Three early English metrical romances with an introduction and glossary / edited from a ms. in the possession of J. I. Blackburne, Esq. M.P. by John Robson.

THE ANTURS OF ARTHER AT THE TARNEWATHELAN.

I.

IN the tyme of Arther thys antur be-tydde, Be-syde the Tarnewathelan, as the boke tellus; That he to Karlylle was comun, that conquerour kydde, Wythe dukys, and with dosiperus, that with the deure dwellus, For to hunte atte the herd, that lung hase bynne hydde; Tyl on a day thay hom dyȝt into the depe dellus, Fellun to tho femalus, in forest was fredde; Fayre by fermesones, by frythys, and felles, To the wudde thay weyndun, these wlonkes in wedes; Bothe the kyng and the qwene, And other doȝti by-dene; Syr Gawan, graythist on grene, Dame Gaynore he ledus.

II.

Thenne Syr Gawan the gode, Dame Gaynour he ledus, Inne a gliderand gyde, that glemit so gay; That was with rebans reuersut, quo so ryȝt redys, Arayit aure with rebans, rycheste of ray; Hur hud of a haa hew, that hur hede hidus, Of purpure, and palle werke, and perrè to pay; Wos schrod in a schort cloke, that the rayn shredes,

Set aure with saferes, quo sothely will say, Safers and seledyms, serclet on sydus; Her sadylle sette with that ilke, With ryche sa savmhellus of sylke, Opun a mule as the mylke; Thus gayli ho glydus. [ST. II. l. 13. Saude with sambutes of sylke. MS. Douce.]

III.

And thus Dame Gaynour the gode, gayli ho glidus The gatys with Syr Gawan, by a grene welle; And a byrne on a blonke, that with the quene a-bydus, That borne was in Burgoyne, be boke and by belle; So lung he ledys that lady by that loghe sydus, [III. 5.—Loghe landez, MS. Lincoln.—Lawe, MS. Douce.—V. infra, VII. 5.] Ther at a laurialle scho lyȝt, loe by a hille; The fellus, Arther and his hurles, hernestely he rydest, To teche hom to hor tristurs, quo truly wille telle; To hor tristurs he hom taȝte, quo truly me trowes, Yche lord with-outen lette, Vn-to a tre ar thay sette, Wyth bow and wyth berselette, Vndurneth the boes.

IV.

Thus vndur boes thay byde, than byrnes so bold, To beker atte the barrens, in bonkes so bare; There myȝte hathels on hye, herdus be-hold, To herkyn huntyng with horne, in holtis so hore; Thay kest of hor cowpullus, in cliffes so cold, Cumfordun hor kenettes, to kele hom of care; Thay felle to the female dure, feyful thyk fold; With felle houundus and with fresche, thay folo the fare.

Thay questun, thay quellun, By frythun, by fellun, The dere in the dellun, Thay droupun and daren.

V.

Alle dyrkyns the dere, in the dym scoghes, For drede of the dethe droupus the doe; For the squyppand watur, that squytherly squoes, Thayre werre on the wild squyne wurchis hom wo. The hunteres thay haulen, by hurstes and by hoes, To the rest raches that releues of the roe: Thay geuen no gomen, nyf no grythe, that on the grounde groes, [V. 6,7.

And bluwe rechas, rially thei ranne to the ro. Thay gafe to no gamen, that on grownde growes. MS. Douce.

And tille thaire riste, raches relyes onne thaire raye; They gafe no gamen, no grythe, that on grownde growes. MS. Lincoln.

"And to their resting place hounds follow, on their track (?) They gave no sport, no respite." The second line is repeated (without the negative) infra XII 3, and appears to conclude with a sort of conventional or expletive phrase.

] The grehoundys in the grene greues, so gladdely thay goe; Thus gladdely thay goe, in greuis so grene, The king blue a rechase, Folut fast on the trase, With mony seriandys of mase, That solas to see.

VI.

Thus that solas to see, the semelokest of alle, Thay soȝt to thayre souerayne, undur the scha schene; Alle butte Syr Gauan, graythest of alle, Was laft with Dame Gaynour, vndur the greues grene. By a lauryel ho lay, vndur a lefe sale, Of box and of barberè, byggyt ful bene; Euyn atte the mydday this ferly con falle, And this mykyl meruel, that I of mene;

Nou wold I of this meruel mele, if I moȝt, The day wex as dirke As the mydnyȝte myrke, Ther-of Syr Arther wos irke, And liȝte on his fote.

VII.

Thus on fote con thay founde, these frekes vn-fayn, And fled to the forest fro the fau fellus; [VII. 2. Fawe fellis, MS. Lincoln.—Fewe, MS. Douce.] Thay ran to the raches, for redeles of rayn, [3. To the roches, for reddoure, MS. D. to the rocks, for fear.] For the snyterand snaue, that snaypely hom snellus; So come a lau oute of a loghe, in lede is noȝt to layn, In lykenes of Lucifere, lauyst in hellus; Glydand to Dame Gaynour, hyre gates were gayne, ȝauland ful ȝamerly, with mony loude ȝelles; Hyt ȝaulit, hit ȝamurt, with wlonkes full wete, And sayd with sykyng sare, "I banne the byrde that me bare, For noue comyn is my care, I gloppen and Y grete!"

VIII.

Alle gloppuns and gretys Dame Gaynour the gay, And sayd to Syr Gauan, "Quat is thi best rede?" "Hyt is but the clyppus of the sune, I herd a clerk say;" And thus he cumforthes the quene, throghe his knyȝt-hed; Ho sayd, "Syr Cador, Syr Clegius, Syr Costantyne, Syr Cay, These knyȝtes ar vn-curtas, by cros, and by crede! That thus haue laft me allone, at my dethe day, With on the grymlokkest gost, that euer herd I grete!" "Of the gost," quod the gome, "greue thè no mare;

For I wille speke with the sprete, And of hit woe wille I wete, Gif that I may hit bales bete, And the body bare."

IX.

Alle bare was the body, and blak by the bone, Vmbeclosut in a cloude, in clething evyl clad; Hit ȝaulut, hit ȝamurt, lyke a woman, Nauthyr of hyde, nyf of heue, no hillyng hit had; Hyt stedyt, hit stode as stylle as a stone; Hyt menet, hit musut, hyt marret for madde. Vn-to the gryselyche gost Syr Gauane is gone, And rayket to hit in a res, for he was neuyr radde; Rad was he neuyr ȝette, quo so ryȝte redus; Opon the chefe of hur cholle, A padok prykette on a polle, Hyr enyn were holket and holle, And gloet as the gledes.

X.

Alle gloet as the gledes, the gost qwere hit glidus, Was vmbyclosut in a cloude, in clething vn-clere Was sette aure with serpentes, that sate to the sydus; To telle the todus ther opon with tung were ful tere. Then this byrne braydet owte a brand, and the body bidus; For alle this chiualrouse knyȝt, chonget no chere; The houndes hyes to the holtes, and thayre hedus hidus; The greundes were alle a-gast, of the gryme bere. Thus were the grehondes a-gast of the gryme bere; The bryddus in the boes, That of the gost gous, Thay scryken in the scoes, That herdus myȝten hom here.

XI.

Alle the herdus myȝtun here, the hyndest of alle, Off the schaft and the shol, shaturt to the shin; Thenne coniurt the knyȝt, and on Cryst callus, "As Thou was claryfiet on crosse, and clanser of synne, Wys me, thou waret wyȝte! quedur that thou schalle, Querfore that thou walkes these woddes with-inne?" Ho sayd, ho was a figure of flesche, fayrest of alle, "Crystunt and crisumpte with kingus in my kynne; I hade kingus in my kynne, that kyd were for kene; Thus God hase grauntut me grace, To dre my penawunse in this place, And I am comun in this cace, To carpe with ȝour qwene.

XII.

For qwene was I sum-qwile, briȝter of broes Thenne Berel, or Brangeuayne, the birdus so bold; Of alle the gomun, and the grythe, that on the ground groes, Grattur thenne Dame Gaynour, be grete sowmus of gold; Of palas, of parkes, of poundes, of ploes, Of toures, of tounes, of tresurus vn-told; Of castels, of cuntrayes, of cliffes, of cloes, Thus am I cachet fro kythe, to cares so kold! Thus am I cachet to care, and couchet in clay; Lo! thou curtase knyȝte, Houe dylful dethe hase me dyȝte, To lette me onus haue a syȝte Of Ganore the gay."

XIII.

Thenne Syr Gauan the gode, to Gaynour is gone, Be-fore the body he hur broȝte, and the byrde bryȝte, Ho sayd, "Welcum, Waynor, i-wys, wurlok in wone

Lo! hou dilful dethe hase thi Dame dyȝte! For my rud was raddur then rose of the ron, My lere as the lilly that lauchet so lyȝte; Now I am a gryselyche gost, and griseliche I grone, With Lucifere, in a lake, thus lau am I lyȝte. Thus lau am I lyȝte, take wittenesse by me; For alle ȝour fresche forur, [XIII. 10.

For alle ȝoure fresche fauoure Nowe moyse on this mirroure. MS. L.

] That menes of ȝour merur, Kynge, Duke, and Emperoure, Alle thus schalle ȝe be.

XIV.

Thus dethe wille ȝo diȝte, I do ȝo oute of doute, And therfore hertely take hede, quyles that thou art here; Qwen thou art ray richest, and rydus in thi route, [XIV. 3. Richely arrayede. MS. L.] Haue petè on the pore, quyl thou hase pouere: Quen birdus, and birnys ar besy thè aboute, Quyl thi body be boumet, and broȝte on a bere, Thay wille leue thè ful lyȝteli, that noue wil thè loute, And then helpes thè no thing, but holi prayere. For the prayer of the pore may purchase thi pece; Those at thou ȝees at thi ȝate, Quen thou art sette in thi sete, With alle the myrthes at thi mete, And dayntethis on dese.

XV.

With alle dayntethis on dese, thi dietis ar diȝte, And I in dungun, and dill, is done for to duelle; Naxty, and nedy, and nakut, opon heȝte; For in wunnyng place, is woe for to duelle; [XV. 4. There folo me a ferde of fendis of helle. MS. D.]

Thay hurlun me vn-hindely, thay haue me on heȝte, In brasse, and in brinstone, I brenne as a belle; For I ne wotte in this word, so woful a wiȝte; Hit were fulle tere for a tung, my tourmentes to telle. Now wold I of these tourmentes talk or I goe, Thenke thou throli opon this, And founde to mend of thi mys, For thou art warnut i-wis; Be-war of my woe!"

XVI.

"Ways me for thi wirde!" cothe Waynor, "i-wis, But on thing wold I wete, and thi wille ware, Quethir authir matyns, or masse, myȝt mend thè of mys, Or any mubulle on the muld, my myrthe were the more; Or bedus of these bischoppus, myȝte bringe thè to blis, Or couand in the cloystur, myȝt kele thè of care, For giffe thè were my modur, grete wundur hit ware, That euyr thy burliche body bryȝte is so bare!" Ho sayd, "I bare thè of my body, quat bote is to layne? By a token thou me troue, I breke a solem adecoue, [XVI. 11. I brake a solempne a-vowe. MSS. D. and L.] That non wist but I and thou, Quo sotheli wille sayne!"

XVII.

"Say me," quod Gaynour, "quat myȝte saue thè from site Fro citè I schalle sayntes ger seke sone for thi sake; For tho baleful bestus that on thi body bites; Alle blynde is my ble, thi blode is so blake!" "These ar luf peramourus, that listus and likes, Dose me lyȝte, and lynd lau in in a lake;

Alle the welthe of this worde thus a-way wytes, With these wrechut wurmus, that wurchen me this wrake. Thus to wrake am I wroȝte, Waynor, i-wis; Were thrittè trentes of masse done, Be-twyx vndur and none, My saule were socurt ful sone, And broȝte un-to blys."

XVIII.

Ho sayd, "To that blys bring thè that birne that boȝt vs with his blode, As he was clarifiet on crosse, and crounet with thorne, Cristunt and crisumte, with condul and with code, Folut in a fontestone, frely biforne; And Mary, his modur, that mylde is of mode, Of qwom that blisfulle barne in Bedelem was born; He gif me grace, to grete thi saule with the gode, And myn thè with massus, and matins, on morun." "To mynne me with massus, grete mestur hit were; For him that rest on the rode, Thou dele fast of thi gode, To tho that fales the fode, Qwillus that thou art here."

XIX.

"Here I hete the my hond, thi hestus to hold, With a milium of masse to make thi mynnyng; But on thing," [cothe] Waynour, "that I wete wold, Quat wrathes Crist most at thi weting?" Ho sayd, "Pride with his purtenans, hase prophetes haue told, And enperit to the pepulle in hor preching; [XIX. 6. By-fore the pople appertly, in thaire prechynge. MS. L. Fo "appertly" the Douce MS. has "apt in herre."] These ar the branches full bittur, ther-of be thou bold,

Makes mony byrne full boune, to breke Goddus bidding, Quo his bidding brekes, bare is of blis; But if thay saluen hom of ther sare, Certis or thay hethun fare, Thay knaue of mekil care, ȝè Waynore, i-wis!"

XX.

"Now wis me," quod Waynor, "gif that thou wost, Quat bedus that myȝte best vs to blis bring?" Ho sayd, "Mesure and mekenes, that is the most, Haue petè of the pore, that plesus the kinge; Sethyn charitè is chefe to those that wyn be chast, Almesdede, that is aure alle other thingus. These ar the gracius giftus of the Holi Gost. That enspires iche sprete, with-oute spilling, Off this spiritualltè speke we no more; Quyll thou art quene in thi quarte, Hald these wurdus in thi herte, For thou mun lyf butte a starte, And hethun schalle thou fare." [A Fytte.]

XXI.

"HOW schalle we fare," quod Gauan, "that foundus to these fiȝtus, And defoules these folk, in fele kyngus londus; Riche remus orerennus, agaynes the ryȝtus, Wynnes wurschip, and wele, throghe wyȝtenes of hondus?" Scho sayd, "Yaure king is to couetus, and his kene knyȝtus, Ther may no strenȝthe him stir, quen the quele stondus; Quen he is in his magestè, most in his myȝtus, Then schalle he liȝte fulle lau, bi the see sondus. Thus ȝour chiualreis kynge, chefe schalle a chaunse;

Felles fortune in fyȝte, That wundurfulle quele-wryȝte, That lau wille lordis gere liȝte, Take wittenesse be Fraunse!

XXII.

For Fraunse haue ȝe frely with ȝaure fiȝte wonnen, Frol, and his Farnet, ful fery haue ȝe leuyt; [XXII. 2. The Frolo, and the Farnaghe, es frely by-leuede. MS. L. Freol and his folke, fey ar they leued. MS. D.] Bretan, and Burgoyn, is bothe in ȝour bandum; And alle the Duseperis of Fraunse with ȝour dyn deuyt. Now may Gian grete, that euyr hit was begonun, Ther is noȝte lede on leue, in that lond leuet. ȝette schalle the riche Romans be with ȝou aure-runnun, And atte the Rountabulle, the rentus schalle be reuet, Hit schalle be tynte, as I troue, and timburt with tene. Gete thè wele, Sir Gauan, Turne thè to Tuscan, Or lese schalle ȝe Bretan, Thruȝe a knyȝte kene!

XXIII.

A knyȝte schalle kenely croyse the croune, And at Carlit be crounet for king, [XXIII. 2. Carelyon. MS. L. Carlele. MS. D.] That segge schalle ensese him, atte a session; Mykille barette, and bale, to Bretan schalle bring; ȝe schalle be told in Tuskan, of that tresun, And be turnut a-gaynne with that tithing; Ther schalle the Rountabulle lese the renowun, Be-syde Ramsay the riche, atte a ryding; In Desesde schalle dee the duȝty of alle. [9. And at Dorsett. MS. L.]

Gete thè wele, Syr Gauan, The baldest of Bretan! For in a slac thou schalle be slayn, Seche ferlès schyn falle!

XXIV.

Seche ferlès schalle [falle] with-outen any fabull, Opon Corneuayle cost, with knyȝtus fulle kene; Ther Arthore auenant, onest, and abulle, Schalle be woundut, i-wis, wothelik I-wene; Alle the rialle route of the Rountabulle Thay schalle dee that day, tho duȝti be-dene! Sussprisut with a subiecte, that bere schalle of sabulle, With a sauter engralet, of siluer so schene; He berus hit of sabulle, quo sotheli wille saye; In Kyng Arther's halle, The child playes atte the balle, That outray schalle ȝo alle, Derfly that daye!

XXV.

Ho sayd, "Haue gode day, Syr Gauan, and Gaynour the gode! I have no lengur tyme ȝo tithinges to telle, For I mun walke on my way, throȝe-oute ȝondur wud, For in my wunnyng place is wo for to welle. For him that ryȝtewis rest, and rose on the rode, Thenke quat dounger, and dele, that I inne duelle; Funde to grete my saule with sum of thi gode, And myn me with massus, and matyns i-mele. For massus ar medesins for us in bales bides; Vs thing a masse als squete, As any spyce that euyr thou ete."— Thus with a grysliche grete, The gost a-way glidus.

XXVI.

Noue with a griseliche grete, the gost away glidus, And a sore gronyng, with a grym bere; The wynd and the welkyn, the wethur in that tide, The cloude vnclosut, the sune wex clere. The kynge his bugul con blau, opon the bent bides, His fayre folke on the fuilde, they flocken in fere, And alle the rial route to the quene ridus; Meles to hur mildely, opon thayre manere; Tho wees of the wederinges forwondret thay were; Princys, pruddust in palle, Gay Gaynoure and alle, Thay wente to Rondalle-sete halle, Vn-to thayre sopere.

XXVII.

Quen he to sopere was sette, and seruut in his sale, Vndur a seler of sylke, with dayntethis diȝte; With alle welthis to wille, and wynus to wale, Briddes bacun in bred, on brent gold bryȝte, So come in a seteler, with a symbale, A lufsum lady ledand a knyȝte; Ridus to the he dese, be-fore the rialle, And hailsutte King Arthore hindely on heȝte; Sayd to the soueran, wlonkest in wede, "Thou mon, makeles of myȝt, This is a nayre, and a knyȝt, Thou do him resun and ryȝte, For thi mon-hed."

XXVIII.

Monli in his mantille he sate atte his mete, With palle puret in poon, was prudliche piȝte, Trowlt with trulufes and tranest be-tuene,

The tassellus were of topeus, that was ther-to tiȝte; He glysset up with his ene, that gray were and grete, With his beueren berd, opon the birne bryȝte; He was the semelist soueran on sittand in his sete, That euyr segge hade soȝte, or seen him syȝte. Thenne oure comeliche King carpus hur tille, And sayd, "Thou wurlych wiȝt, Liȝte, and leng alle nyȝt, Quethun is that ayre and that knyȝt, And hit were thi wille?"

XXIX.

Ho wos the wurliche wiȝte, that any wee wold; Hir gide that was glorius, was of a gresse-grene; Her belte was of blenket, with briddus ful bold, Beten with besandus, and bocult ful bene: Her fax in fyne perrè, was frettut and fold, Her countur-felit and hur kelle were colurt ful clene, With a croune cumly, was clure to be-hold; Hur kerchefes were curiouse, with mony a proud prene; Hur enparel was a-praysut, with princes of myȝte; Bryȝte birdus and bold, Hade i-nuȝhe to be-hold, Of that freli to fold, And the kene knyȝte.

XXX.

Than the knyȝte in his colurs was armit ful clene, With a crest comely, was clure to be-hold, His brene, and his basnet was busket ful bene, With a bordur a-boute, alle of brent gold: His mayles were mylke quyte, enclawet full clene, His stede trapput with that ilke, os true men me told; With a schild on his shildur, of siluer so schene,

With bore-hedis of blakke, and brees full bold; His stede with sandelle of Trise was trapput to the hele. Opon his cheueronne be-forn, Stode as a vnicorn, Als scharpe as a thorn, An nanlas of stele.

XXXI.

In stele was he stuffut, that sterne on his stede, With his sternes of gold, stanseld on stray; His gloues and his gamesuns gloet as the gledes, A-rayet aure with rebans, rychist of raye; With his schene schinbandes, scharpest in schredus. His polans with his pelidoddes were poudert to pay, Thus launce opon lofte that louely he ledus; A fauyn on a fresun him folut, in fay, The freson was afrayet, and ferd of that fare; For he was syldun wunte to se A tablet flourrè; Seche game, and siche glee, Seȝhe he neuyr are.

XXXII.

Then the king carput him tille, on hereand hom alle, "Qwethun art thou, wurliche we, and hit were thi wille? Tell me quethun thou come, and quethir thou schalle, Quy thou stedis in that stid, and stondus so stille?" Then he auaylet vppe his viserne fro his ventalle, With a knyȝteliche countenaunse, he carpes him tille; Sayd, "Quethir thou be Cayselle or Kyng, here I thè be-calle, For to fynde me a freke to feȝte on my fille; For feȝting thus am I fraest and foundut fro home." Then speke the kynge opon heȝte, Sayd, "Liȝte, and leng alle nyȝte; As thou art curtase knyȝte, Thou telle me thi name."

XXXIII.

He sayd, "My nome is Syr Galrun, with-outen any gile, The grattus of Galway, of greuys and of gillus; Of Carrake, of Cummake, of Conyngame, of Kile, Of Lonwik, of Lannax, of Laudoune hillus; That thou hase wonun on werre with thi wrang wiles, Gifhen hom to Syr Gauan, that my hert grillus; Ȝette schalle thou wring thi hondus, and wary thè quiles, Or any we schild hom weld, atte my unnewilles; Atte my unnewilles, i-wis, he schalle hom neuyr weld. Qwil I the hed may bere, With schild and with scharpe spere, Butte he may wynne hom on were, Opon a fayre fylde.

XXXIV.

For in a fyld wille I feȝte, ther-to I make faythe, With any freke opon fuld, that is fre born; To lose suche a lordschip, me wold thinke laythe, And iche ledè, opon lyue, wold laghe me to scorne." "ȝe, we ar in wudlond," cothe the king, "and walkes on owre wayth, For to hunte atte the herd, with houunde and with horne; Gyf thou be gome gladdest, now haue we no graythe, ȝet may thou be machet be mydday to morne; For-thi I rede, rathe mon, thou rest thè all nyȝte." Thenne Gauan, graythest of alle, Lad him furthe thruȝhe the halle, Vn-tylle a pauelun of palle Was prudlyche i-pyȝte.

XXXV.

Hit was prudlyche y-piȝte, of purpure and palle, With beddus brauderit o brode, and bankers y-dyȝte;

Ther-inne was a schapelle, a chambur, and a halle, A schimnay of charcole, to chaufen the knyȝte. Thay halen vppe his stede, had him to stalle, Hay hely thay hade in haches vn-hiȝte; [XXXV. 6 One hyghte. MS. L.] Prayd vp with a burd, and clothes couthe calle, With salers and sanapus, thay serue the knyȝte, With troches and broches and stondartis bi-twene; For to serue the knyȝte, And the wurliche wiȝte, With ryche dayntethis dyȝte, In syluyr so schene.

XXXVI.

Thus in siluyr so schene, thay serue of the best, With vernage, and verrès, in coupus ful clene; [XXXVI. 2 In verrys and cowppys. MSS. L. and D.] With lucius drinkes, and metis of the best, Ryche dayntès en-doret, in dysshes bi-dene. As tyde as that rialle was rayket to his rest, The kinge callut his councelle, the doȝti be-dene, And bede, "Vmloke ȝo, lordinges, oure lose be notte lost, Quo schalle countur with ȝondur knyȝte, cast ȝo bi-tuene." Thenne sayd Syr Gauan, "Hit schalle vs noȝte greue; I wille countur with the knyȝte, For to maynteine my ryȝte, Ther-to my trothe y thè plyȝte, ȝe, Lord, with thi leve."

XXXVII.

"I leue wele," quod the kinge, "thi lates ar lyȝte, But I wold notte for no lordschip se thi life lorne;" "Lette go," cothe Sir Gauan, "God stond with the ryȝte! For and he scapette scatheles, hit were a gret scorne."

And in the dayng of day ther doȝty were dyȝte, Herd matyns [and] mas, myldelik on morun; In myd Plumtun Lone, hor paueluns were piȝte, Quere neuyr frekes opon fulde hade foȝtun be forne. Thay sette listes on lenthe, olong on the lawnde; Thre soppus of demayn, Wos broȝte to Sir Gauan, For to cumford his brayne, The king gart cummaunde.

XXXVIII.

The kinge commawundet kindeli the Erle of Kente, [XXXVIII. 1. Krudely, the erles sonne of Kent. MS. D.] For his meculle curtasy, to kepe the tother knyȝte; And made him with dayntethis to dine in his tente, And sythun this rialle men a-rayut hom o-ryȝte. And aftur Quene Waynor warly thay wente, And be-leues in hur warde, that wurlyche wiȝte; Sethin the hathels in hie, hor horses haue hente, In mydde the lyste of the lawunde, the lordus doune liȝte: Alle butte the stithest, in steroppus that stode; King Arther schayer was sette, O-boue in his chaselette, And thenne Dame Gaynour grette, For Gauan the gode. [A Fitte.]

XXXIX. [XXXIX. This stanza is given from the Douce MS.]

[GAWAYNE and Galleronne gurdenne here stedis, Alle in gleterande golde, gaye was here gere; The lordes be-lyfe hom to list ledis, Withe many seriant of mace, as was the manere. The burnes broched the blonkes, that the side bledis;

Aythire freke apponne fold has fastned his spere; Schaftis in shide wode thay shindre in schides; So jolyly thes gentille justede one were! Schaftis thay shindr, in sheldes so schene; And sithenne with brandes bryghte, Riche mayles thay righte; There encontres the knyghte With Gawayne, one grene.]

XL.

Thenne Syr Gauan the gode was graythet in grene, With his griffuns of gold engrelet fulle gay, Trowlt with trulofes, and tranest be-twene; Opon a startand stede he strikes oute of stray. The tother in his turnyng, he talkes tille him in tene, And sayd, "Querto draues thou so dreȝghe, and mace suche deray?" He sqwapputte him in at the squyre, with a squrd kene, That greuut Syr Gauan euer tille his dethe day. The dyntus of that duȝty were douteouse be-dene; Syxti maylis and moe, The squrd squappes in toe, His canel-bone allsoe, And cleuet his schild clene.

XLI.

He keruet of the cantel, that couurt the knyȝte, Thro his shild and his shildur, a schaft-mun he share; Then the latelest lord loghe opon heȝte, And Gauan grechut ther with, and greuut wundur sore: Sayd, "he shuld rewarde thè this route, and I con rede o ryȝte." He foundes into the freke with a fresche fare; Throȝt basynet and breny, that burnyschet wos bryȝte, With a bytand brand euyn throghet he him bare; He bare thruȝe his brenys, that burneyst were bryȝte.

Then gloppunt that gaye, Hit was no ferly, in faye, His stedes startun on straye, With steroppus fulle stryȝte.

XLII.

Thenne with steroppus fulle streȝte, stifly he strikes, Waynes atte Sir Wawane, ryȝte as he were wode; Thenne his lemmon on lofte scrilles and scrykes, Quenne the balefulle birde blenked on his blode. Other lordus and ladès, thayre laykes welle likes, Thonked God of his grace, for Gawan the gode. With a squappe of his squrde, squeturly him strykes, Smote of Gauan stede heued, in styd quere he stode; The fayre fole foundret, and felle bi the rode; Gauan was smyther and smerte, Owte of his steroppus he sterte, As he that was of herte, Fro Greselle the gode.

XLIII.

"Greselle," quod Gauan, "gone is, God ote! He wos the burlokke[st] blonke, ther euyr bote brede! By him that inne Bedelem wasse borne for oure bote, I schalle reuenge thè to day, and I con ryȝt rede." "Foche thè my fresun," quod the freke, "is fayrest on fote, He wulle stond thè in stoure, in-toe so mycul styd."— "No more for thi fresun, then for a rysche rote, Butte for dylle of a dowmbe best, that thus schuld be ded; I mowrne for no matyttory, for I may gete more." [XLIII. 9. I mourne for no monture. MSS. L. and D.] And as he stode bi his stede, That was gud in iche nede, Neȝtehond Syr Wauan wold wede, So wepputte he fulle sore.

XLIV.

Sore wepput for woe, Syr Wauan the wiȝte, Bouun to his enmy, that woundut was sore; The tother droȝghe him o-dreghe, for drede of the knyȝte, Then he brochet his blonke, opon the bente bare. "Thus may we dryue furthe the day," quod Gauan, "to the dirke nyȝte, The sun is past the merke of mydday and more," In myddes the lyist on the lawunde, this lordes doun lyȝte; A-gayn the byrne with his brand, he busket him ȝare: Thus to batelle thay boune with brandis so bryȝte; Shene schildus thay shrede, Welle ryche mayles wexun rede, And mony duȝty hadun drede, So fursely thai foȝtun.

XLV.

Thus on fote con thai feȝte, opon the fayre fildus, As fresch as ij lions, that fawtutte the fille: Witturly ther weys, thayre weppuns thay weld; Wete ȝe wele, Sir Wauan, him wontut no wille, He berus to him with his brand, vndur his brode shild, Thro the wast of the body wowundet him ille; The squrd styntet for no stuffe, he was so wele stelet, The tother startes on bakke, and stondus stone stille; If he were stonit in that stounde, ȝette strykes he sore; He girdus to Syr Gauane, Throȝhe ventaylle and pusane, That him lakket no more to be slayne, Butte the brede of hore.

XLVI.

And thus the hardy on heyte, on helmis thai heuen, Betun downe berels, in bordurs so bryȝte,

That with stones iraille were strencult and strauen, Frettut with fyne gold, that failis in the fiȝte. With schildus on ther schildurs, schomely thay shewen, Stythe stapuls of stele, thay striken doune streȝte. Thenne byernes bannes the tyme, the bargan was bruen, That evyr these duȝti with dyntus, so dulfuly were diȝte. Hit hurte King Arther in herte, and mengit his mode; Bothe Sir Lote, and Sir Lake, Meculle menyng con make; Thenne Dame Gaynor grette for his sake, For Gawan the gode!

XLVII.

Thenne grette Dame Gaynour, with hur gray een, For grefe of Sir Gauan grimliche wouundes; Thenne the knyȝte, that was curtase, cruail, and kene, With a stelun brand, he strikes in that stounde; Alle the cost of the knyȝte, he keruys doune clene, Thro the riche mayles, that ronke were and rouunde; Suche a touche in that tyde, he taȝte hym in tene, And gurdes me Sir Gallerun, euyn grouelonges on grounde. Alle grouelonges in grounde, gronet on grene, Als wowundut as he wasse, Wundur rudely he rose, Fast he foundes atte his face, With a squrd kene.

XLVIII.

Thus that cruelle and kene, kerues on heȝte, With a cast of the carhonde, in a cantelle he strikes; [XLVIII. 2. With a caste of the care, in kantelle he strikes. MS. L. The other MS. for caste reads scas.] þorne waitis with woe, Sir Wauan the wiȝte,

Butte ȝette him limpus the wurs, and that me wele likes. He wend with a slyuyng, hade slayn him with slyȝt, The squrd slippus on slonte, and on the mayle slikes, Thenne Sir Gauan bi the coler, clechis the knyȝte, Thenne his lemmon on lofte, ho scrilles and scrikes, And sayd to Dame Gaynour, with grones full grille, "Thou Ladè, makelest of myȝte! Haue pety of ȝondur nobulle knyȝte, That is so dilfully dyȝte, And hit were thi wille."

XLIX.

Thenne wilfulle Waynour to the king wente, Keȝte of hur curonalle, and knelit him tille; Sayd, "As thou art ray richist, and rialle in rente, And I thi wedut wife, atte thi none wille; ȝondur byrnes in batelle, that bidus on the bent, Thay ar werè i-wisse, and woundut fulle ille; Throȝghe schildus, and shildurs, schomfully shente; The grones of Sir Gauan, hit dose my hert grille, The gronus of Sir Gauan the gode, hit greuis me sore: Wold ȝe, luflyche Lord! Make ȝondur knyȝtes at a-cord, Hit were a grete cumford, For alle that ther ware."

L.

But thenne speke Sir Galrun to Gawan the gode, "I wende neuyr we ȝette, hade bene so wiȝte;" And sayd, "Here I make thè relesche, rengthe, bi the rode! Before this rialle route resigne thè my riȝte: And sithin I make thè monraden, mildist of mode, As mon on this mydlert that most is of myȝte." He stalket touward the king, in stid quere he stode,

And bede the burlyche his brand, that burneschit was briȝt; And sayd, "Of rentis and of richas, I make thè relesche." Doune knelis the knyȝte, And speke these wurdis opon hiȝte; The king stode vppe ryȝte, And cummawundut pese.

LI.

The king cummawundut pese, and stode vp-ryȝte, And Gauan godely he sesutt for his sake; And then these lordus so lele, thai lepe vp liȝte, Huaya Fus-uryayn, and Arrake Fy-lake, [LI. 4

Sir Owayne fytz-Vryene, and Arrake full rathe Marrake and Menegalle. MS. L.

Ewaynne fiz-Erian and Arrake fiz-Lake Sir Drurelat and Moylard. MS. D.

] Sir Meliaduke the Marrake, that mekille wasse of myȝte, These ij traueling men, truly vppe thay take. Vnnethe myȝte these sturun men stond vppe ryȝte, So for-brissutte, and for-bled, thayre blees were so blake; Alle blake was thayre blees, for-betun with brandis. With-outun any hersing, There diȝte was thayre saȝtenyng, Be-fore the comeliche king, Thay heldun vppe thayre hondus.

LII.

"Now here I gife thè," quod the king, "Gauan the bold! Glawmorgan londus, with greuys fulle grene; The wurschip of Wales, to weld and thou wold, Kirfre Castelle with colurs ful clene; [LII. 4. Griffon's Castelle. MSS. L. and D.] Iche Hulkershome, to haue and to hold, [5. The Hustershaulle. MSS. L. and D.]

Wayifforthe and Waturforthe, wallet, I wene; Toe baroners in Bretan, with burgesse fulle bold, That is batelt aboute, and biggutte fulle bene. Here I doue thè as Duke, and dub the with my hondus; With thi, thou saȝtun with ȝondur knyȝte, That is so hardi and so wiȝte, And resingne him thi ryȝte, And graunte him his londus."

LIII.

"Nowe here I gif thè, Galrun," quod Gauan, "with-outyn any gile Alle the londus for-sothe fro Logher to Layre; Carrake, Cummake, Conyngame and Kile, [That if he of cheualry, chalange ham for aire The Lother, the Lemmok, the Loynak, the Lile,] Sir, to thi seluun, and sithun to thine ayre, With thi, tille oure lordschip, thou leng in a qwile, And to the Roundtabulle to make thi repare; Here I feffe thè in fild, frely and fayre." Bothe the king and the quene, And other duȝti bi-dene; Throȝghe owte the greuis so grene To Carlille thay kayrit.

LIV.

[The kyng to Carlele es comen, with knyghttis so kene,] Throghe greuis so grene, held the Rountabulle with rialle aray; These wees that were wothely woundet, I wene, Thenne surgens hom sauyt, quo sotheli wynne say; Cumfordun hom kindely, the king and the quene, And sithin dubbut hom Dukes, bothe on a day, And thenne he weddutte his wife, wlonkest I wene, With giftus, and with gersums, Sire Galrun the gay.

Thus Gauan and Galrun, gode frindes ar thay; Qwen thay were holle and sownde; Thay made Galrun in that stounde, A knyȝte of the Tabulle Rounde, Vntille his ending day.

LV.

Thenne gerut Dame Waynour to write into the west, To alle the religeus, to rede and to sing; Prustes, prouincials, to pray were fulle preste, With a meliun of massus, her modur mynnyng. Boke-lornut byrnus, and bischoppus of the beste, Thro-oute Bretan so bold, these bellus con ring. And this ferli be-felle in Ingulwud forest, Be-side holtus so hore, at a hunting: Suche a hunting in a holt, aw noȝte to be hidde, These knyȝtus, stalwurthe, and store, Throȝhe the forest thay fore, In the tyme of King Arthore This anter be-tidde.

FINIS.