A royal historie of the excellent knight Generides. Ed. from the unique ms. of John Tollemache ... by Frederick J. Furnivall. Roxburghe club.

CHAPTER III.

Here telleth of the desire of the Quene(.) hou she desired Generides to haue desceyued the king his fadre.

Vpon̄ a day in somer tide [One day the king goes out hunting,] The king on huntyng wold ride, To hunt in a depe forest With knightes and squiers of the best; [ 1168] He lete at home Generides dwell. [and leaves Generides at home.] The Quene therof anoon herd tełł, [The queen sends for him,] She sent aftre him hastelie That he shuld come to hir, and not tarie. [ 1172] Vnto hir chambre he can goon̄ For to speke with hir anoon̄; She leid hir arme about his swere, [puts her arms round him, kisses him,] She kyssed him with hertie chere, [ 1176] And seid, "welcom, gentil Generides." She began discouer hir distres, "Entierlie ye ar to me welcome While my lord is nat at home, [ 1180] Aftre you nov haue I sent Forto tel you myn entent; Ye wax goodeli, semelie, and wise, [tells him he is seemly,] And of seruice ye bere the price; [ 1184] Of al men that ar in this lond Ye ar most goodlie, I vndrestond;

If god you fortune oones come to elde, Ye be ful liklie armes to welde, [ 1188] And ye shal a doughti man bene; [and will be a doughty man,] That day, I hope, shal I seene. The grettest thing is that longeth to loue, A souereigne ladie to haue(:) and hir aboue [ 1192] [therefore he ought to love a lady,] Al othir to serue(:) than dar I swere If ye doo soo(:) of gretter power Shul ye be, and more hardie, And doughtier man of youre bodie; [ 1196] Aboue al thing so haue I rest Of chiualrie(:) loue is the best, As men may here in old romaunce The grete worship and noble chaunce [ 1200] That fel to knightes that ladies loued; For loue here bodies so thei proued. [Fol. 109] [col. 2.] Therfore, Generides, I counsel you To loue somwhere for youre prow; [ 1204] And if ye be of loue to seche, To finde a loue I can̄ you teche; To loue a thing that you dooth loue, [one who loves him,] Me think it were to youre behoue; [ 1208] Than shuld ye loue me, the soth to sey, [even me, the queen;] My self I must nedes bewrey, So long I have loued you stil; [for I have loved you long,] Mi dere hert, if it be youre wiłł, [ 1212] My loue, my hert, and my bodie, Here I gyve you feithfullie [and now will give you all myself;] At youre wil to be whils I lyve; A richer thing can I noon gyve; [ 1216] Thogh ye were duke, outhir king, This profre might be to youre liking. I haue loued and loue you soo, My thoght may noght part you froo [ 1220]

Nouthir by night nor by day; Whan euer ye list, ye may assay." [try me when you list.] Generides in a studie stoode, [Generides thinks she is mad,] Him thoght the Quene was tho woode [ 1224] To make to him such a sermon̄: Had he know for what encheson She had for such cause aftre him sent, He nold haue come there to that entent. [ 1228] Ful sore abasshed was he there [and doesn't know] Forto gyve hir an answere; [how to answer her.] "Ma dame," he seid "I thank you [He thanks her;] For the grete loue ye profre me nov; [ 1232] But wel ye know oon thing, That my lord is a grete king, He hath me norished and furth broght So wel that me wanteth noght; [ 1236] If I to him did treason or shame, [says he cannot do treason to the king,] Treulie I were gretelie to blame; I ought for his grete kindnes To do him honour and goodnes; [ 1240] Neuer-the-les, to loue I ne can, Yit neuer to loue I began; And, madame, if ye haue grete liking Othre to loue than the king, [ 1244] In this contre is many a feir knight, [and recommends her to take some other knight than one so simple as himself.] Goode and courtes, of bodie wight, On hem ye might your loue bestow, And on noon so simple nor so low." [ 1248] The Quene his answer vndrestoode, And for shame she wax nere woode: [She waxes wild,] Him that she loued for hir delight, Deidlie she hated to se him with sight. [ 1252] She bad him avoide in hast, [orders him out,] And began to threte him ful fast,

"Lewd felow," she seid, "siker thou be [and threatens to be revenged on him.] I shal ful wel be wroken on the." [ 1256] To hir chambre Ageyn she went, [Fol. 109b] [col. 1.] And hir atire she al to-rent; [She tears her robes,] She wept, she sobbed, for grete moode, [and sobs as if she] She ferd as thogh se [[se in MS.]] wer nigh woode. [ 1260] [were mad.] Generides his wey ther name, And sone aftre the steward came [In this state the steward finds her,] Into chambre to ye Quene; And whan he saw hir out of tene, [ 1264] And saw hir here al to-rent, He held him dismayed and shent; And than he seid to hir y-wis, "Ma dame, what is all this? [ 1268] Who hath you greued? tel me, I pray." "Sir Steward, the soth I shal you say; Glad woman shal I neuer be Til ye graunt to a-wreke me." [ 1272] "Who was so hardie and so stern̄? Tel me nov, I pray you yern; On him I shal take such wreche, [and swears to avenge her.] Shal him neuer nede noo leche." [ 1276] Generides was not recheles; [Generides] He saw the Quenes frowardnes; He wist wele the Quenes hate. He passed out at the gate [ 1280] [goes home and tells Nathanael all that has happened.] Vnto the Citie to his hostell, And al he told to Nathanaełł, The Quenes desire, and his answere; In his loggeyng he dwelled there [ 1284] Til the king come to the Castel. Than the Quene hir hert did tełł, And to the Steward pleint she made [The queen again appeals to the steward] With angry hert and colour fade, [ 1288]

"Sir Steward," she seid, "wele ye woost That I haue loued you euer moost Of al men that on live bene; Yf ye loue me, nov shal I sene, [ 1292] From this tyme forward If ye me wreke, Sir Steward." [to avenge her.] Whan the Steward herd hir speke, "On him," he seid, "I shal you wreke,— [ 1296] Tel me his name,—if I him know, By the feith that ye to me ow." [He swears to do it.] "Sir," she seid, "thank I you can̄! [The queen says that] It is a lad, it is noo man̄; [ 1300] Into this court he come this othere yere, Generides he is cleped here; [Generides] Wax he is so noble and proude That he me prayd stil and loude [ 1304] [prayed her to love him;] Paramoures him forto loue. I had leuer, by god aboue, [but she'd sooner have him hung like a thief.] He heng as high as any thefe Than euer he wer me so lefe." [ 1308] Whan the Steward this tale herd, [The steward] He quoke, and as a wood man ferd; And, for [he] loued the Quene so wele, The wrother he was a grete dele. [ 1312] [is very wrath,] [Fol. 109b] [col. 2.] From thens into his chaumbre he went, A naked swerd in hond he hent, [takes a drawn sword,] And went Generydes sechand, [and seeks Generides,] To haue sleyn him with his hand; [ 1316] But at that tyme he fond him noght, [but cannot find him.] He failed of his wil and thoght; He saw he might than not spede, Ageyn to his chambre he yede. [ 1320] Whan the king from huntyng cam̄, [On the king's return,] Than Generides to court nam.

Generides serued in the hall [Generides serves at table;] Befor the king and the knightes al; [ 1324] As sone as the steward him sigh, Pale he waxed, and drew him nigħ. That day in stede of a white wonde A staf he bare thoo in his honde; [ 1328] Generides was to kechen ward; [the steward catches him going to the kitchen,] Hurtlyng on him come the Steward, And seid to him with egre chere, "Thou grome, thou combrest the hous here. [ 1332] [abuses him,] Draw the vpward, and make hem place That to serue han better grace; Thou canst not serue in stede goode." Generides right still tho stoode, [ 1336] And not an word ageyn he yaf. The steward tho lift vp his staf, And seid, "thou mysproude quengeovn̄, Whi answerst you not to my reason̄?" [ 1340] He drew him bi the here that stound, And threw him doun̄ to the ground [throws him down,] That both mouth and noyse blede. Twoo strokes he yaue him in that stede [ 1344] [and beats him.] With his staf, ouer al that, That he lay to the erthe flat. The king saw him so take on̄ [The king] That he trembled both flesh and boon̄; [ 1348] He thoght vpon the quene his wife; In his hond he toke his knyfe, [hurls his knife at the steward,] And to the Steward it threw egrely. The steward saw that, and did wry, [ 1352] And drew him som dele aside; The blade thurgh his arme did glide. The king seid, "traitour, hens thou flee [and orders him to leave the place.] That I the nov no more see; [ 1356]

The first shame ys this not That thou hast waited me, I wot." On that word thoght the Quene, [The queen] And thoght on hir it must been; [ 1360] Wel she supposed that the king [thinks the king knows of her crimes;] Of hir folie had som knowing. Vp from the bord she arose anoon, And to hir chambre gan she goon̄ [ 1364] With careful hert, and ful of ire, [she is full of ire that her lover is wounded and banished.] For hir souereigne lord and most desire Cruel wounded he was thurgh the arme, [Fol. 110] [col. 1.] Of that she thoght ful grete harme; [ 1368] That he from court was conveyd, For pure sorow she wold haue deyd; Som treson she thoght forto seche, Of that grete dede forto haue wreche. [ 1372] The Steward yede from the court than̄, [The steward takes refuge in his castle,] And to his ovn Castel he wan̄ That was both goode and strong; Grete meigne he gadred among, [ 1376] [gets together men and victuals;] Of vitels also grete plentie Into the Castel gaddered he; Tresour he had more than the king, [has much treasure,] For al the lond was in his keping; [ 1380] He thoght what life he wold lede, For he was born of grete kinrede; Thei wer redie at nede with him to hold, For on the king werre he wold [ 1384] [and resolves to make war on the king.] Whan he his tyme saw at will His grete treason to fulfill. Of Generides speke we [Generides rises up.] That such despite and vilene [ 1388] Had in hal the folk among. Vp he ros, and lay not long;

His maister therfor was woo ynogħ, And vp by the hond he him drogħ; [ 1392] Generides was milde of moode, Of his face he wyped the bloode, Generides(:) than to the king yede That sore was greued of that dede, [ 1396] "My lord," seid than Generides, "I come hidre with loue and pecs With you to dwel at your liking; Nov cometh the tyme of our parting, [ 1400] [tells the king he must leave him;] For I haue here grete vilenee Befor you and youre meignee. That I haue in youre court to day, It shall be quyt, and euer I may; [ 1404] [and promises to pay back the steward his insult.] But my power is yit to small My dettes forto acquiten all; For the shame and the despite, Perauenture I may it quite, [ 1408] For at my witting, by my will I trespased neuer lowde ne still. Therfor my lord, if you[r] wil be, I beseche you forto licence me, [ 1412] God you preserue both night and day, And euer while I live may To worship you al that I can̄, And al-wey be youre ovn man̄." [ 1416] Careful before was the king, And than more hevy for that tithing. Generides toke his leue anoon̄ [Generides and Nathanael take leave of all,] At the king and euerichoon, [ 1420] And so did Nathanael also, And to here loggeyng gan thei goo, And hasted hem in al that tide, And furth here wey gan thei ride; [ 1424]

With here harnes and here meigney Thei went out of that Citie. [and ride out of the city.] When thei were w[ith]out the tovn̄, Generides asked a question̄ [ 1428] Of Nathanael with wordes meke, "What contre," he seid, "wil we seke?" Than seid Nathanael, "sikerlie [Nathanael pro∣poses to return home to Surre;] It is best we ride into Surrye, [ 1432] [Fol. 110] [col. 2.] Mi ladie your modre forto see, And youre frendes that ther be." "Maister," seid Generides, [but Generides refuses to go,] "That wer wel doo, but nertheles [ 1436] Yit wil I nat come there; Seruice I wil seke elles where; [and resolves to seek] In straunge seruice is myn entent, Forto [serue] is myn hert bent; [ 1440] At more honour til that I be, [honour in foreign countries.] Wil I not come in my contre; For whan I am more of elde I cast me armes forto welde; [ 1444] Therfor I wolle into vncouth lond, To seke aventure I wil fond; Maistre, ye know wel this contree, I pray you nov to cast our iournee." [ 1448] "Sir," seid than Nathanael, [Nathanael suggests Perse.] "Straunge contres I know wel. Sith ye wil nat to youre contree, Right into Perce wende wil we, [ 1452] A goode contre and a plentyvous, And folkes in armes ful desirous; Of that lond is king a Sowdan̄ Which is reported a noble man̄, [ 1456] Courtes, hounrable, and free, With him he kepeth a royal meigne;

Thidre I rede our wey we take, Oure seruice wil he not forsake." [ 1460] Than was Generides at ease, [Generides agrees,] "Maister," he seid, "youre wit I prase." To Perse he tok the way aright, [and they ride to Perse,] Thei nouthir spared day nor night [ 1464] Til that thei comen there; And ful sone thei drew hem nere Wher the sowdan with his meigne was, Thider thei riden a grete pase, [ 1468] To Mountanar ther he lay, [to the city of Mountanar,] Which was a Citie of grete nobley. Whan thei to the Citie came, Here ynnes ther ful sone thei nam [ 1472] [and there take up their abode.] A litle beside a feir Castell, Generides and Nathanaell. Than sone to the court thei yede, There here nedes forto spede; [ 1476] Walking thei found the Sovdon̄, [Fol. 110b] [col. 1.] [The Sowdon] And with him knightes many oon̄. Generides(:) did him ful humble obeisaunce; He him welcomed with grete plesaunce; [ 1480] Ful loulie thei profered here seruice; He hem receyued in hertlie wise, With goode will he toke hem bothe, [gladly accepts their proffered service,] Here seruice to him was nat lothe. [ 1484] To Generides then seid he, "Of what kinred, Sir, be ye?" "Sir, I am of the lond of Ynde, A lordes son born of kynde(.)" [ 1488] "Wel(:) than shul ye next me be [and tells Generides to be nearest him, and serve him at meals.] At my mete to serue me: Lefe Sir, what is youre name?" "Generides," he seid, "without blame, [ 1492]

Ther I was born, so call thei me." "Ay, Generides, welcom to me." The Sovdon him cherished and loued, He yave him al that him behoued; [ 1496] Moche loue in the court he gate Of high and low and euery state. A feire doghtre the Sovdon had, [The Sowdon has a daughter.] And hir life with ioye she lad; [ 1500] Clarionas(:) that ladie hight, [Clarionas,] She was of beautie so feire and bright, In noo place I you ensure [the fairest creature living,] Was known so feire a creature; [ 1504] Hir bodie was ful gentil and small, She was ful amyable, and goodli withal, Defaute in hir might noman finde, [with no defect in her;] She had al that nature might doo be kinde; [ 1508] Therto she was courtes and free To euery man aftre his degre; She wist ful wel what was to doon̄, And els couth she lefe of soone; [ 1512] She was so feire and so yeng, Hir fadre loued hir ouer al thing, For othir childe neuer he had [and she was his heir.] That his heire shuld be, saue oonly she. [ 1516] The sovdon made a fest soone— [The Sowdon makes a great feast;] As he was oft wont to doon̄— Of the grettest of his baronage, Therof he had a goode vsage, [ 1520] Of mete and drink he was ful large, Of such largesse he thoght noo charge. The Soudon̄ vsed coustomable Dailie in hall to kepe the table, [ 1524] But his doghtre Clarionas [but Clarionas stays in her room.] She kept the chambre, as Reason was,

With hir ladies and gentilwomen also; Of hem ther was twenty and moo. [ 1528] Generides in ful noble aray Serued in the hal euery day; His seruice he did ful Reuerently; The Soudon cast on him his eye, [ 1532] [Fol. 110b] [col. 2.] [At the feast, the Sowdon tells Generides to take a dish of curlews to his daughter.] And then he seid, "Generides, come nere, Take this dish of gold here With thes curlews, right anoon̄ Into the chambre loke that ye goon̄ [ 1536] There my doghtre at mete is, And sey hir that I sent hir this." Generides the chargeours hent, And mekelie into the chambre went. [ 1540] [He does this.] The ladie at hir mete fond he, He set him doun̄ on his knee, His message he did ful plesauntlie, And set doun the dish right honestlie; [ 1544] "Ma dame," he seid, "with hertlie entent, Mi lord youre fadre this hath you sent." "God thonk my fadre tho," seid she, [The damsel] "That he wil thus remembre me; [ 1548] I thonk you hertlie for your message." She fast beheld him in the visage And percyued his goodeli semblaunt, [sees how handsome he is,] His bodie so personable and plesaunt, [ 1552] So feir and so wel y-wroght. She liked him so goodelie in hir thoght: Of loue neuer erst she wist, Forto behold him sore she list, [ 1556] Hir eyen neuer from him cam, [cannot take her eyes off him,] And a grete sighing she nam, Her colour gan to pale in hast, [turns pale,] For loue she sighed sore and fast [ 1560]

Somdele sore in hir feling: To kisse him was hir grete longyng, [and wants to kiss him.] But she knew nat his will; Ashamed she was, and held hir still; [ 1564] That she so ferd, woo she was, But loue hir so bond in that case, Til that she might him oones kysse, Of sorow shuld she neuer mysse. [ 1568] Generides(:) thoo wist noo thing Of this ladies grete longyng; He tooke his leue, and wold haue goon̄; Than she called him anoon, [ 1572] And asked him with goodelie chere, [She asks him his name,] "What is name, my swetè fere?" Than he answerd that ladie bright, "Ma dame, Generides I hight." [ 1576] A cup of gold befor hir stoode Ful of clarre wyne ful goode; The cup she toke him with hert entier, [gives him a cup of wine,] And preid him with right goode cher [ 1580] "Drink now, hertlie I you pray." "Ma dame, god thonk you," can he say. He drank anoon withouten let, The cupp down̄ softlie can he set; [ 1584] A louelie loke than he hir sent, [for which he sends her a lovely look,] And beheld hir eyen̄ with goode entent. An other loke than she him kest [and she casts him another that thrusts him right through the heart,] [Fol. 111] [col. 1.] That even thurgh the hert him threst [ 1588] So sharp, that for sore longyng Stil he stoode in studiyng; His bright hew, his right wit, [and love turns his wits.] Sodenlie loue turned it; [ 1592] The hert was so sore ybound Of Generides for that wound,

That al discoulored tho he was. Then̄ to the hal he went a pase, [ 1596] To hir he spake no more than̄; Into the hal ful soone he wan̄. Clarionas tho with loues dart [Clarionas is so stricken with love,] Was striken so sore, for hir part, [ 1600] That from the bord she rose anoon̄, Into hir chambre can she goon̄ [that she goes, full pale, to her room, and falls on her bed.] Al discoulored, ful pale of hew; Ouerthwart hir bed she ouer threw, [ 1604] Loue bond hir so sore and fast. So oon of hir women come at the last [One of her attendants,] That she most loued of any woman̄,— What was hir name wel tel I can̄— [ 1608] Hir right name was Mirabel, [Mirabel,] A gentil ladie, as I you tel, And of gentil bloode samfayle, (Hir fadre was an Amyrayle), [ 1612] She thoght hir hert clofe in twoo; Vnto hir ladie yede she thoo, Hir hond she leid vpon hir thoo, And seid, "ma dame, what causeth your woo?" [ 1616] [asks her the cause of her woe. Clarionas just stirs,] Wel feyntlie she felt hir stere; She meruelled whi, and drew hir nere, And wondre so sore she began̄ Hou that evel so sodeinlie had hir tane. [ 1620] Mirabel sore abasshed thoo Whan she saw her fare soo; She cried on hight, and seid, "Ma dame, [and Mirabel calls on her in God's name to tell her what is the matter.] Speke to me, in goddes name!" [ 1624] And as she durst, with piteous speche, Hir ladie she began to seche That she wold tel hir cause whi That euel hir toke so sodeinlie. [ 1628]

Clarionas without lesing [Clarionas says] Answerd ageyn̄ with grete sighing, "Mirabel, my swete hert, To tel you hou I caght this smert, [ 1632] And al myn evel hou it began: In this court ther is a gentilman̄ [that it's all a gentleman's doing, and yet she never offended him.] That al this euel hath me wroght; I offended him neuer in word ne thoght; [ 1636] Thurgh him I haue my dethe, I wene, He dooth me al this woo and tene." Mirabel gan somdele glade [Mirabel takes heart at this, for she knows well what love is;] Whan she wist who that evel had made; [ 1640] Of loue she knew wel that it was; She seid to hir ladie(.) [Fol. 111] [col. 2.] "Ma dame, hou long, the soth to seyn̄, Hath love doon you al this peyn̄?" [ 1644] "Til this day at mete, parde, I saw him neuer erst, nor he me." Mirabel seid, "hou is this? I meruel of this mater y-wis; [ 1648] And if that ye wil wroken bene, Right sone the sothe shal ye sene." "To pleyne on him I ne may, But on myn eyen̄, so, welaway. [ 1652] With him I must speke soone, [but Clarionas de∣clares her happi∣ness is all gone,] Or elles my goode dais be doone; I kepe to haue nomore blis But that I may him hals and kis; [ 1656] [unless she can kiss him again.] Nov, dere hert, help therto That it may right sone be doo." Mirabel seid, "what is he? Goode madame, tel ye me." [ 1660] "The same gentilman myn hert hath brent [She tells Mirabel that the gentleman is] Which my fadre to me sent

To day while I was at mete; I wot wel I shal him neuer forgete." [ 1664] "What dooth he hight," she seid, "madame?" "Generides(:) is his right name." [Generides,] "Ay ma dame," seid Mirabel, I am right glad that ye me tel." [ 1668] "He may not faile to haue goode tide That can wel suffre and abide; For sofferaunce causeth oft certeyn̄ A man his purpos to atteyn̄; [ 1672] Ne shal I neuer, my dere hert, Rise from this bed in helth and quert But ye wil me certeynlie Promyse youre help sekirlie [ 1676] [and entreats her to help that she may see him again.] Forto speke with Generides." "Ma dame," she seith, "nov beth in pees; [Mirabel promises to help her;] Rise up nov and make goode chere, And I shal help, to my power, [ 1680] So to counsel you in this dede That of youre porpos ye shul spede." Clarionas from hir bed arose In hope to come to hir purpose. [ 1684] [and she rises hopefully.] Nov speke we of Generides, That loued, and might nat be in pes, [Generides mean∣time cannot rest in peace.] He loued so sore day and night Clarionas that ladie bright. [ 1688] Careful therfore his maistre was, And al his meigne cried "allas." That he were seke, thei him dred, [His men think he is ill, and put him to bed;] And fast thei led him to his bed, [ 1692] And ther had he rest but small, So loue assaled him ouerall; In his eyen ther came noo slepe, [but he cannot sleep.] Therof his maister toke kepe [ 1696]

He turned him oft to and froo, [Fol. 111b] [col. 1.] He might nat lie stil for woo; Oft he rose and fel ageyn̄ "Jhesu," "he seid, "what is my peyn̄! [ 1700] [So he laments his woful case,] Wele I wrote who me it dooth, [Clarionas], to say the sooth, [and says it is all through Clarionas' love.] Hir loue werketh me al this woo As it hath doon to many moo: [ 1704] Wele may I sey allas, allas, That euer I knew [Clarionas!] Why so(:) she mysdid me noght. Noo, treuly(:) but myn ovn thoght, [ 1708] And myn eyen̄ that did hir so behold, This cause me thes sorows many fold; For euer me thinketh that I hir see Stand here before me. [ 1712] Min hert so high set haue I, A fall I drede to haue therby! Ay, god! hard was my destinygh [Why did he ever come to her country?] To this contre so forto high! [ 1716] Had I into my contre goo, I had noo thing felt of this woo, Had I doo by maistres counsełł, It had ben̄ nov for myn̄ availe; [ 1720] Nou it is to late to ouer-think, [However, as he has brewed, so must he drink.] As I haue brew, so most I drink." Nathanael of al that long night [Nathanael is con∣cerned at his distress,] For verrey sorow noght slepe might [ 1724] To see his lord in this distres, But to his lord tho gan him dres; In his bed he fond him waking, Sighing, and grete sorow making. [ 1728] Ful pitouslie seid he than̄ "Lefe Sir, tel me whan̄, [and entreats him to tell him when]

In what maner wise and how This sekenes first greued you. [ 1732] [the sickness first took him.] Somdele haue I herd Al this night hou ye haue ferd; Wondre I haue what it may be, But treulie nov I may wel see [ 1736] That ye love me litel, I wene, That wil not tel me youre tene. Whi wil ye not to me declare What shuld you cause thus to fare? [ 1740] Ye have noo cause to mistrust me More nov than ye had, parde, That ye might me the sothe seyn̄; What causeth you to haue al this peyn̄?" [ 1744] [Generides] thoo answered still, [Generides says] "I pray you take it not at yll, For I might nat haue noo space To tel how me betid this case; [ 1748] But yestirday it fortuned soo The king on message did me goo Vnto my ladie, his doghtre dere, [Clarionas,] so bright of chere; [ 1752] [Fol. 111b] [col. 2.] [that the pain took him when he was before Clarionas.] Before hir this yvel me toke, Oonlie for hir faire loke, That my deth it wil bee; Help, maister, for charitie!" [ 1756] Than Nathanael a litle logħ; That evel he knew wel ynogh; [Nathanael laughs. He knows the illness,] "But, sir, now I know hou it is, Dismay you noo thing of this [ 1760] Thogh ye with loue be bound fast, [and tells Generides not to be dismayed,] Be nothing therof agaste; To liue in hope is for the best, [but live in hope;] And most for youre hertes rest; [ 1764]

And if ye wil, tomorov or noone I hope so to speke and doone That I shall doo you to sayn̄ [and he'll bring him tidings to∣morrow] Trew tithinges in certeyn̄ [ 1768] Of loue that ye haue vndretake, Whethre ye shal it forsake Or els hold you therto. Wherfor I rede that ye thus doo, [ 1772] Suffre a while, and your hert stere Til betre tithinges ye may here; I shal perceyve in som degre, Othir by countenaunce or chere, parde, [ 1776] [whether Clarionas loves him.] Whethir she you loue with hert and will." [Generides] answerd him vntill, "Gentil maister, god thonk you; Grete comfort ye doo me nov. [ 1780] If ye me doo as ye me seid, A grete part of my care is leid." On the morov rose Nathanael [Next day] And went streit vnto the Castel; [ 1784] Nathanael into the chambre wan̄, [Nathanael goes to Clarionas's chamber,] And Mirabel him saw than̄; Right wel she lete of his comyng, "Welcome," she seid, "by heuen king." [ 1788] [and is welcomed by Mirabel, who] Mirabel him welcomed hertlie, And he hir thanked curteslie. "Wher is youre lord," seid she, [asks after Generides.] "I pray you, goode Sir, tel ye me." [ 1792] "Maistres," he seid, "he fareth not wele; [Nathanael says he is not well;] This night he slept neuer a dele For hevines he hath, and care." "Syn whan," she said, "hath he so fare?" [ 1796] "Sith yisterday, Maistres, a eve, This sekenes first did him greve;

In this chambre here, as he me told, [he caught a bad cold in that cham∣ber yesterday.] Caght he this sekenes with a cold." [ 1800] "Wherof toke he it, know ye hou?" "Maistres," he seid, "I can not tel you." "Yis, feir sir, I you prey: Treuly I shal you neuer bewrey; [ 1804] For right soo hath my ladie sped, [Mirabel says that her lady has been bad too,] Sith yestirday she hath kept hir bed, For love doth hir so constreyn̄ [Fol. 112] [col. 1.] For youre lord; whan she had him seen̄, [ 1808] [and has had no rest since she saw Generides;] Neuer sith, rest had she noon̄." "Maistres, in like wise by seint Jhon̄ Mi lord hath faren right soo; For he suffreth such peyn and woo [ 1812] Sith he saw my ladie laste, Of him I haue be sore agaste." "Sir, she seid, I trov right wełł Loue is meruellous, I here tełł: [ 1816] Now wote I wele withouten les Mi ladie loueth [Generides]." [she must be in love with him.] "Now maistres, blessed mot ye be! With thes tithinges ye comfort me; [ 1820] For wete ye well without feyntise ["And Generides is in love with her," says Nathanael.] Mi lord hir loueth in like wise. But he haue hir, he hath sworn̄ Gladnes for euer hath he lorn̄." [ 1824] Thus Mirabel and eke nathanael Knew right wele of othres counsel; Than Mirabel began to say, "Now, swete sir, hertlie I you pray [ 1828] Ye wold you hast a grete pas ["Then go at once to Clarionas, and tell her this," answers Mirabel.] Vnto my ladie [Clarionas]; To speke with hir that ye not spare, And telle hir of youre lordes fare. [ 1832]

Goo your wey, tel hir his nede; Wondre I haue but if ye wele spede." Nathanael was ful wise and goode, [So Nathanael goes,] His lesson he wel vndrestoode, [ 1836] Wel taght he was in word and dede, Anoon to [Clarionas] he yede; He spake to the ladie [Clarionas] And told hir al the wooful case. [ 1840] [and tells his tale,] [Clarionas] on hir bed satt; Of his wordes comfort she gate, [which comforts Clarionas.] And made him glad welcomyng; Ful wele she lete of his tithing, [ 1844] Therof she was wondre glad. Mirabel to call she bad, [She sends for Mi∣rabel,] And told hir what Nathanael Had seid to hir euery dele, [ 1848] "Ma dame(:)" Mirabel thoo gan̄ say, [who counsels her] "No lenger put ye in delay His desire to Respite, But egallie ye him acquite, [ 1852] And of youre grace with benigne chere That ye wil graunt him his prayer." [to grant Generides his desire,] "I shal be glad him forto see, Mi worship to kepe with honestie." [ 1856] "I shal, ma dame, if it you please, Send for him, his hert to ease, [and send for him by Nathanel.] By his maister that here dooth stond." She tooke Nathanael by the hond, [ 1860] "Nov sir," she seid, "my leef Frende, [Mirabel then tells Nathanael to bring Generides to speak to her lady.] In al hast aftre youre lord ye wende, [Fol. 112] [col. 2.] And secretlie, for spiyng, By the gardine ye him bring [ 1864] To my ladies chambre wyndow; Ther he may speke ynogh, I trow;

She shal be there ful redilie." Nathanaels hert for ioye did flie; [ 1868] To his lord he went a pase, And broght him tithinges from hir goode grace: [Nathanael tells Generides the good news,] "[Clarionas] my ladie dere Hath sent for you, be glad of chere." [ 1872] Tho vp he rose with him to goon̄; God knoweth, daunger made he noon̄. To the chambre window sone [and they go to Clarionas's cham∣ber window.] Thei came, as thei were tagħt to doone. [ 1876] [Clarionas], withouten les, Whan she saw [Generides], With simple voice and sighing chere He lowlie obeid in humble chere, [ 1880] Drede his hert did so appalle, Downward his chere lete he falle, Specheles for fere stil he stoode. [But there Gene∣rides is speechless,] This ladie was curteys and goode, [ 1884] With louyng chere and face benigne Hir hert to him she did resigne; Loue began hir to assaile That hir tong for fere gan faile; [ 1888] So a-dred thei wer both twoo [and so is Clarionas.] That nouthir spake to othir thoo. Than [Generides] told a-right [At last Generides asks her] What woo he had suffred that night; [ 1892] With wooful hert and pale face Mekelie besoght hir of hir grace "That she wold, for goddes sake, Him to hir mercy oonly take, [ 1896] [to have mercy on him, or he shall die.] Or elles I know wel I shal die." Thoo answerd she ful graciouslie With myld chere soft and still, "Looth I were you to spiłł;" [ 1900]

Ful goodelie to tel she began̄, And seid, "swete loue, I ne can̄ [Clarionas calls Ge∣nerides Sweet Love] No thing wete ne vndirstond Of that ye bere me on hond; [ 1904] But certes, sith I you last say, Had I neuer sith goode day; To se you I haue had such desire Which al myn hert hath set on fire; [ 1908] Wherfor I pray you with hert entier, If I be to you so dere, Demean you al-wey in such wise Min honour and worship I may supprise; [ 1912] With you to speke, and oft to seen̄, [and says she desires to see him often.] Is my desire, and euer shal been̄, To comfort vs with plesaunt talking, Without shame or euel thinking; [ 1916] Wherfore I pray you, swete fere, [Fol. 112b] [col. 1.] That often we may mete here." Mirabel seid, "I shal you tel [Mirabel advises them to pledge their troth to one another] If ye will doo by my counsel, [ 1920] Beth trew to othre for euermore." [Generides] listened to that lore, [[MS. lord.]] [and Generides] A-down he kneled on his kne And seid, "ma dame, haue mercy on me, [ 1924] And to god and you a voye I make, [swears never to forsake Clarionas's service.] I shal youre seruice neuer forsake, But while my life may endure To serue you aboue ecħ creature." [ 1928] His wordes thurgh hir hert gan perse Whan he this mater did reherse. Mirabel seid with milde chere [On Mirabel's sug∣gestion] "Conclude this mater both in fere, [ 1932] In token of loue that ye kysse, And so departe with ioye and blisse,

It is tyme hens to hie For drede lest folkes vs aspie." [ 1936] This goode ladie of high emprise Did him kisse in herti wise; [Clarionas kisses Generides heartily.] Hir loue encreased sore and strong, With stedfast hert it lasted long. [ 1940] [Generides] toke a ring anoon̄ [They change rings] In which was set a riche stoon̄, He yave it his ladie [Clarionas], God wot ful glad therof she was, [ 1944] She toke an othre from hir hond, Ther was noon richer in that lond, On his finger she it pitt, With ful glad hert he toke it; [ 1948] Thus thei chaunged here ringes twoo, So did thei hert for hert also. [and hearts,] At [Clarionas] he tooke his leue [and then part.] Al thogh it sore his hert did greue; [ 1952] At that tyme a-sondre thei yede, Thei durst noo lenger abide for drede. [Generides] his wey tooke, And oft behinde him gan he looke, [ 1956] As long as she might him see Eythir loked ageyn trewlie; Long tyme vsed thei that play, [They often see one another afterwards] Som tyme on night, som tyme on day; [ 1960] At the window to speke to gedre [and talk together,] [Generides] oft went thidre; And euer grete loue he wan [and Generides be∣comes much loved at Court,] In al the court of euery man̄; [ 1964] Al games he couth doo ful wele, Of maistreys wanted him noo dele; He was of grete strenght and might, Noon so bygg, ne half so wight; [ 1968]

Wel wold he iust himself to assay, [and jousts well.] That wold he vse day by day. In the court a knight ther was, [But a knight of Libie, named Ma∣lachias,] His name was called Malachias, [ 1972] [Fol. 112b] [col. 2.] He was born and fed in Libie; At [Generides] he had envie; [envies] For treason out of his contre He was so hated he must nedes fle; [ 1976] So thurgh his fals flatering With the Sodon was he dwelling. This knight hated [Generides] [and hates Gene∣rides,] In hert stillie, but neuer the les [ 1980] So goode felaship he him bare [Generides] therof was not ware That he him any euel wold, Therfor he bare him bold; [ 1984] He thoght to doo him som treason̄ And to bring [Generides] doun̄ [and wants to bring him low.] To shameful ende, but god him spede; Theraboute ful fast he yede [ 1988] If he might ought him aspie To doo him shame or vilanie, As here aftre ye shal here tełł, For nov I must a while dwełł, [ 1992] And return to new mater Of Aufreyus the king, as ye shal here.