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

HERE BYGYNNES
THE AWNTYRS OFF ARTHURE AT THE TERNE WATHELYNE. THORNTON MS.

I.

IN Kyng Arthure tyme ane awntir by-tyde, [folio 154a] By the Terne Wahethelyne, als the buke tellis, Als he to Carelele was commene, that conque|roure kyde, [I. that conquerour.] Withe dukes, and with ducheperes, þat with þat dere duellys, For to hunnte at the herdys, þat lange hase bene hyde; Line 5 And one a daye þay þam dighte to þe depe dellis, To felle of the Femmales, in the Foreste wele Frythede, [I. Fellun to tho femalus, in forest was fredde.] Faire in the fernysone tyme, by frythis and fellis. [I. Fayre by fermesones, by . . .] Thus to þe wode are thay wente, the wlonkeste in wedys, Bothe the kynge and the qwene, Line 10 And alle þe doghety by-dene; Syr Gawane, gayeste one grene, Dame Gayenoure he ledis.

II.

And Thus sir Gawane þe gay dame Gayenour he ledis, In a gleterande gyde, þat glemet fulle gaye, Line 15

Line 15 Withe riche rebanes reuerssede, who þat righte redys, Raylede with rubes one royalle arraye; Hir hude was of hawe hewe, þat hir hede hydys, [I. of a haa hew.] Wroghte with peloure and palle, and perrye to paye; Schruedede in a schorte cloke, þat the rayne schrydes, [I. the rayn shredes.] Line 20 Sett ouer with safyrs, fulle sothely to saye. And thus wondirfully was alle þe wyghtis wedys; [I. Safers and seledyms, serclet on sydus. D. seladyues?] Hir sadille semyde of þat ilke, Semlely sewede with sylke; [I. With ryche sa savmhellus of sylke.] One a muyle als the milke Line 25 Gayely scho glydis.

III.

Thus alle in gleterande golde gayely scho glydis The gates, with sir Gawane, by a grene welle; Nane bot hym selfe one a blonke by þat birde bydis, [I. And a byrne on a blonke, that with the quene a-bydus.] That borne was in burgoyne, by buke and by belle. Line 30 He ledde þat lady so lange by þose landes sydys, [I. by that loghe sydus.] Sythene vndir a lorere scho lyghte, lawe by a felle. Sir Arthure, with his Erles, fulle Ernestly rydis, To teche þame to þaire tristis, trewely to telle. To þaire tristis he þam taughte, who þat righte trowes, Line 35 Ilke a lorde, with owttyne lett, At his triste was he sett, [I. Vn-to a tre ar thay sette.] With bowe and with Barcelett, Vndir þose bewes.

IV.

Vndir þose bewes þay bade, þose beryns so bolde, Line 40 To bekire at þose barrayne, in bankis so bare. Thay keste of þaire coppilles, in clyffes so calde; [folio 154b] [I. hathels in hye, herdus.] Thay recomforthed þaire kenettis, to kele þame of care; Þare myghte hirdmene, hendely forsothte, herdis by-halde, Herkyn huntynge with hornnes, in holtis so hare. [42-45. The order of the lines is the same in I. as in D.] [(43). I. huntyng with horne.] Line 45

Line 45 Þay fellede downe þe femmalles, fulle thikke folde, [I. Thay felle to the female dure, feyful thyk-fold.] With fresche hundis, and felle, felonosly þay fare. [I. thay folo the fare.] . . . . . [A line is wanting here in the three MSS.] Þay questede and quellys, [I. Thay questun, thay quellun.] By frythis and fellis, Line 50 Þat þe dere dwellys, And darkys and darys. [I. Thay droupun and daren.]

V.

Alle darkis the dere, and to downe schowys, [I. in the dym scoghes.] And, for þe dowte of þe dede, drowpys the daa, And by þe stremys so strange, þat swyftly swoghes, [I. For the squyppand watur, that squytherly squoes.] Line 55 Þay wery þe wilde swyne, and wyrkkis þame waa. Thay hunte and halowes, in holttis and hillys, [I. The hunteres thay haulen, by hurstes and by hoes.] And tille þaire riste raches relyes one þaire raye; [I. To the rest raches that releues of the roe.] Thay gafe no gamene, no grythe, þat one grownde growes, [I. Thay geuen no gomen, nyf no grythe, that on the grounde groes.] Grete hundis fulle gladly gane gaa. [I. in the grene greues.] Line 60 Thus þies gomes þay ga, in grevys so grene, And boldly blawes rechayse, [I. The king blue a rechase.] And folowes faste one þe trase, With many sergyaunte of mace, Swylk solauce to sene. Line 65

VI.

Thus with solauce þay semelede, the prowdeste in palle, [I.

Thus that solas to see, the semelokest of alle,Thay soȝt to thayre souerayne, undur the scha schene.

] And sew to þe soueraygne, in cleues so clene; [I.

Thus that solas to see, the semelokest of alle,Thay soȝt to thayre souerayne, undur the scha schene.

] Nane bot sir gawane, the gayeste of alle, By-leuys with dame gaynour in þose greues grene. Vndir a lorrere scho laye, þat lady so smalle, [I. By a lauryel ho lay, vndur a lefe sale.] Line 70 Of Boxe and of Barborane byggyde fulle bene;

Faste by-fore vndrone this ferly gune falle, And this mekille mervelle, þat I of mene. Now wille I of þis mervelle men, ȝif I mote; [D. meve.] The daye woxe als dirke Line 75 Als it were mydnyghte myrke, Ther of sir Gawane was irke, [I. Syr Arther.] And lyghte one his fote.

VII.

Thus one fote are þay lyghte, þose frekis vn-fayne, [I. one fote con thay founde.] And fledde faste to the foreste, and to þe fawe fellis; [I. fled to the forest fro the fau fellus.] Line 80 Thay rane faste to the roches, for reddoure of þe rayne; [Omitted in D.; corrupt in I.] For þe slete and þe snawe, þat snayppede þame so snelle; [I. For the snyterand snaue, that snaypely hom snellus.] Thare come a lowe one the loughe, in lede es noghte to layne, [I. So come a lau oute of a loghe.] In the lyknes of Lucyfere, layetheste in helle, [Omitted in D. I. hellus.] And glyddis to dame gaynoure the gatis fulle gayne, [I. hyre gates were gayne.] Line 85 Ȝollande ȝamyrly, withe many lowde ȝelle. [I. ful ȝamerly, . . . ȝelles.] It ȝellede, it ȝamede, withe vengeance fulle wete, [I. with wlonkes full wete.] And saide, ofte syghande fulle sare: [I. with sykyng sare.] "I ame the body þat þe bare, [I. I banne the byrde that me bare.] Allas! now kyndyls my kare, [folio 155a] Line 90 I gloppyne and I grete!"

VIII.

Thane gloppenyde and grett dame Gaynoure the gaye, And askede sir Gawayne whatt was his beste rede. [I.=D.] "It es the clippes of the Mone, I herde a clerke saye;" [I. Hyt is but the clyppus of the sune.] And thus he comforthede þe qwene with his knyghtehede. "Sir Cadore, Sir Caduke, Sir Costarde, Sir Kaye, [I. Syr Cador, Syr Clegius, Syr Costantyne, Syr Cay.] Line 96 Thir knyghtis are vn-curtayse, by crose and by crede, That thus me hase lefte in this Erthe at my dede daye, [I. thus haue laft me allone.]

With the gryselyeste gaste þat euer herde I grete!" "At this gaste," quod Sir Gaweayne, "greue ȝowe no more; I salle speke with ȝone spyrete, Line 101 In ȝone wayes so wete, If I maye the Bales bete Of ȝone body bare." [102-104. I.

And of hit woe will I wete,Gif that I may hit bales bete,And the body bare.

]

IX.

Bare was hir body, and blake to the bone, Line 105 Alle by-claggede in claye, vn-comlyly clede; It weryit, it wayemettede lyke a womane, Þat nowþer one hede, ne one hare, hillynge it hade. [I. Nauthyr of hyde, nyf of heue, no hillyng hit had.] It stottyde, it stounnede, it stode als a stane, [I. Hyt stedyt, hit stode as stylle as.] It marrede, it mournede, it moyssede for made. [I. Hyt menet, hit musut, hyt marret.] Line 110 Vn-to þat grysely gaste Sir Gaweayne es gane; He raykede to it one a rase, for he was neuer rade; For rade was he neuer, nowe who þat ryghte redis. One þe chefe of þe cholle, A tade pykit one hir polle, [I. A padok prykette on a polle.] Line 115 Hir eghne ware holkede fulle holle, Glowand als gledis.

X.

Alle glowede als gledis the gaste whare scho glydis, Vmbyclede in a clowde, with clethynge vn-clere, [I. Was vmbyclosut in a cloude.] Cerkelytt withe serpentes, þat satt by hir sydes; [I. Was sette aure with serpentes.] Line 120 To telle þe dedis þer one my tonge were to tere. [I. = D. Dedis in T. must be a mistake for tadis.] The beryn brawndeche owte his brande, and the body bydis, There fore þat cheualrous knyghte thoghte it no chere; [I. chonget no chere.] The hundes are to hillys, and þaire hedes hydes, [I. The houndes hyes to the holtes.] For þat grysely gaste made so gryme bere. Line 125

Line 125 The grete grewhundes were agayste for that grym bere; The birdis one the bewes, Þat one that gaste gewes, Thay clyme in the clewes, That hedows whene þay here. [128-130. I.

That of the gost gous,Thay scryken in the scoes,That herdus myȝten hom here.

] Line 130

XI.

Who þat myghte þat hedows see, hendeste in haulle, [I. Alle the herdus myȝtun here, the hyndest of alle.] How hir cholle chatirede, hyr chaftis and hir chynne! [I. Off the schaft and the shol, shaturt to the shin.] Thane coniurede hir þat knyghte, and one criste gune he calle: "Alls þou was crucyfyede one croyse, to saue vs fra syne, [I. claryfiet on crosse, and clanser of synne.] Thou spirette, saye me the sothe, whedir þat þou salle, [I. Wys me, thou waret wyȝte, quedur.] Line 135 And whi þat þou walkes thies wayes, thies woddis with-inne?" "I was of Fegure and of flesche the fayereste of alle, Cristenede and krysommede, withe kynges in my kyne. [folio 155b] [I. Crystunt and crisumpte.] I hafe kynges in my kyne, knawene kyde fulle kene; God hase sent me this grace, Line 140 To drye my paynes in this place, And nowe am I commene one a pase, [I.=D.] To speke withe ȝoure qwene.

XII.

Qwene was I whilome, wele bryghttere of browes Than Beryke or Brangwayne, the byrdis so balde; [I. Thenne Berel.] Line 145 Of any gamnes or gudis, þat one the grownde growes, [I. the gomun and the grythe.] Wele grettere þan gaynour, of garsomes and of golde, Of pales, of powndis, of parkes, of plewes, Of townnes, of towris, of tresoures vn-tolde, Of contres, of castelles, of cragges, of clewes; Line 150 And nowe am I cachede owte of kythe, in carys so colde; In care am I cachede, and cowchede in claye.

Loo! curtayse knyghte, How þat dede hase me dyghte! [I. dylful dethe.] Nowe gyffe me anes a syghte Line 155 Of Gayenour the gaye."

XIII.

Nowe to Gayenour þe gaye Sir Gaweayne es gane, And to þat body hase he broghte that birde þene so bryghte. [I. Be-fore the body he hur broȝte, and the byrde bryȝte.] "Welecome, Waynour!" scho says, "þou worthye in wane! Loo! howe þat dulefulle dede hase thi dame dyghte! Line 160 I was reddere in rode þan rose in þe rayne; My lyre als the lely, lufely to syghte, [I. that lauchet so lyȝte. D. lonched?] And nowe I am a grisely gaste, and grymly grane, [granes—a mistake in T.] With Lucefere in a lake lawe ame I lyghte. Thus am I lyke to Lucefere, takis witnes by mee; [I. Thus lau am I lyȝte, take wittenesse by me.] Line 165 For alle ȝoure fresche fauoure, Now moyse one this mirroure, [166-167. I.

For alle ȝour fresche forur,That menes of ȝour merur.

D. gives the best meaning. ] For, bothe Kynge and Emperoure, Thus salle ȝe bee.

XIV.

And thus dede wille ȝow dyghte, takis witnes by mee, [D. Thus diȝt. I. I do ȝo oute of doute.] Line 170 And there one hertly takis hede, whils þat þou es here; When þou es richely arrayede, and rydes in a rowte, Hafe þane pete, and mynd one þe pore, for þou arte of powere. [and mynd omitted in I.] Beryns and byrdes are besye the a-bowte; [I.=T.] Whene thi body es bawmede, and broghte appone bere, Line 175 Thane wille þay leue the lyghtely, þat nowe wille the lowte, [I.=T.] And thane helpes the no thynge, bot halye prayere. [D. he helpes.] The prayere of þe pore chasses the from helle, [I. purchase thi pece.]

Of þase þat ȝellis at thi ȝate; [I. Those at thou ȝees at thi ȝate.] Whene þou sittis in thi sette, Line 180 Withe alle mirthes at thi mete, Some dayntes þou dele. [I.=D.]

XV.

Withe daynteths one desse thi dyetes are dyghte, And thus in dawngere and dole I downe and I duelle, [I. And I in dungun and dill, is done for to duelle.] Nasty and nedfulle, and nakede one nyghte; Line 185 Þere folowes me a ferde of fendis fulle felle; [folio 156a] Thay harle me vnhendely, and hewys me one hyghte; [I. thay haue me on heȝte.] In brasse and in bromstane I burne als a belle; Was neuer wroghte in this werlde a wafullere wyghte; It were tore tille any tonge my tourmenttis to telle! Line 190 Bot now wille I of my tourment talke, or I gaa. Thynke hertly on this, Now fande to mende of thi mys; For thou erte warnede, I wysse, Be warre now, be my waa!" Line 195

XVI.

"Now wo es me for thi waa!" sayd Waynour, "I wysse, Bot a worde wolde I wete, and thi wille ware; Gyff matynes or messes myghte oghte mendene thi mysse, Or any mobylles on molde, my myrthis ware the mare; Or bedis of bechopis myghte brynge the to blysse, Line 200 Or couenntis in cloysters myghte kele the of care; [I. kele.] For, if þou be my modir, grete mervelle it es That thi burlyche body es blakenede so bare!"— [I. thy burliche body bryȝte is so bare.] "I bare the of my body; whate bote es to lye? [I. quat bote is to layne.] Be that to takenynge thou trowe, Line 205

Line 205 I brake a solempne a-vowe, That none wyste, bot I and thowe, And þerfore dole I drye." [205-208. I.

By a token thou me troue,I breke a solem adecoue,That non wist but I and thou,Quo sotheli wille sayne!

]

XVII.

"Telle me now sothely what may safe thi sytis, [I. quat myȝte saue the from site.] And I salle garre seke sayntes for thi sake; [I. Fro cite I schalle sayntes ger seke sone for thi sake.] Line 210 Bot of thase balefulle bestis, þat one thi body bytys, [I. = T.] Alle blendis my blode, thi blee es soo blake." [I. Alle blynde is my ble.] "This es it to luffe paramoures, and lustis and litys, That gerse me lyghte and lenge so lawe in þis lake; [213-214. I.

These ar luf peramourus, that listus and likes,Dose me lyȝte, and lynd lau in in (sic) a lake.

] For alle the welthe of this werlde thus awaye wytis; [I. thus a-way.] Line 215 This werlde es wandrethe, þat wirkis me wrake; [I. With these wrechut wurmus.] For wrake it me wirkis now, Waynoure, I wysse. Were thritty trentalles done, [I. trentes of masse.] By-twyxene vndrone and none, My saule were saluede fulle sone, [I. My saule were socurt ful sone.] Line 220 And broghte in to blysse."

XVIII. (XX.) [By a mistake of the scribe the next three stanzas are written in T. in the order indicated within brackets.]

"To blysse brynge the that barne, þat dere hase the boghte, [I. that boȝt vs with his blode. D. broughte.] That was crucyfiede one croyse, and crownnede with thorne; [I. clarifiet.] Crystynnede and krysommede with candilles and coude, Fullede in funestane, fulle frely by-forne; [I. frely biforne.] Line 225 Mary, þat es myghty, and myldeste of mode, That bare þat blysschede, in bedleme was borne, [I. = D.] Gyffe me grace for to grete thy saule with some gude, [I. = T.] And mene the with messes and matynnes one morne." [I. And myn.] "To mene me with messes, grete menske nowe it were; [I. To mynne . . . grete mestur.] Line 230

Line 230 For hym þat ryste one þe rode, Gyffe nowe faste of thy gude To folke þat fayles the fude, Whylles þat thou erte here."

XIX. (XVIII.)

"Now here hertly one hande I hete the to halde, [I. Here I hete the my hond thi hestus to hold.] Line 235 With a melyone of messes to make thy menynge. Bot one worde," saide dame Waynour, "nowe wiete þat I walde, Whate greues Gode moste of any kyns thynge?" [I. Quat wrathes Crist most at thi weting.] "Pride, with apparementis, als prophetis haue talde, By-fore þe pople appertly in thaire prechynge. [I. And enperit to the pepulle.] Line 240 The is fulle bittire, þare-of be thou balde; [I. These ar the branches full bittur. A blank space has been left in T. after The.] It makis beryns fulle balde to breke his byddynge. [I. full boune.] Who so his byddynge brekis, bare he es of blysse; Bot þay be salued of that sare, Certis, or þay hethyne fare, [I.=T.] Line 245 Thay mone wiete of calde care, Waynoure, I wys."

XX. (XIX.)

"Telle me," sayde Waynour, "a worde, ȝif þou woste, [I. Now wis me.] Whate dedis myghte me beste in to blysche brynge." [I. Quat bedus.] "Mekenesse and mercy," scho saide, "þo are the moste; Line 250 Hafe pete one the pore, thane plesys þou owre Kynge; Sythene after that, do almous dedis of alle oþer thynge; [I. Sethyn charite is chefe to those that wyn be chast.] Thies arene the gud gyftis of the holy goste, [I. Almesdede, that is aure alle other thingus.] That enspyres alle sperites, with owttyne spillynge, For to come to that blysse, that euer more salle laste. [folio 156b] [T. inserts a line here to make up for the omission of l. 252; but the order of the rhymes is wrong. I. and D. agree in ll. 252-255.] Line 255 Of thies sperituale thynges spyre me na mare; [I. Off this spirituallte speke we.]

Whills þou arte quene in thi quarte, Halde thies wordis in thyne herte, For þou salle lyffe bot a starte; Hethyne salle þou fare." [T. reads ifare.] Line 260

XXI.

"How salle we fare," said the freke, "þat fowndis to fyghte, That ofte foundis the folkes, in fele kyngis landis, [I.=D.] That riche rewmes ouer rynnes agaynes the ryghte, [I.=T.] And wynnes wirchippis and welthis, by wyghtenes of handis?" [I. wurschip and wele.] "Ȝoure kynge es to couetous, I telle the, sir knyghte; Line 265 Maye no mane stere hym of strenghe, whilles þe whele standis; [I. Ther may no strenȝthe him stir.] Whene he es in his mageste hegheste, and maste es of myghte, [I.=D.] He salle lighte fulle lawe, appone the see sandis. Thus ȝoure cheualrous kynge chefe schalle a chaunce; [folio 157a] [I.=T.] False fortune in fyghte, [I. Felles fortune.] Line 270 That wondirfulle whele wryghte, [I.=T.] Mase lordis lawe for to lyghte; [I. That lau wille lordis gere liȝte.] Takes witnes by Fraunce.

XXII.

Fraunce hafe ȝe frely with ȝour fyghte wonnene; The Frollo and þe Farnaghe es frely by-leuede; [I. Frol and his Farnet ful fery haue ȝe leuyt.] Line 275 Bretayne and Burgoyne es bothe to ȝow bowndene, [I. Bretan and Burgoyn, is bothe in ȝour bandum.] And alle the dugepers of Fraunce with þe dyne dreuede. Gyane may gretyne þat þe werre was by-gounnene; Es noghte a lorde in þat lande appone lyfe leuede. Ȝete salle þe riche Romaynes with ȝow bene ouer-ronnene, [I.=T.] Line 280 And alle þe rownde tabille þaire rentis be reuede. [I. And atte the Rountabulle the rentus schalle be reuet.] Thay salle ȝitt be tybire tymbire ȝow tene. [I. Hit schalle be tynte, as I troue, and timburt with tene.]

Gete the, sir Gawayne, Turne þou to tuskayne, For þou salle Bretayne [I. Or lese schalle ȝe Bretan. A blank space left after For in T.] Line 285 With a knyghte kene. [I.=T.]

XXIII.

A knyghte salle kenly closene þe crowne, [I. croyse the croune.] And at carelyone be crownede for kynge; [I. at Carlit.] That sege salle be sesede at a sesone, [I. That segge schalle ensese him atte a session.] That mekille bale and barete tille ynglande sall brynge. Line 290 Ther salle in tuskayne be tallde of þat tresone, [I. ȝe schalle.] Ane torne home a-ȝayne for that tydynge; And ther salle the Rownde Tabille losse the renowne, Be-syde ramessaye fulle ryghte at a rydynge; And at Dorsett salle dy the doghetyeste of alle. [I. In Desesde.] Line 295 Gette the, sir Gawayne, Þe baldeste of Bretayne; For in a slake þou salle be slayne, Swylke ferly salle falle!

XXIV.

Siche ferly salle falle, with owttene any fabille, Line 300 Appone Cornewayle coste, with a knyghte kene; Arthure þe auenante, þat honeste es and abille, Salle be wondede, I wysse, fulle wathely, I wene; . . . . . . . . . . [304-305.Two lines omitted in T. I.=D.] Line 305 Supprysede with a sugette, þat beris of sabille, [I. that bere schalle of sabulle.] A sawtire engrelede of siluer fulle schene. [I. With a sauter.] He beris of sabille, sothely to saye;

In Kyng Arthures haulle [folio 157b] The childe playes hym at the balle, Line 310 That salle owttraye ȝow alle, [D. on tray.] Fulle derfely a daye. [I. Derfly that daye.]

XXV.

Hafe gud daye, dame Gaynour, and Gawayne þe gude! I hafe na langare tyme mo tales to telle; [I. I have no lengur tyme ȝo tithinges to telle.] For me buse wende one my waye, thorowte this wode, Line 315 Vn-to my wonnynge wane, in waa for to welle. For him þat rewfully rase, and rente was one rude, [I. ryȝtewis rest and rose on the rode.] Thynke one þe dawngere and the dole þat I in duelle; [I.=T.] And fede folke, for my sake, þat fawtes the fude, And mene me with messes, and matyns in melle. [See note.] Line 320 . . . . . [Omitted in T., I.=D.] Vs thynke a messe als swete Als any spyce þat euer þou ete." [I.=T.] And thus, with a grysely grete, The gaste a-waye glydis. Line 325

XXVI.

. . . . . [Omitted in T.] [I.=D.] . . . . . [Omitted in T.] [I. And a sore gronyng, with a grim bere.] The wynde and the wedyrs þane welkene in hydis; Thane vnclosede the clowddis, þe sone schane schene. [328-329. I.

The wynd and the welkyn, the wethur in that tide,The cloude vnclosut, the sune wex clere.

] The kynge his bogille hase blowene, and on þe bent bydis; His faire folke in firthes flokkes in fere; [I. His fayre folke on the fuilde they flocken in fere.] Line 331 All þat royalle rowte to þe qwene rydys, And melis to hir mildely, one þaire manere. [I.=T.] The wyes on swilke wondirs a-wondirde þaire were; [I.=D.]

The prynces prowdeste in palle, Line 335 Dame Gaynour and alle, Wente to randolfe sett haulle [I. Rondalle sete halle.] To þaire sopere.

XXVII.

The kynge was sett to þe supere, and seruede in sale, [I. in his sale.] Vndir a seloure of sylke, fulle daynetyuousely dighte, Line 340 With alle the wirchipe to welde, and wyne for to wale, [I. With alle welthis to wille, and wynus to wale. D. mewith.] Birdis in brede, of brynt golde bryghte. [I.=T.] Ther come two setolers in, with a symbale, [I.=D.] A lady, lufsome of late, ledande a knyghte. Scho rydes vp to þe heghe desse, by-fore þe royalle, [I.=T.] Line 345 And askede Sir Arthure, fulle hendely one highte. [I.=D.] Scho saide to þat souerayne, wlonkeste in wedis: "Mane moste of myghte, [folio 158a] [I.=D.] Here es comyne ane armede knyghte; [I. This is a nayre and a knyȝt.] Now do hym resone and ryghte, Line 350 For thi manhede."

XXVIII.

The mane in his mantylle syttis at his mete, [I. Monli in his mantille he sate atte his mete.] In paulle purede with pane, fulle precyousely dyghte, [I. With palle puret in poon was prudliche piȝte.] Trofelyte and trauerste wythe trewloues in trete; [I. Trowlt with trulufes and tranest be-tuene. Omitted in D.] The tasee was of topas þat þer to was tyghte. [I. The tassellus.] Line 355 He glyfte vpe withe hys eghne, þat graye ware and grete, Withe his burely berde, one þat birde bryghte. [I. With his beueren berd opon the birne bryȝte.] He was the souerayneste sir, sittande in sette, Þat euer any segge saughe, or sene was with syghte. Thus the kyng, crowned in kythe, carpis hir tille: [I. Thenne oure comeliche King carpus hur tille.] Line 360

Line 360 "Welecome, worthyly wyghte! Thou salle hafe resone and ryghte; Whythene es this comly knyghte, [D. Whelene.] If it be thi wille?" [361-364. I.

Thou wurlych wiȝt,Liȝte and leng alle nyȝt;Quethun is that ayre and that knyȝt,And hit were thi wille?

]

XXIX.

Scho was the worthilieste wyghte, þat any wy myghte welde; [I. the wurliche wiȝte that any wee wold.] Hir gyde was gloryous and gaye, alle of gyrse grene; Line 366 Hir belle was of plonkete, withe birdis fulle baulde, [I. of blenket.] Botonede with besantes, and bokellede fulle bene; [I. Beten with besandus.] Hir faxe in fyne perrye frette was in fowlde, Conterfelette in a kelle, colourede fulle clene; [I. Her countur-felit and hur kelle were.] Line 370 Withe a crowne of crystalle and of clere golde; [I. With a croune cumly, was clure to be-hold.] Hir courchefes were coryouse, with many prowde pyne. [I. mony a proude prene.] . . . . . [I. Hur enparel was a-praysut with princes of myȝte. This line is wanting in T.] The bryghte byrdis and balde Had note ynoghe to by-halde [I. Hade i-nuȝhe to be-hold.] Line 375 One þat freely to fawlde, And one þat hende knyghte.

XXX.

That knyghte in his coloures was armede fulle clene, Withe his comly creste, fulle clene to by-holde; His brenyes and his bacenett, burneschet fulle bene, Line 380 With a bourdoure a-bowte, alle of brynte golde; [I.=T.] His mayles was mylk-whytte, enclosede so clene; [I. enclawet ful clene.] His horse trappede withe the same, als it was me taulde; [I.=D.] The schelde one his schuldir, of syluere fulle schene, Withe bare heuedis of blake, burely and baulde. [I. of blakke, and brees ful bold. brake, an error for blake, in D.] Line 385

Line 385 His horse withe sendale was teldede, and trappede to þe hele; [I. His stede with sandelle of Trise was trapput to the hele.] And his cheuarone by-forne [I. Opon his.] Stode als ane vnycorne, Als so scharpe als any thorne, And mayles of stele. [I. An nanlas.] Line 390

XXXI.

In stele was he stuffede, þat steryne was one stede, Alle of sternys of golde, þat stekillede was one straye; [I. With his sternes of gold, stanseld on stray.] He and his gambesouns glomede als gledys, [folio 158b] [I.=D.] Withe graynes of rubyes, that graythede were gaye; [I. A-rayet aure with rebans rychist of raye. D. rebe or reve.] And his schene schynbawdes, scharpe for to schrede. [I. scharpest in schredus.] Line 395 . . . . . [I. His polans with his pelidoddes. This line is wanting in T.] Þus, with a lance appone lofte, þat lady gune he lede; [These two lines are transposed in T.] A swayne one a fresone folowede hym, in faye [These two lines are transposed in T.] . . . . . [Wanting in T.] He was seldome wounte Line 400 To see the tabille at his frounte; Swilke gammenes was he wonte Fulle seldome to see. [400-403. I.=D.]

XXXII.

Arthure askede in hye, one-herande þame alle: "Whate woldest þou, wy, ȝif it were thi wille? Line 405 Telle me whate þou sekis, and whedir þat þou schalle, And why þou stonyes on thi stede, and stondis so stille?" [I. Quy thou stedis in that stid.] He lyfte vpe his vesage fro þe ventalle, [I. Then he auaylet vppe his viserne.] And with a knyghtly contenance he carpis hym tille: "Be þou kaysere or kynge, here I the be-calle, Line 410 To fynde me a freke, to fyghte one my fille; For fyghtynge to frayste I fowndede fra hame."

The kynge carpede one heghte: "Lyghte, and lende alle nyghte, If thou be curtayse knyghte, [414-415. I.=T.] Line 415 And telle me thi name."

XXXIII.

"My name es sir galleroune, with owttyne any gyle, [I. Syr Galrun.] The gretteste of galowaye, of greves and of gyllis, [I.=T. D. grenes?] Of Konynge, of Carryke, of Conyngame, of Kylle, Of Lomonde, of Lenay, of Lowthyane hillis. [419-420. I.

Of Carrake, of Cummake, of Conyngame, of Kile,Of Lonwik, of Lannax, of Laudoune hillus.

] Line 420 Thou hase wonnen thaym one werre, with owttrageouse wille, [I. with thi wrange wiles.] And gyffene þame sir Gawayne, and þat myne herte grilles. . . . . . [I. Ȝette schalle thou wring thi hondus, and wary the quiles. This line is wanting in T.] Or he weldene my landes, at myne vn-thankes. [I. Or any we schild hom weld, atte my unnewilles.] By alle þe welthe of this werlde, he salle þame neuer welde, [I. Atte my unnewilles, i-wis, he schalle.] Whilles I my hede may bere, Line 426 Bot he wyne þame one werre, Bothe with schelde and with spere, Appone a fair felde!

XXXIV.

I wille fighte one a felde, and þer to make I my faythe, Withe any freke one the foulde, þat frely es borne. Line 431 To losse swylke a lordschipe me thynke it fulle laythe, And ilke a leueande lede wolde laughe me to skorne." [D. siche.] "We arene here in the wode, walkande one our wathe, We hunte at the herdis with hundes and with horne; Line 435 We arene one owre gamene, we ne hafe no gude graythe; [I. Gyf thou be gome gladdest, now haue we no graythe.] Bot ȝitt þou salle be machede by middaye to morne. And for thi I rede the, þou rathe mane, þou riste the alle þe nyghte." [I. =T.]

Than Gawayne, gayeste of alle, [folio 159a] [I. graythest.] Ledis hym owte of the haulle, Line 440 Vn-tille a paveleone of paulle, That prowdely was pyghte.

XXXV.

Pighte was it prowdely, withe purpure and paulle, With dossours and qweschyns, and bankowres fulle bryghte; [I. With beddus brauderit o brode, and bankers y-dyȝte. D. brandene?] With inne was a chapelle, a chambir and ane haulle, Line 445 A chymneye with charecole, to chawffene þat knyghte. His stede was sone stabillede, and lede to þe stalle, And haye hendly heuyde in hekkes one hyghte. [I. Hay hely thay hade in haches vn-hiȝte.] Sythene he braydes vp a burde, and clathes gune calle, [I. Prayd vp with a burd.] Sanapes and salers, fulle semly to syghte, Line 450 Preketes and broketes, and standertis by-twene. [I. With troches and broches.] Than thay seruede þat knyghte, And his worthy wyghte, With fulle riche daynteths dyghte, In siluere fulle schene. Line 455

XXXVI.

In siluer sa semly þai serue þame of the beste, With vernage, in verrys and cowppys sa clene; And thus thase gleterande gommes gladdis þaire gestis [I. With lucius drinkes, and metis of the best.] Withe riche daynteths, endorrede in dysches by-dene. Whene the ryalle renke was gone to his ryste, Line 460 The kynge in to concelle hase callede his knyghtis so kene; Sayse: "Lukes nowe, ȝe lordyngs, oure lose be noghte lost; Who salle enconter withe ȝone knyghte, nowe lukes vs by|twene." [I.=D.] Thane saide sir Gawayne: "He salle vs noghte greue; [I. hit schalle vs noȝte greue.]

Here my trouthe I ȝow plyghte, Line 465 I salle feghte withe ȝone knyghte, In þe defence of my ryghte, My lorde, withe ȝowre lefe."

XXXVII.

"I leue wele" quod the kynge, "thi latis are l . . . [A large piece of fol. 159 having been torn in the Thornton MS., parts of stanzas xxxvii., xxxviii., and xl. are wanting.] . . . . ." Line 470 "Late gaa," quod Sir Gawayne, "Gode st . . . . . If he skape skatheles . . . . . In the dawynge of þe Thaye herde matyns By that one Plu [I. In myd Plumtun Lone.] Line 475 Whare neuer f . . . . . Twa sop Was b For Line 480 The

XXXVIII.

The [I. kindeli the Erle of Kente.] Cur Withe riche dayneteths þat day, he dynede in his tente, [folio 159b] [I. And made him with dayntethis to dine.] Withe birdes bakene in brede, of brynte golde bryghte; [I. And sythun this rialle men a-rayut hom o-ryȝte.] Line 485 And sythene vn-to dame Waynour fulle wyesely he wente, And lefte withe hir in warde his worthily wyghte. And thane thies hathelles fulle hendely þaire horsses hase hent, [I. Sethin the hathels in hie hor horses haue hente.] At the lycence of the lorde, þat lordely gune lyghte, [I. In mydde the lyste of the lawunde the lordus doune liȝte.] Alle bot thir beryns, bouldeste of blode. [I. Alle butte the stithest in steroppus that stode.] Line 490

Line 490 The kynges chayere was sette A-bowne on a chasselett; And many a gaylyarde grett [492-493. I.

O-boue in his chaselette,And thenne Dame Gaynour grette.

] For Gawayne the gude.

XXXIX.

Gawayne and Gallerone dyghtis thaire stedis, [Stanza xxxix. is wanting in I.] Line 495 Alle of gleterande golde, fulle gaye was þaire gere; Twa lordes be-lyfe to thaire lystes thayme ledis, [D. by lyne?] Withe many sergeauntes of mace; it was þe manere. The beryns broches þaire blonkes to þair sydes bledis. Aythire freke appone felde hase fichede thaire spere; Line 500 Schaftis of schene wode þay scheuerede in schides; So jolyly those gentille mene justede one were! Schaftis thay scheuer in schydes fulle schene; Sythene, with brandes fulle bryghte, Riche mayles thay righte; Line 505 Thus Enconterde the knyghte With Gawayne one grene.

XL.

Gawayne was graythely graythede one grene, Withe griffones of golde, Engrelede fulle gaye; Trayfolede with trayfoles, and trewluffes by-twene. [I. Trowlt with trulofes and tranest be-twene.] Line 510 One a stirtande stede he strykes one straye; [I. Opon a startand stede he strikes oute of stray.] his turnynge he talkes with tene; one dreghe, and makis swilke delaye? schuldir with a swerde kene; his dede day. Line 515 wttous by dene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . schelde schene. Line 520

Line 520

XLI.

[He keruet of the cantel that couurt the knyȝte, [A leaf has been lost in the Thornton MS., containing the stanzas xli. to xlvi. inclusively, and part of xlvii. The missing portion has been sup|plied here from the Ireland Text. D. cautelle?] Thro his shild and his shildur a schaft-mun he share; [D. shiand.] Then the latelest lord loghe opon heȝte, And Gauan grechut ther-with, and greuut wundur sore; Sayd, "he shuld rewarde the this route, and I con rede o-ryȝte." He foundes into the freke with a fresche fare; Line 526 Throȝt basynet and breny, that burnyschet wos bryȝte, With a bytand brand euyn throghet he him bare; He bare thruȝe his brenys, that burneyst were bryȝte. Then gloppunt that gaye, Line 530 Hit was no ferly, in faye, His stedes startun on straye, With steroppus fulle stryȝte.

XLII.

Thenne with steroppus fulle streȝte stifly he strikes, Waynes atte Sir Wawane, ryȝte as he were wode; Line 535 Thenne his lemmon on lofte scrilles and scrykes, Quenne the balefulle birde blenked on his blode. Other lordus and lades thayre laykes welle likes, Thonked God of his grace, for Gawan the gode. With a sqwappe of his squrde squeturly him strykes, Line 540 Smote of Gauan stede heued, in styd quere he stode. The fayre fole foundret, and felle bi the rode; Gauan was smyther and smert, Owte of his steroppus he sterte, As he that was of herte, Line 545 For Greselle the gode.

XLIII.

"Greselle," quod Gauan, "gone is, God ote! He wos the burlokke[st] blonke, ther euyr bote brede!

By him that inne Bedelem wasse borne for oure bote, I schalle reuenge the to day, and I con ryȝt rede." Line 550 "Foche the my fresun," quod the freke, "is fayrest on fote, He wulle stond the in stoure, in-toe so mycul styd." "No more for thi fresun, then for a rysche rote, Butte for dylle of a dowmbe best, that thus schuld be ded; I mowrne for no matyttory, for I may gete more." Line 555 And as he stode bi his stede, That was gud in iche nede, Neȝtehond Syr Wauan wold wede, So wepputte he fulle sore.

XLIV.

Sore wepput for woe Syr Wauan the wiȝte, Line 560 Bouun to his enmy, that woundut was sore; The tother droȝghe him o-dreghe, for drede of the knyȝte, Then he brochet his blonke opon the bente bare. "Thus may we dryue furthe the day," quod Gauan, "to the dirke nyȝte, The sun is past the merke of mydday and more." Line 565 In myddes the lyist on the lawunde this lordes doun lyȝte; A-gayn the byrne with his brand, he busket him ȝare: Thus to batelle thay boune with brandis so bryȝte; Shene schildus thay shrede, Welle ryche mayles wexun rede, Line 570 And mony duȝty hadun drede, So fursely thai foȝtun!

XLV.

Thus on fote con thai feȝte, opon the fayre fildus, As fresch as ij lions that fawtutte the fille; Witturly ther weys thayre weppuns thai weld; Line 575 Wete ȝe wele, Sir Wauan him wontut no wille, He berus to him with his brand, vndur his brode shild, Thro the wast of the body wowundet him ille. The squrd styntet for no stuffe, he was so wele stelet; The tothur startes on bakke, and stondus stone stille. Line 580

Line 580 If he were stonit in that stouunde, ȝette strykes he sore; He girdus to Syr Gauane, Throȝhe ventaylle and pusane, That him lakket no more to be slayne, Butte the brede of hore. Line 585

XLVI.

And thus the hardy on heyte on helmis thai heuen, Betun downe berels, in bordurs so bryȝte, That with stones iraille were strencult and strauen, Frettut with fyne gold, that failis in the fiȝte. With schildus on ther schildurs schomely thay shewen, Line 590 Stythe stapuls of stele thay striken doune streȝte. Thenne byernes bannes the tyme the bargan was bruen, That euyr these duȝti with dyntus so dulfuly were diȝte. Hit hurte King Arther in herte, and mengit his mode; Bothe Sir Lote and Sir Lake Line 595 Meculle menyng con make; Thenne Dame Gaynor grette for his sake, For Gawan the gode.

XLVII.

Thenne grette Dame Gaynour, with hur gray een, For grefe of Sir Gauan grimliche wouundes; Line 600 Thenne the knyȝte, that was curtase, cruail and kene, With a stelun brand he strikes in that stounde; Alle the cost of the knyȝte he keruys doune clene, Thro the riche mayles, that ronke were and rouunde.] Swylke a touche at þat tyme he taughte hym in tene, [folio 160a] [I.=T.] Line 605 He girdede Sir Gallerone growelynge one grownde. Gallerone full greuousely granes on þe grene; And als wondede als he was, Swyftly vpe he rase, And folowde in faste on his faas, [609-610. I.

Wundur rudely he rose,Fast he foundes atte his face.

] Line 610 With a swerde schene.

XLVIII.

Clenly þat crewelle couerde hym on highte, And with a caste of þe care in kautelle he strykes; [612-613. I.

Thus that cruelle and kene kerues on heȝte,With a cast of the carhonde in a cantelle he strikes.

] [scas in D., probably a mistake for cast.] ffulle ȝerne he wayttis Sir Wawayne þe wighte, [Ȝorne waitis with woe, Sir Wauan the wiȝte.] Bot hym lympede þe werse, and þat me wele lykis. Line 615 He etyllede withe a slynge hafe slayne hym with sleghte; The swerde sleppis on slante, and one the mayle slydys, [I. = T., with slikes at the end.] And Sir Gawayne by þe colere clekis the knyghte. [I. clechis the knyȝte.] Than his lemane so lowde skremes and skrykis; Scho grete one dame Gaynour, with granes so grylle, Line 620 And saide: "Lady, makles of myghte, Hafe now mercy one ȝone knyghte, Þat es so dulefully dyghte, Giffe it be thi wille."

XLIX.

Than wilfully dame Waynour vn-to þe kynge went, [I. Thenne wilfulle Waynour.] Line 625 Scho caughte of hir coronalle, and knelyd hym tille: "Als þou erte roye ryalle, and recheste of rent, And I thyne wyfe, weddid at myne awene wille, [I. = D.] Ȝone beryns in ȝone batelle, þat bledis one ȝone bent, [I. that bidus on the bent.] Þay are wery, I wysse, and wondide fulle ille, Line 630 Thurghe schene schildis þaire schuldirs are schent; . . . . . [This line is wanting in T.] The granes of Sir Gawayne greuys me fulle sare. Wolde þou, lufly lorde, Gare the knyghtis accorde, Line 635 It ware grete comforde Tille alle þat here ware."

L.

Bot than hym spake Gallerone to Gawayne þe gude: [I.=D.] "I wende no wy in this werlde were haluendelle so wyghte; Here I make the relese in my rentis, by þe rode! [I.=D.] Line 640 And by-fore thiese ryalle resynge the my ryghte; [I. Before this rialle route.] And sythene I make the manredene, with a mylde mode, Als to mane in this medilerthe makles of myghte." He talkes to-warde þe knyghte, one heghte þere he stode, [folio 160b] [I. He stalket touward the king.] He bedde þat burely his brande, þat burneschede was bryghte. Line 645 "Of renttis and reches I make the relese." Downe knelis þat knyghte, And carpis thies wordes on highte; The kyng stude vp-ryghte, And commandis þe pese. Line 650

LI.

Þe kynge commandis þe pese, and cryes one highte, [I. and stode vp-riȝte.] And Gawayne was gudly, and lefte for his sake; And þane to þe lystis þe lordis leppis fulle lyghte, Sir Owayne fytȝ-Vryene, and Arrake, fulle rathe, [I. Huaya Fus-uryayn, and Arrake Fy-lake.] Marrake and Menegalle, þat maste were of myghte. [I. Sir Meliaduke the Marrake, that mekille wasse of myȝte.] Line 655 Bathe þase trauelde knyghtes trewly þay taghte; Vnnethes myghte those knyghtes stande vp ryghte; Þay were for-bett, and for-blede, þaire wedis wexe blake, [I. So for-brissutte and for-bled, thayre blees were so blake.] . . . . . [I. Alle blake was thayre blees, for-betun with brandis. Omitted in T.] With owttene more lettynge, Line 660 Was dighte there thiere semblynge, [I. thayre saȝtenyng.] By-fore þat comly kynge, And helde vpe þaire handes.

LII.

"I gyffe to the, Sir Gawayne," quode þe kynge, "tresoure and golde; Glamorgane landis, withe greuis so grene, Line 665 Þe wirchipe of Wales, to welde and to wolde, [I. to weld and thou wold.] Withe Gryffones castelle, kirnelde so clene; [I. Kirfre Castelle with colurs ful clene.] And þe Husters Haulle, to hafe and to holde, [I. Iche Hulkershome.] Wayfurthe and Wakfelde, wallede I wene; [I. Wayifforthe and Waturforthe, wallet, I wene.] Twa baronryse in Burgoyne, with burghes so balde, [I. Toe baroners in Bretan.] Line 670 That are moted abowte, and byggede fulle bene. [I. = D.] I salle endowe þe als a duke, and dub the with myne hande, [I. Here I doue the as Duke.] Withe þi þou saughtille with ȝone gentille knyghte, That es so hardy and wyghte, And relese hym thi ryghte, [I. And resingne him thi ryȝte.] Line 675 And graunte hym his lande."

LIII.

"Now, and here I gyffe hym," quod Gawayne, "with owttyne any gyle, Alle þe landes and þe lythes, fra Lowyke to Layre, [I. Alle the londus for-sothe fro Logher to Layre.—D. lauer or laner. þe lithes. þe is struck out in different ink.] Commoke and Carrike, Conyghame and Kylle, [I. Carrake, Cummake.] Als the cheualrous knyghte hase chalandchede als ayere; [Originally in MS.D., Yet if he haf cheualry and chalange hit for aire, but altered by a second hand.] The lebynge, the lowpynge, þe leveastre Ile, [680-681. These two lines are wanting in I.] Line 681 Bathe frythes and forestes, frely and faire. [I. Sir, to thi seluun, and sithun to thine ayre.] . . . . . [Written þe while by the first hand, but altered to here a by a second. I. With thi tille oure lordschip thou leng in a qwile.] . . . . . [D. to make altered from a.] . . . . . [683-685. These three lines are wanting in T.] [I. Here I feffe the in fild, frely and fayre.—D. faire originally spelt fare.] Line 685

Line 685 Than þe Kynge and þe qwene, And alle the doghety by-dene, Thorow þe greuys so grene, To Carlele þay kayre.

LIV.

The kyng to Carelele es comene, with knyghttis so kene, [Wanting in I.] To halde his rownde tabille, one ryalle arraye; Line 691 Those knyghtes, þat were wondede fulle wathely, als I wene, Surgeones sanede thayme, sothely to saye. [folio 161a] [I. surgens hom sauyt. sa et in D.] Bothe comforthede thaym thane, the kynge and the qwene; Thay ware dubbyde dukes bothe one a daye. Line 695 And ther Sir Gallerone weddid his wyfe, þat semly and schene, [D. slonkest. I. wlonkest I wene.] Withe gyftis and gersomes of Sir Gawayne the gaye. [I. = D.] And thus those hathelles with haldis that hende; [I. Thus Gauan and Galrun gode frindes ar thay.] And whene he was saned and sownde, [I. Qwen thay were holle and sownde.] Þay made hyme sworne to Sir Gawane in þat stownde, Line 700 And sythene, a knyghte of þe tabylle rownde, [700-701 I. = D.] Vn-tille his lyues ende. [I. Vntille his ending day.]

LV.

Dame Gaynour garte besyly wryte in to þe weste, To alle manere of relygeous, to rede and to synge; Pristes withe processyones . . . . . [I. Prustes, prouincials. Two half-lines wanting in T.] Line 705 . . . . .messis to make hir menynge. [I. her modur mynnyng.] Dukes, erles, barouns, and bechoppes of the beste, [I. Boke-lornut byrnus.] Thurghe alle Y[n]glande scho garte make menynge; [I. Thro-oute Bretan so bold these bellus con ring.] And thus this ferlyes by-felle in a foreste, [I. in Ingulwud forest.]

Vndir an holte so bare, at an hunttynge; [I. Be-side holtus so hore.] Line 710 Swylke hunttynge in holtis sulde noghte bene hyde. [I. hunting in a holt.] Thus to þe forestes thay fure, Steryne knyghttis and sture; [712-713 I.

These knyȝtus, stalwurthe and store,Throȝhe the forest thay fore.

] And in þe tyme of Arthure This awntyr by-tyd. Line 715

This Ferly by-felle, fulle sothely to sayne, In Yggillwode Foreste, at þe Ternwathelayne.

Explicit.