Lancelot of the Laik

LONDON:
PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY,
BY N. TRÜBNER & CO., 60, PATERNOSTER ROW.

PREFACE.

I.—DESCRIPTION OF THE MS., ETC.

A former edition of the present poem was printed for the Maitland Club, in 1839, and edited by Joseph Stevenson, Esq. It has saved me all trouble of transcription, but by no means, I am sorry to say, that of correction. Those who possess the older edition will readily perceive that it differs from the present one very frequently indeed, and that the variations are often such as considerably to affect the sense. Many of the errors in it (such as casualtyee for casualytee, grone, for gone, reprent for repent) are clearly typographical, but there are others which would incline me to believe that the transcription was too hastily executed; several passages being quite meaningless. Near the conclusion of Mr Stevenson’s preface we read: “The pieces which have been selected for the present volume1 are printed with such errors of transcription as have crept into them by the carelessness of the scribe;” a statement which certainly implies that there was no intention on his part of departing from the original. Yet that he sometimes unconsciously did so to such an extent as considerably to alter (or destroy) the sense, the reader may readily judge from a few examples:—

LINE.	EDITION OF 1839.	TRUE READING OF THE MS.
26.	fatil (fatal),	fatit (fated).
285.	unarmyt (unarmed),	enarmyt (fully armed).
682.	can here,	cam nere.
700.	rendit (rent),	vondit (wounded).
764.	refuse (refusal?),	reprefe (defeat).
861.	felith (feeleth),	ſetith (setteth).
1054.	vyt,	rycht.
1084.	speiris,	spuris.
1455.	cumyng (coming),	cunyng (skill).
1621.	he war,	be war (beware).
1641.	promyß,	punyß (punish).
2010.	ane desyne,	medysyne.
2092.	born,	lorn (lost).
2114.	havin,	harm.
2142.	Hymene (!),	hyme (him).
2219.	such,	furth (forth).
2245.	al so y-vroght,	al foly vroght.
2279.	chichingis (!),	thithingis (tidings).
2446.	love,	lore (teaching). Etc.

Several omissions also occur, as, e.g., of the word “off” in l. 7, of the word “tressore” in l. 1715, and of four whole lines at a time in two instances; viz., lines 1191-4, and 2877-80. It will be found, in fact, that the former text can seldom be safely quoted for the purposes of philology; and I cannot but think Mr Stevenson’s claim of being accurate to be especially unfortunate; and the more so, because the genuine text is much simpler and more intelligible than the one which he has given.

The original MS. is to be found in the Cambridge University Library, marked Kk. 1. 5. It formerly formed part of a thick volume, labelled “Tracts;” but these are now being separated, for greater convenience, into several volumes. The MS. of “Lancelot” has little to do with any of the rest as regards its subject, but several other pieces are in the same hand-writing; and, at the end of one of them, an vii abstract of Solomon’s proverbs, occur the words, “Expliciunt Dicta Salamonis, per manum V. de F.”2 This hand-writing, though close, is very regular, and my own impression certainly is that the scribe has almost always succeeded in preserving the sense of the poem, though there is much confusion in the dialectal forms, as will be shewn presently.

The present text is as close a fac-simile of the MS. as can be represented by printed letters, every peculiarity being preserved as far as practicable, even including the use of y for þ (or th); so that the reader must remember that yow in l. 94 stands for thow, and yis in l. 160 for this, and so on; but this ought not to cause much difficulty. The sole points of difference are the following:

1. In the MS. the headings “Prologue,” “Book I.” etc., do not occur.

2. The lines do not always begin (in the MS.) with a capital letter.

3. The letters italicized are (in the MS.) represented by signs of contraction. One source of difficulty is the flourish over a word, used sometimes as a contraction for m or n. I have expanded this flourish as an m or n wherever such letter is manifestly required; but it also occurs where it is best to attach to it no value. In such instances, the flourish occurs most frequently over the last word in a line, and (except very rarely) only over words which have an m or n in them. It would thus seem that their presence is due to the fact of the scribe wanting employment for his pen after the line had been written, and that the flourish therefore appears over certain words, not so much because the n is wanting in them, as because it is there already. Such words have a special attraction for the wandering pen. Still, in order that the reader viii may know wherever such flourishes occur, they have all been noted down; thus, in l. 46, the stroke over the n in “greñ” means that a long flourish occurs drawn over the whole word, and the reader who wishes to expand this word into “grene” or “grenn” may easily do it for himself, though he should observe that the most usual form of the word is simply “gren,” as in lines 1000, 1305.

In a few nouns ending in -l, the plural is indicated by a stroke drawn through the doubled letter; as in perillis, sadillis, etc.; and even the word ellis (else) is thus abbreviated.

4. I am responsible for all hyphens, and letters and words between square brackets; thus, “with-outen” is in the MS. “with outen;” and “knych[t]ly” is written “knychly.” Whenever a line begins with a capital letter included between two brackets, the original has a blank space left, evidently intended for an illuminated letter. Wherever illuminated letters actually occur in the MS., they are denoted in this edition by large capitals.

5. We find, in the MS., both the long and the twisted s (ſ and s). These have been noted down as they occur, though I do not observe any law for their use. The letter “ß” has been adopted as closely resembling a symbol in the MS., which apparently has the force of double s, and is not unlike the “sz” used in modern German hand-writing. It may be conveniently denoted by ss when the type “ß” is not to be had, and is sometimes so represented in the “Notes.”

6. The MS. is, of course, not punctuated. The punctuation in the present edition is mostly new; and many passages, which in the former edition were meaningless, have thus been rendered easily intelligible. I am also responsible for the headings of the pages, the abstract at the sides of them, the numbering of the folios in the margin, the notes, and the glossary; which I hope may be found useful. The greatest ix care has been taken to make the text accurate, the proof-sheets having been compared with the MS. three times throughout.3

II.—DESCRIPTION OF THE POEM.

The poem itself is a loose paraphrase of not quite fourteen folios of the first of the three volumes of the French Romance of Lancelot du Lac, if we refer to it as reprinted at Paris in 1513, in three volumes, thin folio, double-columned.4 The English poet has set aside the French Prologue, and written a new one of his own, and has afterwards translated and amplified that portion of the Romance which narrates the invasion of Arthur’s territory by “le roy de oultre les marches, nomme galehault” (in the English Galiot), and the defeat of the said king by Arthur and his allies.

The Prologue (lines 1-334) tells how the author undertook to write a romance to please his lady-love; and how, after deciding to take as his subject the story of Lancelot as told in the French Romance, yet finding himself unequal to a close translation of the whole of it, he determined to give a paraphrase x of a portion of it only. After giving us a brief summary of the earlier part by the simple process of telling us what he will not relate, he proposes to begin the story at the point where Lancelot has been made prisoner by the lady of Melyhalt, and to take as his subject the wars between Arthur and Galiot, and the distinction which Lancelot won in them; and afterwards to tell how Lancelot made peace between these two kings, and was consequently rewarded by Venus, who

“makith hyme his ladice grace to have” (l. 311).

The latter part of the poem, it may be observed, has not come down to us. The author then concludes his Prologue by beseeching to have the support of a very celebrated poet, whose name he will not mention, but will only say that

“Ye fresch enditing of his laiting toung

Out throuch yis world so wid is yroung,” etc.5 (l. 328.)

The first Book introduces us to King Arthur at Carlisle.6 The king is visited by dreams, which he imagines to forebode misfortune; he therefore convokes all his clerks, and inquires of them the meaning of the dreams, proposing to hang them in the event of their refusal. Thus strongly urged, they tell him that those on whom he most relies will fail him at his need; and when he further inquires if this evil fate can be averted, they answer him very obscurely that it can only be remedied by help of the water-lion, the leech, and the flower; a reply which the king evidently regards as unsatisfactory. Soon after an aged knight, fully armed, enters the palace, with a message from King Galiot, requiring him to give “tribute and rent.” Arthur at once refuses, somewhat to the astonishment of the knight, who is amazed at his hardihood. Next arrives a message from the lady of Melyhalt, informing Arthur of the xi actual presence of Galiot’s army. We are then momentarily introduced to Lancelot, who is pining miserably in the lady’s custody. Next follows a description of Galiot’s army, at sight of the approach of which King Arthur and his “niece,” Sir Gawain, confer as to the best means of resistance. In the ensuing battle Sir Gawain greatly distinguishes himself, but is at last severely wounded. Sir Lancelot, coming to hear of Sir Gawain’s deeds, craves leave of the lady to be allowed to take part in the next conflict, who grants him his boon on condition that he promise to return to his prison. She then provides for him a red courser, and a complete suit of red armour, in which guise he appears at the second battle, and is the “head and comfort of the field;” the queen and Sir Gawain beholding his exploits from a tower. The result of the battle convinces Galiot that Arthur is not strong enough at present to resist him sufficiently, and that he thus runs the risk of a too easy, and therefore dishonourable, conquest; for which excellent reason he grants Arthur a twelvemonth’s truce, with a promise to return again in increased force at the expiration of that period. Sir Lancelot returns to Melyhalt according to promise, and the lady is well pleased at hearing the reports of his famous deeds, and visits him when asleep, out of curiosity to observe his appearance after the fight.

In the Second Book the story makes but little progress, nearly the whole of it being occupied by a long lecture or sermon delivered to Arthur by a “master,” named Amytans, on the duties of a king; the chief one being that a king should give presents to everybody—a duty which is insisted on with laborious tediousness. Lines 1320-2130 are almost entirely occupied with this subject, and will be found to be the driest part of the whole narrative. In the course of his lecture, Amytans explains at great length the obscure prophecy mentioned above, shewing that by the water-lion is meant God the Father, by the leech God the Son, and by the flower the Virgin xii Mary. Though the outline of a similar lecture exists in the old French text, there would seem to be a special reason for the length to which it is here expanded. Some lines certainly seem to hint at events passing in Scotland at the time when the poem was composed. Thus, “kings may be excused when of tender age” (l. 1658); but when they come to years of discretion should punish those that have wrested the law. Again we find (l. 1920) strong warnings against flatterers, concluding (l. 1940) with the expression,

“Wo to the realme that havith sich o chans!”

Such hints may remind us of the long minorities of James II. and James III.; and, whilst speaking on this subject, I may note a somewhat remarkable coincidence. When King Arthur, as related in Book I., asks the meaning of his dream, he is told that it signifies that “they in whom he most trusts will fail him” (l. 499); and he afterwards laments (l. 1151) how his “men fail him at need.” Now when we read that a story is current of a prophetess having told James III. that he was destined to “fall by the hands of his own kindred,”7 and that that monarch was in the habit of consulting astrologers8 (compare l. 432) as to the dangers that threatened him, it seems quite possible that the poem was really composed about the year 1478; and this supposition is consistent with the fact that the hand-writing of the present MS. copy belongs to the very end of the fifteenth century.

Towards the end of the Second Book, we learn that the twelvemonth’s truce draws near its end, and that Sir Lancelot again obtains permission from the lady to be present in the approaching combat, choosing this time to be arrayed in “armys al of blak” (l. 2426).

xiii

In the Third Book Galiot returns to the fight with a host thrice as large as his former one. As before, Gawain distinguishes himself in the first encounter, but is at length so “evil wounded” that he was “the worse thereof evermore” (l. 2706). In the second combat, the black knight utterly eclipses the red knight, and the last thousand (extant) lines of the poem are almost wholly occupied with a description of his wonderful prowess. At the point where the extant portion of the poem ceases, the author would appear to be just warming with his subject, and to be preparing for greater efforts.

In continuance of the outline of the story, I may add that the French text9 informs us how, after being several times remounted by Galiot, and finding himself with every fresh horse quite as fresh as he was at the beginning of the battle, the black knight attempted, as evening fell, to make his way back to Melyhalt secretly. Galiot, however, having determined not to lose sight of him, follows and confronts him, and earnestly requests his company to supper, and that he will lodge in his tent that night. After a little hesitation, Lancelot accepts the invitation, and Galiot entertains him with the utmost respect and flattery, providing for him a most excellent supper and a bed larger than any of the rest. Lancelot, though naturally somewhat wearied, passes a rather restless night, and talks a good deal in his sleep. Next day Galiot prays him to stay longer, and he consents on condition that a boon may be granted him, which is immediately acceded to without further question. He then requests Galiot to submit himself to Arthur, and to confess himself vanquished, a demand which so amazes that chieftain that he at first refuses, yet succeeds in persuading Lancelot to remain with him a little longer. The day after, preparations are made for another battle, on which occasion Lancelot wears Galiot’s armour, and is at first mistaken for him, till Sir Gawain’s acute vision detects that the armour xiv really encases the black knight. As Lancelot now fights on Galiot’s side, it may easily be imagined how utter and complete is the defeat of Arthur’s army, which was before victorious owing to his aid only; and we are told that Arthur is ready to kill himself out of pure grief and chagrin, whilst Sir Gawain swoons so repeatedly, for the same reason, as to cause the most serious fears to be entertained for his life. At this sorrowful juncture Lancelot again claims his boon of Galiot, who, in the very moment of victory, determines at last to grant it, and most humbly sues for mercy at the hands of Arthur, to that king’s most intense astonishment. By this very unexpected turn of affairs, the scene of dolour is changed to one of unalloyed joy, and peace is immediately agreed upon, to the satisfaction of all but some true-bred warriors, who preferred a battle to a peace under all circumstances. Not long after, Galiot discovers Lancelot with eyes red and swollen with much weeping, and endeavours to ascertain the reason of his grief, but with small success. After endeavouring to comfort Lancelot as much as possible, Galiot goes to visit King Arthur, and a rather long conference takes place between them as they stand at Sir Gawain’s bedside, the queen being also present. In the course of it, Galiot asks Arthur what price he would pay to have the black knight’s perpetual friendship; to which Arthur replies, he would gladly share with him half of everything that he possessed, saving only Queen Guinevere. The question is then put to Gawain, who replies that, if only his health might be restored, he would wish to be the most beautiful woman in the world, so as to be always beloved by the knight. Next it is put to Guinevere, who remarks that Sir Gawain has anticipated all that a lady could possibly wish, an answer which is received with much laughter. Lastly, Arthur puts the question to Galiot himself, who declares that he would willingly, for the black knight’s sake, suffer that all his honour should be turned into shame, whereat Sir Gawain allows himself xv to be outbidden. The queen then obtains a brief private conference with Galiot, and prays him to obtain for her an interview with the black knight, who promises to do what he can to that end. He accordingly sounds the black knight upon the subject, and, finding him entirely of the same mind, does all he can to promote their acquaintance, and is at last only too successful; and at this point we may suppose the Scottish Romance to have stopped, if indeed it was ever completed. For some account of the Romance of Lancelot, I may refer the reader to Professor Morley’s English Writers, vol. i., pp. 568-570, and 573; to “Les Romans de la Table Ronde,” par M. Paulin Paris; and to the Prefaces to the “Seynt Graal,” edited by Mr Furnivall for the Roxburghe Club, 1861, and “La Queste del Saint Graal,” also edited by the same for the same club in 1864. In the last-named volume short specimens are given from thirteen MSS. at Paris, ten of which contain the Romance of Lancelot. There are also manuscript copies of it in the British Museum, viz., MSS. Harl. 6341 and 6342, Lansdowne 757, and MS. Addit. 10293.

III.—THE DIALECT OF THE POEM.

In coming to discuss the dialect, we find everywhere traces of considerable confusion; but it is not at all easy to assign a satisfactory reason for this.10 Certain errors of transcription soon shew that the scribe had before his eyes an older copy, which he mis-read. Thus, in l. 433, we find “set,” where the older copy must have had “fet,” and which he must have mis-read as “ſet;” and again, in lines 2865, 2883, he has, by a similar confusion between “f” and “ſ,” written “firſt” instead of “fift.” It is most probable that the older copy was xvi written in the Lowland Scottish dialect (the whole tone of the poem going to prove this), as shewn by the use of ch for gh, as in bricht for bright, (unless this be wholly due to the scribe); by the occurrence of plurals in -is, of verbal preterites and passive participles in -it, and of words peculiarly Scottish, such as syne (afterwards), anerly (only), laif (remainder), oft-syss (oft-times), etc. Moreover, the Northern r is clearly indicated by the occurrence of such dissyllables as gar-t, 2777, lar-g, 2845, fir-st, 2958, 3075; with which compare the significant spellings harrmful, 1945, and furrde, 2583. But, on the other hand, it would appear as if either the author or the copyist had no great regard for pure dialect, and continually introduces Southern and Midland forms, mixing them together in an indiscriminate and very unusual manner. We find, for example, in line 1765,

“Beith larg and iffis frely of thi thing,”

the Scottish form iffis (give) and the Southern beith in close conjunction; and we find no less than six or seven forms of the plural of the past tense of the verb “to be;” as, for example, war (3136), veir (818), ware (825), waren (3301), veryng (2971), waryng (443), etc. If we could suppose that the scribe was not himself a Scotchman, we might in some measure account for such a result; but the supposition is altogether untenable, as the peculiar character of the handwriting (resembling that found, not in English, but in French MSS.) decides it to be certainly Scottish; as is also evident from the occurrence, in the same hand-writing, of a Scotticised version of Chaucer’s “Flee from the press.”

The best that can be done is to collect a few instances of peculiarities.

1. The broad Northumbrian forms a, ane, baith, fra, ga, haill, hame, knaw, law, sa, wat, although occasionally retained, are also at times changed into o, one, boith, fro, go, holl, hom, know, xvii low, so, and wot. Thus, at the end of l. 3246, we find haill, which could not have been altered without destroying the rime; but in l. 3078, we find it changed, in the middle of the line, into holl. In l. 3406, we find sa, but only three lines further on we find so twice.

So, too, we not only find tane (taken), gais (goes), but also the forms tone and goß. See lines 1071, 1073.

2. The true plural form of the verb is shewn by lines 203, 204,

“Of quhois fame and worschipful dedis

Clerkis into diuerß bukis redis,”

where alteration would have ruined the rime utterly; and the same termination (-is) is correctly used in the imperative mood, as,

——“ſo giffis ws delay” (l. 463);

“And of thi wordis beis trew and stable” (l. 1671);

but the termination -ith is continually finding its way into the poem, even as early as in the fourth line,

“Uprisith arly in his fyre chare;”

and in the imperative mood also, as,

“Remembrith now it stondith one the poynt” (l. 797).

The most singular point of all, however, is this—that, not content with changing -is into -ith in the 3rd person singular, the scribe has done the same even in the 2nd person, thus producing words which belong to no pure example of any distinct dialect. Observe the following lines:—

“O woful wrech, that levis in to were!

To schew the thus the god of loue me sent,

That of thi seruice no thing is content,

For in his court yhoue [= thou] lewith in disspar,

And vilfully sustenis al thi care,

And schapith no thinge of thine awn remede,

Bot clepith ay and cryith apone dede,” etc. (ll. 84-90).

Here levis is altered into lewith, not only unnecessarily, but quite wrongly. For similar mistakes, see ll. 1019, 1369, 1384, xviii 2203. For examples of correct usage, see ll. 1024, 1337, 1796, 2200, 2201.

3. But the terminations which are used in the most confused manner of all are -en, -yne, and -ing or -yng. Thus we find the non-Scottish infinitives, telen (494), makine (191); the constant substitution of -ing for -and in the present participle;11 a confusion between the past participial ending -ine (more correctly -yn), and the present ending -and, thus producing such forms as thinkine (34), and besichyne (418); and also a confusion between -ing and the past participial ending -en, as fundyng for funden (465), fallyng for fallen (1217, 1322, 3267), swellyng for swollen (1222), and halding for halden (2259). We even find -ing in the infinitive mood, as in awysing (424), viting (to know, 410), smyting (1326), warnnyng (1035), passing (2148), ſchewing (2736), etc.; and, lastly, it occurs in the plural of the indicative present, instead of the Midland -en; as in passing (1166), biding (2670), and levyng (3304).12

It may safely be concluded, however, that the frequent occurrence of non-Scottish infinitives must not be attributed to the copyist, since they are probably due rather to the author; for in such a line as

“Of his desir to viting the sentens” (l. 410),

the termination -ing is required to complete the rhythm of the line.

In the same way we must account for the presence of the prefix i-, as in the line

“Quharwith that al the gardinge was I-clede” (l. 50).

xix

This prefix never occurs in vernacular Scottish; but we may readily suppose that this and other numerous Southern forms of words are due (as in Gawain Douglas and Lyndesay) to the author’s familiarity with Chaucer’s poems, as evinced by the similarity of the rhythm to Chaucer’s, and by the close resemblance of several passages. Compare, for instance, the first seventy lines of the Prologue with the opening passages of “The Flower and the Leaf,” and “The Complaint of the Black Knight;” and see notes to ll. 432, 1608. Indeed, this seems to be the only satisfactory way of accounting for the various peculiarities with which the poem abounds.

Mr J. A. H. Murray, in his remarks printed in the preface to Mr Lumby’s edition of “Early Scottish Verse,” comes to a similar conclusion, and I here quote his words for the reader’s convenience and information. “There is no reason, however, to suspect the scribe of wilfully altering his original; indeed, the reverse appears manifest, from the fact that the ‘Craft of Deyng’ has not been assimilated in orthography to ‘Ratis Raving,’ but distinctly retains its more archaic character; while in ‘Sir Lancelot,’ edited by Mr Skeat for the Early English Text Society, from the handwriting of the same scribe, we have a language in its continual Anglicisms quite distinct from that of the pieces contained in this volume, of which the Scotch is as pure and unmixed as that of the contemporary Acts of Parliament. With regard to the remarkable transformation which the dialect has undergone in Sir Lancelot, there seems reason, therefore, to suppose that it was not due to the copyist of the present MS., but to a previous writer, if not to the author himself, who perhaps affected southernism, as was done a century later by Lyndesay and Knox, and other adherents of the English party in the Reformation movement. The Southern forms are certainly often shown by the rhyme to be original, and such a form as tone for tane = taken, is more likely to have been that of a Northerner trying to write xx Southern, than of a Southern scribe, who knew that no such word existed in his dialect. The same may be said of the th in the second person singular. A Scotch writer, who observed that Chaucer said he liveth, where he himself said he lyves, might be excused for supposing that he would also have said thou liveth for the Northern thow lyves; but we can hardly fancy a Southern copyist making the blunder.”

4. We find not only the Northumbrian forms sall and suld, but also shall, shalt, and shuld.

5. As regards pronouns, we find the Scottish scho (she) in l. 1169; but the usual form is sche. We find, too, not only the broad forms thai, thair, thaim, but also thei (sometimes the), ther, and them. As examples of forms of the relative pronoun, we may quote who, quho, whois, quhois (whose), quhom, qwhome (whom), quhat, qwhat (what), and whilk, quhilk, quhich, quich, wich (which). Wich is used instead of who (l. 387), and we also find the wich, or the wich that, similarly employed. The nominative who does not perhaps occur as a simple relative, but has the force of whoso, or he who, as e.g., in l. 1102; or else it is used interrogatively, as in l. 1172.

6. Many other peculiarities occur, which it were tedious to discuss fully. It may suffice, perhaps, to note briefly these following. We find both the soft sound ch, as in wich, sich, and the hard sound k, as in whilk, reke (reach), streke (stretch), etc.; which are the true Northern forms.

Mo is used as well as more.

Tho occurs for then in l. 3184; and for the in l. 247.

At occurs as well as that; atte as well as at the, 627, 1055.

The short forms ma (make), ta (take), sent (sendeth), stant (standeth), are sometimes found; the two former being Northumbrian.

Has is used twice as a plural verb (ll. 481, 496).13

xxi

Ȝha (yes) occurs in l. 2843; but we also meet with ȝhis, or yis; with reference to which Mr Morris writes:— “The latter term was not much in favour with the people of the North. Even now yes sounds offensive to a Lancashire man. ‘Hoo cou’d naw opp’n hur meawth t’ sey eigh (yea) or now (no); boh simpurt on sed iss; th’ dickons iss hur on him too. —Tim Bobbin.’” In fact, the distinction between ȝha and ȝhis, which I have pointed out in William of Palerne (Glossary, s.v. ȝis), viz., that ȝha merely assents, whilst ȝhis shews that the speaker has an opinion of his own, is in this poem observed. Thus, in l. 2843, ȝha = “yes, I admit that I do;” but in l. 514, yis = “yes, but you had better do so;” in l. 1397, ȝhis = “yes, indeed I will;” and in l. 3406, ȝis = “yes, but I cannot accept your answer.”14 The true distinction between thou and ye (William of Palerne, Pref. p. xli) is also generally observed. Thus the Green Bird, in the Prologue, considers the poet to be a fool, and calls him thou; but the clerks, in addressing Arthur (l. 498) politely say ye. And again, Amytans, when rebuking Arthur, frequently calls him thou, without any ceremony. Cf. ll. 659, 908, 921, 2839, &c.

As regards the vocabulary, we find that some Northumbrian terms have been employed, but others thrown aside. Thus, while we find the Northumbrian words thir (these), traist (trust), newis (neives, fists), radour (fear), etc., we do not, on the other hand, meet with the usual Scottish word mirk, but observe it to be supplanted by dirk (l. 2471). So, again, eke is used in the sense of also, instead of being a verb, as more usual in Northern works. We may note, too, the occurrence of frome as well as fra, and the Scottish form thyne-furth (thenceforth) in l. 2196.

xxii

The spelling is very various. We find even four forms of one word, as cusynace, cusynece, cusynes, cwsynes; and, as examples of eccentric spelling, may be quoted qsquyaris (squires, l. 3204), whilst in l. 3221 we find sqwar.

Both in the marginal abstract and in the notes I have chiefly aimed at removing minor difficulties by explaining sentences of which the construction is peculiar, and words which are disguised by the spelling. For the explanation of more uncommon words, recourse should be had to the Glossarial Index.

1 The volume contains other poems besides “Sir Lancelot.”

2 See Mr Lumby’s editions of “Early Scottish Verse” and “Ratis Raving,” both edited for the E.E.T.S. from this MS. Only the latter of these is in the hand-writing of V. de F.

3 This refers to the edition printed in 1865. In executing the present reprint, the proof-sheets have been once more compared with the MS., and a very few insignificant errors have been thus detected and rectified.

4 “As to the Romance of Sir Lancelot, our author [Gower], among others on the subject, refers to a volume of which he was the hero; perhaps that of Robert de Borron, altered soon afterwards by Godefroy de Leigny, under the title of Le Roman de la Charrette, and printed, with additions, at Paris by Antony Verard, in the year 1494.

For if thou wilt the bokes rede

Of Launcelot and other mo,

Then might thou seen how it was tho

Of armes,” etc.

(Gower: Confessio Amantis, Book iv.)

Quoted from Warton’s English Poetry, vol. ii., p. 234, ed. 1840. I quote this as bearing somewhat on the subject, though it should be observed that Le Roman de la Charrette is not the same with Lancelot du Lac, but only a romance of the same class. Chaucer also refers to Lancelot in his Nonnes Prestes Tale, l. 392; and it is mentioned in the famous lines of Dante (Inf. v. 127)—

“Noi leggevamo un giorno per diletto

Di Lancilotto, come amor lo strinse,” &c.

5 He does not necessarily imply that the poet invoked was still alive; and we might almost suppose Petrarch to be meant, who was more proud of his Latin poem called “Africa” than of his odes and sonnets. See Hallam’s Literary History (4 vols.), vol. i., p. 85. But this is pure conjecture.

6 But the French has “Cardueil.” See l. 2153.

7 Tytler’s History of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1841), vol. iv., p. 216.

8 The French text does not say anything about “astronomy.” We may especially note the following lines, as not being in the French, viz., lines 1473-1496, 1523-1542, 1599-1644, 1658-1680, and the long passage 1752-1998.

9 See Appendix.

10 For many valuable remarks upon the dialect of the poem I am indebted to Mr R. Morris.

11 We find the true forms occasionally, as obeisand (641), plesand (1731), thinkand (2173), prekand (3089), and fechtand (3127). Compare the form seruand (122).

12 “The Scottish pronunciation of -ing was already, as it still is, -een; and the writer, knowing that the correct spelling of dwellin, for example, was dwelling, fancied also that fallen, halden (Sc. fallyn, haldyn) were fallyng, haldyng. Lyndesay and Gawain Douglas often do the same. Compare gardinge (l. 50), laiting (l. 327).” —J. A. H. Murray.

13 “The plural in Scottish always ends in -s after a noun or when the verb is separated from its pronoun; we still say the men hes, the bairns sings, them ’at cums, not have, sing, come. Notice the frequent use of th for t, as in l. 497, Presumyth = presumit, presumed, it being presumed.” —J. A. H. Murray. [Or, presumyth may be the pl. imperative, as in Remembrith (l. 797), already noticed. —Ed.]

14 “This ȝis is the common form in the Scottish writers, though ay is largely the modern vernacular.” —J. A. H. Murray.

xxiii

APPENDIX.

EXTRACTS FROM THE FRENCH ROMANCE
OF “LANCELOT DU LAC.”

As it seems impossible to do justice to the story of Lancelot without giving due attention to the famous French Romance, and since a portion of the French text is really necessary to complete even that fragment of it which the Scottish author proposed to write, the following extracts have been made with the view of shewing (1) the general outline of the earlier part of the story, (2) the method in which the Scottish author has expanded or altered his original, and (3) the completion of the story of the wars between Arthur and Galiot.1

I. Headings of the chapters of the French Romance, from its commencement to the end of the wars with Galiot.

[The commas are inserted by the present editor, and the expansions marked by italics.]

¶ Cy commence la table du premier volume de la table ronde lancelot du lac.

Claudas, king of Scotland, deprives king Ban and king Boort of their lands.

¶ Comment apres la mort de vterpandragon roy du royaulme de logres, & apres la mort aramon, roy de la petite bretaigne, le roy claudas de la terre Descosse mena guerre contre le roy ban de benoic et le roy boort de gauues tant quil les desherita2 de leurs terres. Fueillet. i.

xxiv

Claudas besieges Ban in the Castle of Trible.

¶ Comment le roy claudas assiegea le chasteau de trible auquel estoit le roy ban de benoic, et comment ilz parlementerent ensemble. f. i.

King Ban, his wife, and his son Lancelot repair to the court of Arthur.

¶ Comment le roy ban de benoic, accompaigne de sa femme et de son filz lancelot, auecques vng seul escuyer, se partirent du chasteau de trible pour aller querir secours deuers le roy Artus a la grant bretaigne. Fueillet ii.

The Castle of Trible is treacherously given up to Claudas.

¶ Comment apres ce que le roy ban fut party de son chasteau de trible, le seneschal a qui il auoit baille la garde trahit ledit chasteau, et le liura es mains du roy claudas. Fueillet. ii.

King Ban dies of grief, and Lancelot is taken away by the lady of the lake.

¶ Comment le roy ban mourut de dueil quant il veit son chasteau ardoir et brouyr. Et comment la dame du lac emporta son filz lancelot.3 Fueillet. iiii.

¶ Comment la royne helaine, apres que le roy fut mort et elle eut perdu son filz, se rendit nonnain en labbaye du monstier royal. Fueillet. v.

The two sisters, widows of kings Ban and Boort, retreat to a monastery.

¶ Comment le roy de gauues mourut | & comment la Royne sa femme, pour paour de claudas, sen partit de son chasteau pour aller au monstier royal, ou sa seur estait rendue, et comment ses enfans Lyonnel et Boort luy furent ostez. Fueillet vi.

¶ Comment la royne de Gauues, apres que son seigneur fut mort et que elle eut perdu ses deux enfans, se vint rendre au monastere ou estoit sa seur la royne de benoic. Fueillet vi.

Merlin’s love for the lady of the lake.

¶ Comment merlin fut engendre du dyable: Et comment il fut amoureux de la dame du lac. Fueillet vii.

Sir Farien secretly nourishes the two sons of king Boort, and is made seneschal to king Claudas.

¶ Comment le cheualier farien, qui auoit tollu a la royne de Gauues ses deux enfans, les emporta en sa maison | et les feist nourrir vne espace de temps. Et comment le roy claudas fut amoureux de la femme du dict Farien | et pource le fist son seneschal. Fueillet viii.

Claudas accuses Sir Farien of treason.

¶ Comment le roy claudas fist appeller son cheualier farien de trahison par ladmonnestement de sa femme, disant quil gardoit les deux enfans du roy boort de gauues. Fueillet. viii.

Claudas, in disguise, visits Arthur’s court.

¶ comment le roy claudas en maniere de cheualier estrange, se partit du royaulme de gauues pour aller en la grant bretaigne a la court du roy artus pour veoir sa puissance & son gouuernement. Fueillet x.

The lady of the lake informs Lancelot that he is a king’s son.

¶ Comment la dame du lac bailla a lancelot vng maistre pour linstruyre comme il appartenoit a filz de roy. Fueillet xii.

¶ Comment la royne helaine alloit faire chascun iour xxv son dueil au lieu ou son seigneur mourut | et de la alloit au lac ou elle perdit son filz. Fueillet xv.

¶ Comment le bon Religieux qui auoit dit nouuelles a la royne helaine de son filz lancelot, print conge de elle, et sen vint au roy artus en la grant bretaigne. Fueillet xvi.

The lady of the lake seeks to deliver the sons of king Boort.

¶ Comment la dame du lac enuoya sa damoyselle a la court du roy claudas, pour delyurer les deux enfans au roy boort que claudas tenoit en prison. Fueillet xvii.

¶ Comment farien, seneschal du roy claudas par le commandement de son seigneur, alla querir en prison les deux filz au roy de Gauues. Fueillet xviii.

Lyonnel and Boort wound king Claudas, and slay his son Dorin.

¶ Comment les deux enfans au roy de gauues blecerent le roy claudas, & occirent dorin son filz | et comment la damoyselle du lac les emmena en semblance de deux leuriers. fueil. xix.

¶ De la grant ioye et du grant honneur que la dame du lac fist aux deux enfans quant elle les veit en sa maison. Fueillet xx.

Claudas bewails his son’s death.

¶ Comment le roy claudas mena tres grant dueil pour la mort de dorin son filz que boort auoit occis. Fueillet xx.

¶ Comment farien et le peuple de la cyte de gauues sesmeurent contre le roy claudas a cause que il vouloit faire mourir les deux filz au roy boort de gauues. Fueillet. xxi.

Farien saves Claudas’ life.

¶ Comment le roy claudas se partit de gauues | et comment ceulx dudit lieu le vouloient occire, se neust este farien le bon cheualier. f. xxiii.

¶ Comment le roy claudas se deffendit vaillamment contre ceulx de Gauues qui le vouloyent occire. Fueillet. xxv.

¶ Comment lyonnel et boort perdirent le boire et le manger pource quilz ne scauoyent nouuelles de leur maistres | lesquelz estoyent demourez auec le roy claudas | & comment la dame du lac enuoya vne sienne damoyselle a gauues pour les amener. Fueillet. xxvii.

Leonce and Lambegues go to seek Lyonnel and Boort.

¶ Comment, par le conseil des barons de gauues: leonce & lambegues sen allerent auecques la damoyselle pour veoir leurs seigneurs lyonnel et boort. Fueillet xxviii.

¶ Comment la dame du lac sen retourna apres ce quelle eut monstre a leonce et a lambegues les enfans du roy de gauues leurs seigneurs, et comment lesditz cheualiers sen retournerent a gauues. Fueillet xxx.

Claudas meditates revenge.

¶ Comment le roy claudas retourna a gauues, pour soy venger de la honte quon luy auoit faicte, et pour la mort de son filz. Fueil. xxxi.

xxvi

¶ Comment lappointement fut fait entre le roy claudas et les barons, par le moyen de farien et lambegues son nepueu. fueillet. xxxiii.

Death of Farien.

¶ Comment farien | sa femme, et son nepueu lambegues sen partirent pour aller veoir lyonnel et boort, qui estoyent au lac | & comment farien mourut. Fueillet xxxv.

The widow of king Boort sees her children and Lancelot in a vision, and dies.

¶ Comment les deux roynes menerent saincte vie au monstier royal | et comment celle de gauues veit ces deux enfans & lancelot en aduision | et comment elle trespassa de ce siecle. Fueillet. xxxv.

Arthur holds a tournament, and Banin, son of king Ban, is the victor.

¶ Comment le roy artus assembla le iour de pasques tous ses barons, & tint grant court a karahes, et comment banin le filleul au Roy ban emporta le pris du behourdys celluy iour. Fueillet. xxxvi.

The lady of the lake sends Lancelot to Arthur to be knighted, and provides for him white armour.

¶ Comment la dame du lac se pourpensa de mener lancelot au roy artus pour le faire cheualier,4 et elle luy bailla armes blanches, et partit du lac a tout quarante cheualliers pour le conuoyer. Fueillet xxxvii.

Of the wounded knight who came to Arthur’s court.

¶ Comment vng cheuallier naure, lequel auoit vne espee fichee en la teste et deux troncons de lance parmy le corps,5 vint a la court du roy artus | et comment la dame du lac le mena deuant le roy artus, et luy prya quil le fist cheualier. Fueillet xxxix.

Lancelot is knighted.

¶ Comment messire yuain, a qui le roy Artus auoit recommande lancelot, alla faire sa requeste audit roy artus, que le lendemain il fist ledit lancelot cheualier, et comment ledit lancelot defferra le cheualier naure.6 Fueillet. xli.

How the white knight defended the lady of Nohalt,

¶ Comment la dame de noehault7 enuoya deuers le roy artus, luy supplier quil luy enuoyast secours contre le Roy de norhombellande qui luy menoit guerre. Et comment Lancelot requist au roy artus quil luy donnast congie dy aller | & il luy octroya. Fueillet xlii.

and won the battle for her.

¶ Comment le nouueau cheualier aux armes blanches vainquit la bataille pour la dame de noehault. Fueillet xliii.

¶ Comment lancelot apres ce quil se fut party de la dame de noehault, se combatit auec vng cheualier qui lauoit mouille. Fueillet xlv.

How Lancelot conquered the “Sorrowful Castle.”

¶ Comment lancelot conquist vaillamment par sa force et proesse le chasteau de la douloureuse garde que nul aultre ne pouoit conquerre.8 Fueillet xlv.

How Arthur hears of it, and sends Gawain to see if it is true.

¶ Comment les nouuelles vindrent au roy artus que la douloureuse garde estoit conquise par la cheualier xxvii aux armes blanches | Et le roy y enuoya messire gauuain pour en scauoir la verite. Fueillet xlviii.

Gawain is imprisoned, and supposed to be dead.

¶ Comment messire Gauuain fut mys en prison | et comment le roy et la royne entrerent en la premiere porte de la | et la veirent des tumbes ou il y auoit escript que monseigneur gauuain estoit mort, et plusieures aultres cheualiers. Fueillet. xlix.

Lancelot hears of Gawain’s imprisonment,

¶ Comment vne damoyselle de lhostel de la dame du lac feist assauoir au cheuallier blanc que monseigneur gauuain & ses compaignons estoyent emprisonnez par celluy qui auoit este seigneur de la douloureuse garde. Fueillet l.

and delivers him and his companions.

¶ Comment le blanc cheualier se combatit encontre celluy qui auoit este seigneur de la douloureuse garde, qui tenoit en prison messire gauuain et ses compaignons.9 Fueillet. l.

¶ Comment le cheuallier blanc emmena le cheualier conquis en vng hermitaige. et comment ledit cheualier conquis luy rendit audit hermitage gauuain & ses compaignons. f. lii.

Gawain returns to Arthur and his Queen at Douloureuse Garde.

¶ Comment messire gauuain et ses compaignons sen vindrent par deuers le roy artus qui estoit a la douloureuse garde. Et comment le roy et la royne furent ioyeulx quant ilz les virent. Fueillet. liii.

Lancelot hears of the war to come between Arthur and Galiot.

¶ Comment le cheuallier blanc retourna a labbaye ou il auoit laisse ses escuyers | et comment il sceut lassemblee qui deuoit estre entre le roy artus et le roy doultre les marches, & comment il conquist le cheualier qui disoit mieulx aymer le cheualier qui auoit naure que celluy qui lauoit este.10 Fueillet. liiii.

Gawain goes to seek the white knight,

¶ Comment messire gauuain se mist en queste pour trouuer le blanc cheuallier.11 Et comment la meslee dentre les gens au roy des cent cheualiers et les gens de la dame de noehault fut appaisee. Fueillet lv.

who is wounded in the battle against Galiot by the king-of-a-hundred-knights.

¶ Comment le blanc cheualier vainquit lassemble dentre les deux roys | et comment il fut naure du roy des cent cheualiers. Fueillet. lvi.

Arthur and Queen Genure return home.

¶ Comment apres que le cheualier qui auoit gangne le tournoyement dentre le roy doultre les marches sen fut alle, le roy artus & la royne genieure se partirent pour aller en leurs pays. Fueillet lvii.

¶ Comment messire gauuain se combatit a brehain-sans-pitie, et le rua par terre. et comment apres ilz sen allerent a la douloureuse garde: & comment les deux pucelles que messire Gauuain menoit luy furent tollues. Fueillet. lviii.

xxviii

Lancelot ends the adventures of the “Sorrowful Castle.”

¶ Comment lancelot print congie de son mire | et comment il mist a fin les aduentures de la douloureuse garde. Fueillet lx.

Lancelot is again victorious in the combat between Arthur and Galiot.

¶ Comment messire gauuain recouura les deux pucelles qui luy auoyent este tollues, Et comment lancelot vainquit la seconde assemblee dentre le roy artus & le roy doultre les marches. Fueillet lxi.

Gawain returns to Arthur’s court.

¶ Comment messire gauuain retourna a la court du roy artus apres la seconde assemblee dentre le roy artus & le roy doultre les marches, et comment lancelot vainquit le cheualier qui gardoit le gue. Fueillet lxiii.

[Here begins the Scotch Translation.]

Arthur’s evil dreams.

¶ Comment le roy Artus songea plusieurs songes | et apres manda tous les saiges clercs de son royaulme pour en scauoir la signifiance.12 Fueillet lxiiii.

Galiot defies Arthur.

¶ Comment le roy doultre les marches, nomme gallehault, enuoya deffier le roy artus13 | et comment Lancelot occist deux geans empres kamalot.14 Fueillet lxv.

Lancelot is assailed by forty knights, and imprisoned by the lady of Melyhalt.

¶ Comment lancelot occist vng cheualier qui disoit moins aymer le cheualier naure que celluy qui lauoit naure.15 | et comment il fut assailly de .xl. cheualliers, et mys en prison de la dame de mallehault.16 Fueillet lxviii.

Lancelot, released from prison, is again victorious against Galiot.

¶ Comment gallehault assembla au roy artus vng iour durant que lancelot estoit en prison17 | et comment le lendemain lancelot fut deliure de prison18 | et vainquit lassemblee dentre les deux roys.19 Fueillet lxvii.

Arthur is reproved by Amytans, and Galiot proposes a truce for a year.

¶ Comment le roy artus fut reprins de ses vices, et moult bien conseille par vng cheualier qui suruint en son ost20 | Et comment gallehault donna tresues au roy Artus iusques a vng an.21 Fueillet lxix.

Lancelot returns to the lady of Melyhalt.

¶ Comment lancelot, apres ce quil eut vaincu lassemblee, retourna en la prison de la dame de mallehault22 | et comment elle le congneut, a son cheual et par les playes quil auoit, que cestoit celluy qui auoit vaincu lassemblee.23 Fueillet lxxii.

Gawain, with 39 comrades, departs to seek the red knight.

¶ Comment messire gauuain, soy quarantiesme de compaignons, se mist en queste pour trouuer le cheuallier qui auoit porte lescu vermeil a lassemblee dentre le roy artus et Gallehault.24 Fueillet lxxii.

The lady of Melyhalt accepts Lancelot’s ransom.

¶ Comment la dame de mallehault mist a rancon le cheuallier quelle tenoit en prison, et le laissa aller quant elle veit quelle ne peult scauoir son nom.25 fu. lxxiii.

xxix

The truce ended, Galiot again attacks Arthur.

¶ Comment messire gauuain et ses compaignons retournerent de leur queste26 | et comment apres les treues faillies galehault vint assembler contre le roy artus, & tous ses gens en furent moult troublez.27 fu. lxxiiii.

Galiot gains over the black knight.

¶ Comment gallehault suyuit le cheuallier aux noires armes,28 & fist tant par belles parolles quil lemmena en son ost, dont le roy artus et tous ses gens en furent moult troublez. Fueillet lxxviii.

Lancelot induces Galiot to submit to Arthur.

¶ Comment lancelot par sa prouesse conquist tout, et fist tant que gallehault crya mercy au roy artus. fu. lxxix.

The Queen and Lancelot meet.

¶ Comment gallehault fist tant que la royne vit lancelot | & comment ilz se arraisonnerent ensemble. fu. lxxxi.

The Queen knows Lancelot from his adventures that he tells her.

¶ Comment la royne congneut lancelot apres ce quil eut longuement parle a elle, & quil luy eut compte de ses aduentures. & comment la premiere acointance fut faicte entre la royne & lancelot par le moyen de galehault. fu. lxxxii.

Galiot becomes acquainted with the lady of Melyhalt.

¶ Comment la premiere acointance fut faicte de galehault & de la dame de malehault par le moyen de la royne de logres, & comme[nt] lancelot & galehault sen alloyent esbatre & deuiser auecques leurs dames. fu. lxxxiiii.

II. The Chapter of the French romance from which the translator has taken the beginning of his First Book is here given, in order to shew in what manner he has treated his original. It begins at Fol. lxiii. a, col. 1.

Arthur’s evil dreams.

Comment le roy artus songea plusieurs songes, et apres manda tous les sages clercz de son royaulme pour en scauoir la signifiance.

OR dit le compte King Arthur being at Cardueil, que le roy artus auoit longuement seiourne a cardueil. his knights are annoyed at meeting with no adventures. Et pource ny auenoit mie grandement de aduentures, il ennuya moult aux compaignons du Roy de ce quilz auoient si longuement seiourne, & ne veoient riens de ce quilz souloyent veoir. Principallement keu le seneschal en fut trop ennuye Et en parloit moult souuent, et disoyt deuant le roy que trop estoit ce seiour ennuyeulx, & trop auoit dure. Le roy luy demande “Keu | que vouldriez vous que nous feissons?” Sir Kay counsels that they should go to Camelot. “Certes,” fait keu, “ie conseilleroye que nous allissions a kamalot | car la cite est plus aduantureuse xxx que vous ayez | et la nous verrions souuent et orrions choses de merueilles que nous ne voyons pas icy. Nous auons seiourne ia icy plus de deux moys, et oncques ne y veismes gueres de choses aduenir.” The king consents to go; “Or alons donc,” fait le roy, “a Kamalot, puis que vous le conseillez.” but the same night dreams that all his hair falls off, which delays him. Lendemain deust partir le roy | mais la nuyct luy aduint vne merueilleuse aduenture. Il songa que tous les cheueulx de sa teste cheoient, et tous les poilz de sa barbe, dont il fut moult espouente. Et par ce demoura encores en la ville. The third night after he dreams that all his fingers fall off except his thumbs. La tierce nuyt apres il songa que il luy estoit aduis que tous les dois luy cheoient fors les poulces, & lors fut plus esbahy que deuant.

A Lautre nuyct songea Again, that all his toes fall off except his great toes. il que tous les ortelz des piedz luy cheoient fors les poulces. de ce fut si trouble que plus ne peult. The Queen and his chaplain disregard the dreams; “Sire,” fait son chappelain a qui il lauoit dit, “ne vous chaille | car songes ne sont pas a croire;” le roy le dit a la royne, et elle respond tout ainsi que luy auoit fait son chappelain. but Arthur sends for his bishops, archbishops, and their wisest clerks; “En verite,” dist il, “ie ne laisseray pas la chose ainsi” | il fait mander ses euesques et archeuesques quilz soient a luy au .ix iour ensuyuant a kamalot, & quilz amainent auec eulx tous les plus sages clercz quils pourroient auoir et trouuer. whom he imprisons till they shall tell him what the dreams mean. A tant se part de cardueil & sen va par les chasteaulx et par les citez | tant que au neufniesme iour est venu a kamalot, et aussi sont venus les clercz du pays. Il leur demande conseil de son songe, et ilz elisent dix des plus sages: le roy les fist bien enserrer, et dist que iamais nen sortiroient de prison deuant quilz luy auroient dit la signifiance de son songe. After trying for nine days, they fail. Ilz esprouuerent la force de leur science par neuf iours, et puis vindrent au roy, & dirent quilz nauoient riens trouue. “Ainsi maist dieu,” dit le roy, “ia ainsi neschapperez.” They twice obtain a delay of three days. Et ils demandent respit iusques au troisiesme iour ensuyuant, et il leur donne. Les .iii iours passez, ilz reuiennent deuant le roy, et dient que ilz ne peuent riens trouuer | et demandent encores autre delay | et ilz ont. Et de rechief vindrent pour demander aultres troys iours de dilacion, ainsi que le roy auoit songe de tierce nuyt en tierce nuyt. “Or sachez,” fait le roy, “que iamais plus nen aurez.” The king threatens to slay them. Quant vint au tiers iour ilz dirent quilz nauoient rien trouue; “ce ne vault rien,” fait le roy, “ie vous feray tous destruire se vous ne me dictes la verite;” et ils dirent. “Sire nous ne vous en scairions que dire.” Lors se pense le roy quil leur fera paour de mort. Five are to be burnt, and five hung. Il fait fair vng grant feu, & commanda en leurs presences que les .v. y fussent xxxi mis, et que les autres cinq soyent penduz | mais priueement deffent a ses baillifz quilz ne les menassent que iusques a la paour de mourir. The five who are to be hung, having the cords round their necks, offer to speak out. Quant les cinq qui furent menez aux fourches euerent les cordes entour leurs colz, ils eurent paour de mourir, et dirent, que se les aultres cinq le vouloyent dire, ilz le diroyent. La nouuelle vint au .v. que len menoit ardre | et ilz dirent que, se les autres le vouloyent dire, ils le diroyent | They stipulate not to be held as liars if their interpretations fail. ils furent amenez ensemble deuant le roy, et les plus sages dirent | “sire, nous vous dirons ce que nous auons trouue | mais nous ne vouldrions mie que vous nous tenissiez a menteurs se il ne aduenoit | car nous vouldrions bien quil nen fust rien, et voulons, comment quil en aduiengne, que vous nous asseurez que ia mal ne nous en aduiendra;” et il leur promet. The dreams mean that he will lose his land and his honour. Lors dist lung de eulx qui pour tous parla. “Sire, sachez que ceste terre et tout honneur vous conuiendra perdre et ceulx en qui plus vous fiez vous fauldront; telle est la substance et signifiance de voz songes.” Arthur asks if anything can avert such fate. De ceste chose fut le roy moult effraye, “Or me dictes,” fait il, “sil est chose qui men peult garantir.” “Certes,” fait le maistre, “nous auons veu une chose | Mais cest si grande merueille que on ne le pourroyt penser, et ne la vous osons dire.” “Dictes,” fait il, “seurement | car pis ne me pouez vous dire que vous mauez dit.” He is told, “nothing, except the savage lion and the leech without medicine, by help of the counsel of the flower.” “Sire, riens ne vous peult garder de perdre tout honneur terrien fors le lyon sauluaige, et le mire sans medecine, par le conseil de la fleur, & se nous semble estre si grande folie que nous ne losions dire | Car lyon sauluaige ne y peult estre, ne mire sans medecine | ne fleur qui parlast |” le roy est moult entreprins de ceste chose: mais plus en fait belle chiere que le cueur ne luy apporte. Arthur goes to the chase. Ung iour alla le roy chasser au boys bien matin | et mena auec luy messire gauuain, keu le seneschal, et ceulx qui lui pleust. Si laisse icy le compte a parler de luy, et retourne a parler du cheualier dont messire Gauuain aporta le nom en court.

QVant29 le cheuallier Lancelot on his wanderings. qui lassemblee auoyt vaincu se partast de la ou il se combatist a son hoste, il erra toute iour sans autre aduanture trouuer. Il se logea la nuyt chiez une veufue dame a lyssue dune forest a cinq lieues angleches pres de kamelot. He meets an esquire, Le cheualier se leua matin, et erra, luy et ses escuyers et sa damoyselle, tant quil encontra vng escuyer. and asks him, “what news?” “Varlet,” fait il, “scez tu nulles nouuelles?” “Ouy,” fait il, xxxii “The queen,” he says, “is at Camelot.” “ma dame la royne est icy pres a kamalot.” “quelle royne” fait il “Le femme au roy artus,” fait lescuyer. Lancelot goes on till he sees a large house, a lady, and her damsel. Le cheuallier sen part, et cheuauche tant quil treuue vne maison forte, et voit vne dame en son surcot, qui regardoit les prez et la forest | & auoit auec elle vne damoiselle. He regards her fixedly. Le cheuallier se arreste, et regarde la dame moult longuement tant quil oublie tout autre chose. Et maintenant passa vng cheuallier arme de toutes armes, qui luy dist. An armed knight, passing, asks him what he is regarding so closely. “Sire cheualier, que attendez vous?” et celluy ne respond mot | car il ne la pas ouy. Et le cheualier le boutte, et luy demande quil regarde. He replies, that he looks at what pleases him. “Je regarde,” fait il, “ce que me plaist: Et vous nestes mie courtois, qui de mon penser me auez iecte.” The knight asks if he knows who the lady is, “Par la foy que vous deuez o dieu,” fait le cheuallier estrange, “scauez vous bien qui la dame est que vous regardez?” “Je le cuyde bien scauoir,” fait le bon cheualier. “Et qui este elle,” fait lautre. and he replies that he knows it is the queen. “Cest ma dame la royne.” “Si maist dieu, estrangement la congnoissez, deables vous font bien regarder dames.” “Pourquoy,” faict il. “Pource que vous ne me oseriez suyuir par deuant la Royne la ou ie yroye.” “Certes,” faict le bon cheuallier, “se vous osiez aller la ou ie vous oseray suyuir, vous aurez passez de couraige tous les plus grans oseurs qui oncques furent.” A tant sen part le cheualier. Et le bon cheualier va apres. The stranger takes Lancelot home to lodge with him, Et quant ilz ont vne piece alle, lautre luy dist, “vous he[r]bergerez ennuyt auec moy, et le matin ie vous meneray la ou ie vous diz;” et le bon cheuallier luy demande sil conuient ainsi faire. “Oy” | fait il. Et il dist que donc lottroyera il. and he is well entertained. Il geut la nuyt chez le cheualier sur la riuiere de kamalot, et fut moult bien herberge, et sa pucelle | et ses escuyers.

III. Our last extract will shew exactly where the Scottish poem suddenly ceases, and how the story was probably continued. For the latter purpose, four chapters of the French Romance are added beyond the point where the Scotch ends; and it is possible (judging from lines 306-312 of the Prologue) that the author did not intend to go very much further. The passage begins, in the French copy, at Fol. lxxvii. b, col. 1; and, in the Scotch poem, at l. 3427.

Lors descent de son cheual, et la baille au cheualier. Galiot gives Lancelot his own horse, Et celluy si y monte sans arrest. Et gallehault monta sur vng autre, et vient a son conroy | and gives orders to his own men. Si prent auec xxxiii soy les dix mille, et dit quilz voisent assembler deuant; “et vous,” fait il au roy vend, “viendres apres, si ne assemblerez mie si tost comme ceulx cy seront assemblez | mais quant les derrains de ceulx de dela seront venus, vous assemblerez, & moy mesmes vous iray querir.” He commands the trumpets to be sounded. A tant amaine les dix mille pour assembler,30 Et quant il fut entre en la bataille il fist sonner ses busines tant que tout en retentissoit.31 Quant le noir cheuallier les ouyt venir, si luy sembla que grant effort de gens eut la, si se retrait vng pou vers les siens, et les appella entour luy, & leur dist. Lancelot harangues his men. “Seigneurs, vous estes tous amys du roy. Or y perra comment vous le ferez.”32 Sir Yvain comforts Arthur’s soldiers. Et messire yuain, qui les vit venir, dist a ses gens, “Or soyes tous asseurs que nous ne perdrons au iourdhuy par force de gens.”33 Et ce disoit il pource quil cuidoit que les gens gallehault fussent tous venus.34

QVant les .x.m. de gallehault sassemblerent, si fut grande la noise, et moult en abbatent a leur venir | mais quant messire yuain vint, si reconforta moult les gens du roy artus | et tous les fuyans retournent auec luy. Galiot orders charge. Et gallehault sen va arriere a son conroy, et commande quilz cheuauchent fermement | et quilz se frappent es gens du roy artus35 de telle maniere36 que nul dentreulz ne demeure a cheual “Vous estes tous frays. Or y perra comment vous le ferez.” A tant cheuauchent les conroys deuers leurs gens, Car ilz auoyent ia du pire. Galiot’s reserve arriving, his men awhile prevail. Et quant le conroy de Gallehault fut venu, si changa moult laffaire | Car moult y auoyt grant effort de gens. Et fut a leur venue le cheualier noir mis a terre.37 Et aussi les six compaignons qui toute iour auoyent este pres de luy.38 Galiot again remounts Lancelot. Lors vint gallehault, qui le remonta sur le cheual mesmes ou son corps seoit.39 Et si tost comme il fut monte, il sen reuint a la meslee aussi frays comme il auoit le iour este. Et quant il vint aux coups donner, tous ceulx qui le veoyent sen esmerueilloyent, Ainsi dura la bataille iusques a la nuyt. Night arriving, the hosts retreat. Et quant il vint au soir ilz se departirent | et toutesfoys les gens du roy Artus en eurent du meilleur. Lancelot tries to depart unobserved, Le bon cheualier se departit de lost le plus coyement quil peut,40 et sen alla par vng chemin entre les prestz et vng tertre, et cuyda que nul ne le veist | mais Gallehault xxxiv sen print tres bien garde, but is followed by Galiot, et picqua tant son cheual qui luy fut au deuant par vne adresse, et le vint rencontrer au pied du tertre. Si le salue, et dit ‘que dieu le conduit.’ Et celuy le regarde en trauers, et luy a a moult grant peine rendu son salut. “Bel amy,” fait galehault, “qui estes vous?” “Sire,” fait il, “ie suis vng cheualier, ce pouez vous veoir.” who prays him to lodge with him for that night. “Certes,” fait galehault, “cheualier estes vous meilleur qui soit | & vous estes lhomme du monde que plus ie vouldroye honnourer,41 et si vous suis venu prier que vous herbergez ceste nuyt auec moy.” Et il luy dist ainsi comme sil ne lauoit huy veu, “Qui estes vous, sire, qui me auez prie de me he[r]berger?” “Je suis gallehault, le sire de ces gens icy, vers qui vous auez au iourdhuy garanty le royaulme de logres, lequel ie eusse ia conquis se ne fust vostre corps.” “Comment” (fait il) “vous estes ennemy de monseigneur le roy artus, et me priez de herberger? | Lancelot at first refuses, till Galiot agrees to do whatever Lancelot may require of him, Auec vous ne herbergeray ie mie en ce point.” “Haa sire,” faict gallehault, “plus feray ie pour vous, et si nay mye a commencer. Et ie vous prie que vous y herbergiez par tel conuenant que ie feray tout ce que me scaurez requerre.” A tant se arresta le cheuallier, et dist a gallehault; “Sire, vous promettez assez | mais ie ne scay comment il est du rendre” | et gallehault luy dist. and promises to entertain him sumptuously; “Sire, se vous he[r]bergez ennuyt auec moy, ie vous donneray tout ce que vous oserez diuiser de bouche, et bien vous en feray seur,” whereupon they return together to Galiot’s camp. Et lors luy fiance, & apres luy promet bailler bons plaiges; Adonc sen vont tous deux en lost.

¶ Comment gallehault suyuit le cheuallier aux noires armes, et fist tant par belles parolles quil lemmena en son ost, donc le roy artus & tous ses gens en furent moult troublez.

MEssire gauuain Gawain, seeing Lancelot with Galiot, auoyt veu aller le cheuallier au noir escu, & le eust voulentiers suiuy sil eust peu monter a cheual. tells the Queen that now they are all lost; Lors regarde contre val la riuiere, et voit gallehault et le cheuallier noir qui retournoyent pour venir a lost, et dist a la royne, “Haa dame, or pouons nous bien dire que nous sommes gens perdus | regardez que gallehault a conquis par scauoir,” Et elle regarde, & voyt que cest le cheuallier noir que gallehault emmaine; si en est tant iree quelle ne peut dire mot. and swoons away more than three times. Et messire gauuain se pasme en pou dheure plus de trois fois. Le roi artus vint leans | et ouyt le cry que chascun disoit, “il est mort, il est mort.” Si vint a luy, et lembrassa, et commenca a plorer moult tendrement. xxxv Et reuient monseigneur Gauuain de pasmoison; He tells Arthur that his time of misfortune is come; Et quant il veit le roy artus, il commence a le blasmer, et dit. “Ores est venu le terme que les clercz vous disrent. for their protector is lost. Regardez le tresor que vous auez huy perdu. celluy vous toldra terre qui toute iour la vous a garantie par son corps, et se vous fussiez preudhomme vous leussiez retenu, ainsi comme a fait le plus preudhomme qui viue, qui par cy deuant lemmaine.” Arthur also sees Galiot, and is deeply grieved, but tries to comfort his nephew. Lors voit le roy gallehault, qui emmenoit le cheuallier, dont il a tel dueil que a pou quil ne est cheut | mais de plorer ne se peut tenir, et toutesfois faict il la plus belle chere quil peut pour son nepueu reconforter. Et si tost que il vit en la salle, il fist grant dueil | aussi fist chascun preudhomme.

TAnt sont allez Galiot and Lancelot arrive at Galiot’s camp, gallehault et le cheualier quilz sont venus empres lost, Adonc luy dist le cheualier, and Lancelot asks to speak with the two men whom Galiot most trusts. “Sire, ains que ie entre dedans vostre ost, faictes moi parler aux deux plus preudhommes que vous ayez et esquelz vous fiez le plus.” Et gallehault lottroye. Lors sen va en son tref, et prent deux des hommes du monde ou plus il se fie, et leur dist, “Venez auec moy et vous verrez le plus riche homme du monde.” “Comment,” font ilz, “nestes vous mie le plus riche qui soit au monde?” Galiot takes him to the “first-conquest” king and the king of a hundred knights, and “Nenny,” dist il | “mais ie le seray ains que ie dorme.” Ces deux estoyent le roy premier conquis | et le roi des cent cheualliers. Quant ilz virent le cheuallier, si lui firent moult grant ioye | Car ilz le congneurent bien par ses armes. Et le cheuallier leur demanda qui ilz estoient | et ilz se nommerent sicomme vous auez ouy | et il leur dist. “Seigneurs, vostre sire vous faict moult grant honneur | Car il dit que vous estes les deux hommes du monde que plus il ayme, et entre luy et moy a vne conuenance que ie vueil que vous oyez | Car il ma fiance que pour en nuyt herberger auec luy me donnera ce que ie luy vouldray demander.” Lancelot repeats to them his compact with Galiot, Et gallehault dist | “vous dictes verite.” “Sire,” faict le cheuallier, “ie vueil encores auoir la seurte de ses hommes.” Et gallehault dist, “Dictes moy comment.” and takes their pledge that they will forsake Galiot if he breaks his agreement, and will go with himself (Lancelot). “Ilz me fianceront,” fait le cheuallier, “que se vous me faillez de conuenant, ilz vous guerpiront et sen viendront auec moy la ou ie diray,” Et gallehault dit que ainsi le veult | et il le fait fiancer. Lors appella gallehault le roy premier conquis a vne part, et luy dist. “Allez auant & dictes a mes barons quilz assemblent maintenant a monstre si honnorablement comme ilz pourront, et gardez que en mon tref soient tous les deduys que len pourra trouuer en xxxvi tout lost.” Galiot orders all kinds of entertainments to be brought to his tent. Lors sen va celluy au ferir des esperons, & fist le commandement de son seigneur. Et gallehault tient le cheualier aux parolles, luy & son seneschal, tant que le commandement fust fait. Twenty-eight kings, beside dukes and counts, come to the feast, and honour Lancelot as the flower of the knighthood of the world. Si ne demoura gueres que encontre eulx vindrent deux cens barons qui tous estoient hommes de gallehault, .xxviii. roys, et les autres estoient ducz et contes; la fut le cheuallier tellement honnoure que oncques si grant feste ne fut pour vng homme mescongneu comme len fit pour luy a celle fois | et disoient grans & petis, “Bien viengnez, la fleur de la cheualerie du monde” | et il en auoit grant honte. Ainsi vindrent iusques au tref de gallehault, si ne pourroient estre comtez les deduys et les instrumens qui leans estoient. Lancelot is richly attired, and nobly served. A telle ioye fut receu, et quant il fut desarme, gallehault luy fit apporter vne robe moult riche, et il la vestit. quant le manger fut prest, ilz se assirent a table, et furent noblement seruis, et le cheualier fut moult honnoure.

APres manger After supper four beds are prepared, one larger than the rest, for Lancelot. commanda gallehault a faire quatre litz desquelz lung estoit plus grant que les aultres. Quant les litz furent si richement atournez, gallehault maine le cheuallier coucher. Et dist. “Sire, vous gerrez icy;” “Et qui gerra de la?” fait le cheualier. “Quattre sergens,” faict gallehault, “qui vous seruiront | Et ie iray en vne chambre par dela, affin que vous soyez icy plus en paix.” “Haa, Sire, pour dieu,” faict il, “ne me faictes gesir plus ayse que ces aultres cheualiers | car tant ne me deuez a vilennir.” “Nayez garde,” faict galehault, “Car ia pour chose que vous faciez pour moi vous ne serez tenu a villain.” Galiot awhile departs, and Lancelot falls asleep. A tant sen part gallehault. Et le cheuallier commence a penser au grant honneur que gallehault luy faisoit. Si lenprise moult | puis se coucha, et tantost il sendormit | car moult estoit las; Galiot then returns, and lies near Lancelot, Et quant gallehault sceut quil fut endormy, le plus coyement quil peut se coucha en vng autre lit empres luy | et es deux aultres litz se coucherent deux cheualiers, et nestoyent en la chambre que eulx quatre, sans plus. and hears how his guest murmurs in his sleep. La nuyt se plaint moult le cheualier en son dormant, et gallehault loit bien, car il ne dormoit gueres. Ains pensa toute la nuyt a le retenir. Next day they go to hear mass, Lendemain le cheualier se leua et alla ouyr messe; et ia estoit gallehault leue | car il ne voulut mie que le cheualier laperceust. and Lancelot then demands his arms, wishing to depart. Quant ilz vindrent du monstier, le cheualier demanda ses armes, & gallehault demande pourquoy. Et il dist quil sen vouloit aller. Et gallehault luy dist. “Beau doulx amy, demourez | et ne cuydez mye que ie vous vueille deceuoir. Car vous xxxvii noserez ia riens demander que vous nayez. Et sachez que vous pourriez bien auoir compagnie de plus riche homme que ie suis | mais vous ne laurez iamais a homme qui plus vous ayme.” “Sire,” faict le cheuallier, “ie demoureray donc puis quil vous plaist. Galiot induces him to stay, Car meilleure compaignie que la vostre ne pourroye ie mye auoir | Mais ie vous diray presentement le don pourquoy ie demoureray auec vous | et se ie ne lay, ie ny demoureray ia.” but again promises to do for him whatever he asks. “Sire,” fait gallehault, “dictes seurement et vous laurez, se cest chose que ie puisse acomplir;” Lancelot then demands that Galiot shall submit himself to Arthur. Et le cheuallier appella ses deux plaiges et dist deuant eulx, “Je vous demande,” fait il, “que si tost que vous serez au dessus du roy artus, que vous luy alliez crier mercy si tost comme ie vous en semondray.” Quant gallehault lentent, si en est tout esbahy, et commence a penser. Et les deux roys luy dirent. “A quoy pensez vous icy endroit, de penser nauez mestier | car vous auez tant couru que vous ne pouez retourner.” Galiot is confounded, and ponders, but then grants Lancelot’s request. “Comment,” faict Gallehault, “cuydez vous que ie me vueille repentir | se tout le monde estoit mien si luy oseroye ie bien donner. mais ie pensoye a vng seul mot quil a dit | mais ia dieu ne maist,” dist il, “se vous nauez le don | car ie ne pourroye riens faire pour vous ou ie peusse auoir honte. Mais ie vous prye que ne me tollez vostre compagnie pour la donner a aultruy;” et le cheualier luy creanca. Ainsi demoura | et ilz se asseirent au manger qui estoit appreste. Si font moult grant ioye par tout lost du cheualier qui est demoure. Lancelot remains with him another night. Ainsi passerent celle nuyt. Lendemain gallehault et son compaignon allerent ouyr messe, et gallehault luy deist | “Sire, il est huy iour dassembler; voullez vous armes porter?” “Ouy,” dist il. “donc porterez vous les miennes,” fait gallehault, “pour le commencement.” Et il dist quil les porteroit voulentiers | “mais vous ne porterez armes,” feist il a gallehault, “si non comme mon sergent?” “Non,” dist il. Lors firent apporter les armes, & armerent le cheuallier du fort haulbert, & des chausses qui trop estoyent longues & lees; Next day, the hosts are again armed for battle. Lors se armerent les gens de gallehault. et pareillement les gens du roy Artus, & passerent les lices de telz y eut. Touteffoys le roy auoyt deffendu que nul ne les passast. Si y eut de bonnes ioustes en pou dheure | si se assemblerent tous les ostz deuant la lice, & commencerent a faire armes. Le roy artus estoit a son estandart, et auoit commande que ilz menassent la royne a sauluete se la descomfiture tournoit sur eulx | quant tous les ostz furent assemblez et le bon cheualier fust arme, si cuida xxxviii chascun que ce fust gallehault, & disoyent tous. Lancelot is at first mistaken for Galiot; but is recognized by Gawain. “Voicy gallehault, voicy gallehault” | messire gauuain le congneust bien & dist. “Ce nest mye gallehault | ains est le cheualier aux armes noires, le meilleur cheualier du monde” | Arthur’s men cannot stand against Lancelot. & si tost comme ilz furent assemblez, oncques ne se tint le roy Artus ne ses gens depuis que le cheualier y fut arriue | et trop se desconfortoyent du bon cheualier qui contre eulx estoit, si furent menez iusques a la lice. car trop estoient grans gens auec gallehault. au partir des lices ce tindrent vne piece et souffrirent longuement | mais le souffrit ny peut riens valoir. Grant fut le meschief des gens au roy artus. et dit le compte que le cheualier neust mie moins de peine de tenir les gens de gallehault que ilz ne passassent oultre la lice quil auoit de chasser les gens au roy Artus. Et nompourtant moult les auoit supportez | & il les eut mis oultre a force sil eust voulu | mais il demoura emmy le pas pour les aultres detenir. Lancelot calls upon Galiot to keep his compact. Lors regarda tout entour de luy, et commenca a hucher | “gallehault, gallehault.” et gallehault vient grant alleure, et dist. “bel amy, que voulez vous?” “quoy,” faict il, “ie vueil que mon conuenant me tenez;” “Par ma foy,” fait gallehault, “ie suis tout prest de lacomplir puis quil vous plaist.” Galiot rides forward, and finds Arthur ready to kill himself for grief, the Queen being escorted away by a guard of forty knights, and Gawain wishing to die. Lors picque le cheual des esperons & vient iusques a lestandart ou le roy artus estoit, qui faisoit si tresgrant dueil que a peu quil ne se occioit pource quil estoit desconfit. Si estoit ia la royne montee, et lemmenoyent quarante cheualliers. Et monseigneur gauuain, que on vouloit emporter en lictiere | mais il dit quil aymeroit mieulx mourir en ce point que veoir toute cheualerie morte et honnye: si se pasma tellement que len cuydoit bien que il mourust incontinent.

How Lancelot makes Galiot cry mercy to Arthur.

¶ Comment lancelot par la prouesse conquis tout, et fist tant que galehault cria mercy au roy artus.

QVant le cheualier veit gallehault prest dacomplir son conuenant, il iura bien que oncques si loyal compaignon ne fut trouue. Il en a telle pytie quil en souspire moult fort, & dit entre ses dens. Galiot demands to see King Arthur, “Haa dieu, qui pourra ce desseruir?” & gallehault cheuauche iusques a lestandart et demande le roy artus. Il vient auant moult dolent & esmaye comme celluy qui tout honneur et toute ioye terrienne cuyde auoir perdue; Et quant gallehault le voit, si luy dit. “sire, roy artus, venez auant, & nayez paour | car ie vueil a vous parler.” and, at sight of him, dismounts, kneels to him, et quant le roy louyt, il sesmerueille moult que ce peult estre; Et de si loing comme galehault le voit venir, il descend de son cheual et se agenouille, et dit. and submits himself to him humbly. “Sire, xxxix ie vous viens faire droit de ce que ie vous ay meffait; si men repens, et me metz en vostre mercy.”

QVant le roy lentend, Arthur, overjoyed, praises God. il a merueilleusement grant ioye, et lieue les mains vers le ciel, louant Dieu de ceste aduanture | et se le roy fait bonne chere, encores la faict meilleure Gallehault. et il se lieue de genoulx, & sentrebaisent, en font moult grande chere lung a lautre. lors dist Gallehault | “sire, faictes vostre plaisir de moy | car ie metz en vostre saisine mon corps pour en faire ce que il vous plaira. Galiot, first asking Arthur’s leave, dismisses his troops to their tents. Et sil vous plaist, ie yray retraire mes gens arriere, & puis reuiendray a vous incontinent.” “Allez doncques,” fait le roy | “car ie vueil parler a vous.” A tant sen part gallehault & reuient a ses gens | & les en faict aller. Et le roy enuoya apres la royne, qui sen alloit faisant grand dueil. et les messages cheuauchent tant que ilz lattaingnent | et sont venus a elle, & luy comptent la ioye que aduenue leur est. Et elle ne le peult croire tant quelle voy les enseignes que le roy luy enuoye. tant coururent les nouuelles que monseigneur gauuain le sceut, lequel en eut grant ioye sur tous les aultres, et dist au roy. The Queen and Sir Gawain rejoice greatly. “Sire, comment a ce este?” “Certes, ie ne scay,” fait il: “mais ie croy que telle a este le plaisir de nostre seigneur.” moult est grande la ioye, & moult se esmerueille chascun comment ce peult estre aduenu. Gallehault dist a son compaignon. “que voulez vous que ie face? iay fait vostre commandement; & le roy ma dit que ie retourne | mais ie vous conuoyeray auant iusques a voz tentes.” “Haa sire,” fait le cheualier, “aincoys vous irez au roy & luy porterez le plus grant honneur que vous pourrez. Lancelot prays Galiot not to reveal where he is, and they return to their tents. Et tant auez fait pour moy que ie ne le pourroye desseruir | mais tant vous prye, pour dieu | et pour lamour que vous auez a moy, que nul ne sache ou ie suis” | ainsi sen vont parlant iusques a leurs tentes. chascun scait que la paix est faicte | mais plusieurs en sont dolens | car mieulx aymassent la guerre que la paix. lors sont descenduz les deux compaignons, et si tost quilz furent desarmez, Gallehault print vne de ses meilleures robbes pour aller a la court. et feist cryer par tout son ost que chascun sen allast, fors tant seullement ceulx de son hostel. Galiot commits his guest to the care of the two kings, and departs to speak with Arthur. Apres appella les deux roys, et leur baille son compaignon, & leur commande quilz facent autant de luy comme de son corps mesmes. A tant monte Gallehault, et sen va a la court du roy artus. Et le roy luy vint alencontre, et la royne qui ia estoit retournee, & la dame de malehault auec plusieurs dames & damoyselles. Arthur and Galiot go together to the tower where Gawain lies ill. A tant xl vont en la bretesche ou monseigneur gauuain gisoit malade. et quant il sceut que gallehault venoit, il sefforce de belle chere faire, comme celluy qui oncques mes ne lauoit veu de si pres. Gawain welcomes Galiot. lors luy dist | “bien soyez vous venu comme de celluy dont ie desiroye moult lacointance | car vous estes lhomme du monde qui plus doibt estre prise & ayme a droit de toutes gens. Et ie cuyde que nul ne scait si bien congnoistre preudhomme comme vous & bien y a paru.” Ainsi parle messire gauuain a gallehault, & il luy demande comment il luy est | et Gauuain dist. “Jay este pres de mort. mais la grant amour qui est entre vous & le roy ma guery.” The Queen, the King, and Gawain rejoice at Galiot’s coming, Moult font grant ioye le roy artus & la royne & monseigneur gauuain de la venue de gallehault | et tout le iour ont parle de amour et daccointance. Mais du noir cheualier ne tiennent ilz nulles parolles | ains passent le iour a resiouyr lung lautre tant quil vint au vespre. Lors demande gallehault congie de ses gens aller veoir. but he, soon after, departs to see Lancelot for a short time, promising to return. Et le roy le luy donne | “mais vous reuiendrez,” fait il, “incontinent;” et gallehault le luy octroye | si senreuient a son compaignon & luy demande comment il a depuis fait | et il luy respondit que bien; “Sire,” fait gallehault, “comment feray ie |: le roy ma moult prie que ie retourne a luy, & il me feroit mal de vous laisser en ce point.” Lancelot tells Galiot to do whatever Arthur wishes. “Haa, sire cheualier, pour dieu mercy, vous ferez ce que monseigneur le roy vouldra. car iamais a plus preudhomme que il est ne eustes accointance. Mais ie vueil que vous me donnez vng don.” Et gallehault luy dist. He charges Galiot again not to ask his name, but to tell him about Arthur. “Demandez ce quil vous plaira | car ie ne vous escondiroye iamais;” “Sire,” fait il, “ie vous remercye. Vous me auez donne que vous ne me demanderez mon nom deuant que ie le vous diray.” “Et ie men tiendray a tant puis que vous le voulez,” dit gallehault. “Et ne doubtez pas que ce eust este la premiere chose que ie vous eusse demande, si men tairay a tant.” Lors luy demanda de laccointance du roy artus | mais il ne nomme mie la royne | et gallehault dit que “le roy est moult preudhomme, & moult me poyse que ie ne lay congneu pieca | Car moult en feusse amende | Galiot praises the Queen, mais ma dame la royne est sy vaillante que oncques plus honneste dame ne vey.” et quant le cheualier ouyt parler de la royne, si se embronche et commence a souspirer durement. and Lancelot sheds tears. et gallehault le regarde et se esmerueille moult pource que les larmes luy cheoyent des yeulx, si commence a parler daultre chose.

QVant ilz ont longuement parle ensemble, le cheualier noir luy dist. Lancelot asks Galiot to return to Arthur, and to report to him all the conversation. “Allez, si ferez a monseigneur xli le roy compaignie, et si escoutez sy vouz orrez de moy nulles parolles, & vous me compterez demain ce que vous aurez ouy.” “Voulentiers, sire,” faict gallehault | lors le accolle, et dit aux roys. “Je vous baille en garde cest homme comme le cueur de mon ventre.” Ainsi sen va gallehault & le cheuallier demeure en la garde de deux preu[d]hommes du pays de Gallehault | mais il ne fault mye demander sil fust honnore | car len faisoit assez plus pour luy quil neust voulu. Lancelot sleeps with the two kings in Galiot’s tent; celle nuyt geurent les deux roys au tref gallehault pour lamour du cheualier & luy firent entendant quilz ny coucheroyent mye | & ilz le firent coucher ainsi que Gallehault auoit fait lautre nuyt. but awakes at midnight, and makes a great moaning. Au commencement dormit le cheualier moult fort, et quant vint a mynuit si commenca a soy tourner, et commenca a faire vng dueil si grant que tous ceulz qui entour luy estoyent sen esueillerent. Et en son refrain disoit souuent. “Haa chetif, que pourray ie faire?” Et toute nuyt demena tel deuil. Au matin se leuerent les deux roys le plus coyement quilz peurent | & moult se merueillent quil pouoit auoir. Galiot comes to see after Lancelot, daultre part fut gallehault leue, & vint a son tref veoir son compaignon. Il demande aux deux roys que son compaignon fait. Et ilz luy dient quil auoit toute nuyt mene grant dueil. Lors entre en la chambre ou il estoit, et si tost comme il le ouyt venir il essuye ses yeulx; Adonc gallehault, cuidant que il dormist, saillist dehors de la chambre incontinent; apres le cheualier se leua. finds him with his eyes red and swoln, Et gallehault vit que il auoit les yeulx rouges et enflez. Adonc le prent par la main, et le tyre a part, et luy dist. “Beau doulx compaignon, pourquoy vous occiez vous ainsi? dont vous vient ce dueil que vous auez toute nuyt demene, & le desplaisir que vous auez? and conjures him to tell him what the matter is. Je vous prye pour dieu que vous me diez la cause, et ie vous ayderay se nul homme mortel y peult conseil mettre;” Lancelot cries bitterly, & commence a plourer si durement comme sil veist mort la chose du monde que mieulx aymast. Lors est gallehault moult a malayse et luy dit, “Beau doulx compaignon, dictes moy vostre mescheance | car il nest nul homme au monde, sil vous auoit riens forfait, que ie nen pourchassasse vostre droit.” Et il dist que nul ne luy a riens meffait. “beau doulx amy, pourquoy menez vous doncques si grant dueil? Vous poise il que ie vous ay fait mon maistre & mon compaignon?” and says that it is his heart, which has all the dread that it is possible for mortal heart to have. “Haa,” fait il, “vous auez assez plus fait pour moy que ie ne pourroye desseruir, ne riens du monde ne me met a malaise que mon cueur, qui a toute paour que cueur mortel pourrait xlii auoir. Si doubte moult que vostre grant debonnairete ne me occie.” De ceste chose est gallehault moult a malayse, si reconforte son compaignon. They go to Mass, Apres allerent ouyr masse. and Lancelot declares his belief that the Bread is the Body of Christ. Quant vint que le prestre eut fait trois parties du corps de nostre seigneur, gallehault se trait auant, et tient son compaignon par la main, & luy monstre le corps de nostre seigneur que le prestre tenoit entre ses mains; Puis luy dist. “doncques ne croyez vous pas bien que cest le corps de nostre saulueur?” “Voirement le croy ie bien,” fait le cheualier. Et gallehault luy dist. “beau doulx amy, or ne me mescreez mye que ces trois parties de chair que ie vois en semblance de pain, ia ne feray en ma vie chose que ie cuyde qui vous ennuye: mais toutes les choses que ie scauray qui vous plairont, pourchasseray a mon pouoir.” “sire,” fait il, “grant mercys.” After Mass, Lancelot bids Galiot go again to Arthur. A tant se taisent iusques apres la messe | et lors demanda gallehault a son compaignon quil fera; “Sire,” fait il, “vous ne laisserez mie le roy en ce point | ains yrez luy faire compaignie.” “Sire,” faict il, “grant mercys;” A tant sen part de luy, si le rebaille aux preudhommes de la court du roy artus. si font de luy grant signeurie sicomme ilz peuent.

ET quant vint apres disner, After dinner the King and Queen visit Gawain, and he asks Galiot who made peace between him and Arthur. sy furent le roy & la royne & gallehault appuyez au lict de messire gauuain, tant que messire gauuain dist a gallehault. “Sire, or ne vous poise dune chose que ie vous demanderay.” “Certes,” fait galehault, “non fera il.” “sire, celle paix qui fut entre vous & mon oncle, par qui fut elle, par la chose au monde qui plus vous aymez?” “A knight,” says Galiot. “But what knight?” asks Gawain. “Sire,” fait il, “vous me auez tant coniure que ie le vous diray. Vng cheualier la fist.” “Et qui est le cheualier?” fait messire gauuain. “Si maist dieu,” fait gallehault, “ie ne scay.” “Qui fut celluy aux noires armes?” deist messire gauuain. “Ce fut,” fait il, “vng cheualier;” “Tant,” fait il, “en pouez vous bien dire | mais acquitter vous conuient.” “Je me suis acquite de ce que me coniurastes. Ne plus ne vous en diray ores | ne rien ne vous en eusse ores dit, se vous ne me eussiez coniure.” “The Black Knight,” answers the Queen; “show him to us.” “Par dieu,” faict la royne, “ce fut le cheuallier noir | mais faictes le nous monstrer.” “Qui | moy, dame?” faict gallehault, “ie le vous puys bien monstrer sicomme celluy qui riens nen scait!” “Taisez vous,” fait la royne, “il est demoure auec vous, & hier porta voz armes.” “I cannot,” says Galiot; “he is not from my country;” “Dame,” fait il | “il est vray | mais ie ne le vys oncques puis que ie party du roy a la premiere fois.” “comment,” xliii fait le roy, “ne le cognoissiez vous mye | ie cuydoye que il fust de vostre terre.” “Si maist dieu, non est,” fait gallehault. “certes,” fait le roy, “ne de la myenne non est il mye.” | and Galiot will not disclose the knight’s name, Moult tindrent longuement gallehault a parolle le roy et la royne pour auoir le nom du cheualier | mais plus nen peurent traire. et messire gauuain craint quil ne ennuye a gallehault, si dist au roy. “Or en laissez a tant le parler. certes le cheualier est preudhomme, & pleust a dieu que ie luy ressemblasse.” Moult loe messire gauuain le cheualier. Si en ont la parolle laissee | et gallehault la recommence et dit. but asks Arthur if he ever saw a better knight, and what he would give to know him henceforth. “Sire, veistes vous oncques meilleur cheuallier que celluy au noir escu?” “certes,” fait le roy, “ie ne vy oncques cheualier de qui ie aymasse mieulx laccointance pour cheualerie;” “Non,” | fait gallehault. “Or me dictes,” faict gallehault, “par la foy que vous deuez a ma dame qui cy est, combien vous vouldriez auoir donne pour auoir son accointance a tousioursmais?” “Half of all I have, except my wife,” Says Arthur. “Si maist dieu,” faict il, “ie luy partiroye la moytie de tout ce que ie pourroye auoir, fors seullement de ceste dame.” “Certes,” fait gallehault, “assez y mettriez. “And what would you give, Gawain?” Et vous, messire gauuain, se dieu vous doint sante que tant desirez, quel meschief en feriez vous pour auoir compaignie a si preudhomme?” Et quant messire gauuain lot, si pense vng petit comme celluy qui ne cuyde iamais auoir sante. “I should like to turn woman if he would love me all his life.” “Se dieu me donnoit la sante que ie desire | ie vouldroye orendroit estre vne des plus belles dames du monde, par conuenant quil me aymast tous les iours de sa vie.” “par ma foy,” fait gallehault, “assez y auez mis.” “Et vous, madame, quel meschef feriez vous par conuenant que vng tel cheualier fust tousiours en vostre seruice?” “I can offer no more than Gawain,” says the Queen. “par dieu,” fait elle, “messire gauuain y a mis toutes les offres que dame y peult mettre.” Et monseigneur gauuain & tous aultres se commencerent a rire. “Gallehault,” fait messire gauuain, “qui tous nous auez adiurez par le serment que ie vous coniuray, ores qui vouldriez vous y auoir mys?” “Well,” says Galiot, “I would turn all my honour into shame, for his sake.” “Si maist dieu,” faict gallehault, “ie y vouldroye auoir tourne mon honneur a honte, par tel si que ieusse a tousioursmais vng si bon cheualier en ma compaignie.” “Sy maist dieu,” faict messire gauuain, “plus y auez mys que nous.” So Gawain concludes that it was the Black Knight who brought about the peace. et lors se pensa messire gauuain que cestoit le noir cheualier qui le paix auoit faicte | car pour luy auoit tourne son honneur a honte, quant il veit quil estoyt au dessus. Et le dist gauuain a la royne, & se fut la cause dont gallehault fut plus prise; Moult tindrent longuement parolles du cheualier. xliv The Queen walks away with Galiot, tells him she loves him much, and prays him to let her see the Black Knight. et la royne sadressa, et dist quelle sen voulloit aller vers la bretesche pour veoir les prez, et gallehault la conuoye: si le print la royne par la main & luy dist. “Gallehault, ie vous ayme moult, & il est vray que vous auez le cheualier en vostre baillie, & par aduenture il est tel que ie le congnois bien; si vous prie si cher que vous auez mamour, que vous faciez tant que ie le voye.” “Dame,” fait gallehault, “ie nen ay encores nulle saisine | & ne le vy puis que la paix fut faicte de moy & du roy. He promises to do all he can for her; Et se il estoit or en mon tref, si y conuiendroit il aultre voulente que le vostre & que la mienne. Et bien saichez que tant me auez coniure que ie mettray tout le pouoir que ie pourray. comment vous pourrez parler a luy?” and the Queen says, “I shall be sure to see him if you try, “se vous en faictes vostre pouoir,” fait elle, “ie le verray bien, & ie men attens a vous, et faictes tant que ie soye vostre a tousiours: car cest vng des hommes du monde que ie verroye plus voulentiers.” “Dame,” fait il, “ie en feray mon pouoir.” “Grant mercys,” fait elle. for he is in your custody. Send and get him.” “Or gardez que ie le voye au plus tost que vous pourrez | car il est en vostre baillie, ie le scay bien | et se il est en vostre terre, enuoyez le querre.” Atant sen part gallehault & sen vient au roy. Arthur wishes Galiot’s people and his own to be brought nearer to one another. Et monseigneur gauuain & le roy lui dient. “gallehault, ie suis deliure de mes gens, ores faictes approcher voz gens des nostres, ou ie feray approcher les nostres des vostres | Car nous sommes a priuee mesgnie.” “Sire,” faict gallehault, “ie feray approcher les miens daultre part de cest riuiere si que mon tref sera endroit le vostre, et sera vne nef appareillee en quoy nous passerons dicy la et de la icy.” “Certes,” fait le roy, “moult auez bien dit.”

LOrs sen va Gaillehault en sa tente, Galiot returns to Lancelot, et trouue son compaignon moult pensif. Il luy demande comment il a puis fait; Et il dist, “bien, se paour ne me mestriast.” et gallehault dist, “de quoy auez vous telle paour?” “que ie ne soye congneu,” dist il. “or nen ayez mie paour, car vous ny serez ia congneu, se vostre voulente ne y est;” tells him what the King, Gawain, and the Queen have said of him, Lors luy compte les offres que le roy et messire gauuain ont faict pour luy, et ce que la royne dit | et comment la royne la tenu a grant parlement de le veoir | et comme il luy respondit. “et saichez que elle na de nully si tres grant desir de veoir comme de vous. Et monseigneur la Roy ma prye que ie face mes gens approcher | car nous sommes trop loing lung de lautre. and asks him what answer he shall give the Queen. Or me dictes que vous voulez que je face | car il est en vostre plaisir.” “Je loue que vous facez ce que monseigneur le roy vous prye;” “Et a ma xlv dame que respondray ie, beau doulx amy?” “Certes,” fait il, “ie ne scay.” Lors commence a souspirer. Lancelot sighs, Et gallehault luy deist. “Beau doulx amy, ne vous esmayez point | mais dictes moy comment vous voulez quil soit | car bien saichez quil sera ainsi comme vous vouldrez | et ie aymeroye mieulx estre courrouce a la moytie du monde que a vous tout seul. ores me dictes quil vous en plaist.” and says, “Whatever you advise.” “Sire,” faict ledit cheualier, “ce que vous me louerez | car ie suis en vostre garde desormais.” “There will be no harm in seeing her,” answers Galiot. “Certes,” fait gallehault, “il me semble que pour veoir ma dame la royne il ne vous peult empyrer.” Lancelot says the matter must be managed secretly; and they agree that Galiot shall tell the Queen he has sent to seek for Lancelot. Lors apperceut galehault assez de son penser, & le tient si court quil luy octroye ce quil demande | “mais il conuiendra,” faict il, “que il soyt faict celeement, que nul ne le saiche | fors moy et vous.” Et gallehault dit que il ne se soulcye point. “Or dictes,” (fait le cheualier a gallehault,) “a ma dame que vous me auez enuoye querre.” “Sur moy en laissez le surplus,” dit Gallehault. Lors sen part a tant, et commanda ses trefz a tendre la ou il auoit en conuenant au roy | et son seneschal fist son commandement.

How Guinevere and Lancelot meet and talk.

¶ Comment gallehault fist tant que la royne veit Lancelot, Et comment ilz se araisonnerent ensemble, et parlerent de plusieurs choses.

A Tant sen partit gallehault The Queen asks Galiot what he has done for her. & sen vient au tref du roy, & si tost comme la royne le voit, si luy courut a lencontre, & luy demande comment il auoit exploycte la besongne. “dame,” faict il, “ie en ay fait tant que ie craing que lamour de vostre pryere ne me tolle la chose du monde que ie ayme plus.” “Sy maist dieu,” faict elle, “vous ne perderez riens par moy que ie ne vous rende ou double | mais que y pouez vous,” fait elle, “perdre?” “Celluy mesmes que vous demandez,” fait gallehault | “Car ie doubte quil ne se courrouce, et que ie ne le perde a tousiours.” “Certes,” faict elle, “ce ne pourray ie pas rendre | mais ia par moy ne le perderez, se dieu plaist. Et touteffoys dictes moy quant il viendra” | “Sent to seek for your knight,” says he. “dame,” fait il, “quant il pourra | car ie lay enuoye querre, et croy que il ne demourra mye longuement.” De leur conseil entendit ung peu la dame de mallehault qui sen prenoit garde et nen faisoit mye semblant. Galiot returns to his men, Lors sen partit gallehault et vient a ses gens qui estoyent logez la ou il auoit commande.

QVant il fut descendu, and tells his Seneschal to bring Lancelot when he sends for him. il parla a son Seneschal et luy deist | “quant ie vous enuoyeray querir, venez a moy, vous & mon compaignon en ce lieu la.” xlvi Et le roy des cent cheualiers, qui son seneschal estoit, dist que moult voulentiers feroit son commandement & son plaisir. Galiot then goes back to the Queen, says he thinks she will see her knight that evening, and appoints to meet her in an Orchard below. Lors salua Gallehault son compaignon, et sen retourna a la court. Et quant la royne veit gallehault qui estoit venu, elle luy dist que il gardast bien et loyaulment ce quil luy auoit promis. Et il luy dist | “dame, ie cuyde que vous verrez ennuyt ce que vous auez tant desire.” Quant elle ouyt ce, si en fut moult ioyeuse, et moult luy ennuya ce iour pour sa voulente acomplir du desir que elle auoit de parler a celuy ou toutes ses pensees estoyent. Lors luy deist Gallehault, “nous yrons apres soupper en ce vergier la aual” | et elle luy octroye. After supper the Queen goes to the Orchard, Quant ce vint apres souper, si appelle la royne | la dame de mallehault | et dame Lore de cardueil, une sienne pucelle, et sen vont tout droit la ou gallehault auoyt dit | et gallehault prent ung escuyer et luy dist. and Galiot sends for his Seneschal and the Knight, “Va et dy a mon seneschal que il viengne la ou ie luy commanday.” Et celuy y va. who come. Apres ne demoura guaires que le seneschal y vint, luy et le cheualier. Ilz estoyent tous deux de grant beaulte; Quant ilz approcherent, si congneut la dame de mallehault le cheualier comme celluy que elle auoyt eu maint iour en sa baillie. Et pource quelle ne vouloit mye que il la congneut, se embroncha, et ilz passent oultre. le seneschal les salue. Et gallehault dit a la royne. “Dame, lequel vous semble il que se soit?” | et elle dit. The Queen at first cannot think that either is the black knight, “Certes, ilz sont tous deux beaulx cheualliers | mais ie ne voy corps ou il puisse auoir tant de prouesse que le noir cheualier auoit.” “or saichez, dame, que cest lung de ces deux” | a tant sont venuz auant, et le cheuallier tremble si que a peine peult saluer la royne, & la royne sen esmerueille. but one is so bashful that she fixes on him, lors se agenouillent eulx deux, et le cheualier la salue | mais cest moult pourement | car moult estoit honteux. Lors se pense la royne que cest il. Et gallehault dit au seneschal. “allez, si faictes a ces dames compaignie.” Et celluy fait ce que son sire luy commande. seats him by her, smiles on him, says she has so longed to see him, A doncques la royne prent le cheualier par la main & le assiet iouxte elle. Sy luy fait moult beau semblant & dit en riant. and now he must tell her who he is. “I don’t know,” he answers. “Sire, moult vous auons desire, tant que, dieu mercy et gallehault, vous voyons. et nonpourtant encores ne croy ie mye que ce soit celluy que ie demande | & gallehault ma dit que cestes vous | & encores vouldroye scauoir qui vous estes par vostre bouche mesmes, se vostre plaisir y estoit.” Et celuy dit que il ne scait | et oncques ne la regarda au visaige. Et la royne ce esmerueille que il peult auoir, tant quelle souspeconne une partie de ce quil a. Et gallehault, qui xlvii le voigt si honteux, Galiot leaves the two to themselves, pense quil veult dire a la royne son penser seul a seul. lors sen vient messire gauuain celle part, et fait rasseoir les damoyselles pour ce que leuees sestoient encontre luy. Puis commencent a parler de maintes choses. and the Queen asks the knight, “Are not you he who wore the black armour, and overcame everyone?” Et la Royne dit au cheuallier, “Beau sire, pourquoy vous celez vous de moy? Certes il ne y a cause pourquoy; nestes vous mie celluy qui porta les noires armes, et qui vainquist lassemblee?” “Dame, nenny” | “et nestes vous pas celluy qui porta lendemain les armes a gallehault?” “Dame, ouy;” “Donc estes vous celluy qui vainquistes lassemblee qui fut faicte le premier iour par deuers nous et par42 deuers Gallehault?” “No, I am not,” saith he, “Dame, non suis.” refusing to praise himself. Quant la royne ot ainsi parler le cheualier, a donc appercoit elle bien quil ne veult mie congnoistre quil eust vaincue lassemblee, si len prise mieulx la royne | car quant vng homme se loe luy mesmes, il tourne son honneur a honte | et quant aultruy le loe, adonc il est mieulx prise. “Then who made you a knight, and when?” “Or me dictes,” fait la royne a lancelot | “qui vous fist cheuallier?” “Dame,” fait il, “vous;” “Moy?” fait elle, “Et quant?” “You, at Kamalot, when the pieces of a spear were drawn out of the wounded knight, “Dame,” fait il, “vous remembrez vous point quant vng cheuallier vint a Kamalot, lequel estoyt naure de deux troncons de lance au corps, et dune espee parmy la teste, et que vng varlet vint a court en vng vendredy, et fut cheualier le dymenche, et deffera le cheuallier?” “De ce,” fait elle, “me souient il bien | et se dieu vous aist, feustes vous ce que la dame du lac amena en court vestu dune robe blanche?” “Dame, ouy.” “Et pourquoy dictes vous donc que ie vous fis cheuallier?” “Dame,” fait il, “ie dys vray | Car la coustume est telle que nul ne peut estre cheuallier sans ceindre espee. and you girded on my sword, thus knighting me, Et celluy de qui il tient lespee, le faict cheuallier; de vous la tiens ie. Car le roy ne la me donna onques. Pour ce dis ie que vous me feistes cheualier.” De ce est la royne moult ioyeuse | “ou vous en allastes vous au partir de court?” and I went away to help the Lady of Noehault, and sent you two damsels. “Dame, ie men allay pour secourir la dame de noehault;” “Et durant ce temps me mandastes vous riens?” “Dame, ouy | ie vous enuoyay peux pucelles.” “Il est vray,” dist la royne. “Et quant vous partistes de noehault, trouuastes vous nul cheuallier qui se reclamast de moy?” Then I met a man, who said he was your knight, “Dame, ouy; vng qui gardoit vng gue, et me dist que descendisse de dessus mon cheual et le vouloit auoir, et ie luy demanday a qui il estoit | et il dist a vous. Puis luy demanday apres, qui le commandoyt. Et il me dist quil nauoyt nul commandement que le sien. Et adoncques remys le pied en lestrief et xlviii remontay | and I fought him (for which I crave your pardon). Car ie estoye ia descendu | et luy dis que il ne lauoyt point, et me combatis a luy. Et ie scay bien que ie vous fis oultraige, si vous en crie mercy” | “Certes a moy ne en feistes vous point | Car il nestoyt mye a moy | et luy sceuz mauluais gre de ce quil ce reclama de moy. Mais or me dictes on vous en allastes la?” After that I took the Sorrowful Castle, and there I saw you thrice, “Dame, ie men allay a la douloureuse garde” | “& qui la conquist?” “Dame, ie y entray” | “et ne vous y viz ie oncques.” “Ouy, plus de troys foys.” “Et en quel temps?” fist elle. “Dame,” fist il, “vng iour que ie vous demanday se vous vouliez leans entrer; Et vous deistes ouy | et estiez moult esbahye par semblant.” “Et quel escu portiez vous?” “Dame, ie portay a la premiere foys vng escu blanc a vne bande de belif vermeille. Et lautre foys vng ou il y auoyt deux bendes” | “Et vous vys ie plus?” last when you thought you had lost Gawain and his companions, “Ouy, la nuyt que vous cuidiez auoir perdu messire Gauuain et ses compaignons, et que les gens cryoyent que len me prenist; Je vins hors a tout mon escu a troys bendes.” “Certes,” faict elle, “ce poise moy | car se on vous eust detenu, tous les enchantements feussent demourez | and I helped to deliver him from prison.” Mais or me dictes, fustes vous ce qui iettastes messire Gauain de prison?” “Dame, ie y ayday a mon pouoir.” “Certes,” faict elle, “en toutes les choses que vous me dictes ie nay trouue si non verite. The Queen asks the knight who was in the turret above his room there. Mais or me dictes qui estoit en vne tournelle dessus la chambre monseigneur.” “A damsel whom I never dishonoured, “Dame, cestoyt vne pucelle que ie ne villennay oncques | Car ma dame du lac la me auoyt enuoyee | si me trouua en ceste tournelle | il fut assez qui la honnora pour moy. but I asked her not to leave till she saw my messenger or me, which I then forgot, and kept her there a very long time.” Quant ie ouy nouuelles de monseigneur Gauuain, si en fut moult angoisseux, et men party de la Damoyselle qui auecques moy debuoit venir, et luy priay que elle ne se remuast tant que elle eust mon messaige ou moy. Si fus si surprins de tresgrant affaire que ie loubliay | et elle fut plus loyalle uers moy que ie ne fus courtois vers elle | car oncques ne se remua iusques a ce quelle eut mes enseignes, et ce fut grant piece apres.”

How the Queen knew Lancelot.

Comment la royne congneut Lancelot apres quil eut longuement parle a elle, et quil luy eut compte de ses aduentures. Et comment la premiere acointance fut faicte entre lancelot et la royne genieure par le moyen de gallehault.

QVant la royne eut parle de la damoiselle, When she heard of this damsel the Queen knew it must be Lancelot, si scait bien que cest Lancelot. Si luy enquist de toutes les choses quelle auoit ouy de luy, et de toutes le trouua vray disant; “Or me dictes,” fait elle, “vous vy ie puis?” “Ouy, dame, telle heure que vous me eustes xlix bien mestier | car ieusse este noye a kamalot se ne eussiez vous este.” and asks him if he was the knight whom Daguenet took. He answers “Yes;” and that two rascals killed his horse, and Ywain gave him another. “Comment! feustes vous celluy que daguenet le fol print?” “Dame, prins fus ie sans faulte.” “Et ou alliez vous?” “Dame, ie alloye apres vng cheuallier.” “Et vous combatistes vous a luy” | “dame, ouy.” “Et dillec ou allastes vous?” “Dame, ie trouuay deux grans villains que me occirent mon cheual | mais messire yuain, qui bonne aduenture ayt, men donna vng.” “Ah, then your name is Lancelot,” says she, “Ha, ha,” fait elle, “ie scay bien qui vous estes; Vous auez nom lancelot du lac.” Il se taist. “Par dieu,” faict elle, “pourneant le celez | long temps a que messire Gauuain apporta nouuelles de vostre nom a court;” Lors luy compta comment messire yuain auoit compte que la damoyselle auoit dit | cest la tierce. “Et anten quelles armes portastes vous?” “Vnes vermeilles.” “Par mon chef cest verite. “and for what lady or damsel did you do such feats of arms the day before yesterday?” Et auant hier pourquoy feistes vous tant darmes comme vous feistes?” Et il commenca a souspirer. “Dictes moy seurement | Car ie scay bien que pour aulcune dame ou damoyselle le feistes vous, et me dictes qui elle est, par la foy que vous me deuez.” “For you, Lady; and for you I broke the three lances that your maiden brought me “Haa, dame, ie voy bien quil le me conuient dire, cestes vous.” “Moy?” faict elle. “Voire, dame.” “Pour moy ne rompistes vous pas les troys lances que ma pucelle vous porta?” “Car ie me mis bien hors du mandement, dame; ie fis pour elle ce que ie deuz, et pour vous ce que ie peux.” “Et combien a il que vous me aymez tant?” “Des le iour que ie fus tenu pour cheuallier, et ie ne lestoye mye” | “Par la foy que vous me deuez, dont vindrent ces amours que vous auez en moy mises?” for you had made me your friend, and said I was your knight in all lands, and bid me adieu as your own sweet friend. “dame,” fait il, “vous le me feistes faire qui de moy feistes vostre amy, se vostre bouche ne me a menty.” “Mon amy!” faict elle, “comment?” “Dame,” fait il, “ie vins deuant vous quant ie eu prins congie monseigneur le roy | si vous commanday a dieu, et dis que ie estoye vostre cheuallier en tous lieux. Et vous me dictes que vostre amy et vostre cheuallier voulliez vous que ie feusse. Printed as shown: inner and outer quotes both use double quotation marks. Et ie dys, “a dieu! dame.” Et vous distes “a dieu! mon beau doulx amy!” That word has never left me, but always been my strength and wealth.” Ce fut le mot qui preudhomme me fera, se ie le suis, ne oncques puis ne fus a si grant meschef que il ne men remembrast. Ce mot ma conforte en tous mes ennuys. Cest mot ma de tous maulx guary. Cest mot ma fait riche en mes pouretez;” “Par ma foy,” fait la royne, “ce mot fut en bonne heure dict | et dieu en soyt aoure | ne ie ne le prenoye pas acertes comme vous feistes, et a maint preudhomme ay ie ce dict ou ie ne pensay oncques riens que le dire. “Oh, but that was only an ordinary compliment,” says Guinevere, to tease him. Mais la coustume est l telle des cheualliers que font a mainte dame semblant de telles choses dont a gueres ne leur est au cueur.” Et ce disoit elle pour veoir de combien elle le pourroit mettre en malaise; This grieves Lancelot so that he nearly faints, at which Galiot is greatly grieved, Car elle veoit bien quil ne pretendoit a autre amour que a la sienne | mais elle se delectoyt a sa malaisete veoir, et il eut si grant angoisse que par vng pou quil ne se pasma | & la royne eut paour quil ne cheist, si appella gallehault, et il y vint acourant. Quant il voyt que son compaignon est si courrouce, si en a si grant angoisse que plus ne peut. “Haa, dame,” fait gallehault, “vous le nous pourrez bien tollir, et ce seroit trop grand dommaige.” “Certes, sire, se seroit mon;” tells the Queen that Lancelot is the gallantest and truest of men, “Et ne scauez vous pour qui il a tant fait darmes?” faict gallehault. “Certes, nenny,” faict elle | “mais, se il est veoir ce qui ma este dict, cest pour moy;” “Dame, se maist dieu, bien len pouez croire | car aussi comme il est le plus preudhomme de tous les hommes | aussi est son cueur plus vray que tous aultres.” “Voirement,” fait elle, “diriez vous quil seroit preudhomme se vous scauiez quil a fait darmes puis quil fut cheuallier.” Lors luy compte tout ainsi comment vous auez ouy | “et saichez quil a ce faict seullement pour moy,” fait elle. Lors luy prie gallehault, & dist. and prays her to have mercy on him. “Pour dieu, dame, ayez de luy mercy, et faictes pour moy ainsi comme ie fis pour vous quant vous men priastes.” “What mercy?” says she; “Quelle mercy voulez vous que ien aye?” “Dame, vous scauez que ie vous ayme sur toutes, et il a fait pour vous plus que oncques cheualier ne fist pour dame, et sachez que la paix de moy et de monseigneur neust ia este faicte se neust il este.” “there is nothing he can ask of me that I will not do; but he will not ask.” “Certes,” faict elle, “il a plus faict pour moy que ne pourroye desseruir, ne il ne me pourroyt chose requerre dont ie le peuisse esconduyre | mais il ne me requiert de riens | ains est tant melencolieux que merueilles.” “Dame,” fait gallehault, “auez en mercy; il est celluy qui vous ayme plus que soy mesmes. Si maist dieu, ie ne scauoye riens de sa voulente quant il vint, fors quil doubtoit de estre congneu, ne oncques plus ne men descouurit.” “Je en auray,” fait elle, “telle mercy comme vous vouldrez.” “Dame, vous auez fait ce que ie vous ay requis; aussi doy ie bien faire ce que vous me requerez.” Se dit la royne, “il ne me requiert de riens.” “He does not dare,” answers Galiot, “but I will ask for him.” “Certes, dame,” fait gallehault, “il ne ose | car len ne aymera ia riens par amours que len ne craigne | mais ie vous en prie pour luy, & se ie ne vous en priasse, si le deussiez vous pourchasser. Car plus riche tresor ne pourriez vous conquester.” “Then I will grant it,” says Queen Guinevere. Galiot prays her to give Lancelot her love, and become his loyal lady all her life. “Certes,” li fait elle, “ie le scay bien et ie en feray tout ce que vous commanderez.” “Dame,” fait Gallehault, “grant mercy. Je vous prie que vous luy donnez vostre amour, et le retenez pour vostre cheuallier a tousiours, et deuenez sa loyalle dame toute vostre vie | et vous le aurez fait plus riche que se vous luy auiez donne tout le monde.” She promises to be Lancelot’s, “Certes,” faict elle, “ie luy ottroye que il soyt mien | et moy toute sienne, et que par vous soyent amendez tous les meffaitz.” and that she will do everything she is told. “Dame,” faict Gallehault, “grant mercy. Or conuient il commencement de seruice;” “Vous ne deuiserez riens,” fait la royne, “que ie ne face.” “Then kiss Lancelot before me,” says Galiot. “Dame,” faict il, “grant mercy | donc baisez le deuant moy pour commencement de vrayes amours.” “Du baiser,” faict elle, “ie ne voy ne lieu ne temps | et ne doubtez pas,” faict elle, “que ie ne le voulsisse faire aussi voullentiers quil feroit | mais ces dames sont cy qui moult se merueillent que nous auons tant fait, si ne pourroyt estre que ilz ne le vissent. This Guinevere agrees to do, if Lancelot wishes it. Nompourtant, se il veult, ie le baiseray voullentiers.” Et il en est si ioyeulx que il ne peult respondre si non tant quil dict. “Dame,” faict il, “grant mercy” | Galiot says there is no doubt about Lancelot’s wish; “dame,” faict Gallehault, “de son vouloir nen doubtez ia | Car il est tout vostre, bien le saichez, ne ia nul ne sen apperceuera; Nous troys serons ensemble ainsi comme se nous conseillions” | “Dequoy me feroye ie pryer” | faict elle | “plus le vueil ie que vous.” Lors se trayent a part, et font semblant de conseiller. and as he is bashful, the Queen takes him by the chin, and kisses him before Galiot. (The Lady of Mallehault sees her.) La Royne voyt que le cheuallier nen ose plus faire, si le prent par le menton, et baise deuant Gallehault assez longuement. Et la dame de Mallehauli (sic) sceut de vray que elle le baisoyt. Lors parla la Royne qui moult estoyt sage & vaillant dame. Guinevere tells Lancelot that she is his, but charges him to keep the matter secret, “Beau doulx amy,” faict elle, “tant auez faict que ie suys vostre; Et moult en ay grant ioye. Or gardez que la chose soyt celee. Car mestier en est. Je suys une des Dames du monde dont len a greigneur bien dict, Et se ma renommee empiroyt par vous, il y auroyt layde amour et villaine | and Galiot too. et vous, Gallehault, ie vous prye que mon honneur gardez | Car vous estes le plus saige | Et se mal men venoyt, ce ne seroyt si non par vous; Et se ien ay bien et ioye, vous me lauez donnee.” Galiot promises this, “Dame,” faict Gallehault, “il ne pourroyt vers vous mesprendre, et ien ay bien faict ce que vous me commandastes. Or vous prye que faciez ma voulente ainsi comme iay fait la vostre;” “Dictes,” fait elle, “tout ce quil vous plaira hardyment | car vous ne me scauriez chose commander que ie ne face.” and asks Guinevere to make Lancelot his companion for ever. “Dame,” faict il, “donc mauez vous ottroye que ie lii seray son compaignon a tousiours.” “Certes,” fait elle, “se de ce vous failloit, vous auriez mal employe la peine que vous auez prinse pour luy et pour moy.” She takes Lancelot’s hand, gives him to Galiot, Lors prent le cheuallier par la main, et dict. “Gallehault, ie vous donne ce cheualier a tousiours sans ce que iay auant eu, et vous le me creancez ainsi” | et aussi le cheualier luy creance | and says she has given him Lancelot of the Lake, son of King Ban. “scauez vous,” fait elle, “Gallehault, que ie vous ay donne lancelot du lac, le filz au roy ban de benoic;” Ainsi luy a fait le cheualier congnoistre, qui moult en a grant honte. This gives Galiot more joy than ever he had before, as he had often heard how Lancelot was the gallantest knight in the world. Lors a gallehault greigneure ioye quil neust oncques | car il auoit maintesfois ouy dire, comme parolles vont, que cestoyt le meilleur cheualier et le plus preux du monde, et bien scauoit que le roy ban auoit este moult gentil homme, et moult puissant de amys et de terre.

AInsi fut faicte la premiere acointance de la royne et de lancelot par gallehault | et Gallehault ne lauoit oncques congneu que de veue, et pource luy fait creancer quil ne luy demanderoit son nom tant quil luy dist, ou autre pour luy. Lors se leuerent tous troys, et il anuytoit durement. By the bright moonlight they recross the meads towards Lancelot’s tent, Mais la lune estoyt leuee, si faisoit cler | Si que elle luysoyt par toute la praerie | Lors sen retournerent a vne part contrement les prez droit vers le tref le cheualier, & le seneschal et gallehault vint apres luy & les dames tant quilz vindrent endroit les tentes de gallehault. and Galiot sends Lancelot there, while he conducts the Queen to Arthur’s tent, Lors enuoya Gallehault son compaignon a son tref, et prent conge de la royne, et gallehault la conuoye iusques au tref du Roy. Et quant le roy les veyt, si demanda dont ilz venoyent. and tells him they have only been looking at the fields by themselves. “Sire,” fait Gallehault, “nous uenons de veoir ces pres a si peu de compaignie comment vous veez.” Lors se assient, et parlent de plusieurs choses; si sont la Royne et Gallehault moult ayses.

AV chef de piece se leua la royne, et sen alla en la bretesche; gallehault la conuoya iusques la. Galiot sees the Queen to her tower, Puis la commande a dieu, et dist quil sen yroit gesir auec son compaignon. “Bien auez fait,” dit la royne, “il en sera plus ayse” | A tant sen part gallehault, et vient au roy prendre congie, et dist quil ne luy desplaise, et que il yra gesir auec les gens pource quil ny auoyt geu de grant piece, et dist. and then takes leave of Arthur and of Gawain, “Sire, ie me doibz pener de faire leur voulente | car ilz me ayment moult.” “Sire,” fait messire gauuain, “vous dictes bien, et len doit bien honnorer telz preudhommes qui les a.” Lors sen part gallehault et vient a son compaignon; and goes to Lancelot’s bed. Ilz se coucherent tous deux en vng lict, et deviserent la une piece. Si nous laisserons ores a parler de gallehault & liii de son compaignon, et dirons de la royne qui est venu en la bretesche.

QVant gallehault fut party, Queen Guinevere goes to the window to think, la royne sen alla en vne fenestre, et commence a penser a ce que plus luy plaisoyt. La dame de mallehault saprocha delle quant elle la vit seulle, et luy dist le plus priueement que elle peut. and the Lady of Mallehault asks her why four are bad company. “Haa, dame! pourquoy ne est bonne la compaignie de quatre?” At first Guinevere will not hear this, but the Lady repeats it; the Queen asks why she says it, and the Lady asks pardon, as perhaps she has said too much. La royne le ouyst bien, si ne dit mot, et fait semblant que riens nen ouyt. Et ne demoura gueres que la dame dist celle parolle mesmes; la royne lapella et dist. “Dame, pourquoy auez ce dit?” “Dame,” fait elle, “pardonnez moi, ie nen diray ores plus | car par aduenture en ay plus dit que a moy napartient | & len ne se doit mi faire plus priuee de sa dame que len est | car tost en acquiert on hayne.” “No,” says Guinevere, “Si maist dieu,” fait la royne, “vous ne me pourriez riens dire dont vous eussiez ma haine | ie vous tiens tant a saige et a courtoyse, que vous ne diriez riens qui fust encontre ma voulente | “speak boldly out; I wish it.” Mais dictes hardyment | Car ie le vueil, et si vous en prie.” “Then I must say that I think four very good company. I saw the new acquaintance you made to-day, and know he is the man who loves you most in the world. “Dame,” fait elle, “donc le vous diray ie | Je dy que moult est bonne la compaignie de quatre; Jay huy veu nouueau accointement que vous auez faict au cheuallier qui parla a vous la bas en ce vergier. Et scay bien que cest la personne du monde qui plus vous ayme, et vous ne auez pas tort se vous laymez | car vous ne pourriez vostre amour mieulx employer;” “Comment,” fait la royne, “le congnoissez vous?” I kept him a year and a half in prison, and gave him both the red and the black arms in which he won the tourneys; “Dame,” fait elle, “telle heure a este ouen que ie vous en eusse bien peu faire refus comme vous en pouez ores faire a moy | car ie lay tenu vng an et demy en prison. Cest celluy qui vaincquit lassemblee aux armes vermeilles | & celle de deuant hier aux armes noires, les vnes & les autres luy baillay ie; Et quant il fut auant hier sur la riuiere pensif, et ie luy voulu mander que il fist vaillamment armes, ie ne le faisoye sinon pour ce que ie esperoye quil vous aymast; si cuydoye telle heure fust que il me aymast | and I thought then that he loved me, but he soon undeceived me.” Mais il me mist tost hors de cuyder, tant me descouurit de son penser.” Lors luy compta comment elle lauoyt tenu en prison an et demy | et pourquoy elle lauoit prins. The Queen answers, “But tell me why four are better company than three.” “Or me dictes,” fait la royne, “quelle compaignie vault mieulx de quatre que de troys | car mieulx est vne chose celee par trois que par quatre.” “Certes non est cy endroit, et si vous diray. “Because, though your knight loves you, he loves Galiot too, and they will not stay here Vray est que le cheualier vous ayme, et aussi fait il gallehault, et desormais se conforteront lung lautre en quelque terre quilz soient. Car icy ne seront ilz pas longuement: et vous liv demourerez cy toute seule, et ne le scaura nul fors vous | long, but you will; and if you have no one else to tell your thought to, you will be forced to keep your faith to yourself; but if you will let me be a fourth, we can comfort one another.” ne si ne aurez a qui descouurir vostre pensee, si porterez ainsi vostre faix toute seulle | mais sil vous pleust que ie fusse la quarte en la compaignie entre nous deux dames, nous solacierons ainsi comme entre eulx deux cheualiers feront, si en seriez plus aise.” “Scauez vous,” fait la royne, “qui est le cheuallier?” “Se maist dieu,” fait la dame, “nenny.” “Vous auez bien ouy comment il se couurit vers moy.” Queen Guinevere agrees to this with great joy, “Certes,” faict la royne, “moult estes apparceuante, et moult conuiendroit estre sage qui vous vouldroit rien embler, & puis que ainsi est que vous lauez aperceu, et que vous me requerez la compagnie, vous laurez | mais ie vueil que vous portez vostre faix ainsi comme ie feray le mien.” “Dame,” faict elle, “ie feray ce que il vous plaira, pour ci haulte compaignie auoir.” “En verite,” faict la royne, “vous laurez | car meilleure compaignie que vous ne pourroye ie mye auoir,” “Dame,” fait elle, “nous serons ensemble toutes les heures quil vous plaira.” “Jen suys ioyeuse,” faict la Royne. “Et nous affermerons demain la compaignie de nous quattre.” and tells the Lady that the knight is Lancelot of the Lake. Lors luy compte de Lancelot, comment il auoyt ploure quant il regarda deuers elle, “et ie scay que il vous congneut, et saichez que cest lancelot du lac, le meilleur cheuallier qui viue.” Ainsi parlerent longuement entre elles deux | et font moult grant ioye de leur accointement nouueau. At night the ladies sleep together, Icelle nuyct ne souffrit oncques la Royne de logres que la dame de mallehault geust sinon auec elle | mais elle y geut a force. Car elle doubtoyt moult de gesir auec si riche dame; and talk of their new loves, Quant elles furent couchees si commencerent a parler de leurs nouuelles amours; La royne demanda a la dame de mallehault selle a[y]me nulluy par amours, et elle luy dict que nenny. the Lady of Mallehault saying that she never loved but one, and then only in thought (and that was Lancelot). “Saichez, dame, que ie naymay oncques que vne foys, ne de celle amour ne fis ie que penser;” et ce dit elle de lancelot, quelle auoit tant ayme comme femme pourroit aymer homme mortel | Mais elle nen auoit oncques aultre ioye eue, non pourtant ne dit pas que ce eust il este. The Queen thinks she will make the Lady and Galiot fall in love with one another. La royne pensa quelle feroyt ses amours de elle et de gallehault, mais elle nen veult parler iusques a tant quelle scaura de gallehault sil la veult aymer ou non | car autrement ne len requerroit elle pas. Next morning they go to Arthur’s tent and wake him, and then return over the meadows Lendemain se leuerent matin elles deux, & allerent au tref du roy, qui gisoit la pour faire a monseigneur gauuain et aux aultres cheualiers compaignie. La royne sesueilla, & dist, “que moult estoyt mauluais qui a ceste heure dormoyt.” Lors se tournerent contreual les prez, et dames et damoyselles lv auec elles. where the meeting with Lancelot took place, and the Queen tells the Lady of Mallehault all about it, and then praises Galiot as the wisest and best man in the world. Et ils allerent la ou laccointement damours auoyt este faict, et dict la Royne a la dame de mallehault toute laccointance de lancelot | et comme il estoit esbahy deuant elle, et riens ne luy laissa a dire. Puis commenca a louer gallehault, et dit que cestoit le plus saige homme et le plus vertueulx du monde; “Certes,” fait elle, “ie luy compteray lacointance de nous deux quant il viendra, et sachez que il en aura grant ioye. Or allons | car il ne demourra gueres quil ne viengne.”

The rubric of the next chapter is as follows:

How Galiot became acquainted with the Lady of Melyhalt.

¶ Comment la premiere acointance fut faicte de gallehault et de la dame de malehault par le moyen de la royne de logres. Et comment lancelot & gallehault sen alloient esbatre et deuiser auec leurs dames.

It relates how Queen Guinevere requires Galiot to let her dispose of his love as he had disposed of hers. To this he consents, and she commends him to the Lady of Mallehault. Next, they arrange for the promised parlement de eulx quatre; and the queen points out to Lancelot the lady who had so many a day kept him in prison, i.e., the Lady of Mallehault. At recognizing his old acquaintance, Lancelot feels somewhat distressed, but is reassured by observing the new love-making between her and Galiot. Seated in a wood, the four “demourerent grant piece, ne oncques ne tindrent parolles, fors tant seullement de accoller & de baiser comme ceulx qui voulentiers le faisoyent.”

We next hear of Gawain’s recovery, and of the separation of the party of four above spoken of. Galiot takes Lancelot home with him to his own country, whilst the Lady of Mallehault remains for a time with the queen and Arthur. When Lancelot is next spoken of, he is in Galiot’s country, where we will now leave him.

lvi

NOTES TO THE APPENDIX.

P. xxiii. Descosse = d’Écosse, of Scotland. In Old French, words are frequently run together; thus we have labbaye for l’abbaye, sesmeurent for s’émeurent, etc. Also the letter s is often replaced in modern French by an acute or circumflex accent; so that Escosse = Êcosse; chasteau = château, etc.

The word si often occurs below with a great variety of meanings, viz. I, he; and, also; so, thus; etc.

P. xxiv. baille, given, entrusted.

brouyr (brûler), being burnt.

monstier, monastery.

gauues, so in the original throughout; gaunes is used in other romances.

P. xxv. auecques = avec, with.

P. xxvi. aduision, vision.

behourdys, tournament.

naure, wounded.

deffera = desferra, un-ironed; it means that Lancelot drew the weapons out of the knight’s wounds.

deuers, “Préposition relative au temps et au lieu dont on parle; près, vers, contre, proche; de versus.” Roquefort.

octroya, permitted (authorized).

mouille, lit. wetted; insulted.

P. xxvii. veirent, saw.

escript (écrit), written.

lassemblee, the gathering; i.e. the war, strife.

rua, overthrew.

P. xxviii. mire, physician.

gue, ford, pass.

tresues, a truce; spelt treues on p. xxix.

P. xxix. esbatre, to divert oneself. In modern French, s’ébattre.

P. xxx. orrions, shall hear.

deust = dût.

cheoient, from cheoir, to fall. Compare chûte.

poilz, hairs.

esbahy, amazed.

ortelz, toes.

chaille; from chaloir, to be anxious about.

dilacion, delay.

P. xxxi. paour, fear.

mire, physician.

veufue, old.

P. xxxii. cheuauche, rides.

boutte, buts, pushes.

iecte (jeté), cast.

cuyde, I believe.

Si maist dieu, so God aid me. Here maist is put for m’aist.

oncques, ever.

ennuyt, this night, to-night.

lottroyera, will grant him his request.

conroy, troops.

P. xxxiii. derrains (derniers), last.

busines, trumpets.

Or y perra, now it will appear.

cuidoit, believed; from the old verb quider.

cheuauchent, ride.

ia, already.

tertre, a small hill.

lvii

P. xxxiv. adresse, a cross-path.

huy, just before; lit. this day. Lat. hodiè.

se pasme, swoons.

leans, thither.

P. xxxv. ores, now.

huy, to-day.

preudhomme, a wise and prudent man.

lottroye, permits him.

tref, tent.

nenny, no!

ains, before.

guerpiront, will leave.

deduys, amusements, diversions.

P. xxxvi. leans, there.

gerrez, will lie.

las, tired.

Ains, but.

P. xxxvii. semondray, shall ask.

esbahy, amazed.

tollez, take away.

creanca, promised.

lees, wide, full.

lices, lists.

P. xxxviii. emmy le pas, in the midst of the passage.

hucher, to cry aloud.

P. xxxix. lieue, lifts.

saisine, disposal.

enseignes, tokens.

aincoys, first of all.

P. xl. oncques mes, never.

a resiouyr (réjouir), in amusing.

escondiroye, will refuse.

me poyse, it troubles me.

pieca, long ago.

se embronche, covers his face.

P. xli. sen esueillerent, awoke thereat.

Adonc, then.

riens forfait, anyway injured.

P. xlii. ne me mescreez mye que, do not doubt me more than.

P. xliii. doint, gives, were to give.

P. xliv. mesgnie, properly the suite or household of a prince; see Roquefort s.v. magnie and maignee.

nef, a boat.

loue, advise.

P. xlv. vous esmayez, afflict yourself.

courrouce, wroth, displeased.

P. xlvi. vergier, orchard.

aual, below.

se embroncha, she veiled herself, or, hid herself.

iouxte, beside.

P. xlvii. maintes, many.

ot, heard.

len prise mieulx, esteemed it better.

loe, praises.

deffera, dis-ironed, drew the weapons out of.

lestrief, the stirrup.

P. xlviii. leans (la dédans), there.

belif. We find in Cotgrave’s French Dictionary, “Belic, a kind of red or geueles, in Blazon.”

enseignes, tokens, message.

P. xlix. mestier, serviceable.

dillec, thence.

pourneant, for nothing, in vain.

voire, truly.

commanday a dieu, commended to God, bade farewell.

P. li. mestier en est, there is need of it.

greigneur bien, exceedingly well, very highly.

P. lii. greigneure, greater.

anuytoit, became night.

ie me doibz pener, I ought to take pains.

P. liii. ouen, this year.

1 The extracts are from the Paris edition of 1513, 3 vols. folio, a copy of which is in the King’s Library in the British Museum. There are also two other editions in the Museum, one in the Grenville Library, 3 vols. Paris, 1494, folio; the other in one folio volume, Paris, 1520.

2 See ll. 1447-1449.

3 Lines 215, 220.

4 Line 223.

5 Lines 237-245.

6 Lines 249-252.

7 Line 255.

8 Lines 257-259.

9 Lines 263, -4.

10 See ll. 244, -5.

11 Line 267.

12 Lines 363-527.

13 Lines 540-592.

14 Line 280.

15 Lines 233-252.

16 Lines 281-292.

17 Lines 634-894.

18 Lines 895-974.

19 Lines 975-1138.

20 Lines 1275-2130.

21 Lines 1543-1584.

22 Lines 1139-1152.

23 Lines 1181-1274.

24 Lines 2161-2256.

25 Lines 2347-2442.

26 Lines 2504-2530.

27 Lines 2531-3268.

28 Lines 3343-3487.

29 There is no trace of the rest of this chapter in the Scottish poem.

30 Line 3432.

31 Lines 3435-3440.

32 Lines 3441-3476.

33 Lines 3477-3480.

34 Lines 3481-3484.

35 Lines 3485, 6.

36 Line 3487 and last.

37 Compare lines 3365-3368.

38 Lines 3369, 70.

39 Compare lines 3391-3426.

40 Compare line 1140.

41 Compare lines 2845-8.

42 The original has pat.

[PROLOGUE.]

[Fol. 1.]

THe ſoft morow ande The luſtee Aperill,

The wynter set, the stormys in exill,

In April, when the fresh luminary upriseth,

Quhen that the brycht and freſch illumynare

4 Upriſith arly in his fyre chare

His hot courß in to the orient,

and sendeth from his sphere his golden streams,

And frome his ſpere his goldine ſtremis sent

Wpone the grond, in maner off meſag,

8 One euery thing to valkyne thar curage,

That natur haith set wnder hire mycht,

Boith gyrß, and flour, and euery luſty vicht:

And namly thame that felith the aſſay

12 Of lufe, to ſchew the kalendis of may,

Throw birdis ſonge with opine wox one hy,

That ſeſſit not one lufaris for to cry,

Leſt thai forȝhet, throw ſlewth of Ignorans,

16 The old wſage of lowis obſeruans.

and when I espy his bright face,

And from̅e I can the bricht face aſſpy,

It deuit me no langare fore to ly,

Nore that loue schuld ſleuth In to me finde,

THE POET BEWAILS HIS LOT.

I walk forth, bewailing my sad life.

20 Bot walkine furth, bewalinge in my mynde

the dredful lyve endurit al to longe,

Sufferans in loue of ſorouful harmys ſtronge,

The ſcharpe dais and the hewy ȝerys,

24 Quhill phebus thris haith paſſith al his ſperis,

Vithoutine hope ore traiſtinge of comfort;

So be such meine fatit was my sort.

Thus in my ſaull Rolinge al my wo,

The sword of love carves my heart.

28 My carful hart carwing cañ In two

The derdful ſuerd of lowis hot diſſire;

So be the morow set I was a-fyre

In felinge of the acceß hot and colde,

32 That haith my hart in ſich a fevir holde,

Only to me thare was noñe vthir eß

Bot thinkine qhow I ſchulde my lady pleß.

The ſcharp aſſay and ek the Inwart peine

36 Of dowblit wo me neulyngis cañ conſtrein,

Quhen that I have remembrit one my thocht

My lady knoweth not how I am wobegone.

How sche, quhois bewte al my harm̅ haith wrocht,

[Fol. 1 b.]

Ne knouith not how I ame wo begoñe,

40 Nor how that I ame of hire ſeruandis oñe;

And in my ſelf I cañ nocht fynde the meyne

In to quhat wyß I ſal my wo compleine.

HE SEES A VISION OF A GREEN BIRD.

I walked thus in the field, and came to a well-beseen garden.

Thus in the feild I walkith to and froo,

44 As thochtful wicht that felt of nocht bot woo,

Syne to o gardinge, that weß weil beſeñ,

Of quiche the feild was al depaynt with greñ.

The tendyre and the luſty flouris new

48 Up thrōue the greñ vpone thar ſtalkis grew

Aȝhane the ſone, and thare levis ſpred,

Quharwith that al the gardinge was I-clede;

That pryapus, in to his tyme before,

52 In o luſtear walkith nevir more;

It was closely environed with leaves.

And al about enweronyt and Icloſit

One ſich o wyß, that none within ſuppoſit

Fore to be ſeñ with ony vicht thare owt;

1 MS. “cloſit.”

56 So dide the levis cloſ it1 all about.

2 May we read “alcest”?

Thar was the flour, thar was the queñ alpheſt,2

Rycht wering being of the nychtis reſt,

Wncloſing gañe the crownel for the day;

The sun illumined the sprays;

60 The brycht ſone illumynit haith the ſpray,

The nychtis ſobir ande the moſt ſchowris,

As criſtoll terys withhong vpone the flouris,

Haith vpwarpith In the luſty aire,

64 The morow makith soft, ameyne, and faire;

the birds sang till the woods resounded;

And the byrdis thar mychty voce out-throng,

Quhill al the wood reſonite of thar ſonge,

That gret confort till ony vicht It wer

68 That pleſſith thame of luſtenes to here.

Bot gladneß til the thochtful, euer mo

The more he ſeith, the more he haith of wo.

the garden was adorned with flowers.

Thar was the garding with the flouris ourfret,

72 Quich is in poſy fore my lady set,

That hire Repreſent to me oft befor,

3 MS. “beſor.”

And thane alſo; thus al day gan be ſor3

Of thocht my goſt with torment occupy,

[Fol. 2.]

I fell there into an ecstasy or sleep,

76 That I becam̅e In to one exaſy,

Ore ſlep, or how I wot; bot ſo befell

My wo haith done my livis goſt expell,

And in ſich wiß weil long I can endwr,

80 So me betid o wondir aventur.

As I thus lay, Rycht to my ſpreit vas ſeñ

and saw in my dream a green bird, who said:

A birde, yat was as ony lawrare greñ,

A-licht, and ſayth in to hir birdis chere;

THE BIRD’S MESSAGE.

84 “O woful wrech, that levis in to were!

To ſchew the thus the god of loue me ſent,

That of thi ſeruice no thing is content,

“The God of Love is discontent with thee.

For in his court yhoue lewith in diſſpar,

88 And vilfully suſtenis al thi care,

And ſchapith no thinge of thine awn remede,

Bot clepith ay and cryith apone dede.

Yhow callith the birdis be morow fro thar bouris,

92 Yhoue devith boith the erbis and the flouris,

And clepit hyme vnfaithful king of lowe,

Yow dewith hyme in to his rigne abufe,

Yhow tempith hyme, yhoue doith thi ſelf no gud,

You are destitute of wit.

96 Yhoue are o moñ of wit al deſtitude.

Wot yhoue nocht that al liwis creatwre

Haith of thi wo in to his hand the cwre?

Though you call on trees, your lady hears not.

And ſet yhoue clep one erbis and one treis,

100 Sche heris not thi wo, nore ȝhit ſche ſeis;

For none may know the dirkneß of thi thocht,

Ne blamyth her thi wo ſche knowith nocht.

And It is weil accordinge It be so

104 He ſuffir harme, that to redreß his wo

Previdith not; for long ore he be ſonde,

Holl of his leich, that ſchewith not his vound.

Ovid says it is better to shew, than to conceal love.

And of owid ye autor ſchall yhow knaw

108 Of lufe that ſeith, for to conſel or ſchow,

The laſt he clepith althir-beſt of two;

And that is ſuth, and ſal be euer mo.

And loue alſo haith chargit me to ſay,

[Fol. 2 b.]

112 Set yhoue preſume, ore beleif, ye aſſay

Of his ſeruice, as It wil ryne ore go,

Preſwme It not, fore It wil not be so;

Al magre thine a ſeruand ſchal yow bee.

As touching thine adversity, seek the remedy.”

116 And as tueching thine aduerſytee,

Complen and sek of the ramed, the cwre,

Ore, gif yhow likith, furth thi wo endure.”

And, as me thocht, I anſuerde aȝaiñe

Then answered I:

120 Thus to the byrde, in wordis ſchort and plane:

“It ganyth not, as I have harde Recorde,

The ſeruand for to diſput with ye lord;

“Love knows the reason of my wo.”

Bot well he knowith of al my vo the quhy,

124 And in quhat wyß he hath me ſet, quhar I

Nore may I not, nore can I not attane,

Nore to hir hienes dare I not complane.”

SHE BIDS HIM WRITE A POEM.

“Fool,” said the bird, “despair not;

“Ful!” quod the bird, “lat be thi nyß diſpare,

128 For in this erith no lady is ſo fare,

So hie eſtat, nore of ſo gret empriß,

That in hire ſelf haith viſdome ore gentrice,

Yf that o wicht, that worthy is to be

132 Of lovis court, ſchew til hir that he

Seruith hire in lovis hartly wyß,

That ſchall thar for hyme hating or diſpiß.

the God of Love charges thee to speak out your love, or else to write thy plaint;

The god of love thus chargit the, at ſchort,

136 That to thi lady yhoue thi wo Report;

Yf yhoue may not, thi plant ſchall yhov vrit.

Se, as yhoue cane, be maner oft endit

In metir, quhich that no man haith ſuſſpek,

140 Set oft tyme thai contenyng gret effecc;

Thus one ſume wyß yhow ſchal thi wo dwclar.

And, for thir ſedulis and thir billis are

So generall, and ek ſo ſchort at lyte,

144 And ſwme of thaim is loſt the appetit,

write, then, some treatise for her to read;

Sum trety ſchall yhoue for yi lady ſak,

That wnkouth is, als tak one hand and mak,

Of love, ore armys, or of ſum othir thing,

148 That may hir one to thi Remembryng brynge;

[Fol. 3.]

Qwich ſoundith Not one to no hewynes,

Bot one to gladneß and to luſteneß,

one that may please her and get her thanks.

That yhoue belevis may thi lady pleß,

152 To have hir thonk and be one to hir eß;

That ſche may wit in ſeruice yhow art one.

Farewell, and be merry.”

Faire weil,” quod ſche, “thus ſchal yhow the diſpone,

And mak thi ſelf als mery as yhoue may,

156 It helpith not thus fore to wex al way.”

With that, the bird ſche haith hir leif tak,

Thereon I awoke, and wondered what it might mean.

For fere of quich I can onone to wak;

Sche was ago, and to my ſelf thocht I

160 Quhat may yis meyne? quhat may this ſignify?

Is It of troucht, or of Illuſioune?

HE RESOLVES TO DO SO.

Bot finaly, as in concluſioune,

Be as be may, I ſchal me not discharge,

164 Sen It apperith be of lovis charg;

And ek myne hart noñe othir biſſynes

Haith bot my ladice ſeruice, as I geß;

I determined to take in hand this occupation.

Among al vtheris I ſchal one honde tak

168 This litil occupatioune for hire ſak.

Bot hyme I pray, the mychty gode of loue,

That ſitith hie in to his ſpir abuf,

(At command of o wyß quhois viſioune

172 My goſt haith takin this opvnioune,)

That my lawboure may to my lady pleß

And do wnto hir ladeſchip ſum eß,

So that my trauell be nocht tynt, and I

176 Quhat vtheris ſay ſetith nothing by.

I know it will but hurt my name, when men hear my feeble negligence.

For wel I know that, be this worldis fam̅e.

It ſchal not be bot hurting to my nam̅e,

Quhen that thai here my febil negligens,

180 That empit is, and bare of eloquens,

Of diſcreſſioune, and ek of Retoryk;

The metire and the cuning both elyk

So fere diſcording frome perfeccioune;

I submit my poem to the correction of the wise;

184 Quhilk I ſubmyt to the correccioune

Of yaim the quhich that is diſcret and wyß,

And enterit is of loue in the ſeruice;

[Fol. 3 b.]

Quhich knouyth that no lovare dare withſtonde,

188 Quhat loue hyme chargit he mot tak one honde,

Deith, or defam̅, or ony maner wo;

And at this tyme with me It ſtant rycht ſo,

for I dare not oppose Love’s command.

As I that dar makine no demande

192 To quhat I wot It lykith loue commande.

Tueching his chargis, as with al deſtitut,

Within my mynd ſchortly I conclud

For to fulfyll, for ned I mot do ſo.

HE THINKS OF THE STORY OF LANCELOT.

196 Thane in my thocht rolling to and fro

Quhare that I myhct ſum wnkouth mater fynde,

At last I thought of the story of “Lancelot of the Lake,”

Quhill at ye laſt it fell in to my mynd

Of o ſtory, that I befor had ſene,

200 That boith of loue and armys can conteñ,

Was of o knycht clepit lancelot of ye laik,

The ſone of bane was, king of albanak;

Of quhois fame and worſchipful dedis

204 Clerkis in to diuerß bukis redis,

of whom I here think to write something.

Of quhome I thynk her ſum thing for to writ

At louis charge, and as I cane, endit;

Set men tharin ſal by experiens

208 Know my conſait, and al my negligens.

But because my ignorance cannot comprehend the French romance,

Bot for that ſtory is ſo paſing larg,

One to my wit It war ſo gret o charg

For to tranſlait the romans of that knycht;

212 It paſſith fare my cunyng and my mycht,

Myne Ignorans may It not comprehende;

HE BRIEFLY ENUMERATES

I shall not tell how he was born;

Quharfor thare one I wil me not depend

How he was borne, nor how his fader deid

216 And ek his moder, nore how he was denyed

Efter thare deth, preſumyng he was ded,

nor how he was nourished by the Lady of the Lake;

Of al ye lond, nore how he fra that ſtede

In sacret wyß wnwyſt away was tak,

220 And nwriſt with ye lady of ye lak.

nor how he was brought to Arthur’s court,

Nor, in his ȝouth, think I not to tell

The auentouris, quhich to hyme befell;

Nor how the lady of the laik hyme had

224 One to the court, quhare that he knycht was mad;

[Fol. 4.]

None wiſt his nome, nore how that he was tak

By loue, and was Iwondit to the ſtak,

and pierced to the heart by the beauty of Wanore (Guinevere),

And throuch and throuch perſit to ye hart,

228 That al his tyme he couth It not aſtart;

For thare of loue he enterit in ſeruice,

Of wanore throuch the beute and franchis,

for whose service he wrought many wonders;

Throuch quhois ſeruice in armys he has vrocht

232 Mony wonderis, and perellis he has socht.

Nor how he thor, in to his ȝoung curage,

nor how he made a vow to revenge a wounded knight,

Hath maid awoue, and in to louis rage,

In the rewenging of o wondit knycht

236 That cumyne was in to the court that nycht;

4 MS. “abrokin.”

who had a broken sword in his head, and a truncheon of a broken spear in his body;

In to his hed a brokin4 ſuerd had he,

And in his body alſo mycht men see

The tronſione of o brokine ſper that was,

240 Quhich no man out dedenyt to aras;

Nor how he haith the wapnis out tak,

And his awow apone this wis can mak,

That he ſchuld hyme Reweng at his poware

244 One euery knycht that louith the hurtare

Better thane hyme, the quhich that vas Iwond.

Throw quich awoue in armys hath ben founde

5 The MS. wrongly transposes ll. 247 and 248.

a vow which caused the death of many a wight warrior;

The deth of mony wereoure ful wicht;5

248 For, fro tho wow was knowing of the knycht,

Thare was ful mony o paſage in the londe

By men of armys kepit to withſtond

This knycht, of quhome thai ben al set afyre

252 Thaim to reweng in armys of deſir.

or how he and Sir Kay were sent to defend the lady of Nohalt;

Nor how that thane incontynent was ſend

He and ſir kay togidder to defend

The lady of nohalt, nor how that hee

256 Gouernit hyme thare, nore in quhat degre.

Nor how the gret paſing vaſſolag

He eſcheuit, thrōue the outragouß curag,

or how he conquered the Sorrowful Castle;

In conquiryng of the sorowful caſtell.

260 Nor how he paſſith doune in the cauis fell,

And furth ye keys of Inchantment brocht,

That al diſtroyt quhich that thare vas vrocht.

[Fol. 4 b.]

or how he rescued Sir Gawane and his nine fellows;

Nore howe that he reſkewit ſir gawane,

264 With his ix falouß in to preſone tane;

Nore mony vthere diuerß aduenture,

Quhich to report I tak not in my cwre,

LANCELOT’S EARLY DEEDS.

nor of the many “assemblies” Gawane held to find out his name;

Nor mony aſſemblay that gawane gart be maid

268 To wit his name; nor how that he hyme hade

Wnwiſt, and hath the worſchip and empriß;

6 We should perhaps omit “mony.”

Nor of the knychtis in to mony6 diuerß wyß

Throuch his awoue that hath thare dethis found;

nor of his suffering caused by love’s wound;

272 Nor of the ſufferans that by louis wounde

He in his trawel ſufferith auer more;

Nor in the quenis presens how tharfor

nor how he was nearly drowned at Camelot;

By camelot, in to that gret Revare,

276 He was ner dround. I wil It not declare

How that he was in louis hewy thocht

nor how he was brought to court by Dagenet;

By dagenet in to the court I-brocht;

Nor how the knycht that tyme he cane perſew,

nor of the giants he slew at Camelot;

280 Nor of the gyantis by camelot he ſlew;

Nor wil I not her tell the maner how

He ſlew o knycht, by natur of his wow,

nor how he slew a knight of Melyholt;

Off melyholt; nore how in to that toune

284 Thar came one hyme o gret confuſione

Of pupil and [of] knychtis, al enarmyt,

and there defended himself against a crowd;

Nor how he thar haith kepit hyme wnharmyt;

Nor of his worſchip, nor of his gret prowes,

288 Nor his defens of armys in the pres.

whereupon the lady of Melyhalt prayed him to yield his sword to her; and kept him in her power.

Nor how the lady of melyhalt yat ſche

Came to the feild, and pray[i]th hyme that he

7 MS. “his.”

As to o lady to hir7 his ſuerd hath ȝold,

292 Nor how he was in to hir keping hold;

And mony vthir nobil deid alſo

I wil report quharfor I lat ourgo.

Whoever likes, might make of these things a long story.

For quho thaim lykith for to ſpecyfy,

296 Of one of thaim mycht mak o gret ſtory;

Nor thing I not of his hye renōwn

My febil wit to makin menſioune;

But I think to tell of the wars between Arthur and Galiot;

Bot of the weris that was ſcharp and ſtrong,

300 Richt perellouß, and hath enduryt long,

[Fol. 5.]

Of Arthur In defending of his lond

Frome galiot, ſone of the fair gyonde,

That brocht of knychtis o paſing confluens;

wherein Lancelot won renown by his defence of Arthur;

304 And how lancelot of arthuris hol defens

And of the veris berith the renowñ;

And how he be the wais of fortoune

and at last made peace between the two princes.

Tuex the two princis makith the accorde,

308 Of al there mortall weris to concorde;

I shall also tell how Venus rewarded him.

And how that venus, ſiting hie abuf,

Reuardith hyme of trauell in to loue,

And makith hyme his ladice grace to have,

312 And thankfully his ſeruice cane reſave;

This is the mater quhich I think to tell.

Bot ſtil he mot rycht with the lady duell,

Quhill tyme cum eft that we ſchal of hym ſpek.

My summary must end for the present.

316 This proceß [now] mot cloſine beñ and ſtek;

And furth I wil one to my mater go.

THE DEDICATION.

But I pray for the support of a very great poet,

Bot first I pray, and I beſek also,

One to the moſt conpilour to ſupport,

320 Flour of poyetis, quhois nome I wil report

To me nor to noñ vthir It accordit,

whose name I may not mention;

In to our rymyng his nam̅ to be recordit;

For ſum ſuld deme It of preſumpſioune,

for our riming is but derision, when his excellence is remembered.

324 And ek our rymyng is al bot deryſioune,

Quhen that remembrit is his excellens,

So hie abuf that ſtant in reuerans.

Ye freſch enditing of his laiting toung

The world knows his eloquence in inditing Latin;

328 Out throuch yis world ſo wid is yroung,

Of eloquens, and ek of retoryk;

Nor is, nor was, nore neuer beith hyme lyk,

and none can ever gladden the world like him:

This world gladith of his ſuet poetry.

332 His ſaul I blyß conſeruyt be for-thy;

to him be the thanks for my success.

And yf that ony lusty terme I wryt

He haith the thonk yerof, and this endit.

EXPLICIT PROLOGUS, ET INCIPIT PRIMUS LIBER.

ARTHUR AT CARLISLE.

[BOOK I.]

[Fol. 5 b.]

Quhen [that] tytan, withe his lusty heit,

336 Twenty dais In to the aryeit

When Titan, being in Aries, had apparelled the fields,

Haith maid his courß, and all with diuerß hewis

Aparalit haith the feldis and the bewis;

and birds began to make their bowers;

The birdis amyd the erbis and the flouris,

340 And one the branchis, makyne gone thar bouris,

And be the morow ſinging in ther chere

Welcum to the luſty ſeſſone of the ȝere.

In to this tyme the worthi conqueroure

king Arthur was at Carlisle.

344 Arthure, wich had of al this worlde the floure

Of cheuelry auerding to his crown,

So paſing war his knychtis in renoune,

Was at carlill; and hapynnit ſo that hee

348 Soiornyt well long in that faire cuntree.

His knights, hearing of no adventure, were annoyed.

In to whilk tyme In to the court thai heire

None awenture, for wich the knyghtis weire

Anoit all at the abiding thare.

352 For-why, beholding one the ſobir ayre

And of the tyme the paſing luſtynes,

Can ſo thir knyghtly hartis to encreß,

They therefore sent Sir Kay to pray the king to go to Camelot.

That thei ſhir kay one to the king haith ſende,

356 Beſeiching hyme he wold wichſaif to wende

To camelot the Cetee, whare that thei

Ware wont to heryng of armys day be day.

The king forſuth, heryng thare entent,

360 To thare deſir, be ſchort awyſment,

The king proposed to do so on the morrow.

Ygrantid haith; and ſo the king proponit

8 MS. “to pas one hyme one,” with first “one” lightly crossed out.

And for to pas hyme one8 the morne diſponit.

ARTHUR’S TWO DREAMS.

Bot ſo befell hyme [on] that nycht to meit

364 An aperans, the wich one to his ſpreit

That night he dreamt that his hair all fell off;

It ſemyth that of al his hed ye hore

Of fallith and maid deſolat; wharfore

The king therof was pensyve in his mynd,

368 That al the day he couth no reſting fynde,

which made him delay his journey.

Wich makith hyme his Iorneye to delaye.

And ſo befell apone the thrid day,

The bricht ſone, paſing in the weſt,

372 Haith maid his courß, and al thing goith to Reſt;

Again he dreamt, that his bowels fell out, and lay beside him.

The king, ſo as the ſtory can dewyß,

He thoght aȝeine, apone the ſamyne wyß,

[Fol. 6.]

His vombe out fallith vith his hoil syde

376 Apone the ground, and liging hyme beſid;

Throw wich anon out of his ſlep he ſtert,

Abaſit and adred in to his hart.

He told the queen, who answered, “No man should respect vain dreams.”

The wich be morow one to the qwen he told,

380 And ſhe aȝeine to hyme haith anſuer ȝolde;

“To dremys, ſir, ſhuld no man have Reſpek,

For thei ben thingis weyn, of non affek.”

“Well,” quod the king, “god grant It ſo befall!”

The king next shewed his dream to a clerk,

384 Arly he roß, and gert one to hyme call

O clerk, to whome that al his hewynes

Tweching his drem ſhewith he expreß,

who said, “Sir, such things testify nothing.”

Wich anſuer yaf and ſeith one to the kinge;

388 “Shir, no Record lyith to ſuch thing;

Wharfor now, ſhir, I praye yow tak no kep,

Nore traiſt in to the vanyteis of slep;

For thei are thingis that aſkith no credens,

392 But cauſith of ſum maner influens,

Empriß of thoght, ore ſuperfleuytee,

Or than ſum othir caſualytee.”

“Yet,” replied he, “I shall not leave it so.”

“Ȝit,” quod the king, “I ſal nocht leif It so;”

HE SENDS FOR HIS CLERKS.

396 And furth he chargit meſingeris to go

Throgh al his Realm, withouten more demande,

He bade all the bishops and clergy come to Camelot within twenty days.

And bad them ſtratly at thei ſhulde comande

All the biſhopes, and makyng no delay

400 The ſhuld appere be the tuenty day

At camelot, with al thar hol clergy

That moſt expert war, for to certefye

A mater tueching to his goſt be nyght;

404 The meſag goith furth with the lettres Right.

The king eft ſone, within a litill ſpace,

His Iornay makith haith frome place to place,

He goes to Camelot, and finds the clerks assembled.

Whill that he cam to camelot; and there

408 The clerkis all, as that the chargit were,

Aſſemblit war, and came to his preſens,

Of his deſir to viting the ſentens.

To them that war to hyme moſt ſpeciall

412 Furth his entent ſhauyth he al hall;

He discloses all to the ten that are most expert,

By whois conſeil, of the worthieſt

He cheſith ten, yclepit for the beſt,

And moſt expert and wiſeſt was ſuppoſit,

[Fol. 6 b.]

416 To qwhome his drem all hail he haith diſcloſſit;

The houre, the nyght, and al the cercumſtans;

and beseeches them to explain the dreams.

Beſichyne them that the ſignifycans

Thei wald hyme ſhaw, that he mycht reſting fynde

420 Of It, the wich that occupeid his mynde.

9 MS. “saith with” (with a very slight scratch through “saith”).

And one of them with9 al ther holl aſſent

One of them asks for nine days to advise upon the matter.

Saith, “ſhire, fore to declare our entent

Vpone this matere, ye wil ws delay

424 Fore to awyſing one to the ix day.”

The king ther-to grantith haith, bot hee

The king complies, but shuts them up in a strong place.

In to o place, that ſtrong was and hye,

He cloſith them, whare thei may no whare get,

428 Vn to the day, the wich he to them set.

Than goith the clerkis ſadly to awyß

Of this mater, to ſeing in what wyß

The kingis drem thei ſhal beſt ſpecefy.

The masters of astronomy fetch their books,

432 And than the maiſtris of aſtronomy

10 So in MS. Read “fet.”

The bookis longyne to ther artis set;10

Not was the bukis of arachell forget,

Of nembrot, of danȝhelome, thei two,

436 Of moyſes, and of herynes all soo;

and calculate the disposition of the planets.

And ſeking be ther calcolacioune

To fynd the planetis diſpoſicioune,

The wich thei fond ware wonder ewill yſet

440 The ſamyne nyght the king his ſweuen met.

THEY REFUSE TO EXPLAIN THEM.

So ner the point ſocht thei have the thing,

They found the matter heavy for the king, and doubted if they should tell him so.

Thei fond It wonder hewy to the king,

Of wich thing thei waryng in to were

444 To ſhew the king, for dreid of his danger.

Of ane accorde thei planly haue proponit

No worde to ſhow, and ſo thei them diſponit.

Being sent for,

The day is cumyng, and he haith fore them ſent,

448 Beſichyne them to ſhewing ther entent.

they all spake, “Sir, we can find no evidence.”

Than ſpak they all, and that of an accorde;

“Shir, of this thing we can no thing Recorde,

For we can noght fynd in til our ſciens

452 Tweching this mater ony ewydens.”

“Ere we part,” quoth the king, “ye shall witness something.”

“Now,” quod the king, “and be the glorius lorde,

Or we depart ye ſhall ſum thing recorde;

So pas yhe not, nor ſo It ſall not bee.”

456 “Than,” quod the clerkis, “grant ws dais three.”

[Fol. 7.]

He grants them three days more.

The wich he grantid them, and but delay,

The term paſſith, no thing wold the ſay,

Wharof the king ſtondith heuy cherith,

460 And to the clerkis his viſag ſo apperith,

That all thei dred them of the kingis myght.

They pray for a further delay of three days.

Than ſaith o clerk, “sir, as the thrid nyght

Ye dremyt, ſo [now] giffis ws delay

464 The thrid tyme, and to the thrid day.”

By whilk tyme thei fundyng haith the ende

Of this mater, als far as ſhal depend

To ther ſciens; yit can thei not awyß

468 To ſchewing to the king be ony wyß.

They still refuse to declare their thought.

The day is cum, the king haith them beſocht,

But one no wyß thei wald declar ther thoght;

Than was he wroth in to his ſelf and noyt,

The king vows to destroy them;

11 MS. “ſhat.”

472 And maid his wow that thei ſhal11 ben diſtroyt.

His baronis he commandit to gar tak

Fyve of them one to the fir-ſtak,

And vther fyue be to the gibbot tone;

476 And the furth with the kingis charg ar gone.

but secretly charges his knights not to harm them.

He bad them in to ſecret wyß that thei

Shud do no harm, but only them aßey.

The clarkis, dredful of the kingis Ire,

480 And ſaw the perell of deth and of the fyre,

Fyve, as thei can, has grantit to record;

That vther herde and ben of ther accorde;

INTERPRETATION OF THE DREAMS.

And al thei ben yled one to the king,

They yield at last, and say,

484 And ſhew hyme thus as tueching of this thing.

“Shir, ſen that we conſtrenyt ar by myght

12 MS. “wich that.”

To ſhaw that wich12 we knaw no thing aricht;

For thing to cum preſeruith It allan

488 To hyme the wich is euery thing certañ,

Excep the thing that til our knawleg hee

Hath ordynat of certan for to bee;

Therfor, ſhir king, we your magnificens

492 Beſeich It turne till ws to non offens,

“Hold us not as liars, though it happen not as we say.

Nor hald was nocht as learis, thoght It fall

Not in this mater, as that we telen ſhall.”

And that the king haith grantit them, and thei

496 Has chargit one, that one this wiß ſall ſeye.

“Preſumyth, ſhir, that we have fundyne so;

13 MS. “nediſt;” but see l. 518.

You must forego all earthly honour;

All erdly honore ye nedis13 moſt for-go,

[Fol. 7 b.]

and those on whom you most rely, will fail you.”

And them the wich ye moſt affy in-tyll

500 Shal failye ȝow, magre of ther will;

And thus we haue in to this matere founde.”

The king, quhois hart was al wyth dred ybownd,

And aſkit at the clerkis, if thei fynde

504 By there clergy, that ſtant in ony kynde

The king asks if his destiny can be altered.

Of poſſibilitee, fore to reforme

His deſteny, that ſtud in ſuch a forme;

If in the hewyne Is preordynat

508 On ſuch o wiß his honor to tranſlat.

The clerkis ſaith, “forſuth, and we haue ſene

They reply, that the matter is dark.

O thing whar-of, if we the trouth ſhal meñ,

Is ſo obſcure and dyrk til our clergye,

512 That we wat not what It ſhal ſignefye,

Wich cauſith ws we can It not furth ſay.”

“Yis,” quod the king, “as lykith yow ye may,

For wers than this can nat be ſaid for me.”

A master says, there is no help but in the true watery lion, and in the leech, and in the flower.

THE CLERKS GIVE MYSTERIOUS ADVICE.

516 Thane ſaith o maiſtir, “than ſuthly thus finde we;

Thar is no thing ſal ſucour nor reſkew,

Your worldly honore nedis moſt adew,

But throuch the watrye lyone and ek fyne,

520 On throuch the liche and ek the wattir ſyne,

God knows what this should mean.

And throuch the conſeill of the flour; god wot

What this ſhude meñ, for mor ther-of we not.”

No word the king anſuerid ayane,

524 For al this reſone thinkith bot in weyne.

The king shews no outward grief,

He ſhawith outwart his contenans

As he therof takith no greuans;

but is not rid of anxiety all night.

But al the nyght it paſſid nat his thoght.

528 The dais courß with ful deſir he ſocht,

And furth he goith to bring his mynd in reſt

Next day he goes to the forest.

With mony O knyght vn to the gret foreſt;

The rachis gon wn-copelit for the deire,

532 That in the wodis makith nois and cheir:

The knychtis, with the grewhundis in aweit,

Secith boith the planis and the ſtreit.

The chase.

Doune goith the hart, doune goith the hynd alſo;

14 A line must here be lost, but there is nothing to shew this in the MS. The inserted line is imitated from l. 3293.

536 [In to the feld can ruſching to and fro]14

The ſwift grewhund, hardy of aſſay;

Befor ther hedis no thing goith away.

The king of hunting takith haith his ſport,

The king returns.

540 And to his palace home he can Reſort,

Ayan the noon; and as that he was set

[Fol. 8.]

As they sit at meat, an aged knight enters, fully armed.

Vith all his noble knyghtis at the met,

So cam ther in an agit knyght, and hee

544 Of gret eſſtat ſemyt for to bee;

Anarmyt all, as tho It was the gyß,

And thus the king he ſaluſt, one this wiß,

GALIOT’S MESSAGE.

The knight’s message is that king Galiot bids Arthur to yield to him his kingdom.

“Shir king, one to yow am y ſende

548 Frome the worthieſt that in world is kend,

That leuyth now of his tyme and age,

Of manhed, wiſdome, and of hie curag,

Galiot, ſone of the fare gyande;

552 And thus, at ſhort, he bidis yow your londe

Ye yald hyme our, without Impedyment;

Or of hyme holde, and if tribut and rent.

This is my charge at ſhort, whilk if youe leſt

556 For to fulfill, of al he haith conqueſt

He ſais that he moſt tendir ſhal youe hald.”

The king refuses.

By ſhort awys the king his anſuer yald;

“Shir knycht, your lorde wondir hie pretendis,

560 When he to me ſic ſalutatioune sendis;

For I as yit, in tymys that ar gone,

Held neuer lond excep of god alone,

Nore neuer thinkith til erthly lord to yef

564 Trybut nor rent, als long as I may lef.”

The knight replies, that his lord bids him defiance, and will invade his land in a month;

“Well,” quod the knycht, “ful ſor repentith me;

Non may reciſt the thing the wich mone bee.

To yow, ſir king, than frome my lord am I

568 With diffyans ſent, and be this reſone why;

His purpos Is, or this day moneth day,

With all his oſt, planly to aſſay

Your lond, with mony manly man of were,

not to return till he has conquered;

572 And helmyt knychtis, boith with ſheld and ſpere;

And neuer thinkith to retwrn home whill

That he this lond haith conqueſt at his will;

and he intends to possess queen Vanour.

And ek vanour the quen, of whome that hee

576 Herith report of al this world that ſhee

In fairhed and in wertew doith excede,

He bad me ſay he thinkis to poſſede.”

ARTHUR DEFIES GALIOT.

Arthur returns his defiance.

“Schir,” quod the king, “your meſag me behufis

580 Of reſone and of curtaſy excuſß;

But tueching to your lord and to his oſt,

His powar [and] his meſag and his boſt,

That pretendith my lond for to diſtroy,

584 Thar-of as ȝit tak I non anoye;

[Fol. 8 b.]

And ſay your lord one my behalf, when hee

Haith tone my lond, that al the world ſhal see

That It ſhal be magre myne entent.”

The knight departs, lamenting Arthur’s adventurous spirit.

588 With that the knycht, withouten leif, is went,

And richt as he was paſing to the dure,

15 MS. “agod^e.”

He ſaith, “a gode!15 what wykyt aduenture

Apperith!” with that his hors he nome,

592 Two knichtis kepit, waiting his outcome.

The knicht is gon, the king he gan Inquere

At gawan, and at other knychtis sere,

Arthur asks Gawane who Galiot is.

If that thei knew or euer hard recorde

596 Of galiot, and wharof he wes lorde;

And ther was non among his knychtis all

Which anſuerd o word in to the hall.

Than galygantynis of walys raſe,

Galygantynis of Wales replies,

600 That trauelit in diuerß londis has,

In mony knychtly auentur haith ben;

And to the king he ſaith, “ſir, I haue sen

Galiot, which is the fareſt knycht,

that Galiot is the tallest knight by half a foot of all he ever saw; that he is wise, liberal, humble,

604 And hieſt be half a fut one hycht,

That euer I saw, and ek his men accordith;

Hyme lakid nocht that to a lord recordith.

For viſare of his ag is non than hee,

608 And ful of larges and humylytee;

courageous, and under xxiv years of age.

An hart he haith of paſing hie curag,

And is not xxiiij ȝer of age,

And of his tyme mekil haith conquerit;

Ten kings obey him.

612 Ten kingis at his command ar ſterit.

He vith his men ſo louit is, y geß,

That hyme to pleß is al ther beſynes.

Not ſay I this, ſir, in to ye entent

616 That he, nor none wnder the firmament,

Shal pouere haue ayane your maieſtee;

And or thei ſhuld, this y ſey for mee,

Rather I ſhall knychtly in to feild

620 Reſaue my deith anarmyt wnder ſheld.

This ſpek y leſt;”—the king, ayan the morn,

The king goes again to the chase.

Haith varnit huntaris baith with hund and horne,

And arly gan one to the foreſt ryd,

624 With mony manly knyghtis by his ſid,

Hyme for to ſport and comfort with the dere,

Set contrare was the ſeſone of y^e yere.

He likes boar-hunting best.

His moſt huntyng was atte wyld bore;

[Fol. 9.]

628 God wot a luſtye cuntree was It thoore,

In the ilk tyme! weil long this noble king

In to this lond haith maid his ſuiornyng;

THE LADY OF MELYHALT’S MESSAGE.

A messenger comes from the lady of Melyhalt,

Frome the lady was send o meſinger

632 Of melyhalt, wich ſaith one this maner,

As that the ſtory ſhewith by recorde:

“TO yow, ſir king, as to hir ſoueran lorde,

My lady hath me chargit for to ſay

636 How that your lond ſtondith in affray;

to say that Galiot has entered Arthur’s land,

For galiot, ſone of the fare gyande,

Enterit Is by armys in your land,

And ſo the lond and cuntre he anoyth,

640 That quhar he goith planly he diſtroyth,

And makith al obeiſand to his honde,

and has conquered all but two castles belonging to his mistress.

That nocht is left wnconqueſt in that lond,

Excep two caſtellis longing to hir cwre,

644 Wich to defend ſhe may nocht long endure.

Wharfor, ſir, in wordis plan and ſhort,

Ye mon diſpone your folk for to ſupport.”

The king promises not to delay, and inquires the number of the foe.

“Wel,” quod the king, “one to thi lady ſay

648 The neid is myne, I fall It not delay;

But what folk ar thei nemmyt for to bee,

That in my lond is cumyne in ſich degree?”

“A hundred thousand,” is the reply.

“An hundreth thouſand boith vith ſheld and ſpere

652 On hors ar armyt, al redy for the were.”

ARTHUR’S READINESS FOR WAR.

“Wel,” quod the king, “and but delay this nycht,

Or than to morn as that the day is lycht,

The king says he will set off that very night.

I ſhal remuf; ther ſhal no thing me mak

656 Impedyment, my Iorney for to tak.”

Than ſeith his knychtis al with one aſſent,

His knights advise him to wait till he has raised an army.

“Shir, that is al contrare our entent;

For to your folk this mater is wnwiſt,

660 And ye ar here our few for to reciſt

Ȝone power, and youre cuntre to defende;

Tharfor abid, and for your folk ye send,

That lyk a king and lyk a weriour

664 Ye may ſuſten in armys your honoure.”

“Now,” quod the king, “no langer that I ȝeme

My crowne, my ſepture, nor my dyademe,

Frome that I here, ore frome I wnderſtand,

668 That ther by fors be entrit in my land

Men of armys, by ſtrenth of vyolens,

He refuses to wait longer than till the morrow.

If that I mak abid or reſydens

In to o place langar than o nycht,

672 For to defend my cuntre and my rycht.”

[Fol. 9 b.]

The king that day his meſage haith furth sent

Throuch al his realme, and ſyne to reſt is went.

Up goith the morow, wp goith the brycht day,

676 Wp goith the sone in to his freſh aray;

Richt as he ſpred his bemys frome northeſt,

The king arises next morning without delay,

The king wpraß withouten more areſt,

And by his awn conſeil and entent

680 His Iornaye tuk at ſhort awyſment.

And but dulay he goith frome place to place

16 MS. “whare that,” with slight scratch through “that.”

Whill that he cam nere whare16 the lady was,

and reaches a plain by the river side,

And in one plane, apone o reuer ſyde,

684 He lichtit doune, and ther he can abide;

And yit with hyme to batell fore to go

having only seven thousand with him.

Vij thousand fechteris war thei, and no mo.

LANCELOT’S LAMENT.

This was the lady, of qwhome befor I tolde,

Lancelot, having been imprisoned by the lady of Melyhalt,

688 That lancilot haith in to hir kepinge holde;

But for to tell his paſing hewyneſſe,

His peyne, his ſorow, and his gret diſtreſſe

Of preſone and of loues gret ſuppris,

692 It war to long to me for to dewys.

When he remembrith one his hewy charge

Of loue, wharof he can hyme not diſcharge,

He wepith and he ſorowith in his chere,

696 And euery nyght ſemyth hyme o yere.

Gret peite was the ſorow that he maad,

laments his fate.

And to hyme-ſelf apone this wiß he ſaade:

Lancelot’s lament;

“Qwhat haue y gilt, allace! or qwhat deſeruit?

700 That thus myne hart ſhal vondit ben and carwit

One by the ſuord of double peine and wo?

his pleasure is gone;

My comfort and my pleſans is ago,

To me is nat that ſhuld me glaid reſeruit.

he curses his natal day;

704 I curß the tyme of myne Natiuitee,

Whar in the heuen It ordinyd was for me,

In all my lyue neuer til haue eeß;

But for to be example of diſeß,

708 And that apperith that euery vicht may see.

Sen thelke tyme that I had ſufficians

Of age, and chargit thoghtis ſufferans,

he has never spent a single day free from anxiety,

Nor neuer I continewite haith o day

712 With-out the payne of thoghtis hard aſſay;

Thus goith my youth in tempeſt and penans.

and is now in prison;

And now my body is In preſone broght;

[Fol. 10.]

But of my wo, that in Regard is noght,

716 The wich myne hart felith euer more.

and invokes Death.

O deth, allace! whi hath yow me forbore

That of remed haith the ſo long beſoght!”

Thus neueremore he ſeſith to compleine,

720 This woful knyght that felith not bot peine;

Thus the smart of love’s sorrow pricketh him.

So prekith hyme the ſmert of loues ſore,

And euery day encreſſith more and more.

And with this lady takine is alſo,

He is kept by her from the exercise of knighthood;

724 And kepit whar he may no whare go

To haunt knychthed, the wich he moſt deſirit;

And, thus his hart with dowbil wo yfirite,

and there we let him dwell.

We lat hyme duel here with the lady ſtill,

728 Whar he haith laiſere for to compleine his fyll.

GALIOT BESIEGES A CASTLE.

Meanwhile, Galiot besieged a castle.

And galiot in this meyne tyme he laie

By ſtrong myght o caſtell to aſſay,

With many engyne and diuerß wais ſere,

732 For of fute folk he had a gret powere

That bowis bur, and vther Inſtrumentis,

His army had pavilions, tents, and iron-wheeled chariots.

And with them lede ther palȝonis and ther tentis,

With mony o ſtrong chariot and cher

736 With yrne qwhelis and barris long and ſqwar;

Well ſtuffit with al maner apparell

That longith to o ſege or to batell;

Whar-with his oſt was cloſit al about,

740 That of no ſtrenth nedith hyme to dout.

When he heard of Arthur’s coming,

And when he hard the cumyne of the king,

And of his oſt, and of his gaderyng,

The wich he reput but of febil myght

744 Ayanis hyme for to ſuſten the ficht,

His conſell holl aſſemblit he, but were,

he assembled his council,

Ten knightis with other lordis ſere,

And told theme of the cuming of the king,

748 And aſkit them there conſell of that thing.

who thought it would degrade him, to fight in proper person against so few.

Hyme thoght that it his worſchip wold degrade,

If he hyme ſelf in propir perſone raide

Enarmyt ayane ſo few menye

752 As It was told arthur[is] fore to bee;

PREPARATION FOR THE BATTLE.

And thane the kyng-An-hundereth-knychtis cold,

(And ſo he hot, for neuermore he wolde

Ryd of his lond, but In his cumpany

756 O hundyre knyghtis ful of chiuellry).

[Fol. 10 b.]

The king of a hundred knights (Maleginis) undertakes the exploit;

He ſaith, “shir, ande I one hond [may] tak,

If It you pleß, this Iorney ſhal I mak.”

Quod galiot, “I grant It yow, but ye

760 Shal firſt go ryd, yone knychtis oſt and see.”

With-outen more he ridith our the plan,

And ſaw the oſt and is returnyd ayañ;

And callit them mo than he hade ſen, for why

764 He dred the reprefe of his cumpany.

who reconnoitres Arthur’s host, and says it is 10,000 strong: whereon Galiot charges him to take the same number.

And to his lord apone this wys ſaith hee,

“Shir, ten thouſand y ges them for to bee.”

And galiot haith chargit hyme to tak

768 Als fell folk, and for the feld hyme mak.

And ſo he doith and haith them wel Arayt;

Apone the morne his banaris war diſplayt.

Up goth the trumpetis with the clariounis,

772 Ayaine the feld blawen furth ther ſownis,

Galiot’s host set out.

Furth goth this king with al his oſt anon.

Be this the word wes to king arthur gone,

That knew no thing, nor wiſt of ther entent,

Arthur’s host don their armour.

776 But ſone his folk ar one to armys went;

But arthur by Report hard saye

Arthur, hearing that Galiot is unarmed, will not arm himself;

How galiot non armys bur that day,

Wharfor he thoght of armys nor of ſheld

780 None wald he tak, nor mak hyme for the feld.

but calls Gawane, and tells him how to order his battalions.

But gawane haith he clepit, was hyme by,

In qwhome Rignith the flour of cheuelry;

And told one what maner, and one what wyß

784 He ſhuld his batelles ordand and dewys;

Beſeching hyme, [hyme] wiſly to for-see

Aȝaine thei folk, wich was far mo than hee.

He knew the charg and paſſith one his way

788 Furth to his horß, and makith no dulay;

The clariounis blew and furth goth al onoñ,

Gawane and his men cross over the water at the ford.

And our ye watter and the furd ar goñe.

Within o playne vpone that other ſyd

792 Ther gawan gon his batellis to dewide,

As he wel couth, and set them in aray,

Syne with o manly contynans can ſay,

GAWANE HARANGUES HIS MEN.

He harangues his men.

“Ye falowis wich of the round table beñ,

796 Through al this erth whois fam is hard and ſen,

Remembrith now It ſtondith one the poynt,

17 At the bottom of this page appears for the first time a catchword, which is— “The wel fare.”

For why It lyith one your ſperis poynt,17

[Fol. 11.]

The well-fare of the king and of our londe;

800 And ſen the ſucour lyith in your honde,

And hardement is thing ſhall moſt awaill

Frome deth ther men of armys in bataill,

Lat now your manhed and your hie curage

804 The pryd of al thir multitude aſſuage;

Deth or defence, non other thing we wot.”

Maleginis and all his host come over the plain, and Gawane sends a company against them.

This freſch king, that maleginis was hot,

With al his oſt he cummyne our the plañ,

808 And gawan ſend o batell hyme agañ;

18 Or “berde.”

In myde the borde,18 and feſtinit in the ſtell

The ſperithis poynt, that bitith ſcharp and well;

But they were all too few; wherefore Gawane sends a second company;

Bot al to few thei war, and mycht nocht leſt

812 This gret Rout that cummyth one ſo faſt.

Than haith ſir gawan ſend, them to ſupport,

One othir batell with one knychtly sorte;

then a third; then a fourth; and then sets out himself, to resist the 10,000.

And ſyne the thrid, and ſyne the ferde alſo;

816 And ſyne hyme-ſelf one to the feld can go,

When that he ſauch thar latter batell ſteir,

And the ten thouſand cummyne al thei veir;

Qwhar that of armes prewit he so well,

820 His ennemys gane his mortall [ſtrokis] fell.

He goes among them in his courage,

He goith ymong them in his hie curage,

As he that had of knyghthed the wſage,

And couth hyme weill conten in to on hour;

824 Aȝaine his ſtrok reſiſtit non armour;

and many other of Arthur’s knights perform wonders.

And mony knycht, that worth ware and bolde,

War thore with hyme of arthuris houſhold,

And knyghtly gan one to the feld them bere,

828 And mekil wroght of armys In to were;

GAWANE DEFEATS MALEGINIS.

Sir gawan than vpone ſuch wyß hyme bure,

Maleginis goeth to discomfiture, and 7,000 of his men flee.

This othere goith al to diſcumfitoure;

Sewyne thouſand fled, and of the feld thei go,

832 Whar-of this king in to his hart was wo,

For of hyme ſelf he was of hie curage.

To galiot than ſend he in meſag,

That he ſhuld help his folk for to defende;

Galiot sends him 30,000 more.

836 And he to hyme hath xxx^te thousand sende;

Whar-of this king gladith in his hart,

And thinkith to Reweng all the ſmart

[Fol. 11 b.]

That he to-for haith ſuffirit and the payne.

His folk return across the field as thick as hail.

840 And al his folk returnyt Is ayayne

19 MS. “thilk as (Rayne) haill,” as if it were at first intended to find a rime to “ayayne.”

Atour the feld, and cummyne thilk as haill;19

The ſwyft horß goith firſt to the aſſall.

This noble knyght that ſeith the grete forß

844 Of armyt men, that cummyne vpone horß,

To-giddir ſemblit al his falowſchip,

And thoght them at the ſharp poynt to kep,

So that thar harm̅ ſhal be ful deir yboght.

848 This vthere folk with ſtraucht courß hath ſocht

Out of aray atour the larg felld;

Thar was the ſtrokis feſtnit in the ſhelde,

Thei war Reſauit at the ſperis end.

Arthur’s folk receive them manfully.

852 So arthuris folk can manfully defend;

The formeſt can thar lyues end conclude,

Whar ſone aſſemblit al the multitude.

Thar was defens, ther was gret aſſaill,

856 Richt wonderfull and ſtrong was y^e bataill,

but sustain much pain,

Whar arthuris folk ſuſtenit mekil payn,

And knychtly them defendit haith aȝaine.

and cannot endure against so many.

Bot endur thei mycht, apone no wyß,

860 The multitude and ek the gret ſuppriß;

GAWANE’S VALIANT DEEDS.

But gawan, wich that ſetith al his payn

Vpone knyghthed, defendid ſo aȝaine,

That only in the manhede of this knyght

864 His folk reIoſit them of his gret myght,

And ek abaſit hath his ennemys;

For throw the feld he goith in ſuch wyß,

And in the preß ſo manfully them ſeruith,

Gawane carves helmets in two, and smites heads off shoulders;

868 His ſuerd atwo the helmys al to-kerwith,

The hedis of he be the ſhouderis ſmat;

The horß goith, of the maiſter deſolat.

But what awaleth al his beſynes,

872 So ſtrong and ſo inſufferable vas the preß?

but his men recross the ford to go to their lodges.

His folk are paſſit atour the furdis ilkon,

Towart ther bretis and to ther luges gon;

Whar he and many worthy knyght alſo

876 Of arthuris houß endurit mekill wo,

That neuer men mar in to armys vroght

Of manhed, ȝit was It al for noght.

[Fol. 12.]

Thar was the ſtrenth, ther was the paſing myght

Gawane fights alone till night,

880 Of gawan, wich that whill the dirk nyght

Befor the luges faucht al hyme aloñ,

When that his falowis entrit ware ilkoñ,

On arthuris half war mony tan and ſlan;

when Galiot’s folk return home.

884 And galotis folk Is hame returnyd aȝaine,

For it was lait; away the oſtis ridith,

And gawan ȝit apone his horß abidith,

With ſuerd in hond, when thei away var gon,

888 And so for-wrocht hys lymmys ver ilkon,

And wondit ek his body vp and doune,

Gawane swoons upon his horse.

Vpone his horß Right thore he fel in ſwoune;

And thei hyme tuk and to his lugyne bare,

The king and queen fear he has brought himself to confusion.

892 Boith king and qwen of hyme vare in diſpare;

For thei ſuppoſit, throw marwellis that he vroght,

He had hyme-ſelf to his confuſioune broght.

20 See note to this line.

[T]his20 was nere by of melyhalt, the hyll,

896 Whar lanſcelot ȝit was with the lady ſtill.

The knychtis of the court [can] paſing hom̅e;

This ladiis knychtis to hir palice com,

And told to hir, how that the feld was vent,

The lady of Melyhalt hears of Gawane’s deeds;

900 And of gawan, and of his hardyment,

That merwell was his manhed to behold;

and Lancelot also,

And ſone thir tithingis to the knycht vas told,

That was with wo and hewyneſs oppreſt;

904 So noyith hyme his ſuiorne and his reſt,

who sends for a knight to take a message to the lady;

And but dulay one for o knycht he send,

That was moſt ſpeciall with the lady kend.

He comyne, and the knycht vn to hyme ſaid,

908 “Diſpleß yow not, ſir, be ȝhe not ill paid,

So homly thus I yow exort to go,

To gare my lady ſpek o word or two

21 MS. “presonerere.”

With me, that am a carful preſonere.”21

912 “Sir, your commande y ſhall, withouten were,

Fulfill;” and to his lady paſſit hee

In lawly wyß beſiching hir, that ſhe

Wald grant hyme to pas at his requeſt,

916 Vnto hir knycht, ſtood wnder hir areſt;

And ſhe, that knew al gentilleß aright,

22 Read “with” (?).

who comes to his chamber.

Furth to his chamber paſſit wight22 the licht.

LANCELOT PRAYS TO BE RELEASED.

[Fol. 12 b.]

And he aroß and ſaluſt Curtaſly

Lancelot beseeches her to appoint his ransom,

920 The lady, and ſaid, “madem, her I,

Your preſoner, beſekith yow that ȝhe

Wold merſy and compaſſione have of me,

And mak the ranſone wich that I may yeif;

924 I waiſt my tyme in presoune thus to leife.

For why I her on be report be told,

That arthur, with the flour of his houſholde,

Is cummyne here, and in this cuntre lyis,

928 And ſtant In danger of his ennemyis,

And haith aſſemblit; and eft this ſhalt bee

Within ſhort tyme one new aſſemblee.

Thar-for, my lady, y youe grace beſech,

932 That I mycht pas, my Ranſon for to fech;

presuming that some of Arthur’s knights will pay it.

Fore I preſume thar longith to that ſort

That louid me, and ſhal my nede ſupport.”

THE LADY AT FIRST REFUSES;

“Shire knycht, It ſtant nocht in ſich dugree;

She replies that she does not want a ransom, but has imprisoned him for his guilt.

936 It is no ranſone wich that cauſith me

To holden yow, or don yow ſich offens;

It is your gilt, It is your wiolens,

Whar-of that I deſir no thing but law,

940 Without report your awñ treſpas to knaw.”

“Madem, your pleſance may ye wel fulfill

Of me, that am in preſone at your will.

He prays for pardon,

Bot of that gilt, I was for til excuß,

944 For that I did of werrey nede behwß,

It tuechit to my honore and my fame;

I mycht nocht lefe It but hurting of my nam,

And ek the knycht was mor to blam than I.

948 But ye, my lady, of your curteſſy,

Wold ȝe deden my Ransoune to reſaue,

and begs for liberty:

Of preſone ſo I my libertee myght haue,

Y ware ȝolde euermore [to be] your knyght,

952 Whill that I leif, with al my holl myght.

And if ſo be ye lykith not to ma

or at least to be allowed to go to the next battle,

My ranſone, [madem,] if me leif to ga

To the aſſemble, wich ſal be of new;

under a promise to return at night.

956 And as that I am feithful knycht and trew,

At nycht to yow I enter ſhall aȝaine,

But if that deth or other lat certañ,

Throw wich I [may] have ſuch Impediment,

23 MS. “behold.”

[Fol. 13.]

960 That I be hold,23 magre myne entent.”

BUT AT LAST GRANTS HIS BOON.

She consents, if he will specify to her his name.

“Sir knycht,” quod ſhe, “I grant yow leif, withthy

Your name to me that ȝe wil ſpecify.”

“Madem, as ȝit, ſutly I ne may

964 Duclar my name, one be no maner way;

He refuses for the present.

But I promyt, als faſt as I haue tyme

Conuenient, or may vith-outen cryme,

I ſhall;” and than the lady ſaith hyme tyll,

968 “And I, ſchir knycht, one this condiſcione will

She grants him leave, under the proposed condition.

Grant yow leve, ſo that ye obliſt bee

For to Return, as ye haue ſaid to me.”

Thus thei accord, the lady goith to reſt,

972 The ſone diſcending cloſit in the veſt;

The ferd day was dewyſit for to bee

Betuex the oſtis of the aſſemblee.

And galiot Richt arly by the day,

976 Ayane the feld he can his folk aray;

Galiot assembles 40,000 fresh men.

And fourty thouſand armyt men haith he,

That war not at the othir aſſemble,

Commandit to the batell for to gon;

980 “And I my-ſelf,” quod he, “ſhal me diſpone

On to the feild aȝaine the thrid day;

Whar of this were we ſhal the end aſſay.”

Arthur also provides his men for the field.

ANd arthuris folk that come one euery ſyd,

984 He for the feld can them for to prouide,

Wich ware to few aȝaine the gret affere

Of galiot ȝit to ſuſten the were.

The knights of Melyhalt join him.

The knychtis al out of the cete roß

988 Of melyholt, and to the ſemble gois.

The lady secretly provides Lancelot with a red courser, and a shield and spear, both red also.

And the lady haith, in to ſacret wyß,

Gart for hir knycht and preſoner dewyß

In red al thing, that ganith for the were;

992 His curſeir red, ſo was boith ſcheld and ſpere.

And he, to qwham the preſone hath ben ſmart,

With glaid deſir apone his curſour ſtart;

He rides towards the field, and halts in a plain by the river-side.

Towart the feld anon he gan to ryd,

996 And in o plan houit one reuer syde.

LANCELOT ENCOURAGES HIMSELF.

This knycht, the wich that long haith ben in cag,

Lancelot is encouraged, seeing the blithe morn, the mead, the river, the green woods, and the knights and banners.

He grew in to o freſch and new curage,

Seing the morow blythfull and amen,

1000 The med, the Reuer, and the vodis gren,

The knychtis in [ther] armys them arayinge,

[Fol. 13 b.]

The baneris ayaine the feld diſplayng,

His ȝouth in ſtrenth and in proſperytee,

24 May we read “diuerſytee”?

1004 And ſyne of luſt the gret aduerſytee.24

Thus in his thocht remembryng at the laſt,

Casting his eyes aside, he sees the queen looking over a parapet.

Efterward one ſyd he gan his Ey to caſt,

25 MS. “abertes.”

Whar our a bertes25 lying haith he sen

1008 Out to the feld luking was the qwen;

Sudandly with that his goſt aſtart

Love catches him by the heart.

Of loue anone haith caucht hyme by the hart;

Than ſaith he, “How long ſhall It be so,

1012 Loue, at yow ſhall wirk me al this wo?

Apone this wyß to be Infortunat,

Hir for to ſerue the wich thei no thing wate

What ſufferance I in hir wo endure,

1016 Nor of my wo, nor of myne aduenture?

And I wnworthy ame for to attane

To hir presens, nor dare I noght complane.

He counsels his heart to help itself at need,

Bot, hart, ſen at yow knawith ſhe is here,

1020 That of thi lyue and of thi deith is ſtere,

Now is thi tyme, now help thi-ſelf at neid,

And the dewod of euery point of dred,

to forego cowardice,

That cowardy be none In to the señ,

1024 Fore and yow do, yow knowis thi peyne, I weyn;

Yow art wnable euer to attane

To hir mercy, or cum be ony mayne.

and to deserve her thanks or die.

Tharfor y red hir thonk at yow diſſerue,

1028 Or in hir presens lyk o knycht to ſterf.”

THE RED KNIGHT’S TRANCE.

Confused with a heavy thought,

With that confuſit with an hewy thocht,

Wich ner his deith ful oft tyme haith hyme ſocht,

Deuoydit was his spritis and his goſt,

1032 He wiſt not of hyme-ſelf nor of his oſt;

he [sits] on his horse as still as stone.

Bot one his horß, als ſtill as ony ſton.

When that the knychtis armyt war ilkon,

The bugles are blown, and the knights are ready on horseback, 20,000 in number.

To warnnyng them vp goith the bludy ſown,

1036 And euery knyght vpone his horß is bown;

Twenty thouſand armyt men of were.

The king that day he wold non armys bere;

His batellis ware devyſit euerilkon,

They are forbidden to cross the fords, but cannot be restrained.

1040 And them forbad out our the furdis to gon.

Bot frome that thei ther ennemys haith sen,

In to ſuch wys thei couth them noght ſuſteñ;

[Fol. 14.]

Bot ovr thei went vithouten more delay,

1044 And can them one that oyer sid aſſay.

The red knight still halting by the ford, a herald seizes his bridle, and bids him awake.

The red knycht ſtill in to his hewy thoght

Was hufyng ȝit apone the furd, and noght

Wiſt of hime ſelf; with that a harrold com,

1048 And ſone the knycht he be the brydill nom,

Saying, “awalk! It is no tyme to ſlep;

Your worſchip more expedient vare to kep.”

No word he ſpak, ſo prikith hyme the ſmart

1052 Of hevynes, that ſtood vnto his hart.

Two shrews next approach; one takes his shield off his neck,

Two ſcrewis cam with that, of quhich [that] oñ

The knychtis ſheld rycht frome his hals haith toñ;

the other casts water at his ventayle, which causes him to wink, and arouse himself.

That vthir watter takith atte laſt,

1056 And in the knychtis wentail haith It caſt;

When that he felt the vatter that vas cold,

He wonk, and gan about hyme to behold,

And thinkith how he ſum-quhat haith myſgoñ.

1060 With that his ſpere In to his hand haith ton,

THE RED KNIGHT FIGHTS LIKE A LION.

He goes to the field, and sees the first-conquest king.

Goith to the feild withouten vordis more;

So was he vare whare that there cam before,

O manly man he was in to al thing,

1064 And clepit was the ferſt-conquest king.

The Red knycht with [the] ſpuris ſmat the ſted,

The tother cam, that of hyme hath no drede;

They meet.

With ferß curag ben the knychtis met,

1068 The king his ſpere apone the knycht hath set,

That al in peciß flaw in to the felde;

The red knight, though shieldless, overthrows his foe.

His hawbrek helpit, ſuppos he had no ſcheld.

And he the king in to the ſcheld haith ton,

1072 That horß and man boith to the erd ar gon.

The shrew restores his shield.

Than to the knycht he cummyth, that haith tan

His ſheld, to hyme deliuerith It ayane,

Beſiching hyme that of his Ignorance,

1076 That knew hyme nat, as takith no grewance.

The knycht his ſche[l]d but mor delay haith tak,

And let hyme go, and no thing to hyme ſpak.

26 MS. “thei,” altered to “thee,” which is still wrong.

Than thei the26 wich that ſo at erth haith ſen

The men of the first-conquest king come to the rescue.

1080 Ther lord, the ferſt-conqueſt king, y meñ,

In haiſt thei cam, as that thei var agrevit,

And manfully thei haith ther king Releuit.

[A]nd Arthuris folk, that lykith not to byde,

1084 In goith the spuris in the ſtedis syde;

[Fol. 14 b.]

To-giddir thar aſſemblit al the oſt:

At whois meting many o knycht was loſt.

The battle was right cruel to behold.

The batell was richt crewell to behold,

1088 Of knychtis wich that haith there lyvis ȝolde.

One to the hart the ſpere goith throw the ſcheld,

The knychtis gaping lyith in the feld.

The red knycht, byrnyng in loues fyre,

1092 Goith to o knycht, als ſwift as ony vyre,

The wich he perſit throuch and throuch the hart;

The red knight loses his spear, but draws his sword, and roams the field like a lion.

The ſpere is went; with that anon he ſtart,

And out o ſuerd in to his hond he tais;

1096 Lyk to o lyone in to the feld he gais,

In to his Rag ſmyting to and fro

Fro ſum the arm, fro ſum the nek in two,

Sum in the feild lying is in ſwoun,

Some he cleaves to the belt.

1100 And sum his ſuerd goith to the belt al douñe.

For qwhen that he beholdith to the qwen,

Who had ben thore his manhed to haue sen,

His doing in to armys and his myght,

1104 Shwld ſay in world war not ſuch o wight.

His fellows take comfort from his deeds,

His falouſchip siche comfort of his dede

Haith ton, that thei ther ennemys ne dreid;

But can them-self ay manfoly conten

1108 In to the ſtour, that hard was to ſuſten;

though Galiot’s host was a surpassing multitude.

For galyot was O paſing multitude

Of prewit men in armys that war gude,

The wich can with o freſch curag aſſaill

1112 Ther ennemys that day In to batell;

Had it not been for the manhood of the red knight, Arthur’s folk had been in peril.

That ne ware not the vorſchip and manhede

Of the red knycht, in perell and in dreid

Arthuris folk had ben, vith-outen vere;

1116 Set thei var good, thei var of ſmal powere.

GAWANE BEHOLDS THE RED KNIGHT.

Gawane is led to the parapet,

And gawan, wich gart bryng hyme-ſelf befor

To the bertes, set he was vondit sore,

Whar the qwen vas, and whar that he mycht see

1120 The manere of the oſt and aſſemble;

And when that he the gret manhed haith sen

and saith to the queen, that none ever did better than yon red knight.

Of the red knycht, he ſaith one to the qwen,

“Madem, ȝone knyght in to the armys Rede,

1124 Nor neuer I hard nore ſaw in to no ſted

O knycht, the wich that in to ſchortar ſpace

In armys haith mor forton nore mor grace;

Nore bettir doith boith with ſper and ſcheild,

[Fol. 15.]

1128 He is the hed and comfort of our feild.”

The queen prays for Lancelot.

“Now, ſir, I traiſt that neuer more vas ſen

No man in feild more knyghtly hyme conten;

I pray to hyme that euery thing hath cure,

1132 Saif hyme fro deth or wykit aduenture.”

The field was perilous on both sides,

The feild It was rycht perellus and ſtrong

On boith the ſydis, and continewit long,

from early morn till the sun had gone down.

Ay from the ſone the varldis face gan licht

1136 Whill he was gone and cumyne vas the nycht;

And than o forß thei mycht It not aſſtart,

On euery ſyd behouit them depart.

Every knight then returns home, and the red knight privily goes back to the city.

The feild is don and ham goith euery knycht,

1140 And prevaly, unwiſt of any wicht,

The way the red knycht to the cete taiis,

As he had hecht, and in his chambre gais.

When arthure hard how the knycht Is gon,

1144 He blamyt ſore his lordis euerilk-one;

And oft he haith remembrit in his thoght,

Arthur, seeing the multitude of Galiot’s men, recalls his dream, saying,

What multitud that galiot had broght;

Seing his folk that ware so ewil arayt,

1148 In to his mynd he ſtondith al affrayt,

And ſaith, “I traiſt ful ſuth It ſal be founde

My drem Richt as the clerkis gan expounde;

“My men now fail me at need.”

For why my men failȝeis now at neid,

1152 My-ſelf, my londe, in perell and in dreide.”

GALIOT PROPOSES A TRUCE.

Galiot tells his council

And galiot vpone hie worſchip set,

And his conſell anon he gart be fet,

To them he ſaith, “with arthur weil ȝe see

1156 How that It ſtant, and to qwhat degre,

Aȝanis ws that he is no poware;

that there is no honour in conquering Arthur,

Wharfor, me think, no worſchip to ws ware

In conqueryng of hyme, nor of his londe,

1160 He haith no ſtrenth, he may ws not vithſtonde.

Wharfor, me think It beſt is to delay,

and proposes a twelvemonth’s truce.

And reſput hyme for a tuelmoñeth day,

Whill that he may aſſemble al his myght;

1164 Than is mor worſchip aȝanis hyme to ficht;”

And thus concludit thoght hyme for the beſt.

The very knychtis paſſing to there Reſt;

Of melyholt the ladeis knychtis ilkone

1168 Went home, and to hir presens ar thei gon;

The lady of Melyholt asks her knights who hath won most honour.

At qwhome ful ſone than gan ſcho to Inquere,

And al the maner of the oſtis till spere;

How that It went, and in what maner wyß,

1172 Who haith moſt worſchip, and who is moſt to pryß?

[Fol. 15 b.]

“Madem,” quod thei, “O knycht was In the feild,

They reply, that a red knight had exceeded all others.

Of Red was al his armour and his ſheld,

Whois manhed can al otheris to exced,

1176 May nan report in armys half his deid;

Ne wor his worſchip, ſhortly to conclud,

Our folk of help had ben al deſtitud.

He haith the thonk, the vorſchip in hyme lyis,

1180 That we the feld defendit in ſich wyß.”

The lady wonders if her prisoner is meant.

The lady thane one to hir-ſelf haith thocht,

“Whether Is ȝone my preſonar, ore noght?

The ſuthfaſtneß that ſhal y wit onon.”

THE LADY VISITS LANCELOT.

1184 When euery wight vn to ther Reſt war gon,

She calls her cousin,

She clepith one hir cwſynes ful nere

Wich was to hir moſt ſpeciall and dere,

And ſaith to hir, “qwheyar if yone bee

1188 Our preſoner, my consell Is we see.”

who takes a torch, and they go to the stable,

With that the maden In hir hand hath ton

O torche, and to the ſtabille ar thei gon;

and find his steed wounded.

And fond his ſted lying at the ground,

1192 Wich wery was, ywet with mony wounde.

The maden ſaith, “vpone this horß is ſen,

He in the place quhar strokis was hath beñ;

And ȝhit the horß It is nocht wich that hee

1196 Furth with hyme hade;”—the lady ſaid, “per dee,

He vſyt haith mo horß than one or two;

Next they view his armour,

I red one to his armys at we go.”

Tharwith one to his armys ar thei went;

and find his hauberk rent, and his shield frushed all to naught.

1200 Thei fond his helm, thei fond his hawbrek rent,

Thei fond his ſcheld was fruſchit al to nocht;

At ſchort, his armour In sich wyß vas vrocht

In euery place, that no thing was left haill,

1204 Nore neuer eft accordith to bataill.

They think he has well used his armour.

Than ſaith the lady to hir cuſyneß,

“What ſal we ſay, what of this mater geß?”

“Madem, I ſay, thei have nocht ben abwsyt;

1208 He that them bur ſchortly he has them vſyt.”

“That may ȝe ſay, ſuppos the beſt that lewis,

Or moſt of worſchip in til armys prewis,

Or ȝhit haith ben in ony tyme beforñ,

1212 Had them in feld in his maſt curag borñ.”

They next visit the knight himself,

“Now,” quod the lady, “will we paß, and see

The knycht hyme-self, and ther the ſuth may we

27 “then” (?).

[Fol. 16.]

Knaw of this thing.” Incontynent them27 boith

1216 Thir ladeis vn to his chambre goith.

who was now asleep.

The knycht al wery fallyng was on ſlep;

This maden paſſith In, and takith kep.

The lady’s cousin observes his breast and shoulders bloody, his face hurt, and his fists swollen.

Sche ſauch his breſt with al his ſchowderis bare,

1220 That bludy war and woundit her and thare;

His face was al to-hurt and al to-ſchent,

His newis ſwellyng war and al to-Rent.

Sche ſmylyt a lyt, and to hir lady ſaid,

1224 “It ſemyth weill this knycht hath ben aſſaid.”

THE LADY IS LOVE-SMITTEN.

The lady next observes him,

The lady ſauch, and rewit in hir thoght

The knychtis worſchip wich that he haith vroght.

and is smitten to the heart by the dart of love,

In hire Remembrance loues fyre dart

1228 With hot deſyre hir ſmat one to the hart;

And then a quhill, with-outen wordis mo,

In to hir mynd thinking to and fro,

She ſtudeit ſo, and at the laſt abraid

and prays her cousin to draw aside, while she kisses the knight.

1232 Out of hir thocht, and ſudandly thus ſaid,

28 MS. “alyt.”

“With-draw,” quod ſhe, “one ſyd a lyt28 the lyght,

Or that I paß that I may kyß the knyght.”

HER COUSIN REPROVES HER.

Her cousin reproves her,

“Madem,” quod ſche, “what is It at ȝe meñ?

1236 Of hie worſchip our mekill have ȝe señ

So sone to be ſuppriſit with o thoght.

lest the knight should awake.

What is It at ȝhe think? preſwm ȝe noght

That if yon knycht wil walkin, and perſaif,

1240 He ſhal yarof no thing bot ewill conſaif;

In his entent Ruput yow therby

The ablare to al lychtneß and foly?

And blam the more al vtheris in his mynd,

1244 If your gret wit in ſich deſire he fynde?”

The lady replies.

“Nay,” quod the lady, “no thing may I do

For ſich o knycht may be defam me to.”

Her cousin next argues the point;

“Madem, I wot that for to loue yone knycht,

1248 Conſidir his fame, his worſchip, and his mycht;

And to begyne as worſchip wil dewyß,

Syne he ayaine mycht lowe yow one ſuch wyß,

And hold yow for his lady and his loue,

1252 It war to yow no maner of Reprwe.

“What if he loves another?”

But quhat if he appelit be and thret

His hart to lowe, and ellis whar y-ſet?

And wel y wot, madem, if It be so,

1256 His hart hyme sal not ſuffir to loue two,

[Fol. 16 b.]

For noble hart wil have no dowbilneß;

If It be ſo, ȝhe tyne yowr low, I geß;

Than is your-ſelf, than is your loue Refuſit,

1260 Your fam is hurt, your gladneß is concluſit.

My conſell is, therfore, you to abſten

Whill that to yow the werray Rycht be ſeñ

Of his entent, the wich ful ſon ȝhe may

1264 Have knawlag, If yow lykith to aſſay.”

She persuades the lady to return to her chamber, without further delay.

So mokil to hir lady haith ſhe vroght

That at that tyme ſhe haith Returnyt hir thocht,

And to hir chambre went, withouten more,

1268 Whar loue of new aſſaith hir ful sore.

So well long thei ſpeking of the knycht,

Her cousin labours to expel her love for Lancelot from her thoughts, but her labour is in vain.

Hir cuſynace hath don al at ſhe mycht

For to expel that thing out of hir thocht;

1272 It wil not be, hir labour Is for nocht.

Now leif we hir In to hir neweſt pan,

And to arthur we wil retwrn agañ.

EXPLICIT PRIMUS LIBER, INCIPIT SECUNDUS.

ARTHUR’S GREAT ANXIETY.

[BOOK II.]

Night.

The clowdy nyght, wndir whois obſcure

1276 The reſt and quiet of euery criatur

Lyith ſauf, quhare the goſt with beſyneß

Is occupiit, with thoghtfull hewynes;

And, for that thocht furth ſchewing vil his mycht,

1280 Go fare-wel reſt and quiet of the nycht.

Arthur cannot rest.

Artur, I meyne, to whome that reſt is nocht,

But al the nycht ſuppriſit is with thocht;

In to his bed he turnyth to and fro,

1284 Remembryng the apperans of his wo,

That is to ſay, his deith, his confuſioune,

And of his realme the opin diſtruccioune.

That in his wit he can no thing prowide,

1288 Bot tak his forton thar for to abyd.

The sun goeth up.

Vp goith the ſon, vp goith the hot morow;

The thoghtful king al the nycht to ſorow,

[Fol. 17.]

That ſauch the day, vpone his feit he ſtart,

Arthur goeth forth.

1292 And furth he goith, diſtrublit in his hart.

A quhill he walkith in his penſyf goſt,

He hears that a clerk has arrived,

So was he ware thar cummyne to the oſt

O clerk, with whome he was aqwynt befor,

1296 In to his tyme non better was y-bore;

Of qwhois com he gretly vas Reioſit,

For in to hyme ſum comfort he ſuppoſit;

between whom and himself there was a hearty affection.

Betuex them was one hartly affeccioune.

1300 Non orderis had he of Relegioune,

Famus he was, and of gret excellence,

He was expert in the seven sciences,

And rycht expert in al the vij. ſcience;

Contemplatif and chaſt in gouernance,

and was named Amytans.

1304 And clepit was the maiſter amytans.

The king befor his palȝoune one the gren,

That knew hyme well, and haith his cummyn ſeñ,

Arthur welcomes him.

Velcummyt hyme, and maid hyme rycht gud chere,

AMYTANS REPROVES ARTHUR.

1308 And he agan, agrewit as he were,

He recks nothing of Arthur’s salutation.

Saith, “nothir of thi ſaloſing, nor the,

Ne rak I nocht, ne charg I nocht,” quod hee.

The king inquires what trespass he has committed.

Than quod the king, “maiſter, and for what why

1312 Ar ȝe agrewit? or quhat treſſpas have I

Commytit, ſo that I ſhal yow diſples?”

He replies, “It is not against me, but against thyself.

Quod he, “no thing It is ayane myn eß,

But only contrare of thi-ſelf alway;

1316 So fare the courß yow paſſith of the way.

Thy ship is almost drowned in the whirlpool.

Thi ſchip, that goth apone the ſtormy vall,

Ney of thi careldis in the ſwelf it fall,

Whar ſhe almoſt is in the perell drent;

1320 That is to ſay, yow art ſo far myſwent

Of wykitneß vpone the vrechit dans,

29 So in MS. Is it necessary to alter it to “strong”?

That yow art fallyng in the storng29 vengans

That is, God’s wrath shall soon devour thee.

Of goddis wreth, that ſhal the ſon deuour;

1324 For of his ſtrok approchit now the hour

That boith thi Ringe, thi ceptre, and thi crovñ,

Frome hie eſtat he ſmyting ſhal adoune.

And that accordith well, for in thi thocht

Because thou knowest Him not, who set thee up in this high estate,

1328 Yow knawith not hyme, the wich that haith the wrocht,

And ſet the vp in to this hie eſtat

From powert; for, as the-ſelwyne wat,

It cummyth al bot only of his myght,

1332 And not of the, nor of thi elderis Richt

To the diſcending, as in heritage,

though not begotten in spousage.

For yow was not byget in to spouſag.

[Fol. 17 b.]

Wharfor yow aucht his biding to obſerf,

1336 And at thy mycht yow ſhuld hyme pleß and ſerf;

That dois yow nat, for yow art ſo confuſſit

With this fals warld, that thow haith hyme Refuſit,

And brokine haith his reul and ordynans,

1340 The wich to the he gave in gouernans.

THE TYRANNY OF KINGS.

He made thee king,

He maid the king, he maid the gouernour,

He maid the ſo, and ſet in hie honour

Of Realmys and of [diuerß] peplis ſere;

1344 Efter his loue thow ſhuld them Reul and ſtere,

And wnoppreſſit kep in to Iuſtice,

The wykit men and pwnyce for ther wice.

Yow dois no thing, bot al in the contrare,

and thou sufferest thy people to fare ill.

1348 And ſuffrith al thi puple to forfare;

Yow haith non Ey but one thyne awn delyt,

Or quhat that pleſing ſhall thyne appetyt.

In the defalt of law and of Iuſtice,

1352 Wndir thi hond is ſufferyt gret ſuppriß

Of fadirleß, and modirleß alſo,

And wedwis ek ſuſtenit mekill wo.

The poor are oppressed.

With gret myſchef oppreſſit ar the pure;

1356 And thow art cauß of al this hol Iniure,

Whar-of that god a raknyng ſal craf

At the, and a ſore Raknyng ſal hafe;

For thyne eſtat is gewyne to Redreß

1360 Thar ned, and kep them to rychtwyneß;

And thar is non that ther complantis heris;

The mychty folk, and ek the flattereris

Ar cheif with the, and doith this oppreſſioun;

If they complain, it is their confusion.

1364 If thai complen, It is ther confuſſioune.

And daniell ſaith that who doith to the pure,

Or faderleß, or modirleß, EnIure,

Or to the puple, that ilke to god doth hee;

1368 And al this harme ſuſtenit Is throw the.

Yow ſufferith them, oppreſſith and anoyith;

So yow art cauß, throw the thei ar diſtroyth;

Than, at thi mycht, god ſo diſtroys yow.

What wilt thou do, when God destroys sinners off the visage of the earth?

1372 What ſhal he do aȝane? quhat ſhal yow,

When he diſtroys by vengance of his ſuerd

The ſynaris fra the vysagis of the Erde?

Than vtraly yow ſhall diſtroyt bee;

1376 And that Richt weill apperis now of thee,

For yow allon byleft art ſolitere;

Solomon saith, ‘Wo to him who is left alone! He hath no help.’

And the wyß salamon can duclar,

‘Wo be to hyme that is byleft alone,

[Fol. 18.]

1380 He haith no help;’ so Is thi forton goñe;

For he is callit, with quhom that god is nocht,

Allone; and ſo thi wykitneß haith wrocht

That god hyme-ſelf he is bycummyn thi fo,

Thou hast lost thy people’s hearts,

1384 Thi pupleis hartis haith thow tynt alſo;

Thi wykitneß thus haith the maid alon,

That of this erth thi fortone Is y-goñ.

Yow mone thi lyf, yow mone thi vorſchip tyne,

and shalt come to death that hath no end.”

1388 And eft to deth that neuer ſhal haf fyne.”

ARTHUR ASKS ADVICE.

“Maister,” quod he, “of yowre beneuolens,

Y yow beſech that tueching myn offens,

Ȝhe wald wichſaif your conſell to me If

Arthur asks how he shall amend,

1392 How I ſal mend, and ek her-eftir leif.”

“Now,” quod the maiſter, “and I have merwell qwhy

Yow aſkith conſail, and wil in non affy,

Nor wyrk thar-by; and ȝhit yow may In tym,

1396 If yow lykith to amend the cryme.”

“Ȝhis,” ſaith the king, “and ſuthfaſtly I will

and promises to fulfil his bidding.

Ȝour ordynans in euery thing fulfyll.”

“And if the liſt at conſail to abide,

The master replies, “Thou must first dread the Lord.

1400 The remed of thi harme to prouyde—

Firſt, the begyning is of ſapiens,

To dreid the lord and his magnificens;

And what thow haith in contrar hyme ofendit,

30 MS. “amendit.”

1404 Whill yow haith mycht, of fre deſir amend it;30

Repent thy guilt.

Repent thi gilt, repent thi gret treſpaß,

And remembir one goddis richwyſneß;

How for to hyme that wykitneß anoyt,

1408 And how the way of ſynaris he diſtroit;

And if ye lyk to ryng wnder his peß,

Ye wengans of his mychty hond yow ſeß,

This ſchalt yow do, if yow wil be perfit.

1412 Firſt, mone yow be penitent and contrit

Of euery thing that tuechith thi conſiens,

Done of fre will, or ȝhit of neglygens.

Thy need requireth full contrition.

Thi neid requirith ful contretioune,

1416 Princepaly with-out concluſioune;

With humble hart and goſtly byſyneß,

Syne ſhalt yow go deuotly the confeß

Confess to some holy confessor.

Ther-of vnto ſum haly confeſſour,

1420 That the wil conſail tueching thin arour;

And to fulfill his will and ordynans,

Do penance, and amend all wrong.”

In ſatiſfaccione and doing of penans,

And to amend al wrang and al Iniure,

1424 By the ydone til euery Creature;

[Fol. 18 b.]

If yow can In to thi hart fynde,

Contretioune well degeſt In to thi mynd.

Now go thi weie, for if it leful were,

1428 Confeſſioune to me, I ſhuld It here.”

ARTHUR CONFESSES HIS SINS,

Arthur tries to remember every sin done since his years of innocence,

Than arthur, Richt obedient and mek,

In to his wit memoratyvecan ſeik

Of euery gilt wich that he can pens,

1432 Done frome he paſſith the ȝeris of Innocens;

And as his maiſter hyme commandit hade,

and made his confession with lamentable cheer.

He goith and his confeſſione haith he maad

Richt deuotly with lementable chere;

1436 The maner wich quho lykith for to here

He may It fynd In to the holl romans,

Of confeſſione o paſing cercumſtans.

I can It not, I am no confeſſour,

1440 My wyt haith ewill conſat of that labour,

Quharof I wot I aucht repent me ſore.

The king wich was confeſſit, what is more,

Goith and til his maiſter tellith hee,

1444 How euery ſyne In to his awn degree

He shew, that mycht occuryng to his mynde.

“Leftest thou aught behind,” quoth the master, “about Ban, king of Albanak, and his disinherited wife?”

“Now,” quod the maiſtere, “left thow aght behynde

Of albenak the vorſchipful king ban,

1448 The wich that vas in to my ſeruice ſlan,

And of his wif diſheriſt eft alſo?

Bot of ther ſone, the wich was them fro,

31 MS. apparently has “srpek;” but a comparison with line 1543 shews that the apparent r is due to the meeting of two slight flourishes belonging to the s and p.

Ne ſpek31 y not;”—the king in his entent

1452 Abaſyt was, and furthwith is he went

The king again confesses, and returns,

Aȝane, and to his confeſſour declarith;

Syne to his maiſter he ayane Reparith,

AND AGAIN ASKS FOR ADVICE.

To quhome he ſaith, “I aftir my cunyng

1456 Your ordinans fulfillit in al thing;

And now right hartly y beſeich and prey,

Ȝhe wald withſchaif ſum thing to me ſay,

prays for comfort,

That may me comfort in my gret dreid,

1460 And how my men ar falȝet in my Neid,

and inquires about his dream.

And of my dreme, the wich that is ſo dirk.”

The master saith, “If thou art bound to work by my counsel,

This maiſter ſaith, “and thow art bound to virk

32 This line (though it should not) begins with an illuminated letter.

32AT my conſail, and if yow has maad

1464 Thi confeſſione, as yow before hath ſaid,

And in thi conciens thinkith perſeuere,

As I preſume that thow onon ſhalt here

That god hyme-ſelf ſhal ſo for y^e prouide,

thou shalt abide in thy kingdom.

1468 Thow ſhal Remayne and In thi Ring abyd.

[Fol. 19.]

And why thi men ar falȝet At this nede,

At ſhort this is the cauß, ſhalt yow nocht dred,

Fore thow to gode was frawart and perwert;

1472 Thi ryngne and the he thocht for to ſubwart;

And yow ſal knaw na power may reciſt,

In contrar quhat god lykith to aſſi[ſ]t.

KINGS DERIVE THEIR POWER FROM GOD.

Strength of victory cometh from God only.

The vertw nore the ſtrenth of victory

1476 It cummyth not of man, bot anerly

Of hyme, the wich haith euery ſtrinth; and than,

If that the waiis pleſſit hyme of man,

He ſhal have forß aȝane his ennemys.

1480 A-ryght agan apone the ſamyne vyß,

Whoso displeases Him shall be subject to his enemies, as we read in the Bible concerning the Jews.

If he diſpleß vn to the lord, he ſhall

Be to his fais a ſubiet or a thrall,

As that we may In to the bible red,

1484 Tueching the folk he tuk hyme-ſelf to led

In to the lond, the wich he them byhicht.

Ay when thei ȝhed in to his ways Richt,

Ther fois gon befor there ſuerd to nocht;

When they wrought against Him, they were so full of fear that the sound of a falling leaf made a thousand flee.

1488 And when that thei ayanis hyme hath vrocht,

Thei war ſo full of radur and diſſpare,

That of o leif fleing in the air,

The ſound of It haith gart o thouſand tak

1492 At onys apone them-ſelf the bak,

And al ther manhed vterly foryhet;

Sich dreid the lord apone ther hartis set.

So ſhalt yow know no powar may withſtond,

1496 Ther god hyme-ſelf hath ton the cauß on hond.

Thine own offence is the reason why thy people fail thee.

And ye quhy ſtant in thyne awn offens,

That al thi puple falȝhet off defens.

And ſum ar falȝeing magre ther entent;

1500 Thei ar to quhom thow yewyne hath thi rent,

Thi gret Reuard, thi richeß and thi gold,

And cheriſſith and held in thi houſhold.

Bot the moſt part ar falȝheit the at wyll,

Thou hast shewn some of them unkindness,

1504 To quhome yow haith wnkyndneß ſchawin till;

Wrong and inIure, and ek defalt of law,

And pwnyſing of qwhich that thei ſtand aw;

And makith ſeruice but reward or fee,

1508 Syne haith no thonk bot fremmytneß of the.

Such folk to the cummyth bot for dred,

Not of fre hart the for to help at nede.

And what awalith owthir ſheld or ſper,

1512 Or horß or armoure according for ye were,

[Fol. 19 b.]

Vith-outen man them for to ſtere and led?

and a man that wanteth heart is dead.

And man, yow wot, that vantith hart is ded,

That in to armys ſeruith he of noght;

1516 A cowart oft ful mekil harm haith vroght.

In multitude nore ȝhit in confluens

Of ſich, is nowther manhed nore defens.

Thou hast so conducted thyself as to lose all thy people’s hearts.

And ſo thow hath the rewlyt, that almoſt

1520 Of al thi puple the hartis ben ylost;

And tynt richt throw thyne awn myſgouernans

Of auerice and of thyne errogans.

What is a prince without honour?

What is o prince? quhat is o gouernoure

1524 Withouten fame of worſchip and honour?

What is his mycht, ſuppos he be A lorde,

If that his folk ſal nocht to hyme accorde?

Can he by himself sustain his kingdom, by serving his own appetite?

May he his Rigne, may he his holl Empire

1528 Suſten al only of his owne deſyre,

In ſerwyng of his wrechit appetit

Of awerice and of his awn delyt,

And hald his men, wncheriſt, in thraldome?

His oppression of his people consumes his high estate, and makes other kings war on them.

UNJUST KINGS ARE PUNISHED.

1532 Nay! that ſhal ſone his hie eſtat conſome.

33 “king” (?).

For many o knycht33 therby is broght ydoune,

All vtraly to ther confuſioune;

For oft it makith vther kingis by

1536 To wer on them In traſt of victory;

And oft als throw his peple is diſtroyth,

That fyndith them agrewit or anoyth;

God also punishes their vices.”

And god alſo oft with his awn ſwerd,

1540 Punyſith ther wyſis one this erd.

Thus falith not o king but gouernans,

Boith realme and he goith one to myſchans.”

A MESSAGE FROM GALIOT.

Meanwhile, the king of a hundred knights and the first-conquest king come from Galiot,

AS thai war thus ſpeking of this thinge,

1544 Frome galiot cam two knychtis to the king;

That one the king of hundereth knychtis was;

34 MS. “kinghe,” a spelling due to confusion with “knight.” See l. 1533.

That other to nome the fyrst-conqueſt king34 has,

At firſt that galyot conquerit of one.

1548 The nereſt way one to the king thei gon,

And vp he roß, as he that wel couth do

Honor, to quhome that It afferith to;

And ȝhit he wiſt not at thei kingis were;

35 “then” (?).

1552 So them35 thei boith and vyth rycht knyghtly cher

Reuerendly thei ſaluſt hyme, and thane

and the former delivers his message, to the effect that

The king of hunder knyghtis he began

And ſaid hyme, “ſir, to ȝow my lord ws ſende,

[Fol. 20.]

1556 Galiot, whilk bad ws ſay he wende,

That of this world the vorthieſt king wor ȝhe,

Greteſt of men and of awtoritee.

Galiot wonders at the feebleness of Arthur’s folk,

Wharof he has gret wonder that ȝhe ar

1560 So feble cummyne In to his contrare,

For to defend your cuntre and your londe,

And knowith well ȝhe may hyme nocht withſtonde.

Wharfor he thinkith no worſchip to conquere,

1564 Nore in the weris more to perſyuere;

Conſiddir yowr wakneß and yowr Indegens,

Aȝanis hyme as now to mak defens.

A TRUCE PROPOSED AND ACCEPTED.

and is willing to grant a year’s truce,

Wharfore, my lord haith grantit by vs here

1568 Trewis to yhow and reſput for o ȝhere,

if Arthur will return to fight against him in a year’s time;

If that yhow lykith by the ȝheris ſpace

For to retwrn ayane In to this place,

Her to manteine yhour cuntre and withſtond

1572 Hyme with the holl power of yhour lond.

And for the tyme the trewis ſhal endure,

Yhour cuntre and yhour lond he will aſſurre;

And wit ȝhe ȝhit his powar is nocht here.

1576 And als he bad ws ſay yhow by the yhere,

and desires to have the red knight in his household.

The gud knycht wich that the Red armys bure

And in the feild maid the diſcumfiture,

The whilk the flour of knychthed may be cold,

1580 He thinkith hyme to haue of his houſhold.”

“Well,” quod the king, “I have hard quhat yhe ſay,

But if god will, and ek if that I may,

In to ſich wyß I think for to withſtond,

1584 Yhour lord ſhall have no powar of my londe.”

Arthur rejoices at the truce,

Of this meſag the king Reioſing haß,

And of the trewis wich that grantit was,

Bot anoyt ȝhit of the knycht was he,

1588 Wich thei awant to have in ſuch dogre.

Ther leif thei tuk; and when at thei war gon,

36 The initial T is illuminated.

which the master attributes to God’s providence, and exhorts him, saying,

36This maiſter ſaith, “how lykith god diſpone!

Now may yhow ſe and ſuth is my recorde;

1592 For by hyme now is makith this accord;

And by non vthir worldly providens,

Sauf only grant of his bynewolans,

To ſe if that the lykith to amend,

1596 And to prouid thi cuntre to defend.

Wharfor yow ſhalt in to thi lond home fair,

And gowerne the as that I ſhall declaire.

[Fol. 20 b.]

“First, serve God with humble heart, and let the wand of law pass through the land.

Firſt, thi god with humble hart yow ſerfe,

1600 And his comand at al thi mycht obſerf;

And ſyne, lat paß the ilk bleſſit wonde

Of lowe with mercy Iuſtly throw thi londe;

And y beſeich—to quhome yow ſal direke

1604 The rewle vpone, the wrangis to correk—

That yow be nocht in thi electioune blynde;

For writin It Is and yow ſal trew It fynde.

That, be thei for to thonk or ellis blame,

1608 And towart god thi part ſhal be the ſam̅;

Of Ignorans ſhalt yow nocht be excuſit,

Bot in ther werkis ſorly be accuſit,

For thow ſhuld euer cheß apone ſich wyß

HOW TO CHOOSE JUDGES.

Thus shalt thou choose the ministers of justice.

37 MS. “mīſteris.”

1612 The miniſteris37 that rewll haith of Iustice:—

Firſt, that he be deſcret til wnderſtond

And lowe and ek the mater of the londe;

And be of mycht and ek Autoritee,

1616 (For puple ay contempnith low degre,)

And that of trouth he folow furth the way;

That is als mych as he louyth trewth alway,

And haitith al them the wich ſal pas therfro.

1620 Syne, that he god dreid and lowe al-so.

Avoid avaricious and wrathful men.

Of auerice be-war with the deſyre,

And of hyme full of haſtynes and fyre;

Be-war thar-for of malice and deſire,

1624 And hyme alſo that lowith no medyre;

For al this abhominable was hold,

When Iuſtice was in to the tymis olde.

For qwho that is of an of thir by-know,

1628 The leſt of them ſubuertith all the low,

38 MS. “w Iustly.”

And makith It w[n]Iustly38 to procede;

Eschew unfit men, for this shall be thy meed in the day of judgment.

Eſchew tharfor, for this ſal be thi meid

Apone the day when al thing goith aright,

1632 Whar none excuß hidyng ſchal ye lyght;

But he the Iug, that no man may ſuſſpek,

Euery thing ful Iuſtly ſal correk.

Be-war thar-with, as before have I told,

1636 And cheß them wyſly that thi low ſhal hold.

And als I will that it well oft be sen,

Richt to thi-self how thei thi low conten;

Be diligent to inquire how judgment is given.

KINGS MUST BE JUST AND TRUE.

And how the Right, and how the dom is went,

1640 For to Inquer that yow be delygent.

[Fol. 21.]

And punyß for, for o thing ſhal yow know,

The most treſpas is to ſubuert the low,

So that yow be not in thar gilt accuſit,

1644 And frome the froit of bliſſit folk refuſit.

Visit every chief town throughout the bounds of thy kingdom.

And pas yow ſhalt to euery chef toune,

Throw-out the boundis of thi Regioune

Whar yow ſall be, that Iuſtice be Elyk

1648 With-out diuiſione baith to pur and ryk.

And that thi puple have [ane] awdiens

With thar complantis, and alſo thi presens;

For qwho his eris frome the puple ſtekith,

1652 And not his hond in ther ſupport furth rekith,

His dom ſall be ful grewous & ful hard,

When he ſal cry and he ſal nocht be hard.

Give thine ears to the poor.

Wharfor thyne eris ifith to the pwre,

1656 Bot in redreß of ned, & not of inIure;

Thus ſall thei don of Reſſone & knawlag.

Kings, while minors, may be excused;

But kingis when thei ben of tender ag,

Y wil not ſay I traſt thei ben excuſit,

1660 Bot ſchortly thei ſall be ſar accuſit,

but, when of age, they must punish those that have wrested justice.

When ſo thei cum to yheris of Reſone,

If thei tak not full contriſioune,

And pwnyß them that hath ther low myſgyit.

1664 That this is trouth it may not be denyit;

For vther ways thei ſal them not diſcharg,

39 A blank space here occurs, just sufficient to contain one line.

[Excep thei pwnyß them that have the charg]39

One eſtatis of ther realm, that ſhold

40 MS. “behold.”

1668 With-in his ȝouth ſe that his low be hold.40

Temper justice with mercy.

And thus thow the, with mercy, kep alway

Of Iuſtice furth the ilk bleſſit way.

Be true and stable in thy words.

And of thi wordis beis trew and ſtable,

1672 Spek not to mych, nore be not vareable.

O kingis word ſhuld be o kingis bonde,

And ſaid It is, a kingis word ſhuld ſtond;

O kingis word, among our faderis old,

1676 Al-out more precious & more ſur was hold

Than was the oth or ſeel of any wight;

A king should be the very light of truth.

O king of trouth ſuld be the werray lyght,

So treuth and Iuſtice to o king accordyth.

1680 And als, as thir clerkis old recordith,

KINGS SHOULD CHERISH ALL MEN.

41 The initial I is illuminated; rather because there is here a change of subject than because it begins a new sentence.

41In tyme is larges and humilitee

Right well according vnto hie dugre,

And pleſſith boith to god and man al-so;

[Fol. 21 b.]

1684 Wharfor I wil, incontinent thow go,

And of thi lond in euery part abide,

Whar yow gar fet and clep one euery ſid

Out of thi cuntreis, and ek out of thi tovnis,

Invite thy dukes, earls, great barons, thy poor knights, and thy bachelors, and welcome them severally.

1688 Thi dukis, erlis, and thi gret baronis,

Thi pur knychtis, and thi bach[e]leris,

And them reſauf als hartly as afferis,

And be them-ſelf yow welcum them ilkon:

1692 Syne, them to glaid and cheris, thee diſpone

With feſting and with humyll contynans.

Be not penſyve, nore proud in arrogans,

Keep company not with the rich man only, but with the poor worthy man also.

Bot with them hold in gladnes cumpany;

1696 Not with the Rich nor myghty anerly,

Bot with the pure worthi man alſo,

With them thow ſit, with them yow ryd and go.

I ſay not to be our fameliar,

1700 For, as the moſt philoſephur can duclar,

Yet remember that familiarity breeds contempt.

To mych to oyß familiaritee

Contempnyng bryngith one to hie dugre;

Bot cherice them with wordis fair depaynt,

1704 So with thi pupelle ſal yow the aquaynt.

Choose out of each district an aged knight to be thy counsellor.

Than of ilk cuntre wyſly yow enquere

An agit knycht to be thi conſulere,

That haith ben hold in armys Richt famus,

1708 Wyß and diſcret, & no thing Inwyus;

For there is non that knowith ſo wel, I-wyß,

O worthy man as he that worthi Is.

When thou hast sojourned long in a place, then provide thee with plenty of horses, armour, gold, silver, and clothing;

KINGS MUST BE LIBERAL.

When well long haith yow ſwiornyt in a place,

1712 And well acqueynt the vith thi puple has,

Than ſhalt thow ordand & prowid the

Of horß and ek of armour gret plente;

Of gold, and ſiluer, tressore, and cleithing,

1716 And euery Riches that longith to o king;

and, before leaving, distribute gifts liberally.

And when the lykith for to tak thi leif,

By largeß thus yow thi reward geif,

First to the pure worthy honorable,

1720 That is til armys and til manhed able;

(Set he be pur, ȝhit worſchip in hyme bidith);

Give to the poor worthy man the horse thou thyself ridest.

If hyme the horß one wich thi-ſelwyne Ridith,

And bid hyme that he Rid hyme for yhour ſak;

1724 Syne til hyme gold and ſiluer yow betak;

The horß to hyme for worſchip and prowes,

The treſor for his fredome and larges.

[Fol. 22 a.]

If moſt of Riches and of Cheriſing;

1728 Eftir this gud knycht berith vitneſing.

Give to thy tenants and vavasours easy hackneys, palfries, and coursers.

Syne to thi tennandis & to thi wawaſouris

If eſſy haknays, palfrais, and curſouris,

And robis ſich as pleſand ben and fair;

1732 Syne to thi lordis, wich at mychty aire,

Give to thy lords things strange and uncouth.

As dukis, erlis, princis, and ek kingis,

Yow if them ſtrang, yow if them vncouth thingis,

As diuerß iowellis, and ek preciouß ſtonis,

1736 Or halkis, hundis, ordinit for the nonis,

Or wantone horß that can nocht ſtand in ſtāble;

Thar giftis mot be fair and delitable.

Thus, firſt vn to the vorthi pur yow if

1740 Giftis, that may ther pouerte Releif;

And to the rich iftis of pleſans,

That thei be fair, ſet nocht of gret ſubſtans;

For riches aſkith no thing bot delyt,

1744 And powert haith ay ane appetyt

For to support ther ned and Indigens:

Thus ſhall yow if and makith thi diſpens.

So, too, shall the queen give to maidens and ladies,

And ek the quen, my lady, ſhalt alſo

1748 To madenis and to ladeis, quhar ȝhe go,

If, and cheriß one the ſamyne wyß;

for all thy welfare lies in liberality.

For in to largeß al thi welfar lyis.

And if thy giftis with ſich continans

1752 That thei be ſen ay gifyne vith pleſans;

The wyß man ſais, and ſuth it is approuit,

Thar is no thonk, thar is no ift alowit,

Bot It be ifyne In to ſich manere,

Remember that the giver should be as glad in his cheer as the receiver.

1756 (That is to ſay, als glaid in to his chere),

As he the wich the ift of hyme Reſauith;

And do he not, the gifar is diſſauith.

For who that iffis, as he not if wald,

1760 Mor profit war his ift for to with-hald;

His thonk he tynith, and his ift alſo.

Bot that thow ifith, if with boith two,

Give with both hand and heart at once;

That is to ſay, vith hart and hand atonis;

1764 And ſo the wyſman ay ye ift diſponis.

Beith larg and iffis frely of thi thing;

for liberality is the treasure of a king.

For largeß is the treſour of o king,

And not this other Iowellis nor this gold

1768 That is in to thi treſory with-holde.

[Fol. 22 b.]

Who gladly iffith, be vertew of larges

Whoso gives liberally, his treasury increases.

His treſory encreſis of Richeſß,

And ſal aȝañe the mor al-out reſawe.

LIBERAL KINGS ARE LOVED IN LIFE,

For the receiver shall place his goods at the king’s disposal,

1772 For he to quhome he ȝewith ſall hawe,

Firſt his body, ſyne his hart with two,

His gudis al for to diſpone also

who shall gain, moreover, both worship and praise.

In his ſeruice; and mor atour he ſhall

1776 Have O thing, and that is beſt of all;

That is to ſay, the worſchip and the loß

That vpone larges in this world furth goß.

And yow ſhal knaw the lawbour & the preß

1780 In to this erth about the gret Richeß.

Is there any labour except for meat and clothing? All the remnant is for fame.

42 MS. “Is ony bout bot;” “bout” being defaced.

Is ony, bot42 apone the cauß we see

Of met, of cloth, & of proſperitee?

All the remanant ſtant apone the name

1784 Of purches, furth apone this worldis fame.

And well yow wot, in thyne allegians

Ful many Is, the wich haith ſufficians

Of euery thing that longith to ther ned;

1788 What haith yow more, qwich [haith] them al to lede,

For al thi Realmys and thi gret Riches,

If that yow lak of worſchip the encreß?

Well leß, al-out; for efter thar eſtate

1792 Thei have vorſchip, and kepith It al-gat;

And yow degradith al thyne hie dugree,

That ſo ſchuld ſhyne In to nobelitee,

Throuch wys and throw the wrechitneß of hart.

AND COMMENDED AFTER DEATH.

Knowest thou not what shall be thy part, when thou passest away from this world?

43 MS. has “by.”

1796 And knowis yow not what ſall be43 thi part,

Out of this world when yow ſal paß the courß?

Fair well, I-wyß! yow neuer ſhall Recourß

44 MS. has “subei^et.”

Whar no prince more ſhall the subiet44 have,

1800 But be als dep in to the erd y-grave,

Virtue and honour will alone remain.

Sauf vertew only and worſchip wich abidith;

With them the world apone the laif dewidith;

And if thy successor be liberal, he will be commended of the world;

And if he, wich ſhal eftir the ſucced,

1804 By larges ſpend, of quhich that yhow had dreid,

He of the world comendit is and priſit,

And yow ſtant furth of euery thing diſpiſit;

The puple ſaith and demyth thus of thee,

1808 “Now is he gone, a werray vrech was hee,

And he the wich that is our king and lord

Boith wertew haith & larges in accorde;

Welcum be he!” and ſo the puple ſoundith.

[Fol. 23 a.]

1812 Thus through thi viß his wertew mor aboundith,

and his virtue will abound through thy vice.

And his vertew the more thi wice furth ſchawith.

Wharfor ȝhe, wich that princes ben y-knawith,

Lat not yhour vrechit hart so yhow dant,

1816 That he that cummyth next yhow may awant

To be mor larg, nore more to be commendit;

Riches well spent are the best kept.

Best kepit Is the Riches well diſpendit.

O ȝhe, the wich that kingis ben, fore ſham

1820 Remembrith yhow, this world hath bot o naam̅

Of good or ewill, efter ȝhe ar gone!

And wyſly tharfor cheſſith yhow the toñ

Wich moſt accordith to nobilitee,

1824 And knytith larges to yhour hie degre.

For qwhar that fredome In O prince Ringnis,

It bryngith In the victory of kingis,

And makith realmys and puple boith to dout,

45 Or “subettis.”

1828 And ſubectis45 of the cuntre al about.

LIBERAL KINGS WIN SUBJECTS,

Whoso will be a conqueror, let him not reck to give largely.

And qwho that thinkith ben o conquerour,

Suppos his largeß ſumquhat pas myſour,

Ne rak he nat, bot frely iffith ay;

1832 And as he wynyth, beis var al-way

To mych nor ȝhit to gredy that he hold,

Wich ſal the hartis of the puple colde.

Both love and fear spring from liberality.

And low and radour cummyth boith two

1836 Of larges; Reid and ȝhe ſal fynd It ſo.

Alexander this lord the warld that wan,

Firſt with the ſuerd of larges he began,

Alexander gave so liberally,

And as he wynith ifith largely,

1840 He rakith No thing bot of cheuelry;

Wharfor of hyme ſo paſſith the Renown,

that many cities desired to have such a lord,

That many o cetee, and many o ſtrang towñ

Of his worſchip that herith the Recorde,

1844 Diſſirith ſo to haveing ſich o lorde;

and offered themselves peaceably to him, though they were manly men of war.

And offerith them with-outen ſtrok of ſpere,

Suppos that thei war manly men of were,

But only for his gentilleß that thei

1848 Have hard; and ſo he louit was al-way

For his larges, humilitee, and manhed,

With his awn folk, that neuermore, we Reid,

[Fol. 23 b.]

For al his weris nor his gret trawell,

1852 In al his tym that thei hyme onys faill;

Bot in his worſchip al thar beſynes

Thei ſet, and lewith in to no diſtres;

Whar-throw the ſuerd of victory he berith.

Many princes bear the palm of victory, through liberality;

1856 And many prince full oft the palm werith,

As has ben hard, by largeß, of before,

In conqueringe of Rignis & of glore.

while miserliness hath made realms desolate.

And wrechitnes Richt ſo, in the contrar,

BUT UNJUST ONES DESPOIL THEM.

1860 Haith Realmys maid ful deſolat & bare,

And kingis broght doun from ful hie eſtat;

And who that Red ther old bukis, wat

The vicis lef, the wertew have in mynde,

1864 And takith larges In his awn kynd;

Choose the mean between prodigality and avarice.

A-myd ſtanding of the vicis two,

Prodegalitee and awerice alſo.

Wharfor her-of It nedith not to more,

1868 So mych ther-of haith clerkis vrit to-fore.

Whoso chooses to be liberal,

Bot who the wertw of larges & the law

Sal cheß, mot ned conſidir well & knaw

must understand three things: the amount he has, to whom he giveth, and the fit time for giving.

In to hyme-ſelf, and thir thre wnderſtande,

1872 The ſubſtans firſt, the powar of his land,

Whome to he iffith, and the cauß wharfore,

The nedful tyme awatith euermore.

Kepith thir thre; for qwho that ſal exced

1876 His rent, he fallith ſodandly in nede.

(1) The king that becomes indigent overthrows his subjects.

And ſo the king, that on to myſter drowis,

His subiettis and his puple he our-thrawis,

And them diſpolȝeith boith of lond and Rent;

1880 So is the king, ſo is the puple ſchent.

For the voice of the oppressed shrieketh up ceaselessly to heaven;

For-quhi the woice It ſcrik[i]th vp ful ewyne

With-out abaid, and paſſith to the hewyne,

Whar god hyme-ſelf reſauith ther the crye

1884 Of the oppreſioune and the teranny,

and God smiteth down with the sword of vengeance.

And vith the ſuerd of wengans doun y-ſmytith,

The wich that caruith al to ſor, and bitith,

And hyme diſtroyth, as has ben hard or this

1888 Of euery king that wirkith ſich o mys.

BEWARE OF INJUSTICE AND FLATTERY.

For ther is few eſchapith them, It ſall

For God hath given the king the wand of justice:

Boith vpone hyme & his ſucceſſione fall;

For he forſuth haith ifyne hyme the wond

[Fol. 24 a.]

1892 To Iuſtefy and Reull in pece his lond,

The puple all ſubmytit to his cure;

And he aȝan one to no creatur

Save only ſhall vn to his gode obey.

1896 And if he paſſith ſo far out of the wey,

and if he oppresses them whom he should rule,

Them to oppreß, that he ſhuld reul & gid,

Ther heritag, there gwdis to dewide,

Ye, wnder whome that he moſt nedis ſtond,

God shall stretch His mighty hand for correction.

1900 At correccioune ſal ſtrek his mychty hond,

Not euery day, bot ſhal at onys fall

On hyme, mayhap, and his ſucceſcione all.

Herein, alas! is the blindness of kings.

In this, allace! the blyndis of the kingis,

1904 And Is the fall of princis and of Rygnis.

The moſt wertew, the gret Intellegens,

The blessed token of a king’s wisdom is for him to restrain his hand from his people’s riches.

The bleſſit tokyne of wyſdom and prudens

Iſß, in o king, for to reſtren his honde

1908 Frome his pupleis Riches & ther lond.

Mot euery king have this wice in mynd

In tyme, and not when that he ned fynde!

And in thi larges beith war, I pray,

(2) Choose a fitting time.

1912 Of nedful tyme, for than is beſt alway.

(3) Take care to whom you give.

Awyß the ek quhome to that thow ſalt if,

Of there fam, and ek how that thei leif;

Let not the virtuous and the vicious stand in the same degree.

And of the wertws and wicious folk alſo,

1916 I the beſeich dewidith well thir two,

So that thei ſtond nocht in[to] o degree;

Diſcreccioune ſall mak the diuerſitee,

Wich clepith the moder of al vertewis.

FLATTERERS SUCCEED WHEN KINGS ARE FOOLISH.

Beware of flattery.

1920 And beith war, I the beſeich of this,

That is to ſay of flatry, wich that longith

To court, and al the kingis larges fongith.

The vertuouß man no thing thar-of reſauith,

1924 The flattereris now ſo the king diſſauith

And blyndith them that wot no thing, I-wyß,

When thei do well, or quhen thei do o myß;

And latith kingis oft til wnderſtonde

1928 Thar vicis, and ek ye faltis of ther lond.

In to the realme about o king Is holde

A flatterer is worse than a storm or a pestilence.

O flatterere were than is the ſtormys cold,

Or peſtelens, and mor the realme anoyith;

1932 For he the law and puple boith diſtroyith.

[Fol. 24 b.]

Three things make flatterers in favour.

And in to principall ben ther three thingis,

That cauſſith flattereris ſtonding with the kingis;

First, the blind ignorance of kings.

And on, It is the blyndit Ignorans

1936 Of kingis, wich that hath no gouernans

To wnderſtond who doith ſich o myß;

But who that fareſt ſchewith hym, I-wyß,

Moſt ſuffiſith and beſt to his pleſans.

1940 Wo to the realme that havith ſich o chans!

Secondly, where a king is vicious himself.

And ſecundly, quhar that o king Is

Weciuß hyme-ſelf, he cheriſſith, ywys,

Al them the wich that one to vicis ſoundith,

1944 Whar-throw that vicis and flattery ek aboundith.

Thirdly, where the king is so foolish, that he knows their flattery, yet withdraws from reproving them.

The thrid, is the ilk ſchrewit harrmful wice,

Wich makith o king within hyme-ſelf ſo nyce,

That al thar flattry and ther gilt he knowith

1948 In to his wit, and ȝhit he hyme with-drowith

Them to repref, and of ther vicis he wot;

And this It is wich that diſſemblyng hot,

That in no way accordith for o king.

1952 Is he not ſet abuf apone his Ringne,

As ſouerane his puple for to lede?

Why should a king spare to say the truth?

Whi ſchuld he ſpare, or quhom of ſchuld he dred

To ſay the treuth, as he of Right is hold?

1956 And if ſo ware that al the kingis wold,

When that his legis comytit ony wyce,

As beith not to ſchamful, nore to nyce,

That thei preſume that he is negligent,

He should reprove without dissembling, as it is fitting.

1960 But als far as he thinkith that thei myß-went,

But diſſemblyng reprewith as afferis;

And pwnice them quhar pwnyſing Requeris,

Sauf only mercy in the tyme of ned.

1964 And ſo o king he ſchuld his puple led,

That no treſpaß, that cummyth in his way,

Shuld paß his hond wne-pwniſt away;

Nore no good deid in to the ſamyn degree,

1968 Nore no wertew, ſuld wn-Reuardid bee.

Then flattery, that now is high, should be low.

Than flattry ſhuld, that now is he, be low,

And wice from the kingis court with-drow;

His miniſteris that ſhuld the Iuſtice reull,

1972 Shuld kep well furth of quiet & reull,

That now, god wat, as It conſerwit Is,

The ſtere is loſt, and al is gon amys;

[Fol. 25 a.]

And vertew ſhuld hame to the court hyme dreß,

1976 That exillith goith in to the wildernes.

WISE KINGS MAKE A WISE PEOPLE.

If a king thus stood like his own degree, his people would be virtuous and wise.

Thus if o king ſtud lyk his awn degree,

Wertwis and wyß than ſhuld his puple bee,

Only ſet by vertew hyme to pleß,

1980 And ſore adred his wiſdom to diſpleß.

And if that he towart the vicis draw,

His folk ſall go on to that ilk law;

What ſhal hyme pleß that wil nocht ellis fynd,

1984 Bot ther-apon ſetith al ther mynde.

Thus the rule of his people and kingdom standeth only in the king’s virtue.

Thus only in the wertew of o king

The reull ſtant of his puple & his ringne,

If he be wyß and, but diſſemblyng, ſchewis,

1988 As I have ſaid, the vicis one to ſchrewis.

And ſo thus, ſir, It ſtant apone thi will

For to omend thi puple, or to ſpill;

Or have thi court of vertewis folk, or fullis;

Since thou art wholly master of the schools, teach them, and they shall gladly learn.”

1992 Sen yow art holl maiſter of the ſcoullis

Teichith them, and thei ſal gladly leir,

46 Or, “leir.” MS. apparently has “leir,” corrected to “heir.”

That is to ſay, that thei may no thing heir46

Sauf only wertew towart thyn eſtat;

1996 And cheriß them that wertews ben algait.

And thinkith what that wertew is to thee;

It pleſſith god, vphaldith thi degree.”

Arthur considers his counsel profitable.

“Maiſter,” quod he, “me think rycht profitable

2000 Yowr conſeell Is, and wonder honorable

For me, and good; rycht well I have conſauit,

And in myne hartis Inwartneß reſauit.

I ſhal fulfill and do yowr ordynans

2004 Als far of wit as I have ſuffiſans;

Bot y beſeich yow, in til hartly wyß,

He beseeches him to expound his dream,

That of my drem ȝhe ſo to me dewyß,

The wich ſo long haith occupeid my mynd,

how he shall only find help through the water-lion, the leech, and the flower.

2008 How that I ſhal no maner ſucour fynd

Bot only throw the wattir lyon, & ſyne

The leich that is withouten medyſyne;

And of the conſell of the flour; wich ayre

2012 Wonderis lyk that no man can duclar.”

THE WATER-LION MEANS GOD.

“Now, ſir,” quod he, “and I of them al thre,

What thei betakyne ſhal I ſchaw to the,

The master’s explanation.

Such as the clerkis at them ſpecifiit;

[Fol. 25 b.]

2016 Thei vſit no thing what thei ſignefiit.

The water-lion is the very God.

The wattir lyone Is the god werray,

God to the lyone is lyknyt many way;

But thei have hyme In to the wattir ſeñ,

2020 Confuſit were ther wittis al, y weñ;

The water is men’s fragility;

The wattir was ther awn fragelitee,

And thar treſpas, and thar Inequitee

In to this world, the wich thei ſtond y-cloſit;

2024 That was the wattir wich thei have ſuppoſit,

That haith there knowlag maad ſo Inperfyt;

Thar ſyne & ek ther worldis gret delyt,

As clowdy wattir, was euermore betweñ,

whereby they see not the lion perfectly.

2028 That thei the lyone perfitly hath nocht ſeñ;

Bot as the wattir, wich was yer awn ſynne,

That euermor thei ſtond confuſit In.

Had men been always religious, they had seen the lion not in water, but clearly.

If thei haith ſtond in to religioñ clen,

2032 Thei had the lyone Not in watter ſen,

Bot clerly vp in to the hewyne abuf,

Eternaly whar he ſhal not remufe.

And euermore in vatter of ſyne vas hee,

47 “see”(?).

2036 For-quhi It is Impoſſeble for to bee;47

The world is enclosed in the darkness of their sin.

And thus the world, wich that thei ar In,

Y-cloſit Is in dyrknes of ther ſyne;

And ek the thikneß of the air betwen

2040 The lyone mad in vattir to be ſen.

For It was nocht bot ſtrenth of ther clergy

Wich thei have here, and It is bot erthly,

That makith them there reſouns dewyß,

2044 And ſe the lyone thus in erthly wyß.

The lion is God’s son, Jesu Christ.

This is the lyone, god, and goddis sone,

Ihesu criſt, wich ay in hewyne ſal wonne.

For as the lyone of euery beſt is king,

2048 So is he lord and maiſter of al thing,

That of the bleſſit vyrgyne vas y-bore.

Ful many a natur the lyone haith, quhar-fore

That he to god reſemblyt is, bot I

2052 Lyk not mo at this tyme ſpecify.

This is the lyone, thar-of have yow no dred,

That ſhal the help and comfort In thi ned.

THE LEECH WITHOUT MEDICINE IS CHRIST.

The ſentens here now woll I the defyne

The leech without medicine is also God.

2056 Of hyme, the lech withouten medyſyne,

Wich is the god that euery thing hath vroght.

[Fol. 26 a.]

For yow may know that vther Is It noght,

Not as surgeons,

As ſurgynis and feſicianis, wich that delith

2060 With mortell thingis, and mortell thingis helyth,

whose art is in medicine,

And al thar art is in to medyſyne,

As it is ordanit be the mycht dewyne,

and in plaisters, drinks, and various anointments; who know the quality of the year, and the disposition of the planets.

48 MS. “anoñytmētis,” or “anoūytmētis.”

As plaſteris, drinkis, and anouyntmentis48 ſeir,

2064 And of the qualyte watyng of the yher;

And of the planetis diſpoſicioune,

And of the naturis of compleccyoune,

And in the diuerß changing of hwmowris.

2068 Thus wnder reull lyith al there cwris;

And yhit thei far as blynd man In the way,

Oft quhen that deith thar craft liſt to aſſay.

Bot god, the wich that is the ſoueran lech,

2072 Nedith no maner medyſyne to ſech;

For ther is no Infyrmyte, nore wound,

Bot as hyme lykith al is holl and ſound.

But God can heal infirmity of thought,

So can he heill Infyrmytee of thoght,

2076 Wich that one erdly medeſyne can noght;

and also the soul that goeth to confusion.

And als the ſaul that to confuſioune goith,

And haith with hyme and vther parteis boith,

His dedly wound god helyth frome the ground;

2080 On to his cure no medyſyne is found.

This Is his mycht that neuer more ſhall fyne,

This is the leich withouten medyſyne;

And If that yhow at confeſſioune hath ben

2084 And makith the of al thi ſynnis clen,

He shall be thy leech in all necessity.

Yow art than holl, and this ilk ſamyn is he

Schall be thi leich In al neceſſitee.

THE FLOWER IS THE VIRGIN MARY.

Now of the flour y woll to the diſcerñ:

49 The word, though indistinct, is almost certainly “haith.” Stevenson has “high;” but this gives no sense.

2088 This is the flour that haith49 the froyt eterñ,

This is the flour, this fadith for no ſchour,

This is the flour of euery flouris floure;

The flower is she of whom the eternal fruit was born,

This is the flour, of quhom the froyt vas borñ,

2092 This ws redemyt efter that we war lorñ;

This Is the flour that euer ſpryngith new,

This is the flour that changith neuer hew;

the virgin that bore the Saviour,

This is the vyrgyne, this is the bleſſit flour

2096 That Ihesu bur is our salweour,

This flour wnwemmyt of hir wirginitee;

This is the flour of our felicitee,

This is the flour to quhom ve ſhuld exort,

that ceaseth not to support us caitiffs,

2100 This is the flour not ſeſſith to ſupport

In prayere, conſell, and in byſſynes,

[Fol. 26 b.]

Vs catifis ay In to our wrechitnes

On to hir sone, the quich hir conſell herith;

2104 This is the flour that al our gladneß ſterith,

through whose prayer are many saved.

Throuch whois prayer mony one is ſawit,

That to the deth eternaly war reſawit,

Ne war hir hartly ſuplicatioune.

2108 This is the flour of our ſaluatioune,

Next hir sone, the froyt of euery flour;

This is the ſam that ſhal be thi ſuccour,

If that the lykith hartly Reuerans

2112 And ſeruice ȝeld one to hir excellens,

Syne worſchip hir with al thi byſſyneß;

Sche ſal thi harm, ſche ſall thi ned redreß.

She shall so counsel the lion and the leech, that thou need not despair.

Sche ſall ſice conſell if one to the two,

2116 The lyone and the ſouerane lech alſo,

Yow ſall not Ned yi drem̅ for to diſpar,

Nor ȝhit no thing that is in thi contrare.

Now—quod the maiſter—yow may well wnderſtand

2120 Tueching thi drem as I have born on hande;

And planly haith the mater al declarith,

That yhow may know of wich yow was diſparith.

The lech, the lyone, and the flour alſo,

2124 Yow worſchip them, yow ſerve them euermo;

And ples the world as I have ſaid before;

In gouernans thus ſtondith al thi glore.

Do now as thou list, for all is in thy hand.

Do as yow liſt, for al is in thi honde,

2128 To tyne thi-ſelf, thi honore, and thi londe,

Or lyk o prince, o conquerour, or king,

In honore and in worſchip for to Ringe.”

ARTHUR IS COMFORTED.

The king replies,

“Now,” quod the king, “I fell that the ſupport

2132 Of yhour conſell haith don me ſich comfort,

that his heart is eased from fear;

Of euery raddour my hart is In to eß,

To ȝhour command, god will, y ſal obeß.

Bot o thing is yneuch wn to me,

but inquires if Galiot will win over the red knight, and what is his name.

2136 How galiot makith his awant that he

Shall have the knycht, that only by his honde

And manhed, was defendour of my londe;

If that ſhall fall y pray yhow tellith me,

2140 And quhat he hecht, and of quhat lond is hee?”

“What that he hecht yow ſhall no foryer know,

The master evades reply.

His dedis ſall her-efterwart hyme ſchaw;

Bot contrar the he ſhall be found no way.

50 At the bottom of the page is the catch-word, “With that the king.”

2144 No more thar-of as now y will the ſay.”50

[Fol. 27 a.]

With that the king haith at his maiſtir tone

* Text unchanged. Duplication does not fit metre, and another edition has ‘one to his’.
** Missing syllable?

The king and the host return home.

His leve, one to to* his cuntre for to goñe;

And al the oſt makith none abyde,**

2148 To paſſing home anone thei can prowid;

And to ſir gawane thei haith o lytter maad,

Ful ſore ywound, and hyme on with them haade.

[T]he king, as that the ſtory can declar,

The king sojourns twenty-four days at Cardole, in Wales.

2152 Paſſith to o Cete that was Right fair,

And clepit cardole, In to walis, was,

For that tyme than It was the nereſt place,

And thar he ſoiornyt xxiiijti days

2156 In ryall feſting, as the auttore ſays.

So diſcretly his puple he haith cherit,

That he thar hartis holy haith conquerit.

Sir Gawan is healed in fifteen days.

And ſir gawan, helyt holl and ſound

2160 Be xv dais he was of euery wounde;

Right blyth therof in to the court war thei.

ARTHUR AGAIN BECOMES MOURNFUL.

51 MS. “xxviij,” altered to “xxiiij.”

And ſo befell, the xxiiij51 day,

The king becomes mournful, as he sits at the mess.

The king to fall in to o hewynes,

2164 Right ate his table ſiting at the meß;

Gawan rebukes him.

And ſir gawan cummyth hyme before,

And ſaid hyme, “ſir, yhour thoght is al to ſore,

Conſidering the diuerß knychtis ſere

2168 Ar of wncouth and ſtrang landis here.”

The king answers in “matalent,”

The king anſuert, as in to matalent,

“Sir, of my thocht, or ȝhit of myne entent,

Yhe have the wrang me to repref, for-quhy

2172 Thar lewith none that ſhuld me blam, for I

that he was thinking of the worthiest knight living;

Was thinkand one the worthieſt that lewyt,

That al the worſchip In to armys prewyt;

And how the thonk of my defens he had,

2176 And of the wow that galiot haith mad.

But I have ſen, when that of my houſhold

Thar was, and of my falowſchip, that wold,

If that thei wiſt, quhat thing ſhuld me pleß,

2180 Thei wald nocht leif for trawell nor for eß.

And ſum tyme It preſwmyt was & ſaid,

that he once had the flower of knighthood in his household, but now this flower is away.

That in my houſhold of al this world I had

The flour of knychthed and of chevalry;

2184 Bot now thar-of y ſe the contrarye,

Sen that the flour of knychthed is away.”

“Schir,” quod he, “of Reſone ſuth yhe ſay;

[Fol. 27 b.]

And if god will, In al this warld ſo Round

2188 He ſal be ſoght, if that he may he found.”

GAWANE’S EXPEDITION.

Gawan departs to seek Lancelot.

Than gawan goith with o knychtly chere,

At the hal dure he ſaith In this maner:

“In this paſag who lykith for to wend?

2192 It is o Iorne moſt for to comend

That In my tyme In to the court fallith,

To knyghtis wich that chewellry lowith

Or trawell In to armys for to hant;

2196 And lat no knycht fra thyne-furth hyme awant

All the knights rise to go with him.

That it denyith;”—with that onon thei roß,

Al the knychtis, and frome the burdis goß.

The king that ſauch In to his hart was wo,

Arthur reproves him.

2200 And ſaid, “ſir gawan, nece, why dois yow ſo?

Knowis yow nocht I myne houſhold ſuld encreß,

In knychthed, and in honore, and largeß?

And now yow thinkith mak me diſſolat

2204 Of knychtis, and my houß tranſulat,

To ſek o knycht, and It was neuer more

Hard ſich o ſemble makith o before.”

Gawan explains.

“Sir,” quod he, “als few as may yhow pleſß;

2208 For what I said was no thing for myne eß,

Nor for deſir of falouſchip, for-why

To paß alone, but cumpany, think I;

And ilk knycht to paß o ſundry way;

2212 The mo thei paß the fewar eſchef thay,

Bot thus ſhal pas no mo bot as yhow leſt.”

Arthur assigns him forty companions.

“Takith,” quod he, “of quhom ȝhe lykith beſt,

Fourty in this paſag for to go;”

2216 At this command and gawan cheſit ſo

Fourty, quhich that he louit, & that was

Richt glaid in to his falowſchip to pas.

GAWANE AND HIS FELLOWS DEPART.

These knights arm themselves,

[A]nd furth thei go, and al anarmyt thei

2220 Come to the king, withouten more delay,

and bring the relics, whereon to swear to shew the truth.

The relykis brocht, as was the maner tho,

When any knyghtis frome the court ſuld go.

Or when the paſſit, or quhen thei com, thei ſwor

2224 The trouth to ſchaw of euery aduentur.

Sir gawan knelyng to his falowis ſais,

“Yhe lordis, wich that in this ſeking gais,

So many noble and worthi knychtis ar ȝhe,

2228 Me think in wayne yhour trauel ſhuld nocht be,

[Fol. 28 a.]

For aduentur is non so gret to pref,

As I ſuppone, nor ȝhe ſal It eſſchef,

And if ȝhe lyk as I that ſhal dewyß,

2232 Yhour oth to ſwer In to the ſamyne wyß

Myne oith to kep;”—and that thei vndertak,

How euer ſo that he his oith mak

It to conſerf, and that thei have all ſworñ.

2236 Than gawan, wich that was the king beforn,

Gawane swears not to return till he has found Lancelot, or evidence of him.

On kneis ſwore, “I ſal the ſuth duclar

Of euery thing when I agan Repar,

Nor neuer more aȝhane ſal I returñ,

2240 Nore in o place long for to ſuiorñ

Whill that the knycht or verray evydens

I have, that ſhal be toknis of credens.”

His falouſchip abaſit of that thing,

2244 And als therof anoyt was the king,

THE LADY ASKS LANCELOT HIS NAME.

Arthur reproves him for forgetting the coming day of battle.

Sayng, “Nece, yow haith al foly vroght

And wilfulneß, that haith nocht in thi thoght

The day of batell of galot and me.”

Gawane says it must be so.

2248 Quod gawan, “Now non other ways ma be.”

Gawane and his fellow lace their helms, and take their leave.

Thar-with he and his falowſchip alſo

Thar halmys laſit, on to ther horß thei go,

Syne tuk ther lef, and frome the court the fare,

2252 Thar names ware to long for to declar.

Now ſal we leif hyme and his cumpany,

That in thar ſeking paſſith biſſely;

GAWANE AND HIS FELLOWS DEPART.

The story returns to the lady of Melyhalt.

And of the lady of melyhalt we tell,

2256 With whome the knycht mot ned alway duell.

52 Room is here left in the MS. for an illuminated letter, and a small “o” inserted as a note.

52[O] day ſhe mayd hyme on to hir preſens fet,

And on o ſege be-ſid hir haith hyme ſet,

“Sir, in keping I have yow halding long,”

2260 And thus ſche ſaid, “for gret treſpas & wrong,

Magre my ſtewart, in worſchip, and for-thi

Ȝhe ſuld me thonk;”—“madem,” quod he, “and I

Thonk yhow ſo that euer, at my mycht,

2264 Whar-ſo I paß that I ſal be yhour knycht.”

She inquires Lancelot’s name.

“Grant mercy, ſir, bot o thing I ȝow pray,

What that ȝhe ar ȝhe wold wichsauf to ſay.”

He refuses to tell.

“Madem,” quod he, “yhour mercy aſk I, quhy

2268 That for to ſay apone no wyß may I.”

“No! wil ȝhe not? non oyer ways as now

She vows to keep him in thrall till the day of combat;

Ȝhe ſal repent, and ek I mak awow

One to the thing the wich that I beſt love,

[Fol. 28 b.]

2272 Out frome my keping ſal ȝhe not Remuf

Befor the day of the aſſemblee,

Wich that, o ȝher, is nereſt for to bee;

And if that ȝow haith pleſſit for to ſay,

2276 Ȝhe had fore me deliuerit ben this day;

and to go to the court to try and learn it.

And I ſal knaw, quheyer ȝhe wil or no,

For I furth-with one to the court ſal go,

Whar that al thithingis goith & cumyth ſoñ.”

2280 “Madem,” quod he, “yhour pleſance mot be doñe.”

The knight retires.

With that the knycht one to his chalmer goith,

And the lady hir makith to be wroith

Aȝanis hyme, but ſuthly vas ſche not,

2284 For he al-out was mor in to hir thoght.

Than ſchapith ſhe aȝane the ferd day,

And richly ſche gan hir-ſelf aray;

Syne clepit haith apone her cuſynes,

Before going to the court,

2288 And ſaith, “y will one to the court me dreß;

And malice I have ſchawin on to ȝhon knycht,

For-quhy he wold nocht ſchew me quhat he hicht,

Bot ſo, I-wyß, It is nocht in my thocht,

2292 For worthyar non In to this erth is wrocht.

she prays her cousin to take care of him.

Tharfor I pray, and hartly I requer

Ȝhe mak hyme al the cumpany and chere,

And do hyme al the worſchip and the eß,

2296 Excep his honore, wich that may hym pleß;

And quhen I cum deliuerith hyme als fre

As he is now;”—“ne have no dred,” quod ſche.

[T]he lady partit, and hir lef hath ton,

2300 And by hir Iorne to the court Is gon.

SHE GOES TO SEE ARTHUR.

The lady meets Arthur at Logris;

The king hapnit at logris for to bee,

Wich of his realme was than the chef cete;

And haith hir met, and In til hartly wyß

2304 Reſauit her, and welcummyt oft-ſyß;

who brings her home to his palace;

And haith hir home one to his palice brocht,

Whar that no dante nedith to be ſocht,

And maid hir cher with al his ful entent.

2308 Eft ſupir one to o chalmer ar thei went,

The king and ſche, and ek the quen al thre;

Of hir tithandis at hir than aſkit hee,

and inquires what has brought her.

And what that hir one to the court had brocht?

53 MS. “conne.”

2312 “Sir,” quod ſche, “I come53 not al for nocht;

She says she has a friend who has made a challenge,

I have o frend haith o dereyne ydoo,

[Fol. 29 a.]

And I can fynd none able knycht tharto;

For he the wich that in the contrar Is

2316 Is hardy, ſtrong, and of gret kyne, I-wyß;

Bot, It is ſaid, If I mycht have with me

Ȝour knycht, quich in the last aſſemble

which the red knight could best maintain.

Was in the feld, and the red armys bur,

2320 In his manhed y mycht my cauß aſſur;

And yhow, ſir, richt hartly I exort

In to this ned my myſter to ſupport.”

ARTHUR CAN TELL HER NOTHING.

“Madem, by faith one to the quen I aw

Arthur replies that Gawane is gone to seek him.

2324 That I beſt loue, the knycht I neuer ſaw

In nerneß by which that I hyme knew;

And ek gawane Is gan hyme for to ſew

With other fourty knychtis In to cumpany.”

2328 The lady ſmylit at ther fanteſſy;

The quen thar-with preſumyt wel that ſche

The queen asks the lady if she knows where he is.

Knew quhat he was, and ſaid, “madem, If ȝhe

Knowith of hyme what that he is, or quhar,

2332 We ȝhow beſech til ws for to declar.”

She replies no, and proposes to return.

“Madem,” quod ſche, “now be the faith that I

Aw to the king and yhow, as for no why

To court I cam, but of hyme to Inquere;

2336 And ſen of hyme I can no tithingis here,

Nedlyngis to-morn homwart mon I fair.”

Arthur prays her to stay.

“Na,” quod the king, “madem, our ſon It waire;

Ȝhe ſal remayne her for the qwenys ſak;

2340 Syne ſhal ȝhe of our beſt knychtis tak.”

“Sir,” quod ſche, “I pray ȝow me excuß,

For-quhy to paß nedis me behuß;

Nor, ſen I want the knycht which I have ſocht,

2344 Wtheris with me to have deſir I nocht,

For I of otheris have that may ſuffice.”

Bot ȝhit the king hir prayt on ſich wyß,

She remains till the third day.

That ſche remanit whill the thrid day;

2348 Syne tuk hir leif to paſing hom hir way.

She is sumptuously entertained,

It nedis not the feſting to declar

Maid one to hir, nor company nor fare;

Sche had no knycht, ſche had no damyſeill,

2352 Nor thei richly rewardit war and well.

and returns home.

Now goith the lady homwart, and ſche

In her entent deſyrus Is to ſee

The flour of knychthed and of chevelry;

2356 So was he pryſit and hold to euery wy.

THE LADY AGAIN SENDS FOR LANCELOT.

[Fol. 29 b.]

The lady, which one to hir palace come,

Soon after, she sends for Lancelot,

Bot of ſchort time remanith haith at home

When ſche gart bryng, withouten Recidens,

2360 With grete effere this knycht to hir presens,

And ſaid hyme; “ſir, ſo mekil have I ſocht

And knowith that be-for I knew nocht,

and proposes to ransom him,

That If yhow lyk I wil yhour Ransone mak.”

2364 “Madem, gladly, wil ȝhe wichſauf to tak

Efter that as my powar may atteñ,

Or that I may prowid be ony meñ.”

“Now, ſir,” ſho ſaid, “forſuth It ſal be so,

on one of three conditions.

2368 Yhe ſal have thre, and cheß yhow on of tho;

And if yhow lykith them for to refuß,

I can no mor, but ȝhe ſal me excuß,

Yhe nedis mot ſuſten yhour aduentur

2372 Contynualy In ward for til endur.”

“Madem,” quod he, “and I yhow hartly pray,

54 So MS. We should probably read “bee.”

What that thei ſay54 ȝhe wald wichſauf to ſay?”

Either he must tell whom he loves,

“[T]he firſt,” quod ſche, “who hath in to the cheñ

2376 Of low yhour hart, and if ȝhe may dereñ?

or declare his name,

The next, yhour nam, the which ȝe ſal not lye?

or say if he expects again to equal his former exploits.

The thrid, if euer ȝhe think of cheualry

So mekil worſchip to atten in feild

2380 Apone o day in armys wnder ſcheld,

As yat ȝhe dyd the ſamyne day, when ȝhe

In red armys was at the aſſemblee?”

“Madem,” quod he, “is thar non vther way

2384 Me to redem, but only thus to ſay

Of thingis, which that Rynyth me to blam,

Me to awant my lady or hir name?

But If that I moſt ſchawin furth that one,

2388 What suerte ſchal I have for to gone

At libertee out of this danger free?”

“Schir, ſor to dred no myſter is,” quod ſhee;

“As I am trew and faithfull woman hold,

2392 Ȝhe ſal go fre quhen one of thir is told.”

“Madem, yhour will non vther ways I may,

He refuses to tell his lady’s name,

I mone obey; and to the firſt y ſay,

55 A space is here left for an illuminated letter.

55[I]s, to declar the lady of myne hart,

2396 My goſt ſal rather of my breſt aſtart”—

Whar-by the lady fayndit al for nocht

The lowe quhich long hath ben In to his thocht—

or his own;

“And of my nam, ſchortly for to ſay,

2400 It ſtondith ſo that one no wyß I may.

LANCELOT CLAIMS HIS LIBERTY;

[Fol. 30 a.]

Bot of the thrid, madem, I se that I

Mon ſay the thing that tuechith velany;

but declares that he trusts to do more than ever before; and requires his liberty.

For ſuth it is I traſt, and god before,

2404 In feld that I ſal do of armys more

Than euer I did, if I commandit bee.

And now, madem, I have my libertee,

For I have ſaid I neuer thocht to ſay.”

2408 “Now, ſir,” quod ſche, “when-euer ȝhe wil ye may;

She begs of him a boon;

Bot o thing Is, I yhow hartly raquer,

Sen I have hold yhow apone ſuch maner

Not as my fo, that ȝhe vald grant me till.”

2412 “Madem,” quod he, “It ſal be as ȝhe will.”

“Now, ſir,” quod ſche, “it is no thing bot ȝhe

that he will remain with her till the day of battle;

Remañ with ws wn to the aſſemble,

And euery thyng that In yhour myſter lyis

2416 I ſall gar ordan at yhour awn dewyß;

And of the day I ſhall yow certefy

Of the aſſemble ȝhe ſal not pas therby.”

“Madem,” quod he, “It ſal be as yhow liſt.”

2420 “Now, ſir,” quod ſche, “and than I hald It beſt,

That ȝhe remañ lyk to the ſamyne dogre

As that ȝhe war, yat non ſal wit that ȝhe

Deliuerit war; and in to ſacret wyß

2424 Thus may ȝhe be; and now yhe ſal dewyß

and inquires what arms he would like to have made for him. He chooses black armour,

What armys that yhow lykyth I gar mak.”

AND ASKS FOR BLACK ARMOUR.

“Madem,” quod he, “armys al of blak.”

With this, this knycht is to his chalmer goñ;

2428 The lady gan ful prewaly diſſpone

For al that longith to the knycht, in feild;

Al blak his horß, his armour, and his ſcheld,

which is provided.

That nedful is, al thing ſche well prewidith;

2432 And in hir keping thus with hir he bidith.

Suppos of love ſche takyne hath the charg,

She keeps her love close,

Sche bur It clos, ther-of ſche vas not larg,

Bot wyſly ſche abſtenit hir diſſir,

2436 For ellis quhat, ſche knew, he was afyre;

Thar-for hir wit hir worſchip haith defendit,

being commended for discretion.

For in this world thar was nan mor commendit,

Boith of diſcreccioune and of womanhed,

2440 Of gouernans, of nurtur, and of farhed.

This knycht with hir thus al this whil mon duell,

The story returns to Arthur—

And furth of arthur ſumthing wil we tell—

[T]hat walkyng vas furth in to his Regiounis,

2444 And ſoiornyt in his ceteis and his townis,

[Fol. 30 b.]

As he that had of viſdome ſufficyans.

who obeys the counsel of Amytans,

He kepit the lore of maiſter amytans

In ryghtwyſnes, In feſting and larges,

2448 In cheriſing cumpany and hamlynes;

ARTHUR’S LIBERALITY.

For he was biſſy and was deligent,

and gives away largely;

And largly he iffith, and diſpent

Rewardis, boith one to the pur & riche,

2452 And holdith feſt throw al the ȝher eliche.

In al the warld paſſing gan his name,

He chargit not bot of encreß and fam̅e,

And how his puples hartis to empleß;

2456 Thar gladnes ay was to his hart moſt eß.

He rakith not of riches nor treſſour,

Bot to diſpend one worſchip & honour;

He ifith riches, he ifith lond and rent,

2460 He cherißyth them with wordis eloquent,

and thus gains his people’s love.

So that thei can them vtraly propone

In his ſeruice thar lyves to diſpone:

So gladith them̅e his homely contynans,

2464 His cheriſyng, his wordis of pleſans,

His cumpany, and ek his mery chere,

His gret rewardis, and his iftis ſere.

Thus hath the king non vthir beſynes

2468 Bot cheriſing of knychtis and largeß,

To mak hyme-ſelf of honour be commend;

And thus the ȝher he drywith to the ende.

EXPLICIT SECUNDA PARS, INCIPIT TERCIA PARS.

THE TRUCE DRAWS TO A CLOSE.

[BOOK III.]

The sun ascends in his altitude.

56 So MS. Should we read “pasith”?

The long dirk paſag56 of the vinter, & the lycht

2472 Of phebus comprochit with his mycht;

The which, aſcending In his altitud,

Awodith saturñ with his ſtormys Rude;

The soft dew falls down from heaven.

57 So MS. It should be “falis.”

The ſoft dew one fra the hewyne doune valis57

2476 Apone the erth, one hillis and on valis,

And throw the ſobir & the mwſt hwmouris

Vp nuriſit ar the erbis, and in the flouris

Nature decks the earth with various hues.

Natur the erth of many diuerß hew

2480 Our-fret, and cled with the tendir new.

[Fol. 31 a.]

The birdis may them hiding in the grawis

The birds may hide them from the hawk in the groves, and Scilla may ascend in the air.

Wel frome the halk, that oft ther lyf berevis;

And scilla hie aſcending in the ayre,

2484 That euery vight may heryng hir declar

Of the ſeſſone the paſſing luſtynes.

This was the tyme that phebus gan hym dreß

In to the rame, and haith his courß bygown,

2488 Or that the trewis and the ȝher vas Rown,

The time of combat between Galiot and the king drew near.

Which was y-ſet of galiot and the king

Of thar aſſemble, and of thar meting.

Arthur haith a xv dais before

2492 Aſſemblit al his barnag and more

That weryng wnder his ſubieccioune,

Or louith hyme, or longith to his crown;

And haith his Iornay tone, withouten let,

Arthur goes to the appointed place.

2496 On to the place the wich that was y-ſet,

Whar he hath found befor hyme mony o knycht

That cummyng war with al thar holl mycht,

Al enarmyt both with ſpere & ſcheld,

2500 And ful of lugis plantith haith the feld,

Hyme In the wer for to ſupport and ſerf

At al ther mycht, his thonk for to diſſerf.

GAWANE REJOINS ARTHUR.

And gawan, which was in the ſeking ȝhit

2504 Of the gud knycht, of hyme haith got no wit,

Gawane remembers the day,

Remembrith hyme apone the kingis day,

And to his falowis one this wys can ſay:

“To ȝhow is knowin the mater, in what wyß

2508 How that the king hath with his ennemys

A certan day, that now comprochit nere,

And one to ws war hewynes to here

That he var in to perell or in to dreid,

2512 And we away and he of ws haith neid;

For we but hyme no thing may eſchef,

And he but ws in honore well may lef;

For, be he loſt, we may no thing withſtond,

2516 Our-ſelf, our honore we tyne, & ek our lond.

and proposes to his fellows to go to help the king.

Tharfor, I red we pas on to the king,

Suppos our oth It hurt in to ſum thing,

And in the feld with hyme for til endur,

2520 Of lyf or deth and tak our aduentur.”

Thar-to thei ar conſentit euerilkon,

And but dulay the have thar Iorney toñe.

[Fol. 31 b.]

When that the king them ſaw, in his entent

Arthur is well content at their coming,

2524 Was of thar com Right wonder well content;

For he preſwmyt no thing that thei wold

not expecting them.

Have cummyne, but one furth to yer ſeking hold.

And thus the kinghis oſt aſſemblit has

2528 Aȝane the tyme, aȝaine the day that vas

Y-ſtatut and ordanit for to bee,

And euery thing hath ſet in the dogre.

[A]nd galiot, that haith no thing forȝhet

2532 The termys quhich that he befor had set,

Galiot also assembles his folk,

Aſſemblit has, apone his best maner,

His folk, and al his other thingis ſere,

That to o weryour longith to prouid,

2536 And is y-come apone the tothir ſyde.

doubling his army and artillery;

Whar he befor was one than vas he two,

And al his vthir artilȝery also

He dowblith hath, that merwell was to ſeñ;

and pitches on the green by the river.

2540 And by the rewere lychtit one the greñ,

And ſtronghar thane ony wallit toune

His oſt y-bout ycloſit in Randoune.

Thus war thei cummyne apone ather ſyd

Before the truce is ended,

2544 Be-for the tyme, them-ſelf for to prowid.

THE TRUCE ENDS.

Or that the trewis was complet & rwn,

Men mycht have ſen one euery ſid begwn

many combats are seen between lusty men;

Many a fair and knychtly Iuperty

2548 Of luſty men, and of ȝong chevalry,

Diſyrus In to armys for to pruf;

Sum for wynyng, ſum cauſith vas for luf,

Sum In to worſchip to be exaltate,

2552 Sum cauſit was of wordis he & hate,

That lykit not ydill for to ben;

a hundred pair at once.

A hundereth pair at onis one the gren.

Thir luſty folk thus can thar tyme diſpend,

2556 Whill that the trewis goith to the ende.

The truce past,

The trewis paſt, the day is cummyne onoñe,

One euery ſyd the can them to diſpone;

And thai that war moſt ſacret & moſt dere

Galiot’s friends inquire who shall fight on his side on the morrow.

2560 To galiot, at hyme the can enquere,

“Who ſal aſſemble one yhour ſyd to-morñe?

To-nycht the trewis to the end is worne.”

He anſuerit, “As yhit one to this were

2564 I ame awyſit I wil none armys bere,

[Fol. 32 a.]

Bot If It ſtond of more Neceſſitee;

Nor to the feld will pas, bot for to ſee

Yhone knycht, the which that berith ſich o fame.”

He commands the first-conquest king to take 30,000 men.

2568 Than clepit he the conquest king be name,

And hyme commandit xxx thouſand tak

Aȝaine the morne, and for the feld hyme mak.

And gawane haith, apone the toyer syde,

2572 Conſulit his Eme he ſchuld for them prowid,

And that he ſchuld none armys to hyme tak

58 MS. “Wihill.”

Whill58 galiot will for the feld hyme mak.

59 Omitted in MS.

“I grant,” quod [he59], “wharfor ȝhe mone diſpone

Gawane leads Arthur’s forces.

2576 Yhow to the feld with al my folk to-morne,

And thinkith in yhour manhed and curage

For to reciſt ȝhone folkis gret owtrag.”

The day comes.

[T]he nycht is gone, vp goith the morow gray,

2580 The brycht ſone ſo cherith al the day:

The knychtis gone to armys than, in haſt;

One goith the ſcheildis and the helmys laſt;

Arthur’s men cross the ford.

Arthuris oſt out our the furrde thai ryd.

2584 And thai agane, apone the toyer syd,

Galiot’s men assemble in a vale.

Aſſemblit ar apone o luſty greyne,

In to o waill, whar ſone thar mycht be ſeyne

Of knychtis to-gedder many o pair

2588 In to the feld aſſemblyng her & thair,

60 MS. has “borne.” We should read “lorne,” as in line 2092.

And ſtedis which that haith thar maſter lorne;60

The knychtis war done to the erth doune borne.

DEEDS OF SIR ESQUYRIS.

Sir Esquyris, a manly knight,

Sir eſquyris, which was o manly knycht

2592 In to hyme-ſelf, and hardy vas & wycht;

And in till armys gretly for to pryß,

Ȝhit he was pure, he prewit wel oft-ſyß;

at that time of Galiot’s company,

And that tyme was he of the cumpanee

2596 Of galiot, bot efterwart was hee

With arthur; and that day In to the feild

He come, al armyt boith with ſpere and ſcheld,

With ferß deſir, as he that had na dout,

attacks a band,

2600 And is aſſemblit ewyne apone a rowt;

His ſpere is gone, the knycht goith to the erd,

And out onon he pullith haith o ſwerd;

and proves his manhood.

That day In armys prewit he rycht well

2604 His ſtrenth, his manhed; arthuris folk thai fell.

DEEDS OF SIR GWYANS.

Then Galys Gwynans, brother of Ywan,

Than galys gwynans, with o manly hart,

Which broyer was of ywane the baſtart,

He cummyne Is onone one to the ſtour

[Fol. 32 b.]

2608 For conquering In armys of honour,

encounters him, and horse and man go all four to earth.

And cownterit with eſquyris hath so

61 MS. has “than.”

That61 horß and man, al four, to erth thai go;

And ſtill o quhill lying at the ground.

2612 With that o part of arthuris folk thei found

Arthur’s folk rescue Gwyans;

Till gwyans, and haith hyme ſone reſkewit.

Aȝanis them til eſquyris thei ſewyt

thirty knights of Galiot’s arrive, and rescue Esquyris.

Of galiotis well xxx^ti knychtis & mo;

2616 Gwyans goith done, and vthir vij alſo,

The wich war tone & eſqwyris relewit.

Next Ywan comes to the mêlée.

Than ywane the anterus, aggrewit,

With kynniſmen one to the melle ſocht.

2620 The hardy knychtis, that one thar worſchip thocht,

Cownterit them In myddis of the ſcheld,

Whar many o knycht was born doñ in the feld;

Galiot’s men give way.

Bot thei wich ware on galiotis part,

2624 So wndertakand nor of ſo hardy hart

Ne ware thei not as was in ye contrare.

Gwyans is again rescued.

Sir galys gwyans was reſqwyt thare

With his falowis, and eſqwyris don bore.

2628 Thar al the batellis cam, withouten more,

On ather part, and is aſſemblit ſo

50,000 men are assembled.

Whar fyfty thouſand war thei, & no mo.

30,000 on Galiot’s side approach the river,

In o plane beſyd the gret Riwere

2632 Xxx thouſand one galiotis half thei vare;

and 10,000 on Arthur’s.

Of arthuris x thouſand and no mo

Thei ware, and ȝhit thai contenit them ſo

And in the feld ſo manly haith borñ,

2636 That of thar fois haith the feld forſworñ.

SIR GAWANE’S INTREPIDITY.

The conqueſt king, wich the perell knowith,

Gawane puts the conquest-king to flight.

Ful manly one to the feld he drowith;

The lord ſir gawan, couerit with his ſcheld,

2640 He ruſchit in myddis of the feld,

And haith them ſo in to his com aſſayt,

That of his manhed ware thei al affrait;

No langer mycht thei contrar hyme endur,

2644 Bot fled, and goith one to diſcumfiture.

Galiot, full of anger and grief, sends out a new band.

And galiot, wich haith the diſcumfit ſen,

Fulfillit ful of anger and of ten,

Incontinent he ſend o new poware,

2648 Whar-with the feldis al our-couerit ware

[Fol. 33 a.]

Of armyt ſtedis both in plait and maill,

With knychtis wich war reddy to aſſaill.

Gawane draws his men together, and shews them comfortable words.

Sir gawan, ſeing al the gret ſuppris

2652 Of fois cummyng In to ſich o wys,

Togiddir al his cumpany he drew,

And confortable wordis to them ſchew;

So at the cummyng of thar ennemys

They receive the foe in manly wise.

2656 Thei them reſauf, in ſo manly wyß,

That many one felith deithis wound,

And wnder horß lyith ſobing one the ground.

This vther cummyth in to gret deſir,

2660 Fulfillit ful of matelent and Ire,

So freſchly, with ſo gret o confluens,

Thar ſtrong aſſay hath don ſich vyolens,

And at thar come arthuris folk ſo led,

2664 That thai war ay abayſit and adred.

Bot gawan, wich that, by this vorldis fame,

Of manhed and of knychthed bur the name,

Haith prewit [hym] well be experiens;

2668 For only In til armys his defens

Gawane encourages his fellows,

Haith maid his falowis tak ſich hardyment,

That manfully thei biding one the bent.

Of his manhed war merwell to raherß;

2672 The knychtis throw the ſcheldis can he perß,

That many one thar dethis haith reſauit;

None armour frome his mychty hond them ſauit,

though their foes are three to one;

Ȝhit ay for one ther ennemys wor thre.

2676 Long mycht thei nocht endur in ſuch dugree;

The preß it wos ſo creuell & ſo ſtrong,

In gret anoy and haith continewit longe,

yet his men are forced to retreat to their tents.

That, magre them, thei nedis moſt abak

2680 The way one to thar lugis for to tak.

Sir gawan thar ſufferith gret myſchef,

And wonderis in his knychthed can he pref;

His falouſchip haith merwell that hym ſaw,

2684 So haith his fois that of his ſuerd ſtud aw.

SIR YWAN RESCUES GAWANE.

Arthur beholds the peril of the field, and sends Sir Ywan to help them,

King arthur, that al this whill beheld

The danger and the perell of the feld,

Sir ywan with o falowſchip he ſende,

2688 Them In that ned to help & to defend,

[Fol. 33 b.]

Qwich fond them In to danger and in were,

And enterit nere In to thar tentis were.

who finds Sir Gawane fighting on foot with only his sword.

Sir gawan fechtand was one fut At erde,

2692 And no defend, but only in his ſwerde,

Aȝanis them both with ſpere and ſcheld.

62 Read “felde”?

Of galowa the knycht goith to the erde.62

The battle was furious and wood.

63 MS. “woid,” but the “i” is undotted, and is therefore perhaps meant for the first stroke of a “u.”

Thar was the batell furyous and woud63

2696 Of armyt knychtis; to the grownde thai ȝhud.

Sir ywane, that was a noble knyght,

He ſchew his ſtrenth, he ſchew thar his gret mycht,

In al his tyme that neuer of before

2700 Off armys, nore of knychthed, did he more:

Sir Ywan rescues Sir Gawane,

Sir gawan thar reſkewit he of fors,

Magre his fois, and haith hyme ſet one horß

That frome the firſt conqueſt king he wañ;

who was so evilly wounded, that he was the worse thereof evermore.

2704 Bot ſir gawan ſo ewill was wondit than,

And in the feld ſuppriſit was ſo ſore,

That he the werß thar-of was euermore.

Thar ſchew the lord ſir ywan his curage,

2708 His manhed, & his noble waſſolage;

And gawan, in his doing, wald nocht irk;

END OF THE FIRST DAY’S BATTLE.

Darkness parts the combatants.

So al the day enduring to the dyrk

Sal them, magre of thar deſyre, conſtren

2712 On ayar half fore [to] depart in twen.

And when that gawan of his horß vas toñ,

The blud out of his noiß & mouth is goñ,

And largly ſo paſſith euery wounde,

Sir Gawane swoons,

2716 In ſwonyng thore he fell one to the ground:

Than of the puple petee was to here

The lemytable clamour, and the chere;

so that the king despairs of his “niece’s” life, and laments over him.

And of the king the ſorow and the care,

2720 That of his necis lyf was in diſſpare.

“Far well,” he ſais, “my gladnes, & my delyt,

Apone knychthed far well myne appetit,

Fare well of manhed al the gret curage,

2724 Yow flour of armys and of vaſſolage,

Gif yow be loſt!”—thus til his tent hyme brocht

The surgeons are sought,

With wofull hart, and al the ſurryȝenis ſocht,

Wich for to cum was reddy at his neid;

2728 Thai fond the lord was of his lyf in dreid,

For wondit was he, and ek wondit ſo,

who found he had two broken ribs, but no mortal wound.

And in his ſyd ware brokyne Ribys two.

Bot nocht for-thi the king thai maid beleif

[Fol. 34 a.]

2732 That at that tyme he ſhuld the deith eſchef.

[O]ff melyhalt the ladyis knychtis were

In to the feld, and can thir tithingis here,

The lady of Melyhalt’s knights tell her how the battle went,

And home to thar lady ar thai went,

2736 Til hir to ſchewing efter thar entent,

In euery poynt, how that the batell ſtud

Of galiot, and of his multitud;

and how Gawane bare him in the field, and of his wounds.

And how gawan hyme in the feld hath borñ,

2740 Throw quhoys ſwerd ſo many o knycht vas lorñ,

And of the knychtly wonderis that he wrocht,

Syne how that he one to his tent vas brocht.

The lady hard, that lowit gawan so,

She weeps for him.

64 MS. “in in”; but “in to” is clearly meant.

2744 She gan to wep, in to64 hir hart vas wo.

Lancelot requests to see the lady;

Thir tythyngis one to lancelot ar goñ,

Whar-of that he was wonder wo-bygone,

And for the lady haſtely he sent,

2748 And ſche til hyme, at his command, Is went:

and inquires if Gawane is really likely to die.

He ſaluſt hir, and ſaid, “madem, Is trew

Thir tithingis I her report of new

Of the aſſemble, and meting of the oſt,

2752 And of ſir gawan, wich that ſhuld be loſt?

LANCELOT’S LAMENT FOR GAWANE.

If that be ſwth, adew the flour of armys,

He laments over him,

Now neuermore recoueryt be the harmys!

In hyme was manhed, curteſſy, and trouth,

2756 Beſy trawell In knychthed, ay but ſleuth,

Humilyte, [and] gentrice, and cwrag;

In hyme thar was no maner of outrage.

first apostrophizing himself,

Allace! knycht, allace! what ſhal yow ſay?

2760 Yow may complen, yow may bewail the day

As of his deith, and gladſchip aucht to ſes,

Baith menſtraſy and feſting at the des;

For of this lond he was the holl comfort,

2764 In tyme of ned al knychthed to ſupport!

and next blaming the lady for not having allowed him to be present in the battle.

Allace! madem, and I durſt ſay at ȝhe

Al yhour beheſt not kepit haith to me,

Whar-of that I was in to full belef

2768 Aȝañe this day that I ſchuld have my lef,

And nocht as cowart thus ſchamfully to ly

Excludit in to cage frome chewalry,

Whar othir knychtis anarmyt on thar ſtedis

2772 Hawntis ther ȝhouthhed in to knychtly dedis.”

“Sir,” quod ſche, “I red yhow not diſpleß,

[Fol. 34 b.]

Ȝhe may In tyme her-efter cum at es;

LANCELOT PREPARES FOR BATTLE.

She promises he shall go to the next battle,

For the thrid day Is ordanit, & ſhal be

2776 Of the oſtis a new aſſemble,

And I have gart ordan al the gere

That longith to ȝour body for to were,

saying that his sable armour is ready.

Boith horß and armour In the ſamyne wyß

2780 Of ſable, ewyne aftir ȝhour awn dewyß;

And yhe ſal her remayne one to the day;

Syne may ȝhe paß, fore well ȝhe knaw the way.”

“I will obey, madem, to yhour entent.”

2784 With that ſche goith, and to hir reſt is went:

In the morn she takes her leave, to go to the court.

One the morn arly vp ſche roß

Without delay, and to the knycht ſche gois,

And twk hir lef, and ſaid that ſcho vald fare

2788 On to the court, with-outen any mare.

He kneels, and thanks her often.

Than knelit he, and thankit hir oft-ſys,

That ſche ſo mych hath done hyme of gentriß,

And hir byhecht euer, at his myght,

2792 To be hir awn trew & ſtedfaſt knycht.

She goes unto the king,

Sche thonkith hyme, and ſyne ſche goith her way

On to the king, with-owten more delay,

65 MS. “with;” which is crossed out, and “in” inserted above, rather minutely written.

Whar that in65 honour with king & qwen ſche ſall

2796 Rycht thonkfully reſauit be with-all.

Eft to ſir gawan thai hir led, & ſche

Ryght gladly hyme deſyrit for to ſee,

and finds Sir Gawane quite different from what had been told her.

And ſche hyme fond, and ſche was glad tharfore,

2800 All vthir ways than was hir told before.

The knycht, the wich in to hir keping vas,

The lady’s cousin cherishes Lancelot in her best manner.

Sche had commandit to hir cuſſynece,

Wich cheriſt hyme apone hir beſt manere,

2804 And comfort hyme, and maid hym rycht gud chere.

[T]he days goith, ſo paſſith als the nycht,

The third day, the maiden goes to his chamber, and fastens on his armour.

The thrid morow, as that the ſone vas lycht,

The knycht onon out of his bed aroß,

2808 The maden ſone one to his chalmer goß,

And ſacretly his armour one hyme ſpent.

He tuk his lef, and ſyne his way he went

He goes to the same green, beside the river, as before.

Ful prewaly, rycht to the ſamyne greñ

2812 One the rewere, whar he befor had ben,

Ewyne as the day [he] the first courß hath maad.

Alone rycht thar he howit, and abaade,

[Fol. 35 a.]

Behalding to the bertes, whar the qweñ

He abides there alone, looking towards the parapet where he saw the queen.

2816 Befor at the aſſemble he had señ

Rycht ſo the ſone ſchewith furth his lycht,

And to his armour went is euery wycht;

The jousting begins.

One athir half the Iusting is bygon,

2820 And many o fair and knych[t]ly courß is rown.

The black knight still halts on his steed.

The blak knycht ȝhit howyns on his ſted,

Of al thar doing takith he no hed,

Bot ay, apone the beſynes of thocht,

2824 In beholding his ey departit nocht.

THE QUEEN BEHOLDS THE BLACK KNIGHT.

The lady beholds him and knows him; but yet inquires who he is,

To quhom the lady of melyhalt beheld,

And knew hyme by his armour & his ſcheld,

Qwhat that he was; and thus ſche ſaid one hycht:

2828 “Who is he ȝone? who may he be, ȝhone knycht,

So ſtill that hovith and ſterith not his Ren,

And ſeith the knychtis rynyng one the greñ?”

thus calling the attention of Gawane,

Than al beholdith, and in princypale

2832 Sir gawan beholdith moſt of all;

Of melyha[l]t the lady to hyme maid

Incontinent, his couche and gart be had

Be-fore o wyndew thore, as he mycht se

2836 The knycht, the oſt, and al the aſſemble.

He lukith furth, and ſone the knycht hath ſen,

who saith to the queen:

And, but delay, he ſaith one to the qwen,

“Madam, remember that the red knight halted where yon knight halts.”

“Madem, if ȝhe remembir, ſo it was

2840 The red knycht in to the ſamyne place

That wencuſt al [at] the first aſſemble;

Whar that ȝone knycht howis, howit hee.”

“Why do you inquire?” she replies.

“Ȝha,” quod the qwen, “rycht well remembir I;

2844 Qwhat is the cauß at ȝhe inquere, & quhy?”

“Madem, of [al] this larg warld is he

“He is the knight, madam, whom I most desire to see.”

The knycht the wich I most deſir to ſee

His ſtrenth, his manhed, his curag, and his mycht,

2848 Or do in armys that longith to o knycht.”

THE ORDER OF BATTLE.

[B]y thus, arthur, with conſell well awyſit,

Arthur arranges his lines of battle.

Haith ordanit his batellis, and devyſit:

King Ydrus leads the first;

The firſt of them led ydrus king, & he

2852 O worthy man vas nemmyt for to bee.

Harwy the Reweyll, an aged knight, the second.

The ſecund led harwy the Reweyll,

That in this world was knycht that had moſt feill

For to prowid that longith to the were,

2856 One agit knycht, and well couth armys bere.

[Fol. 35 b.]

[T]he thrid feld [he] deliuerit in the hond

King Angus, a cousin of Arthur, leads the third.

Of angus, king of ylys of ſcotlande,

Wich cuſing was one to king arthur nere,

2860 One hardy knycht he was, withouten were.

King Ywons the fourth.

The ferd batell led ywons the king,

O manly knycht he was In to al thing.

And thus dewyſit ware his batellis ſere,

In every company are 15,000.

2864 In euery feld xv thouſand were.

66 MS. “firſt.” See l. 2870.

[T]he fift66 batell the lord ſir ywan lede,

The lord Sir Ywan leads the rearguard.

Whois manhed was in euery cuntre dred,

Sone he was one to wryne the kyng,

2868 Forwart, ſtout, hardy, wyß, and ȝhing;

Xx thouſand in his oſt thai paſt,

Wich ordanit was for to aſſemble laſt.

Galiot’s armies.

[A]nd galiot, apone the tothir ſyde,

2872 Rycht wyſly gan his batellis to dewid.

Malenginys leads the first line;

The firſt of them led malenginys the king,

None hardyar In to this erth lewyng;

He neuer more out of his cuntre Raid,

2876 Nor he with hyme one hundereth knychtis hade.

the first-conquest king the second; Walydeyne the third;

[T]he ſecund the first-conqueſt king led,

That for no perell of armys vas adred;

The thrid, o king clepit walydeyne,

2880 He led, and was o manly knycht, but weyne.

Clamedeus the fourth;

[T]he ferd, king clamedeus has,

Wich that lord of far ylys was.

and King Brandymagus the fifth.

67 MS. “firſt.”

The fift67 batell, whar xl thouſand were,

2884 King brandymagus had to led and ſtere,

O manly knycht, and prewit well oft-ſyß,

And in his conſell wonder ſcharp & wyß.

Galiot bore no arms;

Galiot non armys bur that day,

2888 Nor as o knycht he wald hyme-ſelf aray,

but was arrayed as a servant in a habergeon with a “prekyne” hat, and a truncheon in his hand.

But as o ſeruand in o habariowne,

O prekyne hat, and ek o gret trownſciowñ

In til his hond, and one o curſour ſet,

2892 The beſt that was in ony lond to get.

Endlong the rewar men mycht behold & ſee,

Of knychtis weryne mony one aſſemble;

The black knight still remains looking towards the parapet.

And the blak knycht ſtill he couth abyde,

2896 Without remowyng, one the Riwer ſyde,

Bot to the bartes to behold and ſee

Thar as his hart deſyrit moſt to bee:

THE FIRST MESSAGE TO THE BLACK KNIGHT.

The lady says to the queen—

And quhen the lady of melyhalt haith ſeñ

[Fol. 36 a.]

2900 The knycht ſo ſtond, ſche ſaid one to the qweñ,

“Madam, pray commend yourself to yon knight.”

“Madem, It is my conſell at ȝhe send

One to ȝone knycht, ȝour-ſelf for to commend,

Beſeiching hyme that he wald wndertak

2904 This day to do of armys, for ȝour ſak.”

The queen replies

The quen anſuerit as that hir lykit nocht,

For othir thing was more In to hir thocht,

“For well ȝhe ſe the perell how disio[i]nt,

2908 The adwentur now ſtondith one the point

Boith of my lord his honore, and his lond,

68 Stevenson reads “the”; but “the” is crossed out, and “in” written over it.

And of his men, in68 danger how thai ſtond:

that the lady and the rest may send a message, but that she will not herself take part in it.

Bot ȝhe, and ek thir vthere ladice may,

2912 If that yhow lykith, to the knycht gar ſay

The meſag; is none that wil yhow let,

For I tharof ſal nocht me entermet.”

On to the quen ſcho ſaith, “her I,

2916 If ſo it pleß thir vthir ladice by,

Am for to ſend one to the knycht content;”

And al the ladice can thar-to aſſent,

Beſeching hir the meſag to dewyß,

2920 As ſche that was moſt prudent & moſt wyß.

The lady sends a discreet maiden,

Sche grantit, and o madeñ haith thai tone,

Diſcret, apone this meſag for till gone;

and Sir Gawane a squire, with two spears,

And ſir gawan a ſqwyar bad alſo,

2924 With two ſperis one to the knycht to go.

The lady than, withouten more dulay,

Haith chargit hir apone this wyß to ſay:

to say that all the ladies, the queen alone excepted, commend them to the black knight,

“Schaw to the knycht, the ladice euer-ilkone

2928 Ben In the court, excep the quen allon,

Til hyme them haith recommandit oft-ſyß,

Beſeching hyme of knychthed and gentriß,

(Or if It hapyne euermore that he ſhall

2932 Cum, quhar thai may, owther an or all,

In ony thing awail hyme or ſupport,

Or do hyme ony pleſans or comfort,)

and pray him to essay some deed of arms.

He wold wichſaif for loue of them this day

2936 In armys ſum manhed to aſſay;

And ſay, ſir gawan hyme the ſperis ſent;

Now go, this is the fek of our entent.”

The damsel and squire

The damyſell ſche hath hir palfray tone,

2940 The sqwyar with the ſperis with hir goñ;

[Fol. 36 b.]

The nereſt way thai paß one to ye knycht,

repeat the message.

Whar ſche repete hir meſag haith ful rycht:

SIR LANCELOT IS NOT CONTENT.

Sir Lancelot, finding the queen not in the message,

And quhen he hard, and planly wnderſtude,

2944 How that the quen not in the meſag ȝude,

was not content,

He ſpak no word, bot he was not content;

Bot, of ſir gawan, glaid in his entent,

He aſkit quhar he was, and of his fair?

2948 And thai to hyme the maner can duclair;

but asks the squire to hold the two spears ready for him.

Than the ſqwyar he prayth that he wold

Paß to the feld, the ſperis for to hold.

He ſaw the knychtis ſemblyng her and thare,

2952 The ſtedis Rynyng with the ſadillis bare;

His ſpuris goith in to the ſtedis syde,

That was ful ſwyft, and lykit not to byd;

HE USES UP SIR GAWANE’S TWO SPEARS.

And he that was hardy, ferß, and ſtout,

He attacks a company of a hundred knights, slays the nearest,

2956 Furth by o ſyd aſſemblyng on a rout

Whar that one hundereth knychtis was, & mo;

And with the firſt has Recounterit so,

That frome the deth not helpith hym his ſcheld,

2960 Boith horß and man is lying in the feld;

The ſpere is gone, and al in pecis brak,

and with the stump of his spear bereaves two or three of their saddles.

And he the trunſcyoune in his hand hath tak

That two or thre he haith the ſadillis reft,

2964 Whill in his hond ſchortly no thing is left.

Syne, to the ſquyar, of the feld is goñ,

He takes a new spear from the squire, and overthrows three knights.

Fro hyme o ſpere In to his hond haith ton,

And to the feld returnyt he aȝayne:

2968 The firſt he met, he goith one the plan,

And ek the next, and ſyne the thrid alſo;

Nor in his hond, nore in his ſtrak was ho.

His ennemys that veryng In affray

2972 Befor his ſtrok, and makith rovm alway;

And in ſich wyß ay in the feld he vrocht,

Whill that his ſperis gon var al to nocht;

Whar-of ſir gawan berith vitneſing

2976 Throw al this world that thar vas non levyng,

In ſo ſchort tyme ſo mych of armys wrocht.

His spears gone, he returns to his first position.

His ſperis gone, out of the feld he ſocht,

And paſſit is one to the Rewere syde,

2980 Rycht thore as he was wont for to abyde;

[Fol. 37 a.]

And ſo beholdyne In the ſamyne plañ,

As to the feld hyme lykit nocht aȝañ.

THE SECOND MESSAGE TO THE BLACK KNIGHT.

Sir Gawane says to the queen:

Sir gawan ſaw, and ſaith on to the quen,

“Madam, yon knight thinks himself despised, because you so specially excepted yourself in the message;

69 “not” seems required.

2984 “Madem, yhone knycht diſponit [not],69 I weyñ,

To help ws more, fore he ſo is awyſit;

As I preſume, he thinkith hyme diſpiſit

Of the meſag that we gart to hyme mak;

2988 Yhowre-ſelf yhe have ſo ſpecialy out-tak,

He thinkith ewill contempnit for to bee,

Conſidering how that the neceſſitee

Moſt prinſpally to yhowr ſupporting lyis.

2992 Tharfor my conſell is, yhow to dewyß,

And ek ȝhowre-ſelf in yhowr treſpas accuß,

ask him mercy, therefore, and excuse your guilt.

And aſk hyme mercy, and yhour gilt excuß.

For well it oucht o prince or o king

2996 Til honore and til cheriß in al thing

O worthi man, that is in knychthed prewit.

For throw the body of o man eſchevit

Mony o wondir, mony one aduenture,

3000 That merwell war til any creature.

And als oft-tyme is boith hard & ſen,

For often, by one knight’s prowess, have 40,000 been worsted by 5,000.

Quhar xl thouſand haith diſcumfit ben

Vith v thouſand, and only be o knycht;

3004 For throw his ſtrenth, his vorſchip, & his mycht,

His falowſchip ſich comfort of hym tais

That thai ne dreid the danger of thar fays.

And thus, madem, I wot, withouten were,

If yon knight will continue to help the king,

3008 If that ȝhone knycht this day will perſywere

With his manhed for helping of the king,

We ſal have cauß to dred in to no thing.

Our folk of hyme thai ſal ſich comfort tak,

3012 And ſo adred thar ennemys ſal mak,

That ſur I am, onys or the nycht,

yon folk shall perforce take to flight.”

Of forß ȝhone folk ſal tak one them the flycht:

Wharffor, madem, that ȝhe have gilt to mend,

3016 My conſell is one to ȝhon knycht ȝe ſend.”

She consents to send a message.

“Sir,” quod ſche, “quhat pleſſith yhow to do

Ȝhe may dewyß, and I conſent thar-to.”

Than was the lady of melyhalt content,

3020 And to ſir gawan in-to-contynent

[Fol. 37 b.]

Sche clepit the maid, wich that paſſit ar;

A maiden is therefore sent to say,

And he hir bad the meſag thus duclar.

70 “to” seems required.

“Say [to]70 the knycht, the quen hir recommendith,

3024 And ſal correk in quhat that ſche offendith

At his awn will, how ſo hyme liſt dewyß;

that the queen humbly exhorts him

And hyme exortith, in moſt humyll wyß,

As euer he will, whar that ſche can or may,

3028 Or powar haith hir charg, be ony way,

And for his worſchip and his hie manhede,

to help in that need to preserve the king’s honour, and to deserve her thanks.

And for hir luf, to helpen in that ned

The kingis honore, his land fore to preſerf,

3032 That he hir thonk for euer may deſerf.”

SIR GAWANE SENDS HIM TEN SPEARS MORE.

And four ſquyaris chargit he alſo

Sir Gawane also sends four squires with three horses and ten spears.

With thre horß and ſperis x to go

Furth to the knycht, hyme prayng for his ſak,

3036 At his raqueſt thame in his ned to tak.

[T]he maden furth with the ſqwyaris is went

One to the knycht, and ſchawith yar entent.

The message heard, he inquires about the queen,

Tho meſag hard, and ek ye preſent ſeñ,

3040 He anſwerit, and aſkith of the qwen;

and is told that from yon parapet she can witness his deeds.

71 A second “sche” is here required.

“Sir,” quod ſche, [“sche]71 in to ȝhone bartiis lyis,

Whar that this day yhour dedis ſal dewyß,

Yhowr manhed, yhour worſchip, and affere,

3044 How ȝhe conteñ, and how yhe armys bere;

The quen hir-ſelf, and many o lady to,

Sal Iugis be, and vitnes how yhe do.”

Than he, whois hart ſtant in o new aray,

He returns a message that he is the queen’s knight.

3048 Saith, “damyceyll, on to my lady ſay,

How euer that hir lykith that it bee,

Als far as wit or powar is in me,

I am hir knycht, I ſal at hir command

3052 Do at I may, withouten more demand.

And to ſir gawan, for his gret gentriß,

Me recommend and thonk a thouſand ſyß.”

With that o ſper he takith in his hond,

He stands in his stirrups; and seems to increase a foot in height.

3056 And ſo in to his ſterapis can he ſtond

That to ſir gawan ſemyth that the knycht

Encreſyng gon o larg fut one hycht;

And to the ladice ſaith he, and the qwen,

3060 “Ȝhon is the knycht that euer I have ſen

In al my tyme moſt knychtly of affere,

And in hyme-ſelf gon fareſt armys bere.”

THE BLACK KNIGHT’S CHARGE.

[Fol. 38 a.]

[T]he knycht that haith Remembrit in his thocht

Greatly encouraged,

3064 The qwenys chargis, & how ſche hym beſocht,

Curag can encreſing to his hart;

His curſer lap, and gan onon to ſtart;

And he the ſqwaris haith reqwyrit ſo,

3068 That thai with hyme one to the feld wald go.

without delay he crosses over the river to the field;

Than goith he one, withouten mor abaid,

And our the reuar to the feld he raid;

Don goith his ſpere onone In to the Reſt,

and goes in wherever he sees most peril.

3072 And in he goith, withouten mor areſt,

Thar as he ſaw moſt perell and moſt dred

72 MS. “held.”

In al the feld, and moſt of help72 had ned,

Whar ſemblyt was the firſt-conqueſt king

3076 With mony o knycht that was in his leding.

He overthrows two knights.

The firſt he met, doune goith boith horß & man;

The ſper was holl, and to the next he Rañ

That helpit hyme his hawbrek nor his ſcheld,

3080 Bot throuch and throuch haith perſit in the feld.

SIX KNIGHTS FOLLOW HIM.

Sir Kay, Sir Sygramors, Sir Gresown, Sir Ywan, Sir Brandellis, and Gahers, all six in a race spur across the field with stretched spears,

Sir kay, the wich haith this encontyr ſen,

His horß he ſtrekith our the larg gren,

And ſir ſygramors ek the deſyrand,

3084 With ſir greſown cummyth at yar honde,

Son of the duk, and alſua ſir ywan

The baſtart, and ſir brandellis onan,

And gaherß, wich that broyir was

3088 To gawan; thir ſex in a Raß

Deliuerly com prekand our the feldis

With ſperis ſtraucht, and couerit with thar ſcheldis;

Sum for love, ſum honor to purcheß,

and 100 knights after them.

3092 And aftir them one hundereth knychtis was,

In ſamyne will, thar manhed to aſſay.

On his v falowis clepit than ſir kay,

Sir Kay exhorts them

And ſaith them, “ſiris, thar has ȝhonder ben

3096 A courß that neuer-more farar was ſen

Maid be o knycht, and we ar cummyn ilkon

Only ws one [his] worſchip to diſpone;

And neuer we in al our dais mycht

3100 Have bet axampil than iffith ws ȝone knycht

to keep near the black knight, and follow his guidance all day.

Of well doing; and her I hecht for me

Ner hyme al day, if that I may, to bee,

And folow hyme at al [my] mycht I ſall,

3104 Bot deth or vthir adwentur me fall.”

With that thir ſex, al in one aſſent,

With freſch curag In to the feld Is went.

[Fol. 38 b.]

The blak knychtis ſpere in pecis goñe,

With a second spear, the black knight seeks the field, closely followed by the six.

3108 Frome o ſqwyar oñe vthir haith he toñe,

And to the feld onone he goith ful rycht;

Thir ſex with hyme ay holdith at yar mycht.

And than bygan his wonderis in the feld;

3112 Thar was no helme, no hawbryk, nore no ſcheld,

No knight nor armour can withstand him.

Nor yhit no knycht ſo hardy, ferß, nore ſtout,

No ȝhit no maner armour mycht hald owt

His ſtrenth, nore was of powar to withſtond;

3116 So mych of armys dyde he with his honde,

Every wight wonders at his deeds.

That euery wight ferleit of his deid,

And al his fois ſtondith ful of dreid.

So beſely he can his tyme diſpend,

3120 That of the ſperis wich ſir gawan ſend,

He uses up all Gawane’s spears.

Holl of them all thar was not lewit oñe;

Throw wich but mercy to the deyth is gon

Ful many o knycht, and many o weriour,

3124 That couth ſuſten ful hardely o ſtour.

Two horses of his are killed, and he fights on foot.

And of his horß ſuppriſit ded ar two,

One of his awn, of gawanis one alſo,

And he one fut was fechtand one the gren,

3128 When that ſir kay haith with his falowis ſeñ;

The squire brings him a fresh horse;

The ſqwyar with his horß than to hym brocht;

Magre his fois he to his courſeir ſocht

Deliuerly, as of o mychty hart,

he leaps into the saddle without stirrups.

3132 Without ſteropis in to his ſadill ſtart,

That euery wycht beholding mervell has

Of his ſtrenth and deliuer beſynes.

SIR KAY ASKS WHO THE BLACK KNIGHT IS.

Sir Kay asks who he is,

Sir kay, ſeing his horß, and how that thai

3136 War cled in to ſir gawanis aray,

Aſkith at the ſquyar if he knewith

What that he was, this knycht? & he hym ſchewith

but the squire cannot tell.

He wiſt no thing quhat that he was, nore hee

3140 Befor that day hyme neuer ſaw with Ee.

Than aſkith he, how and one quhat wyß

On gawanis horß makith hyme ſich ſeruice?

The ſqw[y]ar ſaith, “forſuth y wot no more;

3144 My lord ws bad, I not the cauß quharfore.”

The black knight returns to the field.

The blak knycht, horſit, to the feld can ſew

Als freſch as he was in the morow new;

The six comrades follow him.

The ſex falowis folowit hyme ilkone,

3148 And al in front on to the feld ar goñ;

[Fol. 39 a.]

Rycht freſchly one thar ennemys thai ſoght,

And many o fair poynt of armys vroght.

Malangin’s host is discomfited by king Ydras; and retreats to join the second line, commanded by the Conquest-king;

[T]han hapnyt to king malangins oſt

3152 By ydras king diſcumfit was, & loſt,

And fled, and to the conqueſt-king ar goñe,

Thar boith the batellis aſſemblit In to one;

King malengynis in to his hart was wo,

3156 For of hyme-ſelf no better knycht mycht go;

so that 40,000 are now opposed to 15,000 of Arthur’s.

Thar xl thouſand war thai for xv.

Than mycht the feld rycht perellus be ſen

Of armyt knychtis gaping one the ground;

3160 Sum deith, and ſum with mony a grewous wond;

For arthuris knychtis, that manly war and gud,

Suppos that vthir was o multitude,

Reſauit tham well at the ſperis end;

3164 But one ſuch wyß thai may not lang defend.

THE BLACK KNIGHT’S PROWESS.

The black knight, knowing who is beholding him,

The blak knycht ſaw the danger of the feld,

And al his doingis knowith quho beheld,

And ek remembrith in to his entent

3168 Of the meſag that ſche haith to hyme ſent:

Than curag, ſtrenth encreſing with manhed,

Ful lyk o knycht one to the feld he raid,

thinks to have his lady’s love, or die before her.

Thinking to do his ladice love to have,

3172 Or than his deth befor hir to reſave.

Thar he begynyth in his ferß curag

Of armys, as o lyoune in his rag;

Than merwell was his doing to behold;

3176 Thar was no knycht ſo ſtrong, nor yhit ſo bold,

That in the feld befor his ſuerd he met,

Nor he ſo hard his ſtrok apone hyme ſet,

That ded or wondit to the erth he ſocht;

He works nothing but wonders;

3180 For thar was not bot wonderis that he wrocht.

And magre of his fois euerilkone,

and often passes alone through the field.

In to the feld oft tymys hyme aloñ

Throuch and throuch he paſſith to & fro;

73 Another spelling of warld, i.e. world, which occurs in the fuller form in l. 3212.

3184 For in the ward73 it was the maner tho

That non o knycht ſhuld be the brydill tak

Hyme to oreſt, nore cum behynd his bak,

Nor mo than on at onys one o knycht

3188 Shuld ſtrik, for that tyme worſchip ſtud ſo rycht.

Ȝhit was the feld rycht perellus and ſtrong

Till arthuris folk, ſet thai contenyt longe;

[Fol. 39 b.]

Bot in ſich wyß this blak knycht can conten,

He fights in such wise as to encourage all who see his deeds.

3192 That thai, the wich that hath his manhed ſeñ,

Sich hardyment haith takyne In his ded,

Them thocht thai had no maner cauß of dred,

Als long as he mycht owthir ryd or go,

3196 At euery ned he them recomfort ſo.

Sir Kay and his fellows follow him all day.

Sir kay haith with his falowis al the day

Folowit hyme al that he can or may,

And wondir well thai have in armys prewit,

3200 And with thar manhed oft thar folk relewit;

Bot well thai faucht in diuerß placis ſere,

But at last they are nearly all overpowered by numbers.

With multitud yar folk confuſit were,

That long in ſich wyß mycht thai nocht conteñ.

SIR KAY’S MESSAGE TO SIR HARWY.

Sir Kay sends Gawane’s squire with a message to Sir Harwy that he ought not to suffer the best knight that ever bore arms to be surprised,

3204 Sir kay, that hath ſir gawans qſquyaris ſen,

He clepit hyme, and haith hyme prayt ſo,

That to ſir harwy the rewell wil he go,

And ſay to hyme, “ws think hyme ewil awyſit;

3208 For her throuch hyme he ſufferit be ſuppriſit

The beſt knycht that euer armys bur;

And if it ſo befell of adwentur,

In his defalt, that he be ded or lamyt,

3212 This warld ſal have hyme vtraly defamyt.

nor six knights of the Round Table to be discomfited.

And her ar of the round table alſo

A falouſchip, that ſall in well and wo

Abid with hyme, and furth for to endur

3216 Of lyf or deth, this day, thar adwentur;

And if ſo fal diſcumfyt at thai bee,

The king may ſay that wonder ewill haith he

Contenit hyme, and kepit his honore,

3220 Thus for to tyne of chevalry the flour!”

The squire takes the message.

The ſqw[y]ar hard, and furth his way Raid,

In termys ſchort he al his meſag ſaid.

Sir harwy ſaith, “y wytneß god, that I

3224 Neuer in my days comytit tratory,

And if I now begyne In to myne eld,

In ewill tyme fyrſt com I to this feld;

Sir Harwy says that Sir Kay shall have no cause to reprove him.

Bot, if god will, I ſal me ſon diſcharg.

3228 Say to ſir kay, I ſal not ber the charg,

He ſal no mater have me to rapref,

I ſal amend this mys if that I lef.”

The ſqwyar went and tellit to ſir kay;

GALIOT’S FOLK ARE WORSTED.

Sir Harwy comes to support them;

3232 And ſir harwy, in al the haſt he may,

Aſſemblyt hath his oſtis, & onoñ

[Fol. 40 a.]

In gret deſyre on the feld is gon

Before his folk, and haldith furth his way;

3236 Don goith his ſper, and ewyne before ſir kay

So hard o knycht he ſtrykith in his ten

That horß and he lay boith apone the gren.

Sir gawan ſaw the counter that he maad,

3240 And leuch for al the ſarues that he had:

and proves himself a better warrior than might have been expected of one so old.

That day ſir harwy prewyt in the feld

Of armys more than longith to his eld,

For he was more than fyfty yher of ag,

3244 Set he was ferß and ȝong in his curag;

And fro that he aſſemblyt his bataill

Galiot’s folk are beaten.

Doune goith the folk of galotis al haill;

For to withſtond thai war of no poware,

3248 And yhit of folk x thouſand mo thei vare.

King Valydone comes to support them.

Kyng valydone, that ſauch on ſuch o wyß

His falowis dangerit with thar ennemys,

With al his folk, being freß and new,

3252 Goith to the feld onon, them to reſſkew;

Thar was the feld rycht perellus aȝañe,

Of arthuris folk ful many on var ſlan.

Angus comes to aid Arthur’s men.

Bot angus, quhich that lykith not to bid,

3256 And ſaw the perell one the tother ſid,

His ſted he ſtrok, and with his oſt is gon

Whar was moſt ned, and thar the feld has ton.

Clamedyus comes to aid Galiot’s men.

Kyng clamedyus makith non abaid,

3260 Bot with his oſt one to the ſid he raid.

Ywons encounters Clamedyus.

And ywons king, that haith his cummyn ſen,

Encounterit hyme in myddis of the greñ.

The aucht batellis aſſemblyt one this wiß;

Great clamour and lamentable cries on either side.

3264 On ather half the clamore and the cryiß

Was lametable and petws for til her,

Of knychtis wich in diuerß placis ſere

Wondit war, and fallyng to and fro,

3268 Ȝhit galyotis folk war xx thouſand mo.

THE BLACK KNIGHT’S DARING RESOLUTION.

The black knight bids himself remember love’s power over him;

The blak knycht than on to hyme-ſelf he ſaid:

“Remembir the, how yhow haith ben araid,

Ay ſen ye hour that yow was makid knycht,

3272 With love, aȝane quhois powar & whois mycht

Yow haith no ſtrenth, yow may It not endur,

Nor ȝhit non vthir erthly creatur;

and that only his lady’s mercy or his life’s end can amend him.

And bot two thingis ar the to amend,

3276 Thi ladice mercy, or thi lyvys end.

And well yhow wot that on to hir preſens,

[Fol. 40 b.]

Til hir eſtat, nor til hir excellens,

Thi febilneß neuermore is able

3280 For to attan, ſche is ſo honorable.

And ſen no way yow may ſo hie extend,

He counsels himself to strive for her thanks,

My verray conſell is, that yow pretend

This day, (ſen yow becummyne art hir knycht

3284 Of hir comand, and fechtit in hir ſycht),

And well yow ſchaw, ſen yow may do no mor,

That of reſone ſche ſal the thank tharfore;

and to be ashamed of every point of cowardice.

Of euery poynt of cowardy yow ſcham,

3288 And in til armys purcheß the ſum nam.”

With that of love in to o new deſir

Swift as a crossbow-bolt he seeks the field.

His ſpere he ſtraucht, and ſwift as any wyre

With al his forß the nereſt feld he ſoght;

3292 His ful ſtrenth in armys thar he vroght,

In to the feld ruſching to and fro,

Doune goith the man, doune goith the horß also;

Sum throw the ſcheld is perſit to the hart,

3296 Sum throw the hed, he may It not aſtart.

His sword carves the head from some, and cuts the arms of others in twain.

His bludy ſuerd he dreuch, that carwit ſo

Fro ſum the hed, and ſum the arm in two;

Sum in the feld fellit is in ſwoñ,

3300 Throw ſum his ſuerd goith to the ſadill doune.

His fois waren abaſit of his dedis,

His mortell ſtrok ſo gretly for to dred Is;

When his foes see him, they leave the place for dread of death.

Whar thai hyme ſaw, within a lytall ſpace,

3304 For dreid of ded, thai levyng hyme the place,

That many o ſtrok ful oft he haith forlorñ;

The ſpedy horß away the knycht hath borñ.

In to his wyrking neuermore he ſeſt,

3308 Nor non abaid he makith, nor areſt.

His knightly deeds assure his fellows.

His falowis, ſo in his knychthed aſſuryd,

Thai ar recomfort, thar manhed is recoueryt,

And one thar fois ful ferſly thai ſoght,

3312 Thar goith the lyf of many o knycht to nocht.

So was the batell wonderful to tell,

Of knychtis to ſe the multitud that fell,

It was pitiful to see the knights gaping upon the green.

That pety was til ony knycht to ſeñ

3316 The knychtis lying gaping on the gren.

The blak knycht ay continewit ſo faſt,

74 MS. “Whilk.”

Whill74 many one, diſcumfit at the laſt,

[Fol. 41 a.]

Are fled, and planly of the feld thei pas:

GALIOT WONDERS WHY HIS MEN FLEE.

Galiot asks his men why they flee.

3320 And galyot haith wondyr, for he was

Of mor powar, and aſkit at them qwhy

As cowartis thai fled ſa ſchamfully?

A knight replies, that whoever likes may go and see marvels.

Than ſaith o knycht, ſor wondit in the brayne,

3324 “Who lykith, he may Retwrn aȝayne

Frome qwhens we come, merwalis for to ſee,

That in his tyme neuer ſich ſauch hee.”

Galiot asks, what marvels; and the knight tells him there is a knight who vanquishes all;

“Marwell,” quod he, “that dar I boldly ſay

3328 Thay may be callit, and quhat thai ar, I pray?”

“Schir, in the feld forſuth thar is o knycht,

That only throw his body and his mycht

Wencuſſith all, that thar may non ſuſten

3332 His ſtrokis, thai ar ſo fureows and ken.

who fares as a lion or a bear;

He farith as o lyone or o beyre,

Wod in his rag, for ſich is his affere.

to whom the red knight hears no comparison.

Nor he the knycht in to the armys Red,

3336 Wich at the first aſſemble in this ſted

Wencuſſith all, and had the holl renown,

He may to this be no comparyſoune,

Fore neuer he ſeſith ſen the day vas goñ,

3340 Bot euermore continewit in to one.”

Galiot says he will go and see.

Quod galiot, “in nome of god and we

Al, be tyme, the ſuthfaſtneß ſal see.”

GALIOT RALLIES HIS MEN.

Galiot is armed, rallies the flyers, and encourages his men.

[T]han he in armys that he had is gon,

3344 And to the feld with hyme aȝane hath ton

75 The sense, but not the metre, requires “in.”

Al the flearis, and foundyne [in]75 ſich aray

His folk, that ner diſcumfyt al war thay;

Bot quhen thai ſaw cummyne our the plan

3348 Thar lord, thai tuk ſich hardement aȝañ,

They shout their war-cries.

That thar eſſenȝeis lowd thai gon to cry.

He chargit tham to go, that ware hyme by,

Straucht to the feld, with al thar holl forß;

3352 And thai, the wich that ſparit not the horß,

All redy war to fillyng his command,

And freſchly went, withowten more demand:

Throw qwich thar folk recoueryt haith thar place,

All think a new host is coming.

3356 For al the feld preſwmyt that thar was

O new oſt, one ſuch o wyß thai ſoght;

Arthur’s folk determine rather to die than fly.

Whar arthuris folk had paſſith al to nocht,

Ne war that thai the better war ilkoñe,

3360 And at thai can them vtraly diſpoñe

[Fol. 41 b.]

Rathar to dee than flee, in thar entent,

And of the blak knycht haith ſich hardyment;

For at al perell, al harmys, and myſchef,

3364 In tyme of ned he can tham al ralef.

[T]har was the batell dangerus & ſtrong,

Gret was the pres, bath perellus & throng;

The black knight is borne to the ground.

The blak knycht is born on to the ground,

3368 His horß hyme falyth, that fellith dethis wound.

The six comrades go to the earth.

The vi falowis, that falowit hyme al day,

Sich was the preß, that to the erth go thay;

And thar in myd among his ennemys

3372 He was about encloſit one ſich wyß

None know where he is.

That quhare he was non of [his] falowis knew,

Nor mycht nocht cum to help hyme, nore reſkew.

And thus among his ennemys allon

He defends himself with his sword.

3376 His nakid ſuerd out of his hond haith ton;

And thar he prewit his wertew & his ſtrenth;

For thar was none within the ſuerdis lenth

That came, bot he goith to confuſioune.

No helm nor habergeon may resist his sword.

3380 Thar was no helme, thar was no habirioune,

That may reſiſt his ſuerd, he ſmytith so;

One euery ſyd he helpith to and fro,

That al about the compas thai mycht ken;

3384 The ded horß lyith virſlyng with the men.

Thai hyme aſſalȝeing both with ſcheld & ſpere,

He fares like a bear at the stake, that snubs the hardy hounds.

And he aȝane; as at the ſtok the bere

Snybbith the hardy houndis that ar ken,

3388 So farith he; for neuer mycht be ſen

His ſuerd to reſt, that in the gret rout

He rowmyth all the compas hyme about.

GALIOT WONDERS AT LANCELOT’S PROWESS.

[A]nd galiot, beholding his manhed,

Galiot wonders at his deeds;

3392 Within his-ſelf wonderith of his ded,

How that the body only of o knycht

Haith ſich o ſtrenth, haith ſich affere & mycht;

Than ſaid he thus, “I wald not that throw me,

and says that such a knight shall not die on his account.

3396 Or for my cauß, that ſuch o knycht ſuld dee,

To conquer all this world that is ſo larg.”

His horß than can he with his ſpuris charg,

A gret trunſioune In to his hond hath ton,

3400 And in the thikeſt of the preß is goñ,

He charges all his folk to cease;

And al his folk chargit he to ſeß.

At his command thai levyng al the preß;

[Fol. 42 a.]

And quhen he had departit all the rout,

3404 He ſaid, “ſir knycht, havith now no dout.”

Wich anſwerit, “I have no cauß to dred.”

and assures the black knight that he will himself warrant him from all harm.

“Ȝis,” quod he, “ſa euer god me ſped,

Bot apone fut quhill ȝe ar fechtand here,

3408 And yhow defendith apone ſich manere,

So hardely, and ek ſo lyk o knycht,

I ſal my-ſelf with al my holl mycht

100

Be yhour defens, and varand fra al harmys;

3412 Bot had yhe left of worſchip In til armys,

What I have don I wold apone no wyß;

Bot ſen yhe ar of knychthed ſo to prys,

76 MS. “ſalt.”

Ȝhe ſal76 no maner cauß have for to dred:

He offers him as many horses as he needs; and proposes that they shall never again part.

3416 And ſet yhour horß be falit at this ned,

Diſpleß yhow not, for-quhy ȝe ſal not want

Als many as yhow lykith for to hawnt;

GALIOT GIVES LANCELOT HIS OWN HORSE.

And I my-ſelf, I ſal yhowr ſqwyar bee,

3420 And, if god will, neuer more ſal wee

He ’lights from his horse, and gives him to Lancelot, who thanks him.

Depart;” with that, anon he can to lycht

Doune frome his horß, and gaf hyme to y^e knycht.

The lord he thonkit, and the horß hath ton,

3424 And als ſo freſch one to the feld is gon,

As at no ſtrokis he that day had ben.

His falowis glad, one horß that hath hym ſen,

To galiot one vthir horß thai broght;

3428 And he goith one, and frome the feld he ſocht,

Galiot returns to his host, and chooses a band of 10,000 men.

And to the plan quhar that his oſtis were;

And brandymagus chargit he to ſtere

Efter hyme, within a lytill ſpace,

3432 And x thouſand he takyne with hym haß.

Towart the feld onon he can to Rid,

And chargit them befor ye oſt to byd.

The trumpets, clarions, horns, and bugles are sounded.

Wp goith the trumpetis, and the claryownis,

3436 Hornys, bugillis blawing furth thar ſownis,

That al the cuntre reſownit hath about;

Arthur’s folk despair.

Than arthuris folk var in diſpar & dout,

That hard the noys, and ſaw the multitud

3440 Of freſch folk; thai cam as thai war wod.

LANCELOT HARANGUES ARTHUR’S HOST.

The sable knight, still fearless,

[B]ot he that was withowten any dred,

In ſabill cled, and ſaw the gret ned,

Aſſemblyt al his falowis, and arayd;

harangues his men, saying,

3444 And thus to them in manly termes ſaid:

101

[Fol. 42 b.]

“What that ȝe ar I knaw not yhour eſtat,

“I know not who ye are, but I know that ye ought to be commended.

Bot of manhed and worſchip, well I wat,

Out throuch this warld yhe aw to be commendit,

3448 This day ȝe have ſo knychtly yhow defendit.

Ye see how your enemies, as night approaches, are striving to give you an outrage or a fright.

And now yhe ſee how that, aȝanis the nycht,

Yhour ennemys pretendit with thar myght

Of multitud, and with thar new oſt,

3452 And with thar buglis and thar wyndis boſt

Freſchly cummyng In to ſich aray,

77 MS. “owtray.” See Glossary.

To ifyne yhow one owtrag77 or affray.

And now almoſt cummyne Is the nycht,

Employ then your courage, so that the honour ye have won be not again lost.

3456 Quharfor yhour ſtrenth, yhour curag, & yhovr mycht

Yhe occupye in to ſo manly wyß,

That the worſchip of knychthed & empryß

That yhe have wonyng, and ye gret renown

3460 Be not yloſt, be not ylaid doune.

For one hour the ſufferyng of diſtreß,

Gret harm It war yhe tyne the hie encreß

Of vorſchip, ſeruit al this day before.

3464 And to yhow al my conſell is, tharfore,

Resolve then to meet them sharply, without fear, so that they may feel the cold spear in their hearts.

With manly curag, but radour, yhe pretend

To met tham ſcharply at the ſperis end,

So that thei feil the cold ſperis poynt

3468 Out-throw thar ſcheldis, in thar hartis poynt.

So ſal thai fynd we ar no-thing affrayt;

Whar-throuch we ſall the well leß be aſſayt.

Perhaps then the foremost will make the rest afraid.”

If that we met them ſcharply in the berd,

3472 The formeſt ſal mak al the laif afferd.”

And with o woyß thai cry al, “ſir knycht,

Apone yhour manhed, and yhour gret mycht,

They promise to stand firm.

We ſal abid, for no man ſhall eſchef

3476 Frome yhow this day, his manhed for to pref.”

Sir Yvan also bids his men be comforted; for that they see all the strength of their enemies.

And to his oſt the lord ſir yvane ſaid,

“Yhe comfort yow, yhe be no-thing affrayd,

102

Ws ned no more to dreding of ſuppriß;

3480 We ſe the ſtrenth of al our ennemys.”

Thus he ſaid, for he wend thai var no mo,

Sir Gawane, however, knew better.

Bot ſir gawan knew well It vas not ſo;

For al the oſtis mycht he ſe al day,

3484 And the gret hoſt he ſaw quhar yat it lay.

THE POEM ABRUPTLY ENDS.

Galiot also exhorts his men.

[A]nd galiot he can his folk exort,

Beſeching them to be of good comfort,

And ſich enconter

[The rest is wanting.]

114

GLOSSARIAL INDEX.

[As many of the words occurring in “Lancelot” are well explained either in Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary or in Roquefort’s “Glossaire de la langue Romane,” I have frequently referred to these works by means of the letters J. and R. Other abbreviations, as O.N. for Old Norse; Goth. for Mœso-Gothic; Su.-G. for Suio-Gothic, etc., will be readily understood. Ch. has also been used as an abbreviation for Chaucer. The various French, Danish, German, and other words referred to in the Glossary are merely added by way of illustration, to indicate in what direction a word may be most easily traced up. To ensure accuracy as far as possible, I have verified every foreign word by the aid of dictionaries, referring for Gothic words to my own Glossary, edited for the Philological Society; for Suio-Gothic words, to Ihre’s Glossarium; for Icelandic words, to Egilsson; and for Old French words, to Roquefort and Burguy. Whatever errors occur below may thus, I hope, be readily traced.]

A B C D E F G H I K L M N
O P Q R S T U V W Y Ȝ

Abaid,
Abyde,

delay, tarrying, 1882, 2147, 3069, 3308.

A.S. abídan, J.

Abasit,
Abasyt,
Abaysit,

abashed, humbled, dispirited, cast down, 378, 1452, 2664.

Abasit of, dispirited by, 3301.

R. abaiser.

Abasit of (used passively), were dispirited by, 2243.

Abraid, awoke, 1231;

(Ch.) A.S. on-bredan.

Abwsyt (abused), made an ill use of, 1207.

Access, a fever; or better, a fit of the ague; Lat. accessus febris, (Wright’s Glossary), 31.

Accorde, to agree with, 1526.

Fr. s’accorder.

Accordith, is suitable for, becomes, 1679, 1951;
agree therewith, 605;
is useful for, is fit for, 1204.

According for, suitable for, 1512.

R. accordant.

Adred, terrified, 378, 2664.

A.S. on-drǽdan, to dread.

Affek, effect, 382.

Cf. Fek.

Afferd, afraid, 3472.

A.S. afered, afǽran.

Affere, warlike preparation, 985;
aspect, bearing, 3043, 3334, 3394.

See J., who makes it of Teutonic origin; but it may be no more than the O.Fr. afeire, afaire = state, condition; as explained by Burguy.

Afferith, belongs to, suits, 1550.

Afferis, is suitable, 1690, 1961.

R. aferer.

Affrait, terrified, from the verb Affray (Ch.), 2462, 3469.

R. effraer.

Affray, terror, fright, 636, 3454.

Fr. effroi.

115

Affy in till, trust to, rely upon, 499, 1394.

R. affier.

Afyre, on fire, 30, 251;
hence, used allegorically, in love, 2436.

Agrewit,
Aggrewit,

aggrieved, vexed, 1308, 1538;
angry, enraged, 2618.

R. agrever.

Ago, gone, 159.

A.S. of-gán.

Aire, are, 1732.

Algait, Algat, always, 1996, 1792.

Gothic gatwô, a street, way.

Al magre thine, in spite of thee, 115.

An expression compounded of A.S. al, wholly; maugre (Fr. mal grè), ill-will, and thine (A.S. thín, the gen. case of thú, thou).

Al-out, altogether, 1676, 1791, etc.

Alowit, approved, 1754.

Fr. allouer.

Als, (1) as; (2) also.

Amen,
Ameyne,

pleasant, 64, 999.

Lat. amœnus.

Anarmyt, fully armed, 545, 620, 2219, 2771.

See Enarmyt.

And, if, 1024, 1591;
and if (= an if), if, 2376.

Anerly, only, 1476, 1696.

A.S. ǽn-líc.

Anoit,
Anoyt,

annoyed, vexed, 351, 2244.

Anoyt, annoyeth, 1407.

Anterous, (for Aunterous, the shortened form of Aventurous), adventurous, 2618.

Fr. aventure.

Aparalit, apparelled, 338.

Aperans, an appearance, a vision, 364.

So also Apperans, 1284.

Apone, upon, 765, etc.

Appetit, desire, 2722.

Ch. has appetite as a verb, to desire.

Aqwynt, acquainted, 1295.

Burns uses acquent.

Aras, to pluck out, 240.

Fr. arracher.

Araid, disordered, afflicted, 3270.

See Araye in Halliwell. The examples there given shew that to araye sometimes actually signifies to disorder.

Arest, stop, delay, 678, 3072, 3308.

Fr. arrêt.

Arly, early, 4, 384, 975.

A.S. árlíce.

Artilȝery, implements of warfare, 2538.

See R. artillerie. Compare 1 Samuel, xx. 40.

Assay, (1) assault, trial, 11, 35, 112, 712;
attack, 537, 2662.

As a verb, to assault, attack, assail, 570, 1044.

Fr. assaillir.

(2) to essay, attempt, 2936;
to test, 478, 982.

Fr. essaier.

Assaid,
Assayt,

assaulted, 1224, 2641.

Assall, assault, attack, 842.

We should perhaps read “assaill,” as in l. 855.

Assalȝeing, assail (3 pers. plural), 3385.

Assemblay, an assembling of knights for a combat, a tournament, 267.

Assemble, a hostile meeting, combat, battle, 978, 3336.

See J.

Assemblyng, encountering, 2588.

Assemblyng on, attacking, 2956.

Assey, to test, 478.

See Assay.

Astart, to start away from; hence to escape from, avoid, 228, 3296.

Ch. has asterte.

At, that, 1019, etc.

Compare Dan. at; O.N. at.

Atour, at over, i.e. across, 841, 849, 873;
in excess, in addition, besides, 1775.

Ather, either, 2629, 2819, 3264.

A.S. ǽgther.

Atte, at the, 627, 1055.

Aucht, eight, 3263.

Compare Ger. acht.

Auentur, adventure, 601.

Auer, ever, 273, etc.

116

Auerding to, belonging to (?), 345.

The sense seems to point to the A.S. and-weardian, to be present, Goth. and-wairths, present.

Aventur, Auentoure, adventure, 80, 222.

Aw, owe, deserve; the present tense of the verb of which ought is the past tense; 3447.

A.S. áh, áhte.

Awalk, awake, 1049.

Goth. wakan. The form awalk occurs in Dunbar,

“Awalk, luvaris, out of your slomering.”

(The Thistle and the Rose.)

Awant, boast, 2136.

As a verb, 1588;
and as a reflective verb, 2196, 2386.

Fr. se vanter. Ch. has avante.

Awin, own, 89.

A.S. ágen.

Awodith, maketh to depart, 2474.

See Avoid in Nares’ Glossary, edited by Halliwell and Wright.

Awow,
Awoue,

vow, 234, 242, 246.

Ch. has avowe.

Awys, consideration, advisement, 558.

Awyß the, advise thee, consider, 1913.

Awyß,
Awyſing,

to consider, 424, 429.

Fr. s’aviser.

Awysment, advisement, consideration, 360, 680.

Ay, ever, continually, 1135, 1486.

A.S. á.

Ayar (written instead of Athar), either, 2712.

Ayre, are, 2011.

Ayanis, 744,
Aȝanis, 1164, 2283,

against.

A.S. ongean.

Aȝane, Aȝeine, again, 3253, 380.

Bachleris, bachelors; a name given to novices in arms or arts, 1689.

See bacheler in R.

Banaris, banners, 770.

Bartes, 2897
Bartiis, 3041.

See Bertes.

Barnag, baronage, nobility, 2492.

See barniez in R.

Batell, a battalion, division of an army, 784, 808, etc.

Be, by.

A.S. be.

Behest, promise, 2766.

A.S. behæs.

Behufis, behoves, 579.

A.S. behófan, often used impersonally.

Behuß,
Behwß,

it behoves, it is necessary (to do), 944, 2342;

apparently contracted from behufis.

Beleif, in phr. ore belief = beyond belief, 112.

Bent, a grassy plain (properly a coarse grass; in German, binse), 2670. J.

Bertes, a parapet, a tower, 1007, 1118, 2815.

R. bretesche, from Low Latin brestachia.

Betak til, to confer upon, 1724.

A.S. be-tǽcan, in the sense, to assign.

Betakyne, betoken, 2014.

A.S. be-tǽcan, in the sense, to shew.

Bewis, boughs, 338.

A.S. boh.

Billis, letters, 142.

Fr. billet.

Blindis, blindness (?), 1903.

Borde, to meet in a hostile manner, encounter, 809.

We find in R. border, to joust, fight with lances.

Compare Fr. aborder, and Spenser’s use of bord. See horde in Burguy.

Bot, (1) but; (2) without. In general, without is expressed by but, and the conjunction by bot; but this distinction is occasionally violated.

Bown, ready, prepared, 1036.

O.N. búinn, past part. of búa, to prepare. Su.-G. boa, to prepare. J.

Bretis, fortifications, forts, 874;

117

“properly wooden towers or castles: Bretachiæ, castella lignea, quibus castra et oppida muniebantur, Gallis Bretesque. Du Cange.” Jamieson. See Bertes.

Bukis, books, 434, 1862.

Burdis, boards, i.e. tables, 2198.

A.S. bórd, which means—1. a plank; 2. a table, etc.

Bur, bore, 733, 778.

But, without; common in the phrase but were, without doubt.

But if, unless, except, 958.

Byhecht,
Byhicht,

promised, 1485, 2791.

A.S. be-hǽtan.

Byknow, notorious for, known to be guilty of, 1627.

Compare “I know nothing by myself” (1 Cor. iv. 4). Compare also Dan. bekiende, to make known.

By, near at hand, 1535, 2916.

Cag,
Cage,

cage, prison, 997, 2770.

Can, an auxiliary verb, used nearly as we now use did.

Careldis, plural of Careld, a merry-making, revel (?), 1318.

“Caraude, réjouissance;” and “Caroler, danser, se divertir, mener une vie joyeuse.” Roquefort.

Catifis, wretches, 2102.

R. caitif, captif. Compare Ital. cattivo.

Chalmer, chamber, 2281, 2308, 2427, 2808. J.

Chare,
Cher,

chariot, 4, 735.

R. cher.

Charge, load, 693.

Fr. charge; see discharge in the line following (694),

meaning to shake off a load.

Chargit, gave attention to, 710, 2454.

Fr. se charger de.

Chen, chain, 2375.

Cher, car, chariot, 735. See Chare.

Chere, cheer, demeanour, 83, 341, 695;
sad demeanour, outward grief, 2718.

Fr. chère; compare Ital. ciera, the face, look.

“Wepinge was hyr mosté chere.”

(Le Morte Arthur, l. 726.)

Cheß, choose, 1611, 1636, 2368.

A.S. ceósan; Ger. kiesen; Dutch kiezen.

Clariouns, clarions, 771, 789.

Clepe, to call, 90, 99.

A.S. clepan.

Clepit, callest, 93;
called, 781.

Clepith, is called, 1919.

Clergy, science, knowledge, 504, 511, 2041.

R. clergie.

Closine, closed, concluded, 316.

Closith, enclosed, shut up, 427.

Cold, called, 753, 1579.

Commandit, commended, 2802.

Comprochit, approached, 2472, 2509.

Conpilour, compiler, poet, 319.

Conquest, conquered, 574;
Fyrst-conquest, first conquered, 1545, etc.

Conseruyt, preserved, 332.

Conten (used as a reflective verb), to demean oneself valorously, to maintain one’s ground, 823, 1107, 1130.

See R. “contenement, contenance, conduite, maintien, posture.”

Contenit hyme, behaved himself, 3219;
Contenit them, 2634.

Contenyt, endured, 3190.

Contretioun, contrition, 1415, 1426.

Contynans, demeanour, 1693, 1747.

Counter, encounter, attack, charge, 3239.

Couth, could, 793.

A.S. cunnan; past tense, ic cúðe.

Cowardy, cowardice, 1023, 3287.

Cownterit, encountered, 2609, 2621. J.

Crownel, coronal, corolla of a flower, 59. J.

118

Cummyne,
Comyne,

came, 807, 907.

Cumyne, 650, 1136,
Cumyng, 447,
Cummyng, 2498,

come (past part.).

Cunyng, knowledge, 1455.

Cusynace, 1270,
Cusynece, 2802,
Cusynes, 2287,
Cwsynes, 1185,

kinswoman.

Cwre, care, 98, 266, 643.

Lat. cura. (N.B. Though Cwre = cura, yet cura should be distinguished from A.S. cearu.)

Danger, power to punish; “the power of a feudal lord over his vassals,” (Wright), 444.

Also, power to injure, 3006.

See R. dangier.

Dans, (dance), in the phrase “wrechit dans,” evil mode of life, 1321.

See Chaucer’s use of daunce; and compare—

“I sai ȝow lely how thai lye

Dongen doun alle in a daunce.”

Lawrence Minot; quoted in Specimens of Early English, by R. Morris; p. 194.

Dede, 90,
Ded, 3304,

death.

Dan. död. A.S. deáð. O.N. dauði.

Deden, deign, 949. J.

Dedenyt, deigned, 240.

Deid, died, 215.

Deith, dead (past part.), 3160.

Delitable, delightful, 1738.

R. delitable.

Deliuer, nimble, clever, 3134.

Deliuerly, (cleverly), nimbly, lightly, 3089, 3131.

R. delivre.

Demande, demur, 191, 397, 3052, 3354.

See R. “demander, contremander, changer, revoquer l’ordre donné.”

Depart, to part, 3421.

R. departir.

Departit, parted, 3403.

Depaynt, painted, 46, 1703.

Fr. dépeint. Ch. depeint.

Depend me, waste or consume (my powers), 214; possibly miswritten for despend.

Cf. Dispendit.

Depend to, to concern, appertain to, 466.

Deren, to speak out, tell, 2376.

R. derainier.

Dereyne, a plea, 2313;

“haith o dereyne ydoo,” hath appealed to trial by combat.

R. derainier.

Des, daïs, high table, 2762.

R. deis; Lat. discus.

Deuit, availed, 18. See note.

Devith,
Dewith,

deafen, 92, 94.

“Su.-G. deofwa; Icel. deyfa,” J.

Compare Dan. döve. Burns has deave.

Dewod the, devoid thyself, 1022.

Deuoydit was = departed, 1031.

Compare Awodith.

Dewyß, to tell, narrate, 373.

Discharg, to put aside one’s liability, 163, 1665.

Diseß, lack of ease, misery, 707.

Disiont (Disioint?), disjointed, out of joint; hence uncertain, hazardous, 2907.

“Disjoint, A difficult situation.” Halliwell.

Dispendit, spent, 1808.

R. despendre.

Dispens, expenditure, 1746.

Fr. dépense.

Dispolȝeith, despoileth, 1879.

Dispone, to dispose, provide; or, as a reflective verb, to be disposed to do, to intend, 54, 446, 980, 1590, 2428, 2462.

Disponit, declines (?); but much more probably, intends; and we must read “disponit not,” 2984.

Dout, fear, 2599, 3404, 3438;
(as a verb), to fear, 740, 1827.

Ch. doute. R. doubtance.

Drent, drowned, 1319.

A.S. drencan.

119

Dreß (as a reflective verb), to direct oneself, proceed, go, 1975, 2288, 2486.

Lat. dirigere.

Drywith, drives; “he drywith to the end,” i.e. concludes, 2470.

Duclar, declare, 3022.

Dulay, delay, 681, 788, 2925.

Effere, shew, pomp, 2360.

Compare Affere.

Efter, after, 217.

A.S. efter.

Eld, old age, 3225, 3242.

A.S. yldo. Gothic alds.

Elyk, Eliche, alike, 182, 2452.

Eme, uncle, 2572.

A.S. eám.

Empit, emptied, empty, 180.

A.S. æmtian.

Empleß, to please, 2455. J.

Empriß, worth, honour, 129, 269, 3458;

cf. Romans of Partenay, l. 2013.

Anxiety, oppression, 393.

R. emprindre.

Enarmyt, fully armed, 285, 751, 2499. J.

Endit, indited, 138;
indite, 206;
inditing, poem (?), 334.

If the meaning were, “this ends,” the form “endis” would be required; besides which, the rime shews that the i is long; cf. ll. 138, 206.

Endlong, along, 2893.

A.S. andlang; Ger. entlang.

Entent, intention, will, meaning, thoughts, 448, 1451, 1499, 2938.

R. entente. Used by Chaucer.

Entermet, to intermeddle with, to have do with, 2914.

R. entremetre.

Enweronyt, environed, 53.

Erde, earth, 1072, 1540, 2601.

Compare Ger. erde.

Erdly, earthly, 498.

Erith, earth, 128.

A.S. eorð.

Eschef (1. eschew), to shun, withdraw himself, 3475.

R. eschever;

(2. achieve), to accomplish, 2212, 2513.

R. eschavir.

Eschef deith, to die, 2732.

Escheuit, achieved, 258.

Eschevit, is achieved, 2998.

Eß, 174,
Eeß, 706,

ease.

Essenȝeis (ensigns), warcries, 3349, J.

ſ	long “s”
Ȝ ȝ	yogh
m̅	m with over-line (the equivalent “n” form is shown as ñ with tilde for better font support)
ǽ	æ with accent, only in the Glossary

DUBLIN:	WILLIAM M^cGEE, 18, NASSAU STREET.
EDINBURGH:	T. G. STEVENSON, 22, SOUTH FREDERICK STREET.
GLASGOW:	OGLE & CO., 1, ROYAL EXCHANGE SQUARE.
BERLIN:	ASHER & CO., UNTER DEN LINDEN, 11.
BOSTON, U.S.:	DUTTON & CO.
NEW YORK:	C. SCRIBNER & CO.; LEYPOLDT & HOLT.
PHILADELPHIA:	J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Lancelot of the Laik: A Scottish Metrical Romance (About 1490-1500 A. D.)

A SCOTTISH METRICAL ROMANCE,

(ABOUT 1490-1500 A.D.)

RE-EDITED

FROM A MANUSCRIPT IN THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY,

WITH AN

INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND GLOSSARIAL INDEX,

BY

THE REV. W. W. SKEAT, M.A.,

LATE FELLOW OF CHRIST’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE;
AND TRANSLATOR OF THE SONGS AND BALLADS OF UHLAND.

PREFACE.

I.—DESCRIPTION OF THE MS., ETC.

II.—DESCRIPTION OF THE POEM.

III.—THE DIALECT OF THE POEM.

APPENDIX.

EXTRACTS FROM THE FRENCH ROMANCE
OF “LANCELOT DU LAC.”

I. Headings of the chapters of the French Romance, from its commencement to the end of the wars with Galiot.

[Here begins the Scotch Translation.]

II. The Chapter of the French romance from which the translator has taken the beginning of his First Book is here given, in order to shew in what manner he has treated his original. It begins at Fol. lxiii. a, col. 1.

The rubric of the next chapter is as follows:

NOTES TO THE APPENDIX.

[PROLOGUE.]

EXPLICIT PROLOGUS, ET INCIPIT PRIMUS LIBER.

[BOOK I.]

EXPLICIT PRIMUS LIBER, INCIPIT SECUNDUS.

[BOOK II.]

EXPLICIT SECUNDA PARS, INCIPIT TERCIA PARS.

[BOOK III.]

[The rest is wanting.]

NOTES.

NOTES TO BOOK I.

NOTES TO BOOK II.

NOTES TO BOOK III.

GLOSSARIAL INDEX.

INDEX OF NAMES, ETC.

JOHN CHILDS AND SON, PRINTERS.

Errors and Inconsistencies

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

The Project Gutenberg eBook of Lancelot of the Laik: A Scottish Metrical Romance (About 1490-1500 A. D.)

A SCOTTISH METRICAL ROMANCE,

(ABOUT 1490-1500 A.D.)

RE-EDITED

FROM A MANUSCRIPT IN THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY,

WITH AN

INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND GLOSSARIAL INDEX,

BY

THE REV. W. W. SKEAT, M.A.,

LATE FELLOW OF CHRIST’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE; AND TRANSLATOR OF THE SONGS AND BALLADS OF UHLAND.

EXTRACTS FROM THE FRENCH ROMANCE OF “LANCELOT DU LAC.”

I. Headings of the chapters of the French Romance, from its commencement to the end of the wars with Galiot.

[Here begins the Scotch Translation.]

II. The Chapter of the French romance from which the translator has taken the beginning of his First Book is here given, in order to shew in what manner he has treated his original. It begins at Fol. lxiii. a, col. 1.

The rubric of the next chapter is as follows:

[PROLOGUE.]

EXPLICIT PROLOGUS, ET INCIPIT PRIMUS LIBER.

[BOOK I.]

EXPLICIT PRIMUS LIBER, INCIPIT SECUNDUS.

[BOOK II.]

EXPLICIT SECUNDA PARS, INCIPIT TERCIA PARS.

[BOOK III.]

[The rest is wanting.]

JOHN CHILDS AND SON, PRINTERS.

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

LATE FELLOW OF CHRIST’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE;
AND TRANSLATOR OF THE SONGS AND BALLADS OF UHLAND.

EXTRACTS FROM THE FRENCH ROMANCE
OF “LANCELOT DU LAC.”