TO THE PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF The Roxburghe Club
THIS ROMANCE OF Sir Generides,
NOW FIRST PRINTED FROM A MS. OF THE FIRST HALF OF THE 15TH CENTURY, IS DEDICATED AND PRESENTED BY THEIR OBEDIENT SERVANT, HENRY HUCKS GIBBS.
ST. DUNSTAN'S, REGENT'S PARK, Christmas, 1865.
HERE begynnetħ a royał historie of the excellent knight Generides, king Aufreus son̄, king of Ynde, that he gate on a faire ladie called Sereyne, doghtre and heire vnto the king of Surre, as he went on huntyng in a forest, and was conveid vnto hir by an hert wħicħ his houndes ran̄ to, which was ordeined him by fate and destynye: like as oon̄ of the seven̄ sages called Caton̄ declared vnto hire the cause whi. whicħ seid child conquered after many Regions bi his grete noblesse, And was a famous Prince, and A goode cristen man̄, and a charitable to ałł maner of peōple, and was maried unto Clarionas, the Sowdanes doghtre, and heire of Perse. Aftir whos decesse he was king of Perse by hire, And converted the countre to the cristen̄ lawe: And after sleugh Amalek the fals steward whicħ hadd put oute his fadre Aufreus king of Ynde from his countre. and toke his quene from him, the which was called Syrenydes, doghtre and heire vnto the king of Affrik, and held hir, and kept hir from the king Aufreyus by stong hond, by hir own free wiłł and vntrew agrement, which aftirward died in grete miserie and mischefe, and for sorow, whan the fals steward was sleyn̄, and toke him in hir armes, and so she died with him for verray shame of hir vntroutħ ayeinst hir husbond, And hou king Aufreus, whan he was put out of [Ynde] by his fals steward, went in to the lond of Tarce, and ther was chosen steward of the lond: And after the king of Tharse decesed, and then̄ was Aufreus chosen king of the lond by thassent of ałł the lordes and comoun̄s tħurgh his goodelie and worshipfułł demeanyng. And hou bi fortune the Quene Sereyne, Quene of Surre, the moder of Generides, was aspied in Tharse by the whasshing oute of the teeres of Aufreus shirt, which she wept vpon it whan̄ she lay with Aufreus the same night that Generides was ygoten̄ betwen̄ hem twoo in the forest, which teres wold neuer out of the shirte: But with hir whashing, or elles that she had died, And how that Aufreus than wedded hir. and was tho crowned Quene of Tharse, As ye may here in this boke see itt more pleinlie declared here aftir.
A man that hath litel to doone, INTRODUCTION.
Werk he may make him soone; A man with little to do
Ne thar him nat be idel long
That any werk wił vnderfong,—
Neither lewd man̄ ne clerk,—
That he ne may find him werk, may soon find work:
Forto sing, or forto rede,
Or for to speke of sum old dede may tell of some old deed
That here before hatħ be wroght,
Which vnto this day be on thoght,
Of doughtie men̄ that sum tyme were, of doughty men,
How noblè that thei hem̄ bere,—
Guy of Warwik, and Tristram̄ also, Guy, Tristram, Bevis, Perceval, Gaweyn, and Oweyn.
Bevis of Hampton̄, and othir moo,
Percyuale, and curteys Gaweyn̄,
And othir knightes as Sir Oweyn̄,—
I ne may reken̄ hem̄ ałł
That worship han̄ goote in boure and hałł,
And, for here ladies sake, to and froo
Suffred grete sorow and woo;
And at the last, to here purpos,
Thei gate worship and grete los.
Now of a geste that was sum tyme, So I will tell you a tale,
That was raddè in frensh ryme:
A clerk itt in to latyn̄ tooke
Att hertford out of a booke,
There in latin was it wretin, (written in Latin at Hertford)
As clerkès wele knowen and weten̄;
Now if ye wil listen̄ a stound, if you will listen awhile,
Like as I haue this tale I-found,
I shal you tell in my maner,
Yf it pleas you forto here.
WOrshipful sirres, A tale I finde,
That som tyme was a king in ynde, of a King in Ynde,
A feir man, gentil and wise,
Of noblesse he bare the prise,
Loued he was, curtes and free,
About him he held a feire meynee;
To god he bare him trew and mylde,
To mysdoers stern̄ and wild:
Aufreyus, the knight hight, Aufreus by name, who wedded the lovely lady
Wedded he had a ladie brigħt,
The kingès doughtre of Affrike,
Few of beutie were hir like;
Sirenydes, that ladie hight, Sirenydes.
Born̄ of noble bloode a-right,
Curteys she was, and compenable,
But of hert not verray stable;— Not stable of heart was she,
And treulie that was grete pitie,
Or elles a goode ladie was she,
Saue that she was som dele fełł,
And that was pitie, sothlie to tełł,
For to lufè she ne rought but loved where she ought not;
In othre wisè than she ought,
Yit such wifes han often shame and such come oft to shame.
That doon hir husbondes dishonour of name;
For many a goode man,—god it wot,—
Bereth that name, and knoweth not,
And durst swere for his wife
That she ne wold, for hir life,
While he liueth an othir take
But him that is hir chosen make.
This noble ladie, this royall quene,
In hir there was no lak, I wene,
But that she was sum-what to glad
Of hir bodie to be so badd.
The king, hir lord, had a Steward, For Aufreus had a steward,
A bold knight, and noo coward,
Riche he was of lond and fee, rich and proud,
A prouder man̄ might nowhere be;
Born̄ he was of noble kinde,
Of the grettest of all ynde;
Of all the lond he had his wiłł,
Ther durst noman, loude nor stiłł,
Him disobey, in wrathe nor tene,
For drede of displesaunce of the Quene:
She loued him best, I you ensure, and him, Sir Amalek, the Queen loved best,
Of any othre living creature.
If ye will know his name a-right,
Sir Amalek hight that knight.
The quene and he a long while
Did the king treason̄ and gyle. and did the king dishonour,
The Steward durst no man discure,
So fals he was of coniecture,
For all the lond was in his might,
Him durst discure no maner wight;
All thei held hem in pes.
The king him self was recheles,
And had no maner suspecion̄ he not suspecting it.
To hem of their fals treason̄.
It was in may, whan the leuès sprong, Now in spring
And smalè foulès merilie song,
The king was som dele hert hevy, Aufreus
And he ne wist wherfor ne why.
Vnto the forest he wold wende, goes hunting,
If god wold him gam send
That light might his hert make.
Sōm of his men he did with him take;
But thre or foure, and no moo.
In to [the] forest went he thoo;
Right as he was comen there,
Anoon̄ he perceyved where
A grete hert passed him beforn̄: and after a great hart
He vncoupled his houndes, and blew his horn̄,—
Al the forest dynned of that blast—follows
With horn and crie he folowed fast;
No mo than foure houndes he had,
Al were goode, and noon bad.
The king of hunting couth ynogħ,
Alwey nigh his houndes he drogħ;
His stede was bothe swift and strong,
And vndre him lightlie he sprong.
Ful straunge pathès yede the hert, through strange paths,
For of foote he was ful smert;
Of him the king lost oft the sigħt,
But neuer-the-les, as soone as he might,
He folowed alwey the houndes sown̄,
And prikked aftre him vp and down̄.
His squyers that were with him come, till his squires and their horses are dead beat.
With werynes were vndre-nome;
And here horses that thei on ride,
Were so werie that thei abide.
The king to folow thei ne might,
Of him thei had lost the sight;
On his gam was all his thoght,
That of his meny he ne roght;
A ferre wey they were in sondre.
Listeneth now a grete wondre: Then happens a great wonder.
The king to his hunting so did entend
Til he he sone may mean the king soon, with reference to the valley, l. 133; but I take it to be the sun,—t being omitted before he—as shewn by l. 147. sone gan̄ low discend;
The houndes were werie, no lenger thei might The hounds
Ren̄ aftre the hert, but lost the sight, lose the hart,
In a valey from̄ theim he fled;
And whan thei had no better sped,
On here maner thei gan to morn̄, and come mourning
And to the king thei did retorn̄; to the king.
Here heides thei heng vnto the ground,
And careful chere thei made that stound
As thei sore beten̄ had I-bene.
Whan the king al that did sene,
With such semblaunce wondre he can̄, He wonders,
That of the hert he bethoght him̄ than̄,
And seid "god! hou is he goon̄?
Of my self reide can̄ I noon,
Sith I haue this hert lorn̄
And my goode men forborn̄,
Fast it draweth to the night,
And I can not the wey a-right
Oute to gete of this forest,
Nouthir est, south, ne west,
In this forest I know no wey,
That I ne wote what I doo may;
But what therof so euer betide, and resolves
Furth wiłł I streight ride to ride and see
And wit what my houndes han found what his hounds have found.
And whi thei morn̄ so this stound."
The king no lenger there abode,
But streitè forth the way he rode,
The same way the hert nam̄,
Til he in to a launde cam;
His houndes the wey with him toke.
At last about him he gan̄ loke;
On his right hond fast by,
A faire place there he sigħ; He sees a fair place,
Than gan he glade somedele,
And praid to god of goode hostełł.
He went streight to that place;
And whan he thider comen was,
A paire of gates he saw there stound—
Such ben now ful few in lond;—
Of every thei were made,
Graven with gold that might nat fade, with ivory gates,
Of trewloue werk wroght ful wele;
The nailès hedes were eueridele and carbuncle∣headed nails,
With chareboncle stones set ouer ałł
That shoone as clere as doth cristall; that shone like crystal.
And all the leges euerichoon̄
With gold and asure were begooħ.
The picture and the purtrayng,
It liked wele vnto the king,
And the brightnes of the stoones
That light gave for the noones;
As this was vpon the night,
He wondred moch vpon that sight, He gazes wonder∣ingly at it,
And so grete delite therof him thoght
To loke theron, that he ne roght
Of mete, of drink, ne of hostełł,
The gatès likèd him so wele;
So feire him thoght that thei were,
Al night he wold haue dwelled there
Forto behold it at his wiłł.
And as he houed there stiłł,
From within ther cometh a-Ryght till a lady comes out,
A goodelie ladie in tirès bright,
Semelie of person, amyable to see:
The shottes of the gates opened she,
And sett open the gates wide sets open the gates,
That the king in might ride.
Humblè on knees with loulie obedience
She resceyued the king with grete reuerence,
And welcomed him with hert entier; welcomes the king,
And he, as gentilnes wold requyer,
Did hir obeisaunce, and in he yede.
Ther come a made, and toke his stede,
And into the stable him led anoon̄.
Tho with the goode ladie the king gan̄ goon̄ and takes him
Into an hal right wele beseen̄; into the hall.
But few people can he seen̄
Save an old man cam him ageyn̄,
A goodeli man he was certeyn̄,
And an othir maden yeng,—
Thei made grete ioye of his comyng,—
The goode ladies servaunt was she;
And elles he saw no moo meigney.
The king was led to the higħ des
To rest him there in goode pees;
The king set him doūn, the goode ladie him by, He sits down be∣side the lady,
And talked to-gedre ful plesauntlie;
And as thei were in here talking, and soon
Thurgh the hałł an hert com rennyng, a hart comes in,
Wery and ałł forswett weary and sweat∣ing.
As he had be hunted or to-bett:
Right wele on the hert was seen̄
With houndès he had hunted been̄.
The king held him self al dismaied; The king is all dis∣mayed,
That he cam there he was yuel paied:
Of that hert he was agast
To haue be chalenged or holden̄ fast;
For well he wist that it was soo for it is the hart that he has hunted.
He had alday hunted him thoo.
The ladie was fułł wele avised, The lady
The kingès chere she wele devised,
Saw him abasshed, & with laghing chere smiles,
She said to him on this manere,
"Loke ye fall not in noo thoght, and tells him not to be anxious,
For all day game haue ye soght;
And aftre trauaile, were nede of reste.
Be glad, Sir, here ar ye noo geste,
For ye are comen to youre own̄; for he is come
We shul you chere in that we mown̄,
For we ar glad of youre comyng,
Ye ar both our lord and king; as a king
We ben vndre youre powere,
And this belding we made here to his own;
Is for you(:) and youre gestes we be; they are his guests, and he must cheer them up.
Make ye vs glad, for charitie,
With goode chere and with goode wiłł;
For oght long ye shall know the skiłł
Whi ye be come into this place;
For youre goode, by goddès grace,
And not for youre yuełł, by noo way,
Therfor be glad, sir, I you pray;
Of mete and drink, sir, and of pleyng,
Think, Sir, and on noon othre thing."
Hir goodlie semblaunce, hir loving speche,
Was the kinges hertes speche [? for leche, physician, curer.]:
Boord and cloth was leid a-noon̄, Aufreus and the lady go to supper,
To their soper gan̄ thei goon̄.
The king and this ladie in fere
Sat to-gedre at sopere,
And the old man a little hem froo;
No moo meigne was ther thoo
But this othre maiden yenge served by a young maiden,
That serued hem of all thing,
Of brede and wyne and al deyntie,
Of mete and drink right grete pleyntie.
The maiden was reedie of seruice,
Here mete was dight in the best wise;
There was plentie, dout ye noght,
Of all deyntes that coude be thoght.
By than the king had dronken and eten̄,
All cares were forgetyn̄; and soon forgets his cares.
The cloth draw, the bord leid to ground,
And vp thei risen in a stound,
And to his chaumbre she did hym bring Then he goes off
Most plesauntlie to his liking,
Nooblè dight with fresħ pictoures—
Portreyd aboute with diuers coloures,—
Of foule, of beste, and all thing
That he couth remembre to his thinking:
So feire a chaumbre and so ricħe, to the fairest of chambers
Saw he neuer noon it licħe.
In that chaumbre was a bedd
With rich clothes ouer all spred,
Panes of gold, coueringes of silk,
Shetes of lawn̄, white as mylk;
The coueringes wer rich and wele I-wrogħt;
In any lond, if men had soght,
Ne shuld thei finde noon so rich, and richest of beds,
Nor of beuatie noon hem licħ.
At the heid a pilow ther lay, with a pillow
Made ful meruellous and gay:
In noo lond marchaunt ther nys
That devise it couth I-wys.
An hundreth sith in day and nigħt
Chaunge it wil his colour bright; that is always changing colour,
Oft it was white, and oft grene,
Oft reid, and oft blew, I wene,
To all coloures it would chaunge;
That was to the king ful straun[ge].
Perceyue neuer couth noo wight
Hou it was wove or it was dight;
Hool it was without seme, without seam,
It shoone as dooth the son̄ beme;
In euery corner ther was prest and jewelled in every corner.
A rich stoon of vertue fest;
A wel faire Saphire therin was oon̄; 1. a Sapphire;
So feloun̄ a sore was neuer noon̄,
Outhre with touching or with sight,
Hele it wold a-noon̄ right.
An Emeraude that othir hight, 2. an Emerald;
Sore eyen hele it might;
Whoo had such oon wer at ese.
The third stoon̄ was a Turkese; 3. a Turquoise;
What man that bereth on him that stoon̄,
Pouertie thar him drede noon̄.
The fourt stoon̄ was a Jasper, 4. a Jasper.
The best stoon far or nere
Forto staunch mannes bloode,
Were he wounded neuer so woode.
On the pilow at foure corners
Were sett thes stoones in sondry maners;
Vndre whos heid it lay a stound, And no harm could befall a man while he lay on this pillow.
With what sekenes he wer bound,
As long as it vndre him lay,
Shuld noon yuell doo him betray.
The king saw all this sight,
Hou richelie that the bed was dight,
And saw also the ladie swete;
He began̄ right wele to lete;
The ladie saw his countenaunce The lady sits down by Aufreus at the foot of the bed, and tells him her story,
And shewed him signes of grete plesaunce;
On the beddes fete thei hem sett;
Ne wold she noo lenger lett
That she thoght to vtter in speche:
"Nov, Sir," she said, "I you beseche,
Take it nov to no displesaunce
Thogh that I tell you oure chaunce and what must happen to him and her.
That most fall to you and me,
Which ordeined is thurgh destynie.
Swete lord, take it nat in yuell
Of that I shal say you vntiłł,
Ne hold me nat the more vnwise,
Ne haue me nat les in price.
And, Sir, more wold I, if I wist,
Tell you(:) for certein, ye me trist,
I ne wot for what skiłł,
But I trow it is goddes will.
Sir, If it youre will be,
This old man that is here with me "The old man with me was one of the Seven Sages,
Was oon of the vii sages of Rome:
I shall tell you hov he hiddir come.
For sothe he, Sir, and his ferus,
In all Rome had noo perus,
With here wisdom and here connyng
All that land was in hir ledyng,
Tiłł that an Emperoure of wilfulnes—and they were put by an Emperor
Whom no mannes counsel might redres
If thei spoken̄ ageyns his wiłł,—
Anoon he wold hem slee and kiłł;
So at last into a galey into a galley
Thes vii sages were put awey,
And bad here lodesman at a word
Shuld cast hem ouer the ship bord; to be thrown over-board
But the folk of Rome wist it noght
Hov thei were to deth I-broght. and drowned.
This old man that ye here see,
With his feres was cast into the see; But this old man
Yit was he holp thurgh goddes sonde;
The water cast him quyk to londe was cast ashore in
In Surre, ther my fadre is king. Surre, the kingdom of my father,
My fadre herd of that tithing,
And made fech him with honour,
And was his chief counsellour; who made him chief counsellor, as he could foretell events;
For he couth by the sterres
Tel of peace and of werres.
Of that he seid afor the hond,
My fadre alwey soth fond,
And al-wey by his counsel wroght,
For his profit, as him thoght.
This wise man told my fadre of me, and he told my father
'But he me did out of contre,
For me his lond lese he shold
For a Giaunt panym, that wold that a giant
Out of a contre al from ferre
Vpon̄ my fadre make grete werre would make war on him for my sake.
With mych boost for my sake,
Me to ravish and to take
For to haue me at his wiłł.'
My fadre priuely and stiłł So my father
By this old mannes counsel thoo—
And of othre that were wise also,
That to him were holden trew,—
Sent me to this wonnyng new sent me to this dwelling,
Which the old man ordeined afore—
That with me dwelleth, & hath doo yore;
So thurgh my fadres song,—
To shelde my bodie from al wrong, to shield me from wrong.
Mi fadre hath to him grete trist:
Nov ye know al that I wist.
"From whens I cam, nov wil I tel,
And whi in this forest I dwełł;
Of this old man, my trew fere,
I haue herd sith I come here;—
Therfor I am the more bold
To tel you as he me told,
For he knoweth my destynye
And youres also, Sir, sekirlye:— And between you and me, Sir King, shall a marvellous child be gotten,
Be-twix vs a child goten shal be,
That meruels of him men shal see;
An hardier man of flesh and boone
In this world was neuer noon̄
Than he shal be, I vndrestond;
Of mych travail he shal fond,
And to grete worship he shal rise, who shall rise to great honour.
Mich bettir than I can devise.
And if it pleas you, souereyn king,
I warn̄ you of an othir thing:
Moch sorow is to you ward For you, sorrow shall befal, by the treason of your wife and steward,
Thurgh your ovn fals steward;
For he kepeth the quene your wife,
And fals thei han̄ be al hir life;
Thurgh here treson, at the last
Out of youre lond ye shul be cast; and you shall be cast out of your land
But youre son̄ that I of speke,
Of al that treson he shal you wreke;
Fiftene yere ye shal in pes after fifteen years' peace;
Hold youre lond, but neuer-the-les
Thenk of noo feith to you ward
Of youre quene ne of youre steward.
By than the fiftene yere be doon̄,
Tithinges ye shal here soon̄,
Sum what bitter, and noothing swete;
But aftre bale ther may come bote;—
But certes, Sir, for this reason̄, and for this reason
And for noon othre encheason̄,
The hert was to the forest sent the hart you have been hunting was sent to the forest."
That so fast about ye went
Al this day so besilie,
To bring you hiddre redelye;
And nov my tale is at the ende;
Think me nat wanton nor vnhende."
The king hir seying vndre-yatte, The king
Ałł in a studie tho the king satt;
Som thing he herd that liked him wele,
And some thing that him pleased neuer a dele;
But therageyn̄ he was so light is so delighted with the lady,
Of hir talking and of hir sight,
And of that ladie so faire and free,
Hou she told him of his destenee, that he does not trouble about his wife and his steward,
That of his steward nor of his wife
Herof he made but litle strife,
So grete delight he hath in his thoght
That he was thider so ybroght
Of that ladie to haue acqueyntaunce,
That al his hert and al his plesaunce
To loue hir was sett souereignelie,
She was so demure and so goodlie.
His arme aboute hir he leid, but puts his arm round his hostess
And ful gentillie to hir he seid,
"Dismay you nat, my swete wight,
Of that ye have told me to-night;
Trust me treulie, I you behete,
Ye shul finde me treu and secrete,
And I you loue the mich more,
And euer shal, and god before,
For the tithinges that ye me telles;
Treulie to blame were I elles;
But, dere hert, tel me oon thing
That I to wit haue grete longyng;
Shal I haue, my ladie bright, and asks if he shall have any joy of her after this night.
Any ioye of you aftre this night?"
"To that, my lord, can I not answere,
But so wold I not that it were;
For it wold me ful sore rew
The tyme that euer I you knew;
But, swete Sir, in the mornyng
We shal enquere of that thing She refers him to the old man,
Of my frend the old man;
The soth wele tel vs he can."
The king wold no lenger abide,
But in that ilk same tide
The old man̄ cal he did,
And there in that same stid
Ful curteislie he can him frayn̄
'Al the sothe him to sayn̄
Of him [&] of that ladie bright,
Hou long thei shal aftre that night
Of here loue haue mirth and gam̄e.'
"Sir," seid the old man, "so god me blame,
No more shal I tel you now, who orders him off to bed.
But gooth to bed and rest you:
To morow I shal you more tełł,
But nov I may no lenger dwell."
The ladie herd the short answer
That the old man gave him there,
And she wel saw that he ne wold
Tel him hou it be shold;
She began at thee last
Forto wax sore agast,
And supposed at the ende
To grete trouble this mater wende,
And sore she had hir hert sett But the lady is very much in love with the king,
That she loued nothing bett
Than the king that by hir satt.
Of loue erst knew she neuer what
It ment, to that tyme, I wene.
The king was of making so clene,
That to loue him she must nede
In hert, wil, both thoght and dede;
And therto had she grete skiłł,
For he loued hir ageyn with as goode a wil;
Their loue was departed soo,
I wot not which loued best thoo;
But at that tyme to bed thei yede and therefore goes to bed with him,
With mirth, and gam, and goode spede.
Al men may seker ben̄
Grete ioye thei made hem betwene;
I deme it was vncouth to hir, that play,
For neuer or than did she it assay
To haue mannes plesaunce in hir bed;
But that night so wele thei hem sped
That a child goten ther was. and a child is be∣gotten.
Aftre their mirth and her solace
Som del to slepe list the king,
For he was wery of his huntyng,
So trauelled he was and wery,
To slepe he was the more hevy. Then the king sleeps,
A litle rest he gan̄ to take;
This ladie might nat slepe, but wake;
What for loue, and what for thoght,
Of that night slept she noght;
Of the aunswer she was musyng but the lady thinks of the old man's answer,
That the old man told the king
Whan he wold tel him no more;
His loue to lese she drede sore;
For care and pitie she gan wepe and weeps.
So sore(:) she couth nat hir kepe.
Hir heid lay on the kinges arme;
The teres of hir weping al warm
To his shuldres ran a grete pas;—
His heid with his shirt bounden was;—
Thurgh the shirt to the bare skyn̄
The salt teres burned in.
The king gan wake, and abraied, The king feels her warm tears,
And of that wetenes was affraied
That by his arme and his shuldres ran̄;
He perceyued wel she wept than̄;
So had he grete sorov and pitie,
And seid, "dere hert, what may this be? and asks whether she regrets what has been done.
Repent ye now in youre thoght
Of that we haue betwix vs wroght?
Tel me the soth, goode sweting,
For ye bring myn̄ hert in grete mornyng;
The sothe, I prey you, tel me nov,
If that ye ought repent you."
"Nay," she seid, "by heven king, "No," she says,
Therof I repent me nothing;
But al this sorow that I make,
Is(:) for I shal so soone you forsake. "but because I must leave you."
Therfor I sorow, And so I may,
Youre loue shal short my liues day;
But suffre I must my destenee,
Ageyns my wil thogh it be."
The king answerd with mild chere,
"Ladie, thogh al this world myn were, The king cheers her up,
I had leuer lese it euery dele
Than youre bodie, by seint Micheł!
Wete we shal in the mornyng
Of oure maister som goode tithing;"
And in al that euer he might or coude
He comforth hir both stil and loude. and comforts her.
Ful erly in the morning In the morning
The king made his vprising.
To chambre cam the old man̄; the old man
The king seid vnto him than̄,
"I prey the tel vs som goode tithing,
For therto haue I grete longyng."
Oute of the bed gan she lene
New tithinges of him to freyn.
The maister seid vnto the king, tells the king
"Sir, I warn you of oon thing;
So wele your part haue ye take now,
Ye may no more wele for your prow;
A son haue ye begoten to night he has begotten a son, who shall be a knight of mar∣vellous power,
That shal be a ful hardie knight,
And ful meruellous of powere,
Gracious vnto loue fer and nere;
Of strenght he shal bere grete price;
Feire shal he be, curtes and wise,
Trew, manlie, and bold in bataile;
And suffre he shal grete trauaile,
And wele escape it he shal,
And rise to grete honour withal;
Of lond, of tresoure, and of fee, and great riches;
Conquere he shal grete plentie,
That neuer man of al his kyn̄
Had so mych as he shal wyn̄,
Nor so grete as he shal be;
Many oon liueth that shal it se.
And also, Sir, ye vndrestond,
He shall wreke you with his hond; who shall avenge his father.
That child shal you so avenge and wreke
That many oon theron shal speke.
Sir, also tel you I may
Of the shirt that on your bed lay, And the shirt wetted by the lady with her tears
That so was wet with your bed-fere,
With hir weping in your bed here;
Where the water soked in,
Ne shal it neuer with noo gyn̄
Of lawndre be washen clene,
But the teres shal be sene shall never be clean
Til this ladie, youre swete wight till the lady
Which ye haue slept with al to night,
Wash it with hir ovn hondes; washes it with her own hands.
But if deth take hir into his bondes,
Aftre hir deth an othir might
Wash it clene, I you plight:
Forto sey that it soth be,
Kept t. i. kepeth, keep ye. Cp. "he comforth," for comforteth, l. 572. wele the shirt, and ye shal see.
Ma dame, nov a word or twoo And the lady
To you must I speke also;
The sooth must I nedes tełł:
Here may ye no lenger dwełł. must at once begin her journey home, as her father is dying.
Your fadre, that of Surre is king,
Lieth at the point of diyng;
His heire most ye nedes bee,
And this day begyn your iourney
In hast toward him ful bliue
Yf ye will find him on liue."
Whan the king herd him thus sayne,
Sory he was, and nothing fayne;
Grete sorov he made, and mich woo.
Whan this ladie shuld depart him froo, They take leave of each other,
The king at hir his leue did take,
For pure sorow his hert can̄ quake,
Hir coloure was pale and feint of hew,
Hir sorow encresed new and new;
Neuer erst of sorow thei nouthir wist,
Ful sore thei wept whan thei kist; weeping sore, and
For both at oones in swonyng thei fełł, swooning oft;
Hou many times I can not tełł;
So hard herted was neuer noon̄ the most hard-hearted must have pitied them.
That had loked hem vpon̄,
Grete pitie than he shuld haue had
Of the sorov that thei made.
But whan it might no better be, At last
The king to his hors yede he; the king
Whan that thei here leue tooke,
For pure sorow here hertes quoke;
The king light vp and rode his way, rides off,
Criyng "alas, and welaway, lamenting
That he had so sone y-lorn̄ the loss of his love.
That he most loued of women born̄."
Furth in that forest can he ride;
His squiers soght him ful wide His squires
About in that forest al night;
Ful sore of him thei were afright;
At morow thei met him on a pleyn̄, meet him,
Of him they were right glad and feyn;
Careful of chere thei him see,
Othir wise than he was wont to be,
But thei ne durst ask him whi
His chere was so sad and sori;
That thei him had, glad thei bee.
So rode he furth to his citie; and he rides off to his city.
His woo priuelie he it bare
That noman thereof was ware.
CHAPTER II.
Here the kinges doghtre of Surrey retourneth home to hir countre of Surrey wher she was heir. And after hir fadre discesse was made Quene, and wedded to king Aufreyus by whom she had Generydes the goode knight.
Listneth nov of this ladie The lady
For whom the king was right sory.
When the king was goon his wey
She did make redi hir palfray,
With careful hert and heuy chere
To hir contre she gan draw nere returns to her country,
With the old man hir counseller
And hir woman also in fere.
Whan̄ she to hir contre come,
With grete worship she was nome, and is taken to her father
And to here fadre she was ledd
Which lay that tyme on his deth bed; on his death-bed.
With humble voice and pitous chere
She obeid to him in hir manere;
As he on passing lay that stede,
Yit a litle his eyen he vndede, He opens his eyes and sees her,
And beheld his doghtre a stound
Which fełł on swonnyng to the ground.
The king close his eyn̄, no lenger did loke,
His soule to god thoo he toke; then gives up his soul to God;
And aftre that with grete woo
To the erthe thei led him thoo and is buried
With mich worship, as reson was, with great.
With sore weping and many alas. lamentation.
Whan the buriyng was broght to ende,
The wooful ladie feir and hende The lady
Of here baronage was chosen quene, is chosen Queen,
With right, as she ought to bene;
Crowned she was, and made a fest and crowned.
To al barouns most and lest; She gives a feast,
Grete plentie ther was of ladies
And othre gentilwomen of grete price;
Shortlie to sey, grete mirth thei made, and all rejoice
Aftre here sorow here hertes to glade. after their sorrow.
And whan the fest was al doon̄,
Erles and barouns euerichoon̄,
Knightes and squiers grete plentie,
Did hir homage and feautie.
The quenes name was Sereyne, Her name is SEREYNE,
A goode ladie, the sothe to seyn̄;
Husbond wold she take noon̄;
Grete with child gan she to goon̄, and she grows great with child,
Euermore she kept hir in
That noman might come hir within
To perceyue hou that it were.
So priuelie she gan̄ hir bere but keeps it secret
That noon therof know might
But hir woman that Medean hight, from all except her maid Medean.
That in hir chambre seruaunt was,
Which knew hir counsel in that case,
How the child was begete.
She praid hir forto be secrete,
And that she wold be priuey and trew,
And she shuld it neuer rew.
The maid answerd with goode wil
And seid, "ma dame, bere you euer stil,
For treulie I shal youre counsel hele, who promises to keep her counsel,
I shal not discouer you noo dele;
Of me ye shal haue help goode and help her all she can.
In that I can, with hert and moode;
And if ye finde in me fantise,
Reward me neuer for my seruice."
Hir tyme gan to nighen fast,
She most deliuerd be in hast;
Lowde durst she in no wise crie
For drede lest any shuld hir espie
Wheraboute that she yede.
So wele she bare hir in that nede
That in short tyme she had at hond Queen Sereyne is safely brought to bed of a son,
A feire son̄, thurgh goddes sond.
That she was seke, many wist wele,
But of what seknes neuer a dele.
Medean toke the child a-noon̄, and her maid Me∣dean
And to the Citie gan she goon̄;
With hir she toke a lauendere,
Wold she haue noon othir fere,
For she wist of her priuetie
More than al the companye:
Hir she tooke the childe to bere, gives the baby to a laundress,
And made hir to beleue there
That it was hir sustres sone saying it is her sister's son,
That to hir late was come;
And praid hir to kepe it priuelie, and begging her to take care of it,
And right clene and honestlie.
The lauender said, "ma damoysełł,
I shal feithfullie kepe youre counsełł; which she promises to do.
And that It may be kept wele,
I wil doo my parte, ye shul it fele;
Where goode norses be in the tovn̄,
We wil gete of the best that we mown̄."
A norse was fett hem beforn̄ A nurse is got,
To receyue the child the same morn̄;
To the chirch thei did him bere
His baptym to receyue there; the child is christened
There was he named without les,
By right name called Generides. GENERIDES,
Medean toke him to the nors there,
And with the lauender home did she fare
To the castel ther thei come froo.
Medean told hir ladie thoo and the Queen is told of it all.
Hou with that child she had wroght,
"And in noo wise bad hir take thoght,
For it shuld be kept ful still
In al thing at here ovn wiłł."
The Quene was comforted with hir chere,
And said, "Medean, my swete fere,
Gramercy"(:) and aftre it was not long
The Quene began wax hole and strong. The Queen grows strong,
Medean went to the Citie
Dailie the childe forto see;
The childe waxed wele in dede,
And began fast to burnesh and sprede. the baby fat, and
Whan he weyned, as children bene, is weaned.
The Quene and Medean hem betwene
Thoghten̄ best for that childe dere
That he were in all manere
To court broght, there forto dwełł,
That no bodie shuld here tell
But Medean were his aunt;
Therto did thei both graunt,
To kepe this ladie from all blame.
This Child, Generides by name,
To the castel was I-fett, Then he is brought to the castle,
And to the scole at age was sett. and sent to school.
In a twelmonth he waxed more
Of largenes and eke of lore He grows greatly,
Than any othir in yeres thre;
Beloued he was withal treulie, and is loved by all.
And of all that euer him knew,
For he was alwey goode and trew.
Whan he was at xv yere of age At fifteen
His wit waxed somwhat sage;
He felt him light, and somdele strong,
To know the world he thoght long;
He began̄ to thenk him at the last,
And thoght he wold wete as fast he wants to know
In what wise he was furth ybroght, who his father and
That fadre and modre knew he noght. mother are,
And on a day it befell than̄
To him he cleped Medean̄,
"Faire laidy, now lete me wete and asks Medean.
Of what man̄ I was begete;
Who is my modre, and where she is,
Tel me, nov, aunt, I prey you this,
In what countre be thei dwelling."
Medean than answerd laghing, She puts him off
"Swete nevew, nov I ax day
Til to morow without delay." for a day,
Medean went to hir ladie
And seid, "Ma dame, mercy! and then urges Queen Sereyne
Generides youre dere son̄
Wil wete of what kyn̄ he is com̄e.
Hertlie therof he can̄ me frayn̄
All the sooth him forto sayn̄;
Of his fadre I shuld him tełł,
And where his modre dooth dwełł."
Quod Medean̄, "he [is] faire of elde,
And mannes witt he gan welde;
Wel norisshed he is, and wise,
And of goodelynes he bereth the price;
Ouer all, I trow that men shall see
Strong and hardie he shal be;
Tyme it is withouten drede
To tel him of his kynrede; to tell the boy that he is her son;
He is so curtes, I dar wel say,
That he will you neuer bewray."
The Quene assented therto anoon̄, which she agrees to do.
And after him bad Medean goon̄.
In hast he was to chambre broght,
The Quene to him told hir thoght, The Queen tells
And seid, "son myn, Generides, Generides
I am youre modre, withoute les: that he is her son,
Youre fadre is the king of Ynde, and the king of Ynde is his father.
So are ye come of kinges kinde."
All to gedre she told him there
Hou he was begoten̄, and where.
Whan the childe hir vndrestoode
He was comen of kinges bloode
On ych side(:) ful wele he lete,
And fell on knees to hir fete, Generides kneels at her feet,
"Ma dame," he said, "pur charitie,
Swete ladie and modre, nov graunt me,
If I be you lefe and dere,
Lete me no lenger dwel here; and begs her
To tendre am I, nor to yong,
To lern̄ I haue grete longyng
In othre place than here at home, to let him leave home,
Ma dame, gyve me leve to goone."
The Quene answerd feir and meke,
"Whethre wold ye goo seruice to seke?"
"Madame, if it youre will be,
I desire to see that contre and go to his father's country,
There my fadre is lord and king;
Forto serue him were my liking, there to serve him,
And of his contre to see the aray;
Ther to serue, lern̄ wele I may,
Bettir there than in othre place;
For more loue and more grace
Of my fadre I hope to finde
Than oon that wer nat of his kinde;
And so, Madame, I shal me bere
That noon that I shal finde there but keeping her
Shal neuer wete what I am, secret still.
Ne from whens that I cam,
But the king him self alloon̄;
No moo shal wete of al that woone."
The Quene sawe that he wold wende; Sereyne consents,
Vnto Nathanael she did send and sends for Nathanael,
That fro the tyme that she was quene
Had hir serued, and with hir bene.
From a childe she him forth broght;
Faire he was, and clenlie wroght;
Dedes of armes he knew ful wele,
And to hunt he couth somdele;
Of al craftes stil and lowde
That longed to a gentilman he coude,
Therfor the Quene loued him wel,—whom she loved well,
His name was called Nathanael,—
Of gentil kinde he was come,
Of the Rodes he was a king son̄;
Of al that knew him, more and less,
He was beloued for his gentilnes.
Nathanael to chambre cam,
And the Queen him to hir nam̄,
And seid, "Nathanael, come ye nere:
Ye are to me ful lefe and dere;
This child ye take to youre keping, and gives her boy into his charge;
And help him wel in all thing;
Of youre craft ye him teche,
To be curtes of dede and speche;
The child I loue, and so I ow;
Nov the sothe ye shal know,
To you I tel sikerlie
This child hath no modre but I.
With you shal he goo into Inde, telling him to take the lad to Inde Major, find the king, his father, and
There ye shal his fadre finde,
Of Inde maior he is king;
Ther was this child, without lesing,
Of that king begoten of mee
As god wold thurgh destynie.
Whan ye come there, I you prey,
To noman the childe bewrey, not betray him to any one, especially Amalek;
Nor to the Steward Amalek,
For that were a shrewd chek;
And he of him the soth wist,
Forto sle him I wold trist.
But whan ye come befor the king,
Make him noo privey salewing,
But openlie afore hem ałł
Profre youre seruice in the hałł; but proffer service to the King,
Whan ther is noon him beforn̄,
Sey that he is of grete kin born̄,
A riche Dukes son of that lond.
Whan he him seeth, I vnderstond
By the face he shal him known; who will know him by his face.
Bere him this ring, it was his own̄; Give him this ring,
Whan ye see tyme most esiest,
Than speke to him of my request;
Tel the sooth, what ye been̄;
Take him the ring, than shal he seen
That ye be trewe in youre seyng, and he will know you speak truth.
For he gaue me the same ring
The last tyme he spake with me."
Nathanael was gentel and free, Nathanael under∣takes the charge;
"Ma dame," he seid, "at youre wil
Youre commaundment I shal fulfiłł,
And with youre son that here dooth stond
Glad to wende into that lond.
Madame, in hast I you pray
Lete ordeyn al thing for his aray, asks that all may be got ready for their journey;
Of hors, harnes, and money
Forto spend in straunge contrey;
And I shal him [help [l. 896.]] and teche
Al that I may in dede and speche
As long as I may goo and see:
If I faile him, god faile me." and says if he fails the boy, may God fail him.
"God you foryelde," seid the Quen̄e,
"And I hope that day shal bene
That youre seruice shal be yolde,
And euermore to vs be hold."
The Quene wold haue noo rest
Til hir son was arraid at the best; Sereyne gets every∣thing ready,
To haue acqueyntaunce there he wold
Him lakked noght, ne noon he shold;
What euer he wold aftre craue,
His modre made him forto haue.
Or euer that he went hir froo,
Nathanael she cleped thoo,
And yave him largelie of hir tresour gives Nathanael plenty of money,
"Ye shal faile noon, I you ensure;
At al tymes whan ye haue nede,
That ye lak noon I you forbede;
And kepe wel my son̄ here, and begs him to keep well her son.
And the ring in al manere
That I toke you the king to bere;
Take it him whan ye come there
Al aloone betwix you thre,
As I before rehersed you, parde."
"Ma dame, it shal be doo," he seid.
Vpon hir son hir hond she leid, She exhorts
And seid, "son̄, vpon al thing Generides to obey
Doo aftre Nathanaels teching, Nathanael;
The more men shal you honour,
So moch I know of his nortur:
To god almightie I you beteche."
And right with that same speche
Weping, with many a kyssing, kisses him, and
She gave him there hir blissing, blesses him.
And to Nathanael she him betaght;
For him she wept, as she wel aght;
Vnto hir chambre she went him froo.
Generides and Nathanael thoo
Forto goo thei were redie anoon̄;
And Generides made ther no moon̄, Generides is glad to go,
For his gooyng his hert was light;
His harnes was trussed and redie dight,
Coursers to bere hem by the wey;
With grete riches, the sooth to sey,
With moch mirth and felicitie
Thei went forth bi the contre; and he and Nathanael travel
So their iourney thei did cast
Til thei come to Ynde at last till they reach Ynde;
Ther Generides fadre was king;
And than thei asked tithing
Wher his dwelling might be:
Men̄ seid, "here by in a feir Citie where they hear that the king is in the city of Parentyne.
That Parentyne cleped was;"
There lay the king in that same place,
And the Quene, as men hem told,
With many rich Barouns bold.
LOrdinges, listen nov to me,
Of goode talking here may ye
Of Generides, noble of fame. Generides
Whan he into Ynde came,
he aspied where the king was;
Thiderward he hasted a pase
With his maistre and his meigney and Nathanael go to the city of Parentyne,
Til he come to that Citie
There the king lay in his palice.
Nathanael was ful war and wise;
The best hostel that he fond,
He toke it to his lordes hond;
His lord and he to court yede to court.
Arraied wele in riche wede.
To the court whan thei were come,
Ful goodlie thei were ynome
Of officers that were thoo
Til thei come the hal vnto;
Whan thei were come to the hałł,
And saw the king and the lordes ałł They see the king,
Sitting at the high bordes,
Generides without mo wordes
Cast of his mantell, without letting,
That was of the Sarrasynes wirching,
That was riche and disgyse.
Streite to the king thoo went he; go straight to him;
Nathanael first salued the king, and Nathanael
He did his erand without letting;
"Souereigne Prince," he seid, "this yong childe here
Hidder hath soght to youre power
From fer contreys sekirlie,
Manhod to lerne, and curtesie,
With you to dwel, if you[r] will be." asks leave for the lad to dwell with him.
Then seid the king, "from whens come ye?"
"His fadre is a grete lord and wise
Of Grece, a man of noble price;
Therfore to you he sent his soun,
If it pleas you, with you to woun̄."
"My feire frende," seid the king,
"Haue ye now cristes blissing,
And al thoo that louen oure pees."
The king behelde wele Generides; The king looks well at Generides,
The more he can him devise,
The more his hert gan arise;
Vpon that ladie than was his mynde thinks of the lady in the forest,
Which in the forest he did fynde;
Him thoght the child was hir like:
Priuelie than he gan to syke,
Fast he beheld him in the face,
His ovn begoten son he was.
Whan he had behold him wele
He seid thoo vnto Nathanael, and says he will gladly keep the boy.
"Frend, it is to me ful glad chere
That this childe is comen here;
Withold him I will gladlie,
He is welcom to my companye;
And ye also right hertlie,
Ye ar ful welcome vnto me;
But I warn̄ you ouer al thing
He want noo thing to his liking,
He shal haue what he wil desire,
I wil he haue al thing to his pleasire."
Thus in seruice Generides was left So Generides enters the king's service.
With his fadre, til bettir wer eft.
At the second mete thei sete
With the steward, I you behete;
Generides was ful glad of chere,
And therto ful curtes of manere, He is courteous,
That al him loued that him sey.
The Quene had a ful licorous eye and the queen falls in love with him.
And a hert ful amerous;
On Generides she wax gelous,
And she beheld wel the childe;
In hir hert she waxed wild,
And than she thoght she wold assay
To gete his loue if she may;
And than she held hir self still,
She thoght she wold haue hir wiłł.
The child that I spake of before,
Generides of Surre y-bore,
Wex in court thoo ful bold,
And gate loue of yonge and old;
Meke therto, ful of curtesie,
Whan tyme was, bold and hardie.
He had a maister was ful goode,
And he waxed wise and vndrestoode.
Nov of his maistre Nathanael Nathanael
I purpos to tel you somdele.
Whan he saw his tyme best watches his time
That he might with most rest to speak privately
Priuelie speke with the king, with the king;
And to take him his ring
That the Quene Sereyn him sent,
In a mornyng as the king went
In an aley there vynes were,
Nathanael drew to the king ful nere
And saw him alloon there he yede; finds him alone,
He thoght his erand forto spede,
To the king he drew nere
And did his obeisaunce with humble chere,
And seid, "excellent prince, for charitie
With you to speke ye wil graunt me."
The king seid, "I wil wełł;
Tel me nov youre counsełł."
"Sir," seid thoo Nathanael, and tells him that his lady Sereyn, Queen of Surre,
"The Quene of Surre, wete ye wele,
Recomaundeth hir vnto you[r] noble grace:
Sereyn, your ladie, grete sorow has sorrows for him,
For youre sake; oonlie aboue al
She loueth you most, and euer shal;
And, Sir, by me she hath sent
A token to you here present, and has sent a token that Generides is his son,
Youre son and heire Generides,
That this is sooth, sir, and noo les,
She hath you sent here a ring even his ring
Which ye hir toke at youre parting.
This token, Sir, ye mow wel know;
I suppose my wordes ye trow
Whethre I sey sothe or noon̄."
The king stoode stil as any stoon̄, Aufreus
And the ring there he toke;
Theron̄ ful fast gan he loke;
Ther his hert couth wel entende recognizes it,
The message was trew she did him send;
And that his ladie was hole and sond
He thanked god hertlie in that stound; thanks God,
And for ioye betwix his armes twoo
Nathanael hertlie kissed he thoo;
For ioye oft tymes he him kist,
Of thoo tithinges whan he wist.
"Leue Nathanael," seid the king,
"Feche me hidre myn ovn derlyng; and asks for his darling son.
Ther whiles shal I walk and rome
In this place to ye ageyn come;
For my loue nov ye stere,
Hast you wightlie that he were here."
Nathanael wold not lett, Nathanael fetches Generides,
But Generides fast he fett,
And broght him to his fadre the king
Which made him noble welcomyng,
"Welcome," he seid, "my son dere, and his father welcomes him;
Wel is me I haue you here,
Ouer al thing welcome to me.
Wold god I might youre modre see!
I pray you hertlie, Nathanael,
My dere son ye kepe wel,
And som tyme shal I yelde it you;
Let noon know this but we now; but charges them to keep the secret.
Goo ageyn to youre seruice
That no man̄ youre counsel devise."
Generides And his maister thoo
Went ageyn ther thei come froo;
Thei wer diligent in here seruice, They continue diligent in their service;
And ful seruiceable in al wise,
And thus thei [MS. ther.] there gan dwel
That neuer creature herd othir tełł
But that he was grete born̄;
Thei wist noon othre, even ne morn̄.
The Quene him loued secretlie but the queen loves Generides secretly,
And dalie contynued by and by,
On som maner she most nede
To Generides hir folie bede,
That suffre lenger she ne might
Such woo to suffre day and night, and resolves to have her will with him.
But if she haue som dele hir wiłł
Hir fals desire shall him spiłł.
CHAPTER III.
Here telleth of the desire of the Quene(.) hou she desired Generides to haue desceyued the king his fadre.
Vpon̄ a day in somer tide One day the king goes out hunting,
The king on huntyng wold ride,
To hunt in a depe forest
With knightes and squiers of the best;
He lete at home Generides dwell. and leaves Generides at home.
The Quene therof anoon herd tełł, The queen sends for him,
She sent aftre him hastelie
That he shuld come to hir, and not tarie.
Vnto hir chambre he can goon̄
For to speke with hir anoon̄;
She leid hir arme about his swere, puts her arms round him, kisses him,
She kyssed him with hertie chere,
And seid, "welcom, gentil Generides."
She began discouer hir distres,
"Entierlie ye ar to me welcome
While my lord is nat at home,
Aftre you nov haue I sent
Forto tel you myn entent;
Ye wax goodeli, semelie, and wise, tells him he is seemly,
And of seruice ye bere the price;
Of al men that ar in this lond
Ye ar most goodlie, I vndrestond;
If god you fortune oones come to elde,
Ye be ful liklie armes to welde,
And ye shal a doughti man bene; and will be a doughty man,
That day, I hope, shal I seene.
The grettest thing is that longeth to loue,
A souereigne ladie to haue(:) and hir aboue therefore he ought to love a lady,
Al othir to serue(:) than dar I swere
If ye doo soo(:) of gretter power
Shul ye be, and more hardie,
And doughtier man of youre bodie;
Aboue al thing so haue I rest
Of chiualrie(:) loue is the best,
As men may here in old romaunce
The grete worship and noble chaunce
That fel to knightes that ladies loued;
For loue here bodies so thei proued.
Therfore, Generides, I counsel you
To loue somwhere for youre prow;
And if ye be of loue to seche,
To finde a loue I can̄ you teche;
To loue a thing that you dooth loue, one who loves him,
Me think it were to youre behoue;
Than shuld ye loue me, the soth to sey, even me, the queen;
My self I must nedes bewrey,
So long I have loued you stil; for I have loved you long,
Mi dere hert, if it be youre wiłł,
My loue, my hert, and my bodie,
Here I gyve you feithfullie and now will give you all myself;
At youre wil to be whils I lyve;
A richer thing can I noon gyve;
Thogh ye were duke, outhir king,
This profre might be to youre liking.
I haue loued and loue you soo,
My thoght may noght part you froo
Nouthir by night nor by day;
Whan euer ye list, ye may assay." try me when you list.
Generides in a studie stoode, Generides thinks she is mad,
Him thoght the Quene was tho woode
To make to him such a sermon̄:
Had he know for what encheson
She had for such cause aftre him sent,
He nold haue come there to that entent.
Ful sore abasshed was he there and doesn't know
Forto gyve hir an answere; how to answer her.
"Ma dame," he seid "I thank you He thanks her;
For the grete loue ye profre me nov;
But wel ye know oon thing,
That my lord is a grete king,
He hath me norished and furth broght
So wel that me wanteth noght;
If I to him did treason or shame, says he cannot do treason to the king,
Treulie I were gretelie to blame;
I ought for his grete kindnes
To do him honour and goodnes;
Neuer-the-les, to loue I ne can,
Yit neuer to loue I began;
And, madame, if ye haue grete liking
Othre to loue than the king,
In this contre is many a feir knight, and recommends her to take some other knight than one so simple as himself.
Goode and courtes, of bodie wight,
On hem ye might your loue bestow,
And on noon so simple nor so low."
The Quene his answer vndrestoode,
And for shame she wax nere woode: She waxes wild,
Him that she loued for hir delight,
Deidlie she hated to se him with sight.
She bad him avoide in hast, orders him out,
And began to threte him ful fast,
"Lewd felow," she seid, "siker thou be and threatens to be revenged on him.
I shal ful wel be wroken on the."
To hir chambre Ageyn she went,
And hir atire she al to-rent; She tears her robes,
She wept, she sobbed, for grete moode, and sobs as if she
She ferd as thogh se [se in MS.] wer nigh woode. were mad.
Generides his wey ther name,
And sone aftre the steward came In this state the steward finds her,
Into chambre to ye Quene;
And whan he saw hir out of tene,
And saw hir here al to-rent,
He held him dismayed and shent;
And than he seid to hir y-wis,
"Ma dame, what is all this?
Who hath you greued? tel me, I pray."
"Sir Steward, the soth I shal you say;
Glad woman shal I neuer be
Til ye graunt to a-wreke me."
"Who was so hardie and so stern̄?
Tel me nov, I pray you yern;
On him I shal take such wreche, and swears to avenge her.
Shal him neuer nede noo leche."
Generides was not recheles; Generides
He saw the Quenes frowardnes;
He wist wele the Quenes hate.
He passed out at the gate goes home and tells Nathanael all that has happened.
Vnto the Citie to his hostell,
And al he told to Nathanaełł,
The Quenes desire, and his answere;
In his loggeyng he dwelled there
Til the king come to the Castel.
Than the Quene hir hert did tełł,
And to the Steward pleint she made The queen again appeals to the steward
With angry hert and colour fade,
"Sir Steward," she seid, "wele ye woost
That I haue loued you euer moost
Of al men that on live bene;
Yf ye loue me, nov shal I sene,
From this tyme forward
If ye me wreke, Sir Steward." to avenge her.
Whan the Steward herd hir speke,
"On him," he seid, "I shal you wreke,—
Tel me his name,—if I him know,
By the feith that ye to me ow." He swears to do it.
"Sir," she seid, "thank I you can̄! The queen says that
It is a lad, it is noo man̄;
Into this court he come this othere yere,
Generides he is cleped here; Generides
Wax he is so noble and proude
That he me prayd stil and loude prayed her to love him;
Paramoures him forto loue.
I had leuer, by god aboue, but she'd sooner have him hung like a thief.
He heng as high as any thefe
Than euer he wer me so lefe."
Whan the Steward this tale herd, The steward
He quoke, and as a wood man ferd;
And, for [he] loued the Quene so wele,
The wrother he was a grete dele. is very wrath,
From thens into his chaumbre he went,
A naked swerd in hond he hent, takes a drawn sword,
And went Generydes sechand, and seeks Generides,
To haue sleyn him with his hand;
But at that tyme he fond him noght, but cannot find him.
He failed of his wil and thoght;
He saw he might than not spede,
Ageyn to his chambre he yede.
Whan the king from huntyng cam̄, On the king's return,
Than Generides to court nam.
Generides serued in the hall Generides serves at table;
Befor the king and the knightes al;
As sone as the steward him sigh,
Pale he waxed, and drew him nigħ.
That day in stede of a white wonde
A staf he bare thoo in his honde;
Generides was to kechen ward; the steward catches him going to the kitchen,
Hurtlyng on him come the Steward,
And seid to him with egre chere,
"Thou grome, thou combrest the hous here. abuses him,
Draw the vpward, and make hem place
That to serue han better grace;
Thou canst not serue in stede goode."
Generides right still tho stoode,
And not an word ageyn he yaf.
The steward tho lift vp his staf,
And seid, "thou mysproude quengeovn̄,
Whi answerst you not to my reason̄?"
He drew him bi the here that stound,
And threw him doun̄ to the ground throws him down,
That both mouth and noyse blede.
Twoo strokes he yaue him in that stede and beats him.
With his staf, ouer al that,
That he lay to the erthe flat.
The king saw him so take on̄ The king
That he trembled both flesh and boon̄;
He thoght vpon the quene his wife;
In his hond he toke his knyfe, hurls his knife at the steward,
And to the Steward it threw egrely.
The steward saw that, and did wry,
And drew him som dele aside;
The blade thurgh his arme did glide.
The king seid, "traitour, hens thou flee and orders him to leave the place.
That I the nov no more see;
The first shame ys this not
That thou hast waited me, I wot."
On that word thoght the Quene, The queen
And thoght on hir it must been;
Wel she supposed that the king thinks the king knows of her crimes;
Of hir folie had som knowing.
Vp from the bord she arose anoon,
And to hir chambre gan she goon̄
With careful hert, and ful of ire, she is full of ire that her lover is wounded and banished.
For hir souereigne lord and most desire
Cruel wounded he was thurgh the arme,
Of that she thoght ful grete harme;
That he from court was conveyd,
For pure sorow she wold haue deyd;
Som treson she thoght forto seche,
Of that grete dede forto haue wreche.
The Steward yede from the court than̄, The steward takes refuge in his castle,
And to his ovn Castel he wan̄
That was both goode and strong;
Grete meigne he gadred among, gets together men and victuals;
Of vitels also grete plentie
Into the Castel gaddered he;
Tresour he had more than the king, has much treasure,
For al the lond was in his keping;
He thoght what life he wold lede,
For he was born of grete kinrede;
Thei wer redie at nede with him to hold,
For on the king werre he wold and resolves to make war on the king.
Whan he his tyme saw at will
His grete treason to fulfill.
Of Generides speke we Generides rises up.
That such despite and vilene
Had in hal the folk among.
Vp he ros, and lay not long;
His maister therfor was woo ynogħ,
And vp by the hond he him drogħ;
Generides was milde of moode,
Of his face he wyped the bloode,
Generides(:) than to the king yede
That sore was greued of that dede,
"My lord," seid than Generides,
"I come hidre with loue and pecs
With you to dwel at your liking;
Nov cometh the tyme of our parting, tells the king he must leave him;
For I haue here grete vilenee
Befor you and youre meignee.
That I haue in youre court to day,
It shall be quyt, and euer I may; and promises to pay back the steward his insult.
But my power is yit to small
My dettes forto acquiten all;
For the shame and the despite,
Perauenture I may it quite,
For at my witting, by my will
I trespased neuer lowde ne still.
Therfor my lord, if you[r] wil be,
I beseche you forto licence me,
God you preserue both night and day,
And euer while I live may
To worship you al that I can̄,
And al-wey be youre ovn man̄."
Careful before was the king,
And than more hevy for that tithing.
Generides toke his leue anoon̄ Generides and Nathanael take leave of all,
At the king and euerichoon,
And so did Nathanael also,
And to here loggeyng gan thei goo,
And hasted hem in al that tide,
And furth here wey gan thei ride;
With here harnes and here meigney
Thei went out of that Citie. and ride out of the city.
When thei were w[ith]out the tovn̄,
Generides asked a question̄
Of Nathanael with wordes meke,
"What contre," he seid, "wil we seke?"
Than seid Nathanael, "sikerlie Nathanael pro∣poses to return home to Surre;
It is best we ride into Surrye,
Mi ladie your modre forto see,
And youre frendes that ther be."
"Maister," seid Generides, but Generides refuses to go,
"That wer wel doo, but nertheles
Yit wil I nat come there;
Seruice I wil seke elles where; and resolves to seek
In straunge seruice is myn entent,
Forto [serue] is myn hert bent;
At more honour til that I be, honour in foreign countries.
Wil I not come in my contre;
For whan I am more of elde
I cast me armes forto welde;
Therfor I wolle into vncouth lond,
To seke aventure I wil fond;
Maistre, ye know wel this contree,
I pray you nov to cast our iournee."
"Sir," seid than Nathanael, Nathanael suggests Perse.
"Straunge contres I know wel.
Sith ye wil nat to youre contree,
Right into Perce wende wil we,
A goode contre and a plentyvous,
And folkes in armes ful desirous;
Of that lond is king a Sowdan̄
Which is reported a noble man̄,
Courtes, hounrable, and free,
With him he kepeth a royal meigne;
Thidre I rede our wey we take,
Oure seruice wil he not forsake."
Than was Generides at ease, Generides agrees,
"Maister," he seid, "youre wit I prase."
To Perse he tok the way aright, and they ride to Perse,
Thei nouthir spared day nor night
Til that thei comen there;
And ful sone thei drew hem nere
Wher the sowdan with his meigne was,
Thider thei riden a grete pase,
To Mountanar ther he lay, to the city of Mountanar,
Which was a Citie of grete nobley.
Whan thei to the Citie came,
Here ynnes ther ful sone thei nam and there take up their abode.
A litle beside a feir Castell,
Generides and Nathanaell.
Than sone to the court thei yede,
There here nedes forto spede;
Walking thei found the Sovdon̄, The Sowdon
And with him knightes many oon̄.
Generides(:) did him ful humble obeisaunce;
He him welcomed with grete plesaunce;
Ful loulie thei profered here seruice;
He hem receyued in hertlie wise,
With goode will he toke hem bothe, gladly accepts their proffered service,
Here seruice to him was nat lothe.
To Generides then seid he,
"Of what kinred, Sir, be ye?"
"Sir, I am of the lond of Ynde,
A lordes son born of kynde(.)"
"Wel(:) than shul ye next me be and tells Generides to be nearest him, and serve him at meals.
At my mete to serue me:
Lefe Sir, what is youre name?"
"Generides," he seid, "without blame,
Ther I was born, so call thei me."
"Ay, Generides, welcom to me."
The Sovdon him cherished and loued,
He yave him al that him behoued;
Moche loue in the court he gate
Of high and low and euery state.
A feire doghtre the Sovdon had, The Sowdon has a daughter.
And hir life with ioye she lad;
Clarionas(:) that ladie hight, Clarionas,
She was of beautie so feire and bright,
In noo place I you ensure the fairest creature living,
Was known so feire a creature;
Hir bodie was ful gentil and small,
She was ful amyable, and goodli withal,
Defaute in hir might noman finde, with no defect in her;
She had al that nature might doo be kinde;
Therto she was courtes and free
To euery man aftre his degre;
She wist ful wel what was to doon̄,
And els couth she lefe of soone;
She was so feire and so yeng,
Hir fadre loued hir ouer al thing,
For othir childe neuer he had and she was his heir.
That his heire shuld be, saue oonly she.
The sovdon made a fest soone—The Sowdon makes a great feast;
As he was oft wont to doon̄—
Of the grettest of his baronage,
Therof he had a goode vsage,
Of mete and drink he was ful large,
Of such largesse he thoght noo charge.
The Soudon̄ vsed coustomable
Dailie in hall to kepe the table,
But his doghtre Clarionas but Clarionas stays in her room.
She kept the chambre, as Reason was,
With hir ladies and gentilwomen also;
Of hem ther was twenty and moo.
Generides in ful noble aray
Serued in the hal euery day;
His seruice he did ful Reuerently;
The Soudon cast on him his eye, At the feast, the Sowdon tells Generides to take a dish of curlews to his daughter.
And then he seid, "Generides, come nere,
Take this dish of gold here
With thes curlews, right anoon̄
Into the chambre loke that ye goon̄
There my doghtre at mete is,
And sey hir that I sent hir this."
Generides the chargeours hent,
And mekelie into the chambre went. He does this.
The ladie at hir mete fond he,
He set him doun̄ on his knee,
His message he did ful plesauntlie,
And set doun the dish right honestlie;
"Ma dame," he seid, "with hertlie entent,
Mi lord youre fadre this hath you sent."
"God thonk my fadre tho," seid she, The damsel
"That he wil thus remembre me;
I thonk you hertlie for your message."
She fast beheld him in the visage
And percyued his goodeli semblaunt, sees how handsome he is,
His bodie so personable and plesaunt,
So feir and so wel y-wroght.
She liked him so goodelie in hir thoght:
Of loue neuer erst she wist,
Forto behold him sore she list,
Hir eyen neuer from him cam, cannot take her eyes off him,
And a grete sighing she nam,
Her colour gan to pale in hast, turns pale,
For loue she sighed sore and fast
Somdele sore in hir feling:
To kisse him was hir grete longyng, and wants to kiss him.
But she knew nat his will;
Ashamed she was, and held hir still;
That she so ferd, woo she was,
But loue hir so bond in that case,
Til that she might him oones kysse,
Of sorow shuld she neuer mysse.
Generides(:) thoo wist noo thing
Of this ladies grete longyng;
He tooke his leue, and wold haue goon̄;
Than she called him anoon,
And asked him with goodelie chere, She asks him his name,
"What is name, my swetè fere?"
Than he answerd that ladie bright,
"Ma dame, Generides I hight."
A cup of gold befor hir stoode
Ful of clarre wyne ful goode;
The cup she toke him with hert entier, gives him a cup of wine,
And preid him with right goode cher
"Drink now, hertlie I you pray."
"Ma dame, god thonk you," can he say.
He drank anoon withouten let,
The cupp down̄ softlie can he set;
A louelie loke than he hir sent, for which he sends her a lovely look,
And beheld hir eyen̄ with goode entent.
An other loke than she him kest and she casts him another that thrusts him right through the heart,
That even thurgh the hert him threst
So sharp, that for sore longyng
Stil he stoode in studiyng;
His bright hew, his right wit, and love turns his wits.
Sodenlie loue turned it;
The hert was so sore ybound
Of Generides for that wound,
That al discoulored tho he was.
Then̄ to the hal he went a pase,
To hir he spake no more than̄;
Into the hal ful soone he wan̄.
Clarionas tho with loues dart Clarionas is so stricken with love,
Was striken so sore, for hir part,
That from the bord she rose anoon̄,
Into hir chambre can she goon̄ that she goes, full pale, to her room, and falls on her bed.
Al discoulored, ful pale of hew;
Ouerthwart hir bed she ouer threw,
Loue bond hir so sore and fast.
So oon of hir women come at the last One of her attendants,
That she most loued of any woman̄,—
What was hir name wel tel I can̄—
Hir right name was Mirabel, Mirabel,
A gentil ladie, as I you tel,
And of gentil bloode samfayle,
(Hir fadre was an Amyrayle),
She thoght hir hert clofe in twoo;
Vnto hir ladie yede she thoo,
Hir hond she leid vpon hir thoo,
And seid, "ma dame, what causeth your woo?" asks her the cause of her woe. Clarionas just stirs,
Wel feyntlie she felt hir stere;
She meruelled whi, and drew hir nere,
And wondre so sore she began̄
Hou that evel so sodeinlie had hir tane.
Mirabel sore abasshed thoo
Whan she saw her fare soo;
She cried on hight, and seid, "Ma dame, and Mirabel calls on her in God's name to tell her what is the matter.
Speke to me, in goddes name!"
And as she durst, with piteous speche,
Hir ladie she began to seche
That she wold tel hir cause whi
That euel hir toke so sodeinlie.
Clarionas without lesing Clarionas says
Answerd ageyn̄ with grete sighing,
"Mirabel, my swete hert,
To tel you hou I caght this smert,
And al myn evel hou it began:
In this court ther is a gentilman̄ that it's all a gentleman's doing, and yet she never offended him.
That al this euel hath me wroght;
I offended him neuer in word ne thoght;
Thurgh him I haue my dethe, I wene,
He dooth me al this woo and tene."
Mirabel gan somdele glade Mirabel takes heart at this, for she knows well what love is;
Whan she wist who that evel had made;
Of loue she knew wel that it was;
She seid to hir ladie(.)
"Ma dame, hou long, the soth to seyn̄,
Hath love doon you al this peyn̄?"
"Til this day at mete, parde,
I saw him neuer erst, nor he me."
Mirabel seid, "hou is this?
I meruel of this mater y-wis;
And if that ye wil wroken bene,
Right sone the sothe shal ye sene."
"To pleyne on him I ne may,
But on myn eyen̄, so, welaway.
With him I must speke soone, but Clarionas de∣clares her happi∣ness is all gone,
Or elles my goode dais be doone;
I kepe to haue nomore blis
But that I may him hals and kis; unless she can kiss him again.
Nov, dere hert, help therto
That it may right sone be doo."
Mirabel seid, "what is he?
Goode madame, tel ye me."
"The same gentilman myn hert hath brent She tells Mirabel that the gentleman is
Which my fadre to me sent
To day while I was at mete;
I wot wel I shal him neuer forgete."
"What dooth he hight," she seid, "madame?"
"Generides(:) is his right name." Generides,
"Ay ma dame," seid Mirabel,
I am right glad that ye me tel."
"He may not faile to haue goode tide
That can wel suffre and abide;
For sofferaunce causeth oft certeyn̄
A man his purpos to atteyn̄;
Ne shal I neuer, my dere hert,
Rise from this bed in helth and quert
But ye wil me certeynlie
Promyse youre help sekirlie and entreats her to help that she may see him again.
Forto speke with Generides."
"Ma dame," she seith, "nov beth in pees; Mirabel promises to help her;
Rise up nov and make goode chere,
And I shal help, to my power,
So to counsel you in this dede
That of youre porpos ye shul spede."
Clarionas from hir bed arose
In hope to come to hir purpose. and she rises hopefully.
Nov speke we of Generides,
That loued, and might nat be in pes, Generides mean∣time cannot rest in peace.
He loued so sore day and night
Clarionas that ladie bright.
Careful therfore his maistre was,
And al his meigne cried "allas."
That he were seke, thei him dred, His men think he is ill, and put him to bed;
And fast thei led him to his bed,
And ther had he rest but small,
So loue assaled him ouerall;
In his eyen ther came noo slepe, but he cannot sleep.
Therof his maister toke kepe
He turned him oft to and froo,
He might nat lie stil for woo;
Oft he rose and fel ageyn̄
"Jhesu," "he seid, "what is my peyn̄! So he laments his woful case,
Wele I wrote who me it dooth,
[Clarionas], to say the sooth, and says it is all through Clarionas' love.
Hir loue werketh me al this woo
As it hath doon to many moo:
Wele may I sey allas, allas,
That euer I knew [Clarionas!]
Why so(:) she mysdid me noght.
Noo, treuly(:) but myn ovn thoght,
And myn eyen̄ that did hir so behold,
This cause me thes sorows many fold;
For euer me thinketh that I hir see
Stand here before me.
Min hert so high set haue I,
A fall I drede to haue therby!
Ay, god! hard was my destinygh Why did he ever come to her country?
To this contre so forto high!
Had I into my contre goo,
I had noo thing felt of this woo,
Had I doo by maistres counsełł,
It had ben̄ nov for myn̄ availe;
Nou it is to late to ouer-think, However, as he has brewed, so must he drink.
As I haue brew, so most I drink."
Nathanael of al that long night Nathanael is con∣cerned at his distress,
For verrey sorow noght slepe might
To see his lord in this distres,
But to his lord tho gan him dres;
In his bed he fond him waking,
Sighing, and grete sorow making.
Ful pitouslie seid he than̄
"Lefe Sir, tel me whan̄, and entreats him to tell him when
In what maner wise and how
This sekenes first greued you. the sickness first took him.
Somdele haue I herd
Al this night hou ye haue ferd;
Wondre I haue what it may be,
But treulie nov I may wel see
That ye love me litel, I wene,
That wil not tel me youre tene.
Whi wil ye not to me declare
What shuld you cause thus to fare?
Ye have noo cause to mistrust me
More nov than ye had, parde,
That ye might me the sothe seyn̄;
What causeth you to haue al this peyn̄?"
[Generides] thoo answered still, Generides says
"I pray you take it not at yll,
For I might nat haue noo space
To tel how me betid this case;
But yestirday it fortuned soo
The king on message did me goo
Vnto my ladie, his doghtre dere,
[Clarionas,] so bright of chere; that the pain took him when he was before Clarionas.
Before hir this yvel me toke,
Oonlie for hir faire loke,
That my deth it wil bee;
Help, maister, for charitie!"
Than Nathanael a litle logħ;
That evel he knew wel ynogh; Nathanael laughs. He knows the illness,
"But, sir, now I know hou it is,
Dismay you noo thing of this
Thogh ye with loue be bound fast, and tells Generides not to be dismayed,
Be nothing therof agaste;
To liue in hope is for the best, but live in hope;
And most for youre hertes rest;
And if ye wil, tomorov or noone
I hope so to speke and doone
That I shall doo you to sayn̄ and he'll bring him tidings to∣morrow
Trew tithinges in certeyn̄
Of loue that ye haue vndretake,
Whethre ye shal it forsake
Or els hold you therto.
Wherfor I rede that ye thus doo,
Suffre a while, and your hert stere
Til betre tithinges ye may here;
I shal perceyve in som degre,
Othir by countenaunce or chere, parde, whether Clarionas loves him.
Whethir she you loue with hert and will."
[Generides] answerd him vntill,
"Gentil maister, god thonk you;
Grete comfort ye doo me nov.
If ye me doo as ye me seid,
A grete part of my care is leid."
On the morov rose Nathanael Next day
And went streit vnto the Castel;
Nathanael into the chambre wan̄, Nathanael goes to Clarionas's chamber,
And Mirabel him saw than̄;
Right wel she lete of his comyng,
"Welcome," she seid, "by heuen king." and is welcomed by Mirabel, who
Mirabel him welcomed hertlie,
And he hir thanked curteslie.
"Wher is youre lord," seid she, asks after Generides.
"I pray you, goode Sir, tel ye me."
"Maistres," he seid, "he fareth not wele; Nathanael says he is not well;
This night he slept neuer a dele
For hevines he hath, and care."
"Syn whan," she said, "hath he so fare?"
"Sith yisterday, Maistres, a eve,
This sekenes first did him greve;
In this chambre here, as he me told, he caught a bad cold in that cham∣ber yesterday.
Caght he this sekenes with a cold."
"Wherof toke he it, know ye hou?"
"Maistres," he seid, "I can not tel you."
"Yis, feir sir, I you prey:
Treuly I shal you neuer bewrey;
For right soo hath my ladie sped, Mirabel says that her lady has been bad too,
Sith yestirday she hath kept hir bed,
For love doth hir so constreyn̄
For youre lord; whan she had him seen̄, and has had no rest since she saw Generides;
Neuer sith, rest had she noon̄."
"Maistres, in like wise by seint Jhon̄
Mi lord hath faren right soo;
For he suffreth such peyn and woo
Sith he saw my ladie laste,
Of him I haue be sore agaste."
"Sir, she seid, I trov right wełł
Loue is meruellous, I here tełł:
Now wote I wele withouten les
Mi ladie loueth [Generides]." she must be in love with him.
"Now maistres, blessed mot ye be!
With thes tithinges ye comfort me;
For wete ye well without feyntise "And Generides is in love with her," says Nathanael.
Mi lord hir loueth in like wise.
But he haue hir, he hath sworn̄
Gladnes for euer hath he lorn̄."
Thus Mirabel and eke nathanael
Knew right wele of othres counsel;
Than Mirabel began to say,
"Now, swete sir, hertlie I you pray
Ye wold you hast a grete pas "Then go at once to Clarionas, and tell her this," answers Mirabel.
Vnto my ladie [Clarionas];
To speke with hir that ye not spare,
And telle hir of youre lordes fare.
Goo your wey, tel hir his nede;
Wondre I haue but if ye wele spede."
Nathanael was ful wise and goode, So Nathanael goes,
His lesson he wel vndrestoode,
Wel taght he was in word and dede,
Anoon to [Clarionas] he yede;
He spake to the ladie [Clarionas]
And told hir al the wooful case. and tells his tale,
[Clarionas] on hir bed satt;
Of his wordes comfort she gate, which comforts Clarionas.
And made him glad welcomyng;
Ful wele she lete of his tithing,
Therof she was wondre glad.
Mirabel to call she bad, She sends for Mi∣rabel,
And told hir what Nathanael
Had seid to hir euery dele,
"Ma dame(:)" Mirabel thoo gan̄ say, who counsels her
"No lenger put ye in delay
His desire to Respite,
But egallie ye him acquite,
And of youre grace with benigne chere
That ye wil graunt him his prayer." to grant Generides his desire,
"I shal be glad him forto see,
Mi worship to kepe with honestie."
"I shal, ma dame, if it you please,
Send for him, his hert to ease, and send for him by Nathanel.
By his maister that here dooth stond."
She tooke Nathanael by the hond,
"Nov sir," she seid, "my leef Frende, Mirabel then tells Nathanael to bring Generides to speak to her lady.
In al hast aftre youre lord ye wende,
And secretlie, for spiyng,
By the gardine ye him bring
To my ladies chambre wyndow;
Ther he may speke ynogh, I trow;
She shal be there ful redilie."
Nathanaels hert for ioye did flie;
To his lord he went a pase,
And broght him tithinges from hir goode grace: Nathanael tells Generides the good news,
"[Clarionas] my ladie dere
Hath sent for you, be glad of chere."
Tho vp he rose with him to goon̄;
God knoweth, daunger made he noon̄.
To the chambre window sone and they go to Clarionas's cham∣ber window.
Thei came, as thei were tagħt to doone.
[Clarionas], withouten les,
Whan she saw [Generides],
With simple voice and sighing chere
He lowlie obeid in humble chere,
Drede his hert did so appalle,
Downward his chere lete he falle,
Specheles for fere stil he stoode. But there Gene∣rides is speechless,
This ladie was curteys and goode,
With louyng chere and face benigne
Hir hert to him she did resigne;
Loue began hir to assaile
That hir tong for fere gan faile;
So a-dred thei wer both twoo and so is Clarionas.
That nouthir spake to othir thoo.
Than [Generides] told a-right At last Generides asks her
What woo he had suffred that night;
With wooful hert and pale face
Mekelie besoght hir of hir grace
"That she wold, for goddes sake,
Him to hir mercy oonly take, to have mercy on him, or he shall die.
Or elles I know wel I shal die."
Thoo answerd she ful graciouslie
With myld chere soft and still,
"Looth I were you to spiłł;"
Ful goodelie to tel she began̄,
And seid, "swete loue, I ne can̄ Clarionas calls Ge∣nerides Sweet Love
No thing wete ne vndirstond
Of that ye bere me on hond;
But certes, sith I you last say,
Had I neuer sith goode day;
To se you I haue had such desire
Which al myn hert hath set on fire;
Wherfor I pray you with hert entier,
If I be to you so dere,
Demean you al-wey in such wise
Min honour and worship I may supprise;
With you to speke, and oft to seen̄, and says she desires to see him often.
Is my desire, and euer shal been̄,
To comfort vs with plesaunt talking,
Without shame or euel thinking;
Wherfore I pray you, swete fere,
That often we may mete here."
Mirabel seid, "I shal you tel Mirabel advises them to pledge their troth to one another
If ye will doo by my counsel,
Beth trew to othre for euermore."
[Generides] listened to that lore, [MS. lord.] and Generides
A-down he kneled on his kne
And seid, "ma dame, haue mercy on me,
And to god and you a voye I make, swears never to forsake Clarionas's service.
I shal youre seruice neuer forsake,
But while my life may endure
To serue you aboue ecħ creature."
His wordes thurgh hir hert gan perse
Whan he this mater did reherse.
Mirabel seid with milde chere On Mirabel's sug∣gestion
"Conclude this mater both in fere,
In token of loue that ye kysse,
And so departe with ioye and blisse,
It is tyme hens to hie
For drede lest folkes vs aspie."
This goode ladie of high emprise
Did him kisse in herti wise; Clarionas kisses Generides heartily.
Hir loue encreased sore and strong,
With stedfast hert it lasted long.
[Generides] toke a ring anoon̄ They change rings
In which was set a riche stoon̄,
He yave it his ladie [Clarionas],
God wot ful glad therof she was,
She toke an othre from hir hond,
Ther was noon richer in that lond,
On his finger she it pitt,
With ful glad hert he toke it;
Thus thei chaunged here ringes twoo,
So did thei hert for hert also. and hearts,
At [Clarionas] he tooke his leue and then part.
Al thogh it sore his hert did greue;
At that tyme a-sondre thei yede,
Thei durst noo lenger abide for drede.
[Generides] his wey tooke,
And oft behinde him gan he looke,
As long as she might him see
Eythir loked ageyn trewlie;
Long tyme vsed thei that play, They often see one another afterwards
Som tyme on night, som tyme on day;
At the window to speke to gedre and talk together,
[Generides] oft went thidre;
And euer grete loue he wan and Generides be∣comes much loved at Court,
In al the court of euery man̄;
Al games he couth doo ful wele,
Of maistreys wanted him noo dele;
He was of grete strenght and might,
Noon so bygg, ne half so wight;
Wel wold he iust himself to assay, and jousts well.
That wold he vse day by day.
In the court a knight ther was, But a knight of Libie, named Ma∣lachias,
His name was called Malachias,
He was born and fed in Libie;
At [Generides] he had envie; envies
For treason out of his contre
He was so hated he must nedes fle;
So thurgh his fals flatering
With the Sodon was he dwelling.
This knight hated [Generides] and hates Gene∣rides,
In hert stillie, but neuer the les
So goode felaship he him bare
[Generides] therof was not ware
That he him any euel wold,
Therfor he bare him bold;
He thoght to doo him som treason̄
And to bring [Generides] doun̄ and wants to bring him low.
To shameful ende, but god him spede;
Theraboute ful fast he yede
If he might ought him aspie
To doo him shame or vilanie,
As here aftre ye shal here tełł,
For nov I must a while dwełł,
And return to new mater
Of Aufreyus the king, as ye shal here.
CHAPTER IV.
Of the fals treason̄ the quene and Sir Amalek did to King Aufreus, and how he was put fro his lond.
HErken̄ nov to me a while,
I shal you tell of a gyle
Which to king Aufreyus fełł; Of the betrayal of King Aufreyus
Hou he was betrayed, I shal you tełł,
Thurgh counsel of his fals Quene by his queen and his steward.
And of him that his steward had bene,
Which yede out of the court for shame
Because he did [Generides] blame,
And smote him before the king in hałł
As I before told you all.
That Steward was rich ynogħ,
Mikel folk to him he drogh The steward gets together
Him self to make riche than̄,
And king Aufreyus a poer man̄;
Grete folk he had for the noones,
Doughty men and strong of boones, many strong men,
Of the best that were in that lond.
To the Quene he sent his sond and sends a mes∣sage to the queen not to forget him.
That she than forgate him noght,
For he so sotellie had wroght
That twoo thousand knightes he had
Of doughtie men, and noon bad.
This message come sone to the Quene;
Anoon she began ful besie bene She begins to plot against the king,
Treson to shape for the king
Forto gete him foul ending;
Thoo sent she aftre the riche barones, and sends for all the rascally barons she knows.
Of al Ynde the most felones,
And thei that were most at her will
Hir fals purpos to fulfiłł.
Thoo barounes were assented sone
Al hir will forto doone;
But Aufreyus the goode king
Wist of hir treason noo thing:
And by al the barounes assent
Sir Amalek thei aftre sent, They send for Sir Amalek,
And he come sone with al his oste and he with his host lay in ambush for the king,
Ful privelie, and made noo boste,
And slighlie busshed hem in a forest
There he knew to hide him best.
The barounes cam and desired the king who is persuaded to go hunting
That he shuld goo on huntyng;
Thei made him on huntyng forto ride;
He thoght noon evel in noo side,
To here counsel he was prest,
For of al games huntyng loued he best,
And so rode furth with litle meigne. with very few at∣tendants.
With him went barounes thre,
With twoo squyers, and no mo men̄
But here gromes that folowed then̄.
CHAPTER V.
Here the fals Steward sir Amalek aspied that the king was passed by his bushment forth into the forest; And so gate the Citie and the Castel and al the tresoure of king Aufreyus; And did shet the gates, and kept the Citie with strenght; And thurgh the fals consent of the Quene lete crovn him self king of that lond; And held the Quene, and put oute his souereyn lord Aufreyus from his lond and heritage, which was aftre avenged by the prowesse of the kinges son̄ Generides, and was restored Ageyn to the lond and to the crovn̄, as ye may here more pleinlie here aftre.
[The above is the heading of the outline of an illustration in four divisions: 1, Of Amalek and his troops marching into the Castle; 2, of his taking possession of Aufreyus' treasure; 3, of his being crowned; 4. of Aufreyus, his dogs, and a bit of a deer; two barons with split heads, and the third baron falling off his horse.]
THe steward was warned bi spies
That it was tyme to make maistries;
He went to the Citie & entred in. Sir Amalek enters the city,
Erst wold the quene neuer blin,
She seid, "myn̄ ovn loue, welcom to me;" is welcomed by the queen,
Anoon she yeld him vp the Citie, who gives up the castle to him,
Castel, and toure, with al the tresoure,
And hir bodie; what might she more?
She toke him in hir armes twoo,
And seid, "swete hert, welcom, thoo."
In the highest toure at iiij corners
He did display his brode baners; and he raises his banners on it,
The gates of the Citie in haste
He did hem shet strong and fast,
And sone aftre without tariyng
He did him self crovn king. and crowns himself king.
The contre, for drede of the Quene,
Thei durst not ther ageyns bene,
The lond therof despite had,
And grete spech therof was made,
And al the gretest of that lond All the great of the land are on Ama∣lek's side,
Because of mede were at his hond
Ageyns here lord Aufreus the king;
The pouer wer sory of that dooyng. though the poor are sorry to lose Aufreus,
The king of this was nothing war,
For in the forest he hunted far who is hunting
For to chace the wilde dere,
He loued wel hem to stere;
He knew nothing of this treasoun̄ and knows nothing of the treason.
The steward had doon in the toun̄.
Ther come a forster at the last At last a forester
Riding on an hors ful fast;
He soght the king al that he coude,
Blowing aftre him ful loude,
Til he him found he neuer blan̄, finds him,
For him he was a sory man̄,
He coude in noo wise lengor for-bere,
But told the king in his ere, and tells him that the three barons with him are traitors.
"Thes iij barouns that with you ride,
I pray god, evel mot they betide,
For by hem falslie betrayed ar ye;
For both youre castel and Citie and that his castle and city are lost.
Thurgh here assent ar y-take,
As goode semblaunt as they you make
For to hide here fals treson̄,
Thei ride with you vp and dovn̄."
"Ay, lefe frende," seid the king thoo,
"Hath my steward serued me soo?"
"Yea, sir, and thurgh the quenes reid
I drede that ye shul be deid."
The king was so ful of ire, Aufreus is full of wrath,
He quoke, his hert was so on fire;
Thoo he cleped his barouns,
And seid, "ye traitours and fals larouns, and reproaches the three barons with him
Of my castel and my Citie
[Ye have bireved me,]
And hem deliuered to my dedli foo,
And faslie betrayed me therfroo." for their treachery.
Thes barons wer proude of hert
And answerd the king ful ouertwert,
And proudlie seid vnto the king They tell him that they are not afraid of him.
"Thi grete manace we drede no thing;
Wherto makest thou the so wrooth?
Take the world nov as it gooth,
For of vs getest thou noo right,
We drede the not, by god almight."
The king was so egre of moode,
Oon of hem he smote so on the hoode, He splits one of them to the breast-bone;
Thurgh hed and face the swerd can̄ goo[ne]
Til it cam to the brest boone
So that he fel deid from his palfray,
And streight to an othir he toke the way.
Toward the Citie fast thei yede, the others flee,
Thei durst not turn ageyn̄ for drede;
Wel soone he gan oon ouertake, but he overtakes one,
His swerd in such wise did he shake,
His heid he cloue dovn to the breste, cleaves his head to the breast,
He had noo leyser to ax a preste.
The third he ouertoke also,
And gave him such woundes twoo and then slays the third.
That sterk deid dovn he fell
From his hors, trewlie to tełł.
Loo what falsnes may availe!
Thus he hem quyt for here travaile,
And seid, "traitoures, to hel mot ye wende,
With Satan to dwel withouten ende."
Whan the king was thus a-wreke,
To him self he gan̄ to speke,
"Allas," he seid, "what is me best?"
He turned ageyn into the forest After which, Au∣freus turns back to the forest,
Pitouslie making his moone;
And as he rode mournyng aloone,
Ageyns him come his squyers meets his squires,
Which herd thes tithinges by the forsters;
In their hertes thei liked yll,
For these tithinges they morned stiłł;
To the king thei spake soone,
"Sir," thei seid, "what shal we doone?"
"Sirres, I norished you and forth broght,
And nov am I come to noght,
I may nat kepe you with mee and advises them to
To mayntene you like youre degree,
New lordeship seke ye mote, seek service else∣where.
For I am broght vndre foote.
What it is such tratoures to avaunce,
I hope to see hem haue mischaunce;
I not whedir I may draw
To kepe me that I be nat slaw."
The squiers thoo wept for pitie, They declare
And seid, "Sir, if youre wil be, they will not leave him, but share his fortune, weal or woe.
Certes from you wil we not wende:
Such fortune as god wil vs sende,
Be it evel aithir goode,
We wolle assay it by the roode:
What penaunce ye suffre, outhir woo,
Such part we wil take also."
Whan he saw here goode wiłł
That thei wold abide with him stiłł,
Careful he was for hem twey;
To Tharse lond he toke the wey, So he leads them to Tharse, whose king
Here king was aged, and that was routħ,
Ouer al thing he loued trouth;
He was a man of chast lyve,
He had nouthir childe ne wife. was childless.
Whan Aufreyus into Tharse came,
Into the kinges courte he name,
To serue than he had nede,
Therto wold he fayne him spede;
Welcome he was to the king then̄, The king gladly employs
And so he was to al men;
Al thogh he were at mischief,
His seruice to the king was lef; Aufreyus and his squires,
Grete wages and fees he yave him thoo,
And squyers that cam with him alsoo;
And what he was, no man wist,
To tel any he had noo list.
Grete worship he gate in that lond,
Ther was noon like him, I vndrestond;
The king him loued, and the baronage,
That was to him grete avauntage;
For steward he was of al that lond makes him steward of all Tharse,
Vnder the king of Tharse, I vndrestond,
And was chosen bi the barons assent
Right even in the pleyn parlement.
The king him gafe a rich erle-dam gives him a rich earldom,
Which to him of Eshete late cam,
Forto encrese with his fee;
A grete lord he waxed in that contre;
Bi his consel the lond was lad,
Al folkes him loued and drad;
The lond he governed at his wiłł, and all the lands he governs at will.
Ther was noon withseid, loud nor stiłł.
Nov wol I speke of Surry the Quene But now I will speak of Queen Sereyne.
That oones lay with Aufreus, I wene.
CHAPTER VI.
[Of Queen Sereyne, and her adventures in search of Aufreus and Generides.]
As I haue told you beforn̄,
Generides of hir was born̄;
Of moch folk she herd tithing Queen Clarionas hears of Aufreyus's betrayal,
Hov hir lord Aufreyus the king
Thurgh his Quene betraed was;
She was ful sory for that case,
Sitħ Aufreyus was to sorow broght,
For Generides was al hir thoght, and is anxious about her son Generides.
For of noo wight wete covde she
Wher he was, in noo contre.
A Steward she had, a goode knight
That was a man of much might,
He had wedded hir nigh kynrede,
He was the more trew to hir in dede;
Priuelie betwix hem twey
Al the soth she gan him sey She tells one of her knights all about the birth of Gene∣rides,
Of king Aufreyus in that case,
And how Generides on hir begoten was,
At what tyme and the maner
How he was begoten̄, whan & wher,
Thurgh the wise man̄ seyng
That she neuer fond with lesing:
"Ma dame, youre counsel shal I kepe soo;
Therof weten shal noo moo."
"Nov, Sirr," she seid, "it is my wiłł and desires him to take charge of her land
Mi lond ye take you vntiłł
Forto haue in youre keping;
For trewlie, sir, without lesing,
Day nor night shal I not spare while she goes to seek for Aufreus and her son.
Til that I may finde whare
To know the soth of Aufreyus the king,
And of my sone here som tithing.
Ne be thei neuer in so fer lond,
Of hem to here I shal fond;
And if I neuer come ageyn̄,
Of Surre I make you heire certeyn̄."
"Ma dame, it is bettir thus," seid he, The knight agrees,
"And bettre bestowed on you trewlie;
And sith that ye wil algate wende,
I promys you that to my liues ende and promises to be faithful to her;
Trew to you shal I be
Til god wil that I you eft see."
Thoo the steward that was so trew
Toke the chartre ensealed new,
And kept the lond as she him bad;
Therof was he nothing glad.
And lightlie she did hir redie make, and she makes ready for her jour∣ney,
And hir squiers, forto take
But with hir a few meigne,
Wende she wold by lond and see;
She toke with hir but oon knight with one knight,
Which was a wise man & a wight,
And twoo squiers with hir to goo, and two squires,
In Surre wer born both twoo;
And twoo gromes with hir yede, two grooms, and two gentlewomen.
And twoo gentilwomen also in dede.
To ynde first the wey she toke, They go to Ynde,
There forto wete and loke
Where that they might Aufreyus finde
If that he wer within ynde.
As she logged in the ostrye, and go to an hostel close to the forester who first told Au∣freus of his barons' treason.
Ther dwelled the forster fast by
Which loued Aufreyus at the best,
And first told him of treson̄ in the forest;
This goode man, this trew forstere,
Welcomed hir with herty chere;
Here soper was soone dight,
And serued in al hast that thei might.
After soper than seid here ost,
"Ma dame, what sech ye in this cost?"
She answerd than vnto his speche,
And seid, "Sir, a king I seche;
Of my lond disheireted I am
Thurgh fals men, and hider I cam̄;
I wold with king Aufreyus speke, The queen says she wants to see Au∣freus,
And besech him me to awreke."
The forster, whan he herd this,
He sighed, and seid "madame, I-wis and the forester tells her that the king has been be∣trayed,
Betrayed is that king so trew,
And that I may ful sore rew;
Of treason first I gaf him warnyng,
Therfor I haue lost my living,
A hundreth pound it was worth wele,
It is taken fro me euery dele;
Sir Amalek, that fals knight,—
By the quenes counsel I you plight—
Hath take fro me my living;
God bring hem both to shamful ending!
Mi lord thé haue driven out of tovn̄, and driven out of his land, and that Amalek wears his crown,
And Amalek wereth his crovn̄;
Yit slegh my lord in that forest
Whan he [was] most carefullest,
Thre bold Barounes killed he thoo
Which wroght him al this treason and woo.
Nov, wold god," seid the forster,
"That with my lord Aufreyus I were!
If I may wete he be in Ynde, but he will never rest till he finds him.
I shal neuer stint til I him finde."
Than seid the Quene, "I besech you nov The queen asks leave to go with him,
For charitie let me goo with you!
Right to morov as erly as day
Let vs begyn̄ on oure iourney;
Abide noo purveaunce for your viage,
For ye shal wende at my costage."
"Ma dame, I thank you hertlie;
To wend with you am I redie."
On morow thei parted from that Citie, and next morning they start,
Thei wist not toward what contre,
Thei knew not whedre to goo for the best,
But forth thei riden by a forest, travelling through forests and wild countries,
By wild contreis and by wast,
So thei can here iournes cast;
And at the last, thurgh goddes sond,
To Tharse thei cam, that riche lond till they come to Tharse, of which Aufreus is steward.
Ther wher Aufreyus was Steward,
Fast thei drew hem thiderward,
The Quene with hir smal meigne.
And whan thei cam nigh to the Citie,
Besid a brigge made of stoon̄
Here ynnes ther thei toke anoon̄;
With hir harnes she did alight, Queen Sereyne alights.
And anoon she did hir redie dight.
She herd Aufreyus was in tovn that day,
She was the gladder hir to aray;
Aftre mete walk she wold
That faire Citie to behold; walks about the city,
And as she walked bi the riuere,
The brigge she gan draw nere;
As she on the brigge stoode,
The lauenders she saw in the floode and sees washer-women washing a shirt which she re∣cognizes.
Ful besilie washing a shert;
Whan she it saw, it lighted hir hert,
She preid hem ful hertilie
That she might that shert see
Which thei weshen so sore,
For she wondred theron̄ more and more
That thei al about that shert aloon
Trauelled so sore euerichoon.
Than oon answerd and seid, "ma dame, They tell her that
This shert dooth vs moch shame,
For we haue washen it right oft,
But with noo washing, herd ne soft, they cannot pos∣sibly get the spots out of it.
The spottes we may not out bring
Thogh we neuer so sore it wring."
Sereyne seid, "my sustre dere, She asks for it, and
Take me nov that shert here,
I shal it wash anoon certeyn̄,
And in hast take it you ageyn."
Anoon the shert thei hir toke;
As sone as she theron gan loke, sees that the spots are those of her own tears which she wept
Ful wel therof had she knowing;
The spottes were of hir weping
That same night that Generides
Begoten was, withouten les, when Generides was begotten.
Betwix hir and Aufreyus, king of ynde,
As the wise man In hir destiny did finde;
At that tyme she it so bewept.
King Aufreyus wel it kept, Aufreus had kept the shirt,
As the wise man told him in that stede
That same night on Sereyns bed,
If euer he had tithinges in certeyn
Of his ladie the quene Sereyne,
And if any washed it so clene
That the spottes wer nat sene,
Therby he might knowlege haue
That she were in erthe ygraue,
As I haue told you here beforn̄.
Aufreyus that shert hath with him born̄ and taken it into Tharse;
Into Tharse whan that he went;
Oft to the lauenders he it sent,
And euer he thoght hem vnwise
That the weping spottes in no wise but the laundresses had never been able to wash out the tear-spots.
Thei coude with noo craft gete a-way,
While thei had wesh it so many a day.
Quene Sereyn thoo within a brayde Sereyne
The shirt in the water she layde;
With swilling thries, and oones wrong,—
Therabout stoode she not long,— soon washes the spots out,
She gate awey the spottes in hast,
The lauenders theron wondred fast
Hou sone she made the shert clene
Which had doon hem so moch tene;
She toke it hem, and thei lete dwełł, gives back the shirt to the laundresses,
And Sereyn̄ went to hir Ostełł.
The lauenders, whan the clothes dri were,
To the Castel thei hem bere,
And to Aufreyus the shert thei toke; and they take it to Aufreyus,
And whan that he theron gan loke
And saw that the spottes wer oute, who, when he sees the spots gone,
Of his ladie Sereyn̄ he had grete doute;
The lauenders told him nothing,
He gan to fal in grete mournyng,
Deid he wende Dame Sereyn bene; thinks that Se∣reyne must be dead.
Ther was noman about him there
So hardie forto speke him to,
In that tyme he dismaied him soo;
For rest might he haue noon̄,
For to bed wold he not goon̄;
His inly sorov his face did fade,
So grete sorov for hir he made.
The forster that with Sereyn came The forester
Rose erlie, and to hir chambre name;
"I wil to the castel, and assay
To speke with my lord, if I may."
The forster went a goode pase
Til he to the Castel comen was; goes to the castle, and
His lord than ful wel he knew,
Hou-be-it he was ful pale of hew;
And tho the forster drogh him nere
And did him Reuerence with humble chere.
Sir Aufreyus knew the forster wele, Aufreus recognizes him,
Whos comyng lightned his hert somdele,
"Sir," he seid, "what ayleth you?
Me thinketh ye ar careful now."
"Treuly," seid Aufreyus, "wel know I and tells him
Of my treason thou art sory;
For I haue found the trew and kinde,
Therfor ther is noon in al ynde
That I long to spek with so gladlie,
I haue found the secret and priuey;
The sorov that I haue in myn hert
Cam yestirday of a shert." all about the shirt,
Aufreyus told vnto the forster
Of Dame Sereyne his ladie dere, his meeting Se∣reyne,
Hon he with hir acqueynted was;
Of the wiseman he told al the case
That cast his destynie beforn̄;
Of Generides, hou he was born; begetting Gene∣rides,
Of the shirt, and of the weping,
Fro the begynnyng til the ending,
Al he told thoo to the forster;
And also of the lauender and the laundress not being able to wash the spots out of the shirt.
That neuer might for noo washing
For-doo the spottes of the weping
Til Sereyn in hir graue were,
Moch sorow he made there.
The forster answerd him ful soone, The forester
And seid, "goode lord, make not such moone,
For sith I come to town̄ I wene
I saw that shirt washen clene; says that he saw the shirt washed,
That saw I in a litle while."
"Ay," seid Aufreyus, "by seint Gile,
Whoo wash that shert, tel ye me,
That is now in this contre?"
"Whethir she be maid or wife
I ne wot by my life;
Of whens she is, by seint Dionise,
I can not sey(:) she semeth wise;
I cam with hir yestirday and that the lady who washed it was staying in his house,
From ynde, for in my hous she lay;
Euer for you she axed fast,
And I told hir at the last
That [you] wer not in that lond;
And for she you ther not fond, and has come from Ynde to seek for him.
Come she is into this contree
To wete if ye shuld here bee.
What she is, can I not tell,
Nor hou long she wil here dwell."
Aufreus hert began to wake; Aufreus's heart stirs.
He wist not whethir he might make
Joye or sorow, welth or woo.
To the forster seid he thoo
"Swete frende, lete me hir see! Aufreus asks to be taken to his lady,
Mi ladie I suppose it be;
Bring me to hir, I you pray;
I shal you quite, if I liue may."
The forster seid, "if your wil be,
Wil ye folow aftir me." and the forester leads him to Se∣reyne's inn.
His palfray thoo he began to take,
And rode out at the postern gate
To Sereyns yn without letting,
Til she perceyued his comyng At the sight of Aufreus she swoons,
She began to lese hir countenaunce,
And sodeinlie fel in a traunce:
Flat on the ground she [fel] thoo,
Wherfor Aufreus was so woo,
On swonyng he fel right there; and he swoons too,
Grete pitie had the forster;
There lay Aufreus fast by Sereyn̄.
But at the last with moch peyn̄ but both at length recover,
Thei arose from here swonyng,
Yet speke might thei no thing.
Sereyn about the midel him toke,
Ther was many a goodeli loke, look, and kiss,
And many a kyss was hem among
Or any word of othir spring;
And whan thei cam to here talking and talk.
They made chere with grete sighing,
Such ioye aithir of othre had
That thei wer neuer erst so glad.
So without any maner strife
He hir wedded to his wife; Then Aufreus weds her,
He led hir out from that citie
To his Castel in al hast might be. takes her to his castle, and
The king and his lordes grete and small
He praied hem to be at his bridall, bids the king and lords to his bridal.
For to wed this ladie he wold,
And litel letting ther be shold.
Curles, the kinges messenger,
Was sent to goo to Aufreyus there; Aufreus is sent for to see the king before he dies,
But he was sent priuelie
That he shuld come hastelie
Forto speke with the king
Which was nigh broght to his ending,
Thurgh sekenes he was nigh paste,
For he most nedes die in haste.
Aufreus of this message was woo,
Of Dame Sereyn̄ he toke his leue thoo,
And highed him vnto the king, but on going finds him dead.
And fond him deid at his comyng.
Grete sorow he made sekirlie,
For he loued him hertlie;
Aufreus lete burie him sone, He is buried;
As to his estate shuld be doone,
In an abbey that nigh ther was.
Ther was noon but cried "allas."
The bodie to the erth did thei bring,
Ther was many a sore weping;
And to the palace ageyn̄ thei went,
No lenger to tarie was here entent.
Aufreyus lete ordein a parlement and Aufreus sum∣mons a parliament
Thurgh the grete lordes assent:
Here counsel to-gedre thei can̄ take
Whom thei shuld her king make;
Sir Aufreus thei chosen king which elects him king,
Of Tharse lond without lesing,
For he was a manli knight,
And therto trew he was, y plight.
He toke the crovn with grete noblay,
And governed hem manlie night and day;
Of Erle, baroun, and knight,
He toke homage, as was right. and he takes hom∣age of them,
Anon aftre Sereyn he sent
While the lordes wer ther present;
He wedded hir with grete solempnitie; and soon weds Se∣reyn with great pomp and feasting.
A royaler fest did neuer man see
In Tharse lond than it was thoo.
Euery man aftre home can goo
Vnto here ovn contre,
Al but the kinges meigne
And the new quene Dame Sereyn̄.
Sone aftir betwix hem tweyn̄
Begoten ther was in short space. A child is soon be∣gotten,
A goodeli childe, and ful of grace.
By than he wax of any age,
He was bold, wise, and sage;
And called he was in his contre who is called Is∣mael de Sauage,
Ismael de Sauage, sekirlie;
And aftre he proved a noble knight, and grows to be a noble knight.
And was a man of grete might.
What fel of him, if ye wil lere,
In this boke aftir ye may here;
But alwey this was here vsage
To cal him Ismael de Savage.
CHAPTER VII.
Of the fals treason̄ that the tratoure Malachias enformed of malice his lord the Soudon̄ of Perce ayeinst the good ladie Clarionas his doghtre, and Generides, for which cause he had euel ending, as ye may se aftre.
NOu turn we ageyn to our tale,
And herk nov both grete and smale
Hou Generides and Clarionas
Thurgh the traitour Malachias
Thei wer broght in moch blame
Bi Malachias; god yeve him shame!
To Generides he bare grete hate, Malachias hates Generides, and watches how to do him an ill turn.
To awaite him shame, erlie and late
Forto aspie in some season̄
He did compas his fals treason̄;
So long he spied day and night
Til he hapened to haue a sight,
Ful erli in a mornyng One morning
He perceiued Generides comyng he sees him going to Clarionas,
Thurgh the gardine to [Clarionas],
As he ful oft went that pas
To the window with hir to talk,
As often he had vsed that walk,
Malachias folowed him ful oft, follows him up,
And aspied him faire and soft
Hou he yede and cam to Clarionas:
He aspied al the case. and sees the whole affair.
Whan he saw him, he turned ageyn̄;
More he thoght forto seyn̄;
He went him erlie in a mornyng Again Malachias watches Generides,
In somer er the day did spring,
To Clarionas chambre he drogħ,
He knew the way wel ynogħ,
He clymbed vp al on high
Into a tre that stoode fast therby; climbs up a tree,
Thoo aftre bi the window stoode
Generides, which thoght but goode;
Vnto him cam Clarionas thoo sees Generides and Clarionas meet,
As she was oft wont to doo.
There thei clipped fast, and kist, clip, kiss,
Of here espie no thing thei wist,
Thei waited al here plesaunce.
This Traitour saw here countenaunce,
But here talking was without vilanie. and talk,
Generides saw the day gan hie,
And toke his leue of Clarionas, and then Gene∣rides depart.
And went to his ost a grete paas,
Thurgh the gardin he went his wey.
Malachias was glad of that play, Malachias
Of that he saw and herd seyn̄;
Doun̄ he cam fro the tre certeyn̄,
Hastelie he him sped anoon̄ hastens to
To make compleint to the Sodon̄.
Malachias to the Sovdon̄ cam, the Sowdon,
And into counsel he him nam,
And said, "Sir, noght wel it gooth;
Grete cause ye han to be wrooth.
Some, ye wene, were right trew,
But I can tel you tithinges new and tells him that
Of [Generides,] a wondre thing
Which is trew and noo lesing:
Youre doughtre him loueth paramours; his daughter loves Generides
To hir he hath oft recours,
And that is grete vilany,
Betwix hem is sin and foly; and commits sin with him.
The sothe of this I haue espied;
I saw hem, it can not be denyed."
Tho Malachias perceiued wele
The Sovdans countenaunce eueri dele.
The Sovdan oft his purpos withdrogh;
Malachias knew that wel ynogh,
Woo he was the Sovdan did soo;
More he thoght to put therto,
"Sir, if ye the sothe wist wełł, Malachias also says that the Sow∣don may see it himself
I doute it not ye wold meruełł;
And it like you forto se,
Ye may know the certayntie."
"Tel me hou," seid the Sovdan̄,
And I wil preve it, by seint Ihon̄."
"Wil ye arise in the mornyng if he will rise early enough
Erly or the day can spring,
Ye may herken what thei sey,
And elles therfore lete me dye;
If ye betymes wil awake,
Erly we shul oure way take." and come with him.
"Wel," quod the Sowdon, "I wil wel; The Sowdon agrees;
I shal doo by youre coūnsel."
This traitour kept him close that night,
And vp he rose or daies light, Next mornign Ma∣lachias calls him
To cal the Sowdon furth he goos;
The Sowdon herd him, and vp rose;
To [Clarionas] chambre tho thei went, and they go to Clarionas's win∣dow, and hide be∣hind a tree.
Streight to the window like as thei ment;
Behind a tree thei hem hid.
But soon aftre, as it betid,
Thider come [Generides] Soon Generides comes,
That thoght no thing but pees;
[Clarionas] hir tyme kept and Clarionas meets him.
That she her self not ouer-slept;
At the window she was prest
To awaite on him she loued best,
As she was oft wont or than.
[Generides] with colour pale and wan
Trembled oft, and him bethoght He feels trembly,
His hert fared not so for noght;
"Al my bodie," he seid, "dooth quake;
I am aferd som harme to take.
This night I dremed sore and strong,
So I me drede or oght long and dreads some coming mischance.
To haue som grete encomberaunce;
God preserue me fro mischaunce!
I dremed I saw Malachias He dreamt that Malachias took away his clothes,
In a place ther as I was;
Of my clothes [he] robbed me,
I drogh my swerd so egrelie
Forto win my clothes ageyn̄, and as he was try∣ing to get them again
But al, me thoght, was in veyn̄,
For my lord the Sowdon vpon me soght the Sowdon stopt him
In grete wrathe, as me thoght;
Both his hondes on me he sett,
And cast me in a depe pitt. and cast him into a pit;
As I fel into the pit from higħ,
Mi swerd out of myn hond fligħ,
A[nd] gafe Malachias a wound
Euen in the heid that ilk stound, but yet he clove Malachias's head in two,
And cleue his heid in peces twey
That for that stroke he must nedes dy;
But out of the pit coud I not wyn̄, though he could not get out of the pit.
Nouthir for craft nor bi noo gyn̄;
It was so depe, I had grete doute
I shuld rather die than̄ gete oute.
If ther be treson, it cometh to rathe,
And if we take any skathe, And if harm does come, Malachias is the cause of it,
By my dreme I dar wel swere
That Malachias is chief maker
With som treason vs to betray,
For al night I drempt, as I say,
That he wold me haue slaw,
But fro me he was to-draw,
To haue his wil he might nat spede;
Mi dreme greueth me the lese in dede
That I was so holp him froo,
But euer I deme he shal doo vs woo." as the dream said.
[Generides] seid, "I drede me,
I quake as I speke, ye may see,
For drede of him, and I not whi."
"Ay," seid Clarionas, "even so fare I;
I tremble both foote and hond, Clarionas, too, is all aghast;
I am agast here as I stond."
While he and she in talking was,
The Sowdon and Malachias and just then the Sowdon and Mala∣chias spring out,
From behinde the tree thei come,
And [Generides] there thei nome, seize Generides and bind him till the blood starts,
And bond his hondes syne fast
That the bloode oute at the nales brast.
The Sovdon seid with angrie chere and the Sowdon
"Strong thef, what doost thou here?
Art thou come into this lond
Forto doo me shame and shond?
Take him now, Sir Malachias, orders Malachias
And lede him to prison a goode paas,
Vnto the toure, the grete dongeon̄,
Into the pitt cast him doun̄; to cast him into the prison-pit
Ther he shal in sorow dwell;
His hote loue I shal fełł; to cool his love,
That he hatħ me greued," he swore,
"He shal repent that he was bore,
That he ne shalt [so in MS.] it sore abie,
Outhir hanged or elles in prison to die;
On his legges thou doo fest and fetter him heavily;
Strong fetures, at my request,
And Clarionas kepe shal I meantime Clari∣onas shall be kept more strietly.
That she shal not be so redie
Forto loue as she hath doone,
I shal kepe hir therfro soone."
Malachias Generides hent,
And streight to the prison̄ with him went:
The Sowdon toke his doghtre there The Sowdon
Bi the tresses of hir here,
Oute of the chaumbre he hir drogħ,
And called hir harlot oft ynogħ, calls his daughter a harlot, and shuts her up in a dark room.
And put hir in a chambre derk
Wel made of strong werk;
Thus for here loue thei were constreyned,
And for ich othir sorowfull peyned.
Malachias to the toure cam, Malachias
And Generides bi the here nam̄, takes Generides to prison,
And called aftir the Castelleyn̄
That of the prison was wardeyn̄.
Tho he cam at the first cleping,
Malachias without tariyng
Said in the Sowdanes name,
"Take this prisoner, and doo him shame;
A pare of fetures on him fest, and orders him to be fettered and put in the pit.
And in the pit that he were kest."
The Castelleyne hight Anazaree, The Castellan Anazaree
A gentil knight and a free;
Woo him was for Generides, pities Generides,
But his office neuertheles
He must nedes doo in dede;
So for the fetures than he yede. but fetches the fetters.
Malachias hent the fetoures that stound, Malachias
And threw Generides to the ground
Ful herd and right stoberlie,
And fetured him ful egrelie, fetters Generides,
And with a grete hamour of stele
The nales he reueted wele; rivets the nails,
But for shrewdnes oft among,
Som tyme with the hamour he smote wrong,
Right vpon̄ Generides shinne, and hammers his shin so often
And somtyme pitouslie brake the skynn̄e.
If he smot on the fetoures oones,
He hit foure tymes on the shin boones:
For mercy of noo criyng
Left not he his foul smytyng;
Generides he smote so long that the blood spirts through his stockings.
That the bloode thurgh the hosen̄ sprong.
Whan̄ Anazaree saw he bled soo,
Grete pitie of him had he thoo;
He praid Malachias forto blyn̄
"Sir," he seid, "ye doo grete syn̄ Anazaree re∣proaches Mala∣chias for his eruelty,
To smyte so sore that yong thing;
Sith he is come to my keping
Forto be here in prison̄,
Me thinketh ye doo him noo Reason̄
So forto medle you bi maistrie."
Than seid Malachias egrelie, on which he threatens to be crueller still.
"Sir, I shal smyte him sorer now
Maugre outhir him or thow."
The tendre legges roun̄ on bloode;
Generides waxed egre of moode,
And praied him with spech soft, Generides warns him to beware;
"Loke ye smyte not ouer oft,
For elles I most yelde your mede
But if ye leve a goode spede."
Than wax Malachias nigh woode,
And smote Generides with egre mode but Malachias smites the harder.
That men might see the shin boone.
Generides waxed greued anoon,
And seid "I suffre al to long;
Thogh I shuld on galoos hong,
The third stroke yeve shal I."
With his fist he was redie,
And Malachias thoo he smote;
In the middes nek his stroke bote Then Generides hits him in the neck, breaks it in two, his eyes drop out, and he falls down dead.
That his eyen fel out of his heid,
Vnto the erthe he fel doun deid;
Oute of his mouth his tong sprong
Welnigh half a quarter long;
His nek was in peces tway;
Right so sterk deid he lay.
Generides seid, "so god me spede, Generides is glad that he has taken such vengeance on his enemy,
Nov haue I quit the thi mede!
Sucħ as thou wel worthie were;
Goode man̄ shal thou neuer dere;
Wel am I wroken on the,
What som euer fal on me."
Whan̄ Anazaree saw that case,
Sory he wex, and woo him was;
Yet in hert he was full glad
That the tratour such an end had.
Generides thoo he gan̄ reason̄ and explains to Anazaree all Mala∣chias's treachery.
Whi the Sowdon̄ did him in prison̄;
Than̄ he told him al the case
Of the falsnes of Malachias.
Anazaree of him routh hadd, Anazaree treats him kindly,
And into a feire chambre him ladd,
And lete him there goo vp and dovn̄,
And eased him as a fre prisovn̄.
After that he him bethoght,
And in his hert counsel soght and schemes how to free him from blame for killing Malachias.
Hou he might of Malachias
Best wirk in that case
Generides best fortacquite, [for to acquit]
That he shuld bere therof noo wite.
Anazaree was of gentil bloode,
Of kinde it cam him to be goode;
His fadre was king of Arabie,
A mightie Prince and a hardie;
Thogh Anazaree were a bastard,
Yet was he called noo coward;
He was a goode knight of his hond,
Oōn of the best of that lond;
Felows he had the toure to tent Anazaree has knights to help him in the prison,
Whicħ were redie at his comaundment,
Goode knightes bold and hardie.
Oon ther was of that companie,
Strong he was, and a bold knight,
Right welbeloued, and Darel he hight.
Sir Anazaree spake to hem all,
And told hem hou it was befałł; and tells them how Malachias's death happened.
Of Malachias the trouth thei fond,
Hou he lay deid vpon the ground;
Than̄ comyned thei al there They all agree to save Generides,
That [Generides] saued were;
Than seid Darel, "by my trouth and one of them, Darel, proposes
In me shal be found no sloutħ;
Thogh this dede may not be vowed,
Yet wold I help [Generides] wer lowed,
And doo my deuore by som queyntise
That he therfor haue noo Justise,
For the deth of this felown̄
That many oon hath doon treasoun̄."
Darel seid, "goo we to the Sowdoun̄ they shall tell the Sowdon that Mala∣chias fell from the top step of the tower, and broke his neck.
And tel him of this treason anon̄,
That from the highest steire of all
Of the toure Down can he fałł
So that his nek brake on twoo,
Right there he may finde him soo;
Draw we thidre his bodie,
[And leue it there to lie.]"
The knightes were of oon assent;
The bodie among hem was hent; So they slue his body down the stairs, with the feet up and the head down.
At the steres thei slough it doun̄,
Vpward his fete, donward his croun̄.
Sir Anazaree the goode Castelleyn̄ Anazaree then
Anoon yede his erand to seyn̄;
He told the Sowdon̄ the aventure
How Malachias was fal of the toure.
The Sowdon was in his chambre sitting, goes to the Sowdon,
Ful wrooth, and moch sorow making;
Anazaree ful faire, as he wel cowde,
Softli seid, and not lowde, and tells him
"Sir, if it pleas you to listen me,
Of Auenture ye may see
That at the toure befallen is,
And that me forthinketh y-wis.
Malachias with angry chere how Malachias brought a prisoner to the tower, and would fasten on the fetters himself,
To the toure broght a prisoner;
Him self the fetours did on than̄,
He wold suffre noon othir man̄;
Vnto myn office me thoght it fełł,
But whi he did soo I can not tełł;
Sore he hated the prisonere,
I can not tell for what maner.
While he did the fetoures oon̄,
Right in the same place anoon̄
He smote him so vpon̄ the shyn̄, and beat the man's shins till the blood burst out;
That he brast both flesh and skyn̄,
And the hosen so to-roofe
That the bloode doun droofe.
For that syn, I am a-drad
That he hath the wors spede,
For as he went furth in that moode, then, as he went away in that sav∣age mood, he fell from the top stair and was killed.
Fro the highest steire dovn he yoode;
There lith he in a shrewd plight;
He hath that many oon him behight."
The Sowdon than for angre and care The Sowdon
As a woode man began to fare;
"It shal not be as thou wenest,
For nov I wote what thou menest;
The yong thef that hath doon me shame,
Thou woldest put him out of blame; declares that Gene∣rides shall be hung next day.
To morov he shal on galows hong
If that I may life so long."
"Treuly," seid Sir Anazaree, Anazaree
"That wer to you grete vilanye
To deth any man to doo, remonstrates with the Sowdon,
Ayenst youre law to doo soo;
Fro such wilfulnes ye you withdraw,
And guyde you Justlie aftir your law, prays him to act justly,
To bring such a man to noght
That from childhode han̄ him broght
And from fer com to serue you here,
Peraventure he is a man of more power
Than he wil sey(:) so deme I he is;
Therfor, my lord, Auyse you of this; to consider of it,
Remembre you, and it be your will, and not kill Gene∣rides so suddenly.
And let him not so sodenlie spill."
The Sowdon wrotlie answerd ageyn̄, The Sowdon says he shall be hanged at once.
"Goo hens," he seid, "Sir Castelleyn̄,
He shall be hanged hastely,
That al men shal be war him by."
Sir Anazaree seid ageyn̄ Anazaree warns the Sowdon
"Mi lord, I may not you with-seyn̄,
And ther the Juggement shal be yeve,
I shal be there and I lyve;
And if ye shuld with wrong him spill, that if he does in∣justice he must take the conse∣quences.
All may not be at youre will;
Thogh ye wold put on him treason̄,
Ye most doo that is reason̄,
And Juge him aftir the comon law, Generides should be judged by the Common Law, and not by the Sow∣don's own word.
And not oonlie aftir youre ovn saw;
To you we be sworn, I wene,
Youre lawes treulie to mayntene;
And therfor crist be with him wrotħ—
I sey for me—that breketh his othe;
Be therfor wroth who so wiłł,
The dome most goo by law and skill."
Sir Anazaree with pale coloure Anazaree returns in anger to the tower, and the Sowdon sends his chamberlain
For wrath went ageyn to the toure;
The Soudan̄ cleped his chambirleyn̄,
"Goo to the toure, and hast you ageyn̄;
Loke wher Malachias lieth deid,
That gentil knight of noble manhede;
Doo dight him, and ley him on his bere, to bring Mala∣chias's corpse to the temple;
And at the Temple his bodie were."
The Chambirleyn made him redye,
And went with a grete companye
To help the bodie wer there;
And as thei thider comen were, but when they get there,
A hundred houndes on a throm
He saw that were thider com, they see a hundred dogs tear the body all to pieces.
And al the bodie had to-rent,
And ech of hem his pece hent;
Thei left not flesh, skyn, ne boon̄,
That al to-gedre was agoon̄.
The Chambirleyn to court gan fare,
Grete costage he might spare;
Whan the Soudan herd of that chaunce, When the Sowdon hears this, he nearly goes out of his wits,
In hert he had such greuaunce
That his wittes wer al myswent;
Aftir his barounes fast he sent, and summons all his barons at once.
That on morov thei come to him
Peyn̄ of lesing lyfe and lym.
Whan thei wer gadred on a hepe,
The Soudan bad Anazaree clepe,
And bad fecch forth [Generides;]
"I shul," he seid, withouten̄ les.
Anazaree and Darel to-gedre
With here feloship come thidre;
[Generides] before hem was broght, Generides is brought before them,
Weping for shame and for thoght:
Was noman that ther him sigh
That he ne was weping nigħ.
Than seid the Soudon with angri chere and the Sowdon accuses him
"Sirres(:) this felow that is called [Generides] here,
As I wene the soth to sayn̄,
By my doghtre he hath layn̄; of having lain with his daughter, for which he should be hanged.
Therfor I wil he dampned be,
And hanged high on galow tree;
I my self saw hem serkirlie
Speke to-gedre priuelie."
[Generides] answerd tho ful stiłł Generides answers
And seid, "my lord, if it be your wiłł
To licence me to tel my tale;
And ayeinst al men̄ grete and smale that if any man accuses him of such a deed, he will fight him and prove it false,
That such thing bereth me on hond
That I did you shame or shond,
I wil defend me with right,
Be he baron̄, be he knight,
Or any othir, what so he be
That ony such thing putteth on mee,
With my bodie to prove ageyns his man to man.
That he hath seid on me a-mys;
And but if I hastelie acquite me soo,
Anoon to the deth ye me doo.
I besech you, of youre grace,
Do me right in this case." "Do me justice."
The Sowdan̄ for wrath his lip did bite The Sowdon
That [Generides] wold so him acquite,
"Ay! ar ye become a champion̄? declares that he will not give him this chance,
Not for the valour of al this tovn̄
Wold I lenght thi life soo;
The thar neuer trust therto;
That I haue seid, for trouth shal stond;
I wold not elles, for al my lond.
Trust me, verily without delay but will have him hanged forthwith.
Thou shalt be honged this same day."
"Than̄ grete wrong ye doo to me Generides protests
Whan I can̄ not accused be
By noo man(:) but by your selfwil,
And Ayeinst al reason and skill that this is murder against all reason.
Ye wold murdre me by might:
In this is nouthir law nor right."
The barones setten al in pees,
Thei herkened wel [Generides.]
The Soudon began on high to speke, The Sowdon de∣mands vengeance.
"Sirres, yeue him Jugement, and me a-wreke."
Anazaree tho began vprise, But Anazarce
Holden he was for oon of the wise,
And of spech most goodeliest,
Best taght and hardiest;
He saw the Soudon greued in hert,
Therfor the soner vp he stert,
And seid, "my lordes and barouns, says the Sowdon's reasons are unlaw∣ful,
Here ye thes vnlawful reasouns
Mi lord the Soudon seith vs among;
Me semeth he profereth vs al wrong
To yeve such Jugement at his wiłł and he asks them to give judgment against law.
Ayeinst law any man to spiłł;
Me thinketh this child hath wel answered
Both before lewd and lered;
But if lawfullie that it were,
For certanlie I dar wel swere
If we suffre nov this shame
We might fal in the same blame, It will be an eternal reproach
For euer men shuld vpbraid vs
That we had amonges vs thus
A gentilman murthird wilfullie if they murder a gentleman against the law,
Ayeinst the law vnskilfullie;
This were to vs noo litle sore,
But an vttir shame for euermore;
For euer we shuld our honour lese.
Nou, my lordes, ye mov chese;
Of this Juggement sey your will,
For I wil neuer assent thertil, and he (Anazaree) will never consent to it.
The Sovdones dome so to queme,
Ayeinst the law any man to deme."
Forth stert Darel and vp stoode, Darel says it would be villainy.
He was for wrath egre of mode,
"To sley this man wer vilanye,
As nov is wel preued sekirlye."
The Soudon to Anazaree seid, The Sowdon calls Generides a felon.
"Wherto makest thou such abreid?
Me thinkes thou spekest without reson̄
Forto hold with such a felon̄."
Darel vpstert, and seid thoo, Darel denounces this,
"Whoo calleth him felon? it is not soo;
He seith but as a knight shold;
To die for it with him wol I hold."
Darel was a hardie knight
And come of goode kinred aright,
His fadre was Prince of Sesar,
A grete lord, I make you war;
To speke to the Soudon in this case
[He no whit afered wase.]
"Sir," he seid, "if othir than you and tells the Sow∣don that if any other than he had so abused Anazaree he (Darel) would have avenged it,
So violently had seid now,
I shuld for Anazaree be awreke,
And elles brede mot I neuer breke;
Anazaree hath serued you bettir yet for Anazaree has served the Sowdon well
Than me thinketh ye han him quit;
He is redi in word and dede
At youre comaundment whan ye han nede,
And euer hath be to you ful trew,
But now may he his seruice rew;
For, serue we you neuer so long,
At the last we shal vndirfong and had a poor reward for it;
For oure reward grete maugre.
I wil not let to tel you pleinlie,
Who hangeth him shal hong me; but whoever hangs him must hang Darel too.
While I may life, siker ye be,
Or I shal die in this place
But I may gete of you his grace."
An othir knight was ther now
Of grete wisdom, I promys you,
Sir Lucas, I wot he hight, Sir Lucas,
He was a man of mich might,
And of noble bloode ycome,
He was called lord of ydome,— lord of Ydome,
Saue the Soudon of Perse ther nas
So grete a lord of forest and chase,—
Than mekelie he spake to the Soudon̄
Among hem al euerichoon̄,
And seid, "Sir, if it be youre will, also entreats the Sowdon
Al youre knightes say but skil;
For if ye ayeinst law and right
Shuld spil any man in such a plight
Without dome, ye did grete syn;
Therfor, my lord, I rede ye blyn̄. to forbear
And, sir, ye may me wele beleue,
More worship ye might Acheve
To respite youre wilfulnes, and give up his wilfulness.
And by youre counsel you redres."
[Clarionas] asked aftir [Generides] (Clarionas hears, and is glad, that Generides still lives.)
And hou that he did doutles:
Oon̄ told hir he was yet on liue,
And she was therof ful bliue.
And as thes knightes here tale told, While thus at council, a messen∣ger
A proude messanger and a bold
Among hem ałł cam riding,
And seid to the Soudon there sitting, comes to the Sow∣don
Without obeisaunce thus he began̄
Seyng his message to the Sowdan̄,
"From the highest crovned king, from the King of Kings,
And the richest in al thing
That vndir heuen living is,
And of most power I-wis,—
In Egipt he is lord and Sire, even the Lord of Egypt,
He wil pay the thi hire—
Wondre he hath, and skorn also, demanding
That thou ne wilt come him to
And doo him seruice and homage, homage and ser∣vice from the Sow∣don.
And the grettest of thi linage."
The Sowdan sat a while stiłł,
Of this message he liked yll;
So than of [Generides] dome This stops all talk of Generides,
To speke had thei nomore tome
Because of that proude messanger;
Tho the castellion he cleped ner, and the castellan takes him back to the tower.
And bad haue him to the tour ageyn̄;
[Generides] therof was fayn̄.
The castelion̄ put him vp anoon̄,
And com ageyn as fast as he might goon̄.
Tho spake the proude messanger, The messenger
"Sir Sowdan, to long I dwel here;
Twoo monthes respit thou haste
This mater to studie, and al is waste;
Leiser ynogh thou hast parde.
Thi doghter which is here with the,
Deliuer hir me nov, I rede, then demands the Sowdon's daughter for his master,
And to my lord I shal hir lede;
And within dais twelf
I shal hir bring ageyn̄ my self, promising to re∣turn her in twelve days, when he has done with her.
For bi than, I dar wel say,
His appetite he shal delay,
For long he loueth not forto wow
Sith that he may find ynow;
Therfor send him hir without respit,
Thou shalt it finde for thi profit."
The Soudan in his hert was wrothe, The Sowdon in∣dignantly refuses,
"Felow," he seid, "that wer me lothe,
Outhir for king or Emperour,
To do my self such dishonour
Nouthir of doghtir, nece, ne cosyn̄,
Nor noon othir frende of myn̄.
Goo, tel thi lord without let,
That his day which he hath set
I shal him mete, my lond to saue, and says he will fight for his land.
And elles my life to plegge shal he haue."
Than seid to him this messenger, The messenger answers that the king of Egypt is by Tigris water;
"He is in this contre here
Vpon the watre of Tigris,
With his ost ther logged he is
Til he here of the tithing
What thou wilt doo of this asking;
And in londes ouer al aboute
Men called him Belvynes the stoute his name was Bel∣uynes the Stout,
Befor or he was knight or king;
Nou hath he chaunged that cleping, but now it is
And called he is with grete poustee
"King of kinges" in ech contree: "King of Kings."
The messanger aftir this talking
Went his wey without lesing.
Darel stert vp in hast, Darel at once
To speke he wold not be the last,
"Were it not nov grete wrong
That ye wold [Generides] hong?
Neuer had ye more mistere
Nouthir of knight nor of squier;
Anazaree ye rebuked ayeinst the law
For he wold not [Generides] were slaw;
And if he life, ye shal it see, intercedes again for Generides,
A noble knight he shal be;
And therfor, sir, let him live, and asks for his pardon.
And al youre angre him for-yeve."
Than stert vp Anazare thoo Anazaree also again
Before the Soudan, his hert was woo,
"Sir," seid than Anazaree,
"Darel seith right wel pardee,
And ye wil youre wrath forbere; asks that Generides may be forgiven,
As for [Generides], I dar swere
That of that blame he hath noo gylt and excuses him.
For which we wold thus him haue spilt,
Nor neuer he thoght in word nor dede
To do you vilanye in noo stede."
The Soudon sat a while stiłł, The Sowdon
And at the last he seid his wiłł;
To his barounes he seid, "lordinges proposes
I haue wel herd thes new tithinges;
Lete vs ordein an ost priuelie, that they shall col∣lect an army at once against the King of Kings.
In al hast that it be redie;
And hou we may vs mayntene
Ageyn̄ this mightie king to bene."
At that worde Lucas vpstert, Sir Lucas
"Sir," he seid, "your counsell is goode: tells the Sowdon to summon
In short space make your somowns
To Erles, Princes, and Baroun̄s, all his barons
And al tho that ow you seruice,
That thei you faile not in noo wise
To be here in here best aray to meet there within two months,
Within twoo moneths fro this day;
For neuer sith Perse was set
I wist it yeve homage yet, that Perse may never do homage;
And if your counsel be wel herd,
Nor noon shal(:) but with dint of swerd,
With sharp spere, quarel, and dart,
I shal assay forto defend my part.
But, goode sir, without more delay and meantime
Or we vs ordein to this iourney
I beseche you g[ra]unt nov youre pees let Generides be pardoned,
Vnto oure felow [Generides],
And deliuer him to vs anoon̄
That he may furth with vs goon̄;
For whi he did you neuer shame
Wherfor ye shuld put him in blame;
That he hath euer be trew and goode for he has ever been true,
I dar swere with him by the roode;
And therfor, goode lord, that ye doo so;
And we al besech you hertlie therto,
And lightlie him out of prison take;
Graunt him armes, and knight him make, and should be knighted, and fight with them.
For of goode knightes ye haue nede;
Nou, goode lord, doo as we you rede."
Al the barouns euerichoon The rest of the barons ask for his pardon, too,
Besoght the Sowdon so to doon̄,
"And but if ye wil graunt hertoo,
Elles we wot what [we] will doo."
The Soudon̄ saw thei praied all, and the Sowdon grants it.
And his angre somdele lete he fałł,
And he pardoned [Generides] thoo
Of al the wrathe betwix hem twoo.
Anazaree and Darel anoon̄ Anazaree and Da∣rel thank the Sow∣don,
Fel on knees before the Soudon̄,
And thanked him, and kissed his hondes
For ioye he shuld out of bondes,
And seid, "lord, we thonk you hertlie;
For els oure seruice ye had lost trewlie."
Anazaree wold noo lenger abide,
But toke Sir Darel bi his side,
And to the toure gan thei goo go to Generides,
[Generides] to make glad thoo.
Thei called furth [Generides]
And seid, "Sir, made is youre pees." and tell him that his peace is made.
Thoo Anazaree vpon him lougħ,
That liked [Generides] wel ynogħ,
He seid to him, "come forth anoon̄;
Youre pees is made with the Soudon̄,
And that ye shal finde right soon̄."
Anoon his fetures wer of doon̄, Generides's fetters are struck off,
And to the Soudon he was led,
But yet he was somdele a-dred;
Til he herd the Soudon speke
He wend he wold haue ben a-wreke;
On knees he set him curteslie,
And his othe he waged redilie he swears to the Sowdon that he never thought to deceive Clarionas,
"To doo you shame neuer I thoght,
Nor never ayeinst you I wroght
To deceyve my ladie Clarionas,
As to you falslie accused I was.
So wysslie god shild me fro shame
As I am gyltles of that blame!
Therfor, my lord, I besech yov
Youre displeasure forgyve me nov; and prays for for∣giveness,
And therto armes ye wil me gyve, and for arms,
For trewly, Sir, if I may live,
I trust to yelde it you so wele
That lose theron ye shal noo dele;
For treulie, if youre wil bee,
For youre sake I wil aventure mee
To fight ayeinst the king of kinges that he may fight the King of Kings,
That sent to you so proude tithinges;
The whiles that I afor you stoode,
His message meved sore my bloode;
As woo as my hert was thoo,
With him I wold fayne had a doo;
And treulie, Sir, me thinketh long
Forto defende youre grete wrong; maintain the Sow∣don's right,
Wel I hope, thurgh goddes might,
I shal som tyme avenge youre right and avenge
That of his purpos he shal faile,
His boste shal him litle availe
Youre doghtre to haue without mariage, the insult to his daughter.
Nor yet of your lond to have trevage."
The Soudon beheld him wiselie The Sowdon
And saw him speke so hardelie;
Than he bad him rise anoon̄,
And ther among hem eurichoon̄,
In token ther shuld be loue and pees,
Goodelie he kissed Generides, kisses Generides,
And seid, "to morow in al menes sight
I my self shal dubbe you knight, promises to dub him knight, and one hundred others, too, for his sake.
And aftre you an hundredth moo
For youre sake, or that I goo."
Whan the Soudon thus had said,
Ioye was vp, and care dovn laid At this, great joy fills all the court,
Among the lordes old and yeng
For gladnes of thes new tithing;
For ioye of that solempnitie
Many oon̄ wept for verray pitie,
So did the Soudon him self alsoo,
Fro weping he might not kepe him [thoo];
Sir Anazaree cleped he,
"Goo fast, I pray you hertlie, and the Sowdon sends for his daughter,
Vnto my doghtre Clarionas,
And bring hir hidir to this place:
Al wrathe I wil pardon̄ hir here." promising to for∣give her.
Anazaree went with goode chere,
And fecched furth that feire ladie Anazaree fetches her;
That for peyne and woo was hevie,
And long had ben in careful life.
With Anazaree she went blife;
Ful seke and pale she cam anoon̄
Before hir fadre the Soudon̄.
The Soudon rose vp to yeve hir grace,
And in his armes he can hir brace, the Sowdon em∣braces and kisses Clarionas, says he has done her wrong,
And kissed hir ther weping stiłł,
"Doghtre," he seid, "I haue doon yłł
Ayeinst you, wel I wote;
But aftre bale euer cometh bote;
Goo to youre chambre nov ageyn̄,
Ye shal be at youre large certeyn̄." but that now she shall be at large.
She kneled, and thanked hir fadre thoo,
And to hir chambre gan she goo;
Or she parted, neuer the les,
Betwix hir and Generides
Was stole many a privey loke, She steals many a privy look at Gene∣rides,
For in here hertes noon othir forsoke.
Clarionas to hir chambre yede,
The Castellion thoo gan hir lede;
To mirth she gan hir take ageyn̄, and takes again to mirth.
More mery neuer man had hir seyn̄.
On morov, afor al the peoples sight, Next day Gene∣rides and one hun∣dred men are made knights,
The Soudon made Generides knight;
And for his loue A hundreth were
Made knightes furth-with there.
Whan this was doo, siker ye be
Ech man departed to his contre and every one goes home to make ready for battle.
To make hem redie in plate and male,
Boldlie hem purveid for the batale,
And cam ageyn to the Soudon̄
To help avenge him on his foon̄.
CHAPTER VIII.
Here the Soudon writeth for al the kinges and Princes that wer vndre his obeissaunce to help him in his werre Ayeinst the king of kinges.
The sowdon̄ tho lete writes make, The Sowdon sends messengers to sum∣mon his vassals
And messengers and horses doo take;
To many sondri lond and contre
His mesengers tho sent he,
To come to Mountanar that feir Citie, to Mountanar:—
And eche a Prince bring his semble.
First come the king of Arabye Sircus, king of Arabye, and 2000 knights;
With twoo Mł knightes hardie
Without Archers, A grete route
Of bold fotemen strong and stoute;
For Anazaree was his son̄,
The soner thider was he come,
Sircus was his right name,
A noble man of grete fame.
Aftir him come the king of Turkye Nayme, king of Turkey, with 1000 helms,
With a ful noble companye,
With a thousand helmes bright;
King Nayme him self hight,
A yong man̄ and a lustie also;
With him he broght his sonnes twoo, and his two sons,
And both thei wer knightes hardie,
And to al knightlie dedes redie;
The eldre son Sir Davy hight, Sir Davy
A goodelie man, a curtes knight;
The yonger hight Sir Abell, and Sir Abell.
A proude knight, Dogged and fel,
For he was doughty, war, and strong,
Many men him fond so oft among.
The king of Turkye loued [Clarionas,] (The Turkish king loved Clarionas.)
For hir sake thider he come was.
After that come the Prince of Sesare, Next, Sir Geridon, Prince of Sesare,
With him he broght a feire meigne,
Seven thousand araied passing wele with 7000 steel∣clad men
Both in Iren and in stele,
And with him he had a grete route
Of archers iiij Mł stoute; and 4000 archers;
That Prince hight Sir Geridon̄,
A strong man of flesh and boone;
And moch of him self he lete,
Darel of him was begete, he was Darel's father.
His son̄ and heire shuld he be,
The rather he cam into that contre.
Aftir him cam Thessehale the king, Then, King Thes sehale,
A feir man of goode liking;
The Soudon was his cosin Germayn;
Many knightes he broght in certayn̄,
Ful doughtie men thei wer hold,
Five hundreth of knightes bold, with 500 knights
And twoo thousand of goode archers, and 2000 archers.
Stoute men, bold and fers.
Than̄ come the king Nichomede, Next, King Nicho∣mede, with
A yong man, and a doughti of dede;
Of his lond twoo thousand he broght
Of blak men ful foul y-wroght, 2000 men,
And fro the crovn to the toon̄ black as coal from top to toe,
Blak as cole thei wer echoon̄.
Esonas, I wene, hight here king; whose king was Esonas.
I dar wel say without gabbing
A gentiłłer knight than he was oon̄
In al the ost come there noon̄.
After him come king Accusaunt Then King Accu∣saunt, of Ethiope,
With many strong knightes & galaunt;
With him he broght A Mł and moo, with 1000 knights,
Oute of Ethiope cam thei thoo;
Fyve thousand fotemen cam with him and 5000 footmen;
Of bold men stout and grym;
Chosen thei were al of the best,
Yet was the king the doughtiest.
And after that cam Sir Samadoyn̄, Sir Samadoyn, king of Macedoyn,
Lord and king of Macedoyn̄,
And the king of Archadye, and the king of Archadye,
Both cam in oon companye;
Brethren thei wern̄ in dwellinges,
For thei both wer mightie kinges.
Of men of armes thei broght x thousand, with 10,000 men-at-arms,
Bold men and doughtie of here hond;
And of othir men of fote also
Thre thousand, without moo. and 3000 footmen;
Moak, of Capadose king, Moak (or Moab, l. 3599), king of Capadose,
He come aftir without lesing;—
In werre somtyme a wound had he,
A mayme in the ham̄ behind the kne,—
He broght men of armes twoo thousand, with 2000 men-at-arms;
Of goode men that wel wold stand;
Of his hurt it was grete routh,
For he was a doughti knight in troutħ.
The king of Damask, Balaam, Balaam, king of Damask;
Vnto the Soudon thider cam;
And the king of Ermonye,
Zelapus, with grete companye, Zelapus, king of Ermonye,
A thousand knightes thei thre with 1000 knights
Broght with hem of here meigne,
Without Archers and footemen
Hundrethes mo than ix or x. and above 900 archers; the kings of Ar∣bany
Than come king of Arbany,
A doughtie man, bold and hardie,
And with him the king of Batrise and Batrise,
With many a bold knight and wise; with knights
Of fotemen he broght manyon̄, and hundreds of footmen.
Hundrethes that on fote did goon̄.
Aftir him cam the king of Irre Last, the kings of Irre
With many knightes and a feire meigne; (with a host)
The king of Musse, the king of Flentice, and of Musse, Flentice, and Sellice,
And the third king also of Sellice,
Doughti men thei were of dede,
And so was al [here] felowrede.
Thes thre kinges on a route
Broght thre Mł men of armes stoute. with 3000 men-at-arms.
Nou haue I told you, as I wene,
Of kinges ther come fiftene In all, 15 kings,
Al vnto the Soudones somowns—
Without Dukes, Erles, and barowns—besides dukes, etc.
Out of the contrees that wer nere,
To help the Soudon̄ in his werre;
So many, that halfendele in the Citie
Might in noo wise harbored be,
But vndre a wod vndre the tovn̄
Was pight many A pavilown,
And riche tentes for the noones
Garnyshed with gold and precious stoones;
Such a semble in Perse lond Since Alexander's time, no such host had been seen in Perse that
Sith Alexander, I vnderstond,
Was ther neuer that lond to wyn̄
That any man can of myn̄. man can recollect.
It was in the plesaunt somer tide In the pleasant summer time
Whan leues sprong and spred wide,
The Soudon into a mydow went, the Sowdon
And aftir his ost holi he sent.
Whan̄ thei wer come euerichoon,
His purpos he began anon,
"Lordes," he seid, "what is youre reede? consults his lords as to what he is to do against the King of Kings.
Of your counsel now haue I nede;
The king of kinges is come here
Vs to bring in grete daungere,
And to destroy my lond and me,
Wherfor I had leuer deid be;
But king of kinges I not whoo is,
Saue onlie the king of blis."
Abel, the kinges son of Turky, Abel, of Turkey,
Stert vp and spake wordes on hy,—
Lenger abide might he noght
To tel that was in his thoght,—
"Mi lordes, I besech you with hert entier, says
Take it not in euel that I say here;
If I tel you my thoght,
I besech you al blame me nogħt.
In al this world is not that baronage
That hider wold come to assk trewage, no truage must be paid,
But we shal youre londes defende;
The wors thei shul haue at the ende;
And therfor to morow I rede but to morrow they must attack the enemy,
Right vnto hem ride we in dede,
And if we avise vs wel
Oure bodies dere shul we sell.
And the vsage of Perse is, and, as of old right,
And euer hath be hiderto I-wis,
Whan the ost of Perse was most plener,
Euer the chief banerer
Longeth vnto the king of Turkye the king of Turkey should bear the chief banner,
It forto bere and forto guy,
And to be constable of youre ost be constable of the host,
He ought to be without boost,
And youre vaward forto stere, and lead the van∣ward.
Before youre ost to be rewler.
Youre chief baner, I besech you,
To morow deliuer me for your prow:
As for my fadir I wil it bere, Abel will do this.
Youre enmys therwith to dere
As ferforth As I may or can̄."
To him answerd the Soudan̄ The Sowdon
And seid, "Sir Abel, soth it is, assents,
The chief baner nov I-wis
Of Perse to youre fadre doth long;
I thank him he wil it vndrefong."
The king of Turky in certeyn̄ and the king of Turkey says
Seid, "of youre baner I am ful feyn̄,
And also, Sir, I graunt wel
That my yongest son Sir Abeł, his son Abel shall bear the banner.
Sith he wil, youre baner bere,
And elles wold I, if he ne were;
The knight is yong, and of corage,
And gladlie wold he doo outrage."
Than gan thei echoon forto crie
"Goo we hens, and make vs redie All agree to make ready,
That we mow, on goddes blissing,
Begyn̄ erly in the mornyng."
Anoon out of that medow grene
To here Innes thei went bi-dene:
Ther men might see hawberks bright,
And of helmes a grete sight.
On morov rose vp Soudan and king and in the morning
And al othir lordes, whan day gan spring,
Both Prince and Duke, baron̄ & knight,
And many of bodie that wer ful wight,
And al without that feir Citie
To-gedre thei made here assemble, assemble 40,000 strong.
Fourty thousand without moo
Of knightes that wer to-gedre thoo.
Nayme, that was king of Turkye, King Nayme
As it fel to his partie,
That ost he ordeined faire and clene marshals the host in 15 battalions:
Bi his advise in batelles fiftene;
Abel, his son bold and hard, 1. Abel led the vanward
Bare the baner in the vaward;
With him ther wer ij thousand knightes with 2000 knights.
Wel araied at al rightes;
Than come in the second renght
King Sircus with his strenght, 2. Sircus, with 200 Arab knights.
With twoo thousand knightes of Araby,
Of armed men that wer doughtie;
In the third batel Sir Anazaree 3. Sir Anazaree
The good Castelion̄, wise and free,
And the yong knight Generides and Generides,
That neuer departed in that pres,
With al the knightes which wer dubbed new, with the newly dubbed knights,
To-gedre thei loued feithful and trew.
Whan Generides dubbed was
He led hem with him in eueri place,
A noumbre of yong sowdiers,
Men that wer in here maners
Iolie, stout, fresh and gay,
Seven hundred in ful noble aray. 700 in number.
Ther come the Prince Cheridon̄ 4. Prince Cheridon,
With noble knightes many oon̄
Of his contre of Sesaree,
Seven hundred without moo treulie; with 700 knights of Sesaree.
Darel fader he was, saunfaile,
A doghtie knight of good entaile.
The king Orbetes of Thessale, 5. King Orbetes,
In the fift ward com he
With a thousand knightes clene, with 1000 knights in green.
And al wer armed in grene.
In the sixt batel than 6. King Cufas,
Cam Cufas the noble man̄,
King of Colkos and Nichomede, of Colkos and Ni∣chomede,
With him he had a grete felowrede,
A Mł knightes sterk and stoute, with 1000 knights,
Blak as cole the skyn withoute. black as coal.
In the .vii. batel than̄ 7. King Ethiopes,
King Ethiopes the noble man̄;
He was grete, strong, and hardie,
A Mł knightes folowed him nye. with 1000 knights.
Than̄ cam in the viij. warde 8. The three kings
Thre kinges that wer not coward,
Of Archadie, and Ansedoyne, of Archadie, Anse∣doyne, and Mace∣doyne,
And the king of Macedoyne,
With ten Mł of goode knightes with 10000 knights and 10000 men.
And as fele of othir wightes.
Moab, of Capadocie king, 9. King Moab, of Capadocie,
Of the ix. batel (without lesing)
Lodesman and cheftan was thoo,
Of a thousand knightes and moo. with 1000 knights.
In the ten batel than cam 10. King Balaam,
A goode man, the king Balaam,
With .v. hundreth knightes of price with 500 knights.
That wer both war and wise,
Zelapus king in the xi. bataile 11. Zelapus, with 900 knights.
With ix hundreth knightes of good entaile,
The .xii. batel without les, 12. King Phares,
Therin cam king Phares
With an hundred knightes stoute with 100 knights.
To awaite on him al aboute.
In the xiii cam king Jurdan̄ 13. King Jurdan with 1000 men.
That was a meruellous strong man̄;
He broght with him at the lest
A thousand armed at his request.
Lauran king of lentyce, Also three kings, Lawran, Chaynam, Mathan,
And Chaynam, king of Selice,
And Mathan the king of Mafy,
Al thre com in oon company
With thre Mł knightes goode, with 3000 knights.
Wel arayed, of noble bloode.
In the xiiii ward ther cam anoon̄ 14. A band of knights and squires of Perse.
Of the contre many oon
Of knightes and squiers of that lond,
Thei kept hem self in a bond.
In xv. ward ther cam thoo 15. The Sowdon
The Soudon him self, with many moo,
With twelf thousand noble knightes, with 12,000 knights,
Bold men and stout in al men sightes;
And of werre thei were ful wise,
Redie to doo the Soudon seruice.
Darel bare the Soudanes baner Darel bearing his banner;
With hertli corage and manful chere;
Thus he went with noble aray,
Thurgh holth and heth he toke the way and they march straight towards the foe.
Euen streight toward his Enmyes,
With al thes folk of mych price
In feire armes, and helmes shene,
With rich sheldes pourtrayed clene,
And feire launces with wynd shakand,
With feire stedes walopand,
With trompes, pipes, and taboures,
And grete hornes of straunge coloures:
Vndre hem dynned the way,
It was a sight of great noblay, A fairer sight was never seen,
Feirer, I trow, was neuer noon̄
To-gedre seen, but it wer oon̄ except
That right sone tel I may:—
It was Alexaunder, with noble aray, Alexander's host of 30 miles long.
Which lad of .xxx.ti myle an ost;—
He come into Perse with grete bost,—
Which was an ost stern and stoute,
For al the world did him doute.
That othir ost com hem ageyn̄ The army of the King of Kings ad∣vances to meet the Sowdon's, in 30 battalions.
With many a doughti man certeyn̄
Enbatelled with mighti purveaunce
Thurgh the grete kinges ordinaunce,
With many a stede wel fairing
Ayeinst the Soudon ther come riding,
With xxxti batels in goode aray;
I shal you tel hou without delay.
CHAPTER IX.
Of the grete manhod of the king of kinges, how he enbatelled his wardes in the felde.
The king of kinges com formest, 1. The King of Kings led the van∣ward,
For he held him self euer best;
And so he was of his bodie,
Ther was no man more hardie,
Nor noon so bold as was he,
As ye may after here and se;
Therfor the vaward haue he wold.
With him he toke kinges bold
In his warde forto ride,
And iii. Mł. knightes bi his side, with 3000 knights; and 3000 were in each of the 30 bat∣talions (or 10 divi∣sions).
With as many assigned to ich bataile
Of the othir xxxti saunzfaile.
Of goode knightes he gan̄ ordeyn̄
Forto be here chevetayn̄,
In euery warde kinges thre
He assigned forto be.
The kinges ovn son Gwynan, The king's son, Gwynan, bare his banner.
A yonge knight, A doughti man̄,
The king of kinges banerer he was,
His fadre him assigned in that case.
The king of Inde cam aftirward,
That sum tyme was Aufreyus steward,
Sir Amalek, that fals traitour, 2. Then came Sir Amalck,
That did him so grete dishonour
So to betray him of his lond,
As ye haue herd tofore hond;
Twoo kinges had he in his companye, with two kings
And thirti thousand men hardie. and 30,000 men.
Next aftir him come king Samyke, 3. King Samyke
Lord and Sire of al Affrik,
He com in the third ward trewlie;
The Quenes fadre of ynde was he (the father of Au∣freyus's false first wife),
That hir lord Aufreyus forsoke
And the fals steward toke;
He come with iii Mł knightes goode, with 3000 knights.
And many moo of gentil bloode.
In the fourth ward ther com than̄ 4. Sir Madan,
The king of Grece, Sir Madan̄,
A moch man, and right yong,—
Of berd had he noon sprong,—
A reed man he was, and amerous,
And therto hardi and corageous;
With him ther com kinges twoo, with two kings
And iii Mł. knightes also. and 3000 knights.
In the fift ward ther was 5. Sir Barachias,
A Prince called Sir Barachias,
King of Europe, and in his route King of Europe,
He broght .iii. Mł knightes stoute; with 3000 knights,
And twoo kinges com with him thoo, two kings,
With thirti thousand men also. and 30,000 men.
In the sixt batel come than 6. Sir Hermonyes,
Sir hermonyes the hardie man̄,
Yong he was, and moch of growyng,
And of les Ynde he was king,
A doughti man and an hidous,
And of making he was mervellous: a gigantic man,
Of his stature wer his knightes, with knights
Huge men, and mych of mightes,
Grete hedes with visage blak, black-faced,having
Boistous bodies, as it wer a sak,
Her bakkes large, twoo yerdes brode; backs two yards broad,
To hevie thei wer for any hors lode,
Therfor thei rode on camelles; riding on camels,
And hou thei fought in batelles,
Of swerd ne spere coude thei noght,
Like mattokes wer here wepens wroght, with weapons like spades
With long helmes of yren stoute
That heng by her nekkes aboute. hanging round their necks.
In seuent ward, god it wote, 7. Sir Galeot,
Come the king of Assirie, Sir Galaot,
With othir twoo kinges curteys, with two kings
And xii Mł men to preys. and 12,000 men.
And in the viii ward Manassen̄, 8. Manassen and Ruben,
A noble knight, and his son̄ Ruben̄,
Faire knightes thei were, and doughtie,
Few betre in al the companye;
With hem come knightes grete and smale,
Wele thre thousand told by tale; with 3000 knights;
Twoo othir kinges come with him then, and two kings,
But the price of al bare Ruben
With XXti .Mł. and wel moo with 20,000 men.
Cam with the thre kinges thoo.
In the ix batel anoon̄ 9. King Leomedon
Come the king of Libie, Leomedon̄,
With othir twoo kinges that com with him than̄:
Leomedon was a doghtie man;
But few betre, I dar wel say,
In al the ost of more noblay;
Thre thousand knightes he had to stere, with 3000 knights.
And al thei come at his banere.
In the x ward, althir last, 10. King Aufreus,
As it was ordeined so and cast,
Ther come a goode king without faile,
Aufreus of Tharse, with his bataile;
The rereward he kept ful wiselie, who led the rear∣guard,
And reuled it ful worshipfullie.
Whi he was so far behinde;
For Sir Amalek, the king of Ynde,
Which had som tyme his steward bene,
That so betraied him of his quene,
The king of kinges in this wise
Sondred hem after his devise.
Aufreus led with him, fair and free, and with him
Twoo othir kinges with x thousand & thre; two kings and 10,003 men.
Of Generides was he war noo thing,
His son̄ that was so nigh comyng:
But, for goddes sake, or ye hens wende,
Here this tale vnto the ende.
CHAPTER X.
How the Soudon and the King of Kinges encountren with both here oostes; And how Generides discomfited Amalek the traitour; And how than aftre Generides and the King of Kinges faght to gedre, hand to hand, forto determyn the batełł.
NOw wendeth this ost in wardes ten, The host of the King of Kings
Ful wel araied with noble men;
The dust a-rose, the contre had wonder,
The erthe doned like the thonder;
Forth thei ride with po[m]pe & pride,
That neuer stil thei wold abide
Til thei to the Soudanes ost came. marches close to the Sowdon's,
The Soudon wel perceiued hem;
Tho no lenger he abode,
But among his ost ful fast he rode,
And chered his knightes, the soth to tel,
And preid hem al to bere hem wel.
His ost he made holie to abide,
And made thre knightes out to ride who sends three knights to spy it out.
That ost without forto aspie;
Right as thei were al redie
They highed hem ageyn hastilie,
For eche ost might othir see. When each host sees the other,
Than was ther noon abide abide, [sic.]
But who that might goo or ride,
Here Palfreys tho thei forsoke,
And to here stedes thei hem toke;
Here sheldes thei gan redi dight, all prepare,
And here launces, for to fight;
The trompettes gan to blow lowde,
Euery man to doo what he cowde.
Whan the batelles to-gedre toke, and attack.
It semed that the erth quoke;
The king of kinges cam formest of ał, the King of Kings first jousts
He thoght to Just first, what so befal.
At the first cours that he ther ran̄,
He brake his spere, that both hors and man̄ and breaks his spear.
Ouer threw, and cried "com on my feres,
And spareth not in noo maneres."
Of that braide Abel was war, Abel, the Persian banner-bearer,
That the baner of Perse bare;
He ran to a knight with sheld and spere,
And from his hors can him bere,
Thurgħ the bodie the spere ran̄, spears a knight,
The life there he lost than,
His spirit from his bodie can hie;
Abel began loude to crie,
And seid vnto the king of kinges, and taunts the King of Kings,
"Hou liketh thou thes tithinges?
Nou to turn ageyn̄ is myn advise;
Here haue ye won litle price."
Than was the king woode for woo
That Abel had scorned him soo;
With his launce grete and square who thereupon
To Sir Abel grymlie he bare,
That he made him low stoupe cuts him backward on to his horse's crupper,
Bakward ouer his hors croupe.
Abel a-shamed began to be,
And recouered his sadil hastilie;
But thurgh that stroke, vnder his fete making him drop the banner of Perse,
The banere of Perse fall he lete.
King Nayme his fadre saw that,
The baner of Perse ageyn he gat:
Tho began̄ the batel strong and hard
With the king of kinges in the vaward;
He com frushing, and leid on̄,
And sleugh ther many a worthie mon̄ and then slays many men.
On both sides in that case.
But the Soudanes side, hou so it was, The Sowdon's men grow weary
Of here fighting were wery
That thei might no lenger dry;
Ageyn̄ thei gan hem to withdraw. and begin to draw back,
When Anazare and his felows that saw,
And [Generides] in that grete nede, when Generides rides up,
Thei went to hem a goode spede.
[Generides] than on al wise
To Just had grete couetise;
Justed had he neuer to than̄,
But, blessed be god, wel he began̄;
That craft lerned he right soone,
Of kind it com him so to doone.
[Generides] went out thoo treulie,
The king of kinges son̄e gan he spie, and seeing Gwy∣nan, the King of Kings' son, ready,
Gwynam, al redie to Justing.
[Generides] without letting
Fewtred his spere, and to him ran̄; charges at him.
Ageyns him ther com Gwynan̄,— Gwynan
Of Justing he coud wel the craft,—
Thurgh [Generides] shelde with the shaft drives right through Gene∣rides's shield to
He smote it in to the sokett,
That the Iren̄ with the hawberk met
Right ageyn the self brest; his breast;
Wel nigh it had ben his prest.
But [Generides] ageyn̄ ward, but Generides
As a yong knight and noo coward,
Gwynānes shelde perced with his spere,
And out of his sadle gan him bere unhorses Gwynan,
That ouer the crop he fel in that moode;
He saw the stede was goode,—
In al the ost noon such, doutles,
His fadre gaf it him for goodnes,—
[Generides] the stede hent takes away his splendid steed, (Blanchard)
By the bridel, and forth went;
To his felows he gan to rape,
Vnethes he might a-way scape
For folowing of his enmyes
To gete ageyn̄ the stede of price.
Ther was a felow hight Segryn̄e,—and gets
Al langages he couth wel and fyne,—
Whan [Generides] of him had a sight,
He called him to him anoon right,
"Swete Segryne, leef fere,
Take this sadil fro this hors here, his own saddle put
And sett it on̄ that fare stede;
Take you my courser to your mede."
Segryne was curtes and wel taght,
And sone he hath the sadil caght,
And on his bak the sadel set, on Gwynan's steed,
And gird him fast without let;
The stirop in his hond he kept mounts it,
The while [Generides] vpon̄ him lept;
And so he had for his mede
[Generides] own stede.
From that tyme Segryne began
To loue [Generides] afor any man̄.
[Generides] than gan him pray
That he wold wete, and doo him say, and asks where
Wher Amalek were, that fals traitoure Amalek is.
That doo him such dishonoure.
"Ay, Sir," he seid, "by seint Jame, Segryne says
Such oon ther is that bereth that name;
But not whoo youre fadre is,
But Amalek I knov wel I-wis; that Amalek is
But in the kinges ost of kinges
He is; I can tel you thoo tithinges;
In the first batel saue oon̄ in the second bat∣talion.
I saw him not long agoon̄."
"Ay, swete Sir," seid [Generides] Generides tells Se∣gryne
"Whoo is my fadre, without les
Ther is no man that I wold tell,
But to you wil I discouer my counsel;
Aufreus, som tyme of ynde king, that Aufreus in his father,
Was my fadre without lesing,
And nov, as I vndrestond,
He is king of Tharse lond;
Mi fadre he is, I dar wel say;
I pray you ye me noght bewray."
"King Aufreus, as I you tel, and Segryne says that Aufreus is in the host of the King of Kings.
I saw him late, I know him wel;
To the king of kinges now
He cometh in ost ageyns you."
Tho gan [Generides] him beseche
To Amalek he wold him teche,
"Segryne, tel me as ye trow Segryne tells Gene∣rides how to recog∣nize Amalek.
Hou I may best Amalek know."
Segryne seid, "by this day
He rideth on a stede gray;
Armes he bereth riche and clene
With bendes of gold wel besene;
The champe, of goules red and bright,
With riche stoones bordred a-right;
A proude knight he is of his atire,
And therto as fers as any fire."
Segryne went forth that tide Segryne
And saw wher Amalek gan ride, sees Amalek
Oute of his ost with a page alloon̄
From al his knightes euerichoon̄, retire alone to a valley;
Forto rest him in a valey:
Segryne had euer on him his eye.
To [Generides] Segryne went thoo,
"Sir," he seid, "se yonder youre foo. he tells Generides,
Sir Amalek, youre fadres traitoure,
Is there aloon from al socoure."
[Generides] spored tho his stede,
And toward him fast he yede; who at once spurs towards Amalek,
Amalek closed him with his shelde,
His spere in his hond fast he helde,
And ageyn [Generides] fast he ran̄, and they charge.
For he was a doghti man̄;
He perced [Generides] shelde, Amalek pierces Generides' shield,
And brake his harneys in the felde.
[Generides] was in hert thral; and he beats Ama∣lek's out of his hold.
His shelde he made from him to fall
With that strok he gaf him ageyn̄;
Ther was strong fight betwix hem tweyn̄;
Amalek wex agreued sore
For his shelde, and for shame more,
His cowardise he al withdrogħ,
He waxed hardie and bold ynogħ.
[Generides] hated him vttirlie,
His swerd he drogh out egrelie, They draw their swords,
And Sir Amalek drogh his alsoo;
Many strokes thei yaue to-gedre thoo, and deal full par∣lous strokes;
And ful parlous that day wer delt;
Neuer til than Amalek felt
His strenght so moch as he than wist,
Hardier to smyte he then̄ list;
Out of here helmes the fire sprong
Of strokes that wer delt hem̄ among.
Amalek was strong and hardie, Amalek smites Generides so hard
His swerd was kerving and hevie;
[Generides] in his turnyng
He smote so without lesing
That many nales of his hauberk that his hauberk breaks.
Al to-brast, with othir werk;
Ageyn̄s his brest the stroke cam̄.
That stroke [Generides] to yuel nam̄,—
Therfor he was som del affrayed,
Such oon had he neuer assayed,—
His bane that stroke was ful nigħ;
Than spake Amalek on high, Amalek offers him peace if he will dismount and give him his shield.
And seid, "knight, who so thou art,
Nou thou haddest almost thi part,
For such a stroke I gaf the now
That al astoned therof art thow;
Light, and bring me my sheld, I rede,
And peace I graunt the to thi mede."
Than wex [Generides] right wrooth, [Generides gets angry,
To goo a-wey he was ful looth;
To Amalek he seid this reason̄,
"Thou fals traitour and thou felon̄, calls him traitor, and says he will take vengeance for all Amalek's wrongs to his fa∣ther and himself.
Thou betraied my fadre from his lond,
And me thou smotest with thin hond
Euen̄ befor my faders sight;
To quite it, than I the behight.
My step moder thou hast to wive;
With wrong she did with me strive;
She seid of loue I hir besoght;
God knoweth it come neuer in my thoght.
But vilanye it is to me to say,
Treulie of loue she gan me pray;
And for I wold not, she wroth was;
Thou shuldest haue sleyn̄ me for that case.
Therfor me nov awreke I shal."
Without more wordes therwithal Generides then cuts off half Ama∣lek's helm,
Amalek he smote on the crovn̄
That twoo quarters he feld a-doun̄
Of his helme with his bright brond;
That stroke come from a ful goode hond;
To the face the swerd doun̄ gloode
That it neuer stynt ne aboode
Til nose and lip it had of shorn̄ and his nose and lip to the bare teeth.
Vnto the bare tethe ał beforn̄.
Amalek fel a swoune to ground,
For he had a grislie wound;
Than seid [Generides,] "thef, feloun̄! Generides taunts him,
Right now thou bad me light a-doun̄
And bring the thi sheld to hond;
Nov is noo nede, I vndrestond,
To bring sheld, swerd, ne spere,
That shuld nov thi bodie were."
That word made Amalek to stert, and on his trying to rise,
And as a woode man with grete hert;
But [Generides] with his hors fete
Hurteled him doun̄, I you behete; rides him down.
Ther he had him sleyn or nome,
But his folkes of ynde come Then his people come to the rescue,
Amalek her lord to reskew.
Than gan [Generides] to remew, and Generides re∣treats, carrying off Amalek's steed and shield.
The goode stede and the sheld also
That Amalekes wer, he toke him froo,
And, for any drede, hem with him led,
And to his felows his wey he sped.
Whan the lordes of ynde him found,
Here king so hurt liyng on ground,
Thei set him on an ambling palfray,
And so led him fro the feld away Amalek is taken back to Ynde,
Ageyn to ynde ther he cam fro:
Of that chaunce he was ful woo.
Whan [Generides] was come to his feres, and Generides
Aftir Segryne he fast enqueres
Til that he found him at the last;
To doo his erand he praied him fast;
"Segryne," he seid, "take this stede, sends Amalek's steed to his father Aufreus,
And to my fadre ye him lede,
And sey him it was Amalekes
That hath doōn him so foule chekkes;
Sey him, the booldre that he bee,
To day shal he not Amalek see,
Nor bere armes in this ost, with news how he has felled Amalek's pride
For I haue so felled his boost.
And if he aske oght of you
'Who sent him this stede nov;'
Sey him without les
It was his son̄ [Generides;]
He smote me before him at his mete; because of the blow he gave him at supper.
Yet haue I noght that forgete,
And hou my fadre for that harme
Smote Amalek thurgh the arme
With a knife that he to him threw;
This token̄, he knoweth it is trew."
"Nov treuly, Sir," seid Segryne, Segryne
"This erand shal I doo wel and fyne."
He toke the stede, and furth he went, takes the steed to Aufreus, and tells him all about the fight.
King Aufreus therwith he gan present,
And al the batel euery dele
To king Aufreus gan he tel.
Aufreus was glad of that present Aufreus is glad of the present,
That his son̄ had to him sent;
It was to him grete gladnes
That he might here of [Generides]:
"Segryne," he seid, "bi what maner and asks how he may know Gene∣rides again.
May I know my sone dere,
His armes, his stede, in al thing
That I of him may haue knowing."
"His stede is gray, without fable, "By his gray steed, and arms, field or in a border, with bends of gules,
He is both goode and profitable;
Armes he bereth ful wel besene,
With bendes of goules bright and clene;
The champe of gold, I you ensure,
With riche stoones in the bourdure;
He wan̄ thes armes—I him behelde—won from Sir Amalek."
From Sir Amalek in the felde."
Aufreus al this vndrestoode;
He rewarded Segryne with mede fuł goode.
Segryne departed, his wey he yede,
To the Soudanes he gan him spede.
Of [Generides] nov speke we
That wex a knight of grete bountie: Generide's men are nearly discom∣fited,
His felows wer nigh discomfite,
And in that wer thei not to wite,
For al day had thei foght hard,
And thei wer les folk in here ward
Than in heres that ageyns hem were
Be .ii. Mł, I dar wel swere.
But [Generides] was of goode wiłł, but he cheers them on,
And his felows al(:) lowde and stiłł
He comforted as he might;
Than̄ began thei fast to figħt.
Ther men̄ might se hard medle,
Many feire knightes at grete pitie and the mellay is fierce,
Slayne vndre here hors fete,
The ground of bloode was al wete. the ground all wet with blood.
[Generides] bestered him egrelie, Generides deals blows right and left,
Grete strokes he dalt ther by and by;
Many he felled, and many he slogħ
That wold haue doon him sorov ynogħ;
That day he preued wel his might,
And shewed ther was noon such a knight;
For of whom he might ley hond, unhorsing all he lays hold of.
Wightlie out of the sadil he wond.
That saw the king of kinges wele, The King of Kings sees this,
Dismayed he held him som dele;
He saw Segryne, and called him anoon̄,
Out of the ost thei gan goon̄;
"Segryne, frend," seid the king, and asks Segryne
"I prey the tel me oon thing;
Wottest thou euer what knight is yon̄ who that is on his son Gwynan's steed.
That rideth of Gwynanes stede, my son̄?
That stede I gaf him for grete deyntie;
Me reweth that I him yonder see;
For treulie, hou so that man him wan̄,
He is a right doghti man̄,
And a wel faring king,
And wel he bereth him in fight;
God graunt it he wold dwel with me,
I wold gyve him lond and fee."
"A," seid Segryne, "wote ye what; Segryne says it is one
Speke no mo wordes of that,
For he is come of high linage
And loketh aftre grete heritage;
For lond nor fee, treulie to tel,
I wot wel he wil not with you dwel;
[Clarionas This and many following Clarionas-es and Generides-es are written in a later hand, which I have dis∣regarded because Generides is generally spelt Gerenedes.] and he be so lef, dear to Clarionas.
To part from hir it wold him gref."
"Doo way," quod the king to Segryne, The king says that Clarionas is his,
"For [Clarionas,] I tel hir myne;
That knight of hir shal haue noo part
And I may him mete with spere or dart."
And forth he yede without letting
For loue of this new tithing;
Anoon he spored his goode stede, and spurs to seek Generides;
Seching [Generides Gerenedes,] fast he yede,
But Segryne hasted him beforn̄,—
He wer looth Clarionas shuld be lorn̄,—
And to [Generides Gerinodes, in the later hand.] tithinges broght
Hou the king of kinges him soght.
Then the grete king [Generides Gerenedes,] sey, soon sees him,
And streight to him he toke the wey,
And seid, "Sir knight, turn̄ hiderward;
Thou ridest on my stede Blaunchard."
Here speres both in hond thei hent,
And either ageyn̄ other went; and they charge one another
Strokes thei gaf hard and fełł,—
Here stedes wer goode, the soth to tełł,—
So hard thei smote than to-gedre, so hard that both slip out of their saddles;
Out of here sadils thei gan to slidre,—
Both the king and [Generides,]—
Here speres wer hole neuer the les;
Both thei wer stern̄ and light,
Thei caght here stedes as thei best might. but they catch their steeds,
To tell the trouth without lesing,
Ashamed was Bellyns the king;
Generides also him with-drowe,
To Justen eftsones wold he now.
An othir cours to-gedre thei met, fight again,
And herd strokes there thei set,
So that broken both here launces; and break their lances.
Than must thei nede for al chaunces
Swerdes draw; and so thei did. Then they draw their swords, and
[? ]
Thoo no lenger thei abide,
Egrelie to-gedre thei ride;
Aftre noo loue daies thei ne soghten̄, fight fiercely
[But as bitir enmyes foghte.]
The sparkes and the light fire
Out of here helmes sprong for ire;
Helmes and hauberkes began to faile till their armour gives way,
In many stedes, both plate and male,
Of strokes that wer vndrefong,—
For eithir hated othir strong;—
Yuel hurtes both thei caght, and both are wounded.
It was ful hard to make hem saght;
Thei wer not sondred til at the last
The ostes nighed to-gedre fast, At length the two hosts separate them,
Tho went thei twoo in sondre;
If thei wer wrotħ, it was no wondre;
Ther was many a pitous sight, and then
For therto put thei al here might;
Many a knight ther lost his life was many a knight slain,
That neuer aftir spak with child ne wife;
Many a feir and riche pensel
With horses wer trode in the grauel;
Many a feir helme and shelde
Lay al to-frushed in the felde;
Many a feire stede went a-stray many a steed made masterless,
Mastirles that same day;
Men might see, and grete crie here
Of knightes that hirt and wounded were; and many men wounded; the ground was all be∣gone with blood.
The ground was al begoon with bloode,
In som place like as a floode.
Than come the good knight Sir Lucas Sir Lucas
That lord of al ynde was;
He made a noble Justing
Ageyn̄ Manassen the goode king,
That thurgh shelde, hauberk, and doublet,
The launce perced ouer the soket, drives his lance right through Ma∣nassen,
Euen thurghout the bodie
That the ende shewed al bloodie;
Right befor the king of kinges
Manassen fel deid doun̄ sidelinges. who falls down dead,
Than seid Lucas to the king bliue,
"Take this present: yuel mot thou thriue! and then he taunts the King of Kings.
I shal assay, or I goo,
Right soone to send the such moo."
The king of kinges herd that scorn̄;
He closed with his shelde beforn̄;
He rode to Sir Lucas; with his spere The king rides at him, and unhorses him,
Out of his sadel he gan him bere;
Right ther he had ful nigh his pees.
That gan aspie Generides, but Generides
That Lucas fal to the ground;
He reskewed him son in that stound, rescues Sir Lucas,
He smote the king of kinges thoo and smites the king on his helm,
On high vpon his helme soo
With his swerd that the oon corner cuts off a corner of it,
Fel nigh a-doun̄ bi his coler;
Laces and stringes he kerue on twoo,
And the girding of the shelde also the fastening of the shield,
So that the shelde to fal he lett;
Dovnermore the stroke went yet
To the brest before the hauberk, opens the king's chest armour,
That mych failed of that strong werk,—
But to the bare come it noght,—
It was harme it wanted oght:
The swerd glaced ferther doun̄,
And clove a twoo the stedes crovn̄. and splitshissteed's skull in two.
The king was astooned thoo; The king
His goode stede he did forgoo,
And him self to ground fel,—falls to the ground,
What day it was he wist not wel,—
And ouer him rode Sir [Generides] and Generides rides over him,
Twies or thries or he wold cese:
His life had he lost almost,
Ne had socour be of his ost. but his host rescue him,
Generides than forth he shoke,
Vnto his felows the wey he toke.
The kinges knightes a feir stede broght,—
Here lord to worship was here thoght,—
He toke the stede with fel hert, remount him,
And in grete ire vp he stert;
His horne he blew ful hidouslie and he blows his horn
That al the ost might here the crye,
That he was wroth that did it know.
Ageyn him A Mł on a row for his 1000 best men,
To-gedre riden tho hastilie,
Ech man to prove his maistrie.
Than come the folk of high ynde, of High Ynde,
Strong men, And of wonder kynde,
With here maces of iren̄ and of stele, with maces like mattocks,
Mattokes hem semed to be ful wele.
Whan thei cam to the route
Thei leiden fast on aboute;
The grete pres thei parted on sondre,—
Of here strokes men thoght wondre,—
Many a goode knight thei ouerthrew.
Whan thei of Perse here strokes knew, who soon terrify the men of Perse.
Thei durst hem noght abide,
Thei shonned hem on eche a side.
That saw the Soudan, and was woo The Sowdon
That his folk wer scomfited soo,
He seid to hem with mild speche
"Lordes al, I you beseche, appeals to his lords for help,
Oure honour fond we forto saue
As euer hiderward yet we haue,
For oft ye haue goten̄ me loos
And grete worship ageyn̄ my foos;
And if I youre help not had,
Certanly my state were bad;
So grete nede had I neuer noon̄
As I haue to day, ye see echoon̄."
Than Answered Sir Geridon̄, but Sir Geridon says that
Darel fadre, to the Soudon̄,
"Suffre we may vs noght to stere they cannot fight
Ageyns this boistous ost here;
Thei be develles, and noo men̄, against devils;
Oon̄ of hem is worth othir ten̄;
But neuer the les we may not flee they must retreat slowly,
To hasteli that thei may it see,
For than thei shuld vs confound,
And hastelie bring vs to the ground;
But softlie we shal withdraw,
And defend vs that we be not slaw,
And kepe vs to-gedre on a throm̄, keeping close, so that the mattock∣men may not break through them.
Within vs that thei ne com̄."
Whan the Soudon̄ herd that skil,
Nedes he must consent thertil;
He blew a mote stern and stoute,
His folkes gadred him round aboute, This they do,
And gan to flee softlie,
And oft turned ageyn̄ boldlie, turning oft on their pursuers,
And defended hem̄ egrelie
As thei with-drew hem wittilie;
Thei nighed nigħ at the last
Toward the Citie in al hast; and get to the city,
The Soudanes folk entred in,—
Wel was him might gete within,—
Many a bold knight and hardie though many are slain,
Were slayn on the Soudanes partie,
And an hundreth or moo wer nome and 100 captured,
Or thei to the Citie might come;
Or thei might gete within the palace
A thousand stedes won ther was. also 1000 steeds;
Whan the Soudon wist of this at which the Sow∣don and his men are discouraged.
That thei lost such an̄ entrepris,
Than wer thei all sore dismayed
Of that shoure thei had assayed.
The Soudon did the gates shet,
Here enmyes without to let;
The brigge he drogh hastelie;
Of his lose he was sorie.
Generides and Sir Anazaree Generides and Anazaree, and their men, know nothing of this retreat,
Wist not of here fleeyng trewlie,
Nor of the Soudanes awey-fleyng
Into the tovn wist thei nothing,
For with here men grete and smale
Thei were benethe in a dale but are fighting in a dale.
Where was strong and hard fighting;
And thider cometh the stoute king The King of Assirie attacks them,
Of Assirie and al his route,
Bold men withouten doute.
Moo than twoo Mł were feld and slaw;
Here folk gan fast to withdraw and the Persians begin to lose.
And lese in that strong batel,
For of an hundred saunz faile
Ther were but few in al here route.
Therof Anazaree had grete doute, Anazaree
And seid, "[Generides,] I you rede, advises a retreat to the host;
Draw we vs to oure felourede,
For oure men begyn̄ to lese;
Toward oure ost I rede we drese."
[Generides] seid, "nov graunt I me." Generides agrees;
To-gedre thei gedred here meigne;
Thei trowed to here ost to haue went, but on beginning it
But thei had almost be shent;
Tho perceiued thei redilie they find that the host has fled to the city,
Here ost was fled into the Citie;
Thei gan to ride thider-ward,
Wel sone thei had encountre herd,
For thei wened to haue passed clene
Thurgh the medo feire and grene. and that it is now surrounded by their enemies' tents.
A Mł pavilons ther by and by
[Generides Anazaree seems to suit l. 4354 better than Generides, which is written in a later hand.] told ful redilie
Of his enmyes, ful bold barouns,
With riche pensels and gonfanons,
And al aboute that grete Citie
Tentes in making thei might see,
Passing thik in medow and felde.
Whan Anazaree al this behelde, Anazaree advises that
And saw at euery gate thoo
A Mł pavilon̄s and moo,
Anazaree was wrooth on his maner,
And seid, "[Generides] my leef fere,
Nou me thinketh best rede in this: they make for a postern in the tower
Ayenst the toure A postern̄ ther is,—
This ost perceiueth it noght yet—
There is right A privey wiket;
Draw we thidre or we blyn̄,
That our frendes may se vs within,
To let vs yn̄ without letting at which they can be let in.
Whan they perceiue oure comyng;
Suffre vs must nede oure chaunce."
[Generides] seid, "Sir, without greuaunce Generides agrees,
Boldly I rede wende we;
But first send we before oure meygne,
And kepe vs behinde hem we twey so that they two go last.
To guyde hem al that we may,
And defende hem at oure power
Til we may come the postern̄ nere."
The Soudan made sorow certeyn̄ The Sowdon sor∣rows for his lost knights.
For his knightes that wer sleyn̄.
SIr Darel wept for grete pitie Darel
Whan he [Generides] might nat see,
And Anazaree in certeyn̄;
He dred thei had both ben sleyn̄,
And seid weping to the Soudon̄, weeps for
"Certes I wene we haue forgoon̄
Twoo the best knightes of all oure side,
Such twoo shal neuer vs betide.
Ay, [Generides,] my felow! allas! Generides,
Such a noble knight thou was."
Darel anoon armed him wełł,
And went out of that Castełł and goes out
Priuelie with a page aloone,
For [Generides] making grete moone;
Quik or deid, he wold him haue, to find him, dead or alive.
Or die for his sake, so god him saue.
Ouer al the Citie, the folk among, The news spreads
Of [Generides] the word sprōng
That he was sleyn̄ or elles take; that he is slain or captured,
Grete sorow for him thei ałł gan make.
That tithinges so aboute ferd
That [Clarionas] therof herd; and Clarionas hears it.
Such sorow hir hert about did cast,
Hir liue daies wer wel nigh past. Clarionas is nearly killed by it,
Mirabel with hert entier but Mirabel
Euer comforted hir ladie dere,
And seid, "[Generides] ye shal sene,
I may noon othir wise beleuen̄;
Wherfor I counsełł you, madame, advises her
Goo we vp in goddes name to go up to a corner of the tower,
Vnto a corner of the toure,
Ther while god may send socoure."
Vp to the toure she yede at last, which she does,
All day she had wept fast;
Weping she loked ouer the [wal, [wal is in the later hand, like Generides and Clarionas.]
And loked about ouer all.
By that tyme come was Dareł
To [Generides] out of the Castełł;
Than at last [Clarionas] and at last sees Anazaree.
Of Anazaree perceiued was,
Hou he toward the toure drogħ;
His armes she knew wel y-nogħ;
Of [Generides] was she not ware,
For Amalekes sheld that he bare.
Anazaree and Sir [Generides] He and Generides
Thurghout thei russhed a-mong the pres
Toward the toure a wel goode pas; are getting towards the tower,
Here gooing wel perceiued was and are seen by the hostile king's mar∣shal, Anfris.
Of the kinges marshal Anfris,
A doughti man of mich price.
To king Aufreus in the ost He rides to Au∣freus, who
He prikked fast with grete bost,—
And than was Aufreus paviloun̄
Next to that side of the tovn̄,—is nearest the tower,
And his knightes Aboute him euericħoon̄
Here stedes lete bring forth anoon̄, and his knights rush to the attack.
Riding than̄ who so ride might—
Ismael was the formast knight,—Ismael
Vnto the companye of his enmies;
He was son to king Aufrys,
And Generides own brodre; (Generides's own brother)
But oon̄ of hem knew not an othre.
Ismael saw Generides come,
And redilie a shaft he hath y-nome;
Egrelie to-gedre thei met; charges him
Ismael so Generides smet
Euen in the middes of his shelde
That Generides began to helde;
Welnigh he had goon̄ to ground, and nearly throws him.
It fortuned he kept him saue and sound;
Blaunchard, his stede, fel on̄ knees;
He was ashamed; neuerthe-les
Generides his stroke lost noght,—Generides
Welnigh it had him ouer-thoght,—
For, with his spere strong and herd,
Ismaels shelde in the midward splits Ismael's shield
He to-rofe and al to-brast;
Ismael was som del agast.
As god wold, I trow wel, than̄
The havberk to riue tho began̄, and hauberk,
The helm went of also, and knocks off his helm,
The laces brast even a twoo;
Ful litle wanted the soket
That with the throte it had y-met;
The tronchon̄ yede al fro the bodie;
As god wold, it passed for by,
And bare his helme into the felde; so that he stands all bare in the field.
Al bare Ismael he behelde.
God be thanked, wound had he noon̄;
Saued was skyn̄, flesh, and boon̄.
Whan Generides saw his visage, Generides seeing that he is young and handsome,
And saw he was yong of age,
And perceiued his grete beautie,
And of his bodie also the bountie,
And the strenght he bare than̄,
He thoght he shuld be a noble man̄.
Generides than gan him pray
The sothe that he wold him say
Of what contre and kyn̄ he were. asks him who he is.
Than Ismael gafe him answere,
"Mi fadre neuer his name forsoke,
Nomore wol I for noo mannes loke;
Bor̄n I am of kinges bloode,
Mi fadre is called Aufreus the goode, "Son of Aufreus, King of Tharse;
Lord and king of Tharse he is,
And ther was I born̄ I-wis,
Mi name is Ismael de Savage." and my name is Ismael de Savage."
Generides loked in his visage; Generides
For ioye he noo word spake,
But cast his sheld at his bak;
With his armes spred on brode
To Ismael his brodre he rode,
And in his armes gan̄ him enbrace, embraces his bro∣ther
And his helme began vnlace,
And kyssed his brothre swetelie. and kisses him.
Ismael beheld him wiselie;
He thoght thei were of oon bloode,
But how, he yet not vndrestoode;
Til Generides aftre his kyssing
He seid, "Sir, without lesing Ismael says they are both one man's sons,
Bothe we be oon mannes begete,
Treulie therof I right wel lete;
Sir, brethre we ar, both ye and I;
I am right glad of youre company."
Grete chere thei made aithir to othre; and they make much of one an∣other.
Generides seid, "nov, swete brothre,
I trust we shal at more leysere
Speke to-gedre without daungere."
At here departing was grete routhe;
Bothe thei wept, to say trouthe.
Than thei of the ost without come,
And grete hede of Generides thei nome,
And gon̄ to draw hem right nere;
Generides spored his hors with glad chere Generides rides away to his com∣panions,
And drogh him to his felourede,
For than he saw he had nede;
For oon man as he ne might
Stand ageyns an hundred to fight.
Toward the wal of the Citie
The ost gan draw grete plentie, whose entry into the city the host of the enemy are opposing.
Generides and his feres to lete,
And here entre to withsett.
Generides was sory among,
And saw the ost doo hem such wrong;
He spored his stede to a knight, He charges a knight,
That othre cam with grete might;
Generides smote him than soo and runs him right through shield and body.
That his shelde cleef on twoo;
Thurgħ hauberk and thurgh Acton̄
The spere with the gonffanoon̄
Ran̄ thurgh the bodie a large span̄;
The knight of his stede fel than̄
From his sadle, deid as a stoon̄.
Generides wold noo ferthir goon̄,
But his spere ageyn̄ to him toke.
Clarionas that iusting gan̄ on loke, Clarionas sees this,
And vnto Mirabel she seid,
"Yondre is a knight to ground y-leid;
Sawe ye it as wel as did I?"
"Yea, ma dame," she seid, "sekirlie and Mirabel too,
I saw the Justing, and it beheld,
Hou he with the bended sheld
Smote the othre thurgh the bodie;
Swete ma dame, that saw I:
Nou saw I neuer, to say the sothe, who says she never saw men joust so well.
Man̄ iust so wel as he dootħ;
He loueth paramoures som wight
That he to-day preueth so his might."
Clarionas seid, "by his making Clarionas thinks the knight is like her darling.
He is ful like to my derling."
"Ma dame," seid tho Mirabełł, Mirabel thinks that his red favour is Clarionas's.
Euer me semeth by the reid pensełł
That he bereth on his heid aboue,
Oones ye made it for his loue,
And sent him it in certeyn̄
By Gwynet your ovn chambreleyn̄."
Clarionas seid, "I fele grete smert, Clarionas is anxious about him,
I care for him sore in myn hert;
For sore assailed thei al ben,
As we may with oure eȳen seen̄."
Clarionas had grete drede
Of Generides hou he shuld spede,
But he perceiued hir noo thing but he does not perceive her,
From the toure of hir wayting;
Thogh she were gretelie in his thoght,
So besie he was that he ne roght;
Many tymes he turned his face though he turns often on his ene∣mies.
Vpon̄ his enmyes forto chace;
What with swerd and with launce
Many oon he gafe myschaunce;
Neuer knight, the soth to say,
Bare him bettre than he did that day;
Clarionas therof bare witnes,
She saw his dedes both more and les.
She ost gan̄ folow on him fast;
Ismael gan his eye wel cast Ismael attacks Darel,
Toward Darel, and to him rode,
And he to him without any aboode;
Mirabel seid to Clarionas,
"Ma dame, loo yondre Darel, allas,
Among his foos al aloon̄,
And oure men scateren̄ euerichoon̄."
At the same Justing, Darel
On the sheld smote Ismael, who smites off half his shield,
That al the oon side of the shelde
The spere bare into the felde;
With that stroke welnigh he fełł; and nearly throws him,
But he was yong, wight, and snełł, but he recovers himself,
In his sadle he held him stiłł,
And smote Darel with so goode wiłł and hits Darel so hard
In middes of the sheld ful butt
That Darel fell doun̄ with that putt; that Darel falls down,
Ne had his shelde holpen̄ thore,
He had be lost for euermore.
Whan Ismael saw Darel doun̄, and Ismael rides over him.
Ouer him he rode his stede broun̄
And wounded him ful wikkedlie,
And bad him yeld him hastelie.
Generides right than befełł, Generides comes to near where Darel lies,
Cam and saw wher lay Darełł,
And saw aboute him pres grete;
Into the thikkest anōōn he shet
Ful redilie with his swerd draw
To make wey for his felow;
Aboute him fast he gan̄ lay clears a road to him,
Til he made so large a way
That twoo cartes ther might mete,—
Many oon̄ therfore his life gan lete,— (killing many men)
Ne fond he noon armure so goode
That the dint of his swerd withstoode;
For Darel loue he shewed his stenght,
Noon durst abide bi his swerd lenght.
And at the last he fond Darel finds Darel all befouled,
Al befouled in the grauel;
A knight his armure from him wold take, and a knight trying to take away his armour.
But Generides such shift gan̄ make,
The same knight so sore he smet
That the swerd with the bare met,
And bare doun̄ chek & chyn̄ with ałł; Generides cuts the knight down,
From his hors doun gan̄ he fałł
Al flat in swonyng to the ground;
That hors was ful feire and round,
Generides bad Darel lepe oon̄, and Darel leaps on his horse.
Magre his enmyes euerichoon̄.
All his auenture saw Clarionas, Clarionas sees this rescue,
And to Mirabel told al the case,
"Saw ye not this mervellous chaunce?
Treulie betwix this and Fraunce,
Nor in the world, I trow I-wis
Is such a knight as the yondre is
That Darel so wel hath rescued,
Ouer al he oweth to be allowed;
Mi loue it is al wey me thinkes, and thinks the rescuer is her love.
Of al his felows most he drinkes."
Mirabel seid, "treuli, ma dame,
Generides is that knightes name."
Darel was shamed of his falling, Darel, ashamed at his fall,
Be wroke he wold of sum thing;
King Aufreus he saw ther houe, charges Aufreue,
His maistries on him wold he proue;
Darel with his swerd ran him too,
And on the helme smote him soo and knocks him on to his horse's mane.
That he stouped on his hors mayne;
That stroke had almost be his bayne.
King Aufreus beheld Darel Aufreus
With egre chere and hert fel,
And smote him with his goode brond
That he bare drawen in his hond,
And seid, "felow," al a-lowde,
"Wenest thou that art so proude asks him if he thinks old men cannot smite.
That old men can not smyte?
Yet perchaunce here strokes may bite
Thogh thou and such felows yong
That to knightes be late sprong."
Generides herd al this Reason̄, Hearing this, Generides knows his father's voice,
He knew his fadre by the soun̄,
And bi that feire stede Grisel
That he rode on̄, he knew him wel,—
Him self of Amalek it wan̄,
And sent it to his fadre or than̄,—
By his speche and by his stede;
To his fadre streight he yede, rides to him,
And seid, "Sir, ne smyte me nogħt
Til I haue told you al my thoght."
Aufreus meruelled of his speche,
And seid, "Sir, I you beseche,
Wher were ye born̄, and in what contre?"
"In Surre, Sir," tho answerd he, tells him that his name is Generides,
"And [Generides] my name is."
Awey he rode with that I-wis and rushes back to the fight.
In to the pres there he was beforn̄;
Thus sone his fadre had him lorn̄;
Therfor he taried not in that case,
For wel he wist his son̄ he was.
For this letted thei not the batełł,
But euerich began̄ othre tassaile;
Darel roode wel wrothe and yłł, Darel charges
For he had not wroken̄ his fiłł;
With A knight that Aptisma hight Aptisma,
He met, and gan̄ with him to fight,
And smote him on the helme on hight
ThAt it rofe And al to-fligh;
The swerd was of egge kerving,
And glaced to the hede falling,
Into the brayne it cleef the crovn̄, cleaves him to the brain,
That of his hors deid fel he dovn̄,
Ne shal he neuer ride wele:
The same hors thoo toke Darełł, and takes his horse.
And ledeth him forth for his pray.
Right as he turned than, he say
[Clarionas] in a toure stand, Seeing Clarionas,
Outward lenyng with hir hand,
And Mirabel stoode fast by.
Than̄ wax he som dele angri,
And wend [Generides] it wist, he thinks that Generides is delay∣ing there so long to show off his prowess before her,
And for hir loue the bettir list
His grete doghtynes before hir sight
Forto preve with strength of migħt;
That so long he wold ther dwełł,
Darel thoght it yuel counsel,
And come to him in grete haste and therefore rides to him,
And seid, "Sir, grete tyme we waste;
Goo we nov hens, my lefe fere;
Youre maistries that ye make here
Is for loue of youre ladie and reproaches him with
That ye [? for ys.] yondre in the toure on̄ hie.
Al to lon̄g here we dwell;
Therfor, frend, as I you tełł,
Oure lives we be in point to spiłł risking their lives
If we folow lenger youre wiłł.
Wene ye that hir louely looking for his lady's lovely looking.
Pleaseth vs any maner thing
As it dooth you(:) nay, bi seint Gile,
I pray you leue such loking a while,
And to the gates draw we,
And fond to gete sum̄ entre
If we mow; but I me drede
To long we dwel wełł to spede."
[Generides] him held yuel apaied, Generides cannot understand him,
Of Darel spech he was dismaied,
And seid, "dere felow, mercy,
What haue I greued you, and whi?
Me thinketh I doo al that I may says he has done all he can to bear him well,
Forto bere me wel this day;
Ye se me feyne neuer a dele,
No more doo ye, I se it wele;
But, felow, ye may say as ye list,
Put me in noo blame, as I you trist;
For there as ye speke of looking,—
Bi Ihesu that is heuen king,
Toward the ost of the yendre kinges and has cast no lovely lookings on his foes.
Ne made I neuer louely lookinges."
"So meane I not," seid Darel, Darel explains
"I mene vpward to yondre tourełł.
There standeth [Clarionas Clariones and Gerenedes in the later hand.] your ladie dere, that Clarionas is in the tower;
And beholdeth what we doo here;
I speke of loking vp to hir."
[Generides Clariones and Gerenedes in the later hand.] beheld, and seid, "Sir, Generides looks, sees her,
Bi the feith I ow to god and you,
This is the first tyme I saw hir now;
But, leue frend, now I hir see,
Oones to Just, graunt ye me, and asks for one more joust.
Elles shal I neuer be glad nor mery."
"I am redy," quod Darel, "doo on hardely."
Nathanael this vndrestoode; Nathanael hands him a strong spear;
A strong spere he toke him, and a goode;
[Generides Gerenedes in the later hand, here and elsewhere.] this goode spere hent,
Out of the ost waloping he went;
Agayn̄ him come riding Ruben, Ruben attacks him,
The noble kinges son̄ Manassen̄,
On a goode stede of Arragon̄
With armes of Rial fasceon̄;
A moch man he was, and long,
And therto right hardie and strong;
He smote [Generides Gerenedes in the later hand, here and elsewhere.] stronglie thoo
That he clafe his shelde in twoo; splits his shield in two,
Ny the bokels, vnto the sokett,
The spere passed bi, that was so grete,
A fadom bi [Generides Gerenedes in the later hand, here and elsewhere.] right side; and just misses his right side.
As good wold, he had no wound that tide,
But that stroke was so harde,
His sheld it turned bakward
Al fer behind his bak boon̄;
Welnigh his sheld he had forgoon̄.
[Generides Gerenedes in the later hand, here and elsewhere.] smote Ruben thoo, Generides drives through Ruben's shield,
Thurgħ his shelde the stroke did goo—
The pensel al hole with the spere,—
That stroke passed yet forther,
Thurgh hauberk and doublet,
And thurgh the shuldre, It shet, hauberk, doublet, and shoulder,
So that Ruben and his stede throwing him to the ground.
Both at oones to ground yede.
[Generides Gerenedes in the later hand, here and elsewhere.] toke the stede thoo
To Nathanael, and bad him goo—Generides sends Ruben's steed
Because it was so feire and wight—
"Lede it to [Clarionas], my ladie bright;
Fro me take hir this present, as a present to Clarionas,
And sey that I it to hir sent."
So he did without letting,
No man him let of his gooing
That he ne entred feire and wełł
Into the Citie and eke the Castełł.
He toke to [Clarionas] his present;
She it receued with glad entent; and she receives it gladly.
Nathanael toke his leue thoo,
And went thidre as he cam fro;
The sight of [Clarionas] so comforted Comforted by the sight of her, Generides
[Generides] hert that he resorted
In to the oste euer in grete auenture
That no man might his strokes endure;
His swerd he bare drawn̄ on hight, [for high.]—
Euen vp to the hiltes it was blodi—
That, whethir so thei wold or noon̄,
From the gates he made hem goon̄. drives his enemies from the gate.
In his tent was Bellyns the king, Bellyns, King of Kings,
Of al this werk he wist noo thing
Til at the last outward he drogħ, at last hears the noise of this fight,
He herd cry and noyse ynogħ;
His hors he ashed, to him he cam,
Vp he stert, his wey he nam and rouses his host to go and cut off Generides.
Vnto his ost, and bad hem hie,
And sone thei gan to blow and crye;
Thei found the king of kinges
Criyng and making thretinges
To the Soudan̄ and his forto mate.
Darel houed before the gate:
Whan thei of the Citie that noyse herd, The people of the city
Vnto [Generides] anoon thei ferd,
And praied him for Charitie pray Generides to come in,
That he wold entre into the Citie;
"See, the hole ost cometħ on vs here."
[Generides] seid, "let hem come nere! but he says, "Let them come on;
Oure trauel hath to-day be grete,
But al to smal is oure begete;
Moche tyme wasted we haue;
Oure self if we wil saue,
With hem we scarmysh, and we shal sene; we will skirmish with them,
Right sone I hope to se hem fleen̄,
And than oure honour shał arise;
And if we see in al wise
That al the grete ost cometh hollie, and withdraw into the town if the whole host does come."
We may withdraw vs lightlie
Til that we be within the tovn̄."
"Yea," seid Darel, "if that we movn̄; Darel agrees,
But I ne wot if it may be soo;
But and ye wil, I graunt tħerto."
[Generides] his horn̄ thoo gan blow,
His felous gadred on a row; Generides gathers his companions,
Blaunchard he spored, his goode stede,
That as the winde vndre him yede;
The first knight that he there mete, and runs a knight right through.
Thurghout with his spere he him smet.
Darel went to an othre knight, Darel kills a second,
That thurgh the bodie he smote him right;
Anazaree rode vnto the third, [? for thrid.] Anazaree a third,
And so to smyte him he betid,
From the throte vnto the crovn̄
The spere glode, and he fel dovn̄;
Al the knightes of [Generides] companye, and the rest fight well,
So thei bare hem by and by
That the host without began to fleen̄; so that the enemy flee.
Al thei in the Citie might it seen̄.
Than thei armed here men̄ ful stoute,
Fourti men thei sent out Forty issue from the city to help Generides,
Forto help goode [Generides];
Thei russhed furtħ in the pres.
Whan [Generides] saw here comyng,
Without any more tariyng
Ful loud tho he blew his horn̄,
And gadred his felous him beforn̄ who gathers his men together,
That wide were in sondri sprad;
Whan he hem al to-gedre had,
To the gates he turned his company,
And entred al into the Citie; and withdraws into the city,
Thei broght of stedes moo than ahundred [MS. .C.],—
Therof the Soudon was al a-wondred,—
In the Citie al lordes and kinges
Made grete ioye of here comynges, where great joy is made over him,
Al spoken of [Generides] hardines,
Thei made songes of him, both more and les;
The Soudon made mery chere; especially by the Sowdon.
[Generides] he called him nere,
And thanked him of his grete trauaile,
And swore he wold him neuer faile.
Than seid Darel somdele on yll, Darel tells the Sowdon he must not hang Generides this year,
"Sir, had ye som tyme had youre wiłł,
And haue hanged him as ye wold,
To haue thanked him ye ne shold;
If ye bi counsel wil ought lere,
Ye shal not hang him of al this yere."
The Soudon gan a litle to smyle, at which the Sow∣don smiles,
"Darel, ye say trouth, bi seint Gile;
For now I wot ye sey me sotħ;
Oft avisement micħ goode dootħ."
In both ostes was ther noon̄ and Generides is held the doughtiest man of all,
Holden so doughtie so Generides was oon̄—
ThAt wittnesseth the king of kinges
Amonges al his grete lordinges,—
As was Generides, ne noon so stoute,
Saue him self, that euer he toke oute; though the King of Kings excepts himself.
For so doughtie of flesħ and boon̄
As him self was, him thoght was non̄.
CHAPTER XI.
Here Generides fighteth with the King of Kinges, And discomfiteth him, and maketh him to yelde him to the Soudan̄, And he and al his people to avoide the contre for euer; And so he dietħ of his hurtes that he had, in his gooing home.
THe king of kinges seid al on̄ hie The King of Kings proposes to
On the morow to his lordes sekirlie,
"I wil vnto the Soudon send
Of these werres to make an end,
If he might finde a knight so hardie challenge the Sow∣don to find a knight to fight him,
That ageyn̄ me, bodie for bodie,
Fight witħ me, but I me drede
He hatħ noon̄ of his felourede though he fears none will.
That dar that now take on̄ hond,
Nor noon so hardie, I vndrestond."
A king of his oste anoon vp rose,—
A doughtie man̄, and of grete lose,
Armonius I-called was he, But King Armo∣nius
Of higher Inde, that riche coun̄tre,—
He stert vp and spake aloude,
For he was both feers and proude;
To the king of kinges he spake,
"Sirre, I know in you noo lak says, though the King of Kings is strong,
Of chiualrie, nouthir fer nor nere,
And wel I wote thurgh youre power
Ye might apaire wel this Citie,
Both the Soudon and his meigne;
But som within drede vs noght yet there are some of the Sowdon's men who do not fear him,
For al the woo we han̄ hem wroght,
Som of hem to day I sigħ
In batel ther I was hem nigħ,
So passing doughtlie take on̄,
That yet ne saw I neuer noon̄
Bettre doo(:) ne bettre endure,
Ne ferthir put him in aventure and who have done all that a knight dare do.
To doo that longeth to any knight,
So strong I hold him, and so wight."
Whan̄ king Armonius had al seid,
And such preyse on̄ [Generides] leid,
The king of kinges quooke woode At this the king grows savage,
That any shuld be hold soo goode
Authir bettre than̄ him self were;
He grenned his tetħ, and gan̄ to swere, and swears that if
"If this batel that is nov begon̄,
Whedre it be lost or won̄,
And the Soudon̄ wił oon out [may be one.] send the Sowdon will send a man,
Ageyn̄ me his right to defend,
This batel for any erthlie man̄
Shal I end, if that I can̄, he will fight
Mi self aloon̄ with spere and shelde;
Outhir shal I die or win the felde." and beat him, or die. However, King Madan
Madan, that king of Tharse was,
Than̄ stert he vp in that place,
For he was yonge, lustie, and wight,
And of his bodie a doughtie knight,
"Lordes," he seid, "al this talking, says this talk isn't worth a farthing,
I hold it not worth a ferthing;
Be we al come hidre for noght? all of them must fight,
Litle worship we haue hir soght.
What availeth oure travel hidre?
For shame vs must gadre vs to-gedre,
And goo we, gif hem new bataile,
We shal destroye hem without faile."
Al the oste began̄ to crie and the rest agree.
"Arme we us, and make vs redie."
Therof was king Bellins woo,
But he might not let hem̄ thoo:
Loude he blew his horn̄ on higħ,
Al the oste drew him ful nigħ. So the host assem∣bles.
Thei of the Citie that were within,
That noyse thei herd, and wold not blyn̄
Til thei wer armed, and that anoon̄,
Oute come thei to-gedre euerechoon̄; The Sowdon's men ride out of the city,
Whan̄ thei withoute saw hem come so fast,
Thei went toward hem in as grete haste,
And gan̄ to fight sore and harde. and a hard fight begins.
[Generides] was in the vawarde, Generides is in the van,
On a ful feire stede he rode,
His pen̄sel ther he sprad on brode
That of rede silk was made; (with a new pennon from Clarionas),
Neuer erst in batel he it hade,
For [Clarionas] of grete plesaunce
Sent it him for a Remembraunce.
With him rode Anazaree and Darel, and Anazaree and Darel.
To-gedre thei thre loued ful wel.
Darel met with king Samyke, Darel unhorses King Samyke;
Lord and chieftan̄ of Aufrike;
He smote him so that ilk stound
That oute of his sadil he fel to ground;
In the falling he brake his arme,
[And that to him was ful gret harme.]
Anazare rode vnto Barachias, Anazaree throws King Barachias;
That king of Europe for soth he was,
He smote him in the middes of his sheld
That he ouerthrew him in the felde;
And as he doun̄ to the erthe fel,
He brake his legg in the grauel.
[Generides] rode to king Madan̄, and Generides kills King Madan.
And sucħ a stroke he gave him than̄
That sheld he perced, and hauberk,
And frushed al that othir werk;
The spere with the bare met,
Thurgħ the bodie a fadom it shet
With the pen̄sel ther al blodie;
To ground fel that deid bodie.
King Bellins saw that, and wex woode, The King of Kings, Bellyns,
Thidre-ward he rode with egre moode,
He beheld him as he died was,
And began̄ to crie "allas, allas,
Allas that thou hast lost thi life; grieves over this,
Treulie thou were a litle to hastife;
For in the king Armonyus and the,
Most in this world I affied mee;
Nov shal I neuer glad word speke and vows to avenge him.
Til I see thi dethe be a-wreke."
Anoon to Juste he him bede: He prepares to joust:
That saw Abel, and did him spede
Vnto Bellins, and with him met, Abel charges him,
And with his spere he him smet
That it cam thurgħ twoo foote long;
The king was bigg and right strong,
And with his shelde, wiselie and ware,
The stroke from his bodie he bare
That it greued him noo dele,
And so he smote thoo Ageyn̄ Abel Bellyns runs him right through,
With his spere sharp and strong
That thurgh the bodie he him stoong;
Abel fel deid from his stede,
The baner of Perse fel doūn in dede. and the banner of Persia falls down.
Whan the Soudon his dethe wist, The Sowdon
To sorow thoo he had grete list;
His sorow might not be forborn̄,
So goode a knight as he had lorn̄;
Not oon of the Soudones ost was and all his host mourn for Abel,
But loude he cried oft "allas"
For Abel that pore lay slaw.
His felous fast to him gon̄ draw,
And reskewed the deid bodie rescue his body,
From̄ his enmyes that wer ny;
Al armed vp the bodie thei hent,
And in to the Citie with in thei went and carry it off for honourable burial.
For to berie that goode knight
Witħ grete worship, as it was right.
Than̄ wex the batel hard and strong, The battle grows fierce,
Many a feire knight died among,
His life to wedde that same day lete,
And ley troden̄ vndre the hors fete;
Lordes, Dukes, Princes, and Kinges, many lose their lives,
Many oon there had here endinges.
But thei within wexed werie, and the Sowdon's men begin
And thei without waxed hardie,
Thei drow hem̄ to the Citie ward;
The batel gan [be] sore and hard
That thei within̄ might it nat drie,
The gates thei gonn̄ draw nye, to retreat to the city.
Into the Citie to haue fled;
There thei lost and left to wed
Of here knightes grete plentie,
That it was pitie forto see;
Sore discomfite thei gon̄ ben̄.
Whan the Soudon that gan̄ sen̄,
Sore he wept, and hondes wrong, The Sowdon weeps
And gan to sorow wondre strong;
He dismaied him hevilie,
He wende haue be lost hastelie, and thinks that all is lost,
And his worship for euermoo.
[Generides] cam riding thoo,
And drogh him to the Soudon nere,
And saugh him make so careful chere;
He spake to him som what felli,
And seid to him right sharplie, but Generides re∣proves him,
"It helpeth not such soro to make
Al thogh we haue harme take;
Som of hem [the enemy.] oure care might seen̄,
That moch the bettre wold thei been̄,
And cause vs to haue more shame;
Al this may turn vs to game says his sorrow may soon turn to joy;
Thurgh goddes help, in a litle while;
Turn we ageyn̄, for loue of seint Gile, let us turn again and fight,
And let vs gyve hem̄ batel new,
And kepe we vs to-gedre trew keeping wel to∣gether;
That we skater not a-sondre;
But we doo wel, me thinketh wondre;
And who so flee fro me, I sey, and may all cowards die.
And euel dethe mot he die."
[Generides] his horn̄ gan blow Generides blows his horn,
That his felous might him know;
Anazaree and Darel herd that crie,
And drogh hem to him hastelie
With twoo hundreth on a route collects 200 knights
Of goode knightes bold and stoute.
[Generides] seid vnto hem ałł,
"Feire lordes, harme is vs befałł;
That we shal win, me thinketh treulie;
For my loue, holdeth you fast bi me, tells them all to keep together,
And I shal hold me fast bi you,
Softlie to-gedre goo we now,
Loke we smyte hard and sore, and smite hard.
In heuēn elles come I neuer more;
But I doo as I best can̄,
Count me neuer elles for gentilman̄."
[Generides] turned him egrelie Generides attacks the foe,
Vpon̄ his enmies lustilie;
Whom so [Generides] gan hitt,
Out of his sadle he made him flit;
Many a man̄ he felled and slogħ, and kills many.
That day he bare him wel y-nogħ,
God made neuer a bettre knigħt
Of flesh and boon̄ forto figħt.
But than̄ cam encountre strong,
Folk of higher Inde among; The men of Higher Inde,
Ther cam of hem a grete frape,
Ful like Giauntez thei wer y-shape, like giants,
With here wepons like mattokkes
Thei gafe many boistous knokkes; deal terrible blows.
Strong thei were out of mesure,
Ther might noo man̄ here strokes endure.
Here king, Sir Armonyus hight, Their king, Ar∣monius,
Of Anazaree he had a sight,
And with his iren̄ mattok hits Anazaree a tremendous blow with his mattock,
His shelde he gaue such a knok
That Anazaree gan to stoupe
Bakward ouer his hors croupe;
Had he no might to hold his shelde,
The arme that it with-al he helde
Was with the stroke astoyned soo sore
He wende haue be lost for euermore,
Had he not stouped he had be deid;
The mace was hevie as any leid
That it the stedes nek to-brast; kills his horse,
Tho was Anazaree sore agast,
His stede fel deid vndre him thoo,
Anazaree swoned in that woo; and leaves him swooning.
Whan he stil in swonyng lay,
He lete him lie, and went his wey.
Than̄ gan̄ he Darel draw nigħ, Then Armonius attacks Darel,
And lift vp his mace on higħ,
And therwith Darel he smote soo
Amiddes betwix his shuldres twoo
That Darel fel nigħ to ground; and nearly fells him to the ground,
But as he stouped in that stound,
Aboute the nek his stede he hent but he clings to his horse's neck,
That he not doun̄ fullie went;
So he lay in swonyng a while,
That theef almost did him begyle;
Sone he rose, and lay not long,
He drogh him his felous among, and then goes to the men who are carrying Anazaree from the field.
For thei Anazaree with hem had,
Him thei reskewed, from the yndes lad;
Set he was on a goode stede,—
The shame to his hert yede,—
Anazaree lift vp his hond, But Anazaree recovers,
And smote a knight of ynde lond
On high on the helme ayeinst the crown̄
That the grete stroke fled a-down̄
Thurgh the helme in to the brayne;
For al his might, there was he slayne, and kills a knight of Ynde.
Euen before Armonius sight
Deid from his stede fel that knight.
Thereof made Armonius the king Armonius grieves for the loss of the knight,
Grete sorow and weymenting,
For that knight he loued wele,
Of his kyn̄ he was somdele;
For wrath he gan̄ loud crie,
And his folkes to-gedre gan̄ hie collects his mat∣tock-men,
With here mattokkes long and grete; who kill many of the Sowdon's party,
Many thei made here liues to lete.
Armonyus saw [Generides],
And to him he made ful grete pres; and he himself attacks Generides,
As an hound that wold bite,
Semblaunce he made forto smite;
[Generides] was of him ware,
His naked swerd in hond he bare,
The egge was mich wered a-wey whose sword-edge is much injured with hacking helms.
On helmes, with his large pay,
That wroght were of yren and stele,
With strokes that he had set wele.
King Armonius first smet Armonius hits Generides,
On [Generides], such a stroke he sett
On his shelde with his grete mace,
That had it not ben thurgh goddes grace
His deth he had caght tho, and nearly kills him,
His sheld to-sheuered euen in twoo
From ende to ende ouertwhert.
Generides was egre of hert, and Generides in turn
The sheld he put vnto that dint,
And in the sheld the stroke stint;
He gafe Armonius ageynward
A ful stroke, and an hard, cleaves Armonius
On the helme aboue the crovn̄,
That twoo quarters therof fel dovn̄,
The barres of gold in sondre yede,
The brond to the brāyn gan spede,
And euen clofe the heid in twoo, in two, right to the breast-bone.
The nek to the breste boone also
Euen right doun̄ to the girdle stede;
The king from his stede fel doun deid.
Than wax his folk dismaied sore, This dismays the mattock-men,
Batel to hold list thei no more;
Outran, that was here Captein most, and their captain, Outran, tells them to go,
He seid, "felous, goo we from this ost,
For erthlie man neuer I sigħ
Gif such a stroke, fer ne nigħ,
As did he this that oure lord slogħ,
For a deuel it was a stroke ynogħ, as Generides must be a devil to strike such a stroke as that.
And to mich for any man̄,
I trow he is a fende," seid Outran̄,
"There is noo counsel with vs but oon̄;
Goo we hens euerichoon̄;
It is not worth lenger to dwełł,
Yondir devel shal vs ałł quełł."
The king of kinges com riding, King Bellyns ex∣horts the flying Indians;
And met the yndianes fast fleyng,
And saw the sorow that thei made;
His hert began̄ sore to fade
For wondir of here cowardise,
He trusted hem most in al wise,
He wend to fight thei had bene best,
For of his oste thei wer strongest;
Toward Outrān he rode his stede,
And seid, "felow, help at this nede
To destroie here oure enmyes,
Or elles we lese here oure prise."
Outran̄ seid, "it may not be; but Outran says it is no good: Generides goes on like a devil.
May not ye youre self see
That yondre knight on the white stede
Taketh on̄ as a deuel in dede?
In this world I saw neuer such oon̄;
Thurgh him we hān our lord forgoon̄
That was so strong and so hardie,
With oon stroke he clofe his bodie."
Whan king Bellins herd that saw, Bellyns is very wroth,
That king Armonius was slaw,
He wex nigh woode for wrath, I wene;
But furth he rode in grete tene,
On the helme he smote Lauran the king and hits King Lau∣ran so that he swoons.
That he stouped and fel in swonyng,
Of that stroke so astoned he was;
Yet was he holpen in that case.
Generides ful fast thoo cam, Generides tries to get at Bellyns,
And of king Bellins hede he nam;
He presed fast to him ward,
But the pres was so thik and hard but is prevented by the press.
That sone thei were parted in sonndre,
Elles had thei made grete wondre
And proued here strenght that same day,
Gladlie thei wold haue made assay,
But than ne might it be noght.
The king Bellins had grete thoght Bellyns is distressed at his men's
That his folk begon̄ to scater;
Him self among, neuer the later,
He bare him as a doughti knigħt,
Many oon that day to dethe he digħt;
His men̄ were vnhorsed and taken̄,
His folkes deid, on sondre shaken̄, giving way,
Therof was he woo ynogħ
Whan he saw thei hem withdrogħ,
For he ne might not aloone
Fight ayeinst hem̄ euerichoon̄.
Generides was hardie and sligħ, and Generides
And saw hem flee, and drogh him nigħ,
Chasing and euer layng on̄, chases and kills them.
With his swerd he slogh many on̄,
And many from here horse he kest;
His felows also at the best
Bare hem̄ wele that ilk tide,
Many on̄ thei slogh on̄ ech a side.
That ost without began̄ to flee,
[Generides] he turned ageyn̄ trewlie, He and his com∣panions turn back to the city,
With his felows to the Citie thei went,
The gates thei shet bi here althers consent,
And thei withoute than euerechoon̄
To here paviloun̄s gan̄ to goon̄,
Wele sore ashamed and dismaied
That thei that day were so affraied.
Moche ioye and solempnitie
Thei made tho within the Citie; and those within give Generides great praise.
Thei gave [Generides] the victorie,
Of knighthod al did him magnifie;
No man herd him neuer boost,
Yet was he best of all the oost.
Mocħ laude gave him the Soudon̄,
So did his lordes euerichon̄,
And thanked him of here wynnyng,
And worshipped him of his begynnyng.
Bellins herd of his loos now; Bellyns hears of it, and vows he will fight Generides.
Than to god he mad a vow
"Die he wold vpon a day
But he [Generides] wold assay;
Alloon̄ he wold with him figħt,
That al men may see here might,
Which of hem shal haue maistrie;"—
To him he had so grete envie.
Here vitailes in the Citie were spent, The victuals in the city are nearly gone,
In point thei were to be shent
And lese here lond and here honoure,
But god send hem bettre socoure.
The king of kinges knew here mischief, but Bellyns
But him were moch bettre and lefe wishes to win it by fighting himself.
With his own bodie alloon̄ to wyn̄
Al that were the Citie within.
CHAPTER XII.
How the King of Kinges desireth to darreyn̄ the batel [with] his ovn̄ hondes.
Vpōn a day in the morow tide King Bellyns assembles his host.
He called his lordes on euery side,
Of his oost he made assemble
A litle beside that feire Citie
In a middow faire and brode,
Him self in the midward stode,
Of hert he was passing proude,
To hem he spake al on̄ loude
Forto shew his hertes wiłł,
"Lordes," he seid, "standeth stiłł, and tells them
And listeneth wele to my purpose
Of that I shal to you disclose;
If we lenger here dwell, that if they stop there longer they will be dis∣honoured,
Vnworship men wil of us mełł;
Of oure folk, ye wete wele ałł,
Grete losse is vs befałł,
And that of the best most sonest
I warn̄e you, I sey in ernest,
The deuel him hang bi the throte
That will suffre this Rote;
As for me, nov I may, and therefore he will bring the war to an end
I will make a short assay
To bring to end this batell
Or six das without faile;
For, bi god I on bileue,
Who it pleas, or who it greue,
Vpōn me Bellins, youre grete king,
Shal fałł the lose or the wynnyng;
With my bodie alloone I shal by a single com∣bat with some knight
Fight with som knight grete or smal,
And ther be oōn so hardie on here side
Me in bateł forto abide;
My werre ende now wiłł I
With strenght of myn̄ own bodie;
And therfore, bi youre counsel and reide,
Send I wil without drede
To the Soudon̄ into his toure, of the Sowdon's
As he wil saue his higħ honoure,
That he a knight purvey and finde,
So he be of gentil kynde,
That bodie for bodie, and hond for hond,
Wil fight with me to saue his lond
Within thes foure daies at the lest, within four days.
Or out of his lond I shal him threst:
Shal he noon othir mercy wyn̄,
He nor noon of all his kyn̄."
The king of libie, lamedon̄, King Lamedon
He stert vp and answerd anoon̄,
He seid, "lordes, Princes, and baroun̄s,
Hou liketh you bi the kinges resoūns?
Euer me thinketh, bi seint Micheł, thinks that Bel∣lyns's proposal is a good one,
The king of kinges hath seid wel;
But I trow ther is noon so hardie,
Duke, Erle, ne noon of his baronye,
Ayeinst him that will fight,
So wele thei knew al his migħt,
But that he proferetħ so large a way
To put the bataile betwix twey,
Him self that oon wold bene,
That chalenge is wele sene."
The baroun̄es thoght that it was soo, and the other barons agree.
And al thei assented wel thertoo.
Lamedon̄ was wise and sligħ, Lamedon
Of the Soudanes kyn̄ he was nigħ,
That the batel shuld on̄ that manere
As king Bellins ordeined there,
But he had grete couetise desires to reconcile Bellyns and the Sowdon.
To accord hem in som wise;—
Litle respite at mycħ nede
Falleth som tyme wele to spede;—
For aythers worship, never the les,
Leamedon̄ coveteth pees.
Than̄ was the king of kinges glad But the King of Kings
That no man̄ his will forbad;
He thanked king Leamedon̄
And al his lordes euerechon̄,
And chese his barouns wise and hende gives his barons
On his message forto wende,
"Goo and sey vnto the Saudan̄, his challenge to the Sowdon's knights
That if he may finde a man̄
That were so strong and so hardie
That durst bodie for bodie
Ayeinst the king of kinges fight, to fight
Were he at the degre of knight,
That within the xv day him within fifteen days
He shuld send him without delay
Into the middow the Citie by, in the city meadows alone.
There shal he finde redily
Ayeinst him the king of kinges;
Al his meignye and lordinges,
He shal remeve hem̄ that tide,
And him self there batel abide."
That oon messanger hight Sampson̄, The messengers were Sampson,
A wise man of grete Renoun̄;
Of Corinthie, that riche contree,
Lord and chieftan̄ was he;
That othre hight Loridas, Loridas,
A noble man, lord of Damas,
Wise he was of londes law;
Jonathas, hight the third felaw, and Jonathas.
Of Egipt a noble baroun̄,
A wittie man̄ of grete renoun̄,
Doghtie of his bodie also;
To him and to his felows twoo
The king of kinges told his wił,
And bad his message thei shuld fulfił,
To the Soudon tel in al thing
His message plein̄ without letting.
Al thre thei were wise ynogħ,
And toke in here hand a bougħ They take an olive-branch,
Of Olive, in tokene of pees,
And went here wey without les: go to the city,
At the gate lete yn̄ thei were
For the token̄s that thei bere.
To the Soudon̄ men̄ broght hem son̄e and are led to the Sowdon,
Here message here forto doon̄;
Sampson spake, for he was theldest, whom Sampson tells
To doo that message he was best;
"We be sent from the king of kinges
For to bring you new tithinges;
Aftre this day, ye yelde youre lond that he must give up his land
Al hollie vp in to his hond,
But if ye may finde a knight unless he finds a knight
That dar be so hardye and wight
Ayeinst him in any wise
Figħt bodie for bodie; nov you avise, to fight body for body
For hard it were such oon to finde,
So bold, and comen̄ of gentil kinde,
That ageyn̄ him fight wold,
A grete fule I shuld him hold,
For so hardie a man̄ in any lond,
Ne so bold, I take on hond,
As is Bellins, the king of kinges, against the King of Kings,
That such an̄ oost with him bringes.
Also, Sir, of an othre thing
He sendeth you word, that riche king;
That ye send him youre doghtre dere and unless he sends the king his daughter as a paramour.
A while to be his pleing fere;
For as I deme, but she it make,
Shul ye neuer haue pes, I vndretake;
For oure king as amerous is
As any man in erthe I-wis;
Therfor I know no bettre reasoun̄
To bring al this werre a-doun̄
Than youre doghtre him to send;
Best she shal youre right defend, She will be the best means to stop the war.
That al this werre betwix you twoo
May be peased for euermoo
Without spilling of more bloode;
Bethink you if my reason̄ be goode."
The Saudon̄ sat as stil as stoon̄, The Sowdon
And al his baronnes euerichoon̄;
He saw wele he was at mischief,
To saue his londes he was lefe, wishes to save his lands,
And knight had he noon̄, as he wende,
That his londes wold defende;
Welnigh it was in his thoght and is thinking of doing what Samp∣son requires,
Sampsones counsel to haue wroght;
What he might doo he ne wist,
Whān he saw no man list
To speke a word, but satten stil.
[Generides] than liked ful yll when Generides, disgusted at the others' silence,
Sucħ cowardes thei shuld he hold,
That noon of hem speke wold;
Than he saw bi the Soudones chere,
And knew a parte of his manere,
That he easy to chaunge was,
And that he shuld his ladie and seeing the Sowdon about to give up his daugh∣ter,
To the king of kinges graunt,
In vnclennes hir life to haunt.
[Generides] that suffre ne might,
But stert vp ful egre and light,
And spake on higħ vnto the Soudon̄
Before his lordes euerichoon̄,
"Sir," he seid, "if youre wil be, says he must not do so,
Ye shal not bi the counsel of me
Doo as thes messangers say to you;
For it were youre grete vilany nov it would be great villainy
Mi ladie, youre doghtre, any man to take,
An evel woman̄ of hir to make; to make his daugh∣ter a bad woman,
If he wold speke of mariage,
That were worship and avauntage;
That othre were grete shame and lore,
I shal tel you wel wherfore:
Than might wel youre enmyes his enemies would hold him cheap for it,
Hold you of ful litle price,
And al youre lordes and euery man̄
Wold set ful litle bi you than̄,
And sey that it were yuel beset,
The dishonour we al therbi might gete, and his knights would be dis∣honoured if they suffered it.
And the grete nurtoure and goodnes
That ye haue doon̄ vs more and les,
If we shuld thurgh cowardise
Suffre such vilanie in this wise;
For drede my ladie thus to lese,
Rather I my self wold chese Rather than that, Generides will fight for the Sow∣don,
To take on hond this batel for you
To saue youre lond for youre prou;
For wele I wote and vndrestond
Youre quarel is trew ye haue on hond,
And therfor who shal for you fight,
He shal wirch al with the right;
And god, that neuer loued wrong, and God shall make him strong.
In youre right shal make me strong;
If his help be my guyde,
Neuer shal I mis-betid;
And therfor if the king of kinges
Wold haue youre doghtre without wedinges,
He shal hir wyn̄ in pleyn bataile,
And elles he shal now on hir faile."
Whan he had thus seid to the Soudon̄, Generides
To the messangers he seid anoon̄,
He seid to Sampson̄ there he stoode, then charges Sampson
"Ye ar a messanger, noble and goode
To doo youre lordes message a-right;
But he is vncurtes, I you plight,
And his counsel is bad therto,
Therfor it shal nothing be soo;
Sey youre lord, If I lyve may, to tell the King of Kings he will fight him on the third day,
He shal me finde the third day
(Bi the might of goddes grace)
Redie armed in the place
There he assigneth the batel to be;
Treuly I cast me not to flee;
Mi gloue here to plegge I lay whereof he lays his glove as a pledge.
To kepe my promys the same day;
To fight with me, him is noo shame,
Wel I know, bi goddes name!
A kinges son̄, I am certeyn̄,
Neuer til nov I did it seyn̄;
A king is my fadre, my modre a quene,
Som tyme I hope it shal be seen̄."
Whan̄ the Soudon̄ herd of that, The Sowdon repents of having imprisoned Gene∣rides.
Wel stil he sighed ther he sat,
And ful sore gan him Repent
That he him prisoned for such an entent
Touching his doughtre [Clarionas];
Therof ful sore dismayed he was.
Sampson̄ beheld [Generides],
And saw that he noo colour lese, Sampson, seeing his boldness
Nor noo maner abasshaunce,
But bare him bold of countynaunce;
And therto he saw his feir stature, and fair stature,
Large of brede and of goode mesure,
And seid(:) "Sir, for youre goode
I rede ye withdraw youre moode; advises him to withdraw,
Many oon bereth him bold at home,
Dar doo ful simplie if he out come;
Mi feire Sir, I rede you
That ye so bold bere not yoū
To profre you to figħt in such fightes and not fight the best of all the knights of the world.
With him that beretħ the price of al knightes
That is in this world, yong or olde;
If ye did(:) ful simple I wold you hold."
[Generides] answerd him thoo, Generides says
"Sir," he seid, "it may wele be soo
That he hath noo pere of prowes;
As therfor, neithre the more ne les,
I haue the right and he the wrong, he has the right on his side,
Rigħt maketħ a feble man strong;
And here to god I make a vow,
Were he as strong as Sampson̄ now,
Taxe getetħ he noon of Perse lond; and will die sooner than Perse shall be taxed;
I shal die rather than̄ see it so bond.
Out of this Citie aloon̄ shal I
Come(:) and he wil voide his company
I shal him mete my self alloon̄,
Than̄ may he his [wil] to me doon̄; he will fight the king, Bellyns, on the third day.
The third day at prime it shal be seen̄,
He shal me finde on yondre gren̄e;
Take here my wedd, and say him thus,
I shal not faile bi crist Ihesus."
Sampson receyved ther the wed, Sampson returns,
And ageyn̄ his wey he sped
With his felows to the king,
And told, as he bad him, in al thing and gives the king Generides's mes∣sage.
His pleyn̄ answer in ech degree,
And of thes tithinges right glad was he;
And his paviloun̄s from that stede,
With al his oost, remeve he did
From the town̄ twoo long myle,
He logged hem̄ there for a while;
Vpon̄ here liues he hath forbede
"That [when] so euer he there spede,
That noon of hem shul remew,
Him to help or reskew."
Of this bataile the tithinges sprong
In al the Citie the folk among;
For [Generides] thei made dole and weping, All mourn for Generides,
Bothe yong and old in grete mournyng,
And for him thei preid ful hertilie.
[Clarionas] sorowed for him gretelie and Clarionas sor∣rows for him,
That such a bataile shuld bene
King Bellins and [Generides] betwene,
Or than she herd ful wele sey because she has heard
"That knight liued noght at that day
That to Bellins wold be felow, that Bellyns lays all who fight him low.
But sone he broght him right low,
So strong and so doughtie he was;"
Grete sorow therfor made [Clarionas,]
"Allas," she seid, "for verray pitie
This dooth [Generides] for loue of me;
If any thing hap him amys,
I am cause therof I-wis;
I can noon othre boote therto,
If he die, so shal I alsoo; If Generides dies, she will die too;
Outhir if he wold forsake
The batel he hath vndretake,
Whider-som-euer wend he wold,
Goo with him for sothe I shold—
If he wold me with him lede—
To forsake al my kinrede;
And Mirabel, if ye wold assent, but she would ra∣ther send and tell him to give up the fight, and she will go with him any∣where.
I wold my chambirleyn̄ to him went,
And pray him the batel to withdraw;
I had leuer goo with him thogh I shuld be slaw."
"Doo wey, ma dame," seid Mirabełł, Mirabel will not hear of this,
It were not youre worship, treulie to tełł,
For ye were shent for euermore,
And al his worship therbi were lore, as all his honour would be lost by it,
Whan he to fight hath take on hond
Forto saue al Perse lond;
Bi his withdrawing his foos might avaunt,
He shuld be holden as Recreaunt,
And my lorde youre fadres worship therto
Shuld be vttirlie lost for euermoo;
But send him word on this manere—but tells Clarionas she must ask him
Sith ye ar his ladie dere—
That he wil undretake this fight
For youre loue and for your fadres rigħt; to fight for her love
Behote him euer to be trew, and be ever true to her.
And neuer to chaunge him for noo new. .
Anoon̄ Gwynet hir chambirleyn̄—This message Gwynet
Which was euer trew, the sothe to seyn̄—
The message did from [Clarionas]:
To [Generides] sent he was,
And curteslie did him present takes to Generides
With the message his ladie to him sent,
And told him the ende of al hir sonde,
As ferforth as he couth vndrestond?
[Generides] thanked hir hertilie wel who thanks his lady for it.
Both for hir message and hir pensel,
And he besoght hir to be trew and kinde,
For so shuld she him euer finde.
Gwynet made noo tariyng
But bare the report with glad tithing.
On the third morow Bellins the king On the third day Bellyns
Rose erlie or the day gan̄ spring;
He lete sadle his sted Morełł,
And armed him richelie and wełł, arms and rides forth on his steed Morell.
And stert vp, and furth he rode
That neuer he stint ne aboode
Into the medow til that he cam̄
Where he to fight on hond nam.
His stede that he sat vpon̄ His steed was coal∣black,
Was colle blake, and ther-to he shoon̄
As any gete ayeinst the light;
A feire stede he was, and therto wight,
Therfor he him sonest chese
To ride ageyn̄ [Generides];
His shelde was blak and blew, sanz fable, his shield blue and sable,
Barred of asure and of sable,
With floures thik poudred wele,
Stif, and sharplie heded with stele,
Long ynogh, and grete to see;
His helme was wortħ a riche countre;
His swerd heng bi his right side,
The hilt was sett with riche Rubie his sword-hilt set with rubies,
That bright shoon̄ as any sterre,
A bettre swerd come neuer in werre.
There in the midow he houed alloon̄,—
With him no man of flesh and boon̄,—
Euer leynyng on̄ his launce;
With irous hort and grete countynaunce
He demed noon so hardie were and he thinks no one will be bold enough to fight him.
To come fight with him there.
Vnto [Generides This and the other Generides-es in the few next folios are in the later hand, and sometimes written Gerenides.] come the tithinges,
That comēn was the king of kinges,
And armed in the middow rode,
And the batel there abode.
Whan [Generides] of that wist, Generides hears of it,
To arme him he had grete list; arms at once,
Whan that he was armed wele
He lept vpon̄ his stede Grisel, mounts Grisel,
the Soudon gaf it [Generides to his in the later hand.],
For him to fight he it chese.
[Generides] set him on his stede,
And fortħ he rode a goode spede and rides to the meadow where Bellyns awaits him.
Into the midow to the king,
Wel y-armed in al thing;
Of hors and armes at his pay
The Soudon̄ yave him the same day, the Sowdon having given him Julian's sowrd,
A feire swerd he yave him than̄
That was the Emperours Julian̄,
That thurgh treason̄ was sleyn̄ in Rome
Of his comonns without dome;
Twoo of tho traitoures stole that brond,
And broght it into Perse lond;
The Soudon̄ smote of here heides bothe,
For traitoures was him euer lootħe;
The same swerd was goode and brigħt,
This goode swerd Claret hight; named Claret.
Aboute his nek heng his shelde,
Bright it shoone ouer all the felde;
The champe of the feld was goules His shield red, with gold birds, and bordered,
Thik y-poudred with smale foules
Of riche gold, with a broode bourdure
Purtraied with sable and with asure;
Therto he bare a ful grete launce, and on his lance hangs Clarionas's cognizance.
And heng theron his conyssaunce
That [Clarionas] him last sent.
Whan he was redie, furth he went;
At the Soudon̄ his leue taketh he,
And yede out at gates of the Citie; The citizens go out of the gates to see the combat,
To the walles yede many without faile
Forto behold that strong bataile;
The grete went vp into the toure
To behold that sharp shoure
That than̄ toward [Generides] was:
In grete drede was [Clarionas]. and Clarionas is in great dread.
[Generides] rode furth waloping
Into the middow ther fast nighyng;
The king of kinges saw him come than̄, King Bellyns gal∣lops up to him,
Waloping fast to him he ran̄,
And proudlie with a stern chere
He seid, "art thou come, messangere? and asks if he has come as a messen∣ger.
What wondre did the hidre come?"
Whan̄ [Generides] had vndre-nome
How wrothe he was for his comyng,
Agreued he was, and seid, "sir king,
On message I am come to the, "Yes, to tell
The soudon me sent as thou may see;
Out of his lond he biddeth the goo you to go back to your own country;
To thi contre there thou come froo,
For vpon̄ him thou warrest with wrong,
And that may he not suffre long,
And, Sir, now I haue the seid
The message that was on me leid,
Nou come I not as a messanger, No, to fight you, for the Sowdon and his land."
But I come as A bachiller
Ageinst the in the place anoon̄
For defend my lord the Soudon̄;
His lond, and his men, from trewage
Or from ony othir maner seruage,
Ageyns thi wrong in oure rigħt
I wil defend with al my might."
The king of kinges this vndrestoode, The King of Kings bellows for rage;
And began̄ to below for verray moode;
Of visage he wex pale ynogħ,
And a litle he him with-drogh, both prepare,
[Generides] also on̄ his side
Dressed him redie forto ride,
He couerd him thoo with his shelde,
For to Iust his spere he helde;
[Bellins [Bellinus in a later hand.] Also in his wise
Purveid him in the same gyse.
The king lete his hors goon̄,
And [Generides] vnto him ran̄ anoon̄; and charge,
The first strokes that thei yeuen̄,
Booth here sheldes al to-riven̄, smash one an∣other's shields,
Here launces passed furth fast bie
That noon touched othirs bodie,
Here speres beleft hole booth,
And therfor thei were ful wrootħ;
The king in hert was neuer so woo,
His stede he russhed to and froo;
An othre course thei riden with hate, They charge again.
[Generides] come not to late,
His spere he bare vpon ħigh,
The kinges helm it come ful nigħ
That al the plate ayeinst his vise Generides drives in the king's helm,
The stroke it withstoode in noo wise;
Thurgh the helme the spere yode,
And euen forbi the visage glode,
Yet it hurt not the king
Vnethes but a litle ripling;
Bi the hauberk the bloode doun̄ ran̄ and draws blood.
Welnigh he had his mede than̄;
The king in the same chaunce The king
Smote [Generides] witħ ħis launce
In his sheld, that it to-rofe;
Thurgh a rift the launce drofe
Forth bi [Generides] side, makes a hole in Generides's side armour,
On his armure it made an hole wide
That [Generides] was armed in;
Som dele it touched of his skyn̄,
But it made no depe wound,
The reid bloode doun̄ ran to ground. draws blood too,
The king supposed at that stirt
[Generides] he had thurgh girt,
And cried on high, "maistre, thou bledes, and tells Generides
A while thou must rest the nedes;
I rede that thou goo home ageyn̄, he had better go home again.
To saue thi life thou oughtest be fayn̄."
"Sir king," seid [Generides], Generides
"I blede fast, it is noo les;
On liue thou woldest lete me goon̄,
And so I wil, wilt thou or noon̄;
Of that thou hast lete me bloode
It dooth me yet no thing but goode;
But think on the wound in thi face, tauuts him with the wound in his face.
That remembraunce shal be euer in that place."
Out of witt he was for wode,
Yet was his spere hole and goode,
And so was [Generides] also;
Ful egrelie thei loked both twoo,
Here stedes thoo to withdraw thei gon̄,
The third course to-gedre thei ron̄; They run the third course,
In mid sheld aithre othir met
With stoute strokes, and wele I-sett;
The sheldes crased thoo somdele,
But both thei kept hem ful wele
That hem self noon hurt thei toke;
Both here speres in peces thei broke,
And eithir hors hurtled othir soo
That al four fete men might se thoo, and are both upset,
Both ouerthrew hors and man̄. horse and man.
Grete crie was in the Citie than, and the citizens
Of [Generides] thei were agast
That he was so to ground cast,
[Clarionas Clarionas ther in the later hand.] also saw that and Clarionas fear for Generides.
Out of the toure there she sat;
Of [Generides] she was in were,
She wept and made ful heuy chere.
Both [Generides] and the king But he and Bellyns
Thei were ashamed of here falling;
Vp thei rose, thei lay not long, spring up,
For hast thei toke here horses wrong, and by mistake take one another's horses.
Ich of hem in that hastie nede
Stert vpon othirs stede;
The king was sore dismaied,
Such a turn̄ had he neuer assaied;
Swerdes draw thei must thoo, They draw their swords
For speres had thei nomoo;
There began̄ bataile strong,
For litle loue was hem among,
Helmes, sheldes, thei bete and clouen̄
With grete strokes that thei youen̄, and fight fiercely.
That the middow vndre hem rebound
Of strokes thei yaue on the ground;
The king for wroth was nigħ woode
That oon man so long him withstoode,
His bridel thoo he gan restreyn̄,
And to [Generides] gan he seyn̄ Then the king pro∣poses to Generides
"Wikked man̄, art thou yete on liue
In this maner with me to striue?
Whi doost thou fight so felly with me
Whan̄ I neuer erst mys-did the,
And for thing that toucheth the nogħt?
Therfor I rede thou chaunge thi thoght,
And my mān become right now, to become his man,
That shal be mych more for thi prow;
To medes I wil gyve the thi life,
And grete londes, and leue thi strife;
And whan I haue [Clarionas] y-gete, and he will give up Clarionas to him;
For thi loue I shal hir lete;
And thou wilt here of me craue,
At my yeft thou shalt hir haue;
And, for I the so doughtie know,
Me reweth sore to bring the low,
Or ye to flee here at mischief,
To saue thi life me were ful lef;
If thou wilt not, thou getest noo grace, otherwise he, Bel∣lyns, will kill him.
But thou shal die here in this place."
Than̄ answerd Sir [Generides], Generides says
"I see wele I may haue thi pes
If I wil thi man become,
And leue that I haue on hond nome,
To defend the Soudon of his lond
Ayeinst the with my right hond;
In me shal he neuer treason̄ finde, he will not be a traitor to the sow∣don,
For it cam me neuer of kinde;
Fals to be found, siker thou be,
Noght shal I for drede of the,
Nor for thi loue, ne for thi heste,
For that I preise euer at the lest:
For thou proferest that thou hast no part,
That me to yeue large thou art;
Thou proferest me [Clarionas], and as to Clarionas, she is not Bellyns's to give—
That noght is thin, ne neuer was;
For such a gift is not to allowe,
For thou maist it not avow;
But who so hir haue at hir will,
For sothe he may not spede iłł,
But sekirlie thou art not he,
I dar wel say, who soo it be;
Thi part of hir, bi that we goon̄,
I hope it shal be litle or noon̄; he will have little of her—
And thogh I hir haue shold,
Of thi gyft haue hir I nold;
And therfor, as for me, I sey
With dint of swerd betwix us twey." let the sword decide.
Whan the king this answer herd,
As a woode man̄ he blew and ferd, Bellyns is furious,
And to [Generides] he seid thoo,
"With-draw the now as my deidli foo;
For al the gold and siluer bright
That euer was in the world digħt,
Thi life this day thou shuldest bye
That thou ne shalt of my hondes die."
To [Generides] his wey he made—
Of that was many oon̄ vnglade
Of the Citie that saw it thoo,—
[Generides] he smote soo attacks Generides, and splits his shield;
That his sheld nigħ al to-brast,
Therof he was ful sore agast;
The king perceyved in that dede
The strengħ of [Generides] stede,
The chaunge he thoght was [not] a-mys
That [Generides] had his stede I-wis;
The king was right slie and queynt,
And saw his ovn̄ stede gan̄ to feynt
That [Generides] than bestrode;
The king hurtling to him rode, then charges him again,
For with his ovn̄ stedes brest
The goode knight ther doun he kest,
That vndre him that feint stede and throws his steed to the ground;
Both at oon̄es to ground thei yede.
With the falling [Generides]
His goode swerd from his hond he les; Generides loses his sword,
That saw the king, and ouer him rode
Twies or thries or he abode; and the king rides over him,
Neuer wors than tho [Generides] lete,
Vp he keuered on his fete, but he rises,
His goode swerd he saw on ground,
Ful woo he was in that stound.
The king approched to him fast,
Yet his swerd he couerd at the last recovers his sword.
Vp from the ground, magre the king
That made there many an hurtling
Forto lete him his swerd to take.
[Generides] hert began̄ to quake,
Of that shame he there betid,
Al his bloode kele it did;
As thei made this turnyeng,
The same stede that bare the king, and catches the king's steed by the bridle;
Bi the bridel [Generides] him hent,
And tho he swore by seint Clement
"This stede deliuer me thou most,
For it was myn, as wele thou wost;
This day to wel he hatħ serued the,
An euel chaunge it was for me."
The king smote the hors in the side, the king spurs it to get free,
From [Generides] wold he ride;
I blame him not thogh he were wrotħe,
The king had his stede, that was him lothe;—
The hors he held for al his russhing but Generides holds tight;
And for al the maugre of the king,
So that thurgħ his holding hard
The sted arerud and fel bakward; the horse rears and falls backward with the king.
And ther lay the king of kinges,
He was yuel paied of thes tithinges;
Vp he stert; withdraw him he wold;
But [Generides] seid he ne shold,
"Laugħ there," he seid, "now, sir king, Generides mocks him,
Thou plaidest with me at thi liking,
Nou shal I, Sir, magre thi leue,
Som what ageyn̄ the now greue."
The king he smote with hert fełł, and hits him a blow
Of his sheld floy of a grete cantel,
A litle he hirt him in the face,
Bi the brest his swerd gān glace,
An̄ hundreth nailes and many moo
Of his hauberk he rent thoo;
Litle wanted that the king that nearly kills him,
Of that stroke had his ending;
But the stroke vndre the fent
Queyntly al a-side it went,
For bi his flank the swerd stert; but the sword glances aside
That tyme he had no more hirt,
That men̄ might see without couert,
His bare knee it kerued overtwhert,
The point of the swerd with that stroke lepe
Into the ground twoo fote depe. and goes two feet into the ground.
The king on him loked hote,
And seid, "cursed be thou that me so smote, The king curses him,
And thi swerd both that kerueth so wele,
For ther is in it to mycħ stele.
Of this stroke I am in thi det,
To quite it the I wil not let."
With his shelde he couerd his bodie,
He ran̄ to him ful egrelie, rushes at him,
From him som dele he wold haue wried
Whan̄ his fel com̄yng he aspied,
To cleue his heid the king made ame,
But—blessed be goddes holie name—
[Generides] with his goode shelde
That hidous stroke from him helde;
Euen to bokel the shelde rofe, splits his shield and his shoulder armour,
Doun̄ to the shuldre the swerd drofe,
And brake both hauberk and Acton̄,
In many stede the male fel doun̄,
Welnigh it came to the bare side;
The swerd with the stroke gan glide,
And gafe [Generides] a grete wound and gives him a great wound in the thigh.
In the tħigh that ilk stound;
The swerd furth in to the erthe shet,
And made a depe hole and a grete.
And than̄ the king Bellins seid,
"Felow, thou maist me nat abreid
That I thi dettour long wold be,
I trow thou art quit, so mot I the."
Thoo was [Generides] hert ful woo, Generides
For angre he wexed angre thoo,
He smote the king on the helm̄ aboue,—
That stroke was to his behoue,—
With his swerd he hath doun̄ driuen̄
A quarter of his helme al to-riuen̄,
And clouēn a-wey the right ere; cuts off the King's right ear,
That stroke sore did him dere,
Gliding to the shuldre ward
Thogh the hauberk wer strong and herd;
There the swerd cam, it al to-rent,
The bare arme at last it hent, and a great piece
And did the king mych harme,
Hit bare a-wey of his right arme of his right arm.
A grete pece of brawn̄ with the skyn̄;
No ner his bodie cam it In̄.
The king was stoyned of that stroke, For the first time since he sucked his mother, the king is dismayed,
For sith he of his modre sooke
Dismaied was he neuer or thoo
As whan̄ he saw his ere agoo;
A little to feint he began̄,
But he was so doughtie a man̄,
And looth be euercome he was;
He stepped nere him in that place,
On̄ the sheld that was reue, but strikes Gene∣rides Gene∣rides on the broken shield,
[Generides] sucħ a stroke he yeue
That thurgh the shelde the swerd went,
On [Generides] shuldre it hent and cuts his shoul∣der to the bone;
And wounded him to the boon̄,
But mayme therof had he noon̄;
But nad the king be so werie,
Al the shuldre fast bi the bodie
Had goon of in that tide,
Ne had goddes help ben on his side;
With the strokes that yede hem among then they strike
The fire out of here swerdes sprong,
Here good harneys failed fast,
Yren̄ and stele might hem not last;
So egrelie here strokes thei sett
That with here sheldes to-gedre thei met,
Hurtling that men might here the soun̄ and hurtle together
Out of the middow into the toun̄;
So sore thei gan̄ fight thoo
That here bloode wasted hem̄ froo; till the blood streams;
Here strokes gan somdele aslake,
Yet wold naithir othir forsake,
Ne outhir of othir ouercome be.
Whan that Bellins that did see, then Bellyns
For tene that in his hert stoode
He smote [Generides] with egre moode
That his shelde cleef euen in twoo, cleaves Generides's shield in two so that the pieces fall away,
And in twoo peces it fel him froo,
And with grete wil to him ran̄
Eft sones to smyte him than̄ and gives him a blow
That the ligħt fire out brast;
[Generides] was tho sore agast
Of that stroke in that stound,
For it made him nigh goo to ground, that nearly fells him.
Such a dint he neuer hent—
Therwith to fall had he went,—
Ne had his helm̄e be goode of assay
He had died the same day,
His liue was nigh boght and sold;
The king of kinges gan wax bold
"Recreaunt, pov most the yelde!
Long bataile maist thou not welde."
Than wax [Generides] sore ashamed, Generides
And in his hert right yuel agramed;
To wreke him thogh he had noo shelde;
His goode swerd than he behelde, grips his sword with both hands,
In booth his hondes he it be-clipt,
And al at oones to the king he skipt,— skips to the king,
[Clarionas] in her toure she [? for he.] sigħ,—
And therwithal he stept him nigħ,
With al his strenght he put therto,—
The king saw him come thoo,
And for wrathe he gan̄ to quake
And to [Generides] spech to make,
But he in noo wise wold him here,
He might not for wrathe him self stere,—
He smote the king on̄ the helm aboue hits him on the helm,
A stroke that was not for noo loue,
That twoo quarters fel to ground;
The king caught ther an euel wound,
The chik ther lay doun̄ to the ground, cuts off his cheek,
The flish, the boon̄, and al the skyn̄.
The king swoned, and his brond and sends him swooning
For febilnes fel from his hond;
[Generides] saw him fal to ground, to the ground.
And beheld his griseli wound
And the bloode that he tho shad;
Grete pitie of him he had,
Vp he him drogh and him behelde,
And made him lene vpōn his shelde.
Whan the king of swonyng wooke, When the king revives, he
His swerd bi the point he tooke,
And seid, "O knight, Sir [Generides], prays Generides for peace,
At this tyme ye graunt me pees;
Mi woundes smert me so sore,
With you may I fight nomore;
To you I yelde me anoon right yields to him as the noblest knight alive,
As in this world for most noble knight
That is living, I dar wele say,
Youre worthines tel I may.
Wherfor mercy I now you crie;
Forgyf me al my vilanye
That I haue doon̄ and seid of you;
Merci, [Generides], for goddes loue nov(.)
And graunt me, if it be youre wiłł, begs leave to retire with his host into his own land,
With mȳn ost to wende stiłł
Sauelie into my lond ageyn̄
Without more tene or trayn̄,
Vpon this swerd shal I swere
That neuer the Soudon shal I dere,
Ne fro this tyme furth waite him no shame,
Nor noon othir in my name;
And [Clarionas Generides in the later hand.]], Sir, vnto you and releases his claim to Clarionas,
I releysse my clame as now,
For treulie to hir ye haue more right to whom Generides has most right.
Than̄ ony othir living wight,
For neuer quite you she may
That ye haue doon̄ for hir this day."
[Generides] beheld the kinges state,
Hou he gan wex feble and mate;
He had of him grete pitie;
"I graunt youre axing, ye shul goo free Generides grants his request;
To medes, if that ye wil doo
As ye haue seid betwix vs twoo;
Yis," seid he, "I wol neuer say nay."
His naked swerd before him lay,
And there kneling in that stid
To [Generides] his othe he did and Bellyns takes the oath
As I seid before in al thing,
And therwitħ he fel on swonyng;
But yet for any maner pitie
To him the gode swerd toke he. and gives up his sword to Generides,
Than̄ had [Generides] swerdes twey,
Noon̄ bettre in erthe I dar wel say.
Generides than̄ cut his shirt,
In eche place ther the king was hirt
He stoupped his woundes his ovn hond, who binds up his wounds,
And witħ the shredes hem he bond
Forto staunche his bleding,
And aftirward he toke the king
Betwix his armes in that nede,
And softlie set him on his stede, puts him on his steed,
And the bridel put in his hond,
And let him passe out of that lond. and lets him go.
Generides was feint, no wondre was, Generides, faint and pale,
He set him doun̄ vpon the gras,
His coloure was pale and wan̄,
So sore bled that gentilman̄;
Vp he rose with swerdes tweyn̄,
And with his shelde, the sothe to seyn̄,
To the Citie he toke the wey. goes towards the city;
Whān thei within the toun̄ it sey,
Bi his armes thei him knew,
For ioye anoon̄ the trompes thei blew;
The Soudon̄, kinges, Erles, and baroun̄s, all within come forth to meet him,
And the bisshops with processioun̄s,
Old and yong of the Citie that might,
Went ayeinst him, as it was rigħt,
With daunsing, singyng, and al solempnitie, and bring him home with dance and song.
So was he broght in to the Citie.
Whān Clarionas therof wist, Clarionas makes great joy,
She made grete ioye, ye may it trist:
The Soudon made him leches to haue,
And al that might him saue;
From̄ that tyme with free and thrałł
Honoured he was ouer ałł; and Generides is honoured above all.
Thus he quit him as ye haue herd,
More is to come here aftirward.
CHAPTER XIII.
Here is the King of Kinges discomfited bi Generides, and departeth to goo home.
[This heads a three-part illustration: 1, Of Bellyns lying prostrate in his ship; 2, of Bellyns on his bier, drawn by horses and accompanied by mourners; 3, of the coronation of Gwynan.]
NOu listeneth of the king of kinges: King Bellyns
To his ost he bare euel tithinges, tells his host
He made hem̄ rewful con̄tenaunce,
And told hem̄ of his grete mischaunce of his defeat.
That him befeł of the doughtiest knight
Now living, and boldest in fight.
Gwynan̄ therof had grete disdeyn̄ His son Gwynan sneers at him,
That his fadre so wold seyn̄
Of [Generides] so grete preysing,
It was shame(.) and noo liking:
"Yea, foole," seid the king than̄, and Bellyns calls him a fool,
Who so him metetħ shal finde him a man̄."
Gwynan̄ seid, "it forthinkes me but Gwynan says he
That we haue lost [Bellins] the free;
Yete, and I liue yeres seuen̄, will take revenge on Generides.
I shal it quite, bi crist of heuen̄."
The kinges woundes fast blede;
To the ship in hast thei hem spede, The king is put on board a ship,
In bed thei leid him so soft,
For febilnes he swoned oft, swoons
And so at last in swonyng
Of his life he made ending, and dies.
So mycħ bloode was from him goon̄
That lenger life had he noon̄.
To Egipt the bodie thei bere, His corpse is taken to Egypt,
Al mēn for him sorie were;
Thei broght him to burieng buried with great honour,
With worship as mēn shuld a king,
And aftir that entirment was,
His son was crowned in his place, and his son Gwy∣nan is made king.
Gwynan, a doughti man̄ and bold,
He was drad of yong and old;
He thoght his hert shuld neuer be glad
For the shame his fadre in Perse had;
But euermor on [Clarionas] Gwynan is so in love with Clarionas
Both day and night his thoght was,
So sore his loue to hir he kest,
For hir he couth haue noo rest; that he cannot rest;
In Perse, in his fadres werre,
From an ħigh toure al aferre
A sight he had of that ladie shene,
Therby his ioye he lost clene.
In his contre was a lording,
To him most trusted the king he therefore asks his most-trusted
Forto tel his [MS. his his.]
Jewel, that baron̄ hight he; baron, Jewel,
On a day he called that knight,
He cam to him anoon right,
Thoo seid he(:) "Jewel, my trew fere,
A counsel I must tel you here
Of the Soudones doghtre of Perse,
And my scretes thoghtes to you reherse.
[Clarionas], that ladie bright,
For my fadre(:) loue hir I ne might; The sense seems to require the insertion of some lines to say, "But yet I do love her with all my heart, and now that my father is dead, I must get possession of her."
Therfor, Sir Jewel, I you pray what he can do to obtain her.
Tel me best what I doo may."
"Mi lord," sith it so now is,
Wil ye folow my reid in this,
I shal help you at youre nede,
Of youre purpos ye shul spede:
A goode ship lete ordeyn me, Jewel says, "pro∣vide me a good ship,
And vitailes therto goode plentie,
And therto stuf it wel with men̄, well manned,
And goode sport shal ye see then̄;
I shal not faile with som queyntise and I'll manage to bring Clarionas to you
[Clarionas] to wyn in som wise,
And save bring hir you vntiłł
To doo with hir al youre wiłł;
For ten yere at al chaunce within ten years."
Doth make for me purviaunce;
Within that tyme I take on hond
To bring [Clarionas] into this lond."
The king a ship lete redie make, The ship is fitted out accordingly;
Wynes and cornes plentie to take,
Of gold and siluer grete plentie
For sir Jewel and his meigne,
And men ynogh with him to fare,
And furth thei went without care. Jewel sets sail
The winde thei had at here will,
Ałł to goode for that skiłł;
Jewel had the winde so goode
That sone he passed the salt floode, and soon arrives at Clarionaunt in Perse.
And into Perse arriued he
A litle from a feir Citie
That was called Clarionaunt, [The mark of contraction is the same in both these words.]
A goodeli Citie and a plesaunt. [The mark of contraction is the same in both these words.]
With him he toke squyers twoo, He takes two squires with him,
Of his meigne wold he no moo;
The othir he lete with the ship dwel,
And bad hem thei shuld bie and set,
Marchauntes as thei had bene,
Til he come ageyn̄ hem to sene.
Jewel with his squiers twey
Began̄ to spede him on his wey; and rides on,
With a pilgrym tho he met, being told by a pilgrim
With feire wordes he him gret,
"Sir(:) who is lord of this place?"
"The Soudon̄," he seid, "bi goddes grace; that he is in the Sowdon's land,
He is not here, I make you war,
He lieth in the Cities of Mounthanar; and that in the city of Mounthanar
I saw him but seuen̄ night agoon̄
With baroun̄s and knightes many oon̄,
A fest he held with noble price,
And put a knight in new office the Sowdon has just made Gene∣rides steward of his land.
That men cal [Generides],
Steward of his lond he him chese
With assent of his lordes all;
Therof was pleased grete and small,
For he [is] holden the best knight
Both of condicions and of migħt."
To that contre than rode he,
For it stoode toward the see,
He toke the wey to Mountanar, So Jewel rides to Mountanar,
Of that Citie whan he was war.
Whan he to the Citie cam,
His In sone there he nam̄,
It taried not long but that it yede
To the Soudon his purpos to spede; goes to the Sow∣don,
Whan he come to his presence,
He obeid him with grete reuerence,
And seid, "mi lord, if your wil be,
I come fro Egipt you to see,
Mi seruice you to profre and bede;
And also for what cause and nede:— and tells him that King Gwynan hates him,
Sir Gwynan̄ of Egipt is lord and king,
He hateth me vpon̄ al thing
For his fadre that was here slaw,
And for I told him the soth saw
That his fadre with wrong wrogħt
Ageins you, and therfor he it boght;
And, sir, for that I seid him soo,
As me thoght it was to doo,
He hath take out of myn hond and has taken away his baronage,
A baronage of ful goode lond;
And therfore, if it pleas you now, and therefore he offers his service to the Sowdon.
Mi seruice here I offre you."
The Soudon seid, "gray mercy, The Sowdon ac∣cepts it,
I wil you resceyve hertlie
Sith that ye for loue of me
Haū thus lost youre ovn contre;
Such seruice ye shul haue
That I shal youre honoure saue;
That ye haue lost for me, or more,
I trow I shal you wel restore."
Thus Jewel abode with the Soudon̄ and Jewel stays with him,
And wex a grete maister anoon̄,
Ther was noon bettre loued than̄ he, much loved by all,
He couth wele glose, and was so fre;
Therto he was wel taght and wise,
And of feire spech he bare the prise;
Besie he was to wate euer his wil but ever watching to carry off Clario∣nas.
His fals purpos to fulfill
Forto lede [Clarionas] a-way.
The Soudon̄ yaf to him grete fay;
He waited in a mornyng One morning
At the Soudones vprising,
And into a gardyn with him yede,
Noon but thei, without drede;
"Sir, wil ye not bewrey me he tells the Sowdon that
If I tel you a priuetie?
[Generides] is euer about I-wis Generides is about to ravish his daugh∣ter,
To ravissh youre doughtre, so he is;
That shal ye preue, as I say;
And ye wil, within this third day
He shal be take with the dede
[If ye wil do bi my rede."]
"What is youre counsel in this now;
Tel me, Sir Jewel, I prey you.
To morow I purpos take my meigne,
The best of al, to wend with me
Into the forest on huntyng
Without ony othir letting."
"Yea, se that [Generides] be ther oon̄ and advises that he should take Gene∣rides out hunting with him,
Vnto the wod with you to goon̄;
Ful woo in hert ye shul him finde
That ye leue him noght behinde;
His felows I warant he wil forsake, and see if he does not sneak away home to carry off Clarionas.
And homward to youre doughtre shake,
And forto lede hir than away;
Thus, Sir, herd I oon̄ say."
Al this was Jewels treasoun̄
To gete [Generides [Clarionas in a later hand.]] out of toun̄
That he might his purpose atteyn̄
To bring aboute his fals treyn̄.
On the morow the Soudon̄ on hunting went, The Sowdon and Generides go hunting;
[Generides] with him went present.
Thoo ful priuelie to the Soudon̄
"I wil abide, and not out goon̄, Jewel stays at home, to guard Clarionas, as he says;
To awaite on̄ my ladie
That she in noo wise take passe
With [Generides] forto goon̄.
"Doo youre best," seid the Soudon̄.
Whan the Soudon to the wod was went,
Anōōn Jewel to his ship sent
To warn̄ his men to be redie, but he sends to his men to be ready,
On his cōmyng to waite and spie;
And bad his men from him ride,
And at the tovnes ende him abide.
Jewel light vpōn his stede bayard,
And rode to [Clarionas] chambre ward and tells Clarionas
Ther she was logged In̄,—
She knew no thing of his fals gyn̄,—
He called hir with loude voice on hiē
"Ma dame," he seid, "make you redie; her father has sent him for her
Mi lord youre fadre for you hath sent,
For he hath gam̄ for his entent;
In the forest he hunteth the dere,
Therfor he wold that ye were there
That part ye had of his disport." to see the hunt in the forest.
She was glad of that comfort,
From hir stable was broght thoo
An hors for hir and Mirabel also; She and Mirabel
Whan she was on hir palfray,
With Sir Jewel she toke the way. go with Sir Jewel;
Whan thei come the forest nigħ,
Mirabel perceyued and sigħ
Hou Jewel bi the forest hem led;
Of som treasōn she was a-drede. but Mirabel sus∣pects some plot,
From the launde thei were passed a myle,
The Soudon̄ ther hunted that while;
Jewel euer the wey helde
Betwix the forest and the felde;
Mirabel, priuelie as she might;
Made hir ladie forto light. makes Clarionas dismount.
Of that lighting Jewel was woo,
But nedes he must suffre thoo,—
He wende it had bene for nede,
Neuer the les he had grete drede;—
Whan thei wer among the bussħes ałł,
She seid, "ma dame, now tel I shal; and tells her her suspicions.
I drede Sir Jewel sore and herd;
He ledeth vs from the forest ward."
As thei were in here talking,
There come Nathanael riding Just then Na∣thanael comes up,
Thurgh the busshes, folowing an hert.
Mirabel was of eye ful smert,
She him saw, and called him than̄;
And he was ful like a gentilman̄,
Refreyned his hors, and come hem too;
"Mercy," she seid, what shal we doo? and Mirabel ap∣peals to him for protection,
Nou wher is my lord the Soudon̄?
But if we be holp of som̄ man̄,
Traied we beēn thurgh Sir Jewel.
Nou help vs, Sir Nathanael,
And in this case doo youre dever,
Elles we be shamed for euer:
[Generides] youre lord now besech begging him to ask Generides to avenge them.
On this mater to doo som wrecħ."
To the Citie he rode a grete pase,
Nathanael tho ful sorie was; Nathanael rides off, gets Generides's armour,
His lordes harneys toke he thoo,
Into the forest gan he goo; and takes it to him in the forest.
Wel sone he fond him, as god wold,
And bad tithinges he him told
Of [Clarionas], hou she was went.
Anōōn his harneys to him he hent,
He armed him and toke his brond Generides arms,
Boldlie in his right hond,
He thoght for his ladies sake
He wold Sir Jewel ouertake;
[Generides] for verray ire quoke, and shakes with anger.
Sir Jewel harnes [so in MS.] he ouer toke;—
(Jewel comforted hir on his manere, Jewel comforts Clarionas, and says
And seid, "swete ma dame, what chere?
Make not so grete sorow now,
For or oght long ye shal se how
Al is for youre worship that I doo;
Think noon othre but it is soo;
For I behote you oon̄ thing,
The shul haue the richest king she shall have the richest king living for her husband.
Vnto youre husbond now on lyve;
Therfor ye ought to be glad and blive.")—
Jewel herd noyse of hors com̄and; Soon he hears Ge∣nerides coming,
[Generides] was ful nigħ hand;
Whan he saw that(:) he him withdrogħ
And lighted, for doughtie he was y-nogħ; dismounts,
His sheld he gan to him take,
And stoute countenaunce for to make;
He bethoght him of [Generides],
Hou mēn spake of him more and les,
And than̄ lowde he gan to crie, and tells him
"[Generides], now for thi curtesie,
Gentil knight, refreyn̄ youre stede,
And take not on yuel this dede;
I shal you tel sikirlie
Whi this ladie thus lede I,—
Not for despite of the Soudon̄,
As euer might I ride or goon̄,
Of al wym̄en that ben̄ on live that he is taking Clarionas away to be King Gwynan's wife;
King Gwynan̄ wold haue hir to wive;
Therfore I wold hir to him lede;
For nogħt elles, so god me spede!
And sith ye hidre come be, but as Generides is come,
I deliuer you hir for me; he gives her up to him at once,
Take hir to you in goddes name,
Of you wil I bere noo blame;
If I had hir to Egipt broght
And it had you forthogħt,
Ye might be siker in certeyn̄
I shuld haue broght hir ageyn̄;
Sir, gyve me leue to Ride to the Citie, and begs that Ge∣nerides will let him ride off,
And that noo bodie biwrey me
Of that I haue here doon̄
Til we speke to gedre sonē.
The Soudon in the Forest is,
And al night wil be ther y-wis;
I saw som here logges make
Or I my Iourney hidre did take,
For I trusted there thei wold abide—
The trouth from you I wil not hide;—
And ye wil doo as I you say, he (Generides) lodging all night in the forest.
Al night logge you here ye may,
And erlie in the morow tide
To the Citie than̄ may ye ride."
[Generides] trusted wel his saw, Generides agrees to Jewel's proposal
And seid, "Sir Jewel, goode felaw,
Al that thou seist, wele trow I may;
Bi youre counsel I wil abide til day;
To the Citie goo ye a-rigħt,
For here wil we logge al nigħt." to remain there all night.
Jewel his way began̄ to hold
As thogh he to the Citie wold,
But euer a-side he gan espie
[Generides] and his companye,
Out of the wey he gan̄ to ride,
And him among the busshes hide,
Waiting where thei here logges wrogħt;
[Generides] thoo noon euel thoght;
But euer Jewel folowed sone Jewel watches till
To aspie what thei wold doone.
In a launde a litle beside,
His men he made there to abide;
Wħan he saw here logges wer wroght, Generides's men have made their huts,
His fals purpos he letted noght,
To the Soudōn he yede in hast then goes to the Sowdon
Til he found him at the last;
To him seid he in this degree, and tells him
"Pleasseth you to goo with me;
Of that I told you, if ye haue mynde,
The troutħ therof now shul ye finde,
Of [Generides] and [Clarionas]
Ye shuld finde it is noo les;
[Generides] youre doghtre hath a-way, that Generides has his daughter out in the forest,
In this forest I hem say;
With hir he hath doon̄ his wiłł, and has defiled her.
Here logge I can lede you vntiłł."
Thoo had the Soudon̄ neuer more care;
With Sir Jewel than̄ gan he fare. The Sowdon goes with him to the hut,
Jewel to the logge hem̄ broght;
The Soudon than him bethoght
What was best forto doo;
Anoon in that hastie woo
With his swerd in hond drawe
He thoght there him to haue slaw. thinking to kill Generides,
[Generides] thoght noo vilanye,
Whān he had talked with his ladie,—
He was wery of his huntyng, who meantime has fallen asleep,
Whan he had talked—fel on sleping;
In the logge he lay bi the oon side, and so the Sowdon finds him,
And bi that othir, as it wold betide,
Clarionas and Mirabel lay; Clarionas being on the other side,
Al this the Soudōn wel say,
And betwix hem there he found
His swerd stikking in the ground with a sword be∣tween them.
In token̄ that noon evel was
Betwix him and Clarionas,
Noon̄ othir than law of mariage,
To doo the Soudon noon outrage.
The Soudon beheld here liyng,
And stoode stil in stoodiyng;
Ne might he not for gentilnesse
Doo Generides noo distres;
He thoght wel what goode seruice
He had doon̄ him in many wise;
The Soudōn had grete pitie The Sowdon hesi∣tates to kill Gene∣rides,
To slee a mān of his bountie
That with doughtynes of his hond
Had him saued, and al his lond.
The Soudon̄ Generides swerd toke, only changes swords with him,
(He saw the chaunge whān he awoke,)
And stikked his there that was,
And left him sleping in the place.
Vnto Clarionas he toke his wey
There as Mirabel and she lay;
He toke hir in his armes twoo, and then carries Clarionas, sleeping,
And furth with hir gan̄ he goo
Al sleping, that she ne did awake,
And to Sir Jewel he did hir take, to Jewel,
And bad he shuld haue noo doute, and bids him
For sleyn̄ was Generides the stoute.
Sothe he demed that it [were],
"Sir," he seid, "I shal hir bere take her home.
To the Citie, and come ageyn̄;
I shal not dwel long certeyn̄."
The Soudon wold no lenger abide,
Ageyn̄ to his logge gan he ride,
And Sir Jewel with Clarionas But he takes her to where his own men are,
Went thidre as his meigne was;
He wened Generides had ben̄ deid,
He had wel the les dred!
Whan [Clarionas Generides in red ink, but corrected to Clario∣nas by the later hand.] tho gan̄ a-wake,
Mochel sorow did she make;
Thoo, without ony more lett,
On a palfray he hir sett; puts her on a palfrey,
Toward the cee he rode a pase,
For euer among a-drad he was
With his treason̄ to be ouertake;
His iourney faster did he make and rides off to his ship.
To the ship that he wer in,
Til he come ther, wold he not blin̄.
Generides awoke at the last Generides awakes,
And gan to loke aboute him fast;
He asked of Mirabel so dere, and asks Mirabel where his love is.
"Where is my ladie? is she not here?"
Mirabel tho did hir mysse, She misses her,
"Allas!" she seid, "lost is my blis."
"Treulie," she seid, "now wot I wel
Betraied we ar thurgħ sir Jewel; and says Sir Jewel has betrayed them.
Al night I haue of him met;
Now euel chaunce betide him yet!
For nov is my sorow endles."
With that swoned [Generides]; Generides swoons,
Oon̄ word might he not speke moo.
Mirabel went to him thoo but Mirabel com∣forts him
And comforted him that she might;
He woke, and wex som dele light,
"Nou wel I wote this fals theef
Hath thus led a-way my leef."
Mirabel seid, "Sir, arme you, and urges him to pursue Jewel,
And foloweth aftir hir nou,
And loke that he ascape you noght
For his loue that hath you bogħt;
And if ye him ouertake,
Slee him now, for goddes sake; and kill him for God's sake.
And to the Soudon̄ shal I goon̄,
And tel him al the sothe anoon̄.
And if ye may Nathanaeł see, Generides says he will never return without Clarionas (see l. 6631-6).
Bid him high him aftir me;
I shał neuer see you in noo place
Til I haue goten Clarionas."
Generides to arme him began̄, then arms,
And his swerd he toke than̄;
Whan he saw it was not his, recognizes the Sowdon's sword,
He knew it was the Soudones I-wis;
Than seid he to Mirabel,
"The Soudon was here, I wote ful weł;
I see wel, and he had hated me, knows he has for∣borne to slay him,
He might haue sleyn̄ me, parde."
Generides stert vpōn his stede, and rides off.
"Mirabel," he seid," god you spede."
And streite to the Soudon̄ Mirabel went; Mirabel, while going to the Sow∣don,
Yet or she cam̄ he had message sent
That Jewel to the see him spedde,
And his doghtre a-wey he ledde,
Oon told him that with him met.
The Soudon̄ wold noo lenger let;
There Clarionas logge was,
Thidre he rode a grete pas;
Mirabel he met bi the wey is met by him,
Thes tithinges to him forto sey.
"Where is my doughtre?" seid he:
"Sir, I wot neuer, & that forthinketh me; and tells him
For yestir-day last past
He seid, ye sent for hir in hast;
But euer a-wrong he hir led, how Jewel led Clarionas away
For to the cee fast he him sped
Til [Generides] warned was, till Generides over∣took him,
He ouertoke that thefe a pas;
And for it was so nigħ eve, and was then per∣suaded to stay in the forest;
In the forest he made vs leve;
Al that was Jewels reid,
Vs to betray bettre he sped;
But, bi the trouth that you ow I, but he did no wrong to Clarionas;
Youre dougħtre he did noo vilany;
But it fortuned him at the last
He fel on slepe al in haste."
"Treulie," quod the Soudon̄, and was wrothe,
"He hath betraied me and you bothe;
But, Mirabel, I pray you
Where is [Generides]; wote ye now?"
"Treuly, Sir, forward he is and he is now gone to overtake her and succour her.
Aftre Sir Jewel to the cee I-wis,
[Clarionas], if that he mow
Hir ouertake, to socoure now,
And bring hir to you in certeyn̄,
Elles shal ye neuer see him ageyn̄;
Thus he bad me to you say
Whan̄ he parted and rode his way."
The Soudon [seid] vnto hir thoo,
"What reid ye now that I doo?"
"Sir, lete [Generides] doo what he may,
Elles gete ye hir neuer bi this day."
As thei were in this talking
Thei saw Nathanael come riding; Then they see Nathanael,
As sone as Mirabel him sigħ and Mirable sends him
She called him and drew him nigħ;
"Nathanael, in al the haste ye may, high you [MS. yon̄.] after Generides
Aftre youre maistre to the cee now;
Jewel hath stole my ladie away,
He hatħ betraied vs al to-day;
Youre lord is aftre, god him spede,
To late he was ware, I me drede;
Swete frende, for goddes sake,
Assay if ye may hem ouertake." to pursue Jewel.
Nathanael noo lenger aboode,
Toward the ce ful fast he roode;
Mirabel went to the Citie She and the Sow∣don return to the city.
With the Soudon̄ and his meigne.
This while Jewel sped him soo
That to the cee he was come thoo, Jewel meantime reaches the sea,
He went into ship, it was redie,
And drew up saile ful hastilie;
Whan the ladie was shipped, than̄ sailed they, ships Clarionas, sails off with her,
Thei had feire winde that same day.
As he was in the ship sailand,
[Generides] he saw vpon̄ the strand; and taunts Gene∣rides on the strand
His manace drad he noght than̄,
To scorn̄ him fast he began̄,
"Why slepst thou so [Generides?] with having slept so long and lost his lady.
Therfore thi feire ladie thou les;
Thou slepst, and I a-woke,
Therfor thi ladie from the I toke;
Of [Clarionas] thi part thou hast;
Folow noo ferthir, for it is waste."
[Generides] was agreued sore, Poor Generides
And of his wordes yet moch more
That he so had his ladie lorn̄,
And also skorned hir beforn̄;
So therto coude he doo noo thing, can do nothing,
But fel adoun̄ in swonyng; and therefore swoons.
[Clarionas] knew ful wel his tacħ, Clarionas
She saw that, and made the macħ;
Thei in the ship did thei coude
To comfort hir, stil and loude;
She swonned, or she com to lond, swoons too,
Fifti tymes, I vnderstond. fifty times,
The ship drofe in al it might,
Of [Generides] thei lost the sigħt;
Than was she of wil ful goode and wants to drown herself,
Hir self to drench in the floode
Ne had Jewel kept hir therfro, but Jewel prevents her.
Hir hert was ful of soro and woo.
[Generides] from his swonyng cam̄, Generides revives,
And bi the cee his way he nām;
A ship to sech he went ful fast,
A galie he found at the last finds a swift galley from Surrey (Syria),
That was come out of Surrey,
A feire vesel for the maistrie,
And right swift on the floode;
The chief maister therin stoode—
A moch man̄ of goode entaile,
And wel araied without faile.
[Generides] saw him & was fayne,
To him ward he yede in certeyn̄;
Tho asshed he fro whens thei cam̄, and asks the master whence he comes and where he is going to.
And to what contre the wey thei nam̄.
The maryner beheld him wel than̄,
And saw him armed like a goodely man̄;
Som dele he was of him agast,
But to him he spake at the last,
He seid, "Sir, if youre wil be, The master says
Wil ye doo noon harme to me?
May I be sure ye wil it swere?"
Seid [Generides], "I shal doo you noo dere;
But, leue Sir, for goddes mercy,
To ask you counsel nov come I."
"Treulie," seid the maryner,
"I wil you counsel to my power;
Yet of late I cam fro Surrie, that he has come from Surrie,
There I was wont with grete navie,
An .C. shippes and wel moo where he left 100 ships
Ther laft I whan I com it froo
Thurgh the help of a goode king, of King Aufreyus,
Sir Aufreyus without lesing;
Into Ynde he casteth him wende; who is going to Ynde:
I wolle help him his enmyes forto sħende,
For Surre he hath nov in hond, he is king of Surre,
And reigneth king of that lond
Of his wyfes grete heritage;
His son̄, Ismael de Sauage, and has given Tharse to his son Ismael.
The lond of Tharse he hath him yeve;
An othir son̄ he hath (if that he lyve) "His other son
In this contree, it is me told,
A doughtie knight and a bold;
He shal haue Surre aftir his day,
And Ynde if he it gete may;
Hidre am I sent him to sech. I am sent to seek;
Goode Sir, if ye can̄ me tecħ
Hou I may I-know him, for charitie pray tell me how to find him."
Where shal I finde him tel ye me."
Tho [Generides] wold be a-know, Generides says
Ful simplie he answerd, and low,
"Feire frende, if ye haue me soght,
It am I, hide it wol I nogħt; that he is
For sothe [Generides] ħight I,
The kinges son̄ Aufreus sikerly. Aufreyus' son;
But the very trouth, shortlie to tel,
No soryer man in erth may dweł and also the sor∣riest man on earth,
Thān I, nor carefuller in hert and chere;
For [Clarionas] my Souereyn ladie dere, as his lady love has
Mi lordes doughtre the Soudon̄,
This day is stole and fro me goon̄ been stolen from him that day;
Euer more without recouerer."
"Hou so?" seid the Mariner.
"A fals Traitour that hight Jewel Jewel has
Hath stole hir, shortlie to tel,
And now is with hir into the cee sailed off with her to Egypt.
Toward Egipt that ricħ contree."
"Feir lord," seid the mariner tħoo, The mariner says he can
"Make ye not so mochel woo;
And if ye wol, ye shul sene
Thei shal sone ouertake bene." soon overtake her.
Euen as [Generides] was a-ligħt Generides goes on board,
Into the ship, and redie digħt,
He saw comyng Nathanael, taking Nathanael too,
He lete therof right wel;
Thoo thei aboode his come,
And sone into the ship him nome;
Here horses with hem into ship thei led, and their horses,
In al haste thei hem sped and they sail after the other ship.
The othir ship to ouertake.
The winde began̄ som dele a-slake,
But here enmyes wer beforn̄,
The sight of the ship han thei lorn̄,
So that Sir Jewel and his folkes also But Jewel has al∣ready landed in Egypt, and gone to the city of Egeas.
In Egipt thei wer londed tho,
And furth with this ladie thei went
To the Citie of Egeas as thei wer bent.
[Generides] euer in the Galie
Spedeth him al that euer he may;
For al that euer the ship gān skoure,
Jewel londed afore him an houre;
Whan [Generides] saw he was paste,
He held him stil & made noon haste, Generides stays in the ship,
But kept him in the cee there,
Like a marchaunt as he were;
Til he herd of Jewells play
He held him stil in the galay;
But the maryner vp yede while the mariner lands
To purvey of that thei had nede,
And to aspie al here disport, to see what is going on.
To bring [Generides] som comfort;
Whils that he held him stil,
With manhod he might not haue his wil.
King Gwynam to Jewel cam̄, King Gwynan rejoices at the
And mychel folkes he with him nam̄
To welcome him and [Clarionas,]
Of here comyng ful glad he was; coming of Clario∣nas,
Writes he did send aboute
To al his lordes stern̄ and stoute, and bids all his lords to his bridal.
That thei shuld come to his bridal
With al estates both grete and smal.
So thei com al at his sond, All come: there never was such a bridal.
Such a bridal was neuer in lond
Hold of king ne of kayser,
Wittnes of hem that wer ther.
In that lond was the vsage But the custom in Egypt is,
Of euery kinges mariage
That the crovn shuld welde,
As long as thei here fest helde,
Both king and eke the Quene
Al that tyme chast shuld bene
Til the fest were broght til ende, that until the mar∣riage feast is done, and every guest gone home,
And the lordes home shuld wende
Euery man to his contre,
Al saue his ovn meigney;
Thān shuld the king with goode life the king may not acquaint him with his wife.
Acqueynt him with the quene his wife:
That was the law in that contre,
And euer is, and so shal be.
He that was the maryner The mariner
Went aboute fast to spere;
Of this mariage he herd tel;
Wold he there noo lenger dwel,
To [Generides] anoon he went tells Generides of the marriage,
With thes tithinges him to present;
"Sir," he seid, "dismay you nogħt; but says he is not to be anxious,
I wote ye ar in grete thogħt;
Youre strengħt ye may not shew now,
It were noo thing for youre prow;
But if ye might with som queyntyse
Finde som meane in any wise
Youre ladie forto gete ageyn̄, as he will tell him how to get his lady again:—
Here haue I al the maner seyn̄.
Therfore doo now as I you rede,
I hope the bettir ye shal spede;
An oyntment I shal you take, with some oint∣ment he is to make himself like a leper,
Like a mesel it wil you make,
But be therof no thing agast
Thogħ it cleue som dele fast;
With a water I shal you take,
Clene ageyn it wil you make;
And, Sir, whan that ye hir see, see Clarionas,
Wel a-vised most ye be
To shew hir som token̄ that day
Wherby know you she may; make himself known to her;
Whān she knoweth youre queyntise,
Ordein she wol in som wise she will manage
With you to speke secretlie; to speak with him;
For goddes loue wirketh wiselie,
And lete Nathanael youre Squyer then have Na∣thanael and the horses near;
Be with youre horses som wher nere,
And with youre armure, what so betide,
In a secret place lete him abide
With youre harneys; lete it be soo
The while may ye to court goo. but he must go to court on foot,
To goo on fote I wold you rede;
Also ye must chaunge your wede and change clothes with some beggar.
With som begger bi the wey
That aftirward wil for you prey;
Sir, noo bettre reid I can̄."
[Generides] answerd than̄, Generides agrees at once,
"Bettre counsel may noo be;
God thonk you for this ye tel me."
Thoyntment the maryner toke him thoo,
With the water; forth gān he goo, takes the ointment and water,
"I shal abide you here," seid he,
And if ye bring hir hidre to me,
Of noo ship in Egipt is
Ye thar not drede of hem y-wis."
[Generides] wold no lenger let, and starts.
Bi the wey a begger he met, He changes clothes with a beggar,
His rich clothes he chaunged there
With the begger for his gere;
Than his oyntment did he take,
And like a mesel he did him make. makes himself like a leper,
With his clothes al to-ragged
To the courte fast he wagged,
Cup and clapur he him boght, buys a cup and clapper,
Of noo felow he ne roght;
At the temple dore he stoode, stands at the tem∣ple door,
And drew forth a ring goode
That his ladie him yave, ye may me trow,
Therbi he trusted she shuld him know.
From the temple folk com oute,
[Generides] saw grete pres aboute,
And fast he cried hem among,
He made him wey, for he was strong. pushes towards the queen,
Whān he toward the Quene gan̄ stappe,
With his cup fast gan̄ he clapp;
He cried on the quene so in that place and cries to her so that she looks at him,
She gan̄ to loke him in the face,
For bi the spech she thoght there
Hir lord [Generides] nygh were;
And alwey he cried oon and on̄,
So that she gan̄ nere him goon̄. goes near him,
On his finger she knew the ring, knows her ring on his finger,
Of him had she noo knowleching,
Hir hert began̄ to wax sore,
Feyn̄ she wold wete more;
In the pres stil gan̄ she stond,
And seid, "good man̄, of what lond and asks him where he comes from.
Ar ye that make al this crie?"
"Ma dame," he seid, "and feire ladie,
In Surre lond was I born̄,
In Ynde begoten̄ here beforn̄,
In Perse norished and forth broght, From Perse, he says,
There haue I be sith I knew oght;
Me is befal thurgh chaunce
This foule yuel and grete greuaunce;
I wende neuer to haue sene the tide
In ony lond this sorow to abide,
Therfor I come to you, ladie, to get help of her.
Forto besech you of mercy,
And help me now in my grete nede;
The bettre I hope that ye shal spede;
For ye ar come of Perse, Ma dame;
Help me, ladie, for goddes name!"
[Clarionas] moch wondre thoght, Clarionas has the beggar
Oon of hir men she besoght
To lede him that same tide
Into the Castel, hir to abide. taken to the castle,
Vnto the Castel he lad him thoo;
[Clarionas] cam the temple fro,
And sone into hir chambre went; soon sends for him,
After the mesel she hath sent;
To the chambre he com at hir sond,
She saw him, and drew him ner hond.
Of hir fadre she asked thoo,
And of [Generides] hir lord also, and asks after Generides.
"Ma dame," he seid, "dismay you noght, He tells her
For I wil tel you al my thoght.
A mesel ye wene that I were,
But that euel dooth me noo dere,
For youre sake I did me thus disgyse, that he has come in this disguise for her sake:
And toke thes clothes of litle price
With you to speke and to se;
Whan so I wil, I may clene be.
Loo here this ring; know ye it nogħt?" does she not know her ring
[Clarionas] stoode in a thogħt.
"This ring," she seid, "know I wele;
But youre self know I noo dele.
Who gaf you that ring, I you pray?"
"Oon that loued me, the sothe to say,
Yave me this Ring"(:) "Where," quod she. given to him at a window?
"At a window, ma dame," quod he.
"Ay sir," she seid, "for goddes ore, Yes, but tell me more.
What ye ar, tel me more."
"Noo lenger hide it I wil, ma dame,
[Generides] is my right name "I am Generides,
That som̄ tyme ye loued ful wel.
Al-thogh I seme here a mesel
I am noon sucħ, siker ye be,
For I can wel wassh me;
Nathanael in this forest is here, Nathanael is close by;
With myn herneys abiding there
Til that I come to him ageyn̄;
And if it pleased you, I wold be feyn̄
That from al this grete solempnitie,
Dere hert, ye wold wende with me; dear heart, come,
A goode ship and a swift at nede a swift ship is ready for us."
Is al redie vs In to lede."
[Clarionas] made hir somdel wrothe, Clarionas
And seid, "sir, whan̄ saw ye me lothe says that
To doo that were at youre liking
Sith first ye had of me knowing?
Thogh I were, as I wel might, even if she were in heaven, she would leave the angels to go with him;
In heuen̄ a-mong Aungellis brigħt,—
Dere hert, bi him that sitteth aboue,
I wold forsake hem for youre loue,
If ye cam, to goo with you
Whedre-so ye wold lede me now;
Therfor, swete hert, now fare wel, and therefore
And fast ye goo to Nathanael,
And redilie ayeinst the eveynyng this evening
Arme you wel for any thing,
For I shal ordein bi some gynn̄
The gardyn̄ I shal gete within, she will get into the garden
There I pray you me to abide,
Among the busshes ye may you hide; if he and Na∣thanael will wait for her among the bushes.
Ye and youre Squier abide me there;
Mi trouth to you here I swere,
While my life may endure
For youre loue I shal me aventure."
Anoon he parted from the Castel Generides leaves the castle,
And went streight to Nathanael;
His ragged clothes he of kest,
And slang hem forth into the forest,
His cup and his claper also;
His armes he gan to take thoo. puts on his armour,
Whan he saw it nighed nigħt,
Oute of the forest he went a rigħt,
He and Nathanael in certeyn̄,
And toke the wey streite to the gardyn̄;
Thei hid hem ther in the thikkest and hides with Nathanael in the garden.
Of the busshes, as hem thoght best.
[Clarionas] was in grete studiyng Clarionas,
Hir purpos aboute forto bring;
She bethoght hir of som trayne
How she the gardyn̄ migħt best attayn̄; in order to get to the garden, asks her laundress
To hir she called hir Lauendere
That in hir chambre stoode hir nere;
She seid, "feire loue, vnto you
Tel I wold my counsel nou; if she will keep her counsel.
So that I migħt you secrete finde,
Ye shul finde me euer aftre kinde;
A rich woman I shal you make,
That dar I wel vndretake;
Of al women that I can seen̄
That me to serue assigned been̄,
Best loue you, me thinketh I may,
And youre seruice most take to pay."
The lauender of hir ladies sayng The laundress
Was glad to here of hir talking
That in hir fauoure stoode so wele;
Hir purpos knew she noo dele;
"Ma dame," I shal with al my migħt plights her troth not to betray it.
To you be trew, my trouth I pligħt;
I shal you neuer more bewrey
Thogħ I wist therfor to dey."
[Clarionas] seid, "graunt mercy;" Clarionas then tells the laundress that
To take hir trouthe she was redie.
"Mi lord I loue ouer al thing,
In his loue I haue such pleasing,
But if he me loued as wel ageyn̄,
Glad shuld I neuer be, certeyn̄;
Bi the sterres wirch wel I can̄ as she can work by the stars to prevent her lord, Gwynan, from loving any other woman,
That in this world neuer woman̄
Shal he loue oper than me
While that I on liue be;
Therfor, if that ye wil assent,
Ordein I wold for myn entent
In the gardyn sone at nigħt she should like to do it that night in the garden,
There to wirch bi the sterres ligħt
Mi lordes loue forto sàue,
While that I liue it forto haue.
Nou shal I tel you in what wise
Ordeined I haue vs to disgyse disguising herself
Into the gardyn̄ forto goon̄:
Oon of youre kirtełłis wold I haue oon̄,
As I in noo wise it were,
And ech of vs a trusse shuld bere
Wonden in a feir white shete
On oure heides, that whom we mete as the laundress's maid.
Shuld wene that I youre seruaunt were,
You to help youre clothes to bere."
"Ma dame," seid the lauendere, The laundress agrees,
"I conceyve youre entent here."
The lauender to hir hous went home,
And right sone ageyn̄ she come, and gives her a wide kirtle.
And broght with hir a girtel wide.
Bi that it nighed the even tide;
The quene did of hir clothes lightlie This Clarionas at night puts on,
Saue tho wer next to hir bodie,
The lauendres kirtel on she cast,
She gird hir, and tukked hir fast; tucks up her frock, and muffles her face up,
She mufled hir face hir to desgyse
That noon shuld know hir in noo wise.
The lauender had hir trusses bound,
The lesse she toke in that stound
To ley it on the quenes croun̄;
Right as she shuld stoupe a-doun̄, but in stooping to have a bundle of clothes put on her head,
The quene was tukked wel on high,
The lauender perceiued wel therbigh
Hir white legges, and seid, "ma dame, she shows her white legs.
Youre shin boones might doo vs blame; As these shin bones might betray them,
Abide," she seid, "so mot I thee,
More slotered thei most be."
Asshes with the water she menged, the laundress dabs them over with ashes and water,
And her white legges al be-sprenged,
And the trusse on hir heid she leid,
"Take ye that othir now," she seid,
"Goo we hens on goddes blissing."
Thei booth went furth without lesing and then off she and Clarionas start.
Thurgh the hal a goode pase;
Noman toke hede of [Clarionas];
Thurgh the hal thei passed furth soo
Til thei come the gates vnto; They get safely to the gates,
There must hem nedes out sikirly.
Sir Jewel stoode even fast by, but there is Sir Jewel.
Euen before the gates he stoode;
[Clarionas] for fere was nigħ woode, Clarionas starts on one side,
She knew his voice, and glent a-side
As she from him wold hir hide;
She did not wel, the sothe to say,
For had she kept furth hir way
He wold of hir haue take no yeme,
But bi hir countenaunce he gan to deme, and this makes him suspicious;
Whi she so fled he had mervel,
He stert to hir and seid, "Damesel."
Hir kerchefe lift vp wold he he tries to lift up her kerchief,
Hir visage there forto see;
Tho thoght he hir kerchefe to vyknyt;
Than was she nigh out of hir wit,
For drede hir welnigħ did fałł.
The lauender ran̄ to hir with-ałł, but the laundress pushes him off with both hands,
And with bothe hir hondes thoo
She put Jewel hir ladi froo,
And seid, "Sir, to blame art thou
To let vs of that we haue to doo now;
Litle worship had it been̄ tells him he mustn't look at her lady's clothes,
If ye my ladies clothes had seen̄;
Forto make hem clene we goon̄,
To wassh hem, and to drie hem anoon̄;
For both oure trusses behoueth to nigħt as both bundles must be washed and dried that night. To-mor∣row he shall have his fill of her maid if he will let her go now.
Forto be wasshen, dried, and dight.
To morow ye shul haue youre will
Of my maden, al youre fiłł;
And rage with hir ye shal to mede,
So ye lete vs goo now to doo our dede."
Jewel seid, "she loketh so gay, Jewel thinks she (Clarionas) is too gay for a laundry maid, and still wants to look at her.
That right euel trow I may
A lauender that she shuld be;
Let me yet hir bettre see."
And priuelie Jewel drogh to hir;
"Now suffre," she seid, "leue Sir, So the laundress says
Thes clothes til we wasshēn haue,
Mi ladies honoure forto saue,
And goo ye to myn hous therwhile; she will bring the girl to him at her house,
I shal me hast, bi seint Gile,
And bring hir thider redie to you
To doo with hir what ye wil now;
A fole she is(:) ye might hir shame,
And cause me to haue grete blame;
Hir fadre is a rich burgeys, and she is a rich burgess's daughter who is hiding away from a knight.
A goodeli mān and a curteys,
And for a knight that wold hir haue,
Not to wife, but to lemman̄,
With me is she forto hide,
His fadres wil she wil abide."
"Now," quod Jewel, "bi youre lewtie
Goo now, and hast you ageyn to me; On this Jewel lets them go,
To youre hous I wol goo now,
Til ye come I shal abide you."
Than the lauender and [Clarionas]
Did hēm to goo ful grete pase;
Into the gardyn̄ thei did hem hie, and they pass out into the garden.
Among the busshes to aspie.
[Generides] twoo women saw comyng, Generides sees two women,
Trusses on here heides bering;
He wend not [Clarionas] it were,
He saw hir neuer trusses bere;
He bad Nathanael to hem goon̄, and sends Na∣thanael to find out who they are.
And wete whoo thei were anoon̄.
[Clarionas] was wery, I you pligħt, Clarionas is very tired,
That no ferthir goo she migħt;
Hir birthon she cast to ground,
Nedes must she rest hir that stound;
The lauender seid, "swete ma dame,
Wirk as ye thoght, in goddes name;
That we wer homward, I you pray,
For euer I drede me of som fals tray."
With that word cōm Nathanael,
And seid, "ma dame, rest you wel."
[Clarionas] knew him bi the spech, but knows Na∣thansel,
And seid, "frend, I you besecħ,
Where is youre lord, I wold him see, and asks after Generides.
That taketh now noon hede of me."
"Ma dame," seid Nathanael thoo,
It is noo nede to sey soo,
Because of the bordon ye did bere
He ne wist who ye were,
And you to know he sent me;
Now shal he wete sone, parde."
Nathanael went tho ful fast Nathanael goes to tell him,
To bere his lord tithinges in hast;
Therwhile spake tho the lauender
With careful hert and hevy chere,
She seid, "ma dame, what gam is this? and the laundress reproaches Clario∣nas for her deceit,
I drede me that we play amys.
Is this the craft ye wold make?
Mi lord shuld you not forsake;
Now me thinkes aboute we goon̄,
He shal lese vs, wil we or noon̄;
If this be knowen̄, I am but deid,
Shal I neuer ete more breid,
Jewel wil put on me treason̄,
I shal be dampned for this Reason̄;
Ma dame, leue we this folie,
And goo we hens, or I shal crie, and threatens to shout out as loud as ever she can.
Be god, as loude as euer I may."
[Clarionas] seid, "feir loue, nay; Clarionas says
In this gardin ther is a knight
That I most loue of any wigħt,
A doughtie man as ye shal see,
Ful sone at vs he wil be;
Long we haue loued to-gedre;
And sith that we ar now come hidre,
I rede you dwel with me stil, she had better stay with her,
Betre is so than vs both spil,
For thogh ye wold now crie
Ye shuld be shent as wel as I,
And namely most of Sir Jewel,
For ye mokked him so wel;
Vnto my contre with me ye wende, and go away with her.
And ye shal euer finde me a frende."
Than the lauender bethoght hir thoo, The laundress
To leue hir contre she was woo
And wende into a straunge place;
But therageyn̄ she thoght on grace
What she might haue to saue hir life;
And at the last without strife
She graunted hir ladie at last ende consents.
That she wold with hir wende.
Vpon this [Generides] cam̄, Generides comes,
And his ladie in his armes nam̄,
And set hir behinde him on̄ his stede; sets Clarionas on his steed, Nathanael takes the laundress, and they ride towards the ship.
Nathanael did the same dede,
Tokee [so in MS.] vp the lauender behind him thoo
Vpon his hors, and furth thei goo,
Toward the ship thei toke the way.
Jewel thoght of treason̄ and tray Jewel suspects some plot,
Whan he at the lauenders hous was,
Thoo he mysdemed in this case,
Whan she cam not of so long while as the laundress does not come back;
He supposed ther yede som gyle;
To the castel he went anoon̄, he goes to the castle,
And soght the chambres euerichoon̄;
Ladies and gentilwomen also,
Ful wrothlie he asked of hem thoo,
"Where is the quene, is she not here?"
"We saw hir here and the lauendere hears the laundress was with the queen,
To-gedre in a chambre ful prive;
Where thei becam wot not we."
Whan Jewel of the lauender herd,
Than he wist wel hou it ferd; and then knows he has been taken in;
"Allas," he seid, "my grete trauel all his pains are nought.
Is turned to a scorn, saunfaile."
Jewel thoght hem ouertake,
Of oon he hoped larder to make,
"If I any mān with hem finde, He declares he'll cut any man he finds with them in two,
Be he neuer of so grete kinde,
Cleue I shal his bodie in twoo."
And whan he had seid soo,
To his loggeyng fast he yede,
And in al hast toke his best stede;
He armed him and stert vp thoo,
And twoo men with him, and no moo.
Furth thei russhed a grete pas and sets off to overtake Clarionas.
To ouertake feire [Clarionas]
And the lauender alsoo
Or thei cam the water too;
And so thei did at the last, He does overtake her,
For [Generides] rode not fast.
[Clarionas] herd of here comyng,
And than she seid, "now, sweting,
Folowed we be, I see it wel."
She loked ageyn, and saw Jewel; Clarionas recog∣nizes him,
His hors, his harneys, she it knew;
Pale as asshes wex hir hew;
That she were sone of him wreke,
To [Generides] gan she speke,
And seid, "dere hert, here cometh our foo, and prays Gene∣rides
Jewel, that hath wroght vs al this woo;
Fast that I were doun̄ light,
And for my loue that ye him quite,
Bi no maner noght him spare; not to spare him.
Comen he is to doo vs care."
That herd Nathanael, and cam̄,
And [Clarionas] of the hors nam̄;
He did help his lord to dight.
[Generides] dressed him arigħt Generides
Vpon̄ his stede, with spere in hond;
Jewel he saw to him comand;
To [Generides] Jewel his spere set, and Jewel charge fiercely,
And eithir with othre herd met
That thurgh the shelde that was strong
The spere shet a span long;
The might of the stroke did him stoupe and Generides is thrown back on his horse's crupper.
Bakward on his stede croupe.
Ageyn̄ dressed him [Generides] But he charges again,
Without bridel, and stiroples;
The sokket thurgh the shelde rofe
That the goode shelde al to-drofe,
And Sir Jewel caght a wound, wounds Jewel, and unhorses him.
He lost his hors and fel to ground.
[Generides] bad Nathanael
"Take the stede, and kepe him wel,
For of this hors we haue nede."
Nathanael led furth the stede,
Than knew Jewel [Generides] Jewel prays Gene∣rides
Bi his spech, and fel on knees,
To saue his life he praid, for goddes sake, for God's sake to spare his life.
And gan to swere, and grete othes make,
"That neuer more in al his liue
Ageins him wold he striue."
[Generides] was so merciable, Generides is going to do so,
Almost he beleued on his fable
And lete the traitour on liue goo;
That saw [Clarionas,] and was woo, when Clarionas
"Ay, [Generides,] "than seid she,
"I wend that ye had loued me!
Think what treason̄ he hath wroght!
In thes wordes trust ye noght;
Euer he hath a traitoure be,
Trew ye shal him neuer see;
If ye let him thus ascape,—entreats him not to let Jewel escape.
Bi god that al thing hath shape
Shal I neuer now passe the cee,
What som euer befal on mee."
Whan̄ [Generides] herd hir so speke, Generides dis∣mounts to avenge her;
On Sir(:) Jewel he wold hir wreke;
He light of his stede, wrothe and grym̄,
Sir Jewel kneled doun̄ to him
And saw him come wel ynogħ;
Priuelie his knife oute he drogħ, Jewel draws his knife, and pretends to fall down and ask for mercy,
And made as he to ground wold fal
Of [Generides] mercy to cal;
As he lay, he dressed his knife
To berefe [Generides] of his life. in order that he may stab Gene∣rides.
His hauberk than he vp lift,
That saw [Clarionas] and glift,
The blade she perceiued bright Clarionas sees the knife,
Of the knife bi the mone ligħt;
She seid, "be ware, for goddes pitie! and warns Gene∣rides;
Ye ar nigh deid! a knife I see
In the traitoures hond you to sloo!"
[Generides] stert a-side thoo; he starts aside,
In the sterting the knife was nigħ,
Jewel wounded him in the thigħ, but Jewel wounds him,
But in the flank he it ment,
To haue sleyn̄ him was his entent.
Tho felt [Generides] that wound, for which Gene∣rides
The bloode ran doun̄ to the ground;
The arme with the knife that him hirt, hews off his arm,
With his swerde he of gyrt.
Than gan he fast mercy crye,
But [Clarionas] wold his deth hie,
"Swete, dere hert," seid she thoo
"Slee him that hath doon̄ vs al this woo."
[Generides] wold hir wil fulfill,
And smote him than with egre wiłł
Euen on Sir Jewels croun̄,
That helm and heid he cleue a-doun̄; and cleaves his head in two.
[Generides] his swerd wipt he thoo,
And to hors bak gan̄ he goo.
On Jewels hors was [Clarionas] set Clarionas and the laundress are put on Jewel's horse;
And hir lauender both, without let;
Forth thei rode a grete pas
Til thei to the cee comen was. they reach the sea,
The Maryner of hem was glad,
And lightlie to the ship hem lad; and ship;
Both wymen and hors yn thei broght,
[Generides] was lessed of his thoght. and Generides's anxiety is over.
Thei of Egipt, I you ensure,
King Gwynam, for this aventure King Gwynan mourns for Jewel
Made sorow for Sir Jewel was sleyn,
And the sothe of his page gan̄ he freyn̄;
He seid "[Generides] that doughty knight
Hath sleyn̄ my lord this same night,
And leid [Clarionas] awey and the loss of Cla∣rionas,
That hath be his paramour many a day;
Jewel vnhappelie hidre did hir bring,
For now he hath an euel ending."
"Allas," seid the king than̄,
"Thes tithinges make me a sory man̄;
To folow hem is not to doon̄, but says it is no good to pursue her.
I shal mete with hem eft soon̄."
[Generides] had wedir goode, Generides and she
And soone thei passed the salt floode;
Lightlie Into Perse com thei than̄; soon reach Perse,
Glad of him was euery man̄.
He gan a messanger ordeyn̄
Vnto the Soudon forto seyn̄
Al the sothe of here comyng.
The Soudon was glad of that tithing;
He hem met with hert entier, and are welcomed by the Sowdon and lords,
And welcomed his doughtre with grete chere,
And the goode knight [Generides] also;
Al the lordes cam hem too,
And made hem grete welcomyng, with great joy.
With gam & solace, mirth and pleyng,
To the Citie echoon wen̄t than̄,
Grete fest made ther the Soudon̄; A great feast is made,
Right as thei wer serued all
Of the first cours in the hałł but after the first course come three messengers,
Thre knightes come to the Soudon̄,
With humble obeissaunce euerechon̄
To the Soudon a lettre thei toke, bringing a letter to the Sowdon.
And fast he gan theron̄ loke;
Whan he did the lettre breke,
In this maner did it speke.
CHAPTER XIV.
How king Aufreus sent to the Soudon for his son̄ Generides to help him to conquere Ynde.
"Aufreus, of Tharse and Surre king, King Aufreus's letter to the Sow∣don,
To you most loulie beseching;
It may please youre goodnes asking that he will send his son Gene∣rides
To send his son̄ [Generides],
His rightful heire of al Surrie,
To wend with him in companye
Into Ynde, to wyn̄ his rigħt, to help him recover Ynde from Sir Amalek;
Ayeinst Sir Amelek forto figħt,
That falsely holdeth my lond with wrong,
And hold wil, and hath doon long;
And be it neuer so sone y-wonn̄,
[Generides] his eldest sonn̄ and Generides shall have it,
Of his yeft shal it haue;
And whan his modre is begraue, as well as Surre, after his mother's death;
Surre shal be his heritage;
But Sir Ismael de Sauage though Ismael now has Tharse.
His yongest son̄, after his day
He hath yoven him Tharse without nay;
Al be Sir [Generides] leue,
So that it wold nat him greue;
Gaddred he hath in Surre "The host and the ships are ready,
His oost, and his shippes redie;
Wherfor he preith you with hert entier
To send him his son̄ that is so dere send Aufreus his son."
To help to wyn̄ his heritage."
Thus did thes knightes tho here message.
The Soudon̄ the lettre vndrestoode, The Sowdon
And thoght of the seruice goode
That he had al tymes of [Generides];
Merueł he thoght yet neuer the les, wonders that Ge∣nerides has never told him he
So priuelie euer that he him bare
That the Soudon noon erst was ware
That he was the king son Aufris; was King Aufreus's son;
Or that tyme he knew it in noo wise
Whan he so egre to him was
For his doghtre [Clarionas].
He called [Generides] in that place
And shewed to him al the case;
His fadres lettre he it rade; he gives Generides his father's letter,
The Soudon̄ grete chere him made,
"For kinges son̄ sitħ I you know,
I wil worship as I ow;
And namelie for youre goode seruice
That ye han̄ doone me in many wise
Thurgħ doughtines of youre hondes,
Ye shul be king of rich londes;
And more worship toward you is
If ye folow my rede I-wis,
For haluendel Perse I you yeve and says he will give him half Perse
Forto hold while that ye live,
Al al-to-gedre aftre my day;
And my dougħtre also, withouten nay, and his daughter Clarionas to wife.
[Clarionas] to haue to wife,
With moch ioye to lede youre life,
For she is come of noble bloode,
Ye may haue with hir moch lond and goode;
And as for hir, I am in certeyn̄
That she wil not be thērageyn̄."
Ful mekelie he thonked the Soudon̄ Generides thanks the Sowdon,
And seid, "on̄ erthe ther is noo man̄,
Duke, Prince, Emperour, or King,
Couth profre him so glad a thing,
No so moch worship in al his liue,
As his heire and doghtre to haue to wiue;
I am youre man for euer moo;
But, Sir," seid [Generides] thoo,
"I besech you take it not at yl, but begs leave to go into Ynde,
But graunt me, and it be youre wil,
Into ynde to my fadre forto wende;
And if his werre take goode ende,
Crouned king I hope to bene; be crowned, and then make his daughter a queen.
Than shal my ladie youre dogħtre be a quene,
And more honour to hir and you
Than thus to wed hir, as me semetħ, now;
Of this mariage ye me respite
Til that I haue al Ynde quite,
And than whan I am king of Ynde,
Vntrew ye shal me neuer fynde; He will keep faith with her,
But I shal wed youre doughtre than̄
Before any living woman̄
If ye and she assent therto;
For treulie, Sir, I loue hir soo
That al the honour I cān devise and do her all the honour he can,
I shal doo to hir in ony wise;
For, bi that lord that sitteth aboue,
Thogh she be thing that I most loue,
Was neuer vilanye betwix vs wrogħt for he has never done her wrong in word or deed,
Nouthir in word, dede, nor thoght,
But that I slept to fast that while
That Jewel did me falslie begyle;
Most vilanye that euer to me was,
Or euer I did to my ladie [Clarionas],
That I lete hir be stole thoo; except when he let Jewel steal her away.
But I am sure he shal stele nomoo.
Sir, an hundreth knightes ye me lene If the Sowdon will lend him 100 knights,
Of my chesing, armed clene,
And or oght long to-gedre echoon̄
We shul goo and come anoon̄, he will soon come back and wed his daughter.
And than̄ wed your doughtre, if it be your wil,
Al youre commaundment to fulfil;
And herof siker ye may be,
Mi trouth I plight you here treulie."
"Graunt mercy," seid the Soudon̄, The Sowdon pro∣mises him all he wants,
"Of al that I haue or make can̄,
Of tresour also, men, and vitaile,
For my loue that ye noon̄ faile;
And also, if ye wil me rede,
I wil goo with you in this nede; and offers to go with him himself, but says he fears that Gwynan, in his absence,
But of oon thing I drede me doutles,
Of the king of Egipt wikkednes;
Yf he may here tithinges of you
That ye be out of this lond now,
That he wil gadre his ost to-gedre will invade his land.
And in al hast than come hidre
To destroye vs, if that he may,
For wrath ye toke [Clarionas] away."
"Now," quod [Generides], "drede you nogħt; Generides says there is no fear, and asks that those
I shal not faile you, bi him me boght;
Lete me haue Darel and tho knightes, if ye may,
That wer made with me the same day; who were knighted with him may go with him into Ynde.
No moo I ask to wende with me
Into ynde but thes meigne."
"A goddes [name]," seid the Soudon̄, The Sowdon con∣sents,
Take with you whom ye wil han̄;
So wele thei loue youre companye
That vnto you thei wol be redy."
Than seid [Generides] to the messangers
"Gooth home ageyn, my feire freres, and Generides sends word to his father that he will come.
And tel my fadre Aufreus the king
That I shal come without tariyng."
The messangers went here way
With rich yeftes of grete noblay,
And in to ynde thei went ageyn̄
To tel the king and the quene certeyn̄
Hou that thei here son̄ shul see,
"Thes tithinges ar trew, siker ye be."
Of thes tithinges the king was glad, Aufreus is glad of this, and makes haste to go into Ynde,
To wende into ynde grete hast he mad;
[Generides] also with his knightes
Araied him stronglie for the fightes;
His counsel he told vnto Darel,
Wherwith he pleased him right wel;
To here felous thei sent aboute;
Thei come in hast ful bold and stoute, for which Gene∣rides's companions also prepare.
Redie with [Generides] forto wende;
Ouer al men thei trust him for here frende.
CHAPTER XV.
Here the Soudon sent for his doghtre forto tel pat he had yoven̄ hir to Generides.
On morow at the son̄ rising
The Soudon seid in grete highing, The Sowdon orders his daughter to be fetched, and tells her how he has given her to Gene∣rides to wife.
"Lete fecch hidre my doghtre dere."
Thoo he told hir in what maner
To [Generides] he had hir yeven̄
The whiles that thei to-gedre lyuen̄,
With al Perse aftir his day;
"And forto put this in assay
I haue to him my trouth plight,
And he to me, as he is trew knight,
That he wil you wed to wyve
Afor any othre during his lyve."
Than was [Clarionas] glad ynow, Clarionas asks when they are to be married.
"Mi lord," she seid, "I pray you
At what terme day set he
That he wold feithfulli wed me?"
"Doghtre," he seid, "first into Surre, The Sowdon says
Thidre must he wende sikerlie;
The kinges son̄ and his heire he is,
And also al ynde shal be his; after Generides has won Ynde
His fadre thurgh treason it lost,
For this cause he thidre most;
And whan he hath gotēn that lond,
This Dar I vndretake on hond,
King therof crovned shal he bene, and been crowned king, then she shall be his queen:
Than wol he take you to his quene
And wed you, I dar wel sayne,
So trew I hold him in certeyn;
And that is al his abiding, that is why he waits.
Forto be wedded as a king."
[Clarionas] gan hir dismay, Clarionas
The long terme did hir not pay
To abide so long the mariage, doesn't like this long waiting.
He was come of so high parage;
Than hir self she forgate,
Without spech stil she sate;
Than at the last she spake ful stil,
"Fadre, I wil be at youre wil."
With that word she rose and yede She goes back to her room and swoons,
Vnto hir chambre a goode spede,
In swonyng she fel on hir bed;
That saw Mirabel, and was adred;
Such sorow she thoo made,
Hir coloure wex pale and fade.
"Allas," seid Mirabel thoo,
"For euer ye haue grete woo;
Thurgh weke and moneth, as I wene,
Were ye neuer withouten tene,
That haue I sene many day and long."
"Mirabel," seid she(.) "ye say wrong, and says that never till now has she known sorrow,
Neuer or now noon euel I felt
That so herd with me delt;
For thogh I haue had hevines,
Yet it hath greued me wel the les,
For hope euer comforted me; for before hope comforted her,
Of thing that now wil neuer be
Min hope is turned al on mys, now it is gone.
Therfore euer may I sorow I-wis.
A, lord god! I may repent
Out of Egipt that euer I went; She had better have stayed in Egypt, where she was a queen;
There was I wedded and made a quene;
So wel at ease shal I neuer bene;
This haue I for my kinde hert,
Al this is thurgh my desert;
Him that I loued ouer al thing for now her lover has beguiled her.
Hath me begiled with his glosing.
I wende, terme of al his life,
He wold not forsake me for his wife;
Allas! ful litle wende wold I
Any such treason in so goodelie a bodie.
As moch care mot him betide May he suffer for it!
As he hath made me forto abide!"
Mirabel wondred of hir woo, Mirabel asks what all the trouble is about,
Whi hir ladie ferd soo;
"Ma dame," she seid, "tel me whi
That ye ar wax now so sory,
And I shal you counsel for the best,
Som what to set youre hert in rest."
[Clarionas] seid, "without fable and Clarionas says,
I haue euer found you trew and stable,
I wil tel you my sorow sikerlie,
What causeth myn hert thus woo to be.
He that me loued most entier,
He hateth me most, fer or nere, because Generides hates her;
Of ony creature that bereth life
Whan he forsaketh me for his wife.
Mi fadre me profered him in mariage, for her father offered her to him in marriage,
And Perse to haue to his heritage
Holy after my fadres day;
But he hath put it in delay, and he has put it off;
So wot I wele is in his thoght therefore he must want to marry somebody else.
To wed an othre, and me noght.
He seith he wil not wed me
King crovned til he be!
And al is but treason, I vndretake;
Allas! whi hath he me forsake? Allas!
Som othre he loueth. Where she is,
God hem nouthir of othre blis." May God never bless them.
Whan Mirabel knew of hir specħ,
"Sobre youre hert, ma dame, I you besecħ; Mirabel begs her to be quiet,
For I dar lay myn heid thertoo
He neuer thoght to doo soo,
Nor neuer ment to you noo gyle; says Generides means no deceit, but only waits to
But he wil abide a while,
Of gretter astate til that he be
To wed you in more dignitie; wed her with more dignity, not as a mere soldier,
For now while he a Souldiour is,
It wer not youre honour I-wis
For to take him to husbond
Til he be knowen king of lond; but as a king.
Therfor suffre a while penaunce,
For al shal turn̄ to youre plesaunce."
[Clarionas] ful stil thoo lay,
And answerd nouthre yea nor nay.
[Generides] aftre anoon cam̄; Generides soon comes;
Whan Mirabel sight of him nam,
She ran to him with an hasti brayde,
And pitousli to him she sayd. Mirabel tells him what trouble Cla∣rionas is in,
He asked whi she was so sory;
"Sir" she seid, "grete cause whi:
Mi ladie so grete sorow dooth make,
And al is, sir, for youre sake:
Whan hir fadre without strife
Profered you hir to be youre wife,
And Perse to haue to youre heritage, and asks why he put off the mar∣riage.
Whi put ye in delay this mariage?"
[Generides] for sorow thoo
Stoode stil, and spake no word for woo,
"Allas! that myn ovn derling
Shuld suppose in me any such thing."
"Now, Sir, goo ye a grete pase He must go to her at once.
Vnto my ladie [Clarionas;]
Seke she is, and that ouer-doon̄
But if that she amend soon̄
Of hir liue sore I me drede."
Thoo [Generides] with Mirabel yede; Generides goes,
As sone as [Clarionas] him sigħ,
To him she gān speke on higħ,
And seid, "goo hens out of my sigħt and Clarionas bursts out into reproaches, "Go hence, untrue knight,
[Generides], the most vntrew knight!
Into Inde goo from me;
Kepe I neuer more you to see!
Take to wife, as ye haue ment, marry Sir Amalek's daughter, and make peace with him;
His doghtre that hath you most shent;
Sir Amalek doghtre, I mene,
So may pees betwix you bene;
I shal behote you sikerlie,
Neuer gete ye loue of me." no more love will you get from me."
With that she gan to wepe so sore She weeps,
That speke might she nomore.
[Generides] lost his countenaunce,
He might not speke for greuaunce,
On hir bed he fel on swonyng; he swoons,
Than was she in more mornyng
Than euer she was in before,
She dred she shuld hir liue haue lore;
To his face she leid hir cheke, and his face gets as cold as a leek.
She felt it cold as yse or leke.
Mirabel seid, "allas, ma dame, On this Mirabel reproaches her,
Treulie ye ar gretlie to blame
Thus doughty to mys-seye,
And suffre him for youre loue to deye;
Shewed ye han youre ovn care;
So saw I neuer woman fare.
Help him of his peynes strong;
Ma dame, in armes ye him fong,
And kisse him, his hert to haue in rest, and orders her to kiss him well, or else he'll die.
For elles he dieth now at the lest."
Than anoon with peynes strong
She gan̄ to kisse him euer among So Clarionas does kiss him till he gets better,
Til he com from his swonyng;
Than he seid, "ay, swete derling, and then he says
So grete sorow ye make me,
I wote ye wil my deth be; she'll be the death of him,
Youre wordes vttirly wol me sloo,
Ye see wel I may not you forgoo;"
With this he fel in swonyng sone. and swoons away again.
Mirabel seid, "what wil ye doone?
Wil ye suffre him thus fare? Mirabel asks her what she is about;
For you shal I neuer more care."
And til hir ladie loude gan she crye,
"Leue, madame, al this folye! tells her to stop all this nonsense,
Meke youre hert, and speke him too,
And elles he wil die for woo. or else Generides will die.
Think what he hath doo for yoū!
Me semeth bi his chere he dieth now."
With this fel [Clarionas] to ground, On this, Clarionas swoons,
And swoned in that same stound;
That saw Mirabel, and to hir ran̄, and poor Mirabel thinks they are both dead.
Weping as a sory woman̄;
She wened thei had died bothe;
Of hir life she gan to loothe.
From hir swonyng she come ageyn̄, But Clarionas comes round,
Yet saw she [Generides] lie in peyn̄;
Hir angre she gan ther to lithe,
And than she kissed him fel sithe and sets to kissing Generides, till he comes round too.
Til he cam til knowlecħ ageyn̄;
Oon word for sorow might he not seyn̄;
"A, dere hert [Generides]," seid she,
"Wil ye leue me in this contree
And forsake me thus in dede?"
"Nay ma dame," seid he, "god forbede! Then he vows never to love an∣other than her,
Othre woman̄ to loue than you,
That shal I neuer, I make god a vow.
Loo here my trouth to you I make
That I shal you neuer forsake, or forsake her.
Nor othir than you haue to my wife."
Than stinted [Clarionas] hir strife: Clarionas is satis∣fied,
Aithir here trouthes to othir tooke,
And al here sorow thei forsoke.
[Generides] she thanked hertilie,
"Ouer al I loue you most speciallie;
And now, dere hert, leue al youre woo,
For treuli my care is a-goo."
Within twoo dais Sir [Generides]
Toke his leue withouten̄ les;
And [Clarionas], weping hir fil, and gives him leave to go to Ynde, though against her will.
Yaue him leue ageyn̄ hir wil,
But nedes cost it must be soo;
A nouch yave she him whan he shuld goo.
CHAPTER XVI.
Generides gooth into Ynde to help his fadre Aufreus to conquere the lond that Amalek the traitour thoo had kept from him bi fals treasoun̄.
[Generides] than̄ made him redie, Generides and his knights
And al his knightes right lustilie,
Bothe he and thei euerichoon̄
Toke here leue at the Soudon̄. take leave of the Sowdon,
[Generides] met bi the way
Messengers that did him say
That al the oste of Surre was and hearing that the Syrian host is at Damas,
To-gedre y-come to Damas.
Whān he herd of that tithing,
Ful fast he rode without letting they ride there,
Toward Damas that feire Citie;
His fadres ost there found he,
Which were ful glad of his comyng.
Thei sailed to ynde without tariyng; sail to Ynde,
The havens of ynde to here plesaunce
Thei toke without distourbaunce,
So thei entred into the lond
And toke al into here hond; and take posses∣sion,
Tovnes and castels that hem̄ withstoode,
Thei bet hem doun̄ with egre moode;
And al thoo that thei might of here
That Sir Amalekkes frendes were,
Thei did hem the shame thei might, doing shame to Amalek's friends.
And seased al here goodes with rigħt;
The grete of the contre hem sore dred, The great lords
Thei durst not abide, but al fled,
And highed hem fast to a Citie flee to the city of Vise,
That vise was called in that contree;
Thei vitailed it with the best,
Thei doubted noo man est nor west.
Som barounes on knees gan̄ fałł but some beg mercy from Au∣freus,
To king Aufreus mercy to całł,
And besoght him graunt here lifes
Bothe for here childre and here wifes;
To al thoo that he trew fond, which he grants to the true,
Lyfe and lym, castel and lond,
He graunted(:) but thoo that did him forsake,
Magre Amalek he did hem take, but the faithless he hangs.
And made hem to be hong and draw,
And did hem slee bi the law.
Amalek was that same while Amalek
From the ost a ten myle;
Of this werk wist he nothing; knows nothing of this
But as he sat at his pleyng
At the ches with an othir knight, till, while he is playing chess,
And seid chekmate to him a-rigħt,
Anoon come in a messengere
And broght tithinges that al might here,
And seid vnto Sir Amalek, a messenger tells him
"Ye sey vnto this knight chek,
And I sey chekmate to you:
King Aufreus is in this contre now of Aufreus's inva∣sion,
With grete ost, and destroeth youre lond,
This for trouth ye may vndrestond,
With you he wil pley chek mate
But if ye you purvey him to abate;
With him is come Sir [Generides], and that Generides is with him.
The best knight in werre and pes
That now is holden̄ in ony lond,
And both thei be here nigh hond."
Whān Amalek this vndrestoode, Amalek
He loked as he were nigh woode;
Writes he did make and sende,
Ouer al the lond the writes wende;
He purveid for maygnelles and belfrayes sends for mango∣nels, and strength∣ens the city.
And othre ordinaunce at al assayes;
Strong ynogh was that Citie,
A moch stronger might noon be.
[Generides The blank in the MS. has been filled in by a later hand with Gerenedes. Was not Amalek meant? and should not this and the next line be put twelve lines down, after line 7828?] wold first him dres
In the vaward for doghtines.
There was in the Citie many goode knightes, His knights
Thei armed hem at al Rigħtes;
Oute of the Citie with grete oste ride out
Thei come with grete pompe and boste,
In a brode medow feire and grene into a meadow
Thei batailed hem in ranges fiftene, in 15 battalions of 1000 each,
A thousand armed in eche bataile,
Without Archers that wold not faile.
And king Aufreus, on his partie, and Aufreus meets them
He cām with a feire companye
Araied wel in batels twelf with 12 battalions.
Of goode men that knew hem self.
Whan [Generides] had of him a sigħt Generides
He rode to him as a doughtie knight
With his spere Iusting forto bede,—
Darel with him he gan thoo lede,— and Darel ride out to joust,
Amalekes brothre Sir Amanewel
Saw wel [Generides] and Darel;
A doughtie knight he was of dede,
The doughtiest of al his kinrede;
A felow he had that Aunsel hight,
Brethren̄ thei were of trouth pligħt;
On here stedes to-gedre riding
Thei went to [Generides] him meting.
To [Generides] rode Amanewel, and Amanewel (the Lion's Heart), and Aunsel charge them.
And Aunsel rode to Sir Darel;
Amanewel was so wight and smert
That men called him the liones hert,
[Generides] with his spere he smote,
Thurgh the shelde and hauberk it bote,
But the hauberk was ful goode,
The soket therageyns stoode;
[Generides] smote Amanewel so in the shelde Generides unhorses Amanewel,
With his goode spere that he helde
That he made him bakward stoupe
Til he fel ouer his hors croupe.
Than [Generides] toke his goode stede
Bi the bridel, and did him lede;
Amanewel take he wold, but is stopped from taking him pri∣soner.
But than cam many knightes bold.
Darel in his part did his dede, Darel also
With Aunsel to Iust he yede,
And Aunsel sone with him met,
And in the mid sheld him smet
That Darel was in point thoo
To the ground forto goo;
With his launce goode and grete
Aunsel out of the sadle he smet, unhorses Aunsel,
And with that stroke to ground him kest;
To take his stede Darel was prest, and takes his steed,
But him to take might he not spede,
For he was reskewed at his nede. but Aunsel is rescued.
Darel furth that stede led
To his ost, no ferthir he fled;
Therof he had right goode game,
[Generides] and he in-same.
The ost within saw al this chaunce,
The begnnyng was not to here plesaunce.
Leomedan, king of Luby, Leomedon, king of Luby,
A stoute man of Chiualrie,
For loue of the ladie Lucidas—for love of Lucidas (daughter of Ama∣lek by Aufreus's queen, Serenydes),
That Sir Amalekes doghtre was
Bi Serenydes the Quene
Sithen thei had wedded bene—
Redie to Iust he went him out,
He thoght he shuld noman dout.
Lucidas loued him no thing,
Nor noon othre to mennes weting,—
She was feire of flesh and bloode,
And therto of condicions goode,
Nothing of hir modres maner,
Therfor he loued hir with hert entier—
To iust for hir sake doutles rides forth to joust with
Ful besilie he put him in pres;
Vnto the Prince of Antioche Antitodes of An∣tioch;
Ful fast he gan to him approche,
(Antitodes that Prince hight)
Redie to Iust he him digħt,
And rode vnto Leomedon̄:
Fellie to-gedre gan thei goon̄ they charge,
That here shaftes brake in twoo;
From here stedes fel thei thoo, unhorse one an∣other,
Bot both thei were at that nede
That ech of hem toke othres stede. and change steeds.
The ost com on frusshing,
Hem within ful fast sailing,
With stoute and grete chiualrie
Many a goode man ther gān die, Many are killed.
Many wounded vndre shelde,
And many vnhorsed in the felde.
Sir Amalek smot ther a knight Amalek
That he clefe his sheld doun right,
And smot him thurgh the bodie; cuts a knight through before Aufreus,
Before king Aufreus gān he die,
He fel deid from his stede.
"Aufreus," quod Amalek, "I the rede and tells him
Take this present, and goo hens with al, he'd better go home.
Or elles send the more I shal."
Aufreus thoo gan wax wrothe, Aufreus rides
He spored his stede, and furth he goothe,
Meting with the king Samyk at King Samyk
That thoo was king of Aufrik,
And in that mode he smote him soo
That his sheld he clefe in twoo,
And in the bodie he smote him depe; and wounds him so that he
Samyk might him no lenger kepe,
On his stede he caght a deidlie wound,
And in swonyng he fel to ground; falls to the ground
His helme of yede in that falling,
Than̄ had Aufreus of him knowing,
And ful sory was of that chaunce
For loue of here old acqueyntaunce;
Right there died he(.) as he lay. and dies.
With that, asone as euer he may,
Cam Isores, his son̄ eldest, His son Isores
That on his fadre his eyn̄ kept,
He saw him deid: "allas," quod he,
"Sir Amalek, cursed mot thou be curses Amalek and Serenides
And thi Quene Serenides,
Thogh she be my sustre neuer-the-les;
God let you nouthre goode dethe die,
For thurgh youre vnthrifti harlotrie for their harlotry,
Was the goode knight betraied I-wis
That kind lord of this lond is:
And now my fadre, alas, for dele,
Is sleyn̄ in youre fals quarel!"
The deid bodie he made furth bere, and has his father buried.
And ful richelie gan it entiere.
Al the oost within of that chaunce
Were dismayed and lost countynaunce,
And drew hem to the Citie ful fast.
[Generides] saw hem flee in hast, Generides rides forth,
He russhed aboute on euery side,
And out of the ost gan̄ he glide
On Blaunchard his goode stede,
Boldlie to Iust furth he yede.
Sir Isores rode to him ageyn̄, Isores charges him,
He wold be wroken̄ wonder fayn̄;
[Generides] he smot in the sheld soo
That the shaft brast euen in twoo;
With that stroke the shelde to-rofe splits his shield, and drives his steed on its knees.
That the stede on knees doūn drofe,
But sone vp ageyn̄ he rose;
Of that stroke his hert agrose,
And Isores tho he smote ageyn̄ But Generides gives Isores such a thrust
In the middes of his sheld certeyn̄;
Bi his strenght the sheld to-rofe
That thurgh the shuldre the spere drofe;
Isores his swerd thoo out hent, that he surrenders at once,
Therwith [Generides] he did present,
And yeld him to him in that place.
[Generides] Asked him whoo he was; and says
"Sir," he seid, "Samyk the king
Was my fadre without lesing,
Mi sustre is quene Serenydes." his sister is Queen Serenydes.
Thoo Aunswerd him Sir [Generides],
"Of you I haue ful grete pitie, Generides
And therfor shal I let you be;
To youre ost goo ye ageyn̄, sets him free, bidding him tell Serenydes that Generides will take vengeance on her.
Sey to quene Serenydes certeyn̄
'That I [Generides] am now here;
She wold haue sleyn me this othir yere;
If god wil, I shal therof a-wreke me.'
To goo youre wey ye shal haue help of me
While ye light vp to that mede;"
In the meān while he held his stede.
Isores did Serenydes to vndrestond This message is delivered,
Al the sothe of [Generides] sond;
Thoo gan she make rewful chere and Serenydes makes sure that
Whan̄ she wist that he was there;
Hope to escape had she noon̄,
To the deth she was sure to goon̄. she shall be killed.
Darel on a blak stede sat, Darel
To bere him wel he noght forgate:
Ther was a knight hight Joathan̄, is charged by Joathan,
Of Europe, a ful doughtie man̄,
He loued Lucidas that Ladie brigħt, who loves Lucidas,
For hir sake he wold preue his might
With Darel to iust in dede,
Towardes him a pace he yede,
But ageyn̄ward darel so him hit,
Out of his sadle he made him flit, but Darel unhorses and wounds him,
And wounded him thurgh the arme,
On̄ swoūn he fel for that harme;
Reskewed thoo was his bodie, though he is res∣cued.
But Darel as a knight hardie
His feire stede with him led,
And to his felous he did him sped;
But in the turnyng ageynward Darel turns
To the toure he loked vpward,
Tho he perceyued lucidas, and sees Lucidas,
And saw hou feir a ladie she was;
So feire a creature neuer saw he
Except [Clarionas,] nor of such beutie;
The sight of hir was in his thoght, and falls so in love with her that
In sore longyng it him broght;
Darel his Iusting tho forgate, he forgets all his jousting.
Loue so herd at his hert sate.
Segryne he called to him that tide,
And seid, "frende, come bi mi side;"
And seid, "frend, now tel me,
Haue ye acqueyntaunce of this contre?"
"Yea, sir," he seid, "I know it wel."
"Now, gentil felow," seid Darel, Hs asks Segryne who she is.
"The feire ladie that I yondre see
On high in the toure, what is shee?
Whethir is she maden or wife?
Such oon saw I neuer in al my life."
"Sir," he seid, "wife is she noon̄;
A maide I trow is she oon̄."
"I kon̄ you thonk for youre answere;
Now shal I tel you in youre ere,
Hir loue myn hert so sore hath take,
Departing can I noon make;
But to [Generides] ye it not sey,
Nor of my counsel me bewrey."
"Sir," seid Segryne, "I wil you rede Segryne tells him
On̄ euery side wel to spede;
That ladie that ye speke of here
Is Sir Amalekkes dougħtre dere that she is Amalek's daughter by Se∣renydes,
Bi his quene Serenydes;
But I dar sey yet neuer-the-les
That [Generides] in this case
Noon hate bereth to Lucidas.
Now, bi my rede, send hir a ring, and advises him to send her a ring.
Therbi shal ye here tithing."
Darel toke him a ring a-noon̄, Darel does so,
And to the toure Segryne is goon̄;
He thoght for hir sake to doo dedes, and to show his prowess,
To Iust than̄ he wold nedes,
To Amanewel hir vncle he rode rides at Amanewel
That ful hardelie him aboode;
But neuer-the-les Sir Amanewel
With the stroke he had of Darel
Oute of the sadle he was born̄, and unhorses him.
And his goode stede he hath lorn̄.
Al that saw Lucidas; whan̄ he fel, Lucidas sees this,
She semed Darel Iusted wel,
She thoght he was come of goode kyn̄,
Som dele he gan hir loue to wyn̄;
If he wer come of goode kynrede, and thinks she could love him if he was well born,
Loue him she wold for ony drede;
But wete she wold or oght long
That she loued noght wrong.
Of [Generides] she herd tełł,
She loued him euer wel,
But, for he hated hir fadre, she drede
That he hated al the kinrede;
Therfor loue him durst she nogħt; as she dare not love Generides.
To Darel she turned al hir tħoght,
But neithir him nor [Generides]
Knew she than without les.
She seid to hir modre, "madame,
That knight is [Generides] bi name. She thinks it is Generides on the black steed,
Se ye him vpon the blak stede?
I hold it he, so god me spede;
Al day he holdeth him the toure nere,
Many Iustingis he hath made here, for he has jousted well
Speres broken, and stedes wonn̄,
Sith the ostes to assemble gonn̄;
Min vncle he threw even nov doun̄ rigħt, and thrown her uncle,
And wan̄ his goode stede bi migħt;
So goode a knight saw I noon here
But him that rideth on the white courser, though he on the white courser is the best of all.
He is doughtiest man̄ in figħt
That euer I saw, and boldest knight."
Into the toure sone come there
Segryne the goode messangere; Segryne comes in,
The Quene perceyued him with sigħt,
Of his comyng hir hert was ligħt,
She welcomed him, and gan him pray
Of the ost without he wold hir say
If he there any knight knew;
"Ma dame," he seid, "bi seint Andrew, tells them that the knight on the white steed is Generides,
Se ye him on the white stede?
That is [Generides,] so god me spede;
And yondre knight on the stede blak and he on the black one,
Is a doughti man without lak,
The Prince son̄ of Cesar he is, Darel, son of the Prince of Cesar.
And his heire shal be I-wys;
Darel is his right name,
A curtes knight of goode fame."
Lucidas than loued him the more, Lucidas then falls in love with him;
Hir coloure therwith chaunged sore,
A grete sigh than she drogh,
Hir modre perceiued it wel ynogħ her mother sees it and leaves her.
Bi the chaungeyng of hir coloure
That she loued him paramoure,
For she that maner wel knew,
Therfor it did hir bales brew.
Serenydes turned hir hastelie
And laft Lucidas hir by;
Segryne no lenger dwel wold,
But toke hir thoo the ring of gold Segryne gives Serenydes Darel's ring,
Which that Darel to hir had sent;
Moch it pleased hir hertes entent.
A ring of hirs she toke Segryne, and she gives Se∣gryne one for Darel.
And seid, "frende and felow myne,
To Sir Darel this ring ye bere,
And pray him for my loue it to were,
And hertilie thonk him of his sond,
For neuer erst was man in lond
That I receiued of tokenyng
Saue now, Segryne, without lesing."
To hir modre ther she yede,
And Segryne on his way gan spede Segryne
Til he cam to the tournay;
Wel soone Darel him say,
He told him tithinges his hert to glade, gives it to Darel,
Of the ring grete ioye he made,
Neuer of mirth smal ne grete
Sith he was born̄ so wel he lete.
Vnto Segryne than seid he,
"Frend, vnto the toure folow me; who asks him to go with him to the tower.
The first stede ye shal haue
That I wyn̄, so god me saue."
Tho met Darel with grete envie
Leomedon̄ king of Lubie; Darel
Thei met there with egre moode,
Darelles hert to his ladie stoode,
He smote him sore, leomedon̄,
That out of his sadle he made him goon̄, unhorses Leome∣don, and gives his steed to Segryne.
And there he wan̄ his goode stede,
And gafe it Segryne to his mede.
Lucidas saw that Iusting,
It mysliked hir nothing.
Among hem without faile
Hard was alwey the bataile;
Sleyn and take was man̄y oon̄.
Tho Generides did his stede goon̄,
With the king of Lubie tho he mett
That was ageyn̄ on hors set,
Generides smot him on the heid on hie Generides cleaves the King of Lubie's head in two,
That the heid clefe on̄ twoo partie;
To the ground fel Leomedon̄
King of Lubie, deid as a stoon̄.
Into the Citie ful fast thei drew, and Amalek's host withdraw into the city,
The ost without fast hem slew;
To the Citie or that thei come,
Many good knightes wer ouernome,
So that Sir Amalek and his ost
Wer discomfet for al his bost. discomfited;
Thei that gate in and wer vnslaw,
The gates thei shet, the brigges did draw;
And thei without, al thei might, and Aufreus's army besieges the city closely,
Beseged the tovn̄ a-noon̄ rigħt.
Ageyn the toure on high to seyn̄,
Generides gan his tentes ordeyn̄,
Engynes thei did make ful fast and make engines to beat down the walls.
The stoon̄ walles doun̄ to cast;
Or thei departed thei thoght to wyn̄
The Citie and al that were within.
CHAPTER XVII.
Here leueth of the sege And Generides, [and] turnetħ Ageyn to King Gwynan̄ king of Egipt, how he ordeined him A grete ost of people forto werre vpōn the Soudon̄ of Perse to wyn Ageyn̄ his ladie Clarionas, And to avenge him of the despite that Generides did to him whan he feched hir fro Egipt.
Of this sege herd Gwynam̄ the king, Gwynan, king of Egypt,
And than he lete make purveing
While [Generides] was out of lond
Into Ynde to take werre on hond;
Wonderlie couetous tho he was
Forto a-wreke him on [Generides,]
And of his fadres dethe also.
A grete oste he gadred him thoo gathers a great host to invade Perse,
To Perse with him forto wende,
Al that contre he thoght to shende;
A messenger he sent into ynde and sends to tell Amalek
Vnto Amalek where he might him finde,
And sent him word to kepe him close to keep close
That he come not among his foos,
But that he stronglie kepe his castel, in his castle,
For help to him shal come ful wel;
"Sey to him," quod Gwynan the king,
"I and myn ost without letting
Wil into Perse to win that lond;
And whan I haue it in myn hond, till Gwynan has taken Perse
Into ynde than̄ come I shal and can come to help him.
Him to help with myn ostes al."
To Amalek was this message doo;
Glad of thes tithinges was he thoo.
Serenydes did hir doghtre call, Serenydes
She cam to hir forth-with-all,
She seid, "doghtre, wold ye tel me asks her daughter Lycidas
Of oon thing I shal ask you?" seid she.
"Ma dame," quod she, "gladlie I shal
Tel you som dele, and elles al."
"Doghtre," she seid, "for my loue now,
What tithinges broght Segryne to you what tidings Se∣gryne brought her that morning.
To day soo [MS. soi.] tymelie in the mornyng
Whan ye were in so grete talking."
She spake no word a grete while,
But at the last she gan to smyle;
To tel the trouth, ashamed was she,
Alwey hir modre kept hir pryuee;
Lucidas seid, "for sothe, madame,
I shal you tel without blame
What Segrine seid vnto me,
"A knight sent him hidre," seid she, "A diamond ring from a knight,
"A ring with a diamount he me brogħt;
Of my goode fauoure he me besogħt."
"Who is that knight?" seid the quene.
"Ma dame," she seid, "ye might him sene
Vndre the wal of the toure al day
Riding as a knight in goode aray,
He is the Prince son̄ of Cesare, son of the Prince of Cesare,
His heire nedes shal he be;
Thus told me Segryne I-wis
That Sir Darel his name is." named Sir Darel."
"Ay, feire doghtre," seid the quene Serenydes asks her to test Darel's love
"If he loue you ye shal sone sene:
Send to Segryne bi som page,
Pray him for his Avauntage
That he come to you hastilie,
And whan he cometh in privetie,
As he you loueth ye him pray
To [? for take.] Darel from you this message,
That for youre loue he seeħ grace
Of [Generides] to purchace by asking him to get her the ring that Clarionas gave to Generides, telling the story that a near relation wants it to cure him of "a strong goute,"
The same ring that [Clarionas]
Yave him while he in Perse was;
For ye may sey to Segryne
That ye haue a nigh cosyn̄
That peyned is with a strong goute,
Of his liue he hath grete doute,
To him it come bi a vision̄
That he shal neuer of that corrupcion̄
Be deliuered for noo thing
Til that he haue the same ring,
If that he can bi any gyn̄
To assay that ring to wyn̄;
And whan he is hole, for certeyn̄ and when he is healed she will re∣turn it.
Ye shul send him the ring ageyn̄.
Let him goo to Sir Darel,
I hope that he shal spede wel."
Lucidas herd hir moders tale, Lucidas, not seeing her mother's guile,
She vndrestoode not of the bale
That hir modre aboute went;
Aftre Segryne anoon she sent,
And he come redilie at hir sond:
Wel soone she did him vndrestond
Of the ring of hir modres spech,
Ful hertlie she did him thoo besech sends to ask Darel for the ring
For hir loue of Sir Darel to craue
The same ring, that she might haue
For my grete frendes medicine to cure her friend.
That of the goute hath grete pine.
Segryne went and Darel besogħt,
And the forseid message to him brogħt.
Vnto [Generides] Sir Darel yede,—Darel asks Gene∣rides for the ring,
He wist wel sone to spede,—
[Generides] trusted Darel ynogħ,
And the ring fro his finger sone he drogħ; and he gives it him at once.
Darel bad bere it to Lucidas, Darel then sends it to Lucidas,
And furth with it he went a-pas;
He com to hir, and deliuerd hir the ring,
And she made him grete welcomyng.
Whan Segryne departed fro the Castel
She preid him recommaund hir to Dareł.
Serenydes saw wel whan he cam,
And how hir doghtre the ring nam;
"Doghtre," she seid, "I se wel here
This knight you loueth with hert entier;
Loue Darel Ageyn now, I you rede,
His loue I shal not you forbede;
And nov the Ring ye take to me, and she gives it to her mother.
Therwith shal I doo a goode iourney."
Whān Serenides the Ring had, Serenydes gives it to a saucy wily lad, Gwisshare,
Glad she was, and called a lad,—
The laddes name was Gwisshare,
A grete Iaper, he toke noo care,
A sotel felow and a plesaunt,
Feire he was and Auenaunt,
Born̄ he was in Ethiope,
He durst haue spoken to the Pope
Or to the Emperour, as for langage,
Such dedes did him avauntage,—
"Goo forth, a man I shal the make,"
(His erand with the ring did he take)
And faile not with this ring and tells him to make discord by means of it.
Discord to make for ony thing."
"Ma dame," he seid, "if I haue life,
I take on hond to make strife;"
So went he to Perse with the ring, He goes to Perse
But Lucidas wist noothing;
Yf she had wist of this sotelnes
She wold not haue goote the ring I-wis.
Gwisshar sped his wey ful fast,
And into Perse he cam at last,
To Mounthanar that feir Citie to the city of Mounthanar,
Thidre he cam for certaintie.
The Soudon was tho in grete thoght where the Sowdon is,
For new tithinges that were him brogħt,
How king Gwynan was in his lond while Gwynan is taking possession of his castles, etc.
And begān to sease it into his hond,
Castels, tovnes, burghes, and Cities,
He began̄ destroye thurgh the contres;
Toward Monthanar he was comyng,
A right grete ost him was foloyng.
The Soudon was right besie thoo
To send a-boute to and froo
Aftre his lordes fer and nere
Forto help him in this daungere.
Gwisshar to Mounthanar is comen̄, Gwisshar
And his yn̄ In the Toun̄ hath nomen̄;
Vnto the Castel anōōn he yede
Boldli without ony drede;
The Soudon in his champel [so in MS.] was,
And his doughtre [Clarionas];
Gwisshar into the Chapel drogħ,—goes to the Chapel where Clarionas is,
He couth his craft weld [so in MS.] ynogh,—
Right ageyn̄ [Clarionas] he stoode,
The ring was Fyne and goode,
On his finger he it toke,
And made as to godward he did loke,
His bare hond ouer his side casting, and holds his hand
The ring to [Clarionas] euer shewing
So that she saw it at the last; so that Clarionas sees the ring.
A grete sigh she gan̄ to cast,
And began to wex cold and pale It chills her,
Til she herd the sothe taile.
Mirabel thoo perceyue gan̄
His [so in MS.] Ladies coloure wex pale and wan̄,
She seid, "ma dame, what aileth you?
It is not wel, me thinketh now."
Thoo [Clarionas] answerd ful stil, and she tells Mi∣rabel that she has seen
"I not whedre me is goode or il,
Or whedre I may sorow or pleyn̄
For a thing that I haue seyn̄.
In this chapel I saw here
The same Ring I gaf my fere the ring that she gave Generides,
Ful priuelie at a window
The first tyme I did him know:
See ye the felow doth yondre stand, on you fellow's finger.
And hou he leith furth his hond;
On his finger I saw it rigħt now,
Ful lefe me were to wete how
He come therto, and in what maner."
Mirabel seid, "my ladie dere, Mirabel tells her to go to her room,
Goo to youre chaumbre and rest you,
And I will abide here as now
And speke with him, if I can̄,
To wete how he that ring wan̄."
[Clarionas] to hir chaumbre yede;
Mirabel tho gān hir spede,
To speke with him was al hir thoght, and then brings Gwisshar to her.
To hir ladies chambre she him broght;
Whān he was comen to [Clarionas]
He did his message a grete pase,
"Ma dame," he seid without les, Gwisshar tells Clarionas that Generides
To you commaundeth him [Generides];
Woo is me to be the messanger
Of such tithinges as I bring you here,
But of Surre and furth broght
I am(:) therfore dismay you noght,
I must nedes doo his wil
In al that I cān loude or stiłł,
And elles it wer me grete shame;
But I so did, I were to blame.
Ma dame, for sothe ye vndrestond
[Generides] is become an husbond; has married
Wedded he hath a ladie ful clene,
Amalekes doghtre, as Iwene; Amalek's daughter,
Ageyn̄s his wil he did that dede, against his will,
But his fadre gan̄ him rede, but urged by his father,
Vpon̄ his blissing he did him pray,
So he durst not sey him nay.
Thurgh that marriage is now taken̄
An hole accord, and wrath forsaken̄ to make peace with Amalek.
Betwix Amalek and Aufris;
It was not bi [Generides] avice,
Yet shal he be crovned king
Of ynde thurgh that wedding;
If ye trow not that it so be,
This token he sent you bi me; Therefore he has returned her ring, and wishes her to marry some one else.
He wil ye take an husbond
Where so ye wil in ony lond.
Yet Ma dame, if youre wil be,
Kon̄ [Generides] noo magre,
For on the day of his wedding
Thries he fel on swonyng
Before hem al that wer thare."
Whan [Clarionas] herd him thus declare, Clarionas swoons away,
And saw the ring a token̄ goode,
A swoun̄ she fel as she stoode;
And for sorow that she had,
Mirabel grete dole had.
[Clarionas] at last ouercam̄, but recovers
And of hir ring grete hede she nam̄, and knocks the ring out of Gwis∣shar's hand into Mirabel's face.
And fellie smote it out of his hond
That Mirabel in hir face it fond.
Mirabel toke it in that casting Mirabel puts it safely away.
And put it in safe keping,
For al this she thoght trewlie
More of this ring wete wold she.
Whan Gwisshar saw hir so take on̄, Gwisshar goes off home again.
He toke his leue forto goon̄
Home ageyn to his contree.
Of [Clarionas] was great pitie, Clarionas mourns,
So she wept and sorow made,
And began to wax pale and fade.
Mirabel on hir side also
Wept, and wrong his handes twoo
For drede of this fals tithing
That cam bi token of the ring; but Mirabel thinks there has been some trickery about the ring.
But Mirabel euer thoght
Som falsnes therin might be wroght,
And the ring stole bi some treson̄,
She thoght it so in hir Reason̄.
The Soudon herd of [Clarionas] The Sowdon
His doughtre, hou she seke was:
Vnto hir chambre he gan̄ goo, goes to see Clario∣nas,
And on a swoun̄ he found hir thoo.
Moch sorow he gan̄ to make,
In his armes he did hir take,
"Doghtre, hou cam this euel to you?
For my loue," he seid, "tel me now."
[Clarionas] opened hir eyen tweyn̄, and she tells him
And spake to hir fadre with grete peyn̄,
"Sir," she seid, "for loue of oon̄ how Generides has betrayed her.
That hath betraied vs euerechoon̄,
And namely for you and me
This euel I have, cursed be he! Cursed be he!
Bi [Generides] it is that I mene,
His trouth he hath brogke, I wene;
Wedded he hath a wife in ynde."
"Doghtre," he seid, "than is he vnkynde."
"Sir," she seid, "thrugh that wedding,
Amalek and Aufreus the king and has made peace with Ama∣lek.
And [Generides], thei accorded bene,
And pes is made hem betwene;
And, Sir, that this be noo lesing,
To token̄ he sent me my Ring."
Than had the Soudon michel care, The Sowdon says
"God," he seid, "hou may this fare,
That in such a noble knight
Falsed be found day or night? as the harm's done, there is no good in complaining.
But sith it is doo, there is no bote
Therageyn̄ no lenger to mote.
Doghtre, dismay you not therfore;
For, sith that ye haue him forlore,
Ye shal haue a richer husbond Clarionas shall have a richer hus∣band within three days,
And a worthier, as I vndrestond,
I hope within thes daies thre;
For Gwynan neuer in al his liue even Gwynan,
Was so glad as he shal bene
And he may haue you to his quene;
And pes in lond we shal haue, with whom peace shall be made.
And neuer-the-les oure honour saue."
Mirabel of thes wordes lete yl; Mirabel asks the Sowdon to wait till he knows the whole truth;
That wedding wer not at hir wil;
And hir ladie withseid it noght,
Therfor she had mych thoght,
For she loued euer [Generides]
Passing wel without les;
Mercy she gan̄ the Soudon crie
That the wedding shuld not hie,
Al the soth til that he wist.
[Clarionas] tho to speke list,
And seid, "this is a wondre thing,
Mirabel, saw ye not the ring? but Clarionas asks—Is not the ring enough proof?
That was a goode token̄, I wene,
[Coude euyr any betre bene?]"
She seid, "trow it neuer I shal—Whereupon Mira∣bel rebukes her for
For noo token grete ne smal—
That he wold his trouth breke,
Til that I here him self speke.
For the Ring, no more ne les,
For thurgh treason right wel I gesse;
The ring I deme right wel he hath lore;
Fals ye found him neuer before;
Ma dame, ye shuld not bi right mistrusting her love whom she had never found false.
Neuer mystrust so gentil a knight
For loue of a litle ring!
Oones he lost a betre thing If Clarionas was stolen from him in the forest, why might not his ring be stolen too?
In the forest while he did slepe;
Therfore, ma dame, take goode kepe,
Whan youre self from him was stole
Vnware, he might the betre thoole
Thurgh gile to les a little ring,
Whan that he lost so precious a thing."
In such wil the Soudon she broght Mirabel persuades the Sowdon to wait,
That at the last he him bethoght
And seid, "Mirabel, I wil tarie me
If I might here and treulie se."
"I pray you, licence me to goo and asks his leave to go into Ynde,
To that contre," seid she thoo,
"Into Ynde ther [Generides] is, see Generides, and find out the truth;
And I shal know the sothe I-wis;
In hast shal I come ageyn̄,
And tel you the trouth in certeyn̄;
Twoo monethes respite graunt ye me but during the two months she is away,
Forto fulfil my Journey.
The whils I am in that passage
That ye make no maner mariage
Betwene my ladie and Gwynan̄, Clarionas is not to be married to any man.
Nor to noon othir erthlie man̄."
Without moo wordes the Soudon̄ The Sowdon agrees to this,
Graunted hir axing thoo anoon̄;
Mirabel purveid hir to wende
With twoo Squyers that wer hende,
Wel y-horsed thei were al thre;
With a grome(.) And no moo meignee, and Mirabel starts for Ynde.
The wey thei toke to Ynde ward.
Listneth now of aventure hard.
[Generides] was sore a-fright Generides dreams that the Sowdon
For that he dremed on a night:
Him thoght the Soudon to him come,
And [Clarionas] in his hond nome,
Sore weping him beforn̄
As she shuld hir liue haue lorn̄;
Him thoght the Soudon to him spake
And seid, "[Generides], nov awake; reproaches him with breaking his troth
Ye doo not as ye me behight
Whan ye to me youre trouth plight,
And also vnto my doghtre here,
That ye shuld in no maner
Othir wife than hir to take;
Foule ye haue your trouth forsake
Now ye haue wedded another wife; by marrying an∣other wife,
Ne wende I neuer in al my life
To haue found in you such treason̄." and that Clarionas
And [Clarionas] that same season̄
Seid to him weping sore—
As him thoght more and more—
That he deliuer hir hir ring, demands her ring again,
Or elles she wold without letting
To king Gwynan graunt his wil, so that she may have Gwynan,
His lust and pleasure to ful-fill,
And lete him kepe Lucidas and he his new wife Lucidas.
That his new wedded wife was.
Ouer that he drempt how king Gwynan̄ Generides also dreams that Gwy∣nan is taking Clarionas into Egypt,
[Clarionas] had seased than̄,
And into Egipt he gan hir lede
That he might it not forbede;
But than he thoght Mirabel cam̄, when Mirabel seizes him, and releases Clarionas.
And Gwynan bi the throte nam̄,
And cast him doun̄ to the ground,
And halpe hir ladie in that stound.
[Generides] than had such care, Generides
In his slepe he had nigh mysfare;
At the last he awoke and abraide, wakes and cries out,
He cried and was al dismaide.
With that crie vp stert Darel;
And so did trew Nathanael,
And asked him whi he cried soo.
Thān he hem answerd both twoo,
"Swete felows," he seid, "mercy! and tells Darel and Nathanael, his dream.
A wonder sweven drempt I."
His dremyng al he hem told;
Darels hert begān to cold;
Of that [Generides] told him had
In his hert he was a-drad, Darel fears
For wel demed he in his thoght that something wrong has been done with the ring,
Som mervel with the ring was wrogħt.
For care out of the tent he yede,
And called Segryne in that nede
Softlie, and told him thoo
Of all the meting to and froo;
"For goddes loue, Segryne," seid he, and at once sends Segryne
"High you fast for the loue of me;
Pray Lucidas send me the ring, to Lucidas for it.
For euer I drede me of som thing
That Serenydes therwith hath doon̄
That shal repent vs euerichoon̄;
For euer she is ful of gyle
To deceyue [Generides] with som wyle.
Wendeth fast, I you pray,
Come ageyn̄ as hastelie as ye may."
Segryne went thoo ful fast
Vnto Lucidas in grete hast, Lucidas
And preid hir deliuer him the ring.
And she without more letting
Vnto hir modre thoo she yede, goes to her mother, but cannot get the ring,
But therof might she not spede;
Ageyn̄ to Segryne thoo she went
With heuy tithinges him to present, and tells Segryne that the Queen has betrayed them,
And seid, "allas! traied we bene
Of the ring bi my modre the Quene
That I may not come therbi;
Som sorow she wirketh, wel wot I;
God send hir therwith euel to spede!
For Sir Darel I haue grete drede,
For that ring he shal haue blame;
God kepe him for his holie name!
But tel him I send him to seyn̄,
That king Gwynan̄ for certeyn̄ and that as Gwy∣nan has invaded Perse,
Into Perse is come bi this
With grete ost forto werre I-wis
On the Soudon, his lond to wyn̄;
Therfor sey Darel that he ne blyn
Of [Generides] his leue to take,
To Perse his iourney priuelie he make, Darel must go there to get news of the ring.
For ther I trow of the ring
That he shall here som tithing;
For [Generides] thidre it is take
To cause his ladie him to forsake,
Thus I deme that it be,
But prey him kepe this prive
For his worship and for myn̄,
That noon but he, and ye, Segryn̄,
May haue herof knowleching."
"Ma dame, I shal doo youre bidding."
Segryne carefullie turned a-geyn̄, Segryne tells Darel,
Darel met him, the soth to seyn̄;
Segryne toke him bi the hond,
And did him al this vndrestond,
What word Lucidas to him sent;
And to [Generides] thoo he went,
"Dismay you not for a dreme,
For bi Ihesu born̄ in Bethleem,
Bi youre leue and youre assent and he asks Gene∣rides leave to go to Perse,
To Perse to goo haue I ment,
New tithinges there to here,—
The Soudon the trouth wil me lere, to see the Sowdon and Clarionas.
And of my ladie [Clarionas] also,—
In hast, and come ageyn you too;
Therto I haue grete longyng."
[Generides] seid, "on goddes blissing, Generides gladly
He you condite, my swete fere, gives him leave,
This gooyng is me lefe and dere:"
Darel made him redie and went. and Darel starts.
[Generides] hath him sore bi-ment,
Of this dreme his hert was sore
Til that he might know more;
That day hath he noon armes born̄,
For his dremyng the night beforn̄
Had him broght in such afray
That refreyn̄ him he wold that day.
Sone aftre Gwisshar to the oost cam, Meantime Gwis∣shar (Serenydes's emissary)
And bi the teching the wey he nam̄
Euen to [Generides] tent,
Or he into the Castel went
Al his treason to fulfill,
Forto folow Serenydes wiłł
Into the tent he him wond,
And [Generides] therin he fond makes his way to Generides,
Liyng sore discolored, ful pale;
He did his obeisaunce, and told his tale:
"[Generides]" quod he, "for youre sake and tells him
Grete trauel haue I vndretake,
And Anazaree that goode knight now
A Mł tymes commaundeth him to yow,
And sendeth you word, Gwynan the king, that Gwynan has invaded Perse,
In Perse he is without leasing
With navie and oste grete and strong,
And you he hath doon grete wrong,
For he hath wedded youre ladie and wedded Clarionas,
Bi the Soudones assent sekirlie."
So woo was than [Generides],
For sorow his wit nigh he lese,
And sore sighing, he seid, "what day
Was she wedded, I the pray?"
"Sir," quod he, "that same mornyng the same morning that Gwisshar started.
That I departed tithinges to bring;
At a chapel I left hem there,
Many oon to witnes it there wer;
Of that wedding I had noo sigħt,
For so long dwel I ne might,
Mi maister hasted me soo
Hidre forto come you too;
But wedded she is sekirlie."
[Generides] with that pitouslie Generides falls swooning to the ground.
On swonyng doun̄ to ground fel.
To him come rennyng Nathanael,
And conforted him that he might,
And blamed Gwisshar, I you plight.
Of Mirabel now speke we, But now let us turn to Mirabel.
For into Ynde come was she;
Darel she met fast riding, She meets Darel,
And his hors ful sore rennyng;
Of him she was gretlie agast
Whan she saw him comyng so fast,
At last she knew him, and seid, "Darel,
Of this meting it happeneth vs wel."
Darel hir spech vndrestoode,
And welcomed her with milde moode.
Tithinges she axed anoon right,
"Sir," she seid, "ye ar A kinght,
First to speke bihoueth you,
Of som tithinges tel me nov."
"Swete loue," quod Darel than̄, and he asks her whether
"Hou fareth my lord the Soudan̄,
And my ladie Dame [Clarionas], Clarionas is still unmarried.
Is she vnmaried as she was
Whan we out of that lond went?"
"Sir," she said, "if ye wil assent
Min axing forto tel me,
I shal tel you trouth," seid she.
"Yes," quod Darel, "so god me spede."
"Sir," seid Mirabel, "haue ye noo drede Yes, says Mirabel;
That my ladie vnwedded is,
And nōōn husband hatħ yet I-wis.
Now tel me trouth, bi youre life,
Hath [Generides] a new wife, but has Generides a new wife?
And with Amalek is he at oon̄?"
"Bi god," seid Darel, "and bi seint Ihon̄, No, says Darel.
Hit come neuer in his thoght
Woman to wed that god hatħ wroght
But [Clarionas], I dar wel swere,
And on̄ my life witnes to bere."
Than̄ was she counforted wel,
And seid to him, "now, swete Darel, Then go to Cla∣rionas, and tell her, says Mirabel;
To my ladie now spede youre wey,
For I drede me that she wil dey
The soner, but she counforted be
Of thes tithinges ye tel me."
"Maistres," he seid, "god you spede!
I shal me hast, have ye noo drede;
And to Generides into the oost, and you go to Generides, says Darel.
Hast you, for diede he is almost."
Mirabel seid, "I shal hast me
To put awey his mornyng redilie."
Darel went his wey ful fast,
And Mirabel tho did hir haste Mirabel
That into the oost to Generides
She was come thurgh al the pres;
And as [she] cām to his tent, meets Gwisshar as she enters Generides's tent,
Gwisshar she mett as she in went;
That he it was she wel aspied,
And to hir squiers thoo she cried, calls to her squires
"Mi felous, as ye be to me leef, to take him,
Hastelie awreke me on this theef
That vs with falshod thus hath lad."
Gwysshar it herd, and was a-drad;
He began to flee fast;
Mirabel caght him in hast, catches him by the hair,
And al to-rent him bi the here
The whiles oon gaf him on the ere while her man gives him such a clap on the ear as makes him kiss the ground,
Such a clap with his fist
That he thoo the ground kyst;
The cheke in twoo he brast,
And his neke on sondre thrast, and break his neck.
And therwith he yeld vp the goost:
So was a-bated all his boost.
Generides of that noyse herd, Generides
And Mirabel unto him ferd.
Whan he hir saw, wondre he gan̄, sees Mirabel,
And to hir fast he ran̄;
He welcomed hir ful hartelie, welcomes her heartily,
"Min ovn̄ feir loue, tel me whi
Into this contre ye come now?"
"Sir," she seid, "for youre prow;
No thing, I hope, for youre skathe."
Tithinges she told him rathe and she tells him how
"Hou the traitour I-slayne was
That cam to hir ladie Clarionas; Gwisshar had told Clarionas that Generides had married,
He told hir 'hou that ye doutles
Had wedded, and taken pees
Betwix you and Sir Amalek,'
He told hir such a fals chek;
Also the ring she yave you, and they all be∣lieved it because of the ring,
He had it, I wot neuer hou;
Al we wende, for that ring,
He had seid trouth of your wedding.
So wroth my ladie he thoo made
That no thing sith might hir glade
Whan the token̄ cam with the ring
Which I haue here without lesing:"
To shew the ring, that it was soo, which Mirabel now shows him.
On hir finger she did it thoo.
Ful wel thoo he lete therby
Whan he it saw sekirly,
He meruelled hou it cam aboute, Generides wonders at her having the ring,
For wel he wist without doute
To Sir Darel he it lent; because he had lent it to Darel,
Wondre he had what he ment,
Whi he bourowed it of him soo;
Generides than demed thoo but supposes that Serenydes has brewed all the mischief.
That Serenydes brewed al this bale;
Therof he told a sothe tale.
Thoo gan̄ he make grete welcomyng
To Mirabel for hir comyng,
"Haue I neuer ioye ne rest He promises to re∣ward Mirabel,
Whiles that my life may lest,
If it in my power be,
Your kindnes shal I quite sekirlie;
But, feire loue, I you pray, and prays her to go back to Clario∣nas at once,
Hast you home al that ye may,
For my ladie wil gyve noo feith
Vnto Darel, what so he seith;
Therfore the more nede it were
That ye were hastilie there,
Recommaund me hertlie, I you pray,
And more ouer ye to hir say, and tell her he was never false to her.
Falshode fond she neuer in me,
Nor neuer shal, so mot I the."
Mirabel, in that she might, Mirabel at once returns to Clario∣nas.
Toke hir leue of that knight,
And fast highed to hir ladie
With Ioyful hert, and right merie.
Now of Darel I shal you say, But now let us tell how Darel sped.
Hou he sped him on his wey:
To Mounthanar comēn he was,
And fast sped him a goode pas
To Clarionas chambre ward; He goes to Cla∣rionas's chamber, and knocks
The dore he fond shet hard;
Twies or thries he called stil,
But noon wold answer at his wil;
Redie was noon in him to lete.
On the dore with his fist he bete; and beats at the door
Ther come a woman, and asked thoo
Whoo knokked at the dore soo?
She bad him fro the dore to goon̄, till a woman orders him off,
For hir ladie rest may haue noon̄; as her lady
"Thre dais she nouthir ete nor drank,
For pure feint right now she sank,
In a soft slepe she is fall, is asleep.
Ye come to wake hir with ałł."
Darel seid, "I you besech
Lete me in, I shal be hir lech, Darel says he brings good tidings from Generides.
Tel hir now hou I bring
From Generides goode tithing."
The woman answered egrelie, The woman says she'll have him turned away,
"Goo from the dore hastelie,
Or I shal doo you hens goon̄
Whethir that ye wil or noon̄;"
Of hir answerd [so in MS.] agreued he was,
He cried alowde to(:) Clarionas, but he shouts to Clarionas,
"I am Sir Darel! for charitie
Rise vp and speke a word with me."
Clarionas herd Sir Darel,
From slepe she rose, anoon̄ to tel, who wakes,
Hir woman she bad the dore vndoo, and orders him to be let in.
And lete him In that crieth soo.
The woman opened the dore in dede,
And Darel hastelie In yede;
"Mekelie vnto youre noblenes Darel gives her Generides's greet∣ing, and tells her,
Recommaundeth him hertlie [Generides];
He dremed of you which him affrayed,
That neuer sith was he wel payed; that Generides, in consequence of a dream, has sent to hear tidings of her.
For that dreme hidre he sent me
To here tithinges of you trewlye."
"Doo wey," seid Clarionas thoo, Clarionas tells Darel to go away,
"For that ye say is noo thing soo;
Youre glosing I vndrestond wel; and tell his lies to
Goo ageyn," she seid to Darel,
And doo this message in his name
To Lucidas of noble fame Lucidas,
Which he hath wed now newly. Generides's bride.
While I lyue, [I] think veraly
I shal nouthir trust him nor you She cannot trust him or Generides.
In this case, I make god avow."
"Ma dame," seid Darel "whi soo? Darel swears she has no reason for dirtrust.
Bi god ye haue no skil thertoo,
For wrong ye bere him on hond
If ye the trouth wold vndrestond,
I shal not lie, bi god aboue:
Lucidas paramoures I loue, It is he (not Gene∣rides) who loves Lucidas,
And she thurgh hir modres glosing
Sent vnto me for that Ring, and she asked him, Darel, for the ring to cure her cousin;
And seid she had a seke cosyn̄
Therof shuld haue a medicyn̄;
As sone as he did amend,
The Ring ageyn̄ she shuld send;
But hir modre the fals quene, but Serenydes
That euer yet vntrew hath bene,
Toke it Gwisshar, that fals felown̄, gave it to Gwisshar to work the sepa∣ration of Generides and Clarionas.
Forto wirch this fals treason̄
To bring this knight and you on sondre.
I was begynner of al this wondre He, Darel, was the beginner of all this trouble,
Whan I the Ring to borow gan̄,
Therfor I am a sory man̄;
I thoght noo treason̄ herin I-wis,
So god bring me to his blis.
Ma dame, but this soth be,
Elles trust ye neuer to me."
His naked swerd he drogh there, and he swears on his sword that he tells the truth.
And kneling begān theron̄ to swere,
That he hir told, soth it was.
With that beheld him Clarionas, Clarionas believes him,
And saw this grete curtosie;
She rose vp, and to him gan hie,
She toke him bi the hond, and kist,
Him to welcome thān she list.
The Soudon̄ into hir chambre cam, and he tells the Sowdon all about it;
And Darel he welcomed home,
Wondre he had that he there was;
He told him tithinges of Al the case.
The tithinges liked him ful wel;
He enquered more of Sir Darel;
He seid, "Generides bi manly asise also that Generides has besieged Ama∣lek in Vise.
Hath beseged the tovn̄ of Vise
Ther Amalek and his folk is,
That noon may passe out I-wis,
Nor noo vitail gete thei gon̄,
Wel the soner thei shal be won̄."
The Soudon̄ seid, "now, bi the roode,
Thes tithinges ar passing goode! The Sowdon says the news is good,
God yeve him grace wel to spede,
For of his help I haue grete nede; but he wants Ge∣nerides sorely,
Sone he may to long dwel;
Of king Gwynan̄ ye may him tel, and he must be told how Gwynan is ravaging the Sowdon's lands.
Hou he is comēn into my lond
Me to destroye with mighti hond,
He destroyeth fast this contre now;
Tel him thus, I pray you."
Darel seid "my lord, I shał." Darel promises to do this,
His leue he toke furth with ał
Of the Soudon̄ and Clarionas,
And furth he went a grete pase and starts for Ynde.
To ynde ward, al that he might,
Riding both bi day and night.
The third day of his Iourney, On the third day he meets Mirabel,
Mirabel in a mornyng met he;
Eithir made othir goode chere,
Long dwelled not thei in fere;
Without lenger questionyng, they tell one an∣other their news,
Ech told othir tithing,
And so departed thei twey, and part,
On here iourney thei went here wey
And come where thei wold be certeyn̄
As Darel come to Inde ageyn̄. and Darel reaches Ynde.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Here Amalek isshued out of the Citie with his people, and yafe grete batel to the ooste, So that moch of his people were sleyn̄, And he was fayne, for ease and socour of his people, to take A trews for A tyme.
Amalek and his folk wer out Amalek's folk feel bold
Of the castel bold and stoute,
Because thei herd wel seyn̄ on hearing that Generides is ill;
That Generides seke had leyn̄;
But he was holer than̄ thei wend,
Mirabel gan him so amend; but Mirabel had since then recover∣ed him,
Armed he was, and went his wey
Or Darel come to the tourney.
Whan Darel to his tent com̄, and Darel
And fond Generides not at home;
He armed him, and russhed his stede,
And forto Ioust fast he yede; goes after him to the fight.
The batel was ful hard and strong.
Darel vnto the Castel among
Cast his loke, and Lucidas sigħ,
And for hir sake gan draw ful nigħ;
To the Duke of Egipt he rode, Darel attacks the Duke of Egypt
That ful boldlie him abode
Vndre the wal of the castel,
Darel smote him with hert fel
That his shelde al to-brake,
Neuer aftirward he spake, and runs him through
Thurgh the hauberk to the hert to the heart.
The soket of the launce stert,
So that the Duke feł deid to ground.
Glad was Lucidas that stound Lucidas
Of Darelles ageyn̄ comyng;
Wel she knew him bi the Iousting.
Generides perceyued wel thoo and Generides re∣cognize Darel.
That it was Darel, and cām him too;
He seid, "art thou Darel, my fere,
This noble stroke that gaf here?"
"Smyte on hem," seid Darel,
"Ye han̄ most cause, I wote it wel."
Tho was Generides right glad;
Forto Iust goode wil he had
Vnto Amanuel, Amalekkes brothre,
That doghtier was than any othre.
Amanuel rode Generides to mete, Generides charges Amanuel,
Here stedes to renn̄ thoo thei lete,
Thei hurled than̄ to-gedre soo
With strong speres thoo
That Generides shelde to-rofe who breaks his shield
And a cantel a-way drofe,
So the soket thurgħ shet,
With the pensel a fadom met
Euen furth bi Generides side,
Nomore he hirt him that tide;
Thurgħ strenght of that sore dent and drives his feet out of the stirrups.
His stirrops from his feete went.
Generides with strenght certeyn̄ Generides
In the mid shelde smote him ageyn̄,
The launce thurgh shelde and hauberk
Beforn hit frusshed al the werk, runs Amanuel right through the body.
And thurgh the bodie an elle long:
Amanuel thoo hem al among
Fel deid from his steid plat;
Amalek his brothre saw that, Amalek
So strong care had he neuer noon̄,
He russhed his stede, and did him goon̄,
Toward Darel he roode than̄,
And he to him like a man̄;
For that dede Lucidas was woo charges Darel,
Whan she saw hem to-gedre goo,
For hir fadre sore she drede,
And Darel she wold wel haue sped.
Amalek to Darel gan smyte,
The stroke in the shelde gān bite,
And the rich pictoure to-brest;
Darel wold him neuer rest
Forto ley oon̄ hard and sore, and they fight
With here dyntes more and more
The stedes vndre hem gan feint,
And after thei were so atteynt till both fall down.
That on the ground both thei fel;
Than were thei ful egre, to tel;
Thoo wax the prees aboute hem̄ thik,
To Darel was the more wik,
For Amalek was holp vp sone, Amalek is helped up,
And Darel had ynogh to doone
Amōng his enmyes there liyng, but Darel is ridden over.
Many oon rode ouer him prikking,
And he defended him there as he lay,
Defouled he was mich that day;
Vp he stert at the last
And defended him right fast.
With that cam Generides riding, At last Generides rescues him,
His naked swerd in hond bering,
And departed the pres in sondre;
Of his strokes thei had grete wondre,
So many he slogh, so many he feld, and kills many of the enemy.
That ther wer noon that with him deld
But he left deid in the place,
Outhir sore wounded, bodie or face;
Therfor many his strokkes dred,
And durst not him abide, but fled,
For Darel sone had help anoon̄
From̄ his enmyes euerichoon̄;
Thei within begān withdraw, They retire to the city,
And to Amanewel that was slaw
Into the Citie forto burie,
For him was Amalek vnmerie;
Thei without folowed hard,
And slogh many of the rereward;
An hundreth of Amalekkes knightes, losing 100 knights,
Without squiers, died doun̄ rightes,
Which sleyn were hem among.
Amalek began̄ to sorow strong
For los of his folkes thoo,
The gates he shet with mich woo; shut the gates,
The baron̄es that within were,
To-gedre thei assembled there,
Among hem counsel thei toke and resolve
A messenger hem to loke
Forto send to Generides,
Trewes prayng for the pees, to ask for a month's truce.
A monetħ, if it were his wil,
The bodies that lay stil
To put hem in buriyng.
Whan Generides herd that tithing,
Trews to graunt glad he was Generides gladly grants it,
For the loue of [Clarionas],
For the while his hert was bent
To Perse to goo with goode entent. and resolves to go to Perse.
Sir Darel he called him vntoo,
And his squier Nathanael Alsoo,
"Sirres," he seid, "bi thassent of you
To Perse I think to goo now,
Priuelie while the trews is lasting;
Darel," he seid, "ye ar connyng, Generides leaves the host in Darel's charge,
Doghtie, and trew, my lefe fere,
In my stede ye shal bide here,
And safelie [MS. fafelie.] kepe al our oste;
For thei within, for al here boste,
Ye know wel be deceyueable,
Therfor hold you to-gedre stable,
That, which tyme if thei arise,
Ye may the bettre you avise
Manli you forto defend;
And if nede be, aftre me send,
I shal me hast ageyn̄ to you;
But, lefe Darel, I pray you nov but bids him to prepare 100 of them to accom∣pany him to Perse,
Priuely to my felows goo,
And warn an hundreth, and no moo,
In al hast to make hem redie
To wende with me in companye
Right sone in the evennyng;
For I wote wel Gwynan the king
Wil assay with al his might
Forto wyn my ladie bright;
Darel, in hast, my lefe frende,
Aftre Segryne that ye send, and also Segryne.
For he shal guyde vs in our Iourneys,
So wel he knoweth al contreys."
Darel was redie to fulfil
In hast al Generides wil,
And neuer stint til he had wroght
Al that Generides of him sogħt.
CHAPTER XIX.
How Generides went privelie into Perse to King Gwynan̄, and made him to be sworn̄ that he shuld neuer in al his life make werre Ayeinst the Soudon̄ nor him(:) And accorded hem for euer, And lete him and al his people goo home into Egipt; And tho Generides hasted him Ageyn to Darel & his felows.
Generides privelie in the evenyng Generides and his 100 knights start for Perse,
Went his wey without letting,
With an hundreth knightes of his assent,
And Segryne into Perse went;
Thei ne stint day nor night
Til thei of Perse had a sight.
The contree waste there thei found, which they find laid waste.
King Gwynan was in the lond
And did grete destruccion̄,
Castels and tovnes he bet doun̄.
Generides saw the contre wast,
He rode furth in grete hast;
As he rode, perceyue he can̄ Generides sees a lady fleeing,
Riding a grete gentilwoman̄,
From the high wey fast she fled,
It semed as she wer a-dred;
Wonder fast she gan hir hie,
Fiftene horses in hir companie.
Generides to hir a pase yede, rides to her,
And seid, "ma dame, no thing ye drede,
I meruel whi ye flee so fast,
Ye nede not of me to be a-gaste."
She houed on hir palfray
To wit what he wold say:
He hir demaunded, "feire ma dame, and asks her where she is going,
Whedre goo ye, in goddes name,
And what ye ar, tel ye me." and who she is.
"I am a woman dismaied, as ye may see;
I am the Soudanes Nece Goffare, "The Sowdon's niece Goffare,
Of thes werres I was not ware
That king Gwynan maketh in this lond,
He wold me gyve an husbond,
Oon of his cosynes, as I wene,
And kept I had my widowhede clene;
Therfor to the Soudon̄ am I bent, and I seek him at Mounthanar."
To Mounthanar is myn entent."
Generides spered of hir ful wel,
"Where is Gwynan? can ye me tel?"
"Sir," she seid, "a myle bi west Gwynan is near,
In a Castel bi a forest,
The king of Spaigne, Ottran, to abide, awaiting the king of Spain,
That hath behote him with him to ride
In this lond to werre, thei say.
Gwynan wil the whiles play;
Euery day on̄ hunting he rides hunting daily,
In the forest there besides,
For he dredeth of noo wigħt,
Him self is so doughtie a knight;
His men ar chosen euerechoon̄
That with him ride or goon̄.
Were he come, the king Ottran̄, till they can attack the Sowdon;
Sech thei wold the Soudoan̄."
Tho he asked of the ladie
If mocħ people were dwelling bi;
"Nay," she seid, "in certeyn̄,
Not past an hundredth (the soth to seyn̄) and Gwynan has only 100 knights with him.
Of knightes without Squiers,
But thei be armed in al maners,
And so thei ride on hunting
For auenture of ony spiyng:
I pray you yeve me leue this tide."
"Ma dame," he seid, "god be your guyde! Generides sends greeting to the Sowdon,
Vnto the Soudon̄ I wold you pray
On my behalf a message to say:
Say him, that 'of Surre a knight
Recommaundeth him with al his might,
As his man which hath liking
Of him to here goode tithing.'
In goddes name goo youre wey
And I shal come whan I may."
This ladie on̄ hir wey sped. and the lady Gof∣fare leaves him. Generides and his men hide in a wood,
Generides and tho men that he led
Gan to draw to the wod anoon̄,
And thei enbusshed hem euerichoon̄,
And ther among hem̄ counsel toke
To send oute Segryne forto loke
Where Gwynan was, and what he did,
What wey he pleid in any stid. and send Segryne to spy where Gwy∣nan is.
He went to wit hou it was;
Into the forest he toke his pase,
Toward the toun̄ of Mount Parsan̄;
There was that tyme king Gwynan̄,
That dyned had in the mornyng,
And redie was to goo on hunting.
Segryne knew wel here manere, Segryne finds out all about it,
Al here counsel he gan̄ enquere;
And to his maistre he turned ageyn̄
And told of the hunting shuld be certeyn̄;
"Now lete vs stand al stil, and proposes
And som what doo aftir my wil;
Here bi shal come Gwynan the king
With al his knightes on hunting.
Wil ye doo bi the reid of me?
Lete hem passe—and kepe vs prive— to let Gwynan go quietly by,
With al his folk here for bi,
That we make noo noyse nor crie;
At avauntage we shal been̄, and then they can get between him and the castle.
We shal be the Castel and hem̄ betwene;
Armed he is, and al his knightes,
Wel yhorsed at al rightes;
Him self he rides on a white stede,
That saw I or I thens yede,
His shelde is white, and his launce,
And al is [? so.] white is hys countynaunce,
And a perceyving knight he is;
Right sone he cometh this wey I-wis;
Now know ye al in this tide,
In thes busshes let vs abide."
Anoon thei passed bi that wey, Gwynan and his knights soon pass by,
Thei gon̄ to ascrie hem̄ that day,
And come out of here busshaile Generides and his men come out of their ambush,
Streight forto bede hem bataile.
Gwynan turned and hem̄ beheld,
Hou thei wer armed with spere and shelde;
Wondre he gan, and seid now,
"Goo we on hem for our prow;
To saue our worship in that we may,
Manlie defende we vs this day."
To-gedre thei met right soone, and the attack be∣gins.
Aithir peyned hēm wel to doone,
So did Generides companye,
Thei were of goode wil for the maistrie.
The first assaute that euer thei made, At the first assault, 40 of Gwynan's knights are slain,
Gwynan thei gan to vnglade,
Fourti of his knightes thei slougħ
Or euer thei hem withdrogħ,
And ouer that thei toke fiftene, and 15 taken pri∣soners.
For that Gwynan had grete tene.
He rode vnto Lucas of Ydome
That with [Generides] was I-come,
He was a goode knight of Renoun̄;
Gwynan was egre as a Lioun̄,
And with his launce even̄ to the hert Gwynan thrusts Lucas right through the heart.
Thurgh the bodie he him girt;
Deid from his stede fel Lucas;
Generides therfor ful woo was, Generides is woe for this,
For he loued him speciallie;
He had grete cause sekirlie,
For whan that he in prison was
For the loue of Clarionas,
Lucas him goode spake, and honoured,
And vnto his deliueraunce he procured.
Generides wex so ful of moode
For Sir Lucas that was so goode;
In he girt thurgh the pres, dashes in to attack Gwynan,
To avenge him he wold not cese;
He wold haue met with Gwynan the king
But he was let bi a lording, but is stopped by Gwynan's cousin, whom he kills.
Gwynanes cosyn̄, that him assailed;
And Generides of him not failed,
The lord he smote than̄ so wrothe
That shelde to-rofe, and hauberk bothe,
The shaft into the bodie wound,
The lord fel deid vnto the ground.
That saw Gwynan: as woo he was
As Generides for Sir Lucas:
The king Gwynan dismaied roode, Then Gwynan col∣lects his men,
He saw his men so abrode,
He blew his horn lowd and hard,
And gadred his men to him ward.
Than Generides gadred his also; Generides his,
There was noo hold but to go,
Who so might his match dovn̄ bring; and they charge.
Ther was with hem̄ ful mich criyng;
Ther lay among here hors fete,
Many a knight his lyve lete,
But Gwynan had the wors side; Gwynan is worsted.
His folk he saw sprede so wide,
And many of his best mēn sleyn̄,
He wold haue wroken him ful feyn̄.
So come to him a bold baroun̄
Of Corinthie, Sir Sampson̄, Sir Sampson of Corinthie
And seid, "Sir, ouercome we been̄;
Bot is ther noon but to fleen̄;
Therfor bi the reid of me
Withdraw you right priuelie, advises him to re∣treat to his castle,
At youre Castel that ye were,
Bettre forto ordeigne there;
Safe your self, what so of vs befal, and save himself.
Blow your horn̄, we may here it ał."
King Gwynan̄ blew his horn̄, Gwynan assembles his men
His folk gadred him beforn̄,
Him self euer a-way he drogħ
Euen̄ from hem priuelie ynogħ and steals quietly away.
Prikking awey fast criyng;
Sampson̄ toke his felous in keping,
Whan nede were hem to defend.
Generides gān tho to entend
That Segryne aspied here fleeyng;
"Generides," he seid, "for ony thing, Segryne tells Gene∣rides
If thos men thus escape,
We ar but deid; this is noo Iape;
To Mount Parsan̄ his wey he hatħ nome, that Gwynan is es∣caping to Mount Parsan, and must be stopped.
Right he wil thidre come,
His stede is swift and right goode."
Generides his tale vndrestoode,
He spake to his stede on this maner, Generides asks his steed Blaunchard not to fail him,
"Ay, blaunchard, hou I loue the dere!
Wel hast thou serued me beforn̄,
And fro many a daunger eke me born̄,
But neuer had I so grete nede
Til now, for of deth I me drede;
Help now, I prey the."
He toke his stede, and fast yede he;
Than̄ was he in litle while and is soon half a mile before Gwy∣nan.
Before Gwynan half a myle,
Bi an othre wey in the wod side
That nauthir saw othre ride;
The pathes knew Generides,
Ouertwhart the wey he ches
Toward Mount Parsan̄ ther the king
Was purposed to goo in his fleing;
Segryne for drede him folowed than̄.
Sone aftir that king Gwynan̄ As soon as Gwynan sees Generides,
Saw Generides him beforn̄,
His countynaunce he had ny lorn̄,
For erst he saw him at the bataile
That he was best there saunfaile,
And the most durable in fight,
Therfor he was the more a-frigħt; he is afraid and turns aside,
He began̄ to flee a-side;
Generides preid him to abide, but Generides calls on him to stay and fight.
He axed him, and seid, "sir king,
For youre ladies sake abide Iusting!
High you hidre, on goddes name,
Elles shal I euer say you shame
Vnto Clarionas wħan I hir see."
Gwynān saw it might noon othir be;
Proude he was, bold and hardie,
And a strong man of his bodie;
He couered him with his shelde anoon̄,
And spored his stede & did him goon̄ Gwynan stops and charges Generides;
Ageyn Generides a goode pase;
Bi that tyme ful redie he was,
And ful egrelie he with him met;
Aither ful sore here strokes set
That hir speres and sheldes brast, their spears and shields break;
Therto might thei noo lenger trast;
Here sharp swerdes thei drogh thoo, they draw their swords;
And fast to-gedre thei smote twoo;
Aither smote hard dyntes,
The sparkles flow out as doth on flyntes;
Gold, asure, and ricħ pittour,
Was al defaced with here rigour,
Shyuered thei were with strokes kene.
Gwynān gan wax togh and tene Gwynan splits Ge∣nerides's shield in two,
That any knight so long him helde,
[Generides] he smote that his shelde
On twoo he clofe, and bare him froo;
His swerd glaced bi his side thoo
And went bi [Generides] arme,
Almost it had doon him harme,
The hauberk brest even a twoo, and his hauberk;
The swerd bi the naked gān goo;
The king seid, "nov ar ye bare,
Goo hens for drede of more care."
[Generides] for that abraiding Generides
Waxed wroth toward the king,
He lift vp his half shelde
And ageyn his visage it helde,
He loked on his goode brond
And lift it vp with his hond
Thinking on the loue that was
Betwix him and [Clarionas],
And on the helm̄ he smote Gwynan̄ cuts off part of Gwynan's helm,
That the oon quarter than̄
With that stroke fel to ground,
And the swerd that same stound
Shet doun̄ within the shelde
That the hond that it with helde
Smote of there fingers twoo, two of his fingers,
That the harnes of the sheld also and the thong of his shield.
That the sheld shuld hold bi
Fel from him: than̄ was he sory.
[Generides] seid to the king,
"Sir, nov want ye couering;
Without shelde ye most assaute,
To day youre ovn shul ye faute."
Gwynan for wrath was nigh woode, Gwynan
And saw his hond al on bloode,
Grete sorow to him he nam̄;
With that [Generides] to him cam
With his swerd him to haue slaw;
The king a little did him withdraw,
And seid, "lefe frend, suffre me;
Tel me what knight ar ye;
Youre name hide not fro me nov,
For fight shal I nomore with yov;
Here is my swerd, and I me yelde yields up his sword, and submits to Generides,
To you while I my life shal welde,
And neuer more your [sic] to faile
If euer I may you availe,
What so ye wil haue me to doon̄."
[Generides] receyved his swerd sone who accepts the sword.
And told him what that he higħt;
Than̄ was he the more a-fright,
He seid, "if it be youre wil, Gwynan asks to be
To hate you I haue grete skil,
Ye slough my fadre sekirlie;
That deth I forgyf you trewlie
So that ye wil graunt me
Oon thing, if youre wil be,
Safelie to wend into my lond; allowed to go home,
And I shal swere bi right hond and he will swear never to invade Perse again.
Vnto the Soudon̄, that neuer I shal
Of Perse chalange part ne al,
Nor therin come ageyns his wil
Ayeinst him nor his, lowde nor stil."
[Generides] ligħt a-down thoo,
So did king Gwynan alsoo:
Bi than was Segryne to hem come
And both here stedes hath I-nome,
And king Gwynan kneled there, He kneels down and swears this,
And on his swerd did he swere
As he before seid euery dele;
Therto [Generides] listened wel,
And laghing he seid on his glee,
"[Clarionas] ye shal leue with me."
"To hir ye haue more right than I
For grete labour of youre bodie,
Moch woo ye haue had for hir;
Mi right I reles you here, Sir, and releases his right to Clarionas.
Neuer to chalange hir no more;"
That oth eft yet he swore.
[Generides] bi the hond did him take, Generides kisses him and makes friends,
And kissed him, more frendeship to make;
Oft men seyn̄ "aftre hate strong
Grete loue fele folk among;"
So farde it than grete loue and pes
Betwix him and Sir [Generides].
Ageyn thei lepe on here stedes,
And sent Segryne on here nedes and they send Se∣gryne to stop their men's fighting.
To here folkes forto cese,
To abaite here strife and make pees.
Whan Segryne broght hem that tithing
Thei were glad to cese fighting; All are glad,
And with Segryne to Mount Parsan̄
Al to-gedre went thei than̄;
Thei were glad of here comyng
That Generides broght Gwynan the king;
Grete ioye thei made al that night.
On morow at the daies ligħt and next day Gwy∣nan orders his host home.
To his ost went Gwynān the king,
And bad his ost "be gooyng
Homward, for the werre is doon̄;
Higħ you afore, I wil come soonē."
CHAPTER XX.
Here Generides bringeth King Gwynan̄ to the Soudon̄ forto be at oon̄ with him for euer; And sucħ Assuraunce was made or thei departed.
LIsteneth nov of the Soudon̄ The Sowdon tells his daughter Cla∣rionas
That wist not hou thes gāmes wer gon̄.
On the next day in the mornyng
He went and told his dremyng that he dreamt
Vnto [Clarionas] his doghtre dere;
"Doghtre," he seid, "wil ye here?
To-night I met that [Generides] that Generides fought Gwynan and beat him,
Faght with Gwynan doutles,
And him ouercome so nere
That he cast him in a Riuer;
Tho Gwynan held his hondes on hie,
And mercy began̄ forto crie;
[Generides] had of him pitie, but Generides took pity on him.
And drogħ him vp, as thoght me.
Wondre me thinketh, bi heuen king, The Sowdon won∣ders that they hear no tidings of Ge∣nerides.
But we here of him tithing;
For myn̄ hert euer telleth me
He is not fer from this contre."
His doghtre herd this daliaunce,
And told hir dremyng thurgh chaun̄ce,
"Me thoght he com from ynde to Perse;"
And thus here thoghtes thei can reherse.
The ladie that him bi the wey met, The lady Goffare comes to him,
She cam̄ to the Soudon̄, she had forget;
She seid, "my lord, I crie you mercy, and says that she had forgotten the message of a strange knight of Surre (Generides) to him.
For euel forgeten me haue I.
I met a knight with feir meigne—
Whan I come into this contre—
Armed, on a good stede riding,
Axing aftre Gwynan the king,
To you recommaunding him speciallie,
And seid he wold see you hastilie,
And that as sone as euer he might;
But he told not what he hight,
But of Surre he seid he was."
That word vndrestoode [Clarionas]; Clarionas knows who it was.
Who it was she knew wel;
She held hir pes thoo som del.
[Generides] and king Gwynan̄ Generides and Gwynan
Twoo dais wer at Mount Parsan̄,
And aftre went with here meigne come to Mountha∣nar,
To Mounthanar, that feire Citie;
Segryne thei made messenger; and send Segryne to the Sowdon
The Soudon for this was mery of chere.
Whan Segryne thes tithinges broght,
Vnto [Clarionas] to goo he thoght; and Clarionas,
Into hir chambre he cam rennyng,
Goode tithinges to hir bringing,
"That Gwynan̄ the king and [Generides] with tidings of the peace.
Wer wel accorded in loue and pes,
And the king home ageyn̄ shuld wende,
Al the werre was broght to ende,
And that hir lord was in the contree."
"Where is [Generides]?" than̄ seid she. Clarionas asks
"Ma dame," he seid, "at Mount Parsan̄
I left him and king Gwynan̄."
"Shal he," seid she, "oght come here?" whether Generides is coming to her.
"Ma dame, therof he made no chere
Hidre to come As at this tide, "No," says Se∣gryne, "he must go to Ynde."
For into Ynde nedes must he ride,
His oste there forto glade."
Thoo began hir colour to fade,
And Segryne than turned fro [MS. for.] hir Segryne then tells the Sowdon to go to meet Generides in the forest,
Vnto the Soudon, and seid, "Sir,
Al to long we dwel here,
We must hast vs on al manere;
[Generides] in the forest vs bideth,
And sithen into Ynde he ridetħ."
Al this spake Segryne there
Openlie amonges hem that ther were
[Clarionas] therwith to greve,
For she was of so mysbeleve.
The Soudon̄ rode forth thoo present, and the Sowdon starts.
Many knightes and squiers with him went.
This ladie thoo was ful of care, Clarionas is full of woe,
She swoned and gan mys to fare;
Vnto Mirabel pleyint she made,
And Mirabel tho gan hir glade,
"Ma dame," she seid, "his condicion it is but Mirabel says that Segryne has only been teasing her,
To awreke him on you I-wis;
Vpon myn heid, bold dar I bene,
Or oght long ye shal him seen̄." and she shall soon see Generides.
"Trow ye so?" seid [Clarionas]
"Yea," she seid, "bi seint Thomas."
The Soudon to [Generides] cam, The Sowdon meets Generides,
And aithir othir in armes nam̄.
Aftir that come Gwynan the king
Without ony more dwelling;
Both the king and the Soudon̄
There thei wer made at oon̄, makes friends with Gwynan,
And sworn̄ brethren̄ hem betwen̄
For euer more in loue to ben̄.
The king toke leue At the Soudon̄ and Gwynan takes leave of him.
And hasted him home to goon̄,
The Soudon him in armes cagħt,
And kissed him, and to god him betaght.
[Generides] of the Soudon̄ thoo Generides takes leave too,
Toke his leue, and wold goo;
"To Ynde," he seid, "he must him spede,
To comfort his folk in here nede."
Somdel sory the Soudon was,
And seid, "shal ye not se [Clarionas] but the Sowdon asks him to see Clarionas first.
Nor speke with hir whil ye ar so nigh?"
"Sir," he seid, "I haue grete high, "No," says Gene∣rides, "I must go back to Ynde; but I will return soon."
Toward Ynde I most nede,
Ageyn to you I shal me spede,
I shal hir see in short day,
Recommaund me as goodeli as ye may,
And trusteth wel, bi god aboue,
Othre than hir shal I neuer loue;"
Thus he departed from hem than̄.
Both he and king Gwynan̄ He and Gwynan ride off,
Rode to-gedre a myle and more,
Than thei departed and wept sore. separate,
[Generides] seid to his meignee,
"Goo logge you at the yondre Citie:
To Mounthanar Segryne and I
Most nede goo sekirlie."
Be than thei cam, it was night; and then Generides goes back to
Aftre soper anoon rigħt
[Generides] went furth aloone;
Thurgh the gardin gan̄ he goonē
To [Clarionas] chambre window; Clarionas's win∣dow,
Ful wel the wey did he know.
Whan he com̄ there, herken he gan̄,
He herd the voice of a woman̄ and hears her
Pitouslie making hir pleint, lamenting over his cold love.
"Whi loue gan to wax so feint,
Whan my lord was in this contre
And wold not ōōnes speke with me."
Whan̄ he herd hir pleyn soo,
Than abode he mich woo,
For than wist he wel it was
His ovn ladie [Clarionas];
For verrey pitie in swonyng he feł, At this he swoons away,
And in his falling, shortlie to teł,
He made thoo a rewful crie; crying piteously,
But his ladie was so sorie but Clarionas doesn't hear him.
That of him she toke no kepe.
With that Mirabel at oones lepe Mirabel does,
To the window to wete what
That made so grete noyse therat;
The window she gan vndow [aloone],
[Generides] she perceyved soone, Or is soone miswritten for some word rhyming with vndow ? sees him,
There liyng; she gan him know;
She gan to cal somdele low,
"Ay [Clarionas], come hidreward!"
[Clarionas] in hir peyne is hard.
"Ma dame," she seid, "arise vp now, and calls Clarionas.
[Generides] lieth here in a swow;
At your window lieth this man̄."
Vp she stert at oones than̄,
And to the wyndow in hast went;
[Generides] hir in armes hent, Generides catches her in his arms,
Hertlie ecħ othir kist kisses her,
Or ony word speke hem list:
Than thei begon̄ here talking;
She seid, "[Generides] myn ovn lording, and she asks him whether he was really going away without speaking to her.
Wold ye haue goon from this contre
And not haue spoken oones with me?"
"Trewlie, dere hert," he seid, "nay, "No, dear heart; but it was very naughty of you to believe I had mar∣ried some one else,
But for that ye this othre day
Supposed in me sucħ variyng
Whan it was told you of my wedding;
But if ye had found vntrouth in me
Ye shuld not haue demed that parde;
For verray wrath I thoght thoo, and so I thought I'd teaze you when my turn came;
If I might my tyme come too,
To wrath you if that a litle wight
Mi purpos was, if that I might.
Now In hast I most to Ynde, but I must go back at once to Ynde,
Elles my worship wer behinde;
Mi felows think for me ful long
Til I be come hem among;
Of Amalekes treason euer I drede,
To hast me therfor it is grete nede;
Whan I haue sped my Iourney
I wil come to you, trust verilie." and I will soon come back."
[Clarionas] wel vndrestoode
That his reason̄ was trew and goode,
But neuer-the-les she was woo
To depart so sone him froo;
She graunted him thoo his wil, Clarionas takes him into her cham∣ber,
Into hir chambre she toke him stil
That noman but thei thre wist:
There thei halsed and thei kist, loves and kisses him,
Thei drew to mirth and al plesaunce
And left al wanton Acqueyntaunce;
Al that night til the dawnyng and (doing nothing wrong) he spends all the night with her.
He abode with his derling.
In the mornyng departed he thoo; Next morning he starts for Ynde.
Than̄ was hir hert ful woo,
But it might noon othre be;
He hasted furth on his Iourne.
CHAPTER XXI.
How [Generides] went Into Ynde and wounded Amalek to the dethe. And how pitouslie in his dieng he asked mercy of him for al his trespace, and of the treason̄ he had doon̄ to King Aufreus his fadre; And hou lamentablie Quene Serenydes come with a naked swerd to [Generides] And offred hir to die for hir grete vntroutħ doon to hir lord the King Aufreus; And how paynfullie hir hert brest in hir constreint sorow, And so she died ouertwhart Amalek; And how [Generides] was coroned king of Ynde.
HE toke Segryne, and went his wey Generides
To Mount Parsan on his palfray;
With his felows to ynde he went, arrives in Ynde;
And whan he come to his tent,
Stil he yede without boost.
Darel was out with his oost; finds Darel about to fight Amalek,
The same day come Amalek,
And thoght to haue doo a shrewd chek;
Thogh he were redie to assaile,
Darel thoght he wold not faiłe;
At his hond he was redie.
[Generides] and his companye
Armed hem, and thidre yede; and joins him.
[Generides] was on a blak stede,
Beside the Castel he met thoo
Sampson̄ that in Perse fled him fro Sampson
While he folowed king Gwynan̄.
Sampson was hold a doughtie man̄,
And boldlie thoo with him met,
And [Generides] sore he smet attacks Generides,
That his spere on him to-brast, and runs his spear through his shield.
And his tronchon stikked fast
With the soket in mid the shelde,
Thurgh it shet as he it helde;
[Generides] yet toke noo sore;
Sampson dred to haue moch more.
Thoo [Generides] thurgħ the haberion̄ Generides runs Sampson through the body.
And thurgh the bodie smot Sampson̄;
That saw Amalek, and cam prikking Amalek comes to avenge him,
Toward [Generides] fast rennyng
With his naked swerd on hond,
To awreke Sampson he wold fond.
[Generides] on the helme he smote, cuts through Ge∣nerides's helm,
He felt wel the swerd bote,
He clafe his shelde that oon quarter, and chops off a quarter of his shield.
The swerd went nigh the hond there;
The harneys was strong, the swerd stint.
[Generides] for that hevie dint Generides
Was agreued in his hert,
And to Amalek egrelie stert;
On the helme sore he him s[m]et
That the swerd wold not let,
The helme it clefe on the rigħt side, cleaves Amalek's helm,
Doun̄ bi the heid the stroke gan̄ glide,
And the right ere bi the heid fast and cuts off his right ear
It bare awey at the last,
Vnto his shuldre it did fal,
And clefe it doun̄, and the arme withal, and arm.
That both twoo fel to ground;
And Amalek in that stound
Cried and pleyned him ful sore,
"In batel shal I come no more."
Aboute him come grete pres,
Yet knew him not [Generides].
Darel beheld, and saw Segryne,
"What knight is yondre, frend myn̄, Darel asks who the knight on the black steed is;
That rideth on the blak stede?
I wold him know, so god me spede!
That stede saw I neuer, as I deme;
Bi the grete strokes it shuld seme
[Generides] it Aght to bee." he ought to be Generides.
"Sir," seid Segryne, "it is hee,
Of him be ye no thing a-dred;
Comen he is, and hath wel sped."
Amalek was reskewed thoo, Amalek is rescued
For him his meny were ful woo,
Thei leid him on a shelde on long,
And him to the Citie bare hem among;
As softlie as euer thei might,
From that batel thei hem dight.
Amalek was to the Castel brogħt; and carried to his castle.
Whan the quene saw him she had great thogħt,
So had hir doghtre Lucidas,
Grete sorow among hem was.
Amalek gan to feble fast, He grows weak,
The Quene he resoned at the last and tells Serenydes
Ful pitouslie in this maner,
"Wel ye wot, my ladie dere, that though they have loved one another dearly,
Michel I loued and cherisshed you,
And so alwey did ye me now;
But euel we haue led our life, yet their life has been evil;
For ye wer king Aufreus wife;
Mi souereyn lord he was trewlye,
In worship he did me magnifie;
And, like a traitour as I Am, he, like a traitor, stole his king's wife
His quene and wife from him I nam̄;
With moch falshod I toke on hond
Whan I drofe him from his ovn̄ lond; and drove him from his land,
To him I was som tyme leef,
For of his lond he made me chefe;
Ageyn̄s goode I did him yl, returning evil for good,
Therfor this harm cometh me bi skil;
The grete wronges I haue him wroght, and for these great wrongs death has come to him.
To my deth hath me broght;
Thogh I therfor thries might die,
Worthie it I were sekirlie;
Therfor, ma dame, I pray you
On vs both haue pitie now,
On our folie and our grete syn̄,
And think how we haue ben therin.
Think wel, my ladie dere, "Therefore think, lady dear, on our sins,
How that ye ar partenere
Of that we haue doon to king Aufris,
Or we be dampned we may not mis.
Ladie, my deth nighes nere; my death draws nigh;
In hast let send a messangere
To goode Darel, if his wil be, send for Darel,
That he wold come hastilie to me
And speke with me or that I die;
Of his counsel I wold him prey, that he may tell me how to make satisfaction for my sin,
Hou I may amendes make
To king Aufreus of al this wrake,
And to his son̄ [Generides],
Of that I haue ayeinst the pees
Wrongfullie hem myssgylt.
Thogh my life in erth be spilt,
Gladly I wold my soul saue, so that I may save my soul."
Mercy I hope of him to haue."
Whan Serenydes herd this tale, Serenydes
For sorow she wax cold and pale;
She wailed that she was born̄,
On swounyng she fel him beforn; swoons,
Whan that she revived was,
She called hir doghtre Lucidas,
And praied hir hertilie but prays Lucidas to send for Darel,
To send for Darel hastilie.
Lucidas for Segryne sent, which she does.
And Segryne on hir message went
Vnto Darel, to pray him come;
A sauecondit she him nome,
That he shuld him saue bring
And goo ageyn̄ without hurting.
Darel went to [Generides] anoon̄ Darel asks Gene∣rides if he may go,
To assh leue forto goon̄
Vnto Amalek, for charitie
To speke with him twoo wordes or thre;
"I here say that he wil die,
And oft he crieth mercie."
[Generides] thoo had pitie,
And seid, "Darel, if it so be, and Generides at once gives leave.
Goo to him on goddes blissing,
I pray you, hast you in al thing;
For my loue, with al your might
Comfort him, and saue my right."
"Sir, whi Lucidas sent for me, Darel then declares his love for Luci∣das,
I loue hir paramours trewlie;
But if I haue hir to my wife
I shal neuer wed in al my life;
And, ye know, in grete loue is
Som tyme sorow, somtyme blis,
Som tyme yuel, som tyme goodnes,
I take you self, Sir, to witnes.
And, Sir, if it your liking be, and begs Generides to help him get her.
I pray you help to gete hir me;
But if that she gotēn may be,
Mi deth is nigh in short day."
[Generides] answerd smyland, Generides
"Darel, I dar wel toke on̄ hand
That ye loue feire Lucidas,
Therfor goo ye to hir a pas; tells him to go to her at once,
And hir fadre, while ye ar thore,
Comfort him, as I seid yore, comfort her father,
And I shal doo al that ye wil; and he (Generides) will do all he can for him.
I hope youre loue ye shal not spil."
Glad herof was Sir Darel,
In hast he went to the Castel; So Darel hastes to the castle,
Amalek herd of his comyng,
Ful nigh he was his ending;
Darel fast he behelde,
And seid, "Sir, crist you yelde and Amalek
Of this comyng, ye doo charitie,
I pray you pray [Generides] for me, prays him to beg for forgiveness from Generides and Aufreus;
That he forgyf my male talent
That is doon thurgħ my procurement,
And with his fadre to accord me;
This ax I him for charitie;
This shame & skath, al that I might,
Whicħ is come to me by right.
Sith ye ar come of goode kinrede,
And also doghtie of your dede,
If I wist to thank ye wold it take,
A mariage fayne wold I make and he will give him his daughter Lucidas.
Betwix you and my doghtre dere,
Lucidas that sitteth here;
Othre heire haue I noon than hir,
Al shal she haue, feire Sir." [? A folio, or passage, omitted in the MS. here.]
That oon̄ Constable of Damas is, Meantime news is brought to Gene∣rides that his father and mother are dead,
That othre Constable of Surre I-wis:
Thei seid to Generides sekirlie,
"Youre fadre and modre both deid be;
Thei died within thre dais certeyn̄,
That was grete pitie, sotħ to seyn̄."
Whan he herd hem tel this tale, on hearing which he swoons and falls from his saddle.
Anoon he wax ful deid and pale,
Out of the sadle amonges hem al
In swonyng doun̄ gan he fal;
Thei cried allas that thei him sigħ
So mych sorow to see him drigħ;
Vpon his hors men him lift, His men pick him up, and carry him to Damas,
And thus this goode knight thei shift
Euen to the Citie of Damas;
Thei led him a soft pase.
In his palace he did a-light,
And in his bed thei him dight; where they put him in bed,
There lay he seke a grete stound,
His bountie fel fast to ground,
His feire skyn that was so clene
Wax al doun̄ on him to sene,
The flesh wasted fro the boon̄, and he wastes away till
He was so feble he might not goon̄,
In him was noon hope of life; there is not hope of his life.
For him was grete sorow & strife.
Aftre Segryne he gan to cal;
Afore him on knees did Segryne fal,
And seid, "my lord, loo here your man̄."
Generides was ful feble than̄,
"Segryne," he seid, "a goode pase Then he sends Se∣gryne to tell Cla∣rionas
Goo to my ladie Clarionas;
Recommaund me to hir hertilie,
I trow neuer to see hir sekirlie,
Doo hir verily to vndrestond
Deth hath take me on hond; that Death has hold of him,
Noon othir way may me betide,
I doo not elles but deth abide;
Sey, I besech hir pray for me, and she is to pray for him.
High you ageyn̄ to this contre."
Segryne toke a goode hakenay Segryne
And hasted him on his Iournay;
To Perse he cam, to that Citie
To [? That.] Mounthanar was called treulie, goes to Mountha∣nar,
Into the Castel he went a pase
There to speke with Clarionas;
In hir chambre he fond hir sitting,
His erand he did sore weping; and tells Clarionas the message.
Clarionas herd his message,
The teres fel from hir visage Clarionas weeps and swoons.
As stremes doun̄ out of a wel,
Hir sorow might noman tel,
Euer she swoned and wept.
Mirabel tho to hir lept Mirabel
And held hir heid betwix hir handes;
"Segryne," she seid, "in hard bandes
Ye haue broght my ladie now;
What tithinges to hir broght yow?"
Al his tithinges he hir told;
Hir hert began to wax cold;
Neuer-the-les, thogh she wer sory,
She went to comfort hir lady; comforts her,
To hir she seid, "dere Ma dame,
I vndretake bi seint Iame,
Doo as I shal you tecħ, and says she can soon cure her lord,
Sone shal ye be youre lordes lecħ."
Clarionas seid, "hou might I soo?
Tel me and it shal be doo."
"Than wightlie take youre palfray,
And priuelie goo ye youre way by going to him in Surre,
Into Surre, Generides to sene;
Lete ricħ array at home bene,
Ye shal take but simple wede;
Nomoo shal ye with you lede
But your ovn seruaunt Gwynet; with her own ser∣vant
Bi my counsel nomoo ye gete
Saf on fote an othre man̄ and one groom.
That youre hors kepe can̄;
Without teching of ony wight
Segryne knoweth the wey ful right."
Clarionas seid, "without faile Clarionas
I shal doo bi youre counsaile."
Redie to goo she hir dight,
Forth she went day and night starts at once,
Til she cam to Surre,
Euen to Damas, that feire Citie; goes to Damas,
To the Castel she gan goon̄
Bi hir self al aloon̄,
She houed at the Castel gate,
Calling to come in therat;
The porter anoon spake to hir, and tells the castle porter that she can cure Generides.
"Where is the king," she seid, "Sir?"
"Seke he is, as I herd say,
Therfor I am come this way;
His sekenes I dar vndretake
In short tyme hole to make." The porter
The porter toke hir in soone,
Hir message he yede forto doon̄;
Sone he met with Nathanael, tells Nathanael.
And thoo he gan him forto tel
"A woman was come that was a lech,
That hertlie did him besech
To tel hou she dar vndretake
Mi lord al hol forto make:"
Nathanael with the porter yede, Nathanael
And saw the woman in simple wede,
Discoulored and simple [she] was;
He knew nat she was [Clarionas]; does not recognize Clarionas,
Sore weping he coud nat stil;
He asshed than̄ what was hir wil. but asks her what she wants.
She saw him wepe sore dismayd,
"Sir," she seid, "I haue assaid She says
Vertues of gresse and of rotes,
Of al euel I can doo bootes,
I hope to god amend his state she can cure Gene∣rides.
Be he neuer so feint and mate."
At last he aspied a Ring
Wherof he thoght he had knowing;
"Sustre, youre erand shal I doon̄."
To [Generides] went he sone,
"Sir, here is a woman, a lecħ, Nathanael tells Generides that a woman has come to cure him.
To make you hole she wil you tech;
Thogh she be in simple a-tire,
To speke with you is hir desire;
On hir finger a Ring I know,
Ye yave youre ladie at a window."
[Generides] bad Nathanael goon̄, He orders her to be brought in,
"Fecch me hidre that woman anoon̄."
Nathanael thoo broght hir in;
Wympled she was both cheke and chin;
[Generides] tho knew hir noght;
To kysse him she him besoght, and she asks him to let her kiss him.
And hele him she shuld to mede.
"Sustre," he seid, "god forbede He refuses,
Or any woman that I kysse
But oon that I sore mysse;
With hir kissing, had I hir here, but wishes he had Clarionas to kiss and cure him.
Sone hole I trow I were;
Of bote had I leuer mys
Than̄ ony othir forto kys."
"Sir," she seid, "if she were here
That ye speke of, youre ladie dere,
Shuld hir kissing hele you?"
"Yea trewlie shuld it," seid he now.
She vnwimpled hir as fast, On this, she takes off her wimple,
And wipt hir face in al hast,
"Now kys me, I am [Clarionas]." and says she is Clarionas.
[Generides] therof war was;
So glad he was of hir comyng,
Of his euel he felt no thing; Generides is cured at once.
He kist and clipt with al his might, Kisses and clips her with all his might;
And kept hir in his armes al that night;
Moch mirth and ioye thei made.
[Generides] gan to light and glade,
And wex al hole at his liking.
[Clarionas] in the mornyng and next day she goes home.
With mirth and ioye to hir contre
She went ageyn̄ with hir meigne;
The third day aftir hir wending,
[Generides] ther was crovned king; Generides is soon crowned king,
He toke feith of free and bond,
And set goode reule in the lond;
Whan̄ al was wel, the soth to seyn̄,
Home he went to Perse ageyn̄. and returns to Perse.
CHAPTER XXII.
[Of Generides's and Clarionas's Wedding.]
[Generides] wedded was ful rially Generides weds Clarionas, and holds a noble feast
To [Clarionas] that feire ladie;
A noble fest ther was hold
Of al that thider come wold;
Thider come Gwynan the king, to which come Gwynan,
With him come many a grete lording,
And the king of Tharse, Ismael, Ismael,
[Generides] brothre, and Sir Darel;
Of diuerse londes ther cam kinges,
Moo than xxx, withoute leasinges,
The king of Persan was ther gon̄,
With him there come many oon̄;
And the kinges son of Lubie,
A strong man and [a doughtie, The MS. has been blotted, and the vellum destroyed by some blanching material.]
And the king of Tharse alsoo,
His right name was Sir Luboo; Luboo,
And the king of Aragew,
A feire man of his hew;
Also there come a strong king,
Nabugodonosor son without leasing; Nabugodonosor's son,
Of Egipt the kinges son also,
With him cam many oon moo;
And also the king of Melan̄,
With him cam many a doughtie man̄;
The king of Tuskan̄, as I trow,
With many knightes on a row;
And king Ynel was an othir, Ynel,
King Ermonius was his brothir;
The king of Europe also,
With him come kinges twoo;
King Manassen̄, an hardie knight, Manassen,
And king Ruben of noble might;
And king Balaam̄, as I wene, Balaam,
Cam with many knightes kene;
King Essaunce of noble apparaile, and Essaunce.
To be there he wold not faile.
Darel was steward at that fest Darel is steward,
Forto welcome most and lest;
Al the kinges in here aray
Cam thidre with grete noblay;
I dar wel say ther was plentie,
There lakked no thing that was deintie. and no dainties are wanting.
Whan̄ the fest was broght to ende,
Gwynān the king gan home wende,
And the othir kinges echoon̄;
The ladies to here contres gan goon̄.
The Soudion died at the last; At last the Sowdon dies, and Generides takes seisin of the land;
[Generides] seased the lond in hast;
Castels, tovnes, burghes, and Cities,
Of al Perse he toke the fees;
Al the lordes, as it was skil, all the lords obey∣ing him.
Him obeid with goode wil;
He was gentil and merciable.
Anoon in hast he maried Mirable He marries Mira∣bel to Nathanael,
To Nathanael with grete honoure,
He gafe hem the Citie of Soure and gives them the city of Soure,
In Surre, with al the contree the land and 12 miles round it.
Twelf myle aboute that noble Citie
Forto hold with al Fraunchise,
And made Nathanael chief Iustise,
So that he might dispend wele
Vi M pound, and more som dele.
He yafe Anazaree for his kindnes To Anazaree he gives
A ful goode baronage doutles Sir Lucas's baron∣age
That was Sir Lucas of Idome,
That bi eschete was to him come that had escheated to him.
Aftre Sir Lucas was I-slaw;
That lond he yafe him bi the law;
He made him steward and chief Iustise.
And Segryne, for his goode seruyce, To Segryne he gives the laundress to wife,
The lauender to wife him toke
Bi-cause hir contre she forsoke;
The lordeship of a grete tovn̄ with the lordship of a town,
He yafe him to his warison̄
That was wel wortħ ecħ yere
Six hundred pound in oon manere; worth £600 a year.
Of plentie thus he was abound
To hem al that he his frendes found.
A grete lord was [Generides],
Emperour of Perse, but neuer-the-les
King of Surre and of Ynde,
He had hem bi heritage of kinde
To him and to [Clarionas] his wife: Generides and Clarionas lived long and had
Long lyued thei a goode life,
And moch had of worldes wele,
Childre betwix hem right fele many sons
That aftre were lordes of price,
And here doghtres grete ladies; and daughters,
And or xxx yere wer goon̄,
King Gwynān wedded that oon. of whom Gwynan married one.
Of the othir childre al, All their other children were of great renown,
Moch Worship to hem did fal;
Many were kinges of noble fame,
As here histories telleth the same.
[Generides] liued many a day, and Generides and Clarionas led their life in joy and bliss.
And [Clarionas], the soth to say;
Thei led here life In ioye and blis
As thei wer wele worthie I-wis.
Of [Generides] and [Clarionas] Now the story of Generides and Clarionas is all told.
Now haue ye herd al the case;
He was the king son of Ynde certeyn̄,
Goten of the quene of Surre, Sereyn̄;
Aufreus hight his fadre the king,
In his tyme a grete lording.
God graunt euery trew wight May every true couple have such grace!
Gete his ladie with as mocħ rigħt,
And graunt hem such grace
As had [Generides] and [Clarionas]!
Pray for him this tale made Pray for him who made this tale to gladden all true lovers; and may God bring us all to heaven's bliss; Amen!
Al trew louers forto glade;
And graunt vs al at oure ende
To heven blis forto wende,
Eternallie there to be!
Seith Amen al, for charitie.
Here endeth the noble historie of th[e excellent Pr]ince Generides, which bi his mariage was Emperoure of P[erse and of] many a Region̄ longyng therto, And bi heritage king of Ynde and [of Surre].