The romance of Emaré, re-edited from the ms., with introduction, notes and glossary, by Edith Rickert.

Emare.

(MS. Cotton Caligula, A ii.)

(1)

Ihesu, þat ys kyng in trone, [leaf 71] [Jesus, who created all things,] As þou shoope boþe sonne and mone, And alle þat shalle dele and dygħte, [ 3] Now lene vs grace such dedus to done, [grant us grace to enter heaven.] In þy blys þat we may wone, Men alle hyt heuen lygħte; [ 6] And þy modur Mary, heuyn qwene, Bere our arunde so bytwene, That semely ys of sygħt, [ 9] [Mother Mary, intercede for us with thy Son.] To þy sone þat ys so fre, In heuen wyth hym þat we may be, That lord ys most of mygħt. [ 12]

(2)

Menstrelles þat walken fer and wyde, [Minstrels who wander in many lands, should] Her and þer in euery a syde, In mony a dyuerse londe, [ 15] Sholde, at her bygynnyng, [first invoke the Creator.] Speke of þat ryghtwes [R. ryhtwes.] kyng That made both see and sonde. [ 18] Who-so wylle a stounde dwelle, [Whosoever will stop a while shall hear a tale of mirth and sorrow, about a fair lady called Emaré.] Of mykylle myrght y may ȝou telle, And mornyng þer a-monge; [ 21] Of a lady fayr and fre, Her name was called Emare, As I here synge in songe. [ 24]

(3)

Her fadyr was an emperour, [Her father was an emperor called Sir Artyus, who had great possessions.] Of castelle and of ryche towre, Syr Artyus was hys nome; [ 27] He hadde boþe hallys and bowrys, Frythes fayr, forestes wyth flowrys, So gret a lord was none. [ 30] Weddedde he had a lady, [He had married a fair and courteous lady, Dame Erayne.] That was both fayr and semely, Whyte as whales bone; [ 33] Dame Erayne hette þat emperes, She was fulle of loue and goodnesse, So curtays lady was none. [ 36]

(4)

Syr Artyus was þe best manne [Sir Artyus was the best man in the world, brave] In þe worlde þat lyuede þanne, Both hardy and þer-to wygħt; [ 39] He was curtays in alle þyng, [and courteous and just.] Bothe to olde and to ȝynge, And welle kowth dele and dygħt. [ 42] He hadde but on chyld in hys lyue, [He had but one child of his wedded wife; but that was fair and seemly,] Be-geten on hys weddedde wyfe, And þat was fayr and brygħt; [ 45] For soþe, as y may telle þe, They called þat chyld Emare, [and called Emaré.] That semely was of sygħt. [ 48]

(5)

When she was of her modur born, [When she was born, she was the fairest crea∣ture in the land.] She was þe fayrest creature borne, That yn þe lond was þoo; [ 51] The emperes, þat fayr ladye, [The empress died before the child could speak or walk,] Fro her lord gan she dye, Or hyt kowþe speke or goo. [ 54] The chyld, þat was fayr and gent, [so it was sent to a lady called Abro,] To a lady was hyt sente, That men kalled [R. called.] Abro; [ 57]

She thawȝtħ hyt curtesye and thewe, [who taught it courtesy and stitchery, among other maidens.] Golde and sylke for to sewe, Amonge maydenes moo. [ 60]

(6)

Abro tawȝte þys mayden smalle, [Abro gave this small maiden the usual educa∣tion.] Nortur [R. Nortour.] þat men vseden̄ [R. usedenn.] in sale, Whyle she was in her bowre. [ 63] She was curtays in alle thynge, [She was courteous to everybody,] Bothe to olde [R. old.] and to ȝynge, And whythe as lylye flowre; [white as a lily, clever with her hands, and loved by all.] [ 66] Of her hondes she was slye, Alle he[r] loued þat her sye, Wyth menske and mychyl honour. [ 69] At þe mayden̄ leue we, [Now let us leave the maiden and her nurse and speak of the emperor,] And at þe lady fayr and fre, And speke we of þe emperour. [ 72]

(7)

The emperour of gentylle blode, [who, after his wife's death, led his life in widow hood, and greatly loved dalli∣ance.] Was a curteys lorde and a gode, In alle maner of thynge. [ 75] Aftur, when hys wyf was dede, And ledde hys yn weddewede, And [G. changes And to He. Other possible emendations are: And he ledde; or, by analogy to l. 989, A ledde.] myche loued playnge,— [ 78] Sone aftur, yn a whyle, [Soon after, the great king of Sicily came to the emperor,] The ryche kynge of Cesyle To þe emperour gan̄ wende. [ 81] A ryche present wyth hym he browght, [leaf 71, bk.] [bringing a splendid cloth as present, and was nobly welcomed.] A cloth þat was wordylye wroght. He wellecomed hym as þe hende. [ 84]

(8)

Syr Tergaunte þat nobylle knyȝt (hyȝte), [The omission of hyȝte improves the metre; but although the yȝ is blotted, the word is not unmistakably crossed out by the scribe. Kölbing, however, considers it erased (Eng. Stud., xv, 248). See note on the line.] [Sir Ter∣gaunte, that noble knight, on his knee before the emperor,] He presented þe emperour rygħt, And sette hym on hys kne, [ 87]

Wyth þat cloth rychyly dygħt, [offered the splendld cloth, which was as thickly set as possible with topaz and rubies,] Fulle of stones þer hyt was pygħt, [MS., was dye (crossed out) pygħt.] As thykke as hyt mygħt be: [ 90] Of(f) [G. Of.] topaze and rubyes, And oþur stones of myche prys, [with toad∣stones and agate(?) and other rich stones,] That semely wer to se; [ 93] Of crapowtes and nakette, As [G. suggests A[l]s[ō] for As to improve the metre. See ll. 90. 138.] thykke ar þey sette, For sothe, as y say þe. [ 96] [as I tell thee truly.]

(9)

The cloth was dysplayed sone, [As the emperor looked at the cloth, he could not see readily for the glistering of the rich stones,] The emperour [R. emperoer.] lokede þer-vpone, And myght[e] hyt not se; [ 99] For glysteryng of þe ryche ston Redy syghte had he non̄, And sayde, "How may þys be?" [ 102] [and said, "How may this be?] The emperour sayde on hygħ, "Sertes, þys ys a fayry, [Certes, this is a fairy thing or an illu∣sion." The King of Sicily answered, "It is the richest jewel in christen∣dom."] Or ellys a vanyte!" [ 105] The Kyng of Cysyle answered þan, "So ryche a jwelle ys þer non In alle Crystyante." [ 108]

(10)

The amerayle dowȝter of heþennes [The daughter of the Emir of heathen∣dom made this cloth, and adorned it with gold, azure and precious stones,] Made þys cloth wyth-outen̄ lees, And wrowȝte hyt alle wyth pride; [ 111] And purtreyed hyt wyth gret honour, Wyth ryche golde and asowr, And stones on ylke a syde. [ 114] And, as þe story telles in honde, [which were sought far and wide.] The stones þat yn þys cloth stonde, Sowȝte þey wer fulle wyde. [ 117] Seuen wynter hyt was yn makynge, [Seven years it was a∣making, before it was finished.] Or hyt was browghte to endynge, In herte ys not to hyde. [ 120]

(11)

In þat on korner made was [In the first corner were the true lovers, Ydoyne and Amadas, portrayed with true∣love-flower in precious stones,] Ydoyne and Amadas, Wyth loue þat was so trewe; [ 123] For þey loueden̄ hem wyth [R. wit.] honour, Portrayed [G. Pourtrayed.] þey wer wyth trewe-loue-flour, Of stones brygħt of hewe: [ 126] Wyth carbunkulle and safere, [carbuncle, sapphire, chalcedony and clear onyx, set in new gold,] Kassydonys and onyx so clere, Sette in golde newe; [ 129] Deamondes and rubyes, [diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones.] And oþur stones of mychylle pryse, And menstrellys wyth her gle[we]. [ 132]

(12)

In þat oþur corner was dygħt, [In the second corner were the true lovers, Trystram and Isowde, set thickly with precious stones,] Trystram and Isowde so bryȝt, That semely wer to se; [ 135] And for þey loued hem rygħt, As fulle of stones ar þey dygħt, As thykke as þey may be: [ 138] Of topase and of rubyes, [with topaz, rubies, and other gems,] And oþur stones of myche pryse, That semely wer to se; [ 141] Wyth crapawtes and nakette, [with toad∣stones and agate(?).] Thykke of stones ar þey sette, For sothe, as y say þe. [ 144]

(13)

In þe thrydde korner, wyth gret honour, [In the third corner were Florys and Dame Blawn∣cheflour,] Was Florys and Dam Blawncheflour, As loue was hem be-twene; [ 147] For þey loued [G. supplies hem after loued by analogy to l. 124 above.] wyth honour, Purtrayed þey wer wyth trewe-loue-flour, [R. flower.] [with true∣love-flower in gems,] Wyth stones brygħt and shene: [ 150] Ther wer knyȝtus and senatowres, ["knights and senators," potent emeralds,] Emerawdes of gret vertues, To wyte wyth-outen̄ wene; [ 153]

Deamoundes [R. Deamondes.] and koralle, [diamonds, coral, chryso∣lite, orystal, and good garnets.] Perydotes and crystalle, And gode garnettes by-twene. [ 156]

(14)

In the fowrthe korner was oon, [In the fourth corner was the son of the Sultan of Babylon, and the Emir's daughter, who made this cloth for his sake.] Of Babylone þe sowdan sonne, The amerayles dowȝtyr hym by. [ 159] For hys sake þe cloth was wrowght; She loued hym in hert and thowght, As testy moyeth þys storye. [ 162] The fayr mayden her by-forn [leaf 72] Was portrayed an vnykorn, [An unicorn, with his high horn, was portrayed before the maiden, with flowers and birds in rare stones.] Wyth hys horn so hye; [ 165] Flowres and bryddes on ylke a syde, Wyth stones þat wer sowghte wyde, Stuffed wyth ymagerye. [ 168]

(15)

When the cloth to ende was wrowgħt, [When the cloth was finished, it was brought to the sultan's son. "My father took it by force from the sultan, and gave it me, and I bring it to thee specially."] To þe sowdan sone hyt was browȝt, That semely was of syȝte. [ 171] "My fadyr was a nobylle man, Of þe sowdan he hyt wan, Wyth maystrye and wyth [R. omits.] myȝtħ. [ 174] For gret loue he ȝaf hyt me, I brynge hyt þe in specyalte, Thys cloth ys rychely dygħt." [ 177] He ȝaf hyt þe emperour, [He gave it to the emperor, who thanked him properly.] He receyued hyt wyth gret honour, And þonkede hym fayr and ryȝt. [ 180]

(16)

The Kyng of Cesyle dwelled þer, [The King of Sicily amused himself with the emperor as long as he wished,] As long as hys wylle wer, Wyth þe emperour for to play; [ 183] And when he wolde wende, He toke hys leue at þe hende, [then took leave and went home.] And wente forth on hys way. [ 186]

Now remeueth [So MS., not remeneth as G. says.] þys nobylle kyng. [Now the emperor longed to speak with his daughter, and sent messengers to fetch her.] The emperour aftur hys dowȝtur hadde longyng, [This line is obviously corrupt. G. omits aftur hys dowtȝur and inserts he after emperour.] To speke wyth þat may. [ 189] Messengeres forth he sent Aftyr þe mayde fayr [R. fayre.] and gent, That was bryȝt as someres day. [ 192]

(17)

Messengeres dyȝte hem in hye; [These went forth, with mirth and minstrelsy,] Wyth myche myrthe and melodye, Forth gon þey fare, [ 195] Both by stretes and by stye, Aftur þat fayr lady, [to fetch the fair lady.] Was godely vnþur gare. [ 198] Her norysse, þat hyȝte Abro, [Abro, her nurse, went with her, and they set out in a "car,"] Wyth her she goth forth also, And wer sette in a chare. [ 201] To þe emperour gan þe[y] go; [to go to the emperor, who came a mile or two to meet them.] He come aȝeyn hem a myle or two; A fayr metyng was there. [ 204]

(18)

The mayden, whyte as lylye flour, [The maiden, white as a lily, alighted, and was led up by two knights.] Lyȝte aȝeyn [G. aȝeyen.] (her fadyr [G. suggests the omission of these words.] ) þe emperour; Two knyȝtes gan her lede. [ 207] Her fadyr, þat was of gret renowne, That of golde wered þe crowne, Lyȝte of hys stede. [ 210] [Her father also alighted, and when they were both on foot, "clipped her and kissed her,] When [G. Then.] þey wer bothe on her fete, He klypped her and kyssed her swete, And bothe on fote þey ȝede. [ 213] They wer glad and made good chere, To þe palys þey ȝede in fere, [and they went together to the palace.] In romans as we rede. [ 216]

(19)

Then þe lordes þat wer grete, [The great lords washed and sat down to meat.] They wesh and seten̄ don [R. doun.] to mete, And folk hem serued swyde. [ 219]

The mayden, þat was of sembelant [G. semblant.] swete, [The maiden sat before her father,] Byfore [G. Before.] her owene fadur sete, The fayrest wommon on lyfe; [ 222] [and she was so fair that he fell in love with her,] That alle hys hert and alle hys þowȝtħ, Her to loue was yn browgħt; He by-helde her ofte syþe. [ 225] So he was an-amored hys þowȝtur tylle, Wyth her he þowȝth to worche hys wylle, [and wished to make her his wife.] And wedde her to hys wyfe. [ 228]

(20)

And when þe metewhyle was don̄, [R. doun.] [When the meal was done,] In-to hys chambur he wente son̄, [R. soun.] And called hys counseyle nere. [ 231] [he called his council into his chamber, and bade them get leave from the Pope for him to wed his daughter.] He bad þey shulde sone go and come. And gete leue of þe Pope of Rome, To wedde þat mayden clere. [ 234] Messengeres forth þey wente, They durste [R. durst.] not breke hys commandement, [They durst not disobey, but sent messengers, and earls with them, to Rome. They brought the Pope's Bull permit∣ting the marriage.] And erles wyth hem yn fere. [ 237] They wente to þe courte of Rome, And browȝte þe Popus Bullus sone, To wedde hys dowȝter dere. [ 240]

(21)

Þen was þe emperour gladde and blyþe, [Then the emperor was glad, and had a robe made of the cloth of gold,] And lette shape a robe swyþe, Of þat cloth of golde; [ 243] And when hyt was don her vpon̄, She semed non erþely wommon, [in which she looked fairer than mortal woman.] That marked was of molde. [ 246] Then seyde þe emperour so fre, [Then he said, "Daughter, I will wed thee;"] "Dowȝtyr, y wolle wedde þe, Thow art so fresh to be-holde." [ 249] Then sayde þat wordy vnþur wede, [leaf 72, bk.] "Nay, syr, God of heuen hyt for-bede, [and she. "Nay, God forbid!] þat euer do so we shulde! [ 252]

(22)

Ȝyf hyt so be-tydde þat ȝe me wedde, [If we should marry, we should both be lost.] And we shulde play to-gedur in bedde, Bothe we were for-lorne! [ 255] Þe worde shulde sprynge fer and wyde, [The news would go all over the world.] In alle þe worlde on euery syde, Þe worde shulde be borne. [ 258] Ȝe ben a lorde of gret pryce, [You are a great lord; let not such sorrow arise.] Lorde, lette neuur such [R. suche.] sorow a-ryce, Take God ȝou be-forne! [ 261] That my fadur shulde wedde me, [God forbid that my father should marry me!"] God forbede þat I hyt so se, That wered þe crowne of þhorne [R. thorne.] !" [ 264]

(23)

The emperour was ryght wrothe, [The em∣peror was furious, and swore great oaths that she should die. He had a boat made, and put her therein, in her splen∣did dress, without food or drink;] And swore many a grete othe, That deed shulde she be. [ 267] He lette make a nobulle boot, And dede her þer-yn, God wote, In þe robe of nobulle ble. [ 270] She moste haue wyth her no spendyng, Noþur mete ne drynke [MS. drynke. R. adds [givyng]. G. suggests n[ōþ]e[r]. Cf. l. 593 below. I should suggest drynkyng in the sense of something to drink; but the first instance of this use quoted in the Oxford Dictionary is 1552. See note on the line.] ; But shate [R. shote.] her yn-to þe se. [ 273] [and cast her into the sea without anchor or oar.] Now þe lady dwelled þore, Wyth-owte anker or [G. suggests ō[þe]r ōre, which improves the metre.] ore, And þat was gret pyte! [ 276]

(24)

Ther come a wynd, y vnþurstonde, [A wind arose and blew the boat out of their sight.] And blewe þe boot fro þe londe, Of her þey lost þe sygħt. [ 279] The emperour hym be-þowgħt, [The emperor bethought himself, and grieved so at his mis∣deed that he fell to the earth in a swoon.] That he hadde alle myswrowħt, And was a sory knyȝte. [ 282]

And as he stode yn studyynge, He felle down in sowenynge, To þe yrþe was he dygħt. [ 285] Grete lordes stode þer-by, [The great lords that stood by, took him up and com-forted him.] And toke v[p] [MS. vn.] þe emperour hastyly, And conforted hym fayr and rygħt. [ 288]

(25)

When he of sownyng kouered was, [When he was recover∣ed, he wept sore and said, "Alas, my daughter! Alas, that I was made man!] Sore he wepte and sayde, "Alas, For my dowħter dere! [ 291] Alas, þat y was made man! Wrecched kaytyf þat I hyt am!" The teres ronne by hys lere. [ 294] "I wrowgħt [R. wrawght.] a-ȝeyn Goddes lay, [I went against God's law, and she was true. Alas, that she were here!"] To her þat was so trewe of fay. Alas, why ner [MS. vowel blotted.] she here!" [ 297] The teres lasshed out of hys yȝen; The grete lordes þat hyt syȝen, [The great lords wept with him.] Wepte and made ylle chere. [ 300]

(26)

Ther was noþur olde ny ȝynge, [There was none that did not weep for that comely maid.] That kowþe stynte of wepynge, For þat comely vnþur kelle. [ 303] In-to shypys faste gan̄ þey þrynge, [They throng∣ed into ships to seek her; but although they sought every where on the sea, they came back without her.] For to seke þat mayden ȝynge, Þat was so fayr of flesh and felle. [ 306] They her sowȝt ouur-alle yn þe see, And myȝte not fynde þat lady fre, A-ȝeyn þey come fulle snelle. [ 309] At þe emperour now [MS. inserts in the margin, with a caret to show that it should be placed between emperour and leue.] leue we, [Now let us leave the emperor and speak of the lady.] And of þe lady yn þe see, I shalle be-gynne to telle. [ 312]

(27)

The lady fleted forth a-lone; [She floated forth alone, praying to God and His mother.] To God of heuen she made her mone, And to hys modyr also. [ 315]

She was dryuen wyth wynde and rayn, [She was driven on with strong storms of wind and rain against her.] Wyth stronge stormes her a-gayn, Of þe watur so blo. [ 318] As y haue herd menstrelles syng yn sawe, Hows ny lond myȝth she non knowe, [R. knawe.] [As I have heard min∣strels sing, she could not find house or land; but in her fear of the water, hid her head.] A-ferd she was to go. [ 321] She was so dryuen fro wawe to wawe, She hyd her hede and lay fulle lowe, [R. lawe.] For watyr she was fulle woo. [ 324]

(28)

Now þys lady dwelled þore, [Now she re∣mained thus, lying still in her sorrow, a good seven-night and longer,] A good seuen-nyȝth and more, As hyt was Goddys wylle; [ 327] Wyth carefulle herte and sykyng sore, Such sorow was here ȝarked ȝore, And euer lay she stylle. [ 330] She was dryuen yn-to a lond, [L. 331, in MS. is followed by l. 338 crossed out.] [until by God's grace she was driven ashore.] Thorow þe grace of Goddes sond, That alle þyng may fulfylle; [ 333] She was on þe see so harde be-stadde, [leaf 73] [So hard was she bestead that she was nearly mad with hunger and thirst.] For hungur and thurste almost madde, Woo worth wederus ylle! [ 336]

(29)

She was dryuen in-to a lond, [She was driven into a land called "Galys."] That hyȝth Galys, y vnþurstond, That was a fayr countre. [R. cuntre.] [ 339] Þe kyngus steward dwelled þer by-syde, [The king's steward, Sir Kadore, who dwelled there in a great castle, every day went down to the sea with a squire or two.] In a kastelle of mykylle pryde; Syr Kadore hygħt he. [ 342] Euery day wolde he go, And take wyth hym a sqwyer or two, And play hym by þe see. [ 345] On a tyme he toke þe eyr, [Once he was taking the air with two knights,] Wyth two knyȝtus gode and fayr; The wedur was lythe of le. [ 348]

(30)

A boot he fond by þe brym, [and found a boat ashore, in it a glistering thing that amazed them; but they went up to the lady, who had been so long "meat∣less," that it grieved them to see she was almost dead.] And a glysteryng þyng þer-yn, Ther-of þey hadde [R. had.] ferly. [ 351] They went forth on þe sond To þe boot, y vnþurstond, And fond þer-yn þat lady. [ 354] She hadde so longe meteles be, That hym þowht gret dele to se; She was yn poyn[t] to dye. [ 357] They askede her what was her name; [They asked her name; but she changed it to Egaré.] She chaunged hyt þer a-none, And sayde she hette Egare. [ 360]

(31)

Syr Kadore hadde gret pyte; [Sir Kadore, full of pity, took the lady home.] He toke vp þe lady of þe see, And hom gan he[r] lede. [ 363] She hadde so longe meteles be, [She was lean as a tree through lack of food.] She was wax lene as a tre, That wordy vnþur wede. [ 366] In-to hys castelle when she came, [They took her into a room of the castle, and fed her with all kinds of delicious meat and drink.] In-to a chawmbyr þey her nām, And fayr þey gan̄ [R. gann.] her fede, [ 369] Wyth alle delycyus mete and drynke, That þey myȝth hem on þynke, That was yn alle þat stede. [ 372]

(32)

When þat lady, fayr of face, [When the fair lady was recovered,] Wyth mete and drynke keuered was, And had colour a-gayne, [ 375] She tawȝte hem to sewe and marke [she taught them to sew and mark all kinds of silk∣work. They were full fain of her; she was courteous to all,] Alle maner of sylky [R. sylkyn. MS. sylky, but a letter has evidently been erased after it.] werke; Of her þey wer fulle fayne. [ 378] She was curteys yn alle þyng, Bothe to olde and to ȝynge, I say ȝow for certeyne. [ 381]

She kowȜthorn;e [R. kowthe.] werke alle maner þyng, [and could do work suited to emperor, king, earl, baron, or swain.] That felle to emperour, or to kyng, Erle, barown̄ or swayne. [ 384]

(33)

Syr Kadore lette make a feste, [Sir Kadore made a goodly feast for the king, with min∣strelsy of trumpet, tabour, psaltery, harp, and fiddle.] That was fayr and honeste, Wyth hys lorde, þe kynge. [ 387] Ther was myche menstralse, Trommpus, tabours [R. Trompus, tabors.] and sawtre, Bothe harpe and fydylleyng. [ 390] The lady, þat was gentylle and smalle, [The gentle lady, in her kirtle alone, served before the king;] In kurtulle alone serued yn halle, By-fore þat nobulle kyng. [ 393] Þe cloth vpon̄ her shone so bryȝth, [but in her shining robe she seemed no earthly thing.] When she was þer-yn y-dyȝth, She semed non erdly þyng. [ 396]

(34)

The kyng loked her vp-on̄, [The king looked at her, and became so enamoured of her fair∣ness that he could not eat,] So fayr a lady he syȝ neuur non̄, Hys herte she hadde yn wolde. [ 399] He was so an-amered of þat syȝth, Of þe mete non he myȝth, But faste gan her be-holde. [but stared at her fixedly.] [ 402] She was so fayr and gent, The kynges loue on her was lent, In tale as hyt ys tolde. [ 405] And when þe metewhyle was don̄, [R. doun.] [When the meal was done, he went into the chamber and called his barons,] In-to þe chambur he wente son̄, [R. soun.] And called hys barouns bolde. [ 408]

(35)

Fyrst he calle[d] Syr Kadore, [Sir Kadore, and other knights to come hastily to him; and wise dukes and earls came and asked the king's will.] And oþur knyȝtes þat þer wore, Hastely come hym tylle. [MS., l. 411 is omitted and written in the margin.] [ 411] Dukes and erles, wyse of lore, Hastely come þe kyng be-fore, And askede what was hys wylle. [ 414]

Then spakke þe ryche yn ray, [Then he said to Sir Kadore, "Tell me whence is that lovely maid] To Syr Kadore gan he say, Wordes fayr and stylle: [ 417] "Syr, whēns ys þat louely may, [leaf 73, bk.] That yn þe halle serued þys day? [that served in hall to-day"] Telle me, ȝyf hyt be þy wylle." [ 420]

(36)

Then sayde Syr Kadore, y vnþurstonde, [Then said Sir Kadore: "An earl's daughter from a far land. I sent for her to teach my children courtesy.] "Hyt ys an erles þowȝtur of ferre londe, That semely ys to sene. [ 423] I sente aftur her, certeynlye, To teche my chylderen curtesye, In chambur wyth hem to bene. [ 426] She ys þe konnyngest wommon, [She is the cunningest woman in her work that I have seen in christen∣dom." Then said the king: "I will make her my queen."] I trowe, þat be yn Crystendom, Of werk þat y haue sene." [ 429] Then sayde þat ryche raye, "I wylle haue þat fayr may, And wedde her to my quene!" [ 432]

(37)

The nobulle kyng, verament, [The king sent for his mother,] Aftyr [R. After.] hys modyr he sent, To wyte what she wolde say. [ 435] They browȝt[e] fortħ hastely [and showed her the fair maid in her shining robe.] That fayr mayde Egarye; She was bryȝth as someres day. [ 438] The clotħ on her shon so brygħt, When she was þer-yn dygħt, And her-self a gentelle may, [ 441] The olde qwene sayde a-non̄, [The old queen said, "I never saw a woman half so fair."] "I sawe neuer wommon Haluendelle so gay!" [ 444]

(38)

The olde qwene [R. old quene.] spakke wordus vnhende, [The old queen said ungra∣ciously, "Son, this is a flend.] And sayde, "Sone, þys ys a fende, [MS. as in text, not sende as G. says.] In þys wordy wede! [ 447]

As þou louest my blessynge, [Do not marry her, if you love my bless∣ing."] Make þou neuur þys weddynge, Cryst hyt de forbede!" [ 450] Then spakke þe ryche ray, [Then the king said, "Mother, I will," and led her forth.] "Modyr, y wylle haue þys may!" And forth gan her lede. [ 453] The olde qwene, [R. quene.] for certayne, [The old queen went home in anger, and would not be present.] Turnede wyth ire hom a-gayne, And wolde not be at þat dede. [ 456]

(39)

The kyng wedded þat lady brygħt; [The king married the lady with great pur∣veyance.] Grete puruyance þer was dyȝtħ, In þat semely sale. [ 459] Grete lordes wer serued a-rygħt, [Great lords were well served, and there was a huge crowd,] Duke, erle, baron and knyȝtħ, Both of grete and smale. [ 462] Myche folke for soþe þer was, And þer-to an huge prese, As hyt ys tolde yn tale. [ 465] Ther was alle maner þyng, [and all thing that belong to a king's wedding, including minstrels.] That felle to a kyngus weddyng, And mony a ryche menstralle. [ 468]

(40)

When þe mangery was done, [After the feast was done, the great lords departed,] Grete lordes departed sone, That semely were to se. [R. see.] [ 471] The kynge be-lafte wyth þe qwene, [and left the king and queen to∣gether in love and joy.] Moch loue was hem be-twene, And also game and gle. [ 474] She was curteys and swete, Such a lady herde y neuur of ȝete; They loued botħ wyth herte fre. [ 477] The lady þat was both meke and mylde, [The lady, that was courteous and sweet, con∣ceived a child, as it was God's will.] Conceyued and wente wyth chylde, As God wolde hyt sholde be. [ 480]

(41)

The kyng of France, yn þat tyme, [The king of France, at that time beset with Saracens,] Was be-sette wyth many a Sarezyne, And cumbered alle in tene; [ 483] And sente aftur þe kyng of Galys, [sent for the king of "Galys" and other lords.] And oþur lordys of myche prys, That semely were to sene. [ 486] The kyng of Galys, in þat tyde, [The king of "Galys" gathered men from all sides,] Gedered men on euery syde, In armour brygħt and shene. [ 489] Then sayde þe kyng to Syr Kadore, [and said to Sir Kadore and other lords, "Take heed to my queen."] And oþur lordes þat ther wore, "Take good hede to my qwene." [ 492]

(42)

The kyng of Fraunce spared none, [The king of France sent for them all, king, knight, and clerk;] But sent for hem euerychone, Both kyng, knyȝth and clerke. [ 495] The stward [R. stiward.] by-laft at home, [but the steward re∣mained at home to take care of the queen. She went with child, according to God's will,] To kepe þe qwene whyte as fome, He come not at þat werke. [ 498] She wente wyth chylde yn place, As longe as Goddus wylle was. That semely vnþur serke; [ 501] Thylle þer was of her body, [till she gave birth to a goodly child with a double king's mark.] A fayr chyld borne and a godele, Hadde a dowbylle kyngus marke. [ 504]

(43)

They hyt crystened wyth grete honour, [They christ∣ened him Segramour with great honour.] And called hym Segramour; Frely was þat fode. [ 507] Then þe steward, Syr Kadore, [leaf 74] A nobulle lettur made he thore, [Then Sir Kadore made in haste a noble letter and sent it to the king.] And wrowȝte hyt alle wyth gode. [ 510] He wrowȝte hyt yn hyȝynge, And sente hyt to hys lorde þe kynge, That gentylle was of blode. [ 513]

The messenger forth gan wende, [The mes∣senger went forth, and stopped at the castle of the king's mother.] And wyth þe kyngus modur gan lende, And yn-to þe castelle he ȝode. [ 516]

(44)

He was resseyued rychely, [She received him graci∣ously, and asked how the queen had sped. "Madam, she has a fair man-child, and lies ill."] And she hym askede hastyly, How þe qwene hadde spedde. [ 519] "Madame, þer ys of her y-borne A fayr man-chylde, y telle ȝou be-forne, And she lyth in her bedde." [ 522] She ȝaf hym for þat tydynge [She gave him a robe and forty shil∣lings for that news,] A robe and fowrty shylynge, And rychely hym cladde. [ 525] She made hym dronken of ale and wyne, [made him drunk with ale and wine,] And when she sawe þat hyt was tyme, Tho chambur she wolde [R. wole. G. suggests she hym led[d]e, which is better for rhyme as well as for metre.] hym lede. [ 528] [and led him to his room.]

(45)

And when (s)he was on slepe browȝt, [When he was asleep the wicked queen went to his room,] The qwene þat was of wykked þowȝt, Tho chambur gan she wende. [ 531] Hys letter she toke hym fro, [and took and burned the letter.] In a fyre she brente hyt do; Of werkes she was vnhende. [ 534] Anoþur lettur she made wyth euylle, [Another she made, saying that the queen had borne a devil] And sayde þe qwene had born a deuylle, Durste no mon come her hende. [ 537] Thre heddes hadde he there, [MS., hole in there, but the vowel is probably e.] [with three heads (of a lion, a dragon and a bear), and none dared ap∣proach her.] A lyon, a dragon and a beere, A fowlle, feltred fende. [ 540]

(46)

On þe morn, when hyt was day, [On the mor∣row, the mes∣senger con∣tinued his journey] The messenger wente on hys way, Bothe by stye and strete; [ 543]

In trwe story as y say, [till he came to the king, greeted him, and gave him the letter.] Tylle he come þer as þe kynge laye, And speke wordus swete. [ 546] He toke þe kyng þe lettur yn honde, And he hyt redde, y vnþurstonde, [As the king read, he wept, and then felt in a swoon because of his sorrow.] The teres downe gan he lete. [ 549] And as he stode yn redyng, Downe he felle yn sowenyng, For sorow hys herte gan blede. [ 552]

(47)

Grete lordes þat stode hym by, [Great lords took him up;] Toke vp þe kyng hastely; In herte he was fulle woo. [ 555] Sore he grette and sayde, "Alas, [but he greet∣ed sore, and said, "Alas, that I was ever born, and made king.] That y euur man born was! That hyt euur shullde be so! [MS. That hyt euur so shullde be.] [ 558] Alas, þat y was made a kynge, And sygħ wedded þe fayrest þyng, [and after∣wards wed∣ded the fairest thing on earth—that Jesus should send such a foul flend to come between us!"] That on erþe mygħt go! [ 561] That euur Jhesu hym-self wolde sende Such a fowle, loþly fende, To come by-twene vs too!" [ 564]

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When he sawe hyt myȝt no bettur be, [When he saw that it might be no better, he made and sealed an∣other letter, commanding] Anoþur lettur þen made he, And seled hyt wyth hys sele. [ 567] He commanded yn alle þynge, To kepe wele þat lady ȝynge, [that the lady be cared for until she was well, with folk to wait upon her.] Tylle she hadde her hele; [ 570] Bothe gode men and ylle, To serue her at her wylle, Bothe yn wo and wele. [ 573] He toke þys lettur of hys honde, [The mes∣senger took the letter, and rode home through the same land, by the king's mother's castle.] And rode þorow þe same londe, By þe kyngus modur castelle. [ 576]

(49)

And þen he dwelled þer alle nyȝt; [He stopped there all night, was well received, and knew of no treason. He was well at ease with food, ale, and wine, and lost his senses. And when he was asleep, the false queen sought and burned his letter; and made another, that the lady should be seized and led out of town,] He was resseyued and rychely dyȝt, And wyste of no treson. [ 579] He made hym welle at ese and fyne, [Probably a-fyne, as G. suggests. Cf. l. 913 below.] Bothe of brede, ale and wyne, And þat be-rafte hym hys reson. [ 582] When he was on slepe browȝt, The false qwene hys lettur sowȝt; [After t in MS., a small round blot, which does not seem to be intended for an e. G., however, sowȝte.] In-to þe fyre she kaste hyt downe. [ 585] A-noþur lettur she lette make, That men sholde þe lady take, And lede her owt of towne. [ 588]

(50)

And putte her yn-to þe see, [and put into the sea, with her rich robe and her child, with no money] In þat robe of ryche ble, The lytylle chylde her wyth; [ 591] And lette her haue no spendyng, [leaf 74, bk.] For no mete ny for drynke, [R. drynkyng.] [for food or drink.] But lede her out of þat kygħ. [R. kyght.] [ 594] "Vpon̄ payn̄ of chylde and wyfe, ["Upon pain of child and wife and your own life, grant her no pardon."] And also vpon̄ ȝour owene lyfe, Lette her haue no grygħt!" [ 597] The messenger knewe no gyle, [The mes∣senger knew nothing of this guile as he rode home.] But rode hom mony a myle, By forest and by frygħt. [ 600]

(51)

And when þe messenger come home, The steward toke þe lettur sone, [When the steward read the letter, he signed and said, "Alas, this is a bad case!"] And by-gan to rede. [ 603] Sore he sygħt and sayde, "Alas, Sērtes, þys ys a fowle case, And a de[l]fulle dede!" [ 606] And as he stode yn redyng, He felle downe yn swonynge, [R. swounynge.] [He fell down in a swoon,] For sorow hys hert gan blede. [ 609]

Ther was noþur olde ny ȝynge, [and they all wept with him for that good woman.] That myȝte for-bere of wepynge, For þat worþy vnþur wede. [ 612]

(52)

The lady herde gret dele yn halle, [The lady, hearing the outcry, called to the steward, "What is this?] On þe steward gan she calle, And sayde, "What may þys be? [ 615] Ȝyf any-þyng be a-mys. Telle me what þat hyt ys, [Tell me what is wrong."] And lette not for me." [ 618] Then sayde þe steward, verament, [The steward said, "Here is a letter from my lord that grieves me." She read how she must into the sea.] "Lo, her, a lettur my lord hath sente, And þer-fore woo ys me!" [ 621] She toke þe lettur and by-gan to rede; Then fonde she wryten alle þe dede, How she moste yn-to þe see. [ 624]

(53)

"Be stylle, syr," sayde þe qwene, [The queen bade him be still,] "Lette syche mornynge [MS., o in mornynge blotted.] bene; For me haue þou no kare. [ 627] Loke þou be not shente, But do my lordes commāundement, [R. commaundement.] [and do the command of his lord,] God for-bede þou spare! [ 630] For he weddede so porely, [who was ashamed of his "simple lady,"] On me, a sympulle lady, He ys a-shamed sore. [ 633] Grete welle my lord fro me, [and yet would never again get one so gentle of blood.] So gentylle of blo(l)de [R. blode.] yn Cristyante, Gete he neuur more!" [ 636]

(54)

Then was þer sorow and myche woo, [There was great weep∣ing and wringing of hands when the lady with her child entered the ship.] When þe lady to shype shulde go; They wepte and wronge her hond[e]. [R. honde. MS hondus.] [ 639] The lady, þat was meke and mylde, In her arme she bar her chylde, And toke leue of þe londe. [ 642]

When she wente yn-to þe see, [When in her rich robe she went into the sea,] In þat robe of ryche ble, Men sowened on þe sonde. [ 645] Sore þey wepte and sayde, "Alas, [men wept and said this was a wicked deed.] Certys, þys ys a wykked kase! Wo worth dedes wronge!" [ 648]

(55)

The lady and þe lytylle chylde [The lady and child floated on with hard∣ship.] Fleted forth on þe watur wylde, Wyth fulle harde happes. [ 651] Her surkote þat was large and wyde, [She covered her face with her surcoat.] Ther-wyth her vysage she gan hyde, Wyth þe hynþur lappes; [ 654] She was aferde of þe see, [In her fear, she lay down, with the child to her breast,] And layde her gruf vpon̄ a tre, The chylde to her pappes. [ 657] The wawes, þat were grete and strong, [while the great waves beat on the boat.] On þe bote faste þey þonge, [R. thronge.] Wyth mony vnsemely rappes. [ 660]

(56)

And when þe chyld gan to wepe, [When the child cried, she nursed it and sang it asleep, and said, "If ever I get to land,] Wyth sory herte she songe hyt a-slepe, And putte þe pappe yn hys mowtħ, [ 663] And sayde, "Myȝth y onus gete lond, Of þe watur þat ys so stronge, By northe or by sowthe, [ 666] Wele owth y to warye þe, see, [I ought to curse the sea that puts me to so much shame."] I haue myche shame yn the!" And euur she lay and growht. [G. emends to on grōwf, a reading suggested by Holthausen. See note on this line.] [ 669] Then she made her prayer, [She prayed to Jesus and His mother.] To Ihesu and hys modur dere, In alle þat she kowþe. [ 672]

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Now þys lady dwelled thore, [Thus the lady con∣tinued a seven-night and more in her sorrow.] A fulle seuene [MS., a letter seems to have been erased before nyght.] nygħt and more, As hyt was Goddys wylle; [ 675]

Wyth karefulle herte and sykyng sore, Such sorow was her ȝarked ȝore, And she lay fulle stylle. [ 678] She was dryuen toward Rome, [leaf 75] Thorow þe grace of [MS., o in of is corrected from y.] God yn trone, [By God's grace she was driven to∣wards Rome,] That alle þyng may fulfylle. [ 681] On þe see she was so harde be-stadde, For hungur and thurste alle-most madde, [almost mad with hunger and thirst.] Wo worth chawnses ylle! [ 684]

(58)

A marchaunte dw[el]led [A hole in MS. where el should be.] yn þat cyte, [In that city dwelled a rich mer∣chant called Jurdan,] A ryche mon of golde and fee, Iurdan was hys name. [ 687] E(e)uery day wolde he [who every day went to take the air by the sea.] Go to playe hym by þe see, The eyer for to tane. [ 690] He wente forth yn þat tyde, [On this occasion,] Walkynge by þe see syþe, Alle hym-selfe a-lone. [ 693] [he went forth alone, and found a boat with a woe-begone fair lady.] A bote he fonde by þe brymme, And a fayr lady ther-ynne, That was rygħt wo-by-gone. [ 696]

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The cloth on her shon so brytħ, [He was frightened] He was a-ferde of þat sygħt, For glysteryng of þat wede; [ 699] [by the glitter of the bright cloth, and thought she was no earthly being.] And yn hys herte he þowȝth rygħt, That she was non̄ erdyly wygħt, He sawe neuur non s(h)ucħ yn leede. [ 702] He sayde, "What hette ȝe, fayr ladye?" [He asked her name, and she said "Egarye."] "Lord," she sayde, "y hette Egarye, That lye her [R. here.] yn drede." [ 705] Vp he toke þat fayre ladye, [Then he took home the fair lady and her child.] And þe ȝonge chylde her by, And hom he gan hem lede. [ 708]

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When he come to hys byggynge, [When he came home he welcomed the lady,] He welcomed fayr þat lady ȝynge, That was fayr and brygħt; [ 711] And badde hys wyf yn alle þynge, [and bade his wife bring her meat and drink.] Mete and drynke for to brynge, To þe lady rygħt. [ 714] "What þat she wylle craue, ["Look to it that she has what she would like;] And her mowth wylle hyt haue, Loke hyt be redy dygħt. [ 717] She hatħ so longe meteles be, [and comfort her for the privation she has endured."] That me þynketh grette pyte; Conforte her ȝyf þou mygħt." [ 720]

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Now þe lady dwelles ther, [Now the lady dwells there in comfort,] Wyth alle mete þat gode were; [ 723] She hedde at her wylle. She was curteys yn alle þyng, [and by her courtesy wins the love of all.] Bothe to olde and to ȝynge; Her loued bothe gode and ylle. [ 726] The chylde by-gan for to þryfe, [The child throve, and became the fairest child alive.] He wax þe fayrest chyld onlyfe, Whyte as flour on hylle; [ 729] And she s[h]ewed [MS. has dots under h, seemingly to show erasure.] sylke werk yn bour, [And while she sewed silk-work, and taught her son, she still mourned in secret.] And tawȝte her sone nortowre; But euyr she mornede stylle. [ 732]

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When þe chylde was seuen ȝer olde, [When the child was seven years old, he was clever, and bold, and well-made,] He was bothe wyse and bolde, And wele made of flesħ and bone; [ 735] He was worþy vnþur wede, And rygħt welle kowþe prike a stede, [and could manage a horse.] So curtays a chylde was none. [ 738] [Everybody loved him for his courtesy.] Alle men louede Segramowre, Botħe yn halle and yn bowre, Wher-so-euur he gan gone. [ 741]

Leue we at þe lady, clere of vyce, [Now let us leave the lady and speak of the king of Galys, when he came home.] And speke of the kyng of Galys, Fro þe sege when he come home. [ 744]

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Now þe sege broken ys, [The siege is broken, and the king comes home in triumph,] The kyng come home to Galys, Wyth mykylle myrthe and pride. [ 747] Dukes and erles of ryche asyce, [with great lords riding by his side.] Barones and knyȝtes of mykylle pryse, Come rydynge be hys syde. [ 750] Syr K[a]dore [MS. Kodore.] , hys steward þanne, [Sir Kadore rode to meet him,] A-ȝeyn hym rode wyth mony a man, As faste as he mygħt ryde; [ 753] He tolde þe kyng a-ventowres, [and told him the news.] Of hys halles and hys bowres, And of hys londys wyde. [ 756]

(64)

The kyng sayde, "By Goddys name, [The king blamed him for not speak∣ing first of Egaré,] Syr Kadore, þou art to blame, For þy fyrst tellynge! [ 759] Thow sholdest fyrst haue tolde me Of my lady Egare, I loue most of alle þyng!" [ 762] [whom he loved best. Then the steward was grieved, and cried: "Are ye no true king?] Then was þe stewardes herte wo, And sayde, "Lorde, why sayst þou so? Art not þou a trewe kynge? [ 765] Lo her, þe lettur ȝe sente me, [leaf 75, bk.] Ȝowr owene self þe soþe may se; [Here is your letter. I have obeyed you."] I haue don ȝour byddynge." [ 768]

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The kyng toke þe lettur to rede, [The king read the letter, and turned pale, crying, "Alas, that ever I was born!] And when he sawe þat ylke dede, He wax alle pale and wanne. [ 771] Sore he grette and sayde, "Alas, That euur born y was, Or euur was made manne! [ 774]

Syr Kadore, so mot y the, Thys lettur come neuur fro me, [This letter never came from me."] I telle [R. tell.] þe her a-none!" [ 777] Bothe þey wepte and ȝaf hem ylle. "Alas," he sayde, "saf Goddys wylle!" [They lament∣ed together, and then swooned.] And both þe[y] sowened þen. [ 780]

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Grete lordes stode by, [The great lords took up the king;] And toke vp þe kyng hastyly, Of hem was gret pyte; [ 783] And when þey both keuered were, [and when the two were recovered, the king took the letter] The kyng toke hym þe letter þer, Of þe heddys þre. [ 786] "A, lord," he sayde, "be Goddus grace, [and said that he could not understand it.] I sawe neuur þys lettur yn place! Alas! how may þys be?" [ 789] Aftur þe messenger þer þey sente, [They sent for the messen∣ger and asked how he went. "Lord, by your mo∣ther's castle."] The kyng askede what way he went: [R. wente.] "Lor, [R. Lord.] be ȝour modur fre." [ 792]

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"Alas!" þen sayde þe kynge, ["Alas," said the king, "was it my mother then?] "Wheþur my modur wer so vnhende, To make þys treson? [ 795] By my krowne, she shalle be brent, [She shall be burned with∣out trial!"] Wyth-owten any oþur jugement, That thenketh me best reson!" [ 798] Grete lordes toke hem be-twene, [Great lords decided to exile the queen and attaint her.] That þey wolde exyle þe qwene, And be-refe her hyr renowne. [ 801] Thus þey exiled þe false qwene, [Thus they did, and deprived her of her property.] And by-rafte her hyr lyfloþe clene, Castelle, [MS., between Castelle and towre are the words town & with a dotted line beneath them to signify erasure.] towre and towne. [ 804]

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When she was fled ouur þe see fome, [When she had fled over∣sea, the king remained at home, sor∣rowing] The nobulle kyng dwelled at hom̄, Wyth fulle heuy chere; [ 807]

Wyth karefulle hert and drury mone, Sykynges made he many on, For Egarye þe clere. [ 810] [for Egaré.] And when he sawe chylderen play, [And when he saw children play, he wept for his son.] He wepte and sayde, "Welle-a-wey, For my sone so dere!" [ 813] Such lyf [MS., after lyf a hole, covering space enough for a letter, perhaps e.] he lyued mony a day, [Thus he lived] That no mon hym stynte may, Fully seuen yere. [ 816] [for seven years,]

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Tylle a thowght yn hys herte come, [till he re∣membered how his lady was drowned for his sake,] How hys lady, whyte as fome, Was drowned for hys sake. [ 819] "Thorow þe grace of God yn trone, [and he de∣cided to go to Rome for penance.] I wolle to þe pope of Rome, My penans for to take!" [ 822] He lette ordeyne shypus fele, [He prepared many ships and filled them with goods for his men,] And fylled hem fulle of wordes wele, Hys men mery wyth to [MS. after to, be crossed out.] make. [ 825] Dolys he lette dyȝth and delle, [gave aims for his soul's sake,] For to wynnen hym sowles hele, To þe shyp he toke þe gate. [ 828] [and went aboard.]

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Shypmen, [MS., h is written over y, in Shypmen.] þat wer so mykylle of price, [The sailors made ready,] Dygħt her takulle on ryche a-cyse, That was fayr and fre. [ 831] They drowȝ vp sayl and leyd out ore, [drew up sail and laid out oar, with a fair wind and fine weather.] The wynde stode as her lust wore, The weþur was lyþe on le. [ 834] They sayled ouer þe salt fome, [They sailed over the salt foam, by God's grace.] Thorow þe grace of God in trone, That most ys of powste. [ 837] To þat [R. the.] cyte when þe[y] come, [He took his inn at the house of the burgess with whom Emaré dwelled.] At þe burgeys hous hys yn he nome, [L. 837 follows in MS., but is crossed out and underlined.] Ther-as woned Emarye. [G. Emarē.] [ 840]

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Emare called he[r] sone, [Emaré called her son,] Hastely to here come, Wyth-oute ony lettynge, [ 843] And sayde, "My dere sone so fre, [and bade him do her bid∣ding.] Do a lytulle aftur me, And þou sha[l]t [R. shalt.] haue my blessynge. [ 846] To-morowe þou shalle serue yn halle, [On the mor∣row he should serve in the hall before the king.] In a kurtylle of ryche palle, By-fore þys nobulle kyng; [ 849] Loke, sone, so curtays [R. curteys.] þou be, [leaf 76] That no mon fynde chalange to þe, [so courte∣ously that no man could take exception to anything.] In no manere þynge! [ 852]

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When þe kyng ys serued of spycerye, ["When the king is served with spicery, kneel down and take his hand,] Knele þou downe hastylye, And take hys hond yn þyn; [ 855] And when þou hast so done, Take þe kuppe of golde sone, And serue hym of þe wyne. [ 858] [and offer him wine, and come tell me what he says."] And what þat he speketh to þe, Cum a-non̄ and telle me, On Goddus blessyng and myne!" [ 861] The chylde wente yn-to þe halle, [The child went into the hall among the great lords.] Among [R. Amonge.] þe lordes grete and smalle, That lufsumme [R. lufsume.] wer vnþur lyne. [ 864]

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Then þe lordes þat wer grete, [They washed and went to meat, and minstreis brought in the courses. The child served so courteously as to win the love and admiration of all.] Wysh and wente to her mete, Men[s]trelles browȝt yn þe kowrs. [ 867] The chylde hem serued so curteysly, Alle hym loued þat hym sy, And spake hym gret honowres. [ 870] Then sayde alle þat loked hym vpon̄, So curteys a chyld sawe þey neuur non̄, In halle ny yn bowres. [ 873]

The kynge sayde to hym yn game, [The king asked his name, and he said, "Se∣gramowres."] "Swete sone, what ys þy name?" "Lorde," [R. Lord.] (he seyd) "y hyȝth Segramowres." [ 876]

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Then þat nobulle kyng [Then the king sighed,] Toke vp a grete sykynge, For hys sone hyghte so; [ 879] [for this was his son's name.] Certys, wyth-owten lesynge, The teres out of hys yen gan wryng; [He wept and was sorrow∣ful;] In herte he was fulle woo. [ 882] Neuer-þe-lese, he lette be, [but still he "let, be," as he looked at the child and loved him. But he asked the burgess, "Is this thy son?" and was answer∣ed, "Yes."] And loked on þe chylde so fre, And mykelle he louede hym þoo. [ 885] The kyng sayde to þe burgeys a-non̄, "Swete syr, ys þys þy sone?" The burgeys sayde, "Ȝoo." [ 888]

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Then þe lordes þat wer grete, [Then the great lords washed after meat before the spicery.] W(h)esshen a-ȝeyn aftyr mete, And þen come spycerye. [ 891] The chyld þat was of chere swete, [The child kneeled,] On hys kne downe he sete, And serued hym curteyslye. [ 894] [and served the king so well that he called the burgess, and said: "Give me that little boy, and I will make him a great lord."] The kynge called þe burgeys hym tylle, And sayde, "Syr, yf hyt be þy wylle, Ȝyf me þys lytylle [MS., after lytylle, chylde is written and crossed out.] body! [ 897] I shalle hym make lorde of town and towre, Of hye halles and of bowre, I loue hym specyally." [ 900]

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When he had serued þe kyng at wylle, [When he had served the king, he went and told his mother what had hap∣pened. "When he shall go to chamber, take his hand, for he is thy father,] Fayr he wente hys modyr tylle, And tellys her how hyt ys. [ 903] "Soone when he shalle to chambur wende, Take hys hond at þe grete ende, For he ys þy fadur, y-wysse; [ 906]

And byd hym come speke wyth Emare, [and bid him come speak with Emaré, who called herself Egaré in Galys." Then the child re∣turned to his serving.] That changed her name to Egare, In the londe [R. lond.] of Galys!" [ 909] The chylde wente a-ȝeyn to halle, A-monge þe grete lordes alle, And serued on ryche a-syse. [ 912]

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When þey wer welle at ese, a-fyne, [When they were satisfied,] Bothe of brede, ale and wyne, They rose vp, more and myn. [ 915] [they rose up;] When þe kyng shulde to chambur wende, [and when the king was going to his chamber, the child led him in,] He toke hys hond at þe grete ende, And fayre he helpe hym yn; [ 918] And sayde, "Syr, yf ȝour wylle be, Take me ȝour honde and go wyth me, For y am of ȝowr kynne! [ 921] Ȝe shulle come speke wyth Emare, [and gave him Emaré's message.] That chaunged [R. changed.] her nome to Egare, That berys þe whyte chynne!" [ 924]

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The kyng yn herte was fulle woo, [The king was sorrowful when he heard of her who had been his queen; but although he said this was impos∣sible,] When he herd mynge þo, Of her þat was hys qwene; [ 927] And sayde, "Sone, why sayst þou so? Wher-to vmbraydest þou me of my wo? That may neuer bene!" [ 930] Neuurþeles wyth hym he wente; [he went with the child, and the lady came to meet him in her bright robe.] A-ȝeyn hem come þe lady gent, In þe robe brygħt and shene. [ 933] He toke her yn hys armes two, [He took her in his arms, and they both swooned for joy and love.] For joye þey sowened, both to, Such loue was hem by-twene. [ 936]

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A joyfull metyng was þer þore, [There was great] Of þat lady, goodly vnþur gore, Frely in armes to folde. [ 939]

Lorde! gladde was Syr Kadore, [rejoicing over] And oþur lordes þat þer wore, Semely to be-holde, [ 942] Of þe lady þat wa[s] [MS. wat.] put yn þe see, [the recovery of the lady that had been put into the sea.] Thorow grace of God in Trinite, Þat was keuered of cares colde. [ 945] Leue we at þe lady whyte as flour, [leaf 76, bk.] And speke we of (her fadur) þe emperour, [Now speak we of the emperor,] That fyrste þys tale of y-tolde. [ 948]

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The emperour her fadyr þen [who was now old,] Wa[s] [MS. Wax.] woxen an olde man, And þowȝt on hys synne; [ 951] Of hys þowȝtyr Emare, [and remem∣bered his sin against his daughter.] That was putte yn-to þe see, That was so brygħt of skynne. [ 954] He þowȝt[e] that he wolde go, [He decided to go to the Pope for penance,] For hys penance to þe Pope þo, And heuen for to wynne. [ 957] Messengeres he sente forth sone, [and sent mes∣sengers to find him an inn at Rome.] And þey come to þe kowrt of Rome, To take her lordes inne. [ 960]

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Emare prayde her lord, [R. lorde.] þe kyng, [Emaré prayed her] "Syr, a-byde þat lordys komyng, That ys so fayr and fre. [ 963] And, swete syr, yh alle þyng, A-qweynte ȝou wyth þat lordyng; Hyt ys worshyp to þe." [ 966] [lord to ac∣quaint him with the emperor.] The kyng of Galys seyde þan, "So grete a lord ys þer non, Ȝn alle Crystyante." [ 969] "Now, swete syr, what-euur be-tyde, [He agreed, and she bade him ride with his knights to meet that great lord.] A-ȝayn þat grete lord ȝe ryde, And alle þy knyȝtys wyth þe." [ 972]

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Emare thawȝte her sone ȝynge, [Emaré taught her son that if] A-ȝeyn þe emperour komynge, How þat he sholde done: [ 975] "Swete sone, yn alle þyng, Be redy wyth my lord þe kyng, And be my swete sone! [ 978] When þe emperour kysseth þy fadur [R. fadyr.] so fre, Loke ȝyf he wylle kysse the, [the emperor kissed him, he should say, "Come speak with Emaré, that was put into the sea."] A-bowe þe to hym sone; [ 981] And bydde hym come speke wyth Emare, That was putte yn-to þe see, Hym-self ȝaf þe dome." [ 984]

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Now kometh þe emperour of pryse; [Now the king] A-ȝeyn hym rode þe kyng of Galys, Wyth fulle mykulle pryde. [ 987] The chyld was worþy vnþur wede, [and the child with him rode to meet the emperor,] A [R. And; G. A[nd]. See note on this line.] satte vpon a nobylle stede, By hys fadyr syde; [ 990] And when he mette þe emperour, He valed hys hode wyth gret honour, And kyssed hym yn þat tyde; [ 993] [and was kissed by him and other great lords.] And oþur lordys of gret valowre, They also kessed Segramowre; In herte ys not to hyde. [ 996]

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The emperours hert [R. herte.] anamered gretlye, [The emperor greatly loved the child.] Of þe chylde þat rode hym by, Wyth so louely chere. [ 999] Segramowre, he s[t]ayde hys stede, [Segramowre, in the hear∣ing of his father and other lords,] Hys owene fadur [R. fadyr.] toke good hede, And oþur lordys þat þer were. [ 1002] The chylde spake to þe emperour, And sayde, "Lord, for þyn honour, [bade the emperor] My worde þat þou wylle here: [ 1005]

Ȝe shulle come speke wyth Emare, [come speak with his daughter Emaré.] That changede her name to Egare, That was þy þowȜthorn;ur dere." [ 1008]

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The emperour wax alle pale, [The emperor grew pale, and asked why he was reminded of his sorrow;] And sayde, "Sone, why vmbraydest me of bale, And þou may se no bote?" [ 1011] "Syr, and ȝe wylle go wyth me, I shalle þe brynge wyth þat lady fre, Þat ys louesom on to loke." [ 1014] Neuur-þe-lesse, wyth hym he wente; [but was re∣assured, and went with the child to meet the lady.] A-ȝeyn hym come þat lady gent, Walkynge on her fote. [ 1017] And þe emperour a-lyȝte þo, And toke her yn hys armes two, And clypte and kyssed her sote. [ 1020]

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Ther was a joyfulle metynge [There was a] Of þe emperour and of þe kynge, And also of Emare; [ 1023] And so þer was of Syr [S]egramour, [joyful re∣union,] That aftyr was emperour; A fulle gode man was he. [ 1026] A grette feste þer was holde, [and a great feast was given.] Of erles and barones bolde, As testymonyeth þys story. [ 1029] Thys ys on of Brytayne layes, [This is one of the old lays of Britain.] That was vsed by olde dayes, Men callys "playn þe garye." [Playn[t] þ' E-garye? See note on the line.] [ 1032] Iheso, [R. Jhesu.] þat settes yn þy trone, [Jesus, bring us to Thy per∣petual glory.] So graunte vs wyth þe to w[o]ne, [MS. wene.] In þy perpetualle glorye! Amen. [R. omits Amen and Explicit Emare.] [ 1035]

Explicit Emare.