Sir Tristrem

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 tristrem.html and the header file was located in heads/tristrem_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

11-line stanzas, rhyming ababababcbc. Ninth line is a single-stress bob which the copyist places in various positions. 3344 lines including lacunae (2 lines on f.281va, 12 lines on f.281vb, and 2 lines on f.285vb). Ends imperfect.

Unique copy.

Edition:
G. P. McNeill, Sir Tristrem, Scottish Text Society 8 (Edinburgh and London: Blackwood, 1886).

Other editions:
W. Scott, Sir Tristrem (Edinburgh: Constable, 1804).
E. Kölbing, Die Nordische und die Englische Version der Tristan-Sage, 2 vols (Heilbronn: Henninger, 1878-82; reprinted Hildesheim and New York: G. Olms, 1978-85).

Manual I, 77; 255. Index 1382.

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 Tristrem


I was a[t Erceldoune,] [f.281ra] [Image]
Wiþ Tomas spak y þare;
Þer herd y rede in roune
Who Tristrem gat & bare,
Who was king wiþ croun[5]
& who him forsterd ȝare
& who was bold baroun,
As þair elders ware,
Bi ȝere,
Tomas telles in toun[10]
Þis auentours as þai ware.
Þis semly somers day,
In winter it is nouȝt sen
Þis greues wexen al gray
Þat in her time were grene.[15]
So dos þis world, y say,
Y wis & nouȝt at wene,
Þe gode ben al oway
Þat our elders haue bene
To abide;[20]
Of a kniȝt is þat y mene,
His name it sprong wel wide.
Wald Morgan þole no wrong
Þei Morgan lord wes;
He brak his castels strong,[25]
His bold borwes he ches,
His men he slouȝ among
& reped him mani a res.
Þe wer lasted so long
Til Morgan asked pes[30]
Þurth pine.
For soþe, wiþouten les,
His liif he wende to tine.
Þus þe batayl it bigan - [f.281rb] [Image]
Witeþ wele it was so -[35]
Bitvene þe douk Morgan
& Rouland þat was þro,
Þat neuer þai no lan
Þe pouer to wirche wo.
Þai spilden mani a man[40]
Bitven hem seluen to
In prise.
Þat on was douk Morgan,
Þat oþer Roulandrise.
Þe kniȝtes þat were wise,[45]
A forward fast þai bond
Þat ich a man schul ioien his
& seuen ȝer to stond;
Þe douke & Roulandriis
Þerto þai bed her hond[50]
To heiȝe & holden priis
& foren til Jnglond
To lende;
Markes king þai fond
Wiþ kniȝtes mani & hende.[55]
To Marke þe king þai went
Wiþ kniȝtes proude in pres
& teld him to þende
His auentours as it wes.
He preyd hem as his frende[60]
To duelle wiþ him in pes.
Þe kniȝtes, þai were hende
& dede wiþouten les
In lede;
A turnament þai ches[65]
Wiþ kniȝtes stiþe on stede.
Glad a man was he,
Þe turnament dede crie
Þat maidens miȝt him se
& ouer þe walles to lye.[70]
Þai asked who was fre
To win þe maistrie,
Þai seyd þat best was he,
Þe child of Ermonie,
In tour.[75]
Forþi chosen was he
To maiden Blauncheflour.
Þe maiden of heiȝe kinne [f.281va] [Image]
Sche cald hir maisters þre
.... .... .... ....[80]
.... .... .... ....
Bot ȝiue it be þurth ginne,
A selly man is he;
Þurth min hert wiþinne
Ywounded haþ he me[85]
So sone;
Of bale bot he me blinne
Mine liif days ben al done.
He was gode & hende,
Stalworþ, wise & wiȝt,[90]
Into þis londes ende
Y not non better kniȝt,
Trewer non to frende,
& Roulandriis he hiȝt.
To batayl gan he wende,[95]
Was wounded in þat fiȝt
Ful felle.’
Blauncheflour þe briȝt,
Þe tale þan herd sche telle,
Sche seyd ‘wayleway!’[100]
When hye herd it was so;
To hir maistresse sche gan say
Þat hye was boun to go
To þe kniȝt þer he lay;
Sche swouned & hir was wo.[105]
So comfort he þat may,
A knaue child gat þai tvo,
So dere;
& seþþen men cleped him so:
Tristrem þe trewe fere.[110]
Þe trewes þat þai hadde tan
& stabled in her þouȝt
Þan brak þe douk Morgan,
He no wald held it nouȝt.
Rohand trewe so stan[115]
A letter he þer wrouȝt
& sent to Rouland onan,
As man of socour souȝt
In kare
To help what he mouȝt,[120]
Or lesen al þat þer ware.
Roulandriis in tene
Tok leue at Markes king
.... .... .... .... [f.281vb] [Image]
.... .... .... ....[125]
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
.... {Twelve lines lost where miniature cut out}
.... .... .... ....[130]
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
.... .... ....
.... .... .... ....
.... .... .... ....[135]
Or þou wilt wende wiþ me.’
‘Mi duelling is hir ille,
Bihold & tow may se.
Mi rede is taken þertille
Þat fare y wille wiþ þe[140]
& finde
Þi fair folk & þi fre
O lond þer is þi kinde.’
Þai busked & maked hem boun,
Nas þer no leng abade;[145]
Þai lefted gomfainoun,
& out of hauen þai rade
Til þai com til a toun,
A castel Rohant had made.
Her sailes þai leten doun,[150]
& kniȝt ouer bord þai strade
Al cladde.
Þe kniȝtes þat wer fade,
Þai dede as Rohand bade.
Rohand riȝt he radde[155]
‘Þis maiden schal ben oure,
Roulandriis to wedde,
Atweld in castel tour,
To bring hir to his bedde
Þat briȝtest is in bour.[160]
Nas neuer non fairer fedde
Þan maiden Blauncheflour
Al bliþe.’
After þat michel anour
Parting com þer swiþe.[165]
In hird nas nouȝt to hele
Þat Morgan telles in toun,
Mekeliche he gan mele [f.282ra] [Image]
Among his men to roun;
He bad his kniȝtes lele[170]
Com to his somoun
Wiþ hors & wepenes fele
& rered gomfaynoun,
Þat bold.
He rode so king wiþ croun[175]
() To win al þat he wold.[()]
Of folk þe feld was brade
Þer Morgan men gan bide;
Þo Rouland to hem rade,
Oȝain him gun þai ride;[180]
Swiche meting nas neuer made
Wiþ sorwe on ich a side.
Þerof was Rouland glade,
Ful fast he feld her pride.
Wiþ paine[185]
Morgan scaped þat tide
Þat he nas nouȝt slain.
Morganes folk cam newe
Of Roulandriis þe gode,
On helmes gun þai hewe,[190]
Þurth brinies brast þe blod;
Sone to deþ þer drewe
Mani a frely fode.
Of Rouland was to rewe,
To grounde when he ȝode,[195]
Þat bold.
His sone him after stode
& dere his deþ he sold.
Rewþe mow ȝe here
Of Roulandriis þe kniȝt:[200]
Þre hundred he slouȝ þere
Wiþ his swerd briȝt,
Of al þo þat þer were
Miȝt non him felle in fiȝt,
Bot on wiþ tresoun þere[205]
Þurth þe bodi him piȝt.
Wiþ gile
To deþ he him diȝt -
Allas þat ich while!
His hors o feld him bare[210]
Alle ded hom in his way;
Gret wonder hadde he þouȝt þare [f.282rb] [Image]
Þat folk of ferly play.
Þe tiding com wiþ care
To Blauncheflour þat may.[215]
For hir me reweþ sare,
On child-bed þer sche lay;
Was born
Of hir Tristrem þat day,
Ac hye no bade nouȝt þat morn.[220]
A ring of riche hewe
Þan hadde þat leuedi fre,
Sche toke it Rohand trewe,
Hir sone sche bad it be
‘Mi broþer wele it knewe,[225]
Mi fader ȝaf it me;
King Markes may rewe
Þe ring þan he it se
And moun.
As Rouland loued þe,[230]
Þou kepe it to his sone.’
Þe folk stode vnfain
Bifor þat leuedi fre
‘Rouland, mi lord, is slain,
He spekeþ no more wiþ me.’ [235] [ spekeþ: þ is superscript.]
Þat leuedi, nouȝt to lain,
For soþe ded is sche.
Who may be ogain?
As God wil it schal be.
Vnbliþe,[240]
Sorwe it was to se,
Þat leuedi swelted swiþe.
Geten & born was so
Þe child, was fair & white.
Nas neuer Rohand so wo,[245]
He nist it whom to wite.
To child bed ded he go
His owhen wiif also tite
& seyd he hadde children to,
On hem was his delite,[250]
Bi crist!
In court men cleped him so:
Þo tram bifor þe trist.
Douk Morgan was bliþe
Þo Roulandriis was doun;[255]
He sent his sond swiþe [f.282va] [Image]
& bad al schuld be boun
& to his lores liþe,
Redi to his somoun.
Durst non oȝain him kiþe[260]
Bot ȝalt him tour & toun
So sone;
No was no king wiþ croun,
So richeliche hadde ydone.
Who ȝaf broche & beiȝe?[265]
Who bot douke Morgan? [ Morgan: a has been altered from an o or an e.]
Cruwel was & heiȝe,
Oȝaines him stode no man.
To conseil he calleþ neiȝe
Rohand trewe so stan[270]
& euer he dede as þe sleiȝe
& held his hert in an,
Þat wise.
It brast þurth blod & ban
ȝif hope no ware to rise.[275]
Now haþ Rohand in ore
Tristrem & is ful bliþe.
Þe child he set to lore
& lernd him also swiþe;
In bok while he was þore[280]
He stodieþ euer þat stiþe.
Þo þat bi him wore
Of him weren ful bliþe.
Þat bold,
His craftes gan he kiþe[285]
Oȝaines hem when he wold.
Fiftene ȝere he gan him fede,
Sir Rohand þe trewe;
He tauȝt him ich a lede
Of ich maner of glewe[290]
& euerich playing þede,
Old lawes & newe;
On hunting oft he ȝede,
To swiche a lawe he drewe [This line: inserted superscript in a smaller script, its position marked by a-b and crosses.]
Al þus,[295]
More he couþe of veneri
Þan couþe Manerious.
Þer com a schip of Norway
To sir Rohandes hold
Wiþ haukes white & gray[300]
& panes fair yfold. [f.282vb] [Image]
Trist(t)rem herd it say,
On his playing he wold
Tventi schilling to lay.
Sir Rohand him told[305]
& tauȝt;
For hauke siluer he ȝold,
Þe fairest men him rauȝt.
A cheker he fond bi a cheire,
He asked who wold play.[310]
Þe mariner spac bonair
‘Child, what wiltow lay?’
‘Oȝain an hauke of noble air
Tventi schillinges to say.
Wheþer so mates oþer fair[315]
Bere hem boþe oway.’
Wiþ wille
Þe mariner swore his faye
‘For soþe ich held þertille.’
Now boþe her wedde lys,[320]
& play þai biginne;
Ysett he haþ þe long asise
& endred beþ þerinne.
Þe play biginneþ to arise,
Tristem deleþ atvinne;[325]
He dede als-so þe wise:
He ȝaf has he gan winne
In raf.
Of playe ar he wald blinne
Sex haukes he ȝat & ȝaf.[330]
Rohand toke leue to ga,
His sones he cleped oway;
Þe fairest hauke he gan ta
Þat Tristrem wan þat day;
Wiþ him he left ma[335]
Pans for to play.
Þe mariner swore also
Þat pans wold he lay
An stounde.
Tristrem wan þat day[340]
Of him an hundred pounde.
Tristrem wan þat þer was layd.
A tresoun þer was made:
No lenger þan þe maister seyd,
Of gate nas þer no bade. [f.283ra] [Image] [345]
As þai best sat & pleyd
Out of hauen þai rade
Opon þe se so gray,
Fram þe brimes brade
Gun flete.[350]
Of lod þai were wel glade
& Tristrem sore wepe.
His maister þan þai fand
A bot & an are.
Hye seyden ‘ȝond is þe land,[355]
& here schaltow to bare.
Chese on aiþer hand
Wheþer þe leuer ware
Sink or stille stand;
Þe child schal wiþ ous fare[360]
On flod.’
Tristrem wepe ful sare,
Þai louȝ & þouȝt it gode.
Niȝen woukes & mare
Þe mariners flet on flod,[365]
Til anker hem brast & are
& stormes hem bistode;
Her sorwen & her care
Þai witt þat frely fode;
Þai nisten hou to fare,[370]
Þe wawes were so wode
Wiþ winde.
O lond þai wold he ȝede,
ȝif þai wist ani to finde.
A lond þai neiȝed neiȝe,[375]
A forest as it ware,
Wiþ hilles þat were heiȝe
& holtes þat weren hare.
O lond þai sett þat sleiȝe
Wiþ al his wining ȝare,[380]
Wiþ broche & riche beiȝe,
A lof of brede ȝete mare,
Þat milde.
Weder þai hadde to fare,
A lond þai left þat childe.[385]
Winde þai had as þai wolde,
A lond bilaft he;
His hert bigan to cold
Þo he no miȝt hem nouȝt se; [f.283rb] [Image]
To Crist his bodi he ȝald[390]
Þat don was on þe tre
‘Lord, mi liif me bihold,
In world þou wisse me
At wille;
Astow art lord so fre,[395]
Þou lete me neuer spille.’
Þo Tomas asked ay
Of Tristrem, trewe fere,
To wite þe riȝt way
Þe styes for to lere.[400]
Of a prince proude in play
Listneþ, lordinges dere.
Whoso better can say,
His owhen he may here
As hende.[405]
Of þing þat is him dere
Ich man preise at ende.
In o robe Tristrem was boun
Þat he fram schip hadde brouȝt.
Was of a blihand broun,[410]
Þe richest þat was wrouȝt,
As Tomas telleþ in toun.
He no wist what he mouȝt,
Bot semly sett him doun
& ete ay til him gode þouȝt;[415]
Ful sone
Þe forest forþ he souȝt
When he so hadde done.
He toke his lod vnliȝt,
His penis wiþ him he bare;[420]
Þe hilles were on hiȝt,
He clombe þo holtes hare;
Of o gate he hadde siȝt,
Þat he fond ful ȝare;
Þe paþ he toke ful riȝt,[425]
To palmers mett he þare
On hand;
He asked hem whennes þai ware,
Þai seyd ‘of Yngland.’
For drede þai wald him slo,[430]
He temed him to þe king;
He bede hem pens mo,
Aiþer ten schilling [f.283va] [Image]
ȝif þai wald wiþ him go
& to þe court him bring.[435]
‘ȝis,‘ þai sworen þo
‘Bi þe lord ouer al þing
Ful sone.’
Ful wel biset his þing,
Þat raþe haþ his bone.[440]
Þe forest was fair & wide,
Wiþ (wiþ) wilde bestes ysprad.
Þe court was ner biside,
Þe palmers þider him lad.
Tristrem hunters seiȝe ride,[445]
Les of houndes þai ledde;
Þai token in þat tide
Of fat hertes yfedde
In feld.
In blehand was he cledde,[450]
Þe hunters him biheld.
Bestes þai brac & bare,
In quarters þai hem wrouȝt,
Martirs as it ware
Þat husbondmen had bouȝt.[455]
Tristrem þo spac þare
& seyd wonder him þouȝt
‘Ne seiȝe y neuer are
So wilde best ywrouȝt
At wille. [460] [ at wille added at the end of the previous line, its correct position marked by a-b and crosses.]
Oþer‘ he seyd ‘y can nouȝt
Or folily ȝe hem spille.’
Vp stode a seriaunt bold
& spac Trist[r]em oȝain
‘We and our elders old,[465]
Þus þan haue we sain.
Oþer þou hast ous told:
ȝond liþ a best vnflain,
Atire it as þou wold
& we wil se ful fain[470]
In feld.’
In lede is nouȝt to lain,
Þe hunters him biheld.
Tristrem schare þe brest,
Þe tong sat next þe pride;[475]
Þe heminges swiþe on est
He schar & layd biside;
Þe breche adoun he þrest, [f.283vb] [Image]
He ritt & gan to riȝt;
Boldliche þer nest[480]
Carf he of þat hide
Bidene;
Þe bestes he graiþed þat tide
As mani seþþen has ben.
Þe spande was þe first brede,[485]
Þe erber diȝt he ȝare,
To þe stifles he ȝede
& euen ato hem schare;
He riȝt al þe rede,
Þe wombe oway he bare,[490]
Þe noubles he ȝaf to mede.
Þat seiȝen þat þer ware.
Also
Þe rigge he croised mare,
Þe chine he smot atvo.[495]
Þe forster for his riȝtes
Þe left schulder ȝaf he,
Wiþ hert, liuer & liȝtes
& blod tille his quirre;
Houndes on hyde he diȝtes,[500]
Alle he lete hem se;
Þe rauen he ȝaue his ȝiftes,
Sat on þe fourched tre,
On rowe;
‘Hunters, whare be ȝe?[505]
Þe tokening schuld ȝe blowe.’
He tiȝt þe mawe on tinde
& eke þe gargiloun,
Þai blewen þe riȝt kinde
& radde þe riȝt roun.[510]
Þai wist þe king to finde
& senten forþ to toun
& teld him vnder linde
Þe best hou it was boun
& brouȝt.[515]
Marke þe king wiþ croun
Seyd þat feir him þouȝt.
Þe tokening when þai blewe,
Þer wondred mani a man,
Þe costom þai nouȝt knewe,[520]
Forþi fro bord þai ran;
No wist þai nouȝt hou newe [f.284ra] [Image]
Þai hadde hunters þan.
It is a maner of glewe
To teche hem þat no can[525]
Swiche þing.
Alle bliþe weren þai þan
Þat ȝede bifor þe king.
Þe king seyd ‘where were þou born?
What hattou, belamye?’[530]
Tristrem spac biforn
‘Sir, in Hermonie.
Mi fader me haþ forlorn,
Sir Rohand, sikerly
Þe best blower of horn[535]
& king of venery
For þouȝt.’
Þe lasse ȝaf Mark forþi,
For Rohand he no knewe nouȝt.
Þe king no seyd no more[540]
Bot wesche & ȝede to mete;
Bred þai pard & schare,
Ynouȝ þai hadde at ete;
Wheþer hem leuer ware
Win or ale to gete,[545]
Aske & haue it ȝare,
In coupes or hornes grete
Was brouȝt;
Þer while þai wold þai sete;
& risen when hem gode þouȝt.[550]
An harpour made a lay
Þat Tristrem aresound he.
Þe harpour ȝede oway
‘Who better can lat se.’
‘Bot y þe mendi may,[555]
Wrong þan wite y þe.’
Þe harpour gan to say
‘Þe maistri ȝiue y þe
Ful sket.’
Bifor þe kinges kne[560]
Tristrem is cald to set.
Bliþe weren þai alle,
& merkes gun þai minne,
Token leue in þe halle.
Who miȝt þe child winne?[565]
Mark gan Tristrem calle, [f.284rb] [Image]
Was comen of riche kinne;
He ȝaf him robe of palle
& pane of riche skinne
Ful sket;[570]
His chaumber he liþ inne
& harpeþ notes swete.
Now Tristrem lat we þare,
Wiþ Marke he is ful dere.
Rohand reweþ sare[575]
Þat he no miȝt of him here;
Ouer londes he gan fare
Wiþ sorwe & reweful chere,
Seuen kingriche & mare
Tristrem to finde þere[580]
& souȝt;
His robes riuen were,
Þerfore no leued he nouȝt.
Nouȝt no semed it so
Rohand, þat noble kniȝt;[585]
He no wist whider to go,
So was he brouȝt o miȝt;
To swinke men wold him to
For mete & robes riȝt.
Wiþ oþer werkmen mo[590]
He bileft al niȝt
In land;
Of þe palmers he hadde a siȝt
Þat Tristrem first fand.
His asking is euer newe[595]
In trauail & in pes.
Þe palmer seyd he him knewe
& wiste wele what he wes
‘His robe is of an hewe,
Blihand wiþouten les;[600]
His name is Tristrem trewe,
Bifor him scheres þe mes,
Þe king.
Y brouȝt him þer he ches,
He ȝaue me ten schilling.’[605]
‘So michel wil y ȝiue þe,‘
Quaþ Rohand ‘wil ȝe ta?
Þe court ȝe lat me se.’
Þe palmers seyd ‘ȝa.’
Bliþe þerof was he [f.284va] [Image] [610]
& redily ȝaf him sa,
Of wel gode mone
Ten schilinges & ma
Of gayn;
Rohand was ful þra [615] [ Rohand: MS reads Tristrem.]
Of Tristrem for to frain.
In Tristrem is his delit,
& of him spekeþ he ay.
Þe porter gan him wite
& seyd ‘cherl, go oway,[620]
Oþer y schal þe smite.
What dostow here al day?’
A ring he rauȝt him tite -
Þe porter seyd nouȝt nay -
In hand.[625]
He was ful wise, y say,
Þat first ȝaue ȝift in land.
Rohand þo tok he
& at þe gate in lete;
Þe ring was fair to se,[630]
Þe ȝift was wel swete.
Þe huscher bad him fle
‘Cherl, oway wel sket
Or broken þine heued schal be,
& þou feld vnder fet[635]
To grounde.’
Rohand bad him lete
& help him at þat stounde.
Þe pouer man of mold
Tok forþ anoþer ring,[640]
Þe huscher he ȝaf þe gold,
It semed to a king;
Formest þo in fold
He lete him in þring;
To Tristrem trewe in hold[645]
He hete he wold him bring,
& brouȝt;
Tristrem knewe him no þing,
& ferly Rohand þouȝt.
Þei men Tristrem had sworn,[650]
He no trowed it neuer in lede
Þat Rohand robes were torn,
Þat he wered swiche a wede.
He frained him biforn [f.284vb] [Image]
‘Child, so God þe rede,[655]
Hou were þou fram Rohand lorn?
Monestow neuer in lede
Nouȝt lain?’
He kneled better spede
& kist Rohand ful fain.[660]
‘Fader, no wretþe þe nouȝt,
Ful welcom er ȝe.
Bi God þat man haþ bouȝt
No þing no knewe y þe;
Wiþ sorwe þou hast me souȝt,[665]
To wite it wo is me.’
To Mark þe word he brouȝt
‘Wil ȝe mi fader se
Wiþ siȝt?
Graiþed y wil he be,[670]
& seþþen schewe him as kniȝt.’
Tristrem to Mark it seyd
His auentours as it were,
Hou he wiþ schipmen pleyd,
Of lond hou þai him bere,[675]
Hou stormes hem bistayd
Til anker hem brast & are.
‘Þai ȝolden me þat y layd
Wiþ al mi wining ȝare
In hand,[680]
Y clambe þe holtes hare
Til y þine hunters fand.’
A baþ þai brouȝt Rohand inne,
A barbour was redi þare;
Al rowe it was, his chinne,[685]
His heued was white of hare.
A scarlet wiþ riche skinne
Ybrouȝt him was ful ȝare.
Rohand of noble kinne,
Þat robe ful fair he bare,[690]
Þat bold;
Who þat had seyn him þare
A prince him miȝt han told.
Fair his tale bigan
Rohand, þei he com lat;[695]
Tristrem þat honour can
To halle led him þe gate.
Ich man seyd þan [f.285ra] [Image]
Nas non swiche as þai wate
As was þe pouer man[700]
Þat þai bete fram þe gat
Wiþ care;
Nas non þat wald him hate,
Bot welcom was he þare.
Water þai asked swiþe,[705]
Cloþ & bord was drain
Wit mete & drink liþe
& seriaunce þat were bayn
To serue Tristrem swiþe
& sir Rohand ful fayn;[710]
Whasche when þai wald rise
Þe king ros him oȝain
Þat tide;
In lede is nouȝt to layn,
He sett him bi his side.[715]
Rohand, þat was þare,
To Mark his tale bigan
‘Wist ȝe what Tristrem ware,
Miche gode ȝe wold him an. [There is an erasure before an.]
ȝour owhen soster him bare’ -[720]
Þe king liþed him þan -
‘Y nam sibbe him na mare,
Ich auȝt to ben his man,
Sir king.
Knowe it ȝiue ȝe can,[725]
Sche tauȝt me þis ring
When Roulandriis þe bold,
Douke Morgan gan mete.’
Þe tale when Rohand told,
For sorwe he gan grete.[730]
Þe king biheld þat old,
Hou his wonges were wete;
To Marke þe ring he ȝold,
He knewe it also sket,
Gan loke.[735]
He kist Tristrem ful skete
& for his nevou toke.
Þo þai kisten hem alle, [ hem: altered from him.]
Boþe leuedi & kniȝt
& seriaunce in þe halle[740]
& maidens þat were briȝt.
Tristrem gan Rohand calle [f.285rb] [Image]
& freined him wiþ siȝt
‘Sir, hou may þis falle?
Hou may y proue it riȝt[745]
Nouȝt lain?
Tel me for Godes miȝt
Hou was mi fader slayn.’
Rohand told anon
His auentours al bidene,[750]
Hou þe batayle bigan,
Þe werres hadden yben,
His moder hou hye was tan
& geten hem bitvene.
‘Slawe was Rouland þan[755]
& ded Blaunche þe schene.
Nauȝt les,
For dout of Morgan kene
Mi sone y seyd þou wes.’
Tristrem, al in heiȝe,[760]
Bifor þe king cam he.
‘Into Ermonie,
Sir, now longeþ me;
Þider fare wil y,
Mi leue y take of þe[765]
To fiȝt wiþ Morgan in hy,
To sle him oþer he me
Wiþ hand;
Erst schal no man me se
Oȝain in Jngland.’[770]
Þo was Mark ful wo,
He siȝt sore at þat tide.
‘Tristrem, þi rede þou ta
In Jnglond for to abide.
Morgan is wick to slo,[775]
Of kniȝtes he haþ gret pride;
Tristrem, þei þou be þro,
Lat mo men wiþ þe ride
On rowe.
Take Rohand bi þi side,[780]
He wil þine frendes knawe.’
To armes þe king lete crie
Þe folk of al his land
To help Tristrem forþi
He made kniȝt wiþ his hand.[785]
He dede him han on heye [f.285va] [Image]
Þe fairest þat he fand,
In place to riden him by,
To don him to vnderstand
So swiþe.[790]
Sorwe so Tristrem band
Miȝt no man make him bliþe.
No wold he duellen a niȝt,
Þerof nas nouȝt to say.
Ten hundred þat were wiȝt[795]
Wenten wiþ him oway.
Rohand þe riche kniȝt
Redy was he ay;
To his castel ful riȝt
He sailed þe seuenday[800]
On rade. [Added at the end of the previous line, its correct position marked by a-b and crosses.]
His maister he gan pay,
His sones kniȝtes he made.
His frendes glad were þai -
No blame hem noman forþi -[805]
Of his coming, to say,
Al into Ermonie,
Til it was on a day
Morgan was fast by,
Tristrem bigan to say[810]
‘Wiþ Morgan speke wil y
& spede.
So long idel we ly,
Miself mai do mi nede.’
Tristrem dede as he hiȝt.[815]
He busked & made him ȝare
Hi fiftend som of kniȝt,
Wiþ him ȝede na mare.
To court þai com ful riȝt
As Morgan his brede schare;[820]
Þai teld þo bi siȝt
Ten kinges sones þai ware
Vnsouȝt.
Heuedes of wild bare
Ichon to presant brouȝt.[825]
Rohand bigan to sayn,
To his kniȝtes þan seyd he
‘As woman is tviis forlain
Y may say bi me;
ȝif Tristrem be now sleyn,[830]
Yuel ȝemers er we. [f.285vb] [Image]
To armes, kniȝt & swayn,
& swiftly ride ȝe
& swiþe;
Til y Tristrem se[835]
No worþ y neuer bliþe.’
Tristrem speke bigan
‘Sir king, God loke þe
As y þe loue & an
& þou hast serued to me.’[840]
Þe douke answerd þan
‘Y pray, mi lord so fre,
Wheþer þou blis or ban
Þine owhen mot it be,
Þou bold.[845]
Þi nedes tel þou me,
Þine erand, what þou wold.’
‘Amendes! Mi fader is slain,
Mine hirritage Hermonie.’
Þe douke answerd ogain[850]
‘Certes þi fader þan slouȝ y,
Seþþen þou so hast sayd,
Amendes þer ouȝt to ly.
Þerfore, prout swayn,
So schal y þe, forþi[855]
Riȝt þan [MS: lines 856-7 copied continuously and divided by a punctus elevatus ]
Artow comen titly
Fram Marke þi kinsman.
ȝongling, þou schalt abide.
Foles þou wendest to fand.[860]
Þi fader þi moder gan hide,
In horedom he hir band.
Hou comestow wiþ pride?
Out, traitour, of mi land.’
Tristrem spac þat tide[865]
‘Þou lext, ich vnderstand
& wot.’
Morgan wiþ his hand
Wiþ a lof Tristrem smot.
On his brest adoun[870]
Of his nose ran þe blod.
Tristrem swerd was boun,
& ner þe douke he stode.
.... .... .... ....[875]
Wiþ þat was comen to toun
Rohand wiþ help ful gode
& gayn. [f.286ra] [Image]
Al þat oȝain hem stode
Wiȝtly were þai slayn.[880]
To prisoun þai gun take
Erl, baroun & kniȝt,
For douke Morgan sake
Mani on dyd doun riȝt.
Schaftes þai gun schake[885]
& riuen scheldes briȝt,
Crounes þai gun crake
Mani ich wene, apliȝt.
Saunfayl,
Bitvene þe none & þe niȝt[890]
Last þe batayle.
Þus haþ Tristrem þe swete
Yslawe þe douke Morgan.
No wold he neuer lete
Til mo castels wer tan;[895]
Tounes þai ȝold him skete
& cites stiþe of stan.
Þe folk fel to his fet,
Aȝaines him stode þer nan
In land.[900]
He slouȝ his fader ban,
Al bowed to his hand.
Tvo ȝere he sett þat land,
His lawes made he cri.
Al com to his hand[905]
Almain & Ermonie,
At his wil to stand
Boun & al redy.
Rohand he ȝaf þe wand
& bad him sitt him bi,[910]
Þat fre.
‘Rohand, lord make y
To held þis lond of me.
Þou & þine sones fiue
Schul held þis lond of me;[915]
Þer while þou art o liue,
Þine owhen schal it be.
What halt it long to striue?
Mi leue y take at te,
Til Jnglond wil y riue,[920]
Mark, mi nem, to se
Þat stounde.’ [f.286rb] [Image]
Now boskes Tristre[m] þe fre
To Jnglond for to founde.
Bliþe was his bosking[925]
& fair was his schip fare.
Rohand he left king
Ouer al his wining þare. [ þare: þ altered from
ȝ .]
Schipmen him gun bring
To Jnglond ful ȝare.[930]
He herd a newe tiding
Þat he herd neuer are
On hand;
Mani man wepen sare
For ransoun to Yrland.[935]
Marke schuld ȝeld vnhold,
Þei he were king wiþ croun,
Þre hundred pounde of gold
Ich ȝer out of toun,
Of siluer fair yfold[940]
Þre hundred pounde al boun,
Of mone of a mold,
Þre hundred pounde of latoun
Schuld he;
Þe ferþ ȝere – a ferly roun -[945]
Þre hundred barnes fre.
Þe truage was com to to
Moraunt, þe noble kniȝt;
Yhold he was so
An eten in ich a fiȝt.[950]
Þe barnes asked he þo
Als it war londes riȝt. [erasure before riȝt.]
Tristrem gan stoutely go
To lond þat ich niȝt
Of rade;[955]
Of þe schippe þai hadde a siȝt
Þe day þai dede obade.
Mark was glad & bliþe
Þo he miȝt Tristrem se;
He kist him fele siþe,[960]
Welcom to him was he.
Marke gan tidinges liþe,
Hou he wan londes fre.
Tristrem seyd þat siþe
‘Wat may þis gadering be?[965]
Þai grete.’ [f.286va] [Image]
‘Tristrem, y telle it þe,
A þing is me vnswete.
Þe king of Yrlond,
Tristrem, ich am his man.[970]
To long ichaue ben hir bond,
Wiþ wrong þe king it wan.
To long it haþ ystond,
On him þe wrong bigan;
Þerto ich held min hond.’[975]
Tristrem seyd þan
Al stille,
‘Moraunt þat michel can
Schal nouȝt han his wille.’
Marke to conseyl ȝede [980] [ Marke: r is superscript.]
& asked rede of þis.
He seyd ‘wiþ wrong dede
Þe raunsoun ytaken is.’
Tristrem seyd ‘y rede
Þat he þe barnes mis.’[985]
Þo seyd þe king in lede
‘No was it neuer his
Wiþ riȝt.’
Tristrem seyd ‘ywis,
Y wil defende it as kniȝt.’[990]
Bi al Markes hald
Þe truwage was tan.
Tristrem gan it wiþhald
As prince proude in pan,
Þai graunted þat Tristrem wald,[995]
Oþer no durst þer nan;
Nis þer non so bald
Ymade of flesche no ban,
No kniȝt.
Now haþ Tristrem ytan[1000]
Oȝain Moraunt to fiȝt.
Tristrem him self ȝede
Moraunt word to bring
& schortliche seyd in lede
‘We no owe þe noþing.’[1005]
Moraunt oȝain sede
‘Þou lexst a foule lesing.
Mi body to batayl y bede
To proue bifor þe king
To loke.’ [f.286vb] [Image] [1010]
He waged him a ring,
Tristrem þe batayl toke.
Þai seylden into þe wide
Wiþ her schippes tvo;
Moraunt bond his biside,[1015]
& Tristrem lete his go.
Moraunt seyd þat tide
‘Tristrem, whi dos tow so?’
‘Our on schal here abide,
No be þou neuer so þro,[1020]
Ywis.
Wheþer our to liue go,
He haþ anouȝ of þis.’
Þe yland was ful brade
Þat þai gun in fiȝt;[1025]
Þerof was Moraunt glade,
Of Tristrem he lete liȝt.
Swiche meting nas neuer non made [ Swiche: s added to the left of original littera nobilior w ]
Wiþ worþli wepen wiȝt;
Aiþer to oþer rade[1030]
& hewe on helmes briȝt
Wiþ hand.
God help Tristrem þe kniȝt.
He fauȝt for Jngland.
Moraunt wiþ his miȝt[1035]
Rode wiþ gret raundoun
Oȝain Tristrem þe kniȝt
& þouȝt to bere him doun.
Wiþ a launce vnliȝt
He smot him in þe lyoun,[1040]
& Tristrem þat was wiȝt
Bar him þurth þe dragoun
In þe scheld.
Þat Moraunt bold & boun
Smot him in þe scheld.[1045]
Vp he stirt bidene
& lepe opon his stede;
He fauȝt wiþouten wene
So wolf þat wald wede.
Tristrem in þat tene[1050]
No spard him for no drede,
He ȝaf him a wounde ysene
Þat his bodi gan blede.
Riȝt þo [f.287ra] [Image]
In Morauntes most nede[1055]
His stede bak brak on to.
Vp he stirt in drede
& seyd ‘Tristrem, aliȝt;
For þou hast slayn mi stede.
A fot þou schalt fiȝt.’[1060]
Quaþ Tristrem ‘so God me rede,
Þerto icham al liȝt.’
Togider þo þai ȝede
& hewen on helmes briȝt.
Saunfayl,[1065]
Tristrem as a kniȝt
Fauȝt in þat batayle.
Moraunt of Yrland smot
Tristrem in þe scheld
Þat half fel fram his hond[1070]
Þer adoun in þe feld.
Tristrem, ich vnderstond,
Anon þe strok him ȝeld
Wiþ his gode brond;
Moraunt neiȝe he queld,[1075]
Þat kniȝt.
Marke þe batayl biheld
& wonderd of þat fiȝt.
Moraunt was vnfayn
& fauȝt wiþ al his miȝt;[1080]
Þat Tristrem were yslayn
He stird him as a kniȝt.
Tristrem smot wiþ main,
His swerd brak in þe fiȝt
& in Morauntes brain[1085]
Bileued a pece briȝt
Wiþ care;
& in þe haunche riȝt
Tristrem was wounded sare.
A word þat pended to pride[1090]
Tristrem þo spac he
‘Folk of Yrland side,
ȝour mirour ȝe may se.
Mo þat hider wil ride
Þus grayþed schul ȝe be.’[1095]
Wiþ sorwe þai drouȝ þat tide
Moraunt to þe se
& care. [f.287rb] [Image]
Wiþ ioie Tristrem þe fre
To Mark, his em, gan fare.[1100]
His swerd he offred þan
& to þe auter it bare.
For Markes kinsman
Tristrem was loued þare.
A forward þai bigan,[1105]
Þerto þai alle sware:
For þat lond fre he wan,
Þat king he schuld be þare,
To say,
ȝif he oliue ware[1110]
After sir Markes day.
Þei Tristrem liȝt þenke,
He is wounded ful sare;
Leches wiþ salue & drink
Him comeþ widewhare.[1115]
Þai lorn al her swink,
His pain was ay þe mare;
No man no miȝt for stink
Com þer Tristrem ware
Als þan;[1120]
Ich man forsoke him þare
Bot Gouernayl his man.
Þre ȝer in care-bed lay
Tristrem – þe trewe he hiȝt -
Þat neuer no douȝt him day[1125]
For sorwe he hadde o niȝt.
For diol no man no may
Sen on him wiþ siȝt;
Ich man, for soþe to say,
Forsoke þo þat kniȝt[1130]
As þare;
Þai hadde don what he miȝt,
Þai no rouȝt of his fare.
Til it was on a day
Til Mark he gan him mene.[1135]
Schortliche soþe to say
Þis tale was hem bitvene
‘In sorwe ich haue ben ay
Seþþen ich aliue haue ben.’
Marke seyd ‘Wayleway,[1140]
Þat ich it schuld ysene,
Swiche þing!’ [f.287va] [Image]
Tristrem, wiþouten wene,
A schip asked þe king.
‘Em,‘ he seyd ‘y spille,[1145]
Of lond kepe y namare.
A schip þou bring me tille,
Mine harp to play me þare,
Stouer ynouȝ to wille
To kepe me, son ȝou ȝare.’[1150]
Þei Marke liked ille,
Tristrem to schip þai bare
& brouȝt.
Who wold wiþ him fare?
Gouernayle no lete him nouȝt.[1155]
Tristremes schip was ȝare,
& asked his benisoun;
Þe hauen he gan outfare -
It hiȝt Carlioun.
Niȝen woukes & mare[1160]
He hobled vp & doun.
A winde to wil him bare
To a stede þer him was boun
Neiȝehand,
Deluelin hiȝt þe toun,[1165]
An hauen in Irland.
A winde þider him gan driue,
Schipmen him seiȝe neiȝehand;
In botes þai gun him stiue
& drouȝ him to þe land.[1170]
A wounded man aliue
In þe schip þai fand;
He seyd bisiden a ride
Men wounded him & band
Vnsounde.[1175]
No man miȝt bi him stand
For stinking of his wounde.
Gouernail gan hem frain [ hem: e has been altered from a.]
What hiȝt þe se strand.
‘Deuelin‘ þai seyd ogayn[1180]
Þe schipmen þat him fand.
Þo was Tristrem vnfain
& wele gan vnderstand
Hir broþer hadde he slain
Þat quen was of þe land[1185]
In fiȝt. [f.287vb] [Image]
Tristrem he gan doun lain
& seyd Tramtris he hiȝt.
In his schip was þat day
Al maner of gle[1190]
& al maner of lay
In lond þat miȝt be.
To þe quen þo seyd þay,
Morauntes soster þe fre,
Ywounded swiche a man lay[1195]
Þat sorwe it was to se
& care
‘A miri man were he
ȝif he oliue ware.’
Sche was in Deuelin,[1200]
Þe fair leuedi þe quene,
Louesom vnder line,
& sleiȝest had ybene
& mest couþe of medici[n]e;
Þat was on Tristrem sene,[1205]
Sche brouȝt him of his pine,
To wite & nouȝt at wene,
To say;
Sche sent him a plaster kene
To cast þe stink oway.[1210]
Amorwe when it was day,
Þe leuedy of heiȝe priis
Com þer Tristrem lay
& asked what he js.
‘Marchaund ich haue ben ay,[1215]
Mi nam is Tramtris.
Robbers for soþe to say
Slouȝ mine felawes, ywis,
In þe se;
Þai raft me fowe & griis[1220]
& þus wounded þai me.’
An heye man he was like,
Þei he wer wounded sare;
His gles weren so sellike
Þat wonder þouȝt hem þare.[1225]
His harp, his croude was rike,
His tables, his ches he bare.
Þai swore bi seyn Patrike
Swiche seiȝe þai neuer are
Er þan. [f.288ra] [Image] [1230]
‘ȝif he in hele ware,
He were a miri man.’
Þe leuedi of heiȝe kenne
His woundes schewe . . . he lete,
To wite his wo vnwinne;[1235]
So grimli he gan grete,
His bon brast vnder skinne,
His sorwe was vnsete.
Þai brouȝt him to an inne,
A baþ þai made him sket[1240]
So liþe
Þat Tristrem on his fet
Gon he miȝt swiþe.
Salues haþ he soft
& drinkes þat er liþe;[1245]
Þai no rouȝt hou dere it bouȝt,
Bot held him also swiþe.
He made his play aloft,
His gamnes he gan kiþe;
Forþi was Tristrem oft[1250]
To boure cleped fele siþe
To sete;
Ich man was lef to liþe,
His mirþes were so swete.
Þe king had a douhter dere[1255]
Þat maiden Ysonde hiȝt,
Þat gle was lef to here
& romaunce to rede ariȝt.
Sir Tramtris hir gan lere
Þo wiþ al his miȝt[1260]
What alle pointes were,
To se þe soþe in siȝt,
To say.
In Yrlond nas no kniȝt
Wiþ Ysonde durst play.[1265]
Ysonde of heiȝe priis,
Þe maiden briȝt of hewe
Þat wered fow & griis
& scarlet þat was newe.
In warld was non so wiis[1270]
Of craft þat men knewe
Wiþouten sir Tramtris,
Þat al games of grewe
On grounde. [f.288rb] [Image]
Hom longeþ Tramtris þe trewe[1275]
For heled was his wounde.
Sir Tramtris in Irlond
Duelled al a ȝere.
So gode likeing he fand
Þat hole he was & fere.[1280]
Þe quen to fot & hand
He serued dern & dere;
Ysonde he dede vnderstand
What alle playes were
In lay.[1285]
His leue he asked at here
In schip to founde oway.
Þe quen þat michel can
To Tramtris sche gan say
‘Who so fet vncouþe man,[1290]
He foundeþ euer oway.’
His hire þai ȝolden him þan,
Gold & siluer, y say;
What he wold he wan
Of Ysonde for his play[1295]
Saunfail.
He bitauȝt hem God & gode day,
Wiþ him went Gouernail.
Riche sail þai drewe,
White & red so blod;[1300]
A winde to wil hem blewe,
To Carlioun þai ȝode.
Now hat he Tristrem trewe
& fareþ ouer þe flod.
Þe schip þe cuntre knewe,[1305]
It þouȝt hem ful gode.
As þare
Of wrake þai vnderstode,
For on þai leten him fare.
Þai tolden to þe king[1310]
Þat þe schip had sain;
Neuer of no tiding
Nas Mark þe king so fain.
To toun þai gun him bring,
Þe king ros him ogayn;[1315]
Bliþe was her meteing,
& fair he gan him frain
Þat stounde [f.288va] [Image]
‘Tristrem, nouȝt to lain,
Heled is þi wounde?’[1320]
His em answer he ȝeld
Þat litel he wald wene;
Of bot sche was him beld
Þat Moraunt soster had bene,
Hou fair sche haþ him held[1325]
He told hem al bidene;
& seþþen Tristrem haþ teld
Of Ysonde þat was kene,
Al newe,
Hou sche was briȝt & schene,[1330]
Of loue was non so trewe.
Mark to Tristrem gan say
‘Mi lond bitake y þe
To han after mi day;
Þine owhen schal it be.[1335]
Bring þou me þat may
Þat ich hir may yse.’
Þis was his maner ay,
Of Ysonde þan spekeþ he,
Her prise,[1340]
Hou sche was gent & fre,
Of loue was non so wise.
In Jnglond ful wide
Þe barouns hem biþouȝt
To fel Tristremes pride[1345]
Hou þai fairest mouȝt;
Þe king þai rad to ride,
A quen to him þai souȝt
Þat Tristrem miȝt abide
Þat he no were it nouȝt,[1350]
No king;
Þai seyd þat Tristrem mouȝt
Ysonde of Yrlond bring.
A brid briȝt þai ches
As blod opon snoweing[1355]
‘A maiden of swiche reles
Tristrem may to þe bring.’
Quaþ Tristrem ‘it is les,
& troweþ it forlesing;
To aski þat neuer no wes,[1360]
It is a fole askeing
Bi kinde; [f.288vb] [Image]
It is a selli þing,
For noman may it finde.
Y rede ȝe nouȝt no striue;[1365]
A swalu ich herd sing:
ȝe sigge ich wern mi nem to wiue,
For y schuld be ȝour king.
Now bringeþ me atte riue
Schip & oþer þing.[1370]
ȝe se me neuer oliue
Bot ȝif ich Ysonde bring,
Þat briȝt.
Finde me min askeing,
Mine fiftend som of kniȝt.’[1375]
Kniȝtes þo chosen þai
Þat were war & wise,
Al þat mest may
& heiȝest weren of priis;
A schip wiþ grene & gray,[1380]
Wiþ vair & eke wiþ griis,
Wiþ alle þing, y say,
Þat pende to marchandis
In lede.
Þai ferden of þis wise[1385]
Intil Yrlond þede.
In his schip was boun
Al þat mister ware;
Out of Carlioun
Riche was his schip fare.[1390]
Þai rered gomfaynoun,
A winde to wille hem bare.
Deuelin hat þe toun,
To lond þai comen þare,
Þe best;[1395]
Þe king present þai bare
& asked leue to rest.
Þe king present þai brouȝt,
Anoþer to þe quene;
Ysonde forȝat þai nouȝt,[1400]
To wite & nouȝt at wene.
To schip when þai hem þouȝt
Þat at þe court hadde bene,
Swiche mayde nas neuer wrouȝt
Þat þai euer hadde sene [1405] [catchword: wiþ siȝt.]
Wiþ siȝt. [f.289ra] [Image]
Þe cuntre alle bidene
Þai seiȝe fle ful riȝt.
Out of Deuelin toun
Þe folk wel fast ran[1410]
In a water to droun
So ferd were þai þan.
For doute of o dragoun,
Þai seyd, to schip þai wan
To hauen þat were boun;[1415]
No rouȝt þai of what man
In lede [MS: lines 1417-8 copied continuously.]
Þat may him sle or can,
Ysonde schal haue to mede.
Tristrem, bliþe was he,[1420]
He cleped his kniȝtes stiþe
‘What man he is lat se [ lat: MS las.]
Þat take þis bataile swiþe.’
Alle þai beden lat be,
Durst non him seluen kiþe.[1425]
‘For nede now wo is me.’
Seyd Tristrem þat siþe
Riȝt þan.
Listen now who wil liþe
Al of an hardi man.[1430]
A stede of schip þai drewe,
Þe best þat he hadde brouȝt;
His armes weren al newe,
Þat richeliche were wrouȝt.
His hert was gode & trewe,[1435]
No failed it him nouȝt.
Þe cuntre wele he knewe
Er he þe dragoun souȝt
& seiȝe.
Helle fere him þouȝt[1440]
Fram þat dragoun fleiȝe.
Asaut to þat dragoun
Tristrem toke þat tide
As a loþely lioun
Þat bataile wald abide;[1445]
Wiþ a spere feloun
He smot him in þe side;
It no vailed o botoun,
Oway it gan to glide,
His dent;[1450]
Þe deuel dragouns hide [f.289rb] [Image]
Was hard so ani flint.
Tristrem, al in tene,
Eft þat spere tok he;
Oȝain þat dragoun kene[1455]
It brast on peces þre.
Þe dragoun smot bidene,
Þe stede he gan sle;
Tristrem, wiþouten wene,
Stirt vnder a tre[1460]
Al stille
& seyd ‘God in trinite,
No lat þou me nouȝt spille.’
Oȝain þat fende dragoun
Afot he tok þe fiȝt;[1465]
He fauȝt wiþ his fauchoun
As a douhti kniȝt;
His neþer chauel he smot doun
Wiþ a stroke of miȝt;
Þo was þe dragon boun[1470]
& cast fere ful riȝt
& brend
His armes þat were briȝt,
Schamliche he haþ hem schent.
Swiche fer he cast oȝain[1475]
Þat brend scheld & ston.
Now liþ his stede yslain,
His armes brent ichon.
Tristrem rauȝt his brain
& brak his nek-bon;[1480]
No was he neuer so fain [MS: erasure before so.]
As þan þat batail was don; [Line 1482 is awkwardly inserted, its correct position marked by crosses.]
To bote
His tong haþ he ton
& schorn of bi þe rote.[1485]
In his hose next þe hide
Þe tong oway he bar.
No ȝede he bot ten stride,
His speche les he þar;
Nedes he most abide[1490]
Þat he no may ferþer far.
Þe steward com þat tide,
Þe heued oway he schar
& brouȝt
& tok it Ysonde þar[1495]
& seyd dere he hadde hir bouȝt. [f.289va] [Image]
Þe steward wald ful fain
Han Ysonde ȝif he mouȝt.
Þe king answerd ogain,
Fair þe bataile him þouȝt.[1500]
Ysonde, nouȝt to lain,
Of him no wil sche nouȝt;
Þere þe dragoun was slain,
Hye & hir moder souȝt,
Also[1505]
Who þat wonder wrouȝt
Þat durst þat dragoun slo.
‘Dede þe steward þis dede?’
‘Certes‘ quaþ Ysonde ‘nay.
Þis ich brende stede[1510]
No auȝt he neuer a day,
No þis riche wede
Nas neuer his, soþe to say.’
Forþer als þai ȝede,
A man þai founde whare lay[1515]
& drouȝ.
‘Certes‘ þan seyd þai
‘Þis man þe dragoun slouȝ.’
His mouþe opened þai
& pelt treacle in þat man.[1520]
When Tristrem speke may
Þis tale he bigan
& redyli gan to say
Hou he þe dragoun wan
‘Þe tong y bar oway,[1525]
Þus venimed he me þan.’
Þai loke,
Þe quen þat michel can
Out of his hose it toke.
Þai seiȝen he hadde þe riȝt,[1530]
Þe steward hadde þe wouȝ
& ȝif he durst fiȝt
Wiþ him þe dragoun slouȝ -
Tristrem spak as a kniȝt -
He wold proue it anouȝ;[1535]
So noblelich he hem hiȝt,
Þerof Ysonde louȝ
Þat tide;
To his waraunt he drouȝ
His schippe & al his pride. [f.289vb] [Image] [1540]
Þe quen asked what he is,
Þat durst þe dragon abide.
‘Marchaunt icham, ywis,
Mi schip liþ herebiside.
He seyt he haþ don þis,[1545]
Prouen ichil his pride
Er he Ysonde kisse.’
Oȝaines him wald he ride
Wiþ miȝt.
Ysonde seyd þat tide[1550]
‘Allas þat þou ner kniȝt.’
Her chaumpioun þat day
Richeliche gun þai fede,
Til hem þink þat he may
Don a douhti dede.[1555]
His armes long were þai,
His scholders large on brede.
Þe quen, for soþe to say,
To a baþ gan him lede
Ful gayn,[1560]
& seþþen hir self sche ȝede
After a drink of main.
Ysonde briȝt of hewe
Þouȝt it Tramtris ware.
His swerd, sche gan it schewe,[1565]
& broken hye fond it þare;
Out of a cofer newe
Þe pece sche drouȝ ful ȝare
& sett it to þat trewe.
It nas lasse no mare,[1570]
Bot riȝt.
Þo þouȝt Ysonde wiþ care
To sle Tristrem þe kniȝt.
Ysonde to Tristrem ȝode
Wiþ his swerd al drain.[1575]
‘Moraunt, mi nem þe gode,
Traitour, þou hast slain;
Forþi þine hert-blode
Sen ich wold ful fain.’
Þe quen whende sche were wode;[1580]
Sche com wiþ a drink of main
& louȝ
‘Nay, moder, nouȝt to layn,
Þis þef mi broþer slouȝ. [f.290ra] [Image]
Tristrem, þis þef is he,[1585]
Þat may he nouȝt forlain;
Þe pece þou miȝt her se
Þat fro mi nem was drain.
Loke þat it so be,
Sett it euen ogain.’[1590]
As quik þai wald him sle
Þer, Tristrem, ful fain;
Soþ þing,
In baþ þai hadden him slain,
No were it for þe king.[1595]
& euer Tristrem louȝ
On swete Ysonde, þe briȝt
‘Þou miȝt haue slain me ynouȝ
Þo þat y Tramtris hiȝt;
ȝe witeþ me wiþ wouȝ[1600]
Of Moraunt, þe noble kniȝt;
Y graunt wele ichim slouȝ
In batayl & in fiȝt,
Nouȝt lain;
ȝif he hadde had þe miȝt,[1605]
So wold he me ful fain.
Þo y Tramtris hiȝt,
Y lerld þe play & song,
& euer wiþ al mi miȝt
Of þe y spac among[1610]
To Marke, þe riche kniȝt,
Þat after þe he gan long.’
So swore he day & niȝt,
& borwes fond he strong
Bidene,[1615]
Amendes of al wrong,
Þat Ysonde schuld be quen.
Tristrem swore þat þing;
Þai seyd it schuld stand
Þat he schuld Ysonde bring -[1620]
Þai token it vnder hand -
To Mark, þe riche king,
Oliue ȝif þai him fand,
& make hir wiþ his ring
Quen of Jngeland,[1625]
To say;
Þe forward fast þai band
Er þai parted oway. [f.290rb] [Image]
Þe steward forsoke his dede
Þo he herd he Tristrem hiȝt;[1630]
Þe king swore, so God him spede,
Þat boþen schuld haue riȝt;
Þe steward seyd wrong þer ȝede,
Forþi nold he nouȝt fiȝt.
Tristrem to his mede[1635]
Þai ȝolden Ysonde þe briȝt;
To bring
To prisoun þat oþer kniȝt
Þe maiden bisekeþ þe king.
No asked he lond no liþe,[1640]
Bot þat maiden briȝt;
He busked him also swiþe,
Boþe squier & kniȝt.
Her moder about was bliþe
& tok a drink of miȝt,[1645]
Þat loue wald kiþe,
& tok it Brengwain þe briȝt
To þink
‘At er spouseing aniȝt
ȝif Mark & hir to drink.’[1650]
Ysonde briȝt of hewe
Is fer out in þe se.
A winde oȝain hem blewe
Þat sail no miȝt þer be.
So rewe þe kniȝtes trewe,[1655]
Tristrem, so rewe he,
Euer as þai com newe -; [Erasure before as.]
He on oȝain hem þre -
Gret swink.
Swete Ysonde þe fre[1660]
Asked Bringwain a drink.
Þe coupe was richeli wrouȝt,
Of gold it was þe pin;
In al þe warld nas nouȝt
Swiche drink as þer was in.[1665]
Brengwain was wrong biþouȝt,
To þat drink sche gan win
& swete Ysonde it bitauȝt;
Sche bad Tristrem bigin,
To say.[1670]
Her loue miȝt no man tvin
Til her ending-day. [f.290va] [Image]
An hounde þer was biside
Þat was ycleped Hodain;
Þe coupe he licked þat tide[1675]
Þo doun it sett Bringwain;
Þai loued al in lide
& þerof were þai fain;
Togider þai gun abide
In ioie & ek in pain[1680]
For þouȝt:
In iuel time, to sain,
Þe drink was ywrouȝt.
Tristrem in schip lay
Wiþ Ysonde ich niȝt,[1685]
Play miri he may
Wiþ þat worþli wiȝt
In boure niȝt & day.
Al bliþe was þe kniȝt,
He miȝt wiþ hir play;[1690]
Þat wist Brengwain þe briȝt
As þo;
Þai loued wiþ al her miȝt
& Hodain dede also.
Tvai wikes in þe strand[1695]
No seyl þai no drewe;
Into Jnglond
A winde to wille hem blewe.
Þe king on hunting þai fand;
A knaue þat he knewe,[1700]
He made him kniȝt wiþ hand
For his tidinges newe,
Gan bring.
Ysonde briȝt of hewe
Þer spoused Mark þe king.[1705]
He spoused hir wiþ his ring,
Of fest no speke y nouȝt.
Brengwain wiþouten lesing
Dede as hye had þouȝt;
Sche tok þat loue drink[1710]
Þat in Yrlond was bouȝt.
For Ysonde to þe king
Brengwain to bed was brouȝt
Þat tide;
Mark his wille wrouȝt[1715]
On bed Brengwain biside. [f.290vb] [Image]
When Mark had tint his swink
Ysonde to bed ȝede;
Of Yrlond hye asked drink,
Þe coupe sche gan hir bede,[1720]
Biside hir sche lete it sink;
Þerof hadde sche no nede,
Of non maner þing
Oȝain Tristrem, in lede,
As þo;[1725]
No miȝt no clerk it rede,
Þe loue bitven hem to.
Þai wende haue ioie anouȝ,
Certes, it nas nouȝt so.
Her wening was al wouȝ,[1730]
Vntroweand til hem to;
Aiþer in langour drouȝ
& token rede to go;
& seþþen Ysonde louȝ
When Tristrem was in wo[1735]
Wiþ wille.
Now þenkeþ Ysonde to slo
Brengwain & hir to spille.
Sche þouȝt ‘y may be wroþ
Sche lay first bi þe king,[1740]
For y bihiȝt hir cloþ,
Gold & riche wedding;
Tristrem & y boþe [ boþe: originally baþe; o inserted with a caret mark, and a underdotted.]
Beþ schent for our playing;
Better is þat we raþe[1745]
Hir o liue bring
Al stille.
Þan doute we for no þing
Þat we ne may han our wille.’
Þe quen bad her biside[1750]
To werkemen on a day;
Sche told hem at þat tide
What was her wille to say
‘ȝe moten slen & hide
Bringwain, þat miri may.’[1755]
Sche seyd ‘ȝe schal abide
Riche to ben ay
In lede.
No lete ȝe for no pay
Þat ȝe no do þat dede.’ [f.291ra] [Image] [1760]
Into a grisly clouȝ
Þai & þat maiden ȝode;
Þat on his swerd out drouȝ,
Þat oþer bihinde hir stode.
Sche crid merci anouȝ[1765]
& seyd ‘for Cristes rode,
What haue y don wouȝ?
Whi wille ȝe spille mi blode?’
‘Nouȝt lain,
Ysonde, þe leuedi gode,[1770]
Haþ hot þou schalt be slain.’
Brengwain dernly
Bad hem say þe quen
‘Greteþ wele mi leuedy
Þat ai trewe haþ ben.[1775]
Smockes hadde sche & y
& hir was solwy to sen,
Bi Mark þo hye schuld ly,
Y lent hir min al clen
As þare;[1780]
Oȝain hir, wele y wen,
No dede y neuer mare.’
Þai nold hir nouȝt slo
Bot went oȝain to þe quen;
Ysonde asked hem to[1785]
‘What seyd hye ȝou bitven?’
‘Hye bad ous say ȝou so:
ȝour smock was solwy to sen,
Bi Mark þo ȝe schuld ly,
Y lent hir min al clene[1790]
Þat day.’
Þo asked Ysonde þe ken
‘Whare is þat trewe may?’
Þo seyd Ysonde wiþ mode
‘Mi maiden ȝe han slain.’[1795]
Sche swore bi Godes rode
Þai schuld ben hong & drain;
Sche bede hem ȝiftes gode
To fechen hir ogain.
Þai fetten hir þer sche stode;[1800]
Þo was Ysonde ful fain,
To say;
So trewe sche fond Brengwain
Þat sche loued hir wele ay. [f.291rb] [Image]
Made was þe sauȝtening[1805]
& alle forȝeue bidene.
Tristrem, wiþouten lesing,
Played wiþ þe quen.
Fram Irlond to þe king
An harpour com bitven;[1810]
An harp he gan forþ bring,
Swiche no hadde þai neuer sen
Wiþ siȝt;
Him self, wiþouten wen,
Bar it day & niȝt.[1815]
Ysonde he loued in are, [ in is inserted superscript.]
He þat þe harp brouȝt;
About his hals he it bare,
Richelich it was wrouȝt;
He hidde it euer mare,[1820]
Out no com it nouȝt.
‘Þine harp whi wiltow spare,
ȝif þou þerof can ouȝt
Of gle?’
‘No out no comeþ it nouȝt[1825]
Wiþouten ȝiftes fre.’
Mark seyd ‘lat me se
Harpi hou þou can
& what þou askest me
ȝiue y schal þe þan.’[1830]
‘Bleþely‘ seyd he;
A miri lay he bigan.
‘Sir king of ȝiftes fre,
Her wiþ Ysonde y wan
Bidene.[1835]
Y proue þe for fals man,
Or y schal haue þi quen.’
Mark to conseyl ȝede
& asked rede of þo to
‘Lesen y mot mi manhed[1840]
Or ȝeld Ysonde me fro.’
Mark was ful of drede,
Ysonde lete he go.
Tristrem in þat nede
At wode was, dere to slo,[1845]
Þat day;
Tristrem com riȝt þo
As Ysonde was oway. [f.291va] [Image]
Þo was Tristrem in ten
& chidde wiþ þe king[1850]
‘ȝifstow glewemen þi quen?
Hastow no noþer þing?’
His rote, wiþouten wen,
He rauȝt bi þe ring;
Þo folwed Tristrem þe ken[1855]
To schip þer þai hir bring
So bliþe;
Tristrem bigan to sing
& Ysonde bigan to liþe.
Swiche song he gan sing[1860]
Þat hir was swiþe wo;
Her com swiche louelonging,
Hir hert brast neiȝe ato.
Þerl to hir gan spring
Wiþ kniȝtes mani mo[1865]
& seyd ‘mi swete þing,
Whi farestow so,
Y pray?’
Ysonde to lond most go,
Er sche went oway.[1870]
‘Wiþin a stounde of þe day
Y schal ben hole & sounde;
Ich here a menstrel, to say,
Of Tristrem he haþ a soun.’
Þerl seyd ‘daþet him ay[1875]
Of Tr[i]strem ȝif þis stounde.
Þat minstrel for his lay
Schal haue an hundred pounde
Of me,
ȝif he wil wiþ ous founde,[1880]
Lef, for þou louest his gle.’
His gle al for to here
Þe leuedi was sett on land
To play bi þe riuere;
Þerl ladde hir bi hand;[1885]
Tristrem, trewe fere,
Mirie notes he fand
Opon his rote of yuere
As þai were on þe strand;
Þat stounde[1890]
Þurth þat semly sand
Ysonde was hole & sounde. [f.291vb] [Image]
Hole sche was & sounde
Þurth vertu of his gle;
Forþi þerl þat stounde[1895]
Glad a man was he;
Of penis to hundred pounde
He ȝaf Tristrem þe fre;
To schip þan gun þai founde,
In Yrlond wald þai be[1900]
Ful fain,
Þerl & kniȝtes þre
Wiþ Ysonde & Bringwain.
Tristrem tok his stede
& lepe þeron to ride;[1905]
Þe quen bad him her lede
To schip him biside; [ him: altered from hem.]
Tristrem dede as hye bede,
In wode he gan hir hide.
To þerl he seyd ‘in þat nede[1910]
Þou hast ytent þi pride,
Þou dote.
Wiþ þine harp þou wonne hir þat tide,
Þou tint hir wiþ mi rote.’
Tristrem wiþ Ysonde rade[1915]
Into þe wode oway.
A loghe þai founden made,
Was ful of gamen & play;
Her blis was ful brade
& ioieful was þat may.[1920]
Seuen niȝt þai þare abad
& seþþen to court com þai.
‘Sir king‘
Tristrem gan to say
‘ȝif minstrels oþer þing.’[1925]
Meriadok was a man
Þat Tristrem trowed ay;
Miche gode he him an,
In o chaumber þai lay.
Tristrem to Ysonde wan [1930] [ Tristrem: MS reads Tristren.]
Aniȝt wiþ hir to play;
As man þat miche kan,
A bord he toke oway
Of her bour.
Er he went, to say,[1935]
Of snowe was fallen a schour. [f.292ra] [Image]
A schour þer was yfalle
Þat al þe way was white;
Tristrem was wo wiþalle,
Wiþ diol & sorwe site.[1940]
Bitven þe bour & þe halle
Þe way was naru & lite.
Swiche cas him was bifalle
As we finde in scrite.
Ful sket[1945]
A siue he fond tite
& bond vnder his fete.
Meriadok wiþ his miȝt
Aros vp al bidene;
Þe way he went riȝt[1950]
Til he com to þe quen;
Þe bord he fond oftviȝt,
To wite & nouȝt at wene.
Of Tristrem kertel þe kniȝt
He fond a pece grene[1955]
Of tore;
Meriadok þe kene
Wondred þerfore.
Amorwe he tolde þe king
Al þat he seiȝe wiþ siȝt.[1960]
‘Lord, wiþouten lesing,
Wiþ Ysonde lay Tristrem toniȝt.
Þou schalt do swiche a þing,
Aske who her ȝeme miȝt.
Þe croice to Ierusalem bring[1965]
Say þou hast yhiȝt,
ȝif þou may.
Tristrem þe noble kniȝt,
Þe quen hir self wil say.’
Þe king told þe quen,[1970]
Abed þo þai ware,
‘Dame, wiþouten wene,
To Ierusalem y mot fare;
Loke now ous bitvene
Who may þe kepe fram care?’[1975]
‘For al oþer bidene
Tristrem‘ sche seyd þare,
‘Forþan [MS: lines 1978-9 copied continuously.]
Y loue him wele þe mare, [ þe: e is superscript.]
He is þi kinsseman.’[1980]
Al þat Mark hir told [f.292rb] [Image]
Amorwe hye told Bringwain,
‘Of lond wil þis bold:
Now we may be ful fain.
Tristrem þe court schal hold[1985]
Til he com oȝain.’
Brengwain answere ȝolde
‘ȝour dedes han ben sain
Wiþ siȝt.
Mark þi self schal frain[1990]
Al oþerloker toniȝt.
Wite þou wele his wille,
To wende wiþ him þou say
& ȝif he loueþ þe stille
Þou do Tristrem oway.[1995]
Biseche him he se þertille,
Þi fo is Tristrem ay.
Þou dredest he wil þe spille
ȝif he þe maistrie may
Aboue;[2000]
Þou louedest him neuer a day
Bot for þi nemes loue.’
Ysonde þe nexst niȝt
Crid ‘Mark, þin ore.
Mi fo þou hast me hiȝt,[2005]
On me þou sinnes sore.
Gode ȝif þou hadde me hiȝt
Of lond wiþ þe to fare, [ þe: written over an erasure.]
& sle Tristrem þe kniȝt,
ȝif loue of þe no ware[2010]
Þis day;
For mani man seyt ay whare
Þat Tristrem bi me lay.’
Mark is bliþe & glad
For al þat trowed he;[2015]
He þat him oþer tald
He ne couþe him bot maugre.
Meriadok him answere ȝald
‘In toun þou do him be.
Her loue-laike þou bihald[2020]
For þe loue of me.
Nouȝt wene,
Bi resoun þou schalt se
Þat loue is hem bitvene.’
Mark departed hem to [f.292va] [Image] [2025]
& dede Tristrem oway;
Nas neuer Ysonde so wo
No Tristrem, soþe to say.
Ysonde her self wald slo,
For sorwe Tristrem lay.[2030]
Ysonde morned so
& Tristrem niȝt & day
For dede.
Ich man it se may,
What liif for loue þai lede.[2035]
Tristrem was in toun,
In boure Ysonde was don.
Bi water he sent adoun
Liȝt linden spon.
He wrot hem al wiþ roun;[2040]
Ysonde hem knewe wel sone;
Bi þat Tristrem was boun,
Ysonde wist his bone
To abide.
Er amorwe none[2045]
Her aiþer was oþer biside.
Quaþ Meriadok ‘y rede
Þine hunters þou bid ride
Fourtenniȝt at þis nede
To se þine forestes wide.[2050]
Tristrem þou hem bede,
Þi self þou here abide
& riȝt at her dede
Þou schalt hem take þat tide.
In þe tre[2055]
Here þou schalt abide,
Her semblaunt þou schalt se.’
In orchard mett þai inne,
Tristrem & Ysonde fre;
Ay when þai miȝt awinne,[2060]
Þer playd Ysonde & he.
Þe duerwe yseiȝe her ginne
Þer he sat in þe tre.
Mark of riche kinne
He hiȝt to don him se[2065]
Wiþ siȝt
& seyd ‘sir, siker ȝe be,
Þi self schal se þat riȝt.’
His falsnesse for to fille [f.292vb] [Image]
Forþ þo went he;[2070]
To Tristrem he com wiþ ille
Fram Ysonde þe fre
‘Mi leuedy me sent þe tille
For icham priue,
& praieþ þe wiþ wille[2075]
Þat þou wost hir se
Wiþ siȝt.
Mark is in oþer cuntre,
Priue it schal be diȝt.’
Tristrem him biþouȝt[2080]
‘Maister, þank haue ȝe.
For þou me þis bode brouȝt
Mi robe ȝiue y þe;
Þat þou no lete it nouȝt
Say þat leuedy fre.[2085]
Hir wordes dere y bouȝt,
To Marke hye bileiȝe me, [ Marke: r is superscript.]
Þat may.
Tomorwe y schal hir se
At chirche, for soþe to say.’[2090]
Þe duerwe toke þe gate
& Mark he told bidene [ Mark: r is superscript.]
‘Bi þis robe y wate
Þat michel he loueþ þe quene.
Ysame we nouȝt no sat,[2095]
He douteþ me bitvene;
It semeþ by his lat
As he hir neuer had sene
Wiþ siȝt.
Y wot wiþouten wene[2100]
He comeþ to hir toniȝt.’
Sir Mark sat in þe tre
Þer metten þai to.
Þe schadowe Tristrem gan se
& loude spac he þo,[2105]
Þat Ysonde schuld Mark se
& calle Tristrem hir fo
‘Þou no auȝtest nouȝt here to be,
Þou no hast nouȝt here to go,
No þing;[2110]
Wiþ riȝt men schuld þe slo,
Durst y for þe king.
Ysonde, þou art mi fo, [f.293ra] [Image]
Þou sinnest, leuedi, on me;
Þou gabbest on me so,[2115]
Mi nem nil me nouȝt se,
He þreteneþ me to slo.
More menske were it to þe
Better for to do,
Bi God in trinite,[2120]
Þis tide;
Or y þis lond schal fle
Into Wales wide.’
‘Tristrem, for soþe to say,
Y wold þe litel gode,[2125]
Ac y þe wraied neuer day,
Y swere bi Godes rode.
Men said þou bi me lay,
Þine em so vnderstode.
Wende forþ in þi way,[2130]
It semes astow were wode,
To wede.
Y loued neuer man wiþ mode
Bot him þat hadde mi maidenhede.’
‘Swete Ysonde, þin are.[2135]
Þou preye þe king for me,
ȝif it þi wille ware
Of sake he make (make) me fre.
Of lond ichil elles fare,
Schal he me neuer se.’[2140]
Markes hert was sare
Þer he sat in þe tre
& þouȝt
‘Vngiltles er ȝe
In swiche a sclaunder brouȝt.’[2145]
‘Þou seyst y gan þe wrie,
Men seis þou bi me lay,
Ac þei ich wende to dye,
Þine erand y schal say.
Marke þi nem his heiȝe,[2150]
Anouȝ he þe ȝiue may;
No reche y what y liȝe,
So þat þou be oway
Wiþ wille.’
Marke þo þouȝt ay,[2155]
‘ȝete he schal duelle stille.’
Tristrem oway went so, [f.293rb] [Image]
Ysonde to boure, ywis;
Nas neuer Mark so wo,
Him self he herd al þis.[2160]
Al sori Mark gan go
Til he miȝt Tristrem kisse,
& dedely hated he þo
Him þat seyd amis.
Al newe[2165]
Þer was ioie & blis,
& welcom Tristrem trewe.
Now haþ Ysonde her wille,
Tristrem constable is heiȝe.
Þre ȝere he playd stille[2170]
Wiþ Ysonde briȝt so beiȝe;
Her loue miȝt no man felle,
So were þai boþe sleiȝe.
Meriadok wiþ ille
Waited hem ful neiȝe[2175]
Of her dede;
ȝif he miȝt hem spille,
Fain he wald spede.
Meriadok wrayeþ ay,
To þe king þus seyd he[2180]
‘Her folies vsen þai ay,
Wel ȝore y seyd it þe.
Loke now on a day
& blod lat ȝou þre;
Do as y þe say,[2185]
& tokening þou schalt se
Ful sone.
Her bed schal blodi bene
Ar he his wille haue done.’
Blod-leten was þe king,[2190]
Tristrem & þe quene;
At her blod-leteing
Þe flore was swopen clene;
Meriadok dede floure bring
& strewed it bitvene,[2195]
Þat go no miȝt no þing
Bot ȝif it were sene
Wiþ siȝt.
Þritti fet bidene
Tristrem lepe þat niȝt.[2200]
Now Tristrem willes is [f.293va] [Image]
Wiþ Ysonde for to play;
He no may hir com to kisse
So ful of floure it lay.
Tristrem lepe, ywis,[2205]
Þritti fete, soþ to say.
As Tristrem dede þis,
His blod bende brast oway
& bled;
& seþþen oȝain þe day[2210]
He lepe fram hir bedde.
Þritti fete bitvene
He lepe, wiþouten les;
Sore him greued his vene,
As it no wonder nes.[2215]
Mark her bed hadde sen
& al blodi it wes.
He told þo Brengwain
Tristrem hadde broken his pes
Bitvene.[2220]
Anon of lond he ches
Out of Markes eiȝe sene.
Tristrem was fled oway,
To wite & nouȝt to wene.
At Londen on a day[2225]
Mark wald spourge þe quen.
Men seyd sche brak þe lay;
A bischop ȝede bitvene;
Wiþ hot yren, to say,
Sche þouȝt to make hir clene[2230]
Of sake.
Ysonde said bidene
Þat dome sche wald take.
Men sett þe merkes þere
At Westeminster ful riȝt,[2235]
Hot yren to bere
For sir Tristrem þe kniȝt.
In pouer wede to were
Tristrem com þat niȝt -
Of alle þe kniȝtes here[2240]
No knewe him non bi siȝt
Bidene -
To swete Ysonde briȝt,
As forward was hem bitvene.
Ouer Temes sche schuld ride, [f.293vb] [Image] [2245]
Þat is an arm of þe se
‘To þe schip side
Þis man schal bere me.’
Tristrem hir bar þat tide
& on þe quen fel he[2250]
Next her naked side,
Þat mani man miȝt yse
Gan schewe.
Hir queynt abouen hir kne
Naked þe kniȝtes knewe.[2255]
In water þai wald him sink
& wers ȝif þai may.
‘ȝe quite him iuel his swink.’
Þe quene seyd to hem ay.
‘It semeþ mete no drink[2260]
Hadde he nouȝt mani a day;
For pouerte me þenk
He fel, for soþe to say,
& nede.
ȝeueþ him gold, y pray;[2265]
He may bidde God me spede.’
Gold þai ȝouen him þare,
Þe constori þai bigan.
Swete Ysonde sware
Sche was giltles woman[2270]
‘Bot on to schip me bare,
Þe kniȝtes seiȝe wele þan;
What so his wille ware,
Ferli neiȝe he wan,
Soþe þing;[2275]
So neiȝe com neuer man
Bot mi lord þe king.’
Swete Ysonde haþ sworn
Hir clene, þat miri may;
To hir þai had ycorn[2280]
Hot yren, y say.
Þe kniȝtes were biforn,
For hir þo praiden þai.
Þe yren sche hadde yborn,
Ac Mark forȝaue þat day[2285]
& dede.
Meriadok held þai
For fole in his falshede.
Ysonde is graunted clene, [f.294ra] [Image]
Meriadok, maugre his;[2290]
Neuer er nas þe quen
So wele wiþ Mark, ywis.
Tristrem, wiþouten wene,
Into Wales he is;
In bataile he haþ ben[2295]
& fast he fraines þis
Riȝt þare:
For he ne may Ysonde kisse,
Fiȝt he souȝt aywhare.
In Wales þo was a king[2300]
Þat hiȝt Triamour,
He hadde a douhter ȝing,
Was hoten Blauncheflour.
Vrgan wiþ gret wering
Biseged him in his tour[2305]
To winne þat swete þing
& bring hir to his bour
Wiþ fiȝt.
Tristrem wiþ gret honour
Bicom þe kinges kniȝt.[2310]
Vrgan gan Wales held
Wiþ wrong, for soþe to say;
Oft & vnselde
Of Triamour tok he pray.
Triamour to Tristrem teld[2315]
Opon a somers day,
Wales he wald him ȝeld
ȝif he it winne may
Riȝt þan.
Tristrem, wiþouten nay,[2320]
Wiþ were Wales wan.
Tristrem mett Vrgan
In þat feld to fiȝt,
To him seyd he þan
As a douhti kniȝt[2325]
‘Þou slouȝ mi broþer Morgan
At þe mete ful riȝt.
As y am douhti man,
His deþ þou bist toniȝt,
Mi fo.’[2330]
Tristrem seyd ‘apliȝt!
So kepe y þe to slo.’
Tvelue fete was þe wand [f.294rb] [Image]
Þat Vrgan wald wiþ play,
His strok may no man stand -[2335]
Ferly ȝif Tristrem may.
Tristrem vantage fand,
His clobbe fel oway,
& of þe geauntes hand
Tristrem smot þat day[2340]
In lede;
Tristrem, for soþe to say,
Þe geaunt gert he blede.
Vrgan al in tene,
Fauȝt wiþ his left hand[2345]
Oȝain Tristrem kene;
A stern stroke he fand
Opon his helme so schene,
Þat to þe grounde he wand;
Bot vp he stirt bidene[2350]
& heried Godes sand
Almiȝt;
Tristrem wiþ his brand
Fast gan to fiȝt.
Þe geaunt aroume he stode,[2355]
His hond he tint, ywis,
He fleiȝe as he wer wode
Þer þat þe castel is.
Tristrem trad in þe blod
& fond þe hond þat was his;[2360]
Oway sir Tristrem ȝode.
Þe geaunt com wiþ þis
& souȝt
To hele his honde þat was his;
Salues hadde he brouȝt.[2365]
Vrgan, þe geaunt vnride,
After sir Tristrem wan,
Þe cuntre fer & wide
Ygadred was bi þan;
Tristrem þouȝt þat tide[2370]
‘Y take þat me Gode an.’
On a brigge he gan abide,
Biheld þer mani a man;
Þai mett,
Vrgan to Tristrem ran[2375]
& grimli þere þai gret.
Strokes of michel miȝt [f.294va] [Image]
Þai delten hem bitvene
Þat þurth her brinies briȝt
Her boþer blod was sene;[2380]
Tristrem fauȝt as a kniȝt
& Vrgan al in tene
ȝaf him a stroke vnliȝt;
His scheld he clef bitvene
Atvo;[2385]
Tristrem, wiþouten wene,
Nas neuer are so wo.
Eft Vrgan smot wiþ main
& of þat stroke he miste;
Tristrem smot ogayn[2390]
& þurth his body he þreste;
Vrgan lepe vnfain,
Ouer þe bregge he deste.
Tristrem haþ Vrgan slain,
Þat alle þe cuntre wist[2395]
Wiþ wille;
Þe king þo Tristrem kist
& Wales þo ȝeld him tille.
Þe king, a welp he brouȝt
Bifor Tristrem þe trewe;[2400]
What colour he was wrouȝt
Now ichil ȝou schewe.
Silke nas non so soft,
He was rede, grene & blewe.
Þai þat him seiȝen oft[2405]
Of him hadde gamen & glewe,
Ywis.
His name was Peticrewe,
Of him was michel priis.
Þe king Triamour[2410]
ȝaf him Tristrem þe hende
For he brouȝt out of dolour
Him & al his kende.
Tristrem wiþ gret honour
Kidde þat he was hende,[2415]
He ȝaf to Blauncheflour
Wales wiþouten ende
Bidene,
& Peticrowe he gan sende
To dame Ysonde þe quene.[2420]
Ysonde, wiþouten les, [f.294vb] [Image]
Þo hye þe welp had sain,
Þat sche had made his pes
Sche sent word ogayn.
Mark herd hou it wes[2425]
Þat Vrgan had he slain;
Messangers he ches
Tristrem for to frain,
Þat fre.
Mark was ferly fain,[2430]
& Tristrem kist he.
Mark gan Tristrem calle
& toke him al bidene
Cites, castels alle,
Steward as he hadde bene.[2435]
Who was bliþe in halle
Bot Ysonde þe quene?
Hou so it schuld bifalle,
Þai playden ai bitvene,
Þo tvo;[2440]
So long of loue þai mene
Þat Mark seiȝe it was so.
Mark seiȝe hou it is,
What loue was hem bitvene;
Certes þis þouȝt was his,[2445]
Ful wele awreken to ben;
He cleped Tristrem wiþ þis
& bitoke him þe quene,
& flemed hem boþe, ywis,
Out of his eiȝe sene[2450]
Away.
Bliþer wiþouten wene
Neuer ere nar þay.
A forest fled þai tille,
Tristrem & Ysonde þe schene.[2455]
No hadde þai no won to wille
Bot þe wode so grene.
Bi holtes & bi hille
Fore Tristrem & þe quene;
Ysonde of ioie haþ her fille[2460]
& Tristrem, wiþouten wene,
As þare;
So bliþe al bidene
Nar þai neuer are.
Tristrem & þat may [f.295ra] [Image] [2465]
Wer flemed for her dede;
Hodain, soþ to say,
& Peticrowe wiþ hem ȝede.
In on erþe hous þai lay,
Þo raches wiþ hem þai lede.[2470]
Tristrem hem tauȝt o day
Bestes to take at nede
An hast.
In þat forest fede
Tristrem Hodain gan chast.[2475]
Tristrem wiþ Hodain
A wilde best he slouȝ;
In on erþe house þai layn,
Þer hadde þai ioie ynouȝ.
Etenes bi old dayn[2480]
Had wrouȝt it, wiþouten wouȝ.
Ich niȝt, soþ to sain,
Þertil þai boþe drouȝ
Wiþ miȝt.
Vnder wode bouȝ[2485]
Þai knewen day & niȝt.
In winter it was hate,
In somer it was cold;
Þai hadden a dern gat,
Þat þai no man told.[2490]
No hadde þai no wines wat, [ þai: added superscript.]
No ale þat was old,
No no gode mete þai at;
Þai hadden al þat þai wold
Wiþ wille.[2495]
For loue ich oþer bihalt,
Her non miȝt of oþer fille.
Tristrem on an hille stode,
As he biforn hadde mett;
He fond a wele ful gode,[2500]
Al white it was, þe grete;
Þerto Tristrem ȝode
& hende Ysonde þe swete.
Þat was al her fode,
& wilde flesche þai ete[2505]
& gras;
Swiche ioie hadde þai neuer ȝete
Tvelmoneþ þre woukes las.
Tristrem on a day [f.295rb] [Image]
Tok Hodain wel erly,[2510]
A best he tok to pray
Bi a dern sty;
He diȝt it, wiþouten nay,
& hom it brouȝt an heiȝe.
Aslepe Ysonde lay,[2515]
Tristrem him layd hir bi,
Þe quen.
His swerd he drouȝ titly
& laid it hem bitvene.
An hert Mark at-ran[2520]
Opon þat ilke day;
His hunters after wan,
A paþ þo founden þai.
Tristrem seiȝen hye þan
& Ysonde, soþe to say.[2525]
Seiȝe þai neuer swiche man
No non so fair a may
Wiþ siȝt;
Bitven hem þer lay
A drawen swerd wel briȝt.[2530]
Þe huntes wenten riȝt
& teld Mark bidene.
Þe leuedi & þe kniȝt,
Boþe Mark haþ sene;
He knewe hem wele bi siȝt,[2535]
Þe swerd lay hem bitvene;
A sonne bem ful briȝt
Schon opon þe quen
At a bore
On her face so schene[2540]
& Mark rewed þerfore.
His gloue he put þerinne
Þe sonne to were oway,
Wreþe mark gan winne,
Þan seyd he, ‘wel ay! [2545] [ wel: added superscript with an insertion mark.]
ȝif þai weren in sinne,
Nouȝt so þai no lay.
Lo hou þai liue atvinne.
Þai no hede nouȝt of swiche play,
Ywis.’[2550]
Þe kniȝtes seyden ay
‘For trewe loue it is.’
Þo waked Tristrem þe trewe [f.295va] [Image]
& swete Ysonde þe schene,
Þe gloue oway þai drewe[2555]
& seyden hem bitvene;
For Markes þai it knewe, [Line 2557 written at the foot of the column, its correct position marked by a-b and crosses.]
Þai wist he had þer bene.
Þo was her ioie al newe,
Þat he hem hadde ysene[2560]
Wiþ siȝt;
Wiþ þat com kniȝtes kene
To feche þo to ful riȝt.
To court were comen þo to
Þat in þe forest were,[2565]
Mark kist Ysonde þo
& Tristrem trewe fere.
Forȝeuen hem was her wo,
No were þai neuer so dere.
Tristrem þe bailif gan to[2570]
Swiftly for to stere
A stounde.
Of loue who wil lere,
Listen now þe grounde.
So bifel bidene[2575]
Opon a somers day
Tristrem & þe quen
Stalked to her play.
Þe duerwe hem haþ sene,
To Mark gan he say[2580]
‘Sir king, wiþouten wene,
Þi wiif is now oway
& þi kniȝt;
Wende fast as þou may,
Oftake hem, ȝif þou miȝt.’[2585]
Mark king after ran,
Þat þai boþe yse.
Tristrem seyd þan
‘Ysonde, schent er we.
For þouȝtes þat we can[2590]
Forhole no may it be.’
Nas neuer so sori man,
Tristrem, þan was he,
Þat hende:
‘For dout of deþ y fle,[2595]
In sorwe & wo y wende.
Y fle for dout of deþ, [f.295vb] [Image]
Y dar no leng abide,
In wo mi liif to lede
Bi þis forestes side.’[2600]
A ring Ysonde him bede
To tokening at þat tide.
He fleiȝe forþ in gret drede
In wode him for to hide
Bidene;[2605]
To seken him fast þai ride,
Þai founden bot þe quene.
Tristrem is went oway,
As it nouȝt hadde ybene;
Forþi þe kniȝtes gan say[2610]
Þat wrong Markes had sen.
For her þan prayd þai
Þat Mark forȝaf þe quene.
Tristrem wiþ Ysonde lay
Þat niȝt, wiþouten wene,[2615]
& wok
& plaiden ay bitvene.
His leue of hir he tok.
Tristrem is went oway
Wiþouten coming oȝain,[2620]
& sikeþ, for soþe to sain,
Wiþ sorwe & michel pain.
Tristrem fareþ ay
As man þat wald be slain,
Boþe niȝt & day[2625]
Fiȝtes for to frain,
Þat fre;
Spaine he haþ þurth sayn,
Geauntes he slouȝ þre.
Out of Spaine he rade[2630]
Rohande sones to se,
Gamen & ioie þai made,
Welcom to hem was he;
As lord he þer abade,
As gode skil wald be.[2635]
Þai boden him landes brade
Þat he wan hem fre.
He þouȝt,
He seyd ‘þank haue ȝe.
ȝour londes kepe y nouȝt.’[2640]
Into Bretein he ches, [f.296ra] [Image]
Bicome þe doukes kniȝt;
He set his lond in pes
Þat arst was ful of fiȝt.
Al þat þe doukes wes[2645]
He wan oȝain wiþ riȝt.
He bede him, wiþouten les,
His douhter þat was briȝt
In land.
Þat maiden Ysonde hiȝt[2650]
Wiþ þe white hand.
Tristremes loue was strong
On swete Ysonde þe quene;
Of Ysonde he made a song
Þat song Ysonde bidene.[2655]
Þe maiden wende al wrong
Of hir it hadde ybene.
Hir wening was so long,
To hir fader hye gan mene
For nede.[2660]
Ysonde wiþ hand schene
Tristrem to wiue þai bede.
Tristrem a wil is inne,
Has founden in his þouȝt
‘Mark, mi nem, haþ sinne,[2665]
Wrong he haþ ous wrouȝt;
Icham in sorwe & pine,
Þerto hye haþ me brouȝt.
Hir loue, y say, is mine,
Þe boke seyt it is nouȝt[2670]
Wiþ riȝt.’
Þe maiden more he souȝt,
For sche Ysonde hiȝt.
Þat in his hert he fand,
& trewely þouȝt he ay;[2675]
Þe forward fast he band
Wiþ Ysonde, þat may
Wiþ þe white hand,
He spoused þat day.
O niȝt, ich vnderstand,[2680]
To boure wenten þai
On bedde.
Tristrem ring fel oway
As men to chaumber him ledde.
Tristrem biheld þat ring, [f.296rb] [Image] [2685]
Þo was his hert ful wo
‘Oȝain me swiche a þing
Dede neuer Ysonde so;
Mark, her lord þe king,
Wiþ tresoun may hir to.[2690]
Mine hert may no man bring
For no þing hir fro,
Þat fre.
Ich haue tvinned ous to,
Þe wrong is al in me.’[2695]
Tristrem to bedde ȝede
Wiþ hert ful of care.
He seyd ‘þe dern dede,
Do it y no dare.’
Þe maiden he forbede,[2700]
ȝif it hir wille ware.
Þe maide answerd in lede
‘Þerof haue þou no care.
Al stille
Y nil desiri na mare[2705]
Bot at þine owen wille.’
Her fader on a day
ȝaf hem londes wide
Fer in þat cuntray
Markes were set biside.[2710]
Bitvene þe douke þai had ben ay
& a geaunt vnride;
No most þer no man play
Þat he no dede him abide
& fiȝt;[2715]
Lesen he schuld his pride,
Were he king or kniȝt.
‘Tristrem, y þe forbede
For þe loue of me,
No hunte þou for no nede[2720]
Biȝond þe arm of þe se.
Beliagog is vnrede,
A stern geaunt is he;
Of him þou owest to drede,
Þou slouȝ his breþer þre[2725]
In fiȝt:
Vrgan & Morgan vnfre
& Moraunt, þe noble kniȝt.
ȝif þine houndes an hare wele hayre [f.296va] [Image]
& comen oȝain to þe fre,[2730]
Also be þou bonaire,
When his houndes comen to þe.’
Þe forest was wel faire
Wiþ mani a selly tre.
Tristrem þouȝt repaire,[2735]
Hou so it euer be,
To bide:
‘Þat cuntre wil y se,
What auentour so bitide.’
Tristrem on huntinge rade,[2740]
An hert chaci bigan;
Þer þe merkes were made
His houndes ouer þai ran;
Þe water was blalc & brade,
Tristrem com as a man;[2745]
Þer þe douke was fade,
Fast he folwed þan,
Riȝt þare;
He blewe priis as he can -
Þre mot oþer mare.[2750]
Beliagog com þat tide
& asked wat he is.
‘An hunting þer y ride,
Tristrem ich hat, ywis.’
‘O! þou slouȝ Moraunt wiþ pride.[2755]
Tristrem artow þis?
& seþþen Vrgan vnride -
Vnkinde were ous to kis
As kenne.
Mendi þou most þat mis,[2760]
Now þou mi lond art inne.’
‘Y slouȝ Vrgan, y þe telle.
So hope y þe to sla.
Þis forest wil y felle
& castel wil y ma;[2765]
Her is miri to duelle,
Forþi þis lond y ta.’
Þe geaunt herd þat spelle,
Forþi him was ful wa,
Vnwise.[2770]
So bitven hem tva
Þe cuntek gan arise.
Dartes wel vnride [f.296vb] [Image]
Beliagog set gan.
Tristremes liif þat tide[2775]
Ferly neiȝe he wan.
Bitvene þe hauberk & side
Þe dart þurthout ran.
Tristrem bleynt biside,
God he þonked þan[2780]
Almiȝt.
Tristrem as a man
Fast he gan to fiȝt.
Beliagog þe bold, [ Beliagog: a inserted superscript with insertion mark.]
As a fende he fauȝt;[2785]
Tristrem liif neiȝe he sold
As Tomas haþ ous tauȝt;
Tristrem smot, as God wold,
His fot of at a drauȝt;
Adoun he fel yfold,[2790]
Þat man of michel mauȝt,
& cride
‘Tristrem, be we sauȝt,
& haue min londes wide.
Ouercomen hastow me[2795]
In bataile & in fiȝt.
Helden oȝaines þe
No wil y neuer wiþ riȝt.’
His tresour lete he se
Tristrem, þe noble kniȝt.[2800]
Tristrem knewe him fre;
Beliagog in hiȝt,
Nouȝt lain,
An halle to maken him briȝt
To Ysonde & Bringwain.[2805]
Þe geaunt him gan lede
Til he fond an hald;
Þe water about ȝede,
It was his eldren hald.
Þe geaunt bad Tristrem belde[2810]
Wiþ masouns þat were bald.
Beliagog in þat nede
Fond him riche wald
To fine;
Ysonde haue þere he wald,[2815]
Luffsum vnder line. [Catchword: þe geaunt him tauȝt.]
Þe geaunt him tauȝt þat tide [f.297ra] [Image]
A ford þer it was ȝare,
Þere he miȝt wele ride
When his wille ware.[2820]
In þe hold he gan him hide,
Seyd he nouȝt he was þare;
Nold he nouȝt long abide,
Oȝain þo gan he fare,
Þat fre.[2825]
At þe castel forþermare
His werkmen wald he se.
Oȝain went Tristrem þan,
Beliagog had masouns souȝt.
Tristrem þat michel can[2830]
A werk hem haþ ybrouȝt;
Nas þer neuer ȝete man
Þat wist what oþer wrouȝt;
Arere when þai bigan,
Swiche a werk nas nouȝt[2835]
At nede;
Þei al men hadde it þouȝt,
It nas to large no gnede.
At his des in þe halle
Swete Ysonde was wrouȝt[2840]
Hodain & Pencru to calle;
Þe drink hou Brengwain brouȝt;
Mark yclad in palle
& Meriadok ful of þouȝt -
So liifliche weren þai alle,[2845]
Ymages semed it nouȝt,
To abide -
& Tristrem, hou he fauȝt
Wiþ Beliagog vnride.
So it bifel a cas[2850]
In seyn Matheus toun
Þat a fair fest was
Of lordes of renoun.
A baroun þat hiȝt Bonifas
Spoused a leuedi of Lyoun.[2855]
Þer was miche solas
Of alle maner soun
& gle
Of minestrals vp & doun
Bifor þe folk so fre.[2860]
Þe riche douke Florentin [f.297rb] [Image]
To þat fest gan fare
& his sone Ganhardin,
Wiþ hem rode Ysonde þare.
Her hors a polk stap in,[2865]
Þe water her wat aywhare;
It was a ferly gin,
So heye vnder hir gare
It fleiȝe.
Þe leuedi louȝ ful smare,[2870]
& Ganhardin it seiȝe.
Ganhardin vnbliþe
His soster þo cald he
‘Abide now, dame, & liþe,
What is þer tidde to þe?[2875]
Do now telle me swiþe
Astow louest me
Whi louȝ þou þat siþe.
For what þing may it be?
Wiþouten oþ[2880]
Þi frendschip schal y fle
Til y wite þat soþ.’
‘Broþer, no wraþe þe nouȝt,
Þe soþe y wil þe say.
Mine hors þe water vp brouȝt[2885]
Of o polk in þe way.
So heiȝe it fleiȝe, me þouȝt,
Þat in mi sadel it lay.
Þer neuer man no souȝt
So neiȝe, for soþe to say,[2890]
In lede.
Broþer, wite þou ay
Þat y louȝ for þat dede.’
Quaþ Ganhardin ‘y finde
Þat schamely schent ar we;[2895]
To wiue on our kinde
Heþeliche holdeþ he.
Þer he gan treuþe binde,
Fain y wald it se;
For alle þe gold of Ynde[2900]
Ybroken no schal it be
To bete.
His frendeschip wil y fle;
Our on schal tine swete.’
Wroþ is Ganhardin [f.297va] [Image] [2905]
& þat Tristrem yses;
What þouȝt he is in
Fast he askeþ, ywis.
‘Þou hast bi Ysonde lin,
While þi wille is.[2910]
Whi nas hye neuer þine? [Erasure before þine.]
Tristrem, tel me þis
In lede.
What haþ hye don amis?
What wites þou hir of dede?’[2915]
‘ȝif it hir wille ware,
Forhole it miȝt haue be;
Sche haþ ytold it ȝou ȝare,
Quite sche is of me.
Of hir kepe y namare,[2920]
A ȝift y ȝeue þe.
To a leuedi wil y fare
Is fairer þan swiche þre
To frain.’
Ganhardin longeþ to se[2925]
Þat leuedi, nauȝt to lain.
Ganhardin þe fest fles,
He bicom Tristremes frende;
He seyd his liif he les,
Bot he wiþ Tristrem wende;[2930]
Quaþ Tristrem ‘ȝif it so bes
In Jnglond þat we lende,
No say nouȝt what þou ses,
Bot hold, astow art hende
And hele.[2935]
Lay it al vnder hende,
To steuen ȝif þai it stele.’
Ganhardin his treuþe pliȝt,
To ben his broþer he bede,
To ben a trewe kniȝt[2940]
In al Tristremes nede.
Boþe busked þat niȝt
To Beliagog in lede.
Ganhardin seiȝe þat siȝt
& sore him gan adrede[2945]
‘To brink
To sle þou wilt me lede,
To Beliagog, me þink.’
‘Ganhardin, wrong haue þou alle. [f.297vb] [Image]
Wel whi seistow so?[2950]
Maugre on me falle
ȝif y þe wold slo.
Þe geaunt is my þralle,
His liif þei y wil to.’
Tristrem þo gan him calle;[2955]
On a stilt he com þo
Ful swiþe
‘Lord, þi wille to do
Þarto ar we bliþe.’
‘Beliagog, go þare[2960]
& loke it boun be;
Ganhardin & y wil fare
Þe leuedi for to se.’
Swiche castel fond he þare
Was maked of ston & tre.[2965]
Ganhardin wist nou are
Þer duelled Tristrem & he,
To liþe,
Ysonde for to se
In halle briȝt & bliþe.[2970]
To Ysonde briȝt so day
To halle gun þai go;
Ysonde þo seiȝe þai
& Bringwain boþe to,
Tristrem, for soþe to say,[2975]
& Beliagog al blo.
As Ganhardin stert oway
His heued he brac þo [ brac: a is superscript.]
As he fleiȝe.
Ganhardin was ful wo,[2980]
Þat he com Ysonde so neiȝe.
Ganhardin schamed sore,
His heued ran on blod.
Ysonde he seiȝe þore
& Brengwain fair & gode.[2985]
Brengwain þe coupe bore;
Him rewe þat frely fode,
He swore bi Godes ore.
In her hond fast it stode
Al stille.[2990]
‘Tristrem, we ar wode
To speken oȝain þi wille.
Nis it bot hert-breke, [f.298ra] [Image]
Þat swiþe wele finde we,
& foly ous to speke[2995]
Ani worde oȝaines þe.
Mi wille ȝif y miȝt gete,
Þat leuedi wold y se;
Mine hert hye haþ ysteke,
Brengwain briȝt & fre,[3000]
Þat frende;
Bliþe no may ich be
Til y se þat hende.’
Tristrem & Ganhardin,
Treuþe pliȝten þay,[3005]
In wining & in tin
Trewe to ben ay,
In joie & in pin,
In al þing, to say,
Til he wiþ Brengwain haue lin,[3010]
ȝif þat Tristrem may,
In lede.
To Jnglond þai toke þe way,
Þo kniȝtes stiþe on stede.
Sir Canados was þan[3015]
Constable, þe quen ful neiȝe;
For Tristrem Ysonde wan,
So weneþ he be ful sleiȝe
To make hir his leman
Wiþ broche & riche beiȝe.[3020]
For nouȝt þat he do can
Hir hert was euer heiȝe
To hold;
Þat man hye neuer seiȝe
Þat bifor Tristrem wold.[3025]
Tristrem made a song
Þat song Ysonde þe sleiȝe
& harped euer among;
Sir Canados was neiȝe;
He seyd ‘dame, þou hast wrong,[3030]
For soþe, who it seiȝe.
As oule & stormes strong,
So criestow on heye
In herd.
Þou louest Tristrem dreiȝe,[3035]
To wrong þou art ylerd.
Tristrem, for þi sake [f.298rb] [Image]
For soþe wiued haþ he.
Þis wil þe torn to wrake:
Of Breteyne douke schal he be.[3040]
Oþer semblaunt þou make,
Þiseluen ȝif þou hir se;
Þi loue hir dede him take,
For hye hiȝt as do ȝe
In land.[3045]
Ysonde men calleþ þat fre
Wiþ þe white hand.’
‘Sir Canados, þe waite,
Euer þou art mi fo.
Febli þou canst hayte,[3050]
Þere man schuld menske do.
Who wil lesinges layt,
Þarf him no ferþer go.
Falsly canestow fayt
Þat euer worþ þe wo.[3055]
Forþi
Malisoun haue þou also
Of God & our leuedy.
A ȝift ich ȝiue þe:
Þi þrift mot þou tine.[3060]
Þat þou asked me,
No schal it neuer be þine.
Yhated also þou be
Of alle þat drink wine.
Hennes ȝern þou fle[3065]
Out of siȝt mine
In lede.
Y pray to seyn Katerine
Þat iuel mot þou spede.’
Þe quen was wratþed sore,[3070]
Wroþ to chaumber sche ȝede
‘Who may trowe man more
Þan he haþ don þis dede?’
A palfray asked sche þere
Þat wele was loued in lede;[3075]
Diȝt sche was ful ȝare,
Hir pauilouns wiþ hir þai lede
Ful fine.
Bifore was stef on stede
Tristrem & Ganhardine.[3080]
Ful ner þe gat þai abade [f.298va] [Image]
Vnder a figer tre;
Þai seiȝe where Ysonde rade
& Bringwain, boþe seiȝe he
Wiþ tvo houndes mirie made,[3085]
Fairer miȝt non be.
Her blis was ful brade,
A tale told Ysonde fre,
Þai duelle.
Tristrem þat herd he[3090]
& seyd þus in his spelle:
‘Ganhardin, ride þou ay,
Mi ring of finger þou drawe,
Þou wende forþ in þi way
& gret hem al on rawe;[3095]
Her houndes praise þou ay,
Þi finger forþ þou schawe.
Þe quen, for soþe to say,
Þe ring wil sone knawe,
Þat fre.[3100]
Aski sche wil in plawe
& say þou comest fro me.’
Þo rode Ganhardin kene
& ouertakeþ hem now;
First he greteþ þe quen[3105]
& after Bringwain, y trowe.
Þe kniȝt him self bidene
Stroked þe hounde Pencru;
Þe quen þe ring haþ sene
& knewe it wele ynouȝ,[3110]
Þat fre.
Hye seyd ‘say me, hou
Com þis ring to þe?’
‘He þat auȝt þis ring
To token sent it to þe.’[3115]
Þo seyd þat swete þing
‘Tristrem, þat is he.’
‘Dame, wiþouten lesing,
He sent it ȝou bi me.’
Sche sayd ‘bi heuen-king,[3120]
In longing haue we be,
Nauȝt lain;
Al niȝt duelle we‘
Seyd Ysonde to Bringwain.
Þai wende þe quen wald dye, [f.298vb] [Image] [3125]
So sike sche was bi siȝt.
Þai sett pauilouns an heye
& duelled, clerk & kniȝt.
Ysonde biheld þat lye
Vnder leues liȝt;[3130]
Tristrem hye þer seyȝe,
So dede Brengwain þat niȝt
In feld.
Ganhardine treuþe pliȝt,
Brengwain to wiue weld.[3135]
Tvo niȝt þer þai lye
In þat fair forest;
Canados hadde a spie,
Her pauilouns he tokest;
Þer come to Canados crie[3140]
Þe cuntre est & west.
Gouernayl was forþi
Þerout, as it was best,
To abide.
He seyd Tristrem prest[3145]
‘Now it were time to ride.’
Gouernayl, his man was he,
& Ganhardine his kniȝt.
Armed kniȝtes þai se
To felle hem doun in fiȝt.[3150]
Gouernaile gan to fle,
He ran oway ful riȝt;
Þo folwed bond & fre
& lete þe loge vnliȝt
Þat tide.[3155]
Oway rode Tristrem þat niȝt
& Ganhardine biside.
Sir Canados þe heiȝe,
He ladde þe quen oway;
Tristrem of loue so sleiȝe[3160]
No abade him nouȝt þat day.
Brengwain briȝt so beiȝe,
Wo was hir þo ay;
On Canados sche gan crie
& made gret deray[3165]
& sede
‘Þis lond nis worþ a nay,
When þou darst do swiche a dede.’
Ganhardine gan fare [f.299ra] [Image]
In to Bretaine oway[3170]
& Tristrem duelled þare
To wite what men wald say;
Coppe & claper he bare
Til þe fiftenday
As he a mesel ware;[3175]
Vnder walles he lay,
To liþe;
So wo was Ysonde, þat may,
Þat alle sche wald towriþe.
Tristrem jn sorwe lay,[3180]
Forþi wald Ysonde awede,
& Brengwain þretned ay
To take hem in her dede.
Brengwain went oway,
To Marke þe king sche ȝede[3185]
& redily gan to say
Hou þai faren in lede
‘Nouȝt lain,
Swiche kniȝt hastow to fede,
Þi schame he wald ful fain.[3190]
Sir king, take hede þerto:
Sir Canados wil haue þi quen.
Bot þou depart hem to,
A schame þer worþ ysene.
Hye dredeþ of him so,[3195]
Þat wonder is to wene;
His wille for to do
Hye werneþ him bitvene
Ful sone.
ȝete þai ben al clene;[3200]
Haue þai no dede ydone.’
Marke in al þing
Brengwain þanked he.
After him he sent an heiȝeing,
Fram court he dede him be.[3205]
‘Þou deseruest for to hing,
Miseluen wele ich it se.’
So couþe Brengwain bring
Canados for to fle,
Þat heiȝe.[3210]
Glad was Ysonde þe fre
Þat Bringwain couþe so liȝe.
Þan to hir seyd þe quen [f.299rb] [Image]
‘Leue Brengwain þe briȝt,
Þat art fair to sene.[3215]
Þou wost our wille bi siȝt.
Whare haþ Tristrem bene?
Nis he no douhti kniȝt?
Þai leiȝen al bidene
Þat sain he dar nouȝt fiȝt[3220]
Wiþ his fo.’
Brengwain biheld þat riȝt,
Tristrem to bour lete go.
Tristrem in bour is bliþe,
Wiþ Ysonde playd he þare;[3225]
Brengwain badde he liþe
‘Who þer armes bare,
Ganhardin & þou þat siþe
Wiȝtly oway gun fare.’
Quaþ Tristrem ‘crieþ swiþe[3230]
A turnament ful ȝare
Wiþ miȝt;
Noiþer of ous nil spare
Erl, baroun no kniȝt.’
A turnament þai lete crie,[3235]
Þe parti Canados tok he,
& Meriadok sikerly
In his help gan he be.
Tristrem ful hastilye
Ofsent Ganhardin þe fre;[3240]
Ganhardin com titly
Þat turnament to se
Wiþ siȝt.
Fro þe turnament nold þai fle
Til her fon were feld doun riȝt.[3245]
Þai com into þe feld
& founde þer kniȝtes kene,
Her old dedes þai ȝeld
Wiþ batayle al bidene.
Tristrem gan biheld[3250]
To Meriadok bitvene;
For þe tales he teld
On him he wrake his tene
Þat tide;
He ȝaf him a wounde kene[3255]
Þurthout boþe side.
Bitvene Canados & Ganhardin [f.299va] [Image]
Þe fiȝt was ferly strong;
Tristrem þouȝt it pin
Þat it last so long;[3260]
His stiropo he made him tine,
To grounde he him wrong.
Sir Canados þer gan lyn,
Þe blod þurth brini þrong
Wiþ care.[3265]
On him he wrake his wrong
Þat he no ros na mare.
Her fon fast þai feld,
& mani of hem þai slouȝ;
Þe cuntre wiþ hem meld,[3270]
Þai wrouȝt hem wo ynouȝ.
Tristrem haþ hem teld
Þat him to schame drouȝ.
Þai token þe heiȝe held
& passed wele anouȝ[3275]
& bade.
Vnder wode bouȝ
After her fomen þai rade.
Þer Tristrem turned oȝain
& Ganhardin stiþe & stille.[3280]
Mani þai han yslain
& mani ouercomen wiþ wille.
Þe folk fleiȝe vnfain
& socour criden schille;
In lede nouȝt to layn,[3285]
Þai hadde woundes ille
At þe nende.
Þe wraiers þat weren in halle,
Schamly were þai schende.
Þan þat turnament was don,[3290]
Mani on slain þer lay.
Ganhardin went sone
Into Bretaine oway.
Brengwain haþ her bone:
Ful wele wreken er þay.[3295]
A kniȝt þat werd no schon
Hete Tristrem, soþe to say;
Ful wide
Tristrem souȝt he ay,
& he fond him þat tide.[3300]
He fel to Tristremes fet [f.299vb] [Image]
& merci crid he
‘Mi leman fair & swete
A kniȝt haþ reued me,
Of loue þat can wele let,[3305]
So Crist hir sende þe.
Mi bale þou fond to bet
For loue of Ysonde fre.
Nouȝt lain,
Seuen breþern haþ he[3310]
Þat fiȝteþ me ogain.
Þis ich day þai fare
& passeþ fast biside.
Y gete hir neuer mare,
ȝif y tine hir þis tide.[3315]
Fiftene kniȝtes þai are
& we bot to, to abide.’
‘Daþet who hem spare.’
Seyd Tristrem þat tide.
‘Þis niȝt[3320]
Þai han ytint her pride
Þurth grace of God almiȝt.’
Þai gun hem boþe armi
In iren & stiel þat tide;
Þai metten hem in a sty[3325]
Bi o forestes side.
Þer wex akene crie,
Togider þo þai gun ride.
Þe ȝong Tristrem forþi
Sone was feld his pride[3330]
Riȝt þore.
He hadde woundes wide,
Þat he no ros no more.
Þus þe ȝong kniȝt
For soþe yslawe was þare.[3335]
Tristrem, þat trewe hiȝt,
Awrake him al wiþ care.
Þer he slouȝ in fiȝt
Fiftene kniȝtes & mare;
Wel louwe he dede hem liȝt[3340]
Wiþ diolful dintes sare,
Vnsounde;
Ac an aruwe oway he bare
In his eld wounde.