Caxton's Blanchardyn and Eglantine, c. 1489 : from Lord Spencer's unique imperfect copy, completed by the original French and the second English version of 1595

[[sign. A iij.]]

¶ The fyfthe chapitre speketh how blanchardyn founde a knyght on his waye wounded to deth by another knyght, that from hym had taken his lady awaye.

And how by the [sign. A iiij.] same, Blanchardyn was made knyght, that promysed to rescue his lady vnto hym. [Caxton ed. c. 1489]

As byfore ye haue herde of Blanchardyn, that alone was departed wythout leue of the kynge, his fader, holdynge the couert wayes, because that of his faders folke he shold not be folowed or ouer taken / So moche and so longe a space he rode wythout fyndyng of ony aduenture that ought to be recounted or tolde, that passyng forth on his waye thurghe the londe, founde hym self in a hyghe waye brode ynoughe / that ladde hym vnto thende of a grete forest, in whiche he entred and rode styl tyl the morowe none, wythout ony aduenture whereof men ought to make mencion. And so rode all nyght vnto the next morowe, tenn of the clocke. And gooynge doune from a hylle in to a valeye / founde a knyght that lay there on the grounde armed of all pieces, the whiche full pyteously complayned & made grete mone / Thenne blanchardyn, seeyng the knyght there alone taryed hym self, meruellyng why nor what cause [why nor what cause = pourquoy ne a quelle cause] moeuyd hym thus to sorowe and complayne. He stode styl, makyng humble salutacion vnto hym / and syth demaunded hym of the causes of his

sayde sorowe and greuaunce / The knyght, right humbly and wyth a right lowe voyce, as he [as he = comme cellui qui] that hurt was to deth / rendryd hym ayen his salewyng, & well alonge aduertysed the Iouencel blanchardyn of his mysaduenture / shewyng to hym the place and the wounde that drue hym toward to dethe by the hande of a knyght that had taken his lady from hym, the whiche thynge was but late doon vnto hym.

¶ Thenne Blanchardyn, moued of pyte, alyght from his courser, [Wanting in the French.] expand_less and sette fote on erthe, and disarmed the knyght from his armures, and syth wrapped his wounde, wherof he so sore sorowed, and dyde couere hym wyth his mantell, axyng / yf he that Iniurye had doon to hym myght be but lytyll ferre goon / The knyght answerd and sayde / that he myght wel haue goon a myle and nomore / After this he toke hym self to syghe full sore, saynge / 'Alas! my right dere lady that so moche I loued / This day shal the separacion be made of the two hertes that so stedfastly loued eche other. I fele deth atte thentree of my sorowefull herte, prest and redy [prest and redy = preste] to make me pryuated of the swete remembraunce of our entyre and feythfull loue / but moche more werse and greuouse is to me that by vyolent opressyon / that traytour that hath wounded me to deth / shall enioye youre youghthe vnpolusshed.' To thees wordes

sayde Blanchardyn to the knyght, and prayed hym [Wanting in the French.] expand_less that he vousshesauff to helpe hym that he were doubed knyght wyth his armes [that he vousshesauff to helpe hym that he were doubed knyght wyth his armes = quil le aidast a adouber de ses armes] / and that in fauoure and compassion of his infortune he sholde auenge hym of his enmye, and that he shulde yelde ayen his lady vnto hym [Wanting in the French.] expand_less / Thenne the knyght sore hurt to dethe, wyth grete peyne rose up on feet, & armed blanchardyn with his armes, & gaaf him þe necstroke of knighthode, & dowbed knight for to strengthe þe more the good wylle þat he had toward him / that tyme þe [that tyme þe = alors que] blanchardyn sawe hym self armed of all his armures, he was right gladde & Ioyous, & sore desyrynge for to auenge the dyshonnoure & shame that to þe knyght had be late don / He cam toward his goode courser, on whiche he lyght ful quykly / the shylde alonge the brest, & the helmet wel clos laced, the spere on the rest, [the spere on the rest = la lance au poing] & his goode swerde y-girded [his goode swerde y-girded = sailly sur son destrier sans quelque auantage prendre] / Whan blanchardyn sawe hym self on horsbacke & thus wel armed, made a tourne upon the playne for grete Ioye / & to þe knyght began thus to saye: 'vassell

enforce your self & take ayen your corage, for, to the playsyre of our lorde, Your loue & lady I shal yelde vnto you this day / & also youre enmye taken or ded' / thenne brocheth blanchardyn forth wyth the sporys, his ryche courser, takyng his leue of þe knyght sore wounded, & kept the way that the knyght dyde shewe / ful wel & right fayre dyde blanchardyn conteyne hym self in his harneys, seen that neuer had borne non armes a fore, & right wel halpe hym self wyth his spere, & handled & tourned hit at his playsyre.