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