Sir Degare

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 degare.html and the header file was located in heads/degare_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 3

Short couplets. Ends imperfect. f.84Ara is a stub of 44 lines transcribed by E. Kölbing, 'Vier Romanzen-Handschriften', Englische Studien, 7 (1884): 185. 1068 lines survive in Auchinleck; Schleich calculates 8 lines omitted.

Five other manuscripts with variant texts:
Bodleian Library MS 21835 (Douce 261). 1564. Transcript of an early print. Fragments.
Bodleian Library MS 14528 (Rawlinson F.34). Late 15th century.
CUL Ff.2.38 (olim no. 690). Late 15th century. Ff.2.38 also has in common with Auchinleck: A Peniworþ of Witt, Sir Beues of Hamtoun, The Seven Sages of Rome and Guy of Warwick (different version).
BL Egerton MS 2862 (olim Trentham-Sutherland). Late 14th century. Suffolk. Fragments. Egerton also has in common with Auchinleck: King Richard, Sir Beues of Hamtoun, Floris and Blancheflour and Amis and Amiloun.
BL Additional MS 27879 (Percy Folio). c.1650. The Percy Folio also has a version of Of Arthour and of Merlin in common with Auchinleck.

Editions:
A. Laskaya and E. Salisbury, The Middle English Breton Lays (Michigan: Medieval Institute Publications for TEAMS, 1995). (Includes an electronic version of the text).
G. Schleich, 'Sir Degarre, Englische Textbibliothek 19 (Heidelberg: Winter, 1929). Corrected text in N. Jacobs, 'The Later Versions of Sir Degarre: A Study in Textual Degeneration', Medium vum Monographs, n.s. 18 (Oxford: Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature, 1995).

Other editions and studies:
W. H. French and C. B. Hale, Middle English Metrical Romances (New York: Prentice-Hall, 1930). (Auchinleck MS completed from Ff.2.38).
M. B. Carr, 'Sir Degarre', unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Chicago (1924). (All MSS and prints except Rawlinson).
D. Laing, Sire Degarre, Abbotsford Club (Edinburgh: Alex. Laurie and Co., 1849).

Manual I, 140; 296. Index 1895.

Source:

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

Sir Degare


[Herkeneþ, lordinges, gent and fre, [f.78rb] [Image]
Ich wille ȝou telle of Sire Degarre.]
Kniȝ[tes],[þat were some time in londe,]
Ferli fele wolde fonde
And sechen auentures bi niȝt and dai,[5]
Hou ȝhe miȝte here strengthe asai.
So dede a knyȝt, Sire Degarree.
Ich wille ȝou telle wat man was he.
In Litel-Bretaygne was a kyng
Of gret poer in alle þing,[10]
Stif in armes vnder sscheld
And mochel idouted in þe feld.
Þer nas no man, verraiment,
Þat miȝte in werre ne in tornament
Ne in justes for no þing[15]
Him out of his sadel bring
Ne out of his stirop bringe his fot:
So stron[g] he was of bon and blod.
Þis kyng [ne hadde non oþer] hair [MS smudged.]
But a maidenchild [fre and] fair;[20]
Here gentiresse and here beaute
Was moche renound in ich countre.
Þis maiden he loued als his lif.
Of hire was ded þe quene, his wif;
In trauailing here lif ȝhe les.[25]
And þo þe maiden of age wes,
Kynges sones to him speke,
Emperours and dukes eke,
To hauen his doughter in mariage
For loue of here heritage.[30]
Ac þe kyng answered euer,
Þat no man sschal here halden euer,
But ȝif he mai in turneying
Him out of his sadel bring
And maken him lesen hise stiropes bayne. [35] [ stiropes: final s is superscript.]
{ Auchinleck lacks seven lines }
[Mani assayed and miȝte not gayne. [f.78va] [Image]
Euery ȝer that riche kyng wold
A solempne feste make and holde
On his wyues mynnyng day,
Þat was beryed in an abbai[40]
In a foreste there-besyde.
With grete mene he wolde ryde,]
Hire dirige do and masse boþe,
Poure men fede and naked cloþe,
Offring brenge gret plente[45]
And fede þe couent wiȝ gret daynte.
Towar[d] þe abbai als he com ride
And mani knyȝtes bi his side,
His doughter also bi him rod.
Amidde þe forest hii abod.[50]
Here chaumberleyn ȝhe clepede hire to
And oþer dammaiseles two
And seide, þat hii moste aliȝte
To don here nedes and hire riȝte.
Þai aliȝt adoune alle þre,[55]
Tweie damaiseles & ssche,
And longe while þer abiden,
Til al þe folk was forht iriden.
Þai wolden vp and after wolde
And couþen nowt here way holde.[60]
Þe wode was rough and þikke, iwis,
And þai token þe wai amys;
Þai moste souht and riden west
Into þe þikke of þe forest.
Into a launde hii ben icome[65]
And habbeȝ wel vndernome,
Þat þai were amis igon.
Þai liȝt adoune euerichon
And cleped and criede al ifere;
Ac no man miȝt hem ihere. [70] [ miȝt: MS reads ariȝt.]
Þai nist what hem was best to don
Þe weder was hot bifor þe non:
Hii leien hem doun vpon a grene
Vnder a chastein-tre, ich wene,
And fillen aslepe euerichone[75]
Bote þe damaisele alone. [f.78vb] [Image]
ȝhe wente aboute and gaderede floures
And herknede song of wilde foules.
So fer in þe launde ȝhe goht, iwis,
Þat ȝhe ne wot neuere whare ȝe is.[80]
To hire maidenes ȝhe wolde anon,
Ac hi ne wiste neuer, wat wei to gon.
Whenne hi wende best to hem terne,
Aweiward þan hi goȝ wel ȝerne.
‘Allas!’ hi seide ‘þat I was boren;[85]
Nou ich wot ich am forloren.
Wilde bestes me willeȝ togrinde,
Or ani man me sschulle finde.’
Þan segh hi swich a siȝt:
Toward hire comen a kniȝt, [90] [ Toward: d is superscript.]
Gentil, ȝong and iolif man;
A robe of scarlet he hadde vpon;
His visage was feir, his bodi ech weies;
Of countenaunce riȝt curteis,
Wel farende legges, fot and honde;[95]
Þer nas non in al þe kynges londe
More apert man þan was he.
‘Damaisele, welcome mote þou be.
Be þou afered of none wihȝte.
Iich am comen here a fairi-knyȝte.[100]
Mi kynde is armes for to were,
On horse to ride wiȝ scheld and spere.
Forþi afered be þou nowt;
I ne haue nowt but mi swerd ibrout.
Iich haue iloued þe mani a ȝer,[105]
And now we beȝ vs selue her.
Þou best mi lemman ar þou go,
Weþer þe likeȝ wel or wo.’
Þo no þing ne coude do ȝhe,
But wep and criede and wolde fle;[110]
And he anon gan hire atholde
And dide his wille what he wolde.
He binam hire here maidenhod
And seththen vp toforen hire stod.
‘Lemman’ he seide ‘gent and fre,[115]
Mid schilde I wot þat þou schalt be; [f.79ra] [Image]
Siker ich wot hit worht a knaue.
Forþi mi swerd þou sschalt haue;
And, whenne þat he is of elde,
Þat he mai him self biwelde,[120]
Tak him þe swerd and bidde him fonde
To sechen his fader in eche londe.
Þe swerd (h)is god and auenaunt;
Lo, as I faug[h]t wiȝ a geaunt,
I brak þe point in his hed,[125]
And siththen, when þat he was ded,
I tok hit out and haue hit [h]er
Redi in min aumener.
ȝit perauenture time biȝ,
Þat mi sone mete me wiȝ,[130]
Be mi swerd I mai him kenne.
Haue god dai. I mot gon henne.’
Þe kniȝt passede as he cam.
Al wepende þe swerd ȝhe nam
And com hom sore sikend,[135]
And fond here maidenes al slepend.
Þe swerd ȝhe hidde als ȝhe miȝte
And awaked hem in hiȝte
And doht hem to horse anon
And gonne to ride euerichon.[140]
Þanne seghen hi ate last
Tweie squiers come prikend fast.
Fram þe kyng þai weren isent
To white whider his doughter went.
Þai browt hire into þe riȝte wai[145]
And comen faire to þe abbay
And doȝ þe seruise in alle þingges,
Mani masse and riche offringes.
And whanne þe seruise was al idone
And ipassed ouer þe none,[150]
Þe kyng to his castel gan ride –
His doughter rod bi his side –
And ȝemeȝ his kyngdom oueral
Stoutliche, as a god king sschall.
Ac whan ech man was glad an[d] blithe,[155]
His doughter siked an sorewed swithe. [f.79rb] [Image]
Here wombe greted more and more;
Þer while ȝhe miȝte, ȝe hidde here sore.
On a dai as hi wepende set,
On of hire maidenes hit vnderȝet.[160]
‘Ma Dame’ ȝhe seide ‘par charite,
Whi wepe ȝe? Now telleȝ hit me.’
‘A, gentil maiden, kinde icoren,
Help me oþer ich am forloren.
Ich haue euer ȝete ben meke and milde,[165]
Lo, now ich am wiȝ quike schilde.
ȝif ani man hit vnderȝete,
Men wolde sai bi sti and strete,
Þat mi fader þe king hit wan;
And I ne was neuere aqueint wiȝ man.[170]
And ȝif he hit him selue wite,
Swich sorewe schal to him smite,
Þat neuer bliȝe schal he be;
For al his ioie is in me.’
And tolde here altogeder þer,[175]
Hou hit was biȝete and wher.
‘Madame’ quad þe maide ‘ne care þou nowt.
Stille awai hit sschal be browt.
No man schal wite in Godes riche,
Whar hit bicomeȝ but þou and iche.’[180]
Her time come, ȝhe was vnbounde
And deliured al mid sounde.
A knaue schild þer was ibore;
Glad was þe moder þarfore.
Þe maiden seruede here at wille,[185]
Wond þat child in cloþes stille
And laid hit in a cradel anon
And was al prest þarwiȝ to gon.
ȝhit [h]is moder was him hold:
Four pound ȝhe tok of gold[190]
And ten of seluer also;
Vnder his fote ȝhe laid hit þo
‘For swich þinges hit mihoue.’
And seththen ȝe tok a paire gloue
Þat here lemman here sente of fairi-londe,[195]
Þat nolde on no manne honde, [f.79va] [Image]
Ne on child ne on womman ȝhe nolde;
But on hire selue wel ȝhe wolde.
Þe glouen ȝe put vnder his hade,
And siththen a letter ȝhe wrot and made[200]
And knit hit wiȝ a selkene þred
Aboute his nekke – wel God sped –
Þat who hit founde sscholde iwite.
Þan was in þe lettre þous iwrite:
‘Par charite, ȝif ani god man[205]
Þis helples child finde can,
Lat cristen hit wiȝ prestes honde
And bringgen hit to liue in londe,
For hit is comen of gentil blod.
Helpeȝ hit wiȝ his owen god,[210]
Wiȝ tresor þat vnder his fet lis.
And ten ȝer eld whan þat he his,
Takeȝ him þis ilke glouen two
And biddeȝ him, whareuere he go,
Þat he ne louie no womman in londe,[215]
But þis gloues willen on hire honde,
For, siker, on honde nelle þai nere
But on his moder þat him bere.’
Þe maiden tok þe chil[d] here mide
Stille awai in auentide;[220]
Alle þe winteres longe niȝt
Þe weder was cler, þe mone liȝt.
Þan war hiȝ ȝe war anon
Of an hermitage in a ston;
An holi man had þer his woniyng.[225]
Þider ȝhe wente on heying
An sette þe cradel at his dore
And durste abide no lengore
And passede forȝ anonriȝt.
Hom ȝhe com in þat oþer niȝt[230]
And fond þe leuedi al drupni,
Sore wepinde and was sori,
And tolde hire altogeder þer,
Hou ȝhe had iben and wher.
Þe hermite aros erliche þo,[235]
And his knaue was vppe also, [f.79vb] [Image]
An[d] seide ifere here matines
And seruede God and hise seins.
Þe litel child þai herde crie
And clepede after help on hie.[240]
Þe holi man his dore vndede
And fond þe cradel in þe stede.
He tok vp þe cloþes anon
And biheld þe litel grom.
He tok þe letter and radde wel sone,[245]
Þat tolde him þat he scholde done.
Þe heremite held vp boþe his honde
An[d] þonked God of al his sonde
And bar þat child into his chapel,
And for joie he rong his bel.[250]
He dede vp þe glouen and þe tresour
And cristned þe child wiȝ gret honour
In þe name of þe trinite;
He hit nemnede Degarre.
Degarre nowt elles ne is[255]
But þing þat not neuer whar it is,
O[r] þe þing þat is negȝ forlorn also;
Forþi þe schild he nemnede þous þo.
Þe heremite, þat was holi of lif,
Hadde a soster þat was a wif;[260]
A riche marchaunt of þat countre
Hadde hire ispoused into þat cite.
To hire þat schild he sente þo
Bi his knaue and þe siluer also.
And bad here take gode hede[265]
Hit to forster and to fede,
And ȝif God almiȝti wolde
Ten ȝer his lif holde,
Aȝen to him [h]i scholde hit wise;
He hit wolde teche of clergise.[270]
Þe litel child Degarre
Was ibrout into þat cite.
Þe wif and hire louerd ifere
Kept hit, ase hit [h]ere owen were.
Bi þat hit was ten ȝer old,[275]
Hit was a fair child and a bold, [f.80ra] [Image]
Wel inorissched, god and hende: [ inorissched: MS reads inorisscher.]
Was non betere in al þat ende.
He wende wel þat þe gode man
Had ben his fader þat him wan,[280]
And þe wif his moder also
And þe hermite his vnkel bo.
And whan þe ten ȝer was ispent
To þe hermitage he was sent.
And he was glad him to se;[285]
He was so feir and so fre.
He tauȝte him of clerkes lore
Oþer ten wynter oþer more.
And he was of twenti ȝer,
Staleworth he was, of swich pouer[290]
Þat þer ne was man in þat lond [ was: MS reads wan.]
Þat o breid him miȝt astond.
Þo þe hermite seȝ, wiȝouten les,
Man for him self þat he wes,
Staleworht to don ech werk[295]
And of his elde so god a clerk,
He tok him his florines and his gloues,
Þat he had kept to hise bihoues.
Ac þe ten pound of starlings
Were ispended in his fostrings.[300]
He tok him þe letter to rede;
And biheld al þe dede.
‘O leue (h)em, par charite,
Was þis letter mad for me?’
‘ȝe, bi oure lord, vs helpe sschal,[305]
Þus hit was.’ And told him al.
He knelede adoun also swiȝe
And þonked þe ermite of his liue,
And swor he nolde stinte no stounde
Til he his kinrede hadde ifounde.[310]
For in þe lettre was þous iwrite,
Þat bi þe glouen he sscholde iwite,
Wich were his moder and who,
ȝhif þat sche liuede þo;
For on hire honden hii wolde[315]
And on non oþer hii nolde. [f.80rb] [Image]
Half þe florines he ȝaf þe hermite,
And haluendel he tok him mide
And nam his leue an[d] wolde go.
‘Nai’ seide þe hermite ‘schaltu no.[320]
To seche þi ken miȝtou nowt dure
Wiȝouten hors and god armure.’
‘Nai’ quod he ‘bi heuene-kyng.
Ich wil haue first anoþer þing.’
He hew adoun boþe grete an[d] grim[325]
To beren in his hond wiȝ him
A god sapling of an ok.
Whan he þarwiȝ ȝaf a strok,
Ac, wer he neuer so strong a man
Ne so gode armes hadde vpon,[330]
Þat he ne scholde falle to grounde –
Swich a bourdon to him he founde.
Þo þenne God he him bitawt,
& aiþer fram oþer wepyng rawt.
Child Degarre wente his wai[335]
Þourgh þe forest al þat dai;
No man he ne herd, ne non he seȝ,
Til hit was non ipassed heȝ.
Þanne he herde a noise kete
In o valai an dintes grete.[340]
Bliue þider he gan to te;
What hit ware he wolde ise.
An herl of þe countre, stout and fers,
Wiȝ a kniȝt and four squiers
Hadde ihonted a der oþer two,[345]
And al here houndes weren ago.
Þan was þar a dragon grim,
Ful of filth and of venim,
Wiȝ wide þrote and teȝ grete
And wynges bitere wiȝ to bete;[350]
As a lyoun he hadde fet,
And his tail was long an[d] gret.
Þe smoke com of his nose awai
Ase fer out of a chimenai.
Þe knyȝt and squiers he had torent,[355]
Man and hors to deþe chent. [f.80va] [Image]
Þe dragon þe erl assaile gan,
And defended him as a man
And stoutliche leid on wiȝ his swerd
And stronge strokes on him gerd;[360]
Ac alle his dentes ne greued him nowt,
His hide was hard so jren wrout.
Þerl flei fram tre to tre,
Fein he wolde fram him be,
And þe dragon him gan asail.[365]
Þe doughti erl in þat batail
Ofsegh þis child Degarre.
‘Ha, help’ he seide ‘par charite.’
Þe dragoun seȝ þe child com, [ dragoun: MS reads dagroun.]
He laft þe erl and to him nom,[370]
Blowinde and ȝeniend also,
Als he him wolde swolewe þo.
Ac Degarre was ful strong;
He tok his bat gret and long,
And in þe forehefd he him batereȝ[375]
Þat al þe forehefd he tospatereȝ.
He fil adoun anonriȝt
And frapte his tail wiȝ gret miȝt
Vpon Degarres side,
Þat vp so doun he gan to glide.[380]
Ac he stert vp ase a man
And wiȝ his bat leide vpan
And al tofrusst him ech a bon
Þat he lai ded, stille as a ston.
Þerl knelede adoun biliue[385]
And ȝonked þe child of his liue
And maked him wiȝ him gon
To his castel riȝt anon
And wel at hese he him made
And proferd him al þat he hade:[390]
Rentes, tresor an eke lond,
For to holden in his hond.
Þanne answerede Degarre
‘Lat come ferst bifor me
Þi leuedi and oþer wimmen bold,[395]
Maidenes & widues, ȝonge & olde, [f.80vb] [Image]
And oþer damoiseles swete.
ȝif mine glouen beȝ to hem mete
For to done vpon here honde,
Þanne ich wil take þi londe;[400]
&, ȝif þai ben nowt so,
Iich wille take mi leue and go.
Alle wimman were forht ibrowt,
Wide cuntreis and forht isowt.
Ech þe glouen assaie bigan,[405]
Ac non ne miȝte don hem on.
He tok his glouen and vp hem dede
And nam his leue in þat stede.
Þe erl was gentil man of blod
And ȝaf him a stede ful god[410]
And noble armure riche and fin
When he wolde armen him þerin.
And a palefrai to riden an
And a knaue to ben his man
And ȝaf him a swerd briȝt,[415]
And dubbed him þer to knyȝt
And swor bi God almiȝti
Þat he was better worthi
To vsen hors and armes also
Þan wiȝ his bat aboute to go.[420]
Sire Degarre was wel blithe
And þanked þe erl mani a siþe
And lep vpon palefrai hiis
And doht him forȝ in his wai.
Vpon his stede riȝte his man[425]
& ledde his armes als he wel can.
Mani a iorne þai ride and sette.
So on a dai gret folk þei mette,
Erles and barouns of renoun,
Þat come fram a cite-toun.[430]
He asked a seriaunt ‘What tiding?’
& whennes hii come & ‘What is þis þing?’
‘Sire’ he seide ‘verraiment,
We come framward a parlement.
Þe king a gret counseil þer made [f.81ra] [Image] [435]
For nedes þat he to don hade.
Whan þe parlement was plener
He lette crie fer and ner,
ȝif ani man were of armes so bold
Þat wiȝ þe kinge iusti wold,[440]
He sscholde haue in mariage
His dowter and his heritage,
Þat is [a] kingdom god and fair;
For he ne had non oþer hair.
Ac no man ne dar graunte þerto;[445]
For mani hit assaieȝ & mai nowt do,
Mani erl & mani baroun,
Kniȝtes and squiers of renoun.
Ac ech man þat him iusteȝ wiȝ, tit,
Haþ of him a foul despit:[450]
Some he brekeȝ þe nekke anon
And of some þe rig-bon,
Some þourgh þe bodi he girt;
Ech is maimed oþer ihirt.
Ac noman mai don him no þing:[455]
Swich wonder chaunce haþ þe king.’
Sire Degarre þous þenche gan
‘Ich am a staleworht man,
And of min owen ich haue a stede,
Swerd and spere and riche wede;[460]
And ȝif ich felle þe kyng adoun
Euere ich haue wonnen renoun;
And þei þat he me herte sore,
No man wot wer ich was bore.
Wheþer deȝ oþer lif me bitide,[465]
Aȝen þe king ich wille ride.’
In þe cite his in he takeȝ
And resteȝ him and meri makeȝ.
On a dai wiȝ þe king he mette
And knelede adoun and him grette.[470]
‘Sire king’ he saide ‘of muchel miȝt,
Mi louerd me sende hider nou riȝt
For to warne ȝou þat he
Bi þi leue wolde iuste wiȝ þe
And winne þi dowter, ȝif he mai, [f.81rb] [Image] [475]
As þe cri was þis enderdai;
Justes he had to þe inome.’
‘De par deus’ quaþ þe king ‘he is welcome.
Be he baroun, be he erl,
Be he burgeis, be he cherl.[480]
No man wil I forsake;
He þat winneȝ al sschal take.’
Amorewe þe iustes was iset.
Þe king him purueid wel þe bet,
And Degarre ne knew no man;[485]
Ac al his trust is God vpon.
Erliche to churche þan wente he,
Þe masse he herde of þe trinite.
To þe fader he offreȝ hon florine
And to þe sone an oþer also fine[490]
And to þe holi gost þe þridde.
Þe prest for him ful ȝerne gan bidde.
And to þe seruise was idon,
To his in he wente wel son
And let him armi wel afin[495]
In god armes to justi in.
His gode stede he gan bistride;
His squier bar his sschaft biside.
In þe feld þe king he abide gan,
As he com ridend wiȝ mani a man[500]
Stoutliche out of þe cite-toun,
Wiȝ mani a lord of gret renoun.
Ac al þat in þe felde beȝ,
Þat þe iustes iseȝ,
Seide þat hi neuer ȝit iseȝe[505]
So pert a man wiȝ here egȝe,
As was þis gentil Degarre;
Ac no man wiste whennes was he.
Boþe þai gonne to iusti þan,
Ac Degarre can nowt þeron;[510]
Þe king haþ þe gretter schaft
And kan inowgh of þe craft.
To breke his nekke he had iment;
In þe helm he set his dent,
Þat þe schaft al tosprong. [f.81va] [Image] [515]
Ac Degarre was so strong
Þat in þe sadel stille he set
And in þe stiropes held his fet.
For soþe I seie, wiȝoute lesing,
He ne couþe nammore of iusting.[520]
‘Allas!’ quaþ þe king ‘Allas!
Me ne fil neuere swich a cas,
Þat man þat ich miȝte hitte
After mi stroke miȝte sitte.’
He takeȝ a wel gretter tre[525]
And swor, so he moste iþe,
‘ȝif his nekke nel nowt atwo,
His rigg schal ar ich hennes go.’
He rod eft wiȝ gret raundoun
And þought to beren him adoun[530]
And girt Degarre anon
Riȝt aȝein þe brest-bon.
Þe schaft was stef and wonder god,
And Degarre stede astod,
And al biforen he ros on heghȝ,[535]
And þo was he ifallen neghȝ.
But, as God almiȝti wold,
Þe schaft brak and miȝt nowt hold,
And Degarre his cours outritte
And was agramed out of his witte.[540]
‘Allas!’ quaþ he ‘for vilaynie;
Þe king me haþ ismiten þrie,
And I ne touchede him nowt ȝete.
Nou I schal [a]vise me bette.’
He turned his stede wiȝ herte grim[545]
And rod to þe king and he to him,
And togider þai gert ful riȝt
And in þe scheldes here strokes piȝt,
Þat þe speres al toriueȝ
And vpriȝt to here honde sliueȝ,[550]
Þat alle þe lordings þat þer ben,
Þat þe iusting miȝte sen,
Seiden hi ne seȝe neuer wiȝ egȝe
Man þat mighte so longe dreghȝe [ þat is superscript, with caret.]
In wraþþe for no þing [f.81vb] [Image] [555]
Sitten a strok of here king.
‘Ac he his doughti for þe nones,
A strong man of bodi and bones.’
Þe king wiȝ egre mod gan speke
‘Do bring me a schaft þat wil nowt breke.[560]
A, be mi trewþe, he sschal adoun,
Þai he be strengere þan Sampson;
And þei he be þe bare qued,
He sschal adoune maugre his heued.’
He tok a schaft was gret and long,[565]
Þe schild anoþer also strong;
And to þe king wel euene he rit.
Þe king faileȝ, & he him smit.
His schaft was strong and god wiȝal
And wel scharped þe coronal.[570]
He smot þe kyng in þe lainer;
He miȝt flit noþer fer ne ner.
Þe king was strong and harde sat;
Þe stede ros vp biforn wiȝ þat,
& sire Degarre so þriste him þan,[575]
Þat, maugre whoso grochche bigan,
Out of þe sadel he him cast,
Tail ouer top riȝt ate last.
Þan was þer long houting and cri;
Þe king was sor asschamed forþi.[580]
Þe lordinges comen wiȝ miȝt and mein
And broughte þe king on horse aȝein
An seide wiȝ o criing ‘iwis,
Child Degarre haþ wonne þe pris.’
Þan was þe damaisele sori;[585]
For hi wiste wel forwhi:
Þat hi scholde ispoused ben
To a kniȝt þat sche neuer had sen,
And lede here lif wiȝ swich a man,
Þat sche ne wot who him wan[590]
No in what londe he was ibore.
Carful was Þe leuedi þerfore.
Þan seide þe king to Degarre:
‘Min hende sone, com hider to me.
And þou were also gentil a man, [f.82ra] [Image] [595]
As þou semest wiȝ siȝt vpan,
And ase wel couþest wisdomes do,
As þou art staleworht man þe[r]to,
Me þouwte mi kingdom [i]s wel biset.
Ac, be þou werse, be þou bet,[600]
Couenaunt ich wille þe holde.
Lo, her biforn mi barons bolde
Mi douwter I take þe bi þe hond
And seise þe her in al mi lond;
King þou schalt ben after me.[605]
God graunte þe godman forto be.’
Þan was þe child glad and bliȝe
And þonked þe kyng mani a sithe.
Gret purueaunce þan was þer iwrout;
To churche þai were togidere ibrout;[610]
& spoused þat leuedi, verraiment,
Vnder holi sacrement.
Lo, what chaunse and wonder strong
Bitideȝ mani a man wiȝ wrong,
Þat comeȝ into an vncouþe þede[615]
And spouseȝ wif for ani mede
& knowes no þing of hire kin
Ne sche of his neiþer more ne min
And beȝ iwedded togider to libbe,
Par auenture, and beȝ neghȝ sibbe.[620]
So dede Sire Degarre þe bold,
Spoused þere [h]is moder;
And þat hende leuedi also
Here owene sone was spoused to
Þat sche vpon here bodi bar.[625]
Lo, what auenture fil hem þar.
But God, þat alle þingge mai stere,
Wolde nowt, þa[t] þai sinned ifere.
To chirche þai wente wiȝ barouns bolde.
A riche feste þai gonne to holde,[630]
And wan was wel ipassed non
And þe dai was al idon,
To bedde þai sscholde wende, þat fre
Þe dammaisele and sire Degarre.
He stod stille and biþouwte him þan, [f.82rb] [Image] [635]
Hou þe hermite, þe holi man,
Bad he scholde no womman take
For faired ne for riches sake,
But ȝhe miȝte þis gloues two
Liȝtliche on hire hondes do.[640]
‘Allas, allas!’ þan saide he
‘What meschaunce is comen to me.
Awai! witles wrechche ich am.
Iich hadde leuere þan þis kingdam,
Þat is iseised into min hond,[645]
Þat ich ware faire out of þis lond.’
He wrang his hondes and was sori;
Ac no man wiste þer forewi.
Þe king parceyued and saide þo
‘Sire Degarre, wi farest þou so?[650]
Is þer ani þing don ille,
Spoken or seid aȝen þi wille?’
‘ȝa, sire’ he saide ‘bi heuene-king.
Ichal neuer for no spousing,
Þerwhiles I liue, wiȝ wimman dele,[655]
Widue, ne wif, ne dammeisele,
But ȝhe þis gloues mai take and fonde
And liȝtlich drawen vpon hire honde.’
His ȝonge bride þat gan here,
And al for þout chaunged hire chere,[660]
And ate laste gan to turne here mod,
Here visage wex ase red ase blod.
ȝhe knew þo gloues þat wer hire,
‘Schewe hem hider, leue sire.’
Sche tok þe gloues in þat stede[665]
And liȝtliche on hire hondes dede
And fil adoun wiȝ reuli cri
And seide ‘God, mercy, merci!
Þou art mi sone hast spoused me her,
And ich am, sone, þi moder der;[670]
Ich hadde þe loren, ich haue þe founde.
Blessed be Ihesu Crist þat stounde.’
Sire Degarre tok his moder þo
And helde here in his armes two,
Keste and clepte here mani a siþe; [f.82va] [Image] [675]
Þat hit wa[s] sche, he was ful bliþe.
Þe kyng gret wonder hadde,
What þat noise [was] þat þai made,
And meruaile[d] of hire crying
And seide ‘Doughter, what is þis þing?’[680]
‘Fader’ ȝhe seide ‘þou schalt ihere.
Þou wenest þat ich a maiden were,
Ac certes nay, sire, ich am non.
Twenti winter nou hit is gon,
Þat mi maidenhed I les, [685] [Lines 685 and 686 written as a single line by the scribe. A faint diagonal line entered to separate them.]
In a forest as I wes.
And þis is mi sone, God hit wot;
Bi þis gloues wel ich wot.’
ȝhe told him al þat soþe þer,
Hou þe child was geten and wher,[690]
And hou þat he was boren also.
To þe hermitage ȝhe sente him þo
And seþthen herd of him no þing.
‘But þanked be Ihesu, heuene-king,
Iich haue ifounde him oliue.[695]
Ich am his moder and ek his wiue.’ [ am and ek each preceded by diagonal stroke, perhaps intended to mark stress.]
‘Leue moder’ seide Sire Degarre
‘Telle me þe sothe, par charite,
Into what londe I mai terne,
To seke mi fader swithe and ȝerne.’[700]
‘Sone’ ȝhe saide ‘bi heuene-kyng,
I can þe of him telle no þing;
But þo þat he fram me rauȝt,
His owen swerd he me bitauȝt [ me altered from mi.]
And bad ich scholde take hit þe forþan,[705]
ȝif þou liuedest and were a man.’
Þe swerd sche fet forht anonriȝt,
And Degarre hit outpliȝt.
Brod and long and heui hit wes,
In þat kyngdom no swich nes.[710]
Þan seide Degarre forþan
‘Whoso hit auȝt, he was a man;
Nou ich haue þat I kepe,
Niȝt ne dai nel ich slepe
Til þat I mi fader see,[715]
ȝif God wile þat hit so be.’ [f.82vb] [Image]
In þe cite he reste al niȝt.
Amorewe, whan hit was dai-liȝt,
He aros and herde his masse.
He diȝte him and forȝ gan passe.[720]
Of al þat cite þan moste non
Neiþer wiȝ him riden ne gon
But his knaue to take hede
To his armour and his stede.
Forȝ he rod in his wai[725]
Mani a pas & mani iurnai.
So longe he passede into west,
Þat he com into þeld forest,
Þer he was biȝeten som while.
Þerinne he rideȝ mani a mile;[730]
Mani a dai he ride gan,
No quik best he fond of man.
Ac mani wilde bestes he seghȝ,
And foules singen on heghȝ.
So longe he drouwȝ to þe niȝt,[735]
Þe sonne was adoune riȝt.
Toward toun he wolde ride,
But he nist neuer bi wiche side.
Þenne he seȝ a water cler
And amidde a riuer[740]
A fair castel of lim and ston;
Oþer wonyng was þer non.
To his knaue he seide ‘Tide wat tide,
O fote forþer nel I ride,
Ac here abide wille we[745]
And aske herberewe par charite,
ȝif ani quik man be here on liue.’
To þe water þai come als swiþe.
Þe bregge was adoune þo
& þe gate open also[750]
And into þe castel he gan spede.
First he stabled vp his stede.
He taiede vp his palefrai;
Inouȝ he fond of hote and hai.
He bad his grom on heying [755] [ heying: MS reads heþing.]
Kepen wel al here þing. [f.83ra] [Image]
He passed vp into þe halle,
Biheld aboute & gan to calle;
Ac neiþer on lond ne on heȝ
No quik man he ne seȝ.[760]
Amidde þe halle flore
A fir was bet stark an store.
‘Par fai’ he saide ‘ich am al sure,
He þat bette þat fure
Wil comen hom ȝit to niȝt.[765]
Abiden ich wille a litel wiȝt.’
He sat adoun vpon þe dais.
And he warmed him wel eche wais,
And he biheld and vndernam,
Hou in at þe dore cam[770]
Four dammaiseles gent and fre.
Ech was itakked to þe kne;
Þe two bowen an[d] arewen bere,
Þe oþer two icharged were
Wiȝ venesoun riche and god.[775]
And Degarre vp stod
And gret hem wel fair, apliȝt.
Ac þai answerede no wiȝt,
But ȝede into chaumbre anon
And barred þe dore after son.[780]
Sone þerafter wiȝalle
Þer com a dwerw into þe halle.
Four fet of lengthe was in him,
His visage was stout and grim;
Boþe his berd and his fax[785]
Was crisp an[d] ȝhalew as wax;
Grete sscholdres and quarre;
Riȝt stoutliche loked he.
Mochele were hise fet and honde
Ase þe meste man of þe londe.[790]
He was iclothed wel ariȝt,
His sschon icouped as a kniȝt;
He hadde on a sorcot ouert,
Iforred wiȝ blaunchener, apert. [ blaunchener: MS reads blaundener.]
Sire Degarre him biheld and lowgȝ[795]
And gret him fair inowgȝ. [f.83rb] [Image]
Ac he ne answerede neuere a word,
But sette trestles and laid þe bord;
And torches in þe halle he liȝte
And redi to þe soper diȝte.[800]
Þan þer com out of þe bour
A dammeisele of gret honour.
In þe lond non fairer nas;
In a diapre cloþed ȝhe was.
Wiȝ hire come maidenes tene,[805]
Some in scarlet, some in grene,
Gent of bodi, of semblaunt swete.
And Degarre hem gan grete.
Ac hi ne answerede no wiȝt,
But ȝede to þe soper anonriȝt.[810]
‘Certes’ quaþ sire Degarre
‘Ich haue hem gret and hi nowt me;
But þai be dombe, bi and bi
Þai schul speke first ar I.’
Þe leuedi þat was of rode so briȝt;[815]
Amidde ȝhe sat anonriȝt,
And on aiþer half maidenes fiue.
Þe dwerw hem seruede also bliue
Wiȝ riche metes and wel idiȝt;
Þe coppe he filleȝ wiȝ alle his miȝt.[820]
Sire Degarre couþe of curteisie.
He set a chaier bifore þe leuedie
And þerin him selue set
& tok a knif and carf his met.
At þe soper litel at he,[825]
But biheld þe leuedi fre
And seȝ ase feir a wimman,
Als he heuere loked an,
Þat al his herte and his þout
Hire to loue was ibrowt.[830]
And þo þai hadde souped anowȝ,
Þe dwerw com, and þe cloȝ he drouȝ. [ dwerw: MS reads drew.]
Þe leuedis wessche euerichon
And ȝede to chaumbre quik anon.
{ following line omitted from Auchinleck }
[Vp at þe gres his wai he nom;][835]
Into þe chaumbre he com ful sone.
Þe leuedi on here bed set [f.83va] [Image]
And a maide at here fet
And harpede notes gode and fine;
Anoþer brouȝte spices and wine.[840]
Vpon þe [bedde] he set adoun
To here of þe harpe soun.
For murthe of þe notes so sschille
He fel adoun on slepe stille;
So he slep al þat niȝt.[845]
Þe leuedi wreiȝ him warm, apliȝt,
And a pilewer vnder his heued dede
And ȝede to bedde in þat stede.
Amorewe whan hit was dai-liȝt,
Sche was vppe and redi diȝt;[850]
Faire sche awaked him þo.
‘Aris’ sche seide ‘graiȝ þe an[d] go.’
And saide þus in here game
‘Þou art worþ to suffri schame,
Þat al niȝt as a best sleptest[855]
And non of mine maidenes ne keptest.’
‘O gentil leuedi’ seide Degarre
‘For Godes loue forȝif hit me.
Certes, þe murie harpe hit made;
Elles misdo nowt [I] ne hade.[860]
Ac tel me, leuedi so hende,
Ar ich out of þi chaumber wende,
Who is louerd of þis lond,
And who þis castel haþ in hond,
Wether þou be widue or wif[865]
Or maiden ȝit of clene lif,
And whi her be so fele wimman
Allone wiȝouten ani man.’
Þe dameisele sore siȝte
And bigan to wepen anonriȝte.[870]
‘Sire, wel fain ich telle þe wolde,
ȝif euere þe better be me sscholde.
Mi fader was a riche baroun
And hadde mani a tour and toun.
He ne hadde no child but me.[875]
Ich was his [h]air of þis cuntre.
In mene ich hadde mani a kniȝ[t] [f.83vb] [Image]
And squiers þat were gode and liȝt,
An[d] staleworht men of mester
To serue in court fer and ner.[880]
Ac þanne is þar herebiside
A sterne kniȝt iknawe ful wide;
Ich wene in Bretaine þer be non
So strong a man so he is on.
He had iloue me ful ȝore;[885]
Ac in herte neuere more
Ne miȝte ich louie him aȝein.
But whenne he seghȝe þer was no gein,
He was aboute wiȝ maistri
For to rauisse me awai.[890]
Mine kniȝtes wolde defende me,
And ofte fowȝten hi an[d] he:
Þe best he slowgh þe firste dai
And seþen an oþe[r], par ma fai,
And seþen þe þridde and þe ferþe,[895]
Þe beste þat miȝte gon on erthe.
Mine squiers, þat weren so stoute,
Bi foure, bi fiue þai riden oute
On hors armed wel anowȝ
His houen bodi he hem slough.[900]
Mine men of mester he slough alle
And oþer pages of mine halle.
Þerfore ich am sore agast,
Lest he wynne me ate last.’
Wiȝ þis word sche fil to grounde[905]
And lai aswone a wel gret stounde.
Hire maidenes to hire come
And in hire armes vp hire nome.
He beheld þe leuedi wiȝ gret pite;
‘Loueli madame’ quaþ he[910]
‘On of þine ich am here.
Ich wille þe help be mi pouere.’
‘ȝhe, sire’ ȝhe saide ‘þan al mi lond
Ich wil þe ȝiue into þin hond
And at þi wille bodi mine, [915] [ at is written superscript with caret.]
ȝif þou miȝt wreke me of hine.’
Þo was he glad al for to fiȝte, [f.84ra] [Image]
A[c] wel gladere þat he miȝte
Haue þe leuedi so briȝt
ȝif he slough þat oþer kniȝt.[920]
And als þai stod and spak ifere
A maiden cried wiȝ reuful chere:
‘Her comeȝ oure enemi faste vs ate.
Drauwe þe bregge and sschet þe ȝate.
Or he wil slen ous euerichone.’[925]
Sire Degarre stirt vp anon,
And at a window him seȝ,
Wel i-armed on hors hegh,
A fairer bodi þan he was on,
In armes ne segh he neuer non.[930]
Sire Degarre armed him bliue
And on a stede gan out driue
Wiȝ a spere gret of gayn.
To þe kniȝt he rit aȝein.
Þe kniȝte spere al tosprong.[935]
Ac Degarre was so strong
And so harde to him þrast.
But þe kniȝt sat so fast,
Þat þe stede rigge tobrek
And fel to grounde and he ek.[940]
But anon stir[t] vp þe kniȝt
And drouȝ out his swerd briȝt.
‘Aliȝt’ he saide ‘adoun anon.
To fiȝt þou sschalt afote gon.
For þou hast slawe mi stede,[945]
Deȝ-dint schal be þi mede.
Ac þine stede sle I nille;
Ac on fote fiȝte ich wille.’
Þan on fote þai toke þe fiȝt
And hewe togidere wiȝ brondes briȝt.[950]
Þe kniȝt ȝaf Sire Degarre
Sterne strokes gret plente,
And he him aȝen also,
Þat helm and scheld cleue atwo.
Þe kniȝt was agreued sore,[955]
Þat his armour toburste þore.
A strok he ȝaf Sire Degarre, [f.84rb] [Image]
Þat to grounde fallen is he.
But he stirt vp anonriȝt,
And swich a strok he ȝaf þe kniȝt[960]
Vpon his heued so harde iset
Þat helm and heued and bacinet,
Þat ate brest stod þe dent.
Ded he fil doun, verraiment.
Þe leuedi lai in o kernel[965]
And biheld þe batail eueri del.
ȝhe ne was neuer er so bliþe;
Sche þankede God fele sithe.
Sire Degarre com into castel;
Aȝein him com þe dammaisel[970]
And þonked him swiþe of þat dede.
Into chaumber sche gan him lede
And vnarmed him anon
And set him hire bed vpon
And saide ‘sire, par charite,[975]
I þe prai dwel wiȝ me;
And al mi lond ich wil þe ȝiue
And mi selue, whil þat I liue.’
‘Grant merci, dame’ saide Degarre
‘Of þe gode þou bedest me.[980]
Wende ich wille into oþer londe
More of hauentours for to fonde.
And be þis twelue moneþ be go
Aȝein ich wil come þe to.’
Þe leuedi made moche mourning[985]
For þe kniȝtes departing
And ȝaf him a stede god and sur,
Gold and siluer an[d] god armur
And bitauȝt him Ihesu heuene-king;
And sore þai wepen at here parting.[990]
Forht wente Sire Degarre
Þurh mani a diuers cuntre;
Euermor he rod west.
So in a dale of o forest
He mette wiȝ a douȝti kniȝt[995]
Vpon a stede god and liȝt
In armes þat were riche and sur [f.84va] [Image]
Wiȝ þe sscheld of asur
And þre bor-heuedes þerin,
Wel ipainted wiȝ gold fin.[1000]
Sire Degarre anonriȝt
Hendeliche grette þe kniȝt
And saide ‘sire, God wiȝ þe be.’
And þous aȝein answerede he
‘Velaun, wat dost þou here[1005]
In mi forest to chase mi dere?’
Degarre answerede wiȝ wordes meke
‘Sire, þine der noug[h]t I ne seke;
Iich am an aunterous kniȝt
For to seche werre and fiȝt.’[1010]
Þe kniȝt saide ‘Wiȝouten fail,
ȝif þou comest to seke batail,
Here þou hast þi per ifounde.
Arme þe swiþe in þis stounde.’
Sire Degarre and his squier[1015]
Armed him in riche atir,
Wiȝ an helm riche for þe nones;
Was ful of precious stones,
Þat þe maide him ȝaf, saun fail,
For whom he did raþer batail.[1020]
A sscheld he kest aboute his swere,
Þat was of armes riche and dere,
Wiȝ þre maidenes heuedes of siluer briȝt,
Wiȝ crounes of gold precious of siȝt.
A sschaft he tok þat was nowt smal,[1025]
Wiȝ a kene coronal.
His squier tok anoþer spere,
Bi his louerd he gan hit bere.
Lo, swich auenture he gan bitide:
Þe sone aȝein þe fader gan ride,[1030]
And noiþer ne knew oþer no wiȝt.
Nou beginneȝ þe firste fiȝt.
Sire Degarre tok his cours þare,
Aȝen his fader a sschaft he bare.
To bere him doun he hadde imint;[1035]
Riȝt in þe sscheld he set his dint.
Þe sschaft brak to peces al, [f.84vb] [Image]
And in þe sscheld sat þe coronal.
Anoþer cours þai gonne take.
Þe fader tok for þe sones sake[1040]
A sschaft þat was gret and long,
And he anoþer also strong;
Togider þai riden wiȝ gret raundoun,
And aiþer bar oþer adoun.
Wiȝ dintes þat þai smiten þere[1045]
Here stede-rigges toborsten were.
Afote þai gonne fiȝt ifere
And laiden on wiȝ swerdes clere.
Þe fader amerueiled wes,
Whi his swerd was pointles,[1050]
And seide to his sone, apliȝt
‘Herkne to me a litel wiȝt.
Wher were þou boren, in what lond?’
‘In Litel Bretaigne, ich vnderstond,
Kingges doughter sone, witouten les;[1055]
Ac I not wo mi fader wes.’
‘What is þi name?’ þan saide he.
‘Certes, men clepeȝ me Degarre.’
‘O, Degarre, sone mine,
Certes, ich am fader þine.[1060]
And bi þi swerd I knowe hit here.
Þe point is in min aumenere.’
He tok þe point and set þerto.
Degarre fel iswone þo,
And his fader, sikerli,[1065]
Also he gan swony.
And whanne of swone arisen were,
Þe sone cride merci þere
His owen fader of his misdede.
And he him to his castel gan lede[1070]
And bad him dwelle wiȝ him ai.
‘Certes, sire’ he saide ‘nai.’
Ac, ȝif hit ȝoure wille were,
To mi moder we wende ifere;
For ȝhe is in gret mourning.’[1075]
‘Bleþelich’ quaþ he ‘bi heuene-kyng.’
{End of Auchinleck text}
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