But on a Saterday at noon, a seven-night there-after,

The cunningest Cardinal that to the court longed

Kneeles to the conquerour and carpes these wordes,

Prayes him for the pees and proffers full large

To have pitee of the Pope, that put was at-under           at a disadvantage

Besought him of suraunce for sake of the Lord           a truce

But a seven-night day to they were all sembled           a week from today; until

And they sholde sekerly him see the Sononday there-after           Sunday

In the citee of Rome, as soveraign and lord,

And crown him kindly with crismed handes           anointed

With his sceptre and swerde, as soveraign and lord.

Of this undertaking hostage are comen,           agreement

Of eiers full avenaunt, eight score children,           pleasant

In togges of tars full richly attired,           Chinese silk

And betook them the king and his clere knightes.           gave them to

When they had treted their trewe, with trumping thereafter           discussed; truce

They trine unto a tent where tables were raised;           go

The king himselven is set and certain lordes

Under a sylure of silk, saught at the bordes.           canopy; reconciled

All the senatours are set sere by them one,           each by himself

Served solemnly with selcouthe metes.

The king, mighty of mirth, with his mild wordes,

Rehetes the Romanes at his rich table,           Cheers

Comfortes the Cardinal, so knightly himselven,

And this roy real, as romaunce us telles,

Reverences the Romans in his rich table.

The taught men and the cunning, when them time thought,

Tas their leve at the king and turned again;           Take

To the citee that night they sought at the gainest,

And thus the hostage of Rome with Arthur is leved.

Then this roy real reherses these wordes:           tells

"Now we may revel and rest, for Rome is our owen!

Make our hostage at ese, these avenaunt children,           ease; pleasant

And look ye honden them all that in mine host lenges,           guard

The Emperour of Almaine and all these este marches;

We shall be overling of all that on erthe lenges!

We will by the Cross-days encroch these landes           September 13-14; invade

And at the Cristenmass day be crowned there-after,

Regne in my realtees and hold my Round Table,

With the rentes of Rome, as me best likes;

Senn graithe over the grete se with good men of armes

To revenge the Renk that on the Rood died!"           Cross

Then this comlich king as cronicles telles,

Bounes brothly to bed with a blithe herte;

Off he slinges with sleght and slakes his girdle,           He throws himself quickly on the bed and loosens his belt

And for slewth of slomour on a sleep falles.           sloth; slumber

But by one after midnight all his mood changed;           1:00 A.M.

He mette in the morn-while full marvelous dremes;           dreamed; morning; dreams

And when his dredful dreme was driven to the ende,

The king dares for doute, die as he sholde,           cowers in fear

Sendes after philosophers, and his affray telles:           terror

"Senn I was formed, in faith, so ferd was I never!

For-thy ransackes redily and rede me my swevenes,           Search; interpret; dreams

And I shall redily and right rehersen the sooth.           tell

"Me thought I was in a wood, willed mine one           wandered by myself

That I ne wiste no way whider that I sholde,           knew; whither; should go

For wolves and wild swine and wicked bestes

Walked in that wastern wathes to seek,           waste place prey

There lions full lothly licked their tuskes           loathly

All for lapping of blood of my lele knightes!

Through that forest I fled there flowres were high,

For to fele me for ferd of tho foul thinges,           hide; fear

Merked to a medow with mountaines enclosed           meadow

The merriest of middle-erthe that men might behold.

The close was in compass casten all about           enclosed place; extent covered

With clover and clerewort cledde even over;           small grass clad

The vale was enveround with vines of silver,           encircled

All with grapes of gold, greter were never,

Enhorild with arbory and alkins trees,           Surrounded; groves; all kinds of

Erberes full honest, and herdes there-under;           Gardens

All fruites foddemed was that flourished in erthe,           produced

Fair frithed in fraunk upon the free bowes;           Beautifully enclosed upon the noble boughs

Was there no danking of dew that ought dere sholde;           There was no moisture that could harm anything

With the drought of the day all dry were the flowres.

"Then descendes in the dale, down fro the cloudes,

A duchess dereworthily dight in diapered weedes,           expensively; patterned

In a surcote of silk full selcouthly hewed,           surcoat; rarely

All with loyotour overlaid low to the hemmes           otter fur

And with ladily lappes the lenghe of a yard,           ladylike lappets

And all redily reversed with rebanes of gold,           trimmed; ribbons

With brouches and besauntes and other bright stones;           brooches; medallions

Her back and her breste was broched all over,           adorned

With kell and with coronal clenlich arrayed,           hairnet; diadem

And that so comly of colour one knowen was never.           complexion

"About sho whirled a wheel with her white handes,

Overwhelm all quaintly the wheel, as sho sholde;           Turned skillfully

The rowel was red gold with real stones,           wheel

Railed with riches and rubies ynow;           Adorned

The spekes was splented all with speltes of silver,           spokes; plated; bars

The space of a spere-lenghe springand full fair;           spear length

There-on was a chair of chalk-white silver

And checkered with charbocle changing of hewes           carbuncle

Upon the compass there cleved kinges on row,           outer edge; clung

With crowns of clere gold that cracked in sonder;

Six was of that settle full sodenlich fallen,           seat

Ilk a segge by himself and said these wordes:           warrior

'That ever I regned on this roo me rewes it ever!           wheel

Was never roy so rich that regned in erthe!           king

When I rode in my rout rought I nought elles           I thought of

But rivaye and revel and raunson the pople!           to hunt

And thus I drive forth my dayes whiles I drie might,           endure

And therefore derflich I am damned for ever!'           direly

"The last was a little man that laid was beneth;           beneath

His leskes lay all lene and lothlich to shew,           loins; lean

His lockes liard and long the lenghe of a yard,           grey

His lire and his ligham lamed full sore,           face; body crippled

The tone eye of the berne was brighter than silver           The one

The other was yellower than the yolk of a nay.           an egg

"'I was lord,' quod the lede, 'landes ynow,

And all ledes me louted that lenged in erthe.           bowed to me

And now is left me no lap my ligham to hele           rag; body to cover

But lightly now am I lost, leve eche man the sooth.'           quickly; believe

"The second sir, forsooth, that sewed them after           followed

Was sekerer to my sight and sadder in armes;           stronger; more determined

Oft he sighed unsound and said these wordes:

'On yon see have I sitten als soveraign and lord,           throne

And ladies me loved to lap in their armes,           ford

And now my lordshippes are lost and laid for ever!'

"The third thoroughly was thro and thick in the shoulders,           stout

A thro man to thret of there thirty were gadered;           threaten

His diadem was dropped down, dubbed with stones,           adorned

Endented all with diamaundes and dight for the nones;           Adorned; diamonds

'I was dredde in my dayes,' he said, 'in diverse rewmes,           dreaded

And now damned to the dede, and dole is the more!'

"The fourt was a fair man and forcy in armes,           fourth; forceful

The fairest of figure that formed was ever.

'I was frek in my faith,' he said, 'whiles I on folde regned,           bold; earth

Famous in fer landes and flowr of all kinges;

Now is my face defaded and foul is me happened,           withered

For I am fallen fro fer and frendles beleved.'

"The fift was a fairer man than fele of these other,           fifth

A forcy man and a fers, with fomand lippes;           forceful; foaming

He fanged fast on the feleighes and folded his armes           gripped; rim

But yet he failed and fell a fifty foot large;

But yet he sprang and sprent and spradden his armes,           leapt; spread

And on the spere-lenghe spekes he spekes these wordes:

'I was in Surry a Sire and set by mine one

As soveraign and seinyour of sere kinges landes;           lord

Now of my solace I am full sodenly fallen

And for sake of my sin yon sete is me rewed.'           yon seat is denied me

"The sixt had a sawter seemlich bounden           sixth; psalter; bound

With a surepel of silk sewed full fair,           cover; sewn

A harp and a hand-sling with hard flint-stones;

What harmes he has hent he hallowes full soon:           suffered; announces

'I was deemed in my dayes,' he said, 'of deedes of armes

One of the doughtiest that dwelled in erthe;

But I was marred on molde in my most strenghes           injured

With this maiden so mild that moves us all.'

"Two kinges were climband and claverand on high,           climbing

The erest of the compass they covet full yerne.           top; wheel; eagerly

'This chair of charbocle,' they said, 'we challenge hereafter,           carbuncle

As two of the chefest chosen in erthe.'

"The childer were chalk-white, cheekes and other,

But the chair aboven cheved they never.           achieved

The furthermost was freely with a front large           noble; forehead

The fairest of fisnamy that formed was ever,           physiognomy

And he was busked in a blee of a blew noble           dressed; colour; blue

With flourdelys of gold flourished all over;           fleur-de-lis

The tother was cledde in a cote all of clene silver,           The other; clad

With a comlich cross corven of gold;           carved

Four crosselettes crafty by the cross restes           little crosses

And thereby knew I the king, that cristened him seemed.

"Then I went to that wlonk and winly her greetes,           bright one; graciously

And sho said: 'Welcome, iwis, well art thou founden;           come

Thou ought to worship my will, and thou well couthe,           knew how

Of all the valiant men that ever was in erthe,

For all thy worship in war by me has thou wonnen;

I have been frendly, freke, and fremmed til other.           strange to others

That thou has founden, in faith, and fele of thy bernes,

For I felled down Sir Frolle with froward knightes;           defeated; hostile

For-thy the fruits of Fraunce are freely thine owen.

Thou shall the chair escheve, I chese thee myselven,           achieve

Before all the cheftaines chosen in this erthe.'

"Sho lift me up lightly with her lene handes           lean

And set me softly in the see, the septer me reched;           throne; sceptre; gave

Craftily with a comb sho kembed mine heved,           combed

That the crispand krok to my crown raught;           curling lock; reached

Dressed on me a diadem that dight was full fair,

And senn proffers me a pome pight full of fair stones,           orb set

Enameld with azure, the erthe there-on depainted,

Circled with the salt se upon sere halves,           all sides

In sign that I soothly was soveraign in erthe.

"Then brought sho me a brand with full bright hiltes           sword

And bade me braundish the blade: 'The brand is mine owen;

Many swain with the swing has the swet leved,           lifeblood left

For whiles thou swank with the sword it swiked thee never.'           laboured; failed

"Then raikes sho with roo and rest when her liked,           quiet

To the rindes of the wood, richer was never;           trees

Was no pomerie so pight of princes in erthe,           orchard

Ne none apparel so proud but paradise one.

Sho bade the bowes sholde bow down and bring to my handes           boughs

Of the best that they bore on braunches so high;

Then they helded to her hest, all holly at ones,           bowed; command

The highest of ech a hirst, I hete you forsooth.           grove; promise

Sho bade me frith not the fruit, but fonde whiles me liked:           spare; try

'Fonde of the finest, thou freelich berne,           Try; noble

And reche to the ripest and riot thyselven.           reach; enjoy

Rest, thou real roy, for Rome is thine owen,

And I shall redily roll the roo at the gainest           wheel

And reche thee the rich wine in rinsed cuppes.'

"Then sho went to the well by the wood eves,

That all welled of wine and wonderlich runnes,

Caught up a cup-full and covered it fair;

Sho bade me derelich draw and drink to herselven;           dearly take a draught

And thus sho led me about the lenghe of an hour,

With all liking and love that any lede sholde.           should want

"But at the mid-day full even all her mood changed,

And made much menace with marvelous wordes.

When I cried upon her, she cast down her browes:

'King, thou carpes for nought, by Crist that me made!

For thou shall lose this laik and thy life after;           pleasure

Thou has lived in delite and lordshippes ynow!'           delight

"About sho whirles the wheel and whirles me under,

Til all my quarters that while were quasht all to peces,           time; crushed

And with that chair my chin was chopped in sonder;

And I have shivered for chele senn me this chaunce happened.           chill

Thus wakened I, iwis, all wery fordremed,           wearied from dreaming

And now wot thou my wo; worde as thee likes."           speak

"Freke," says the philosopher, "thy fortune is passed,           Bold warrior

For thou shall find her thy fo; fraist when thee likes!

Thou art at the highest, I hete thee forsooth;           promise

Challenge now when thou will, thou cheves no more!

Thou has shed much blood and shalkes destroyed,           Men

Sakeles, in surquidrie, in sere kinges landes;           Innocent; pride

Shrive thee of thy shame and shape for thine end.           Confess; prepare

Thou has a shewing, Sir King, take keep yif thee like,           revelation

For thou shall fersly fall within five winters.

Found abbeyes in Fraunce, the fruites are thine owen,

For Frolle and for Feraunt and for thir fers knightes

That thou fremedly in Fraunce has fey beleved.           Whom you unkindly (as a stranger) left dead in France

Take keep yet of other kinges, and cast in thine herte,           consider

That were conquerours kidd and crowned in erthe.

"The eldest was Alexander that all the world louted,           bowed to

The tother Ector of Troy, the chevalrous gome;           other

The third Julius Cesar, that giaunt was holden,

In eche journee gentle, ajudged with lordes.

The fourth was Sir Judas, a jouster full noble,

The masterful Macabee, the mightiest of strenghes;

The fift was Josue, that jolly man of armes,           fifth

That in Jerusalem host full much joy limped;           befell

The sixt was David the dere, deemed with kinges           sixth

One of the doughtiest that dubbed was ever,

For he slew with a sling by sleight of his handes           skill

Golias the grete gome, grimmest in erthe;           Goliath

Senn endited in his dayes all the dere psalmes           composed

That in the sawter are set with selcouthe wordes.           psalter

"The tone climand king, I know it forsooth,           The one

Shall Karolus be called, the kinge son of Fraunce;

He shall be cruel and keen and conquerour holden,

Cover by conquest contrees ynow;           Obtain

He shall encroch the crown that Crist bore himselven,           capture

And that lifelich launce that lepe to His herte           strong

When He was crucified on cross, and all the keen nailes

Knightly he shall conquer to Cristen men handes.           i.e., for

"The tother shall be Godfray, that God shall revenge           The other

On the Good Friday with galiard knightes;           jolly

He shall of Lorraine be lord by leve of his fader

And senn in Jerusalem much joy happen,

For he shall cover the cross by craftes of armes           recover

And senn be crowned king with crisom annointed.           holy oil

Shall no dukes in his day such destainy happen,           destiny

Ne such mischief drie when trewth shall be tried.           suffer; proved

"For-thy Fortune thee fetches to fulfill the number,

Als ninde of the noblest named in erthe;           ninth of the Worthies

This shall in romaunce be redde with real knightes,

Reckoned and renownd with riotous kinges,

And deemed on Doomesday for deedes of armes,

For the doughtiest that ever was dwelland in erthe;

So many clerkes and kinges shall carp of your deedes

And keep your conquestes in cronicle for ever.

"But the wolves in the wood and the wild bestes

Are some wicked men that werrayes thy rewmes,           attack

Is entered in thine absence to werray thy pople,

And alienes and hostes of uncouthe landes.           foreign

Thou gettes tidandes, I trow, within ten dayes,           will get

That some torfer is tidde senn thou fro home turned.           trouble has happened

I rede thou reckon and reherse unresonable deedes           tell (i.e., confess)

Ere thee repentes full rathe all thy rewth workes.           quickly; sad

Man, amend thy mood, ere thou mishappen,           have misfortune

And meekly ask mercy for meed of thy soul."           reward

Then rises the rich king and raght on his weedes,

A red acton of rose, the richest of flowres,           quilted jacket

A pesan and a paunson and a pris girdle;           An armour neckpiece, a stomach guard, and an excellent belt

And on he hentes a hood of scarlet full rich,           draws

A pavis pillion-hat that pight was full fair           large cloth hat

With perry of the Orient and precious stones;           pearls

His gloves gaylich gilt and graven by the hemmes           decorated

With graines of rubies full gracious to shew.           small stones

His bede greyhound and his brand and no berne else           [He takes] his hunting

And bounes over a brode mede with brethe at his herte.           meadow; anger

Forth he stalkes a sty by tho still eves,           path

Stotays at a high street, studyand him one.           Pauses at a main road, thinking by himself

At the sours of the sun he sees there comand,           rising

Raikand to Rome-ward the rediest wayes,           Going; quickest

A renk in a round clok with right rowme clothes           A man in a full-cut cloak and very roomy clothes

With hat and with high shoon homely and round;           shoes; comfortable

With flat farthinges the freke was flourished all over           coins; adorned

Many shreddes and shragges at his skirtes hanges           scalloped edges

With scrip and with slawin and scallopes ynow           With wallet and with pilgrim's mantle and many scallop shells

Both pike and palm, als pilgrim him sholde;           Both staff and palm branch, as if he were a pilgrim

The gome graithly him grette and bade good morwen;           greeted; morning

The king, lordly himself, of langage of Rome,           language, i.e., Italian

Of Latin corrumped all, full lovely him menes:           corrupted; speaks

"Wheder wilnes thou, wye, walkand thine one?           Whither seek

Whiles this world is o war, a wathe I it hold;           at war; danger

Here is an enmy with host, under yon vines;           enemy

And they see thee, forsooth, sorrow thee betides;

But if thou have condeth of the king selven,           safe-conduct

Knaves will kill thee and keep at thou haves,           what

And if thou hold the high way, they hent thee also,           take

But if thou hastily have help of his hende knightes."

Then carpes Sir Craddok to the king selven:

"I shall forgive him my dede, so me God help,

Any gome under God that on this ground walkes!

Let the keenest come that to the king longes,

I shall encounter him as knight, so Crist have my soul!

For thou may not reche me ne arrest thyselven,           seize; stop (me)

Though thou be richly arrayed in full rich weedes;

I will not wonde for no war to wend where me likes           hesitate

Ne for no wye of this world that wrought is on erthe!

But I will pass in pilgrimage this pas to Rome           way

To purchase me pardon of the Pope selven,

And of the paines of Purgatory be plenerly assoilled;           fully forgiven

Then shall I seek sekerly my soveraign lord,

Sir Arthur of England, that avenaunt berne!           seemly

For he is in this empire, as hathel men me telles,           noble

Hostayand in this Orient with awful knightes."           Warring; awesome

"Fro whethen come thou, keen man," quod the king then,           whence

"That knowes King Arthur and his knightes also?

Was thou ever in his court whiles he in kith lenged?

Thou carpes so kindly it comfortes mine herte!

Well wele has thou went and wisely thou seekes,           nobly

For thou art Breton berne, as by thy brode speche."           British; plain

"Me ought to know the king; he is my kidd lord,

And I called in his court a knight of his chamber;

Sir Craddok was I called in his court rich,

Keeper of Caerlion, under the king selven;

Now I am chased out of kith, with care at my herte,

And that castel is caught with uncouthe ledes."           captured; foreign men

Then the comlich king caught him in armes,

Cast off his kettle-hat and kissed him full soon,

Said: "Welcome, Sir Craddok, so Crist mot me help!

Dere cosin of kind, thou coldes mine herte!           blood relative

How fares it in Bretain with all my bold bernes?

Are they brittened or brint or brought out of life?           burnt

Ken thou me kindly what case is befallen;           Tell

I keep no credens to crave; I know thee for trew."           I need ask for no credentials; I know you are true

"Sir, thy warden is wicked and wild of his deedes,           i.e., Mordred

For he wandreth has wrought senn thou away passed.           misery; since

He has castels encroched and crownd himselven,           captured

Caught in all the rentes of the Round Table;

He devised the rewm and delt as him likes;           divided

Dubbed of the Denmarkes dukes and erles,           i.e., Danes

Disservered them sonderwise, and citees destroyed;           Scattered; everywhere

Of Sarazenes and Sessoines upon sere halves           Saxons; both sides

He has sembled a sorte of selcouthe bernes,           foreign

Soveraignes of Surgenale and soudeours many           South Wales; mercenaries

Of Peghtes and paynims and proved knightes           Picts; pagans

Of Ireland and Argyle, outlawed bernes;

All tho laddes are knightes that long to the mountes,

And leding and lordship has all, als themselve likes;           command

And there is Sir Childrik a cheftain holden,

That ilke chevalrous man, he charges thy pople;           burdens

They rob thy religious and ravish thy nunnes           monks

And redy rides with his rout to raunson the poor;           rob

Fro Humber to Hawyk he holdes his owen,           From the Humber River to Hawick (i.e., the whole North Country)

And all the countree of Kent by covenant entailled,           in his possession

The comlich castles that to the crown longed,

The holtes and the hore wood and the hard bankes,           grey

All that Hengest and Hors hent in their time;           Horsa held

At Southampton on the se is seven score shippes,

Fraught full of fers folk, out of fer landes,           Filled

For to fight with thy frap when thou them assailes.           company

But yet a word, witterly, thou wot not the worst!           certainly

He has wedded Waynor and her his wife holdes,

And wonnes in the wild boundes of the west marches,           dwells

And has wrought her with child, as witness telles!

Of all the wyes of this world, wo mot him worthe,           men; woe be to him

Als warden unworthy women to yeme!           preserve

Thus has Sir Mordred marred us all!           injured

For-thy I merked over these mountes to mene thee the sooth."           came; tell

Then the burlich king, for brethe at his herte

And for this booteless bale all his blee changed;           without remedy; colour

"By the Rood," says the roy, "I shall it revenge!

Him shall repent full rathe all his rewth workes!"           quickly; calamitous

All weepand for wo he went to his tentes;

Unwinly this wise king he wakenes his bernes,           Unhappily

Cleped in a clarioun kinges and other,           Called with a trumpet

Calles them to counsel and of this case telles:

"I am with tresoun betrayed, for all my trew deedes!

And all my travail is tint, me tides no better!           labour; destroyed

Him shall torfer betide this tresoun has wrought,           trouble; i.e., who this

And I may traistely him take, as I am trew lord!           can surely

This is Mordred, the man that I most traisted,

Has my castels encroched and crownd himselven

With rentes and riches of the Round Table;

He made all his retinues of renayed wretches,           renegade

And devised my rewm to diverse lordes,           divided

To soudeours and Sarazenes out of sere landes!

He has wedded Waynor and her to wife holdes,

And a child is y-shaped, the chaunce is no better!

They have sembled on the se seven score shippes,

Full of ferrom folk to fight with mine one!           foreign

For-thy to Bretain the Brode buske us behooves,           Therefore to Great Britain it behooves us to hasten

For to britten the berne that has this bale raised.           break; grief

There shall no freke men fare but all on fresh horses

That are fraisted in fight and flowr of my knightes.           proven

Sir Howell and Sir Hardolf here shall beleve           remain

To be lordes of the ledes that here to me longes;

Lookes into Lumbardy that there no lede change,

And tenderly to Tuskane take tent als I bid;           attention

Receive the rentes of Rome when they are reckoned;

Take sesin the same day that last was assigned,           possession

Or elles all the hostage withouten the walles

Be hanged high upon height all holly at ones."

Now bounes the bold king with his best knightes,

Gars trome and trusse and trines forth after,

Turnes through Tuskane, tarries but little;

Lights not in Lumbardy but when the light failed;

Merkes over the mountaines full marvelous wayes,           Marches

Ayers through Almaine even at the gainest

Ferkes even into Flandresh with his fers knightes.           Hastens; Flanders

Within fifteen dayes his fleet is assembled,

And then he shope him to ship and shounes no lenger,           prepared himself; delays

Sheeres with a sharp wind over the shire waters;           Cuts; translucent

By the roche with ropes he rides on anker.           rocks; anchor

There the false men fleted and on flood lenged,           floated

With chef chaines of charre chocked togeders,

Charged even chock-full of chevalrous knightes,

And in the hinter on height, helmes and crestes;           rear

Hatches with hethen men heled were there-under,

Proudlich pourtrayed with painted clothes,           painted; on

Ech a pece by pece prikked til other,           sewed

Dubbed with dagswainnes doubled they seem;           Adorned; heavy cloth

And thus the derf Denmarkes had dight all their shippes,           Danes

That no dint of no dart dere them sholde.           harm

Then the roy and the renkes of the Round Table

All realy in red arrayes his shippes;

That day ducheries he delt and dubbed knightes,

Dresses dromoundes and dragges and drawen up stones;           galleys; barges

The top-castels he stuffed with toiles, as him liked;           slings

Bendes bowes of vise brothly there-after;           crossbows; fiercely

Toloures tently tackle they righten,           Haulers carefully

Brasen hedes full brode busked on flones,           Bronze; missiles

Graithes for garnisons, gomes arrayes,           garrisons

Grim godes of steel, gives of iron;           goads; fetters

Stighteles steren on steren with stiff men of armes;           supplies; stern (of a ship)

Many lovelich launce upon loft standes,

Ledes on leburd, lordes and other,           lee (sea side of a ship)

Pight pavis on port, painted sheldes,

On hinder hurdace on height helmed knightes.           rear barrier

Thus they shiften for shottes on those shire strandes,           manoeuvre; shooting

Ilke shalk in his shroud, full sheen were their weedes.           garment

The bold king is in a barge and about rowes,

All bare-hevede for besy with beveren lockes,

And a berne with his brand and an helm beten,           adorned

Menged with a mauntelet of mailes of silver,           Adorned; little mantle

Compast with a coronal and covered full rich;           Encircled; diadem; decorated

Kaires to ech a cogge to comfort his knightes;           Travels; ship

To Clegis and Cleremond he cries on loud:

"O Gawain! O Galyran! These good mens bodies!"

To Lot and to Lionel full lovely he meles,

And to Sir Launcelot de Lake lordlich wordes:

"Let us cover the kith, the coste is our own,           reclaim

And gar them brothelich blenk, all yon blood-houndes!           make; violently blanch

Britten them within borde and brin them there-after!           aboard; burn

Hew down hertily yon hethen tikes!           dogs

They are harlotes half, I hete you mine hand!"           They are on the rascal's side, I swear by my hand

Then he coveres his cogge and catches on anker,           returns to; ship; anchor

Caught his comlich helm with the clere mailes;

Buskes banners on brode, beten of gules,           Raises; adorned with red

With crowns of clere gold clenlich arrayed;

But there was chosen in the chef a chalk-white maiden,           But there was placed in the chief a chalk-white maiden

And a child in her arm that Chef is of heven;

Withouten changing in chase these were the chef armes           noble

Of Arthur the avenaunt, whiles he in erthe lenged.           worthy

Then the mariners meles and masters of shippes;           get to work

Merrily ich a mate menes til other;           each; speaks

Of their termes they talk, how they were tidd,           They talk in their jargon about what has happened

Towen trussel on trete, trussen up sailes,           Drag bundles on trestles

Bete bonnetes on brode, bettred hatches;           Set small sails; battened

Braundisht brown steel, bragged in trumpes;           blew in trumpets

Standes stiff on the stamin, steeres on after,           stalwartly on the prow

Streken over the streme, there striving beginnes.           Strike

Fro the waggand wind out of the west rises,           When; swaying

Brothly bessomes with birr in bernes sailes,           Suddenly sweeps; force

Wether bringes on borde burlich cogges,           Weather (wind) brings stout ships against planks (of other ships)

Whiles the biling and the beme bristes in sonder;           So that the bilge and the beam burst apart

So stoutly the fore-stern on the stam hittes           stern; prow

That stockes of the steer-borde strikes in peces!           planks; starboard side

By then cogge upon cogge, crayers and other,           ship; small ships

Castes crepers on-cross, als to the craft longes;           grappling hooks across

Then was hed-ropes hewen, that held up the mastes;

There was contek full keen and cracking of shippes!           strife

Grete cogges of kemp crashes in sonder!           war

Many cabane cleved, cables destroyed,           cabins

Knightes and keen men killed the bernes!

Kidd castels were corven, with all their keen wepen,           Proven; carved

Castels full comlich that coloured were fair!

Up ties edgeling they ochen there-after;           mast-stays; edgewise; hack

With the swing of the sword sways the mastes,

Over-falles in the first frekes and other;           i.e., first blow

Many freke in the fore-ship fey is beleved!

Then brothly they beker with bustous tackle;           fight; powerful equipment

Brushes boldly on borde brenyed knightes,           Armoured knights rush boldly on board

Out of botes on borde, was busked with stones,           (Coming) out of small boats on board, (and) were pelted with stones

Bete down of the best, bristes the hatches;

Some gomes through-gird with godes of iron,           pierced; goads

Gomes gaylich cledde englaimes wepenes;           Men; clad make slimy

Archers of England full egerly shootes,

Hittes through the hard steel full hertly dintes!           Strikes; mortal

Soon ochen in holly the hethen knightes,           completely cut down

Hurt through the hard steel, hele they never!           heal

Then they fall to the fight, foines with speres,           duel

All the frekkest on front that to the fight longes,           front rank

And ilkon freshly fraistes their strenghes,           each one

War to fight in the fleet with their fell wepenes.           to fight the battle

Thus they delt that day, thir dubbed knightes,

Til all the Danes were dede and in the deep throwen!

Then Bretons brothly with brandes they hewen;

Lepes in upon loft lordlich bernes;           through the air

When ledes of out-landes lepen in waters,

All our lordes on loud laughen at ones!

By then speres were sprongen, spalded shippes,           broken; split

Spanioles speedily sprented over-bordes;           Spaniards; leapt overboard

All the keen men of kemp, knightes and other,           battle

Killed are cold-dede and casten over-bordes;

Their swyers swiftly has the swet leved;           young men; life-blood

Hethen hevand on hatch in thir hawe rises,           heaving; these grey waves

Sinkand in the salt se seven hundreth at ones!

Then Sir Gawain the good, he has the gree wonnen,           prize

And all the cogges grete he gave to his knightes.

Sir Garin, Sir Griswold, and other grete lordes;

Gart Galuth, a good gome, gird off their hedes!           i.e., the captives'

Thus of the false fleet upon the flood happened,

And thus these ferin folk fey are beleved!           foreign

Yet is the traitour on land with tried knightes,

And all trumped they trip on trapped steedes           accompanied with trumpets

Shews them under sheld on the shire bankes;

He ne shuntes for no shame but shewes full high!           shows himself

Sir Arthur and Gawain avyed them bothen           set out

To sixty thousand of men that in their sight hoved.

By this the folk was felled, then was the flood passed;           By the time the battle was finished the high tide had passed

Then was it silke a slowde in slackes full huge           Then was the water near the shore such a slush in very large pools

That let the king for to land in the low water.           That the king could not land in the low water

For-thy he lenged on laye for lesing of horses,           Therefore, he remained on the deep water for fear of losing his horses

To look of his lege-men and of his lele knightes,

Yif any were lamed or lost, live yif they sholde.

Then Sir Gawain the good a galley he takes

And glides up at a gole with good men of armes;           small bay (gully)

When he grounded, for gref he girdes in the water           ran aground; leaps

That to the girdle he goes in all his gilt weedes,

Shootes up upon the sand in sight of the lordes,           Rushes

Singly with his soppe, my sorrow is the more!           Alone; small troop

With banners of his badges, best of his armes,           heraldic devices

He braides up on the bank in his bright weedes;

He biddes his banneour: "Busk thou belive           banner bearer; Go quickly

To yon brode batail that on yon bank hoves,

And I ensure you soothe I shall you sew after;           follow

Look ye blenk for no brand ne for no bright wepen,           blanch

But beres down of the best and bring them o-dawe!           out of daylight

Bes not abaist of their boste, abide on the erthe;           Be; abashed

Ye have my banneres borne in batailes full huge;

We shall fell yon false, the fend have their soules!

Fightes fast with the frap, the feld shall be oures!           company

May I that traitour over-take, torfer him tides           If I can; woe

That this tresoun has timbered to my trew lord!           built for

Of such a engendure full little joy happens,           engendering

And that shall in this journee be judged full even!"

Now they seek over the sand, this soppe at the gainest,           small troop

Sembles on the soudeours and settes their dintes;           Attack; set out

Through the sheldes so sheen shalkes they touch

With shaftes shivered short of those sheen launces;           broken

Derf dintes they delt with daggand speres;           piercing

On the dank of the dew many dede ligges,

Dukes and douspeeres and dubbed knightes;

The doughtiest of Danemark undone are forever!

Thus those renkes in rewth rittes their brenyes           rip

And reches of the richest unrecken dintes,           give; countless

There they throng in the thick and thrustes to the erthe

Of the throest men three hundreth at ones!

But Sir Gawain for gref might not again-stand,           withstand

Umbegrippes a spere and to a gome runnes,           Grasps

That bore of gules full gay with goutes of silver;           arms of red; droplets

He girdes him in at the gorge with his grim launce           throat

That the grounden glaive graithes in sonder;           point

With that bustous blade he bounes him to die!           prepares himself

The King of Gotheland it was, a good man of armes.           Gothland (South Sweden)

Their avauntward then all voides there-after,           vanguard

Als vanquist verrayly with valiant bernes;           vanquished; verily

Meetes with middle-ward that Mordred ledes;           middle guard

Our men merkes them to, as them mishappened,           advance toward

For had Sir Gawain the grace to hold the green hill,

He had worship, iwis, wonnen forever!

But then Sir Gawain, iwis, he waites him well

To wreke on this warlaw that this war moved,           warlock

And merkes to Sir Mordred among all his bernes,

With the Montagues and other grete lordes.

Then Sir Gawain was greved and with a grete will

Fewters a fair spere and freshly ascries:

"False fostered fode, the fend have thy bones!           creature; fiend

Fy on thee, felon, and thy false workes!

Thou shall be dede and undone for thy derf deedes,

Or I shall die this day, if destainy worthe!"           if it be my destiny

Then his enmy with host of outlawed bernes

All enangles about our excellent knightes           Surrounds

That the traitour by tresoun had tried himselven;           experienced

Dukes of Danemark he dightes full soon,           marshals

And leders of Lettow with legions ynow,           Lithuania

Umbelapped our men with launces full keen,           Surrounded

Soudeours and Sarazenes out of sere landes,

Sixty thousand men, seemlyly arrayed,

Sekerly assembles there on seven score knightes,

Sodenly in dischaite by tho salt strandes.           deceit

Then Sir Gawain grette with his grey eyen           wept

For gref of his good men that he guide sholde.

He wiste that they wounded were and wery for-foughten,           exhausted with fighting

And what for wonder and wo, all his wit failed.

And then sighand he said with syland teres:           flowing tears

"We are with Sarazenes beset upon sere halves!

I sigh not for myself, so help our Lord,

But for to see us surprised my sorrow is the more!           captured

Bes doughty today, yon dukes shall be yours!           Be

For dere Drighten this day dredes no wepen.

We shall end this day als excellent knightes,

Ayer to endless joy with angeles unwemmed;           Go; spotless

Though we have unwittyly wasted ourselven,           unwisely

We shall work all well in the worship of Crist!

We shall for yon Sarazenes, I seker you my trewth,           pledge

Soupe with our Saviour solemnly in heven,           Dine

In presence of that Precious, Prince of all other,

With prophetes and patriarkes and apostles full noble,

Before His freelich face that formed us all!

Yonder to yon yaldsones! He that yeldes him ever           whore sons

Whiles he is quick and in quert, unquelled with handes,           alive; sound health

Be he never mo saved, ne succoured with Crist,

But Satanase his soul mowe sink into Hell!"           may

Then grimly Sir Gawain grippes his wepen;

Again that grete batail he graithes him soon,

Radly of his rich sword he rightes the chaines;           Quickly; cuts

In he shockes his sheld, shuntes he no lenger,           pushes; hangs back

But all unwise, wodewise, he went at the gainest,           madly

Woundes of those widerwinnes with wrakful dintes;           enemies; wrathful

All welles full of blood there he away passes;

And though him were full wo, he wondes but little,           hesitates

But wrekes at his worship the wrath of his lord!

He stickes steedes in stour and sterenfull knightes,           pierces; stern

That steren men in the stirrupes stone-dede they ligge!

He rives the rank steel, he rittes the mailes;           cleaves; rips

There might no renk him arrest; his resoun was passed!

He fell in a frensy for fersness of herte;           frenzy

He fightes and felles down that him before standes!

Fell never fey man such fortune in erthe!           Befell; a fated man

Into the hole batail hedlings he runnes           headlong

And hurtes of the hardiest that on the erthe lenges;

Letand as a lion he launches them through,           Acting like; stabs

Lordes and leders that on the land hoves.           stand

Yet Sir Wawain for wo wondes but little,           hesitates

But woundes of those widerwinnes with wonderful dintes,           enemies

Als he that wolde wilfully wasten himselven,

And for wondsome and will all his wit failed,           fierceness; willfulness

That wode als a wild beste he went at the gainest;           crazy

All wallowed on blood there he away passed;

Ich a wye may be ware by wreke of another!           Each man may be warned by vengeance wreaked on another

Then he moves to Sir Mordred among all his knightes,

And met him in the mid-sheld and malles him through,           hammers

But the shalk for the sharp he shuntes a little;           hangs back

He share him on the short ribbes a shaftmond large.           cut; six inches deep

The shaft shuddered and shot in the shire berne           dashed; shining

That the sheddand blood over his shank runnes           leg

And shewed on his shin-bawde that was shire burnisht!           shin-plate; brightly

And so they shift and shove he shot to the erthe,           as; fell precipitously

With the lush of the launce he light on his shoulders           blow; i.e., Mordred

An acre-lenghe on a laund full lothly wounded.           full length; hillock

Then Gawain gird to the gome and on the grouf falles;           leaps; on his face

All his gref was graithed; his grace was no better!           destined

He shockes out a short knife shethed with silver           draws; sheathed

And sholde have slotted him in but no slit happened;           stabbed

His hand slipped and slode o-slant on the mailes           slid; aslant

And the tother slely slinges him under;           the other slyly

With a trenchand knife the traitour him hittes           cutting

Through the helm and the hed on high on the brain;

And thus Sir Gawain is gone, the good man of armes,

Withouten rescue of renk, and rew is the more!           pity

Thus Sir Gawain is gone that guied many other;           guided

Fro Gower to Gernesay, all the grete lordes           Guernsey

Of Glamour, of Galys land, these galiard knightes           Glamorgan; Wales

For glent of glopining glad be they never!           sight of horror

King Frederik of Fres faithly there-after           Frisia faithfully

Fraines at the false man of our fers knight:           Inquires of

"Knew thou ever this knight in thy kith rich?

Of what kind he was comen beknow now the sooth;           family

What gome was he, this with the gay armes,

With this griffon of gold, that is on grouf fallen?           on his face

He has gretly greved us, so me God help,

Gird down our good men and greved us sore!           Struck

He was the sterenest in stour that ever steel wered,           wore

For he stonayed our stale and stroyed for ever!"           troop

Then Sir Mordred with mouth meles full fair:

"He was makless on molde, man, by my trewth.           matchless

This was Sir Gawain the good, the gladdest of other,

And the graciousest gome that under God lived,

Man hardiest of hand, happiest in armes,           most fortunate

And the hendest in hall under heven-rich,           the kingdom of heaven

And the lordliest in leding whiles he live might,           leadership

For he was lion alosed in landes ynow;           praised as

Had thou knowen him, Sir King, in kithe there he lenged,

His cunning, his knighthood, his kindly workes,

His doing, his doughtiness, his deedes of armes,

Thou wolde have dole for his dede the dayes of thy life."           grieved

Yet that traitour als tite teres let he fall,           at once

Turnes him forth tite and talkes no more,           quickly

Went weepand away and weryes the stounde           curses the time

That ever his werdes were wrought such wandreth to work!           fates; misery

When he thought on this thing it thirled his herte;           pierced

For sake of his sib-blood sighand he rides;           kinship

When that renayed renk remembered himselven           renegade

Of reverence and riotes of the Round Table,

He romed and repent him of all his rewth workes,           moaned; foul deeds

Rode away with his rout, restes he no lenger,

For rade of our rich king, rive that he sholde.           fear; arrive; might

Then kaires he to Cornwall, care-full in herte,           goes

Because of his kinsman that on the coste ligges;

He tarries trembland ay, tidandes to herken.

Then the traitour treunted the Tuesday there-after,           set forth

Trines in with a trayn tresoun to work,           Goes; trick

And by the Tamber that tide his tentes he reres,           the River Tamar

And then in a mett-while a messanger he sendes           short time

And wrote unto Waynor how the world changed

And what comlich coste the king was arrived,

On flood foughten with his fleet and felled them o life;           from

Bade her ferken o-fer and flee with her childer           hasten afar

Whiles he might wile him away and win to her speche,           Until he could get away by stealth and come to speak to her

Ayer into Ireland, into those oute-mountes,           outer mountains

And wonne there in wilderness within tho waste landes.           live; deserted

Then sho yermes and yeyes at York in her chamber,           cries; sobs

Grones full grisly with gretand teres,           weeping

Passes out of the palais with all her pris maidens,

Toward Chester in a charre they chese her the wayes,           carriage

Dight her even for to die with dole at her herte;

Sho kaires to Caerlion and caught her a veil,           i.e., became a nun

Askes there the habit in honour of Crist           nun's garment

And all for falshed and fraud and fere of her lord!           falsehood; fear; husband

But when our wise king wiste that Gawain was landed,

He al to-writhes for wo, and wringand his handes,           writhes violently

Gars launch his botes upon a low water,           Gives orders to

Landes als a lion with lordlich knightes,

Slippes in the sloppes o-slant to the girdle,           pools aslant

Swalters up swiftly with his sword drawen,           Splashes

Bounes his batail and banners displayes,

Buskes over the brode sand with brethe at his herte,

Ferkes frely on feld there the fey ligges;

Of the traitours men on trapped steedes,

Ten thousand were tint, the trewth to account,           slain

And, certain, on our side seven score knightes,

In suite with their soveraign unsound are beleved.           Together; not whole (dead)

The king comly overcast knightes and other,           turned over

Erles of Afrike and Estriche bernes,           Austrian

Of Argyle and Orkney the Irish kinges,

The noblest of Norway, numbers full huge,

Dukes and Danemarkes and dubbed knightes;

And the Guthede king in the gay armes           Gothic

Lies gronand on the ground and gird through even.

The rich king ransackes with rewth at his herte           searches

And up rippes the renkes of all the Round Table,           pulls

Sees them all in a soppe in suite by them one           little group together

With the Sarazenes unsound encircled about,           dead

And Sir Gawain the good in his gay armes,

Umbegripped the gers and on grouf fallen,           Clutched; grass; face down

His banners braiden down, beten of gules,           adorned with red

His brand and his brode sheld all bloody berunnen.           run over

Was never our seemlich king so sorrowful in herte,

Ne that sank him so sad but that sight one.           Nor was there anything that sank him so sad as that sight alone

Then gliftes the good king and glopins in herte,           stares; is terror-struck

Grones full grislich with gretande teres,           weeping

Kneeles down to the corse and caught it in armes,           corpse

Castes up his umbrere and kisses him soon,           visor

Lookes on his eye-liddes that locked were fair,

His lippes like to the lede and his lire fallowed.           lead; complexion pale

Then the crownd king cries full loud:

"Dere cosin of kind in care am I leved,           blood relative

For now my worship is went and my war ended!

Here is the hope of my hele, my happing in armes,           well-being; good fortune

My herte and my hardiness holly on him lenged!

My counsel, my comfort, that keeped mine herte!

Of all knightes the king that under Crist lived!

Thou was worthy to be king, though I the crown bare!

My wele and my worship of all this world rich           wealth

Was wonnen through Sir Gawain and through his wit one!           only

"Alas," said Sir Arthur, "now eekes my sorrow!           increases

I am utterly undone in mine owen landes!

A doutous, derf dede, thou dwelles too long!           fearful, cruel death

Why drawes thou so on dregh? Thou drownes mine herte!"           delay; so long

Then sweltes the sweet king and in swoon falles,           faints

Swafres up swiftly and sweetly him kisses           Staggers

Til his burlich berde was bloody berunnen,           covered with blood

Als he had bestes brittened and brought out of life;           beasts

Ne had Sir Ewain comen and other grete lordes,

His bold herte had bristen for bale at that stounde!           time

"Blinn," says these bold men, "thou blunders thyselven!           Stop; harms

This is bootless bale, for better bes it never!           without remedy; will be

It is no worship, iwis, to wring thine handes;

To weep als a woman it is no wit holden!

Be knightly of countenaunce, als a king sholde,

And leve such clamour, for Cristes love of heven!"

"For blood," says the bold king, "blinn shall I never           cease

Ere my brain to-brist or my breste other!           shatter; either

Was never sorrow so soft that sank to my herte;

It is full sib to myself; my sorrow is the more.           closely related

Was never so sorrowful a sight seen with mine eyen!

He is sakless surprised for sin of mine one!"           innocent

Down kneeles the king and cries full loud,

With care-full countenaunce he carpes these wordes:

"O rightwise rich God, this rewth thou behold,           righteous

This real red blood run upon erthe!

It were worthy to be shrede and shrined in gold,           clothed; enshrined

For it is sakless of sin, so help me our Lord!"           innocent

Down kneeles the king with care at his herte,

Caught it up kindly with his clene handes,

Cast it in a kettle-hat and coverd it fair,

And kaires forth with the corse in kithe there he lenges.

"Here I make mine avow," quod the king then,

"To Messie and to Mary, the mild Queen of heven:           Messiah

I shall never rivaye ne ratches uncouple,           hunt; hounds unleash

At roe ne rein-dere that runnes upon erthe,           reindeer

Never greyhound let glide, ne gossehawk let fly           goshawk

Ne never fowl see felled that flighes with wing,           flies

Faucon ne formel upon fist handle           Falcon; female hawk

Ne yet with gerefaucon rejoice me in erthe,           gerfalcon

Ne regne in my royaltees, ne hold my Round Table,

Til thy dede, my dere, be duly revenged!           death; beloved

But ever droop and dare whiles my life lastes,           lie still

Til Drighten and derf dede have done what them likes!"           the Lord; cruel death

Then caught they up the corse with care at their hertes,

Carried it on a courser with the king selven;

The way unto Winchester they went at the gainest,           by the shortest route

Wery and wandsomly with wounded knightes;           sorrowfully

There come the prior of the place and professed monkes,

A-pas in procession, and with the prince meetes,           Quickly

And he betook them the corse of the knight noble:           entrusted to

"Lookes it be clenly keeped," he said, "and in the kirk holden;           church

Don for him diriges, as to the dede falles,           Do; benefits

Mensked with masses for meed of the soul;           Honoured; reward

Look it want no wax, ne no worship elles,           See that; lack; candles

And that the body be baumed and on erthe holden;           embalmed

Yif thou keep thy covent, encroch any worship           promise, claim; reward

At my coming again, yif Crist will it thole;           allow

Abide of the burying til they be brought under           Wait for

That has wrought us this wo and this war moved."

Then says Sir Wichere the wye, a wise man of armes:

"I rede ye warily wend and workes the best,

Sujourn in this citee and semble thy bernes,

And bide with thy bold men in the burgh rich;

Get out knightes of countrees that castels holdes,           Get knights who hold your castles from their countries

And out of garrisons grete good men of armes,

For we are faithly too few to fight with them all

That we see in his sorte upon the se bankes.           saw

With cruel countenaunce then the king carpes these wordes:

"I pray thee care not, sir knight, ne cast thou no dredes!           imagine

Had I no segge but myself one under sun,

And I may him see with sight or on him set handes,

I shall even among his men malle him to dede,           hammer

Ere I of the stede stir half a steed lenghe!           place

I shall strike him in his stour and stroy him forever,

And there-to make I mine avow devotly to Crist           devoutly

And to his moder Mary, the mild Queen of heven!

I shall never sujourn sound, ne saught at mine herte,           nor have peace

In citee ne in suburb set upon erthe,

Ne yet slomour ne sleep with my slow eyen,           slumber; heavy

Til he be slain that him slogh, if any sleight happen,           slew; chance

But ever persew the paganes that my pople destroyed           pursue

Whiles I may pare them and pinne in place there me likes."           hurt; imprison

There durst no renk him arrest of all the Round Table,           stop

Ne none pay that prince with plesand wordes,           pacify; pleasing

Ne none of his lege-men look him in the eyen,

So lordly he lookes for loss of his knightes!

Then drawes he to Dorset and dreches no lenger,           hesitates

Dref-ful, dredless, with droopand teres,           Sorrowful, doubtless

Kaires into Cornwall with care at his herte;           Proceeds

The trace of the traitour he trines full even,           follows

And turnes in by the Trentis the traitour to seek,           the River Trent

Findes him in a forest the Friday there-after;

The king lightes on foot and freshly ascries,

And with his freelich folk he has the feld nomen!           taken

Now isshewes his enmy under the wood eves           issues out

With hostes of alienes full horrible to shew!

Sir Mordred the Malbranche, with his much pople,           Ill-begotten

Foundes out of the forest upon fele halves,           Comes

In seven grete batailes seemlich arrayed,

Sixty thousand men - the sight was full huge -

All fightand folk of the fer landes,

Fair fitted on front by tho fresh strandes.           arranged

And all Arthurs host was amed with knightes           reckoned by

But eighteen hundreth of all, enterd in rolles.

This was a match un-mete, but mightes of Crist,           unequal, save for

To melle with that multitude in those main landes.           fight

Then the royal roy of the Round Table

Rides on a rich steed, arrayes his bernes,

Buskes his avauntward, als him best likes;

Sir Ewain and Sir Errak, and other grete lordes

Demenes the middle-ward menskfully there-after,           Command

With Merrak and Meneduke, mighty of strenghes;

Idrous and Alymer, thir avenaunt children,

Ayers with Arthur with seven-score of knightes;           Proceed

He rewles the rereward redyly there-after,

The rekenest redy men of the Round Table;           most active

And thus he fittes his folk and freshly ascries,

And senn comfortes his men with knightlich wordes:

"I beseek you, sirs, for sake of our Lord,

That ye do well today and dredes no wepen!

Fightes fersly now and fendes yourselven,           defend

Felles down yon fey folk, the feld shall be ours!           fated

They are Sarazenes, yon sorte, unsound mot they worthe!           may they be

Set on them sadly for sake of our Lord!

Yif us be destained to die today on this erthe,           destined

We shall be heved unto heven ere we be half cold!           lifted

Look ye let for no lede lordly to work;

Layes yon laddes low by the laike end;           end of the game

Take no tent unto me, ne tale of me recke;           Pay no attention; believe

Bes busy on my banners with your bright wepens,           Be; around

That they be strenghely stuffed with steren knightes           strongly provided

And holden lordly on-loft ledes to shew;

Yif any renk them arase, rescue them soon;           is captured by them

Workes now my worship; today my war endes!

Ye wot my wele and my wo; workes as you likes!

Crist comly with crown comfort you all

For the kindest creatures that ever king led!

I give you all my blessing with a blithe will,

And all Bretons bold, blithe mot ye worthe!"           may you be glad

They pipe up at prime time, approches them ner,           9 A.M., approach; nearer

Pris men and preste proves their strenghes;           Choice; ready

Bremly the brethe-men bragges in trumpes,           Boldly; buglers; blow

In coronettes comlyly, when knightes assembles;           horns

And then jollyly enjoines these gentle knightes;           join battle

A jollier journee ajudged was never,

When Bretones boldly enbraces their sheldes,           put on (their arms)

And Cristen encrossed them and castes in fewter!           Christians crossed themselves

Then Sir Arthur host his enmy escries,           sees

And in they shock their sheldes, shuntes no lenger,           thrust; delay

Shot to the sheltrones and shoutes full high;           troops

Through sheldes full sheen shalkes they touch!

Redily those rydde men of the Round Table           fierce

With real rank steel rittes their mailes;           rip

Brenyes brouden they brist and burnisht helmes,           woven

Hewes hethen men down, halses in sonder!           necks

Fightand with fine steel the fey blood runnes;

Of the frekkest on front un-fers are beleved.           unfierce (i.e., defeated)

Hethenes of Argyle and Irish kinges

Enverounes our avauntward with venomous bernes,           Surrounds

Peghtes and paynimes with perilous wepens,           Picts

With speres dispitously despoiles our knightes           pitilessly

And hewed down the hendest with hertly dintes!           mortal blows

Through the hole batail they holden their wayes;

Thus fersly they fight upon sere halves,           various sides

That of the bold Bretons much blood spilles;

There durst none rescue them for riches in erthe,           dared

The steren were there so stedde and stuffed with other;           beset; hard-pressed

He durst not stir a step, but stood for himselven,           i.e., Arthur

Til three stales were stroyed by strenghe of him one!           detachments

"Idrous," quod Arthur, "ayer thee behooves!

I see Sir Ewain over-set with Sarazenes keen!

Redy thee for rescues, array thee soon!

Hie thee with hardy men in help of thy fader!

Set in on the side and succour yon lordes!

But they be succoured and sound, unsaught be I ever!"           safe; troubled

Idrous him answers ernestly there-after:

"He is my fader, in faith, forsake shall I never -

He has me fostered and fed and my fair brethern -

But I forsake this gate, so me God help,           going (to his aid)

And soothly all sibreden but thyself one.           kinship

I broke never his bidding for berne on life,           command

But ever buxom as beste blithely to work.           (was) obedient as a beast

He commaund me kindly with knightly wordes,

That I sholde lely on thee lenge, and on no lede elles;

I shall his commaundment hold, if Crist will me thole!           allow

He is elder than I, and end shall we bothen;

He shall ferk before, and I shall come after;

Yif him be destained to die today on this erthe,           destined

Crist, comly with crown, take keep to his soul!"

Then romes the rich king with rewth at his herte,           cries; grief

Heves his handes on height and to the Heven lookes:           Lifts

"Why then ne had Drighten destained at His dere will           Why did the Lord not destine (me to die) at His dear will

That He had deemed me today to die for you all?           ordered

That had I lever than be lord all my life-time

Of all that Alexander ought whiles he in erthe lenged!"

Sir Ewain and Sir Errak, these excellent bernes,

Enters in on the host and egerly strikes;

The hethenes of Orkney and Irish kinges

They gobone of the gretest with grounden swordes,           i.e., Ewain and Errak; chop

Hewes on those hulkes with their hard wepens,

Layed down those ledes with lothly dintes;           Laid

Shoulders and sheldes they shrede to the haunches,

And middles through mailes they merken in sonder!           midriffs; cut

Such honour never ought none erthly kinges

At their ending day but Arthur himselven!

So the drought of the day dryed their hertes

That both drinkless they die; dole was the more!

Now melles our middle-ward and mengen togeder.           attacks; mingles

Sir Mordred the Malbranche with his much pople,           Ill-begotten; great army

He had hid him behind within these holt eves,

With hole batail on hethe, harm is the more!           whole battalion; heath

He had seen the contek all clene to the end,           conflict

How our chevalry cheved by chaunces of armes;           fared

He wiste our folk was for-foughten that there was fey leved;           outfought

To encounter the king he castes him soon,           plans

But the cherles chicken had changed his armes;           churlish offspring

He had soothly forsaken the sauturour engreled,           saltire engrailed

And laght up three lions all of white silver,           taken

Passand in purpure of perry full rich,           Passant on a purple background of very rich jewels

For the king sholde not know the cautelous wretch.           cunning

Because of his cowardice he cast off his attire;           heraldic device

But the comlich king knew him full swithe,

Carpes to Sir Cador these kindly wordes:

"I see the traitour come yonder trinand full yerne;           going

Yon lad with the lions is like to himselven;

Him shall torfer betide, may I touch ones,           woe; if I can

For all his tresoun and trayn, als I am trew lord!           trickery

Today Clarent and Caliburn shall kithe them togeders           Excalibur; make known

Whilk is keener of carfe or harder of edge!           Which; carving

Fraist shall we fine steel upon fine weedes.           Test

It was my darling dainteous and full dere holden,           i.e., the sword Clarent; dainty

Keeped for encrownmentes of kinges annointed;           coronations

On dayes when I dubbed dukes and erles

It was burlich borne by the bright hiltes;

I durst never dere it in deedes of armes           harm

But ever keeped clene because of myselven.

For I see Clarent uncledde that crown is of swordes,           i.e., drawn

My wardrope at Walingford I wot is destroyed.           wardrobe

Wiste no wye of wonne but Waynor herselven;           Knew; the dwelling place

Sho had the keeping herself of that kidd wepen,

Of coffers enclosed that to the crown longed,

With ringes and relickes and the regale of Fraunce           regalia

That was founden on Sir Frolle when he was fey leved."           left dead

Then Sir Marrak in malencoly meetes him soon,           melancholy

With a malled mace mightyly him strikes;           hammered

The bordour of his bacenett he bristes in sonder,           border; helmet

That the shire red blood over his breny runnes!

The berne blenkes for bale and all his blee changes,           blanches; complexion

But yet he bides as a bore and bremly he strikes!           boar; fiercely

He braides out a brand bright als ever any silver           i.e., Mordred

That was Sir Arthur owen, and Utere his faders,

In the wardrope at Walingford was wont to be keeped;           wardrobe

Therewith the derf dog such dintes he reched           impudent

The tother withdrew on dregh and drust do none other           other; back

For Sir Marrak was man marred in elde,           weakened by age

And Sir Mordred was mighty and in his most strenghes;

Come none within the compass, knight ne none other,

Within the swing of sword, that he ne the swet leved.           life-blood left

That perceives our prince and presses to fast,           i.e., to battle

Strikes into the stour by strenghe of his handes,           melee

Meetes with Sir Mordred; he meles unfair:           speaks gruffly

"Turn, traitour untrew, thee tides no better;

By grete God, thou shall die with dint of my handes!

Thee shall rescue no renk ne riches in erthe!"

The king with Caliburn knightly him strikes;

The cantel of his clere sheld he carves in sonder,           cornerpiece

Into the shoulder of the shalk a shaftmonde large           six inches deep

That the shire red blood shewed on the mailes!

He shuddered and shrinkes and shuntes but little,

But shockes in sharply in his sheen weedes;

The felon with the fine sword freshly he strikes,

The felettes of the ferrer side he flashes in sonder,           rib plates; farther

Through jupon and gesseraunt of gentle mailes,           gipon (tunic); hauberk

The freke fiched in the flesh an half-foot large;           pierced

That derf dint was his dede, and dole was the more           hideous blow

That ever that doughty sholde die but at Drightens will!

Yet with Caliburn his sword full knightly he strikes,

Castes in his clere sheld and coveres him full fair,

Swappes off the sword hand, als he by glentes -           goes

An inch fro the elbow he oched it in sonder           chopped

That he swoones on the swarth and on swim falles -           turf; swoon

Through bracer of brown steel and the bright mailes,           armguard

That the hilt and the hand upon the hethe ligges.

Then freshlich the freke the fente up-reres,           Arthur; vent raises

Broches him in with the brand to the bright hiltes,

And he brawles on the brand and bounes for to die.           struggles

"In faye," said the fey king, "sore me for-thinkes           I sorely repent

That ever such a false thef so fair an end haves."           thief

When they had finisht this fight, then was the feld wonnen,

And the false folk in the feld fey are beleved!

Til a forest they fled and fell in the greves,           groves

And fers fightand folk followes them after,

Huntes and hewes down the hethen tikes,           heathen dogs

Murtheres in the mountaines Sir Mordred knightes;           Murder

There chaped never no child, cheftain ne other,           escaped

But choppes them down in the chase; it charges but little!           troubles

But when Sir Arthur anon Sir Ewain he findes,

And Errak the avenaunt and other grete lordes,           comely

He caught up Sir Cador with care at his herte,

Sir Clegis, Sir Cleremond, these clere men of armes,

Sir Lot and Sir Lionel, Sir Launcelot and Lowes,

Marrak and Meneduke, that mighty were ever;

With langour in the land there he layes them togeder,

Looked on their lighames, and with a loud steven,           bodies; voice

Als lede that list not live and lost had his mirthes -           man; desired

Then he stotays for mad and all his strenghe failes,           staggers; dizziness

Lookes up to the lift and all his lire changes,           sky; face

Down he sways full swithe, and in a swoon falles,

Up he coveres on knees and cries full often -

"King, comly with crown, in care am I leved!

All my lordship low in land is laid under,

That me has given guerdones, by grace of Himselven,           rewards

Maintained my manhed by might of their handes,           manhood

Made me manly on molde and master in erthe,

In a teenful time this torfer was rered,           painful; mischief; raised

That for a traitour has tint all my trew lordes!           destroyed

Here restes the rich blood of the Round Table,

Rebuked with a rebaud, and rewth is the more!           scoundrel

I may helpless on hethe house by mine one,

Als a woful widow that wantes her berne!           children

I may werye and weep and wring mine handes,           curse

For my wit and my worship away is forever!

Of all lordshippes I take leve to mine end!

Here is the Bretones blood brought out of life,

And now in this journee all my joy endes!"

Then relies the renks of all the Round Table;           rally

To the real roy they ride them all;

Then assembles full soon seven score knightes

In sight to their soveraign that was unsound leved;

Then kneeles the crowned king and cries on loud:

"I thank thee, God, of thy grace, with a good will,

That gave us vertue and wit to venquish these bernes,

And us has graunted the gree of these grete lordes!           victory over

He sent us never no shame ne shenship in erthe           disgrace

But ever yet the over-hand of all other kinges;           i.e., upper hand

We have no leisere now these lordes to seek,           leisure

For yon lothly lad me lamed so sore!           i.e., Mordred

Graith us to Glashenbury; us gaines none other;           Let us go to Glastonbury; nothing else avails

There we may rest us with roo and ransack our woundes.           peace; treat

Of this dere day work the Drighten be lowed,           costly; praised

That us has detained and deemed to die in our owen."           i.e., in our own land

Then they hold at his hest holly at ones,           command

And graithes to Glashenbury the gate at the gainest;           Glastonbury; way

Entres the Ile of Avalon and Arthur he lightes,           Isle

Merkes to a manor there, for might he no further;           for he could go

A surgen of Salerne enserches his woundes;           surgeon; treats

The king sees by assay that sound bes he never,           examination; will be

And soon to his seker men he said these wordes:           true

"Do call me a confessor with Crist in his armes;           i.e., the Eucharist

I will be houseld in haste what hap so betides.           given the sacrament

Constantine my cosin he shall the crown bere,

Als becomes him of kind, if Crist will him thole!           allow

Berne, for my benison, thou bury yon lordes           blessing

That in batail with brandes are brought out of life,

And sithen merk manly to Mordred children,           pursue manfully

That they be slely slain and slongen in waters;           wisely; slung

Let no wicked weed wax ne writhe on this erthe;           grow nor flourish

I warn, for thy worship, work als I bid!

I forgive all gref, for Cristes love of heven!

If Waynor have well wrought, well her betide!"

He said "In manus" with main on molde where he ligges,           "Into Your hands"

And thus passes his spirit and spekes he no more!

The baronage of Bretain then, bishoppes and other,

Graithes them to Glashenbury with glopinand hertes           Glastonbury; dismayed

To bury there the bold king and bring to the erthe

With all worhsip and welth that any wye sholde.           person should have

Throly belles they ring and Requiem singes,           Loudly

Dos masses and matins with mornand notes;           Do

Religious reveste in their rich copes,           Monastics dressed

Pontificalles and prelates in precious weedes,           Bishops

Dukes and douspeeres in their dole-cotes,           mourning garments

Countesses kneeland and claspand their handes,

Ladies languishand and lowrand to shew;           frowning

All was busked in black, birdes and other,           dressed; women

That shewed at the sepulture with syland teres;           sepulchre; flowing

Was never so sorrowful a sight seen in their time!

Thus endes King Arthur, as auctors allege,           authorities tell

That was of Ectores blude, the kinge son of Troy           Hector's blood

And of Sir Priamous, the prince, praised in erthe;           Priam

Fro thethen brought the Bretons all his bold elders           thence (i.e., Troy)

Into Bretain the brode, as the Brut telles.

Hic jacet Arthurus, rex quondam rexque futurus.

(Here lies Arthur, king once and king to be.)

Here endes Morte Arthure, written by Robert of Thornton

R. Thornton dictus qui scripsit sit benedictus. Amen.

(May the said R. Thornton, who wrote this, be blessed. Amen.)