The romance of Guy of Warwick. The first or 14th-century version.
Zupitza, Julius, ed. 1844-1895.
Lordinges, listeneþ to me now!
Of a tresoun ichil telle ȝou:
2450
It was opon a somers day,
Þemperour hadde eten, soþ to say;
His huntes he of-sent þo,*. [þo altered from so.]
& seyd he wald on hunting go
Into þe forest erlike,
2455
Þat þe douk Segyn nouȝt no wite,
No his kniȝtes neuer þe mo.
Þat him herd a spie þo,
Þat out of þat ost dede him fast,
To þe douke Segyn he com an hast. [C line 2336]
2460
¶ Þe douke Segyn oxed him snelle
What newe tidinges he couþe telle:
'Sir,' quod [he*. [he omitted in MS.]], 'herken to me:
Gode tidinges y telle þe,
Þat þemperour, sikerliche,
2465
Wille huntte to morwe arliche
In his forest priueliche
Wiþ litel folk & nouȝt wiþ miche,
Wiþ also litel als he may.
Y no gabbe nouȝt, for soþe to say.'
2470
Þan he hade seyde þus to Segyn,
'Bi Seyn Richer! leue frende mine,'
Seyd þe douke, 'and it so be,
An hundred bessauns ȝif y þe.'
Þe spie seyd, 'soþe y sigge:
2475
My bodi þerfore in ostage y legge.'
¶ Þan haþ þe douk y-cleped Gij, [C line 2355]
& Herhaud of Arderne sikerlij, [folio 120b:a]
Dan Belin, & dan Gauter,
& þe þridde dan Holdimer,
Page 146
2480
& Joceran þat was of Speyne
(Was non wiser in-to Almayne
A gode conseyl for to ȝiue;
Þer-fore he was michel to leue).
'Lordinges,' he seyd, 'what rede ȝe, [C line 2361]
2485
Seþþe þat ȝe be sworn to me*. [MS. tome]?
What is ous best for to done
Of our king Reyner? telle me sone.'
Gij to him answerd snelle,
'Þe best rede ichil þe telle:
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Kniȝtes we schul han a þousinde,
& bi þe morwe, ȝif we him finde,
Ichil him bidde wiþ hert fre
Þat he wil acord wiþ þe,
& þat he cum wiþ þe at ete;
2495
& ȝif he seyþ ouȝt wiþ hete,
Þat he it wil graunt for no þing,
Hider we schul bring þe king.
& þou schalt here bileue now,
Opon þi lord go no schaltow;
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Þi palays þou schalt grayþi,
& riche metes diȝt redi.'
