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

The fyfthe, vj, and vij chapitres

The fyfthe, vj, and vij chapitres[Caxton ed. c. 1489]

[[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.

[[sign. A iiij.]]

¶ The vj. chapytre conteyneth how Blanchardyn went after the knyght so longe that he founde him, where he wold haue enforced the lady of the wounded knyght /[Caxton ed. c. 1489]

Blanchardyn, that wyth all his herte desyred to fynde him that he went sekynge, rode forth wythin the forest so moche, that he founde the foot of the hors of hym for whom he wente in enqueste, whiche he folowed ryght quykly, in so moche that fro ferre he entre herde þe cryes ful piteouse of a mayden wher by he thought and knewe for trouthe that it was she that he went sekynge. So tourned he that parte / & soone chose in the shadowe vnder a busshe the knyght that he soughte, & the gentyl mayde or damoysell dolaunt, & ful sprenct wyth grete teerys / Ryght fowly handled & sore beten by the sayde knyght,

for the reffuse that she made to his shameles concupyscence / Blanchardyn herynge the cryes, & seeynge þe wepynges, the grete sorowe & doleaunce of the vertuose and noble mayden / broched wyth þe spowrys & swyftli waloppyd that parte, tyl that he cam to the place where as the sayde pucelle cryed so pyteously / Where as atte thapproches that he made, said ful instantli to þe knyght: 'vassal, kepe þat ye nomore attouch þe pucel / & defende youre self from me. for hir sake I wyl fight with you in fauoure of þe good knight her true louer / þe whiche falsly, as an vntrewe knyght, ye haue be trayd & wounded vylaynously, wythout a cause goode or raysonable: so yelde ye her ayen lightli to me by loue [paramour] / & I shal lede her ageyn surely and saufly towards her right dere loue.' [ami]

¶ The knyght thenne beholdynge the Iouencell Blanchardyn that right yong was, and sawe hym alone, Rose anone vpon his feet / all chaffed and full of yre, as half madde for the contraryte of his wylle that he founde in the same mayde, moche fyersly behelde blanchardyn, & sayde vnto him, that in vayne he traueylled for to require her from him for another / in sainge to him that of suche purpose he wolde ceasse, and that he shulde noo more speke therof, or ellys he shulde shewe hym by his swerde / that the pursyewte that he had made and wolde yet make for her / shulde

be to his shame / And that he shulde therfore dye shamefully in that place. [Wanting in the French.] expand_less

[[sign. A iiij.]]

¶ The vij chapytre conteyneth and speketh of the bataylle that was made betwyx the sayde knyght and Blanchardyn. And so longe they fought that Blanchardyn slewe hym sterke ded / and reskued the pucelle, the whiche deyde for sorowe, bycause that she founde her true louer ded.[Caxton ed. c. 1489]

Whan blanchardyn vnderstode the knyght thus went thretnyng hym, and that so moche inhumaynly entreated the gentyll pucelle / sayde vnto hym, 'vassell, goo thou, and lyght vpon thy destrer. For syth that by fayre meanes thou wylt not yelde ayen the pucelle, thou most nedes deffende the nowe ayenst me the right that thou pretendest vpon her. [thou most nedes deffende the nowe ayenst me the right that thou pretendest vpon her = Il te conuient contre moi deffendre le droit que tu y pretendz a auoir.] And yf thou auaunce, or haste [Wanting in the French.] expand_less not thy self / I shal doo passe this same spyere thrughe the myddes of thy body / For thy lyffe is to me so gretly displeasaunte / But that it were for shame that I see the a fote, I sholde haue separed alredy [I sholde haue separed alredy = Ja te eust fait separer] the sowle of the / from the body.'

¶ The knyght, heryng the grete wordes of the Iouencell Blanchardyn / answerd hym, & sayde, 'o thou proude berdles boye [berdles boye = garchon] , and full of arrogaunce, ouer grete haste thou makest to the purchas of thy deth whiche is right

sore nyghe, and the whiche I shal presente anone vnto the wyth the yron of my spere whiche is full sore trenchaunt' /

¶ Thenne wythout moo wordes the kynght mounted hastely on horsbake, and toke his spere whiche he cowched / and cam gyuyng the spores ayenst blanchardyn, that had his spere all redy prest in hande / Soo ranne the vasselles to gyder, and roughte eche other by suche a force vpon the sheldes, that they were brusen and broken all to peces; theire sperys (that sore bygge and stronge were) broke also all to pyces. And thenne toke theire swerdes, wherof they gaaffe many a grete stroke tyl eche other / Blanchardyn sore angry and euyl apayde [sore angry and euyl apayde = yre et maltalentif] / of that he sawe the vntrewe knyght to endure so longe / approched hym self ayenst hym, and heued vp his good swerde wyth bothe his handes, wherof he gaffe to the knyght suche an horryble and dysmesurable a strok, in whiche he had employed alle his strengthe & vertue, that he detrenched and cut his helmet and the coyffe of stele in suche manere awyse, [in suche manere awyse = tellement] that the goode swerde entred in to the brayne porfended, and cloue his hed vnto the chynne, and syn wringed his strock atte the pullyng out ayen, that he made of his swerde. So fell the knyght doune from

his hors, that neuere moeued fote nor legge [that neuere moeued fote nor legge = que oncques puis ne remua pie ne jambe] / The pucelle thenne seeynge that she was delyuered by the dethe of the knyght / wyst not what a manere she shulde kepe, nor how to thanke humbli ynoughe blanchardyn, whiche made the pucelle to lyght vpon the hors of the knyght so slayne and deed / fro the whiche incontynent he dyde cut of the hed, & henged hit atte forende of his sadel, for to shewe hit to the knyght wounded, that he shulde take the more comfort wyth the ryght wysshed desyre of the syght of hys present maystresse /

¶ The noble pucelle, ryght desyrouse to here tydynges of her right true louer / demaunded of Blanchardyn whether he wyst not that her louer was alyue / 'Bewtefull suster,' sayde blanchardyn, 'that owre that I parted from hym I lefte hym strongly greued and sore hurt, but I hope that yet, to the plesure of oure lorde, we shal fynde hym alyue /

¶ So late vs ryde a goode paas, to thende we may gyue hym comfort' / 'Alas, syre,' sayde the mayden, 'I make grete dowte, seen [attendu] his grete sore, that neuer I shal see hym alyue / And yf thus it happed, that god forbede, I shuld quyte and gyue vp the remenant of my lyffe. Syth that we two helde but one party For our herte, thenne shulde be departed, yf deth parted vs asondre in takynge fro me my louer. and my parte shulde be wythout powere, and as Imperfyht drawyng to the perfection of

his partye' / in suche deuyses as ye here, blanchardin & the maiden rode forth tyl that they cam to þe place where þe knyght her louer laye, whiche they founde ded, & the sowle departed fro the body / whan the pucelle sawe her feythfull loue dede, of the grete sorowe that she toke therof / She fell doune dyuerse tymes in a swoune vpon the corps or euer thusaunce of speche was in her restored for to complayne the intollerable euyll that for this infortune enuyroned her herte out of all sydes /

¶ And for tabredge, after the rewthes, syghes, and wepynges that so moche incessauntly or wythout ceasse [Wanting in the French.] expand_less / made the noble pucelle, fell doune sterk ded vpon the stomak [le pis] of her most dere louere.

¶ This seeyng, blanchardyn right moche abasshed hymself / and sayde in hym self that thees two persones loued eche other full truly. wher of moche grete pyte toke hym in tendryng theym, [in tendryng theym = en soy rattendrissant] so muche that the teerys ranne doune from his eyen / & right muche dyspleased hym that he muste leue them there / Ryght gladly / yf he had myght, wold haue brought them bothe wythin some place for to gyue the corsses a sepulture, to thende they shulde not abyde there to be fode for birdes and bestes / But so ferre he was from all townes, that agrete day Iournay nyhe were there noo dwellers. wherfor it behoued hym for to leue hem there, seeyng that noon otherwyse he myght doo / But disarmed hym self of tharmures of the sayd knyght / toke ayen his mantell, and syn departed, sore troubled

atte herte for the pyteouse dethe of the two true [Wanting in the French.] expand_less louers. And also had wel in remembraunce the knyght that he had slayne. Blanchardyn, all mournyng and pensefull, departed & went his waye / And from that tyme forthar began to fele a lytel of the state of loue / & praysed & comended hit in his herte, and was remembred of it allewayes /

[[sign. B [1]]]

Chap. 5.
How Blanchardine, hauing rode all night, found an armed Knight, ſore wounded, lying on the ground, &c. [1595 edition]

Blanchardine, hauing rode all the night, and finding both him ſelfe and his horſe begin to be wearie, and not any aduenture woorthy recounting, traueling thorough a large forreſt by many bye-paths (for feare of eſpialls), chaunced at laſt to finde a man armed, lying groueling on the ground, all imbrued in his owne gore, being by a knight moſte cowardly encountred; who not only had bemangled his limbes, but alſo bereft him of his looue and Miſtreſſe, which he had carried away [sign. B, back] perforce. when Blanchardine beheld this moſte heauie ſpectacle, allighting from his horſe, comforting the diſmaid knight, holpe to binde vp his bleeding wounds, & withall inquiring of him ye cauſe of his miſhap,

& the man that ſo inhumainlike had left him in this diſtreſſe. hee anſwered: "braue young Lord, I trauelling along theſe plaines, tending my iorney to my houſe, diſtant from hence not paſt two leagues, was on the ſuddain encountred by a vilain, who not only hath left me mangled and wounded as you ſee, but alſo hath caried by force from me my wife, whoſe abſence will be the preſent cauſe of my death, and whoſe daunger brings greater ſorrow to my heart then all theſe woundes which I endure."

'Why,' quoth Blanchardine, 'how long ſince departed hee hence, and left you thus diſtreſſed?' the wounded Knight replyed: "ſcarce half an houre agoe, he tooke his way towards yonder wood, and

caried my looue with him." then replyed Blanchardine: 'I neuer yet until this day haue vndertaken armes; but let mee requeſt you to honor me with the order of knight-hood, and I will pawne my life to dye, or to recouer againe your looue.' Then ſaid the wounded man: "I will not only make you knight, but withall (if you pleaſe) arme you with this my armour and launce, that ſhall adde more ſtrength to your courage; and beſides, I will exorate the Gods to ſend you all happines, not only in this, but in all other your honorable attemptes."

'Sir,' quoth Blanchardine, 'I thinke me ſufficiently honored by this your offer; therfore diſarme your ſelfe ſpeedily, that he may not be paſt recouerie, before I ouertake him.' So the wounded Knight armed him, and inveſted him with the order of Knighthood. when Blanchardine ſaw himſelfe thus arraied, his youthly courage prickt him on; who, taking his horſe, mounted the Saddle, wher brauely managing him vpon the plaine, to proue how well he could rule his Launce, found himſelfe (as he thought) fit for this enterprize. And

ſo, with valiant courage and cheerefull countenance, hee tooke his leaue of the w[ou]nded Knight, and poſted after the other, that had carried away his wife. He had not ridden long, but he perceiued the tracktes & footſteps of a horſe, that had lately gon that way; and, following thoſe ſteps with a ſpeedy pace, he heard the pittifull complaint that a [sign. B 2] Lady made, to appeaſe the raging luſt of a villaine, who ſought perforce to rauiſh her: whom preſently hee found, hid vnder the ſhadow of a leafye tree, beating ye poore diſtreſſed Lady, the wife

of the wounded knight. to whom, making ſpeedy approch, 'vaſſail, (quoth he), deſiſt from this cruell and damnable enterprize! for I ſweare by heauen, I will make thee repent this abſurd vilany.'

The Knight, feeing Blanchardine to be young, & greatly greeued for his ſodaine approch, made ſemblance of much wrath; but Blanchardine, with auſtere countenance & Princely voice, commaunded him preſently to free the Lady, whom moſt wrongfully he had caried away from her huſband, whom hee left almoſt ready to yeeld vp the ghoſt.

The knight, diſdaining to be ſo vpbraid by ſo yong a knight, beſtirred himſelfe preſently, and made him ready to the fight. But

(withall) commaunded Blanchardine to deſiſt from his enterprize and leaue him to his pleaſure, (or if not) it ſhould coſt him his life.

Blanchardine, not able to endure theſe cruell menaces, willed him to addreſſe him to the combat quickly, or he would send him, body and ſoule, to hell: wherevpon he furniſhed himſelfe to the fight.

The combate betweene Blanchardine and the Knight.

Theſe braue caualiers, being mounted, encountred ech other with ſuch agility, that their ſpeares ſhiuered in the ayre; & each of them, admiring the valure of his foe, and finding their launces broken, they betooke them ſelues to their ſwords. long remained the fight doubtfull, till Blanchardine, remembring the equitie of his quarrell, and the honor he ſhould atchiue by this conqueſt, with all the agillity and ſtrength hee could, (mounting himſelfe on his ſtirrops), ſo feircely aſſailed his foe, that vnnayling his armor and vnlacing his helmet, he ſent him [sign. B 2, back] to carry newes of Blanchardines valure, to the

infernall ghoſts: which when the Lady ſaw ſo brauely accompliſht, ſhe foorthwith gaue thankes to God and him for this deliuerie. Then Blanchardine, ſeuering the head of the ſlaine traitorous Knight from his body, hung it at the pombell of his Saddle, and ſet the Lady on the Knights horſe, and poſted towards the wounded knight. but on the way, ſhee demaunded of Blanchardine in what ſtate he had left her knight? to whome he replyed, that though hee were greatly wounded, yet was he liuing. 'alas! (quoth ſhe), let vs poſt to comfort him, with as great ſpeede as we may.' But approching the

place, where they found him dead, which ſight ſo amazed and diſcomforted the ſorowfull Lady that, calling to heauen for vengeance on the ſoule of her aduerſary, ſhe preſently yeelded vp the Ghoſt; which ſtraunge event ſo amazed Blanchardine, to ſee ſuch perfect amitie to reſt in two conioyned hearts, that leauing them, and diſarming him ſelf of his armour (being to heauy for his cariage), he tooke againe his mantle, which before hee had left with the knights,

and poſted away. but, remembring this integritie of affection betweene them, he felt the ſting of loue to penetrate the intralls of his tender hart.