## Otuel a Kniȝt

### 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 otuel.html and the header file was located in heads/otuel_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 6

Short couplets. 1738 lines, excluding lacuna of about 8 lines on f.268vb. Ends imperfect.

Edition:
S. J. H. Herrtage, The Taill of Rauf Coilyear ... with Fragments of Roland and Vernagu and Otuel, The English Charlemagne Romances 6, EETS ES 39 (London: Trübner, 1882).

Another edition:
A. Nicholson, The Romances of Rouland and Vernagu and Otuel from the Auchinleck Manuscript, Abbotsford Club (Edinburgh: Printed by Alex. Lawrie and Co., 1836).

Manual I, 92; 264. Index 1103.

### 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.

### Otuel a Kniȝt

Herkneþ boþe ȝinge & olde, [f.268ra] [Image]
Þat willen heren of batailles bolde,
And ȝe wolle a while duelle,
Of bolde batailles ich wole ȝou telle
Þat was sumtime bitwene[5]
Cristine men and Sarrazins kene.
¶ Þere was sumtime a king in Fraunce,
A douȝty man wiþ spere and launce,
And made Sarazins ful tame;
King Charles was his name[10]
And was born in seint Denys
Nouȝt bote a litel fram Parys,
And was a wol treu kniȝt,
And meintenede Cristendom ariȝt.
¶ In his time a king þer was,[15]
An heþene þat vncristned was,
Þat was king of Lumbardie,
And was yhoten king Garsie.
Marsile was his also,
And manie oþer londes mo.[20]
A swiþe gret lord he was,
In his time non suych þer nas,
On Ihesu crist ne leuede he nouȝt
Þat him hadde so dere abouȝt.
He leuede al in maumettrie,[25]
And forsok God & seinte Marie.
In alle londes þere he wente
He slouȝ al þat euere he hente
Þat wolde on Ihesu Crist bileue
And tok þe lond to his byheue.[30]
Niȝt and day it was his þout
To bringe Cristendom to nout.
¶ In heþenesse þer nas no king,
Þat ne hel[d] of him sum þing,
Or dude him omage or feute. [f.268rb] [Image] [35]
Suich a miȝty king was he,
Alle þei scholden to him bouwe.
He was lord of londes ynowe,
And ȝit he þouȝte wit maistrie,
Habben al Cristendom to gye.[40]
Al Cristendom, more & lasse,
He þouȝte to maken heþennesse.
¶ Whan he wolde hauen a parlement,
Þere com to his comaundement,
To helpen hym wit alle þinges,[45]
Fiftene heþene kinges;
And alle þei were togidere sworn
Þat Cristendom scholde be lorn,
And maden alle here ordenaunce
To werren uppon þe king of Fraunce,[50]
For þei herden alle tidinges
Þat he was chef of cristene gynges,
And þe king wiste it wel.
Nou schulle ȝe here hou it bifel,
¶ Hit was on childermasse day,[55]
Soþ to segge wiþouten nay,
Þat king Charles of sein Denys,
Wente him toward Parys.
Hise duzzeperes wit him he nam,
And muche poeple to him kam,[60]
And token alle here consail þare,
Þat þei wolden wiþ alle fare,
Into Marsile riden and gon,
And werren þere wiþ Godes foon, [ werren: first r is superscript, with a caret mark]
And hadden set a certein day[65]
To wenden þider wiþouten delay;
Bote ar þei þiderward ferden,
Suiche tydinges þei herden,
Of a Sarasin, douȝti and good, [ Sarasin: MS reads sazasin.]
Þat amoeuede al here blod.[70]
¶ Þere com a Sarazin ful of rage
Fram king Garsie in message,
Into Paris þe wei he nam,
And to þe kinges paleis he kam.
Otuwel his name was,[75]
Of no man afered he nas,
Into þe paleis þo he cam, [f.268va] [Image] [Line 77 is written twice by the scribe. On the second copying, he uses the spelling palais.]
A skwier be þe hon[d] he nam
And seide ‘ich am comen her,
Kyng Garsies messager,[80]
To speke wiþ Charles, king of þis lond,
And wiþ a kniȝt þat heet Roulond,
And a noþer hatte Oliuer -
Kniȝtes holden wiþouten peer.
Þose þre ich biseche þe,[85]
Þat þou telle me whiche þei be.’
¶ Þe skwier þouȝte wel by siȝt,
Þat Otuwel was a douȝti kniȝt,
And for he was in message come,
Bi þe hond he haueþ him nome,[90]
And ladde him into þe halle,
Among þe grete lordes alle,
And þere þei stoden oppon her feet.
He schewede him where þe king seet
And tauȝte him hou he scholde knowe,[95]
Þere þei seten oppon a rowe,
Roulond and Olyuer
And þe gode kniȝt Ogger.
¶ Anon as Otuwel hadde a siȝt
Of Charles þat was king & kniȝt,[100]
For eye of no man he ne leet
Bote wente to him þere he seet.
Hit was þe boldeste Sarazin
Þat euere þorte drinke win,
And þat was sene wiþoute lesing.[105]
Þo he spak wiþ Charles þe king.
He seide to him amydde his halle
‘Sire king, foule mote þe falle.
Þou art aboute for to greue
Mahoun þat we onne byleue;[110]
Þerefore haue þou maugre.
So þe greteþ Garsie bi me
Þat me haueþ in message sent
To seggen his comaundement.
And þou, Roulond, þat art his kniȝt,[115]
Nou ich knowe þe be siȝt,
May ich mete þe in þe feeld,
Wiþ þi spere and wiþ þi scheld,
Ich wole wyte, so mote ich þe,
Riȝt bytwene me and te.’[120]
.... .... .... .... [f.268vb] [Image]
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
{ 8 lines missing where miniature cut out }[8]
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
‘Þat þou makest offe þis bost,
Tel me nou ȝef þou wost.’
Quaþ Otuwel ‘so mote ich þe,
I nelle nouȝt hele for eie of þe.
It was oppon a Weddenesdai[125]
In Aueril before þe May
King Garsie þe weie nam,
To þe Cite of Rome he cam,
Twenti þousende was þe sawe,
Þat were þare of Sarazin lawe.[130]
Corsouse m[i swerde ful] harde fel,
And bot þere Freinche flechs fol wel.’
¶ Estuȝt of Leggers, a Freinshe kniȝt,
He sterte op anonriȝt
And kypte anon in his hond[135]
A gret muche fir-brond,
And to Otuwel a strok hadde ment,
And Roulond bynam him þe dent.
¶ Þanne seide Charles þe king
‘Ich forbede oppen alle þing[140]
Þat noman be so wood,
For to don hym oþer þan good,
A kinges messager for he is,
He ne schal habbe non harm, iwis.’
¶ ‘Sire king’ quaþ Otuwel ‘be mi blod,[145]
And ani of hem be so wod
To drawe to me swerd or knif,
Certes he schal lesen his lif.’
¶ Þe kinges kniȝtes hadden tene
Of Otuwel wordes kene,[150]
Wiþ þat word anonriȝt
Op starte a Freinsche kniȝt,
Bihinden Otuwel he cam
And be þe hod Otuwel nam
And braid wiþ so gret miȝt,[155]
And braid adon þat heþene kniȝt,
And anon out wiþ a knif, [f.269ra] [Image]
And wolde haue reued him his lif.
And þat Sarazin Otuwel
Was i-armed swiþe wel[160]
Þat he ne dede him nouȝt bote good,
Ne drouȝ of his bodi no blood.
¶ He starte op and was wroþ.
To ligge longe him was loþ,
And Corsouze his brond he drouȝ[165]
And þe kinges kniȝt he slouȝ
And amang hem alle he stood
And lokede as he were wood.
Þe kinges kniȝtes were agramed,
And summe of hem were asschamed[170]
Þat Otuwel in þe halle
Slouȝ a kniȝt among hem alle,
And bigunnen op to stonden
And þouȝte to leggen on him honden.
¶ Otuwel þerof was war[175]
And in his herte it him bar
Þat þei nere aboute no good,
And seide to hem þere he stod
‘Bi þe louerd sire Mahoun,
Kniȝtes, I rede ȝe sitten adoun[180]
For ȝef ani of ȝou so hardi be
Þat any strok munteþ to me,
Mahoun mi god ich here forsake
ȝef he sschal euere ordres take
Of ani oþer bisschopes hond[185]
Bot of Corsouze mi gode brond.’
¶ Þei behelden Otuwel alle,
Kniȝtes and skwieres in þe halle,
Þer nas non þat þere stood
Þat ne wende Otuel were wod,[190]
And euere he held his swerd ydrawe
And ȝaf nouȝt of hem alle an hawe.
¶ King Charles stood vpriȝt
And comaundede anonriȝt
Þat no man sscholde be so wod[195]
To do þe messager nouȝt bote good.
¶ Kniȝtes and sweines in þe halle
Were wol glade þerof alle
Þat þe king so bad,
For mani of hem was sore adrad,[200]
And þei wiþdrowen hem echone, [f.269rb] [Image]
And euere stod Otuwel alone
And biheld hem as þei ȝede,
ȝef ani him wolde strok dede.
¶ Þanne seide Charles þe king[205]
‘Bi God þat made alle þing,
Sarasin nere þou messager,
Wroþerhele come þou her.
I rede þou ȝeld op þi brond,
And taket out of þin hond.’[210]
¶ Quaþ Otuwel, þat Sarazin
‘Bi Mahoun, þat is louerd myn,
I nelle take it out of min hond
To noman of al þi lond
Þat is þerinne geten & bore;[215]
Þat wind þou hauest ilore.’
¶ ‘Sarasin’ quaþ Roulond
‘Tak me þi swerd in myn hond,
And ichc wole saue þe bi mi blod,
Sschal noman do þe nouȝt bote good,[220]
And whan þou art redi to fare
For soþe þi swerd sschal be ȝare.’
¶ Quaþ Otuwel þe Sarazin
‘Bi Mahoun, þat is louerd min,
Þauȝ ich hadde skwieres twelue,[225]
Ich wole bere myn swerd miselue.
Holte o roum! Ich wolde rede
And þanne dostou a god dede.’
¶ ‘Sarazin’ quaþ Charles þe king,
‘Let ben al þi þretning.[230]
Tel me nou alle and some
In what message artou come?’
Otuwel, þat noble kniȝt,
Answerede anonriȝt
‘Hider me sente king Garsie,[235]
Spaine is his, an[d] Lumbardie,
And manye londes name-couþe
Þat I ne mai nouȝt nemne wiþ mouþe;
Bi me he sente þe to segge,
Þou sscholdest Cristendom alegge,[240]
And maken þin men in eche toun
For to leuen on sire Mahoun,
And þou and alle þine barons bolde
Of him ȝe sschulle ȝoure londes holde.
Þanne miȝtou amenden if þou wilt [f.269va] [Image] [245]
Þat þou hauest Mahoun agult.
And certes bote it so bifalle,
Garsie wele ȝiue þine londes alle
To Olecent of Esclauenye,
Þe kinges sone of Ermenie,[250]
Þat haueþ his .o. douȝter to wif,
Þat he loueþ as his lif;
Þous sschal al þi murþe adoun,
Bote þou leue on sire Mahoun.’
¶ Þe duzzepieres answerede þo[255]
‘Certes, while we moun ride & go
Fraunse sschal he neuere ȝiue
To noman while we moun liue.
Sire king, his wille nou þou wost,
Let asemblen al þin ost[260]
And let vs oppon Garsie wenden
Alle hise londes for to sschenden;
Of wordes þat he haueþ ispeke,
For soþe we reden þou be awreke.’
¶ ‘Certes, sire king’ quaþ Otuwel[265]
‘Þine Freinsche kniȝtes kune ȝelpe wel,
And whan þei beþ to werre ibrouȝt,
Þanne be þei riȝt nouȝt.
¶ Þauȝ þou bringe wiþ sscheld & spere
Al þat euere may wepene bere[270]
To werren vpon [k]ing Garsie,
Certes alle þei sscholden deie.
And þou art king, and old kniȝt
And hauest iloren al þi miȝt
And in þi ȝinkþe, tak god hede,[275]
Þou nere neuere douȝti of dede.’
¶ Þo was þe king was agramed
And alle hise duzzeperes asschamed
Þat Otuwel, þat heþene kniȝt,
Tolde of hem alle so liȝt.[280]
¶ Roulond bi þe king stood,
And ameuede al his blod,
And seide in wraþ þe anonriȝt
To Otuwel þat heþene kniȝt
‘To werren on Garsie ȝef we fare,[285]
In bataille, and I mete þe þare,
And I may mete þe ariȝt,
Bi Ihesu þat is ful of miȝt,
Þou ne sschalt neuere after þat day, [f.269vb] [Image]
Despice Freinchs man, ȝef ich may.’[290]
¶ ‘Ouȝ’ quaþ Otuwel and louȝ
‘Wherto makestou it so touȝ,
To þrete me in anoþer lond?
Nam ich [nouȝt] here at þin hond,
ȝef þou hauest wille to fiȝte?[295]
Whaneuere þou wolt let þe diȝte,
And þou sschalt finde me redi diȝt,
In þe feld to bide fiȝt.’
¶ ‘Bi God’ quaþ Roulond ‘ich wolde be ȝare
Whan ich wiste to finde þe þare,[300]
And euele mote he þriue & þe
Þat ferst failleþ of me and te.’
¶ ‘ȝe, leue, ȝa’ quaþ Otuwel þo
‘Wheþerso failleþ of us two,
Ich wole finde Mahoun to borwe,[305]
Ich wile be redi erliche tomorwe.’
¶ Quaþ Roulond þar he stod on grounde
‘Selpe me Gode.’ feere ifounde
Riȝt before þe kinges eien,
Þat alle þe kinges kniȝtes seien,[310]
Eiþer oþer his trewþe pliȝte
Vppon morwen for to fiȝte.
¶ King Charles stod al stille,
And biheld his gode wille,
And seide ‘it is harm, iwis,[315]
Þat þou nost what follaut is;
ȝef þou woldes follaut take
And þine false godes forsake,
Ichc wolle make þe, so mote ihc þe, [MS: line 319 copied in the margin, its correct position marked by a trailing line.]
And tou wille bleue wiþ me,[320]
A riche man in mi lond,
Þat ich wille sikere þe on hond.’
¶ Otuwel, þat hardi kniȝt,
Answerede anonriȝt
‘Cristes cors vppon his heued[325]
Þat me radde such a red,
To forsake mi god Mahun;
I nelle nouȝt leue þi false sarmon.’
¶ Þauȝ Otuwel speke outrage,
For he was comen on message,[330]
King Charles þat was heende and god
Nolde soffre him habbe nouȝt bote god,
Bote seide to him anonriȝt
‘Be þou skwier, be þou kniȝt,
Tel me ȝef þi conseil is nome, [f.270ra] [Image] [335]
Of what linage þou art come.’
¶ Otuwel answerede þis
‘A kinges sone ich am, iwis,
Soþ to segge & nouȝt to lye,
Ich am þe kinges cosin Garsie.[340]
Fernagu myn eem was,
Þat neuere ouercomen nas.
S[i]r Roulond þi cosin him slouȝ,
Þerefore wole rise wo inouȝ,
Þerefore ich desire so moche,[345]
To fiȝte wiþ Roulond sikerliche.
Ich wille tomorewen in þe day
Awreken his deþ ȝef ich may;
ȝou he haueþ iseid his sawe
Þat he ne mai him nouȝt wiþdrawe[350]
Þat we schule boþe fiȝten ifeere.
Nou ich wille þat þou it here,
Min emes deþ ich [wille] awreke
Or myn herte sschal tobreke.’
¶ King Charle[s] gan to meuen his blod,[355]
Bot naþeles he was hende & good
And nolde for hise wordes heȝe
Don Otuel no vileinie,
Bote comaundede anon a swein
Gon fechen him his chaumberlein,[360]
A ȝing kniȝt ant nouȝt old
Þat was wel norssched and bold;
And seide to him ‘sire Reiner,
Tak here þis messeger
And to his in saueliche him lede,[365]
Þat for no word ne for no dede
Þat he haueþ don and seid
Þat non hond be on him leid;
And loke þat he be wel idiȝt
And onoured als a kniȝt.’[370]
¶ Þe chamberlein anon dede
Als þe king him hadde ibede
And ladde him hom to his in.
And whan he was icomen in
He tok his leue þe chamberlein[375]
And wente to þe king aȝein.
Littel slep þe king þat niȝt
For ferd of Roulant þat gode kniȝt
Of þe bataille he hadde inome, [f.270rb] [Image]
Leste he were ouercome,[380]
For þe king hadde sein fol wel,
Þe kuntenaunse of Otuel;
Þe king wiste wel a fin
Hit was a bold Sarazin,
For he sauȝ hit wel by siȝt,[385]
Þo he sauȝ him slen his kniȝt.
¶ On morwe þo þe dai sprong
And þe larke bigan hire song
King Charles wente to cherche
Godes werkes for to werche.[390]
Roulond, his cosin, wiþ him ȝede,
Of Godes help þat hadde nede;
Þei wenten anon to here masse,
For here sinnen sscholde be þe lasse.
¶ Þo þe masse was iseid[395]
And þe uestement doun ileid,
Þe king and Roulond ifere
Wente forþ as ȝe moun here
Riȝt to þe paleis ȝate
And founde houinge þerate[400]
Otuel, armed and idiȝt,
Al redi to bide fiȝt.
Þo seide þat Sarazin
‘Sire king, where is þi cosin,
Roulond þat his truþe pliȝte,[405]
Þat he wolde wiþ me fiȝte?
He was þo fol heie of mod,
Is he nou ilete blod?’
¶ Roulond stod al and herde
Hou Otuel toward him ferde,[410]
And answerede anonriȝt
‘By Ihesu þat is fol of miȝt
Þin heued sschal fele vnder þin hood,
Þat I nam nouȝt laten blood.’
¶ ‘Welcome be þou’ quaþ Otuwel þo,[415]
And turnde his stede and made him go,
And to þe place þo rod he
Þere þe bataille sscholde be.
Al aboute þe water ran,
Þer nas noþer man ne wimman[420]
Þat miȝte in riden no gon
At no stede bote at on,
And þere Otuwel in rood; [f.270va] [Image]
No lengere he ne abood.
¶ Roulond, þat douȝti kniȝt,[425]
Was fol hasteliche idiȝt
And his stede he bistrod
And no lengere he ne abood.
Er þe dai idon it were,
Þer þei sschollen fiȝten ifere.[430]
¶ Anon als Roulond beheeld
Otuwel houede in þe feel[d].
Roulond was so egre to fiȝte,
Þat for al þe world he ne miȝte
Abide to riden in at þe ȝate[435]
Þere Otuwel rod in ate;
He þoute þe nekste weie to ride,
And no lengere he nolde abide.
He smot his stede wiþ spores briȝte
And wiþ help of Godes miȝte[440]
Ouer þe water þe stede swam
And to londe saf he cam.
¶ Anonriȝt als Roulond
Hadde ikauȝt þe druye lond
Gret enuye was ham betwene;[445]
Þei riden togidere wiþ speres kene,
Þat were ste[r]ne and nouȝt longe;
And þe kniȝtes were boþe stronge
And smyten eiþer in oþeres sscheld
Þat boþe hors fellen in þe feld[450]
And risen aȝein op fram þe grounde,
And boþe kniȝtes were hole & sounde.
¶ Þo þe stedes were risen boþe,
Þe kniȝtes woxen boþe fol wroþe,
And drowen swerdes ate laste,[455]
And eiþer huȝ on oþer faste.
Roulond to Otuwel smot
A strok þat fol sore bot;
He wolde haue smiten Otuwel,
And he blenkt swiþe wel,[460]
And Roulond smot þe stede broun
And clef þe heued al adoun,
And þe stede fel to grounde,
Bot Otuwel was hol & sounde.
¶ Roulond was hende & good of wille,[465]
And houede oppon his stede stille,
To smiten made he semblant non [f.270vb] [Image]
Er Otuwel was risen and gan.
¶‘Roulond’ quaþ Otuwel ‘what was þe?
Art tou blynd, miȝtou nouȝt se[470]
Wil ich oppon mi stede sat?
Whi sscholde mi stede habbe þat?
It hadde be more honour to þe
For soþe, to habbe ismite me.’
¶ ‘Ouȝ’ quaþ Roulond ‘blame me nouȝt,[475]
Bi sen Geme, ihc habbe isouȝt.
Otuwel, ich hadde yment,
Þat þou sscholdest haue ifeled þat dent.
Ich hadde wel leuere, so mote ich þe,
Otuwel, habbe ȝouen it þe.’[480]
¶ Otuwel was wroþ his stede was slawe,
And wiþ his swerd he bar idrawe
He smot to Roulond wiþ good wille,
Þat [h]ouede oppon his stede stille.
Þat he hadde Roulond ment,[485]
And he failede of his dent
And smot Roulondes gode stede,
Þat neuere eft on erþe he ne ȝede.
¶ Otuwel þoute on errore deede,
Þo he hadde slawe his stede,[490]
Hou Roulond houede stille as ston,
Til he was risen and gon;
And he stod al stille
And leet Roulond risen at wille
And seide ‘Roulond, so mote ich þe,[495]
Þat strok ich mente to þe,
And nou it is on þi stede istunt,
Let nou stonde dunt for dunt.’
¶ Þo þei sien non oþer bote
Þei wenten togidere al on fote[500]
And strokes ȝeden bitwene ham so kene
Þat þe fer sprong out bitwene.
¶ King Charles wiþ hise kniȝtes bolde
Was come þe bataille to biholde
And bisouȝte God fol of miȝt[505]
He sscholde saue Roulond his kniȝt.
¶ Boþe kniȝtes were gode & stronge,
And fouȝten togidere swiþe longe.
Roulond was a hende kniȝt
And feled þat Otuwel smot ariȝt [510] [ feled: d is superscript with its position marked by a caret.]
And þat myȝt was in his arm, [f.271ra] [Image]
And þoute to sauen him fram harm,
And seide ‘Otuwel, let þi fiȝt
And leue on Ihesu ful of miȝt
And ich wele ben at acent[515]
Þat þou sschalt wedde Belecent,
Þe kinges douȝter, mi nese þat is;
I rede, Otuwel, þat þou do þis.’
¶ Quaþ Otuwel to Roulond
‘Whil my swerd is in min hond,[520]
Al þi preching is for nouȝt,
Hit ne cam neuere in my þout;
Me ne stant nouȝt of þe swich awe
Þat þou sschalt make me reneie mi lawe
For to wedde Belecent;[525]
So nis nouȝt mi wille iwent.’
¶ Þo þei ne miȝte nouȝt acente
Aȝein to bataille þei wente
And fouȝten harde togidere beie;
Neueron of oþer ne stod eie.[530]
¶ Roulond bigan to meuen his blood
Þat Otuwel so longe stood,
And for tene vp wiþ þe brond
Þat he bar in his hond,
And in þe heued he þoute to redde[535]
Otuwel, bote nouȝt he ne spedde.
Otuwel starte o side
And lette þe swerd bi him glide,
And Roulond wiþ þe swerdes ende,
Reiȝte Otuwel oppon þe lende;[540]
Als he wolde þe dent fle,
Otuwel fel on kne.
¶ Otuwel asschamed was
Þat he knelede oppon þe gras,
And for anger his herte gan sswelle,[545]
And þouȝte Roulond for to quelle;
In þe heued he hadde him ment,
Bote Roulond bleinte for þe dent,
As swete Ihesu Crist wolde,
Þat Roulond þere deie ne sscholde.[550]
Biside þe heued þe dent wente,
And þe hauberk he torente,
Fram þe hepebon an heiȝ,
Þat alle þe pece out fleiȝ.
¶ King Charles sauȝ þere he stood [f.271rb] [Image] [555]
And was fol dreri in his mood,
And was swiþe sore afriȝt
To lese Roulond his gode kniȝt,
For Otuwel smot so heterliche
Þe king wende sikerliche[560]
Þat Roulond sscholde been ylore,
And was a sori man þerefore.
¶ As þe king stod in doute
He spak to his folk aboute
And seide to alle þat þere were[565]
‘Lordinges, doþ as ich ȝou lere, [ ȝou: MS reads won.]
Sitte eche man oppon his kne,
And biddeth to God in trinite,
For his grace and for hise miȝtes,
Sende seiȝtnesse bitwene þo kniȝtes[570]
And ȝiue Otuwel wille today,
For to reneien his lay.’
¶ Euerichone þei token here red,
And deden as þe king ham bed.
To Ihesu Crist þei deden here bone,[575]
And swete Ihesu herde ham sone.
A whit coluere þer cam fle,
Þat al þe peple miȝten se,
On Otuweles heued he liȝte
Þoru þe uertu of Godes miȝte.[580]
And Otuwel, þat douȝti kniȝt,
Wiþdrouȝ him anoonriȝt
Fram Roulond and stod al stille,
To fiȝte more he ne hadde wille
And seide ‘Roulond þou smitest fol sore,[585]
Wiþdrau þin hond and smiȝt namore.
ȝef þou wolt holden þat þou me het,
Þat I sschal wedde þat maiden swet,
Þe kinges douȝter, Belesent,
For soþe, þan is mi wille went;[590]
ȝef I sschal wedden þat faire may,
Ich wille bileuen oppon þi lay,
And alle myne godes forsake,
And to ȝoure God ich wille take.’
¶ Roulond likede þat word fol wel,[595]
And answerede Otuwel
‘I þonke it Ihesu ful of miȝt,
Þorou wham þat grace is in þe liȝt.’
¶ Otuel caste of his hond [f.271va] [Image]
Corsouse, his gode brond,[600]
And Roulond his also,
And togidere þei gune go.
Eyþer forȝaf oþer his loþ,
Nas non of hem wiþ oþer wroþ, [ wroþ: MS reads worþ.]
Bote clippe and kusse eyþer oþer,[605]
As eiþer hedde been oþeres broþer.
¶ King Charles rood þidere anon,
And kniȝtes wiþ him many on.
Anon as he þider cam
Bi þe hon[d] Roulond he nam[610]
And seide ‘Roulond, for Godes erþe,
Hou is þe and þis man iwurþe?
So harde strokes as ȝe habben ȝiue,
Hit is wunder þat ȝe liue.’
¶ ‘Sire’ quaþ Roulond ‘we beþ al sounde,[615]
Noþer of vs ne haueþ wounde.
Otuwel haueþ his conseil nome
Þat he wile Cristene bycome,
And ich habbe granted bi ȝoure acent
Þat he sschal wedde Belecent.’[620]
¶ ‘Certes’ quaþ Charles þo
‘Nou þou wolt þat it be so,
I grante wel þat it so be,
For whi þat he wille dwelle wiþ me.
Þanne hadde ich þe and Oliuer, [625] [ þe is superscript, its position marked by a caret.]
Otuwel, and gode Ogger.
In al þe world in lenkþe & brede,
Þer nis king þat nolde me drede.’
¶ Þe king took Otuwel anon
And to his paleis made him gon[630]
And makeden murþe and meloudie
Of alle maner of menestrausie
For þe miracle þat was wrouȝt,
Þat Otuwel hadde iturnd his þouȝt.
¶ On moruen þo þe day was briȝt,[635]
Þei ladden to churche þat noble kniȝt,
Bisschop Turpin was bisschop þo,
He follede him þat day and nammo.
¶ Þo Otuwel hadde follauȝt nome,
And to þe kingges pees was come,[640]
Þe king beed him his douȝter anon,
And feire londes mani on.
¶ Otuwel to þe king saide [f.271vb] [Image]
‘Sire, keep me wel þat maide,
For soþe ich nele hire neuere wedde[645]
No neuere wiþ hire go to bedde
Er þi werre to þe ende be brouȝt
And sumwhat of þi wille wrouȝt;
Whan king Garsie is slawe or take,
Þanne is time mariage to make.’[650]
¶ Quaþ king Charles to Otuwel
‘Nou I se þou louest me wel,
And ȝef I leue, so mote I þe,
Þou ne sschalt nouȝt lese þi loue on me.’
¶ Þo leet þe king asemblen anon[655]
Alle hise duzzeperes echon.
‘Lordinges’ he seide ‘what is ȝoure red?
King Garsie seiþ I sschal be ded,
And as ȝe habbeþ iherd segge,
He þenkeþ Cristendam to legge.[660]
Wheþer wole we wenden oppon him anon,
Oþer abide til winter be gon?’ [MS: line 662 copied at the foot of the column, its correct position marked by .a.-.b.]
Þe duzzeperes acentenden þerto,
To bide til winter were ido,
And alle winter þe king of Fraunce[665]
Lette maken his purueianse.
Al þat winter at hom he bod,
And in somer to werre he rod.
Lordinges, boþe ȝinge and olde,
Her[k]neþ as we formest tolde,[670]
Hou þe werre was fol hyȝe,
Bitwene king Charles & king Garsie.
Anon as winter was ygon,
Þe king asemblede his host anon,
And mochel peple cam to his hond[675]
Out of mani diuerse lond.
Aueril was comen an[d] winter gon,
And Charles tok þe weie anon,
And drouȝ him toward Lumbardie,
To werren oppon king Garsie.[680]
Þere was set wiþouten faille
Certein day of bataille.
¶ Anoon as Charles was icome,
Niȝ honde þar þe bataille was nome,
In a mede anonriȝt[685]
Þe kinges pauilons were ipiȝt,
Vnder an hul bisides a riuere, [f.272ra] [Image]
And bifel as ȝe moun here.
Fol nyȝ þe water þe king lay
Of bataille for to abide his day,[690]
And vppon þat oþer side
He miȝte seen hise enemis ride,
And þere nas brugge ne forde non
Þat man miȝte ouer riden ne gon.
¶ King Charles þat gode kniȝt[695]
Tok carpenters anonriȝt
And lette make a brugge anon
Þat men miȝten ouer gon.
¶ Þo þe brugge was al ȝare,
Þat men miȝten ouer fare.[700]
Hit bitidde vppon a day,
Wil Charles in his bed lay,
Þat Roulond an[d] Oliuer
And þe gode kniȝt Oger
Ouer þe brugge þei wenten ifeere[705]
Auntres for to sen and here.
And þo þei ouer passed were,
Such auntres þei funden þere,
For al þe good vnder sonne
Þei nolde habben þe gamen bigonne.[710]
¶ Of Garsies ost foure heþene kinges
Wenten for te here tidinges,
For alle cas þat miȝte bitide,
Wel i-armed bataille to bide.
Here foure names ȝe moun wite,[715]
As we finden in romaunse write:
¶ Turabeles hatte þet o king -
A stout Sarazin, wiþouten lesing;
¶ Þat oþer Balsamun het -
A werse man ȝede non on fet;[720]
¶ Astaward was þe þriddes name,
He louede werre and hatede game;
¶ Þe ferþe king hiȝte Clarel,
Þat neuere ȝite ne dede wel.
As þei riden alle yfere[725]
Þat on seide as ȝe moun here
‘Mahoun leeue ous ȝit abide
Into Fraunce þat we moun ride,
And ich miȝte Roulond mete
Al wiþ wraþ þe ich wolde him grete.[730]
Þat traitour he slouȝ mi broþer, [f.272rb] [Image]
Ne gete ich neue[r] eft such a noþer.’
¶ Roulonde herde and Oliuer
And þe gode kniȝt Ogger
Hou þei speken hare wordes hiȝe,[735]
And þratten Roulond to die;
And Roulond was so nyȝ
Þat alle foure kinges he syȝ.
¶ ‘Felawes’ quaþ Rouland anon
‘Iich am war of oure fon;[740]
Þei beþ foure and we bote þre,
Daþeit habbe þat hem fle;
Nou we habben founden game,
Gawe to hem a Godes name.’
¶ Anon as Clarel ham syȝ[745]
He seide ‘oure enemys beþ nyȝ,
Ich se bi here cuntenaunse
Þei beþ Cristene men of Fraunce.
Charles ost liþ here biside
In pauilons bataille to bide[750]
And þese beþ of hise men, iwis,
Þerfore mi reed is tis,
Þat we hasteliche to ham ride
And loke wheþer þei wole abide.’
¶ Wiþ þat word þe kinges anon[755]
Touchede here stedes & made hem gon
And toward þe Cristene kniȝtes þei riden,
And þei douȝtiliche abiden.
¶ Astaward wiþ Roulond mette,
Nouȝt he ne spak, ne him ne grette,[760]
Bot smot him wiþ his spere anon,
Þorou þe sscheld he made hit gon.
And Roulondes spere, ywis,
Was wel betere þan was his,
To Astawardes herte hit ȝede,[765]
And caste him doun of his stede.
‘Aris’ quaþ Roulond ‘and tak þe bet,
At þis time þou art ilet.’
¶ Curabeles no lengere ne abood,
To God Ogger anon he rod;[770]
Ogger was a strong kniȝt,
And rod to him wiþ gret miȝt,
And bar ado[u]n hors and pak,
And þe Sarazins nekke tobrak.
¶ Balsamum and Oliuer [f.272va] [Image] [775]
Eyþer neiȝede oþer ner;
Þo Balsamum bigan to ride
Oliuer nolde no lengere abide,
He pingde his stede wiþ spores kene
And smot a strok þat was sene;[780]
He ne (ne) miȝte þo no bette do
Bote gurde þe nekkebon otwo.
¶ Þus Roulond and Oliuer
And þe gode kniȝt Ogger
Slouwen þe heþene kinges þre,[785]
And ȝit nolde nouȝt Clarel fle.
To þe duk Roulond he rood,
And Roulond his strok abod.
For wraþ þe hise felaus were islein,
He rood to Roulond wiþ gret mayn[790]
And bar a spere greet and long;
And þe Sarazin was strong
And in þe sadel sat faste
And Roulond to grounde he kaste.
Wiþ þe fal þe steede anoon,[795]
Tobarst þat o sschanke bon.
Roulond vppon his feet stood,
And ne hadde nouȝt bote good.
¶ Ogger sauȝ fol wel þo
Þat Roulondes hors was ago,[800]
Ogger þat was douȝti of dede
Smot doun Clarel of his stede.
Oliuer tok þe stede anon
And to Roulond he gan gon.
‘Roulond, haue þis.’ quaþ Oliuer[805]
‘Þis þe sente good Ogger,
And Clarel he haueþ to grounde iþrowe
For he brouȝte þe so lowe.’
¶ Rouland þat hadde his stede ilore
Þonkede hem boþe þerfore[810]
And was þe gladdeste man vnder sonne
Þat he hadde an hors iwonne.
¶ Clarel vppon his feet stood
And fauȝt as he were wood,
On none maner he nolde fle,[815]
Bot fauȝt aȝein hem alle þre.
¶ Þe þre kniȝtes were fol stronge,
He ne miȝte nouȝt dure aȝein ham longe,
And seide to hem alle þre [f.272vb] [Image]
‘Lordinges, let me o liue be;[820]
To ȝou it were lutel honour
To sle me þat nabbe no socour.’
To fiȝte more he forsook,
And Roulond his swerd tok;
Roulond was hende & nouȝt forsok[825]
And of Clarel his swerd he tok.
¶ ‘King Clarel’ quaþ Ogger
‘Worþ vp bihinden me her.’
Þo was king Clarel glad
For to do þat Ogger bad[830]
And was staleworþe and liȝt,
And lep vp anonriȝt. [ vp: MS reads vt.]
Þo wenten þei forþ wiþouten targing
And þoute presente Charles þe king
Wiþ Clarel þat þei hadden inome,[835]
And hopeden to ben welcome.
And of here weie þei were let,
And swiþe harde þei were met.
Þei sien of Garsies men a feerd,
Boþe wiþ spere and wiþ swerd,[840]
Bitwen hem and þe pauiloun
Þere þei sscholden wenden adoun.
Þei ne miȝte skapen in neuere a side,
Þoruout hem þei mosten ride.
¶ ‘Felawes’ quaþ Ogger þo[845]
To Roulond and Oliuer bo
‘Ich wene er we hom come,
Clarel ous worþ bynome;
Lordinges, what is nou ȝoure red?
Wole we smiten of his hed?’[850]
¶ Quaþ Roulond ‘so mote ich þe,
At þat red nel ich nouȝt be.’
‘No ich noþer’ quat Oliuer,
‘Bi þe louerd sein Richer,
On liue I rede we leten him go[855]
And ne do we him nammore wo.
Such cas may fallen in sum neede
He mai quiten vs oure mede.’
¶ ‘Bi God’ quaþ Ogger ‘þat is soþ,
And where he do, or he ne doþ,[860]
Hit where sschame to ous, iwis,
To sslen a man þat ȝolden him is;
I rede we leten him gon his wey, [f.273ra] [Image]
For we mot entenden to anoþer pley.’
¶ Alle þre þei were at on[865]
And leten Clarel on liue gon.
Clarel nolde no lengere abide,
He ne askede non hors onne to ride,
Bote on fote dede him go,
And leuede hem þare in muchel wo.[870]
¶ ‘Nou, lordinges’ quaþ Ogger
To Roulond and to Oliuer
‘Ich wole triste to my sswerd,
And fonde for to passe þis ferd.
Ich hope þoru help of Godes miȝt[875]
To se mi lord Charles þis niȝt.
ȝef ani Sarazin wiþ eie
Comeþ to lette me of mi weie,
Selp me God and þis day,
He sschal abugge, ȝef ich may.’[880]
¶ ‘Nou’ quaþ Roulond, þat douȝti kniȝt,
‘And ich wille helpe þe bi mi miȝt;
I nele today bi sein Martin
ȝilde me to no Sarazin.’
¶ Quaþ Oliuer ‘so mote ich þe,[885]
In mani peril ich habbe ibe,
And ȝef ich faille at þis nede,
God ne lete me neuere eft spede;
I nele, ȝef God halt me sound,
Today ȝelde me to non hound.’[890]
¶ Þei markeden hem alle þre
To him þat þolede deþ on tre
And no lengere þei ne abiden,
Anon into þe ferde þei riden.
¶ A Sarazin wiþ Roulond mette,[895]
And of his weie Roulond lette;
He cam out of al þe here,
And bar to Roulond a gret spere -
A bold kniȝt þat hatte Byoun -
An[d] Roulond bar him adoun.[900]
¶ Oliuer, þat was his broþer,
He mette wiþ anoþer,
A douȝti kniȝt, an heþene man,
A strong þef þat heet Bassan.
Oliuer was horsed wel[905]
And bare a spere kene & fel,
And smot him riȝt vnder þe sscheld [f.273rb] [Image]
Þat þere he lay amidde þe feld.
¶ And þe gode kniȝt Ogger
Mette wiþ on þat heet Moter,[910]
And wolde him habbe doun ibore,
And Ogger was wroþ þarfore
And smot þe Sarazin so sore,
Þat he ne spak neuere more.
¶ Oliuer, Ogger and Roulond[915]
Among þe Sarazins stureden here hond
Þoru help of God þat is aboue
Þat ham hadde þat grace iȝoue.
Þorou þe ferd as þei riden,
Alle þat here strokes abiden[920]
Þei were maimed for eueremore.
Þe douȝti kniȝtes þei smiten so sore
Þat wiþinne a litel stounde
Þei felden mani on to grounde.
¶ Þo cam a soudan, stout and firs,[925]
On of Garsies duzzepeers,
Þat hatte Karmel of Tabarie;
Oppon þe Sarasins he gan crie
‘Recreiede kniȝtes, whi nele ȝe fiȝte?
Traitours, þeues, where [is] ȝoure miȝte?[930]
It is sschame bi god Mahon
Þat oure folk goon þus adoun.’
¶ Wiþ þis word Carmel anon
Pingde his stede and made him gon,
And rood to Ogger in þat hete[935]
And þoute he sscholde his lif forlete;
And was strong, and ful of tene,
And smot sore, and þat was sene.
He smot Ogger in þe sscheld
Þat Ogger lay amidde þe feld;[940]
Sore he fel oppon þe grounde
And hadde a fol luþer wonde.
¶ Þe duk Roulond þat seyȝ,
For wraþ þe he was wod wel nyȝ,
And for wraþ þe smot him so sore[945]
Þat he ne spak neuere eft more.
¶ Þo cam Anwe of Nubie,
On of kinges kniȝtes Garsie,
And felde Oliuer to grounde,
Bote he ne ȝaf him neuere a wounde.[950]
¶ Roulond was fol wroþ wiþ alle, [f.273va] [Image]
Þo he sauȝ Oliuer falle,
And Anawe of Nubie he smot
Þat neuere eft crouste he ne bot.
¶ Oliuer ros op fram þe grounde,[955]
Al hol wiþouten wo[u]nde,
And anon his stede he nam
And to Roulond sone he cam.
¶ Þo was Roulond fol fawe
Þat Oliuer nas nouȝt isslauwe,[960]
Þo þei were togidere imet. [ þei: MS reads rei.]
Þo were þei harde biset,
Amang Sarasins þat were kene,
And þei smiten sore for tene.
¶ Whil Roulond fauȝt and Oliuer,[965]
Heuere stode þe gode Ogger,
And hadde lorn his gode stede,
And his wounde gan faste blede;
And ȝit he fauȝt þere he stod
And leide on as he were wod.[970]
¶ Whil Ogger þat douȝti kniȝt
Aȝenes Sarazins stod in fiȝt,
Oppon a stede Clarel come driue,
Þat Ogger halp to sauen o liue
Þorou cunseil of Roulond & Oliuer,[975]
And anon he knuȝ Ogger
‘Ogger’ he seide ‘hit is my red,
ȝilte to me ore þou art ded; [ to me: MS reads come.]
Þou holpe to saue mi lif a day,
Ich wole sauen þin, ȝef I may.’[980]
¶ Ogger sauȝ wel wiþ his eye
Þat he was in point to deye
And to Clarel he gan gon
And tok him his swerd anon.
¶ Clarel nas no wedded man,[985]
Clarel hadde a fair lemman
Þat was hoten Aufanye,
And was born in Ermenie.
¶ Clarel anonriȝtes
Clepede to him two kniȝtes[990]
And seide to hem anon
‘To mi lemman ȝe schulle gon
And segge þat ich sente hire þis kniȝt
And þat his wounde be heled ariȝt;
And god hede to him nome [f.273vb] [Image] [995]
To sauen him til mi tocome.’
¶ Þe kniȝtes deden as he hem bad,
To his lemman he was lad,
Þat was hoten Aufanye,
Þat was kinges douȝter Garsie,[1000]
And ȝo was glad of þat present,
To do Clareles comaundement.
Roulond and Oliuer fouȝten,
Þat of here liues nouȝt ne rouȝten.
Þei hadden fouȝten ouer myȝte,[1005]
Þei ne miȝte no lengere dure to fiȝte,
An[d] anon turnden here steeden,
And flowen for þei ne myȝten nouȝt speden.
¶ To Otuwel it was told
Þat Roulond þat was bold,[1010]
Oliuer and Ogger bo,
Were ouer þe water go.
¶ Otuwel anonriȝtes
Leet armen him and alle hise kniȝtes; [ hise: written superscript, with its position marked by a caret.]
Þo he was armed and wel idiȝt[1015]
He wente to þe king anonriȝt
And seide ‘sire, I dwelle to longe.
Roulond, Oliuer an[d] Ogger þe stronge
Oue[r] þe water alle þre
Beþ went for envie of me,[1020]
To loke wher þei miȝten spede
To don any douȝti deede
Among þe Sarazins bolde,
And I sscholde be couward hoolde;
Þerfore I nele no lengere abide,[1025]
To sechen hem ich wole ride.
Þauȝ þei habben envie to me
Ich wille for þe loue of þe
Fonden whoþer I miȝte comen
To helpen hem ar þei weren inomen.[1030]
And ȝif hem any harm bytit,
Let ham witen hare oune wit.’
¶ Quaþ þe king ‘par charite,
Otuwel, ich biseche þe,
For Godes loue hiȝe þe bliue[1035]
And fonde to sauen hem o liue
Er þei be slawe or nome,
And þe sschal sone socour come.’
¶ Otuwel no lengere ne abood, [f.274ra] [Image]
Anon his stede he bistrood,[1040]
And alle hise kniȝtes bi his side,
And toward þe ferd he gan to ride.
¶ Anon as Otuwel was goon
Þe king leet diȝte his host anon
After Otuwel to wende[1045]
As a God king and hende.
¶ As Otuwel bigan to ride,
He lokede abouten in eche side
And he sauȝ ate laste
Where Roulond fleyȝ, & Oliuer faste.[1050]
Otuwel touchede his stedes side
An[d] aȝein hem he gan ride
And seide ‘turneþ aȝein anon
And helpeþ to wreke ȝou on ȝoure fon;
Þei sschulle abugge, so mote ich þe,[1055]
Þat makeþ ȝou so faste fle.’
¶ Þo þei herden Otuwel speken
Þat þei sscholden ben awreken,
Þo were þei ferchs to fiȝte,
And tournden aȝein and were fol liȝte.[1060]
¶ ‘Lordinges’ quaþ Otuel þo,
‘Whuder is god Ogger go?’
And þei answereden sikinge sore
‘For soþe we ne sien him nouȝt ȝore,
We ne witen where he is bycome,[1065]
Wheþer he is islawe oþer nome.’
¶ ‘Allas! allas!’ quaþ Otuwel
‘Þis tiding likeþ me nout wel;
Sire Charles, my lord þe king,
Wole be sori for þis tiding.[1070]
For Godes loue, hie we bliue,
And loke we whoþer Ogger be aliue.’
Otuwel and Oliuer,
And Roulond þat douȝti bacheler,
Wiþ a feir compaignye,[1075]
Þei bigunnen for to hie
Toward king Garsies host
For to abaten of hare bost.
¶ Þere was a Sarazin strong
Þat bar a brod swerd & a long,[1080]
And was hoten Encumbrer,
And bigan to neiȝen hem ner
Oppon a muche blak stede; [f.274rb] [Image]
And Otuwel took of him hede
And of his armes hadde a siȝt[1085]
And knuȝ him anonriȝt.
And no lengere he ne abod,
Otuwel to him rood,
And bar him doun hors and man,
Þus Otuwel gamen bigan.[1090]
¶ Estuȝt of Legers, a noble kniȝt
Þat wiþ Otuwel cam to fiȝt,
Bar a spere of tre fol fin
And smot a bold Sarazin
Into þe bodi þoru þe sscheld,[1095]
And þere he lay det in þe feld.
Oliuer ho slouȝ anoþer,
And þe ferþe Roulond his broþer.
¶ Þo þe Freinche kniȝtes seien
Þe Sarasins fallen wiþ hare eien,[1100]
Þei nolden þo no lengere abide;
Þei smiten to in eche side
And felden Sarazins faste,
And þei flowen ate laste.
¶ King Clarel made hem torne aȝein[1105]
Oppon Cristene men to lein,
And he leide on faste,
And þe þef ate laste
Slou Dromer of Alemaine;
Þat reu fol sore þe king Charlemaine[1110]
¶ Erpater king of Ynde was,
He cam wiþ a mase of bras,
And Otuwel on þe helm he reiȝte
So harde þat al þe heued toqueiȝte.
¶ Quaþ Otuwel ‘so mote y þe,[1115]
Ich ne þoute nauȝt boruwe þat strok of þe;
Bi min heued vnder myn hat,
I nele nouȝt longe ouwe þe þat.’
Otuwel wiþ a fauchoun
Cleef him al þe heued adoun,[1120]
And he fil vnder his horse feet.
Quaþ Otuwel ‘þat ich þe biheet.’
¶ Þo was Otuwel fol of mood,
And fauȝt as he were wood.
Al þe kinges ost anon[1125]
Foleuweden Otuwel echon,
Roulond and Oliuer, [f.274va] [Image]
And maden a foul larder.
Þe kniȝtes leiden on so faste,
Þe Sarazins flouwen ate laste.[1130]
¶ Þo neiȝede it toward eue,
Þo moste þe ost bileue
And dwellen þere al þat niȝt
Til on morwe þe dai was briȝt.
Þo þe ost was wiþdrawe[1135]
To resten hem, as is þe lawe,
King Clarel kam in fourme of pees
Wiþ tweie felawes, mo ne lees,
Toward Charles ost þe king,
For to wyten a tiding.[1140]
Otuwel aȝein him wente
To wite who him þidere sente.
¶ Þanne seide king Clarel
To þe douȝti Otuwel
‘Kniȝt’ he seide ‘so mote þou þe,[1145]
Tel me what þi name be;
Þou art so douȝti man of dede,
And mani a kniȝt hauest maked blede,
Ich wolde fol fain bi myn eye
Bringe þi name to þe king Garsie.’[1150]
¶ ‘Bi God, felawe’ quaþ Otuwel
‘Er þis þou kneuwe my name fol wel;
So God sschilde me fram sschame,
Otuel is my Cristine name.
Mahun ich habbe forsake,[1155]
And to Ihesu ich habbe me take.’
¶ ‘Allas!’ quaþ Clarel ‘whi destou so?
So wrecheliche hauestou do.
ȝit I rede þou turne þi mood, [ rede: MS reads rere.]
And leef on Mahoun, ore þou art wod,[1160]
And ich wole pese, ȝef þou wilt,
Þat þou hauest Garsie agult.’
¶ ‘Fiȝ’ quaþ Otuel þo
‘On Mahoun and on Garsie bo,
Bi him þat maude Adam and Eue,[1165]
Y nele neuere oppon ȝou leue.
Bi Ihesu þat is fol of miȝt,
And ich may mete him ariȝt,
Þere sschal no Sarazin skape o liue,
Þat ich may hente, so mote ich þriue.’[1170]
¶ ‘Otuwel’ quaþ Clarel þo [f.274vb] [Image]
‘Were we sumware bitwene vs two -
Bi Mahoun, þat ich onne bileue -
Oppon þi bodi ich wolde preue
Þat Mahoun may mo miracles make[1175]
Þan he þat þou art to itake.
He nis nouȝt half, be mi croun,
So miȝty as is sire Mahoun.’
¶ Quaþ Otuwel ‘bi Godes miȝte,
Clarel, mi truþe ich þe pliȝte;[1180]
Whaneuere þou wolt hit schal be,
Euele mote he þriue þat fle.’
¶ Quaþ Clarel anonriȝt
‘Bi Mahoun þat is fol of miȝt,
Woltou sikere me on hond[1185]
Þat no man of king Charles lond
Schal do me no vileynie?
By þe deþ þat I sschal deye,
Mi conseil is anon inome,
Tomorue erliche ich wille come.’[1190]
¶ Quaþ Otuwel ‘ne doute þe nouȝt.
Bi God þat al þe world haueþ wrouȝt
And þe deþ þat I schal deie,
Þou ne sschalt hente no vileinie
Of no man of king Charles lond,[1195]
Bote riȝt of myn oune hond.
Bi him þat made leef & bouȝ,
þeroffe þe sschal þinken ynouȝ.’
Quaþ Clarel ‘þo do þi best,
Tomorwe þou sschalt finde me prest.’ [1200] [ Tomorwe: r is superscript, and its position marked by a caret.]
¶ Þus þe[i] were þere boþe at on
Er þei wolden o twinne gon.
Eyþer oþer his treweþe pliȝte
Oppon morwen for to fiȝte.
¶ On moruwen þo þe day sprong[1205]
Clarel þe king þouȝte long
To þe pauiloun til he cam
To holde þe day þat he nam;
Oppon a stede wel idiȝt
He cam fol redi to bide fiȝt.[1210]
¶ King Charles wiþ hise kniȝtes bolde
Comen out Clarel to biholde,
Hou he com al redi diȝt
Boldeliche to bide fiȝt.
¶ Clarel was bold on his bond [f.275ra] [Image] [1215]
For [O]tuwel sikerede him on hond
Þat no man of flechs and blood
Ne sscholde doon him nouȝt bote good,
Bot hemselue tweien fiȝte
And habbe þe maistrie whoso miȝte.[1220]
Þo was Clarel fol trist
For to segge what him lust.
¶ King Charles was an old man
And Clarel hede þeroffe nam,
And seide ‘Charles, þou art old.[1225]
Who made þe nou so bold
To werren oppon king Garsie
Þat is cheef of al Painie?
Al paynime he haued in wold;
Þou dotest for þou art so bold.’ [1230] [ Bold: the b has been altered from an h ]
¶ King Charles waryþede anonriȝt
Þat Clarel tolde of him so liȝt
And hadde iment þo fol wel
To habben ifouȝten wiþ Clarel;
And bad fetten his armure briȝt,[1235]
And wolde armen him anonriȝt,
And seide in wraþ þe ‘by Godes miȝte,
Ich miself wole wiþ him fiȝte.’
¶ Roulond bi þe king stood
And bigan to meuen his mood[1240]
And sede to þe king anon,
‘Þou hauest, sire king, mani on,
Gode douȝti kniȝtes of deede,
To fiȝte þiself þou ne hauest no nede.’
¶ ‘God sschilde, sire’ quaþ Oliuer[1245]
‘Hit sscholde springe fer or ner
To putte þin oune bodi to fiȝt,
And hauest so mani a douȝti kniȝt.’
¶ King Charles swor his oþ
And bigan to wexe wroþ[1250]
And seide ‘for ouȝt þat man may speke,
Miself, ich wile ben on him wreke.’
¶ ‘A sire!’ quaþ Otuwel þo
‘For Godes loue sei nouȝt so.
Ich and he beþ truþe pliȝte[1255]
Þat we sschole togidere fiȝte,
And ich wole telle þe wiþoute faille
Wherefore we habbe taken bataille.
¶ He wolde habbe maked me ȝusterday [f.275rb] [Image]
To habbe reneied my lay,[1260]
And seide þat ich was ilore
And God nas nouȝt of Marie bore;
And seide algate he wolde preue
Þat ich am in misbeleue.
Þerefore he profreþ him to fiȝt,[1265]
To wite wheþer is more of miȝt,
Ihesu þat is louerd min
Or Mahoun and Apolyn.
Þous we habbeþ þe bataille inome
And boþe we beþ iswore to come.’[1270]
¶ Quaþ þe king Charles þo
‘Otuwel, whan it is so,
Tak þe bataille a Godes name,
And Ihesu schilde þe fram sschame.’
Otuwel, þat noble kniȝt,[1275]
Lette armen him anonriȝt,
And his gode stede bistrod
And no lengere he ne abood
Bote to þe stede he rood fol riȝt
Þere Clarel houede to bide fiȝt.[1280]
¶ Anon as Otuwel was icome
Here conseil was anon inome;
No lengere þei ne abiden,
Anonriȝt togidere þei riden,
Noon oþer nas ham bitwene,[1285]
Bote gode stronge speres & kene.
Nas neuer noþer of oþer agast
And eiþer sat in his sadel fast,
Þat boþe stedes ȝeden to grounde,
And þe kniȝtes weren al sounde;[1290]
And boþe stedes wenten forþ,
Þat on souþ, þat oþer norþ.
Þe kniȝte on fote togidere ȝede,
An[d] drowen hare swerdes gode at nede;
Ne sparede þei nouȝt þe swerdes egge,[1295]
Eyþer on oþer bigan to legge.
¶ Þei were boþe swiþe stronge,
And fouȝten togidere swiþe longe.
King Clarel was wel neȝ wood
Þat Otuwel so longe stood.[1300]
In gret wraþ þe Otuwel he smot,
And his swerd felliche bot,
And þau þe swerd [nere] neuere so good, [f.275va] [Image]
Þe gode helm it wiþstood.
Bote Otuwel astoneied was[1305]
Þere he stood vpon þe gras.
¶ Quaþ Otuwel ‘so mote ich go,
He ne louede me nouȝt þat smot me so;
Ich warne þe wel, so mote ich þe,
Þou sschalt habbe as good of me.’[1310]
¶ Otuwel for wraþ þe anon
Areiȝte him on þe cheke-bon
Al þe fel of þat was þare
And made his teþ al bare.
¶ Þo Otuwel sauȝ [h]is cheke-bon[1315]
He ȝaf Clarel a skorn anon
And seide ‘Clarel, so mote þou þe,
Whi scheuwestou þi teþ to me?
I nam no toþ-drawere,
Þou ne sest me no cheine bere.’[1320]
¶ Clarel felede him wounded sore,
And was maimed for eueremore,
An[d] smot to Otuwel wiþ al his miȝt;
And Otuwel, þat douȝti kniȝt,
Wiþ his swerd kepte þe dent[1325]
Þat Clarel him hadde iment,
And ȝit þe dent glood adoun
And smot Otuwel oppon þe croun.
¶ Quaþ Otuwel ‘bi Godes ore,
Sarazin, þou smitest fol sore.[1330]
Suþen þi berd was ischaue
Þou art woxen a strong knaue.’
¶ Otuwel smot Clarel þo
O strok and nammo
Þat neuer eft word he ne spak,[1335]
And so Otuwel his tene wrak.
¶ Þo was Charles glad ynouȝ
Þat Otuwel king Clarel slouȝ,
And ȝaf Otuwel, þat douȝti kniȝt,
A god erldam þat selue niȝt.[1340]
Al þat in þe ost was
Maden murþe and solas
Þat Otuwel hadde so bigunne
And hadde so þe maistri wonne;
Al þat miȝt ouer al þe ost,[1345]
Þei maden alþer ioye most.
¶ Þer cam a messager & browȝte tiding [f.275vb] [Image]
To Garsie þat riche king
Þat Otuwel his cosin in lawe
Hadde king Clarel islawe.[1350]
¶ Þo Garsie it vnderȝat
He was swiþe sori for þat,
And for wraþ þe þere he stood
Corsede hise godes as he were wood
And seide ‘allas and walawo![1355]
Nou is gode Clarel go.
Certes myn herte it wile tobreke,
Bote ich mowe Clarel awreke.’
¶ Þo lette Garsie asem[b]len anon
Alle hise Sarazins echon[1360]
And þouȝte þoruout alle þing
To ben awreken on Charles king
And on his cosin Otuwel;
And on himself þe wreche fel.
¶ King Charles herde be a spye[1365]
Þat Garsie þratte him to die
And he asemblede hise kniȝtes echon
And sede to hem alle anon
‘Lordinges, Garsie þinkeþ to ride,
For soþe I nele no lengere abide.’[1370]
Þe king armede him anon
And alle hise kniȝtes echon;
Þe king gurde him wiþ his swerd
And wente himself wiþ his ferd.
¶ Þe king cam stilleliche wiþ his ost[1375]
And Garsie cam wiþ gret bost.
Þo þe ostes neiȝeden nieȝ
Þat eiþer ost oþer sieȝ,
Out of Garsies ost cam ride
A Turkein þat was ful of prude.[1380]
¶ Roulond was good and hende,
And aȝenes him gan wende.
Þe Tourkein no lengere nabod,
To Roulond anon he rood,
And gurde Roulond wiþ a spere[1385]
Þat wel couþe a strok bere;
And as douȝti as he was,
His o stirop he las.
¶ Roulond was aschamed þarfore,
Þat he hadde his stirop lore,[1390]
And wiþ Dorendal þat was good, [f.276ra] [Image]
He smot þe Tourkein oppon þe hood,
And he sey doun of his stede;
So Rowlond quitte him his mede.
Quaþ Roulond ‘þat ich þe biheet,[1395]
Þou nult namore stonden on þi feet;
Min o stirop þou madest me tine,
Nou hauestou lose boþe þine.’
¶ Þer cam anoþer stout Sarazin,
Þat was armed wel a fin,[1400]
Þat hiȝte Myafle of Bagounde,
And wiþ a litel stounde
He made his stede swiþe to goon
And smot Oliuer anoon;
Þorou-out al his armure briȝt,[1405]
He woundede sore þat gode kniȝt.
¶ Roulond sauȝ be contenaunse,
His broþer was hurt wiþ þe launce; [ þe: MS reads le.]
His wardecors anon he fond
And tok a spere out of his hond[1410]
And made his hors make a sturt
To him þat hadde his broþer hurt,
And touchede him wiþ þe speres ord
Þat neuere eft he ne spak word;
And tok Myafles stede anon[1415]
And sette Oliuer þeron.
¶ Þere was a noble Sarazin,
A king þat heet Galatyn,
And cam wiþ a compainie,
And bigan faste to hie.[1420]
¶ Otuwel was war of þat,
Oppon his stede þere he sat,
Hou king Galatin cam wiþ wille
Cristene men for to spille.
Wiþ þe spores þe steede he nam,[1425]
To Galatyn þe king he kam.
Þorou þe bodi he him bar
And bad he scholde eft be war
Of such a strok whan it kam.
Non oþer hede of him he ne nam[1430]
Bote rood forþ oppon his stede
And leet þe Sarazin ligge & blede.
¶ Þo smiten þo ostes togidere anon
And fouȝten faste and good won,
And todaschsten many a scheld, [f.276rb] [Image] [1435]
Mani a bodi lay in þe feld.
¶ Þo cam ouer þe doune ride [ doune: MS reads donne.]
An heþene king fol of prude,
And browȝte wiþ him al ferche þo
A þousende Sarazins and mo,[1440]
And fouȝten faste a good stounde
And felden Cristene men to grounde.
¶ A douȝti bacheler cam ride
Oppon king Charles side,
A ȝong kniȝt þat sprong furst berd, [1445] [ berd: MS reads herd.]
Of no man he nas aferd;
Fiue hundred men wiþ him he brouȝte
Þat of hare lif litel þei þouȝte.
Nas non twenti winter old,
And echon was douȝti man & bold.[1450]
He hadde ichosen hem fol wide,
Bolde men bataille to bide.
Þei fouȝten faste wiþinne a stounde
And brouȝten Sarazins to grounde.
Þei were bolde and fouȝten faste,[1455]
Þe Sarazins flouwen ate laste.
Roulond & Oliuer hulpen wel,
And þe douȝty Otuwel.
¶ Coursabex, þe king, cam þo
And mette fleinde a þousend and mo,[1460]
‘Traitours’ quaþ Coursabex þe king
‘Certes þis is a foul þing
Þat ȝe schule fle for ferd;
Traitours, tourneþ aȝein þe berd,
Tourneþ aȝein alle wiþ me,[1465]
And we wole make þe Freinche fle.’
Þous Coursabex himself allone
Made tourne hem aȝein echone.
¶ Þe ȝinge kniȝt þat was so bold,
Riȝt nou þat ich offe habbe told,[1470]
Wiþ Coursabex wel sone he mette
And wiþ his swerd anon he sette
Such a strok oppon his croun
Þat of his stede he fel adoun.
Þe ȝinge kniȝt to him cam[1475]
And Coursabex o liue nam
And sente him Charles þe king.
Þo was he glad of þat tiding.
¶ Þo þe Tourkeins seien alle [f.276va] [Image]
Þat Coursabex was falle[1480]
And Cristene men smite sore,
Þei flouwen and nolde fiȝte namore.
And þe gode ȝinge kniȝt
Suwede and leid on dounriȝt.
Þere ne halp nouȝ[t] sire Mahoun;[1485]
Þe Tourkeins ȝeden faste adoun.
¶ Þo kam Poidras of Barbarin
And wiþ him mani a Sarazin.
Poidras oppon þe ȝunge kniȝt
Leid on wiþ al his miȝt,[1490]
And here men togidere huwen,
And heþene hornes faste blewen;
Poidras and þe ȝinge kniȝt,
Bitwene hem was strong fiȝt;
Poidras hadde þe more mayn[1495]
And hadde wel neiȝ þe kniȝt slain.
¶ Otuwel, þat douȝti kniȝt,
Was war of þat anonriȝt.
Otuwel no lengere nabood,
To Poidras anoon he rood[1500]
And smot Poidras of Barbarin
Þat þere he lay as a stiked swin.
¶ Otuwel rood into þe feerd,
And leide on faste mid his swerd.
Roulond and Oliuer,[1505]
Ne[i]ȝeden Otuwel ner,
And þe berdles kniȝt,
And slowen Sarazins adounriȝt.
¶ King Garsie herde wiþinne a stounde
Hou hise men ȝeden to grounde.[1510]
King Garsie hadde a conseiler
And anon he took him neer
And seide to him ‘sire Arperaunt,
Aȝenes Otuwel myn herte stant,
Þat þous haueþ reneied his lay,[1515]
And sleþ mine men niȝt and day.
Sire Arperant, what is þi reed
Þat þe þef traitour nere ded?
Certes Fraunce hadde be wonnen
Ne hadde his tresoun be bigunnen.’[1520]
¶ ‘King Garsie’ quaþ Arperaunt
‘Bi Mahoun þat ȝonder stant,
Al þe while þat Roulond [f.276vb] [Image]
Mai bere Durendal in his hond
And Oliuer rit by his side,[1525]
For no þing þat may betide,
Þou ne schalt neuere Otuwel winne,
For nouȝt þat euere þou kans[t] biginne.’
Þo was Garsie wel nyȝ wood
For wraþ þe on molde þere he stood.[1530]
¶ Þere was an Affrikan gent,
Þat hatte Baldolf of Aquilent,
King Garsie seide to him anoon
‘Certes, Baldoff, þou most goon,
And take wiþ þe kniȝt an[d] swein[1535]
And tourne þe Cristene men aȝein;
And ich miself wole after come
And helpe þat Otuwel were nome.’
¶ Quaþ Baldolf ‘bi sire Mahun,
Louerd, we wole don what we moun,[1540]
And com þou after and tak hede
Wuche maner þat we spede,
And ȝef þou sest þat nede be
Com and help us er we fle,
For whan an ost to fliȝt is went,[1545]
Bote socour come it is schent.’
¶ Baldolf took his compainie
And to þe bataille he gan heye,
And wiþinne a litel stounde
Hard bataille þei habben ifounde.[1550]
¶ Otuwel, douȝti of dede,
Where þei comen he took hede
And no lengere he ne bood
Bote hasteliche to ham he rood.
Roulond and Oliuer[1555]
Neiȝeden Otuwel ner,
And þe gode ȝinge kniȝt
Þat was so douȝti man in fiȝt.
Þo þei foure weren ifere,
Þo miȝte men seen and here[1560]
Harde strokes dele and diȝte
And wiþ Sarazins boldeliche fiȝte.
¶ Þer cam out of Garsies ost
A man þat made muche bost,
A king þat hatte Karnifees,[1565]
And muchel onour þere he les.
¶ Þer kam a kniȝt of Agineis, [f.277ra] [Image]
A bold man and a courteis,
And wiþ Carnifees he mette
And wende Carnifees to lette;[1570]
King Karnifees him haueþ istunt,
And slouȝ him ate forme dunt.
Þo Karnifees hadde þous do
He wende to seruen ham alle so.
¶ Otuwel no lengere nabood,[1575]
To Karnifees anon he rood.
Karnifees knuȝ Otuwel
By hise armes swiþe wel
And seide to þe gode gome
‘Forsworne þef, artou come?[1580]
Bi Mahoun’ quaþ Karnifees
‘Þou schalt hoppen heuedles.’
¶ Otuwel wiþoute targing
Answerede Karnifees þe king
‘Bi sein Geme, ich ne habbe nouȝt munt,[1585]
Þa[t] þou schalt ȝiue me þat dunt.’
Þei nolden no lengere abide,
Anon togidere þei gunde ride.
Karnifees smot Otuwel,
Biside þe heued þe strok fel,[1590]
A corner of Otuweles scheld
He gurde out amidde þe feld.
¶ Quaþ Otuwel ‘Good it wite,
Þat strok was wel ismite.
Nou þou schalt, bi seint Martyn,[1595]
Preuen a strok of myn.’
Otuwel Karnifees smot
Wiþ Corsouse þat wel boot
Þat Karnifees souȝte þe ground,
Ros he neuere eft hol ne sound.[1600]
¶ Þo þe Sarazins wisten alle
Þat Karnifees was ifalle
And þat he nolde namore arise
Þo bigan ham alle to agrise,
For in al Garsies feerd[1605]
Nas such a man to handle a swerd.
Þo tournde þei to fliȝt,
Þe Sarazins anonriȝt.
¶ Þous þe gode Otuwel [f.277rb] [Image]
And Roulond þat was good and snel,[1610]
Þoru þe help of Godes miȝt,
Maden þe Sarazins tourne to fliȝt
Þorou swete Ihesu Cristes grace,
And þei suweden faste þe chasse.
Þe Sarazins were so adredde,[1615]
Into þe water manye fledde,
Summe swumme & summe sunke,
And coold water ynouȝ þei drunke.
Til Roulond and Oliuer þe gode
In manie harde stoures stode. [1620] [ manie: MS reads mananie.]
Godde Ogger in prisoun lay,
Boþe bi niȝt and eke be day.
Herkneþ what hede Good to him nam,
And hou he out of prisoun kam.
¶ Seuene heþene kniȝtes bolde,[1625]
Ogger was bitaken to holde,
And þe foure Ogger slouȝ,
And ȝit he skapede wel inouȝ.
¶ Þere was a noble skuier
Þat wiþ queintize halp Ogger.[1630]
Swiþe priueliche and stille
He brouȝte Ogger, to his wille,
His swerd and his armure briȝt,
And Ogger armede him anonriȝt.
Þo he hadde on his gode wede[1635]
Þe squier brouȝte him a good stede.
Ogger no lengere ne abood,
Þe goodde stede he bistrood.
Þe squier was armed and wel idiȝt
And hadde a good hors and a liȝt,[1640]
And also stille as a ston
Þe squier lep to horse anon
And to þe porteres windou he kam,
And in his hond his mase he nam
And oppon þe windou he schof[1645]
Þat þe windou al todrof.
¶ Hit was abouten midniȝt
And þe porter was afriȝt
And askede anon who was þare
And who makede al þat fare.[1650]
¶ ‘Porter’ quaþ þe squier þo [f.277va] [Image]
‘Vndo þe gate and let us go.
We here tellen, bi sire Mahoun,
Þat Cristene men goon alle adoun,
And ich and mi felawes, iwis,[1655]
We wole witen hou it is;
And ȝef we ani good winne,
For soþe þou schalt parten þerinne.’
And he dude op þe ȝate wide,
And lette ham boþe out ride,[1660]
And steek aȝein þe ȝate fast,
And þere þei sien Ogger last.
¶ Ogger rood al þat niȝt
Til on þe morewen þe day was briȝt;
Þat neuere his feet comen on grounde[1665]
Er he hadde his felawes founde.
¶ Þo Roulond and Oliuer
Weren war of gode Ogger,
Þei were fol glad of þat siȝt
And þonkeden Ihesu fol of miȝt.[1670]
¶ Þo Roulond and Oliuer
[H]adden imet wiþ gode [Ogger]
Þei were also fous to fiȝt
As euere was a foul to fliȝt,
And wenten into þe bataile anon[1675]
And fouȝten faste and good won
And made þe Sarazins agaste,
And Otuwel nas nouȝt þe laste.
¶ Þo alle foure weren ifere
Þar nere none strokes dere[1680]
Þo douȝti kniȝtes smiten so sore,
As þauȝ þei ne hadden nouȝt fouȝten ȝore,
Þat wiþinne a litel stounde
Sarazins ȝeden alle to grounde.
¶ King Garsie took god hede[1685]
Hou his folk to grounde ȝede
And no lengere he ne abood,
Toward his pauilons he rood.
¶ And Otuwel anoon byheld,
Þere he rod in þe feld,[1690]
And warende fore anon þo
Roulond and Oliuer bo,
And Ogger þat douȝty kniȝt,
Þat king Garsie was tornd to fliȝt.
Þo Roulond and Oliuer, [f.277vb] [Image] [1695]
And þe gode kniȝt Ogger
Sien where king Garsie rood,
Þer nas non þat lengere abood,
Hasteliche þe wey þei nomen
And to king Garsie þei comen.[1700]
¶ King Garsie was afered to deye
And bigan mersi to crie
And seide for soþe þat he wolde
Of king Charles his lond holde,
And ben at eche parlement[1705]
Redi at his comaundement.
¶ King Garsie seide þis
‘For his loue þat ȝoure Good is,
Takeþ me on liue and sle me nouȝt.
Leet mi lif be forbouȝt,[1710]
And let me as a prisoun goon
Bifore king Charles anoon,
And don him omage wiþ myn hon[d],
To holden of him al mi lond.’
¶ Þanne seide Otuwel,[1715]
Þat was douȝti kniȝt and snel,
To Roulond and to Oliuer
And to þe gode kniȝt Ogger
‘Nou he haueþ þis ȝift iȝiue
I rede þat we laten him liue.[1720]
Bifore þe king he schal be brouȝt,
For Gode, we nulle slen him nouȝt.’
An[d] þei acenteden þerto
And seiden ‘it wile be wel ido.’
And wiþouten any targing[1725]
Þei ladden him bifore þe king.
¶ Þanne seide Otuwel, þat gode kniȝt,
To king Charles anonriȝt
‘Sire’ he seide ‘her is Garsie
Þat sumtime þratte þe to die;[1730]
He wile nou, ȝif þi wille be,
Do þe omage and feaute
And ben at þi comaundement,
And at eche parlement
Al redi at þin hond,[1735]
And holden of þe al his lond,
And for his lond rente ȝiue,
Wiþ þe noue he mote liue.’