The history of the Holy Grail, Englisht, ab. 1450 A.D., by Herry Lonelich, skynner, from the French prose (ab. 1180-1200 A. D.) of Sires Robiers de Borron. Re-edited from the unique paper ms. in Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, by Fredk. J. Furnivall ...

CHAPTER XLII. NASCIENS, AND THE SINNERS OF JOSEPH'S COMPANY, LAND IN BRITAIN, MEET JOSEPH, AND THEN CELIDOYNE. [The Additional MS. heads this chapter with "Ensi que li amiraut de mer donna du pain a nacien qui estout tous seuls en .j. nef;" and begins "Qvant li preudoms qui ancisies auoit deuise la senefiance du brief qu 'il tenoit, se fu partis de la nef."]

Nasciens goes back on board Solomon's ship, and at night has a Vision of the Good Man who gave him the writ, taking it from him (p. 117). When he wakes, the book is gone (p. 118). He goes to sea, and is met by an 'Amyrawnt' and his knights going to war with king Salarnande of Greece (p. 118). They call him a fool, and say they never saw such a 'nise' man as he is, but give him some food (p. 118-19). After long tossing about, his ship comes, while he sleeps, to the port where Joseph's left-behind followers are (p. 119). They, being orderd from heaven, come on board (p. 119); and when out at sea they find Nasciens (p. 120), wake him, and tell him their story. He recog∣nises among them his knight Clamarides, or Clamacides, from Sarras (p. 121), and gets him to explain how his company came there (p. 122). They all arrive in Britain, are welcomd by Joseph and his company (p. 124), and stay talking, being fed by the Holy Graal (p. 125). After setting out, they go foodless for a day and a night, and are about to quarrel over twelve little loaves (p. 126), when Josephes makes them sit down, breaks each loaf into three, puts it into the Graal, and then feeds all the 500 folk miraculously with the loaves (p. 127), so that they leave behind more than the loaves themselves (p. 127). Josephes preaches to them (p. 127), and then they travel on, and enter Castle Galafort, which has the sign of the Cross on the door (p. 128). They can see no one at first, but afterwards come on a large assembly of Saracen clerks, with whom Celidoyne is arguing before Duke Gaanort (p. 129-30). Nasciens recognises his son, and they embrace (p. 130), and the Duke has the whole company lodgd and fed in his castle (p. 132). Celidoyne tells his father that his vessel brought him to Britain, and that he had lived with a good hermit in a wood (p. 132).

Now this storye telleth here Of the Godman and Nasciens In fere, how that Nasciens þis writ gan beholde, and there-Onne loked ful Many folde; [ 4] and how this goodman was thanne Ago [When the good∣man vanishes from Nasciens,] From Nasciens, and how he ne wiste tho. Nasciens, that was bothe Ioyful and glad, On his writ faste loked that he had; [ 8] and to that Schippes bord he Cam Anon, and Into his Owne Schipe he gan to gon, [he goes back to his own ship,] where As was the Bed so Riche, and the swerd þat In þ^e world ne was non swiche, [ 12] And no man Abowtes hym nowher he say, but Only that Richesse that to-forn hym lay; wherethorwh In his herte he gan to glade Of the Goode wordis that þ^e good man seid hade; [ 16] and thanne Abowtes hym he lokede tho, and Sawh non wyht Comeng to ne fro, [sees nobody coming to him,] Ne nethir man ne womman that he myhte to speke. Thanne Aȝen to his wryt he gan to Reke [ 20] Tyl that the Nyht it Cam hym vppon; thanne down to sleepe he leyd hym Anon. [and goes to sleep.] thanne hym thowhte As long as he In slepe lay That this goodman Aȝen to hym Cam In Fay, [ 24] [The man who gave him the letter reappears, takes it away,] and took that writ Owt Of his hond,— thus gan he tho forto vndirstond,— and seide to him thus In Certeyn, "this writ gettest thou Neuere ageyn: [ 28] tyl that Owt of this world schalt þou go, this writ Aȝen Cometh the neuere vnto; and Owt Of this schipe gost þou not In non degre Tyl the day of the Resurectioun ful sekerle, [ 32] and thanne schalt þou A-Ryven Anon Into þ^e lond there as Is Celidoyne thy son; [and says he shall soon find Celi∣doyne and the men Josephes left behind.] and with þ^e A-Ryven scholen Also [ 35] the Synneris that with Iosephes ne myghten not go."

Al this Sawgh Nasciens In his slepinge, where-Offen he hadde gret Merveillynge. Vppon the Morwen whanne it was day lyht, vp Ros thanne this Nasciens Anon Riht, [ 40] [Nasciens awakes,] and bethowghte hym Of his Aviciown That he hadde seyn, bothe Alle and som. Thanne aftir his wryt loked he there, [misses his writing,] and he it Cowde fynde In non Manere; [ 44] and ȝit loked he bothe vpe and down Al Abowtes that Schipe In vyrown. & whanne he Cowde fynden In non wyse, thanne gan his herte ful sore to Agryse; [ 48] [is much distresst,] thanne woste he wel that thike good Man thike wryt from hym hadde taken than, where-Offen Abasched ful sore he was that his wryt was so gon In that plas; [ 52] but he hopede that it was be goddis Ordenaunce, [but hopes it is the will of God.] wherfore he was the lasse In dowtaunce, So that he Comforted hym the More thorwgh the Avyciown that he hadde thore. [ 56] It behapped hym so the same day That In the see a schipe he say, (and Cam from Cordres that Cyte,) [He meets a ship of Cordres,] where-Inne was a gret Compene, [ 60] An Amyrawnt, and with hym bothe princes & knyhtes and many Oþer peple Redy to fyhtes; & Into Grece ward they were, [going to Greece to fight king Salarnande.] vppon kyng Salarnande to werren there. [ 64] and whanne sire Nasciens thei gonne to se, thanne Merveilled Alle this Compene, and, for aftir hem he was formably, with hem In here schipe they wolden han had trewly; [The men in the ship want him to go with them,] but Nasciens Nolde In non degre [ 69] Comen in here Compeyne. And whanne they syen he Wolde not so, they seiden he was a fool with-Owten Mo, [ 72]

and that they sien neuere so Nise A man [and think him a fool for refusing,] as þis veray fool Nasciens was than; So that to hym þanne for Routhe & pyte [but supply him with food.] Of here vyandes thanne ȝoven hee; [ 76] and so from hym thanne gonne they gon, and Of hym spoken Many On, that they Syen nevere to fore A man In a schipe Alone to gon Ore. [ 80] And Nasciens that In the se was Abrod, Vpp and down labowred as wolde þ^e goode lord; Now wente forward here A whille, and now Wente bakwardis Many A myle, [ 84] and Into Manye A dyvers Contre [Nasciens wanders about on the sea,] that schipe A-Ryved ful Sekerle; and Often Arest wit Miscreans, but Euere god delyuered him be chauns. [ 88] and atte laste the schipe took In to þ^e see, Estward Into A port thanne wente he; and Abowtes high Midnyht he fyl On slepe Anon Ryht; [ 92] [and reaches land when he is asleep,] and his schipe to lond it wente, And ȝit wook he not veramente. But now declareth this storye at what yl be A-Ryved Sekerlye— [ 96] at the devyseng Of Seynt Graal whiche that this Storye declareth Al,— It telleth that he Aryved Evene ryht þere In the same place as Iosephes felischepe were, [ 100] [at the place where Josephes's sin∣ning followers were left.] where as they Abyden wel longe that for synne þ^e wolde not hem fonge. And whanne the Schipe to the lond was gon, To hem A voys there Cam Anon, [ 104] "Into this Schipe Entrith Alle ȝe, [A voice bids them go into Nasciens's ship,] and Ouer the Se Cowndyed scholen ȝe be Into the lond that is to ȝow behote, there-Inne to Gryffen Many A Rote. [ 108]

for, be war þat ȝe don non More Synne [and sin no more.] From this day forward but þat ȝe blynne. and ȝif ȝe don In Ony degre, bothe body & sowle distroyed ȝe be." [ 112] And whanne they herde that þ^e vois thus spak tho, [leaf 58] anon they answereden with-Owten Mo, "lord, thyn Owne Men Alle we be [They vow to be faithful,] From this day forward now Sekerle, [ 116] In Swich a Manere as be non weye thy Comandement not breken feithfullye." and ȝit A bonet In þ^e schip there was that was not set On In that plas; [ 120] and whanne the bonet was Onne I-don, thanne God sente hem wynd Ryht Anon, So that with-Inne A schort while they Cowden Nethir Sen lond ne yle, [ 124] So fer they weren in the Se. thanne betoken they hem Alle to þ^e Trenyte, [sail away, and pray to be guided to Josephes.] and preyden god for his gret Mercye "that to theke Contre he wolde don hem Aplye [ 128] where that Iosephes and Owre felawes be; Now gracious lord, for thy grete pyte." And whiles thus they weren In here prey[er]e Into A partye Of the Schipe loked they there, [ 132] and Syen Nasciens where that he lay, that hadde not waked Of Al that day For non noyse that they Alle Made, Where-Offen Merveille alle they bade. [ 136] and whanne they gonnen hym thus Aspye, [Finding Nasciens,] Abowtes hym faste they Ronne Sekerlye, & thus they spoken Amonges hem Echon, "whethir schole we Awaken hym Other non." [ 140] thanne Answerid Anon somme ageyn, "Awake we him now here In Certein." Anon On leyde his hond vppon Nasciens his hed, and there Awook hym In that sted. [ 144] [they awake him,]

& Anon whanne he Awaked was, he blessid hym Often In that plas, And Merveilled Mochel In his thowht [and he is much surprised,] how that Meyne to hym was browht; [ 148] For whanne to Slepe he leyde hym þat Nyht, with-Innen his Schipe ne was non wyht. thanne vp Anon he gan hym to dresse, Amonges hem alle In Sothfastnesse, [ 152] As A Man that was ful sore Afrayed, and Of his wittes thanne Alle dismayed, and hem grette there Everychon. thanne After, he Axede Of hem Anon [ 156] 'Whens that they Comen In to that plas, [and asks whence they come?] For with-Inne schort while non with him Nas.' Thanne answerid they hym Anon Ageyn, 'that somme Of Ierusalem weren Certeyn, [ 160] [They say they are from Jerusalem and Galilee,] And somme Of galile & Of Other plase; Swich was þ^e Compenye þat there wase; and from here londis thus ben they go, and from here Richesse Clene Also, [ 164] be his [MS. þe.] Comandement that is kyng of kinges— Wheche is Iesus Crist, lord Ouer al thynges— For Into A lond that we scholde go [and seek a land promist them by God.] that vs he hath behoten for Evere Mo, [ 168] To vs and to Oure Eyres In fere:' In this Maner tolden they Nasciens there. And whiles they talkyd of this Matere, Sire Nasciens thanne beheld Every where, [ 172] [Nasciens recog∣nises a knight] and Amonges hem alle he sawh a knyht that to fore tymes he knew ful riht, as him thowhte be his semblaunce at that tyme with-Owten varyaunce. [ 176] thanne wiste he þat it was Clamarides [calld Clamacides,] that hurt was In bataylle amonges þ^e pres, and Anon his boote he hadde [ 179] [who was cured by the cross on Mor∣drains's shield,] thorugh þ^e Crois þat Mordrayns In his scheld ladde,

whiche Cros In his scheld to bataille he bar whanne with kyng Tholome fawht he thar. Thanne whanne that this Nasciens knew veraily that it was Clamacides properly, [ 184] Non lengere Abyden thanne he ne Myhte, but hym be his propre Name clepid Anon Ryhte, and seide "Clamacides, Art thou not he [and Clamacides remembers Nas∣ciens as his own lord,] that Sumtyme heldist lordschepe Of Me?" [ 188] and whanne Clamacides herde On clepen hym be name, he Merveilled thanne gretly Of that fame, and Aspide that it was Sire Nasciens. thanne Anon cam he to his presens, [ 192] and wiste wel it was his Owne lord, an (sic) he his knyht be his Owne acord. thanne to hym he Ran ful faste, and abowten his Nekke his Armes he Caste, [ 196] and hym kyste for Ioye and pyte, [and is much de∣lighted to see him.] Sore wepyng that Alle men myhten it se, and seide "Sire, what Aventure may this be [They ask each other how each came there?] that thus In this Contre ben now ȝe, [ 200] And how to me ȝe Comen here, Fayn wolde I weten, & what Manere." "And Namly ȝe, sire Clamacides, how that ȝe Comen in this pres." [ 204] "Certes, quod Clamacides tho, [Clamacides ex∣plains how he started with Josephes from Sarras,] Sethen that Iosephes Owre bischope gan forth go and his fadyr Iosephe with his Compene, whanne from Sarras they wente sekerle, [ 208] thanne left y al my worldly Catel and swed him forth Everydel, Iosephs (sic) and his Compenye, Tyl to the Se we Comen trewlye; [ 212] and there Al this Compenye lefte for synne, [and was left behind with others, on account of their sin,] Man, Womman, and Child, bothe More & Mynne; and told hym how þat Iosephes past Ouer the se Clene be Myracle Certeinle; [ 216]

and so leften we there behynde Tyl God vppon vs wolde han som Mende. and thus, god worschepid mot he be, Into this Schipe ben Entred we; [ 220] For the Moste desire we have, and we Of god dorsten it Crave, [and how they desird to find Josephes and his company.] to Come to Iosephes Oure bischop dere, To his Fadyr, an to oure Compenye In fere." [ 224] "telle me thanne, quod Nasciens anon, Is ȝowre feleschepe wit Iosephes gon?" "Ȝe, forsothe, Sire, Sikerly, And so ben we Of his Compeny; [ 228] but for Owre Synnes that we han don, In his feleschepe Myhte we not Gon. Now have I ȝow told Al In fere Of Owre beenge & Of Owre Manere; [ 232] and, good Sire, that ȝe wolden vs telle how þat ȝe sethen of Sarras gonnen Owte dwelle; and how that ȝe han fare there ȝe han be, [They ask Nas∣ciens how he came so far from home; and Nasciens partly tells them,] Now, goode Sire, that ȝe welen tellen Me." [ 236] And Nasciens to hym gan to Reporte In to whiche diuers Contre he gan Resorte, and More he wele whanne he hath space, [and says he'll finish if ever he gets to Josephes.] Ȝif Evere to Iosephes to Comen have I grace. [ 240] Thanne alle that Evere weren In the Schipe tho, Gret Ioye to Nasciens thanne gonne they do, and hym kysten [MS. bysten.] Al vppon A rewe, and Nasciens hem aȝen with-In A threwe; [ 244] thus dured that Ioye þat day & that Nyht Tyl vppon the Morwe it was day lyht. and On þ^e Morwe whanne it was lyht day Alle gonnen thei knelen, and forto pray [ 248] "that God here Synnes wolde forȝeten Echon, and to his Mercye hem take be On & On, And bringe hem Into the same place [They all pray to be guided to Josephes,] there Iosephes is, Lord, thorwgh þⁱ grace, [ 252]

And Oure Othir Feleschepe Also, good lord, that we myhte Comen hem to." And thus dwelled hee In this preyere Tyl pryme Of the day Al In fere. [ 256] and whanne they hadden thus I-do, they gonnen hem blessen Everichon tho with the Signe Of the holy Crois, they thanked Iesus with mylde voys, [ 260] and forth they gonnen to loken Anon, [and find them∣selves close to shore,] And Aspyden the lond Evene thus son; and faste be the water syde they syen moche peple þere Abyde; [ 264] [and see people standing on it.] but they Nisten what they were tyl Somwhat that they Comen Nere. and whanne they syen the lond verayly, thanne hadde they bothe Ioye and pley, [ 268] And Evere thankeden Goddis sonde [They return thanks,] that he hem Gyede towardis the londe. and whanne the schipe to the lond was Comen so Ny that they Syen here felawes Openly, [ 272] [and recognise their fellows,] thanne so gret Ioye was hem Among that non Erthly man cowde tellen with tong; & whanne they that On þ^e water side were, knewen that here felawes weren there, [ 276] Ful lowde to hem they gonne to Crye, and seide "welcometh" Al An hye Al so lowde as they myhte Crye, "Welcometh" quod Iosephes ful Sekerlye. [ 280] [who make them very welcome.] Thus the Schipe there Cam to londe, and Every man Owt gan to fonde. thanne Eche man Oþer gan to Embrace, and for Ioye they kysten In that place, [ 284] and wepten for Ioye and for pete As they Alle here frendis ded hadde be. Anon as that Nasciens Iosephes Say, Towardis him he took the way, [ 288]

And Of hym took knowleching, and ful Onestly Made hym gretyng. thanne Iosephes Made hym ful gret Chere, [Josephes and Nasciens greet each other,] and was Ryht Ioyful that he was there. [ 292] thanne Iosephes Gan hym forto Refreyne Of his fare, and Of kyng Mordreyne; For Iosephes forȝat hym non thyng, so mochel he hadde hem In Chersyng. [ 296] Thanne tolde hym Nasciens Al In fere [and Nasciens tells Josephes all his adventures.] what Aventure hadde behapped hym there Sethen the tyme ȝe from vs wente, what hem hadde happed veramente; [ 300] and how that god for hem hadde wrowht, & how Into diuers places that they weren brouht. So al day vppon the brynke Abyden they there, bothe Iosephes and Alle þat with hym were, [ 304] and thankede God there Everychon That hem thedyr Sawfly browhte so sone. That day ne Eten they non vyawnde, [They all receive their Saviour, on the table of the St Graal.] but Resceyved here Saviour, as I vndirstonde, [ 308] vppon the Table Of seynt Graal, Other in oþer wyse Clepid sank Ryal. vppon the Morwe Alle Repleynsched they were with swich vyaunde as they desired there, [ 312] and the thridde day Ek Also what thing they wolden desiren tho. thus fowre dayes Abyden they there vppon the Se side In this Manere. [ 316] the Fyfthe day they gonnen to remeve, [The fifth day after, they get into a forest, and have no food,] and walkid Al day tyl that it was Eve; & atte laste they Entreden In to A forest, bothe Olde & ȝong, & lest & Mest: [ 320] And al day and al Nyht Meteles they were, whiche gret diseisse dyde hem there. vppon the Morwe an Aventure befelle; the storye wele that I it telle. [ 324]

thus Al that day gonne they go Fastyng with peyne and with wo, tyl it was Abowtes Mydday, An Old Womman there they say [ 328] [till they see an old woman] that In An Ovene book hire bred, and twelfe loves sche hadde In þat sted; [baking twelve little loaves,] but In soth they weren but smale Forto Maken there-Offen Ony tale. [ 332] and thus they that forhungred were, thike .xij. loves they Bowhten there; [which they buy, and begin to quarrel over,] wherfore Amonges hem they streven faste, and gret Noyse they maden Atte laste, [ 336] & acorden they myhten not In non weye Of these .xij. loves Certeynlye; For On hongred they weren Manyon, And but .xij. loves amonges hem Echon, [ 340] where as weren fyve hundred persones Of Men & wommen Alle þere At Ones; that so gret stryf amonges hem was, Eche Oþer wold han slayn In that plas [ 344] Ȝif they ne hadde I-stilled be. thanne faste to Iosephes gonne they fle, [till Josephes is appeald to.] and seiden, "Certein, with-Owten faille, Sire, but ȝif ȝe potten þerto Consaille, [ 348] Eche man Oþer wil now sle For A lytel bred, sire, sikerle." "Nay, Certes, quod Iosephes tho, For bred is it Not, how so it go; [ 352] but it is for here Owne Synne that þ^e fals Enemy hath tempted hem Inne." thanne seyde Iosephe to his sone Anon 'that to þ^e peple he moste gon, [ 356] [Joseph sends his son to quiet the people.] and stillen hem In that they Cowde Oþer Myhte; For A lytel bred they gynnen to fyhte.' Thanne Iosephes Cam to hem Anon, and Maden hem to Sytten Everychon; [ 360]

and so they dyden Al In fere vppon that Grownd seten down there. and Iosephes took these loves hym selve, [Josephes breaks the 12 loaves into three pieces each, and puts them into the holy dish,] and hem Brak Anon there Allë twelve, [ 364] And Everich lof he brak On thre, And In the holy disch thanne putte it he. there god thanne schewede his Miracle Anon On þ^e bred þat In the holy vessel was don. [ 368] thanne was this bred aforn hem leyd (as Iosephes hadde Comanded and seid,) To-forn the fyve hundred persones that on tweyne sides seten In tho wones, [ 372] halfdendel here, and halfendel there; thus to-forn hem was it leid In this Manere. and so mochel plente they hadden Of Mete [and the bread becomes more than enough for the 500 people,] that Nowher Ny they myhten it Ete, [ 376] but there hem lefte so gret plente that þeroffen they Merveilled ful sekerle; and ȝit there leften, as hem thowhte, [while more than twelve loaves are left.] More thanne þ^e .xij. loves that they bowhte. [ 380] Swich Miracles god schewede there For the Synneres that with Iosephes were, whiche that weren In dedly synne; lo, ȝit God Of his goodnesse ne wolde not blynne! [ 384] this Miracle In grete Breteyne was do abowtes þ^e Midday with-Owten Mo; whiche day to hem it was ful gret Ese, For þ^e peple ful wel it dide thanne plese. [ 388] And whanne they hadden Eten thus Everichon, [leaf 59] Iosephes gan hem for to prechen Anon, [Josephes preaches to the folk on their sins,] and schewed hem the poyntes Of the gospel, and to hem declared it bothe faire and wel; [ 392] And seyden hem that it was for Synne, theke Errowr that they weren fallen Inne, and Ek thorwgh the develis power, be hos Entyseng ȝe trespaced Er. [ 396]

"Me Merveylleth gretly of ȝoure werkyng [and says he is astonisht at them.] whanne Evere more ȝe hadden Alle ȝoure Askyng, as wel as ȝoure felawes ȝowre desire, and ȝit fillen ȝe In the develis powere; [ 400] and that myhten ȝe ful wel now se whanne Ouer the Se ȝe Myhten not gon with me; that Causede ȝoure felawes Everychon Ouer the see with Me to gon, [ 404] b'enchesoun to god of here goode Servyse; And as wikkedly diden ȝe In ȝoure gyse." Sweche wordis Iosephes to hem seide, and Often Sithes to fore hem it leide; [ 408] and thus he hem tawhte wel forto do [He strives to teach them how to live, but they do not improve much.] that Aftyr his werkyng they Scholden levene so; but ȝit hadden they a lettyng that they ne Cowden don but litel good thing; [ 412] For In hem was wounden with Inne, Fowr venym that Made hem to Synne. That Nyht Iosephs and his Compenye, In A wode they lyen ful Sekerlye; [ 416] [They pass that night in a wood,] And vppon the Morwe, whanne it was day, To that holy vessel token they here way there as was the Seynt Graal, Owther Oþer wise it Clepid the sank Ryal. [ 420] And there Maden they Orysowns with goode herte and high devociouns; and whanne that thus they hadden I-do, Thanne here weye Chosen they tho; [ 424] and thus they wenten al that tyme tyl that it was the Owr Of pryme. thanne behelden they Anon there fast bye, and A Castel aspiden they ful hastelye [ 428] [and arrive at a castle] That to the Sarazines belonged there, as aftirward they dyden Enqwere; whiche Castel was Cleped Galafort, [called Galafort, with a quaint cross on the door,] and A qweynte Cros hadden vppon the port, [ 432]

where-Offen they Merveyllede Everichon [whereat they are astonisht,] Swich A Cros there-Onne was don. For they supposede In Alle that lond Non swiche Signe have ben, I vndirstond; [ 436] For but paynemys they wenden it hadde be. Thanne seyde Iosephes ful Sekerle "Into this Castel Entren We here; For here is a signe Of goddis powere." [ 440] Thanne thus forth gonne they to gon Alle Barefoted there Everichon. and whanne they Nerre hadden Entred the weye, the Castel fair semede to here Eye; [ 444] and bothe it was strong and fair to Syht, and therto A place Of ful strong Myht. but ȝit On Neuer nethir syde [but they go in, and find nobody there,] Nethir Man ne womman ne syen that tyde. [ 448] Wherfore they Merveillede wondirly sore that non peple ne syen they thore; thanne seiden they In here Manere 'that for hem God hadde Ordeyned þat Castel there.' [ 452] thanne Entrede they Into that Castel Anon, but Man ne womman Syen they Non. and whanne Into the Myddis they weren gon, they stoden stille and herkened Anon, [ 456] and hem thowghte as to here heryng that they herden A gret Noyse Of spekyng; [only hear a noise of many people.] Of mochel peple, Where so they were, Gret Noyse hem thoughte they herden there. [ 460] Thanne forthere gonne they to gon; Into a fairre halle Entrede they Anon, where that they fownden Everydel [They find the people of the castle,] Alle the meyne of that Castel, [ 464] and Alle the wise Clerkis Of that Contre, [and wise clerks,] that best Sarrazines lawe Cowden hee; And the dwk of þat plase was there present [and the Duke Gaanort,] at that grete Semble verament; [ 468]

the whiche semble Ordeyned he Alle Aȝens Celidoyne ful Sikerle; which dwk was bothe Riche & fort, his Name was Clepid Gaanort. [ 472] Thus he to Celidoyne he hadde behyht: [who has promist to become a Christian, if Celi∣doyne can prove the Christian law is better than the Sarrasin.] "Ȝif that he Cowde, Owther preven Myht, that Cristen lawe paste the Sarrazyn, thanne wil I pleynly beleven In thyn, [ 476] and anon I-Cristened wil I be, Celidoyne, for love Of the." this Cavsede Celidoyne to ben þere Redy Aȝens tho Sarrazynes ful apertly. [ 480] Ȝit Celidoyne In that place to hem so spak thorwh goddis grace, that they wisten neuere what to Answere, Swiche qwestions he put hem there. [ 484] and Celidoyne held hem so hote thanne [Celidoyne so puzzles the Sarra∣sin clerks,] that they ne wiste what to sein, non Manne. Thanne anon be the lordis preyere [that they ask for another day,] tyl On þ^e Morwe Celidoyne ȝaf hem day there; [ 488] and ȝif that Celidoyne Cowde not thanne preve, he scholde ben distroyed long Er Eve, and ȝif the Sarrazines benethe weren Ido, they scholde ben Confownded for Evere Mo. [ 492] Thanne thus departed they Everichon, [and in departing,] and Eche man to his Ostel hom gan he gon. thanne Abowtes hem loked They faste [meet Joseph and his company.] On Iosephes and his Compenie In haste; [ 496] & how bare foted they wente, and how Evel vestured þere presente; wherfore they Merveilleden Everichon that swich peple Amonges hem gan to gon. [ 500] Whanne Nasciens beheld Celidoyne tho, [Nasciens rejoices much at seeing Celidoyne again.] that with the dewk gan forth to go, thanne gret Ioye he hadde In herte, and Anon to his sone he sterte, [ 504]

and took him In his Armës two, and Often tymes he kyste him tho, and wepte for Ioye and for pyte Whanne that his sone there say he. [ 508] And whanne that the Remnaunt syen this, Eche Aftyr Othir Celydoyne gan to kys. Thanne that beheld this Dewk Gaanort [Duke Gaanort asks who the new∣comers are?] that they to Celidoyne thus gonnen Resort, [ 512] where-Offen he Merveyllede wondir sore what Maner Of peple that they wore. and whanne they hadden So Ido, Anon the Dewk Clepid Celidoyne tho, [ 516] And Axed hym what the Compenye were That [[Fr. a qui]] so gret Joye he Made to there. Thanne to that Dewk Answeryd Celidoyne, [Celidoyne says they are his father,] "Sire, this is my Fadyr Certeyne;" [ 520] and schewed hym to Nasciens þere Anon ryht; "and, sire, this is the pastour Of god Almyht, [and pastors of God's church,] and Eke the vpholdere Of holichirche, that Many goode wirkes doth wirche, [ 524] and Alle the tothere, holy peple ben, the wheche gon barfot, as ȝe mowun sen. Ȝit neuertheles, Sire, I telle it the, Riche peple they weren In here Contre, [ 528] And Al that han forsaken Only For the love Of god Almyhty, [who have given up their riches to serve God,] that as porely clothed In this world went he as don this peple that ȝe now here se. [ 532] Now wot I wel with-Owten Dowte [and now the Sarrasin wise men will certainly be confounded.] That ȝoure Clergye, alle the Rowte, Ful Clene Schal Confownded ben Toforn ȝow, Sire, As ȝe scholen sen; [ 536] For to-forn this high persone here they scholen not doren lyen In non Manere." "Celidoyne, quod this dewk tho, Sethen thou hen [[for 'hem', Fr. les]] knowest so, [ 540]

lede hem vp Into my paleys Anon; and that good Chere my meyne hem don, [Gaanort has Joseph and his people well entertaind,] and that they ben Esed with the beste, and that Richely they ben browht to Reste; [ 544] and to Morwe Atte pryme Of day With the to the halle they Comen here way. and Of On thing thou me Entende; but ȝif þ^e maister of ȝoure lawe Can him defende, [ 548] Swich Iewyse On hym Schal I do that it schal be spoken Of for Evere Mo." thanne Comaunded his seriawntes anon the Cristene men to herberwen Echon; [ 552] and so they weren Alle ful Richely, And therto Ifed with alle delicasy. And thus Resceyved alle they were For the love Of Celidoyne there, [ 556] [for Celidoyne's sake.] and hadde Alle thing that they wolden have, Owther what here hertes Cowde Crave. that Nyht Celidoyne be his fadir lay, and thus to Celidoyne gan he say; [ 560] he Axede him In what Manere [Nasciens saks his son how he came there;] that Into that Contre Cam he there; and he him tolde ful Sekerly [and Celidoyne says the vessel brought him] that his vessel him thedir browhte trewly. [ 564] thanne quod Nasciens Aȝen tho "how longe is that now Ago?" thanne seide Celidoyne to his fadir Ageyn, "Fowre Monthis & More, Sire, In Certein." [ 568] [more than four months ago, and he has livd with a hermit ever since.] "And where han ȝe dwellid sethen Algate?" "Sire, In a forest with An Ermit boþe Erly & late, whiche is a man Of ful holy lyf; there he me kepte with-Owten Stryf, [ 572] and gladlich wolde heren Every day Of the Cristene lawe what I wold say, In dispiseng of sarrazines lawe, whiche thing to hym was ful fawe." [ 576]

and thus Al Nyht spoken they in fere Of Manye Aventures to-gederis there. Now of this Mater leveth this storye, [The story goes to Duke Gaanort.] And to Dewk Gaanort let vs now hye. [ 580]