Le morte Arthur, a romance in stanzas of eight lines ; re-edited from ms. Harley 2252, in the British museum ; with introduction, notes, glossary, and index of names, by J. Douglas Bruce.

Lordingis that ar leff And dere, [folio 86a] lystenyth and I shall you tell By old[e] dayes what aunturs were Amonge oure eldris þat by-felle: Line 4 In Arthur dayes, that noble kinge, By-felle Aunturs ferly fele, And I shall telle of there endinge That mykell wiste of wo and wele. Line 8

The knightis of the table Round, The sangrayle whan they had sought, Aunturs that they by-fore them found Fynisshid and to end[e] brought; Line 12 Their enemyes they bette & bound, For gold on lyff they lefte them noght. Foure yere they lyved sound, Whan they had these werkis wroght, Line 16

Tille on a tyme þat it by-felle The kinge in bed lay by the quene, Off Aunturs they by-ganne to telle, Many that in þat land had bene: Line 20 "Sir, yif that it were youre wille, Of a wondir thinge I wold you mene, How your courte by-gynnyth to spill Off duoghty knightis all by-dene; Line 24

Syr, your honour by-gynnys to falle, That wount was wide in world to sprede,

Off launcelott and of other all That euyr so doughty were in dede." Line 28 "Dame, there-to thy counsell I calle: What were best for suche a nede?" "yiff ye your honoure hold shalle, [folio 86b] A turnement were best to bede, Line 32

For-why that Auntre shall by-gynne And by spoke of on euery syde, That knightis shall there worship wynne To dede of Armys for to Ryde. Line 36 Sir, lettis thus youre courte no blynne But lyve in honour and in pride." "Certys, dame," the kinge said thenne, "Thys ne shall no lenger abyde." Line 40

A turnement the king lett bede, At Wynchester shuld it be, Yonge Galehod was good in nede, The Chefteyne of the Crye was he, Line 44 With knightis þat were stiff on stede, That ladyes and maydens might se Who that beste were of dede Thrughe doughtynesse to have the gre. Line 48

Knightis Arme them by-dene To the turnemente to Ride, With sheldis brode and helmys shene To wynne grete honoure and pride. Line 52 launcelot lefte withe the quene And seke he lay that ylke tyde; for loue þat was theym by-twene he made inchessoun for to abyde. Line 56

The kynge satte vppon his stede And forthe is went vppon his way; Sir Agraveyne for suche a nede At home by-lefte, for soth to say, Line 60

Line 60 For men told in many a thede That launcelot by the quene lay; For to take them with the dede [folio 87a] he Awaytes both nyght and day. Line 64

launcelott forth wendys he, Unto the chambyr to the quene, And sette hym downe vpon his kne And salues there that lady shene. Line 68 "launcelott, what dostow here with me? The kinge is went and þe courte by-dene; I drede we shall discouerid be, Off the loue is vs by-twene; Line 72

Sir agravayne at home is he, nyght & day he waytes vs two." "Nay," he sayd, "my lady fre, I ne thinke not it shall be so; Line 76 I come to take my leve of the, Oute of courte or that I go." "ya swithe þat thou Armyd be, For thy dwellynge me is full woo." Line 80

launcelott to his chambyr yede, There Riche atyre lay hym by-fore, Armyd hym in noble wede, Off that Armure gentylly was shore; Line 84 Swerd and sheld were good at nede In many batayles þat he had bore, And horsyd hym on a grey stede kyng Arthur had hym yeve by-fore; Line 88

haldys he none highe way, The knight þat was hardy and fre, Bot hastis bothe night and day Faste toward that Riche Cite,— Line 92

Line 92 Wynchester it hight, for sothe to say,— There the turnament shuld be; kinge Arthur in a castell lay, Full myche there was of gam and gle. Line 96

For-why men wold launcelott by-hold, [folio 87b] And he ne wold not hym-self shewe, Wyth his shuldres gonne he fold And downe he hangid his hede full low, Line 100 As he ne might hys lymmys weld; Kepit he no bugle blowe; Wele he semyd As he were old, For-thy ne couth hym no man knowe. Line 104

The kinge stode on a toure on highte, Sir Evway[n]e clepis he þat tyde; "Syr evwayne, knowistow any wight This knight þat Rides here by-syde?" Line 108 Sir Evwayne spekis wordis Right That Ay is hend, is not to hyde: "Sir, it is som old knighte Is come to se þe yonge knightis Ride." Line 112

They by-held hym bothe Anone A stounde for the stedis sake; his hors stomelyd at a stone That alle his body there-with gan shake; Line 116 The knight þan braundisshid yche a bone, As he the bridelle vp gan take; There-by wiste they bothe Anone That it was launcelott du lake. Line 120

kynge Arthur than spekis he To sir evwayne there wordis Right: "Welle may launcelot holden be Off alle þe world the beste knight Line 124

Line 124 Off biaute and of bounte, And sithe is none so moche of myght, At every dede beste is he, And sithe he nold it wist no wight, [MS. might.] Line 128

Sir Evwayn, will we done hym byde; he wenys þat we know hym noght." "Sir, it is better lette hym Ride [folio 88a] And lette hym do as he hath thoght; Line 132 he wolle be here nere by-syde, Sithe he þus ferre hedyr hath sought; We shalle hym know by his dede And by the hors þat he hath brought." Line 136

An Erle wounyd there be-syde, The lord of Ascolot was hight; launcelot gonne thedyr Ride And sayd he wolle there dwell all night; Line 140 They resseyvid hym with grete pryde. A Riche soper there was dight; his name ganne he hele and hyde And sayd he was a strange knight. Line 144

Thanne had the erle sonnys two That were knightis makid newe; In þat tyme was the maner so, Whan yonge knightis shuld sheldis show, Line 148 Tille þe friste yere were agoo, To bere Armys of one hewe, Rede or white, yelew or bloo; There-by men yonge knightis knew. Line 152

As they satte at there sopere, launcelot to the erle spake thare: "Sir, ys here Any Bachelere That to the turnament wolle fare?" Line 156

Line 156 "I haue two sonnys that me is dere, And now that oonne is seke full sare; So in companye þat he were myne other sonne I wold were thare." Line 160

"Sir, and thy sonne wille thedir Right, The lenger I wolle hym abyde, And helpe hym there with all my myght That hym none harme shall be-tyde." [folio 88b] Line 164 "Sir, the semys a noble kn[i]ght, Courteyse and hend, is not to hyde; At morow shall ye dyne and dight, Togedir I rede welle þat ye Ride." Line 168

"Syr, of one thinge I wolle you mynne And be-seche you for to spede, yif here were Any Armure Inne, That I might borow it to this dede." Line 172 "Sir, my sonne lieth seke here-in; Take his Armure and his stede; For my sonnys men shall you kenne, Off Rede shall be your bothis wede." Line 176

Therle had a doughter þat was hym dere, Mykell launcelott she beheld; hyr Rode was rede as blossom on brere Or floure þat springith in the feld; Line 180 Glad she was to sitte hym nere, The noble knight vndir sheld; Wepinge was hyr moste chere, So mykell on hym hyr herte gan held. Line 184

Vp than Rose þat mayden stille And to hyr chamber wente she tho; Downe vppon hir bedde she felle, That nighe hyr herte brast in two. Line 188

Line 188 launcelot wiste what was hyr wyll, Welle he knew by other mo, hyr brother klepitte he hym tylle And to hyr chamber gonne they go; Line 192

he satte hym downe for the maydens sake vpon hyr bedde there she lay, Courtessely to hyr he spake, For to comforte þat fayre may; Line 196 In hyr Armys she gan hym take And these wordis ganne she say: [folio 89a] "Sir, bot yif that ye it make, Saff my lyff no leche may." Line 200

"lady," he sayd, "thou moste lette, For me ne giff the no-thynge Ille; In Another stede myne hert is sette, It is not at myne owne wille; Line 204 In erthe is no thinge that shall me lette To be thy knight lowde and stille; A-nother tyme we may be mette Whan thou may better speke thy fille." Line 208

"Sithe I of the ne may haue more, As thou arte hardy knight and fre, In the turnement þat thou wold bere Sum signe of myne þat men might se." Line 212 "lady, thy sleve thou shalte of-shere, I wolle it take for the love of the; So did I neuyr no ladyes ere Bot one that most hathe lovid me." Line 216

On the morow whan it was day They dyned and made them yare, And þan they went forthe on there way To-gedyr as they bretherne were. Line 220

Line 220 They mette a squyer by the way That frome the turnament gan fare, And askyd yif he couthe them say Whiche party was the bygger thare. Line 224

"Sir Galehod hathe folke þe more, For sothe, lordingis, as I you telle, But Arthur is the bigger there; he hath knightis stiff and felle; Line 228 They Ar bold and breme as bare, [folio 89b] Evwayne and boert and lyonelle." Therlys sonne to hym spake thare: "Sir, with them I rede we dwelle." Line 232

launcelotte spake, as I you rede: "Sithe they ar men of grete valour, how might we amonge them spede There alle are stiffe & stronge in stowre? Line 236 helpe we them þat hath most nede; Ageyne the beste we shall welle dore; And we might there do Any dede, It wold vs torne to more honour." Line 240

launcelot spekis in that tyde As knight þat was hardy and fre: "To-night with-oute I rede we byde; The presse is grete in the Cite." Line 244 "Sir, I haue An Aunte here beside, A lady of swith grete biaute; Were it your wille thedir to Ride, Glad of vs than wold she be." Line 248

Tho to the castelle gonne they fare, To the lady fayre and bright; Blithe was the lady thare That they wold dwelle with hyr þat night; Line 252

Line 252 hastely was there soper yare Off mete and drinke rychely dight. Onne the morow gonne they dyne & fare, Both launcelott and þat other knight. Line 256

Whan they come in-to þe feld, Myche there was of game & play; A while they hovid & by-held how Arthurs knightis Rode that day. [folio 90a] Line 260 Galehodis party by-gan to held, On fote his knightis ar lad away; launcelott stiff was vndyr sheld, Thinkis to helpe, yif that he may. Line 264

Be-syde hym come þan sir Evwayne, Breme as Any wilde bore; launcelott springis hym ageyne, In Rede armys þat he bare; Line 268 A dynte he yaff with mekill mayne, Sir Evwayne was vn-horsid thare, That alle men wente he had bene slayne, So was he woundyd wondyr sare. Line 272

Sir boerte thoughte no-thinge good, Whan Sir Evwayne vn-horsid was; Forthe he springis as he were wode To launcelot, with-outen lees; Line 276 launcelot hytte hym on the hode, The nexte way to ground he chese; Was none so stiff agayne hym stode, Fulle thynne he made the thikkest prees. Line 280

Sir lyonelle be-ganne to tene And hastely he made hym bowne, To launcelott with herte kene he rode with helme and swerd[e] browne; Line 284

Line 284 launcelott hitte hym, as I wene, Throughe the helme in-to þe Crowne, That euyr after it was sene; Bothe hors and man there yede adowne; Line 288

The knightis gadrid togedir thare And gan with Crafte there counselle take; Suche a knight was neuyr are But it were launcelot du lake; [folio 90b] Line 292 Bot, for the sleve on his Creste was thar, For launcelot wold they hym noght take; For he bare nevir none suche by-fore But it were for the quenys sake: Line 296

"Off Ascolot he neuyr was That thus welle beris hym to-day." Ector sayd, with-outen lees, What he was he wold assay. Line 300 A noble stede Ector hym chese And forthe rydis glad and gay; launcelot he mette a-mydde þe prese, By-twene them was no chi[l]dis play; Line 304

Ector smote with herte good To launcelot that ilke tyde; Throughe helme in-to his hede it yode That nighe loste he all his pride; Line 308 launcelot hytte on the hood That his hors felle and he be-syde. launcelot blyndis in his blode, Oute of the feld full faste gan Ride; Line 312

Oute of the feld they Reden thoo To a forest highe and hore. Whan they come by them one two, Off his helme he takis thore. Line 316

Line 316 "Sir," he sayd, "me is full woo, I drede that ye be hurte full sore." "Nay," he sayd, "it is not so, But fayne at Rest I wold we were." Line 320

"Sir, myne Aunte is here be-syde, There we bothe were all nighte; Were it youre wille thedir to Ride, She wolle us helpe with all hyr might, Line 324 And send for lechis this ylke tyde, [folio 91a] youre woundis for to hele and dight; And I my-self wille with you abyde And be youre servante and youre knight." Line 328

To the castelle they toke the way, To the lady fayre and hend; She sent for lechis, as I you say, That wonnyd bothe ferre and hend, Line 332 But by the morow that it was day In bed he might hym-self not wend; So sore woundyd there he lay That well nighe had he sought his end. Line 336

Tho kinge arthur with mykell pride Callid his knightis all hym by And sayd a mounth he wold there byde And in wynchester lye; Line 340 heraudis he dyd go and Ride Another turnamente for to Crye; "This knight wolle be here nere be-syde, for he is woundyd bitterlye." Line 344

Whan the lettres made were The heraudis forth with them yede, Throughe yngland for to fare, Another turnament for to bede; Line 348

Line 348 Bad them buske and make them yare Alle that stiff were on stede. Thus these lettris sent were To tho that doughty were of dede, Line 352

Tille on a tyme þat it be-felle An heraude comys by the way And at the castelle a night gan dwelle There as launcelot woundyd lay, Line 356 And of the turnamente gon telle That shuld come on the sonday. launcelot sighes wondyr stille And sayd: "allas and well-a-way! Line 360

Whan knightis wynne worship and pride, [folio 91b] Som Auntre shall hold me a-way, As a coward for to a-byde. This turnamente, for sothe to say, Line 364 for me is made this ylke tyde; Thoughe I shuld dye this ylke day, Certis I shalle thedyr Ride." Line 367 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 367b

The leche Aunswerd also sone And sayd: "syr, what haue ye thought? Alle the Crafte that I haue done I wene it wille you helpe Right noght. Line 371 There is no man vndir the mone, By hym þat all this world hath wroght, Might saue youre lyff to that tyme come That ye vpon your stede were brought!" Line 375

"Certis, though I dye this day, In my bedde I wolle not lye; Yit had I levir do what I may Than here to dye thus cowardelye." Line 379

Line 379 The leche anone than went his way And wold no lenger dwelle hym by; his woundis scryved and stille he lay And in his bedde he swownyd thrye. Line 383

The lady wept as she were wode, Whan she sawe he dede wold be, Therlis sonne with sory mode The leche agayne clepis he Line 387 And sayd: "thou shalt haue yiftis good, For-why þat thou wilte dwelle with me." Craftely than staunchid he his blode And of good comforte bad hym be. Line 391

The heraude than wente on his way At morow whan the day was light Also swithe as euyr he may To Wynchester that ylke night; Line 395 he salued the kinge, for soth to say— By hym satte syr Evwayne the knight— [folio 92a] And sithe he told upon his playe What he had herd and sene with sight: Line 399

"Off alle þat I haue sene with sight Wondir thought me nevir more Thanne me dyd of a folyd knight That in his bed lay woundid sore; Line 403 he myght not heve his hede vp-Right For alle the world haue wonne thare; For Angwisshe þat he ne Ride myght Alle his woundis scryved were." Line 407

Sir Evwayne than spekis wordis fre And to the kynge sayd he there: "Certis, no cowarde knight is he; Allas! that he nere hole and fere! Line 411

Line 411 Welle I wote þat it is he That we alle of vnhorsyd were. the turnament is beste lette be, For sothe that knight may not come there." Line 415

There turnement was than no more But this departith alle the prese. knightis toke there leve to fare, Ichone his owne way hym chese. Line 419 To kamelot the kynge went there, There as quene gaynore was; he wente haue found launcelot thare; A-way he was, with-outen lese. Line 423

Launcelot sore woundyd lay; knightis sought hym full wyde. Therle sonne night and day Was alle-way hym be-syde; Line 427 Therle hym-self whan he ryde may Brought hym home with mykell pride And made hym bothe game & play Tille he might bothe go and Ryde. Line 431

Boerte and lyonelle than sware, [folio 92b] and at the kinge there leve toke there, Ageyne they wold come nevir mare Till they wiste where launcelot were. Line 435 Ector went with them thare To seche his brodyr þat hym was dere. many a land they ganne through fare And sought hym bothe ferre and nere, Line 439

Tille on a tyme þat it by-felle That they come by that ylke way, And at the castelle at mete gan dwell, There as launcelott woundyd lay; Line 443

Line 443 launcelot they saw, as I you telle Walke on the wallis hym to play; On knees for Ioye all they felle, So blithe men they were that day. Line 447

Whan launcelott saw tho ylke thre That he in world[e] louyd beste, A merier metinge might no man se, And sithe he ledde them to Reste. Line 451 Therle hym-self, glad was he, That he had gotten siche a geste; So was the mayden feyre and fre That alle hyr loue on hym had keste. Line 455

Whan they were to soper dight, Bordis were sette and clothis spradde, Therlis doughter and the knight To-gedir was sette, as he them badde, Line 459 Therlys sonnys þat bothe were wight to serue them were nevir sadde, And therle hym-selfe with alle his mygh[t] To make them bothe blyth and glad. Line 463

Bot Boert, euyr in mynd he thoghte That launcelot had bene woundyd sore. "Sir, were it your wille to hele it noght Bot telle where ye thus hurte were?" [folio 93a] Line 467 "By hym þat alle this world hath wrought," launcelot hym-self swore, "The dynte shall be full dere bought, yif euyr we may mete vs more!" Line 471

Ector ne liked that no wight, The wordis that he herd there; For sorow he loste both strength & might; The colours changid in his leyre. Line 475

Line 475 Boerte than sayd these wordis Right: "Ector, thou may make yvelle chere; For sothe it is no coward knight That thou arte of I-manased here." Line 479

"Ector," he sayd, "where thou it were That woundid me thus wondir sore?" Ector, aunswerd with symple chere: "lord, I ne wiste þat ye it wore, Line 483 A dynte of you I had there, felyd I nevir none so sore." Sir lyonelle by god þan swore That "myne wolle sene be euyr more." Line 487

Sir Boerte than answerd as tyte As knight þat wise was vndir wede: "I hope þat none of vs was quite, I had oon þat to ground I yede. Line 491 Sir, your brodyr shall ye not wite, now knowes either others dede; now know ye how Ector can smyte To helpe you whan ye haue nede." Line 495

launcelot loughe with herte fre That Ector made so mekill Sitte: "Brother, no thinge drede thou the, For I shalle be bothe hole and quite. Line 499 Though thou haue sore woundid me, There-of I shall the nevir wite; Bot euyr the better loue I the, [folio 93b] Such a dynte that thou can smyte." Line 503

Than vppon the thrid day They toke there leve for to fare, To the courte they wille away, For he wille dwelle a while thare. Line 507

Line 507 "Grete welle my lorde, I you pray, And telle my lady how I fare, And say I wylle come whan I may; And byddith hyr longe no-thinge sare." Line 511

They toke there leve, with-outen lees, And wightely wente vppon there way; To the courte the way they chese, There as the quene Genure lay. Line 515 The kinge to the foreste is With knightis hym for to play; Good space they had with-outen prese There erand to the quene to say. Line 519

They knelyd downe by-fore the quene, The knightis þat were wise of lere, And sayd they had launcelot sene And thre dayes with hym were, Line 523 And how þat he had woundyd bene, And seke he had lye full sore. "Or ought longe ye shall hym sene; he bad you longe no thynge sore." Line 527

The quene loughe with herte fre Whan she wiste he was on lyff. "O, worthy god, what wele is me! Why ne wiste my lord it also swithe!" Line 531 To the foreste rode these knightis thre, To the kinge it to kithe; Ihesu criste þan thankis he For was he nevir of word so blithe. Line 535

he klepyd Sir Gawayne hym nere [folio 94a] And sayd: "certis, that was he That the rede armys bere; Bot, now he lyffis, welle is me." Line 539

Line 539 Gawayne answerd with myld chere, As he that Ay was hend and fre: "Was neuyr tithandis me so dere, Bot sore me longis launcelot to se." Line 543

At the kinge and at the quene Sir Gawayne toke his leve that tyde, And sithe at alle the courte by-dene, And buskis hym with mekyll pryde Line 547 Tille Ascalot, with-outen wene, Also faste as he might Ryde; Tille that he haue launcelot sene Night ne day ne wolle he byde. Line 551

By that was launcelot hole and fere, Buskis hym and makis all yare, his leue hathe he take there; The mayden wepte for sorow & Care. Line 555 "Sir, yif that youre willis were, Sithe I of the ne may haue mare, Som thinge ye wolde be-leue me here To loke on whan me longith sare." Line 559

launcelot spake with herte fre, For to comforte that lady hende: "Myne Armure shall I leue with the And in thy brothers wille I wend; Line 563 loke thou ne longe not after me For here I may no lenger lend. longe tyme ne shalle it noght be That I ne shalle eyther come or send." Line 567

launcelot is Redy for to Ride And on his way he went forth Right; Sir Gaweyn come aftir on a tyde And askis after suche a knighte; [folio 94b] Line 571

Line 571 They reseyved hym with grete pride, A Riche soper there was dight, And sayd, in herte is noght to hyde, A-way he was for fourtenyght. Line 575

Sir Gaweyne gon that mayden take, And satte hym by that swete wight, And spake of launcelot de lake; In alle the world nas suche a knight. Line 579 The mayden there of launcelot spake, Said all hyr loue was on hym light, "For his leman he hathe me take, his Armure I you shew[e] mighte." Line 583

"Now, damysselle," he sayd Anone, "And I Am glad þat it is so; Suche a lemman as thou haste oon In all this world ne be no mo; Line 587 There is no lady of flesshe ne bone In this world so thryve or thro, Thoughe hyr herte were stele or stone, That might hyr loue hald hym fro. Line 591

But, damysselle, I be-seche the his sheld that ye wold me shewe; launcelottis yif that it be, Be the coloures I it knew." Line 595 The mayden was bothe hend & fre, And ledde hym to a chambyr newe; launcelottis sheld she lette hym se, And all his Armure forth she drewe. Line 599

hendely than syr Gawayne, To the mayden there he spake: "lady," he sayd, "withouten layne, This is launcelottis sheld de lake, Line 603

Line 603 Damesselle," he sayd, "I Am full fayne That he the wold to lemman take, [folio 95a] And I with alle my myght and mayne Wille be thy knight for his sake." Line 607

Gawayne thus spake with that swete wight What his wille was for to say Tille he was to bed I-dighte; Aboute hym was gamme and play. Line 611 he toke his leue at erle and knight On the morow whan it was day, And sithen at the mayden brighte, And forthe he wente vppon his way. Line 615

he nyste where þat he mighte ne where that launcelot wold lend, For whan he was oute of sight, he was fulle yvelle for to fynd. Line 619 he takis hym the way Right, And to the courte gon he wend; Glad of hym was kyng and knight, For he was bothe corteyse and hend. Line 623

Than it by-felle vppon a tyde, The kinge stode by the quene & spake, Sir gaweyne standis hym be-syde, [In the MS. this and the following line occupied the place which is filled in this edition by ll. 632-3. The scribe, however, observed his mistake and indicated the necessary correction.] Ichone tille other there mone gan make Line 627 how longe they might with bale abyde. The comynge of launcelot du lake; In the courte was litelle pryde, So sore they sighyd for his sake. Line 631

"Certis, yif launcelot were on lyff, So longe fro courte he nold not be." Sir gawayne answerd also swithe: "There-of no wondir thinkith me; Line 635

Line 635 The feyrest lady that is on lyff Tille his lemman chosen hath he; Is noon of vs but wold be blithe Suche a semely for to see." Line 639

The kinge Arthur was full blythe [folio 95b] Off that tithingis for to lere, And askid syr Gawayne also swythe What mayden that it were. Line 643 "Therlis doughter," he sayd as swithe, "Off Ascolot, as ye may here, There I was made glad & blithe. his sheld the mayde shewid me there." Line 647

The quene than said wordis no mo, Bot to hyr chambir sone she yede, And downe vppon hyr bed felle so That nighe of witte she wold wede. Line 651 "Allas!" she sayd, "and well-a-wo! That euyr I Aught lyff in lede; The beste body is loste me fro That euyr in stoure by-strode stede." Line 655

ladyes that aboute hyr stode, That wiste of hyr previte, Bad hyr be of comforte gode, lette no man suche semblant se. Line 659 A bed they made with sory mode, There-in they brought that lady fre; Euyr she wepte as she were wode, Off hyr they had full grete pite. Line 663

So sore seke the quene lay, Off sorow might she nevir lette, Tille it felle vppon a day, Sir lyonelle and Ector yede Line 667

Line 667 In-to the foreste, them to play, That floured was and braunchid swete, And as they went by the way, With launcelot gonne they mete. Line 671

What woundyr was though they were blith Whan they there master saw with sight! On knees they felle also swithe And all they thankid god all-myght; Line 675 Ioye it was to se and lythe [folio 96a] The metynge of the noble knighte. And sithe he freyned also swithe: "how fares my lady brighte?" Line 679

Than answerd the knightis fre And said that she was seke full sare: "Grete doelle it is to here and se, So mekylle she is in sorow and care; Line 683 The kinge, a sory man ys he In courte for that ye come no mare; Dede he wenys that ye be And alle the courte both lasse & mare. Line 687

Sir, were it your wille with vs to fare, For to speke with the quene, Blithe I wote wele that she ware, yif that she had you onys sene. Line 691 The kynge is mekille in sorow and care, And so ys all the courte by-dene; Dede they wene welle that ye Are Frome courte for ye so longe haue bene." Line 695

he grauntis them at that ylke sythe home that he wille with them Ride; There-fore the knightis were fulle blithe And busked them with mykelle pride Line 699

Line 699 To the courte also swithe; Nyght ne day they nold abyde. The kinge and alle the courte was blithe, The tydandis whan they herde þat tyde. Line 703

The kinge stode in a toure on highe, Be-sydes hym standis syr Gawayne; launcelotte whan that they sighe, Were nevir men on mold so fayne. Line 707 They Ranne as swithe as euyr they might Oute at the gates hym Agayne; Was nevir tidandis to them so light. The kinge hym kissyd and knight & swayne; Line 711

To a chamber the kynge hym lad; feyre in Armys they gon hym fold, And sette hym on A Riche bedde [folio 96b] That sprad was with a clothe of gold; Line 715 To serve hym was there no man sad Ne dight hym as hym-self wold To make hym bothe blithe and glad; And sithe Auntres he them told. Line 719

Thre dayes in courte he dwellid there That he ne spake not with the quene: So myche prees was Ay hym nere; The kyng hym lad and courte by-dene. Line 723 The lady, bright as blossom on brere, Sore she longid hym to sene; Wepinge was hyr moste chere, Thoughe she ne durste hyr to no man mene. Line 727

Than it felle vppon a day, The kinge gan on huntynge Ride In-to the foreste hym to playe, With his knightis be his syde; Line 731

Line 731 launcelot longe in bed laye, With the quene he thought to byde; To the chamber he toke the way And salues hyr with mekell pryde; Line 735

Friste he kissyd that lady shene And salues hyr with herte fre, And sithe the ladyes all by-dene, For Ioye the teres Ranne on ther ble. Line 739 "Well-a-way!" than sayd the quene, "launcelot, that I euyr the se! The loue þat hathe be vs by-twene That it shall thus departed be! Line 743

Allas! launcelot du lake, Sithe thou hast all my hert in wold Therlis doughter that thou wold take Off ascalot, as men me told! Line 747 Now thou leviste for hyr sake Alle thy dede of Armys bold, I may wofully wepe and wake [folio 97a] In clay tylle I be clongyn cold. Line 751

But, launcelot, I be-seche the here, Sithe it nedelyngis shall be so, That thou nevir more dyskere [MS. discouyr.] The loue that hathe bene be-twyxe vs two, Line 755 Ne that she nevir be with the so dere Dede of Armys þat thou be fro, That I may of thy body here, Sithe I shalle thus be-leve in woo." Line 759

launcelot fulle stille than stode, his herte was hevy as Any stone; So sory he wexe in his mode, For Routhe hym thought it all to-torne. Line 763

Line 763 "Madame," he said, "for crosse and Rode, What by-tokenyth all this mone? By hym þat bought me with his blode, Off these tydandes know I none; Line 767

But by these wordis thynkith me A-way ye wold þat I ware; Now haue good day, my lady fre, For sothe thou seest me nevir mare." Line 771 Oute of the chambyr þan wendis he; Now whethir his hert was full of Care! The lady swownyd Sithes thre Almost she slew hyr-self[e] thare. Line 775

launcelot to his chambyr yede, There his owne atyre in lay, Armyd hym in a noble wede, Thoughe in his hert were litell play; Line 779 Forthe he spronge as sparke of glede, Withe sory chere, for sothe to say; Vp he worthis vppon his stede And to a foreste he wendis a-way. Line 783

Tithyngis come in-to the halle [folio 97b] That launcelot was vppon his stede; Oute than Ranne the knightis alle, Off there witte as they wold wede; Line 787 Boerte de Gawnes and lyonelle And Ector that doughty was of dede Folowyn hym on horsys snelle, Fulle lowde gonne they blowe and grede. Line 791

There might no man hym ovir-take, he Rode in-to a forest grene; Moche mone gonne they make The knightis that were bold and kene. Line 795

Line 795 "Allas!" they sayd, "launcelot du lake, That euyr shuldistow se the quene!" And hyr they cursyd for his sake That euyr loue was them by-twene. Line 799

They ne wiste nevir where to fare Ne to what land þat he wold; Ageyne they went with sighyng sare, The knightis þat were kene & bold; Line 803 The quene they found in swownyng thare, hyr comely tresses all vnfold; They were so full of sorowe & Care There was none hyr comfort wold. Line 807

The kynge than hastis hym for his sake And home þan come that ylke day, And asked after launcelot du lake, And they sayd: "he is gone away." Line 811 The quene was in hyr bed all nakyd, And sore seke in hyr chambyr lay, So moche mone the kynge gon make, There was no knight þat lust to playe. Line 815

The kinge klepis Gawayne þat day And alle his sorow told hym tylle: "Now ys launcelot gone A-way [folio 98a] And come, I wote, he nevir wille." Line 819 he sayd "allas and wellaway!" Sighed sore and gaff hym ylle: "The lord that we have lovid all-way, In courte why nylle he nevir dwelle!" Line 823

Gawayn spekis in that tyde And to the kynge sayd he there: "Sir, in this castelle shall ye byde, Comforte you and make good chere, Line 827

Line 827 And we shall bothe go and Ride In all landis ferre and nere; So preuely he shall hym not hyde Throughe happe that we ne shall of hym here." Line 831

[K]nyghtis than sought hym wide, Off launcelot myght they not here, Tylle it felle vppon a tyde, quene Genure, bright as blossom on brere, Line 835 To mete is sette that ylke tyde, And syr Gawayne satte hyr nere, And vppon that other syde A scottysshe knight þat was hyr dere. Line 839

A squyer in the courte hath thought, That ylke day, yif that he myght, With a poyson þat he hath wrought To slae Gawayne, yif that he mighte; Line 843 In frute he hath it forthe brought And sette by-fore the quene bright; An Appille ouereste lay on lofte, There the poyson was in dighte, Line 847

For he thoughte the lady bright Wold the beste to Gawayne bede, But she it yaff to the scottisshe knight, For he was of an vnkouth stede. Line 851 There-of he ete a lytell wight, Off tresoun toke there no man hede; [folio 98b] There he loste both mayne and might And died sone, as I you Rede. Line 855

They nyste what it myght by-mene, But vp hym sterte syr Gawayne, And sithen all the courte by-dene, And ouyr the bord they haue hym drayne. Line 859

Line 859 "Wellaway!" than sayd the quene, "Ihesu Criste! what may I sayne! Certis, now will all men wene My-self that I the knight haue slayne." Line 863

Triacle there was anone forth brought, The quene wende to save his lyff, But all that myght helpe hym noght, For there the knight is dede as swithe; Line 867 So grete sorow the quene than wrought, Grete doele it was to se and lythe; "lord, suche syttes me haue sought! Why ne may I nevir be blithe!" Line 871

Knyghtis done none other myght, Bot beryed hym with doele I-noughe, At a chapell with Riche lyghte, In a foreste by a cloughe; [MS. swoughe. I have adopted here Seyferth's (p. 78) conjecture. Cp. l. 893.] Line 875 A Riche toumbe they dyd by dight, A Crafty clerke the lettres droughe, how there lay the shottysshe knyght That quene Genure with poyson slough. Line 879

Aftyr thys a tyme by-felle, To the courte ther come a knyght, his brodyr he was, as I you telle, And syr mador for sothe he highte; Line 883 he was an hardy man and snelle, In turnamente and eke in fight, And mykell louyd in Courte to duelle, For he was man of myche myght. [folio 99a] Line 887

Than it felle vppon a day, Sir mador wente with mekill pride In-to the foreste, hym for to play, That floured was and braunchid wyde; Line 891

Line 891 he found a chapell in his way, As he cam by a cloughis syde, There his owne brodyr lay, And there at masse he thought to abyde. Line 895

A Riche toumbe he found there dight With lettres that were fayre I-noughe; A while he stode and Redde it Right, Grete sorow than to his herte droughe, Line 899 he found the name of the scottysshe knight That quene Genure with poysoun sloughe; There he loste bothe mayne and myght And ouyr the toumbe he felle in swoughe. Line 903

Off swownynge whan he myght awake, his herte was heuy as Any lede; he sighed for his brothers sake, he ne wiste what was beste Rede; Line 907 The way to courte gan he take, Off no-thinge ne stode he drede; A lovde Crye on the quene gonne make In chalengynge of his brothers dede. Line 911

The kynge fulle sore than gan hym drede, For he myght not be ageyne the Right; The quene of witte wold nyghe wede; thoughe [In the MS. That is written at the beginning of this line—by mistake.] þat she agilte had no wight, Line 915 She moste there by-know the dede, Or fynde a man for hyr to fight; For welle she wiste to deth she yede yif she were on a queste of knightis. Line 919

Thoughe Arthur were kynge þe land to weld, [folio 99b] he myght not be agayne the Righte; A day he toke with spere and sheld To fynd a man for hyr to fight, Line 923

Line 923 That she shalle eyther to deth hyr yeld Or putte hyr on a queste of knightis; There-to bothe there handis vp-held And trewly there trouthis plighte. Line 927

Whan they in Certeyne had sette a day And that quarelle vndir-take, The word sprange sone throw eche contrey What sorow that quene genure ganne make; Line 931 So at the laste, shortely to say, Word come to launcelot du lake, There as he seke I-woundyd lay; Men told hym holly all the wrake, Line 935

how that quene Genure the bright had slayne with grete treasoun A swithe noble scottishe knight At the mete with stronge poysoun; Line 939 There-for a day was taken Right That she should fynd a knight full bowne For hyr sake for to fighte Or ellis be brente with-oute Raunsowne. Line 943

Whan þat launcelot du lake had herd holly all this fare, Grete sorow gon he to hym take, For the quene was in suche care, Line 947 And swore to venge hyr of that wrake That day yif þat he lyvand ware; Than payned he hym his sorows to slake And wexe as breme as Any bare. Line 951

[N]ow leve we launcelot there he was, [folio 100a] withe the ermyte in the forest grene, And telle we forthe of the case That touchith Arthur the kynge so kene. Line 955

Line 955 Sir Gawayne on the morne to conselle he tase And mornyd sore for the quene; In-to a toure than he hym has And ordeyned the beste there them by-twene; Line 959

And as they in there talkynge stode, To ordeyne how it beste myght be, A feyre Ryuer vndyr the toure yode, And sone there-in gonne they see Line 963 A lytelle bote of shappe full good To theyme-ward with the streme gon te; There myght none feyrer sayle on flode Ne better forgid as of tree. Line 967

Whan kynge Arthur saw þat sighte, he wondrid of the Riche apparrayle That was aboute the bote I-dighte, So Richely was it coueryd sanzfayle, Line 971 In maner of a voute with clothis I-dighte, Alle shynand as gold as yt ganne sayle. Than sayd Sir Gawayne the good knight: "This bote is of A ryche entayle." Line 975

"For sothe, sir," sayd the kynge tho, "Suche one sawgh I neuyr Are; Thedir I Rede now þat we go; Som aventures shalle we se thare; Line 979 And yif it be with-in dight so As with-oute or gayer mare, I darre sauely say therto, By-gynne wille auntres or ought yare." Line 983

Oute of the toure adowne they wente, The kynge arthur & sir Gawayne; To the bote they yede with-oute stynte, They two allone, for sothe to sayne; [folio 100b] Line 987

Line 987 And whan they come there as it lente, They by-held it faste, is not to layne; A clothe that ouer the bote was bente Sir Gawayne lyfte vp, and went in bayne. Line 991

Whan they were in, with-outen lese, Full Richely aRayed they it found, And in the myddis a feyre bedde was For Any kynge of Cristene lond. Line 995 Than as swithe, or they wold sese, The koverlet lyfte they vp with hand; A dede woman they sighe ther was, The fayrest mayde þat myght be found. Line 999

To Sir Gawayne than sayd the kinge: "For sothe dethe was to vn-hende, Whan he wold thus fayre a thinge Thus yonge oute of the world do wend; Line 1003 For hyr biaute with-oute lesynge I wold fayne wete of hyr kynd, What she was, this swete derelynge, And in hyr lyff where she gonne lend." Line 1007

Sir Gawayne his eyen than on hyr caste And by-held hyr fast with herte fre So that he knew welle at the laste, That the mayde of Ascalote was she, Line 1011 Whiche he som tyme had wowyd faste his owne leman for to be, But she aunsweryd hym Ay in haste, "To none bot launcelot wold she te." Line 1015

To the kinge þan sayd sir Gawayne tho: "Thinke ye not on this endris day, Whan my lady the quene & we two stode to-gedir in youre play, Line 1019

Line 1019 Off a mayde I told you tho That launcelot louyd paramoure Ay?" "Gawayne, for sothe," the kynge sayd tho, "Whan thou it saydiste wele thinke I may." [folio 101a] Line 1023

"For sothe, syr," þan sayd sir Gawayne, "This is the mayd that I of spake; most in this world, is not to layne, She lovid launcelot du lake." Line 1027 "For sothe," the kynge þan gon to sayne, "me Rewith the deth of hyr for his sake; The inchesoun wold I wete full fayne; For sorow I trow deth gon hyr take." Line 1031

Than sir Gawayne, the good knight, Sought aboute hyr with-oute stynte, And found a purs fulle Riche a-Righte, With gold and perlis þat was I-bente; Line 1035 All empty semyd it noght to sight. That purs full sone in hond he hente, A letter there-of than oute he twight: Than wete they wold fayne what it mente; Line 1039

What there was wreten wete they wold; And sir Gawayn it toke the kynge And bad hym open yt [MS. openyd.] that he shold; So dyd he sone with-oute lesynge; Line 1043 Than found he whan it was vn-fold, Bothe the ende and the by-gynnynge, Thus was it wreten, as men me told, Off that fayre maydens deynge: Line 1047

"To kyng arthur and all his knightis That longe to the Round table, That corteyse bene and most of myghtis, Doughty and noble, trew and stable, Line 1051

Line 1051 And most worshipfull in all fyghtis, To the nedefull helpinge & profitable, The mayde of Ascalot to Rightis Sendith gretinge, with-outen fable: Line 1055

To you all my playnte I make Off the wronge that me is wroghte, [folio 101b] But noght in maner to vndir-take That Any of you shold mend it ought; Line 1059 Bot onely I say for this sake, That, thoughe this world were throw sought, Men shold nowhere fynd your make, All noblisse to fynde that myght be sought; Line 1063

There-fore to you to vndirstand That, for I trewly many a day haue lovid lelyest in lond, Dethe hathe me fette of this world away; Line 1067 To wete for whome yif ye will found, That I so longe for in langoure lay, To say the sothe will I noght wound, For gaynes it not for to say nay; Line 1071

To say you the sothe tale, For whome I haue suffred this woo, I say deth hathe me take with bale For the noblest knight þat may go; Line 1075 Is none so doughty dyntis to dale, So Ryalle ne so fayre ther-to; But so churlysshe of maners in feld ne hale Ne know I none of frende ne fo; Line 1079

Off foo ne frend, the sothe to say, So vn-hend of thewis is ther none; his gentillnesse was all a-way, All churlysshe maners he had in wone; Line 1083

Line 1083 For for no thinge þat I coude pray, Knelynge ne wepinge with Rewfull mone, To be my leman he sayd euyr nay And sayd shortely he wold haue none. Line 1087

For-thy, lordis, for his sake I toke to herte grete sorow and Care, So at the laste deth gonne me take, So þat I might lyve na mare; Line 1091 [With this line the second hand of the MS. begins.] For trew louynge had I suche wrake [folio 102a] And was of blysse I-browghte All bare; All was for launcelote du lake, To wete wisely for whom it ware." Line 1095

When that arthure, the noble kyng, had redde the letter and kene the name, he said to gawayne, with-oute lesynge, that launcelott was gretly to blame, Line 1099 And had hym wonne a Reproovyng For euyr and a wikkyd fame, Sythe she deide for gre[te] louyng, that he her refusyd it may hym shame. Line 1103

to the kyng than sayd syr gawayne: "I gabbyd on hym thys ȝendyr day, that he longede whan I gon sayne With lady other with [MS. whith.] som othyr maye; Line 1107 bot sothe than sayde ye, is not to layne, that he nolde nought hys loue laye In so low A place in vayne, But on a pryse lady and a gaye." Line 1111

"Syr gawayne," sayd the kyng thoo, "What is now thy best rede ? how mow we with thys maydyn do ?" Syr gawayne sayd: "so god me spede, Line 1115

Line 1115 Iff that ye wille assent ther-to, Worshippffully we shulle hyr lede In-to the palys and bery her so, As fallys A dukys doughter in dede." Line 1119

ther-to the kyng Assentid sone; Syr gawayne dyd men sone be ȝare, And worshippfully, as fell to done, In-to the palyse they her bare. Line 1123 the kyng than tolde with-out lone to All hys barons, lesse and mare, how launcelot nolde noughte graunte hyr bone, ther-fore she dyed for sorow and care. Line 1127

to the quene than went syr gawayne And gon to tell hyr All the case: "For sothe, madame," he gon to sayne, "I yelde me gyllty of A trespas. Line 1131 I gabbyd on launcelot, is not to layne, of that I tolde you in thys place; I sayde that hys bydyng bayne the dukys doughter of Ascolote was; Line 1135

off ascalot that m[a]yden ffre, [folio 102b] I sayd you she was hys leman; that I so gabbyd it reweth me, for All the sothe now telle I can; Line 1139 he nold hyr nought, we mowe welle se; For-thy dede is that white as swanne; thys lettere there-of warannte wolle be; She playnethe on launcelot to eche man." Line 1143

the quene was as wrothe as wynde And to syr gawayne sayd she than: "For sothe, Syr, thou were to vnkynde to gabbe so vppon any man, Line 1147

Line 1147 but thou haddyst wist the sothe in mynde, Whether that it were sothe ore nan; thy curtessy was All be-hynde, Whan thou thoo sawes freste began; Line 1151

thy worshippe thou vn-dediste gretlyche, Suche wronge to wite that good knyght; I trowe he ne a-gulte the neuyr nought myche Why that thou oughtiste with no Ryghte Line 1155 to gabbe on hym so wylanlyche, thus be-hynde hym, oute of hys syghte. And, syr, thou ne woste not Ryght wiseliche What harme hathe falle there-of and myght; Line 1159

I wende thou haddiste be stable and trewe And full of All curtessye, bot now me thynke thy maners [MS. meners.] newe, thay bene All tournyd to vilanye, Line 1163 now thou on knyghtis makeste thy glewe to lye vppon hem for envye; Who that the worshippeth, it may hem rewe; there-fore devoyede my companye." Line 1167

Syr gawayne than slyghly wente awaye; he syghe the quene agreuyd sore; No more to hyr than wolde he saye Bot trowyd hyr wrathe haue euyr more. Line 1171 the quene than, as she nyghe wode were, wryngyd hyr handys and said: "well-awaye! Allas! in world that I was bore! that I am a wreche welle say I may! Line 1175

herte, Allas! why were thou wode to trowe that launcelot du lake were so falsse and fykelle of mode A-nother lemman than the to take ? Line 1179

Line 1179 nay, sertes, for Alle thys worldis goode he nolde to me haue wrought suche wrake." [[One leaf missing in the Manuscript here between folios 102 and 103. It probably contained an account of the burial of the Maid of Ascalot, as the Vulgate-Lancelot does, and possibly also details of Lancelot's life in the forest.]] Line 1181 * * * * *

To fynde A man for hyr to feyghte [folio 103a] Line 1318 Or elles yeld her to be brente; Iff she were on a queste of knyghtis, Line 1320 Wele sche wiste she shold be shente; Thoughe that she agilte hade no wight, No lenger lyffe myght hyr be lente. Line 1323

The kynge than sighed and gaffe hym ylle And to syr gawayne than he yede, To bors de gawnes and lyonelle, To estor that doughty was [in] dede, Line 1327 And askyd yif eny were [MS. werere.] in wille To helpe hym in that mykyll nede. The quene one knes be-fore hem felle, That neyghe oute of hyr wite she yede; Line 1331

The knyghtes answeryd with lytell pride, her he[r]tes was full of sorow and woughe, Sayd: "all we saughe and satte besyde, The knyght when she with poyson sloughe; Line 1335 And sythe, in herte is nought to hyde, Syr gawayne ouer the bord hym droughe; A-gayne the Ryght we wille not Ryde, We saw the sothe verely I-noughe." Line 1339

The quene wepte and sighed sore, To bors de gawnes went she thoo,

On knes by-fore hym fell she thore, That nyghe her hert braste in two: Line 1343 "lord bors," she seyde, "thyn ore! To-day I shall to dethe goo, Bot yiffe thy worthy wille wore To brynge my lyffe oute of thys woo." Line 1347

Bors de gawnes stille stode And wrothe a-way hys yȝen wente. "Madame," he sayde, "by crosse on rode Thou art wele worthy to be brente; Line 1351 The nobleste bodye of flesshe and blode That euyr was yete in erthe lente For thy wille and thy wykkyd mode Out of oure companye is wente." Line 1355

Than she wepte and gaffe hyr ille And to syr gawayne than she yede, On knes downe be-fore hym felle, That neigh oute of hyr witte she yede; Line 1359 "Me[r]cy," she cryed loude and shrylle, "Lord, as I no gilt haue of thys dede, [folio 103b] Yif it were thy worthy wille To-day to helpe me in thys nede?" Line 1363

Gawayne answeryd with litelle pride, Hys hert was full of sorow and woughe: "Dame, saw I not And sat be-syde, The knyght whan thou with poyson sloughe? Line 1367 And sythe, in hert is not to hyde, My-selfe ouer the bord hym droughe; A-gayne the Ryght wille I not Ryde, I sawghe the sothe verrye I-noughe." Line 1371

Than she wente to lyonelle, That euer had bene her owne knyght, On knes downe be-fore hym felle That neyghe she lost mayne and myght. Line 1375

Line 1375 "Mercy," she cryed loude and shrylle, "lord, As I ne haue gilte no wyght, Yif it were thy worthy wylle for my lyffe to take thys fyght?" Line 1379

"Madame, how may thou to us take And wote thy-selfe so wytterly That thou hast launcelot du lake Brought oute of ower companye? Line 1383 We may syghe and monynge make Whan we se knightis kene in crye; Be hym thatt me to man gan shape We ar glade that thou it a-bye!" Line 1387

Than full sore she gan hyr drede, Welle she wiste hyr lyffe was lorne; Loude gon she wepe and grede And estor kneles she be-forne. Line 1391 "For hym that on the Rode gon sprede And for vs bare the crone of thorne, Estor, helpe now in thys nede, Or, certes, to-day my lyfe is lorne!" Line 1395

"Madame, how may thou to us take, Or how sholde I for the feyght? Take the now launcelot du lake That euyr has bene thyn owne knyght; Line 1399 My dere brother, for thy sake I ne shall hym neuyr se with sight; [folio 104a] Cursyde be he that the batalle take To saue thy lyffe a-gayne the Ryghte!" Line 1403

Ther wolde no man the batayle take, The quene wente to her chambyr soo, So dulefully mone gon she make That nyghe hyr hert brast in twoo; Line 1407

Line 1407 For Sorow gon she sheuer and quake And sayd: "Allas and wele-A-woo! Why nade I now launcelot du lake! All the curte nolde me noght sloo. Line 1411

yuelle haue I be-sette the dede That I haue worshipped so many a knyght, [And I haue no man in my nede [A line is required here to make up the usual stanza-form. Its absence from the MS. is due, no doubt, to an oversight of the scribe. Dr. Furnivall, referring to l. 1570, has supplied the line which I have adopted in the text. There can be little doubt that the missing line had this form.] ] Line 1413b For my lyffe darre take a fight. Line 1414 lord kynge of All thede! That all the worlde shall Rede and Ryght, launcelot thou saue and hede, Sithe I ne shalle neuyr hym se with syght!" Line 1418

The quene wepte and gaue hyr ylle; Whan she sawe the fyre was yare, than mornyd she full stille; To bors de gawnys went sho thare, Line 1422 By-sought hym, yif it were hys wille, To helpe hyr in hyr mekylle care; In swounynge she be-fore hym felle, That wordys myght sho speke no mare. Line 1426

Whan bors saw the quene so bryght, Of her he hade grete pyte; In hys armys he helde her vpe-Ryght, Bade hyr of good comfort be: Line 1430 "Madame, but there come a better knyght That wolde the bataile take for the, I shalle my-selue for the fighte, Whyle any lyffe may laste in me." Line 1434

Than was the quene wonder blythe That bors de gawnys wolde for her feyght,

That nere for Ioye she swounyd swythe, But as that he her helde vp-Ryght; Line 1438 To hyr chambre he led hyr blythe, To ladyes and to maydens bryght, And bad she shulde it to no man kythe, [folio 104b] Tylle he were armyd and redy dyght. Line 1442

Bors, that was bolde and kene, Clepyd All hys other knyghtis, And tokyn conselle hem be-twene, The beste that thay couthe and myght, Line 1446 how that he hathe hyght the quene, That ilke day for hyr to feyght A-yenste Syr mador full of tene, To saue hyr lyfe yife that he myght. Line 1450

The knyghtis answerd with wo and wrake, And sayd they wyste wetterlye That "she hathe launcelot du lake Browght oute of ouere companye. Line 1454 Nys non that nolde thys bataile take, Er she hade any vylanye, But we nylle not so glad hyr make By-fore we ne suffre hyr to be sorye." Line 1458

Bors and lionelle, the knyght, Estor, that doughty was of dede, To the forest than went thay Ryght, There orysons at the chapelle to bede, Line 1462 To oure lord god All full of myght That day sholde lene hem wele to spede, A grace to venquesshe the feyght; Of syr mador thay hade grete drede. Line 1466

As they came by the forest syde, There orysons for to make, The nobleste knyght than saue thay Ryde That euer was in erthe shape; Line 1470

Line 1470 hys loreme lemyd All with pride, stede and armure All was blake; hys name is noght to hele and hyde, he hyght Syr launcelot du lake. Line 1474

What wondyr was thoughe they were blythe, Whan they ther mayster se with syght! On knes Felle thay as swythe And thankyd All to god All-myght; Line 1478 Ioye it was to here and lythe The metynge of the noble knyght; And after he askid Also swythe: [folio 105a] "how now farys my lady bryght?" Line 1482

Bors than tolde hym All the Ryght, It was no lenger for to hyde, How there dyed a scottysche knyght Atte the mete the quene besyde: Line 1486 "To-day, syr, is here dethe All dyght, It may no lenger be to byde, And I for hyr haue take the feyght; Line 1489 . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 1489b

Syr mador, stronge though that [MS. thought tha.] he be, I hope he shall welle proue hys myght." "To the courte now wende ye thre And recoumforte my lady bryghte, Line 1493 . . . . . Line 1493b . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 1493c Bot loke ye speke no word of me, I wolle come as A strange knyght." Line 1495

launcelot that was mochelle of myght A-bydys in the forest grene; To the courte wente these othyr knyghtis For to recomforte the quene, Line 1499

Line 1499 To make hyr glade with All theyre myght; Grete Ioye they made hem by-twene; For-why she ne sholde drede no wyght, Off goode comforte they bade her bene. Line 1503

Bordes were sette and clothys sprede, The kyng hym-selfe is gone to sytte, The quene is to the table lade, With chekys that were wanne and wete; Line 1507 Off sorow were they neuyr vn-sad, Myght they neyther drynke ne ete; The quene of dethe was sore A-drade, That grymly terys gone she lete. Line 1511

And as thay were at the thryd mese, The kynge and All the courte be-dene, Syr mador All redy was, With helme And shelde and haubarke shene; Line 1515 A-monge hem All be-fore the dese He bloweth oute vppon the quene, To haue hys Ryght with-outen lese, As were the covenantes hem by-twene. Line 1519

The kyng lokyde one All hys knyghtis, Was he neuere yet so woo, Sawhe neuyr on hym dyght A-yenste Sir mador for to goo; [folio 105b] Line 1523 Syr mador swore by goddys myght, As he was man of herte thro, Bot yif he hastely haue hys Ryght, A-monge hem All he sholde hyr slo. Line 1527

Than spake the kynge of mekelle myght, That Ay was cortayse and hende: "Syr, lete vs ete, and sythen us dyght, Thys day nys nought yit gone to the ende; Line 1531

Line 1531 yet myght there come suche A knyght, yif goddys wyll were hym to sende, To fynde the thy fylle of fyghte, Or the sonne to grounde wende." Line 1535

Bors than loughe on lyonelle, Wyste no man of here hertys worde; hys chambyr A-none he wendys tylle With-oute any othyr worde, Line 1539 Armyd hym at All hys wille With helme and haubarke, spere and sworde; A-gayne than comys he full stylle And sette hym downe to the borde. Line 1543

The terys ranne on the kyngis kne For Ioye that he sawe bors adyght; Up he rose with hert[e] free And bors in armys clyppis Ryght, Line 1547 And sayd: "bors, god for-yelde it the, In thys nede that thow wolde fyghte: Welle Acquyteste thou it me That I haue worshipped any knyght." [MS. knytht.] Line 1551

Than as Syr mador loudeste spake, The quene of treson to by-calle, Comys syr launcelot du lake Rydand Ryght in the halle; Line 1555 hys stede and armure All was blake, hys visere ouer hys yȝen falle; Many A man by-gonne to quake: A-drade of hym nyghe were they Alle. Line 1559

Then spake the kynge, mykelle of myght, That hend was in Iche A sythe: "Syr, is it youre wille to lyghte, Ete and drynke and make you blythe?" Line 1563

Line 1563 launcelot spake as A strange knyght: "Nay, Syr," he sayd as swythe, [folio 106a] "I herde telle here of A fight; I come to saue A ladyes lyue; Line 1567

yeuell hathe the quene by-sette hyr dedys That she hathe worsshippid many A knyght And she hathe no man in her nedys That for hyr lyfe dare take a fight. Line 1571 Thou that hyr of treson gredys, Hastely that thow be dyghte. Oute of thy witte þoughe that thou wedis, [MS. wendis.] To-day thou shalt proue All thy myght." Line 1575

Than was Syr mador Also blythe As foule of day after the nyght; To hys stede he wente that [MS. than. But that is required. Cp. l. 1613.] Synthe, As man that was of moche myght; Line 1579 To the felde than Ryde thay swythe, hem folowes bothe kyng and knyght, The bataile for to se and lythe. Saugh nevir no man A stronger fyght; Line 1583

Vn-horsid were bothe knyghtis kene, They metten with so myche mayne, And sythe thay faught with swerdys kene, Bothe on fote, for sothe to sayne; Line 1587 In Alle the batailles that launcelot had bene, With hard acountres hym A-gayne, In poynte had he nevir bene So nyghe hande for to haue be slayne. Line 1591

There was so wondyr stronge A fyghte, O fote nolde nouther fle ne founde frome loughe none tylle late nyght, Bot gyffen many a wofull wounde. Line 1595

Line 1595 launcelot than gaffe A dynte with myght, Syr mador fallys at laste to grounde; "Mercy," cryes that noble knyght, Fore he was seke and sore vnsound. Line 1599

Thoughe launcelot were breme as bore, Full stournely he ganne vp stande; O dynte wolde he smyte no more, hys swerd he threwe oute of hys hande. Line 1603 Syr mador by god than sware; [folio 106b] "I haue foughte in many A lande, With knyghtis bothe lesse and mare, And neuyr yit er my mache I founde; Line 1607

Bot, Syr, A prayer I wolde make, For thynge that ye loue moste on lyfe And for oure swete lady sake, youer name that ye wolde me kythe." Line 1611 launcelot gan hys viser vp take And hendely hym shewed that sythe. Whan he saughe launcelot du lake, Was neuyr man on molde so blythe: Line 1615

"lord," thane said he, "welle is me, Myne Auauntement that I may make That I haue stande on dynte of the And foughten with launcelot du lake; Line 1619 My brother's dethe for-geffen be To the quene for thy sake." launcelot hym kyste with herte fre And in hys armys gan hym vp take. Line 1623

Kynge Arthur than loude spake A-monge hys knyghtis to the quene: "Ȝa, yonder is launcelot du lake, Yiff I hym euyr with syght haue sene." Line 1627

Line 1627 Thay Ryden and ronne than for hys sake, The kynge and Alle hys knyghtis kene; In hys armys he gon hym take, The kynge hym kyste and courte by-dene. Line 1631

Than was the quene glade I-noghe Whan she saw launcelot du lake, that nyghe for Ioy she felle in swoughe Bot as the lordys hyr gan vp take. Line 1635 The knyghtis All wepte and loughe, For Ioye as thay to-gedyr spake; Withe Syr mador, with-outen woughe, Full sone acordement gon they make. Line 1639

It was no lenger for to A-byde Bot to the castelle thay Rode as swythe, Withe trompys and with mykelle pryde, That Ioy it was to here and lythe; Line 1643 Thoughe syr mador myght not go ne Ryde To the curte is he brought that sythe, And knyghtis vppon Iche A syde [folio 107a] To make hym bothe glad and blythe. Line 1647

The squeers than were takyn Alle And thay ar put in harde payne, Whiche that seruyd in the halle, Whan the knyght was with poyson slayne. Line 1651 There he grauntyd A-monge hem Alle, It myght no lenger be to layne, How in an Appelle he dede the galle And hadde it thought to syr gawayne. Line 1655

Whan syr mador herde All the Ryght, That no gylte hadde the lady shene, For sorowe he loste mayne and myghte And on knees felle be-fore the quene; Line 1659

Line 1659 launcelot then hym helde vppe Ryghte For loue that was them be-twene; Hym kyste bothe kynge and knyght And sythen All the curte by-dene. Line 1663

The squyer than was done to shende, As it was bothe lawe and Ryght, Drawen and hongyd and for-brende Be-fore syr mador, the noble knyghte. Line 1667 In the castelle thay gan forthe lende, The Ioyus gard than was it hyghte; launcelot that was so hende Thay honouryd hym with Alle ther myght. Line 1671

A tyme be-felle, sothe to sayne, the knyghtis stode in chambyr and spake, Bothe gaheriet and syr gawayne And mordreite that mykelle couthe of wrake: Line 1675 "Allas!" than sayde syr A-grawayne, "How fals men schalle we vs make! And how longe shalle we hele and layne The treson of launcelote du lake! Line 1679

Wele we wote, with-outen wene, The kynge arthur oure eme sholde be And launcelote lyes by the quene; A-geyne the kynge [MS. knyke.] tra[y]tor is he; Line 1683 And that wote All the curte by-dene, And Iche day it here and see; To the kynge we shulde it mene, Yif ye wille do by the counselle of me." [folio 107b] Line 1687

"Wele wote we," sayd syr gawayne, "That we ar of the kyngis kynne, And launcelot is so mykyll of mayne That suche wordys were better blynne. Line 1691

Line 1691 Welle wote thou, brothyr agrawayne, There-of shulde we bot harmys wynne; yit were it better to hele and layne Than werre and wrake thus to be-gynne. Line 1695

Welle wote thou, brother agrawayne, launcelot is hardy knyght and thro; kynge and courte hade ofte bene slayne, Nad he bene better than we mo; Line 1699 And sythen myght I neuyr sayne The loue that has bene by-twene vs twoo; launcelot shalle I neuyr be-trayne By-hynde hys bake to be hys foo. Line 1703

launcelot is kynges sonne full good, And therto hardy knyght and bolde, And sythen and hym ned by-stode, Many A lande wolde with hym holde; Line 1707 Shedde ther sholde be mykelle blode For thys tale, yiffe it were tolde; Syr Agrawayne he were full wode That suche a thynge be-gynne wolde." Line 1711

Than thus gatys as the knyghtis stode, Gawayne and All that other pres, In come the kynge with mylde mode; Gawayne than [MS. that.] sayd: "felaus, pees"; Line 1715 The kynge for wrathe was neghe wode For to wette what it was; Aggrawayne swore by crosse And Rode: "I shalle it you telle with-oute lees." Line 1719

Gawayne to hys chambyr wente, Off thys tale nolde he noght here; Gaheriet and gaheryes of hys A-sente Withe here brother went they there; Line 1723

Line 1723 Welle they wyste that All was shente And syr gawayne by god than swere: "here now [is] made A comsemente That bethe not fynysshyd many A yere." Line 1727

Syr Agrawayne tolde Alle be-dene To the kynge with symple chere, How launcelot liggys by the quene, [folio 108a] "And so has done full many A yere, Line 1731 And that wote All the courte by-dene And Iche day it se and here, And we haue false and treytours bene That we ne wolde neuyr to you dyskere." Line 1735

"Allas!" than sayd the kynge thore, "Certes, that were grete pyte, So As man nad neuyr yit more Off biaute ne of bounte Line 1739 Ne man in worlde was neuyr yit ore Off so mykylle noblyte. Allas! full grete duelle it were In hym shulde Any treson be; Line 1743

But sythe it is so, with-outen fayle, Syr Agrawayne, so god the Rede, What were now thy beste consayle For to take hym with the dede? Line 1747 he is man of suche Apparayle, Off hym I haue full mychelle drede; All the courte nolde hym Assayle Yiff he were Armyd vppon hys stede." Line 1751

"Syr, ye and All the courte by-dene Wendythe to-morowe on huntynge Ryght, And sythen send word to the quene That ye wille dwelle with-oute All nyght, Line 1755

Line 1755 And I and other xii knyghtes kene Full preuely we shall vs dyght; We shalle hym haue with-outen wene, To-morow or Any day by lyght." Line 1759

On the morow with All the courte by-dene The kynge gonne on huntynge Ryde, And sythen he sent word to the quene That he wolde All nyght oute A-byde. Line 1763 Aggrawayne with xii knyghtys kene Atte home be-lefte that ilke tyde; Off Alle the day they were not sene, So prewely thay gonne hem hyde. Line 1767

Tho was the quene wondyr blythe That the kynge wolde at the foreste dwelle; To launcelot she sente as swythe And bad that he shulde come her tille. Line 1771 Syr bors de gawnes be-ganne to lythe, Thoughe hys herte lyked ille; [folio 108b] "Syr," he said, "I wolde you kythe A word, yif that it were your wille: Line 1775

Syr, to-nyght I rede ye dwelle; I drede ther be som treson dight Withe Agrawayne, that is so felle, That waites you bothe day and nyght; Line 1779 Off Alle that ye haue gonne hyr-tylle Ne greuyd me neuyr yit no wight Ne neuyr yit gaffe myn herte to ille So mykelle as it dothe to-nyght." Line 1783

"Bors," he sayd, "holde stylle; Suche wordys ar noughte to kythe; I wille wende my lady tille, Som new tythandes for to lythe; Line 1787

Line 1787 I ne shall noght bote wet[e] hyr wylle, loke ye make youe glad and blythe; Certenly I nelle nought dwelle Bot come A-gayne to youe All swythe." Line 1791

For-why he wende haue comynne sone, For to dwelle had he not thought, Non Armore he dyde hym vppon Bot A Robe All sengle wrought; Line 1795 In hys hand A swerd he fone, Off tresson dred he hym Ryght noght; There was no man vndyr the mone he wende with harme durste hym haffe sought. Line 1799

Whan he come to the lady shene, he kissid and clypped that swete wyght; For sothe, they neuyr wolde wene That any treson was ther dyght; Line 1803 So mykylle loue was hem by-twene That they noght de-parte Myght; To bede he gothe with the quene And there he thoughte to dwelle Alle nyght. Line 1807

he was not buskyd in hys bedde, launcelot in the quenys boure, Come Agrawayne and syr mordreit With xii knyghtys stiffe in stowre; Line 1811 Launcelot of tresson they be-gredde, Callyd hym fals and kyngys treytoure, And he so so strongly was by stedde There-inne he hadde non Armoure. Line 1815

"Welaway!" than sayd the quene, [folio 109a] "launcelot, what shall worthe of vs twoo! The loue that hathe bene vs be-twene To suche endynge that it sholde goo! Line 1819

Line 1819 Withe Agrawayne that is so kene, That nyght And day hathe bene oure foo, Now I wote, with-outen wene, That Alle oure wele is tornyd to woo." Line 1823

"Lady," he sayd, "thow moste blynne; Wyde I wote these wordis bethe Ryffe; Bot is here any Armoure inne, That I may haue to saue my lyffe ?" Line 1827 "Certis, nay," she sayd thenne, "Thys Antoure is so wondyr stryffe That I ne may to none Armoure wynne, Helme ne hauberke, swerd ne knyffe." Line 1831

Euyr Agrawayne and syr mordred Callyd hym Recreante fals knyght, Bad hym Ryse oute of hys bedde, For he moste nedis with them fyght; Line 1835 In hys Robe than he hym cled, Thoughe he none Armoure gete myght; Wrothely oute hys swerd he gredde, The chamber dore he sette vp Ryght. Line 1839

An Armyd knyght be-fore in wente, And wende launcelot wele to sloo, Bot launcelot gaffe hym soche A dynte That to the grounde gonne he go; Line 1843 The other All agayne than stente; Aftyr hym dorste folowe no moo; To the chambyr dore he sprente And claspid it with barres twoo. Line 1847

The knyght that launcelot has slayne, Hys Armoure founde he fayre and bryght; Hastely he hathe hem ofdrayne And therin hym-selfe dight. Line 1851

Line 1851 "Now, know thou wele, syr Agrawayne, Thow presons me no more to-Nyght." Oute than sprange he with mykell mayn, Hym-selfe a-yenste hem alle to fyght. Line 1855

Launcelot than smote with herte goode, Wete ye welle, with-outen lese; Syr Agrawayne to dethe yode, And sythen All the other presse; [folio 109b] Line 1859 Was non so stronge that hym with-stode Be he had made A lytelle Rese; Bot mordreit fled as he were wode, To saue hys lyff full fayne he was. Line 1863

Launcelot to hys chambre yode, to bors and to hys other knyghtis; Bors Armyd be-fore hym stode, To bedde yit was he noȝt dight; Line 1867 The knyghtis for fere was nye wode, So were they drechyd all that nyght, Bot blythe wexid they in her mode Whan they her mastyr sawghe with syght. Line 1871

"Syr," sayd bors, the hardy knyght, "Aftyr you haue we thoght full longe, To bedde durste I ne noȝt dight, For drede ye hade som Aunter stronge; Line 1875 Owre knyghtis haue be drechyd to-nyght, That som nakyd oute of bed spronge, For-thy we were full sore a-fryght Leste som treson were vs Amonge." Line 1879

"Ya, bors, drede the no wight, Bot bethe of herte good And bolde, And swythe A-waken vp All my knyghtis And loke whiche wille with vs holde; Line 1883

Line 1883 Loke they be Armyd and redy dight, For it is sothe that thou me tolde, We haue be-gonne thys ilke nyght That shall brynge many A man full colde." Line 1887

Bors than spake with drery mode: "Syr," he sayd, "sithe it is so, We shalle be of hertis good Aftyr the wele to take the wo." Line 1891 The knyghtis sprent as they were wode And to there harneise gon the go; At the morow Armyd be-fore hym stode An hundrethe knyghtis and squyers mo. Line 1895

Whan they were armyd and redy dight, A softe pas forth gonne they Ride, As men that were of mykelle myght, To A forest there be-syde; Line 1899 Launcelot Arrayes All hys knyghtis And there they loggen hem to byde Tylle they herd of the lady bryght, [folio 110a] What Auntere of hyr shulde be-tyde. Line 1903

Mordreit than toke A way full gayne, And to the forest wente he Right, Hys Auntures tolde, for sothe to sayne, That were by-fallyn that ylke nyght. Line 1907 "Mordreit, haue ye that treitour slayne, Or how haue ye with hym dight?" "Nay, syr, bot dede is aggrawayne, And so Ar All oure other knyghtis." Line 1911

Whan it herde syr gawayne, That was so hardy knyght and bolde, "Allas! is my brother slayne?" Sore hys herte be-gan to colde; Line 1915

Line 1915 "I warnyd wele syr Aggrawayne, Or euyr yit thys tale was tolde, Launcelot was so myche of mayne, A-yenste hym was stronge to holde." Line 1919

It was no lenger for to byde, Kynge And All hys knyghtis kene, Toke there counselle in that tyde, What was beste do with the quene. Line 1923 It was no lenger for to byde, That day fo[r]-brent shuld she bene. Line 1925 . . . . . Line 1925b . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 1925c

The fyre than made they in the felde, There-to they brought that lady fre, All that euyr myght wepene welde A-boute her Armyd for to bee. Line 1929 Gawayne, that stiffe was vndir shelde, Gaheryet ne gaheryes ne wold noȝt see; In there chamber they hem helde Off hyr they had grete pyte. Line 1933

The kynge Arthure that ylke tyde Gawayne And gaherys for sent; here Answeres were noȝt for to hyde, They ne wolde noȝt be of hys assente; Line 1937 Gawayne wolde neuyr be nere by-syde There Any woman shuld be brente; Gaheriet And gaheries with lytelle pryde, All vn-Armyd thedyr they wente. Line 1941

A squeer gonne tho tythandes lythe, That launcelot to courte had sente; To the foreste he wente as swithe There launcelot and hys folke was lente, Line 1945

Line 1945 Bad hem come and haste blythe, [folio 110b] The quene is ledde to be brente; And they to hors and Armes swythe And Iche one be-fore other sprente. Line 1949

The quene by the fyre stode And in hyr smoke All redy was; lordyngis was there many and good And grete power, with-outen lese. Line 1953 Launcelot sprente, as he were wode, Full sone partyd he the prees, Was none so styffe a-ȝeynste hym stode, Be he had made a lytelle Rese. Line 1957

There was no stele stode hem aȝeyne; Though faught they but A lytelle stound, Lordyngys that were myche of mayne Many goode were brought to grounde; Line 1961 Gaheriet and gaheries bothe were slayne, Wythe many A doulfull dethes wounde; The quene thay toke with-oute layne, And to the foreste gonne they founde. Line 1965

The tythyngis is to the kynge brought, how launcelote has tane away the quene. "Suche wo as there is wroughte! Slayne ar Alle oure knyghtis kene." Line 1969 Downe he felle and swounyd ofte, Grete duelle it was to here and sene; So nere hys herte the sorowe sought All-moste hys lyffe wolde no man wene; Line 1973

"Ihesu cryste! what may I sayne? In erthe was neuyr man so wo; Suche knyghtys as there ar slayne In All thys worlde there is no mo. Line 1977

Line 1977 Lette no man telle Syr gawayne, Gaheriet hys brother is dede hym fro, But weilaway! the reufulle Rayne, That euyr launcelote was my fo!" Line 1981

Gawayne gonne in hys chambyr hym holde, Off All the day he nolde not oute goo; A squyer than the tythandys tolde What wondyr theighe hys herte were wo! Line 1985 "Allas!" he sayde, "my brother bolde, Where gahereit be dede me fro?" [folio 111a] So sore hys hert be-gan to colde All-moste he wolde hym-selff sloo. Line 1989

The squyer spake with drery mode, To re-comfort syr Gawayne: "Gaheriet eyles noght bot goode; he wolle sone come A-gayne." Line 1993 Gawayne sprent as he were wode To the chambre there they lay slayne; The chambre flore Alle ranne on blode, And clothys of golde were ouer hem drayne. Line 1997

A clothe he heuys than vppon hyght; What wondyr thoughe hys hert were sore So dulfully to se them dight That ere so doughty knyghtis were! Line 2001 Whan he hys brother sawghe with syght, A word myght he speke no more; There he loste mayne and myght And ouyr hym felle in swounynge thore. Line 2005

Off swounynge whan he myght A-wake, The hardy knyght, syr gawayne, Be god he sware and loude spake, As man that myche was of mayne: Line 2009

Line 2009 "Be-twixte me And launcelote du lake Nys man in erthe, for sothe to sayne, Shall trewes sette and pees make, Er outher of vs haue other slayne." Line 2013

A squyer that launcelot to court hadde sente Off the tythandys gonne he lythe; To the foreste is he wente And tolde launcelot Also swythe, Line 2017 how lordy[n]ges that were Riche of rente Fele goode had loste hyr lyffe, Gaheryet and gaheries sought here ende; Bot than was launcelot no-thynge blythe; Line 2021

"Lord," he said, "what may thys bene? Ihesu cryste! what may I sayne? The loue that hathe be-twexte vs bene, That euyr gaheryet me was A-gayne! Line 2025 Now I wote for All by-dene, A sorye man Is syr gawayne; A-cordement thar me nevyr wene, Tille eyther of vs haue other slayne." [folio 111b] Line 2029

launcelot gonne with hysse folke forthe wende, With sory hert and drery mode; To quenys and countesses fele he sende And grete ladyes of gentill blode, Line 2033 That he had ofte here landis deffende And foughten whan hem nede by-stode. Ichone her power hym lende, And made hys party stiffe and goode; Line 2037

quenys and countesses that Ryche were Sende hym erlys with grete meyne; Other ladies that myght no more Sente hym barons or knyghtis free; Line 2041

Line 2041 So mykelle folke to hym gon fare, Hydous it was hys oste to see; To the Ioyus gard wente he thare And helde hym in that stronge Cyte. Line 2045

Launcelotis herte was full sore For the lady fayre and bryght; A damosselle he dyd be yare, In Ryche Apparayle was she dyght, Line 2049 Hastely in message for to fare To the kynge of mykelle myght, To prove it fals (what myght he mare?) Bot proferys hym there-fore to fyght. Line 2053

The mayden is Redy for to Ryde, In A full Ryche Aparaylmente, Off Samytte grene, with mykyll pryde, That wroght was in the oryente; Line 2057 A dwerffe shulde wende by hyr syde, Suche was launcelotis comaundement; So were the manerys in that tyde, Whan A mayde on message wente. Line 2061

To the castelle whan she come, In the paleise gonne she lyght; To the kynge hyr erande she sayd sone, By hym satte syr gawayne the knyght, Line 2065 Sayd that lyes were sayde hym vppon; Trewe they were by day and nyght; To proue it as a knyght shulde done [folio 112a] Launcelot proferis hym to fyghte. Line 2069

The kynge Arthure spekys thore Wordys that were kene and thro: "He ne myght proue it neuer more Bot of my men that he wold slo; Line 2073

Line 2073 Be Ihesu cryste," the kynge sware, And Syr gawayne than Also, "his dedis shall be bought full sore, Bot yife no stele nyll in hym go." Line 2077

The mayden hathe hyr answere, To the Ioyus garde gonne she Ryde; Such as the kynges wordis were She told launcelot in that tyde; Line 2081 Launcelot Syghed wounder sore, Teres frome hys yȝen ganne glyde; Bors de gawnes by gode than sware: "In mydde the felde we shall hem byde." Line 2085

Arthure wolde no lenger a-byde Bot hastis hym with All hys myght; Messengeres dyd he go and Ryde, That thay ne shulde lette for day ne nyght, Line 2089 Thorow-oute yngland by Iche a syde To erle, baroun and to knyght, Bad hem come that ilke tyde Withe hors stronge And Armure bryght. Line 2093

Thoughe the knyght that were dede hem fro, There-of was All there mykelle kare, Thre hundrethe thay made mo, Oute of the castelle or they wold fare, Line 2097 Off ynglonde A[nd] yreland Also, Off walys and scottis that beste were, Launcelot And hys folkys to slo, With hertis breme as Any bore. Line 2101

Whan thys oste was All bowne, It was no lenger for to byde, Rayses spere and gounfanoune, As men that were of mykelle pryde; Line 2105

Line 2105 With helme and shelde and hauberke browne, Gawayne hym-selfe be-fore ganne Ryde To the Ioyus garde that Ryche towne, And sette A sege on Iche A syde. Line 2109

A-boute the Ioyus garde they laye Seuentene wokys And well mare, [folio 112b] Tille it felle vppon A day launcelot home bad hem fare: Line 2113 "Breke youre sege! wendys a-waye! You to slae grete pyte it ware." He sayd "Allas and weilawaye! That euyr beganne this sorewe sare!" Line 2117

Evir the kynge and Sir gawayne Calde hym fals Recreante knyght, And sayde he had hys bretherne slayne And treytour was by day and nyght, Line 2121 Bad hym come And proue hys mayne In the felde with hem to fyghte. Launcelot sighed, for sothe to sayne, Grete duelle it was to se with sight. Line 2125

So loude they launcelot gonne Ascrye With vois and hydous hornys bere, Bors de gawnes standis hym by And launcelot makys yuelle chere. Line 2129 "Syr," he sayd, "whare-fore and why Shulde we these proude wordys here? me thynke ye fare as cowardlye As we ne durste no man nyghe nere. Line 2133

Dight we vs in Ryche Araye, Bothe with spere And with shelde, As swithe as euyr that we maye, And Ryde we oute in-to the felde; Line 2137

Line 2137 Whyle my lyffe laste maye, Thys day I ne shall my wepen yelde; There-fore my lyffe I darre wele laye We two shall make hem All to helde.' Line 2141

"Allas!" quod launcelot, "wo is me, That euyr shuld I se with syghte A-ȝeyne my lord for to be, The noble kynge that made me knyght! Line 2145 Syr gawayne, I be-Seche the, As thou arte man of myche myght, In the felde let not my lorde be Ne that thy-selfe with me not fyghte." Line 2149

It may no lenger for to byde But buskyd hem and made All bowne; Whan thay were Redy for to Ryde, They Reysed spere and gonfanoune; Line 2153 Whan these ostes gan samen glyde, [folio 113a] Withe vois and hydous hornys sowne, Grete pyte was on eyther syde, So fele goode ther were layd downe. Line 2157

Syr lyonelle with myche mayne Withe A spere by-fore gan founde; Syr gawayne Rydys hym A-gayne, hors and man he bare to grounde, Line 2161 That All men wende he had ben slayne, Syr lyonelle hade suche A wounde; Oute of the felde was he drayne, For he was seke and sore vn-sounde. Line 2165

In All the felde that ilke tyde Myght no man stonde launcelot a-ȝeyne, And sythen as faste As he myght Ryde To saue that no man sholde be slayne. Line 2169

Line 2169 The kynge was euyr nere be-Syde And hewe on hym with All hys mayne, And he so corteise was that tyde O dynte that he nolde smyte a-gayne. Line 2173

Bors de gawnes saughe at laste And to the kynge than gan he Ryde, And on hys helme he hytte so faste That nere he loste All hys pryde; Line 2177 The stede Rigge vndyr hym braste That he to grounde felle that tyde, And sythen wordys loude he caste, Withe Syr launcelot to chyde: Line 2181

"Syr, shalthou All day Suffer so That the kynge shall the assayle, And sethe hys herte is so thro Thy corteise may not A-vaile? Line 2185 Batailles shall there neuere be mo, And thou wilt do be my consalle; Ȝeuyth vs leue them All to slo, For thou haste venquesshid thys bataille." Line 2189

"Allas!" quod launcelot, "wo is me, That euyr shulde I se with syghte By-fore me hym vnhorsyd bee, The noble kynge that made me knyght!" Line 2193 he was than so corteise and fre That downe of hys stede he lyghte; The kynge ther-on than horsys he And bade hym fle, yiffe that he myght. Line 2197

Whan the kynge was horsyd there, [folio 113b] Launcelot lokys he vppon, How corteise was in hym more Then euyr was in Any man; Line 2201

Line 2201 He thought on thyngis that had bene ore, The teres from hys yȝen Ranne; He Sayde "Allas!" with syghynge sore, "That euyr yit thys werre be-gan!" Line 2205

The parties arne with-drawen A-waye, Off knyghtis were they wexyn thynne; On morow on that other daye Scholde the bataille efte begynne; Line 2209 Thay dyght hem on A Ryche Araye And partyd ther ostes bothe in twynne; he that by-ganne thys wrechyd playe, What wondyr thoughe he had grete synne! Line 2213

Bors was breme as Any bore, And oute he rode to syr gawayne; For lyonelle was woundyd sore, Wenge hys brother he wolde full fayne; Line 2217 Syr gawayne gonne A-ȝeyne hym fare, As man that myche was of mayne; Eyther throughe other body bare, That welle nere were they bothe slayne; Line 2221

Bothe to grounde they Felle in fere, There-fore were fele folke full woo. The kynges party Redy were A-way to take hem bothe two; Line 2225 launcelot hym-selfe come nere, Bors rescous he them froo; Oute of the felde men hym bere, So were they woundyd bothe two. Line 2229

Off thys bataille were to telle, A man that it wele vndyrstode, How knyghtis vndyr sadels felle And sytten downe with sory mode; Line 2233

Line 2233 Stedys that were bolde and snelle A-monge hem waden in the blode, Bot by the tyme of euyn belle Launcelot party the better stode. Line 2237

Off thys batayle was no more, Bot thus depa[r]ten they that daye; Folke here Frendys home ledde and bare That slayne in the feldys laye. Line 2241 Launcelot gonne to hys castelle fare, [The scribe by mistake began this leaf with the first seven lines of leaf 113, but afterwards struck them out.] [folio 114a] The bataille venquesshyd, for Sothe to saye; There was duell and wepynge sare, Amonge hem was no chyldys playe. Line 2245

[Into] all landys northe and southe Off thys werre the word spronge, And yit at Rome it was full couthe, In ynglande was suche sorowe stronge; Line 2249 There-of the pope had grete Routhe, A lettre he selid with hys hande; Bot they accorded welle in trowthe, Enterdite he wolde the lande. Line 2253

Then was A bischope at Rome, Off Rowchester, with-outen lese; Tylle ynglande he, the message, Come, To karllylle ther the kynge was; Line 2257 The popis lettre oute he nome In the paleis by-fore the desse, And bade them do the popis dome And holde yngland in Reste and pes. Line 2261

Redde was it by-fore All by-dene, The lettre that the pope gonne make, How he moste haue a-ȝeyne the quene And a-corde withe launcelot du lake; Line 2265

Line 2265 Make a pes hem by-twene For euyr more and trews make, Or ynglande entyrdyted shulde bene And torne to sorow for ther sake. Line 2269

The kynge a-ȝeyne it wolde noȝte bene, To do the popys comaundemente, Blythely A-yeyne to haue the quene; Wolde he noght that ynglonde were shente; Line 2273 Bot gawayne was of herte so kene That to hym wolde he neuyr Assente To make A-corde hem by-twene, While Any lyffe were in hym lente. Line 2277

Through the sente of All by-dene Ganne the kynge A lettre make; The bysschope in message yede by-twene [folio 114b] To syr launcelot du lake, Line 2281 And Askyd yiffe he wolde the quene Cortessly to hym by-take, Or yngland enterdyt shuld bene And torne to sorow for ther sake. Line 2285

launcelot Answeryd with grete fauoure, As knyght that hardy was and kene: "Syr, I haue stande in many A stoure, Bothe for the kynge and for the quene; Line 2289 Full colde had bene hys beste towre, Yiff that I nadde my-selfe bene; he quytes it me with lytelle honoure, That I haue seruyd hym All by-dene." Line 2293

The bysschope spake with-oute fayle, Thoughe he were nothynge A-froughte: "Syr, thynke that ye haue venquysshid many A bataille Throwgh grace that god hathe for you wrought; Line 2297

Line 2297 ye shalle do now by my counsayle: Thynke on hym that you dere bought; Wemen Ar frele of hyr entayle; Syr, lettes not ynglande go to noght." Line 2301

"Syr bysshope, castelles for to holde Wete you wele I haue no nede. I myght be kynge, yif that I wolde, Off All benwike, that Ryche thede, Line 2305 Ryde in-to my landys bolde Withe my knyghtes styffe on stede. The quene, yif that I to them yolde, Off her lyffe I haue grette drede." Line 2309

"Syr, be mary that is mayden floure, And god that All shall rede and Ryght, She ne shall haue no dyshonoure, There-to my trouthe I shall you plyght, Line 2313 Bot boldely brought in-to hyr boure, To ladyes and to maydens bryght, And holden in welle more honoure Than euyr she was by day or nyght." Line 2317

"Now, yif I grande suche a thynge, That I delyuere shall the quene, Syr bysshope, say my lorde, the kynge, Syr gawayne and hem All by-dene, Line 2321 That thay shall make me A sekerynge A trews to holde vs by-twene." Line 2323 . . . . . Line 2323b . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 2323c

Then was the bysshope woundyr blythe [folio 115a] That launcelot gaffe hym thys Answere; Tylle hys palfray he wente as swythe And tylle karllyle gonne he fare; Line 2327

Line 2327 Tythandys sone were done to lythe Whiche that launcelotis wordis ware; The kynge and courte was All full blythe, A trews they sette and sekeryd thare; Line 2331

Through the Assent of All by-dene A syker trews there they wrought; Though gawayne were of hert[e] kene, There-a-yenste was he noȝte, Line 2335 To hald A trews hem by-twene, While launcelot the quene home broght; Bot cordemente [In MS. ouermente apparently, but cordemente is certainly intended. Cp. ll. 2028, 2422 and 2426.] thar hym neuyr wene, Or eyther other herte haue sought. Line 2339

A syker trews gonne they make, And with ther seales they it bande; There-to they thre bisshopys gon take, The wiseste that were in All the lande, Line 2343 And sent to launcelot du lake; At Ioyus gard [Just after gard in the MS. the is written by mistake.] they hym fande; The lettres there they hym by-take And there-to launcelot held hys hande. Line 2347

The bisshopis than went on her way To karlyll there the kynge wase; Launcelot shall come that other day Withe the lady proude in pres. Line 2351 he dight hym I[n] a Ryche Araye, Wete ye wele, with-outen les; An hundreth knyghtis, for sothe to saye The beste of All hys oste [he] chese. Line 2355

Launcelot and the quene were cledde In Robes of A Riche wede, Off Samyte white, with syluer shredde, yuory sadyll and white stede, Line 2359

Line 2359 Saumbues of the same threde, That wroght was in the heythen thede; launcelot hyr brydelle ledde, In the Romans as we Rede; Line 2363

The other knyghtis euerychone In Samyte grene of heythen lande And in there kyrtelles Ryde Allone, And Iche knyght a grene garlande, [folio 115b] Line 2367 Sadillis sette with Ryche stone, Ichone A braunche of olyffe in hande, All the felde A-boute hem schone; The knyghtis Rode full loude synghand. Line 2371

To the castelle when they come In the paleise gonne they lyghte; Launcelot the quene of hir palfray nome, They Seyde it was A semly syghte; Line 2375 The kynge than salowes he full sone, As man that was of myche myghte; Feyre wordys were there fone, Bot wepynge stode there many A knyghte. Line 2379

Launcelot spake, as I you mene, To the kynge of mykelle myght: "Syr, I haue the broght thy quene And sauyd hyr lyffe with the Ryght, Line 2383 As lady that is feyre and shene And trewe is bothe day and nyght; Iffe Any man sayes she is noght clene, I profre me there-fore to feyght." Line 2387

The kynge Arthur Answerys thore Wordys that were kene and throo: "Launcelot, I ne wende neuyr more That thow wolde me haue wroght thys woo; Line 2391

Line 2391 So dere as we samen were, There-vndyr that thou was my foo; Bot noght for-thy me Rewis sore That euer was werre by-twexte vs two." Line 2395

Launcelot than Answeryde he, Whan he had lystenyd longe: "Syr, thy wo thow witeste me And welle thou woste it is with wronge; Line 2399 I was neuyr fer frome the, When thow had Any sorow stronge; Bot lyers lystenes thow to lye, Off whome All thys word oute spronge." Line 2403

Than by-spake hym Syr gawayne, That was hardy knyght and free: "launcelot, thou may it noght with-sayne That thow haste slayne my brethrene thre; Line 2407 For-thy schall we proue oure mayne In feld whether shall haue the gree; Or eyther of vs shall other slayne Blythe shall I neuyr be." Line 2411

Launcelot Answeryd with hert sore, [folio 116a] Thoughe he were nothynge A-froughte: "Gawayne," he said, "thoughe I were there, My-self thy brethren slow I noght; Line 2415 Other knyghtis fele ther were That sythen thys werre dere han bought." launcelot syghed wonder sore, The terys of hys yen sowght. Line 2419

launcelot spake, as I you mene, To the kynge and syr gawayne: "Syr, shall I neuyr of cordemente wene That we myght frendys be A-ȝeyne?" Line 2423

Line 2423 Gawayne spake with hert[e] kene, As man that myche was of mayne: "Nay, cordement thar the neuyr wene Tylle on of vs haue other slayne." Line 2427

"Sythe it neuyr may be-tyde That pees may be vs by-twene, May I in-to my landys Ryde Saffely with my knyghtis kene? Line 2431 Than wille I here no lenger byde, Bot take leue off yow All by-dene; Where I wende in world[e] wyde, Engelond wolle I neuyr sene." Line 2435

The kynge arthur Answered thore, The terys from hys yȝen Ranne: "By Ihesu cryste!" he there swore, "That All thys worlde wroght and wan, Line 2439 In-to thy landys whan thou willt fare, The shall lette no lyuand man." He sayd "Allas!" withe syghynge sare, "That euyr yit thys werre by-ganne! Line 2443

Sythe that I shall wende A-waye And in myn Awne landys wone, May I saffly wone ther aye, That ye wythe werre not come me on?" Line 2447 Syr gawayne than sayd: "naye, By hym that made sonne and mone, Dight the as welle as euyr thou may, For we shall After come full sone." Line 2451

launcelot hys leue hathe taken thare, It was no lenge[r] for to byde; hys palfray found he Redy ȝare, Made hym Redy for to Ryde; Line 2455

Line 2455 Oute of the castelle gonne they fare, Gremly teres lette they glyde; There was dwelle and wepynge sare, [folio 116b] At the partynge was lytelle pryde. Line 2459

To the Ioyus gard, the Ryche towne, Rode launcelot, the noble knyghte; Busked hem and made A bowne, As men that were of myche myght, Line 2463 Withe spere in hand and gonfanowne (lette they nouther day ne nyght) To An hauen hight kelyon; Ryche galleys there they fande dyght. Line 2467

Now ar thay shyppyd on the flode, launcelot And hys knyghtis hende; Wederes had they feyre and goode Wher hyr wille was for to wende, Line 2471 To An hauen there it stode As men were leueste for to lende; Off benwike blythe was hyr mode, Whan Ihesu cryst hem thedir sende. Line 2475

Now ar thay Aryued on the stronde, Off hem was fele folke full blythe; Grete lordis of the lande, A-ȝeyne hym they come as swythe, Line 2479 And fellyn hym to fote and hande; For her lord thay gonne hym kythe, At hys domys for to stande, And at hys lawes for to lythe. Line 2483

Bors made he kynge of gawnes, As it was bothe law and Ryght; lyonelle made kynge of fraunce, Be olde tyme gawle hyghte; Line 2487

Line 2487 All hys folke he ganne Auance And landys gaffe to Iche A knyghte, And storyd hys castellys for All chance, For mykyll he hopyd more to fyght. Line 2491

Estor he crownys with hys hande, So sayes the boke with-outen lese, made hym kynge of hys fadyr lande And prynce of All the Ryche prese; Line 2495 Bad no thynge hym shulde with-stande, Bot hald hym kynge as worthy was, For ther [no] more hym-self wold fande Tylle he wiste to leffe in pes. Line 2499

Arthure wolle he no lenger A-byde, [folio 117a] nyght and day hys herte was sore; messengerys did he go And Ryde Throughe-oute yngland for to fare Line 2503 To erlys And barons on Iche A syde, Bad hem buske and make All ȝare, On launcelot landys for to Ryde, To brenne and sle and make All bare. Line 2507

At hys knyghtis All by-dene The kynge gan hys conselle take, And bad hem ordeyne hem by-twene Who beste steward were for to make, Line 2511 The Reme for to saue and ȝeme, And beste were for bretaynes sake; Full mykelle they dred hem All by-dene That Alyens the land wold take. Line 2515

The knyghtis answeryd, with-oute lese, And said, for sothe, that so them thought That syr mordred the sekereste was, Thoughe men the Reme throw-oute sought, Line 2519

Line 2519 To saue the Reme in trews and pees. Was A boke by-fore hym brought; Syr mordreit they to steward chese; That many A bolde sythen A-bought. Line 2523

It was no lenger for to byde, But buskes hem And made All bowne; Whan they were Redy for to Ryde, They Reised spere and gonfanowne; Line 2527 Forthe they went with mykelle pryde Tylle An hauyne hyght kerlyonne, And graythes be the lande syde Galeis grete of fele fasowne. Line 2531

now are they shippid on the see And wendyn ouyr the water wyde; Off benwyke whan they myght se, Withe grete Route they gonne vp Ryde; Line 2535 with-stode hem neyther stone ne tre, Bot brente and slow on Iche A syde; launcelot is in hys beste Cyte, There he batelle wolle A-byde. Line 2539

launcelot clepis hys knyghtis kene, His erlys And hys barons bolde, [folio 117b] Bad hem ordeyne hem by-twene, To wete her wylle, what they wolde, Line 2543 To Ryde A-ȝeyne hem All by dene Or ther worthe walles holde; For well they wiste, with-outen wene, For no fantyse Arthur nold folde. Line 2547

Bors de gawnes, the noble knyght, stornnely spekys in that stounde: "Doughty men that ye be dyghte, Foundis your worship for to fownd, Line 2551

Line 2551 Withe spere and shelde and armes bryght A-ȝeyne your fo-men for to fownd; Kynge and duke, erle and knyght, We shall hem bete And brynge to grounde." Line 2555

Lyonelle spekys in that tyde, That was of warre wyse And bolde: "Lordyngis, yet I rede we byde And oure worthy walles holde; Line 2559 Le[t] them pryke with All ther pryde Tylle they haue Caught bothe hungre and colde; Than shall we oute vppon them Ryde And shredde them downe as shepe in folde." Line 2563

Syr banndemagew, that bolde kynge, To launcelot spekys in that tyde: "Syr, cortessye And your sufferynge Has wakend vs wo full wyde; Line 2567 Awise you welle vppon thys thynge: Yiff that they ouer oure landys Ryde, All to noght they myght vs brynge, Whyle we in holys here vs hyde." Line 2571

Galyhud, that Ay was goode, To launcelot he spekys thare: "Syr, here ar knyghtis of kynges blode That longe wylle not droupe And dare; Line 2575 Gyffe me leue, for crosse on Rode Withe my men to them to fare; Thoughe they be wers than outlawes wode, I shall them sle and make full bare." Line 2579

Off northe gales were bretherne seuen, Ferly mekelle of strenghe and pryde; Not full fele that men coude neuyne Better dorste in bataile byde; Line 2583

Line 2583 All they sayd with one steuen: [folio 118a] "Lordyngis, how longe wolle ye chyde? Launcelot, for goddys loue in heuen With galehud forthe lette vs Ryde." Line 2587

Than spake the lorde that was so hende, Hym-Self, syr launcelot de lake: "Lordyngis, A whyle I rede we lende And oure worthy wallys wake; Line 2591 A message wlle I to them sende, A trews be-twene vs for to take; my lord is so corteise and hende That yit I hope A pees to make; Line 2595

Thoughe we myght the worshyppe wynne, Off A thynge myn hert is sore: Thys land is of folke full thynne, Bataylles has it made full bare; Line 2599 Wete ye welle it were grete synne Crysten folke to sle thus more; Withe myldenesse we shall be-gynne And god shall wische vs wele to fare." Line 2603

And at thys Assent All they ware, And Sette A wacche for to wake, knyghtis breme as Any bare And derfe of drede as is the drake; Line 2607 A Damyselle thay dede be ȝare And hastely gon her lettres make; A mayde sholde on the message fare A trews by-twene them for to take. Line 2611

The mayde was full shene to shewe, Vppon her stede whan she was sette, Hyr paraylle All of one hewe, Off A grene weluette, Line 2615

Line 2615 In hyr hand A braunche newe, For-why that no man sholde her lette; Ther-by men messangerys knewe In ostes whan that men them mette. Line 2619

The kynge was lokyd in A felde By A ryuer brode And dreghe; A while she houyd And by-helde; Pavylons were pyghte on hyghe; Line 2623 She saughe there many comly telde Wythe pomelles bryghte as goldis beghe; On one hynge the kyngis shelde, [folio 118b] That pauylon she drew hyr nyghe. Line 2627

The kynges baner oute was sette, That pauylon she drewe her nere; With A knyght full sone she mette, hyght Syr lucan de bottelere; Line 2631 She hailsed hym and he her grette, The mayde with full mylde chere; hyr erande was not for to lette, he wiste she was A messengere. Line 2635

Sir lucan downe gan hyr take And in hys Armes forthe gan lede; hendely to her he spake, As knyght that wise was vndyr wede: Line 2639 "Thou comeste from launcelot de lake, The beste that euyr strode on stede; Ihesu, for hys modyris sake, Yiffe the grace wele to spede!" Line 2643

Feyre was pight vppon a playne The paviloun in Ryche A-parayle; The kynge hym-selfe and syr gawayne Comely sytten in the halle; Line 2647

Line 2647 The mayde knelyd the kynge A-gayne, So lowe to grounde gan she falle; here lettres were not for to layne, They were I-rade A-monge hem All. Line 2651

hendly and feyre the mayden spake, Full fayne of speche she wold be sped: "Syr, god yow saue from wo And wrake And All your knyghtis in Ryche wede; Line 2655 Yow gretis wele, syr launcelot du lake, That with yow hathe bene euyr at nede; A xii monthe trewse he wolde take To lyue vppon hys owne lede, Line 2659

And sythen, yiffe ye make an heste, he wille it holde with hys honde, By-twene you for to make pees Stabully euer for to stonde; Line 2663 He wolle Rape hym on A Resse Myldely to the holy londe, There to lyue, with-outen lese, Whyle he is man lyvande." Line 2667

The kynge than clepid hys counsayle, Hys douȝty knyghtis All by-dene; [folio 119a] Fyrste he sayde, with-outen fayle: "me thynke it were beste to sene; Line 2671 he were A fole, with-outen fayle, So feyr forwardys for to fleme." The kynge the messyngere thus did assayle: "It were pite to sette warre vs by-twene." Line 2675

"Sertis, nay," sayd syr gawayne, "he hathe wroght me wo I-noughe, So traytourly he hathe my bredren slayne, All for your loue, sir, that is treuthe, Line 2679

Line 2679 To yngland will I not torne A-gayne Tylle he be hangid on a boughe; Whyle me lastethe myght or mayne, There-to I shall fynd peple I-noghe." Line 2683

The kynge hym-self, with-owten lese, And Iche A lord, is nought to layne, All they spake to haue pese, But hym-self, syr gawayne, Line 2687 To batayle hathe he made hys hest Or ellys neuer to torne A-gayne. They made hem Redy to that Rese, There-fore was fele folke vnfayne. Line 2691

The kynge is comyn in-to the halle And in hys Royall see hym sette; He made A knyght the mayden calle, Syr lucane de botteler, with-outen lette: Line 2695 "Say to launcelot and hys knyghtis All, suche an heste I haue hym hette, That we shall wend for no walle Tyll we with myghtis onys haue mette." Line 2699

The mayde had hyr Answere, Withe drery hert she gan hyr dyght; hyr feyr palfrey fande she yare, And Syr lucan ledde hyr thedyr Ryght; Line 2703 So throw A foreste gan she fare And hasted her with All hyr myght, There launcelot and hys knyghtis were, In benwyk the browgh with bemys bryght. Line 2707

Now is she went with-in the walle, The worthy damysselle fayre in wede; Hendely she Cam in-to that halle, [folio 119b] A knyght hyr toke downe of hyre stede; Line 2711

Line 2711 A-monge the pryncis proude in palle She toke hyr lettres for to Rede; There was no counsayle for to calle, But Redely buskis them to that dede; Line 2715

As folkys that preste were to feight, Frome feld wold they neuyr fle; But by the morow that day was lyght A-boute by-segyd was All there Fee; Line 2719 ychone theym [MS. theyne.] Rayed in All Ryghtis; novther party thought to flee. Line 2721 . . . . . Line 2721b . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 2721c

Erly as the day gan sprynge, The trompettis vppon the wallis went; There myght they se a wondyr thynge, Off teldys Riche and ma[n]y A tente. Line 2725 Syr arthur than, the comely kynge, with hys folkis ther was lente, To yeff Assaute, with-oute lesyng, with Alblasters and bowes bente. Line 2729

Launcelot All for-wondred was Off the folke by-fore the walle; But he had rather knowen that rease, Oute had ronne hys knyghtis All; Line 2733 he sayd: "pryncis, bethe in pease, For folyse fele that myght by-falle; yiff thay will not ther sege sease, Full sore I hope for-thynke hem shall." Line 2737

Than gawayne, that was good at euery nede, Graythid hym in hys gode Armour, And styffly sterte vppon A stede That syker was in ylke A stoure; Line 2741

Line 2741 Forthe he sprange as sparke on glede, By-fore the yates a-gayne the toure; he bad A knyght come kythe mayne, A cours of werre for hys honoure. Line 2745

Bors de gawnes buskys hym bowne Vpon A stede that shuld hym bere, With helme, sheld, And hauberke browne, And in hys hand A Full good spere; Line 2749 Owte he Rode A grete Randowne; Gawayn kyd he covde of werre; hors and man bothe bare he downe, Suche A dynte he yaffe hym there. Line 2753

Syr lyonelle was All redy than And for hys broder was wonder woo; [folio 120a] Redely with hys stede oute Ranne And wende gawayne for to sloo. Line 2757 Gawayn hym kepte as he wele can, As he that ay was kene and thro; Downe he bare bothe hors and man, And euery day som seruyd he soo. Line 2761

And so more than halfe a yere, As longe as they there layne, Euery day men myght se there Men woundyd and som slayne, Line 2765 But how that euer in world it were, Suche grace had sir gawayne, Euer he passyd hole and clere; There myght no man stand hym Agayne. Line 2769

Than it by-Felle vponn A tyde, Syr gawayne, that was hende and free, He made hym redy for to Ryde By-fore the gatis of the Cyte; Line 2773

Line 2773 Launcelot of treson he be-Cryed That he had slayne hys bretherne thre, That launcelot myȝte no lenger A-byde, But he euer A cowarde scholde be. Line 2777

The lord that grete was of honoure, Hym-selffe, sir launcelot du lake, A-bove the gatis vppon the toure Comely to the kynge he spake: Line 2781 "My lord, god saue youre honoure! Me ys wo now for yowre sake, A-gaynste thy kynne to stonde in stoure, But nedys I muste thys batayle take." Line 2785

Launcelot armyd hym full wele, For sothe had Full grete nede, Helme, hawberke and All of stele And stifely sterte vppon A stede; Line 2789 Hys harneyse lacked he neuer A dele, To were wantyd hym no wede, No wepyn with All to dele; for-the he sprange as sparke on glede. Line 2793

Than was it warnyd faste on hye How in world that it shu[l]d fare, That no man schold come hem nye Tylle the tone dede or yolden were. Line 2797 Folke with-drew them than bye, Vpon the feld was brode and bare; The knyghtis mette, As men it sye, [folio 120b] how they sette there dyntis sare. Line 2801

Than had syr gawayne suche a grace, An holy man had boddyn that bone, Whan he were in Any place, There he shuld batayle done, Line 2805

Line 2805 Hys strength shulld wex in suche A space, From the vndyr-tyme tylle none, And launcelot for-bare ay for that case; A-gayne xx strokys he yaff not one: Line 2809

Launcelot saw ther was no socoure, nedysse muste he hys venture Abyde; many A dynt he gan wele in-dure Tylle it drew nere the noon tyde; Line 2813 Than he straught in that stoure And yaffe gawayne A wond wyde; The blode All coueryd hys coloure And he felle downe vpon hys syde. Line 2817

Throw the helme in-to the hede Was hardy gawayne woundyd so That vnneth was hym lyfe leuyd; On fote myght he no ferther goo; Line 2821 But wightly hys swerd A-bowte he wavyd, For euer he was bothe kene and thro. launcelot than hym lyAnd levyd; For All the world he nold hym slo. Line 2825

launcelot than hym drew on dryhe; hys swerd was in hys hand drawen; And syr gawayne cryed lowde on hye: "Traytour And coward, come A-gayne, Line 2829 Whan I Am hole And goynge on hye; Than wylle I prove with myght and mayne, And yit A thow woldyst nyghe me nye, Thow shalt wele wete I am not slayn." Line 2833

"Gawayne, while thow myghtis styfflye stonde, many A stroke to-day of the I stode, And I for-bare the in euery londe For love and for the kyngis blode; Line 2837

Line 2837 Whan thou arte hole in herte and hond, I rede the torne and chaunge thy mode; Whyle I am launcelot and man levande, [folio 121a] Gode sheld me frome werkys wode! Line 2841

But have good day, my lord the kynge, And your doughty knyghtis Alle; Wendyth home A leue youre werryeng; ye wynne no worshyp at thys walle; Line 2845 And I wold my knyghtis oute brynge, I wote full sore rewe it ye shalle; My lord, there-fore, thynke on suche thynge, how fele folke there-fore myght falle." Line 2849

launcelot, that was moche of mayne Boldely to hys Cyte wente; Hys good knyȝtis [there]-of were fayne And hendely hym in armys hente. Line 2853 The tother party tho toke syr gawayne, They wessche hys woundys in hys tente; Or euer he coueryd myght or mayne, vnnethe was hym the lyffe lente. Line 2857

A fortenyght, the sothe to saye, Full passynge seke and vn-sonde There syr Gawayne on lechynge laye, Or he were hole All of hys wounde. Line 2861 Than it by-felle vppon A day, he made hym Redy for to wound; By-fore the yat he toke the way And Askyd batayle in that stownd: Line 2865

"Come forthe, launcelot, and prove thy mayne, Thou traytour that hast treson wroght; my thre brethern thou haste slayne And falsly theym to ground[e] brought; Line 2869

Line 2869 Whyle me lastethe myght or mayne, Thys qarell leve wyll I noght, Ne pees shall ther neuer be sayne Or thy sydes be throw sought." Line 2873

Than launcelot thoght it no thyng gode And for these wordis he was full wo; A-bove the gatis than he yode And to the kynge he sayd so: Line 2877 "Syr, me rewys in my mode That gawayne is in hert so thro. Who may me wyte, for corsse on Rode, Thouȝth I hym in bataylle sloo?" Line 2881

Launcelot buskyd And made hym bowne, he will boldely the batayle A-byde, [folio 121b] With helme, shelde And hauberke browne, None better in All thys world[e] wyde, Line 2885 With spere in hand and gonfanowne, hys noble swerd by hys syde; Oute he Rode A grete randowne, Whan he was Redy for to Ryde. Line 2889

Gawayne grypes a full good spere And in he glydes glad and gay; Launcelot kydde he coude of were And euyn to hym he takys the way; Line 2893 So stoutely they gan to-geder bere That marvayle it was, sothe to say; With dyntis sore ganne they dere And depe wondys daltyn thay. Line 2897

Whan it was nyghed nere-hand none, Gawayne strenghe gan to in-crese; So bitterly he hewyd hym vppon That launcelot All for-wery was; Line 2901

Line 2901 Than to hys swerd he grypes A-none, And sethe that gawayne wyll not sese, Suche A dynte he yaffe hym one That many a Ryche Rewed that resse. Line 2905

launcelot sterte forthe in that stownde, And sethe that gawayne will no sease, The helme that was Ryche and Rownde The noble swerd[e] rove that rease; Line 2909 he hyt hym A-pon the olde wounde That ouer the sadyll downe he wente And grysely gronyd vpon the ground, And there was good gawayne shent. Line 2913

yit gawayne swounynge there as he lay Gryped to hym bothe swerde And sheld; "lancelot," he sayd, "sothely to saye, And by hym that All thys world shall welde, Line 2917 Whyle me lastethe lyffe to-daye, To the me shall I neuer yeld; But do the werste that euyr thou may, I schall defend me in the felde." Line 2921

Launcelot than full styll stoode, [folio 122a] As man that was moche of myght: "Gawayne, me rewes in my mode, Men hald the so noble A knyght. Line 2925 Wenystow I were so wode Agaynste A feble man to fyght? I wyll not now, by crosse on Rode, Nor neuer yit dyd by day nor nyght. Line 2929

But haue good day, my lord the kynge, And All youre douȝty knyghtis by-dene, Wendyth home and leue your werrynge, For here ye shall no worshyppe wynne. Line 2933

Line 2933 yif I wolde my knyghtis oute brynge, I hope full sone it shuld be sene, but, good lord, thynke vppon A thynge, The loue that hathe be vs by-twene." Line 2937

After was it monthes two, As frely folke it vndyr-stode, [Perhaps the mark indicating n over the o has been left out. The analogy, however, of ll. 3062 ff. speaks against this.] Or euer gawayne myght Ryde or go Or had fote vpon erthe to stonde, Line 2941 The thirde [MS. iij.] tyme he was full thro To do batayle with herte and hande, But than was word comen hem to That they muste home to yngland. Line 2945

Suche mesage was hem brought, There was no man that thought it goode; The kynge hym-selfe full sone it thought (Full moche mornyd he in hys mode Line 2949 That suche treson in ynglond shuld be wroght) That he moste nedys ouer the flode. They brake sege and homward sought, And After they had moche Angry mode. Line 2953

That fals traytour, sir mordreid— The kynges soster sone he was, And eke hys owne sonne, As I rede— There-fore men hym fo[r] steward chase— Line 2957 So falsely hathe he yngland ledde, Wete yow wele, with-outen lese, Hys Eme-is wyffe wolde he wedde, That many A man rewyd that rease. Line 2961

Festys made he, many and fele, And grete yiftys he yafe Also; They sayd with hym was Ioye and wele [folio 122b] And in Arthurs tyme but sorow and woo; Line 2965

Line 2965 And thus gan Ryght to wronge goo; All the concelle, is noght to hele, Thus it was, with-outen moo, To hold mordred in londe with wele. Line 2969

False lettres he made be wroght, And causyd messangers hem to brynge, That Arthur was to grownde broght, And chese they muste A-nother kynge. Line 2973 All thay sayd as hem thought: "Arthur louyd noght but warynge And suche thynge as hym-selfe soght. Ryght so he toke hys endynge." Line 2977

mordred let crye A parlement; The peple gan thedyr to come, And holly throwe there assente They made mordred kynge with crowne; Line 2981 At canturbery, ferre in kente, A Fourtenyght held the feste in towne, And after that to Wynchester he wente; A Ryche brydale he lette make bowne; Line 2985

In somyr, whan it was fayr and bryght, Hys faders wyfe than wold he wedde And hyr hold with mayne and myght, And so hyr brynge as byrd to bedde. Line 2989 Sche prayd hym of leue A fourtenyght— The lady was full hard be-stad— So to london sche hyr dyght, That she and hyr maydens myght be cledd. Line 2993

The quene, whyte as lyly floure, With knyghtis fele of her kynne, She went to london to the towre And speryd the gates And dwellyd therin. Line 2997

Line 2997 Mordred changed than hys coloure, Thedyr he went and wold not blynne; There-to he made many A shoure, But the wallys myght he neuer wynne. Line 3001

The Archebysshop of canterbery thedyr yode, And hys crosse by-fore hym broght. he sayd: "syr, for cryste on Rode, What haue ye now All in your thoght? [folio 123a] Line 3005 Thy faders wyffe, whether thou be wood, To wedd her now mayste thou noght. Come Arthur euyr ouer the flood, Thow mayste be bold, it wyll be boght." Line 3009

"A nyse clerke," than mordred sayd, "Trowiste thow to warne me of my wille? be hym that for vs suffred payne, These wordys shalt thou lyke full ylle! Line 3013 with wilde hors thou shalt be drayne And hangyd hye vpon An hylle." The bischoppe to fle than was fayne And suffred hym hys folyes to fulfylle; Line 3017

Than he hym cursyd with boke And belle, At caunterbery, ferre in kente. Sone, whan mordred herd ther-of telle, To seche the bisschoppe hathe he sent; Line 3021 The bysshop durste no lenger dwelle But gold And syluer he hathe hent; There was no lenger for to spelle, But to A wyldernesse he is went; Line 3025

The worldys wele ther he wyll for-sake, Off Ioye kepeth he neuer more, But A chapelle he lette make By-twene two hye holtys hore; Line 3029

Line 3029 There-in weryd he the clothys blake, In wode as he an ermyte ware; Often gan he wepe and wake For yngland that had suche sorowis sare. Line 3033

Mordred had than lyen full longe, But the towre myght he neuer wynne, With strength ne with stoure stronge, ne with none other kynnes gynne; Line 3037 Hys fader dred he euyr A-monge, There-fore hys bale he nylle not blynne; He went to warne hem All with wronge The kyngdome that he was crownyd inne. Line 3041

Forthe to dover þan gan he Ryde, All the costys wele he kende; To erlys And to barons on ylk A syde Grete yiftis he gaffe And lettres send, [folio 123b] Line 3045 And for-sette the see on ylke A syde With bold men And bowes bente; Fro yngland, that is brode And wyde, hys owne fader he wold deffend. Line 3049

Arthur, that was mykelle of myght, With hys folke come over the flode, An C galeyse that were welle dyght With barons bold And hye of blode; Line 3053 he wende to haue landyd, as it was Ryght, At Dower, ther hym thoght full gode, And ther he fande many An hardy knyght That styffe in stoure A-gaynste hym stode. Line 3057

Arthur sone hathe take the land That hym was leveste in to lende; hys fele fomen that he ther found, he wende by-fore had bene hys frend. Line 3061

Line 3061 The kynge was wrothe And weliney wode, And with hys men he gan vp wend; So strong A stoure was vpon that stronde That many A man ther had hys end. Line 3065

Syr gawayne armyd hym in that stounde; Allas! to longe hys hede was bare; he was seke And sore vnsond; hys woundis greuyd hym full sare; Line 3069 One hytte hym vpon the olde wounde With A tronchon of An ore; There is good gawayne gone to grounde, That speche spake he neuyr more. Line 3073

Bold men, with bowes bentte, Boldely vp in botes yode, And Ryche hauberkis they Ryve and Rente, that Throw-owte braste the Rede blode; Line 3077 Grounden gleyves throw hem wente; Tho games thoght theym nothynge gode; But by that strong stoure was stente, The stronge stremys Ran All on blode. Line 3081

Arthur was so moche of myght, Was ther none that hym with-stode; He hewyd vppon ther helmes bryght, That throw ther brestes Ran the blode; Line 3085 By than that endyd was the fight, [folio 124a] The false were feld, som wer fledde To canterbery All that nyght, To warne ther master, syr mordred. Line 3089

Mordred than made hym bowne And boldely he wylle batayle A-byde, With helme, scheld, And hauberke browne; So All hys Rowte gan forthe Ryde; Line 3093

Line 3093 They hem mette vppon barendowne, Full erly in the morowe tyde; With gleyves grete And gonfanowne Grymly they gan to-gedyr Ryde; Line 3097

Arthur was of Ryche A-Raye And hornys blew lowde on hyght, And mordred comyth glad and gay, As traytour that was false in fyght. Line 3101 Thay faught All that longe day Tyll the nyght was nyghed nyghe; Who had it sene wele myght saye That suche A stoure neuer he syghe. Line 3105

Arthur than faught with hert good— A nobler knyght was neuer noon; Throw helmes in-to hede yt yoode And steryd knyghtis bothe blode And bone. Line 3109 mordred for wrathe was nye wode, Callyd hys folke And sayd to hem One: "Releve yow, for crosse on Rode! Alas! thys day so sone is goone!" Line 3113

Fele men lyeth on bankys bare With bryght brondys throw-owte borne; Many A doughty man dede was thar, And many A lord hys lyfe hathe lorne; Line 3117 mordred was full of sorowe And care; At canterbery was he vpon the morne; And Arthur All nyght he dwellyd thare, Hye frely folke lay hym by-forne. Line 3121

Erely on the morow tyde Arthur bad hys hornys blowe, And callyd folke on euery syde, And many A dede beryed on A rowe, Line 3125

Line 3125 In pittes that was depe And wyde; On Iche An hepe they layd hem lowe, So All that ouer gone And Ryde [folio 124b] Som by there markys men myght knowe. Line 3129

Arthur went to hys dyner thane— hys frely folke hym folowed faste— But whan he fand syr gawayne In A shyppe laye dede by A maste, Line 3133 Or euyr he coveryd myght or mayne, An C tymes hys hert nyghe braste. . . . . . Line 3135b . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Line 3135c

Thay layd syr gawayne vpon A bere And to the castell they hym bare, And in A chapell A-mydde the quere That bold baron they beryed thare. Line 3139 Arthur than changyd All hys chere; What wondyr thoghe hys hert was sare! hys suster sone, that was hym dere, Off hym shold he here neuyr mare. Line 3143

Syr Arthur, he wolde no lenger A-byde; Than had he All maner of euyll Reste; He sought aye forthe the southe syde And toward walys wente he weste; Line 3147 At salusbury he thought to byde, At that tyme he thought was beste, And calle to hym by Whytesontyde Barons bold to batayle preste. Line 3151

Vnto hym came many A doughty knyght, For wyde in worlde theyse wordys sprange, That syr Arthur hade All the Ryght, And mordred warred on hym with wronge. Line 3155

Line 3155 Hydowse it was to se with syght, Arthur-is oste was brode And longe, And mordred that was mykell of myght With grete gyftes made hym stronge. Line 3159

Sone After the feste of the trynyte Was A batayle by-twene hem sette, That A sterne batayle ther shuld be; For no lede wold they it lette; Line 3163 And syr Arthur makethe game And glee For myrth that they shuld be mette; And syr mordred can to the contre, With fele folke that ferre was fette. Line 3167

At nyght whan Arthur was brought in bedd— He shuld haue batayle vppon the morow— [folio 125a] In stronge sweu[en]ys he was by-stedde, That many A man that day shuld haue sorow; Line 3171 hym thowht he satte in gold All gledde, As he was comely kynge with crowne, vpon A whele that full wyde spredd, And All hys knyghtis to hym bowne. Line 3175

The whele was ferly Ryche And Rownd, In world was neuyr none halfe so hye; There-on he satte Rychely crownyd With many A besaunte broche And be; Line 3179 he lokyd downe vpon the grownd, A blake water ther vndyr hym he see, With dragons fele there lay vn-bownde, That no man durst hem nyghe nyee. Line 3183

he was wondyr ferd to falle A-monge the fendys ther that faught; The whele ouer-tornyd ther with-All And eueryche by A lymme hym caught. Line 3187

Line 3187 The kynge gan lowde crye And calle, As marred man of wytte vn-saught; hys chambyrlayns wakyd hym ther with-All And woodely oute of hys slepe he raught. Line 3191

All nyght gan he wake And wepe, With drery hert And sorowfull stevyn, [MS. chere.] And A-gaynste day he felle on slepe; A-boute hym was sette tapers sevyn; Line 3195 Hym thought Syr gawayne hym dyd kepe With mo folke þan men can nevyn, By A Ryuer that was brode And depe; All semyd Angellys cam from heuyn. Line 3199

The kynge was neuyr yit so fayne, hys soster sone whan that he sye; "Welcome," he sayd, "syr gawayne; And thou myght leue, welle were me. Line 3203 Now, leue frend, with-outen layne, What Ar tho folke that folow the?" "Sertis, syr," he sayd A-gayne, "They byde in blysse ther I motte be. Line 3207

lordys they were And ladyes hende, Thys worldys lyffe that hanne for-lorne; Whyle I was man on lyffe to lende, A-gaynste her fone I faught hem forne; Line 3211 now fynde I them my moste Frende: They blysse the tyme that I was borne; [folio 125b] They Asked leve with me to wende To mete with yow vpon thys morne. Line 3215

A monthe day of trewse moste ye take And than to batayle be ye bayne; yow comethe to helpe lancelot du lake, With many A man mykell of mayne: Line 3219

Line 3219 To-morne the batayle ye moste for-sake Or ellys, certis, ye shall be slayne." The kynge gan woffully wepe and wake, And sayd: "Allas! thys Rewffull Rayne!" Line 3223

hastely hys clothys on hym he dyde, And to hys lordys gan he saye: "In stronge sweyneys I haue bene stad, That glad I may not for no gamys gaye. Line 3227 We muste vnto syr mordred sende And founde to take An-other day, Or trewly thys day I mon be shende, Thys know I in bed as I laye. Line 3231

Goo thow, syr lucan de boteler, That wyse wordys haste in wolde, And loke that thou take with the here Bysshopys fele and barons bolde." Line 3235 Forthe went they All in fere, in trew bokys as it is tolde, To syr mordred and hys lordis there they were, And an C knyghtis All vn-tolde. Line 3239

The knyghtis that ware of grete valoure, By-fore syr mordred as they stode, They gretyn hym with grete honowre, As barons bold And hye of blode: Line 3243 "Ryght wele the gretys kynge Arthur, And praythe the with mylde mode, A monethe day to stynte thys stoure, For hys loue that dyed on Rode." Line 3247

mordred, that was bothe kene And bolde, made hym breme As Any bore at bay, And sware by Iudas that Ihesus [Ihc. in MS., i. e. Jesus Christ.] sold: "Suche sawes Ar not now to saye; Line 3251

Line 3251 That he hathe hyght he shall it hold; The tone of vs shall dye thys day; And telle hym trewly that I tolde, I schall hym marre, yife that I may." Line 3255

"Syr, thay sayd, with-owten lese, Thowȝ thou And he to batayle bowne, [folio 126a] many A ryche shall rewe that reasse, By All by dalte vpon thys downe; Line 3259 yit were it better for to sease, And lette [hym] be kynge and bere the crowne; And after hys dayes, full dredelesse, ye to welde All yngland, towre And towne." Line 3263

mordred tho stode stylle A whyle, And wrothely vp hys eyne there wente, And sayd: "wyste I it were hys wylle To yeue me cornwale And kente, Line 3267 lette vs mete vpon yonder hylle And talke to-gedyr with gode entente; Suche forwardys to full-fylle, There-to shall I me sone Assent. Line 3271

And yiffe we may with spechys spede, With trew trowthes of entayle, hold the bode-worde that we bede, To yeue me kente And cornwayle, Line 3275 Trew loue shall ther lenge And lende; And, sertis, forwardys yif we fayle, Aythur to sterte vppon A stede, styffely for to do batayle." Line 3279

"Sur, wyll ye come in suche maner, With xij knyghtis or fourtene, Or ellys All your strenghe in fere, With helmes bryght And hauberkys shene?" Line 3283

Line 3283 "Se[r]tys, nay," than sayd he thore, "Othur warke thou thare not wene, But bothe oure hoostis shall nyghe nere And we shalle talke them by-twene." Line 3287

They toke ther leue, with-owten lese, And wyghtely vpon there way wente; To kynge Arthur the way they chese, there that he satte with-in hys tente. Line 3291 "Syr, we haue proferyd pease, Yiffe ye wille ther-to Assente: Gyffe hym the crowne After your dayes And in yower lyffe cornwayle and kente; Line 3295

To hys by-heste yiffe ye will holde, And your trouthe trewly ther-to plyght, maketh All redy your men bolde, With helme, swerd And hauberke bryght; Line 3299 ye schall mete vppon yone molde That ayther oste may se with syght; And yiff your foreward fayle to holde, [Jhu merc at top of leaf 126, back.] [folio 126b] There is no bote but for to fyght." Line 3303

But whan Arthur herd thys nevyn, Trewly ther-to he hathe sworne, And Arayed hym with batayles seuyn, With brode baners by-fore hym borne; Line 3307 They lemyd lyght As Any leuyn [MS. lemyn.] Whan they shold mete vpon the morne. There lyves no man vndyr heuyn A feyrer syght hath sene by-forne. Line 3311

But mordred many men had mo; So mordred that was mykell of mayne, he had euyr xij A-gaynste hym two Off barons bold to batayle bayne. Line 3315

Line 3315 Arthur And mordred—bothe were thro— Shuld mete bothe vpon A playne; The wyse shuld come to And fro To make A-cord, the sothe to sayne. Line 3319

Arthur in hys herte hathe Caste And to hys lordis gan he saye: "To yonder traytour haue I no truste But that he woll vs falselly be-traye, Line 3323 yiff we may not oure forwardys faste. And ye se any wepyn drayne, presythe forthe As princes praste, That he & All hys hoste be slayne." Line 3327

mordred, that was kene And thro, hys frely folke he sayd to-forne: "I wote that Arthur is full woo That he hathe thus hys landys lorne; Line 3331 With fourtene knyghtis And no mo shall we mete at yondyr thorne; yiff Any treason by-twene vs go, That brode baners forth be borne." Line 3335

Arthur with knyghtis fully xiiij, To that thorne on fote they fonde, With helme, sheld, And hauberke shene; Ryght so they trotted vppon þe grownde. Line 3339 But As they A-cordyd shulde haue bene, An Edder glode forth vpon the grownde; he stange A knyght, that men myght sene That he was seke And full vn-sownde. Line 3343

Owte he brayed with a swerd bryght; To kylle the Adder had he thogh[t]e; Whan Arthur party saw that syght, Frely they to-gedyr sought; Line 3347

Line 3347 There was no-thynge with-stande theym myght; [folio 127a] They wend that treson had bene wroghte. That day dyed many A doughty knyght, And many A bolde man was broght to noght. Line 3351

Arthur stert vpon hys stede; he saw no thyng hym with-stand myght; mordred owte of wytte nere yede, And wrothely in-to hys sadyll he lyght; Line 3355 Off A-corde was no-thyng to bede, But fewtred sperys and to-geder sprente; Full many A doughty man of dede Sone there was leyde vpon the bente. Line 3359

mordred I-maryd many A man, And boldely he gan hys batayle abyde; So sternely oute hys stede Ranne, many A rowte he gan throw Ryde; Line 3363 Arthur of batayle neuyr blanne To dele woundys wykke and wyde; Fro the morow that it by-ganne Tylle it was nere the nyghtis tyde, Line 3367

There was many A spere spente, And many A thro word they spake; many A bronde was bowyd and bente And many A knyghtis helme they brake; Line 3371 Ryche helmes they Roffe and rente; The Ryche rowtes gan to-gedyr Rayke, An [MS. And.] C thousand vpon the bente; The boldest or evyn was made Ryght meke. Line 3375

Sythe bretayne owte of troy was sought And made in bretayne hys owne wonne, Suche wondrys neuyr ere was wroght, Neuyr yit vnder the sonne; Line 3379

Line 3379 By evyn leuyd was there noght That euyr steryd with blode or bone But Arthur and ij that he thedyr broghte, And mordred was levyd there Alone. Line 3383

The tone was lucan de botelere, That bled at many A bale-full wound, And hys brodyr, syr bedwere, Was sely seke and sore vnsounde. Line 3387 Than spake Arthur these wordys there: "Shall we not brynge thys theffe to ground?" A spere he gryped with fell chere, And felly they gan to-gedyr found. Line 3391

he hytte mordred amydde the breste And oute At the bakke bone hym bare; There hathe mordred hys lyffe loste, That speche spake he neuyr mare; [folio 127b] Line 3395 But kenely vp hys Arme he caste And yaff Arthur A wound sare, In-to the hede throw the helme And creste, That iij tymes he swownyd thare. Line 3399

Syr lucan And syr Bedwere By-twene theym two the kynge vp-held; So forthe went tho iij in fere, And All were slayne that lay in feld. Line 3403 The doughty kynge that was hem dere, For sore myght not hym-self weld; To A chapelle they went in fere— Off bote they saw no better beld. Line 3407

All nyght thay in the chapelle laye, Be the see syde, As I yow newyn, To mary mercy cryand aye, With drery herte and sorowfull stevyn; Line 3311

Line 3311 And to hyr leue sonne gan they pray: "Ihesu, for thy namys sevyn, Wis hys sowle the Ryght way, That he lese not the blysse of heuyn." Line 3415

As syr lucan de boleter stode, he sey folk vppon playnes hye; Bold barons of bone and blode, They Refte [MS. Reste.] theym besaunt, broche, and bee; Line 3419 And to the kynge Agayne thay yode, Hym to warne with wordys slee; Line 3421 Line 3421b [no gap in the MS.] Line 3421c

To the kynge spake he full styll, Rewffully as he myght than Rowne: "Sir, I haue bene At yone hylle, There fele folke drawen to the downe; Line 3425 I note whedyr they wyll vs good or ylle, I rede we buske And make vs bowne, yiff it be your worthy wylle, That we wende to som towne." Line 3429

"Now, syr lucan, As thow Radde, lyfte me vp, whyle that I may laste." Bothe hys Armes on hym he sprad With All hys strengh to hold hym faste. Line 3433 The kynge was wondyd and for-bled And swownyng on hym hys eyne he caste; Syr lucan was hard by-stadde; He held the kynge to hys owne herte braste. Line 3437

Whan the kynge had swounyd there, By an Auter vp he stode; Syr lucan, that was hym dere, Lay dede and fomyd in the blode. [folio 128a] Line 3441

Line 3441 Hys bold brothyr, Sir Bedwere, Full mykell mornyd in hys mode; For sorow he myȝte not nyghe hym nere, But euyr wepyd As he were wode. Line 3445

The kynge tornyd hym there he stode, To syr Bedwere with wordys kene: "Have Excalaber, my swerd[e] good; A better brond was neuyr sene; Line 3449 Go, Caste it in the salt flode And thou shalt se wonder, as I wene. hye the faste, for crosse on Rode, And telle me what thou haste ther sene." Line 3453

The knyght was both hende and free, To save that swerd he was full glad, And thought "whethyr I better bee, yif neuyr man it After had; Line 3457 And I it caste in-to the see, Off mold was neuyr man so mad." The swerd he hyd vndyr A tree, And sayd: "syr, I ded as ye me bad." Line 3461

"What saw thow there?" than sayd the kynge, "Telle me now, yif thow can." "Sertes, syr," he sayd, "nothynge But watres depe And wawes wanne." Line 3465 "A! now thou haste broke my byddynge! Why haste thou do so, thow false man? A-nother bode thou muste me brynge." Thanne careffully the knyght forthe Ranne Line 3469

And thought the swerd yit he wold hyde, And keste the scauberke in the flode. "yif Any Aventurs shall be-tyde, There-by shall I se tokenys good." Line 3473

Line 3473 In-to the see he lette the scauberke glyde; A whyle on the land hee there stode, Than to the kynge he wente that tyde, And sayd: "syr, it is done, by the Rode." Line 3477

"Saw thou Any wondres more?" "Sertys, syr, I saw nought." "A! false traytor," he sayd thore, "Twyse thou haste me treson wroght; Line 3481 That shall thou rew sely sore; And, be thou bold, it shal be bought." The knyght than cryed: "lord, thyn ore!" And to the swerd sone he sought. Line 3485

Syr bedwere saw that bote was beste, And to the good swerd he wente; In-to the see he hyt keste; Than myght he se what that it mente. [folio 128b] Line 3489 There cam An hand with-outen Reste Oute of the water And feyre it hente, And brandysshyd As it shuld braste, And sythe, as gleme, A-way it glente. Line 3493

To the kynge A-gayne wente he thare, And sayd: "leve syr, I saw An hand; Oute of the water it cam All bare, And thryse brandysshyd that Ryche brande." Line 3497 "helpe me sone that I ware there." he lede hys lord vnto that stronde; A ryche shyppe, with maste And ore, Full of ladyes, there they fonde. Line 3501

The ladyes, that were feyre and free, Curteysly the kynge gan they fonge, And one that bryghtest was of blee wepyd sore and handys wrange. Line 3505

Line 3505 "Broder," she sayd, "wo ys me! Fro lechyng hastow be to longe. I wote that gretely greuyth me, For thy paynes Ar full stronge." Line 3509

The knyght kest A rewfull rowne, There he stode, sore and vnsownde, And say[de]: "lord, whedyr Ar ye bowne? Allas! whedyr wyll ye fro me fownde?" Line 3513 The kynge spake with A sory sowne: "I wylle wende a lytell stownde In-to the vale of Avelovne, A whyle to hele me of my wounde." Line 3517

Whan the shyppe from the land was broght, Syr bedwere saw of hem no more; Throw the forest forthe he soughte, On hyllys and holtys hore. Line 3521 Of hys lyffe Rought he Ryght noght, All nyght he went wepynge sore; A-gaynste the day he fownde ther wrought A chapelle by-twene ij holtes hore. Line 3525

To the chapell he toke the way; There myght he se A woundyr syght; Than saw he where an ermyte laye By-fore A tombe that new was dyghte; Line 3529 And coveryd it was with marboll graye And with Ryche lettres Rayled Aryght; There-on An herse, sothely to saye, With an C tappers lyghte. Line 3533

vnto the ermyte wente he thare And Askyd who was beryed there. The ermyte Answeryd swythe yare: "There-of can I tell no more. [folio 129a] Line 3537

Line 3537 A-bowte mydnyght were ladyes here, In world ne wyste I what they were; Thys body they broght vppon a bere And beryed it with woundys sore; Line 3541

Besavntis offred they here bryght, I hope an C povnd and more, And bad me pray bothe day and nyght For hym that is buryed in these moldys hore Line 3545 Vnto ower lady bothe day And nyght, That she hys sowle helpe sholde." The knyght redde the lettres A-ryght; For sorow he fell vn-to the folde. Line 3549

"Ermyte," he sayd, "with-oute lesynge, here lyeth my lord that I haue lorne, Bold arthur, the beste kynge That euyr was in bretayne borne. Line 3553 yif me som of thy clothynge, For hym that bare the crowne of thorne, And leue that I may with the lenge, Whyle I may leve, And pray hym forne." Line 3557

The holy ermyte wold not wounde— Some tyme Archebishop he was, That mordred flemyd oute of londe, And in the wode hys wonnyng chase— Line 3561 he thankyd Ihesu All of his sound That syr bedwere was comyn in pease; he resayved hym with herte And honde, To-gedyr to dwelle, with-outen lese. Line 3565

Whan quene Gaynor, the kynges wyffe, Wyste that All was gone to wrake, A-way she went with ladys fyve To Avmysbery, A nonne hyr for to make. Line 3569

Line 3569 Ther-in she lyved An holy lyffe, In prayers for to wepe And wake; neuyr After she cowde be blythe; There weryd she clothys whyte And blake. Line 3573

Whan thys tydyngis was to launcelot broght, What wondyr thowgh hys hert were sore! hys men, hys frendys, to hym sought And All the wyse that with hym were. Line 3577 her gallayes were All Redy wroght, They buskyd theyme And made yare; To helpe Arthur was ther thoght And make mordred of blysse full bare. Line 3581

lancelot had crownyd kyngis sevyn, Erlys fele And barons bold; [folio 129b] The nombyr of knyghtis I can not nevyn, The squyres to fele to be told; Line 3585 They lemyd lyght as Any levyn [MS. leme.] The wynde was as hem-self wold, Throw the grace of god of hevyn; At douer they toke hauyn And hold; Line 3589

There herd telle lancelot in that towne, In lond it is not for to layne, how they had faught at barendowne, And how beryed was syr gawayne, Line 3593 And how mordred wold be kynge with crowne, And how ayther of theym had other slayn, And All that were to batayle bowne At salysbery lay dede vpon the playne; Line 3597

Also in londe herd hyt kythe, That made hys hert wonder sare, quene Gaynour, the kyngis wyffe, Myche had levyd in sorow and care; Line 3601

Line 3601 A-way she went with ladyes fyve, In lond they wyste not whedyr whar, Dolwyn dede or to be on lyve; That made hys mornyng moche the mare. Line 3605

lancelot clepid hys kyngis with crowne, Syr bors stode hym nere be-syde; he sayd: "lordyngis, I wyll wend to-forne, And by these bankys ye shall A-byde Line 3609 Vnto fyftene dayes at the morne. In lond what so euyr vs be-tyde, To herkyn what lord hys lyffe hathe lorne, loke ye Rappe yow not vp to Ryde." Line 3613

There had he nouther Roo ne Reste, But forthe he went with drery mode, And iij dayes he went euyn weste, As man that cowde nother yvell nor good; Line 3617 Than syghe he where A towre by weste Was byggyd by A burnys flode; There he hopyd it were beste For to gete hym som lyves stode. Line 3621

As he cam throw A cloyster clere— All-moste for wepynge he was mad— he see A lady bryght of lere, In nonnys clothyng was she clad. Line 3625 Thryse she swownyd swyftely there, So stronge paynes she was in stad That many A man [nonne?] than nyghed hyr nere, And to hyr chambyr was she ladde. Line 3629

"Mercy, madame," they sayd All, For Ihesu, that is kynge of blysse, [folio 130a] Is there Any byrd in boure or halle hathe wrathed yow?" she sayd: "nay, I-wysse." Line 3633

Line 3633 lancelot to hyr gan they calle, The Abbes and the other nonnys I-wysse, They that wonyd with-in the walle; In covnselle there than sayd she [MS. they.] thus: Line 3637

"Abbes, to you I knowlache here That throw thys ylke man And me, For we to-gedyr han loved vs dere, All thys sorowfull werre hathe be; Line 3641 my lord is slayne, that had no pere, And many A doughty knyght And free; There-fore for sorowe I dyed nere, As sone As I euyr hym gan see— Line 3645

Whan I hym see, the sothe to say, All my herte by-gan to colde, That euyr I shuld A-byde thys day, To se so many barons bolde Line 3649 Shuld for vs be slayne A-way; Oure wylle hathe be to sore bought sold; But god, that All myghtis maye, Now hathe me sette where I wyll hold; Line 3653

I-sette I am In suche A place, my sowle hele I wyll A-byde, Telle god send me som grace, Throw mercy of hys woundys wyde Line 3657 That I may do so in thys place my synnys to A-mende thys ilke tyde, After to haue A syght of hys face At domys day on hys Ryght syde. Line 3661

There-fore, syr lancelot du lake, For my loue now I the pray, my company thow Aye for-sake And to thy kyngdome thow take thy way; Line 3665

Line 3665 And kepe thy Reme from werre and wrake, And take A wyffe with her to play, And loue wele than thy worldys make, God yiff yow Ioye to-gedyr, I pray! Line 3669

Vnto god I pray, All-myghty kynge, he yeffe yow to-gedyr Ioye And blysse, But I be[se]che the in All thynge That newyr in thy lyffe After thysse Line 3673 Ne come to me for no sokerynge, Nor send me sond, but dwelle in blysse; I pray to god euyr lastynge To [From the top of leaf 130, back, to the end the initial letter of each line is stained with red.] Graunte me grace to mend my mysse." [folio 130b] Line 3677

"Now, swete madame, that wold I not doo, To haue All the world vnto my mede [MS. mode.] ; So vntrew fynd ye me neuyr mo; It for to do cryste me for-bede! Line 3681

For-bede it god that euyr I shold A-gaynste yow worche so grete vnryght, Syne we to-gedyr vpon thys mold haue led owre lyffe by day And nyght! Line 3685 Vnto god I yiffe a heste to holde, The same desteny that yow is dyghte I will Resseyve in som house bolde, To plese here-After god All-myght; Line 3689

To please god All that I maye I shall here-After do myne entente, And euyr for yow specyAlly pray, While god wyll me lyffe lente." Line 3693 "A! wylte thow so," the quene gan say, "Full-fyll thys forward that thou has ment?" lancelot sayd: "yiff I sayd nay, I were wele worthy to be brent; Line 3697

Line 3697

Brent to bene worthy I were, Yiff I wold take non suche A lyffe, To byde in penance, as ye do here, And suffre for god sorow and stryffe; Line 3701 As we in lykynge lyffed in fere, By mary moder, made and wyffe, Tyll god vs departe with dethes dere, To penance I yeld me here As blythe. Line 3705

All blyve to penance I wyll me take As I may fynde Any ermyte That wyll me Resseyue for goddys sake, me to clothe with whyte And blake." Line 3709 The sorow that the tone to the tother gan make myght none erthely man se hytte. "madame," than sayd launcelot de lake, "kysse me, And I shall wende as-tyte." Line 3713

"nay," sayd the quene, "that wyll I not; launcelot, thynke on that no more; To Absteyne vs we muste haue thought, For suche we haue delyted in ore; Line 3717 lett vs thynk on hym that vs hathe bought And we shall please god ther-fore; Thynke on thys world how there is noght But warre And stryffe And batayle sore." Line 3721

What helpeth lenger for to spelle? [folio 131a] With that they gan departe in twene, But none erthely man covde telle The sorow that there by-gan to bene; Line 3725 Wryngyng ther handis and lowde they yelle, As they neuyr more shuld blynne, And sythe in swonne bothe downe they felle; Who saw that sorow euyr myght it mene. Line 3729

Line 3729

But ladyes than with mornyng chere, In-to the chambyr the quene they bare, And All full besy made theym there To cover the quene of hyr care. Line 3733 many Also that with lancelot were, They comforte hym w[ith] rewfull care; Whan he was coveryd, he toke hys gere And went frome thense with-outen mare; Line 3737

hys hert was hevy As Any lede, And leuer he was hys lyffe haue lorne; he sayd: "Ryghtwosse god! what is my Rede? Allas! for-bare, why was I borne?" Line 3741 A-way he went, as he had fled, To A foreste that was hym by-forne; hys lyffe fayne he wold haue leuyd; hys Ryche A-tyre he wold haue of-torne. Line 3745

All nyght gan he wepe And wrynge And went A-boute As he were wode; Erely, As the day gan sprynge, Tho syghe he where A chapell stode; Line 3749 A belle herd he rewfully Rynge; he hyed hym than And thedyr yode; A preste was Redy for to synge, And masse he herd with drery mode. Line 3753

The Arshebysshoppe was ermyte thare, That flemyd was for hys werkys trew; The masse he sange with syghyng sare, And ofte he changyd hyde and hewe; Line 3757 Syr bedwere had sorow And care And ofte mornyd for tho werkys newe; Aftyr masse was morny[n]ge mare, Whan Iche of hem othyr knewe. Line 3761

Line 3761

Whan the sorow was to the ende, The byshope toke hys obbyte thare, And welcomyd launcelot as the hend, [folio 131b] And on hys knees downe gan he fare: Line 3765 "Syr, ye be welcome as oure frende Vnto thys byggying in bankys bare; Were it yower wyll with vs to lende Thys one nyght, yif ye may [no] mare!" Line 3769

Whan they hym knew at the laste, Feyre in Armys they gan hym folde, And sythe he askyd frely faste Off Arthur And of other bolde; Line 3773 An C tymes hys hert ne[re] braste, Whyle syr Bedwere the tale told. To Arthur-is tombe he caste, Hys carefull corage wexid All cold; Line 3777

He threw hys armys to the walle, That Ryche were and bryght of blee; By-fore the e[r]myte he gan downe falle, And comely knelyd vpon hys knee; Line 3781 Than he shrove hym of hys synnes Alle And prayd he myght hys broder be, To serue god in boure and halle, That myght-full kynge of mercy free. Line 3785

That holy bisshope nold not blynne, But blythe was to do hys boone; He resseyuyd hym with wele and wynne And thankyd Ihesu trew in trone, Line 3789 And shroffe hym ther of hys synne, As clene as he had neuyr done none; And sythe he kyste hym cheke and chynne And an Abbyte there dyd hym vpon. Line 3793

Line 3793

hys grete hooste at dover laye, And wende he shuld have comyn A-gayne, Tylle After by-felle vpon A day, Syr lyonell, that was mekyll of mayne, Line 3797 With fyffty lordys, the sothe to saye, To seche hys lord he was full fayne; To london he toke the Ryght way; Alas for woo! there was he slayne. Line 3801

Bors De gawnes wold no lenger Abyde, But buskyd hym And made All bowne, And bad All the oste homeward Ryde— God send theym wynd and wedyr Rownd— Line 3805 To seke lancelot wyll he Ryde. Ector and eche dywerse wayes yode, And bors sowght forthe the weste syde, As he that cowde nowther yvell nor gode. [folio 132a] Line 3809

Full Erly in A morow tyde In A foreste he fownd A welle; he Rode euyr forthe by the Ryver syde, Tyll he had syght of A chapelle; Line 3813 There at masse thought he A-byde; Rewfully he herd A belle Rynge; Ther lancelot he fand with mekelle pryde And prayd he myght with hym there dwelle. Line 3817

Or the halfe yere were comen to the ende, There was comyn of there felowse sevyn, Where ychone had sought there frend, With sorowfull herte And drery stevyn; Line 3821 had neuyr none wyll A-way to wend, Whan they herd of launcelot nevyn, But All to-gedyr there gan they lend, As it was goddys wyll of heuyn. Line 3825

Line 3825

holyche All tho sevyn yerys lancelot was preste and masse songe; In penance and in dyverse prayers That lyffe hym thought no-thyng longe; Line 3829 Syr bors And hys other ferys On bokys Redde and bellys Ronge; So lytell they wexe of lyn And lerys, Theym to know it was stronge. Line 3833

hytte felle A-gayne an euyn-tyde That launcelot sekenyd sely sare; The bysshop he clepyd to his syde And All hys felaws lesse and mare; Line 3837 he sayd: "bretherne, I may no lenger A-byde, my baleffull blode of lyffe is bare; What bote is it to hele And hyde? my fowle flesshe will to erthe fare. Line 3841

but, bretherne, I pray yow to-nyght, To-morow, whan ye fynde me dede, vpon A bere that ye wyll me dyght And to Ioyes garde than me lede; Line 3845 For the loue of god All-myght, Bery my body in that stede; Some tyme my trowthe ther-to I plyght, Allas! me for-thynketh that I so dyd." Line 3849

"mercy, syr," they Sayd All three, "for hys loue that dyed on Rode, yif Any yvell haue greuyd the, hyt ys bot hevynesse of yower blode; Line 3853 To-morow ye shall better be. Whan were ye but of comforte gode?" [folio 132b] merely spake All men but he, But streyght vnto hys bed he yode, Line 3857

Line 3857

And clepyd the bysshope hym vntylle, And shrove hym of hys synnes clene, Off All hys synnes loude and stylle, And of hys synnes myche dyd he mene; Line 3861 Ther he Resseyved with good wylle God, mary-is sonne, mayden clene. Than bors of wepyng had neuyr hys fylle; To bedde they yede than All by-dene. Line 3865

A lytell whyle by-fore the day, As the bysshop lay in hys bed, A laughter toke hym there he laye, That All they were Ryght sore A-dred. Line 3869 They wakenyd hym, for sothe to saye, And Askyd yif he were hard by-sted. he sayd: "Allas And wele A-way! Why ne had I lenger thus be ledd? Line 3873

Allas! why nyghed ye me nye, To A-wake me in word or stevyn ? here was launcelot bryght of blee With Angellis xxx thousand and sevyn; Line 3877 hym they bare vp on hye; A-gaynste hym openyd the gatys of hevyn; Suche A syght Ryght now I see, Is none in erthe that myght it nevyn." Line 3881

"Syr," thay sayd, "for crosse on Rode, Dothe suche wordys clene A-way. Syr lancelot eylythe no-thynge but gode; he shall be hole by pryme of day." Line 3885 Candell they lyght And to hym yode, And fownde hym dede, for sothe to saye, Rede and fayer of flesshe and blode, Ryght As he in slepynge laye. Line 3889

Line 3889

"Allas! syr bors, that I was borne! That euyr I shuld see thys in dede! The beste knyght hys lyffe hathe lorne That euyr in stoure by-strode A stede. Line 3893 Ihesu that crownyd was with thorne, In heuyn hys soule foster and fede!" [In the MS. this line follows l. 3897.] Vnto the fyfty day at the morne They lefte not for to synge And Rede, Line 3897

And After they made theym A bere, The bysshop and these other bold, [folio 133a] And forthe they wente, All in fere To Ioyes garde, that Ryche hold. Line 3901 In A chapell a-myddys the quere A graue they made as thay wold, And iij dayes they wakyd hym there, In the castell with carys cold. Line 3905

Ryght as they stode A-boute the bere And to bereynge hym shold haue browght, In cam syr Ector, hys brodyr dere, That vij yere A-fore had hym sought. Line 3909 he lokyd vp in-to the quere; To here A masse than had he thought; For that they All Ravysshyd were, They knew hym and he hem nought. Line 3913

Syr bors bothe wepte And songe, Whan they that feyre faste vnfold; There was none but hys handys wrange, The bysshop nor none of the other bold. Line 3917 Syr Ector than thought longe; What thys corps was feyne wete he wolde; An C tymes hys herte nye sprange, By that bors had hym the tale tolde. Line 3921

Line 3921

Full hendely syr bors to hym spakke And sayd: "welcome, syr Ector, I-wysse; here lyethe my lord lancelot du lake, for whome that we haue mornyd thus." Line 3925 Than In Armys they gan hym take, The dede body to clyppe And kysse, And prayed All nyght he myght hym wake, For Ihesu love, kynge of blysse. Line 3929

Syr Ector of hys wytte nere wente, Walowed and wronge as he were wode; So wofully hys mone he mente, hys sorow myngyd All hys mode; Line 3933 Whan the corps in Armys he hente, The terys owte of hys yen yode; [went was written before yode and then struck out.] At the laste they myght no lenger stent, But beryed hym with drery mode. Line 3937

Sythen on there knees they knelyd downe— Grete sorow it was to se with syght— "Vnto Ihesu cryste Aske I A boone, And to hys moder, mary bryght. Line 3941 lord, As thow madyste bothe sonne and mone, And god And man arte moste of myght, [folio 133b] Brynge thys sowle vnto thy trone, And euyr thow Rewdyste on gentyll knyght." Line 3945

Syr Ector tent not to hys stede, Whedyr he wold stynt or Renne Away, But with theym to dwelle and lede, For lancelot All hys lyffe to pray. Line 3949 On hym dyd he armytes wede, And to hyr chapell went hyr way; A fourtenyght on fote they yede, Or they home come, for sothe to say. Line 3953

Line 3953

Whan they came to Avmysbery, Dede they faunde Gaynour the quene, With Roddys feyre and Rede as chery; And forthe they bare hyr theym by-twene, Line 3957 And beryed hyr with masse full merry By syr Arthur, as I yow mene. Now hyght there chapell glassynbery, An Abbay full Ryche, of order clene. Line 3961

Off lancelot du lake telle I no more, But thus by-leve these ermytes sevyn; And yit is Arthur beryed thore, And quene Gaynour, as I yow nevyn; Line 3965 With monkes that ar Ryght of lore. They Rede and synge with mylde stevyn: "Ihesu, that suffred woundes sore, Graunt vs All the blysse of hevyn!" Line 3969

Amen. Explycit le morte Arthur. [Explycit le morte Arthur is repeated in different ink, but apparently the same hand.]