)e

sothe for to say.

160

XI Furst, to carpe of oure Kinge,

Hit is a kyndelich thinge Atte his begynnyng, Howe he dcdde his dede. 11 Till his houndus con he hold; The bore, with his brode schilde, 12 Folut horn fast in be

filde

on hom gode spede. 13 be Kinge con crye,

And J)en

165

spillutte

And carputte of venerie; 14 To make his howundus hardi,

170

Houut 15 on a stede. come bare,

Als sone as he

A3aynus him rebowndet 16 be bare: lb' se neuyr no sy3te are So sore gerutte him to drede.

175

•separate. 7 lake. " tell (a tag), 'these, "justified their wager, "look at. 12 M cried out hunting terms. '* worked havoc rapidly. hide at the shoulder. 14 rode up. '• rebounded, dashed. 156. L60.

165. 171.

"Boke

MS. Sum pat. MS. />,, sothe. The rhyme-word should probably be hilde. Cf. 330. Some of the righl words to use to dogs are given in I/onl of St. Albans,"

under the hunting of the hare;

;dl

Berners' arc French.

ARTHURIAN PIECES

614

XII

He hade drede and doute Of him )?at was sturun 17 and stowte; He began to romy and rowte, 18 And gapes and gones. 19 Men my3te no3te his cowch kenne For howundes and for slayn men pat he hade draun to his denne And penne

Opon

brittunt

all

Kinge

]>e

to bonus. 20

con he quette, 21

his tusshes

180

i85

for to sette;

He

liftis vppe, withoutun lette, Stokkes 22 and stonis. With wrathe he begynnus to wrote: 23

He

ruskes 24 vppe

With tusshes So

of

mony

iii

a rote

190

fote,

grisly he gronus. 25

XIII J)enne

Opon

)>e

Kinge spanus 26

his spere,

bat bore for to bere;

may no dyntus him dere, So seker was his schilde. 27 pe grete schafte bat was longe,

))er

195

All to spildurs 28 hit spronge;

pe gode stede bat was stronge

Was

fallun in be filde.

200

As be bore had mente, He gaue be King such a dinte, Or he my3te his bridull hente, pat he my3te euyr hit fele. His stede was stonet 29 starke ded: He sturd neuyr owte of bat sted. 17

20 24

18 roar and nimble. 21 whet. stripped to the bones.

fierce, stern.

tears.

26

181.

I.e.,

193.

MS. span

204.

To

rages.

26

his lair

seizes.

27

" yawns;

i.e.,

205

comes on with open mouth.

22

23 root (with his tusks tree trunks. tough his hide. 28 splinters. 29 struck, stunned.

was concealed by the bones,

.

etc.

os.

restore rhyme, read, That euyr he hit felde.

!

THE AVOWING OF ARTHUR

615

To Ihesu

a bone he bede, Fro wothes hym weylde. 30

XIV penne be King

in his sadul sete

And \vi3tely wan on his fete; He prays to Sayn Margarete Fro wathes him ware: 31 Did as a du3ty kny3te: Brayd oute a brand bryjte And heue 32 his schild opon hi3te, For spild was his spere. Sethun he buskette him 3are, Squithe, withoutun any mare, A3aynus be fynde for to fare That hedoes was of hiere. 33

210

215

220

So bay cowunturt 34 in be fild, For all be weppuns bat he my3te weld, pe bore brittunt his schild On brest he conne bere.

XV pere downe knelus he And prayus till Him bat was so fre, "Send me be victore" pis satanas 35 me sekes." All wroth wex bat sqwyne, Blu and brayd vppe his bryne; 36 As kylne 37 ober kechine, pus rudely he rekes. 38

225

230

pe Kynge my3te him no3te see, Butte lenyt 39 him doune bi a tree, '

perils

him

countered. furnace.

to protect. 34

38

devil.

vilely

3I

he

" guard. 3J raised. " whose hair was hideous. 14 en3: maltsnorted and raised his brows (rolled his eyes). smells.

M bent.

recovered his balance. 211. St. Margaret is probably the Scotch saint of that name (d. 1093). 224. The relative which should introduce this line is omitted; the const ruction is common in northern poems. 232. In "The Master of Came" (W. A. and V. Baillie-C.roliman), the strong odor of the boar is especially mentioned. 209.

I.e.,

ARTHURIAN PIECES

616

So ny3e discumford 40 was hee For smelle oJ>er smekis. 41

And

235

as he neghet bi a noke, 42

pe King sturenly him stroke, That both his brees con blake; 43 His maistry he mekes. 44

240

XVI Thus his maistry mekes he With dyntus bat werun dii3t6; Were he neuyr so harde, pus bidus bat brothe. 45 pe Kinge, with a nobull brande, He mette be bore comande: On his squrd till his hande

He rennes full rathe. He bare him inne atte be throte; He hade no myrth of bat mote 46 He began to dotur and dote 47 :

245

250

Os he hade keghet scathe. 48 With sit siles 49 he adowne. To brittun him be King was bowne,

And

sundurt in bat sesun His brode schildus bothe.

255

XVII pe King couthe of venery, 50 Colurt him 1

full

kyndely:

pe hed of bat hardy He sette on a stake. Sethun brittuns he be best As venesun in forest;

260

40 discomfited. 41 43 brows grew pale; i.e., he was 42 drew near an oak. odors. 46 joy of 46 pauses that fierce (creature). stunned. 44 gets the upper hand. that encounter. 47 stagger and reel. 48 received injury. 49 pain sinks. 60 hunting. cut out the neck. '

256. The "schilds" were the shoulder quarters. The boar was to be cut up into thirty-two pieces ("Book of St. Albans"): The fyrsl of theym is the hede, whatteuer befall; An oper is the coler, and so ye schall hilt call:

The sheldys on

the sholderis, thereof shall ii be.

THE AVOWING OF ARTHUR

617

2

Bothe be 5onge and lees He hongus on a noke. 3 pere downe knelys hee pat loues Hur bat is free: Says, "pis socur bou hase send me For bi Sune sake !" 4 If he were in a dale depe, He hade no kny3te him to kepe: For-werre 5 slidus he on slepe: No lengur my3te he wake.

265

270

XVIII The King hase fillut his avowe; 6 Of Kay carpe we no we; How bat he come for his prowe 7 3e schall here

275

more.

Als he rode in be ny3te, In be forest he mette a kny3te, Ledand a brede 8 bry5te;

Ho wepputte wundur sore. Ho sayd, "Sayn Mar6 my3te me And saue me my madunhede, 10 9

And

giffe

280

spede

be kny3te for his dede

Bothe soro and care

!"

XIX pus ho talkes him tille, Quille 11 ho hade sayd alle hur And Kay held him full stille,

285

wille;

And in be holte houes. He prekut oute prestely 13 And aure-hiet 14 him radly, 1

5

strips

1

came

290

3 made pood his boas). oak. 'overweary. 'though. advantage a maiden, 'she. l0 maidenhood. ll until, "reu dashed out speedily. * overtook.

and

slices.

'

to seek his

mains.

.

l

263. Songe for pongr, strip; cf. 274. This episode is familiar.

ographv. 275. 280.

-

MS. fro MS. h .

his.

Layamon 1227. Sec "Vwain and Gawain" 1

for

bibli-

!

ARTHURIAN PIECES

618

And on be kny3te conne cry, And pertely him repreues, And sayd, "Recraiand 15 kny3te, Here

profur be to fi^te of bat biurde bri3te I bede be my glouus." pe tober vnsquarut him with skille i

Be chesun 16

And

sayd, "I

am

pat forward to In

alle

295

!

bat

redy atte

bi wille

fulfille

me

behouus."

300

XX "Now quethun

bou?" quod Kay, "Or quethur 17 is bou on way? pi ri3te name bou me say Quere wan bou bat wi3te?" pe tobur vnsquarut him agayn,

"Mi

ri3te

name

art

is

305

no3te to layn:

Menealfe of be Mountayn gode fadur hi3te; And this lady sum 18 i be telle: 19 I fochet hur atte Ledelle, per hur frindus con he felle As foes in a fi^te. So i talket hom tille pat muche blode conne spille, And all a3aynus bayre awne wille Sir

My

310

i

pere

wan

i

315

this wi3te."

XXI Quod Kay, "pe batell take Be chesun 20 of be birdus sake, i

IS

treacherous.

296. 300.

16

cause.

On the glove MS.peme.

ll

whither.

18

something.

19

got.

as a challenge, see Hall's note to

50

cause.

"King Horn" 793.

307. If this is the same character as the Meleagant of Chretien's "Charette," his father's name was Baudemagus. The poet seems confused. See Loomis 211 ff. 311. He may possibly refer to the father; but more probably this is a relapse into indirect discourse. MS. hur selle is expuncted, and he felle written over the line.

THE AVOWING OF ARTHUR And schalle wurch be wrake," 21 And sqwithely con squere. 22

619

i

320

penne bay rode togedur ry3te As frekes 23 redy to fi3te

Be chesun

Gay

in

of bat birde bry3te,

hor gere.

Menealfe was be more myjty:

He

stroke

Witte

Kay

325

stifly,

3e sirs, witturly,

With a scharpe

spere;

All to-schildurt 24 his schilde,

And aure his sadull gerut him to And felle him fiatte in be Aide, And toke him vppeon werre. 26

held, 25

330

XXII hase he

J)us

And And

wonnen Kay on

all to-spild

mekill of

27

is

[his]

werre,

his spere;

othir gere

335

holden to be pees. 28 penne vnsquarut Kay a3ayn Is

And

sayd, "Sir, atte Tarne Wathelan Bidus me Sir Gauan, Is derwurthe 29 on dese;

Wold

340

thethur be bowne 30 Or 3e turnut to be towne, 3e

He wold pay my rawunsone Withowtyn

He

delees."

sayd, "Sir Kay,

bi lyfe

i

be he3te

345

For a cowrce 31 of bat kny3te !" 3etto Menealfe, or be mydny3tpais) and dese (>nt squete.

The

initial

combinations look

much

alike in the

But squate (cf. "Ipomadon" 4352) means "heavy tumble." 665. At several points in the manuscript, words have been scrawled on the margin. On fol. 48, at the bottom, are two lines: Per me Rychardum Lathum; Thomas Yrlorui. After each, in another hand, has been added: scripsit hoc.

THE AVOWING OF ARTHUR He brayd

631

aure to be Kinge,

Withowtun any

letting;

He

asshed if he hade herd any tithing In bayre holtus hore. 25 and stode; J)e kny3te stedit Sayd, "Sir, as i come thro 3ondur wode, 26 butte gode I herd ne se Quere i schuld furthe fare."

680

XLIV Thanne was be Kinge ameruaylet bare That he wold telle him no more.

685

Als squithur 27 bay ar 3are, To masse ar thay wente. By be masse wasse done,

Kay come home

sone,

690

Told be King before none,

"We Of

Sir

He

is

ar

all

schente

Baudewyn, 30ur kny5te: nobull in be

fi3te,

Bold, hardy, and wi3te To bide on a bente. 28

695

Fie wille he neuyr more:

Him is much leuyr dee bore. 29 hur bat him bore, I may banne Suche harmes haue

i

hente

!"

700

XLV Noue be King sayd, "Fie he ne Ne werne his mete to no man;

can,

Gife any buirne 30 schuld him ban, A meruail hit ware." J)onne be

And

told

King cald his mynstrelle him holly 31 his wille:

Bede him layne

atte hit were 32

705

stille:

pat he schuld furth fare 15

pondered.

31

entirely,

M neither heard nor saw. "so that it should be.

s7

soon

as.

28 field.

"

curse.

J0

man.

ARTHURIAN PIECES

632

To Baudewins of Bretan: "I cummawunde be, or bou cum

agayne,

Faurty days, o payne, 33 Loke bat bou duelle bere, And wete me preuely to say If any mon go meteles 34 away; For bi wareson for ay, Do bou me neuyrmore." 35

710

715

XLVI pen be mynstrell weyndus on his Als fast as he may; Be none of be thryd day, He funde baym atte pe mete, J)e lady and hur mene And gestus grete plente; Butte porter none funde he To werne 36 him be 3ate, Butte rayket 37 in to be halle Emunge be grete and be smalle,

way

720

725

And loket aboute him aure-alle: He herd of no threte, 38 Butte riall 39 seruys and fyne: In bollus birlutte 40 bay be wyne,

730

And

cocus 41 in be kechine Squytheli con squete. 42

XLVII conne he loute, 43 all aboute; Both withinne and withoute, No faute he ber fonde. Kny3te, squyer, 3oman, ne knaue, Horn lacket no3te bat bay schuld hauo; pay nedut notte aftur hit to craue: Hit come to hor honde.

pen be

And

33

on penalty.

36

deny.

41

cooks.

37

42

ladi

be buirdes

34

made

his toil.

740

on your eternal welfare, do no more (than this). 38 threat, s» 40 way. constraint. splendid. passed. 43 bow.

unfed.

sweat,

735

36

:

THE AVOWING OF ARTHUR

633

penne he wente

to be dece, Before be pruddust 44 in prece; pat lady was curtase, And bede him stille stonde. He sayd he was knoun and couthe,

745

And was comun fro bi southe, 45 And ho had myrth of his mouthe To here his tithand. XLVIII

A

senny3te 46 duellut he bare; ))er was no spense for to spare: 47 Burdes 48 bay were neuyr bare, Butte euyr couurt clene; Bothe kny3te and squiere, Mynstrelle and messyngere, Pilgreme and palmere Was welcum, i wene. per was plenty of fode Pore men hade bayre gode, 49 Mete and drinke or bay 3ode, To wete wythoutyn wene.

750

755

760

pe lord lenge 50 wold no3te, Butte come home qwen him gode tho3te, And both he hase with him bro3te The Kinge and be Quene. A Fitte.

XLIX Now

ber

come fro be kechine and fine;

765

Riall seruice

Ther was no wonting

of wino ne to mare. pay hade atte bayre sopere Riche metes and dere; pe King, with a blythe chore, Bade horn sle care. 2

To

4i

proudest.

*b

1

lasse

*' "week. spending Bpared. "tables. 'lack. '"Baldwin tarry in Arthur's court),

the south,

their needs were filled. care, be merry.

770

4' :

i.e.,

kill

:

ARTHURIAN PIECES

634

pan sayd be Kingo opon

hi3te,

All sqwithe to be kny3te,

"Such a seruice on a ny3te Sc neuyr are." penne Bawdewyn smylit and on him logh; Sayd, "Sir, God hasc a gud plu5e;

775

i

He may send vs all enughe: Qwy schuld we spare?"

780

"Now cummawunde

J>e," quod be King, "To-morne in be mornyng pat bou weynde on huntyng, i

To wynne

vs be dere.

Fare furthe to be fenne; 3 Take with be howundus and men, For bou conne hom best kenne: pou knoes best here. For all day to-morne will i bide,

785

And no

790

forthir will

i

ride,

Butte with be lades of pride

To make me gud chere." To bed bownut 4 bay bat ny3te, And atte be morun, atte days li3te, pay blew hornys opon

And

hi3te

795

ferd furthe in fere.

LI penne be Kynge cald

And

sayd, "Felaw,

his huntere,

come here

!"

pe tober, with a blithe chere, Knelet on his kne Dowun to be Kinge con he lowte. 5 "I *

swamp. 778.

4

commawunde

went.

"God has

enough food.

6

be to be

all

soo

ny3te oute;

bow.

a good plough,"

i.e.,

he has the means of sending us

THE AVOWING OF ARTHUR

635

Bawdewyn, bat is sturun and stowte, With be schall he be. Erly in be dawyng 6 Loke bat j,e come fro huntyng; no venesun bring, litille reche me." tober vnsquarut him

805

If 3e

Full J)e

bertille,

Sayd, "Sir, bat 7 is atte 30UT aune J)at hald i resun and skille, As euyr my3te i the."

wille,

810

LII

And atte euyn be King con him And callut to him a kny3te, And to be chambur full ri3te He hiees gode waye, 8 Qwere be lady

of be

dy3te,

815

howse

And maydyns ful beuteowse, Were curtase and curio wse, 9 Forsothe in bed lay.

The Kyng

820

"Vndo;"

bede,

lady asshes, "Querto?" 10

J>e

He

In derne

Ho

am comun

sayd, "I sayd,

And

i

my

12

here, loe, 11

for to play."

"Haue

3e notte 30ur

lord to

my

To-ny3te more ne3e In fayth, gif

me

3c

may

i

aune quene

here,

825

fere? nere, 13

!" 14

LIII

"Vndo "For 6

15

dawning,

bi

bo

don

Him

'whatever.

1

,"

bat

quod be Kingo,

made

813.

On

this incident,

"The Earl of Toulouse" 821. MS. Vnlo. 825.

As

in

is

'* i.e.,

PMLA

see discussed.

other passages,

Ho

sayd

is

if

830

thinge,

'attentive.

"directly.

nearer shall you not be to me.

all

I

have

"why.

my

"

lo!

"secret.

way.

21.575, where

hypermetrical.

its

relationship to

ARTHURIAN PIECES

636

pou

schall

Butte

haue no harmynge none 15 wille."

in bi

Vppe

rose a damesell squete, In be Kinge bat 16 ho lete;

He sette him downe on hur beddus And talkes so hur tille:

fete,

835

Sayd, "Medame, my kny3te Mun lye with be all ny3te Til to-morne atte days li3te;

Take For pou

We

als

on non ille; 17 euyr my3te i the, hit

840

schall harmeles 18 be: do hit for a wedde-fee, 19

The stryue

for to stylle." 20

LIV Thenne be Kyng sayd

to his kny3te,

845

"Sone bat bou were vndy3te, 21 And in 3ondur bedde ry3te Hie be gud spede." pe kny3te did as he him bade, And qwenne ho se him vnclad, pen be lady wex drede, Worlyke in wede. 22 !

850

He

sayd, "Lye downe preuely hur by, Butte neghe no3te bou bat lady; For and bou do, bou schall dey For bi derfe 23 dede; Ne no3te so hardy bou stur, 24 Ne onus turne be to hur." pe tober sayd, "Nay, sur." For him hade he drede.

855

860

LV Thenne be Kyng asshet a chekkere, 25

And 16

thine own.

19

wager.

tuous.

851.

16

cald a damesel dere; that she

should.

20

24

to settle a dispute. be not so bold as to

Read

adrade, fearful.

21

I7

i.e.,

do not bo vexed.

undressed,

move.

26

"prudent

l

one.

asked for chess board.

*

unharmed.

"presump-

THE AVOWING OF ARTHUR Downe bay sette hom in fere Opon be bed-syde. Torches was ber mony li5te, And laumpus brennyng full br\'3te;

865

Butte notte so hardy was bat kny3te His hede onus to hide. Butte fro bay began to play Quyle 26 on be morun bat hit was day, Euyr he lokette as he lay,

Baudewynne

637

870

to byde.

And erly in be dawyng Come bay home from huntyng, And hertis 27 conne bay home bring, And x buckes of pride.

875

LVI pay toke

bis

And hade

venesun fyne

hit to kechine;

pe Kinge sende aftur Bawdewine, And bede him cum see. To be chaumbur he takes be way; He fyndus be King atte his play; A kny3te in his bedde lay

With

880

his lady.

penne sayd be King opon Imte, "To-ny3te myssutte 28 i my kny3te,

And

hithir folut

Here funden

i

him

885

ry3tc;

hee;

is

And

here i held hom bothe stille For to do hom in bi wille;'-"J And gif bou take hit now till ille,

No

selcouthe thinge 30

me

890

!"

LVII pen be King asshed, "Art bou wroth?" "Nay, sir," he sayd, "withouten othe, 28 till.

876. s?!>.

28

"harts.

The MS.

x

is

missed,

a

simile.

-'pui

at

your disposal.

50

no marvel seems it to

doubtful reading.
ere

643

1040

i

For dede neuyr to be drery; 24

Welcum

is hit:

a kyndely thing." "pou says soth," quod be King, "Butte of bi thryd avowyng

Hit

is

1045

Telle me quych is hit: Quy bi mete bou will notte warne 25 To no leuand barne?" "Ther is no man bat may hit tharne; 26

1050

Lord, 3e schall wele wete.

LXVII For be sege aboute vs lay stille; hade notte all atte oure wille

We

Mete and drinke

vs to

1055

fille:

Vs wontutte be fode. So come in a messyngere, Bade, "3ild vppe all bat is here

And I

!"

speke with a sturun schere 27 nyll, by be rode !

1060

gerutte him bide to none, Callud be stuard sone, Told him all as he schuld done, I

gud; 28 Gerutte trumpe on the wall, And couerd burdes 30 in be hall; And myself emunge horn all As a king stode.

As

counsell

is

29

1065

i

24

is

unhappy. " a good plan. 1053.

For

"lack. 27 = chirr; i.e., blow trumpets. 30 set tables.

refuse, 2"

parallels, etc., to this story,

especially 296

ff.;

and

(Colorado Studies 15.55

I.

P.

ff.).

McKeehan's

I

will

never speak harshly,

-"as

see Revue Ifispaniquc 12.281, Edmund of East Anglia"

"St.

ARTHURIAN PIECES

644

LXVIII gerut horn wasshe, to mete wente; Aftur be stuard ben i sente; 31 I bede bat he schuld take entente That all schuld well fare: Bede bringe bred plente, I

And wine

1070

in bollus of tre, 32

pat no wontyng schuld be To lasse ne to mare. We hade no mete butte for on day; Hit come in a nobull aray. J)e messungere lokit ay

1075

And se horn sle care. 33 He toke his leue atte me;

1080

We

him drinke

gerutte

atte be 3ate,

And gafe him giftus grete, And furthe con he fare.

LXIX But quen be messyngere was gone, ))ese officers

loss

ichone

To me made bay grete mone, And drerely con say; Sayd, "In this howse is no bred, No quyte wine nere 34 red; 3o behoues 3ild vppe bis stid And for oure lyuys pray." 3ette God helpus ay his man J)e messyngere come agayn ban Withoute to be cheuytan, 35 And sone conne he say: "J)03he 3c sege bis seuyn 3ere,

1090

!

1095

Castelle gete 30 none here, For bay make als mury chere

Als hit were 3ole-day 31

attend to

1081. 1082.

it.

32

wooden bowls.

1100

" saw them make

To

merry.

M

nor.

"

chief.

restore the rhyme, read me atte. The stirrup-cup and the reward were attentions that only people

well supplied with food

1090.

!"

MS. nyf

red.

and money could

afford.

THE AVOWING OF ARTHUR LXX pen be messyngere con

645

say,

"I rede 30, hie 30 hebinn away, For in 30UT oste is no play,

Butte hongur and thurst." King con his kny3tis calle; Sethinn to cowunsell wente bay alle; "Sythinn no bettur may befalle, This hald i be best." Euyn atte be mydny3te, Hor lordis sembelet to a sy3te, 36 * pat were hardy and wi3te: pay remuyt of hor rest. 37 J)enne be

1105

1110

Mete laynes mony lakke, And bere mete hor sege brake, And gerut hom to giffe vs be bake: 38 To preke bay were full preste.

1115

LXXI And J?en we lokit were bay lay And see oure enmeys away; And ben oure felawis con say, pe

lasse

and be mare,

1120

"He bat gode may gete, And wernys men of his mete, Gud Gode bat is grete Gif

him sory care

!

For the mete of be messyngero, Hit mendutte 39 alle oure chere." pen sayd be King, bat bay my^to hero, And sqwythely con squere, "In the conne we fynde no fabull; 40 pine avowes arne profetabull;"

1125

1130

And

bus recordus 41 be Rownde Tabnlle, pe lasse and be more.

"in

plain

"mended.

view (a tag), "left their sloop. u publicly agree. I0 weakness.

»•

turn

theii

l>arks

on

us.

ARTHURIAN PIECES

646

LXXII Thenne be Kinge and his kny3tis ))ay madun myrthe in bat halle,

alle,

And ben

be lady conne bay calle, Thefayristtofold; 42 Sayd Bawdewyn, "And bou be wise, Take bou bis lady of price, For muche loue in hur lyce; 43

To

Ho

bine hert hold.

1140

a buirde full bry3te, And berto semely to by si3te, And bou hase holdinn all bat bou hi3te, As a kni3te schulde !" Now Ihesu Lord, Heuyn-kynge, He graunt vs all his blessynge, And gife vs alle gode endinge, That made vs on be mulde. 44

42

to embrace.

1137. 1140.

1135

is

"

lies.

44

1145

Amen.

earth.

Bawdewyn is a dative. The -d of hold is expuncted. Ending a poem with the same

1148. Celtic device (Rom. Rev. 7.243).

line

with which

it

begins

is

a

COMPOSITES

IPOMADON is probably more like the erroneous conception of rogenerally current than any other in Middle English. The

This piece

mance

youthful knight falls in love with a princess of a neighboring kingdom without having seen her; spends years in her service without revealing his high rank; wins a tournament of which she is the prize, though he remains in disguise by changing his armor each day; proves himself in many adventures in far lands; and at last appears, still disguised, to champion the lady against an undesired suitor. The complications are numerous; the situations, even those without magic, are wildly improbable; and the pace of the story is deliberate, in spite of the great plenty of incidents.

The English poem

is

a translation, slightly altered, of the French

Hue

de Rotelande, an Englishman (fl. 1190). He made free with the best effects in other romances, but combined them with great literary skill. References to the French are to the edition of Koelbing and Koschwitz. of

The

dialect

century.

is

north midland, of the middle of the fourteenth fere, which occurs frequently, is a translation of

The word

the French, meaning "proud one" (cf. mod. Fr. fibre) The scribe often wrote -ey where the midland spelling was -e (deyre, harm). .

A

plural subject sometimes has a singular verb (cf. 390). Final -//, which has a cross-stroke except in a few lines (353, 389, 430, 1137, 1189, 3043, 3138, and 3179), is printed as -11. Final crossed -h, which

rarely has the stroke,

is

printed -he.

The

flourish after final -/ has

been printed as -fe. Other flourishes (after have been disregarded.

final

-(/,

-m, -n, and -g)

Through the kindness of the Rev. C. T. E. Phillips and the other Chetham's Library, it has been possible to prepare the text from rotographs. The numbering is as in Koelbing's edition,

authorities of

which also contains many emendations adopted here; only the less obvious ones are credited to him. Those marked 11. are Holthausen's; those

marked

Z.,

Zupitza's.

649

!

COMPOSITES

650

Ipomadon

at the

Court

After a long journey, the youth and his tutor, Tholomew, arrive at the lady's court. She has been holding a parliament, to reconcile two knights who have quarreled.

That day the

And broughte

fere

hade made hem frende,

that grette debate to ende: 1

So ys she ware and wyce Ladyes, witte that she wille not Abowtte hur suffyr no debatte, So grette goodenes in her lyethe.

350

Her meyny lovyd her euerilke one. Into the hall comys Ipomadon,

Amonge

An ewen 2

thes lordys of price; pase forthe he paste,

355

Nother to softe 3 ne to ffaste, But at his owne devyce. 4 Lordys, laydys in the hall Lokis on hym, men and all, And grette mervaylle they bought:

360

He was large of lyme and lythe, And made so wonder [fayre] therwythe; Of ffetter fay lyd hym not. 6 5

A

llyttell

wax he

rede, for

Full welle that coloure

shame; became;

hym

365

Before that high he sowghtte. 7 His dobelett was of red welvet, Off bryght golde bo tuns ibete, 8 That worthely was wrovghte.

•war, contention. l even, easy. 3 slow. * inclination. s limb and joint (a tag). he lacked nothing in his features; i.e., had good features. 7 went before that 8 covered over with bright gold buttons. high (princess). 6

349. Koelbing proposed, Ladyes wole that she wille nat Aboivtie, etc. Koeppel suggested, That she wille not {ladyes wale!), etc. MS. Ladyes wille that she not wote. The poem has several admonitions to proud ladies. 351. 362.

To help the meter, MS. then wythe.

read soche for so

grette.

—

:

:

IPOMADON

651

His mantell was of skarlett 9 fyne, Furryd with good armyne: Ther myght no better been: The bordoure all of red sendell; 10 That araye became hym wele, To wete withouten wene. 11 A noble countenavnce he hade: A blyther and a better made, Before they had not sayne, Also bryght his coloure shone. All hym lovyd that lokyd hym one, Bothe lord and lady shene.

And

longe he beheldis the

3 70

375

380

fere,

But nothynge chaunges her chere For carpynge 12 of the crowde: [Her] hertte

is

mekyll of wyte,

sett so

38 5

With love it is not sammyd yte, 13 Thow3e she be shene in scherovde; 14 But aftur sore it bande the fre 15

—

And

so

wold that

i

all

ye shuld be,

That is of love so prowde The chyld before her knelys

!

390

than,

And to the lady he began To tell his tale on lowde.

He

sayd, "Dereworthy 16 damysell, God kepe the in hele, 17

Grette

And

395

thy ffayre monye Vnder heyvyn is holdyn none So worthy a lady as thow arte on,

Ne

all

of so grette bewete\

Of te sythes

A

this

haue

harde saye thyne allwaye non holdyn bee. i

400

noble[r] courte then

There

may

u doubt. » i.e.. praise. » her heart is so devoted to reasoning that it has not yet joined with love. " clothing » fettered (a tag'. that noble (one), 17 "precious; i.e., splendid. health. scarlet cloth.

376.

MS.

>°

silk.

counlenavaunce.

398. For the construction, see Int. VII.

5.

:

COMPOSITES

652

The to serve haue i thowghte; Thereffore haue i hedyr sought, Oute of ffarre contraye.

405

What-as 18 thou wilte put me tow That longis a gentyll man to doo, Gladlye do wille i; i praye the

Thereffore

me

tell

Whedur thow [wilte] with the dwell, Or wynde thedyr i come ffroo; On asay 19 now shall i see Yff it be as men say of the

410

i

In countreys

The lady

satt

And lykyd

When

many and fell." hym behylde,

and

415

wele the tale he tolde, she hym hard 20 say soo, full

That he wold hur servand be. She behylde his grette bewte\ And in her hertt she thought That he myghte with grette honoure Haue seruyd kynge or emperoure, He was so worthy wroughte. A thynge in her hert gan ryse,

420

That she shuld lyke wele hes seruyce Forgoo hym wold she note. She answeryd hym full curtesly, "Thou arte welcome, Belamye; 21 I

thanke

hym

425

that the browghte.

Syn thou

What 18

whatever.

19

by

to seruys will be sett, ys thy name, bou stravnge valete? 22 proof.

20

heard.

21

good

friend.

-2

430

attendant.

408, 410. Koelbing's emendations. MS. do i wille. Koclbing emended 414 to and mo for the rhyme. Since the poet does not elsewhere use alternate rhyme in the short lines, and since other rhymes are considerably

altered 419.

430 431.

by the

MS. ff.

scribe,

an emendation

is

necessary.

behyldi/s.

Willert suggested omitting 432,

and deleting name

The Oxford Dictionary has no example

in 433.

of "valet" in this sense

!

IPOMADON

653

Anon that thou tell mee." "I was callyd at home by the same name, And borne i was in ferre contre; Forther watte ye not for me, Wheddyr ye blysse 23 or blame !" The lady att his wordys lough: She sayd sone, "This holde i good inowe: It is a noble name

And thou artte welcome, securly." His mayster sayd, that stode hym by, "Gravnte mercy, 24 madame."

435

440

The lady

callyd hur botelere: "This cupe of gold bou shalte take here,

And gyffe hit to younde man; To buttrey dore lede hym with the, Therwith of wyne to serue me:

We The

shall se yf he can."

butteler

hym

the cuppe betoke,

And he was fayne, and not foresoke; 25 To the chylde sayd he thanne, "It ys

That

445

450

my

ladyes byddynge wyne thou shall here

off

bring."

In covrte thus he began.

23

Rightte in his mantell, as he stode,

455

With the botteler fort he he youde; The cupe on hande he bare. All that lovyd bat chyld befome For that dede lovghe hym to skorne, Bothe the lesse and the more:

460

approve.

2*

thanks.

"

did not refuse.

Middle English period. the lady: Dame, uh estrange

for the to

433.

I.e.,

at

home

Deseonus." Cis. As often

in

his

this

In the French, the hero deseribes himself valet sui (463).

name was Belamye. MS., She sayd

is

inserted, to the detriment of

meter.

tile 1

">.'>.

MS. Thui

thou uf(

iri/nr.

Cf. "Pereeval," "Libeaus

shall &erue here.

COMPOSITES

654

Yffe that ho shuld

some

one,

were semande, 26 they sayd ylkone, Away his mantell were; But littill knewe bey his entente: To the buttery-dore he went, And offe he caste hit yarc. It

To

465

the boteler than went hee:

"Syr, this mantell gyffe

As

i

haue happe or

i

the,

sele; 27

And thow

wilte take bis sympull gyfte, be mendyd, be my thryfte, With efte so good a wille." 28

470

It shall

The

butteler

thankyd

hym

curtesly,

And

sayd, "Gentyll syr, gramercy Off this ffrenshipe ifello. 29

In awght bat

Be

grette

It shall

For

i

475

can do or saye,

God, that oweth be quytte

this day,

full wele.

my

this vii yere, be

thryfte,

Was

480

They satt and hold them stillo, And say den it was a gentill dode; There may no man, so God vs spede,

485

not gevyne me suche a gyfte !" The mantyll he toke hym tille. All they that thowght skornc before Thought themselfe folys therefore:

Otherwyse say be skylle

30 !

All they spake in prevyt£,

"A hundyrd men

a

Yet wott not one 28

fitting.

with just as

27

fortune.

2S it

much good

will.

man may

so,

his wille."

490

ho pieced out fas I hope for good fortune!) "' intelligently. act of friendship performed.

shall 29

463. When serving, the squire wore his tunic, bul no mantle. cuts in Wright. Only the marshal wore a mantle. 476. MS. An in.—H. 482. MS. all them. 189. MS. men nun/ a uuin sc II.

Cf. the

— IPOMADON

655

Ipomadon's Soliloquy The

hero's accomplishments make him a favorite; but his preference more manly sports excites surprise. The princess finally

of hunting to

reproves him, saying that no knight is worthy of a lady's love until he has proved his valor. Not knowing that she returns his love, he goes home in despair. The following soliloquy is typical of the method of Much of it is a debate between the knight's reason and his the piece. heart.

When

the chyld his leve had tane,

To his in[ne] he is ganne With sorowys and sykynge

1050

sare.

He saw

right nought bat was hym leffe: thynge he bought dyd hym greffe In ye, 31 bothe lesse and more. His maystur Thelamewe he prayed That his bedde were redy arayde: "Therein i wold i were !" Off all the nyght he slepyd nobinge, But lay with many a sore sykynge, And mornyethe aye more and more. All

"Alas, foule,

what

1055

1060

alysse 32 the

Soo farre oute of thy owne contre Heddur for to come? Thou dyd as many haue done ayrc: 33

Come to seke so rye care And therof hathe bou sum Thou myghttis no man but biselffe

1060

!

Thyne owne

wille

made

be

come

blame:

fro

hame;

Thereffore no man wille the moonc As euer haue i happe or selle, That ma[rjkis 34 bat lady, eueri deyle;

Yet love makia me 11

"ails,

eye.

L069.

L070

dome

is

"before,

"notices,

so

dome! 36

"dumb.

II.; so also Read none tor no man. MS. ,,r ski/lit pan lady, so 'him.

ff

.

Koelbing's.

:

1070

in

L067. Selle

is

Kaluza's proposal;

COMPOSITES

656

Be God of heyvyn, now wott well That she percevys hit, euery dealee, How with love was tane.

1075

thoo she gaffe me bat vpbrayde, 36 Hit was for gode bat she me sayde, Thow3e i toke hit with none. 37 Therefore spake she all bat bing, To make me leve my long lokynge,

ioso

i

i

And

That

i

caste hur

vppon

!

Thereatt i wotte welle she gave tene Yet be hur owne cosyn, as i wene; She blamyd me forthye And sayd it was a skorne, perde, That anny suche brothels 38 as we Anny ladyes love shuld trye, That nought binkyth for to thryve, Nor neuer gyffys 39 in oure lyve To no chevalrye; But ther was anobur binge: On me she cast an longe lokynge: I toke good hede there bye. !

A, dere

God what myghte !

I shall tell

Younde

bat

1085

1090

meane?

the all bedene: lady is so whyce, 40

1095

In fayth, she holdythe me but a foole, That shuld me melle of lovys scole 41 That neuer wanne losse 42 ne price; 36

37

rebuke.

i.e.,

badly.

in the school of love.

1076.

42

38

knaves.

39

devote ourselves.

40

41

wise.

busy

me

praise.

MS. gyffe me with vpbrayde. Ipomadon had looked very

intently at the lady, who perceived She thereupon rebuked his friend Jason for an the state of his heart. imaginary offense of the sort; but all knew that it was intended for 1080.

Ipomadon. 1083.

The meter may be improved by

deleting yet or owne.

MS. shuld they. 1087. Read A ladyeat—H. ports the emendation in the text. 1095.

MS.

the tell.—H.

The French

(1150) sup-

;

—

! !

IPOMADON

657

Now sertys, bat trowe i well, forthy: She lokyd and spake so angurlye, And

1100

callyd vs euer full nyce. 43

payne and be not lovyd agayne Thereon no wysdome lyethe.

Of

helle yt is the hottis[t]

To

love

!

1105

Now,

hertte, i praye the, lett hur be Nay, bat maye i not, parde, Yf thow wylte i were 44 slayne Yes Nay, in fay the, i For thou, hertte, artte sett 45 so sodenly !

!

Thou

Why?

1110

wilte not turne agayne. I

But dede

watte neuer whereffore; i

had leuer

i

wore

Than

longe to dry3e 46 this payne Dyd neuer love man so deyre; Had she perte, yet rovghte i neyre; 47 In faythe then were i ffayne. !

1115

We, leef, 48 what dyd thou in this londe? I came to seke, and hur favnde That aye wille do me deyre.— i

He

1120

fallythe that puttis hymselfe so farre,

That all his lyffe lon[g]ythe to warre. Thus darre savely 49 swere. Yit is ther non that wotte that, Ne whens he come, ne what he hatte, So prevely am here. Shalte thou tell them? Sertis, naye And gette the schyld and spere, i

i

43

it,

1114.

even though you would h:ivo me. u fixed. should never regrel it. '''alas, my good friend!

4fi

1:

suffer.

if

she

"safely.

in the French, but seems to mean, "He falls so distant from other resources that his life (and reputation) deentirely on ability in war."

1121. is

pend 1

I

1125

.

Omit herltef— H. MS. dryve.—Z. The couplet is not

11 10.

who

.

**

foolish.

shared

.

I

The

— T.

whence

sense of the missing line

is,

''I

shall disclose

come!" (Cf. French 1184.) He at once gives up action, and resolves on proving himself. I

who

I

am

and

this course of

— COMPOSITES

658

And wen

the price; and ben may bou Acordynge be to her avowe, For thou have gotten losse 50 Yet in her cowrte there ys none That so mekyll of bowrdyng can,

1130

!

1

Ne

of

all

gamus that goothe,

Bothe 2 with schyld and schafte

But

so that love 3 ys

to ryde;

1135

thy pryde, Thereffore all men be thy foos. In erthe ys none so worthy a knyght But yf his dede be shewyde in syght, Men will no good sopose.

And vnder pryde

all

iuo

thow hyde 4 thou kyde

so arte

That for a cowarde art Bothe with lesse and more;

And

yf thou

now

thyselfe shuld rose, 5

Men

wold say, "All this he dos His spendyng 6 for to spare; Of suche dedis have we not sene As awauntis hym of bedene; Hym semes of bownt6 7 bare !" Therefore thy way i rede the gange; In fay the, and thou dwell here lange, It moo the sorow full sore. Foole, wille thou lyghttly goo

Fro thy love and lovys the soo? 8 Be God, may not byde

*

honor, hidden.

— 1155

; • i.e., as well as. 'entertaining. being distinguished in love. 6 5 vaunt. ' i.e., i.e., to avoid the actual practice. he gives no

evidence of wealth of deeds. 1130.

1150

!

i

r,,)

1145

8

i.e.,

and are so

in love.

She had vowed that she would have only the

best knight in the

world. 1131.

MS. gotton. From the French,

that it is clear that the passage means, ". he brags about his deeds, men will think ill of him." The French further says that prowess must be established in other ways than by talk. 1139.

if

1

1

17.

MS.

not sere.

.

.

—

—

IPOMADON May

thou goo?

659

— Sertis naye.

hoope i maye, Suche harmys in hertte i take To-morowe thou goos, yf bou haue quarte; 9 Yea, and thou haue anny hertte, Thou turnys 10 not that tyde; Here has thou take thy leve for aye That nedys behovys the love alhvay, Where thou shalte goo or ryede. Yes, in fay the,

i

!

And

here shall thou

But many a skorne

wynne nobinge of old

ii65

and younge.

Lo, here 11 this foole forthi

12 !

Whoso maye be nere hys love, Sumtyme love it comys above, 13 Be they neuer so slye; And fere therefro yf he be browghte. Then shall no man witte his thought But

and

his hertte

On thynge

1170

hee.

he take kepe: 14 bett that Sore is he darre not wepe, Be God and be my lewte. 15 ys, yf

He hathe no myghte bat mornynge Ne no ese that sorowe hat lie, This darre

i

1175

gos,

trewly telle."

Thus lythe he wrynggyng 16 tow and With many a sory syghyng so, And mewsus ay in mell; 17

A

"wins midst

>4

if

you can.

one thing

(of the sighs) lie

1107. 1174. it;

i.e.,

fro

11 so

while to go he ys in wille,

Anobur stovnde to hold hym With bat gay damysell. •health;

1160

is

'

true,

stille

turn if

11 85

"listen to. back. "faith. one notices it.

on the subject, "in the writhing,

"i.e., '•

muses.

MS. for the. The French

mill est

Bays, "There is another point;" the next line states sore is his punishmenl who dare not qe plurer n'osi cannot relieve Ins sorrow by weeping. The hero must keep li'iin

weep, i.e., up appearances if he stays in Calabria; melancholy without exciting attention.

in distant

countries he

may appear

— !

COMPOSITES

660

To hymselfe he

told bis tale:

"Might i byde, i were all hale Be God, i may nought dwell For love my herte hathe bovnde so faste That euermore love will with me last,

To tyme

that

i

1190

shall dye.

swete to enter in sele, 18 But ay more and more it bryngys above 19 To sorowe, and that i se. Whoso euer ys takyne berwith Or wytheinne hem he lyghte, It ys full

Full sore schall

bovnden

1195

be.

Wyth a sorovfull hertte mon wende, And sche in quarte 20 mon leve behynde, And haue no maynde 21 on me !" i

1200

The Tournament the lady's dismay, Ipomadon leaves her court and returns to his He is knighted, and soon acquires a great reputation for valor. Meanwhile the lady's vassals insist that she marry some warrior who She is will defend her kingdom and keep the lords from quarreling. reluctant because of her love for Ipomadon; but after much debate, agrees to make herself the prize of a three-day tournament. The hero

To

father.

appears incognito in the retinue of the Queen of Sicily, whose special attendant he has become; and again he feigns indifference to deeds of

arms and the impending

contest.

Leve we now

And

offe the

this folke there,

knyght speke we more

That dwellys with the Quene. serue hur welle he dyd his tente; 22

To

No

semblaunte made he to turnament; Thereat was ladyes tene.

18

happiness. attention.

19

leads on.

20

untouched,

heart-whole.

his

1 1

96. Lyghte for lyethe.

2993. 2996.

The queen is the Queen MS. there as.

of Sicily.

21

2995

interest.

" gave

IPOMADON

661

The maydans hym

to skorne lou3ghe: Thereoffe had bey ioye inowghe, For he the sothe had sene. The Quene to hur mete he fett, And seruyd hyr when she was sett Right worthely, i wene.

3000

And sythen vp agayne her ledde, And kyssyd that lady before her bedde; To speke he gan hym spede: "Madame, lett them turnay to-morn: I will

3005

hunte with hounde and home,

And bryng

vs home a brayd. 24 bettur amonge be akys 25 Then in turnament to take strokys; 26 I kepe no blod to blede !" The may dons hym to skorne loughe, I

hold

And

it

3010

madam, your drew 27 doughtty dedis !"

seyd, "Loo,

Spekys

offe

The Quene cursyd

his desteny, 28

3015

Withoute prowes bat he shuld be, That was so fayre offe face; But sothe ys sayd in olde sawe:

Whedur

bat euer love will drawo,

Lake no lettyng mase. 29 She louyd hym well for his service, But obur damysels of pryse Grette skorne at 24

roast.

"

oaks.

love, faults are

26

intend.

no drawback

27

hym

lover.

28

3020

have. evil lot.

M whoever is

in

the toils of

(to him).

The 2999. The French (3495) has: li vilains disl veir (speak the truth English translator seems to have perceived this, and then to have confused veir with veoir (see). The line is therefore unintelligible. II. 3003. MS. agayne vp. 3004. In accepting the post of special attendant to the Queen, lie had stipulated that lie be allowed to kiss her each night, and that he be known as the "dru la reine" (queen's lover). 'These conditions were deliberately Btrange because he wishes a reputation for eccentricity. ).

3000. 3020.

MS. thy turnay. MS. Lak

:

COMPOSITES

662

To

there skorne toke he no hede, his leve and forth he yede;

But toke

To

3025

the porter he goose.

He gafe the porter And he sayd, "Sir,

a grette gold rynge,

love huntyng At rayne-dere and at roos. 30 And as well wott thow as i, i

3030

He

that ys not there erlye, His best tyde mvst he lose. Therefore of o thyng i be praye Lett me forthe before the daye." "In fay the, sir, i sopposse Whyles this offyce shall be myn, Entre and issue shall be thyne,

For ffrenshipe or

Ipomadon

And

3035

for foos !"

to bede goos,

mornyng erly he Or day began to sprynge. in the

roosse,

3040

He gerte aray his \vhy3te stede, And all his armore that hym nede, Belyve he lett vp brynge. Soune was covpled all his houndis; With lowde blowyng forthe he wendis, That wakyd ladys yonge. They sayd, "Lo, madame, your drewe With home and hounde se ye may now: He hyes to turnayeng !"

The Quene

berto wold take no kepe, 31

But laye

bedde purposyd to

And 30

roes.

3

3042. 3040.

'

in

pay no attention.

MS. gette. To restore

slepe,

sore forthought 32 bat tyde

32

regretted.

the rhyme, K. suggested foundis, goes.

3045

3050

;

:

IPOMADON That he ne was man

Whedur 33

she loved

663

of prowes;

hym

neuerthelesse In hertt she it hyde. In the thykest place of all bat woode, A ermytage he wyst ber stode, And thedur gan he ryde. There he gret araye hym tyte, His stede and hym all in white: He wold no lengur byde.

3055

3060

"Mayster," quod Ipomadon, "To-day on huntynge mvste ye goone: For Goddis love, i you praye, Yffe God will send you any dere, Agayne the nyght abyde me here: I shall come while i maye." Fro then vnto the iustyng plase A full depe dale [betwene] ther was, In a deerne 34 waye.

3065

3070

Couyrd-heddyd 35 myght men ryde: No man myght se hym on no syde Yf it were lyghte of day. His mayster dyd his comaundement

3075

Ipomadon his waye is went Thorow the thike woode.

No man

take with

hym

he lyst

But a chyld bat he on tryste, 36 Whiche was bothe fayre and goode: Of

his lond a

That wele hym serue

And 33

yet therefore.

34

ofte in stedde

hidden.

36

3080

barons sone,

i.e.,

con,

hym

concealed.

stoode. 37 36

trusted.

37

aided him.

During the day be kills 3063. The master is the faithful Tholomow. three harts, and thus Ipomadon is able to keep up the fiction of having Bpent the time in the forest. 3070. Betwene. H. MS. dede dale.

—

In the French,

it

is

& fosse.

COMPOSITES

664

The semely chylde Egyon

Was

cosyn 38 to Ipomadon, Right nere sib of his blode.

3085

In the mornynge erly, passyd thorow the derne sty Be bat the day gan dawe. 39 He hovis 40 before that fayre castell;

He

The wynd wavyd

his

whyght

3090

pensell, 41

And waytis 42 began to blowe; And ouer the walle bey behylde, And sawe hym hove in the feld, any snowe. "Wake, lady bryghte For sothe younder hovis a knyghte, The fey rest that euer i sawe.

As

He 43

\vhy3te as

cryed,

3095

!

His stede and he is all in \vhy3te; That syght to se is grette dely3te, Fro bale as i be broughte !" The lady weyndis to a wyndowe, And saw hym hove, as white as snowe; In grette care

is

3100

she broughte.

Sone she wyst at that day

3105

On whome

she shuld her love laye, For in hur h[e]rtte she thought She wold not the valet chaunge

For emperoure nor for kyng stronge, Gette hym and she movghte.

3110

She beholdys the knyght in whyte, But what he was, she wot but lite: The more care had the maye. 38

relative,

"dawn.

at the point of death.

1060. Possibly read: 1077.

1082.

MS. MS.

for leafdc; left.

in poynt to tyne.

and he and had. i>ty.

565

;

THE SQUIRE OF LOW DEGREE

739

That thus besecheth loue of me." "I am your owne squyr," he sayde, "For me, lady, be not dysmayde.

Come am full pryuely To take my leaue of you, i

lady."

570

"Welcome," she sayd, "my loue so dere, Myne owne dere heart and my squyer; I shall you geue kysses thre, A thousand pounde vnto your fe, And kepe i shall my maydenhede ryght

575

Tyll ye be proued a venturous 35 knyght. For yf ye should me wede anone,

My father wolde I

am

make slee you soone. the Kynges doughter of Hungre, ye alone that haue loued me,

And And though you loue me neuer so sore, For me ye shall neuer be lore. Go forth, and aske me at my kynne, And loke what graunt 36 you may wynne;

580

Yf that ye gette graunt in faye, Myself e therto shall not say nay; And yf ye may not do so, Otherwyse ye shall come to. 37 Ye are bothe hardy, stronge, and wight Go forth and be a venterous knight. I pray to God and our Lady To send you the whole of victory, That my father so leuo ye bo,

585

That

[he]

wyll profer

me

590

to thee.

wote well it is lyghtly sayd, 'Go forth, and be nothyng afrayde.' A man of worshyp may not do so:

595

I

35

bold,

tried.

36

concession,

favor.

3?

gain your

will.

571-630. Kittredge regards these lines as an interpolation because there "is no proper place for love talk or any kind of conversation after 1. r>70. The Lady at that point learns hat it is fu r Squire and that he is in horrible danger." Cf. Mead lxxxiii. 593. C. he be. .

i

COMPOSITES

740

He must haue what neds him vnto; He must haue gold, he must haue fe, Strength of men and royalte.

600

Golde and syluer spare ye nought Tyll to manhode ye be brought;

To what batayll soeuer ye go, Ye shall haue an hundreth pounde And yet to me, syr, ye may saye

or two; 605

That i woulde fayne haue you awaye, That profered you golde and fe Out of myne eye syght for to be. Neuerthelesse it is not so: It is for the worshyp of vs two. Though you be come of symple 38 kynne, Thus my loue, syr, may ye wynne: Yf ye haue grace of victory, As euer had Syr Lybyus or Syr Guy, Whan the dwarfe and mayde Ely Came to Arthoure, kyng so fre. As a kyng of great renowne That wan the lady of Synadowne, Lybius was graunted the batayle tho; Therfore the dwarfe was full wo, And sayd, 'Arthur, thou arte to blame. To bydde this chylde go sucke his dame Better hym semeth, so mote i thryue, Than for to do these batayles fyue At the chapell of Salebraunce!'

6io

615

620

625

These wordes began great distaunce; 39 88

humble.

39

dissensions.

614-32. The references are to the romance "Libeaus Desconus." Libeaus, always victorious (614), is selected by Arthur to accompany a maid Elene and a dwarf to free the lady of Sinadoune; they mock him (620); but when after five preliminary encounters (624), he overcomes the knight of Salebraunce (625), they confess their error (628). iSyr Guy Ls

Guy

of

617.

Warwick.

Mead

should follow

suggests thai kyng should be knyght. 1.

61

1.

Very possibly

11.

617-8.

THE SQUIRE OF LOW DEGREE

741

The[y] sawe they had the victory; They kneled downe and cryed mercy; And afterward, syr, verament,

They

called

hym

luryght absolent: 40

630

Emperours, dukes, knyghtes, and quene,

At

his

commaundement

for to bene.

Suche fortune with grace now to you fall, To wynne the worthyest within the wall, And thynke on your loue alone, And for to loue that ye chaunge none." Ryght as they talked thus in fere, Theyr enemyes approched nere and nere, Foure and thyrty armed bryght The steward had arayed hym to fyght. The steward was ordeyned to spy

635

640

And for to take them vtterly. He wende to death he should haue gone; He felled seuen men agaynst hym one;

Whan

he had them to grounde brought, at hym full sadly 41 fought. So harde they smote together tho, The stewardes throte he cut in two, And sone he fell downe to the grounde As a traitour vntrewe, with many a wound. The squyer sone in armes they hente, And of they dyd his good garmente, And on the stewarde they it dyd, And sone his body therin th[e]y hydde, And with their swordes his face they share, 42 That she should not knowe what he ware; They cast hym at her chambre dore, The stewarde that was styffe 43 and store. 44 Whan they had made that great affraye, Full pryuely they stale awaye; In anno the[yj take that squyer tho

645

The stewarde

40

finished,

43

strong.

perfect Ai

sturdy.

627. C. victor;/.

(only

occurrence;

cf.

N.E.D.).

"determinedly,

650

655

660

"cut.

!;

COMPOSITES

742

And

Kynges chambrc can they go, or any wounde, Before the Kynge bothe hole and sounde. As soone as the Kynge him spyed with eye, He sayd, "Welcome, sonne, sykerly Thou hast cast 46 thee my sonne to be; to the

Without

wemme 45

This seuen yere i shall let thee." Leue we here of this squyer wight, And speake we of that lady bryght, How she rose, that lady dere, To take her leue of that squyer. Also naked as she was borne, She stod her chambre dore beforne. "Alas," she sayd, "and weale away! For all to long nowe haue i lay;"

665

670

675

She sayd, "Alas, and all for wo Withouten men why came ye so? Yf that ye wolde haue come to me, Other werninges there might haue be. !

Now But

all

to dere

my

loue

is

680

bought,

neuer be lost for nought;" armes she toke hym there, Into the chamber she dyd hym bere His bowels soone she dyd out drawe, And buryed them in Goddes lawe. 47 She sered 48 that body with specery, Wyth wyrgin 49 waxe and commendry; 50 And closed hym in a maser tre, And set on hym lockes thre. She put him in a marble stone With quaynt gynnes many one,

And

it

shall

in her

685

1

690

And set hym at hir beddes head; And euery day she kyst that dead. Soone at morne, whan she vprose, Unto that dead body she 45

bruise.

*'J

pure.

46 60

decided, planned.

dry cummin

690. C. lackes.

(?),

,7

695

gose;

according to religious practice. maple. cf. Mead.

an aromatic plant;

'

*%

covered.

THE SQUIRE OF LOW DEGREE

743

Therfore 3 wold she knele downe on her kne

And make her prayer to the Trynite, And kysse that body twyse or thryse, And fall in a swowne or she myght ryse.

Whan

700

she had so done,

To chyrche than wolde she gone; Than would she here masses fyue, And offre to them whyle she myght lyue: "There shall none knowe but Heuen-kynge For whome that make myne offrynge." The Kyng her father anone he sayde:

705

i

"My doughter, wy are you dysmayde, So feare 3 a lady as ye are one, And so semely of fleshe and bone? Ye were whyte as whales bone; Nowe are ye pale as any stone.

710

Your ruddy 4 read as any chery, With browes bent 5 and eyes full mery; Ye were wont to harpe and syng, And be the meriest in chambre comyng; Ye ware both golde and good veluet, Clothe of damaske with saphyres set;

715

Ye ware With

the pery 6 on your head, stones full oryent, 7 whyte and read;

Ye ware

720

coronalles of golde,

With diamoundes

And nowe ye were

set

many

a foulde; 8

clothes of blacke;

Tell me, doughter, for

whose sake? he be so poore of fame That ye may not be wedded for shame, Brynge him to me anone ryght: I shall hym make squyer and knight; And yf he be so great a lorde That your loue may not accordi'. I^'t me, doughter, that lordynge se; He shall have golde ynoughc with thee." If

"Gramercy, 2

on amount of

it.

3

fair.

*

father, so

complexion,

mote

i

'arched,

thryue, 'jewels.

7

shit

725

730

COMPOSITES

744

For mourne for no man alyue. Ther is no man, by Heuen-kyng, That shal knowe more of my mournynge." Her father knewe it euery deale, But he kept it in counsele: "To-morowe ye shall on hunting fare, And ryde, my dough ter, in a chare 9 i

;

with veluet reede, And clothes of fyne golde al about your hed, With dam[a]ske white and asure-blewe, Wei dyapred 10 with lyllyes newe; Your pomelles 11 shal be ended with gold, Your chaynes enameled many a folde; Your mantel of ryche degre, Purpyl palle 12 and armyne fre; Jennettes 13 of Spayne, that ben so wyght, Trapped 14 to the ground with veluet bright;

735

740

It shal be couered

745

750

Ye shall haue harpe, sautry, and songe, And other myrthes you amonge; Ye shall haue rumney and malmesyne, Both ypocrasse and vernage wyne, Mountrose and wyne of Greke, Both algrade and respice eke, Antioche and bastarde, Pyment also and garnarde; Wyne of Greke and muscadell, Both clare, pyment, and rochell. The reed your stomake to defye, 15 9 11

755

760

10 embroidered with a pattern, especially a diamond-shaped one. ornamental knoba on the litter. 12 fine cloth. u small horses (considered

litter.

suitable for a lady).

14

caparisoned.

l5

make

active in digestion.

753-62. All the names of kinds of wine. Rumney was a white Spanish wine; Malmsey, a sweet wine; ypocrasse (Hippocrates), a spiced cordial; vernage, an Italian white wine; mountrose appears only here; algrade, a Cretan wine; raspis, "deepe redde enclining to black;" bastarde, a swee1 Spanish wine; pyment, wine with honey; garnarde, wine of Granada (or possibly, pomegranates); museadel, a rich sweet wine; clare\ wine mixed with honey and spices; rochelle, wine from La Rochelle; osey, Alsatian \\ ine, 754. C. ypocraffe.

THE SQUIRE OF LOW DEGREE And You

shall

The

best wylde foule that

A

745

pottes of osey set you by.

haue venison ybake,

may

be take.

grehound with you to streke 17 And hert and hynde and other lyke. Ye shal be set at such a tryst 18 That herte and hynde shall come to your Your dysease 19 to dryue you fro, To here the bugles there yblow lese 16 of

With theyr bugles

765

fyst,

770

in that place,

And seuenscore raches 21 at his rechase; 22 Homward thus shall ye ryde, On haukyng by the ryuers syde, With goshauke and with gentyll fawcon, With egle-horne and merlyon. 23 Whan you come home, your men amonge, Ye shall haue reuell, daunces, and songe; Lytle chyldren, great and smale,

775

Shall syng as doth the nyghtyngale.

780

Than With

shall

Your

aulter clothes 26 of taffata,

ye go to your euensong, tenours and trebles among; Threscore of copes, 24 of damaske bryght, Full of perles th[e]y shal be pyght; 25

And your

sides 27

all

785

of taffetra.

Your sensours 28 shal be of golde, Endent 29 with asure many a folde. Your quere nor organ songe shall wante With countre-note 30 and dyscant, 31 The other halfe on orgayns playeng,

790

move

quickly. 18 a station past which game was driven. 19 dis** kinds of -recall. unhappiness. 2l dogs hunting by scent, hawks. 24 vestments (of her choir and priests). " decorated. 26 altar-clot lis. 27 women's tunics. 29 ornamented. 30 counterpoint. 31 descant. 28 censers. 16

a leash.

comfort;

17

i.e.,

765. C. hrehound. 768. Possibly read 771. In 770 bugles

lyat,

pleasure.

means "horns;"

lure, "beagles."

786. Evidently a scribe's mistaken taffetra

unknown; possibly read camnra

recopying of the preceding as in

x:{f>.

line;

:

COMPOSITES

746

With yonge chyldren

full

fayre syngyng.

Than shall ye go to your suppere, And sytte in tentes in grene arbere, With clothes of Aras 32 pyght to the grounde, With saphyres

A

cloth of

With popiniayes pyght, with pery

And

795

and dyamonde. golde abought your heade, set

read,

your wyll All maner delightes to bryng you tyll. The nightingale sitting on a thorne Shall synge you notes both euen and morne. An hundreth knightes truly tolde Shall play with bowles in alayes colde, offycers all at

Your

800

disease to driue awaie:

805

To se the fisshes in poles 33 plaie; And then walke in arbere vp and downe, To se the floures of great renowne: To a draw-brydge than shall ye, The one

halfe of stone, the other of tre; barge shall mete you full ryght With xxiiii ores full bryght, With trompettes and with claryowne, The fresshe water to rowe vp and downe. Than shall ye go to the salte fome, Your maner 34 to se, or ye come home, With lxxx shyppes of large towre, With dromedaryes 35 of great honour, And carackes 36 with sayles two, The sweftest that on water may goo, With galyes good vpon the hauen, With lxxx ores at the fore stauen." Your maryners shall synge arowe 38 'Hey, hoW, and rumbylawe.' 39

8 10

A

32

Arras,

38

in a row.

i.e.,

33 pools. 34 manor. 3S large ships. 36 galleons. "a very favorite burden to an ancient sea-song." M.

tapestry. 3*

—

815

820

3T

stem.

"Bowling in alleys rooled." They were covered grass alleys. 817. Small castellated towers were sometimes built on battleships; Mead's note. 804.

of.

THE SQUIRE OF LOW DEGREE Than With

wyne, good and fyne,

shall ye, doughter, aske the

spices that be

Gentyll pottes with genger grene, With dates and deynties you betwene, Forty torches, brenynge bryght, At your brydges to brynge } ou lyght. Into your chambre they shall you brynge, With muche myrthe and more lykyng. Your costerdes 40 couered with whyte and blewe, And dyapred 41 with lyles newe. r

Your curtaines of camaca 42 all in Your felyoles 43 all of golde. Your tester-pery 44 at your heed,

folde,

Curtaines with popiniayes white and reed. Your hyllynges 45 with furres of arniyne, Powdred with golde of hew full fyne. Your blankettes shall be of fustyane, 46 Your shetes shall be of clothe of Rayne. 47 Your head-shete 48 shall be of pery pyght With dyamondes set and rubyes bryght. Whan you are layde in bedde so softe, A cage of golde shall hange alofte, With longe peper 49 fayre burnning, And cloues that be swete smcllyng, Frankensence and olibanum, 50 That whan ye slepe the taste may come. And yf ye no rest may take,

you shall wake." "Gramcrcy, father, so mote i the, For all these thinges lyketh not me." Vnto her chambre she is gone, And fell in sownyng sone anone With much sorow and sighing sore;

747 825

830

835

840

845

sso

All night minstrelles for

40

hangings for a bed.

canopy over bed.

4S

covering the pillow.

4I

a rich silk cloth. 43 posts of bod. M jeweled cloth of linen and cotton. 47 Rennes. 4 * sheet pepper used as incense. i0 aromatic gum for incense.

adorned.

coverings. 4"

855

"

835. C. curtianes. 837. C. fester; Mead emends.

42

;

COMPOSITES

748

Yet seuen yeare she kept hym thore. But leue we of that lady here, And speake we more of that squyer, That in pryson so was take For the Kinges doughters sake. The Kyng hymselfe, vpon a daye, Full pryuely he toke the wave Vnto the pryson sone he came; The squyer sone out he name, And anone he made hym swere His counsayl he should neuer discure. 1 The squyer there helde vp his hande His byddyng neuer he should withstande: The Kyng him graunted ther to go Upon his iorney to and fro,

And

860

865

870

brefely to passe the sea,

That no man weste but he and he; And whan he had his iurnay done, That he wolde come full soone; "And in my chambre for to be,

875

The whyles 2 that i do ordayne for thee; Than shalt thou wedde my doughter dere

And haue my

landes, both farre

The squyer was

full

mery

and nere."

880

tho,

And thanked the Kynge, and forth gan go. The Kyng hym gaue both lande and fe. Anone the squyer passed the se. In Tuskayne and in Lumbardy, There he dyd great chyualry. In Portyngale nor yet in Spayne There myght no man stan[d] hym agayne;

And where

that euer that knyght gan fare,

The worshyp with hym away he

bare.

And thus he trauayled seuen yere In many a land, both farre and nere; 1

disclose.

869.

2

times.

I. e.,

885

"swore that he should never

.

.

."

890

;

THE SQUIRE OF LOW DEGREE

749

Tyll on a day he thought hym tho Unto the Sepulture for to go And there he made his offerynge soone, Right as the Kinges doughter bad him don.

895

Than he thought hym on a day That the Kynge to hym dyd saye.

He toke his leue in Lumbardy, And home he came to Hungry.

900

Unto the Kynge soone he rade, As he before his couenaunce 3 made,

And

to the

Kyng

he tolde

full

soone

Of batayles bolde that he had done,

And

so he did the chyualry

905

That he had sene in Lumbardy. To the Kynge it was good tydande; Anone he toke him by the hande, And he made him full royall chere, And sayd, "Welcome, my sonne so dere

!

910

Let none wete of my meyne That out of prison thou shuldest be, But in my chamber holde the styll, And i shall wete my doughters wyll." The Kynge wente forth hymselfe alone For to here his doughters mone, Right vnder the chambre window, There he might her counseyle knowe. Had she wyst, that lady fie,

915

That her father there had

920

be,

He shulde not, withouten fa vie, Haue knowen so muche of her counsayle; Nor nothing

she

knew that he was

there.

Whan

she began to carke and care, 4 Unto that body she sayd tho, "Alas hat we should parte in two !" I

Twyse covenant.

4

worry and lamer

894. Christ's 923.

or thryse she kyssed that body,

tomb

at

For nor read but?

1

Jerusalem.

925

!

COMPOSITES

750

And

fell in

"Alas

sownynge by and by.

!"

than sayd that lady dere, "I haue the kept this seuen yere; And now ye be in powder small, I may no lenger holde you with all.

My

loue, to the earth

And

preestes for

you

i

shall the brynge,

to reade

Yf any man aske me what I

wyll say

it is

my

930

i

and synge.

haue here,

935

treasure.

Yf any man aske why do so, 'For no theues shall come therto': And, squyer, for the loue of the, Fy on this wo rides vanyte* Farewell golde, pure and fyne; Farewell veluet and satyne; Farewell castelles and maners also; Farewell huntynge and hawkynge to; Farewell reuell, myrthe, and play; Farewell pleasure and garmentes gay; Farewell perle and precyous stone; i

Farewell my iuielles euerychone; Farewell mantell and scarlet reed; Farewell crowne vnto my heed; Farewell hawkes and farewell hounde; Farewell markes and many a pounde; Farewell huntynge at the hare; Farewell harte and hynde for euermare. Nowe wyll i take the mantell and the rynge And become an ancresse 5 in my lyuynge: And yet i am a mayden for thee, And for all the men in Chrystent£. To Chryst i shall my prayers make, Squyer, onely for thy sake; And shall neuer no masse heare But ye shall haue parte in feare: 6

940

945

950

955

960

i

6

anchoress, nun.

When

•

together;

i.e.,

you

shall

share

the

mass.

a nun finished her probation, she was formally married to the church with bridal costume and ring. 955.

!

;

THE SQUIRE OF LOW DEGREE And euery daye whyles lyue, Ye shall haue your masses fyue, And shall offre pence thre,

751

i

i

In tokenynge of the Trynyte." And whan this lady had this sayde, In sownyng she fel at a brayde. 7 The whyle she made this great mornynge, Vnder the wall stode har 8 father the Kynge. "Doughter," he sayde, "you must not do so, For all those vowes thou must forgo." "Alas, father, and wele awaye No we haue ye harde what i dyde saye." "Doughter, let be all thy mournynge: Thou shalt be wedede to a kynge." "Iwys, father, that shall not be For all the golde in Christente; Nor all the golde that euer God made May not my harte glade." "My doughter," he sayde, "dere derlynge, I knowe the cause of your mourny[n]g: Ye wene this body your loue should be. It is not so, so mote i the It was my stewarde, Syr Maradose, That ye so longe haue kept in close." 9 "Alas father, why dyd ye so?" "For he wrought you all thys wo. He made reuelation vnto me That he knewe all your pryuyte', And howe the squyer, on a day, Unto your chambre toke the way, And ther he should haue lyen you bi, Had he not come with company; And howe ye hyghl hym golde and fe, Strengthe of men and royalty And than he watched your chambre bryght,

965

970

!

975

980

985

!

7

suddenly, 9K'2.

(

'.

'her.

*

confinement.

mourrti/g.

992. C. her chambre;

Mead emends.

990

995

COMPOSITES

752

With men

of armcs hardy and wyght, For to take that squyer, That ye haue loued this seuen yere; But as the stewarde strong and stout Beseged your chambre rounde about, To you your loue came full ryght, 10 All alone about mydnight. And whan he came your dore vnto,

Anone

1000

1005

'Lady,' he sayde, 'vndo,'

soone ye bade hym wende awaye, For there he gate none other praye:

And And

as ye talked thus in fere,

Your enemyes drewe them nere and nerej They smote to him full soone anone.

1010

There were thyrty agaynst hym one: But with a bastarde large and longe The squyer presed into the thronge; so he bare hym in that stounde, His enemyes gaue hym many a wounde. With egre mode and herte full throwe, 11 The stewardes throte he cut in two; And than his meyne all in that place With their swordes they hurte his face, And than they toke him euerichone And layd him on a marble stone Before your dore, that ye myght se, Ryght as your loue that he had be. And sone the squier there they hent, And they dyd of his good garment, And did it on the stewarde there, That ye wist not what he were.

And

"directly,

1015

1020

1025

"hold.

1006. C. and lady; cf. 534. 1008. Cf. 564. 1009. C. he talked thys. Mead emends. 1013. M. suggests baslardc, dagger, since f>aslnrd usually means a cannon and appears with sword only as a modifying adjective, "large." 1015. C. bate.

;

THE SQUIRE OF LOW DEGREE Thus ye haue kept your enemy here Pallyng 12 more than seuen yere; And as 13 the squyer there was take And done in pryson for your sake. And therfore let be your mourning; Ye shal be wedded to a kyng, Or els vnto an emperoure, With golde and syluer and great

753

1030

1035

treasure."

"Do awaye, 14 For

father, that may not be, the golde in Chrystente. father," anone she sayde,

all

Alas

!

"Why

hath this traytour me betraid? she sayd, "i haue great wrong That i haue kept him here so long. Alas father, why dyd ye so? Ye might haue warned me of my fo And ye had tolde me who it had be, My loue had neuer be dead for me." Anone she tourned her fro the Kyng, And downe she fell in dead sownyng. The Kyng anone gan go, And hente her in his amies two. "Lady," he sayd, "be of good chere: Alas

1040

!"

!

Your

loue lyueth

and

is

1045

1050

here;

And he hath bene in Lombardy, And done he hath great chyualry, And come agayne he is to me;

1055

In lyfe and health ye shall him se. He shall you wede, my doughter bryght: I haue hym made squier and knyght; He shal be a lorde of great renowne, And after me to were the crowne."

ioeo

"Father," she sayd, "if it so be, Let me soono thai squyer se." 12

fading, decaying,

1057. princess,

1061.

On cf.

C.

"so.

"
ai grete ferlik. He sese be hund be nedder slogh; pan be knight had sorow inogh; Ful grete greuance to him bigan: He said, "Sorow cum to bat man, And sertanly right so it sale, pat euer trowes any womans tale !" Alias," he said, "for so did i parwith he murned and made grete cri; He kald his men3e, les and mare, J)e

895

900

!

And shewed bam

905

sorow sare: How his childe was hale and sownde, And slane was his gude grehound For his prowes and his gude dede, his

And also for his "A !" he said,

wiues rede. "sen i be slogh, 43 I miself sal by be wogh; I sal ken ober knightes, san3 fail, To trow noght in baire wife counsail." He set him down bare in bat thraw, 44 And gert a gromc 45 his gere of draw; Al his gay gere he gaf him fra, 46 And al barfote forth gan he ga,

Withowten leue of wife or childe. He went into be woddes wilde,

And

men, pat nane sold of his sorow ken: pare tholed 47 he mani a sari stownde For sorow of his gude grehownde. 43

atone away.

to be forest fra al

for the rvil ileed. 47

suffered.

'"(space of)

time.

45

groom, servant

910

915

920

!

THE SEVEN SAGES OF ROME And

for be kounsail of his wife In sorow bus he led his life So mai bou haue, Sir Emperoure, Sorow and shame and dishonoure, To sla bi son ogains be right, Als be grehund was with be knyght; For he was fel and ouer hastif, And wroght by kounsayl of his whif." pe Emperoure: "By Ihesu fre,

So sal noght bifal to me And, maister, hete be hardily, pis day sal noght my son dy." "Sir," said Maister Bausillas,

775 925

930

!

i

"Trowes my kownsail in bis cas; For al bis werld wil be despise, To trow bi whif and leue be wise." 48 pe Emperowre said, "pat ware reson; I sal noght by hir kownsayl done." pe childe ogayn to preson es sent; pe court departes, be maister es went.

935

940

But that evening the Empress tells another tale, and the Emperor changes his mind again until lie sees one of the Sages in the morning. So it goes for seven days. The following tale is told by one of the Sages on the sixth day.

Here Bigins pE XII Proloug. Sone at morn, bifor be sun, pe Emperoure rase, als he was won. He come omang his knyghtes all, And gert his turmentowre furth call. He bad his son bat he sold bring, And on be galows high him hyng. For mani knightes and bunas come For to here be childes dome. 48

forsake the wise.

941. MS. roson. 27X9. For a mistake for arul?

2785

2790

THE MATTER OF THE ORIENT

776

pe Emperoure wald haue no rede, Bot said algates 49 he sold be ded; And right so cumes into be hall J)e

He

sest 50 maister

omang bam

all.

Emperoure, lord of prise, In bi werkes bou ert noght wise; Ilk man has mater be to blame; 2 J)arof be burd think mekil shame. Sen bat bou wil trow na whise rede, Bot- wrang 3 wil ger bi son be ded, pat ilk chance bifal to be Als fel a knyght of bis cuntre, pat hurt his whife finger with a knif, And for bat sorow lost hys life." pe Emperoure said, "On al manere, Maister, bat tale most i here." said, "Sir

2795

1

2800

2805

He said, "Sir, grant bi son respite, And sal tel it be ful tite." i

pe Emperoure said blethly he sale; And ban be mayster tald his tale.

pE XII Tale Sayd Maister

2810

Iesse.

pe maister said, "Bi God of might, In bis cuntre wond a knight pat wedded had a ful faire whif,

And And

lufed hir

more ban

his

life,

sho lufed him wele, als him thoght, For efter his wil ai sho wroght. So on a day, bifore his whife, To be knight was gifen a fetyce 4 knife; And als bai plaied with be knif bare, A litel in hir fynger he share; 5 And when he saw be blude rede, For sorow he said he sold be ded; And so he was, sone on be morow. pan be whife made mekyl sorow:

Sho wrang 49

in

any

fully.

4

case.

60

sixth,

well-fashioned.

hir

'cause. 6

cut.

hend and made i

il

chere.

thereof you should be ashamed,

2815

2820

2825

'wrong-

THE SEVEN SAGES OF ROME

777

pe cors was sone broght on a bere,

With torches and series 6 faire brinand, And prestes and freres fast singand. For him bai delt seluer and golde,

And sone he was broght vnder When be knight bus grauen 8 pe lady cried and sayd "Alias And hardily sho said na man Sold

mak

molde. 7 was,

!"

hir fra bat graue to gane,

Bot on bat graue

wald sho ly, wald sho dy. Al hir frendes gederd bare For to cumforth hir of care. "Dame," bai said, "par charity, Of biself bou haue pete. pou ert faire of hide and hew; pou may haue knightes nobil inowe; And sen bou ert both 3ong and fayre, pou mai haue childer to be bine aire. It es na bote to mak murning; Al sal we dy, bath aid and 3ing." pe lady said oft sibes, "Alias Out of bis place sal i neuer pas, !" Til be ded with him alswa pan hir frendes was ful wa: Na man might, for na preching, pe lady fra be graue bring; And euil bam thoght bare to dwell.

And

2830

ai

2835

for hir lordes luf

2840

2845

!

i

parfore bai did als i sal tell: pai made a loge 9 be graue biside, Fra rain and hayl hir for to hide, pai couerd it ouer ilka dele, Aim made a fire barin ful wele;

2850

2855

I

Mete and drink

j?ai

And bad Bot

'candles.

7

j-'ri man be mist." 21

i.e., [

ness,

am the better pleased. "rope about

be taughl

his neck,

fair

(

.)s:i.

3000

"

"happicovenant, agreement, "misdeed, "forehead. i.e., in truth, "you need aol :

bow

"The Avowing of Arthur" bound by his oath of knighthood

297S. />n, these; cf 'J

2995

He

combat.

is

530. oo1

to injure except

in

782

THE MATTER OF THE ORIENT "Nay, dame," he said, "for al bis rike, ded knyght wald noght strike." Sho said, "Tak me bi swerd be fra, And sal merk him or we ga." He tald hir whare bat sho sold smyte, And on be heuyd sho hit him tite. pan be knyght wele vnderstode pat sho was cumen of vnkind blode. "Dame," he said, "by heuen-rike,

A

i

i

3it es noght bis bat ober lyke; His forteth 29 war al smeten out." "Sir," sho said, "barof no dowt; Smites out his teth; biliue lat se !" "Nay, dame," he said, "so mot i the I wil do him no velany; He was a knyght, and so am i." pan be whif sone toke a stane And smate his fortheth out ilkane When sho had on bis wise done, Sho said vnto be knight ful sone, "Sir, now sal bou wed me." "Nay, dame," he sayd, "so mot the, Are wald i swere to wed na wife Or i with be sold lede my lyfe, For bou wald hang me with a cord Right als bou has done bi lord; Swilk sorow has bou shewed me now pat sal neuer no wemen trow." pan said be maister to be Emperowre, "I pray Ihesu, our Sauiowre, pat to be fal slike velany

3005

3010

3015

3020

i

3025

i

3030

Als did bis knyght of his lady, If bou for kownsail of bi whife

Reues bi faire son his life. Spare him, sir, vntil tomorow; Vnto hir sal fal al be sorow; For, sertes, 29

front teeth.

sir, bi

son

sail

spoke;

3035

THE SEVEN SAGES OF ROME By righ[t]wis 30 dome ban bou him vvreke." pe Emperoure said, "So mot gang, And i mai wit wha haues be wrang, And wha be right, sir, ban sal Deme bam bath ful right wisly." pan be mayster went hys way; pus was be clerk saued bat day.

783

i

3040

i

After the seventh day, the child tells the final tale of a king's son who, from overhearing the conversation of some ravens, prophesies he will be served by his father. The king casts him into the sea; but he survives to fulfill the prophecy.

pus

And And

bis tale

was broght

ende,

til

Florentine, with wordes hende

4240

with reuerence and grete honowre,

Sayd

to his fader, be

"Fader, on

bis

Ogayns be

right

Emperowre,

wise wald 3c

haue gert sla me, bene my fa. Dere fader, why do 30 swa? I trispast" na mare ban did he, pe childe bat was kast in be se; And if myght come to honowre For to be king or emperowre, Wene 3e bat i wald greue 30W? Nay, sir, bat sal 3e neuer trow. Drawen and brend are wald be Or i wald greue my fader fre And, fader, 30W10 wife, weterly, Wald haue gert me lig hir by; Hot had leuer haue died als-sone pan bal dede to 30W haue done" When be Emperoure herd how he sayd, Of bal poynl he was noght payd,

And

fully

haue

3c

4245

1

i

4250

i

!

i

And sone pat

righteous.

he sent efter his whife,

him had made

" offended.

so mekil strife.

4255

THE MATTER OF THE ORIENT

784

"Dame," he

sayd, "es bis soth thing?"

"3a, syr," sho sayd,

"by Heuyn-kyng;

He says al soth in bis sesowne, 32 And sal say by what resowne,

4265

i

For he sold do na harm be

And

till;

also for bis sertayn skyll: 33

pat mi sons sold be na bastardes, Bot haue bi landes and be grete lardes. And, sir, i dred me 3it alswa pat he sold haue be empire be fra, Hereefter when bou curas on elde And may noght wele biseluen welde; parfore i wald haue had him dede, pat my barnes might be in bi stedc. And on bis wise, sir, haue i soght To ger hym vnto ded be broght." "A, dame !" said be Emperowre, "pou haues bene a fals gilowre, 34 And with bi treson done me tene; pat sal now on biself be sene; For bi gaudes and bi gilry 35 I gif bis dome: bat bou sal dy. Sakles 36 bou wald my son haue slayne-* piself sal haue be same payne; pi witchecraft and bi sorceri Sal bou now ful dere aby. pou grantes biself here al be gilt; parfore es reson bou be spilt. If bou lifed lenger, it war wath, 37 For ful sone wald bou shend vs bath;

4270

4275

4280

4285

4290

And It

sen bou grantes bi werkes wrang, nedes no quest on be to gang. 38

pou

By

ert

worthy be ded

rightwis dome, for

son sake."

pe Empcroure gert bifor

hym

His knightes and hys men3e 32

at this timo.

37

harm.

38

M

reason.

I4

deceiver.

no jury need examine you.

4294. Cf.

"Gamelyn"

840.

u

4295

to take,

my

tricks

call

all,

and deceptions.

"guiltless.

;

!

THE SEVEN SAGES OF ROME And

A

sayd, "Sirs, smertly for fire bat 3e ger make,

my

sake,

grete

4300

Hastily at be towns end For baryn sal bis whif be brend, With mekyl dole, bis day or none, 39 For be tresown bat sho has done; And loke j,e spare hyr neuer a dele, For sho has serued 40 it ful wele." pe barons war al of ane asent pat sho sold haue bat same iugement,

And "Do

al

be knyghtes fast gan

785

4305

cri,

to ded bat fals lady,

4310

pat with hir wichecraft and hir rede Wald haue gert be childe be ded !" Sone bai made, onane right, A faire fire, brinand ful bright. J)an bai tok bat faire lady;

4315

Yt helpid hyr noght to ask mercy: J)ai band hir fast, bath fote and hand, pat sho myght nowber rise ne stand. Hir fete bai

And

fest

vnto hir swyre,

lete hir flye in

myddes

be

fire.

4320

pus was be ladies ending-day, And bus was sho quit hir iornay. 41 pe childe lifed with grete honowre, And efter his fader was emperoure,

And led his life with werkes wise, And ended sebn in Goddes scruyse. pusgate endes al bis thing; Ihesu grante vs his blyssyng

Amen.

"

before noon.

4"

deserved.

u repaid her for pains.

4325

KING ALEXANDER

KING ALEXANDER In the Middle Ages, the history of Alexander the Great suffered same fate as the Troy-legend: it was known only through a late Latin romance, considerably expanded by French writers of the twelfth century. (See Wells, and M. Schlauch's "Medieval Narrative" 281; the different rescensions are discussed by G. L. Hamilton in Speculum 2.113.) The source of the English poem is Thomas of Kent's "Roman de Toute Chevalerie," which has not yet been printed entire. A few passages, including an index to the divisions, are in Meyer's selections. Those quoted here are from a rotograph of the Durham Cathedral MS. (Library of Congress, Modern Language Association Deposit No. 59). the

The text made with

is from Hale MS. 150, and is prepared from a rotograph, the kind permission of the Librarian and Library* Commit tee of Lincoln's Inn Library. The right numbering of the lines

two extracts is 3835-4261 and 5418-5467; but here Weber's numbering has been followed, both as likely to be serviceable and because a forthcoming edition of the poem will follow the same

in the

practice.

The dialect is southern, of the early fourteenth century. Tin language shows two common southern peculiarities: -e- is often broken into -eo- (beo, preo); and -u- often is written where the midland form had -i- (hulk, hill ;/*is dome:

4025

"Certes," he saide, "he dude WOW3 J)at he a kny3t of Grece SI0W3 And dispoyled him of his armes By treson, to oure harmes, And ioyned him vs among

4030

was wrong, 14 And so stal on oure Kyng, Him to brynge to eyndyng Y iugge he schal anhonged beo Barouns of court, what sey 3c?"

4035

So on of

al

}>is

!

Eueriche saide, "He schal beo slawe, Forbrent, 15 hongid, and todrawe !" Non no spak him on word fore 16 Bote bat he scholde beo lore. J)o Alisaunder say }?is, HeriJ? what he saide, ywis 8

honorable,

practice

wrong.

'command.

10

sleight.

ll

4040

ls every fighter may so this (act) was wholly

note carefully.

any Bleight to slay another. n interposed. li burned 16 one word in his favor. up.

u

4020. Lejliche for lefftdt The French has, Car de son enemy deust prendre vengeison En tot manere sam fen traison. 4031. The French has, M'e&i auis de done en fist tres medement (I think that in it all ho did very evilly).

:

THE MATTER OF THE ORIENT

796

(Hit is ywrite, euery byng Himseolf schewib in castyng; 17 So hit is of lewed 18 and clerk: Hit schewij? in his werk) He saw bat no kny3t hende Nul more bat knyjt schende, And saide, "Kny3t, he weore wod J)at wolde do be 0U3t bote god; Treson bou no dudest, no feyntise, 19 Ac hardy dede, in queyntise. 20 For bat dede, by myn hod, 21 Ne schaltow haue bote god !" Richeliche he deb him schrede 22 In spon-neowe 23 knytis wede, And sette him on an hy3 corsour, 24

And And

him muche of his tresour, him to Darie wende hom; No 3af he him non obir dom. 25 Mury 26 hit is in be dawenyng 27 Whan be foules bygynneb to syng, And iolyf 28 heorte bygynneb to spryng; In muche loue is gret mornyng;

4045

4050

4055

3af

lette

sone hit benkib beo slowe gadelyng; 29 In muche nede is gret bankyng.

4060

To

Erly be Kyng ariseb, and makib And hoteb quyk arme al his host

4065

bost,

;

17

under

trial.

as king). 28

joyous.

22 29

18

ignorant.

clothe.

19

nor cowardice.

M newly spun.

**

charger.

20

25

21 order (rank ingeniously. sentence. 26 merry. * 7 dawn.

sluggish knave.

4042. MS. ywrite in. Most of the passage is not in the French. Although 4047. Shend is a translation of the French defeat, defend. the Oxford Dictionary gives no example of its use in this sense before 1530, this is evidently an early occurrence of it. 4060. The different sections of the poem are not indicated in the MS. by capitals, but each has a little preface constructed like this one: an observation on the season, then some disconnected reflections or proverbs. 4068. Before this line Weber has two others not in this manuscript. The numbering is made to conform to his, though the lines are omitted. The phrase makith bost probably means that he announces his intention of

doing something surprising.

KING ALEXANDER J)ey

beon

And

alle

alle armed quykliche, him sywib, 30 sikirliche,

797 4070

Ouer a water, into a forest, alle dob heore lordes hest:

And

Bowes

of diuers treoes

bey kyttib 31

And to heore hors tayl kneottib. 32 To Darie-ward 33 alle bey farib;

4075

bowes beo dust arerib; 34 Of drawyng of bowes and stikke, peo eyr bycam bo trouble 35 and bikke, J)eo

pat to Daries ost 36 hit ferde So on heom com be myddelerd. 37 Anon bey tolden hit Darie, And bad him he scholde warye, 38 "For Alisaundre comeb wib his pray: 39 His folk spredib al be contray." Darie hy3t al his men

4oso

4085

Remuwe his tentis of be fen 40 And setten his bysyde Estrage,

A A

cold water castel

and a sauage;

he hadde in bat ryue: 41

4090

Nas non strenger in al his lyue. Anon was alle Daries ost Ylogged by Estrages acost, 42 pere bey wolde fonde aspye Al Alisaundres folye. Alisaunder bis tellen herd;

Wib And

his ost

he after

ferd,

anon per Darie hadde beon erst apon. 43 Now is ywrye 44 al be contray Bytweone heom as feole myle way. 45 Ofte ber was bytweone heom rydyng, 46 And mony a wy3t batailyng. 30

4095

bere he loggib

4100

3i the "cut. boughs raise the dust. "tie. "toward Darius. murky. 38 host. 37 as if the earth were descending on them. '* Ivwaro. 3* 4J 40 41 AZ shore. company. i.e., remove his tents from the flats. river. had camped. ** hidden, covered. 46 for many a mile. ** i.e., scouting, etc.

35

follow,

THE MATTER OF THE ORIENT

798

Alisaunder be Kyng a woundur byng: In a more-tyde 48 hit was; peo dropes hongyn on be gras; peo maydenes lokyn in be glas,

peo whiles 47

[of]

now

Listenib

For to tyffen 49 heore

4105

fas.

Kyng Alisaundre is out yride, And breo noble kny3tis him myde,

4110

Pryueliche, in a gret myst;

His grete ost hit no wist. He dob beo breo, wiboute reube, 50

him heore treowbe, ne schal me bywry3en Of bat y wol to 30 w sayn." Ply3te to

"pat

3e

pey dob

4115 1

al his wille,

And he heom gan telle He wolde wende swibe snel To Darye be feolle, To seo be contynaunce 2

4120

Of Daries court, saun demorrance. 3 No kny3t no rod wiboute stede, No wibouten yren wede; To be water bey come ryjt: Of his stede be Kyng aly3t, And of dude al his armure, And dude on a robe of peolour 4

4125

!

Apon a palfray he leope, 5 And saide, "Kny3tis, nymeb kepe 6 To Bulsifall, my destrere, 7 And abideb me ry3t here: Y wol come whan y may." Quyk he dob him in his way.

4130

4135

peo breo kny3tis of whom y saide, pat on het Amas of Cartage, pat obir hette Philotas, 47 3

meanwhile. delay.

4104.

*

fur.

4* 5

morning. leapt.

6

49 adorn. take care.

50 i.e., '

severely, charger.

Of supplied by Weber from other MSS.

'betray.

*

appearance.

KING ALEXANDER And

799

be bridde Perditas:

per nere better kny3tis breo In al be Kyngis maigne; pis breo Alisaundre abyde, Wei yarmed, by be water syde.

4140

Now sit Darye on an hulle, 8 Folk of his ost to telle; Alisaunder to him comeb and nou5t stet, 9 And saide, "Kyng Alisaunder be Gret, He is ycome to be parlement For to 3ulde be by rent. 10 Tweyes he hab J>e ouercome, py wif and by children ynome: Feole bow hast yslawe of his. He sent be sigge 11 bus ywis: 'Hit schal beo ful deore aboujt,

4145

4150

peo tole 12 bat was in Grece ysou3t Greybeb armes and 3arkib 13 scheldis: He 30W abideb in be felde " Darie was ful sore anoyed Of bat Alisaunder hab to him saide, And saide, "Of tale boo [bou] smart u

4 i 55

!

!'

4

!

i

60

Alisaundre byseolf bow hit art !" Alisaundre saide, "Hit is nou3t so:

He is whitter, wibowte no, 15 And his lokkes bub nou3t so Ac he is waxe more to be Ac y am hoten Antygon,

crolle; 16

fulle.

17

4165

pat mony a message haue ydon." Darie saide, "Messanger, aly3t, And go we eten anon ry3t,

And »

hill

•

mete bow schalt beore

4170

« tril)U(o „ he sondg ^ sRy ^ "yourspeech isimpudent. » fairer, unqueationably.

^^

did not hasten.

makeready 17

after

(J '«

attained a better growth.

4160.

MS.

table.

rhe trench has, Et Aitxandre: as dts

la

Possibly for fable, ly dit,

D'un

rien

lie?

(thing)

y erUenduz (by your words

The other MSS. me sui a il

ia

known).

curly

read

tale ,

, /(

\

;

800

!

THE MATTER OF THE ORIENT To by

lord a3eyn onswere."

Alisaundre, wiboute fable,

He

set at his owne table. pey weore serued wib gret plente: Wib fresch and salt and alle deynte, And dronke wyn and eke pyment, 18 Whyt and red, al to talent. 19 pere was coppes riche ywrou^t; Alisaunder him bybou3t How he my3te do sum byng

4175

4iso

Of to speke wiboute eyndyng. J)er of a coppe to him he dronk He hit afongib wib muche bonk. He dronk of bat wyn rede; pe coppe he putte vndur his grede. 20 J)eo coppe was of red gold; A botileir hit hab al byholde,

And And And

tolde Darie al be sobe,

Men

schal speke of Grece-londe

bycom ry3t wrobe, saide, "Hab he do me

4185

4190

he

bat schond? 21

Of be vengaunce bat he schal bole, 22 Haue he my coppe ystole !" peo botiler takib vp his grede And fynt beo coppe of gold rede. Darie to Alisaunder gan to sigge, "Ey, felaw theof bow schalt abygge !

Y

4195

!

set be at table

myn

4200

For reuerence of lord byn: My coppe bow hast ystole, And vndur by barm hole 23 !

18

23

is

20 bosom; spiced wine, "desire. concealed in thy bosom.

4171. After this disturbed.

line,

4185. "He accepts cup, then hands it to and drinks to Darius.

it

Weber

i.e.,

inserted

21

injury,

"suffer.

two more, so that the numbering

Darius drinks to Alexander from a to complete the ceremony; Alexander takes it

gratefully."

him

under his robe.

— KING ALEXANDER

801

24

J)ow art ynome hond-habbyng; !" J)ow schalt honge wib be wynd Quo]? Alisaundre, be Kyng so heynde, "Of befbe 25 y wol me defende A3eyn kny3t, swayn, and baroun, 26 J)at y no am no laroun: come to 30 w on message,

Y

And wende

3e

To my lord a messanger, And he beo worby, saun fable, He schal sitte at his table, And whan my lord him drynkib

Y

4210

hadde soche an vsage

So haueb my lord in court his For by richesse and for by pris, pat bow hast ober tofore; 27 Ac bat honour bou hast lore, For 3ef kyng sente, or kayser,

\)e

4205

4215

to,

4220

coppe he schal to wille 28 vp do; wende 30 hadde also here

Of oure court be manere

Y am

!

repentand, seb 3c no dob: 29

For harme no dude y

hit,

forsob."

4225

Darie, bau3 he weore agramed, 30 his 31

onswar he was aschamed; 3onge and olde, And heo gonne him byholde. A kny3t ber was bat hy3te Pertage:

Of

Stille sate

4230

Alisaundre he kneow in be vysage:

He saw

Alisaundre vnder his hod. hit vndurstod:

Wei Alisaunder 24 i.e.,

rod-handed.

rulers. 31

*•

al

his

u theft, pleasure.

,7 which you have in excess of other "angered. "sorry, Bince you do not do so.

"thief.

Alexander's.

The MS. hns, And ha (flourish) irnrjv/. Wohor's emendation. MS. Percagef The French has. Qui fu lenu per sagt (who was thought a wise man). The English translator takes this as a proper name. 4232. Weber here inserted two hues from the Auchinleck MS. 421.X.

4230.

!

802

THE MATTER OF THE ORIENT Hit ran

in

Alisaundres corage

him reumed 32 Per[t]age, And bat he of him to Darie spak. Ouer beo table he leop arape; 33 Quyk in his way he him dy3t, 34 })at

qued

of

4240

Darie after wib al his my5t. A sweord Alisaunder hadde, certes, pat was to him faste ygurd; 35 Out he brayd hit in hond; Non nolde in his way stonde. He mette a kny3t wib a spere, So God wolde, on a iustere; 36 He smot him swyftly in be swyre, pat he laide his hed to hyre; 37 He schof him quycly adoun And leop himseolf in be arsoun; 38 He smot be stede, and he forb glyt; 39 Alisaunder quyk away ryt: 40 pat day no schole bey him take Darie gynneb after schake: 41 Prynce and duyk, kny5t and swayn Dasscheb after wib gret mayn. Euerichon bey dob for nou}t: Alisaunder hab beo water cau5t. 42 Hit was brod, and eke Est rage Deope stremes and sauage: He smot be hors and in he leop. Hit was swibe brod and deop: Hors and Kyng, wib alio hater, 43 Was auntred vndur be water. Alisaunder tofore 44 no seob: He was sore adred of deb. Nobeles his hors was god, 32 3fi

41

3i i.e., " in haste. started away. evil of him. 38 37 left 39 rushed. charger. saddle. his head as a forfeit. 43 * ** dash. attained. trappings. ahead.

4245

4250

4255

4260

4265

35

whispered

40

girded.

=rideth.

4260. This seems to mean, "and likewise was Estrage a deep stream," The French has, Venuz est a I' Estrage, dont le ewe (water) fu bruant

etc.

(roaring).

— KING ALEXANDER And keouerid 45 vp abowe be And swam to bat obir syde,

803

flod,

4270

pere his kny3tis him dude abyde. J)ay halp him vp, and his stede, And anon chaungeb his wede. 3ette he hadde be coppe in hond pat he on Daries table fond; To his ost he farib, god schour, 46 And tolde heom his auenture. peo 3onge berof hadden game:

4275

peo olde wyse nome hit agrame, 47

And

saiden wel, bat cas hit was.

4280

Of gret folye don

When in love

Alexander passes through her territory, Candaee, a queen, falls with him, though she has never seen him. She sends him this

letter:

"To Alisaundre be Emperour, Of alle kayseris pris kyng and flour: pe Quene Candace, wib alle honour, Sendib be gretyng par amour. 0, Alisaundre, dure 48 sire, Ouer alle men y be desyre

Tak me

tofore alle to

6685

!

by qwene

6690

!

Riche schal by mede beone: Y wol charge, 49 saun faile, Wib besauns 60 a bousand camailes; Y wol 3eue be 3ymmes and by3es Ten bousand caries; 2 1

6695

bestis Y wol cha[r]gen al Wib pellis and siglatouns 3 honeste; )>is

lettres

was muche

6725

pris 13

Wib

Alisaundre and alle his; pe messangers a3eyn heom dy3tis,

6

730

And 3af heom riche 36ft is, And wib wordes bonere 14

Heom

answerib swibe

faire.

was ycome wib be messangers queynte 15 mon, a metal 3eoter, 16

J)cr

A

6735

coube caste in alle byng. 17 He avysed 18 ban be Kyng, And bo he com hom, sykirliche, He caste a forme be Kyng yliche: J)at

In face, in ey3nen, in nose, in moub, In leynthe, 19 in membres, bat is selcoub; 20

6740

pe Qwene sette him

And

13

in hire boure, kepib hit in gret honour.

was highly regarded,

of thing.

1S

Is "courteous. looked closely :it. " length.

"caster. marvelous.

skillful. ,0

17

i.e.,

any

sort

THE DESTRUCTION OF TROY

THE DESTRUCTION OF TROY This piece, the full title of which is "The Gest Historiale of the Destruction of Troy," is in a manuscript in the Hunterian Museum at Glasgow. Mr. W. R. Cunningham, Librarian of Glasgow University, and Keeper of the Hunterian Books and Manuscripts, has very kindly compared the proof of the text with the manuscript. The Troy-legend was known to the Middle Ages, not through the work of Homer, but through Latin versions of the Christian era. (For a brief account, see C. H. A. Wager's "Seege of Troy," Introduction.) These were distinguished by sympathy for the cause of the Trojans, from whom many western races thought themselves descended; and this preference is apparent in every medieval version. Achilles is reduced from a hero to a cowardly murderer; Helen's conduct is made the occasion for a disapproving sermon; the gods are carefully suppressed; war is conducted in terms of medieval chivalry, with castles, cavalry, captives, cross-bows, mining, etc. The immediate source, which the Middle English poem follows closely, is the "Historia Destructionis Troise" of Guido della Colonne. The dialect is northern of before 1400. Few pieces in Middle English

can approach the poem in sustained excellence; there is scarcely a dull passage in its 14,000 lines. The three selections below show the peculiar merits and point of view of the piece.

On

the verse, see Introduction VLB. 2. contains several words

The vocabulary

poetry and rare elsewhere. ing:

wegh, shalk,

— —

dern rushed; hor stithe,

their;

—

common

—

—

—

Prologue

Maistur Endles 1

in

:iri(l

Magest6, Maker of on,

1

alle,

euer to last!

one. I.

The prologue

is

in

alliterative

useful of these are the follow-

—

—

buern, gome man; wees men; bent field; euyn right, quite; gird strike, rush; braid and greme rage. The participles often end in -it.

lede,

fierce;

The most

;i

paraphrase of Guido's own.

809

—

—— THE MATTER OF THE ORIENT

810

Now, God, of bi grace graunt me bi helpe, And wysshe me with wyt bis werke for to end Off aunters ben 2 olde, of aunsetris nobill

And slydyn vppon shlepe by slomeryng of age; Of stithe men in stoure, strongest in armes, And wisest in wer to wale 4 in hor tyme,

5 3

pat ben drepit 5 with deth and bere day paste, of mynd for bere mecull age. Sothe stories ben stoken vp and straught 6 out of mynd And swolowet into swym 7 by swiftenes of yeres For new, bat ben now, next at our hond, Breuyt 8 into bokes for boldyng of hertes, On lusti to loke, with lightnes of wille, 9 Cheuyt 10 throughe chaunce and chaungyng of 11 peopull;

And most out

Sum Sum

10

15

tru for to traist, triet 12 in be end, feynit o fere, 13

Yche wegh

and ay

false vnder.

as he will warys 14 his

tyme

has lykyng to lerne bat hym list after; But olde stories of stithe bat astate helde 15 May be solas to sum bat it segh neuer: 16 Be writyng of wees bat wist it in dede With sight for to serche of horn bat suet after 17 To ken all the crafte how be case felle, By lokyng of letturs bat lefte were of olde. Now of Troy for to telle is myn entent euyn: 18 Of the stoure and be stryff when it distroyet was; J)of fele yeres bone faren syn be fight endid And it meuyt' 9 out of mynd, myn 20 hit i thinke

And

20

—

2 4 7

25

30

3 events that are. lapsed into sleep in the slumbering (oblivion) of age. choose, who could be chosen. 5 struck down. 6 locked away and gone out. 8 9 swallowed up in confusion. written. i.e., agreeable as light reading.

10

come by. "exchanging among. 12 trust, tried. u altogether fictiM spends. 1B fierce (men) who were prominent. 16 i.e., do not know tin17 followed; i.e., to read the work of their successors. l8 plain, "moved,

gained,

tious.

story.

removed.

20

to recall.

Historians thought, the English descendants of the Trojans. 13. This prologue is like that of the "Cursor Mundi" in its recognition of the power and attractiveness of the new fiction and its distrust of the influence of that fiction. 23. Dares and Dictys professed to have been eye-witnesses of the 5.

struggle.

— :

——

THE DESTRUCTION OF TROY Alss wise

men haue

Left

Latyn

it

in

811

writen the wordes before

for lernyng of vs.

But sum poyetis full prist 21 bat put horn berto With fablis and falshed fayned bere speche, And made more of bat mater ban horn maister 22 were; Sum lokyt ouer-little, and lympit 23 of the sothe. Amonges bat menye, to myn hym be nome, Homer was holden haithill 24 of dedis

35

Qwiles his dayes enduret, derrist of other, 25 J)at with the Grekys was gret and of Grice comyn. He feynet myche fals was neuer before wroght, And turnet 26 be truth, trust ye non other. 27

Of

his trifuls 28 to telle

Ne

of his feynit fare bat he fore with:

i

40

haue no tome 29 nowe,

How

goddes foght in the filde, folke as bai were, other errours vnable, 30 bat after were knowen, That poyetis of prise have preuyt vntrew Ouyd, and othir bat onest were ay Virgill be virtuus, verrit for nobill Thes dampnet his dedys, and for dull 31 holdyn. But be truth for to tell, and be text euyn, Of bat fight, how it felle in a few yeres, ))at was clanly compilet with a clerk wise On 32 Gydo, a gome bat graidly 33 hade soght And wist all be werkes by weghes 34 he hade, That hot he were in batell while the batell last, And euber sawte and assembly 35 see with bere een. Thai wrote all be werkes wroght at bat tyme,

45

And

—

50

55

23 i.e., 22 i.e., officious. authority. were inattentive, and Failed. worthy. 26 finest of all. 26 distorted. - 7 i. e., else. M inaccuracies. lei30 unfortunate. 31 condemned sure. his deeds and thought them unfortunate. 32 one. 33 thoroughly. 3i i.e., authorities. 3S every assault and meeting. 21

i.e.,

24

'-"'

44. "The fictitious material with which he dealt;" medieval poets were willing tO concede tint the gods of ('.recce had existed, !>ut thoughl they were merely men and women elevated by poets and priests to the dignity of W>i\* after their deaths. Cf. article on Kuhenierism, Speculum [1.396. •19.

Maybe

no example of

nrril for renin, attested; but he verb so early. t

tic Oxford Dictionary gives

— ——

—

THE MATTER OF THE ORIENT

812 In letturs of

\>ere

langage, as bai lerned hade:

Dares and Dytes were duly bere namys. Dites full dcre was dew 36 to the Grekys A lede of bat lond, and loged 37 horn with; The tothyr was a tulke 38 out of Troy selfe Dares, bat duly the dedys beheldo. Aither breuyt 39 in a boke, on bere best wise, That sithen at a site somyn were founden

6o

65

After at Atthenes, as aunter befell; The whiche bokes barely, 40 bothe as bai were, A Romayn ouerraght, 41 and right 42 hom hymseluyn, That Cornelius was cald to his kynde name. He translated it into Latyn, for likyng to here; But he shope it so short bat no shalke might Haue knowlage by course 43 how be case felle; For he brought it so breff, and so bare leuyt, 44 J)at no lede might have likyng to loke berappon, Till bis Gydo it gate, as hym grace felle,

And

declaret

it

more

clere,

and on clene

70

75

wise.

In this shall faithfully be founden, to the fer ende, All be dedes bydene, as bai done were: How be groundes 45 first grew and be grete hate;

Bothe of

torfer 46

and tene bat hom

And here fynde shall ye What kynges bere come

so

tide aftur.

faire of be felle peopull:

of costes 47 aboute;

Of dukes full doughty and of derfTe 47 " erles That assemblid to be citie bat sawte to defend; 48 Of be Grekys bat were gedret, how gret was be nowmber How mony knightes bere come, and kynges enarmed; 49 And what dukes thedur droghe for dedis of were; What shippes bere were shene and shalkes within, Bothe of barges and buernes 50 bat broght were fro Grese; 36

n

lodged, stayed. 38 warrior. 39 wrote. 42 corrected. 43 duly. 44 left 4S causes. it so bare. 47" 48 repulse. 49 fierce. under arms. 60 warriors.

belonged.

40

entirely. 46 injury.

41

85

90

recovered. 47

regions.

59. The book of Dictys was said to have been written in Phoenician characters; but it survives only in a Latin abridgment of the fourth century a.d. Dares' book is also preserved only in a Latin summary, declared to be by Cornelius Nepos, but actually by a later writer.

— THE DESTRUCTION OF TROY And all the What duke

Who

falin

Bothe

And

813

batels on bent, be buernes betwene bat was dede throughe dyntes of hond;

was

of truse

in ffylde,

and

and how

it

fore after;

of trayne 1 be truthe shall

bou here,

95

the ferlies bat fell, vnto the ferre ende. 2 Fro this prologe i passe, and part me berwith: Frayne will i fer, and fraist 3 of bere werkes: all

Meue 4

to

my

mater, and

make

here an ende.

Explicit Prologus

The Taking

of

Tenedos

The island of Tenedos was one of the outposts by the Greeks before they attacked the city.

of Troy,

and was taken

pai past fro bat port with pillage bai hade And turnyt vnto Tenydon, taryt no lengur. pere arof 5 all the rowte with bere ranke 6 shippes;

Cast ancres with cables bat kene were of byt; 7 Lete sailes doune slide; slippit into botis; Festnet with fuerse 8 ropis the flete in be hauyn, And buskit vnto banke, the boldist ay first.

4700

4705

At this Tenydoun truly was a tried 9 castell, Wele wroght for the werre, with walles full stronge, Evyn 10 fild full of folke, fuerse men and noble,

And

riches full rife; rank 11

men

within;

Wele viteld, 12 iwisse, for winturs ynoghe. Hit was sothely but sex myle fro the cite* euyn, As i told haue tomly 13 in a tale here before.

The

4710

folke in bat fuerse hold 14 were ferde of horn selfe; 15

Arait horn

full radly,

right to the werre;

2 'make (rial, 'proceed. 5 arrived. to the very last, truce and treachery. 10 ll proud, 'holding power, grip, quite. 'strong, 'strong. powerful. 12 13 M castle. ls feared for their lives. provisioned. at length.

1

6

4699. For information about the tactics, cf. Charles Oman. "A History of the Ait of War in the Middle ^ges," especially VI.vii.3. 1704. The ships were tied together, instead of being separately berthed, for security against storms and attacks.

;

THE MATTER OF THE ORIENT

814

In defense 16 of hor fos, bat on fletc 17 lay, Wcnton out wightly wale 18 men of armys, And bateld horn on the banke, as horn best thught. When the Grekes were gethurt and to ground comen, Mony fightyng folke in a fuerse novvmbur, The pcpull with hor power put 19 horn agayne, And foght with horn felly, bof bai few were. Bold was bat biker 20 opon bothe haluys: 21 Mony deid bydene of the derfe 22 Grekes, And Troiens with tene tynt 23 of hor pepull, But not so fele at be first as of the ferre side. 24 The Grekes full greatly greuyt berat, Oppresset horn with payne and preset bere faster,

4715

4720

4725

Fought full felly, and fele were bere slayne. Of the Troiens bat tyme tynt were be mo; The fresshe 25 was so felle of the furse Grekes, And the nowmber so noyous 26 bat neghed in hast, That the Frigios 27 floghen, and the fild leuyt: Turnyt vnto Troy, and the toune entrid.

And

j?o

4730

at fore 28 not to flight no of forse 29 were,

hom to gro[u]nd with hor grym And brittenit 31 on the bent bat abide wold; Comyn to the castell, vnclosit 32 it aboute,

The Grekes

gird 30

swerdes,

Foghten with the folke bat defens made; Shottyn 33 vp sharply at the shene wallis With glayues and gonnes; 34 girdyn doun toures; Dryuen vp dartes, gyffen depe woundes.

4735

4740

With alblasters also, amyt 35 full streght, Whappet in wharels, whellit 36 of the pepull With speris full dispitiously spurnit 37 at the yates; Dongen on dernly, 38 with mony dode-hurttes

4745

In diffens 39 of bo folke bat affroi 40 made. 16

20

to repel. struggle.

17

afloat.

21

sides.

18 -2

"with

picked, fierce.

23

lost.

all 24

their

i.e.,

might thrust them hack.

their opponents.

"

ferocity.

29 80 struck. strong. "grievous. z7 Phrygians, Trojans. *• those who took. 35 cross-bows 3 M cast. •'''spears and missiles. 31 butchered. - encircled. 3 38 atstruck angrily. aimed. 36 shot in bolts, killed. 37 violently beat. '

J

tacking.

4728. 4740.

40

resistance.

MS. MS.

were

j>ere

gomes.

pai slayne.

:

;

THE DESTRUCTION OF TROY But the

And

wallis the were, for all the

fele of

wo

815

yet, 41

hor fos fellyn without.

pen gone furthe the Grekes, graithet engynes,

hom

abrode vmbe 43 the bare walles, Layn ladders alenght, 44 and oloft wonnen. At yche Cornell 45 of be castell was crusshyng of weppon; Fell was the feght bo fuerse men amonge: Mony Greke in bere gremb gird 46 on the hed, Till }>ai lept of the ladder, light in the dyke, The brayne out-brast, and the brethe leuyt And mony dongen 47 to dethe with dynttes of hond. The Troiens full tit were terghit 48 for fight Wondit and were, bat bai were noght; 49 And the Grekes in so grete nowmber gedrit hom till, Wonyn on the wallis wightly with ladders, At wyndous on yche wiss 50 a wondurfull nombur. Batold 42

The

all

grete toures bai toke, tiruyt

Was

1

4755

4760

the pepull:

no lede opon 3 The" chefe 2 into chambers and ober cherc hallis, And yche freke bat bai found, felly }?ai slogh, Old men and other, with ournyng 4 to dethe, Tyll no lede of bat lynage 5 vpon lyfe was. lyfe bat alofte stode.

All the caves 6 in the castell clenly

4765

sought,

J?ai

Robbit the riches and the rife goodes, Prayet and piket J>at 7 proffet was in,

And wonnyn 8 Till all

4750

it

wightly be wallis withoute,

was bare as a

bast, to be bigge

Mynours than mightely 41

protect, despite

46

battlement.

46

4770

the moldes

10

woghes

!'•'

did serche;

42 drew 43 about, all their misfortune. up. fury (were) struck. 47 beaten, "exhausted,

"end

to end.

"so that they

staircase. 'throw over. had no strength. 'make their way. 'fine. 4 running down (like beasts of the chase). vaults, "plundered and race. s l0 • wand, to looted whatever. took. the strong walls. earthworks. i0

'

4755. Castles were usually set on mounds, formed by heaping up earth; the resulting excavation around the mound was called the ditch, or moat, and was a part of the defenses. 47t)t). The Greeks are always represented as butchers by Guido. They

succeed only because of overwhelming numbers valor.

(cf.

4758),

not

superior

— THE MATTER OF THE ORIENT

816

Ouertyrnet the toures and the tor 11 walles;

4775

All dusshet 12 into the diche, doll to beholde;

Betyn doun the buyldynges and brent 13 into erthe was playne 14 and out of plite broght 15 And hegh Tenydon with tourys tyrnyt all vnder. When pai hade wasted the won and wonen the gre, All the tresour thay toke and turnyt to ship. This fight is the first, and firre vs behouus. 16 Tyll the place

The Death

4780

of Hector

Though his wife has dreamed that he will die and his father has therehim from the battle, Hector cannot restrain himself when one

fore kept

of his brothers is killed

Ector,

wode

by the Greeks.

of his wit for

woo

of his brother,

Haspit 17 on his helme and his horse toke, Went out wightly, vnwetyng 18 his fader. Two dukes full derne he to dethe broght, And manly with mayn mellit 19 with other; Kyld 20 downe knightes, karve hom in sondur.

8595

Mony wondet

the weghe and to woo caste, 21 Britnet hom on bent, and on bake 22 put. The Grekes for his greffe girdyn 23 hym fro:

8600

Thay knew hym full kyndly be caupe 24 of his sword. Then the Troiens full tyte to the towne floghen, Issuet out egurly Ector to helpe, Gird evyn to the Grekes, and hor ground toke; 25 Foghten full felly, and hor fos harmyt. Polidamas the pert 26 was presset so fast pat he was wonen in wer, and away led. Than Ector in yre egerly faght, And the Grekes in his grem gird 27 he to dethe

8605

u burnt to the ground. 14 levelled. ls i.e., rendered 17 18 without behooves us to proceed further. fastened. the 21 knowledge of. 19 and manfully with might contended. 20 struck. made sor22 23 because of the harm 24 blow. rowful. i.e., overthrew. he did, fled. 11

strong.

12

dashed.

harmless.

16

it

25

took up a position.

26

brave.

27

rage struck.

4775. Undermining walls was the easiest way of destroying Ihom. The miners removed the earth at key-points, and the walls fell of themselves. 8606. Polydamas was the son of the Trojan prince Antcnor.

—

!

THE DESTRUCTION OF TROY Two

hundreth

And

deliuert the lede with his lyfe hole

in hast, bat the

hend

led

28

—

This a grete 29 of the Grekes graidly 30 beheld, Had meruell full mekyll, macchet hym to Ector: Liochydes the large, so be lord hight; He wend the prinse in the prese haue put out of lyue. Ector wrathit hym with, 31 and the wegh hit pat he deghit of the dynt er he doun fell. Achilles this chaunse choisly 32 beheld, pat so mony of baire men were marrid by hym; 33 He hopit but if happely bat hardy were slayne, pat neuer Greke shuld haue grace the ground for to wyn, Ne neuer Troye for to take, terme of hor lyue. 34 He bethoght hym full thicke, 35 in his thro 36 hert, And all soteltie soght, serchit his wit On all wise in this world bat werke for to end, And the prinse with his power put vnto dethe. As he stode bus in stid, starit hym vpon, Policenes a pert duke bat in prese rode, pat was chere 37 to Achilles, cherisit with loue, And thidur soght for his sake his sistur to haue; A mon he was of More Ynde, mighty of godes, pere hit auntrid full euyn bat Ector hym met, And the lede with a launse out of lyue broght. Achilles the chaunse cheuit 38 for to se, Vne 39 wode of his wit, wait 40 into angur: The dethe of bat duke he dight hym to veng. To Ector full egurly he etlit 41 anon; Ector keppit 42 the kyng er he caupe 43 might,

817 86 10

8615

8620

8625

—

" who 31

led

Polydamas

fierce.

41

struck.

37

8635

,0 completely; i.e., saw it all. Hector. '* during tlu-ir lives, "hard. 40 dear. " managed; happened. n even, quite. "rushed. burst, 43 give a blow.

raged against him.

36

29

8630

i

as captive* 32

.

especially.

prroat (hero).

33

8610. For such feats in battle see "Havelok" 1919. 8628. The sentence is never completed; the following lour lines are in apposition with hym (8632). 8631. Greater India was the eastern part, around the Hay of Bengal; Lesser India was along the western coast. 8638-9. Most of the principal warriors are described as kings by Guido,

and hence have Bome

righl to the title; bul the poel also calls them princes, uit the alliteration.

!

THE MATTER OF THE ORIENT

818

Drof at hym with a dart, and be duke hit. Hit was keruond 44 and kene, and the kyng hurt, And woundit hym wickedly thurght the waist euyn, 45 soght he no ferre ])at he sesit of his sute;

The Dethe

of Ector,

By

8640

Achilles Traturly Slayn

hym not litle: Braid out of batell, bound vp his wounde, Stoppet the stremys stithly 47 agayne, Achilles for the chop cherit 46

8645

launchit on swithe, bat entent truly, as the trety 48 sais, deire Ector with dethe or degh bere hymseluyn.

Lep vp

To To

full lyuely,

in the fild fell 49 of be Grekes,

As Ector faght

He

caupit

Puld

1

With

50

with a kyng, caght

hym

anon,

8650

as a prisoner of prise for to wyn strenght thurgh the stoure, as the story tellus.

hym

His sheld on his shulders shot 2 was behynd And his brest left bare so the buerne rode To weld hym more winly 3 bat worthy to lede. Achilles grippit a gret speire with a grym wille; Vnpersayuit of the prince, prikit hym to; Woundit hym wickedly as he away loked, Thurgh the body with the bit of the bright end, 4 That he gird to be ground and the gost yald. This Sedymon segh, bat soght out of Troy; Evyn wode for bat worthy was of lyue done, He cheuet 5 to Achilles with a chop felle, pat he braid to be bent with a brem 6 wound, And for ded of bat dynt the duke bere hym leuit. :

44

penetrating. book, history.

45

slung. 6

3

45

encountered

manage more

readily.

.

4

8660

8665

46

blow altered his course. 50 engaged, 'drew, cutting edge of the bright point

ceased in his pursuit. 49

8655

.

.

many.

.

47

strongly.

led

away.

reached.

terrible.

8643. Heading in the Latin

—The text

MSS.

is full

of such headings,

(See George Neilson's

which also appeared

"Huchowne

of the

Awle Riale"

25 and Speculum II.114.n.9.) 8651. Prisoners were desired because large ransoms could be exacted for their return.

THE DESTRUCTION OF TROY

819

The Myrmaidons, 7

his men, baire maistur can take, Bere hym on his brade sheld to his big tent, There left hym as lyueles, laid hym besyde; 8 But yet deghit not the duke, bof hym dere tholet. 9 Then the Troiens with tene turnyt them backe, Soghten to be citie with sorow in hert, Entrid al samyn, angardly 10 fast, And the body of the bold prinse broghtyn horn with.

Myrmidons, 8673. in

(

The

"to one Bide,

scene

initio's version.

in

'suffered great

which Priam

injury.

hefis his son's

"

8670

very.

body

of Achilles

is

not

MISCELLANEOUS

FLORIS AND BLANCHEFLOUR The romance has the two peculiarities of having been current in English at an early date (c. 1250) and of dealing well with sentiment, a merit not common in early romances. On the history of the legend, see Hibbard 184 ff. For a complete introduction, see A. B. Taylor's edition (Oxford, 1927).

The text given here is that of the Trentham Manuscript (now Egerton 2862), which is reproduced from rotographs taken and used with the kind permission of the officials of the Department of Manuscripts of the British this

is

Museum.

nearly complete, and

is

Though not the earliest or best text, hence most suitable for literary study.

The dialect is that of the east midlands; but late and northern forms have been freely substituted. The scribe seems not to have been familiar with the use of final -c in the earlier dialects, and ends many words with a flourish that might bo expanded into -c; but in transcribing, this has usually been disregarded after final -n or -to, and expanded after -e next hauen bat here is, per ben chapmen 23 ryche, ywys, Marchaundes of Babyloyn ful ryche, !

145

pat wol hur bye blethelyche.

Than may 3e for bat louely foode 24 Haue muche catell 25 and goode; And soo she may fro vs be brou3t Soo bat we slee hur nou3t."

150

Vnnebes 26 be King graunted bis, But forsoth, so it is. J)e King let sende after be burgeise, J)at was hende and curtayse, And welle selle and bygge couth, And moony langages had in his mouth. Wei sone bat mayde was him betau3t, An to be hauen was she brou3t; Ther haue bey for bat maide 3olde 27 xx mark of reed golde, And a coupe good and ryche; In al be world was non it lyche. 28 J)er was neuer noon so wel graue; He bat it made was no knave. per was purtrayd on, y weene, How Paryse ledde awey be Queene; And on be couercle 29 aboue Purtrayde was ber bother 30 love; And in be pomel 31 beron Stood a charbuncle stoon: In be worlde was not so depe soler 32 J)at it

To

155

160

165

170

nolde ly3t be botelere

bob ale and wyne; Of syluer and golde bob good and fyne. Enneas be King, bat nobel man, 23

merchants.

decorated.

24

fylle

maid.

29 lid.

147.

Babyloyn

170.

MS. per

176.

A

26

26

chattels.

them both.

31

not readily.

knob on the

30

of

is

Old Cairo in Egypt.

lid.

27

175

28

given. 32

engraved,

cellar.

—Taylor.

both her.

condensation of several lines of description

in the

French.

FLORIS

AND BLANCHEFLOUR

829

At Troye

in batayle he it wan, brou3t it into Lumbardy, gaf it his lemman, his amy. pe coupe was stoole fro King Cesar; A beef out of his tresour-hous it bar; And sethe bat ilke same beef For Blaunchefloure he it 3eef; For he wyst to wynne suche bree, 33 My3t he hur bryng to his contree. Now ]>ese marchaundes saylen ouer be see With bis mayde, to her contree. So longe bey han vndernome 34

And And

J)at to

To

be

180

iss

Babyloyn bey ben coom. Amyral of Babyloyne

190

pey solde bat mayde swythe soone; Rath and soone bey were at oon: pe Amyral hur bou3t anoon,

And

gafe for hur, as she stood vpry3t,

195

Seuyn sythes of golde her wy3t, 35 For he bou3t without weene pat

mayde haue to Queene; maydons in his bour dide, with muche honour.

faire

Among He hur

Now

his

bese merchaundes bat

may

200

belete, 36

And ben

glad of hur by3ete. 37 we of Blancheflour be, And speke of Florys in his contree. Now is be bu[r]gays to be King coom With be golde and his garyson, 38 And hab take be King to wolde 38 *

Now

let

205

pe seluer and be coupe of golde.

They lete make in a chirche A swithe feire graue wyrche, 39

And 33

lete ley

three as good.

"persisted,

from her.

"payment.

profit

180.

A my,

210.

MS.

beloved.

as swithe.

210

bervppon "weight,

"abandoned the maid, " made a fine tomb.

"their

"• in keeping.

She was Laviniu, daughter

of Latimis.

-Taylor.

!

MISCELLANEOUS

830

A new With With

feire

peynted ston, aboute wryte

letters al

ful muche Whoso couth be

worshippe. letters rede,

215

pus bey spoken and bus bey seide: "Here lyth swete Blaunchefloure, pat Florys louyd par amoure." Now Florys hab vndernome, 40 And to his ffader he is coome:

220

In his ffader halle he is ly3t. His ffader him grette anoon ry3t, And his moder, be Queene also, But vnnebes my3t he bat doo 41 ])at he ne asked where his lemman bee; Nonskyns 42 answere chargeb 43 hee. So longe he is forth noome, 44 In to chamber he is coome. pe maydenys moder he asked ry3t, "Where is Blauncheflour, my swete wy3t?" "Sir," she seide, "forsothe ywys, I ne woot where she is." She bebou3t hur on bat lesyng pat was ordeyned byfoore be King. "pou gabbest 45 me," he seyde boo;

225

230

235

"py gabbyng dob me muche woo Tel me where my leman be !" Al wepyng seide benne shee, "Sir," shee seide, "deede." "Deed !" seide he. "Sir," sche seide, "for sothe, 3ee." "Alias, when died bat swete wy3t?"

240

"Sir, withynne bis ffourteny3t pe erth was leide hur aboute, 40

journeyed.

of answer.

43

41 scarcely might he perform that act without, etc. awaits. 44 made his way. 45 mock.

226. Chargep

42

no

sort.

a result of confusion for the French: // (his parents) The Cotton MS. has targcp, and the rest of the context is more like the French. The idiom "charge to answer," demand an answer, may have been intended. 243. The rhyme requires hur above. is

se tardent de respons rendre.

AND BLANCHEFLOUR

FLORIS And deed

she was for thy loue."

Flores, bat

Sownyd

831

was

so feire

and gent,

245

verament. pe Cristen woman began to crye To Ihesu Crist and Seynt Marye. pe King and be Queene herde bat crye; Into be chamber bey ronne on hye, And be Queene se3e her byforne 46 bere,

250

On sowne

be childe bat she had borne. pe Kinges hert was al in care, pat sawe his son for loue so fare. When he awooke and speke mo3t, Sore he wept and sore he sy3t, And seide to his moder ywys, "Lede me bere bat mayde is." peder bey him brou3t on hy3e; For care and sorow he wolde dy3e. As sone as he to be graue com, Sone bere behelde he ben And be letters began to rede, pat bus spake and bus seide: "Here lyth swete Blauncheflour, pat Florys louyd par amoure."

255

260

265

pre sithes Florys sownydde nouth. 47 Ne speke he my3t not with mouth. As sone as he awoke and speke my3t, Sore he wept and sore he sy3t. "Blauncheflour!" he seide, "Blauncheflour! So swete a bing was neuer in boure Of Blauncheflour is bat y meene, 48 For she was com of good kyn. Lytel and muche loueden be For by goodnesse and by beaut e.

270

!

275

deb were dalt ar\ 3t, shuld be deed boJ> on 00 ny>t. On 00 day born we were; r

3if

We

46

saw that before her her own 261.

MS.

Queene herde

her.

child

was BWOOning,

Herde

is

etc.

4:

now.

4S

carelessly repeated from

bemoan. I.

249.

MISCELLANEOUS

832

We

shul be ded bob in feere. Dee}?," he seide, "ful of enuye And of alle trechorye,

280

Refte bou hast me my lemman; For soth," he seide, "bou art to blame. She wolde haue leuyd, and bou noldest, And fayne wolde y dye, and 49 bou woldest. After deeb clepe no more y nylle, But slee my selfe now y wille." His knyfe he braide 50 out of his sheth; Himself he wolde haue doo to deth And to hert he had it smeten, Ne had his moder it vnder3eten; pen be Queene fel him vppon, And be knyfe fro him noom: She reft him of his lytel knyf, And sauyd bere be childes lyf. Forb be Queene ranne, al wepyng, Tyl she come to be Kyng. pan seide be good lady, "For Goddes loue, sir, mercy Of xii children haue we noon On lyue now but bis oon; And better it were she were his make pan he were deed for hur sake." "Dame, bou seist sob," seide he; "Sen it may noon other be, Leuer me were she were his wyf pan y lost my sonnes lyf." Of bis word be Quene was fayne, !

285

290

295

300

1

And

to her soon she ran agayne.

"Floryes, soon, glad

make

310

the:

bou schalt on lyue see. engynne 2 Of by ffaders reed and myne, pis graue let we make, Leue sone, for by sake.

py

305

lef

Florys, son, brou3

49 if.

b0

plucked.

'

mate.

2

device.

315

;

FLORIS

——

AND BLANCHEFLOUR

833

3if bou bat maide forgete woldest, After oure reed wyf bou sholdest." Now euery worde she hab him tolde How bat bey bat mayden solde. "Is bis soth, my moder dere?" "For soth," she seide, "she is not here." 3 J)e row3 stoon adoun bey leyde And sawe bat [bere] was not be mayde. "Now, moder, y bink bat y leue may. Ne shal y rest ny3t ne day

320

325

Ny3t ne day ne no stounde Tyl y haue my lemmon founde. Hur to seken y woll wende, J)au3

were to be worldes ende

it

!"

330

To be King he gob to take his leue, And his ffader bade him byleue. 4 "Sir, y wyl let for no wynne; 5

Me

to

bydden

it it

were grete synne."

J)an seid be King, "Seth

it is

soo,

33*5

Seb bou wylt noon other doo, Al bat be nedeb we shul be fynde. Ihesu be of care vnbynde !" "Leue ffader," he seide, "y telle be Al bat bou shalt fynde me:

340

mast me fynde, at my deuyse, 6 Seuen horses al of prys; And twoo y charged 7 vppon be molde 8 Bob with seluer and wyb golde; And twoo ycharged with moonay For to spenden by be way J)ou

And J)e

315

bree with clothes ryche,

best of al be kyngryche; 9

Seuen horses and seuyn men, And bre knaues without hem; 10 And byne owne chamburlayne, pat is a wel nobel swayne: 11 rough.

'remain.

'realm.

10

'pleasure. "fellow.

in addition.

6

disposal.

:

loaded.

350

"ground

(a

tag),

MISCELLANEOUS

834

He

can vs both wyssh 12 and reede,

As marchaundes we shull vs lede." His ffader was an hynde king; pe coupe of golde he didc him bryng,

355

pat ilke selfe coupe of golde pat was Blaunchefiour for 3olde. 13

"Haue

soon," seide be King, may bat swete bing

bis,

"Herewith bou

360

—

may

betyde 14 Blaunchefiour with be white syde,

Wynne,

so

Blaunchefiour, bat faire may." pe King let sadel a palfray, pe oone half 15 so white so mylke, And bat other reed so sylke. I ne can telle nou3t How rychely bat sadel was wrou3t. pe arson 18 was of golde fyn; Stones of vertu 17 stode beryne,

Bygon aboute wit

365

370

orfreys. 18

pe Queene was kynde and curtays: Cast hur toward be Kyng, And of hur fynger she brayde a ryng:

"Haue now

bis ylke

ryng:

375

While is it byne, dou3t no byng Of fire brennyng ne water in be

see;

Ne He

yren ne Steele shal dere thee." took his leue for to goo; per was ful muche woo; pey made him noon other chere pan her soon were leide in bere. 19 Furb he went with al his mayne;-"

380

With him went be chain berlayne. So haue bey her hauyn nome pat bey ben to be hauyn come pere Blaunchefloure was al n\'3t. 12

guide.

"worth. 385.

n given l8

in

payment

for.

l4

fringed with gold fringe.

Probably hauyn

is

as

may

la l>ier.

an error for wey.

befall.

385

l&

-'"might.

side.

IS

saddle-peak,

— FLORIS

AND BLANCHEFLOUR

835

Wei rychely bey ben dy3t; pe lord of be ynne was welle hende; pe childe he sette next be ende In

al

390

be feirest seete.

Alle bey dronken and al bey 3ete: 21 Ete ne drynke my3t he nou3t; On Blaunchefloure was al his bou3t. pe lady of bat \mder3at 22 pat be childe mornyng sat, And seide to her lord with styl dreme, 23 "Sir, nym now goode 3eme 24

395

How

be childe mournyng syttes: Mete and drynke he fo^etes;

400

Lytel he eteb, and lasse he drynkeb;

He

is no marchaund, as me bynkeb." Flores ben seide she, "Al ful of mournyng y the see.

To

per sate ber bis sender day 25 Blauncheflour, bat swete may. Heder was bat mayde brou3t With marchaundes bat hur had bou3t; Heder bey brou3t bat mayde swete;

405

pey wold haue solde hur for by3ete; 26 wylle hur bryng, Bob of semblant and of mornyng." When Florys herd speke of his lemman, Was he neuer so glad a man, And in his hert bygan to lv>t 27 pe coupe he let fulle anoon ry3t:

410

To Babyloyn bey

;

"Dame," he seide, "be fessel 28 Bob be coupe and be wyne pe wyne and be gold eke, 21

ate.

"

2i

voice.

heed,

byne,

"recently.

!e

profit.

' grow

vessel.

390. This table sitting at

402.

"quiet

"perceived,

li^liter.

is

415

was not on a

but a single long one, the carver honor being al his right. The rending is from the Cambridge MS.

one end, and the

MS. He

is a.

For pis ender, a 412. For this line he 105.

1

r<
supplied from other

MSS.

our de-

'laments,

'if

MISCELLANEOUS

852

Florys drou3 for}? bat ryng pat his moder him gaff at her partyng:

"Haue pou

bis ryng,

lemman myn;

dye while

it is byn." Blaunchefloure seide boo, "So ne shal it neuer goo 2 pat bis ryng shal help me, And be deed on be see." Florys bat ryng hur raujt And she it him agayn betau3t: Nouther ne wyl other deed seene; pey let it falle hem bytwene. A king com after; a ryng he fonde, And brou3t it forth in his honde.

shalt not

97c

975

pus be children wepyng com To be fire and hur doom; Byfore be folk bey were brou3t. Drery was her bothes 3 bou3t; pere was noon so stern man pat be children loked oon, pat bey ne wolde, al wel fa we, 4 Her iugement haue withdrawe,

And with 3if

grete catel

hem

980

985

bygge,

bey durst speke or sygge;

feire a 3onglyng, 5 Blaunchefloure so swete a bing, per wyst no man whor 6 hem were woo For no semblaunt bat bey made boo.

For Flores was so

990

And

pe Admyral was so woode,

Ne my3t he nou5t kele his hoot bloode. He bade be children fast be bound And in to be fire slong. 8 7

pat

ilkc

2

be done, come to pass.

7

cool.

973.

am

8

995

king bat be ryng fonde, 3

of

both of them,

'gladly.

6

youth,

'whether.

cast.

The

construction

is

confused:

you dead." 992. Another MS. says that they

ring shall not help

me

sorrow seemed more

fair

"The

(if)

I

to see

others

who were

glad.

in their

than

FLORIS

AND BLANCHEFLOUR

To Amyral he spake and rounde, 9 And wolde hem saue to be lyf, And told how for be ryng bey gon stryf. pe Amyral lete hem ageyn clepe, 10 For he wolde here hem speke, And asked Florys what he heete, And he tolde him ful skeete: 11 "Sir," he seide, "yf

it

pe Admyral seide boo, "Iwys, }e shul dye boo!" 15 His swerd he breide 16 out of his sheeth, pe children to haue don to deeth. Blaunchefloure put forb hur swire, 17 And Florys dide her agayn to tyre, 18 seide, "I

1000

1005

were by wylle,

pou ne getest not bat maide to spylle; 12 But, good sir, quel 13 bou me, And late bat maide on lyue be." Blauncheflour seide byne, 14 "pe gylt of oure dedes is myn."

And

853

am man;

i

With wrong hast bou by

ioiq

1015

shal byfore: lyf loore

!"

Florys forth his swere putte,

1020

And Blauncheflour agayn him tytte. 19 pe king seide, "Drery mot 3e be, 20 roub by bis children to see !" pe king bat be ryng hadde, P'or routh of hem sone he radde, 21 And at be Amyral wyl he spede 22 pe children fro be deb to lode. "Sir," he seide, "it is lytel prys pese children for to slee, ywys; And it is we] more worship pis

1025

1030

be called back. ll quickly. " kill. n kill, "within, i.e., inl8 draw. " drew back. ,0 i.e., bad luck terjected. 15 both. 16 plucked. l7 neck. to you. 21 spoke. 22 succeeded. 8

whispered.

10

1022.

MSS. have, pu MS. werd. MS. dredry.

Ki'_'7.

.1

1007. Other 1020.

m

/red is

a genitive.

navgtest,

you Bhould not.

:

MISCELLANEOUS

854

Florys counsel bat 3e weete: Who him tau3t bat ilke gynne, py tourc for to com ynne,

And who him brou3t bare, And other, 23 bat 3e may be ware." pan seide be Amyral, "As God me

1035 saiie,

Florys shal his lyf haue 3if he me telle who him tau3t berto.". .... Of Florys, "pat shal y neuer doo." .

.

Now

bey bydden al ywys pat be Admyral graunted To for3eue bat trespas 3if

Florys told

Now How

how

euery word he

it

1010 f>is,

was.

ha)>

him

tolde

bat maide was for him solde, how he was of Spayn a kynges sone,

And

1045

For grete loue beder ycom For to fonde, with sum gynne, pat feire maide for to wynne, And how be porter was his man by com For his gold and for his warysoun, 24 And how he was in be fflorys borne;

1050

Alle be lordinges I0W3 berforne.

Now

be

Admyral

— wol him tyde! — 25

Florys setteb next his syde, And efte he made him stonde vpry3t And dubbed him bere kny3t, And bade he shulde with him be

1055

pe furthermast 26 of his meyne. Florys falleb doun to his feet his sweet,

1060

And prayeb geue 27 him

pe Amyral gaf him his lemman: Al bat bere were bankyd him banne. To a chirche he let hem bryng, And dede let wed hem with a ryng. 2S

more things 1039. This

too.

"reward.

is all

that

:5

is left

good luck

to

him!

of a speech in

his accomplices unless they are

pardoned.

26

foremost.

1065 7 -

that he give.

which Floris refuses

to betray

FLORIS

AND BLANCHEFLOUR

855

Bob

bese twoo swete binges, ywys, Fel his feet for to kysse; And brou} consel of Blauncheflour,

Clarys was fet doun of

)>e

And Amyral wedded hur

toure, to queene.

pere was fest swythe breeme; 28 29 I can not telle al be sonde, But rycher fest was neuer in londe. Was it nou3t longe after ban pat to Florys tydyng cam pat be King his ffader was deed. pe baronage gaf him reed pat he shuld wende hoom And fonge his feire kyngdoom. At be Amyral bey toke leue, And he byddeb bem byleue. 30 Horn he went with royal array, And was crownyd within a short day.

-inn'.

29

dishes, viands.

The end

30

1070

1075

ioso

remain.

is not found in the MS.; hut in another version are found the usual benediction of the hearer^ and the assurain < that the couple lived happily.

1083.

of the story

CHEVELERE ASSIGNE

CHEVELERE ASSIGNE The romance is in the east midland dialect (with some northern forms) of the late fourteenth century. With the consent of the Department of Manuscripts of the British Museum, it has been edited from rotographs of the unique manuscript, Cotton Caligula A II. The story is apparently a condensation of about the first 1100 lines of the French "Chevalier au Cygne," a 6000-line composite of the late twelfth century. A long English prose version was printed by Copland and again by Wynkyn de Worde. Tins romance is related to the cycle of Godfrey of Bouillon, famous crusader and one of the Nine Worthies, who was reputed to have descended from a swan a legend which attached itself to some noble English families also. The changing of a human being into a swan is a well-known theme in folklore; its origin may be traced to totemism (cf. Lang, "Myth, Ritual, and Religion," 1.168; also E. S. Hartland, "The Science of Fairy Tales," last chapters). The manuscript is peculiar in its interchange of -th and -d (swjde for swythe, 158; bygyleth for bygyled, 78) so that many preterites and past participles resemble the present tense. These forms have been retained. Because of doubt of the scribe's intentions, final -m and -n with a flourish and final crossed -11 and -th have not been doubled

—

or expanded to

-lie,

etc.

Gibbs's edition (EETS.)

referred to in the notes as

is

G.

whenne it is His wylle, All-weldynge God with His owne honde; Wele He wereth 2 His wcrke bat helpe we ne my3te, For ofte harmes were hente bat lengeth in heuene. Nere be hy3nes 3 of Hym was lento 4 in an yle For this i saye by a lorde a londe by hymselfe. That was kalled Lyor 1

•

•

•

•

5

•

—

The Kynge

hette Oryens

'omnipotent.

2

protects.

*

•

•

as be book telleth,

were it not for the supremacy.

A

*

dwelt.

corruption of the Lillefort of the French poem, where it Possibly the scribe took it to be some form of Vile forte. Kriiger, Arch. 77. 169. 6.

island.

S59

is

no Cf.

— MISCELLANEOUS

860

And

;

his

Qwene, Bewtrys 5

bat bry3t was and shene. bat made moche sorwe,

•

His moder hy3te Matabryne

•

For she sette her affye 6 in Sathanas of helle. 10 This was chefe of be kynde of Cheualere Assygne; 7 And whenne bey sholde into a place it seyth full wele where, Sythen aftur his lykynge dwellede he bere With his owne Qwene bat he loue my3te; But all in langour he laye for lofe of here one 15 That he hadde no chylde to cheuenne 8 his londis, But to be lordeles of his 9 whenne he be lyf lafte; •

•

—

•

•

•

•

•

•

And

bat honged in 10 his herte

i

•

heete be for sothe.

As bey wente vpon a walle pleynge hem one, hemselfen togedere, Bothe be Kynge and be Qwene The Kynge loked adowne and byhelde vnder •

•

20

•

And

sey3 a pore

womman

at be 3ate sytte

•

With two chylderen her byfore

were borne at a byrthe; he turned hym benne and teres lette he falle. 25 and to be Qwene sayde, Sythen sykede he on hy3e how bat she is pyned "Se 3e be 3onder pore womman and bat dare i my hedde wedde." 12 With twynlenges 11 two with nay 13 Qwene nykked hym and seyde, "It is The

And

•

•

•

•

•

•

not to leue:

and two wymmen for tweyne, for oon chylde 30 as me wolde benke, Or ellis hit were vnsemelye bynge how manye so ber were." But eche chylde hadde a fader for her worbes ry3te bere, The Kynge rebukede here bey wenten to bedde And whenneitdrow5 towarde be ny3te resonabullye manye. He gette on here bat same ny5te whenne he wysste her with chylde, 35 The Kynge was witty 14 of his loue and his sonde; And bankede lowely our Lorde she shulde be delyuered^ But whenne it drow3e to be tyme

Oon manne

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

6

Beatrice.

his blood.

6

10

7 trust. Knight of the Swan. weighed on. n twins. 12 wager.

8

possess. 13

9

without a lord of

contradicted.

u overjoyed.

17. Violation of parallel structure is common in the romances. 28-31. I.e., the same man did not father both children. Twins were considered infallible sign of adultery; cf. Westermarck, "Origin and Development of Moral Ideas," I. 408.

;

;

CHEVELERE ASSIGNE Ther moste no

womman come

her nere

861 but she bat was

•

cursed,

His moder Matabryne bat cawsed moche sorowe; For she thow3te to do 15 bat byrthe to a fowle ende. 40 Whenne God wolde bey were borne benne brow3te she •

•

•

to honde

Sex semelye sonnes and a dow5ter, be seueneth, All safe and all sounde and a seluer cheyne 16 Eche on of hem hadde abowte his swete swyre And she lefte 17 hem out and leyde hem in a cowche. 45 And benne she 18 sente aftur a man bat Markus was called skylfully longe; That hadde serued herseluen He was trewe of his feyth and loth for to tryfull. She knewe hym for swych and triste 19 hym be better, And seyde, "J)ou moste kepe counsell and helpe what bou •

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

may.

50

grymme watur Looke bou caste hem berin The

fyrste

Sythen seche to be courte And bou shall lyke full wele

Whenne

he herde bat tale

bat bou to comeste,

•

and

•

lete

hem

as bou now3te

•

yf bou

•

may

hym rewede

•

forth slyppe;

hadde

sene,

lyfe aftur."

be tyme,

55

But he durste not werne 20 what be Qwene wolde. The Kynge lay in langour sum gladdenes to here, But be fyrste tale bat he herde were tydynges febull. 21 Whenne his moder Matabryne brow3te hym tydynge, At a chamber dore as she forth sow;te cowrte turneth, 150 And he taketh vp J>e cheynes and here hem bytaketh; And come byf ore J>e Qwene Thenne she toke hem in honde and heelde ham full stylle. •

•

•

She sente aftur a goldesmy3te 48 And whenne J?e man was comen She badde \>e wessell were made

to forge here a cowpe, 49

•

was J>e Qwene blythe. vpon all wyse, 50 155 and he from cowrte wendes. And delyuered hym his wey3tes The goldesmy3th gooth and beetheth 2 hym a fyre and }>enne

•

•

1

•

•

breketh a cheyne, and multyplyeth swyde. And it wexeth in hys honde He toke J?at oJ?ur fyue and fro ]?e fyer hem leyde •

•

of haluendell ]>e sixte; And made hollye J>e cuppe 160 And whenne it drow3e to J>e ny3te he wendeth to bedde, in sawe as And thus he seyth to his wyfe telle: "The olde Qwene at J?e courte hath me bytaken •

•

3

i

•

•

honde and wolde haue a cowpe, and halfe leyde in J>e fyer, a cheyne 165 it wexedde in my hande and wellede 4 so faste That i toke J>e o}?ur fyve and fro ]?e fyer caste, And haue made hollye be cuppe of haluendele be sixte." "I rede be," quod his wyfe "to holden hem stylle. Hit is borowe be werke of God or bey be wronge wonnen; 170 For whenne here mesure is made what may she aske more?" And he dedde as she badde and buskede hym at morwe. He come byfore be Qwene and bytaketh here be cowpe, And she toke it in honde and kepte hit full clene. "Nowe lefte ther ony ouur vnwerketh 5 by be better Six cheynes in

And And

i

breke

•

me

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

-

trowthe?" 6 175 And he recheth her forth haluenndele a cheyne, And she raw3te hit hym a3eyne and seyde she ne row3te, But delyuered hym his seruyse 7 and he out of cowrte wendes. •

•

•

48 4

goldsmith. boiled up.

e

her-

sholde he serue for suche a }>ynge J>at neuer none sy3e?" and loke [>at he be brynge hym to his fader courte •

•

cristened—

And

kalle

Ry3te by 8

tricks,

179.

hym Enyas J?e

'deserved.

The

line

other chains";

to

mydday 10 i.e.,

•

name

•

for aw3te pat

to redresse his

may

befalle

moder;

knew what her doom should

be.

205

" thanks.

seems to mean: "Now heaven's blessing go with these "good riddance to."

i.e.,

— CHEVELERE ASSIGNE

867

and bou most forth For Goddes wyll moste be fulfylde wende." and thow3te on his wordes. The heremyte wakynge lay to be chylde he seyde, Soone whenne be day come to fy3te for by moder.'' "Criste hath formeth be, sone, 210 what was a moder. He asskede hymm banne sonne, and of here re"A womman bat bare be to man •

•

•

•

•

•

redde." 12 how bat i shall fy3te?" kanste bou, fader, enforme me "3e, "as i haue herde seye." "Vpon a hors," seyde be heremyte "lyonys wylde? "What beste is bat," quod be chylde 215 or watur?" 13 quod be chylde banne. Or elles wode "but by be mater 14 "I sey3e neuur none," quod be hermyte •

•

•

•

•

of bokes.

They seyn he hath a

And also he is a "Go we forth,

feyre hedde

frely beeste

fader,"

•

and fowre lymes hye,

forthy he

•

quod be

man

childe

serueth."

"vpon Goddes

•

halfe." 15

The grypte eybur a

honde

staffe in here

and on here wey

•

straw3te. 16

220

an angell hym suwethe, 17 be heremyte hym lafte vpon his ry3te sholder. Euur to rede be chylde folke gaderynge faste, Thenne he seeth in a felde bat be Qwene sholde in brenne, And a hy3 fyre was ber bette 225 felly lowde, And noyse was in be cyte whenne bey here vp token, With trumpes and tabers

Whenne

•

•

•

•

•

The olde Qwene at here bakke The Kynge come rydynge afore The chylde stryketh 18 hym to

"What man

betynge

•

full faste.

a forlonge and more. and toke hym by be brydell. "and who is bat \>e arte bou," quod be chylde •

•

•

sveth?" 19 "I

am

And 12

be

230

Kynge

be 3ondur

i.e.,

tents.

210

of bis londe

is

nourished, fed *>

ff.

behalf,

i.e.,

my Qwene — thee.

in

13

i.e.,

God's name.

Cf. "Perceval."

and Oryens

•

•

am

kalled,

Betryce she hette

wood-beast or water-beast

u

set forth.

I7

follows.

l8

—G.

ran.

M con"follows.

— MISCELLANEOUS

868

21 In J?e 3ondere balowe-fyre 20 is buskedde to brenne. She was sklawnndered 22 on hy3e bat she hadde taken howndes, And 3yf she hadde so done here harm were not to charge." 23 •

•

•

235

"Thenne were bou no}t "vpon ry3te iuge,

ry3[t]lye

sworne," 24 quod be chylde

—

kynge whenne bou Whenne bou tokest be by crowne made were for benne bou shalt mysfare; To done aftur Matabryne •

•

For she

And

fowle,

is

fell,

and

fals

bylefte with be fend

•

and so she

styffe in here brestes 25

That styked

shall be

fownden,

at here laste ende."

•

240

bat wolde be

•

Qwene

brenne. "I

am

but

lytull

and 3onge," quod be chylde

•

"leeue bou

forsothe,

Not but 26

twelfe 3ere olde

euenn at

•

bis

tyme;

to better and to worse And woll putte my body with whome bat wrongeseyth." 27 To fy3te for be Qwene and ioye he bygynneth, Thenne graunted be Kynge i

•

•

245

•

bat here clensen my3te. any helpe were berinne and badde hym com benne: bat come be olde Qwene bou mayste ry3th loth "To speke with suche on as he If

•

By

•

•

thenke."

"thow3te "A, dame!" quod be Kynge haste forsette 28 be 3onge Qwene •

Thow

•

3e

none synne? 250 knoweste well

\>o\i

be sothe.

seyth bat he woll preue This chylde bat i here speke with certeyne be neyther." 29 That bou nother by sawes and kaw3te hym by be lokke 30 And benne she lepte to hym 255 honde heres an hondredde. That ber leued in here •

•

•

•

20

blazing

see note.

fire. 26

21

this

prepared, "accused. 23 of no importance. "badly advised; remark stuck in the breasts of those who. 26 only. 27 against

whoever makes the accusation. is

trustworthy.

30

28

opposed.

29

thou nor thy sayings, neither

hair.

233. The scribe has confused the bale-fire (blazing, outdoor original with the adjective balwe, deadly. Cf. 344. 236. The second half is a mistranslation of the French: droit iuge

comme

toy loyaument.

fire)

of his

Nas pas a

!

CHEVELERE ASSIGNE

869

"A, by lyuynge God," quod be childe "bat bydeste in heuene Thy hedde shall lye on by lappe for by false turnes. 31 I aske a felawe anone a fresh kny5te aftur, 32 For to fy3te with me to dryue owte be ry3te." 33 "A, boy," quod she, "wylt bou so? bou shalt sone myskarye; 260 I wyll gete me a man bat shall be sone marre." She turneth her benne to Malkedras and byddyth hym take armes, And badde hyme bathe his spere in be boyes herte; And he of suche one gret skorne he bow3te. An holy abbot was ber by and he hym beder boweth 34 265 For to cristen be chylde frely and feyre. The abbot maketh hym a fonte and was his godfader; The Erie of Aunnthepas he was another; The Countes of Salamere was his godmoder. •

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

They

kallede

hym Enyas

name

Mony was

be ryche 3yfte Alle be bellys of be close 35 Withoute ony mannes helpe

Wherefore

as be book telleth. bat bey 5afe hym aftur.

to •

be[y]

270

rongen at ones whyle be fy3te lasted; bat Criste was plesed with here

•

•

wyste well

•

•

dede.

Whenne he was cristened frely and feyre, 275 Aftur be Kynge dubbede hym kny3te as his kynde wolde. 36 Thenne prestly he prayeth be Kynge bat he hym lene wolde An hors with his harnes and blethelye he hym graunteth. Thenne was Feraunce fette forth be Kynges price stede, armour bey halenne, 37 And out of an hy3e towre 280 And a whyte shelde with a crosse vpon be posse honged, bat to Enyas hit sholde; 38 And hit was wryten ber vpon And whenne he was armed to all his ry3tes, bat he hym lene wolde Thenne prayde he be Kynge Oon of his beste menne bat he moste truste 285 •

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

:l

34

3J (I

tri'kg.

goes.

36

ask)

for a strong

abbey grounds.

36

i.e.,

knight. " bring out the truth by fighting. 37 38 as befitted his condition. bring. i.e.,

should belong. 281.

As Gibbs noted, posse

is

probably an error for poste

h

MISCELLANEOUS

870

with hym but kny3te kaw3te hym by

To speke

A

a speche-whyle. 39

•

handc

\>e

and ladde hym

•

of

}?e

rowte.

"What

beeste

is

]?is,"

quod

childe

J?e

•

"J?at

i

shall

on

houe?" 40 "Hit

is

called an hors,"

quod

kny3te

J?e

•

"a good and an

abull."

"Why

eteth he yren;" quod

}?e

chylde

"wyll he etc no5th

•

elles?

And what

290 is ]?at

on

his

bakke

byrthe or on bounden?" 41 kallen a brydell, of

•

"Nay, J>at in his mowth men And that a sadeli on his bakke }>at J>ou shalt in sytte." "And what heuy kyrtell 42 is Jns with holes so thykke; And }>is holowe on my hede i may no3t here?" 295 "An helme men kallen }?at on and an hawberke 43 }?at other." •

•

•

•

•

"But what broode on 44 is J>is on my breste? Hit beret adown my nekke." "A bry3te shelde and a sheene to shylde J?e fro strokes." "And what longe on is J?is that shall vp lyfte?" "Take Jmt launce vp in J?yn honde and loke )?ou hym hytte, •

•

i

•

•

300

And whenne

J>at

shafte

another." "3e, what yf grace be

schyuered

is

•

take scharpelyc

1

'

we to grownde wenden?" "Aryse vp ly3tly on J?e fete and reste ]>e no lengur, and pele 46 on hym faste, And }?enne plukke out J?y swerde 305 Allwey eggelynges 47 down on all J>at )?ou fyndes. rekke }>ou of neyjmr; His ryche helm nor his swerde schreden 48 hym small." Lete be sharpe of J?y swerde whenne he feleth smerte?" 49 "But woll not he smyte a3eyne both kenely and faste. "3ys i knowe hym full wele tyll }>ou haste hym falleth. 310 Euur folowe 50 J?ou on J>e flesh i kan sey J?e no furre." And sythen smyte of his heede •

•

•

•

•

•

•

—

—

•

•

•

time for conversation. 40 remain. 41 i.e., is it natural or bound on. body-armor. Cf. Int. III.D. ** i.e., thing. 46 quickly. 4 " strike. wise. 48 shred. 4 ' the sting. 60 keep on striking. 38

the sueeour of

God saved them.

369. Cheuelere Assygne must be in apposition with christened Enyas.

sixte,

since he

was

SIR CLEGES

,

SIR CLEGES "Sir Cleges" is in the north midland dialect of the late fourteenth, The poem exists in two or possibly very early fifteenth, century. manuscripts of the fifteenth century: (1) the Edinburgh manuscript, 19.1.11* in the National Library of Scotland (formerly the Advocates'

Library), from rotographs of which this text is printed with the kind permission and assistance of the authorities of the Library; (2) the Oxford manuscript, Ashmole 61. The two versions can be compared in Treichel's edition, ESt. 22.345. Both of the main incidents, the miraculous fruit and the choosing of blows as a reward, were very popular in the Middle Ages (for variants and parallels, cf. G. H. McKnight's edition of the Oxford manuscript in his "Middle English Humorous Tales in Verse," lxi ff.); but the actual source of the romance is unknown. It is both a fabliau a comic tale and an exemplum a moral tale to be used in sermons. In its present form it is clearly also a Christmas tale which minstrels told "to encourage liberality at Yule-tide feasts"

—

—

—

(McKnight lxiii). The following

spellings peculiar to this manuscript should be noted: nere for nor, ar for or, will for well, and the intrusion of an inorganic -3 (prowyl, proud, 448). Plurals of nouns are abbreviated in the manuscript in the usual fashion; they have been expanded as -is, which seems to be the scribe's favorite form. The scribe is prodigal with ff-. At the beginning of lines, this has been printed F-; elsewhere, ff-. The following final letters are always crossed or flourished in the manuscript, but have not been expanded -II, -ch, -m, (except in hym, 123), -n (except in in, where it is never flourished). Final -ng and -t, which are nearly always crossed or flourished, have not been expanded; nor has -d, :

which is flourished in about half has been expanded to -re. *

its

occurrences.

Final flourished -r

Formerly Jac.V.6.21; the editors are grateful to Mr. H. W. Meikle

National Library of .Scotland for this correction.

Will ye lystyn, and ye schyll here Of eldyrs that before vs were, Bothe hardy and WV3I S77

of

tin-

MISCELLANEOUS

878

In the tyme of kynge Vtere, of kynge A[r]thyr, semely man in si3t. hade a kny3t, bat hight Sir Cleges;

That was ffadyr

5

A He

A

dowtyar was non of dedis Of the Rovnd Tabull right, He was a man of hight stature 1

And therto And also

A In

full

10

fayre of ffeture,

of gret my3t.

corteysear kny3t than he was on all the lond was there non;

He was

so ientyll

and

fre.

15

To men bat traveld in londe of ware 2 And wern fallyn in pouerte bare,

He yaue The pore

both gold and

ffee.

pepull he wold releve,

And no man wold he greve; Meke of maners was hee. His mete was ffre to euery man That wold com and vesite hym He was full of plente.

20

than;

The kny3t hade a ientyll wyffe; There mi3t non better bere life, And mery sche was on si3te.

Dame Clarys hight bat ffayre lady; Sche was full good, sekyrly, And gladsum both day and ny3te. Almus 3 gret sche wold geve, The pore

tall.

21.

2

suffered in a war-swept country.

MS. manres.

30

pepull to releue;

Sche cherisschid many a wi3t. For them hade no man dere, Rech ar pore wethyr they were; They ded euer ryght. 1

25

3

alms.

35

;

.

SIR CLEGES

;

879

Euery yer Sir Cleges wold At Cristemas a gret ffest hold In worschepe of bat daye,

As ryall in all thynge As he hade ben a kynge, Forsoth, as i you saye. Rech and pore in be cuntre" abou3t Schuld be there, wythoutton dou3tt; There wold no

man

say nay.

40

45

Mynsstrellis wold not be behynde,

For there they my3t most myrthis fynd There wold they be aye. Mynsstrellys,

Wythoutton

whan

be ffest was don,

yeftis schuld not gon,

50

And

bat bothe rech and good: Hors, robis, and rech ryngis, Gold, siluer, and othyr thyngis, To mend wyth her modde. 4 Ten yere sech ffest he helde

55

In the worschepe of Mari myld And for Hym bat dyed on the rode.

good began to slake 6 For the gret ffestis that he dede make, The kny3t ientyll of blode.

Be

that, his

60

To

hold the feste he wold not lett; His maners he ded to wede sett; 6 He thow3t hem out to quy5tt. Thus he ffestyd many a yere Many a kny3t and squire In the name of God all-my^t So at the last, the soth to say, All his good was spent awaye Than hade he but ly3t. Thowe his good were ner[h]and leste,

1

to cheer their spirits with.

b

decrease.

•

65

70

he put up his estates as security.

MISCELLANEOUS

880

Yet he thow3t to make a feste; In God he hopyd ryght. This

rialte 7

he

made than

Tyll his maneris wern

Hym

was

lefte

all

aye,

awaye;

but on,

75

And

bat was of so lytyll a value That he and his wyffe trewe

Mi3t not leve thereon. His men that wern mekyll of pride Gan slake 8 awaye on euery syde; With hym there wold dwell non

so

But he and his childyrn too; Than was his hart in mech woo, And he made mech mone.

And

yt befell on Crestemas evyn,

The kny3t bethow3t hym

full

85

evyn; 9

He d welly d be Kardyfe syde. 10 Whan yt drowe toward the novn, svounnyng

Sir Cleges fell in

sone,

Whan

he thow3t on bat tyde on his myrthys bat he schuld hold howe he hade his maners sold

And And And his renttis wyde. 11 Mech sorowe made he there; He wrong his handis and wepyd And ffellyd was his pride.

90

95

sore,

And as he walkyd vpp and dovn Sore sy3thyng, he hard a sovne Of dyvers mynstrels6: Of trompus, pypus, and claraneris, 12 7

8

disappear. magnificence. 12 trumpeters.

pondered deeply.

»

10

near Cardiff.

come.

82. O. Bot hys wife and. 86.

99.

100.

.

.

.

MS. kynge. MS. mynstrelses Treichel emends. Most of these instruments are illustrated ;

in

Wright.

100

n

large in-

SIR CLEGES and getarnys, and sawtre\ 13 carellys 14 and gret davnsyng;

Of harpis,

A

881

luttis,

sitole

Many On

euery syde he harde syngyng, In euery place, trewly. He wrong his hondis and wepyd sore; Mech mone made he there,

105

Syghynge petusly. "Lord Ihesu," he seyd, "Hevyn-kynge, Of now3t Thou madyst all thynge; I thanke The of Thy sond. The rayrth that i was wonte to make! At thys tyme for Thy sake, I fede both fre and bond.

cam in Thy name Wantyd neythyr wyld nere tame 15 All that euer

115

That was in my lond; Of rech metis and drynkkys good That my3t be gott, be the rode, For coste i wold not lend." 16

120

As he stod in mornyng soo, His good wyffe cam hym vnto, And in hyr armys hym hent. Sche kyssyd hym wyth glad chere; "My lord," sche seyd, "my trewe fere, I hard what ye ment. Ye se will, yt helpyth now3t To make sorowe in youre thow3t; Therefore i pray you stynte. 17 Let youre sorowe awaye gon, 13

lutes

and

gitterns, a citole

nor domestic animal. 102.

MS.

sotile;

O.

I6

and

psaltery.

hesitate.

128.

in

u

carols.

ls

MS. your

lacked neither

125

130

game

" cease

sytall.

were dances accompanied by singing; "Handlyng Synne" 8987 ff.

103. Carols

ample

no

hart; O. thought.

cf.

the famous ex-

;

MISCELLANEOUS

882

And thanke God Of

all

bat

He

of hys lone 18

hath sent.

For Crystis sake, i pray you blyne 19 Of all the sorowe bat ye ben in, In onor of thys daye.

135

euery man schuld be glade; Therefore i pray you be not sade

No we

Thynke what

i

you saye.

Go we to oure mete swyth And let vs make vs glade and As wele I

as

uo

blyth,

we may.

hold yt for the best, trewly;

For youre mete is all redy, I hope, to youre paye." "I asent," seyd he tho,

And in with hyr he gan goo, And sumwatt 20 mendyd hys

145

chere.

But neuerbeles hys hart was sore, And sche hym comforttyd more and more, Hys sorewe away to stere. 21 So he began to waxe blyth And whypyd 22 away hys teris swyth, That ran dovn be his lyre. Than they wasschyd and went to mete Wyth sech vitell 23 as they my3t gett And made mery in fere.

150

155

Whan they hade ete, the soth to saye, Wyth myrth they droffe be day away, As

will as

they my3t.

Wyth her chyldyrn play they ded And after soper went to bede, Whan yt was tyme 24 of ny3t. And on the morowe they went to chirch. 18

gift.

time.

"stop.

" some what.

"

guide,

"wiped,

"food.

21 i.e..

160

the proper

SIR CLEGES

883

Godis service for to werch,

As yt was reson and ry3t. bei ros and went beber, They and ber chylder togeber,

165

[Up

When

bei

Sir Cleges

To Ihesu

were redy dy3ht.]

knetyd on his kne; Crist prayed he

170

Becavse of his wiffe: "Gracius Lord," he seyd thoo, "My wyffe and my chyldyrn too, Kepe hem out of stryffe !" The lady prayed for hym ayen That God schuld kepe hym fro peyne In euerlastyng

Whan

175

lyf.

was don, horn they went, And thanked God with god entent, service

And put away

penci[ffe]. 25

iso

Whan

he to hys place cam, His care was will abatyd than; Thereof he gan stynt. He made his wife afore hym goo And his chyldyrn both to; Hymselfe alone went Into a gardeyne there besyde, And knelyd dovn in bat tyde And prayed God veramend, And thanked God wyth all hys hartt Of his dysese and hys povertt, 26

That

to

hym was

iss

190

sent.

As he knelyd on hys knee Vnderneth a chery-tre, Makyng hys preyere, He raw3t a bowe oucr hys hede "

pensiveness, melancholy. 166.

The

2*

195

poverty.

three lines in brackets are supplied from

().

MISCELLANEOUS

884

And

rosse

vpe

in that stede;

No lenger knelyd he there. Whan be bowe was in hys hand, Grene leves thereon he fonde, And rovnd beryse in fere. He seyd, "Dere God in Trenyt6, What manere of beryse may bis be, That grovyn 27 bis tyme of yere?

200

Abow3t bis tyme i sey neuer That any tre schuld frew3t 28 As for 29 as i haue sow3t."

205

ere,

bere,

He thow3t to taste yf he cowbe; And on he put in his mowth, And spare wold he nat. After a chery be reles 30 was, The best bat euer he ete in place, Syn he was man wrow3t. A lytyll bowe he gan of-slyve, 31 And thow3t to schewe yt to his wife, And in he yt brow3t.

210

215

"Loo dame, here ys newelt6; 32 !

In oure gardeyne of a chery-tre I fond yt, sekerly. I am aferd yt ys tokynnyng

220

Of more harme that ys comynge; For soth, thus thynkkyth me." [His wyfe seyd, "It is tokenyng Off

mour godness

We

bat

is

corny ng;

haue mour plente\] But wethyr wee haue les or more, Allwaye thanke we God therefore; schall

Yt ys 27

grow. 208. 222. 226.

"

fruit.

best, trewly."

29 far.

30

taste.

31

cut

off.

MS. caste; O. tayst. The lines in brackets are supplied from MS. more or les; Tr. alters.

32

novelty.

O.

225

— SIR CLEGES

885

Than seyd

the lady with good chere, "Latt vs fyll a panyer 33 Of bis bat God hath sent. To-morovn, whan be day dobe spryng, Ye schill to Cardyffe to be kynge And yeve hym to present; And sech a yefte ye may haue there

That be better wee may fare I tell you, werament." Sir Cleges

all bis

230

235

yere,

gravntyd sone thereto:

"To-morovn

to Cardiffe will After youre entent."

i

goo, 240

On

the morovn, whan yt was ly5t, The lady hade a panere dyght;

Hyr

eldest son callyd sche:

"Take vpp thys panyere goodly

And bere yt forth esyly Wyth thy fadyr fre I" Than Sir Cleges a staffe toke; He hade non hors so seyth be boke To ryde on hys iorny,

245

Neythyr stede nere palfray, But a staffe was hys hakenay, 34 As a man in pouerte.

250

—

Sir Cleges

and

his son gent

The right wayc to Cardiffe went Vppon Cristemas daye. To the castell he cam full right, As they were to mete dv 3t, Anon, the soth to saye. In Sir Cleges thow3t to goo, But in pore clothyng was he tho

255

r

And 33

basket

248. r )S.

'-'.

-

'

The O.

in

sympull araye.

horse.

source

nt nunc.

is

unknown;

for analogues, see

McKnight.

260

MISCELLANEOUS

ssti

The portere seyd full hastyly, "Thou chorle, withdrawe be smertly, I

rede the, without delaye;

Ellys, be I

God and

schall breke

Go

Seint Mari,

265

thyne hede on high;

stond in beggeris row3t. 35

Yf bou com more inward, It schall be

So

i

"Good

rewe afterward,

schall be clow3t." 36

270

seyd Sir Cleges tho, "I pray you, lat me in goo Nowe, without dow3t? The kynge i haue a present brow3tt From Hym bat made all thynge of now3t; sir,"

Behold

all

abow3t

275

!"

The porter

to the panere went, the led 37 vppe he hentt; The cheryse he gan behold. Will he wyst, for his comyng Wyth bat present to be kyng,

And

280

Gret yeftis haue he schuld. seyd, "that me bow3t, Into thys place comste bou nott,

"Be Hym," he As

i

am man

of mold, 38

285

The thyrde part but bou graunte me Of bat the kyng will yeve be, Wethyr yt be syluer or gold." Sir Cleges seyd, "I asent."

He yaue hym

leve,

Wythout more

and

in he went,

lettyng.

In he went a gret pace;

The vsschere 36

crowd.

36

beat.

37 lid.

38

at the hall-dore earth;

i.e.,

mortal

MS. higst; Tr. emends. 267. Cf. Int. III.A.2 and "Horn" 1080.

266.

was man.

290

!

:

SIR CLEGES

887

Wyth a staffe stondynge, In poynte 39 Cleges for to smy3t "Goo bake, bou chorle," he seyd, "full ty3t, Without teryyng I schall be bette euery leth, 40 Hede and body, wythout greth, Yf bou make more pressynge." 41

295

30 o

"Good sir," seyd Sir Cleges than, "For Hys loue bat made man, Sese 4 youre angrye mode '

2

!

haue herr a present brow3t From Hym bat made all thynge of now3t, And dyed on the rode. Thys ny3t in my gardeyne yt grewe; Behold wethyr it be false or trewe; They be fayre and good." The vsschere lyfte vp be lede smartly And sawe the cheryse verily; He mar veld in his mode. I

305

310

The vsschere seyd, "Be Mari swet, Chorle, bou comste not in yett, I tell j?e sekyrly,

315

But bou me graunte, without lesyng, The thyrd part of bi wynnyng, Wan ]?ou comste ayen to me." Sir Cleges sey non othyr von; 43 Thereto he grauntyd sone anon; It woll non othyr be. Than Sir Cleges with hevi chere "ready.

*«

limb,

"importunity,

"cease.

320

« supposition;

i.e.,

no

alternative.

295. Ushers wore attendants at the doors who kept the rabble from annoying guests at a least; cf. Wright, Ch. V. 296. 306. 31")

MS. transfers full tijst to the beginning MS. an rode Ire; Tr. emends. ti.

These

lines are written as

one

in

of

1.

297.

the MS.; also 333-4.

MISCELLANEOUS

888

Toke hys son and hys panere; Into the hall went he.

The styward walkyd

there withall the lordis in be hall, That wern rech on wede. To Sir Cleges he went boldly

325

Amonge

And seyd, "Ho made the soo To com into thys stede?

hardi 330

Chorle," he seyd, "bou art to bold Wythdrawe the with thy clothys old Smartly, i the rede !" "I haue," he seyd, "a present brow3t From oure Lord, that vs dere bow3t And on the rode gan blede." !

The panyere he toke the styward

335

sone>

And

he pullyd out the pyne 44 [anon], As smertly as he my3t.

The styward seyd, "Be Mari dere, Thys sawe neuer thys tyme of yere, Syn was man wrow3t. Thou schalt com no nere the kynge, But yf thowe graunt me myn askyng, Be Hym bat me bow3t: The thyrd partt of the kyngis yefte, That will haue, be my threfte, 45 Ar forthere gost bou nott !"

340

i

i

345

i

bethow3t hym than, part ys lest bethwyxt bes men, And i schall haue no thynge.

Sir Cleges

"My For

my

labor schall

i

nott get,

But yt be a melys mete." 46 Thus he thou3t syynge. 44

pin, fastener.

ib

thrift.

338. Tr. supplies

46

a meal's food.

anon from O.

350

SIR CLEGES

He

47

889

seyd, "Harlot, hast }>ou noo tonge? me and terye nat longe

355

Speke to

And graunte me myn

askynge,

Ar wyth a staffe schall J?e wake, That thy rebys schall all toquake, 48 i

And put

]?e

out hedlynge." 49

360

non othyr bote, askyng graunte he most, And seyd with syynge sore, "Whatsoeuer the kyng reward, Ye schyll haue the thyrd part, Be yt lesse ar more." [When Sir Cleges had seyd J?at word, The stewerd and he wer acorde And seyd to hym no more.] Vpe to the desse Sir Cleges went Full soborly and with good entent, Knelynge the kynge beforn. Sir Cleges sey

But

his

Sir Cleges

365

370

oncowyrd 50 the panyere

And schewed the kynge the cheryse On the grovnd knelynge. He seyd, 'Thesu, oure savyore,

clere, 375

Sent the thys frew3t with honore On thys erth growynge." The kynge sye thes cheryse newe; He seyd, "I thanke Cryst Ihesu; Thys ys a fayre neweynge." 1 He commaunndyd Sir Cleges to mete, And aftyrward he thow3t with hym to speke,

Wythout any

faylynge.

The kynge thereof made a present And sent yt to a lady gent

Was 47

i.e., the steward. covered. novelty.

48

'

362.

Most

for mote.

born

in

(

38

385

\>rnew:iyle.

that your ribs shall be shattered.

4V

headlong,

!

MISCELLANEOUS

890

Sche was a lady bryght and schene And also ryght will besene, 2

Wythout any fayle. The cheryse were servyd thorowe be Than seyd be kynge, bat lord ryall: "Be mery, be my cunnsell

And

390

hall;

me bis present, hym content;

he bat brow3t

Full will

Yt

i

schall

schall

Whan

all

hym

395

will avayle."

men were mery and

glade,

Anon

the kynge a squire bade, "Brynge no we me beforn

The pore man bat the cheryse brow3t !" He cam anon and teryde natt,

Wythout any

400

skorn.

Whan he cam before the kynge, On knese he fell knelynge, The

To

lordis all beforn.

the

kyng he spake

405

full styll;

"Lord," he seyd, "watte ys your I am youre man f re-born."

will?

"I thanke the hartyly," seyd be kynge, "Of thy yeft and presentynge,

That bou haste nowe idoo. Thowe haste onowryd 3 all my Old and yonge, most and lest, And worschepyd me also.

fest,

Wattsooeuer bou wolt haue, I will

the graunnte, so

410

God me

415

saue,

That thyne hart standyth to. 4 [Wheber it be lond our lede Or ober gode, so God me spede, How-bat-euer 2

circumspect.

3

honored.

*

it

go."]

420

desires.

388. O. says that afterwards this lady was his queen, a reminiscence of the story of Uther and Ygerne.

SIR CLEGES

He

891

seyd, "Gramarcy, lech 5 kynge

Thys ys I tell

me

to

you

!

a comfortynge,

sekyrly.

For to haue lond or lede Or othyr reches, so God me spede, Yt ys to mech for me.

425

But seth i schall chese myselfe, I pray you graunt me strokys xii To dele were lykyth me; Wyth my staffe to pay hem all

To myn

aduerseryse in be

430

hall,

For Send 6 Charyte."

Than aunsswerd Hewtar 7 "I repent

grauntynge to be made.

That God!" he seyd, "so mott i

be kynge,

my

435 i

thee,

Thowe haddyst be better 8 haue gold More nede thereto bou hade."

or fee;

awaunt, 9 "Lord, yt ys youre owyn graunte; Therefore am full glade." The kynge was sory therefore, But neuer the lesse he grauntyd hym there; Therefore he was full sade. Sir Cleges seyd with

440

i

Sir Cleges

Amonge

went into be

be gret lordis

hall

445

all,

Without any more. sow3t after the prow5d sty ward, For to yeve hym hys reward, Becavse he grevyd hym sore. He yaffe the sty ward sech a stroke, That he fell dovn as a bloke 10

He

Before 6

liege.

6

saint.

7

all

Uthcr.

»

bat therein were, it

would be better

» Mock. 434. 436.

MS. MS.

grminletynge.

Good.

437. Written as

two

450

lines in the M.S.

for

you

to.

*

boast;

i.e.,

boldly.

MISCELLANEOUS

892

And after he yafe hym othyr thre; He seyd, "Sire, for thy corteci, Smy3te me no more

Out

455

!"

of the hall Sir Cleges went;

Moo

to

paye was hys entent,

Wythout any

He went "Haue

lett.

to be vsschere in a breyde: 11

46o

sum

strokys !" he seyde, Whan he wyth hym mete, So bat after and many a daye He wold warn 12 no man be waye, So grymly he hym grett. Sir Cleges seyd, "Be my threft, Thowe haste the thyrd part of my yefte, As i the benight." here

Than he went to the portere, And iiii strokys he yaue hym

465

there;

470

His part hade he tho,

So bat after and many a daye He wold warn no man be waye, Neythyr to ryde nere goo. The fyrste stroke he leyde hym on, He brake in to hys schuldyr bon

And

his

on arme

Sir Cleges seyd,

475

thereto.

"Be

my

threfte,

Thowe haste the thyrd parte of my yefte; The comnaunnte 13 we made soo." The kynge was

Wyth myrth,

sett in

solas,

480

hys parlore 14

and onor;

Sir Cleges thedyr went.

An

harpor sange a gest 15 be

mowth

Of a kny3t there be sowth, 11

rush.

455. 471.

l2

deny.

MS. MS.

I3

agreement.

sore; O. sir. there; 0. tho.

l4

small, private audience-room.

485 l5

tale.

SIR CLEGES

893

Hymselffe, werament.

Than seyd the kynge to be harpor, "Were ys kny3t Cleges, tell me here; For bou hast wyde iwent. Tell

me

trewth, yf bou can:

490

Knowyste bou of bat man?" The harpor seyd, "Yee, iwysse:

Sum tyme forsoth hym knewe; He was a kny3t of youris full trewe And comly of gesture. We mynstrellys mysse hym sekyrly, i

495

Seth he went out of cunntre;

He was

fayre of stature."

The kynge

sayd,

"Be myn hede,

I

trowe bat Sir Cleges be dede, That i lovyd paramore. 16 Wold God he were alyfe; I hade hym levere than othyr v, For he was stronge in stowre."

500

knelyd before be kynge; For he grauntyd hym hys askynge, He thanked hym cortesly. Specyally the kynge hym prayed, To tell hym whye tho strokis he payed To hys men thre.

505

Sir Cleges

510

He

seyd bat he my3t nat com inward, "Tyll euerych graunttyd be thyrd*partt Of bat ye wold yeve me. With bat i schuld haue now3t myself e; Werefore i yaue hem strokis xii; Me thowt yt best, trewly." i

16

The

lordes lowe, both old a[nd] yenge,

And

all

fervently.

488.

MS.

hert re.

that wern with be kynge,

515

MISCELLANEOUS

894

They made solas inowe. The kynge lowe, so he my3t nott [sitte]; He seyd, "Thys ys a noble wyjt, 17 To God make a wove." 18

520

i

He

sent after his styward:

"Hast bou," he seyd, "thy reward?

Be Cryst, he ys to lowe." 19 The styward seyd with lokes grym,

525

thynke neuer to haue ado 20 with hym;] The dewle hym born on a lowe !" 21

["I

The kynge seyd to hym than, "What ys thy name? tell me, good man,

Nowe anon

rygh[t]

"I hig3t Sir Cleges, soo haue

My I

530

!" i

blysse;

name yt ys iwysse; was 30ure owyn kny3t." ryght

"Art thou Sir Cleges, bat servyd me,

That was soo

And

ientyll

and soo

535

fre

so stronge in fyght?"

mott i thee; hevyn hade vesyte 22 me,

lord," he seyd, "so

"Ye,

sir

Tyll

God

in

Thus pouerte haue me

dy3t." 23

The kynge yaue hym anon

540

ry3t

All bat longed to a knyjt,

To rech 24 hys body wyth; The castell of Cardyffe he yaue hym thoo be pourtenans 25 berto, To hold with pes and grythe. Than he made hym hys stuerd Of all hys londys afterwerd, Off water, lond, and fry the. 26

[With

17

wit,

jest.

a

fire.

"

18

vow.

blessed.

23

all

l9

21 20 to do. may the devil burn him in 26 woods. 25 appurtenances. enrich.

be praised.

afflicted.

520. O. sytlc; Tr. supplies.

24

545

SIR CLEGES

A

cowpe 27

To

bere to

of gold he gafe

Dam

Tokenyng

hym

895 blythe,

550

Clarys, hys wyfe,

of ioy

and myrthe.]

The last page of the Edinburgh manuscript is lacking. The Oxford manuscript has two more stanzas. The king makes Sir Cleges' son a squire. They return to Dame Clarice and live long and happy lives thereafter.

cup.

THE TALE OF BERYN

THE TALE OF BERYN This piece is one of the spurious Canterbury Tales in the Duke of Northumberland's manuscript (after 1400), where it is assigned to the Merchant on the return journey. The text is that of the edition of Furnivall and Stone for the Early English Text Society (Extra Series 105), with normalized capitals and punctuation and restoration of many readings of the manuscript. A flourish at the end of a word has been transcribed as -e. Most of the purely metrical emendations of previous editors have been removed. The meter is that of "Gamelyn": a doggerel line tending to seven stresses and an iambic cadence. The poem is very like a French romance, "L'Histoire du Chevalier Berinus," known in a manuscript of the fifteenth century and in a print of the sixteenth. This, in turn, has several oriental analogues, and, despite the Roman names and setting, the source of the tale is certainly oriental. Discussions of the story are in the edition mentioned above, and in "The Book of Sindibad," E. Comparetti (Folk Lore Society 1882), and by W. A. Clouston (privately printed, Glas-

gow, 1884),

most

who

and one Spanish. Like unduly neglected. most troublesome mannerism is omission of relatives lists

eight oriental versions

oriental pieces, this has been

The

scribe's

(2924, etc.).

The

extract

is the trial scene, the first of its kind in the English Beryn's father, Faunus, turns against him because of his profligacy and the enmity of a stepmother. As a parting gift, Beryn receives five merchant ships and their cargoes. After a storm, the fleet lands at Falsetown, where the inhabitants make a business of swindling strangers. In their courts, no matter how preposterous the testimony, no rebuttal or negative evidence is permitted; and they abet each other in swearing to falsehoods. They find Beryn easy prey: as the loser in a game of chess, he must drink all the salt water in the sea or give up his ships; a merchant, Hanybald, offers to exchange for the cargo five shiploads of such goods as Beryn shall find in his house, but removes all the goods before Beryn can seize them; a blind man accuses him of having stolon his eyes; a woman of the town asks damages because he has deserted her; and another knave, Macaigne, sells Beryn a knife, and then accuses him 899

romances.

!

MISCELLANEOUS

900

of having murdered Macaigne's father with it. Beryn is indicted on each count, and is in sore straits when Geffrey, a Roman exile a hundred years old, so abused by the Falsetowners that he must masquerade as a crippled beggar, offers his services. Beryn accepts, and the accusers, fearful that he will put to sea before the trial, appear before his ships to summon him.

When Beryn hem

aspied: "Now, Geffrey, in thy honde and goodis; doth with vs what the list; For all our hope is on the comfort, help, and trist; For we must bide aventur such as God woll shape, For nowe i am in certen we mow no wise scape." 2 "Have no dout," quod Geffrey, "beth mery; let me aloon:

Stont

lyff

—

2910

1

2915

Getith a peir sisours, 3 sherith my berd anoon; And aftirward lete top 4 my hede, hastlych and blyve." Som went to with sesours, som with a knyfe; So what for sorowe and hast, and for lewd tole, 5 There was no man alyve bet like to 6 a fole 2920 Then Geffrey was. By bat tyme bey had al ido, Hanybald clepid out Beryn, to motehall 7 for to go, And stood oppon the brigg, with an huge route. 8 Geffrey was the first to Hanybald gan to loute, 9 And lokid out a-fore-shipp. "God bles 3ew, sir !" quod he. 2925 "Where art bow now, Beryn? com nere behold and se Here is an huge pepill irayd and idight; 10 All these been my children, bat been in armys bry3te. 3istirday i gate 11 hem: [is it] nat mervaill 2930 That bey been hidir icom, to be of oure counsaill, And to stond by vs, and help vs in oure pie. A, myne owne childryn, blessid mut ye be !" Quod Geffrey, with an hi3e voise, and had a nyce 12 visage, And gan to daunce for ioy, in the fore-stage. 13 2935 Hanybald lokid on Geffrey as he were amasid, 14 And beheld his contenaunce, and ho we he was irasid; 15 !

escape, 'scissors. * cut hair off the top. * unsuitable instruments. 7 assembly-hall, court. 8 throng. 9 bow. I0 crowd dressed up and begot. 12 silly. 13 forecastle. 14 dazed. I5 shaved.

1

trust.

2

6

more

like.

ready.

u

2917. This of Sicily" 170

2927.

MS.

is

done to show that he

ff.

in dighl.

is

a professional

jester.

Cf.

"Robert

—

—

THE TALE OF BERYN

901

But evir-more he bou3t bat he was a fole, Naturell of kynde, and had noon othir tool, 16 As semed by his wordis and his visage both;

And bou5t it had been foly to wex with hym wroth, And gan to bord 17 ageyn, and axid hym in game, "Sith bow art oure ffadir, who is then oure dame? And ho we and in what plase were wee begete?" quod Geffrey, "pleying

"3istirday,"

Att a

2940

gentill

game bat

clepid

is

in the strete the quek: 18

2945

longe peny-halter was cast about my nekk, And iknet 19 fast with a ryding-knot, 20

A

And cast ovir a perche and hale[d] 21 along my throte." "Was bat a game," quod Hanybald, "for to hang byselvo?*' "So bey seyd about me, a Ml 22 ech by hymselff." 2950

"How

quod Hanybald, "bat bow were nat

scapiddist bow,"

dede?" "Thereto can

i answere, without eny rede: bare thre dise 23 in myne owne purs For i go nevir without, fare i bettir or wors; I kist 24 hem forth al thre, and too fil amys-ase, 25 But here now what fill aftir ri3t a mervelouse case There cam a mows lepe forth, and ete be bird boon, 26 That puffid out hire skyn, as grete as she my3t goon;

I

—

And

in this

manere

All yee be icom,

mouse and me and fre.

wise, of be

my

2955

!

children faire

2960

And 5it, or it be eve, fall wol such a chaunce, To stond in my power ^ew alle to avaunce; For and wee plede wele Hanybald of his wordis

to-day,

we

by nature and without other devace (intent). 2I projection, and drawn. 22 thousand.

16

silly

20

slip-knot.

aces (the lowest possible throw)

26 .

17

18

jest.

-3

dice.

checkers, "tied.

2i

cast,

"double-

bone, die.

2945. Geffrey's answers are deliberately

"We

inowy."

shull be riche

hertlich lome,

silly;

the force of this one

were playing a harmless game: they were about to hang me."

means

checkers,

and

is

also used in the morality play

to imitate the sound of a

2956. 2962.

MS. The

man

"Mankind"

is,

Quek (801)

strangling.

mervolouse. infinitive stands for

namely, to advance you,

etc.

a complement of such, this fortune:

:

!

MISCELLANEOUS

902

And so did al pat herd hym, And had grete ioy with hym

as pey my3te wele,

2965

for to telle,

For pey knewe hym noon othir but a fole of kynde; 27 al was his discrecioune and }>at previd J?e ende.

And

;

Thus whils Geffrey iapid 28 to make hire hertis Beryn and his company were rayid and idi3te, And londit hem in botis, ferefull howe to spede; ,

li3te,

2970

all hir J?ou}tis in balance stode betwene hope and drede. But 3it they did hir peyn 29 to make li3tsom chere, As Geffrey hem had enfourmed, of port 30 and al manere

For

2975 Of hire governaunce, 31 al the longe day, So went they forth hire wey, Tyll hir plee were endit. To the court with Hanybald. Then Beryn gan to sey, "What nedith this, Sir Hanybald, to make such aray, Sith wee been pese-marchantis, and vse no spoliacioune?" 32 "For soth, sire," quod Hanybald, "to me was made relacioune 2981 Yee were in poynt to void; 33 and yef ye had do so, Yee had lost yeur lyvis, without wordis mo." Beryn held hym still; Geffrey spak anoon; "No les wed J?en lyvis 34 whi so, good Sir Iohne? 2985 That were somwhat to much, as it semeith me But ye be ovir-wise |?at dwell in this cete: For 35 yee have begonne a thing makith 3ewe ri3te bold; And 3it, or it be eve, as folis shul ye be hold. And eke yee devyne; 36 for in shipmannys crafft, 2990 Wotith litill what longith to afore-J?e-shipp and bafft; 37 And namelich 38 in the dawnyng, when shipmen first arise." "My good ffrend," quod Hanybald, in a scornyng wise, "Ye must onys enfourme me, Jmrh yeur discrecioune; But first ye must answer to a questioune !

28 jested. *' i.e., 27 it was all ingenuity on his part, and the outcome proved it. 33 leave. 32 practice no robbery. did their best. 30 demeanor. 3l conduct. 31 forfeit not only bail, but life too. 36 that. 36 make guesses. 37 the front and stern of a vessel. 38 especially.

It was first a name 2984. "Sir John" is a jesting name for a priest. very commonly assumed by members of the priesthood; then it became a soubriquet for "priest;" and at length it was often used disparagingly. Sec Skeat's Chaucer, "Pro." 1172.

2990.

MS. and

wotith.

THE TALE OF BERYN

903

Why make men

cros-saill in myddis of be mast?" "For to talowe be shipp, and fech[e] more last." 39 [Han.] "Why goon the 3emen 40 to bote, ankirs to hale?" 41 [Gef.] "For to make hem redy to walk to be ale." [Han.] "Why hale they vp stonys by the crane-lyric?" [Gef.] "To make the tempest sese, and the sonne shyne."

2995

[Gef.]

"Why

[Han.] [Gef.]

[Han.] [Gef.]

3000

close they the port with the see-bord?'* 42

"For the mastir shuld awake atte first word." 43 "Thow art a redy reve," 44 quod Hanybald, "in fay." "Yee sir trewly, for sot he is bat yee sey."

Geffrey evir clappid 45 as doith a watir myll,

And made Hanybald

to lau}e al his hert

fell.

3005 46

"Beryn," quod this Geffrey, "retourn thy men ageyne; shull they do with the[m] at court? No men on

What

hem

pleyne. 47

Plede thy case thyselve, bide with the shippis

To

ri}t

as

bow hast

iwrou5t;

my

purpos is and bou5t." 3010 "Nay, for soth," quod Hanybald, "bow shalt abyde on lond; Wee have no folis but the," and toke hym by be hond, "For thow art wise in lawe to plede al the case." "That can i bettir," quod Geffrey, "ben eny man in this plase What seyst bow therto, Beryn? shall i tell thy talc " 3015 Hanybald likid his wordis wele, and forward gan hym hale. 4S Beryn made hym angry, 49 and si3hid wondir sore, For Geffrey h}'m had enfourmyd of euery poynt tofore, How he hym shuld govern all the longe day. Geffrey chas[t]id 50 hym ageyne: "Sey me 3e or nay 3020 Maystowe nat ihere speke som maner word?" "Leve thy blab, lewd fole me likith nat thy bord 2 !

!

1

!

!

Vi grease the bottom and give more displacement. i0 sailors. " haul up. *' a plank to cover the ports. * 3 i.e., quickly. ** overseer. 4s rattledon. "heart's 47 fill. accuse them. "draw. •» feigned grief. 5a rebuked. ignorant, stupid. l

2

humor.

2995 ff. The cross-sail is the square sail used in going rapidly before tinwind. The anchors were dropped at sonic distance from the ship, often in shallow water; and hence at least one had to be dislodged and recovered from a small boat. The stones are being put in for ballast. Beryn's cargo having been removed by Hanvbald's men. .•'.dii.s.

MS. man.

MISCELLANEOUS

904

have anothir

I

"Clepeist }?ow

quod Beryn, "whereof J)owe earist lite." 3 a fole," quod Geffrey; "al J?at i may be wite? 4

]?ou3t,"

me

when wee out of Rome saillid both in fere, 3025 was thy felawe and thy partynere; For tho the marchandise was more ben halff myne; And sith bat bowe com hidir, bowe takeist al for thyne. But 3it or it be eve, i woll make oon behest: 5 But ]>owe have my help, thy part shal be lest." 3030 "Thyn help!" quod Beryn; "lewde fole, bow art more ben masid 6 Dres the to be shippis ward, 7 with thy crowne irasid, For i my3t nevir spare the bet trus, and be agoo !" 8 "I wol go with the," quod Geffrey, "where bow wolt or no, 3035 And lern to plede lawe, to wyn both house and londe." "So bow shalt," quod Hanybald, and led hym by the honde, And leyd his hond oppon his nek; but, and he had iknowe Whom he had led, in sikirnes he had wel levir in snowe Have walkid xl myle, and rathir then faill more; 9 3040 For he wisshid that Geffrey had ibe vnbore But

Tho

first, i

!

!

Ful offt-tyme in that day, or the pie were do; 10 And so did al bat wrou3t Beryn shame and woo. Now yee bat list abide and here of sotilt6 n Mow knowe how bat Beryn sped in his pie, And in what aray to the court he went; And howe Hanybald led Geffrey, disware 12 of his entent. But 3it he axid of Geffrey, "What is by name, i prey?" "Gylhochet," quod Geffrey, "men clepid me 3istirday." "And where weer bow ibore?" "I note, i make avowe," Seyd Geffrey to this Hanybald; "i axe bat of 3ewe; For i can tell no more, but here i stond no we." Hanybald of his wordis hertlich low3e,

And

held

hym

for a passing 13 fole to serve

Thus bey romyd ianglyng 14

i.e.,

7

hasten to the ship.

more 14

readily.

10

bandying words.

trial. 8

3050

lord.

into be court ward;

6 vow. * though I may protect you. get out and begone! 9 and (walked) many "trickery. 12 unaware, suit was completed,

impending

3

his

eny

3045

6

befuddled.

more u\

en "excellent. I

THE TALE OF BERYN But

or they

com

ther, the

Steward was

905

iset,

3055

And the grettest of be towne, a company imet And gon to stryve fast who shuld have be good That com was with Beryn ovir be salt flood. Som seyd oon, and som seyde anothire; Som wold have the shippis, be parell, and be rothir; 15 Som his eyen, som his lyff wold have, and no les; Or els he shuld for hem fyne, 16 or he did pas. And in the mene-whils 17 they were in this afray, Beryn and these Romeyns were com, in good aray As my3t be made of woll and of coloure greynyd; 18 They toke a syde-bench bat for hem was ordeyned.

When

3060

3065

was husst 19 and still, Beryn rose anoon And stode in the myddis of be hal, tofore hem everychone,

And

all

seyd, "Sir Steward, in

me

shall

be no

let:

am icom to answere as my day is set. Do me ry3te and reson: axe 3ewe no more."

I

3070

i

"So

shall

"He

[i],"

quod the Steward,

"for berto

i

am

swore."

have ry3t," quod Geffrey, "where )>ow wolt or no. For, and J>ow mys onys thy iugement on do, 20 I

shall

woll to pe

Emperour

of

Rome,

my

cosyne;

For of o cup he and i ful offt have dronk be wyne, And 3it wee shull hereaftir, as offt as wee mete, For he is long 21 the gladdere when i send hym to grete." Thus Geffrey stode oppon a fourme, 22 for he wold be sey Above all the othir the shuldris and the cry, 23 And starid al aboute, with his lewd 24 berd, And was ihold a verry 25 fole of ech man [pat] hym herd. The Steward and pe officers and pe burgeyssis alle

3075

3080

15

16 tackle and rudder. pay ransom. 17 while. 18 wool and fast-dyed colors. hushed. 20 impose your judgment wrongly. 21 by far. 22 bench. 23 above the shoulders and tumult of all the others. 24 absurd. 26 true. 19

3055. Evandor the Steward is in league with the accusers, and has already given decisions against Beryn. 3056. The right reading probably is loum in company imct. The loose syntax of the next clause is of no importance. F. 3083. The various accusations and the solutions are all in the French original; but the English story is more ingenious in not disposing of each accusation as it is made, but waiting until the charges are complete.

—

:

906

MISCELLANEOUS

Lau3hid at hym hcrtlich; the crioure gan to calle The burgeys bat had pleyd with Beryn atte ches; aoss And he aros quiklich, and gan hym for to dres 26 Afore the Steward atte barr, as be maner is. He gan to tell his tale with grete redynes; "Here me, Sir Steward bis day is me set, To have ryght and reson i ax 3ewe no bet, 3090 Of Beryn, bat here stondith, bat with me 3istirday Made a certen covenaunt, and atte ches we did pley: That whoso were imatid 27 of vs both too Shuld do the todirs byddyng; and yf he wold nat so, He must drynke al the watir bat salt were in the se; 3095 Thus i to hym surid, 28 and he also to me. To preve my tale trewe, i am nat al aloon." Vp rose x burgeysis quyklich anoon, And affermyd evir[y] word of his tale soth; And made hem al redy for to do 29 hire othe. 3100 Evandir the Steward, "Beryn, now," quod he, "Thow must answere nede; it wol noon othir be; Take thy counsell to the: spede on have i doon.'' Beryn held hym still Geffrey spak anoon "Now be my trowith," quod Geffrey, "i mervell much of 3ewe 3105 To bid vs go to counsell, and knowith 30 me wise inow3, And evir ful avisid, in twynkelyng of an eye, To make a short answere, but yf my mowith be dry. Shuld wee go to counsell for o word or tweyne? 31m Be my trowtith we nyl let se mo that pleyne 31 And but he be ianswerd, and bat ri3t anoon, I 3eve 3ewe leve to rise and walk out, everychoon, And aspy redely yf ye fynd me there. In the meen-whils, i wol abide here. 3115 Nay, i telle trewly, i am wiser ben yee ween; !

—

—

!

:

!

26 go. 27 mated, beaten. 28 assured. produce other complainants.

is

!

29

take.

30

3103. Line 3102 is repeated after this. 3113. I.e., if the plaintiffs are not answered, out of the courtroom.

knowing me

it

will

to

he.

"i.e.,

be because Geffrey

THE TALE OF BERYX

907

For bere nys noon of }ewe woot redely what meen." Every man gan law}e al his hert fill Of Geffrey and his wordis; but Beryn held hym still, And was cleen astonyd, but }it, nere-be-lattir, 32 i

—

He

held

it

nat

al foly

bat Geffrey did

clatir, 33

3120

But wisely hym governyd, as Geffrey hym tau3te, For parcell of his wisdom tofore he had smaught. 34 "Sire Steward," quod Beryn, "i vndirstond wele The tale of bis burgeyse; now let anothir tel, That may take counsell, and answer al att onys." "I graunt,'' quod the Steward, "thyn axing, for be nonys, Sith bow wolt be rewlid by by folis rede; i

35 is ry5te a wise man to help the in thy nede arose the accusours, queyntlich 36 anoon;

For he

Vp

Hanybald was the

And gan

first of

hem

evirichone,

3125

!"

3130

proud chere: "3istirday, soverens, when i was here, Beryn and thes burgeyse gon to plede 37 fast For pleying atte ches; so ferforth, 38 atte last, Thurh vertu of myne office, bat i had in charge 3135 Beryns fyve shippis, for 39 to go at large, And to be in answere here bis same day. So, walkyng to the strond ward, wee bargeynyd by the wey That shuld have the marchaundise bat Beryn with hym broinn(Wherof am sesid, 40 as ful sold and bou>te), 3140 In covenaunt that i shuld his shippis fill ageyne Of my marchaundise, such as he tofore had seyne to tell his tale with a

i

i

In myne owne plase, howsis to or thre, Ful of marchandise as they my3t be. And i am evir redy: when-so-evir he woll, Let hym go or sende, and charge 41 his shippis full Of such marchandise as he fyndith there: For in such wordis wee accordit 4 were." Vp rose x burgeysis not tho bat rose tofore, But obir, and made hem redy to have swore

3145

-

—

—

'*

nevertheless,

"indeed,

"with

"babble. alacrity.

90 as to pennil him.

40

m

3150

for ho had tasted a bit of his wisdom before. have a dispute over. " to such an extent, 'i.e., at salt were in the see; Thus, i trowe, Sir Steward, ye woll record }>e pie: And yf i have imyssid 47 in lettir or in word The lawe, wol i be rewlid aftir yeure record; 48 For we be fill avisid in this wise to answere." Evander J?e Steward and al men j?at were there Had mervill much of Geffrey, J?at spak so redely, Whose wordis ther[to]for semyd al foly, And were astonyed cleen, and gan for to drede; And euery man til othir lenyd with his hede, That pleyde with

And made

And seyd, "He He was no fool

3445

3450

3455

reportid the tale ri3t formally; 49

but wise, ware, and scly: 50 For he hath but iiapid vs, and scornyd heretofore, And wee have hold hym a fole; but wee be wel more !" 2 3460 Thus they stodied 3 on Geffrey, and lau3id )?o ri3t nau3t. When Geffrey had aspied they were in such }>ou3t, And hir hertis trobelid, pensyff, and anoyed, Hym list to dryv in bet be nayll, til they were fully cloyid. 4 "Soveren sirs," he seyd, "sith J>at it so is 3465 That in reportyng of our pie yee fynd nothing amys As previth wele yeur scilence, eke yee withsoyith 5 not O word of our tale, but [fynde it] clene without spot; 6 Then to our answere prey 3ewe take hede, For wee wol sey al the trowith, ri3t as it is indede. 3470 For this is soth and certeyne: it may nat be withseyd: That Beryn, bat here stondith, was bus ovirpleid 7 in certen, 1

—

i

48

47 misstated. 48 corrected by your remembrance. 2 cunning, 1 madefunof. i.e., greater fools, 'pondered. deny. * defect. 7 outdone.

chastise.

60 5

:illM.

3468.

\

'

48 in good form. sharply pricked.

reference to the wise Isope, the ruler of the country. Furnivall.

Words supplied by

MISCELLANEOUS

918 In the last game,

But bat was

when wagir was opon;

his sufferaunce, 8 as

ye shul here anoon. nys no maner man Can pley bettir atte ches ben my mastir can; Ne bet ben i, bou3e i it sey, can nat half so much. N[ow]e how he lost it be his will, the cause i wol teehe: For ye wend, and ween, bat ye had hym engyned; 9 But yee shul fele in every veyn bat ye be vndirmyned And ibrou5t at ground, and eke ovirmusid. 10

For

in al this cote" ther

And

a3enst the

first

11

bat Beryn

is

3475

3480

acusid,

Hereith nowe entyntyflich: 12 when wee were on the see, Such a tempest on vs fill bat noon my3t othir se, Of bundir, wynd, and li3tenyng, and stormys ther among; xv dayis duryng 13 the tempest was so strong, That ech man til othir began hym for to shryve, And made hire avowis, yf bey my3te have be lyve,

Som to sech the Sepulkir, and som to obir plase, To sech holy seyntis, for help and for grace; Som to fast and do penaunce, and som do almys-dede; Tyl atte last, as God wold, a voise to vs seyde,

3485

3490

In our most turment, and desperate of mynde, That yf we wold be savid, my mastir must hym bynde Be feith and eke by vowe, when he. cam to londe, To drynke al the salt watir within the se-stronde, Without drynkyng any sope 14 of be fressh watir, And tau3t hym al the sotilte: how and in what manere That he shuld wirch by engyne 15 and by a sotill charme To drynk al the salt watir, and have hymselff no harme: But stop the ffressh ryvers by euery cost side, That they entir nat in the se burh be world wyde

3495

3500

!

8

9

condescension.

12

attentively.

u

tricked. lasting;

10

bewildered. " with regard to the first w bit. "trickery. continuously.

3477. [Nor can anyone play] better than

know,

charge).

i.e.,

I,

though

I

say

it,

[who)

etc.

3489. MS. se the the. Vipan's emendation. The Holy Sepulcher at Jerusalem was the most famous of medieval shrines, and pilgrimages to it were thought especially meritorious; but many had to be content with visits to

3493.

the less distant shrines of the saints (3490). usual word is desperauncc, despair.

The

THE TALE OF BERYN The voyse we

919

herd, but nau3t wee sawe, so were our wittis

ravid: 16

For this was [the] end fynally, 17 yf we lust be savid. Wherfor my mastir Beryn, when he cam to this port, To his avowe and promys he made his first resort, 18 Ere that he wold bergeyne 19 any marchandise. And ri3t so doith these 20 marchandis in the same wise, That maken hir avowis in saving of hire lyvis: They completyn hire pilgremagis or bey se hir wyvis. So mowe ye vndirstond bat my mastir Beryn Of fre will was imatid, as he bat was a pilgrym, And my3t nat perfourme by many-bo wsand part 21 His avowe and his hest, without ri3t sotil art, Without help and strengith of many mennys my3te. Sir Steward and Sir Burgeyse, yf we shul have ri3te, Sirophanes must do [the] cost and aventur 22

To stopp

al

3505

3510

3515

the ffressh ryvers into be see bat entir.

For Beryn is redy in al thing hym to quyte; Ho-so be in defaute must pay for the wite. 23 3520 Sith yee been wise all, what nede is much clatir? 24 There was no covenaunte hem betwen to drynk fressh water." When Sirophanes had iherd al Geffreyis tale, He stode al abasshid, with coloure wan and pale, And lokid oppon the Steward with a rewful chere 3525 And on othir frendshipp and neyjbours he had there, And preyd hem of counsell, the answere to reply. "These Romeyns," quod the Steward, "been wondir scly, 25 And eke ri3t ynmagytyff, and of sotill art, That am in grete dowte howe yee shull depart 3530 Without harm in oon side. 26 Our lawis, wel bowe wost, Is to pay damagis and eke also the cost Of euery party-plentyff bat fallith in his pleynt. i

14

taken away.

-"i.e., all.

the risk, talk.

"

3520. 3529.

17 1S i.e., final terms. i.e., gave his first attention, "barter. -- must pay for the expense by the many-thousandth part and "whosoever is in arrears must pay for his offense, "rambling

21

clever.

MS. So

26 i.e.,

in

either event.

ho.

Ynmagytyff

imag/inatif, inventive.

is

not in the Oxford Dictionary, but

is

intended for

"

—

;

MISCELLANEOUS

920

hym go quyte, i counsell, yf it may so be queynt." 27 "I merveill," quod Syrophanes, "of hir sotilte; But sith bat it so stondith and may noon othir be, Let

do woll be 28 counsell;" and grauntid Beryn quyte. But Geffrey bou3t anothir, and without respite, "Sirs," he seyd, "wee wetith wele bat yee wol do vs ri3te, And so ye must nedis, and so yee have vs hi3te; And therfor, Sir Steward, ye occupy [yjour plase; And yee knowe wele what law woll in this case. My mastir is redy to perfourme his avowe." "Geffrey," quod the Steward, "i can nat wete howe To stop all the ffressh watir were possibility. "3is, in soth," quod Geffrey, "who had of gold plente As man coude wissh, and it my3t wel be do. But bat is nat our defaute he hath no tresour to. 29 Let hym go to 30 in hast, or fynd vs suerte* To make amendis to Beryne for his iniquite, Wrong, and harm, and trespas, and vndewe wexacioune, Loss of sale of marchandise, disese and tribulacioune, That wee have sustenyd burh his iniquite. What vaylith it to tary 31 vs? for bou3 [y e sotil bee, Wee shull have reson, where yee woll or no. So wol wee bat ye knowe what bat wee wol do:

3535

I

3540

3545

3550

l

3555

In certen, ful avisid to Isope for to pase, declare euery poynt, be more and eke the lase, That of yeur opyn errours hath pleyn 32 correccioune 3560 And ageyns his iugement is noon proteccioune He is yeur lord riall, and soveren iugg and lele; 33 That, and ye wrie in eny poynt, 34 to hym liith oure apele." So when the Steward had iherd, and be burgeysis all, Howe Geffrey had isteryd, bat went so ny3e the gall, 35

And

!

according to. 29 for the purpose. 30 set about his task. 34 go amiss in any particular. judge and worthy. came so near to the sore spot.

27

settled.

28

31

hinder.

32 full.

35

managed, who

will act

33

3547. The syntax is poor, but the sense apparent. as "(grant that] some one." 3552. MS. lost. 3554. Vipan. 3502.

MS. pou^t MS.

sotil pry.

ye work.

The emendation

Cf. 343G.

is

Render who (3546)

on analogy with 3592.

— THE TALE OF BERYN What

for

shame and drede

of

more harme and

921 repreff, 36

3565

They made Syrophanes, weer hym looth or leffe, To take Beryn gage, 37 and plegg fynd also, To byde be ward 38 and iugement of bat he had mysdo.

"Nowe That

ferthermore," quod Geffrey, "sith bat

it

so

wee have sikirnes, Nowe to the marchant wee must nedis answere, That bargayned 39 with Beryn al bat his shippis bere, of the first pleyntyff

is

3570

In covenaunte bat he shuld his shippis fill ageyne Of othir marchandise, bat he tofore had seyne In Hanybaldis plase, howsis too or thre, 3575 Ful of marchandise as they my3t be. Let vs pas thidir, yf eny thing be there At our lust and likeing, as they accordit were." 40 "I graunt wele," quod Hanybald; "bow axist but ri5te." 3580 Vp arose these burgeysis, "bowe axist but ri3te:" The Steward and his comperis 41 entrid first be house, And sawe nothing within, strawe ne leffe ne mowse, Save tymbir and be tyle-stonys and be wallis white. "I trowe," quod the Steward, "the wynnyng woll be but lite 3585 That Beryn wol nowe gete in Hanybaldis pleynte; For i can se noon othir but they wol be atteynt." 42 And clepid hem in echone, and went out hymselve. As soon as they were entrid, they sawe no maner selve 43 For soris of hir hert; but as tofore is seyd, The house was cleen iswept. pen Geffrey feir bey preyde 3590 To help [hem] yf he coude. "Let me aloon !" quod he, "3it shull they have the wors, as sotill as bey bee." Evander the Steward in the mene while Spak to the burgeyse, and began to smyle: "Thou3e Syrophanes by ihold these Romeyns for to curs, 3595

—

36 shame. agreement.

37

pledge.

"

fellows.

38

award. *2

39

exchanged.

convicted;

i.e.,

*° i.e.,

under the terms of the

refused a decree,

"salve.

3567. "To give Beryn a pledge," usually a glove. This served as a public acknowledgment of the debt. 3580. Recopied from the preceding line. 3595. The reading is bad, the usual expression being be biholden, be constrained.

:

.MISCELLANEOUS

922 3it

!

trow bat Hanybald woll put

i

hym

to be wers;

am

suyr and certeyn, within they shul nat fynde." "What sey yee be my pleynt, sirs?" quod the blynde, "For i make avowe i wol nevir cese Tyl Sirophanes have of Beryn a pleyn 44 relese, 3600 And to make hym quyte of his submyssioune; 45 Els woll i have no pete of his contricioune, But folow hym also fersly as i can or may, Tyl i have his eyen, both to, away." "Now in feith," quod Machyn, "and i wol have his lyffe 3605 For J?ou3e he scape 3ewe all, with me wol he nat stryffe, But be ri3t feyn in hert al his good forsake 46 For to scape with his lyff, and to me it take." Beryn and his feleshipp were within the house, 36io And speken of hir answere, and made but li till rouse; But evir preyd Geffrey to help yf he coude ou3t. 47 "I woll nat faill," quod Geffrey, and was tofore bebou3t 48 Of too botirfliis, as white as eny snowe: He lete hem flee within the house, bat aftir on the wo we 49

For

i

!

They

clevid 50 wondir fast, as hire

Aftir they

had

kynde

woll,

3615

flowe, to rest anothir quile.

When

Geffrey sawe the botirfliis cleving on be wall, be burgeys in he gan call: "Lo, sirs," he seyde, "whosoevir repent, Wee have chose marchandise most to oure talent, 2 That wee fynd herein. Behold, Sir Hanyball, The 3ondir bottirflyis, bat clevith on be wall Of such yee must fille oure shippis al fyve. Pluk vp thy hert, Beryn, for bow must nedis thryve For when wee out of Rome, in marchantfare went, To purchase buttirflyes was our most entent. 3 3it woll i tell the cause especial and why:

The Steward and

1

44

48 3

complete. 45 i.e., relieved of his obligation. 49 wall. had before thought (to bring). principal purpose.

4f

'

50

3620

3625

relinquish. 47 i.e., any means. ; liking. clung. 'regret it.

3597. Nat find is used absolutely for "not find anything." 3610. The Oxford Dictionary lists rouse as an isolated occurrence. senses under roose, boast, flatter, are satisfactory in this poem. 30 1G. MS. anothir pull.

The

THE TALE OF BERYN

923

Room

bat hath imade a cry 4 To make an oyntement to cure al tho been blynde And all maner infirmytees bat growith in man-kynde.

There

is

The day

a leche in

is

short, the

work

is

Hanyball, ye he seyd pryuely

long:

Sir

36.30

mut hy !"

When Hanybald herd this tale, In counsell to the Steward, "In soth i have be wors: For i am sikir by bis pleynt bat i shal litil purs." 5 "So me semeth," quod the Steward, "for in be world rounde 3635 So many botirflyis wold nat be founde, 6 Wherfor me binkith best, I trowe, o shipp to charge. his good ageyn, and be in pese and rest. Lete hym have And 3it is an auntir and 7 bowe scape so, 3640 Thy covenaunt to relese without more ado." The burgeysis everichon bat were of bat cete Were anoyid sore when they herd of bis ploe. Geffrey with his wisdom held hem hard and streyte, 8 That they were accombrit 9 in hire owne disceyte. When Hanybald with his ffrendis had spoke of bis matere, 3645 They drowe hem toward Beryn, and seid in bis manere: "Oonly for botirflyes ye com fro yeur contrey; And wee 3ewe tell in sikirnes, and opon oure fey, That so many botirflyes wee shul nevir gete: 3650 Wherfor we be avisid othirwise to trete: 10 That Hanybald shall relese his covenaunt bat is makid, And delyvir the good ageyn bat from 3ewe was ransakid, 11 And wexe 12 3c\ve no more, but let 3ew go in pes(\" "Nay, for soth," quod Geffrey, "vs nedith no relese 3655 Yee shull hold oure covenaunt, and wee shul years also, For wee shull have reson, where ye wol or no. !

Whils Isopc is alyve, For can wipe al this i

i

am

nothing aferd; from yeur berd

pie cleen

B publicly announced his intention. 'mere chance be in pocket, 'load, B 'overwhelmed. l0 we should be wise to make another agreetight, I2 vex. " ment. taken as loot.

that.

3058. The expression apparently means, "I ran take the case out of your hands (and before [sope)." Cf. the proverbial phrases "wipe some one's nose" (take by fraud) and "shave sonic one's heard" (defraud, do out of); the line in the texl may tie a mixture of the two.

MISCELLANEOUS

924

And

ye blench 13 onys out of the hy-wey." The" proferid hym plegg and gage, 14 without more deley. "Now ferthirmore," quod Geffrey, "vs ou3t to procede, For to the blynd mannys poynt we must answere nede: That for to tel trowith, he lyvith al to long; For his owne fawte and his owne wrong On Beryn he hath surmysid, 15 as previth by his pie; And bat yee shulle opynlich knowe wele and se. For as i vndirstod hym, he seyd bat fele 3eris, Beryn, bat here stondith, and he were pertyneris

Of wynnyng and of lesyng, as men it vse and doith; And that bey chaungit eyen; and 3ft bis is sothe. But the cause of chaunging 3H is to 3ewe onknow; 16 Wherfor i wol declare it, both to hi3e and lowe. In that same tyme bat J?is burgeys blynde And my mastir Beryn, as fast as feith my3t bynde, Were marchaundis in comyn 16 " of al bat bey my3t wyn, Saff 17 of lyffe and lyme and of dedely synne, There fill in tho marchis 18 of al thing such a derth That ioy, comfort, and solas, and al maner myrth

Was

exilid cleen, saff

God

bat

hem

also dispiracioune. in

flinch,

except. midst.

22

3675

3680

is

3685

Of hire relevacioune 20 from woo into gladnes: For aftir soure when swete is com, it is a plesant mes. 21 So in the meen-while 22 of this prosperity, There cam such a pleyer into be same contre\ That nevir theretofore was seyn such anothir; 13

3670

most myscheff,

above, bat al thing doith releve, such plente of mony, fruyte, and corne, Wich turned al to ioy hire mournyng al toforne. Then gaff they hem to myrth, revel, pley, and song; And bankid God above, evir-more among, 19

17

3665

oonly molestacioune,

That abood contenuell, and So when bat the pepill were Sent

3660

u surety shy. 18 that region.

On

and bond. 19

lb

blamed.

continually.

16

20 relief.

unknown. 2I

course

16 "

(at

3690

common. dinner).

the impersonal verb, rf. Int. VII. A. 1. neither shared the other's bodily organs or worst sins; an important point in the case. 3661. 3676.

I.e.,

THE TALE OF BERYN

925

That wele was the creature bat born was of his modir That my3t se the mirthis 23 of this iogeloure; For of the world wyde tho dayis he bare be floure. 24 For there nas man ne vomman in bat regioune That set of hymselff the store of a boton 25 Yf he had nat sey his myrthis and his game. So oppon a tyme, this pleyer did proclame That alle maner of pepill [bat] his pleyis wold se Shuld com oppon a certen day to be grete cete.

Then among

3695

3700

my

mastir here, Beryn, And this same blynd, bat pledith now with hym, Made a certen covenaunt bat bey wold see The mervellis of this pleyer and his sotilte. So what for hete of somyr, age and febilnes, And eke also be long way, this blynde for werynes Fil flat adowne to the erth: o foot ne my3t he go; Wherfor my mastir Beryn in hert was ful woo,

And

seyd,

othir,

'My

ffrend,

'No,' he seyd, 'by

And

how nowe? mowe ye no bat first made mas 26 God my soule save,

Hym

3705

ferber pas?' 3710

!

had levir, as Se these wondir pleyis ben al the good i have !' 'I can nat els,' quod Beryn, 'but yf it may nat be But bat yee and i mut retourn a3e, 3it

i

Afftir yee be refresshid of

For to leve 3ewe

yeur werynes; were no gentilnes.'

3715

in this plyte, it

Then seyd this blynd, 'I am avisid bet: Beryn, yee shull wend thidir without eny let, And have myne eyen with 3ewe, bat they be pley mowe And woll have yeurs tyll ye com a3e.' Thus was hir covenaunt made, as i to 3ewe report, i

se,

3720

For ese 27 of

this blynd, and most for his comfort. But wotith wele the hole science of al surgery Was vnyd, 28 or the chaunge was made of both [hir] eye, With many sotill enchauntours, and eke nygramancers, 29 That sent were for the nonys, mastris and scoloris; 23

"

3725

24 bore 26 worth of a button. the flower, was preeminent. the service of the mass. 27 relief from trouble. 28 united. 29 magicians,

entertainment.

3713. Probably but the next line.

is

superfluous and anticipates the construction in

!

—

;

.

;

MISCELLANEOUS

926

So when

With

al

this

was complete, my mastir went his way eyen, and sawe al the pley,

mannys

And hastly retourned into that plase aye, And fond this blynd seching, on hondis and on kne

3730

aboute to fynd J?at he had lore Beryn his both eyen, 30 ]?at he had tofore But as sone as Beryn had pleyne knowleche That his eyen were ilost, vnneth he my3t areche 31 O word, for pure anguyssh }?at he toke sodenly, And from ]?at day till now5e ne my3t he nevir spy This man in no plase there la we was imevid; 32

Grasping

al

3735

But nowe in his presence the soth is ful iprevid, That he shall make amendis or he hen[ny]s pas, Ri3te as the la we wol deme, ethir more or les. For my mastris eyen were bettir and more clere Then these )>at he hath nowe, to se both fer and nere

3740

So wold he have his owne, J>at propir 33 were of kynde; For he is evir redy to take to the blynde The eyen ]?at he had of hym, as covenaunt was, So he woll do the same. Nowe, soverens, in this cas Ye mut take hede for to deme ri3te; For it were no reson my mastir shuld lese his si3te For his trew hert and his gentilnes." "Beryn," quod the blynd tho, "i woll the relese My quarell, 34 and my cause, and fal 35 fro my pleynt."

"Thow mut nede," quod Geffrey, "for ]?ow art So mut J?ow profir gage, and borowis 37 fynd also, For to make amendis, as othir have ido.

atteynt

3745

3750 36 !

Sire Steward, do vs lawe, 38 sith wee desire but ri>te As wee been pese-marchandis, vs longith nat to fi^te, But pleyn vs to the lawe, yf so wee be agrevid." Anoon oppon that Geffrey J>ese wordis had imevid, 39 The blynd man fond borowis for al his maletalent, 40

3755

And were

3760

!

For

And 30

35 40

ientrid 41 in the court to

byde ]>e iugemenl he blynd were, 3it had he good plente, more wold have wonne, burh his iniquity.

|)0U3e bat

31 command. 32 34 complaint. 33 suitable. Beryn's two eyes. pleaded. withdraw. 36 convicted. 37 sureties. 38 give us justice. " spoken as a plea. 41 malevolence. (they) were entered (on the records).

THE TALE OF BERYN "Nowe

herith,

assurid

sirs,"

quod Geffrey,

"th[r]e

927 pleyntyfs

been

:

vomman hath are rid, 42 pleynyth here on Beryn, and seyith she is his wyff, 3765 That And bat she hath many a day led a peynous 43 lyff, And much sorowe endurid, his child to sustene; And al is soth and trewe. Nowe ri3tfullich to deme, Whethir of hem both shal othir obey, And folow wil 44 and lustis, Sir Steward, ye mut sey." 3770 And herewith Geffrey lokid asyde on this vomman, Howe she chaungit colours, pale, and eke wan: "Al for nou5t," quod Geffrey, "for yee mut with vs go, And endur with yeur husbond both wele and woo;" And wold have take hir by be hond; but she awey did breyde, 3776 And with a grete sighing, bese wordis she seyd: That ageyns Beryn she wold plede no more: But gagid with too borowis, 45 as othir had do tofore. And

as anenst be ferth this

The Steward

And

sat as

still

as

who had shore his hede, much drede:

specially the pleyntifs were in

3780

Geffrey set his wordis in such manere wise That wele they wist be[y] my3t nat scape in no wise

Without los of goodis, for damage and for cost, For such were hir lawis where pleyntis were ilost. Geffrey had ful perseyte of hire encombirment; 46 And eke he was in certen bat the iugement Shuld pas 47 with his mastir; wherfor he anoon, "Soveren sirs," he seyd, "3it must wee ferber goon, And answere to this Machyn, bat seith be knyff is his That found was on Beryn: thereof he seith nat amys. And for more pryve 48 he seith in this manere: *3 troubled. aa for the fourth (suit that) this woman has brought. ib gave bail through two sureties, shall follow the other's will. * 7 ception of their embarrassment. be given in favor of. "proof.

42

which

3785

3790

** i.e.,

"'per-

3763. Vipan's emendation. 3771. MS. aseyd. "Geffrey noticed, with a sidelonp glance. ..." 3779. See Oxford Dictionary, shave, v., 5,c. A jocular way of Baying, "as if some one had cut off his head." After splitting an opponent's skull, Ipomadon says (S0S7): .1 inonke ye may be when ye will, For ye be shavynne wile pertill, And right crownde For ye be shavyne rounde. .

37 J1. (

MS.

pry!/-

.

.

MISCELLANEOUS

928

That here stondith present the same cotelere That be knyffe made, and be precious stonys thre Within the hafft been couchid, bat in Cristyanit6, Thou3e men wold of purpose make serch and siche, 49 Men shuld nat fynd in al thing a knyff bat were it lich: And more opyn pryue 50 ban mannys owne knowlech,

Men Now

3795

of lawe ne clerkis con nat tell ne teche. sith

wee be

in this

manere thus

ferforth 1 ago,

Then were spedful 2 for to knowe howe Beryn cam first t[h]o 38oo To have possessioune of the knyff bat Machyn seith is his: To 3ewe vnknowe, i shall enfourme be trowith as it is.

Nowe vii yeer be passid, oppon a Tuysday In the Passion- Woke, 3 when men leven pley 3805 And vse more devosioune, fastyng, and preyere Then in othir tyme or seson of be 3eer, This Beryns ffadir erlich wold arise, And barefote go to chirch, to [don] Goddis service, And lay hymselff aloon, from his owne wyff, In reverence of be tyme and mending of his lyff. 38io So on the same Tuysday bat i tofore nempt, 4 This Beryn rose and rayd hym, and to be chirch went, And mervelid in his hert his ffadir was nat there, And homward went ageyn, with drede and eke fere. 3815 Into his ffadirs chambir sodenlich he rakid, 5 And fond hym ligg, stan-dede, 6 oppon the strawe al nakid, And the clothis halyd 7 from the bed away. quod Beryn, 'that evir i sawe this day !' 'Out, alas The meyne herd the noyse, how Beryn cried 'Alias !' 3820 And cam into the chambir, al bat therin was. But the dole and the sorowe and anguyssh bat was there, It vaylith nat at this tyme to declare it here; But Beryne had most of all, have ye no doute. And anoon they serchid the body al abouto, 3825 And fond this same knyff, be poynt ri3t at his hort !'

49 b

seek.

rushed.

3797. 3803.

M

far.

2

profitable.

stone-dead.

7

dragged.

proof. 6

MS. MS.

'

pat mannys. vii yeer

and

passid.

3

Holy Week.

4

named,

mentioned.

!

:

THE TALE OF BERYN

929

Of Beryns ffadir, whose teris gan outstert he drow3 out the knyff of his ff adirs wound Then stan-dede 8 i sawe hym fal doun to be ground, In si3te of the most part bat beth with hym nowe here." (And they affermyd it for sothe, as Geffrey did hem lere:) 3830 "And 3it had i nevir suspecioun, from bat day til noweth, 9

When

Who did bat cursid dede, till Machyn with his mo with Afore 3ewe hath knowlechid bat the knyff is his: So mut he nedis answere for his deth, iwis." When Machyn had iherd al Geffreyis tale, He rose of bench sodynly, with coloure wan and And seyd onto Beryn, "Sir, ageyn the I

wolle plete no more; for

To combir 3ewe with

it

3835

pale,

were gret pete

accions, 10 bat beth of nobill kynde."

"Graunte mercy, sir!" quod Geffrey, "but 3it yee shulle fynde Borowis, or yee pas, amendis for to make 384 i For our vndewe vexacioune, and gage also vs take In signe of submissioun for yeur iniury, As lawe woll and resone; for wee woll vttirly 11 Precede, tyll wee have iugement finall. 3845 And therfor, Sir Steward, what bat evir fall, Delay vs no lenger, but gyve us iugement For tristith ye noon othir but we be fullich bent 12 To Isope for to wend, and in his hi3e presence Reherce all oure plees, and have his sentence; 13 3850 Then shul yee make 14 ffynys, and hi3lich be agrevid." And as sone as the Steward herd these wordis mevid, 15 "Reson, ry3te, and lawe," seyd the Steward tho, "Yee mut nedis have, where i woll or no. And to preve my full will, or wee ferber goon," 3855 Quiklich he comaundit, and sparid nevir oon, xxiiii burgeysis in lawe best ilerid, Etehersyng hem the plees, and how Geffrey answerid;

And on lyffe and lym and forfetur of good, And as they wold nat lese the ball within hire hood, 16 To drawe apart togidir, and by hire al assent, Spare no man on lyve, to gyve trewe iugement. "i.e.,

fainting,

"determined.

"now. '*

'"load yon with Lawsuits, who arc » to the H pay. opinion. "uttered. "i.e., their heads.

3860

end.

MISCELLANEOUS

930

And when these xxiiii burgeysis had iherd The charge of the Steward, ri3t sore bey were aferd To lese hire owne lyvis, but they demyd trowith;

And

3863

eke of hire ne\ 3bours bey had grete rowith, For they perseyvid clerelich, in be plee burhoute, Hire ffrendis had be wors side; berof bey had no doute: "And yff wee deme trewly, bey wol be sore anoyid; 3it it is bettir then wee be shamyd and distroyed." 3870 And anoon bey were accordit, and seyd with 17 Beryn, And denied euery pleyntyff to make a grete fyne With Beryn, and hym submyt hoolich 18 to his grace Body, good, and catell, for wrong and hire trespase, 3875 So ferforth, till atte last it was so boute 19 ibore That Beryn had the dobill good 20 bat he had tofore, And with ioy and myrth, with al his company, He drou}e hym to his shippis ward, 21 with song and melody. The Steward and be burgeysc from be court bent 22 3880 Into hir owne placis; and evir as they went, They talkid of be Romeyns, howe sotil the were To aray hym like a fole bat for hem shuld answere. "What vaylith it," quod Hanybald, "to angir or to curs? And 5it i am in certen i shall fare the wers 3885 All the dayis of my lyff for bis dayis pleding. And so shall al the remnaunt, and hir hondis wryng, Both Serophanus, and be blynde, be vomman, and Machayne, And be bet avisid er they efftsonys pleyne; And all othir pcrsonys within this cete, 3890 Mell 23 the les with Romeyns, whils bey here be. For such anothir fole was nevir 3it iborne, For he did nau}t ellis but evir with vs scorne, Tyl he had vs cau3t, even by the shyn, 24 With his sotill wittis, in our owne gren." 25 r

The great Isope is so well pleased with Beryn's success in outwitting the Falsetowners that he induces him to live with him and marry his daughter. "May we all find as good a friend in need!" 17

judged in favor

about. leg.

"

2n

of.

18

19 to such an extent ... that it was brought -'toward his ships. a went. "meddle, "shin,

entirely.

twice the goods,

snare.

3868. perof is repeated in the M.S. 3894. At the end of the tale is this note: cronica Rome, Et translatoris filius ecclesie Thome

Nomen (i.e.,

autoris presentis

Canterbury).

ROBERT OF

SICILY

;

ROBERT OF

SICILY

Strictly speaking, this

is a pious legend, told to edify rather than included in a volume of romances as an example of a literature that borders on fiction and often uses its methods, but differs from it in being supposedly founded on fact. Its style is

to amuse.

It

simple, severe,

is

and reverent.

is unknown, although many analogues have For these, see Hibbard 58, and Wells 162. The poem was composed before 1370, probably in the south midlands. The scribe frequently writes ou for you, and uses -u- for-i- (gult, guilt).

The

writer's original

been discovered.

Through the kindness

of the authorities of the Bodleian Library, has been possible to prepare the text from a rotograph of the Vernon Manuscript, MS. English Poetry A.l, fol. 300 ff. The divisions in the poem are as marked in the manuscript. it

Princes proude bat beb in pres, 1 I wol ou telle ping not lees. 2 In Cisyle was a noble kyng, Fair and strong and sum del 3yng;

He hedde

a brober in grete Roome, Pope of al Cristendome; Anober he hedde in Alemayne, 3

An

emperour, bat

Sarins wrou^te

5

payne.

kyng was hote Kyng Robert Neuer mon ne wuste him fert. 4 He was kyng of gret honour, For pat he was conquerour; J)e

In

al

io

be world nas his peer,

Kyng ne prince, fer no neer; And for he was of chiualrie flour, 1

who

are proud

Heading. erwith a crane 0}?er fowles were Iper gode ane 25 ii

—

Before

Kyng

);>e

"Adam," quod

he

sette.

Kyng, "blessed

)?e

}>ou be:

Here is better J>en J?ou he3tist me, To-day when }?at we mctte."

now

"Sir," he seid, "do 3et

haue

i

mete

|?at

295

300

gladly;

were worthy

A He

gret lord for to fech." bro3t a heron with a poplere, 26

Curlews, boturs, 27 bolpe in fere, pc maudlart 28 and hur mech; 29

And

swan was bake.

a wylde

"Sich fowle con peroff I

sithen

with God's guidance.

ber.

26

i

my

spoonbill.

J7

51

slyng take;

no wrech; 30

bade felowes to

And 20

am

305

}?ei

my

in vain,

bitterns.

dynere;

wil not

M

cum

310

here,

"incursion, "sifted, "pheasant, 30 29 mate. mallard. niggard.

"num-

:

!

KING EDWARD AND THE SHEPHERD A

who

devoll haue

961

bat rech

bou shall non waue; 31 will any drynk haue, pou most con thy play; When bou seest be cuppe anon, But bou sei 'passilodion,' bou wilt But gif bou

ete,

3if

315

])ou drynkis not bis day.

Adam

Sely

shall sitt be hende, 32

And onswere

with 'berafrynde,'

my

Leue vpon

Kyng

pe

"Me

320

ley." 33

wold lere: bourde for to here:

seid bat he

bink

it

Teche me,

i

be pray."

"Passilodyon, bat

Whoso drynkys

is bis:

325

furst, iwys,

Wesseyle be mare dele 34 Berafrynde also, i wene, Hit is to make be cup clene, !

And Thus

fylle hit ofte full wele.

shal be

And who

game go

330

aboute,

so falys of bis route, 35

swere be Seynt Mighell, Get hym drynk wher he will, He getys non here J)is is my No3t to a nober sele." 37 I

—

pe Kyng

seid,

"Let

skill

36

—

335

drynke;

se bat

thynke Mo thirst is swythe sore." The scheperde bade be cup fill; pe Kyng to drynk hade gode will, With passilodion more. say

I shall

ri3t

pat

i

.

11

hesitate.

v-

•

worthy

health to him! 313.

Non

35

Adam

.

shall sit near thee.

rote, formula,

for not

.

"opinion.

" statement.

340.

The scribe it

u

the

more

" another occasion.

.'

317. Passilodion and berafrynde an- nonsense-words. " see Brand, under "Pledging

replaced part of

340

lias

with

n the

custom,

inadvertently omitted most of this stanza, and has ">, 11. 350 below.

:

MISCELLANEOUS

962

"I can ri3t wel my lore." "Berafrynde," iseid Adam, "Iwysse bou art a wytty man; pou shalt wel drynk berfore."

Thus

bei sate

withoute

345

strife,

Kyng with Adam and his wyfe, And made hym mery and glad.

pe

The scheperde bade be cuppe fill; The Kyng to drynke hade gode will;

350

His wife did as he bade. be cuppe was come anon,

When pe

Kyng

seid "passylodion," he be cuppe hade. Hit was a game of gret solas; Hit comford 38 all bat euer ber was; Therof bai were noght sade.

When

355

pe scheperde ete till bat he swatte, 39 And ban nou erst he drew 40 his hatt

360

Into be benke-ende. 41 And when he feld 42 be drynk was gode, He wynkid and strokyd 43 vp his hode,

And seid, "Berafrynde." He was qwyte as any swan; He was a wel begeten man, And comyn of holy kynde. 44 He wold not ete his cromys drye He louyd nothyng but it were trie, 45 Neber

fer

ne hende. 46

pen seid be Kyng in his reson, "Whoso were in a gode town, pis wold ha costed dere, '8 44

a?o 47

« end of the bench. comforted, "sweat, "removed. 47 speech. 46 near. choice. worthy parents.

*

felt,

"pushed.

45p

348. In is

365

some versions the wife

is

an important character;

entirely omitted.

365.

A

white skin was a mark of gentility.

in

others she

KING EDWARD AND THE SHEPHERD In bis maner to be fed With alkyn dentethe wel bested, 48 As we haue had now here. 49 I shalle be whvte, be hode myne.

Now

hade

Di}t in

my

manere;

no mete

is

And

375

leuer a conyne 50

i

But-3if hit were of

per

963

buk or doo,

380

louyd soo, come ber hit were." i

1

i

pe scheperde seid, "So mot bou the, Can bou heyle a priuete? And bou shalt se gode game." 2

!"

"3e

And

ellis

my

frame. 5 What man bat wrye 6 a gode frende, P0U5 he were ri3t sibbe of my kynde, 7 3if

hit be for

He were worthy pen

385

Kyng, "be my levte, 3 haue i mycul maugre 4

seid be

seid

390

gret shame."

Adam, "pou

seis sothe;

haue a morsel for bi tothe, And ellis were to blame."

3et

i

i

He went and

fett conyngys thre, baken well in a pasty, 8 With wel gode spicerye, 9 And ober baken mete alsoo, Bobe of hert 10 and of roo; pe venyson was full trye. 11 "Sir," he seid, "asay of this: pei were 3isterday qwyk, iwysse,

395

Alle

Certan, withouten lye; Hider bei come be mone-li3t. Eete berof well apli^t 12 And schewe no curtasye."

405

,

the."

n maple-wood. * 8 i.e., enough " give to my guest.

for three.

peiar.

;i;iss

vessels were

wneommon

at the tables of peasants.

I7 i.e.,

since

MISCELLANEOUS

966

pat gammp was to here: "This cuppc hit hat Lonycoll;

470

29 I luf it wel, for it is holl;

me

and dere; Robyn; he drank no better wyne

It is

lefe

Fil it efte to Ioly

Iwisse,

Off alle bis seuen 3ere

To

alle

Fill it

My

bat wil

475

!

my gamme

play,

be be ee, 30 i be pray, bourdis bat wil lere."

Then dranke oure Kyng and toke his leue; pe sheperd seid, "Sir, not be greue,

And

it bi

480

wille be:

Robyn, chaumber bat is myne, pat was made for me." pe Kyng berof was ful glad, I

A

shalle be schew, Ioly litull

485

And

did as be scheperde bad: Moo bourdis wold he se.

He

lad

hym

into a priue place

Ther venyson plente

And

be

wyne

in was,

so clare. 31

490

Vnder be erth it was di5t; it was, and clene of sy5t, And clergially 32 was hit wro3t. The Kyng seid, "Here is feyre ese: A man my3t be here wel at ese, With gamme 3if he were sau3t." 33 The Kyng seid, "Gramercy, and haue goday pe scheperde onswerid and said, "Nay, 3et ne gose bou noughte; pou shalle preue 35 furst of a costrell tre 36 Feire

495

!" 34

500

pat gode frendis send to me, -

,J

hollow, capacious. 30 eye; i.e., 32 learnedly; i.e, cleverly.

error.

full.

"

31

like clare.

contented.

il

Probably

farewell.

3b

so

taste.

bottle.

470. Probably the words are addressed to his wife.

Cf. 348.

is

a scribal 36

wooden

'

,

KING EDWARD AND THE SHEPHERD

967

pe best bat myght be bou5t. Telle

me now,

whilke

is

be best

wyne

myne, gode and hynde?

Off Lonycoll, cuppe

Als bou art Play onys passilodion, And i shall onswer sone anon, Certes, berafry nde This chamber hat Hakderne, my page; He kepis my thyng and takis no wage, In worde 37 wher bat wende. per is no man bis place con wrye But thiself, }if bou will sey, 38 And ban art bou vnkynde. 39

505

.

'

510

i

Ther is no man of bis contre So mycull knowes of my priuete" Als bou dose, Ioly Robyn; Whil bat liff, welcum to me; Wyne and ale dar hete be, And gode flesshe for to dyne." pe Kyng his stede he can stride,

515

i

i

520

And

toke his leue for to ride; bo3t it was hye tyme. pe scheperde seid, "I will with be goo: I dar be hete a foule or twoo, Paraunter with a conyne."

Hym

525

Kyng

rode softely on his way; folowyd, and wayted his pray; Conyngus saw he thre. "Ioly Robyn, chese bou which bou wylt; 40 Hym bat rennys er hym bat sitt

pe

Adam

And "He bat i

Hit

is

shall gif sitt is

hym

and

530

the."

wil not lepe:

be best of alle be hepe,

For soth so thynkithe me." pe scheperde 57

world:

i.e.,

wherei

er

I

•;>
e

655

hit is:

schepe go mysse 13

mennys

And when he pen

how

to

(>e

lande."

Kyng came,

Kyng, "Welcum, Adam,

660

astray.

MS. line r>;>;; follows here. Hut probably the whole passage and 11. 657-8 are echoed. MS. n-inlL-c l>ur;>. 645. It, was customary for guests to surrender all their weapons to the

631. In corrupt,

thi'

attendants. The shepherd's failure to do so with court clique! e. I

is

a sign of his unfamiliarit}

!

MISCELLANEOUS

972

As

to

my

powere

!" 14

"Ioly Robyn," he seid, "wel mot bou be! Be God, so shuld bou to me On ober stede ban here. 15 I am commyn, bou wat wherfore;

665

trauayle shal not be forlore: pou knowis wel my manere." "For God," seid be Kyng bo, "pou shal be seruyd er bou goo; ))i

Forthy make glad chere." 16

670

"Ioly Robyn," he seid, "i pray the Speke with me a worde in priuete." "For God," quod be Kyng, "gladly!" He freyned be Kyng in his ere What lordis bat bei were "pat stondis here be bye?" "The Erie of Lancaster is be ton, And be Erie of Waryn, Sir Iohn,

675

Bolde and as hardy; mow do mycull with be Kyng: haue tolde hem of bi thyng." !" pen seid he, "Gremercy

680

pei I

seid, "Sir[s], God blesse 3ew know yow not, be swete Ihesu !" And swere a wel gret oth.

pe scheperde I

"Felaw," they

seid, "i leve

pou hase sene Robyn

or bis

685

be well: sell;

17

ne ar nothyng wrothe." 18 "No, sirs," he seid,. "so mot i the, We ar neghtburs, i and he; We were neuer lothe." 3e

As gret 14

as far as

moment.

is

in

18 i.e.,

my

690

lordis as bei ware, power.

15

i.e.,

anywhere.

16

i.e.,

look happy.

i:

time,

are friendly.

All the persons named were im677. See introduction to this poem. Lancaster (d. 1361) was the king's chief adviser. portant noblemen. VVarenne was the earl of Surrey. Since he died in 1347, the poet is in error in representing Ralph de Stafford as an earl at this time (cf. 1. 629).

— KING EDWARD AND THE SHEPHERD He

973

toke of his hode neuer be mare, seid, "God saue yow bothe."

But

lordis seid to hym anon, "Ioly Robyn, let hym no3t gon Till bat he haue etyn.

pe

695

Hym

semys a felow 19 for to be; bourdis 3et mow we se Er his errand be gettyn." pe Kyng to bis scheperde con say, "Fro me ne gost bou not away Tille we togeder haue spokyn; An errande i hy}t be for to done; I wolde bat bou were seruyd sone, pat hit be not forge tyn.

Moo

Goo we togeder to be And myself shall tel i

pou

shalt

705

marshalle, be tale

The better may bou spede." "Robyn," he seid, "bou art trwe; I wis, it shalle

700

710

be neuer rew:

haue thy mede."

To To

be hall he went, a ful gode pase, sekc wher be stuarde was; pe scheperde with hym 3ede.

Long

hym

thou3t,

til

715

mydday

pat he ne were seruyd of his pay; He wolde haue done his dede. 20

When

he into be hall came,

per fande he do

pe

maner

of

man;

720

Kyng hym bade abyde:

"I wil go aboute bi nede,

For to loke gif may spede, For \nnii bat may betide."'21 "Robyn, dwel not long fro me: I know no man here but the; i

"eccentric,

may.

"character."

"finished

the

business.

725

Cf. 657.

" happen whal

:

!

MISCELLANEOUS

974

This court is no3t but pride; 22 ne can of no sich fare: These hye halles, bei ar so bare I

Why

ar bei

Then I0W3

be

made

so

wyde?"

Kyng, and began

730

to go,

And with his marsshale met he tho; He commaundit hym a3eyne; "Felaw," he

seid,

"herkyn a

li3t,

And on myne errand go bou tyte, Also mot bou thynne: A scheperde abides me in hall

735

hym shall we la3 alle, At be meyte when bat we bene.

Off

He

is cum to aske iiii pounde; Goo and fech it in a stounde,

pe sothe bat

i

may

740

sene.

Twey

schelyng ber is more: 23 Forgete hem not, be Goddis ore, J)at he ne haue alle his pay. I wolde not for my best stede But he were seruyd er he 3ede, Er ben hye mydday. He wenys a marchande bat i be; Ioly Robyn he callis me, For sertan sobe to say. Now sone to mete when i shall goo, Loke he be no3t fer me fro." "Lorde," he seid ben, "nay."

Forbe be marshale can gon,

745

750

755

And brou3t be stuard sone anon, And did adowne his hode. "Herstow, felow, hast bou do 22

ostentation.

23

in addition.

The king means

to see that the steward withholds none of the "Sir Cleges." 758. These lines are spoken by the king.

742.

money;

of.

:

KING EDWARD AND THE SHEPHERD pe thyng bat i seid be to, For be gode rode?" "Sir," he seid, "it is redy; I know hym not, be oure Lady, Before me bo5 he stode." "Goo, take }ond man and pay betyme, 24 And bidde hym thonke Ioly Robyne; We shall sone haue gamme gode." Forbe bei went all thre, To pay be scheperde his mone per he stode in be halle. pe stiward at hym frayned tho, "What askis bou, felaw, er bou goo? Telle me, among vs alle." "Sir," he seid, "so mot i the, Foure pounde 3e owe to me, So fayre mot me befalle 25 Twey schillyngis is ber odde I haue wytnesse berof, be God,

760

765

770

775

!

With

975

in bis cast ell wall.

26 is skorid here on a tayle; Haue; brok 27 hit wel withowt fayle: I haue kepte hit lang eno3 !" pe stiwarde: "perof ne rech: Iwisse, haue berto no mech !" 28 At hym ful fast bei I003; "Ne were 29 Ioly Robyn, bat i here se, To-day [3c] gate no mone of me, Made bou it neuer so tow3; 30

Hit

780

i

i

Hut for

his luf,

go

tel 31 it

here."

pen made be scheperde right glad

When 24

at once.

2*

were

it

out.

32

it

"

way

786.

I

of

MS.

hope

for

790

M

good luck. tally-stick, "here: enjoy, "mate. i.e., no matter how much you complained, "count

by the steward. evading payment. illegible

chere,

he be siluer drow3. 32

not for. ,0 tough; reckoned.

785. Said

easy

as

785

Destroying the mute to

:i

tally-stick

was an

;

:

:

:

!!

MISCELLANEOUS

976

He

did

it

vp, be sothe to say,

But sum berof he toke away In his hand ful rathe. "Ioly Robyn," he seid, "herkyn A worde or tweyne in preuete

to

me: 795

Togedir betwene vs bathe I hi3t be 3istirday seuen shyllyng; Haue brok it wel to bi clothyng Hit wil do be no skathe. And for bou hast holpyn me now, Euermore felowes i and thow, And mycull banke, sir, now haue 3c" :

"Graunt mercy, sir," seid ban he, "But siluer shalt bou non gif me, I swere be Seynt Martyne !" "Be God," seid be scheperde, "3ys !" "Nay," seid oure Kyng, "iwys, No3t for a tune 33 of wyne; For bi luf, i wolde do more Then speke a worde or ii be fore; 34 J)ou

may

preue

"Nay,

sir,"

he

800

805

8 10

sum tyme. 35 3if bou be fastyng, cum with me And take a morsell in preuete" Togedir ben shalle we dyne." seid,

"so

God me

To

be Kyngis meyte haue I wil berof no dele,

i

spede

per is non of his proud meny pat hase alway so gode plenty 36 [As] i haue euery sele." pe Kyng bare wittnesse, and seid, "3a But bou my3t onys, er bou ga, Etyn with me a mele !

pe 33

cask.

34

grettist lordis of bis lande

for you.

36

test

my

friendship sometime.

802. This line begins a page, 820.

MS. (apparently) ha

ne.

and seems

sis

no nede

36

at every season.

to be a copyist's error.

820

—— !

KING EDWARD AND THE SHEPHERD Haue bidde \>e tary, vndirstonde, And J?erfore be re J>e well."

825

i

"For

Robyn, wil gladly; mett i myne enmye,

luff,

J?i

Today

}?en

i

For sothe as J>at

be

my

tolde

])e

of

He I

I

At

977

i

the

tell

do3tir lay;

hym

830

3istirday

wolde he were in

hell

my

howse is alle ]?e rowte; They wil do harme whil i am owte; Full yuel |?en dar

Wold

i

dwell.

835

me to ]?e Kyng, me my slyngyng;

speke for

}?ou

He

wolde avow 37 Thaire pride \>en shulde

i

fell

!"

Kyng Ed wart

onswerid agayne, "I wil go to these erles twane ])at stode lang ore be me; ])ai ar aperte, 38 of my knowyng; J)ei

shall

speke for

wrokyn

J)at

In

}>is

At

my

J?e

to

J>e

840

Kyng,

shal )>ou be.

J>ai ar twenty biddyng to bidde redy 39 To do a gode iornay; When Ipou comys home, make no bost: pei shal be takyn er }>ou it wost, P0U3 }>ai were sech thre." 40

courte

845

sso

Thus be Kyng held hym with tale, ))at alle J>at euer was in ))e sale 11

Off

hym hade

Togedir

grel ferly.

5ede vp and

downe As men }?at seid )?aire orison, But no man wist why. l

t'
.

" winked.

!

MISCELLANEOUS

984

pou shulde no moo tythyngis bryng, On horse bou3 bou were hye !"

The Kyng commaundil "Goo telle be scheperde

squyer

a

tere, 35

1055

in his ere

pat am be Kyng, And bou shall se sich cowntenence pat hym had leuer be in Fraunce, When [he] heris of bat tythyng He has me schewid his priuete: He wil wene ded to be, And make berfore mornyng.

1060

Hit shalle hym mene al to gode: I wolde not ellis, be be rode, !" Nou3t for my best gold ryng

1065

i

!

The squyer pryuely toke

his leue

And

plucked be scheperde be be sleue For to speke hym with: "Man," he said, "bou art wode Why dose bou not down bi hode? pou art all out of kithe 36 Hit is be Kyng bat spekis to be, May do be what his willis be, Berefe be lym and lithe; 37 And gif bou haue do any trespas, Fall on knees and aske grace, And he will gif be grithe."

1070

!

pen was bat herd a

And neuer

1075

man, was ban,

earful

so sory as he

When he herd bat sawe; He wist not what hym was

1080

gode.

But ben he putte doune his hode; On knees he fel downe lawe. "Lorde," he seid, "i crye be mercy! 36 35 fine. company; meaning limb.

i.e.,

1060. M.S. not clear.

your conduct

is

inappropriate.

loss

'

a tag, lioth

words

KING EDWARD AND THE SHEPHERD I

knew

be not, bo oure Lady,

When For had

When I

985

i

i

bat

come

into bis sale, 38

wist of bis

sorowe

we met 3ister-morowe,

had not bene

in bis bale."

Non

1090

Finis Sed Punctus.

In other versions of the story, the king makes his host a knight and rewards him well.

»»

hall.

L086.

MS. know.

THE TOURNAMENT OF TOTTENHAM

THE TOURNAMENT OF TOTTENHAM This burlesque, in the dialect of the north of about 1400-1440, is famous than Chaucer's "Sir Thopas," but shows the same familiarity with the machinery of chivalry and the same unwillingness to take it seriously. It survives in two MSS., Harleian 5306 (H.), dated 1456, and Cambridge University Library MS. Ff. II 38 (C), after 1431. C. was first printed in 1631 by William Bedwell, rector of Tottenham, who published a text with modernized spellings. less

Several antiquaries reprinted this version, evidently subscribing to BedwelPs opinion that it had historical value. Percy printed it in first and second editions of his "Reliques of Ancient English Poetry" (1765, 1767); but was then informed by Tyrwhitt of the existence of H.; and, perceiving its superiority to Bedwell's text, he used it in subsequent editions, with a few of Bedwell's readings where H. was obscure. In "Ancient Songs and Ballads" (1790), Joseph Ritson attacked Percy venomously for tampering with the texts in the "Reliques," and, as a part of the rebuke, edited this poem from H.; but his work contains several inaccuracies and unwarrantable emendations. In 1836, Thomas Wright edited the text from ('.; this was reprinted by Hazlitt in "Remains of the Early Popular Poetry of England," vol. iii, with readings from H. and Bedwell's No critical text has been attempted. edition. The stanza is a variation of a type common in the north; but, because of the state in which this poem has survived, it is nearly impossible to tell whether (he normal line was iambic or doggerel. In either event, variations are numerous.

the

Through the kindness

of

the authorities of the Department

of

Manuscripts of the British Museum and of the Library of Cambridge University, it has been possible to prepare the text from rotographs of both manuscripts. Since H., which has the better version, is wretchedly copied and in many places almost illegible, the readings of C. furnish

The

many

valuable clues.

incidents in the piece are very like those in other pieces in-

volving boasts.

Especially close

is

the parallel with

"The Avowis

Alexander" (STS. 21): they boast in the presence of a lady; they threaten to capture each other's horses and sword- (5440); two of them dispute as to their prowess; the prize is a peacock (not a hen);

(if

MS'.t

—

—

MISCELLANEOUS

990

and one boast is generally granted to be better than all the of the words in the Scotch poem also occur in this.

rest.

Some

Why

poem written

in the northern dialect should deal so fathe topography of the district about London that Tottenham antiquaries have included it in their histories of the parish is something of a puzzle. Long -a is frequently retained where

a

miliarly with

the midland form had -o (ga, go); the plurals of verbs and nouns are often in -ys, and so are the third singulars of many verbs (stonys, For a discussion of the language, see PMLA. 43. 124. getis).

Of Of

all

bes kene conquerours to carpe

it

were kynde:

we fynde; Totenham haue we

fele fe3tyng-folk ferly

in mynde: The Turnament of It were harme sych hardynes were holden byhynde, 2 In story as we rede Of Hawkyn, of Herry, Of Tomkyn, of Terry, 1

5

Of pern bat were dughty

And

stalworth in dede.

Totenham, on a dere 3 day, per was mad a schurtyng 4 be be hyway. It befel in

peder com

al

be

Of Hyssyltoun,

men

10

of be contray

of Hygate,

and

of

Hakenay, 5

And all be swete swynke[rs]. per hopped Hawkyn, per davnsed Dawkyn, per trumped Tomkyn; And all were trewe drynkers,

6

15

Tyl be day was gon, and euyn-song past, pat bay schuld rekyn ber scot and ber contes cast; 7 Perky n be potter in to be press past, And sayd, "Rondol be refe, 8 a do3ter bou hast, 1

would be evil, Hackney.

accounts.

8

* i.e., memorable, workmen. 7 reckon

'concealed.

gate,

6

blessed

'festival. their bill

20

Islington,

High-

and cast up

their

s

reeve, bailiff.

Title. Tottenham and the other towns mentioned were at this time separate parishes just north of London. 8.

21.

MS. MS.

dughyt. prest,

probably a miscopying of long double

-s.

!

!

THE TOURNAMENT OF TOTTENHAM Tyb, be dere: wyt wold

per-for

i

Whych

of all bys bachelery 9

Were best worthy To wed hur to hys

991

25

fere."

Vp styrt bes gadelyngys 10 with ber long staues, And sayd, "Randal be refe, lo bis lad raucs Baldely amang us by duster he craues, And we er rycher men be[n] he, and more god haues, !

30

Of cat ell and corn." pen sayd Perkyn, "To Tybbe haue hy3t pat i schal be alway redy in my ry3t, u If bat it schuld be bys day seueny3t, 12 Or ell[is] 3et to-morn." i

35

pen sayd Randolfe be refe, "Euer be he waryed 13 pat about bys carpyng lenger wold be taryed 14 I wold not bat my do3ter bat scho were myscaryed, But at hur most worschyp 15 wold scho were maryed. per-for a turnament schal begin pys day seueny3t, With a flayl for to fy3t, And [he] bat ys of most myght Schall brouke hur with wynne.

40

i

"Whoso

Hym

berys

best in be turnament,

schall be granted be gre, be be

For to wynne

And

hym

Coppeld,

45

comon

assent,

my do3ter with dughty[nes] of dent, my brode 16-henne, was bro3t out of Kent,

And my donnyd 17 kowe. "company 14

of

should do badly. 23.

In the MS.,

38.

MS.

n

50

rogues. u to defend my rights. '- week. 16 brood. 17 brown. to her greatest honor.

young men.

rfcre

10

has been altered

in

other ink to

ll

cursed.

devoll.

atryed.

carelessly doubled. camon. 49. Copple, meaning "crested," seems to have been a common name for a hen. A bird is often the prize Cf. "Townley Mysteries" p. 99. of such a contest. 39. pat

47.

MS

is

MISCELLANEOUS

992

no spens 18 wyl spare, For no catell wyl care: He schal haue my gray mare, And my spottyd sowe !" F[or]

i

i

per was

many

bold lad ber bodyes to bede; 19

55

pan bay toke bayr leue, and horn ward bay 3ede, And all be woke 20 afterward bay graybed ber wede, Tyll it come to be day bat bay suld do ber dede. pay armed ham in mattis: 21 pay set on ber nollys, 22 For to kepe ber

Gode blake

60

pollys, 23

bollys,

For 24 batryng

pay sowed bam

of bat t is.

2 in schepe-sk}r nnes, for "

bay suld not bresl

Ilkon toke a blak hat insted of a crest A harow brod as a fanne 26 aboune on ber brest, And a flayle in ber hande, for to fyght prest.

Furth gon bay fare

65

!

per was kyd mekyl fors 27 Who schuld best fend his cors; 28 He bat had no gode hors, He gat hym a mare.

Sych anober gadryng haue

i

70

not sene oft

When all be gret cumpany com rydand to be croft, 29 Tyb on a gray mare was set upon loft, On a sek ful of sedys, for scho schuld syt soft, And led hur to be gap.

75

:i0

18

24 28

expenditure. l9 i.e., undertake it. 20 week. 21 mattings. - heads, "crowns. M an arrow broad as a fan. "much might shown. 26 so that. to prevent. defend his body. 2U field. 30 opening in the hedge. 62.

MS.

bellys.

64.

I.e.,

sewed themselves

67.

MS. syght. By preference,

72.

in

securely.

knights used chargers.

ventures. 76. C. has senvye, mustard seed. 77.

MS.

cap.

Cf.

Perceval's early ad-

;

—

!

THE TOURNAMENT OF TOTTENHAM For cryeng of al ]>e men, Former wold not Tyb J?en Tyl sche had hur gode brode-hen Set in hur lap.

993

so

A

gay gyrdyl Tyb had on, borwed for be nonys, a garland on hur hed, ful of rounde bonys, a broche on hur brest, ful of safer 31 stonys With be holy rode tokenyng was wrethyn 32 for be nonys: No catel was ber spared When ioly Gyb saw hure bare, He gyrd 33 so hys gray mere

And And

85

!

sche lete a faucon-fare 34 At be rereward.

J)at

90

wow to God," quod Heny, "i schal not lefe behende May mete with Bernard, on Bayard be blynde, Ich man kepe hym out of my wynde; 35 "I

i

For whatsoeuer bat he be befor 36 me !" I wot i schal hym greue "Wele sayd !" quod Hawkyn; "And avow," quod Dawkyn, "May i mete with Tomkyn,

i

fynde, 95

i

His

vow Whych "I I

to

hym

refe."

God," quod Hud, "Tyb, sone

of all bis bachelery grant

schal scomfet 37

In

31

flayl

baym

all,

what place so come, bay Myn armes ar so clciv: i

52 sapphire. it 35 course.

wind.

*.">.

89.

MS. MS.

schal bou se

100

be gre for be loue of bi is

!

schal haue dout of me,

was worked with the si

present participle

preterite relative

.'el.,

adjective as noun singular

sg.,

interj., interjection

sj.,

m., masculine and neuter genders

sup., superlative

noun nominative case OE, Old English

vbl., verbal

subjunctive

vs.,

vw., 1001

strong verb weak verb

1002

VOCABULARY

In the vocabulary, entries are followed by a reference to Titles of poems are abbreviated as follows:

line.

Al,

poem and

VOCABULARY pursuit of. Hr 880. afterwards. Tr 81; Sd 1877; SS 310; aftir, P 1808. Hv 2810. (7) conj., according as. again, (OE ongen, ongegn), (1) adv., back, in return. ET 52; a3en, 267; ayein, 931; agen, Hr 582, aye, B 3276. (5) in

(6) adv.,

D

D

ogayn, SS 468; 316; a3e, B 3720. a3aynns, Av (3) prep., against. 219; a3aynus, Av 315. (4) toward, nearing (of place and time). a3eyn, 203; P 1129;

once more,

(2)

a3eyn,

CA

Em

D967. Ip 3217;

(6) in anticipation of.

Hv

1106.

(7)

before, in the face of.

206; a3ein,

Ly

Em

27980; ay en,

Lv

989. (8) conj., in preparation for the time when. P 198. comp. as adv., ageynward, in re-

B

3314.

agast, adj.,

(OE

turn.

awe

agaestan), afraid,

D

of.

ever.

SS 2816; Tr

27729;

a,

Ly

18;

aei,

Ly

28090.

Av

(2) adj., eternal.

comp., for ay, forever,

aither,

cj.

al, alle,

adj.-pro.,

eld

g..

aither,

Hr

aller, of

of

us

us

all,

756;

all,

G Hv

and

Hv

G

35.

321 our 256; aither ;

best, best of all, 182; althir best, P 18S3; aither leste, least of

all,

Hv

1978; aire, of

27807; alder, (2)

adv.,

27840.

FB

wholly,

(OE

alsone, adv.,

SS

al

P

straightway.

swa sona), (1) 1011; alssone,

518.

soon (as). Yw 233. amis, adv. and adj., wrong, wrongly. (2) as

D60. amorwe, a-mar3en, to-morrow;

all.

Ly

551. entirely.

Ly

cj.

morne.

(OE

an), one.

CI 521; on, Sd 1582;

Hv d.j.,

114; a, are,

Ly

27992; d.m., ane, Ly 27947; a.m., enne, Ly 27667; aenne, Ly 27549. an, cj. on, one, and. and, an, conj., (OE ond), (1) and. Hr 699; Hv 4; an, Ly 27556;

D

153.

(2)

if.

Hv anon,

At 403; Av 443. and pro., (OE aenig), any.

10; anny, Ip 1086; eni, adv.,

(OE on

G 260.

an), at once,

D 79; anone, ET 253; anan, Ly 27508; onane, SS 819. comp., anon right, straightway, G 734; anaen swa, as soon as. Ly 28242. another, (OE an oSer), (1) adj. and quickly.

Hr

(2) adv., otherwise.

eall, all), (1) adj. all.

light,

cj.

als, also, cj. as.

pro., another.

either.

(OE

alighte, alighted;

434.

air, cj. heir.

115;

.

SS 855; Ip

1162.

Yw

G

aelc, cj. ilk.

ani, adj.

900; G 7; ET 451. a3e, back; cj. again. ah, cj. ac, but; awe, owe, own. ahon, v., hang. Ly 28407. ai, ay, (OE a, 6), (1) adv., always, in

of,

comp., alkyn, all sorts 1073; algate, any way, always, yet, O 229

an, adj.,

Ip 3067.

(5) until.

1003

578.

B

3538.

anow3, enough; cj. inogh. answer, viv., (OE ondswerian), anHr 42; swer, pt., answarede, andswarede, Ly 28094; vnsquarut, Av 129; pt. pi., ansuereden, II

v

17ti.

aplight, adv.,

(OE on

pliht),

(1)

at

D

1048. once. 1)775. (2) indeed. are,

(OE

asr),

(1) conj., before.

('

605; or, [p 3041; are, P 653; er, 568; ar, Hr 546. Lv (2) adv., earlier, formerly.

G

,

VOCABULARY

1004

1019; aer, Ly 27491; aere, Ly 27959; ayre, Ip 1064; sup., arst,

G

formerly, 538; aerst, Ly 27456. (3) sooner, rather, SS 3023, 4253. (4) prep., before, earlier than. SS 4303. comp., er thane, before the time when. Hr 1435. first,

aright,

G

rightly. (2)

(OE on

adv.,

(OE

aros,

pt.,

armed,

Hr

O

pp.,

(often used merely

Hr

457.

Hr

1313;

araes,

Ly

G

643.

plu., ariseth,

adj.,

armed,

Av

803; armut,

iarmed,

77; yarmed,

134.

(OE alswa), (1) conj. as if. P 2263; ase, 272; os, ET 613. 1039; ET (2) as (correlative). swa), Ly 27458. 409; alswa ( (3) when. Hv 2120. Hr 538; Ly (4) in such manner. 27648; alse, Ly 28413. (5) as surely as (followed by subj.).

as, als, also,

D

as,

D

.

.

Hr

775.

(6)

however, in whatever manner.

Hr

543.

(7)

adv., thus,

so,

likewise.

Yw

CA

91; Ly 27884. (9) very (in phrases, such as: also swithe, etc.). 746; Hr 471.

D

Hv

319. (10) prep., like. (11) expletive, untranslatable.

Av

D

(OE aet), (1) in Hr 253; a, Ly 27505.

3.

3481.

B

comp., atte, at the.

3002; ate,

D576. aueden, had;

Av

cf.

haue.

(OF aventure),

aunter,

auenture,

adventure.

G

777; antur,

1015.

auentoure,

chance, luck,

D

624; Tr 67. (3) occurrence, happening,

aunaventowres, Em 754. auntre, G (4) vw., take a risk, 217; aventure, ET 927. auntrid, Tr happen. pt., (5)

B 3436;

tris,

8632. aught, (OE awiht, auht, aht), (1) awght, Ip 476; pro., anything, aw3te, CA 204; oght, Sd 2713; 03te, Av 431; ou3t, B 3611. Hr 976; P 1157. (2) adv., at all. auter, awter, altar. awe, owen, vs., (OE agan), (1) own, have. Hv 1292; a3en, Ly 27989; 1 sg. pr., ah, Ly 28022; 8 sg. pr., oweth, Ip 477; pr. sj., a^e, Ly 28423; pt., aute, Hv 743; awcte, Hv 207; ahte, Ly 27729; au3t,

710

hawe,

pr. sj.,

Hv

1188.

pt. as pr., ought, should, aughte, P 2175; aucte, Hv 2787; auhte, Hv 2800; pr., owth,

(2)

Em

667.

896; Tr 8668. aslaghe, slain. asla3en Hr 897, 1491. astonied, stunned. Sd 2057. aswoue, aswowe, swooning. 903; Lv 755. at, prep.,

B

(5) to.

D

839. (8) also.

Av

at will).

(2) fate,

arisan), arise, get up.

28006; imp.

Em

(3)

(1) n.,

straightway vs.,

(1)

29.

to intensify).

arise,

riht),

with. O 138; Hr 1033. of, from. P 179; 185; atte, Av 1081. (4) according to (in the phrase: (2)

(a place).

(3)

owe.

K

92;

pr.

plu.,

aughte,

P

577; pr.

owe,

sg.,

K

aw,

621;

Yw pt.,

1490.

awe, n. fear. aw3e, FB 909. awen, awin, a3en, cf. own. awreke, avenge; cf. wreke. axe, axid, 3372.

ask,

ayen, aye, a3e,

cf.

asked. again.

B

291

1

VOCABULARY B bac, back,

(OE

n.,

baec),

Hv

back.

CA

Hr

(1) bold.

Ly

90;

g. plu.,

baldere,

27510.

D

394; d.f.sg., (2) fine, spirited. baldere, Ly 27873. comp., baldelike, boldly. Hv 53; boldelych, 717. bale, n., (OE bealu), (1) sorrow,

G

P

1411; Ip 3101; 971; often in the following ]>hrases: bale bett, repair an injury, rescue from trouble, ET 515; balys bete, Lv 971; boteles bale, irreparable injury, evil,

trouble.

balys,

pi.,

ET

Lv

607.

(2) destruction,

band, bond,

pt.

balu,

Ly

27478. Ip 388;

of bind.

G818. bane, n., death.

(OE

Yw

bana), 709;

ruin,

(1)

EG

137;

P

murderer, slayer. P 1926. barnage, group of barons. SS 273; barronage, the lands of a baron, (2)

EG

1452. bath, see both. For all forms with the prefix be-. be-, cf. bi-. be, ben, vs., (OE beon, wesan), inf.,

Hr Ly

545; Hr 8; bee, Av 66; beo, 12S5; bene, 626; beon, 27641. pr. 1 sg., am, 98;

Em

D

ame, P 1501; 2 sg., art, H 2926; ert, SS 503; aert, Ly 28 enclitic pronoun) ertou, SS L".Mti. 3 sg., is, D 78;' his, Hv 279; es, P 205, SS 245; beth, B 3315. As future,

K

D

D

D

Em O

weryn,

wheryn, Lv 261.

18;

were, CA 180; ware, ,P 150; weer, B 3566; weore, Ly 27643; wore, Hv 1938. imp. sg.,

sj.

sg.,

541; be, Hv 683. plu., 2246. pp., be, Sd 2440; bene, P 2231; ybeon, Al 3921; byn, Ip 3189; iben, 232; ibe, B 3040. Used for auxiliary of intransitive v. in pt., is wente, Av 538; er went, SS 363. Negative forms, nas (ne was), beo,

Hr

bes,

Hv

D

G

568.

EG

D

980; beth, 57; ben, Hv 2599; sunden, Ly 28224; er, SS 363; bethe, B 3313; byn, 9; buth, Al 3959. subj. 1 sg. pr., be, Ip 3101. 3 sg., beo, Ly 28148; (with nunnation) beon, Ly 28637; be, 811. pt. 1 sg., was, 873; wos, Av 921. 2 sg., were, Av 846; P 544; wore, Hv 684. 3 sg., wasse, Av 638; was, 302. wes, Ly 27478. plu., war, SS 218; wore, 410; ware, Av 400; was, Av 865; weoren, Ly 27432; werun, Av 242; wern, CI 17; be,

47; bake, P 2235; Tr 8599; bakke, 291. bald, bold, adj., (OE beald, bald),

1005

bese,

P

2077; beth,

D

Hv

127. 1261; bi3, / plu., aren, 619; ben, G 162; be3, I) 10 1. 2 plu., ar, Av 643; beoth, Ly 27610. S plu., arne, Av 130;

Hv

!

29,

D

nam

11;

nis (ne is),

O

(ne am), O 428; 129; nes, (ne wes),

D

708; neoren, neoruen (ne weoren), Ly 27533, 27654. bede, vs., (OE beodan), (1) offer, present (sometimes of blows). 119; pr. 1 sg., bede, Av 296; (with

TT

enclitic (2)

pronoun) biddi,

2

sg.,

bede,

Av

pr.

Hv 484.

command, summon,

invite.

bedes, Hv 2392; pt., 744; bed-, Hr 504; pp.

ybede, FB 859. The forms were gradually superseded by forms of bidde (g.v.), pray, beg. They were often confused in M.E. bye, vs., (OE bycgan), (1) IIv 53. pt. S sg., buy, redeem. boste, Av 646; bow3t, CI 335. (2) pay for, atone for, sutler for. b03te, Hr 13SS; bouthe, EJv '•

beie,

VOCABULARY

1006

SS 546; bouth,

pp., boght,

875.

Hv883.

(OE

bere, vs., bear. iberen,

beran),

carry,

(1)

D

771; beor, Al 4170; Ly 27850. pt. 8 sg., bar, 247. 258; pp., borne, yboren, Hv 2557.

D

(2)

Em

comport

berys,

TT

(3) ride

oneself,

pr.

3

sg.,

down,

strike

down.

pr.

3

sg., berythe, Ip 3179; pt. 3 sg., bare, Av 422; bore, 130. pt. 1 sg., bere, (4) give birth to. 196; bare, CA 211; pp., bore,

EG

CA

D

ibore, 181, Hr 138; bere, Hv 974. (5) in idiomatic senses: wear, Hr 1286; have, 924; weigh down, CA 297. berst, brest, vs., (OE berstan), burst, break, inf., CA 317; Ly 27683. sj. 2 sg. pr., berste, Hr 1192. pt., brast, 814; Av 1027. beste, beeste, n., (OE beste), beast. Hv 279; CA 214, 218; plu., beste3, P 176. bet, bette, better; cf. gode. bete, vs., (OE beatan), beat, strike. 348; pr. 3 sg., betus, Av 58; pi. 3 sg., bet, TT 155; plu., beten, Hv 1876; imp. plu., beteth, G

Sd 2195; pt. sj.,

Em

Yw

D

111; pp., beten, G 115. bethe, cf. both. be3st, best; cf. gode. bi, by, be, (OE be, bi), (1) prep., 1025. beside. Hr 35;

D

by means

(2)

of.

Tr

Hr

23;

436. (3) in

the

name

of.

B

3105; Ip

471.

D

909. the extent of. concerning. B 3598; CA 65. (6) during.

(4) to (5)

(8)

about (of in groups

time).

(9) adv., near.

of.

D

CA

Hr 895. 109.

1431.

D

273; by that,

CA

CI

248,

At

bicome, vs., (OE bicuman), (1) become, happen, pt. plu., bicomen, Hv 2257. imp. plu., bicomes, 2303.

betake oneself, go. pr. 3 sg., bicome3, D 178; pt. 3 sg., bycome, Yw 438; pp., bicumen, Ly 28057; bicome, O 192. bidde, vs., (OE biddan), (1) ask, (2)

Hr

beg, pray, invite. pr. 1 sg.,

Av

66;

bad, (2)

G

3

pt.

238,

sg.,

Hr

262.

pt.

1069. pr.

sg.,

CI 398; badde, bidde3,

D

490. 457; 744; biddus, bade, Av 549;

G

bidde,

command,

CA

sg., byddyth, bad, Hr 273, CA 155; imp.

3

D

212. bidan), (1) remain, delay. Av 409; pt., bod, At 405; bade, P 569; pp., biddn, 79. pr. 3 sg., bidus, Av (2) await, 244. bidene, bedene, adv., (OE ?), (usually following al), at once, at the same time, together. Lv 907; 50; SS 231. bifore, biforn, (OE biforan), (1) prep., in the presence of. biuore, Hr 233; biuoren, Lv 28417. (2) in front of. CI 399; Ly 28024. Hv 246. (3) earlier than. (4) adv., earlier, in front of, etc. P 107; beforne, Ip 458; Ly 27555. biginne, vs., (OE biginnan), begin, do. Hr 1277. pt. plu., inf., bigunnen, Ly 28315, Hr 1433; plu.,

bide,

vs.,

(OE

EG

Yw

s 9-, 5.

G

(7)

58; 496.

Hv

46.

Av

(10) conj., by the time that. 689; SS 845. comp., be that, then, when.

byganne,

CA

183.

The

pret-

frequently equivalent to the past tense of the following verb: bigan, to flow, flowed, Hr 117. bihald, biheld, vs., (OE bihaldan, erit is

bihealdan), look at, look about.

;;

VOCABULARY Hr

behylde, Ip 534; byhaldes, P 673; pt. sg., biheld, 756, FB 262; plu., byhelde, P 66. bihate, bihete, vs., (OE behatan), promise, pr. 1 sg., bihete, Yw 158; pt., bihet, Hr 470; behight, 1147. pr. 419; byholde3,

sg.,

P

D

CI 468; byhey3te, Al 3926; behe3te, Av 532; byheet, 418; byhette, Al 3988; pp., bihoten, Hv 564; behette, 573; vb.n., byhotyng, Al 4000. bihoue, viv., (OE bihofian), behoove (always impersonal), befit, pr., bihoueth, Hr 178; behovys, Ip

G

K

Av

1163; behouus, houed, P 2228.

(OE

bileue, vw.,

main,

byre-

Hr 363; pr. 3 28119; pt. 3 sg., 472; bilefte, Hv

2963. bileofuen,

(2) leave, relinquish,

Ly 28184;

Ly

biUefuen,

28189. pt. sg., bilaefden (with nunnation), Ly 27899; pp., bylefte, CA 240; bileued, 98.

G

bileue, vw.,

(OE

gelyfan), believe.

Hr 1321; etc. bilinne, vs., hesitate. 552. biliue, quickly; cf. bliue.

G

bireue,

vs.

and

w.,

(OE

bereafian),

away. pt., byrafte, CA 199; pp., byreeued, G 85; byreued, G 97; biraeued,

deprive

of,

take

Ly 27907. biswike, vs., (OE biswican), beguile, cheat, betray, inf., Hr 290; biswiken, Ly 28126; pt. sg., biswac, Ly 28416; pp., biswike, Hv 1249. (OE

betaecan),

commit, entrust, give.

pr. 1 sg.,

biteche, bitake,

D

331. pp., bytaken, CA 163. Very common in the phrase: to

Gode bitechen, farewell; CA 312, G338. biwreie, vw., (OE -wregan), reveal,

vs.,

beteche, CA 312; bitache, Ly 28602; 3 sg., bytaketh, CA 151; pt. 2 sg., bitahtest, Ly 28108; 3 sg., bitaughte, P 2156; betoke, Ip 449; bitaucte, Hv 200; bitawt,

Sd 1580;

betray.

ble, blee, n.,

(OE

pr. sj.,

ET

blinne,

(OE

vs.,

cease,

pt.,

G

blan,

362.

270. stop,

Sd 2442

to.

557; blin,

EG

Av 919; blanne, ET

Hv

blunne, blithe,

Em

blinnan),

put an end

bylynne,

Hr

bleo), complexion,

hue. Lv 849; 198; blethelye, cf. blithe.

adj.

641 241

2670.

and

(OE

adv.,

Hr

happy, happily. elye,

(1)

Ly

Em

belafte,

pt.,

belaefan),

survive.

plu., bilauen,

300;

1007

CA 278; bli3e, D FB 148.

bliSe),

274; bleth171 bleth;

elyche,

and

bliue, adj.

quick, quickly.

adv.,

(OE

bi life),

ET

1066; belyffe, P 878; biliue, SS 3013; Ly 28346. blow, vs., (OE blawan), blow. Hv 587; blauwen, Ly 27815; pt. plu., bleou, Ly 27813; bleowen, Ly 27442; imp. sg., blou, Hv 585; prp., blawand, 340. bone, n., (OE ban), bone. 16;

Yw

D

bonus, Av 184. bone, n., (ON bon), request, a reAt 731 quest granted, reward.

Yw

G

1075. 153; bord, n., (OE bord), (1) board. 2106; burde, Yw 186.

Hv

P 438; ET 609; d. sg., (2) table. borde, Ly 28573; burdes, Av 751. boru, borow, n., (OE burh, burg), town. burh, Ly 28380; city, burble, Ly 28389; borw, Hv 8 17; P 1762; burwes, Hv 55. (OE bot), remedy, help,

borowes, bote,

7i.,

welfare.

P

223; boote,

EG

1050,

Lv 894. n., (OE bat),

899; bote,

boot,

Em

Hr 202; boat. 268; botis, B 2971.

both, (ON baSir), (1) adj. and pro., both. Hr 1523; bothen, G 625; bethe, Hv 16S0. In the pi

VOCABULARY

loos

both two, both of them, CI 185. (2) adv.,

Em

935,

as well. G 843. bath, SS 361;

correlative,

(3)

Tr

56.

bouhte, bouthe, bought, cf. beie. boun, bowne, adj., (ON buinn), ready, prepared. ET 66; Av 254;

bownn, P 1066.

In

the phrase:

made him boun, he went, SS 2894. breid,

braid,

draw

(1)

Ly

braid,

(OE bregdan), sword). pt. sg., 27626; Av 214; plu., vs.,

(a

Sd 1795. (2) start,

jump, rush,

braid,

Tr

8644; Av 607; braeid, Ly 27674; breyde, B 3775. (OE brand, brand, brond, n., brond), sword. P 1185; 947; Av 214; d. plu., bronden, Ly 27519. breke, vs., (OE brecan), break, pt. sg., brake, Ip 3132; breke, CA 165; brakk, ET 1118; brak, Hr 681; plu., breken, Ly 27506. brenne, berne, vw., (ON brenna), burn. CA 68; ET 36; bren, SS

D

585;

pt.

3 sg., brent, P 773; brente,

344; plu., brenden, Hv 594; brent, Tr 4777; ET 572; brend, SS 4253; prp., brynnande, P 440; SS 2827; brennyng, Av

CA

pp.,

866. bright, adj. and adv., (OE bryht), bright, shining (often of beauty). B 2928; 8; brythe,

bri3t,

CA

Em

697.

bringe,

Hr

vs.,

(OE

bringan),

G

K

269. burgeis,

;

cf.

brunie.

burgeis), burgess,

Sd 17 IS;

bur-

plu.,

geys, B 3188; burgeysis, B 3149; burias, SS 27S9; buriays, O 502. burh, bur3e, town; cf. boru.

burn, cf. brenne. buske, vw., (ON buask), (1) adorn, ET 819; prepare, get read v. pt., busked, P 1030; buskyd, ET 232; buskute, Av 146. pt., buskit, Tr (2) hasten, go. 4705. bute, (OE butan), (1) conj., but,

Hr 193; Ly 27840; Ly 27874; bot, P 2213.

buten,

yet.

(2)

D

unless.

214;

butte,

Av

D

74;

1039. (3)

prep.,

Av

bote,

except, 1077.

Ly

buten,

(4)

without,

(5)

adv., only.

Hr

198;

B 3331. comp., butte, but the. bot-if, unless,

Av

P 383;

111; but-3if,

except II

224.

(OF

n.,

townsman.

bring.

D

43; pt. 8 sg., 82; bro3te, Hr 466;

338; brenge,

brinie, corslet

EG

butte,

browght, Em brow3te, CA 59; brouth, Hv 336; Ly brohten, nunnation) (by 28472; plu., brohten, Ly 28309; brouthen, Hv 2791; pp., browstt, CI 274; ibrout, D 102; ybrowght,

Em

brode, adj., (OE brad), broad. broode, CA 297; brade, P 126; (i. in., bradne, Ly 27675. brouht, brouth, brouct, cf. bringe. brouke, vs., (OE brucan), enjoy, use (word used mostly in emphatic sentences, in subjunctive). TT 45; brook, 82; bruke, Ly 28263; sj., brouk, 273; brok, Av 1011; browke, P 1630; imp., brok, 551. brunie, burnie, n., (OE byrne), corslet, Hr 841; brinie, Hv 1775; burne, Ly 27748; plu., burnen, Ly 27466. brygge, bridge. ET 439. Hr bure, bur, apartment, room.

that,

v 505;

EG

D

that, unless, l>v

ti7'.*.

II

B

3250;

butte-giffe,

31;

provided L049;

28160.

ne but,

but-on, that,

it",

v 962; but-

VOCABULARY

1009

(OF

catel,

catel, chatel), (1) goods,

TT

property.

(OE cunnan, conne), know, know how, be able.

can,

vs.,

(1) pr.

kane, P 318; kan, CA 313; 2 sg., kane, P 1268; {with enclitic pronoun) canstu, Hr 1206; 3 sg., can, ET 252; cunne, Ly 28644; plu., kan, P 1135; conne, G 63; con, B 340S; kunne, Hv 435; pi. sg., kan, 510; can, D 508; cowthe, CI 208; coude, B 3611, G 4; cowdist, B 3336; couthe, Av 257; phi., couth en, D 58; couth, Av 471; pr. sj. sg., cone, Hv 622; cunne, Hv 568; pt., 1 sg.,

D

couthest,

did

(2)

make

D

595.

(used

to

of a preterit, of confusion with gan, q.v.), 123; con, Av 81; conne, Av 92; cold, 122, 634; con,

a

the equivalent

result

EG

EG

D45. In the phrases: als he can, as best he can, in his best manner, P 967; that wele kan, who know their business, P 1135. carbuncle, cf. Hv 2145. care, n., (OE cearu), grief, sorrow, distress. Hr 1244; Ly 28634; kare, 627. carefull, wretched, 328. carpe, vw., (ON karpa), speak, aay. TT 1; ET 587; pr. 3 sg., carpys, P 1469; carpus, Av 574; sj. plu., carpe, Av 158; pt., carputte, Av 170; karped, Y\v 498; prp., carpand, Sd 538. cas, case, n., (OF cas). Used

Em

Em

loosely for

any matter, chance,

case, or condition of affairs.

173; caste, pt.

B

2956;

vs.,

sg.,

(ON

(137;

SS

892.

25.

kasta), cast, throw.

237; kist, B 1710; plu., kest, pp., kest, SS 882; casten, caste,

2955; keste,

Av

Tr

P

certes, surely;

charbocle,

(1

K

CA

2145.

re.,

stance,

Em

L23;

684. chere),

(OF

chere,

225. 156.

sertes.

cf.

Hv

cf.

Hv

(OF cheance), circumfortune (good or bad).

chaunce,

(1)

coun-

re.,

tenance. B 3525; Av 658. cheere, (2) expression of face, G 319; in the phrases: make heavy chere and make ill chere, lament. SS 515; 300. Sd (3) mood, state of mind. 2032.

Em

(4)

with infinitive

32;

(2) rattle, beasts.

kind

2023;

111;

(OE

re.,

Sd

friendliness.

Sd 2781. happy. Sd 3030.

(5) adj.,

cherl,

act,

EG

ceorl), churl, rustic

(a term of reproach),

bumpkin.

I)

478; chorle, CI 296; cherel, Y\v 612; carl, Hv 1789. chese, vs., (OE ceosan), choose. CI 427; pr., Sd 2934; cheose, Hr 664; pt., chese, P 1207; chase, ET 568; ches, At 110; chose, 938; pp., icoren, Ly 28643; as al,

because, therefore, provided that. P 647; Av 985; CA 218; Hv 2043. forward, n., (OE foreweard), agreeET 220; forth ward, ment. 747; foreward, Hr 452.

G

(OE fot), foot. Hr Hr 134; plu., fete, Av fote, Av 191; Ip 3134. foule, fo3el, n., (OE fugel),

fot,

n.,

fout,

Ly 27733; pt. sg., felede, Hv 67; folut, Av 167; plu., folutte, Av 90. fonde, vw., (OE fundian), seek, pursue,

Ly 28069; for,

69.

fie,

fleie, vs.,

1015

D Ly

Hr

139S; 28063; fo3eles,

732;

foule, adj.

and

adv.,

vinous, ugly. fule, Ly 27634,

plu.,

239;

bird.

fu3eles,

Hr 129. (OE full,

CA

758; 595;

G

foul,

485;

(OE fregnan), ask, inquestion. FT 'Ml; Yw

fraine, vw.,

fangen),

quire,

Hr

579;

Tr

with

tin

sg.,

327; iueng,

Often used 98; pt., 94. prepositions to and at.

VOCABULARY

1016 fre, adj.

and

sb.,

(OE

freo), (1) free.

Hv

262; freo, Ly 28393. (2) generous, noble (a term of general commendation). ET 382; Sd 1615; fri, Hv 1072. freli,

and

adv.

adj.,

(OE

freolic),

goodly, worthy, worthily (sometimes used in the sense of freely). CA 218; 507; P 38. frend, n., (OE freond), friend. frynde, Av 642; plu., frindus, Av 21 1 freond, Ly 28420; frende,

Em

;

Ip 346. fro, from,

prep, and conj., fram). (1) prep., from.

fra,

159; (2)

Hr

very, very greatly. (Often used as a metrical filler, not to be taken seriously in translation.)

Hr

429;

fir.

SS 2866.

(OE gam en),

sport, en-

joyment, playfulness, ET 164; ment, jest.

content-

B

3263;

gamyn, SS 808; plu., gamus, Ip 1134; gamyns, SS 388; 198;

gammen,

K 609.

gange, vs., (OE gangan), go, walk. Ip 1150; EG 457; 3eongen, Ly 28070; prp., gangande, Hv 2283. (The preterit is usually supplied from yede, q.v.) gate, n.,

(OE

geat,

ON gatt), Em

(1)

828. road, path. P 258; 3ate, 22; (2) gate, wicket. 65. 3aete, Ly 27932; yate, P 1675. Especially (3) means.

CA

EG

thusgates, in this wise, P 877; 1839. gent, adj., (OF gent), of good anin

the

Ip

gers,

Av

SS 342;

D

324; gayre,

EG

-gietan), (1) get, obgate, Tr 76; gatt,

sg.,

456; pp., ygete, O 14.

gotten,

Ip

1131;

pr.for fut. sg. 2, gettes, gette, 34; pp., 688.

CA

pt.,

gethurt, gedrit, gadred, gathered. gif, cf. if

ginne,

galow-tre, gallows.

Hr

(OE pt.

geten,

At

and

give.

(OE ginnan), (1) begin, start. Hr 546; pr. 3 sg., gynnyth, CA 66; pt. sg., agon, Ly 28060; gun, Ly 28070; plu., gonnen, Ly

D372.

n.,

189;

(2) beget, full), quite,

Av

things, clothes, ar-

sort,

P

tain,

sg.,

EG

SS 306; Av 869. and adv., (OE

game,

any

CA

176; gerut, 1102; garte, metathesis) gret,

SS 556. (OE gearwe), equipment

gere, n.,

mor.

1350

Av

Yw

330; gert, 251; (with 3060; imp. of

Hv

832; yaren,

gerutte,

pt.,

(OE

from the time when.

ful, adj.

fur, fire; cf.

P

gerre,

428. gete, vs.,

72.

conj.,

cestrv, well bred. ET 695; Ip 3171. gere, gare, vw., (OE gearwian) prepare, cause. At 477; SS 412

phrases:

so-gates,

vs.,

28552. (2) in preterit, frequently means "did." gan, Hr 1047; goon, 236; gun, P 740; plu., gon,

G G

236; gonne, giue,

3iue,

D

vs.,

628.

(OE

giefan),

give

K

Av

932; 283; Ip 445; gif, pr. 1 sg., gyff, Ip 468; 3 sg., 3iffes, P 85; plu., gyff en, Tr 4741; giffus, Av 977; gifis, 901; pt. sg., 3af, 326; 3aef, Ly 27918; 3efe, P 20S6; 3eef, FB 181; yaf, Hv 1635; plu., gafe, Av L083; imp. sg., yif, Hv 674; giffe, Av 5; pp., gif en, SS 2818; y3eue, 870; gevyne, Ip 4S0; yoven, II v 1643; in the phrase: 3af him ylle, lamented. 778. gle, glewe, n., (OE gleow), mirth, amusement, singing. O 381; 132; gleu, Hv 2333. giffe,

K

D

G

Em

Em

VOCABULARY D

(OE

gan), go, walk. 720; 280; gon, 80; gone, 741; ga, SS 354; pr. 3 sg., gooth, CA 157; gos, Ip 1177; goose, Ip 3026; gase, SS 888; goht, 82; geth, O 77; g03,

go,

vs.,

D

ET

goo,

Em

D

D

G

gowe, 661; plu., 36; pp., agoo, B 3033; agan, Ly 280S9; igoon, 347; go, Sd 2760; gane, SS 251; ago, 236;

imp.,

goth,

G

G

D

R

299; gon, 682; prp., gan(The preterit ninde, Ly 2S524. is supplied from yede, q.v.) gode, adj. and adv., (OE god), (1)

good, gude, Yw 83; a. m., godne, Hr 720; cp., bet, betere, Lv 698; Hr 567; bette, Sd 1716; sup.,

Hr

beste,

Av

174;

95S; besst,

Ly

27613. property, goods;

Hr

advantage.

P

185;

bessten,

profit,

best

d.

374.

(OX

greitSa), prepare,

D

make

ready. grais, 849; graythed, TT 57; graithet, Tr 4749; imp., grai3, 849; greytheth, Al 4156. gramarcy, great thanks! CI 421; gramercy, Ip 474; grant merci, pt.,

D

976.

graunte, vw., (OFgranter't, (1) agre* accede, admit, pr. 2 sg., grantes, SS 4293; 3 sg.. grawuntus, Av 461; pt., grauntede, Lv 259; Av .

128.

greeted.

D

Em

556.

D

gret,

greue,

(OF

vs.,

TT

jure.

CA

27S; pr.

pr 3 sj.

2

sg., sg.,

grauntgraunte,

CI 286; pp., grant, TT 101. gre, degre, n., (OF gre), (1) victor's

title,

prize.

Tr 4780.

TT

2914;

grette,

G

468;

668;

810.

grever), grieve, in-

95;

greuyt,

pt.,

Tr

4726. gripe,

and

vw.

grasp,

(OE

vs.,

3

pr.

seize,

gripan

382; pt. 3 sg., grippit, 8656; igrap, Ly 27676.

and

grisliche, adv.

grisli,

grislic.

600;

adj.,

horrible.

fearful,

1

),

gripus,

sg.,

Av

Tr

(OE Lv

Ly 28063; Av 192. (OE griS), peace,

securitv. greth, CI 299."

Sd 2850, P 1648;

H-.

For

17;

1

' I

words spelled the second

the following

with h- in the text,

cf.

letter: hec, heke, also; heie, eye; helde, heldest, old; his, is; nun-

hentill,

habydes,

until;

to,

awaits; her, before; herl, earl; hete, eat; heuere, ever; hi, hie, I; hold, old; hure, our; hore, grace; haby, atone for; hoc, also;

hawe, awe. ha, nan,

haue.

cf.

halp, helped.

G

ha,

cf.

he.

60.

haluendel, half. G 272. hap, n., (OX happ), chance, fate, luck. Vw 229; happe, Av 434;

Em

651.

harrow Helle, (According

(2) grant, give,

478;

SS

sg.,

grette,

graetan), weep, wail.

gret,

pt.

till,

graithe, vw.,

eth,

(OE

vs.,

plu.,

Ly 27661. (OF grace),

Em

D

gere, prepare,

cf.

grete,

glides,

770; warriors,

n., grace, heavenly favor; hence chance, fortune, Tr 76; luck, destiny. 944; Yw 548; graas, R 369; gras, R

grace,

562;

1.

grith, n.,

sb.,

(2)

EG

excellence, rank.

(2)

Sq gret,

1017

to despoil Hell. to

Xicodemus, crucifixion

scended

the

Gospel of between his

late

Christ,

and

into

resurrect:'

Hell

and

the souls of patriarr>

and

sairr

haue, vw.,

J;

. may, can. Hr 562; 2 sg., mayt, Hv

vs.,

pr. 1 sg.,

845; (with enclitic pro.) maistow,

Sd 1826, B 3021; mowe, B 3316; S sg., mowe, Hv 175; plu., mowe, G 675; mowne, ET 909; mone, Av 43; (confused in form with mun, q.v.); pt., mi3te, D 521; movghte, Ip 3110; mahte, Ly 28385; maght, Hv 1348; moucthe, Hv 376; plu., micten, Hv 516; mouthen, Hv 1183; (with enclitic pro.) mi3tou, 319. maie, maiden. Ip 3113. main, n., (OE maegen), strength, power, might. EG 141; imaine, 579. Ly 27679; mein, make, vw., (OE macian), make, force, display. Hr 358; ma, P 1728; maa, P 520; pr. 2 sg.

D

D

makestow, mekes, Av 241; mase, ET 996; pt. sg., maked, D 384; plu., makede, Hr 1234; madun, Av 1131; pp., mad, TT 11; maad, At 778; pr. sj., moo, (with

G

enclitic

S

199;

pro.),

sg.,

Ip 1152. phrases: some the in maner thing, some sort of tiling; all maner thyng, every sort of

manere,

thing,

B

3021,

manere, by

maner

all

Em

466; on

means;

in

al

this

SS 2805; H

wise,

thus,

prep.,

(OF maugre),

2959.

maugre,

Hr

D

(often used impersonally).

Ly 27933. (OE med), (1) reward, deserts. Hr 470; EG 746; in the phrase: God do thee mede, God reward you, Yw 728. 366; n.,

Hv

(2) bribe, gratuity.

Mahomet,

idol.

mai,

Yw

mede,

M Mahoun,

spite (usually in phrases of anger 562. or contempt). 783;

me, men

som, Lv 942.

ma,

1023

de-

meine,

1635.

(OF maisonnee), house-

».,

hold, troop, retinue, company. Sd 1981; mayne, Sd 2022; menye, Tr 37; men3e, SS 905; mene, Av 71; meny, K 818; meyny,

Ip 352; maigne, Al 4141. mekill, cf. muchel, much.

mene, mone,

(OE maenan),

vw.,

signify,

(1)

pr

intend.

sg.,

manes, Yw 93; menes, Hv 597; plu., menes, SS 428; pp., mynt, P 1667; iment, D 511; mente, Av201;imint, D 1032.

K

(2) speak, tell.

ede,

CA

935;

pt.,

men-

124; ment, CI 126.

moan, complain, lament. (Same stem as preceding in OE, (3)

though

senses

different.)

have

mone,

EG

always been 126;

moone,

Ip 1069. mete, n., (OE mete), food, meal. Av 720; CA 88; meyte, 739; met, 822. mete, vw., (OE maetan), dream.

K

D

Hr

Ly 28016. (OE metan), meet, encounter, pr., mette, Hr 1027; imette, Ly 27715.

mete,

1408; imaette, vw.,

miche, mech, much, mid, prep., (OE mid), with. Hr 220; Ly 27661; mide, D 217; myde, Al 4111. misfare, vw., do amiss, go astray.

CA

238.

moche, much. mochel, much; cf. muchel. mode, /i., (OE mod^, mind, state of

mind,

pride,

courage.

ET

VOCABULARY

1024

619; Ip 1031; moode, Sd 2077. n. {from the vb.), moan, Av 1087; mane, P lament. 1063; moon, B 3190.

mone,

mone, moon. Em 2. monnen, men. Ly 27830. moo, cf. more, make, more, cp. adj., adv., and

sb.,

(OE

Hr

554; mo, Hr 808; moo, ET 156; maere, Ly 27864; ma, SS 264.

morne, morwen, n., (OE morgen), morrow, morun, Av 794; often in the following phrases, meaning "to-morrow": amorewe, D 481; to-morn, Ip 3006; a mar3en, Ly 28004; a more3e, Hr 645. moste, sup. adj., sb., and adv., (OE mest), most, greatest. 899; mest, Hr 250; maste, SS 448; maeste, Ly 27482. maest,

P

pr.

and

pt.,

vs.,

(OE

may,

G

pr.,

shall,

233; mut,

B

mote, must. 2932;

moot, G 577; moste, CA plu., mot, G 131; moten, Hv muchel, adj., sb., and adv., mycel),

much,

great.

50; 18.

(OE Hr 83; Av 35; Av 335.

mochel, D 10; mycull, mucle, Ly 27732; mekill, cp., more, q.v.; sup., moste.

mun, mon,

(OE mon;

vs.,

mun),

must, shall (forms conAv 367, fused with mai, q.v.) SS 465; mon, Ip 119S, P 567.

N

(2)

only 198.

nede,

n.,

(correlative,

(OE

nolde, nil, null, nel, cf. wille. nauthir, neither. ne, adv. and conj., (OE ne), (1) not,

.

.

•

ne

nead),

Hr

Hr

ne).

320. .

.

.

but).

need,

ne-

neoden, d.s., Ly 28395; neodde, Ly 28437; d. as adv., nede, necessarily, B 48;

3102; g. as adv., nedys, Ip 1 163. negh, adj., adv., and prep., (OE neah), nigh, near, almost. neg3, 255; negh3, D 534; ny, ET 150; ne3, Hr 252; ny3e, B 3564; neh, Ly 28353; neyh, G 626; aneh, Ly 27651; nei3, R 201. neghe, vw., (OE nehwan), approach, draw near. ny3he, Sd 2100; newhen, Hv 1S66; pr., neghes, P 808; neh, Ly 27735; ne3e, Av pt., Av 1003; neshit, 827; neghed, Tr 4731; imp., neghe, Av 854; prp., ny3yng, Lv 829.

D

nemnede, named. 598. nere, adj.,

D 252; nempned,

and prep., (OE SS 520; neerr, EG

adv.,

neah), near.

nerre, P 2072; ner, neer, G 138. comp., nerhand, nearly, CI 70, At 327: nerehonde, Sd 2998; neerehand, 276.

G

cp.,

109;

158.

Hv adv., nevertheless. 1658; neotheles, Ly 27974; nethirles, B 3368. nice, adj., foolish. B 3416. nime, vs., (OE niman), (1) take, seize, pt., nam, Hr 5X5; nome, netheles,

Hr For the folloiving negative N-. compounds, see the word in/Heated: nas, nis, nes, nam, neoren, naes, cf. be; not, note, niste, cf. wite; nabben, nastu, nafte, nade, nauede, cf. haue; nalde, nulde,

Em

253; ny,

Hr

EG OX

ne

(correlative,

D

cessity.

mara, ma), more, greater.

mote, moste, pt., moste)

nor 46;

II r

1173; inom, 60;

nomen, (2)

go,

nimen,

pp.,

EG

Ly 27726; neme, inome, G 119;

255.

take the road.

Hv

368; ynome,

1336;

Lv

pi.,

pr.

nom,

sj.,

D

94.

Hv 575. no, adv., adj., and conj., (OEna, no), (1) no (opposite of "yes"). (2) not any, not. Ilr 11; na, Hr 193.

nith, nicth, niht, night.

1

VOCABULARY (3) nor.

SS 2969, Av

Ly

nenne,

27977;

d.f.,

(OE

non), nones the sixth canonical (originally hour, coming about three p.m. But, when the Church required

fasting until nones on fast-days, which were increasingly numerous

in the later Middle Ages, the time

toward midday. In the romances, the time can be determined only from the context, if at all.) SS 4303; novn, CI 88. nonis, in the phrase: for the nonis, a tag of slight meaning; lit., for that occasion, just then; often best translated "indeed." TT 82; nones, 1014. nought, pro., adj., and adv., (OE nawiht, naht), (1) naught, nothing. Ip 1052; now3t, CI 110; nott, CI 352; nowt, 253; no3t, Hr 937; no 3th, CA 290. nat, (2) not, not at all. 158; note, Ip 426; no3t, CA 236; nougt, 1005. nowther, nother, noither, nouther, drifted

D

D

G

D

neither.

B 3213,

3736.

O of,

off,

prep.,

a,

on, one, or, of.

(OE

of).

Only

the

mure unfa miliar senses are noted: (1)

bv

{agency).

Av

693.

Lv

(OE

sb.,

79; eld,

28444;

sup.,

eald), old.

D

210; aide, heldeste, Hv

1396.

on, an, one. on, prep, and adv., (OE on), on (in most of the senses of Modern English), one, P 60; o, Hv 1251; an, 411; a, Ly 27744. one, pro., adj., and adv., (OE an), 778; o, B 3076; (1) one. oon, on, CA 143; tone (by assimilation from that one), P 708; ton, 677. (2) Used to complete a comparison:

ET

K

A

kinder knight then Grime was (i.e., than G. was), EG 499.

one

CA 15; ane, P 2043. (3) alone. ones, adv., (OE anes), once, onys, B 2993; onus, Av 868; anes, Yw 292; ones, CA 196. or, conj. (contraction of other; cf. either), or. CA 30; ar, CI 35; our, CI 418; er, Sd 2732. or, before; cf. are. ore,

(OE

7i.,

mercy,

ar),

favor,

K 69.

ET

grace.

226; are, orn, ourn, ran; cf. runne. os,

cf.

as.

other,

pro.,

and

adj.,

adv.,

65er), (1) other, the other. 238; vther, 634; odur,

Yw

K

610; odir, (2)

Hr

(OE Hr

ET

884.

second.

next,

625;

D

228;

EG

187.

otherwise, othyr, ET 117; 27898. Assimilations: no nodur, no ol her, ET 459; my nothir, mine other, Av42; tother, the other, Av L".t7; todirs, other's, B 3094.

from, out, of. CA 287. (3) from, at the hands of.

other, or;

Hr

aure,

Tr

27471, our,

either,

and

adv.,

Hv 293; Av 623.

runip., off.

cf.

prep,

over.

365.

a common spelling for 4755.

Ly

ouer,

(2)

of,

G

177;

(3)

nowse, nowe3, now.

O, written for

K

D

Ly

27838. none, nones, n., nare,

and

olde, adj.

1010.

In the -phrase: without en no; beyond denial, O 48. comp., nou3wher, nowhere. R 326. none, pro. and adj., (OE nan), non, none, no one, not any. Hr 8; CA 250; nane, SS 485; a.m.,

1025

cf. 1

oueral,

O

206.

and

or.

(OE

ouur,

ofer),

CA

everywhere,

175;

Ly

VOCABULARY

1026

owe, ought, cf. awe. own, pro. and adj., (OE agen), own. awin, SS 284; awne, Av 315; 03ene, Hr 249; d.f., a3ere, Ly 28107; owyn, CI 534; owhen,

O

Hr

161; 03e,

prese,

n.,

prest,

CI 144. 36. paie, vw., (OF paier), (1) pay. pay, SS 396; pp., (2) please, payde, ET 157; paid, Yw 1057.

K

(OF

palefrei), saddle-

horse (as distinguished from steed, or war-horse). CI 250; Hv 2060. par {in oaths), in the name of, by. par charite, in the name of charity; pardy, perde, by God, Ip 1085; parauenture, by chance, 127; par fai, by my faith, r 761; par ma foy, b- my faith, 367. paramour, n., (OF par amour),

D

D

G

Lv

lover.

Lv pas,

pace;

n.,

K 713;

gude pase,

passe, vw., pas,

go.

Yw

(OF passer), SS 2848.

(1)

pass,

B

3062;

n.,

(OF

per), (1) peer, noble.

989.

(2)

an equal.

At 33;

per,

wine.

spiced

piment,

D

Sq

1010.

(OF

O

20; priis,

Em

D

92;

Av

49.

judgment

(2)

worth,

pris), (1)

esteem, excellence.

superiority,

of

Av

529; lp 1099. (3) as adj., worthy, noble. 215, CA 279. prike, vw., (OE prician), spur, ride rapidly. 737; preke, Av 1116; pt., prikit, Tr 8657; prekut, Av 289; prp., prekand, Av 623. prime, n., beginning of the day (strictly, the canonical hour after extended to cover the sunrise; period between six and nine a.m.) prize.

582;

TT

Em

SS

359.

(OF

adj.,

P

prevee, priueli,

priuete,

secretly.

Av

EG B

1341.

3632;

853; Ip 1126.

(OF

n.,

secret,

prive),

154; priuye,

adv.,

counsels,

487.

Hv

proue.

cf.

price, prise, n.,

preuely,

619.

escape, go away.

(2)

SS

in the rapidly.

especially

gode pase,

ful

adv.,

19.

priue,

phrase:

pere,

303; as adv., fervently.

106.

21;

(OF prest), At 745; TT 67;

and

adj.

Av paie, n., pleasure.

TT

prest, priest.

preue,

palefrai, n.,

464; press, 742.

ready, quick.

984.

presser), throng,

Em

Av

prece,

OF

(Jr.

tumult.

privete),

secret

preuete,

secrecy,

SS

284; Av 947; Ip 488. proue, vw., (OF prover), (1) prove. preue, CA 252; pr., preues, P 55; pp., preuyt, Tr 47. proue, Hr 545. (2) make trial of.

758;

pyement, Lv 344. pine,

7i.,

CA pine,

(OE

92;

pin), pain, suffering.

EG

vw.,

692; Sd 2030. (OE pinian), torment,

cause pain.

Hr

635; pp., pyned,

CA26. plight,

vw.,

assure.

For northern words Qu-, Qw-. beginning with this combination, see

Wh-. quod,

quath,

(OE pli3te,

428; plyght, poor, pouer, poorly.

ET

plihtan),

Hr

305;

pledge, pr.,

Av

210.

power;

pouerlich,

Only

Hr

in

175; hwat, 3984. sb.,

said,

quoth.

D

CA

Hv

99; quad, 1650; quoth, Al

and

adv.,

127; quod,

quik, adj.,

(OE cweSan).

vs.,

preterit:

(OE

cwic).

VOCABULARY (1) alive, living.

Hr

D 164; SS 895; K 402.

86; qwyk, 832. (2) quick.

quic,

D

(OF

B

requite.

quiter),

3519;

(OE

reue, vw.,

deprive

(1)

pt.,

phrase: quite him his mede, give him his deserts, 693; Sd 1921. (2) acquit, redeem, clear. quy3tt, CI 63; pp., quyte, B 3534.

ET

and

vs.

101.

and

adj.

hraedlice),

(OE

adv.,

quick,

hraeo",

impatient.

P

EG

Av

248; radylye, 1236; radly, Tr 4714. rawghte, cf. recchen, reach, reche, rekke, vs., (OE recan), care, take heed. pr. I sg., recche, Hr 366; 2 sg., rekke, CA 306; 3 sg., reche, Av 808; pt., row3te, CA 98;

177; roght, Sd roght, 969.

1878;

pt.

sj.,

Yw

EG

G ET

SS 910; Av 964;

432; raed, Ly 27977; redd, 430; in the phrase: couthe no rede, was uncertain what to do, P 153. rede, vs. and w., (OE randan), read. pt., radde, 243. rede, vs., (OE r sedan), advise,

D

counsel,

direct,

pr.

1

sg.,

CA

Ip 1150; read, EG 605; radde, Lv 39; rathe, Hv

169; pt.,

1335.

reson,

n.,

102;

pt.

Sd 1561.

rewthe, n., (OE hreowS), pity, sorrow. O 112; ruthe, Hr 673;

G

677. splendid, royal,

riche,

and

adj.

(OF

sb.,

riche),

powerful, well sumptuous, expensive. Hr 314; B 2963.

born; 416;

Em

(OE

riche, rike, n.,

(OE

ride, vs.,

kingdom,

rice),

Yw

SS 3001;

realm. 28273.

ridan), ride.

142;

Hr

Ly 34;

Hv

2690; pt., rade, Av 146; rid, 336; rood, G 190; rod, Hr 32; ritte, 537; pp., redyn, rith,

EG

D

TT

111; ride,

G

56; prp., rydand,

recche, vw., (OE r«ccan), (1) reach, grasp, pt., raw3t, CI 196. (2) hand over, deal (a blow). pr. sg., recheth, CA 176; raw3te, CA 177; raught, 978; plu., raw3ten, CA 316. rede, n., (OE rsed), advice, counsel, plan.

Lv

rewythe,

CA

rewed,

wealthy,

ras, rase, roos, rose.

rathe,

impersonal).

pt.,

(with prep.), rued on,

routhe,

G

(OE hreowan),

(often

378; CI 269; 55; rew, Lv 177. pity,

99;

ET

G

Hr (2)

TT

refe,

100; pp., rafte, 704.

w.,

regret

(1)

riall, adj.,

rape, adj. and adv., quick.

Av

1206; reued,

rewe,

awav,

reafian), take

SS 875;

of.

pt., rafte,

repay, qwyte, P 1491; pp., quytte, Ip 478; in the

quite, vw.,

1027

Ly

D

191; iriden, 74; ridinde,

TT

28524.

rife, adj.,

(OE

rif),

thick,

crowded, frequent. 4770; ryue, G 783. rigge, rigg,

(OE

7i.,

1058;

rig,

D

numerous,

P

560;

Tr

hrycg), back. Hr rug, Ly 27821;

SS 885;

526.

(OE

riht), that which is proper, or just. CI 36; ri3te, 52; g. as adv., rightis, Sd 2278; in the phrase: on ryght, aright, ET 516.

right, n.,

fitting,

D

right, adj.

and

adv., (1) right, proper,

just,

immediate, direct.

rith,

Hv

CI 254; 2235; adv., often a mere right, filler, meaning "indeed": CI 9; ry3th, CA 352; reght, P 227.

(OF

due cause,

raison),

justice.

good sense,

ET

902.

(2)

right

rith,

Hv

(as

604.

opposed

to

left).

VOCABULARY

1028

(OE

rod), the cross of 328; roode, G 639; ET 1044. (OE rudu), complexion. 813; rud, 217; ruddy,

rode, n., Christ. rod, rode, n.,

D

Hr

EG

Sq

576;

scapyd,

pt.,

(OF

throng,

route),

crowd, turmoil. G 285; Tr 4701; rowt, Yw 1024; rowst, CI 267; rout, O 281. runne, vs., (OE irnan), run. rynn, P 1662; vrn, Hr 878; pr. sg., rinnes,

Av

28068;

ourn,

runnun, ronnen,

CA

59;

Av

pt.

sg.,

Ly

orn,

O

83; pt. plu., 384; vrn, 87; 314; pp., iorne, Hr

O

prp.,

CA

rennynge,

rinyng, SS 881; 113; rinand,

Yw

sceldes, shields.

Ly

Ly

27463; scelden,

27784.

scipen,

Ly 28234; g. plu., Ly 28437. (OE seon), see, look upon. Sd 1588; seon, Hr 1345; Al 3882; ise, Ly 28470; slups,

se, vs.,

seen, yseo,

ET

O 528; pr. 1 sg., see, 538; 2 sg., sese, SS 426; sest, Hv 534; 8 sg., sese, SS 822; seese, P 422; seth, O 249. plu., sen, Hv 168; sayne, P 114; pt. sg., sa3, Hr 777; sagh, 152; segh, 87; sye, ET 1001; se3, 335; saugh, Sd 2985; isi3e, Hr 1157; seigh, G 120; segh3, 731; si3e, O 353; saye, Sd 1998; sey, 330; se, Av 776; sey3, CA 22; sei3e, O 295; isaeh, Ly 28382; plu., seghen, 139; ysei3e, 326; see, Tr 57; sy3en, 299; sy, 869; ise3e, 503; sowen, Hv 1055; iseh3en, Ly 27518; yse,

Yw

D

D

D

G

1067.

D

sagh, saw;

cf.

and

Em

18,

Hv

adv.,

708.

Turks. Saracens, Saresyns, n., Sd 3103; Sarazins, Hr 1319; Sarezyne, 482; Sarsynys,

Em

266. saunfail, without

D

1016; san3

fail.

fail,

SS

Yw

1004;

913.

(OE

sagu), (1) talk, remark, proverb. n.,

speech,

ET

574;

Em 319; CA

162.

Ip 3018. (2) story, tale.

sayne, seen, say;

cf.

se and seie.

sc-, sen-, cf. sh-. scl-, cf. si-.

scape, vw.,

(OF

Hr 976; imp. plu., 3159; pp., seyn, B 3574; sen, 586; sey, B 3697; sene, CA 53; sayne, Ip 378; se3e, pt.

sj.,

seith,

isi3e,

B

D

R

416.

In

the phrase:

God you

God

escaper),

escape.

see,

be gracious to you, Sd 2707; Lv 253. seche, seken, vw., (OE secan), seen, B 3298; (1) seek, look for. seke, Ip 1065; siche, B 3795; pr. with enclitic pro., sechestu, Hr 942; pt., sow3t, 307; soght, Tr 8624. pt., sowghtte, Ip (2) come, go. 366; sow3te, CA 60; soghten, Tr 8671; imp., seche, CA 53; pp., sought, Ip 404; sow3t, CI 207. (3) attempt, pp., soght, ET 618. segh, saw; cf. se. seie, vw., (OE secgan), say, speak, tell (often used absolutely). CA 311; sigge, Al 4198; sayne, Sd

Em

Lv

sawe,

D

Em

(ON

saman), samyn, together, in company, SS 338; samin, Yw 24; somyn, Tr 66; somun, Av 3S5; in same, At 754; Sd 1938; isome, R 227. sand, sond, «., (OE sand), shore, strand (especially in the phrase: see and sonde, sea and land). adj.

O

Em

se.

sai, say, cf. seie.

samen,

ET

115.

scipen,

713. rowte, n.,

1146;

G

skape,

VOCABULARY D

1736; sugen, Ly 27837; sai, 166; pr. 1 sg., sigge, AI 4023; pr. 2 sg., seyst, Hv 2008; 3 sg., saise, P 1953; seyt, O 554; plu., seyn, CA 217; suggeth, Ly 27480; says, Av 936; pt., seide, 431; Hr 271; sede, Hr 531; iseid, 344; pp., seyd, Hv 1281.

D

K

self, selue, pro.

and

adj.,

(OE

self),

seluun, Av 70; 28146. Often used preceding personal pro-

same.

self,

Ly

seoluen, without

noun. (OF semblant), semblaunt, n., expression of countenance. (1) 220; Yw 631; sembelant,

Em

sembland, Yw 631. Ip 2995. (2) show, display. semeli, adj. and adv., (ON scemiligr), (1) handsome, pleasant,

CA

attractive.

semyle,

285. proper,

cp.,

semelyer,

348.

sen, since, see; sertes,

Em shaft,

sithen, se.

cf.

(OF

adv.,

SS 339;

certes),

surely.

Ip 1127; certys,

sertis,

647.

(OE

n.,

sceaft),

spear,

801; schafte, 28553. vs.,

(OE

expected

P

shaft,

arrow.

52; scaftes,

be

Em

Em

she,

(origin

pro.

supposed

uncertain),

For oblique

cases, see he.

D

D

SS

54; 3he, 519.

shende,

16S2; scende, Lv 27793; pp., schente, Av 692; ishente, Sd 2286. (2) abuse, reprove, pp., schente, 704. 302; shene, adj., (OE scene), shining, lovely, beautiful. 150 schene, Av 454; schine, O 356 sheene, CA 298; in the phrase

ET

G

Em

schene vndur schild

Av

warrior),

D

EG

D

G

86; with enclitic pro., shaltow

(tag for

a

622.

shewe, vw., (OE sceawian), (1) show, reveal, shauwe, IIv 2206; Hr 1311; pr. sg., schewes, P 1072; pp., shewed, Hv 2050; schewid, 1060.

K

sheue, Hv 1401. look at, gaze upon, shewe, 2136.

(2) declare,

Hv shitte,

to.

(1)

Sd

disgrace.

Ly

Hr

she.

ssche, 78; sho,

(OE scendan),

vw.,

injure,

shir, bright, shining.

be

D

23; 5e,

SS

544; sal, Yw 652; 2 sg., shalst 465; chal, 1308; 3 sg., sail, P 91; sale SS 901; sschal, 30; plu., shole Hv 502; schuln, (1 S42; schulle Hr 847; schul, 587; scullen Ly 28198; pt. sg., sholde, CA 94 sold, SS 274; schust, O 418 sulde, P 738; schud, Lv mi:; plu., schuld, Av 780; sholden Hv 1020; sculden, Ly 27980 schild, Av 930; pr. sj., sschulle pr. 1 sg., schal,

D

318.

cf.

Hv

1253.

shut.

shole, should;

sceal), shall, will,

to,

(by

D

schaltu,

shape, vs. and w., (OE scieppan), form, create, give shape to. 242; pt., shope, Tr 72; ET 948; shoope, 2; shaped, Hv 424.

(3)

metonymy)

shal,

543;

Lv

(2) fitting,

ET

P

42;

1029

cf.

shal.

shon, shoon, plu. of sho, shoe. G212.

showe, shul,

shut,

cf.

cf.

shewe.

shal.

(OE

vw.,

schitte,

G

scyttan\

286;

pi.,

2960; pp., ischet, Sd 2963. sibbe, n. and adj., blood-relation.

3086; EC,

G

(OE

D

shut.

Sd

shet,

292;

shit,

sibb), kin,

61S;

sib,

Ip

15.

(OE sican), sigh, lament. 291; si3e, B 3270; syche, Lv 210; pt., si3te, I) S00; sishid, B 3017; sykede, CA 25; prp. sikend, 133; sy3thyng, CI 98;

sike, vw.,

Hv

D

}

VOCABULARY

1030 syghynge, CI 108; vbl. Ip 1051; Em 328. siker,

and

adj.

D

sure.

Yw

sykynge, siker),

B

3634; seker, sicur, 170; adv., 202; Ip 440; CI 219;

K

P

sekerlike,

ET

(OE sIS), time, occasion. 356; P 985; plu., sithe, 1164; At 585; sythis, At 783.

sithe, n.,

EG

Hr

and

(OE

prep.,

(1) since, after

CA

afterwards.

time),

(of

25;

SS 453; sethun, Av

sethin,

157;

1107; sith, B 3175; sen, P 296; seoththen, Ly 27803; syn, CI 213; sethn, SS 4326; suththe, Hr 1078. because, since (of cause). (2)

Av

sythinn,

sithin,

SS

Av

937; sith,

B

3288; sen,

(OE

sittan), sit.

pr. sg.,

G 749; pt. sg., seet, G set, D 157; plu., seten, Em sete, G 681; pp., sette, G sitte,

iset,

sle,

B

slo,

790; 218; 805;

3055. sla,

(OE

vs.,

slean),

(1)

G

822; sla, P 293; sloo, ET 150; sclo, Lv 837; sloe, Av 940; slean, Ly 28180;

slay,

slos,

slee,

kill,

slone,

n.,

K

Hv

35; slen,

2706;

D

922; pr.

sg.,

slu3e,

Av

pt. sg.,

1029; slogh, SS 843; slou3, O 312; slowgh, 890; plu., slogh, Tr 4766; pr. sj., slaey, Av 111; slos, Hv 2596; pp., slane, P 1774; sloe, EG 433; slawe, At 705; islae3en, Ly 27926; aslae3e, 28330; sclayn, Lv 610; sclawe, Lv 723; slone, P 2154; slawene, Sd 2802. slam, Ly (2) strike, beat on. 27486; pt. plu., slowe, Sd 2565. slike, such; cf. swilk.

D

slo, slay, strike; cf. sle.

slogh, slew, struck; snell, adj., sb.,

and

(OE

sond), (1) message.

providence, mercy. CA 36, 332; sande, 655. Hr 933; plu., (3) messenger. sonde, Ly 27966. sone, adv., (OE sona), at once, straightway, speedily. Hr 42; 230; soune, Ip 3045. sone, sune, n., (OE sunu), son. Ip 3081, 592; g. sg., sune, Av 268; son, SS 4296; plu., sonnes, CA (2)

Em

K

Em

D

42.

sonne, sunne, sone, sun. sore,

(OE

(OE

(2) adj.

152,

and

EG 318. wretched,

adv., sad,

EG

847; sare, SS 563, ET 1012; sor, 578; soure, SS 546; cp., sorrere, At 565; sarlic, Ly 28457. painful.

D

sori, adj.

and

adv.,

(OE

sarig),

snell),

(1)

Hv 151; saeri, wretched. Ly 28333; sorye, Ip 1065; sser3est, Ly 28459.

sad,

(2) regretful,

sary,

SS 852.

sorwe, sorghe, n., (OE sorg), sorrow. Hv 57; sorow, SS 3027; plu., sore3e, Hr 261; sor3en, Ly 28443; sorhful, sorrowful, Ly 28335. soth, adj. and sb., true, the truth. SS 4263, ET 158; south, Sd 1689; In the cp., soththere, Ly 28461. phrases: forsothe, sothe, in truth,

to

CA

sothe, 18,

be

Ly

28142, CI 485. soun, n. sound, noise. sound, adj., (OE gesund), sound, unhurt, in good health. 789; sund, Hr 1341; sowunde, Av ,

EG

cf. sle.

adv.,

sar, sare), (1) n., sorrow,

Hv

pain.

339.

sitte, vs.,

253.

Hr271.

sin, since; cf. sithen.

seoSSan/siSSan),

SS

sonde,

952.

sithen, adv., conj.,

Em

309; Lv 441. swa. soghte, sow3te, sought; cf. seche. solas, n., (OF solaz), enjoyment, comfort. Lv 407, G 328; solace, quick, active.

so, cf.

(OE

adv.,

115;

601;

securly,

n.,

VOCABULARY Ly

1034; isunde,

1031

Hv

28615.

sowdan, sultan. P 977; sawdan, Av 917; sowdon, Sd 2095. sowne, swoone, n. (from the verb), swoon, daze. EG 60; swown, SS 863; swoue, D 1064; iswoue, D 1061; swogh, Yw 824. sowne, swone, vw., swoon, be dazed. inf., swony, D 1063; pt., sooned, EG 1347; sowened, Em 780; squonut, Av 390; swoned, O 195;

591; blow (of wind); pt., stod, 833. 28305, staleworth, adj. (origin uncertain),

Em

Ly

D

stalwart, valiant, strong. 2S8; stalworthi, Hv 24; staloworth, CA 326. stede, n., (OE steda), horse, steed (generally used of a war-horse). 408; d. sg., (by nunnation) steden, Ly 27741. stede, n., (OE stede, styde), place,

D

P 154; stid, Av 1091, stude, Ly 28534; in the phrase: stand in stedde, be an aid to, Ip 3083.

swownyd, At 604;

location.

Hr 428;

Tr 8627;

Em

pp., iswose, prp. as noun, sowenynge,

svounnyng,

284;

Yw

swownyng,

CI

89;

868.

spede, vw., (OE spedan), (1) hasten, speed. 749, Ip 3005; pr. plu., spede, Sd 2842. (2) prosper, progress, succeed. Sd 2433; pr- sg., spette, G 806; pt., spedde, P 934. Especially in the phrase: God us spede, God give us success, Ip 486. spede, n, (OE sped), (1) speed, P 759; d. as adv., gode spede,

D

fast,

Av

Sd

1737.

(OE spell), (1) tale, news. 149, Hr 1030; pi., spelles,

Yw Ly

28175. language, (2) 28165. spille, vw., kill,

(OE

pi.,

spellen,

Lv

spillan), (1) destroy,

1132; pp., spild, SS 4290.

Av 314, ET Av 216; spilt,

194, Hv 2422. sw-. squete, sweet; Av 833. stande, vs., (OE standan), (1) stand, stand up, stand still. stonde, Hr 399; pr. sg., stant, G S14; stont, B 3173; pt., stod Hr 529. stande, P 960. (2) stop, delay, (3) in various idiomatic senses: (2) perish.

squ-, sqw-,

issue

Hr

cf.

out

stirt,

{of

D 923.

sterue,

(OE

vs.,

steorfan),

Hr

sterue,

perish,

pr.,

isterue,

Hr 1167. (OE stefn),

steuen,

n.,

ET

2258; steuyn,

stiff e,

Sd

voice.

74; steuenne,

106.

n.,

Hv

die,

910; pp.,

(OE

Ip 3088,

path.

stlg),

2618.

and

adj.

(OE

adv.,

stif),

stubborn, strong. P 1472, EG 643; stif, 9; stef, D 531; stifly, Av 326, TT 156. stiward, n., (OE stigweard), steward. (This official was seldom popular with minstrels, as he prodigality discouraged toward valiant,

blood.

spill

jump, rush,

sterta),

R

281; pr. sg., stertis, P 2229; stirttes, P 430; pt., sterte, G 219, Sd 1606; styrte, CA 326;

sti,

spell, n.,

(OX

vs.,

sturte,

CA

628.

(2) success,

sterte,

light).

pi,

stod,

D

Hr 227; stuard, Av 496. 1070; srward, stounde, n., (OE stund), time, period of time, occasion. SS 2991; stonde, 611; stunde, Hr 739; stowunde, Av UK); d. ivayfarers.)

Em

EG

as

adv.,

this

stownde, on

occasion, now, stowre, /;., (OF

uproar,

estour),

combat.

138; stoure,

Tr

this

SS 7M.

Yw

8652.

tumult, 1221,

1'

Especially

VOCABULARY

1032 in

phrase:

the

stiffe

rede,

Ly

K

seie.

cf.

and

adj.

adv.,

somewhat.

senses are as in

Modern Eng-

lish except: (1) since, because, as.

Ip 1136; Hr590. (2) as if, provided that.

B

3746;

718.

(1)

epithet).

P

sqwayne,

K

(ON

n.,

sveinn),

servant

(often

G

Em

700, 230.

527,

an 384;

Ly 28339. (OE sweord), sword. Ly 27626; squrd, Av

(2) retainer, soldier.

swerd, n., sweord,

ON

slikr),

49;

D

G

EG

entrust,

G

1 sg., take,

B

give.

747; 3

D

CA

3608;

pr.,

taketh, 295; toke,

sg.,

104; pt., tok, 547; tuke, P 195; imp. sg., tak, SS 3003. (3) in various idiomatic senses:

Em

take no keep, have no regard for, 746; toke hem bitwene, decided between them, 799, Hv 1833; take, tane, take oneself, go, P 1060; the ded to take, receive the death-penalty, SS

ET

speech, tale,

telle, vs.,

prep.,

conj.

Hv

2123; swulc,

swire, swere, n.,

Ly (OE

D

1018; sweere, (OE swIS, adv.,

(1)

quickly.

CA

158,

Em

Hr

G

273.

swyS),

swyde, 219; (by nunnation) 273;

swithen, Ly 27527; squith, Av 218; sqwithely, Av 320; swi3e,

D305.

(2)

Ly

D

Em

Hr

178;

Hr squytheli, Av much.

(OE

tellan), (1) talk, tell,

B

2966; pt., tolde, Hr 467; talde, Ly 28254. Hr 617; (2) enumerate, count. pp., italde, Ly 27432. count out (money), pay. (3) relate.

ET tene,

very, very

suthe,

(1)

Em

and

(2)

swithe,

tael),

Hv3, Hr311.

swira), neck.

sb.,

820;

SS 2994.

44,

(OE

story.

as if, like. 27455.

and

Yw

34; swihc, Ilr 166; 159; comp., swilkane,

P

4295. tale, n.,

number, count. Hv 2026, 27606. teche,ra.,(OEtsecan,taecean), teach. pt., tau3t, 2S5; taste, Hr 244; tauhte, Hv 2214; thaw3th, thaw3te, 973; 58; pp., taw3te, CA 312; taght, SS 797.

adj.,

SS 404;

Av

seche, sich,

pro.,

(1)

CA

such.

(2)

taka), (1) take, seize,

lift,

Em

247.

swere, vs., (OE swerian), swear, take oath, squere, Av 320; pr., suereth, Hv 647; pt., swor, Hv 398; squere, Av 466; sworen, Hr 1249; pp., swore, G 302. swilk, swich, slike, (OE swylc,

CA

take.

(ON

Hv 409; too, P 1022; tan, At 495; taa, P 498; pr. sg., tase, P 790; pt. sg., tok, 1036; tuke, P 186; pt. plu., token, CA 226; pp., itake, 350; token, Hv 1194; tone, P 2155; take, Ip 1162; tane, Ip 1237. 1049; prp., takeand, (2)

swain, peasant,

cf.

vs.,

receive,

be.

cf.

suthe, very; cf. swithe. suththe, afterwards; cf. sithen. swa, so, adv., and conj., (OE swa).

swein,

taa, tan,

take,

sunden, be;

Hr

cf.

stu-

pt.,

283.

The

swone, swoone, swoue, swoon; sowne.

27424.

sugge, say;

sumdel,

stowre,

in

valiant in battle. sturien, stir. Lv 27440;

968. n.,

171;

sorrow.

732.

902.

(OE

teona),

(1)

injury,

Sd 2896, Ip 1082, Av

VOCABULARY P 1986, Tr (2) wrath, anger. 4724; as adj., angry, P 301, 1972, Ip 2996. when;

tha, those, then,

thanne,

thenne,

(OE

Jeanne),

cf.

(1)

Hr

thei,

Ip 451, Tr 8608; thon,

D

then.

.

.

.

.

.

which, who, whoever, what. Sd 244; that of which, B 2489;

D

3482.

order 28119.

(2) conj., that, so that, in

ET

that. (3)

780; thet, until,

conj.,

Ly

when.

Av

870,

Ly

27746. Hv 161. (4) because. (5) used with other conjunctives;

not to be translated:

when; what,

that,

yif

if;

what

who, which,

the,

Ly thee,

27613;

thae,

vs.,

(OE

thrive.

ET

thai,

270;

Av

g.,

(ON

pro.,

Hv

65,

414; the,

K

202,

EG

Hv

1350; thayre, and a., tham, SS 230; 160; thaym, Av 630;

there,

145; d.

thev.

J?eir),

Em

theim, cf. he. thei, although;

thouh.

cf.

thein, thain, n.,

(OE

thane

J?egn),

(a land-holding freeman,

not no-

Hv 1327; plu., theines, 28325; theinen, Ly 27510. thenche, thenke, thinke, vs., (OE bencan, byncan, which became confused in Middle English) (1) think, be mindful of, believe intend. 455; pr. 2 sg., {with enclitic pro.) thenkestu, Hv 578 pt., thowste, CA 250; tho3te Hr 1274; thoucte, Hv 691 thhou3te, 25; thowsth, thouth, Hv 312 227; pp., ithoht, Ly 28087; prp., thinkand ble).

Ly

D

Em

R

SS

233.

Hr

seem {impersonal).

thenke, CA 30; pr., think, SS 449; pt., thu3te, Hr 278; thouthe Hv 1286; thught, Tr 4717 thuhte, Ly 28297; pt. sj., thouwte

452.

pro.

i

Av

that,

Em

relative

to Drosper,

(2)

thawsth, thawste, taught; cf. teche. the, adj., (OE be), (1) the {d, Hr 27; theo, Al 3946; article). n.f., tha, Ly 28068; d.f., there, Ly 27931; d.m., than, Ly 27932; a.f., tha, Ly 28022; a.m., thane, Ly 27628; thene, Ly 27506; then, Ly 28183; plu., n. and a., thae, Ly 28072; tha, Ly 27800; d., than, Ly 27490. (2)

736;

mote

that,

617; {with enthatow, that thou,

etc.

pro.)

clitic

whenne

hope

thee, as I

conj.,

439; than, P 2249. (2) than, than if. Hv 944; thane, Hr 13; thene, Ly 27450; then, B 3027. CA (3) when, the time when. 330, Sd 2527. thanne, (4) correlative, thanne when, Hv 1203. then that, (OE J>aet). Only uses fairly uncommon in Modern English are given: (1) rel. adj., that .

K

Sd 1593; thynne,

then,

especially in the oath: so

812, CI 538.

tho.

and

adv.

1033

{indeclinable),

Ly 2S169;

tha,

Lj 27481. prosper, beon), 417; the, 2;

K

1151

D597. thenne,

cf.

thanne,

then,

and thethin, thence, theo, cf. the and tho. there, thore, adv. and

warn

conj.,

(OE

b«r, b^r), (1) there, in that place Hr 298; thore, Av 90; thar, thaer,

Hr

505;

thare,

where, wherever. the place where, 27777; Hr 936. (2)

to

(3)

Av

74'.);

IIv

142;

Ly 27825.

cotnp.,

ther-at,

ther,

thereat,

Ly [p

2996; ther-as, where. Em 545; ther-uore, for which, Ly 28017;

VOCABULARY

1034

there-on, in this, Ip 1105; therconcerning that, Av 518; tille, 596, SS there-to, in addition, 796, Sd 2193; to or concerning this, B 2952, 3328; therwhile, while, 156; ther-whiles, while,

awl

a), those. tho, tha, pro., thes,

977; tha, TT 183; thoo, 219; thaa, P 516.

tho,

P tho,

Av

adv.

and

conj.,

(OE

ba),

(1)

Em

CI 145; thoo, then, when. 51; thaa, P 497; tha, Ly 28446; theo, Ly 27489. thoo, Ip 1076; although. (2) cf. thouh. thonked, 3onked,

thanked,

D

246, 384. thore, cf. there, thou, pro., (OE bu, ge, eow), thou, 145; thu, n. sg., thou, vou. Hr 91; tu, Hv 2903; tow, O 450; 142; thw, IIv 1316; g., thy,

G

G

thine,

G

241;

thi,

Av

268;

g.

28104;

Sd 2478;

G

3e,

n.

and

ye,

111; 2962; eou,

Av 106; 3ew, B 28174; g., yeur, 30wre, SS 449; soure,

R

a.,

Av

170; 30,

3aw,

3or,

a.,

Em

O

of the singular),

B Hr

2982; 814;

R 65.

50; ou,

thouh, thei, adv. and conj., (OE although, )>b), beah, b^h, though. thou3e, B 3167; thow3e, Ip 1078; thoghe, P 1622; thoie, P 616; thowe, CI 70; thah, Ly 560; 461; thai, 28543; thei, thou, Hv 124; the3, Hr 317; dou3, Lv 204; thau3, Al 4226; thei3, 412; thogfe, P 1453. thowjtur, daughter; cf. doughter. thridde, adj. and pro., (OE bridda\ third. 489, ET 614; thrid, SS 793, Av 1047. thurgh, thorow, prep, and adv.,

OX

D

D

R

D

(OE as

b urn ), through (with

Modern

in

serines

Em

English).

332, Tr 8652; thorrowe, thurh, B 3502; thro3he,

EG

340; Av 1040; thure3, Hr 875; thorw, Hv 264; thuruth, Hv 52; thoruth, Hv 1065; thoru3, Lv 484; thourgh, 334; thurght, Tr 8641; thurch, O 534; com p., thorw30ut, At 611; thurhout, B 3201. Hr 849, CI tide, n., time, hour. 188; d. as adverb, that tyde, then, Ip 1161; this tyde, now, SS 421. Especially in the phrase: in are tiden, once on a time, Ly 27992.

D

tide, pt.,

Ly

thire,

100; de, 140; te, (used also as polite form

til,

v.,

betide,

prep,

and

pt., tide,

conj.,

Tr

(ON

Hr 938; towards. 1640; tylle, ET 523. til, II v 761. (2) for.

to,

(3) until. tite, adv.,

Ilr 124; thyll,

(ON

409, Ip 3060;

CA

84.

81.

til),

(1)

tille,

Sd

Em

tICr), speedily. tit,

Tr 4758;

502.

Yw

tytlye,

VOCABULARY tithande, tidinge, n.,

(ON

tiSindi),

news, tidings. Av 748; tithandes, Yw 140; tydynge, CA 59; tithing,

Av

G79.

(OE

to,

G

(1) adv., too.

to),

towards.

(2) adv., to,

Ly

398.

27456;

Examples of senses unusual in Modern Engprep.,

to.

lish: te, to,

Yw

Ly

to,

to

28090;

Ly

27546,

cording

to,

sideration

Ly

of,

two;

cf.

A

to-.

during,

to,

Av

CA

1061; 204; to,

Hv 575; to, ac28437; to, in con-

Hv

486.

Ip 3146, SS 307.

(4) conj., until. to,

207; until,

name, by name,

as,

ET

387. (4) the Cross. treuthe, trowthe, n., (OE treowS), truth, troth, pledged word. Hr trowith, B 3105; 428; trowthe, ET 276; truthe, Hr 674. trone, throne. 1. trowe, vw., (OE treowian), believe, trust. P 1107; tro, Hv 2862; trowes, Yw 981; pt., trowed, P 586; imp. sg., trowes, SS 938; especially in the phrase: for to trowe, surely, Ip 3155. tryste, trust, reliance. ET 553. tuke, cf. take, tweie, twa, adj. and pro., (OE twa, twegen), two. 202; twa, SS 263; twei3e, Lv 28473; tway, ET 900; too, B 3179; to, B 3169; tow, 491; toe, Av 932; tvo, 672, At trauthe,

G

tweie.

with

the force

of "violently" or "apart": tobarst, prefix,

G

burst to pieces, 537; tobreste, Lv 482; toborsten, 1043;

EG

D

tofallen,

fallen

to

torent,

D D

D

tofore, toforn, adj., adv.,

and

prep.,

former, formerly, before. B 3018, 3684. to3eines, towards. Ly 28529. tone, cf. one, take. tosomne, together. Ly 27424. tothir, todir, cf. other.

toune, 153.

(OF tour), Hr 1453.

tour, n., tur,

tower.

D

871;

M

toward, commonly separated in illdie English: to himward, toward him. tre, n., (OE treo), (1) wood. Yw 187, (2)

Av

1074.

beam, plank.

D

Em

656.

72; pin., treoes, Al 4074;trene, KB 634. (3) tree.

uncouthe, adj., (OE uncuS), strange, unfamihar, unknown. P 1047; vncowthe, Av 618; vncuthe,

Hr

EG

729; vncoth, 405. vs., understand,

undelete,

D

ceive.

per-

165.

unethe, adj. and adv., (OE uneaSe), Ly (1) adj. as sb., discomfort. 27673. (2) adv., scarcely,

(OE tun), town. Hv tun, Ly 27918; tune, Hr

n.,

2911;

81.

Ly

ruins,

torn to pieces, 353; togrinde, grind to pieces, 85; todrawe, torn apart, Lv 606; tobreke, broke in two, 936; tobrent, burned up, Al 3982.

27893;

155;

Av

Em

tow, Ip 406. (3)

1035

Sd

onnethe,

Yw

with

difficulty.

vnnethes,

3000;

372.

unkinde, adj. and adv., (OE uncynde), unnatural. SS 3008; unkindelike, II v 1250. until,

un

prep., 4-

till),

conj.,

(OE

unto, until.

Hv

and

adv., to,

2913; hentill, Av 124. unto, to, unto, until. Yw 930. upon, (OE up on), upon. Only senses unusual in Modern English are: of,

(1) prep., in the

during.

Hr

1097,

course 468;

Hv

VOCABULARY

1036

Hv

against,

2689; uppen, above,

Ly 280 19.

Hr

above, from above.

(2) adv.,

11.

ure, vre, our; urn, vrn, ran;

cf. I.

runne.

(/.

ET 400; pp., woxe, G 232; woxen, Em 950; wax, Em 365; waxen, Yw 1212. we, cf. I and wo. wede, n., (OE wade), garment,

ET

245, SS 98; especially in

armor.

clothing,

EG

799; weed,

complimentary rhyme-tag: vnthur wede, worthy under weeds, Em 250. wei, weilawei, cf. wo. the

wordy

venesun,

n.,

D

venesoun,

Hv

Av

202;

ueneysun,

(OF veraiment), 862; varraiment, veramend, CI 189; werament, adv.,

D

CI 237; verement, Lv 485. vnsquarut, answered; cf. answer. vomen, cf. wiminan.

122,

Ip

3130;

13,

Yw

war,

Av

1241.

wasche, vs. and vw., (OE wascan, washen, Hv wescan), wash. 1233; pt. plu., wasschyd, CI 154; wessh, Sd 1871; wyshe, Em 866; wesh, Em 218; wessche, D 831; wisschen, G 542; whesshen, Em 890; pp., waisschen, G 439; wasshen, K 887.

what and

Hr 445. (OE geweldan),

CI

wield,

protect. SS 4274; walden, 27652; awelden, Ly 27894; pr. sg., weldythe, Ip 3138. wele, wealth, prosperity. Espe-

yn wo and and good, Em 573. wende, vw., (OE wendan), go, turn. Ip 119S; weynde, Av 641; pr. sg., weyndes, Ip 3102; pi. sg., wente, ET 1190; wende, Sd cially in the phrase:

wele, in

wite.

waxe, wexe, vs., (OE weaxan), grow, become. CI 151; wex, B 2940; pr., wexeth, CA 158; pt., wax, Ip 364; wexe, P 212; waxe,

ill

iwende, Ly 27619; pt. wenten, G 609; wenden, 27512; wenton, Tr 4716;

2958; plu.,

Ly

881.

wary, resourceful,

cf.

filler).

will,

Ly

(2)

wat,

SS 230;

ern,

which; were, where; wan, when; wether, whether; wat, what; wilke, whilk, which. wa, wai, walawa, cf. wo. wan, cf. when and winne. ware, adj., (OE waer), (1) aware,

P

808; wele,

manage, have power over, gov-

The following words arc spelled in w- for wh-: wo, who; wich,

CA

a metrical

(often used as

Hr

welde, vw.,

w-.

conscious.

(2) quite,

127; vel,

W

warre,

(OE wel), (1) well, Hr 484, CA 352. fully; very, very much

wel, welle, adv., excellently.

ET

truly. ;

773;

1726.

verrament, 11

(OF veneisun), meat

any game-animal.

of

wenden,

CA

SI;

went,' Ip

364;

weynde,

Av

3076; iwent, Hr 440; wente, Av 538; vb.n., wending, Yw 538; imp., went,

Hr wene,

pp.,

325.

(OE wenan),

vw.,

expert,

believe,

756; ween,

pr.,

think,

wene,

Av

B

3479; (with enclitic pro.) wenestu, Hv 1787; pr. as wene, Ly 28123; pt., future, wende, 81; wente, CA 67;

D

wend, B 3479. wepe, vw. ami vs., (OE wepan), pr., weep. (with enclitic pro.) wepestu,

Hr

656;

pi. sg.,

wep,

D

VOCABULARY 108; weop, Hr 69; wepputte, Av 987; prp., 280; plu., wepen, wepeand, SS 890; wepende,

D

D

132.

wepen, wepne, n., (OE wsepen), weapon. Hv 89; plu., weppun, Av 609; weppon, Tr 4752; wapynes, P 20; iwepnen, Lv 28388. wer, were,

Av

332,

war,

werre,

Tr

combat.

88.

werche, cf. wirche. werd, world; cf. werld. werk, n., (OE weorc), (1) work. Tr 8625, Av 941. construction,

(2)

deed,

Hr 1432; were, Ly 27857. werld, world, n., (OE weorold, etc.), world, weorld, Ly 28131; werd,

Hv

1290; worl, At 136; g., wordes, 824. what, (OE hwaet), (1) adj. and pro.; what, which, wat, 6, Hr 9 12.

Em

D

(2) relative

and

interrogative pro.;

Hr 765; wat, Ly 28385; hwat, qwatt, Av 962. why,

what, whatever.

SS 2962;

Hv

596;

what, (3)

D

waet,

676,

B

2978.

interjection,

what!

lo!

hwat,

Hv

2547. comp., what-so, 1257.

what,

cf.

wharesom, wheresoever, SS 2999; hworeso, Hv 1349. where, cf. whether and be. whesshen, washed; cf. wasche. whethen, adv. and conj., (OX hvaSan), whence. Yw 1044; quethun, Av 301. whether, (OE hwasSer), (1) conj., whether, whether or not. whedur, Ip 410; quether, Av 963; wher, B 3034; hwere, Hv 549; wether, D 862. (2) adj. and pro., which, whichever, whether, G 249; Yw 1002. (3)

fortification.

whatsoever,

P

wite.

whennes, adv. and conj., (OE hwanan), whence, whenns, Em 418; whannes, Hr 161. when, whan, adv. and conj., (OE whan, CI 49 hwanne), when, whanne, Hr 915; quen, Av 52 qwen, Av 421; hwan, Hv 408 wan, D 629; wanne, Hr 913. where, adv. and conj., (OE hwar, hwar), where, whar, Ly 28057; quere, Av 304; were, Av 1117; hwere, Hv I083;hware, Hv 1881; war, Ly 28479; wer, 1) 462. comp., whereto, why, Em 929;

1037

untranslatable expletive,

of a question,

whethir,

P

sign

1691; 794;

G 430; whethur, Em Hv 1119; wether, Hv

wher, hwor, 292.

whether, wheder, whither, FB 96. whi, qui, qwi, hwi, why. while, (OE hwil), (1) n., space of 1317; hwile, Hv 722; 3616. (2) d. as adv., formerly, whilen, Ly 28633; while, Ly 27979. (3) oblique cases as conj., while, during the time that, the while the, Ly 27652; tha wile, Ly 28219; hwile, Hv 301; whils, B

Hr

time.

quile,

B

2989; whyles, CA 115; quille, Av 286; qwiies, Tr 39. vvhilk, which, who, P 197!*; wilke,

P 281. white, adj.,

(OE

hwft),

white.

whyste, Ip 3095; whyght, 3091; qwyte, K 365; quyte, 1090; whythe, Em 66; hwit, 1729; with,

Hv

[p

Av

Hv

Is.

who, rcl. and int. i>rt>., (OE hwa), who, whoever. I) ill I; hwo, Hv 296; wo, 1) 10.");;; d. and a., wham, Hr 352; wh;em, Ly 27486; quo, Av IDS; ho, CI camp., wha-swa, whosoever, .

!

.

28518; quo-so, Av 135. wife,

n.,

(OE

wif),

(1)

woman.

;

VOCABULARY

1038 SS

409.

932; g.sg., 496. wight, adj. and adv., (ON vigt), valiant, powerful, active, quick. Sd 2077, 96; wicth, Hv 344; with, Hv 1008; wi3te, Av 15; wightly, Sd 2682, Tr 4716. wight, n., (OE wiht), (1) whit, wicth, Hv 97; particle, bit. with, Hv 1763, wi3t, Hr 503, 776. wi3te, Hr (2) person, creature. 671, Av 304; wih3te, 97; wy3th, Lv 307. wille, n., (OE willa), pleasure, wish,

ET

D

D

Hr 288; will, P 843; iwulle, 315; plu., iwillen, Ly 27529; in wille, desirous, Ip 1183. wille, vs., (OE willan), will, wish, will.

Av

be

desire, wille,

Ly

D

willing.

6; wole,

27888; woll,

pr.

1

Sd 1910;

Em

248;

sg.,

wulle,

2, wolt,

G

182; (with enclitic pro.) wiltu, 681; wilte, Hv 528; 3, wile, Hr 811; wulle, Av 523; wol, B 2961; wole, Sd 1906; pr. plu., wille, 742; wulle3, Hr 603; wol, B 3423; wele, Sd 2633; pt.,

Hv

D

Hv

367; wald, SS 262; Ly 28390; wolden, D57; Negative 714. pr. sj., wile, forms compounded with ne: pr., nel, 525; nulleth, Ly 28130; nyl, B 3110; null, Hr 1144; nyll, Av 1060; pt., nolde, 194; nold, O 138; nulde, Ly 28002; nalden, Ly 27732. wimman, woman, n., (OE wif man), wimman, Hv 1720; woman. vomman, B 3204; wommon,

wolde, weolde,

D

D

D

Em

plu., wymmanne, Hr 67; wemen, Av 559; vommen, B 3205; plu., wimmonne, Ly 28459; g. wimmonnen, Ly 28035. winde, is., (OE windan), go, turn,

245;

Ip 411, Av 72; pt. sg., wond, 28049; plu., wunden, Ly 27785. winne, n., (OE wynn), jov. TT 45, ET 840; wunne, Ly 28621. winne, vs., (OE winnan), (1) attain, win, conquer. Hr 1357; wen, Ip 1129; wyn, B 3255; pt. sg., roll.

Hr

553; whif, SS whife, SS 2803; wiif,

wif,

(2) wife,

Ly

wan, TT 181; wonn, P 1735; wann, Ip 1099; pt. plu., wonen, Tr 4780; pp., wonnen, CA 170; wonen, Tr 8607; wonun, Av 542; woon, EG 684; ywon, O 559. (2) make one's way, go, get up. Sd 2969; wyn, P 2199; pt. sg., wan, Av 210; wane, P 1270; wann, Ip 3175; pt. plu., wan, ET 242; wonnen, Tr 4751; wonyn, Tr 4761. wirche, vw.. (OE wyrcan), (1) do work, perform,

P

wirke,

G

worche,

Av

939;

wrouth, (2)

werch, CI 164 B 3342

1718; worch,

500;

,jr.

plu.,

wurchun

iwrou3t, 1352.

pp.,

Hv

make, build,

cause,

B

3009 create,

Ly 27856; werke, CA 78; wirchen, Hv510; p^.,wrow3te, CA 119; wroghte, P 2S4; pp., wurchen,

wroght,

ET

EG 559;

iwrout,

D

Lv

312; rought, 607; wrouth,

265.

syn he was man \vr0w3t, since he was born, CI

In

the phrase:

213. wise, adj.

and

adv.,

(OE

wis), wise,

Hr

989; wyce, Ip 348; whise, SS 2799; sup., wiseste; cp. adv., wyselyer, more wiselv,

sage.

TT wise,

137. n.,

(OE

wise), manner, means,

Yw

1073, Hr 360; d. sg., wisen, Ly 27835. wisse, mv., (OE wissian), direct, guide, advise. Hv 104, At 661 wise, 1) 267; pr. sg., wys, Yw

way.

1046; imp., wysshe, Tr 4. wite, vs., (OK witan and witan; the

VOCABULARY forms become confused in Middle English), (1) know, learn. Lv

D

201; 653; wit, SS 3040; iwite, Ip 1172; wete, B 3544; witen, Hr 288; pr. plu., wetith, B 3539; wite, Hv 2808; witen, Hv 2208; pt. with the force of pr., wott, Ip 1073; wate, At 108; woot, B 3116; wost, Hv 527; wot, 84; watte, Ip 1112; as future, watte, Ip 435; pt., wot, 78; what, Ly 28088; wiste, Tr 23; wisste, CA 35; wuste, Ly 751; imp. 28298; pp., wist, sg. and plu., witte, Av 327; CA wyst, TT pt. sj., 189. 195; Negative forms compounded with ne; pr., note, B 3049; not, 69; nuste, Ly 254; pt., nist, 27604. (2) guard, guard against, decree, wite, CA 136; imp., wite, Hv 1316, Ly 28604. with, prep., (OE witS), with. wi3, 44. Senses unusual in Modern English are: (1) against. Ly 27581, Hr 830. P 836, Tr 53. (2) by. (3) in the phrase: with wronge, witte,

D

D

EG

D

D

D

Hr

1039

without without

withouten

fail;

witterly, adv.,

(ON

vitrliga), surely.

At 80; witturly, Av 86; weterly, SS 4255; wyttyrly, ET 1069. wo, wa, wei, adj., n., and interj., (OE wa, wea; ON vei), (1) alas, woe, sorrow, wa, Yw 432; way, O 232; wo, Hr 115; woo, Tr 8592; we, Ip 1118; was, Ly 28329;

wow3, Al 4026. sorrowful,

sad,

(2)

wa, SS 2850; woo,

comp., walawai, alas!

(3)

wale, Ly 28092; wellaway, 748; weilawei, Hv 462.

wod,

adj.,

sane.

EG

woode, (2)

fierce,

27895,

wode,

10; wi30uten,

D

320.

withuten,

II v

425.

withoute,

Av

1095; withouten, SS 366. in the following rhyme-taga meaning "surely": withouten les, (4)

without

withouten wene, beyond doubt; withouten faile, lies;

EG

Hv

wode,

Ly

108.

(OE wudu),

n.,

fuel.

(2)

ET

986. raging,

(1)

wood,

940.

a wood, woods,

won,

comp., with-thi, if, on condiP 584; with-than, provided that, Hv 532. with, cf. wight, courageous; white; and wight, person, particle. withoute, prep, and adv., (OE wiSutan), (1) without, lacking, withute, Hr 188; withouten, Ip 375;

(3) outside, outside of.

is

(OE wod), (1) mad, inLv 470; wood, At 250;

(4)

(2) except,

woe

wude, Hr

D

905.

Av

At

324;

me! Hr 956; walawa, Ly 27532;

tion,

withowtun,

wretched.

Em

81.

59. 361; wode, wolde, cf. wille.

unjustly.

let(ting),

hindrance; withouten drede, beyond doubt; withouten othe, beyond the necessity of taking oath.

(1)

n.

and

adj.,

accustomed.

(OE gewuna), SS 230;

worte,

Hv2151. woon, ET (2) dwelling, place, 459; wone, At 238; won, Tr 17sit wane, P 1347. won, n., (OE wen, van\ plenty, Sd 2093; woon, Sd quantity. Especially 2478; wane, SS 265. in the phrases: ful god wone, plenty, plentiful, plentifully,