The romans of Partenay, or of Lusignen: otherwise known as the tale of Melusine: tr. from the French of La Coudrette (before 1500 A. D.) Formerly edited from a unique manuscript in the library of Trinity college, Cambridge, with an introduction, notes, and glossarial index, and now rev. by the Rev. Walter W. Skeat ...

The Romans of Partenay, or of Lusignen.

[Fol. 1 is wanting.].

FOr full fayne I wold do that myght you please, [ 1] [Fol. 2] yff connyng I had in it to procede; [I would gladly, had I the cun∣ning, forge some∣thing here to please you; but my soul is barren, and lacks skill.] To me wold it be grete plesaunce and ease, yff aught here might fourge to youre wyl in dede; But barayne is my soule, [MS. "foule."] fauting connynghede, [ 5] Natheles in it wil I make progresse, Euermore trustyng to youre gentilnesse. [ 7]

I not aqueynted of birth naturall [ 8] [I am not ac∣quainted by birth with the perfec∣tion of French, and may mistake one word for another;] With fre[n]she his verray trew parfightnesse, Nor enpreyntyd is in mynde cordiall; O word For other myght take by lachesse, Or perauenture by vnconnyngnesse; [ 12] For frenshe rimed or metred alway [for rhymed French is difficult to be displayed in English.] Ful oft is straunge in englishe to display. [ 14]

As nighe as metre will conclude sentence, [ 15] [As nigh as the metre will permit, I will follow my text, in due order;] Folew I wil here my president, Ryght as the frenshe wil yiff me euidence, Cereatly after myn entent; Al-be-hit I am vnsufficient, [ 19] [albeit I cannot paint my book as most books are painted.] Ne can noght peynt my boke as other be, Vnder youre supporte yut aunter wyl me. [ 21]

In auncion tyme of antiquite [ 22] [In ancient times men invoked deities;] Men called goddis to theire helpe and ayd, With deuoute prayers to theire deite, Their werkys to fourge eche houred brayd, [MS. "houredbrayd."] Their celles of memoir to refreshe prayd; [ 26] As valerius maximus gan do, [thus Valerius Maximus invoked Tiberius.] Tiberius Cesar called helpe vnto, [ 28]

In the proheim off hys notabile boke, [ 29] [Fol. 2 b.] Wher all thes goddis apertly may see, [and explained in the proëm of his notable book, how the gods were created.] (ho-so lust out it to behold or loke), hou thay were creat eche in their degre; Som lust their faders honoured shold be, [ 33] Som for their strenght or for thing in holde, Som for wisdome or somwhat vnfold. [ 35]

Off roial frige Midas the riche king [ 36] [Midas, the rich king of Phrygia, besought Bacchus that all he touched might become gold; which the god granted, even with respect to his meat and drink.] Bachus god of wyne ther besoght he, That al gold myght be what he were touching, For he was of hys confraternite; Hys desyre graunted that gold fine shold be, [ 40] Ne had thys god relesed hym at large Off hys mete and drinke, þer shold he had discharge.

To declare how they were deyfied, [ 43] [Some gods owed their origin to poets' fancy;] large tyme, longe space wold it ocupie; Poetes whilom som fantesied; Som maligne gostes, ful of tyrannye, [others were malign spirits, giving oracular responses.] yeuyng answeres to peple sondrye; [ 47] For to tell or say their generacion yn vayn, ryght noght their fundacion. [ 49]

To callen in ayde tho of no valoure, [ 50] [To call to my aid gods such as these,] Which want myght and strenght, vertu none hauyng,

That miscreantes whilom gan honoure, [who are of no value, and were only imagined by poets,] As for their goddis thaim deyfiyng, As power had, where none wer hauyng, [ 54] Poetes faynyd in their poetrie, Theim-selfen the more for to magnifie; [ 56]

Suche fayned goddys noght is to cal on, [ 57] [Fol. 3] Thing Agayne our feith [MS. "feith."] And but fantisie; [would be against our Christian faith.] No help ne socour to cal thaim vppon; I lay theim Apart And fully denye, [I deny them, and call rather upon Almighty God,] Requiring that lord whych is Almightye [ 61] That of hys highnesse he be my trew gide, The weyes of trouth me vn-to prouide; [ 63]

That in thys mater my penne conueid be [ 64] [to guide my pen as may please the Trinity,] As plesaunce may be vn-to the highnesse Off our sacred lord, sitting in trinite; Now be he myn ayde in thys besinesse; To hym only I trust in thys forth progresse, [ 68] [that I may trans∣late the French into English.] That throgh his mercy he me send [MS. "fend."] such grace, For [Fro (?)] frensh tyll english that it may purchace. [ 70]

Mi labor wil don After my simplenesse [ 71] [I will do my best, asking pardon for defects, and will now begin to translate the pro∣logue prefixed to the French text.] hit for to conuey As I can or may, Beseching hertly of your highnesse My defautes for to pardon alway; Trustyng to your grace now euer and ay, [ 75] The prohemy and prologe of frensh here begyn, After my sampler passing forth ther-in. [ 77]

The philisopher ful wyse was And sage [ 78] [The philosopher was full wise, who declared in the first page of his "Metaphysics," that the human intellect naturally endeavours to learn and know things;] Whiche declarid in hys first pagent, hys methephisike off noble corage, Werto plieth humayn entendement, Naturally conceyung the entent [ 82]

To lerne And know; thing said wel and wisly; [for all a man's endeavour] For all humayn entendement fully [ 84]

DEsireth come to know that he knowith noght, [ 85] [Fol. 3 b.] Whether of loue or of reproche it be, [is to know that which he before knew not, espe∣cially in matters that concern him closely. Old things, when re∣hearsed, are good and fair; as when we speak of Arthur,] And specially if it touche hym aught. Thinges of long time passyd in contre, When rehersid is, pleasith hertes fre; [ 89] Auncion thinges wich ben good and fayre, As to speke of king arthure debonayr, [ 91]

How he wold preue his vertu and manhede [ 92] [and of his noble knights and worthy people;] With noble knightes and peple worthi; Many of hym spekith at thys hour in-dede; And so thai don of lancelet sureli, [or of Lancelot, Percival, or Gawain.] Wher ful good loos had ryght ful preysingly; [ 96] Of perceuale also, And of Gawayn, Which lo! at no time had hertes in uayn [ 98]

As for to adquire grete honour and prise; [ 99] [Whoever inquires of their marvel∣lous adventures by sea and land,] Ful wel lernid were in knightly coniectures. Who wyl know and enquere in what maner wyse, By se and land meruelous auentures Which came unto sondry creatures, [ 103] For to conne it is an excellent thyng, [will find it an excellent thing to know them.] And cause of many mannys preferring. [ 105]

As rose is aboue al floures most fine, [ 106] [Science is a most worthy thing:] So is science most digne of worthynesse; Ho noght ne can, noght worth is to deuine; Hit wel belongeth to tho of goodnesse [and every one should study history, more especially if he be of high degree.] Strongly to enquere histories expresse, [ 110] Which that of longe tyme makith memorie; Moch more is if he be of degre hye; [ 112]

HE shold serche, fro degre into degre, [ 113] [Fol. 4] vn-to know wherhens he descendyd is, [Such a man ought to know his pedi]

Duke, Erle, or Baron, or markois if he be, [gree, and cause it to be duly recorded.] So þat long mynde therof shuld be ywis; Al thes lordes gret so shold do in thys, [ 117] Ther-off scripture make as an historie, To ende that ay ther-of be memorie. [ 119]

For-so-moche I say that an high grete lord, [ 120] [Thus it was that a great lord of Poitiers and Par∣tenay commanded me to labour after this manner;] Whilom of peiters, (whom god yf honour), lord of partenay named of record, To whom I shal be redy at ech hour, Me commaunded, noght gretly, to labour [ 124] Of hys proper sentement and feling; Hys commaundment wern shal I no-thing. [ 126]

FOr euery knawith and full wel May see [ 127] [and men should always obey great lords.] That to lordes here men obbey, lo! shold; ho can it noght do, wise ne sage is he; In hys swete langage ther he me vnfold [His bidding was, that I should make a (rhymed) copy of a book of his; which book he gave me,] That I ther take the exampleir wold [ 131] Off a boke [MS. "aboke."] of his which that he had made; He it ther me toke, to fourge it me bade. [ 133]

To know in sertayn ho fourged and wrought [ 134] [so that men might know who made the castle and town of Lusignan.] Roial lesigne[n], the noble castell, Als ho made the town, vnto mynde it brought; A meruelous strenght is in for to dwel. Then I answerd greing to hym well, [ 138] "My lord," said, "vnto your wil and plesire;" [I promised ac∣cordingly to do so] Then said he, "do it at your owne lesire; [ 140]

For all the labour and iornay is your; [ 141] [Fol. 4 b.] Thys castell was made with on of faire, [He then told me that this castle was built by a fairy, from whom he was himself lineally descended, and whose name was Melusine;] (As ouer all rehersed is eche hour), Of the which I am drawen lynyally, I and all the lyne discendyd fully [ 145] Of partenay, it is ryght no doute at all; The fair melusigne men gan hire to call, [ 147]

This fairie womman þat you namyd haue, [ 148] [whose arms, in∣deed, he still bore; and he bade me rewrite the whole history of it in rhyme, because then people would the sooner recite or hear it.] Of whom the armys here now bere wee, The which ofte were borne; and daly it craue, And to end of it there-of memoir be, ye shall put in ryme thys historie fre: [ 152] I will that it be rimed hole entire, The sonner peple wyll it say or hire." [ 154]

Then sayd, "my lord, I grant your entent; [ 155] [I replied, I would gladly undertake it, but desired to receive no praise,] Alwais your will and plesire wil doo, My power also; but lose wil none hent, For in other tyme in frensh put also, [for that it had been put into rhyme once be∣fore already.] And rymed, As men me haue told vnto; [ 159] Wherefor vnto me shold it be gret shame Of thys dede me auaunt and of it haue name, [ 161]

Syn Another time hath fourged be and made. [ 162] [Still I would try and put it into another shape,] But to my power what I can wil doo; so god be plesyd, my witte shal put to fade In-to other fourme, if leyser haue, lo! Which letter [Sic in MS. Read better. The French has mieulx.] shal you come plesaunce vnto, [ 166] [which would please him better;] Syn that the other ye haunt ne vse noght; And, that you plesith, put to will I my thought

After tho bokes which of it men fynde, [ 169] [Fol. 5] Wher this historie preuyd manion; [and would con∣sult two books that had been found in the tower of Mabregon, originally written in Latin, but which had been afterwards trans∣lated into French;] And to ende that we may bring vn-to mynde, Within the toure of noble mabregon To faire bokis were fonden ther-on [ 173] In latin, And all preuyd at deuise, That men made translat in most frenshest wyse.

And syn, after monthes fife or sixe, lo! [ 176] [the contents of which books had been subsequently confirmed by Anthony, earl of Salz and Barry, in another book,] This historie confermyd anthonye, The erle of salz and of Barry also, In a boke whych had of this castel hie, [ 179]

Whiche that was so faire, ful strong and myghtie; But al-wais spake in his wordes al Vn-to thes bokes Aboue-said egall: [ 182]

Off bokes thre that boke drawen oute, [ 183] [which, they say, was compiled from three others] Ryght so fayn [Read sayn.] men rehersyng the chaunce), And that wherby it was know no doute, Which other tymes haue sayne the substaunce; [and I do not doubt it, as I have seen the substance of it.] here-to shal I put all my hole pusaunce, [ 187] In ordinat rule shal it sett surelye, As plesire may be vnto our lord hye." [ 189]

Then toke I my leue As of my good lord, [ 190] [Thereupon, I took my leave, and will now endeavour to write the history of the castle of Lusignan, with God's assistance,] (Vn-to whom god yeff ioy, grace, and honour). As to þe castell strength here to recorde Of þe said lesignen, whiche was fair þat hour, here shall ye here thys historie labour; [ 194] So þat it may plese the kyng of glorie, Which to me yeff Felyng ther-of fullie, [ 196]

Withowt whom a man [MS. "aman."] here may do no thyng, [ 197] [Fol. 5 b.] Be it in fransh tonge other in ebrew; [without whom one can write nothing, whether in French or in Hebrew.] All science cometh of that noble kyng, Wich is the clere wele or the pilour trew, The maker of all whom liff doth ensew; [ 201] Of hym cometh goodnesse, wite, and sence; [Of Him cometh goodness, wit, and sense.] Non, but by our lord, herite in science. [ 203]

With hole hert entire here I hym require [ 204] [I pray Him, with my whole heart, to aid me; and that his sweet mother will con∣duct my work to the end.] To thys nede me ayde; and hys moder swet Mi mater conduce to the ende entire, Thys werke vnto me here shewyd and gett, To the hie plesaunce of my good lord grete, [ 208] To whom god yeff ioy, worship, and honour; Right thus the prologe Endeth at this hour. [ 210] [Thus endeth the prologue.]

[End of the prologue.]

[THE ROMANS OF PARTENAY.]

Hit is so in trouth in time auncion, [ 1] [In ancient times, after the time of Octavianus, lived in Poitiers a cer∣tain earl named Amery, well∣skilled in astrology and other sciences,] After the time that OctauiAn was, In peyters a erle had of grete renoun, Off whom gret talkyng men held hie and bas; [MS. "has," which is wrong.] [ 4] louid of all, cherished in eche place, Callid Amerys; wel cowde astronemie, And A man ful ripe in other clerigie [ 7]

Off the right Canoun and Ciuile also; [ 8] [as well as in canon and civil law.] Wel nye al by hert thes science coude he, Als wordly witte I-now had ther-to; yut hys dedes neuerthelesse to se, [Never was there a better astrologer, or one more learned in the science,] Neuer better astronomian might be, [ 12] Founde was neuer man being christian; He cowde moche more than any other man, [ 14]

But only he which sterres gan to name, [ 15] [Fol. 6] Then all other, with ther names all. [excepting only Him, who gave stars their names. He was also great and rich, and very fond of hunting.] A gret man this was And of noble fame, And wel at ease of goodes mondiall; Disport of houndes loued moche with-all, [ 19] Full ofte chaced he hertes, bores grete; Thys erle of peyters huge nobles gan gete. [ 21]

A Fair sone had by his gentill wiffe, [ 22] [He had a fair son and a fair daugh∣ter, whose names were Bertram and Blanche.] Full moche loued hir, chirsly can hir hold, And A doughter fair, ful swete As fare liff, Streight nose, fair mouth, wel fetured, me told, Gret beute she had wonderly vnfolde; [ 26]

Which men callyd Blanche, she was inly fair; And the sone-is name Bertram debonaire. [ 28]

Thys Erle thes children ful moche loued tho; [ 29] [Neither Ro∣chelle nor Macon were yet founded;] yut was noght founded, neither like to be, Rochel ne machon, neither of them to; Thorugh al peyters foyson of wode plente, [and there was, throughout Poi∣tiers, abundance of trees, and espe∣cially a large forest called that of Coulombiers.] A ful gret forest with many A streight tre, [ 33] And in the wild forest As of columbere, Which is noght full ferre fro peiters there. [ 35]

FOr tho ther was A Erle in the forest, [ 36] [Now there was an earl in the forest, who had a huge great number of children, not very rich,] Which of children had A huge noumbre gret; In riches herite was not in þe best, But of good lyuyng was in-dede and set, Sagely And wisely good gouernaunce get; [ 40] [but who lived sagely, and spent warily,] After that had, warly gan dispende; And for hys good gouernaunce, at ende, [ 42]

Loued and cherished was of peple all. [ 43] [Fol. 6 b.] Cosyn he was to Erle amerye fre, [and was beloved by all. He was cousin to Amery; who, hearing of his great number of children, thought to assist him.] Which thes nouels hurd at that entreual, That his cosyn had of children plente; Then came hym in wil and in volente [ 47] Off such greuous charge hym to discharge tho; Without traying, [Read tarying. See note.] therfor, gan he do, [ 49]

At peiters made A roial gret feste, [ 50] [He made there∣fore a great feast at Poitiers, and invited the earl of the forest and his feudal barons.] A more worshipful neuer sayn with eye; After tho he send the Erle of forest, Of poiters The erle commaunded so fullie, And other Barons lyke-wyse verilye, [ 54] Which of hys seignorie landes gan hold Of this noble erle A-forne spoke and tolde. [ 56]

Tho wer after sende, to hym came gladlye; [ 57] [They came gladly upon the day ap∣pointed; and the] All other cam, non lakke, vnto that iournay

That thys sayd Erle commaunded hertlye. [earl of the forest brought with him three of his sons.] The Erle of Forest brought hym, thay say, Thre of his sones vnto court that day, [ 61] For to do to hys cosyn gret plesaunce; And he cam vnto full fair ordinaunce. [ 63]

The Erle of poiters had gret ioy to sight [ 64] [The earl of Poitiers was glad to see them, and regarded the three sons closely, especially the youngest, and said,] Of hys good cosyn, And hym fested so, And hym cherished in al that he myght; Hys children feruently gan he behold tho, To on of them thre hys behold gan go, [ 68] The lest gan hym plese in hert brennynglie, To hys cosyn sayd thes wordes swetly. [ 70]

"Understandeth me, my fair swete cosin, [ 71] [Fol. 7] I haue vnderstande And by neighbours knowe ["My fair sweet cousin, I beg you to give me one of these children; he shall be well taught,] That largely ye haue children good and fin, Full good is that ye ther-of discharge yowe; Here I you require, yeff me on to owe; [ 75] He shall be wel taught in curtesie and speche, For suche doctrine schal hym lere and teche; [ 77]

And for euermore ryche man shal hym make." [ 78] [and I will make him a rich man." "My lord," said the earl, "do your pleasure as regards these three;] "My lord," sayd thys Erle of the forest hie, "Of thes thre on your plesire do and take, And you ther-of I thanke whyth hert ful humly, Reson is ne right that you werne shold y; [ 82] Se ye here now thre in your hie presence, [I will not refuse you.] Do as liketh your noble reuerence. [ 84]

TAke here vnto you which you best do plese, [ 85] [Take whichever of them you like best." "Then give me the youngest," quoth the earl of Poitiers;] No man shall ther-of you werne ne withsay;"— "Then yeff me the lest to my hertes ese, For I haue to hym my loue yeff thys day,"

The Erle of poiters this to hym gan say. [ 89] "Sir, I wyll gladly do your will and hest," So hym Answerd the Erle of forest, [MS. "forest."] [ 91]

"Syn he you plesith, ye shall hym haue trulie; [ 92] My lord, se hym here, you here take sone myn;"— "My fair cosyn, I thanke you ful hertlye; ["and declare to me his name.] Declare me hys name (.) gentil good cosyn." "My lord, men hym cal Raymound good & fyn, [ 96] ["My lord, his name is Ray∣mond."] The fair, the swet, the gentill, the curtoys, Off all thre best thaught, still, not moche of uoys."

When thys roiall Feist was endyd and done, [ 99] [Fol. 7 b.] Ryght so As it fell vppon the thyrd day, [The third day after the feast, the earl of the forest departed.] The Erle of foreste toke hys leue to gone; Tho thes brethen thre to-geders kyssyd thay, [The three brethren mutually com∣mended each other to God, and Raymond re∣mained behind.] Entercommaundyng to god other ay, [ 103] At ther departson had thay gret dolour; Thys Raymound Abode with hys lord that houre.

Ful wele he hym seruyd vnto his powere, [ 106] [Raymond served earl Amery faith∣fully,] Off trouth he it knew ful wel verilye, Thys full noble erle, sir Amerie, there, Which moche hym louyd And cherished [MS. "fherished." See l. 121.] hertly, [and was much be∣loved in return.] As for that so wel hym seruyd daily, [ 110] And surely wold do that to hym wold say, Neuer seruitour louid so no day; [ 112]

And [MS. "AAnd."] Also he was his faythfull cosyn. [ 113] [But after this did Raymond slay him; cast stone∣dead to the earth, to death must Amery incline, through the false gluttonous cruelty of fortune.] Raymound after thys, gayn wyl, hym gan sly; Standed cast to ground, to deth most incline By fortune fals glotenous cruelte, Which no-thyng dredith ne doughteth to be, [ 117]

But causith ofte meruelles for to come, So As ye may hire sondry tymes lome. [ 119]

At noble poiters the erle Amerie, [ 120] [The earl Amery went often to hunt in the afore∣said forest, during five or six years;] Which so was louyd and cherished tho, Als of hys men holden ful cherishlye Both of ryche And pour in like wyse also, To wodes he went ful ofte to hunt, lo! [ 124] Into the foreste of sayd columb[e]re; So fyffe or sexe ȝere regned in powere. [ 126]

HIt cam on A day, for to hunt he went, [ 127] [Fol. 8] With hym gret fusion of knyghtes many, [and he went to hunt one day with a large number of knights,] Of tho which he moste louyd ther hent, Whith hym to disport brought he forth surelye. Besidis hym rode Raymounde gentillye, [ 131] [with Raymond on a high courser beside him, bearing his sword.] vppon A coursere he, beryng ful wel (As thys hystorie doth declare and tell) [ 133]

The swerd of thys noble Erle and man. [ 134] [The chase began;] Tho began the chace strong and myghtly; The best for noyse A-forn the hundys ran, [the beast ran be∣fore the hounds, closely followed by them and by the earl,] The houndes sewing after ful strongly; The Erle thaim sewed and spored lyghtly, [ 138] Of whom anon shal you declare and say Where hym cam tho gret mischef and afray; [ 140]

FOr neuer after he ne cam againe, [ 141] [who never re∣turned again home. Raymond followed him as closely as he could;] Raymounde hym sewed As moche As he myght, As for to leue hym ne wold he certayn; Of thaim to it fil As ye sall know ryght. In the forest sought thys swyne euery wyght, [ 145] [and, as the moon rose, the boar was still slaying the dogs.] Which in columbere bred and fed trulye; The mone ther rose; the swyne ther houndes slye,

Ther ded to ground thaim cast myghtilye. [ 148] [The earl's people knew not where he was, having] his peple wyst noght where that he became,

Novmbred were thay ther mo then twentye [ridden away after the boar.] Which full feruently rode after thys game; "Come heder," said, "Raymound, lord, in goddys ["Come hither, Raymond!" said the earl,] name! [ 152] Our houndes, our peple lost now haue we, In what part thay ben vnknow is to me; [ 154]

And now is it noght to retorne, parde? [ 155] [Fol. 8 b.] Thought we cerche Aboute we shal not thaim ["and tell me what you advise."] find. What say ye now? what do now shal we?"— Raymounde sayd, "go forth, tary we not behynd, ["Let us find some retreat," said Raymond, "where we may tarry awhile."] Vnto som receit nye the wodes lynde, [ 159] Wher we mow thys tym receyued to be." The Erle answered, "ful wel now say ye; [ 161]

Ryght so shal it be As to me said, [ 162] ["So shall it be," said the earl, "for the moon and stars shine clearly."] Sithen the mone is risen vp an hie, The euening is fair and clere displaid, The sterres shinen fair I-now truly That all the wordle enlumyneth goodlie." [ 166] Then vnto ther way went thay ful nere, For the mone gan shine inly fair and clere. [ 168]

Thorught the wodes went, athirt trauersing, [ 169] [Traversing athwart the wood, they found at last an easy path, which the earl thought would lead them to Poitiers.] Where thay found places diuers and sondrye, Then a full fair way to thaym apperyng Wheron a stronge pas rode thay hastily. The Erle said, "Raymound, thys path wyl vs bryng nye, [ 173] As me semeth, to peyters the ryght way; What sey ye? is it noght so, now me say?" [ 175]

RAymounde said, "I trow it so be trulye; [ 176] [Raymond thought the same, and advised that they] Now ride we then, in goddis name, apace,

We shall come ful late thought we ful fast hye, [should ride on fast, and inquire their way of some one whom they might meet.] That into the town to entre haue no space; yut perauenture we may fynd som grace [ 180] To mete your peple whiche that knowith the way:"— "Go we," sayd the Erle, "I graunt, al that we may."

Then thay toke ther way wonder spedfullye. [ 183] [Fol. 9] Thys noble Erle be-gan to behold [The earl, as he rode, began to behold the stars, being (as was told) a skilful astrologer.] Thes fair sterres shinyng ful bryghtly, So that the skye enlumyned manyfold; Of astronemye wyse was As is told, [ 187] So moche ther-of knew he the maistrie. As he a sterre beheld in the skye an hie, [ 189]

Ther he saw a meruelous auenture [ 190] [Thereupon he perceived, by a certain star, that a strange ad∣venture was at hand,] Which ful sharpe and hard after to hym was. The profite of other touched he ther sure, But of hys owne ille perceyued no cas. Ther wonderful syghtes [syghes (?).] gan to purchas, [ 194] Hys handys gan wryng and to draw fast, [and wrung his hands, and cried out,] "O lord god!" said, "that angelles formed hast,

That thes merueles so strange bene sothlese! [ 197] ["O Lord God! why doth fortune make a man prosper by ill∣doing?] Fortune is ful strong any man to know; O varray god! for why made she encresse Only a man, [MS. "aman."] for doing ille, to grow? She is ful glad of duyng ille, I trow, [ 201] Now is it ryght thus, I se wel now expresse [For I perceive that prosperity will thus happen.] That, for ille doing, comyth gret goodnesse! [ 203]

In thes sterres se, Raymounde, vnderstand! [ 204] [Raymond! behold these stars, and know that if, in this hour, a man] For I here perceyue ful gret auenture." He hym answerd, "what is that sayand?"

Thys Erle hym said, "the shal declare sure, [were to slay his sovereign lord,] Without any doubte know thys of trouth pure, [ 208] And no-thyng no doubte, but be in certayn, If a man [MS. "aman."] gan sle hys lord souerayn, [ 210]

As in thys hour, he shuld gretter lorde be; [ 211] [Fol. 9 b.] More pusaunt, ful myghtly, and ryght gret [he would become himself a greater lord, and more puissant than any in the country,] Then any of hys kynred in contre; [MS. "incontre."] In al places shal fructefie and get, loue of all shal haue wher he entermet, [ 215] More gretter loue haue then his neyboures all; [and be more beloved than his neighbours."] know thys, fayr cosin, this is trouth, & shall!"

RAymounde noght o word yaf hym to answere, [ 218] [Raymond an∣swered not, but alighted, and found a little fire kindled in a heap of wood.] Al pensif a foote discended adon; An hepe of wode a[t] that tyme founde there, That herdes had lefte, gret and smal, theron; A lytyll fire found ther, the wode brend anon. [ 222] Certes ouer warme at that tyme was noght; The Erle ther lyght doune, somwhat hym chaufe [The earl also alighted to warm himself.] thought. [ 224]

Ther thai hurd a noyse, for to speke shortlye; [ 225] [Then heard they a noise. The wood brake, and they beheld a huge boar, in marvellous wrath,] The wod breke and rent ful heuily tho; Then Raymound his swerd gan to gripe fersly, And the Erle his in that other party to. leuing the fyre which ful clere brend, lo! [ 229] Then aforn them saw ny to them comyng An huge bore of meruelous wreth beyng, [ 231]

With tuskes tho whettyng ful strongly, [ 232] [and whetting his tusks.] And with malice yre comyng, fast smytyng; "My lord, saue your lyf and ward yow quiklye, [Raymond begs his lord to climb wightly into a tree, who boldly refuses] here vppon a tre wyghtly be clemmyng;"— With hie hautyng voice the erle answeryng, [ 236]

"I neuer was repreued at no stound, Ne here shal not be neuer shuch wise founde. [ 238]

WEre it plesaunce to god I shold hens fle [ 239] [Fol. 10] As beforn A pigge of A fowle sowe, lo?" [to flee from a pig of a foul sow.] Towardes the swine hys swerd fast shoke he; [The earl advances to pierce the boar, when his sword glances;] Raymound vnderstode his worde hym noyed tho. Thys sayd Erle tho went to launce hym vnto, [ 243] And when it cam so, the swerd went adōn; [for, as the boar came fast to∣wards him,] Thys swyne to the Erle forth faste ran anon; [ 245]

By mischef ther thys noble Erle gan die; [ 246] [his sword would not pierce the boar's hide; so that, missing his stroke, he falls from his horse upon the boar's tusks.] The Erle hym ne myght no lenger ther hym hold. By myschef thys swyne smot hym feruentlye; But hys swerd in hym entre ther ne wold, There he moste of horse fal to hys tuskes bold. [ 250] Raymound fast gan ren thys sayd swyne agayne, [Raymond runs up to aid him,] Trowyng hym to smite thorugh the body playne;

But hys swerde glente, non hurt had he tho, [ 253] [but his sword also turns aside.] For vppon the bakke was the stroke to se; Againe Raymounde smote, thorught the bely gan go, [A second stroke, however, is successful, and he cleaves open the boar with his steel sword.] With the stilen swerde there tho made entre; The blade fourged good, rasour kene was he, [ 257] All the bowelles cutte, all fil out anon; Hys good swerd withdrew, the bore ther fil dōn,

To mortail deth to grounde fallen tho. [ 260] [He finds his lord dead, and his soul com∣mended to God.] Thens vnto hys lord went he forth anon, Neuer gan to rest til hym cam vnto, Al dede ther hym founde And the soul gon; Commaunded was she to goddis hie renon, [ 264] For A worthy man and vaillant he was [For he was as valiant a man as any on this side of Rome.] As Any A-this-side [MS. "A thisside."] Rome to purchas. [ 266]

RAymounde hym tuke fast ther to wepyng, [ 267] [Fol. 10 b.] hym-selfen gan bete and hym sore torment— [Raymond ex∣claims against Fortune, saying that a man who trusts her is a greater fool than any mute beast;] "ha! alas! thou fals fortune," ther sayng, "To me hast thou be felonesly bent! Goode to tho wykyd thou grauntest and lent; [ 271] he is A more foole then Any mute best That trustith on the, or in thy behest! [ 273]

Thou art no gudfader ne Godmodere! [ 274] [that she is no godfather nor godmother;] To on art thou swet, Another bitter to; Non may on the trust, ne in thy fals gere; Off A smal man thou makest a kyng, lo! [that she makes a king of a small man;] And of tho ful rych right pour men also. [ 278] In the no wyl streine to helpe moste or lest; Thou on aydest, Another destroest! [ 280]

Alas for sorow! thys in me to fynde! [ 281] [that she has perdurably con∣demned him,] Thou here me hast destroed entierlie, And perdurabelly dampned to mynde, But iesu crist, the cheritable god hye, [unless Christ will have pity on him.] The trew, the swete, the piteful, of mercy [ 285] Of my wery soule lust to haue pyte!" [Hereupon he swoons,] And with that Raymound zownyng dōn gan fle, [ 287]

And wel nye an hour ryght so gan hym hold [ 288] [and does not come to himself again for an hour.] Without spech or loke; after cam agayne, Ther begynnyng his sorowes manyfold. When he rewardyd hys lord souerayne, [Again regarding his lord, he in∣vokes death,] Whiche ther dede-cold lay, sore hym gan complayne, Rewfully sayng with scrychyng vois hie, "Come, deth! tarye noght, anon let me dye! [ 294]

Comyng me to take, for time now it is; [ 295] [Fol. 11] For loste haue I here both soule and bodye; [for that his lord is slain by his misdeed.] My souerayne lorde that dede here lith thys,

By my grete mysdede here hym slayn haue I. [He would commit suicide, but that it is against provi∣dence.] Deth, come to me! season is trulye; [ 299] Come forth here anon, or I shal me sle; But god shold me sle, I shold noght so me. [ 301]

God wold noght, which is our chef fader hye, [ 302] [God would not that any should despair;] That any cristyn in dispeir be shold; But the hour coursed that born was worly, Or that wreched lyf so long leuyng hold. Better had me be dede-born here vnfold, [ 306] [yet it had been better for him to have been born dead.] For then had I noght dampned ne lost be. Alas! my lord cousyn, gentile and fre, [ 308]

LEsse worth am I then any sarysyne, [ 309] Whiche is in beleue of sory mahound!" Ther leping vp into hys sadel fine, [Leaping again into his saddle,] More lenger ne rest he ther that stound, The body of hys lord rest [left (?).] in that ground, [ 313] [he leaves the body, and rides away from the spot,] A sory man was thorught the wode gan ride, With wofull malice destrussed that tyde; [ 315]

The brydell-rayne lefte, at large let it go; [ 316] [leaving the bridle∣reins loose.] hym-selfe [MS. "feffe."] tormented and cursid ful sore, Vnnethes for-bare hym-selfe to sle tho, Ful ofte hys colour changing euermore, he had non end of his dolorous (.) store. [ 320] In thys estate rode lamentabillye, [Thus rode he along lamentably,] Tyll he Approched, certes, sodenlye [ 322]

The fontayn and well of thursty gladnesse, [ 323] [Fol. 11 b.] (As said is, it came [MS. "canne."] of the fayrie); [till he approached suddenly the fountain of Thirsty Gladness, said to be of fairy origin.] Thys wofull man apas streight ther-to gan dresse, hys horse ches a path conueyng wightly, Ouer all thys hors so went wylfully, [ 327] [The horse chooses his path at will,] here and there ouer all where at hys lust wold, For that he had lefte the rayne for to hold. [ 329]

At thys said fontayn hys courser hym brought, [ 330] [and thus brings him to the foun∣tain.] So forth passing by ther tho apertlye; Neuer ne reste, but was in other thought; hys coursere hyme bare forth fast and wyghtly; For discomforted was he moche truly, [ 334] [The rider is so distressed that he cannot look about him.] That hys mynde was gone fro hym-self full ferre, So that he ne saw Abowt, ferre ne nerre. [ 336]

Uppon thys fontayn ther had verilie, [ 337] [Beside the fountain were three ladies of high degree.] Which was right holsome, ful clere as crestal, Thre fair laydes of gret seignorie. In hys forth-passyng saw non of thaim all, [He sees none of them; but the most good-look∣ing and "jolliest" exclaims,] Such dolorous thoughtes to hym gan call. [ 341] Then spak the most gentillest of thaim thre, The most goodlokest And iolyest to se; [ 343]

SAyng, "neuer saw, dais of my lyfe, [ 344] ["I never, all the days of life, saw a gentleman pass ladies with∣out salutation."] Where it were gayn night or at morne erlie, Gentil man to pass but had respectif Aforn ladies without saluz hye, I wyll goo And speke with hym verilie." [ 348] She vn-to him cam, taking by the rayn, [She then seizes his rein,] After openly to hym said certayn— [ 350]

FOr goddis sake, man, shew the noght soo, [ 351] [Fol. 12] Which be descended of noble linage, [and tells him that to go by without a word is not the deed of a gentle heart.] Sin Aforn vs thre ye apperen, lo! And without worde say for to make passage, It is noght the dede of gentil corage." [ 355] he, whiche dolour hurt tho ful feruentlye, [Raymond suddenly per∣ceives her,] vpp sodenly lepte, perceyued thys ladye; [ 357]

Ther he trowed that fantesie it were, [ 358] [and thinks it is all the effect of his imagination, and knows not whether he is awake or asleep.] Where he slepte or wakyd wel knew he noght; A dede mannys colour that tyme had he there,

To hir non answere at that season brought, [He returns her no answer.] Noght intended here for sorow in thought, [ 362] But musing ful fast and was ryght penssife As euer was man which that here bare life. [ 364]

Thys fayr layde toke her tho to speke, [ 365] [She asks him why he will not speak, and] Anon ful hiely sayd she hym vnto, "how, Raymound, is thys, ye lust no word breke? ho hath you taught that to a mayden so, [wishes to know who taught him such behaviour;] Or to A lady when ye se thaim, lo! [ 369] That no word haue ne lust to say onlye? Of it cometh repref and vilanye. [ 371]

IN you all swetnesse And good curtesie [ 372] [for that it is a dishonour to him that he thus forces his heart to be unnatural.] Shold byde and dwel with al honour sure; Here-on ye be dishonoured gretly Which comyn be of so noble nature, That your gentil hert put to disnature." [ 376] Raymounde vnderstode, ther hir gan behold, [Raymond is many times astonied,] Sore astoned was times manyfold, [ 378]

When that he saw she hym held by rayne— [ 379] [Fol. 12 b.] But when perceyued the humayn bodye [and, perceiving the human body of this fair lady, his heaviness of heart troubles him yet more. Knowing not whether he is alive or dead, he alights hastily,] Of thys fair lady hym so to restrayne, In whom gret beute was preynted freshlye, Moche the more troubled his noysance heuye, [ 383] That he wiste not where he were quicke or dede; Fro hors fill down vppon the grasse in-dede. [ 385]

After hys [thys (?).] sayd, "moste gracyous ymage, [ 386] [and says, "Most gracious image,] Soueran layde of gret beute hye, With whome to compare non hath Avantage, Pardon me, swet thyng, for goddys mercye; [pardon me, sweet thing! My heart is heavy with misfortune;] With sorowes I haue the hert ful heuye [ 390]

By ouermoche meruelous auenture; By my faith, lady, I will you ensure [ 392]

That in such astate wher-on that I was, [ 393] I remembred noght what I owght to do; [I remembered not what I ought to do.] So moche sorow and care me doth enbras, Truly more than man can say you vn-to. For-soth I noght you perceyued no wyse, lo! [ 397] [I perceived you not;] But, noble lady, you beseche and pray Me vnto perdon so it please you may." [ 399] [pray, pardon me."]

Ther thys lady spake, "Raymound!" answeryng, [ 400] [She addresses him by name:] "I am ful sorye of your gret noysance." When Raymounde knew sche hym ther namyng, A litell began to muse that instance. "Lady, of my name ye haue conysance, [ 404] [at which he is much astonished;] Where-of I am Ameruelled gretlye; By my feith, I know noght your name redilye. [Here follows the catch-word—"you named but." See note.] [ 406]

You named but . . . . . . . . . . . . . [ 407] [Fol. 13] Wher that perceyue so full huge beute, [but, reassured by her beauty, he trusts that he will soon recover himself;] hyt causeth me to beleue verilie That I schuld by you wel assured be, And that I shal yut wel recouer [MS. "y^ecouer," the tail of the y being partly erased.] me, [ 411] By you to acquire som good recomfort Off my huge sorow is my dyscomfort. [ 413]

For of so fair A swete creature [ 414] [since only good∣ness can come from so sweet a creature.] Approcheth non ille, but ay al goodnesse; Fro you may noght come but good auenture, I beleue noght that terrene boody sothlesse [He cannot believe that an earthly body can have so much sweetness.] Of lusty beute may haue such richesse, [ 418] So moche of swetnesse, so moche of connyng As in your gentil body is beryng." [ 420]

"Raymounde, I perceyue how it goth now;" [ 421] [She then recounts to him all he has been doing, explaining that she is well acquainted with all that has happened.] She declared hym ther all hys doyng, Ther hym gan rehers euerydele how, As Aboue is said al hym declaring. Then Raymounde feruently reioyng, [ 425] How-be-hyt he moche astoned tho was How hys name myght know; strange to hym þat cas. [ 427]

Then thys lady said of gentil bodye, [ 428] [She then declares that all the good fortune which his lord pre∣dicted for him will be brought about if he will attend to what she says.] "Raymounde, my good loue, vnderstandeth me, Al that whiche your lord said youe varilye By wordes myn fulfillyd shal be, Truly and forsoth, yf so do wil ye [ 432] Ryght As I shal here vnto you rehers, Thinges to non hurt, sondry and diuers, [ 434]

Unto the plesire of our lorde an hie, [ 435] [Fol. 13 b.] And of his glorius moder also." When Raymounde vnderstode she spake trulye, Stedfastly hym toke the more surer to, [Yet more assured, he gladly pro∣mises to do all her commandments.] Ther hir saing, "swete gentill lady tho, [ 439] I schall put my hert And my holy [hole (?). See l. 482.] entent To your plesour do your commaundement. [ 441]

But certes, lady, I may no wyse tarie [ 442] [Yet he wishes to know how she knows his name and cir∣cumstances.] That you me [read ne; see note.] demaunde the trouth and verite, How ye myght my name knowen verilie, And how thys dede know any wyse may ye That by my fortune and mischef fil to me, [ 446] As wherthorugh I haue deserued deth full wel, Wherfor that I haue desired deth cruell?" [ 448]

"RAymounde, you councel, Astoned be noght," [ 449] ["Raymond," she said, "I counsel you not to be astonished.] Asaid thys lady, "for god shal you ayd;

yf ye will, moche more to you shall be brought [You shall be yet more successful than your dead lord predicted.] Of wordly goodes then your lorde you said, Whiche in the forest dede-colde light this braid. [ 453] I wyll in no wyse you to discomfort, I shall you socour, helpe, ayd, and comfort. [ 455]

Y Am, after god, your nexst frende trulye, [ 456] [I am, after God, your best friend;] Wordly catell I-now shall be brought. But loke ye me truste And beleue verilie, [but you must trust to me en∣tirely.] And dubte ye no-thing of goddys part am noght, I noght beleue in hys vertues wrought; [ 460] [Do not doubt∣ingly think that I am not on God's side;] yut I you promise that I do beleue Ryght As holy Catholike feith doth yeue. [ 462]

Euery Article beleue I and hold [ 463] [Fol. 14] Of the holy feith catholike named, [for I hold every article of the Catholic faith; viz., that God was born of a spotless virgin, endured death, rose the third day, and ascended into heaven,] That god, vs to saue, of the virgyn unfold Was born without wemme in hir attamed; Dethe endured; third day rose vnshamed; [ 467] After ascended vnto heuenys hie, Ther verray man And varray god trulye; [ 469]

And is in ryght syde of hys fader hie. [ 470] [and is at the right hand of the Father.] Raymound, vnderstand here now me vnto, Firmely all beleue without doubte anye. Now ye here beleue that sagely ye do, [Trust me entirely, and you shall attain to great honour.'] And ye shall rise vp, to such honour go, [ 474] That more shal ye be As of hie parage Then any man, lo! As of your linAge." [ 476]

Then Raymound musyd and gan aduertise [ 477] [Raymond, much amended of his care and sorrow,] The wordes ther said, and hertly ioyed tho; A litel his colour cam, vnto deuise, And moche amendyd of sorow and care to, When he answerd, "lady, I shal do [ 481] [promises to do what she com∣mands without gainsaying.] With all my hole hert, without withsaing, Al that which ye wyll be me commaunding." [ 483]

"RAymounde," she said tho, "this is ful wel said; ["Swear then to me," she said, "at this time, that you will marry me,] Now vnderstandeth me without gayn-sayng, To god and his sayntes me swere now thys braid, That in mariage me wil be taking, [MS. "betaking."] And that neuer, dais of your leuing, [ 488] [and that you will never inquire as to where I go on a Saturday;] For no worde that man wyl vnto you say, ye shall not enquere of me the saturday, [ 490]

NE after me cerche in no wise ye do, [ 491] [Fol. 14 b.] Neither to what part drawith my body, Ne what I will do, ne to what place go; Als I schall you swere For trouth uerilie, [and I promise, in return, to go to no ill place, but always to labour that day on your behalf."] To non ille place go ne will certaynlie, [ 495] But alwais to labour that iournay, Puttyng my hole hert, strength, mynde, and thought (.) ay [ 497]

To your honour, hawse, and encrese also; [ 498] Neuer shal ye se me forsworn no day." Raymounde wolde swere and ther hys othe gan do, [Raymond swears, but was, in the sequel, forsworn, to his great mis∣fortune.] But att end forsworn was he, is no nay; To ful gret myschef it cam hym alway, [ 502] For that hire couenaunt brake and noght gan hold. "Raymounde," sche sayd, "understande this told;

Iff thys poyntement hold noght in thys deuise, [ 505] [She tells him that if he breaks the compact, he will lose her;] ye shall me lese, be therof certane, Without sight of me any maner wise; After that, ye and al your hoires playn [and that himself and his heirs will lose their lands.] Shal begin to fall, and thaim-selfe distayn [ 509] Off landes, honoures, and heritages; Then doloures shall be in their corage[s]." [ 511]

Raymonde swere agayn secundarilie, [ 512] [Raymond swears a second time;] That neuer no day forsworne wolde he be. (Alas! thys dolent man said not soth trulie, [but alas! this miserable man spake not the truth.] For gret heuinesse After suffred he, Hys cherefull lady lost of nicete!) [ 516] At thys present time of it speke no more, Vnto my purpos tōrn shall I therfore. [ 518]

"RAymounde," she said, "ye most to court go, [ 519] [Fol. 15.] And me this not werne here in no cas, ["Raymond," said she, "you must go to Poitiers,] To peyters boldly go ye now vnto, Say wel and playnly when ye come aplas, If any you demaunde, hie other bas, [MS. "has."] [ 523] Of your said lord ne say ye no thyng [and give out that you lost your lord in the wood while hunting,] But that in the wode ye lost hym huntyng; [ 525]

And that longe ye gan After hym Abyde, [ 526] [and that you sought for him a long while unsuc∣cessfully.] Cerching, enquering in wodes ramage, A wilde swine chasing at that houred (.) tyde. Many other to court shall do make passage, Whiche equipollent schall say of corage, [ 530] After shall your lord truly shall [This word is redundant.] ther be founde, [At last he will be found, and brought to Poitiers,] And to peyters brought openly that stounde. [ 532]

Then gret heuinesse ther shall sone Awake, [ 533] [when his wife and children will lament in woful wise.] With euery men huge sorow shall arise; Full dolorous wo this lady will take, And with hir other gentil wemmen of price; His children lamenting in wofull wise. [ 537] Thaim aid and councell ryght auysilye [You must counsel them concerning his burial,] yn that belongeth to hys obsequye. [ 539]

Loke ye thaim councell hie and lowe that hour, [ 540] [and wear black as others do; and when at last the time shall come] For a man [MS. "aman."] shold do A grete lorde vnto his funerall obsequye with gret honour,

Cloth you ther in blakke As other ther doo. When that passyd is ther dolour and wo, [ 544] By processe of tyme at leyser and space, When weping dais an end do purchace, [ 546]

And that the enheritour ther shall be [ 547] [Fol. 15 b.] The erldom of peyters resceyued to, [for his heir to receive the earl∣dom,] And hys homage take of men of contre, Of thys lord demaunde A yefte or ye go [demand of him a gift ere ye go, as payment for your services to the late earl;] For your guerdon of seruise ye haue doo [ 551] To the Erle last past in the same place; Wher þe present be, so myght please his grace, [ 553]

So moche os [for as; cf. Glossary.] A hert-skyn myght aboute enclose, [ 554] [beg him to give you so much land as may be en∣closed by a hart's skin, and cause deeds of the gift to be duly exe∣cuted;] In seueral to shitte wodes and contre. hit will not you wern but graunt, I suppose; Dedes therof make the cause ther-on be, Off the lordes yifte the encheson may se, [ 558] Wher-for he it yaf, And for wat reason; After sette day of lyuerey and season, [ 560]

That men deliuer you possession; [ 561] [and, when you have the deeds ready, depart; and go on till you see a man carry∣ing a large hart's skin, which buy at his own price.] And when your letters ye haue all redy, Thens ye depart, a litell [MS. "alitell."] way shal gon, ye shal se A man come gayn you hastilie, The hertis skyn bring gret and large to eye. [ 565] By ye that skyn, I you gyf in charge, What-someuere cost, spare not, yif ye large. [ 567]

After cutte that pece into thwanges smal, [ 568] [Next cut the skin into small thongs, very narrow, and tie them up into a bundle,] lete it not be brode, but narow As may be, Enuiron the skyn rounde Aboute cut all As narew as may perceyue it to se, As long As the skyn endure see may ye; [ 572] After ther-of A fardell do ye make, And afterwarde to your repair you take, [ 574]

ANd lete it noght be lefte [MS. "lefte."] to do, certain, [ 575] [Fol. 16.] But men deliuere to yow your lande sad [and make men deliver you up the land which you can enclose with them around this fair fountain.] Aboute this clere well and ful fair fontain. Now complaineth noght of your huge pain had, For ye shal finde [MS. "finde."] this place fourged and made [ 579] In all places ryght As it liketh me, Where that your lande appere shall to se. [ 581]

If the thanges be more lenger certain [ 582] [But if the thongs will enclose more than such a circuit, draw them down along the valley.] then the rowndnesse made which that ye finde shall, Again the ualey do it to remayn The rennyng of thys fantain clere with-all, Where ye shall take the dwellyng to fall [ 586] The thwanges lenght after to ende had. Do thys hardily, be no-thyng Adrad, [ 588]

ANd when that ye be Assuryd of all, [ 589] [When assured at Poitiers of all your possessions,] As at peiters when ye come only, Take your leue and return that enterual, [return hither, and you shall find me here."] For in thys said place shal ye verily, At wat tym ye come, fynde me certainly. [ 593] luke ye me hold trew perfecte couenaunt." "lady," said Raymound at that instaunt, [ 595]

"I shall plainly do your commaundement, [ 596] [Raymond pro∣mises to obey at whatever cost;] What-someuer cost it for to cheue, Sin it pleassith yow me it commaunde to hent." Fro hir depertyd, taking fair hys leue, This thing takith on ioyusly in breue, [ 600] [and, greatly rejoiced, returns to Poitiers,] To peyters he cam in the morow-tyde; Many demaunded wher ther lord gan bide. [ 602]

RAymounde Answard, "yusterday hym lost [ 603] [Fol. 16 b.] vppon hys coursere [MS. "courfere."] which bare hym swyftly; [where he gives out that he had lost his lord,]

That I was basshed, wist noght to what cost [and knew not what had become of him.] he went, I cowde not mete with him truly; After I sewed As I myght full ny, [ 607] I hym lost when in-to woode gan draw, Neuer after perceiued hym ne saw." [ 609]

Ryght thus Raymounde hym excusid tho, [ 610] [Thus Raymond excused himself, and accused not the soul of the homicide (him∣self); and none ever thought of accusing him.] the soule of the dede-doer accusyd noght; For neuer man ne had in hym beleue, lo! That þe dede was by hym done and wrought, Though that moch he were distrained in thought, [ 614] And that for the dede sighed ful ofte there. But it behouith to yonge beculere [MS. "baiulere."] [ 616]

Such A strange dede to couere secretly, [ 617] [Many now return from hunting, both high and low.] Wich vnto hym cam at that huntyng-chace. Vnto his manoir comyn were many, Which fro hunting were drawing to þat place, As wel of gret As smal, both hye and bace, [ 621] Ni to Ramound drawing euermore. [There were none but were sorely annoyed] Ther had was non but noyed wonder sore [ 623]

That thay myght noght the trouth perceiue and know, [at not knowing the truth, as to where the earl was that night abiding.] Wher he that nyght [MS. "myght."] gan byd and remain. Ful dolorous was his fair wyfe þat throw, All wette with teres in hir visage plaine, [At last his sor∣rowing wife and children saw two men approach, bearing the body,] And ther children to ful harde gan complain; [ 628] Tho A-ferrom saw to worthi men comyng, Which the dede body sorily gan bring [ 630]

Which in the wodes barainly ther founde, [ 631] [Fol. 17.] Thys notable Erle whilom off renon; [which they had found in the woods, with the dead boar lying beside him.] And thys foule swine besides hym that stounde. Ther wepte burgesses And squiers manyon,

Ther wepte ladies And knightes echon, [ 635] [All bewailed his death.] Ther wepte old, ther wepte yong peple all, Thay wepte the deth of thys Erle roiall. [ 637]

When that the Countesse of him had the sight, [ 638] [His Countess wrang her hands, and tare her hair.] Ful dolorous wo hir hert gan attain, Here handes wrang, hir heere tare þis woful wyght, With wepyng teeres soroly gan complain; Ther wepte the sone, the doughter, both twain; [ 642] Ther wepte the gentile that Raymonde men call, [Raymond joins in the general mourning.] Ther wep[t]e prestes, ther wepete Chanones all.

Through Peiters Euery man sorow lad, [ 645] [Every one be∣wailed his death, throughout the town;] Both tho gret and smal ful sore were weping, Thys day can noght be saad the heuinesse mad, Noght halfe the wofulnesse the cite hauing. Tho that this dede Erle were þer beholdyng, [ 649] Euery bewepte hys deth mornyngly, [and buried him with all solemnity,] Thys Erle beried ryght ful solempnely; [ 651]

Ful nobley wele the almes yef and do; [ 652] [distributing alms, and burning great store of wax.] Aboute hym gret wexe, fair store, and gret light. Forsoth the burgesses of the cite tho Cast thys cursid swyne in A huge fire bright; [The cursed boar was cast into a fire and burnt up.] The Barons of contre there had ech wyght. [ 656] A man shold shortly the dole ouerpas, When remedy non may be in the cas. [ 658]

RAymounde Ful wel aqueinted hym that hour, [ 659] [Fol. 17 b.] Ther many A persone of hym said, "a! he [Raymond hears many remarking his excessive grief, which was indeed real.] Felith sore in hert anguish and dolour! Of hys souerain lord had he such pite." So he gan do in trouth and uerite, [ 663] As for to see hym gret pite it was, His morning, his wailyng, his loking bas. [ 665]

After when that the obsequie was don, [ 666] [After the burial, the barons busily went to do homage to the new earl;] The Barons faste went ful beselye, To the nouel Erle homage hym do echon, After the season and [MS. "and and."] usage customlye. Then Raymound drew hym forth to thys lorde hye, [and Raymond approached to prefer his request.] his request to make after hys lady lore, As she hym warned long tyme ther before, [ 672]

The lady of whom he had take leue to go. [ 673] "Honourous lord," he said, "bes[e]ch you yif me, [He asks for as much land, lying near the fountain, as a hart's skin would enclose;] Ni to the Fontain of thursty gladnesse, lo! Off wode, Roche, or ualey in that contree, Be it medewes or arable (.) to see, [ 677] So moche as an hertis skin of grounde strech wold; For noght wyll demaunde, ne in thys place shold,

Thing which that shold you be in cost gretly; [ 680] [and requires no other payment.] I require of you non other paiment For my seruice done continually Of your Fader, whos soule god haue and hent." Thys yong Erle said, "I graunt all your entent, [ 684] [The young earl accedes, if it will content his barons.] So that it may please to my Baronage." Then the Berons said with full fair langage, [ 686]

"RAymounde may full wel thys said yifte to haue, [Fol. 18.] (For he hath full wel deseruyd it sertain, [The barons think Raymond well deserves it,] His lord so seruyd), As hym lust to craue." "Then shal he it haue," Asaid thys Erle plain; [and the earl com∣mands the deeds of gift to be duly executed and sealed.] "hys dedes lete make his graunt to contain." [ 691] Deuised thay were passyng sotilly, After the writyng sealled ful truly [ 693]

With the gret seal [MS. "feal."] of thys Erle nouel, [ 694] [It was sealed both by the earl and the barons,] Which curious was, fair, and moche of told; The hye barons put to al-so well There gret sealles to the dedys unfold; The scripture deuisyd full wel to be-hold, [ 698] [and the day fixed for its becoming of force.] Fourged and made of good ordinaunce, The day perfixst of the deliueraunce. [ 700]

The morn a man cartainly he found [ 701] [In the morning, a courteous man brings him the skin,] Which A hertis skin broght hym there before, A ful curtois man hym it toke that stounde. The skyn ful narew kerue thay euermore; His gyfte required after hys lady lore; [ 705] The Erle said, men him deliuer it shold, [and the earl bids men to deliver him up his possession.] Fro peiters partyd with gret raundon told, [ 707]

To Raymound hys ghyfte deliuerd this wyse; [ 708] [As soon as they come to the fountain, Ray∣mond produced the skin, to their great wonder,] The Erle send peple to delyuer plain, Fulfillyng that which he gan promise. By that were comyn vnto the fantain, Streith Raymound thaim lad to þat place sertain, Raymound drew hys skin ther forth vnto sight; [when they see how narrowly it is cut.] Of þat merueled strongly many A wight, [ 714]

When so narow corue thai gan it to se; [ 715] [Fol. 18 b.] Vnknowin was thaim what that thai shold do. To men comyn were ther to that contre, [Two men then approach, who make the thongs up into a bundle,] Takyng ther thys skin coruen ful smal tho, Anon on A band put thay it vnto, [ 719] A gret trusse ther-of making vp that stound. On ende to a pain thai had ther y-bound, [ 721] [and bind one end to a stake;]

Aḷ the Roche thay had enuironied, [ 722] [and enclose the whole rock with a part of the skin.] But yut of the skyn ful gretly abode. To A pane on ende strongly thai tied, [They again bind an end to a stake, and carry it down the valley.] That other ende bare againe the ualey brode, Ful litill it held As thay forth glode. [ 726] A-ferre fro thens A streme gan to rise, [A stream sud∣denly wells up,] Wher-of stoned were strongly to deuise; [ 728]

For neuer body had that water sain. [ 729] [which had never been seen before.] And when thay had all prouided thys place, Which the hertis skin compassed sertain, Seing the contre that comprehended was, [ 732] That supposyd noght that it wold purchas [All wondered when they saw the immense tract enclosed.] Neither to enclose ther-of the moite, Gret wonder and meruail had thay tho, perde, [ 735]

So large contre the skyn gan comprehende. [ 736] [Raymond re∣ceives all the neighbouring country,] Forsoth al the procincte ther gan hym take Ryght As for that where charged and owte send, As ther dedes mencion gan make. To poiters toke way, And ther told and spake, [ 740] [and news of it iis carried to to the earl,] Thys said Erle vnto, al the gret meruail, Whych neuer ne saw such like apparaill. [ 742]

FOr thys hertis skyn in circute gan hold, [ 743] [Fol. 19.] To miles aboute gan it comprehende; [that the circuit enclosed is two miles about.] And of tho men which it gan close hym told, Also of the streme that thai saw at ende, [He also hears of the two men, and of the new stream.] Rysing ther vp, again the ualey wende. [ 747] "I beleue it was thing of the fairy," As said thys Erle, "so god me saue only! [ 749]

FOr thys Raymound hath founden in þe way. [ 750] [The earl is aware of the marvels connected with the fountain, and]] Ful ofte hath bene said that at that fontain, Many merueles have sain ben A day,

Whiche men sodenly and ofte there haue sain; And so to Raymounde myght it come certain, [ 754] [rejoices at Ray∣mond's luck.] For of it wold [I] merily reioy." And raymounde tho spake that he had gret ioy,

FOr he was comyn hym to thanke hertly, [ 757] Of hys notable gyfte ther hym thanking; [Raymond thanks the earl, declaring that he hardly knows what is coming to him.] And he Answerd to hym, "graunt mercy! Of your goodnesse ye lust so be sayng. I wout nere what to me shal be comyng, [ 761] But, if your lord wyll, good may com to me." So forth passyd till morn-day-lyght to se; [ 763]

RAymounde tho lepte vp hys coursere vppon, [ 764] [Raymond rides away to the fountain, and finds there the lady, who wel∣comes him.] To the fantain and wel of thrust gan to go, Wher that hys lady founde beyng alon, Which hym said, "my loue, welcome me vnto! luke ye be wise, redy, wel thaught, lo! [ 768] And ye shall now haue for your good labour yut here-after gret worship and honour!" [ 770]

ANon into A schapel made entre, [ 771] [Fol. 19 b.] Which thaim ny vnto ful redy ther found, [They enter a chapel, and find there knights, ladies, clerks, prelates, and squires, all nobly apparelled.] knightes, ladies, And gentile wemmen fre, Clerkys, prelates, Squiers at that ground, Clothed, apparailled nobylly that stound; [ 775] Raymounde meruelyd of it wonderly, Of that peple which ther saw plainly. [ 777]

UNnethes he myght hym-selfen withold [ 778] [He cannot refrain from asking her about them.] That he demaunded noght thys gentile body; Thys lady had tho many in housold, I-now hym semyng for to haue truly. "Neuer bash herof," said this faire lady, [ 782] [She replies that he need not mar∣vel, for they are all his.] "Thay ben al youres," ther commaundyng al hym for to resceiue for lorde principall; [ 784]

Also gan thai do ryght As thai shold, [ 785] [They humbly do him reverence.] Ful humbly thay gan do hym reuerence; But raymounde in hert musid manyfold, [Raymond muses within himself,] In hym-selfe said demurly in audience, "Se here a noble gynnyng in presence! [ 789] [and hopes the end may be as good as the beginning.] God yif that the ende therof be ful good!" Thys lady hym resoned there he stood, [ 791]

SAyng, "ye Raymounde, what willen ye to do? [ 792] [The lady tells him he must take her in marriage.] Til that ye haue me had in mariage, ye may noght the estat se ne know, lo! Wherefor you councel, puruey As the sage." Raymounde said, "I am redy to that passage." [ 796] [Raymond declares himself ready at once; but she tells him that all is not yet ready.] Thys lady hym said, "we faute that we shold haue, Raymond, all other wyse we moste do craue, [ 798]

Iff we shall do to plesaunce honestly; [ 799] [Fol. 20] you behouith to trauel and haue pain [He must bring a number of wit∣nesses to the marriage with him, and come again on the Monday.] So that peple ye moste bryng redy, Which of thys acte may haue conisaunce plain. haue no point of doubt, but therof be fain, [ 803] I-now of all good here schal fynd by grace, But warde that ye be a monday in thys place." [ 805]

RAymounde answerd to hir curtoisly, [ 806] [Raymond returns to Poitiers, and comes into the presence of the earl.] "Forsoth I shal do your commaundement." Fro thens deperted Raymounde hastily, Vppon hys courser retorned and went, To poiters he cam, ther discending, hent [ 810] And anon forth went, taried ne bode, Toward the erle of peiters where he stode. [ 812]

RAymound wel cowde salute such estat, [ 813] [He salutes the earl, and says he feels that he ought not to hide anything from] Without colour changing or muable, To hym humbled formally that dat,

There declarid his lord honourable, [ 816] [him, but to de∣clare to him all things.] "My lord," said Raymound with contenaunce stable, "I ought ne shold my dede be couering, To you al declare And certefying; [ 819]

I shal noght you lye for no maner [MS. "nomaner."] wight, [ 820] [He therefore con∣fesses that he is to be married on Monday to a great lady,] Maryed shal I be vppon monday; To a gret lady that day be trought plight, Ryght at the fontain of thurstes gladnesse ay; Nothyng so loue ne likyng to my pay. [ 824] humbly you beseke at that day to be, [and beseeches him to come to the wedding.] And to bryng with you your peple and mayne; [ 826]

Ryght gracyous lorde, to me honour do, [ 827] [Fol. 20 b.] And your gud moder wise and debonair, [He also hopes that the earl's mother will be present.] My ryght doubted and shereful lady to, Which is proclamed so noble lady fair." The Erle sayd, "I shal to that place repair, [ 831] [The earl is will∣ing to come, but wishes to know the lady's name,] But afoure will you thys demaunde make, What is that lady which that ye shal take? [ 833]

WArde you And beware ye tAke noght amis, [ 834] [and warns him against marrying one of whom he knows nothing.] knowith whens she is and of wat linage; Say me, fair cosin, now what sho is, Thys day am redy to your mariage." "Sir, it may noght be for non auantage; [ 838] [Raymond asks him not to inquire further,] More may noght enquere As of hir beyng, For ye may no more [MS. "nomore."] of hir be knowyng; [ 840]

You it suffisith I-now hyr to se." [ 841] [for that it will suffice to see her. The earl marvels greatly at such conduct;] The Erle to hym said, "thys is gret meruell That ye take A wif vnknow what is sche, Neither haue knewlich of hir gouernail, Ne of hir kinrede; strange is without fail!" [ 845]

"Sir," said, "I hir saw in so noble ray [but Raymond says she is like a king's daughter;] As kinges doughter where fresh is and gay; [ 847]

A More fairer neuer sain with ey; [ 848] [and that a fairer lady was never seen.] Off hir linage enquered I no-thing; Where she be of [MS. "so." See note.] duk or of markois hy, Forsoth I wyll hyr haue, she is me pleasyng." Thys Erle said, "Raymounde, to you shal be comyng, [The earl promises to come, with his mother and all his barons.] My moder also with all our barony." [ 853] Humbly Raymounde sayd, "my lord, graunt mercy!" [ 854]

THe monday cam men apparailled fast; [ 855] [Fol. 21] Thys Erle Awakyd, rose vp ful erly, [On the Monday, the earl and his mother, with many attendants, set out, wonder∣ing where they will be lodged and entertained,] Hys moder with hym brought, freshly on hyr cast Full ryche Atire, besain ful womanly; Sondry ladies with knightes many; [ 859] But moche on thaim toke to ful gret meruail, How thay shold there loge, by what gouernail, [ 861]

When thay approched ny to thys fantain. [ 862] [though they need not have won∣dered, as all was ready.] But therof certes nedid noght haue doute, All redy was made A place ful solain. The wayes And pathes so rode thay aboute [Riding on, they at last approach the rock.] That thay approched Columbere toun al-oute, [ 866] And ouer that went ryding the contre, Hilles, wodes passyd, the roche might se; [ 868]

TEntes And pauilons streght and pight freshly [ 869] [There they found pavilions pitched beside a valley, where flowed the new stream.] Besyde a ualey, [MS. "aualey."] enmyddes a plain; The streme besydes, the fontain ful ny, Which nouelly was vp-risen and sain; Euery man meruellyd of it certain, [ 873] Ful wel thay sad knew it the fayry was. Into the medewes thay beheld apase [ 875]

TEntes, pauilons freshly wrought and good, [ 876] [They heard sweet songs of birds;] Doucet songes hurde of briddes enuiron, Whych meryly chirmed in the grene wod; Vppon the ryn saw A wyld wood anon, [and saw a wild wood with many people;] Where gret peple were to-geders manyon; [ 880] And in there kechins say thay gret smoke to; [also several kit∣chens, with much smoke.] As tham semyd, was A ful huge hoost thoo. [ 882]

ANd thay saw comyng toward thaim anon [ 883] [Fol. 21 b.] Ther nombred aboute knightis ful sexty, [Next they saw coming about 60 knights, well horsed and armed,] yong, strong, lusti, fers, and ful lyght echon, I-horsed ful wel, armed nobilly; (hyt nedith not demaunde of it truly); [ 887] [who asked for the earl, whom many pointed out to them.] The noble Erle demaunde of peiters, And thay hem shewed sondry and dyuers, [ 889]

Off whom demaunded had the trouth to know. [ 890] [The knights ride up to the earl, and salute him humbly.] Raymounde thai anon gan se and behold In the said Erles company so grow, Which ther ful iocunde tales gan unfold. humbly to the Erle cam thes knightes bold, [ 894] And hym ther salute ful debonerly. [The earl returns their salute,] The Erle ther saluz yilding ryght goodly [ 896]

UNto euery man, without other abode, [ 897] [yielding to every man the respect due to him, ac∣cording to the place whence each came.] After that to hym it shold appartain For that place whens that he cam and rode, Both to gret and smal menal persones sain, Ful wel knew to eche ther saluz yild plain; [ 901] And thay which ne wold haue no point of blame, [The knights say to him] To hym cam and said worshipfully the same:—

"That fair Melusine hym thanked hertly [ 904] [that the fair Melusine thanks him heartily,] Of that pleased hym to com to ther feste; And that she had charged thaim verily, you wel for to loge yaf in charge and hest."

Thys Erle thaim said, to plesire in the beste, [ 908] [and that due lodging was pro∣vided for his retinue.] "For here I perceiue ful fayre ordinaunce." Nobley thay loged thys Erle that instaunce. [ 910]

A Ful fair pauilon thay hym gan take, [ 911] [Fol. 22] Ther coursers loged passing inly wel, [The coursers were well lodged, and provided with rack and manger.] Both rekke and manger at their ease gan make, Insyde tentes ful fair eueridel. Gret ther labour was wherfor atimed wel. [ 915] The Countesse resceiued in that housold [The Countess was received in a golden chamber,] In-to a chambre freshly bete with gold, [ 917]

Which men pight And streight vppon the fontain; Many ladyes, ful of gret beute, [where many ladies welcomed her.] Went to a company with the Countesse plain, Ech welcomyng hir after ther degre. Al meruelyd there thys ryche sight to se, [ 922] [All marvelled at so rich a sight.] Als of the noblenesse that ey myght purches, Neuer trowed se so fair in no place. [ 924]

RAymounde with the Erle that tyme logid was. [ 925] Of ther fair chapel doubt therof had non, [The chapel was well apparelled, high and low, and stuffed with rich jewels.] Wel apparailled was it, hie and bas, With riche iewelles stuffed manyon; What wold ye shold say? fresh was enuiron. [ 929] The ful noble Erle And thys fair countesse [The earl and countess demand the bride.] The espouse demaundyd thay expresse. [ 931]

Ther men anon forth aplace hir brought, [ 932] [Melusine enters the chapel, freshly attired, and look∣ing, not human, but angelic.] Fair melusine, enmyddes the chapel; Thys mayden ful fair As cowde bene I-thought, Freshly atired rychely and ful wel, That al hir saw preised thys damycel, [ 936] Sayng, "it was noght no humayn body lyke, But more better semed a thyng angell-lyke." [ 938]

THen thys said Erle applied vnto [ 939] [Fol. 22 b.] Thys fair melusine to resceiue sothlesse, [The earl and countess duly receive her.] And of that ful wel his deuoir gan do, And ful wel or better the noble countesse; Al tho bothe that hour weren at that messe. [ 943] [Minstrelsy is heard, both of high and bass instruments.] In that place was had ful gret mynstracy; Both hye and bas instrumentes sondry; [ 945]

ANd fro [MS. "for."] that constantinople vnto, [ 946] [Never was so noble a feast.] In no place was so noble a feste made; Al the wodes range merily sounding tho, [The woods rang merrily, and all agreed that hu∣man eye had never seen the like of it.] ther was no persone [MS. "prefone."] that present tyme hade, But that "merueles," said, "I se ful sad; [ 950] Neuer humain ey saw to it egal!" With great ioy made thys matrimonial. [ 952]

After thys messe don, taken haue the way; [ 953] [The mass done, the earl led forth the bride, and a prince conducted her to the chief hall.] The Erle the espouse courtoisly forth lad; In that other part, A prince of contray In-to the chef hal thys fair mayden had, Which noble peple held that day ful glad; [ 957] Ther mete al redy, vnto wash thay went; After sette As was most conuenient. [ 959]

BEsides thys maiden thys noble Erle sate, [ 960] [The earl sat be∣side the bride, and the countess next him.] The gentile countesse next sette hym vnto, After A gret lord of contre that date, Which for gret honour worshipped was so. [The courses were brought in by squires, including great plenty of dainties.] Raymounde tho sate with other knightes mo. [ 964] The course tho brouth [brought (?).] in with squiers many, Gret plente there had of deyntees sondry, [ 966]

WHich that apperid As thing infinite; [MS. "infinite."] [ 967] [Fol. 23] With wine of Angoy, And als of rochel tho [There was wine of Anjou, and of Rochelle;] Which wold eschawfe the braines appetite; [ 969]

Wine of Tourain, And of Bewme also, [of Touraine and Beaune;] Which iawne colour applied noght vnto; [ 971] Clarre Romain, with doucet ypocras, [also Clarre Romain and Ypocras.] Thorught al the hal rynnyng hye and bas. [ 973]

Wine of Tourimz, and also of digon, [ 974] [Wine, moreover, of Tours and Dijon, of Auxerre and Saint Jou∣in (?); of St. Jean d'Angely, and others.] Wyne of Aucerre, of seint Jougon also; Wyne of Seint Johan of Angely good won, Of it ful many ther spake and tolde tho; Wine of estables, of uiart [MS. "mart."] also; [ 978] After thaim cam the wyne basterd good, Wine of seint pursain, and of ris hys brood. [ 980]

Ouer all thes wines ther had the prise [ 981] The nouel osey of Dingenon, Off all the wynes named to deuise. Ther all peple preuilage had echon, [Every one had abundance, as much as he asked for, whether of wine or meat.] Euery in hys loge plente and fuson, [ 985] Euery of that which thai wold demaund Off wynes and of uitaillouns viand. [ 987]

After thys diner, men to ioustes went; [ 988] [After this began the jousting, where Raymond jousted mightily.] Be-syde the fontain ful fair ioustes had; But Raymound iousted strongly and feruent, Certainly myghty ioustes [MS. "ioufted," roughly altered to "iouftes."] ther he made. Thys Joustes dured till sonne went to glad. [ 992] After to euessong went euery wyght, [Next they went to vespers, and then to supper.] And sin to soper set were and dyght. [ 994]

When sopyd thay had at ther owne deuise, [ 995] [Fol. 23 b.] Strongly thay daunced, ioying merily [After supper came the dancing.] Ful long that night in right gladsom wise. And when that men saw time approched ny Vnto go to bedde, And deperted fully, [ 999] Men made the espouse to depart fair. [At last the bride retired into a costly pavilion,] Into A pauilon made she A retrair, [ 1001]

Off whom moch cost the fourging And makyng; [ 1002] [portrayed with painted birds.] Portreid it was with briddes freshly, Thys fair pauilon rich was in seing; Forth Anon the bede streight And made redy, [Then they laid the bed, and made it ready.] Which with floure-delise couerid was to ey. [ 1006] Quicly cam Raymound, in the bedde [MS. "beded."] him laide By fair melusine, the suete doucet made. [ 1008]

Forsoth A Bisshop which that tyme ther was [ 1009] [A bishop gave his benediction, "in nomine dei."] Signed and blissid the bedde ["body;" French text, Le lit.] holyly; "In nomine dei" so said in that place; After fro thens departed hastily, For the ceason late le[n]ger to tary. [ 1013] The Erle hym withdrew to hys pauilon; [The earl and his mother also retired to their tents.] And hys good moder, time was and ceason, [ 1015]

INto hir chambre goodly went to bed. [ 1016] [All went to their allotted chambers,] Euery man went to hys erbigage, But som all night dysported And solas led, [but some spent the whole night in singing and dancing.] Singing, dauncing, disporting with longage; Many fayr songis songe that compernage. [ 1020] Off thys noble feste no more [MS. "nomore."] you will breke, Off gentile Raymound shall I to you speke, [ 1022]

Which [MS. "Whicht."] with melusine lyght ful meryly, [ 1023] [Fol. 24] To whome ful suetly outred she and sayd, "Now vnderstandith, fayre swet loue, hertly, [Melusine ad∣dresses Raymond, reminding him of his good fortune,] The Auentur comyn vnto vs thys braide That we togeders by grace here bene laid, [ 1027] Ryght As mAn And wyffe after entent, And I Am her at your commaundement; [ 1029]

But that oth most hold which first day me made. [ 1030] [and of his oath lately made to her.] I know full wele, when ye cam to pray

The Erle of peiters And knightes that he had [She tells him she is aware how the earl inquired concerning her lineage;] To come and to do you honour that day That I shuld be maried to your pay, [ 1034] Be ["He" (?).] you enquered full moch wat it was, And of linage ye gan me purchas." [ 1036]

HE answered hym to the point ful wel, [ 1037] "Myn owne verray loue, now doubt ye ryght noght." "ye sall be moste best fortuned to tell, [she proceeds to tell him that his good fortune will] So ye couenaunt hold As of reson ought, As euer was Any of your linage brought, [ 1041] Hou-someuer fortune that thay haue had, So the contrary by you be noght made. [ 1043]

Iff it be, ye shall haue gretly to doo [ 1044] [last as long as he holds to his covenant: but that if he breaks it, he will suffer huge harm∣ful pains, and be disinherited of all.] huge noisaunt pannes with aduersite, And desherite be wrechedly also Of tennementes, landes, the beste to se; It wyl be so And sertanly schal be." [ 1048] "Fayre swet lade," said, "I you plegg[e t]routh myne, Whyle I leue shal be, be it non m[align]e, [A piece near the corner of the page is here torn away.] [ 1050]

FAlshed shall noght be our said couenaunt, [ 1051] [Fol. 25 b.] [See Note to l. 1050.] Of which here beforne made haue I promesse; [He again swears to be faithful,] And yut I wil you promit the same grant;" hys hand vnto heres put in gentill wyse, [giving her his hand in pledge of his sincerity.] Makyng A gret oth As hert cowde deuise, [ 1055] That he wold it hold euer entirely. Melusine hym hanswered swetly, [ 1057]

"Now, my swet loue, I say you feithfully, [ 1058] [Melusine cautions him yet once more, declaring] If ye be stedfaste and couenaunt hold, [MS. "bold."]

In good hour ye be here borne treuely; [that she will never fail in her part of the cove∣nant.] kepe it truly, besech you manyfold; For in my part fail shal I for no gold, [ 1062] Off me haue ye had ful tru Assuraunce Which I shall hold; no more say thys instaunce."

With clipping, kissyng, that nyght gan do so, [ 1065] [Their eldest son was named Urien, whose famous deeds will be told of here∣after.] That an fair [MS. "an m fair."] sone ther engendred was; Vrien callyd at that tyme tho. Dedis and warkis such gan he purchas As in tyme shal hire the mater and cas. [ 1069] Thys feste endured dais ful fiftene; [The feast con∣cluded,] At ende to lordis yiftes gaf melusine, [ 1071]

ANd to lades which that men brought [ 1072] [Melusine gives very rich presents to all, who won∣der at her wealth and liberality.] With thys roial and noble Countesse. Al said ther, "lord god! what wyse is this wrought, Which that we se here present of rychesse? Maried is he vnto gret hinesse!" [ 1076] Raymounde of all moch ther preised was, No worldly man myght better in no cas. [ 1078]

After when it cam vnto departson, [ 1079] [Fol. 26] Faire melusine went faste ther openyng [She opens an ivory casket, and draws from it a clasp garnished with precious stones, which she gives to the countess.] A forcelet [From Fr. forceret.] wrought fresh of yuor [MS. "your."] bon; A formelet, ["fermelet" (?).] of gret ualure beyng, With presious stonis gernesshed that thyng, [ 1083] With vertues perles ful many, To the countesse gaf it verra hertly, [ 1085]

Which of that iewel she ful gret ioy had. [ 1086] [The earl and his people depart,] Thens deperted the Erle and hys maine, Which were ful noble peple, good and sad,

The fair melusine hir leue take hath she [Melusine taking her leave of them.] Of thys said countesse of ful hy degre [ 1090] By-forn al peple honourabylly, And of thys sayd Erle ryght semblabilly, [ 1092]

Off lades And of maydens all. [ 1093] Thai leaping vp ther sadelles unto, [Leaping up to their saddles, they ride away.] Openly ther-thens went that enterual; But gentill Raymound conueied tham so, [Raymond accom∣panies them to the edge of the forest.] With peple of estat Acompanied tho, [ 1097] With hym wold not haue creature Afoote, Noght passyng Columberes woodes foote. [ 1099]

RAymounde of thys Erle ther hys leue gan take, [ 1100] [At leave-taking, the earl would fain have asked Raymond who Melusine is, but durst not.] But the Erle drust noght, And ful fayn wold, Ryght gladly hym A demaunde to make, Off fair melusine, what she was, tel shold; Ful moch he thought, but yut hys pes gan hold; [ 1104] Fere of displesaunce of Raymound any wyse. [Raymond, seated on a courser,] On A coursere sate ful fair to deuyse, [ 1106]

Off thys Erle toke leue; after gan retorne [ 1107] [Fol. 26 b.] Streight vnto hys wyf kyssyng hir swetly, [takes his leave of the earl, and re∣turns to Melusine, who receives him joyously.] And thought in hert ther vnto sogorn, Which hym resceiued ryght ful ioyously. Er that eight dais were ended fully, [ 1111] [At the end of eight days, all the trees in the wood were uprooted] Al the wodys were roted up and gon; Of laborers had plente and fuson, [ 1113]

NO man knew whens was, ne of what nacion; [ 1114] [by labourers of an unknown nation.] Ful gret diches made, ryght huge and profounde, Ful hiduous was to behold adon; [They made hideously deep ditches,] No cause had thai dismaing thaim no stound, Neither no deffaute in þe pament found, [ 1118]

Euery day had ther money and argent, [and were diligent, finding them∣selves well paid.] The laborers were the more diligent. [ 1120]

The fundementes made thai right profounde, [ 1121] [They made deep foundations,] (Ful wel know may be if y myssay, lo!) Fair melusine was deuiser of that ground, And of werke also lyke as it was do. Vppon the quicke Roche thay it sett tho; [ 1125] [building a castle upon the live rock according to Melusine's plan.] The fyrste stones to put thay, and made In litell of tyme; Masons I-now had. [ 1127]

The walles hye deuised she echon, [ 1128] [There were two strong towers with a huge dungeon;] Wel founded was vppon the said uayley; Too strong toures made with a huge dongun, And Enuiron an hy with wardes strong that day. Of it meruelyd strongly the contray, [ 1132] [insomuch that all the country marvelled.] hou ful sone men made this said strong repair. And when thys castell was bastiled fair, [At the bottom of the page is the catchword—This swet melufine saw.] [ 1134]

Thys swete melusine saw it full fair tho, [ 1135] [Fol. 27] After hir ryght name gan it she Baptise; [Melusine bap∣tized the castle after the latter part of her own name, calling it Lusignen.] Off hir name she hath taken a part, lo! lusignen to name yaf after hir deuise, yut is oueral named in that wise; [ 1139] Many bare that name, it aboute gan cry, And yut is ryght and cried was suerly; [ 1141]

NOght-withstandyng the good kyng Ciprian [ 1142] hit cried lusignen euer in his cry, As the history seith to euery man Off whom after shal do make memory. Melusigne is As moche to say truly, [ 1146] [The meaning of Melusine is, "no marvels are lack∣ing," she being a woman A-per-se.] Ryght As ho seith, merueles fauti[t]h non; She was A woman A-per-se, alon. [ 1148]

YE may se here A comfort meruelous, [ 1149] [When this castle was built, high walls and all,] Moche more then other strange auenture. Wel was A-cheued this castel beuteuous, Al A-boute reised wonder hy wallure. Euery man said it was A huge dede sure, [ 1153] [people wondered how it had been finished so soon.] That thys said castel was so sone made; The peple wondred and gret meruel had. [ 1155]

Thys fair melusine here in hir tyme bare; [ 1156] [Melusine bare a son, named Urien, whose visage was very short and broad, and who had one eye red, the other gray;] At nyne monthes ende childed she A sone, vrien named, the soth to declare, ["Vryen" is here scrawled in the margin in a later hand.] Which that after was of ful gret renone; But hys uisage was strange to uision, [ 1160] For it was full short And large in trauers; On ey was rede, Another grey dyuers. [ 1162]

EVery man myght se it openly, [ 1163] [Fol. 27 b.] Huge mouth And large gret nostrelles also; [also a huge mouth and great nostrils;] neuer man sain non to hym egally; But of body was inly wele made tho, [yet well made as regarded his legs, arms, and feet.] Off legges, of Armes, of feete therto, [ 1167] In it not failled thing thouchyng nature, And at the ful made vnto hys stature. [ 1169]

After that tyme made she ful huge honoures, [ 1170] [After that she made a city,] Fourged the brought in mount of bew-re-pair, The walles bild hye, and als tours, [with high walls and towers,] The goinges and comynges wroughten fair, All couered and made, non might ben gair; [ 1174] At louers, lowpes, Archers had plente, [well provided with loopholes.] To cAst, draw, and shete, the diffence to be, [ 1176]

That non wordly man myght no wyse it take; [ 1177] So strong with peple Acompanyed was,

That strenght ful strong with peple gan make, The diches profunde large brede gan purchas, [The ditches were of great breadth,] With this toure couerid hye and bas; [ 1181] The yates Iumelles, mighty and strong, [and the gates large and long.] To sain the trouth, ful large were and long. [ 1183]

Atwixst the borough and thys strenght myghtly [ 1184] [Between the town and the fort was made a strong tower, called "Trompe;"] A place ther fourged meruelously strong, The toure trompe som callyd it daily, In lusignen town so named tham among; For Sarisins trompers tho were put ful long, [ 1188] [for it was gar∣risoned with Saracen trumpet∣ers.] To ende this said toure thay sold kepe and ward, And al enuiron aboute to rewarde [ 1190]

That peple noght approch neither to com ny, [ 1191] [Fol. 28] But tho of that strenght shold it know and se. That yere childed she the secunde sonne truly, [The second year Melusine bare a son named Oede, who had a face as shining fire, resplendent with redness.] Oede [Oede is also in the margin, written in the later hand.] named; a fair semblant had he, As shinyng fire his uisage semynge be, [ 1195] With wonder rednesse so resplendising; his membres ful fair formid in makyng; [ 1197]

IN that same yere made that lady fair [ 1198] [That year she made the castle and town named Mel,] The castel and brought which men callen mel, Vauuant and meruant made she, non gair, The tour of seint Messent after made ful wel; [and some others, including Par∣thenay.] The Borugh fourged, the abbey gan echdel, [ 1202] Where þat our lady is serued alway; And After the town of noble partenay. [ 1204]

ANd Als the castel fourged she roial, [ 1205] [She also made the castle of Parthe∣nay with good lime and stone, towers, turrets, pinnacles, and wall.] With good lime and stone freshly vnto sight, Toures, torettes, pinacles, and harde wall; The craftismen wrought As tho perfight.

By that, Raymound was doubted of ech wight, [ 1209] Into gret honour risen is A-hy, And worshipped is in ech company. [ 1211]

After she had the third son fair withall; [ 1212] [Her third son was named Guy, who was of great beauty, saving that he had one eye a little lower than the other.] A more fairer neuer say[n] with ey, Off beute ynow vnto him gan fal, hit cowde noght ben withsaid certainly; Sauyng þat on ey had he more basly [ 1216] Then þat other a litel [MS. "alitel."] ther semyng, Men callyd hym Guy, which doubted no-thyng. [In the margin is guy in the later hand.]

Then that said same yere founded was Rochell, [ 1219] [Fol. 28 b.] In peito, by fair melusine this lady. [The same year was founded Rochelle;] After taried noght, but litel gan dwel, That A ful faire brigge made she vnto ey, [and soon after she built a great bridge, for which she received great praise.] (As ther cornicles [Sic in MS.] shewith openly), [ 1223] And in talmondois fourged was to se, Of which werke gret loos ther resceiued she. [ 1225]

ANon after had she born in certain [ 1226] [Her fourth son was Anthony,] The fourth sone, callyd and named Antony, [In the margin, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.] But in hys iaw bare A hurt ful of pain [who had on his jaw a mark like a hurt made by a lion.] Off A lyon, which al hys life bare ful sighty; To hym A gret stonyng was it verily, [ 1230] To moche skin grow, A long seme cutting; But hardy man was, noght drad ne fering. [ 1232]

All Is trouth that I outre you or say, [ 1233] [All these things are true.] Doubt ye noght of it that I you do tel; In luxenbrough fair thyng made that day. Thys lady norished thes children ful wel [ 1236] Till thay wer growyn ryght large, wyse, and fell; [And when it pleased our Sovereign Lord, this lady had the fifth son,] And when it pleased our lord souerain, The fyfte child thys lady had again, [ 1239]

Which in his hed had on ey and no mo, [ 1240] [whose baptismal name was Ray∣nold. He had but one eye, but his sight was clearer than that of a person who has two eyes, for all their plenty.] Moste hieste set, wonderly to se. hys name of Baptime Raynold called tho; [In the margin, Raynold with on ye.] his sight more clerer ueryle then he Whiche to eyes had, for al their plente; [ 1244] Merueles gret gan do, after ye shal hire, So it may be hurde thys tale hole entire. [ 1246]

GAffrey with gret toth Afterwarde she bare, [In the margin, geffrey withe gret tothe.] [ 1247] [Fol. 29.] Which growyn in mouth A wonder toth hade, [The next was Geoffrey with the great tooth, which issued from his mouth, great and square.] Which without issued pasing gret and square; he meruelous strong, of nothyng Adrad, Blacke monkes he slay, to mortail deth lad; [ 1251] [It was he who slew the black monks of Mail∣lezais abbey;] Off mallers Abbay were thay, lef or loth, Which causyd hys fader strongly to be wroth. [MS. "wroght."]

Again melusine wrothed he ful sore, [ 1254] [which event caused his father to be angry with Melusine,] That to hir sayd moch repref and velony, That hir company lost for euer-more; Which causid a fal fro hys Astat hy [and was the cause of all his misfortunes.] To hys gret repref, ryght to shamfully, [ 1258] As after wyl make declaracyon, Of al ther warkis the conclusyon. [ 1260]

The seffe child Ffromont that tyme callyd was, [In the margin, Froymonde w[as] a monke, and w[as] burnd.] [ 1261] [The seventh son was Fromont, who had a blemish on his nose.] Of stature of persone hie, gret, and long, Inly wel formed, pulcrious of face, Sage, subtile, wel taught, myghty and stronge; But vppon hys nosse such a tach had fong, [ 1265] [It was rough as a wolf's skin, so that his nose was a strange sight.] Ryght As A wolfes skyn row was it tho, Ful strange vnto sight to se hys nose soo. [ 1267]

Then the eighteth sone borne of Melusin, [ 1268] [The eighth son was Horrible; he had three eyes,] Thre eyes hauyng on in front uisible; [In the margin, horryble with iii yes.] Moche peple meruellyd and wonderd ther-in, Thys child named and called horrible; For hym vnto se was thyng terrible, [ 1272] And also he was of wycked doing, [and was of a very wicked disposition.] In no goodnesse, thought but to do ille thing.

Now retorn Again vnto vriens, [ 1275] [Fol. 29 b.] Which of tham was the most auncion. [We now return to Uriens, who was grown big, mighty, strong, and light; and was fond of war.] Eche shal declare by ordres diligens, That men may perceiue dul am not ther-on. vriens was A fair squier of person, [ 1279] Growen ful bygg, myghtly, stronge, and lyght, Willing to know where by see and lande ryght.

At Rochel toke A shippe ful fair and large, [ 1282] [He took ship at Rochelle in a barge, with Guy and much people; intending to go and acquire lands.] (And for she was long, wide, hole, sounde, entire, I founde in scripture that it was A barge), Sayng þat he wold go land to acquire, So god hym warde fro perel to plesur; [ 1286] Moche peple with hym had, the barge ful was; Ther Guy with hym went landes to purchas. [ 1288]

IN many places preuid was hardly [ 1289] Thys forsaiden Guy truly manyfold. And to wel find ther peple only, [They took with them much silver and gold, and went to sea.] The fair melusine of siluer and gold Gret plente toke, in tresour store to hold. [ 1293] Into see thay went, the sayl vp gan reise, [Soon came they to Cyprus.] To cipresse contre ther shippes gan teise [ 1295]

Streight to that place wher fair auenture funde. [ 1296] [The king of Cyprus was then being besieged in] Of Cipresse the kyng tho beseged was

In A myghty towne, which owyd that stound; [Famagousta,] Named Famagouce [MS. "Samagouce."] that cite and place; Which, enfaimling, Almoste gan purchace [ 1300] [which the Sultan had nearly taken.] The soudan bigly the town beseging, With an hundred thousande men fightyng. [ 1302]

Off it knew vriens the uerite, [ 1303] [Fol. 30.] Off Famagouce [MS. "Samagouce."] the Cite roial; land toke, refershing [MS. "refershing;" the er is blotted.] hym and hys maine. [Uriens lands, and, calling his men together,] Forth-with declarid to hys peple all, And to thys Cite his peple gan cal, [ 1307] Wher-vnto thai had An euyn streight way; [displays his banner.] And beforne tham his baner gan display, [ 1309]

Whych of Fine silke was enbrauded freshly. [ 1310] The Sarasins knew and saw ther comyng; [Both Saracens and citizens see them coming.] Als tho in cite knew them uerily, And ther ooste myght see ful fast herbiging, The peple of Armes ther disloging. [ 1314] Nye to the soudan thai re[n]gid tho were; [Soon were they arrayed against the Sultan.] As to the Cipriens to sight semyng there, [ 1316]

That the Soudan cast Away for feere to flee; [ 1317] [The Sultan medi∣tated flight; which the king perceived, and was at once armed by Ermynee his daughter,] That said to othir, "we most after sew." The kyng Armed was with fair Ermynee, hys swet doughter ful maydenly to vew, hyr honorous fader with harnois new; [ 1321] Ther hym conueing ryght ful curtoisly, [and mounted his horse.] Vnto hys courser ful debonairly. [ 1323]

Trompes, clarions, blew up fast sounding, [ 1324] [Trumps and clarions sound. A hard conflict ensues,] The kynges baner lifte, vp-reised hy; Ther full gret affray was at ther mellyng, The paynymes saw the kyng cam freshly,

Anon Assembled that full hastily; [ 1328] [and many Chris∣tians and Saracens are slain.] Many A cristyn Approched deth in haste, And Sarasius many to mortal deth caste. [ 1330]

The sarisins were myghty, fers, And strong; [ 1331] [Fol. 30 b.] The Cipriens shewed ther strenght and myght. The king withe a dart [MS. "adart."] toxicat poison fong, [The king is shot with a poisoned dart,] Such A malice stroke his foes hym dight That in garison hym wold take no wight. [ 1335] Tho Sourgeons doubte, As thay gan report, [and the surgeons fear that they cannot heal him.] Wherfor the peple were tho discomforth. [ 1337]

The [MS. "Thy."] Cipriens went for fere euermore, [ 1338] [The Cyprians thereupon retreat, closely followed by the Saracens.] The sarisines after full fast fleing, Into the thowne thay bete thaim before, Many ther slain And many don castyng. In that towne was horrible crying, [ 1342] [Great clamour in the city.] As for tho wounded And Als tho slayn; And for the kynges hurt, ther souerain, [ 1344]

Fvll dolorous wo ther enforced was; [ 1345] Ermyne by-ment hir good fader sore, [Ermynee bemoans her father, and tears her goldish hair,] Gret torment to hir ther gan she purchas, hir goldish herre tering, breking, euermore, For hir fader and lord lying hir before, [ 1349] [perceiving that he had arrived at death's door.] Whom perceiued riued at dethes port, And that no man [MS. "nomā."] cowde yif theroff comfort. [ 1351]

Off kyng Ciprian leue we shal and rest, [ 1352] [Meanwhile Uriens and Guy had displayed their banners,] And of vriens speke and talke we shall, Which was wurthy, uaillant, and gentillest, Full semly to see, lusty ouer all; And of his brother, that Guy men do cal, [ 1356] Of fader And moder As beforn is said; Ther baneres were openly displayd, [ 1358]

ANd in ther handes full faste gan to hold. [ 1359] [Fol. 31.] A fers and hardy stoure ther a man [MS. "aman."] shold se, [and attacked the Saracens.] When to-geders mete with sperys manyfold. The petyuins tham bare As warly men fre; [The men of Poitou, owing to their good victual and plentiful wine, were stronger than their foes.] For ther good vitail and wines plente [ 1363] The more strenger were And the more semly; Assautes tha[y] gafe dyuers And sondry. [ 1365]

Ther vriens shewed his noble prowesse, [ 1366] [Uriens and Guy are dreaded by the Saracens;] Many be-gan sle and hurt manyon; his brother Guy in lyke besinesse, Men hym doubted As thai wold A lion; Paynymes hym drad, fered hys person; [ 1370] [and, at last, the Sultan presses forward at full speed,] After wiste noght the soudan what to do, But with spores priked hys coursere tho. [ 1372]

HIs forbeshed swerd of stele faste holding, [ 1373] [smiting down a Poitevin with his furbished sword,] To A peiteuin wightly smote he faste, So that neuer myght [MS. "nyght."] be purchassyng, With-in litel while standed was in haste; The timbre And yre thorugh hys body wraste. [ 1377] [so that both wooden hilt and iron blade pierced through his body.] hyt perceiued tho gentile vriens; Semyng fro hym-selfe, with gret uiolens, [ 1379]

IN hys handes twain hys swerd fast gripte he, [ 1380] [Uriens grips his sword in both hands, and cleaves the Sultan to the teeth, at which the Paynims are distressed,] Such A stroke ther yaf the Soudan vnto, To teeth cliue his hed for hys cruelte, Within the Soudan entred his swerd so; Vnto mortall deth fell this paynym tho, [ 1384] The paynymes All abashed heuily. Such-wise vriens wrought dedes Army, [ 1386]

That both paynymes, turkes, and suriens, [ 1387] [Fol. 31 b.] That As A larke fro A hauke doth fle, [so that Paynims, Turks, and Syri∣ans] And hare fro grohund As for ther diffence,

So fleyng thay vnto thar naue. [flee fast to their ships, hard pressed by Uriens.] Vriens which had to tham enmyte [ 1391] As for to dystroy the sarisins all, Smote vppon thaim As vppon curres shal. ["fmal" (?).] [ 1393]

Ther by [MS. "Therby."] vryens And curtois Guy [ 1394] Were slayn of paynymes the myghtiest. Vriens in ther tentes thought long surely, [Uriens determines to rest awhile in the tents of the conquered foes;] Thens thought not go, but ther take to reste, Sin vppon paynyms had he such conqueste. [ 1398] Ther ne taryed he noght ouer [MS. "oure."] long, [but, before long, come a troop of Cyprians,] That the Cipriens cam besily strong [ 1400]

Off the kinges part to hym send, and come, [ 1401] [who beseech him to visit the king,] Besechyng tham com to the cite, Off frendlyhed the way to hym nome, For vnto tham come certes myght not he; [as the king cannot visit him,] For vnnethes myght speche on hym be, [ 1405] Strayned with seknesse such wyse was tho, [being so sorely wounded.] Wounded and hurt with hys enemyes soo. [ 1407]

When vriens was thaim vnderstandyng, [ 1408] [He answers that he will come gladly.] he Answerd thaim ryght ful curtoisly, That gladly wold he Approche that hy kyng. In noble Aray greithed thaim freshly [Uriens and his brother dight themselves freshly in noble array, and set off.] Vryens And hys brother in company, [ 1412] Towardes the kyng whent thai forth Anon; Moche went Cipryan, beholdyng the person [ 1414]

Off vriens, which he saw moche, large, and grett, [ 1415] [Fol. 32.] Ther seing he had A ful strange uisage [Many a Cyprian, seeing Uriens' face, said that he would conquer all lands by his appearance,] In horrible wyse, As he went by strett, Euery man blessed, sayng in ther passage, That neuer such a man [MS. "aman."] saw in al ther age; [ 1419]

"By reson," said, "he shuld do conquere [MS. "comquere."] All landes with hys semblant and chere; [ 1421]

NOn shold to fight [MS. "fight."] hym attende ne bide, [ 1422] [for that none would dare to stand against him.] Which fro hym may Any wyse diffende; ho, lord god, ho? noght A geaunt no tide! I you ensure, meruelus is to attende!" [On arriving, they ascend the palace steps, and find the king's nose and mouth swollen,] At the gret paleis gan thay to dissende; [ 1426] On grice went vp, the kyng on bed thay founde, Hys nose, hys mouth bolned gret that stounde,

With toxicat uenym replete was certain; [ 1429] [and the king re∣plete with venom.] hym ther complaynyng and ful sore bement. humbly vriens salute thys souerain, [Uriens salutes him humbly, who returns his saluta∣tion, and great thanks also.] Thys kyng which in body this poison hent; Anon hys saluz yild forthwith ther present, [ 1433] Sayng, "ye haue me seruyd nobilly, And to me ye haue done gret curtesy; [ 1435]

NEuer in my lyf no such ne had." [ 1436] Thes wordes outred the kyng of Cipriens, After demaundyng vriens ful sad, [The king further demands Uriens' name,] "What be ye? what is your name þis presentens?" "Worshipful kyng, men cal me vriens; [ 1440] [who answers that he is Uriens of Lusignen.] Off lusignen am naturally grow, I wyll that my name to all men ben know." [ 1442]

"IN faith," sayd the kyng, "of it am I glad [ 1443] [Fol. 32 b.] That dressyd and come ye be to thys place, [The king is glad to see him, but tells him that he feels he is incur∣ably wounded, being stuffed full of venom;] And that your wyll were truly to be hade. Swet frende, I fele mortal dethe me brace, Neuer After thys comforth to purchace [ 1447] Off surgery-crafte ne with medicine, For stuffed I am ful of uenyme, [ 1449]

Whereof helth neuer shal I not conquere, [ 1450] [wherefore he besought him to please to con∣descend to ac∣cept his gift, which Uriens does.] But of my days shortly to make end; Wherefor you bes[e]che with me accorde here [ 1452] That to my gift you please to condiscend, Whereby noght shal lese, vriens, gud frend; honour shal ye haue, worship, and profite." Vriens graunted hym without respite, [ 1456]

That hys commaundement wold he do gladly, [ 1457] Agre and Accorde hys sayd gyft vnto; The kyng hym thanked, And sayd full humbly, [The king thanks him for his assent,] "Thys is wel sayd, and the more gladder, loo! I shal mortal deth take;" commaundyng thoo [ 1461] [and sends for his barons and his daughter Er∣mynee.] That Al the Barons After send shold be, And hys fayr doughter the swet Ermyne. [ 1463]

To hys barons said, "now ye vnderstande, [ 1464] [He tells his barons he expects not to live longer,] More longer liff noght in me attend; lenger may not liue here with you in lande, My noble Rewme Cipresse; now say you at end, [and that he wills to leave his kingdom to his daughter,] Whom, to my power, haue warded and diffend [ 1468] Ffro paynymes at point of swerdes cru[e]lte, Now it wyll I leue my doughter Ermyne, [ 1470]

IN me noght had no poynt of medicin; [ 1471] [Fol. 33.] For therof she is enheritour of ryght." [she being the true heir.] Thai sayng hym with contenance good and fin, [The barons there∣upon do homage to his daughter;] That gladly wold do hys plesire eche wyght. [MS. "wyight."] Ther homage made to hir do in sight, [ 1475] So takyng of hir ther landes and fe. [and the king adds,] Then toke to speke this noble kinge fre; [ 1477]

"The barons All here me vnderstande, [ 1478] [that his subjects cannot be de∣fended by a simple woman against] ye warde And kepte truly may noght be By simple woman gayn Sarisins hande;

your neighbours thay ben wonder ny to se; [such cruel neigh∣bours as the Saracens;] Such fers stoures of huge cruelte [ 1482] As off Armes bere, ne the sharpe shoures; Here Auised haue to you good socoures. [ 1484]

Uppon thys dede here I haue deuised [ 1485] [that Uriens is puissant and mighty,] That vriens is pusant and myghty, Off lusignen uaillantly franchised, Which that the Soudan discomfith manly, [and has discom∣fited the Sultan, as they all saw for themselves;] And hys men gan sle by dedes Army, [ 1489] By the huge prowesse off hys body strong; Off thys knewlych non hath by mene of tonge;

What demaunde or aske here of hym now wold, [ 1492] [and that he there∣fore asks them to beseech Uriens to grant him all his request;] To pray hym I you here beseche hertly, That he me noght wern, but my requeste hold." Thay hym besought and prayed swetly; [which the barons at once accede to.] To ther request Acorded he humbly; [ 1496] To the kyng reportyd thay that he wold do What someuer he wold hym demAunde, lo! [ 1498]

THeroff was the kyng Full ioyous And glade, [ 1499] [Fol. 33 b.] To vriens said, "me request hir ye, [The king is glad thereof, and tells Uriens that he wishes to ask nothing of him,] And here perdon me of my wordes hade, For nothyng wil ne of you for to gyf me, Off youres nothing sall demaunded be; [ 1503] But you wil I gif gentilly, sire, of myne [but to confer on him something of his own,] Thys Rewme with all enheritaunce fyne, [ 1505]

With my fair doughter in franke mariage; [ 1506] [namely, his king∣dom and his daughter.] For other haue non discended of my lyne. you besech to take here thys fair Image." When the Barons knew to that wold inclyne, [The barons are of the same mind.] Strongly ioyed all off that discipline, [ 1510] Ther loue to vriens strongly gan draw, For the gret goodnesse that thay on hym saw. [ 1512]

Uriens the king full well understode, [ 1513] [Uriens thanks the king, and says he would not take the gift if he saw in the king any respite from death.] A lytell mused, after gan Answere; "I thanke you hertly, gracyous lord goode, Off that ye me haue don such honour here; But iff respite of deth in you saw were, [ 1517] Full litill or noght wold I your gifte preise; But, lord, syn it doth your hert so to pleise, [ 1519]

Syn your will it is, Full wele lyketh me; [ 1520] Wherfor shold I, lo! lenger it delay?" Thys mariage don plesantly to see, [The marriage is performed: and, as the priest was raising the host at the mass, the king yielded up his soul.] And ryght As the preste reised god þat day Off the holy masse, þat þe preste gan say [ 1524] Where thys sike kyng lay in such maner wise, yild vpp hys good soule in-to paradise, [ 1526]

Where our lorde will resceyue hym of hys grace, [ 1527] [Fol. 34.] And off all hys syn yeuyng hym pardon; [Their great joy is thus turned into wo.] For I witnesse you And say in thys place, That he was A trew catholike person. Ther gret ioy changed in-to wo Anon, [ 1531] [The bride's heart is "locked up" with heaviness.] full dolorous was tho the espouse, With heuynesse loke was hir good hert fre. [ 1533]

The kyng After entered was goodly; [ 1534] [The king is buried royally;] long taried noght or put were on graue, hys obsequie don ryght worshipfully, And, to say the soth, As reson wold craue; For A kyng shold roiall obseque haue. [ 1538] [and there were therefore no plays or tournaments at the wedding,] That time noght had pleys ne tornement, For the gret dolour whych for the kyng hent, [ 1540]

Which At mortall deth was ther presently. [ 1541] But not-withstandyng honestly was don [which was, never∣theless, honestly done.] The mariage And weddyng greabilly; Blame ne reproche certes nedith non

Tho melled of thes dede passed and gon; [ 1545] [No blame at∣tached to those who were busy about that matter;] So wyll was this thing At poynt don þat day, At which time ther was full noble array [ 1547]

Appertaynyng wel to A kinges dede. [ 1548] At thys mariage was nobles ful many, [for many nobles, knights, ladies, damsels, and squires, honoured the marriage feast, and danced thereat.] Of sondry townes peple in that stede, knightes, laydes, damycelles worthy, yonge Squiers, And maydens goodly, [ 1552] Where-with thys said feste gretly gan honour, Which ther daunced At that tyme and hour. [ 1554]

Ryght [In the margin, [Vr]yen kyng of [Cip]re by ermyne [hy]s wyf hathe a boy [cal]led gryffon.] thus the peple merily ioyng [ 1555] [Fol. 34 b.] As off the good rule noysed of thaim to, [Thus joyed the people on account of the good rule of those two, viz., of the bride and Uriens.] Of the espouse full noble gouernyng, And of the good lordes renomyng also. Anon was she made vnto bedde go, [ 1559] For vriens wold in no wyse tary, With hir went to bedde As man ful hastly. [ 1561]

IN that night Greffon ther engendred was, [ 1562] [Their firstborn was named Greffon,] Off whom I shall declare, outre, and say; Which in payny conquered hye And bas, [who conquered many countries,] Gret seignories And contrees that day, And of Colcis quitte the contre Alway, [ 1566] [including Colchis,] Where playnly no man in no wise passe myght. Many merueles of trought cam ther ryght, [ 1568]

EVery moneth twenty And mo. [ 1569] An Ile was ther had full fair to deuise, [where was an isle, in which the golden fleece was gained by Jason, with the aid of Medea.] Wheron conquered was the flees tho, Which conqueste was made by medee auise, [MS. "medeeauife."] By Iason Away it bering such wise. [ 1573] he it conquered by the hy prudence Off medee the fair, And by hir science; [ 1575]

FVll long tyme wold be it to rehers here. [ 1576] [It would take up too much time to tell all that story.] ho in-to thys boke thys mater draw wold, The meruailles huge had in that ille there, A thousand ther hau[e] fall, come, and unfold; A thousand sayn, A thousand tymes told, [ 1580] [I should then be going aside from the matter in hand.] As wele opin plain As said by straitnesse; Out of my mater issue shold expresse. [ 1582]

Off thys Ile to speke thys tyme shall I reste, [ 1583] [Fol. 35.] And vnto Greffon retorn here me shall. Greffon with swerdes fors was redy and preste, [Greffon was quick and ready in war, and conquered many places.] Off maree the prince, chef, And principall; After the porte yaffe conquered he all. [ 1587] So Aboute went purchassing dayly, [At last he came to Tripoli (?),] That the uaillant Cite of Triple cam by; [ 1589]

BI hys huge prowesse went it to assaill [ 1590] [which he assailed and took.] In ryght werly wyse, For manly was in breste, That both his penon And baner sanfaill Put within the town, so making conqueste. Neuer At no day taried ne reste, [ 1594] [Thus he acquired laud, honour, and praise.] That he [ne] went by land And by ssee, laude, honour, preising so conquered he. [ 1596]

Off hym we shall reste And tary now, [ 1597] And to our purpos here retorn shall we Off vriens, kyng which is full know, [Uriens is crowned king of Cyprus.] And crounyd lorde of Cipresse was he. Vncle [In the margin, kynge of hermy[ne] vnkull to vriens, brother to her fa[ther].] to hys wif, the king of hermyne; [ 1601] [His wife's uncle is king of Armenia.] When hir Fader in lif was being, Brother to hym was of hermyne the kyng. [ 1603]

Thys full noble kyng of Arminiens [ 1604] In his days was man of grett goodnesse,

But Ay myght not be in liffes existence; [This king of Armenia dies, to the great sorrow of his subjects,] Tho feble and stronge dethe takyth expresse. Ther ware hys peple full of heuynesse, [ 1608] With that sorow had many mortalite, [many of whom died of grief.] For whyle he regned, well ruled the contre. [ 1610]

A douthter he had gentile And full fayr, [ 1611] [Fol. 35 b.] A more gentelere was ther non then she, [His daughter was his only heir;] Off hym discended was non other hayir. A concell ther hold off the hermyns fre [wherefore the Armenians send to Cyprus, requesting Uriens to send them his brother Guy,] That thay wold send to cipresse contre, [ 1615] Requiring the kyng that hys brother Guy Sol[d] send in-to ther region only, [ 1617]

And [MS. "AAnd."] he shold haue that gentile damycell [ 1618] [who should have the damsel, Flourie, to wife.] To hys wedded wife, flourye the fair. Thay thys ordinaunce Amonge thaim held ful wele; To Cipresse cam thes messyngers debonair, [The messengers come to Cyprus.] Without tarying or Any retrair [ 1622] Vn-to the kyng declaryng ther message, For euery off thaim was full wyse And sage. [ 1624]

With full gret ioy resceyued thaim the kynge, [ 1625] And tham fested wonder nobilly. When thes nouelles vriens knowyng [Uriens takes counsel with his barons,] Off the fayr debonair, the gentile floury, Off hys barons toke concell hastily. [ 1629] Thay All accorded [MS. "occorded."] And to hym thay said, [and they agree that Guy should be sent at once.] That hys brother shold send with þam þat braid.

That thys thyng were done hasted he bigly; [ 1632] [Guy agrees to the proposal, takes ship, and arrives at Armenia.] Guye after send, Accorded All ther-to That which vriens commaunded hym only. Into see thay went with moche peple tho,

Off Armes doubty, noble, And gentile, lo! [ 1636] Ariued thai were In hermeny, Wher enherite shold the full fair floury. [ 1638]

AT erthe discended, so thay forth going, [ 1639] [Fol. 36.] lordys of contre contring thaim Again, [Disembarking, he soon meets some lords, who receive him gladly;] With A wilfull hert full gentilly resceyuyng, And ioyusly brought forth thys souerayn. Off hys comyng gret ioy had sertayn, [ 1643] All the estates made hym full gret feste; [and marries Flourie,] he maried floure without other reste, [In the margin, Guy maryd flou[re] kynge of hermy[ne] dogter, & ys ky[ng] hymself.] [ 1645]

The king After was of all the contre, [ 1646] [and is king of the country;] Thes to Rewmes put As thay beforn were. To brethers Aforn of trouth had it be, [so that two brothers are once more kings of Armenia and of Cyprus.] So ben thay now in to brothers powere, By fader and moder, in like manere. [ 1650] Thes kynges to regned, As it is sayd, And ther tyme strongly gan thay aid [ 1652]

To tho which of thaim discended were; [ 1653] [The two kings aided those who were descended from them, and the people of Rhodes too. They had many children,] As I understande, tho of rodes to, That in mischef ye know, And uisite there. Full many children had thes brethers tho, Which leuid till thay were large woxen, lo! [ 1657] Many fair dedes in ther tyme thay wrought, That fele paynymes to discomfiture brought. [ 1659]

After dicesse of ther fader good, [ 1660] Which vnto tham both gentill fader was, Ther Rewmes ruled well while in lif stood, [and ruled well, trampling under foot those who annoyed them.] And ther noyours underfote put bas. Fro thaim to ther fader torn wyll by grace, [ 1664] As vnto Raymounde And fair melusigne, [I will now turn to Raymond and Melusine.] Ther noble moder with all honour dygne. [ 1666]

When that thay hurde the nouelles And tiding [ 1667] [Fol. 36 b.] Off ther sones too, goode, fair, and gentill, [When these heard of the success of their two sons,] how conquered had to gret Rewmes hauyng; Wherefor thay sayd the sept psabulmes until [they said the 7 Psalms to the King of Glory,] The kyng of glorie, enpreising with vos shill, [ 1671] By whom thai haue had the huge victory, And conquered ther foes many; [ 1673]

ANd that in so gret honoures put be [ 1674] [because each of them was called a king.] That Ayther of thaim claymed is A kyng, And of sogettes loued in eche degre, Then was she sette in desy[r]ing [Moreover Melu∣sine, for her soul's health,] Our lord for to serue, hertly hym thankyng. [ 1678] Thys noble lady called Melusine, As for the helth of hir soule deuine, [ 1680]

Thys fair Melusine, without tarying, [ 1681] Of our lady A minstre fourged she [built a minster to Our Lady,] Which was ful fair, gladsom in seing; hit edefied Melusine the fre, And full richely it founded to se; [ 1685] Thorough All peiters, by hir owne deuyse, [and founded also many other churches.] Many churches founded in glorious wysse. [ 1687]

TO euery place yaff she gyftes grett. [ 1688] Affter Oede hir son gan she to marie [Next she married her son Oede to the earl's fair daughter.] The fair doughter, of the noble Erle gett. For soth Raynold, whych had but on eye, Full gret, thikke, And fers wax he wonderly; [ 1692] [Raynold and Anthony set out from Lusignan.] Anthonye And he parted lusignen fro, For peple went thens when dined had tho. [ 1694]

FOr Anthony was ayne and eldeste, [ 1695] [Fol. 37.] Towardes Brehain toke he the streight way, [They soon came to Luxemburg,] Till that luxemborugh Approched ful preste, A famous town of gret renon that day.

Beforn whom many A penon gan display, [ 1699] [which was then being besieged by the king of Alsace,] The king of Ausoy it besegied had, Almoste it toke, within thay sore Adred. [ 1701]

When thes brethren to in feld comyn were, [ 1702] [who had nearly taken the town.] The town vnnethes gayn Ausoys myght hold; Ther Aither of tham had hurt ["hurd" (?).] the manere, [They asked the cause of the war, and find that it was for the duke's daughter, an orphan,] Wherefor thaim werred thys myghty kyng bold; For A mayden it was that haue wold, [ 1706] That within the towne was gentil, curteys, & faire, Doughter of A duke, [MS. "guke."] Orphelyne debonair. [ 1708]

BI strenght to wife haue wold hir the kyng, [ 1709] [whom the king of Alsace wished to marry forcibly.] Remeue wold he noght thys said Cite fro Til the dukes doughter he were hauyng. But Anon cam A-place thes bretherin to, [ 1712] Which with thaim brought A wonder huge host tho, Vnto thys said kyng send thay diffiance, [The brethren defy the king by a herald,] By An heraude of theres that instance. [ 1715]

Wherof the king was ioyus And glad, [ 1716] [whereof the king is glad, as he is fierce and cruel.] For he was lusti, yonge, fers, and cruell; A-ferrome thay perceyued the strenght had, [From afar the brethren per∣ceived the host, armed with knives and halberds.] Seing the baneres with the wynde ful wel, [ 1719] Which blew thaim A-lofte with many A pensell, Of Army peple seing grett fuson, With Custiles And Gisarmes manyon; [ 1722]

Then thay stafte [MS. "stafte."] thaim, putt in-to ordinance, [ 1723] [Fol. 37 b.] Goyng to smyte ther enemies uppon, [The Lusignans attack the foes boldly,] huge noyse and crye Assembled that instance. The lusignens went, faste crying tham on;

To-geders dreuing cam with gret randon, [ 1727] [so that the earth trembles at their encounter.] And when thay cam the Assemble to, The erth made thay to tremble and quake tho.

Ther entre-sembling don wonder fersly; [ 1730] [The men of Alsace assail the Poite∣vins, who hammer at them in return.] A gret Abashment was it tho being; Ausoys peityuyns assailing bigly, Peiteuyns vppon Ausoys faste knakking, [The Lusignans bid their foes abide the taste of their swords.] Manyon ther slayn, mortally deyng; [ 1734] Ayen lusignens crying [MS. "eryng," e being mis-written for c, and i omitted] were Ful faste, "Theffes Ausoys! byde our swerdes taste, [ 1736]

FOr escape no wyse mow ne shal ye noght!" [ 1737] Ther army dedes the peiteuyns gan do, Fro fele bodies pertid the soule in brought. Then thes brethren, ech by thaim-self, tho, [The two brethren, each by himself, behave in so war∣like a manner, that their men are the victors.] So ful werrely wrought, can noght be said, lo! [ 1741] Off o side and other so departed there, That the peiteuyns Ausoys gan conquere. [ 1743]

ANthony the kyng toke with handes to, [ 1744] [In Anthony's hands the king "seemed no∣thing."] In his hand he semyd hym no-thyng, hym wold he haue slayn, but he yilde hym tho, A-non hys swerd forth-with presenting. When Anthony saw to hym so yilding, [ 1748] [Anthony receives his sword in token of submission.] he hym resceyued And his swerd gan take; And tho the Ausoys gret flight gan to make; [ 1750]

But peyteuyns Full ny gan thaim to sew, [ 1751] [Fol. 38.] And Raynold strongly full faste gan to fight, [The Poitevins pursue the men of Alsace till they are all taken and slain.] Many ther were slayn And fele gan subdew, The Ausoys takyng all And slayn don-right. Raynold was full sage, And wel taught perfight, [ 1755] In like wyse was hys brother Anthony, Full gentill And connyng vnto mannys eye. [ 1757]

Where that day thay toke to ease thaim surely [ 1758] [Anthony and Raynold take their ease in their tents,] As for ther repare in the tentes and place. In-to the town After send quikly To se if thay were reioed in thys cace; knightes sixe made go vnto the good grace [ 1762] [and send six knights, with the captive king, to the fair maiden.] Off thys fair mayden, hire to present the kyng, Ther thens departyd, lenger noght byding; [ 1764]

The kyng presented to thys fair creature, [ 1765] vnto do with hym at hir owne plesance. Then thys fayr mayden, fresh shappe of figure, [The fair creature inquires who are the two noble lords who have thus come to her assistance.] Which was full gentile, Fair, swet of semblance, And to tho said which had hir in gouernance, [ 1769] "Fro whens comith this noble lordes thys hour, That me thys day han don so gret honour?" [ 1771]

"MAdame," said on which was an Aged knight, [ 1772] [An aged knight tells her they are the "sons of Lusignan;"] "With A herty will ye shal know gladly; These bene the sones of lusignen ryght; Men thaim so name, certes, by ther cry, That on of thaim is called Anthony, [ 1776] [and that their names are Anthony and Raynold.] And that other hath vnto name Raynold, To full myghty men, manly And full bolde." [ 1778]

Thys Fair mayden said, "god off his mercy [ 1779] [Fol. 38 b.] Off ther socour tham thanke for hys hy pusance, [She is very grate∣ful for their services,] For me haue thay don dedes Full worthy. What so I haue shall be to ther plesance, For ther consell wrought and good gouernance, [ 1783] [and expresses a wish to counsel with them ere they go.] With tham shall I concell, er thay goo, Off all thyngis that I haue to do." [ 1785]

Then she ther demaunded hir concell; [ 1786] [She tells her council she shall invite the brethren and] After commaundyng thes brethren come hir to, lenger myght not she it withold well,

And with ther hoste shall [MS. "fholl."] come loge also, [their host into the town.] In thys said towne ther herbigage haue tho, [ 1790] And in especiall the Barons moste hy. hyr peple said, "it shal bene done truly." [ 1792]

TOward thes brethren went thay forth anon, [ 1793] [The messengers find the brethren in the king's pavilion, where they had found much treasure and had distributed it among the soldiers.] Within the tentes merily tham founde, In place where was the kyngys pauilon For time that the sege was hold in þat ground. Ther founde thay I-now of goodes þat stounde, [ 1797] But of it thay wold take ryght no-thyng, But to men off armes All was yeuyng. [ 1799]

What-someuer thing in that place was founde, [ 1800] [When the mes∣sengers from Luxemburg had arrived at the pavilion, they delivered their message to the two brethren,] Fyrste gaf to tho gret, After smal vnto. When fro luxemborugh where come þat stounde Thes messengers Ful Apertly tho, Ther message sagely And wightly gan do [ 1804] To thes to brethren off full huge prowesse Fro the part off thys lady And mestresse. [At the bottom of the page is the catchword—"Thes brethren to resceyued."] [ 1806]

Thes [MS. "Thyes."] brethren to resceyued tham humbly, [ 1807] [Fol. 39.] Ryght so As thay k[n]ew full well for to do. [who received them humbly.] When thes messyngers vnderstod uerily [The messengers receive their answer, and at once 500 knights set out to lodge within the town.] All thare Answer, no lenger taried tho, That of thes knightes fife hundred and mo [ 1811] Went thaim to loge there, were noght dangerous, knowing that ther was al thyng plenteuous. [ 1813]

The hostes marschall lefte thai þat instance, [ 1814] [The brethren leave their "marshals" with the main army, and send their foragers on before them.] Ther forigers [MS. "forigers."] A-forn gan to send For ther hostes to make ordinance,

Of whome the Instrumentes sounded at end, Off luxemborught entre moche to commende; [ 1818] No place ther had, neither carfoukes non, [Every place and cross-way are filled with people.] But peple shold se ther come many one, [ 1820]

TO the sounde that thes instrumentes gan make; [ 1821] The nobles and gentiles comyng thaim agayne. [The nobles of the city convey the brethren to the castle.] Tho moste worthiest thes brethren gan take, Vnto the castel conueing thaim certayn. To thys assemble peple cam ful fayn, [ 1825] [The maiden arrives thither; her name is Christian.] Where appered thys cristin creature, Whiche cristian was named, be ye sure. [ 1827]

Ther Acompanied was she noght ill [ 1828] [She is accom∣panied by many ladies,] Of laides had ful gret company, With noble damyselles longing hir until, [both married and maiden, who re∣ceive] Als of tho maried As of maidens many. Thai thes brethren resceyued nobilly, [ 1832] [the brethren nobly.] And ful sagely ryght so As thay shold, Ther vitail redy As to plesire haue wold, [ 1834]

With-out tariyng to wash ther handes went; [ 1835] [Fol. 39 b.] After went to sitte ther ceriatly. [A feast is pro∣vided; they wash their hands, and sit in order;] Sche made thaim ther A ful fayr sight to hent, The kyng of Ausoy sette was he moste hy; [the king of Alsace highest, Anthony next, and Raynold and three barons next.] After the brother to Raynold, Anthony, [ 1839] After thre gret barouns of the same place, Enmyddes tham Raynold ther sette wace. [ 1841]

Ther tho had was An excellent feste, [ 1842] [A more "honest" feast was never seen.] A more honester neuer sayn with eye, Of vitail and als wines of the best; The peiteuyns were at ease merily. When dined thay had, ther handes wash clenly; [ 1846] [After dinner they washed their hands; and, grace being said,] The tables raysed After tho anon, And graces saide with gret deuocion, [ 1848]

The kyng of Ausoys to thes brethren to [ 1849] [the king said to the two brethren, "I am your prisoner, and ask to be put to ransom."] Said, "I am your presoner thys instance, In your handes take at thys iournay, lo! I you here besech to make ordinance, In such wyse I may be put to finance." [ 1853] Anthony hym said in fayr, "lord and knight, Our presoner be ye noght of right; [ 1855]

HEre haue we done And shewid curtessy, [ 1856] [Anthony replies that they have been as courteous as he has been villanous,] Where to wrongously uillanous ye doo, To thys noble damicel and lady. Owr dedes we haue put now hir vnto, your body we haue yeuyn hir also; [ 1860] [and that they now put his body in the lady's power,] Now by hir moste be all the ordinance, Other-wyse ryght noght but to hir plesance. [ 1862]

IN hir standeth all your deliuerance, [ 1863] [Fol. 40.] Or elles your deth without doubt Any"— [because he had annoyed her wickedly.] (When the kyng it hurd, in hert had noisance)— "for that ye haue hir noyed wekkidly." Forsoth tho anon spake thys fayr lady, [ 1867] [But the fair lady at once, without any prompting,] (Neuer concelled by mannys langage, For she was well thaught, inly wise and sage),

"MI lordes," she said, "I thank you hertly [ 1870] [returns thanks to the two lords, and says in re∣turn that she leaves the king at their disposal,] Of honour and seruice that ye haue me do; But by my feith As to that dede surely Off kyng Ausoys, I wyll not ordayn, lo! he is yours, I leue hym you vnto; [ 1874] here all that I haue you ["I" (?).] gyf you thys day, [as she could not "guerdon" them] For you to guerdon [MS. "gruerdon."] certes can ne may, [ 1876]

And hepes of gold had in tresory, [ 1877] [if she had heaps of gold.] That which ye haue yusterday me do, By your gracious noble chiualry.

In you lyth hys lif, And his deth also. [The king's life and death are therefore in their power.] No other thyng shal I do ther-to; [ 1881] So to your goodnesse am I bounde & hold." hir wordes hurde Antony and Raynolde, [ 1883]

Thai hir answering, "sin ye wyll do so, [ 1884] [They answer, "If so, he shall have a quit-claim of us,] Of vs shal he haue A quite-clayme fully, With-that he Amend that he hath misdo. Then here shall he knele ful debonerly, [provided he kneel down here de∣bonairly, and ery you mercy,] here Aforn vs al, criing you mercy [ 1888] Of trespas and wronges he hath done here; And vppon hys feith truly you to swere [ 1890]

That neuer you il after thys shal doo, [ 1891] [Fol. 40 b.] No noisance, distourbance, neither demage; [and swear he will never do you annoyance, dis∣turbance, or damage.] Surete And hostage shall you take vnto." Thys fair maden said with full swet langage, "Ryght As ye haue said, it pleasith my corage; [ 1895] [The fair maiden sweetly consents.] Vnto you I wyll Agre in all thyng, As ye wyll, so wyll I, by consenting." [ 1897]

The kyng was full glad, ioyng merily, [ 1898] [The king is full glad, and cries mercy at once.] For he trowed wel exiled to be. To thys lady went, cryng hir mercy, lyke-wyse As was said by Anthony fre. Thys womanly thyng ther resceyued she, [ 1902] [She accordingly consents to his freedom.] Ryght As it pleasid ther thys brethren to, She Accordid in semble wyse tho. [ 1904]

When the kyng had made hys othe & swrete, [ 1905] Then ful lowde he spake And ful hautaynly, [The king next cries with a loud voice, that he should be glad to have such chivalrous men for neighbours,] And sayd the Barons, "ful glad mow ye ["myght I" (?).] be yif such a neighbour puruely myght I As on of you to to haue uerily, [ 1909] Which bene so chiualrous in your doing, And which for to do is preisable thyng. [ 1911]

SEith here now thys plesant debonair [ 1912] [and he bids Anthony look on the pleasant Christian, this duchess, with fair rents, and consider that it is reasonable that he should be repaid for his kindness.] Gentile Cristian, thys nobyle duchesse, Which holdeth contrees and rentes fair! Anthony, me hire besech your hinesse, ye don haue gret curtesy and gentilnesse, [ 1916] Hit is gret reson ye were satefied Off your ful good will don And Applied. [ 1918]

I say thys to ende that it myght be wrought [ 1919] [Fol. 41.] As that we App[r]oche that I thenke fully, [He thinks that Christian might be given to Anthony,] Ryght noble Barons, sin wel I haue thought, [MS. "thoiught."] To my semyng, Cristian might mary As to be yeuen vnto Antoni. [ 1923] A man no better myght hit employ nay-where, [as he is so worthy a bachelor.] For this knight is A worthi baculere." [MS. "baiulere."] [ 1925]

Off luxembrough the Barons and eche lord, [ 1926] [The barons and lords of Luxem∣burg applaud him;] Thay sayng, "ful wel here hath said the kyng." All Agreable sete in one Accorde, To thys werke the kyng was thaim there saing. The mariage had with all the weddyng, [In the margin, Antony ys [duke] of luxenb[ourgh] by marry∣[ing] Crystyne, eyr yerof.] [ 1930] [and the mar∣riage feast is held, and lasted for eight days.] Which endured eight days plenerly, Ther had ioustes and tornementes myghty. [ 1932]

There iousted tho ful nobilly the kyng. [ 1933] At eight days ende finished the feste, [The feast ended, every man is about to take leave,] Then euery man redy faste hastyng To go And leue take of tho semyng best. Anon ther cam, without bode or reste, [ 1937] [when a messenger arrives from the king of Brehayne,] A messenger, streight fast As he myght goo, Which longing was the king of Brehayne to. [ 1939]

TO the kyng of Ausoys lettres he brought. [ 1940] [with a letter to the king of Alsace.] Anon the gate opened hym vnto, Forth-with þe kyng brake thes strange lettres wrought. As sone As he had radde thes letters tho, [Having read the letter, he begins to sigh and weep tenderly;] There gan he to sigh and sowghid for wo, [ 1944] And Als for to wepe ryght ful tenderly; Then thes brethren to demaunded for why [ 1946]

That he weped so, And wat tydinges he hade. [ 1947] [Fol. 41 b.] Vnto tham he sayd, "reste wil noght to tell; [and, being asked the reason, says he has had hard news;] Full ill me is come, hard nouelles and sad; [MS. "sayd."] Besegyd haue the sarysins cruell [that the Saracens have besieged a town in Brehayne,] In Brehayne with the tiranny fell. [ 1951] Off my brother kyng haue I gret pete, [and that he pities the king his brother.] Which sore displeasith and hurteth foule me. [ 1953]

FOr your lordys sake, take therof pete, [ 1954] [Anthony listens to his appeal, and bids him not be discomforted;] And if it you please to hys socour goo, I thynke it deserue atwixst you and me." When Anthony vnderstode hys wordes tho, Full goodly he said thys hy kyng vnto, [ 1958] "Sir," he sayd, "for thys be not discomfort; [for that he will send his brother aid;] My brother you ful wel shal recomfort. [ 1960]

FOr certes Raynold my brother shal go, [ 1961] [and that Raynold should go and slay the Saracens.] My good knightes with hym shal he bring, And your brother put Away fro wo, Ther many Sarisins shal be deing." "I thanke you hertly," to hym sayd the kyng; [ 1965] [The king here∣upon pledges his life that Raynold shall marry his niece;] "I Afferme And plegge here vppon my life, My brothe[r]s doughter shal he haue to wyfe; [ 1967]

Raynold shal so enploed be and sette, [ 1968] Then in your brother better may noght be; So god me ayde, he shal hir haue without lette

After my brother, kyng of hy degre; [and, after his brother's death, succeed as king of Brehayne; as his brother had no heir but this one daughter.] And he shal gouerne noble Brehaynè; [ 1972] For non other hoir hath non my brother, But only hir; ne may haue non other." [ 1974]

When Antony vnderstode thys nouell, [ 1975] [Fol. 42.] Which was ful fayr and inly gracyous, To the kyng he said hautaynly and wel, [Anthony bids the king go and assemble his army, and return again to Luxemburg within a fort∣night;] "Go hens, ye noble king vertuous, your hoste Assemble with peple plenteuous, [ 1979] Al your ful hoste vnto þat place bryng, Within thys Auynsime [Read "quynsime"; see Note.] be ye retornyng. [ 1981]

MI peple ye shall finden al redy, [ 1982] [for there should Raynold meet him.] Noght ouer ferre, but ny by shall ye; Raynold my brother to you shal come truly, In propre persone me ther shal ye see." [He himself also (Anthony) would appear there.] The king hym thanked goodly As myght be, [ 1986] Fro thens departed he ful hastly tho, [The king hastily departs,] hys peple to Assemble fast gan to go. [ 1988]

And when Assembled hys peple hade, [ 1989] [and soon returns to Luxemburg with all his people.] Then forth-with As sone As he goodly myght, To luxemborugh A retorn he made, And then to that place came hys peple raid ryght, A noble Baronage hauyng ther to sight; [ 1993] Then he made to come A messengere [He next sends a messenger to Anthony] Fro king Ausoys to Anthony there; [ 1995]

Which ther cam tho in ful noble aray, [ 1996] [to say that he was all ready to go to Brehayne,] With A shil vois said to duke Anthony, "Sir, I pray your lord you salute thys day; The king of Ausoy And hys company

here comith to go to Brehaynè hastly; [ 2000] [and that his hosts were beneath the town in the fields.] By-nethes ar thai in the fayr medew, With ful noble company hym to sew." [ 2002]

The duke hym sayd, "welcom shall he be." [ 2003] [Fol. 42 b.] Raynold forth he send, moste no lenger byde. [Duke Anthony says he is wel∣come;] Raynold cam Agayne, ther taried noght he; Sir Anthony sayd, "brother, goth thys tyde; [and tells Raynold that the king of Alsace is come, and he must find his army good lodging,] Into thys faire medew forth most ye glyde, [ 2007] For ther is comyn king Ausoys roiall, Makyng to loge hys peple gret And small, [ 2009]

His pauilon piche vnto Auantage; [MS. "A uantage." Fr. text, "dauantaige."] [ 2010] To that done was he inly sage and wyse. let tham take ther ease after ther corage, [and make them take their ease.] Then make the kyng come of hys hye emprise." hys commaundement Raynol[d] gan Auise, [ 2014] [Raymond obeys, and all is well provided.] And it was wel don to hertis plesance, The Ausoys loged wel with all circumstance. [ 2016]

The kinge departed and for ["fro" (?).] thaim toke leue, [ 2017] [The king departs to Luxemburg to see the duke.] Towardes luxemborough thys said duk went, The town entred in, ther founde, in breue, Gret fest thaim Among was to all entent; [A great feast is made, the particulars of] After at borde set conuenyent. [ 2021] Of ther diner and fayr leue here I shal, [which I need not rehearse.] For hit nedith noght As to rehers All. [ 2023]

Anthony Anon made tho all redy, [ 2024] [Anthony makes all ready to go to the aid of the king of Brehayne.] Such peple As were ther in that contre, he hauyng ther A noble company As to aid the kyng tho of Brehaignè; Nombred thay were thirty thousande fre, [ 2028] [The number of the two hosts was, in all, 30,000.] Ther thes hostes too full Assembled were, And full gret honour to-geders can bere. [ 2030]

NOble felowship ther A man shold se; [ 2031] [Fol. 43.] As moche peple the duke As had the kyng. [The duke had as many men as the king.] When that to-geders thay made assemble, In euery parte the grounde faste tremblyng. But er that made fro thens departing, [ 2035] [Ere the duke departs, the fair Christian calls him, and beseeches him] Thys fayr Cristian called Anthony, Sayng, "you beseche, souerayn lord hy, [ 2037]

That it myght you please me do such honoure [ 2038] [to wear the coat-of-arms of Lux∣emburg, and no other blazon.] That ye the Armes wold fouchesafe to bere Off luxemborugh; noght put non houre Other blason, you beseche, to were." "My fair swet loue," Anthony gan Answere, [ 2042] [Anthony says he will not exactly do that,] "Accorde shal I noght your wyll ther-vnto, But Another thyng for-sothe shall I doo. [ 2044]

IN whatsomeuer place, lo! that we be, [ 2045] [but proposes always to bear on his shield a lion,] The shild shal I bere of A lyon, Vppon my armure, plenerly to se; That Armys wyl haue; other wyl I non; [because that, when he was born into the world, he had on his jaw a mark like that made by a lion's claw;] For that when I was born thys wordle on, [ 2049] A hurt of A lyon tho I gan to bere, Vppon my Iawe strongly appering there, [ 2051]

Where-of the peple Abasshed was sore. [ 2052] [with this excep∣tion, he will do her pleasure.] Also your plesire certes shal I doo, And fulfill your wyll days euer-more." She said, "I you thanke full hertyly, lo! [She thanks him, and says that, excepting the azure, he can bear both his own arms and hers,] For yf the Asure be put Away fro, [ 2056] My hole Armys shal ye bere surely, Both youre armys And thes same only, [ 2058]

Which ben Armes ryght full Auncion." [ 2059] [Fol. 43 b.] Thes Armes he toke And tham gan to bere, [which were the old arms of Luxemburg. He accordingly assorts them,] And so Assorted thaim ryght thys to gon. Of this fair lady toke he his leue there,

Then fro ther logis thar ["thai" (?).] dressyd tho were, [ 2063] [and takes his journey to Brehayne at full speed.] Towarde Brehaignè went thai fast dreuyng; Euery Afore other went fleing, [ 2065]

PAssyng so Baueres And also Almayn, [ 2066] [Bavaria is passed, and Almaigne;] Suche progresse forth made ouer the contre, By huge Iournays, ualey and montayn, Till thay Approched the land of Brehaignè. [and Brehayne is soon reached.] At thar owne desyre ther made thay entre, [ 2070] Now shal I say of paynymes the felons, [I must now speak of the evil Paynims.] Which werred dayly thys sayd Brehaignons. [ 2072]

The king of Craquo [MS. "Traquo."] mighty And strong was, [ 2073] [The king of Cracow was mighty and strong,] Werryng ful bigly the Brehaignons thoo, Withe hym Esclauons many had aplace, So os [for as.] we haue founde in old scripture, lo! For of that lande was lorde and syre also. [ 2077] [and with his men made great war against the Brehaignons.] To Brehaignons ful gret werre he made, On A day he went, to scarmish [See Note.] with thaim sad,

Afforne Brehaignè without hodelnesse. [ 2080] There hym perceyued the king of Brehaignè, [One day the king of Brehayne, whose name was Fedris, armed himself for a sally,] And ther thought display his baner expresse, Fedris, which held that Rewme And contre; Armyng hym ryght faste, taking his helme fre, [ 2084] When with his armure coueryd he was, [and bade the gates be thrown open;] Ther the gates made opon [Sic in MS.] And unbras; [ 2086]

FRo town issued his peple And he; [ 2087] [Fol. 44.] Off noble peple had he full many. [but the Saracens beat these free knights, over∣whelming them with the number of their men.] And the Sarisins bete these knightes fre, Many ther caste done And moche peple sly, But such store was of Esclauons only, [ 2091] That we can not put tham As in writing, Off whom Brehaignons were ryght sore doubtyng.

Esclauons Brehaignons put sore Abake, [ 2094] [These men drove back the Brehai∣gnons, and chased them into the town.] And tham sore chased A-non to the ende. But of luxemborught the duke on gan take, He puttyng Away ther huge debate tende. [But the duke of Luxemburg came up, while the king of Brehaigne] Off Brehaignons kyng to fyght [MS. "fyght."] was bende, [ 2098] With the Sarisins faught he in eche side, Which his peple had put Abake that tide. [ 2100]

But the kyng was noght put Abake only, [ 2101] But he had ynow hys life to deffende, [was fighting for his life, like a wild boar at bay, smiting and cast∣ing down his soes.] Here And there caste doun, fighting ful manly, On all for-smete, Another to grounde wende, As A wyld boor deffendyd hym at ende. [ 2105] Ryght As at bay stode thys manly good knight, Full sore were thay hurte whom he Approche myght. [ 2107]

But with A shotte off A launcegay tho [ 2108] [But by a javelin this noble knight was smitten through the body,] Thys noble knyght [MS. "kynght."] smetyn thorugh hys body Full felonesly And cruelly also, That to mortal deth fill doun sodenly, Fro body went the soule ful heuily; [ 2112] [and his soul was commended to God.] To our lord An hy commaunded was she, For A worthy man certes was he. [ 2114]

There vp ros the cry, As seith the scripture, [ 2115] [Fol. 44 b.] The Brehaignons wo sore wepte for pite; [The Brehaignons wept sore, and fled; but the Saracens pursued, reaching soon the flying troop,] Tho that myght, ther fled; but sarisins sure Thay sued ny, attayning tho gan [MS. "gam."] fle. There swerdes gan take, faste Aboute gan sle, [ 2119] Fersly on tham went whom þat myght attayn, [and slaying them fiercely.] Full faste cast thay doun, And many ther slayn.

Wherof Brehaignons braid and cried, [ 2122] [The few who escaped came spurring to the town, and told the sad news;] And tho which might ther be escaping Vnto the town come spored And hied, Declaring thes nouelles of the kyng; Wherof At hert had that gret noyng [ 2126] [to the great grief of the slain king's fair daughter, Eglentine.] The kynges doughter, named Eglentine, Whome all good beute gan fair enlumyne. [ 2128]

Eglentine, thys kinges doughter fre, [ 2129] Off paynymes had gret fere And doubtance. The peple ran to town And Cite, [The people ran fast back into the city for fear of the Saracens, when they saw their king dead. But the Saracens are overjoyed;] The sarisins moche doubted þat instance, When the kyng saw dede, whylom of pusance; [ 2133] Wheroff the sarisins had gret ioy tho, Tristyng [MS. "Criftyng."] ther were had be ended And doo. [ 2135]

Tho a full gret fire thay tende made And hade, [ 2136] [and, making a great fire with bushes and wood, burnt the king's body before the gate.] With busshes And wod makyng it full hy, Ful ny to þe gate thys said fire þat thai made, Byforne hys peple the kyng brend truly. Marred therof ben tho within Fully, [ 2140] [Those within cry and grind their teeth.] Crying And grinting sore with ther teeth tho, But no remedy cowde thay shap therto, [ 2142]

FOr non other wyse ther myght it noght be. [ 2143] [Fol. 45.] But tho cam Anthony And also Raynold, [But soon came Anthony, Ray∣nold, and the king of Alsace towards Brehaigne, their basnets glittering like the bright sun.] Which to paynymes made sautes plente, And of Ausoys the noble kyng hold. To-Brehaignè-ward cam thes thre told, [ 2147] Ther bushinentes fayr resplendising, As the bryghty [Sic in MS.] sune light and fayr shinyng. [ 2149]

A noble thyng was to behold and se [ 2150] To-Brehaignè-ward forth faste were passyng, [The Brehaignons had great need of succour,] Which gret nede had to socour and surete,

For gretly thai were thaim ouerpressing; The Brehaignons went out thaim Faste trussing, [and were sore astonished, and defended themselves feebly.] Wheroff Brehaignè was Astoned sore, And diffendyd thaim febly euermore. [ 2156]

Off thys Eglentyne had gret discomforth, [ 2157] [Eglentine would rather have been dead.] She had more leuer had mortalite. "Als! dede is," said, "my fader, my comfort; [She laments her father, and knows not what she, an orphan, will now do;] Fader ne moder haue I noght, perde! here bide And dwell most, orpheline to se. [ 2161] What now willt thou don, woful Eglentine? To gret heuynesse off-fors moste thou incline;

For now I se here the destruccion [ 2164] [for now she sees the destruction of all her realm.] Off all my regyon And Rewme roial. Als! caytif! what shalt thou now don? In what maner forme gouerne the now shall? Thy contre shalt se put in exile all, [ 2168] [The country would be robbed, pillaged, and worse, by evil Saracens.] Distroed, robbed, peled, and more wurse, By ille sarisins; god gife thaim his curse! [ 2170]

I wote nere wat to do, neither what to say, [ 2171] [Fol. 45 b.] Ne I may noght to it shappe remedy; [She would have to deny our Lord, and believe in Saracen customs.] Me moste here-After our lord to renay, And in sarisine lau beleue fully!" Thys complained Eglentine heuily; [ 2175] For sarisins strong Asseilede faste certain [Meanwhile they assailed the town furiously,] The cite And town, And strongly gan thaim payn

TO haue it, and take by assaute that hour. [ 2178] [and thought to take it.] Such trowed it to dresse, which failled tho; For in lytell whyle, thorugh goddys labour, Er that pay[ny]mes trowid it to do, A messengere cam the Brehaignons vnto, [ 2182] [But soon came a messenger secretly into the town unto the Brehaignons,] Entred brehaignè without tarying, Ful coyly And preualy within entring, [ 2184]

Then escried he ryght full hautanly, [ 2185] "Now go ye forth, And well shall it appere, [and bade them make another sally,] Which that will diffend thys cite truly. Diffend you now well, se your socour here, [and look out and see the king of Alsace approach∣ing, with Anthony and Raynold;] Which comyng is you in ryght swifte manere. [ 2189] Se ye noght her of Ausoys come the kyng, Anthony And Raynold with hym doth bryng?

Moche ther comyng is you vnto socour, [ 2192] [and not to talk of death, for the Poitevins were at hand,] Ne haue ye no worde deth vnto, sothlesse. For the noble Duke Anthony of honour, And raynold hys brother to this place thaim dresse; With thaim peyteuyns many bryng expresse, [ 2196] [so well nourished with meat and wine as to as∣tonish the Paynims.] Which norished ben with good mete and wyne, Paynyms thay will make to-stoniste incline. [ 2198]

The kyng of Ausoys thaim haue in company, [ 2199] [Fol. 46.] To socour And aid tho Af Brehaignè." [When the Barons of Brehaigne heard this, they praise God.] When the Barons it vnderstode truly, Thay yildyng thankes to god in trenite. Eche off tham diffended scharply to see, [ 2203] [Every man takes good heart, and the Saracens begin to quake,] Ther euery man good hert gan to take, The sarisins it saw, ssore gan to quake, [ 2205]

Mvsyng what nouelles or comfort thay hade. [ 2206] [wondering what news they had received.] When thai perceiued tham to contune so, "Se," on said, "A messyngere comyng sad;" [But soon comes a messenger to them, saying,] Whiche with full shil vois cried right loude tho, "your escarmish, lordes, lete passe And goo. [ 2210] ["Lords, leave off your skirmishing and retreat,] Vn-to your loges make fair retrete Anon, Withdraw, remeue hens time is that we dōne.

FOr cristyn peple comyng fast many se, [ 2213] [for behold the Christians fast approaching,] To comforth tho within, sumdele [MS. "famdele."] fered,

Off Army peple Full many here bee, [by whom all the fields are covered over."] (The feldes ouerall, lo! ben couered), Which us cometh, by gret wreth stered." [ 2217] Then thes paynymes wrethfully ther-thens [The Paynims thereupon retreat,] Whent, leuyng Anon ther stourdy uiolens. [ 2219]

Thens to ther logges went thay retornyng, [ 2220] [returning to their tents.] And not-For-þat made clariners vp-blow; And ther batailles Anon ordaynyng. [Preparations are made for battle on both sides, and the Saracens are struck with terror.] Off that other part Anthony so grow Hys batail renged, comyng to be know; [ 2224] When entreproched thys huge hostes to, Sarisins strongly ther thaim doubted tho. [ 2226]

The cristin peple tho ran thaim vppon; [ 2227] [Fol. 46 b.] Persed And brokyng shildes were many; [Then were many shields pierced and broken;] Tho cristin went toward thaim enui[r]on, The sarisins went tham to deffend withly; ["wightly" (?). See l. 2260.] Ther A myghty stour men shold see to eye. [ 2231] [there might be seen a mighty battle.] To off thaim hath ther cast don Raynold, Meruelous strokes smote he as man bold; [ 2233]

ANd ther Anthony hys foes caste dōn, [ 2234] All peple hym drad And sore hym gan doute. A paynym to smyte went he forth Anon, [Anthony smites a Paynim, whom neither helm nor harness guarded from the blow; for the sword clove his head to the teeth.] hym not warented harnes ne helme Aboute; For hys swerd entred hys hed thorugh-oute, [ 2238] Which ther rent And cleffe dōn the theth [Sic in MS.] vn-to, he gan fall to erth with gapyng throte tho. [ 2240]

Tho cristin manly gan do at that day, [ 2241] Euery forth went with strokes smyting. Tho went lusignens escrying allway, [Then went the Lusignans, crying out, "Lords and barons, fight well!"] "lordys, Barons, Aforn here passyng, Vppon the paynymes be ye wel fighting!" [ 2245]

The kyng of Craquo [MS. "Traquo."] ful wrogth tho he was, [The king of Cracow, in great wrath,] When hys peple saw such hurtes purchas, [ 2247]

TO thaim socour hym efforced tho, [ 2248] [comes to the rescue, and smites down a Christian to the grass;] With gret strength And myght his swerd gan enbrace, hys swerd fershly shone, And by gret vertu, lo! A cristin hath he caste dōn vppon the grace, Al deth to ground laid throwen in the place. [ 2252] After Craquo [MS. "Traquo."] hily cried And grad, [then he cries aloud, "O ye Christians,] "O ye cristin, your dethe now here had; [ 2254]

All shall ye dye, escape ye ne may, [ 2255] [Fol. 47] Forsoth here by me of-fors most ye dy." [you shall all die!"] hys langage greuyd moche Raynold that day, [But Raynold strained his brand of steel fiercely, and smote the king with such force that he rent his head to the teeth.] With spores smote faste his course[r] bigly, With hand strained hys brande of stile fersly, [ 2259] And wightly went to smite the kyng Craquo, [MS. "Traquo."] By such fors And strenght hed rent teth vnto.

Bustesly And rude the stroke gan discend, [ 2262] [To death fell the king;] Raynold caste hym don, to deth the king fall; Wherwith hys peple to discomfort wend, No lenger sogerned sarisins, gret ne small. [and the Saracens stayed no longer, but turned their horses round] With ther coursers ther ways torned all; [ 2266] When thay perceiued and saw ther kyng slayn, Thay thaim held tho All discomfite plain. [ 2268]

APertly And Openly torned to flight, [ 2269] [and fled openly.] But peiteuins tho pursute after made, [In the swift pursuit, all the Saracens are cut to pieces like flesh cut upon the stalls.] Vppon sarisins smote and bete dōn ryght, Tham all to-chapped And kerue in pecis sad, As men don the flesh vppon the stal had. [ 2273] Anthony, the full noble souerayn, Off paynyms hath ryght manyon slain. [ 2275]

The sarisins thaim held for discomfight; [ 2276] he rent And tare don all he gan attain. [Anthony rent and tare all he could attain to,] The kyng of Ausois, Also A good knight, He hym bare ful wel And nobilly certain. All the paynymes ther of trouth were slain; [ 2280] [and at last all the Paynims were slain.] When ther perceiued the king Ausois bold The kyng of Craquo [MS. "Traquo."] standed and all cold, [ 2282]

And of painymes so full gret fusion, [ 2283] [Fol. 47 b.] Ther he commaunded hys peple unto [The king of Alsace bids that all the dead bodies should be laid upon a heap, and burnt; and thus was it done.] That unto on hepe put shuld be echon. Ryght As he had sayd, so ther was it do. The paynyms hepid strongly An hye tho, [ 2287] In euery part put to was the fire, Ther paynymes were bruled and brend entire. [ 2289]

Off Sarsons [MS. "Garsons."] A man shold venge hym ryght so, [ 2290] [It was in revenge for the way in which the king of Cracow had burnt his brother's body.] For of verray trought of Craquo [MS. "Traquo."] the kynge like made hys brother to Askis brend tho. Anthony And Raynold ther were logging In tentes reised which thei were finding; [ 2294] [The Poitevins lodge well in the enemy's tents.] The peiteuins ther logged in-ly well, And sarisins disloged eueridelle. [ 2296]

The kyng [of] Ausois lefte [MS. "lefte."] thes holy mightes, [ 2297] [The king of Alsace and 100 knights ride off to the town.] Vnto the town went he ther forth A-non, With hym An hundred of noble knightis, Of moste wurthiest being enuiron, And moste hightiest goodly of person. [ 2301] Ther fair Eglentine comyng hym Agayn, [Eglentine comes to meet them,] What-so she gan do wel be-cam certayn; [ 2303]

HVmbly And swetly salute she the kyng, [ 2304] [and salutes her uncle.] For hir uncle was he naturally; The kyng gentilly hir ther embrasing, After hyr gan kysse ryght full curtoisly.

"Fair nece," said the kyng, "here I you affy [ 2308] [He assures his niece that her father's death is well avenged;] That your fadir Deth auenged is well; Be ye noyht wroth, displease you no dell. [ 2310]

YE haue sayn hys deth uenged with gret fors; [ 2311] [Fol. 48] The king of Craquo [MS. "Traquo."] for hym is ther ded; Off your fader ne haue mynde ne remors, Thys said king Craquo [MS. "Traquo."] brende haue I in-ded. [and that she should now comfort herself, since her enemies were fully repaid all their wages,] Comfort your-self, that is wit and womanhed; [ 2315] iff Any demage don haue in contre, Off ther wages thay truly payed be. [ 2317]

NO more after this nedith noght to doute; [ 2318] [and had failed utterly in their design;] Thay trowed under fote put the contre, Now haue thai failled of ther art all-oute; And of shame no-thyng certes haue not ye, [so that no shame or reproach now attached to her.] Wherfor reproche or repref shold be. [ 2322] I haue wonnen that nedith you thys houre, Acquired haue ye worship and honoure." [ 2324]

"HA, sir," she said, "good lord souerain, [ 2325] [She replies that her heart is sorrowful when she thinks upon her father's death.] My gentile uncle, and my ful swet frend, When I me bethenke on my fader slayn, A-non my hert within wepingly is tend." "Was not he my brother?" said the kyng at end; ["Was not he my brother?" replies her uncle;] "hyt behouith us sorow to lete passe, Pray we god on hym haue mercy and grace. [ 2331]

His funerall obseque to morn we do, [ 2332] ["we will perform the funeral rites to-morrow, and pray for his soul."] And for hys good soule to our lord pray we." Ryght as he sayd, don was al thyng tho. A thousand pound of wax fourged and made she, [A thousand pounds of wax were made for the occasion.] As for the morn to dōn the obseque, [ 2336] At sodayn warnyng had thay such huge light, Anthony And Raynolde both were ther ryght;

Ynly will ["well" (?).] was don that which shold be do. [ 2339] [Fol. 48 b.] Moche the Brehaignons gan vnto behold [Then began the Brehaignons to behold these two worthy brethren;] The habilite of thes compaynouns tho, Thes said wurthy men, thes to brethren hold, ["bold" (?). See note.] That myght noght be wery, yonge ne olde, [ 2343] [and none were ever weary of looking at them.] As thaim vnto see so sette verily, Large, long, gret, strong, streight, wel thaught truly. [ 2345]

Ther Abasshed And stonde were many [ 2346] [Many were astonished at the mark upon Anthony's face,] Off thys lyons hurt that thai gan behold, Setten in the skin strangely, lo! ful hy Off hir Anthony, brother to Raynold; For the hurt to thaim Appered ther unfold, [ 2350] [as it was very plain to the sight and large.] Wherof euery man basshed was samfayl, Off gretnesse of it had thay gret meruail. [ 2352]

NEuer to hym saw non like ne egall, [ 2353] Then after said tho of town And cite [They also thought Raynold was well-shapen for conquering king∣doms,] That raynold was habill man with-all, As to discomfite well shappen was he A rewme or [MS. "of." See note.] empire of full large contre; [ 2357] [and commended him for every∣thing but his lack of one eye.] Saf but that o eye had, thay gan complayn, Al other membres commanded thay certain. [ 2359]

LEnger nedith noght to declare ne tell [ 2360] [The king of Brehaigne being honourably buried,] his obseque dōn without doubte Any, Worshipfully And honorably wel. Then the kyng gan hold A parlement truly, [the king of Alsace holds a council,] Where had tho was A noble company, [ 2364] Withe full wurthy men As of Brehaignè, The king saing, "Barons, understande me, [ 2366]

Hit you behouith rewarde and behold [ 2367] [Fol. 49] ho shall doo gouerne And rule this contre, [and advises them to choose a new king.]

And ho your king shold be know now ye shold, For presently now with-out king ye be." Ther hym Answering, "good ryght is to se, [ 2371] [They reply that it is his business entirely,] But the werke therof fully doth partain And all the labour in you hole and plain. [ 2373]

FOr gif Eglentyne were ended And gōn, [ 2374] [as he is the next heir, if Eglentine should die.] you to enherite shold fall the contre; The purueaunce therof lith you uppon, Auaunce you now, for hys loue in trinite, [It is therefore for him to choose whom she shall marry.] So that thys contre well purueyed be [ 2378] Off on, chosen by you, that Eglentyne May [MS. "Many."] marie and gouerne us and our line." [ 2380]

The kyng Answered, "to my parte you say, [ 2381] [The king inquires whom they wish her to marry.] To whom behouith my nece to mary? Or for whom [MS. "whon."] wold ye? you besech All-way, That ye me say your Auise fully." "Sir, at your deuise," the Barons said surely, [ 2385] [They reply that they leave it entirely to him.] Ryght As ye will, so certes will we doo; No knight will resceiue but at your plesire, lo!

Al the werke therof we put you uppon." [ 2388] "Then in goddis name, sires, lete me do"— [He replies that in that case they shall have for a lord one who is a worthy and famous knight.] (This Answered thys noble kyng Anon)— "On shal ye haue gentile And curtois to, A man of goodnesse and of honour also, [ 2392] Whom ye shall resceiue As unto your lorde, Is hardy wurthi knight, good of recorde; [ 2394]

NOn other I will certes to you take. [ 2395] [Fol. 49 b.] Then to brothers haue, noble kynges to, [He reminds them that two brothers, both noble kings (knights?),] And An hye Duke," to thaim thys the kyng spake, "In your grette nede you aid hath also;

To thys place comyn ferre contrees fro; [ 2399] [and one of them a duke, have saved their city.] Deliuerd hath your noble Cite Fro the paynimes And all your contre." [ 2401]

RAynold called forth by the kyng Anon, [ 2402] Sayng, "vnto you will I couenaunt hold." The kyng with uois hye [MS. "hyr." Fr. text, "en hault."] said, hurd manyon, [He therefore calls Raynold, and tells him he will per∣form the promise he made him,] "Come forth here! Appere! come forth, Reynold! Approche, As come nerre, swete frend, As man hold. ["bold" (?).] here-beforn I haue you be promysing [that he would make him a king.] That of this contre make you wold A kyng. [ 2408]

Ywill not you lye, but to it consent, [ 2409] For A king ne shold lye [MS. "by." Fr. text, "mentir."] ne be gabbyng; My nece Eglentine to wife shal ye hent [Raynold is to have his niece and all the kingdom.] With all [the] rewme And that to it longing. Will ye hir now take, the land diffending? [ 2413] Of hyr And hyrs you lorde shall I make, And all longith hir ye As for to take." [ 2415]

When sir Anthony All thys vnderstode, [ 2416] [Sir Anthony thanks the king heartily,] he taried noght to Answere redy, he hartly thankyng thys noble king good That fair Eglentine Raynolde shold mary. "Off your fre kyndenesse And curtesy [ 2420] [and promises that Raynold shall defend the country well.] The contre shall diffende, ruling well the lande; For werre [Or "werie;" but "werre" is right.] he can well, knightly is off hand."

When thes Barons thys Answere had fong, [ 2423] [Fol. 50] To our lorde thankes yeldyng full hyly, [The barons praise Our Lord and Our Lady] And to oure lady in thar hertes strong,

Ther thay perceued hym strong, large, And hy; [when they per∣ceive how strong and large a man Raynold is.] The lande to gouerne thought wold pesibilly. [ 2427] Thys kyng ordayned his nece Eglentine All that pertain shold A quene of ray fine. [ 2429]

And Raynold like-wise put hym in Aray [In the margin, Raynold marr[ies] Eglentyne, & ys kynge of breh[aine].] [ 2430] [Raynold and Eglentine, being finely arrayed, are married;] As pertained to kinges hye corage. The mariage don And finished that day Beforne the syght of all the Baronage; Thys fest ther roiall fourged by tho sage; [ 2434] [and the marriage-feast lasted fifteen days.] Hit days fiftene endured largely, Full noble gyftes ther geuen frely. [ 2436]

NEuer was yeuen more fairer thinges, [ 2437] [Never were fairer presents given than were then given by Eglentine.] Robes, coursers, iew[e]lles forth present. Also ther had thes honorous kinges Ioustes, tornementes full excellent [There were 1000 men there from the country, besides the "townish" people.] In presence of ladies courtois And gent. [ 2441] Presently ther had A thousand of contre, Without tho townishe peple, vnto se. [ 2443]

But Raynold ther-thens bare the grete honour [ 2444] [Raynold gained great honour in the tournaments,] That of Brehaignons lord was tho present; Ther saing al with O wis ["with O vois" (?). MS. "with .O. wis."] þat hour, "Lif, lif oure noble kinge reuerent! [and is greeted with loud acclaim on all sides.] For A man hym know vnto All entent! [ 2448] And blissed be he hym A-place gan bring!" At feftene dais end cessed the festing. [ 2450]

PEpole toke ther leue homeward to repaire, [ 2451] [Fol. 50 b.] The ladies And damycelles All, Off whom there was had manyon And fayre. The Duke Anthony hys leue toke in hall, [Duke Anthony takes his leave,] In-to way hym sette at that enteruall, [ 2455]

Towarde luxembrough, he and his mayne, [and returns home to Luxemburg.] Which were full noble And gentile to see. [ 2457]

And in Brehaignè gan to byde And dwell [ 2458] [Raynold acquires great honour as king of Bre∣haigne,] Raynold the hye kyng, whome gan to honoure All the wide contre courtoisly And well, And by hys noblesse be such gouernoure, Eche man his dedes preised hugely that houre. [ 2462] In Frise made gret werre Rainold er he reste [and carries on a great war in Friesland,] At ortholegne off the grett conqueste, [ 2464]

BI hys strength Denmarke gan he to acquere; [ 2465] [and also conquers Denmark.] In his tyme regned As man pusantly; Full goodly leuid hys lif here entire; And As that man non here more wurthy Was not A-thys-side the romayns truly. [ 2469] As off hym here no more declare att All, [We leave him now, and return to Duke Anthony.] Off the Duke Anthony talke & speke me shall;

Anthony the Duke, And off Ausoys the kyng, [ 2472] [Anthony and the king of Alsace arrive at Luxem∣burg, where they part;] Which were courtois, gentile, connyng, And sage. Fro Brehaignè tho ensemble comyng, After at luxemborugh toke ther hostage. Ther on fro other parted of viage, [ 2476] [and the king of Alsace returns home.] At luxemborugh king Ausois not wold sogourn, Al streight in-to hys contre gan retourn. [Here follows the catchword—"Anthony with hys wyffe."] [ 2478]

Anthony with hys wife gan vnto remayn, [ 2479] [Fol. 51] For litill while had thai maried be. [Anthony remains awhile with his wife, whom he loved heartily.] Ful moche hir louing with perfecte hert plain, In wil and dede hir loued hertly he, As any man cowde A-this-side the se. [ 2483]

hys wyfe by hym had to cheldren perfight, [MS. "prefight."] [They had two children, one named Bertran,] On named Bertran, which was A good knight; [In the margin y^e elder Bertran, Anton[y] sons, & y^e younger lochy[er].]

The younger had to name lochier the gud; [ 2486] [and the other Lochier; who freed the passes of Ardennes (?), built Givet (?),] he delyuerd straytes all and gyed As of dardane, which plente had wood, Many A good knight ["brought" (?).] ther fortefied; ywon all-ther-first ther he edified; [ 2490] [and made the bridge of Me∣zieres over the Meuse.] Vppon meuse the noble brigge made Off meisiere, after A-conqueste had [ 2492]

MAny other places by hug prowesse; [ 2493] Of al gret noblesse thys said man tho was. Anthony wered with strong besinesse [Anthony conquers the Earl of Fri∣burg, and passes through Austria, where he con∣quers many a region.] The Erle of Faborugh, ["Friborugh" (?).] conquest gate by gras; Passyng Aritrige, ["Autrige" (?).] many richesse made purchas, [ 2497] And all put in-to hys subieccion, Conqueryng ther many A regyon. [ 2499]

After, Bertran the eldeste son became, [ 2500] [Bertran, An∣thony's eldest son, marries the king of Alsace's daugh∣ter, and succeeds to his kingdom.] Within litell whyile, ful gret And ryght manly; To wyfe toke the doughter of Ausoys kyng of fame; A full good knight was, gentile And wurthy, Entrepreignant, coragious, and hardy, [In the margin, Bertran kynge of Aufoys.] [ 2504] And more often-tymes than I can you say; kyng of Ausoys was after the kynges day; [ 2506]

Hys [MS. "Hhys."] doughter maried, As beforn gan tell, [ 2507] [Fol. 51 b.] Which lady tho was of all the contre. [Thus he and his brother] Bertran ther regned and gouerned welle.

Thes brethren to regned As men fre, [put underfoot all that troubled and annoyed them. We shall speak of them no more.] That by strenght & myght put vnder fote in fe [ 2511] All tho which thaim made trouble or noysance. Off thaim will I reste me here this instance. [ 2513]

TO Melusine shall I retorn Again, [ 2514] [We return to Melusine.] And my mater ayen taken shall bee, how that Raymound hym gouerned certain. Ther full excellently regned he, [Raymond reigned excellently, and all did him homage.] In places fele, in many A contre, [ 2518] By strenght of swerd conquered of corage; For hys noblesse All Barons gan do hym homage.

GAffray with grette toth becam man full grette, [ 2521] [Geoffrey with the great tooth became a full great man;] Ryght myghty, strong, fers, whight, & full pusaunt; In werring A strong werriour ryght fet; ["fet" (?).] Dayly his vertu preuyngly gan haunt. For he conquered Guedon the huge Geaunt, [ 2525] [and conquered and discomfited the giant Guedon,] And by knightly strenght hym ther discomfight, Which Geaunt wasted the contre don ryght, [ 2527]

Every man strongly gan hym to redoute, [ 2528] [for fear of whom all men were taking refuge in Rochelle.] To Rochel toke sauegarde, for all hym drad; he pateysed [MS. "paceyfed."] the contre thorugh-oute, As well in meddes As at endys had. When Geffray understod thes nouelles sprad, [ 2532] [When Geoffrey heard of this, he swore he would go against him] And þat hym called with gret toth tho, He swere hys oth Again hym wold he go; [ 2534]

And in hert thought well hym to discomfight, [ 2535] [Fol. 52] To the swete plesire of kyng of glory [and discomfit him.] Which yeuith all tho that wyll victory ryght. His fader Raymounde full wo and sory, [But his father Raymond was woful and sorry,] For the Geant he doubted heuily, [ 2539]

For that he was so horrible grete; [and in fear for Geoffrey's safety.] Off Geffray in mynde ful huge doubte he get.

GEffray with gret toth Armed hym full preste, [ 2542] [Geoffrey arms, and departs with nine others.] hym-selfenn the tenth went to that partè, Passyng forth hys way without any ryste, [Sic; for "refte."] Here shal I hym leue, no more now said be; Retorn Againe shall to Melusine fre, [ 2546] [I shall return now to Melusine, who had yet two more sons,] The swet, the courtois, the benigne also, Which after thys bare wurthy children to, [ 2548]

Ryght As we find A litterall scripture, [ 2549] On called Fromont, Another Tierry. [one called Fro∣mont, the other Thierry.] For-soth fromont was A good creature, An huge gret clerke ful of clergy, [Fromont was a great clerk, and loved religion,] The Abbey of malers louyd feruently; [ 2553] Callyng to god, louyng relygyon, [so that he wished to become a monk] So that to hym cam of deuocion [ 2555]

IN the said abbey A monke hym yilding. [ 2556] [in the Abbey of Maillezais;] Fro thens departed without resting plain, Vnto hys fader faste he cam rennyng, [and therefore ran to his father, and besought him to consent to his wearing the monk's habit.] A-non hym ther made thys requeste certane, Be-sought the uesture of Malers myght attain, [ 2560] On monke habite A monke hym to make. When Raymound hurd thys, wo was for hir ["his" (?).] sake;

HE merueled gretly, to fromont [MS. "formont."] saing, [ 2563] [Fol. 52 b.] "Fair sone, how is thys? A! good lord hy! [Raymond marvels greatly, and bids him regard Anthony and his other brethren, who are all noble knights.] Wil ye A monke be nedis be-comyng? Reward and behold your brother Anthony, And all your bretherin being full knightly, [ 2567] Which ben so noble knightes to se! Vnto be A monke certes may noght be; [ 2569]

SO god be pleased, monke shall ye noght be. [ 2570] [He ought not to wish for the order of monkhood, but of knighthood.] Another ordre to you yiff I shall, A knyght will you mak of full hye degre As your brethren ben named ryght roiall." Fromont Answered to hys fader all [ 2574] [But Fromont says he would never take on himself this order,] That he neuer wold be in ordre of knight, Neither armes bere, but serue god to ryght, [ 2576]

"Prayng to oure lorde, vnto hys hy empire, [ 2577] For you, my moder, and my bretherin all; Vnto be A mo[n]ke I you here require, [and covets no∣thing so much as to remain in the abbey for ever,] No-thing so moche coueyte ne desire shall As in maillers Abbay be perpetual. [ 2581] That place or cite haue I noght in hate, [and spend all his life there.] For ther wold I use all my lifes fate. [ 2583]

BEsech you and pray, cause me not it refuse; [ 2584] Cherefull fader myne, in you al the hold." Raymounde saw wele herd was it excuse, [Raymond sees it is hard to refuse, and therefore sends a message about it to Melusine,] To Melusine sent A messinger bold Which As for that tyme the beste gan unfolde; [ 2588] Then the messynger gan declare and tel Al that Raymounde had told hir eueridell, [ 2590]

"HOu Fromont A monke of maillers wold be. [ 2591] [Fol. 53] Hastily Raymound sent, for ioy of it had non, To ende that for Fromont ordayn shold she, [to the end that she should make Fromont a claus∣tral monk in the royal abbey of Maillezais.] If pleased wold be, A crowne his hed uppon, And þat claustrall monke he shold be made on [ 2595] In faire maillers, that ministre roiall, That lorde for to serue which is eternall." [ 2597]

The fair Melusine Answerde hym tho; [ 2598] [Melusine sends back an answer that she always submits to her lord's command,] "Off my part ye go, vnto my lord say, At hys plesaunce all ther-of will I doo, Me submitte vnto hys ordinaunce all-way;

At hys plesire be I will, noght say nay; [ 2602] [and will obey gladly.] For whatsomeuer pleasith hys hynes, hit liketh me wel, hou-so he it dresse." [ 2604]

Thens the messinger retorned anon, [ 2605] [The messenger, arriving next morning, finds Raymond ready dressed, and de∣livers Melusine's message.] No lenger sogorne in that place ne wold; Fro thens retornyng vnto Raymonde gōn, A-morn him found Al redy rayd to behold; Al hir answere the messinger hym told. [ 2609] Ful gret ioy of hert in hym gan surmount, Anon Raymounde called after Fromount. [ 2611]

HE saide to Fromont, "thi fader vnderstande; [ 2612] [Raymond tells Fromont that Melusine has left the whole matter at his own disposal,] Sir, for the haue sent thy good moder vnto, Iff it pleased hir For to be know, and Where hir will were monke shold be, or no. Where-of the charge lefte to me hath, lo! [ 2616] With the cure and charge enfeffed hath me. [and he will there∣fore permit him] Wherfor, Fromont, behold And see ye, [ 2618]

Iff nedis ye will take thys said habite [ 2619] [Fol. 53 b.] In mallers Abbay your liffes space; [either to go to the abbey of Maillezais, or to "Merk" minster, or to "Brough∣dieu;"] Or other ministre to your appetite, As in Merkministre, which is A faire place; Or iff ye will at Brough-dieu by grace; [ 2623] In that ye desire A monke for to be, yo may full well in on of thes thre. [ 2625]

FOrsoth if ye will be A Chanon, [ 2626] [or that, if he wished to be a canon, he should be canon of Poitiers and also of Tours in Touraine, and of Saint Martin's,] Of peiters a Chanon certes shal ye be; Enherite ye shall As moche As thre Anon; Toures in tourayn, poscede it shal ye, Seint [MS. "Seing."] Martins with the Graunt esglise in fe; [ 2630] All shall be dōn ryght At my deuyse, And therof do make dedes in best wise, [ 2632]

And of our lady of Chartres also. [ 2633] [and of Chartres also. Or he might go to Paris if he pleased.] yff ye wyll of trouth fro parys noght scape, Be noght Abasshed in it for to goo, With the Pope will be quented for A Iape, That nothyng shal be which me shall escape. [ 2637] [Afterwards he should have a bishoprie, or, if he liked, two,] After A Bisshupriche if it lust to craue, Anot[h]er Bisshupriche Als shal ye haue, [ 2639]

BE it pareys, Bewuais, or Aras." [ 2640] [whether of Paris, Beauvais, or Arras. But Fromont chooses to be simply a monk of Maille∣zais, and nothing else.] Fromont said, "shal I be A Chanon? Nay, nay, but A monke, by our lordes gras, Off Maillers it is myn entencion. Other will I noght off wordly good non [ 2644] Neuer at no day, while lif may endure, For that place haue I chosin to me sure." [ 2646]

Thys Fromont outring hys Fader vnto, [ 2647] [Fol. 54] "Then off goddis part," to hym said Raymounde, [Raymond at last accedes,] "Sin it plesith you, it shal bene ryght soo. And loke that For us your prayers in founte." Fromont Anon Answered that stounde, [ 2651] "yff it please our lord, my power do shall." [and Fromont promises to pray for him.] longer parlement of it nedith noght at all, [ 2653]

The habite he toke, clothed opinly, [ 2654] [He therefore takes the habit,] The monkes ther shewid great gentilnesse; With huge nobley clothed was to ey [and is richly clothed,] For hys fader loue, Raymounde sothlesse; And for Melusine his moders noblesse. [ 2658] All ther hole couent gret ioy made ther ryght, [and gladly wel∣comed by the whole convent.] And him chered in beste wise thei myght. [ 2660]

By processe therof ful ill affter came. [ 2661] [This was the source of all the evils that after∣wards befell the family.] Ther-for wer thei all after disherite By Gaffray with gret toth; After had gret grame,

Which in hert was in full dolorous plite; For therof he had A full gret dispite, [ 2665] [For Geoffrey, in his wrath, set the abbey on fire,] Without tarying to Mallers cam he, hit brende and sett Afire by his cruelte [ 2667]

BOth in the monkes, Abbot, and Abbay; [ 2668] [and burnt there 100 monks on a certain Tuesday,] A hundred monkes within brende he tho. Thys mischefe ther had in A tewisday, For Mars was the god longing bataill to, [the day of Mars the god of battle.] Vail that vail might, the monkys brend so. [ 2672] That don, no lenger ther wold noght sogoūrn, Fro thens he comyng, faste gan to retorn. [ 2674]

Off this here shall leue, speking of melusine. [ 2675] [Fol. 54 b.] At vavuant cite redily she was, [Meanwhile Melusine was at Vouvent city,] To sonne And winde puttyng hir robys fine, Which newly were come by fortunat cas, Neuer Aforn bonde to such seruice bas. [ 2679] Bi that Raymounde was comyn to þe porte, [whither Ray∣mond came to visit her.] And full gladly sette ther to take disporte, [ 2681]

Ther thay saw come forth messingers to, [ 2682] [They see two messengers come, who bring letters from Anthony and Raynold.] Which fele letters brought with breffes many Of Anthony hys part, A pusant man tho, And of Raynold the suffisant kyng hy. To Raymounde thai tuke thes letters hastily, [ 2686] he thaim resceiued And the wax gan breke, [Raymond reads them,] The letters gan rede As humble man and meke.

With a feruent ioy hys hert gan laugh tho, [ 2689] [and laughs for joy, and calls Melusine,] Melusine Anon forth-with gan to call. She hid hir right noght, Anon cam hym to, "Thys letters behald," said he ouerall. "Raymound, I you thanke, my lord principall." [ 2693] [who thanks him, and rejoices with him,] Then vnto Raymound fair Melusine said, "Certes, this goth well at thys houred braid. [ 2695]

I thorughly know all thes nouell tidinges [ 2696] Full good and fair ben vnto vs this hour, Wherof thanke our lord the king of kinges, [and praises the King of kings, who had raised her sons to so high honour.] Which oure sones han put to such honour. Thre [MS. "There."] of tham ben thorugh knightly laboure [ 2700] Kynges full myghty, And on A duke ful hy; yut god be thanked, haue we here full ny [ 2702]

On off our sones monke in An Abbay, [ 2703] [Fol. 55] Which daily for vs besechith god an hy; [She rejoices also to think that one of her sons is in an abbey,] At mallers hath hys byding thys day, Wher god he praith to socour vs truly, And that so myght pray to hys plesance dayly, [ 2707] [and prays God daily to be mindful of them.] That neuer vs haue in obliuion; For assigned hath will our sones echon. [ 2709]

Thay bene well taught, inly wise and sage; [ 2710] [Four of her sons are yet at home:] Foure of tham yut ben with vs here bydyng, Which in thys house ben mery in corage. Oure lord of hys grace so thaim be theching, [but they will want nothing, if God and our Lady Mary aid them.] That hyly thai may in tyme be regning, [ 2714] To that shall thay noght faut no-thyng truly, So god thaim aide and our lady mary!" [ 2716]

The nouell streight Aboute enuironee [ 2717] [The glad news soon spread throughout every city,] And knowen ouerall in eche place and cite; Whereof reioyed euery man to se, Fiftene dais were ny in suche delite, [and a fifteen∣days' feast is held in celebra∣tion of it.] Making ryght gret ioy, biding the same plite, [ 2721] Where-for ther frendes feste wold merily; In continuaunce thought do it hertly. [ 2723]

SO it cam and fill in a scaturday, [ 2724] [It befell on the Saturday, that Raymond lost Melusine, as he had often done before on that day of the week.] That Raymounde loste the fair melusine, [lo!] As at other days don had alway, But noght enquered hou the dede gan goo;

To what place she went, or qwhat she wolde do. [ 2728] yn absence but good neuer she ne thought, But all that to hys plesaunce myght be wrought.

Tho it cam and fill As in that mornyng, [ 2731] [Fol. 55 b.] That hys brother, which tho Erle of foreste was, [But that day, his brother, the Earl of Forest, arrived at Vouvant,] For ther Fader dede long biforn being, At vavuent that day riuage gan purchas. The thyme fair, without wynde hye or bas, [ 2735] [the day being without wind and clear.] The morni[n]g ryght fair shuwyng, inly clere, Raymounde his brother saw com drawing nere;

HE him resceiued uerray brotherly; [ 2738] [Raymond received him brotherly;] But after it cam to gret mischef preste. [MS. "prifte."] Vnto this feste cam Barons full many, [and many barons and ladies came to the feast which was then being held.] Which notable were And ryght ful honeste, Ther welcomyng the Erle of foreste, [ 2742] Als of lades cam grett fusion, Whos comyng was the festes encheson. [ 2744]

Then hym said the Erle of the wild foreste, [ 2745] [Then said the Earl to Raymond, "Bid your wife appear."] "Raymounde, fair brother, now me here entend, lete your wife appere here at thys said feste." Raymounde Answerd, As not wold condissend, "To-morne shall hir se, chere brother And frend;" [But Raymond says she shall ap∣pear the next day.] Anon conueid to sitte att the table, Thys fest plener And ryght delectable. [ 2751]

After Anon As thai dined hade, [ 2752] [After the feast is over for that day,] And fro the table reised up tho were, The Erle of foreste Raymound by hand lad, [the Earl draws Raymond aside,] A litill drawing fro other apart there, Thys gan he to say ther in this manere:— [ 2756]

"Raymounde, fair brother, said is in good feith; [and tells him that the people say he is bewitched,] ye be enchaunted, As the peple seith. [ 2758]

I can noght say how ye may bere the shame. [ 2759] [Fol. 56] Men sayn ouerall, brother, I you say, [and that he is never so hardy as to ask his wife where she goes to on the Saturday;] ye not so hardy (in wreth ne in game) Of your wif enquere, certes, at no day, (Which vnto you is gret diffame Alway), [ 2763] To what place she torn ne hoder wyll go, Or in what manere hir gouerneth, lo! [ 2765]

And what knowen ye what she doth þat day? [ 2766] [also that it is said she is unfaithful to him on that day.] Men sain ouerall, so god my soule saue, That all disording is she All-way; That day hir body Anothir man shall haue, To you trayteresse, other so to craue; [ 2770] And som other sayn she is off the fayry. [He therefore advises him to know the truth,] Go thys day, brother, And know it veryly; [ 2772]

Putteth payn to haue off it knowleching; [ 2773] To go And enquere good is ye do so; For hide shold noght she As fro you no-thing, [because she ought to hide nothing from him.] I say it yow now As my brother vnto, Now do As ye seme beste vnto be do; [ 2777] I beleue she doth you shame And outrage." [Raymond blushes for anger,] Raymound blusshed, changing his corage, [ 2779]

So malice And wroght, wiste noght what to say; For wo And heuinesse full faste swatte he. [and sweats for sorrow.] Anon went thens, hys swerd fet þat day; Full well he knew where his wife made entre; [He seizes his sword, and hur∣ries on till he sees before him a door of iron.] There he faste knakked where he had noght be; [ 2784] There A dore tho perceiued he certain Off yre Aforn hym with hys eyes twain. [ 2786]

IN moche thyng thought, And after thought Anon, [Fol. 56 b.] That hys wife had do som misdede tho, [ 2788] And towardes hym som wrong or treson. Then drawing his swerd the [MS. "ther;" Fr. text, "du fourrel."] scaberge fro, [Drawing his sword from the scabbard, he drove the point against the iron door till he at last pierced it.] The poynt gayn the dore put he ther-vnto, [ 2791] So he shifte And smote here And ther so faste, That the yren dore persed at the laste. [ 2793]

A lase! full ill labored was that day! [ 2794] At the perced hole in beheld with eye [Looking through the hole thus made,] To know what ther was besied faste ay; Certes ouersone know it shal surely, And then in hert gret dole shall haue truely! [ 2798] At the hole beheld, perceyuing full welle [he perceived Melusine bathing,] Melusine, hou she bathed euerydell, [ 2800]

UNto hir nauell shewing ther full white, [ 2801] [her upper part white as snow,] like As is the snow A faire branche vppon, The body welle made, frike in ioly plite, [and her fashion most fair,] The visage pure, fresh, clenly hir person, To properly speke off hir faccion, [ 2805] Neuer non fairer ne more reuerent; [but beneath she had a serpent's tail!] But A taill had beneth of serpent! [ 2807]

Gret And orrible was it verily; [ 2808] [It was great and horrible, barred with blue and silver.] With siluer And Asure the tail burlid was, Strongly the water ther bete, it flasshed hy. When that Raymound perceiued this cas, [Raymond, per∣ceiving this, cried to God,] Which neuer beforn to sight gan purchas [ 2812] In such A state to bath, ther hym blissed faste, Gretly doubted, cried to god in haste, [ 2814]

But noght-for-that so moche of drede had, [ 2815] [Fol. 57] That vnnethes myght outre wurde ne say. [though he could scarcely utter a word. In order to stop the hole, he cut a little piece of cloth,] But to Ende the hole were stopped & faste made, A litell cloute cute he with-out delay.

With wax melled, stopped the hole Alway, [ 2819] [and fastened it in with wax.] That by it myght noght man perceiue no-thyng. Fro thens departed he tho, faste going. [ 2821]

Towarde hys brother thought he to repaire, [ 2822] [He returns to his brother, who, see∣ing him sad, asks him what he has discovered,] Dolorous of hert, full of wrath that stounde. Hys brother the erle knew at hys retrair That he better wo in hertte had profounde, Trowing uerily that his wif had found. [ 2826] "your wife, had she don gain you As men said, [and where he had found her.] In som dishoneste place where he ["she" (?).] shold no braid?"

Then Raymounde gan speke with vois full hautain, [Raymond tells him he lies in his throat and in his teeth, and bids him depart;] And hym said, "therof ye lye vntrewly, By your fals throte And youre teeth plain! In An ill houre here ye entred in surely; Fro my hous ye goo with [y]our felony; [ 2833] Off my lady no more [MS. "nomore."] speke ye for shame, [for that his lady is pure.] Sche is pure And clene Als without diffame. [ 2835]

A more wurthier woman is ther non, [ 2836] ye haue made me do such A manere thyng Torn̄ contrary will Again my person. A-non part here; hens, foule rebaude being, [He tells him that, unless he departs, he will slay him; and that he ad∣vises him to go at once.] For, by my feith, full litill is failling [ 2840] That presently here that I you not sle; Forth depart you hens, by concell of me. [ 2842]

Cursed be the hour that euer heder came, [ 2843] [Fol. 57 b.] And that tho wurdes saide were Any wise! [He curses the hour in which his brother came, and seems all witless.] Neuer toward me retorn noght for shame!" Raymounde semede all witlese to deuise, All merueled that gan it aduertise, [MS. "aduersite," a curious inversion.] [ 2847]

That to his brother so spake and saide. [The Earl, sore amazed,] The Erle, Abasshed And foule dismaide, [ 2849]

There thens retournyng in-to his contre, [ 2850] [departs home cursing the hour in which he thus spoke out.] Full often crussing [Sic in MS.] the hour and the day That thes wordes scapid or mouthed he. hys brother perceued he haue shold ne may Neuer pees ne lufe for this gret affray; [ 2854] [He laments bitterly that he has made Ray∣mond so wroth.] More neuer ne ["he" (?).] was woer at no stounde Then off that he hade wrethed so Raymounde.

HE stroied And made exile the contre; [ 2857] [Afterwards Geoffrey came, and slew the Earl,] For when Gaffray with gret toth it knew, Ryght deliuerly ther Ariued he, Sette it Afire, the Erle gan sle ther trew Full vilously with huge shame to vew; [ 2861] [and gave away the country he thus gained to one of his brothers.] After the contre yaffe of the Foreste To on hys brother, so gete by conqueste; [ 2863]

Off the foreste Erle made hym entirely. [ 2864] Off Gaffray with gret toth leue shall now present, And retorn I shall to Raymounde fully, [But to return to Raymond.] Which with heuinesse sore hym doth torment. He wepte, he wailed, wofully lament; [ 2868] [He wept and wailed, and waxed pale, having no end of his grief.] Wonder pale he waxe, wanting his colour, For ende hade he none of this grett doloure. [ 2870]

"Alas! alas!" thys ther saide Raymounde, [ 2871] [Fol. 58] "A more purer man in the wordle ne is ['Alas!" he cried, "there is no poorer man on earth than I am!] Off verray trought then I am this stounde! Alas! Melusine! this day haue don̄ Amys, [Alas! Melusine! I have lost you!] That by my diffaute you haue I loste this!" [ 2875] (For sorow therof so quaked and swat), "Alas! shall I you leue, loue delicat, [ 2877]

MI swet hert, my good, my loue, And my life? [ 2878] By the, full dolorous fortune, Now shall I lese my ioyous thoughtes pensif, [Now shall I lose my joyous thoughts, and cast myself into some pit.] Which me hast made such As I contune. I shal, lo! caste me in som pitty hume. [ 2882] What shal I now doo, lord god glorius? [Never shall I laugh again!"] Neuer shal I lagh, [Sic in MS.] neither be ioyous [ 2884]

With that swete lady whom I loued so. [ 2885] She was my solas, my ioy in ech stede, My plesaunce, my comfort, my delite to!" [Concluding his lament, he un∣dresses and goes to bed; but can∣not sleep.] Ther hym dispoilled, entring in his bed; But slepe myght he noght when that he was led; he sighed, soghed, wepte with teres many, [He sighs, and cries,] "lord, wat shal I doo, lord?" said, "lete me dy!

HA! swet Melusine, yf I you this lese, [ 2892] ["Ha! Melusine, if I lose thee, I shall go to some desert place.] I shall go vnto som desert Cite, hermite or recluse become, god to plese, yn som forain place where non enchabite. [Sic in MS.] ha! Melusine, my hertes Appetite, [ 2896] [Ha! Melusine! that I should thus lose you!"] Fair lady, my hert, my loue, my plesaunce, That you this shold lese by such ill mischaunce!"

The hier off his hede tere of with gret pine, [ 2899] [Fol. 58 b.] With fist his brest smote, heuily gan mourn, [He tears the hair off his head, smites his breast, and wails.] Full ofte wailled, by-weping Melusine; In his bede turny[n]g, And efte gan retorn, In on estat ne myght he noght sogourn; [ 2903] here on bakke laide, efte the bely vppon, [He turns from side to side on the bed.] Torning And wendyng euer enuiron. [ 2905]

Then in-to chambre Melusine made entre; [ 2906] [Melusine then returns, un∣dresses, and lies beside him.] When she was comyng, forth-with Anon Swetly all naked hir dispoilled she, Courteisly she went ther the bede vppon,

With Raymounde she lay in conclusion; [ 2910] [She embraces him, and finds his neck cold,] She enbrasing hym, collyng amouresly, Fynding his nekked cold with all the body [ 2912]

A cause that he was All uncouered tho, [ 2913] [as he was all uncovered.] And that by greuous beting And turnyng, Full ill was he raid, plonged sor in wo. In base wise Melusine ther hym sayng, [Softly she whispers to him, "Are you feeling anguish?] "Dolour or anguish be ye ought feling? [ 2917] An ouer pale colour haue ye to eye; Me say ye the trought, besech you hertly. [ 2919] [Tell me the truth, I pray.]

Alas! Am I noght your loue eueridell? [ 2920] [Am I not your love? tell me all.] Fro me shold ye noght hide no maner thing. Say me how it is, hele you shal I welle, For no wordly thyng not your-selfe hyndryng. Confesse ye me if Any il be feling, [ 2924] [Confess if you feel any ill, and I will cure you."] Delyuer you shall A-non openly, All hole shall ye be here now presently." [ 2926]

When Raymound tho wourdes with eres gan here, [Fol. 59] Reioyed merely, thought no-thyng she knew [Hearing this, he rejoices, thinking she knows no∣thing.] Off all that dede which had do entire; yut knew she it wel, thow noght said of-new, [Yet she knew all, but would not speak of it, seeing his repentance.] For he discouered noght (but kepe it trew) [ 2931] The dede vnto no person that instaunce, And that therof he had uerray repentaunce [ 2933]

A hundred tymes more then I can say. [ 2934] Raymound hir said, "gret hete haue I had [Raymond says, "I have felt great heat:] In maner of continuaunce alway. Now is this brennyng whereof Am Adred [and now the fever has changed to a shivering."] Torned and changed, into coldnesse lad." [ 2938] "helth shall ye purchas," unto hym said she; "Stoned ne basshed of no thyng be ye." [ 2940]

She embrased hym And swetly gan kisse, [ 2941] [She embraces and kisses him, and he feels at ease.] Where-with Raymound approached gret ease.

long tyme he regned in such state of blisse, And such lif gan led, ech other gan please. Off ther beyng here will I leue and cease, [ 2945] [I must now leave them.] To declare and say make me will redy, As of my samplere to procede plainly. [ 2947]

Then this to my mater here retourne I. [ 2948] Gaffray with long toth gouerned hym so, [Geoffrey goes to Guerrand to seek the giant,] That to Guerrande [MS. "Gueruande."] Gaffray faste gan to hy, Demaundyng the way the Geant vnto Where he myght be founde, to fight with hym wold go; [ 2952] The Roche perceiued myghty and pusant, [and at last sees the rock whereon his castle is built.] Wherto repaired thys cruel Geant, [ 2954]

CAlled Guedon, [MS. "Suedon;" see l. 3011.] that so orgulous was, [ 2955] [Fol. 59 b.] Gret, thikke, longe, stronge, meruelous to se. [Geoffrey alights, arms himself, and again mounts,] Gaffray fro his hors discended apas, Armed hym A-non, lenger bode not he. When Armed he was, to hors lepe a-ye, [ 2959] The geant doubted noght, A staf toke of stile, [making fast to his saddle-bow a steel mace.] Which at hys arson made faste for A-whyle. [ 2961]

And sin After sesid his shild and shoke, [ 2962] [He takes also his shield and his iron spear, and leaves his men,] Which besides it had shildes many. After his spere of sharpe yren toke, Sauyng goddys grace, gret thyng toke surely. hys men commaunded vnto god an hy. [ 2966] [commending them to God on high.] But for thare master wepte thay in þat place; Thay trowed neuer se hym in liffes space. [ 2968]

GEffray thaim said, "stil you, noght dismay; [ 2969] [He bids them farewell, and departs alone,] I beleue I shal this Geaunt discomfight By aid of god And hys moder this day." Anon than Geffray parted fro thaim ryght, Adieu tho thaim said, thens went Alone to fyght.

The Roche passed he, goyng vp Anon [ascending the mount to reach the castle.] Vnto the castell, sette the mount vppon. [ 2975]

Unto the brigge cam, with shil uois gan cry, [ 2976] [He waits at the drawbridge, and in a shrill voice defies the giant.] "Where Art thou, fals traytour, where Art thow? To deth shalt thou be cast by me truly, Which in my contre And in my lande now So long were haste had; to god I A-uow, [ 2980] Neuer here-hens shal I depert no day Till uenquished or dede haue the I may." [ 2982]

On A donIon hid was this huge Geaunt, [ 2983] [Fol. 60] In the Galaries being ther with-in, [The giant, hear∣ing him, rises and puts out his head,] The uois hurd of hym noble and pusaunt, hastily Anon vp rising gan to win; his hede put he out, uisage large and chin, [ 2987] [showing his visage and his chin.] (Which was All so gret As A bole his hede), Gaffray with gret toth be-held hym in-ded; [ 2989]

HOrrible gret was, A forwoxen grome, [ 2990] [The giant thinks himself sorely disgraced that a single man should wish to fight him,] Such Another neuer had he sain; Which his goddis swere that full hym come Sore uilloined gan hym hold certain, When a soule man lust with hym were plain, [ 2994] And into hys hous to seke hym comyng. [and at once arms himself,] lightly hym armed, Anon discendyng; [ 2996]

A Fauchon of stele went he unto take, [ 2997] [taking a falchion of steel, three flails of iron, and three great sledge-hammers.] Well grounde or whet, but tendre was it noght; After flaelles thre [MS. "ther;" Fr. text, trois.] of yre toke for hys sake, In hys bosom put thre gret slegges wrought; The bridge Aualed, to issue out thought. [ 3001] [He lowers the draw-bridge, and issues out.] Ful gret and large was formed of body; When in his being mustred unto ey, [ 3003]

Fiftene fote long this Geaunt was expresse: [ 3004] [He is fifteen feet long;] And when Gaffray nehed hym in-dede, Strongly merueled of his huge gretnesse, But yut for all that of hym noght gan drede, [yet Geoffrey fears him not, but defies him boldly.] Neither fere had for gretnesse, lenght, ne brede, [ 3008] But that Anon diffied hym boldly, And towarde thys Geaunt drew hym lightly. [ 3010]

"What art thou?" said Guedon, "trusse hens," [Fol. 60 b.] said he. ["Who art thou?" asks Guedon.] Hym he answered, "sir," said without blame, "Gaffray with long toth so men callyn me; ["I am Geoffrey with the long tooth."] At no day ne hour neuer hid my name; Thine [MS. "Thime."] hed come to haue, diffende þe for shame!" "Caytiff," said [MS. "And."] Guedon, "wat caste thou to do? ["Wretch," says Guedon, "I will slay thee with one sole stroke.] The will sle [MS. "she."] Anon with o soule stroke or to; [ 3017]

HEns ye now retorn, my fair sone," he saide, [ 3018] [I pity you," says Guedon, "and advise you, as a friend, to depart."] "Off the in my hert renneth gret pite, your yongly person seing at this braide, And that ye er or ["ar of" (?).] gret habilite; Gaffray, go hens of frendlyhede," said he. [ 3022] hym Answered he, "foly, is no nay; [But Geoffrey bids him rather pity his own life,] haue thou pite non but of thi life this day, [ 3024]

FOr withoute diffaute she shall ende Anon. [ 3025] [which should soon end, as he cannot escape.] Fro keruing of my swerd here now diffend the; In mortall deth dye shall here thi person; Escape maiste thou noght in no wyse fro me." Thys Geaunt noght told of hym in no degre, [ 3029] Gaffray cam faste contring the Geaunt then, [Geoffrey advances to the encounter,] As moche And As faste As hys courser myght ren.

Now god hym socour! in breste ther hym sett, [ 3032] [and overthrows the giant.] Thys cruel Geant A fers stroke yaff he; By hys wurthinesse so gan do and bette, Without any demage he caste don to se. All astoned of that aduersite, [ 3036] [The giant, as∣tonished, rises up, and tells him his stroke shall be repaid.] Thys Geaunt rosse vp; "hast thou noght," he said, "Take me such offering, it yild shall be this braide." [ 3038]

On fote hopte he up, malice and wroth was [ 3039] [Fol. 61] That don to grounde so caste in that Ile [Being wrath at having been thus struck down by a single blow,] By a soule stroke of knyghtly manace. Then he in hand toke hys fauchon of stile; [he seizes his steel falchion,] As Gaffray wold torn, sogernyng no whyle, [ 3043] The fauchon of stele, the Geant in hand, [and cuts the legs off Geof∣frey's horse.] Off Gaffray curser the legges trenchand. [ 3045]

The courser fill don, fro, hors lepte [MS. "lepete;" but see l. 3070.] Gaffray, [ 3046] [The horse falls, Geoffrey leaps off,] No-thyng hym lette, Fro scaberge his swerd drew; To the giant went with raundon gret that day, The sinistre Arme smote he vppon trew, [and at a blow nearly severs the giant's left arm.] Ryght As belonged to knightly uertew, [ 3050] hys fauchon he made to fall the hand fro, That neuer After ned had non ther-to; [ 3052]

FOr Gaffray such stroke sette, he failled noght; [ 3053] [But Guedon, to end the fight, deals Geoffrey a blow on the helm with his flail,] In the hanche sour hurt greuously he was, But to hym Guedon Approched ny, thought So that mortall were ther hym gan purchas, his flael ther toke myghtly A-place, [ 3057] To Gaffray therof gaf on the helme hy, [which almost fells him.] All Astoned Almoste At ground truly. [ 3059]

Into his scaberge the swerde put Gaffray, [ 3060] [Geoffrey runs and fetches his steel mace,] To his courser ran, his staffe ther takyng,

To thys Geant caste A huge stroke that day, [and with it strikes the giant so that he stum∣bles and drops the flail.] Stager And stomble made with hys sore striking; hys Flael fro hand caused ther fleing. [ 3064] On off hys [s]legges [MS. has "legges," a notable blunder.] Guedon [MS. "Gouedon."] toke in haste, [Guedon seizes a sledge-hammer,] To Gaffray wightly And sharply it caste, [ 3066]

With the said stroke cast of myghty vertew [ 3067] [Fol. 61 b.] Off Gaffray the stafe or axe gan attain, [and with it knocks Geoffrey's mace out of his hand,] Fro hys handes made to fle and remew. This Giant lepte forth, the stafe toke certain; [and then picks it up.] To Gaffray noght had twixste hys handes twain, But Gaffray his swerd gan to draw Anon, [Geoffrey draws his sword,] And vppon the Arme it sett of Guedon; [MS. "Suedon."] [ 3073]

And so huge A stroke geuyng hym was tho, [ 3074] That quite clene the arme share off throughtly. [and shears Gue∣don's arm com∣pletely off.] Gaffray full manlly ther Auenged so Off Guedon [MS. "Gouedon."] the Giant strong and myghty, Where Arme, stafe, or Axe, done fill hym ryght ny. [Down fall all his weapons.] Where-thorught for wo the saide Geant suatte, For Anguissh And sorow lefte his Arme & bede. [Indistinct.]

Full moche the Geant was Astoned tho, [ 3081] When off hys Armes on had loste of-new; haused his swerd, trowing Gaffray smitte to; [The giant strikes at Geoffrey with his sword, but he slips aside, and with a mar∣vellous stroke cuts his foe's thigh right in two.] But the stroke uoided And somwat withdrow, A litell blenched enmyddes the medew, [ 3085] Vppon his legge smote with swerde wonderly, A meruelous stroke gaffe, Ato carf [MS. "craf;" but see l. 3092.] hys thy. [ 3087]

This Giant fill, crying his goddis aide; [ 3088] [The giant falls. Geoffrey cleaves his head to the teeth,] Gaffray A stroke gaffe tho his sculle vppon, he offeryng so, the helme rent And foulle raide,

The helme cutte And rent till the teth Adon; The swerde so cuttyng, the hede carf Anon. [ 3092] After that hys horne sarisin toke he, [and, seizing his Saracen horn, blows it loudly.] hyly it blowyng times to or thre. [ 3094]

HIs peple the sounde full wel vnderstode, [ 3095] [Fol. 62] To hym hied, taried noght certain; [Geoffrey's men come up, and find the giant slain.] Enmyddes the medew founde where he stode, Thys cruell Geaunt which þat he had slain. When this meruelous Geant ther was sain, [ 3099] Off his faccion Astoned thay were, [They marvel at his length and breadth.] hys lenght, his brede was so ouermette there. [ 3101]

TO Gaffray the lordes toke vnto say, [ 3102] [The lords com∣pliment Geoffrey highly,] "Off this Geaunt huge misgouernaunce ye vnto thys man meued were thys day, As hym to uenquish thoght in remembraunce, Thys enemy discomfite this instaunce; [ 3106] Truly ye haue don̄ An inly good ded." [and tell him he has done "an inly good deed."] Gaffray Answered ther, "faire lordes," sed, [ 3108]

"Hit us behouid, were it wrong or ryght; [ 3109] [Geoffrey says he has but done his duty.] For it putt abake I ne myght, parde; My lif to diffend I shold, yff I myght; And so haue I done, our lord preised be, hym conquered haue here As ye may see." [ 3113] They entred there, to castell gan repare, [They enter the castle, which is well built and fair.] Which was well billed to sight, And full faire.

MEn all this knew thorugh that region, [ 3116] For-why shold we then speke therof more? [Huge joy is made both by small and great,] huge ioy and solas therof made and don, Bothe tho gret and small gret ioy made therffor, That the Geant was by Gaffray don bore, [ 3120] [because the giant was discomfited and stone-dead.] So discomfite, standede, And all cold; hug[e] ioy and gladnesse in contre tho hold. [ 3122]

Off this lande made lorde he by this uiage, [ 3123] [Fol. 62 b.] Wherby manly had ended the werre tho. [Geoffrey is made lord of that country.] Ther-thens to uavuent A man sent in message, Which full courtois was, inly wise also; Thys said messinger Raymounde said unto, [ 3127] [A messenger tells the news to Ray∣mond,] That by Gaffray the Giant fers and bold Was descomfite and put to deth, he told. [ 3129]

RAymounde laughed tho, hym preising faste there. [who laughs; and Melusine gives the messenger a rich gift.] Melusine without othir tarying Made right good chere vnto the messinger; When hym chered had with all maner thyng, [ 3133] A ryche gifte hym gaffe; Raymounde tho writyng, [He next takes paper and wax to his secretary, and dictates a letter,] Peper And wexe toke to hys secretory, Anon A letter conceued hastily, [ 3136]

The tenure of which was well deuysed; [ 3137] [which he seals and sends to Geof∣frey in Guerrand,] By Raymounde seled were thai in þat place; So forth send by Raymounde, so auised, Vnto Gaffray which in Guerrande tho wace, "hou that Fromount his uesture gan purchace [ 3141] [telling him how Fromont had be∣come a monk in the abbey of Maillezais,] At Maillers, And ther resceiued gan say, And that A monke was in that saide Abbay; [ 3143]

Where that he wold use All his liffes space, [ 3144] [where he would spend his life in prayer for his friends.] And for his frendes pray to god An hy, For that it was an inly deuout place." Alas! thes letters il hour wrought truly, [Alas! this letter was written in an evil hour, for thereby did Raymond lose Melusine!] For thai torned to the contrary. [ 3148] He therthorugh loste the fair Melusine, Whom that he loued with parfite loue fine. [Here follows the catchword—"Now shall we leue at þis time."] [ 3150]

NOw shall we leue at thys tyme the lyffe [ 3151] [Fol. 63] Of Raymounde the swete And courtois only, [I shall leave the life of Raymond and Melusine,]

Of Melusine als hys ful noble wyfe, Which at þat hour was A woman worthy. Of Gaffray with gret toth declare shal I; [ 3155] [and speak of Geoffrey, who was now in Guerrand country,] After thys I shall you outre and say; In Guerrande contre tho was Gaffray, [ 3157]

All the contre hym fested roially [ 3158] [where he was royally feasted for killing the giant.] For thys Geant sake that he distroid there: Gret ioy ther had of peple ful many. With that cam to hym ther A messengere, [While he was there, came a messenger from Norbeland to him, and having found him] To gaffray comyng in humble manere, [ 3162] Fro Norbelande After Gaffray demaunding Where þat he was; many him shewing, [ 3164]

To Gaffray presented thes letters there. [ 3165] [and presented his letters, he proceeds to tell of a giant who had come to Norbeland,] "My lord," he said, "for goddys hy mercy, That it myght you ples me vnderstande here. Vnto Norbeland is comyn truly A man more gretter then other Any, [ 3169] Which is A Geaunt, wonder meruelous, [savage, cruel, and dangerous,] Ouerthwart cruel and ryght perilous; [ 3171]

He hath brought were [on] all our contre. [ 3172] [and had brought war on all the country.] Wherfor I am come to seke you thys hour, Here requeryng you for all loue may be, [He begs Geoffrey to help them speedily, as the nobles of the land have great trust in his might.] ye of Gentillesse wold be ther socour; Tho of contre, the lordes of honore, [ 3176] In your person haue ryght gret affiaunce, Wilnyng you to come hastly thys instaunce. [ 3178]

So that ouer-lang ye mow noght tary; [ 3179] [Fol. 63 b.] For you will thai yild all the hole contre, [Urging him he adds that all the country will be given up to him, as he may see from the letters.] Ther landes to hold of your estate hy. For sothe your letters, if opened be, ye may wel know the trouth And ueryte. [ 3183] Thay haue caste ther loote certes you vppon, [The people trust wholly to him to destroy the giant.] Off thys strong Geaunt cause distruccion." [ 3185]

GEffray the letters After breke and rayd, [ 3186] [On reading the letters, Geoffrey swears that he will go,—] Fro [MS. "For." Fr. text, "de mot en mot."] wurde unto wurd, And sithen hym said, "Messinger, trouth is, no ly on you had; By the holy crosse swere I you this braid, [but it is not for lands or posses∣sions, but for the sake of helping the people,] That men cal Geffray with long toth displaid [ 3190] hens wold noght remeue for lande ne hauour, But for the contre only to socour. [ 3192]

FOr off the peple haue I gret pitte, [ 3193] [on whom he has pity, because he has great zeal for Christianity.] For the good zele haue to cristine entyre, Wherin I haue grette affinite: Als honour And worship to acquire. [Also he would win honour; therefore he pre∣pares at once.] Off me the werre the Giaunt doth desire, [ 3197] Anon shall I go hym Assail quikly." To thys forth-progresse Geffray made redy. [ 3199]

A messynger the men tyme gan discend [ 3200] [Meanwhile a messenger from his father brings him letters to tell him that his brother has be∣come a monk, at which he is angry and sad.] Off hys fader part, forth-with hym taking The letters, al which that he hym send. Geffray thaim rad, And when he was knowing That his brother was A monke hym yilding, [ 3204] leuer had hym be honged were As thef; Wherof to hert had dole of gret myschef: [ 3206]

HOu-were-it that ioy of hys fader had, [ 3207] [Fol. 64] And of Melusine his moders welfaire, [He was pleased to have good news of his father and mother,] Thay were hole and sounde, of þat was he glad. When of hys brother Fromont hurd declare, [ 3210] [but he lost his wits at the dis∣grace of Fromont being a monk, and he grew as red as vermilion.] That he monke was shorn, dole had And gret care; Off the dispite hys witte gon And loste, Vermail rede As blode, with wreth tende hys goste; [ 3213]

Off malice And wreth had in his body [ 3214] [Foaming like a swine with rage, he made all afraid who came near him.] he uomed And swatte, A swine resembling; Neuer man non hym beheld ueryly But of huge drede ther he were tremblyng.

"Ther tho ill," he sayd, "thys lechorus being, [ 3218] [Then in his passion he ex∣claims, "These vile monks] Thes fals monkes, which full uicious be, Thay haue now, by the holy trynite, [ 3220]

My brother Fromont haue enchanted sure, [ 3221] [have surely enchanted my brother, to make him turn monk and have a shaven crown. But they shall suffer for it. The errand into Northumberland must be put off a while.] A monke haue hym made, certes, in ther town. To thaim might yut come som misauenture: hym haue thay shorn and made to bere A crown; In shall tham put into gret mischef down. [ 3225] Of this other erande bide Awhile will I; Thys monkes will se, long er that I dy. [ 3227]

FErre of shall noght be or to that place go, [ 3228] [I will go at once and burn up all these monks together."] Thaim shall I brenne to-geders in A fire." Tho messengers of norbelande said to: "you commaunde al abide me here entire, [He bids the messengers from Northumberland await his return, when he will go with them as he promised.] For shortly with you go wil at desire, [ 3232] That cruell Geaunt As to discomfight, So shall it be don As graunted haue ryght." [ 3234]

Thai, which durst noght with-say hys hy renon, [ 3235] [Fol. 64 b.] hym Answered: "we will, lord honourous, [They promise to guard his house in his absence, and to wait till his return.] Sin it plesith you, it is good reson: In your absence, schall warde and kepe þis hous, Without departing, to be laborous [ 3239] Till the tyme approche A-gane you shal se." [He sends them away without further parley,] Geffray answered: "wele saide here haue ye;

GO forth," said he, "with-out sayng-Again." [ 3242] To hys peple said, "vnto hors ye goo; [and summoning his people, rides with all speed till he reaches Maillezais Abbey on a Tuesday.] I shall nothyng spare ualey ne montain, Till that I come Maillers Abbay vnto." Then Geffray hym put forth on hys way tho, [ 3246] Thys fers, cruell, hardy, the Tewisday, So rode that he ryued at the Abbay. [ 3248]

The monkes were in their chapitre-hous, [ 3249] [He finds the monks in the chapter-house.] And Geffray Anon entred ther within: When thes monkes knew thys man honorous, To ryn him Again Alfaste gan begin, As wel gret As small towar[d] hym gan wyn, [ 3253] All the hole couent ther hym saluting, [They are de∣lighted at his coming.] Full gret ioy thay had As of hys comyng. [ 3255]

Then to the abbot, which that balled was, [ 3256] [But roughly and angrily he de∣mands of the Lord Abbot why they have so foolishly made his brother leave chivalry and turn monk.] hath Gaffray spokyn rude and bustesly, As A man chaufed [MS. "chamfed. Fr. text, "eschauffez."] with yerfull manace. "Ha! dan Abbot," toke hym to say an hy, "Abbot, forwhy haue ye made folyly [ 3260] My brother A monke in thys said Abbay To leue chiualry, takyng your ordre Ay? [ 3262]

IN good feith, full is mused and thought, [ 3263] [Fol. 65] For your mortall deth ye tho gan purchace: [He threatens them all with death,] ye schal dy for your wykkydnesse wrought, Both ye And all your couent in thys place." [ 3266] Then sore he grint And strayined his teeth apace. [and grinding his teeth savagely, puts them into great dread.] All tho which were the Abbay within Thai had gret drede, seing hym so begin. [ 3269]

Thes monkes wepte, And sighed ful sore there [ 3270] [They weep and sigh for fear,] Of the fereful drede which that time thai had. Then dan Abbot of the hous gan answere, [and the Lord Abbot declares it has all been done of Fromont's own free will.] "Sir, by me noght was it forth broght ne lad; By hym-selfen was it, trow I shall ful sad; [ 3274] he so meued with good deuocion As Entre into this religion. [ 3276]

HEre Fromont may se ye, lo! personally, [ 3277] [He may see Fromont, who, coming to his brother,] yff it like or please you hym demaunde, lo!" Fromont thys hym said, "brother, verily

By non is it wrought, but by my-selfe do: [bears out the Abbot's account, and adds that he will be nothing but a monk.] A monke for to be, Am, And shall be to; [ 3281] Wher within for you to our lord shal pray, To other dedes attende wil no day, [ 3283]

But only to god, to whom I am yild. [ 3284] [His father and mother, he says, had consented,] hit pleased my fader, to hym acceptiff, And to Melusine, my good moder milde: Full gladly thay wold I shold use my life [and were glad that he should enter on this life, that they all might benefit by his prayers.] here As for to pray our lord celestif [ 3288] For thaim and for you in especiall, That in paradise he vs do put all." [ 3290]

GEffray vnderstode Almoste in wode rage, [ 3291] [Fol. 65 b.] Thaken ["Taken." Fr. text, "Esprins."] with A meruelous corage tho, [Geoffrey, almost mad with rage, replied to him sadly.] Moche ther resceiued to hym delefull langage. Fro-thens deperted, the dores after drew to, [Then departing, shut the doors, and savagely orders fuel to be collected,] All tho within closid and shitte also, [ 3295] After send to fecche, of ferosite, Straw And berres ["breres" (?) Fr. "busche."] wonder gret plente. [ 3297]

TO all ilnesse do lust had and talent, [ 3298] Thys bruschet made put in-to on hepe, [which he has piled about the Abbey,] What cause eche merueled, in ther entent. Fire hath he taken and put in therto; [and then sets it all on fire.] That in litell while se shold not man, lo! [ 3302] For the smoky fume smortherting so was, The Abbay it toke, sore gan it enbras. [ 3304]

The fire so kindled thorugh all certainly, [ 3305] The monkes all betrapped and forshend, That neuer on soule [MS. "foule."] scaped outwardly. [The Abbey, the Abbot, and a hundred monks, are consumed.] The Abbot And A hunderd monkes brend On tew[i]sday, by fortune, so ther end: [ 3309]

All that ther within wasted to huge grame, To gret sorow And wo, vnto full huge shame;

And als the moste parte of thys said abbay [ 3312] [Most of the building is de∣stroyed,] By hym stroied, bruled and scorched tho: Ther not lefte ne bode o soule man that [MS. "thai."] day, [and not one soul escaped.] Thorughly brende it was to gret shame and wo. When better remembred [MS. "remenbred."] hys diffaute, lo! [ 3316] [Geoffrey, on coming to him∣self, laments what he has done,] With shill voce cried þat time hautaynly, "Alas, caitife!" saide, "don̄ haste folily, [ 3318]

Which thys minstre undo and so brend." [ 3319] [Fol. 66] his brother ofte bement dede so, noght in graue; [the burning of the minster, and his brother unburied, and the Abbot.] After the Abbot And all the couent. Foltish he was, For tho thaim might not haue, Neuer for golde ne for hauour craue. [ 3323] [For there was no getting them back again.] he thaim complained And waymented sore, Off pite sighed, lamenting euermore. [ 3325]

Fro-thens departed, on his coursere lepte, [ 3326] [Leaving Mail∣lezais, he rode hard, thinking much of his good religious brother;] He right noght sparyng ualey ne montayn, In paynfull wo was, musing thoughtes kepte, Of his brother brende sore hym gan complain; So god ["good" (?).] religious As he was certain. [ 3330] Then to hym-selfe said; "fair god lord an hy, [and then up∣braids himself,] What may me become or what do shall I? [ 3332]

NE to what ende come, certes, know ne may [ 3333] [that he is more worthy of damna∣tion than any man,] Neuer man born fro Adam to thys hour Ne war so well wurth to be dampned ay! Wel shewith I am An ill fals traitour, [even than Judas Iscariot,] I here more wurse then Iudas the synnour. [ 3337] Neuer shall I see, visage to visage, [and shall be shut out of God's sight.] Off god our Fader semyng in corage. [ 3339]

MOrtall deth, now com bering me away!" [ 3340] [He prays for death.] Such discomforth had Gaffray in corage. Forsoth so rode An easy pace that day, That to Guerrande came forth so in viage, [In this sorry frame he reaches Guerrande, and finds the messenger wait∣ing for him.] Full malice And wrogh[t] of thys huge damage [ 3344] Which that tyme had don, And sore gan com∣plain. The messingere lefte contred hym Again: [ 3346]

When Geffray hym saw, in hert was full glade; [ 3347] [Fol. 66 b.] Fro-thens departyd vnto vnderstande. [Geoffrey is pleased to see him,] Of no creature demaund leue ne had. he ther-thens wende towarde norbelande, [and goes at once,] Where-hens the messinger of the saide lande [ 3351] Which to Gaffray cam requiring hym then: [taking but ten retainers.] And off his maynee had he but ten. [ 3353]

HE thought he wold noght ouer slow to be: [ 3354] Anon As he Approched the port there, [He was feasted by the people before he went on board.] Men hym made gret feste or shippe made entre; [MS. "entire."] And off the contre the said messynger, [ 3357] Which condute this knight the way and manere. The saill reised vp, the winde softe gan blow, [With a fair wind he sets out at once on his voyage.] Anon disancred the shippe in a throw; [ 3360]

The maryner thaim put in-to the se, [ 3361] [The people bless them as they start,] And at departson thaim blessed all tho. The winde was good, the shippe welle sailled sche, [and with a fair wind and good ship they go on their way.] In a litill while ferre passed And goo, A kennyng thaim was but A Jape vnto. [ 3365] Ryght thus of Gaffray shall rest and still me, [I shall now leave Geoffrey and speak of Raymond.] And declare And speke of Raymounde the fre.

RAymounde at vauuent lad a mery [MS. "amery."] lif; [ 3368] [He was living merrily at Vou∣vant with his wife, Melusine.] Wher hym gan to hold, As long As he myght,

With fayre Melusine hys full noble wyffe. Thys gentill Raymonde was A courtois knyght. At vauuent were both, os [For as; see Glossary.] reson was and ryght. [ 3372] Anon had thay full dolorous noysaunce; [At dinner one day a great piece of ill news is brought them.] As at diner sate, at ther own̄ plesaunce, [ 3374]

A ferrom thai saw com A messingere, [ 3375] [Fol. 67] Which in humble wise thaim were saluting; [Afar off they saw a messenger, who humbly saluted them; but in doubt about how to give his message, he changes colour.] But hys colour changed sodainly there, For thys cause that he the dede was doubting Of that message behofull hym doing. [ 3379] And Raymound to hym tho ther said anon: [Raymond bids him welcome.] "Gentill messingere, welcom to vs echon." [ 3381]

Off noueles Anon gan hym to enquere; [ 3382] [They inquire his news.] Where-hens he cam; And fro what place þat day. (Alas! outre moste noueles in strange manere, [(Alas! I must utter strange news, for which I am sad, for the message is right naught,] Tham vnto declare wo is me alway; For such tydinges And nouels shall say [ 3386] Which ben full ill, ryght noght, full of yre, And ryght hiduous, Any man to hyre. [ 3388]

Where-thorugh Raymounde shall lese the company [owing to which Raymond shall lose his wife's company.)] Off faire Melusine, fro that for all-wais, Neuer after with hys wife be truly: Where she no point had off diffame no dais.) Then the messinger spake with-out delais, [ 3393] "Sir, vnderstande, my wordes and entent [Then he tells them] To say behouith, wherof Am dolent; [ 3395]

On of youre children take hath mortall." [ 3396] [that one of their children, Fro∣mont, is dead,] "Which is he?" said Raymounde: "sir, Fromont it is." "hou is he dede? good sir, say me all.

Is noght the body bered of hys? [and Raymond asks if he is interred in our Lady's Abbey at Maillezais.] On his soule mercy the lord do of blis! [ 3400] Entered in churche is of our lady In Abbay off Maillers full sollemply." [ 3402]

Thys messinger said with shill vois hautain, [ 3403] [Fol. 67 b.] "That blissed man neuer had sepulture; [But the mes∣senger replies that Fromont had not been buried,] Wilbelouid sir, this you say sertain, Aforn all will declare the Auenture, hou Gaffray hym put to shameuous oppressure, [ 3407] [but burnt by Geoffrey in the Abbey.] Fired and byrnde, stroyng the Abbay Off Maillers, for Fromont hys sake Alway, [ 3409]

The Abbot And monkes conuentuall, [ 3410] [The abbot and monks were all scorched and burnt to ashes;] That ther o soule man escapid noght, But scorched and brend were to Askes small; And hou the doures made faste As cowde be thought; [Geoffrey shut them in and burnt them, out of spite against Fromont.] For drede non durste fle, to-geders brende and brought, [ 3414] For the gret dispite which in hert he had [MS. "hed."] Off Fromont, that in monkes wede was clade.'

When Raymound it knew, blissed with ryght hand, [Raymond, at the news, bathes his heart in sorrow,] In sorow And wo hys hert bathed he. yut Another tyme he gan to demand, [but sternly com∣mands the messenger to be sure he is not lying.] Commaunding hym straitly As myght be, That he hym say the trouth and verite. [ 3421] "Se here," he said, "gret cruelte shewyng, Is it this? ward the that thou ly no thing!" [ 3423]

HE hym answerd, "sir, it is ryght this; [ 3424] [He replies that he saw it with his two eyes.] I dare wel say this, so god me do aid; With my eyes to saw it, soo haue I blis!" When Raymounde it hurd, colour changed þat braid,

For ende had he non in his dolour laid. [ 3428] [Raymond, in great dolour, leaps upon horse-back,] To hors lepe he tho with-out tarying, In hert was ryght wo And full sore mornyng.

IN pensif muses hym faste beseying, [ 3431] [Fol. 68] He rest noght to ryde, so to Maillers cam. [and rides at once to Maillezais.] Such A pace rode, yut ther the fray finding, Raymounde perceiued the gret losc[e] [See l. 3608. Fr. text, "perte."] And shame. Ech man complayned on Gaffray by name. [ 3435] [There he hears men complaining, and sees the abbey reduced to a ruin.] The Abbay saw brend And woxin desert, Which causid gret wo hym to haue at hert. [ 3437]

HE beheld Aboute euery part sure, [ 3438] Seyng the Abbot And monkes brend were; Als seing the meruelous auenture, "By god died in crosse," Raymound gan swere, [Much enraged, he swears that Geoffrey shall die in a cruel manner, if he can but get hold of him.] That "Gaffray shold dye in cruell manere, [ 3442] yff atwixst his handis he hym haue myght, He wold make hym ende, And shameuous deth dight!" [ 3444]

There lepte vp Again hys coursere vppon, [ 3445] [Again he mounts his horse, having no wish to stay there,] So inly malice, full of wrath and yre, In shuch cAs broght, wiste not wat say ne don; To sogern̄ At Maillers more wold not desire. Fro-thens departed, tornyng hole entire [ 3449] hamwarde in iournay ryght full besily. [and rides fast homeward.] Al day ther he rode faste And spedfully, [ 3451]

So the myghty strenght attained he was [ 3452] [He reaches the fort of Vouvant,] Of vauuent castell, entred in and wend; hys coursere As the wynde forth went apace. When within was, After gan discend; [and alights from his horse.] lenger wold he noght bide ne attend. [ 3456] In-to the chambre entred he Anon, [He enters his chamber, and shuts the door.] The dores to hym drew And closyd echon. [ 3458]

There began he wonder waymenting; [ 3459] [Fol. 68 b.] Complaynyng, wayling, And lamentyng to see. [Then he begins to lament and wail, saying, "Ah! Fortune! thy dealings are too manifest, thou art not secret enough.] "Ha!" he said, "Fortune, to riue art being; Ne haste thou not be with me full preue. Aboue All other haste [MS. "baste."] thou hated me! [ 3463] Alas! this for-whi hast thou me in hate? To tech me were thou contrary þat date, [ 3465]

When thou me madest that murther to do [ 3466] [When I put Earl Amery to death by moonlight, thou wert the cause.] Off the noble Erle of peiters being, Amery the good notable knyght tho; I hym put to deth by the mone shynyng. By the, lady Fortone, thou were it causing! [ 3470] Alas! he was man in tyme full worthy! [Alas! he was a peerless man!] Hys pere noght founde Athissid Rome truly! [ 3472]

After me made by thy will and uolente [ 3473] [And next, thou madest me marry this infamous serpent;] To take this woman of the Fayry, This [MS. "Thes."] here diffamed serpent vnto se; I am not wronged ["wrong" (?).] thow it bewayle surely. Then ["Ten." Fr. text, "dix."] fair children haue I had hir by! [ 3477] [and one of my ten children by her, a holy monk, is dead,] But on is dede, whereof Am I pensiffe, Which was A monke leuyng holy life. [ 3479]

Ther now his brother hat[h] put hym deth to. [ 3480] [and his brother slew him. Her children will do no good.] I trow thes children which that she bare In this worle ne shall no maner good do. The begynnyng noght, of trouth to declare, And, by the teres off uandosme hys fair, [ 3484] [I could not have believed it, had I not seen her in the bath.] hit I to beleue is but fantesy, Ne hade I hir sain in the bath only; [ 3486]

I not ferre fro thens, the trouth vn-to tell, [ 3487] [Fol. 69] By the litell hole of the dore gan se [I saw through the hole in the door that she] Fro the hed adon vnto the nauell

A full fair and gent woman there was she; [was a woman from her head to her middle, but beneath a serpent, with a tail striped with blue and gold.] But under was A serpent of verite, [ 3491] A taill burled had of siluer and Asure, Ther bete that all the water flasshed sure, [ 3493]

Full grett hiduou[s]nesse to my hert made. [ 3494] Neuer was ther man if hir gan to se [No man could have beheld her as I did, and not have fled for fear.] In the estat that I ther saw hir clad, But that wold Anon Away fro hir fle; For it was thing dredfull As myght be. [ 3498] God me ward and kepe fro werk diabolike, [God keep me from diabolic works!"] And stedfaste me hold in feith catholike!" [ 3500]

FAir Melusine tho the dore gan unshit, [ 3501] [Melusine unlocks the door,] Well cowde it vnloke, in gan she repaire, Also to the dore the key had of it. Knyghtes, ladeis, damicelles full faire, [and brings with her into the cham∣ber a company of squires and maidens.] Squiers, yongmen, maydens debonair, [ 3505] With Melusine ther entre made þat stounde Into the chambre where Raymound was founde.

In the saide chambre entred thai Anon. [ 3508] Raymounde saw hys wife, marred was he tho. [Raymond is much vexed at the sight of her, and begins to lament anew.] Ther hauing no [MS. "to." Fr. text, "neust point de couleur."] point of colour hym vppon, There be-gan of-new hys dolorous woo. Off Raymounde And of hys fair loue also [ 3512] [The moment of their parting was now nigh at hand.] Ther strange depa[r]tson approched full ny, Ryght As ye shall hire declared shortly. [ 3514]

Then Melusine said to Raymound hir housband, [ 3515] [Fol. 69 b.] "hauith not your hert so marred for wo, [Melusine says to him, "Be not vexed.] For þat ye may noght amend at no stonde. Men shold such sorow lightly lete slip and go. yff Agayn our lord Gaffray haue mysdo, [ 3519] [Even though Geoffrey has thus sinned, and has destroyed the abbey,] And þat he hath distroid that faire place Off Maillers by hys misdoing, percas [ 3521]

Yut may he his pees Full wel do to make [ 3522] [he may yet, perchance, make his peace with God by repentance, and suffer pain in the body;] Towardes our lord by grete repentance, And for his trespas pennaunce may he take, Therfor suffer pain in bodyly substaunce. For goddis marce is [MS. "his."] redy ech instance, [ 3526] [for God's mercy is at all times ready.] So in hym he haue good contrecion, And efter veray pure confession. [ 3528]

Off verray trouth my beleue is soo [ 3529] [For God willeth not the death of a sinner,] That our lord god on hym will haue mercy, For of the synner wold not deth shold go, But louith better that lif shold truly, [but that he should live to repent and to do good."] To haue time And space, being here wordly, [ 3533] To effecte And end that he shold repent And to All goodnesse also to Assent." [ 3535]

Thys lady wisely And sagely gan to speke, [ 3536] But Raymounde malice And full angry was; [But Raymond was spiteful and angry, and his reason awhile departed.] At hys hert gret noysaunce gan he steke. Reson deperted tho fro hym apas. Such A word shal say, repent can not purchas; [ 3540] [Soon shall he say a word which he shall never retrieve.] Neuer shall ne may, vnto þat he dy, Conquere that he shall And moste lesse ther-by.

Off A fers behold, orgulously wrought, [ 3543] [Fol. 70] Als with the behold of his eyes twain, [With fierce look, proudly wroth, he spake plainly his foolish thought, uttering aloud the fatal word,] And when that he had A litell thought, his foley thought spitfully spake plain, And afore all said he with uois hautain, [ 3547] "ha! serpent! thy line in lif no good shall doo! ["Ha! SERPENT! Behold and see] Se here now A noble begynnyng, lo! [ 3549]

What Gaffray with long toth thy son hath don̄! [ 3550] [what Geoffrey thy son hath done! He hath scorched and burnt a hun∣dred monks,] A hundred monkes scorched [MS. "scroched"; see l. 3678.] and brend plain, And after fro-thens made he departson.

Where-of on was Fromont thi son certain, [of whom Fromont thy son was one.] The which to cherish euer was I fain! [ 3554] Alas! thes monkes slain hath thi son Gaffray. [But they died not all cold,] But thay died noght Al cold, I may fery, ["say" (?).] [ 3556]

Euery of thaim so gret An hed ["het" (?). Fr. text, "chault."] had. [ 3557] [but every one was hot enough.] I haue ther be, I saw it verily, Thaim al hath he brend, Gaffray thi sone made!" [Geoffrey, thy mad son, burnt them!"] Alas! the sorow don so disordinatly [Alas! the sorrow caused by that fatal word, which lost him Melu∣sine!] Off that wurde which he pronounced openly! [ 3561] For ther-in gan do gret ill and sin plain. Melusine Anon loste, neuer saw Again. [ 3563]

When Melusine hurd thys said wurde this stounde, [When Melusine heard that word, she swooned away,] After hir sustain forsoth she ne myght. Zownyngly she fil wofully to grounde; The sorow so gret, the hert fro hym-self ryght. Well ny so half hour she lay, this swet wight, [ 3568] [and lay in that swoon a whole half-hour, prostrate and astonied.] Prostrat to the erth, stoned, so zownyng For that heuy word he was ther outring. [ 3570]

The barons ther cam, vp gan hir redrese [ 3571] [Fol. 70 b.] Goodly, without hurt or blecere Any. [The barons raised her up,] Anon A knight Approched hir hinesse, [and a knight moistened her face with cold water.] hir visage moisted with fresh water goodly, Trowing A fiftene times or twenty. [ 3575] By that resorted hir good hert Again, [She revives, and exclaims,] Vnto Raymound said soberly certain, [ 3577]

FOrsoth to hym spake full peteuously, [ 3578] "Alas, alas, alas, Raymounde, this day! ["Alas, Raymond! Ill for me that ever I saw thee!] Ill saw I the euery times any! Ill saw I the beute of the, I say; [Wo is me that ever I saw thy beauty, thy array, thy virtuous conduct.] Ill saw I thi ful gracious Aray, [ 3582] Ill saw I the vppo[n] the Fontain, Ill saw I thy vertuous demenyng playn, [MS. "playng."] [ 3584]

Ill saw I thy werking amerous, [ 3585] [Alas that ever I saw thy precious body,] Ille saw I thy precyous body, Ille saw I thy iourne dolorous, That with the was in loue Amourously! [that ever I loved thee!] Ille saw I thi fair contennaunce truly, [ 3589] Ille saw I thy gracious body gent, [Evil was the hour and season] Ille saw I the hour And mene season present [ 3591]

That the saw first, thi treson, thi falsnesse! [ 3592] [wherein I first saw thy treason and falseness!] Thy fals vntrew spech, thy huge cruelte, Thy fals tonges unmesurabelnesse, [Thine unmeasur∣able language has condemned me to eternal pain.] Me put to paynes perdurabilite, That frothens neuer shall I depart me, [ 3596] But full moche pain shal I suffre Alway, For pain shall I haue vnto the laste day, [ 3598]

That it like or pleasse our lord soueran [ 3599] [Fol. 71] To come iuge And deme tho both quikke and dede! Neuer shal ye se my clere uisage plain, [Never shall you see my face again, O false, perjured traitor, murmurer, liar,] Most fals traytour And fals forsworn in-ded, Replet with uices, full of murmerhed, [ 3603] Fals amerous, fals lesingmonger ryght, [betrayer, and false knight.] Fals betrayer, And in-ded A fals knyght! [ 3605]

Full ill haste thow, lo! my couenaunt hold, [ 3606] [Thus hast thou caused us huge loss.] That thow me promysed in the begynnyng; Thou haste made us haue huge losce many-fold. yut myght I all this full wel be suffryng, [Yet I could for∣give your seeing me in the bath, because you told it to no one.] Off that in the bath me so were seyng, [ 3610] Acause ye ne it said no creature. The fende knew it noght, the misauenture. [ 3612]

As son As made was reuelacion̄ there, [ 3613] [Your revealing it has brought mis∣fortune.] knawen was A-none For it shalt misfall; Yf that my [MS. "by." Fr. text, "mon corps."] body to the Abode here,

Thow sholdest perceiue ryght brefly with-all All thy full fals periury disceiu[e]! [See note.] [ 3617] yf truly ye had the couenaunt hold, [Had you kept your covenant truly,] Vnto Mortall deth me to haue ye shold, [ 3619]

Ryght As A woman born̄ here naturall, [ 3620] [I should have been a woman at all hours,] A feminine thyng, woman at al houres, To end of my days here terrestriall. By me [MS. "my."] myghteste haue had huge socoures. After the hy kyng, full off honoures, [ 3624] [and, at death, the King of Glory would have borne away my soul,] Wold haue born̄ Away the soule of me, When that Fro body departed were she, [ 3626]

After beried in sacred sepulture, [ 3627] [Fol. 71 b.] And with gret honour entered shold be. [and I should have been buried with great honour.] Alas! my fortune now putt Away sure! In payn, in wo, in tormentes cruelte [Alas! I must now suffer pain till doomsday.] Till day of iugement to se. [ 3631] By thy-selfen disceiued art in all, Thou art fro hinesse into lownesse fall. [ 3633]

Knowith thys, to you shall come greuous pine, [ 3634] [Thou too shalt suffer pain,] Ne neuer goodnesse shal resceiue certain; All-way thy dedes shall go to decline, [thy great deeds shall decline,] Ne neuer shal be wrought ne made again, And thi land shal be, After thi discesse plain, [ 3638] [and thy land, at thy death, shall be divided.] Parted in partes I beleue shal be, Neuer to-geders hold in seueralte, [ 3640]

By A soule man neuer maintayned be; [ 3641] Many of your men shal fall, sir Raymounde, [Some of your posterity shall lose both land and ground,] Neuer it acquire As in certainte. Som of thaim shall lese both ther land and ground. By fin fors of werre with many A wound, [ 3645] Fro ther dwellyng full faste shall thay fle, [and never return again home.] Neuer shall resorte A-gane to contre. [ 3647]

REmembre thy sones, the beseche And pray, [ 3648] [Remember thy sons, for I shall be with thee no more!"] For I shal neuer hold the company, To whome haue hert peteuous and tender ay, I may no langer Abyde ne tary!" Thre [MS. "Ther;" but French text, "Trois."] of the Barons Apart drew hastily [ 3652] [Then she draws three barons aside, speaking to all sensibly in an under-tone.] Off moste gretteste, sayng in wyse pesible As woman full sage And ryght sensible; [ 3654]

"RAymounde, understande, horrible thy sone gete [Fol. 72] Do hym for to dy, neuer be he found. ["Raymond, it behoves thee to beware of Hor∣rible.] Off it houith the to entremete, Thre eyes shal bere he vppon the grounde. yff he life, werre neuer shall faill nostounde [ 3659] [If he live, war shall never cease, nor bread nor wine increase,] In all the contre off peiters to deuin, Shall neuer encresse neithir brede ne win, [ 3661]

All the contre he shall waste, vnderstand, [ 3662] [for he shall lay waste all the country.] So that no-thyng encresse shal ne may. And all thes places that I gan do make, [He will destroy all I have made,] Distroy And undo, certes, is no nay; And hys bretherin to porete put alway, [ 3666] [and bring his brethren to poverty.] All tham, of trought, and all of the lyne, Wherefor I you pray, lete hym dy with pine. [ 3668]

The dole that thou haste for Gaffray thy sone, [ 3669] [Thy sorrow for Geoffrey's deed is needless;] That the monkes brende so disordinaitly, knowith thys, that it was for punicion [it was a punish∣ment upon the monks for their misdeeds.] Taken vppon tho of religion hy, For ther misgouernaunce wroughten so dayly, [ 3673] Off our lordes part, for þat thai do wold Many of thingys that they do ne shold, [ 3675]

NE ought of ryght ne of reson doo. [ 3676] [It is for that reason they are scorched, exiled, and destroyed.] In that place our lord example hath shewed. Off goddis parte is thai ben scorched so,

All dede, exiled, And foule distroyde. [They have harmed them∣selves with lechery.] Many with lechery haue hym sore noyed; [ 3680] Fals monkes, synners, holdyng at no day Ther ordre ne lif of the said Abbay. [ 3682]

Iff your sone be dede with thaim outerly, [ 3683] [Fol. 72 b.] haue ye no routhe, ne of thaim neuer mo. [If your son be dead with them, pity him not.] ye know what men sain moste, lo! comynly, For A synner perish shall An hundred, lo! [A hundred men perish for one sinner's sake.] An hundered hath brend, nombred vs unto, [ 3687] Without the Abbot which nombred is noght, [So here 100 died, besides the abbot.] Which maister is of thaim, As of reson ought,

Iff ther were cause, parcas he myght be. [ 3690] Iff Gaffray tham haue so destroed all, [If Geoffrey have destroyed them, he may easily rebuild a fairer minster,] It may be by hym restored, parde, A more fairer ministre fourge [MS. "fourgee."] and make shall Then that which he hath caused so to fall. [ 3694] This said Abbay full well may he restore [and place in it more monks than before.] With many mo monkes then were before. [ 3696]

Off trought so he will in ryght good manere, [ 3697] [There shall they pray for our lineage,] Which then shall be good peple verily, Prayng for the line with myght and powere; Which church he shall welle redyfy; The place shall be to sight more plesantly, [ 3701] [and the place shall be fairer and better than before.] And more better then euer was before; Thys Gaffray shall doo gret goodnesse euermore,

MOste specially whan he comyth to Age. [ 3704] [But, ere I go, I tell you one thing more.] But A thing I shall you declare truly, Ar I me departe fro your compernage, To ende that all therof haue memory [In order that men may remember me, they shall see me in the air.] Which after An hundred yere surely [ 3708] That yut ben unbore shall hir speke of me; Off trouth in the air thar men shall me see [ 3710]

ABoute the castell off lusignen so, [ 3711] [Fol. 73] Thre dais beforn in the same yere ryght [I shall be seen whenever the castle is about to change its master; if not in the air,] That the casstell shall change hir maister, lo! yff in the air men not se me myght, And that thay mow not perceiue me to sight, [ 3715] I shall me Appere vppon the erth playn, [on the earth, or by this fountain.] Or at the leste besides this Fontain. [ 3717]

Know thys, Raymounde, for so shall it be, [ 3718] [For, as the castle was baptized after my name,] Ass longe As thys said castell shall endure, For with my name baptised was she And such As it is devised I sure, My goddoughter I may calle [MS. "called.'] hir in vre. [ 3722] [it may be con∣sidered as my goddaughter.] Fule wel may it say Aforn peple All, And, for Melusine men me do to call, [ 3724]

Lusignen named, to name doth calange. [ 3725] yut will I now say without tarying, When that of the lord shall come þe eschange, [Three days before the castle changes its lord,] Thre dais be-forne me shall be seyng; Certainly I shal ther be appering. [ 3729] [I shall certainly appear.] But loste is now al my solas and ese, Sin so behouith me it leue and lese; [ 3731]

FOr now may it be in non other wise. [ 3732] [Raymond, when first we loved, we had all joy and solace;] Raymounde, vnto you then at beginnyng, When ye and I entreloued in louers gise, Al maner plesance we were finding, Joy And solas As loue And louer hauyng; [ 3736] Alas! contrary now se thys instance, [but now is our solace turned into vexation.] Our solas torned into gret noysance, [ 3738]

And in-to sorow transport our gladnesse, [ 3739] [Fol. 73 b.] Our huge uigour to feblesse this instance, [Now is our good fortune turned to mischance, and our surety is in doubt.] Our plesire into displesance expresse, Our full good fortune into gret misc[h]ance,

Our vertuous goodnes into curced chance; [ 3743] In doubte is all our surete to deuise, And our noble And blissed franchise [ 3745]

Is full strangely changed into seruice, [ 3746] [Our freedom is turned to service by perverse fortune,] By peruers fortune labored and founde, Which on reisith, Anothir don brise, But noght gain our lorde þat causyng me þis stound; ys only by your dedes, sir Raymounde, [ 3750] [and all owing to the jangling of your blabbing tongue.] Als by your labbyng tonges iongling, ye shall lesse your loue for your large speking.

NOw more lenger here may I not to dwell, [ 3753] [Now must I go.] Fair loue, me behouith hens As for to go. your misdedis god perdon euerydell, [God pardon you for being the cause of my suffer∣ing torment."] Whereof Agayne me ye haue so mysdo, For by you shall suffer torment And woo, [ 3757] vnto the dredfull day of Iugement;— And by the I was fro [MS. "for."] sorow ex[e]mpte, [ 3759]

And into yoy entred!—Alas! wo I Am, [ 3760] [Such grief had Melusine that none that heard her could with∣hold from weep∣ing.] For now Am I caste into dolorous woo, Fro-whens [MS. "For whens."] that I issewed and came!" Such ful sory dole Melusine lad tho, That body off humayn creature, lo! [ 3764] Which hir complaint hurd with huge sighes sore, Ne shold withold fro weping euermore. [ 3766]

Raymounde heuily wrang his handes twain, [ 3767] [Fol. 74] Such greuaunce toke tho, Almoste gan he dy, [Raymond was so grieved at her words that he could say no word himself.] So was he take with heuy wurdes plain, That o soule wurde coude not bryng forth truly. She hym Approched enbrasing swetly, [ 3771]

To-geders kyssing thes to Amerous [The two kiss each other sadly.] In o torment ther were both dolorous. [ 3773]

Fvl greuous Anguish in ther hertes loke, [ 3774] [They both swoon away,] That for heuinesse both gan fall to grounde, zowning ther full long A maner dethis stroke, Without takyng breth or wynde any stounde. The Barons trowing Melusine and Raymound [ 3778] [and the barons trow they are both dead and cold.] That thes louers to were both dede and cold; For long space And tyme such wise gan thai hold,

And when fro zowning that thai came Agane, [ 3781] [Recovering from the swoon, they sighed and wrang their hands.] And that thai myght breth, to sigh be-gan sore, To waile, to wepe, to sorely complain, Ther handes wrange And strained euermore, Non knew the sorow by thaim lade and bore. [ 3785] Whereof all thay wepte standing ther Aboute [All the whole rout who see them weep.] With teres many, All the ful hole route. [ 3787]

And melusine, to whome was full greuous, [ 3788] [Raymond en∣treats Melusine to pardon him,] Ryght piteously she releued tho. Raymound hir praid, as man generous, Ther knelyng, that she hym pardon wolde, lo! Off hir courtesy, that he hade mysdo; [ 3792] Which by gret mischefe don gain hir hath he. [but she says that this cannot be.] Thys lady hym saide that it myght not bee, [ 3794]

Hit please ne wold the king celestiall. [ 3795] [Fol. 74 b.] "But, fair loue! I you here beseche and pray, [She bids him es∣pecially think of his son Raynold,] Thenke on your loue here terrestriall, your sone Fromount in obliuy put ay, And in Raynold loke ye thenke Alway, [ 3799] For of the foreste Erle shall he be, lo! [for that he should be Earl of Forest.] In all goodnesse thenke, And wel shall ye doo.

The Erle of foreste here long shall not byde [ 3802] [The Earl of Forest would soon die.] In this worlde here After my departson,

Also will thenke for Thierry prouyde, [He is also to pro∣vide for Thierry,] For yut shall he [MS. "ye." Fr. "Il fera."] doo thynges manyon. At norish pappes yut is his person; [ 3806] Fro [MS. "For."] partenay to Rochell the lande shall iustice, [who would after∣wards rule the land from Parte∣nay to Rochelle.] An inly good knight shall he be and wyse. [ 3808]

ANd all which fro hym linially issew, [ 3809] [Also Thierry's lineage should be good knights, and long endure.] Shall be knightes good, hardy, and wurthy, Full of gud corage and of all uertew, And his linage shall longe endure truly. Fair loue, know thys well, that noble Thierry [ 3813] Wurthy and hardy Also shall he be. [She asks Ray∣mond to pray for her,] I shall thenke on you, swete loue, pray for me

All dais while lif in worle here haue ye. [ 3816] Off me shall ye haue both ayde and comfort [for that she would aid him in all his needs.] In all your nedes of necessite. Off aduersite en-gree [MS. "engree."] take the porte. [He must bear his adversity well.] Neuer in femine forme to you shall resorte, [ 3820] Neuer shall ye se Melusine truly, [She must now go.] That so was wont to hold you company! [At the foot of this page are the catchwords, "innepee she lepte the."] [ 3822]

Innepee she lepte the fenestre vppon, [ 3823] [Fol. 75] Aboue beheld she uerdures flouresshing; [She then leaps upon the window,] Without taking leue Away wold not gon, [but will not yet depart before she has bidden all farewell.] For the Barons, of whom after shall be speking, Off lades, damycelles, knightes beyng, [ 3827] Squiers, And maydens, off all leue toke she, For whome euery man wepte of pette. [ 3829]

Afterwarde she said, "adieu! sir Raymounde, [ 3830] ["Adieu! Sir Ray∣mond, my heart, my sovereign joy, my gentle jewel!] Whom I so loued with hert Fȳn And plain, Neuer shall youe se at no day ne stounde. Adieu, my hert! Adieu, my loue certain!

Adieu, creature, my ioy souerain! [ 3834] Adieu, myn entire loue moste gracious! Adieu, my gentile Iewell precious! [ 3836]

Adieu, my swete norish And noriture! [ 3837] [Adieu! my sweet nurse, my grace,] Adieu, my plesaunce And gladnesse worly! Adieu, full meruelous swete creature! Adieu, my grace! Adieu, my ioyes hy! Adieu, what that in worle loue moste hertly! [ 3841] Adieu, the moste good! Adieu, the moste faire! [and noblest de∣bonair youngling!] Adieu, the noblest yongling debonair! [ 3843]

Adieu, the beste! Adieu, swetteste All Aboue! [ 3844] [Adieu! my sugar∣sweet sovereign lord!] Adieu, my gracyous spouce of recorde! Adieu, I say, myn owne vertuous loue! Adieu, suete housbonde by louis concord! Adieu, my sugret suete souerain lorde! [ 3848] [To God I com∣mend you, to keep your sweet life.] Adieu commaunde, my ioy and boldnesse! Adieu commaunde, your suete lif to drisse. [ 3850]

Adieu, my solas And iewell roiall! [ 3851] [Fol. 75 b.] Adieu commaunde all peple here, sothlese! Adieu, lusignen, fourged fair in all; [Adieu! Lusignan!] Adieu, al that which may A lady plese! Adieu, the gladnesse, mirthes ioy and ese! [ 3855] Adieu, the suete sound of ech Instrument! [And adieu, sweet sounds of instru∣ments!"] Adieu, I say, disportes reuerent! [ 3857]

Adieu, wurthieste! Adieu, with all honour! [ 3858] Adieu, my suete loue prented in hert sad! Our lorde the aide And be thi concellour!" With-out more spech A lepe ther she made, [Thus having said, she leapt out of the window, and so passed away.] (Seyng the Barons all that ther were had), [ 3862] Thorught A fenistre so passed and wend When of hyr wurdes thys had made an ende. [ 3864]

Thourgh the fenistre in such wise gan fle [ 3865] Melusine without tariing Any.

In-to A serpent changed tho was she, [She was at once changed wholly into a serpent,] Of huge grettnesse and lenght was verily, Wherof all were Astoned strongly; [ 3869] With siluer and Asure ther burled was, [striped with ar∣gent and azure.] Thys fairy woman such tail gan purchas, [ 3871]

Which presently was become A serpent; [ 3872] Whereof Raymound bement hir hugely. Thre tymes the castell enuironee went; [Three times she went round the castle, uplifting a loud cry at every turn.] At euery tour A ssounde yaf she hyly, Wonder meruelous cast she vp A cry [ 3876] Full strange vnto hire, And ryght piteuous, Hyr cry full heuy, wonder dolorous. [ 3878]

Which I writte is trouth, therof ly no thyng. [ 3879] [Fol. 76] She thens forth went, vnto the air gan fle. [This that I write is truth; I lie not.] Ther hir lost Raymound, "Alas!" lowde crying, Ful moche complained And ther wailed he. Hys heres [MS. "heree."] faste drew, sore hir bement, parde, [ 3883] [Raymond tears his hair and curses his hour of birth.] Cursing the houre that euer he was born̄, Raymound, out fro wit for wo almoste lorn̄, [ 3885]

In [MS. "Iln."] hy shill uois the Barons said before, [ 3886] "Adieu, my lady, with heres yowlownesse! [MS. "yow lowneffe."] Adieu, all debonerte for euermore! Adieu, I say you, my fair suete maistresse! ["Adieu!" he cries, "my fair mistress, my joy, my goods, and my surety!] Adieu, my ioy, my grace, And my richesse! [ 3890] Adieu, my goodes and all my surete! Adieu commaunde, all the disporte of me. [ 3892]

Adieu, my iewell! Adieu, my solas! [ 3893] [Adieu! my jewel, my sweet flower!] Adieu, you say, my lady preciouse! Adieu, the fair whilom the prise gan purchas! Adieu, my wife! Adieu, my trew spouse! Adieu, my lady verray graciouse! [ 3897] Adieu, I you say, my full doucet floure! Adieu, my lady of full gret valoure! [ 3899]

Adieu, suete throte of soundes clerenesse! [ 3900] Adieu, fair Rose! Adieu, violet [MS. "violent."] also! [Adieu! fair rose, fair violet!] Adieu, the tree of louers feithfulnesse! Adieu, I say my gentile lady vnto. Adieu, my glory! Adieu, my ioy, lo! [ 3904] Adieu, the fair that so hath loued me! My goode days gon, shall I neuer you se." [ 3906]

Ryght this Raymounde bewaled and bement [ 3907] [Fol. 76 b.] his noble wife, for whom felt dolour, Which thorugh the Air hir flight tho hent, Wherefor he hath A sory hert þat houre. "Alas!" Raymound said, "wat do shall or labour? [What shall I now do? Never had man such sorrow!] For certes I haue sorow ynow at hert, Neuer man had at the full so smert. [ 3913]

FOrwhy shold I noght be A plain man, [ 3914] yff I fele at hert noysaunce mondiall? Hit to declare good reson if I can, For the diche haue made wheron now I fall. [I myself made the ditch wherein I now fall;] Now Am I Acursed, to wo am made thrall, [ 3918] Now I am dolorous And full pensiffe [now am I sadder than any 'ghost' alive."] More then Any goste felt in his life." [ 3920]

But ther had he A noble company, [ 3921] [His barons com∣fort him,] Which full gentilly gan hym to comforth, And many hym said And shewed hertly, That thay hym wold gladly recomfort, That softly shold bere that dolorous port, [ 3925] [and bid him bear his burden softly.] Many examples to hym exort said, Causyng sumwhat lesse hys sorow þat braid. [ 3927]

After hym said A sensible Baron̄, [ 3928] [A baron advises him] "Of your son horrible behouith, lo!

To ordain As ordained to be don̄ [to slay Horrible, as Melusine sug∣gested.] Melusine, when concell you gaffe vnto. Anon þat men shold make hym to deth go, [ 3932] Or perish he wold the contre and grounde." "My lordes present," ther tham said Raymounde,

"YOu beseche And pray tary noght ne bide, [ 3935] [Fol. 77] As therof do ye hir commaundment; [Raymond com∣mands them to do so,] So he be dede, I charge not how no tyde." "To plesire, And will do all your entent;" Thay wold no lenger ther tary, but forth went. [ 3939] [and they depart to find him.] Raymound, which strongly wroth angry was For thys sorowfull And mischeuous cas, [ 3941]

Wich that ceason conquered was and gett, [ 3942] As A sory man thens gan he remew, [Raymond retreats into a chamber alone,] Into A chambre ther made he retret, hit unshit entring, the dore after drew, Ther lamentacion be-gan he of-new [ 3946] [and there renews his lamentation.] In this said chambre ther, all soule, alon̄. No more of Raymound, but passe forth and gon̄,

Off the Barons hy say shall of contre. [ 3949] Full sensible were, inly wyse and sage, Orrible toke by on Assent and gre, [The barons shut Horrible up in a cave,] In A caue hym shitte with-out othir damage, Off moisty hay made bring to thys uiage, [ 3953] [fill the entrance with moist hay, and set fire to it,] The fire put with-in, so with fumy smoke Was the caue Anon full As myght be stoke. [ 3955]

Then loste horribel both breth and power, [ 3956] [so that he was soon stifled.] Stifled he was Anon with smoky fume sure. After thay hym put into A faire bere, [Then they put him into a fair bier, and buried him nobly.] Nobly beried, hauing sepulture. The obsequie [MS. "obfequire."] don̄ And compleshed pure [ 3960]

After the wurdes And noble doctrine, As lored and thaught had good Melusine. [ 3962]

Entered in church, non for hym can mourn̄, [ 3963] [Fol. 77 b.] After vnto god thay hym commaundyng, [They then com∣mend him to God,] Fro-thens departed without other sogourn̄; [depart, and return to Raymond.] Again to Raymounde were thay retornyng, Which dolorous wo At hert was feling, [ 3967] With eyes sore wepte he in mornyng plite, A man can ne may hys sory dole write. [ 3969]

MAny tymes ofte, "my swete loue," sayng, [ 3970] [Raymond again laments, saying,] "The haue disceiued And betrayed, lo! By the exort of vntrew man makyng, ["It was all through my cousin that I became a for∣sworn man.] Al this me hath made my cosin to doo. I Am by hym fals And als forsworne to, [ 3974] Ful of vice am and of Iniury; For ill chaunce me fell unfortunatly [ 3976]

At my firste gynnyng And commencement, [ 3977] [I was unfortunate at first, when I slew my sovereign lord;] When in the wode my souerain lord sly. A gretter mischef neuer men gan hent, And sithen when me sewed periury [and, secondly, when I was false to my lady.] Off that I had sworn̄ to my fayr lady, [ 3981] That so loued, by whom good and honour had, By whom I was susteyned and lord made; [ 3983]

By whom all goodnes me cam suffisantly, [ 3984] By whom, vnder god, lif had and comforth. But the Fals fortune, by cruel enuy, [False fortune's cruel envy has brought me to this, whereby I have lost all my riches,] Me hath brought to thys full sharpe & hard port, Wherby [MS. "Bherby."] loste haue I all my hole disport, [ 3988] Where like-wise loste my mirth and gladnesse, Wherby Also lost my hole rychesse; [ 3990]

Wherby loste haue I yoy of eternite; [ 3991] [Fol. 78] That is, Melusine the fair suete wyght, [and eternal joy.] Whom I loued wel, As myself, parde; She allwais loued me with hert parfight, [Melusine always loved me;] And the dede thereof shewid she to ryght. [ 3995] In time togeders we haue be ensemble, [my heart trembles with pity.] Where-of of pete my hert doth trimble; [ 3997]

When I bethenke the trouth and verite, [ 3998] Therof shold I well haue gret pite, And so shall I haue all the lif of me, Of whom holdeth he to non end shall go. I luf better to dy for euermo [ 4002] [I had rather die for evermore than suffer so grievous pain.] Then for to suffer so greuous A pain vntill so be that ende shall attain. [ 4004]

Full cruell pain I haue, but yut shall not end, [ 4005] [My sorrow will never end till I die.] Ne yut shall not ende Al myn ille truly Till I diffynid be, and fro [MS. "for."] the worle wend. Time is for I may no lenger fructefy As in thys worle, neither edefy [ 4009] Thyng but that it goth vnto decline, Rather or later to an endly fine. [ 4011]

FOr Melusine, whom god do warde and kepe, [ 4012] [For so Melusine told me."] Me ther said full well at hir departson, Which causith my sorow in hert part and lepe." Parcelly, As the heres of eyes don, With teres makyng sprancles manyon, [ 4016] Ryght so is Raymound tormented full sore, [Raymond is sore tormented.] Sore wepyng, teres making euermore [ 4018]

FOr Melusine, the woman off Fary, [ 4019] [Fol. 78 b.] Which thar-after cam full many A nyght [But Melusine came often by night into]

Into the chambre right full secrely [MS. "secerly."] [Thierry's cham∣ber, and often dressed and fed him.] Wher norished was Terry suetly to ryght, That she Full ofte hym raid and dight, [ 4023] Chaufed, milked, And rechaufed Again. [She was often seen by the nurses,] Ther many tymes by the norish sain, [ 4025]

But thay durste noght in no wise vp-rise, [ 4026] Neither o soule wurde to outre or say, But vnto ther lord told the maner wise, [who told Ray∣mond of it, to his great joy.] Wherof Raymond had full huge ioy alway. In hys hert said with softe vois that day, [ 4030] "That yut Melusine hope and trust to haue;" Full ill in hys breste such thoughtes gan craue.

VAnishede is she fro hys syght for ay, [ 4033] Remedy non, gold, siluer, ne honour. Thierry cherished Amendid Alway, [Thierry grew more in one month than other babes in four,] (Men merueled gretly off it that hour), In a moneth more then other in four. [ 4037] Hys swet moder on hym such wyse thought, [but it was due to his mother's nursing.] Norished with hir milke And forth full wel brought. [ 4039]

OFte in his fader chambyr she was; [ 4040] [She was often, too, in his father's chamber.] To norish no pappe like moders neuer-mo, As beforn̄ is said, ho many it purchas. here cesse I and leue now, ferther will not goo [I must now leave speaking of Raymond,] Off wofull Raymounde And hys sones two, [ 4044] here thys time not say vnto your presence, But vnto declare will do my diligens [ 4046]

Off Gaffray with long toth you outre And say. [ 4047] [Fol. 79] Where I ly or no, god knowith An-hy; [and tell you about Geoffrey. Remember that I am not lying.] I lerned it noght certes at no day; A lier to be founde shame were outerly.

Gaffray went noght ouer taryinly, [ 4051] [Geoffrey sailed swiftly on,] Thorugh the se went, ouer pase rowing, By fors of people so forth ther failling. [ 4053]

HE tho ariued And taried noght [ 4054] [and reached Northumberland, where the giant made war.] In norbelande, sesing both land and ground, Where this Geant were procured and wrought. And when Gaffray discended was þat stound, The Baron̄s bode noght, gain hym went hole & sound, [The barons come to greet him,] [ 4058] Grettest and wurthiest of the said contre, Comyng to hym, with-out excused to be. [ 4060]

The gret, the meene, the litell, soth to tell, [ 4061] [both great and small.] Approched And cam to hym, gret and small. A gret Baron then, witty were and fell, [A baron tells him how their country was enthralled by that fierce, huge, troublesome, and proud giant.] Ther hym rehersing the Geant dedes All, Ther liberte loste, ther contre made thrall [ 4065] With that fers Geant huge and comerous, Horrible, myghty, strong, And orgulous. [ 4067]

IN A iournay, to certefy you all, [ 4068] [In one day he slew a hundred knights,] An hundered knightes of this said contre Distroed and slain, put to deth mortall. So orgulous sette, full of cruelte, Gret uengaunce gan do to the comynte; [ 4072] As cursedly sly A thousand As on, [and could as soon slay a thousand as one.] The st[r]engest mortal eschew wold hys person.

GAffray Answered, "then is he a Fend, [MS. "affend."] [ 4075] [Fol. 79 b.] A dredful deuill full of cruelte. [Geoffrey answer∣ed, "Then is he a fiend, but nevertheless I will soon destroy him.] But noght-for-that fro hym me will diffende, By me sonly distroed shall he be. hys byding-place shewith unto me, [ 4079]

For non othir cause comyn Am this houre, [I must find this soldier.] But only to fynde this said soudiour, [ 4081]

Which so goth Aboute, you sore distrussand. [ 4082] This knoith uerily, ill shall he betide [He shall fare ill ere seven weeks pass.] Or wekes seuyn ben passed to comaunde. Do me vnto take here som maner gide, [Provide me a guide, that I may see him to discomfit him."] To this place and stede me conuey to ride, [ 4086] So I may hym se for to discomfight." As he desired, like gan to hym dight, [ 4088]

A gide hym taken, knowing the contre, [ 4089] [Geoffrey takes a debonair guide,] With all the places where-to gan repair, Where this Geant was wont dwellyng to be, hys habitacion And mancion fair. Such A gide hym toke which was debonare, [ 4093] After hym commaunde to our lordes grace. [and commends himself to God.] Gaffray went thens, departing fro þat place. [ 4095]

HE And hys gide Apace forth riding, [ 4096] [He and his guide at last spy the giant under a tree,] Till that on full hy thai gan well Auise, Both of tham faste ther coursers sporing; Then ny approched, Aboute gan deuise. Vnder A tre sate this Geant in strange wise; [ 4100] On a marbre stone at that ceason satte; [sitting on a marble stone.] The Gide for gret drede trembled and swatte. [ 4102]

HE sore Abasshed, changing his colour. [ 4103] [Fol. 80] Gaffray it saw, and gan to laugh sad; [The guide is frightened. Geoffrey laughs at him, and says he has not been misled.] After in laughter saide to hys Gidour, As for ryght noght drede and fere he [MS. "the."] hade, For thought should not mistriste god to be mislad. "Good be in pees," said to Gaffray the gide, [The guide wishes to be off,] "Behofull is me to uoide and go wide. [ 4109]

FOr all richesse and gold worly being, [ 4110] More nerre wold approche noght this said montain, Ne lenger with you be here sogernyng, Sin to you haue I shewed here certain [as he has shown him Grimold the giant; and he assures Geoffrey that re∣maining there is no jape.] Grimold the Geant most meruelous plain. [ 4114] Sir Gaffray," he said, "here this is no iape, To god you commaunde, me will hens fast scape."

Gaffray laughed faste, after to hym said, [ 4117] [Geoffrey laughs, and asks him to remain and see the battle,] For all loues desired and besought, A litell while bide hertly hym praid, That he wold behold what wise that thai fought. "For in litell space knowlich shold be wrought [ 4121] [which will be soon decided.] As ho of us to the better shold haue, And at this iournay ho hym best can saue." [ 4123]

This gide answered, "no charge of your bataill, [ 4124] [The guide says he does not care to see it.] you gided haue to point, lenger will noght bide; yff ye win, no part wil ne to myn auaill. Fro [MS. "For."] you will depart, Again wil I ride." Gaffray therof laughed suetly that tide, [ 4128] [Geoffrey laughs sweetly, and again begs him to wait till] Then to the gide said, "now vnderstande me, In thys place abide vnto that ye see [ 4130]

Ho bering hym best and ho better haue; [ 4131] [Fol. 80 b.] That sain And don, torn my men vnto. [he sees who gets the best of it.] Without Any doubte yut may ye go saue, [He can then return and tell the others.] Our Army dedes declare, all we doo, And al my gouernaunce telling thaim also." [ 4135] Then hym said the gide, "do shall your entent, [The guide con∣sents,] My lord, I am at your commaundement. [ 4137]

DEliuerly to hym ye procede, [ 4138] [but declares he is in great dread,] Assured am noght, ne haue hert non bold. Of verray trouth I haue such fere and drede Of this horrible fende, Geant Grimold, [and that if Geof∣frey knew the giant as well as he did, he would think twice about it.] That almoste my herte faillith lif to hold, [ 4142] And if ye knew hym lik-wise As I doo, Auised wold ye be or to hym wold goo." [ 4144]

GAffray answerd, "of hym haue ye no doute; [ 4145] [But Geoffrey promises that the giant shall die.] Grimold here shal dy, no-while shall endure." But yut Gaffray shall fynd hym stoute, Ful strong was Grimold in werly scomfiture. Our lord Gaffray gyf aid and ["werly" is repeated after "and."] conforture. [ 4149] [Now our Lord aid him.] Nedfull was to hym at that ceason ryght More then euer had Any other knight, [ 4151]

Which swerd gan bere or garde with Any. [ 4152] For [MS. "Fo."] A thousande or mo of contre [Grimold had, singly, slain a thousand or more men.] Grimold the Geant slain had he sowly. Where-for peple had wonderly to se huge heuinesse And gret iniquite. [ 4156] Neuer wurse man sain, truly to rehers, [Never was there a worse man seen.] For meruelous was in dedes diuers. [ 4158]

Then Gaffray hasted, A horsebacke ryding, [ 4159] [Fol. 81] The montain gan take, leuing the ualay, [Geoffrey mounts, leaves the valley, and rides up the mountain,] Which that vppon was A fantain walling, leuing the medew And the playnes ay. Als the gide lefte ther in that place alway; [ 4163] [leaving the guide below.] God wold not þat ill Grimold shold hym doo, Which so was to doubte in euery stour tho. [ 4165]

GAffray on hym toke vp go the montain; [ 4166] [Grimold, perceiv∣ing Geoffrey,] Grimold perceiued it, moch gan he meruaill

That O soule man greithed hym to attain, [wonders how one sole man dare come to assail him,] As to that place come hym For to assaill, Sayng hym wold hate without any faill. [ 4170] But when in musing A litell had be, [but the thinks he must be coming to propose a peace.] he said, "this worthy man cometh to me [ 4172]

HEre, As I beleue, for to trete A pees." [ 4173] The path went he up wonder bustesly. "Off fine fors," thought he, "moste speke, not tonge lese, [Grimold says he shall soon go down again.] Such on entreth vp, don shall hastily." A huge leuer toke in handes plainly, [ 4177] [Then he takes in his hands a huge lever,] To sight semyng noght no body humain. hym with for to aide, this leuer shoke plain [ 4179]

In such maner wise As man A staf wold, [ 4180] [which he uses as a staff, or as a little child would a stick.] Or A lytell body of sixe or sef [MS. "of fef."] yere age, And better then, I say, seff [MS. "feff."] tymes fold As a proper staf to walk in viage. For the which after his strenght & corage, [ 4184] [Without gain∣saying, the staff was huge,] Ryght noght is to syght with-say again, But that the stafe [MS. "staste."] was more then Any sain, [ 4186]

Which lightly ne wold to bow ne aply. [ 4187] [Fol. 81 b.] yut it behouith that A staf ply shold [and could not easily be bent.] To the pley of such at som tyme truly, When in his handes this stafe gan to hold. Seing that Gaffray towarde hym come wold, [ 4191] [Seeing Geoffrey coming, he cries aloud, "How comest thou here?] In shill hautain uois toke hym lowde to cry, "how comest thou now me As to diffy? [ 4193]

What art thou, say me, what gost thou to seke? [Thou shalt have no warrant from death."] Off deth no warant neuer shalt thou haue." Gaffray anon An Answere oute gan breke,

"Therof shall the wern̄; Rebaude, loke the saue; [Geoffrey answers, "Ribald, look that thou save thyself; I shall smite off thy head."] For to scomfite the souly I the craue. [ 4198] Off thi hed shall smite; dy shalt thou by me Mortally Anon, now here diffynde the, [ 4200]

The unto warant, certes, thou ne may." [ 4201] Grymold, this hiring, to[ke] [Fr. text, "si prent a rire."] hym to laugh tho. [Grimold, hearing this, began to laugh, and ironically asks Geoffrey to spare his life.] Ther hym said Grymold, "you beseche and pray, Fair sir, saue my life, lete me on-lif go, Taking this peple to ranson also!" [ 4205] Geffray vnderstode, "cherle!" said hastily, [But Geoffrey sternly replies,] "Scornest thou with me? certes thou shalt dy!

HEre lo! shalt thou dy; I limite thi place, [ 4208] [that he trusts to rend his head to the teeth.] Neuer Ranson take shall I to thy charge; But don̄ to the teeth the shall rent by grace." Ther had was A place, inly gret And large. Gaffray that tyme, enbrasing shild and targe, [ 4212] [Geoffrey braces on his shield, and shakes his spear, being no coward.] By malice And wreth his spere Faste he shoke, his coursere spored, no fentise on hym toke, [ 4214]

FOr noble loos And prowesse to acquire. [ 4215] [Fol. 82] With the FOrhed plain gain hym went, & smote [Riding straight at the giant, he deals him such a blow that only his steel hauberk saved him.] Enmyddes the brest under the pappe with yre. Such A stroke hym dalt ther vppon hys cote, Ne had the hauberke smal mail be, god wote, [ 4219] Als hys brest of stile, ille hym hade come sure; For Grimold ther was at ille auenture. [ 4221]

NOght-for-that yut vppon the hard ground [ 4222] [Grimold fell on the ground,] Tombled Grimold enmeddes the mountain,

hys legges reised up an-hy that stound, [throwing up his legs.] Wher-with Grimold was strongly greued plain. Full wightly tho releued hym sertain, [ 4226] [But soon he got up again, while Geoffrey alights] In hys hert gan fele full dolorous woo. That Gaffray this saw, ther discended tho [ 4228]

That hys hors shold noght myscheuously sle, [ 4229] [that his horse may not be killed under him.] As vnder hym to mortall deth noght cast. Grimold the Geant, lenger bode noght he, But vp hym Reised, Gaffray beheld faste [MS. "safte."] ; [Grimold looks at Geoffrey, and in wonder asks his name.] So but litell saw hym don to thraste, [ 4233] Als in so litell body such uertew, Ther hym demaunding, "what art thou? say trew,

That such a stroke me toke? neuer felt such on, [ 4236] [He says he never threw his limbs up like that before,] My lemys so cast vp; yut know I noght the Wherehens thou art, ne what is thy person. But off the me uenge shamed shall I be; [yet he is ashamed to revenge him∣self,] And yut, so I am; but yut, say thou me, [ 4240] What thou art me say, I the here require; [and again asks his name.] No gentill knyght art but graunt my desire." [ 4242]

GAffray Answerd to [t]hys baculere, [MS. "baiulere."] [ 4243] [Fol. 82 b.] "My name wil not hide by ryght non engine; [Geoffrey answered this bachelor,] Gaffray with the gret toth named am awhere, In many contres know the name of myne; For I Am Gaffray, sone to Melusine, [ 4247] ["I am Geoffrey of Lusignan, Melusine's son."] Off lusignen borne of þat good lady, And of lusignen, know thou wel, am I." [ 4249]

When thys had spoken vnto hym Gaffray, [ 4250] The Geant hym said, "I know the full well; [The giant says that he knows him now,] Full moch haue I hurd spokyn of the aday, And of thy gret prowesse eueridell.

Guedon thou slyest, my cosyn, soth to tell, [ 4254] [for that he had slain Guedon his cousin, for which he will now pay him off.] In guerrande lande; thy guerdon for to haue, To this place ert come it to speke and craue. [ 4256]

Hit shalt thou haue by fors of myghty were, [ 4257] For of that shall I here now take vengance." he trowed say trouth, but lied more nerre. [The giant thought he was speaking truth, but he was nearer lying. Geoffrey tells him that desire of revenge will increase his hurt.] Gaffray hym said, "trowyng this instance, Such supposse to uenge ther huge shame perschance, Which ofte cressith hurt, men may wel it se, In sondry places conceyued may be." [ 4263]

Thys cruell Geant ne myght hym withhold [ 4264] [The giant strikes at Geoffrey with his lever, but] When so hym saw scorn, his leuer haused hy, Gaffray to smite trowyng tho he shold. Apart Gaffray uoided full warly, [Geoffrey blenches,] Somwhat blent, the stroke so forth passyng by, [ 4268] With hym noght mette; the leuer don̄ to ground [and the lever makes a great hole in the rock.] With-in the Roche made A grett depe trowe þat stounde; [ 4270]

For it throwen was wonder bustesly, [ 4271] And with such rudesse gan it to discend, [Fol. 83] That A plain fote large the roche tare strangely. [It tears the rock a foot deep.] Gaffray hys swerd drew hym for to diffend, On the elbow [MS. "ellow."] the Geant smote at end, [ 4275] [Geoffrey lends the giant a stroke on the elbow.] Such a stroke hym lent, to full huge maruell, That of the hauberk brek many a maill; [ 4277]

Fvll litell fauted, fouled had noght be. [ 4278] The vermail blode don̄ ryn wonderly, [The grass round about becomes red.] The herbes Aboute becam [MS. "becan."] red to se. This fers Geant tho to Gaffray cam wightly, [The giant again raises his lever.] With full malice yre And cruell enuy [ 4282]

The gret leuer reised vp and hy brought; Full heuy was, but it greuyd hym noght; [ 4284]

GAffray thought smite, but he uoyded place. [ 4285] [Geoffrey again blenches, and the stroke tears the ground three feet deep,] Ther the stroke fill don thre foote in-to grounde, So in harde roche smote he ther apace; Whereof the Geant was full wroth that stounde. With that stroke his arme Astoned tho founde, [ 4289] [so that the giant finds his arm stunned and his lever broken.] And thys said leuer to-rent thorughly, And Amidward broken outerly; [ 4291]

Wherof Gaffray thankes to godd yilding. [ 4292] [Then Geoffrey shows his strength,] Ther Gaffray hym smot with hys swerd full faste, Hys grett strenght And fors ther manly shewing, An-hy hym smoth vppon the scul in haste, [and smites the giant a grievous stroke on the skull.] The Geant with that stroke Almoste don̄ caste; [ 4296] To whome þat stripe was greuous manyfold. For sorow And wo An-hy hys hand gan hold, [ 4298]

GAffray forthwith smote vppon the hed an-hy; [ 4299] [Fol. 83 b.] Off that greuous stroke Gaffray greued sore. [Next the giant smites Geoffrey on the head,] The Geant his fuste lete to fle strongly; Gaffray with his swerd smote hym euermore, [but Geoffrey returns him a marvellous stroke on the shoulder, which rends both hauberk and mail.] To whom belonged fight in knightly lore, [ 4303] Vppon hys shuldre A stroke gaffe of meruell That he rent and brak both hauberke & maill.

Plain pawme of hande the swerde made entre; [ 4306] [The giant, severely wounded,] The sanguine blode don̄ ran the belay, Anon all made purpurat rede to se. Thys Geant, of whom we declare and say, hys goddys [MS. "goodys."] corsed, hys goddys gan renay, [ 4310] [curses his gods and abjures them, both Magot, Apolin, and Tervagant.] Enlesse thei [MS. "ther."] wold gif hym Aid [MS. "And."] or socour, Both Margot, polin, Bernagant that houre, [ 4312]

MAhounde, Iupiter, And als other mo; [ 4313] hym-selfen bement sorily expresse. [But his great wailing was useless.] But for ryght noght was his gret waling tho; But Gaffray at end his wil shal redresse, [Geoffrey will conquer at last, but will have much trouble first.] Noght only anon but er þat he cesse, [ 4317] But yut shall he haue I-now anguisse grete, Er the victory be conquere[d] and gette. [See line 3942.] [ 4319]

The Geant saw come towarde hym Gaffray, [ 4320] [The giant leaps at Geoffrey, and grips him fast by the reins,] Adrad, afferd of hym was gretly. Anon forth lepte, enbrasing hym alway, Teryng, drawyng here and there besily, As he which was takyn cursidly. [ 4324] Gaffray gripte he there faste by the raynes, [and they wrestle together.] Ech of thaim both suffryng there hug paynes [ 4326]

That thay almost loste ther breth outerly. [ 4327] [Fol. 84] Strongly went Aboute, so fast hurteling; [They hurtle, beat, and pull each other till they at last separate,] Il to-geders went As were egally, Such wyse hurteling, beting, and drawyng That fro other sondred escaping. [ 4331] Atwixste thaim yeuen many strokis tho, [and then Geoffrey smites him on the haunch] And Gaffray hym smote vppon the hanche so

Wyth A costile which in hys sleffe gan hold, [ 4334] [with a knife which he held in his sleeve, piercing through his coat of mail.] that his Iesseron failed and breke to, Thorewly passyng the costile-yre cold; Hastily the blode lepte out and ran tho. The Geant bakwarde lepyng Gaffray fro, [ 4338] Ther-thens spedfully takyng the montain. [The giant flees for his life.] Gaffray hasted after, hym to attain, [ 4340]

TO take leue of hym, but faste he gan fle; [ 4341] [The giant enters a chine of the rock,] In litell time and space ferre was he thens. In A chine of the Roch made he entry,

For gret doubte had of Gaffrayes uiolens. [being greatly afraid.] Gaffray sory that uoided was ther-hens, [ 4345] Thys cruell Geant whom he so had loste, [Geoffrey mourns that he has lost him,] To hys coursere cam, lepte vp, made no boste,

TO hys gide went, declaryng hym and told, [ 4348] [but returns to his guide, and tells him all the story.] Fro worde to worde, All thar werke indede, like As thay had don̄; And how this Geant bold Thens into a caue [MS. "came," altered to "cauee."] fled for fere and drede, Within the quike roche for all hys manlyhed. [ 4352] The gide vnto hym approched full ny, [The guide marvels strongly,] Which there wondred and merueled strongly, [ 4354]

HOw that Gaffray had such hug hardinesse. [ 4355] [Fol. 84 b.] Hys [MS. "hyis."] helme wasted sore, rent And broken all, [beholding how Geoffrey's helm was broken, and how full his hauberk was of holes.] And hys hauberke disma[i]lled all expresse, In many places holes gret And small. The gide said, "so god me aid eternall, [ 4359] I perceiue full well And ryght certanly, [He compliments Geoffrey.] That Gaffray is full of prowesse and hardy." [ 4361]

COmyng thay saw of peple gret fusion, [ 4362] [Many nobles approach,] Many nobles with other of contre, As sone As the dede vnderstode Anon, Demaundyng suetly of Gaffray the fre [and ask Geoffrey his name, and whence he came.] Wat was his name? and thaim declared he. [ 4366] And after thay had demaunded hys name, Then whens he was, off wat renon & fame, [ 4368]

And that to tham wold the verray trouth say, [ 4369] [One of the barons addresses him,] (For fain wold thay know, And he all tham told). On of the Barons then said, "lord, you pray

here vnderstandeth what you shall vnfold; Be ye in certain, for all worly gold [ 4373] [and tells him the giant will not re∣turn to fight him for any worldly wealth,] Thys cruel Geant, (that god hym confound!) Again you will noght retorn at no stound, [ 4375]

WEl knowen is hym he shuld nought escape [ 4376] [for that he knows he is predestined to die by Geof∣frey's hand.] Fro your handes twain, yf he were in hold; That his mortall deth labour wold and shape, For so is hym predestinat [MS. "perdeftinat."] of old." "By the Trynite," said Gaffray the bold, [ 4380] [Geoffrey declares he will never de∣part till he finds him.] "Fro contre shall I neuer, lo! departe Till that I hym finde by som maner art." [ 4382]

"My lorde," said on of thaim, "beth noght in doute; [Fol. 85] This montain wheron this Geant is truly [One of the barons tells him that the mountain is enchanted,] Full of the fairy is it all aboute. The noble helmas, king of Albany, [and that the noble Helmas, king of Albany, was en∣closed therein with his three daughters,] With hys doughtres thre ther was verily [ 4387] Enclosed with-in, nawhere myght issew, By such werkes wroughten incongrew, [ 4389]

FOr that there moder, the lady presine, [ 4390] [because he had wilfully beheld their mother in child-bed,] lying in gesian wilfully had sain; Which hym diffended that by non engine, Vppon this diffence that she hym made plain. Noght-withstandyng went to se hir dedes solain, [ 4394] [after distinctly promising he would not do so.] Which therof with hir made had couenaunt Goyng ne comyng to hir wold noght haunt, [ 4396]

As toward hyr whyle in gesian lay; [ 4397] [She had at that time three fair daughters.] Wher if so gan do, at end mischef shold. With doughtres fair in lay she that day, Thys ioly lady, presine, to behold, [This fair lady's name was Pre∣sine,] Doughtres thre had childed and vnfold. [ 4401]

helmas forsworn, periured, and comerd to, [and Helmas had made her the above promise;] The couenaunt hold with presine made tho [ 4403]

FOr-soth he failled; wherthorugh he lost [ 4404] [but he failed to keep it,] Presine hys lady, As after shall hyre; hyt declare And [MS. "Ant."] tell shall my wersom gost. With thes doughters thre he closed entire, [and he and his three daughters were enclosed in the mountain.] For ther moder lost, the soth to acquire. [ 4408] In this hy montain shitte up were thay tho, Neuer was knowen to what place were goo. [ 4410]

FOr-sothe helmas neuer issued oute; [ 4411] [Fol. 85 b.] Ther were thay shitte vp fro þat heder-to. [Ever since a huge giant had been their warden,] But in this montain, without any doute, hath euer sith be an hug Geant, loo! Wardain, with meruelous ouercomyng so [ 4415] That men ne durst noght it to approche ny. [and (till Geoffrey's coming) there had never been a man] Tyll your comyng now no man sain truly, [ 4417]

But that this Geant put to deth mortall; [ 4418] [whom the giant had not slain when they fought together.] So was he myghty and meruelous stronge. This contre hath he put to mischef all, Our kyng which we hild moste chefe vs Among litell hath fro hym deffended our wrong. [ 4422] [All of them had been forced to yield to Grimold the giant.] To grimold vs hath of Fors made yilding, Euermore sithen that helmas our king [ 4424]

INto such felowship was put and caste. [ 4425] Thys Grymold is the fifte Geant found, [Grimold was the fifth, the sixth, or perhaps the seventh of these wardens who had made war abound to all men.] The sixte, or the sefth of thaim hath be last, Wasting thys contre both the lande and ground, To All men making werre full habound [ 4429] Vnto the time of your blessed comyng, The which ben welcome to vs here beyng." [ 4431]

When that Gaffray hurd thes new nouels told, [ 4432] [When Geoffrey heard the news,] Full good and fair bene thes tydinges truly. Ther A gret oth made As man inly bold, [he took an oath that he would die as a recreant or else discomfit the giant.] Aforn thaim present to all openly, That he wold be dede ful recreantly [ 4436] Or discomfite wold this cruell Geant; He doubted no-thyng, the man so pusant. [ 4438]

The night passed, the fair day appering, [ 4439] [Fol. 86] Aforne thes Barons full twenty and mo [Next day Geof∣frey leapt on his courser,] Gaffray wightly on hys coursere leping, The Geant neuer doubted for no wo. leue toke, after went vp the montain tho; [ 4443] [and went up the mountain spurring him nimbly.] Full gret pain he had to go vp an-hy; Hys coursere sporing that ceason wightly, [ 4445]

That to the Roche cam, so spored and smote. [ 4446] Tournyng enuyron, the hole perceyuinge, [Perceiving the hole in the rock where the giant entered,] Auised and knew, well gan it to note That thys huge Geant ther had made entring. Fro hys coursere don̄ Anon ther leping, [ 4450] [he descended and looked in;] A-foote discended, in-warde gan behold. But to see within ne myght noght be [MS. "he."] told; [ 4452]

NO thyng he saw more then in a ouen he. [ 4453] [but saw no more than he would in an oven. "I wonder," says he, "how he got in, seeing he is so wondrously 'cor∣poral,' much more than I am.] Gaffray tho said, "Astoned am in all Wherby the Geant now here passed be, Sin þat gret thikke is, wonder corporall, Moche more then I am fourged personall. [ 4457] I knaw well that here or there entre made, Noght that way, but this, ran he full sad. [ 4459]

SE here now the place where he made entre, [ 4460] [See here the cave.] Se here now the caue, without Any doute, Where thys Geant entred in to se;

Thys is the gret Roche openly all-oute, [This is the great rock wherein the cave is hewn,] Where grene grasse hath non̄ growing there Aboute. The caue was hewin within large and brode [and it is big enough inside.] So As he myght ren without any bode. [ 4466]

FOr he was full huge, moche gretter then I ame. [ 4467] [Fol. 86 b.] But, so iesu crist me warde fro noisaunce, Whatsomeuer approch me of grame, [Whatever hap∣pens, I will seek him inside."] Me wil not withold by no gouernaunce But hym here within will seke þis instaunce." [ 4471] Entre made he tho ther in-to the grounde, [So he enters the cave.] For-soth ther within thought seke hym that stounde. [ 4473]

Iff that he be there, truly shall hym fynd. [ 4474] The spere lete don̄, ren the hed, be-forn lete goo; [Letting down his spear, he pushes the spear-head before him, and follows it, clench∣ing his teeth.] After ny sewed, derkly, As man blynd. Put hys feet before, noght drad, in went tho, Shittyng vp hys mouth with hys teeth also. [ 4478] Adon the spere lowe aualed he, [Thus came he to the bottom.] Till he cam vnto the botme and entre. [ 4480]

When at the botme was, hee gan take hys spere; Off An herd wode was, breke [MS. "bbreke."] wold not soth∣lesse; [His spear being of a hard wood, such as could not be broken,] Man better timbre neuer saw nawhere, For broken wold, ne had be good expresse; Inly good it was, to no breche gan dresse. [ 4485] Ny the hed the spere gan he take full prest, [he seizes it near the head, and goes on,] And forth went apas, lenger wold not rest. [ 4487]

After, Aferrome saw he hug clernesse, [ 4488] When a litell while forth ther he had go. The spere euermore Aforne hym gan dresse [pushing it always before him, test∣ing the way.] In tastyng the way, vntill that he tho Ariued and cam A fair place vnto, [ 4492] Where A chambre founde full fair wroght & well, [At last he arrives at a fair chamber.] There fourged and made was it of nouell. [Here follows the catchword—"she myght in no wise."] [ 4494]

She myght in no wise, lo! more fairer be. [ 4495] [Fol. 87] In ryght side And lifte wrought by good auise; Coruen in the roche full freshly was she; [It was carved in the rock, with no place of egress,] But o going oute perceiue myght no wise. Ryght fair it was And gentile to deuise, [ 4499] The rychesse gret prise, hard to attain, [and was full of all kinds of riches.] That in this chambre had was tho and sain. [ 4501]

She [MS. "Sshe."] All betan was with fine pured gold [ 4502] [It was adorned with pure gold and rich jewels.] Full of riche perrey, made [MS. "perreymade."] to gret maistry. Enmyddes A tombe of this chambre told. [In the midst was a tomb, supported on six pillars of fine gold.] Thys tombe sette vppon sixe pilours hy Off fyne masse gold, with perles many, [ 4506] A man shold not finde nawhere more fine; Precyous rich were, of huge medicine. [ 4508]

Above was had A knightly armed kyng, [ 4509] [Above it was a king, well formed of chalcedony.] Off cassedony will formed and made. Vppon this said tombe was he ther ligging, Resplendising fair in this chambre sprad. Ioynant ny ther-to A fair lady had, [ 4513] [and beside him a fair lady of alabaster.] Being in estat (who beheld with ey) Off Alabastre was this noble lady. [ 4515]

TO constantinoble fro-thens is no faill, [ 4516] Ne myght ymage finde with it to compare. Off this full strange sight Gaffray gan meruell, [Geoffrey marvels at this, but observes a tablet which the lady bare in her hands, on which was written the following:] An huge tablet this fair lady bar In hir handes twain all this to declare, [ 4520] Resembling to be fourged all of-new. In this tablet wrete As here shall ensew. [ 4522]

"Her [MS. "Hher."] light sir helmas, the full noble king, [ 4523] [Fol. 87 b.] Which me hath loste by hys gret deray ["Here lieth Sir Helmas the king, who promised me ere we were wed∣ded that, whilst I lay in child-bed,] Wherof I was And had huge estonyng. Thys noble kyng was full Amerous ay; Couenaunt me had, er spoused were Alway, [ 4527] That neuer day, whiles he gan endure, The time that I in Gesian ly sure, [ 4529]

HE shuld noght enquere by no maner way [ 4530] [he would never inquire about me, nor see me, till I was recovered.] Off my dedes, neither no wise me se, Towardes me noght come ne go no day, Till ceason And time I reised shold be. Tho it fel and cam, of my belay thre [ 4534] [Then it befell that I had three fair daughters at once,] Full faire doughtres had in this same yere, Which right gracyous And full hable were. [ 4536]

HElmas so gan do that he me gan se [ 4537] [and Helmas con∣trived to see me;] In such wise As I in my childbed lay. Anon ther fro hym I uanished me, [whereupon I vanished and took my daughters with me,] Such wise departed and thens fly my way; Neuer knew what part went I my iournay; [ 4541] And my doughtres thre forth with me lad, [and brought them up.] Al thaim norished vnto gret age had, [ 4543]

FVll well amended And right well gan growe. [ 4544] [When they were fifteen years old, I told them how] With my mylke tham fed, and milked all thre; After thaim told, when fiftene yeres gan owe,

The maner how I loste ther fader fre. [I had lost their father.] In [In the margin, "Auoblon y^e fayre contre."] Auoblon the fairy contre, [ 4548] The eldeste of birth, maried she was, [The eldest, Melu∣sine, was very vexed about it.] Melusine called in euery plas. [ 4550]

[Fol. 88 being lost, its place is here supplied from the French text, beginning on Fol. 103 b.]

[A ses deulx seurs, selon Raison, Compterent toute la chaison, Et dirent moy, que suis leur mere, Me vouldroient vengier de leur pere. Les trois filles furent daccort De Iecter sur leur pere vng sort, Pour me vengier du grant meffait Que par folie eust vers moy fait. A ce toutes segsentirent, [saffentirent (?).] Et dedens le mont enclouirent Helmas, qui leur pere estoit, Et qui menty sa foy auoit. Quant Il fut mort, Ie lenterray Soubz ceste tombe, & enserray, Et fiz ceste tombe ainsi faire, Ainsi figurer & pourtra[i]re; Dessus fiz mectre ma semblance, Affin quil en fust Ramembrance A cellui qui le tableau lyroit; Car ceans homme nentreroit, Sil nestoit de la lignie En avolon et en fairie De mes trois filles, dont pourrez Oyr parler quant vous vouldrez. Les geans a garder commis, De celle heure que cy la mis, Que nul entrast en ce passaige Sil nestoit yssu du lignaige. Ie ordonnay dons a mes filles

Qui gentes furent & abilles; A mellusine la maisnee, Qui moult estoit saige & senee, Ie luy donne don a sa vie, Depar lordre de faerie, Tant que le siecle dureroit, Le sempmedi serpent seroit; Et qui la vouldroit espouser, Delle ne deuoit addresser Ce Iour, mais soy garder moult bien, Quelle part quel fust, sur toute Rien; Que en cil estoit ne la veist, Ne qua nulluy ne le dist. Et qui celle Regle suiroit, Mellusine toudis vinroit Ainsi comme femme mortelle, Et poure femme naturelle; Puis mouroit naturelment, Comme les autres proprement. Melior, la fille moyenne, Qui tant fut belle crestienne, Vng don lui donne de faerie, Bien est Raison que le vous die. En vng chasteau fort & massis, Qui en armenye est assis, Voire, en grant la armenye, Ie luy ordonnay que sa vie Tendroit leans vng espriuer;]

[With her two sisters, as was right, they talked over every circumstance, and told me, who was their mother, they wished to avenge me on their father. The three daughters agreed to bring a fate upon their father, to avenge me of the great misdeed that he had foolishly done against me. To this they all assented, and enclosed within the mountain Helmas, who was their father, and who had broken his promise. When he died, I buried him beneath this tomb, and enclosed him there, and caused this tomb to be thus made, thus sculptured and painted. Thereon I caused my likeness to be put that there might be remembrance of it in him who should read the tablet. For never should man enter here except he were of the lineage (in Avalon and the fairy-country) of my three daughters, of whom you may hear tell when you will. I bade the giants to watch, from the hour I set them there, that none should enter by this passage except he were sprung of our line. I provided gifts for my daughters,

who were beautiful and fair: to Melusine, the eldest, who was very wise and prudent, I give her a gift for life (according to the order of fairies), that, as long as her life lasted, she should be a serpent every Saturday; and, whoever would marry her, must not approach her on that day, but take good heed, wherever he was, and in every thing. He must not see what she then was, nor tell anybody of it. And, whoever followed this rule, to him would Melusine always come just like a mortal woman, as women naturally do. Then should she die naturally, and as others usually do. To Melior, the second daughter, who was so fair a creature, I give a fairy-gift, and 'tis well that I should tell you what. In a castle strong and massive, which is situate in Armenia, (in great Armenia, verily,) I bade her that, during her life, she should keep a sparrow-hawk there;

Where it shall behoue nightes to wacche thre [ 4607] [Fol. 89] As ho which off hir demaunde A yifte wold, [Whoever wishes to ask a boon of her must watch there three nights, and he shall have it;] And what he desire I-graunted shall be; The firste demaunde demaundith ther haue shold. But not hir body desire haue ne holde; [ 4611] Off it Melior loke he noght require, [but he must not ask for herself.] Neither by no meene hir not desire. [ 4613]

NO knight wake ne shold but of hye birth were; And ho-so do slepe in tho nightes thre [But if he yield to somnolency, he shall be her pri∣soner for ever.] (Wher lytell or moche) in sampnolence there, Alway perpetuall there abide shall he In the paleis with melior the fre [ 4618] As prisonere in prison alway: [Such is the gift I give her.] Such gifte I hir giffe As this tyme dysplay. [ 4620]

PAlatine [The A being indistinct, it looks like "Prllatine;" see l. 5049.] the yongeste suster tho was, [ 4621] [Palestine, the youngest, shall have this destiny:] So named and called was at that day; To whom I desteined to purchas Such A maner gyfte As I you shall say: That in coinqs [Very indistinct.] the hy montain ay, [ 4625] [she shall dwell in a very high mountain, where men's hearts fail them,] Where failled hert haue men full many, Ensuffering full ofte ryght gret misery, [ 4627]

Ther to warde and kepe hir faders tresoure; [ 4628] [and shall there guard her father's treasure, till a knight of our lineage comes and takes it by force,] Enduryng hir life, in that place to be, Till som approche and come, of linage our, To that hy montain by fors and strenght he To ascende an-hye Aboue the hill to see, [ 4632] [and afterwards conquers Pales∣tine, the land of promise.] The tresour caste oute, and after shall conquere The lande of promission by hys powere. [ 4634]

Tho was the monte of whom we speke and say [ 4635] [Fol. 89 b.] Sette in Arrigon of trouth verily, [In the margin—Palestine yn a castell yn aragon.] , [This mountain is situated in Arra∣gon.] Which that is a thing knowen well be may. This presine to hyr doughters thre surely, Which were full hable and ryght faire to ey, [ 4639] [Thus Presine avenged herself on her three daughters,] On thaim the moder auenged that brayd, By the maner that Aboue is saide, [ 4641]

FOr ther fader helmas king of renon, [ 4642] [Because they shut up their father Helmas in the mountain in Avalon.] That thay enclosyd by ther wrong derain With-in the montain ther of Aualon; For by my faith I loued þat souerain, [For I (Presine) loved him heartily though he sinned against me."] how-be-it þat he misdede me Again; [ 4646] Off feith and of trouth I loued hym hertly With all the sprites of my body." [ 4648]

Ryght thus was And went the scripture saing; [ 4649] [Such was the writing on the tablet.] And when Gaffray, uaillant man and wurthy, Had radde thys tablet, he moch meruelling; [After reading it Geoffrey greatly wondered whether he was of Pre∣sine's lineage or not.] But yut he knew noght uerray certainly, But santred and doubted uerryly [ 4653] Wher on was or no of this saide linage. Fro-thens went Gaffray with full fers corage, [ 4655]

Inly faste cerching als both low and hy, [ 4656] [Passing thence he searches for Grimold every∣where,] Where that Grimold in Any place finde myght; So thens departed passyng ouer lightly. Al the wais toke and sought thys huge wight, Grimold myght not fynde ne of hym haue syght. Streight Aforn hym A fair feld gan behold, [and at last sees a fair field with a tower in it.] Ther perceyuyng A square tour, A strong hold.

The gate saw open, the barreres [MS. "barrores."] undo; [ 4663] [Fol. 90] Into the hous Gaffray went Anon, [The gate being open he enters and sees a number of prisoners be∣hind a great lattice;] Stifly And bigly his spere holdyng tho. In a gret latise be-held manyon, Al prisoneres where in warde thai echon. [ 4667] Of hym wondred And merueled strongly, [they warn him off,] And on of thaim said, "go hens ful quikly! [ 4669]

I Concell you," said, "depart hens Anon [ 4670] [lest the giant should destroy him.] That this huge Geant in no wise you se;

Or in-to som hole go, uoyding his person, Or with the Geant distroed shall ye be!" Gaffray laughed; after demaunded he, [ 4674] [But he laughs, and asks where the giant can be found,] Which on his necke bare A spere full grete, Iff that the Geant he myght funde or gette, [ 4676]

With hym thought to fight, hys purpos uerily. [ 4677] [for he is come to fight him. One of the pris∣oners again warns him to go,] On of thaim hym said, "se hym shall Anon, And I beleue ye will it sore aby iff he you se, for strong is of person; To deth will you put forsothe er ye gon." [ 4681] Gaffray to hym said, "my ryght full suete frende, [but Geoffrey tells him not to fear,] haue ye no drede but of your-selfe at end; [ 4683]

Alone shall I bere the strokes And dedes, [ 4684] [as he can fight the giant alone.] For Alone I haue take this enterprise." yn the same moment, places, and stede [Just then the giant came up, and, perceiving Geoffrey, fled into a chamber hastily,] Gaffray with long toth the Geant gan auise, That iuged was to deth, wel gan aduertise. [ 4688] he strongly ther fled As he myght goodly, A chambre perceiued, in went rabbishly, [ 4690]

THe dore after drew; Gaffray gan it sse, [ 4691] [Fol. 90 b.] After sped Apace, yrously being; [and drew the door after him.] Smiting hastyli, the dore gan vp fle, [But Geoffrey follows, and bursts the door open with a kick, and enters.] With þat stroke the dorn ["dore" (?).] Withe the sole of fote was he tho smiting. [ 4695] Into chambre-floure the doure made fle lightly; For all barred was, entred he wightly. [ 4697]

A [s]quare maillet the Geant gan hold; [ 4698] [The giant smites Geoffrey with a mallet, and would have slain him, but for his helmet.] Vppon Gaffray hed ther-with yaf wightly. With that stroke he was stoned manyfold; Ne had hys helmet [MS. "helyet." Fr. text, heaulme.] be full strong and myghty,

Gaffray had he slain, so caused to dy. [ 4702] And yut not-for-that Gaffray tombled there. [Geoffrey falls, but rises again,] Anon releuing in wighty manere, [ 4704]

THen hym saide Gaffray, "of the haue full fair, [ 4705] [and says, "I re∣ceived then a fair stroke, and now I will repay it."] But Anon I shall yilde it unto the, With my swerde the teere, not will make retrair." Gaffray drew hys swerd, harde well ground to se, [Drawing back he lunges at him, driving the sword through him up to the hilt.] Withe the bakke went, so harde the Geant smote he, Gaffray his good swerd so put thorugh hym tho, Thorugh the breste the crosse was it unto; [ 4711]

Fro part in-to part hym perced ouer all. [ 4712] [Then fell the giant who had so often made men thralls.] The Geant to grounde our-torned tho, Which so ofte had made many men full thrall. No-thyng was he wurth, right noght myght he do, Where cursedly had don with his maillet soo. [ 4716] A meruelus cry vp he cast þat stound, [He cast up a marvellous cry, and all the tower sounded.] All the toure souned when he fill to ground. [ 4718]

THys Geant tho fall to mortal deth colde [ 4719] [Fol. 91] With that mighty stroke Gaffray hym yeuyng. Gaffray drew hys swerde ther oute fro Grimold, [Then Geoffrey drew his sword out of Grimold, and put it in the scabbard.] Into hys scaberge Again hym puttyng. Ther ryght no lenger wold he be byding, [ 4723] To the prisoneres fro-thens Anon went, [Then he went to the prisoners,] And to demaunde thaim was full diligent [ 4725]

IF of Norbelande thei were As was told, [ 4726] [and asked if they came from North∣umberland, and why they were in prison.] And what maner thyng gain hym hade misdo, And wherfor in preson he tham gan hold. Anon on said, "for trewage was it tho [They said it was because they had not paid the giant] That the gret Geant yeuen had vnto; [ 4730]

The which, sir, is noght yut hym paid no wyse, [the tribute they owed him.] Wherfor this now bide All his tirandise." [ 4732]

GAffray Answered, "ioyous And glad be, [ 4733] ["Rejoice then," said Geoffrey, "for ye are struck out of his papers,] Now Full merily demene you Amonge, For of his paupires strike oute plain be ye! Here hym haue I slain And put to dethe stronge; [and I have ac∣quitted you of your tribute by killing him."] Neuer shall he you At no day do wrong. [ 4737] Of trouth mortall deth haue I put hym to, your trewage haue I now here aquitte so." [ 4739]

WHen thes nouels hurde, ioyous therof were; [ 4740] [Then they were glad and asked Geoffrey to let them out.] Gaffray thay besought thaim deliuer oute. He Answering said, "do shall my powere." Tho cerched, enquered, And went Aboute, [So Geoffrey searched till he found the keys, and coming to the 200 prisoners,] Till the keys Founde with-out any doute. [ 4744] And when he thaim had resorted Again, Where too hundert were And mo in certain, [ 4746]

THe lateis unshitte where-in prisoned were, [ 4747] [Fol. 91 b.] Presently thaim al gaf he leue to go. [undid the lattice, and gave them leave to go.] Fro-thens issued thay with gladsom chere, That nouelles pleased and greed well to That escape shold thys painfull prison fro. [ 4751] Into the chambre Gaffray tho thaim lade [Geoffrey leads them to the chamber where lies the giant.] To se this Geant dede and cold ther had. [ 4753]

Euery man hym blissed of Gaffray, [ 4754] Ther meruellyng gretly of this auenture, [All wonder how Geoffrey could kill this monster, of so "unfitting" a stature.] Hym to haue in such herdinesse Alway To assail such A hiduous creature Off so wonderfull unfittyng stature, [ 4758] Thys gret monstre, huge, large, and cruell, Which so meruelous was, felenous and fell. [ 4760]

Euery man blissid, euery man said [ 4761] [They all said they had never seen such a man] That neuer such a man ther dais gan se.

To thaim saing Gaffray, "hire me now þis braide, [in all their days.] Here now ye Barons acquitail haue by me; [Geoffrey tells them they now owe the giant nothing,] Vnto this Geant no more owe shall ye. [ 4765] Full moch good hath within thys dongon; Barons, you it yeue into your bandone, [ 4767]

And all that is here you it gyffe frely, [ 4768] [but that they may carry away all the treasures they can find, for he would have nothing for himself.] Both gold and hauour here, all that his wace. hit reioys and take, for noght haue will I; here you will commaunde to our lordes grace, Take all þat here is in this tour and place. [ 4772] To tary or byde certes will noght here, To labour will go in place ellyswhere; [ 4774]

LEnger will noght bide, dwelle, ne tary." [ 4775] [Fol. 92] "your mercy and grace," thai to hym gan say, [They thank him greatly,] "So it myght you please off your courtessy, Euery of us you beseke and pray [and ask him how he came there, where no one dared come for the giant.] Wherby ye come in to say us your way, [ 4779] Where for the Geant non durste make entre, That dede and recreant here lith now may see."

There Gaffray thaim declared all and told. [ 4782] [Geoffrey tells them,] When thay had hym hurde, on said hym vnto, "Neuer fro this Roche issued man so bold [and they all say that no man so bold ever issued from the rock, except the giant and his anteces∣sors,] Excepte this Geant ligging ded here, lo! And his cruell antecessoures also, [ 4786] By whom to greuous torment put we be; Exiled and wasted haue thai our contre, [ 4788]

BOth tho gret and small haue thay had in hate; [ 4789] [who had slain 400 knights.] Distroed also all that thai finde might,

Foure houndred haue slain, preuyng well þis date. Now our sorow ye haue vnto an ende dight, And Als put to end the fary work ryght. [ 4793] [They said too that they would accompany him till he found his own people.] With you shall retorn, going vppon way, Till that your peple approche and fynde may."

THes Barouns thaim made tho full redy [ 4796] [Then they set the giant's body up upon a cart,] To put this Geant ther a carte uppon; An-hy hym dressed As for to cary, Neuer saw man to sightes uision So gret As was this Geant enuiron, [ 4800] Euery man blessed that hym gan se; [to which it was fast bound and attached.] Well bounde and tacked to that carte was he. [ 4802]

Thorugh the contre went, hym carying; [ 4803] [Fol. 92 b.] Wherouer thai rode and passid full faste. [Wherever they went all men marvelled at the monster,] Of this said monstre al men merueling, Wherof the peple Abasshed and agast. Forsoth euery man blissed thaim in haste [ 4807] [and blessed the hour when Geoffrey came there.] The hour that Gaffray ariued at þat coste, That thaim deliuerd of this cursed goste. [ 4809]

GAffray conueed to his peple that houre, [ 4810] huge honour and gold hym ther presenting; And full humbly gan do hym ther honour, [They would gladly have made Geoffrey their king,] So As for ther lorde thai hym holding, For passed And dede was their noble king. [ 4814] But he wold no wise lenger ther sogourn̄, [but he would in no wise longer sojourn there.] But to lusignen wold he tho retourn̄. [ 4816]

Off ther huge honour wold he take no-thyng, [ 4817] Retourn̄ wold ther-thens without bode any. Gaffray, which no man [MS. "noman."] neuer was doubtyng, [Then he leapt upon his courser,] Vppon his coursere anon lepte lightly As he which was both doubty and wurthy. [ 4821]

"Adieu," tho he said, "Adieu you commaund, [and bade the barons adieu.] ye noble Barons present of Norbeland, [ 4823]

TO you leue the warde of this contre." [ 4824] Fro-thens deperted, semyng ther to longe, [Then he and his people galloped fast till they came to the sea.] With hym his peple ridyng As shold be. Ther rode A gret stour, waloping ful stronge, Till to se cam; A barge gan he to fonge, [ 4828] [There he took ship, desiring to see his father and Melusine.] Desiryng to se his fader of blode, And Melusine his gentile moder goode. [ 4830]

HE taried noght, sailled And rowed soo, [ 4831] [Fol. 93] That he approched Guerrand tho full ny; [The wind was good and he soon came to port.] The winde was good, he strongly sailled tho, That in litell while to port cam surely. And when Gaffray had hauyn ueryly, [ 4835] [Then he disem∣barked and ar∣rived at Lusignan that same night.] Anon A-land he descended ryght, And ther Ariued certes þat same night. [ 4837]

All the wordle anon wenten hym Again, [ 4838] [All the world came to meet him, and Raymond with the rest.] Men, wemen, children, of ech side moste and leste; The Barons fested this hy souerain, hys fader Raymounde vnto hym cam preste. Gaffray hym salute As man moste vmbleste, [ 4842] [Geoffrey salutes him humbly, embraces and kisses him.] Wightly Anon hym Gaffray gan enbrace, Neuer at more ease of hert he ne wace; [ 4844]

His uisage and mouth ther gan he to kisse. [ 4845] Into a chambre both thai made entre, [Then they entered a chamber and talked together.] Wherof many thinges spake thai, I-wisse, Many tales told ther Gaffray the fre, [Geoffrey told his father many tales, and next he is told how he had caused the loss of his mother.] And Raymound to hym that in mynde wold be [ 4849] hou hys moder lost he had and lete. With malicious wreth Gaffray gan suete; [ 4851]

Well Auised hym it was for his syne [ 4852] [He knew it was for his sin in burning the abbey of Maillezais.] That his fader had wrethed heuyly so, By monkes he hade stroyed maillers yn; With flammes of fire thaim bruled and brend to, An hundred ther were in that minstre tho. [ 4856] Then on the tablet hys thought & mynde gan draw, [Then he remem∣bers the tablet he saw in the mount∣ain of Avalon,] Which in the montain of Aualon saw, [ 4858]

Fro wurde to wurde al thorughly in hert be ["he" (?).] rad [ 4859] [Fol. 93 b.] Vppon the tombe of noble king helmas. [upon the tomb of king Helmas.] Tho knew he Full well where melusine was hade [Then he knew that Melusine must be Helmas' daughter.] Doughter to the kyng which lay in þat place, And that helmas, this noble kyng, wace [ 4863] Fader to Melusine his moder good; Where-vppon he thought long while he ther stoode.

When he vnderstode, knowing it clerely, [ 4866] [When he knew that Raymond had been tempted by the earl of Forest,] hou that [MS. "thai."] Raymounde his noble fader tho By erle of foreste his brother naturally Toward Melusine had made diffautte so, With An hautain uois Gaffray said, wold go, [ 4870] [he sware an oath that he would go and kill him.] (Wher-to he swere full fast his gret oth), That shortly he wold distroy hym for soth. [ 4872]

SO fro-thens with wreth Gaffray partid then, [ 4873] [Away he goes with ten chosen knights,] his fader [MS. "brother;" Fr. text, pere.] his parte went right heuily, With full wurthy noble knightes ten, Stronge, hable, and light, men sad and myghty, Tho ten wurth well other knightes twenty; [ 4877] [who were worth twenty others, and the result was this:] here you shal declare by fortone hou gan fal. Gaffray so strongly ther rode forth with-all, [ 4879]

SO on way faste sped, so forth low and hy, [ 4880] [they rode till they came to the castle where the earl was;] That he approched the erledome vnto Off the forest, where was this Erle wurthy, Which in a castell abiding [MS. "obiding."] was tho. Gaffray to that parte drew hym fast to goo [ 4884] [then Geoffrey entered that fort] Where the Erle shold haue ill hansell anon, In-to thys said strenght entred his person, [ 4886]

Within he entred vnware sodenly, [ 4887] [Fol. 94] Off no creature perceiued at all. [suddenly and unperceived.] With full yrous wreth Gaffray meued hy, [Moved with wrath he neither saluted any nor spake,] He salute non, ne spake to gret ne small, But discended don̄ A-forn the gret hall, [ 4891] The grees Ascended, many to accounte, [but ascended the steps of the great hall,] hys uncle the Erle ther, named Fromounte, [In the margin—geffre kyld hys v[nkull] erle of foreste.] [ 4893]

Enmyddes his peple hym ther gan find, [ 4894] [and found his uncle Fromont there amongst his people.] Which were full noble And ryght gentile to, Wice, sage, And wele taught As any to mynde. Gaffray As wode man drawing his swerd tho, [Drawing his sword, he declares him a traitor,] Ther crying, "traitor, thy lif lost And goo! [ 4898] By thy neclygens my moder haue loste!" Thys Erle it hurde, his blode gon almoste, [ 4900]

HIs mortall deth saw; being in such fray, [ 4901] [and terrified his uncle, who fled away in great trouble.] Gaffray he doubted in hert that instaunce, Knowyng well by hym tho wurdes gan say Wherof Gaffray had to hert such noysaunce. Fro-thens he fly with huge comeraunce. [ 4905] Neuer-for-neuer stode he in such drede, [Never had he been so frightened; he entered the tower] The tour entred, the dore founde ope in dede,

THe grees Ascended ryght so As he myght; [ 4908] [and ascended the steps.] But so gan noght do As his hert tho wold; [But Geoffrey hastened after him,] For After hasted Gaffray As man wight,

Which pursued hym, chausing to that hold, [pursuing him so fast that the earl had to flee alone;] Strongly hym sewed And sharply manyfold, [ 4912] Openly after other gan to fle; With hym had the Erle non of hys mayne [ 4914]

As man that so was gentile ne so goode [ 4915] [Fol. 94 b.] Which with hym fro-thens in no wyse wold go; [for all ran down the steps as if they were mad;] The grees descended, fered as were woode, Eche hym-selfe to saue in best wise cowd tho, Ther liffes to saue Gaffray criing vnto. [ 4919] For fere of taking full faste thay fle, [being greatly afraid of being caught.] Thay sore doubted lest taking shold be. [ 4921]

GAffray fly After thys Erle hastily, [ 4922] Sweryng that he shold dy ther with gret shame. The Erle Ascended into this tour quickly, [Thus the earl ran up into the tower and got to the top as soon as he could. Geoffrey sware that he would not spare him.] As sone As he myght to hiest stage came. Gaffray swere his oth, for linage ne fame, [ 4926] Wold spare hym to slay, lif take fro his gost, Syn his moder good by hym so hath loste. [ 4928]

FOr drede the Erle swatte And sore trembled tho [In extreme terror the earl leapt up to a window and,] When that he saw, brefly vnto say, That by no men[e] myght ferther passe ne go. At A fenestre lepte in that affray Vppon the hedde, failling foote that day; [ 4933] [missing his foot∣ing, fell on his head upon the rock.] Fro that place glint þat full hy tho was, Don vppon the Roch A fall gan purchas. [ 4935]

In that point was he mis[c]heuosly dede [ 4936] [Thus this earl of Forest died by his own folly,] With dolorous wo And full heuy shame, Thys Erle of foreste in said place and stede. Alas! by hys owne gret folay it came,

hys peple [MS. "pepll."] hauyng hug sorow and grame. [ 4940] [and Geoffrey caused his body to be buried,] The body Gaffray made vnto entere; After do made cryes in ech stede awhere, [ 4942]

As vnto the Erle beforn had thay do, [ 4943] [Fol. 95] To Raymounde his brother in like wise homage, [and proclaimed his own brother Raymond the lord of Forest.] All enheritors of the contre tho. And As thaim had said Gaffray the sage, Euery accorded vnto his langage. [ 4947] Ther Gaffray wold noght lenger to sogourn̄, [This done, he returned to Lu∣signan,] To-ward lusignen faste gan he retourn̄, [ 4949]

In shorte and bref tyme parted fro that place. [ 4950] Vnto lusignen entred, fast ridyng, [and soon came to his father, who was sore lamenting the earl's death.] Where his gud fader tho dolorous was, Which full heuily was ther waymenting For that noght unknow, (full sor lamenting), [ 4954] How hys brother distroyed was þat day; [Raymond ex∣claims,] Raymound said, "of it gret dolour haue may,

An my wife haue lost, exile my contre, [ 4957] ["All is due to my sin and vice:] By my cruell sin And my wicked vice; Iesu crist, my soull warde and kepe to the, Fro [MS. "For."] thys worle me will put by good auice, [I will quit the world and its fame, and make a pil∣grimage to the holy Apostle at Rome,] Neuer seke no-thyng to conquere franchise. [ 4961] To confesse my syn wandre shall and goo, With good hert shall say the hole Postell to [ 4963]

Off Rome, that lyon men do name and call, [ 4964] [whom men call Leo.] After, so god will, chese shall my dwellyng, Recluse and shit vp in strange contre shall, [I will then be∣come a recluse in a strange country,] In which stede will not be know for no thyng. In that place shall I my life be using [ 4968] In deuoute prayers And in orison, [and spend my life in prayer."] All vnto acquire my sauacion." [ 4970]

Ryght As Raymounde hym sore complayned, [lo!] [Fol. 95 b.] In plaintes, wepinges, he bathed was; [Geoffrey, alight∣ing from horse∣back, tarried not at the dismount∣ing stone,] And when that Gaffray was descendid tho, At the perron longe bode not in þat place, At castell finding hys fader by grace. [ 4975] [but sought his father and craved his pardon,] But hys moder noght founde, ne saw with ey, Wherefor to hys fader cried mercy, [ 4977]

With hert sore contrite therof repenting [ 4978] [bitterly repenting his wickedness.] Off that he had don so moche wickednesse. On knees mercy ther hym faste crying, Raymounde sore wepte with eyes bitternesse: ["It needs not," said Raymond, "to mourn longer: you cannot bring your mother back again,] "Hyt nedith noght," said, "more haue pensifnesse, I know well that ye by no mene this day your moder recouer certes ye ne may. [ 4984]

I can noght," he said, "werke ne labour soo [ 4985] [nor can I restore the dead to life.] As tho mortall ded ther lif to surrend. The Abbay and mynstre fourge and make most, lo! [You must rebuild the abbey which you burnt in your folly."] Which fair place ye haue distroid and shend. An hundred monkes with-in also brend [ 4989] By your meruelous And wondre corage, As by your folay and full gret outrage." [ 4991]

GAffray Answerd, "sire, I shall it doo [ 4992] [Geoffrey promises to do so.] Within ryght bref tyme, so our lord please may." Then Raymound hym hild in hert content tho; "More fairer shall be then Aforn was ay;" [Raymond says, "It should be built up so as to be fairer than before;] Raymound hym said, "appere will it alway [ 4996] That which ye will do men full well shall se, Perceyued to ey, knowen well will bee. [ 4998]

HEre will you leue, to good ende come may. [ 4999] [Fol. 96] A litell way me moste go in pilgrimage, [but I must leave you now,]

Which promysed haue god aforn this day, [for I go on a pil∣grimage.] Put ther-to haue both hert, wyll, and corage, My contre you shall leue, warde it as the sage; [ 5003] [You shall guard the country and take care of your youngest brother.] Non other will I of it haue the garde. your yongest broder wyll loke þat ye warde, [ 5005]

PArtenay hym gif with thes castelles echon [ 5006] [Give him Parthe∣nay, Vouvant, Aiglon, and Mer∣vent,] Off vavuent, Ayglon, And also Meruent, He thaim to hold in hys subieccion In pees without contradiccion hent; [and all the country as far as Rochelle;] Anon to Rochel [MS. "Rachel."] my wife wold so went. [ 5010] For gretly of hym she gan speke and say, [for so Melusine gave direction."] That contre he shold iustice alway. [ 5012]

I Hym make my proper enheritour, [ 5013] For yut shall he be wurthy terrenly." Gaffray Answered, "I grant to will you, [Geoffrey pro∣mises to do so,] Alway your plesur shall I do surely, Full well shall I warde my brother Thierry; [ 5017] [and tells his father he need not fear its not being done.] In that doubte ye noght, in no maner point, Sin ye me commaunde, gree to such a ioynt." [ 5019]

RAymounde his ui[a]ge Full faste made redy, [ 5020] [Raymond, all being made ready for his journey, sets off.] When he redy was, taried ne reste; Of uitaill and wyn toke sufficiantly, [MS. "sufficiantily."] Al hys peple commaunded to god prest. At the departson sughed sore in breste. [ 5024] Hys leue gan he take with amyable loue fine, [He takes leave of his people and goes to Rome.] Towarde Rome hys way hild he streight As lyne.

GAffray and Thierry suettly on the way [ 5027] [Fol. 96 b.] long space and tyme thare fader conueing; [Geoffrey and Thierry go with their father; and, on the road, Geoffrey relates] In ther forth-progresse told and said Gaffray, hou that good helmas the full noble kyng

Within the Roch founde, wher non durst be commyng [how he found good king Helmas within the rock,] Enlesse he were strong, wurthy, wyse, and sage, And that issued oute of hys linage; [ 5033]

TOlde where the tombe was pight and sette truly [and how he had seen Helmas' tomb,] Vppon thes riche and gret pilours of gold; Of presine told he also veryly, [and Presine's image in ala∣baster,] Hou she portraed was in being, told; At foote of helmas tombe hir figure vnfold [ 5038] Of Alebastre compassed and made; [and the tablet which her hand held.] And of the tablet that she hild and had; [ 5040]

ANd then all that hurde Aboue haue ye. [ 5041] Raymounde reioyed hys wife doughter was [Raymond rejoiced to hear Melusine was of such high descent, and seemed in his joy a foot taller.] Off syre helmas, king which Gaffray gan se, And of presine, the courtois, full of grace; For gladnes A foote [MS. "Afoote."] in hithe gan purchace. [ 5045] After declaryng went by witty engine [Afterwards Geof∣frey tells about Presine's gifts] All the gyfftes that ther gaf presine [ 5047]

Unto Melior and to Melusine, [ 5048] [to Melior, Melu∣sine, and Palatine,] And to palatine, wemen of fayree; [MS. "fayrer."] And, As men Affermeth by scripture fine, [and how Presine loved Helmas dearly.] That Aboue all helmas louid hyly Presine, aboue wrete verray perfectly. [ 5052] When that Gaffray had All thes thynges said, [Raymond again rejoices.] Raymounde hertly glade reioyng that braide, [ 5054]

That Gaffray gan hire voluntarily. [ 5055] [Fol. 97] After thes sones too hym conueyng, [Thus his two sons brought him on his way,] With hym vppon way went full merily. At nyght when thai cam vnto ther loging, [and bring him at night to his lodging.] Hys sones of hym the morn̄ leue taking, [ 5059]

To-geders kissed at the parting leue, [Next morn they take their leave,] And so the mornyng departed in breue. [ 5061]

RAymounde ther Fader sped hym on hys way; [ 5062] [and there was great weeping on both sides.] Ther no creature but watry teeres shad; The Fader wepte, the sones Als that day, Euery of thaim in misery had, Raymound thens went; Gaffray Terry with hym lad, [ 5066] [Then Geoffrey and Thierry went back;] Thay retorned to Approche ther home, And the Fader went streight forth vnto Rome. [and Raymond went on to Rome.]

Ryght thys departed ther wais thes thre, [ 5069] Ther-thens to lusignen went Gaffray. [In the margin—geffrey lord of lusygnen & terry lord of [partenay.]] . [Geoffrey went to Lusignan, and Thierry to Partenay. A description of Thierry.] To partenay went Terry that contre, yonge, lusty, ioly, inly fresh And gay, Hardy, myghty, fers, entrepreignant ay, [ 5073] To ladies swete was amyable, huge of body, wel formed As man able. [ 5075]

MAny were ther noght with hym to compare, [ 5076] [The good quali∣ties of Thierry are here enumer∣ated.] For he was An in beuteuous fair knyght; Strong, myghty, wourthy, And light to declare, And off All peplle douted was he ryght; Neuer put A-bake, manly was of myght; [ 5080] A notable man was he of corage, A good werriour, subtile, wise, And sage. [ 5082]

DOubted of all, wher by [MS. "wherby."] fors, were, or wit, [ 5083] [Fol. 97 b.] Euery man obbeid hym lowly In all hys marches, where wrong or ryght were it. In noble Bretain gan he to mary, [In the margin—terre maryd a lady of bretayn.] , [Thierry married a lady of high degree, who came from Britain, and who was very wealthy.] Affyed and sured to A gret lady, [ 5087] Which discended was of ryght hy lynage, And als she hauyng full huge heritage. [ 5089]

TErry seignoried A full large contre, [ 5090] [From Thierry descended the line of Parthenay,] Hattyd of no man; of hym gan issew Of pertenay the lyne of verite, [a line which is still distinguished for virtue,] As in this history doth to ensew, Which hyly regneth yut in huge vertew; [ 5094] God wold such heires of tham shold come That the line noght faill to the day of dome! [ 5096]

Ryght As declared And sayd Melusine [ 5097] [according to Melusine's pre∣diction.] That the said line shold haue long endurance, And that thay shold do good dedes and fine; And so haue thay done wel to rememberaunce In many placis, wherof reste I this instaunce; [ 5101] Ouer long wold be to declare and tell, [It were tedious to relate all their great deeds.] Ther wurthy dedes vnto say or spell. [ 5103]

GAffray tho made Aboute for to sende, [ 5104] [Geoffrey sent everywhere for masons,] Masons of iche sid come with-out delay; He rought noght what theron shold dispend, For in thought wold restore the Abbay [who rebuilt the abbey of Mail∣lezais which he had burnt.] Off Maillers, that was brend þat oder day. [ 5108] Off euery part masons ther comyng, Ther wages well paid, content þaim holdyng. [ 5110]

FOurged and made was in A somer tide [ 5111] [Fol. 98] More fairer then euer it was before, [It was rebuilt so as to be fairer than before:] Off whom men speken, talking large and wide, Hym ofte mocking And saing euermore, [so that men mar∣velled, and said that Geoffrey had become a monk after all!] "Gaffrey is become A monke for all hys lore, [ 5115] Neuer trowed man for to se that houre A wolfe to become An herdly pastour!" [ 5117]

I leue shall Gaffray; of hys fader say, [ 5118] [I return to Ray∣mond, who confessed all his sins] Which to Rome to the holy fader came Hys confession to declare alway;

In conclusion spared for no shame, [in full to the pope,] Neuer no-thyng hid, but all gan proclame. [ 5122] The holy fader wondred on that he told, [who wondered at the strange things he told him,] Off tho merueles that ther gan vnfold. [MS. "vnfuld."] [ 5124]

Wherefor shold I hold long tale this instaunce? [ 5125] For his synnes gaff penaunce full sharpely. [and appointed Raymond a penance,] Raymound ther it toke to right gret plesaunce, Promittyng he wold do it full gladly [which he pro∣mised to perform before returning to Poitiers.] Or he entre wold in peyters suerly. [ 5129] To hys holy fader said with all his hert, And that thens wold go in-to som desert, [ 5131]

SO in wild exile all hys lif using [ 5132] [He undertakes to live a hermit's life for Melusine's sake,] For fair Melusine his loue, wife, and spouse, In many somers And winters being, Which that he hath lost by dedes shameuous, And serpent become wondre hiduous: [ 5136] Sayng, neuer wold hir put in oblyuy [saying that he would never forget her,] Ne in that contre neuer entre surely, [ 5138]

NEuer-For-neuer in hys life no day, [ 5139] [Fol. 98 b.] Where hys suete loue loste by hys owne speche; [nor return to the place where he lost her.] Which in oblyuy with hym be ne may. This holy fader gan pray and beseche [He craves the pope's pardon;] That of his illes he wold be hys leche. [ 5143] The pope, that time named and called lyon, [and Pope Leo, accordingly,] Said to hym, "where is your deuocion [ 5145]

FOr to go and do ioyned pennaunce?" [ 5146] [asks him where he thinks of going to.] Raymound Answered as man deboner, "At Montfarrant bide is my hole plesaunce, [Raymond answers, "To Montserrat in Arragon,] Ther become hermite with-out any retrayr, To goddis honour And seruice repair. [ 5150]

For elleswhere can I noght me hold, [where there is fair sojourning."] Full fair sogernyng ther is, me is tolde. [ 5152]

There is A deuoute solitary place." [ 5153] "Go [MS. "So." Fr. text, Alez y done.] where plese may our sacred lord an-hy, [Leo bids him go;] That your sauacion ye may purchace," This lion the pope said to hym suetly. In bref terme Raymound parted thens truly, [ 5157] [and Raymond sets off, soon coming to Toulouse,] So strongly he rode, passyng forth the way, That within Thoulouse cam without delay. [ 5159]

Full moche peple Again hym tho went; [ 5160] He ther yeuyng leue to hys mayne plain, [where he bids adieu to his men,] Ech satefied with goodes sufficient; With hym A prest had, An honest chapelain, [sending them all home except a yeoman and a chaplain.] A yeman also for hys owne demain. [ 5164] More had ne toke at that entreuall, Ther unto our lord commaunded hys men all; [At the bottom of the page is the catchword—"Hermites Robes full."]

HErmites Robes full faste lete doo make, [ 5167] [Fol. 99] In Arrygon toke hys logge and repair. [Next he has her∣mit's robes made, and goes to Arragon, and so becomes a hermit at Montserrat.] At the Mont-sarrat manson gan to take, yilding hym hermyte As man debonair, God to serue with orisons and [MS. "and and."] praiers fair; [ 5171] Properly to take for hys heritage his byding in this wild montain sauage. [ 5173]

WIth hym hys yeman And full noble prest [ 5174] [His yeoman and chaplain lived with him there,] In this hermitage toke habitacion, With full greabill hertis in ther breste, Ther being in sore huge affliccion [and thus Ray∣mond forsook the world,] long time and space with good deuocyon̄. [ 5178]

The worle all forsoke at that houred stound, [and lived there devoutly] And full deuoutly liued ther Raymound [ 5180]

TIll ende approched, to mortall deth went. [ 5181] [till his death.] But dais thre aforn full well perceuyng [Three days before his death, the serpent was seen going round Lusignan;] Aboute lusignen to vew the serpent, Where lande and rent Aforn̄ was renonsing; Whom moch peple ofte haue be seing; [ 5185] [so that more than twenty, who had well heard Melusine say] To knowliche nombred mo then twenty That of Melusine will hurde say truly— [ 5187]

The time and ceason departing thaim fro— [ 5188] [that she would thus appear,] That when the castell change ther lordes shold, Aforne wold she appere to sight, lo! Thre days aboute thys said castell wold Off fair lusignen, full beuteuous hold. [ 5192] Wherefor many sain in ther willd reuell, [know that they are soon to have a new lord.] "After appArens, shall haue A lord nouell." [ 5194]

GAffray tho lorde of this said castell, [ 5195] [Fol. 99 b.] Which so fair was, and lord of contre; [Geoffrey was then lord of the castle, and held it in peace.] That hy honour and seignory full well Pesibilly in pece it hold gan he. Tho fro Thoulouse made baronage & mayne [ 5199] [Then came to him the barons whom Raymond had dismissed,] That Raymound with hym lad when to Rome went; Excepte yeman and preste all home he sent. [ 5201]

Thai vnto Gaffray declared and told, [ 5202] [and told him how his father was now a hermit and had sent them home.] The trouth and verite said thay outerly, hou his fader an hermite was and hold, And hou fro tham departed wilfully, And hou his goodes parted gentilly. [ 5206] [Geoffrey sends for his brother, and, leaving Lusignan in his charge,] Gaffray vnderstode, hys brother after send, All contre to hym gan he recommend. [ 5208]

FRo-thens departed, with hym peple few, [ 5209] [departs for Rome,] Gaffray the corteis, gentile and connyng. [MS. "comyng."] lenger wold not bide, toke hys leue by rew, hasted to complesh his dedes doing. [to accomplish all he had to do.] Mistre ne nede non more be declaryng, [ 5213] But to tary time and long wold it be [It were long to tell all.] Euery thyng to put in hys certainte. [ 5215]

Unto the pope cam, And hym gan confesse [ 5216] [He confessed to the pope,] With gret repentaunce full deuoutly; Off his synny cr[i]me lefte [MS. "lefte." Fr. text, laissa.] not more ne lesse, Full dolerus was and repentant truly [and was very penitent for the wickedness he had done in his youth.] Off his wickednesse don̄ consentyngly, [ 5220] And þat he had don̄ in his youthnesse soo, With sore hert contrite all confessed thoo [ 5222]

PRoperly all that in conscience finde myght. [ 5223] [Fol. 100] The pope asso[i]led hym ther benyngly, [The pope assoiled him, and charged him to rebuild the abbey of Mail∣lezais,] When declared hade hys dedes vnperfight. To fourge the abbey charged hym gretly Off Maillers without tarying any, [ 5227] Such pennaunce charged hym his synnes fore, [and fill it with monks to the number of 120,] With monkes it stuffe, montance of sex score;

With rentes endowing to haue brede and wyne, [ 5230] [and so to endow the abbey that they should never lack bread or wine.] That lacke and faill non winter ne somer tide To wat necessite or nede to incline. Again the abbay to forge loke prouide, That distroed haue And disherite wide. [ 5234] Gaffray answerd, "sir, I shall do all, [Geoffrey promises to do this,] The minstre and churche appareill shall [ 5236]

BEtter than euer Appered to eye; [ 5237] [and says it is begun already.] For sothe she hath A good commencement."

"yut the churche ye haue stroed wickedly; [The pope again charges him,] Agan it to make ye moste be deligent." "Sir, carpenters, masons, yiftes shall hent, [ 5241] [and he promises to obey.] Ther state shall remitte to our lordes grace; More fairer shall be then euer it wace." [ 5243]

"THys reson," said the holy fader at ende, [ 5244] [The pope tells him he is in danger for his brother's soul, because he burnt him;] "For your brother soule ye be in danger That ye crusedly [Sic in MS.] bruled so and brende When thys mynstre and schurch destroed there. And yf ye of your fader luste enquere, [ 5248] At mont-sarrat finde shall þat man of fame, [and that he would find his father at Montserrat.] Which noght long Agon̄ toward vs he came, [ 5250]

HErmite is become, holy lif leding." [ 5251] [Fol. 100 b.] Gaffray vnderstode, with eyes wepte sore; Off pope [This word is intentionally struck through.] leue toke, to monte-sarrat going, [Geoffrey sets off for Montserrat, and soon finds the highway to it. He then ascends the mountain, and finds Ray∣mond.] Strongly rode apace besily euermore, Till the regiat way founde hym before, [ 5255] But Anon As he app[r]oched the montain, Vp went he an-hy, finding Raymound plain, [ 5257]

HIs blissed fayder which hurde hym Anon. [ 5258] When hys sone he saw, gretly reioying. [Raymond is glad to see him, but bids him go home again.] After Raymounde wold haue departson, But gaffray no wise wold be deperting, But said, ther wold bide the worle enduryng, [ 5262] [Geoffrey refuses to return,] And that go wold quite fro the heritage And fro All hys baron[e]s homage. [ 5264]

GAffray was ther foure or fiffe dais tho, [ 5265] [and insists on staying four or five days;] hys fader myght noght hym do torn no wise, But ther wold dwell hys life vsing also;

But when hys fader will gan aduertise, [MS. "aduerfite."] [but at last con∣sents to return, and takes leave of his father.] Thens to lusignen drew by good auise [ 5269] When of fader had leue take full lowly, Ne lenger sogern ther wold noght truly. [ 5271]

When of lusignen the faire Cite hent, [ 5272] [Returning to Lusignan he calls his barons together,] After the Barons send he full wyghtly, Which cam Anon at hys commaundement. As sone As thay thes wurdes hurde truly, homage gan thay do to hym full humbly, [ 5276] [who humbly do him homage as their lord.] holdyng hym ther lord moste souerain þat houre To full huge ioy and ryght grett honour. [ 5278]

Then Maillers f[o]urged and made new again, [ 5279] [Fol. 101] The said Abbay, [MS. "Ablay."] beforn gan vndo. [He then rebuilds the abbey he destroyed, and establishes there 120 monks,] Ther sex score monkes astabled certain, Ennobling the place ryght wonderly tho, huge lande and rychesse endowing therto; [ 5283] [endowing the abbey richly,] Wher night and day monkes pray for þis lord, For Melusine and Raymound of recorde. [ 5285]

Thay haue of ryght full grett encheson, [ 5286] [and making rich grants to it.] He mortesing goodes fuson and plente. Within prossesse uisete hys fader anon, [In course of time he visited Raymond;] And gentilly hym quite at þat assemble. Raymounde leuyng longe; when to ende nyhed he, [for, when the time of Ray∣mond's death drew near,] That the soule moste yelde being spirituall, (As well lordes gret as tho being small), [ 5292]

RAymounde to our lorde his soule ther yilding, [ 5293] [Geoffrey remained at home no longer,] Gaffray no lenger tary wolde ne bide. For when hys fader dede was ther saing,

Vnto mont-sarrat made progresse þat tide, [but came to the abbey of Mont∣serrat to provide for his father's burial,] hys fadres sepulture for to prouyde; [ 5297] Entered in Abbay of the monte-Serrat, That place augmented passingly þat dat, [ 5299]

And rentid gretly to the house encresse. [ 5300] [and made grants to that abbey also.] he was he, (you say verray certainly), That euer ther was moste chef of goodnesse; hit is thing þat man may know full lyghtly; Ryght well his deuor Gaffray gan do surely. [ 5304] [Geoffrey did his duty at Mont∣serrat, and then returned to Lusignan.] That don̄, retorned the mont-Serrat fro, le[n]ger wold noght bide, to lusignen went tho.

TErry was notable And a full good knight, [ 5307] [Fol. 101 b.] A wurthy man, A iusticere full grett, [Thierry reigned at Partenay long and justly, and did fair deeds.] And regned after pusantly of myght. At partenay long huge wurship gett, Fair dedes gan doo in his time full sett, [ 5311] In pees hys contre haldyng full manly, [None durst break his hests, but obeyed him.] Non durste hys heste breke, but to hym apply.

OEdes regned in the marches tho; [ 5314] [Oedes (Eudes) reigned sagely in the marches.] Sagilly hym ruled to intelligens; In hys tyme full grett goodnesse gan he doo. In Cipres regned noble vriens, [Uriens reigned in Cyprus, and warred against the Saracens his neighbours.] The Sarisins werred by huge uiolens, [ 5318] (Ny neybours were) put thaim to distruccion, And off thaim made full gret occision̄. [ 5320]

GVy regned and was king of hermeny; [ 5321] [Guy was king of Armenia.] Full nobly ther lade both lande and contre; hys hoires makyng werre times many [His heirs warred against the Saracens, who sorely dreaded them.] Vppon Sarrisins which misbeleued be Vntill þat thay were recreant to see. [ 5325] Ther had no sarisin but full sore þam drad, [MS. "draw."] So theim chastising ther will noght ne had. [ 5327]

And Raynold also, off BrehAigne kyng, [ 5328] [Raynold was king of Brehaigne (Bohemia).] hys leuyng regned ryght full pusantly. After hys hoires semblably werkyng, [His heirs reigned after him.] Regnyng after hym As men full myghty, And welle ther contre gouerned dayly. [ 5332] Anthony, the Duke of lusembrough tho, [Anthony was duke of Luxem∣burg,] Many townes toke And Bourghes also; [ 5334]

ANd tho which of tham discended liniall [ 5335] [Fol. 102] In ther tyme full fair dedes gan to do, [and his heirs did fair deeds.] As well tho grette As tho litell and small. Raymound full cherisly was hold also, [Raymond was earl of Forest, and was much beloved.] The full nobill Erle of the Foreste tho. [ 5339] Thes moche conquered of sondry regyons, And thay were of gret possessyons. [ 5341]

Off thes brethren after ther hoires were [ 5342] [Thus all these brethren bare them well, and prospered;] In many places of grett wurthinesse, And all thes bretherin full well gan tham bere, Huge contre conqueryng by ther myghtinesse, [all except Horrible, who had been smothered, and Fromont, who had been burnt.] Excepte horrible, distroed was expresse, [ 5346] And Fromont which brennyng gan purchas, Which welle wold haue do, but distroed was. [ 5348]

Off Raymounde issued All tho Aboue [MS. "Aboute."] saide; [ 5349] [All these were descended from Raymond, and bare his arms.] Ther issue cries make, and ther armes bere; And yut the Cipriens at ech houred braid Alwais crying "lusignen!" awhere, [To this day the Cyprians use "Lusignan" as a war-cry.] And will whiles the worle will endure here. [ 5353] Thay were good knightes, waillant & worthy, Entrepreignant and assaillyng many. [ 5355]

The full noble Erle of thaim gan discend, [ 5356] [The earl of Pem∣broke in England was also of this line;] Off panebourght in Englande enheritour, Which gret contre and lande hym sende.

In Arrigon, tho of cambrere honour [In the margin—erle of penbrok.] [as also the lords of Cambron (?) in Arragon.] Off the firste line were discended that houre, [ 5360] And thay cam and issued veryly; Off helmas hoires off Albany [ 5362]

Issued thys line, Melusine tham bare. [ 5363] [Fol. 102 b.] Fromount ther brother at mallers brend was, [But Fromont was buried at Mail∣lezais,] And ther beried, the trouth to declare. Gaffray the gentill lith in that place [where also lies Geoffrey under a stone tomb.] In a tombe of stone portraed the space. [ 5367] Off noble Gaffray reste me now here shall, [Here ends this part of the ro∣mance.] And say of hermynè the kynge roiall. [ 5369]

A Fair castell is hade in hermynè, [ 5370] [Here begins the romance of the Sparrow-hawk Castle in Great Armenia;] Which tho off Fairy both fourged & made. In hermeny the gret is it uerily, As in this history told is and hade. The Sperhauke castell named is and rad, [ 5374] Where it behouith to wacche nightes thre [where knights had to keep awake three nights,] Without Any sompnolent slepe to be. [ 5376]

And ho accomplesh in þat place it may, [ 5377] [and whoever did so might ask a boon of the lady Melior,] A yifte may demaunde and it haue he shall Such As hym luste to demaunde all-way, So demaunde noght hir body corporall [provided that he did not ask for her love.] Which dwellith within, thys lady roiall. [ 5381] Auise hym ryght wele hir no wise desire, For it Aualith noght hyr for to require. [ 5383]

And in sompnolence be founde thyng any, [ 5384] [If the watcher went to sleep, he became her prisoner there for ever.] Ther finabilly For euer ther shall dwell, With thys fair lady ther fortake ueryly, Which gret loos and prys hath she soth to tell; That Melior was called fair and welle, [ 5388] [Melior was the lady's name, daughter of Pre∣sine.] Doughter to Presine of the fairy lande, As thys hystory doth vs vnderstande. [ 5390]

IN hermeny hade tho a mighty king, [ 5391] [Fol. 103] A fair knight, long, streight, lusty of colour, [There was then a mighty king in Armenia, a fair knight,] With tendre youth was he hote being, And als was of full worshipfull ualour. he said wacche wold he nightes thre or foure [ 5395] [who undertook to watch three nights at Sparrow-hawk Castle,] At the myghty hold of Sperhauke castell, For men had hym told off this strenght nouell.

And As for to wake ther behouyd he [ 5398] [intending after∣wards to demand a boon.] Which the yiff[t] [Fr. text, le don.] conquere of uarray fors shold, Ther he said A wold wacche full nightes thre [So he did, but afterwards re∣pented of his rashness.] And after A yifte ther demaunde he wold; So gane [MS. "gain," altered to "gane."] he do, repenting his hert bold. [ 5402] Anon mad his way Full prest and redy, [He therefore departed,] Fro-thens departed with-out rest Any, [ 5404]

SAing that he wold unto thys wacche goo, [ 5405] [declaring that if he found the lady Melior fair, he would ask for no∣thing but herself.] That notable yifte conquere if he myght. So if thys lady saw plesaunt, fair hym to, Non other yift wold desire hym to dyght. But for noght hys thought, folay was it ryght, [ 5409] [Such was his foolish resolve.] For thys lady haue myght not thys man fell For spouse ne for loue; what nedith more to tell?

IN hert this knight risen so hasted and rood; [ 5412] [Thus came he thither on St. John's day,] When ny approched and to sperhauke came In seint Iohn his night, taried ne boode, To body therof had grett ioy and game. In obliuy noght hys pauilon of fame; [ 5416] [and having re∣membered to bring his tent, pitched it there in the meadow.] Pight And streight was it in the medew tho. Armyly parted all hys peple fro [ 5418]

Thys corteys, gentile, and thys noble knight, [ 5419] [Fol. 103 b.] The porte and gate cam [to] of this castell, [Then came he to the castle-gate,]

In hys hand halding A pece of flesh dight, [holding a piece of flesh to feed the sparrow-hawk.] Wherwith the sperhauke thought to feed full wele. In this castell saw on go, soth to tell, [ 5423] A man clothed white, semyng of visage [There saw he an old man, clothed in white,] That he was to sight full ferre ron in age; [ 5425]

Ther hym demaunding wat thyng þat he sought. [ 5426] [who asked him what he sought,] he hym Answered, "thys here demaunde I, The coustome of this noble place wrought." he said, "come ye, of goddes part an-hy! In the way of it then shall you put surely [ 5430] [and next offered to show him the way.] Where ye shall finde this solain auenture, Full strang vnto sight of ech creature." [ 5432]

Thys good man before, after went this king, [ 5433] [Then they mount∣ed the steps and entered the hall.] Ascending vp hy ther the greës all, Fro the hall went more hyer in going. Full moch merueled thys hy kyng roiall [The king marvel∣led much at the wealth he saw there,] Off the grete richesse apperyng in hall, [ 5437] And of the noblesse that in stedes founde, Gretly commaundid the sightes þat stound. [ 5439]

The Sperhauke at perche to sight displaid, [ 5440] [and perceived the sparrow-hawk on his perch.] Which beuteuous, fair, huge, and gentile was. Thys full wurthy man Aforn ther hym said, "kyng, vnderstand me here a litel space, [Then said the old man, "King, you must here watch this sparrow-hawk for three days and nights.] Without slepe ye most here wak in this place [ 5444] Thys sperhauke thre days & nyghtes thre; And ye mow noght, Alway here byde moste ye.

Iff that terme ye wake and þat ye slepe noght, [ 5447] [Fol. 104] What-so ye demaunde, of trouth haue shal ye, [If you succeed, you may ask a boon, demanding any earthly thing save lady Melior's body."] Off erthly thinges but not celest wrought, Excepte the body of thys lady fre;

For gold ne siluer hir haue may not be." [ 5451] The king said, "wold wake without sompnolence, [The king said he would watch,] To fede thys sperhauke do my deligence." [ 5453]

The kyng toke to wake, And said auise wold [ 5454] What gift wold demaunde After nightes thre. Ill concell he toke, such yift demaund shold, [but he took ill counsel with him∣self.] Whereof il Guerdon therof haue shal he. Thys good man parted, the king bood Iupardè, [ 5458] [Then the old man departed.] Wher tho his behold put ententifly To the riche noblesse that he saw with ey. [ 5460]

That day waked he And also the night, [ 5461] [The king watched all that day and that night, feed∣ing the sparrow-hawk.] In gentile disporte to hertys plesaunce. He ther slepte no slepe, manly waked ryght, The sperhauke sagely fede by gouernaunce, A repaste hym yaf wel to conysaunce. [ 5465] Off vitaill and wines saw he gret fusion, [Seeing also plenty of food and wine,] Which tho was had in this garnyson. [ 5467]

His refection gan resceiue and take [ 5468] [he took a repast of what pleased him.] Ther of hy and bas at his owne deuise. The morne, all day full well gan to wake [Next day, he again watched all day and all night; and the third morning again fed the bird. Seeing a door open,] And all night; the morn fed þe hauke in best wyse, Hyt pleased and gladded [MS. "gladdes."] hertes franchise. [ 5472] A dore saw open all behinde hys bake, Pertly entred in; of nobles ther no lacke. [ 5474]

HE neuer beforne saw so huge richesse, [ 5475] [Fol. 104 b.] Wherin vnto sight briddes were many, [he entered an∣other chamber, which was full of birds, painted in vermilion.] Whi[c]h uermaill [MS. "mermaill." Fr. text, vermeillon.] colour peynted were expresse; The chambir peynted, portraed [MS. "portared."] freshly Aboute the walles with fine gold to ey; [ 5479]

Figured knightis were enuironee, [The portraits were there of many knights,] With ther Armes peynted as thai shold be [ 5481]

To that resembling thes figures were. [ 5482] Vnder ther names wrete with letters blake, [and under each was written the name of each,] Where the scripture said right in thys manere; In such A yere such on here gan to wake, [with the date of his undertaking the adventure, and how he failed,] But he slepte and in sompnolence was take; [ 5486] here of-fors he moste byding take and dwell As vs to honour and for to serue well; [ 5488]

Where-hens thay shull noght depart veryly [ 5489] [and had to remain there till the day of Judgment.] Fro [MS. "For."] thys vnto the day of Iugement. Thre places ther were appering to ey [There were also three places where were seen three coats-of-arms,] In thys chambre, had full conuenient, (Wherto euery man myght his sight hent), [ 5493] A certain Armes, And such A scripture Vnder writen was fresly, be ye sure, [ 5495]

Where this scripture said full meruelously, [ 5496] [and beneath each was written the date when each of the knights under∣took the adventure and succeeded.] (In thys castell here wrete with letters blake), In such yere such on, the which his god hy Caused and made well plainly for to wake [ 5499] Our noble Sperhauke without sompnolence take; Hys gift therfor had by full gret prudence, And by hys good notable diligence. [ 5502]

Allso thys chambre well depeynted was [ 5503] [Fol. 105] Fro foote of wallure the ouise vnto, [The walls of the chamber were painted from top to bottom.] Which deuided [A mis-translation; see Note.] nacions hy and bas And thes estrange regions all[-so]. Full uaillant and wurthy were thys men tho, [ 5507] [These three knights were valiant, and did not go to sleep.] Which noght ne went to sompnolent sleping, But myghtyly And pusantly were waking, [ 5509]

ANd the giftes all therof bare Away. [ 5510] Thys king in muses ther was full strongly [The king mused on these things till he almost slept;] In the noblesse of this castell alway, That almost he slepte, but not A-slepe fully, For Alway waked he full besily. [ 5514] Ther vnto deuise Anon toke the use [then fearing lest he should do so, retreated.] hou he myght well ouermoche to muse; [ 5516]

Ther-thens departed he full opinly. [ 5517] That night worthily wacched hys person. [The third night he also watched; and on the fourth morn came the lady, clothed all in green.] To hym amorn Appered full erly Thys lady clothed with grene enuiron, With lusty fresh colour after the ceason; [ 5521] For most cheffest time was of somertide That ther hys wacche gan so to prouide. [ 5523]

Full suetly the kyng hir salute And gret, [ 5524] [The king salutes the lady,] Which was hertly glad of hir good comyng. She said hym goodly, "non myght ther no bett, [who praises him and asks him what he will have,] you will haue a-quitte As in your waking. rewarde and behold what gift will be hauyng; [ 5528] Vnto you with-say neuer shall hire me, [or she will only refuse him one thing,] Sauyng And excepte only o gift be, [ 5530]

Wherof the dowte; in no wise shall pay. [In the margin—to say and vne-say is the propertie of a woman.] [ 5531] [Fol. 105 b.] Now demaunde and aske at your owne plesaunce." [which she will not pay.] "Graunt mercy, lady," the king hir gan say, [The king thanks her, and asks her love.] "Certes, fine swete hert, non will this instaunce But your body;" then she, full of noisaunce, [ 5535] [She, greatly angered, denies him flatly,] Hys gift plainly gan refuse And deny, Sayng, "musarde, fole, me shall not haue surely,

SOm other yifte demaunde, aske, or craue; [In the margin—mark what is be-twene truthe and vn-truthe.] [ 5538] [and bids him ask something else.] For ye my body certes haue ne may;

For gold ne siluer it shall ye not haue." he said, "I will non other gifte thys day [But he reiterates his request, and will have nothing else.] Then your body, in guerdon to my pay. [ 5542] I you here promise if it haue ne shall, Other gift I will non demaunde at all." [ 5544]

THys fair lady was full wroth and malice, [ 5545] [She is very angry,] Hym ther answered without tariing, "Certes, if ye more demaunde in such wise [and tells him that, if he persists, he will find that great mischief will befall him,] My body to haue, your gift shall be lesing, And such mischefe therof you be comyng [ 5549] Wherof ye ne shall neuer come to ende; So huge heuinesse to you shall discende. [ 5551]

FOr that roiall rewme which in hand hold, [ 5552] [for that he shall lose his kingdom,] And þat ye gouerne now, lo! presently, Disherite shall be your hoires manyfold, [and his heirs shall be disinherited.] And discomfite lefte euerlastingly." He ther answeryng, "be it witte or foly, [ 5556] [He again says he will have nothing else.] you will haue to loue, sin yifte me haue yif on, I will noght desire non other guerdon̄. [In the margin—truthe, thouge yt was vnto his payne and vnto his vter vndoynge.] [ 5558]

"FOltish muserde," said, "of itt shalt thou faill, [ 5559] [Fol. 106] Outerly hast lost thy quarell to craue; ["Fool," says she, "thou hast lost all;] Other gift bere hens shall by no gouernaill Then grett mischaunce to purchace and haue; The disceiueth thy cautels in hert graue, [ 5563] [thy trickery de∣ceives thee, and moves thee to folly.] Which the so meueth with full grett folay; Now leue thi desire, auail the ne may. [ 5565]

THy man to-auaunce, by hys folay rage [ 5566] [Thine ancestor, by his folly, lost his spouse.] Lesing his lady in loue amerous, By his gret folay and cruel outrage, [His name was Raymond, and he espoused Melusine.] For that growen is so coragious; Melusine þat Raymound gan to espous, [ 5570]

The ring on finger settyng of recorde, Which she had so made nawhere gretter lorde.

THe kinge Guy, of whom thou discended ert, [ 5573] [King Guy, from whom thou art descended, was my nephew.] Was my neuew, vnderstande thys cas. Sustres thre we be, y ly you noght at hert, Which for sinne and crime of the kyng helmas, [We were three sisters, and en∣closed our father Helmas within a rock,] Our fader, þat we closed hy and bas [ 5577] With-in the gret Roche which he hym-selfe made; Oth to our moder and þat broken had, [ 5579]

WHych tho called was the lady presine, [ 5580] [because he broke his oath made to our mother Pre∣sine.] In Gesian [MS. "Sefian."] no wise shold hir behold; hir desire to kepe wold by no couyne, And ther he hir saw ryght as I haue told; For that of hir and vs lost hath the hold. [ 5584] And when enclosed within was fully, [And when we had done this,] In the Roche, As well As thought vs only, [ 5586]

Our moder therfor was wroth and malice. [ 5587] [Fol. 106 b.] Ther she me made, by werkes of fairy, [our mother was angry with us, and made me watch this spar∣row-hawk here, without ever de∣parting hence.] This sperhauke to kepe in this maner wise, And without euer to uoide hens truly. But the For-takyng left to me only; [ 5591] That was the gifte that she gaf to me In hir malice, wreth, and ill cruelte. [In the margin—the losce off a Fayre lady.] [ 5593]

And after she gaff vnto Melusine, [ 5594] [To Melusine she gave the property of becoming a serpent every Saturday, as a punishment.] My suster, which was A madyn ful fare, A gift to endur, neuer determine, Whilis the worlde laste neuer make retrair; The setterday vnto A serpent repair. [ 5598] Off trouth it is so, like As I you say; Raymound breke his othe and lost hir for ay. [ 5600]

FOr hir shold not se the setterday nowyse, [ 5601] [Her husband was never to see her that day, but he broke his oath.] Folily tho saw, lost hir company; Wherfor distressed strangely, to deuise, he And hys line fille; neuer cressed hy; Thys toke thay a fall yut to sight of ey. [ 5605] Palestine my sustre, yongest to surmitte, [Palestine, my youngest sister, is in a mountain in Arragon.] At quonig montain in Arragon shitte [ 5607]

As long As thys wordle hath enduraunce, [ 5608] Fro thys hy montain neuer put Away. Ther shall warde and kepe the tresour in substaunce [There she keeps watch over King Helmas' treasure,] Off kyng helmas, our fader that day. Thys our moder ordained without delay. [ 5612] But thys to conquere may non by engine, [which none but one of our lineage may win.] But discended be of kyng helmas line. [ 5614]

NOw knowith thys then, discended ye be. [ 5615] [Fol. 107] yff that my wurdes vnderstande well do, [You ought not then to wish to have me to wife.] Meue ne store [ftere" (?).] shold no such aduersite As of my body hauyng wif you to. That which your is noght ye will hold so, [ 5619] By þat you may come full huge ill and pine, [Owing to this, you shall suffer great misfortune,] To you and to all youres of your line; [ 5621]

I doubte me ryght noght thai shall gett a fall. [ 5622] [and your suc∣cessors shall lose their kingdom.] For tho shall succede, after you command, holdyng your Rewme by fors of werre, and shall Enlesing the Rewme and also the lande. And he which laste shall leue it, vnderstand, [ 5626] [The last of them shall bear the name of the king of beasts.] Of A beste the name shall he be bering, Which off all other is the brutall king. [ 5628]

Ryght thys shall it be, beleue it full well, [ 5629] [Thus shall it be.] For certes off this I ly you no-thyng;

For, sir, ne had be thi foule corage fell, [But for your folly, you might have had a blessing;] And thy grett folay with thine outraging, your unthriftinesse and cursed leuyng, [ 5633] lo! ye shold haue had benediccion; [but now shall you receive a curse."] And now ye shall [haue] malediccion. [ 5635]

PArt to you here, where that ye shall haue [ 5636] Such thing that ye percas fele now shall." The kyng vnderstode such happe myght not saue; But she uoided thens er that it gan fall, [Then Melior vanished away;] And uanished Away fro ther sightes all. [ 5640] I-now shall he haue of shamfull noisaunce, [and great mis∣chance happened to this king.] Anon it happned to hym gret misc[h]aunce. [ 5642]

THere smeten was hanches and sides vppon, [ 5643] [Fol. 107 b.] Als vppon legges, armes, and hede. [He was beaten on the haunches, sides, legs, arms, and head, so that he came to a "hard fast," and felt the strokes on his chine.] To herd fast tho cam in conclusion; his opinion [MS. "opunion."] right noght went in-ded, Well felt the strokes on the chinesse bred. [ 5647] All the skyn tho was torn and to-rent, Many strokes had ryght full violent. [ 5649]

"Alas!" he said, "for goddis loue, mercy! [ 5650] [He cried for mercy, and fled,] leue off me now, or truly am dede!" Then thay put hym hout, the kyng Away fly, Which so well was Anoynted indede, [being well anointed, and having no sleeve or rag whole on him.] That no sleue ne pane had he hole of brede. [ 5654] The kyng went hys way, hym-selfe auaunsing, In the fair medew his peple fynding. [ 5656]

Ther hym demaunding hou þat he had do, [ 5657] [His people asked him how he had sped, and if he had kept good watch.] (For off his dedes ne knew thai no-thing); Hou he had sped, And were wel wacched to Without sompnolence or any slepyng,

Beforne this gentill Sperhauke being. [ 5661] The kyng answerd without misded sure, [He replied that he had fared ill.] "For soth," said he, "to my ille Auenture!" [ 5663]

TO disloge tham made quikly and lightly, [ 5664] [Then rode they to the sea, and took ship,] To se cam anon, ryding A strong pas. Into A fair barge the kyng went lightly, he and hys peple; no tarying was. To vnarme hym the kyng made in þat place. [ 5668] [where the king took off his armour. Then rowed he strongly,] Wonderfull fortune had he in the se, But not-withstandyng strongly rowede hee, [ 5670]

That in short bref time at port gan Ariue [ 5671] [Fol. 108] At hauyn of Crius, into hermeny. [so that he soon arrived at a haven of Armenia.] The kyng issued fro his nauee bliue. long wold it be Al to rehers only, But unto decline went he forth dayly. [ 5675] [From that day his fortunes declined.] Many tymes after cursed the day That in Melior had put his loue ay. [ 5677]

PErceued it was by hys owne desert, [ 5678] [He was well aware it was all his own fault.] Saw he and his land shold be disherite, Exile and deminute by his dedes smart. When fro the worlde cam in-to ending plite, A kyng after hym regned in þat site, [ 5682] [After him reigned another unfortu∣nate king, and after him nine others.] Which be half [MS. "behalf." Fr. text, la moitie.] was wurse in his gouernaunce, And nyne hoires after like wise in substaunce.

Thay lost ther lande and all ther hauour, [ 5685] [They at last lost all.] Inclinyng and comyng vnto mischaunce. On of thes kynges cam to Fraunce þat houre, [One of them came to France, died at Paris,] So fro hermeny chaced in-to Fraunce, Full long the kyng ther gaf hym sustinance; [ 5689] At Parys died, As happned the cas, [and was buried in the Celestin convent.] At the celestines entered he was. [ 5691]

Off hys dedes non enquere will take, [ 5692] [His men wore white at the funeral;] hys men clothed white, (As of this kyng fre),

Which in fraunce were wont use clothes blake; [not black as men do in France. This is no jape, but true.] It is no iape, it is trouth to see. Clothes blake comyn thing vsed [be], [ 5696] As well an hundred persones As on, Ther clerly perceiued may it be Anon. [ 5698]

At hys enterment for hym so was doo, [ 5699] [Fol. 108 b.] Wherof moche peple ther abashed were; [People wondered, not being used to it;] For that neuer before sain was to do so; Wherfor it gan do certes wote I nere. [why they did it I know not.] Off Sperhauke castell the maner leue I here, [ 5703] And begyn to speke of this damycell, [I now come to speak of Pales∣tine.] The fair Palestine, somwat of hyr spell. [ 5705]

NOw will I declare of fair Palestine, [ 5706] The swette, the curteys, gentile mayden fre; In Conqs is shitte by carfty [Sic in MS.] engine [She was shut up in a place in Arragon,] Within Arragon, that noble contre, Where that hir faders trosour wardeth she [ 5710] [where she wards her father's treasure;] At hir moder hest and commaundement. ho it may conquere, take, other hent, [ 5712]

The lande of promission shall conquere. [ 5713] But þat tresour conquered shall not be, [which none shall win except he be of her lineage.] But of hyr line discended and born̄ were. A litell shall say of Palestine [MS. "Poleftine."] fre, Brefly and shortly passe forth here will me; [ 5717] For the Cronike doth treteth [Sic in MS.] this brefly, [The chronicle treats this story briefly.] More ferther wold go, mater finde might I. [ 5719]

HEre say and declare after þat haue founde. [ 5720] [I only put down what it says, in∣venting nothing.] Of nouel thinges to our discipline No-thing I fynd at no tydy stounde. Retorn̄ shall Again to fair Palestine, [Now I return to Palestine,] Which to that place destened by Presine; [ 5724]

In the hy montain Aboue-said þe site, [who is in the high mountain.] Where many A cruell serpent enhabite. [ 5726]

A Man may not into that montain go, [ 5727] [Fol. 109] That men shall not finde to whome for to speke. Many A knyght hath passed it into, [Many men, both stern and meek, went thither, but none returned;] In somer, winter, both stourne men & meke. But non retourned, ne myght thens to-breke, [ 5731] Iff in that montain longe time sogerned, [all were foully destroyed.] But that he were ded or foule destroed. [ 5733]

SO As in scripture I may fynden right, [ 5734] [There were many men who sought to win that trea∣sure, but could get nothing.] Off worthy knyghtes full many ther were, Myghty, strong, fers, And men beyng light, Thys said gret tresour went for to conquere; But no-thyng myght thai no wise acquire there; In An ill hour vnto þat place went, For neuer after Again retourn hent. [ 5740] [None returned.]

IN Englande A knight, mighty and pusant, [ 5741] [There was in Eng∣land a mighty knight,] Which of knyghtly were moche knew to auaill, A gentile knyght, was worthy and uaillant, Which in knightly werke neuer gan to faill, Army dedes gan do in plate and maill; [ 5745] [who did deeds of arms in plate and mail;] A full goodly knyght, manly, debonair, With wurthy knyghtes taught was he full faire

IN the hy court of noble king Arthure, [ 5748] [who was brought up in Arthur's court, and was of the lineage of Tristram.] Where knyghtes were taught uertu perfectly. Off Tristram-is line was hys engendrure, Which þat whilom had full gret seignory. Aboute Arthure was yeres full thirty, [ 5752] Off that Am not I untrew ne lesingour; [This knight heard of this treasure,] He hurde speke and talke of this huge tresoure.

Promesse ther he made to that montain go, [ 5755] [Fol. 109 b.] Which by manly strenght many thinges wold don; [and said he would win it,] This full riche tresour thought he conquere tho. After he went into þat region, And into the lande of promission, [MS. "pronission."] [ 5759] [and the Land of Promise after∣wards.] Thought vnto conquere all the hole contre, With strenght of swerde therto apointed he. [ 5761]

This knight was full good, manly, and hardy; [ 5762] [He departed thence on a Tues∣day, riding mer∣rily to Arragon.] Ther-thens departed on A tew[i]sday, Into Arragon riding merily. With hym was but a litill page on way, [He had only one page with him.] No more felawship had hym to conuay, [ 5766] So he went and rode hys iourne anon That he ariued into Arragon̄. [ 5768]

THe Monte demaunded, men hym shewed tho, [ 5769] [Within the moun∣tain dwelt a ser∣pent, a hideous monster,] Where within had was A monstre hyduous, Meruelously fers and orgulous to, Aboue all other wormes most perilous; hys panche As A pipe hug and comerous; [ 5773] [whose paunch was as big as a wine-tun.] Fro A caue noght meued by no gouernail, Off hir unmete hugenesse is gret meruaill. [ 5775]

But on ere hath noght this monstrous gest, [ 5776] [It had but one ear, and no nos∣trils, and only one eye, which was a yard long.] Ne nostrelles non appering in hed. Thys wonderfull and meruelous best Ne but on ey hath middes the forehed, Which thre fote ny hath, wat in lenght & bred. hir breth by the ere hath ther issew oute, [Its breath came out at its ear.] Wherof all the wordle [MS. "wordley." The translator was thinking of monde; but read "mount;" Fr. text, mont.] sounneth all Aboute. [ 5782]

ALway in slepe this cursed cruell fend. [ 5783] [Fol. 110] When that he rowted, thing litell or grett [It always slept; and when it snored every∣thing near it was disturbed.] In this said caue is felonesly tende, Where the ryght wone [MS. "lone;" but Fr. text, la propre demeure.] was of Palestine sett, Warding thys tresour by kyng helmas get, [ 5787] [Here dwelt Palestine.] By Iugement of hyr moder said. ["fad" (?).] The dore to the caue myghty strong was had, [ 5789]

With yren bondes at entre of þis caue, [ 5790] [The monster guarded the cave's door, where the treasure was shut in.] Where this riche tresour shitte & made fast was; Which neuer was unshitte, entre to haue, For the warde had this monstre in þat place. To entre therby non durst for hir manace, [ 5794] [None but one of Helmas' line could enter.] But issued be of helmas linage, Which aforn haue said in my rude langage. [ 5796]

Thys lady presine ordaned also, [ 5797] [Here many men perished.] When to hir doughtres thes gyftes gif had, Thys caue enmyddes thys said montain tho, Wher moche peple were to perishing lad. Of caues and diches vnder I-now made, [ 5801] [The ditches round about were full of serpents, very dangerous.] Full of serpentes, inly perilous, And with other places full meruelous. [ 5803]

Then ho wold it go, of-fors most passe by. [ 5804] [No man went there but he soon came back again.] But neuer man þat place ne stede went That sogerne wold ther for thyng any, But þat men thaim saw anon to retorn bent. Thys mont had but a sory path to hent, [ 5808] [The path up the mountain was very narrow and three miles long.] ful litell and stratte was it vnto se, To gon vp an hy ther had miles thre; [ 5810]

WHich behouid go withe-out rest any, [ 5811] [Fol. 110 b.] For where man to sitte A place shold not se [Men had to go up without resting;]

Enlesse vppon serpentes sate truly! [for there was no place to sit down except one sat upon serpents.] And infinite was of thaim suche plente. For dred of that fende unhabite þe contre; [ 5815] Off thys strange monstre, declared & said, Thys haue it founde in writing displaid. [ 5817]

NOw shall come Again to þat wurthy knight, [ 5818] [This knight came riding thither, attended only by a page.] Which ther cam ryding A coursire vppon; Alone his uiage, sauyng A page ryght, Thys good knight without reproche of person; When thys montain approched ny to gon, [ 5822] [When he drew near the place, he met a man,] A good man be ["he" (?).] fund enmeddis the way, Which to this montain hym gan he conuay. [ 5824]

SO when that he was A mile of certain, [ 5825] [who led him to within a mile of the place, and then left him to go on alone,] Then vnto hym said, "no nerre will I go; Sir, be-hold yande that hiduous montain, lese will I ne wyn; fre knyght, go ther-to." The path hym shewed wherby most go tho, [ 5829] [showing him the path whence none returned.] Fro-whens [MS. "For whens.'] neuer cam Again here no wight For soth at no day vnto mannys sight; [ 5831]

And yut hath ther be men mo than twenty. [ 5832] hys gidour ne wold lenger sogern [MS. "fogren."] plain, [His guide de∣parted, and the knight rode on.] Fro-thens [MS. "For thens."] deperted, retornyng wightily. Thys knyght so rode, he cam to that montain. [At the mountain he dismounted and gave his page the rein, and bade him wait;] Fro courser lepte don̄, hys page toke þe rain. [ 5836] Firmely commaunding hym shold there abide, Noght Fro horsbakke go till he cam, no tide. [At the bottom of this page is the catchword:—"But certes for noght there Abide."]

But, certes, for noght there Abide shold he, [ 5839] [Fol. 111] Full well myght he lete hys hors to pasture; [though he only had to wait in vain.] For neuer his maister Again shold se.

This knight departed to this auenture, [The knight com∣mends himself to God,] To god commaunding, blissing hys figure; [ 5843] Entring within this narew path þat stounde, [and enters the path,] That dais of lif neuer such on f[o]und. [ 5845]

Ryght will armed was thys noble knight, [ 5846] [being well armed.] A good swerd of stile in his hand holdyng; Thys mont toke, narew and stikell to sight. An horrible serpent saw he comyng, [He soon sees a serpent coming, running at him to devour him, and advancing with yawning throat.] Towardes this knight, vppon hym rennyng; [ 5850] Trowyng hym deuour that houred instaunce, With a yanyng throte gain hym gan [MS. "gain."] Auaunce.

That fine good custell that in hand gan hold [ 5853] [The knight bran∣dished his dagger, and cut its neck in two at a stroke.] Brandes[t] the good knyght, uaillant and wurthy. Hym to assail the serpent full bold, He As man fers Approched hir ryght ny; With o soule stroke the necke cute ato swiftly; [ 5857] The serpent fill don dede for all hyr strenght, [The serpent fell down dead. It was 10 feet long.] Which worme was ny ryght ten hole feete of lenght. [ 5859]

When the serpent saw ther ded mortally, [ 5860] [Upward again he mounted,] The montain gan take; vpwarde stied there, As man quicke and wight with all the body. Gayn him comyng saw A-pace A huge bere, [but soon sees a huge bear coming apace, which, however, he en∣counters boldly,] Hym vnto assaill cam [MS. "can." Fr. text, vint.] with all power; [ 5864] But of hym thought he to faill in no wise, With gret raundon cam to hym in his gise. [ 5866]

Fro hys shethe thys knight drew hys good swerd [Fol. 111 b.] hard, [ 5867] [drawing his sword like a mighty man.] As A mighty man, wurthy and hardy; Shewing inly well he was no coward.

Vppon the shild hym grypte thys bere tho feresly, [The bear gripped his shield, and clutched at his shoulder, tearing his hau∣berk;] On hys shulder als hapned verily; Hys mailled hauberke broken and to-tore, Hys shild vnto grounde drew hym before. [ 5873]

TO hys good swerd tho had mister and nede, [ 5874] [but he smote the bear in the snout, giving him a wound a foot long,] The beres gret groin tho smote he vppon; With hys swerd so gripte of fine manly-hede, Ther all snowte and groin smote he of Anon, More then A large fote, of recorde so don̄. [ 5878] Tho durst he noght charge As of his bityng, [and cutting off his snout, so that he could not bite.] By hys eyes twain of was it shering. [ 5880]

THys bestly bere was passyng old and strong, [ 5881] [The bear was very chapfallen at this,] Natheles tho was heuily chermat; But not-for-that haused hys pawe Alonge, [yet raised his paw against him again;] Trowyng to hapne hym to rase þat dat. But full wyght and light was this knight algat, [ 5885] Ther tho made A lepe wyghtly in trauers [but the knight leapt lightly aside.] Fro this bere, which was fers, bold, and diuers.

A bakwarde smote he with hys swerde of stile, [ 5888] [With a back stroke of his sword he cut off the bear's paw.] O paw of the bere of was there keruyng; On hys hynder feet reised up that while, [But it reared up, and clutched him with the other paw.] And to this said knight full ny approching, That with that other paw hym was cracching. [ 5892] All hys Armure he to-breke and tere, So both on an hepe fill, both knyght and bere. [Both fell together.]

But thys bere myght noght in no wise bite; [ 5895] [Fol. 112] Then at his gerdell Anon toke this knight [Then the knight with his dagger cut the bear's throat, so that it quitted its hold.] A dagger full good, fourged of profite, Thorugh hys throte yaf A stroke with all his myght So that gretly hurt was this in foule wyght. [ 5899]

Ther lefte the bere his pris, stoned sore was, [Then the knight cut off its other paw.] That other pawe the knyght smote of in þat place; [ 5901]

Tho caste he vp A full meruelous cry. [ 5902] Then this manly knyght without other lette [At last the knight smote it through the belly up to the cross-hilt of his sword.] Thorugh belay hym smote to crosse of swerd ny; Vnto mortall deth [t]he bere to grounde shette. Thys good english knight his swerd in sheth sette; So vp went, doing huge distruccion, [On went he slaying many serpents.] Off serpentes made grete occision, [ 5908]

And off bestes wilde many on gan sle, [ 5909] hou-be-it that he suffred full grett pain. So going up hy till to coppe came he, [At last he reached the top, and drew near the iron door of the cave, which the monster guarded.] By fors and strenght so passing the montain, So niyng to the caue wher this monstre was plain, Which the yren dore warded of the caue Where the tresour was that he trowed haue, [ 5915]

Which was enclosed by werke of fayry, [ 5916] In an ill hour cam, which was gret folay. [But he entered the cave in an evil hour;] Into diche and caue entred vnhaply; And As sone As he reste ther had alway, Perceiuyng this monstre where þat she lay, [ 5920] [for he soon per∣ceived the mon∣ster with its eye a yard broad,] Which had A large eye, (thre foote was Aboute), And when that she hym perceued all-oute, [ 5922]

RAysed was anon with wonderfull corage, [ 5923] [Fol. 112 b.] As A malice beste with cruelnesse sett; [which at once attacked him.] Towarde thys good knight Auaunced hir outrage; Thys monstre belay As pipe large and gret. Thys knight saw hir come, with-draught wold not [The knight saw it come, but would not retreat, but determined to face it at all risks.] gette, [ 5927] But that alwais again hir go wold For what-somaner vnto hym come shold. [ 5929]

HIs swerd fro sheth drew, this monstre yafe stroke [Drawing his sword he smote it, but his strokes failed to harm it.] grete, [ 5930] But no-thyng was wurth the stroke hir gan take; Wher with the bake or with swerd-egge gette, To this monstre might noght do hurt ne wrake With yre, stile, ne tre, hou-so it gan make. [ 5934] [Neither iron, steel, nor wood could wound it. It bit his sword in half,] Thys monstre with teeth the swerd ther taking, In moitees to Forth with it breking, [ 5936]

ANd yut was she fourged all of stile; [ 5937] [though it was all of steel.] Thys knight noght of hir myght to-tere ne rase. The swerd wel ground, no harder many mile, The sharpnesse ne hardnesse no-thing wurght was. With A yanyng throte thys knight gan manace, [ 5941] [Then with a yawning throat it swallowed the knight down whole.] All at a morsell swolewed knight surely; (Off thys here now said in no wise do ly); [ 5943]

Thys knight swolewed, in throte noght pering [ 5944] [The knight seemed no more in its mouth than a pasty in an oven.] More then doth A pastay in ouen truly! [In the margin—deathe of a noble knyghte [y] at was of sir [T] ristrams . . . . .] With full gret dolour in thys wise deing, Gret demage and hurt was it uerily. [Thus died he, and it was a great pity.] For in hym was had huge hardesse surely, [ 5948] For moche had don̄ of manly dedes fair, But nomore shall do thys knyght debonair. [ 5950]

THys english good knight was without socour, [ 5951] [Fol. 113] Which this said tresour trowed to conquere, [Thus was this good English knight devoured by this monster,] That whilom by days had gret honour; With thys monstre was this deuoured there; Gret damage it was of thys baculere, [MS. "baiulere." See Glossarial Index.] [ 5955] [and it was a great pity.] For in hym was had full gret wurthinesse, Socour was ther non, but to deth moste dresse.

NOght so hy As he neuer man vp went, [ 5958] [No one ever got so high up the mountain as he did.] The more in hym was of hug wurghtinesse; Remembred ought be his knyghtly entent, [His daring should be remembered, not lost in ob∣livion.] Stilled ne put shold be in hodelnesse. No man, As seith this history expresse, [ 5962] Neuer went so ferre As to memory, [No man ever went higher.] In that meruelous Roche being so hy, [ 5964]

As wilfolly gan do thys full good knight. [ 5965] Too days hys page ther sogernyng sure [His page waited for him two days, and then returned to England, there relating this ad∣venture to many.] At the hill-fote; after retornyng ryght Into Englande streight; wher thys auenture Declared to many a creature, [ 5969] Which caused to write therof thys history, To ende that it shold be now in memory. [ 5971]

And thys ther he knew by A good deuyn̄, [ 5972] [A certain divine, who had been clerk to Merlin, dwelt there (in Arragon), to whom many went to hear the story.] Which somtyme was clerke Merlyn vnto, Which ther dwelled, to life gan determyn̄. Vnto thys said clerke ran all the worle tho, For ther necessite vnto hym gan go, [ 5976] Wherof he wold say trouth and verite, For entirely all ryght full well knew he, [ 5978]

LIke As hade be ther in propur person, [ 5979] [Fol. 113 b.] And had comyn streight Fro the saide montain. [He was a scholar of Toulouse,] This deuyn was of good cognicion, And a scoler was of Tholouse certain, As witnesseith litterall scripture plain. [ 5983] [and during twenty years gave true replies to any questions he was asked.] Verily moche more then yeres twenty Neuer ther cam man vnto hym truly, [ 5985]

But hym declared the trouth and uerite [ 5986] [The page, there∣fore, went to him,] Off all maner thing that man demaunde wolde.

For that the page with hym thought wolde be, Which subtille and sage was he manyfold; All trouth and verite by hym was vnfold [ 5990] [and learnt from him all the truth just as I have now told it you.] Of that I haue told, declared, and sayd; By this notable clerke was it displaide. [ 5992]

Ther was on hade in lande of hungery, [ 5993] [There was also a man of noble birth in Hungary,] Which descended was of A noble line. Thys tresour to conquere thought he manly, But by hym may noght be it to termyne. To this montain cam this noble knight fine, [ 5997] [who came to this mountain; but he was not there long,] The monte clymbed up ten or twenty pas, And ther taried noght no whiles ne space. [ 5999]

Ther with serpentes he deuoured was, [ 6000] [being very soon devoured by ser∣pents; but he went not up so high as that other.] Nawher ny went vp As other gan doo. Many deuoured hath be in that place, Non shall that tresour conquere hym vnto But of the lynage be discended fro. [ 6004] Full heuy it was that this goodly knyght [Pity the English knight was not of the right lineage.] Off Englande had noght be off that line ryght.

HE descended was off full hy parage, [ 6007] [Fol. 114] Off Tristram hys line cam of natiuite, [He was descended from Tristram,] As the history rehersith hys linage. Forsoth that tresour conquerd then had he, [and had assuredly won the treasure, had he been of the right lineage.] So of that linage aboue-said had be, [ 6011] Full chiualrous was certes at þat day, Ferre and ny as any of thaim to say. [ 6013]

Tho it cam and fill in that ceason there, [ 6014] [Then came a messenger to Lusignan,] That A messinger passed forth tho by, Wher Gaffray with gret toth was in his manere [where Geoffrey was enjoying himself with all honesty.] At ioyous disport ryght full merily At lusignen castell with strangers many; [ 6018]

To which egall sporte non the yere shold see, In gentile maner with all honeste. [ 6020]

With hym ladyes and damycelles fair, [ 6021] [With him were ladies and damsels in a fair arbour.] Connyng, gracyous, humble, and benigne; Gentile, womanly, and in debonair, In a fair herber to sport gan in-cline. A messinger cam; saw well by hys syne. [ 6025] Streith to Gaffray went, hym fair salutinge; [Geoffrey tells the messenger he is welcome,] "Sir, ye be welcome," Gaffray hym sayng. [ 6027]

This messinger connyng and gentile was, [ 6028] Off hys mouth issued sugred swete langage; Nouels demaunded Gaffray in þat place. [and asks him the news.] Aforn lad[y]es and damicelles sage. He hym sette and told all the huge outrage [ 6032] [Then the mes∣senger relates the adventure I have just told you,] (Like As this boke rehersith here before) All the dedes told off thys knyghtes lore; [ 6034]

ANd whereto thys fers monstre doth repayre, [ 6035] [Fol. 114 b.] Which peple hath distroide so many, [and tells where the monster was who guarded the treasure of Hel∣mas.] Myghty, strong, fers, bold, gentile, debonair, And hou the tresour wardeth myghtyly Off helmas, which was so ryche and so worthy; [ 6039] Neuer perceiued non like off auaill. [At this Geoffrey greatly marvels,] Gaffray full moche therof gan meruaill, [ 6041]

Off thys said monstre werof he gan speke. [ 6042] Thys monstre to destroy said he wold go, [and says he will go and destroy the monster.] With-all the tresour conquere and oute breke. Hys men made redy qwikly, no reste made tho, [He made ready, and sent to his brother Thierry to come and go∣vern his realm.] Forthwith send he hys brother Thierry vnto [ 6046] To hym come, and cam; after hym sayng, The contre gouerne to hys retornyng. [ 6048]

FOr thys Gaffray was of fers harde corage; [ 6049] [This Geoffrey was of a fierce courage,] Neuer hys day[e]s wold he noght mary,

In wife to entre As in mariage; [and would never marry.] No woman wold betrouth neither affy. Vnto hys brother the lande toke goodly, [ 6053] [Then he made over his land to Thierry, saying he should depart.] Sayng he moste go withoute any reste, Off that riche tresour for to make conqueste. [ 6055]

But when that he shold haue taken hys way, [ 6056] [But he was pre∣vented by sickness and age.] Gret siknesse hym toke and age gan repair; On his bed don layd with full grett seknes Thys gentill knyght, stronge, fers, & debonair, Which so many gud dedys hath don̄ [fair]. [ 6060] Alas! the tresour of Comquez shold had, [Alas! had he lived, he would have had the treasure,] So that lif myght haue, (for of all was drad), [ 6062]

ANd the lande haue hade off promission; [ 6063] [Fol. 115] Iff god wold haue send hym good liffe and long, [and the Land of Promise, that Holy Land.] Conquered shold that holy regyon. But deth sparith noght tho feble ne stronge, [But death, who spares none, made war on Geoffrey;] With Gaffray hath take were other Among, [ 6067] And to hym comyng A grett passe with-all, Ther making hym were [MS. "wery;" Fr. text guerre.] dedly and mortall. [ 6069]

SO uenquisshed was by dethes gouernall, [ 6070] [and against death hath no man any power.] Agayn hir noman hath fors ne pusaunce Be he not so stronge or of ryche auaill, Als well tho feble As strong in substance; Non hath power gain dethis gouernaunce, [ 6074] Be he Baron, Markeis, Erle, Duke, Prince, or kyng; [Death smote Geof∣frey sorely with his cruel dart,] With hys cruell dart Gaffray sore smiting, [ 6076]

Full streight the stroke went ther vnto hys hert, [ 6077] [piercing his heart.] Where-of ther was had inly gret dolor;

For in peiters shold haue be well expert, [What good deeds he would have done in Poitiers, had he lived!] I-now good dedys don wold by labor, Er that yere passed any tyme or hour, [ 6081] Churches make and found, which deuised were; Bothe landes, rentes, thought he morteis there,

TO found and make noble churches gret. [ 6084] Alas! full dolorous to bildyng shal it bide! [But, alas! these things were left undone.] Neuer shall thay be fourged, made, and get, Where-of is pite in many A side; Gret heuinesse will it cause full wide, [ 6088] [His death will cause great heaviness.] And ne had the will and the plesire be Off our hy lorde, sittyng in trenite. [ 6090]

GAffray lith don̄ sike, ille touches feling, [ 6091] [Fol. 115 b.] Wyn ne vitaill resceiue may for seknesse; [He can take no food.] Anon After the preste were sending, [His confessor came and said mass.] Hys confessour come, hym gan to confesse, And ther beforn hym made to say a messe. [ 6095] [Then he made his will touching both spiritual and lay matters.] After ordained making testament Spiritually, after hys entent, [ 6097]

When deuised hade hys lay thynges all. [ 6098] Then entered was at Maillers abbay, [Then was he buried at Mail∣lezais abbey,] Where a fair repair had he full roiall. For of-new again made, it is no nay, [which he had rebuilt after destroying it.] ryght As he had distroed it all-way. [ 6102] So by hym was made and furged again Off Maillers the church, with fresh werke solain.

Ther ligh[t], ther hys thombe put is and sett; [ 6105] [There lieth he, and the author of the French Romance there saw his tomb.] The frensh maker seith it saw he with ey. Hys testament made, it myght be no bett, And what lefte ouer, to pore made pay truly. [Thus he made his will,] So after passyng to goddes mercy, [ 6109] All were paid in hys owne presence, What-so hym semed As in conscience. [ 6111]

To god yild his soule, hym do mercy and grace, [ 6112] [and yielded his soul to God.] And of hys synnys A generall perdon, For moch goodnesse gan do in many place As sone As in hym was put reson. Iff lenger leued, more wold he haue don̄; [ 6116] [Had he lived longer, he would have done more.] He is now dede, what shall we then say? That god hym pardon hys mysdedes ay. [ 6118]

THierry was tho A full noble knyght; [ 6119] [Fol. 116] Gaffray ther hym made hys enheritour [Thierry was Geoffrey's heir,] Off all the contre which he hild hym dyght And that to hym pertained any hour. Thierry it hild, A noble gouernour, [ 6123] [and governed both Poitiers and Partenay, being at first powerful,] So he regned there, & in pertenay; Regned and gouerned pusantly. [ 6125]

But after thys, [as] by hys mariage, [ 6126] [but afterwards he alienated much of his property.] geuyng to on here, to Anoder there, So Alienyng part of hys heritage. yut noght-with-standyng god of hys power [Yet the descend∣ants of Thierry reign at Partenay still,] Causith the line regne yut without danger; [ 6130] At noble pertenay ther of sir Thierry Off trouth thai regne yut ryght worshipfully, [ 6132]

As Melusyne faid, moder of that line, [ 6133] [as Melusine fore∣told; and may they long do so!] That long schold endure the line of pertenay; God grant long endure, neuer determine! Fro-thens till now durith the line alway [The line endureth to this day,] In chiualrous knighthode vnto thys day; [ 6137] Noble good knightes, gentile, curtes, fre, [and contains many noble knights,] Among all other hauyng habilite, [ 6139]

Off whom a litill we shall be declaring, [ 6140] [of whom we shall speak a little, and then end.] After thys boke finish shall and end. Goddes knightes haue be, ther trouth neuer falsing

For king, Duke, Erle, Markeis, Baron, or frend. [Especially should be mentioned that worthy knight, who caused this book to be begun.] hit wil Appered by that good knight hend [ 6144] That thys boke began, of Partenay lord, Grett honour had in life of recorde; [ 6146]

HE that this boke made and gret parte gan do, [ 6147] [Fol. 116 b.] This knight died, in life had gret honour; [When it was partly done, this knight died;] For noght man may do gain mortal deth, lo! The feble and strong takith she ech hour; Non hir escapith As by no labour, [ 6151] [for who can escape death?] Be it king, or pope, or lordes of landes, All most nedis passe truly by hyr handes, [ 6153]

THat is the trewage of bodies humayn. [ 6154] Al most by that path of fine fors to passe; [All must pass along death's path.] And that way compassith ech soueran, hou moche fro tham to hyr haue, hy or basse. Ouer-light she is euermore, alasse! [ 6158] [Alas! it cometh unexpectedly, man sees not when nor how.] Alas! she comyth wonderfull lyghtly, Man seith not the hour ne hou he shall dy. [ 6160]

WHen she oppressith any creature, [ 6161] [Death is swifter than an arrow.] More swetter ["fwyfter" (?)] she goth then arew any, Smitting man without wurdes saing sure. When on hir thenke, my hert sogheth heuely, [When I think on it, my heart sigheth.] And so here shold do ech humain body; [ 6165] Euery man shold doubt hir cruell hand, [Every man should fear its cruel hand.] For ouer-gret stroke yeuith with hir wand; [ 6167]

FIrmely and stedfastly redoubted shold be. [ 6168] [Whoever thinks on death, must leave all pastime,] Ho well on hyr thenke, all disport will leue, Thenking, musing hys soules sauete, [and muse on his soul's safety.] As will man as woman, to say in breue; Ho wel on it thenke, fro ill will remeue. [ 6172] [Whoever thinks on it well, will depart from sin.] In such wise gan do, I trow it, all-way Thys fore-said lorde of roiall partenay. [ 6174]

ON William was the archebisshope tho, [ 6175] [Fol. 117] Where of the name tho of Bisshope was wurthy; [One William was then Archbishop,] At end knew full well wat thys lorde had do. He seing this lord good man was and holy, [and he well knew how good a man this lord of Partenay was.] And well gouerned the lande here worly [ 6179] Till to finall ende he gan forth strike; Which end was full good and ryght autentike.

THe tewisday passed Aforne penticost, [ 6182] [

He died on the Tuesday before Pentecost, May 17, A. D. 1407, and was buried at Parte∣nay.

[This date is wrong; it should be 1401.]

] The yere A thousand four hundred & seuyn wend; Thys full goodly knyght yild tho vp his goste, No lenger ne might hym fro deth deffend; To god behouid his soule yilde and rend [ 6186] On the xvii day of the moneth of may, And in erth lith at noble partenay. [ 6188]

IN church of saint crosse lith this courteis knight; [He lies in the church of the Holy Cross.] Ryght full wurthyly made hys sepulture, And full nobly don̄ As it ought of ryght; Sollemply was entered, be ye sure, [He was very solemnly and honourably interred, be ye sure.] And honourabilly all thing fourged pure [ 6193] As it belonged lord and gouernour, Both on lif And dede shold haue gret honour.

THe heuy day of his mortall passing [ 6196] [The day of his death was the very day on which the head of the blessed Saint Louis, king of France, was translated to Paris.] Was the same day, (to be said properly), That the sacred hed of the gloryous king, halowed seint lowes, prince of fraunce most hy, That terrestriall leued blessidly, [ 6200] (Which of men is said seint in parradis), Ther at that day translat [was] to Paris. [ 6202]

But I say it noght As it to recorde [ 6203] [Fol. 117 b.] That in that proper day was noght don [I do not mean that my lord]

When to mortall deth went my noble lord; [died in that same year; for the transla∣tion of St. Louis' head took place long before that.] For made and done was the translacion In the yere of the incarnacion [ 6207] Off hed and of the glorious body; And he long sith dede, dais full many; [ 6209]

But that day this fest first honoured was, [ 6210] [But I mean that he died on the anniversary of that event,] Euery yere after, þe moneth of may; Sith on of tho dais deth gan he purchas, As seruant shold sew, so sewed his lord ay, [following his master as a servant should.] Such lord gift myght deserue hym to serue alway, An-hy in heuyns to his lord ascend. [Thus I make an end here of my good lord.] This of my good lord here now make an end. [ 6216]

Off his noble sone, Iohan of pertenay, [ 6217] [His noble son, John of Parte∣nay, performed the funeral obsequies well, using many wax-lights.] Off whome declare shall, his deuer gan do. By hym the obsequy well don that day, Enriched with light pertayning ther-to; All-be-it had heuinesse also, [ 6221] Wisdōm behouith to lete go and passe Which that men mow noght amend in no cas.

I Hold it no gret wisdome ne sagesse [ 6224] [But it is not wise to sorrow over∣much,] To ouermoche suffre sorew and paine; Who with dolour and wo the hert ouer-presse, Naturall fole is such heuinesse sustain, [when the matter cannot be mended.] When that he may noght it restore Againe; [ 6228] Neuer wepe ne cry, neither such dole hold, [Those who do so are not wise.] Forsoth doth noght well ne As the sage shold.

As to our purpos here will I repair, [ 6231] [Fol. 118] Touching our nouel new enheritour, [I return to his heir, John, lord of Partenay and seigneur of Matefelon,] Off noble pertenay Iohan̄ the lorde hair, Off whom spokyng haue here in langage our. A worthy man was and of gret honour, [ 6235]

The souerain lord of Mathefelon, [who is no cruel man,] Which that is not cruellous ne felon̄, [ 6237]

But curtois, debonair, and vertuous; [ 6238] [but very courte∣ous.] Hyt appered well by hys workes eehe braide. For he was gentile, suete, and gracious, Non ille wold he do, but fain wold all aid; He is more suetter then is any maide. [ 6242] [He is sweeter than any maid; this he inherits from his mother.] Off that he drawith after that laydy Fro whom he is discended uerily. [ 6244]

A more suetter, humble, and amyable, [ 6245] [For she was very sweet and charit∣able,] Gentile, debonair, sage, wise, and connyng, Curtois, piteuous, and charitable, Sche vnto the pore ful gret good doing; [and did much good to the poor;] So gentile, suete, fre in hert was being; [ 6249] For she was of tho moste blessed uerily. Thai ben piteuous Among peple surely [ 6251]

As of tho which had grett necessite, [ 6252] [and especially to those in great need.] Both mister and ned vnto som goodnesse. Full many therof raised vp hath she, [Many she raised to riches, of her great liberality.] Fro pouerte enhaused to rychesse, The which proceded of full hug noblesse, [ 6256] Off ryght gret franchise and hert piteuous To socour nedy and tho famylous, [ 6258]

What-someuer doo, besemith hir goodly. [ 6259] [Fol. 118 b.] Mi lord therof hath fair begynnyng; [Hence my lord had a fair begin∣ning, and, more∣over, he is of royal lineage,] Also belongith it, lo! properly To tho of roiall linage being, And therof is he, I doubte me no-thing; [ 6263] For of tho most blissid issued and wend Noght long Ago, and therof gan discend. [ 6265]

HE cosyn vnto the hy king of fraunce, [ 6266] [being cousin to the king of France,] By the which branche honour is hauyng.

Off kyngis is most noblest and pusaunt, [the mightiest king in the world.] Off All the wordle moste souerain kyng. All rounde the compas though man be sekyng, [ 6270] [There is no king so noble as the King of France.] In all the wordle so noble king is noght As the kyng of Fraunce, certes, to be thought.

His cosyn is, in hys moder parte, truly; [ 6273] [He is cousin to the king on his mother's side; and, through his father, allied to the King of Cyprus,] And in faider parte ny kin, to deuyne, To kyng of Cipresse and off hermeny, And by the discent of thys noble line That beforn haue told of fair Melusine. [ 6277] Ny kyn he is to king off norway, [In the margin—norway kynge.] [and also to the King of Norway.] For of Melusine discended all thay. [ 6279]

Off tho knyghtes ben yut, lo! in Norway, [ 6280] [For knights of Melusine's line still live in Norway,] Wurthi and doubty, and ladies many; Within this linage comprised be thay, And knowyn ouerall ryght openly [and it is well known that they belong to the Lusignan family.] That thay discended be of þat line hy [ 6284] Off lusignen, which is notable grett, Which so issued, into yrlande gett, [ 6286]

ANd vnto many Another contre, [ 6287] [Fol. 119] As beforne is said by our gouernaill. [No family was ever equal to this;] Neuer line of told with thaim egall be, Neither to hur [Read "hire" = hear; Fr. text, Ne oyt dire autel nouvelle.] such an [MS. "and."] hug meruaill, [nor can any man hear such marvels elsewhere as are told of Melusine's sons.] Ne hys dais shall neuer, without faill, [ 6291] As ye haue hurde of lusignen children, lo! Deme ye in no wise that lesing say you to; [ 6293]

Trowe it ne suppose dreme to be any; [ 6294] [Think not I dream; or, at least, it is a true dream.] Off uerray trouth it is a tru dreme ryght. And ho saue noght sain this said history, Vnnethes will beleue this to be parfight.

For soth thys history plainly shewith to syght [ 6298] [Whoso hath not seen this history, will scarcely believe the fact.] like As I haue declared you and said, ho-so lust it rede, may se itt displaid. [ 6300]

Off Mathefelon the lord souerain, [ 6301] [The seigneur of Matefelon,] To whom our lord gif gret ioy and honour, Which of that mansion lord is certain, And of partenay, (reson is eche hour), [who is also lord of Partenay,] Among all other A gentile henheritour; [ 6305] In hys rule shewing A suete creature, [shows himself to be a sweet creature,] Which that is of full noble nature, [ 6307]

SIn he will not leue the boke he began, [ 6308] [for he will not leave unfinished the book his good father began.] Hys god fader, to whom god gif pardon! By hym of it gret laud and presiing wan, For at this day, so me aid god our patron, Men̄ shall noght fynd nawher suchon. [ 6312] I beleue that non this good person hate, lo! [I believe that no man hates him,] I pray to our lord that he may wel doo, [ 6314]

FOr he hath made A good begynnyng. [ 6315] [Fol. 119 b.] And he shold be in synne and crime by ryght, [and, indeed, any one who sought to harm him would be a great sinner.] Which that hym wold ille be purchassyng. To chersh euery man laborith þis knyght; Iff he se that he be good man parfith, [ 6319] No-thyng will hym wern þat he lust proclame. [He never refuses any deserving man.] Hym haue I so hurd renomed of fame, [ 6321]

That Allexandre full wel name hym may; [ 6322] [He should be named Alexander. I would say much more, only men would say I flatter;] Off hym mouch more speke and say wold I, By my feith, ner I ssupposed All-way That men wold perhaps say I flatery, For that in lif is he personally, [ 6326] [because he is still living;] And thenke men shold not preisse other in presence; For tham shold preise [MS. "preife;" Fr. text, louent.] ther werkys diligence [ 6328]

That thai haue done in time passid euer, [ 6329] [and we ought rather to praise the dead;] And speking, rehersing the dedes and fet Off tho which ben gon that no more may do neuer; Certes men may well of tham speke and tret, here tell And declare all ther dedes gret. [ 6333] And when god will, men may of my lorde, [yet men will praise my lord in time to come.] In time to come, thynges off recorde. [ 6335]

Yut I hire moche speke off hys roiall estate, [ 6336] [I hear many speak of his gentleness, countenance, and demeanour;] Off his noblesse, gentillesse, and off hys dede, Off his contenaunce and mayntenaunce algat, The which I hold of hug noblehed. And full noble hold is off manlihed; [ 6340] For discended is fro so hy A place, [for he is descended from kings, dukes, and marquises.] Off kynges, Dukes, Markois full of grace. [ 6342]

When conquered [Rather read, "enquered;" Fr. text, quis.] haue and enserched well, [ 6343] [Fol. 120] For soth is A man of full hy parage. [He is found, on inquiry, to be of high parentage.] hys engendrure to declare and tell, Comyn is he off full noble linage. Among other hys wif gracious and sage, [ 6347] [His wife also is humble, courte∣ous, and intent on good;] humble, curteis, gentile, debonair, And ne musith noght but all good and fair. [ 6349]

Euery man seith, "well (As semeth me) [ 6350] [so that they are well met.] To-geders assembled inly well be thai; Entrelouing non better may be. In that astat our lord tham hold alway." [This lady is of Perigord, daugh∣ter to the late earl.] Thys lady is of perregort, is no nay, [ 6354] Doughter to the Erle which þat is dede. [His marriage is no disgrace to his kindred;] That mariage no mahyme to his kinred, [ 6356]

FOr noble line is off Auncionte, [ 6357] [for she too is of a noble line.] Off long time passed ferre fro memory. For in charlemain time antecessour had she; [For when Charle∣magne had con∣quered all Guienne] When charlemain had conquered truly

The hole erldome and contre by werre myghty, [ 6361] [and the country round it,] And all Gian, the contre enuiron, That noble erldome old and auncion, [ 6363]

TO on of hys kynnesmen gaff itt; [ 6364] [he gave it to one of his nigh kins∣men, one of his cousins-german,] In hys roiall gifte he A fair gift had. His ny kynnesman was, myght not fro flit; Hys cosyn germayn, it beleue I sad. Full well þat Erledome gouerned and lad. [ 6368] As men me said, neuer after thens went [MS. "wend."] [who resided there till he died.] To no place here ne there thys Erle reuerent, [ 6370]

As by wifing ne by mariage; [ 6371] [Fol. 120 b.] That Enheritaunce to hoires male went. [His inheritance went to his heirs male.] A strong strenght ther had, called piergort uillage, Wher-hens is comyn this same day þe discent, [There is a place called Perigord (Perigueux), whence this lady comes.] Among peple gracious and sagely hent, [ 6375] Thys lady full swete and ryght debonair, To all other lades exemplair, [ 6377]

Well stuffed with all maner of goodnesse. [ 6378] She noght fauteth þat haue shold A lady; [She lacks nothing that is lady-like, but is gentle and sage.] What belongith to ladies hynesse In thys hy lady comprised expresly; A connyng woman, well taught & wurthy; [ 6382] She is so swete, gentile, curteis, & sage; [A very fair mar∣riage was made between them.] Atwexst thaim was had An in fair mariage. [ 6384]

HEre besech our lorde such line and issew [ 6385] [I pray they may have good issue;] Tham send, þat may without end endure, Thys lord and lady of full hy vertu: Off the line of Fraunce is ther engendrure, Gret heuinesse were iff issue faill sure; [ 6389] Off tham som hair to maintain þat noble line, [some heir to main∣tain the noble line of Melusine.] Which þat issuede is off fair Melusine, [ 6391]

Off thys goodly hous Als of partenay; [MS. "apartenay."] [ 6392] [I speak no more of her nor of Par∣tenay,] Off whom no more [MS. "nomore."] lenger will I speke, Ne off Melusine whens she cam all-way, Ne more of hyr line he will noght out breke, [for I find no more recorded.] Ther-off my speche don̄ and my wurdes eke, [ 6396] Off that I haue ther-off founden in scripture. [I would have said more,] And of hyr lenger wold I haue spoke sure, [ 6398]

Iff more of writyng therof founde myght be. [ 6399] [Fol. 121] But more can not find in litterall scripture [could I have found more.] Off thes creatures wrete of uerite, Off whom haue spoke and told the Auenture; [There is no more than I have al∣ready told, so that I must now perforce take rest.] No more then haue put in my tale sure. [ 6403] And sin more ther-of I can noght propose, Of-fors moste I here take rest and repose. [ 6405]

NOw me behouith my shippe vnto rest, [ 6406] [Now must my ship rest.] Sailles, cordes, And bonet put don̄. God be thanked, at port riued in þe beste, [Thank God, I have arrived at port, and the dangers of the sea are past.] The sees dangere haue passed and gone, The wawes of see ouer ron echon [ 6410] By my iournaes so thorught-out the see; Therof preise and thanke the hy Trinite, [ 6412]

By whom thys dite fourged haue and made. [ 6413] [I thank God, by whom the book has been brought to an end.] Thanking therof be to our lorde again, By whom Romans and boke is to end lad. And yf Any man demaunde hou certain, [If any one wants to know the name of this romance, it is "THE RO∣MANS OF PARTE∣NAY,"] What me shall call thys Romans souerain, [ 6417] hit name the Romans As of partenay, And so som it call certes at this day; [ 6419]

OR the romans of lusignen; now chese, [ 6420] [or, "THE ROMANS OF LUSIGNEN;" choose which you like.] By you electe be which þat take ye will. Name ye it so As it may you plese, Here Anon Couldrette pese hym shal & still; [Here shall Coul∣drette hold his peace,]

Os of this mater no more say you till, [ 6424] [saving that he will here make his orison,] Sauyng for to make here hys orison Now here presently, As is good reson, [ 6426]

Puttyng it forth in fourme of letany, [ 6427] [Fol. 121 b.] For all the noble line of partenay [putting it into the form of a litany;] Aforne named; and when she truly [and when this litany is done, the book shall end,] Shall be ended that haue comprised ay, After thys prayer to take end al-way, [ 6431] Then all the hole werke is fourged & made, [and Couldrette shall hold his peace.] And couldrette then in pes shal be had. [The Cambridge copy of the French Romance ends here.] [ 6433]

Glorious, celestious Trinite, [ 6434] [O Glorious Trinity, Three Persons in One,] Sacred deid incomperable, Threfold persones knitte in vnite, And on essence [MS. "enssence;" but see l. 6485.] etern, permanable, [One Essence, Sovereign Ma∣jesty,] Souerain mageste moste honourable, [ 6438] Which somer, wynter made by hys excellence, [that hast made summer, winter, and all things,] All thatt is and hath be by hys huge prudence,

Thou knowist all that hertes thenke or muse, [ 6441] [Thou knowest all our thoughts, and the consci∣ences of men.] All thynges thou seest in thy presence, Off herttes knowist that thai daly vse, Off verray trouth knowist ther conscience. Man owith to the dew obedience, [ 6445] [Man oweth Thee due obedience, and diligence in Thy service.] Owith deligent be the to commende, To thy seruice take As thaim to diffende. [ 6447]

By good frendlyhed of thy deite, [ 6448] [Here humbly I pray Thee to have mercy and pity on this lord and lady;] here in humbly wise pray thy excellence Off tham to haue mercy, grace, and pite, Without tham shewing any uiolence. here in my dite haue put to thy presence. [ 6452] In aduersite socur thaim alway, [and to succour them in adversity.] That full noble seed of saide pertenay. [ 6454]

GLorius virgin, Mayden, moder off god, [ 6455] [Fol. 122] Doughter and Ancelle, which milkest with-all [Glorious Virgin, mother, daughter, and hand-maiden of God, that didst nourish Thy divine Son, and didst also comfort Theophilus;] The sone of god with thy brestes brod, Wurthily hym bare with-out werke carnall; Which theophillus conforted principall; [ 6459] Comfort this line þat noble is all-way, [comfort this line of Partenay.] Besides Rochell As of Partenay. [ 6461]

SAynt Mychaell, Angell, and the Archangell, [ 6462] [Saint Michael, archangel, protect them from the fiends of hell;] To thaim be not strange, I you here require. Caste thaim oute fro all fendes of hell, And tham condute to the heuinly empire. Off god conueying maister be entire, [ 6466] lyn, wolle to uesture haue thay without faill. [and let them have linen and woollen vesture.] The besech not strange be thaim to consaill. [ 6468]

SAynt Iohan, with finger shewdest I beleue [ 6469] [Saint John the Baptist, that didst show men the Lamb, and all ye glorious patri∣archs, forget them not.] The deuyne lambe which was full precyous. All glorius patriarkes in breue, Tham ne me for-yete noght, ye glorious; Iff I thaim for-gatte, I were malerous. [ 6473] Now if it you please, me with thaim making To Accorde vnto the moste souerain kyng. [ 6475]

SAynt Peter, saynt Paule, and saynt Andrew, [ 6476] [St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Andrew, and all apostles, let not this noble line be forgotten that hath spread so far.] All postelles of god, for your curtesy, In obliuy be noght this issew Fro-whens such noblesse cometh vnto ey, Sparcled into landes and places many; [ 6480] That conquered haue many a noble place By ther noblesse and chiualrous purchace. [ 6482]

SAint Steuin, seint Vincent, seint Lauerence, [ 6483] [Fol. 122 b.] And ye, Saynt Clement, with-all seint Denise, [St. Stephen, St. Vincent, St. Law∣rence, St. Clement, St. Dionysius,] Which all frendes bene to goddes hy essence, your bodies haue offered by grett auisse

To greuos torment with huge tirandisse, [ 6487] And all martirised, like or semblable, [and all ye holy martyrs,] Which in heuyns regne in ioy perdurable, [ 6489]

IN the hy paradise celestiall, [ 6490] [grant that we may dwell for ever in heaven,] For your fair dedes and wurdes also. Make that we be comprised eternall Finabilly without any ende me to, [MS. "to me to."] Where regneth the fader and the sone, lo! [ 6494] [where reign the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.] And the holy gost in heuyns full hy, And shall for euer perdurabilly. [ 6496]

SAynt Siluestre, seint Augustin, your grace; [ 6497] [St. Silvester, St. Augustine, St. Martin, St. Maur, St. Severinus, and all confessors,] Saynt Martin, seynt More, saynt Seuerine, Saynt Cuthbert, seynt Germain, seint Nicholas, And all confessours by rew to deuine, Besech, in obliuy putt not thys line, [ 6501] [let not this line be forgotten,] Off whome treted haue in my tale and lay; But out of bandes, good seintes, alway [ 6503]

Thaim warde, put, and cast fro the fendes fell, [ 6504] [but guard them from the fiends that come at the third hour or at mid-day:] Which that comyth at thirde hour or midday, (And more oftener then can say or tell), Fro hynesse to lownesse us to put alway. Make vs to haue þat solas euer and ay [ 6508] [grant us the solace of the celestial sphere.] Off the celestiall heuynly spere, After wrecchyd lif worly beyng here. [ 6510]

SEynt Mary Magdeline, humble and demure, [ 6511] [Fol. 123] I you here require with hautain uois fine, [St. Mary Magda∣len, I pray to thee.] With pensiff muses of hert clene And pure; Seint Agnes, seint Edith, seint katerine, [St. Agnes, St. Edith, St. Catha∣rine, be pleased to beseech our Lord to save us.] That if you please to take the paine & pine [ 6515] To beseke our lord, vs conuey and bring Aboue unto the ioy euerlasting. [ 6517]

All goddes frendes blessed and Holy, [ 6518] [All ye friends of God,] Humbly you beseke with ioynt handes twain, That ye do so our sinnes vndo fully, [put away our sins, that we feel not hell-pain,] And that acqueint [vs] with our souerain, So þat of hell we haue no point of pain; [ 6522] But to herbourgh vs with his blissed saintes [but dwell with the saints in heaven.] In heuen where And is no complaintes. [ 6524]

LOrd swet Iesus, be to vs debonair; [ 6525] [Lord Jesu, grant that nothing may turn to their harm.] Do noght again thaim of whom I haue told Thing þat thaim may torn̄ thaim in contrair; Warde thaim fro bande of our aduersary bold, [Guard them from our adversary, and save us all.] Which many man hath brought vnto his hold. [ 6529] For thi pusaunce and debonair renon̄, Do make vs come to our sauacion. [ 6531]

SWete lorde god, swete fader cheritable, [ 6532] [Sweet Lord God, our Father, guard us from the fiend;] Warde vs fro bandes of the cruell fend; As short wurdes, vs hold in our purpose stable, That neuer we torn̄e bake, ne the offende. [grant that we offend Thee not, but may gain ever∣lasting bliss.] Amiable and piteable be to us at end, [ 6536] That we may haue the perdurabilnesse Off ioy aboue, And uerray rest vs dresse. [ 6538]

SWet lorde Iesu, þat all thyng hast to iuge, [ 6539] [Fol. 123 b.] I the here besech with hole hert entire, [Jesu, that shalt judge all,] Make us the ryght path go to our refuge, [teach us the way of salvation,] And the way of sauacion to acquire, To wepe and complain our synne cruell yre; [ 6543] So we may the preise after our last day [that we may praise Thee here∣after for ever.] Perdurabilly in felicite ay. [ 6545]

I yilde now thankes, after this letany, [ 6546] [The translacion. [These two words, here written in the margin of the MS., mark the beginning of the translator's own epilogue.] ] To the sacred glorious Trinite,

To cristes moder, the Virgin mary, [I yield thanks, after this prayer, to God, the Virgin, saints, martyrs, and confessors,] Seint Mihell, seint Iohan̄, apostellis that be, Martires, confessours, ech in ther deg[r]e, [ 6550] Virgins, seintes al, that this haue translat [that I have now translated this.] Fro [MS. "For."] frensh till english at this present dat. [ 6552]

As ny as metre can conclude sentence, [ 6553] [I have done it in order, as closely as I could, almost line by line, saving that I have often had to change the order of words,] Cereatly by rew in it haue I go. Nerehande stafe by staf, by gret diligence, Sauyng þat I most metre apply to; The wourdes meue, and sett here & ther so, [ 6557] like As of latin ho-so will fourge uers; [as when men write Latin verse.] Wourdes [MS. "Worudes."] most he change sondry & diuerse, [ 6559]

Whilom þat be-fore put, And sette behynd, [ 6560] [Whoever trans∣lates in metre, must do this,] And oft that at end gretth ["greeth" (?).] best before; So oft trauersing the langage me shall fynd, Be it latyn, frensh, or our tonge to-bore. ho it metre will, so do moste euermore, [ 6564] Be it in balede, uers, Rime, or prose, [whether in ballad, verse, rime, or metrical prose.] He most torn and wend, metrely to close. [ 6566]

And so haue I done after my simplesse, [ 6567] [Fol. 124] Preseruing, I trust, mater and sentence [Yet have I pre∣served, I trust, the matter un∣hurt, without ex∣cess or diminu∣tion,] Vnwemmed, [MS. "Vnwmned."] vnhurt, for any excesse, Or by menusing don by violence. Warded and kepte haue to intelligens, [ 6571] [making it intel∣ligible in our mother tongue.] That will vnderstande And knowin may [MS. "many."] be In our moder tonge, spoken in contre. [ 6573]

PErhaps by lachesse, or by necligence, [ 6574] [Perchance I may have made an oversight,] Ou[e]r-sight myght cause obliuion, Or parauenture do cause and offence. Gretly is it noght, hurtyng no reson,

By no menes of imperfeccion. [ 6578] [but it is no great one,] I trust to conserue mater and substance [not such as to vio∣late the sense.] Greable vnto the reders plesaunce. [ 6580]

Als the frensh staffes silabled be [ 6581] [Also the French lines have fewer [eight] syllables than the English,] More breueloker and shorter also Then is the english lines vnto see, That comperhended [sic in MS.] in on may lines to; [so that two lines may be put into one;] And in such wise sondry times haue do; [ 6585] Or ellys man myght by computacion [and I have some∣times done so.] In ther contrepane finde others reson, [ 6587]

In frensh or english, whether A man shold [ 6588] The mater to preue by iuste probacion. And so As it is truly fynde, I wold [I would that both books could be seen at once, that if any man wants to count the lines, he might see how closely they are alike.] Both bokes displaide to vision, Verefie I wold the declaracion̄, [ 6592] That on by other knowen well shold be, Resembling well All o ssoule dite. [ 6594]

All fourged and don̄, thys here make an end, [ 6595] [Fol. 124 b.] Besechyng your hy notable gentillesse, [Here I make an end; and beseech you,] That to my fauor ye now condiscend Off your hy wurthy soueraynnesse, In whom contained hugely is noblesse, [ 6599] [in whom is all nobleness, to excuse all faults,] Though that diffautes apperen in use, yut of your mercy my simplesse excuse, [ 6601]

Sin at your request and commaundement [ 6602] [since it was at your request I made the transla∣tion, and wrote it out from end to end in black lines.] This warke on me toke, it to fourge and make; And so haue I don̄, after myne entent, With litterall carectes for your sake; Tham conueying in sable lines blake [ 6606]

Directly along thys haue I to end, After my simplesse so forth passe and wende. [ 6608]

NOw ye all that shall thys behold or rede, [ 6609] [Now all ye that read this, remem∣ber my simple∣ness; though this book is not painted (for I cannot flourish), yet excuse all faults that you may see.] Remembreth myn unconnyng simplesse; Thought rethoriously peinted be not in-dede, As other han don̄ by ther discretnesse. Sin florish can noght, yut, of your gentillesse, [ 6613] Though that diffautes appere huge to ey, Yut excusith me, besech you hertly. [ 6615]

Explicit.