Altenglische legenden.

I. St. Eustas.

[[The footnotes contain] Varianten des Ms. Ashm. 61, fol. 1.] Ms. Digby 86, fol. 122b. (c. 1290). Die folg. 2 Leg. des Ms. Digby 86 (c. 1290 geschrieben) gehören zu den ältesten Leg.; sie sind echt volksthümlich, Eustas zugleich echt episch in dem stäten Forttriebe der Handlung u. in der Fülle der Stimmung. Der Dialect ist südlich. Dieselbe Stropfen|form findet sich in anderen gleichzeitigen, legendarischen und moralischen, Gedichten wieder, sie unterscheidet diese Gruppe von den Gedichten in vierzeiligen Stropfen und Langversen, wie Gregorius, Mergrete, Katerine, die der Zeit nach noch vor jenen vorauszuliegen scheinen. Dieselbe Hs. enthält die Sprüche des h. Bernhard u. Sprüche des h. Beda ("þe sawe of seint Bede prest", in 372 V., nach dem älteren Ms. Jes. Coll. Oxf. edirt in Morris An old Engl. Miscellany p. 72 u. d. T. Sinners Beware, von ders. Stropfenform und wohl von dems. Dichter wie die Leg. vom Psalter), ein Ged. von den 11 Peinen der Hölle (aus Ms. Jes. Coll. ed. in Morris An old E. Misc. p. 147) und Maximian (od. Klagen eines Greises über das Alter, bisher ungedruckt). — Eine weit jüngere und schlechte Hs. des Eust. findet sich in Ms. Ashm. 61 fol. 1. — Andere Ver|sionen derselben Leg. sind enthalten in der südengl. Legenden- und nordengl. Homilien|sammlung. Eine spätere Leg. ist endlich: The worthie hystorie of the moste noble and valiaunt knight Placidas, otherwise called Eustas, who was martyred for the pro|fession of Jhesus Christ, gathered in Engl. verse by John Partridge, in the year of our lord 1566. Imprinted at London by Henrye Denham for Thomas Hacket: and are to be solde at his shoppe in Lumbarde streate, in 1380 V.; wiederabgedruckt für den Roxb. Cl. 1873 u. d. T.: The hystorie of the moste noble knight Plasidas and other rare pieces, collected into one Book by Samuel Pepys, and forming part of the Pepysian library at Magd. Coll. Cbr. (dies. Sammlung des Pepys enthält auch die Leg. von Sir John Oldcastle). Dieses Ged. des J. Partridge beginnt: Sometyme in Romane lande there was A king of noble fame, Who was full faine in martiall feates And Traian had to name. —

Ci comence la vie seint Eustace qui out noun Placidas.

Alle þat louieþ godes lore, [(A)l þat be on godys lore,] Olde and ȝonge, lasse and more, [Lytell, mykyll, lesse & more,] Lestneþ hone stounde [Lystyns to me a stounde.] Of a kniȝt of heþenesse, [knyght. hethenes.] Þat heuede muche in herþe blisse, [myche hade of werldys.] Line 5 Of gold and ponewes rounde. [penyes.]

He was .I.-hoten Placidas, [Hys name hyght.] Wiþ Troian þe enperour he was, [Tracyan. emperoure.] Riȝt wis mon of rede; [wyse mane.] Wiþ þe riche he was god, [pore. wele gode.] Line 10 And wiþ þe pouere milde mod, [ryche. of mode.] And riȝt-ful mon of dede. [And gode in euery dede.]

Of honting he couþe .I.-nou, [Of fre huntyng. Inouȝhe.] In heye wode and vnder bou [In holte & vnder þe wode-bouȝhe.] And in wilde felde. [in the.] Line 15 He rod on hunting on a day: [rode. dey.] On hert he founde, þer he lay [A. found. ley.] Wel faire ounder on helde. [Welle feyre vnder þe lynde.]

Þe hert wes muchel, of heie cinde, [Ms. tinde?] Þer he wes ounder wode linde, Line 20 Mest he wes of alle; [19—21) fehlen.] Oþere hertes and hindes mo, More and lasse, þer weren also, He stod stiuest of alle. [22—4) Of many hertys & bestys also, Of more & lesse þer wer moo, He was þe feyrest of alle.]

Þe muchele hert atorn away, [The gretyst hert fled hys wey.] Line 25 Þe kniȝt rod after niȝt and day [rode a. all a dey.] Bi him-self al-one, [selffe.] Oout in an oþer kinges londe: [In-tylle an odour kyngys.] Þer him gan þe hert astonde [There ganne. to withstonde.] Ovpon a roche of stone. [vpone.] Line 30

Þe hert bitur(n)de is hornes heye, [Ms. biturde.] [turned hys. hyȝe.] Þere he wes ounder wode-leye, [There he stode vnder þe wode lynde (!).] And seyde: "Placidas, [seyd sir.] Þou art a kniȝt of hounting fre — [Thow arte. huntyng.] Þou me driuest and .I. þe fle — [foloys.] Line 35 Rid nou þi softe pas! [Ryde softer thy pace.]

Bituene min hornes þou miȝt loke, [Betwene my h. þat are so hyȝe,] Þe feirest þing þat stont in boke [To me & þou wolde cast thyne eyȝe,] Wel sone þou salt ise: [Well sone thane myght þou see: Darauf folgt: The feyrest syght þat may be thouȝht Or yne þis werlde þat may be wroȝht Or euer in erthe may be: Jhesu Cryst onne crosse Iwys, That hath þe broght in all þis blys, Thou huntys after þis tyde. The truthe wele sone þou schall se, Iff þou wyll tourne thy face to me, Fore ferthere þou may not ryde (A. hat also eine Stropfe mehr).] Jhesu Cristes creis .I.-wis, Line 40 Þat sal þe bringen alle blis And hounteþ after þe".

Þe liȝt of heuene and þe glem, [in a leme.] Briȝttore þen þe sunne bem, [Bryȝter than is þe sone beme.] Ovpon þat hert aliȝtte. [gane lyght.] Line 45 Þe hert spak, alse a mon hit were, [spake as a man it.] Wiþ þat feire kniȝte þere — [So fayre to þe knyght ryght there,] Ich wot, hit wes oure driȝte. [And seyd to hym with ryght.]

"Placidas, ich seye hit þe, [I sey to.] Þi nome shal .I.-chaunged be, [That þi name changyd schalle be,] Line 50 Cristindom þou shat fonge. [And crystindome vnderfonge.] Ich am Jhesu Crist of heuene [It is.] Þat speke wiþ þe wiþ milde steuene. [spekys to.] Ne dwel þou nout to longe! [duell. not.]

Þou nim þine children and þi wif, [Thou take thi chylder. wyfe.] Line 55 And wendeþ al wiþ-oute strif [wend. withouten stryffe.] And cristineþ ou bitime! [& crystyne ȝou be tyme.] I-nou ȝe sulen .I.-fondet be Wiþ care and howe, þou and hoe, [58—9) Fore oftyne-tyme ȝou schall be lede, With sorow & care ȝe schall be fedde,] Al for loue of mine". [Fore loue of me & myne. Darauf hat A 2 Stropfen mehr: "Leue lord, seyd he, My crysten name thow gyffe to me, Or þat I hens wende". "Now þou hyght Placydas, Thow schall hyght sir Ewstas, In werld withouten ende". — Home-ward he went fast anone, And told it hys wyffe at home. They thankyd gode dey & nygh(t). "Syre, sche seyd, we wyll gone, And become cristynd anone, In þe name of god all-myght.] Line 60

He nom is children and is wif, [toke his chylder & his wyffe.] And wenten al wiþ-outen strif [folio 123] [& went forthe withoutyne stryffe]

To þat follovstone; [To þe fonte-stone.] Þere hy weren .I.-cristned bein, [There þⁱ wer cristyne tho.] His wif and hise children tweine — [his childer two.] Line 65 Þo nes he nout alone. [Ne was he not a.]

Wilen he heiȝte Placidas, [Some tyme.] And nou he is cristned Ewstas — [Now he hyght sir E.] ".I.-herd be god almiȝtte!" [Blyssed be. all-myght.] In-to þat heye wode anon Line 70 Al abouten hy weren agon And þonkeden oure driȝtte.

Þe kniȝt wiþ hise .I.-feren þre Ounder one linde-tre Reste him hone stounde. [70—5) Betwene þe vndrone & þe none, I wote, þis dede it was done, Ne was it not be nyght. — To þe wodde þⁱ wente anone, Als-so swyth as þⁱ myght gone, Ne restyd þei no stounde.] Line 75 Alse wes ounder wode-bowe, [As þⁱ went vnder þe wodde bowe,] Wel gode tidingges him come .I.-nowe [Of god t. þer come Inow.] From hevene to þe grounde: [Fro h. to them on g.]

On aungele seyde, þat wes briȝt: [An angelle seyd þat was fulle bryght.] "Sire Eustace, godes kniȝt, [Ewstas godys.] Line 80 .I.-blesced mote þou be! [Blyssyd. bene.] Þine children and þi wif [Thi-selue, þi chylder & þi wyfe] Sulen hauen þat eche lif [eche, ags. êce, eternal, wie 202.] [Schall in Ioy lede ȝour lyfe] And alle blisse .I.-se. [And heue(n)s blys schall sene.]

Þey þou lete lond and lede, [Thoffe þou les both.] Line 85 Halle and bour and heye stede, [bowre, palfray & st.] Ne be þou nout sori! [not sorye.] Þou art .I.-turnd to cristindome: Þe fend þe wille sechen .I.-lome And ofte þe fondi. [88—90) Now þou hast cristindome, vnderstond, The fend wyll ȝerne þe forto fonde, Now þou arte made holye.] Line 90

Wendeþ, quaþ þe aungele, godes way, [Wend ȝe forthe into ȝour waye] Wytieþ oure soule niȝt and day, [And kepe ȝour saulys, daye.] And doþ bi mine rede! [And do as I ȝou rede.] Alle ȝe sulen mid-.I.-wis [All ȝe schalle fore sothe Iwys.] For þe loue of swete Jhesus Line 95 Mid martirdom ben dede". [In. be.]

To his hous he wente anon, [Syre Eustas wente hym home] So swiþe so he miȝtte gon, [Also swyth as. gone.] Mid wif and children two. [With wyfe. childer.] Þo weren is seep afelde .I.-biten, Line 100 Þe þonre heuede his hors forsmiten — A fote he moste go. [100—2) He found his schepe in folde wer betyne, And thonder his hors to deth had smyten, On fote ne myght þⁱ gone (!).]

Al þat he louede, him wente fram, [All þat hym louyd wente hym fro.] Bote is wif and is children twam. [his. childer two.] Hof londe hy mosten wende. [Sone þⁱ must wende.] Line 105 Er hit dawede liȝt of day, [Erly or it was any daye.] Wel stilleliche hy wenten away [Stylly þⁱ stalkyd away (Ms. awas).] Bi one wodes ende. [a woddys.]

Toward Egipte hy gunnen fare, ffore .I.-bounden al wiþ kare, Line 110 And wiþ loue mourninge Of Crist þat alle þinge shop And þat on erþe rod and stop, Wiþ spere þat let him stinge. [109—114) fehlen.]

To one water hy comen gon: [a. þⁱ gane gone.] Line 115 A ship hy founden þer anon. [A schype þⁱ founde sone anone.] Þer houer hy mosten seyle. [Thei went þer-tylle.] In-to þat ship he dede him þo, [þe. þⁱ went tho.]

His wif, ise ȝonge children two. [& his chylder.] Þat water wes sturne and eille. [The w. was sterne & ylle.] Line 120

Þe shippesman bihoeld þat kniȝt [The schypmene byhold þat ilke k.] And seþþen þe leuedi, þat wes briȝt: [And þat lady þat was so bryght.] Hoe þouhte him feir and shene. [þi thought hyre fare.] To him he seyde after þan: "Wer hevedest þou þis fayre wimman? [Where hadyst. feyre womane.] Line 125 Hoe shal ben min, ich wene". [Sche. be. I. Darauf hat A. folg. 2 Stropfen: Out of þe schype he drew hym tho, And his ȝonge childer two — Full woo was hym þerfore! The lady cryed & mad gret dynne, And fro hyre lorde was loth to twyne, And weppyd & syȝede sore. — The knyght sette hym done apone a stone (= 127), And se hys wyfe was fro hym go, Takyne fro hym with wronge. He seyd alas þat he was borne! Hys wytte fro hym nyȝe-hond was lorne, Hym thouȝt hys lyfe to longe. Die 2 ersten V. der folg. Strophe: After þe schype his eye he caste: Out of his syght than was sche paste.] [. . . . .(Hier fehlen eine oder zwei Strophen.)]

A-doun he sette him on an ston And reste his werie bon, Bioeld hise children two: [He behelde hys.] "Me þinkeþ, min herte wile bleden. [thinke my. wylle all to-bled.] Line 130 Hou shal ich ou moderlese feden? [I ȝou moderles fede.] Ne wes me nevere þus wo". [Now was me neuer so wo.]

So longe forþ his wey he nom, [way. toke.] To one watere þat he com. [Tyll þat þⁱ come vnto a broke.] Þer ouer he moste fare. [þⁱ muste.] Line 135 Waden he moste — þe water wes cheld, [Wade þⁱ muste, þe water was scheld.] In eyþer side wilde feld: [By eþer. þe wylde.] Þe more wes his care. [Welle mekyll was hys care.]

He nom his on child on his arm — [toke. o. in. arme.] Ich wot, he ne dede him non harm — [The oþer he wende schuld haue no herme.] Line 140 And bar hit ouer to londe. [He bare hym. to þe.] Sone he seyd in his mod: [Doune he sette in hys mode (!).] "Godes help his euere god: [Godys grace, he seyd, is euermore gode.] Þat ich wel ounder-stonde. [I. wel fehlt.]

"Sitte nou stille, sone min, [styll. myne.] Line 145 Þe wyles ich fecche broþer þin, [Tyll þat I fette.] And tou shalt hauen þi mede. [þou schall haue.] Ich wille to þe comen anon, [I schalle come to þe anone,] So sone so ich hit may don; [Als-so sone as I may gone.] Ne þarf þe nout adrede". [Ne make þou no drede.] Line 150

In-to þat water he wente aȝeyn, [þe w. agayne.] Fort he com in þat depe strem, [Tyll þat he come to þe myddys streme.] And lokede in heyþer side: [lokyd hym bysyde.] A wilde lioun þer com gon [he saw þer gone.] And kipt his ȝonge sone anon, [He toke.] Line 155 On him he ȝenede wide. [gapyd.]

Þe lioun ber þe kniȝt child wiþ him, [That. bare þat child.] A-wey he wende wroþ and grim. [That was both grete, stoute & gryme.] Þe kniȝt wes ney .I.-swowe, [Ne was he neuer so wo. Dann folgt: Than was sir Eustas sorye, Fore both his childer wer borne awaye; He felle in swounyng tho. Die folg. Stropfe fehlt.] Wore he wes in þat water depe; Line 160 Hit nes no wonder þey he wepe, Of care he heuede .I.-nowe!

Þo he hof swoning aros, He lokede oup and him agros; To londe he moste te. Line 165 A wonder þing he sey him þar: A wolf his oþer child at-bar. .I.-swowen he fel on kne.

Þo he of swoning aros, [Bot whene he fro swonyng rose,] He lokede oup and him agros, [He lokyd vp & forth he gose,] Line 170 His wit wes ney forloren. [His wytte was neyȝe hym fro.] Euere he þouhte on Jhesu Crist, [Bot euer he thought onne.] On his deþ, on his ouprist, [& his vp-ryste.] Þat for ous wes .I.-boren. [fehlt.]

"God almiȝtten, þou hit wost, [Jhesu Cryste in trinyte,] Line 175 Fader and sone and holi gost! [All-myȝhty god, þou comforth me.] To þe ich mene mi mone, [I make.] Of mi spouse þat wes so trewe, Fayr and hende and briȝt of hewe — [178—9) umgestellt: So feyere a womane of hyde & hew, Of my wyfe þat was so trew.] Welle wo is me al-one! [So wo is me alone.] Line 180

For mine sones þat ben forloren, [Of my chyldren þat be forelorne.] Mid wilde bestes awey .I.-boren — [With. awaye borne.] Ne bide ich newer-eft none. [I may now sey alas!] To wecche lond ma ich toe? Hou longe sal ich liues boe? Line 185 Ne con ich me no wone. [184—6) Tyll vncouthes (!) londys I wylle go. How longe schall (I) lyue so? That euer I borne was!]

Of Iop ich wile biþenchen me, [On Iob I wylle bethinke me,] Þat longe hevede in blisse .I.-be [Þat euer had in blysse be.] And seþþen sel into care. [sethen. in.] Louerd, for þe loue of þe [lord.] Line 190 To sori nulle ich newer be, [Ne wylle I neuer to sory be,] Fare hou ich fare. [How so euer I fare.] [folio 124]

Ich habbe .I.-wopen al mine fille, [I. wepyne. my.] .I. nelle nammore, ich wile be stille: [Þer bade no-mane me ȝit be stylle,] Godes help is fulney". [Fore goddys helpe is nyȝe.] Line 195 Þo com þer on aungele of heuene [There comme an. fro.] And spek wiþ him wiþ milde steuene, [Þat spake to.] Of god, þat wes on hey: [Frome Cryst þat wonetht one hyȝe.]

"Be nou stille and glad, Eustace! [Blyssede be þou, sir Eustas.] In heuene is .I.-maked þi place, [made þi mery p.] Line 200 Þere þou shalt murie boen. [schall blythe bene.] Þine children and þi wif [Thi-selue, thy chylder & thi wyfe] Sulen haven þat eche lif [Schall þat merye lyfe] And alle blisse .I.-soen". [And alle þat Ioy sene.]

So longe forþ he wente his way, [he wente forth in. wey.] Line 205 Hise bedes biddinde niȝt and day, [His bedys bedand. dey.] To toune þat he com. [tylle þat he camme.] sswinken and sweten he moste þo, [Suynkyng & suetyng he muste tho (!),] Wor his spending wes al atgo: [Fore his spendyng was alle go;] Wel evene he hit ounder-nom, [To woche (!) he must thane.] Line 210

Wiþ bowe and arewen and wiþ horn [bow. arowys. horne.] Wor-to witien monne corn, [Forto kepe oþer mens corne.] Bi day and eke bi niȝtt, Weddes nimen and orf to puinde— [Weddys to take & bestys to pynde,] Þereto nes him nout .I.-cunde. [Þat was hym not commyne of kynde.] Line 215 He wes hayward and kniȝt! [fehlt.]

Fiftene ȝer he wonede þere, [Fyftyne wynter he was there.] Er men westen were he were. [Or. wyst whens.] .I.-sout he wes wel ȝerne: [His mete forto eyrene.] Þe enperour him sende to seche [The e. dyde hym to.] Line 220 Wiþ men, þat weren wise of speche, [ware mylde.] Kniȝttes starke and sterne. [bothe styffe st. starke.]

Ouer þat corn þer comen þre [corne. þer fehlt.] Ridinde men of one ble, [Ridinge.] And he hoem þere .I.-mette. [With hym þer they mette.] Line 225 Þe kniȝttes weren on horse heye, [rydyne on horsys hye.] Mid wordes milde, fayre and sleye [With wordys. feyre. sclyȝe.] Þene hayward .I.-grette. [Þat heyward fare þⁱ grette.]

Þe hayward nom and bleu his horn, For he wes wardein of þat corn; [229—30) umgesetzt: Fore he was wardane ouer þat corne, The heywerd stod & blow his horne.] Line 230 Here wed he bad hem ȝelde. [þer wedde he bade theme ȝelde.] He axede wat hy souhten þare, [askyde what þⁱ soughtyne þer.] And wy hy weren so .I.-fare [þⁱ went ouer so ferre.] Ouer þat heued felde. [heued = ags. eowde, herd?] , [hyȝe st. heued.]

"Sire, we ben kniȝttes, fer .I.-fare [Syre, þⁱ seyd, be not dysplesyde,] Line 235 For to sechen wide-ware [We knaw þat we haue ȝow dessesyde,] After one monne: [Fore we seke after a mane.] Þe enperoures cunsiler [We bene þe emperoures consylerys.] .I.-sout we awen fer and ner, [We haue hym souȝte bothe ferre & nere,] Ne con him ous noman kenne. [Bot fynd hym nought we canne.] Line 240

Wiseste kniȝt of alle he was, [A nobulle knyght fore-sothe he was.] His nome wes hoten Placidas. [name. was callyd sir.] On honting hout he ferde, [oute he farede.] Nevereft seþþen ne com he hom, [Neuer sethyne comme home.] Ne no tidinge from him ne com [ne fehlt vor come.] Line 245 Þat ani mon hy-herde. [Þat no-mane sethen of herde.]

Here we hauen .I.-founde þe, [haue foundyne.] We wenen wel þat þou hit be Bi þine fayre chere; [248—9) By a wounde þat I se On the þat stondys here.] Ovp-on þi neb is an wonde: [One thy nose þer is a wounde:] Line 250 Þere-bi we hauen wel .I.-founde [Werby we haue þe here founde,] Þat þou art oure .I.-fere". [And þou schall bene owre fere.]

"Nay, quaþ he, hou miȝtte hit be? [Nay, sires, so mote I thene,] Were suldich houre fere be? [I may not ȝour feloy bene.] Ne am ich a pouere mon?" [I ame a pore mane.] Line 255 "Þou most wiþ ous to þe enperour, [muste. vs.] For to fongen þat honour [haue thy.] Þat þou were erroure on". [Þat thou wer wonte to hanne.]

Þo nom sire Eustas his leue þare, Mid hise .I.-feren he is .I.-fare. [259) ff. Syre Eustas se þat he muste nedes Forto go forth with þes knyghtys Vnto þe kyngys courte. Darauf folgt: He toke hys leue at grete & smalle, At mane & wyfe & gentylles alle; þⁱ were lothe to departe. Forthe he wente with theme alle thre, With þe emperour forto be; T(o) þe kyngys courte he came. (A. hat eine Strophe mehr).] Line 260 To kingges court he com. Þere wes ioye and blisse .I.-nouh! [was ioy. Inouȝhe.] Þe enperour on him he louh, [onne hym lowȝhe.] And kniȝt and sweyn and grom. [And knyghtys, squyre & grome.]

He tolde his louerd of his care, [told. lord.] Line 265 His stronge lif, his harde fare, [In strange lyffe is herd.] Ord and eque þan ende, [eque = eke.] , [Fro begynning to þe ende.] Boþe of lere and of biȝete [Bothe of hys swynke & of hys suete,] And of soure and eke of swete, [Of his treuthe & of hys byhete,] Þat god him wolde sende. [Of all þat god hym sende.] Line 270

Line 270

Hit nes þer-after noþing long [It was. noþing fehlt.] Þat þere ne com a werre strong [ne fehlt.] Oup-on þe enpereour. Þidere wente monie a kniȝt, [Theder. many a.] Wel .I.-armet to þat fiȝt, [Wel Iarmede, I ȝou a plyȝht.] Line 275 To sawuen his honour. [saue.]

Þidere comen kniȝttes tweyne, [Theder went. two.] Wel gode in fiȝte hy weren beyne, [And þⁱ wer to fyght also.] Wiþ hors and armes gode. [hernes gode.] Þere nes non at þare plawe [Þer was none in all þat playe] Line 280 Wiþ sheld and spere out .I.-drawe [With spere & suerd þat ilke dey,] Þat hoere dunt atstode. [Þat there dynte ne withstode.]

Þo hy heueden wel .I.-fouhte — [When þⁱ hade fouutene alle þe deye] Þat hit wes wel, al so hem þouhte — [And scomfet þe oþer syde aweye,] Hy wenten to hoere inne. [Þⁱ went bothe to one inne.] Line 285 Wel gode .I.-feren hy bicomen, [There gode feloys þⁱ becomme,] At one house hoere in hy nomen, [As þⁱ hade bene queynted at home,] Wiþ-outen vuel enginne. [By grace of god, I wene.]

To-gadere hy eten of one disse, [To-geder þⁱ dyde syte at mete] Boþe of flesse and of ffisse, [And bothe of one dyssche þⁱ ete.] Line 290 And maden hem wel bliþe. [hem fehlt. fulle.] After mete hy tolden tales [met. þⁱ tolde talys.] Of hoere auentures fales [Of auentures & herd batayles] And of here liwes siþe. [And of all þer lyfe.]

Þe ȝongore broþer of hem twam [The ȝonge man of the two] Line 295 His broþer exede after þan [Son askyd þe oþer tho.] Of wat cunne he were. [kynne þat he.] He seet stille and sihtte sore, [satte. syȝede.] Litel he spak and þouhte more, [And seyd lytell & thouȝt more] Wiþ drowpninde chere. [With a wele sade chere.] Line 300

"Sire, wiltou mi cunsail hele, [Sir, wyll þou my counsylle hylle.] Ȝif hic þe telle of mi wele [Ife I. wylle.] And also of mi sore? [care.] A riche mannes sone ich was, [A riche man my fader was,] Mi fader heyȝtte Placidas, [His name hyght sir P.] Line 305 Þat wide heuede .I.-fare. [God gyffe hym wele to fare.]

Mi fader wes a wel fair kniȝt, [was a douȝty k.] And mi moder a leuedi briȝt, [lady.] And hadden riche .I.-won. [And ruddy of alle hew.] We weren ȝonge children two, [were ȝon sones.] Line 310 Mi litele broþer and ich also, [My ȝonger broder & I also.] In halle and bour of ston. [boure. stone.]

Mi fader nom ous alle þre, [toke vs.] Mi dame, mi broþer and me, [moder st. dame.] Þorou grace of oure driȝte, [Thorow þe grace of god all-myght.] Line 315 And ladd ous to þat fonston [& lede vs to a founte-stone] And lete ous cristni sone anon [And crystinde vs þer anone,] In þe name of god almiȝte. [Ne was it not by nyght.]

Seþþen, ich ounderstonde me, [Sethyne I vnderstode.] We fellen In-to pouerte [felle.] Line 320 And wenten ous out of londe. [wentene. ous fehlt. oute.] Ouer a water brod and dep [Ouer a water we schuld haue gone,] We seileden, and mi moder wep [Oure moder þer fro vs was tane,] And wrong hire honde. [With falsyde borne onne honde.]

Mi moder wes a fair wimmon, [was. woman.] Line 325 In al þat londe nes swich non [Lyke in þis werlde was none]

Of huide ne of hewe. [þat onne water fare.] Þe shipes man ire ous binom, [þe schypmane toke here vs frome,] Wiþ-oute tale, wiþ-houte dom. [Wiþouten law or oþer dome.] Þo wes oure care newe! [Than wexed new alle oure care.] Line 330

We wenten þorou þe wildernesse, [We went throghe a.] Mid weping and mid sorinesse, [with. soroufulnes.] And comen to one watere. [We comme to a streme.] Mi fader me nom and ouer ber, [toke. me bere.] And mi broþer lette ben þer [Ms. broþeþ.] , [broder he lefte there,] Line 335 To loken oure hatere. [Tyll þat he comme ageyne.]

A wilde lioun þer com gon [gane st. com.] And kipte me wel sone anon [And cauȝht me in his mouthe anone,] And bar me in his mouþe. [And bore me faste aweye.] And þe shepherdes þat .I.-seye, Line 340 And blewen out horn in þe leye Bi norþe and eke bi souþe. [340—2) The schypherdys schepe, When þⁱ hym se, þⁱ dyde hym mete And schrewydly dyde hym freye.]

Wel softeliche ich wes ared And brout in a softe bed, .I.-herd be god almiȝtte! [343—5) Thus fro þe lyone I was tane, And broȝht me vp with bourde & game; Thanke be gode all-myght!] Line 345 A riche man of þat ilke londe [ilke fehlt.] Al þat me ned wes, he me founde [All þat nedyde. fonde.] And dobede me to kniȝtte." [dubyde. a st. to.]

"A, broþer, let me tellen þe: [A broder late me telle þe.] A wolf þere com and kipte me [camme. cauȝht.] Line 350 And ber me in his mouþe. [bore. mothe.] Þe ploumen wel þat .I.-seye, [Plow|mene þat syght þⁱ se,] And blewen hout horn in þe leye, [And to hym fast þⁱ dyde hyȝe,] Stark men and couþe. [Stronge mene, & welle þⁱ cowthe.]

Wel softeliche hy me aredde. [The wolfe fore fere do (u)ne me leyde.] Line 355 And seþþen a levedi me fedde [lady me hath fedde.] And dobbede me to kniȝtte; [dubyde. a st. to.] Hoe fond me palefrey and stede, [Sche me fonde.] Helm and brunie and oþer wede, [Helme, habyrione & odour wede,] And swerd and spere wel briȝtte." [Spere & swerde full bryght.] Line 360

Here moder al þis .I.-herdde [There. herde.] Þere hoe wes in on orcherdde, [Þer as sche was in a ȝerde.] Wepinde al for blisse. [Sche wepe.] To hire bour hoe wende anon, [sche went.] So swiþe so hoe miȝtte gon, [Also swyth as sche couthe gone.] Line 365 Wiþ mikel gladnesse. [fulle mykille.]

Þer com ride sire Ewstas [camme rydinge.] Þer his wif at inne was, [There þat lady inne was.] Þe kniȝtes for to seche. [to sekyne swythe.] Hoe bihoeld þat fayre kniȝt, [Sche beheld þat sembly kn(y)ght.] Line 370 And he þat lewedi, þat wes briȝt, [lady. was so bryght] Mid chere wel loueliche. [With chere fayre & blythe.]

"Dame, quad he, sey þou me, [he seyd. tell.] Wat men her houte at inne be [here. houte fehlt.] At þisse nekste howse?" [þis nexte.] Line 375 "Sire, quad hoe, kniȝttes tweyne. [Syre, I knaw þer k. two.] Wel þou shalt .I.-cnowen beyne — [schall theme know also.] Welcome, mi leue spowse! [lefe.]

Mi louerd, ich .I.-cnowe þe [we(l) I knaw the.] Bi one wonde, þat ich .I.-se [a. I se.] Line 380 Oupon þi neb .I.-sene. [nose is sene.] Lemman, ich haue harde .I.-fare, [A, lord, I hade herde fare]

.I.-lad mi lif in mikel kare, [And lede my lyue in mykyll care,] Ich wot, and nouht ne wene. [I tell ȝou now by|dene. Darauf hat A. eine Strophe mehr: Fro the I was take with a schypman, And wened I schulde haue be his leman, He was not of my laye. A knyght þer was in þat schyppe, That fro þe schypmane he dyde me helpe And brouȝht me safe awaye.]

Mi lefman, wille we gon [Suete lord, wyll ȝe gone.] Line 385 To þis nekste house a-non, [nexte hous anone.] Þere hy ben hole and sounde! [Ȝour chylder þer they be] And make we Joye and mikel blis! [And make grete Joye in þat house] Þonked be swete Jhesus, [And thanke owre lorde, suete Jhe|sus,] Of kare we ben ounbounde." [And gode in trinyte.] Line 390

Boþe hy wenten þidere anon, [þⁱ went þeder.] So swiþe so hy miȝten gon. [Also swyth as þⁱ myȝht gone] Welcomed hy weren fayre. [And come into þe halle. Darauf hat A. folg. 6 Verse mehr: And when þat þⁱ there sonnes se, Þⁱ thankyd god in trinyte And also suet seynt Palle. The two knyȝhtys þer fader knew And sone onne kneys sone þⁱ flewe And thankyd god all|myght. Dann folgt: Fore joye þat they togeder wer mette All fowre full faste þⁱ dyde wepe, And so dyde many a wyght.] Men beden hem sitten and drinken vin Wiþ coupe and eke wiþ maselin, Line 395 And maden hem chere fayre.

Sire Ewstace tolde hem of his kare, His stronge lif, his harde fare. Þe kniȝttes wepen for blisse — [397—9) Syre Eustas ganne to telle tho Of his Joy & of hys wo Þat he hade bene inne.] Ne miȝtte here non wiþ oþer speke, Line 400 Ne no word out of hem atbreke, Bote wepe and cluppe and cusse. [Ms. þa.] , [400—2) Than þer was none at þat borde That fore wepynge myght speke a worde, Nor none in þat Inne. Darauf hat A. noch folg. Strophe: So glad of odour Ichone þⁱ were: Þⁱ kyssed & made gode chere And fyllede þe wyne anone, And tolde how þⁱ wer crystinde And thouȝht þer care was with-stond And sorow was fro theme gone.]

Þe enperovr .I.-herde þis [herd telle of þis] Þat hy maden ioye and blis, [How þⁱ wer in Joy & blysse.] And cristine þat hy were. [crystinde. þⁱ.] Line 405 He sente kniȝttes sone anon, For to fecchen euer-ich on [To seke theme vp euerych-one.] Þat hy founden þere. [þⁱ. were st. þere.]

He let hem don in prisoun strong, [Statt 409—14 hat A. folg. V.: When þⁱ wer before hym brouȝht, Them to scle it was his thouȝht: And so fore-sothe he dyde. Fore all-myȝhty godys sake The deth to þem þⁱ wolde take, What deth as he them bedde.] Liouns and leuparz hem among Line 410 And bestes suiþe fele. Þe bestes, þa(t) weren stronge and wilde, Þey weren of hem glade and milde: Ne miȝtten hoe hoem qvelle.

He let hem don in bolen of bras, Line 415 Euerich in his, wel soþ hit was, [415—6) He dyde them in a panne of brasse, Also hote as euer it was,] And beten fuir abouten. [And made fyere abowtyne.] Alle hy weren þere .I.-brende, [All fowre þerin he brente.] Þe soules in to heuene wende — [Þer saulys onto h. wente.] Of pine hy weren wiþhouten. [Of payne þⁱ wer w.] Line 420

Bidde we alle seint Eustace [Beseke. all.] Þat he do hous hauen grace, [graunte vs all g.] To heuene for to wende, And þat we moten þere wone Wiþ Jhesu, seinte Marie sone, Line 425 Euere wiþ-houten hende. Amen. [424—6) To Jhesu, seynt Mary sonne, And þer withouten ende to wonne. God þat grace vs sende. Amen. Explicit vita sci Eustachii.]