## Sir Beues of Hamtoun

### Publication Statement:

This file is part of the facsimile-edition of the Auchinleck Manuscript was co-edited by Professor David Burnley and Dr Alison Wiggins. The HTML versions of the resource are freely available at http://www.nls.uk/auchinleck/

### Notes:

This manuscript file was originally supplied as beues.html and the header file was located in heads/beues_head.html both of which were converted to TEI XML by Dr James Cummings of the Oxford Text Archive. The notes below were taken from the header file and each HTML paragraph placed in a separate note.

Scribe 5

Lines 1-474 in 6-line tail-rhyme stanzas rhyming aabccb; remainder in short couplets. 4444 lines. 4620 lines in Kölbing's edition which includes in its lineation 176 lines from a leaf lost after f.188.

Translated from an Anglo-Norman romance c.1300. Traditionally thought to have been composed in the dialect of Southampton.

Four other manuscripts of the same redaction as Auchinleck:
BL Egerton MS 2862 (olim Trentham-Sutherland). Late 14th century. Suffolk. Egerton also has in common with Auchinleck: King Richard, Sir Degare, Floris and Blancheflour and Amis and Amiloun.
CUL MS Ff.2.38 (olim no. 690). Late 15th century. Ff.2.38 also has in common with Auchinleck: A Penniworþ of Witt, The Seven Sages of Rome, Guy of Warwick (different version) and Sir Degare.
Caius Cambridge MS 175. 1400-1450. S. E. Midlands. The Caius MS also has in common with Auchinleck: King Richard and Seynt Katerine.
Naples, Royal Library MS XIII.B.29. c.1457.

Other versions contained in:
Trinity College Cambridge MS 0.2.13/IV (James's no. 1117). Late 15th century. Fragment.
Chetham's Library MS 8009. Late 15th century. E. Midlands.

Editions:
E. Kölbing, Beues of Hamtoun, EETS ES 46, 48, 65 (London: Trübner, 1885, 1886, 1894).
J. Fellows, 'Bevis of Hamptoun: Study and Edition', unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Cambridge (1979). (All MSS in parallel).

Manual I, 25; 215. Index 1993.

### Source:

The Auchinleck Manuscript (NLS Adv MS 19.2.1) is one of the National Library of Scotland’s greatest treasures. Produced in London in the 1330s, it provides a unique insight into the English language and literature that Chaucer and his generation grew up with and were influenced by. It acquired its name from its first known owner, Lord Auchinleck, who discovered the manuscript in 1740 and donated it to the precursor of the National Library in 1744.

### Sir Beues of Hamtoun

Lordinges, herkneþ to me tale [f.176ra] [Image]
Is merier þan þe niȝtingale
Þat y schel singe;
Of a kniȝt ich wile ȝow roune,
Beues a hiȝte of Hamtoune,[5]
Wiþouten lesing.
Ich wile ȝow tellen al togadre
Of þat kniȝt and of is fadre,
Sire Gii.
Of Hamtoun he was sire[10]
And of al þat ilche schire,
To wardi.
Lordinges, þis of whan y telle
Neuer man of flesch ne felle
Nas so strong,[15]
And so he was in ech striue,
And euer he leuede wiþouten wiue,
Al to late and long.
Whan he was fallen into elde,
Þat he ne miȝte him self welde,[20]
He wolde a wif take;
Sone þarafter, ich vnderstonde,
Him hadde be leuer þan al þis londe
Hadde he hire forsake.
An elde a wif he tok an honde,[25]
Þe kinges douȝter of Scotlonde,
So faire and briȝt.
Allas þat he hire euer ches!
For hire loue his lif a les
Wiþ mechel vnriȝt.[30]
Þis maide ichaue of ytold
Faire maide ȝhe was & bold
And fre yboren;
Of Almayne þat emperur
Hire hadde loued paramur[35]
Wel þarbeforen.
Ofte to hire fader a sente
And he him selue þeder wente
For hire sake;
Ofte a ernede hire to wiue;[40]
Þe king for no þing aliue
Nolde hire him take.
Siþe a ȝaf hire to sire Gii,
A stalword erl and hardi
Of Souþhamtoun. [f.176rb] [Image] [45]
Man, whan he falleþ into elde,
Feble a wexeþ and vnbelde
Þourȝ riȝt resoun.
So longe þai ȝede togedres te bedde,
A knaue child betwene hem þai hedde,[50]
Beues a het.
Faire child he was & bolde;
He nas boute seue winter olde,
Whan his fader was ded.
Þe leuedi hire misbeþouȝte[55]
And meche aȝen þe riȝt ȝhe wrouȝte
In hire tour
‘Me lord is olde & may nouȝt werche,
Al dai him is leuer at cherche
Þan in me bour.[60]
Hadde ich itaken a ȝong kniȝt
Þat ner nouȝt brused in werre & fiȝt
Also he is,
A wolde me louen dai and niȝt,
Cleppen and kissen wiþ al is miȝt[65]
And make me blis.
I nel hit lete for no þinge
Þat ich nel him to deþe bringe
Wiþ sum braide.’
Anonriȝt þat leuedi fer[70]
To consaile clepede hir masager
And to him saide
‘Maseger, do me surte,
Þat þow nelt nouȝt discure me
To no wiȝt.[75]
And ȝif þow wilt þat it so be
I schel þe ȝeue gold and fe
And make þe kniȝt.’
Þanne answerde þe masager
False a was, þat pautener,[80]
And wel prut
‘Dame, boute ich do þe nede,
Ich graunte, þow me forbede
Þe londe þourȝout.’
Þe leuedi þanne was wel fain[85]
‘Go’ ȝhe seide ‘into Almaine
Out of me bour.
Maseger, be ȝep and snel,
And on min helf þow grete wel [f.176va] [Image]
Þat emperur[90]
And bid, in þe ferþe dai
Þat comeþ in þe moneþ of May,
For loue of me,
Þat he be to fiȝte prest
Wiþ is ferde in hare forest[95]
Beside þe se.
Me lord ich wile þeder sende
For his loue, for to schende
And for to sle.
Bid him þat hit be nouȝt beleued[100]
Þat he ne smite of his heued
And sende hit me.
And whan he haueþ so ydo
Me loue he schel vnderfo
Wiþouten delai.’[105]
Þanne seide þat masager
‘Madame, ich wile sone be þer.
Now haue gode dai.’
Now þat masager him goþ.
Þat ilche lord him worþe wroþ[110]
Þat him wrouȝte.
To schip þat masager him wode.
Allas! Þe wind was al to gode
Þat him ouer brouȝte.
Þo he com into Almayne,[115]
Þar a mette wiþ a swain
And grette him wel
‘Felawe’ a seide ‘par amur,
Whar mai ich finde þemperur?
Þow me tel.’[120]
‘Ich wile þe telle anonriȝt;
At Rifoun a lai toniȝt,
Be me swere.’
Þe masager him þankede anon
And þederwardes he gan gon [125] [ þederwardes: MS reads þederwarder.]
Wiþouten demere.
Þemperur þar a fonde;
Adoun a kneulede on þe grounde,
Ase hit was riȝt,
And seide ‘þe leuedi of Souþhamtone[130]
Þe grette wel be Godes sone
Þat is so briȝt,
And bad þe in þe ferþe day [f.176vb] [Image]
Þat comeþ in þe moneþ o May,
How so hit be,[135]
Þat ȝe be to fiȝte prest
Wiþ ȝour ferde in hare forest
Beside þe se.
Hire lord ȝhe wile þeder sende,
For þe loue, for to schende,[140]
Wiþ lite meini;
Þaraboute þow schost be fouse
And þow schelt after [her] wedde to spouse
To þin amy.’
‘Sai’ a seide ‘icham at hire heste,[145]
ȝif me lif hit wile leste,
Hit schel be do.
Glad[der] icham for þat sawe
Þan þe fouel whan hit ginneþ dawe,
And sai hire so.[150]
And for þow woldes hire erande bede,
An hors icharged wiþ golde rede
Ich schel þe ȝeue,
And wiþinne þis fourtene niȝt
Me self schel dobbe þe to kniȝt,[155]
ȝif þat ich liue.’
¶ Þe mesager him þankede ȝerne,
Hom aȝen he gan him terne
To Hamtoun.
Þe leuedi a fond in hire bour[160]
And he hire clepede doceamur
And gan to roun
‘Dame’ a seide ‘I þe tel
Þat emperur þe grette wel
Wiþ loue mest.[165]
Glad he is for þat tiding,
A wile be prest at þat fiȝting
In þat forest.
ȝif þow ert glad þe lord to sle,
Gladder a is for loue of þe[170]
Fele siþe.’
Þe mesager haþ þus isaid,
Þe leuedi [was] riȝt wel apaid
And maked hire bliþe.
In Mai, in þe formeste dai,[175]
Þe leuedi in hire bedde lai
Ase hit wer nede. [f.177ra] [Image]
Hire lord ȝhe clepede out of halle
And seide þat euel was on hire falle,
ȝhe wende be ded.[180]
Þat erl for hire haþ sorwe ikauȝt
And askede ȝif ȝhe disired auȝt
Þat miȝte hire freure.
‘ȝe’ ȝhe seide ‘of a wilde bor
I wene, me mineþ boute for,[185]
Al of þe feure.’
‘Madame’ a seide ‘for loue myn,
Whar mai ich finde þat wilde swin?
I wolde þow it hadde.’
And ȝhe answerde wiþ tresoun mest[190]
‘Be þe se in hare forest,
Þar a bradde.’
Þat erl swor be Godes grace
In þat forest he wolde chace [ he: MS reads ȝhe.]
Þat bor to take;[195]
And ȝhe answerde wiþ tresoun þan
‘Blessed be þow of alle man
For mine sake.’
Þat erl is hors began to stride,
His scheld he heng vpon is side,[200]
Gert wiþ swerd;
Moste non armur on him come,
Him self was boute þe ferþe some
Toward þat ferd.
Allas! þat he nadde be war[205]
Of is fomen þat weren þar
Him forte schende.
Wiþ tresoun worþ he þar islawe
And ibrouȝt of is lif-dawe
Er he hom wende.[210]
Whan he com into þe forest
Þemperur a fond al prest;
For enui
A prikede out before is ost,
For pride and for make bost,[215]
And gan to crie
‘Aȝilt þe, treitour. Þow olde dote.
Þow schelt ben hanged be þe þrote,
Þin heued þow schelt lese;
Þe sone schel anhanged be[220]
And þe wif, þat is so fre, [f.177rb] [Image]
To me lemman I chese.’
Þerl answerde at þat sawe
‘Me þenkeþ þow seist aȝen þe lawe
So God me amende.[225]
Me wif and child þat was so fre,
ȝif þow þenkest beneme hem me,
Ich schel hem defende.’
Þo prikede is stede sire Gii,
A stalword man and hardi,[230]
While he was sounde;
Þempe[r]ur he smot wiþ is spere,
Out of is sadel he gan him bere
And þrew him to grounde.
‘Treitour,’ a seide ‘þow ert to bolde.[235]
Wenestow þeȝ ich bo olde
To ben afered?
Þat þow hauest no riȝt to me wif
I schel þe kiþe be me lif,’
And drouȝ is swerd.[240]
Þat erl held is swerd adrawe,
Þemperur wiþ he hadde slawe,
Nadde be sokour.
Þar come kniȝtes mani & fale,
Wel ten þosent tol[d] be tale,[245]
To þemperur.
Þo sire Gii him gan defende,
Þre hondred heuedes of a slende
Wiþ is brond;
Hadde he ben armed wel, ywis,[250]
Al þe meistre hadde ben his,
Ich vnderstonde.
Þre men were slawe þat he þer hadde
Þat he wiþ him out ladde
And moste nede;[255]
To haue merci, þat was is hope.
Þemperur after him is lope
Vpon a stede.
Þerl knewlede to þemperur,
Merci a bad him and sokour[260]
And is lif
‘Merci, sire, ase þow ert fre,
Al þat ichaue I graunte þe,
Boute me wif.
For þine men þat ichaue slawe, [f.177va] [Image] [265]
Haue her me swerd idrawe
And al me fe;
Boute me ȝonge sone Bef
And me wif þat is me lef
Þat let þow me.’[270]
‘For Gode’ queþ he ‘þat ich do nelle.’
Þemperur to him gan telle,
And was agreued;
Anonriȝt is swerd out drouȝ
And þe gode kniȝt a slouȝ[275]
And nam is heued.
A kniȝt a tok þe heued an honde
‘Haue’ a seide ‘ber þis sonde
Me leue swet.’
Þe kniȝt to Hamtoun þo gan gon,[280]
Þe leuedi þar a fond anon
And gan hire grete
‘Dame’ a seide ‘to me atende.
Þemperur me hider sende
Wiþ is pray.’[285]
And ȝhe seide ‘Blessed mot he be.
To wif a schel wedde me
Tomorwe in þe dai.
Sai him, me swete wiȝt,
Þat he come ȝet toniȝt[290]
Into me bour.’
Þe mesager is wei haþ holde,
Al a seide ase ȝhe him tolde
To þemperur.
Now scholle we of him mone,[295]
Of Beues, þat was Guis sone, [ Beues: MS reads beueþ.]
How wo him was.
ȝerne a wep, is hondes wrong,
For his fader a seide among
‘Allas! Allas!’[300]
He clepede is moder & seide is sawe
‘Vile houre, þe worst todrawe
And al totwiȝt.
Me þenkeþ ich were þerof ful fawe,
For þow hauest me fader slawe[305]
Wiþ mechel vnriȝt.
Allas, moder, þe faire ble.
Euel becomeþ þe houre to be,
To holde bordel, [f.177vb] [Image]
And alle wif houren for þe sake[310]
Þe deuel of helle ich hii betake,
Flesch and fel.
Ac o þing, moder, I schel þe swere:
ȝif ich euer armes bere
And ben of elde,[315]
Al þat haþ me fader islawe
And ibrouȝt of is lif dawe,
Ich schel hem ȝilden.’
¶ Þe moder hire haþ vnderstonde,
Þat child ȝhe smot wiþ hire honde[320]
Vnder is ere.
Þe child fel doun & þat [was] scaþe.
His meister tok him wel raþe
Þat hiȝte Saber.
Þe kniȝt was trewe & of kinde,[325]
Strenger man ne scholde men finde
To ride ne go.
A was ibrouȝt in tene & wrake
Ofte for þat childes sake
Ase wel ase þo.[330]
Þat childe he nam vp be þe arm,
Wel wo him was for þat harm
Þat he þar hadde.
Toward is kourt he him kende.
Þe leuedi after Saber sende[335]
And to him radde
‘Saber’ ȝhe seide ‘þow ert me lef,
Let sle me ȝonge sone Bef,
Þat is so bold.
Let him anhange swiþe hiȝe;[340]
I ne reche what deþ he diȝe,
Siþ þe he be cold.’
Saber stod stille & was ful wo;
Naþeles a seide a wolde do
After hire sawe.[345]
Þe child wiþ him hom he nam,
A swin he tok whan he hom cam,
And dede hit of dawe.
Þe childes cloþes þat were gode
Al a bisprengde wiþ þat blode[350]
In mani stede,
Ase ȝif þe child wer tohewe;
A þouȝte to his moder hem schewe, [f.178ra] [Image]
And so a dede.
At þe laste him gan adrede,[355]
He let cloþen in pouer wede
Þat hende wiȝt,
And seide ‘Sone, þow most kepe
Vpon þe felde mine schepe
Þis fourte niȝt.[360]
And whan þe feste is come to þende,
Into anoþ[e]r londe I schel þe sende
Fer be souþe,
To a riche erl þat schel þe gie
And teche þe of corteisie[365]
In þe ȝouþe.
And whan þow ert of swich elde
Þat þow miȝt þe self wilde,
And ert of age;
Þanne scheltow come inte Ingelonde,[370]
Wiþ werre winne into þin honde
Þin eritage.
I schel þe helpe wiþ alle me miȝt,
Wiþ dent of swerd to gete þe riȝt,
Be þow of elde.’[375]
Þe child him þankede & sore wep,
And forþ a wente wiþ þe schep
Vpon þe velde.
Beues was herde vpon þe doun,
He lokede homward to þe toun,[380]
Þat scholde ben his;
He beheld toward þe tour,
Trompes he herde and tabour
And meche blis.
‘Lord’ a seide ‘on me þow mone.[385]
Ne was ich ones an erles sone
And now am herde?
Miȝte ich wiþ þat emperur speke,
Wel ich wolde me fader awreke
For al is ferde.’[390]
He nemeþ is bat and forþ a goþ,
Swiþe sori and wel wroþ,
Toward þe tour.
‘Porter,’ a sede ‘let me in reke.
A lite þing ich aue to speke[395]
Wiþ þemperur.’
Go hom, truant,’ þe porter sede [f.178rb] [Image]
‘Scherewe houre sone, y þe rede,
Fro þe gate.
Boute þow go hennes also swiþe,[400]
Hit schel þe rewe fele siþe [ Hit: MS reads his.]
Þow come þerate.
Sixte þe scherewe, ho be lite,
A lokeþ [as] a wolde smite
Wiþ is bat.[405]
Speke he ouȝt meche more,
I schel him smite swiþe sore
Vpon is hat.’
‘For Gode’ queþ Beues ‘naþeles,
An houre sone for soþ ich wes,[410]
Wel ich it wot.
Y nam no truant, be Godes grace.’
Wiþ þat a lefte vp is mace
Anon fot-hot.
Beues wiþoute þe gate stod[415]
And smot þe porter on þe hod,
Þat he gan falle;
His heued he gan al tocleue
And forþ a wente wiþ þat leue
Into þe halle.[420]
Al aboute he gan beholde,
To þemperur he spak wordes bolde
Wiþ meche grame
‘Sire’ a sede ‘what dostow here?
Whi colles þow aboute þe swire[425]
Þat ilche dame?
Me moder is þat þow hauest an honde;
What dostow her vpon me londe
Wiþouten leue?
Tak me (me) moder and mi fe,[430]
Boute þow þe raþer hennes te [ te: MS reads to.]
I schel þe greue.
Nastow, sire, me fader slawe?
Þow schelt ben hanged & todrawe,
Be Godes wille.[435]
Aris, fle hennes, I þe rede.’
Þemperur to him sede
‘Foul, be stille.’
Beues was niȝ wod for grame
For a clepede him foul be name[440]
And to him a wond; [f.178va] [Image]
For al þat weren in þe place,
Þries a smot him (him) wiþ is mace
And wiþ is honde.
Þries a smot him on þe kroun;[445]
Þat emperur fel swowe adoun,
Þar a sat.
Þe leuedi, is moder, gan to grede
‘Nemeþ þat treitour,’ ȝhe sede,
‘Anon wiþ þat.’[450]
Þo dorste Beues no leng abide.
Þe kniȝtes vp in ech a side,
More and lasse,
Wo hem was for þe childes sake, [ hem: MS reads him.]
Boute non of hem nolde him take[455]
Hii lete him pase.
Beues goþ faste ase he mai,
His meister a mette in þe wai
Þat hiȝte Saber,
& he him askede wiþ bliþe mod[460]
‘Beues,’ a seide ‘for þe rode,
What dostow her?’
‘I schel þe telle al togadre.
Beten ichaue me stifadre
Wiþ me mace;[465]
Þries I smot [him] in þe heued,
Al for ded ich him leued
In þe place.’
‘Beues,’ queþ Saber ‘þow ert to blame.
Þe leuedi wile now do me schame[470]
For þine sake.
Boute þow be me consaile do,
Þow miȝt now sone bringe vs bo
In meche wrake.’
Saber Beues to his hous ladde,[475]
Meche of þat leuedi him dradde.
Þe leuedi out of þe tour cam,
To Saber þe wei ȝhe nam.
‘Saber’ ȝhe seide ‘whar is Bef,
Þat wike treitour, þat fule þef?’[480]
‘Dame’ a seide ‘ich dede him of dawe
Be þe red and be þe sawe;
Þis beþ his cloþe þow her sixt.’
Þe leuedi seide ‘Saber, þow lixt.
Boute þow me to him take [f.178vb] [Image] [485]
Þow schelt abegge for is sake.’
¶ Beue herde his meister þrete,
To hire a spak wiþ hertte grete
And seide ‘Lo! me her be name.
Do me meister for me no schame.[490]
ȝif þow me sext, lo, whar ich [am] here.’
His moder tok him be þe ere;
Fain ȝhe wolde a were of liue.
Foure kniȝtes ȝhe clepede bliue
‘Wendeþ’ ȝhe seide ‘to þe stronde.[495]
ȝif ȝe seþ schipes of painim londe,
Selleþ to hem þis ilche hyne,
Þat ȝe for no gode ne fine,
Whaþer ȝe haue for him mor or lesse, [ or: MS reads &.]
Selleþ him riȝt into heþenesse.’[500]
¶ For[þ] þe kniȝtes gonne te,
Til þat hii come to þe se,
Schipes hii fonde þer stonde
Of heþenesse and of fele londe;
Þe child hii chepeden to sale,[505]
Marchaundes þai fonde ferli fale
And solde þat child for mechel auȝte
And to þe Sarasins him betauȝte.
Forþ þai wente wiþ þat child
Crist of heuene be vs mild.[510]
Þe childes hertte was wel colde
For þat he was so fer isolde;
Naþeles, þouȝ him þouȝte eile,
Toward painim a moste saile.
Whan hii riuede out of þat strond[515]
Þe king hiȝte Ermin of þat londe;
His wif was ded, þat hiȝte Morage,
A douȝter a hadde of ȝong age;
Iosiane þat maide het.
Hire schon wer gold vpon hire fet;[520]
So faire ȝhe was & briȝt of mod,
Ase snow vpon þe rede blod;
Wharto scholde [I] þat may discriue?
Men wiste no fairer þing aliue,
So hende ne wel itauȝt;[525]
Boute of Cristene lawe ȝhe kouþe nauȝt.
Þe marchauns wente an hiȝing
& presente Beues to Ermyn king.
Þe king þarof was glad & bliþe [f.179ra] [Image]
And þankede hem mani a siþe.[530]
‘Mahoun,’ a seide ‘þe miȝt be proute,
And þis child wolde to þe aloute;
ȝif a wolde a Sarasin be,
ȝit ich wolde hope a scholde þe.
Be Mahoun þat sit an hiȝ,[535]
A fairer child neuer I ne siȝ,
Neiþer a lingþe ne on brade,
Ne non so faire limes hade.’
‘Child’ a seide ‘whar wer þe bore?
What is þe name? telle me fore.[540]
ȝif ich it wiste hit were me lef.’
‘For Gode’ a seide ‘ich hatte Bef,
Iboren ich was in Ingelonde
At Hamtoun be þe se stronde;
Me fader was erl þar a while,[545]
Me moder him let sle wiþ gile,
And me ȝhe solde into heþen londe
Wikked beþ fele wimmen to fonde.
Ac, sire, ȝif it euer so betide
Þat ich mowe an horse ride[550]
And armes bere & scheft tobreke,
Me fader deþ ich schel wel wreke.’
¶ Þe kinges hertte w[e]x wel cold
Whan Beues hadde þus itolde,
& saide ‘I naue non eir after me dai[555]
Boute Iosian, þis faire mai;
And þow wile þe God forsake
And to Apolyn me lord take,
Hire I schel þe ȝeue to wiue
And al me lond after me liue.’[560]
‘For Gode,’ queþ Beues ‘þat I nolde
For al þe seluer ne al þe golde
Þat is vnder heuene-liȝt
Ne for þe douȝter þat is so briȝt,
I nolde forsake in none manere[565]
Ihesu þat bouȝte me so dere.
Al mote þai be doum and deue
Þat on þe false godes beleue.’
Þe king him louede wel þe more
For him ne stod of noman sore,[570]
& seide ‘Beues, while þow ert swain
Þow schelt be me chaumberlain,
And þow schelt, whan þow ert dobbed kniȝt, [f.179rb] [Image]
Me baner bere into eueri(ȝt) fiȝt.’
Beues answerde al wiþ skil[575]
‘What ȝe me hoten don ich wil.’
Beues was þer ȝer and oþer,
Þe king him louede also is broþer,
And þe maide þat was so sliȝ;
So dede eueri man þat him siȝ.[580]
Be þat he was fiftene ȝer olde
Kniȝt ne swain þar nas so bolde
Þat him dorste aȝenes ride
Ne wiþ wreþ þe him abide.
His ferste bataile for soþ te say[585]
A dede a Cristes messe day;
Ase Beues scholde to water ride
& fiftene Sarasins be is side,
And Beues rod on Arondel
Þat was a stede gode and lel,[590]
A Sarasin began to say
And askede him what het þat day.
Beues seide ‘For soþ, ywis,
I not neuer what dai it is,
For I nas boute seue winter old,[595]
Fro Cristendome ich was isold;
Þarfore I no can telle nouȝt þe
What dai þat hit miȝte be.’
¶ Þe Sarasin beheld and louȝ
‘Þis dai’ a seide ‘I knowe wel inouȝ;[600]
Þis is þe ferste dai of ȝoul,
Þe God was boren wiþouten doul;
Forþi men maken þer mor blisse
Þan men do her in heþenesse.
Anoure þe God so I schel myn,[605]
Boþe Mahoun and Apolyn.’
Beues to þat Sarasin said
‘Of Cristendom ȝit ichaue abraid,
Ichaue seie on þis dai riȝt
Armed mani a gentil kniȝt[610]
Torneande riȝt in þe feld
Wiþ helmes briȝt and mani scheld;
And were ich alse stiþ in plas
Ase euer Gii me fader was,
Ich wolde for me lordes loue,[615]
Þat sit hiȝ in heuene aboue,
Fiȝte wiþ ȝow euerichon, [f.179va] [Image]
Er þan ich wolde hennes gon.’
Þe Sarasine(s) seide to his felawes
‘Lo, breþern, hire ȝe nouȝt þis sawes[620]
How þe ȝonge Cristene hounde,
A saiþ a wolde vs fellen te grounde.
Wile we aboute him gon
And fonde þat treitour slon.’
Al aboute þai gonne þringe[625]
And hard on him þai gonne dinge
And ȝaf him wondes mani on
Þourȝ þe flesch into þe bon,
Depe wondes and sore,
Þat he miȝte sofre namore.[630]
Þo his bodi began to smerte
He gan plokken vp is hertte;
Ase tid to [a] Sarasin a wond
And breide a swerd out of is honde,
And fifti Sarasins in þat stonde[635]
Þarwiþ a ȝaf hem dedli wonde,
And sum he strok of þe swire
Þat þe heued fleȝ into þe riuere,
And sum he clef euene asonder;
Here hors is fet þai laine vnder.[640]
Ne was þer non þat miȝte ascape,
So Beues slouȝ hem in a rape;
Þe stedes hom to stable ran
Wiþoute kenning of eni man.
Beues hom began to ride,[645]
His wondes bledde be ech side;
Þe stede he graiþed vp anon,
Into his chaumber he gan gon
And leide him deueling on þe grounde
To kolen is hertte in þat stounde.[650]
Tiding com to king Ermyn
Þat Beues hadde mad is men tyn.
Þe king swor and seide is sawe
For þi a scholde ben todrawe.
¶ Vp stod þat maide Iosian[655]
And to hire fader ȝhe seide þan
‘Sire, ich wot wel in me þouȝt
Þat þine men no slouȝ he nouȝt,
Be Mahoun ne be Tervagaunt,
Boute hit were him self defendaunt.[660]
Ac, fader’ ȝhe seide ‘be me red, [f.179vb] [Image]
Er þow do Beues to ded,
Ich praie, sire, for loue o me
Do bringe þat child before þe.
Whan þe child þat is so bold[665]
His owene tale haþ itolde,
And þow wite þe soþ, apliȝt,
Who haþ þe wrong, who haþ riȝt,
ȝef him his dom þat he schel haue,
Whaþer þow wilt him slen or saue.’[670]
King Ermyn seide ‘Me douȝter fre,
Ase þow hauest seid so it schel be.’
Iosiane þo anonriȝtes
Clepede to hire twei kniȝtes
‘To Beues now wende ȝe[675]
And prai him þat he come to me.
Er me fader arise fro his des
Ful wel ich schel maken is pes.’
Forþ þe kniȝtes gonne gon,
To Beues chaumber þai come anon[680]
And praide ase he was gentil man
Come speke wiþ Iosian.
Beues stoutliche in þat stounde
Haf vp is heued fro þe grounde;
Wiþ stepe eiȝen & rowe bren[685]
So loþeliche he gan on hem sen,
Þe twei kniȝtes þar þai stode
Þai were [aferde], hii wer niȝ wode.
A seide ‘ȝif ȝe ner masegers
Ich wolde ȝow sle, losengers.[690]
I nele rise o fot fro þe grounde
For speke wiþ an heþene hounde.
ȝhe is an honde also be ȝe,
Out of me chaumber swiþe ȝe fle.’
Þe kniȝtes wenten out in rape,[695]
Þai were fain so to ascape.
To Iosian þai wente as tit
And seide ‘of him is gret despit.
Sertes, a clepede þe heþene hound
Þries in a lite stounde;[700]
We nolde for al Ermonie
Eft sones se him wiþ our eie.’
‘Hardeliche’ ȝhe seide’ comeþ wiþ me
And ich wile ȝour waraunt be.’
Forþ þai wente al isame [f.180ra] [Image] [705]
To Beues chaumber þat he came.
‘Lemman’ ȝhe seide ‘gent and fre, [ and: d is superscript.]
For Godes loue spek wiþ me.’
ȝhe keste him boþe moþ & chin
And ȝaf him confort gode afin;[710]
So him solaste þat mai,
Þat al is care wente awai,
And seide ‘Lemman, þin ore.
Icham iwonded swiþe sore.’
‘Lemman’ ȝhe seide ‘wiþ gode entent[715]
Ichaue brouȝt an oyniment
For make þe boþe hol & fere;
Wende we to me fader dere.’
Forþ þai wenten an hiȝing
Til Ermyn þe riche king,[720]
And Beues tolde vnto him þan
How þat stour ended & gan,
And schewed on him in þat stounde
Fourti grete grisli wounde.
¶ Þanne seide king Ermin þe hore[725]
‘I nolde, Beues, þat þow ded wore
For al þe londes þat ichaue.
Ich praie, douȝter, þat þow him saue
And proue to hele ase þow can
Þe wondes of þat douȝti man.’[730]
Into chaumber ȝhe gan him take
And riche baþes ȝhe let him make
Þat wiþinne a lite stonde
He was boþe hol and sonde.
Þanne was he ase fresch to fiȝt[735]
So was þe faukoun to þe fliȝt.
His oþer prowesse who wile lere,
Hende herkneþ, and ȝe mai here.
A wilde bor þar was aboute,
Ech man of him hadde gret doute.[740]
Man and houndes þat he tok
Wiþ his toskes he al toschok.
Þei him hontede kniȝtes tene,
Þarof no ȝef he nouȝt a bene.
At is mouþ fif toskes stoden out,[745]
Euerich was fif enches about;
His sides wer hard & strong,
His brostles were gret & long;
Him self was fel and kouþe fiȝte, [f.180rb] [Image]
No man sle him ne miȝte.[750]
¶ Beues lay in is bedde aniȝt
And þouȝte, a wolde keþen is miȝt
Vpon þat swin him self one,
Þat noman scholde wiþ him gone.
Amorwe whan hit was da[i] cler[755]
Ariseþ kniȝt and squier.
Beues let sadlen is ronsi,
Þat bor a þouȝte to honti,
A gerte him wiþ a gode brond
And tok a spere in is hond,[760]
A scheld a heng vpon is side,
Toward þe wode he gan ride.
Iosian þat maide him beheld,
Al hire loue to him ȝhe feld;
To hire self ȝhe seide, þer ȝhe stod[765]
‘Ne kepte y neuer more gode
Ne namore of al þis worldes blisse
Þanne Beues wiþ loue o time te kisse;
In gode time were boren,
Þat Beues hadde to lemman koren.’[770]
Þo Beues into þe wode cam
His scheld aboute is nekke a nam
And tide his hors to an hei þorn
And blew a blast wiþ is horn;
Þre motes a blew al arowe[775]
Þat þe bor him scholde knowe.
Þo he com to þe bor is dan
A seȝ þer bones of dede man
Þe bor hadde slawe in þe wode,
I-eten here flesch & dronke her blode.[780]
‘Aris,’ queþ Beues ‘corsede gast
And ȝem me bataile wel in hast.’
Sone so þe bor him siȝ
A rerde is brosteles wel an hiȝ
And starede on Beues wiþ eien ho[l]we,[785]
Also a wolde him haue aswolwe;
And for þe bor ȝenede so wide
A spere Beues let to him glide.
On þe scholder he smot þe bor,
His spere barst to pises þore.[790]
Þe bor stod stille aȝen þe dent,
His hyde was harde ase eni flent.
Now al toborste is Beues spere, [f.180va] [Image]
A drouȝ his swerd him self to were,
And fauȝt aȝen þe bor so grim;[795]
A smot þe bor and he to him.
Þus þe bataile gan leste long
Til þe time of euesong,
Þat Beues was so weri of-fouȝte,
Þat of is lif he no rouȝte;[800]
And þo þe bor was also,
Awai fro Beues he gan go,
Wile Beues made is praier
To God and Mari is moder dere
Whaþer scholde oþer slen.[805]
Wiþ þat com þe bor aȝen
And bente is brostles vp, saunfaile,
Aȝen Beues to ȝeue bataile;
Out at is mouþ in aiþer side
Þe foim ful ferli gan out glide;[810]
And Beues in þat ilche venev,
Þourȝ Godes grace & is vertv
Wiþ is swerd out a slinte
Twei toskes at þe ferste dent;
A spanne of þe groin beforn[815]
Wiþ is swerd he haþ of schoren.
Þo þe bor so loude cride,
Out of þe forest wide and side,
To þe castel þar þat lai Ermin,
Men herde þe noise of þe swin;[820]
And alse he made þat loþeli cri
His swerd Beues hasteli
In at þe mouþ gan þreste þo
And karf his hertte euene ato.
Þe swerd a breide aȝen fot-hot[825]
And þe bor is heued of smot
And on a tronsoun of is spere
Þat heued a stikede for to bere.
Þanne a sette horn to mouþe
And blew þe pris ase [he] wel kouþe,[830]
So glad he was for is honting.
Þat heued a þouȝte Iosian bring,
& er he com to þat maide fre
Him com strokes so gret plente
Þat fain he was to weren is hed[835]
And saue him self fro þe ded.
A stiward was wiþ king Ermin [f.180vb] [Image]
Þat hadde tiȝt to sle þat swin;
To Beues a bar gret envie
For þat he hadde þe meistrie;[840]
He dede arme his kniȝtes stoute,
Foure and twenti in a route,
And ten forsters also he tok,
And wente to wode seiþ þe bok.
Þarof ne wiste Beues nouȝt[845]
Helpe him God þat alle þing wrouȝt
In is wei he rit pas for pas.
Herkneþ now a ferli cas.
A wende pasi in griþ & pes,
Þe stiward cride ‘leiþ on & sles.’[850]
¶ Beues seȝ þat hii to him ferde,
A wolde drawe to is swerde.
Þanne hadde he leued it þor
Þar he hadde slawe þe bor.
He nadde noþing him self to were[855]
Boute a tronsoun of a spere.
Þo was Beues sore desmeid,
Þe heued fro þe tronsoun a braid
And wiþ þe bor is heued a fauȝt
And wan a swerd of miche mauȝt[860]
Þat Morgelai was cleped, apliȝt;
Beter swerd bar neuer kniȝt.
Þo Beues hadde þat swerd an hond
Among þe heþene kniȝtes a wond
And sum vpon þe helm a hitte,[865]
Into þe sadel he hem slitte,
And sum kniȝt Beues so ofrauȝte,
Þe heued of at þe ferste drauȝte.
So harde he gan to lein aboute
Among þe heþene kniȝtes stoute[870]
Þat non ne pasede hom, apliȝt;
So þourȝ þe grace of God almiȝt
Þe kinges stiward a hitte so
Þat is bodi a clef ato.
Þe dede kors a pulte adoun[875]
And lep him self into þe arsoun.
Þat strok him þouȝte wel iset
For he was horsed meche bet.
He þouȝte make pes doun riȝtes
Of þe forsters ase of þe kniȝtes;[880]
To hem faste he gan ride. [f.181ra] [Image]
Þai gonne schete be ech a side,
So mani arwes to him þai sende
Vnneþe a miȝte him self defende,
So þat in a lite stounde[885]
Þe ten forsters wer feld te grounde
And hew hem alle to pices smale
So hit is fonde in Frensche tale.
¶ Iosian lai in a castel
& seȝ þat sconfit euerich del[890]
‘O Mahoun’ ȝhe seide ‘oure driȝte,
What Beues is man of meche miȝte.
Al þis world ȝif ich it hedde
Ich him ȝeue me to wedde;
Boute he me loue icham ded.[895]
Swete Mahoun, what is þe red?
Loue-longing me haþ becouȝt,
Þarof wot Beues riȝt nouȝt.’
Þus þat maide (maide) made hire mon
Þar ȝhe stod in þe tour al on,[900]
And Beues þar þe folk beleued
And wente hom wiþ þe heued;
Þat heued of þat wilde swin
He presente to king Ermin.
Þe king þarof was glad & bliþe[905]
And þankede him ful mani a siþe,
Ac he ne wiste þerof nowiȝt,
How is stiward to deþe was diȝt.
Þre ȝer after þat bataile
Þat Beues þe bor gan asaile[910]
A king þer com into Ermonie
And þouȝte winne wiþ meistrie
Iosiane þat maide briȝt
Þat louede Beues wiþ al hire miȝt.
Brademond cride ase he wer wod[915]
To king Ermin þar a stod
‘King’ a seide swiþe bliue
‘ȝem me þe douȝter to wiue.
ȝef þow me wernest wiþouten faile
I schel winne hire in plein bataile;[920]
On fele half I schel þe anvȝe
And al þe londe I schel destruȝe
And þe sle so mai betide,
And lay hire a niȝt be me side,
And after I wile þe douȝter ȝeue [f.181rb] [Image] [925]
To a weine pain þat is fordriue.’
Ermin answerde bliue an hiȝe
‘Be Mahoun, sire, þow schelt liȝe.’
Adoun of his tour a went
And after al is kniȝtes a sent[930]
And tolde hem how Brademond him asailed hadde
And askede hem alle what hii radde.
A word þanne spak þat maiden briȝt
‘Be Mahoun, sire, wer Beues a kniȝt
A wolde defende þe wel inouȝ.[935]
Me self I seȝ whar he slouȝ
ȝour owene stiward him beset,
Al one in þe wode wiþ him a met,
At wode he hadde his swerd beleued
Þar he smot of þe bores heued;[940]
He nadde noþing him self to were
Boute a tronsoun of is spere
And ȝour stiward gret peple hadde,
Four and twenti kniȝtes a ladde
Al y-armed to þe teþ,[945]
And eueri hadde swore is deþ,
And ten forsters of þe forest
Wiþ him a brouȝte ase prest,
Þat þouȝte him haue slawe þore
And take þe heued of þe bore,[950]
And ȝeue þe stiward þe renoun.
Þo Beues seȝ þat foule tresoun
A leide on wiþ þe bor is heued
Til þat hii were adoun iweued,
And of þe stiward a wan þat day[955]
His gode swerd Morgelay.
Þe ten forsters also a slouȝ
And hom a pasede wel inouȝ,
Þat he of hem hadde no loþe.’
King Ermyn þanne swor is oþe[960]
Þat he scholde be maked kniȝt
His baner to bere in þat fiȝt.
¶ He clepede Beues at þat sake
And seide ‘kniȝt ich wile þe make.
Þow schelt bere into bataile[965]
Me baner Brademond to asaile.’
Beues answerde wiþ bliþe mod
‘Bleþelich’ a seide ‘be þe rod.’
King Ermin þo anonriȝte [f.181va] [Image]
Dobbede Beues vnto kniȝte[970]
And ȝaf him a scheld gode & sur
Wiþ þre eglen of asur,
Þe champe of gold ful wel idiȝt
Wiþ fif sables of seluer briȝt;
Siþe a gerte him wiþ Morgelay,[975]
A gonfanoun wel stout and gay
Iosian him brouȝte for to bere.
Sent of þe scheld y ȝow swere.
¶ Beues dede on is actoun,
Hit was worþ mani a toun;[980]
An hauberk him brouȝte þat mai,
So seiden alle þat hit isai.
Hit was wel iwrouȝt & faire,
Non egge tol miȝte it nouȝt paire.
After þat ȝhe ȝaf him a stede[985]
Þat swiþe gode was at nede,
For hit was swift & ernede wel.
Me clepede hit Arondel.
Beues in þe sadel lep,
His ost him folwede al to hep[990]
Wiþ baner briȝt & scheldes schene,
Þretti þosent and fiftene.
Þe ferste scheldtrome Beues nam.
Brademond aȝenes him cam;
His baner bar þe king Redefoun[995]
Þat leuede on sire Mahoun.
Row he was also a schep,
Beues of him nam gode kep.
He smot Arondel wiþ spures of golde;
Þanne þouȝte þat hors þat he scholde.[1000]
Aȝen Redefoun Beues gan ride
And smot him þourȝout boþe side.
Hauberk ne scheld ne actoun
Ne vailede him nouȝt worþ a botoun
Þat he ne fel ded to þe grounde.[1005]
‘Reste þe’ queþ Beues ‘heþen hounde.
Þe hadde beter atom þan here.’
‘Lay on faste’ a bad his fere.
¶ Þo laide þai on wiþ eger mod
And slowe Sarsins as hii wer wod,[1010]
And sire Beues þe Cristene kniȝt
Slouȝ ase mani in þat fiȝt
Wiþ Morgelay him self alone [f.181vb] [Image]
Ase þai deden euerichone.
And euer hii were to fiȝte prest[1015]
Til þat þe sonne set [in þe west]. [ set: MS reads riȝt.]
Beues and is ost wiþinne a stounde
Sexti þosent þai felde to grounde
Þat were out of Dameske isent
Þat neuer on homward ne went.[1020]
Þo Brademond seȝ is folk islayn,
A fleȝ awei wiþ miȝte & mayn.
Ase he com ride be a cost
Twei kniȝtes a fond of Beues ost.
Of his stede he gan doun liȝte[1025]
And bond hem boþe anonriȝte
And þouȝte hem lede to his prisoun
And haue for hem gret raunsoun.
Ase he trosede hem on is stede
Beues of hem nam gode hede[1030]
And hasteliche in þat tide
After Brademond he gan ride
And seide ‘Brademond, olde wreche,
Ertow come Iosane to feche?
Erst þow schelt pase þourȝ min hond[1035]
And þourȝ Morgelay me gode brond.’
Wiþouten eni wordes mo
Beues Brademond hitte so
Vpon is helm in þat stounde
Þat a felde him flat to grounde.[1040]
‘Merci!’ queþ [Bradmond] ‘ich me ȝelde
Recreaunt to þe in þis felde;
So harde þe smitest vpon me kroun,
Ich do me alle in þe bandoun,
Sexti cites wiþ castel tour[1045]
Þin owen, Beues, to þin onour,
Wiþ þat þow lete me ascape.’
Beues answerde þo in rape
‘Nay,’ a seide ‘be sein Martyn,
Icham iswore to king Ermin,[1050]
Al þat ich do it is [his] dede;
Þarfore, sire, so God me spede,
Þow schelt swere vpon þe lay
Þow schelt werre on him niȝt ne dai
And omage eche ȝer him ȝelde[1055]
And al þe londe of him helde.’
Brademond answerde anonriȝte [f.182ra] [Image]
‘Þarto me treuþe y þe pliȝte
Þat I ne schel neuer don him dere
Ne aȝen þe, Beues, armes bere.’[1060]
And whan he hadde swore so
Beues let king Brademond go.
Allas, þat he nadde him slawe
And ibrouȝt of is lif dawe.
For siþ þe for al is faire beheste[1065]
Mani dai a maked him feste,
In is prisoun a lai seue ȝere
Ase ȝe may now forþward here.
Beues rod hom & gan to singe
& seide to Ermin þe kinge[1070]
‘Sire, Brademond king of Sarasine,
A is become one of þine;
Þe man a is to þen heste
While his lif wile leste.
Londes and ledes al þat he walt[1075]
A saiþ, sire, of þe hem halt.’
Þanne was king Ermin at þat siþe
In is hertte swiþe bliþe.
A clepede is douȝter & saide
‘Iosian, þe faire maide,[1080]
Vnarme Beues, he wer at mete,
And serue þe self him þerate.
Þo nolde þat maide neuer blinne
Til ȝhe com to hire inne
Þar ȝhe lai hire selue aniȝt;[1085]
Þar ȝhe sette þat gentil kniȝt,
Hire self ȝaf him water to hond
And sette before him al is sonde.
Þo Beues hadde wel i-ete
& on þe maidenes bed isete,[1090]
Þat mai þat was so briȝt of hiwe
Þouȝte ȝhe wolde hire consaile schewe
And seide ‘Beues, lemman, þin ore.
Ichaue loued þe ful ȝore;
Sikerli can I no rede,[1095]
Boute þow me loue icham dede,
And boute þow wiþ me do þe wille.’
‘For Gode’ queþ [Beues] ‘þat ich nelle.’
‘Her is’ a seide ‘min vnliche,
Brademond king þat is so riche,[1100]
In al þis world nis þer man, [f.182rb] [Image]
Prinse ne king ne soudan,
Þat þe to wiue haue nolde,
And he þe hadde ones beholde.’
‘Merci’ ȝhe seide ‘ȝet wiþ þan[1105]
Ichauede þe leuer to me lemman,
Þe bodi in þe scherte naked,
Þan al þe gold þat Crist haþ maked,
And þow wost wiþ me do þe wille.’
‘For Gode’ queþ he ‘þat I do nelle.’[1110]
ȝhe fel adoun and wep riȝt sore
‘Þow seidest soþ her before.
In al þis world nis þer man,
Prinse ne king ne soudan,
Þat me to wiue haue nolde,[1115]
And he me hadde ones beholde,
And þow, cherl, me hauest forsake
Mahoun þe ȝeue tene and wrake.
Beter become þe iliche
For to fowen an olde diche[1120]
Þanne for to be dobbed kniȝt
Te gon among maidenes briȝt;
To oþer contre þow miȝt fare
Mahoun þe ȝeue tene & care.’
‘Damesele’ a seide ‘þow seist vnriȝt[1125]
Me fader was boþe erl & kniȝt.
How miȝte ich þanne ben a cherl
Whan me fader was kniȝt & erl?
To oþer contre ich wile te;
Scheltow me namore ise.[1130]
Þow ȝeue me an hors, lo it her!
I nel namore of þe daunger.’
Forþ him wente sire Beuoun
And tok is in in þat toun,
Sore aneiȝed and aschamed[1135]
For ȝhe hadde him so gramed.
Þo Beues was to toun igo
Þo began þat maidenes wo;
Þanne was hire wo wiþ alle,
Hire þouȝte þe tour wolde on hir falle.[1140]
ȝhe clepede hire chaumberlein Bonefas
And tolde to him al hire cas
And bad him to Beues wende
‘And sai him ich wile amende
Al togedre of word & dede [f.182va] [Image] [1145]
Of þat ichaue him misede.’
Forþ wente Bonefas in þat stounde
And Beues in is chaumber a founde
And seide ȝhe him þeder sende
And þat ȝhe wolde alle amende[1150]
Al togedres to is wille,
Boþe loude and eke stille.
¶ Þanne answerde Beues þe fer
‘Sai þow miȝt nouȝt speden her.
Ac for þow bringest fro hire mesage[1155]
I schel þe ȝeue to þe wage
A mantel whit so melk;
Þe broider is of tuli selk,
Beten abouten wiþ rede golde,
Þe king to were þeȝ a scholde.’[1160]
Bonefas him þankede ȝerne,
Hom aȝen he gan terne.
A fond þat maide in sorwe & care
And tolde hire his answare
Þat [he] ne miȝte nouȝt spede[1165]
Aboute hire nede
& seide ‘Þow haddest vnriȝt,
So te misai a noble kniȝt.’
‘Who ȝaf þe þis ilche wede?’
‘Beues, þat hendi kniȝt’ a sede.[1170]
‘Allas!’ ȝhe seide ‘ich was to blame
Whan ich seide him swiche schame
For hit nas neuer a ch[e]rles dede
To ȝeue a maseger swiche a wede.
Whan he nel nouȝt to me come,[1175]
Þe wei to his chaumber y wil neme,
And what euer of me befalle,
Ich wile wende into is halle.’
¶ Beues herde þat maide þeroute,
Ase ȝif aslep he gan to route.[1180]
‘Awake, lemman’ ȝhe seide ‘awake.
Icham icome me pes to make.
Lemman, for þe corteisie,
Spek wiþ me a word or tweie.’
‘Damesele’ queþ Beues þanne,[1185]
‘Let me ligge & go þe wei henne.
Icham weri of-fouȝte sore;
Ich fauȝt for þe, I nel namore.’
‘Merci’ ȝhe seide ‘lemman þin ore.’ [f.182vb] [Image]
ȝhe fel adoun & wep wel sore.[1190]
‘Men saiþ’ ȝhe seide ‘in olde riote
Þat wimmannes bolt is sone schote;
Forȝem me þat ichaue misede
And ich wile riȝt now to mede
Min false godes al forsake[1195]
And Cristendom for þe loue take.’
‘In þat maner’ queþ þe kniȝt
‘I graunte þe, me swete wiȝt.’
And kiste hire at þat cordement;
Þarfore he was neȝ after schent.[1200]
¶ Þe twei kniȝtes þat he vnbond
þat were in Brademondes hond,
He made þat on is chaumberlain
Him hadde be beter he hadde hem slein.
Þei wente to þe king & swor oþe[1205]
‘No wonder, sire, þeȝ ȝe be wroþe,
No wonder þeȝ ȝe ben agreued
Whan Beues, scherewe misbeleued,
Þe douȝter he haþ now forlain.
Hit [were] gode, sire, þat he wer slain.’[1210]
Hii lowe þe scherewes þat him gan wreie.
In helle mote þai hongen beie;
He dede noþing boute ones hire kiste,
Nouȝt elles bi hem men ne wiste.
Þarfore hit is soþ isaide[1215]
And in me rime riȝt wel ilaid:
Deliure a þef fro þe galwe,
He þe hateþ after be alle halwe.
‘Allas!’ queþ Ermin þe king
‘Wel sore me reweþ þat tiding.[1220]
Seþ þe he com me ferst to
So meche he haþ for me ido,
I ne miȝte for al peynim londe
Þat men dede him eni schonde.
Ac fain ich wolde awreke be,[1225]
Boute I ne miȝte hit nouȝt ise.’
Þanne bespak a Sarasin
Haue he Cristes kurs & myn
‘Sire, ȝhe scholle for is sake
A letter swiþe anon do make[1230]
To Brademond þe stronge king
And do him þeder þe letter bringe;
And in þe letter þe schelt saie [f.183ra] [Image]
Þat he haþ Iosian forlaie.’
Whan þe letter was come to þende[1235]
After Beues þe king let sende
And seide ‘Beues, þow most hanne
To Brademond þin owene manne;
Al in solas and in deliit
Þow most him bere þis ilche scriit.[1240]
Ac ȝif þow schelt me letter bere
Vpon þe lai þow schelt me swere
Þat þow ne schelt wiþ noman mele
To schewe þe prente of me sele.’
‘I wile’ queþ Beues ase snel[1245]
‘Þe leter bere treuliche & wel;
Haue ich Arondel me stede,
Ich wile fare into þat þede,
And Morgelai me gode bronde,
Ich wile wende into þat londe.’[1250]
King Ermin seide in is sawe
Þat ner no mesager is lawe,
To ride vpon an heui stede
Þat swiftli scholde don is nede:
‘Ac nim a liȝter hakenai[1255]
& lef her þe swerd Morgelai,
And þow schelt come to Brademonde
Sone wiþinne a lite stounde.’
Beues an hakenai bestrit
And in is wei forþ a rit[1260]
And bereþ wiþ him is owene deþ
Boute God him helpe þat alle þing seþ.
Terne we aȝen þar we wer er
& speke we of is em Saber.
After þat Beues was þus sold[1265]
For him is hertte was euer cold;
A clepede to him his sone Terri
And bad him wenden & aspie
Into eueri londe fer and ner
Whider him ladde þe maroner,[1270]
And seide ‘Sone, þow ert min owen,
Wel þow canst þe lord knowen.
Ich hote þe, sone, in alle manere
Þat þow him seche þis seue ȝer.
Ich wile feche him mowe þow him fynde[1275]
Þouȝ he be biȝende Ynde.’
Terri, is sone, is forþ ifare, [f.183rb] [Image]
Beues a souȝte eueriwhare;
In al heþenes nas toun non, [ nas: MS reads nan.]
Þat Cristene man miȝte þerin gon,[1280]
Þat he ne haþ Beues in isouȝt
Ac he ne kouþe finde him nouȝt.
So hit be fel vpon a cas
Þat Terri com beside Damas,
& ase he com forþ be þat stede[1285]
A sat and dinede in a wede
Vnder a faire medle tre
Þat sire Beues gan of[se].
‘Sire’ queþ Terri ‘for sein Iuline,
Is it þe wille com nere & dine.’[1290]
Beues was ofhongred sore
And kouþe him gret þank þerfore;
For twei dawes he hadde ride
Fastande in þat ilche wede.
¶ Þe palmer nas nouȝt wiþouten store,[1295]
Inouȝ a leide him before,
Bred and flesc out of is male
And of his flaketes win & ale.
Whan Beues hadde eten gret foisoun
Terri askede at sire Beuoun[1300]
ȝif a herde telle ȝong or olde
Of a child þat þeder was solde
‘His name was ihote Beuoun,
Ibore a was at Souþhamtoun.’
Beues beheld Terri & louȝ[1305]
& seide a knew þat child wel inouȝ
‘Hit is nouȝt’ a seide ‘gon longe
I seȝ þe Sarsins þat child anhonge.’
Terri fel þer doun and swouȝ,
His her, his cloþes he al todrouȝ.[1310]
Whan he awok and speke miȝte
Sore a wep and sore siȝte
And seide ‘Allas, þat he was boren!
Is me lord Beues forloren?’
Beues tok him vp at þat cas[1315]
And gan him for to solas
‘Wend hom’ a seide ‘to þe contre.
Sai þe frendes so ichaue þe.
Þouȝ þow him seche þes seue ȝer
Þow worst þat child neuer þe ner.’[1320]
Terri on Beues beheld [f.183va] [Image]
And seȝ þe boiste wiþ a scheld.
‘Me þenkeþ þow ert a masager
Þat in þis londe walkes her;
Icham a clerk and to scole ȝede.[1325]
Sire, let me þe letter rede
For þow miȝt haue gret doute [ For: MS reads Fer.]
Þin owene deþ to bere aboute.’
Beues seide, ich vnderstonde
‘He þat me tok þis letter an honde,[1330]
He ne wolde [loue] me non oþer
Þan ich were is owene broþer.’
Beues him þankede & þus hii delde.
Terri wente hom and telde
His fader Saber in þe ilde of Wiȝt[1335]
How him tolde a gentil kniȝt
Þat Sarsins hadde Beues forfare
And hangede him while he was þare.
¶ Saber wep and made drem,
For he was þe childes em[1340]
And ech ȝer on a dai certaine
Vpon þemperur of Almaine
Wiþ a wel gret baronage
A cleimede his eritage.
Let we now ben is em Saber[1345]
& speke of Beues þe maseger.
Forþ him wente sire Beuoun
Til a com to Dames toun.
Aboute þe time of middai
Out of a mameri a sai[1350]
Sarasins come gret foisoun
Þat hadde anoured here Mahoun.
Beues of is palfrei aliȝte
And ran to her mameri ful riȝte
And slouȝ here prest þat þer was in[1355]
And þrew here godes in þe fen
And louȝ hem alle þer to scorn.
On ascapede and at-orn
In at þe castel ȝete
Ase þe king sat at þe mete.[1360]
‘Sire’ seide þis man at þe frome,
‘Her is icome a corsede gome
Þat þroweþ our godes in þe fen
And sleþ al oure men;
Vnneþe I scapede among þat þring [f.183vb] [Image] [1365]
For to bringe þe tiding.’
Brademond quakede at þe bord
& seide ‘þat is Beues me lord.’
Beues wente in at þe castel ȝate,
His hors he lefte þerate[1370]
And wente forþ into þe halle
And grete hem in þis maner alle
‘God þat made þis world a[l] ronde
Þe saue, sire king Brademond,
And ek alle þine fere[1375]
Þat I se now here,
And ȝif þat ilche blessing
Likeþ þe riȝt noþing,
Mahoun, þat is god þin,
Teruagaunt & Apolin[1380]
Þe blessi and diȝte
Be alle here miȝte.
Lo her þe king Ermin
Þe sente þis letter in parchemin,
And ase þe letter þe telleþ to[1385]
A bad þow scholdest swiþe do.’
Beues kneuled & nolde nouȝt stonde
& ȝaf vp is deþ wiþ is owene honde.
¶ Brademond quakede al for drede,
He vndede þe letter & gan to rede[1390]
And fond iwriten in þat felle
How þat he scholde Beues aquelle.
Þanne seide Brademond to twenti king
Þat were þat dai at is gistning
A spak wiþ tresoun & wiþ gile[1395]
‘Ariseþ vp’ he sede ‘a while
Euerich of ȝow fro þe bord,
And wolcomeþ ȝour kende lord.’
Alle hii gonnen vp riȝt stonde,
& Brademond tok Beues be þe honde[1400]
And held him faste at þat sake
Þat he ne scholde is swerd out take
& cride alse he hadde be wod
To hem alle aboute him stod
‘Ase ȝe me louen at þis stounde[1405]
Bringeþ þis man swiþe to grounde.’
So faste hii gonne aboute him scheue,
Ase don ben aboute þe heue.
So wiþinne a lite stounde [f.184ra] [Image]
Beues was ibrouȝt to grounde.[1410]
Brademond seide him anonriȝt
‘ȝif þow me naddest wonne wiþ fiȝt,
I nolde for noþing hit beleue
Þat þow schost be hanged er eue,
Ac ase euel þe schel betide[1415]
In me prisoun þow schelt abide
Vnder þerþe twenti teise
Þar þow schelt haue meche miseise.
Ne scheltow haue til þow be ded
Boute ech a dai quarter of a lof bred;[1420]
ȝif þow wilt drinke þeȝ it be nouȝt swet
Þe schelt hit take vnder þe fet.’
A dede Beues binde to a ston gret
Þat weȝ seue quarters of whet
And het him caste into prisoun[1425]
Þat twenti teise was dep adoun.
At þe prisoun dore Beues fond
A tronsoun þat he tok in is hond.
Þarwiþ a þouȝte were him þere
Fram wormes þat in prisoun were.[1430]
Now is Beues at þis petes grounde
God bringe him vp hol and sonde.
Now speke we of Iosian þe maide,
Þat com to hire fader & saide
‘Sire’ ȝhe seide ‘whar Beues be[1435]
Þat me miȝte him nouȝt fern ise?’
‘Douȝter’ a seide ‘a is ifare
Into his londe and woneþ þare,
Into is owene eritage,
And haþ a wif of gret parage,[1440]
Þe kinges douȝter of Ingelonde,
Ase men doþ me to vnderstonde.’
Þanne was þat maide wo ynouȝ,
In hire chaumber hire her ȝhe droȝ
And wep and seide euer mo[1445]
Þat sum tresoun þar was ydo
‘Þat me ne telde ord and ende
What dai a[wai] whanne a wolde wende.’
Of Mombraunt þe king Yuor,
A riche king of gret tresore,[1450]
Whan he owhar to werre wolde
Fiftene kinges him sewe scholde;
Comen a is Iosian to wedde. [f.184rb] [Image]
Aȝen hire fader so a spedde
Þat he hire grauntede to is wiue[1455]
And al is londe after is liue.
Þo Iosian wiste ȝhe scholde be quen
Hit was nouȝt be hire wille, I wen;
Hire were leuer haue had lasse
And haue be Beues is contasse.[1460]
Naþeles now it is so,
Hire fader wil ȝhe moste do,
Ac euer ȝhe seide ‘Beuoun,
Hende kniȝt of Souþhamtoun,
Naddestow me neuer forsake[1465]
ȝif sum tresoun hit nadde make;
Ac for þe loue þat was so gode,
Þat I louede ase min hertte blode,
Ichaue’ ȝhe seide ‘a ring on
Þat of swiche vertu is þe ston:[1470]
While ichaue on þat ilche ring
To me schel noman haue welling,
And, Beues’ ȝhe seide ‘be God aboue,
I schel it weren for þe loue.’
¶ Whan hit to þat time spedde[1475]
Þat Yuor scholde þat maide wedde
He let sende wiþouten ensoine
After þe soudan of Babiloine
And after þe fiftene kinge
Þat him scholde omage bringe,[1480]
And bad hem come lest & meste
To onoure þat meri feste.
Of þat feste nel ich namor telle [ Of: MS reads If.]
For to hiȝe wiþ our spelle.
Whan al þe feste toȝede,[1485]
Ech kniȝt wente to is stede.
Men graitede cartes & somers,
Kniȝtes to horse and squiers,
And Iosian wiþ meche care
Þeder was brouȝt in hire chare.[1490]
King Ermin nom Arondel
And let him sadlen faire & wel
A wente te Beues chaumber þer he lay
And nom his swerd Morgelay;
Wiþ Arondel agan it lede[1495]
To king Yuor & þus a sede
‘Sone’ a sede ‘haue þis stede, [f.184va] [Image]
Þe beste fole þat man mai fede,
And þis swerd of stel broun
Þat was Beues of Hamtoun.[1500]
A nolde hit ȝeue wer it in is honde,
Nouȝt for al painim londe.’
‘Ne ich’ queþ þe king Yuor
‘For al þe gold ne þe tresor
Þat þow miȝt in þe cite belouke.’[1505]
‘Sone’ queþ Ermin ‘wel mot þe it brouke.’
Yuer gan homward te ride
& dede lede Arondel be is side.
Whan he com wiþoute Mombraunt
A swor is oþ be Teruagaunt[1510]
Þat he wolde into his cite ride
Vpon Arondel before is bride.
Arondel þar he bestrit;
Þat hors wel sone vnderȝit
Þat Beues nas nouȝt vpon is rigge[1515]
Þe king wel sore scholde hit abegge.
He ran ouer dich and þorn,
Þourȝ wode & þourȝ þekke korn;
For no water ne for no londe,
Nowhar nolde þat stede astonde;[1520]
At þe laste a þrew Yuor doun
And al tobrak þe kinges kroun
Þat al is kingdom wel vnneþe
Arerede him þer fro þe deþe;
And er hii miȝte þat hors winne[1525]
Þai lauȝte him wiþ queinte ginne.
A wonder þing now ȝe may here.
After al þat seue ȝere
To rakenteis a stod iteide,
Nas mete ne drinke before him leid,[1530]
Hey ne oten ne water clere,
Boute be a kord of a solere.
Noman dorste come him hende,
Þar þat hors stod in bende.
Now is Iosian a quene,[1535]
Beues in prisoun haþ gret tene.
Þe romounce telleþ þer a set
Til þe her on is heued greu to is fet.
Snakes and euetes & oades fale
How mani can I nouȝt telle in tale[1540]
Þat in þe prisoun were wiþ him [f.184vb] [Image]
Þat prouede euer wiþ her venim
To sle Beues þat gentil kniȝt;
Oc þourȝ þe grace of God almiȝt
Wiþ þe tronsoun þat he to prisoun tok[1545]
A slouȝ hem alle, so saiþ þe bok.
A fleande nadder was in an hole,
For elde blak ase eni cole;
Vnto Beues ȝhe gan flinge
And in þe forehed þouȝte him stinge.[1550]
Beues was redi wiþ is tronsoun
And smot hire þat ȝhe fel adoun.
Vpon aȝen þe nadder rowe
And breide awei his riȝt browe;
Þo was Beues sore agreued[1555]
And smot þe nadder on þe heued;
So harde dent he hire ȝaf
Þe brein cleuede on is staf.
Doun fel þe nadder, wiþouten faile,
And smot so Beues wiþ þe taile[1560]
Þat neȝ a les þer contenaunse,
Almest is lif was in balaunse.
Whan he awakede of þat swouȝ,
Þe tronsoun eft to him a drouȝ
And bet hire al to pises smale,[1565]
Ase hit is fonde in Frensche tale.
Þo he hadde slawe þe foule fendes,
Be þat hadde Beues lein in bendes
Seue ȝer in peines grete,
Lite idronke & lasse i-ete;[1570]
His browe stank for defaut of ȝeme
Þat it set after ase a seme,
Wharþourȝ þat maide ne kneu him nouȝt,
Whan hii were eft togedre brouȝt.
On a dai ase he was mad & feint[1575]
To Ihesu Crist he made is pleint
& to his moder seinte Marie
Reuliche he gan to hem crie
‘Lord’ a seide ‘heuene-king,
Schepere of erþe & alle þing,[1580]
What haue ich so meche misgilt
Þat þow sext & þolen wilt
Þat þe weþerwines & þe fo
Schel þe seruaunt do þis wo?
Ich bedde þe, lord, for þe pite [f.185ra] [Image] [1585]
Þat þow haue merci on me
And ȝeue grace hennes to gange
Or sone be drawen oþer anhange.
Me rouȝte neuer what deþ to me come
Wiþ þat ich were hennes nome.’[1590]
Þe gailers þat him scholde ȝeme, [ gailers: s is superscript.]
Whan hii herde him þus reme,
‘Þef, cherl,’ seide þat on þo
‘Now beþ þe lif dawes ydo;
For king ne kaiser ne for no sore[1595]
Ne scheltow leue no lenger more.’
Anonriȝtes wiþ þat word
A laumpe he let doun be a cord,
A swerd a tok be his side,
And be þe cord he gan doun glide[1600]
And smot him wiþ þat oþer hond,
& Beues to þe grounde a wond.
¶ ‘Allas’ queþ Beues ‘þat ilche stounde.
‘Wo is þe man þat liþ ybounde
Medel boþe fet and honde.[1605]
Þo ich com ferst into þis londe
Hadde ich had me swerd Morgelay
And Arondel me gode palfray
For Dames, nadde be tresoun,
I nolde haue ȝeue a botoun,[1610]
And now þe meste wreche of alle
Wiþ a strok me [doþ] adoun falle;
Bidde ich neuer wiþ Ihesu speke
Boute ich þerof ben awreke.’
A smot þe gailer wiþ is fest[1615]
Þat is nekke him toberst.
His felawe aboue gan to crie
‘Hiȝe hider felawe’ queþ Beues ‘hiȝe.’
‘ȝif þow most haue help’ a sede
‘Ich come to þe wiþ a gode spede.’[1620]
‘ȝis’ queþ Beues, al for gile, [ ȝis: MS reads ȝif.]
And knette þe rop þarwhile
Ase hiȝ ase a miȝte reche.
Þo queþ Beues wiþ reuful speche
‘For þe loue of sein Mahoun,[1625]
Be þe rop glid bliue adoun
And help þat þis þef wer ded.’
Whan he hadde þus ised,
Þat oþer gailer no leng abod [f.185rb] [Image]
Boute be [þe] rop adoun he glod.[1630]
Whan þe rop failede in is hond
Beues held vp þat gode bronde
And felde to gronde þat sori wiȝt,
Þourȝout is bodi þat swerd he piȝt.
Now er þai ded þe geilers tweie[1635]
& Beues liþ to þe rakenteie;
His lif him þouȝte al to long,
Þre daies after he ne et ne drong.
Tofore þat for soþe to sai
A was woned ech oþer dai[1640]
Of bere lof to haue a quarter
To his mete & to his diner;
And for is meisters wer boþe ded
Þre daies after he ne et no bred.
To Ihesu Crist he bed a bone[1645]
And he him grauntede wel sone;
So ȝerne he gan to Ihesu speke
Þat his vetres gonne breke
And of is medel þe grete ston.
Ihesu Crist he þankede anon,[1650]
A wente quik out of pr[i]soun
Be þe rop þe gailer com adoun,
And wente into þe castel riȝt,
Ac it was aboute þe midniȝt.
He lokede aboute fer & ner, [1655] [ & is superscript.]
Noman wakande ne seȝ he þer;
He beheld forþer a lite
To a chaunber vnder a garite,
Þarinne he seȝ torges iliȝt.
Beues wente þeder ful riȝt,[1660]
Twelf kniȝtes a fond þer aslepe,
Þat hadde þe castel for to kepe;
Þe chaumber dore a fond vnsteke,
And priueliche he gan in reke
And armede him in yrene wede,[1665]
Þe beste þat he fond at nede,
And gerte him wiþ a gode bronde
And tok a gode spere in is honde;
A scheld aboute is nekke he cast
And wente out of þe chaumber in hast.[1670]
Forþer a herde in a stable
Pages fele, wiþoute fable,
Ase þai sete in here ragin[g]; [f.185va] [Image]
In at þe dore Beues gan spring,
And for þai scholde him nouȝt wrain, [1675] [ scholde: e in much darker ink.]
Vnder his hond he made him plai.
& whan þe Sarasins wer islawe
Þe beste stede he let forþ drawe
And sadelede hit & wel adiȝt
And wente him forþ anonriȝt[1680]
And gan to crie wiþ loude steuen
And þe porter he gan neuenen
‘Awake’ a seide ‘proude felawe,
Þow were worþi ben hanged & drawe.
Hiȝe þe gates wer vnsteke.[1685]
Beues is out of pr[i]soun reke
And icham sent now for is sake
Þe treitour ȝif ich miȝte oftake.’
Þe porter was al bewaped
‘Allas!’ queþ he ‘Is Beues ascaped?’[1690]
Vp he caste þe gates wide
And Beues bi him gan out ride
And tok is wei ful hastelie
Toward þe londe of Ermonie.
He nadde ride in is wei[1695]
Boute seue mile of þat contrei,
He wex asleped wonder sore,
He miȝte ride no forþer more;
He reinede his hors to a chesteine
And felle aslepe vpon þe pleine;[1700]
And alse a slep in is sweuene
Him þouȝte Brademond & kinges seuen
Stod ouer him wiþ swerdes drawe,
Al slepande him wolde han slawe.
Of þat sweuen he was ofdrad,[1705]
He lep to hors ase he wer mad,
Towarde Damas agein, apliȝt.
Now reste we her a lite wiȝt
& speke we scholle of Brademond.
Amorwe whan he it hadde ifonde[1710]
Þat Beues was ascaped so
In is hertte him was ful wo.
Þat time be comin acent
Þar was com in parlement
Erles, barouns lasse & more, [1715] [ barouns: MS reads kinges.]
& fiftene kinges wer samned þore.
To hem Brademond tolde þare [f.185vb] [Image]
Þat Beues was fro him ifare,
And bad help wiþ miȝt & main,
For to feche Beues again.[1720]
A king þar was swiþe fer,
His nam was hote Grander,
An hors he hadde of gret pris
Þat was icleped Trinchefis;
For him a ȝaf seluer wiȝt[1725]
Er he þat hors haue miȝt.
He armede him in yrene wede,
Seue kniȝtes he gan wiþ him lede
And prikede forþ on Trenchefis
And wende wenne meche pris;[1730]
And Beues sone he gan se
Ase he rod toward þe cite.
‘Aȝilt þe’ a seide ‘þow fox welp,
Þe god schel þe noþing help,
For her þourȝ min hondes one,[1735]
For soþe, þow schelt þe lif forgon.’
‘So me helpe God’ queþ Beues þo,
‘Hit were no meistri me to slo,
For þis is þe ferþe dai agon
Mete ne drinke ne bot I non;[1740]
Ac naþeles, God it wot,
ȝif ich alle nedes mot
ȝit ich wile asaie
A lite box þe to paie.’
King Grander was of herte grim[1745]
& rod to Beues & he to him;
And ase þei boþe togedre mete,
Wiþ here launces þei gonne mete
Þat hit gunnen al todriue
& teborsten on pises fiue.[1750]
Here swerdes drowe kniȝtes stoute
And fiȝteþ faste it is no doute;
Þe medwe squauȝte of her dentes,
Þe fur fleȝ out so spark o flintes;
Þus þai leide on in boþe side[1755]
Betwene midmorwe & vndertide.
King Grander was agremed strong
Þat sire Beues him stod so long
And wiþ is swerd a hitte is scheld, [ scheld: originally sheld.]
A quarter fel into þe feld,[1760]
Hauberk, plate and aktoun, [f.186ra] [Image]
Into Beues forþer arsoun
Half a fot he karf doun riȝt.
Þo Beues seȝ þat strok of miȝt
A seide ‘þat dent was wel iset,[1765]
Fasten y wile anoþer bet.’
Wiþ þat word Beues smot doun
Grander is scheld wiþ is fachoun,
And is left hande be þe wrest
Hit fleȝ awei þourȝ help of Crist.[1770]
Þo Grander hadde his scheld ilore
He fauȝt ase he wer wode þerfore;
A ȝaf Beues strokes þat tide,
Non ne moste oþer abide.
Beues þerof was agreued[1775]
And smot of king Grander is heued, [ heued: ed is superscript.]
Þe dede kors in þat þrowe
Fel out ouer þe sadelbowe.
Þo king Grander was islawe,
Þe seue kniȝtes of heþen lawe[1780]
Beues slouȝ þat ilche stounde,
So hit is in Fr[e]nsch yfounde.
For nouȝt Beues nolde belaue,
Þe beter hors a wolde haue;
Beues Trenchefis bestrit[1785]
And in is weie forþ a rit,
And Brademond wiþ al is ost [ ost: MS reads bost.]
Com after wiþ meche bost;
So longe hii han Beues driue
Þat hii come to þe cliue[1790]
Þar þe wilde se was.
Herkneþ now a wonder cas.
Into þe se a moste, iwis,
Oþer fiȝte aȝenes al heþenes.
¶ To Ihesu Crist he bad a bone[1795]
And he him grauntede wel sone
‘Lord’ a sede ‘heuene-king,
Schepere of erþe & alle þing,
Þow madest fisch ase [wel] alse man,
Þat noþing of senne ne can,[1800]
Ne nouȝt of fisches kenne
Neuer ȝet ne dede senne;
Of þis heþene hounde,
Þat beste þe and bounde
And bete þe body to þe deþe, [f.186rb] [Image] [1805]
Þarfore ich may alse eþe
To water fle in þis stede,
To fisch, þat neuer senne dede,
Þan her daien in londe
In al þis Sarasines honde.’[1810]
¶ Beues smot is hors þat it lep
Into þe se þat [was] wel dep.
Whan he into þe se cam,
Ouer þe se, y wot, a swam;
In a dai and in a niȝt[1815]
A bar ouer þat gentil kniȝt.
Whan he com of þat wilde brok,
His gode stede him resede & schok,
And Beues for honger in þat stounde
Þe hors þrew him doun to grounde.[1820]
‘Allas’ queþ Beues whan he doun cam
‘Whilom ichadde an erl-dam
And an hors gode and snel
Þat men clepede Arondel;
Now ich wolde ȝeue hit kof[1825]
For a schiuer of a lof.’
A restede him þer a lite tide,
His gode stede he gan bestride
And rod ouer dale & doun
Til he com to a gret toun;[1830]
Þe leuedi þarof ouer þe castel lai
And Beues hire sone ofsay
And wende ben al out of care
And þouȝte wel to spede þare.
Beues to þe castel gate rit[1835]
And spak to hire, aboue him sit
‘Dame’ a seide ‘þat sit aboue,
For þat ilche lordes loue
On wham þin herte is on iset,
ȝeue me today a meles met.’[1840]
Þe leuedi answerde him þo
‘Boute þow fro þe gate go
Þe wer beter elleswhar þan her.
Go, or þe tit an euel diner.
Me lord’ ȝhe seide ‘is a geaunt[1845]
& leueþ on Mahoun & Teruagaunt
And felleþ Cristene men to grounde
For he hateþ hem ase hounde.’
‘Be God.’ queþ Beues ‘I swere an oþe: [f.186va] [Image]
Be him lef and be him loþe,[1850]
Her ich wile haue þe mete
Wiþ loue or eiȝe, whaþer I mai gete.’
Þe leuedi swiþe wroþ wiþalle
Wente hire forþ into þe halle
And tolde hire lord anon fore[1855]
How a man hadde iswore
Þat he nolde fro þe ȝete,
Er he hadde þer þe mete.
Þe geaunt was wonder strong,
Rome þretti fote long;[1860]
He tok a leuour in is hond,
And forþ to þe gate he wond.
Of Beues he nam gode hede,
Ful wel a knew Beues is stede
‘Þow ert nome þef, ywis.[1865]
Whar stele þow [þe] stede Trenchefis,
Þat þow ridest vpon here?
Hit was me broþeres Grandere.’
‘Grander’ queþ Beues ‘y ȝaf hod
And made him a kroune brod;[1870]
Þo he was next vnder me fest,
Wel y wot, ich made him prest,
And hiȝ dekne ich wile make þe
Er ich euer fro þe te.’
Þanne seide þe geaunt ‘meister sire,[1875]
Slouȝ þow me broþer Grandere
For al þis castel ful of golde?
A liue lete þe ich nolde.’
‘Ne ich þe’ queþ Beues ‘I trowe.’
Þus beginneþ grim to growe[1880]
Þe geaunt þat ich spak of er,
Þe staf þat he to fiȝte ber
Was twenti fote in lengþe be tale,
Þarto gret & noþing smale;
To sire Beues a smot þerwiþ[1885]
A sterne strok wiþouten griþ,
Ac a failede of his diuis
And in þe heued smot Trenchefis
Þat ded to grounde fel þe stede.
‘O,’ queþ Beues ‘so God me spede,[1890]
Þow hauest don gret vileinie
Whan þow sparde me bodi
And for me gilt min hors aqueld; [f.186vb] [Image]
Þow witest him þat mai nouȝt weld.
Be God, I swere þe an oþ:[1895]
Þow schelt nouȝt, whan we tegoþ,
Lauȝande me wende fram
Now þow hauest mad me gram.’
Beues is swerd anon vp swapte,
He and þe geaunt togedre rapte[1900]
And delde strokes mani & fale;
Þe nombre can I nouȝt telle in tale.
Þe geaunt vp is clobbe haf
And smot so Beues wiþ is staf
Þat his scheld fleȝ fram him þore[1905]
Þre akres brede and sumdel more.
Þo was Beues in strong erur
And karf ato þe grete leuour
And on þe geauntes brest a wonde
Þat neȝ a felde him to þe grounde.[1910]
Þe geaunt þouȝte þis bataile hard,
Anon he drouȝ to him a dart,
Þourȝ Beues scholder he hit schet,
Þe blo(l)d ran doun to Beues fet. [This line located at the end of the column, its correct position marked by a-b and crosses.]
Þo Beues seȝ is owene blod[1915]
Out of is wit he wex neȝ wod,
Vnto þe geaunt ful swiþe he ran
& kedde þat he was douȝti man
And smot ato his nekke bon.
Þe geaunt fel to grounde anon. [1920] [ geaunt: MS reads graunt.]
¶ Beues wente in at castel gate,
Þe leuedi a mette þerate.
‘Dame,’ a seide ‘go ȝeue me mete
Þat euer haue þow Cristes hete.’
Þe leuedi sore adrad wiþalle[1925]
Ladde Beues into þe halle
And of eueriche sonde
Þat him com to honde
A dede hire ete al þer ferst
Þat ȝhe ne dede him no berst,[1930]
And drinke ferst of þe win
Þat no poisoun was þerin.
Whan Beues hadde ete inouȝ
A keuerchef to him a drouȝ
In þat ilche stounde[1935]
To stope mide is wonde.
‘Dame, dame’ Beues sede [f.187ra] [Image]
‘Let sadele me a gode stede
For hennes ich wil ride;
I nel no lenger her abide.’[1940]
Þe leuedi seide ȝhe wolde fawe;
A gode stede ȝhe let forþ drawe
And sadeled hit & wel adiȝt
And Beues þat hendi kniȝt
Into þe sadel a lippte[1945]
Þat no stirop he ne drippte.
¶ Forþ him wente sire Beuoun
Til he com wiþoute þe toun
Into a grene mede.
‘Now, louerd Crist’ a sede[1950]
‘ȝeue it Brademond þe king,
He and al is ofspring,
Wer riȝt her vpon þis grene,
Now ich wolde of me tene
Swiþe wel ben awreke,[1955]
Scholde he neuer go ne speke;
Now min honger is me aset
Ne liste me neuer fiȝten bet.’
Forþ a wente be þe strem
Til a com to Iurisalem;[1960]
To þe patriark a wente cof
& al his lif he him schrof
And tolde him how hit was bego,
Of is wele and of is wo.
Þe patriark hadde reuþe[1965]
Of him and ek of is treuþe
And forbed him vpon his lif
Þat he neuer toke wif
Boute ȝhe were clene maide.
‘Nai, for soþe’ sire Beues saide.[1970]
On a dai aȝenes þe eue
Of þe patriarke he tok is leue;
Erliche amorwe whan it was dai,
Forþ a wente in is wai;
And also a rod him self alone[1975]
‘Lord’ a þouȝte ‘whar mai I gone?
Whar ich into Ingelonde fare?
Nai’ a þouȝte ‘what scholde I þare,
Boute ȝif ichadde ost to gader,
For to sle me stifader?’[1980]
He þouȝte þat he wolde an hie [f.187rb] [Image]
Into þe londe of Ermonie,
To Ermonie þat was is bane,
To h[i]s lemman Iosiane.
And also a wente þeder riȝt[1985]
A mette wiþ a gentil kniȝt
Þat in þe londe of Ermonie
Hadde bore him gode companie;
Þai kiste hem anon wiþ þat
And aþer askede of oþeres stat.[1990]
Þanne seide Beues and louȝ
‘Ich aue fare hard inouȝ,
Sofred boþe honger & chele
And oþer peines mani & fele
Þourȝ king Ermines gile.[1995]
ȝet ich þenke to ȝelde is while
For he me sente to Brademond
To haue slawe me þat stonde.
God be þanked a dede nouȝt so,
Ac in is prisoun wiþ meche wo[2000]
Ichaue leie þis seuen ȝare;
Ac now icham from him ifare
Þourȝ Godes grace & min engyn,
Ac al ich wite it king Ermyn
And ne wer is douȝter Iosiane[2005]
Sertes ich wolde ben is bane.’
¶ ‘Iosiane’ queþ þe kniȝt ‘is a wif
Aȝen hire wille wiþ meche strif.
Seue ȝer hit is gon and more
Þat þe riche king Yuore[2010]
To Mombraunt haþ hire wedde,
Boþe to bord and to bedde,
And haþ þe swerd Morgelai
And Arondel þe gode palfrai;
Ac siþe þe time þat I was bore[2015]
Swiche game hadde ich neuer before
Ase ich hadde þat ilche tide
Whan I seȝ king Yuor ride
Toward Mombraunt on Arondel.
Þe hors was nouȝt ipaied wel,[2020]
He arnede awai wiþ þe king
Þourȝ felde & wode, wiþouten lesing,
And in a mure don him cast,
Almest he hadde deied in hast.
Ac er hii wonne þe stede [f.187va] [Image] [2025]
Ropes in þe contre þai leide;
Ac neuer siþe, wiþoute fable,
Ne com þe stede out of þe stab[l]e,
So sore he was aneied þat tide;
Siþ þe dorste noman on him ride.[2030]
For þis tiding Beues was bliþe,
His ioie kouþe he noman kiþe.
‘Wer Iosiane’ a þouȝte ‘ase lele
Alse is me stede Arondel,
ȝet scholde ich come out of wo.’[2035]
And at þe kniȝt he askede þo
‘Whiderwardes is Mombraunt?’
‘Sere’ a sede ‘be Teruagaunt
Þow miȝt nouȝt þus wende forþ,
Þow most terne al aȝen norþ.’[2040]
¶ Beues ternede his stede
And rod norþ gode spede;
Euer a was pasaunt
Til a com to Mombraunt.
Mombraunt is a riche cite,[2045]
In al þe londe of Sarsine
Nis þer non þerto iliche
Ne be fele parti so riche.
And whan þat hende kniȝt Beuoun
Come wiþouten þe toun[2050]
Þar wiþ a palmer he mette,
And swiþe faire he him grette
‘Palmer,’ a sede ‘whar [is] þe king?’
‘Sire,’ a seide ‘an honting
Wiþ kinges fiftene.’[2055]
‘And whar’ a seide ‘is þe quene?’
‘Sire,’ a seide ‘in hire bour.’
‘Palmer,’ a seide ‘par amour,
ȝem me þine wede
For min and for me stede.’[2060]
‘God ȝeue it’ queþ þe palmare,
‘We hadde driue þat chefare.’
¶ Beues of is palfrei aliȝte
And schrede þe palmer as a kniȝte
And ȝaf him is hors þat he rod in[2065]
For is bordon and is sklauin.
Þe palmer rod forþ ase a king
& Beues wente alse a breþeling.
Whan he com to þe castel gate [f.187vb] [Image]
Anon he fond (stonde) þarate[2070]
Mani palmer þar stonde
Of fele kene londe,
And he askede hem in þat stede
What hii alle þar dede.
Þanne seide on þat þar stod[2075]
‘We beþ icome to haue gode,
And so þow ert also.’
‘Who’ queþ Beues ‘schel it vs do?’
‘Þe quene, God hire schilde fro care.
Meche ȝhe loueþ palmare;[2080]
Al þat ȝhe mai finden here
Eueriche dai in þe ȝere
Faire ȝhe wile hem fede
And ȝeue hem riche wede
For a kniȝtes loue, Beuoun,[2085]
Þat was iboren at Souþhamtoun;
To a riche man ȝhe wolde him bringe,
Þat kouþe telle of him tiding.’
‘Whanne’ queþ Beues ‘schel þis be don?’
A seide ‘Betwene middai & noun.’[2090]
Beues hit ful wel he sai
Hit nas boute ȝong dai;
A þouȝte þat he wolde er þan
Wende aboute þe barbican
For to loke & for to se[2095]
How it miȝte best be,
ȝif he þe castel wolde breke
Whar a miȝte best in reke;
And also a com be a touret
Þat was in þe castel iset[2100]
A herde wepe and crie;
Þederward he gan him hie.
‘O allas!’ ȝhe seide ‘Beuoun,
Hende kniȝt of Souþhamtoun,
Now ichaue bide þat day[2105]
Þat to þe treste I ne may.
Þat ilche God þat þow of speke,
He is fals & þow ert eke.’
In al þe seuene ȝer eche dai
Iosiane, þat faire mai,[2110]
Was woned swich del to make
Al for sire Beues sake.
¶ Þe leuedi gan to þe gate te, [f.188ra] [Image]
Þe palmeres þar to se;
And Beues after anon[2115]
To þe gate he gan gon.
Þe palmers gonne al in þreste,
Beues abod & was þe laste;
And whan þe maide seȝ him þar
Of Beues ȝhe nas noþing war.[2120]
‘Þe semest’ queþ ȝhe ‘man of anour,
Þow schelt þis dai be priour
And beginne oure deis;
Þe semest hende and corteis.’
Mete and drinke þai hadde afyn,[2125]
Boþe piment and plente a wyn,
Swiþe wel þai hadde ifare;
Þanne seide þe quene to [eche] palmare
‘Herde euer eni of ȝow telle
In eni lede or eni spelle,[2130]
Or in feld oþer in toun,
Of a kniȝt, Beues of Hamtoun?’
‘Nai’ queþ al þat þar ware.
‘What þow?’ ȝhe seide ‘niwe palmare?’
Þanne seide Beues and louȝ[2135]
‘Þat kniȝt ich knowe wel inouȝ.
Atom’ a seide ‘in is contre
Icham an erl and also is he;
At Rome he made me a spel
Of an hors men clepede Arondel.[2140]
Widewhar ichaue iwent
And me warisoun ispent;
I souȝt hit boþe fer & ner,
Men telleþ me þat it is her;
ȝif euer louedestow wel þat kniȝt[2145]
Let me of þat hors haue a siȝt.’
What helpeþ hit to make fable?
ȝhe ladde Beues to þe stable;
Iosian beheld him before,
ȝhe seȝ his browe totore;[2150]
After Bonefas ȝhe gan grede,
At stable dore to him ȝhe sede
‘Be þe moder þat me haþ bore,
Ner þis mannes browe totore
Me wolde þenke be his fasoun[2155]
Þat hit were Beues of Hamtoun.’
Whan þat hors herde neuene [f.188rb] [Image]
His kende lordes steuene,
His rakenteis he al ter of
And wente into þ[e] kourt wel kof[2160]
And neide & made (made) miche pride
Wiþ gret ioie be ech a side.
‘Allas!’ þo queþ Iosiane
‘Wel mani a man is bane
Todai he worþ ilauȝt[2165]
Er þan þis stede ben icauȝt.’
Þanne seide Beues & louȝ
‘Ich can take hit wel inouȝ;
Wolde ȝe’ a sede ‘ȝeue me leue,
Hit ne scholde noman greue.’[2170]
‘Take hit þanne’ ȝhe sede
‘And into stable þow it lede
And teie it þar it stod
And þow schelt haue mede gode.’
Beues to þe hors teȝ;[2175]
Þo þe hors him knew and seȝ.
Hit ne wawede no fot
Til Beues hadde þe stirop.
Beues into þe sadel him þrew,
Þarbi þat maide him wel knew.[2180]
Anon seide Iosian wiþ þan
‘O Beues, gode lemman,
Let me wiþ þe reke
In þat maner we han ispeke,
And þenk þow me to wiue tok[2185]
Whan ich me false godes forsok.
Now þow hast þin hors Arondel
Þe swerd ich þe fette schel,
And let me wende wiþ þe siþ þe
Hom into þin owene kiþ þe.’[2190]
¶ Queþ Beues: ‘be Godes name,
Ichaue for þe sofred meche schame,
Lain in prisoun swiþe strong;
ȝif ich þe louede hit were wrong.
Þe patriark me het vpon me lif[2195]
Þat I ne tok neuer wif
Boute ȝhe were maide clene;
And þow hauest seue ȝer ben a quene,
And eueri niȝt a king be þe;
How miȝtow þanne maide be?’[2200]
¶ ‘Merci’ ȝhe seide ‘lemman fre, [f.188va] [Image]
Led me hom to þe contre
And boute þe finde me maide wimman,
Be þat eni man saie can,
Send me aȝen to me fon[2205]
Al naked in me smok alon.’
Beues seide ‘so I schel,
In þat forward I graunte wel.’
Bonefas to sire Beues sede
‘Sire, þe is beter do be rede.[2210]
Þe king comeþ sone fro honting
And wiþ him mani a riche king,
Fiftene told al in tale,
Dukes and erles mani and fale.
Whan hii fonde vs alle agon[2215]
Þai wolde after vs euerichon
Wiþ wonder gret cheualrie,
And do vs schame and vileinie.
Ac formeste, sire, wiþouten fable,
Led Arondel into þe stable[2220]
And ate þe gate þow him abide
Til þe king comeþ bi þe ride.
A wile þe asken at þe frome
Whider þow schelt & whannes þow come.
Sai þat þow hauest wide iwent[2225]
And þow come be Dabilent
Þat is hennes four iurne.
Sai men wile þer king sle
Boute him come help of sum oþer.
And king Yuor is his broþer[2230]
& whan he hereþ þat tiding
Þeder a wile an hiȝing
Wiþ al is power and is ost.
Þanne mai we wiþ lite bost
Forþ in oure wei go.’[2235]
Beues seide ‘It schel be so.’
And Arondel to stable lad
Ase Bonefas him bad;
And to þe gate Beues ȝode
Wiþ oþer beggers þat þer stode,[2240]
& pyk and skrippe be is side
In a sklauin row & wide;
His berd was ȝelw, to is brest wax,
And to his gerdel heng is fax.
Al þai seide þat hii no siȝe [f.188vb] [Image] [2245]
So faire palmer neuer wiþ eiȝe,
Ne com þer non in þat contre.
Þus wondred on him þat him gan se.
And so stod Beues in þat þring
Til noun belle began to ring.[2250]
Fram honting com þe king Yuore
& fiftene kinges him before,
Dukes & erles, barouns how fale
I can nouȝt telle þe riȝte tale.
Mervaile þai hadde of Beues alle.[2255]
Yuor gan Beues to him calle
And seide ‘palmer, þow comst fro ferre.
Whar is pes and whar is werre?
Trewe tales þow canst me sain.’
Þanne answerde Beues again[2260]
¶ ‘Sire, ich come fro Iurisalem
Fro Nazareþ & fro Bedlem,
Emavns castel & Synaie;
Ynde, Erop and Asie,
Egippte, Grese and Babiloine,[2265]
Tars, Sesile and Sesaoine,
In Fris, in Sodeine & in Tire,
In Aufrik and in mani empire,
Ac al is pes þar ichaue went,
Saue in þe lond of Dabilent;[2270]
In pes mai noman come þare,
Þar is werre, sorwe & care.
Þre kinges and dukes fiue
His cheualrie adoun ginneþ driue,
And meche oþer peple ischent,[2275]
Cites itake and tounes ibrent.
Him to a castel þai han idriue,
Þat stant be þe se vpon a cliue,
And al þe ost liþ him aboute,
Be þis todaie a is in doute.’[2280]
King Yuor seide ‘Allas! allas!
Lordinges, þis is a sori cas;
Þat is me broþer, ȝe witen wel,
Þat liþ beseged in þat castel.
To hors and armes, lasse & more,[2285]
In haste swiþe, þat [we] wer þore.’
Þai armede hem anon bedene
Yuor and his kinges fiftene.
{ Section omitted supplied from BL Egerton MS 2862 (Sutherland). }
[And to þe Cite of Diablent {f.72v}
Alle samen forth þey went.
But an old king þat hight Garcy,
At home he lefte to kepe þe lady.
Þoo seid B. ‘Make ȝow ȝare,
ȝif þat ȝe wille with me fare!’
Sir Bonefas answered þoo:
‘ȝif ȝe wil by my consaile do: {f.73r}
Here is an olde king Garcy,
Þat muche can of Nygremancy;
He may see in his goldryng,
What any man dooth in alle þing.
I know an erbe in þe forest,
Now wille y sende þer after prest
And let brochen reynessh wyne
And do þat ȝerbe anoon þerynne,
And what he be, þat þer of doþ drynke,
He shal lerne for to wynke
And slepe anon after ryȝt
Al a day and al a nyȝt.’
Sir Bonefas dide al þis þing;
Þey resen vp in þe dawnyng;
Inowȝ þey toke what þey wolde,
Both of siluer and of golde,
And other tresoure þey toke also,
And in hur way þey gunne goo.
And when þey were went away,
Garcy awaked a morow day
And had wonder swith stronge,
Þat he hadde slept so longe.
His ryng he gan to him tee,
For to loke and for to see;
And in his ryng say he þare,
The queene awey with þe palmer was fare.
To his men he grad ryȝt:
‘As armes, lordinges, for to fyȝt’
And tolde his folke, verament,
How þe queene was awey went
Þey armed hem in ryche wede
And euery knyȝt lep on his stede,
And after went al þat route
And besette hem al aboute.
Þenne seide B. to Bonefas:
‘Kepe wel Iosian at þis cas,
And y wil wynde to bataile,
Garcy and his ost to assaile.
I wil fonde, what y do may,
I haue rested me moony a day.
Fyȝt y will now my fylle {f.73v}
And hem ouercom by goddes wille!’
Þo Bonefas to hym saide:
‘Sir, ȝow is better do by my reed:
ȝe shal be in þe lasse dout,
For y knowe þe contre al about;
I can bryng ȝow in to a caue,
Þere a sheparde with a staue,
Theyȝe men hadden his deth sworn,
He myȝt him kepe wel þerforn!’
Into þe caue he hath hem brouȝt;
Garcy, þe kyng, hem couth fynde nouȝt,
Þerfore him was swith woo;
He and his ost beþouȝt hem thoo,
Hoom aȝeyn for to wende
And sende Ascopart hem to shende.
In þe caue were al nyȝt
With oute [mete] or drynke, aplyȝt.
Twoo dayes it was goon,
Þat mete ne drynke had þey noon.
Iosian was afyngered soore
And told anoon B. þerfore.
B. seid: ‘How darst þou of me meete craue?
Wel þou wotest, þat noon y haue.’
Iosian answered sone anoon
And bade sir B. to wood goon:
‘I haue herde of sauagenes,
Whenne ȝonge men were in wyldernes,
Þat þey toke hert and hinde
And other bestes, þat þey myȝt fynde;
Þey slowen hem and soden hem in her hide;
Þus doon men, þat in wood abyde.
Sir, þou myȝtest bestes lyȝtly take,
For sause good y wyl þe make!’
B. seide to Bonefas þan:
‘I pray þe kepe wel Iosian'
Þe while y wynde into þe forest
For to take sum wylde beest!’
Forth went B. in þat forest,
Beestes to sheete he was ful prest.
Als sone as he was forth yfare, {f.74r}
Two lyouns þer com yn þare,
Grennand and rampand with her feet.
Sir Bonefas þen als skeet
His hors to him þoo he drow
And armyd him wel ynow
And ȝaue þe lyoun[s] bataile to fyȝt;
Al to lytel was his myȝt.
Þe twoo lyouns sone had sloon
Þat oon his hors, þat other þe man.
Iosian into þe caue gan shete,
And þe twoo lyouns at hur feete,
Grennand on hur with muche grame,
But þey ne myȝt do hur no shame,
For þe kind of lyouns, ywys,
A kynges douȝter, þat maide is,
Kinges douȝter, quene and maide both,
Þe lyouns myȝt do hur noo wroth.
B. com sone fro huntyng
With þree hertes, with out lesyng
And fonde an hors gnawe to þe boon,
And Iosian awey was goon.
He sowned soone for sorow and þouȝt,
Fro caue to caue he her souȝt,
To wete, how þat cas myȝt be,
And in a caue he gan to see,
Where Iosian sate in grete doute
And twoo lions hur about.
Too sir B. gan she speke:
‘Sir, þyn help, me to awreke
Of þese two liouns, þat þy chamberleyn,
Ryȝt now han him slayn
She seide, she wolde þat oon hoolde,
While þat he þat other quelde.
Aboute þe nekke she hent þat oon,
And B. bade let him goon,
And seide: ‘Dame, forsoth, ywys,
I myȝt ȝelp of lytel prys,
There y had a lyon quelde,
Þe while a woman a nother helde!
Thow shalt neuer vmbraide me, {f.74v}
When þou comest hoom to my contre:
But þou let hem goo both twoo,
Haue good day, fro þe y goo!’
She let hem skip vp and doun,
And B. assailed þe lyoun
Strenger bataile ne strenger fyȝt
Herde ȝe neuer of no knyȝt
Byfore þis in romaunce telle,
Þan B. had of beestes felle.
Al þat herkeneþ word and ende,
To heuyn mot her sowles wende!
Þat oon was a lionesse,
Þat sir B. dide grete distresse;
At þe first begynnyng
To B. hondes she gan spryng
And al to peces rent hem þere,
Or B. myȝt þer of be werre.
Þat other lyon, þat Iosian gan holde,
To fiȝt with B. was ful bold;
He ran to him with grete randon
And with his pawes he rent adoun
His Armour almost to ground,
And in his thyȝe a wel grete wound.
Tho was B. in hert grame,
For þe lioun had do him shame;
As he were wood, he gan to fyȝt;
Þe lionesse seyȝe þat sight
And rauȝt to B., with out faile,
Boþ at oones þey gan him assaile.
Þoo was B. in strong tempestes,
So strong and egre were þese beestes,
Þat nyȝe þey hadde him þere queld;
Vnnethe he kept him with his shelde.
With Morgelay, þat wel wold byte,
To þe lioun he gan smyte;
His ryȝt foot he shore asonder,
Sir B. shilde þe lyoun ranne vnder
And with his teeþ with sory happe
He kitte a pece of his lappe,
And B. þat ilke stounde {f.75r}
For anguysse fel to þe grounde,
And hastely B. þan vp stert,
For he was greuyd in his hert;
He kyd wel &thorno, he was agreuyd,
And clef a twoo þe lyon is heuyd,
And to his hert þe poynt þrast
Þus þe lioun died at þe last.]
{ End of section supplied from the Sutherland MS. }
Stoutliche þe liounesse þan [f.189ra] [Image]
Asailede Beues, þat douȝti man,[2290]
And wiþ hire mouþ is scheld tok
So sterneliche saiþ þe bok
Þat doun it fel of is left hond.
Þo Iosian gan vnderstonde
Þat hire lord scholde ben slawe[2295]
Helpe him ȝhe wolde fawe.
Anon ȝhe hente þat lioun;
Beues bad hire go sitte adoun
And swor be God in trinite,
Boute ȝhe lete þat lioun be,[2300]
A wolde hire sle in þat destresse
Ase fain ase þe liounesse.
¶ Þo ȝhe ne moste him nouȝt helpe fiȝte,
His scheld ȝhe brouȝte him anonriȝte
& ȝede hire sitte adoun, saun faile,[2305]
And let him worþe in þat bataile.
Þe liounesse was stout & sterne,
Aȝen to Beues ȝhe gan erne
And be þe riȝt leg [ȝ]he him grep,
Ase þe wolf doþ þe schep,[2310]
Þat neȝ ȝhe braide out is sparlire;
Þo was Beues in gret yre
And in þat ilche selue veneu
Þourȝ Godes grace and is vertu
Þe liounesse so harde he smot[2315]
Wiþ Morgelai þat biter bot,
Euene vpon þe regge an hiȝ,
Þat Morgelai in þerþe fliȝ.
Þo was Iosian ful fain
Þo þat hii were boþe slain[2320]
And Beues was glad & bliþe,
His ioie ne kouþe he noman kiþe
And ofte he þankede þe king in glori
Of is grace & is viktori;
Ac wo him was for Bonefas[2325]
And þo he seȝ non oþer it nas
A sette Iosian vpon a mule
And ride forþ a lite while
And metten wiþ a geaunt
Wiþ a loþeliche semlaunt.[2330]
He was wonderliche strong,
Rome þretti fote long.
His berd was boþe gret & rowe, [f.189rb] [Image]
A space of a fot betwene is browe.
His clob was to ȝeue a strok[2335]
A lite bodi of an ok.
¶ Beues hadde of him wonder gret
And askede him what a het
And ȝef men of his contre
Were ase meche ase was he.[2340]
‘Me name’ a sede ‘is Ascopard;
Garci me sente hiderward
For to bringe þis quene aȝen
And þe, Beues, her ofslen.
Icham Garci is chaumpioun[2345]
And was idriue out of me toun;
Al for þat ich was so lite
Eueri man me wolde smite;
Ich was so lite & so meruȝ
Eueri man me clepede dweruȝ,[2350]
And now icham in þis londe
Iwoxe mor, ich vnderstonde,
And strengere þan oþer tene,
And þat schel on vs be sene;
I schel þe sle her ȝif I mai.’[2355]
‘Þourȝ Godes help’ queþ Beues ‘nai.’
Beues prikede Arondel a side,
Aȝen Ascopard he gan ride
And smot him on þe scholder an hiȝ
Þat his spere al tofliȝ[2360]
And Ascopard wiþ a retret
Smot after Beues a dent gret
And wiþ is o fot a slintte
And fel wiþ is owene dentte.
Beues of is palfrai aliȝte[2365]
& drouȝ his swerd anonriȝte
And wolde haue smiten of is heued;
Iosian besouȝte him it were beleued
‘Sire’ ȝhe seide ‘so God þe saue,
Let him liuen & ben our knaue.’[2370]
‘Dame, a wile vs betrai.’
‘Sire, (ȝhe) ich [wil] ben is bourȝ, nai.’
Þar a dede Beues omage
And becom is owene page.
Forþ þai wenten alle þre[2375]
Til þat hii come to þe se;
A dromond hii fonde þer stonde [f.189va] [Image]
Þat wolde into heþene londe
Wiþ Sarasines stout & fer,
Boute þai nadde no maroner.[2380]
Þo hii siȝe Ascopard come
Hii þouȝten wel, alle & some,
He wolde hem surliche hem lede,
For he was maroner god at nede.
Whan he into þe schipe cam[2385]
His gode bat an honde he nam,
A drof hem out and dede hem harm;
Arondel a bar to schip in is arm
And after in a lite while
Iosian and hire mule[2390]
And drowen vp saile a[l]so snel
And sailede forþ faire & wel
Þat hii come wiþouten ensoine
To þe hauen of Coloine.
Whan he to londe kem,[2395]
Men tolde þe bischop was is em,
A noble man wis afin,
& hiȝte Saber Florentin.
Beues grete him at þat cas
And tolde him what he was.[2400]
Þe beschop was glad afin
And seide ‘wolkome, leue cosin.
Gladder I nas seþe ich was bore,
Ich wende þow haddest be forlore.
Who is þis leuedi schene?’[2405]
‘Sire, of heþenesse a quene
And ȝhe wile for me sake
Cristendome at þe take.’
‘Who is þis wiþ þe grete visage?’
‘Sire’ a sede ‘hit is me page[2410]
And wile ben icristnede also,
And ich bidde þat ȝe hit do.’
¶ Þe nexste dai after þan
Þe beschop cristnede Iosian.
For Ascopard was mad a koue;[2415]
Whan þe beschop him scholde in schoue
A lep anon vpon þe benche
And seide ‘prest, wiltow me drenche?
Þe deuel ȝeue þe helle pine;
Icham to meche te be Cristine.’[2420]
After Iosian is cristing [f.189vb] [Image]
Beues dede a gret fiȝting.
Swich bataile dede neuer non
Cristene man of flesch ne bon
Of a dragoun þer beside[2425]
Þat Beues slouȝ þer in þat tide
Saue sire Launcelet de Lake;
He fauȝt wiþ a fur drake,
And Wade dede also,
& neuer kniȝtes boute þai to.[2430]
Gij a Warwik, ich vnderstonde,
Slouȝ a dragoun in Norþhomberlonde.
How þat ilche dragoun com þer
Ich wile ȝow telle in what maner.
¶ Þar was a king in Poyle londe[2435]
And anoþer in Calabre, ich vnderstonde;
Þis twe kinge fouȝte ifere
More þan foure and twenti ȝere,
Þat hii neuer pes nolde,
Naiþer for seluer ne for golde,[2440]
And al þe contre, saundoute,
Þai distruede hit al aboute.
Þai hadde mani mannes kours
Wharþourȝ hii ferden wel þe wors;
Þarfore hii deide in dedli sinne[2445]
And helle pine þai gan hem winne.
After in a lite while
Þai become dragouns vile,
And so þai fouȝte dragouns ifere
Mor þan foure & þretti ȝere.[2450]
An ermite was in þat londe
Þat was feld of Godes sonde;
To Ihesu Crist a bed a bone,
Þat he diliure þe dragouns sone
Out of þat ilche stede[2455]
Þat hii namore harm ne dede.
And Ihesu Crist þat sit in heuene
Wel herde þat ermites steuene
And grauntede him is praiere.
Anon þe dragouns boþe ifere[2460]
To[ke] here fliȝt and flowe awai
Þar neuer eft man hem ne sai.
Þat on fleȝ anon wiþ þan
Til a com to Toscan.
Þat oþer dragoun is fliȝt nome [f.190ra] [Image] [2465]
To seinte Peter is brige of Rome;
Þar he schel leggen ay,
Til hit come domes dai.
And eueri seue ȝer ones,
Whan þe dragoun moweþ is bones,[2470]
Þan comeþ a roke & a stink [ Þan: MS reads Þanke.]
Out of þe water vnder þe brink
Þat men þerof takeþ þe feuere
Þat neuer after mai he keuere;
And who þat nel nouȝt leue me,[2475]
Wite at pilgrimes þat þer haþ be
For þai can telle ȝow, iwis,
Of þat dragoun how it is.
Þat oþer þanne fleȝ an hiȝe
Þourȝ Toskan and Lombardie,[2480]
Þourȝ Prouince wiþouten ensoine
Into þe londe of Coloyne;
Þar þe dragoun gan ariue
At Coloyne vnder a cliue.
His eren were rowe & ek long,[2485]
His frount before hard & strong;
Eiȝte toskes at is mouþ stod out,
Þe leste was seuentene ench about,
Þe her, þe cholle vnder þe chin, [ chin: MS reads ching.]
He was boþe leiþ and grim;[2490]
A was imaned ase a stede;
Þe heued a bar wiþ meche pride,
Betwene þe scholder & þe taile
Foure and twenti fot, saunfaile.
His taile was of gret stringeþe,[2495]
Sextene fot a was a lingþe;
His bodi ase a wintonne.
Whan hit schon þe briȝte sonne,
His wingges schon so þe glas.
His sides wer hard ase eni bras,[2500]
His brest was hard ase eni ston;
A foulere þing nas neuer non.
ȝe þat wile a stounde dwelle
Of his stringeþe I mai ȝow telle.
¶ Beues ȝede to bedde a niȝt[2505]
Wiþ torges and wiþ candel liȝt.
Whan he was in bedde ibrouȝt
On Ihesu Crist was al is þouȝt.
Him þouȝte a king þat was wod [f.190rb] [Image]
Hadde wonded him þer a stod;[2510]
He hadde wonded him biter & sore,
A wende a miȝte leue namore,
And ȝet him þouȝte a virgine
Him brouȝte out of al is pine.
Whan he of is slepe abraid[2515]
Of is sweuene he was afraid.
Þanne a herde a reuli cri
And besouȝte Ihesu merci
‘For þe venim is on me þrowe
Her I legge al toblowe[2520]
And roteþ me flesch fro þe bon;
Bote ne tit me neuer non.’ [ non: MS reads mo.]
And in is cri a seide ‘Allas,
Þat euer ȝet I maked was.’
Anon whan hit was dailiȝt[2525]
Beues awakede & askede riȝt
What al þat cri miȝte ben.
His men him answerde aȝen
And seide þat he was a kniȝt,
In bataile he was holden wiȝt;[2530]
‘Alse a wente him to plaie
Aboute her in þis contrai,
In þis contre aviroun,
A mette wiþ a vile dragoun
And venim he haþ on him þrowe;[2535]
Þar a liþ al toblowe.’
‘Lord Crist’ queþ Beues þo,
‘Mai eni man þe dragoun slo?’
His men answerde wiþouten lesing
‘Þar nis neiþer emperur ne king[2540]
Þat come þar þe dragoun wore,
An hondred þosend men & more,
Þat he nolde slen hem euerichon,
Ne scholde hii neuer þannes gon.’
‘Ascopard’ a seide ‘whar ertow?’[2545]
‘Icham her. What wilte now?’
‘Wile we to þe dragoun gon.
Þourȝ Godes help we scholle him slo.’
‘ȝa, sire, so mot I þe,
Bleþeliche wile I wende wiþ þe.’[2550]
Beues armede him ful wel
Boþe in yrene and in stel
And gerte him wiþ a gode bronde [f.190va] [Image]
And tok a spere in is honde.
Out ate gate he gan ride[2555]
And Ascopard be his side.
Alse hii wente in here pleȝing
Hii speke of mani selkouþ þing.
Þat dragoun lai in is den
And seȝ come þe twei men[2560]
A made a cri and a wonder
Ase hit were a dent of þonder.
Ascopard was adrad so sore,
Forþer dorste he go namore;
A seide to Beues þat was is fere[2565]
‘A wonder þing ȝe mai here.’
Beues seide ‘Haue þow no doute
Þe dragoun liþ her aboute;
Hadde we þe dragoun wonne
We hadde þe feireste pris vnder sonne.’[2570]
Ascopard swor, be sein Ion,
A fot ne dorste he forþer gon.
Beues answe[r]de and seide þo
‘Ascopard, whi seistow so?
Whi schelt þow afered be[2575]
Of þing þat þow miȝt nouȝt sen?’
A swor alse he moste þen
He nolde him neiþer hire ne sen
‘Icham weri, ich mot haue reste.
Go now forþ and do þe beste.’[2580]
Þanne seide Beues þis wordes fre
‘Schame hit is to terne aȝe.’
A smot his stede be þe side,
Aȝen þe dragoun he gan ride.
Þe dragoun seȝ þat he cam[2585]
ȝenande aȝenes him anan,
ȝenande & gapande on him so
Ase he wolde him swolwe þo.
Whan Beues seȝ þat ilche siȝt,
Þe dragoun of so meche miȝt,[2590]
Hadde þerþe opnede anon,
For drede a wolde þerin han gon.
A spere he let to him glide
And smot þe dragoun on þe side;
Þe spere sterte aȝen anon[2595]
So þe hail vpon þe ston
And tobarst on pices fiue. [f.190vb] [Image]
His swerd he drouȝ alse bliue;
Þo þai fouȝte alse I ȝow sai
Til it was hiȝ noun of þe dai.[2600]
Þe dragoun was atened stronge
Þat o man him scholde stonde so longe;
Þe dragoun harde him gan asaile
And smot his hors wiþ þe taile
Riȝt amideward þe hed[2605]
Þat he fel to grounde ded.
Now is Beues to grounde brouȝt,
Helpe him God þat alle þing wrouȝt.
Beues was hardi and of gode hert,
Aȝen þe dragoun anon a stert[2610]
And harde him a gan asaile,
And he aȝen wiþ strong bataile;
So betwene hem leste þat fiȝt
Til it was þe þerke niȝt.
Beues hadde þanne swich þrast[2615]
Him þouȝte his herte tobrast;
Þanne seȝ he a water him beside,
So hit miȝte wel betide,
Fain a wolde þeder flen,
He ne dorste fro þe dragoun ten.[2620]
Þe dragoun asailede him fot-hot,
Wiþ is taile on his scheld a smot
Þat hit cleuede heuene ato,
His left scholder dede also.
Beues was hardi & of gode hert,[2625]
Into þe welle anon a stert.
Lordinges, herkneþ to me now.
Þe welle was of swich vertu:
A virgine wonede in þat londe,
Hadde baþede þerin, ich vnderstonde;[2630]
Þat water was so holi
Þat þe dragoun sikerli
Ne dorste neȝe þe welle aboute
Be fourti fote, saundoute.
Whan Beues parseuede þis[2635]
Wel glad a was in hertte, iwis;
A dede of is helm of stel
And colede him þerin fraiche wel
And of is helm a drank þore
A large galon oþer more.[2640]
A nemenede sein Gorge, our leuedi kniȝt, [f.191ra] [Image]
And sete on his helm þat was briȝt;
And Beues wiþ eger mode
Out of þe welle sone a ȝode.
Þe dragoun harde him asaile gan,[2645]
He him defendeþ ase a man.
So betwene hem leste þe fiȝt
Til hit sprong þe dailiȝt.
Whan Beues miȝte aboute sen
Bliþe he gan þanne ben;[2650]
Beues on þe dragoun hew,
Þe dragoun on him venim þrew;
Al ferde Beues bodi þere
A foule mesel alse ȝif a were;
Þar þe venim on him felle,[2655]
His flesch gan ranclen & tebelle,
Þar þe venim was icast,
His armes gan al tobrast;
Al tobrosten is ventaile,
And of his hauberk a þosend maile.[2660]
Þanne Beues sone an hiȝe
Wel loude he gan to Ihesu criȝe
‘Lord, þat rerede þe Lazaroun,
Diliure me fro þis fend dragoun.’
Þo he seȝ his hauberk toren,[2665]
‘Lord,’ a seide ‘þat I was boren.’
Þat seide Beues þar a stod
And leide on ase he wer wod.
Þe dragoun harde him gan asaile
& smot on þe helm wiþ is taile[2670]
Þat his helm cleuede ato
And his bacinet dede also.
Tweies a ros and tweies a fel,
Þe þredde tim ouerþrew in þe wel;
Þarinne a lai vpriȝt,[2675]
A neste whaþer hit was dai [o]þe[r] niȝt.
Whan ouergon was his smerte
And rekeured was of is hertte,
Beues set him vp anon;
Þe venim was awei igon,[2680]
He was ase hol a man,
Ase he was whan he þeder cam.
On is knes he gan to falle,
To Ihesu Crist he gan to calle
‘Help’ a seide ‘Godes sone, [f.191rb] [Image] [2685]
Þat þis dragoun wer ouercome.
Boute ich mowe þe dragoun slon
Er þan ich hennes gon
Schel hit neuer aslawe be
For noman in Cristente.’[2690]
To God he made his praiere
And to Marie his moder dere;
Þat herde þe dragoun þer a stod,
And fleȝ awei ase he wer wod.
Beues ran after, wiþouten faile,[2695]
And þe dragoun he gan asaile;
Wiþ is swerd þat he out braide
On þe dragoun wel hard a laide,
And so harde a hew him þan
A karf ato his heued pan;[2700]
And hondred dentes a smot þat stonde,
Er he miȝte keuren a wonde,
A hitte him so on þe cholle
And karf ato þe þrote bolle.
Þe dragoun lai on is side,[2705]
On him a ȝenede swiþe wide.
Beues þanne wiþ strokes smerte
Smot þe dragoun to þe herte,
An hondred dentes a smot in on,
Er þe heued wolde fro þe bodi gon;[2710]
And þe gode kniȝt Beuoun
Þe tonge karf of þe dragoun;
Vpon þe tronsoun of is spere
Þe tonge a stikede for to bere.
A wente þo wiþouten ensoine[2715]
Toward þe toun of Coloine.
Þanne herde he belles ringe,
Prestes, clerkes loude singe.
A man þer he haþ imet
And swiþe faire he haþ him gret[2720]
& asked [þ]at ilche man þo
Whi þai ronge & songe so.
‘Sire’ a seide ‘wiþouten faile,
Beues is ded in bataile;
Þarfore, for soþe I saie þe[2725]
Hit is Beues dirige.’
‘Nai’ queþ Beues ‘be sein Martin.’
And wente to bischop Florentin.
Þo þe bischop hadde of him a siȝt [f.191va] [Image]
A þankede Ihesu ful of miȝt[2730]
And brouȝte Beues into þe toun
Wiþ a faire prosesioun;
Þanne al þe folk þat þar was,
Þankede Ihesu of þat gras.
On a dai sire Beues sede[2735]
‘Leue em, what [is] to rede
Of me stifader Deuoun
Þat holdeþ me londes at Hamtoun?’
Þe beschop seide anonriȝt
‘Kosin, Saber þin em is in Wiȝt,[2740]
& eueri ȝer on a dai certaine
Vpon þemperur of Almaine
He ginneþ gret bataile take,
Beues, al for þine sake;
He weneþ wel þat þow be ded;[2745]
Þarfore, kosin, be me red,
An hondred men ich ȝeue þe wiȝte
Aȝen þemperur to fiȝte,
Stalworde men and fer.
And þow schelt wende te Saber,[2750]
Sai ich grette him wel ilome.
ȝif ȝe han nede sendeþ to me,
Ich wile ȝow helpe wiþ al me miȝt
Aȝen þemperur to fiȝt.
While þow dost þis ilche tourne[2755]
Þe leuedi schel wiþ me soiurne
And þe page Ascopard
Schel hire boþe wite and ward.’
Forþ wente Beues wiþ þan
To his lemman Iosian[2760]
‘Lemman’ a seide ‘ich wile go
And avenge me of me fo,
ȝif ich miȝte wiþ eni ginne
Me kende eritage to winne.’
‘Swete lemman’ Iosian sede,[2765]
‘Who schel me þanne wisse & rede?’
Beues sede ‘Lemman min,
Min em þe bischop Florentin
And Ascopard me gode page
Schel þe warde fro damage.’[2770]
‘ȝe, haue ich Ascopard’ ȝhe sede
‘Of noman ne stant me drede;
Ich take þe God & seinte Marie, [f.191vb] [Image]
Sone so þow miȝt to me þow hiȝe.’
Beues wente forþ anon[2775]
Wiþ is men euerichon
Þat þe bischop him hadde ȝeue.
So longe þai hadde here wei idriue
Þat hii come vpon a done,
A mile out of Souþhamtone.[2780]
‘Lordinges’ to his men a sede,
‘ȝe scholle do be mine rede.
Haue ich eni so hardi on
Þat dorre to Hamtoun gon,
To þemperur of Almaine,[2785]
And sai her comeþ a vintaine,
Al prest an hondred kniȝte,
Þat fore his loue wilen fiȝte
Boþe wiþ spere & wiþ launce,
Al fresch icome out of Fraunce?[2790]
Ac euer an orneste & a rage,
Euer spekeþ Fre[n]sche laungage,
And sai ich hatte Gerard
And fiȝte ich wile be forward,
And of þe meistri icham sure[2795]
ȝif he wile ȝilde min hure.’
¶ Forþ þer com on redi reke
Þat renabliche kouþe Frensch speke.
‘Sire,’ a seide ‘ich wile gon
Þe mesage for [to] don anon.’[2800]
Forþ a wente to þe castel gate,
Þe porter a mette þerate,
To þemperur he haþ him lad,
Al a seide ase Beues him bad.
¶ Þemperur & Beues sete ifere[2805]
Þat ilche niȝt at þe sopere.
Þemperur askede him what a het;
‘Gerard’ a seide alse sket.
‘Gerard’ a seide ‘for soþ iwis,
Þis leuedi hadde her er þis[2810]
An erl to lord er ich hire wedde,
A sone betwene hem to þai hadde,
A proud wreche and a ȝing,
And for soþe a lite gadling;
So was is fader of proud mode,[2815]
Icomen of sum leþer blode;
His sone, þat was a proud garsoun, [f.192ra] [Image]
Men him clepede Beuoun;
Sone he was of age,
A solde me his eritage[2820]
And spente his panes in scham & schonde [ in: MS reads &.]
And siþe fleȝ out of Ingelonde.
Now haþ he her an em in Wiȝt,
Sire Saber a wel strong kniȝt,
And comeþ wiþ gret barnage[2825]
And cleimeþ his eritage
& ofte me doþ her gret gile;
And þow miȝt ȝilden is while
Him to sle wiþ swerd in felde,
Wel ich wolde þin here ȝelde.’[2830]
¶ ‘Sire’ queþ Beues anonriȝt
‘Ichaue kniȝtes of meche miȝt
Þat beþ vnarmed her of wede,
For we ne miȝte non out lede
Ouer þe se wiþouten aneiȝe;[2835]
Þarfore, sire, swiþe an hiȝe
Let arme me kniȝtes echon
And ȝef hem gode hors forþ enon;
An hondred men sent þow þe self,
Ase mani ichaue be min helf;[2840]
Diȝt me þe schip & þin men boþe
And y schel swere þe an oþe
Þat I schel ȝeue swiche asaut
On þat ilche Sabaaut
Þat wiþinne a lite while[2845]
Þow schelt here of a queinte gile.’
Al þus þemperur haþ him diȝt
Boþe hors, armes and kniȝt,
Þarto schipes wiþ gode vitaile;
Forþ þai wente & drowe saile.[2850]
In þe schipe þe kniȝtes seten, ywis,
On of here, anoþer of his.
Whan þai come amidde þe forde
Ech þrew is felawe ouer þe bord;
Of þemperures kniȝtes euerichon[2855]
Wiþinne bord ne leuede non.
¶ Saber hem ful wel ysay
Ase he vpon is toure lay,
Mani baner he seȝ arered.
Þo was Saber sumdel afered[2860]
Þat þemperur wiþ is ost come, [f.192rb] [Image]
Biker he made wel ylome.
Beues wiste wel and sede
Þat Saber him wolde drede;
Vpon þe hiȝeste mast is top þere[2865]
He let sette vp a stremere
Of his fader armure,
Saber þe raþer to make sure,
For mani a time þar beforen
He hadde hit into bataile boren.[2870]
Þo þe schip to londe drouȝ
Saber hit knew wel inouȝ
And þouȝte and gan to vnderstonde
Þat Beues was come inte Ingelonde.
‘Lord’ a sede ‘hered þow be[2875]
Þat ich mai me kende lord se;
Þat he wer ded ich was ofdrad,
Meche sorwe ichaue for him had.’
A wente wiþ is kniȝtes bliue
Þar þe schipes scholde ariue;[2880]
Eiþer oþer gan to kisse
And made meche ioie & blisse
And Beues tolde him in a while
He hadde do þemperur a gile.
¶ Þo seide Beues wiþ þan[2885]
‘Haue ich eni so hardi man
Þat dorre to Hamtoun gon,
Ouer þe water sone anon,
And sai þemperur anonriȝt
Þat I nam no Frensche kniȝt,[2890]
Ne þat I ne hatte nouȝt Gerard
Þat made wiþ him þe forward,
And sai him ich hatte Beuoun
& cleymeþ þe seinori of Hamtoun,
& þat is wif is me dame,[2895]
Þat schel hem boþe terne te grame?
Now of hem boþe togadre
I schel fonde wreke me fadre.’
¶ Vp þar sterte an hardi on
‘Sire’ a seide ‘ich wile gon,[2900]
Þe mesage fordoþ hem boþe
And maken hem sori & wroþe.’
Forþ a wente ase hot
Ouer þe water in a bot,
Forþ a wente also whate [f.192va] [Image] [2905]
In at þe castel gate;
At þe soper alse a set,
Þemperur he gan þus gret
‘Sire emperur, I þe bringe
A swiþe sertaine tiding.[2910]
Wel þe grete þat ilche kniȝt
Þat sopede wiþ þe ȝerstene niȝt;
A saiþ a hatte nouȝt Gerard
Þat made wiþ þe þe forward;
A saiþ þat he hatte Beuoun[2915]
And cleymeþ þe seinori of Hamtoun
And is icome wiþ þe to speke,
Of his fader deþ to ben awreke,
Þe te sle wiþ schame & schonde
And for to winne is owene londe.’[2920]
¶ Þemperur herde of him þat word,
His sone stod before þe bord;
He þouȝte wiþ is longe knif
Bereue þat mesageres lif;
A þrew is knif & kouþe nouȝt redi[2925]
And smot his sone þourȝ þe bodi.
Þe mesager spak a gainli word
Before þemperur is bord
‘Þow gropedest þe wif aniȝt to lowe,
Þow miȝt nouȝt sen ariȝt to þrowe;[2930]
Þow hauest so swonke on hire toniȝt,
Þow hauest neȝ forlore þe siȝt.
Her þow hauest liþer haunsel,
A worse þe betide schel.’
And smot is hors wiþ þe spore[2935]
And arnde out at halle dore;
Wel and faire he haþ him diȝt
& com aȝen to Beues in Wiȝt
And tolde a slouȝ is sone for grame;
Beues louȝ and hadde gode game.[2940]
Lete we sire Beues þanne
& speke of Iosiane
Þat in Coloine was wiþ Beues em
Til þat he aȝen þeder kem.
In þat londe þat ilche while[2945]
Þar wonede an erl þat hiȝte Mile;
To Iosian he hadde his loue cast
& gan hire to wowen fast;
Faire a spak to terne hire þouȝt [f.192vb] [Image]
& ȝhe seide a was aboute nouȝt.[2950]
Þat erl was wroþ in is manere
For Iosian him nolde here
& spak to hire wiþ loude gret
‘For wham’ a seide ‘scholde ich it lete
Boute ich mai haue of þe me wille?’[2955]
‘Ich wile’ a seide ‘who þat nille.’
ȝhe seide ‘while ichaue Ascopard,
Of þe nam ich noþing afard,
For þe wreþ þe ne for þin ost,
Ne for þe ne for þine bost.’[2960]
And þo þouȝte þat erl Mile
To do Iosian a gile.
A leter he let for to write,
In þis maner he dede it adite,
Þat Ascopard come scholde[2965]
To Beues, þar þe letter him tolde,
Into a castel in an yle,
Þe brede of þe water þre mile.
To Ascopard þai come snel,
Þai seide Beues him grette wel[2970]
& besouȝte for is loue
In haste a scholde to him come.
¶ Forþ wente Ascopard ase hot
Ouer þe water in a bot;
Whan he was ouer þe water come[2975]
Hii vnlek þe ȝate at þe frome;
& whan he was comen wiþinne,
Þai sperede him faste wiþ ginne.
Aȝen to Iosiane Miles gan terne
‘For wham’ a seide ‘schel ich it werne?’[2980]
ȝhe þouȝte for to kepe hire, apliȝt,
ȝhe sente a masager to Wiȝt,
To Beues, be letter & tolde fore
Al togedre lasse & more.
¶ Miles wolde haue is wille[2985]
And ȝhe bed him holde stille
‘Nouȝt þeȝ I scholde lese me lif
Boute ich were þe weddede wif;
ȝif eni man me scholde wedde
Þanne mot ich go wiþ him to bedde.[2990]
I trowe he is nouȝt now here
Þat schel be me wedde-fere.’
‘Y schel þe wedde aȝenes þe wille, [f.193ra] [Image]
Tomorwe y schel hit fulfille.’
And kiste hire anonriȝt[2995]
And sente after baroun & kniȝt
And bed hem come, leste & meste,
To anoure þat meri feste.
Þe niȝt is gon, þat dai comen is
Þe spusaile don hit is[3000]
Wiþ merþe in þat toun
& ioie of erl and baroun.
And whan hit drouȝ toward þe niȝt
Here soper w[as þ]er redi diȝt,
And þeȝ þai richelich weren ifed[3005]
Þat erl wolde ben abed.
Iosian he het lede to bour,
To haue hire vnder couertour.
Vpon hire bedde þar ȝhe sat
Þat erl com to hire wiþ þat,[3010]
Wiþ kniȝtes gret compainie,
Wiþ pyment and wiþ spisorie,
Wiþ al þe gamen þat hii hedde,
For to make hire dronke a bedde;
Ac al anoþer was hire þouȝt,[3015]
Ne gamnede hire þat gle riȝt nouȝt.
¶ ‘Sire’ ȝhe seide to þat erl sone
‘Ich bidde þow graunte me a bone,
And boute þow graunte me þis one,
I ne schel þe neuer bedde none.[3020]
Ich bidde þe at þe ferste frome
Þat man ne wimman herin come;
Belok hem þaroute for loue o me
Þat noman se our priuite.
Wimmen beþ schamfast in dede[3025]
And namliche maidenes’ ȝhe sede.
Þat erl seide a wolde faine.
A drof out boþe kniȝt & swaine,
Leuedies, maidenes & grome
Þat non ne moste þerin come[3030]
And schette þe dore wiþ þe keie.
Litel a wende haue be so veie.
Iosian he com aȝen to
‘Lemman’ a seide ‘ichaue ido,
Þe bone ichaue do wiþ lawe,[3035]
Me schon I mot me self ofdrawe,
Ase y neuer ȝet ne dede.’ [f.193rb] [Image]
Adoun a set him in þat stede.
Þanne was before his bed itiȝt,
Ase fele han of þis gentil kniȝt,[3040]
A couertine on raile tre
For noman scholde on bed ise.
Iosian beþouȝte on hiȝing,
On a towaile ȝhe made knotte riding,
Aboute his nekke ȝhe hit þrew[3045]
And on þe raile tre ȝhe drew;
Be þe nekke ȝhe haþ him vp tiȝt
& let him so ride al þe niȝt.
Iosian lai in hire bed; [Change in script evident from this line.]
No wonder þouȝ ȝhe wer adred.[3050]
Dai is come in alle wise,
Amorwe þe barouns gonne arise
Sum to honten and sum to cherche,
And werkmen gonne for to werche.
Þe sonne schon, hit drouȝ to vnder,[3055]
Þe barouns þarof hadde wonder;
Þat þerl lai so longe a bed,
Gret wonder þarof he hedde.
Queþ sum ‘Let him lie stille.
Of Iosian he haþ al is wille.’[3060]
Middai com, hit drouȝ te noune,
Þe barouns speke þer eft soune;
Queþ þe boldeste ‘how mai þis be?
Wende ich wile vp and ise.’
Þat baroun dorste wel speke,[3065]
To þe chaumber he gan reke
And smot þe dore wiþ is honde
Þat al wide vpon it wonde.
‘Awake’ a seide ‘sire erl Mile,
Þow hauest sleped so longe while[3070]
Þin heued oweþ to ake wel.
Dame, let make him a caudel.’
¶ ‘Nai’ queþ Iosian at þat sake
‘Neuer eft ne schel his heued ake;
Ichaue so tyled him for þat sore,[3075]
Schel hit neuer eft ake more.
ȝerstendai he me wedded wiþ wrong
& toniȝt ichaue him honge.
Doþ be me al ȝoure wille,
Schel he neuer eft wimman spille.’[3080]
Al hii made meche sorwe; [f.193va] [Image]
Anonriȝtes in þat morwe
Sum hire demte þanne
In a tonne for to branne.
Wiþoute þe toun hii piȝte a stake,[3085]
Þar þe fur was imake;
Þe tonne þai hadde þer iset,
Þai fette wode and elet.
¶ Ascopard wiþinne þe castel lay,
Þe tonne and al þe folk he say;[3090]
Ful wel him þouȝte þat while
Þat him trokede a gret gile,
For he was in þe castel beloke,
Þe castel wal he haþ tobroken;
He was maroner wel gode[3095]
A stertte into þe salte flode.
A fischer he seȝ fot-hot,
Euer a swam toward þe bot.
Þe fischer wende sum fend it were,
Out of is bot he fleȝ for fere.[3100]
Ascopard hente þe bot an honde
And rew him self to þe londe,
Toward þe fur faste a schok,
Beues com and him oftok
‘Treitour’ a seide ‘whar hastow be?[3105]
Þis dai þow hauest betraied me.’
‘Nai, sire’ Ascopard seide
& tolde Miles him hadde betraide.
Toward þe fur þai wente bliue.
Þe prest þat hire scholde schriue,[3110]
Godes blessing mote he fonge
For þat he held Iosiane so longe.
In hire (hire) smok ȝhe stod naked
Þar þe fur was imaked.
Ase men scholde hire forbrenne[3115]
Beues on Arondel com renne
Wiþ is swerd Morgelay;
Ascopard com be anoþer way,
And slowen in þat ilche stounde
Al þat hii aboute þe fur founde,[3120]
And þat he hadde for is while
Þat proude erl sire Mile.
¶ A sette Iosian on is palfrai
And wente forþ in here wai;
Þai wente to schip anonriȝte [f.193vb] [Image] [3125]
And sailede forþ into Wiȝte.
Wel was Saber paid wiþ þan
Of Ascopard & of Iosian.
Beues & Saber sente here sonde
Wide into fele londe[3130]
And hii sente an hie
After gret cheualrie,
Of al þe londe þe stringeste kniȝte
Þat hii owhar finde miȝte.
¶ Þat emperur neȝ daide,[3135]
His wif confortede him & saide
‘Sire’ ȝhe seide ‘doute ȝow nouȝt,
Of gode consaile icham beþouȝt.
ȝe scholle sende for sertaine
After ȝour ost into Almaine,[3140]
And whan ȝour ost is come togadre,
Send to þe king of Scotlonde me fadre;
He wile come to þe an hiȝe
Wiþ wonder gret cheualrie
Þat þow derst haue no sore[3145]
Of þat þef Saber þe hore
Ne of Beues þat is me loþe.
ȝit ȝe schollen hem hangen boþe.’
Þo þe letters were ȝare
Þe masegers wer forþ ifare.[3150]
In Mai whan lef & gras ginþ springe
And þe foules merie to singe
Þe king of Scotlonde com to fiȝte
Wiþ þretti þosend of hardi kniȝte
Of Almaine is owene barouny,[3155]
Wiþ wonder gret cheualry.
‘Lordinges’ a seide ‘ȝe witeþ alle,’
Whan hii were before him in þe halle,
‘Þat ofte þis þef Saber þe hore
Me haþ aneied swiþe sore.[3160]
Now is him come help to fiȝte,
Beues of Hamtoun an hardi kniȝte;
To Sarasins was solde gon longe,
Ich wende [he] hadde ben anhonge;
He me þreteþ for to slen[3165]
& for to winne is londe aȝen;
Wiþ him he haþ a geaunt brouȝt.
Erþliche man semeþ he nouȝt
Ne noman of flesch ne felle [f.194ra] [Image]
Boute a fend stolen out of helle;[3170]
Ascopart men clepeþ him þeroute,
Of him ichaue swiþe gret doute.’
‘Ac, lordinges’ a seide ‘arme ȝe wel,
We scholle besege hem in here castel;
Þe Ascopard be strong & sterk[3175]
Mani hondes makeþ liȝt werk.’
For[þ] þai wenten ase snel
Til þai come to þe castel
Þar Saber and Beues weren inne,
Þai piȝte pauilouns & bente ginne.[3180]
¶ Saber stod on is tour an hiȝ,
Al þat grete ost a siȝ;
Gret wonder þerof he hade,
Þe holi crois before him he made
And swor be his berde hore[3185]
Hit scholde some of [hem] rewe it sore.
Saber doun of his tour went,
After al is kniȝtes a sent
‘Has armes, lordinges’ he gan segge,
‘Þemperur þeroute vs wile belegge.[3190]
Make we þre vintaine
Þat be gode and certaine.
Þe ferste ich wile me self out lede
& þow þat oþer, Beues’ a sede,
‘And Ascopard þe þredde schel haue[3195]
Wiþ is gode grete staue.
Be we þre vpon þe grene,
Wel ich wot and nouȝt ne wene,
Mani man is þaroute gete
Þis dai schel is lif forlete.’[3200]
Saber is horn began to blowe
Þat his ost him scholde knowe.
‘Lordinges’ a seide ‘ne doute ȝow nouȝt
ȝe scholle þis dai be holde so douȝt
Þat hem were beter at Rome[3205]
Þanne hii hadde hider icome.’
¶ Þo þemperur herde in castel blowe,
Þarbi he gan to knowe
Þat hii armede hem in þe castel;
His kniȝtes he het ase snel[3210]
‘Has armes, lordinges, to bataile.
Out hii comeþ vs to asaile.’
Twei ostes þai gonne make; [f.194rb] [Image]
He of Scotlonde haþ on itake,
Þemperur þat oþe[r] ladde.[3215]
His deþ þat dai þer he hadde.
Out of þe castel cam before
Saber wiþ is berde hore
And in is compainie
Þre hondred kniȝtes hardie.[3220]
Sire Morice of Mounclere
His stede smot aȝenes Sabere;
His spere was sumdel kene
And Saber rod him aȝene.
Þouȝ is spere wer scharp igrounde[3225]
Saber slouȝ him in þat stounde.
Out on Arondel þo com Beuoun
And mette wiþ is stifader Deuoun
And wiþ a dent of gret fors
A bar him doun of his hors;[3230]
Wiþ Morgelay þat wolde wel bite
He hadde ment is heued of smite;
His ost cam riding him to,
Wel ten þosend oþer mo;
So stronge were þo hii come,[3235]
Þemperur Beues hii benome
And brouȝte him an horse þo;
Þarfore was Beues swiþe wo.
¶ Þar com in þe þredde part
Wiþ is batte Ascopard;[3240]
Euer alse he com þan
A felde boþe hors & man.
Þarwiþ was Beues wel apaide,
A clepede Ascopard & to him saide
‘Ascopard, tak riȝt gode hede,[3245]
Þemperur rit on a whit stede;
Þin hure I schel þe ȝilde wel,
Wiþ þat þow bringe him to me castel.’
‘Sire’ a seide ‘I schel for soþe
Into þe castel bringe him to þe.’[3250]
Ascopard leide on wel inouȝ,
Boþe man & hors he slouȝ;
Þar nas non armur in þat londe
Þat miȝte þe geauntes strok astonde.
Þe king of Scotlonde wiþ is bat[3255]
A ȝaf him swiche a sori flat
Vpon þe helm in þat stounde [f.194va] [Image]
Þat man and hors fel ded to grounde.
Þanne anon wiþoute soiur
A wente to þat emperur[3260]
And hasteliche wiþ miȝt and main
A hente þe hors be þe rain;
Wolde he, nolde he, faire & wel
He bar hors and man to þe castel.
Of al þat oþer, siker apliȝte,[3265]
Þat were ensemled in þat fiȝte,
Of Scotlonde and of Almaine,
Beues and Saber wiþ miȝt and maine
Wiþ deþ is dentes gonne doun driue
Þat þar ne scapede non aliue.[3270]
And þus sire Beues wan þe pris
And vengede him of is enemis,
And to þe castel þai wente isame
Wiþ gret solas, gle and game
And þat his stifader wer ded[3275]
Ase tit he let felle a led
Ful of pich and of bremston, [ pich: MS reads bich.]
And hot led let falle þeron;
Whan hit alþer swiþer seþ,
Þemperur þarin a deþ;[3280]
Þar a lay atenende;
Wende his saule, whider it wende.
¶ His moder ouer þe castel lai,
Hire lord seþen in þe pich ȝhe sai;
So swiþe wo hire was for sore[3285]
ȝhe fel and brak hire nekke þerfore.
Alse glad he was of hire,
Of his damme, ase of is stipsire
And seide ‘Damme, forȝeue me þis gilt.
I ne ȝaf þe noþer dent ne pilt.`[3290]
Þanne al þe lordes of Hamteschire
Made Beues lord and sire
And dede him feute & omage
Ase hit was lawe & riȝt vsage.
Þo was Beues glad and bliþe[3295]
And þankede God ful mani a siþe
Þat he was wreke wel inouȝ
Of him þat his fader slouȝ.
Wel hasteliche (ȝ)he let sende
To Coloine after þe bischop hende,[3300]
And spusede Beues & Iosiane. [f.194vb] [Image]
Of no ioie nas þer wane,
Þouȝ ich discriue nouȝt þe bredale,
ȝe mai wel wite hit was riale,
Þat þer was in alle wise[3305]
Mete and drinke & riche seruise.
Now haþ Beues al is stat;
Tweie children on hir he beȝat [ hir: MS reads him.]
In þe formeste ȝere
Whiles þat hii were ifere.[3310]
And Saber him redde þar
Wende to þe king Edgar;
Þo wiþinne a lite stounde
Þe king a fond at Lounde.
Beues a knes doun him set,[3315]
Þe king hendeliche a gret.
Þe king askede him what he were
And what nedes a wolde þere.
Þanne answerde Beuoun
‘Ichatte Beues of Hamtoun;[3320]
Me fader was þer þerl Gii;
Þemperur for is leuedi
Out of Almaine com & him slouȝ.
Ichaue wreke him wel inouȝ.
Ich bidde before ȝour barnage[3325]
Þat ȝe me graunte min eritage.’
‘Bleþeliche’ a seide ‘sone min,
Ich graunte þe be sein Martin.’
His marchal he gan beholde
‘Fet me’ a seide ‘me ȝerde of golde.[3330]
Gii, is fader, was me marchal
Also Beues, is sone, schal.’
His ȝerd he gan him þer take;
So þai atonede wiþoute sake.
In somer aboute Whitsontide,[3335]
Whan kniȝtes mest an horse ride,
A gret kours þar was do grede
For to saien here alþer stede
Whiche were swift & strong.
Þe kours was seue mile long;[3340]
Who þat come ferst þeder han scholde
A þosand pound of rede golde.
Þarwiþ was Beues paied wel,
Meche a treste to Arondel.
Amorwe, whan hit was dai cler, [f.195ra] [Image] [3345]
Ariseþ boþe kniȝt and squier
And lete sadlen here fole.
Twei kniȝtes hadde þe kours istole
Þat hii were to mile before
Er eni man hit wiste ybore.[3350]
Whan Beues wiste þis fot-hot
Arondel wiþ is spures a smot
& is bridel faste a schok;
Amide þe kours he hem oftok.
‘Arondel’ queþ Beues þo[3355]
‘For me loue go bet, go,
And I schel do faire and wel
For þe loue reren a castel.’
¶ Whan Arondel herde what he spak,
Before þe twei kniȝtes he rak[3360]
Þat he com raþer to þe tresore
Þan hii be half and more.
Beues of his palfrai aliȝte
& tok þe tresore anonriȝte.
Wiþ þat and wiþ mor catel [3365] [ catel: MS reads gatel.]
He made þe castel of Arondel.
Meche men preisede is stede þo
For he hadde so wel igo;
Þe prince bad a scholde it him ȝeue.
‘Nay’ queþ Beues ‘so mot y leue,[3370]
Þouȝ þow wost me take an honde
Al þe hors of Ingelonde.’
Siþ þe þat he him ȝeue nele
A þouȝte þat he it wolde stele.
Hit is lawe of kinges alle[3375]
At mete were croune in halle,
& þanne eueriche marchal
His ȝerde an honde bere schal.
While Beues was in þat ofice
Þe kinges sone þat was so nice[3380]
What helpeþ for to make fable
A ȝede to Beues i[s] stable
And ȝede Arondel to niȝe;
And also a wolde him vntiȝe,
And þo Arondel fot-hot[3385]
Wiþ his hint fot he him smot
And todaschte al is brain.
Þus was þe kinges sone slain.
¶ Men made del & gret weping [f.195rb] [Image]
For sorwe of þat ilche þing;[3390]
Þe king swor for þat wronge
Þat Beues scholde ben anhonge
& todrawe wiþ wilde fole.
Þe barnage it nolde nouȝt þole
& seide hii miȝte do him no wors[3395]
Boute lete hongen is hors;
Hii miȝte don him namore
For he se[r]uede þo þe king before.
‘Nai’ queþ Beues ‘for no catele
Nel ich lese min hors Arondele,[3400]
Ac min hors for to were
Ingelonde ich wile forswere;
Min eir ich wile make her
Þis gode kniȝt, min em Saber.’
In þat maner hii wer at one[3405]
And Beues is to Hamtoun gone;
A tolde Iosian & Ascopard fore
Al togedre, lasse and more.
Beues lep on is rounci
And made is swein Terri,[3410]
Þat Saber is sone is;
And whan Ascopard wiste þis,
Whiche wei hii wolde take,
Aȝen to Mombraunt he gan schake
To betraie Beues ase ȝe mai se,[3415]
For he was falle in pouerte;
For whan a man is in pouerte falle
He haþ fewe frendes wiþalle.
To him seide king Yuore
‘Treitour, whar hastow be þus ȝore?’[3420]
‘Sire’ a seide ‘haue souȝt þe quene,
& haue had for hire miche tene.’
‘Sire’ a seide ‘certeine for soþe
ȝet ich kouþe bringe hire to þe.’
‘Ich wile þe ȝeue a kingdom riȝt,[3425]
Bring þow me þat leuedi briȝt.’
Queþ Ascopart ‘Þerto I graunt,
Be Mahoun & be Tervagaunt,
So þat ichaue fourti kniȝtes,
Stout in armes & strong in fiȝtes;[3430]
For Beues is ful sterne & stoute,
Of him ichaue swiþe gret doute;
He ouercom me ones in bataile, [f.195va] [Image]
Me behoueþ help him to asaile.’
King Yuor grauntede anonriȝtes;[3435]
He let him chese fourti kniȝtes
And armede hem in yrene wede
& forþ wiþ Ascopard þai ȝede.
¶ Now lete we be þis Ascopard
& speke of Beues þat rit forþward[3440]
In is wei til Ermonie
Þourȝ Fraunce & þourȝ Normondie;
And Iosiane – Crist here be milde
In a wode was bestonde of childe.
Beues and Terri doun liȝte[3445]
And wiþ here swerdes [a] logge piȝte;
Þai brouȝte Iosiane þerinne
For hii ne kouþe no beter ginne.
Beues is seruise gan hire bede
To helpe hire at þat nede.[3450]
‘For Godes loue’ ȝhe seide ‘nai,
Leue sire, þow go þe wai.
God forbede for is pite [ God: MS reads for.]
Þat no wimman is priuite
To noman þourȝ me be kouþe;[3455]
Goþ and wendeþ hennes nouþe,
Þow and þe swain Terry,
And let me worþe & oure leuedy.’
Forþ þai wente boþe ifere
For hii ne miȝte hire paines here.[3460]
Allas! þat ilche cherre
Hii wente fro hire al to ferre.
Alse hii wer out of þe weie
ȝhe hadde knaue children tweie.
Also ȝhe diliuered was[3465]
Þar com Ascopard goande a pas
& fourti Sarasins, þe Frensch seþ,
Al i-armede to þe teþ.
For al hire sorwe & hire wo
Þai made hire wiþ hem te go[3470]
And gret scorning of hire þai maked
And bete hire wiþ swerdes naked.
Wo was þe leuedi in þat stounde
Þat was so beten & ibounde;
& in here wei ase þai gonne wende,[3475]
ȝhe seide ‘Ascopard, freli frende,
For bounte ich dede þe while [f.195vb] [Image]
And sauede þe fro perile,
Þo Beues þe wolde han slawe
And ibrouȝt of þe lif dawe,[3480]
Ich was þe bourȝ, þe schost be trewe;
Þarfore I praie on me þe rewe
And ȝeue me space a lite wiȝt
For wende out of þis folkes siȝt
Te do me nedes in priuite;[3485]
For kende hit is wimmen te be
Schamfaste and ful of corteisie
& hate dedes of fileinie.’
¶ Ascopard answerde hire þo [Change of script evident from this line.]
‘Whider þow wilt, dame, þow schelt go,[3490]
So ichaue of þe a siȝt.’
Þanne Iosiane anonriȝt
Out of þe way ȝhe gan terne
Ase ȝhe wolde do hire dedes derne.
While ȝhe was in Ermonie,[3495]
Boþe fysik and sirgirie
ȝhe hadde lerned of meisters grete,
Of Boloyne þe gras and of Tulete,
Þat ȝhe knew erbes mani & fale
To make boþe boute & bale.[3500]
On ȝhe tok vp of þe grounde
Þat was an erbe of meche mounde
To make a man in semlaunt þere
A foule mesel alse ȝif a were.
Whan ȝhe hadde ete þat erbe anon[3505]
To þe Sarasines ȝhe gan gon
And wente hem forþ wiþoute targing
Toward Yuore þe riche king.
Þai nadde ride in here way
Boute fif mile of þat contray,[3510]
ȝhe was in semlaunt & in ble
A foule mesel on to se.
Þo ȝhe was brouȝt to king Yuore
To Ascopard a seide þore [ To: T and o separated by two rubricated punctus marks.]
‘Who is þis wimman þow hast me brouȝt?’[3515]
‘What’ a seide ‘knowest hire nouȝt?
ȝhe is Iosiane þe quene.
Ichaue had for hire meche tene.’
Þanne seide Yuor ‘I praie Mahoun
Þarfore ȝeue þe is malisoun[3520]
Swiche a leuedi me to bringe, [f.196ra] [Image]
So foule of siȝt in alle þinge.
Led hire awai, God ȝeue ȝow schame,
Þe and hire, boþe isame.’
¶ A castel hadde king Yuor[3525]
Fro his paleise fif mile & mor;
Þeder Yuor bad hire lede
And finde hire þat hire wer nede.
Þo Ascopard wiþouten dwelling
Into þat castel gan hire bring[3530]
In wildernesse vpon a plaine
And half a ȝer a was hire wardaine.
Now lete we be of þis leuedi
And speke of Beues & of Terri.
Beues aȝen is wei he nam[3535]
Into þe logge þat he cam;
Fond he þer noþer ȝong ne elder,
Boute twei heþene knaue childer,
Swiþe faire children wiþalle
Alse hii were fro þe moder falle.[3540]
Beues fel þar doun and swouȝ;
Terri wep and him vp drouȝ,
And koursede biter þat while
Ascopard is tresoun & is gile.
Þe[i] kottede here forers of ermin,[3545]
Þe ȝonge children wonde þerin.
Þar nolde hii no long abide,
Þei lope to horse & gonne ride;
In þe wode a forster þai mette
And swiþe faire þai him grette[3550]
‘God þe blesse sire,’ Beues sede
‘Siȝe þe eni leuedi her forþ lede
Owhar be þis ilche way?’
‘Sire, for Gode,’ a seide ‘nay.’
‘What dones man ertow, bacheler?’[3555]
‘Sire’ a seide ‘a forster.’
‘Forster, so Crist þe be milde,
Wiltow lete cristen þis heþen childe?
Riȝt, lo, now hit was ibore
And ȝong hit haþ is moder forlore.[3560]
Wilt þow kep it for of min’ a sede,
‘And I schel quite wel þe mede?’
Þe forster him grauntede þer
To kepe hit al þe seuen ȝer.
‘Sire, what schel it hote ȝet?’ [f.196rb] [Image] [3565]
‘Gii’ a sede ‘ase me fader het.
Riȝt sone so he is of elde
Tech him bere spere & schelde.’
Þat child þe forster he betok
And forþ in is wei a schok.[3570]
Anoþer man a mette þere
Þat seide a was a fischere;
Ten mark Beues him betok,
And þat oþer child to lok,
And he him self at þe cherche stile[3575]
He let neuene þe child Mile.
Þar nolden lengere abide,
Þai lope to hors & gonne ride
Ouer dale and ouer doun
Til þai come to a gret toun,[3580]
& at a faire in þai liȝte,
& riche soper þai gonne hem diȝte.
Beues at a wendowe lokede out
And seȝ þe strete ful aboute
Of stedes wrien and armes briȝt:[3585]
A wonder him þouȝte what it be miȝt;
At here ostesse he askede þere
What al þe stoute stedes were.
‘Sire’ a seide veraiment,
Þai ben come for a tornement[3590]
Þat is cride for a maide faire,
A kinges douȝter and is air.
Who þat þar be beste kniȝt
And stireþ him stoutliche in þat fiȝt,
He schel haue þat maide fre[3595]
And Aumbeforce þe faire contre.’
Þanne seide Beues vnto Terry
‘Wile we tornaie for þat leuedy?’
‘ȝe, sire’ a sede ‘be sein Thomas of Ynde.
Whan wer we woned be byhinde?[3600]
We scholle lete for non nede
Þat we ne scholle manliche forþ vs bede.’
¶ Amorwe þe lauerkes songe
Whan þat þe liȝte day was spronge;
Beues and Terry gonne arise[3605]
& greiþede hem in faire queintise.
Here armes were riale of siȝt,
Wiþ þre eglen of asur briȝt;
Þe chaumpe of gold ful faire tolede, [f.196va] [Image]
Portraid al wiþ rosen rede.[3610]
And Terri, Saberes sone of Wiȝt,
In riche armes also was diȝt.
As þai com ride þourȝ þe toun,
Erles, barouns of renoun
Hadde wonder of here armes slie,[3615]
In þat londe neuer swich þai sie.
Þe trompes gonne here bemes blowe;
Þe kniȝtes riden out in a rowe
& þo þe tornement began
Þar was samned mani a man[3620]
Þe tornement to beholde,
To se þe kniȝtes stout and bolde.
Þai leide on ase hii were wode
Wiþ swerdes and wiþ maces gode;
Þar nolde noman oþer knowe,[3625]
Þar men miȝte se in lite þrowe
Kniȝtes out of sadel iboren,
Stedes wonne and stedes loren.
Þe kinges sone of Asie
Þouȝte wenne þe meistrie,[3630]
Out of þe renge he com ride,
& Beues nolde no leng abide;
He rod to him wiþ gret randoun,
& wiþ Morgelai is fauchoun
Þe prince a felde in þe feld;[3635]
He was boren hom vpon is scheld.
And also Beues adoun bar
A noble duk þat was þar.
In Aumbeforce cleped a wes
Balam of Nuby wiþouten les;[3640]
Taile ouer top he made him stoupe
& felde him ouer is horses croupe,
And seuen erles he gan doun þrawe
Sum iwonded and sum yslawe.
Saber is sone þat hiȝte Terry[3645]
Kedde þat he was kniȝt hardy;
He leide on alse he wolde awede
And wan his lord mani gode stede.
Alle þo þat hii miȝte hitte
Noman miȝte here strokes sitte.[3650]
So Beues demeinede him þat dai,
Þe maide hit in þe tour say.
Hire hertte gan to him acorde, [f.196vb] [Image]
Þat ȝhe wolde haue him to lorde
Oþer wiþ loue, oþer wiþ strif;[3655]
And euer a seide he haþ a wif
& seide ȝhe was stolen him fro.
Þanne saide þe maide ‘Now it is so,
Þow schelt al þis seuen ȝere
Be me lord in clene manere[3660]
And ȝif þe wif comeþ þe aȝen,
Terry þe swein me lord schel ben.’
Beues seide ‘So I schel;
In þat forward I graunte wel.’
Saber at Hamtoun lai in is bed,[3665]
Him þouȝte Beues a wonde hed;
A way he was him þouȝte þat while
Toward sein Iemes & sein Gile.
Whan he awok he was afraid,
To his wif is sweuene a said.[3670]
‘Sire’ ȝhe seide ‘þow hauest wrong
Þat þow dwellest her so long.
Alse ich am wimman ibore,
Wif or child he haþ forlore;
Þourȝ Ascopard he haþ þat gile.’[3675]
Twelf kniȝtes Saber let atile
In palmer is wedes euerichon,
And armede hem riȝt wel anon;
Here bordones were imaked wel
Wiþ longe pikes of wel gode stel,[3680]
And whan þai were so idiȝt,
To schip þai wente anonriȝt
And pasede ouer þe Grikische se;
Gode winde & weder hadden he.
Whan þai come to þe londe[3685]
Faste þai gonne fraine & fonde
In what londe were þe quene
And men tolde hem al bedene
How þe geaunt Ascopard
In a castel hire hadde to ward,[3690]
In wildernesse al be selue.
Þo Saber and is feren twelue,
Þourȝ help of God þat ilche stounde
Sone þai han þe castel founde.
Þe castel ase ȝhe ȝede aboute[3695]
For to diuise þe toures stoute,
Iosian lay in a tour an hiȝ, [f.197ra] [Image]
Saber and felawes ȝhe siȝ,
And to him ȝhe gan to crie
‘Help, Saber, for loue of Marie.’[3700]
Þo Ascopard herde þat steuene
How ȝhe gan Saber to neuene
He wente him out wiþ hertte wroþ
& be Mahoun a swor his oþ
To deþe a scholde Saber diȝte.[3705]
His sclauin ech palmer of twiȝte,
Þo schon here armur wel clere;
Þo Saber and his felawes ifere
Aboute Ascopard þai þringe
And harde on him þai gonne dinge[3710]
And hew him alle to pices smale
And brouȝte Iosian out of bale;
And hasteliche þo, veraiment,
Iosian wiþ an oiniment
Hire coulur þat was loþli of siȝt[3715]
ȝhe made boþe cler and briȝt.
¶ Þo Saber þat was wis of dede
Iosian hire diȝte in palmers wede,
And forþ þai wente hasteli
To seche Beues and sire Terri.[3720]
Seue ȝer togedres þai him souȝt
Er þan hii him finde mouȝte.
In grete Grese, so saiþ þe bok,
Saber gret sikenesse tok,
Þat oþer half ȝer in none wise[3725]
Ne miȝte he out of is bed arise, [This line copied at the end of the column with four dots to the left.]
And tresor he nadde namore
Þan half a mark of olde store.
While Iosian was in Ermonie
ȝhe hadde lerned of minstralcie,[3730]
Vpon a fiþele for to play
Staumpes, notes, garibles gay;
Þo ȝhe kouþe no beter red
Boute into þe bourȝ anon ȝhe ȝed
And bouȝte a fiþele, so saiþ þe tale,[3735]
For fourti panes of one menstrale;
And alle þe while þat Saber lay,
Iosian eueriche a day
ȝede aboute þe cite wiþinne
Here sostenaunse for to winne.[3740]
Þus Iosian was in swiche destresse [f.197rb] [Image]
While Saber lai in is siknesse.
At þat oþer half ȝer is ende
Swiche grace God him gan sende
And heled him of his maladie,[3745]
And forþ þai wente hastelie
Beues and Terry for to seche
Wheder þat God hem wolde teche.
So þourȝ a toun þai com þringe
Þar Beues was in also a kinge;[3750]
A brouȝte Iosian at here inne
& wente te toun here mete to winne.
Whan he com to þe castel gate,
Terry, is sone, a mette þerate
Þat was stiward of al þat londe,[3755]
And Saber gan to vnderstonde
Þat hit was is sone Terry,
And bad him for loue of our leuedy
& for loue of þe gode rode
ȝeue him sumwhat of hire gode.[3760]
Terry beheld Saber ful bliue
& seide ‘palmer, so mot y þriue,
Þow schelt haue mete riche
For loue of me fader þert iliche.’
‘So seide þe moder, sone, þat I was.’[3765]
And Terry him in is armes las
& gunne cleppen and to kisse
And made meche ioie & blisse.
Saber Iosian wel faire gan diȝte
And brouȝte hire to þe castel riȝte[3770]
And tok hire sire Beues to honde;
Ne cam him neuer leuer sonde.
‘Louerd Crist’ queþ Iosian þo,
‘Swiþe wel is me bego
Þat ichaue me lord ifonde.[3775]
Hadde ich me children hol & sonde.’
Þat hii were ded wel ȝhe wende.
Beues after hem let sende.
Þan com þe fischer & þe forster
And brouȝte þe children of fair cher.[3780]
Þanne weddede Terry
Of þat londe þe riche leuedy;
And after mete þar it was
Þe children pleide at þe taluas
And to þe iustes þai gonne ride [f.197va] [Image] [3785]
Þar was ioie be eueri side.
Þanne sire Beues & sere Terry
Wente hem in til Ermonie,
And Iosiane and sire Sabere
And Miles and Gii boþe ifere.[3790]
Wiþ þat was come king Yuore
To ȝeue bataile Ermyn þe hore;
Ipiȝt he hadde is pauilioun
To besege him in þat toun.
Wiþ þat com Beues in þat tide[3795]
Wiþ gret folk be þat oþer side.
Þo was Ermin afered sore
For tresoun he hadde don him before.
Aȝen Beues anon a ȝede
And merci cride of his misdede,[3800]
And sire Beues þo, veraiment,
Forȝaf him alle is mau(n)talent
And seide a wolde anonriȝte
Aȝen Yuor take þe fiȝte.
Out of þe cite Beues rod[3805]
And al is ost wiþouten abod
And slowe dounriȝtes mani & fale,
Sixti þosand told in tale;
And Beues þrew Yuor adoun
And sente him Ermin to prisoun.[3810]
He gan him take be þe honde;
Þe king Ermin gan vnderstonde
Þat he ne schel nouȝt scape awai
Wiþoute gret raunsoun for to pai.
Þo swor Yuor to king Ermin,[3815]
Be Mahoun and be Apolyn,
Þat gret raunsoun paie he wolde,
Sixti pound of rede golde,
Foure hondred beddes of selk echon,
Quiltes of gold þar vpon,[3820]
Foure hondred copes of gold fyn
And ase fele of maslin.
‘ȝe’ seide Beues, ‘asend it me
And wend hom to þe contre.’
A masager a sente wiþ main[3825]
To Tabefor his chaumberlain
& he him sente þat raunsoun;
Þus com Yuor out of prisoun.
Now let we be of king Yuore [f.197vb] [Image]
And speke we of Ermin þe hore[3830]
Þat in is bedde sike lay.
So hit befel vpon a day,
Er he out of þis world went,
After Beues children a sent.
He clepede to him sire Gii[3835]
And wiþ is croune gan him crouny
And ȝaf him alle is kenedom.
Sone þarafter hit becom
Þat a daide at þe ende,
To heuene mote his saule wende.[3840]
¶ Þanne sire Beues and sire Gii
Al þe londe of Ermony
Hii made Cristen wiþ dent of swerd,
ȝong and elde, lewed and lered.
So hit befel vpon an eue,[3845]
Saber of Beues tok leue
Hom te wende to his contre,
His wif, his children for to se.
Ne stente neuer sire Saber
Til þat he in Ingelonde were[3850]
Wel sore aneiȝed schel Beues be
Er þan he Saber eft ise. [ Saber: MS reads Beues.]
¶ Þe king Yuor hadde a þef
God him ȝeue euel pref,
For þat he kouþe so wel stele.[3855]
He stel Beues Arondele
Wiþ his charmes þat he kouþe
And brouȝte hit [to] Mombraunt be souþe
And presentede þe king Yuore.
Þe king be Mahoun haþ swore[3860]
Þat Beues scholde abegge(d) sore
Þe raunsoun þat he badde before.
Now sire Beues let we gan
And to sire Saber wile we tan.
Saber at Hamtoun in bedde lay;[3865]
Him þouȝte þat he Beues say
In bataile wo begon
And al tohewe flesch and bon.
Þo he abraide out of is sweuene
To his wif a tolde hit ful euene[3870]
Al togedres how him met.
‘O sire’ ȝhe seide wiþouten let,
‘Be þe sweuene ful wel I wat [f.198ra] [Image]
Þat Beues is in semple stat;
He haþ forloren Arondel,[3875]
And þat I wet finliche wel.’
Saber was wo for þat sake;
Eft scrippe and bordoun he gan take
And tok leue of his wif
And to Beues a wente belif.[3880]
Beues was glad þat he was come
And tolde his hors was him benome
‘A roboun hit stal ful ȝore
And haþ ȝeue hit to king Yuore.’
‘Þat’ Saber seide, ‘aþenkeþ me[3885]
Boute ȝif ich miȝte winne it aȝe.’
Aȝen to Mombraunt wente Saber
Þar men watrede þe deistrer;
Þar he stod and abod,
A proud Sarasin þer on rod;[3890]
‘Mahoun þe saue’ seide Saber,
‘Fro whanne komeþ þis fair deistrer?
Hit haueþ brestes þikke and proute.
Which is þe kroupe? Terne aboute.’
Aboute he ternde þe deistrer;[3895]
Vp behinde lep Saber
& smot þe Sarasin ded adoun
Wiþ þe pik of his bordoun.
To þe king Yuor he gan grede
‘Lo! Arondel ich a wei lede.[3900]
ȝe him stele wiþ envie
And ich him feche before ȝour eie.’
Þe king Yuor was swiþe wo
And after Saber þai gonne go;
Þre þosend haþ Saber beset.[3905]
Iosian stond in a toret,
Al þis folk ȝhe seȝ ful wel
And Saber com ride on Arondel;
Out of þe tour ȝhe wente adoun
And seide ‘Beues of Hamtoun,[3910]
Her comeþ Saber vpon þe stede;
Ihesu Crist him ȝilde is mede.
Ac he is beset al aboute
Wiþ wonderliche grete route;
Almost he is [in] point to spille.’[3915]
‘Has armes’ Beues cride schille.
Ferst smot out þe ȝonge king Gii [f.198rb] [Image]
And Miles wiþ gret cheualry;
Þai come to Saber at þat stour
And brouȝte Saber gode sokour[3920]
And leide on wiþ alle here miȝt
& slowe Sarasines adoun riȝt.
Of al þat sewede him so ȝerne
To Mombraunt gonne neuer on terne
Þat þai ner ded vpon þe grene,[3925]
Eueri moder sone, I wene;
And þus Saber in þis wise
Wan Arondel wiþ is queintise.
Now mowe ȝe here forþermore
Ful strong bataile of king Yuore.[3930]
Ac er þan we beginne fiȝte
Ful vs þe koppe anonriȝte.
Þe king Yuore him ros amorwe,
In his hertte was meche sorwe.
He let ofsende an hiȝing[3935]
Þretti amirales & ten king.
Þai armede hem in yrene wede,
To Ermonie he gan hem lede.
Hii piȝte pauiliouns & bente ginne,
For to besege hem þerinne,[3940]
And Yuore clepede at þat cas
Morable and sire Iudas.
‘Redeþ me’ a seide ‘ariȝt,
ȝif ich mai vnderstonde þis fiȝt
Aȝen Beues of Hamtoun[3945]
Þat is so stout a baroun.’
‘We redeþ meintene ȝour parti.’
He lep to hors & gan to crie
‘Sire Beues of Hamtoun’ a sede
‘Þat hauest þarinne gret ferede,[3950]
And ich heroute mani stout kniȝt
Ichaue brouȝt wiþ me to fiȝt,
And ȝif we bataile schel abide
Gret slauȝter worþ in eiþer side.
Wiltow graunte be þen helue[3955]
Þat ich and þow mote fiȝte vs selue?
ȝif þow slest me in bataile
Al min onour, wiþouten faile,
Ich þe graunte þourȝ & þourȝ,
Boþe in cite and in bourȝ.’[3960]
Here glouen þai gonne vp holde [f.198va] [Image]
In þat forward þat Yuor tolde
And armede hem in armes briȝte
And lopen to horse anonriȝte;
In an yle vnder þat cite,[3965]
Þar þat scholde þe bataile be.
Ouer þat water þai gonne ride,
To hire godes þai bede in eiþer side;
Beues bad help to Marie sone
And king Yuor to sein Mahoune.[3970]
Ase Beues bad helpe to Marie,
To Teruagaunt Yuor gan crie,
Þat he scholde helpe him in þat fiȝt
Also he was king of meche miȝt.
Wiþ þat hii ride togedres boþe,[3975]
Ase men þat were in hertte wroþe.
So harde þai gonne togedres mete
And wiþ here launces gonne grete,
Þat þourȝ þe scheldes þe speres ȝode;
At þe breinies þe dent wiþstode.[3980]
So harde þai þreste togedre þo
Þat here gerþes borste ato
& felle to grounde boþe þo,
A fote nedes þai moste go.
Out of here sadles þai gonne springe[3985]
And wiþ fauchouns togedere flinge;
Aiþer on oþer strokes set,
Of helm and scheld and bacinet
Þe fure brast out so brond ibrent,
So fel and eger was eiþer dent.[3990]
Þus togederes þai gonne dinge
Fram prime til vnderne gan to ringe.
Alle þat siȝen hem wiþ siȝt
Seide neuer in none fiȝt
So stronge bataile siȝe er þan[3995]
Of Sarasin ne of Cristene man.
At hiȝ midday þe king Iuore
To Beues he smot a dent ful sore
Þat sercle of gold & is crestel
Fer into þe mede fel.[4000]
Doun of þe helm þe swerd gan glace
And karf riȝt doun before is face,
Doun riȝt þe viser wiþ is swerd
And half þe her vpon is berd.
Ac þourȝ þe help of Godes grace [f.198vb] [Image] [4005]
His flesch noþing atamed nas.
Þo cride þe Sarasins al at ones
‘Þis Beues wiþ his grete bones
Ful sone worþ imaked tame.’
Þo wex Beues in gret grame[4010]
And þouȝte wel wiþ Morgelay
ȝelden his strok ȝif þat he may.
To king Yuor he gan areche
Anon wiþoute more speche
Vpon þe scholder in þat tide,[4015]
Þat half a fot hit gan in glide.
For smertte Yuor in þat stounde
Fel a knes vnto þe grounde,
Ac vp he sterte in haste þan
& in wraþ þe to Beues ran[4020]
& þouȝte han Beues aqueld;
And Beues keppte him wiþ is scheld,
And Yuore wiþ þe strok of yre
Made fle into þe riuere
A large quarter of his scheld,[4025]
Þat neuer nas atamed in feld. [ atamed: d is superscipt.]
Or Yuor miȝte his hond wiþdrawe
Beues þe kniȝt of Cristene lawe
Wiþ Morgelay a smot him þo,
Þat his scheld he clef ato,[4030]
And his left hond be þe wrest
Hit fleȝ awei þourȝ help of Crist.
Whan Yuor hadde his hond lore
He fauȝt ase he wer wod þerfore,
And hew to Beues in þat tide,[4035]
No strok ne moste oþer abide.
Þo Beues seȝ is strokes large
He kepte his strokes wiþ is targe;
Þo Beues to Yuor gan flinge
And þourȝ þe miȝt of heuene-king[4040]
His riȝt arm & is scholder bon
He made fle to gronde anon.
Wiþ þat strok Yuor þe Mombraunt
Cride ‘Merci, Teruagaunt,
Mahoun, Gouin and Gibiter,[4045]
Reseue now me saule her,
For wel ich wot ich am dede.’
Þo Beues herde him so grede [catchword: he seyd uyour let be þat. ]
He seide ‘Yuor, let be þat cri [f.199ra] [Image]
And clepe to God and to Mari,[4050]
And let þe Cristen, er þe deie,
Or þow schelt go þe worsse weie
And wiþouten ende dwelle
In þe stronge peine of helle.’
‘Nay’ queþ Yuor, ‘so mot y þen,[4055]
Cristene wile ich neuer ben
For min is wel þe beter lawe.’
Þo Beues herde þat ilche sawe
A felde him doun, wiþouten faile,
And vnlacede his ventaile[4060]
And tok him be þe heued anon
And strok hit fro þe scholder bon,
And on his spere he hit piȝte.
And þo þe Cristen siȝe þat siȝte
Þai þankede God in alle wise[4065]
Þat Beues hadde wonne þe prise.
Þanne al þe Sarasins lasse & more
Þat was ycome wiþ king Yuore, [ wiþ is written superscript.]
Þai siȝe her lordes heued arered,
Sore þai weren alle afered;[4070]
Toward Mombraunt þei wolde fain
Ac Saber made hem terne again
And sire Beues and sire Terry
And sire Miles and sire Gii
Slouȝ hem doun riȝtes þore[4075]
Þat þer ne scapede lasse ne more.
Þo crounede þai Beues king in þat lond
Þat king Yuore held in hond,
And Iosiane briȝt and schene
Now is ȝhe þer twies quene.[4080]
On a dai þai wente a riuere;
Þar com ride a masagere
And euer he askede fer & ner
After þe hende kniȝt Saber.
Anon Saber gan forþ springe.[4085]
‘Masager’ a sede, ‘what tiding?’
‘Sire’ a sede, ‘þe king Edgare
Þe driueþ to meche te bismare,
Desereteþ Robaunt þin eyr.’
‘For God’ [a] queþ, ‘þat is nouȝt feir.’[4090]
And sire Saber in haste þo
Tok leue of Beues hom to go;
And sire Beues corteis & hende [f.199rb] [Image]
A seide a wolde wiþ him wende,
And sire Miles and sire Gii,[4095]
And is owene sone Terry.
¶ Now wendeþ Beues inte Ingelonde
Wiþ is kniȝtes fel to fonde,
And Terry wiþ is kniȝtes fale,
Sexty þosend told in tale.[4100]
Þai lende ouer þe se beliue,
At Souþhamtoun þai gonne vp riue.
Heruebourȝ, Saber is wif,
And Robaund anon ase blif
Aȝen Saber come þo.[4105]
Queþ Saber ‘How þis is igo?’
And þai him tolde at þe frome
Þat Edgar hadde here londes benome.
Þanne seide Beues ‘So mot y þe,
Þarof ich wile awreke be.’[4110]
Anon þe kniȝt, sire Beuoun,
His ost he let at Hamtoun
& toward Londen a wente swiþe;
His quene a let at Potenhiþe.
He tok wiþ him sex kniȝtes[4115]
And wente forþ anonriȝtes,
And in is wei forþ a ȝode
And pasede ouer Temse flode.
To Westmenster whan he com þan
A fond þe king and mani man,[4120]
And on is knes he him set,
Þe king wel hendeliche a gret
& bad before his barnage
Þat he him graunte is eritage.
‘Bleþeliche’ a seide, ‘sone min,[4125]
I graunte þe, be seinte Martin.’
And alle þe barouns þat þer were
On Beues made glade chere
Boute þe stiward of þe halle,
He was þe worste frend of alle.[4130]
Þe king wolde haue ȝeue him griþ,
Þe stiward seide nay þerwiþ,
& seide ‘þis forbanniiste man
Is come to þe land aȝan,
And haþ þin owene sone slawe.[4135]
He haþ ydon aȝenes þe lawe,
And ȝif a mot forþer gon [f.199va] [Image]
A wile vs slen euerichon.’
Beues þat herde, a was wroþ
And lep to hors wiþouten oþ[4140]
And rod to Londen þat cite
Wiþ sex kniȝtes in meine.
Whan þat he to Londen cam
In Tour strete is in he nam
And to þe mete he gan gon[4145]
And is kniȝtes euerichon.
Let we now Beues be
& of þe stiward telle we
Þat hateþ Beues also is fo.
Sexty kniȝtes he tok & mo,[4150]
Into Londene sone he cam
And into Chepe þe wei he nam
And dede make þer a cri
Among þe peple hasteli,
And seide ‘Lordinges, veraiment,[4155]
Hureþ þe kinges comaundement.
Sertes hit is befalle so,
In ȝour cite he haþ a fo,
Beues þat slouȝ þe kinges sone;
Þat tresoun ȝe ouȝte to mone.[4160]
I comaunde for þe kinges sake
Swiþe anon þat he be take.’
¶ Whan þe peple herde þat cri
Þai gonne hem arme hasteli,
& hii þat hadde armur non,[4165]
Þai toke staues & gonne gon;
Þai schette anon eueri gate
Wiþ þe barres þai founde þerate;
And sum þai wente to þe wal
Wiþ bowes and wiþ springal;[4170]
Eueri lane and eueri strete
Was do drawe wiþ chaines grete,
Þat ȝif Beues wolde awei flen
Þe chaines scholde holde him aȝen.
Boute herof Beues weste nouȝt[4175]
Help him God þat alle þing wrouȝt.
Beues at þe mete sat,
He beheld and vnderȝat
Al is fon þat were þeroute;
He was afered of þat route.[4180]
He askede at þe tauarnere, [f.199vb] [Image]
Þat armede folk what it were.
And he answerde him at þat sake
‘Þai ben ycome þe to take.’
Whan Beues herde him speke so[4185]
To a chaumber he gan go
Þat he hadde seȝe armur inne;
In haste þe dore he gan vp winne
And armede þer anonriȝtes
Boþe he and is sex kniȝtes,[4190]
And gerte him wiþ a gode brond
And tok a spere in is honde,
Aboute his nekke a doble scheld.
He was a kniȝt stout and belde.
On Arondel a lep þat tide,[4195]
Into þe strete he gan ride.
Þanne seide þe stiward to sire Bef
‘Aȝilt þe, treitour, þow foule þef.
Þow hauest þe kinges sone islawe,
Þow schelt ben hanged & todrawe.’[4200]
Beues seide ‘be sein Ion,
Treitour was y neuer non;
Þat I schel keþe hastely
Er þan ich wende sikerly.’
A spere Beues let to him glide[4205]
And smot him vnder þe riȝt side;
Þourȝ is bodi wente þe dent,
Ded a fel on þe pauiment.
A sede anon after þat dint
‘Treitour, now is þe lif itint.[4210]
Þus men schel teche file glotouns
Þat wile misaie gode barouns.’
Þe folk com wiþ grete route,
Besette Beues al aboute;
Beues and is sex kniȝtes[4215]
Defendede hem wiþ al her miȝtes
So þat in a lite stounde
Fiue hondred þai brouȝte te gronde.
Beues prikede forþ to Chepe,
Þe folk him folwede al to hepe;[4220]
Þourȝ Godes lane he wolde han flowe,
Ac sone wiþin a lite þrowe
He was beset in boþe side
Þat fle ne miȝte he nouȝt þat tide.
Þo com þer fomen mani & fale [f.200ra] [Image] [4225]
Wiþ grete clobbes & wiþ smale.
Aboute Beues þai gonne þringe
And hard on him þai gonne dinge.
Al Beues kniȝtes in þat stounde
Þar hii were feld to grounde[4230]
And al tohewe flesch & bon.
Þo was Beues wo begon
For he was on & hii wer ded.
For sorwe kouþe he no red;
Þat lane was so narw ywrouȝt[4235]
Þat he miȝte defende him nouȝt,
He ne Arondel is stede
Ne miȝte him terne for non nede.
To Ihesu he made his praiere
And to Marie is moder dere[4240]
Þat he moste pase wiþ is lif
To sen is children & is wif.
Out of þe lane a wolde ten,
Þe chynes held him faste aȝen.
Wiþ is swerd he smot þe chayne[4245]
Þat hit fel a peces twayne
And forþ a wente into Chepe;
Þe folk him folwede al to hepe
And al þai setten vp a cry
‘Aȝilt þe, Beues, hastely;[4250]
Aȝilt þe, Beues, sone anon
And elles þow schelt þe lif forgon.’
Beues seide ‘Ich ȝelde me
To God þat sit in trinite.
To non oþer man I nel me ȝelde[4255]
While þat ich mai me wepne welde.’
Now beginneþ þe grete bataile
Of sire Beues, wiþouten faile,
Þat he dede aȝenes þat cite.
ȝe þat wile here herkneþ to me.[4260]
Þis was aboute þe vnder tide,
Þe cri aros be ech a side
Boþe of lane and of strete;
Aboute him com peple grete,
Al newe & fresch wiþ him to fiȝt,[4265]
Ac Beues stered him ase gode kniȝt
So þat in a lite (while) þrawe
Fif þosend þar was islawe
Of þe strengeste þat þer wore [f.200rb] [Image]
Þat him hadde ȝeue dentes sore;[4270]
Ac euer his stede Arondel
Faste fauȝt wiþ hertte lel,
Þat fourty fote behinde & forn
Þe folk he haþ to grounde iborn.
Þus þat fiȝt leste longe[4275]
Til þe time of euesonge.
Tidinge [com] to Potenhiþe
To Iosian also swiþe
Þat Beues in Londen was islawe
And ibrouȝt of his lif dawe.[4280]
Iosian þanne fel aswowe,
Gij and Miles hire vp drowe
And confortede þat leuedi briȝt
Hendeliche wiþ alle her miȝt
And askede hire what hire were;[4285]
And ȝhe tolde hem anon þere
How Beues was in Londen slayn
And his kniȝtes wiþ gret payn
‘Now keþe ȝe ben noble kniȝtes
And wrekeþ ȝour fader wiþ ȝour miȝtes.’[4290]
Sire Gii and Miles seide þan
To here moder Iosian
‘Dame, be him þat herwede helle,
We scholle his deþ wel dere selle.’
Þanne sire Miles and sire Gii[4295]
Gonne hem arme hasteli
And on here knes set hem doun
And bad her moder benesoun.
Sire Gii lep on a rabit
Þat was meche & noþing lite[4300]
And tok a spere in is hond,
Out at þe halle dore a wond
Toward þe cite of Londen toun,
And sire Miles wiþ gret randoun
Lep vpon a dromedary,[4305]
To prike wolde he nouȝt spary.
Whan þai come to Londen gate
Mani man þai fonde þerate
Wel i-armed to þe teþ
So þe Frensche bok vs seþ,[4310]
Aȝen þe children þe[i] ȝeue bataile,
& hii aȝen, wiþouten faile,
And made of hem so clene werk [f.200va] [Image]
Þat þai neuer spek wiþ prest ne clerk
And afterward, ase ȝe mai hure,[4315]
Londegate þai sette a fure.
Whan þai come, wiþouten faile,
Þo began a gret bataile
Betwene Bowe and Londen ston,
Þat time stod vs neuer on.[4320]
Þar was a Lombard in þe toun
Þat was scherewed & feloun;
He armede him in yrene wede
And lep vpon a sterne stede
And rod forþ wiþ gret randoun[4325]
And þouȝte haue slawe sire Beuoun.
Wiþ an vge masnel
Beues a hite on þe helm of stel,
Þat Beues of Hamtoun veraiment
Was astoned of þe dent;[4330]
What for care and for howe,
He lenede to his sadelbowe.
¶ Þanne com priken is sone Gii
To helpe his fader hastely;
Wiþ a swerd drawe in is hond[4335]
To þat Lombard sone a wond
& smot him so vpon þe croun
Þat man and hors he cleuede doun;
Þe poynt fel on þe pauiment,
Þe fur sprong out after þe dent.[4340]
Þanne com ride is broþer Mile
Among þe peple in þat while;
Al þo þat a miȝte reche
Ne dorste he neuer aske leche
For to hele þer is wonde,[4345]
Þat he ne lai ded vpon þe grounde.
& whan Beues seȝ þat siȝte
In hertte he was glad & liȝte
& þankede Ihesu our sauiour
Þat hadde sent him so gode sokour[4350]
And egerliche, wiþouten faile,
Þe grete peple he gan asaile.
So meche folk was slawe & ded
Þat al Temse was blod red;
Þe nombre was veraiment[4355]
To and þretti þosent.
And also sone so hit was niȝt [f.200vb] [Image]
To þe Ledenehalle þai wente riȝt;
A fette Iosian wiþ faire meine
To Londen, to þat riche cite,[4360]
& helde a feste fourtene niȝt
To al þat euer come, apliȝt.
Tiding com to king Edgar
Þat Beues hadde his men forfare;
For is borgeis in is cite[4365]
He made del and gret pite
& seide ‘ichaue leued me lif
Longe wiþouten werre & strif
& now icham so falle in elde
Þat I ne may min armes welde.[4370]
Twei sones Beues haþ wiþ him brouȝt,
Þarfore hit is in me þouȝt,
Miles his sone me douȝter take;
In þis maner is pes to make.’
Þai grauntede al wiþ gode entent[4375]
& king Edgar Beues ofsent,
And sire Saber & sire Gij
And sire Miles & sire Terry
& king Edgar Miles gan calle
Before his barouns in þe halle[4380]
And ȝaf him is douȝter be þe honde,
And after is day al Ingelonde,
And pes and loue was maked þare
Betwene Beues & king Edgare.
Þe maide & Miles wer spused same[4385]
In þe toun of Notinghame.
ȝe witeþ wel þouȝ I ne telle ȝow
Þe feste was riale inow,
Ase scholde be at swiche a spusing
And at þe kinges couroning;[4390]
Þe feste leste fourtene niȝt
To al þat euer come, apliȝt.
And at þe fourtene niȝt is ende
Beues tok leue hom to wende,
At king Edgar & at Sabere,[4395]
And Miles is sone a lefte here
And kiste and ȝaf him is blessing
& wente to Mombraunt þer he was king;
And his erldom in Hamteschire
A ȝaf to his em Sabere[4400]
And schipede at Hamtoun hastely, [f.201ra] [Image]
And wiþ him wente his sone Gii,
And Terry wiþ is barnage.
Þe wind blew hardde wiþ gret rage
And drof hem into Ermonie,[4405]
Þar belefte his sone Gii
Wiþ his barouns gode & hende;
& Terry to Aumberþe gan wende,
And Beues wente wiþoute dwelling
Into Mombraunt þar he was king;[4410]
Wiþ him wente Iosian is quene,
& leuede wiþoute treie & tene
Twenti ȝer, so saiþ þe bok.
Þanne swiche siknesse þe leuedi tok,
Out of þis world ȝhe moste wende;[4415]
Gii hire sone ȝhe gan ofsende
And Terry þe riche king
For to ben at here parting.
And whan þai were alle þare
To his stable Beues gan fare;[4420]
Arondel a fond þar ded
Þat euer hadde be gode at nede;
Þarfore him was swiþe wo,
Into chaumber he gan go
& seȝ Iosian drawe to dede.[4425]
Him was wo a moste nede,
And er her body began to colde
In is armes he gan hire folde,
And þar hii deide boþe ifere.
Here sone ne wolde in non manere[4430]
Þat hii in erþe beried were.
Of sein Lauarauns he let arere
A faire chapel of marbel fin
Þat was ikast wiþ queint engin;
Of gold he made an hiȝ cornere[4435]
And leide hem þarin boþe ifere.
An hous he made of riligioun
For to singe for sire Beuoun
And ek for Iosian þe fre
God on here saules haue pite[4440]
& also for Arondel,
ȝif men for eni hors bidde schel.
Þus endeþ Beues of Hamtoun
God ȝeue vs alle is benesoun.
amen