Scottish alliterative poems in riming stanzas. Edited with introd., appendix, notes, and glossary. [n.p.]Scottish Text Society, 1897.

Scottish alliterative poems in riming stanzas. Edited with introd., appendix, notes, and glossary. [n.p.]Scottish Text Society, 1897.Amours, François Joseph, 1841-1910.610 600dpi TIFF G4 page imagesUniversity of Michigan LibraryAnn Arbor, Michigan2006ALT5980.0001.001820.6 S43a v.27,38

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The Scottish Text Society.[Publications]27,38Scottish alliterative poems in riming stanzas. Edited with introd., appendix, notes, and glossary. [n.p.]Scottish Text Society, 1897. Amours, François Joseph, 1841-1910.481 p. New York,Johnson Reprint Corp.[1966]

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eng Scottish poetry

SCOTTISH ALLITERATIVE POEMS In Riming Stanzas

EDITED WITH INTRODUCTION, APPENDIX, NOTES, AND GLOSSARY BY F. J. AMOURS FRENCH MASTER IN THE HIGH SCHOOL OF GLASGOW

Printed for the Society by WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS EDINBURGH AND LONDON MDCCCXCVII

THE KNIGHTLY TALE OF GOLAGROS AND GAWANE. I. IN the tyme of Arthur, as trew men me tald, The king turnit on ane tyde towart Tuskane, Hym to seik our the sey, that saiklese wes sald, The syre that sendis all seill, suthly to sane; With banrentis, barounis, and bernis full bald, Biggast of bane and blude bred in Britane. Thai walit out werryouris with wapinnis to wald, The gayest grumys on grund, with geir that myght gane; Dukis and digne lordis, douchty and deir, Sembillit to his summovne, Renkis of grete renovne, Cumly kingis with crovne Of gold that wes cleir. II. Thus the royale can remove, with his Round Tabill, Of all riches maist rike, in riall array. Wes neuer fundun on fold, but fenȝeing or fabill, Ane farayr floure on ane feild of fresch men, in fay; Farand on thair stedis, stout men and stabill, Mony sterne our the streit stertis on stray. Thair baneris schane with the sone, of siluer and sabill, And vthir glemyt as gold and gowlis so gay; Of siluer and saphir schirly thai schane; Ane fair battell on breid, Merkit our ane fair meid; With spurris spedely thai speid Our fellis, in fane. III. The king faris with his folk, our firthis and fellis, Feill dais or he fand of flynd or of fyre; Bot deip dalis bedene, dovnis and dellis, Montains and marresse, with mony rank myre; Birkin bewis about, boggis and wellis, With outin beilding of blis, of bern or of byre; Bot torris and tene wais, teirfull quha tellis. Tuglit and travalit thus trew men can tyre, Sa wundir wait wes the way, wit ye but wene; And all thair vittalis war gone, That thay weildit in wone; Resset couth thai find none That suld thair bute bene. IV. As thay walkit be the syde of ane fair well, Throu the schynyng of the son ane ciete thai se, With torris and turatis, teirfull to tell, Bigly batollit about with wallis sa he. The yettis war clenely kepit with ane castell; Myght none fang it with force, bot foullis to fle. Than carpit king Arthur, kene and cruell: "I rede we send furth ane saynd to yone ciete,ane send, in the original edition. And ask leif at the lord, yone landis suld leid, That we myght entir in his toune, For his hie renoune, To by vs vittale boune, For money to meid." V. Schir Kay carpit to the king, courtes and cleir: "Grant me, lord, on yone gait graithly to gay; And I sall boid-word, but abaid, bring to you heir, Gif he be freik on the fold your freynd or your fay." "Sen thi will is to wend, wy, now in weir, Luke that wisly thow wirk, Criste were the fra wa!" The berne bovnit to the burgh with ane blith cheir, Fand the yettis vnclosit, and thrang in full thra. His hors he tyit to ane tre, treuly that tyde; Syne hynt to ane hie hall That wes astalit with pall; Weill wroght wes the wall, And payntit with pride. VI. The sylour deir of the deise dayntely wes dent With the doughtyest in thair dais dyntis couth dele; Bright letteris of gold blith vnto blent, Makand mencioune quha maist of manhede couth mele. He saw nane levand leid vpone loft lent, Nouthir lord na lad, leif ye the lele. The renk raikit in the saill, riale and gent, That wondir wisly wes wroght with wourschip and wele. The berne besely and bane blenkit hym about; He saw throu ane entre Charcole in ane chymne; Ane bright fyre couth he se Birnand full stout. VII. Ane duergh braydit about, besily and bane, Small birdis on broche be ane bright fyre. Schir Kay ruschit to the roist, and reft fra the swane, Lightly claught, throu lust, the lym fra the lyre; To feid hym of that fyne fude the freik wes full fane; Than dynnyt the duergh, in angir and yre, With raris, quhil the rude hall reirdit agane. With that come girdand in greif ane woundir grym sire; With stout contenance and sture he stude thame beforne, With vesage lufly and lang, Body stalwart and strang; That sege wald sit with none wrang Of berne that wes borne. VIII. The knyght carpit to schir Kay, cruel and kene: "Me think thow fedis the vnfair, freik, be my fay! Suppose thi birny be bright, as bachiler suld ben, Yhit ar thi latis vnlufsum and ladlike, I lay. Quhy has thow marrit my man, with maistri to mene? Bot thow mend hym that mys, be Mary, mylde may, Thow sall rew in thi ruse, with thow but wene, Or thou wend of this wane wemeles away!" Schir Kay wes haisty and hate, and of ane hie will; Spedely to hym spak: "Schort amendis will I mak; Thi schore compt I noght ane caik, Traist wele thair till." IX. Thair vith the grume, in his grief, leit gird to schir Kay, Fellit the freke with his fist flat in the flure. He wes sa astonayt with the straik, in stede quhare he lay, Stok still as ane stane, the sterne wes sa sture! The freik na forthir he faris, bot foundis away; The tothir drew hym on dreigh, in derne to the dure, Hyit hym hard throu the hall to his haiknay, And sped hym on spedely on the spare mure. The renk restles he raid to Arthour the king; Said: "lord, wendis on your way, Yone berne nykis yow with nay; To prise hym forthir to pray, It helpis na thing." X. Than spak schir Gawane the gay, gratious and gude: "Schir, ye knaw that schir Kay is crabbit of kynde; I rede ye mak furth ane man, mekar of mude, That will with fairnes fraist frendschip to fynd. Your folk ar febill and faynt for falt of thair fude; Sum better boid-word to abide, vndir wod lynd." "Schir Gawyne, graith ye that gait, for the gude rude! Is nane sa bowsum ane berne, brith for to bynd." The heynd knight at his haist held to the tovne; The yettis wappit war wyde, The knyght can raithly in ryde; Reynit his palfray of pryde, Quhen he ves lightit doune. XI. Schir Gawyne gais furth the gait, that graithit wes gay, The quhilk that held to the hall heyndly to se; Than wes the syre in the saill, with renkis of array, And blith birdis hym about, that bright wes of ble. Wourthy schir Gawyne went on his way; Sobirly the souerane salust has he: "I am send to your self, ane charge for to say, Fra cumly Arthur, the king, cortesse and fre; Quhilk prays for his saik and your gentrice, That he might cum this toun till, To by vittale at will, Alse deir as segis will sell, Payand the price." XII. Than said the syre of the saill and the souerane: "I will na vittale be sauld your senyeour vntill." "That is at your avne will," said wourthy Gawane; "To mak you lord of your avne, me think it grete skill." Than right gudly that grome ansuerit agane: "Quhy I tell the this taill, tak tent now thair till: Pase on thi purpos furth to the plane; For all the wyis I weild ar at his avne will How to luge and to leynd, and in my land lent; Gif I sauld hym his awin, It war wrang to be knawin; Than war I wourthy to be drawin Baldly on bent. XIII. "Thare come ane laithles leid air to this place, With ane girdill ourgilt, and vthir light gere; It kythit be his cognisance ane knight that he wes, Bot he wes ladlike of laitis, and light of his fere. The verray cause of his come I knew noght the cace, Bot wondirly wraithly he wroght, and all as of were.wraighly. Yit wait I noght quhat he is, be Goddis grete grace! Bot gif it happin that he be ane knyght of youris here, Has done my lord to displeise, that I hym said ryght, And his presence plane, I say yow in certane, He salbe set agane, As I am trew knight!" XIV. Schir Gavyne gettis his leif, and grathis to his steid, And broght to the bauld king boidword of blis: "Weill gretis yow, lord, yone lusty in leid, And says hym likis in land your langour to lis; All the wyis and welth he weildis in theidwyis in welth. Cf. 188. Sall halely be at your will, all that is his." Than he merkit with myrth our ane grene meid, With all the best, to the burgh, of lordis, I wis. The knight kepit the king, cumly and cleir; With lordis and ladyis of estate, Met hym furth on the gate, Syne tuke him in at yate With ane blith cheir. XV. He had that heynd to ane hall, hiely on hight, With dukis and digne lordis, doughty in deid. "Ye ar welcum, cumly king," said the kene knyght, "Ay, quhil you likis and list, to luge in this leid. Heir I mak yow of myne maister of myght, Of all the wyis and welth I weild in this steid. Thair is na ridand roy, be resoun and right, Sa deir welcum this day, doutles but dreid. I am your cousing of kyn, I mak to yow knawin; This kyth and this castell, Firth, forest and fell, Ay, quhill yow likis to duell, Ressaue as your awin. XVI. "I may refresch yow with folk, to feght gif you nedis, With thretty thousand tald, and traistfully tight, Of wise, wourthy and wight, in thair were wedis, Baith with birny and brand to strenth you ful stright, Weill stuffit in steill, on thair stout stedis." Than said king Arthur hym self, seymly be sight: "Sic frendschip I hald fair, that forssis thair dedis; Thi kyndnes salbe quyt, as I am trew knight." Than thay buskit to the bynke, beirnis of the best; The king crovnit with gold, Dukis deir to behold, Allyns the banrent bold Gladit his gest. XVII. Thair myght seruice be sene, with segis in saill, Thoght all selcought war soght fra the son to the see; Wynis went within that wane, maist wourthy to vaill, In coupis of cleir gold, brichtest of blee. It war full teir for to tell treuly in taill The seir courssis that war set in that semblee. The meriest war menskit on mete, at the maill, With menstralis myrthfully makand thame glee. Thus thay solaist thame selvin, suthly to say, Al thay four days to end; The king thankit the heynd, Syne tuke his leve for to wend, And went on his way. XVIII. Thus refreschit he his folk in grete fusioun, With outin wanting in waill, wastell or wyne. Thai turssit vp tentis and turnit of toun, The roy with his Round Tabill, richest of ryne. Thay drive on the da deir be dalis and doun, And of the nobillest be-name, noumerit of nyne. Quhen it drew to the dirk nycht, and the day yeid doun, Thai plantit doun pauillonis, proudly fra thine. Thus iournait gentilly thyr cheualrouse knichtis, Ithandly ilk day, Throu mony fer contray, Our the mountains gay,pay. Cf. 309. Holtis and hillis. XIX. Thai passit in thare pilgramage, the proudest in pall, The prince provit in prese, that prise wes and deir; Syne war thai war of ane wane, wrocht with ane wal, Reirdit on ane riche roche, beside ane riveir, With doubill dykis be-dene drawin our all; Micht nane thame note with invy, nor nygh thame to neir.nor nyt. The land wes likand in large and lufsum to call; Propir schene schane the son, seymly and seir. The king stude vesiand the wall, maist vailyeand to se: On that river he saw Cumly towris to knaw; The roy rekinnit on raw Thretty and thre. XX. Apone that riche river, randonit full evin, The side-wallis war set, sad to the see; Scippis saland thame by, sexty and sevyn, To send, quhen thame self list, in seir cuntre, That al thai that ar wrocht vndir the hie hevin Micht nocht warne thame at wil to ische nor entre. Than carpit the cumly king, with ane lowd stevin: "Yone is the seymliast sicht that euer couth I se. Gif thair be ony keyne knycht that can tell it, Quha is lord of yone land, Lusty and likand, Or quham of is he haldand, Fayne wald I wit." XXI. Than schir Spynagrose with speche spak to the king: "Yone lord haldis of nane leid, that yone land aw,lordis. Bot euer-lesting but legiance, to his leving, As his eldaris has done, enduring his daw." "Hevinly god!" said the heynd, "how happynis this thing? Herd thair euer ony sage sa selcouth ane saw! Sal neuer myne hart be in saill na in liking, Bot gif I loissing my life, or be laid law, Be the pilgramage compleit I pas for saull prow, Bot dede be my destenyng, He sall at my agane cumyng Mak homage and oblissing, I mak myne avow!" XXII. "A! lord, sparis of sic speche, quhill ye speir more, For abandonit will he noght be to berne that is borne. Or he be strenyeit with strenth, yone sterne for to schore, Mony ledis salbe loissit, and liffis forlorne. Spekis na succeudry, for Cristis sone deir! Yone knicht to scar with skaitht ye chaip nocht but scorne. It is full fair for to be fallow and feir To the best that has bene brevit you beforne. The myghty king of Massidone, wourthiest but wene, Thair gat he nane homage, For all his hie parage, Of lord of yone lynage, Nor neuer none sene, XXIII. "The wy that wendis for to were quhen he wenys best, All his will in this warld, with welthis I wys, Yit sall be licht as leif of the lynd lest,he licht. That welteris doun with the wynd, sa wauerand it is. . . . . . Your mycht and your maieste mesure but mys." "In faith," said the cumly king, "trou ye full traist,throu. My hecht sall haldin be, for baill or for blis. Sall neuer my likame be laid vnlaissit to sleip, Quhill I haue gart yone berne bow, As I haue maid myne auow, Or ellis mony wedou Ful wraithly sal weip." XXIV. Thair wes na man that durst mel to the king, Quhan thai saw that mighty sa mouit in his mude.Quhy . . . mynde. The roy rial raid withoutin resting, And socht to the ciete of Criste, our the salt flude. With mekil honour in erd he maid his offering, Syne buskit hame the samyne way that he before yude. Thayr wes na spurris to spair, spedely thai spring; Thai brochit blonkis to thair sidis brist of rede blude. Thus the roy and his rout restles thai raid Ithandly ilk day, Our the montains gay,pay. Cf. 233. To Rome tuke the reddy way, Withoutin mare abaid. XXV. Thai plantit doun ane pailyeoun, vpone ane plane lee, Of pall and of pillour that proudly wes picht, With rapis of rede gold, riale to see, And grete ensenyes of the samyne, semly by sicht; Bordouris about, that bricht war of ble, Betin with brint gold, burely and bricht; Frenyeis of fyne silk, fretit ful fre With deir dyamonthis bedene, that dayntely wes dicht. The king cumly in kith, couerit with croune, Callit knichtis sa kene, Dukis douchty bedene: "I rede we cast ws betuene, How best is to done." XXVI. Than spak ane vight weriour, wourthy and wise: "I rede ane sayndis-man ye send to yone senyeour, Of the proudest in pall, and haldin of prise, Wise, vailyeing, and moist of valour. Gif yone douchty in deid wil do your deuise, Be boune at your bidding in burgh and in bour, Ressaue him reuerendly, as resoun in lyis; . . . . . And gif he nykis you with nay, yow worthis on neid For to assege yone castel With cant men and cruel, Durandly for to duel Euer quhill ye speid." XXVII. Than shir Gauane the gay, grete of degre, And shir Lancelot de Lake, without lesing, And auenand schir Ewin, thai ordanit that thre To the schore chiftane, chargit fra the kyng. Spynagros than spekis, said: "lordingis in le, I rede ye tent treuly to my teching; For I knaw yone bauld berne better than ye, His land, and his lordschip, and his leuing. And ye ar thre in this thede, thriuand oft in thrang; War al your strenthis in ane, In his grippis and ye gane, He wald ourcum yow ilkane; Yone sterne is sa strang. XXVIII. "And he is maid on mold meik as ane child, Blith and bousum that berne as byrd in hir bour, Fayr of fell and of face as flour vnfild, Wondir staluart and strang, to striue in ane stour. Thairfore meikly with mouth mel to that myld, And mak him na manance, bot al mesoure. Thus with trety ye cast yon trew vndre tyld,you trew. And faynd his frendschip to fang with fyne fauour. It hynderis neuer for to be heyndly of speche; He is ane lord riale, Ane seymly souerane in sale,Has seymly. Ane wourthy wy for to wale, Throu all this varld reche." XXIX. "Thi counsale is convenabill, kynd and courtese; Forthi ws likis thi lair listin and leir." Thai wyis, wourthy in weid, wend on thair ways, And caryis to the castell, cumly and cleir; Sent ane saynd to the souerane sone, and hym sais, Thre knichtis fra court cum thay weir. Than the ledis belife the lokkis vnlaissis; On fute freschly thai frekis foundis but feir; The renkis raithly can raik in to the round hald. Thair met thame at the entre Ladys likand to se, Thretty knichtis and thre, That blith war and bald. XXX. Thai war courtes and couth thair knyghthed to kyth, Athir vthir wele gret in gretly degre; Thai bowit to the bernys, that bright war and blith, Fair in armys to fang, of figure sa fre. Syne thay sought to the chalmer, swiftly and swith, The gait to the grete lord semely to se, And salust the souerane sone, in ane sith, Courtesly inclinand, and kneland on kne. Ane blithar wes neuer borne of bane nor of blude; All thre in certane Salust the souerane, And he inclynand agane, Hatles, but hude. XXXI. Than schir Gawyne the gay, gude and gracius, That euer wes beildit in blis, and bounte embrasit, Joly and gentill, and full cheuailrus, That neuer poynt of his prise wes fundin defasit, Egir and ertand, and ryght anterus, Illuminat vith lawte, and with lufe lasit, Melis of the message to schir Golagrus. Before the riale on raw the renk wes noght rasit; With ane clene contenance, cumly to knaw, Said: "our souerane Arthour Gretis the with honour, Has maid ws thre as mediatour, His message to schaw. XXXII. "He is the riallest roy, reuerend and rike, Of all the rentaris to ryme or rekin on raw. Thare is na leid on life of lordschip hym like, Na nane sa doughty of deid, induring his daw. Mony burgh, mony bour, mony big bike, Mony kynrik to his clame, cumly to knaw, Maneris full menskfull, with mony deip dike; Selcouth war the sevint part to say at saw.at faw. Thare anerdis to our nobill, to note quhen hym nedis, Tuelf crovnit kingis in feir, With all thair strang poweir, And mony wight weryer, Worthy in wedis. XXXIII. "It has bene tauld hym with tong, trow ye full traist, Your dedis, your dignite and your doughtynes, Brevit throu bounte for ane of the best That now is namyt neir of all nobilnes, Sa wyde quhare wourscip walkis be west. Our seymly souerane hym self, forsuth, will noght cese, Quhill he haue frely fangit your frendschip to fest; Gif pament or praier mught mak that purchese, For na largese my lord noght wil he neuer let, Na for na riches to rigne. I mak you na lesing, It war his maist yarnyng Your grant for to get." XXXIV. Than said the syre of the sail, with sad sembland: "I thank your gracious grete lord and his gude wil; Had euer leid of this land, that had bene leuand,Had neuer. Maid ony feute before, freik, to fulfil, I suld sickirly myself be consentand, And seik to your souerane, seymly on syll. Sen hail our doughty elderis has bene endurand, Thriuandly in this thede, vnchargit as thril, If I, for obeisance or boist, to bondage me bynde, I war wourthy to be Hingit heigh on ane tre, That ilk creature might se, To waif with the wynd. XXXV. "Bot sauand my senyeoury fra subiectioun, And my lordscip vn-lamyt, withoutin legiance, All that I can to yone king, cumly with croun, I sall preif all my pane to do hym plesance; Baith with body and beild, bowsum and boun, Hym to mensk on mold, withoutin manance. Bot nowthir for his senyeoury, nor for his summoun, Na for dreid of na dede, na for na distance, I will noght bow me ane bak for berne that is borne; Quhill I may my wit wald, I think my fredome to hald, As my eldaris of ald Has done me beforne." XXXVI. Thai lufly ledis at that lord thair leuis has laught; Bounit to the bauld king, and boidword him broght. Than thai schupe for to assege segis vnsaught, Ay the manlyest on mold, that maist of myght moght. Thair wes restling and reling, but rest that raught, Mony sege our the sey to the cite socht; Schipmen our the streme thai stithil full straught, With alkin wappyns, I wys, that wes for were wroght. Thai bend bowis of bras braithly within; Pellokis paisand to pase, Gapand gunnys of brase, Grundin ganyeis thair wase, That maid ful gret dyn. XXXVII. Thair wes blauing of bemys, braging and beir; Bretynit doune braid wod, maid bewis full bair; Wrightis welterand doune treis, wit ye but weir, Ordanit hurdys ful hie in holtis sa haire, For to greif thair gomys, gramest that wer, To gar the gayest on grund grayne vndir geir. Thus thai schupe for ane salt, ilk sege seir; Ilka souerane his ensenye shewin has thair; Ferly fayr wes the feild, flekerit and faw With gold and goulis in greyne, Schynand scheirly and scheyne; The sone, as cristall sa cleyne, In scheildis thai schaw.schair. XXXVIII. Be it wes mydmorne and mare, merkit on the day, Schir Golagros mery men, menskful of myght, In greis and garatouris, grathit full gay, Seuyne score of scheildis thai schew at ane sicht; Ane helme set to ilk scheild, siker of assay, With fel lans on loft, lemand ful light. Thus flourit thai the fore front, thair fays to fray, The frekis, that war fundin ferse and forssy in fight. Ilk knyght his cunysance kithit full cleir; Thair names writtin all thare, Quhat berne that it bare, That ilk freke quhare he fare Might wit quhat he weir. XXXIX. "Yone is the warliest wane," said the wise king, "That euer I vist in my walk, in all this warld wyde; And the straitest of stuf, with richese to ring, With vnabasit bernys bergane to abide; May nane do thame na deir with vndoyng; Yone house is sa huge hie, fra harme thame to hide. Yit sal I mak thame vnrufe, foroutin resting, And reve thame thair rentis, with routis full ride, Thoght I suld fynd thame new notis for this ix yeir; And in his avne presence Heir sall I mak residence, Bot he with force mak defence, With strenth me to steir." XL. "Quhat nedis," said Spinagrus, "sic notis to nevin, Or ony termis be turnit, I tell you treuly? For thair is segis in yone saill wil set vpone sevin, Or thay be wrangit, I wis, I warne you ilk wy. Nane hardiar of hertis vndir the hevin, Or thay be dantit with dreid, erar will thai de; And thai with men vpone mold be machit full evin, Thai salbe fundin right ferse, and full of cheualrie. Schir, ye ar in your maieste, your mayne and your myght, Yit within thir dais thre, The sicker suth sall ye se, Quhat kin men that thai be, And how thai dar fight." XLI. As the reuerend roy wes reknand vpone raw, With the rout of the Round Tabill, that wes richest, The king crounit with gold, cumly to knaw, With reuerend baronis and beirnis of the best, He hard ane bugill blast brym and ane loud blaw, As the seymly sone silit to the rest. A gome gais to ane garet, glisnand to schaw,Agane gais. Turnit to ane hie toure, that tight wes full trest; Ane helme of hard steill in hand has he hynt, Ane scheld wroght all of weir, Semyt wele vpone feir; He grippit to ane grete speir, And furth his wais wynt. XLII. "Quhat signifyis yone schene scheild?" said the senyeour, "The lufly helme and the lance, all ar away, The brym blast that he blew with ane stevin stour?" Than said sir Spynagrus with speche: "the suth sall I say. Yone is ane freik in his force, and fresch in his flour,in his forte. To se that his schire weid be sicker of assay; He thinkis provese to preve, for his paramour, And prik in your presence, to purchese his pray. Forthi makis furth ane man, to mach hym in feild, That knawin is for cruel, Doughty dyntis to dell, That for the maistry dar mell With schaft and with scheild." XLIII. Than wes the king wondir glaid, and callit Gaudifeir; Quhilum in Britane that berne had baronyis braid; And he gudly furth gais, and graithit his geir, And buskit hym to battell, without mair abaid. That wy walit, I vis, all wedis of veir That nedit hym to note gif he nane had. . . . . . Bery broune wes the blonk, burely and braid, Wpone the mold, quhare thai met, before the myd-day. With lufly lancis and lang, Ane faire feild can thai fang, On stedis stalwart and strang, Baith blanchart and bay. XLIV. Gaudifeir and Galiot, in glemand steil wedis, As glauis glowand on gleid, grymly thai ride; Wondir sternly thai steir on thair stent stedis Athir berne fra his blonk borne wes that tide. Thai ruschit vp rudly, quha sa right redis; Out with suerdis thai swang fra thair schalk side; Thair with wraithly thai wirk, thai wourthy in vedis, Hewit on the hard steill, and hurt thame in the hide. Sa wondir freschly thai frekis fruschit in feir, Throw all the harnes thai hade, Baith birny and breist-plade, Thairin wappynis couth wade, Wit ye but weir. XLV. Thus thai faught vpone fold, with ane fel fair, Quhill athir berne in that breth bokit in blude; Thus thai mellit on mold, ane myle way and maire, Wraithly wroht, as thei war witlese and wode; Baith thai segis forsuth, sadly and sair, Thoght thai war astonait, in that stour stithly thai stude. The feght sa felly thai fang, with ane fresch fair, Quhil Gaudifeir and Galiot baith to grund yhude. Gaudifeir gat vp agane, throu Goddis grete mightis; Abone him wichtely he wan, With the craft that he can; Thai louit God and sanct An, The king and his knightis. XLVI. Than wes Galiot the gome hynt in till ane hald; Golagrus grew in greif, grymly in hart, And callit schir Rigal of Rone, ane renk that wes bald. "Quhill this querrell be quyt, I cover neuer in quert. With wailit wapnis of were, evin on yone wald, On ane sterand steid, that sternly will stert, I pray the, for my saik, that it be deir sald; Was neuer sa vnsound set to my hert." That gome gudly furth gays and graithit his gere, Blew ane blast of ane horne, As wes the maner beforne; Scheld and helm has he borne Away with his spere. XLVII The king crovnit with gold this cumpas wele knew, And callit schir Rannald, cruell and kene: "Gif ony pressis to this place, for proves to persew, Schaip the evin to the schalk, in thi schroud schene." The deir dight him to the deid, be the day dew; His birny and his basnet, burnist full bene; Baith his horse and his geir wes of ane hale hew, With gold and goulis sa gay graithit in grene; Ane schene scheild and ane schaft, that scharply was sched; Thre ber-hedis he bair, As his eldaris did air, Quhilk beirnis in Britane wair, Of his blude bled. XLVIII. Quhen the day can daw, deirly on hight, And the sone in the sky wes schynyng so schir, Fra the castell thair come cariand ane knight, Closit in clene steill, vpone ane coursyr. Schir Rannald to his riche steid raikit full right, Lightly lap he on loft, that lufly of lyre. Athir laught has thair lance, that lemyt so light; On twa stedis thai straid, with ane sterne schiere. Togiddir freschly thai frekis fruschit, in fay; Thair speris in splendris sprent, On scheldis schonkit and schent, Euin our thair hedis went, In feild fir away. XLIX. Thai lufly ledis belife lightit on the land, And laught out suerdis, lufly and lang; Thair stedis stakkerit in the stour, and stude stummerand, Al to-stiffillit and stonayt, the strakis war sa strang! Athir berne braithly bet with ane bright brand; On fute freschly thai frekis feghtin thai fang; Thai hewit on hard steil, hartly with hand, Quhil the spalis and the sparkis spedely out sprang. Schir Rannald raught to the renk ane rout wes vnryde; Clenely in the collair, Fifty mailyeis and mair Euin of the schuldir he schair, Ane wound that wes wyde. L. Thus thai faucht on fute, on the fair feild; The blude famyt thame fra, on feild quhare thai found; All the bernys on the bent about that beheild, For pure sorow of that sight thai sighit vnsound. Schire teris schot fra schalkis, schene vndir scheild, Quhen thai foundrit andane. fel fey to the grund; Baith thair hartis can brist, braithly but beild, Thair wes na staluart vnstonait, so sterne wes the stound! Schir Rannaldis body wes broght to the bright tent; Syne to the castel of stone Thai had schir Regal of Rone; With mekil murnyng and mone Away with him went. LI. Thus endit the auynantis with mekil honour; Yit has men thame in mynd for thair manhede; Thair bodeis wes beryit baith in ane hour, Set segis for thair saullis to syng and to reid. Than Gologrus graithit of his men in glisnand armour Ane schir Louys the lele, ane lord of that leid; Ane vthir heght Edmond, that prouit paramour; The thrid heght schir Bantellas, the batal to leid; The ferd wes ane weryour worthy and wight, His name wes schir Sanguel, Cumly and cruel; Thir four, treuly to tell, Foundis to the feght. LII. Schir Lyonel to schir Louys wes leuit, with ane lance; Schir Ewin to shir Edmond, athir ful euin; Schir Bedwar to schir Bantellas, to enschew his chance, That baith war nemmyt in neid, nobil to neuin; To schir Sangwel soght gude Gyromalance. Thus thai mellit and met with ane stout steuin, Thir lufly ledis on the land, without legiance; With seymely scheildis to schew, thai set vpone seuin, Thir cumly knightis to kyth ane cruel course maid. The frekis felloune in feir Wondir stoutly can steir, With geir grundin ful cleir Rudly thai raid. LIII. Than thair hors vith thair hochis sic harmis couth hint, As trasit in vnquart quakand thai stand; The frekis freschly thai fure, as fyre out of flynt, Thair lufly lancis thai loissit, and lichtit on the land; Right styth, stuffit in steill, thai stotit na stynt, Bot buskit to battaille with birny and brand. Thair riche birnys thai bet derfly with dynt, Hewis doun in grete haist, hartly with hand. Thai mighty men vpon mold ane riale course maid, Quhill clowis of clene maill Hoppit out as the haill; Thay beirnys in the bataill Sa bauldly thai baid! LIV. Thai bet on sa bryimly, thai beirnys on the bent, Bristis birneis with brandis burnist full bene; Throu thair schene scheildis thair schuldiris var schent, Fra schalkis schot schire blude our scheildis so schene; Ryngis of rank steill rattillit and rent, Gomys grisly on the grund granis on the grene. The roy ramyt for reuth, richist of rent, For cair of his knightis cruel and kene, Sa wondir freschly thair force thai frest on the feildis! Sa huge wes the melle, Wes nane sa sutell couth se Quhilk gome suld gouern the gre, Bot God that al weildis. LV. The wyis wroght vthir grete wandreth and weuch, Wirkand woundis full wyde with wapnis of were; Helmys of hard steill thai hatterit and heuch, In that hailsing thai hynt grete harmys and here; All to-turnit thair entyre, traistly and tewch, Burnist bladis of steill throw birneis thay bere; Schort suerdis of scheith smertly thay dreuch, Athir freik to his fallow, with fellonne affere; Throw platis of polist steill thair poyntis can pase. All thus thai threw in that thrang Stalwart strakis and strang; With daggaris derfly thay dang, Thai doughtyis on dase. LVI. Schir Lyonell schir Lowes laught has in hand, And sesit is Sangwell with Giromalans the gude; Schir Evin has schir Edmond laid on the land, Braithly bartynit with baill, bullerand in blude; Schir Bedwar to schir Bantellas yaldis vp his brand, In that stalwart stour thay styth men in stude. Wes nane forssy on fold, that wes feghtand, Wnmanglit and marrit, myghtles in mude; Wes nane sa proud of his part, that prisit quhen he yeid. Bedwer and Lyonell War led to the castell; The cumly knight Sangwell To Arthour thay led. LVII. Schir Edmond loissit has his life, and laid is full law; Schir Evin hurtis has hynt hidwise and sair; Knightis caryis to the corse, wes cumly to knaw, And had hym to the castell with mekill hard cair; Thai did to that doughty as the dede aw. Wthir four of the folk foundis to the fair, That wes dight to the dede, be the day can daw; Than said bernys bald, brym as bair: "We sal evin that is od, or end in the pane!" Thai stuffit helmys in hy, Breist-plait and birny; Thay renkis maid reddy All geir that myght gane. LVIII. Schir Agalus, schir Ewmond, honest and habill, Schir Mychin, schir Meligor, men of grete estait; Than stertis out ane sterne knyght, stalwart and stabill, Ane berne that heght schir Hew, hardy and hait. Now wil I rekkin the renkis of the Round Tabill, That has traistly thame tight to governe that gait; Furth faris the folk, but fenyeing or fabill, That bemyt war be the lord, lufsum of lait: Schir Cador of Cornwel, cumly and cleir, Schir Owales, schir Iwell, Schir Myreot, mighty emell; Thir four, treuly to tell, Foundis in feir. LIX. Thair wes na trety of treux, trow ye full traist, Quhen thai myghty can mach, on mold quhair thai met; Thai brochit blonkis to thair sydis out of blude braist, Thair lufly lancis thai loissit, and lightit but let; Sadillis thai temyt tyt, thir trew men and traist, Braidit out brandis, on birnys thai bet; As fyre that fleis fra the flynt, thay fechtin sa fast, With vengeand wapnis of were throu wedis thai wet. It war teirfull to tell treuly the tend Of thair strife sa strang, The feght so fellely thai fang; Thoght it lestit neuer so lang, Yit laught it ane end. LX. Schir Oviles, schir Iwill, in handis war hynt, And to the lufly castell war led in ane lyng; Thair with the stalwartis in stour can stotin and stynt, And baith schir Agalus and schir Hew wes led to the kyng. Than schir Golograse for greif his gray ene brynt, Wod wraith as the wynd, his handis can wryng. Yit makis he mery, magry quhasa mynt; Said: "I sal bargane abyde, and ane end bryng; To morne, sickirly, my self sall seik to the feild." He buskit to ane barfray, Twa smal bellis rang thay; Than seymly Arthur can say, Wes schene vndir scheild. LXI. "Quhat signifyis yone rynging?" said the ryale; Than said Spynagros with speche: "schir, sen speir, That sall I tell yow with tong, treuly in taill. The wy that weildis yone wane, I warn you but weir, He thinkis his aune self shall do for his dail; Is nane sa prouit in this part of pyth is his peir.prouit is. Yow worthis wisly to wirk, ane wy for to wail, That sal duchtely his deid do with yone deir. He is the forsiest freik, be fortoune his freynd, That I wait leuand this day." Than schir Gawine the gay Prayt for the iournay, That he myght furth weynd. LXII. The king grantit the gait to schir Gawane, And prayt to the grete God to grant him his grace, Him to saue and to salf, that is our souerane, As he is makar of man, and alkyn myght haise. Than schir Spynagros, the freik, wox ferly vnfane, Murnyt for schir Gawyne, and mekil mayne maise, And said: "for his saik, that saiklese wes slane, Tak nocht yone keyne knight to countir, in this hard cais. Is nane sa stalwart in stour, with stoutnes to stand; Of al that langis to the king, The mair is my murnyng, Ye suld this fell fechting Hynt vpone hand. LXIII. "Sen ye ar sa wourschipfull, and wourthy in were, Demyt with the derrest, maist doughty in deid, Yone berne in the battale wil ye noght forbere, For al the mobil on the mold, merkit to meid." "Gif I de doughtely, the les is my dere, Thoght he war Sampsone himself, sa me Criste reid!the war. I forsaik noght to feght, for al his grete feir, I do the weill for to wit, doutlese but dreid." Than said schir Spynagrose: "sen ye will of neid Be bovn to the battale, Wirkis with counsale, It sall right gret avale, And do it in deid. LXIV. "Quhen ye mach hym on mold, merk to hym evin, And bere ye your bright lance in myddis his scheild; Mak that course cruel, for Crystis lufe of hevin! And syne wirk as I wise, your vappins to weild. Be he stonayt, yone sterne, stout beis his stevin, He wourdis brym as ane bair, that bydis na beild; Noy you noght at his note, that nobill is to nevin. Suppose his dyntis be deip dentit in your scheild, Tak na haist vpone hand, quhat happunys may hynt; Bot lat the riche man rage, And fecht in his curage, To swyng with suerd quhil he suage; Syne dele ye your dynt. LXV. "Quhen he is stuffit, thair strike, and hald hym on steir, Sa sal ye stonay yone stowt, suppose he be strang; Thus may ye lippin on the lake, throu lair that I leir; Bot gif ye wirk as wise, you worthis that wrang." The king and his knihtis, cumly and cleir, In armour dewly hym dight, be the day sprang; Than wes schir Kay wondir wo, wit ye but weir, In defalt of ane freik the feghting to fang. That gome gudely furth gais, and graithit his geir; Evin to the castell he raid, Huvit in ane dern slaid; Sa come ane knight as he baid, Anairmit of weir. LXVI. That knight buskit to schir Kay one ane steid broune, Braissit in birneis and basnet full bene; He cryis his ensenye and conteris hym full soune, And maid ane course curagiouse, cruell and kene; Thair lufly lancis thai loissit, and lightit baith doune, And girdit out suerdis on the grund grene, And hewit on hard steill, hartlie but houne; Rude reknyng raise thair renkis betuene. Thair mailyeis with melle thay merkit in the medis; The blude of thair bodeis Throw breist-plait and birneis, As roise ragit on rise, Our ran thair riche vedis. LXVII. Thus thai faught vpone fute, without fenyeing; The sparkis flaw in the feild, as fyre out of flynt; Thai lufly ledis in lyke, thai layid on in ane ling, Delis thair full doughtely mony derf dynt; Duschand on deir wedis, dourly thai dyng, Hidwise hurtis and huge haistely thai hynt. That knight carpit to schir Kay, of discomforting: "Of this stonay and stour I rede that ye stynt. I will yeild the my brand, sen na better may bene. Quhair that fortoune will faill, Thair may na besynes availl." He braidit vp his ventaill, That closit wes clene. LXVIII. For to ressaue the brand the berne wes full blith, For he wes byrsit and beft, and braithly bledand; Thoght he wes myghtles, his mercy can he thair myth, And wald that he nane harm hynt with hart and with hand. Thai caryit baith to the kynge, cumly to kyth;to the kynde. Thair lancis war loissit, and left on the land. Than said he loud vpone loft: "lord, will ye lyth, Ye sall nane torfeir betyde, I tak vpone hand. Na mysliking haue in hart, nor haue ye na dout; Oft in romanis I reid: Airly sporne, late speid." The king to the pailyeoune gart leid The knight that wes stout. LXIX. Thai hynt of his harnese, to helyn his wound; Lechis war noght to lait, with sawis sa sle. With that mony fresch freik can to the feild found, With Gologras in his geir, grete of degre; Armyt in rede gold, and rubeis sa round, With mony riche relikis, riale to se. Thair wes on Gologras, quhair he glaid on the ground, Frenyeis of fine silk, fratit full fre. Apone sterand stedis, trappit to the heill, Sexty schalkis full schene, Cled in armour sa clene, No wy wantit, I wene, All stuffit in steill. LXX. That berne raid on ane blonk, of ane ble quhite, Blyndit all with bright gold and beriallis bright; To tell of his deir weid war doutles delite, And alse ter for to tell the travalis war tight. His name and his nobillay wes noght for to nyte; Thair wes na hathill sa heich, be half ane fute hicht. He lansit out our ane land, and drew noght ane lyte, Quhair he suld frastyn his force, and fangin his fight. Be that schir Gawyne the gay wes graithit in his gere; Cummyng on the ta syde, Hovand battale to abyde, All reddy samyne to ryde, With schelde and with spere. LXXI. Thir lufly ledis on the land left be thame allane, Tuke nowthir fremmyt nor freyndis, bot found thame fra; Twa rynnyng renkis raith the riolyse has tane, Ilk freik to his feir, to frestin his fa. Thai gird one tva grete horse, on grund quhil thai grane; The trew helmys and traist in tathis thai ta; The rochis reirdit vith the rasch, quhen thai samyne rane; Thair speris in the feild in flendris gart ga. The stedis stakerit in the stour, for streking on stray; The bernys bowit abak, Sa woundir rude wes the rak; Quhilk that happynnit the lak, Couth na leid say! LXXII. Thai brayd fra thair blonkis, besely and bane, Syne laught out suerdis, lang and lufly; And hewit on hard steill, wondir hawtane, Baith war thai haldin of hartis heynd and hardy. Gologras grew in greif at schir Gawane; On the hight of the hard steill he hyt hym in hy; Pertly put with his pith at his pesane, And fulyeit of the fyne maill ma than fyfty. The knight stakrit with the straik, all stonayt in stound; Sa woundir scharply he schair, The berne that the brand bair; Schir Gawyne, with ane fell fair, Can to his faa found. LXXIII. With ane bitand brand, burly and braid, Quhilk oft in battale had bene his bute and his belde, He leit gird to the grome, with greif that he had, And claif throw the cantell of the clene schelde. Throw birny and breist-plait and bordour it baid; The fulye of the fyne gold fell in the feild. The rede blude with the rout folowit the blaid, For all the wedis, I wise, that the wy weild, Throw claspis of clene gold, and clowis sa cleir. Thair with schir Gologras the syre, In mekill angir and ire, Alse ferse as the fyre, Leit fle to his feir. LXXIV. Sic dintis he delt to that doughty, Leit hym destanyt to danger and dreid; Thus wes he handillit full hait, that hawtane, in hy, The scheld in countir he kest our his cleir weid; Hewit on hard steill woundir haistely; Gart beryallis hop of the hathill about hym on breid. Than the king vnto Criste kest vp ane cry, Said: "Lord, as thow life lent to levand in leid, As thou formit all frute to foster our fude, Grant me confort this day, As thow art God verray!" Thus prais the king in affray, For Gawyne the gude. LXXV. Golagras at Gawyne in sic ane grief grew, As lyoune, for falt of fude, faught on the fold; With baith his handis in haist that haltane couth hew; Gart stanys hop of the hathill, that haltane war hold, Birny and breist-plait, bright for to schew; Mony mailye and plait war marrit on the mold. Knichtis ramyt for reuth, schir Gawyne thai rew, That doughty delit with hym sa, for dout he war defold; Sa wondir scharply he schare throu his schene schroud; His scheild he chopit hym fra In tuenty pecis and ma; Schir Wawane writhit for wa, Witlese and woud. LXXVI. Thus wourthit schir Gawyne wraith and wepand, And straik to that stern knight but stynt; All engreuit the grome, with ane bright brand, And delt thairwith doughtely mony derf dynt; Throw byrny and breistplait, bordour and band, He leit fle to the freke, as fyre out of flynt. He hewit on with grete haist, hartly with hand, Hakkit throw the hard weid, to the hede hynt; Throw the stuf with the straik, stapalis and stanis, Schir Wawine, wourthy in wail, Half ane span at ane spail, Quhare his harnes wes hail, He hewit attanis. LXXVII. Thus raithly the riche berne rassit his array; The tothir stertis ane bak, the sterne that wes stout, Hit schir Gawayne on the gere, quhil greuit wes the gay, Betit doune the bright gold and beryallis about; Scheddit his schire wedis scharply away, That lufly lappit war on loft, he gart thame law lout. The sterne stakrit with the straik, and stertis on stray, Quhill neir his resoune wes tynt, sa rude wes the rout! The beryallis on the land of bratheris gart light, Rubeis and sapheir, Precious stanis that weir; Thus drese thai wedis sa deir, That dantely wes dight. LXXVIII. Thai gyrd on sa grymly, in ane grete ire, Baith schir Gavine the grome, and Gologras the knight, The sparkis flew in the feild, as fagottis of fire, Sa wndir frely thai frekis fangis the fight; Thai luschit and laid on, thai luflyis of lyre. King Arthur Ihesu besoght, seymly with sight: "As thow art souerane God, sickerly, and syre, At thow wald warys fra wo Wauane the wight, And grant the frekis on fold farar to fall, Baith thair honouris to saif." At Crist with credence thai craif, Knight, squyar and knaif; And thus pray thay all. LXXIX. Thai mellit on with malice, thay myghtyis in mude, Mankit throu mailyeis, and maid thame to mer; Wraithly wroght, as thai war witlese and wod. Be that schir Wawane the wy likit the wer; The ble of his bright weid wes bullerand in blude. Thair with the nobill in neid nyghit hym ner, Straik hym with ane steill brand, in stede quhare he stude; The scheld in fardellis can fle, in feild away fer; The tothir hyt hym agane with ane hard swerd. As he loutit our ane bra, His feit founderit hym fra; Schir Gologras graithly can ga Grulingis to erd. LXXX. Or euer he gat vp agane, gude schir Gawane Grippit to schir Gologras on the grund grene. Thair of gromys wes glaid, gudly and gane, Lovit Criste of that case with hartis sa clene. Ane daggar dayntely dight that doughty has drawne, Than he carpit to the knight, cruel and kene: "Gif thou luffis thi life, lelely noght to layne, Yeld me thi bright brand, burnist sa bene; I rede thow wirk as I wise, or war the betide." The tothir ansuerit schortly: "Me think farar to dee, Than schamyt be, verralie, Ane sclander to byde. LXXXI. "Wes I neuer yit defoullit, nor fylit in fame, Nor nane of my eldaris, that euer I hard nevin; Bot ilk berne has bene vnbundin with blame, Ringand in rialte, and reullit thame self evin. Sall neuer sege vndir son se me with schame, Na luke on my lekame with light nor with levin,nor with leme. Na nane of the nynt degre haue noy of my name, I swere be suthfast God, that settis all on sevin! Bot gif that wourschip of were win me away, I trete for na favour; Do furth thi devoir; Of me gettis thou na more, Doutles this day." LXXXII. Lordingis and ladyis in the castell on loft, Quhen thai saw thair liege lord laid on the landis, Mony sweit thing of sware swownit full oft, Wyis wourthit for wo to wringin thair handis. Wes nowthir solace nor sang thair sorow to soft, Ane sair stonay and stour at thair hartis standis. On Criste cumly thay cry: "on croce as thou coft, With thi blissit blude to bring ws out of bandis, Lat neuer our souerane his cause with schame to encheif! Mary, farest of face, Beseik thi sone in this cace, Ane drop of his grete grace He grant ws to geif!" LXXXIII. Thus the ledis on loft in langour war lent; The lordis on the tothir side for liking thay leugh. Schir Gawyne tretit the knight to turn his entent, For he wes wondir wa to wirk hym mare wugh. "Schir, say for thi self, thow seis thou art schent; It may nocht mend the ane myte to mak it so teugh. Rise, and raik to our roy, richest of rent; Thow salbe newit at neid with nobillay eneuch, And dukit in our duchery, all the duelling." "Than war I woundir vnwis, To purchese proffit for pris, Quhare schame ay euer lyis, All my leuing. LXXXIV. "The sege that schrenkis for na schame, the schent might hym schend, That mare luffis his life than lois vpone erd; Sal neuer freik on fold, fremmyt nor freynde, Gar me lurk for ane luke, lawit nor lerd; For quhasa with wourschip sall of this warld wende, Thair wil nane wyis, that ar wis, wary the werd. For ony trety may tyde, I tell the the teynd, I wil noght turn myn entent, for all this warld brerd, Or I pair of pris ane penny-worth in this place, For besandis or beryell; I knaw my avne quarrell, I dreid not the pereill To dee in this cace!" LXXXV. Schir Gawyne rewit the renk, that wes riale, And said to the reuerend, riche and rightuis: "How may I succour the sound, semely in sale, Before this pepill in plane, and pair noght thy pris?" "That sall I tel the with tong, trewly in tale, Wald thow denye the in deid to do my deuis; Lat it worth at my wil the wourschip to wale, As I had wonnyn the of were, wourthy and wis; Syne cary to the castel, quhare I haue maist cure. Thus may thow saif me fra syte; As I am cristynit perfite, I sall thi kyndnes quyte, And sauf thyn honoure." LXXXVI. "That war hard," said that heynd, "sa haue I gude hele! Ane wounder peralous poynt, partenyng grete plight, To soner in thi gentrice, but signete or sele, And I before saw the neuer, sickerly, with sight; To leif in thi laute, and thow war vnlele, Than had I cassin in cair mony kene knight. Bot I knaw thou art kene, and alse cruell; Or thow be fulyeit fey, freke, in the fight, I do me in thi gentrice, be Drightin sa deir!" He lenyt vp in the place; The tothir raithly vpraise; Gat neuer grome sic ane grace, In feild of his feir! LXXXVII. Than thei nobillis at neid yeid to thair note new; Freschly foundis to feght, all fenyeand thair fair; Tua schort suerdis of scheith smertly thai drew, Than thai mellit on mold, ane myle way and mare. Wes newthir casar nor king thair quentance that knew, It semyt be thair contenance that kendillit wes care. Syne thai traist in that feild, throu trety of trew; Put up thair brandis sa braid, burly and bair. Gologras and Gawyne, gracious and gude, Yeid to the castel of stane, As he war yoldin and tane; The king precious in pane Sair murnand in mude. LXXXVIII. The roy ramand ful raith, that reuth wes to se, And raikit full redles to his riche tent; The watter wet his chekis, that schalkis myght se, As all his welthis in warld had bene away went, And othir bernys for barrat blakynnit thair ble, Braithly bundin in baill, thair breistis war blent. "The flour of knighthede is caught throu his cruelte! Now is the Round Tabill rebutit, richest of rent, Quhen wourschipfull Wawane, the wit of our were, Is led to ane presoune; Now failyeis gude fortoune!" The king, cumly with croune, Grat mony salt tere. LXXXIX. Quhen that Gawyne the gay, grete of degre, Wes cummyn to the castel, cumly and cleir, Gromys of that garisoune maid gamyn and gle, And ledis lofit thair lord, lufly of lyere; Beirdis beildit in blise, brightest of ble; The tothir knightis maid care of Arthuris here; Al thus with murnyng and myrth thai maid melle. Ay, quhil the segis war set to the suppere, The seymly souerane of the sail marschel he wes; He gart schir Gawyne vpga, His wife, his doghter alsua, And of that mighty na ma War set at the des. XC. He gart at ane sete burd the strangearis begin, The maist seymly in sale ordanit thame sete; Ilk knyght ane cumly lady, that cleir wes of kyn; With kynde contenance the renk couth thame rehete, Quhen thai war machit at mete, the mare and the myn, And ay the meryest on mold marschalit at mete. Than said he lowd vpone loft, the lord of that in, To al the beirnys about, of gre that wes grete: "Lufly ledis in land, lythis me til!" He straik the burd with ane wand, The quilk he held in hand; Thair wes na word muuand, Sa war thai all stil.thair. XCI. "Heir ye ar gaderit in grosse, al the gretest Of gomys that grip has, vndir my gouernyng, Of baronis and burowis, of braid land the best, And alse the meryest on mold has intrometting. Cumly knightis, in this cace I mak you request, Freyndfully, but falsset, or ony fenyeing, That ye wald to me, treuly and traist, Tell your entent, as tuiching this thing That now hingis on my hart, sa haue I gude hele! It tuichis myne honour sa neir, Ye mak me plane ansueir; Thairof I you requeir, I may noght concele. XCII. "Say me ane chois, the tane of thir twa, Quhethir ye like me lord, laught in the feild, Or ellis my life at the lest lelely forga, And boune yow to sum berne, that myght be your beild?" The wourthy wyis at that word wox woundir wa, Than thai wist thair souerane wes schent vnder scheild. "We wil na fauour here fenye to frende nor to fa; We like yow ay as our lord to were and to weild; Your lordschip we may noght forga, alse lang as we leif; Ye sal be our gouernour, Quhil your dais may endure, In eise and honour, For chance that may cheif." XCIII. Quhen this auenand and honest had maid this ansuer, And had tald thair entent trewly him till, Than schir Gologras the gay, in gudly maneir, Said to thai segis, semely on syll, How wourschipful Wavane had wonnin him on weir, To wirk him wandreth or wough, quhilk war his wil; How fair him fell in feght, syne how he couth forbere. "In sight of his souerane, this did the gentill: He has me sauit fra syte throw his gentrice; It war syn, but recure, The knightis honour suld smure, That did me this honoure, Quhilk maist is of price. XCIV. "I aught as prynce him to prise for his prouese, That wanyt noght my wourschip, as he that al wan, And at his bidding full bane, blith to obeise This berne full of bewte, that all my baill blan, I mak that knawin and kend, his grete kyndnes, The countirpas to kyth to him, gif I can." He raikit to schir Gawine, right in ane race, Said: "schir, I knaw be conquest thow art ane kynd man; Quhen my lyfe and my dede wes baith at thi will, Thy frendschip frely I fand; Now wil I be obeyand, And make the manrent with hand, As right is, and skill. XCV. "Sen fortoune cachis the cours, throu hir quentys, I did it noght for nane dreid that I had to de, Na for na fauting of hart, na for na fantise; Quhare Criste cachis the cours, it rynnis quently; May nowthir power nor pith put him to prise. Quhan on-fortone quhelmys the quheil, thair gais grace by; Quha may his danger endure or destanye dispise, That led men in langour ay lestand inly, The date na langar may endure na Drightin deuinis. Ilk man may kyth be his cure, Baith knyght, king and empriour, And muse in his myrrour, And mater maist mine is. XCVI. "Hectour and Alexander, and Julius Cesar, Dauid and Josue, and Judas the gent, Sampsone and Salamon, that wise and wourthy war, And that ryngis on erd, richest of rent; Quhen thai met at the merk, than might thai na mair, To speid thame our the spere-feild enspringing thai sprent; Quhen fortune worthis vnfrende, than failieis welefair, Thair ma na tresour ourtak nor twyn hir entent. All erdly riches and ruse is noght in thair garde; Quhat menis fortoune be skill, Ane gude chance or ane ill, Ilkane be werk and be will Is worth his rewarde. XCVII. "Schir Hallolkis, schir Hewis, heynd and hardy, Schir Lyonel lufly, and alse schir Bedwere, Schir Wawane the wise knight, wicht and wourthy, Carys furth to the king, cumly and clere; Alse my self sall pase with yow reddy, My kyth and my castel compt his conquere." Thai war arait ful raith, that ryale cumpany, Of lordis and ladis, lufsum to lere; With grete lightis on loft, that gaif grete leime; Sexty torcheis ful bright, Before schir Gologras the knight; That wes ane semely syght, In ony riche reime. XCVIII. All effrayt of that fair wes the fresch king; Wend the wyis had bene wroght all for the weir; Lordis laught thair lancis, and went in ane lyng, And graithit thame to the gait, in thair greif geir. Spynok spekis with speche, said: "moue you na thing; It semys saughtnyng thai seik, I se be thair feir; Yone riche cummis arait in riche robbing, I trow this deuore be done, I dout for na deir. I wait schir Gawane the gay has graithit this gait; Betuix schir Gologras and he Gude contenance I se, And vthir knightis so fre, Lufsum of lait." XCIX. The renk raikit to the roy, with his riche rout,riche rent. Sexty schalkis that schene, seymly to schaw; Of banrenttis and baronis bauld hym about, In clathis of cleyne gold, cumly to knaw. To that lordly on loft that lufly can lout, Before the riale renkis, richest on raw; Salust the bauld berne, with ane blith wout, Ane furlenth before his folk, on feildis so faw. The king crochit with croune, cumly and cleir, Tuke him vp by the hand, With ane fair sembland; Grete honour that auenand Did to the deir. C. Than that seymly be sight said to the gent, Wes vailyeand and verteous, foroutin ony vice: "Heir am I cumyn at this tyme to your present, As to the wourschipfullest in warld, wourthy and wise, Of al that ryngis in erd richest of rent, Of pyth and of proues, peirles of prise. Heir I mak yow ane grant, with gudly entent, Ay to your presence to persew, with al my seruice; Quhare euer ye found or fair, be firth or be fell, I sal be reddy at your will, In alkin resoune and skill, As I am haldin thairtill, Treuly to tell." CI. He did the conquerour to knaw all the cause quhy,the conquer. That all his hathillis in that heir, hailly on hight; How he wes wonnyn of wer with Wawane the wy, And al the fortoune the freke befell in the fight; The dout and the danger he tauld him quently. Than said Arthur him seluin, semely by sight: "This is ane soueranefull thing, be Ihesu! think I, To leif in sic perell, and in sa grete plight; Had ony preiudice apperit in the partyce, It had bene grete perell; Bot sen the lawte is lell, That thow my kyndnes wil heill, The mare is thi price. CII. "I thank the mekill, schir knight," said the ryall, "It makis me blythar to be than all thi braid landis, Or all the renttis fra thyne vnto Ronsiwall, Thoght I myght reif thame with right, rath to my handis." Than said the senyeour in syth, semely in saill: "Because of yone bald berne, that broght me of bandis, All that I haue wndir hewyne, I hald of you haill, In firth, forest and fell, quhare euer that it standis. Sen vourschipfull Wawane has wonnyn to your handis The senyory in gouernyng, Cumly conquerour and kyng, Heir mak [I] yow obeising, As liege lord of landis. CIII. "And syne fewte I yow fest, without fenyeing, Sa that the cause may be kend, and knawin throw skill; Blithly bow and obeise to your bidding, As I am haldin, to tell treuly, thair till." Of schir Gologras grant blith wes the king, And thoght the fordward wes fair, freyndschip to fulfil. Thair schir Gawane the gay, throu requiring, Gart the souerane him self, semely on syll,on saill. Cary to the castel, cleirly to behald, With all the wourthy that were, Erll, duke and douch-spere, Baith banrent and bachilere, That blyth war and bald. CIV. Quhen the semely souerane wes set in the saill, It wes selcouth to se the seir seruice; Wynis wisly in wane went full grete waill Amang the pryncis in place, peirles to price. It war teir for to tel, treuly in tail, To ony wy in this warld, wourthy, I wise. With reualing and reuay all the oulk hale, Also rachis can ryn vndir the wod rise, On the riche riuer of Rone ryot thai maid; And syne, on the nynte day, The renkis rial of array Bownyt hame thair way, With outin mare baid. CV. Quhen the ryal roy, maist of renoune, With al his reuerend rout wes reddy to ryde, The king, cumly with kith, wes crochit with croune, To schir Gologras the gay said gudly that tyde: "Heir mak I the reward, as I haue resoune, Before thir senyeouris in sight, semely beside,Before their. As tuiching the temporalite, in toure and in toune, In firth, forest and fell, and woddis so wide; I mak releisching of thin allegiance; But dreid I sall the warand, Baith be sey and be land, Fre as I the first fand, With outin distance."Heir endis the Knightly Tale of Golagros and Gawane, in the south gait of Edinburgh, be Walter Chepman and Androw Millar, the viii. day of Aprile, the yhere of God, M.CCCCC. and viii. yheris.EXPLICIT. HEIR BEGYNNIS THE BUKE OF THE HOWLAT. I. IN the myddis of May, at morne, as I ment, Throwe myrth markit on mold, till a grene meid The bemes blythest of ble fro the son blent,A. bemet. B. The blemis blywe est. That all brichtnyt about the bordouris on breid; With alkyn herbes of air that war in erd lent The feldis flurist, and fret full of fairhed; So soft was the sessoun our Souerane dovne sent, Throw the greable gift of his Godhed, That all was amyable owr the air and the erd. Thus, throw thir cliftis so cleir,the cliftis. Withoutin fallowe or feir,Alone but. I raikit till ane Reveir That ryally apperd.ryallye reird. II. This riche Revir dovn ran, but resting or ruf, Throwe ane forest on fold, that farly was fair; All the brayis of the brym bair branchis abuf,that bryme buir. And birdis blythest of ble on blossomes bair; The land lowne was and le, with lyking and luf, And for to lende by that laike thocht me levar, Becauss that thir hartes in heirdis couth huf,14-20. rimes in B. rove, above, love, hove. Pransand and prunȝeand, be pair and be pair. Thus sat I in solace, sekerly and sure, Content of the fair firth, Mekle mair of the mirth, Als blyth of the birthAls was blyith. That the ground bure. III. The birth that the ground bure was browdin on breidis, With girss gaye as the gold, and granes of grace, Mendis and medicyne for mennis all neidis; Helpe to hert and to hurt, heilfull it was. Under the Cirkill solar thir sauoruss seidis War nurist be dame Natur, that noble mastress; Bot all thar names to nevyn as now it nocht neid is,nedis. It war prolixt and lang, and lenthing of space,prolixit. And I haue mekle matir in metir to gloss Of ane nothir sentence,ane vthir. And waike is my eloquence; Tharfor in haist will I hens To the purposs. IV. Off that purposs in the place, be pryme of the day,in that place. I herd ane petuoss appele, with ane pur mane, Solpit in sorowe, that sadly couth say: "Wa is me, wretche in this warld, wilsome of wane!" With mair murnyng in mynd than I meyne may, Rolpit reuthfully roth in a rude rane.Rowpit rewthfully roth in a roulk rud rane. Of that ferly on fold I fell in affray, Nerar that noyss in nest I nechit in ane;that noyus. I sawe ane Howlat, in haist, vndir ane holyne, Lukand the laike throwe, And saw his awne schadowe, At the quhilk he couth growe, And maid gowlyne.a gowlyng. V. He grat grysly grym, and gaif a gret ȝowle,Hedand and. Cheuerand and chydand with churliche cheir. "Quhy is my far," quoth the fyle, "fassonit so foule,my face. My forme and my fetherem vnfrely, but feir? My neb is netherit as a nok, I am bot ane Owle; Aganis natur in the nicht I walk in to weir;I waik. I dare do nocht on the day, but droupe as a dovle, Nocht for schame of my schape in pert till appeir. Thus all thir fowlis, for my filth, has me at feid, That be I seyne in thar sicht, To luke out on day licht, Sum will me dulfully dicht, Sum dyng me to deid.to my deid. VI. Sum bird will bay at my beike, and some will me byte, Sum skripe me with scorne, sum skrym at myn E;skirp me . . . skyrme. I se be my schadowe my schape has the wyte. Quhom sall I blame in this breth, a bysyn that I be?a besym. Is nane bot dame Natur, I bid nocht to nyte, Till accuss of this caise, in case that I de;A. aguss. B. in this causs. Bot quha sall mak me ane mendis of hir worth a myte,mak me amendis. That thus has maid on the mold ane monstour of me? I will appele to the Pape, and pass till him plane; For happin that his halynace Throw prayer may purchace To reforme my foule face, And than war I fane. VII. "Fayne wald I wyte," quoth the fyle, "or I furth fure, Quha is fader of all foule, pastour and pape; That is the plesant Pacok, preciouss and pure, Constant and kirklyk vnder his cler cape, Myterit, as the maner is, manswet and mure,A. Micht. B. Myterit.and demure. Schroude in his schene weid, schand in his schap,and schand. Sad in his sanctitud, sekerly and sure; I will go to that gud, his grace for to grap." Of that bourde I was blythe and bade to behald The Howlet wylest in wyce,violent of vyce. Raikit vnder the rys, To the Pacoke of pryce, That was Pape cald. VIII. Befor the Pape quhen the pur present him had,that puir. With sic courtassy as he couth, on kneis he fell; Said: "Aue Raby, be the rud I am richt rad For to behald ȝour halyness, or my tale tell; I may nocht suffyss to se ȝour sanctitud sad." The Pape wyslie, I wiss, of worschipe the well, Gaif him his braid benesoun, and baldly him bad That he suld spedely speike and spair nocht to spell.suld specialie. "I come to speir," quoth the spreit, "in to speciall, Quhy I am formed so fowle, Ay to ȝowt and to ȝowle, As ane horrible Owle, Wgsum our all. IX. "I am netherit ane Owll thus be Natur, Lykar a fule than a fowle in figur and face; Bysyn of all birdis that euer body bure,Byssym. Withoutin causs or cryme kend in this case. I haue appelit to ȝour presence, preciouss and pur, Askis helpe in till haist at ȝour halyness,To ask. That ȝe wald cry apon Crist, that all has in cur, To schape me a schand bird in a schort space; And till accuss Natur, this is no nay; Thus, throw ȝour halyness, may ȝe Make a fair foule of me, Or elles dredles I de Or myne end daye." X. "Off thi deid," quoth the Pape, "pite I haife, Bot apon Natur to pleyne, it is perrell;of Nature. I can nocht say sudanelye, so me Crist saif, Bot I sall call my cardinallis and my counsall, Patriarkis and prophetis, of lerit the laif;ourelerit all the lawe. Thay salbe semblit full sone, that thow se sall." He callit on his cubicular within his conclaif, That was the proper Pape Iaye, provde in his apparale;Papingo. Bad send for his secretar, and his sele sone, That was the Turtour trewest, Ferme, faithfull and fast,fest. That bure that office honest, And enterit but hone. XI. The Pape commandit but hone to wryte in all landis, Be the said secretar, that the sele ȝemyt, For all statis of kirk that wnder Crist standis, To semble to his summondis, as it wele semyt. The trewe Turtour has tane with the tythandis, Done dewlie his det, as the deir demyt; Syne belyf send the letteris in to seir landis With the Swallowe so swyft, in speciale expremit The Papis harrald, at poynt in to present, For he is forthwart to fle, And ay will haue entre In hous and in hall hie, To tell his entent. XII. Quhat suld I tell ony mair of thir materis,sall I. Bot thir lordis belyf the letteris has tane,thir lettres. Resauit thaim with reuerence, to reid as efferis; And richely the harraldis rewardit ilkane, Than busk thai but blyn, mony bewschyris, Grathis thaim but grutching that gait for to gane.A. gruthing. Cf. 666. All the statis of the kirk out of steid steris,of kirk. And I sall not ȝow richt now thar names in ane, How thai apperit to the Pape and present thaim aye Fair farrand and fre, In a gudly degre, And manlyke, as thocht me, In myddis of May. XIII. All thus in May, as I ment in a mornyng, Come four Fasandis full fair in the first front, Present tham as patriarkis in thar appering, Benyng of obedience, and blyth in the bront. A college of cardinalis come syne in a lyng, That war Crannis of kynd, gif I richt compt; With red hattis on hed, in haile takynning Off that deir dignite, with worschipe ay wont. Thir ar fowlis of effect, but fellony or feid, Spirituale in all thing, Leile in thar leving, Tharfor in dignite digne, Thay dure to thar deid. XIV. Ȝit endurand the daye to that deir drewe, Swannis suowchand full swyth, swetest of swar,suonchand. In quhyte rocatis arrayd; as I richt knewe That thai war bischopis blist, I was the blythar;blyvare. Stable and steidfast, tender and trewe, Off fewe wordis, full wyss and worthy thai war. Thar was Pyotis and Partrikis and Pluwaris ynewe, As abbotis of all ordouris that honorable ar; The Se Mawis war monkis, the blak and the quhyte, The Goule was a gryntar,garintar. The Suerthbak a sellerar, The Scarth a fische fangar, And that a perfyte. XV. Parfytlye thir Pikmawis, as for priouris, With thar party habitis present tham thar; Heronnis contemplatif, clene charterouris,chertouris. With toppit hudis on hed, and clething of hair,clethis. Ay sorowfull and sad at evin sang and houris,at all houris. Was neuer leid saw thaim lauch, bot drowpand and dar; Alkyn chennonis eik of vther ordouris, All maner of religioun, the less and the mair; Cryand Crawis and Cais, that cravis the corne,that crewis. War pure freris forthward, That, with the leif of the lard, Will cum to the corne ȝard At ewyn and at morn. XVI. Ȝit or ewyn enterit come that bur office,Yit or evin enterit that. Obeyand thir bischoppis, and bydand tham by, Gret Ganeris on ground, in gudly awyss, That war demyt, but dowt, denyss douchty; Thai mak residence raith, and airly will ryss To kepe the college cleine, and the clergye. The Cok in his cleir cape, that crawis and cryiss, Was chosyn chauntour full cheif in the channonry. Thar come the Curlewe a clerk, and that full cunnand,and that a cunand. Chargit as chancillar, For he couth wryte wounder fair, With his neb for mistar, Apon the se sand. XVII. Apon the sand ȝit I sawe, as thesaurer tane, With grene almouss on hed, schir Gawane the Drak; The archedene, that ourman, ay prechand in plane,Arsdene. Correker of kirkmen was clepit the Claik.Correctour. The Martoune, the Murcoke, the Myresnype in ane,Mortoun. Lichtit, as lerit men, law by that laike.as lerit men of law. The Ravyne, rolpand rudly in a roche ran,the lardun. Was dene rurale to reid, rank as a raike; Quhill the lardnir was laid, held he na houss; Bot in wplandis townis, At vicaris and personnis, For the procuraciounis, Cryand full crowss. XVIII. The crovss Capone, a clerk under cleir weidis, Full of cherite, chast and vnchangeable, Was officiale but less that the law leidis In caussis consistoriale, that ar coursable.A. reads causss. The Sparrowe Wenus he wesit for his vyle deidis,vesyit. Lyand in lichory, laith, vnloveable. The Feldifer in the forest, that febilly him feidis, Be ordour ane hospitular was ordanit full able. The Cowschotis war personis in thar apparale. The Dow, Noyis messinger, Rownand aye with his feir, Was a corate to heir Confessionis hale. XIX. Confess cleir can I nocht, nor kyth all the cass, The kynd of thar cummyng, thar companyss eike The maner, nor the multitud, so mony thar was: All Se fowle and Seid fowle was nocht for to seike. Thir ar na fowlis of reif, nor of richness,nor of rethnas. Bot mansweit, but malice, manerit and meike, And all apperit to the Pape, in that ilk place, Salust his sanctitud with spirituale speike. The Pape gaf his benesoun, and blissit thaim all. Quhen thai war rangit on rawis, Of thar come the haile caussOff thair cuming. Was said in to schort sawiss, As ȝe heir sall. XX. The Pape said to the Owle: "Propone thin appele, Thy lamentable langage, as lykis the best."as like. "I am deformed," quoth the fyle, "with faltis full feile,quod the foull. Be Natur netherit ane Owle noyuss in nest, Wreche of all wretchis, fra worschipe and wele." (All this trety has he tald be termess in test.) "It neidis nocht to renewe all myn vnhele, Sen it was menit to ȝour mynd, and maid manifest." Bot to the poynt petuoss he prayit the Pape To call the clergy with cure, And se gif that Nature Mycht reform his figour In a fair schaipe. XXI. Than fairlie the fader thir fowlis he franyt Of thar counsall in this caiss, sen the richt thai knewe,sen thai the rycht knewe. Gif thai the Howlat mycht helpe, that was so hard paynit; And thai weraly awysit, full of wirtewe, The maner, the mater, and how it remanyt;The mater, the maner. The circumstance and the stait all couth thai argewe. Mony allegiance leile, in leid nocht to layne it, Off Arestotill and ald men, scharplie thai schewe; The Prelatis thar apperans proponit generale; Sum said to, and sum fra,and om. Sum nay, and sum ȝa; Baith pro and contra Thus argewe thai all. XXII. Thus argewe thai ernistly wounder oftsyss;wondir of tsiss. Syne samyn forsuth thai assent haile;And syne to the. That sen it nechit Natur, thar alleris mastriss,nychlit. Thai couth nocht trete but entent of the Temperale. Tharfor thai counsall the Pape to writ in this wysson this wiss. To the Athile Empriour, souerane in saile, To adress to that dyet, to deme his awyss, With dukis and with digne lordis, darrest in dale,derrest. Erlles of ancestry, and vtharis ynewe; So that the Spirituale staite,So that Spirituale. And the secular consait, Mycht all gang in a gait, Tender and trewe. XXIII. The trewe Turtour and traist, as I eir tauld,as I heir. Wrait thir letteris at lenth, lelest in leid; Syne throw the Papis precept planly thaim ȝald To the Swallowe so swyft, harrald in hed, To ettill to the empriour, of ancestry auld. He wald nocht spair for to spring on a gud speid: Fand him in Babilonis towr, with bernis so bald, Cruell kingis with crovne, and dukis but dreid. He gaf thir lordis belyve the letteris to luke; Quhilk the riche empriour, And all vthar in the hour, Ressauit with honour, Baith princis and duke. XXIV. Quhen thai consauit had the caiss and the credence, Be the harrald in hall hove thai nocht ellis, Bot bownis out of Babulone with all obediens, Seikis our the salt se, fro the south fellis, Enteriss in Ewrope, fre but offens, Walis wyslie the wayis, be woddis and wellis, Quhill thai approche to the Pape in his presence, At the forsaid trist quhar the trete tellis. Thai fand him in a forest, frely and fair; Thai halsit his halynas; And ȝe sall heir in schort space Quhat worthy lordis thar was, Gif ȝour willis war. XXV. Thar was the Egill so grym, gretest on ground is, Athill empriour our all, most awfull in erd. Ernes ancient of air kingis that crovnd is, Nixt his celsitud forsuth secoundlie apperd;secound. Quhilk in the firmament throuch forss of thar flicht foundis, Perses the sone, with thar sicht selcouth to herd.Percying. Geir Falconnis, that gentilly in bewte haboundis,gentille. War deir dukis, and digne, to deme as efferd. The Falcone, farest on flicht formed on fold,fairest of flycht fermyt. Was ane erll of honour, Marschell to the empriour, Boith in hall and in bowr, Hende to behold. XXVI. Goiss Halkis war governouris of the gret oist, Chosin chiftanis, chevalrus in charge of weris,in chairgis of weiris. Marchonis in the mapamond, and of mychtis most,of mycht. Nixt dukis in dignite, quhom na dreid deris. Spar Halkis, that spedely will compass the cost,Sperk Halkis. War kene knychtis of kynd, clene of maneris, Blyth bodyit and beld, but baret or boist, With eyne celestiale to se, circulit as saphiris.circulit with. The Specht was a pursevant, provde till apper, That raid befor the empriour, In a cot armour Of all kynd of colour, Cumly and cleir. XXVII. He bure cumly to knawe be connysaunce cleirbe conscience. Thre crovnis and a crucifix, all of cler gold;clene gold. The burde with orient perle plantit till apper,plant till appeir. Dicht as a dyademe digne, deir to behold, Circulit on ilk syde with the sapheir,Circlit on ilka syd with a sapheir. The jaspis joynit in gem, and rubyis in rold.jonit the jem. Syne twa keyis our croce, of siluer so cleir, In a feild of asure flammit on fold; The Papis armes at poynt to blason and beir, As feris for a persewant, That will wayage awant,viage avant. Active and awenant, Armes to weir. XXVIII. Syne in a feild of siluer secoundlie he berissecound. Ane Egill ardent of air, that etlis so hie; The memberis of the samyn foull displait as efferis, Ferme formyt on fold, ay set for to fle; All of sable the self, quha the suth leris, The beke bypertit breme of that ilk ble.bypartitit bryme. The Empriour of Almane the armes he weris,tha armes. As signifer souerane; And syne couth I se Thre flour delycis of Fraunce, all of fyne gold, In a feild of asure, The thrid armes in honour The said persevant bure, That bloutit so bold.That blenkit. XXIX. Tharwith lynkit in a lyng, be lerit men approvit, He bure a lyon as lord, of gowlis full gay, Maid maikless of mycht, on mold quhar he movit, Riche rampand as roye, ryke of array;Rycht rampand . . . ryell of. Of pure gold was the ground, quhar the grym hovit, [With dowble tressour about, flourit in fay, And flour delycis on loft, that mony leid lovit,]370-371. taken from B.; wanting in A. Of gowliss sygnit and set, to schawe in assay; Our souerane of Scotland his armes to knawe, Quhilk sall be lord and ledar, Our braid Brettane all quhar, As sanct Mergaretis air, And the signe schawe. XXX. Next the souerane signe was sekirly sene, That seruit his serenite euer seruable, The armes of the Dowglass douchty bedene, Knawin throw all Cristindome be conysance able; Of Scotland the wer wall, wit ȝe but wene, Our fais force to defend, and vnfalȝeable; Baith barmekyn and bar to Scottis blud bene, Our loiss, and our lyking, that lyne honorable. That word is so wonder warme, and euer ȝit was, It synkis sone in all part Of a trewe Scottis hart, Reiosand ws inwart To heir of Dowglass. XXXI. Off the douchty Dowglass to dyte I me dress; Thar armes of ancestry honorable ay, Quhilk oft blythit the Bruse in his distress,in distress. Tharfor he blissit that blud bald in assay. Reid the writ of thar werk, to ȝour witness; Furth on my matir to muse I mufe as I may. The said persevantis gyde was grathit, I gess, Brusit with ane grene tre, gudly and gay, That bure branchis on breid blythest of hewe; On ilk beugh till embrace, Writtin in a bill was, O Dowglass, O Dowglass, Tender and trewe! XXXII. Syne schir schapyn to schawe, mony schene scheld With tuscheis of trast silk tichit to the tre; Ilk branche had the birth burly and beld, Four flurist our all gretest of gre. Ane in the crope hiegh, as cheif I beheld, Quhilk bure in till asure, blythest of ble, Siluer sternis so fair; and part of the feld Was siluer, set with ane hert, heirly and hie, Of gowliss full gracious, that glemyt so gay.full gay. Syne in asure the mold, A lyoun crovnit with gold, Of siluir ȝe se shold To ramp in array. XXXIII. Quhilk cassyn be cognoscence quarterly was, With barris of best gold it brynt as the fyr; And vthir signess, forsuth syndry I gess, Off metallis and colouris in tentfull atyr. It war tyrefull to tell, dyte or address,It were lere for to tell. All thar deir armis in dewlye desyre; Bot part of the principale neuertheless I sall haist me to hewe hartlie but hyre. Thar loiss and thar lordschipe of sa lang dait, That bene cot armouris of eild,cot of armouris. Tharin to harrald I held; Bot sen thai the Bruss beld, I wryt as I wait. XXXIV. In the takinnyng of treuth and constance kend, The colour of asure, ane hevinliche hewe,ane om. For thi to the Dowglas that senȝe was send, As lelest, all Scotland fra scaith to reskewe. The siluer in the samyn half, trewly to tend, Is cleir corage in armes, quha the richt knewe. The bludy hart that thai bere the Bruss at his end, With his estatis in the steid, and nobillis ynewe, Addit in thar armes for honorable causs, As his tenderest and deir, In his maist misteir; As salbe said to yow heirA. thow. In to schort sawis. XXXV. The roye Robert the Bruss the rayke he awowit, With all the hart that he had, to the haily graif; Syne quhen the dait of his deid derfly him dowit, With lordis of Scotland, lerit, and the laif, As worthy, wysest to waile, in worschipe allowit, To James lord Dowglas thow the gre gaif,thay the gre. To ga with the kingis hart; thairwith he nocht growit, Bot said to his souerane: "So me God saif! Ȝour gret giftis and grant ay graciouss I fand; Bot now it movis all ther maist, That ȝour hart nobillast To me is closit and cast, Throw ȝour command. XXXVI. "I loue ȝou mair for that loiss ȝe lippyn me till, Than ony lordschipe or land, so me our Lord leid! I sall waynd for no wye to wirk as ȝe will, At wiss, gif my werd wald, with ȝou to the deid" Thar with he lowtit full lawe; tham lykit full ill, Baith lordis and ladyis, that stude in the steid. Off commoun nature the courss be kynd to fulfill, The gud king gaif the gaist to God for to reid; In Cardross that crownit closit his end. Now God for his gret grace, Set his saull in solace! And we will speike of Dowglace, Quhat way he couth wend. XXXVII. The hert costlye he couth clos in a cler cace, And held all hale the behest he hecht to the king: Come to the haly graf, throw Goddis gret grace, With offerandis and vrisons, and all uthar thing; Our Saluatouris sepultur, and the samyn place, Quhar he raiss, as we reid, richtuiss to ryng; With all the relykis raith, that in that rovme was, He gart hallowe the hart, and syne couth it hyng, About his hals full hende, and on his awne hart. Oft wald he kiss it, and cry: "O flour of all chewalry!of cheuelry. Quhy leif I, allace! quhy? And thow deid art! XXXVIII. "My deir," quoth the Dowglass, "art thow deid dicht!to deid dicht. My singuler souerane, of Saxonis the wand! Now bot I semble for thi saull with Saraȝenis mycht,thy sawlis. Sall I never sene be into Scotland!" Thus in defence of the faith he fure to the fecht, With knychtis of Christindome to kepe his command. And quhen the batallis so brym, brathly and bricht,and blicht. War joyned thraly in thrang, mony thousand, Amang the hethin men the hert hardely he slang, Said: "Wend on as thou was wont, Throw the batell in bront, Ay formast in the front, Thy fays amang. XXXIX. "And I sall followe the in faith, or feye to be fellit;or with fayis be fellit. As thi lege man leile, my lyking thow art." Thar with on Mahownis men manly he mellit, Braid throw the battallis in bront, and bur thaim backwart. The wyis quhar the wicht went war in wa wellit; Was nane so stur in the steid micht stand him a start. Thus frayis he the falss folk, trewly to tell it, Aye quhil he cowerit and come to the kingis hart. Thus feile feildis he wan, aye worschipand it. Throwout Cristindome kid War the deidis that he did;that om. Till on a time it betid, As tellis the writ. XL. He bownyt till a batall, and the beld wan, Our set all the sathanas syde Saraȝenis mycht;Oursett on the. Syne followit fast on the chace, quhen thai fle can; Full ferly feile has he feld, and slane in the flicht.fellit, and slane in ficht. As he relevit, I wiss, so was he war thanAs he releuit was. Of ane wy him allane, worthy and wicht,Off a wycht. Circulit with Saraȝenis, mony sad man,mony a sad man. That tranoyntit with a trayne apon that trewe knycht. "Thow sall nocht de the allane," quoth the Dowglass; "Sen I se the our set, To fecht for the faith fete,fett. I sal devoid the of det, Or de in the place." XLI. He ruschit in the gret rowte, the knycht to reskewe; Feile of the fals folk, that fled of befor, Relevit in on thir twa, for to tell trewe, That thai war samyn ourset; tharfor I murn sore.war be the samyn. Thus in defence of the faith, as fermes ynewe,anew. And pite of the pryss knycht that was in thore,of the pretius knicht that wes in pane thore. The douchty Dowglass is deid and adewe,deid doun adew. With loss and with lyking, that lestis evir mor. His hardy men tuke the hart syne vpon hand; Quhen thai had beryit thar lord, With mekle mane to remord, Thai maid it hame be restord In to Scotland. XLII. Be this ressoun we reid, and as our Roy levit, The Dowglass in armes the bludy hart beris; For it bled he his blud, as the bill brevit, And in batallis full braid, vnder baneris, Throw full chevalruss chance he this hert chevit, Fra walit wyis, and wicht, worthy in weris; Mony galiard gome was on the ground levit,grome. Quhen he it slang in the feld, felloun of feris, Syne reskewand it agane the hethin mennis harmes.it om. This hert, red to behald, Throw thir ressonis ald, The bludy hart it is cald In Dowglass armes. XLIII. The sternis of ane nothir strynd steris so fair, Ane callit Murray, the riche lord of renovnis, Deit, and a douchter had till his deir air, Off all his tressour vntald, towris and townis:A. tressoun. The Dowglass in thai dayis, douchty all quhar, Archebald the honorable in habitaciounis, Weddit that wlonk wicht, worthy of ware, With rent and with richess; and be thai ressonis He bure the sternis of estait in his stele weidis; Blyth, blomand, and bricht, Throw the Murrayis micht; And sa throw Goddis forsicht The Dowglass succedis. XLIV. The lyon lansand on loft, lord in effeir, For gud causs, as I gess, is of Gallaway. Quhen they rebellit the crovne, and couth the kyng deir,and caus the king dere. He gaif it to the Dowglass, heretable ay, On this wyss gif he couth wyn it on weir;of were. Quhilk for his souerane saike he set till assay;soueranis. Kelit dovne thar capitanis, and couth it conquir;his capitanis. Maid it firme, as we fynd, till our Scottis fay. Tharfor the lyoun he bure, with loving and loiss, Of siluer semely and sure, In a field of asure, Crovnit with gold pure To the purposs. XLV. The forest of Ettrik, and vthair ynewe, The landis of Lawdir, and lordschipis sere, With dynt of his derf swerd, the Dowglass so dewe Wan wichtly of weir, wit ȝe but weir, Fra sonnis of the Saxonis. Now gif I sall scheweI sall sewe. The order of thar armis, it war to tell teir; The barris of best gold, thocht I thaim hale knewe, It suld ws occupy all day; tharfor I end heir,occupy ws all; day om. Referris me to harraldis, to tell ȝow the hale.Refferring. Of other scheldis so schene Sum part will I mene, That war on the tre grene, Worthy to vale. XLVI. Secund syne, in a feld of siluer certane, Of a kynde colour thre coddis I kend, With dowble tressur about, burely and bane, And flour delycis so fair, trewe till attend,trewly to tend. The tane and the tother of gowlis full gane. He bure quarterly, maid that nane micht amend,maid om. The armes of the Dowglass, thairof was I fayne, Quhilk oft fandit with force, his fa till offend;fayand with forss; wes fayn has been written above fay|and. Of honorable ancestry thir armis of eld Bure the erll of Murray, As sad signe of assay, His fell fais till affray, In a fair feild. XLVII. Ane nothir, erll of Ormond, also he bure The said Dowglass armis, with a differens; And richt so did the ferd, quhar he furth fure, Ȝaipe, thocht he ȝong was, to faynd his offens. It semyt that thai sib war, forsuth I assure. Thir four scheldis of pryce in to presence War chenȝeit so cheualrus, that no creaturWer changit. Of lokis nor lynx mycht louss worth a lence. Syne ilk braunche and beugh bowit thaim till; And ilk scheld in that place Thar tennend or man was, Or ellis thar allyas, At thar awin will. XLVIII. All thir hieast in the crope four helmes full fair,Als hiest. And in thar tymeralis tryid trewly thai beretynnerallis tryd. The plesand Povne in a part, provde to repair;Powin in aport. And als kepit ilk armes that I said eir, The rouch Wodwyss wyld, that bastounis bare,that bustounis. Our growin grysly and growe grym in effeir;growe om. Mair awfull in all thing saw I never airair om. Baith to walk and to ward, as watchis in weir.as wechis. That terrible felloun my spreit affrayd, So ferd full of fantasy,Sa ferdfull. I durst nocht kyth to copy All other armes thar by, Of renkis arayd. XLIX. Tharfor of the said tre I tell nocht the teynd, The birth and the branchis, that blomyt so brayd; Quhat fele armes on loft, louely to lend, Of lordingis and sere landis, gudly and glad,in seir landis. The said persewant bure, quhar he away wend, On his garment so gay, of ane hie haid, I leif thaim blasonde to be with harraldis hende; And I will to my first mater, as I eir maid,first om. And begyn, quhar I left, at lordingis deir, The court of the Empriour, How thai come in honour, Thir fowlis of rigour, With a gret reir. L. Than rerit thir Merlȝeonis that mountis so hie, Furth borne bacheleris bald on the bordouris; Busardis and Beldkytis, as it mycht be, Soldiouris and sumptermen to thai senȝeouris.subiect men. The Pitill and the Pype Gled cryand pewewe,cryand pewe. Befor thir princis ay past, as pert purviouris,as pairt of purveyouris. For thai couth chewiss chikinnis, and perchess pultre, To cleke fra the commonis, as kyngis caytouris; Syne hufe, hover and behald the herbery place. Robyn Redbrest nocht ran, Bot raid as a hensman; And the litill we Wran, That wretchit dorche was. LI. Thar was the haraldis fa, the hobby but fable, Stanchalis, steropis, strecht to thai stern lordis,to thair sterne. With alkyn officeris in erd, awenand and able; So mekle was the multitud no mynd it remordis. Thus assemblit thir segis, syris senȝeourable, All that war fowlis of reif, the richt quha recordis,quha richtly recordis. For the Temperalite tretit in table. The stern Empriouris style thus staitly restord is, The Pape and the patriarkis, prelatis, I wist,the prelattis. Welcummit thaim wynly, but weir,wysalie. With haly sermonis seir, Pardoun, and prayer, And blythly tham blist. LII. The blissit Pape in the place prayit tham ilkane To remayne to the meit at the mydday; And thai grantit that gud, but grutching, to gane. Than till a wortheliche wane went thai thar way; Past till a palace of pryce plesand allane, Was erekit rially, ryke of array, Pantit and apparalit proudly in pane, Sylit semely with silk, suthly to say. Braid burdis and benkis, ourbeld with bancouris of gold, Cled our with clene clathis, Railit full of richass, The esiast was arrassThe esiest wes the arress. That ȝe se schold. LIII. All thus thai mufe to the meit, and the merschale Gart bring watter to wesche, of a well cleir: That was the Falcoune so fair, frely but fale, Bad birnis burdis vp braid, with a blyth cheir.vpbred. The Pape passit till his place in his pontificale, The athill Empriour anone nechit him neir. Kyngis and patriarkis kend, with cardinalis hale,cardynnallis all. Addressit thaim to that deiss, and dukis so deir. Bischopis bovnis to the burd, and merschionis of mychtis, Erllis of honouris, Abbotis of ordouris, Prowestis and priouris, And mony kene knychtis. LIV. Denys and digniteis, as I eir demyt,as are demit. Scutiferis and sqwyeris, and bachilleris blyth, I press nocht all to report; ȝe hard thaim expremit; Bot all war merschallit to meit meikly and myth; Syne seruit semely in saile, forsuth as it semyt, With all curis of cost that cukis couth kyth. In flesche tyme, quhen the fische war away flemyt, Quha was stewart bot the Stork, stallwart and styth; Syne all the lentryne but leiss, and the lang reid, And alss in the adwent, The Soland stewart was sent; For he couth fro the firmament Fang the fische deid. LV. The Boytour callit was cuke, that him weile kend In craftis of the ketchyne, costlyk of curis; Many sawouris salss with sewaris he send, And confectionis on force that phisik furth furis.of forss. Mony man metis, gif I suld mak end,I sall. It neidis nocht to renewe all thar naturis; Quhar sic statis will steir, thar stylis till ostend,thair styll. Ȝe wait all worschip and welth dayly induris.all welth and wirschip. Syne, at the myddis of the meit, in come the menstralis, The Maviss and the Merle syngis, Osillis and Stirlingis, The blyth Lark that begynnis, And the Nychtgalis. LVI. And thar notis anone, gif I richt newyne,notis in ane. War of Mary the myld, this maner I wiss: "Haile temple of the Trinite, crovnit in hevin! Haile moder of our maker, and medicyn of myss! Haile succour and salf for the synnis sevyne! Haile bute of our baret, and beld of our bliss! Haile grane full of grace that growis so ewyn! Ferme our seid to the set quhar thi son is. Haile lady of all ladyis, lichtest of leme! Haile chalmer of chastite! Haile charbunkle of cherite! Haile! blissit mot thow be For thi barne teme! LVII. "Haile blist throw the bodword of blyth Angellis! Haile princes that completis all prophecis pur! Haile blythar of the Baptist, within thi bowallis, Off Eliȝebeth thi ant, aganis natur! Haile speciose, most specifyit with the spiritualis! Haile ordanit or Adam, and ay till indur! Haile our hope and our helpe, quhen that harme alis! Haile alterar of Eua in ane but vre!altare. Haile well of our weilfair! we wait nocht of ellis; Bot all committis to the, Saull and lyf, ladye! Now for thi frute make ws fre Fro fendis that fell is. LVIII. "Fro thi gre to this ground lat thi grace glyde! As thow art grantar tharof, and the gevar; Now souerane quhar thow sittis, be thi sonis syd, Send sum succour dovne sone to the synnir! The fende is our felloune fa, in the we confide, Thow moder of all mercy, and the menar. For ws, wappit in wo in this warld wyde, To thi son mak thi mane, and thi maker. Now, lady, luke to the leid that the so leile lufis, Thow seker trone of Salamon, Thow worthy wand of Aaron, Thow joyuss fleiss of Gedion, Ws help the behufis." LIX. All thus our lady thai lovit, with lyking and lyst,thai lofe. Menstralis and musicianis, mo than I mene may. The psaltery, the sytholis, the soft sytharist, The crovde, and the monycordis, the gittyrnis gay; The rote, and the recordour, the rivupe, the rist, The trumpe, and the talburn, the tympane but tray; The lilt pype, and the lute, the fydill in fist,cithill. The dulset, the dulsacordis, the schalme of assay; The amyable organis vsit full oft; Claryonis lowde knellis, Portatiuis, and bellis, Cymbaclanis in the cellis,A. Cymbaclauis? That soundis so soft. LX. Quhen thai had songyn and said, softly and schour,softly a schoure. And playit, as of paradyss it a poynt war, In com japand the Ia, as a juglour, With castis and with cawtelis, a quaynt caryar. He gart thaim se, as it semyt, in the samyn hour, Hunting at herdis in holtis so hair; Sound saland on the se schippis of towr; Bernes batalland on burde, brym as a bair; He couth cary the cowpe of the kingis dess, Syne leve in the sted Bot a blak bunwed; He couth of a hennis hed Make a mane mess. LXI. He gart the Empriour trowe, and trewly behald, That the Corn Crake, the pundar at hand, Had pyndit all his pryss horss in a pundfald, For causs thai ete of the corne in the kirkland.Becaus. He couth werk wounderis quhat way that he wald: Mak of a gray guss a gold garland; A lang sper of a betill for a berne bald; Nobillis of nut schellis, and siluer of sand. Thus jowkit with juperdyss the jangland Ia: Fair ladyis in ryngis, Knychtis in caralyngis, Boith dansis and syngis; It semyt as sa. LXII. Sa come the Ruke with a rerd and a rane roch, A bard owt of Irland with Banachadee! Said: "Gluntow guk dynyd dach hala mischy doch;dyny drach. Raike hir a rug of the rost, or scho sall ryiue the. Mich macmory ach mach mometir moch loch; Set hir dovne, gif hir drink; quhat Dele aylis the?"A. alis she. O Deremyne, O Donnall, O Dochardy droch; Thir ar his Irland kingis of the Irischerye:the Irland. O Knewlyn, O Conochor, O Gregre Makgrane; The Schenachy, the Clarschach,Chenachy. The Ben schene, the Ballach,Beneschene. The Crekery, the Corach, Scho kennis thaim ilkane. LXIII. Mony lesingis he maid; wald let for no man To speik quhill he spokin had, sparit no thingis. The dene rurale, the Ravyn, reprovit him than, Bad him his lesingis leif befor thai lordingis. The barde worth brane wod, and bitterly couth ban; "How Corby messinger," quoth he, "with sorowe now syngis; Thow ischit out of Noyes ark, and to the erd wan, Taryit as a tratour, and brocht na tythingis.as tratour. I sall ryiue the, Ravyne, baith guttis and gall." The dene rurale worthit reid,worth rede. Stawe for schame of the steid; The barde held a grete pleid In the hie hall. LXIV. In come twa flyrand fulis with a fonde fair, The Tuchet and the gukkit Golk, and ȝeid hiddy giddy; Ruschit baith to the bard, and ruggit his hair; Callit him thryss thevisnek, to thrawe in a widdy. Thai fylit [him] fra the fortope to the fut thar.A. him om. The barde, smaddit lyke a smaik smorit in a smedy, Ran fast to the dure, and gaif a gret rair; Socht wattir to wesche him thar out in ane ydy. The lordis leuch apon loft, and lyking thai had That the barde was so bet; The fulis fonde in the flet, And mony mowis at mete On the flure maid. LXV. Syne for ane figonale of frut thai straif in the steid; The Tuchet gird to the Golk, and gaif him a fall, Raif his taile fra his rig, with a rath pleid; The Golk gat wpe agane in the gret hall, Tit the Tuchet be the tope, ourtirvit his hed, Flang him flat in the fyre, fetheris and all. He cryid: "Allace," with ane rair, "revyn is my reid! I am vngraciously gorrit, baith guttis and gall!" Ȝit he lap fra the lowe richt in a lyne.lycht in lyne. Quhen thai had remelis raucht, Thai forthocht that thai faucht, Kissit samyn and saucht;Kissit syne. And sat dovne syne. LXVI. All thus thir hathillis in hall heirly remanit, With all welthis at wiss, and worschipe to vale. The Pape begynnis the grace, as greably ganit,to grace. Wosche with thir worthyis, and went to counsall. The pure Howlatis appele completly was planyt, His falt and his foule forme, vnfrely but faile: For the quhilk thir lordis, in leid nocht to layne it, He besocht of sucour, as souerane in saile, That thai wald pray Natur his prent to renewe;present. For it was haile his behest, At thar alleris request, Mycht dame Natur arrest Of him for to rewe. LXVII. Than rewit thir riallis of that rath mane, Baith Spirituale and Temperale, that kend the case; And, considerand the causs, concludit in ane That thai wald Natur beseike, of hir gret grace, To discend that samyn hour as thar souerane, At thar allaris instance, in that ilk place. The Pape and the patriarkis, the prelatis ilkane, Thus pray thai as penitentis, and all that thar was.penitent. Quhar throw dame Natur the trast discendit that tyde, At thar haile instance; Quhom thai ressaif with reuerens, And bowsome obeysance, As Goddess and gyde. LXVIII. "It nedis nocht," quoth Natur, "to renewe oucht Of ȝour entent in this tyde, or forthir to tell; I wait ȝour will, and quhat way ȝe wald that I wrocht To reforme the Howlat, of faltis full fell.A. Howlot. B. to reasoun. It sall be done as ȝe deme, dreid ȝe richt nocht: I consent in this caise to ȝour counsall, Sen my self for ȝour saike hiddir has socht, Ȝe sall be specialy sped, or ȝe mayr spell.or I mair. Now ilka foull of the firth a fedder sall ta, And len the Howlat, sen ȝe Off him haue sic pete;hes pitie. And I sall gar thaim samyn be To growe or I ga." LXIX. Than ilk foule of his flicht a fedder has tane, And lent to the Howlat in hast, hartlie but hone.to om. Dame Natur the nobillest nechit in ane, For to ferme this federem, and dewly has done; Gart it ground and growe gayly agane,gaylye and gane. On the samyn Howlat, semely and sone. Than was he schand of his schape, and his schroude schane Off alkyn colour most cleir beldit abone,Of all coloure. The farest foule of the firth, and hendest of hewes; So clene and so colourlyke,colourike. That no bird was him lyke, Fro Burone to Berwike,Fro Byron. Wnder the bewes. LXX. Thus was the Howlat in herde herely at hicht, Flour of all fowlis, throw fedderis so fair, He lukit to his lykame that lemyt so licht,that om. So propir plesand of prent, provde to repar: He thocht him maid on the mold makless of mycht,him om. As souerane him awne self, throw bewte he bair, Counterpalace to the Pape, our princis, I plicht;with the Pape. So hiely he hyit him in Luciferis lair, That all the fowlis of the firth he defowlit syne. Thus leit he no man his peir; Gif ony nech wald him neir, He bad tham rebaldis orere, With a ruyne. LXXI. "The pape and the patriarkis, and princis of prow, I am cummyn of thar kyn, be cosingage knawin;of thair blud. So fair is my fetherem I haf no falowe; My schrowde and my schene weid schir to be schawin." All birdis he rebalkit, that wald him nocht bowe, In breth as a batall-wricht full of bost blawin, With vnloveable latis nocht till allow.unlowable. Thus wycit he the walentyne thraly and thrawin,viciit he the Valan|tene. That all the fowlis with assent assemblit agane, And plenȝeit to Natur Of this intollerable injur; How the Howlat him bure So hie and so haltane. LXXII. So pomposs, impertinat, and reprovable,impertinax. In excess our arrogant, thir birdis ilkane Besocht Natur to cess that vnsufferable. Thar with that lady a lyte leuch hir allane:That with that lady allyt. "My first making," quoth scho, "was vnamendable, Thocht I alterit, as ȝe all askit in ane; Ȝit sall I preif ȝow to pleiss, sen it is possible." Scho callit the Howlat in haist, that was so haltane: "Thy pryde," quod the Princes, "approchis our hie Lyke Lucifer in estaite; And sen thow art so elate, As the Ewangelist wrait, Thow sall lawe be. LXXIII. "The rent, and the ritchess, that thow in rang, Was of othir mennis all, and nocht of thi awne; Now ilk fowle his awne fedder sall agane fang, And mak the catif of kynd, till him self knawin."to thy self knawin. As scho has demyt thai haf done, thraly in thrang. Thar with dame Natur has to the hevin drawin, Ascendit sone, in my sicht, with solace and sang. And ilk fowle tuke the flicht, schortly to schawin,and schortly. Held hame to thar hant, and thar herbery, Quhar thai war wont to remane; All thir gudly ar gane,gudly and gane. And thar levit allane The Howlat and I. LXXIV. Than this Howlat hidowis of hair and of hyde, Put first fro poverte to pryce, and princis awne per, Syne degradit fra grace, for his gret pryde, Bannyt bitterly his birth bailefull in beir.belfully. He welterit, he wrythit, he waryit the tyde, That he was wrocht in this warld wofull in weir; He crepillit, he crengit, he carfully cryd, He solpit, he sorowit, in sighingis seir. He said, "Allace! I am lost, lathest of all, Bysyn in baile beft,Bysym. I may be sampill heir eft, That pryde neuer ȝit leftyit neuir. His feir but a fall. LXXV. "I couth nocht won in to welth wretch wast,wrech wayest. I was so wantoun of will, my werdis ar wan;in will. Thus for my hicht I am hurt, and harmit in haist, Cairfull and caytif for craft that I can. Quhen I was hewit as heir all thir hieast,I wes of hevit as heir all thill hiest. Fra rule, ressoun and richt redless I ran; Tharfor I ly in the lyme, lympit, lathast:in the lymb lympet the lathaist. Now mark ȝour mirour be me, all maner of man,mek your mirrour. Ȝe princis, prentis of pryde for penneis and prowe,prelettis of pryd. That pullis the pure ay, Ȝe sall syng as I say, All ȝour welth will away, Thus I warn ȝow. LXXVI. "Think how bair thow was borne, and bair ay will be, For oucht that sedis of thi self in ony sessoun; Thy cude, thy claithis, nor thi cost, cummis nocht of the,nor om. Bot of the frute of the erd, and Godis fusoun. Quhen ilk thing has the awne, suthly we se, Thy nakit corss bot of clay, a foule carioun, Hatit and hawless; quhar of art thow hie?hafles. We cum pure, we gang pure, baith king and commoun. Bot thow reule the richtuiss, thi rovme sall orere." Thus said the Howlat on hicht; Now God, for his gret micht,thy grit micht. Set our sawlis in sicht Of sanctis so sere! LXXVII. Thus for ane Dow of Dunbar drew I this Dyte, Dowit with ane Dowglass, and boith war thai dowis; In the forest forsaid, frely parfyte, Of Terneway, tendir and tryde, quho so trast trowis.Of Terway. War my wit as my will, than suld I wele wryte; Bot gif I lak in my leid, that nocht till allow is,gif lak. Ȝe wyse, for ȝour worschipe, wryth me no wyte. Now blyth ws the blist barne, that all berne bowis; He len ws lyking and lyf euerlestand! In mirthfull moneth of May, In myddis of Murraye, Thus on a tyme be Ternway,Thus in. Happinnit Holland. Heir endis THE BUKE OF THE HOWLAT.'Scriptum' Per 'manum' M. Joannis Asloan. ¶ HEIR BEGINNIS THE TAILL OF RAUF COILȜEAR HOW HE HAR|BREIT KING CHARLIS. I. In the cheiftyme of Charlis, that chosin chiftane, Thair fell ane ferlyfull flan within thay fellis wyde, Quhair Empreouris and Erlis, and vther monyane, Turnit fra Sanct Thomas befoir the ȝule tyde. Thay past vnto Paris, thay proudest in pane, With mony Prelatis and Princis, that was of mekle pryde; All thay went with the King to his worthy wane; Ouir the feildis sa fair thay fure be his syde; All the worthiest went in the morning, Baith Dukis, and Duchepeiris, Barrounis, and Bacheleiris, Mony stout man steiris Of town with the King. II. ¶ And as that Ryall raid ouir the rude mure, Him betyde ane tempest that tyme, hard I tell; The wind blew out of the Eist stiflie and sture, The deip durandlie draif in mony deip dell; Sa feirslie fra the Firmament, sa fellounlie it fure, Thair micht na folk hald na fute on the heich fell. In point thay war to parische, thay proudest men and pure, In thay wickit wedderis thair wist nane to dwell. Amang thay myrk Montanis sa madlie thay mer, Be it was pryme of the day, Sa wonder hard fure thay That ilk ane tuik ane seir way, And sperpellit full fer. III. ☞ Ithand wedderis of the eist draif on sa fast, It all to-blaisterit and blew that thairin baid. Be thay disseuerit sindrie, midmorne was past; Thair wist na Knicht of the Court quhat way the King raid. He saw thair was na better bot God at the last, His steid aganis the storme staluartlie straid; He Cachit fra the Court, sic was his awin cast, Quhair na body was him about be fiue mylis braid. In thay Montanis, I-wis, he wox all will, In wickit wedderis and wicht, Amang thay Montanis on hicht; Be that it drew to the nicht, The King lykit ill. IV. Euill lykand was the King it nichtit him sa lait, And he na harberie had for his behufe; Sa come thair ane cant Carll chachand the gait, With ane Capill and twa Creillis cuplit abufe. The King carpit to the Carll withoutin debait: "Schir, tell me thy richt name, for the Rude lufe?" He sayis: "Men callis me Rauf Coilȝear, as I weill wait; I leid my life in this land with mekle vnrufe, Baith tyde and tyme in all my trauale; Hine ouir seuin mylis I dwell, And leidis Coilis to sell; Sen thow speiris, I the tell All the suith hale." V. ¶ "Sa mot I thrife," said the King, "I speir for nane ill; Thow semis ane nobill fallow, thy answer is sa fyne." "Forsuith," said the Coilȝear, "traist quhen thow will, For I trow and it be nocht swa, sum part salbe thyne." "Mary, God forbid," said the King, "that war bot lytill skill; Baith my self and my hors is reddy for to tyne; I pray the, bring me to sum rest, the wedder is sa schill, For I defend that we fall in ony fechtine; I had mekill mair nait sum freindschip to find: And gif thow can better than I, For the name of Sanct July, Thow bring me to sum harbery, And leif me not behind." VI. "I wait na worthie harberie heir neir hand, For to serue sic ane man as me think the, Nane bot mine awin hous, maist in this land, Fer furth in the Forest, amang the fellis hie. With thy thow wald be payit of sic as thow fand, Forsuith thow suld be wel-cum to pas hame with me, Or ony vther gude fallow that I heir fand Walkand will of his way, as me think the; For the wedderis are sa fell, that fallis on the feild."fa fell. The King was blyth, quhair he raid, Of the grant that he had maid, Sayand with hart glaid: "Schir, God ȝow forȝeild." VII. "Na, thank me not ouir airlie, for dreid that we threip, For I haue seruit the ȝit of lytill thing to ruse; For nouther hes thow had of me fyre, drink, nor meit, Nor nane vther eismentis for trauellouris behuse; Bot, micht we bring this harberie this nicht weill to heip, That we micht with ressoun baith thus excuse; To-morne on the morning, quhen thow sall on leip, Pryse at the parting, how that thow dois; For first to lofe and syne to lak, Peter! it is schame." The King said: "In gude fay, Schir, it is suith that ȝe say." Into sic talk fell thay Quhill thay war neir hame. VIII. ¶ To the Coilȝearis hous baith, or thay wald blin, The Carll had Cunning weill quhair the gait lay;Cunniug. "Vndo the dure beliue! Dame, art thow in? Quhy Deuill makis thow na dule for this euill day? For my Gaist and I baith cheueris with the chin, Sa fell ane wedder feld I neuer, be my gude fay." The gude wyfe glaid with the gle to begin, For durst scho neuer sit summoundis that scho hard him say: The Carll was wantoun of word, and wox wonder wraith. All abaisit for blame, To the dure went our Dame, Scho said: "Schir, ȝe ar welcome hame, And ȝour Gaist baith." IX. ¶ "Dame, I haue deir coft all this dayis hyre, In wickit wedderis and weit walkand full will; Dame, kyith I am cummin hame, and kendill on ane fire, I trow our Gaist be the gait hes farne als ill. Ane Ryall rufe het fyre war my desyre, To fair the better for his saik, gif we micht win thair till; Knap doun Capounis of the best, but in the byre, Heir is bot hamelie fair, do beliue, Gill." Twa cant knaifis of his awin haistelie he bad: "The ane of ȝow my Capill ta, The vther his Coursour alswa, To the stabill swyith ȝe ga." Than was the King glaid. X. ☞ The Coilȝear, gudlie in feir, tuke him be the hand, And put him befoir him, as ressoun had bene; Quhen thay come to the dure, the King begouth to stand, To put the Coilȝear in befoir, maid him to mene. He said: "Thow art vncourtes, that sall I warrand." He tyt the King be the nek, twa part in tene; "Gif thow at bidding suld be boun or obeysand, And gif thow of Courtasie couth, thow hes forȝet it clene; Now is anis," said the Coilȝear, "kynd aucht to creip, Sen ellis thow art vnknawin, To mak me Lord of my awin; Sa mot I thriue, I am thrawin, Begin we to threip." XI. Than benwart thay ȝeid, quhair brandis was bricht, To ane bricht byrnand fyre as the Carll bad; He callit on Gyliane, his wyfe, thair Supper to dicht. "Of the best that thair is, help that we had, . . . . . Efter ane euill day to haue ane mirrie nicht, For sa troublit with stormis was I neuer stad; Of ilk airt of the Eist sa laithly it laid, Ȝit was I mekle willar than, Quhen I met with this man." Of sic taillis thay began, Quhill the supper was graid. XII. ¶ Sone was the Supper dicht, and the fyre bet, And thay had weschin, I wis, the worthiest was thair: "Tak my wyfe be the hand, in feir, withoutin let, And gang begin the buird," said the Coilȝear. "That war vnsemand, forsuith, and thy self vnset;" The King profferit him to gang, and maid ane strange fair. "Now is twyse," said the Carll, "me think thow hes forȝet." He leit gyrd to the King, withoutin ony mair, And hit him vnder the eir with his richt hand, Quhill he stakkerit thair with all Half the breid of the hall; He faind neuer of ane fall, Quhill he the eird fand. XIII. ¶ He start vp stoutly agane, vneis micht he stand, For anger of that outray that he had thair tane. He callit on Gyliane his wyfe: "Ga, tak him be the hand, And gang agane to the buird, quhair ȝe suld air haue gane." "Schir, thow art vnskilfull, and that sall I warrand, Thow byrd to haue nurtour aneuch, and thow hes nane; Thow hes walkit, I wis, in mony wyld land, The mair vertew thow suld haue, to keip the fra blame; Thow suld be courtes of kynd, and ane cunnand Courteir. Thocht that I simpill be, Do as I bid the, The hous is myne, pardie, And all that is heir." XIV. ☞ The King said to him self: "This is an euill lyfe, Ȝit was I neuer in my lyfe thus gait leird; And I haue oft tymes bene quhair gude hes bene ryfe, That maist couth of courtasie in this Cristin eird. Is nane sa gude as leif of, and mak na mair stryfe, For I am stonischit at this straik, that hes me thus steird." In feir fairlie he foundis, with the gude wyfe, Quhair the Coilȝear bad, sa braithlie he beird. Quhen he had done his bidding, as him gude thocht, Doun he sat the King neir, And maid him glaid and gude cheir, And said: "Ȝe ar welcum heir, Be him that me bocht." XV. ¶ Quhen thay war seruit and set to the Suppar, Gyll and the gentill King, Charlis of micht, Syne on the tother syde sat the Coilȝear: Thus war thay marschellit but mair, and matchit that nicht. Thay brocht breid to the buird, and braun of ane bair, And the worthyest wyne went vpon hicht; Thay Beirnis, as I wene, thay had aneuch thair, Within that burelie bigging, byrnand full bricht; Syne enteris thair daynteis on deis dicht dayntelie. Within that worthie wane Forsuith wantit thay nane. With blyith cheir sayis Gyliane: "Schir, dois glaidlie." XVI. ☞ The Carll carpit to the King cumlie and cleir: "Schir, the Forestaris, forsuith, of this Forest, Thay haue me all at Inuy for dreid of the Deir; Thay threip that I thring doun of the fattest; Thay say, I sall to Paris, thair to compeir Befoir our cumlie King, in dule to be drest; Sic manassing thay me mak, forsuith, ilk ȝeir, And ȝit aneuch sall I haue for me and ane Gest; Thairfoir sic as thow seis, spend on, and not spair." Thus said gentill Charlis the Mane To the Coilȝear agane: "The King him self hes bene fane Sum tyme of sic fair." XVII. ¶ Of Capounis and Cunningis thay had plentie, With wyne at thair will, and eik Vennysoun; Byrdis bakin in breid, the best that may be; Thus full freschlie thay fure into fusioun. The Carll with ane cleir voce carpit on he, Said: "Gyll, lat the cop raik for my bennysoun; And gar our Gaist begin, and syne drink thow to me; Sen he is ane stranger, me think it ressoun." Thay drank dreichlie about, thay wosche, and thay rais. The King with ane blyith cheir Thankit the Coilȝeir; Syne all the thre into feir To the fyre gais. XVIII. Quhen thay had maid thame eis, the Coilȝear tald Mony sindrie taillis efter Suppair. Ane bricht byrnand fyre was byrnand full bald; The King held gude countenance and company bair, And euer to his asking ane answer he ȝald; Quhill at the last he began to frane farther mair: "In faith, freind, I wald wit, tell gif ȝe wald, Quhair is thy maist wynning?" said the Coilȝear. "Out of weir," said the King, "I wayndit neuer to tell; With my Lady the Quene In office maist haue I bene All thir ȝeiris fyftene, In the Court for to dwell." XIX. ¶ "Quhat kin office art thow in, quhen thow art at hame, Gif thow dwellis with the Quene, proudest in pane?" "Ane Chyld of hir Chalmer, Schir, be Sanct Jame, And thocht my self it say, maist inwart of ane; For my dwelling to nicht I dreid me for blame." "Quhat sal I cal the," said the coilȝear, "quhen thow art hyne gane?" "Wymond of the Wardrop is my richt Name, Quhair euer thow findis me befoir the, thi harberie is tane. And thow will cum to the Court, this I vnderta, Thow sall haue for thy Fewaill, For my saik, the better saill, And onwart to thy trauaill, Worth ane laid or twa." XX. ¶ He said: "I haue na knawledge quhair the Court lyis, And I am wonder wa to cum quhair I am vnkend." "And I sall say thee the suith on ilk syde, I wis, That thow sall wit weill aneuch or I fra the wend. Baith the King and the Quene meitis in Paris, For to hald thair Ȝule togidder, for scho is efter send. Thair may thow sell, be ressoun, als deir as thow will prys; And ȝit I sall help the, gif I ocht may amend, For I am knawin with Officiaris in cais thow cum thair; Haue gude thocht on my Name, And speir gif I be at hame, For I suppois, be Sanct Jame, Thow sall the better fair." XXI. ¶ "Me think it ressoun, be the Rude, that I do thy rid, In cais I cum to the Court, and knaw bot the ane. Is nane sa gude as drink, and gang to our bed, For als far as I wait, the nicht is furth gane." To ane preuie Chalmer beliue thay him led, Quhair ane burely bed was wrocht in that wane, Closit with Courtingis, and cumlie cled; Of the worthiest wyne wantit thay nane. The Coilȝear and his wyfe baith with him thay ȝeid, To serue him all at thay mocht, Till he was in bed brocht. Mair the King spak nocht, Bot thankit thame thair deid. XXII. ☞ Vpon the morne airlie, quhen it was day, The King buskit him sone with scant of Squyary. Wachis and Wardroparis all war away, That war wont for to walkin mony worthy. Ane Pauyot preuilie brocht him his Palfray, The King thocht lang of this lyfe, and lap on in hy; Than callit he on the Carll, anent quhair he lay, For to tak his leif, than spak he freindly; Than walkinnit thay baith, and hard he was thair. The Carll start vp sone, And prayit him to abyde none; "Quhill thir wickit wedderis be done, I rid nocht ȝe fair." XXIII. "Sa mot I thriue," said the King, "me war laith to byde; Is not the morne Ȝule day, formest of the ȝeir? Ane man that Office suld beir be tyme at this tyde, He will be found in his fault, that wantis foroutin weir. I se the Firmament fair vpon ather syde, I will returne to the Court quhill the wedder is cleir; Call furth the gude wyfe, lat pay hir or we ryde, For the worthie harberie that I haue fundin heir."hane. "Lat be, God forbid," the Coilȝear said, "And thow of Charlis cumpany, Cheif King of Cheualry, That for ane nichtis harbery Pay suld be laid." XXIV. ¶ "Ȝea, sen it is sa that thow will haue na pay, Cum the morne to the Court and do my counsall; Deliuer the, and bring ane laid, and mak na delay, Thow may not schame with thy craft, gif thow thriue sall; Gif I may help the ocht to sell, forsuith I sall assay, And als my self wald haue sum of the Fewall." "Peter!" he said, "I sall preif the morne, gif I may, To bring Coillis to the Court, to se gif thay sell sall." "Se that thow let nocht, I pray the," said the King. "In faith," said the Coilȝear, "Traist weill I salbe thair, For thow will neuer gif the mair, To mak ane lesing." XXV. "Bot tell me now, lelely, quhat is thy richt name? I will forȝet the morne, and ony man me greif." "Wymond of the Wardrop, I bid not to lane; Tak gude tent to my name, the Court gif thow will preif." "That I haue said I sall hald, and that I tell the plane; Quhair ony Coilȝear may enchaip I trow till encheif." Quhen he had grantit him to cum, than was the king fane, And withoutin ony mair let, than he tuke his leif. Than the Coilȝear had greit thocht on the cunnand he had maid, Went to the Charcoill in hy, To mak his Chauffray reddy; Agane the morne airly He ordanit him ane laid. XXVI. ¶ The lyft lemit vp beliue, and licht was the day; The King had greit knawledge the countrie to ken. Schir Rolland and Oliuer come rydand the way, With thame ane thousand and ma of fensabill men War wanderand all the nicht ouir, and mony ma than thay, On ilk airt outwart war ordanit sic ten; Gif thay micht heir of the King, or happin quhair he lay, To Jesus Christ thay pray, that grace thame to len. Als sone as Schir Rolland saw it was the King, He kneillit doun in the place, Thankand God ane greit space; Thair was ane meting of grace At that gaddering. XXVII. The gentill Knicht, Schir Rolland, he kneilit on his kne, Thankand greit God that mekill was of micht; Schir Oliuer at his hand, and Bischoppis thre, Withoutin commounis that come, and mony vther Knicht. Than to Paris thay pas, all that Cheualrie, Betuix none of the day and Ȝule nicht: The gentill Bischop Turpine cummand thay se, With threttie Conuent of Preistis reuest at ane sicht, Preichand of Prophecie in Processioun. Efter thame, baith fer and neir, Folkis following in feir, Thankand God with gude cheir Thair Lord was gane to toun. XXVIII. ☞ Quhen thay Princis appeirit into Paris, Ilk Rew Ryallie with riches thame arrayis; Thair was Digne seruice done at Sanct Dyonys, With mony proud Prelat, as the buik sayis. Syne to Supper thay went within the Palys, Befoir that mirthfull man menstrallis playis; Mony wicht wyfis sone, worthie and wise, Was sene at that semblay ane and twentie dayis; With all kin principall plentie for his plesance. Thay callit it the best Ȝule than, And maist worthie began, Sen euer King Charlis was man, Or euer was in France. XXIX. ¶ Than vpon the morne airlie, quhen the day dew, The Coilȝear had greit thocht quhat he had vnder tane; He kest twa Creillis on ane Capill with Coillis anew, Wandit thame with widdeis, to wend on that wane. "Mary, it is not my counsall, bot ȝone man that ȝe knew, To do ȝow in his gentrise," said Gyliane. "Thow gaif him ane outragious blaw and greit boist blew; In faith, thow suld haue bocht it deir, and he had bene allane. For thy, hald ȝow fra the Court, for ocht that may be: Ȝone man that thow outrayd Is not sa simpill as he said; Thairun my lyfe dar I layd, That sall thow heir and se." XXX. ☞ "Ȝea, Dame, haue nane dreid of my lyfe to day, Lat me wirk as I will, the weird is mine awin. I spak not out of ressoun, the suith gif I sall say,ont. To Wymond of the Wardrop war the suith knawin; That I haue hecht I sall hald, happin as it may, Quhidder sa it gang to greif or to gawin." He caucht twa Creillis on ane capill and catchit on his way Ouir the Daillis sa derf, be the day was dawin; The hie way to Paris, in all that he mocht, With ane quhip in his hand, Cantlie on catchand, To fulfill his cunnand, To the Court socht. XXXI. ¶ Graith thocht of the grant had the gude King, And callit Schir Rolland him till and gaif commandment, Ane man he traistit in, maist atour all vther thing, That neuer wald set him on assay withoutin his assent: "Tak thy hors and thy harnes in the morning, For to watche weill the wayis, I wald that thow went; Gif thow meitis ony leid lent on the ling, Gar thame boun to this Burgh, I tell the mine Intent; Or gyf thow seis ony man cumming furth the way, Quhat sumeuer that he be, Bring him haistely to me, Befoir none that I him se In this hall the day." XXXII. ¶ Schir Rolland had greit ferly, and in hart kest Quhat that suld betakin that the King tald; Vpon Solempnit Ȝule day quhen ilk man suld rest, That him behouit neidlingis to watche on the wald, Quhen his God to serue he suld haue him drest; And syne, with ane blyith cheir, buskit that bald. Out of Paris proudly he preikit full prest Intill his harnes all haill his hechtis for to hald; He vmbekest the countrie outwith the toun; He saw na thing on steir, Nouther fer nor neir, Bot the feildis in feir, Daillis and doun. XXXIII. ¶ He huit and he houerit, quhill midmorne and mair, Behaldand the hie hillis, and passage sa plane; Sa saw he quhair the Coilȝear come with all his fair, With twa Creillis on ane Capill; thairof was he fane. He followit to him haistely among the holtis hair, For to bring him to the King, at bidding full bane. Courtesly to the Knicht kneillit the Coilȝear; And Schir Rolland him self salust him agane, Syne bad him leif his courtasie and boun him to ga. He said: "Withoutin letting, Thow mon to Paris to the King, Speid the fast in ane ling, Sen I find na ma." XXXIV. ¶ "In faith," said the Coilȝear, "ȝit was I neuer sa nyse, Schir Knicht, it is na courtasie commounis to scorne; Thair is mony better than I cummis oft to Parys, That the King wait not of, nouther nicht nor morne. For to towsill me or tit me, thocht foull be my clais, Or I be dantit on sic wyse, my lyfe salbe lorne." "Do way," said Schir Rolland, "me think thow art not wise, I rid thow at bidding be, be all that we haue sworne, And call thow it na scorning, bot do as I the ken, Sen thow hes hard mine Intent; It is the Kingis commandement, At this tyme thow suld haue went, And I had met sic ten." XXXV. ¶ "I am bot ane mad man, that thow hes heir met, I haue na myster to matche with maisterfull men; Fairand ouir the feildis, Fewell to fet, And oft fylit my feit in mony foull fen; Gangand with laidis, my gouerning to get. Thair is mony Carll in the countrie thow may nocht ken; I sall hald that I haue hecht, bot I be hard set, To Wymond of the Wardrop, I wait full weill quhen." "Sa thriue I," said Rolland, "it is mine Intent, That nouther to Wymond nor Will Thow sall hald nor hecht till, Quhill I haue brocht the to fulfill The Kingis commandment." XXXVI. ¶ The Carll beheld to the Knicht, as he stude than; He bair grauit in Gold and Gowlis in grene, Glitterand full gaylie quhen Glemis began, Ane Tyger ticht to ane tre, ane takin of tene. Trewlie that tenefull was trimland than, Semelie schapin and schroud in that Scheild schene; Mekle worschip of weir worthylie he wan, Befoir, into fechting with mony worthie sene. His Basnet was bordourit and burneist bricht With stanis of Beriall deir, Dyamountis and Sapheir, Riche Rubeis in feir, Reulit full richt. XXXVII. His plaitis properlie picht attour with precious stanis, And his Pulanis full prest of that ilk peir; Greit Graipis of Gold his Greis for the nanis, And his Cussanis cumlie schynand full cleir; Bricht braissaris of steill about his arme banis, Blandit with Beriallis and Cristallis cleir; Ticht ouir with Thopas, and trew lufe atanis; The teind of his iewellis to tell war full teir.tewellis. His Sadill circulit and set, richt sa on ilk syde, His brydill bellisand and gay His steid stout on stray, He was the Ryallest of array, On Ronsy micht ryde. XXXVIII. ¶ Of that Ryall array that Rolland in raid, Rauf rusit in his hart of that Ryall thing: "He is the gayest in geir that euer on ground glaid, Haue he grace to the gre in ilk Iornaying; War he ane manly man, as he is weill maid, He war full michtie, with magre durst abyde his meting." He bad the Coilȝear in wraith swyth withoutin baid Cast the Creillis fra the Capill, and gang to the King. "In faith, it war greit schame," said the Coilȝear, "I vndertuk thay suld be brocht,vndertak. This day for ocht that be mocht; Schir Knicht, that word is for nocht, That thow Carpis thair." XXXIX. ¶ "Thow huifis on thir holtis, and haldis me heir, Quhill half the haill day may the hicht haue." "Be Christ that was Cristinnit, and his Mother cleir, Thow sall catche to the Court, that sall not be to craue. It micht be preifit preiudice, bot gif thow suld compeir, To se quhat granting of grace the King wald the gaif." "For na gold on this ground wald I, but weir, Be fundin fals to the King, sa Christ me saue." "To gar the cum and be knawin as I am command, I wait not quhat his willis be, Nor he namit na mair the, Nor ane vther man to me, Bot quhome that I fand." XL. ¶ "Thow fand me fechand nathing that followit to feid,sechand? I war ane fule gif I fled, and fand nane affray; Bot as ane lauchfull man my laidis to leid, That leifis with mekle lawtie and laubour in fay. Be the Mother and the Maydin that maid vs remeid, And thow mat me ony mair, cum efter quhat sa may,mar? Thow and I sall dyntis deill quhill ane of vs be deid, For the deidis thow hes me done vpon this deir day." Mekle merwell of that word had Schir Rolland; He saw na wappinis thair, That the Coilȝear bair, Bot ane auld Buklair, And ane roustie brand. XLI. ¶ "It is lyke," said Schir Rolland, and lichtly he leuch, "That sic ane stubill husband man wald stryke stoutly; Thair is mony toun man to tuggill is full teuch, Thocht thair brandis be blak and vnburely; Oft fair foullis ar fundin faynt, and als freuch. I defend we fecht or fall in that foly. Lat se how we may disseuer with sobernes aneuch, And catche crabitnes away, be Christ counsall I. Quhair winnis that Wymond thow hecht to meit to day?" "With the Quene, tauld he me; And thair I vndertuke to be, Into Paris, Pardie, Withoutin delay." XLII. "And I am knawin with the Quene," said Schir Rolland, "And with mony byrdis in hir Bowre, be buikis and bellis; The King is into Paris, that sall I warrand, And all his aduertance that in his Court dwellis. Me tharth haue nane noy of myne erand, For me think thow will be thair efter as thow tellis; Bot gif I fand the, forrow now to keip my cunnand." "Schir Knicht," said the Coilȝear, "thow trowis me neuer ellis, Bot gif sum suddand let put it of delay, For that I hecht of my will, And na man threit me thair till, That I am haldin to fulfill, And sall do quhill I may." XLIII. ¶ "Ȝea, sen thow will be thair, thy cunnandis to new,connandis? I neid nane airar myne erand nor none of the day." "Be thow traist," said the Coilȝear, "man, as I am trew, I will not haist me ane fute faster on the way; Bot gif thow raik out of my renk, full raith sall thow rew, Or, be the Rude, I sall rais thy Ryall array; Thocht thy body be braissit in that bricht hew, Thow salbe fundin als febil of thy bone fay." Schir Rolland said to him self: "This is bot foly, To striue with him ocht mair, I se weill he will be thair." His leif at the Coilȝear He tuke lufesumly. XLIV. ¶ "Be Christ," said the Coilȝear, "that war ane foull scorne, That thow suld chaip, bot I the knew, that is sa schynand; For thow seis my weidis ar auld and all to-worne, Thow trowis nathing thir taillis that I am telland. Bring na Beirnis vs by, bot as we war borne, And thir Blonkis that vs beiris, thairto I mak ane bland,Bloukis. That I sall meit the heir vpon this mure to morne, Gif I be haldin in heill, and thairto my hand, Sen that we haue na laiser at this tyme to ta." In ane thourtour way, Seir gaitis pas thay, Baith to Paris in fay, Thus partit thay twa. XLV. The gentill Knicht, Schir Rolland, come rydand full sone, And left the Coilȝear to cum, as he had vndertane; And quhen he come to Paris, the hie Mes was done, The King with mony cumly out of the Kirk is gane. Of his harnes in hy he hynt withoutin hone, And in ane Rob him arrayit richest of ane; In that worschipfull weid he went in at none, As he was wont, with the wy that weildit the wane, On fute ferly in feir, formest of all. Richt weill payit was the King Of Schir Rollandis cumming; To speir of his tything Efter him gart call. XLVI. The King in counsall him callit: "cum hidder, Schir Knicht, Hes thow my bidding done, as I the command?" "In faith," said Schir Rolland, "I raid on full richt, To watche wyselie the wayis; that I sall warrand. Thair wald na douchtie this day for Iornay be dicht; Fairand ouir the feildis full few thair I fand; Saif anerly ane man that semblit in my sicht, Thair was na leid on lyfe lent in this land." "Quhat kin a fallow was that ane, Schir, I the pray?" "Ane man in husband weid, Buskit busteously on breid, Leidand Coillis he ȝeid To Paris the way." XLVII. "Quhy hes thow not that husband brocht as I the bad? I dreid me, sa he dantit the, thow durst not with him deill." "In faith," said Schir Rolland, "gif that he sa had, That war full hard to my hart, and I ane man in heill." He saw the King was engreuit, and gat furth glaid, To se gif the Coilȝearis lawtie was leill. "I suld haue maid him in the stour to be full hard stad, And I had wittin that the Carll wald away steill; Bot I trowit not the day that he wald me beget."bo. As he went outwart bayne, He met ane Porter swayne Cummand raith him agayne Fast fra the ȝet. XLVIII. ¶ "Quhair gangis thow, Gedling, thir gaitis sa gane?" "Be God," said the Grome, "ane gift heir I geif; I deuise at the ȝet thair is ane allane, Bot he be lattin in beliue, him lykis not to leif; With ane Capill and twa Creillis cassin on the plane, To cum to this Palice he preissis to preif." "Gif thow hes fundin that Freik, in faith I am fane. Lat him in glaidly, it may not engreif; Bot askis he eirnestly efter ony man?" Than said that Gedling on ground: "Ȝe, forsuith in this stound, Efter ane Wymound, In all that he can." XLIX. ☞ "Pas agane, Porter, and lat him swyith in, Amang the proudest in preis, plesand in pane; Say thow art not worthy to Wymond to win, Bid him seik him his self, gif thair be sic ane." Again gangis Schir Rolland, quhair gle suld begin, And the ȝaip ȝeman to the ȝet is gane; Enbraissit the bandis beliue, or that he wald blin, Syne leit the wy at his will wend in the wane. "Gang seik him now thy self," he said vpon hicht; "My self hes na lasair Fra thir ȝettis to fair." "Be Christ," said the Coilȝear, "I set that bot licht." L. ¶ "Gif thow will not seik him, my awin self sall, For I haue oft tymes swet in seruice full sair; Tak keip to my Capill, that na man him call, Quhill I cum fra the Court," said the Coilȝear; "My laid war I laith to lois, I leif the heir all; Se that thow leis thame not, bot ȝeme thame full ȝair." In that hardy in hy he haikit to that hall, For to wit gif Wymondis wynning was thair; He arguit with the Ischar ofter than anis: "Schir, can thow ocht say, Quhair is Wymond the day? I pray the, bring him gif thow may, Out of this wanis." LI. He trowit that the wy had wittin of Wymond he wend, Bot to his raifand word he gaue na rewaird; Thair was na man thairin that his name kend, Thay countit not the Coilȝear almaist at regaird. He saw thair was na meiknes nor mesure micht mend, He sped him in spedely, and nane of thame he spaird. Thair was na fyue of thay Freikis, that micht him furth fend, He socht in sa sadly, quhill sum of thame he saird. He thristit in throw thame thraly with threttis; Quhen he come amang thame all, Ȝit was the King in the hall, And mony gude man with all, Vngane to the meit. LII. ¶ Thocht he had socht sic ane sicht all this seuin ȝeir, Sa solempnit ane semblie had he not sene; The hall was properly apperrellit and paintit but peir, Dyamountis full dantely dentit betwene. It was semely set on ilk syde seir, Gowlis glitterand full gay, glemand in grene, Flowris with Flourdelycis formest in feir, With mony flamand ferly, ma than fyftene; The rufe reulit about in reuall of Reid, Rois reulit Ryally, Columbyn and Lely; Thair was ane hailsum harbery, Into riche steid. LIII. ¶ With Dosouris to the duris dicht, quha sa wald deme, With all diuers danteis dicht dantely; Circulit with siluer semely to sene, Selcouthly in seir he was set suttelly; Blyth byrdis abufe, and bestiall full bene, Fyne foullis in Fyrth, and Fischis with fry; The flure carpit and cled and couerit full clene; Cummand fra the Cornellis closand quemely, Bricht Bancouris about browdin ouir all, Greit Squechonis on hicht, Anamalit and weill dicht, Reulit at all richt Endlang the hall. LIV. ¶ "Heir is Ryaltie," said Rauf, "aneuch for the nanis, With all nobilnes anournit, and that is na nay. Had I of Wymond ane word, I wald of thir wanis, Fra thir wyis, I wis, to went on my way; Bot I mon ȝit heir mair quhat worthis of him anis, And eirnestly efter him haue myne E ay." He thristit in throw threttie all atanis, Quhair mony douchtie of deid war Ioynit that day. For he was vnburely, on bak thay him hynt; As he gat ben throw, He gat mony greit schow, Bot he was stalwart, I trow, And laith for to stynt.laithfor. LV. ¶ He thristit in throw thame, and thraly can thring, Fast to the formest he foundit in feir; Sone besyde him he gat ane sicht of the Nobill King. "Ȝone is Wymond, I wait, it worthis na weir; I ken him weill, thocht he be cled in vther clething, In clais of clene gold, kythand ȝone cleir. . . . . . Quhen he harbreit with me, be half as he is heir, In faith he is of mair stait than euer he me tald. Allace, that I was hidder wylit, I dreid me sair I be begylit!" The King preuilie smylit, Quhen he saw that bald. LVI. ¶ Thair was seruit in that saill Seigis semelie, Mony Senȝeorabill Syre on ilk syde seir; With ane cairfull countenance the Coilȝear kest his E To the cumly Quene, courtes and cleir. "Dame, of thy glitterand gyde haue I na gle, Be the gracious God that bocht vs sa deir; To ken Kingis Courtasie, the Deuill come to me, And sa I hope I may say, or I chaip heir. Micht I chaip of this chance, that changes my cheir, Thair suld na man be sa wyse, To gar me cum to Parise, To luke quhair the King lyis, In faith this seuin ȝeir!" LVII. ¶ Quhen worthie had weschin, and fra the buirdis went, Thay war for-wonderit, I wis, of thair wyse Lord. The King fell in carping, and tauld his Intent, To mony gracious Grome he maid his record: How the busteous Beirne met him on the bent, And how the Frostis war sa fell, and sa strait ford. Than the Coilȝear quoke as he had bene schent, Quhen he hard the suith say how he the King schord. "Greit God! gif I war now and thy self with all, Vpon the mure quhair we met, Baith all suddandly set, Or ony Knicht that thow may get, Sa gude in thy hall." LVIII. ¶ Thir Lordis leuch vpon loft, and lystinit to the King, How he was ludgeit and led, and set at sa licht; Than the curagious Knichtis bad haue him to hing: "For he hes seruit that," thay said, "be our sicht." "God forbot," he said, "my thank war sic thing To him that succourit my lyfe in sa euill ane nicht! Him semis ane stalwart man and stout in stryking; That Carll for his courtasie salbe maid Knicht. I hald the counsall full euill that Cristin man slais, For I had myster to haue ma, And not to distroy tha That war worthie to gaTha. To fecht on Goddis fais." LIX. ¶ Befoir mony worthie he dubbit him Knicht, Dukis and digne Lordis in that deir hall: "Schir, se for thy self, thow semis to be wicht, Tak keip to this ordour, ane Knicht I the call; To mak the manly man I mak the of micht. Ilk ȝeir thre hundreth pund assigne the I sall; And als the nixt vacant, be ressonabill richt, That hapnis in France, quhair sa euer it fall, Forfaltour or fre waird, that first cummis to hand, I gif the heir heritabilly, Sa that I heir, quhen I haue hy, That thow be fundin reddy With Birny and brand." LX. ¶ "It war my will, worthy, thy schone that thow wan, And went with thir weryouris wythest in weir; Heir ar curagious Knichtis, suppois thay the nocht ken, For thy simpill degre that thow art in heir. I beseik God of his grace to mak the ane gude man, And I sall gif the to begin glitterand geir." Ane Chalmer with Armour the King gart richt than Betaucht to ane Squyar, and maid him keipeir; With clois Armouris of steill for that stout Knicht, Sextie Squyaris of fee, Of his retinew to be; That was ane fair cumpany Schir Rauf gat that nicht. LXI. ¶ Vpon the morne airly, Schir Rauf wald not rest, Bot in Ryall array he reddyit him to ryde: "For to hald that I haue hecht, I hope it be the best, To ȝone busteous Beirne that boistit me to byde; Amang thir Galȝart Gromis I am bot ane Gest, I will the ganandest gait to that gay glyde; Sall neuer Lord lauch on loft, quhill my lyfe may lest, That I for liddernes suld leif, and leuand besyde, It war ane graceles gude that I war cummin to, Gif that the King hard on hicht That he had maid ane carll knicht Amang thir weryouris wicht, And docht nocht to do." LXII. ¶ Vpon ane rude Runsy he ruschit out of toun, In ane Ryall array he rydis full richt; Euin to the Montane he maid him full boun, Quhair he had trystit to meit Schir Rolland the Knicht. Derfly ouir Daillis discouerand the doun, Gif ony douchtie that day for Iornayis was dicht; He band his blonk to ane busk on the bent broun, Syne baid be the bair way to hald that he had hecht. Quhill it was neir time of the day that he had thair bene, He lukit ane lytill him fra, He sa cummand in thra The maist man of all tha That euer he had sene. LXIII. ¶ Ane Knicht on ane Cameill come cantly at hand, With ane curagious countenance and cruell to se. He semit baldly to abyde with Birny and with brand, His blonk was vnburely, braid and ouir hie. Schir Rauf reddyit him sone, and come rydand, And in the rowme of ane renk in fewtir kest he; He seimit fer fellonar than first quhen he him fand, He foundis throw his forcenes gif he micht him se; He straik the steid with the spurris, he sprent on the bent. Sa hard ane cours maid thay, That baith thair hors deid lay; Thair speiris in splenders away Abufe thair heid sprent. LXIV. ¶ Thus war thay for thair forcynes left on fute baith, Thay sture hors at that straik strikin deid lay than. Thir riche restles renkis ruschit out full raith, Cleikit out twa swordis and togidder ran. Kest thame with gude will to do vther skaith, Baft on thair basnetis thay Beirnis or thay blan. Haistely hewit thay togiddir, to leif thay war laith To tyne the worschip of weir that thay air wan; Na for dout of vincussing thay went nocht away. Thus ather vther can assaill With swordis of mettaill; Thay maid ane lang battail, Ane hour of the day. LXV. ¶ Thay hard harnest men, thay hewit on in haist, Thay worthit heuy with heid, and angerit with all; Quhill thay had maid thame sa mait, thay failȝe almaist, Sa laith thay war on ather part to lat thair price fall; The riche restles men out of the renk past, Forwrocht with thair wapnis, and euill rent with all. Thair was na girth on the ground, quhill ane gaif the gaist; "Ȝarne efter ȝeilding," on ilk syde thay call. Schir Rauf caucht to cule him, and tak mair of the licht, He kest vp his Veseir, With ane Cheualrous cheir, Sa saw he cummand full neir Ane vther kene Knicht. LXVI. ¶ "Now, be the Rude," said Schir Rauf, "I repreif the! Thow hes brokin conditioun, thow hes not done richt: Thow hecht na bak heir to bring, bot anerly we;bakheir. Thairto I tuik thy hand, as thow was trew Knicht." On loud said the Saraȝine: "I heir the now lie! Befoir the same day I saw the neuer with sicht; Now sall thow think it richt sone, thow hes met with me, Gif Mahoun or Termagant may mantene my micht." Schir Rauf was blyth of that word and blenkit with his face: "Thow sayis thow art ane Saraȝine, Now thankit be Drichtine, That ane of vs sall neuer hine Vndeid in this place." LXVII. ¶ Then said the Saraȝine to Schir Rauf succudrously: "I haue na lyking to lyfe to lat the with lufe." He gaue ane braid with his brand to the Beirne by, Till the blude of his browis brest out abufe. The kene Knicht in that steid stakkerit sturely, The lenth of ane rude braid he gart him remufe; Schir Rauf ruschit vp agane, and hit him in hy. Thay preis furth properly thair pithis to prufe. Ilk ane a schort knyfe braidit out sone, In stour stifly thay stand, With twa knyfis in hand; With that come Schir Rolland As thay had neir done. LXVIII. The gentill Knicht Schir Rolland come rydand ful richt, And ruschit fra his Runsy, and ran thame betwene; He sayis: "Thow art ane Saraȝine, I se be my sicht, For to confound our Cristin men that counteris sa kene; Tell me thy name tyte, thow trauelland Knicht! Fy on thy fechting! fell hes thow bene, Thow art stout and strang, and stalwart in fecht, Sa is thy fallow in faith, and that is weill sene; In Christ and thow will trow, thow takis nane outray." "Forsuith," the Saraȝine said, "Thy self maid me neuer sa affraid, That I for souerance wald haue praid, Na not sall to day." LXIX. ¶ "Breif me not with ȝour boist, bot mak ȝow baith boun, Batteris on baldly the best, I ȝow pray." "Na," said Schir Rolland, "that war na resoun, I trow in the mekle God, that maist of michtis may. The tane is in power to mak that presoun, For that war na wassalage sum men wald say. I rid that thow hartfully forsaik thy Mahoun; Fy on that foull Feind, for fals is thy fay! Becum Cristin, Schir Knicht, and on Christ call. It is my will thow conuert, This wickit warld is bot ane start, And haue him halely in hart That maker is of all." LXX. ¶ "Schir Rolland, I rek nocht of thy Rauingis, Thow dois bot reuerence to thame that rekkis it nocht; Thow slane hes oft, thy self, of my Counsingis, Soudanis and sib men, that the with schame socht. Now faindis to haue fauour with thy fleichingis, Now haue I ferlie, gif I fauour the ocht: We sall spuilȝe ȝow dispittously at the nixt springis, Mak ȝow biggingis full bair, bodword haue I brocht. Chace Charlis ȝour King fer out of France; Fra the Chane of Tartarie, At him this message wald I be, To tell him as I haue tauld the, Withoutin plesance." LXXI. ¶ "Tyte tell me thy name, it seruis of nocht, Ȝe Saraȝeins ar succuderus and self willit ay; Sall neuer of sa sour ane brand ane bricht fyre be brocht, The Feynd is sa felloun als fers as he may."fer. "Sa thriue I," said the Saraȝine, "to threip is my thocht, Quha waitis the Cristin with cair, my cusingis ar thay; My name is Magog, in will and I mocht, To ding thame doun dourly that euer war in my way; For thy my warysoun is full gude at hame quhair I dwel." "In faith," said Schir Rolland, "That is full euill wyn land To haue quhill thow ar leuand, Sine at thine end hell." LXXII. ¶ "Wald thow conuert the in hy, and couer the of sin, Thow suld haue mair profite and mekle pardoun. Riche Douchereis seir to be sesit in, During quhill day dawis, that neuer will gang doun; Wed ane worthie to wyfe, and weild hir with win, Ane of the riche of our Realme be that ressoun; The gentill Duches, Dame Iane, that clamis be hir kin Angeos and vther landis, with mony riche toun; Thus may thow, and thow will, wirk the best wise, I do the out of dispair, In all France in nane sa fair Als scho is, appeirand air To twa Douchereis." LXXIII. ¶ "I rek nocht of thy riches, Schir Rolland the Knicht," Said the rude Saraȝine in Ryall array; "Thy God nor thy Grassum set I bot licht; Bot gif thy God be sa gude as I heir the say, I will forsaik Mahoun, and tak me to his micht, Euer mair perpetuallie as he that mair may. Heir with hart and gude will my treuth I the plicht, That I sall lelely leif on thy Lord ay, And I beseik him of Grace, and askis him mercy, And Christ his Sone full schene, For I haue Cristin men sene, That in mony angeris hes bene, Full oft on him cry." LXXIV. ¶ "I thank God," said Rolland, "that word lykis me, And Christ his sweit Sone, that the that grace send." Thay swoir on thair swordis swyftlie all thre, And conseruit thame freindis to thair lyfis end, Euer in all trauell to leif and to die. Thay Knichtis caryit to the court, as Christ had thame kend. The King for thair cumming maid game and gle, With mony mirthfull man thair mirthis to mend. Digne Bischoppis that day, that douchtie gart bring, And gaue him Sacramentis seir, And callit him Schir Gawteir, And sine the Duches cleir He weddit with ane ring. LXXV. ¶ Than Schir Rauf gat rewaird to keip his Knichtheid; Sic tythingis come to the King within thay nyne nicht, That the Marschell of France was newlingis deid; Richt thair, with the counsall of mony kene Knicht, He thocht him richt worthie to byde in his steid, For to weild that worschip worthie and wicht. His wyfe wald he nocht forȝet, for dout of Goddis feid. He send efter that hende, to leif thame in richt; Syne foundit ane fair place quhair he met the King, Euer mair perpetually, In the name of Sanct July, That all that wantis harbery, Suld haue gestning.FINIS. THE AWNTYRS OFF ARTHURE AT THE TERNE WATHELYNE THE AWNTYRS OFF ARTHURE AT THE TERNE WATHELYNE. DOUCE MS. 324. (BODL. LIBR.) I. IN the tyme of Arthur ane aunter by-tydde, By þe turnewathelane, as þe boke telles, Whane he to Carlele was comen, and conquerour kydde, Withe Dukes and dussiperes, þat with þe dere dwelles, To hunte at þe herdes, þat longe had bene hydde. One a day þei hem dighte to þe depe delles, To falle of þe femailes, in forest and frydde, Fayre by þe firmyschamis, in frithes and felles. Thus to wode arne þei went, þe wlonkest in wedes, Bothe þe kyng and þe quene, And al þe dougheti by-dene; Sir Gawayne, gayest one grene, Dame Gaynour he ledes. II. Thus sir Gawayne þe gay Gaynour he ledes, In a gleterand gide, þat glemed fulle gay, Withe riche ribaynes reuersset, ho so righte redes, Rayled withe rybees of rialle aray; Her hode of a herde huwe, þat here hede hedes, Of pillour, of palwerke, of perre to pay; Schurde in a short cloke, þat þe rayne shedes, Set ouer withe saffres, soþely to say, Withe saffres and seladynes set by þe sides; Here sadel sette of þat ilke, Saude withe sambutes of silke; One a mule as þe mylke Gaili she glides. III. ¶ Al in gleterand golde gayly ho glides Þe gates, withe sir Gawayne, bi þe grene welle; And þat burne one his blonke withe þe quene bides, Þat borne was in borgoyne, by boke and by belle. He ladde þat lady so longe by þe lawe sides, Vnder a lorre þey lighte, loȝe by a felle. And Arthur, withe his erles, ernestly rides, To teche hem to her tristres, þe trouthe for to telle. To here tristres he hem tauȝte, ho þe trouthe trowes, Eche lorde, withe outene lette, To ane oke he hem sette, Withe bowe and withe barselette, Vnder þe bowes. IV. ¶ Vnder þe bowes þei bode, þes burnes so bolde, To byker at þes baraynes, in bonkes so bare. There mighte haþeles in hiȝ herdes be-holde, Herken huntynge in hast, in holtes so hare; Þei kest of here couples, in cliffes so colde, Conforte here kenettes, to kele hem of care. Þei fel of þe femayles ful þike folde; Withe fresshe houndes, and fele, þei folowene here fare. . . . . . Withe gret questes and quelles, Bothe in frethes and felles, Alle the durere [?] in þe delles, Þei durkene and dare. V. ¶ Þen durkene þe dere in þe dymme skuwes, Þat for drede of þe dethe droupes þe do, . . . . . Þai werray þe wilde swyne and worchene hem wo. The huntes þei halowe, in hurstes and huwes, And bluwe rechas ryally, þei rane to þe ro; They gaf to no gamone þat one grounde gruwes; Þe grete grendes in þe greues so gladly þei go, So gladly þei gone in greues so grene; The king blowe rechas, And folowed fast one þe tras, Withe many Sergeant of mas, Þat solas to sene. VI. ¶ Withe solas þei semble, þe pruddest in palle, And suwene to þe souerayne, within schaghes schene; Al but sir Gawayne, gayest of alle, Beleues withe Dame Gaynour in greues so grene. Vnder a lorer ho was liȝte, þat lady so smalle, Of box and of berber bigged ful bene; Fast byfore vndre þis ferly cone falle, And þis mekel mervaile þat I shal of mene; Now wol I of þis mervaile mene, if I mote; The day wex als dirke As hit were mydniȝte myrke, There of þe king was irke, And liȝte one his fote. VII. ¶ Thus to fote ar þei farene, þes frekes vnfayne, And fleene fro þe Forest to þe fewe felles; . . . . . For þe sneterand snawe snartly hem snelles. There come a lede of þe lawe, in londe is not to layne, . . . . . And glides to sir Gawayne, þe gates to gayne, Ȝauland and ȝomerand, with many loude ȝelles. Hit ȝaules, hit ȝameres, with waymynges wete, And seid withe siking sare: "I bane þe body me bare; Alas! now kindeles my care, I gloppen and I grete!" VIII. ¶ Then gloppenet and grete Gaynour þe gay, And seid to sir Gawene: "what is þi good rede?" "Hit ar þe clippes of þe sone, I herd a clerk say;" And þus he confortes þe quene for his kniȝthede. "Sir Cadour, sir Clegis, sir Costardyne, sir Cay, Þes knyȝtes arne vncurtays, by crosse and by crede, Þat þus oonly haue me laft one my deþe day, With þe grisselist goost þat euer herd I grede." "Of þe goost," quod þe grome, "greue you no mare, For I shal speke withe þe sprete, And of þe wayes I shalle wete, What may þe bales bete Of þe bodi bare." IX. ¶ Bare was þe body, and blake to þe bone, Al bi-clagged in clay, vncomly cladde; Hit waried, hit wayment as a womane, But on hide, ne on huwe, no heling hit hadde. Hit stemered, hit stonayde, hit stode as a stone, Hit marred, hit memered, hit mused for madde. Agayne þe grisly goost sir Gawayne is gone; He rayked oute at a res, for was neuer drad; Drad was he neuer, ho so righte redes. On þe chef of þe clolle, A pade pikes one þe polle, Withe eighen holked ful holle, That gloed as þe gledes. X. ¶ Al glowed as a glede þe goste þere ho glides, Vmbeclipped him with a cloude, of cleyng vnclere, Skeled withe serpentes alle aboute þe sides; To telle þe todes þereone my tonge were fulle tere. Þe burne braides oute þe bronde, and þe body bides; Therefor þe cheualrous kniȝte changed no chere; Þe houndes hiȝene to þe wode, and here hede hides, For þe grisly goost made a gryme bere. The grete greundes were agast of þe gryme bere; Þe birdes in þe bowes, Þat one þe goost glowes, Þei skryke in þe skowes, Þat haþeles may here. XI. ¶ Haþelese miȝt here, so fer into halle, How chatered þe cholle, þe chalus one þe chynne. Þene coniured þe kniȝte, one crist cone he calle: "As þou was crucifiged one croys, to clanse vs of syne, That þou sei me þe sothe, wheþer þou shalle, And whi þou walkest þes wayes, þe wodes with-in?" "I was of figure and face fairest of alle, Cristened and knowene with kinges in my kynne. I haue kinges in my kyne, knowene for kene; God has me gevene of his grace To dre my paynes in þis place, I ame comene in þis cace To speke with your quene. XII. ¶ Quene was I some wile, brighter of browes Thene berelle or Brangwayne, þes burdes so bolde; Of al gamene or gle, þat one grounde growes, Gretter þene dame Gaynour, of Garsone and golde, Of palaies, of parkes, of pondes, of plowes, Of townes, of toures, of tresour vntolde, Of Castelles, of contreyes, of cragges, of clowes; Now ame I cauȝte oute of kide to cares so colde, Into care am I caughte, and couched in clay. Lo! sir curtays knyȝte, How delfulle dethe has me diȝte! Lete me onys haue a sighte Of Gaynour þe gay." XIII. ¶ After Gaynour þe gay sir Gawyne is gone, And to þe body he here brouȝte, and to þe burde brighte. "Welcome, Waynour, I wis, worthi in wone, Lo! how delful dethe has þi dame diȝte! I was radder of rode þene rose in þe rone, My lere as þe lele, louched one highte; Now am I a graceles gost, and grisly I grone; Withe lucyfer in a lake loȝ am I lighte. Take truly tent tiȝte nowe by me: For al þi fresshe foroure Muse one my mirrour, For, king and Emperour, Thus shul ye be. XIV. ¶ Þus dethe wil ȝou diȝte, thare you not doute; Þere one hertly take hede, while þou art here, Whane þou art richest araied, and ridest in þi route; Haue pite one þe poer, þou art of powere. Burnes and burdes, þat bene þe aboute, Whene þi body is bamed, and brouȝte one a bere, Þene lite wyne þe lighte, þat now wil þe loute; For þene þe helpes no þing, but holy praiere. Þe praier of poer may purchas þe pes, Of that þou yeues at þe þete, Whan þou art set in þi sete, Withe al merthes at mete, And dayntes on des. XV. ¶ Withe riche dayntes on des þi diotes art diȝte, And I in danger and doel in dongone I dwelle, Naxte and nedefulle, naked one nighte; Þer folo me a ferde of fendes of helle; Þey hurle me vnhendely, þei harme me in hiȝte; In bras and in brymstone, I brene as a belle; Was neuer wroughte in þis world a wofuller wighte; Hit were ful tore any tonge my turment to telle! Nowe wil y of my turment tel, or I go. Thenk hertly one þis, Fonde to mende thi mys; Thou art warned y-wys, Beware be my wo." XVI. ¶ "Wo is me for þi wo!" quod Waynour, "y-wys, But one þing wold I wite, if þi wil ware; If auþer matens or mas miȝte mende þi mys, Or eny meble one molde, my merthe were þe mare; If bedis of bisshopps miȝte bring þe to blisse, Or couentes in cloistre miȝte kere þe of care; If þou be my moder, grete wonder hit is That al þi burly body is brouȝte to be so bare!" "I bare þe of my body; what bote is hit I layne? I brake a solempne a-vowe, And no mane wist hit but þowe; By þat tokene þou trowe Þat soþely I sayne." XVII. ¶ "Say soþely what may þe sauene y-wys, And I shal make sere mene to singe for þi sake; But þe baleful bestes, þat one þi body is, Al bledis my ble, þi bones arne so blake." "Þat is luf paramour, listes and delites, Þat has me liȝte and laft loȝ in a lake; Al þe welthe of þe world, þat awey witis, Withe þe wilde wormes, þat worche me wrake; Wrake þei me worchene, Waynour, I wys; Were thritty trentales done, By-twene vnder and none, Mi soule socoured withe sone, And broughte to þe blys." XVIII. ¶ "To blisse bring þe þe barne, þat boughte þe one rode, Þat was crucifiged one croys, and crowned with þorne; As þou was cristened and crisomed with candel and code, Folowed in fontestone, one frely byforne; Mary þe miȝeti, myldest of mode, Of whome þe blisful barme in bedlem was borne, Lene me grace þat I may grete þe with gode, And mynge þe withe matens and masses one morne." "To mende vs with masses, grete myster hit were; For him þat rest one þe rode, Gyf fast of þi goode To folke þat failene þe fode, While þou art here." XIX. ¶ "Here hertly my honde, þes hestes to holde, Withe a myllione of masses to make þe mynnyng. A!" quod Waynour, "I wis, yit wetene I wolde What wrathede god moste, at þi weting?" "Pride, with þe appurtenaunce, as propheteȝ hane tolde, Bifore þe peple, apt in here preching. Hit beres bowes bitter, þerof be þou bolde, Þat makes burnes so bly to breke his bidding. But ho his bidding brekes, bare þei bene of blys; But þei be salued of þat sare, Er þey heþene fare, They mone wetene of care, Waynour, y-wys." XX. ¶ "Wysse me," quod Waynour, "some wey, if þou wost, What bedis miȝte me best to þe blisse bringe." "Mekenesse and mercy, þes arne þe moost; And siþene haue pite one þe poer, þat pleses heuen king; Siþene charite is chef, and þene is chaste, And þene almesse dede cure al þing; Þes arne þe graceful giftes of þe holy goste, Þat enspires iche sprete, withe oute speling. Of þis spiritual þing spute þou no mare; Als þou art quene in þi quert, Hold þes wordes in hert; Þou shal leve but a stert; Heþene shal þou fare." XXI. ¶ "How shal we fare," quod þe freke, "þat fondene to fighte And þus defoulene þe folke, one fele kinges londes, And riches ouer reymes with outene eny righte, Wynnene worshippe in werre þorghe wightnesse of hondes?" "Your king is to couetous, I warne þe, sir kniȝte; May no mane stry him withe strength, while his whele stondes; Whane he is in his mageste, moost in his miȝte, He shal lighte ful lowe one þe se sondes, And this chiualrous kniȝte chef shalle þorgh chaunce, Falsely fordone in fighte, With a wonderfulle wighte, Shalle make lordes to liȝte; Take witnesse by Fraunce. XXII. ¶ Fraunce haf ye frely with your fight wonnene; Freol and his folke fey ar þey leued; Bretayne in burgoyne al to you bowene, And al þe Dussiperes of Fraunce with your dyn deued. Gyane may grete þe werre was bigonene; There ar no lordes one lyue in þat londe leued. Yet shal þe riche remayns with one be aure-ronene, And with þe rounde table þe rentes be reued. Thus shal a Tyber vntrue tymber with tene. Gete þe, sir Gawayne, Turne þe to Tuskayne; For ye shul lese Bretayne, With a king kene. XXIII. ¶ This knighte shal be clanly enclosed with a crowne, And at Carlele shal þat comly be crowned as king; A sege shal he seche with a cessione, Þat myche baret and bale to bretayne shal bring. Hit shal in Tuskane be tolde of þe tresone, And ye shullene turne ayene fore þe tying; Þere shal þe rounde table lese þe renoune, Beside Ramsey, ful rad at a riding; In dorset shire shal dy þe doughetest of alle. Gete þe, sir Gawayne, The boldest of bretayne; In a slake þou shal be slayne, Siche ferlyes shulle falle. XXIV. ¶ Suche ferlies shulle fal, withoute eny fable, Vppone Cornewayle coost, withe a knighte kene; Sir Arthur þe honest, auenant and able, He shal be wounded, I wys, woþely, I wene; And al þe rial rowte of þe rounde table, Þei shullene dye one a day, þe doughety by-dene, Suppriset with a surget; he beris hit in sable, With a sauter engreled of siluer fulle shene. He beris hit of sable, soþely to say; In riche Arthures halle The barne playes at þe balle, Þat outray shalle you alle Delfully þat day. XXV. ¶ Haue gode day, Gaynour, and Gawayne þe gode! I haue no lenger tome tidinges telle; I mot walke one my wey, þorgh þis wilde wode, In my wonyng stid in wo for to dwelle. Fore him þat rightwisly rose, and rest one þe rode, Þenke one þe danger þat I yne dwelle; Fede folke, fore my sake, þat failene þe fode, And menge me with matens and masse in melle. Masses arne medecynes to vs þat bale bides; Vs þenke a masse as swete As eny spice þat euer ye yete." With a grisly grete Þe goste a-wey glides. XXVI. ¶ Withe a grisly grete þe goost a-wey glides, And goes withe gronyng sore þorgh þe greues grene. Þe wyndes, þe weders, þe welkene vnhides; Þene vnclosed þe cloudes, þe sone con shene. The king his bugle has blowene, and one þe bent bides; His fare folke in þe frithe þei flokkene by-dene, And al þe rialle route to þe quene rides; She sayes hem þe selcouþes þat þei hadde þer seene; The wise of þe weder for-wondred þey were; Prince proudest in palle, Dame Gaynour and alle, Went to Rondoles halle, To þe suppere. XXVII. The king to souper is set, serued in halle, Vnder a siller of silke, dayntly diȝte, Withe al worshippe and wele menewith þe walle, Briddes brandene and brad in bankers brighte. Þere come in a soteler with a symballe, A lady, lufsom of lote, ledand a kniȝte. Ho raykes vp in a res bifor þe rialle, And halsed sir Arthur, hendly one hiȝte. Ho said to þe souerayne, wlonkest in wede: "Mone makeles of mighte, Here commes ane errant kniȝte; Do him resone and riȝte, For þi manhede. XXVIII. ¶ Mone, in þy mantelle, þat sittes at þi mete, In pal pured to pay, prodly pight!" . . . . . Þe tasses were of topas, þat were þere to tiȝte; He gliffed vp with his eighen, þat grey were and grete, With his beueren berde, on þat burde bright. He was þe soueraynest of al sitting in sete Þat euer segge had sene with his eȝe sighte. King crowned in kithe, talkes hir tille: "Welcome, worþely wight; He shal haue resone and righte; Wheþene is þe comli kniȝte, If hit be þi wille?" XXIX. ¶ Ho was þe worþiest wighte þat eny wede wolde; Here gide was glorious and gay, of a gresse grene; Here belle was of blunket, with birdes ful bolde, Branded with brende golde, and bokeled ful bene; Here fax in fyne perre was fretted in folde, Contrefelet and kelle, coloured fulle clene; With a crowne craftly, al of clene golde; Here kercheues were curiouse, with many proude pene; Here perre was praysed with prise mene of mighte. Bright birdes and bolde, Had I nore to be holde, Of þat frely to folde, And one þe hende knight. XXX. ¶ The knighte in his colours was armed ful clene, Withe his comly crest, clere to be-holde; His brene and his basnet, burneshed ful bene, With a brandure aboughte, al of brende golde; His mayles were mylke white, many hit seene; His horse trapped of that ilke, as true men me tolde; His shelde one his shulder, of siluer so shene, With bere hedes of blake, browed ful bolde. His horse in fyne sandel was trapped to þe hele, And in his cheuerone biforne, Stode as ane vnicorne, Als sharp as a þorne, An Anlas of stele. XXXI. ¶ In stele he was stuffed, þat stourne vppone stede, Al of sternes of golde his pencelle displaied; His gloues, his gamesons glowed as a glede, With graynes of rebe þat graied bene gay; And his schene schynbandes, þat sharp were to shrede. His polemus with pelicocus were poudred to pay; Withe a launce one loft þat louely cone lede; A freke one a fresone him folowed, in fay. The Fresone was a-fered, for drede of þat fare, For he was seldene wonte to se The tablet flure, Siche gamen ne gle, Saȝ he neuer are. XXXII. ¶ Arthur asked one hiȝte, herand hem alle: "What woldes þou, wee, if hit be thi wille? Tel me what þou seches, and wheþer þou shalle, And whi, þou sturne one þi stede, stondes so stille?" He wayned vp his viser fro his ventalle, With a knightly contenaunce he carpes him tille: "Wheþer þou Cayser or king, here I þe be-calle, Fore to finde me a freke, to fight with my fille; Fighting to fraist I fonded fro home." Then seid þe king vppone hight: "If þou be curteys kniȝte, Late lenge al nyȝte, And tel me þi nome." XXXIII. ¶ "Mi name is sir Galarone, withe outene eny gile, Þe grettest of Galwey, of greues and grylles, Of connok, of Conyngham, and also kyle, Of lomond, of losex, of loyane hilles. Þou has wonene hem in werre, with a wrange wille, And geuen hem to sir Gawayne, þat my hert grylles. But he shal wring his honde, and warry þe wyle, Er he weld hem, y-wys, agayne myne vmwylles. Bi al þe welthe of þe worlde, he shal hem neuer welde, While I þe hede may bere, But if he wyne hem in were, Withe a shelde and a Spere, On a faire felde. XXXIV. ¶ I wol fiȝte one a felde, þereto I make feithe, Withe eny freke vppone folde, þat frely is borne. To lese suche a lordshippe me wold thenke laithe, And iche lede opone lyue wold laghe me to scorne." "We ar in þe wode went, to walke one oure waithe, To hunte at þe hertes with hounde and with horne; We ar in oure gamene, we haue no gome graiþe; But yet þou shalt be mached be mydday to morne. For þi I rede þe, þenke rest al niȝte." Gawayne, graþest of alle, Ledes him oute of the halle, Into a pavilone of palle, Þat prodly was piȝte. XXXV. ¶ Piȝte was prodly, with purpour and palle, Birdes braudene aboue, in brend golde briȝte; In-withe was a chapelle, a chambour, a halle, A chymne with charcole, to chaufe þe kniȝte. His stede was stabled, and led to þe stalle, Hay hertly he had in haches one highte. Siþene þei braide vp a borde, and cloþes þei calle, Sanape and saler, semly to sighte, Torches and brochetes, and stondardes bitwene. Thus þei serued þat kniȝte, And his worþely wiȝte, With riche dayntes diȝte, In siluer so shene. XXXVI. ¶ In siluer so semely were serued of þe best, With vernage, in veres and cuppes ful clene; And þus sir Gawayne þe good glades hour geste With riche dayntees endored, in disshes by-dene. Whane þe rialle renke was gone to his reste, The king to counsaile has called his kniȝtes so kene: "Loke nowe, lordes, oure lose be not lost; Ho shal encontre with þe kniȝte, kestes you bitwene." Thene seid Gawayne þe goode: "shal hit not greue; Here my honde I you hiȝte, I wolle fight with þe knighte, In defence of my riȝte, Lorde, by your leue." XXXVII. ¶ "I leue wel," quod þe king, "þi lates ar liȝte; But I nolde, for no lordeshippe, se þi life lorne." "Let go," quod sir Gawayne, "god stond with þe riȝte! If he skape skaþelese, hit were a foule skorne." In þe daying of þe day þe doughti were dighte, And herdene matens and masse, erly one morne. By þat on plumtone land a palais was piȝte, Were neuer freke opone folde had fouȝtene biforne. Þei settene listes by lyne one þe loȝ lande. Thre soppes de mayne Þei broughte to sir Gawayne, For to confort his brayne, Þe king gared commaunde. XXXVIII. The king commaunded krudely, þe erlis sone of kent, Curtaysly in þis case take kepe to þe kniȝt. With riche dayntees or day he dyned in his tente; After buskes him in a brene, þat burneshed was briȝte, Siþene to Waynour wisly he went; He laft in here warde his worthly wighte. After aither in highe hour horses þei hent, And at þe listes one þe lande lordely done liȝte, Bothe þes two burnes, baldest of blode. Þe kinges chaier is set, Quene one a chacelet, Many galiard gret, For Gawayne þe gode. XXXIX. ¶ Gawayne and Galerone gurdene here stedes, Al in gleterand golde gay was here gere; Þe lordes by-lyue hom to list ledes With many seriant of mace, as was þe manere. The burnes broched þe blonkes þat þe side bledis. Ayþer freke opone folde has fastned his spere; Shaftes in shide wode þei shindre in shedes; So iolile þes gentil Iusted one were! Shaftes þei shindre in sheldes so shene, And siþene, withe brondes brighte, Riche mayles þei riȝte; There encontres þe kniȝt With Gawayne one grene. XL. Gawyne was gaily graþed in grene, Withe his Griffons of golde engreled fulle gay, Trifeled withe tranes, and true loves bitwene; On a stargand stede þat strikes one stray, Þat oþer in his turnaying he talkes in tene: "Whi drawes þou þe on dreghe, and makes siche deray?" He swapped him yne at þe swyre, with a swerde kene, That greued sir Gawayne to his deþ day. The dyntes of þat doughety were doutwis by-dene; Fifte mayles and mo, The swerde swapt in two The canel bone also, And clef his shelde shene. XLI. ¶ He clef þorghe þe cantelle þat couered þe kniȝte, Thorghe þe shinand shelde a shaftmone and mare; And þene þe lady loude lowe vppone highte, And Gawayne greches þerwith, and gremed ful sare. "I shal rewarde þe þi route, if I cone rede righte." He folowed in one þe Freke withe a fresshe fare, Þorghe blasone and brene, þat burneshed were briȝte; Withe a burliche bronde thorghe him he bare, The bronde was blody þat burneshed was briȝte. Then gloppened þat gay; Hit was no ferly, in fay, Þe sturne strikes one stray, In stiropes striȝte. XLII. ¶ Streyte in his steroppes, stoutely he strikes, And waynes at sir Wawayne, als he were wode; Þene his lemmane on lowde skirles and skirkes, Whene þat burly burne blenket one blode. Lordes and ladies of þat laike likes, And þonked god fele sithe for Gawayne þe gode. Withe a swap of a swerde þat swaþel him swykes; He stroke of þe stede hede streite þere he stode. The faire fole fondred, and fel to þe grounde; Gawayne gloppened in hert, Of he were hasty and smert, Oute of sterops he stert, Fro grisselle þe goode. XLIII. ¶ "Grisselle," quod Gawayne, "gone is, god wote! He was þe burlokest blonke, þat euer bote brede! By him þat in bedeleem was borne euer to bene our bote, I shalle venge þe to day, if I cone right rede. Go fecche me my fresone, fairest one fote. He may stonde þe in stoure, in as mekle stede; No more for þe faire fole þene for a risshe rote, But for doel of þe dombe best, þat þus shuld be dede; I mourne for no monture, for I may gete mare." Als he stode by his stede, Þat was so goode at nede, Ner Gawayne wax wede, So siked he sare. XLIV. ¶ Thus wepus for wo Wowayne þe wighte, And wenys him to quyte þat wonded is sare; Þat oþer droȝ him on dreȝt, for drede of þe kniȝte, And boldely broched his blonk one þe bent bare. "Þus may þou dryve forthe þe day to þe derke nighte!" The sone was passed, by þat, mydday and mare. Withe in þe listes þe lede lordly done lighte; Touard þe burne withe his bronde, he busked him þare; To bataile þey bowe withe brondes so brighte; Shene sheldes were shred, Brighte brenes by-bled, Many douȝeti were a-dred, So fersely þei fighte! XLV. ¶ Thus þei feght one fote, one þat faire felde, As fresshe as a lyone þat fautes þe fille; Wilele þes wighte mene þaire wepenes þey welde, . . . . . He bronched him yne withe his bronde, vnder þe brode shelde, Þorghe þe waast of þe body, and wonded him ille. Þe swerd stent for no stuf, hit was so wel steled; Þat oþer startis one bak, and stondis stone stille. Though he were stonayed þat stonde, he strikes ful sare; He gurdes to sir Gawayne, Thorghe ventaile and pesayne; He wanted noȝte to be slayne Þe brede of ane hare. XLVI. ¶ Hardely þene þes haþelese one helmes þey hewe, Þei betene downe beriles, and bourdures bright; Shildes one shildres, þat shene were to shewe, Fretted were in fyne golde, þei failene in fighte; Stones of Iral þey strenkel and strewe, Stiþe stapeles of stele þey strike done stiȝte; Burnes bannene þe tyme þe bargane was brewe, The dougheti withe dyntes so delfully were dight. Thene gretes Gaynour, with bothe here gray ene, For þo douȝeti þat fiȝte, Were manly mached of mighte, Withe oute resone or righte, As al mene sene. XLVII. ¶ Thus gretis Gaynour, withe boþe here gray yene, For gref of sir Gawayne, grisly was wounded; The knighte of corage was cruel and kene, And withe a stele bronde þat sturne oft stonded; Al þe cost of knyȝt he carf downe clene, Þorghe þe riche mailes, þat ronke were and rounde. With a teneful touche he taȝt him in tene; He gurdes sir Galerone groueling on gronde. Grisly one gronde he groned one grene; Als wounded as he was, Sone buredely he ras, And folowed fast one his tras, With a swerde kene. XLVIII. ¶ Kenely þat cruel keuered one hiȝte, And withe a scas of care in cautil he strikes, And waynes at sir Wawyne, þat worþely wighte; But him lymped þe worse, and þat me wel likes. He atteled withe a slenke haf slayne him in sliȝte; Þe swerd swapped one his swange, and one þe mayle slikes, And Gawayne bi þe coler keppes þe kniȝte. Þene his lemmane one loft skrilles and skrikes; Ho gretes one Gaynour, with gronyng grylle; "Lady makeles of mighte, Haf mercy one yondre kniȝte, That is so delfulle diȝte, If hit be thi wille." XLIX. ¶ Wisly dame Waynour to þe king wente, Ho cauȝte of her coronalle, and kneled him tille: "As þou art ioy roiall, richest of rente, And I þi wife, wedded at þi owne wille, Þes burnes in þe bataile so blede on þe bente, They arne wery, I wis, and wonded fulle ille; Þorghe here shene sheldes here shuldres are shent; The grones of sir Gawayne dos my hert grille. The grones of sir Gawayne greuene me sare; Woldest þou, leve lorde, Make þes knightes accorde, Hit were a grete conforde For alle þat þere ware." L. ¶ Thene spak sir Galerone to Gawayne þe good: "I wende neuer wee in þis world had bene half so wiȝte; Here I make þe releyse, renke, by þe rode, And by rial reysone relese þe my righte; And siþene make the monradene, with a mylde mode, As mane of medlert makeles of mighte." He talkes touard þe king one hie þer he stode, And bede þat burly his bronde, þat burneshed was briȝte. "Of rentes and richesse I make þe releyse." Downe kneled þe kniȝte, And carped wordes one hiȝte; The king stode vp righte And commaunded pes. LI. ¶ The king commaunded pes, and cried one hiȝte, And Gawayne was goodly, and laft for his sake. Þene lordes to listes þey lopen ful liȝte, Sir Ewayne fiȝ Griane, and Arrak fiȝ lake, Sir Drurelat and Moylard, þat most were of miȝte. Boþe þes trauayled mene þey truly vp take; Vnnethe miȝte þo sturne stonde vp riȝte; What for buffetes and blode, here blees wex blake; Here blees were brosed, for beting of brondes. Withe outene more lettynge, Diȝte was here saȝtlynge; Bifore þe comly kinge, Þei held vp here hondes. LII. ¶ "Here I gif sir Gawayne, with gersone and golde, Al þe Glamergane londe, with greues so grene; Þe worship of Wales, at wil and al wolde, Withe Criffones Castelles, curnelled ful clene; Eke Vlstur halle, to hafe and to holde, Wayford and Waterforde in Wales, I wene; Two baronrees in Bretayne, with burghes so bolde, Þat arne batailed abouȝte, and bigged ful bene. I shal diȝte þe a Duke, and dubbe þe with honde, Withe þi þou saȝtil with þe kniȝte, Þat is so hardi and wiȝte, And relese him his riȝte, And graunte him his londe." LIII. ¶ "Here I gif sir Galerone," quod G[awayne], "with outen any gile, Al þe londes and þe lithes, fro lauer to layre, Connoke and carlele, Conyngham and Kile, Yet if he of cheualry chalange ham [?] for aire; Þe loþer, þe lemmoke, þe loynak, þe lile, Withe frethis and forestes, and fosses so faire; Vnder your lordeship to lenge here a while, And to þe rounde table to make repaire. I shall refeff him in felde, in forestes so faire." Boþe þe king and þe quene, And al þe douȝti by-dene, Þorghe þe greues so grene, Carlele þei caire. LIV. ¶ The king to Carlele is comene, with kniȝtes so kene, And al þe rounde table one rial aray. Þe wees, þat werene wounded so woþely, I wene, Surgenes sone saued, soþely to say; Bothe confortes þe knightes, þe king and þe quene; Thei were dubbed Dukes, bothe one a day. There he wedded his wife, wlonkest, I wene, Withe giftes and garsons, sir Galerone þe gay. Þus þat haþel in hiȝ with holdes þat hende; Whane he was saued sonde, Þei made sir Galerone þat stonde A kniȝte of þe table ronde, To his lyues ende. LV. ¶ Waynour gared wisely write in þe west, To al þe religious to rede and to singe; Prestes with processione to pray were prest, With a mylione of masses to make þe mynnynge. Boke lered mene, bisshops þe best, Þorghe al Bretayne besely þe burde gared rynge. Þis ferely bifelle in englond forest, Vnder a holte so hore at a huntyng; Suche a huntyng in haast is noȝte to be hide. Thus to forest þey fore, Þes sterne knightes in store; In þe tyme of Arthore, This anter be-tide. HERE BYGYNNES THE AWNTYRS OFF ARTHURE AT THE TERNE WATHELYNE. THORNTON MS. I. IN Kyng Arthure tyme ane awntir by-tyde, By the Terne Wahethelyne, als the buke tellis, Als he to Carelele was commene, that conque|roure kyde,I. that conquerour. Withe dukes, and with ducheperes, þat with þat dere duellys, For to hunnte at the herdys, þat lange hase bene hyde; And one a daye þay þam dighte to þe depe dellis, To felle of the Femmales, in the Foreste wele Frythede,I. Fellun to tho femalus, in forest was fredde. Faire in the fernysone tyme, by frythis and fellis.I. Fayre by fermesones, by . . . Thus to þe wode are thay wente, the wlonkeste in wedys, Bothe the kynge and the qwene, And alle þe doghety by-dene; Syr Gawane, gayeste one grene, Dame Gayenoure he ledis. II. And Thus sir Gawane þe gay dame Gayenour he ledis, In a gleterande gyde, þat glemet fulle gaye, Withe riche rebanes reuerssede, who þat righte redys, Raylede with rubes one royalle arraye; Hir hude was of hawe hewe, þat hir hede hydys,I. of a haa hew. Wroghte with peloure and palle, and perrye to paye; Schruedede in a schorte cloke, þat the rayne schrydes,I. the rayn shredes. Sett ouer with safyrs, fulle sothely to saye. And thus wondirfully was alle þe wyghtis wedys;I. Safers and seledyms, serclet on sydus. D. seladyues? Hir sadille semyde of þat ilke, Semlely sewede with sylke;I. With ryche sa savmhellus of sylke. One a muyle als the milke Gayely scho glydis. III. Thus alle in gleterande golde gayely scho glydis The gates, with sir Gawane, by a grene welle; Nane bot hym selfe one a blonke by þat birde bydis,I. And a byrne on a blonke, that with the quene a-bydus. That borne was in burgoyne, by buke and by belle. He ledde þat lady so lange by þose landes sydys,I. by that loghe sydus. Sythene vndir a lorere scho lyghte, lawe by a felle. Sir Arthure, with his Erles, fulle Ernestly rydis, To teche þame to þaire tristis, trewely to telle. To þaire tristis he þam taughte, who þat righte trowes, Ilke a lorde, with owttyne lett, At his triste was he sett,I. Vn-to a tre ar thay sette. With bowe and with Barcelett, Vndir þose bewes. IV. Vndir þose bewes þay bade, þose beryns so bolde, To bekire at þose barrayne, in bankis so bare. Thay keste of þaire coppilles, in clyffes so calde;I. hathels in hye, herdus. Thay recomforthed þaire kenettis, to kele þame of care; Þare myghte hirdmene, hendely forsothte, herdis by-halde, Herkyn huntynge with hornnes, in holtis so hare.42-45. The order of the lines is the same in I. as in D.(43). I. huntyng with horne. Þay fellede downe þe femmalles, fulle thikke folde,I. Thay felle to the female dure, feyful thyk-fold. With fresche hundis, and felle, felonosly þay fare.I. thay folo the fare. . . . . .A line is wanting here in the three MSS. Þay questede and quellys,I. Thay questun, thay quellun. By frythis and fellis, Þat þe dere dwellys, And darkys and darys.I. Thay droupun and daren. V. Alle darkis the dere, and to downe schowys,I. in the dym scoghes. And, for þe dowte of þe dede, drowpys the daa, And by þe stremys so strange, þat swyftly swoghes,I. For the squyppand watur, that squytherly squoes. Þay wery þe wilde swyne, and wyrkkis þame waa. Thay hunte and halowes, in holttis and hillys,I. The hunteres thay haulen, by hurstes and by hoes. And tille þaire riste raches relyes one þaire raye;I. To the rest raches that releues of the roe. Thay gafe no gamene, no grythe, þat one grownde growes,I. Thay geuen no gomen, nyf no grythe, that on the grounde groes. Grete hundis fulle gladly gane gaa.I. in the grene greues. Thus þies gomes þay ga, in grevys so grene, And boldly blawes rechayse,I. The king blue a rechase. And folowes faste one þe trase, With many sergyaunte of mace, Swylk solauce to sene. VI. Thus with solauce þay semelede, the prowdeste in palle,I. Thus that solas to see, the semelokest of alle, Thay soȝt to thayre souerayne, undur the scha schene. And sew to þe soueraygne, in cleues so clene;I. Thus that solas to see, the semelokest of alle, Thay soȝt to thayre souerayne, undur the scha schene. Nane bot sir gawane, the gayeste of alle, By-leuys with dame gaynour in þose greues grene. Vndir a lorrere scho laye, þat lady so smalle,I. By a lauryel ho lay, vndur a lefe sale. Of Boxe and of Barborane byggyde fulle bene; Faste by-fore vndrone this ferly gune falle, And this mekille mervelle, þat I of mene. Now wille I of þis mervelle men, ȝif I mote;D. meve. The daye woxe als dirke Als it were mydnyghte myrke, Ther of sir Gawane was irke,I. Syr Arther. And lyghte one his fote. VII. Thus one fote are þay lyghte, þose frekis vn-fayne,I. one fote con thay founde. And fledde faste to the foreste, and to þe fawe fellis;I. fled to the forest fro the fau fellus. Thay rane faste to the roches, for reddoure of þe rayne;Omitted in D.; corrupt in I. For þe slete and þe snawe, þat snayppede þame so snelle;I. For the snyterand snaue, that snaypely hom snellus. Thare come a lowe one the loughe, in lede es noghte to layne,I. So come a lau oute of a loghe. In the lyknes of Lucyfere, layetheste in helle,Omitted in D. I. hellus. And glyddis to dame gaynoure the gatis fulle gayne,I. hyre gates were gayne. Ȝollande ȝamyrly, withe many lowde ȝelle.I. ful ȝamerly, . . . ȝelles. It ȝellede, it ȝamede, withe vengeance fulle wete,I. with wlonkes full wete. And saide, ofte syghande fulle sare:I. with sykyng sare. "I ame the body þat þe bare,I. I banne the byrde that me bare. Allas! now kyndyls my kare, I gloppyne and I grete!" VIII. Thane gloppenyde and grett dame Gaynoure the gaye, And askede sir Gawayne whatt was his beste rede.I.=D. "It es the clippes of the Mone, I herde a clerke saye;"I. Hyt is but the clyppus of the sune. And thus he comforthede þe qwene with his knyghtehede. "Sir Cadore, Sir Caduke, Sir Costarde, Sir Kaye,I. Syr Cador, Syr Clegius, Syr Costantyne, Syr Cay. Thir knyghtis are vn-curtayse, by crose and by crede, That thus me hase lefte in this Erthe at my dede daye,I. thus haue laft me allone. With the gryselyeste gaste þat euer herde I grete!" "At this gaste," quod Sir Gaweayne, "greue ȝowe no more; I salle speke with ȝone spyrete, In ȝone wayes so wete, If I maye the Bales bete Of ȝone body bare."102-104. I. And of hit woe will I wete, Gif that I may hit bales bete, And the body bare. IX. Bare was hir body, and blake to the bone, Alle by-claggede in claye, vn-comlyly clede; It weryit, it wayemettede lyke a womane, Þat nowþer one hede, ne one hare, hillynge it hade.I. Nauthyr of hyde, nyf of heue, no hillyng hit had. It stottyde, it stounnede, it stode als a stane,I. Hyt stedyt, hit stode as stylle as. It marrede, it mournede, it moyssede for made.I. Hyt menet, hit musut, hyt marret. Vn-to þat grysely gaste Sir Gaweayne es gane; He raykede to it one a rase, for he was neuer rade; For rade was he neuer, nowe who þat ryghte redis. One þe chefe of þe cholle, A tade pykit one hir polle,I. A padok prykette on a polle. Hir eghne ware holkede fulle holle, Glowand als gledis. X. Alle glowede als gledis the gaste whare scho glydis, Vmbyclede in a clowde, with clethynge vn-clere,I. Was vmbyclosut in a cloude. Cerkelytt withe serpentes, þat satt by hir sydes;I. Was sette aure with serpentes. To telle þe dedis þer one my tonge were to tere.I. = D. Dedis in T. must be a mistake for tadis. The beryn brawndeche owte his brande, and the body bydis, There fore þat cheualrous knyghte thoghte it no chere;I. chonget no chere. The hundes are to hillys, and þaire hedes hydes,I. The houndes hyes to the holtes. For þat grysely gaste made so gryme bere. The grete grewhundes were agayste for that grym bere; The birdis one the bewes, Þat one that gaste gewes, Thay clyme in the clewes, That hedows whene þay here.128-130. I. That of the gost gous, Thay scryken in the scoes, That herdus myȝten hom here. XI. Who þat myghte þat hedows see, hendeste in haulle,I. Alle the herdus myȝtun here, the hyndest of alle. How hir cholle chatirede, hyr chaftis and hir chynne!I. Off the schaft and the shol, shaturt to the shin. Thane coniurede hir þat knyghte, and one criste gune he calle: "Alls þou was crucyfyede one croyse, to saue vs fra syne,I. claryfiet on crosse, and clanser of synne. Thou spirette, saye me the sothe, whedir þat þou salle,I. Wys me, thou waret wyȝte, quedur. And whi þat þou walkes thies wayes, thies woddis with-inne?" "I was of Fegure and of flesche the fayereste of alle, Cristenede and krysommede, withe kynges in my kyne.I. Crystunt and crisumpte. I hafe kynges in my kyne, knawene kyde fulle kene; God hase sent me this grace, To drye my paynes in this place, And nowe am I commene one a pase,I.=D. To speke withe ȝoure qwene. XII. Qwene was I whilome, wele bryghttere of browes Than Beryke or Brangwayne, the byrdis so balde;I. Thenne Berel. Of any gamnes or gudis, þat one the grownde growes,I. the gomun and the grythe. Wele grettere þan gaynour, of garsomes and of golde, Of pales, of powndis, of parkes, of plewes, Of townnes, of towris, of tresoures vn-tolde, Of contres, of castelles, of cragges, of clewes; And nowe am I cachede owte of kythe, in carys so colde; In care am I cachede, and cowchede in claye. Loo! curtayse knyghte, How þat dede hase me dyghte!I. dylful dethe. Nowe gyffe me anes a syghte Of Gayenour the gaye." XIII. Nowe to Gayenour þe gaye Sir Gaweayne es gane, And to þat body hase he broghte that birde þene so bryghte.I. Be-fore the body he hur broȝte, and the byrde bryȝte. "Welecome, Waynour!" scho says, "þou worthye in wane! Loo! howe þat dulefulle dede hase thi dame dyghte! I was reddere in rode þan rose in þe rayne; My lyre als the lely, lufely to syghte,I. that lauchet so lyȝte. D. lonched? And nowe I am a grisely gaste, and grymly grane,granes—a mistake in T. With Lucefere in a lake lawe ame I lyghte. Thus am I lyke to Lucefere, takis witnes by mee;I. Thus lau am I lyȝte, take wittenesse by me. For alle ȝoure fresche fauoure, Now moyse one this mirroure,166-167. I. For alle ȝour fresche forur, That menes of ȝour merur.D. gives the best meaning. For, bothe Kynge and Emperoure, Thus salle ȝe bee. XIV. And thus dede wille ȝow dyghte, takis witnes by mee,D. Thus diȝt. I. I do ȝo oute of doute. And there one hertly takis hede, whils þat þou es here; When þou es richely arrayede, and rydes in a rowte, Hafe þane pete, and mynd one þe pore, for þou arte of powere.and mynd omitted in I. Beryns and byrdes are besye the a-bowte;I.=T. Whene thi body es bawmede, and broghte appone bere, Thane wille þay leue the lyghtely, þat nowe wille the lowte,I.=T. And thane helpes the no thynge, bot halye prayere.D. he helpes. The prayere of þe pore chasses the from helle,I. purchase thi pece. Of þase þat ȝellis at thi ȝate;I. Those at thou ȝees at thi ȝate. Whene þou sittis in thi sette, Withe alle mirthes at thi mete, Some dayntes þou dele.I.=D. XV. Withe daynteths one desse thi dyetes are dyghte, And thus in dawngere and dole I downe and I duelle,I. And I in dungun and dill, is done for to duelle. Nasty and nedfulle, and nakede one nyghte; Þere folowes me a ferde of fendis fulle felle; Thay harle me vnhendely, and hewys me one hyghte;I. thay haue me on heȝte. In brasse and in bromstane I burne als a belle; Was neuer wroghte in this werlde a wafullere wyghte; It were tore tille any tonge my tourmenttis to telle! Bot now wille I of my tourment talke, or I gaa. Thynke hertly on this, Now fande to mende of thi mys; For thou erte warnede, I wysse, Be warre now, be my waa!" XVI. "Now wo es me for thi waa!" sayd Waynour, "I wysse, Bot a worde wolde I wete, and thi wille ware; Gyff matynes or messes myghte oghte mendene thi mysse, Or any mobylles on molde, my myrthis ware the mare; Or bedis of bechopis myghte brynge the to blysse, Or couenntis in cloysters myghte kele the of care;I. kele. For, if þou be my modir, grete mervelle it es That thi burlyche body es blakenede so bare!"—I. thy burliche body bryȝte is so bare. "I bare the of my body; whate bote es to lye?I. quat bote is to layne. Be that to takenynge thou trowe, I brake a solempne a-vowe, That none wyste, bot I and thowe, And þerfore dole I drye."205-208. I. By a token thou me troue, I breke a solem adecoue, That non wist but I and thou, Quo sotheli wille sayne! XVII. "Telle me now sothely what may safe thi sytis,I. quat myȝte saue the from site. And I salle garre seke sayntes for thi sake;I. Fro cite I schalle sayntes ger seke sone for thi sake. Bot of thase balefulle bestis, þat one thi body bytys,I. = T. Alle blendis my blode, thi blee es soo blake."I. Alle blynde is my ble. "This es it to luffe paramoures, and lustis and litys, That gerse me lyghte and lenge so lawe in þis lake;213-214. I. These ar luf peramourus, that listus and likes, Dose me lyȝte, and lynd lau in in (sic) a lake. For alle the welthe of this werlde thus awaye wytis;I. thus a-way. This werlde es wandrethe, þat wirkis me wrake;I. With these wrechut wurmus. For wrake it me wirkis now, Waynoure, I wysse. Were thritty trentalles done,I. trentes of masse. By-twyxene vndrone and none, My saule were saluede fulle sone,I. My saule were socurt ful sone. And broghte in to blysse." XVIII. (XX.)By a mistake of the scribe the next three stanzas are written in T. in the order indicated within brackets. "To blysse brynge the that barne, þat dere hase the boghte,I. that boȝt vs with his blode. D. broughte. That was crucyfiede one croyse, and crownnede with thorne;I. clarifiet. Crystynnede and krysommede with candilles and coude, Fullede in funestane, fulle frely by-forne;I. frely biforne. Mary, þat es myghty, and myldeste of mode, That bare þat blysschede, in bedleme was borne,I. = D. Gyffe me grace for to grete thy saule with some gude,I. = T. And mene the with messes and matynnes one morne."I. And myn. "To mene me with messes, grete menske nowe it were;I. To mynne . . . grete mestur. For hym þat ryste one þe rode, Gyffe nowe faste of thy gude To folke þat fayles the fude, Whylles þat thou erte here." XIX. (XVIII.) "Now here hertly one hande I hete the to halde,I. Here I hete the my hond thi hestus to hold. With a melyone of messes to make thy menynge. Bot one worde," saide dame Waynour, "nowe wiete þat I walde, Whate greues Gode moste of any kyns thynge?"I. Quat wrathes Crist most at thi weting. "Pride, with apparementis, als prophetis haue talde, By-fore þe pople appertly in thaire prechynge.I. And enperit to the pepulle. The is fulle bittire, þare-of be thou balde;I. These ar the branches full bittur. A blank space has been left in T. after The. It makis beryns fulle balde to breke his byddynge.I. full boune. Who so his byddynge brekis, bare he es of blysse; Bot þay be salued of that sare, Certis, or þay hethyne fare,I.=T. Thay mone wiete of calde care, Waynoure, I wys." XX. (XIX.) "Telle me," sayde Waynour, "a worde, ȝif þou woste,I. Now wis me. Whate dedis myghte me beste in to blysche brynge."I. Quat bedus. "Mekenesse and mercy," scho saide, "þo are the moste; Hafe pete one the pore, thane plesys þou owre Kynge; Sythene after that, do almous dedis of alle oþer thynge;I. Sethyn charite is chefe to those that wyn be chast. Thies arene the gud gyftis of the holy goste,I. Almesdede, that is aure alle other thingus. That enspyres alle sperites, with owttyne spillynge, For to come to that blysse, that euer more salle laste.T. inserts a line here to make up for the omission of l. 252; but the order of the rhymes is wrong. I. and D. agree in ll. 252-255. Of thies sperituale thynges spyre me na mare;I. Off this spirituallte speke we. Whills þou arte quene in thi quarte, Halde thies wordis in thyne herte, For þou salle lyffe bot a starte; Hethyne salle þou fare."T. reads ifare. XXI. "How salle we fare," said the freke, "þat fowndis to fyghte, That ofte foundis the folkes, in fele kyngis landis,I.=D. That riche rewmes ouer rynnes agaynes the ryghte,I.=T. And wynnes wirchippis and welthis, by wyghtenes of handis?"I. wurschip and wele. "Ȝoure kynge es to couetous, I telle the, sir knyghte; Maye no mane stere hym of strenghe, whilles þe whele standis;I. Ther may no strenȝthe him stir. Whene he es in his mageste hegheste, and maste es of myghte,I.=D. He salle lighte fulle lawe, appone the see sandis. Thus ȝoure cheualrous kynge chefe schalle a chaunce;I.=T. False fortune in fyghte,I. Felles fortune. That wondirfulle whele wryghte,I.=T. Mase lordis lawe for to lyghte;I. That lau wille lordis gere liȝte. Takes witnes by Fraunce. XXII. Fraunce hafe ȝe frely with ȝour fyghte wonnene; The Frollo and þe Farnaghe es frely by-leuede;I. Frol and his Farnet ful fery haue ȝe leuyt. Bretayne and Burgoyne es bothe to ȝow bowndene,I. Bretan and Burgoyn, is bothe in ȝour bandum. And alle the dugepers of Fraunce with þe dyne dreuede. Gyane may gretyne þat þe werre was by-gounnene; Es noghte a lorde in þat lande appone lyfe leuede. Ȝete salle þe riche Romaynes with ȝow bene ouer-ronnene,I.=T. And alle þe rownde tabille þaire rentis be reuede.I. And atte the Rountabulle the rentus schalle be reuet. Thay salle ȝitt be tybire tymbire ȝow tene.I. Hit schalle be tynte, as I troue, and timburt with tene. Gete the, sir Gawayne, Turne þou to tuskayne, For þou salle BretayneI. Or lese schalle ȝe Bretan. A blank space left after For in T. With a knyghte kene.I.=T. XXIII. A knyghte salle kenly closene þe crowne,I. croyse the croune. And at carelyone be crownede for kynge;I. at Carlit. That sege salle be sesede at a sesone,I. That segge schalle ensese him atte a session. That mekille bale and barete tille ynglande sall brynge. Ther salle in tuskayne be tallde of þat tresone,I. ȝe schalle. Ane torne home a-ȝayne for that tydynge; And ther salle the Rownde Tabille losse the renowne, Be-syde ramessaye fulle ryghte at a rydynge; And at Dorsett salle dy the doghetyeste of alle.I. In Desesde. Gette the, sir Gawayne, Þe baldeste of Bretayne; For in a slake þou salle be slayne, Swylke ferly salle falle! XXIV. Siche ferly salle falle, with owttene any fabille, Appone Cornewayle coste, with a knyghte kene; Arthure þe auenante, þat honeste es and abille, Salle be wondede, I wysse, fulle wathely, I wene; . . . . . . . . . .304-305.Two lines omitted in T. I.=D. Supprysede with a sugette, þat beris of sabille,I. that bere schalle of sabulle. A sawtire engrelede of siluer fulle schene.I. With a sauter. He beris of sabille, sothely to saye; In Kyng Arthures haulle The childe playes hym at the balle, That salle owttraye ȝow alle,D. on tray. Fulle derfely a daye.I. Derfly that daye. XXV. Hafe gud daye, dame Gaynour, and Gawayne þe gude! I hafe na langare tyme mo tales to telle;I. I have no lengur tyme ȝo tithinges to telle. For me buse wende one my waye, thorowte this wode, Vn-to my wonnynge wane, in waa for to welle. For him þat rewfully rase, and rente was one rude,I. ryȝtewis rest and rose on the rode. Thynke one þe dawngere and the dole þat I in duelle;I.=T. And fede folke, for my sake, þat fawtes the fude, And mene me with messes, and matyns in melle.See note. . . . . .Omitted in T., I.=D. Vs thynke a messe als swete Als any spyce þat euer þou ete."I.=T. And thus, with a grysely grete, The gaste a-waye glydis. XXVI. . . . . .Omitted in T.I.=D. . . . . .Omitted in T.I. And a sore gronyng, with a grim bere. The wynde and the wedyrs þane welkene in hydis; Thane vnclosede the clowddis, þe sone schane schene.328-329. I. The wynd and the welkyn, the wethur in that tide, The cloude vnclosut, the sune wex clere. The kynge his bogille hase blowene, and on þe bent bydis; His faire folke in firthes flokkes in fere;I. His fayre folke on the fuilde they flocken in fere. All þat royalle rowte to þe qwene rydys, And melis to hir mildely, one þaire manere.I.=T. The wyes on swilke wondirs a-wondirde þaire were;I.=D. The prynces prowdeste in palle, Dame Gaynour and alle, Wente to randolfe sett haulleI. Rondalle sete halle. To þaire sopere. XXVII. The kynge was sett to þe supere, and seruede in sale,I. in his sale. Vndir a seloure of sylke, fulle daynetyuousely dighte, With alle the wirchipe to welde, and wyne for to wale,I. With alle welthis to wille, and wynus to wale. D. mewith. Birdis in brede, of brynt golde bryghte.I.=T. Ther come two setolers in, with a symbale,I.=D. A lady, lufsome of late, ledande a knyghte. Scho rydes vp to þe heghe desse, by-fore þe royalle,I.=T. And askede Sir Arthure, fulle hendely one highte.I.=D. Scho saide to þat souerayne, wlonkeste in wedis: "Mane moste of myghte,I.=D. Here es comyne ane armede knyghte;I. This is a nayre and a knyȝt. Now do hym resone and ryghte, For thi manhede." XXVIII. The mane in his mantylle syttis at his mete,I. Monli in his mantille he sate atte his mete. In paulle purede with pane, fulle precyousely dyghte,I. With palle puret in poon was prudliche piȝte. Trofelyte and trauerste wythe trewloues in trete;I. Trowlt with trulufes and tranest be-tuene. Omitted in D. The tasee was of topas þat þer to was tyghte.I. The tassellus. He glyfte vpe withe hys eghne, þat graye ware and grete, Withe his burely berde, one þat birde bryghte.I. With his beueren berd opon the birne bryȝte. He was the souerayneste sir, sittande in sette, Þat euer any segge saughe, or sene was with syghte. Thus the kyng, crowned in kythe, carpis hir tille:I. Thenne oure comeliche King carpus hur tille. "Welecome, worthyly wyghte! Thou salle hafe resone and ryghte; Whythene es this comly knyghte,D. Whelene. If it be thi wille?"361-364. I. Thou wurlych wiȝt, Liȝte and leng alle nyȝt; Quethun is that ayre and that knyȝt, And hit were thi wille? XXIX. Scho was the worthilieste wyghte, þat any wy myghte welde;I. the wurliche wiȝte that any wee wold. Hir gyde was gloryous and gaye, alle of gyrse grene; Hir belle was of plonkete, withe birdis fulle baulde,I. of blenket. Botonede with besantes, and bokellede fulle bene;I. Beten with besandus. Hir faxe in fyne perrye frette was in fowlde, Conterfelette in a kelle, colourede fulle clene;I. Her countur-felit and hur kelle were. Withe a crowne of crystalle and of clere golde;I. With a croune cumly, was clure to be-hold. Hir courchefes were coryouse, with many prowde pyne.I. mony a proude prene. . . . . .I. Hur enparel was a-praysut with princes of myȝte. This line is wanting in T. The bryghte byrdis and balde Had note ynoghe to by-haldeI. Hade i-nuȝhe to be-hold. One þat freely to fawlde, And one þat hende knyghte. XXX. That knyghte in his coloures was armede fulle clene, Withe his comly creste, fulle clene to by-holde; His brenyes and his bacenett, burneschet fulle bene, With a bourdoure a-bowte, alle of brynte golde;I.=T. His mayles was mylk-whytte, enclosede so clene;I. enclawet ful clene. His horse trappede withe the same, als it was me taulde;I.=D. The schelde one his schuldir, of syluere fulle schene, Withe bare heuedis of blake, burely and baulde.I. of blakke, and brees ful bold. brake, an error for blake, in D. His horse withe sendale was teldede, and trappede to þe hele;I. His stede with sandelle of Trise was trapput to the hele. And his cheuarone by-forneI. Opon his. Stode als ane vnycorne, Als so scharpe als any thorne, And mayles of stele.I. An nanlas. XXXI. In stele was he stuffede, þat steryne was one stede, Alle of sternys of golde, þat stekillede was one straye;I. With his sternes of gold, stanseld on stray. He and his gambesouns glomede als gledys,I.=D. Withe graynes of rubyes, that graythede were gaye;I. A-rayet aure with rebans rychist of raye. D. rebe or reve. And his schene schynbawdes, scharpe for to schrede.I. scharpest in schredus. . . . . .I. His polans with his pelidoddes. This line is wanting in T. Þus, with a lance appone lofte, þat lady gune he lede;These two lines are transposed in T. A swayne one a fresone folowede hym, in fayeThese two lines are transposed in T. . . . . .Wanting in T. He was seldome wounte To see the tabille at his frounte; Swilke gammenes was he wonte Fulle seldome to see.400-403. I.=D. XXXII. Arthure askede in hye, one-herande þame alle: "Whate woldest þou, wy, ȝif it were thi wille? Telle me whate þou sekis, and whedir þat þou schalle, And why þou stonyes on thi stede, and stondis so stille?"I. Quy thou stedis in that stid. He lyfte vpe his vesage fro þe ventalle,I. Then he auaylet vppe his viserne. And with a knyghtly contenance he carpis hym tille: "Be þou kaysere or kynge, here I the be-calle, To fynde me a freke, to fyghte one my fille; For fyghtynge to frayste I fowndede fra hame." The kynge carpede one heghte: "Lyghte, and lende alle nyghte, If thou be curtayse knyghte,414-415. I.=T. And telle me thi name." XXXIII. "My name es sir galleroune, with owttyne any gyle,I. Syr Galrun. The gretteste of galowaye, of greves and of gyllis,I.=T. D. grenes? Of Konynge, of Carryke, of Conyngame, of Kylle, Of Lomonde, of Lenay, of Lowthyane hillis.419-420. I. Of Carrake, of Cummake, of Conyngame, of Kile, Of Lonwik, of Lannax, of Laudoune hillus. Thou hase wonnen thaym one werre, with owttrageouse wille,I. with thi wrange wiles. And gyffene þame sir Gawayne, and þat myne herte grilles. . . . . .I. Ȝette schalle thou wring thi hondus, and wary the quiles. This line is wanting in T. Or he weldene my landes, at myne vn-thankes.I. Or any we schild hom weld, atte my unnewilles. By alle þe welthe of this werlde, he salle þame neuer welde,I. Atte my unnewilles, i-wis, he schalle. Whilles I my hede may bere, Bot he wyne þame one werre, Bothe with schelde and with spere, Appone a fair felde! XXXIV. I wille fighte one a felde, and þer to make I my faythe, Withe any freke one the foulde, þat frely es borne. To losse swylke a lordschipe me thynke it fulle laythe, And ilke a leueande lede wolde laughe me to skorne."D. siche. "We arene here in the wode, walkande one our wathe, We hunte at the herdis with hundes and with horne; We arene one owre gamene, we ne hafe no gude graythe;I. Gyf thou be gome gladdest, now haue we no graythe. Bot ȝitt þou salle be machede by middaye to morne. And for thi I rede the, þou rathe mane, þou riste the alle þe nyghte."I. =T. Than Gawayne, gayeste of alle,I. graythest. Ledis hym owte of the haulle, Vn-tille a paveleone of paulle, That prowdely was pyghte. XXXV. Pighte was it prowdely, withe purpure and paulle, With dossours and qweschyns, and bankowres fulle bryghte;I. With beddus brauderit o brode, and bankers y-dyȝte. D. brandene? With inne was a chapelle, a chambir and ane haulle, A chymneye with charecole, to chawffene þat knyghte. His stede was sone stabillede, and lede to þe stalle, And haye hendly heuyde in hekkes one hyghte.I. Hay hely thay hade in haches vn-hiȝte. Sythene he braydes vp a burde, and clathes gune calle,I. Prayd vp with a burd. Sanapes and salers, fulle semly to syghte, Preketes and broketes, and standertis by-twene.I. With troches and broches. Than thay seruede þat knyghte, And his worthy wyghte, With fulle riche daynteths dyghte, In siluere fulle schene. XXXVI. In siluer sa semly þai serue þame of the beste, With vernage, in verrys and cowppys sa clene; And thus thase gleterande gommes gladdis þaire gestisI. With lucius drinkes, and metis of the best. Withe riche daynteths, endorrede in dysches by-dene. Whene the ryalle renke was gone to his ryste, The kynge in to concelle hase callede his knyghtis so kene; Sayse: "Lukes nowe, ȝe lordyngs, oure lose be noghte lost; Who salle enconter withe ȝone knyghte, nowe lukes vs by|twene."I.=D. Thane saide sir Gawayne: "He salle vs noghte greue;I. hit schalle vs noȝte greue. Here my trouthe I ȝow plyghte, I salle feghte withe ȝone knyghte, In þe defence of my ryghte, My lorde, withe ȝowre lefe." XXXVII. "I leue wele" quod the kynge, "thi latis are l . . .A large piece of fol. 159 having been torn in the Thornton MS., parts of stanzas xxxvii., xxxviii., and xl. are wanting. . . . . ." "Late gaa," quod Sir Gawayne, "Gode st . . . . . If he skape skatheles . . . . . In the dawynge of þe Thaye herde matyns By that one PluI. In myd Plumtun Lone. Whare neuer f . . . . . Twa sop Was b For The XXXVIII. TheI. kindeli the Erle of Kente. Cur Withe riche dayneteths þat day, he dynede in his tente,I. And made him with dayntethis to dine. Withe birdes bakene in brede, of brynte golde bryghte;I. And sythun this rialle men a-rayut hom o-ryȝte. And sythene vn-to dame Waynour fulle wyesely he wente, And lefte withe hir in warde his worthily wyghte. And thane thies hathelles fulle hendely þaire horsses hase hent,I. Sethin the hathels in hie hor horses haue hente. At the lycence of the lorde, þat lordely gune lyghte,I. In mydde the lyste of the lawunde the lordus doune liȝte. Alle bot thir beryns, bouldeste of blode.I. Alle butte the stithest in steroppus that stode. The kynges chayere was sette A-bowne on a chasselett; And many a gaylyarde grett492-493. I. O-boue in his chaselette, And thenne Dame Gaynour grette. For Gawayne the gude. XXXIX. Gawayne and Gallerone dyghtis thaire stedis,Stanza xxxix. is wanting in I. Alle of gleterande golde, fulle gaye was þaire gere; Twa lordes be-lyfe to thaire lystes thayme ledis,D. by lyne? Withe many sergeauntes of mace; it was þe manere. The beryns broches þaire blonkes to þair sydes bledis. Aythire freke appone felde hase fichede thaire spere; Schaftis of schene wode þay scheuerede in schides; So jolyly those gentille mene justede one were! Schaftis thay scheuer in schydes fulle schene; Sythene, with brandes fulle bryghte, Riche mayles thay righte; Thus Enconterde the knyghte With Gawayne one grene. XL. Gawayne was graythely graythede one grene, Withe griffones of golde, Engrelede fulle gaye; Trayfolede with trayfoles, and trewluffes by-twene.I. Trowlt with trulofes and tranest be-twene. One a stirtande stede he strykes one straye;I. Opon a startand stede he strikes oute of stray. his turnynge he talkes with tene; one dreghe, and makis swilke delaye? schuldir with a swerde kene; his dede day. wttous by dene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . schelde schene. XLI. [He keruet of the cantel that couurt the knyȝte,A leaf has been lost in the Thornton MS., containing the stanzas xli. to xlvi. inclusively, and part of xlvii. The missing portion has been sup|plied here from the Ireland Text. D. cautelle? Thro his shild and his shildur a schaft-mun he share;D. shiand. Then the latelest lord loghe opon heȝte, And Gauan grechut ther-with, and greuut wundur sore; Sayd, "he shuld rewarde the this route, and I con rede o-ryȝte." He foundes into the freke with a fresche fare; Throȝt basynet and breny, that burnyschet wos bryȝte, With a bytand brand euyn throghet he him bare; He bare thruȝe his brenys, that burneyst were bryȝte. Then gloppunt that gaye, Hit was no ferly, in faye, His stedes startun on straye, With steroppus fulle stryȝte. XLII. Thenne with steroppus fulle streȝte stifly he strikes, Waynes atte Sir Wawane, ryȝte as he were wode; Thenne his lemmon on lofte scrilles and scrykes, Quenne the balefulle birde blenked on his blode. Other lordus and lades thayre laykes welle likes, Thonked God of his grace, for Gawan the gode. With a sqwappe of his squrde squeturly him strykes, Smote of Gauan stede heued, in styd quere he stode. The fayre fole foundret, and felle bi the rode; Gauan was smyther and smert, Owte of his steroppus he sterte, As he that was of herte, For Greselle the gode. XLIII. "Greselle," quod Gauan, "gone is, God ote! He wos the burlokke[st] blonke, ther euyr bote brede! By him that inne Bedelem wasse borne for oure bote, I schalle reuenge the to day, and I con ryȝt rede." "Foche the my fresun," quod the freke, "is fayrest on fote, He wulle stond the in stoure, in-toe so mycul styd." "No more for thi fresun, then for a rysche rote, Butte for dylle of a dowmbe best, that thus schuld be ded; I mowrne for no matyttory, for I may gete more." And as he stode bi his stede, That was gud in iche nede, Neȝtehond Syr Wauan wold wede, So wepputte he fulle sore. XLIV. Sore wepput for woe Syr Wauan the wiȝte, Bouun to his enmy, that woundut was sore; The tother droȝghe him o-dreghe, for drede of the knyȝte, Then he brochet his blonke opon the bente bare. "Thus may we dryue furthe the day," quod Gauan, "to the dirke nyȝte, The sun is past the merke of mydday and more." In myddes the lyist on the lawunde this lordes doun lyȝte; A-gayn the byrne with his brand, he busket him ȝare: Thus to batelle thay boune with brandis so bryȝte; Shene schildus thay shrede, Welle ryche mayles wexun rede, And mony duȝty hadun drede, So fursely thai foȝtun! XLV. Thus on fote con thai feȝte, opon the fayre fildus, As fresch as ij lions that fawtutte the fille; Witturly ther weys thayre weppuns thai weld; Wete ȝe wele, Sir Wauan him wontut no wille, He berus to him with his brand, vndur his brode shild, Thro the wast of the body wowundet him ille. The squrd styntet for no stuffe, he was so wele stelet; The tothur startes on bakke, and stondus stone stille. If he were stonit in that stouunde, ȝette strykes he sore; He girdus to Syr Gauane, Throȝhe ventaylle and pusane, That him lakket no more to be slayne, Butte the brede of hore. XLVI. And thus the hardy on heyte on helmis thai heuen, Betun downe berels, in bordurs so bryȝte, That with stones iraille were strencult and strauen, Frettut with fyne gold, that failis in the fiȝte. With schildus on ther schildurs schomely thay shewen, Stythe stapuls of stele thay striken doune streȝte. Thenne byernes bannes the tyme the bargan was bruen, That euyr these duȝti with dyntus so dulfuly were diȝte. Hit hurte King Arther in herte, and mengit his mode; Bothe Sir Lote and Sir Lake Meculle menyng con make; Thenne Dame Gaynor grette for his sake, For Gawan the gode. XLVII. Thenne grette Dame Gaynour, with hur gray een, For grefe of Sir Gauan grimliche wouundes; Thenne the knyȝte, that was curtase, cruail and kene, With a stelun brand he strikes in that stounde; Alle the cost of the knyȝte he keruys doune clene, Thro the riche mayles, that ronke were and rouunde.] Swylke a touche at þat tyme he taughte hym in tene,I.=T. He girdede Sir Gallerone growelynge one grownde. Gallerone full greuousely granes on þe grene; And als wondede als he was, Swyftly vpe he rase, And folowde in faste on his faas,609-610. I. Wundur rudely he rose, Fast he foundes atte his face. With a swerde schene. XLVIII. Clenly þat crewelle couerde hym on highte, And with a caste of þe care in kautelle he strykes;612-613. I. Thus that cruelle and kene kerues on heȝte, With a cast of the carhonde in a cantelle he strikes.scas in D., probably a mistake for cast. ffulle ȝerne he wayttis Sir Wawayne þe wighte,Ȝorne waitis with woe, Sir Wauan the wiȝte. Bot hym lympede þe werse, and þat me wele lykis. He etyllede withe a slynge hafe slayne hym with sleghte; The swerde sleppis on slante, and one the mayle slydys,I. = T., with slikes at the end. And Sir Gawayne by þe colere clekis the knyghte.I. clechis the knyȝte. Than his lemane so lowde skremes and skrykis; Scho grete one dame Gaynour, with granes so grylle, And saide: "Lady, makles of myghte, Hafe now mercy one ȝone knyghte, Þat es so dulefully dyghte, Giffe it be thi wille." XLIX. Than wilfully dame Waynour vn-to þe kynge went,I. Thenne wilfulle Waynour. Scho caughte of hir coronalle, and knelyd hym tille: "Als þou erte roye ryalle, and recheste of rent, And I thyne wyfe, weddid at myne awene wille,I. = D. Ȝone beryns in ȝone batelle, þat bledis one ȝone bent,I. that bidus on the bent. Þay are wery, I wysse, and wondide fulle ille, Thurghe schene schildis þaire schuldirs are schent; . . . . .This line is wanting in T. The granes of Sir Gawayne greuys me fulle sare. Wolde þou, lufly lorde, Gare the knyghtis accorde, It ware grete comforde Tille alle þat here ware." L. Bot than hym spake Gallerone to Gawayne þe gude:I.=D. "I wende no wy in this werlde were haluendelle so wyghte; Here I make the relese in my rentis, by þe rode!I.=D. And by-fore thiese ryalle resynge the my ryghte;I. Before this rialle route. And sythene I make the manredene, with a mylde mode, Als to mane in this medilerthe makles of myghte." He talkes to-warde þe knyghte, one heghte þere he stode,I. He stalket touward the king. He bedde þat burely his brande, þat burneschede was bryghte. "Of renttis and reches I make the relese." Downe knelis þat knyghte, And carpis thies wordes on highte; The kyng stude vp-ryghte, And commandis þe pese. LI. Þe kynge commandis þe pese, and cryes one highte,I. and stode vp-riȝte. And Gawayne was gudly, and lefte for his sake; And þane to þe lystis þe lordis leppis fulle lyghte, Sir Owayne fytȝ-Vryene, and Arrake, fulle rathe,I. Huaya Fus-uryayn, and Arrake Fy-lake. Marrake and Menegalle, þat maste were of myghte.I. Sir Meliaduke the Marrake, that mekille wasse of myȝte. Bathe þase trauelde knyghtes trewly þay taghte; Vnnethes myghte those knyghtes stande vp ryghte; Þay were for-bett, and for-blede, þaire wedis wexe blake,I. So for-brissutte and for-bled, thayre blees were so blake. . . . . .I. Alle blake was thayre blees, for-betun with brandis. Omitted in T. With owttene more lettynge, Was dighte there thiere semblynge,I. thayre saȝtenyng. By-fore þat comly kynge, And helde vpe þaire handes. LII. "I gyffe to the, Sir Gawayne," quode þe kynge, "tresoure and golde; Glamorgane landis, withe greuis so grene, Þe wirchipe of Wales, to welde and to wolde,I. to weld and thou wold. Withe Gryffones castelle, kirnelde so clene;I. Kirfre Castelle with colurs ful clene. And þe Husters Haulle, to hafe and to holde,I. Iche Hulkershome. Wayfurthe and Wakfelde, wallede I wene;I. Wayifforthe and Waturforthe, wallet, I wene. Twa baronryse in Burgoyne, with burghes so balde,I. Toe baroners in Bretan. That are moted abowte, and byggede fulle bene.I. = D. I salle endowe þe als a duke, and dub the with myne hande,I. Here I doue the as Duke. Withe þi þou saughtille with ȝone gentille knyghte, That es so hardy and wyghte, And relese hym thi ryghte,I. And resingne him thi ryȝte. And graunte hym his lande." LIII. "Now, and here I gyffe hym," quod Gawayne, "with owttyne any gyle, Alle þe landes and þe lythes, fra Lowyke to Layre,I. Alle the londus for-sothe fro Logher to Layre.—D. lauer or laner. þe lithes. þe is struck out in different ink. Commoke and Carrike, Conyghame and Kylle,I. Carrake, Cummake. Als the cheualrous knyghte hase chalandchede als ayere;Originally in MS.D., Yet if he haf cheualry and chalange hit for aire, but altered by a second hand. The lebynge, the lowpynge, þe leveastre Ile,680-681. These two lines are wanting in I. Bathe frythes and forestes, frely and faire.I. Sir, to thi seluun, and sithun to thine ayre. . . . . .Written þe while by the first hand, but altered to here a by a second. I. With thi tille oure lordschip thou leng in a qwile. . . . . .D. to make altered from a. . . . . .683-685. These three lines are wanting in T.I. Here I feffe the in fild, frely and fayre.—D. faire originally spelt fare. Than þe Kynge and þe qwene, And alle the doghety by-dene, Thorow þe greuys so grene, To Carlele þay kayre. LIV. The kyng to Carelele es comene, with knyghttis so kene,Wanting in I. To halde his rownde tabille, one ryalle arraye; Those knyghtes, þat were wondede fulle wathely, als I wene, Surgeones sanede thayme, sothely to saye.I. surgens hom sauyt. sa et in D. Bothe comforthede thaym thane, the kynge and the qwene; Thay ware dubbyde dukes bothe one a daye. And ther Sir Gallerone weddid his wyfe, þat semly and schene,D. slonkest. I. wlonkest I wene. Withe gyftis and gersomes of Sir Gawayne the gaye.I. = D. And thus those hathelles with haldis that hende;I. Thus Gauan and Galrun gode frindes ar thay. And whene he was saned and sownde,I. Qwen thay were holle and sownde. Þay made hyme sworne to Sir Gawane in þat stownde, And sythene, a knyghte of þe tabylle rownde,700-701 I. = D. Vn-tille his lyues ende.I. Vntille his ending day. LV. Dame Gaynour garte besyly wryte in to þe weste, To alle manere of relygeous, to rede and to synge; Pristes withe processyones . . . . .I. Prustes, prouincials. Two half-lines wanting in T. . . . . .messis to make hir menynge.I. her modur mynnyng. Dukes, erles, barouns, and bechoppes of the beste,I. Boke-lornut byrnus. Thurghe alle Y[n]glande scho garte make menynge;I. Thro-oute Bretan so bold these bellus con ring. And thus this ferlyes by-felle in a foreste,I. in Ingulwud forest. Vndir an holte so bare, at an hunttynge;I. Be-side holtus so hore. Swylke hunttynge in holtis sulde noghte bene hyde.I. hunting in a holt. Thus to þe forestes thay fure, Steryne knyghttis and sture;712-713 I. These knyȝtus, stalwurthe and store, Throȝhe the forest thay fore. And in þe tyme of Arthure This awntyr by-tyd.This Ferly by-felle, fulle sothely to sayne, In Yggillwode Foreste, at þe Ternwathelayne.Explicit. THE PISTILL OF SUSAN. VERNON MS. I. ÞER was in Babiloine a bern, in þat borw riche,I. Þer woned a berne in. Þat was a Ieuȝ ientil, and Ioachin he hiht; He was so lele in his lawe, þer liued non him liche,P. þer was none. Of alle riche þat renke arayes he was riht.P. Of all ricchesses þat renke arayed was right. I. Of al þe ryches þat rayned arayed was he riht. His Innes and his orchardus were with a dep dich, Halles and herbergages, heiȝ vppon heiht;I. hyly on hyht. To seche þoru þat cite þer nas non sich, Of erbus and of erberi, so auenauntliche I-dihtP. Of arbres and herbes. I. Of erbes and of erbage so dernely dyht. Þat day, Wiþ Inne the sercle of sees, Of Erberi and Alees,P. Of arborye and aloes. I. Of erbes and of aleres. Of alle Maner of trees Soþely to say. II. He hed a wif hiȝt Susan, was sotil and sage;I was sotelest of sage. Heo was Elches douȝtur, eldest and eyre,I. eldeste in ayre. Louelich and lilie whit, on of þat lynage,I. lufsom and lele of hire lynage. Of alle fason of foode frelich and feire.P. faceon and food. I. fasons on fold þe frelyest and fayre. Þei lerned hire lettrure of þat langage,Wanting in P. Þe Maundement of Moises þei marked to þat may,P. þes markid to þat lair. I. to menske hir as mayre. To þe Mount of Synai þat went in Message, Þat þe Trinite bitok of tables a peireP. þer the trinite. To Rede. Þus thei lerne hire þe lawe, Cleer Clergye to knawe, To God stod hire gret awe,I. Of God stod sche. Þat wlonkest in weede. III. He hedde an orchard newe, þat neiȝed wel nere,P. to his hous nere. I. þat neghid him nere. Þer Iewus with Ioachim priueliche gon playe; For he real and riche of rentes euer þere,P. he was rial and riche of rentes euery where. I. He was þe richest and þe ranelest (or rauelest) his rentes to rere. Honest and auenaunt, and honorablest aye.P. honourest. Iwis, þer haunted til her hous, hende, ȝe mai here, Two domus of þat lawe, þat dredde were þat day,P. domysmen. I. domes men. Preostes and presidens preised als peere,I. Prestes hye of priuylage were praysed saune pere. Of whom vr souerein lord sawes gan say, And tolde How heor wikkednes comes Of þe wrongwys domes Þat þei haue gyue to gomes, Þis Iuges of olde.P. þe gomys so olde. IV. Þus þis dredful demers on daies þider drewe,P. derf domysmen. I. domesmen full derf. Al for gentrise and Ioye of þat Iuwesse, To go in his gardeyn, þat gayliche grewe, To fonge flourus and fruit, þouȝt þei no fresse;I. thought þem no fres. P. Of þe flowres and þe froyt to fong so fresshe. And whon þei seiȝ Susan, semelich of hewe, Þei weor so set vppon hire, miȝt þei not sese.P. set so on her. Þei wolde enchaunte þat child; hou schold heo eschewe?I. Þei thouth to chaumpen þat schene with chinchif and chewe. And þus þis cherlus vnchaste in chaumbre hir chese,P. her chest. Wiþ chere.I. To ffere. Wiþ two Maidenes al on, Semelyche Suson, On dayes in þe merion,P. On dayes menyone. Of Murþes wol here.P. wold. I. wolde. V. Whon þeos perlous prestes perceyued hire play, Þo þouȝte þe wrecches to bewile þat worly in wone;P., I. that worthi. Heore wittes wel waiwordus þei wrethen awai,P. Her wittys were wayward þei writhyn away. I. Þer wyttes a wyther|worth þei writhen a-way. And turned fro his teching, þat teeld is in trone.P. þat told is in trone. I. þat weldes þe trone. For siht of here souerayn, soþli to say,I. For suche a soueren lorde. Heore hor heuedus fro heuene þei hid apon one;P. hidyn a none. I. hyd apon none. Þei cauȝt for heor couetyse þe cursyng of kai,I. þe cursyng of Cayme. P. Cristis curs for ay. For riȝtwys Iugement recordet þei none, Þey two. Euery day bi day In þe Pomeri þei play,I. pomer. Whiles þei mihte Susan assay, To worchen hire wo.I. To wyrthin. VI. In þe seson of somere, with Sibell and Ione,P. Isabell. Heo greiþed hire til hire gardin, þat growed so grene,I. Sche glode. P. to gardyn noght to be sene. Þer lyndes and lorers were lent vpon lone,P. were bred up on lone. Þe sauyne and sypres, selcouþ to sene,P. þe sicamours to sene. Þe palme and þe poplere, þe pirie, þe plone, Þe Iunipere ientel, Ionyng bi-twene,I. standand be-twene. Þe rose ragged on rys, richest on Rone,P. ricchest in sowme. I. ragged opon bote, richest in rane. Iþeuwed with þe þorn trinaunt to sene,P. thryvyng to sene. I. thriuand be-twene. So tiht;P. So þikke. I. On heyht. Þer weore Pope-iayes prest, Nihtyngales vppon nest, Bliþest Briddes o þe best, In Blossoms so briht.P. On blosmes to sytte. VII. Þe Briddes in Blossoms þei beeren wel loude,I. on blossomes þei beren ful lowde. P. on blosmes blokkid wel loud. On olyues and amylliers, and al kynde of trees,P. and amylers. I. and aueners (?). Þe popeiayes perken and pruynen for proude,I. Þies papyniayes pykyn. On peren and pynappel þei ioyken in pees;P. þei prikkyn in prees. I. þei pykyn hem in pees. On croppus of canel keneliche þei croude,P. þei crowe. On grapes þe goldfinch þei gladen and glees;P. gladyn in her glees. I. þei glathen and glees. Þus schene briddus in schawe schewen heore schroude,I. þei schappyn in schrowde. On Firres and fygers þei fongen heore seetes,P. On ferrers and fygges þei song in her sees. I. On fikes and firres þei fangen her fees (or sees). In Fay; Þer weore growyng so grene Þe Date wiþ þe Damesene; Turtils troned on treneI. And þe throstell syngand be-twene. By sixti I sayȝ.I. Sexty I say. VIII. Þe fyge and þe filbert were fode med so fayre,P. were found so fair. I. formed ful fayre. Þe chirie and þe chestein, þat chosen is of hewe,P. þat chief are of hewe. Apples and Almaundus þat honest are of ayre, Grapus and garnettes gayliche þei grewe, Þe costardes comeliche in cuþþes þei cayre,I. Þis costardes in kyth ful comelyche þei cayre. þe Britouns, þe Blaunderers Braunches þe bewe,P. Brytans þe blaundelers braunches þei knewe. I. With bretouns and blaundrelles on bowes þei bowe. Fele flourus and fruit, frelich of flayre,P. frely and faire. I. Þer was fowles and frute freliche fayre. With wardons winlich and walshe notes newe,P. Wiþ wardons wardid and walsshnotes trewe. Þey waled.P. As y telle. I. At wille. Ouer heor hedes gon hyng Þe wince and þe wederlyng,P. The qwince and þe qwerdlyng. I. Þe quinces and þe querlyng. Spyces speden to spryng, In Erbers enhaled.103-104. P. Spicys spedely þei spryng, And in herbere þei felle.I. Spices sprede and spring, In erber on hille. IX. Þe chyue and þe chollet, þe chibolle, þe cheue,C. The chyue, þe cholet, and þe cheseboke cheue. P. The cheruyle, þe cholet, þe chesboll þe cheue. I. Þe cheue and þe chelet, þe chespol þe chefe. Þe chouwet, þe cheuerol, þat schaggen on niht,C. The chybolle, þe cheueron, þat chaungeth at nyghte. P. The chowet, þe chervell þan chaungyn on nyght. I. þe chaumpet, þe cheuerell þat schon opon heyght. Þe persel þe passenep, poretes to preue, Þe pyon, þe peere, wel proudliche Ipiht; Þe Lilye, þe louache, launsyng wiþ leue,C. lawnced full leue. P. launcyng full evene. I. þe launches so lefe. Þe sauge, þe sorsecle, so semeliche to siht; Columbyne and Charuwe clottes þei creue,C. The columbyne, þe caraway in clottys þei cleue. P. Colombyne and clarrey colourid ful clene. I. Colabyn and karaway in clottys þei cleue. With Ruwe and Rubarbe, Ragget ariht,C. rawnged fulle ryghte. P. raylid on ryght. I. raunches ful ryght. No lees;C. In rees. Daysye and Ditoyne, Ysope and Aueroyne, Peletre and Plauntoyne Proudest In pres.P. Pyght in þat pres. X. Als þis schaply þing ȝede in hire ȝarde,C. Thus þe ȝonge ȝepply ȝede. I. þis ȝarly and ȝouthe ȝede. P. Al þis aray rapely rest in þat ȝerde. Þat was hir hosbondus and hire, þat holden with hende,P. þat holdyn were hende. I. halden ful hende. C. holden fulle hende. "Nou folk be faren from us, þar us not be ferde; Aftur myn oynement warliche ȝe weende. Aspieþ nou specialy þe ȝates ben sperde, For we wol wassche us Iwis bi þis welle strende." For-þi þe wyf werp of hir wedes vn-werde,C. we wylle warpe of our wedys. Vndur a lorere ful lowe þat ladi gan leende, So sone. By a wynliche welle, Susan caste of hir kelle;C., P. caught of. Bote feole ferlys hire bi-felle, Bi Midday or none. XI. Nou were þis domus men derf drawen in derne, Whiles þei seo þat ladi was laft al hire one;C. þe lady lont hyr alone. Forte heilse þat hende þei hiȝed ful ȝerne, With wordus þei worshipe þat worliche in wone;P. Syche woordis þei warpyd to þat worthy in wone. "Wolt þou, ladi, for loue, on vre lay lerne, And vndur this lorere ben vr lemmone? Ȝe ne þarf wonde for no wiȝt vr willes to werne, For alle gomus þat scholde greue of gardin ar gone In Feere. Ȝif þou þis neodes deny, We schal telle trewely We toke þe wiþ a-voutri Vnder þis Lorere." XII. Þen Susan was serwful, and seide in hire þouȝt: "I am with serwe bi-set on eueriche syde; Ȝif I assent to þis sin, þat þis segges haue souȝt, I be bretenet and brent in baret to byde;C., I. in balis. And ȝif I nikke hem with nai, hit helpeþ me nouȝt; Such toret and teone takeþ me þis tyde.P. Such turment and tene. I. So mykyl tray and tene. C. Trybulacyon and tene. Are I þat worthliche wreche, þat al þis world wrouȝt,P. But or y hym wraþ. C. er I þat wordy wrathe. I. Er I schuld wrathe þat worthi. Betere is wemles weende of þis world wyde." Wiþ þis Þo Cast heo a Careful cri, Þis loueliche ladi; Hir seruauns hedde selli,C., P., I. had ferly. No wonder Iwis. XIII. Whon kene men of hir court comen til hir cri, Heo hedde cast of hir calle and hire keuercheue; In at a priue posterne þei passen in hi,C. þey presyd. I. þei presed. And findes þis prestes wel prest her poyntus to preue. Þo seide þe loselle aloude to þe ladi:P. þes losels on lowe. C. þo loselles on lowde, I. Lowde on þat lady þos loselles gun lye. "Þou hast gon wiþ a gome, þi god to greue,P. Þow hast gamyd. And ligge with þi lemon In a-voutri,P. And lyvid. C. And leyn. Bi þe lord and þe lawe þat we onne leeue." Þey swere;I. In fere. Alle hire seruauns þei shontI. were a schonte. And stelen a-wey in a stont; Of hire weore þei neuer wont Such wordes to here. XIV. Hir kinrede, hir cosyns and al þat hire knewe, Wrong handes, Iwis, and wepten wel sore, Sykeden for susan, so semeliche of hewe, Al onwyse of þat wyf wondred þei wore.P. Al unwyse of þat wyf. C. Alle wyues and wydowes. I. Alle wyes for þat wyfe. Þei dede hire in a dungon, þer neuer day dewe,P. þer neuer day drewe. While domus men were dempt þis dede to clare,C. domes men had dempte. P. domysmene were deputid. I. domes men were depute. In I. the position of ll. 175 and 177 is reversed. Marred in Manicles þat made wer newe, Meteles, whiles þe Morwen to Middai and mare,P. tul on þe morow mydday. C. fro the morn tyll mydday. I. fro morne to mydday. In drede. Þer com hir fader so fre, Wiþ al his affinite; Þe prestes sauns pite,I. saunce pite. P. wiþ out pite. And ful of Falshede. XV. Þo seide þe Iustises on bench to Ioachim þe Iewe; Þat was of Iacobus kynde, gentil of dedes: "Let senden aftur Susan, so semelych of hewe, Þat þou hast weddet to wif, wlankest in wedes; Heo was in trouþe, as we trowe, tristi and trewe, Hir herte holliche on him þat the heuene hedes."P. þe hevyn ledis. I. þe heuen hydes. Þus þei brouȝt hire to the barre, hir bales to brewe. Nouþur dom ne deþ þat day heo ne dredes Als þare.C., I. Als ȝare. Hir hed was ȝolow as wyreP. Her here. C. Hyr here. I. Hir hare. Of gold fyned wiþ fyre, Hire scholdres schaply and schire, Þat bureliche was bare.C. Þat borely were bare. I. Þat burly stode bare. P. Þat þo were bare. XVI. Nou is susan in sale, sengeliche arayed, In A selken schert, with scholdres wel schene.C. In a serke of sylke. I. In a serke ful schire. Þo Ros vp with rancour þe Renkes reneyed, Þis comelich accused with wordes wel kene; Homliche on hir heued heor hondus þei leyed,C. on here heddys. And heo wepte for wo, no wonder, I wene. "We schul presenten þis pleint, hou þou euer be paied, And sei sadliche þe soþ, riȝt as we haue sene, O Sake."P. For her sake. C. On sake. I. For sake. Þus wiþ cauteles waynt, Preostes presented þis playnt. Ȝit schal trouþe hem a-taynt, I dar vnder-take. XVII. "Þorw-out þe pomeri we passed us to play,I. þe pomer. Of preiere and of penaunce was vre purpose; Heo com with two Maidens, al richeli þat day,P. wiþ too maydenys deftly. C. with two maydyns dressyd. I. til hir maydenes dressand. In riche robus arayed, red as þe rose; Wylyliche heo wyled hir wenches a-way,C. hyr wenches she wyssed a-way. And comaunded hem kenely þe ȝates to close. Heo eode to a ȝong mon in a valay, Þe semblaunt of susan wolde non suppose, For soþ! Be þis cause þat we say, Heo wyled hir wenches a-way;C. wyssed. Þis word we witnesse for ay,218-220. I. Þies wordes þat we say, On þis womman verray, Þat wil we mayntan for aye. Wiþ tonge and wiþ toþ. XVIII. Whon we þat semblaunt seiȝ, we siked wel sare,C. sykyng for care. For sert of hir souureyn and for hir owne sake.P. For sorow. Vr copus weore cumberous, and cundelet vs care,C. our care. But ȝit we trinet a trot, þat traytur take.P., C. I. to take. He was borlich and bigge, bold as a bare,P. He was ful bayne and bygge. More miȝti mon þen we his Maistris to Make. To the ȝate ȝaply þei ȝeoden wel ȝare,P. they ȝedyn. C. þen ȝede he. I. he hyed him. And he lift vp þe lach and leop ouer þe lake,After this line the two following lines are added in I., to make up for ll. 222, 223 omitted in that MS.— Þe sertan sothe for to say wil we nouth spare, And sche may it not deny, we gun him ouertake. Þat ȝouthe. Heo ne schunte for no schame, But bouwed aftur for blame; Heo nolde cuyþe vs his name, For craft þat we couþe." XIX. Nou heo is dampned on deis, with deol þauȝ hir deue,The first nine lines of this stanza differ considerably in I. from the other MSS. P. with dool þey her deve. C. with dyn þey hyr deme. And hir domus men vnduwe do hir be withdrawen.C. þe domesmen derf. Loueliche heo louted, and lacched hir leue At kynred and cosyn þat heo hed euere iknawen; Heo asked Merci with mouþ in þis mischeue. "I am sakeles of syn," heo seide in hir sawen; "Grete god of his grace ȝor gultus forȝiue, Þat doþ me derfliche be ded and don out of dawen Wiþ dere. Wolde god þat I miht Speke wiþ Ioachim a niht;P. aright. C. or nyghte. I. to nyht. And siþen to deþ me be diht, I charge hit not a pere."P. I ȝeve not a pere. C. I ne sett at a pere. I. I counte nouth a pere. XX. Heo fel doun flat in þe flore, hir feere whon heo fond, Carped to him kyndeli, as heo ful wel couþe:C. karpyd to þat karemon. "Iwis I wraþþed þe neuere, at my witand, Neiþer in word ne in werk, in elde ne in ȝouþe." Heo keuered vp on hir kneos, and cussed his hand: "For I am dampned, I ne dar disparage þi mouþ." Was neuer more serwful segge bi se nor bi sande, Ne neuer a soriore siht bi norþ ne bi souþ; Þo þare,C. Þen þore. I. Als þore. Þei toke the Feteres of hire feete, And euere he cussed þat swete: "In oþer world schul we mete." Seid he no mare.258, 260. she instead of he in P. and C. XXI. Þen Susan þe serwfol seide uppon hiȝt, Heef hir hondus on hiȝ, bi-held heo to heuene:P. Helt up her hondis. C. Wythe hondys full hye. I. And heued handes apon heyht. "Þou maker of Middelert, þat most art of miht, Boþe þe sonne and þe see þou sette vppon seuene;P. þat sit up a sevyn. Alle my werkes þou wost, þe wrong and þe riht; Hit is nedful nou þi names to nempne. Seþþe I am deolfolich dampned, and to deþ diht, Lord, herteliche tak hede, and herkne my steuene So Fre! Seþþe þou maiȝt not be sene Wiþ no fleschliche eyene,P. bodily. I. erthely. Þou wost wel þat I am clene, Haue Merci nou on me." XXII. Nou þei dresse hire to deþ withouten eny drede, And lede forþ þat ladi louesum of lere. Grete god, of his grace, of gultes vn-gnede,P. of yeftes ungwede. C. of gyftes vngnede. I. of gyftes ful gnede. Help with þe holi gost, and herde hir preyere.P. Wiþ help of þe holy goost herd. He directed þis dom and þis delful dedeP., C. derf dede. To Danyel þe prophete, of dedes so dere; Such ȝiftes god him ȝaf in his ȝouþehede, Ȝit failed hit a fourteniht ful of þe ȝere,278-281. Wanting in I.P. faylid hym. C. fayled he. Nouht layne. Þo criede þat freoly foode: "Whi spille ȝe Innocens blode?" And alle þe stoteyd and stode,P. þei starid and. I. þei stynted and. Þis ferlys to frayne. XXIII. "What signefyes, gode sone, þese sawus þat þou seis?"P. þu sayes. C. þys sawe and what hyt seythe. I. þu seyth. Þus þese Maisterful men mouþes can mele.P., I. witþ mouþes. C. with mowthe. "Þei be fendus al þe frape, I sei hit in feiþ,P. Ȝe be fendis. C. Ȝe arn fonned. I. Ȝe bene fonned. And in folk of I(s)rael be foles wel fele. Vmbiloke ȝou, lordes, such lawes ben leiþ,Wanting in I. Me þinkeþ ȝor dedes vnduwe such domus to dele; Aȝein to þe ȝild-halle þe gomes vn-greiþ; I schal be proces apert disproue þis a-pele, For nede.C. In dede. Lat twinne hem in two,P. Lete disseuere. C. Lett desseuere. I. We schal disseuer. For now wakneþ heor wo; Þei schal graunte, ar þei go, Al heore falshede." XXIV. Þei diseuered hem sone and sette hem sere, And sodeynly askede þei brouȝt into þe sale.P. sodenly a seneke. C. sodeynly þat senek. I. Þan was sodayne asined and browgth. Bi-fore þis ȝonge prophete þis preost gon apere, And he him apeched sone with chekes wel pale:C. he apposed hym. "Þou hast Ibe presedent, þe peple to steere, Þou dotest nou on þin olde tos in þe dismale.P. in þin olde dayes. I. in þin elde. Nou schal þi conscience be knowen, þat euer was vnclere;C., I. þy couetyse. Þou hast in babiloygne on benche brewed muche bale, Wel bolde. Nou schal ȝor synnes be seene Of Fals domes bi-deene; For þeose In Babiloyne han beneP. For ye in B. C. Whyle ȝe in B. Iugget of Olde.P. Juggis. C. Jugges. XXV. Þou seidest þou seȝe Susanne sinned in þi siht; Tel nou me trewly, vnder what tre?" "Mon, bi þe muche god, þat most is of miht, Vndur a Cyne, soþli, my seluen I hir se."P. a sene. C. a syne. I. a sayne. "Nou þou lyest in þin hed, bi heuen vppon hiht; An Angel with a naked swerd þe neiȝes wel nere,P. is ful ny þe. C. þe nyȝes fulle ne. I. he neghes nere þe. He haþ brandist his brond brennynde so briȝt, To Marke þi middel at a Mase in more þen in þre,P. at a messe. I. in meses moo þan in thre. C. To merke þe at medylle in messe in two or in thre. No lese. Þou Brak godes Comaundement, To sle such an Innocent, Wiþ eny fals Iuggement Vn-duweliche on dese." XXVI. Nou is þis domus mon withdrawen withouten eni drede, And put into prison aȝeyn in-to place, Þei brouȝten þe toþur forþ whon þe barn bede, To fore þe folk and þe faunt freli of face. "Cum forþ, þou corsed caytif, þou Canaan," he sede;P. of Canaan sede. C. of Caymes sede. I. of Caynoun sede. "Bi-cause of þi couetise þou art in þis case; Þou hast disceyuet þi self with þin oune dede; Of þi wit for a wyf bi-wiled þou wase In wede. Þou sey nou, so mote þou þe, Vnder what kynde of tre Semeli susan þou se Do þat derne dede. XXVII. Þou gome of gret elde, þin hed is grei hored, Tel hit me treweli, ar þou þi lyf tyne." Þo þat roþly cherl ruydely rored,C. rodely churle. I. rewful charle. And seide bifore þe prophet: "þei pleied bi a prine."C., I. be a pyne. "Nou þou liest loude, so helpe me vr lord; For fulþe of þi falshed þou schalt ha euel pine;P. euyl fyne. C. an euylle fyne. I. euel syne. Þou and þi cursed cumpere, ȝe mou not a-corde. Ȝe schul be drawen to þe deþ þis dai ar we dine, So Raþe. An angel is neih honde,P. nyhond. C. I se an angelle stande. Takes þe domes of ȝor honde, Wiþ a brennynge bronde, To byte ȝou baþe."P., C., I. To bryttyn. XXVIII. Þen the folk of Israel felle vppon knes, And lowed þat loueli lord, þat hire þe lyf lent;P. And lovyd. Alle þe gomus þat hire god wolde gladen and glees,C. glades. I. gladdes. P. All þe goomes in her game gladid in her glees. Þis prophete so pertli proues his entent. Þei trompe bifore þis traiturs and traylen hem on tres Þorw-out þe Cite, bi comuyn assent. Hose leeueþ on þat lord, þar him not lees,P. dar hym not lese. Þat þus his seruaunt saued þat schold ha be schent, In Sete.C. So swete. Þis ferlys bi-fel In þe days of Danyel, Þe pistel witnesseþ wel Of þat profete. Ihesu crist wiþ mylde steuene P. Here endith þe storye of Susanne and Danyell. I. Qui scripsit carmen sit benedictus amen. Graunt us alle þe blisse of heuene.Amen. APPENDIX THE PISTILL OF SUSAN FOUR VERSIONS FROM MSS. OF FIFTEENTH CENTURY A = Add. MS., 22,283.I = Ingilby MS.P = Phillipps MS., 8252.C = Cottonian MS. Caligula, A.ii. HERE BYGYNNEÞ A PISTEL OF SUSAN. A. I. ÞER was in Babiloine a barne, in þat borw riche, Þat was a Jeuȝ gentel, and Joachim he hiht; He was so lele in his lawe, þer lyued non hym liche, Of alle riches þat renk arayed was riht. His innes and his orchardes were with a deope diche, Halles and herbagages, heiȝ vpon hiht; To seche þorw þat citee þer nas non siche, Of erbes and of erberi so auenauntly idiht, Þat day, Wiþinne þe sercle of sees, Of erberi and alees, Of alle maner of trees, Soþely to say. II. He hed a wyf hiht Susan, was sotil and sage; Heo was Elches douȝter, eldest and eyre, Loueliche and lilie whit, out of þat lynage, Of alle fason of fode fresscheliche and feyre. Þei lerned hyr lettrure of þat langage, Þe maundement of Moyses þei marked to þat may, To þe mount of Synay þat went in message, Þat þe Trinite bitoke of tables a payre To rede. Þus þei lerne hire þe lawe, Cleer clergi to knawe; To God stod hir gret awe, Þat wlonkest in wede. III. He hed an orchard newe, þat neiȝed wel nere, Þere Jewes with Joachim priuely gon playe; For he rial and riche of rentes euer þere, Honest and auenaunt, and honorable aye. I-wis, þer haunted til his hous, hende, ȝe may here, Two domes of þat lawe, þat dred were þat day, Preostes and presidens preised als peere, Of whom vr souereyn lord sawes gan say, And tolde How heore wikkednesse comes Of þe wrongwis domes Þat þei haue ȝyue to gomes, Þis juges of olde. IV. Þus þis dredful demers on dayes þider drewe, Al for gentrise and joye of þat Jewesse; To go in his gardeyn, þat gayliche grewe, To fonge floures and fruit þouht þei no fresse; And whon þei seiȝ Susan, semeliche of hewe, Þei were so set vpon hir, miht þei not sese. Þei wolde enchaunte þat child; hou schul heo eschwe? And þus þise churles vnchaste in chaumbur hire chese, Wiþ chere. Wiþ two maydenes al an, Semeliche Susan, On daies in þe merian, Of murthes wolde here. V. Whon þeos parlous prestes perceyued hir play, Þo þouht þe wrecches to biwile þat worli in wone; Heore wittes wel weiwordes þei wrechen a-wai, And turned fro his teching, þat teelde is in trone. For siht of heore souerayn, soþli to say, Heore hore hedes fro heuen þei hid vpon one; Þei cauht for heore couetise þe cursyng of Kai, For rihtwis jugement recordet þei none, Þei two. Eueri day by day In þe pomeri þei play, Whiles þei miht Susan assay, To worchen hire wo. VI. In þe seson of somere, with Sibell and Jone, Heo greyþed hir til hir gardyn, þat growed so grene, Þer lyndes and lorers were lent vpon lone, Þe sauyne and sipres, selcouþe to sene, Þe palme and þe poplere, þe perie, þe plone, Þe junipere ientel, joyned bitwene; Þe rose ragged on ris, richest on rone, I-þeuwed with þe þorn trinaunt to sene, So tiht. Þere were papeiayes prest, Nihtgales vpon nest, Bliþest bryddes of þe best, In blossomes so briht. VII. Þe briddes in blossomes þei beeren wel loude, On olyues and on amylliers and al kynde of trees; Þe papeiayes perken and pruynen for proude, On peren and pynappel þei ioyken in pees; On croppes of canel keneliche þei croude, On grapes þe goldfinche þei gladen and glees; Þer schene briddes in schawe schewen heore schroude, On firres and figers þei fongen heore seetes, In ffay. Þere were growyng so grene Þe date wiþ þe damasene; Turtils trouned on trene By sixti I say. VIII. Þe fige and þe filbert were fode med so fayre, Þe cherie and þe chesteyn, þat chosen is of hewe, Apples and almaundes, þat honest aren of ayre, Grapes and garnettes gayliche þei grewe; Þe costardes comeliche in coypes þei cayre, Þe britouns, þe blaunderers, braunches þei bewe, Fele floures and fruit, fresliche of flayre, With wardouns wynliche and walsenotes newe, Þei waled. Ouer heore hedes gan hynge Þe wince and þe wederlynge; Spices speden to springe, In erberes enhaled. IX. Þe chyue and þe chollet, þe chibolle þe cheue, Þe chouwet, þe cheuerol, þat schaggen out niht; Þe persel, þe passenep, poretes to preue, Þe pyon, þe peere, wel proudliche ipiht; Þe lilye, þe louache, launsyng with leue, Þe sauge, þe solsecle, so semeliche to siht; Columbyne and charuwe clottes þei creue, With ruwe and rubarbe, ragget ariht, No lees. Daysye and ditoyne, Ysope and aueroyne, Peletre and plauntoyne, Proudest in pres. X. Als þis schaply þing ȝede in hire ȝarde, Þat was hire hosbondes and hire, þat holden were hende, "Nou folk ben faren from vs, þar vs not be ferde; After myn oynement warliche ȝe wende. Aspieþ nou specialy þe ȝates bene sperde, For we wol wassche vs I-wis bi þis welle strende." For-þi þe wyf werp of hire wedes vnwerde, Vndur a lorere ful lowe þat ladi gan lende, So sone. By a wynliche welle Susan cast of hir kelle; Bote fele ferlys hire bifelle Bi mydday or none. XI. Nou were þis domesmen derf drawen in derne, Whiles þei seo þat ladi was laft al hire one; For to heilse þat (hende) þei hiȝed ful ȝerne, With wordes þei worsschupe þat worli in wone; "Wolt þou, ladi, for loue on vre lay lerne, And vnder þis lorere bene vre lemmone? Ȝe ne þarf wonde for no wiht vr willes to werne, For alle gomis þat schulde greue of gardyn ar gone In feere. Ȝif þou þis neodes deny, We schal telle trewely We toke þe wiþ a-voutry Vnder þis lorere." XII. Þenne Susan was serwful, and seide in hire þouht: "I am with serwe biset on eueriche side; Ȝyf I assent to þis synne, þat þis segges haue souht, I be bretenet and brent in baret to byde; And ȝif I nikke hem with nay, hit helpeþ me nouht; Suche toret and teone takeþ me þis tyde. Are I þat worthliche wrethe, þat al þis world wrouht, Bettre is wemles weende of þis world wide." Wiþ þis Þo cast heo a careful cri, Þis loueliche lady; Hyr seruans hedde selli, No wondur I-wis. XIII. Whon kene men of hyr court comen til hire cri, Heo hedde cast of hire calle and hire keuercheue; In at a priue posterne þei passen in hi, And fyndes þis prestes wel prest here poyntes to preue. Þo seide þe loselle aloude to þe ladi: "Þou hast gone with a gome, þi god to greue, And ligge with þi lemmon in a-voutri, Bi þe lord and þe lawe þat we on leeue." Þei swere; Alle hire seruauns þei shont And stelen a-way in a stont, Of hire were þei neuer wont Suche wordus to here. XIV. Hire kynrede, hire cosyns and al þat hire knewe, Wrong hondes, I-wis, and wept wel sore, Sikeden for Susan, so semeliche of hewe, Al onwise of þat wyf wrondred þei were. Þei dud hire in a doungon, þer neuer day dewe, While domesmen were dempt þis dede to clare, Marred in manicles þat made were newe, Meteles while þe morwen to mydday and mare, In drede. Þer com hyr fadur to freo, With al hys affinite, Þe prestes saun pite, And ful of falshede. XV. Þo seide þe justices on benche to Joachym þe Jewe, Þat was of Jacobes kuynde, gentel of dedes: "Let sende after Susan, so semeliche of hewe, Þat þou hast weddet to wyf, wlankest in wedes; Heo was in trouþe, as we trowe, tristi and trewe, Hir hert holli on hym þat þe heuene hedes." Þer þei brouht hire to þe barre, hire bales to brewe. Noþer dome ne deþ þat day heo ne dredes Als þare. Hyre hed was ȝolow as wyre Of gold fyned wiþ fyre, Hire scholdres schaply and schyre, Þat bureliche was bare. XVI. Nou in Susan is sale, sengeliche arayed, In a selken schert, with scholdres wel schene. Þo ros vp with rancour þe renkes reneyed, Þis comeliche accused with wordes wel kene; Homeliche on hire hed heore hondes þei leyed, And heo wept for wo, no wonder, I wene. "We schul presenten þis pleint, hou þou euer be paied, And say sadlyche þe soþe, riht as we haue sene, O sake." Þus wiþ cauteles qwaynt, Preostes presented þis playnt; Ȝit schal trouþe hem ataynt, I dar vndurtake. XVII. "Þorwout þe pomeri we passet vs to play, Of preiere and of penaunce was vre perpose; Heo com with two maidens, al richeli þat day, In riche robes arayed, red as þe rose; Wyliche heo wyled hire wenches a-way, And comaunded hem kenely þe ȝates to close. Heo eode to a ȝong mon in a valey; Þe semblaunt of Susan wolde non suppose For soþ! Be þis cause þat we say, Heo wyled hire wenches away; Þis word we witnesse for ay, Wiþ tonge and wiþ toþ." XVIII. "Whon we þat semblaunt seiȝ, we siked wel sore, For sert of hire souereyn and for hire owne sake. Vr copes were comberous, and cundelet vs care, But ȝit we trinet a trot, þat traitour to take. He was borliche and bigge, bold as a bare, More mihti mon þen we his maistris to make. To þe ȝate ȝaply þei ȝeoden ful ȝare, And he lyft vp þe lach and leop ouer þe lake, Þat ȝouthe. Heo ne schunt for no schame, But bouwed aftur for blame; Heo nolde cuyþe vs hys name, For craft þat we couþe." XIX. Nou heo is dampned on deis, with deol þauȝ hir deue, And hire domes men vndeuwe do hire be withdrawen. Loueliche heo louted, and lacched hire leue, At kynreden and cosyn þat heo hedde euer iknowen; Heo asked merci with mouþe in þis myscheue. "I am sakles of synne," heo seide in hire sawen; "Grete God of his grace ȝor gultus forȝiue, Þat doþ me derflich be ded and don out of dawen Wiþ dere. Wold God þat I myht Speke with Joachym a niht; And syþen to deþ me be diht, I charge hit not a pere." XX. Heo fel doun flat in þe flore, hire feere whon heo fonde, Carped to hym kyndelich, as heo ful wel couþe: "I-wis I wraþed þe neuer, at my wetand, Neþer in word ne in werk, in elde ne in ȝouþe." Heo keuered vpon hire knes, and cussed his hand: "For I am dampned, I ne dar disparage þi mouþe." Was neuer more sorweful segge bi see nor bi sand, Ne neuer a soriore siht bi north ne bi souþe, Þo þare. Þei toke þe feteres of hire feete, And euer he cussed þat sweete: "In oþer world schul we mete." Seide he no mare. XXI. Þen Susan þe serweful seide vpon hiht, Heef hir hondes on hiȝ, biheld heo to heuene: "Þou maker of myddelert, þat most art of miht, Boþe þe sonne and þe see þou sette vpon seuene; Alle my werkes þou wost, þe wrong and þe riht; Hit is nedful nou þi names to nemene. Siþe I am deolfully dampned, and to deþ diht, Lord, hertly take hede, and herken my steuene So ffre! Seþþe þou maiȝt not be sene With no flescheliche eyene, Þou wost wel þat I am clene, Haue merci nou on me." XXII. Nou þei dresse hire to deþ with outen eny drede, And lede furth þat ladi lufsum of lere. Grate God, of his grace, of gultes vngnede, Help with þe holi gost, and herde hire preiere. He directed þis dom and þis deolful dede To Daniel þe prophete, of dedes so dere; Suche ȝiftis God hym ȝaf in his ȝouthe hede, Ȝit fayled hit a fourteniht ful of þe ȝere, Nouht layne. Þo cried þat freoly foode: "Whi spille ȝe innocens bloode?" And alle þei stoteyd and stoode, Þis ferlys to frayne. XXIII. "What signefyes, gode sone, þese sawes þat þou seis?" Þus þese maisterful men mouþes gan mele. "Þei ben fendes al þe frape, I sei hit in feiþ, And in folk of Irael be foles wel fele. Vmbeloke [ȝ]ou, lordes, suche lawes ben leiþ, Me þinke ȝor dedes vnduwe such domes to dele; Aȝeyn to þe ȝild-halle, ȝe gomes vngreiþ; I schal be processe apert disproue þis apele, For nede. Lat twynne hem in two, For now wakeneþ heore wo; Þei schal graunt, ar þei go, Al heore falshede." XXIV. Þei disseuered hem sone, and sette hem sere, And sodeynly askede þei brouht in to þe sale. Bifore þis ȝonge prophete þise preost gon apere, And he him apeched sone with chekes wel pale: "Þou hast i-be presedent, þe peple to steere, Þou dotest nou on þin old tos in þe dissemmale. Nou schal þi concience be knowen, þat euer was vnclere; Þou hast in Babiloigne on bench brewed muche bale, Wel bolde. Nou schal ȝor synne be sene Of fals domes by-dene; For [þ]eose in Babiloigne han bene Jugget of olde." XXV. "Þou seidest þou seiȝe Susan synned in þi siht; Tel nou me trewly, vnder what tre?" "Mon, bi þe muche God, þat most is of miht, Vndur a cyne, soþly, my self I hire se." "Nou þou lyest in þi hed, bi heuene vppon hiht; An angel with a naked swerd þe neiȝes wel nere, He haþ brandest his brond brennynde so briht, To marke þi medel at a mase in more þen in þre, No lese. Þou brak Godes comaundement, To sle such an innocent, Wiþ eny fals juggement, Vnduweliche on dese." XXVI. Nou is þis domesmon withdrawen withouten eny drede, And put into prison aȝeyn in to a place, Þei brouhten þat oþer forþ whon þe barne bede, To-fore þe folk and þe faunt frely of face. "Cum forþ, þou cursed caytyf, þou Canaan," he seide; "Bi cause of þi couetise þou art in þis case; Þou hast desceyuet þi self with þin oune dede; Of þi wit for a wyf bi-wiled þou wase In wede. Þou sey nou, so mot þou þe, Vnder what kynde of tre Semely Susan þou se Do þat derne dede." XXVII. "Þou gome of gret elde, þi hed is grei hored, Telle hyt me treuwely, er þou þi lyf tyne." Þo þat roþly cherl ruydely rored, And seide bi-fore þe prophete: "þei pleied bi a prine." "Nou þou lyest loude, so helpe me vr lord; For fulþe of þi falshede þou schalt haue vuel pyne; Þou and þi cursed cumpere, ȝe mon not acorde. Ȝe schul be drawe to þe deþ þis day ar we dyne, So raþe. An angel is neiȝ honde, Takes þe domes of ȝor honde, Wiþ a brennyng bronde, To bite ȝou baþe." XXVIII. Þenne þe folk of Israel fel vppon knes, And loued þat louely lord, þat hire þe lyf lent; Alle þe gomes þat hire goode wolde gladen and glees, Þis prophete so pertly proues his entent. Þei trompe bifore þis traitours and traylen hem on tres Þorwout þe citee, be comuyn assent. Ho so leeueþ on þat lord, þar hym not lees, Þat þus his seruaunt saued þat schuld ha be schent In sete. Þis ferlyes bifel In þe dayes of Daniel, Þe pistel wittenes wel Of þat prophete. God graunt þi grace to play vs pertly in þi place And feiþely þi feire face to se þat is swete.Amen.Explicit Epistola Susanne secundum Danielem. I. I. ÞER woned a berne in Babeloyne, in þat burghe riche, He was a Jve gentil, Joachim he hyht; He was so lele in his lay, þer lyued non him lyche, Of al þe ryches þat rayned arayed was he riht. His inne and his horchard was with a depe dyche, His halle and his harbegage hyly on hyht; To seche thorowe þe cete was þer none siche, Of erbes and of erbage so dernely dyht Þat day, Within þe serkyl of þe sees, Of erbes and of aleres, And all maner of trees, Sothely to sey. II. He had a wyfe hyht Soseyne, was sotelest of sage, Was Elches doughter, eldest in ayre; Sche was lufsom and lele of hire lynage, Of alle þe fasons on fold þe frelyest and fayre. Þei lerde hir þe letture of þeir langage, Þe maundementys of Moyses to menske hir as mayre; To þe mounte of Synaye þei sent a message, And taught hir of þe Trinite tabelles a payre To rede. Þus þei taught hire þe lawe, Of clene clergy to knawe; Of God stode sche gret awe, Þat wlonkest in wede. III. He þat had an horchard ful newe, þat neghid him nere, Þer Jues with Joachim was wont for to playe; He was þe richest and þe ranclest his rentes to rere, Honest and auenand and honorabelest aye. Þer was wont til howse, hende, as ȝe may here, Two domes men of þe lawe, þat dred wer þat day, Prestes hye of priuylage were praysed saune pere, Whilk of þ[e] soueren lordes þeir sawes gun say, And tolde How þer wyckednes come Þorow þer wrong wysdome Þat þei had gyuen to þ[e] gome Be juges of olde. IV. And þus þiis domesmen ful derf on dayes thidir drewe, Al for gentri and joy of þat Jues; To walke in þat gardyn, þat gaylich grewe, To faunge flowres and frute thought þem no fres; And sone þei sawe Sosayne, semeliest of hue, So were þei set apon hire, myht þei not sese. Þei thouth to chaumpen þat schene with chinchif and chewe; And þus þiis charles vnchast in chaumber hire ches To ffere. Two maydens allone, And hire sese Sosone, On dayes in þe merione, Mirthes wolde here. V. And þus þiis perlous prestes persayuyd hire playe, And thowht to begyle þat wrthi in wone; Þer wyttes a-wytherworth þei writhen a-way, And turnes fro his teching þat weldes þe trone. For suche a soueren lorde, þe sothe for to say, Þer hore heuedys fro heuen þei hyd apon none, And caut for þer couetyse þe cursyng of Cayme, Of him þat is myhtyest and souerayn allone, Þei two. Iche day be þe day, In þe pomer þei play, If þei myht Soseyn assay, To wyrthin hire wo. VI. Til in a sesyn of somer, with Sybyll and Jone, Sche glode to hir gardyn, þat growyd so grene, Þer lindes and lorres was lent opon lone, With cypresse and saffers, þat selcouth was to sene, Þe palme and þe perrie, þe popeler, þe plane, Þe genopir þe gentil, standand be-twene, Þe rose ragged opon bote, richest in rane, Thewed with þe the-thorne thriuand betwene, On heyht. Þer was papyniayes prest, Nyghtyngales apon nest, Blythe briddes of þe best, In blossomes so briht. VII. Þies briddes on blossomes þei beren ful lowde, On olives and aueners, and al kyns trees; Þies papyniayes pykyn and prenen for prowde, Þies perres and pyoune appilles þei pykyn hem in pees; On croppes of þies canelles ful comelyche þei crowde, On grapes þies goldefynches þei glaþen and glees; Þe schene briddes in þe schawe þei schappyn in schrowde, On fikes and firres þei fangen her sees, In faye. Þer was growand ful grene Þe date and þe damysene; And þe throstell syngand be-twene, Sexty I say. VIII. Þer was þe fike and þe filberd formed ful fayre, Þe chery and þe chestoun semelyche of hue, Appeles and almoundes honest of ayre, With grapes and garnettys þat gaylyche grewe; Þis costardes in kyth ful comelyche þei cayre, With bretouns and blaundrelles on bowes þei bowe. Þer was fowles and frute, freliche fayre; With wardons wynlyche and walse-nottes newe At wille. Ouer þeir heuedes gan hyng Þe quinces and þe querlyng Spyces sprede and spring In erber on hille. IX. Þer was þe cheue and þe chelet, þe chespol þe chefe, Þe chaumpet, þe cheuerell, þat schon opon heyght; Þe percel, þe pasnepe, þe polet þe prefe, Þe payne, þe perry, ful prowdelyche pyht; Þe lyly, þe louage, þe launches so lefe, With sauge and with sausikel semely in syght; Colabyn and karaway in clottys þei cleue, With rwe and with rwbarbe raunches ful ryght, No lees. Þer was desy and dytayne, Ysop and auerayne, Pelletre and plantayne, Pruddest in prese. X. Bot als þis ȝarly and ȝouthe ȝede in hyre ȝerde, Þat was hir husbandes and hires, halden ful hende, "Þies folke are faren apon feyre, thare ȝow nouht be fered; Now after myn oynement ful warly ȝe wende. Spede ȝe now alle specialy þe ȝates be spered, For I sal wesche myn heued in þis welle strende." Sche warpyd of hire wedys alle holy vnwered, And vnderneth a lorere þat lady gun lende, So sone. Be þat comelyche welle Soseyn kast of hire kelle; Fele ferlyes hire be-felle Be mydday or none. XI. Bot sone þies perlous prestes drowe þem in derne, Ant to þat louely lady was lent opo lone; For to haylse þat hende þei spede þem ful ȝerne, With wordes to worchippe þat worthily in wone. "Wolde þou, louely lady, apon oure lore lerne Vnderneth þis lorrere to bene our lemmon? For no wyht thar þe wonde oure willes to werne, For alle þe gomes þat schulde greue in gardin ben gone In fere. If þou oure nedys deny, We will tell trewly We toke þe in avowtri Vnder þis lorrere." XII. Þen was Soseyn sorowful, and seyd in hire thowth: "I am with sorow vmbeset on euerilke syde; For if I sent to þis synne þies segges has me sowht, I mon be bretened and brent in balis to byde; And if I nyk hem with nay, it helpes me nouht; So mykyl tray and tene takes me þis tide. Er I schuld wrathe þat worthi, þat al þis werld wrowht, Er schuld I wemles wende oute of þis werlde wyde." With this, Sche cast vp a doleful crye, Þat louelyche lady; Hire seruandes had ferly, No wonder I-wysse. XIII. Þe kene men of hire cowrte com til hire crye; Þan had sche kast of hire kell and hire courcheffe; In at þe priue postrene þei presed in hye, And fonde þe prestes ful preste þeir poyntys to preue. Lowde on þat lady þos loselles gun lye, And seyde: "Sche is gon with a gome hir godḍẹṣ to greue, And lyes with hir lemman in a-vowtri, Be þe lorde and þe lay þat we apon leue In fere." Alle hire seruauntes were a-schonte And stale away in þat stonte; Of hire were þei neuer wonte Swiche wonderes to here. XIV. Þen cosynes and kynred, and al þat hire knewe, Wrang handes, I-wisse, and syghed ful sore; Al for dam(?) Soseyne, semelyest of hwe, Alle wyes for þat wyfe a-wondered þei were. Þei did hire in a dongen, þer no day dew, Meteles fro morne to mydday and mare, Marred hire with manycles were made of þe newe, Til þe domes men were depute hire dedys to clare, For drede. Þen come hire fader so fre, With al his dignite, And þe prestes saunce pite, Ful of falshede. XV. Þan seide þe justice on þe benke to Joachim þe Jwe, Þat was of Jacobs kynne, gentil of dedis: "Feche forthe dame Soseyn, semelyest of hwe, Þat thow hast weddid to þi wyfe, wlonkest in wedes; Sche is in trowthe, als I trowe, trusty and trewe, Hire hert is holy on him þat þe heuen hydes." And þus thei browht hire to þe barre, hire bales to brewe, Neythire of dowte ne of dede þat day sche ne dredis Als ȝare. Hir hare was ȝelow as þe wire, As gold fyned in þe fire, Hir schulderes schappely and schire, Þat burly stode bare. XVI. Þus was Soseyne in sale, sengely arayȝed, And in a serke ful schire, with schulderis ful schene. Vp ros þo renkes þeire rentes renayȝid, And þat cumly acusyd with wordes ful kene; Hyly on hire hede þeir handdes þei leyde, Þen sche wepyd for wo, no wonder, I wene. "We sal present vp oure playnte, if þat þou be payȝed, And sey saddely þe sothe, rith as we haue sene, For sake." Thus with cauteles quaynte, Þe prestes present vp her playnte; Ȝit schal trewthe hem a-taynte, Þat dar I vndertake. XVII.This stanza and the next are placed in the MS. after st. xiii. "Als we passed thorow þe pomer vs for to playe, In prayere and penaunce, as was oure purpos, Sche come til hire maydenes dressand þat day, In rowbe ryall arayed, red as þe rose; Wysely her wenches sche wyled away, And comaunded hem kyndely þe ȝates to close. Sche wente to a ȝong man in a valey; Þe semland of dame Soseyn wilde no man suppose, For sothe! Þies wordes þat we say, On þis womman verray, Þat wil we mayntan for aye, With tung and with toth." XVIII. "Oure copes were cumberowse, þat kyndelid oure care; Bot ȝit we trined on a trot, þat traytour to take. He was borely and bigge, bold as a bare, And more mihty þan we his maystre to make. To þe ȝate ȝapely he hyed him ful ȝare, And lifte lyhtly þe lache, and lepe ouer þe lake. Þe sertan sothe for to say wil we nouth spare, And sche may it not deny, we gun him ouertake, Þat ȝowthe. Sche wold schont for no schame, Bot bowed after him with blame; Sche wold not kythe vs his name, For craft þat we cowthe." XIX. Thus þei dressed hire to dede withouten ony lawe; Ful lowly sche lowtet and lawhte hire leue Of cosynes and kynred þat (s)che had er knawe. "I aske mercy with mouthe of al þis myscheue, As I þ(at) am sakles," sche seyde in her sawe; "Grete God, of þi grace þiis gomes forgiffe, Þos þat me dampned and to ded and don me o dawe, And þus has put me to pyne and to myscheue For to dere. Wold God þat I myht Speyke with Joachim to-nyht; And sethin to ded be dyht, I counte nouth a pere." XX. Sche fell flat to þe flore, whan sche hire fande, And carped to him kyndely, as sche wele cowde: "Sire, I wrethed ȝow neuer, at my witand, Neythir in worde no in werke, in elde no in ȝowde." Sche couerde on hire knes, and kissid his hande: "For I am dampned I ne dare disparage ȝour mowthe." Was neuer a sorowfuler syht be see no be sande, Nor a dolefuler partyng be north ne be sowthe, Als þore. He toke þe fetteres fro hir fete, And ofte kyssyd he þat swete: "In oþer werld sal we mete." Sayde he no more. XXI. Þan was Soseyne sorowful, and sayde in hire syght, And heued handes apon heyht, behelde to heuene: "Þou maker of mydelerde, þat most is of myht, Bothe þe sunne and þe see þou seites apon seuene; Alle my werkys þou wates, þo wrange and þe riht; Als now is nedful to me þi names to neuene. Als I am derely dampned, and to dethe diht, Lorde, þou lysten to me, and herkyne my steuen, Þou fre! Als þou may nouth be sene With none erthely eyene, Þou wotes wele I am clene, Haue mercy on me." XXII. Þus þei dressyd hire to deth withouten ony drede, And led forth þat lady lufsome of lere. "Grete God, of þi grace, of gyftes full gnede, Helpe with þe holy goste at hire prayere. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nouth to leyne. Þen spake þat frely fode: "Why stroy þe innocentes blode?" Alle þei stynted and stode, Þat frely to freyne. XXIII. "Now, leue sone, what sygnifies þe sawes þat þou seyth, Þat þies maysterful men with mouthes gan mele? Ȝe bene fonned alle þe frappe, I tel ȝow in faythe, For in þe land of Irael bene foles ful fele. . . . . . Swyche domes on dece vnduly do dele. Agayne to ȝoure gilde-halle, ȝe gomes, ȝow greythe, And I sal with profecye apert aproue þir apele, For nede. We schal disseuere þem two, Now sal wacken þer wo; For þei sal graunte, or þei go, All þeir falshed." XXIV. Þei disseuered hem sone and set hem in sonder; Þan was sodayne asined and browgth to þe sale. Be-for þe childe ful prest þe prestes gun apere, And he gun þem apeche with chekes ful pale: "Thow has bene a preuedance þe pupill to stere, And now þou dotes in þin elde in þe dysemale. Now schal þi couetyse be knawyn, þat euer was vnclere; For þou has in Babeloyne on benk browen mykel bale, And tolde Now how þi wyckednes come Þorowh þi wrong wysdome, Þat þou has gyuen to þis gome Be juges of olde." XXV. "Now sey me, sodayne, þi sawe sothli in sight; Were saw þou Sosayne synne and vnder wat tre?" "Man, be þe mikel God, þat most is of miht, Vndere a sayne, sothely, my seluen I it se." "Now þou lyes ful lowde, be heuyn apon hyht; An aungel with a naked swerde he neghes nere þe, And has drawen his brand brennand ful bright, To merk þi mydel in meses moo þan in thre, No lece. Why brake þou Goddes comaundement, To stroy suche an innocent, With any false jugement, Vnduly on dece?" XXVI. Þen was sodan withdrawen withouten ony drede, And put to þe prison agayne to his place, And þo tother browht forth when þo barne bede, Before þe folk and þe faunt frely on face. "Cum forth, þou cursed kaytefe, of Caynoun sede; Be cause of þi couetyse þou art in þis case; Þow haues dissayued þi selue thorow þin awen dede; And thorow syht of a womman be-wyled þou wace For nede. Tel me now, so mot þou the, Vnderneth what tree Semely Soseyne þou see Do þat derne dede." XXVII. "Þou gome of a gret elde, þin heued is grey hore, Tel me now trewly, er þou þin lyfe tyne." And þen þat rewful charle began for to rore, And seyde befor þat profete: "þei playȝed be a pyne." "Now þou lyes ful lowde, so helpe me oure lorde; Thorowe fylthe of þin falshede þou sal haue euel syne; Thow and þin cursud cumper, ȝe may nouht a-corde. Ȝe schal be drawen to deth to day er I dyne, So rathe. An aungel neyghes þe fil hande, With a briht brennyng brande, To take þe dome with his hande, To bryttyn ȝow bathe." XXVIII. Þen alle þe folke of Israel knelyd on þer knes, And þanked louelyche God þat hire þe lyfe lent; Þe gomes þat hire gode wolde gladdes and gles, So pertely þe prophete aproued his atent. Þei tromped be-for þos traytors and treyled þem on trees Thorowoute þe cete, for soth, be commune assent. Now qwo so loues oure lorde wele, thare him neuer lese, Þat þus his seruaunde þat schamely was schent Vn-sete. Þis ferly befell In þe dayes of Danyel, Þe pystel wittenesse it well Of þe prophete.Qui scripsit carmen sit benedictus amen. P. I. THER was in Babyloyn a biern, in þat burgh riche, Þat was a Jewe jentil, and Joachym he highte; He was so lele in his lawe, þer was none hym liche, Of all ricchesses þat renke arayed was right. His ynnes and his orchardes wer wiþ a depe diche, Hallis and herbergages, hye vp on highte; To seche þurgh þat Cite þer was non siche, Of arbres and herbes so auenauntly dight, That day, Wiþin þe cercle of the sees, Of arborye and aloes, Of all manere of trees, Sothely to say. II. He had a wyf hight Susanne, sotil and sage; She was Elchies doghtir, eldest and ayr, Lovely and lilys white, of þat lynage, Of all faceon and food freely and fair. . . . . . Þe maundement of Moyses þes markid to þat lair, To þe mount Synay þat went in message, Þer þe trinite bytoke of tables a payr To rede. Thus þei lernyd her þe lawe, Clere Clergy to knawe; To God stood her grete awe, That wlonkest in wede. III. He had an orchard newe to his hous nere, Þere Jewes wiþ Joachym priuyly gan play; For he was rial and riche of rentes euery where Honest and auenaunt, and honourest ay. I-wis, þer hauntyd to his hows, hendis, ȝe may here, Too domysmen of þe lawe, þat dred were þat day, Prestes as presidentes, preysid as piere, Of whom our souereyn lord sawes gan sey, And tolde How her wykkidnes comys Of þe wrongful domys Þat þei have ȝeve to gomys, Þe gomys so olde. IV. Thus þes derf domysmen on dayes þidir drewe, For jentry and ioy of þat Jewesse, To go in þo gardyns þat gaylich grewe, Of þe flowres and þe froyt to fong so fresshe; And whane þei sawe Susanne, semely of hewe, Þei were set so on her, myght þei not sese. Þei wold enchaunte þat child; how shold she eschewe? And þo þes cherles unchast in chaumbre her chest, Wiþ chere. With two maydenes allone, Semely Susone, On dayes menyone, Of mirthes wold here. V. Whan þes perlous prestes perceyvid her play, Þo þoght þat wrecches to bygile þat worþi in wone; Her wittys were wayward þei wriþyn away, And turnyd fro his techyng, þat told is in trone. For sight of her soueraingne, soþly to say, Her here hedis fro hevyn þei hidyn a-none; Þei caught for her covetyse Cristis curs for ay, For rightwis juggement recordid þei none, They two. Every day by day In þe pomery þei play, Whil þei myght Susan a-say, To worchyn her woo. VI. In þe sesone of somyr, with Isabell and Jone, She greiþid her to gardyn, noght to be sene; Þer lyndes and lorers were bred vp-on lone, Þe saveyne and cipresse, þe sicamours to sene, The palme and þe popeler, þe perer and the plowine, The jwnipre gentill, ioynyng hem bytwene, The rose raggyd on rys, ricchest in sowme, Thewyd with thevethorne thryvyng to sene, So þikke. Þer were popyniayes prest, Nightyngales upon nest, Blithe briddis of the best, On blosmes to sytte. VII. Ther briddis on blosmes blokkid wel loud, On olyves and amylers, and al kyn trees; Þe popiniayes perchyn and prunyn for proud, On piries and pynapples þei prikkyn in prees; On croppis of canel kenely þei crowe, On grapis þe goldfynches gladyn in her glees; Þe shene briddis in shawe shewyn her shroud, On ferrers and fygges þei song in her sees, In fay. Ther were growyng so grene Þe date wiþ þe damacene; Turtlis tronyd on trene By syxty I say. VIII. The fyg and þe filberd were found so fair, The chirie and þe chesteyn, þat chief are of hewe, Apples and almaundis þat honest ar of ayr, Grapes and garnettis þat gaylich þere grewe; Costardis comly in kitthes þei kayre, Brytans þe blaundelers braunches þei knewe, Fele floures and froyt, frely and faire, Wiþ wardons wardid and walsshnotes trewe, As y telle. Ouere her hedis gan hyng The qwince and þe qwerdlyng; Spicys spedely þei spryng, And in herbere þei felle. IX. The cheruyle, þe cholet, þe chesboll þe cheve, The chowet, þe chervell, þan chaungyn on nyght; The persile, þe pasnepe, porettis to preve, The pyone, þe pirye, prowdely pyght; The lylye, þe loveache, launcyng ful evene, The sawge and þe solcecle, so semely to sight; Colombyne and clarrey, colourid ful clene, Wiþ rewe and rewbarbe, raylid on right, No les. Daysye and dyteyne, Isope and auereyne, Peletre and planteyne, Pyght in þat pres. X. Al þis aray rapely rest in þat ȝerde, Þat was hers husbondes and hers, þat holdyn were hende. "Now folk be faryn a-fer, þare vs noght be ferde; Aftir myn oynement warly ȝe wende. Spyes now specialy if þe ȝatis be sperid, For we wole wasshe vs y-wis by þis wel strond." For why þe wyf warpyd of her wedis unwerd, Undir a lorere on lowe þat lady gan lend, So sone. By þat worthy welle Susan caght of her kelle; But fele ferlies by-felle By mydday or none. XI. Nowe þes derf domysmen in to þe derk drewyn so derne, Why þei saw þis lady was left al alone; For to halse þat hiend þei hyen ful ȝerne, Syche woordis þei warpyd to þat worthy in wone: "Wilt þou, lady, for love of our lay lerne, And undir þis lorere bene our lemman? Þe þar not wond for noght our willis to ȝerne, For all þe gomys þat greve myght out of þe gardyn be gone In fere. If þow þes nedis denye, We shul telle trewly We toke þe with avoutry Undir þis lorere." XII. Than Susan was sorowful, and seyd in her þoght: "I am wiþ sorow by-set on euerych a side; If y assent to þis senne, þat þes segges have soght, I shal be britnyd or brent wiþ baret to byde; And if y nek hem wiþ nay, it helpiþ me noght; Such turment and tene me takiþ þis tyde. But or y hym wraþ, þat al þis world wroght, Bettre is wemles to wende þat with her wil wriþe So mysse." Tho kast she a careful crye, This lovely lady; Her seruauntis had ferly, No woundre y-wis. XIII. Whan kene men her courte come to her crye, She had kast of her kolle and her kerchief; In at a prive posterne þei passyn yn hye, And fynd þes prestes ful prest her poyntes to pres. Tho seyd þes losels on lowe to þat lady: "Þow hast gamyd wiþ a gome, þi god for to greve, And lyvid wiþ þi lemman yn avoutrye, By þat lord and þe lawe þat we on leve." They swere; All her seruauntes shounte And stale a-wey in a stounte; Of her were þei not wonte Such wordis to here. XIV. Her kynrede, her cosyns and al þat her knewe, Wronge hondis, y-wis, and wept ful sore, Sighyd for Susan, so semely of hewe, Al unwyse of þat wyf wondrid þei wore. Þei ded her in a donione, þer neuere day drewe, While domysmen were deputid þis dede to declare, Marrid in manicles þat made were newe, Metles tul on þe morow mydday and mare, In drede. Ther come her fadir so fre, Wiþ al his affynyte, The prestes wiþout pite, And ful of falshede. XV. Tho seyd þe justises on benche to Joachym þe Jewe, Þat was of Jacobis kynd, gentil of dedis: "Lete sende aftir Susan, semely of hewe, Þat þou hast weddid to wyf, wlonkest on wedis. She was in trouþe, as we trowe, trusty and trewe, Her hert holy on hym þat þe hevyn ledis." Þus þei broght her to þe barre, her balis to brewe. Neiþer dome ne dethe þat day she ne dredis As þare. Her here was yolow as wyre Of gold fynyd wiþ fyre, Her shuldris shaply and shyre, Þat þo were bare. XVI. Now is Susan in sale, sengeliche arayed, In a silkyn shert, wiþ shuldris ful shene. Tho roos up þes renkes wiþ rancour renayed, Þat comely kiþ acusyd wiþ wordis vnkene(?); Homely on her heed her hondis þei layd, And she wept for wo, no wondur, y wene. "We shul presente þis pleynt, how euer þou be payd, And sey sadly þe soþe, right as we have sene, For her sake." Thus wiþ cawtelis qwaynt, The prestis presentyn þe playnt; Yet shal trowþe hem ateynt, I dare undirtake. XVII. "Thurgh out þe pomery we passyd us to play, Of prayers and penaunces was our purpos; She come wiþ too maydenys, deftly þat day, In riche robes arayed, reed as þe rose; Wilily she wylid her wenchis away, And commaundid hem kenely þe yates to close. She ȝode to (a) yong man in a valey; The semblaunt of Susanne wold no man suppose, For sothe! By this cause þat we say, She wylid her wenchis away; This word witnessiþ for ay, With tung and wiþ toþe." XVIII. "Whan we þat semblaunt sawe we sighyd ful sore, For sorow of her souerayn, and for her owne sake. Our copes were cumbrous, and kyndlyd us care, But ȝet we trynyd a trot, þat traytour to take. He was full bayne and bygge, bold as a bore, More myghty man þan we his maystries to make. To þe ȝate rapely they ȝedyn ful yare, And he left up þe lacche, and lepe ouere þe lake, Þat youthe. She ne shont for no shame, But bowyd aftir for blame; She nold kyþe us his name, For craft þat we couthe." XIX. Now is she dampnyd on dees, with dool þey her deve, And her domysmen undewe done her wiþdrawyn. Lovely she loutyd, and lacchyd her leve At kynrede and cosyn þat she had euere knawyn; She askyd mercy wiþ mouþe of þis myschef. "I am sakles of þis synne," she seyd in her sawe; "Grete God of his grace your gyltis foryeve, Þat do me derfly be dede and done out of dawe Wiþ dere. Wold god þat y myght Speke wiþ Joachym aright; And seþ to deþ me to dight, I ȝeve not a pere." XX. She fil flat in þe flore, her fere whan she fand, Carpyd to hym kyndly, as she wel couþe: "I wis y wratthid þe neuere, at my wytand, Neiþer in woord ne wyrk, yn elde ne in youþe." She keueryd up on knees, and kyssid his hond: "For y am dampnyd, y ne dare disparage þi mouþe." Was neuere sorowfuller segge by see ne by sand, Ne no sorier sight by norþe ne by souþe, Tho þare. They toke þe fetris of her feet, And euere she kyssid his hand sweet: "In oþir world shul we meet." Þo seyd she na mare. XXI. Than Susan þe sorowful seyd up on hight, Helt up her hondis, byheld to hevyn: "Þou maker of myddil erþe, þat moost art of myght, Boþe þe sonne and þe see þat sit up a sevyn, Al my werkis þou woost, þe wrong and þe right; Hit is nedeful now þi names to nevene. Seþ y am dolefully dampnyd, and to deþ dight, Lord, hertly take, and lestyn my stevene So free! Seþ þou may not be sene Wiþ no bodily eyene, Þou wost wele y am clene, Have mercy on me." XXII. Now þei dresse her to deþe wiþout eny drede, And led forþ þat lady louesome of leyre. Grete god, of his grace, of yeftes ungwede, Wiþ help of þe holy goost herd her prayere. He directid þis dome and þis derf dede To Danyell þe prophete of dedis so derne; Such ȝeftis he hym yaf in his yonghede, Ȝot faylid hym a fourtenight ful of a yere, Noght to layne. Tho cryed þat ferly fode: "Why spillist þou innocentis blode?" And all þei starid and stode, Thes ferlies to freyne. XXIII. "What signifies, good sone, þes sawes þat þou sayes?" Thus þes maystreful men wiþ mouþes gan mele. "Ȝe be fendis al þe frappe, I say it in faiþe, And in folk of Israel bene folys wele fele. Umbyloke you, lordis, such lawes be laiþe, Me think ȝour dedis undewe such domys to dele; Agayn to þe geldhalle þe gomes ungraiþe; I shal by processe apert dispreue þis appele, For nede. Lete disseuere hem too, For now wakiþ her woo; They shul graunte, or þei go, All her falshede." XXIV. They disseueryd hem sone and settyn hem sere, And sodenly a seneke þei broght in to sale. To-for þis yong profete þe prestis gan apere, And he hem apechyd sone wiþ chekis wel pale: "Thow hast be president, þe peple to stere, Þou dotist in þin olde dayes now in þe dismale. Now shal þi concience be knowe, þat euere was unclere, Thow hast in Babyloyne on benche brow mych bale, Wele bolde. Now shal ȝour synnis be sene Of your fals domys bydene; For ye in Babyloyne have bene Juggis of olde." XXV. "Thow seyst þou sawe Susanne syn in þi sight; Telle me þan trewly, undir what tre?" "Man, by þe mych god, þat moost is of myght, Undir a sene, sothely, my self ded y se." "Þow lyest in þi hede, by hevyn upon hight; An aungil wiþ a nakid swerd is ful ny þe, He haþ braundisshid his brond brennyng so bright, To marke þi myddil at a messe in more þan in þre, No lesse. Ye brak goddis commaundement, To sle suche an ynnocent, Wiþ ȝour fals juggement, Undewly on desse." XXVI. Now is þe domysman wiþdrawe wiþout eny drede, And put in to prison ayen in his place; Þan broght þei þe toþir forþ whan þe barne bede, To-for þe folk and þe faunt frely of face. "Come forþ, caytif of Canaan sede; By cause of þis couetise þou art in þis caas; Þou hast deceyvid þi self wiþ þin owne dede; Of þi wyt for a wyf bywylid þou was In wede. Sey now, so mote þou the, Undir what kyn tre Semely Susan ded þou se Do þat derf dede." XXVII. "Þow gome of grete elde, þin heed is grayherd, Tel þou now trwly, or þou þi lyf tyne." Þo þat loþely cherle lothely roryd, And seyd to [þe] prophete: "þei pleyd by a pryne." "Now þow lyest alowd, so help me our lord; Fulfillid of þi falshed þou shalt haue euyl fyne; Þou and þi cursid compier mow not acord. Ȝe shul be drawe to þe deþ þis day or we dyne, So rathe. An aungel is nyhond, Takiþ þe dome of ȝour hond, Wiþ a brennyng brond, To brittyn ȝow bathe." XXVIII. Than þe folk of Israel fell upon knees, And lovyd þat lovely lord, þat her lyf lente; All þe goomes in her game gladid in her glees, This prophete so pertely previþ his entente. They trumpe to-for þe traytours and trayle hem on trees Thurgh out þe citee, by comen assente. Who so leviþ on our lord dar hym not lese, Þat þus his seruaunt savyd þat shold have be shent In sete. These ferlies byfelle In þe dayes of Danyell, Þe pistil witnessiþ it well Of þe prophete.Here endith þe storye of Susanne and Danyell. C.

[The first eight stanzas are missing in the Cottonian MS.]

IX. The chyue, þe cholet and þe chesboke cheue, The chybolle, þe cheueron þat chaungethe at nyghte; The percele, þe pasnepes, þe porettes to preue, The pyony, þe plawnteyn, prowdly pyghte; The lylly, þe louge, lawnced fulle leue, The sawge and þe solsykelle, semyly in syghte; The columbyne, þe caraway, in clottys þey cleue, The rewe, þe rubarbe, rawnged fulle ryghte In rees. Dayse and dytayne, Isope and sauerayne, Pelletur and plantayne, The prowdeste in prees. X. Thus þe ȝonge ȝepply ȝede in here ȝerde, That was hyr husbandys and herys, holden fulle hende. "The folke be faren vs fro," she sayde, "we dar not be ferde; Aftyr myn oynement warly ȝe wende. Spede ȝou specyally the ȝate be sperde, For we wylle washe vs I-wys by þe welle strende; For-þy we wylle warpe of our wedys vn-werde." Unther a lawrer belowe þe lady gon lende, So sone. Be a wynlyche welle Sussanne cawghte of her kelle; Butt fele ferles her by-felle By mydday or none. XI. Now ar þese domes men drawen in to derne, Whyle þat þey syghe þe lady lont hyr alone; For to halse þat hende thay hyed hem full ȝerne, Wythe wordys þey worshepyd þat wordyly in wone. "Wylt thow, lady, for loue on our lay lerne, And unther þis lowrer be our lemman? The thar warne for no wyghte our wyllis to werne, For alle gomes þat shulde greue of gardyn ar gone In fere. Ȝyf thow our nedys deny, We shalle say sykyrly We toke þe in avowtry Vnther þis lowrere." XII. Sussan was sorowfulle, and seyde in her thoughte: "I am withe sorowe vmbe-sette on euerylke a syde; Ȝyf I assent to þis synne these segges han sowghte, I shall be brytened and brent in bales to abyde; Ȝyf I nykke hem with nay hyt helpes me nowghte; Trybulacyon and tene me takes þis tyde. [Ȝ]ett er I þat wordy wrathe þat alle þis worlde wroghte, [Be]ttyr ys wemles to wende out of þis worlde wyde." With thys, [Sch]e kest a carefull cry, [Tha]t comelyche lady; [He]r seruantys had ferly, And no wondyr I-wys. XIII. Kene men of þe courte comen to þat cry, And sche had kast of her kelle and hyr kyrchefe; In at a priuy posterne þey presyd in hy, And fownden þe prestes full prest þer poyntes to preue. Then sayde þo loselles on lowde to þat lady: "Thow hast gone with a gome þy goddys to greue, And leyn with þy lemman in avowtry, Be þat lorde and þe lawe þat we on be-leue." They swere; All here seruauntes schunt And stale away in a stunt; Of here were þey neuere wont Suche wordys to here. XIV. Hyr kynrade, hyr cosyns, and alle þat her knewe, Wrongon hondys, I-wys, and wepten fulle sare; Certys for Sussan, sothfast and semyly of hewe, Alle wyues and wydowes a-wondred þey ware. They dyde hyr in a downgon wher neuer day dewe Tylle domes men had dempte þe dede to declare, Marred with manycles þat made were newe, Meteles fro þe morn tyll mydday and mare, In drede. Tho come here fadyr so fre, Wythe alle hys affynyte, The prestes were with out pyte, And full of falshede. XV. Then sayde þe justyces on benche to Joachym þe Jewe, That was of Jacobus kynde, gentylle of dedys: "Lett sende aftyr Sussan, semelyche of hewe, That þou hast weddyd to wyfe and wlonkest in wedys; Sche ys of thoghte, as I trowe, trysty and trewe, And has herte haly on hym þat þe heuen hedys." Thus þey broghte hyr to þe barre, hyr bales to brewe. Nother dethe ne dome þat day sche ne dredys Als ȝare. Hyr here was ȝelow as þe wyre Of gold fynyde with þe fyre, Hyr scholdres shaply and schyre, Þat borely were bare. XVI. Thus ys Sussan in sale, senglyche arayde, In a serke of sylke, with sholdres fulle schene. Then rysen with rancour þe renkes renayde, And þey þat comelyche acused with wordes fulle kene; Homely on here heddys here hondis þey leyde, And sche wepte for wo, no wondyr, I wene. "We schulle present þe pleynte, how so euer þou be payde And say sadly þe sothe, ryth as we sene, On sake." Thus with cautelys qwaynt, They present þer playnt; Ȝett shalle trewthe hem attaynt, I dar vnþertake. XVII. "Thorowout þe pomery we passed to play, Wyth prayer and penaunce was our purpose; Sche cometh with two maydyns, dressyd þat day, Wyth ryche robys arayde, reed as þe rose; Wylyly hyr wenches she wyssed a-way, Comaunded hem kenely þe ȝates to close. Sche wente forthe to a ȝong man in a valey; The semblant of Sussan wolde no man suppose, For sothe! Be this case þat I say, She wyssed her wenchis away; These wordes wettenesse we ay, Withe tonge and with tothe." XVIII. "When we þat semblant syghe, sykyng for care, For sert of hyr souerayn and for hir owen sake; Our copes were combrouse, þat kyndeled our care, But ȝett we turned a croke, þat traytour to take. He was borely and bygge, bolde as a bare, Myche myghtyer þen we syche maystries to make. And to þe ȝate ȝeply þen ȝede he fulle ȝare, And lyfte vp þe lacche and lepte ouyr þe lake, So ȝowthe. Sche withe-shonte for no shame, But bowed aftyr for blame, And wolde not kythe us his name, For crafte þat we kowthe." XIX. Now ys sche dampned on days, with dyn þey hyr deiue, And þe domesmen derf done hir be with drawen. Lowely sche lowted, and lawghte hyr leue Att kynrede and cosyns þat sche had er knowen; Sche asked mercy with mowthe in þat myschefe. "I am sakles of synne," sche sayde in hyr sawen; "Grete God, of þy grace þese gomes for-gyfe That don me delfully be ded and don vpon dawen With dere. Now wolde God þat I myghte Speke with Joachym or nyghte; And sythen what deth me were dyghte, I ne sett at a pere." XX. Sche fylle flatte on þe flore, hyr fere when sche fonde, And karpyd to þat karemon, as she well kowthe: "I wratthed ȝou neuyr, at my wyttande, Neyther in worde ner in werke, in elde ne in ȝowghte." Sche keuered vpon her kneys, kyst she his honde: "I am dampned, I ne dar disperge ȝour mowthe." Was ther neuer a soryer syghte be see ner be sonde, Ne a sorowfuller segge be northe ne be sowth Þen þore. They toke þe feteres from her fete, And þen kyst she þat swete: "In þis worlde shalle we mete," Seyde sche, "no more." XXI. Then Sussanne was sorowfulle, and seyde vpon hyghte, Wythe hondys full hye be-helde to þe heuen: "Maker of myddulerthe, þat most art of myghte, Bothe þe sonne and þe see þou sette vpon seuen; Alle my wyrkes þow wote, þe wronge and þe ryghte; Hyt ys nedfulle now thy names to neuen. As y am delfully dampned, and to þe deth dyghte, Lord, hertyly take hede, and harken my steuen So fre! Syn thow may not be sene Wythe no fleshly yne, Thow knowest welle I am clene, So haue mercy on me." XXII. Now ys sche dampned on deyse withouten any drede, And ladde forthe þat lady lofsom of lere. Grete God, of þy grace, and of gyftes vngnede, Thorow the help of þe holy gost herde hyr prayere. He dyrects hys dome and hys derf dede To Danyelle þe prophete, of dedys so dere; Suche ȝyftys he hym ȝaf in his ȝong hede, Ȝett fayled he a fourtenyȝt of a fulle ȝere, Not to layn. Then cryed þat frely food: "Why spylle ȝe þat innocent blod?" Alle were a-stonyed and with-stood, Thes ferlees to frayn. XXIII. "What sygnyfyeth, good sone, þys sawe and what hyt seythe, Þat þese maysterfulle men with mowthe gon melle? Ȝe arn fonned alle þe frape, to telle you in faythe, And in þe folke of Irael arn foles fulle fele. Vmbe-loke ȝou, ledes, such lawes arn leythe, Me thynk thet ȝour dedes fulle dulle such dedis to dele; Haue agayn to þe gylde-halle þe gomes vngraythe; I shalle be processe apret dyspreue þys apele, In dede. Lett desseuere hem in two, For now wakenes her woo; They shalle graunt, er þey goo, Alle here falshede." XXIV. They dysceuered hem in two and sett hem on sere, And sodeynly þat senek þey broghte in to sale. Byfore þe prophete þys prest gon apere, And he apposed hym fulle sone with chekes fulle pale: "Thow hast be a presydent, þe pepulle to stere, Now dotest þou on þyn olde toes in þe dysemale. Now shalle þy couetyse be knowen þat er was vnclere; Thow hast in Babylon on benche browen mykylle bale, So bolde. Now schulle ȝour synnes be sene Of fals domes be-dene, Whyle ȝe in Babylone haue bene Jugges of olde." XXV. "Thow seyst þou seghe Sussanne synne in þy syghte; Tell me now trystily, vndur what tre?" He swere be the myche God, þat most ys of myghte, "Vndur a syne sothly myself I he(r) se." "Now þou lyest in þy hed, be heuen vpon hyghte; An angelle with a naked swerde þe nyȝes fulle ne, He hathe braundest þat bronde and burnysched fulle bryghte, To merke þe at medylle in messe in two or in thre, No lees. Thow brekest Goddes comaundement, To sle suche an innocent, Wythe any fals jugement, Vn-dewly on dees." XXVI. Now ys thys domesman withdrawe withowtyn any drede, And putte in a pryson aȝen to hys place; They broughte forth þat oþer to þe barre when þe chylde bede, Be-fore þe folke and þe fawnte frely of face. "Cum forthe, þou cursyd caytyf, of Caymes sede; Be cause of þy couetyse þou art in this case; Thow hast dysseyued þy self with þyn owen dede; Of alle þe wyte of a wyfe be-wyled þou wase In drede. Say now, so mote þou þe, Vndyr what kynnes tre Semyly Sussane þou se Do þys derf dede." XXVII. "Thow gome of grett elde, þy hed ys gray hored, Telle me tristili, er þow þy lyfe tyne." Then þe rodely churle rudely he rored, And seyde to þe prophete: "þey pleyde be a pyne." "Now þou lyest vpon loude, so helpe me oure lorde; For fylthe of þy falshede þou shalt haue an euylle fyne; Thy cursed comper and þou may not a-corde. Ȝe shulle be drawen to þe deth to day or I dyne, So rathe. I se an angelle stande, To take þe dome of ȝour honde, Wyth a brennand bronde, To brytyn ȝow bathe." XXVIII. Then þe folk of Israelle fellen vpon knees, And lowely thanked our lord, þat her þe lyf lent; All gomes þat her gode wolde glades and glees, That þys prophete so pertly preued hys entente. They trumpped before þe traytoures and trayled hem on trees Thorow out þe cyte, be comune assent. He þat loueth þat lorde, þar hym not drede, no lees, That þus his seruant con saue þat schuld haue be schent, So swete. Thys ferly befelle In þe dayes of Danyelle, The wytnesse wylle welle telle Of þe same prophete.Explicit.