The Thornton romances. The early English metrical romances of Perceval, Isumbras, Eglamour, and Degrevant. Selected from manuscripts at Lincoln and Cambridge. / Ed. by James Orchard Halliwell.

THE ROMANCE OF SIR DEGREVANT.

Sire Degrevvaunt, and theynke and thanke. [f. 80.]

I.

Lord Gode in Trynité, Yeff home hevene ffor to se, That lovethe gamene and gle, And gestys to ffede. Ther ffolke sitis in ffere, [ 5] Shullde mene herkene and here Off gode that beffore hem were, That levede on arthede; And y schalle karppe off a knyght, That was both hardy and wyght, [ 10] Sire Degrevaunt that hend hyght, That dowghty was of dede. Was nevere kyngh that he ffond, In ffraunce ne in Englond, Myght sette a schafft of hys hond [ 15] One a stythe stede!

II.

Wyth kyng Arrtor, y wene, And wyth Gwennor the quene, He was knowun ffor kene, That comelych knyght; [ 20] In Hethenesse and in Spayne, In ffraunce and in Bryttayne, Wyth Persevalle and Gawayne, ffor herdy and wyght! He was dowghty and dere, [ 25] And ther nevew ffulle nere, Ther he of dedys myght y-here, By days or by nyght. ffor-thy they name hem that stounde A knyght of tabulle round, [ 30] As maked is in the mappe-mound, In storye ffull ryght.

III.

He was ffayre mane and ffree, And gretlech yaff hym to gle, To harp and to sautré, [ 35] And geterne ffull gay; Well to play in a rote, Off lewtyng, welle y wote, And syngyng many suet not, He bare the pryes aey. [ 40]

Yet gamenes hade he mere, Grehoundes ffor hert and hare, Both ffor bokes and the bare, Be nyght and be day; ffelle ffaukons and ffayre, [ 45] Haukes of nobulle eyre, Tylle his perke ganne repeyre, By sexxty, y dar say.

IV.

He wold be upp or the day To honte and to revay, [ 50] Gretly yaff hem to pley Eche day to newe; Tho here hys mas or he went, Trewly in gode entaunt, And seththe to bowe into the bente, [ 55] There games inne grewe. Now to fforest he ffounde, Both wyt horne and with hound, To breyng the deere to the grond Was hys most glew; [ 60] Certus wyff wold he none, Wench ne lemone, Bot as an anker in a stone He lyved evere trew.

V.

There was sesyd in hys hand [ 65] A thousand poundus worth off land, Off rentes well settand, And muchlle delle more; An houndered plows in demaynus, ffayere parkes in-wyth haynus, [ 70] Grett herdus in the playnus, Wyth muchelle tame store. Castelos wyth heygh wallus, Chambors wyth noble hallus, ffayer stedes in the stallus, [ 75] Lyard and soore; Wher he herd of anny cry, Evere he was redy, He passede never fforth by In lond where they were. [ 80]

VI.

He lovede welle almos-dede, Powr men to cloth and ffede, Wyth menske and manhede, Offe met he was ffre; And also gestes to calle, [ 85] And mensteralus her in halle, He yaff hem robes off palle, Off gold and off ffee.

In ych place whaer he comme, When he wente ffram heme, [ 90] They hade halowed hys name Wyth gret nobullé; In ych lond where he wentt, So many mene he hadd schennt, In justus and on tornament [ 95] He whan evere the gre!

VII.

There wonede an eorl him be-syd, ȝe a lord off mochelle pryd, That hadd viij. fforestes fful wyd, And bowres ffulle brode; [ 100] He hade a grete spyt of the knyght, That was so hardy and wyght, And thought howe he best myght That dowghty to grode. He was sterne and stoute, [ 105] And rode in a gay route, And brak hys parkes about, The best that he hade; Ther-inne he made a sory pley, The ffattest he ffeld in ffey [ 110] By sexty one a day, Suche maystries he made!

VIII.

He drowhe reveres with ffysh, And slogh hys forsteres y-wys. The knyght wyste not of thys, [ 115] ffor soth y yow say; ffor he was in the holy lond, Dede of armes for to ffond, The hethenemene with hys hond He ffeld hem offten in ffey. [ 120] Hys steward hadd a lettre y-sent, A mesyngere hath hyt hent, And forth hys wey ys y-went, As ffast as ever he mey: When he tylle hys lord come, [ 125] The lettre in hys hand he nome, He sey, "Alle ȝoode to schome!" And went one hys wey.

IX.

Wyth the knytht was none abad, [f. 81.] He buskyd hyme fforth and rade [ 130] ffram the ffrount of the garnad, As ffaste as he myght; Sone he pased the see, He and hys meney, And come in-to hys contré [ 135] By the twelthe nyght.

Tyll hys maner he went, A ffeyre place he fond schent, Hys husbondus that yaf rent Was y-heryȝed dounryght: [ 140] His tenauntrie was alle done, The best in every tone; His ffayre perkes wer comene, And lothlych by-dyght!

X.

He closed hys perkes ayene; [ 145] His husbondus they were ff[a]yene, He lent hem oxone and wayne Of his owne store, And also sede for [to] sowe, Wyght horse for to drow, [ 150] And thought werke be lawe, And wyth none other schore. ffor-thi a lettre has he dyght To this eorl opo[n] myght, He preyd hem to do him ryght, [ 155] Ar telle hyme whereffore; And wyth sqwere he him sent, Off an honderd pond of rent, And fforth hys wey ys he went To wytt hys answere. [ 160]

XI.

The squiere nolde nat downe lyght, Bot haylis this eorl opone hyght, And sethes bowrone and knyght, With wordes fulle wise; He held the lettre by the nooke, [ 165] And to the eorle he hit toke; And he there-one gane loke, And seyde his avys, And spake to the squiere, "Ne were thow a messengere, [ 170] Thow shuld abey ryght here, Undere this wode rys! I wulle ffore thy lordes tene, Honte hys fforesstus and grene, And breke his perkes bydene, [ 175] Proudeste of prys!"

XII.

Thanne the squiere seyde sone, "Syre, that is nat well done, Ye have lefft hyme bot whone In herde is nat to hyde: [ 180] He that seyth that hit is ryght, Be he squiere othere knyght, Here my glove one to ffyght, What chaunce so be-tyde!

Syr, yeff hit be youre welle, [ 185] Thenkes that ye han done ylle, Y rede ye amend to schkylle, ffor wothes is ever wyde!" The eorl answeryd y-wyse, "Y wolle nat amend that mese, [ 190] Y counte hyme nat at a cres ffor alle hys mechelle pryd!"

XIII.

Than the eorl wax worth, And swore many a gret owth, He schold be messaggere lothe [ 195] But he hys wey wente! He toke his leve with-outen nay, And wendus fforth one his way, As ffast as ever he may, Over the brode bent. [ 200] He come home at the none, And told how he hade done; The knyght asked him as sone, What answer he sent. "Sir, and he may as he ment, [ 205] His game wolt he never stent, Thyself and he may the hent, I telle the, for y-schent."

XIV.

Than syr Degrevvaunt syght, And byheld the hevene up-an hyght, [ 210] "Jhesus, save me in my ryght, And Maré me spede! And y schalle yeff Gode a vow, Some of us schalle hyt row! Hyt schalle not be for his prow, [ 215] And y may right rede!" Anone to armus they hom dyght, As fast as evere they myght, Both squier and kynyght, Wys under wede; [ 220] Ther was armed one hye Tene score knythis redy, And iij. hondred archerus by, ffulle goode at here nede.

XV.

Anone to the forest they found, [ 225] There they stotede a stound; They pyght pavelouns round, And loggede that nyght. The eorle purveyede him an ost, And com in at another cost, [ 230] Wyth his brag and his bost, Wyth many a fferres knyght;

He uncouplede his houndus With-inne the knyghtus boundus; Bothe the grene and the groundus [ 235] They halowede an hyght: Thus the forest they fray, Hertus bade at abey; One a launde by a ley These lordus dounne lyght. [ 240]

XVI.

Sextene hertus wase y-slayne, And wer brought to a pleyne, Byfore tho cheff cheventene Y-leyd wer y-ffere. Thane seys the dukes on the land, [ 245] "Wher ys now sir Degrevvaund? Why wol not come this gyant To rescow his dere? Hys proud hertes of grese Bereth no chartur of pes; [ 250] We schalle have som ar we sese, Y wold he wer here! Trewely, are he went, He schuld the game repent, The proud lettre that he sent [ 255] By hys sqwere."

XVII.

Syre Degrevvaunt was so nere, [f. 82.] That he the wordes can here; He seyd, "Avaunt banere, And trompes apone hyght!" [ 260] Hys archerus that were thare, Both lase and the mare, As swythe were they thare, To shote were they dyght. Thane the eorle was payd, [ 265] Sone his batelle was reyde, He was nothyng afreyd Off that feris knyght; Now ar they met one a feld, Both with spere and sheld, [ 270] Wyghtly wepenes they weld, And fersly they ffyght!

XVIII.

And whan the batelle enjoined, With speres ferisly they foynede, There myght no sege be ensoynd, [ 275] That faught in the ffeld; Wyth bryght swerdus one the bent Rych hawberkes they rent, Gleves gleteryng glent Opone geldene scheldus. [ 280]

They stykene stedus in stoure, Knyghtus thorow her armere, Lordus off honore, Opone the hethene heldus; Thenne ffoughtene so ferisly, [ 285] Ther weste non so myghty, Who schold have the victory, Bot He that alle weldus.

XIX.

The doughty knyght sure Degrevaunt Leys the lordes one the laund, [ 290] Thorw jepun and jesseraund, And lames the ledes: Schyre scheldus they schrede, Many dowghty was dede, Ryche maylus wexen rede, [ 295] So manye bolde dedus. Thus they fowghtene one frythe, Kene kyneghus in-with kyth, Wo wrekes thare wryth, These doughty one dede! [ 300] Burnes he hadde y-borne doune, Gomes wyth gambisoune Lyes opone bent broune, And sterff undere stede.

XX.

Sire Degrevaunt, the gode knyght, [ 305] Br[i]ghtenes the basnettus bryght; Hys fferis ferysly they fyght, And ffelles home to grond: The knyghtus of the eorlus hous, That were y-halden so chyvalrous, [ 310] And in batelle so bountyveus, They deydene alle that stond! The eorl hovede and beheld, Both with spere and with scheld, How they ffayre in the ffeld, [ 315] And syght un-sound; The best mene that he ledde, He hadd y-lefft home to wedde, With ffyffty spers is he ffledd, And wodelech was y-wounded. [ 320]

XXI.

Syr Degrivvant and his mene ffeld home ffaste in the fene, As the deere in the dene To dethe he thame denges! Wyth scharpe exus of stelle [ 325] He playtede here basnetus welle, Many a knygh gart he knelle In the morny[n]g.

Sire Degrevvant was fulle thro, Deperted her batelle a-two; [ 330] The eorl sley and was wo, One a stede cane he spryng: He laf slawe in a slak fforty score on a pak, Wyd opene one here bake, [ 335] Dede in the lyng.

XXII.

Syre Degrevvant gat a sted, That was gode in ilk a ned; Many a side grat he bled, Thorow dent of his spere, [ 340] And schased the eorl within a whylle, More then enleve mele. Many bold gert he syle, That byfore dud hym dere! He come schygynge ayene, [ 345] And of hys folk was fyene, And fond nevere one slayne, Ne worse be a pere. He knelyde doune in that place, And thankyd God of his grace; [ 350] And alle wend that there was Tylle his feyre manere. Here endyth the furst fit. Howe say ye? will ye any more of hit?

XXIII.

Bleve to soper they dyght, Both squiere and knygh[t]; They daunsed and revelide that nyght, [ 355] In hert were they blythe. And whane the eorl come hame, He was wonded to schame; The lady ses he was lame, And swouned fulle swyth! [ 360] Offte she cryed, "Alas! Have ye nat perkus and chas? What schuld ye do a this place, Swych costus to kythe?" "Dame," he seys, "y was thare, [ 365] And me rews now fulle sare, Y take m[y] leve for evere mare Swych wornges to wrythe!"

XXIV.

One the morow sire Degrevva[n]t Dyght him at is avennaunt, [ 370] On a sted fferraunt Y-armed at ryghtes. To the castelle he rad, With folkys that he had; At the barnekynch he abad, [ 375] And lordelych doune lyght,

And axed yef ther eny were, That wold hyme delyvere him ther Off thre corses of wer, Hym and xij. knythus; [ 380] He prayd the portere ffor to bene his mesengere, And to wit an answere, And anone he him hytus.

XXV.

The portere went to the halle, [ 385] And to the eorl he cane calle, "Her is comen to thus walle, Y-armed apone a sted, Sire Degrevvant the gode knygt, With hey helmes bryght, [ 390] Many bold mene and wyght, Wyse undere wede; He axit justes of were, And prays the of answere: He mad me his mesager [ 395] To walk one his ned." The eorl answerd an hy, [f. 83.] "Here is none redy." Hit semes as that dowghty Sire Degrevaunt drede. [ 400]

XXVI.

The contase wendes to the halle, And hure doughter withalle; Sche was jentelle and smalle, And lovesome to seyght. She lokyd one that aunterous, [ 405] And seygh, "Sire kynghtes, Thou art a mane marvelus, My troth y the plyght! Yeff Gode hath lent the grace, That thou hast vencoust thy foos, [ 410] Ne sekes nat at oure ples Be day ne be nynght." The knyght spekes to that free, "Maydame, wytes nat me, Muchelle mawgré have he [ 415] That chalangeth unryght!"

XXVII.

He sais, "My perkes ar stroyed, And reveres endreyde; Y gretly ame anoyde, ffor south as y yow say! [ 420] Whyle y wared in Spyane, He made my londes barreyne, My wodes and my warreyne, My wylde ys away!

Y shalle do yow withowtene dred, [ 425] He that dede me that dede, Y schalle quite heme his mede, Y telle yow in ffay, Yeff y dey in the pleyne! That my fosteres hath slayne, [ 430] He shalle award home eyane, As sone as y may!"

XXVIII.

Thane spekes that wis in-with wane, "Ye have welle good mene y-slayne, Y rede ye be at ane [ 435] Or there dey any moo." The knyght answeres an hy, "He schalle that bargayne aby, That dede me this v[y]lany, As evere mote y goo! [ 440] Madame, yef hit be youre welle, Y pray yow take hit not to ille, Y ame holdene ther-tylle To fyght on my ffoo; Y telle yow trewly, [ 445] Hyt leyves not so lyeghtly, Many dowghty schalle dey Or hyt ende soo!"

XXIX.

The knyth hoves in the feld Bothe weth ax and with sheld; [ 450] The eorlus doughdere beheld That borlich and bolde, ffor he was armed so clene, With gold azoure ffule schene, And with his trewe-loves bytwene, [ 455] Was joy to behold. She was comlech y-clade, To ryche banrettes hur lade, Alle the beut[é] sche hade That frely to folde; [ 460] Wyth love she wendus the knyȝt, In hert trewly he hyeght, That he shalle love that swet wyȝt, Acheve how hit wold.

XXX.

How as evere hit cheve; [ 465] The knyght takes his leve, "Madame, takes not a-greve A thyng that y yow say; Gret welle the eorl they lord, And sey we shalle not acord, [ 470] Tylle my thyng be restored, That he hath done awey.

Here afore myght he eyth Sone have made me aseyth; Nowe schalle he, magré his tyeth, [ 475] For alle is grete arey! Trewly y undertake, Were hit not for youre sake, Y schalle hym wynly wake Or to-morow it were day! [ 480]

XXXI.

"Y lette ffor my gentriose To do swych roberyse, ffor seche ffayre laydés, There casteles to ffray; Sene y mey do no mare, [ 485] Tylle his freth wyle y fare, Y wolle no wyld best spare ffor soth alle this day!" Anone to forest they founde, Both with horne and with hound, [ 490] To breng the dere to the grond Alaund ther they lay: Thus this games he begane, Rachis reyally rane; Sexti bockes, ar he blane, [ 495] Hadde he felde in ffay.

XXXII.

Sire Degrevant, ar he reste, Temede the eorl one the beste, And hontede his forste Wyth bernus fulle bolde; [ 500] His depe dychys he drowe, Hys whyght swannes he slow, Grete luces y-nowe He gat home wold. Now hyme lykys no pley, [ 505] To honte ne to revey, ffor mayd Melidore the may His care wax alle cold! As he hounted in a chas, He told his squier his case, [ 510] That he loved in a place A frely to ffolde.

XXXIII.

"My love is leliche y-lyeght One a worthly wyeght, There is no berelle so bryght, [ 515] Ne cristalle so clere; She is waré and wyse, Rode ronne hit ys, As the rose in the ris, Wyth lylye in lere. [ 520]

She ys precious and palle, ffere feyrest of alle, Y say hure ones one a walle, Y neyȝed hure so nere; Y hade leve she were myne [ 525] Thane alle the gold in the Reyne, ffausoned one florene, She is myne so drere!"

XXXIV.

His squier answered y-wyse, "Lat me wyte what she is, [ 530] And y wol syker the this, In payne of my lyff, That y wolle do that y mey, Both be nyght and be day, Yef y cane be any way [ 535] Wyn hure to youre wyf; And here y shalle the ensure, Thi conselle nevere descure, Whylle my body may endure, Wyth swerd and wyth knyef [ 540] That y shalle faythly fyeght, Both in worng and in ryght, Or he be squier or knyght, Ayenese the wolle streff."

XXXV.

"Melydore ys hure naume, [ 545] Whyegh as the seys ffame; My bolde burnes wold me blame, What bot is that y ley? That I shoulde wow in a stede, [f. 84.] Aȝeyn alle mene rede, [ 550] And bothe my lyff and my dede Ys loken in hur tye; ffor she is frely and fair, And the eorlus owne eyer, I wolde nothing off their, [ 555] Broche ne bye. I wolde aske tham na mare But hyr body all bare, And we frendes for evermare, What doel that I drye!" [ 560]

XXXVI.

That sqwyer seyde hys avyse, "Think that ȝe ere enemys; Lat some wye that ys wys Walk one thus nede, ffor I dare saffly swere, [ 565] Gyff he take the in werre, Alle Englond here Wold spek of thi dede,

And say hyt ys a ffolly, ffor to love thin enemy, [ 570] Gyf thou gett a vylony, But maugré to mede; Other ladyes wolde say, Myȝthe no womman the apay Bete maiede Mylder the may, [ 575] Vlonkest on wede?"

XXXVII.

Then saide syr Degrivaunt, "Thou shal not mak thin avaunt That I shall be recreaunt, ffor frende ne for foo! [ 580] Thou woldest halde me ful made, ffor the erle ful rade; Troust I be so made To leve my love so? At even arme the well [ 585] Bothe in yren and in stel, And we shullen to the castel Bytwyx us owne two; Sertenly this ylke nyȝth, I wylle see hyr with syȝth, [ 590] And spek with that byrde bryȝth, ffor wel or for wo!"

XXXVIII.

Tow ryche cou[r]sers thei hente, And forthe here weys thei wente; Undir a lynd or thei lente, [ 595] By a launde syde. Whyle hyt dawed lyȝth day, The eorle buskede on hys way, Out at a posterne to play With knyȝth of pryde. [ 600] Sir Degrivaunt helde hym styll, Whyle the eorle passyde the hyll, And seid hys squier hym tyll Pryvaly that tyde, "I rede we hye us ful ȝerne [ 605] In at the ȝond posterne, And let us halde us in derne The burde tyll abyde."

XXXIX.

Syr Degrivaunt tok non hede; In at the posterne he ȝede. [ 610] The porter hade ben in drede, Hadd he ben thare. He that the ȝatt schulde kepe, He was go for to slepe; In at an orcherd thei lepe, [ 615] Y-armede as thei ware.

The knyȝt and the squiere Resten in a rosere, Tylle the day wex clere, Undurne and mare; [ 620] Whyle that hurde thei a bell Ryng in a chapell; To chyrche the gay dammisel Buskede hyr ȝare.

XL.

Sche come in a vyolet, [ 625] With whyȝthe perl overfret, And saphyrus therinne i-sett On everyche a syde; All of pall work fyn, With miche and nevyn, [ 630] Anerlud with ermyn, And overt for pryde. To tell hure botenus was toore, Anamelede with azoure; With topyes and trechoure [ 635] Overtrasyd that tyde, Sche was recevyd a spanne Of any lyvand manne; Off rede golde the rybanne Glemyd hure syde. [ 640]

XLI.

Hyr here was hyȝthtyd on hold With a coronal of golde; Was never made upon mold A worthelyche wyȝth. Sche was frely and fair, [ 645] And well hyr semed hyr geyr, With ryche boses a payr, That derely were by-dyȝth With a front endent, With peyrl of orient, [ 650] Out of Syprus was sent To that burd bryȝth; Hur kerchevus was curyus, Hyr vyssag ful gracious. Sir Degrivaunt that amerus [ 655] Had joye of that syȝth.

XLII.

By that the masse was i-seid, The halle was ryaly areyd; The eorlle hadd i-revayd, And in hys ȝerd lyȝthus: [ 660] Trompers tromped to the mete, They weshen and went to sette, So duden all the grete, Ladyes and knyȝttus.

When the lordys were drawin, [ 665] Ladyes rysen, was not to leyn, And wentten to chaumbur aȝeyne, Anon thei hom dyȝthus; Dame Mildore and hyr may Went to the orcherd to play, [ 670] Ther syr Degrivaunt lay Thei com anon-ryȝthus.

XLIII.

Syr Degrivaunt withouten lett In an aley he hyr mete, And godlyche he hyr gret, [ 675] That worthelyche wyȝth, And seyd, "Certys, lady and fre, [f. 85.] Jhesu save the and see, Thi servaunt wold I be, My trouȝth I the plyȝth! [ 680] I wold spek, hadd I space, Privély in a place; My lyff ys loken in thi grace, Thou worthilyche wyȝth!" The byrd was gretely affraid, [ 685] But natheles hoo was wel paid, He was so ryally arayd, That commolyche knyȝth.

XLIV.

The byrd answerus on hyȝth, "Whethur thou be squier or knyȝth, [ 690] Me thenkus thou not dost ryȝth, Sothely to say; That thou commyst armid on werre, To maydenus to afferre, That walkes in here erbere [ 695] Privély to play. By God and by Sent Jame, Y know not thi name, Thou erte gretely to blame, I tell the in fay!" [ 700] The knyȝt kneled hyr tyll, "Medame, yf hit be ȝoure wyll, I graunt I have done yll, I may not ageyn-say.

XLV.

"As God save me of synne, [ 705] I myȝth with non other gynne Tyl ȝour spech for to wynne, By day ne be nyȝthe; ffro I telle the my name, I am not for to blame, [ 710] And yf hit turne me to grame, I shal anon-ryȝth:

Hyt ys I, syre Degryvaunt! And hit were ȝoure avenaunt, I wold be ȝoure servaunt, [ 715] As y am trew knyȝth!" Sho seyd, "Tratur, lat be the, Be Hym that dyed on tre, My lord hymself shal the see Hanged on hyȝth!" [ 720]

XLVI.

Than syr Degrivaunt louȝh, As he stod under the bow, "Madame, ȝe wyteth me with wouȝh, Gyf hyt be ȝoure wyll! I had never no gylt, [ 725] Of al that blod that was spylt, That wyll I prove, as thou wylt, Above the ȝondur hyll: Corteys lady and wyse, As thou arte pervenke of pryse, [ 730] I do me on thi gentryse, Why wolt thou me spyll? And I be slayn in this stede, Thou shalt be cause of my dede; ȝet wolt thou rew that rede, [ 735] And lyke hyt ful yll!"

XLVII.

Sche said, "Tratur, thou shalt bye! Why were thou so hardye To do me this vylanye, By day ar by nyȝth? [ 740] For oure folk that thou hast slayn, Thou shalt be honged and drawyn, Therof my fadyr wol be fayn To see that with syȝth!" The knyȝt spak to this fre, [ 745] "Seththe hyt may no bettur be, Go feche all hys many With me for to fyȝth; And here my trouȝth er I leton, The geyest of hem shal gron, [ 750] Gyf ther come fourty for on, My trouȝth I the plyȝth!

XLVIII.

"And her my trouȝth I the plyȝthe, Tho that lepeth now ful lyȝth Shal be ffay, and we ffyȝth, [ 755] ffor all here michel pryde!" The stout man was astered, Hys squiere rauȝth hym hys swerd; Thanne the borlych berde No lenger durst byde. [ 760]

Tyl hyr chaumbur sche went, And swore the knyȝth shulde be schent. The mayde hur hood of hoe hent, And knelyd that tyde; "Meydame, oppon ȝowlus nyȝthe [ 765] My waryson ȝe me hyȝth; Y ne axe the bote ȝonde knyȝth To slep by my syde!"

XLIX.

Blyve the burde gat a blame, But sche ne let for no schame, [ 770] That sche ne asked the same, Sothly to say. "Damesel, go do thi best, I pray the let me have my rest; Go and glad thi gest, [ 775] In all the devyl way! ffor as ever Gode me save, Haddest thou asked a knave, The symplust that I have, Hadd be more to my pay: [ 780] I swere the by Goddus grace, Come he never in this place, He passed never syche a pace, By nyȝthe ne by day!"

L.

"Maydame," sche seid, "gramercy [ 785] Of thi gret cortesy." Blyve a chaumbur ther-by Busked was ȝare, And in sche feches the knyȝth, Prevaly withouten syȝthe, [ 790] As wymmen conn mychel slyȝthe, And ther wylles ware. Sche dyȝt to hys sopere The foules of the ryvere, Ther was no deyntethus to dere, [ 795] Ne spyces to spare. The knyȝt sat at hys avenaunt, In a gentyl jesseraunt; The mayd mad hym semblaunt, And hys met schare. [ 800]

LI.

Of all the met that she schare, The knyȝt ete never the mare; Whan he syȝthe ful sare, The mayden gan smyle. Sone aftyr he seys, [ 805] "What useth the eorl a-dayes? Hontes he ar revayes? What does he this whyle?"

The burd answerus agayn, [f. 86.] "Seththe hys chyvalry was slayn, [ 810] He passed never out on the playn Halvendel a myle; Hys hurtus has hym so y-deryd, He has byn gretely afferyd: The ȝatus has byn ay y-speryd [ 815] ffor dred of thi gyle!"

LII.

"Or hys ȝatis be y-speryd, I shal mak hym afferyd, I shal schak hym by the berd The nexte tyme we mete! [ 820] But I let for hur sake, That I have chosen to my mak, Sche doys me unwynly to wak, With wongus ful wete! I had levere sche were sauȝthe, [ 825] Then all the golde in hys auȝthe, And I in armus hade y-lauȝthe That commely and swete. Thane durste I saffly syng, Was never emporoure ne kyng [ 830] More at hys lykyng, And honde I the hete."

LIII.

The mayd answerus aȝeyn, "Me think thou travelus in vayn, Thou hast oure kunred y-slayn, [ 835] How myȝt hit so be? I swere the by Godus myȝthe, Com thou ever in hur syȝth, Thou bes honged on hyȝthe Hyie one a tre! [ 840] Hyr preferrys par-amoure Both dukes and emperoure; Hyt were hyr disonowre For to taken the: The duke of Gerle for hir has sent, [ 845] That he wol have a tornament, Hyt ys my lordys assent, Withynne for to be.

LIV.

"Tho duke comes of so gret arey To juste and to tornay; [ 850] Thou comes nat at that play By counsayl of me. Hyt is my lordys ensent, Come thou to that torniment, Sertaynly thou be schent [ 855] And all thi meynye!"

"Damesele, withouten drede, Thou hast warnyd me of this dede; Of this gret gentyl rede God for-ȝelde the! [ 860] And y swere be Sent Luke, I shal juste with that duke, Or I gete a rebuke, How ever that hyt be!

LV.

"And, damesel, for thi chere, [ 865] And for my god sopere, Thou shalt have my squiere, Lok yf the paye; Here i-gyf I ȝow be band An c. pownd worth of land, [ 870] To tak hyr by the hond, And do as y the saye." Whan here trouthus were plyȝthe, Sone torches were i-lyȝthe, And gaff hym ordyr of knyȝthe, [ 875] For sothe as I say. "Recumaunde, for Godys pyne, To my lady and thinne, As thou wolt that I be thin, To my dethus day! [ 880]

LVI.

"Recumaund me pryvaly To that fayre lady, Or hur thonke lyȝtherely That I am pore; Ther shal emporoure ne kyng, [ 885] That shal hyr to bed bryng, That I shall make a lettyng, I sey the tho sothe. Here my trouth I the plyȝthe, Seyn fyrst I see hyr with syȝthe, [ 890] I sleped never o nyȝthe Halvendel an houre! Pray that corteys and hende That sche wold be my frend, And some socoure me send [ 895] ffor hyr mychel honowre."

LVII.

The maid seis, "I take on hand, That I shal do thyn errand, Or I be flemyd out of lond, Y lete for no dred; [ 900] I shall teche the a gyn Out of this castel to wyn, And how thou shal come in Thyn erond to spede.

Ther ys a place in the wall, [ 905] Bytwyne the chaumbur and the hal, Thor lyȝthe a mychel watur-wal Of fourty feyt brede: Ther shalt thou come in a nyȝthe Prevaly withouten syȝth, [ 910] And here thi chaumbur shal by dyȝt, And I can ryȝth rede."

LVIII.

"Damesel, for Godus grace, Teche me to that ylke place." The maid prevaly apace [ 915] Passes byfore, And ledes hym out at a gate, In at a watur-ȝate, Ther men vytayled by bate That castel with cornes. [ 920] "At ebbe of the see, Thou shalt not wad to the kne." The knyȝt kyst that fre. Erly at the morow ffayir thei passed that flode, [ 925] To tho forest thei ȝoud, And toke here stedus where thei stod Undur the hawthrone.

LIX.

Syre Degrivaunt ys whom went And aftyr hys reten sent; [ 930] To that gret tornament Thei busked hem ȝare. But leve we now that gentyl knyȝt, And spek we of that byrd bryȝt; How thei gestened that nyȝt [ 935] Carp wyll we mare. Erly one the mowroun The lady louȝh hyr to scorne, Sche seys, "Thi maydynhed is lorne, God gyf the care!" [ 940] "Maydame, gyff hyt so be, [f. 87.] Hyt deres no man but me! I fouchesaff on that fre, And hyt so ware."

LX.

Tho lady louȝhwes uppon hyȝt, [ 945] "Damesele, for Godys myȝt, How peyis the that knyȝt, As evere mote thou the?" "I dare make myn avaunt ffor my lord syre Degrivaunt, [ 950] Corteys and avenaunt, I know non so fre!

Sertaynly this ylke nyȝthe, Hys squier ys mad knyȝthe, He and I ys trouthe plyȝthe [ 955] My housbond to be; And he hath gyf us by band, An c. pownd worth of land: Here the chartur in thi hand, Thiself may hyt see!" [ 960]

LXI.

Than that lady was glad By sche that chartur had rad, "Had thou syre Degrivaunant had, Then had thou wel i-gon." "Nay, meydame, so mot I thryve, [ 965] Ther ys now lady on lyve, That he wol wed to wyff, But only the allone. Y warne the of o thing, Ther shall be emporoure ne kyng, [ 970] That shal the to bede bryng, I owttake none, That hee wol make a lettyng; He sendys the syche a gretyng, Lo! here ys a rede gold ryng, [ 975] With a ryche stone."

LXII.

The lady loked on that ryng, Hyt was a gyfte fore a kyng, "This ys a merveylous thing! Wenus thou I be wode [ 980] To do syche a ffoly, To love my lordys enemy, Thow he were to so dowȝty? Nay, by the rode! Y do the wele for to wyte, [ 985] Y nel non housbond have ȝyte: Seye the knyȝthe whan ȝe mete, I wol hym no gude! The duk of Gerle hase i-hyȝt That he wol soupe here this nyȝt, [ 990] And gyf my chaumbur were i-dyȝt, Nothing for-ȝeed."

LXIII.

The duk ys comen over the see With a ful grete meyné; The eorl cortays and fre [ 995] ffayre hym gan praye To dwel at hys costage, At bouche and court and wage, With knyȝt, squiere, and page, Tyl the tent day. [ 1000]

A thousaund hors and thre Of the dukus meyné Ylke nyȝt tok lyveré Off cowrne and off hay; The ryche duk whan he eet, [ 1005] The eorle hertely hym hete, And with mayd Myldore the swet, To have hyre for ay.

LXIV.

The k[n]yȝthus of the eorles house Held the duk so chyvalrous, [ 1010] ffor he was gay and amorous, And made hyt so tow. The eorl tol[d] hym anon, What armes he hadde cone, And how hys chyvalré was slone [ 1015] Undir the wod bowe. "The baneret that wonnes here by Wol asayl the cry, He wroȝthe me this vylany, And dud me this wouȝhe!" [ 1020] The duk answerus on hyȝthe, "Here my trouth I the plyȝthe, Whedur he wol tornay of fyȝthe, He shal have i-now!"

LXV.

The duk answerus on hyȝthe, [ 1025] "Wherby k[n]owus thou the knyȝthe?" The eorle tauȝth hym ful ryȝthe, With wordys, I wene. "He beres in cheef of azour, Engrelyd with a satur, [ 1030] With doubule tressour, And treweloves bytwene; Hys bagges this blake, ffor he wol no man forsake, A lyoun tyed to an ake [ 1035] Off gold and of grene: An helme ryche to behold; He beres a dolfyn of gold, With trewelovus in the mold, Compasyd ful clene. [ 1040]

LXVI.

"He ys a lyoun in feld, When he ys spred undur scheld! Hys helme shal be wel steled, That stond shal as stak: He ys so stalloworth in stoure, [ 1045] By seynt Martyn of Toure, Couthe he love paramoure, I k[n]ew never hys mak!

All the londes that I welde, Wold I gyf in my ȝelde, [ 1050] To se hym falde in the feld, Ho wold hyt undurtake." The duk louȝh hym to scorune, Hys othe heyly has i-swrun, "He shal abye to mowrun, [ 1055] Syre, for thi sake!"

LXVII.

And on morow the duk hym dyȝthe, Also fast as he miȝthe, The eorl hardy and wyȝthe, Cruel and kene. [ 1060] The sonne schonne en clere, They uschen in with banere, v. hunderyd knyȝtus in fere, I-armed ful clene, And the servitourus by-syde: [ 1065] All that contray so wyde Come thedur that tyde, That solas to sene. Sire [D]egrivaunt out of the west Brouȝth out of the fforest [ 1070] Thre hundred knyȝttus of the best, Was greythed al on grene.

LXVIII.

Ther was non so hardy, That durst asayl the cry; The held this duk so douȝty, [ 1075] ffor hys mychel pryd. [f. 88.] But when thei se syre Degrivans Com armed up a ferauns, Thei thonked Gode of here shaunce, All that other syde! [ 1080] Then thei drowe hym ful nere, Baneret and bachelere, To ben undur hys banere, To tornay that tyde, With trompe and with nakere, [ 1085] And the scalmuse clere; ffolke frouschen in fere, In herd ys not to hyde.

LXIX.

And when the renkus gane mete, ffele was fouled undur fete, [ 1090] Knyȝthus strewed in the strete, Stonyȝed with stedys; With swerdus smartely thei smyt, The temes sadely ful tyte, Ther was no lengur delyte, [ 1095] These worthely in wedus!

Baronus syttys on the bent With shuldrys shamly shent; Bryȝthe browus and bent Brodelyche bledus! [ 1100] Manye harmes has thei hent, That was never at hore asent, To come to that tornament, To do suche dedus.

LXX.

Syre Degrivaunt, withouten les, [ 1105] Prykkus fast therow the pres; To the cheventayn he ches, And rauȝth hym a strok: The duk dotered to the ground, On erthe swyfftly he swouned, [ 1110] Syre Degrivaunt, within a stound, He wan hys sted blak. He was stalworȝth in stoure, ffor he loved paramoure; The lady lay in the toure [ 1115] That shuld be hys mak. Syre Degrivaunt, are he blan, This sey many a man, Syxty stedus he wan, And brouȝth to stak. [ 1120]

LXXI.

Syre Degrevaunt every day, The sertayn soth for to say, Al the prys of the play Was put on that fre; Sone that douȝty undur sheld [ 1125] Had y-venkessyd the feld, Many a man hym byheld, So hardy was he! Ladyes seyden al-bydene, Bothe contasse and qwene, [ 1130] "ȝond gentyl knyȝt on grene Hath deservyd the gre!" Bryȝthe burdus in ther boure Loved that knyȝth paramoure, Gret ladyes of honoure, [ 1135] And that hym seyen.

LXXII.

The duk was horsed agayn, And prycked fast thorw the playne; The eorl and he with a trayn To the castel gan fare: [ 1140] Thane an heroud gon crye, And prayd al the chyvalrye To soupe at the maungerye, Gyff ther wyllus ware.

The good knyȝt syre Degrivaunce, [ 1145] He had y-made repurveaunce ffor al hys retenaunce, Fourty days and mare, In the syde at a fel, At a wel feyre castel, [ 1150] Whyle hym was lefte for to dwel, ffor to sle care.

LXXIII.

The sterne knyȝthus and the stout, Whylk that tornyment without, Ryden away in hys rout, [ 1155] Thre hundred and mo; And c. pound and a stede He send the mynstralus to mede, Off gyffte was he never gnede, ffor wele nor for wo! [ 1160] Tyl hys castel he rade, A ryal maungerye he made, Alle the bold ther abade, Ther scapyd non hym fro. At even seyd syr Degrivauns, [ 1165] "I wol se the countenauns Of the chyvalrye of Frauns, As ever mote I go!"

LXXIV.

Syr [D]egrivaunt at evyn-lyȝthus Armed hym at al ryȝthus, [ 1170] And callyd to hym tolly knyȝthus, That pryvest were ay; "Have dyȝt ȝow on stedus In two damysel wedus, ffor I wol found in my nedus [ 1175] As fast as I may. Tak ether of ȝow a spere, Bothe of pes and of were, Greyth myn hors on hore gere, And lok that thei be gay; [ 1180] That they be trapped a get, In topteler and in mauntolet, In a fyn vyolet, And makes non delay."

LXXV.

And whan here hors were held, [ 1185] Thei toke ther sperus and there scheldus, And prycked fast over the felde, No lenger wolde thei dwel; And sy[th]en thei ryden even west Thorw a fayr forest, [ 1190] With two trompess of the best, That range as a bell.

On an hull he gan hym rest, Thei gaf hym hys helm in hys rest, He was the sternest gest [ 1195] ffro heven to helle! Syr Degrivaunt, withouten abad, To the eorlus castel he rade, He found the ȝat so brad, Swyche hap hym felle. [ 1200]

LXXVI.

And rydes up to the des, As thei were servid of here mes, To mayd Myldor he ches, And chalangys that fre! The duk sterte up an hyȝt, [ 1205] "Here my trouthe y the plyȝt, I shal delyver the this bryȝt, To-morow shalt thou se, Bytwene undurne and prime; Loke at thou come at that tyme, [ 1210] Other swowne shal i[n] sweme, The lady shall i-se. And trewly, withouten les, [f. 89.] Thou shalt be servid, or I sess, Bothe of werre and of pess, [ 1215] Of ayther cours thre."

LXXVII.

The knyȝth was so dressé, Hytt was gret joye to se, So fayre an hors-man as he Seye thei never are; [ 1220] Some loked one hys stede, And some on hys rych wede, And some the resone gan rede What the knyȝthe bare. He loutes down to them alle, [ 1225] Bothe to the [riche] and to the smalle, And rydys out of the halle, And buskys hym ȝare. Of all that loked one the knyȝt, Was non that knew hym with syȝt, [ 1230] Bot mayden Myldor the bryȝt, Of all that ther ware.

LXXVIII.

Hammard he rydes ryȝth, And as fast as he myȝth, On the mowro he hym dyȝth [ 1235] Ryȝth as he dude are; And fyndys the duk in the feld, Bothe with spere and with sche[l]d: The eorl hoved and byheld, Brem as a bare! [ 1240]

Than seid the duke one the land, "Whare ys now this geand? He wol hald no covenand, ffor alle hys gret fare!" But when he say syre Degrivaunt [ 1245] Come armed up a fferauns, Hys hert wex recreaunt, And syȝth ful sare!

LXXIX.

The duke send a squiere To wytt what hys wyll were, [ 1250] To juste o pesse or off were, So sore he hym dredus! The knyȝt answerd ther-tyll, Bothe with resone and with skyll, "Hyt shal be at hys wyll, [ 1255] Tak hap what ledus!" Then the douȝthy hym dyȝth As faste as thei myȝth, Thei set helmus on hyȝth, Thes douȝty on dedus: [ 1260] To gret sperus of pese Bothe these lordes hem chese, And prikes fast thorw the prese Opon stout stedus.

LXXX.

Ther stedes styrres hom faste, [ 1265] The knyȝthus jusset or thy cast, Ther good speres al to-brast, That weren gode at nede; Syr Degrivaunt, as he had ment, And gaf the duk swych a dynt, [ 1270] That bothe styroppus he tynt, And hond I the hete. The duke rekyvered aȝyne, Hys frenchepys were fayn, The proford hym payn-mayn, [ 1275] Vernage and Crete; The duk swore by gret God of hevene, "Wold my hors so evene, ȝet wold I sett all one seven ffor Myldor the swet!" [ 1280]

LXXXI.

Tow gret sperus ha they ton, And gerd there stedus whyll the gron! Wytt ȝow wel that many on Lokede on them two; The douȝty knyȝthus of pryde, [ 1285] Thorw the renckus gon thei ryde, Bote they myssede at that tyde, Thorw hap hyt fell so.

The good knyȝth, syre Auntorus, Come in at the thryd cours, [ 1290] ffor he loved paramours, In hert that he was thro, And strykus the duk thorw the scheld, Wyd opon in the feld; The eorl hoved and byheld, [ 1295] In hert he was wo!

LXXXII.

The damessel toke the stede, And thorw the renkus gone hym lede, And seys, "Have this for thi mede, Tyl thou gete mo." [ 1300] ȝet she spekys a word of pride, "On this stede wol I ryde By my lemmanus syde, I[n] lond whare I go." That knyȝt dressyd hym in hys gere, [ 1305] Hys felawe rauȝth hym a spere, A scharpe wepon of were, The duk for to slo; And seis, "Syre duke avenaunt, I pray the hold couvenaunt, [ 1310] ȝondur ys a knyȝthe erraunt, Why taryest thou hym so?"

LXXXIII.

The duk lay on the grownd, On erthe swyftely he swound, He was stonyed that stownd, [ 1315] Trewely that tyde; And ȝit she cryes upone hyȝth, "ȝondur ys armed a knyȝth, All redy and y-dyȝth, Thi comes for to abyde." [ 1320] The duke answerd ther-tyle, Bothe with reson and skyle, "I am y-hurte ful yle, In herd is not to hyde! Pray hym tak hit nat a-greff, [ 1325] He ses I am at myscheff, Y hathe nat y my lyff, So sore ys my syde!"

LXXXIV.

Syre Degrivaunt toke hys stede, And gaff the mynstrallus to mede, [ 1330] And to forest thei spede As faste as the may; The duke that was this y-dyȝt, He toke his leve that ylk nyȝt Bothe with baroun and with knyȝt, [ 1335] And went one hys way.

Sire Degrivaunt on the morwoun Com aȝé to the thorun, Ther hys stede stod by-forun, And lenges all that day; [ 1340] Privayly at the nyȝth He come in with hys knyȝth, To spek with Myldore the bryȝth, Spede yf he may.

LXXXV.

The mayde wyst by a gyne, [ 1345] That the knyȝth was comen in; The lady of heye kyne Perseved the thouȝth. "Damesele, so have I rest, Thou hast geton the a gest [ 1350] Off wylde men of the west, Delayne thou hom nouȝth; Privayly withouten syȝth Do me carp with that knyȝth, Here my trouȝth y the plyȝth, [ 1355] Hee has dere y-bouȝth!" [f. 90.] Thanne the mayden was glade, Sche dude as the lady bade, And up at the grese hoe him lade, And to chaumbur hym brouȝth." [ 1360]

LXXXVI.

The lady of honowre Metes the [knyȝt] in the doure, Knelyd doun in the floure, And fel hym to feet; ffrek as fuyre in the flynt [ 1365] He in armes had hyre hynt, And thrytty sythes, are he stynt, He kyst that swet! "Welcome, syre Aunterous, Me thenkus thou art mervelous; [ 1370] Wyst my lord of this hous, With grame [he] wolde the gret!" Swythe chayres was i-sete, And quyschonus of vyolete, Thus this semely was i-sete [ 1375] With mouth for to mete.

LXXXVII.

"Damesele, loke ther be A ffuyre in the chymené, ffagattus of fyre tre, That fetchyd was ȝare." [ 1380] Sche sett a bourd of yvore, Trestellus ordeyned therfor, Clothus keverede that over, Swyche seye thei never are!

Towellus of Eylyssham, [ 1385] Whyȝth as the seeys fame, Sanappus of the same, Thus servyd thei ware; With a gyld salere, Basyn and ewere, [ 1390] Watyr of everrose clere, They wesche ryȝth thare.

LXXXVIII.

Paynemayn prevayly Sche brouȝth fram the pantry, And served that semely, [ 1395] Same ther thei seet. Sche brouȝt fram the kychene A scheld of a wylde swynne, Hastelettus in galantyne, An hand y ȝow hete. [ 1400] Seththe sche brouȝt hom in haste, Ploverys poudryd in paste, Ther ware metus with the maste, I do ȝow to wytte; ffatt conyngus and newe, [ 1405] ffesauntus and corelewe, Ryche she tham drewe Vernage and Crete.

LXXXIX.

To tell here metus was tere, That was served at here sopere, [ 1410] Ther was no dentethus to dere, Ne spyces to spare; And evere sche drow hom the wyn, Bothe the Roche and the Reyn, And the good Malvesyn, [ 1415] ffelde sche hom ȝare. And evere Myldore sche sete Harpyng notus ful swet, And other whyle sche et, Whan hur leveste ware; [ 1420] Songe ȝeddyngus above, Swyche murthus they move, In the chaumbur of love Thus thei sleye care!

XC.

Ther was a ryall rooffe [ 1425] In the chaumbur of loffe, Hyt was buskyd above With besauntus ful bryȝth All off ruel bon, Whyȝth oger and parpon, [ 1430] Mony a dere wrothe stone, Endentyd and dyȝthe.

Ther men myȝth se, ho that wolde, Arcangelus of rede golde, ffyfty mad of o molde, [ 1435] Lowynge ful lyȝth; With the Pocalyps of Jon, The Powlus Pystolus everychon, The Parabolus of Salamon Payntyd ful ryȝth. [ 1440]

XCI.

And the foure gospellorus Syttyng on pyllorus; Hend, herkeneth and herus, Gyf hyt be ȝoure wyll. Austyn and Gregory, [ 1445] Jerome and Ambrose, Thus the foure doctorus Lystened than tylle: There was purtred in ston The fylesoferus everychon, [ 1450] The story of Absolon, That lyked ful ylle; With an orrelegge one hyȝth To rynge the ours at nyȝth, To waken Myldore the bryȝth, [ 1455] With bellus to knylle.

XCII.

Square wyndowus of glas, The rechest that ever was, Tho moynelus was off bras Made with menne handus; [ 1460] Alle the wallus of geete, With gaye gablettus and grete, Kynggus syttyng in ther sete Out of sure londus. Grete Charlus with the crounne, [ 1465] Syre Godfray the Boyloune, And Arthur the Bretoune, With here bryȝt broundus. The floure was paned over-al With a clere crystal, [ 1470] And overe keveryd with a pal, A-fflore where she stondes.

XCIII.

Hur bede was off aszure, With testur and celure, With a bryȝt bordure [ 1475] Compasyd ful clene; And all a storye as hit was Of Ydoyne and Amadas, Perreye in ylke a plas, And papageyes of grene. [ 1480]

The scochenus of many knyȝt Of gold and cyprus was i-dyȝt, Brode besauntus and bryȝt, And trewelovus bytwene; Ther was at hur testere [ 1485] The kyngus owne banere: Was nevere bede rychere Of empryce ne qwene!

XCIV.

ffayre schetus of sylk Chalk-whyȝth as the mylk, [ 1490] Quyltus poyned of that ylk, Touseled they ware; Coddys of sendall, [f. 91.] Knoppus of crystal, That was mad in Westfal [ 1495] With women of lare. Hyt was a mervelous thing To se the rydalus hyng, With mony a rede gold ryng, That home up bare; [ 1500] The cordes that thei one ran, The duk Betyse hom wan, Mayd Medyore hom span Of meré maydenus hare.

XCV.

Ryȝt abouȝt mydnyȝt, [ 1505] Seyd syre Degrivaunt the knyȝt, "When wolt thou, the worthely wyȝt, Lysten me tyll? ffor love my hert wyl to-brest, When wylt thou bryng me to rest? [ 1510] Lady, wysse me the [best], Gyf hyt be thi wyll." The burde answered [ffulle ȝa]re, "Nevene thou that eny mare, Thou schalt rew hit ful sare, [ 1515] And lyke hit ful ylle! Sertes tho thou were a kyng, Thou touchest non swych thing, Or thou wed me with a ryng, And maryage fulfylle! [ 1520]

XCVI.

"Leff thou well, withouten lette, The ferste tyme y the mette, Myn hert on the was sette, And my love on the lyȝth! I thouȝthe never to have non [ 1525] Lord nothur lemman, Bot onely the allon; Caysere ne knyȝth,

Kyng ne non conquerour, Ne no lord of honour, [ 1530] And gyff hit were the emperour, Most proved of myȝth! ffor-thy, syre, hald the stylle, Whyle thou get my fadyr wylle." Tho knyȝt sentus ther-tylle, [ 1535] And trouthus thei plyȝth.

XCVII.

And whan here trouthus was plyȝt, Than here hertus were lyȝt, Was never faukons off flyȝt So fayn as thei ware! [ 1540] Thai lay doun in ther bede, In ryche clothus was spred, Wytte ȝe wel, or thei were wed, Thei synnyd nat thare. Than spekus tho burd bryȝth [ 1545] To syre Degrivaunt the knyȝth, "Swet syre, come ylke nyȝth, And loke how we fare." And the bold bachylere Toke the damysele clere; [ 1550] This thei dured that ȝere, Thre [qua]rterus and mare.

XCVIII.

At [mis]somere in a nyȝth, The [mo]ne schone wondur bryȝt, S[ire De]grivaunt and hys knyȝt [ 1555] [Bu]sked to wend. [The] douȝty knyȝthus so fre [L]yȝth doun by a tre; A prout fostere gane tham se A-laund ther thei lende, [ 1560] And folewes hom thorw the wode, Alle the weyes that thei ȝode, And how thei passed the flode, The knyȝthus so hende: So dud the weyt one the walle, [ 1565] The eorlus owne mynstralle, Sey tham wende to the halle, And wyst nevere what hyt mende.

XCIX.

The pypere haldus hys pays, Tyl no man he hyt says; [ 1570] Mynstralus shuld be cortays, And skyl that thei ben. The foster tolde anone-ryȝthus To the eorle and hys knyȝthus, How thei come armede a-nyȝthus, [ 1575] As he hadde y-sen.

The styward was chyvalrous, Syre Eymour the kayous, With offycyrus of that hous, Cruel and kene, [ 1580] A gret buschement hadde he [sette], Ther the fostere hom mette, And thouȝth syre Degrivaunt lette The wayes ful grene.

C.

The stywarde heylé hath swornne, [ 1585] "And he come be thi[s thor]nne, We bryng hys he[d on th]e mornne, And non othur mede!" Dame Myldor w[ist righte no]uȝth What al this folkys [had th]ouȝth, [ 1590] She wende no man that ha[d ben]e wrouȝth Hadde wyten of hore [dede]; And syre Degrivaunt hadde y-[hiȝt]h, Ryȝth as he was trew knyȝth, To speke with Myldore that nyȝth, [ 1595] And lette for no drede. God, as ȝe are muchel of myȝt, Save syre Degrivaunt the knyȝt, And lene hym grace in that fyȝt Wel for to spede! [ 1600]

CI.

Syre Degrivaunt at evene-lyȝth Armede hym and hys knyȝth, And toke on privayly for syȝth Two gownes off grene; Nothur schelde ne spere, [ 1605] Ne no wepen of werre, Bot twey swerdus thei berre Off Florence ful kene. Whan thei come to the slac, The bolde buschament brac, [ 1610] .......nte opone stedus bac [Ar]mede ful clene. [Si]re Degrivaunt, ys nat to layne, [B]lyve hys swerde had y-drayne, He that come formast was slayne [ 1615] In the schaw schene!

CII.

Whan thei syre Degrivaunt mett, Sevene sperus one hym y-sett Evene in hys bassonett Brasten a-two. [ 1620] Some bare hym thorw the gowne, Some brast one hys haberjowne; Hys sqwyere was borne downe, Hys swerd cast hym fro!

Then syre Degrivaunt lyȝth, [ 1625] And rescowede hys knyȝth, And cryed to hym an hyȝth, "Why wolt thou lyen so?" The beste stedes that thei hade [f. 92.] By the scholders he them scharde, [ 1630] He was never so hard y-stade ffor wele ne for wo!

CIII.

The styward syre Eymere Com a lytyl to nere, Hys hede by the colere [ 1635] He kerves away! The body syttys opon the hors, Hyt was uncomely to the cors, The stede stert over a fosse, And strykys a-stray; [ 1640] Y wyst never how hyt ferde. He betus hom fast to the erthe; With hys two-honde swerde He made swyche paye, That syxty lay one the feld, [ 1645] Bothe with spere and with schelde, That never wepen myȝth [welde] Sen that ylke day!

CIV.

The panter, the botelere, The eorlus cheff sqwyere, [ 1650] They lyes slay y-fere In the schawe schene! Than the remenaunt fles On the sort that thei sees, And some lorkus undur tres [ 1655] In slowes unshene. Thonkede be Godes grace, He has venkest hys face, And made a chyvalrous chace, That crewel and kene! [ 1660] Nouȝth fourty fot fram the wal, He slowe the marchal of the hal, And other gode sqwyers with-al, Mo then fyftene!

CV.

By that hyt dawed ney day, [ 1665] By that he hade endyd this play, Some scaped away, And many one was slayne. Than sayd syre Degrivaunt the knyȝt, "Here my trouthe y the plyȝt, [ 1670] I shal speke with Myldore to nyȝt, To dey in the payne."

Thei set here stedus ther thei stode, And fayre passede the flode, To the eorlus castel the[i] ȝode [ 1675] The gatus ful gayn: Than the lady so bryȝth, ffayre she welcomed the knyȝth; She had nat hard [of] hore fyȝth, Therof were thei fayn. [ 1680]

CVI.

She had wondur in hyr wyt, Why here clothus ware to-slyt, As thei in holtus had byn hyt With dyntus of spere: [The]re gay gownus of grene [ 1685] [We]re ful schamely be-sene; "[Le]ve syre, where have ȝe bene, [ȝoure] clothus to tere?" The knyȝth sat semely, And seide tyl hyre prevely, [ 1690] "We sey [never selly] That sh[oulde us] auȝth dere; But as [we came] by a thorne, Thus [wer ou]re gownus to-torne; We sh[alle] have new to-morne, [ 1695] We [cownt]e hyt not a payre."

CVII.

The kniȝ[th] had fouȝten as a bare, [Therfore h]ym fersted ful sare; [The m]ayde brouȝth hym ful ȝare [The s]pyces and the wyn. [ 1700] Dyverse spices thei ete, And ofte with mowthus thei mete; Sche brouȝthe hem Vernage and Crete, And wyne of the Reyne. He toke his leve at the day [ 1705] At mayde Myldore the may, ȝet wyste ho note of the fray That she hard sethȝne. The knyȝth one wendys his way, Ther the dede men lay, [ 1710] And seyde soufft one his play, "ȝondur was stout hyne!"

CVIII.

Thei brouȝthe home on bere The stywarde syre Eymere, And other gode sqwyere, [ 1715] Off fryththus unfayne; And cryide out over alle, Both gret and smalle. The mayde wyndus to the halle Tythyngus to frayne. [ 1720]

The ȝorle spekus to that fre, "Y wytt syr Degrivaunt and the The slauȝthtur of my mené; This is ȝowre false treyne! By Hym that dyede one tre, [ 1725] This day shall thou [dede] be! I wat welle hit [es he] That hase the be[layne!]"

CIX.

The mayde answer[d agayne], And seis, "Peter! I [am f]ayne [ 1730] And that knyȝth be [not slay]ne; What bote is that I lye? Sene he was chosene my fy[rst] make, Shall I hym never forsake, What dethe that I take, [ 1735] Or dool that I drye!" Thane the ȝorle wax wode, And swore be bonus and blode, "Mete ne drynk shall do me gode, Ar I se the dye!" [ 1740] The contasse knelyd tho anone, "Gode schylde, syr, that he be slone, We hade never chyl[d] but hyr one!" And cryid ful hye.

CX.

The contasse cryed, "Alas! [ 1745] ȝe have ben to longe foas; Wycked tonge hit mas, God ȝif them shame! I dare savely say, The knyȝth went one his way, [ 1750] [O]wre men by-sett hym the way, [He] was not to blame. [W]as not his fosteres slayne While he werred in Spayne? Hys woddys and hys waryne, [ 1755] ȝe made hem alle tame! Y rede ȝe sauȝthle with the knyȝt, That is so hardy and wyȝth, And graunte hym Myldore the bryȝt, By hyr ryȝth name!" [ 1760]

CXI.

Than spekus Myldore the bryȝth, "Ther was but he and a knyȝth, I spake with hym this nyȝth, Why shulde I spare? He is my love and my lorde, [ 1765] Myne hele and my counforde, Hyt is gode ȝe be a-corde, And ȝowre wyllus ware:

And giff ȝe holde us a-gret, [f. 93.] Shall I never ete mete." [ 1770] The ȝorl for angur gane swet, And syȝthe ful sare; "Damesele, ar thou be spylte, I forgiff the the gylte, Hit is alle as thou wylte; [ 1775] I cane say na mare!"

CXII.

Bylyve a lettur ho sent, Thorw the ȝorlus comandment; A messengere has hit hent, With tythingus ful newe. [ 1780] She bad hym cume prively With hys best chyvalry, As he was gode and douȝty, And holdene for trewe; And hoe shuld make swych acord [ 1785] Bytwene hym and hur lorde, That shulde be a coumforde Tyl alle that hym ever knewe. ȝet syr Degrivant hym drade, Syxty knyȝthus he clade, [ 1790] Tyl the ȝorlus castel he spede By the day dewe.

CXIII.

The ȝorle metus hym withoute, With sterne knyȝthus and stoute, Wonder low gane he loute, [ 1795] And haylus that hende; And says, "Syr, by Goddys grace, Welcome to this place, We have ben to longe fase, Now wyl I be thi frende." [ 1800] Prively that no man wyste, Alle wrongus was redressyde, The ȝorle and he hade keste, And to chaumbur thei wende. Withoutyne more rehersynge [ 1805] Made was the sauȝthlynge, And grauntyd hym Myldore the ȝinge Tille hys lyves ende.

CXIV.

Was never sych a purvyaunce In Englond ne in Fraunce, [ 1810] As was at sir Degrivaunce And Myldore the schene; Ther com tyl hir weddyng An emperoure and a kyng, Erchebyschopbz with ryng [ 1815] Mo then fyftene!

The mayster of hospitalle Come over with a cardinalle, The gret kyng of Portyngalle, With knyȝthus ful kene; [ 1820] Alle the lordys of that lond War holy at that offorand, And ladyes, y undyrstond, Emperyce and qwene!

CXV.

One the Trinité day, [ 1825] Thus in romance herd y say, He toke hyr in Godus lay Tylle hys lyvys ende. Solempnely a cardinal, Revescyd with a pontifical, [ 1830] Sang the masse ryal, And wedded that hend. And the ryche Emperoure Gaff [hyre] at the kyrke dore, With w[orschy]p and honoure, [ 1835] As f[or hi]s owne frend; And [sa]w gold in that stonde, W[elle] a thowsand pounde, Lay glyterynge in the gronde, By the way as thei wende! [ 1840]

CXVI.

Thane the semelede the sale, Kyng and cardynale, And the emperoure ryale, With barnus ful bolde; So dud ladies bydene, [ 1845] Both contasse and qwene, Bryȝth burdys and schene, Was joye to beholde! ffro the mangery bygane, Wyne in condyt rane [ 1850] Redy tyll ylke mane, Take ho so wolde. Ther com in a daunse IX. doseperus of Fraunce, Methowȝth syche a countynaunce [ 1855] Was joye to beholde!

CXVII.

I knewe never mane so wys, That couth telle the servise, Ne scrye the metys of prys Was servyd in that sale; [ 1860] Mynstrallus hade in halle Grete gyftys withalle, Ryche robus of palle, With garnementus hale.

Ylke day that fourtynyȝth [ 1865] Justyng of seryd knyȝthus, To revele ho best myȝth, With wyne and with ale; And one the fyftethe day, Thus in romaunce h[erd I] say, [ 1870] They toke here leve and [wen]t here way, Thys worthely to w......

CXVIII.

Al thei maketh ther avaunt Off the lord syre Degrivaunt, Cortays and avenaunt, [ 1875] Ladyes and knyȝthus. He gaff stedus that stound Worth a thousand pound, Withouten haukes and hound, And faukun of flyȝthus! [ 1880] The ȝorle dyede that same ȝere, And the contasse clere; Bothe hore beryelus y-ffere Was gayly bydyȝth. Syr Degrivaunt bylefte ther eyre, [ 1885] With brod londus and faire, Was never perus myȝth hym peyre By resone ne ryȝth.

CXIX.

Thrytty wyntur and mare Thei lyvede to-gydur without care, [ 1890] And sevene chyldur she hym bare, That worthly in wede; And sene sche dyed, y undurstond, He seysed hys eyre with hys hond, And went into the Holy Lond, [ 1895] Hevene be hys mede! At Port-gaff was he slone, ffor-justyd with a Soudone: Thus to Gode is he gone, Thus douȝty in dede! [ 1900] Lord Gode in Trinité Gyff hem Heven for to see, That loves gamene and gle, And gestus to fede!