
Then answers Sir Arthur to that old wife: woman
"I am comen fro the conquerour, courtais and gentle,
As one of the hathelest of Arthure knightes, most manly
Messenger to this mix, for mendement of the pople dung; amendment
To mele with this master man that here this mount yemes, speak; possess
To trete with this tyraunt for tresure of landes
And take trew for a time, to better may worthe." truce; until; be
"Ya, thir wordes are but waste," quod this wife then, these; woman
"For both landes and lythes full little by he settes; nations he thinks little of
Of rentes ne of red gold reckes he never, reckons
For he will lenge out of law, as himself thinkes, live outside the law
Withouten license of lede, as lord in his owen. prince; own right
But he has a kirtle on, keeped for himselven, gown
That was spunnen in Spain with special birdes by maidens
And sithen garnisht in Greece full graithely togeders; sewn; readily
It is hided all with here, holly all over covered; hair; wholly
And borderd with the berdes of burlich kinges, beards; stately
Crisped and combed that kempes may know Curled; warriors
Ich king by his colour, in kith there he lenges. Each; country
Here the fermes he fanges of fifteen rewmes, revenues; seizes
For ilke Estern even, however that it fall, Easter eve
They send it him soothly for saught of the pople, peace
Sekerly at that sesoun with certain knightes.
And he has asked Arthure all this seven winter; asked for Arthur's (beard)
Forthy hurdes he here to outraye his pople Therefore dwells; outrage
Til the Britones king have burnisht his lippes shaved
And sent his berde to that bold with his best bernes;
But thou have brought that berde boun thee no further,
For it is a bootless bale thou biddes ought elles, For it will be a sorrow without remedy if you offer him anything else
For he has more tresure to take when him likes
Than ever ought Arthur or any of his elders. owned
If thou have brought the berde he bes more blithe will be
Than thou gave him Borgoine or Britain the More; Burgundy; Great Britain
But look now, for charitee, thou chasty thy lippes close
That thee no wordes escape, whatso betides.
Look thy present be preste and press him but little, swift
For he is at his souper; he will be soon greved. dinner; easily annoyed
And thou my counsel do, thou dos off thy clothes if; take; armour
And kneel in thy kirtle and call him thy lord. gown
He soupes all this sesoun with seven knave childer, dines; on; male children
Chopped in a chargeur of chalk-white silver, serving dish
With pickle and powder of precious spices,
And piment full plenteous of Portingale wines; spiced wine; Portuguese
Three balefull birdes his broches they turn, sad maidens; spits
That bides his bedgatt, his bidding to work; bedtime; do
Such four sholde be fey within four houres dead
Ere his filth were filled that his flesh yernes." satisfied; yearns
"Ya, I have brought the berde," quod he, "the better me likes;
Forthy will I boun me and bere it myselven go; bear
But, lefe, wolde thou lere me where that lede lenges? dear; teach; man
I shall alowe thee, and I live, Our Lord so me help!" praise thee if
"Ferk fast to the fire," quod sho, "that flames so high; Go
There filles that fend him, fraist when thee likes. There that fiend fills himself, to try when you please
But thou moste seek more south, sidlings a little, go; sidewise
For he will have scent himselve six mile large." away
To the source of the reek he sought at the gainest, smoke; went; quickest
Sained him sekerly with certain wordes, Crossed himself
And sidlings of the segge the sight had he reched sidewise; man; reached
How unseemly that sot sat soupand him one! dining alone
He lay lenand on long, lodgand unfair, stretched out; lodging
The thee of a mans limm lift up by the haunch; thigh; limb
His back and his beuschers and his brode lendes buttocks; loins
He bakes at the bale-fire and breekless him seemed; warms; without trousers
There were rostes full rude and rewful bredes, roasts; roast meats
Bernes and bestail broched togeders, Men; beasts spitted
Cowle full crammed of crismed childer, Tub; baptized children
Some as bred broched and birdes them turned. roasts spitted; maidens
And then this comlich king, because of his pople, comely
His herte bleedes for bale on bente where he standes; pain; ground
Then he dressed on his sheld, shuntes no lenger, holds back no longer
Braundisht his brode sword by the bright hiltes,
Raikes toward that renk right with a rude will Rushes; man
And hiely hailses that hulk with hautain wordes: hastily greets; proud
"Now, All-weldand God that worshippes us all All-ruling; honours
Give thee sorrow and site, sot, there thou ligges, grief; lie
For the foulsomest freke that formed was ever! foulest man
Foully thou feedes thee! The Fend have thy soul!
Here is cury unclene, carl, by my trewth, cooking; churl; word
Caff of creatures all, thou cursed wretch! Chaff
Because that thou killed has these crismed childer, baptized children
Thou has martyrs made and brought out of life
That here are broched on bente and brittened with thy handes, Those who are roasted on spits in the field and broken with your hands
I shall merk thee thy meed as thou has much served, assign; reward; deserved
Through might of Saint Michel that this mount yemes! possesses
And for this fair lady that thou has fey leved As
And thus forced on folde for filth of thyselven, raped; earth
Dress thee now, dog-son, the devil have thy soul! Prepare yourself
For thou shall die this day through dint of my handes!"
Then glopined the glutton and glored unfair; was terrified; glared
He grenned as a grayhound with grisly tuskes; snarled
He gaped, he groned fast with grouchand lates groaned; grudging expressions
For gref of the good king that him with grame greetes. anger
His fax and his foretop was filtered togeders hair; forelock; matted
And out of his face fom an half foot large; foam; long
His front and his forheved, all was it over face; forehead
As the fell of a frosk and frakned it seemed; skin; frog; freckled
Hook-nebbed as a hawk, and a hore berde, Hook-nosed; grey
And hered to the eyen-holes with hangand browes; haired; eye-holes
Harsk as a hound-fish, hardly who-so lookes, Harsh; intently
So was the hide of that hulk holly all over; wholly
Erne had he full huge and ugly to shew Ears; be seen
With eyen full horrible and ardaunt for sooth; eyes; flaming
Flat-mouthed as a fluke with fleriand lippes, flounder; sneering
And the flesh in his fore-teeth fouly as a bere; foul; bear
His berde was brothy and blak that til his breste reched; fierce
Grassed as a mere-swine with carkes full huge Fat; dolphin; carcass
And all faltered the flesh in his foul lippes, quivered
Ilke wrethe as a wolf-heved it wrath out at ones! Each fold (in his lips) at once twisted out like the head of a wolf
Bull-necked was that berne and brode in the shoulders,
Brok-brested as a brawn with bristeles full large, Spotted-breasted; boar
Rude armes as an oke with ruskled sides, oak; wrinkled
Limm and leskes full lothen, leve ye for sooth; Limbs and loins very loathsome, believe you truly
Shovel-footed was that shalk and shaland him seemed, man; bow-legged
With shankes unshapely shovand togeders; shoving (i.e., knock-kneed)
Thick thees as a thurse and thicker in the haunch, thighs; giant
Grees-growen as a galt, full grillich he lookes! Fat; pig; horrible
Who the lenghe of the lede lely accountes, Length; man carefully
Fro the face to the foot was five fadom long! fathoms
Then stertes he up sturdily on two stiff shankes, leaps
And soon he caught him a club all of clene iron;
He wolde have killed the king with his keen wepen, fierce weapon
But through the craft of Crist yet the carl failed; churl
The crest and the coronal, the claspes of silver, diadem
Clenly with his club he crashed down at ones!
The king castes up his sheld and covers him fair,
And with his burlich brand a box he him reches; stately; reaches to him
Full butt in the front the fromand he hittes face; monster
That the burnisht blade to the brain runnes;
He feyed his fysnamie with his foul handes wiped; face
And frappes fast at his face fersly there-after! strikes; Arthur's; fiercely
The king changes his foot, eschewes a little; retreats
Ne had he eschaped that chop, cheved had evil; escaped; won
He follows in fersly and fastenes a dint strikes a blow
High up on the haunch with his hard wepen weapon
That he heled the sword half a foot large; buried; deep
The hot blood of the hulk unto the hilt runnes;
Even into the in-mete the giaunt he hittes intestines
Just to the genitals and jagged them in sonder! right up to; cut; asunder
Then he romed and rored and rudely he strikes bellowed; roared
Full egerly at Arthur and on the erthe hittes; eagerly
A sword-lenghe within the swarth he swappes at ones ground; strikes
That ner swoones the king for swough of his dintes! sound
But yet the king sweperly full swithe he beswenkes, swiftly; quickly; works
Swappes in with the sword that it the swang bristed; Strikes; loins burst
Both the guttes and the gore gushes out at ones.
That all englaimes the grass on ground there he standes! makes slimy
Then he castes the club and the king hentes; throws away; seizes
On the crest of the crag he caught him in armes,
And encloses him clenly to crushen his ribbes;
So hard holdes he that hende that ner his herte bristes! noble; bursts
Then the baleful birdes bounes to the erthe, sad maidens fall
Kneeland and cryand and clapped their handes; clasped
"Crist comfort yon knight and keep him fro sorrow,
And let never yon fend fell him o life!" fiend; kill him
Yet is that warlaw so wight he welters him under; warlock; rolls
Wrothly they writhen and wrestle togeders,
Welters and wallows over within those buskes, bushes
Tumbelles and turnes fast and teres their weedes, Tumble; tear; clothes
Untenderly fro the top they tilten togeders, topple
Whilom Arthur over and other while under, At times
Fro the heghe of the hill unto the hard rock, height
They feyne never ere they fall at the flood marches;
But Arthur with an anlace egerly smites dagger
And hittes ever in the hulk up to the hiltes.
The thef at the ded-throwes so throly him thringes In his death-throes the thief squeezes him so fiercely
That three ribbes in his side he thrustes in sonder! breaks asunder
Then Sir Kayous the keen unto the king stertes, leaps
Said: "Alas! We are lorn! My lord is confounded, lost
Over-fallen with a fend! Us is foul happned! Overthrown by
We mon be forfeited, in faith, and flemed forever!" must; exiled
They heve up his hawberk then and handelles there-under lift; handle
His hide and his haunch eek on height to the shoulders, also; up
His flank and his felettes and his fair sides, loins
Both his back and his breste and his bright armes.
They were fain that they fande no flesh entamed glad; found injured
And for that journee made joy, thir gentle knightes. day's fighting; these
"Now certes," says Sir Bedvere, "it seemes, by my Lord,
He seekes saintes but selden, the sorer he grippes, seldom; more severely
That thus clekes this corsaint out of thir high cliffes, drags; holy body; these
To carry forth such a carl at close him in silver; churl to enclose
By Michel, of such a mak I have much wonder fellow
That ever our soveraign Lord suffers him in heven!
And all saintes be such that serves our Lord If
I shall never no saint be, by my fader soul!" father's
Then bourdes the bold king at Bedvere wordes: jokes; Bedivere's
"This saint have I sought, so help me our Lord!
Forthy braid out thy brand and broche him to the herte; draw; spit
Be seker of this sergeaunt; he has me sore greved! fellow
I fought not with such a freke this fifteen winter;
But in the mountes of Araby I met such another;
He was forcier by fer that had I nere founden; He was stronger by far than any I had ever found
Ne had my fortune been fair, fey had I leved!
Anon strike off his heved and stake it thereafter; Quickly strike off his head and put it on a stake thereafter
Give it to thy squier, for he is well horsed, squire
Bere it to Sir Howell that is in hard bondes bonds of sorrow
And bid him herte him well; his enmy is destroyed! hearten; enemy
Senn bere it to Barflete and brace it in iron Barfleur
And set it on the barbican bernes to shew. main-gate tower
My brand and my brode sheld upon the bente ligges, ground lie
On the crest of the crag there first we encountered,
And the club there-by, all of clene iron,
That many Cristen has killed in Constantine landes; Peninsula of Cotentin
Ferk to the fore-land and fetch me that wepen Go; promontary; weapon
And let found to our fleet in flood there it lenges. let us go
If thou will any tresure, take what thee likes; want; treasure
Have I the kirtle and the club, I covet nought elles." gown; else
Now they kaire to the crag, these comlich knightes, comely
And brought him the brode sheld and his bright wepen,
The club and the cote als, Sir Kayous himselven, Sir Kay himself brings the club and the coat as well
And kaires with the conquerour the kinges to shew.
That in covert the king held close to himselven Yet
While clene day fro the cloud climbed on loft.
By that to court was comen clamour full huge, By that time
And before the comlich king they kneeled all at ones:
"Welcome, our lege lord, to long has thou dwelled! liege
Governour under God, graithest and noble, most active
To whom grace is graunted and given at His will
Now thy comly come has comforted us all! coming
Thou has in thy realtee revenged thy pople! royalty
Through help of thy hand thine enmies are stroyed, destroyed
That has thy renkes over-run and reft them their childer; bereft
Was never rewm out of array so redyly releved!" disordered realm; relieved
Then the conquerour Cristenly carpes to his pople: Christianly
"Thankes God," quod he, "of this grace and no gome elles, man
For it was never mans deed, but might of Himselven
Or miracle of his Moder, that mild is til all!"
He summond then the shipmen sharply thereafter,
To shake forth with the shire-men to shift the goodes: go; men of the shire
"All the much tresure that traitour had wonnen
To commouns of the countree, clergy and other,
Look it be done and delt to my dere pople dealt out
That none plain of their part o pain of your lives." complain; on
He commaunde his cosin, with knightlich wordes, commanded
To make a kirk on that crag, there the corse ligges church; body
And a covent there-in, Crist for to serve, monastery
In mind of that martyr that in the mount restes. memory; i.e., the duchess
When Sir Arthur the king had killed the giaunt,
Then blithely fro Barflete he buskes on the morn, goes
With his batail on brede by tho blithe stremes; With his battalion spread out by those calm streams
Toward Castel Blank he cheses him the way, goes
Through a fair champain under chalk hilles; open plain
The king fraistes a furth over the fresh strandes, seeks; ford
Foundes with his fair folk over as him likes; Goes
Forth steppes that steren and strekes his tents stern (one); stretches out
On a strenghe by a streme, in those strait landes. stronghold; narrow
Anon after mid-day, in the mene-while, meanwhile
There comes two messengers of tho fer marches, from those far
Fro the Marshal of Fraunce, and menskfully him greetes, honourably
Besought him of succour and said him these wordes:
"Sir, thy Marshal, thy minister, thy mercy beseekes,
Of thy mikel magistee, for mendment of thy pople, great majesty; amendment
Of these marches-men that thus are miscarried men of the marches
And thus marred among maugree their eyen; harmed in spite of
I witter thee the Emperour is enterd into Fraunce assure
With hostes of enmies, horrible and huge;
Brinnes in Burgoine thy burges so rich, Burns; Burgundy; cities
And brittenes thy baronage that beldes there-in; beats down; dwells
He encroches keenly by craftes of armes invades
Countrees and casteles that to thy crown longes, belong
Confoundes thy commouns, clergy and other; Destroys; citizens
But thou comfort them, Sir King, cover shall they never! Unless; recover
He felles forestes fele, forrays thy landes, many; plunders
Frithes no fraunches, but frayes the pople; Spares; liberty; affrights
Thus he felles thy folk and fanges their goodes; slays; seizes
Fremedly the French tonge fey is beleved. By foreigners the French tongue is destroyed
He drawes into douce Fraunce, as Dutch-men telles, sweet; Germans
Dressed with his dragons, dredful to shew;
All to dede they dight with dintes of swordes, death; put
Dukes and douspeeres that dreches there-in; Stay
Forthy the lordes of the land, ladies and other,
Prayes thee for Petere love, the apostle of Rome,
Senn thou art present in place, that thou will proffer make i.e., make war
To that perilous prince by process of time. Against
He ayers by yon hilles, yon high holtes under, goes
Hoves there with hole strenghe of hethen knightes; Waits; force
Help now for His love that high in heven sittes
And talk tristly to them that thus us destroyes!" boldly
The king biddes Sir Bois: "Busk thee belive! Go; quickly
Take with thee Sir Berille and Bedvere the rich,
Sir Gawain and Sir Grime, these galiard knightes, jolly
And graith you to yon green woodes and gos on thir needes; do this errand
Says to Sir Lucius too unlordly he workes
Thus litherly againes law to lede my pople; wickedly; treat
I let him ere ought long, yif me the life happen, I shall stop him before much longer if life is granted to me
Or many light shall low that him over land followes;
Commaund him keenly with cruel wordes
Kaire out of my kingrik with his kidd knightes; Go; kingdom
In case that he will not, that cursed wretch,
Come for his courtaisy and counter me ones; courtesy; encounter
Then shall we reckon full rathe what right that he claimes, quickly
Thus to riot this rewm and ransoun the pople! ravage
There shall it derely be delt with dintes of handes; dearly; dealt
The Drighten at Doomesday dele as Him likes!" Lord; deal
Now they graith them to go, these galiard knightes, prepare; jolly
All glitterand in gold, upon grete steedes
Toward the green wood, with grounden wepen, sharpened
To greet well the grete lord that wolde be greved soon.
These hende hoves on a hill by the holt eves These courteous ones wait on a hill by the edge of the wood
Beheld the housing full high of hethen kinges; noble; heathen
They herde in their herberage hundrethes full many dwellings
Hornes of olyfantes full highlich blowen; elephants; loudly
Palaises proudly pight, that paled were rich Palaces (rich tents) proudly pitched
Of pall and of purpure, with precious stones; That had walls of silk and purple cloth adorned with precious stones
Pensels and pomells of rich princes armes Pennons; tent-pommels
Pight in the plain mede the pople to shew. Placed; meadow
And then the Romans so rich had arrayed their tentes
On row by the river under the round hilles,
The Emperour for honour even in the middes, exactly
With egles all over ennelled so fair; eagles; decorated
And saw him and the Sowdan and senatours many Sultan
Seek toward a sale with sixteen kinges Go; hall
Syland softly in, sweetly by themselven, Gliding
To soupe with that soverain full selcouthe metes. dine; rare foods
Now they wend over the water, these worshipful knightes,
Through the wood to the wonne there the wyes restes; dwelling
Right as they had weshen and went to the table, washed
Sir Wawain the worthy unwinly he spekes: unfriendly; speaks
"The might and the majestee that menskes us all, honours
That was merked and made through the might of Himselven, formed
Give you site in your sete, Sowdan and other, grief; seat
That here are sembled in sale; unsaught mot ye worthe! hall; troubled; be
And the false heretik that Emperour him calles,
That occupies in errour the Empire of Rome,
Sir Arthure heritage, that honourable king
That all his auncestres ought but Uter him one, ancestors owned
That ilke cursing that Caim caught for his brother Cain
Cleve on thee, cuckewald, with crown there thou lenges, Cleave; cuckold
For the unlordliest lede that I on looked ever!
My lord marveles him mikel, man, by my trewth, much; word
Why thou murtheres his men that no misse serves, murder; trouble deserve
Commouns of the countree, clergy and other,
That are nought coupable there-in, ne knowes nought in armes, guilty
Forthy the comlich king, courtais and noble,
Commaundes thee keenly to kaire of his landes out of
Or elles for thy knighthede encounter him ones. knighthood
Senn thou covetes the crown, let it be declared!
I have discharged me here, challenge who likes, done my duty
Before all thy chevalry, cheftaines and other.
Shape us an answer, and shunt thou no lenger, hold back
That we may shift at the short and shew to my lord." go quickly
The Emperour answerd with austeren wordes: austere
"Ye are with mine enmy, Sir Arthur himselven;
It is none honour to me to outraye his knightes, do violence to
Though ye be irous men that ayers on his needes; angry; go; errands
Ne were it not for reverence of my rich table,
Thou sholde repent full rathe of thy rude wordes! quickly
Such a rebawd as thou rebuke any lordes low fellow
With their retinues arrayed, full real and noble!
But say to thy soveraign I send him these wordes:
Here will I sujourn, whiles me lefe thinkes, it seems good
And sithen seek in by Seine with solace thereafter, then go
Ensege all the citees by the salt strandes, Besiege
And senn ride in by Rhone that runnes so fair,
And of his rich casteles rush down the walles;
I shall nought leve in Paris, by process of time, Within a short time I shall not leave him in Paris
His part of a pecheline, prove when him likes!" So much as a tiny spot; let him test this when he pleases
"Now certes," says Sir Wawain, "much wonder have I
That such a alfin as thou dare speke such wordes! foolish person
I had lever than all Fraunce, that heved is of rewmes, rather; head
Fight with thee faithfully on feld by our one!"
Then answers Sir Gayous full gabbed wordes - foolish
Was eme to the Emperour and erl himselven: uncle
"Ever were these Bretons braggers of old! Britons
Lo, how he brawles him for his bright weedes, armour
As he might britten us all with his brand rich! beat down; sword
Yet he barkes much boste, yon boy there he standes!" boast; knave
Then greved Sir Gawain at his grete wordes,
Graithes toward the gome with grouchand herte; Goes; man; angry
With his steelen brand he strikes off his heved, steel
And stertes out to his steed, and with his stale wendes. leaps; company
Through the watches they went, these worshipful knightes,
And findes in their fare-way wonderlich many; path wondrously
Over the water they went by wightness of horses,
And took wind as they wolde by the wood hemmes. edges of the wood
Then follows frekly on foot frekes ynow, fiercely; warriors
And of the Romans arrayed upon rich steedes
Chased through a champain our chevalrous knightes open field
Til a chef forest on chalk-white horses. large
But a freke all in fine gold and fretted in sable adorned
Come furthermost on a Freson in flamand weedes; Frisian horse; bright armour
A fair flourisht spere in fewter he castes, spear-rest
And followes fast on our folk and freshly ascries. eagerly cries
Then Sir Gawain the good upon a gray steed
He grippes him a grete spere and graithly him hittes; readily
Through the guttes into the gore he girdes him even, smites
That the grounden steel glides to his herte! sharpened
The gome and the grete horse at the ground ligges, man; lies
Full grislich gronand for gref of his woundes. grisly groaning; grief
Then presses a priker in, full proudly arrayed, rider
That beres all of purpure, paled with silver That bears on his shield a heraldic device al of purple, striped with silver
Bigly on a brown steed he proffers full large. With great force, on a brown horse, he offers battle boldly
He was a paynim of Perse that thus him persewed; pagan; Persia
Sir Boys, unabaist all, he buskes him againes; unabashed
With a bustous launce he beres him through, wild
That the breme and the brode sheld upon the bente ligges! fierce one
And he bringes forth the blade and bounes to his fellowes. goes
Then Sir Feltemour, of might a man mikel praised, much
Was moved on his manner and menaced full fast;
He graithes to Sir Gawain graithly to work, charges at; readily
For gref of Sir Gayous that is on ground leved.
Then Sir Gawain was glad; again him he rides;
With Galuth, his good sword, graithly him hittes; readily
The knight on the courser he cleved in sonder, cleaved in two
Clenlich fro the crown his corse he devised, Cleanly; body he divided
And thus he killes the knight with his kidd wepen. famous
Then a rich man of Rome relied to his bernes: rallied
"It shall repent us full sore and we ride further! if
Yon are bold bosters that such bale workes; boasters; evil
It befell him full foul that them so first named!"
Then the rich Romans returnes their bridles, turn back
To their tentes in teen, telles their lordes grief
How Sir Marshall de Mowne is on the molde leved, ground
Forjousted at that journee for his grete japes. Outjousted at that battle despite his great boasts
But there chases on our men chevalrous knightes,
Five thousand folk upon fair steedes,
Fast to a forest over a fell water swift
That filles fro the fallow se fifty mile large. is filled; pale sea; away
There were Bretons enbushed and banerettes noble, in ambush; senior knights
Of chevalry chef of the kinges chamber;
Sees them chase our men and changen their horses redirect
And chop down cheftaines that they most charged.
Then the enbushment of Bretons broke out at ones, ambush
Brothly at banner all Bedvere knightes Boldly; Bedivere's
Arrested of the Romans that by the firth rides, wood
All the realest renkes that to Rome longes; belongs
They ishe on the enmies and egerly strikes, rush
Erles of England, and "Arthur!" ascries; cries
Through brenyes and bright sheldes brestes they thirle, hauberks; pierce
Bretons of the boldest, with their bright swordes.
There was Romans over-ridden and rudely wounded,
Arrested as rebawdes with riotous knightes! low fellows
The Romans out of array removed at ones broke ranks
And rides away in a rout - for reddour it seemes! fear
To the Senatour Peter a sandesman is comen messenger
And said: "Sir, sekerly, your segges are surprised!" men; seized
Then ten thousand men he sembled at ones
And set sodenly on our segges by the salt strandes. suddenly; men
Then were Bretons abaist and greved a little, abashed
But yet the bannerettes bold and bachelers noble
Brekes that batail with brestes of steedes; Break; battalion
Sir Bois and his bold men much bale workes! pain
The Romanes redies them, arrayes them better, rally themselves
And all to-rushes our men with their reste horses, dash asunder; rested
Arrested of the richest of the Round Table,
Over-rides our rere-ward and grete rewth workes! rearguard; sorrow
Then the Bretons on the bente abides no lenger, field
But fled to the forest and the feld leved;
Sir Berille is borne down and Sir Bois taken,
The best of our bold men unblithely wounded;
But yet our stale on a strenghe stotais a little, company; stronghold pauses
All to-stonayed with the stokes of tho steren knightes, astonished; strokes
Made sorrow for their soveraign that so there was nomen, taken
Besought God of succour, send when him liked!
Then comes Sir Idrus, armed up at all rightes, completely
With five hundreth men upon fair steedes,
Fraines fast at our folk freshly thereafter Asks; eagerly
Yif their frendes were fer that on the feld founded. went
Then says Sir Gawain, "So me God help,
We have been chased today and chulled as hares, driven like hares
Rebuked with Romanes upon their rich steedes,
And we lurked under lee as lowrand wretches! shelter; lowering
I look never on my lord the dayes of my life May I never look on my lord the rest of my life
And we so litherly him help that him so well liked!" If we serve him so poorly, we who once pleased him so well
Then the Bretons brothely broches their steedes boldly; spur
And boldly in batail upon the bente rides;
All the fers men before frekly ascries, fierce; boldly cry
Ferkand in the forest to freshen themselven. Striding through
The Romanes then redyly arrayes them better,
On row on a rowm feld rightes their wepens, broad; adjust
By the rich river and rewles the pople; arrange the troops
And with reddour Sir Bois is in arrest holden. fear
Now they sembled unsaught by the salt stremes; fiercely attacked
Sadly these seker men settes their dintes,
With lovely launces on loft they lushen togederes, dash together
In Lorraine so lordly on lepand steedes.
There were gomes through-gird with grounden wepens pierced; sharpened
Grisly gaspand with grouchand lates. gasping; angry expressions
Grete lordes of Greece greved so high.
Swiftly with swordes they swappen thereafter, strike
Swappes down full sweperly sweltande knightes, swiftly dying
That all sweltes on swarth that they over-swingen. die; ground; cut down
So many sways in swogh, swoonand at ones - faint
Sir Gawain the gracious full graithly he workes;
The gretest he greetes with grisly woundes;
With Galuth he girdes down full galiard knightes, strikes; jolly
For gref of the grete lord so grimly he strikes!
He rides forth really and redyly thereafter royally
There this real renk was in arrest holden; To where Bois
He rives the rank steel, he rittes their brenyes, rips; hauberks
And reft them the rich man and rode to his strenghes. bereft; stronghold
The Senatour Peter then persewed him after, pursued
Through the press of the pople with his pris knightes,
Appertly for the prisoner proves his strenghes, Openly; strength
With prikers the proudest that to the press longes; riders; company
Wrothly on the wrong hand Sir Wawain he strikes, Angrily; left
With a wepen of war unwinly him hittes; unpleasantly
The breny on the back half he bristes in sonder; hauberk; breaks in two
And yet he brought forth Sir Bois for all their bale bernes! Even so, Sir Gawain rescued Sir Bois despite all their baleful knights
Then the Bretons boldly braggen their trumpes, blow; trumpets
And for bliss of Sir Bois was brought out of bondes,
Boldly in batail they bere down knightes;
With brandes of brown steel they brittened mailes; shining; armour
They steked steedes in stour with steelen wepens stuck; battle; armour
And all stewede with strenghe that stood them againes! struck down
Sir Idrus fitz Ewain then "Arthur!" ascries, cries
Assembles on the senatour with sixteen knightes Attacks
Of the sekerest men that to our side longed.
Sodenly in a soppe they set in at ones, small troop
Foines fast at the fore-breste with flamand swordes Strike; gleaming
And fightes fast at the front freshly thereafter, eagerly
Felles fele on the feld upon the ferrer side, many; further
Fey on the fair feld by tho fresh strandes. Dead
But Sir Idrus fitz Ewain aunters himselven risks
And enters in only and egerly strikes, alone
Seekes to the senatour and seses his bridle; seizes
Unsaughtly he said him these sittand wordes: Hostilely; fitting
"Yelde thee, sir, yapely, yif thou thy life yernes; Yield; quickly; yearn for
For giftes that thou give may thou yeme not thyselven, save
For, dredles, drech thou or drop any wiles, For, doubtless, if you delay or play any tricks
Thou shall die this day through dint of my handes!"
"I assent," quod the senatour, "so me Crist help. said
So that I be safe brought before the king selven; Providing that
Ransoun me reasonabely, as I may over-reche, reasonably; obtain
After my rentes in Rome may redyly further." tribute; readily furnish
Then answers Sir Idrus with austeren wordes:
"Thou shall have condicioun as the king likes, conditions
When thou comes to the kith there the court holdes,
In case his counsel be to keep thee no longer,
To be killed at his commaundement his knightes before."
They led him forth in the rout and latched off his weedes, took; armour
Left him with Lionel and Lowell his brother.
O-low in the land then, by the lithe strandes, Below; pleasant
Sir Lucius lege-men lost are forever!
The Senatour Peter is prisoner taken!
Of Perse and Port Jaffe full many pris knightes Persia; Jaffa (Joppa)
And much pople withal perished themselven!
For press of the passage they plunged at ones! Because of the crowd at the ford they leapt into the water together
There might men see Romans rewfully wounded,
Over-ridden with renkes of the Round Table.
In the raike of the furth they righten their brenyes On the path by the stream they adjust their hauberks
That ran all on red blood redyly all over;
They raght in the rere-ward full riotous knightes They placed the riotous (Roman) knights in the rear guard (as prisoners)
For ransoun of red gold and real steedes; noble
Redyly relayes and restes their horses, change horses
In route to the rich king they rode all at ones. company
A knight kaires before, and to the king telles: goes
"Sir, here comes thy messengeres with mirthes fro the mountes;
They have been matched today with men of the marches,
Foremagled in the morass with marvelous knightes! Hacked to pieces; marsh
We have foughten, in faith, by yon fresh strandes,
With the frekest folk that to thy fo longes; boldest; belongs
Fifty thousand on feld of fers men of armes
Within a furlong of way fey are beleved!
We have eschewed this check through chaunce of Our Lord escaped; defeat
Of tho chevalrous men that charged thy pople.
The chef chaunceller of Rome, a cheftain full noble,
Will ask the charter of pees, for charitee himselven;
And the Senatour Peter to prisoner is taken.
Of Perse and Port Jaffe paynimes ynow pagans
Comes prikand in the press with thy pris knightes, spurring; choice
With povertee in thy prisoun their paines to drie. suffer
I beseek you, sir, say what you likes,
Whether ye suffer them saught or soon delivered. grant; peace
Ye may have for the senatour sixty horse charged loaded
Of silver by Saterday full sekerly payed,
And for the chef chaunceller, the chevaler noble,
Charottes chockful charged with gold. Wagons; loaded
The remenaunt of the Romanes be in arrest holden, remnant
Til their rentes in Rome be rightwisly knowen. correctly
I beseek you, sir, certify yon lordes, make certain
Yif ye will send them over the se or keep them yourselven.
All your seker men, for sooth, sound are beleved,
Save Sir Ewain fitz Henry is in the side wounded."
"Crist be thanked," quod the king, "and his clere Moder, immaculate
That you comforted and helped by craft of Himselven.
Skillfully skomfiture He skiftes as Him likes. God skillfully handles trouble as He pleases
Is none so skathly may scape ne skew fro His handes; No one is so harmful that he can escape or slip away from His hands
Destainy and doughtiness of deedes of armes, Destiny
All is deemed and delt at Drightenes will! God's
I can thee thank for thy come; it comfortes us all! coming
Sir knight," says the conquerour, "so me Crist help,
I give thee for thy tithandes Toulouse the rich, tidings
The toll and the tachementes, tavernes and other, appurtenances
The town and the tenementes with towres so high,
That touches to the temporaltee, whiles my time lastes. All that concerns temporal life is yours while I live
But say to the senatour I send him these wordes:
There shall no silver him save but Ewain recover. unless
I had lever see him sink on the salt strandes rather
Than the segge were seke that is so sore wounded. man' sick
I shall dissever that sorte, so me Crist help, separate; company
And set them full solitary in sere kinges landes. various
Shall he never sound see his seinoures in Rome, lords
Ne sit in the assemblee in sight with his feres, comrades
For it comes to no king that conquerour is holden is becoming; considered
To comone with his captives for covetis of silver. bargain; covetousness
It come never of knighthed, know it if him like, knighthood
To carp of cosery when captives are taken; business
It ought to no prisoners to press no lordes belongs (i.e., is proper)
Ne come in presence of princes when parties are moved. business is discussed
Commaund yon constable, the castle that yemes, governs
That he be clenlich keeped and in close holden; confinement
He shall have maundement to-morn ere mid-day be rungen command
To what march they shall merk with maugree to lengen." go; spite
They convey this captive with clene men of armes excellent
And kend him to the constable, als the king biddes entrust; as
And senn to Arthur they ayer and egerly him touches go; tell
The answer of the Emperour, irous of deedes. angry
Then Sir Arthur, on erthe athelest of other noblest
At even, at his own borde avaunted his lordes: praised
"Me ought to honour them in erthe over all other thinges,
That thus in mine absence aunters themselven!
I shall them love whiles I live, so me Our Lord help
And give them landes full large where them best likes;
They shall not lose on this laik, yif me life happen, game; is granted
That thus are lamed for my love by these lithe strandes." wounded; pleasant
But in the clere dawing the dere king himselven dawn
Commaunded Sir Cador, with his dere knightes,
Sir Cleremus, Sir Cleremond, with clene men of armes,
Sir Clowdmur, Sir Cleges, to convey these lordes;
Sir Bois and Sir Berille, with banners displayed,
Sir Bawdwin, Sir Brian, and Sir Bedvere the rich,
Sir Raynald and Sir Richer, Rowlaunde childer,
To ride with the Romanes in route with their feres: comrades
"Prikes now privily to Paris the rich secretly
With Peter the prisoner and his pris knightes;
Beteche them the provost in presence of lordes Entrust them to
O pain and o peril that pendes there-to On the; appends
That they be wisely watched and in ward holden,
Warded of warantises with worshipful knightes; sworn guards
Wage him wight men and wonde for no silver; Hire; hesitate
I have warned that wye; beware yif him likes!"
Now bounes the Britons als the king biddes, prepare; as
Buskes their batailes, their banners displayes, Make ready their battalions, display their banners
Toward Chartres they chese, these chevalrous knightes, go
And in the Champain land full fair they escheved, succeeded
For the Emperour of might had ordained himselven
Sir Utolf and Sir Evander, two honourable kinges,
Erles of the Orient with austeren knightes, stern
Of the auntrousest men that to his host longed most adventurous
Sir Sextynour of Lyby and senatours many, Lybia
The king of Surry himself with Sarazens ynow; Syria
The senatour of Sutere with summes full huge Sutri
Was assigned to that court by sente of his peeres, assent
Trays toward Troys the tresoun to work, Goes; Troyes
To have betrapped with a trayn our traveland knightes, trick; travelling
That had perceived that Peter at Paris sholde leng
In prisoun with the provost his paines to drie. suffer
Forthy they busked them boun with banners displayed, made themselves ready
In the buscaile of his way, on blonkes full huge, bushes
Plantes them in the path with power arrayed
To pick up the prisoners fro our pris knightes.
Sir Cador of Cornwall commaundes his peeres,
Sir Clegis, Sir Cleremus, Sir Cleremond the noble:
"Here is the Close of Clime with cleves so high; cliffs
Lookes the countree be clere; the corners are large;
Discoveres now sekerly skrogges and other, Search; carefully shrubs
That no scathel in the skrogges scorn us hereafter; harmful person; shrubs
Look ye skift it so that us no scathe limpe, arrange it; harm befall
For no scomfiture in skulkery is scomfit ever." No attack from ambush is ever defeated
Now they hie to the holt, these harageous knightes, hasten; wood; violent
To herken of the high men to helpen these lordes, hear; noble
Findes them helmed hole and horsed on steedes, completely armed
Hovand on the high way by the holt hemmes. Waiting; wood's edges
With knightly countenaunce Sir Clegis himselven
Cries to the company and carpes these wordes:
"Is there any kidd knight, kaiser or other, renowned; peace officer
Will kithe for his kinges love craftes of armes? show
We are comen fro the king of this kith rich poweful country
That knowen is for conquerour, crownd in erthe;
His rich retinues here, all of the Round Table,
To ride with that real in rout when him likes.
We seek jousting of war, yif any will happen,
Of the jolliest men ajudged by lordes;
If here be any hathel man, erl or other, noble
That for the Emperour love wil aunter himselven."
And an erl then in anger answeres him soon:
"Me angers at Arthur and at his hathel bernes noble
That thus in his errour occupies these rewmes,
And outrayes the Emperour, his erthly lord! outrages
The array and the realtees of the Round Table royalty
Is with rancour rehersed in rewmes full many, told
Of our rentes of Rome such revel he holdes;
He shall give resoun full rathe, if us right happen, quickly
That many shall repent that in his rout rides,
For the reckless roy so rewles himselven!" Because; king
"A!" says Sir Clegis then, "so me Crist help!
I know by thy carping a counter thee seemes! talking; accountant
But be thou auditour or erl or Emperour thyselven, accountant
Upon Arthures behalf I answer thee soon,
The renk so real that rewles us all, man
The riotous men and the rich of the Round Table:
He has araised his account and redde all his rolles, drawn up; read; records
For he will give a reckoning that rew shall after, rue
That all the rich shall repent that to Rome longes powerful (ones)
Ere the rerage be requite of rentes that he claimes. debt be repaid
We crave of your courtaisy three courses of war,
And claimes of knighthood, take keep to yourselven!
Ye do but trayn us today with troufeland wordes; trick; trifling
Of such traveland men trechery me thinkes. travelling
Send out sadly certain knightes
Or say me sekerly sooth; forsake yif you likes." surrender
Then says the King of Surry, "Als save me Our Lord, Syria; As
Yif thou hufe all the day thou bes not delivered! delay; will be
But thou sekerly ensure with certain knightes
That thy cote and thy crest be knowen with lordes, coat of arms
Of armes of auncestry enterd with landes." endowed
"Sir King," says Sir Clegis, "full knightly thou askes;
I trow it be for cowardis thou carpes these wordes; believe; cowardice
Mine armes are of auncestry envered with lordes, acknowledged
And has in banner been borne senn Sir Brut time;
At the citee of Troy that time was enseged, besieged
Oft seen in assaut with certain kinghtes; assault
Forthy Brut brought us and all our bold elders Therefore
To Bretain the Brodder within ship-bordes." Great Britain; aboard ships
"Sir," says Sir Sextynour, "say what thee likes,
And we shall suffer thee, als us best seemes;
Look thy trumpes be trussed and troufle no lenger, See that you pack up your trumpets and trifle no longer
For though thou tarry all the day, thee tides no better, betides
For there shall never Roman that in my rout rides
Be with rebawdes rebuked, whiles I in world regne!" low fellows
Then Sir Clegis to the king a little enclined, bowed
Kaires to Sir Cador and knightly him telles:
"We have founden in yon firth, flourished with leves, forest
The flowr of the fairest folk that to thy fo longes,
Fifty thousand of folk of fers men of armes, fierce
That fair are fewtered on front under yon free bowes; prepared for battle
They are enbushed on blonkes, with banners displayed, in ambush
In yon beechen wood, upon the way sides. beech
They have the furth for-set all of the fair water, ford obstructed
That fayfully of force fight us behooves, truly
For thus us shapes today, shortly to tell; it befalls us
Whether we shoun or shew, shift as thee likes." Whether we shun (battle) or show (i.e., fight), decide as you please
"Nay," quod Cador, "so me Crist help,
It were shame that we sholde shoun for so little! shun (battle)
Sir Launcelot shall never laugh, that with the king lenges,
That I sholde let my way for lede upon erthe; give up; man
I shall be dede and undone ere I here dreche delay
For drede of any dogges-son in yon dim shawes!" dog's son; bushes
Sir Cador then knightly comfortes his pople,
And with corage keen he carpes these wordes: heart
"Think on the valiant prince that vesettes us ever endows
With landes and lordshippes where us best likes.
That has us ducherys delt and dubbed us knightes, dukedoms
Given us gersoms and gold and guerdons many, gifts; rewards
Grayhoundes and grete horse and alkine games, every sort of
That gaines til any gome that under God lives; profit any man
Think on rich renown of the Round Table,
And let it never be reft us for Roman in erthe; taken from
Foyne you not faintly, ne frithes no wepens, Duel; spare
But look ye fight faithfully, frekes yourselven;
I wolde be welled all quick and quartered in sonder, I would be boiled alive and cut in quarters
But I work my deed, whiles I in wrath lenge." Unless
Then this doughty duke dubbed his knightes:
Ioneke and Askanere, Aladuke and other,
That eieres were of Essex and all those este marches, heirs; eastern
Howell and Hardolf, happy in armes, fortunate
Sir Heryll and Sir Herygall, these harageous knightes. violent
Then the soveraign assigned certain lordes,
Sir Wawayne, Sir Uryelle, Sir Bedvere the rich,
Raynald and Richere, Rowlandes childer:
"Takes keep on this prince with your pris knightes, Take care of; i.e., Peter
And yif we in the stour withstanden the better, battle
Standes here in this stede and stirres no further; place
And yif the chaunce fall that we be over-charged,
Eschewes to some castle and cheves yourselven, Escape; save
Or ride to the rich king, if you roo happen, respite
And bid him come redyly to rescue his bernes."
And then the Bretons brothely enbraces their sheldes, boldly; strap on
Braides on bacenettes and buskes their launces; Draw on helmets
Thus he fittes his folk and to the feld rides, arranges
Five hundreth on a front fewtered at ones! readied spears
With trumpes they trine and trapped steedes, trumpets; go; caparisoned
With cornettes and clariouns and clergial notes; skillful
Shockes in with a shake and shuntes no longer, sudden movement; hold back
There shawes were sheen under the shire eves. Where shrubs were bright under the shining eaves of the forest
And then the Romanes rout removes a little,
Raikes with a rere-ward those real knightes; Goes; rearguard
So raply they ride there that all the rout ringes quickly
Of rives and rank steel and rich gold mailes. Of rivets and strong steel and rich gold chain mail
Then shot out of the shaw sheltrones many, bushes troops
With sharp wepens of war shootand at ones.
The King of Lyby before the avauntward he ledes, Libya; vanguard
And all his lele lege-men all on loud ascries. loyal liegemen
Then this cruel king castes in fewter, readies his spear
Caught him a coverd horse, and his course holdes, armoured
Beres to Sir Berille and brothely him hittes, stoutly
Through the golet and the gorger he hurtes him even. gullet; neckpiece
The gome and the grete horse at the ground ligges, man
And gretes graithely to God and gives Him the soul. cries
Thus is Berille the bold brought out of life,
And bides after the burial that him best likes. awaits the burial
And then Sir Cador of Cornwall is careful in herte, sorrowful
Because of his kinsman that thus is miscarried;
Umbeclappes the corse, and kisses him oft, Embraces
Gart keep him covert with his clere knightes. Commanded; protected
Then laughs the Lyby king, and all on loud meles: speaks
"Yon lord is lighted! Me likes the better! fallen
He shall not dere us today; the devil have his bones!" harm
"Yon king," says Sir Cador, "carpes full large,
Because he killed this keen - Crist have thy soul! - brave one
He shall have corn-bote, so me Crist help! penance
Ere I kaire of this coste, we shall encounter ones: place
So may the wind wheel turn, I quite him ere even, As does; repay
Soothly himselven or some of his feres!" companions
Then Sir Cador the keen knightly he workes,
Cries, "A Cornwall!" and castes in fewter, readies his spear
Girdes streke through the stour on a steed rich; Strikes straight; battle
Many steren men he stirred by strenghe of him one; stern; struck
When his spere was sprongen, he sped him full yerne, broken; eagerly
Swapped out with a sword that swiked him never, failed
Wrought wayes full wide, and wounded knightes,
Workes in his wayfare full workand sides, Makes; painful
And hewes of the hardiest halses in sonder, necks
That all blendes with blood there his blonk runnes! horse
So many bernes the bold brought out of life,
Tittes tyrauntes down and temes their saddles, Knocks; empties
And turnes out of the toil when him time thinkes!
Then the Lyby king cries full loud Libyan
On Sir Cador the keen with cruel wordes:
"Thou has worship won and wounded knightes!
Thou weenes for thy wightness the world is thine own! suppose; power
I shall wait at thine hand, wye, by my trewth; man; word
I have warned thee well, beware yif thee likes!"
With cornus and clariouns these new-made knightes horns
Lithes unto the cry and castes in fewter, Listen; ready their spears
Ferkes in on a front on feraunt steedes, Ride on iron-grey steeds at the front rank (of the Romans)
Felled at the first come fifty at ones;
Shot through the sheltrons and shivered launces, troops; split
Laid down in the lump lordly bernes. heap
And thus nobly our new men notes their strenghes! use
But new note is anon that noyes me sore: business; annoys
The King of Lyby has laght a steed that him liked, seized
And comes in lordly in liones of silver, with heraldic lions
Umbelappes the lump and lettes in sonder; Surrounds; group; drives
Many lede with his launce the life has he reved! taken
Thus he chases the childer of the kinges chamber,
And killes in the champaines chevalrous knightes; open fields
With a chasing spere he choppes down many! hunting spear
There was Sir Aladuke slain and Achinour wounded,
Sir Origge and Sir Ermyngall hewen all to peces! pieces
And there was Lewlin laght and Lewlins brother taken
With lordes of Lyby and led to their strenghes; stronghold
Ne had Sir Clegis comen and Clement the noble,
Our new men had gone to nought and many mo other. many others
Then Sir Cador the keen castes in fewter readies his spear
A cruel launce and a keen and to the king rides,
Hittes him high on the helm with his hard wepen,
That all the hot blood of him to his hand runnes!
The hethen harageous king upon the hethe ligges, heathen violent; heath
And of his hertly hurt heled he never. mortal; healed
Then Sir Cador the keen cries full loud:
"Thou has corn-bote, sir king, there God give thee sorrow; penance
Thou killed my cosin; my care is the less!
Kele thee now in the clay and comfort thyselven; Cool yourself
Thou scorned us long ere, with thy scornful wordes,
And now thou has cheved so, it is thine own scathe; fared; harm
Hold at thou hent has; it harmes but little, Keep what you have taken; it does little harm
For hething is home-hold, use it who-so will!" For scorn is internal, use it who will
The King of Surry then is sorrowful in herte, Syria
For sake of his soveraign that thus was surprised; taken
Sembled his Sarazens and senatours many;
Unsaughtly they set then upon our sere knightes. Hostilely; various
Sir Cador of Cornwall he counters them soon encounters
With his kidd company clenlich arrayed; famous; splendidly
In the front of the firth, as the way forthes, forest; goes forth
Fifty thousand of folk was felled at ones.
There was at the assemblee certain knightes
Sore wounded soon upon sere halves. every side
The sekerest Sarazenes that to that sorte longed most dependable; company
Behind the saddles were set six foot large; i.e., were six foot tall from the waist up
They sheerd in the sheltron shelded knightes; cut down; troop shielded
Shalkes they shot through shrinkand mailes; Men; plated
Through brenyes browden brestes they thirled; armour braided; pierced
Bracers burnisht bristes in sonder; Arm guards; burst
Blasons bloody and blonkes they hewen, Bloody shields
With brandes of brown steel, brankand steedes! shining; prancing
The Bretons brothely brittenes so many quickly destroy
The bente and the brode feld all on blood runnes! earth
By then Sir Kayous the keen a capitain has wonnen; captured
Sir Clegis clinges in and clekes another; rushes; clutches
The Capitain of Cordewa, under the king selven, Cordova
That was key of the kith of all that coste rich country
Utolf and Evander Ioneke had nommen captured
With the Erl of Afrike and other grete lordes. Africa
The King of Surry the keen to Sir Cador is yelden, surrendered
The Seneschal of Sutere to Sagramour himselven. Sutri
When the chevalry saw their cheftaines were nomen, taken
To a chef forest they chosen their wayes, go
And feeled them so faint they fell in the greves, groves
In the feren of the firth for ferd of our pople. ferns; forest; fear
There might men see the rich ride in the shawes shrub
To rip up the Romanes rudlich wounded, rudely
Shoutes after men harageous knightes, violent
By hundrethes they hewed down by the holt eves! edge of the wood
Thus our chevalrous men chases the pople;
To a castel they escheved the few that eschaped. achieved (i.e., reached); escaped
Then relies the renkes of the Round Table rally
For to riot the wood there the duke restes; ride through
Ransackes the rindes all, raght up their feres, woods; took; companions
That in the fighting before fey were beleved. left
Sir Cador gart charre them and cover them fair, Sir Cador commanded that they be put in wagons and covered with fair cloths
Carried them to the king with his best knightes,
And passes unto Paris with prisoners himselven,
Betook them the provost, princes and other, Entrusted them to
Tas a sope in the towr and tarries no longer Takes; meal
But turnes tite to the king and him with tonge telles: quickly; tongue
"Sir," says Sir Cador, "a case is befallen;
We have countered today in yon coste rich encountered; coast
With kinges and kaiseres cruel and noble,
And knightes and keen men clenlich arrayed!
They had at yon forest for-set us the wayes, blockaded
At the furth in the firth with fers men of armes; ford; forest
There fought we in faith and foined with speres duelled
On feld with thy fomen and felled them on live; alive (i.e., killed them)
The King of Lyby is laid and in the feld leved, laid low
And many of his lege-men that yore to him longed; formerly
Other lordes are laght of uncouthe ledes; taken; foreign countries
We have led them at lenge, to live whiles thee likes. to remain here
Sir Utolf and Sir Evander, these honourable knightes,
By an aunter of armes Ioneke has nomen, taken
With erles of Orient and austeren knightes,
Of auncestry the best men that to the host longed;
The Senatour Carous is caught with a knight,
The Capitain of Cornette that cruel is holden, Corneto
The Seneschal of Sutere, unsaught with these other, Sutri; distressed
The King of Surry himselven and Sarazenes ynow.
But fey of ours in the feld are fourteen knightes.
I will not feyne ne forbere but faithfully tellen: hold back; delay
Sir Berille is one, a bannerette noble,
Was killed at the first come with a king rich;
Sir Aladuke of Towell with his tender knightes,
Among the Turkes was tint and in time founden; lost; found (dead)
Good Sir Mawrelle of Mawnces and Mawrene his brother,
Sir Meneduke of Mentoche with marvelous knightes."
Then the worthy king writhes and weeped with his eyen,
Carpes to his cosin Sir Cador these wordes:
"Sir Cador, thy corage confoundes us all! courage
Cowardly thou castes out all my best knightes!
To put men in peril, it is no pris holden, excellence
But the parties were purveyed and power arrayed; prepared
When thou were stedde on a strenghe thou sholde have with-stonden, When you were placed in a stronghole, you should have endured
But yif ye wolde all my steren stroy for the nones!" strong men destroy
"Sir," says Sir Cador, "ye know well yourselven;
Ye are king in this kith; carp what you likes!
Shall never berne upbraid me that to thy borde longes, table
That I sholde blinn for their boste thy bidding to work! cease; command
When any stertes to stale, stuff them the better, sets out; company; supply
Or they will be stonayed and stroyed in yon strait landes. astonished; destroyed
I did my deligence today - I do me on lordes - I did my duty today - I put myself at the judgement of lords
And in daunger of dede for diverse knightes, death
I have no grace to thy gree but such grete wordes; reward
Yif I heven my herte, my hap is no better." speak my mind; fortune
Though Sir Arthur was angered, he answers fair:
"Thou has doughtily done, Sir Duke, with thy handes,
And has done thy dever with my dere knightes; duty
Forthy thou art deemed with dukes and erles
For one of the doughtiest that dubbed was ever!
There is none ischew of us on this erthe sprongen; issue (child); sprung
Thou art apparent to be eier, or one of thy childer; heir
Thou art my sister son; forsake shall I never!" sister's
Then gart he in his owen tent a table be set, commanded; own
And tryed in with trumpes traveled bernes, invited; trumpets exhausted
Served them solemnly with selcouthe metes, rare foods
Swithe seemly in sight with silveren dishes. Very
When the senatours herde say that it so happened, heard
They said to the Emperour: "Thy segges are surprised! warriors; taken
Sir Arthur, thine enmy, has outrayed thy lordes outraged
That rode for the rescue of yon rich knightes!
Thou dos but tinnes thy time and tourmentes thy pople; do; lose; torment
Thou art betrayed of thy men that most thou on traisted. by; trusted
That shall turn thee to teen and torfer forever!" pain; sorrow
Then the Emperour irous was, angerd at his herte irate
For our valiant bernes such prowesh had wonnen. prowess
With king and with kaiser to counsel they wend,
Soveraignes of Sarazens and senatours many.
Thus he sembles full soon certain lordes,
And in the assemblee then he says them these wordes: assembly
"My herte soothly is set, assent if you likes,
To seek into Sessoine with my seker knightes, Soissons
To fight with my fomen, if fortune me happen,
Yif I may find the freke within the four halves; sides
Or enter into Auguste aunters to seek, Autun (French province)
And bide with my bold men within the burg rich,
Rest us and revel and riot ourselven,
Lende there in delite in lordshippes ynow, Remain; delight
To Sir Leo be comen with all his lele knightes, Until; loyal
With lordes of Lumbardy to let him the wayes." hinder
But our wise king is wary to waiten his renkes, look out for
And wisely by the woodes voides his host; withdraws
Gart felshen his fires flamand full high, Commands that his fires be fed so that they flame very high
Trussen full traistely and treunt there-after. And (commands them) to pack up securely and march away thereafter
Sithen into Sessoine he sought at the gainest, Soissons; went; quickest
And at the sours of the sun disseveres his knightes, rising; separates
For-set them the citee upon sere halves, Blockaded; all sides
Sodenly on eche halfe, with seven grete stales, Suddenly; each side; troops
Only in the vale a vaweward enbushes. vanguard lies in ambush
Sir Valiant of Wales with valiant knightes
Before the kinges visage made such avowes
To vanquish by victory the Viscount of Rome;
Forthy the king charges him, what chaunce so befall, appoints
Cheftain of the check with chevalrous knightes, attack
And sithen meles with mouth that he most traistes; to those that; trusts
Demenes the middilward menskfully himselven, Leads; middle guard
Fittes his footmen als him fair thinkes; Arranges
On front in the fore-breste the flowr of his knightes; first rank
His archers on either half he ordained there-after side
To shake in a sheltron to shoot when them likes;
He arrayed in the rereward full real knightes
With renkes renowned of the Round Table,
Sir Raynald, Sir Richere that rade was never, fearful
The rich Duke of Rouen with riders ynow;
Sir Kayous, Sir Clegis, and clene men of armes, Sir Kayous, Sir Clegis, and good men of arms
The king castes to keep by tho clere strandes; The king decides should keep watch by those shining strands
Sir Lot and Sir Launcelot, these lordly knightes
Shall lenge on his left hand with legiones ynow,
To move in the morn-while, if the mist happen; morning
Sir Cador of Cornwall, and his keen knightes,
To keep at the karfuke, to close in thir other; watch; crossroads; these
He plantes in such places princes and erles
That no power sholde pass by no privee wayes. secret
But the Emperour anon with honourable knightes
And erles enters the vale, aunters to seek,
And findes Sir Arthur with hostes arrayed,
And at his in-come, to eeken his sorrow, entry; add to
Our burlich bold king upon the bente hoves, strong; plain rides
With his batail on-brode and banners displayed. battalions spread out
He had the citee for-set upon sere halves, besieged; many sides
Both the cleves and the cliffes with clene men of armes, gullies
The moss and the morass with mountes so high bogs
With grete multitude of men to mar him in the wayes. harm
When Sir Lucius sees, he says to his lordes:
"This traitour has treunt this tresoun to work! marched here; treason
He has the citee for-set upon sere halves, blockaded
All the cleves and the cliffes with clene men of armes! gullies
Here is no way, iwis, ne no wit else, advice
But fight with our fomen, for flee may we never!"
Then this rich man rathe arrayes his bernes, swiftly
Rewled his Romans and real knightes;
Buskes in the avauntward the Viscount of Rome; vanguard
Fro Viterbo to Venice these valiant knightes
Dresses up dredfully the dragon of gold, Raise
With egles all over enamelled of sable; eagles; adorned
Drawen dreghly the wine and drinken there-after, solemnly
Dukes and douspeeres, dubbed knightes;
For dauncesing of Dutch-men and dinning of pipes, Germans; sounding
All dinned for din that in the dale hoved. resounded; noise; stood
And then Sir Lucius on loud said lordlich wordes:
"Think on the much renown of your rich faders,
And the riotours of Rome that regned with lordes, ravagers
And the renkes over-ran, all that regned in erthe,
Ecroched all Cristendom by craftes of armes; Invaded
In everich a viage the victory was holden each expedition
Inset all the Sarazenes within seven winter, Overcame
The part from Port Jaffe to Paradise gates! Jaffa
Though a rewm be rebel, we reck it but little; reckon
It is resoun and right the renk be restrained!
Do dress we therefore, and bide we no longer, Let us prepare ourselves
For dredles, withouten doubt, the day shall be oures!" surely