The alliterative Morte Arthure

Lines 736 through 1221

Qwen all was schyppede that scholde they schounte no lengere, Line 736

Line 736 Bot ventelde them tyte, as þe tyde rynnez; Line 737 Coggez and crayers þan crossez þaire mastez, Line 738 At the comandment of þe Kynge vncouerde at ones. Line 739 Wyghtly on þe wale þay wye vp þaire ankers, Line 740 By wytt of þe watyre-men of þe wale ythez; Line 741 Frekes on þe forestavne faken þeire coblez, Line 742 In floynes and fercostez and Flemesche schyppes; Line 743 Tytt saillez to þe toppe and turnez þe lufe, Line 744 Standez appon stere-bourde, sternly þay songen. Line 745 The pryce schippez of the porte prouen theire depnesse, Line 746 And fondez wyth full saile ower þe fawe ythez; Line 747 Holly withowttyn harme þay hale in bottes; Line 748 Schipemen scharply schoten þaire portez, Line 749 Launchez lede apon lufe, lacchen þer depez; Line 750 Lukkez to þe lade-sterne when þe lyghte faillez, Line 751 Castez coursez be crafte when þe clowde rysez, Line 752 With þe nedyll and þe stone one þe nyghte tydez; Line 753 For drede of þe derke nyghte þay drecchede a lyttill, Line 754 And all þe steryn of þe streme strekyn at onez. Line 755

The Kynge was in a gret cogge, with knyghtez full many, Line 756 In a cabane enclosede, clenlyche arayede; Line 757 Within on a ryche bedde rystys a littyll, Line 758 And with þe swoghe of þe see in swefnyng he fell. Line 759 Hym dremyd of a dragon, dredfull to beholde, Line 760 Come dryfande ouer þe depe to drenschen hys pople, Line 761 [folio 61v] Ewen walkande owte of the weste landez, Line 762 Wanderande vnworthyly ouere the wale ythez; Line 763 Bothe his hede and hys hals ware halely all ouer Line 764 Oundyde of azure, enamelde full faire; Line 765 His scoulders ware schalyde all in clene syluere, Line 766 Schreede ouer all þe schrympe with schrinkande poyntez; Line 767 Hys wombe and hys wenges of wondyrfull hewes, Line 768 In meruaylous maylys he mountede full hye; Line 769 Whaym þat he towchede he was tynt for euer. Line 770 Hys feete ware floreschede all in fyne sabyll, Line 771 And syche a vennymous flayre flowe fro his lyppez, Line 772 That the flode of þe flawez all on fyre semyde. Line 773

Line 773

Thane come of þe oryente, ewyn hym agaynez, Line 774 A blake, bustous bere abwen in the clowdes, Line 775 With yche a pawe as a poste and paumes full huge, Line 776 With pykes full perilous—all plyande þam semyde; Line 777 Lothen and lothely lokkes and oþer, Line 778 All with lutterde legges, lokerde vnfaire, Line 779 Filtyrde vnfrely, with fomaunde lyppez, Line 780 The foulleste of fegure that fourmede was euer. Line 781 He baltyrde, he bleryde, he braundyschte þerafter; Line 782 To bataile he bounnez hym with bustous clowez; Line 783 He romede, he rarede, that roggede all þe erthe, Line 784 So ruydly he rappyd at to ryot hym seluen. Line 785

Thane the dragon on dreghe dressede hym aȝaynez, Line 786 And with hys dinttez hym drafe on dreghe by þe walkyn; Line 787 He fares as a fawcon: frekly he strykez; Line 788 Bothe with feete and with fyre he feghttys at ones. Line 789 The bere in the bataile þe bygger hym semyde, Line 790 And byttes hym boldlye wyth balefull tuskez; Line 791 Syche buffetez he hym rechez with hys brode klokes, Line 792 Hys brest and his brayell whas blodye all ouer. Line 793 He rawmpyde so ruydly that all þe erthe ryfez, Line 794 Rynnande on reede blode as rayne of the heuen. Line 795 He hade weryede the worme by wyghtnesse of strenghte, Line 796 Ne ware it fore the wylde fyre þat he hym wyth defendez. Line 797

Thane wandyrs þe worme awaye to hys heghttez, Line 798 Commes glydande fro þe clowddez and cowpez full euen, Line 799 Towchez hym wyth his talounez and terez hys rigg, Line 800 Betwyx þe taile and the toppe ten fote large. Line 801 Thus he brittenyd the bere and broghte hym o lyfe— Line 802 Lette hym fall in the flode, fleete whare hym lykes. Line 803 So they þryng þe bolde kyng bynne þe schippe-burde, Line 804 Þat nere he bristez for bale, on bede whare he lyggez. Line 805

Than waknez þe wyese kyng, wery foretrauaillede, Line 806 [folio 62r] Takes hym two phylozophirs that folowede hym euer, Line 807 In the seuyn scyence the suteleste fonden, Line 808 The conyngeste of clergye vndyre Criste knowen. Line 809 He tolde þem of hys tourmente þat tym þat he slepede: Line 810

Line 810 "Drechede with a dragon, and syche a derfe beste, Line 811 Has mad me full wery; ȝe tell me my swefen, Line 812 Ore I mon swelte as swythe, as wysse me oure Lorde!" Line 813 "Sir," saide þey son thane, thies sagge philosopherse, Line 814 "The dragon þat þow dremyde of, so dredfull to schewe, Line 815 That come dryfande ouer þe deepe to drynchen thy pople, Line 816 Sothely and certayne, thy seluen it es, Line 817 That thus saillez ouer þe see with thy sekyre knyghtez; Line 818 The colurez þat ware castyn appon his clere wengez, Line 819 May be thy kyngrykez all, that thow has ryghte wonnyn; Line 820 And the tatterede taile with tonges so huge, Line 821 Betakyns þis faire folke that in thy fleet wendez; Line 822 The bere that bryttenede was abowen in þe clowdez Line 823 Betakyns the tyrauntez þat tourmentez thy pople; Line 824 Or ells with somme gyaunt some journée sall happyn, Line 825 In syngulere batell by ȝoure selfe one, Line 826 And þow sall hafe þe victorye, thurghe helpe of oure Lorde, Line 827 As þow in thy visione was opynly schewede. Line 828 Of this dredfull dreme ne drede the no more; Line 829 Ne kare noghte, Sir Conquerour, bot comforth thy seluen; Line 830 And thise þat saillez ouer þe see, with thy sekyre knyghtez." Line 831

With trumppez then trystly they trisen vpe þaire saillez, Line 832 And rowes ouer the ryche see, this rowtte all at onez; Line 833 The comely coste of Normandye they cachen full euen, Line 834 And blythely at Barflete theis bolde are arryfede, Line 835 And fyndys a flete there of frendez ynewe, Line 836 The floure and þe faire folke of fyftene rewmez; Line 837 Fore kyngez and capytaynez kepyde hym fayre, Line 838 As he at Carelele commaundyde at Cristynmesse hym seluen. Line 839

Be they had taken the lande and tentez vpe rerede, Line 840 Comez a templere tyte and towchide to þe Kynge: Line 841 "Here es a teraunt besyde that tourmentez thi pople, Line 842 A grett geaunte of Geen, engenderde of fendez; Line 843 He has fretyn of folke mo than fyfe hondrethe, Line 844 And als fele fawntekyns of freeborne childyre. Line 845 This has bene his sustynaunce all this seuen wyntteres, Line 846

Line 846 And ȝitt es that sotte noghte sadde, so wele hym it lykez! Line 847 In þe contree of Constantyne ne kynde has he leuede, Line 848 Withowttyn kydd castells enclosid wyth walles, Line 849 That he ne has clenly dystroyede all the knaue childyre, Line 850 And them caryede to þe cragge and clenly deworyd! Line 851 The Duchez of Bretayne todaye has he takyn, Line 852 [folio 62v] Beside Reynes as scho rade with hire ryche knyghttes; Line 853 Ledd hyre to þe mountayne thare þat lede lengez, Line 854 To lye by that lady aye whyls hir lyfe lastez. Line 855 We folowede o ferrom, moo then fyfe hundrethe Line 856 Of beryns and of burgeys and bachelers noble, Line 857 Bot he couerde the cragge—cho cryede so lowde, Line 858 The care of þat creatoure couer sall I neuer! Line 859 Scho was flour of all Fraunce, or of fyfe rewmes, Line 860 And one of the fayreste that fourmede was euere, Line 861 The gentileste jowell ajuggede with lordes Line 862 Fro Geen vnto Geron, by Ihesu of Heuen! Line 863 Scho was thy wyfes cosyn—knowe it if þe lykez— Line 864 Comen of þe rycheste that rengnez in erthe; Line 865 As thow arte ryghtwise Kyng, rewe on thy pople, Line 866 And fande for to venge them that thus are rebuykyde!" Line 867

"Allas!" sais Sir Arthure, "so lange haue I lyffede; Line 868 Hade I wyten of this, wele had me chefede; Line 869 Me es noghte fallen faire, bot me es foule happynede, Line 870 That thus this faire ladye this fende has dystroyede! Line 871 I had leuere thane all Fraunce this fyftene wynter Line 872 I hade bene before thate freke a furlange of waye, Line 873 When he that ladye had laghte and ledde to þe montez; Line 874 I hadde lefte my lyfe are cho hade harme lymppyde. Line 875 Bot walde þow kene me to þe crage thare þat kene lengez; Line 876 I walde cayre to þat coste and carpe wythe hym seluen, Line 877 To trette with that tyraunt fore treson of londes, Line 878 And take trewe for a tym, till it may tyde bettyr." Line 879

"Sire, see ȝe ȝone farlande, with ȝone two fyrez? Line 880 Þar filsnez þat fende—fraiste when the lykes— Line 881 Appone the creste of the cragge, by a colde welle, Line 882 That enclosez þe clyfe with þe clere strandez; Line 883 Ther may thow fynde folke fay wythowttyn nowmer, Line 884

Line 884 Mo florenez, in faythe, than Fraunce es in aftyre; Line 885 And more tresour vntrewely that traytour has getyn Line 886 Thane in Troye was, as I trowe, þat tym þat it was wonn." Line 887 Thane romyez the ryche kynge for rewthe of þe pople, Line 888 Raykez ryghte to a tente and restez no lengere; Line 889 He welterys, he wristeles, he wryngez hys handez; Line 890 Thare was no wy of þis werlde that wyste whatt he menede. Line 891 He calles Sir Cayous, þat of þe cowpe serfede, Line 892 And Sir Bedvere þe bolde, þat bare hys brande ryche: Line 893 "Luke ȝe aftyre euensang be armyde at ryghttez, Line 894 On blonkez by ȝone buscayle, by ȝone blythe stremez, Line 895 Fore I will passe in pilgremage preuely hereaftyre, Line 896 [folio 63r] In the tyme of suppere, whene lordez are servede, Line 897 For to seken a saynte be ȝone salte stremes, Line 898 In Seynt Mighell Mount, there myraclez are schewede." Line 899 Aftyre euesange, Sir Arthure hym selfen Line 900 Wente to hys wardrop and warp of hys wedez, Line 901 Armede hym in a acton with orfraeez full ryche, Line 902 Abouen on þat a jeryn of Acres owte ouer, Line 903 Abouen þat a jesseraunt of jentyll maylez, Line 904 A jupon of Ierodyn, jaggede in schredez; Line 905 He brayedez one a bacenett, burneschte of syluer, Line 906 The beste þat was in Basill, wyth bordurs ryche; Line 907 The creste and þe coronall enclosed so faire Line 908 Wyth clasppis of clere golde, couched wyth stones; Line 909 The vesare, þe aventaile, enarmede so faire, Line 910 Voyde withowttyn vice, with wyndowes of syluer; Line 911 His gloues gaylyche gilte and grauen at þe hemmez, Line 912 With graynez and gobelets, glorious of hewe. Line 913 He bracez a brade schelde and his brande aschez, Line 914 Bounede hym a broun stede and on þe bente houys; Line 915 He sterte till his sterep and stridez on lofte, Line 916 Streynez hym stowttly and sterys hym faire, Line 917 Brochez þe baye stede and to þe buske rydez, Line 918 And there hys knyghtes hym kepede full clenlyche arayede. Line 919

Than they roode by þat ryuer þat rynnyd so swythe, Line 920 Þare þe ryndez ouerrechez with reall bowghez; Line 921 The roo and þe raynedere reklesse thare ronnen, Line 922

Line 922 In ranez and in rosers, to ryotte þam seluen; Line 923 The frithez ware floreschte with flourez full many, Line 924 Wyth fawcouns and fesantez of ferlyche hewez; Line 925 All þe feulez thare fleschez that flyez with wengez, Line 926 Fore thare galede þe gowke one greuez full lowde: Line 927 Wyth alkyn gladchipe þay gladden þem seluen; Line 928 Of þe nyghtgale notez þe noisez was swette— Line 929 They threpide wyth the throstills, thre hundreth at ones; Line 930 Þat whate swowyng of watyr and syngyng of byrdez, Line 931 It myghte salue hym of sore þat sounde was neuere. Line 932

Than ferkez this folke and on fotte lyghttez, Line 933 Festenez theire faire stedez o ferrom bytwene; Line 934 And thene the Kyng kenely comandyde hys knyghtez Line 935 For to byde with theire blonkez and bowne no forthyre: Line 936 "Fore I will seke this seynte by my selfe one, Line 937 And mell with this mayster mane þat this monte ȝemez; Line 938 And seyn sall ȝe offyre, aythyre aftyre oþer, Line 939 Menskfully at Saynt Mighell full myghtty with Criste." Line 940

The Kyng coueris þe cragge wyth cloughes full hye, Line 941 [folio 63v] To the creste of the clyffe he clymbez on lofte; Line 942 Keste vpe hys vmbrer and kenly he lukes, Line 943 Caughte of þe colde wynde to comforthe hym seluen. Line 944 Two fyrez fyndez, flawmande full hye; Line 945 The fourtedele a furlang betwene þus he walkes; Line 946 The waye by þe welle strandez he wandyrde hym one, Line 947 To wette of þe warlawe, whare þat he lengez. Line 948 He ferkez to þe fyrste fyre, and euen there he fyndez Line 949 A wery wafull wedowe, wryngande hire handez, Line 950 And gretande on a graue grysely teres; Line 951 Now merkyde on molde sen myddaye it semede. Line 952 He saluȝede þat sorowfull with sittande wordez, Line 953 And fraynez aftyre the fende fairely thereaftyre. Line 954

Thane this wafull wyfe vnwynly hym gretez, Line 955 Couerd vp on hire kneess and clappyde hire handez; Line 956 Said "Carefull careman, thow carpez to lowde; Line 957 May ȝone warlawe wyt, he worows vs all! Line 958 Weryd worthe þe wyghte ay that þe thy wytt refede, Line 959 That mase the to wayfe here in þise wylde lakes. Line 960

Line 960 I warne þe fore wyrchipe þou wylnez aftyr sorowe; Line 961 Whedyre buskes þow, berne? Vnblysside þow semes. Line 962 Wenez thow to britten hym with thy brande ryche? Line 963 Ware thow wyghttere than Wade or Wawayn owthire, Line 964 Thow wynnys no wyrchip, I warne the before. Line 965 Thow saynned the vnsekyrly to seke to þese mountez; Line 966 Siche sex ware to symple to semble with hym one, Line 967 For and thow see hym with syghte, the seruez no herte Line 968 To sayne the sekerly, so semez hym huge! Line 969 Thow arte frely and faire and in thy fyrste flourez, Line 970 Bot thow arte fay, be my faythe, and þat me forthynkkys. Line 971 Ware syche fyfty on a felde or one a faire erthe, Line 972 The freke walde with hys fyste fell ȝow at ones! Line 973 Loo, here the duchez dere—todaye was cho takyn— Line 974 Depe doluen and dede, dyked in moldez; Line 975 He hade morthirede this mylde be myddaye war rongen, Line 976 Withowttyn mercy one molde—I not watte it ment. Line 977 He has forsede hir and fylede, and cho es fay leuede; Line 978 He slewe hir vnslely and slitt hir to þe nauyll. Line 979 And here haue I bawmede hir and beryede þeraftyr; Line 980 For bale of þe botelesse, blythe be I neuer. Line 981 Of alle þe frendez cho hade, þere folowede none aftyre, Line 982 Bot I, hir foster modyr of fyftene wynter; Line 983 To ferke of this farlande, fande sall I neuer, Line 984 Bot here be founden on felde till I be fay leuede." Line 985

[folio 64r]

Thane answers Sir Arthure to þat alde wyf, Line 986 "I am comyn fra þe Conquerour, curtaise and gentill, Line 987 As one of þe hathelest of Arthur knyghtez, Line 988 Messenger to þis myx, for mendemente of þe pople, Line 989 To mele with this maister man that here this mounte ȝemez; Line 990 To trete with this tyraunt for tresour of landez, Line 991 And take trew for a tym, to bettyr may worthe." Line 992

"Ȝa, thire wordis are bot waste," quod this wif thane, Line 993 "For bothe landez and lythes full lyttill by he settes; Line 994 Of rentez ne of rede golde rekkez he neuer, Line 995 For he will lenge owt of lawe, as hym selfe thynkes, Line 996 Withowten licence of lede, as lorde in his awen. Line 997

Line 997 Bot he has a kyrtill one, kepide for hym seluen, Line 998 That was sponen in Spayne with specyall byrdez, Line 999 And sythyn garnescht in Grece full graythly togedirs. Line 1000 It es hyded all with har hally al ouere, Line 1001 And bordyrde with the berdez of burlyche kyngez, Line 1002 Crispid and kombide, that kempis may knawe Line 1003 Iche kyng by his colour, in kythe there he lengez; Line 1004 Here the fermez he fangez of fyftene rewmez: Line 1005 For ilke Esterne ewyn, howeuer that it fall, Line 1006 They send it hym sothely for saughte of þe pople, Line 1007 Sekerly at þat seson, with certayne knyghtez. Line 1008 And he has aschede Arthure all þis seuen wynntter: Line 1009 Forthy hurdez he here, to owttraye hys pople, Line 1010 Till þe Bretons kyng haue burneschte his lyppys, Line 1011 And sent his berde to that bolde wyth his beste berynes. Line 1012 Bot thowe hafe broghte þat berde, bowne the no forthire, Line 1013 For it es buteless bale thowe biddez oghte ells; Line 1014 For he has more tresour to take when hym lykez Line 1015 Than euere aughte Arthure or any of hys elders; Line 1016 If thowe hafe broghte þe berde he bese more blythe Line 1017 Thane þowe gafe hym Burgoyne or Bretayne þe More. Line 1018 Bot luke nowe for charitée þow chasty thy lyppes, Line 1019 That the no wordez eschape, whateso betydez; Line 1020 Luke þi presante be priste, and presse hym bott lytill, Line 1021 For he es at his sowper, he will be sone greuyde; Line 1022 And þow my concell doo, þow dosse of thy clothes, Line 1023 And knele in thy kyrtyll, and call hym thy lorde. Line 1024 He sowppes all þis seson with seuen knaue childre, Line 1025 Choppid in a chargour of chalke-whytt syluer, Line 1026 With pekill and powdyre of precious spycez, Line 1027 And pyment full plenteuous of Portyngale wynes; Line 1028 Thre balefull birdez his brochez þey turne, Line 1029 Þat byddez his bedgatt, his byddyng to wyrche; Line 1030 Siche foure scholde be fay within foure hourez, Line 1031 [folio 64v] Are his fylth ware filled that his flesch ȝernes." Line 1032

"Ȝa, I haue broghte þe berd," quod he, "the bettyr me lykez; Line 1033 Forthi will I boun me, and bere it my seluen; Line 1034

Line 1034 Bot, lefe, walde þow lere me whare þat lede lengez, Line 1035 I sall alowe þe and I liffe, oure Lorde so me helpe." Line 1036

"Ferke fast to þe fyre," quod cho, "that flawmez so hye; Line 1037 Thare fillis þat fende hym, fraist when the lykez; Line 1038 Bot thow moste seke more southe, sydlyngs a lyttill, Line 1039 For he will hafe sent hym selfe sex myle large." Line 1040

To þe sowþe of þe reke he soghte at þe gayneste, Line 1041 Sayned hym sekerly with certeyne wordez, Line 1042 And sydlyngs of þe segge the syghte had he rechid, Line 1043 How vnsemly þat sott satt sowpand hym one; Line 1044 He lay lenand on lang, lugand vnfaire, Line 1045 Þe thee of a manns lymme lyfte vp by þe haunche; Line 1046 His bakke and his bewschers and his brode lendez Line 1047 He bekez by þe bale-fyre, and breklesse hym semede. Line 1048 Þare ware rostez full ruyd and rewfull bredez, Line 1049 Beerynes and bestaile brochede togeders, Line 1050 Cowle full cramede of crysmed childyre, Line 1051 Sum as brede brochede, and bierdez þam tournede. Line 1052

And þan this comlych kyng, bycause of his pople, Line 1053 His herte bledez for bale, one bent ware he standez. Line 1054 Thane he dressede one his schelde, schuntes no lengere, Line 1055 Braundeschte his bryghte swerde by þe bryghte hiltez, Line 1056 Raykez towarde þe renke reghte with a ruyd will, Line 1057 And hyely hailsez þat hulke with hawtayne wordez: Line 1058

"Now allweldand Gode, þat wyrscheppez vs all, Line 1059 Giff the sorowe and syte, sotte, there thow lygges, Line 1060 For the fulsomeste freke that fourmede was euere; Line 1061 Foully thow fedys the, þe Fende haue thi saule! Line 1062 Here es cury vnclene, carle, be my trowthe, Line 1063 Caffe of creatours all, thow curssede wriche! Line 1064 Because that þow killide has þise cresmede childyre, Line 1065 Thow has marters made, and broghte oute of lyfe, Line 1066 Þat here are brochede on bente and brittened with thi handez, Line 1067 I sall merke þe thy mede, as þou has myche serfed, Line 1068 Thurghe myghte of Seynt Mighell, þat þis monte ȝemes; Line 1069 And for this faire ladye, þat þow has fey leuyde, Line 1070 And þus forced one foulde, for fylth of þi selfen. Line 1071

Line 1071 Dresse the now, dogge-sone—the Deuell haue þi saule— Line 1072 For þow sall dye this day, thurghe dynt of my handez!" Line 1073

Than glopned þe gloton and glored vnfaire; Line 1074 He grenned as a grewhounde, with grysly tuskes; Line 1075 He gaped, he groned faste, with grucchand latez, Line 1076 For grefe of þe gude kyng þat hym with grame gretez. Line 1077 His fax and his foretoppe was filterede togeders, Line 1078 And owte of his face come ane halfe fote large; Line 1079 His frount and his forheued all was it ouer, Line 1080 As þe fell of a froske, and fraknede it semede; Line 1081 Huke-nebbyde as a hawke, and a hore berde, Line 1082 [folio 65r] And herede to þe hole eyghn with hyngande browes; Line 1083 Harske as a hunde-fisch hardly whoso lukez, Line 1084 So was þe hyde of þat hulke hally al ouer. Line 1085 Erne had he full huge and vgly to schewe, Line 1086 With eghne full horreble and ardauunt forsothe; Line 1087 Flatt-mowthede as a fluke, with fleryand lyppys, Line 1088 And þe flesche in his fortethe fowly as a bere. Line 1089 His berde was brothy and blake, þat till his brest rechede, Line 1090 Grassede as a mereswyne, with corkes full huge, Line 1091 And all falterd þe flesche in his foule lippys, Line 1092 Ilke wrethe as a wolfe-heuede, it wraythe owtt at ones. Line 1093 Bulle-nekkyde was þat bierne and brade in the scholders, Line 1094 Brok-brestede as a brawne, with brustils full large, Line 1095 Ruyd armes as an ake with rusclede sydes, Line 1096 Lym and leskes full lothyn, leue ȝe forsothe. Line 1097 Schouell-foted was þat schalke, and schaylande hyn semyde, Line 1098 With schankez vnschaply, schowand togedyrs; Line 1099 Thykke theese as a thursse, and thikkere in þe hanche, Line 1100 Greesse growen as a galte, full gryslych he lukez. Line 1101 Who þe lenghe of þe lede lelly accountes, Line 1102 Fro þe face to þe fote was fyfe fadom lange. Line 1103

Thane stertez he vp sturdely on two styffe schankez, Line 1104 And sone he caughte hym a clubb all of clene yryn; Line 1105 He walde hafe kyllede þe Kyng with his kene wapen, Line 1106 Bot thurghe þe crafte of Cryste ȝit þe carle failede; Line 1107 The creest and þe coronall, þe claspes of syluer, Line 1108

Line 1108 Clenly with his clubb he crassched doune at onez. Line 1109 The Kyng castes vp his schelde and couers hym faire, Line 1110 And with his burlyche brande a box he hym reches; Line 1111 Full butt in þe frunt the fromonde he hittez, Line 1112 That the burnyscht blade to þe brayne rynnez. Line 1113 He feyed his fysnamye with his foule hondez, Line 1114 And frappez faste at his face fersely þeraftyre; Line 1115 The Kyng chaungez his fote, eschewes a lyttill— Line 1116 Ne had he eschapede þat choppe, cheuede had euyll; Line 1117 He folowes in fersly and festenesse a dynte Line 1118 Hye vpe on þe hanche with his harde wapyn, Line 1119 That he hillid þe swerde halfe a fote large— Line 1120 The hott blode of þe hulke vnto þe hilte rynnez; Line 1121 Ewyn into inmette the gyaunt he hyttez, Line 1122 Iust to þe genitales and jaggede þam in sondre. Line 1123

Thane he romyed and rared, and ruydly he strykez Line 1124 Full egerly at Arthur, and on the erthe hittez; Line 1125 A swerde lenghe within þe swarthe he swappez at ones, Line 1126 That nere swounes þe Kyng for swoughe of his dynnttez. Line 1127 Bot ȝit the Kyng sweperly full swythe he byswenkez, Line 1128 Swappez in with the swerde þat it þe swange brystedd; Line 1129 Bothe þe guttez and the gorr guschez owte at ones, Line 1130 Þat all englaymez þe gresse one grounde þer he standez. Line 1131 [folio 65v] Thane he castez the clubb and the Kyng hentez: Line 1132 On þe creeste of þe cragg he caughte hym in armez, Line 1133 And enclosez hym clenly, to cruschen hys rybbez— Line 1134 So hard haldez he þat hende þat nere his herte brystez. Line 1135 Þane þe balefull bierdez bownez to þe erthe, Line 1136 Kneland and cryande, and clappide þeire handez: Line 1137 "Criste comforthe ȝone knyghte, and kepe hym fro sorowe, Line 1138 And latte neuer ȝone fende fell hym o lyfe." Line 1139

Ȝitt es þe warlow so wyghte, he welters hym vnder, Line 1140 Wrothely þai wrythyn and wrystill togederz, Line 1141 Welters and walowes ouer within þase buskez, Line 1142 Tumbellez and turnes faste and terez þaire wedez; Line 1143 Vntenderly fro þe toppe þai tiltin togederz, Line 1144 Whilom Arthure ouer and oþerwhile vndyre; Line 1145

Line 1145 Fro þe heghe of þe hyll vnto þe harde roche, Line 1146 They feyne neuer are they fall at þe flode merkes. Line 1147 Bot Arthur with ane anlace egerly smyttez, Line 1148 And hittez euer in the hulke vp to þe hiltez; Line 1149 Þe theefe at þe dede-thrawe so throly hym thryngez, Line 1150 Þat three rybbys in his syde he thrystez in sunder. Line 1151

Then Sir Kayous þe kene vnto þe Kyng styrtez: Line 1152 Said "Allas, we are lorne—my lorde es confundede; Line 1153 Ouerfallen with a fende—vs es full hapnede! Line 1154 We mon be forfeted, in faith, and flemyde for euer!" Line 1155 Þay hafe vp hys hawberke þan and handilez þervndyr Line 1156 His hyde and his haunche eke, on heghte to þe schuldrez, Line 1157 His flawnke and his feletez and his faire sydez, Line 1158 Bothe his bakke and his breste and his bryghte armez; Line 1159 Þay ware fayne þat þey fande no flesche entamed, Line 1160 And for þat journée made joye, þir gentill knyghttez. Line 1161

"Now certez," saise Sir Bedwere, "it semez, be my Lorde, Line 1162 He sekez seyntez bot selden, þe sorer he grypes, Line 1163 Þat þus clekys this corsaunt owte of þir heghe clyffez, Line 1164 To carye forthe siche a carle at close hym in siluer. Line 1165 Be Myghell, of syche a makk I hafe myche wondyre Line 1166 That euer owre soueraygne Lorde suffers hym in Heuen; Line 1167 And all seyntez be syche þat seruez oure Lorde, Line 1168 I sall neuer no seynt bee, be my fadyre sawle!" Line 1169

Thane bourdez þe bolde kyng at Bedvere wordez: Line 1170 "Þis seynt haue I soghte, so helpe me owre Lorde! Line 1171 Forthy brayd owtte þi brande, and broche hym to þe herte; Line 1172 Be sekere of this sergeaunt, he has me sore greuede. Line 1173 I faghte noghte wyth syche a freke þis fyftene wyntyre; Line 1174 Bot in þe montez of Araby I mett syche anoþer: Line 1175 He was þe forcyer be ferre þat had I nere funden— Line 1176 Ne had my fortune bene faire, fey had I leuede. Line 1177 Onone stryke of his heuede, and stake it thereaftyre, Line 1178 Gife it to thy sqwyere, fore he es wele horsede, Line 1179 Bere it to Sir Howell, þat es in harde bandez, Line 1180 [folio 66r] And byd hym herte hym wele, his enmy es destruede. Line 1181 Syne bere it to Bareflete, and brace it in yryne, Line 1182 And sett it on the barbycane, biernes to schewe. Line 1183

Line 1183 My brande and my brode schelde apon þe bent lyggez, Line 1184 On þe creeste of þe cragge, thare fyrste we encontrede, Line 1185 And þe clubb þarby, all of clene iren, Line 1186 Þat many Cristen has kyllyde in Constantyne landez; Line 1187 Ferke to the farlande, and fetche me þat wapen, Line 1188 And late founde till oure flete, in flode þare it lengez. Line 1189 If thow wyll any tresour, take whate the lykez; Line 1190 Haue I the kyrtyll and þe clubb, I coueite noghte ells." Line 1191

Now þey caire to þe cragge, þise comlyche knyghtez, Line 1192 And broghte hym þe brade schelde and his bryghte wapen, Line 1193 Þe clubb and þe cotte alls, Syr Kayous hym seluen, Line 1194 And kayres with the Conquerour, the kyngez to schewe Line 1195 That in couerte þe Kyng helde closse to hym seluen, Line 1196 Whills clene day fro þe clowde clymbyd on lofte. Line 1197

Be that to courte was comen clamour full huge; Line 1198 And before þe comlyche kyng they knelyd all at ones: Line 1199 "Welcom, our liege lorde, to lang has thow duellyde— Line 1200 Gouernour vndyr Gode, graytheste and noble, Line 1201 To wham grace es graunted and gyffen at His will; Line 1202 Now thy comly come has comforthede vs all. Line 1203 Thow has in thy realtee reuengyde thy pople; Line 1204 Thurghe helpe of thy hande, thyne enmyse are struyede, Line 1205 That has thy renkes ouerronne and refte them theire childyre; Line 1206 Whas neuer rewme owte of araye so redyly releuede!" Line 1207

Than þe Conquerour Cristenly carpez to his pople: Line 1208 "Thankes Gode," quod he, "of þis grace, and no gome ells, Line 1209 For it was neuer manns dede, bot myghte of Hym selfen, Line 1210 Or myracle of Hys Modyr, þat mylde es till all." Line 1211 He somond þan þe schippemen scharpely þeraftyre, Line 1212 To schake furthe with þe schyremen to schifte þe gudez, Line 1213 All þe myche tresour þat traytour had wonnen, Line 1214 To comouns of the contré, clergye and oþer: Line 1215 "Luke it be done and delte to my dere pople, Line 1216 That none pleyn of theire parte, o peyne of ȝour lyfez." Line 1217 He comande hys cosyn, with knyghtlyche wordez, Line 1218 To make a kyrke on þe cragg, ther the corse lengez, Line 1219 And a couent therein, Criste for to serfe, Line 1220 In mynde of þat martyre, þat in þe monte rystez. Line 1221

Line 1221