## Guy of Warwick (couplets)

### 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 guy_cp.html and the header file was located in heads/guy_cp_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 1

Short couplets. Begins imperfect with the probable loss of a full leaf, equivalent to 176 lines.
6923 lines including a stub after f.118. One leaf missing after f.120.

Earliest copy of the A-redaction. Two other copies of the A-redaction in:
Caius Cambridge MS 107/176. c.1400. S. E. Midland.
BL Sloane MS 1044. Midland with Western features. Mid-late 14th century. Single-folio fragment. 216 lines.

Earlier, Northern couplet redaction in:
NLW MS Binding Fragments 578 and BL Additional MS 14408. Early 14th century. Fragmentary.

Later couplet redaction in:
CUL MS Ff.2.38 (olim no. 690). Late 15th century. Ff.2.38 also has in common with Auchinleck: A Penniworþ of Witt, Beues of Hamtoun, The Seven Sages of Rome and Sir Degare.

Edition:
J. Zupitza, Guy of Warwick, EETS ES 42, 49, 59 (London: Trübner, 1883-91).

Other editions and studies:
A. Wiggins, 'Guy of Warwick: Study and Transcription', unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Sheffield (2000).
M. Mills and D. Huws, Fragments of an Early Fourteenth-Century 'Guy of Warwick', Medium Ævum Monographs New Series IV (Oxford: Blackwell, 1974). (Edition of the fragmentary NLW / BL Additional 14408 text).
A. Ewert, Gui de Warewic: Roman du XIIIe Siecle, 2 vols, CFMA 74-5 (Paris: Champion, 1932, 1933).

Manual I, 27; 217. Index 3145 (for other versions of Guy of Warwick see: 946, 1754, 3146, *76 and Suppl. *4194.5).

### 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.

### Guy of Warwick (couplets)

His lord he serued treweliche [f.108ra] [Image]
In al þing manschipeliche.
Þer was non erl in Jnglond
Þat toȝeines him durst stond;
Bot ȝif he wold be wiþ him at on[5]
He wald do nimen him anon
& wiþ strengþe him nim wolde,
Þei he to Scotlond suwe him scholde.
His lordis honour he held worþschipliche
& defended it wele & hardiliche;[10]
Þer was [no] kni[ȝ]t in Jnglonde
Þat wiþ wretþe durst him at stonde.
Þei a man bar an hundred pounde
Opon him of gold ygrounde
Þe[r] nas man in al þis londe[15]
Þat durst him do schame no schonde
Þat bireft him worþ of a slo;
So gode pais þer was þo.
Þilke steward hadde a sone
Trewe & wise atte frome.[20]
Al folk he dede him loue
For þat noman schuld him schoue
& riche ȝiftes ȝiuen he wold
For þat he schuld be fre yhold.
Þerl Rohaud he serued þo[25]
As he schuld his kinde lord do.
Þerl him loued swiþe dere
Ouer al oþer þat þer were;
Of his coupe serue he him dede
He was preysed to him in euer[i]ch stede.[30]
Þerl michel him worþschipede
& for his fader loue to him clepede.
Gij of Warwike his name was;
In court non better beloued þer nas
So he was among gret lordinges[35]
Litel & michel in al þinges.
Gentil he was & of michel miȝt
Ouer al oþer feirest bi siȝt;
Al þai wonderd strongliche
For his feirhed was so miche.[40]
So mani godenes in him were
Al him preysed þer yfere
Of bordis & turnament, ywis,
Kniȝtes to hauen & holden of pris.
Gij a forster fader hadde [f.108rb] [Image] [45]
Þat him lerd & him radde
Of wodes & riuer & oþer game;
Herhaud of Ardern was his name.
He was hende & wele ytauȝt;
Gij to lern forȝat he nauȝt.[50]
Michel he couþe of hauk & hounde
Of estriche faucouns of gret mounde.
It was opon a Pentecost day yteld
Þerl a gret fest held
At Warwike in þat cite[55]
Þat þan was ywon to be.
Þider cam men of miche miȝt,
Erls & barouns boþe apliȝt,
Leuedis & maidens of gret mounde
Þat in þe lond wer yfounde.[60]
Eueriche maiden ches hir loue
Of kniȝtes þat wer þider ycome
& euerich kniȝt his leman
Of þat gentil maiden wiman.
When þai were fro chirche ycome[65]
Þer aliȝt mani a noble gome.
Þerl to þe mete was sett,
Gij stode forn him in þat flett
Þat was þe steward sone;
Þerl to serue it was his wone.[70]
To him he cleped Gij
& him hete & comandi
Þat he into chaumber went
& grete wele þat maiden gent,
& þat he schuld þat ich day[75]
Serue wele þat feir may.
Gij him answerd freliche,
‘Sir ichil wel bleþeliche.’
In a kirtel of silk he gan him schrede,
Into chaumber wel sone he ȝede.[80]
Þe kirtel bicom him swiþe wel,
To amenden þer on was neuer a del;
Þe maidens biheld him feir & wel
For þat he was so gentil.
Gij on his knes sone him sett[85]
& on hir fader half he hir grett
& seyd he was þider sent
To serue hir to hir talent.
Felice an[s]werd þan to Gij [f.108va] [Image]
‘Bieus amis molt gramerci’[90]
& seþ þe sche asked him in þe plas
Whennes he cam & what he was.
‘Mi fader’ he seyd ‘hat Suward,
Þat is þi fader steward
Þat wiþ him me haþ yheld[95]
& forþ ybrouȝt, God him forȝeld.’
‘Artow’ sche seyd ‘Suward sone,
Þat of al godenes haþ þe wone?’
Gij stode stille & seyd nouȝt.
Wiþ þat was þe water forþ brouȝt;[100]
Þai sett hem to mete anon,
Erl, baroun, sweyn & grom.
¶ Gij was bisy þat ich day
To serue wele þat feir may.
Þat day Gij dede his miȝt[105]
To serue þritti maidens briȝt.
Al anamourd on him þai were
& loued Gij for his feir chere.
Þer of no ȝaf he riȝt nouȝt;
Al anoþer it was his þouȝt,[110]
On Felice þat was so briȝt.
Gij hir loued wiþ al his miȝt.
So michel sche was in his þouȝt
Þat neye he was to deþ ybrouȝt;
He gan to wepe & sore siche[115]
& biment him wel reweliche
& grete wonder he hadde, ywis,
Þat Felice so feir a creatour is.
Ac he no dar his loue keþe
No sen hir wel vnneþe;[120]
He is in so gret þouȝt
His conseyl wil he schewe nouȝt.
Into þe maidens chaumber he is ygo;
At Felice he tok his leue þo
& in his way he goþ apliȝt.[125]
Vnto his chamber he went ful riȝt
& wepe & made grete wo
For he loued þat maiden so.
His men axed him on hy
Whi þat he was so sori.[130]
He hem answerd sone anon
Þat swiche iuel is comen him on
Þat he weneþ his liif forgon; [f.108vb] [Image]
Bote no tit him neuer non.
In þe court biment was Gij;[135]
Mani man for him was sori,
For he was won to serue hem wel
& ȝif hem mani a iuwel.
Now is Gij jn gret tempest,
Sorwe he makeþ wiþ þe mest[140]
Of Felice þat feir may;
For his loue he sorweþ ay
& grete wonder he haþ, ywis,
Þat him so hard bifallen is.
He acursed þe time þat [he] hir say,[145]
Felice wiþ hir eyȝen gray:
‘Hir gray eyȝen, hir nebbis schene;
For hir mi liif is miche in wene.
To hir ichil tellen al mi þouȝt
Whi þat icham in sorwe brouȝt.[150]
Tide me gode oþer qued
Y nil it hele for no nede;
Riȝt to hir þat y ne go
& schewe hir of mi miche wo.
¶ Ac now to hir schewen y nille[155]
Allas, wreche, hou may I duelle?
For mi lordes douhter sche is
& ich his nori, for soþe ywis,
Þerfore ich auȝt him treweþe bere
& neuer more him to dere.[160]
ȝif ich hir loued & it wist he,
& he miȝt ouertake me,
He wald anon mine heued of smite
Oþer heye hong for þat wite,
Oþer hewe me wiþ swerdes kene,[165]
ȝif ich hadde don him þat tene.
Allas, wreche, what may y do?
Y loue þing y no may com to.’
¶ Now is Gij in sorwe ybrouȝt;
Of his liif nis him nouȝt.[170]
He went & trent his bed opon
So man þat is wo bigon.
He no may sitt no stonde
No vnneþe drawen his onde,
Rest no take slepeinge,[175]
Mete ete no drinke dringe.
No may him noman comforti, [f.109ra] [Image]
Bot euer his song is wo & wi.
In so gret þouȝt was he þo
& so gret sorwe toke him to[180]
Leuer him wer walk & wende
& dye in trewe loue bende.
¶ Þus [Gij] lay in grete turment
Til þat þe fest was al towent.
Swiche an iuel is on him fast[185]
Þat he no may it of him cast;
He no wil noman his care schewe.
His sorwes ben euer aliche newe;
Þat he no may his loue haue
Grete strengþe him doþ wiþdrawe.[190]
‘Þerfore’ he seyd ‘ichil hir schewe
My peyne is euer aliche newe.
Of al mi sorwe nis hir nouȝt;
Ich wold ich were to deþ ybrouȝt.
Bitide me iuel oþer gode,[195]
Ichil it held in mi mode,
& ȝif sche wil, sche may me spille,
Ac for al þat leten y nille.’
Now is Gij to court ygo
As man þat is ful of wo[200]
& on his knes he him dede
Bifor Felice in þat stede
& to hir he spac wel euen
Wiþ a wel queynt steuen,
& seyd ‘Felice þe feir, merci,[205]
For Godes loue & our Leuedi,
Þat y þe no finde mi dedliche fo;
For Godes loue herken me to.
No longer hele y nille,
Al þat soþe tellen y wille.[210]
Þou art þe þing þat y most ȝerne;
Fro þe no may mine hert terne
Opon al oþer y loue þe;
Y no may it lete ded to be.
Vnder heuen no þing nis,[215]
Noiþer gode no qued, ywis,
Þat y for þe don y nolde;
To lete þat liif don y wolde.
Þou art mi liif, mi ded, ywis;
Wiþouten þe haue y no blis.[220]
Y loue þe & tow nouȝt me; [f.109rb] [Image]
Y dye for þe loue of þe.
Bot þou haue merci on me,
For sorwe ichil me self sle,
For wistestow þe heuinisse[225]
Þe sorwe & þe sorinisse
Þat me is on niȝt & day –
Bi trewe loue siggen ich it may –
& tow it miȝt wiþ eyȝen se,
Þou wost haue merci on me.’[230]
Felice þe feir answerd þo:
‘Artow þis Gij, so mot þou go,
Þe steward sone Suward?
Ich wene þou art a fole musard
When þou of loue me hast bisauȝt;[235]
Al to fole-hardy þou art ytauȝt.
Wele þou holdest me for a fole;
Þou art ytauȝt to a liþer scole.
& icham þi lordes douhter biname,
Þan dostow him wel michel schame[240]
When þou of loue bisechist me
Þat y schold þi leman be.
No fond y neuer man me so missede
No me so of loue bede,
Noyþer kniȝt no baroun;[245]
Bot þou þat art a garsoun
& art mi man, & man schalt be.
Yuel were mi fairhed sett on þe
& y swiche a grome toke
& so mani grete lordinges forsoke.[250]
Erls, doukes of þe best
In þis world & þe richest
Me haue desired, apliȝt,
Þat neuer of me hadde siȝt.
Þat wer gret deshonour to me,[255]
Al to loþ mi liif me schuld be;
Al to fole-hardi þou were
When þou me of loue bisouȝtest here.
Bi mi trewþe, y schal þe swere,
Schal y mi fader þe tiding bere[260]
Þou worþest tohewen oþer fordo –
Bi þe be warned oþer mo –
Oþer wiþ wilde hors todrawe
For þi foly, & þat wer lawe;
& oþer schul be warned bi þi dede [f.109va] [Image] [265]
& her lordinges þe more drede.
Go heþen’ sche seyd ‘& vp arise
& cum nammore in mi purpris.’
¶ Wel sorwefuliche went Gij
Into his chaumber al dreri;[270]
Gij into his chaumber gan to gon
& schett him þer in anon.
Þer in he made sorwe anouȝ
& his cloþes al todrouȝ.
Vnder heuen nas þat it ne miȝt haue rewþe [275] [ rewþe: þe is superscript.]
Of his sorwenes & of his trewþe.
Of loue he biment strongliche
For whom þat he loued so miche.
‘Loue’ he seyd ‘slake now mi sore
Þat is dedeliche as y seyd ore.[280]
Loue, of þis ȝongling
Makeþ me iuel fonding.
Loue, bring me of þis wodenisse
& bring me into sum lisse
For to reste me a þrowe[285]
Þat y miȝt meseluen knowe.
Sore me meneþ for me smert,
Miche care is in mine hert,
Michel ich am ycast of miȝt
Al to fer wiþ vnriȝt.[290]
Loue me doþ to grounde falle
Þat y ne may stond stef wiþ alle.
Loue doþ min cloþes done
& after me clepeþ wreche sone.
Hou schal y liue, hou schal y fare,[295]
Hou long schal y liuen in care?
Leuest þing me were to dye
& ich wist bi wiche weye.’
‘Deþ’ he seyd ‘wher artow so long?
Þou makest me y may nouȝt stond.[300]
Þou makest me out of þe way to gon.
Whi ne comestow to feche me anon?
Worþi ich were ded to be;
Y loue þing þat loueþ nouȝt me.
Herkeneþ now hou seiþ þe wise,[305]
Y schal ȝou schewe bi þis asise,
For a fole he schal him held
Þat takeþ more þan he may weld.’
To a fenestre þan Gij is go, [f.109vb] [Image]
Biheld þe castel, þe tour also.[310]
‘Tour’ he seyd ‘feir artow bisett.
In þe is þat maiden bischett
Þat liueþ þer in ioie & blis
& ichir loue, for soþe ywis.
Tour when wer þou ouerþrowe[315]
& wiþ þe winde al toblowe
Þat y miȝt hir wiþ eyȝen se
Þat y loue more þan me?’
He ginneþ to wepe & sore siche
His care him neweþ eueriliche;[320]
Adoun he fel & swoune bigan –
More sorwe made neuer man –
& cursed þe time þat he was bore,
For now he haþ his witt forlore.
‘Loue’ he seyd ‘acursed þou be;[325]
To michel miȝt it is in þe
Þat y ne may me fro þe were.
Loue, merci, þatow me no dere;
Leuer me were forto dye
Þan long to liuen here in eyȝe.[330]
Allas, Felice, þat ich stounde
Þi loue me haþ so ybounde
& þat y serued þe þat day
Acursed be þat time, seyen y may;
No bid ichaue non oþer mede[335]
Bot slake mi sorwe ichaue nede.
Y loue þe & tow nouȝt me;
Euen dole may it nouȝt be
For of mi sorwe no hastow nouȝt.
Allas, to grounde icham ybrouȝt,[340]
Þou hast þe gode & y þe quede,
Y brenne so spark on glede.
Seþ þe þou me lokedest first to
Þou me woundest wiþ a flo.
Schal y dye for þat siȝt?[345]
Merci, Felice, þat swete wiȝt
Mine hert is ful of venim spilt,
Of blis no worþ it neuer filt.’
Swiche liif ladde Gij sikerliche
Al þat seuenniȝt holeliche.[350]
His fader was for him sori,
Sabin his moder biment Gij,
Þerl for him sori was, [f.110ra] [Image]
Þer liked non in þat plas;
Litel & michel al & some[355]
Biment Gij att[e] frome.
Þerl dede þe leches ofsende
Of Gyes iuel to wite þat ende.
Þe leches ben to him ygo,
Gij þai finde blaike & blo.[360]
Hij asked him where his iuel stode,
He seyd for hete he brend nere wode.
‘So hot ich am & bren[n]inge –
Mi sorwe is euer cominge –
Þat al mi limes it haþ totiȝt;[365]
Swiche liif y lede day & niȝt.
After þe hete me comeþ a chele
Þat me greueþ wiþ vnskele
Þat y wex cold as ise.
So vnkinde iuel it is[370]
Þat al mine limes it wil to-te;
& seþ þe me comeþ swouninges þre,
For anguis swoune it me doþ
Tviis or þriis y say for soþ.
Swiche liif y lede niȝt & day[375]
Non oþer wise y no can ȝou say.’
¶ Þan seyd þat on ‘a feuer it is.’
‘ȝa’ quod Gij ‘a liþer, ywis.’
Þe leches gon & lete Gij one
Þat makeþ wel michel mone.[380]
‘God’ quod Gij ‘what schal y do?
Hou long schal y liuen in wo
Þat y no miȝt ded be
When y no may hir wiþ eyȝen se
Þat haþ al mine hert & þouȝt[385]
& y no misgilt hir neuer nouȝt?
Bot on þat ichir loue wel
& euer more loue schel.
ȝif ich it hir schewe, sche wil telle
Hir fader & he me wil quelle.[390]
Þei he it wist, siker apliȝt,
More þan me sle don he no miȝt.
ȝif he me slouȝ it were schonde,
Schuld y þan for deþ wonde?
To hir, for soþe, ichil go[395]
& schewe hir of mi michel wo.
Vnder heuen [n]is so strong þing [f.110rb] [Image]
So is loue & wowing.’
‘Now’ he seyd ‘what for þan?
Þei ich hir loue blame me no man;[400]
To warant ichil drawe atte frome
Þat loue doþ me þider come
& þat loue doþ me go to þe
Þat y no may wiþhold me.’
Wiþ þis Gij arisen is[405]
& to þe gate goþ, ywis.
‘God’ quod Gij ‘y do foliliche,
Y sle me seluen sikerliche;
Mine owhen [deþ] y go now secheinde.’
‘God’ he seyd ‘be mine helpinde.’[410]
Adoun he fel aswounie
& when he gan to dawei
‘To þe court’ he seyd ‘ichil go,
Be it for wele or for wo.
To þe court ichil what so bitide;[415]
Þei gret strengþe me do abide.’
Now is Gij to court ycomen
As man þat is wiþ sorwe ynome
& into an erber he is ygo.
Felice [he] findeþ þer in þo[420]
At hir fet he him leyd,
Al wepeand to hir he seyd,
‘Felice now ich am comen to þe,
& ȝif þou wilt, þou miȝt m[e] sle
For now icham wiþin þi loke[425]
& þine hest ichaue tobroke
For ich wold þatow seye
Þe sorwe þat y for þe dreye,
Þe strong pine & þe wo
Y dreye for þe euer mo.[430]
Mine hert schal bileue wiþ þe,
Wiltow, niltow, it schal so be
Þat mi bodi, ferli may,
Bot þat wille it lasteþ ay.
Þer while y liue loue y þe wille[435]
& bot ȝif y do ichil me spille;
For me no schal it todeled be
Þer while þat liif it lasteþ in me.
Þe to loue no miȝtow me forbede,
In wo & sorwe þou dost me fede.[440]
Whan it worþ þi fader yteld [f.110va] [Image]
Þatow hast mine hert in weld
& he wite þat y loue þe,
Ichot for soþe he wil me sle,
& þat schal turn me al to blis[445]
When y schal dye, for soþe ywis.
Henne forward ne reche y me
Of mi liif whare it be
No of mi deþ neuer þe mo,
No reche y neuer where y go.’[450]
He ferd as he wer mat;
Adoun he fel aswoune wiþ þat.
Felice stode & loked him to
& biheld his strong wo.
To a mayde sche seyd þo,[455]
‘Take him vp in þine armes to
& lay him soft on þe grounde.’
& sche dede so in þat stounde.
Þat mayden ȝede to him wepeinde
& Gij wel sore biminde.[460]
‘Bigod of heuen’ sche seyd,
‘& ich wer as feir a mayd
& as riche kinges douhter were
As ani in þis warld here,
& he of mi loue vndernome were[465]
As he is of þine in strong manere
& he wald me so o loue ȝerne,
Me þenke y no miȝt it him nouȝt werne.’ [ werne: final e is superscript.]
Felice þe feir answerd þo,
‘Damisel’ sche seyd ‘whi seistow so?[470]
Þou art to blame also y se
No þing þermid no paistow me.
Oft þou hast yherd in speche
Þat we no schal no man biseche,
Ac men schul biseche wimen[475]
In þe feirest maner þat þai can
& fond to speden ȝif þai may,
Boþe bi niȝtes & bi day.’
Of his swouning he vpros þo.
Þe maiden him tok in armes to.[480]
Felice seyd to Gij ‘þou dost folie
Þ(at)atow wilt for mi loue dye.[(]
Schal y do mi fader ofsende?
I schal him telle word & ende
Þat tow dost me litel worþschipe [f.110vb] [Image] [485]
When þou me desirest to schenschipe.
In his court he schal deme þe
& al tolime to queme me.’
¶ Gij answerd anon þerto,
‘God ȝeue þat it wer ydo[490]
Þat of mi deþ þou haddest wite.
Of mi liif is me bot lite,
Redi ich am it to vnderfong
Be it wiþ riȝt, be it wiþ wrong.’
¶ Felice hadde of him gret rewþe.[495]
‘Gij’ quod [sche] ‘þou louest me in trewþe;
Al to michel þou art afoild
Now þi blod it is acoild.
Ac o þing y grant þe
More no miȝtow asky me.[500]
Þer nis leuedi no maiden non
In þis cuntre so wide so man may gon
& tow louedest hir astow dost me
Þat sche no wold grant hir loue to þe.’
Gij seyd to Felice ‘now lete þis be,[505]
Now me þenke þou scornnest me.
Nis me nouȝt iuel anouȝ ydiȝt
When þou wilt of me no wiȝt?
Now a fole ichil be
& mi witt chaunge for þe.’[510]
‘Gij’ seyd Felice ‘now vnderstond
For now nil y noþing wond
& þei y say þe al mi wille
No hold it for non vnskille.
No grome louen y no may[515]
Fort he be kniȝt forsoþ to say,
Feir & beld to tellen by,
S[t]rong in armes & hardi;
& when þou hast armes vnderfong
& ichaue it vnderstonde,[520]
Þan schaltow haue þe loue of me
ȝif þow be swiche as y telle þe.’
When Gij herd þat tiding
For ioie his hert gan to spring.
At hir he tok leue anon,[525]
Into þe castel he gan to gon
Also swiþe as he it miȝt do;
Into þe court he gan to go
Of euerich day him þouȝt ten [f.111ra] [Image]
Fort he seye his lemen, [530] [ his: s is superscript.]
& when he feld him hole & fere
He went to court wiþ glad chere.
Michel joie wiþ him þai made
& alle þai wer bliþe & glade.
To þerl þan went Gij[535]
& gret þat kniȝt hardi
& seyd ‘Sir, þine armes ich ax,
ȝif ich am þerto ywax;
Ich am redi hem to fong
& þe to serue wiþouten wrong.’[540]
Þerl answerd & seyd þo,
‘Bleþeliche Gij, seþ þe þou wilt so.’
¶ Þerl dede anon aparaile
Gyes dobing wiþouten feyle;
Wel richelich he dubbed Gij[545]
& wiþ him felawes tventi
Þat al barouns sones were –
For Gyes loue he dubbed hem þere –
Þat wiþ þerl Rohaud hadde ben long
In his seruise armes to vnderfong.[550]
It was at þe Holy Trinite
Þerl dubbed sir Gij þe fre
& wiþ him tventi gode gomis,
Kniȝtes & riche baroun sonis.
Of cloþ of Tars & riche cendel[555]
Was he[r] dobbeing euerichadel.
Þe panis al of fow & griis,
Þe mantels weren of michel priis,
Wiþ riche armour & gode stedes,
Þe best þat wer in lond at nedis.[560]
Alder best was Gij ydiȝt;
Þei he wer an emperour sone, apliȝt
So richeliche dobbed was he,
Nas no swiche in þis cuntre,
Wiþ riche stedes wele erninde[565]
Palfreys coursours wele bereinde.
No was þer noiþer sweyn no knaue
Þat ouȝt failed þat he schuld haue.
¶ Now is sir Gij dobbed to kniȝt
Feir he was & michel of miȝt.[570]
To Felice went sir Gij
& gret hir wel curteyslie
& seyd ‘ichaue don astow seydest me to, [f.111rb] [Image]
For þe ichaue suffred miche wo;
Arme for þe ichaue vnderfong.[575]
Þe to se me þouȝt long,
Þou art me boþe leue & dere,
Ich am ycomen þi wille to here.
¶ ‘Gij’ seyd Felice ‘heye þe nouȝt.
ȝete hastow no þing of armes ywrouȝt[580]
No artow þe better neuer-a-del
Þan þou wer ere y say þe wel
Bot on þatow [hast] newe dobing
& art cleped kniȝt wiþouten lesing;
Bot it be þurth þi miȝt[585]
Þou no miȝt chalang loue þurth riȝt.’
When Gij herd Felice so speke
He tok his leue & gan out reke;
At hir leue he tok anon
& to his fader he gan to gon[590]
& seyd ‘fader, vnderstond me,
Icham newe dobbed as ȝe may se.
Ouer þe se ichil now fare
To win priis & los þare.’
His fader him answerd sone,[595]
‘Sone, God leue þe wele to done,
& als michel as þe nede be
Sone schaltow haue wiþ þe.’
¶ Suward cleped Herhaud to him
& seyd: ‘Herhaud, frende min,[600]
Wiþ Gi mi sone schaltow wende;
In gode stede mot ȝe lende.
Þou schalt kepe mi sone Gij
For he is mi sone & tow mi norri.
Loke, Herhaud, þat tow him kepe[605]
& þine felawes þat ben ȝepe,
Boþe Torold & sir Vrri.
On ȝou y trust sikerli
& wiþ Herhaud schul ȝe go
To kepe mi sone from care & wo.’[610]
& hij answerd sone anon,
‘Hastiliche, sir, wil we wiþ him gon.’
Þai weren boþe strong kniȝtes
Bold & hardi in ich fiȝtes. [ fiȝtes altered to fiȝttes, then the superscript t marked for deletion.]
Gij tok wiþ him what he wold[615]
Boþe of siluer & of gold;
To þe se þai ben now ycome [f.111va] [Image]
& seyled ouer atte frome.
Þai comen into Normondye;
Kniȝtschippe þai sechen on heye.[620]
In Ron Gij takeþ his herberwe
Wiþ þe richest man of þe borwe;
Mete & drink þai hadde anouȝ
Nas þer non þat it wiþdrouȝ.
Sir Gij his ost cleped him to[625]
& him bigan to frein þo
& asked him wher þe turnament schuld be, [ be is superscript.]
So mani scheldes þan seye he.
His ost ‘sir’ seyd ‘wite ȝe nouȝt
Of þis turnament þat is biþouȝt?’[630]
‘No’ seyd Gij ‘bi mine wite,
Y no herd þerof neuer ȝete.’
His ost him answerd snelle,
‘Of þat turnament y schal ȝou telle.
It schal be for a maiden of pris,[635]
Þemperours douhter sche is.
A turnament he haþ don grede,
A swiþe michel & vnrede.
Þer nis no kniȝt in Speyne
Al to þe se of Breteyne[640]
Þat ouȝt ytold wiþ be
Þer men schal his miȝt se.
He þat best doþ þat day
Þer he schal winne þat play.
Of euerich londe þider com kniȝtes[645]
Þat strong ben & bold in fiȝtes,
For who þat is gode & snelle,
As ichaue herd oþer men telle,
Who þat þer be of mest miȝt,
Grete worþschipe he winneþ, apliȝt,[650]
For þe maiden y spac of er
Is þemperours douhter Reyner.
He schal bring to þe tur[na]ment þat day –
Wele is him þat it winne may –
A gerfauk þat is milke white –[655]
To him nis nowhare his liche –
& a stede of gret bounte –
He no schuld be ȝouen for a cuntre –
& tvai grehoundes þat white ben –
Swiche no haþ men nowhare ysen.[660]
& who so winneþ þe turnament al [f.111vb] [Image]
Bi aiþer half þe priis haue schal
Þe gerfauk & þe gode stede
Boþe he schal haue to mede;
& þe tvay grehoundes þat gode beþ[665]
He schal haue þat þer best deþ;
& þe maiden þat is so fre,
Bot he haue a fairer in his cuntre.’
¶ When sir Gij herd þat tiding
Glad he was wiþouten lesing.[670]
Sir Gij seyd to his fere,
‘In gode time come we here.
Tomorwe so sone so it is day
We wil wenden in our way.’
Sir [Gij] his ost a palfrey ȝaf þo[675]
For þe tiding he teld him to.
Anon amorwe wel erliche
Þai don hem in her wai sikerliche.
Of rideing wil þai neuer stent
To þai com to þe turnament.[680]
& when þai wer þider ycome
Þai seye þer mani douȝti gome.
Bi feldes & bi riuers ridinde
Mani a kniȝt þai seye cominde.
& when þai were þider ycome[685]
To þe turnament þai went al & some.
Out of þe rengge þai gun hem diȝt
Þe barouns þat were of miche miȝt.
Þan oxed anon sir Gij
To þe barouns þat oned him bi,[690]
‘What is he þat ich kniȝt
Þat out of þe renge haþ him diȝt
Wiþ þo armes briȝt & schene?’
Hij answerd anon y wene,
‘It is a kniȝt of miche priis,[695]
Douhti he is bi seyn Deniis;
Out of þe rengge he haþ him diȝt
ȝif he miȝt finden ani kniȝt
Þat wiþ him wald iusti
Þerto he makeþ him redi.’[700]
Oȝaines sir Gij þer come Gayer
To iuste wiþ him he drouȝ him ner;
He rode to him as a gode kniȝt
He semed a man of miche miȝt.
Gaier smot sir Gij bifore [f.112ra] [Image] [705]
& þurth þe scheld him haþ ibore.
Þe launce brak þat was wele wrouȝt,
Þe hauberk was gode & failed nouȝt.
Gij afterward Gaier smot
To grounde he feld him fot-hot,[710]
Þe stede toke bi þe reyn
& lepe vp wiþ gret meyn.
Now ginneþ þe turnamint,
Ich smit on oþer wel gode dint;
Þai smiten togider, for soþ y pliȝt[715]
Eueriche to nim oþer dede his miȝt.
Wel mani kniȝtes Gij wan þat day
Of þe maistri he wan þat play.
So mani helmes he todrof
Þat mani man wonderd þerof;[720]
Sat he neuer so wel no so fast
Þat he no feld him sone on hast.
Þe douke Otus of Pauie
To Gij he hadde envie
Wiþ him he wald iusti –[725]
It turned him to vilani.
Þe douke come prikiand on his stede
Þat certeyne was & gode at nede
& sir Gij on anoþer also;
Gode kniȝtes þai weren bo.[730]
Gij þurth þe scholder him smot
& feld him to grounde fot-hot.
¶ Þe douke Reyner seye þat cas
Of Sessoine wel modi he was.
He come als swiþe as he miȝt driue[735]
Gij to smite he heyed bliue
& seyd to him ‘in iuel stounde
ȝaf þou þe douke Otous wounde.
To wroþerhele iuste þou wiþ him,
He is mi germain cosyn.[740]
Icham þe douke Reyner þat to þe speke,
Icham ycomen him to awreke.
Turn þe & iuste wiþ me.’
‘Bleþeliche’ quod Gij ‘bi my leute.’
Gij him turned & gan to smite[745]
He nold spare him bot lite;
He smot þe douke on þe scheld
Þat it fleye in þe feld
& bar þe douke Reyner saunfeil [f.112rb] [Image]
Ouer & oue[r] his hors tayl.[750]
Þe stede bi þe reyn he haþ ynome
Oȝain to þe douke he is ycome.
‘Here is þine hors, y ȝiue it te.
When ichaue nede aquite it me.’
& wele he ȝalt him his while[755]
As gode kniȝt wiþouten gile.
I schal ȝou tel feir & wel
Hou he it ȝald him eueridel.
When þe douk Otus yseye þis
Toȝaines Gij he come, ywis.[760]
‘Sir kniȝt’ he seyd ‘y prey þe
Tel me þi name & whenne tow be.’
¶ Sir Gij answerd wel freliche:
‘Y schal þe tel ful bleþeliche.
Gij of Warwike men clepeþ me.[765]
Ich was yborn in þat cuntre.’
Þe douk Lowayn cam wiþ þis
A gode spere in his hond, ywis.
To Gij he smot wiþ gret hete
& Gij oȝain to him smite;[770]
Togider so hard gun þai driue
Þat her speres gan al toriue.
Þai smiten togider hard & wel
Wiþ her swerdes of grounden stiel
Þurth scheld & hauberk also;[775]
Strong fiȝt was bitven hem to.
Wiþ þat come Herhaud priking,
Þe douk he met coming
& of his hors him haþ yfeld
Riȝt long streȝt in þe feld.[780]
Wiþ þat come þe douke Gaudiner
& mett wiþ sir Torold þer.
Sir Torold smot him on þe scheld
Þat he feld him in þe feld
He semed kniȝt gode & hardi.[785]
Wiþ þat come prikeing sir Vrri
Þan gan þe fiȝt to ben aferd
Of swiche ne haue ȝe nouȝt yherd
No ich it nouȝt telle no miȝt
For long dueling, y ȝou pliȝt.[790]
No no clerk vnder sonne
Þat þe soþe ȝou telle conne
Bot al þe folk of þat cuntre [f.112va] [Image]
Seyd þat Gij þe best miȝt be.
& þat oþer day ysame[795]
Sir Gij wan þat ich game,
& þerfore on euerich a side
On him was leyd al þe pride.
So opon þe þridde day
Þe kniȝtes tok her leue & went oway.[800]
¶ Wiþ þis come þe douk prikeing,
A gode kniȝt & wele doing.
‘Lordinges’ he seyd ‘herkeneþ to me.
Ichil ȝou telle hou it schal be
& whoso þeroȝain sey ouȝt[805]
Of bateyl no þarf him feyl nouȝt.’
Þai seyden al couinliche
Þe dome was ȝouen sikerliche;
Þe gerfauk & þe gode stede
Þe grehoundes schul haue to mede[810]
Gij of Warwike þe noble kniȝt
For best nov doand in þis fiȝt.
Þus þe kniȝtes ben departed, ywis,
Sir Gij to jn ycomen is
& dede him vnarmi;[815]
Of turnament he was weri.
¶ Wiþ þat come a seriant prikeinde,
Gentil he was & wele spekeinde,
To sir Gyes in he is ycome
& him he gret atte frome.[820]
‘Þou art ychesen chef & pris
Of al þis cuntre, for soþe ywis;
For þou hast ywon þis turnament
Y make þe here þis present
Fram þe maiden Blancheflour,[825]
Þat is mi lordes douhter þemperour,
Þe gerfauk & þe stede also
& þe tvay grehoundes þerto,
& ȝete hir loue wiþ þan
Bot þou haue a fairer leman.[830]
Sche þat is þe tour wiþinne
Today þou miȝt hir loue winne.’
Wel curteysliche answerd sir Gij,
‘Sir’ he seyd ‘gramerci.
Ich vnderfong þis present[835]
& þonke hir þat it hider sent.
Hir druerie ich vnderfong [f.112vb] [Image]
Hir kniȝt to [be] wiþouten wrong.’
‘Leue fere’ he seyd ‘herken to me
What þat y schal telle þe.[840]
Þis armes ichil þe ȝiue
& make riche while þou liue
& al þine feren þat be wiþ þe
Riche ȝiftes schullen hauen of me
& do ichil ȝou grete honour[845]
For þat maidens loue Blauncheflour.’
‘Gramerci, sir Gij’ seyd he,
‘For armes come y nouȝt to þe;
Ac to þe maiden ichil wende
& tel hir boþe ord & ende,[850]
Blauncheflour þat swete þing
Ichil hir tel gode tiding.’
Þe seriant goþ & lete Gij þare
Þat liueþ jn joie & nouȝt in care.
Tvay swaines Gij clepeþ him to,[855]
Anon he seyd to hem bo,
‘Þis present ȝe schullen vnderfong
& wende þerwiþ into Inglond
& present þerwiþ bi mi word
Rohaut mi kinde lord.’[860]
& when þai herd what he hem hete
In her way þai dede hem skete
& went þe[r]wiþ into Inglond
& þerl Rohaut þer þai fond.
Þe gerfauk & þe gode stede,[865]
Þe tvai grehoundes wiþ hem ȝede; [ hem altered from him.]
Þerl þai made þerwiþ present
Þat sir Gij wan in turnament.
& anon þai him teld
Gij was þe best in þe feld[870]
& þat he was best yteld bi
Of al þe kniȝtes of Normandi.
Þerl þerof wel glad he was
& þonked God of þat gras,
& Felice þe feir dede also[875]
When þe tiding come hir to,
& al his frendes eld & ȝing
Glad were of þat (d) tiding.
Nov Gij wendeþ into fer lond
More of auentours forto fond;[880]
Forþ he went into Speyine [f.113ra] [Image]
& after into Almeyne.
Þer nas noiþer turnament no burdis
Þat Gij þerof no wan þe priis.
He was out al þat ȝer[885]
In mani londes fer & ner
& best is teld vnder sunne
& mest frendes haþ ywonne.
Þan seyd Herhaud to sir Gij –
His maister he was & kniȝt hardi –[890]
‘Into Inglond we schul nov go
So wele so we may it do
For we han ouer al ybe
Þe pris ywonne jn euerich cuntre.’
Gij seyd ‘maister y grant wel[895]
At þi wil be it eueridel.
Now we han ben her & tar
Þe pris ywonne eueraywar
To king Aþelston þou schalt aqueynt þe
Of Inglond þat is so fre,[900]
& wiþ þe barouns also
So wele þou may it nov do.’
¶ Gij seyd ‘tomorwe when it is day
Wende we wil in our way.’
& when þe day is ycome[905]
In her way þai ben ynome
Ouer se þai gan wende,
In Inglond þai gun lende.
Anon þai com to king Aþelston.
Wel fair he hem vnderfenge anon.[910]
Wiþ erls & barouns aqueynt him dede
Þat riche ȝiftes him bede.
Nov is Gij to Warwike fare,
Þerl Rohaut he fint þare.
He welcomed him & his fere[915]
For he was him leue & dere
& kist him wel sweteliche
& of his present þonked him miche.
To his leman he is ycome
& euen forþ hirself sche haþ him nome.[920]
Glad was his fader for him
Sabin his moder & al his kin
& al þe folk of þat cuntre
Bliþe were þai miȝt him se.
¶ To Felice þan sir Gij is go [f.113rb] [Image] [925]
Sweteliche he seyd hir to,
‘Leman’ he seyd ‘wele þou be.
Mi liif ichaue for loue of þe;
Ded ich were ȝif þou nere,
Mi bodi destrud & leyd on bere.[930]
When þou þi wille hadde seyd to me
Armes y fenge for loue of [þe],
& when ich hadde armes take
Þou seyd þou noldest me forsake,
Þou noldest þi loue werne to me[935]
& nov ich am her comen to þe.
Dere leman, y prey þe
Þi wille þatow tel to me.’
Felice answerd swiþe an heye,
‘No rape þe nouȝt so, sir Gij.[940]
ȝete nartow nouȝt ypreysed so
Þat me ne may finde oþer mo.
Orped þou art & of grete miȝt,
Gode kniȝt & ardi in fiȝt,
& ȝif ich þe hadde mi loue yȝeue[945]
To welden it while þat y liue
Sleuþe þe schuld ouercome;
Namore wostow of armes loue
No comen in turnament no in fiȝt
So amerous þou were anonriȝt.[950]
Y schuld misdo so þenkeþ me
& miche agilt oȝaines te
& ich þi manschip schuld schone
Wit me euer more to wone.’ [ Wit: t is superscript over an erasure.]
‘Gij’ quod Felice ‘forhele y nille[955]
Ac al þe soþe ichil þe telle
Þou art me leuest of oþer alle
For mi leman ichil þe calle
Ac mi loue no schaltow haue
For noþing þatow may craue[960]
Er þou perles holden be
& best doand in þis cuntre
Þat nowhar bi lond no w[a]ter
No be founde þi beter;
& when þou art hold best doinde[965]
In armes þat ani man mai finde
Þat vnder heuen þi better no be
Mi loue ichil þan graunti þe.’
When Gij herd Felice speke so [f.113va] [Image]
Wel depe he gan to sike þo:[970]
‘Now ichot þou scornest me,
Swiche answer jchaue of þe
Þat y schuld be þe best yteld
Þat be fiȝtand wiþ spere & scheld.
Swiche no miȝt y neuer werþe[975]
To be þe best on þis erþe;
Into oþer cuntres ichil go
For þi loue to wirche me wo.
For dout of deþ nil y nouȝt fle.
ȝif y dye it is for þe.’[980]
Sir Gij of hir toke his leue
& kist hir wiþ wepeand eye.
Vnto his in he goþ snelle
Þer nil he no lenger duelle.
To þerl he wil gon[985]
& tak his leue sone anon.
Gij him com to court þore
& aliȝt atte halle dore
& to þerl he went þo
& schewed him wat he wald do.[990]
‘Sir erl’ quod Gij ‘y bid þe
Leue to wende ȝif þou me.
Ouer þe se ichil now wende,
God to gode hauen me sende.
Time it is þat ich fond[995]
To winne priis in vncouþe lond.
Al þe glader ȝe mow be
ȝif we of armes preised be.
& ȝif þou hast folk of grete miȝt
It is te gret worþschip, y pliȝt,[1000]
For al þe more men schal þe dout
Wiþin þi lond & eke wiþout.’
¶ ‘Sir Gij’ quod þerl þo,
‘Faileþ þe ou[ȝ]t þat y mai do,
Gold oþer siluer oþer heye stede?[1005]
To passe þe se hastow no nede.’
‘Sir Gij’ he seyd ‘lete ben al þis.
Anouȝ þe worþ þat þe nede is
& to pley[e]n vnder þe linde
Þe hert to chacen & þe hinde[1010]
Of al þinges þou schalt haue plente.
Bileue at hom sir Gi wiþ me.
We schul wende boþe yfere [f.113vb] [Image]
To play bi wode & bi riuer.
Al bi times þou miȝt wende[1015]
ȝete no hastow ben here a moneþ to þende.’ [ þende is superscript.]
¶ ‘Miche þank, sir’ quod Gij þo,
‘For soþe so no may [y] nouȝt do.’
His leue he toke wiþouten more,
Þerl it ofþouȝt swiþe sore.[1020]
He goþ him to his fader þo
Þat for his wending was ful wo.
‘Gon, fader’ quod he ‘ichille;
For noþing leten y nille.
ȝif me leue icham al ȝare[1025]
Ouer þe se for to fare
To winne pris & los also
So ȝong man schal in ȝouþe do.
Long to bileuen in þis cunt[r]e
Nis it nouȝt worþ for me.[1030]
For ȝong man þat is miȝti
In his ȝouþe schal fondi
So þat men may him in erþe preyse
& in eld liue in mirþe & ayse.
Þer whiles icham ȝong & liȝt[1035]
Los ichil winne bi mi miȝt.’
‘Leue sone’ he seyd ‘leue þat þouȝt;
Bi mi wil schaltow wende nouȝt.
Þou schalt bileue here wiþ me
Al þe bliþer we wille be.’[1040]
‘Leue sone’ his moder him sede,
‘Þou do bi þi faders rede.
Soiourne wiþ ous to ȝer mo,
Y rede þe sone þat it be so,
Anoþer ȝer þou miȝt ouerfare.[1045]
Bot þou bileue y dye for care
For we ne haue sonis no mo;
ȝif we þe schul now forgo
Glad no worþ we neuer mo,
For sorwe schul ous selue slo.’[1050]
¶ Gij answerd wiþ þat speche,
‘Fader, God y þe biteche
& mi leue moder also
For hastiliche ichil nov go.’
Gij forþ goþ & þai bileue þare[1055]
Þat for hym hadde miche care.
To þe se he is ycome, [f.114ra] [Image]
Gode winde he haþ atte frome.
Ycomen he is into Normundye;
Kniȝtschip he schewed on hye.[1060]
Þennes he went jnto Speyne.
Nis turnament non into Almeyne
Þat Gij no haþ þer at ybe
& michel ypreised so is he.
Þennes to Lombardye he went,[1065]
Þer ben þe iustes & þe turnament
Þer he dede him preyse miche;
Þe Lombardes him loued inliche.
He was large curteys & fre
Of miche miȝt so was he.[1070]
Of an vnsele y may ȝou telle
& ȝe wil a stounde duelle.
As he cam fram a turnament
Þat was biside Bonevent
In þe bodi wounded he was[1075]
Þat sore him greued no wonder it nas.
¶ Þan biþouȝt him þe douk Otoun, [ Otoun: MS reads of toun.]
Þat vnwrast was & feloun,
Þat he wald ben awreke þat day
Of Gij of Warwike ȝif he may[1080]
For he him wounded in a turnament
As ichaue herd telle verrament.
Þerfore Gij him was swiþe loþ
& wel depe he swore his oþ
Þat he of him awreke wald be[1085]
Er þan he wende out of þat cuntre.
When þe douke Otus yseye þat cas,
Þat Gij so sore wounded was,
Þerl Lambard he cleped to him –
A kniȝt he was stout & grim –[1090]
& fiftene kniȝtes in his compeynie [ fiftene: MS reads fiȝtene.]
Þat were strong men & hardie.
On a dern stede he dede hem hide
Þer as Gij schuld cum ride.
‘Lordinges’ þan seyd þe douk Otoun, [1095] [ Otoun: MS reads of toun. Occurs throughout, further instances are not noted.]
‘Vnderstond to mi resoun.
Mine men ȝe beþ & to me swore,
Omage ȝe schul me þerfore;
Mine hest ȝe schul fulfille
Þat ich ȝou bid wiþ gode wille.[1100]
Me to wreken ȝe schul go [f.114rb] [Image]
Of a treytour þat is mi fo
Þat is ycomen vp mi lond
Wer he þenkeþ to bring me an hond.
Gij of Warwike þat wounded is[1105]
Wiþ a swerd þurth þe bodi ywis.
On þe halidom ȝe schul me sweri
In þe forest of Pleyns þat is so miri
& þer ȝe schul ȝou al hide
Þer Gij of Warwike schal cum ride.[1110]
His bodi oliue ȝe schul me bring
& slen his feren eld & ȝing.
Y schal him in mi prisoun do,
Out no comeþ he neuer mo.
Wiþ sorwe & wo he schal þer ende,[1115]
Þennes no schal he neuer wende.’
‘Sir’ þai seyd ‘we schul go
& al þine hest we schul do.’
Þai dede hem arme swiþe wel
Boþe in iren & in stiel[1120]
Vnto þe pas þai wenten snelle
& þer þai houed swiþe stille
As Gij schuld cum sone.
No wist he nouȝt of þat tresone
No of þat sorwe neuer þe mo[1125]
Þat him was comand to,
For al his felawes þat gode were
Al he forles hem þere,
& his owhen liif he hadde forlore
No hadde goddes help ben bifore[1130]
Þurth þe traitours þat were her fon
Þat kept hem þere for to slon.
Now comeþ Gij soft rideing
Opon a mulet ambling.
His wounde him greueþ swiþe sore[1135]
& smert him euer þe lenger þe more.
In pais he wende for to wende,
Ac þe traitours Lombardes vnhende
Þe helmes þai seyen briȝt schine
Þe stedes nyen & togider whine.[1140]
‘God’ quod Gij ‘we ben ynome;
Al we be ded þurth tresone.’
Sir Gij of þat mulet aliȝt
& asked his stede, his armes briȝt
& seyd to his felawes snelle, [f.114va] [Image] [1145]
‘Dere we schul our deþ selle.
Our deþ is now al bispeke
Bot we ous manliche awreke.
Ich kepe him selue seþ þe it so is
& ichil while y liue, ywis,[1150]
So dere so y may ich wille
To þe treytours mi liif selle.’
¶ ‘Sir’ seyd Herhaud þo,
‘For godes loue hennes þou go.
For þine loue we schul her dye[1155]
& defende þis pas, y seye.
Leuer ous were her on be ded
Þan þou wer ded in our ferred.’
¶ Þan answerd Gij anonriȝt
As gode kniȝt & ful of miȝt,[1160]
‘ȝif ȝe dye jchil also;
Nil ich neuer fram ȝou go.
Wiþ þat come a Lombard ride
A modi man & ful of pride.
‘Gij’ quod he ‘ȝeld þe anon.[1165]
ȝe ben ded now euerichon;
To þe douke we han trewþe pliȝt
To bring him þi bodi þis niȝt.’
Wiþ þat ich word wel smert
Gij him smot vnto þe hert,[1170]
No spard he for no drede
Þat ded he feld him in þe mede.
‘Bi þe trewþe y schal mi leman ȝeld
Today no schaltow þi trewþe held.’
Anoþer Lombard he smot anon,[1175]
Þurth þe bodi þe swerd gan gon.
‘No þou, treytour, no schalt me lede
To þe douke þat is ful of qued.
To his presoun no worþ y for þe brouȝt.’
Herhaud smot anoþer & spared nouȝt;[1180]
Þurth þe bodi his swerd glod,
Ded he fel wiþouten abod.
¶ Þan com Torald, a gode kniȝt,
Swiþe gode & hardi in fiȝt,
Wiþ a Lombard þer he mett[1185]
& so wele his strok he sett
Þat his heued fram þe bodi flei
He ȝede him laweliche neye.
Wiþ þat come Vrri prikeinde – [f.114vb] [Image]
A better kniȝt no miȝt man finde –[1190]
A Lombard he smot þo
Þat þurth his bodi þe swerd gan go.
So he smot him, for soþ to say,
Þat ded he feld him jn þe way.
Seþ þe he seyd ‘þurth no toun[1195]
Schal ȝe ous lede to no prisoun.’
Þan miȝt men (fi) se fiȝt aginne,
Heuedes cleue vnto þe chinne.
Euerich þat day þat Gij oftoke
Sone anon his liif forsoke;[1200]
Sum he smot opon þe hode,
At þe girdel þe swerd astode,
& sum he smot þurth þe side
Þat miȝt he neuer go no ride.
Was þer non þat miȝt astond[1205]
Dint þat come of Gyes hond.
So miȝti strokes þer wer ȝiuen
Þat strong schaftes al todriuen.
No was þer non in þat ferrede
Þat of his liif him miȝt adrede.[1210]
¶ Wiþ þat come ride þerl Lambard
A sterne kniȝt & a Lombard.
Vrri anon he slouȝ þar.
It o[f]þouȝt Gij þo he was war,
Wiþ þerl Lambard he wald iusti[1215]
& awreke þe gode Vrri.
Wiþ swiche hete he smot him to
His armour no was him worþ a slo;
Þurthout his hert þe launce he bar
Adoun he feld him ded riȝt þar.[1220]
Wiþ þat him come forþ Hougoun
Þat was þe doukes neve Otoun;
A kniȝt he was of gret miȝt
Swiþe gode & hardi in fiȝt.
Torald he haþ aqueld. [1225] [ Torald: MS reads Torlard.]
Herhaud anon þat biheld.
When (her) Herhaud yseye þis,
Þat he doun fel & ded he is,
For his deþ he was sori;
Him to awreke he haþ gret hy.[1230]
Neuer ȝete so sori he no was
Toward Hugoun he made a ras; [Catchword: also alyoun þat.]
Als a lyoun he heyed him fast [f.115ra] [Image]
Þat his prey wold haue on hast.
Þurth þe body he him smot[1235]
Wiþ gret strengþe god-ytot
Þat biforn þe Lombardes alle
Of his hors ded he gan falle.
¶ When dan Gauter þat yseye
To Herhaud he stert wel an heye[1240]
& wiþ his swerd he smot him so
Þat his hauberk rent ato;
Þurth his bodi þat swerd ȝede,
Al þai wende þat he wer ded.
¶ When Gij seye Herhaud yfeld,[1245]
Tohewen his hauberk & his scheld,
& of his hors feld he was
As ded man lay on þe gras,
He seye þe blod þat cam him fro,
Wonder him þouȝt & seyd þo,[1250]
‘Þou, lording, to þe y sigge
His deþ þou schalt wel sore abigge.
So mot ich euer word speke
Mi maisters deþ ichil awreke
& for a couward ich held þe;[1255]
Þou slouȝ him & lete me be.
Bi him þat made sonne & mone
Þou schalt it wite swiþe son(n)e
Þat tow schalt it biȝelp nouȝt
Þat he is to deþ ybrouȝt.’[1260]
¶ Gij wiþ spors smot þe stede
As a man þat hadde nede
Þat fire vnder þe fet aros,
Nas þer non þat him agros.
Wiþ al his miȝt he smot him to,[1265]
Wel euen he clef his scheld þo;
Þurth his bodi þe swerd he þriste
Þo at arst fiȝt him liste.
In þe sond he feld him doun
& bede him Cristes malisoun[1270]
For þat he wald Herhaud slen
& lete him oliues ben.
¶ Now is Gij (is Gij) wel hard bifalle,
Ylorn he haþ his felawes alle;
So sori he is he not what to do,[1275]
He no haþ no wiȝt to bimen him to.
Bot þre Lombard oliue þer nere [f.115rb] [Image]
Opon Gij hastiliche þai were;
Þe tvay ben hole & sounde,
Þe þridde hadde þurth þe bodi a wounde.[1280]
¶ Gij þat on wiþ his swerd rauȝt,
His heued of fleye wiþ þat drauȝt.
Þan com prikeing dan Gwissard,
A duhtti kniȝt & no couward.
¶ ‘Gij’ quod he ‘ȝeld now þe,[1285]
It no may no noþer be.
On þe erþe liþe þi scheld todreued,
Nouȝt o pece is wiþ oþer bileued,
& þine helme is al tohewe,
Þine hauberk torent þat was newe,[1290]
& wounded þou art, þou miȝt wele se;
Long miȝt tow nouȝt oliues be.
Today ichil ȝeld þe to þe douk Otoun
& he þe schal do in his prisoun.’
Þan seyd Gij ‘Gwichard y nille.[1295]
To ȝeld me to þe is nouȝt mi wille
Þer whiles ichaue mi swerd ygrounde
& mi bodi wiþouten wounde.’
Gwichard smot Gij wiþ michel miȝt
Opon þe helme þat schon so briȝt[1300]
Þat a quarter out fleye;
Þe kniȝt was boþe queynt & sleye.
Opon his scholder þat swerd glod
Of his hauberk it tok a pece brod;
God saued Gij þat he nas ded[1305]
No for þat dint hadde no qued.
When Gij seye him so smite [ smite: i inserted superscript.]
He was wroþ, ȝe may wele wite.
Gwichard he wald fond to smite
Wiþ his swerd þat wold wele bite.[1310]
To him he smot swiþe smert;
Þurth þe bodi ful ney (þe) þe hert
Þat gode swerd þurt[h] him þrang.
Gwichard wald abide nouȝt lang,
He turned his stede & gan to fle[1315]
& Gij after him, bi mi leute.
Gode was þe hors þat Gwichard rod on,
& so fast his stede gan gon
Þat Gij miȝt him nouȝt atake;
Þerfore he gan sorwe make.[1320]
Gwichard fleye in his way [f.115va] [Image]
Toward Paui so swiþe he may.
Þe douk Otous fram hunting com
& wiþ him erles mani on.
A kniȝt he seye cum prikeing,[1325]
His armes torent, his woundes bledeing.
Þe douk Otous duelled a þrowe
What he hadde Gwichard yknowe.
Wele he semed man aferd
Þat hard tiding hadde yherd.[1330]
Wiþ þat is Gwichard to him come
Þe douke him oxed atte frome,
‘Gwichard, who haþ wretþed þe
& where hastow in bateyle be?
¶ Where is Gij? Is he nome?[1335]
Liues or deþ[es] do him come.’
‘Ichil ȝou sigge sikerly
So michel so y wot of Gij.
At a ford we him mett
& strongliche we him bisett,[1340]
Bot his bodi no nom we nouȝt
Ac al to deþ we ben ybrouȝt.
Bot icham passed as ȝe may se.’
‘Mi nevou Hougoun whar is he?’
Quod þe douk Otous ‘tel me raþe.’[1345]
‘Sir, in þe sond he liþe & þat is scaþe,
& þerl Lambard þat gode kniȝt
Ded he liþe in þat fiȝt.’
When douk Otus herd þat
Sori he was & no þing glad[1350]
Þat he haþ his folk forlore
Sorweful man he was þerfore.
Neyȝe his hert brast for mode,
For sorwe & ȝede ner wode
When he wist his folk yslawe[1355]
& þurth him brouȝt o[f] liue dawe.
Now haþ Gij miche sorwe made
For his felawes he is vnglade.
‘Allas’ quod Gij ‘felawes dere,
So wele doand kniȝtes ȝe were.[1360]
Al to iuel it fel to me
Felice þo y was sent to serue þe;
For þi loue Felice, þe feir may,
Þe flour of kniȝtes is sleyn þis day.
Ac for þou art a wiman [f.115vb] [Image] [1365]
Y no can nouȝt blame þe for þan,
For þe last no worþ y nouȝt
Þat wimen han to gronde ybrouȝt,
Ac alle oþer may bi me,
ȝif þai wil, ywarned be.[1370]
Allas, Herhaud, mi dere frende
What þou were curteys & hende.
Who schal me now help in fiȝt?
Neuer no was no better kniȝt.
In ich fiȝt wele halp þou me,[1375]
Ful iuel ichaue yȝolden it þe.
For me þou hast þi liif forgon,
Of þe no tit me neuer help non.
Hou mai ich now fram þe wende
Þat y no mai dye þe hende?[1380]
Acursed be þe Lombardes ichon
Þat slowen þe & lete me gon,
& þat þai hadde yslawe me
& leten þe oliue be.
Wharto lete þai me alon?’[1385]
Þus sir Gij biment his mone.
¶ ‘Allas, allas, Rohaut mi lord,
Þat y no hadde leued þi word;
Þan hadde y nouȝt ypassed þe se,
Ich hadde bileued at hom wiþ þe.[1390]
Þus yuel nere me nouȝt bifalle,
Y no hadde nouȝt lorn min felawes alle.
Whoso nil nouȝt do bi his faders red
Oft siþes it falleþ him qued.
For often ichaue herd it say,[1395]
& y meself it sigge may,
Who þat nil nouȝt leue his fader
He schel leue his steffader.’
What for his woundes þat strong bledeþ,
What for his sorwe þat he ledeþ,[1400]
Al for sorwe & for wo
Adoun he fel aswon þo.
When he of swoning vp stod
His feren he biheld wiþ drery mod.
Þan he lepe opon his stede,[1405]
To an ermitage he wold ride.
‘Ermite’ quod he ‘com wiþ me.
Þis hors of priis ȝiue y þe.
To bodis þou schalt in erþe graue [f.116ra] [Image]
Þat in þis forest ben yslawe.’[1410]
‘Bleþeliche, sir’ þan seyd he,
‘Wende bifore, y folwe þe.’
Þe bodis him scheweþ sir Gij,
Boþe Toraud & sir Vrry.
Seþ þe he lepe opon his stede,[1415]
Herhaud he wil wiþ him lede,
& so he dede sikerliche,
& seþ þe he was heled softliche;
Ac no for þan Gij wend wele þere
Þat Herhaud to deþ ywounded were.[1420]
¶ Now is Gij þennes yfare,
For his felawes he haþ gret care;
Herhaudes bodi wiþ him he bar,
For he nold it nouȝt lete þar.
He went him to an abbay[1425]
Þat was bisiden on þe way.
Wiþ þe gode abbot þer he mett
& pitouseliche he him gret,
‘Sir abbot, he þe haue & weld
Þat made man wex into eld,[1430]
& for þe loue of þe trinite
Ich þe bidde, par charite,
Þat þou þis bodi vnderfo
& feir biry þou it do.
Ful wele y schal ȝeld it þe,[1435]
& y mot haue hele & liues be.’
‘Who artow’ seyd þe abbot ‘telle it me.’
‘Bleþeliche’ seyd Gij ‘bi mi leute.
A kniȝt icham of fer cuntre.
At a pas asailed wer we[1440]
Wiþ strong þeues & mani outlawe
Þat mine feren haue yslawe,
& ich meself am iuel ywounde
Y wene y liue no stounde,
Ac ȝif y liue y ȝeld it þe[1445]
Þe trauail þat tow dost for me.’
Þabbot answerd þo,
‘Al þi wille it schal be do.’
Now goþ Gij sore desmaid,
His woundes him han iuel afreyd.[1450]
To an ermite he is ygo
Þat he was ere aqueynted to.
His woundes þer hele he dede [f.116rb] [Image]
Wiþouten noise in þat stede;
Miche he him dradde þe douk Otoun[1455]
So ful he was of tresoun.
¶ Þabot of whom ich er of teld
On Herhaud he hadde gret rewþe to biheld.
He dede beren his body
Into a chamber to vnarmy.[1460]
A monk of þe house biheld him,
Bodi & heued & ich a lim.
Þilke monk sorgien was,
Þe vertu he knewe of mani a gras.
Þe wounde he biheld stedefastliche[1465]
Þat in his body was so griseliche.
Bi þe wounde he seye, ywis,
Þat to þe deþ wounded he nis,
& seye þat he him hele miȝt,
& so he dede, ful wele ypliȝt.[1470]
Bi þe moneþ ende at eue
Gij was al hole & toke his leue;
From þe gode ermite he went his way
Toward Poile also þe way lay.
To þe king he js icome[1475]
Þat him bede mani warisone
& miche tresour of siluer & of gold;
Ac Gij þer of non haue no wold.
At ich plas & turnament
Gij hadde þe priis verrament.[1480]
Was þer non in al þat lond
Þat his dent miȝt astond.
Þer fore men loued him swiþe miche
& vnderfenge him bleþeliche.
Alle gode men he was leue & dere[1485]
& wiþ hem alle pleye fere.
Atte king he toke leue þo,
Into Sessoyne he is ygo.
¶ Now he is comen to þe douk Reyner
Þat him loued & held dere.[1490]
He him vnderfeng wiþ worþschipe
& dede him miche manschipe.
So long in þat cuntre bileued he is
Þat ouer alle oþer he is praised, ywis.
Gij him biþouȝt þo[1495]
Þat he hadde þer ynouȝ ydo
Into Jnglond he wald wende [f.116va] [Image]
For to speke wiþ his frende,
For it was ago fif ȝer
Þat he was last þer.[1500]
In lasse while þan þat was
Miȝt falle mani wonder cas.
Þurth cuntres has he hadde ywent,
Quens & cuntas him haþ ofsent,
Ac non of hem he nold sikerliche[1505]
Bot Felice þat he loued so miche.
What for his miȝt & his godenisse,
For his nortour & his largesse
Þer nis kniȝt þat so miche preysed be
Vnto Antiage þat riche cite.[1510]
¶ Gij him spedde niȝt & day
Into Jnglond he toke þe way.
Of Gij ichil lete now
& more after y schal tel ȝou.
Of Herhaud ichil telle a stounde[1515]
Þat wele is heled of his wounde.
When he feld him hole & fere
Of þabot he tok his leue þer;
His lord Gij he goþ secheing
Niȝt & day him for to finde.[1520]
Toward Jnglond he tok his way
Crist him saue so wele he may.
At a pinacle bi þe se
Gij seye a man of rewly ble
Go in pilgrims wede;[1525]
Þat was Herhaud, so God me spede.
Gij him cleped wel swiþe to him
& seyd ‘wen comestow, pilgrim?’
‘Sir’ he seyd ‘y com fram Lombardy,
Of hard y schaped for þe maistrie,[1530]
& lorn ichaue mi kinde lord;
Gode kniȝt he was & bold.
Bitraid ous hadde þe douk Otoun,
Haue he Cristes malisoun.
In þis wise ichil go[1535]
& bid for mi lord euer mo.’
‘Pilgrim say me trewelich
What hete þe man þou loued so miche?’
‘Gij of Warwike was his name,
A kniȝt he was wiþouten blame.’[1540]
Wiþ þat he gan to sike sore [f.116vb] [Image]
& wepe wiþ his eyȝen þerfore
He him miȝt no lenge atheld.
Gij him gan reweliche biheld
‘Gode man’ quod Gij ‘for þi leute,[1545]
What is þi name telle þou me?’
‘Herhaud of Ardern, bi mi leute.
Ich was yborn in þat cuntre.
Fif ȝer þus ichaue ygo
To seche Gij y loued so.’[1550]
When Gij herd Herhaud speke
Him þouȝt his hert wald tobreke
& in his armes he haþ him take
& gret joie wiþ him gan make;
Him he kist wel mani siþe[1555]
For ioie he wepe so was he bliþe.
‘Hayl, Herhaud, maister min.
No knowestow nouȝt norri þine?’
‘Certes’ quod Herhaud ‘sir, nay,
Ded he was for mani aday.’[1560]
He him answerd ‘icham Gij.’
‘Sir’ quod Herhaud ‘merci.’
Sone so Herhaud vnderstode
Þat it was Gij þat was so gode
For ioie he fel aswon anon;[1565]
Gij him in his armes nome.
Þer men miȝt se ioie make
Aiþer kniȝt for oþer sake.
Þer nas non þat it yseye
Þat he no wepe wiþ his eyȝe.[1570]
¶ Adoun þai sett hem boþe þare
& aiþer teld of oþeres care.
Sir Gij haþ Herhaud yteld
Hou he him ladde out of þe feld
For to birry him at on abbay[1575]
Þat was bisiden on þe way,
& seþ þen haþ Herhaud yteld
Hou his woundes weren yheled
& þat mani lond he hadde ouergo
To seche his lord wiþ sorwe & wo.[1580]
On hors þai lopen anon wiþ þis
Vnto a cite wiþ ioie & blis.
Þan dede Gij Herhaud baþey
& wiþ riche metes comforti.
From þennes þai went to þe douk Miloun [f.117ra] [Image] [1585]
& to him þai ben ful welcome.
Of her auentours þai teld him þere;
Hou þo was gode þat wicke was ere.
Þer þai maden her dueling
Long anouȝ to her likeing.[1590]
¶ At þe douke þai token leue þo
For into Jnglond þai wald go.
Þe douke hem wald lenger duelle
Ac it nas no þing in her wille
Þer to bileue wiþ him nomore[1595]
& þat biþouȝt þe douke wel sore.
Toward Seynt Omer he is ygo
Herhaud þe gode wiþ him also,
Toward þe se þai token her way
So swiþe her hors hem bere may.[1600]
When þai ben to toun ycome
Her in þai han sone ynome.
To a windowe sir Gij is go,
Into þe strete he loked þo.
A palmer he seȝe cominge[1605]
Messaisliche bi þe strete walkinge.
To him haþ ycleped sir Gij
& curteysliche gan him axi,
‘Weltow herberwe, for it is niȝt?
For ferþer go þou no miȝt.’[1610]
Þe pilgrim answerd Gij
‘Swete sir, gramerci.’
Gij doþ him þan bileue,
Ferþer he no may for it was eue,
& seþ þe he badde he schuld him say[1615]
Sum soþ tidinges of þe way,
ȝif he herd neye oþer fer
Speken of batayle & of wer.
‘Ichil þe telle’ he seyd ‘fot-hot
Of al þe wer þat y wot;[1620]
Þer of is mani man aferd,
Of stronger sorwe no haue ȝe herd.’
¶ Gij seyd to him ‘telle it me.’
‘For soþe, y graunt’ þan seyd he.
‘Of Almaine þe riche emperour[1625]
Reyner þat weldeþ þat anour
Þe douke of Lowayn he (he) haþ bisett,
His men slain & þat is vnnett;
For his nevou þat he slouȝ [f.117rb] [Image]
Wiþ wer he doþ him wo anouȝ.[1630]
Almost a ȝer it is ago
A turnament þer was ydo.
Þe douke Segyn was þer þo
Þat a[l] Lowayn bilongeþ to,
Wiþ his kniȝtes of his lond[1635]
Þider come her miȝt to fond.
When þe turnament com to þende
Þe douke Segyn þennes wald wende.
Wiþ þat come Sadok prikeing
Þe douke Segyn vndersecheing.[1640]
Wiþ þe douke he hadde gret envie
For he was gode kniȝt for þe maistrie.
Sadok was yhoten þat gome;
Out of Mirabel he was ycome,
Of turnamens he was praised þo.[1645]
His hauberk was of ydo
In sengle armes he was ydiȝt.
Ypreysed he was for a gode kniȝt.
To þe douke he seyd, " wende tow þe
Ones þou schalt justi wiþ me[1650]
As kniȝt þat wele alosed is
Sone it worþ sen ywis.’
Segyn seyd: "Sadok lete me be [MS: the names Segyn and Sadok are reversed.]
Wiþ gode loue y pray þe.
Wiþ þe to justi haue y no wille[1655]
For y þe loue & þat is skille
& to eken þat þou art mi lordes nevou
His soster sone so artow;
Vnworþschip it wer to me
ȝif y schuld iusti wiþ þe.[1660]
Ac go in & arme þe snelle
& y com anon y nil nouȝt duelle.’
Seyd Sadok "to arwe artow
When ones justi no darstow now.
Now ichil þe for a couward held[1665]
& for a kniȝt vnwrast in feld.
Bot þou wilt wiþ me justi
I(i)chil þe don a vilani[()]
Hennes forward war þe fro me
Þi dedliche fo ichil now be.’[1670]
Now Sadok smot to Segyn
& noþing he no spared him.
Sadok toforn haþ him smete [f.117va] [Image]
Of his scheld a quarter wiþ gret hete
Þat he him wounded þurth þat arm[1675]
& he him wreþed for þat harm;
So strong is þat strok yȝiue
Þat his helme is al todriue.
Þe douke him wreþ þed for þat smite
& was ful wroþ ȝe mow wele wite,[1680]
& þurth þe bodi he Sadok smot
Þat ded he fel doun fot-hot.
Wiþ þat he is out of þe place ywent
For þer was ȝiuen a sorweful dent.
Wiþ him he dede þat bodi lede[1685]
Vnto an abbay & biri it dede.
Þe douke Segin anonriȝt
Into þe cite of Arrascoun him haþ ydiȝt
Þerin he holt him soiourninge
For drede of þemperours cominge.[1690]
¶ & When þemperour herd þis cas,
Þat his nevou yslawe was,
Ouer al his lond his hest he bede
To com to him for grete nede.
& when þai al icomen beþ[1695]
Þe douke of Lowayin he sege deþ;
No wil he neuer þennes come
Er þe douke be ded or nome.’
When þe pilgrim hadde al yteld
Gij him herkened & biheld,[1700]
He stont & biþouȝt him ȝerne
Wheþer he forþ go oþer oȝain terne.
He seyd to Herhaud ‘what rede [ȝe]?
Sum gode conseyl ȝif þou me.
ȝif we forþ in our wai go[1705]
Oþer to þe douke him socour to do;
Þat tow me redest don y wille
Þi conseyl forsake y nille.’
¶ Þan seyd Herhaud ‘iwis,
Y ȝif conseyl & gode it is.[1710]
Hem to help men schul spede
Þat to help han gret nede,
For los & priis þou miȝt þer winne
& manschip to þe & al þi kinne.’
‘Sir Herhaud’ quod Gij þe gode,[1715]
‘Þilke lord þat died on rode
Þe blisse & saue þe, [f.117vb] [Image]
For gode conseyl ȝif[es]tow me.’
Gij him graiþed & made him ȝare
Into Loreynie for to fare[1720]
& wiþ him oþer fifti kniȝt
In feld þe best þat miȝt fiȝt.
Ycomen þai ben to Arascoun,
To þe douke þai ben welcom.
In þe cite þai han her in ytake,[1725]
Mani wer bliþe for her sake.
Gij bi þe morwe aros þo,
Riȝt to chirche he is ygo.
Matins & masse he herd þere
& seþ þe went hom wiþ his fere.[1730]
Bi þe strete he seye miche folk erne
Hemself to were þai most lerne.
Sir Gij to his ost sede:
‘What is al þis, so God þe rede?
Bele ost, y bidde say þou me [1735] [ ost: superscript with caret mark.]
What may al þis erning be.’
‘Sir, ichil þe telle’ þan seyd he,
‘No word nil ich lyȝe þe.
It is þemperours steward –
A gode kniȝt & no coward,[1740]
Anon to Speyne his better nis –
& wiþ him gret compeynie, ywis,
An hundred kniȝtes gode of ker,
Her better no may wepen ber.
Þe cite þai han bisett[1745]
ȝif ani kniȝt be out ymett
He no mai nouȝt passe vnynome
Oþer yslayn atte frome.’
Þan seyd Gij ‘lordinges kniȝt,
Oȝains hem we wil ous diȝt.’[1750]
Sone þai ben in þe way ydon
Þe steward seþ hem anon,
Þiderward he him diȝt
Also a kniȝt of gret miȝt.
His armes þan he ginneþ riȝt,[1755]
Oȝaines Gij he ritt apliȝt.
Anon togider þai gun smite
Aiþer spard oþer bot lite.
Gij þe steward so hard smot
Of his stede he feld him fot-hot,[1760]
Þan he smot him wiþ his swerd broun, [f.118ra] [Image]
A quarter of his helme adoun.
Þurth grete strengþe he him wan
& hom wiþ him ladde him þan.
When þe Almaines þat yseye,[1765]
Þat strong wer & of fiȝt sleye,
Her lord nomen in þat fiȝt,
Owai þai priked wiþ al her miȝt.
Þer was þirled mani a scheld,
Mani a kniȝt lay in þe feld.[1770]
Gij is oȝain went wel sone
& al his feren mid ydone.
Þe Lombardes þai leggen fast opon,
Nil þai spare neuer on.
When þe kniȝtes of þat cite[1775]
Þis dede alle yseyȝen he
To army he[m] wel fast hy goþ.
Gij wel gode socour hij doþ
& seþ þen þai went forþ ariȝt
& Gij socourd ful wele apliȝt.[1780]
Swiche strokes men miȝt þer se
Togider smiten þo kniȝtes fre;
Boþe wiþ launce & wiþ swerd
Þai ȝiuen mani strokes herd.
Þer miȝt men se stray þe steden,[1785]
So mani kniȝt cri & greden
Þat wer þurth þe bodi wounde
& ded fellen on þe grounde.
¶ Michel him peyned sir Gij
& Herhaud of Ardern sikerly;[1790]
Þis Almayns þai han ouercome,
Sum yslawe & sum ynome.
Þan sir Gij anonriȝt
Into þe cite he him diȝt
Boþe he & his ferred;[1795]
Þe prisouns wiþ hem þai lede.
Into þe cite þai ben ygon
& to her innes þai wenten ichon.
Proude þai ben alle & some
Þat þe almains ben ouercome.[1800]
When þe douke yherd þis tidinge
For blis his hert bigan to springe
Þat Gii of Warwike was ycome
& hadde þe steward ynome.
On his stede he lepe anon [f.118rb] [Image] [1805]
To Gyes in he is ygon.
‘Gij’ he seyd ‘þou art welcome
As of þe warld þe best gome.
Toforn al oþer ichaue desired þe. {1905}[At this point the lineation of Zupitza's edition commences from 1905. Zupitza's lineation is included here in brackets to the right of the text.]
God yþanked mot he be[1810]
Þat tow art come wiþ me to ben at nede
For now ich worþ þe more loued & drede
Al of mi dedelich fo
Þat al þis lond haþ brouȝt in wo. {1910}
Sire & lord now ichil make þe[1815]
Of mi court & of mi cite,
Mine castels & mine londes þerto eke,
& hennes forward y þe biseke
Þatow þe worþschipe vnderfo {1915}
& þine hest þerof þou do.[1820]
Bi þi conseyl ichil nov don
For to greue mi dedli fon.’
¶ Wel curteysliche answerd Gij
& seyd ‘sir, gramerci. {1920}
Bi mi miȝt ichil help þe[1825]
On ich stede where þat y be.’
Þe steward he ȝelt him þan swiþe
Of whom þat he was glad & bliþe;
Þurth him he wende acorded be {1925}
Of þemperour, his lord so fre.[1830]
Bitvene hem þai tolden tale
Of her gode frendes fale.
Now sent Gij his sondes about
ȝepe men wiþouten dout {1930}
To cuntres þat he haþ þurth went.[1835]
Grete frendes he haþ ofsent
Of barouns & of kniȝtes beld
Þe best þat miȝt wepen weld,
Bi hundred & bi þousinde, {1935}
Þat al wil ben his helpinde.[1840]
Þe castels & þe borwes þat lorn were
Þe douke oȝain wan hem þere
Þurth Gyes help & his ferrede
Þat wele wer helpeand at nede; {1940}
Bi him & bi his conseyl also[1845]
Þat þennes forward him treweþe wil do.
¶ When þemperour yherd þis,
Þat Gij to þe douke ycomen is,
& þat he haþ his men ouercome, {1945} [f.118va] [Image]
Yslawe, & his steward nome,[1850]
Wroþ & sori he is þerfore
Þat he haþ so his men forlore.
To his barouns þan he sede,
‘Lordinges, what schal me to rede? {1950}
Neuer no worþ ich glad no bliþe[1855]
Bot ich be awreken swiþe
Of Segyn & Gij þat is our fo
Þat mi folk haþ brouȝt in wo.’
‘Sir’ þe douk Paui sede, {1955}
‘Þerof þarf þe haue no drede.[1860]
Ar þe þridde day worþ to ende ybrouȝt
Þat play worþ wel dere abouȝt,
For of þine folk take we wille,
Þat gode ben & snelle, {1960}
Þe best doand at swiche nede[1865]
Wiþ scheld & spere armed on stede,
Of Sessoine þe douke Reyner
& þe constable Gaudiner,
& ich wiþ hem wil be {1965}
& gret ferred lede wiþ me.[1870]
To Arascoun we schul fare.
ȝif we þe douk finde þare,
Bot we þe treytours þe ȝelde
We wil þatow in prisoun ous held.’ {1970}
¶ Þemperour answerd ‘ywis,[1875]
A gode conseyl so is þis.
Sir douk Reyner þou schalt go
& þou constable also,
Also schal þe douke of Pauie {1975}
Wiþ his grete cheualrie,[1880]
To Arascoun þat gode cite;
Þe douke & Gij bring to me.
Whoso to me bring hem to
Mi loue he schal haue for euer mo.’ {1980}
‘Sir’ þai seyd ‘we willen go[1885]
Al þine hest for to do.’
Now hij han her way ynome,
To Arascoun þai ben ycome.
When þai of þe cite wist hem þare {1985}
Oȝaines hem þai diȝt hem ȝare;[1890]
Hastiliche to armes þai ben ygo,
Kniȝtes & squiers wiþ hem also.
When þai wer al redi [f.118vb] [Image]
& wele ydiȝt in her parti, {1990}
Þe douke cleped Herhaud him to[1895]
& swetely seyd to him þo,
‘Sir Herhaud, þou schalt afong
Four hundred kniȝtes wiȝt & strong.
Þou schalt ȝif þe first asaut {1995}
Opon þe Almaundes, sir Herhaud;[1900]
& þou, sir Gij, an hundred to þe
Of mi londe þat best be,
& ȝif þat Herhaud haue nede,
Him to help þatow spede, {2000}
& ichil com wiþouten delay[1905]
Wiþ al þe strengþe þat y may.
Togider wiþ hem we schul fiȝt
& hem ouercom þurth godes miȝt.
As ichaue seyd loke ȝe don {2005}
& goþ & asaileþ hem anon.’[1910]
Herhaud ginneþ hem to asaily; [ asaily: altered from asaile.]
Þat fiȝt he wil comenci.
Of þe douk Otus Herhaud is vndernome
In þe alderfirst scheltrome; {2010}
His fo he is euen forþ his miȝt[1915]
For he it haþ deserued þurth riȝt.
Herhaud him seyd ‘Otus of Pauie,
Vnderstond tow of þat felonie
Þat tow in Lombardi ous dedest {2015}
When þou mi lord bitreydest?[1920]
Wele we schul þerof awreke be
ȝif God wil er þe sonne doun te.’
¶ Otus answerd ‘þou lexst on me
& þat y schal sone kiþe þe; {2020}
Gret scorn is here, so y go,[1925]
Y warn þe icham þi fo.’
Togider þai smiten wiþ gode wille
Þat boþe of her hors adoun felle
& after þai drouȝ her swerdes newe, {2025}
Wiþ gret envie togider þai hewe.[1930]
Þe douk him wereþ miȝtliche,
Herhaud him asaileþ strongliche;
Þurth þe feld he goþ him driueinde
Wiþ þat com his folk prikeinde {2030}
& her lord rescuweþ þere[1935]
Herhaud to nim angwisous þai were. {Folio 118a has been torn out.}
Herha... [f.118(a)ra] [Image]
Wiþ þ...
Wiþ... {2035}
Herh...[1940]
Þan...
Non...
Miche...
To þe... {2040}
Mo þ...[1945]
Þat d...
Þe do...
He seye...
He seyd... {2045}
Lordin...[1950]
No se ȝ...
Þat d...
Þat ha...
ȝour f... {2050}
Bot ȝe of...[1955]
Mi loue...
Wiþ þat...
& to Herha...
Þer is her... {2055}
When he h...[1960]
Ac recouer...
For gret...
Herhaud...
Ac he him... {2060}
When Gij...[1965]
& out of...
His helme...
& his scheld...
& his hors... {2065}
In strong...[1970]
Wiþ loude...
To þe douk...
He rescuw...
Þe oþer þai... {2070}
Ac when...[1975]
Arnend he...
Wiþ loude...
To þe douk...
Þou fals wr... {2075}
Wel litel þou...[1980]

118Arb and 118(a)va torn off and the
first 11 lines of 118(a)Avb entirely gone.

[f.118(a)vb] [Image]
....n
...falle
....stiel[1985]
...ond
......d {2170}
...eyner
.......er
...es fere[1990]
...ori {2175}
|L1994[|19]
...broun[1995]
...on
.....non {2180}
.tede
...me[2000]
..me {2190}
..leinge
....riueinge
.....ode gome {2195}
.....e[2005]
....fro
...to do {2200}
..........E
.....d sket
.........oȝe[2010]
....me
...omen ichon
Or ichil telle þemperour [f.119ra] [Image]
ȝe han ydon him gret deshonour[2015]
When ȝe for a fewe men
Schul so sone oway flen. {2210}
Þai turned hem anonriȝt
& bigun a newe fiȝt.
Al togider þai gun smite[2020]
Semblant of loue þai kidde bot lite. [ semblant: MS reads slemblant.]
Heteliche to him smot Gyoun, {2215}
His scheld nas nouȝt worþ a botoun,
No his tvifold armes halp him nouȝt
Þat in Loreyn weren ywrouȝt.[2025]
Strokes hij togider delden, ywis,
On helmes & on briȝt scheldes; {2220}
So hard þai striken hem bitvene
Þat gode stones fallen þer ben.
Aiþer semed a lyoun of mode[2030]
So hard þai smiten wiþ swordes gode.
Wiþ him smot þe douke Segyn {2225}
No lenge miȝt he wiþhelden him;
Togider þai smiten hard & wel
Wiþ brondes wele wrouȝt of stiel.[2035]
Wiþ þat come prikeand Tirri
Of Gurmoise þerl sone Aubri; {2230}
Wel sternliche he smitt a kniȝt
Þat ded he fel anonriȝt.
So sone so douke Segyn seþ þis[2040]
Wel wroþ he was wiþ him, ywis,
Wroþlich he seyd to Gij, {2235}
‘Here is gret scorn sikerly
When þat olepi kniȝt
Schal ous do so michel vnriȝt[2045]
& þan wiþ his saut owai flen.’
Gij answerd ‘turn we oȝen {2240}
& hardiliche aseyl we hem.
Anon turn we oȝen.’
Þe Almauns þai go to asayl[2050]
Wiþ gret strengþe in batayl;
Sorweful of hem was þe meteinge {2245}
Wiþ brondes of stiel wele kerueinge.
Anon þe Almaundes gin flen
& þe oþer turnen oȝen.[2055]
Þe douk Segyn oȝain come,
Riȝt to his cite þe way he nome, {2250}
& Gij afterward wiþ him is go {2255} [f.119rb] [Image]
& eke his feren also.
Wiþ hem þai habben her prisouns,[2060]
Doukes, erls & barouns;
Wel glad & bliþe þan ben he
& al þat weren in þat cite. {2260}
To her innes þai ben ygon,
Wel glad ben hij euerichon.[2065]
Þe douke goþ into þe tour,
His prisouns he doþ gret anour,
Þerl Reyner of Sessoyne {2265}
& þerl Gaudiner of Coloyne,
& wiþ hem þe stewerd[2070]
Þat gode kniȝt was & wel yherd.
Wiþ him eten he hem dede
& more þan himself hem worþschipede. {2270}
Þe douke his soster cleped him to,
Þe fairest maiden þat miȝt go.[2075]
‘Þe prisouns þou nim to þe
In þi chamber wiþ þe to be.
In þi chaumber kepes me {2275}
Þis gentil kniȝtes hende & fre,
& ouer alle oþer þe douke Reyner,[2080]
In hert he is me lef & dere.’
‘Sir’ sche seyd ‘ichil so;
Hem to kepe mi miȝt y do.’ {2280}
¶ Ac þe riche emperour fre
Of þis comberment nist he.[2085]
Wiþ a kniȝt he pleyd atte ches
Of Hungri þat he loued, ywis.
Wiþ þat com Tirri prikeinge {2285}
In his fest his brond bereinge.
His hauberk was al totore[2090]
& his nasel avaled bifore.
Þurth his bodi þe blod ran,
Tirri made no semblaunt of þan. {2290}
His strong scheld al tohewen was
Nouȝt a fot hole of þer nas.[2095]
¶ ‘Emperour’ he seyd ‘vnderstond to me.
Hard tidinges may y telle þe
Of þine barouns þat ynome be; {2295}
No schal þai neuer com to þe.
Sum be ded & brouȝt to grounde,[2100]
& sum be nomen & sum be wounde.
Ynomen is þe douk Reyner [f.119va] [Image]
& þe constable Gaudiner. {2300}
Þe douke of Pauie wounded is
Wiþ a swerd þurth þe bodi, ywis;[2105]
Of þe deþ he drat him sore,
Hele no worþ him neuer more.’
When þemperour herd þo {2305}
What þerl Tirri seyd him to
Wel sori he was & wroþ þerfore[2110]
Þat neyȝe he haþ his witt forlore.
Ysworn he haþ a wel gret oþ
Bi God almiȝti, al for soþ, {2310}
Þat neuer bliþe no worþ he
Al what þat cite ynomen be,[2115]
& þat þe traitours ben yslawe
Oþer forbrent oþer yflawe.
¶ His heste he dede cri anon {2315}
His men to arme hem euerichon;
His scheltromes anon he diȝt[2120]
& redi þai ben al to fiȝt.
Þe feldes þai ben sone ouergon
Þat were þe tounes bisiden on {2320}
Al what hij comen to þe cite.
Gaier þan forþ ȝede he[2125]
Wiþ fif hundred armed kniȝtes,
Hardi & wele doand in fiȝtes.
Þo þat weren in þe cite {2325}
On þe Almaynes bihelden he
& seye þe cuntres & al þe feldes[2130]
Wiþ white hauberkes & wiþ scheldes.
Þe douke him com forþ wiþ þat,
Wele y-armed on stede he sat. {2330}
‘Gij’ he seyd ‘what schal we do?
ȝif we go & smite hem to[2135]
Or we gon our walles to were
Þat þe Almayns ous nouȝt dere?’
Þan spac sir Gij fot-hot, {2335}
‘Wele schaltow do, for soþe y wot.
Nim we now an hundred kniȝtes[2140]
& go asayl hem anonriȝtes.
Bifor þe cite y se stond here
Gaier þemperour sone Reyner {2340}
& fif hund(e)red kniȝtes in her ferred,
Wele y-armed on heye stede.[2145]
Biforn her ost þei ben ycomen [f.119vb] [Image]
Angwisous ous to nimen,
& ȝif we habbeþ gret nede {2345}
Oȝainward we mai ous spede.’
Anon þai nomen an hundred kniȝtes[2150]
Hardi & of most miȝtes;
Þai wenten out of þat cite
Wel modi men weren he. {2350}
Wiþ þe Almauns þai wil iusti,
Nil hij nouȝt wiþ hem acordi;[2155]
Togider þai smiten hard & swiþe
Of hors þai fellen mani a siþe.
¶ Sir Gij him smot to Gaier {2355}
& feld him doun of his destrer
& seþ þen he wan him in þat fiȝt;[2160]
Þe oþer oway flowen anonriȝt.
Toward þe ost þai flowen snelle,
Þe hete was swiþe strong wiþalle. {2360}
Mani þai nomen & bounden fast
& ladde into þe cite on hast.[2165]
When þai of þe ost yseye þis
Þat her folk ouercomen is
& þat was in þat fiȝt ynome {2365}
Gaier þat was þemperour sone,
Þan hastiliche þe ost ichon[2170]
Opon Segyn þat smiten anon.
Þer bigan a newe fiȝt
Wharþurth died mani a kniȝt. {2370}
On aiþer side mani on dyed, ywis,
Ac þe douke wers bifallen is,[2175]
For miche of his folk he les
Al auntreousliche þer he comen wes.
Þurth pride þan ferd he {2375}
Fram his ost & fram his cite.
Wele hij deden no þe les[2180]
He & Gij þat miȝti wes
& wiþ hem Herhaud of Arderne,
To hem þai smiten swiþe ȝern(n)e. {2380}
¶ Wiþ þat com prikeing Tirri
Þat gode kniȝt was & hardi;[2185]
To þe douk Segyn he smot
& of his hors feld him fot-hot,
Ac þe douk anon vp stert {2385}
As he þat was agremed in hert
& out he drouȝ his swerd of stiel [f.120ra] [Image] [2190]
& defended him swiþe wel.
Whom þat he rauȝt, ded he fel;
Strong kniȝt he was hardi & snel, {2390}
Þer he defended him asperliche.
Þe Almaunis him asayl hastiliche,[2195]
Yloken he was hem amidwerd,
To him þai launced boþe spere & swerd.
In mani stede wounded is he {2395}
Wele he werþe him þei he sailed be.
When Gij seye þe douke of fot[2200]
For sorwe no wist he no bot.
Wel hardiliche he smot a kniȝt
Þat ded he feld him anonriȝt. {2400}
His swerd of stiel he haþ vp pliȝt
& smot so anoþer kniȝt[2205]
Þat asailed þe douke Segin
Þat heued sone binam him,
& seþ þe he sett him his stede opon, {2405}
& fast hij asailed her fon;
Þennes nil hij neuer gon[2210]
Er hij han slawe mani on. {2410}
¶ ‘Sir douk’ seyd Gyoun,
‘Vnderstond to mi resoun.
To þe cite oȝain we wil go.
Ful wele we may it now do.[2215]
A þousand þer beþ of armed kniȝtes {2415}
Þat sone wiþ ous wil holde fiȝtes;
& we here lenger duelle
For foles we schullen ous telle.’
Into her cite þai ben ygon,[2220]
Togider þai asembled hem ichon {2420}
& at þe alours þai defended hem
& abiden bataile of her fomen.
¶ When þemperour yherd þis
Þat his sone ynomen is[2225]
Wiþ loude steuen þan hete he {2425}
His folk asayl þat cite
Wiþ schot of bowe & alblast,
Wiþ swerdes speres schete & cast,
Wiþ laddren steye þat couþe best;[2230]
Þe cite to asail haue þai no rest {2430}
Wiþ stones & mangunels fast to cast
Þe fair walles al todast.
& hij wiþin fended hem, wele apliȝt, [f.120rb] [Image]
& hij wiþouten ȝeld hem gret fiȝt.[2235]
Þe Almayns þat ilke day þere {2435}
Wiþ gret sorwe yslawe were.
Strongliche þai asail þe cite
Ac þat day noþing no speden he;
At euen þai wiþdrouȝ hem oȝan.[2240]
Þemperour was þerfore a sori man {2440}
Þat he no miȝt of þat cite spede
No awreken him for no nede.
Þe cite ich day what niȝt
Þai asailed wiþ gret miȝt;[2245]
Ac þe douk, Gij & Herhaud {2445}
Oft hem makeþ mani asaut
& miche of his folk þan slouȝ hij
Wharfore he was in hert sori.
Lordinges listeneþ to me now,[2250]
Of a tresoun ichil telle ȝou. {2450}
It was opon a somers day
Þemperour hadde eten soþ to say,
His huntes he ofsent þo [ þo: altered from so.]
& seyd he wald on hunting go[2255]
Into þe forest erlike, {2455}
Þat þe douk Segyn nouȝt no wite
No his kniȝtes neuer þe mo.
Þat him herd a spie þo
Þat out of þat ost dede him fast,[2260]
To þe douke Segyn he com an hast. {2460}
¶ Þe douke Segyn oxed him snelle
What newe tidinges he couþe telle.
‘Sir’ quod [he] ‘herken to me.
Gode tidinges y telle þe,[2265]
Þat þemperour sikerliche {2465}
Wille huntte tomorwe arliche
In his forest priueliche
Wiþ litel folk & nouȝt wiþ miche,
Wiþ also litel als he may.[2270]
Y no gabbe nouȝt, for soþe to say.’ {2470}
Þan he hadde seyde þus to Segyn
‘Bi seyn Richer, leue frende mine’
Seyd þe douke ‘& it so be
An hundred bessauns ȝif y þe.’[2275]
Þe spie seyd: ‘soþe y sigge; {2475}
My bodi þerfore in ostage y legge.’
¶ Þan haþ þe douk ycleped Gij [f.120va] [Image]
& Herhaud of Arderne sikerlij,
Dan Belin & dan Gauter[2280]
& þe þridde dan Holdimer {2480}
& Joceran þat was of Speyne –
Was non wiser into Almayne
A gode conseyl forto ȝiue,
Þerfore he was michel to leue.[2285]
‘Lordinges’ he seyd ‘what rede ȝe {2485}
Seþ þe þat ȝe be sworn to me?
What is ous best for to done
Of our king Reyner? Telle me sone.’
Gij to him answerd snelle,[2290]
‘Þe best rede ichil þe telle. {2490}
Kniȝtes we schul han a þousinde
& bi þe morwe ȝif we him finde
Ichil him bidde wiþ hert fre
Þat he wil acord wiþ þe[2295]
& þat he cum wiþ þe at ete; {2495}
& ȝif he seyþ ouȝt wiþ hete
Þat he it wil graunt for no þing,
Hider we schul bring þe king.
& þou schalt here bileue now[2300]
Opon þi lord go no schaltow. {2500}
Þi palays þou schalt grayþi
& riche metes do diȝt redi.’
Þe douk answerd anonriȝt:
‘So help me God ful of miȝt[2305]
Also þou wilt þou schalt do.’ {2505}
Wiþ þat is Gij þennes ygo,
Into þe way he dede him anon
Þer þemperour schuld forþ gon.
Þemperour bi þe morwe aros,[2310]
Into his forest he rideþ & gos. {2510}
A gret bore þai founden, ywis,
& hij vncopled her houndis.
Her hornes þai blewe loude & stille
Her houndes vrn wiþ gode wille.[2315]
¶ Þemperour biheld sone wiþ þan {2515}
Vnto a diche þat water in ran.
He seyd ‘ytreyst we ben here
Sir Tirri mi frende dere.
No sestow hou þat ȝonder ride [2320] [ hou: MS reads ȝou.]
Kniȝtes? Þai ben of gret pride. {2520}
On ich halue bisett we beþ; [f.120vb] [Image]
Nis her nouȝt bot þe deþ.
Felawes þai be þe douke Segyn,
Whom þat God ȝif iuel fin.[2325]
Gij of Warwike þer y sey {2525}
Yarmed on his stede an hey.’
‘Sir emperour’ quod Tirri anon,
‘For þe rode loue þat God was on don
Ich þe bidde hennes go now[2330]
For godes loue no lenge bileue þou {2530}
& ichil here bileuen ay
& ȝif ich Gij mete may
Wiþ meschaunce y schal him gret
& al his feren þat y mete.[2335]
Ar ich be ded or nomen be {2535}
Þou schalt passe al þis cuntre.’
Þemperour seyd ‘for soþe y nille.
Here ichil wiþ ȝou duelle.’
Hastiliche þai armed hem anon[2340]
& lepe her gode stedes opon. {2540}
¶ Wiþ þat come Gij prikeinde
& a smal tvige in his hond bereinde
Of oliue in token of pais.
To þemperour he grad as curteys[2345]
& seyd: ‘God þat alle þing may se {2545}
Sir emperour so loke þe,
Þiselue & al þi meyne
Þat in place wiþ þe be.
Þe douke Segyn þe sent bi me[2350]
Þat trewþe & loue he wil to þe {2550}
& biddeþ þe als his lord dere,
Þeselue & alle þine fere
Þat wiþ þe ben togider here,
Þat ȝe come to him to þe dinere,[2355]
& his gode cite he wil þe ȝelde {2555}
Wiþ al his castels he haþ in welde,
& ȝif he haue don oȝain skille
He wille amende it to þi wille.’
¶ When þemperour herd him speke so[2360]
& so gret loue bede him to {2560}
Þe king of Hongrie he cleped þo
& sir Tirri he dede also.
‘Lordinges’ he seyd ‘what schal we do?
Rede ȝe þat we þider go?’[2365]
{Leaf lost before f.121 leaving only 12 capitals. Omitted.}
[stub f.120r_a] [Image]
[stub f.120v_a] [Image]
‘Sir emperour wat hastow do?
Is þe acord made bitven ȝou to?
Astow þe douke Segyn ykist,
Þe strong traitour & vnwrest? {2720}
& haþ forȝif al in loue[2370]
Sadok deþ þi suster sone?
Þat þe wil dred say me on
Þe misdo þai willen ichon
When her wretþe & her gilt {2725}
So liȝtliche forȝif þou wilt.[2375]
Hennes forward wil þe dred non
Schame anouȝ þai wil þe don,
& ȝif þou haddest þe douk anhong
In þi lond men wil þe dred strong, {2730}
& þan afterward þe treytour Gij[2380]
Þat neuer dede ous bot vilayni.
Ac now þai worþ wiþ þe priue
& better þan alle we.
& topen al þis ȝif Gij wer ded {2735}
We miȝten haue þe lesse dred.’[2385]
When Gij herd Otus speke so
Als a wilde bore he lepe him to.
‘Otus’ quaþ Gij ‘þou schalt daye
When þou of tresoun clepes ous baye {2740}
Boþe Segyn & eke me;[2390]
Þou it schal abie, bi mi leute.’
Him he smot wiþ his fest
Amide þe teþ riȝt al in ernest.
Ac þe barouns bitvene hem goþ, {2745}
& þemperour swore his oþ[2395]
ȝif ani þer were so hardy
Þat dede oþer schame oþer vilanie,
Bren men him scholde oþer tohewe,
Oþer al tohewe at wordes fewe. {2750}
Þan doþ þai crie þurth þe cuntraye[2400]
Þat of þo wordes no man schuld saye,
& ȝif þer doþ wiþouten no
Hond oþer fot he schal forgo.
¶ Þan seyd þemperour on þis maner {2755}
To þe douke Segyn oforn hem þer,[2405]
‘Sir douke, ichil loue þe;
Wiif þou schalt haue bi me.
A feir soster ich haue in mi bour
Ichil þe ȝif’ quaþ þemperour. {2760}
Erneborwe hat þat may. [f.121rb] [Image] [2410]
Anon he hir spoused þat day.
Þe bridale was holden wiþ game, y pliȝt,
Neuer ȝet nas non fairer in siȝt.
He loued hir & worþschiped swiþe, {2765}
To his cite he ladde hir siþe;[2415]
He & Ernneborwe his leuedi
Þer hij wold soiornij
Anon after þe tende day
Of her soiourn soþe to say {2770}
¶ Gij is to þe douke ygo[2420]
& at him asked leue þo.
‘Sir douk’ he seyd ‘gon ichille,
In þis cuntre bileue y nille.
In wer ich haue serued þe {2775}
ȝif þou haue euer eft nede to me[2425]
After me þou sende sikerliche
& ich com to þe hastiliche.’
‘Sir’ quaþ þe douk ‘gramerci.
ȝete haue y nouȝt serued þe sir Gij. {2780}
Here ich bid þe bileue wiþ me,[2430]
Half mine castels & half mi cite,
Þe worþschip of Lowayn haluendel,
Ich it þe graunt Gij fair & wel.’
Gij tok his leue, oway went he, {2785}
Þe douke wepe sore & hadde pite.[2435]
Þemperour þat was so fre
Wiþ him Gij þan ladde he.
Castels him bede & cites,
Gret worþschip & riche fes, {2790}
Ac he þerof nold afo[2440]
For noþing þat he miȝt do.
To Almayn went ben he
To Espire þat riche cite.
¶ Þemperour worþschiped Gij þe fre {2795}
A while wiþ him bileft he.[2445]
To pleyn hem þai went bi riuer
Þat of wilde foule ful were
To her wille an hunting hij gos
To chace þe hert & þe ros. {2800}
On a day as he cam fram hunting[2450]
A dromond he seye ariueing.
Þiderward sir Gij is ygon
& gret þe marchandes euerichon.
‘Lordinges whennes com ȝe {2805} [f.121va] [Image]
Þat in þis riuer ariued be?[2455]
Bi ȝour semblant y se, ywisse,
Þat ȝe ledde gret richesse.’
Among hem alle þer spac on
Þat couþe speke for hem euerichon, {2810}
‘Fram Costentine-þe-noble ycomen we be.[2460]
Lond of peys þan seche we.
Marchandes we ben of þat lond
& out ydriuen wiþ michel wrong,
Out of Coyne þe riche soudan; {2815}
So prout he is & of so gret boban[2465]
Þat wiþ xv heþen kinges
& þritti emeraus wiþouten lesinges
¶ In Costentyn þe noble emperour Ernis
Þai han strongliche bisett, ywis. {2820}
Castel no cite nis him non bileued[2470]
Þat altogider þai han todreued
& forbrant & strued, ywis.
Into Costentyn flowen he is
Þer he werþ him oȝaines his fon {2825}
Þat secheþ on him for to slon.[2475]
Þritti mile men may riden & gon
Ne schal men finde man non,
& we ben aschaped vnneþe
Þat we no were tohewen to deþe. {2830}
Ycomen we ben into þis cuntre,[2480]
Fowe & griis anouȝ lade we,
Gold & siluer & riche stones
Þat vertu bere mani for þe nones,
Gode cloþes of sikelatoun & alisaundrinis, {2835}
Peloure of matre & pu[r]per & biis[2485]
To ȝour wille as ȝe may se;
Swiche be þe tidinges of þat cuntre.’
Gij answerd: ‘mi frende fre,
For ȝour tidinges blisced ȝe be; {2840}
God for his name seuene[2490]
He bring ȝou to gode heuene.’
When þe marchaundes hadde seyd as y say
Gij bitauȝt hem God & gode day.
Vnto his in he is ygo {2845}
& Herhaud he cleped anon him to.[2495]
‘Herhaud, mi frende, wille we gon.
At þemperour take we leue anon,
Into Costentyn-noble ichil go [f.121vb] [Image]
To help þemperour of his wo {2850}
Þat wiþ þe soudan biseged is he,[2500]
So siggeþ men of þat cuntre,
Þat lond destrud & men aqueld
& cristendom þai han michel afeld.’
Herhaud answerd ‘y graunt it be {2855}
Miche worþschipe it worþ to þe.’[2505]
At þemperour þai toke leue to go
& he hem graunted vnneþe þo.
Anouȝ he bedeþ hem castels & tours,
Riche cites, halles & bours. {2860}
Sir Gij toke an hundred of his kniȝtes,[2510]
Strongest & best in fiȝtes
Þat he miȝt in Almayne finde,
Mest ypreised & best doinde.
Now þai ben to schippe ywent, {2865}
Gode winde God haþ hem lent,[2515]
To Costentyn-noble þai ben ycome
& in þe cite her in ynome.
Ac when þemperour wist atte frome
Þat Gij of Warwike was ycome {2870}
Tvay erls he dede after him go[2520]
& loueliche he bad hem com him to.
& sir Gij him goþ to þemperour fre.
‘Welcome, sir Gij’ þan seyd he,
‘Of þine help gret nede haue we. {2875}
Michel ich haue herd speke of þe.[2525]
Mine men ben sleyn in þis tide
& mi lond destrud in ich a side;
Al bot þis ich selue cite
Destrud & brent hauen he. {2880}
Fourti þousand þai slowe on a day[2530]
Of mine men as ich ȝou telle may.
Mine men þai slowe, mi sone also,
Wharfore, leue frende, y bede þe to,
ȝif þou miȝt, me of hem wreke {2885}
& þe felouns out of mi lond do reke;[2535]
Mine feyr douhter þou schalt habbe
& half mi lond, wiþouten gabbe.’
Þan answerd anon sir Gij,
‘Sir’ he seyd ‘gramercij. {2890}
& y þe sigge, bi mi leute,[2540]
Þat treweliche ichil serue þe
Al þe while þat ich wiþ þe be; [f.122ra] [Image]
Þerof, sir, þou miȝt leue me.’
At þemperour he toke leue anon,
Vnto his in he gan to gon.[2545]
Noyse & cri he herd in þat cite,
He gan oxy what it miȝt be;
He hem oxed what it were
& what was al þat noise þere.
So mani kniȝtes he seye to armes go,[2550]
So mani seriaunce steye to kernels þo.
‘Sir’ quaþ a burieys ‘bi seyn Martin,
It beþ þe liþer Sarraȝin.
It is þe amiral Costdram,
Þe nevou of þe riche soudan.[2555]
So strong he is & of so gret miȝt
In world y wene no better kniȝt,
For þer nis man no kniȝt non
Þat wiþ wretþe dar loken him on.
His armes alle avenimed beþ,[2560]
Þat venim is strong so þe deþ.
In þis world [n]is man þat he take miȝt
Þat he [ne] schuld dye anonriȝt.
Þat oþer day he dede ous sorwe anouȝ
Of þemperour sone þat he slouȝ[2565]
Þat was so gode & stalworþ kniȝt [ was: copied at the end of the line, its correct position marked.]
Þat opon hem had ȝeuen mani fiȝt.
In þis cite so gode kniȝt was non
Þat wiþ wretþe durst loke him on.
Comen he is wiþ grete cheualrie [2570] [ cheualrie: MS reads cleualrie.]
& wiþ him þe riche king of Turkye
Wiþ an hundred Turkes strong;
Beþ non better in non lond.’
¶ & When sir Gij herd þis
Þat his ost seyd to him, ywis,[2575]
To his felawes he seyd anon,
‘To armes’ he seyd, ‘euerichon.
Þe Sarraȝins we willen agast.
For Godes loue smiteþ on fast.’
Hastiliche y-armed hij beþ,[2580]
Opon her stedes as foule þai fleþ.
Forþ þai went & on hem smite
Wiþ her swerdes þat wil wel bite.
Gij to þe amiral smot so
Scheld no hauberk nas him worþ a slo;[2585]
Þurth þe body he ȝaf him wounde [f.122rb] [Image]
& dede he feld him on þe grounde.
Sir Gij his gode swerd out drouȝ,
Þat heued fram þe bodi he slouȝ.
To þemperour he it haþ ysent[2590]
Þat wel glad was of þat present.
¶ Herhaud smot þe king of Turkie –
Was non feller [i]nto Surrie –
Þurth þe bodi he him smot,
Ded he feld him doun fot-hot.[2595]
Wiþ þat com Tebaud prikeinde,
In Fraunce ybore, a kniȝt wel kinde,
Wiþ swiche strengþe he smot Helmadan
Al was nouȝt worþ he hadde opan.
Þurth his bodi þe launce glod,[2600]
Ded he fel wiþouten abod.
Gauter come prikeing anonriȝt,
Of Almayne a wel gode kniȝt.
Heteliche he smot Redmadan –
ȝe no haue herd speke of no swiche man.[2605]
Þe bodi atvo he haþ todeled
Þat he fel doun in þe feld.
Wiþ þat come sir Morgadour
Þat was steward wiþ þemperour.
Kniȝt he was gode & hardi[2610]
Ac traitour he was ful of envie.
He smot vnto a Sarraȝin;
No halp him nouȝt his Apolin.
Now þai smitte togider comonliche
& fiȝt þai agin ardiliche.[2615]
Þer men miȝt se Gij smite
& þe Sarraȝins heuedes of strike
& wiþ him Herhaud also;
Boþe þai strengþed hem wele to do,
Þe Sarraȝins þai strengþed hem for to sle,[2620]
To hewen & iuel to bise.
Þe Sarraȝins hem ȝeld gret fiȝt,
For strong þai ben & of gret miȝt.
Wiþ þat come Esclandar prikeinde,
A Sarraȝin & of foule kinde,[2625]
Þe kinges sone of Birrie,
Strong he was for þe maistrie.
Dan Tebaud he felled þo,
Þurth þe bodi he dede þe launce go,
& seþ þe he slouȝ a Freyns kniȝt, [f.122va] [Image] [2630]
In Bleyues he was born ariȝt.
Romiraunt com forþ snelle,
A Sarraȝin, a strong wiþ elle,
Yslawe he haþ dan Guinman,
A strong kniȝt he was & an Aleman.[2635]
Wiþ þat come forþ an amireld,
A Sarraȝin of wicked erd,
Dan Gauter he haþ yslawe
& gode Gilmin his felawe.
When Herhaud þat ofseye þo[2640]
In his hert him was ful wo;
An amiral he smot so
Ded he feld him an hast þo,
& mani anoþer he haþ aqueld
& adoun feld in þe feld.[2645]
Sone so Esclandar yseye þis
To awreke þe amiral lef him is;
To Herhaud he smot heteliche
& he him mett hardiliche.
Heteliche þai smiten togider þo[2650]
Þat of her hors þai fellen bo.
Seþ þen þai drouȝ her brondes of stiel
& smiten togider hard & wel,
Tohewe hauberk & scheldes also;
Gode bodis þai ben boþe to.[2655]
Of her helmes þe flours gan fle
So heteliche togider smiten he.
Herhaud goþ him driueand fast
His heued to smiten of on hast.
Ac so gret socour him com þer,[2660]
An hundred Turkes & her pouer.
Herhaud þai gin alle asaile
& neye hadde slain him in þat bataile
No hadde Gij þat yseye þat was sorij; [ Gij inserted superscript with caret mark.]
Hastiliche he com him to socourey.[2665]
His gode brond þan drouȝ he,
Þe heued of a Sarraȝin he dede of fle,
& anoþer he dede also,
Þe þridde to deþ he dede do.
Herhaud he socourd in þat nede[2670]
& dede him lepe opon his stede.
Þe Sarraȝins anon gun þai mete;
Mani on þer her liif þai lete,
Mani on þer dyed in aiþer side, [f.122vb] [Image]
Ac þe Sarraȝins wers gan bitide.[2675]
Sir Gij & alle his feren
Þe Griffouns þat gode weren
Han ouercomen & aqueld;
Tohewen þai leyen in þe feld.
Toward her ost þai ben fleinge[2680]
& Gij hem after fast folweinge.
Ar hij þe doun were ouergon
Yslawe hij ben & tohewen ichon.
Esclandar is oway fleinde
Ouer þe dounes fast erninde[2685]
& al tobroken his scheld is,
His helme al todassched, ywis.
Gij it ofþouȝt when he it seye
Þat he so liȝteliche oway fleye.
‘Esclandar’ seyd Gij ‘wende oȝain to me[2690]
& for soþe al siker þou be.
Drede þe of no noþer þan of me;
Ones to iusti ich oxi of þe.’
Esclandar seyd ‘artow Gij?
Ich þe defende sikerly.[2695]
Bi Mahoun þat ich leue opon
Neuer no schal ich oway gon
No neuer schal y bliþe be
Til ich þat heued binim þe.
Bihoten ich it haue a maiden of pris,[2700]
Þe soudans douhter þat wel fair is.’
Her steden þai turned snelle
& togider þai smiten wiþ gode wille.
Esclandar first smot Gij
Þurth þe scheld as kniȝt hardi.[2705]
Gij smot him anonriȝt;
Scheld no hauberk halp him no wiȝt.
He smot him þurth at þat chaunce,
Þurth þe bodi wiþ his launce.
Esclandar fleye forþ a wel gode pas,[2710]
Sir Gij oftoke him nouȝt, þerfor wo him was.
To his felawes he is ygo,
Riȝt to þe cite he ȝede him þo.
Þe Sarraȝins were ouercome,
Þerfore þai were bliþe all & some.[2715]
Þemperour ofsent Gij him to
& miche honour he haþ him do.
‘Gij’ quaþ he ‘þou art me dere, [f.123ra] [Image]
Þou schalt bileue wiþ me here.
Mi feir douhter þat is of pris[2720]
Ichil þe ȝiue to spouse, ywis.
Þou schalt ben emperour after me;
Þou art a kniȝt of gret bounte.
Al þo þat ben to me serueinde
Ichil þai be to þe boweinde.’[2725]
‘Gramerci’ seyd sir Gij anon,
‘A fair ȝift is þis now on.’
Þe steward come forþ bliue –
More treytour nas non oliue –
His name was hoten Morgadour,[2730]
God ȝif him euel auentour.
Toward Gij he bar gret ond
& seþ þe he died þurth his hond.
Quaþ Morgadour ‘sir, þat wil wele be
For Gij is curteys, gentil & fre.[2735]
When he schal þi douhter spousy
Riȝt is þat we him onoury.’
Ac what so he seyd bifor Gij þo
ȝif he may to deþ he wille him do.
Esclandar went oway fleinde[2740]
Toward her ost fast prikeinde.
Þurth þe bodi he bar a trounsoun,
Wiþ boþe honden he held him to þe arsoun.
Boþe bifore & eke bihinde
Þe blod gan out fast winde,[2745]
His helme in þe on half honginde
& his visage al bledeinde;
His scheld to held hadde he no miȝt,
He drad him to dye anonriȝt.
To þe soudans pauiloun he come,[2750]
Þe soudan him bi knewe anon.
‘Esclandar when comestow?’ seyd he,
‘In strong fiȝt þou hast ybe.
Were þou alon at þe cite?
Say me who haþ þus wounded þe.’[2755]
‘Sir’ quaþ he ‘ichil þe telle
Of hard tidinges wel snelle.
Ylorn þou hast þe amiral Cosdram
Þat leuest þe was of ani man,
& þe king of Turkie þou hast forgon,[2760]
Of hem no tit þe neuer help non,
& alle þe best men ybore [f.123rb] [Image]
Bifor þe cite þou hast forlore.’
Þan answerd þe riche soudan
Þat hadde no gamen of þan,[2765]
‘Him is þan sum socour ycome
Wharþurth mi Turkes be me binome?’
‘Sir’ quaþe Esclandar ‘ywis,
An onwrast gome ycomen þer is.
Socour he haþ gret & beld[2770]
In þe warld nis swiche a scheld;
Gij of Warwike his name it is,
Sterner þan eni lyoun, ywis.
His strokes no may noman dreye
Þat he ne most dye on hye.[2775]
Wiþ him he haþ an hundred kniȝtes
Of Almayne þe best in fiȝtes.
Þurth þe bodi þus me he smot,
Dede ich am wele y wot.’
¶ Þan swore a gret oþ þe soudan[2780]
Bi Mahoun þat he leued opan
Þat neuer glad no worþ he
What he haue ynome þat cite,
For asayle he it wille do
Ar þe þridde day be ago.[2785]
Anon a spie it herd þis
Þat to Gij it nold forhele, ywis.
Sone he com to þe cite
Al þis to Gij þan teld he
Þat þe soudan wiþ his men elle[2790]
Þe cite wil aseyle snelle.
Ac þemperour wist þerof nouȝt
Þat so strong tiding þer were ybrouȝt
Ac when he wist þe soþe herof
Ernist him þouȝt & no scof.[2795]
¶ Þemperour made him bliþe þo
Þat ouercomen weren his fo
& Gij to þemperour is ygo
& swiþe feyr he gret him þo.
‘Sir’ quaþ he ‘be bliþe & glad.[2800]
Gode tidinges me haþ ben seyd.’
Þemperour ofsent his foules þo
Oscuriis faucouns & ierfaukes also;
Gon he wil to þe riuer
Him to solas & play þer.[2805]
Seþ þe he ofsent of his Gregeys, [f.123va] [Image]
Þat gode weren & curteys,
To þe riuer þai ben ygon
Wher foules were mani on.
Wiþ þat come forþ sir Morgadour[2810]
Þat steward was wiþ þemperour
& seyd to Gij ‘mi frende dere,
Y þe loue in gode manere.’
Ac alle þat he seyd Gij to bitraye,
Þat was wele sen in his last daye.[2815]
Non no may so wele tresoun do
So may he þat his trust is to.
ȝete seyd to him Morgadour,
‘Castels ich haue & mani feir tour,
Riche cites & ful strong,[2820]
To þine wille þou hem afong.
Michel y desire þi loue to haue;
Go we togider wiþ game & plawe
Into þe chaumber go we baye
Among þe maidens for to playe,[2825]
At tables to pleye & at ches.
Wele we may don it, ywis,
Bifor þi leman Clarice so fre,
Þemperours douhter briȝt of ble,
& lete we þemperour to wode go[2830]
To chace þe hert & þe ro.’
‘Sir’ quaþ Gij ‘wille we go;
When þou it wilt, it schal be do.’
Into þe chaumber þai ȝede þo
Hond in hond yfere bo.[2835]
To þe mayden þai come wel sket
Þat curteysliche hem haþ ygret.
‘Sir Gij’ sche seyd ‘welcome þou be;
Cum sitt & pleye þe here wiþ me.’
He toke þe maiden & hir kiste[2840]
Þat ofþouȝt þe steward vnwreste.
He hir hadde loued mani a day
& wende haue spoused þat feir may.
Þe cheker þai oxy & þe meyne
Bifor þe maiden þan pleyen he.[2845]
Ysett þai han þe first game,
Þe steward it les, bi Godes name.
Seþ þe þai han anoþer ygonne,
Anon it haþ Gij ywonne,
& þe þridde ful hastiliche. [f.123vb] [Image] [2850]
Þe steward was sori sikerliche,
Al mody he ros vp þo,
Wroþ & sori he was bo.
‘Gij’ quaþ he ‘bileue þou here,
Þiself & Clarice þi pleye-fere,[2855]
Al what ich come now son oȝe.’
‘Anon’ seyd Gij ‘it schal so be.’
Out him went Morgadour,
At his in he tok a chasour;
To þemperour he goþ riȝt.[2860]
When þemperour hadde of him siȝt
Oȝaines him he is ygon
& tidinges he oxed him anon.
‘Now forþ, sir steward ‘he sede,
‘Comestow for gode or for qued?[2865]
Whi comestow so prikiinge?
Tel it me wiþouten lesinge.
ȝif þou of Sarraȝins hast herd ouȝt
Tel it me, forhele it nouȝt.’
‘Sir’ quaþ he ‘y schal þe telle,[2870]
Þi schame forhele y nille.
An soudour þou hast wiþ þe,
& wil þat þou yschent be,
Þi douhter þat so feir is
Forlay he haþ, for soþe ywis.[2875]
Into hir bour wiþ strengþe he ȝede
& bi þi douhter his wille he dede.
ȝif þou ne me leuest, hom þou fare,
ȝete þou schalt him finde þare.
Þer þou miȝt him finde, ywis,[2880]
& þi douhter clippe & kisse.
Þerfore y com þe to say,
For þi schame forhele y no may.
ȝif þou him finde in þat stede,
Into þi prisoun þou him lede,[2885]
& in þi court þou deme him do,
For treitour he is y telle þe to.
Þe more adouted þou schalt be
Of alle þi regne y telle þe.
Þerfore ne wonde þou no þing[2890]
Nouȝt for him no his helping.
Afterward þat he demed is
& þi court of þat treytour deliuerd is
Into Almayne ichil gon [f.124ra] [Image]
To þemperour Reyner anon.[2895]
Socour fram him ichil bringe
& deliuer þi lond wiþouten lesinge
Of alle þine dedeliche fon
Þat þine men haue sleyn ichon.’
‘Who is þat?’ [þ]emperour sede.[2900]
‘Gij of Warwike, so God me rede.
Þou do him nim & binde fast
& in þi prisoun þou do him cast.’
Quaþ þemperour ‘lat now be.
No speke nouȝt so of him to me.[2905]
Oȝaines me misdo he nold,
Nouȝt for tventi somers of gold,
No for to ben al tohewe,
So gode a kniȝt he is & trewe;
& ȝif he is þerin wele be it so[2910]
Wiþ hir his wille he may do,
For mi douhter ichim bihote habbe,
Nil ich nouȝt of couenant gabbe.’
¶ When þe steward him haþ biþouȝt
Þat þemperour nold here him nouȝt[2915]
Hom to his in he is ygo
& aliȝt of his palfrey þo.
Anon into chaumber he ȝede
& to Gij of Warwike he sede,
‘Gij þou art ful wele wiþ me,[2920]
Þerfore ichil kiþen it þe
To þemperour yteld it is,
Bi þe lord seyn Denis,
Þat wiþ strengþe þou com into his bour [ into: in is superscript.]
& has forleyn his douhter wiþ desonour,[2925]
& ȝif he þe may ouergo
He wil þe bren oþer slo.
& ich hot þe þat þou hennes fle
Þat he nouȝt oftake þe.’
‘Bi God’ quaþ Gij ‘þat were wrong[2930]
Þat y schold here mi deþ afong
For þing þat ich haue gilt non
No neuer þouȝt it to don.
An arnemorwe when he out ȝede
Miche he me o loue bede;[2935]
Hou schuld ich euer siker be
Of ani bihest men hotes me?
For þemperour me seyd þo, [f.124rb] [Image]
& trewelich me bihete þerto,
Þat he me wold gret worþschipe,[2940]
& now he me wil sle wiþ schenschipe
For þe speche of a losanger
& of a feloun pautener.’
Out of þe chaumber he is ygo,
Sori & dreri he was þo.[2945]
To his in he ȝede swiþe
& cleped his felawes bliue.
‘Lordinges’ he seyd ‘to armes snelle.
Here wil we no longer duelle.
To þemperour ywraid we beþ[2950]
Alle he wil don ous to þe deþ.
Bi þe treuþe y schal our lord ȝeld
Þat heuen & erþe haueþ in weld,
Er þan we be nomen & ded
So mani schal dye of her ferred[2955]
Þat it worþ abouȝt wel strong
Þat ich am biwrayd wrong.’
To armes þai went wiþ þat ichon,
Out of þe cite þai ben ygon
& went toward þe heþen men[2960]
Wiþ þem to holden & to ben,
To help þe heþen men ichon.
Wiþ þat com þemperour anon,
Fram þe riuer he come rideinge
& wiþ his folk fast prikeinge.[2965]
Feir weder it was & miri also,
Þe briȝt armes he seye þo.
¶ Þemperour hem seye & knewe Gij
For he come hem swiþe neye.
At an herhaud þan asked he,[2970]
‘Þis armed folk what may þis be?’
‘Sir’ quaþ he ‘it is Gij
Þat in wretþe fram þe wil parti.
Vnto þe soudan he wil fare
& wirche þe sorwe & michel care[2975]
Þurth wraying þat teld him is.
Wele y wot þat soþe it nis.
Wele it semeþ þat wroþ is he
Al armed on his stede ich him se.’
When þemperour herd þis[2980]
Alle droupeninde he was, ywis,
He gan to prike & þat anon, [f.124va] [Image]
As hauk þat fleyþe his hors gan gon.
After Gij loude he gradde þo,
‘Abide & speke me now to.[2985]
For Godes loue lete now be;
Whi wiltow, sir, go fro me?
ȝif ich ouȝt haue agilt to þe,
For Godes loue þou say it me.
Be it in dede oþer in speche[2990]
Þat ani þe han agilt y þe biseche
To þi wille it schal amended be,
& topon al oþer y loue þe.
Wele ich wene þat þe soudan, ywis,
To whom al Percie atended is,[2995]
After þe haþ sent ich vnderstond so;
He þe schal habbe & y forgo.
Gold & siluer he may ȝiue þe
& feffe þe wiþ mani a riche cite;
Þerfore þou wilt wiþ him be[3000]
& strongliche holden oȝaines me.’
‘Sir’ quaþ sir Gij to þemperour,
‘No was ich neuer þi traitour
& ȝif God wil y nil nouȝt be
Þer whiles þe lif is in me.[3005]
Me was yteld biforn now riȝt
Of on þat is þi priue kniȝt
Þat þou no hadest to don wiþ mi seruise
& þat y þe serue wiþ feyntise
& þat ich was biwrayd to þe –[3010]
Forþi nold ich no longer here be –
& þat þou wost do me tohewe
& mine barouns þat ben so trewe.
Forþi y þouȝt þat y go scholde
To hem þat mi seruise ȝeld me wold,[3015]
Ac for al Damas & þat cuntre
Nold ich haue holden oȝaines te.’
¶ Þemperour þan him nome
Bitvene his armes & seyd anon
‘Nay, sir Gij’ he seyd ‘bi seyn Denis,[3020]
It no was nouȝt so, ywis.
Mi dere frende Gij, oȝain þou go.
Lordinges, barouns, biddeþ him so,
For to þine wille it is alle,
Alle þat min is & ben schal.[3025]
Ac biwrayed þou war to me, [f.124vb] [Image]
& þerfore haue he maugre
Neuer eft worþ non loued of me
Þat ouȝt sigge bot gode of þe.’
Þemperour þan to Gij seyd,[3030]
‘Þi wille þou do bi þat mayde.’
Sir Gij kist þemperour þo
& to þe cite þai ben ygo.
Þo wist wele Gij bi þan
Bitrayd him hadde his foman,[3035]
Ac no semblaunt þerof he no made
No no þing to him seyde.
An armorwe erliche
Þemperour aros sikerliche.
Anon he seyd to Gij his speche,[3040]
‘Herken to me y þe biseche,
In þis morning anon
We worþ aseyled of our fon
Of Sarraȝins þat misbileued be,
Alle for soþe y telle it to þe;[3045]
Þe soudan him selue wil þer be.
A spie for soþe teld it me
Þat hij þe cite wil asayli
& þat hij þennes nil parti
Al fort he haue nome þis cite[3050]
Or þat it destrued be.’
Þemperour seyd ‘sir Gij þe fre,
Als-so þou wilt it schal be;
Þe cite alle op þe y do
Wiþ Cristes blisceing þerto.[3055]
ȝif hij ous seyl, we schul ous were,
Þe cite is strong, þai mow it nouȝt dere.’
Gij þat constable cleped him to
Þat gode kniȝt was & wise also,
Tristor he hete wiþ þe berd blowe,[3060]
Lord & douke of Almayne y trowe.
‘Sir Tristor’ he seyd ‘listen to me,
Aseyled we worþ, siker þou be.
Þerof þou most birede þe
ȝif we wille were þis cite,[3065]
Oþer we wille oȝain hem te
At paþes þat destrued be
& mete we hem þer on þe doune,
Acumbre hem & legge hem doune.’
‘Sir, anon’ seyd þe constable, [f.125ra] [Image] [3070]
‘Þis ich speche schal be stable.’
‘Do þan grede þurth þe cite
Þat alle redy armed be
Alle þat armes may welde,
& who so þat feyneþ for couward be helde.’ [3075] [ þat followed by a mid-line punctus.]
Bi þe morwe þai ben armed wel,
Bi tale .xx. þousend hauberks of stiel.
Out of þe cite þai ben ygo
Wiþ gret noise & din also.
‘Lordinges’ quaþ Gij ‘herkeneþ to me,[3080]
ȝe þat here asembled be,
Of ȝour kinde þat is yslawe
Of edwite & of missawe.
Þat ous is don þenke we þeron
& baldeliche aseyl we our fon[3085]
For Sarraȝins ous aseyle wille
Alle for soþe y ȝou telle.
We wil hem mete wiþ spere & scheld
At þe narwe paþe bitven þe held.
Now biþenkeþ ȝou wele to don[3090]
& awreke ȝour lond of ȝour fon.
Of ȝour londes & ȝour citeȝ
Þat destrud & wasted beþ,
ȝou to awreke biþenkeþ ȝou
& strongliche aseyleþ hem now.[3095]
Bot ȝe were ȝou wele & bliue
& hij mow ȝou of þe feldes driue
Alle we ben ded oþer nome
& in þraldome euer more wone.
Forþi mete we wiþ hem sone [3100] [ hem: MS reads hen.]
& strengþe ous alle wele to done.
& ich meself wil wiþ ȝou go
Y nil ȝou feyle neuer mo.’
Wele spekeþ now sir Gij
& alle þai siggeþ gramerci.[3105]
To þe pas of þe hulles þai ben ycome
& þe Sarraȝins han vndernome
& seye þe cuntres & þe feld
Wiþ briȝt brini & wiþ scheld.
Þe soudan cleped after Helman[3110]
Þat deined fle for no man.
He was coraious & gode kniȝt
& michel adouted in euerich fiȝt.
‘Sir king’ quaþ he ‘com to me [f.125rb] [Image]
Wiþ .xx. þousende Turkes ich hot þe.[3115]
Þe Cristen ȝe schul aseyle anon,
Loke ȝe nim hem oþer slen ichon.
Opon ȝon hulle þai ben, lo,
Gret harm þai han ous ydo.’
Þe king forþ went wiþ his men ichon[3120]
Wiþ strengþe þe helde þai vndernome;
Wiþ strengþe þai wene þe slade ouergo
Ac gret combraunce hem com furst to.
At þe entring of þe pas Gij gan to grede [ Gij is superscript.]
‘Helpeþ, lordinges, alle our ferrede.[3125]
Biþenkeþ ȝou to winnen wele;
& hij oȝaines ȝou vndernim þe hille,
Yuel ous worþ þan bigo,
Bot God ous on þenke þat al may do.
Þai ben bineþen & we aboue,[3130]
Amidde þe pas þai ben togider come,
& asaileþ hem smerteliche
& togider we go now commonliche.
Þroweþ wiþ stones & bowes scheteinge
Launces, swerdes & dartes kerueinge;[3135]
Smiteþ wiþ swerdes & speres ygrounde;
Scheteþ wiþ piles & ȝif hem deþ wounde.’
Mani Sarraȝin þer yslawe is,
Þer doþ Gij as þe riȝtwise.
Into þe narwe hij come hem to lett,[3140]
Bi hundredes foure þai aseyl hem sket,
Bi hundred & bi þousende
Þai ben þe Sarraȝins quellinde.
Gij smot on þis side & on þat,
Nas þer non þat his dint sat.[3145]
¶ Ermine he smot on þurth þe scheld [ on is superscript.]
Almost he feld him in þe feld.
Þan come Auþer ouerþuert,
A Sarraȝin modi of hert.
Ermine smot him on þe helme an heyȝe[3150]
Þat he cleue him to þe teþ,
Al ded he made him on þe grounde to lie.
Wiþ þat come þe king of Nubie,
Toward Herhaud he come prikeinde
& Gij him was oȝain cominde.[3155]
Wiþ grete strengþe sir Gij him smot
Þat he feld him anon fot-hot.
When þe douke of Tire þat yseþ [f.125va] [Image]
His men dye on so reweliche deþ
An hond he held a dart kerueinde[3160]
Þe Cristen þerwiþ þreteninde.
He forþ ȝede & smot a kniȝt
Þat ded he feld him anonriȝt.
When Gij o Warwike þat yseye
Þiderward he drouȝ him swiþe neye.[3165]
A gode dart on hond he bar
& to him he launced heteliche þar;
Þer wiþ he smot Ebban þe king
Þat ded he fel wiþouten letting.
Þe Sarraȝines hij toheweþ & quelleþ,[3170]
Bi þe doun hij gredeþ & ȝelleþ.
When þe soudan seye his folk dye
Bi ten, bi tvelue in þe waye,
He cleped to him þe king of Nubye
Þat was ful of felonie.[3175]
‘Sir king’ he seyd ‘sest tow nouȝt
Hou mine men ben to deþ ybrouȝt;
Descumfit & yslawe hij beþ,
Þe bodis ded wele ȝe seþ.
Þis Cristen our men to deþ doþ[3180]
Ac bi Cariot y swere mi noþ
& bi Apolyn þe grete,
Bi Ternagaunt & bi Mahoun þe swete
Bot we of hem be wreken swiþe
No worþ y neuer glad no bliþe;[3185]
Bot we hem aseyle bi ginne
& þe hille wiþ strengþe awinne.
An hundred we ben oȝain hem on
& al we schul hem nimen anon.
Þe helden þai nimeþ about strongliche[3190]
& þe Cristen aseyl stalworþliche
At þe brode paþe & narwe also.
Þe Gregeys wele werd hem þo.
On þe Cristen þai gun smite
Þe Sarraȝins boþe miche & lite[3195]
& our men hem werd wel
Wiþ scharpe speres of grounden stiel,
Wiþ axes & swerdes ygrounde,
Wiþ gisarmes þai ȝif deþes wounde.
¶ Þe soudan forþwiþ alderfarst[3200]
On þe Cristen smot wel fast,
On heye on helmes he hem smot [f.125vb] [Image]
Wiþ his fauchon þat wele bot.
Toȝaines Gij he smot þo
& seyd ‘war, ichil þe slo.’[3205]
Gij he smot so ouerþuert
Þat he was sumdel yhert.
Ac Gij wiþ strengþe to him smot
Wiþ his swerd þat wele bot.
Wel strong was þat ich fiȝt,[3210]
Ac þe soudan wered him wiþ miȝt.
Wharto schuld ich ȝou telle more?
Þe Sarraȝins ouercomen wore.
Wele haþ Gij don þat day
As gode kniȝt & verray.[3215]
At a pas he houed riȝt
As a kniȝt of gret miȝt.
A gisarme he bar kerueinde
He smot bifore & bihinde.
Þe Sarraȝins so he agast,[3220]
Al þat he smot to grounde he cast.
His scheld he hadde forlore,
Tohewe it lay his fet bifore.
So mani Sarraȝin he slouȝ þat day
Þat ich on oþer ded lay;[3225]
So mani to ded þer he dede
Þat þe hepe lay to his girdel stede.
¶ Whoso seye þan Herhaud fiȝt
Of a gode kniȝt ȝelp he miȝt.
A Danis ax he bar on his hond,[3230]
Al þat he rauȝt to grounde he wond.
Sarraȝins he slouȝ mo þan sexti
& Gij an hundred & fourti.
Herhaud þat day so sore swong
Þat þurth his mouþe þe fom it sprong.[3235]
Al tohewe was his helme;
Þe blod ran out als a welme.
What schuld y make tale muche?
Þe Sarraȝins þai slowen strongliche.
Ac euer he was gode, apliȝt,[3240]
Gij of Warwike, michel of miȝt,
More dede þan ani oþer;
His stroke was heui so a foþer.
Gij and his feren also
Als lyouns þai fouȝten þo[3245]
& þe Gregeys forþ wiþ hem, [f.126ra] [Image]
Þai wered hem as douhti men.
Weynes & cartes þai han ynome
Mo þan fiften þousende atte frome.
Y-ioined hij han þe gret piles –[3250]
Ginnes þai made on selcouþe wise –
Sum piles scharpe kerueinde,
Al aboute so mani stondinde,
Þat ich ne can þe noumbre telle
Noiþer in rime no in spelle.[3255]
Þer nas man þat þer neye come
Þat he ne was tocorwen anon,
So griseliche be þe engins
For to sle þe Sarraȝines.
In ich half ysett arawe[3260]
Scharpe soules doun of þe hulle ydrawe.
Þermid þai hewe þe gret stonis
Bihewe quarre for þe nonis,
So gret so tventi men miȝt drawe,
To slen hem of þe heþen lawe.[3265]
Swiche a þousende forsmiten þai be
Þat neuer after schullen ythe,
Wel juel hem is bifallen þare;
Ded þai ben wiþ sorwe & care.
Wharto schuld ich tale telle?[3270]
Þe soudan lepe on hors ful snelle.
Gret onde he hadde to Gyoun
& to Herhaud his compaynoun
For hij han slawe so fel of his.
He sat on an hors of pris,[3275]
Wiþ gret hete he smot to Gij
Opon his helme sikerly,
Þat he feld þat o quarter.
To Gij he seyd a bismer,
‘Ysestow, lord, bi Apolin[3280]
Þat was a strok of o Sarraȝin?’
Gij to þe soudan smot þo,
His helme no was him worþ a slo;
Resares euen forþ þe breyn
Helme & flesse he carf wiþ meyn.[3285]
Þan he seyd to him a bismer,
‘Mahoun halp þe litel þer.
Bodi & soule no nouȝt þerof
No is nouȝt worþ a lekes clof.
Hou so it go of mi wounde [f.126rb] [Image] [3290]
Of Mahoun þou hast litel help yfounde.
Er þou scorndest me
Of mi wounde þou madest þi gle.
Leche gode schal ich haue
Þat mi wounde schal to hele drawe.[3295]
Þou hast a croun schauen to þe bon;
Tomorwe þou miȝt sing anon.
Wele þou þouȝtest to ben a prest
When þou of swiche a bischop order berst.’
Now biginneþ þat gret fiȝt[3300]
Bi þre bi four adoun riȝt.
Þe Sarraȝins ben ouercome,
Oway fleinde þai ben some.
Þe niȝt comeþ, þe day is go,
Þe Sarraȝins han ful michel wo[3305]
For so mani yslawe þer be;
So seyd þe folk of þat cuntre
Þat men miȝt wade ouer þe scho hem
In þe blod þat of hem kem.
So miche folk þer was yslawe þo[3310]
Þat fiftene forlong men miȝt go,
Þat þei he kept him neuer so,
He most nedes opon men go
Oþer on fot oþer on hond,
Oþer opon arm coruen wiþ brond.[3315]
¶ Wiþ þat come an amiral prikeing
Newe dubbed he was wiþouten lesing.
To þe soudan he is ycome,
Þurth þe bodi he haþ woundes some.
‘Sir’ he seyd ‘hennes we go.[3320]
No sestow al our folk slo?
Bi þousendes þou sest hem to deþ ligge;
Our godes ous hateþ for soþe to sigge.
Þou sest Mahoun ne Apolin
Be nouȝt worþ þe brestel of a swin.[3325]
Anonriȝtes wiþdrawe þou þe
& to þi pauiloun þou fle.
Alle þe wounded þou do wiþ þe lede
ȝete þai may þe help & rede.
Þi rereban þou do ofsende[3330]
To awreke [þe] þou haue in mende.’
Anon þai hem wiþdrawe & ben ouercome
Sori þai ben alle & some.
Þe soudan dede biforn him bring [f.126va] [Image]
Alle his godes wiþouten lesing,[3335]
Toward hem he is wel wroþ,
Do he wil hem harm & loþ.
‘A, ȝe fals godes vnwreste,
Sone ȝou tit a liþer feste.
Oȝain ous ȝe ben of wicked mode,[3340]
Schame ȝe don ous & no gode.
ȝe don ous alderwerst to spede
When þat we han mest nede.’
‘Fy, fy’ he seyd ‘on Apolin
Þou schalt haue wel iuel fin,[3345]
& þou Ternagaunt also,
Michel schame schal com ȝou to.
& þou Mahoun her alder lord
Þou nart nouȝt worþ a tord;
Þerfore þou it schalt abigge[3350]
Wiþ staues gret opon þi rigge.’
So he gan his godes to cloute
Þat þe erþe dined aboute.
Her armes & legges he totiȝt
& cleped hem wroches anonriȝt.[3355]
‘Godenes in ȝou nas neuer yfounde
No more miȝt þan in an hounde.’
Bi þe fet he hem out drouȝ
& dede hem schame riȝt anouȝ.
Gij dede clepe her cheueteyn[3360]
Wiþ gode wille & hert feyn.
‘Lordinges’ he seyd ‘God yþonked be,
Feir grace so habbe we
Þat þe Sarraȝins ben ouercome.
Wende we to þe cite atte frome.’[3365]
& when þai ben comen oȝen,
To þemperour welcom þai ben,
& nameliche Gij þe gode kniȝt
Mest was worþschiped in þat fiȝt.
¶ When þat yseye Morgadour[3370]
Þat steward was wiþ þemperour
Þat Gij biwreyed vnwrastliche
Þat þemperour loued so miche,
He bigan for to asay
Hou he miȝt Gij bitray.[3375]
O felonie he haþ him biþouȝt
Of swiche no haue ȝe herd nouȝt.
He þouȝt in his wille þo [f.126vb] [Image]
Þat Gij o message schuld go.
In swiche þouȝt & swiche wille[3380]
An while he held him stille.
Anon he went to þemperour
& seyd ‘sir, par amour,
Þe soudan haþ his folk ysent
Into al Peyni his sond is sent.[3385]
Þer nis noiþer ȝing no eld
Þat armes may bere & wepen weld,
Alle he is haueþ ofsent
Þe to bisege verrament.
¶ To him þou þi sond sende[3390]
Alle þi wille word & ende.’
‘Who’ he seyd ‘durst þider wende?’
‘Sir Gij a kniȝt hardi & hende
Of þine house, & þat y pliȝt,
Gij of Warwike of gret miȝt;[3395]
Herhaud of Arderne þat oþer best,
On hem tveye ȝe mow ȝou trest.
To þe soudan þou sende þine kniȝtes bold
& say þou wilt wiþ him a day hold
Of acord in swiche manere.’[3400]
‘Sir steward’ seyd þemperere,
‘Toward Gij þou berst iuel wille.
He no schal nouȝt go þerof. Be stille.
Ac mine barouns ichil ofsende
& wite who wille þider wende.’[3405]
His barouns he haþ ofsent
Ouer alle his lond þai ben ywent
Þat þai schuld to þemperour wende.
To hem he seyd ‘mi leue frende,
Ich wold sende to þe soudan[3410]
ȝif ich wist euer bi wham.
To him to sende ich am in wille
Wiþ him to acord loude oþer stille,
ȝif ani of ȝou so hardi were
Þat to him þe message bere.’[3415]
When þemperour had seyd his resoun
Þer nas noiþer kniȝt no baroun
Þat him a word answerd þo;
Nas þer non þe message durst do.
¶ A baroun of þe benche aros,[3420]
Sir Tristor his name was.
‘Sir emperour, vnderstond me, [f.127ra] [Image]
For leyer no schal ich holden be,
For ich it sigge for gret loue
& þine worþschipe to held aboue.[3425]
Fif þousende siþe haue he maugre
Þat þe conseyl ȝaf to þe,
For he þe loueþ riȝt nouȝt
Þat in þat wille þe haþ ybrouȝt.
Þat þou to him ȝelde scholdest[3430]
Bot þou þi sonde sende woldest.
No þenkestow nouȝt of þat baroun
Þat was of so gret renoun
Hou þou sendest him to?
Oȝain no come he neuer mo.[3435]
He þe sent þe heued wiþouten more;
No durst neuer eft non com þore.
In þe world is kniȝt non
Þat þe message durst don.
For arwe no sigge ich it no wiȝt,[3440]
ȝif in min armes were so gret miȝt
Also ich hadde & as ȝong were
As ich was hennes an hundred ȝere
Þis ich message don ich wold;
For drede of deþ lete y nold.[3445]
Ac icham now a neld man
Alle mine miȝtes ben now gan.
It is now gon mo þan fifti ȝer
Þat ich on rigge hauberk ber.
Ich ȝou sigge, for soþe ywis,[3450]
To lese a gode man gret harm it is,
For ȝif ȝe ani sendeþ þider [ ȝe: MS reads he.]
His heued him schal comen hider.
Now ich haue mi wille ysede
Now ȝiue anoþer better rede.’[3455]
When Tristor hadde yseyd þis
Wiþouten ani oþer abod, ywis,
Þer nas nouȝt on, litel no miche,
Þat durst speke sikerliche.
Gij of Warwike vp arist,[3460]
‘Sir emperour, bi mi lord Ihesus crist,
Þis message ichil afo
& it þurth godes help do.’
Seyd þemperour ‘þat schaltow nouȝt.
Þider to go haue þou no þouȝt.[3465]
Ich it dede mine men to fond [f.127rb] [Image]
To whom ich miȝt trust in mi lond.’
Þan answerd Gij wel snelle,
‘For soþe, sir, leten y nille
Þat ich þe message wil do[3470]
To dye er ich þennes go.’
Wiþ þat he went out of þe halle;
Þe Gregeys siked among hem alle.
God, what Gij is noble baroun.
Ihesu þat suffred passioun[3475]
Saue him fram cumberment
& him oȝain bring in sauement.
Gij cam to his in in a stounde,
His felawes droupeing he founde.
‘Lordinges’ he seyd ‘hou is it now?[3480]
Almiȝti God y biteche ȝou.’
‘Sir’ quaþ Herhaud ‘ichil go
Bi þine wille wiþ þe also.’
Gij answerd ‘so no schal it be.
Icham ygo. Biddeþ for me.’[3485]
He oxed his armes hastiliche
& men es him brouȝt sikerliche.
Hosen of iren he haþ on drawe
Non better nar bi þo dawe.
In a strong hauberk he gan him schrede,[3490]
Whoso it wered þe ded no þurt him drede.
An helme he haþ on him don,
Better no wered neuer kniȝt non.
Þe sercle of gold þeron was wrouȝt,
For half a cite no worþ it bouȝt[3495]
So mani stones þerin were
Þat were of vertu swiþe dere.
Seþ þe he gert him wiþ a brond
Þat was ymade in eluene lond.
His scheld about his nek he tok,[3500]
On hors he lepe wiþouten stirop.
On hond he nam a spere kerueinde,
Out of þe cite he was rideinde.
Alle þat weren of þat cite
For him wel sori weren he.[3505]
No wene þai neuer his ȝaincominge
Alle þai wene þer his endinge.
Now is Gij in þe riȝt way
Toward þe Sarraȝins y say,
Wele y-armed on his stede, [f.127va] [Image] [3510]
A launce he bar gode at nede.
Smerteliche he dede him in þe ways
Ouer þe dounes & þe valeys.
To þe Sarraȝins ycomen he is
& her pauilouns he seþ, ywis.[3515]
A real pauiloun he þer seye
Wiþ an eren of gold an heye
Þat was þe soudans pauiloun;
Haue he cristes malisoun.
Into þe pauiloun Gij him wond[3520]
& an hast þer he fond
Alle atte mete þat þer was
& nouȝt michel noise þer nas.
At þe heye bord eten kinges ten
Þat alle were Gyes fomen.[3525]
Þan seyd Gij þe englisse,
‘Vnderstond to mi speche.
Þilke lord þat woneþ an heye
Þat al þing walt fer & neye
& in þe rode lete him pini[3530]
Al Cristen men to saui,
& in þe se made þe sturioun,
So ȝif ȝou alle his malisoun,
& alle þilk þat ich here se
Þat misbileued men be.[3535]
& þe at þe first, sir soudan
Cristes wreche þe come opan.
Yuel fure breninde fast þe opon
& cleue þi brest doun to þi ton,
For icham Gij ȝe mow wel se; [3540] [ wel: l is superscript in another ink.]
Yuel mot ȝe alle ythe.
Vnderstond, treitour, mi resoun.
Haue þou cristes malisoun
& alle þilke forþ mitt te
Þat ich her about þe se.[3545]
Þe heye God þat is ful of miȝt
Binim ȝou ȝour limes & ȝour siȝt.
Bi me þe sent word þemperour Garioun,
Þat miȝti men haþ in his bandoun,
Þurth wham þou art ybrouȝt to schond,[3550]
& hoteþ þe wende out of his lond,
For here has tow no riȝt.
Finde a Sarraȝin oþer a kniȝt
& he schal anoþer finde [f.127vb] [Image]
Þat schal deray[ne] his riȝt kinde.[3555]
Y schal wiþ þe glotoun fiȝt,
& ȝif þine haue þe more miȝt
& ouercomeþ our champioun,
Mi lord þe schal ȝiue ransoun
& als his lord serue wille[3560]
Euer more, & þat is skille.
& ȝif it so bitide þat our kniȝt
Ouercome ȝour in feld in fiȝt,
Hastiliche þan y rede þe
Out of þis lond þat þou fle.[3565]
Þerof þou take a day
On mi lordes word y þe say.
To þi pauiloun ich am ycome
To do þe bateyl atte frome.
Onswere me wiþouten lesing[3570]
What word y schal mi lord bring.’
Quaþ þe soudan ‘whennes artow
Into mi court comen art now
& misseyst me so schameliche
& þretest me so dedeliche?’[3575]
Gij answerd ‘ichil þe telle;
Mi name forhele y nille.
Gij of Warwike mi name is;
In þat cuntre y was born, ywis.’
Þe soudan answerd þo,[3580]
‘Artow Gij so mot þou go?
Þou slouȝ mi nevou Cosdram.
His heued þou smot þe bodi fram.
Þou it schalt abigge, bi Apolin.
Today is comen ending þin.’[3585]
He hete anon þat Gij wer nome
& ycast in his prisoun
Fort þe cloþ ben ydrawe
& þan reweliche ben yslawe.
Gij drouȝ out his swerd anon[3590]
& priked his stede wel gode won.
Bi seyn Denis he gan to swere
ȝif ani man so hardi were
Þat him neyȝed wiþ schond
He schuld dye þurth his hond.[3595]
Bifor þe soudan com Gyoun
& him biheld als a lyoun
& seyd ‘soudan, þou schalt abigge. [f.128ra] [Image]
Þine heued þou schalt forgon y sigge.
Opon þe cheyer þer he sat[3600]
Gij toke him bi þe top wiþ þat
& þat heued he dede of fle
Opon þe bord of appel tre.
Þe heued he toke in his hond
& in his lappe he it wond.[3605]
Wel hastiliche he went him, ywis,
Of þe Sarraȝins adrede he is.
An hundred heuedes he dede of flen
Of þilke þat him stode oȝen.
Wiþ him he forþ þat heued bar[3610]
Maugre alle þat þer war.
Þurth þat ost he rode smartliche,
His hors him bar hastiliche.
Þer miȝt men se þe Sarraȝin
Bi on & on wende to Apolin;[3615]
Wel fast after him þai come
& alle þai wold han him nome.
Gij to aseylen þai wer ȝep;
Vnarmed were þe most hep.
Gij drouȝ him toward an hulle.[3620]
Þe Sarraȝins him driuen snelle
Boþe bi hundred & þousende;
Him go þe Sarraȝins driueinde
On ich half þai smiten him to
& he oȝain to hem also.[3625]
Neuer no was anlepy kniȝt
Þat so mani stond miȝt.
Bot God nim of him ȝeme
His liif it is michel awene.
Listeneþ now & sitteþ stille[3630]
Of Herhaud ich ȝou telle wille
Þat of swoning no may him duelle.
For his lord Gij y ȝou telle
So michel sorwe him was an
Þat telle no miȝt he it noman.[3635]
Euerich man is swiþe wo
When he schal a gode frende forgo;
So was Herhaud for his lord fre,
No wende he him neuer more yse.
Þan bigan his sorweinge,[3640]
His her [he] tar, his honden gan wring. [ her: r is superscript.]
‘Allas’ he seyd ‘sir Gij [f.128rb] [Image]
Now ich wot wele sikerlye
Þat y no schal þe neuer yse.
Allas for sorwe, wo is me.’[3645]
For gret sorwe þat he hedde
He fel adoun on his bedde
Þer he is yfalle on slepe
As a man weri of wepe.
A sweuen him mett wel ferly[3650]
Þat he seye his lord sir Gij
On his stede swiþe cominge
& on his hond his swerd kerueing.
Aseyled he was wiþ wolues & bere,
Vnneþe he miȝt him fram hem were;[3655]
Alle þai hadde tobroken his scheld
& his brini torent mani feld.
Vnneþe he miȝt him were
So þai gun on him totere.
Wiþ þat is Herhaud awaked[3660]
& of his sweuen gret sorwe maked
& seyd anon to alle his compeynie,
‘Felawes, wil we ous armi.
Gij to help we ouȝt to spede
For to help he haþ gret nede;[3665]
Wele ich wot bi mi sweuen.
Now help ous God þat is in heuen.’
Yarmed þai ben sone anon
& on hors þai lopen ichon
& wendeþ forþ wiþ gode wille[3670]
Ouer þe dounes & þe dales snelle.
Wiþ alle her miȝt þai heye fast
For to socour Gij on hast.
Þe Sarraȝins þai gun þretni
& made gret sorwe for Gij.[3675]
Þai seyd alle þat þer were
Hem dred þai him seye neuere,
Oþer ded he was oþer ynome,
For him þai were sori alle & some.
Sone þai neyȝed toward þat ost[3680]
Of Sarraȝins þai herd gret bost;
Of hem was wrin al þe feld
On hors þai were wiþ spere & scheld
Þat euerichon þai þretten Gij;
Him to slen þai han gret envie.[3685]
Amonges hem þai seye Gyoun [f.128va] [Image]
Þat him wered als a lyoun.
On ich half þai him aseyle
& he him werþ wiþouten feyle.
Bi þe reynes þai ben him neye niminge[3690]
Ac he him werþ wiþ swerd kerueing.
Mani he smot of fot & fest;
He hadde al nede, la, wite crist.
Now þai bigin to prike swiþe,
To socour Gij þai han gret hye.[3695]
Herhaud him smot a Sarraȝin
Þat litel him halp his Apolin.
Þai smiten togider & fast þrung;
Þai corwen þurth liuer & þurth lunge.
Þe Sarraȝins þai teche an iuel play,[3700]
Euerich on oþer yslawe lay.
Herhaud is ful wele bifalle,
He socourþe Gij wiþ his felawes alle.
Amonges hem was gret gladnesse,
Þe most hepe wepen for blis.[3705]
Þai kisten Gij alle for blis
& þonked God ful ȝern, ywis.
¶ Þe Sarraȝins wenten alle oȝen;
Sori & dreri alle þai ben.
Þai token her lordes bodi þere,[3710]
As sori wreches oway it bere.
To Ascone þai ben þerwiþ ycome;
Yschent þai ben alle & some.
Gij & Herhaud & her meyne
Glad & bliþe alle ben he.[3715]
Þat heued þai han on a spere ysett,
Þer miȝt men se þat Gij was wel net.
Bifore him bere þat it haþ ydo;
Mani on pelt her finger þerto.
Into þe cite þai gun it bring,[3720]
For ioie þai gun þe belles ring.
Sir Gij to þemperour ycomen is,
Þe heued he him ȝalt, ywis.
Þemperour gret þanke him can
& in þat cite he doþ make onan[3725]
A piler of gray marbel ston;
Þat heued he sett anon þeron.
In swiche wise deuised it was
Þat it was biwreyen in bras
Wharþurth þat oþer miȝt ben war [f.128vb] [Image] [3730]
To come wiþ ani ost more þar.
Þan Gij hadde ydon so
Þemperour cleped Gij him to.
‘Welcome be þou to me, sir Gij.
Hennes for dayes þritti[3735]
Michel monschip ichil þe do,
Mi feir douhter ȝiue þe to.’
To þemperour onswerd sir Gij,
‘An hundred siþe, sir, gramerci.’
Þemperour aros amorwe þo,[3740]
To sen þe cuntre þai ben ygo.
Alle þat day þai riden hem so,
Alle what euen þai rested hem þo.
Þai seye toward a pleyn plas
Þat bisiden a doun was;[3745]
A lyoun þai seye cominde þo
Bot a smal pas no miȝt he go,
Wiþ ȝenende mouþe & weri he was.
Gij þat seye & seyd ‘allas,
Whi no haddestow help non?’[3750]
Ac þat foly þai dradden ichon
For wiþ a dragoun he hade yfouȝt
& ouercomen he was nere him þouȝt.
Gij anon asked his stede þo
His spere & his swerd also.[3755]
In his hond a gode swerd he bar.
Þat yseye alle þat þer war.
When þe dragoun seye com Gij
Þe lyoun he forlett & gan him sayly;
Wiþ open mouþe oȝaines him he come.[3760]
Gij bar his spere oȝaines him anon,
Into his þrote he it þrest wiþ strengþe;
In his bodi was alle his schaft lengþe
Þat ded to grounde he feld him þo.
What schuld y make tales mo?[3765]
He smot of þe heued & went oway
& come to þemperour so sone so he may.
Gyoun wiþ riȝt gode wille
Þe lyoun after him folweþ snelle,
Biforn him he goþ swiþe sket[3770]
& folwed him at his stede fet.
His fet he licked so ȝede he neye
& lepe vpon his stede an heye,
L3774 & seþ þe he lepe adoun anon [f.129ra] [Image] [377]
& made him gret joie opon.
To þemperour is comen Gij[3775]
Þat of him was glad sikerli.
Alle þai bihelden þe lyoun
& hadde gret joie bot þe feloun
Morgadour þe steward
Þat euer was Gij oȝeinward.[3780]
A liþer tresoun þan þouȝt he
Þat he wold þe lyoun sle.
Wiþ þat into þe cite þai ben ygon;
Þemperour went vnto his tour of ston
& Gij is to his in ygo.[3785]
Þe lyoun him folwed euer mo.
Biforn his bed he goþ to ligge;
Fram him he nold, for soþe to sigge.
So long þai riden her jurneys
& þurth riden þe cuntreys[3790]
Þat to Costentin þai ben ycome.
Þemperour haþ Gij on speche ynome
& seyd ‘Gij make þe redi.
Tomorwe þou schalt mi douhter weddi.’
Wel sweteliche him answerd sir Gij,[3795]
‘Sir emperour, mow gramerci.’
Amorwe so sone so it was day
Gij him schred in fou & gray,
Wiþ him his felawes also;
To chirche þai gon euer to & to.[3800]
Wiþ þat þai ben to chirche ycome
Worþschiplich alle & some
& þat maiden was also.
Gret joie hadde al her kin þo.
Þe erchebischop was comen also[3805]
Redi þe spouseing for to do.
¶ Þemperour seyd to Gij þere,
‘Mi douhter ich ȝiue þe here
& þritti castels wiþ hir also,
Wiþ þe worþschip þat liþ þerto.[3810]
& half mi lond ich ȝiue þe
Bifor mi barouns þat here be.
Þou schalt ben emperour after me;
Biforn hem alle y graunt it þe.’
‘Alle’ he seyd ‘þat þou bedest me[3815]
Ichil afong’ quaþ Gij ‘wiþ hert fre.’
Þe erchebischop come forþ [f.129rb] [Image]
Wiþ a ring þat miche was worþ.
He tok it Gij & he it gan afong.
& Gij biþouȝt him þan wel strong,[3820]
He biþouȝt þan in his wille
Þat Felice he schuld don vnskille.
He þouȝt him repent & wiþdrawe,
Wheþer he miȝt hir lete oþer haue.
Leuer him þouȝt to han hir bodi on,[3825]
Wiþouten siluer & gold & precious ston,
Þan alle oþer þat were o liue
Wiþ alle þe gode men miȝt him ȝiue.
Gij sett him adoun anon
& seyd swiche iuel is comen him on[3830]
Þat he no may of þe stede gon.
Him þenkeþ his hert brekeþ ato.
Gij fel aswoning in þat plas
& aros vp sone after þas.
Gij seyd an heye to þemperour,[3835]
‘Sir, y þe pray, par amour,
Þat þis fest deleyed be
Fort efsones, y bidde þe,
Þat ich am apassed þis hache
& þat ich in gode hele be.’[3840]
Quaþ þemperour: ‘þat reweþ me
Þis sposayl schal delayed be.’
Þennes hij gon alle yfere
Alle sone wiþ droupeand chere.
Þat maiden wepe & was sori[3845]
For Gij no miȝt hir spousi,
For neuer more hij no wende
Wiþ loue com him hende,
No ioie ne may comen hir inne
For hij no wende him neuer winne.[3850]
Sche wrong hir honden & wepe sore,
Sorwe made neuer wiman more;
Sche wrong hir fingres & tar hir here
& curssed þe time þat moder hir ber
& þe time þat hye biȝeten was;[3855]
Neuer woman wers nas.
Gij is to his in ygo.
No wist noman of his wo
Bot himself bi niȝt & day;
Al a fourten niȝt sike he lay[3860]
Þat he no com his bed fram [f.129va] [Image]
No out atte dore he no cam.
Now wille we of Gij duelle
& of his lyoun ichil ȝou telle,
Of his lyoun hou he fard[3865]
Þer while þat Gij lay sike so hard.
Nold he noiþer ete no drink
Ac sorwe he made & gret morning.
Gij cleped Herhaud him to
& alle his conseyl schewed him þo.[3870]
‘Sir Herhaud’ he seyd ‘conseyl me.
Of þi conseyl ich oxi þe [ þi: MS reads mi.]
ȝif y schal þemperours douhter take
Or ȝete abide forþ & hir forsake?
Ich haue a leman in Jnglond –[3875]
To telle þe nil y nouȝt wond –
Þerls douhter Rohaut, ywis,
Felice þat feir maiden of pris.
Oþer þan hir loue y no may
Sir Herhaud, for soþe to say.’[3880]
Herhaud onswerd: ‘ichil ȝou telle
Þe best conseyl ich haue in wille.
ȝif þou þemperours douhter afo
Riche þou best euer mo.
After him þou best emperour;[3885]
God haþ ydon þe gret anour.
In þe world ne worþ man of so gret miȝt
No of so gret pouer ypliȝt;
More riches þe worþ bi a þousandel
Boþe of cites & of riche castel,[3890]
Forestes ful of hertes beld,
Þan þerl Rohaut haþ in weld.’
‘Stille be þou’ quaþ Gij ‘of þat þouȝt.
Now ich wot þou louest me nouȝt
When þou conseyls me mi leman fro.[3895]
Mi liif to lese nil ich it do.’
‘Sir’ quaþ Herhaud ‘ichil be stille
When it is oȝain þi wille.
Þat þou hir louedest wist y nouȝt,
& þo þou of conseyl me bisouȝt,[3900]
Þe best ich wold ȝiue þe
Þat ich hadde wiþin me.
When þou Felice loues so,
Vnriȝt it were & þou hir forgo.’
Gij aros after þe fourtenniȝt [f.129vb] [Image] [3905]
Glad & bliþe wiþ hert liȝt.
He is to þe court ycome
& ful welcome to alle & some.
Wiþ him his lyoun to court ȝe[de] þo
Þurth whom aros gret sorwe & wo.[3910]
Þemperour of Gij wel bliþe he was,
Into al þe court no noþer þer nas
Al bot Morgadour sikerliche.
He hated Gij wel inliche;
For þe maiden he hadde Gij in hete.[3915]
Gij bileft in court atte mete
Him to play & solanci.
Þo at þe court bileft sir Gij
Þer whiles þe king ate mete sat
Þe lyoun goþ to play wiþouten þe ȝat[3920]
In pais wiþouten vilanie.
Herkeneþ now lordinges gladli.
When þemperour hadde y(h)ete
Gode while Gij haþ bi him sete
Wiþ him to pley in compeynie;[3925]
Solas he loued wiþouten vilanie.
Þat ich while his lyoun
ȝede out of þe pauiloun.
Al abouten he is ygo
For to resten him in a wro;[3930]
Oȝain þe sonne he slepe in a stede
Gret while of þe day & so he dede.
When Gij wold his way he nam
Vnto his in þat he cam.
Þe lyoun no folwed him nouȝt,[3935]
In an erber he slepe wel soft.
Þan was þe steward goinde
Into an orchard alon cominde.
Vnder a windowe he him seye
Wher þe lyoun lay wel neye[3940]
For to resten him in a wro.
‘Bi God’ quaþ þe steward þo,
‘Þe lyoun liþ here now slepeing’
Seyd Morgadour in his þouȝt þenking.
A scharpe wepen þer forþ he drouȝ[3945]
& þe lyoun þerwiþ he slouȝ.
Þe lyoun afrayd vp stert
As he þat was to deþ yhert.
Ac a maiden þat yseye [f.130ra] [Image]
& grad to þe steward an heye,[3950]
‘Sir steward, þat was iuel ysmite.
In vnworþschip it worþ þe atwite.’
Þe lyoun him goþ forþ groning
His guttes after him draweing;
To Gyes in he is ygo,[3955]
In a chaumber he fond him þo.
At his fete he fel doun in þat stede
To hauen of him socour at nede.
His hondes he gan to licky
Þat was his loue sikerly.[3960]
When Gij þat lyoun wounded seþ
For sorwe him þouȝt his hert clef.
‘O lord’ he seyd ‘God almiȝt,
Who haþ þe so iuel ydiȝt?
Þat mi lyoun haþ yslawe me[3965]
Y nold it wer don for þis cite
No þat þerto bilonge.
So michel sorwe me haþ afong.’
In swiche wretþe & grame anouȝ
His gode swerd wiþ strengþe he drouȝ.[3970]
Seþ þen on his stede he wond
His swerd ydrawe in his hond.
To þe court he com prikeing,
Wele hij seyen bi his lokeing
Þat he is sori & swiþe wroþ;[3975]
Alle oȝaines him þai goþ.
‘Lordinges’ quaþ Gij ‘ich ȝou biseche
ȝif ani of ȝou me can teche
Who slouȝ mi lyoun today?’
Alle þai seyd ‘sir, certes, nay.’[3980]
Wiþ þat into þe halle he come;
A maiden he mett þer anon.
¶ ‘Sir Gij’ he seyd ‘leue swete.
Is þi lyoun ded or liues ȝete?
For þurthout smite ichim seye.’[3985]
Þo seyd Gij ‘mi swete lef, ney.
Ich þe bidde forhele it nouȝt
Who haþ mi lyoun to deþ ybrouȝt?’
‘Sir’ sche seyd ‘Morgadour,
Þat is steward wiþ þemperour,[3990]
Þurth þe bodi he him smot.
His deþ it worþ, wele y wot.’
When he herd þat ich feloun [f.130rb] [Image]
Hadde yslawe his lyoun,
Out of halle he gan driue[3995]
Fram chaumber to chaumber also swiþe
Wiþ naked swerd in his hond;
ȝif he him findeþ he goþ to schond.
Into a chaumber he com þat stounde
& Morgadour sone he founde[4000]
Wiþ his nevou in conseyl fast.
When þai seye Gij þai weren agast.
Gij seyd ‘þou me hast bitreyd
When þou to grounde mi lyoun leyd.
No dede ich þe neuer bot gode,[4005]
Þou fel treytour vnkinde blod.’
¶ Morgadour answerd anon,
Stalworþ kniȝt as he was on,
‘Þou lexst amidward þi teþ
& þerfore haue þou maugreþ.[4010]
Whi berstow me on treysoun
Þat ich haue sleyn þi lioun?’
Gij wiþ his kniif smite he wold
Ac Gij him suffri nold.
His swerd anon vp he hef,[4015]
Morgadour doun riȝt he clef
Fram þe heued doun to þe fot;
Of þat stroke no com him neuer bot.
When his nevou yseye þat cas,
Þat his em so smiten was, [4020] [ em: MS reads nevou.]
Him to awreke him þouȝt long,
& as he schuld his dart afong,
His arme atvo smot Gij,
& he him anon crid merci.
Gij for rewþe is þennes ygon[4025]
& cam to þemperour anon
& seþ þe he seyd to þemperour,
‘Ich haue þe serued wiþ gret honour,
ȝolden þou hast me iuel mi while
When þi folk þurth tresoun & gile[4030]
Haue mi lyoun to deþ ybrouȝt.
Mi while is iuel ȝalt. He it haþ abouȝt.
For soþe he me to þe biwreyd,
& now to grounde mi lyoun is leyd.
Ded he liþe al tohewe[4035]
Þi steward at wordes fewe.
Wele ich haue ȝolden him his treysoun [f.130va] [Image]
& þat he slouȝ mi lyoun.
Seþ þe þou no miȝt nouȝt waranti me
Wharto schuld y serui þe?[4040]
On oncouþe man in þi lond
When þou no dost him bot schond?
Harm me is & michel misdo;
Þerfore ichil fram þe go
& in oþer cuntres serue y wile[4045]
Þer men wille ȝeld me mi while.’
‘Merci, sir Gij ‘seyd þemperour þo
‘ȝif ani of our haþ þe misdo
Swiche riȝt do als tow wilt
& take þe amendes after þe gilt[4050]
For alle þai schul be þine men [an]on,
In þi nede serue þe ichon,
& at þi wille take her catel.
Wiþdrawe þi mod, sir, y bidde þe wel.
Ich wil þatow tomorwen arly[4055]
Mi douhter at þe chirche spousy.’
¶ Gij answerd ‘þerof speke nouȝt,
Hir to nim nam ich nouȝt biþouȝt
For ȝif þou haddest me hir ȝiue,
& ich hir toke þer whiles y liue,[4060]
Þan wold þi men anon –
Þat wonderful be mani on –
Þe seggen wiþ deshonour
Þou haddest made a pouer man emperour,
& vnworþ þai wold holden of me[4065]
& sum edwite þer wold be
Þat þi douhter desperplid were
ȝif þou to me hadde ȝiuen her here.
Leuer ich hadde litel wiþ worþschipe
Þan michel welden wiþ schenschipe.[4070]
Þerfore, sir emperour, y þe telle
In non maner bileuen y nille.
W(h)ende ichil into mi cuntre[()]
Mine frendes to visite & to se.’
Leue he toke wiþ þat speche[4075]
& seyd ‘Godes sone y þe biteche.’
When þemperour wiþholden him no may
He seþ his wille is to wende o way
Wepen he gan wiþ his eyȝen tvo;
Alle þo of þe court dede also.[4080]
His grete tresour he dede forþ bring [f.130vb] [Image]
& bede it Gij to his likeing
Ac þerof liked him nouȝt to take,
Anouȝ he hadde of Sarraȝins blake.
Also a gode man dede þemperour þere,[4085]
Þerafter to alle Gyes fere,
Riche tresour þan ȝaf he,
Gold & siluer gret plente,
As miche as þai wold vnderfo,
For þemperour it comend so.[4090]
Gret [pris] þai ȝeue þemperour
Þat he was man of gret honour.
Gij diȝt him wiþ riche dubbeing,
Riche wede he dede for him bring.
Of þemperour he toke his leue,[4095]
& he al wepend it him ȝeue
& alle þe kniȝtes of þe cite
Of euerichon leue nam he.
Þer miȝt men se sorwe make
For sir Gij wold fram hem rake;[4100]
Wimen & children mani on
For him þai wepen euerichon.
Þer whiles he was in her ferred
Of no wer no stode hem drede.
¶ Þemperour cleped Herhaud him to[4105]
& aresound him tvene hem tvo,
‘Sir Herhaud, þou schalt bileue wiþ me.
Wele ich þe sigge, & siker þou be,
Þat ich in þis ȝere wille ȝiue þe
Þe richest honour þat in mi lond be.’[4110]
‘Sir’ quaþ Herhaud ‘gramerci.
Wele ȝe wite ich am wiþ sir Gij;
Y no wil depart him fro
For non honour men may me do.’
Sir Gij to his in is ygo[4115]
& areliche amorwe he aros þo.
Into Jnglond he went god-itot.
Ac when þemperour þat soþe wot
Þat Gij þe curteys is ygo
At his hert him was ful wo;[4120]
So was Blauncheflour þe schene,
For his loue sche þoled tene.
Toward Jnglond is Gij ydrawe
& wiþ him Herhaud his gode felawe.
Swiþe hastiliche þai gun ride, [f.131ra] [Image] [4125]
Þe weder was hot in somers tide.
¶ In May it was also ich wene
When floures sprede & springeþ grene.
Into a forest sir Gij is go
Neye a cite nouȝt fer þerfro.[4130]
Þan seyd Gij to his meyney,
‘Wendeþ swiþe wel an heye
Mine in to nim in þe cite.
Ich wil a while here pleye me.’
For to here þe foules singe[4135]
Þerin was þo his likeinge.
His folk he doþ fram him go,
Alon bileft sir Gij þo.
Hadde he noiþer knaue no grome
Seriaunt no squier non.[4140]
Selcouþe it was for to here –
In priue stede stode Gij þere –
So michel he herd þo foules sing
Þat him þouȝt he was in gret longing.
So mani þinges he ofþouȝt[4145]
Þat out of his riȝt way him brouȝt.
So long forþ he is rideing
In his weye forþ secheing
Þat o groning fram fer he herd.
He oflist & þider he ferd.[4150]
Þe mening seyd ‘allas, allas,
Þat ich was born for swiche trespas;
Ac now is me iuel bifelle.
Deþ whi wiltow so long duelle?’
Þiderward sir Gij him drouȝ[4155]
& loked vnder an haweþorn bouȝ.
Þe bodi he seye of a kniȝt,
Þerof he hadde wonder, apliȝt.
Feir & michel he him seþ;
Gij þenkeþ michel & nouȝt no seyþ.[4160]
Þat hors he prikeþ & forþ he goþ,
Þat bodi he bihalt inliche, for soþ.
His barbel first adoun he deþ,
Wiþouten colour his neb he seþ
For þe blod he hadde forlore[4165]
Þat of his bodi he hadde forþ bore.
Ygirt he was wiþ a gode swerd
Þat was wele kerueand doun to þe uerd.
Wele he was y-armed gentilliche [f.131rb] [Image]
Gij of him hadde reuþe miche.[4170]
His name he asked sweteliche
Who him biseye so reweliche.
‘What is þi name? where wer þou bore?
& who haþ ywounded þe so sore?
Ich þe bidde þatow say me[4175]
& for soþe y pliȝt þe
For me schaltow harm haue non.
Who haþ þe þus iuel bigon?’
He answerd ‘þat wille y nouȝt.
In mine hert is swiche sorwe brouȝt[4180]
Þat y dar schewe þe no speche.
Lete me dye y þe biseche.
So michel sigge y þe, sir kniȝt,
ȝif þou wilt pliȝt me anonriȝt
Þi treuþe in hond mine,[4185]
Siker þou be þat al mi pine
& alle mine estris ichil telle þe,
Elles no wostow it nouȝt for me.’
His treuþe sone he him pliȝt,
His liif he teld him anonriȝt.[4190]
‘Now’ he seyd ‘sir kniȝt fre,
Mi name y þe telle & whennes y be. [ name is superscript.]
Of Gormoise icham cleped Tirri
Þeld erls sone Aubri;
Wiþ þe douke of Loreyne ichaue ybe.[4195]
A feir douhter þan hadde he;
Ouer alle oþer we loueden ous
& for loue treuþe pliȝten þus.
For non oþer sche nold me lete
No y no loued non bot þat swete.[4200]
In Godes lawe, for soþe ywis,
Swiche a treuþe bitvix ous is
Armes for hir loue y nam,
& now y þouȝt to han went ham.
Mi priis ichaue wide ysouȝt[4205]
Fram stede to oþer no wond y nouȝt.
¶ Þan come fram hir to me a sond
Þat brouȝt me miche sorwe an hond
Þat þe douke Otus of Paui
Wald mi leman spousey,[4210]
To wham ich was treuþe-pliȝt.
Oisel was hir name ful riȝt
Þat bi letters sche sent to me [f.131va] [Image]
& bi toknes þat wer so fre
Þat ȝif ich hir habbe wold[4215]
Þat to hir comen y schold
To on day þat was ysett
Oþer sche worþ fro me fett.
To hirward y gan spede
Wiþ þritti kniȝtes in mi ferred.[4220]
Eueriche of ous his stede bistrode
& riden ous forþ wiþouten abode
Wher þe douke Otus was & his ferred
Wiþ an hundred kniȝtes of gret pride
& wele to hundred of seriaunce[4225]
Of Lombardy & of Fraunce
For to spouse min owhen wiif
Þat y loued more þan mi liif.
When y þat wist, y sent hir to
So priueliche so ich miȝt it do[4230]
Þat hij schuld come to me.
For gret loue so dede sche;
To me sche come þurth queyntise,
Doun of þe castel in selcouþe wise
Bi on cable alle sleyeliche[4235]
Þat folk it no founde sikerliche.
Y sett hir on a mule amblinde,
In þe way we dede ous rideinde.
Ac þer ich dede gret childhod
Þat al to long y þer abod.[4240]
At our wending of þat cite
Þe liȝt day we miȝten se,
Þer we were yknowen þo
At a brigge as we hadde go,
Þat ich for Oisel was ycome[4245]
Hir fader it was teld atte frome.
Þurth þe cite þe crie was gradde,
Þe maiden was oway ladde.
Þer miȝt men se kniȝtes on hors wende
& me þai oftoken at þe brugge ende.[4250]
Þer we stronglich mett wiþ hem
Mani we slowen of her men.
Alle þai slouȝ mine feren
Þat swiþe gode kniȝtes weren.
Me þai come to nim snelle[4255]
Ac y nold no longer duelle.
Ich toke mi leman on mi stede [f.131vb] [Image]
& ouer þat water wiþ hir ich ȝede.
Alle þat day þai driuen me
Alle fort þai no miȝt for niȝt yse.[4260]
When y was passed þe riuer ariȝt
In hert y was glad & liȝt.
Þat water passi þai no durstin
Þan owayward turn þai mostin.
In þis forest y come rideinde[4265]
Bifor me mi leman ledeinde.
Y no dred robours no þef non
Ac al siker ich wende forþ gon.
What of wakeing & of fasting
& eke þat oþer treueyling[4270]
Osleped swiþe sore ich was
& lay & slepe in þis plas.
Þan com fiftene outlawes strong
Wiþ her men & here me afong.
Alle slepende þai wounded me,[4275]
Anon riȝt nomen he
Mi leman & han hir ladde fro me.
Now, sir, take þerof pite.
Bi þe treuþe þou hast me pliȝt
Socour mi leman ȝif þou miȝt[4280]
& when þat ich dede be
Do me birij y bidde þe.
To þat hulle þou wende anon,
Þou hem findes þer ichon,
& ȝif þat þou so miȝti be[4285]
Þatow may hem alle sle,
Winne þou miȝt a maiden fre;
In þe warld may non feirer be.
& ȝete y may þe more telle,
Mi stede þai han þat is so snelle,[4290]
Þat wiþ strengþe in peyneme ich wan
Of Solagimis þe sone soudan;
Þerfore men han yboden me
.Xv. castels & touns & riche cite [ cite: originally cites, but s erased.]
& .xv. somers of siluer & of gold,[4295]
Ac for an hundred ȝiuen ichit nold.
Now þou hast, sir, alle yherd
Hou ich am bitreyd & amerd.
Take mi scheld & mi hauberk of stiel
& mi swerd þat biteþ wel[4300]
& mine armes ich am in diȝt [f.132ra] [Image]
For ich þe se man of miche miȝt;
To quite þi treuþe þou hast ypliȝt.’
Þan stode þer sir Gij vpriȝt
Wel depe in hert he haþ ysiȝt;[4305]
Grete pite he haþ of þat kniȝt.
He knewe Tirri for his frende
Þat lay þer in hard bende.
‘Sir’ he seyd ‘bi treuþe mine
Þat ich haue pliȝt in hond þine[4310]
Euen forþ mi miȝt ichil help þe;
More miȝt þou nouȝt oxi me.’
Wiþ þat haþ Gij his brond ynome
& his hauberk atte frome
His scheld & his oþer wede[4315]
& to þe hulle jn gret periil he ȝede.
A loge stonden þer he seye
& þer wiþouten a gode stede & heye
Þat was to a bouȝ yteyd.
Gij þeron his talent leyd.[4320]
Sterneliche prikeing he come,
His swerd he drouȝ out anon.
He aliȝt & seyd at his cominge,
‘Þeues, ȝe be ded wiþouten lesinge.
Awarid worþ ȝe ichon[4325]
Boþe ȝour flessche & ȝour bon.
Whi slouȝ ȝe þat ich kniȝt?
Alle ȝe schul die anonriȝt,
& ȝif ani so hardi be
Þat hennes stir toward me[4330]
Ich wille ȝou for soþe say
He bes þe first þat schal day.’
An Almaunde he arauȝt
His heued of at þe first drauȝt.
Ar ani of hem hem were miȝt[4335]
Alle he hem slouȝ, y ȝou pliȝt.
Þo he hadde hem slaun ichon
He lepe opon his stede anon.
Comen he is to þat mayde,
Wel sweteliche to hir he seyde,[4340]
‘Na more sori þou no be
Ac arise vp & com wiþ me.
To þi leman y bringe þe sket
Vnder þe þorn þer þou him let.’
Opon a mule sche warþ anon, [f.132rb] [Image] [4345]
To þe haweþorn þai ben ygon,
Ac þai no haue nouȝt þe kniȝt yfounde,
Yladde he was owai þat stounde.
Þo he fond him nouȝt he was sori
For he wend wel sikerli[4350]
Þat lyouns him hadde todrawe.
He loked adoun vnder þe wode schawe
ȝif he ouȝt yherd loude or heye
Of hors traces hy þer seye.
¶ Þat maiden he lete þare[4355]
& after swiþe he is yfare.
So fast he rode þat he com neye
Four kniȝtes he þer seye.
Gij oftoke sone þat ferrede
& seye þan kn[i]ȝt wiþ hem lede.[4360]
Gij þat heye rode on his stede [ Gij: j altered from þ.]
ȝernne he bad ȝif he miȝt spede.
To þe kniȝtes sir Gij him sade,
‘Lordinges, þilke lord þat ȝou made
& þe niȝt & þe briȝt day[4365]
ȝou do worþschipe so wele he may.
ȝif it be ȝour wille speke wiþ me
To mi speche vnderstond ȝe.
Lordinges ich haue mi treuþe ypliȝt
To him þat ȝe lede þ[i]lke kniȝt[4370]
Þat biri y schal his bodi;
Mi treuþe y him pliȝt sikerly.
Al for loue ich ȝou biseche
His bodi þat ȝe me biteche.
Þat o kniȝt went to himward[4375]
Þat was þe douke Otus steward
Þat hadde ypassed þe riuere
In a bot þat he fond þere
& seyd to Gij ‘who artow?
Als a fole comen artow now.[4380]
Comestow now to aski riȝt
To haue þe bodi of our kniȝt?
For his fere we nim þe snelle.
To þe douke Otous lede we þe wille
& ȝe schul boþe demed be[4385]
& heye hong on galwe tre.’
Gij him seyd ‘þou mi[s]seyst
& bi mine heued þou it abeyst.’
Opon þe heued Gij him smot [f.132va] [Image]
Vnto þe girdel stede þat swerd bot.[4390]
Anoþer he smot riȝt anon,
Spare nold [he] neuer on.
Of his hors he has him feld
His heued he dede fleye in þe feld.
Wiþ þat come þe gode Hogoun,[4395]
Þe doukes nevou Otoun.
He smot Gij on þe scheld bifore
Þat neye he haþ his swerd forlore.
For schame he hadde of þe stroke þare
Gij smot Hogoun & nouȝt him forbare.[4400]
Ouerþuert þat swerd glod
& toclef him wiþouten abod.
Whar to schuld y make tale of nouȝt?
Alle he haþ hem to deþ ybrouȝt.
He nam Tirri in his armes anon[4405]
& sett him his hors opon.
To þat haweþorn he is yfare
Þan fond he nouȝt þat maiden þare.
Lete we now of Gij be stille.
More ȝe schul here ȝif ȝe wille[4410]
Of þat maiden hou sche was nome;
Þan schal we til our tale come.
Of Gyes felawes y wille ȝou telle,
So y finde in mi spelle,
Þat so long were in þe cite.[4415]
Wonder hem þenkeþ where Gij be
For þe mete was alle ȝare
Wonder hem þouȝt wer Gij ware.
¶ Herhaud of Ardern & oþer mo
Into þe forest þai ben ygo.[4420]
Þai [ne] miȝt finde [him] for no secheing.
Herhaud cast sone his lokeing,
Biside him he herd a mening
Also it were a woman schricheing.
Hye bigan loude to grede,[4425]
Herhaud neyȝed & his ferrede.
Þe haweþorn þai ȝede wel neye
& þe (þe) maiden þer þai seye.
Herhaud hir oxed what hij was.
Sche no told him nouȝt al her cas[4430]
Bot þat sche was a wriche wiman
Þat michel sorwe so was an.
For alle þat sorwe þan hade he [f.132vb] [Image]
For sche no miȝt hir leman se.
Sche forbede him anonriȝt[4435]
Þat noman sett on hir siȝt.
Herhand tok þat mayde wiþ him
& ladde hir hom to his in.
Now wende we oȝain to our spelle
Þat ȝe me herd er þan telle[4440]
Of Gij & Tirri þerls sone
Hou þai ben to þe haweþorn come.
When hij þider ycomen were
No fond hij nouȝt þe maiden þere.
Gij bileft þer sir Tirri[4445]
& souȝt þat maiden bi & bi,
Op & doun he ȝede hir secheinde
& sorwefulliche hir bimeninde.
He wende sche were stole wiþ outlawe
Oþer wiþ wilde bestes ydrawe.[4450]
For hir in hert him was ful wo
Þat he no wist what to do.
No wist he what do he miȝt
To þe cite he went anonriȝt.
When he hir finde no may[4455]
Homward he most take þe way.
Þan toke he þat kniȝt
On his stede nek he sett him riȝt.
Ycomen he is to þe cite,
His men al sori findeþ he[4460]
& when hij her lord seye come
Bliþe þai were alle & some.
‘Lordinges’ he seyd ‘nimeþ þis bodi
& to þe grounde it lay wel softli.’
Þe bodi þai toke of þat kniȝt[4465]
Opon a pal leyd it anonriȝt.
Gij haþ ofsent leches þere,
Þe wisest þat in þat cite were.
‘Lordinges’ he seyd ‘vnderstond to me.
ȝif ȝe þis kniȝt þat ȝe here se[4470]
May on him his woundes hele,
It worþ ȝou ȝolden eueridele.
ȝif he dede or liues be
Ich bihot ȝou min frende fre
Him to hele ȝour miȝt ȝe do[4475]
An hundred besaunce y ȝif þerto.’
Þai groped his veynes & his wounde, [f.133ra] [Image]
Þai feld hem boþe hele & sounde,
Wele hij seþ he nis nouȝt dede.
Þe leches taken hem to rede;[4480]
In forward hele him þai wille
In non maner lete þai nille.
¶ Þer whiles ofherd sir Gij
Noise & wepe & wel gret crie.
His chaumberleyn he cleped him to[4485]
& alle in wretþe he oxed him þo
Who it was þat noise made;
Bid hem alle be bliþe & glade.
‘Sir’ he seyd ‘a maiden it is
Þat Herhaud fond, wel feir ywis,[4490]
Vnder an haweþorn in þe forest.’
Quaþ Gij ‘fete hir to me in hast,
Swiþe þat ich miȝt hir se;
Now hastiliche bringeþ hir to me.’
Þe chaumberleyn is forþ ygon[4495]
& brouȝt hir biforn hem anon.
Gij hir knewe & gan hir gret:
‘Welcome be þou, mi lef swete.’
As sche was into þe halle ycome
Wepeinde & sorwende vndernome[4500]
Wiþ þat hij seye þat bodi, ywis,
Liggend on a pal of pris.
¶ ‘A leman Tirri’ quaþ sche þo,
‘What y se þi neb al blo
Þat so white of colour was;[4505]
Þi better neuer yborn nas.
In wroched time mi bodi þou say
When þou schalt for me day.
Dye ichil forþ wiþ þe,
For sorwe liues no may y be,[4510]
Bot y may dye ichil me quelle,
Leng to libbe is nouȝt mi wille.
Seþ þen þou hast þi deþ for me
For soþe dye ichil for þe.’
When sche seye Tirri hir leman[4515]
Ouer him sche fel aswon onan.
Gij hir in his armes nam
& seyd to hir ‘mi leue leman
No make þou nouȝt sorwe so miche;
Þi leman worþ hole hastiliche.’[4520]
In þat cite þai bileued þere [f.133rb] [Image]
What Tirry was hole & fere.
To þe wode þai ben ygo
Miche loue was bitven hem to.
On a day as þai com fram hunting[4525]
Gij seyd to Tirry wiþouten lesing
‘Ich wil þat we be treuþe-pliȝt
& sworn breþer anonriȝt,
Tirri’ seyd (to) sir Gyoun.
‘Vnderstond now to mi resoun[4530]
Þat noiþer oþer after þis
No faile oþer while he liues is.’
¶ Wiþ þat answerd þerl Tirri
& seyd ‘wel bleþelich, sir Gij,
Now þou louest so miche me[4535]
Þat tow mi sworn broþer wil be
No wille ich neuer feyle þe
For nouȝt þat mai bifalle me.
Gret worþschip þou hast don me,
God leue me ȝete þan day yse[4540]
Þat ich it þe mow wele ȝeld
For gode baroun þou art yheld.
Fram deþ þou hast ywarist me,
Wel gret wrong it schuld be
Bot ich þe loued as mi lord fre;[4545]
Wel gret worþschip ich ouȝt bere þe.’
Treuþe bitven hem is pliȝt
& after kist anonriȝt.
Seþ þen þai went into þe cite
Wiþ ioie & mirþe gamen & gle.[4550]
Now Gij him makeþ him alle ȝare
Into Jnglond for to fare.
Tirri he wald lede wiþ him þo
& Oysel his leman þat he loued so.
To þe king þai wold hem aqueynti[4555]
& gode þrowe wiþ him soiornni.
Biteche he him wille his castels alle
So he him biþouȝt ȝif it miȝt falle.
¶ It was opon a somers day
Gij out at a windowe lay[4560]
To Tirri he spac of her fare
Of her wele & of her care.
Wiþ þat com prikeing anonriȝt
A kniȝt he semed wele, apliȝt,
Wele he semed he treuaild were. [f.133va] [Image] [4565]
Gij anon clept to him þere
‘Sir kniȝt ‘he seyd ‘whennes comestow?
& what þou sechest telle me now.’
¶ Þe kniȝt answerd ‘jichil þe telle
& nouȝt þerof leyȝen y nille.[4570]
Tirri of Gurmoise y go secheinde
Þerl sone Aubri wele doinde.
In mani londes ich haue him souȝt.’
‘Wharto’ quaþ Gij ‘hele it nouȝt.’
‘Sir’ quaþ he ‘y telle þe sone[4575]
Of a gret sorwe þat is ydone.
Tirri serued þe douke Loyere,
Þe douke him loued & held him dere,
& ȝaf him armes wiþ gret honour;
Kniȝt he bicome of gret valour.[4580]
Þe douke hadde a feir douhter for þe meistri
Þat was yȝouen to þe douke of Paui.
Tirri hir loued & oway ladde
Wharþurth mani man þe deþ hadde.
Wiþ strengþe him folwed kniȝtes bliue,[4585]
Y not wher he be ȝete oliue.
¶ Þe douke Loyer biþouȝt him þo
Opon his fader for to go.
Þe douke Loyer wiþ him ladde
Þe douke of Paui þider he hadde[4590]
Wiþ his gode cheualrie
Þe best of al Lombardye.
In Gormoise þerl bisett han he
& destrud alle his cuntre.
Bot God me leue Tirri finde[4595]
Þat he be his fader helpinde
Al his lond him tit forgo;
No schal he it oȝain win neuer mo.
His fader no may armes weld
No no lenge help him self for eld.’[4600]
¶ ‘Sir kniȝt’ þan seyd sir Gij,
‘Her wiþ ous þou schalt herberwei
& of þerl Tirri telle y þe
ȝif ich ouȝt can mi frende fre.’
‘Gramerci, sir’ þan seyd he,[4605]
‘Of him to here leue war me.’
Gij hete his folk hastiliche
Þat hye him vnderfeng curteysliche.
‘Ichil þe telle’ quaþ sir Gij, [f.133vb] [Image]
‘Þat y can of þerl Tirri.’[4610]
When þai hadde d[r]onken in þe halle
& glad þai were y telle ȝou alle
¶ Þan seyd þerl Tirri,
‘For loue y bidde þe, sir Gij,
Oȝain to mi cuntre com wiþ me,[4615]
Also we sworn breþer be,
Mi fader to help þat we spede,
For of help he haþ gret nede.’
‘Be stille’ seyd Gij ‘what seystow me?
Þat day to God vnworþi y be[4620]
ȝif y sir Tirri feyle þe
Þerwhiles þat ich haue liif in me.’
‘Sir Gij’ he seyd (he) ‘gramerci
Þilke y sigge þe sikerly.’
Now sendeþ Gij after kniȝtes snelle[4625]
Almaines swiþe & of gode wille.
To him þer come gret plente;
Er þe tventiday ycomen be
Fif hundred kniȝtes hardi & hende
To Tirri come for his frende[4630]
& seyd to Tirri ‘to þi fader we wil gon.
Wele we it auȝt to don;
Wel redi we ben ichon.’
So long þai han forþ ygon
Ycomen þai ben to Gormoise.[4635]
In þat cite was gret noise.
In an euening þai com to þe cite
Þat hye wiþouten aperceiued nar he.
Wel glad him was þerl Aubri
Of þe cominge of his sone Tirri[4640]
& of sir Gyes coming
Þat gode kniȝt was wiþouten lesing.
Her eyȝen watred for gladnesse,
Alle þai ȝede oȝain him to kisse.
‘Leue fader’ seyd sir Tirri,[4645]
‘Worþschip wele now sir Gij;
Felawes we ben treuþe-ypliȝt.
Y wil þat ȝe it wite now riȝt
Fram deþ he haþ yheled me.’
Quaþ þerl ‘God yþonked mot it be. [4650] [ God is superscript.]
Hennes forward alle þat min is
To his wille schal ben, ywis,
His hest to don & his wille [f.134ra] [Image]
Erliche & lat, loude & stille.
A wel eld man ich am, ywis,[4655]
Þat y bar armes tventi ȝer it is;
Ylorn ich haue cheualrie
Of mi lond haue þou þe meistrie.’
Þan yherberwed weren he
Worþschipliche in þat cite.[4660]
In þe cite gret noise is made
Of þe barouns com þai ben wel glade.
Þerin is now þerl Aubri
So is sir Gij & sir Tirri.
An arnmorwe aros sir Gij[4665]
& cleped to him his compeynie.
Bifor þerl þan þai ferden
& a gret crie þai herden
Of þe barouns of þe cite.
Anon oxed Gij þe fre[4670]
Of þat noise what it was.
A squier told him al þat cas
‘Þe douke steward Loyer
For present he comeþ to iusti here
ȝif he finde wiþ whom to do[4675]
Þat ani kniȝt durst cum him to.’
Sir Gij answer[d] ‘ȝif y may
Þerof him worþ his fille today.’
‘Lordinges’ he seyd ‘ginneþ ȝou armi
& gin whe hem to asaily.’[4680]
‘Sir erl Tirri’ Gij him sede,
‘Take to hundred kniȝtes in þi ferred.
Þe lordinges to aseyl ȝe go. [This line written at the end of the column, its correct position marked by a-b and crosses.]
In Herhaud & in me trist also.
We wil abide in þis cite[4685]
In þi nede we schul socour þe.’
Tirri nimeþ wiþ him kniȝtes
To hundred armed in fiȝtes.
Out of þe cite he nam his way;
Mani scheld he todrof þat day.[4690]
Tirri smot wiþ gret miȝt
Opon þe helmes þat schine briȝt.
Þurth þe bodi a kniȝt he bar;
Ded he feld him adoun þar.
Anoþer lording he smot þo,[4695]
His hauberk nas him worþ a slo,
Þurth his bodi þe brond went; [f.134rb] [Image]
Ded he feld him verrament.
Ich on of hem þat he toke he slouȝ
Were it wiþ riȝt, were it wiþ wouȝ.[4700]
Wel fel kniȝtes þer weren yfeld
Þat lay long streȝte in þe feld;
Sum were þurth þe bodi wounde
& sum lay ded opon þe grounde.
So wele dede þerl Tirri[4705]
& wiþ him alle his compeynie,
Þe lordinges þai han so þurth-gon
Þat ded þai fel mani on.
Tirri smot to þe constable,
Of his stede he feld him wiþouten fable,[4710]
& ney he hadde him wonne in fiȝt.
Þer com an hundred kniȝtes of gret miȝt,
Alle þai folwed him abaundoun
& he mett wiþ hem als a lyoun.
Mani heuedes he dede of fle;[4715]
Alle þat he smot ded most be.
Tirri misdede nouȝt for þan,
Þer he les his feren euerich man
Þurth strengþe of þe lordinges snelle,
Fif hundred of kniȝtes felle.[4720]
Tirries felawes ben ouercome
Ofheld, yslawe, oþer ynome.
Ac Tirri hem goþ þan meteing
Wiþ mani strok of his brond kerueing.
A fot no deyned him nouȝt to fle[4725]
No his stede wiþwende oȝe.
His feren he rescoud as a gode kniȝt
Mani on he feld ded anonriȝt.
Þan seyd Herhaud ‘leue sir Gij,
Sestow now þe gode erl Tirri?[4730]
Of grete valour now so is he
His better wot y non bot te.
Him to socour we auȝt to go.’
Gij him answerd ‘we schul so.’
Forþ þai ȝede wiþ gode welle[4735]
Þe lordinges hij astounded snelle.
Wiþ þat com forþ sir Gij
In his hond his swerd blodi;
Wel heteliche he smot a kniȝt,
His bodi he clef adoun riȝt.[4740]
Anoþer kniȝt he smot anon [f.134va] [Image]
Þat ded he feld him on þe ston.
Sir Gij him smot to Gayer [ Gij is superscript.]
Þat was þe doukes nevou Loyer;
Of his hors he haþ him feld[4745]
Þurth Tirries help in þe feld;
For he smot his felawe,
In þe sond he haþ him slawe.
Herhaud smot anoþer forþ,
His armes was him nouȝt worþ.[4750]
Þurth his bodi þe swerd ȝede,
Ded he feld him of his stede.
Anoþer he smot him as gode kniȝt,
Of his stede he feld him doun riȝt.
Now þai ginne togider smite,[4755]
Non no spared oþer bot lite.
Togider þai smite hard wiþ alle,
Mani on þer was ded & doun falle.
Who þat seye þan þerl Tirri
Wiþ his felawe sir Gi[4760]
& Herhaud of Arderne þe gode
Þat wele to smite was in his mode.
So mani þai nomen & feld þat day,
Is non þe best chese may
Of þre kniȝtes so wele doinde[4765]
Oȝain þe Loreyns fiȝting.
Gij to þe steward haþ ysmite,
Of his hors he feld him wiþ hete.
Þurth strengþe of fiȝt he him wan;
Þe oþer oway fleye ich man.[4770]
Gij & Tirri hem folweþ stron[g]liche
& her ferren hardiliche.
Alle þai ben ded oþer ouercome,
Þer bileued non vnnome.
Gij & Tirri oȝain ben ygon[4775]
Wiþ hem þai ladde her prisouns ichon.
Wharto schuld y þer of lye?
Þat day þai hadde þe maistrie.
Þan com forþ a kniȝt þer
Þe tiding teld þe douke Loyer.[4780]
‘Sir douk’ he seyd ‘vnderstond to me.
To ben awreken now biþenke þe.
Bifor Gormoise þat cite
On arnemorwe þan come we
Wiþ fif hundred of gode kniȝtes [f.134vb] [Image] [4785]
An acumbraunce ous come anonriȝtes.
Alle nomen & slawen ben hye
Wiþ him of Warwike, sir Gij.
Oȝein ne beþ nouȝt comen fourti.
Repeired is þerl sir Tirri[4790]
Herhaud of Ardern þe gode marchis
& wiþ hem fif hundred kniȝtes of pris
Þat gode ben to fiȝt & modi;
Þine kniȝtes þai han sleyn bi & bi.
Þe douk answerd ‘is it soþe þis[4795]
Þat þerl Tirri repeired is,
Gij of Warwike & Herhaud also,
& her feren þat gode ben mo?
Þe fende hem haþ þider ybrouȝt,
To slen ous alle þai han in þouȝt.’[4800]
¶ Þan bispac Otus of Paui –
To Gij he bar gret envie –
‘No þing, sir, desmay þou þe;
Ful wel we schul awreken be.
Tomorwe we schal to þe cite go[4805]
Wiþ a þousend kniȝtes & mo
& ȝif þe treytours yfounden be
We schul hem aseyle y telle þe;
Euerichon þai worþen ded.’
Quaþ þe douk ‘þat is a gode red.’[4810]
Wel erliche þai arisen þo
& to þe cite þai ben ygo
& a þousend kniȝtes in her compeynie
Þe best þat were in Lombardye.
Alle þai þreten sir Gij[4815]
Him for to slen & sir Tirri.
Togider fast þai gun smite
Wiþ swerdes þat wil wele bite.
Als Gij com fro chirche go
Into a pleyne he loked þo,[4820]
He seye þe doukes ost was neye
So mani kniȝtes þer he seye.
Þan þerl Tirri he cleped him to
& to him wiȝtliche spac þo.
‘Sir erl’ he seyd ‘what schal we do?[4825]
Alle þe ost of Loreine y se, lo!
Þe ost of Loreyne wele ydiȝt
Wiþ scheldes & wiþ brinis briȝt.
Þe douk of Paui is ycome; [f.135ra] [Image]
By his armes y knowe þat gome.[4830]
Y no may him (he) loue, he is mi fo;
Gret wille me comeþ oȝain him go.’
Þerl seyd ‘arme we ous euerichon.
A þousend kniȝtes schul wiþ ous gon.’
Gij him mett wiþ þerl Jordan –[4835]
Lord he was of alle Melan.
He smot him ouer þe gilden scheld;
Ded he feld him in þe feld.
Anon he smot anoþer kniȝt
Þat ded he feld him anonriȝt.[4840]
¶ Wiþ þat come prike þerl Tirri
& mett wiþ a kniȝt hiȝt Amori
Þat was þe doukes constable Otoun;
To deþ he him smot wiþ his swerd broun.
Anoþer he smot wiþ his brond[4845]
Þat ded he feld him on þe sond.
¶ Wiþ þat com prike Herhaud
& mett wiþ Gwishard þe Mouhaut.
Herhaud him haþ þer afeld
Þat dede he lay in þe feld.[4850]
Þemperour wiþ þat ginneþ fle
On euerich half driuen ben he.
Swiþe hij hem nimeþ & quel[l]eþ
Bi þe pleynes þai gredeþ & ȝelleþ.
Wel gret it was þe scomfitour,[4855]
To þe Lombardes bifel iuel auentour.
Bi þat side was Otous fleinde
In his hond his swerd kerueing.
Now folweþ him Herhaud alle on
So swiþe so þe stede miȝt gon.[4860]
Als-so þe douk was flowen him fro
Þat no moder bern no seye him þo.
Bot Herhaud him folwed stouteliche
His bodi no drad he nouȝt miche.
Bihinden him he smewe his wede[4865]
Þe lasse of him was his drede.
‘Biwende þe’ seyd Herhaud fre,
‘Þe douke of Paui & wer þou þe
Of þat ich wicked felonie
Þat þou ous dede jn Lonbardye.’[4870]
When þe douke Otus þis yseye
It was Herhaud þat after him fleye
Hastiliche he haþ him mett [f.135rb] [Image]
& at a diche him bisett.
He smot him on þe helme briȝt,[4875]
A quarter of his helme doun riȝt.
Þan seyd þe treytour ‘glotoun,
Dye þou schalt wiþ resoun.
Ich þe abie in þis stede.’
Herhaud anon to him sede,[4880]
¶ ‘Þou lexst’ he seyd ‘vile losaniour
Þou it abist bi seyn Sauour.’
Herhaud a strok him rauȝt
Opon his scheld wiþ gret mauȝt.
On þe helme þat strok glod[4885]
& fel on þe stede þat he on rode.
So he mett him in þat stede
Þat his stede knewele he dede.
Vp stirt þe stede þat was snelle
Þan come þer bi an hongend hille[4890]
Þe miȝti & þe hardi Gyoun,
In his hond he bar a trounsoun.
Otus he smot þerwiþ so
Þat he les his stiropes to.
Þan seyd Gij to Otus so vnwrast,[4895]
‘To meward þou wende on hast
& were þe of þat felonie
Þat þou dest me in Lombardye.’
Otus him went wiþ gret hete,
Þurth þe þei Gij he haþ ysmite.[4900]
Wiþ gret hete he smot Gyoun
Þat his stede knewled adoun.
Þan biþouȝt him sir Gij
To awreke him he hadde gret hye.
Þe douke he seyleþ þere[4905]
& of his helme he carf a quarter.
He made him a croun brod þere
As a monke þat orderd were.
Of þat helme þat swerd glod
Wiþ þat strok wiþouten abod.[4910]
Allas þat reuþe & þat sorwe
Þat he no hadde his bodi forcorue,
Ac in þat maner ȝete it schal wende
Whoso hereþ þis tale to þende.
Þer him hadde Gij his heued binome[4915]
No hadde gret socour to him come;
An hundred kniȝtes & fifti [f.135va] [Image]
Þat stalworþ were & hardi.
Þe douke þai ben to socour ycome,
Mani Gij haþ her heuedes binome.[4920]
Wiþ þat þer come a stout Lombard
Of Mohaut he was yhoten Grimbald.
Gij he smot in þat stounde
Þurth þe scholder a grete wounde.
Gij wold awreke him anon,[4925]
Opon his helme he hewe gode won.
Þan com ten kniȝtes prout
& Gij þai bisett about,
& Gij him wered wiþ his brond
Til þat it brac vnto his hond.[4930]
‘Allas’ quaþ Gij ‘þis vnþang
Were no may y me nouȝt lang.’
¶ Þer come prikeand a prout Lombard
Atte last he held him a musard.
Bi þe nasel he tok Gij[4935]
& seyd him a gret vilainie,
‘Þou wreche glotoun losaniour
Þou schalt þe ȝeld bi seyn Sauour.
Now ichil ȝeld þe to prisoun
To mi lordes wille þe douke Otoun.’[4940]
‘Þou lext’ þan Gij sede,
‘Þou liþer bodi, so God me rede.
Erst þou it schalt abigge
Er þou me in prisoun legge.’
Gij him smot so wiþ his fest[4945]
Þat his nek-bon tobrest.
Wiþ þat come anoþer kniȝt
Of Fraunce ybore, Amori he hiȝt,
Douke Otus soudour was he
For his warisoun wiþ him to be.[4950]
‘Gij’ he seyd ‘now ȝeld þou þe
Al sikerliche now to me
Þe no tit harm litel no miche.’
‘Y nil’ quaþ Gij ‘sikerliche.
ȝete no drede y nouȝt alle ȝou.[4955]
Sey me wreche what seistow?’
Wiþ þat come Herhaud prikeinde
& in his hond a swerd wele kerueinde.
He it brouȝt to gode Gyoun
Þerwiþ he him werd as a lyoun.[4960]
Gij was socourd swiþe wel [f.135vb] [Image]
When he hadde þe brond of stiel.
Neuer þer nas non so hardi
Þat enes durst com him bi.
Wharto schuld ich held long tale[4965]
& michel speke about dualle?
Ac sigge ichil soþeliche
Wiþ fewe wordes simpeliche
Gij & Herhaud & Tirri þe fre
Wiþ her felawes þat gode be[4970]
Han ouercomen þe batayle
Atte nende wiþouten faile.
Alle þe Lombard ben ouercome
Oway yflowen þer be some.
Þe douk Otus oway fleye snelle[4975]
Gij him drof wiþ gode wille.
Otus him went & smot sir Gij,
& Gij opon him sikerly.
Gij fonded to smite wel
Ac þat swerd glod sumdel[4980]
Bitvene þe bodi & þe arsoun.
Gyes swerd glod adoun
Þat þe sadel & þe stede also
Al togider he smot atvo.
Þat he no hadde, allas, allas,[4985]
ȝouen him swiche anoþer so þat was.
Ac for vpcoming he no miȝt
So gret socour him com of kniȝt
Þat han ysocourd þe douke sone.
Wiþ þat anonriȝt mididone[4990]
Gij & Tirri wiþwent ben he
& gon oȝain to þat cite.
Wiþ þat come Herhaud prikeinde
After þe douke loude gredeinde.
‘Douk’ he seyd ‘wende & were þe[4995]
Of þe tresoun þou dest Gij & me
Þat þou ous dede in Lombardye;
Were þe now of þat felonie.’
¶ Þe douk wiþwent him fot-hot
& wiþ his brond he him smot.[5000]
Þer þai fouȝten togider snelle
& smiten strokes wiþ gode wille.
Þai hewe on armes & brini briȝt,
Þe blod sprang out anonriȝt.
Bitvene hem was strong fiȝt, [f.136ra] [Image] [5005]
Aiþer no spard oþer no wiȝt.
Þan biginneþ Herhaud swiþe,
Bot he him wreke he is vnbliþe.
Fast he sayleþ þe douk Otoun,
A quarter of his helme he smot adoun.[5010]
Opon his scholder þat swerd glod
& in he it schef an hand brod.
Opon his honden he dede him falle
& seþ þe he tok him bi þe naselle.
Bleþeliche he wold þe heued haue nom[5015]
Ac so mani kniȝtes to him come
& on Herhaud þai smiten snelle,
ȝernne þai strengþed him to quelle.
Herhaud mett wiþ hem þere,
Made he no semblaunt þat he wounded were.[5020]
Wiþ a Lombard so mett he,
Þe heued he dede fram þe bodi fle.
As a gode kniȝt he werd him, ywis,
Ac swiþe liþer bifallen him is.
Also he wald to þe cite go[5025]
His stede dyed vnder him þo.
Wiþ swerdes þai smiten him þan about
& on his helme hard him clout.
Þai hewe on his helme þat blod out ran
Ac he werd him as a man.[5030]
Mani on he made blodi, y pliȝt,
Of Lombardes in þat fiȝt. [ Of: f has been altered from b.]
A Lombard come forþ wiþ þan,
Richard he hete an onwrast man.
To Herhaud he smot a strok grim[5035]
Þurth þe scholder wiþ a swerd in.
Herhaud wold of him be wreke,
On his helme a stroke he gan reke,
Ac he failed of him þo,
Opon þe arsoun þe strok gan go.[5040]
Ac hetelich he pliȝt out þat brond
Þat it brak in his hond.
‘God what schal y do? ‘þan seyd he,
‘No lenger may ich weri me.
A, swerd, he þat made þe[5045]
Of Godes mouþe acursed he be.
Why feylestow so sone me?
Iuel biseyn worþ y for þe.
Leuer me is her to be ded [f.136rb] [Image]
Þan hij my bodi wiþ hem led.’[5050]
Wiþ þat come driuend a Lombard,
Attelast he held him a couward.
By þe nasel he rauȝt him þo
& sternliche he seyd him to,
‘Feloun, þou schalt it abigge.[5055]
Today þou schal þine heued her ligge.’
Herhaud smot him wiþ his fest þo
Þat his nek bon brac atvo.
‘Ded no worþ y nouȝt for þe;
Alle to heteliche þou com to me.’[5060]
Oȝainward him went sir Gij
So is þe gode erl Tirri.
Þe Lombardes þai han ouercome
What yslawe & ynome.
After Herhaud he asked þo,[5065]
Whare he is & whider ygo.
A kniȝt it seyd him anon
Out of þe scomfite he was ygon
Strongliche a kniȝt driueing
Þe douk Otus bi his witeing.[5070]
‘God merci’ þan Gij seyd,
‘Be mi frende ded icham bitreyd.
Herhaud þat so loued me
For no þing may y comfort be.’
‘Lordinges’ he seyd ‘ginneþ ȝe to gon[5075]
& lede ȝour prisouns wiþ ȝou anon
& Herhaud ich seche wille.
Niȝt no day swiken y nille,
Liues or deþes, þat ich him se;
ȝif ich him lese wo is me.[5080]
Com wiþ me felawe Tirri
Hastiliche Herhaud to socouri.’
Wiþ scharp spors þai smiten her stede
& sprongen forþ so spark on glede.
Swiþe þai priked, for soþe to sigge,[5085]
Chalaunge on Herhaud to legge.
At an ende of þe ost bihalt Gij þo
Þe douk of Paui hou he is ygo
& þat Herhaud was ynome.
Gret sor was at his hert ycome.[5090]
‘Bi God’ quaþ Gij ‘Herhaud y se [ Bi: added in a later hand.]
Among his fon nomen is he.
Go we smite to hem Tirri [f.136va] [Image]
For dout of deþ spare nil y.
So gode a kniȝt leten y nille.’[5095]
Herhaud þai socourd snelle.
To a Lombard smot sir Gij
& feld him & his fere him by.
Tirri anoþer smite bigan
Þat ded he feld boþe hors & man.[5100]
Swerdes þai drowen wiþouten feyle
Wharwiþ was wrouȝt mani batayle.
Þai hewe & slouȝ wiþ gret hete
So mani þer þe liif forlete.
Herhaud þai socourd, mididone,[5105]
A gode swerd þai toke him sone.
Toward his ost þe douke heyeþ bliue
& Gij after him gan driue.
A strok him ȝaf sir Gyoun,
Bitvene þe bodi & þe arsoun[5110]
Þe dint of þat strok aliȝt;
Þe stede he smot adoun riȝt.
Kniȝtes þan out of þat ost
To Gij lopen wiþ michel bost.
Þurth þat gret ost went Gij snelle;[5115]
Þe Lombardes him folwed wiþ gode wille.
Tirri & Herhaud her ost metten þere
& of hem michel awonderd were
Hou hij fram þe ost aschaped is; [ hij: altered from he.]
Of hem þai hadden gret blis.[5120]
Gij & Tirri & Herhaud also
Oȝain to þe cite þai ben ygo,
& þe citiseins of þat cite
Wel often God þonkeden he.
Þe douke Otus to his pauiloun he ȝede[5125]
& vnarmed him of his wede
& lete loken to his wounde
& went to þe douke Loyer in þat stounde.
His gret encumbraunce him telde
Conseyl þerof he wold helde.[5130]
¶ Gij, Herhaud & Tirri also
To þe cite þai ben ygo,
Ioie þai make & blisse also.
Þe niȝt is comen þe day is go.
¶ Herkeneþ me ȝe þat ben in wille[5135]
Of a tresoun y schal ȝou telle
Þat was swiþe miche traisoun [f.136vb] [Image]
& ywrouȝt þurth þe douke Otoun.
Tellen ichil of þe douk Otoun
Þat cruwel was & feloun.[5140]
To þe douk Loier he is ygon
& seyd ‘sir, herken me anon.
Bot þou gode conseyl chese
Al þi lond þou schalt forlese
Þurth treytours þat ben comen her in,[5145]
Gij & Tirri & Herhaud wiþ him.
ȝif þou wilt here me speke
Þurth gile þou schalt ben awreke.
Oþerliker winnen hem y no may
No noþer rede no can y say.[5150]
Man schal ben awreken of his fo
In what maner he may com to.’
¶ ‘Wel lef me were gode conseyl to here,’
Þus him answerd þe douk Loyer.
‘Sir douke, now y bidde þe[5155]
To þerl Aubri sende ȝe
& to his sone Tirri also;
Sende to sigge to hem bo
Þat þou wilt him þi douhter ȝeue
Wiþ him to acord while þou liue,[5160]
& þat he com hider to þe
Riȝt siker þerof may þai be.
& when þai ben farn her iurne
& fer fram her cuntre
Þe treitours þou schalt nimen icho[n][5165]
& dem hem in þi court anon.
& so michel y bid þe
Gij & Herhaud ȝiue þou me,
& so þou schalt awreke be
Of þine enmis as y telle þe.[5170]
& bot ȝe wil þus don
Þai worþ þi dedliche fon.’
Wiþ þat answerd þe douk Loer
‘Lat be, sir Otus, for seyn Richer,
Þat felonie y nil hem nouȝt do[5175]
For nouȝt þat y miȝt afo.
Y nil bitray þerl Tirri
For loue þat he was mi norri
Fram childehed now he is a man.
Now do ȝe þe best þat ȝe can [5180] [Catchword: & he wille amend to.]
& he wil amend oȝines me. [f.137ra] [Image]
Bi him y nold no traysoun se [ y: is superscript.]
No Herhaud no Gij þe fre
No wille ich nouȝt bitreye y telle þe,
For þai ben godemen alle þre;[5185]
Amende þai may oȝaines me.’
Otous answerd wiþ wicked mod
& seyd ‘sir no seystow bot gode.
When ȝe þe traitours loue so
Þat ȝe no wille hem to deþ do;[5190]
In prisoun þou schalt hem legge
So þat hij it schul dere abigge
Alle fort þai han yfounden þe ostage
Þat hij no do þe non vtrage.’
So he glosed þe douk in þat stede[5195]
& so ȝernne he haþ him bede
Þat he him graunted his talent
& þat fourme he haþ ofsent.
An erchebischop þan sent he,
Þe wissest of alle þat cuntre,[5200]
Þe message he schewed him þo
& to þe cite he dede him go.
Þan he is to Gormoise come
& þer aliȝt þe gentil gome
Þer fond he þerl Tirri[5205]
& his fader & eke sir Gij.
¶ ‘Lordinges’ he seyd ‘herkeneþ now.
Þe douk me haþ ysent to ȝou
& greteþ ȝou wele, wil y nouȝt hele.
Þe douke wiþ ȝou acord he wele[5210]
& amenden þat he haþ misdo;
He bit ȝou þat it be so.
Tirri he wille his douhter ȝiue
To haue hir while þat he liue.
Into þe cite of Lorein he wil ȝe hir lede[5215]
& spouse hir þer wiþ gret ferrede,
& þer he wille þe bridal held,
Þerat schul ben his barouns beld.
Þat þe loue stedefast be
Bitvene mi lord & þe[5220]
Hennes forward he seyd me
Schuld þe sposails couþe be.
Þan schul ȝe acordi
& togider sauȝten wele an hi.’
‘Sir’ seyd þerl Aubri, [f.137rb] [Image] [5225]
‘Yhere now me & gramerci;
Þe douke y þanke for þe frendschip
Þat he wil mi sone so miche worþschipe.
Bleþeliche we wil to him come
At a day ysett alle & some.[5230]
Mi sone Tirri kepe wele þe
Þat bitrayed þou no be.
Me douteþ þe douke of Paui
Lest he do þe sum felonie.’
Þe bischop answerd ‘þerof þou no drede[5235]
Al siker ȝe beþ of þilke dede.’
Þe bischop oȝain yfarn he is;
Her answere he telleþ hem, ywis.
When þe day come þat was sett
Þerl com forþ wiþouten lett[5240]
Wiþ to hundred kniȝtes & mo
Þat bliþe were þider to go.
Ac þerof þai dede foliliche;
Was þer non of hem sikerliche
Þat ani wepen wiþ hem bere[5245]
So siker þai wende to be þere.
In riche cloþes þai were schred wele
Þat were gold broiden eueridel.
To þemperour þai comen anon
(To) þerl Tirri & his men ichon.[5250]
Ycomen þai ben to þe douke Loer
& brouȝt þe maide wiþ leyȝeand cher.
Ycomen þai ben to þe parlement
For to here þat jugement.
‘Lordinges’ seyd þe douke Otoun,[5255]
‘Vnderstond now to mi resoun.
ȝe wite wel þat Tirri þat is here
Haþ agilt þe douke Loere
Þat him forþ brouȝt & armes him ȝaf.
Iuel ȝolden he it him haþ[5260]
Now he bringeþ vncouþe folk miche
Opon his lond so dedliche.
Ac ichaue þe douke bisouȝt
& mine feren hider brouȝt
Þat forȝif it be him euermo[5265]
& gret worþschipe he wil him do;
His douhter he wille him ȝiue
& gret worþschip while þat he liue.
& ichil wiþ Tirri wende [f.137va] [Image]
Henne forward we schul be frende.[5270]
‘ȝete vnderstond’ seyd sir Otoun,
‘Bifor ȝou alle y biseke sir Gyoun
ȝif ich him haue ouȝt misdo
Amenden ichil wele þerto
Bi so þat he wille kisse me;[5275]
Euer eft we schul frendes be.’
‘Lat be’ seyd sir Gij þe fre,
‘No wille ichaue no cosse wiþ þe.
In Lombardye þou bitraydest me
& min men þou dest sle.[5280]
Ac kisse þou schalt þerl Aubri
& wiþ him þou schalt acordi.’
¶ Þan seyd þe douk Loer,
‘Vnderstond now ȝe þat ben here
Þat þerl sir Tirri,[5285]
Aubri sone þat is her bi,
He þat maiden Oysel schal spouse
In godes lawe vnto his house.
Acorded we ben of þat dede
& forȝeuen al hatrede.’[5290]
Þan haþ þe douke ykist Tirri
For gret traisoun & nouȝt freli.
Gij & Herhaud held hem in pays.
Hye no kist Lombard no Tyays,
Ac þe Loreins þai kist[5295]
& þe douke Loyer att first;
Ac Otus no kist þai nouȝt.
Þai no hadde to him no gode þouȝt.
Þan seyd to Loer þerl Aubri,
‘Þe ich biteche mi sone Tirri,[5300]
Alderfirst Ihesu heuen-king
& þe y biteche mi ȝongling.
No may ich for eld trauaily,
Hom ichil wende now an hye.’
He bitauȝt hem God & gode day[5305]
He lete hem þar & went his way.
Gij & Herhaud þe maiden gan forþ lede
Oysel sche hete wiþ þe rode so rede.
Gret iurne þai riden þat day
Fram Gormoise þai riden owai[5310]
Wele fiften mile oþer mo.
For gret hete þai resten hem þo
In a pleyne þai liȝten hem snelle [f.137vb] [Image]
Þer þai wald resten & duelle.
When þai aliȝt, þe kniȝtes fre[5315]
Alle þai wende ynomen to be.
¶ Þan seyd Otus of Paui,
‘Herkeneþ to me al mi compeynie,
Þe Loreins & þe Lombardes ichon
Alle þat in our side riden & gon,[5320]
Bi þe rede of þe douke Loer
Ichot boþe kniȝt & squier
Þat ȝe Gij, Herhaud & Tirri binde;
Fast her hondes hem bihinde.
Into Loreine we lede hem snelle,[5325]
Tomorwe we schul hem hongen alle.
Whoso him feyneþ hem to nime
Forþwiþ hem men schal him blim.’
Þan lopen about hem þe Lombars
As wicked coltes out of haras[5330]
& Loyers [men] deden also,
& þerfore hem was ful wo.
Anon Tirri aseylden he
& nomen him – he no miȝt nouȝt fle –
& Herhaud þat was gode of miȝt[5335]
Þai nomen þer anonriȝt.
Gij vp stirt hastiliche
& to hem spac wel sternliche,
‘Now þe deuel hong ȝou ichon.
Is þis acord now alle agon?[5340]
Worþschiped ous haþ þe douk Loer
Wiþ alle þe tresoun þat is her.
No war we acorded bifor þe barnage
& kist wiþouten vtrage?
Þis has made þe douk Otoun[5345]
Þat is so ful of tresoun.
Alle þis tresoun he haþ bispeke –
God ous of him awreke –
For þurth þe no war it nouȝt
Bot it were first of him yþouȝt.’[5350]
Þe douk Loer was so wo
O word no miȝt he speke þo.
Wiþ þat stirt forþ anonriȝt
Otus cossyn, an vnwrast kniȝt.
Gij bi his mantel he drouȝ so[5355]
Þat þe tassels brosten ato.
Þan seyd a Tyas to a Lombard, [f.138ra] [Image]
‘Now is Gij of Warwike a couward.
Lo, now he no haþ no miȝt;
Lorn he haþ contenaunce, apliȝt.’[5360]
Wiþ þat þai speken hem þus bitven,
Gij seye it miȝt no noþer ben,
To him þat him held turned he
& ȝaf him swiche benedicite
Þat he brak his nek ato.[5365]
Alle þe oþer on him þresten þo.
Þe mantel þat he had opon
To cloutes it was drawen anon
So þat ichon oway bar
An pece of his mantel þar.[5370]
Gij werd him fast in þat sturbing –
Now helpe him Ihesu heuen-king.
Smer[t]liche þai gun him asaily,
He werd him as a kniȝt hardy
So þat he neyȝed his stede,[5375]
For to him he hadde nede.
Wiþouten stirop he lepe þeron,
Mani on he made þat liif forgon.
When þe douk Otus þat yseye
Þat Gij on his hors oway fleye[5380]
Anon he (he) seyd to his kniȝtes,
‘Now to hors wiþ alle ȝour miȝtes
For ȝif he passe ous in þis biker
Of mi liif am y nouȝt siker,
& þerfore nimeþ him anon[5385]
Als ȝe wil haue mi loue ichon.
Bot ȝe bring him me to
We ben yschent for euer mo.’
An hors þai lopen þan on hast
& driuen Gij swiþe fast,[5390]
& Gij no hadde wepen non.
Wold God of heuen þat made man
Þat he hadde his brond kerueing.
He no hadde þer no frende him helping.
Bi þat o side oway he ginneþ fle.[5395]
Bot God of him haue pite
Þer he worþ yslawe anon,
Alle abouten him þai ben ygon.
Wiþ þat þer come rideing a kniȝt
About his swere his scheld briȝt[5400]
& wiþ a spere opon his hond, [f.138rb] [Image]
Toward Gij wel swiþe he wond
& þurth þe bodi smite him wold,
Ac God of heuen it suffre nold.
Þe strok of þe spere it gan glide[5405]
Bitven þe arsoun & his side;
His blihaut he carf, his schert also.
Gij strongliche him mett þo,
Wiþ his fest he him smot so
Þat to grounde he dede him go. [5410] [ he: is superscript.]
Wiþ þat sir Gij forþ him diȝt
Ac he mett wiþ anoþer kniȝt;
Swerd he bar þat wele wald bite,
In þe heued he wald Gij smite.
Þe strok opon þe hors glod[5415]
Opon þe croupe a fot brod.
Þei he war aferd no wonder nas;
Gij ferd fram him an fast pas.
He seye wiþ þat a grom cominde
To himward fast erneinge.[5420]
A gret soule in his hond he bar,
So wold God þat it war.
Gij wel feir him bisouȝt
ȝif him þe staf þat he brouȝt.
‘Ichil ȝeld it þe ful wel.’[5425]
‘Haue here, sir, bi seyn Miȝhel.
Wele ich þi gret nede se
Now God fram schame kepe þe.’
He tok þat soule in his hond,
Anon forþ to hem he wond.[5430]
A Lombard wel sone he mett
& wiþ þe soule so him grett [ soule: MS reads swerd.]
Þat ded he feld him anon.
He tok his hors & gan to gon
& seyd to þe grom þo,[5435]
‘Þou nim þis hors & gin to go.
Wiþ gode wille y ȝiue it þe
For þe staf þou lentest me.’
Þe knaue him þonked bliue,
Oway wiþ þe hors he gan to driue.[5440]
Þan went forþ Gij þe gode
Nas neuer man of his mode
Þat better him werd in his ende
Er he out of þat fiȝt gan wende.
ȝete he slouȝ on of her felawe. [f.138va] [Image] [5445]
In lasse while he hadde [him] yslawe
Þen men schold sigge a paternoster.
Y telle it ȝou bi Peter þe apostel
Þat neuer swiche nas yseye non.
When he haþ ouercomen ichon[5450]
Wel long he werþ him þat day.
When he no lenge doure ne may
Þan seyd he to hem anon,
‘Þe deuel biteche ich ȝou ichon
& namliche Otus of Pauie[5455]
Þat haþ ydon ous þis felonie
& ȝif ich a ȝer libbe may
He schal it abigge, for soþe to say.’ [ it: MS reads ich.]
Þan is he goand oway ful ȝernne
So þat he com to a water sterne.[5460]
In he him dede & ouer he goþ;
Alle þai wondred þerof for soþ.
Non no durst after him wende
For drencheing at her liues ende.
Oȝain þan þai ben ycome[5465]
To þe douke Otus alle and some
& telden him wel sone anon
Þat Gij was ouer þe water ygon.[Lines 5468-9: copied twice. The second copying is identical to the first except that water is abbreviated.]
Þe douke Otus is now wel sori
For Gij is schaped so oway[5470]
& swore bi God & seyn Gelen
Neuer eft nold he louen his men
For þat hij leten him o way fle.
Gret wille he hadde him to sle,
Ac Gij him werd wiþ mani wrenche;[5475]
Hope of fole may of[t] blenche.
‘Sir douk Loer’ seyd Otoun,
‘Yschaped is þe felle Gyoun.
To Paui ichil now gon
& spouse þi douhter anon.[5480]
Riche bridal ichil maki.
Wiþ me schal Herhaud & Tirri;
Þer þai schul he don in prisoun.
Schul þai neuer come to raunsoun.
Dye þai schul wiþ miche wo[5485]
& ȝete to ȝer ichil now go
Wiþ min men to sechen Gij [f.138vb] [Image]
What he be nome sikerly.
Alle þis oþer prisouns wiþ þe go
& þine wil wiþ hem þou do.’[5490]
‘Sir’ seyd þe douk Loer,
‘Þat nil ich nouȝt in non maner.
Þat tow Tirri no do sle
Y nold in non wise, sir douke þe fre;
Ac ȝif Tirri schal wiþ þe go,[5495]
In fre prisoun þou schalt him do.
Þou do him kepe worþschipliche
Wiþ gret plente manschipliche
Alle fort he haue mi wille ydo,
Ichil now þat it be so.[5500]
& ichil lede Herhaud wiþ me,
In mi fre prisoun schal he be.
Y nil nouȝt he wiþ þe go
To michel iuel þou wost him do.’
Þan þai token her leue þo,[5505]
Wiþ gret loue þai kisten hem bo.
To Lorein went þe douke Loer
Þat wiþ worþschipe dede kepe þer
Herhaud of Arderne, þe marchis.
Wele leuer him were be ded, ywis,[5510]
When he to Gij com no miȝt;
Leue him were dye anonriȝt.
Now is Otous to Paui gan,
Wiþ him he ledde his feir leman,
Also he dede þerl sir Tirri[5515]
Fast yfetred sikerly
Riȝt fast vnder þe hors fet,
Into Paui & þer him let.
When Oysel seye him lede so
Sore sche wepe for his wo[5520]
‘Allas’ sche seyd ‘& walewo
Sone is my ioie went me fro.’
Of þe hors sche fel aswon anon,
For sorwe almost hir hert tochon.
When þe douk hir falle seye[5525]
Bi his oþ he swore an heye,
‘Iuel þou dost, mi gode leman,
When þou for swiche a man
Swiche sorwe schaltow make.
& ȝif þou more (more) sorwe for his sake[5530]
Oþer euer eft make swiche sorweing, [f.139ra] [Image]
& ich it perceiue bi ani þing,
Tohewe he worþ bifor þe
Or heye hong on galwe tre.
Glad & bliþe, leman, þou be.[5535]
Wiþ ioie to Paui y lede þe
Þer ichil nim þe to wiue
& wiþ þe helden alle mi liue.
Tirri ichil in prisoun do,
He no schal haue sorwe no wo.[5540]
Ichim hate wel sore sikerly;
For þe loue of Herhaud & Gij
Richeliche he schal serued be
Þerof nouȝt no dred þou þe.’
¶ ‘Sir, gramerci of þi speche.[5545]
Ac of o þing y þe biseche,
Fourti days respite þou ȝif me
Til þat mi sorwe aslaked be,
& seþ þen spouse me wiþ worþschipe.’
‘Y graunt wele’ quaþ þe douke sikerlike.[5550]
To Paui þai ben þan ago,
Ac alle anoþer þouȝt þat maiden þo;
Anoþer sche þouȝt þan sche seyd. [ þouȝt: MS reads souȝt.]
Gret sorwe in hir hert sche leyd.
Ar sche wille to him spoused be[5555]
Wiþ a kniif sche wil hir sle.
Ac o þing hir glad sikerliche;
Opon Gij sche trust miche.
Seþ þe þat he aschaped was
Wele sche þouȝt þurth sum cas[5560]
He schuld Tirri out of prisoun cast,
Hir swete leman wel on hast.
Þai com to Paui wiþ þat;
Þe douk Otus nouȝt forȝat
Þat erl Tirri he bond fast[5565]
& into þester prisoun him cast.
Þer he was in sorwe, apliȝt,
He nist wheþer it wer day or niȝt,
Litel he hadde of mete or dring.
His leman lan neuer wepeing[5570]
Aniȝt when sche alon was
Þat noman wiþ hir nas.
Now to tel of Gij ichaue yþouȝt
Hou God him haþ fram deþ ybrouȝt.
When he was passed þat water sternne [f.139rb] [Image] [5575]
He loked about him wel ȝernne;
Of his felawes him vnderstode
Wel neye he was for sorwe wode.
‘God’ he seyd ‘what schal y do?
Weri wreche whider may y go?[5580]
Ichaue forlorn þe gode Tirri
& Herhaud for wham icham sori.
Amow, sir douk Loer,
Hou miȝtestow dreye þe bismer
Þat þe fals douk Otoun[5585]
Dede bifor þe þat traisoun?
For traitour þou worst euer iheld
When þou comest in place or feld.’
‘Lord’ he seyd ‘what may y do?
Into whiche lond may y go?[5590]
An arnemorwe no þing y no dred me
Þo jch went out of þat cite.
Wiþ me ich hadde an hundred kniȝtes
To mi wille for me in fiȝtes
& now y no haue a grom to held mi stede[5595]
Þat so miche me miȝt help at nede.
For me þai ben yslawe ichon
Oþer in peine in prisoun don.
A, mi dere frende sir Tirri,
For our departing icham sori.[5600]
No schal y þe se neuer eft mo.
For þe ichil mi liif in periil do
Þat y ne schal his body smite ato
Þat þus þis traisoun haþ ous do;
& so ichil awreke þe.[5605]
Dye ichil bot it so be.’
Gij rode forþ in his way
Alle þat iche self day
So long þat he a castel seye
Opon a roche stode an heye.[5610]
He þouȝt to herberwe þare
For he no miȝt no ferþer fare.
Also he to þe gates come
A ȝong kniȝt he fond þer anon.
Michel he was hende & fre,[5615]
Feren he hadde wiþ him þre.
Gij sey bi his semblaunt anon
Þat he was lord ouer hem ichon.
‘Sir’ quaþ Gij ‘vnderstond to me. [f.139va] [Image]
Þe lord þat made me & te[5620]
Þe loke ȝif þi wille be
& miche blisse he ȝif þe.
A kniȝt icham deswarre
Þat in y bid par charite.’
¶ Þe lord answerd sweteliche,[5625]
‘Þou it schalt haue bleþeliche.’
He dede vnderfong his stede þo
Bi his o[w]n he dede it do.
Bi þe riȝt hond he toke sir Gij
& went into his halle on hey,[5630]
A mantel of silk he ofsent on hast
& about him he dede it cast.
Wonderliche þai bihelden him alle
Kniȝtes þat weren in þe halle;
For he was michel & wele ysett[5635]
Þai him bihelden wele þe bett.
Þe lord wiþ þat to him sede,
‘Ich þe bidde for loue rede
Þat þi name telle þou me
& nouȝt forhole it no be.’[5640]
Gij answerd wel sweteliche,
‘Mi name y þe telle sikerliche.
Gij of Warwike mi name is;
Iuel ich am acumbred, ywis.’
When þe lord herd þat,[5645]
Þat it was Gij þat to him spac,
‘Sir’ he seyd ‘welcome ȝe be
In ȝour owhen herberwe, ȝe,
Ful welcome artow to me
& ful wele y knowe þe.[5650]
Ich auȝt þe loue, so mot I gon,
Wel michel gode þou hast me don.
Þo ich þe serued þou louedest me,
Armes ich vnderfenge of þe
& þou me sendest ner & fer[5655]
To turnamens & to wer
So þat gret word sprong of me
Þo y went hom to mi cuntre.
Amis of Mounteyn mi name it is
Wele ouȝt ȝe me knowe, ywis.’[5660]
When Gij him seye he knewe þe kniȝt
He kist him þer anonriȝt.
‘Sir’ quaþ Amis ‘when comestow [f.139vb] [Image]
Þatow gost alle on now?
It semeþ wele so þenkeþ me[5665]
Fram gret periil aschaped be ȝe.
Whare (h)is Herhaud þi kniȝt so fre?
Alle þine kniȝtes where ben he?’
‘Ichil þe telle’ þan seyd sir Gij,
‘Now vnderstond ich am sori.’[5670]
Þan teld he him al þat cas
Hou þerl Tirri wounded was
& hou he hadde yheled his wounde
& socurd his fader & ost him founde
& hou he passed him self vnnome[5675]
& hou þai were þurth traisoun ouercome
& hou his felawes weren ynome
& hou þat he was þider ycome
& hou Tirri was ynomen þo
& þe gode Herhaud also[5680]
& wiþ hem fif hundred kniȝtes,
Orped men & gode in fiȝtes.
‘Y not ȝif þai be liues or dede
Al ich hem sey nimen & lede.’
When Gij hadde yteld þat cas[5685]
Hou iuel him bifallen was
‘Suffre a while sir’ quaþ he,
‘ȝif it is þi wille, listen to me.
Ich haue castels & cites strong
Mani & fele in mi lond;[5690]
Alle ichil bitake þe,
Mine kniȝtes ichil ofsende to me.
Fif hundred ich ofsende may
Þat schal do þi wille niȝt & day.
Alle þat to min erldom falleþ y wil it be[5695]
To þine wille, so schal com to þe.
Wende we wille to þe douk Otoun
& bring him to destruccioun.
His londes we schul þurth ernne
& his castels felle & his tounes bernne[5700]
& so þou miȝt awreke be
His londes destru, himseluen sle.
Of werre no swike wille we
Al what he aslawe be.’
‘Amis’ quaþ Gij ‘God ȝeld it te.[5705]
To long schuld ich here be.
ȝif ich orn on him so þou speke [f.140ra] [Image]
To late ich worþ of him awreke.
For drede of deþ nille y fle,
Hastiliche ichil awreken be.’[5710]
Al a day he bileft þare
His hert was in michel care.
Amis emforþ his miȝt
Confort him boþe day & niȝt.
¶ Of him he toke his leue þo,[5715]
Toward Paui he is ygo.
Amis wiþ him gon wold
Ac he seyd þat he no schold.
Amis bileft þat was sori
& often to God he bad for Gij[5720]
Þat for his swete moder loue
Leue him harmeles oȝain come.
¶ Gij him diȝt in a queyntise
& com to Paui in squier wise.
An vnement purchast he[5725]
Þat made his visage out of ble.
His here þat was ȝalu & briȝt
Blac it bicome anonriȝt.
Nas no man in þis world so wise of siȝt
Þat afterward him knowe miȝt.[5730]
Now to Paui ycomen he is,
Of noman aferd he nis.
Þe douk Otus he fond þere
& gret him as ȝe may here.
‘Sir douk Otus’ he seyd ‘God loke þe.[5735]
Also ich it wold so mot it be.
A man icham o fer cuntre,
Hider ich come to seche þe.
Ich haue þe brouȝt here a stede,
In þis world is better non at nede.[5740]
Noris it dede a saraȝin,
& me it ȝaf min owen cosyn.
In alle þe world [n]is so swift a best.
Libard no ro in no forest
No dromedarie no is þer non[5745]
So swiþe goand so is he on.
No þarf þe drede non arme of þe se
& tow opon þis stede be.
ȝif ȝe nille þerof me leue
Ichil þat ȝe it asey ar eue.[5750]
Ac on maner haþ þat hors [f.140rb] [Image]
Þerfore mani haþ fare þe wors.
In þe world is man þat ney him come
Þat he no wold him slon wel sone
Bot þe man þat loked it,[5755]
Þerfore y loue it out of witt.’
Quaþ þe douk ‘mow gramerci.
Þis is a fair ȝift sikerly.
Wiþ þat hors ichil athold þe
& make þe riche of gold & fe.[5760]
To swiche an hors ich hadde nede
Þat ich miȝt þe better spede.
Of min fomen ich wold ben awreke
& som in min prisoun ben ysteke.
Ac on of hem is schaped fro me[5765]
Now wold God þat alle may se
Þat he were now in þis halle
Wel iuel him schuld sone bifalle,
Wel sone he schuld anhonged be
Wiþ gode riȝt y telle it te.’[5770]
‘Sir’ quaþ Gij ‘who [may] þat be?’
In gret periil now is he.
‘Ichil þe telle’ quaþ þe douk þo,
‘Gij of Warwike þat is mi fo.
Siker no be ich neuer mo[5775]
Þe whiles þat he oliues go.
Ich wold now he stode þe bi.’
‘Sir’ quaþ he ‘y knowe wele Gij.
He slouȝ on of mi neye kin,
Þerfore ich am riȝt wroþ wiþ him[5780]
& wiþ þerl Tirri also;
He is mi dedliche fo.
Þurth felonie mi fader he slouȝ,
Mi broþer he desirit wiþ wouȝ.
God lete me neuer ded be[5785]
Er ich him to mi wille se.’
‘Mi dere frende’ seyd þe douk Otoun,
‘Ichaue Tirri in mi prisoun.
Now ichil þou loke him to
& alle schame þou him do.’[5790]
‘Sir’ quaþ he ‘gramerci
& y þe sigge sikerly
Þat alle his liif ichil wende
Er þan come seuen niȝtes ende.’
Þe douke doþ him þe keyes take, [f.140va] [Image] [5795]
Maister iaioler he doþ him make.
Þe douk oxeþ what his name be.
‘Yon, men clepet me in mi cuntre.’
‘Yon’ he seyd ‘ichot now þe
Þat þou þat hors wele kepe me.’[5800]
An hous he deliuer[d] him þo
Þat no þing com in bot þai to.
Þe douk þat nouȝt no wist
Þat Gij was þerin, bi crist.
Alle his wille he may now do,[5805]
Non vnworþschip men seyd him to.
Gij into a tour is ygo.
A strong prisoun fond he þo,
Fourti fadom depe it was.
He hadde yherd cri ‘allas.’[5810]
He oxed anon who þat were
Þat made þer so reuly bere.
‘Ich’ he seyd ‘a wreched man;
Me reuweþ sore þat y liues am.
Erl Tirri mi nam is;[5815]
Now icham a wreche, ywis.
Þe douk no misdede y neuer nouȝt
& in þis prisoun icham ybrouȝt.
More iren about me is
Þan a somer miȝt beren, ywis,[5820]
On armes, on legges, on bodi also;
Mi deþ ich wold were com me to.
For þan þat ich felawe was
To a kniȝt þat neuer his better nas
Whom þe douk Otus hated, ywis,[5825]
On me þe wreche fallen now is.
Þat ich ete þis is þe þridde day,
Long liue y no may.’
¶ ‘Tirri’ quaþ Gij ‘no be nouȝt wo.
‘Icham Gij þou louedest so.[5830]
Out of prisoun y schal cast þe
So sone y may mi time se.’
Sir Tirri spac to Gij þo,
‘For Godes loue, hennes þou go.
Hou come þou hider sir Gij?[5835]
Þine hider com wil me harmi;
ȝif þe douk wite þat þou it be
Þis ich day he wil sle þe.
Leuer me were alon today [f.140vb] [Image]
Þan wite þe ded soþe to say.[5840]
Þerfore, sir, hennes þou go;
For Godes loue, sir, do now so.’
Als þai togider speken þis
A Lombard it ofherd, ywis,
Þat after jnto þe tour was ygo[5845]
To aspie what Gij wold do.
Wiþ loude steuen he haþ him gred,
‘Gij, þou hast wel iuel ysped.
Boþe ȝe schul anhonged be
Now ich ȝou boþe here yse.’ [5850] [ ȝou: MS reads þou.]
¶ ‘Lete be’ quaþ Gij ‘so God þe amende.
So þou miȝt ous boþe schende
What schuld þe þe better be
ȝif þou dest ous boþe sle?
Þine owhen man ichil be[5855]
& as mi lord seruy þe,
& þerl Tirri bi his miȝt,
& þerto mi treuþe y þe pliȝt.’
‘Hold þi pes’ quaþ þe Lombart,
‘Haue neuer God of me part[5860]
Bot ich þe douk Otus it telle;
For no þing leten y nille.’
Adoun of þe tour he goþ erninde
& Gij after him fast folweinde.
Riȝt bifor þe doukes fet[5865]
Gij arauȝt him wiþ a staf gret.
Swiche a strok he him ȝaf
Þat his breyn fley about þe staf.
Seyd þe douk ‘whi destow þis?
Wiþ hors tow worþ todrawen, ywis.[5870]
Whi hastow mi man yslawe?
Hou dorstow bigin þat plawe?’
‘Sir’ quaþ Gij ‘herken to me,
Anon ichil telle to þe.
Into þe tour ich was ygon[5875]
For to se þe esters ichon,
Þer ich fond þis feloun
& spac to Tirri in þe prisoun
& mete him brouȝt gret plente.
Þo ich it seye it ofþouȝt me.[5880]
Wiþ his fest he me smot,
Þerfore ichim suwed, God it wot,
& smot him so þou miȝt se. [f.141ra] [Image]
Þe gilt, sir, forȝiue þou me.
Soþe to sigge in þis stede[5885]
For þine anour ich it dede,
Þat oþer bi him ywarned be
To fede þi prisouns wiþouten þe.’
Þe douk gret oþ swore þo
Þat ȝif he oþerloker had do[5890]
He worþ todrawe oþer anhong
Or oþer schames deþ to afong
‘Ac now forȝiuen it þe be.’
Gij him þonked on his kne.
Sone so þe niȝt him come[5895]
Gij into þe cite nome.
Mete anouȝ he bouȝt þere
& to Tirri he gan it bere;
Þus he dede y not hou long.
Michel he slaked his pine strong;[5900]
Alle his bendes doþ o way
& slakeþ his pine so michel so he may.
Into a chaumber he goþ on a day
Þerin he fond þat fair may
Þat biment hir strongliche[5905]
For hir leman sche loued so miche.
Gij seyd to hir ‘maiden fre,
Wele þou owest to knowe me.
Gij of Warwike mi name is.
Icham þi lemanes felawe, ywis.[5910]
In þis maner ycomen icham
For y nold be knowen of no man
& forto deliuer þi leman
Þat ich michel gode an.’
When þe maiden herd þis[5915]
Þat it was Gij, for soþe ywis,
For blisse sche fel aswon adoun.
& vp hir toke þe gode Gyoun.
‘Maiden’ he seyd ‘lete now be.
Wiltow now schende me?[5920]
ȝif ani me perceiue miȝt
Ich were yhonged anonriȝt.’
‘Merci, sir Gij’ seyd þat may.
‘Now wiþin þe þridde day
To him spoused schal y be.[5925]
Ac o þing ich haue biþouȝt me
Þat ichil mi selue sle [f.141rb] [Image]
Þat day þat y schal spoused be.’
Gij seyd ‘no do nouȝt so.
Ac alle his wille þou schalt do[5930]
& ar he to þe chirche come
Y schal mete him atte frome.
His heued fro þe bodi schal fle
& lede y schal þe forþ wiþ me.’
Now is Gij þennes ygon hom[5935]
& also swiþe so niȝt come
To þe prisoun anon he ȝede
& deliuerd his felawe in þat stede.
‘Sir Tirri’ he seyd ‘forþ þou go –
Niȝt no day no swike þou no –[5940]
Riȝt to Amis of þe Mounteyne [ of: MS reads to.]
Þat woneþ in þe marche of Almeyne;
On mine half grete him wele bi me.
Þider þou go & ful wele rest þe
Fort ich com or man for me.’ [5945] [ Fort: t is superscript.]
‘Bleþeliche, sir’ þan seyd he.
Hye kisten hem & forþ ȝede þo.
At her parting hem was ful wo
Aiþer for oþer for gret pite
In gret periil hadde ybe.[5950]
Gi lete him of þe tour þo,
Bitauȝt him God & lete him go.
Gij bileft & Tirri is forþ yfare
Of alle niȝt no hadde he rest þare.
So long is Tirri forþ ygon[5955]
To þe Mounteyn he com anon.
A castel þer was fair wiþalle
& strong cite biloken wiþ walle;
Fair halles & toures also
In þe cite were mani & mo.[5960]
In þat on half orn þe riuer
In þat oþer half forest wiþ wilde dere.
Into þe cite he is ygo
& to þe maister palays he ȝede þo.
He fond Amis atte ches pleyinge[5965]
Wiþ his felawes fair gamen giuing.
Þritti kniȝtes were in halle also,
His soudours were his wil to do,
Þat wiþ Amis bileften he
For wer þat was in þat cuntre.[5970]
‘Sir’ quaþ Tirri ‘ȝif it be þi wille [f.141va] [Image]
Vnderstond & speke me tille.
Al priueliche y þe biseche
Þat þi folk no here our speche.’
Amis answerd ‘wel bleþeliche[5975]
Wille ich it do & loueliche.’
Fram þe cheker he is ygo
& to a windowe he cleped him þo.
‘Sir Amis’ seyd Tirri,
‘Often þe greteþ wele sir Gij[5980]
& hider to ȝou he sent me
For to soiourne here wiþ þe
Fort he may hider come
Oþer anoþer send for him atte frome.’
‘Sir’ quaþ Amis ‘miche þanke haue he[5985]
Þat he þe sent hider to me.
What is þi name say þou me?’
‘Ichil þe telle sir’ quaþ he,
‘Tirri of Gormoise mi name is,
Aschaped of strong prisoun, ywis.’[5990]
‘Sir Tirri’ þan seyd he,
‘Welcome into þis cuntre.’
He kist him an hundred siþe
Wiþ eyȝen he wepe so was he bliþe.
& for he him so miseise yseye[5995]
Of prisoun aschaped bliþe was hye.
He dede him baþe sikerly
& al þing diȝt him redi.
Wiþ riche cloþes he dede him schrede
& fond him alle þat him was nede[6000]
He ȝaf him armes & riche stede
& diȝt him þer alle wiþ prede.
Þennes no went he for no þing
Er he of Gij hadde tiding.
Of þe douk ichil ȝou telle[6005]
& þan of Gij ȝif ȝe wille.
Þe douk ofsent his barnage in hast
Þat þai com to him riȝt fast
Into þe cite of Pauie
Alle þe Lombardes of Lombardie.[6010]
When þe time it comen was
Þe douk was bliþe & glad in þat cas.
To þe maiden he come swiþe
As he þat was glad & bliþe
& seyd ‘leman glad make þe. [f.141vb] [Image] [6015]
Today þou schalt yspoused be.’
‘Sir’ sche seyd ‘wiþ gode wille
Alle þine hest ichil fulfille.’
He schred hir swiþe wele, ywis,
Wiþ riche cloþes alle of pris.[6020]
He sette hir on a palfrey, þat ȝongling,
Better no bistrode neuer no king.
Riche anouȝ þat atire was
Of gold & siluer no noþer þer nas.
Toward a chirche went hye[6025]
Wiþ ioie he wend hir to spousi.
¶ Gij armed him wel richeliche
Al to his wille stalworþliche;
Wiþ armes þe maiden him had bitouȝt
Þat were þe douke to present brouȝt.[6030]
His gode stede he bistrod
& oftok hem wiþouten abod.
‘Douk Otus, vnderstond to me.
No go no forþer ich hot þe.
Vnderstond þe of þat traisoun[6035]
Þat þou dest to sir Gyoun
Also he com fram Boneuent.
ȝete is mi hert þerfore in turment
& seþ þen þou dest me a gret traisoun
Þo þou Tirri dest in þi prisoun.[6040]
Icham Gij þat to þe speke
ȝete today y þenk to ben awreke.’
Þurth þe bodi he smot him anon
Bifor þe Lombardes euerichon
& swore bi God heuen-king[6045]
ȝif him neyed ani þing
Þat heued he schuld þer forgon.
To þat maiden he cam anon,
Bitven his armes þe maiden he nam
& sett hir biforn him, oway he ran.[6050]
Swiþe owaiward þan rod he,
Þe noise aros in þat cite.
Wiþ gret strengþe þai driuen Gi.
He paseþ hem. Oȝain went hij;
Oȝain þai went to þat bodi riȝt,[6055]
Ac a child ȝong man, apliȝt,
Þat was þe doukes kinseman –
Berard was his riȝt nam –
Alle on he folwed sir Gij. [f.142ra] [Image]
He no hadde felawe no frend him bi.[6060]
Wiþ scheld & spere opon his stede,
A gode kniȝt he was at nede.
He folwed Gij fif mile
Þat Gij fore in a litel while.
‘Gij’ he seyd ‘turn oȝe,[6065]
So help þe crist, & iuste wiþ me.’
Gij turned him wel an hast
For he no was nouȝt of him agast.
Þe maiden he to grounde sett
& diȝt his armes wiþouten lett[6070]
& went to him wiþ gret miȝt
& he to him anonriȝt.
¶ Þe ȝong man smot first Gij
Þurth þe scheld sikerli.
He carf þe brini þat newe was,[6075]
Nouȝt worþ a botoun it nas.
Gij of þat strok wonder haþ,
Anoþer strok sir Gij him ȝaf.
Gij anon smot þat ȝong man;
Þurth his scheld anon it ran[6080]
& þurth þe scholder he ȝaf him wounde
Þat hors & man it fel to grounde.
& when þe ȝong man was yfalle
Vp he stert sone wiþalle.
Anon his swerd he haþ out drawe[6085]
His hors he wold habbe yslawe.
‘Hors’ he seyd ‘acursed þou be
When þou no miȝt vphold me.
Þat þou dye it is riȝt
Seþ þen þou in þe has no miȝt.’[6090]
‘Gij’ quaþ Berar(n)d ‘wende to me
& of þine hauberk vnarmi þe.
In pleyn armes wil we fiȝt
& so we may asay our miȝt.
Bot ich þine heued binim þe[6095]
Or ich out of þis place te
Neuer honour ich no bidde
No neuer a day lenger to libbe.’
‘Frende’ quaþ Gij ‘nil y nouȝt so;
To bataile we schul ȝete cum bo.’[6100]
Þe maiden he nam & forþ ladde
& passed a riuer & nouȝ[t] no drad
Þe ȝong man went him oȝe [f.142rb] [Image]
Alle sori into þat cite.
Þe douk þai birid worþschipliche[6105]
In a chirche of Paui sikerliche.
Þe ȝong man to þemperour is gon
& told him of Otus deþ anon.
Þemperour alle his lond him ȝeld
& wiþ þat worþschip him atheld.[6110]
Armes he ȝaf him hastiliche;
He loued him wel swiþe miche.
Of Almaine he made him steward,
Þat fel mani a man swiþe hard.
Gij wiþ þat maiden is forþ ygo[6115]
& þan newed alle hir wo.
‘Sir Gij’ sche seyd ‘what schal y do?
Mi leman no se y neuer mo.
Dye y schal wiþ sorwe & care.
Now wold God ich wer þare[6120]
Wiþ him ded ich wold be
& it so were wele wer me.’
Gij answerd wele þat maide [ maide: i is superscript.]
& to hir sweteliche he seyd,
‘Tirri nis bot gode, siker þou be;[6125]
Alle in gode point þou schalt him se.
Wiþ þe iaioler ich haue speke so
Þat alle his wille he wil do.’
So long forþ wenten he
Þat hij come to þat cite[6130]
Of (þat) Mounteyne þat feir was.[(]
So þai went [in] wiþ ioie & solas.
When he into þe halle come
Amis him knew riȝt anon.
When he him seye þan seyd he,[6135]
‘Sir Gij, welcom mot þou be.’
When sir Tirri Gij yseþ
& Oisel þat him was so lef
Michel ioie he made Gij þo.
Þat maiden he nam in his armes to.[6140]
‘Gij’ he seyd ‘welcome þou be
Þat þus asembled now be we.
Nold God & our leuedi
Þat mi lef be schent of hir bodi.’
Þai kisten hem togider anon[6145]
For ioie þai wepen euerichon.
When Oisel yseþ sir Tirri [f.142va] [Image]
Þat was hir lef & hir ami
For ioie sche swoned among hem;
Þer wende sche nouȝt to finden him.[6150]
Tirri nam hir in his armes tvo
& sweteliche seyd to hir þo,
‘Mi swete leman, no drede þe nouȝt,
Hole & sounde icham hider brouȝt.’
Amonges hem was ioie & blis[6155]
& soiournd to her wille, ywis;
To her wille in þat palais
Sir Amis was hende & curteys.
So on a day biþouȝt him sir Gij
Þat long soiournd hadden hy.[6160]
Amis he cleped to him & sir Tirri.
‘Herkeniþ to me’ seyd sir Gij,
‘Soiournd we haue her anow.
Now is time we go fram ȝou
To Gormoise, to þerl Aubri;[6165]
Wele y wot he is for ous sori.
Ofsende ichil baroun & kniȝtes
& ern ichil opon þe douk wiþ gret miȝtes
& mine felawes out of prisoun bring; [ bring: MS reads binde.]
Ich no may hem forȝete for no þing.[6170]
Ich man schal his miȝt don
For to awreke him of his fon.’
‘Sir’ quaþ Amis ‘ichil go wiþ þe
& a þousend kniȝtes forþ wiþ me,
A þousend seriauns also,[6175]
Wele on hors wiþouten mo.’
‘Gramerci, sir’ þan seyd Gij,
‘On þe al mi trust is sikerly.’
Amis ofsent his kniȝtes anon
& haþ asembled hem euerichon.[6180]
His seriauns he dede also
Þe best þat miȝt to fiȝt go.
When þat þai wer al redi
Forþ þai wenten hastily;
Toward Gormoise hij goþ.[6185]
Mani man þai made wel wroþ;
Þai nimen castels & cites
& destruen alle þe cuntres.
To Gormoise þai ben ycome,
Glad þai ben alle & some,[6190]
Ouer alle oþer þerl Aubri [f.142vb] [Image]
When he seþ his sone Tirri.
He fel aswon for ioie þo
He wende he had ben forlorn for euer mo.
Þer was ioie & miche blis[6195]
Bitven þe fader & þe sone, ywis.
Euerich told oþer & forȝat nouȝt
Hou Gij hem haþ fram deþ ybrouȝt.
¶ Gij nouȝt forȝete nold
Asembled he haþ his kniȝtes bold.[6200]
Þe douk he haþ a grete harm ydo;
He þouȝt for to awreke him so.
When þe douk Loer herd þis tiding,
Þat Gij & Tirri were coming,
His douhte[r] Oysel also,[6205]
Wel glad & bliþe he was þo.
Herhaud he cleped him to
& teld him þe soþe þo,
Þat Gij & Tirri wer ycome
& hadde on hem wer ynome;[6210]
Wiþ hem was þerl Amis
Wiþ ferred of miche pris.
When Herhaud yherd þis,
Þat Gij & Tirri comen is,
Neuer nas he so bliþe;[6215]
God he þonked mani siþe.
‘Sir Herhaud’ seyd þe douk Loer,
‘Ichil þe make messanger.
To þerl Aubri þou schal go
& Gij & Tirri & sigge hem so[6220]
Þat ich wiþ hem acord wille
Of alle þat þai cun to me telle.
Sir Tirri ichil mi douhter ȝiue
& half mi lond while þat y liue.
Ichil þat þou wittnesse me[6225]
Þat þe loue ste[de]fast be.’
‘Sir’ quaþ Herhaud ‘ichil so
Alle mi miȝt do þer to.’
Þe douke ofsent his prisouns alle
& dede hem arme swiþe snelle[6230]
& hete hem þat þai failed nouȝt
Of þat þai hadde þider ybrouȝt.
‘Forþ wiþ Herhaud ȝe schal gon
Þe acord to make riȝt anon.’
Herhaud made him redi þo; [f.143ra] [Image] [6235]
Riȝt into Gormoise he is ygo
& wiþ him went alle þe kniȝtes
Acord to make anonriȝtes.
Gij cam on a day fram hunting,
Þerl Amis & Tirri þe ȝing[6240]
& mo þan an hundred kniȝt
Wiþ swerd bigirt, y ȝou pliȝt.
Toward Gormoise þai ben ygo.
Bisiden hem þai loked þo,
So mani kniȝtes þai seye coming[6245]
Of traisoun þai were dredeing.
Þan seyd [of] þe Mountayn Amis,
‘A gret ferd y se ywis.
Y not what folk it be;
Hiderward þai com so þenkeþ me.’[6250]
Opon his gode stede he wond
Wiþ swerd & spere in his hond.
Þiderward he is ygo
To hem he com wel sone þo.
Þo he gan hem com neye[6255]
Herhaud of Ardern er he seye
He oxed him whennes he come.
‘Where is Gij?’ he seyd anon.
‘Sir’ quaþ he ‘ichil þe telle
& lade þe to him wiþ gode wille.[6260]
Fram dere hunting ycomen he is;
Biside þanne hulle ichim lete, ywis.’
Quaþ Herhaud ‘felawes, wil we go.’
Wiþ sporres hij smiten her stedes þo
Swiþe þai riden wiþ gret hy[6265]
When þai seye Gii & sir Tirri.
‘God’ quaþ Gij ‘Herhaud y se
& alle min feren so þenkeþ me.
Þai ben out of prisoun ygon
Oþer quite cleymed ichon.’[6270]
To kissen Herhaud þai hem do;
Wel gret ioie þai maden þo.
‘Sir Tirri’ quaþ Herhaud þe fre,
‘Gode conseyl y telle to þe.
Þe sent to grete þe douk Loer[6275]
Whom ich loue wiþ hert cler.
Worþschiped he haþ me miche
& ouer alle oþer loued sikerliche.
Wiþ þe he wil acorded be [f.143rb] [Image]
& swiþe miche he loueþ þe.[6280]
Þou schalt his douhter spousi;
Wiþ half his lond he wille þe feffi
& wiþ þi fader he wil acordy
& allso wiþ þe sir Gij;
In alle maner to þi wille[6285]
He wille amende for soþe y telle.
Ichil þerof his borwe be
Þat he do wil as y sigge to þe.’
Alle þai bisouȝten sir Gij
& so þai dede þerl Tirri[6290]
Þat þai schuld wiþ him acordy
For he was michel to praisy.
So long þai bisouȝt him so,
& wiþ hem Amis þat þer was þo,
Þerof acord speken he[6295]
Þat it schuld treuwe be.
To þe cite þai ben ygon
& teld þerl Aubri anon
Hou þat Herhaud was ycome
& hadde þe acord vndernome.[6300]
Þerl graunted raþe & snelle
Þe acord to Herhaudes wille.
No soiournd þai nouȝt long þo
Bot riȝt to Loreyn þai ben ygo
Þerl Aubri & Tirri his sone.[6305]
Gij & Herhaud ben þider ycome
& of oþer kniȝtes mani also
Þat bliþe were þider to go.
Þerl Aubri & Tirri his sone
Gij, Herhaud & Amis þider come.[6310]
Mani was þe gentil kniȝt
Þat wiþ hem went þo riȝt.
To Loreyne þai ben comen, ywis,
Þe douke hem vnderfeng wiþ blis; [ vnderfeng: MS reads vnderfende.]
Wiþ him þai were acorded alle[6315]
& þe misdede forȝeuen snelle.
Gret joie þai maden in þe cite
Þat hij so fair acorded be.
Þe douk ȝaf Tirri his douhter þo
& half his lond wiþ hir also.[6320]
Bifor barouns & kniȝtes fre
Þat þer were of mani cuntre.
Bridal sone þai han yhold [f.143va] [Image]
Of erls & of barouns bold
& of emperours & of king;[6325]
Nas neuer non so riche gestening.
¶ Þe kniȝtes nomen her leue anon
Vnto her cuntres þai ben ygon.
Sir Gij soiournd þare
On a day he is þennes yfare.[6330]
Þe douk Loer & mani a man
In hunting þai were toward Braban.
On hunting went þerl Tirri
& mani in his compeynie.
Þai comen into a fair forest[6335]
Þer þai fond a bore, a wilde best.
Þai vncoupled her houndes alle
& lete hem ern swiþ snelle.
Þe bore fleing swiþe he geþ
& mani of þe houndes harme he deþ;[6340]
An hundred he slouȝ & mo.
Out of þat cuntre he is sone ygo;
Þe wisest hunt folweþ fast,
Huweþ & gredeþ wiþ gret blast.
Of huntes ne of houndes adrad he,[6345]
He ouerernnes dounes & cuntre
Þe brod lond & þe valays;
Folwed he is ich weys.
Hij ofernned her stedes þo,
Of him wondred kniȝtes, huntes also.[6350]
Alle þe houndes þat folwed him þere
Oȝain turned oþer ded were.
Wiþouten blodhoundes þre
Into Braban folwed he.
Þer nas hunt no kniȝt non,[6355]
Seriaunt no sweyn no grom,
Þat wist widerward þe bore gan te,
Into whiche lond no what cuntre.
Gij him folwed on his stede
Wiþ swerd in hond after he ȝede[6360]
& wiþ horn oft bloweing
Þe bore swiþe driueing.
Gij drof þat swine wiþ game & gle
Riȝt into Breteyne þan went he;
Into a forest þat swine him ȝede[6365]
Into (a) þicke hegges he gan him hede.
Þer he stod at a bay [f.143vb] [Image]
& werd him while þat he may.
When Gij þat stern swine ysey
Adoun he lepe of his stede heye,[6370]
Wiþ boþe honden þat swerd he held
& cam to þe bore as a kniȝt beld.
Þat swine anon oȝain him com
& Gij smertlich smot him anon
Þat þe hert he clef euen atvo;[6375]
Alle ded he fel to grounde þo.
He open[ed] þat swine & blewe priis;
Alon he was him miȝt agriis
Al to fer he was fram his kniȝt.
Bot on him þinke God almiȝt[6380]
Sone he worþ in a peril strong,
Be it wiþ riȝt, be it wiþ wrong.
Þo Gij hadde opened þat swine snelle
He gan to blowe as y ȝou telle.
‘Bi God’ quaþ þerl Florentin,[6385]
‘Who mai þat be for seyn Martin
Þat ich here in mi forest blowe?
Hert oþer bore he haþ doun þrowe.’
He cleped to him a kniȝt ȝing,
His sone, he was a feir ȝongling.[6390]
‘Sone’ he seyd ‘to hors þou go
& whoso it be bring him me to.’
‘Sir, y graunt þat it be so.’
Anon he lepe on hors þo.
Into þe forest he is yfare[6395]
& Gij he fond ful sone þare.
An staf he bar of holin tre
Gret wo þerwiþ wrouȝt he.
‘Lording’ he seyd ‘who artow
In mi lordes forest is comen now[6400]
Wiþouten leue of mi lord?
In iuel time þou come at o word
When þou hast ynomen his swin.
No leue haddestow of him.
Þat hors anon þou take to me[6405]
Þeron no schaltow ride y telle þe.’
‘Leue frende’ quaþ Gij ‘þat nille y do;
Þat hors no tit þe so mot y go.
Kniȝtes riȝt is it non
Þat he schuld fer o fot gon.[6410]
To þi wille ichil wende wiþ þe [f.144ra] [Image]
To seche þe waiis of þis cuntre.
Þis horn þou miȝt wele haue
& tow wiþ loue it wille craue.’
‘Lording’ he seyd ‘oþer is mi þouȝt.[6415]
So astow wenest no schapestow nouȝt.’
Gij bi þe reyne [he] haþ ynome,
Wiþ strengþe he wende to þe hors come.
Þei he war wroþ it was no ferly;
Wiþ þat staf he smot sir Gij.[6420]
‘Wicke man, þou hast me smite.
Þou schalt it abigge God it wite.’
Wiþ his horn he him smot;
His breyn he schadde fot-hot.
‘Now lording’, quaþ Gij ‘þe swin þou nim [6425] [ lording: MS reads lorging.]
& alle þi wille do wiþ him.
Na more smite þou no kniȝt,
Þat þou me smot þou dest vnriȝt.’
¶ Þennes he is now yride
& bi þe forest so long he ȝede[6430]
Þat vnneþe out wan he
For he no knew nouȝt þat cuntre.
He loked fer, he loked neye,
Castel no cite non he seye.
Him greued þe hete & þe long day.[6435]
No rod he nouȝt fer soþ to say
Þat he no sey a castel
Feir ysett & swiþe wel;
Þiderward ȝern þan rode he.
A man he mett of þat cuntre[6440]
‘Mi leue frende, telle þou me
Þis feir castel wos it be.’
Þe man seyd ‘y schal telle þe.
A better man no miȝt þou se
It is þe gode erl Florentin,[6445]
Better man drank neuer win.’
Gij anon þiderward he rod
& in he went wiþouten abod.
To þe halle gate he com riȝt
& þer he is adoun yliȝt[6450]
An hore yblowe kniȝt he seye
At þe des sitten an heye.
Long berd he hadde & sterne siȝt,
A man he semed of michel miȝt.
Biforn him anon Gij him dede [f.144rb] [Image] [6455]
& feir he gret him in þat stede.
‘Sir’ quaþ Gij ‘vnderstond to me.
He þat þe warld made, he blisce þe.
Icham a kniȝt as ȝe may se
Y bid þe mete par charite.[6460]
A meles mete ȝif þou me
& seþ þen hennes ichil te.’
‘Leue frende’ he seyd ‘sikerly
Þou schalt it haue gladly.’
Þe water he axed þo anon;[6465]
To wasche his honden Gij is go[n].
To mete he sett him in þat stede,
Bred & win biforn him þai dede
& gret plente of oþer mete.
When he hadde sum dele y-ete[6470]
In þe toun he herd belles ring
& loude crie & miche wepeing,
Cloþes totere, her to-te,
More sorwe no miȝt non be.
‘God’ quaþ þerl ‘lord fre,[6475]
Þis gret sorwe whi it be?’
Into þe halle come þere
Tvai men & a bodi bere.
Amid þe flore þai it leyden, ywis.
Quaþ þerl Florentin ‘mi sone þis is.’[6480]
Torent his here, his cloþes he drouȝ,
In his hert was sorwe anouȝ.
‘Leue sone’ he seyd ‘who slouȝ þe?
Now wold God þat is so fre
Þat he were here in mi beylie.[6485]
Nold ich it lete for al Romanie
Þat he no were anon yslawe,
Forbrent & þat dust toblowe.’
Þan seyd a squier biforn hem alle,
‘Ichim se atte mete in þis halle,[6490]
He þat þi dere sone slouȝ;
Ich it seye wiþouten wouȝ.’
Anon þat þerl yherd þis
Fram þe bord he aros, ywis.
An aundiren he kept in his honden þo;[6495]
Hetelich it haf & seyd him to,
‘Traitour, þou schalt dye here.
Why slouȝ þou mi sone dere?’
Wiþ þat aundiren he þret sir Gij [f.144va] [Image]
& wiþ gret hate sikerly.[6500]
Ac þat din[t] he feiled of him.
Gij vp stirt wroþ & grim.
Into þe wouȝ it fleye to fot & more.
‘Merci’ seyd Gij ‘for Godes ore;
ȝif ich þi sone owhar aslouȝ,[6505]
It was me defendant anouȝ.’
Kniȝt anon about him þrong
To slen him boþe eld & ȝong.
Gij hent in hond anonriȝt
An ax þat was gode, apliȝt.[6510]
Bi þat on ende of þe halle he him drouȝ
& þer he werd him wele anouȝ.
Þai aseyld him strongliche
& he him werd stalworþliche.
Wiþ þat com forþ þe steward liȝt,[6515]
A Brabasone he was, a wel gode kniȝt.
A strok he smot to sir Gij
& hewe on him ful felly.
Gij of him failed nauȝt;
Wiþ þe ax he haþ him rauȝt[6520]
Þat his heued he him toclef
Al to ded to ground he dref.
Þus Gij him wereþ manliche
& hij him aseyle heteliche.
Þe kniȝtes he slouȝ þere[6525]
Þe best þat in þat court were.
¶ ‘Sir Florentin’ seyd sir Gij,
‘For Godes loue, now merci.
Þou art yhold so gode a man,
Hennes to Rome better nis nan,[6530]
& þou in þine halle me sle
For traisoun it worþ awist þe.
In edwite it worþ þe adrawe
Swiche a man þou schust haue slawe
When þou wiþ þi wille fre[6535]
Þe mete me ȝeue, par charite.
Were it wiþ wrong were it wiþ riȝt
For tresoun it worþ þe witt, apliȝt,
Opon alle þing a þing atte mete
Þer ȝe ouȝt me to were fram hete.[6540]
For Godes loue, sir, so michel do me
Þat ȝe þerfore blamed no be.
Do me del[i]uer mi stede [f.144vb] [Image]
& lete me out at þe castel ride,
& seþ þen þei y slawe be[6545]
No worþ ȝe nouȝt yblamed in þe cuntre.’
Þerl him wiþdrouȝ wiþ þat.
At his hert gret sorwe sat
Þat he his sone seye ligge ded;
Of him no worþ him non oþer red.[6550]
‘Sone’ he seyd ‘what schal y do
Whenne ich þe haue þus forgo?
Who schal now weld after me
Mine londes þat brod be?
A man icham swiþe in eld;[6555]
Dye ichil, bi Godes scheld.’
Opon þat bodi he fel anon.
Reuþe þai hadden þerof ichon
Of his gret sorwe þat he made.
To his kniȝtes no þe les he sade,[6560]
‘Ichot þat non so hardi be
Þat him misdo tofor me
Þer while þat he in mi court is,
Þat ich hot ȝou alle, ywis,
& þat his stede be him to bitauȝt[6565]
& out at þe gates þat he be brouȝt
& þat he be tohewe flesche & bon.’
Þai deliuerd his stede anon,
He lepe opon him swiþe
& out at þe gat he gan driue.[6570]
His scheld wiþ him þan he bar,
His gode swerd forȝat he nouȝt þar.
Out of þe castel he is ygon,
Toward Loreyne he went anon.
Þerl wiþ þat armed is;[6575]
Gij he drof smertliche, ywis,
Wiþ his kniȝtes on heye stede
Redi armed to þat nede.
Sir Gij his stede biwent þo,
On of þe kniȝtes he smot so[6580]
Þurth his bodi þe swerd is gon;
Anoþer he feld þer anon.
Wiþ þat come þerl prikeinde
Opon his stede wele bereinde
Wiþ a spere an hond y-armed wel; [6585] [ y-armed: y is superscript.]
Gij to smite he was ful fel. [Catchword: Gij him wiþ went nold.]
Gij him wiþ went, wold he nouȝt fle, [f.145ra] [Image]
To þerl Florentin þan smot he.
Heteliche togider þai smete
Opon her scheldes wiþ gret hete.[6590]
Þerl alderfurst smot sir Gij
Wiþ a gode spere sikerly.
Gij him smot oȝain no miȝt he as nauȝt
Þat he haþ þe grounde yrauȝt.
Bi þe reynes his stede toke he;[6595]
Of þerl he hadde gret pite
For his sone he hadde aqueld
& for he was a man so eld.
Fiftene ȝer weren agon
Þat he er in armes come.[6600]
‘Sir’ seyd Gij ‘þer anon
Nim þi stede & worþ þeron.
What wonder dede þe armes bere
To ȝer more þou schust rest þe here.
Her ich ȝiue þe þi stede[6605]
For þou ȝeue me þe mete at nede.
In chaumber þou schust ligge stille
Oþer to chirche gon to bid Godis wille.
Þi court ichil quite-cleym þe.
Ded ich wold raþer be[6610]
Ar ich wold wiþ þe ete
At souper oþer at oþer mete.’
Gij went forþ fulleliche wiþ alle
Was him þer no nedes to duelle.
On ich side he seye come kniȝtes[6615]
Burieys & seriaunce redi to fiȝtes
Wiþ alle þat crie of þat cuntre;
Wiþ hem nomen no wold ben he.
Him no was þer nouȝt worþ to abide.
He priked his hors & gan to ride.[6620]
Into a forest he gan to go
Oft his stede he wiþwent þo
Mani he wounded & mani he slouȝ
Of kniȝtes þat wer gode ynouȝ;
Gij ferd forþ swiþe wiþ alle[6625]
Opon his stede þat bar him snelle.
Þurth þe forest swiþe he rode
Þerl him oȝein went wiþouten abode.
Michel sorwe he made, y pliȝt,
For his sone awreke he no miȝt.[6630]
His sone anon biri he dede [f.145rb] [Image]
In a chirche bifore þe auter in þat stede.
Alle þat day Gij forþ rod
Alle what þe sonne adoun glod.
Of alle niȝt he no blan rideinge[6635]
Fort amorwe in þe daweinge
So þat he to Loreyin com;
Þe cuntres he knewe anon.
Wel riȝt he ȝede to þat cite.[ Wel: MS reads Wil.]
Ichon þer fond he,[6640]
Alle þe best þat weren þare,
For him þai had michel care.
When þai him hole & sounde yseþ
Of his coming glad hij beþ.
¶ Gij hem told þe soþe, ywis,[6645]
Hou he fram þerl aschaped is.
Alle þai þonked God þo
Þat deliuerd him of his wo.
Seþ þen wold he nouȝt long duelle,
To his cuntre he wold snelle.[6650]
Gij of þe douke toke his leue
Ac he it him ȝaf wele vnneþe;
Anouȝ he him bede of siluer & gold
Ac he þerof nouȝt nim nold.
To þerl Tirri he ȝede þo[6655]
& þis wordes seyd him to
‘Sir erl Tirri’ seyd Gij,
‘Now ichil gon sikerli
Vnto mi cuntre into Jnglond –
Þat way no may y nouȝt wiþstond –[6660]
Mine fader & min frendes to se.
Y not ȝif þai oliues be;
Seuen ȝer & more agon it is
Þat ich in þat cuntre was, ywis.
ȝif it bitide ani þing sone[6665]
Þat þou haue wiþ me to don,
Be it in pes oþer in were,
Wheþer it be ner or ferre,
Anon riȝt sende after me,
Ichil come anon to þe;[6670]
Þat ich no fot-hot com to þe
Al sone as ich þi sond yse.
Þi wer we haue ouercom
& þou hast spoused þi loue.
Destrud we haue ȝour fon [f.145va] [Image] [6675]
Erls, barouns mani on.
Þi lond we han brouȝt in pes
No bestow neuer iuel at esse.
Þou art a kniȝt of miȝti dede
Of þine fon þarf þe nouȝt drede.[6680]
Alle min estris of Jnglond
Sende ichil to mi sond
& þou schalt to me also;
Alle þine wille sende me to
& ich me self wille com to þe[6685]
Sone so ich mi time may se.’
‘Felawe’ quaþ Tirri ‘gramerci.
Juel biladde now am y.
Oft fram deþ þou hast me scheld
& neuere no haddestow for me ȝeld.[6690]
ȝif þou wilt fro me go
Þou me sext neuer mo.
Also sone so it wite our fon
Þat þou art fro me gon
On ich side ous schal arise werre[6695]
Of Almeyns, Lombardes, neye & ferre,
Þat ben Otus kinsmen;
For he was come of gret ken.
Þe king of Speyne his em is;
His soster haþ wedded þe douke Moralis.[6700]
Doukes, erls of gret pouste,
His deþ wille þai wite me, [ wille: copied at the end of the line, its correct position marked.]
In wer & wo schal y be
Þer while þe liue is in me.
& ȝif we were togider baye[6705]
Of wer no þurt ous stond no aye.
& ȝif þou here wiþ me bileue wold
Anouȝ we haue of siluer & of gold,
Gode cites & castels strong,
Þe feirest & þe best of þis lond.[6710]
Wiþ douke Loer ichil be
& alle Gormoise ichil ȝiue þe
Wiþ alle þe worþschip þat liþe þerto.
& ȝete anoþer ichil þe do
& þe worþ of Paui [6715] [Zupitza reconstructs this line as: & neuer þe
worth of a pani.]
Ichil þerof chalangij.’
‘Sir erl’ quaþ Gij ‘þerof speke nouȝt.
Al idel þou hast me þerof bisouȝt;
Gret wille ich haue to þat waye, [f.145vb] [Image]
Y no lete it nouȝt þerfore todaye.[6720]
No were it for þe loue of mi leman
Nold ich neuer wende þe fram
Ac wiþ þe euer duelle ich wolde
Þat neuer departi we ne scholde.
Gon ich mot, wille y so nille.[6725]
O[f]þink þe nouȝt, y mai nouȝt duelle.’
Togider þai kisten hem þo,
At her departing þai wepen bo.
Boþe þai wepen bitterliche
Þat folk hadde þerof pite miche.[6730]
Alle þe men þat þer were
Was for hem sori þere
At þe departing of to ferren –
Wel gode kniȝtes boþe þai weren.
Gij lepe on a mule ambling[6735]
Bi þe way he rideþ sorweing.
Tirri bileft sorwe makeing
& Gij his felawe bimeninge.
So miche sorwe he made day & niȝt
No man miȝt tellen it y ȝou pliȝt. [6740] [Line 6740: written at the foot of the column, its correct position marked by a-b and crosses.]
Sir Gij no lan neuer rideing
Til he com to þe se, wiþouten lesing.
Gode winde he haþ & passeþ sone
& come into Inglond, mididone.
Now forþ to Warwik he is ygo,[6745]
King Aþelston þer he fond þo.
& when he was to Warwike com
Wiþ ioie þai him vnderfenge alle & some.
Þe king toȝeines him is ygo
Wiþ kniȝtes & burieys also.[6750]
For he him herd preyse so miche
Þe king him loued sikerliche,
& wiþ him soiournd sir Gij þe fre. [ him is superscript.]
On a day at þe ches pleyden he
Wiþ þat come þer þre men rideinde,[6755]
Of þe cuntre fre men heldinde,
To þe king þai seyd ‘sir vnderstond
Hard tidinges we bring þe an hond.
Bot ȝe sone take ȝeme þerto
Alle ȝour lond ȝe schul forgo.[6760]
Þer is comen opon þi lond
A best þat bringeþ it al to schond.
Out of Jrlond it come. [f.146ra] [Image]
To miche harm it haþ ydon;
It no leueþ man no wiman non[6765]
Þat it no sleþ hem ichon, [ hem is superscript.]
Bot sum þat aschaped beþ
Þurth chaunce & to þe cites.
It freteþ men & bestes also
Riȝt for soþe y telle þe to.[6770]
Neuer nas best no so kene,
Gret heued it haþ & gastelich to sene.
His nek is greter þan a bole
His bodi is swarter þan ani cole.
It is michel & long & griseliche,[6775]
Fram þe nouel vpward vnschepliche.
Þe smallest scale þat on him is
No wepen no may atame, ywis.
As a somer it is brested bifore in þe brede
& swifter ernend þan ani stede.[6780]
He haþ clawes also a lyoun;
Men seyþ þat it is a dragoun.
Gret wenges he haþ wiþ to fle;
His schaft to telle alle ne mow we.
Þe bodi is gret toward þe teyle,[6785]
Swiche a best nas neuer saunfeyle.
Þe teyle is gret & wel long.
In þe warld nis man so strong,
& were y-armed neuer so,
& he wiþ þe teyle smot him to,[6790]
Þat he no worþ ded anon;
No schuld he neuer ride no go[n].
When þe king haþ yherd þis
Þat þe men him teld, ywis,
An gode while he him biþouȝt[6795]
Er þan þat he speke mouȝt.
‘Sir’ quaþ Gij ‘no care þou nouȝt;
Þerof no haue þou no þouȝt.
Into Norþhumberlond ichil wende
& ȝif ich þat best may fende[6800]
Ich him schal ouercome þurth Godes miȝt,
For wiþ him ichil hold fiȝt.’
¶ ‘Gij’ quaþ þe king ‘schaltow nouȝt so;
No wille ich þat þou alon go.
An hundred kniȝtes schul wende wiþ þe[6805]
Þat þou may þe sikerer be.’
Gij answerd anonriȝt, [f.146rb] [Image]
‘Nold neuer God ful of miȝt
Þat for a best onlepi
Schuld so miche folk traueli.’[6810]
At þe king his leue he nam
& hom to his in he cam.
His felawes he lete þer ichon
Wiþ him most go neuer on
Bot Herhaud þat was gode at nede[6815]
& oþer to kniȝtes y-armed on stede.
So þai come þider on a day
& spired where þat best lay.
Gij armed him wel richeliche
& seyd to his felawes hastiliche[6820]
Þat so hardi þer be non
O fot wiþ him for to gon.
Now is Gij to a launde ygo
Wher þe dragoun duelled þo.
Þo Gij him seye so griseli[6825]
Of him no was he nouȝt al trusti.
Wiþ þe spere he him smot smertliche
Þat was kerueand scharpeliche
Þat al to schiueres it tofley(þ)e [ schiueres: MS reads schiuereþ.]
Ac þe bodi com it nouȝt neye.[6830]
Þo he hadde smiten þat best so,
Wel heye he bar his heued þo,
Wiþwent him & lepe him to.
Him & his stede he feld bo.
Gij of þat strok astounded is;[6835]
Neuer hadde he non swiche, ywis.
Vp he stirt anonriȝt
‘God’ he seyd ‘fader almiȝt
Þat made þe day & niȝt also
& for ous sinful þoldest wo[6840]
& heldest Daniel fram þe lyoun
Saue me fram þis foule dragoun.’
His swerd he drouȝ anonriȝt,
To him he lepe wiþ gret miȝt,
& smot him in þe heued schod[6845]
A wel gret strok wiþouten abod,
Ac no þing sen þan was his dent.
Gij him held þan al schent
Þat he no miȝt him deri nouȝt
Wiþ no wepen of stiel ywrouȝt.[6850]
Bitvene hem was strong bateyle. [f.146va] [Image]
Aiþer gan oþer for to aseyle,
At asaut wiþ Gyes partinge
Þat wers he hadde at þat wendinge.
Þe best him neyed & smot him[6855]
Wiþ his vpcoming so fel & grim
Þat he a lappe rent out anon
Of his brini þat alle his trust was on.
Now haþ Gij michel to done,
To a tre he went him sone;[6860]
Þer he wille bateyle abide
Of þat best what schaunce so bitide.
Þat best bisides him it went
& wiþ his teyle a strok him sent,
On þe scheld he smot him an heye[6865]
Þat euen ato it tofleye [ ato: a is superscript.]
Also it were wiþ a swerd broun.
Wel neye Gij him fel adoun.
Wiþ his taile he bigirt sir Gij
& him þrest so strongli[6870]
Þat þre ribbes he brac atvo,
& Gij wiþ strengþe smot him þo.
Atvo he him carf smartliche
& deliuerd himseluen manliche.
Bi þe nauel he carf him ato[6875]
& wiþ a gret pine deliuerd him fro.
Gij him perceyued in þat stounde
Þat neuer more þurth wepen ygrounde
Þat fram þe nauel vpward so
No slouȝ him man neuer mo.[6880]
Þo þat best hirt him feled
Swiþe loude he grad & ȝeled
Þat alle þat cuntre dined þere
& als wide as men herd his bere
Nis man in þe werld þat wer þer neye[6885]
Þat him no miȝt agrise þat it seye.
To a tre þan drouȝt him sir Gij
& werd him wele for þe maistri.
His hauberk was torent tofore
As a clout þat were al totore.[6890]
Stalworþli sir Gij þer fauȝt
Ac wele he seye it gained him nauȝt.
To smite on þe bodi bifore
He no miȝt him sle no no man bore.
Also þat best him went aboute [f.146vb] [Image] [6895]
Gij him biþouȝt he was in doute.
Bineþen þe wenge he him smot
Þurth þat bodi þat swerd bot;
Þurth þe bodi he him carf atvo.
Ded he fel to grounde þo;[6900]
He grad & ȝelled swiþe loude
Þat it schilled into þe cloude.
Gij wiþdrouȝ him þerfro anon
For stink þat of þe bodi come,
Neye þat bodi he no durste.[6905]
After þat he ȝede him to reste.
When þat best þer ded lay,
For soþe, y ȝou telle may,
Þritti fote meten it was
Þer it lay in þat plas.[6910]
Þe folk of þe cuntre it mette
Þer it lay wonderliche grete.
Þat heued he bar þe bodi fro
& wiþ þat Gij forþ went þo.
He come to his feren apliȝt[6915]
Þat for him bad to God almiȝt.
To Warwike he is ywent
Wiþ þat heued he made þe king present.
Þe king was bliþe & of glad chere
For þat he seye Gij hole & fere.[6920]
At Warwik þai henge þe heued anon,
Mani man wondred þerapon.