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Merlin, a Middle-English metrical version of a French romance

by Herry Lovelich ... (AB. 1450 A.D.), edited from the unique ms. 80 in Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, with an introduction, notes, and glossaries by Dr. Ernst A. Kock

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collapse sectionIX. 
[Chapter IX]
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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[Chapter IX]

Now Scheweth Forthere this Storye
that from Arthewr the messengeris gonnen hye,
and stuffeden thanne every garnesown,
every good cyte, and every town,
with arblasteris and seriawntis also;
thus merlynes comandement dyde they tho.
For he knew alle tho that trewe were,
lik as this Storye Reporteth here,
For merlyne knew ful wel that compeyne,
that be hem Treson scholde neuere non be.
and whanne they hadden thus j-don,
thanne to hem cam merlyne anon,

246

and seide they hadden ryht wel j-do.
thanne tolden they to merlyne vnto
how that be the weye assaylled they were,
and hou of vij knyhtes they deliuered hem there,
ek with the two kynges j-spoken also,
and how here londys they hadde deliuered tho
To tweyne barouns of that contre,
and the tokene of the ryng also tolden hee.
Anon seide merlyne to kyng Arthewr thanne:
“Goth, ordeyne ȝow to meten these worthy menne,
For thin owne men ful Syker they be,
and Born of hygh lynage, ful Sykerle,
and ek here wyves Jn that same wyse
hyghe Born as ony man kan devyse.”
thanne answeryd the kyng to merlyne ageyne:
“As thou me redest, j wyl don, certeyne.”
thanne quod merlyne jn alle haste:
“that the weyes ben clensid ful faste,
and þerto alle the maidenis that þou miht gete
hem to meten dawnsing jn that strete,
& thus with songe & dawnsyng with-owten þe town
hym so to meten in merie processiown,
and thanne ȝoure-self with alle ȝoure chevalrye
ek hem to meten ful worschepfullye.”
“Now, goode merlin,” quod Artheur the kyng,
“whanne mai j be seker of here comeng?”
“a sondai next comeng, er þe owr of Tyerce,
hidyr scholen thei comen bothe heyl & ferce.”
whanne that kyng Arthewr vndirstood al this,
thanne aftir merlines wil he wrowhte, j-wys,
and merline him tawhte what he scholde do,
and hou to the kynge he scholde speken vnto,
that jn non wise jnterupt scholde he not ben
Jn non thing that he Scholde don other sen.
Vppon this him ordeyned Artheur the kyng
aȝens these kynges to gon encowntryng.

247

thus abyden they stille til vppon the sonday.
thanne myht me sen men there jn good aray:
the kyng Artheur & al his Baronye,
therchebisschope of dover with his clergye,
thus with processioun they hem metten, sykerle.
thanne gret kysseng & joye there men myhten se.
thus toward the cyte passeden they there,
where as dawnsyng many maidenis were
with many karoles & ryht merye song,
at that tyme was these maidenis among.
and thus thorugh the cyte thei gonne to ride
To the grete towr that ilke tyde.
Anon as these kynges to þe paleis weren browht,
grete jewelis and ȝiftis sone weren vpe sowht
and to the kinges presentyd there;
also cowrseris, palfreyes, & with destrere,
ek robes, and armures bothe goode & riche
To these kynges he ȝaf and to oþer j-lyche.
and al this wrowht he be merlines cownsaille,
For aftyr hit dede hym gret availle.
So that gret love he gat him there
Of Riche and powre thanne Every-Where,
and of hem that neuere hym sye
Toforn tyme ne aftyr with here eye.
Ful mochel merveylleden the peple tho
whens that alle tho jewelis comen fro,
and jn so schort time hit was j-don,
bothe to hye and to lowe þere riht anon.
So that eche man jn his degre
kyng Artheuris man swor forto be,
and for nothing hym Neuere to faylle
jn pes, in werre, nethir jn bataille.
Whanne that these kynges jn þe cite were,
daunsyng of ladies Syen thei there,
Torneyeng of Bacheleris ȝonge,
that alday lasted jnto evensonge.
more ouer alle the stretis of the cyte

248

with clothis of Sylk weren hanged, sikerle.
and bothe fayr wedyr and cler hyt was,
For nethyr rein ne hayl þat day þere nas.
and alle the stretys with lampes hanged were,
and euerich lampe ful of Bawm was there,
whiche that brenden so Swetely,
that al the cyte þere-offen savourede, trewly,
So that the swete odowr smellyd myhte han be
half a myle thanne, ful certeinle.
So that the barouns forth wenten in fere
To the chyf mynstre anon ryht there.
there met weren they with processioun,
with cros, Baneris, and gomfanoun.
Therchebisschope the masse sang, veramente,
and aftyr masse to paleys they wente,
the thre kynges al jn Fere
with alle the baronage þat was there,
where as manye worthy viandes weren dyht
þerwith the kynges to serven, as hit was ryht.
and alle thre kynges to-gederis they sete,
with hem therchebisschope, as hit was mete;
at on table alle J-Served they were
with rial deyntes whiche weren there.
thanne weren there two ȝonge knyhtes
that thyke day the halle serveden outrihtes
with sire kay, sire Vlphin, and sire Bretel;
that day they deden wondirly wel.
the names of thes knyhtes so ȝonge
J schal ȝow declaren Jn Englysch tonge.
the ton hyhte Lucans the Botelers,
the tothir sire Gyrfles, a knyht ful fers.
thus with these knyhtes the halle served was
with gret deyntes thike day jn that plas.
Aftyr noon was vpe set the qwyntyn,
the ȝonge knyhtes þere justed wel and fyn,
and Boordeieden there alle theke day,
and aftyrward to torneyeng, with-owten nay.

249

So weren they devyded on partyes tweyne,
on eche side vij hundred, jn certeingne,
of whyche of the rem of Baynoic, vtterlye,
thre hundred weren in that compenye.
and whanne these parties assembled were,
alle thre kynges weren they there.
and mochel of the clergye þere was also,
and of astronomers that jn þe rewm was tho.
ȝit vndir hem alle cowden they not telle
on whiche syde the better befelle,
Sauf only merlyne he cowde declare,
whiche side the bettere scholde han thare.
Thus the thre Kynges And therchebysschope tho
at Fenestris and wyndowes lokeden tho,
and hou to-gederys they gonnen torneye,
ek hou that here hors gonnen for to neye,
and hou that the erthe hyt denede also,
So faste to torneyeng gonn they to go.
Thanne thus whiles they torneyed there,
Jnto a renge aperyd thanne there
Sire Gyrfleȝ, the sone of cardwelle,
vppon a stede that was stowt & felle;
jnto that renge he rod ful faste.
& aȝens hym cam on atte laste:
a knyht of Baynoic, that hyht Ladmas,
with sire Gyrfles mette jn that plas;
and assone as they to-gederis mette,
Grete strokes on ech other there sette;
with sperys and scheldes toforn here breest
To-gedires they mettyn at here Treest.
and so sore to-gederis they ronnen there,
that ech vppon other barst his spere,
For worthy knyhtes they weren bothe two,
and eche be hym-self desirede also:
the toon desired worschepe, trewelye,
The toþer richesse and Seygnourye.
So sore they torneyeden togederis thanne,

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that hem thowhte the brayn was owt of h[er]e panne,
and ek the eyen owt of here hed,
So sore they torneyed jn that sted.
and ech of hem to erthe oþer there bar,
that jn Swowneng stille they lyen thar.
So that the peple wenden, þat stoden abowte,
that bothe hadden ben ded, with-owten dowte.
For so crwel a fyht Syen they neuere ere
be-twixen two men that knyhtes were.
Thussone to-broken the renges anon;
to rescwen these knyhtes wenten they ful son.
there on partye with anothyr to-gederis gonne mete,
that on eyther partye lay jn the strete.
ek so sore to-gederis metten they there,
that eche man on othyr brak his spere.
whanne that here sperys to-broken were,
anon here swerdis they pulden owt there.
So that there a melle began ful strong,
betwixen tho knyhtes hem among.
ȝyt was there thanne anothyr knyht,
that ful merveillously bar hym in fyht,
that Lucans le boteler was his name,
cosin germayn to Gyrfles, a man of fame.
This Lucans so on gan taken there,
that bothe hors and knyhtes he gan to fere.
For so harde he took on thanne,
that his strok ne dorsten abyden non manne.
he rente the helmes of hedis adown,
here scheldes caste ouer here arsown,
and swiche maistryes werken þere he began,
that of hym merveillede many a man.
and so deden these kynges thre,
and of hym merveilleden jn many degre.
Longe lasted the torneyeng that Tyde
at Londone faste by temses syde.
and ȝit knew non man the bettyr partye,

251

ho þe victorye scholde hauen, sykyrlye.
For so many goode men there were
here myht to preven on bothe sides þere.
whanne Gyrfles and his felawe vpe weren sette
and on horsbak þere, with-owten lette,
Whanne they Aventyd Weren Jn that plas,
aȝen they torneyeden with-jnne litel spas.
thanne sire Gyrfles and sire lwcans jn Fere
Ful grete maystryes begonnen they there,
and of hem of Baynoic goten they lond,
and from here place remeved hem, j vndirstond.
whanne that this they of Baynoyc Sye,
that here Feleschepe gonnen so forto flye,
they comen to rescwen hem with alle here myht,
that toforn not ne hadden comen jn fyht.
thanne comen of Arthewris thre hundred knyhtes
aȝens hem of Baynoyc þere anon ryhtes.
and thus they entermellyd bothe jn fere,
tyl that merveillous werkyng maden they there;
for so sore to-gederis gonnen they ryde,
that here speris to-borsten jn that tyde.
and whanne here speres toborsten were,
anon eche man his swerd drowh owt þere.
and þere began ful gret Tornement
of tho worthy knyhtes, verament.
For a man the sothe myhte knowe,
the worthynesse of knyhtes al be rowe,
and ek of ȝonge knyhtes that þere were,
that lerned to torneyen with scheld and spere.
but of alle othere jn that plas
Sire Gyrfleȝ & Sire lwcans gonne hem pas.
Whanne hyt was comen to the owr of noon,
Syre kay with xvj felawes there cam anon,
that ȝit non strok j-smeten they hadde;
thussone jnto the reng þere he hem ladde.
So that þe ferste they gonne there mete,
down they hem boren a-myd the strete.
So sore they justed vppon that grownde,
that here speris to-borsten þat ylke stownde.

252

and whanne here speris to-broken were,
anon here swerdis they pulden owt there.
that so sore they fyhten begonne,
and fowhten, whiles they hadden ony sonne,
that sire kay on his partye hadde the gre,
on þe tother side Gyrfleȝ & lwcans, sykerle.
thanne wenten these knyhtes tho jn fere
Forto aventen hem owt of þe place there.
thanne to that resorted þere anon ryht
of Baynoyc Lordis of ryht gret myht,
hos names j schal ȝow telle,
and ȝe wylen herkene to my spelle.
There was Vsmerawnt of þe Roche, ful prest in age,
and Gawnes de bloy, & Vryens of þe forest savage,
also Belyas Amorews of maydyn castel,
and Flawndres le Blans, and Graciens the Lel,
and Blyes de la kasse, and Bliobens of desert
with melyadus þe bloys & madyeus of crispes, apert,
and placydas the gays with hem, trewelye;
alle these to torneyeng comen jn compenye.
whanne this fresch peple cam to tornement,
There they so torneyeden, verament,
So that non man dorste hem there abyde;
So sore they torneyeden jn that tyde.
and whanne Sire kay be-held al this,
that here lond his felawes hadden lost, j-wys,
and there aventyng as he was
& with hym his felawes jn that plas
behelden hem of Baynoyc lond
putten his felawes to þe wers, j vndirstond,
Thussone þere hasted hym thanne syre kay
And His Felyschepe With Hym, Jn Fay,
and prekeden jnto the grettest pres
that he myhte fynden, with-owten les,
and with hym his feleschepe in compenye.
there gonnen they sore to torneyen, trewelye,
So that but a lytel whyle hadden they ben there,
that they of Baynoyc Scomfyt they were.

253

thus wrowht Sire kay jn that Turnement,
that his Name declared was, verament,
as this storye here-after schal declare,
hos that there-aftyr wil loken thare.
Syre kay, that of his modyr neuere norsched was,
but of anothyr womman jn dyvers plas,
a tach of his norse there he cawhte,
that of hym geten myhte hyt be nowhte.
ȝit his modyr a worthy lady was,
and moche worschepe cowde jn every plas,
and þerto sche was ful of Bownte
and ful of gentrye in eche degre.
but this Sire kay a custom hadde,
that he ne rowhte to speken good oþer badde.
ȝyt he ne spak hit for non velonye,
but moche þat he seide was but folye.
For often-tymes they that herd hym speke,
on lawgheng they musten sone owt breke
ek for disport and his Folye,
that jn his speche they fownden, trewelye.
And þerto aȝenward ȝit was he
the beste Felawe that myhte be.
whanne sire kay cam to tornement,
as to-forn time han ȝe herd present,
and Sire Ladmas, that ful wel hadde J-do
vppon kyng arthewrs men ȝit thedirto,
and Sawh his Felawes put to the flyht,
whiche so him grevede anon þere ryht—
whanne that Sire kay al this beheld,
that his Felawes forsaken hadde þe feeld,
Ful Sorweful he was thanne jn his herte,
and Forth on horsbak he gan to sterte
To Sire Ladmas jn that pres,
and of his Torneyeng he made him ses,
and made him to meven owt of þat place,
there as to-forn tyme ful bold he wace,
and so sore smot hym jn the Scheld,

254

that bothe hors and man fyl jn the feld;
and at þe same strok there also
Sire Graciens trebens to erthe gan go.
So with that cowrs he brak his spere,
and anon his swerd he drowh owt there,
and rescwed his felawes echon.
thussone his name discried was anon,
how that alle his felawes socowrede he,
that Scomfyt they wenden forto han be.
thanne torneden they alle aȝen jn fere,
and of al that day ne dyden not so wel þere.
These jostes beheld wel Artheur þe kyng,
kyng Ban and kyng Boors, with-owten lesyng,
and behelden the chevalrye of syre kay,
that he there dyde that ylke day,
and seiden he was a worthy knyht,
vayllaunt & vysable jn every fyht.
and whanne Lwcans the Botelers Sawgh kay so do,
hym forto helpe hym nede not to go.
Thanne took He His Hors With His spores Anon,
and jnto the grettest pres he gan to gon,
and smot Syre Bloys so sore there,
that al on peces to-barst his spere,
and to the grownde him bar down ryht,
and his swerd owt drowgh þere forto fyht.
thanne began þere gret Torneyenge
here felawes to socowr forto brynge.
Thanne cam Sire Gyrfleȝ, armed ful bryht,
as faste prekinge as that he myht,
and Sawgh there Blyobers & his felawes tweye,
that abowten Sire kay weren, trewelye.
and with here swerdes on hym they leyden faste,
that wondyr hit was he myhte hit laste,
For grete nede of socour there hadde he,
For he was but on aȝens hem thre,
and thike thre þe best men were
of Baynoykes meyne þat was there.

255

thanne mette he there with placydes,
and his helm to-barst jn that pres.
Aftyr Rod he to Blyobers,
that thike tyme was bothe stordy & fers,
and smot evene a-myddes þe scheld,
that he there fyl doun jn the feld,
and drowh owt his swerd anon thanne,
and smot sire placydes so on þe panne,
So that sore astoned þere he was,
and from his hors fyl down jn that plas.
Thanne what tyme Syre kay beheld al this,
vp ful sone he hym dressed, j-wys,
and beheld sire Gyrfleȝ, his socourer,
and thowhte that kyndenesse to qwyten owher.
So from that day evere aftyr-warde
they loveden to-gederis ful strong & harde;
Al the whyle they leveden here,
myht non man departin hit fer ne nere.
Whanne S[i]re Gyrfles Sire kay rescwed hadde,
and thens as he lay thanne forth hym ladde,
thanne aspyde Sire kay on þat hyht ȝeroas,
that hym sore anoyede jn that plas.
anon his Swerd Sire kay owt drowghe,
and, schortly to seyne, there hym he slowghe.
thanne be-gan there gret noyse & cry
on the tothyr partye there, certeinly.
thanne comen they thedyr fast prekynge,
and ek on sire kayes syde, with-owten lesinge.
So that gret melle there began,
that hurt and anoyed was many a man,
er alle fyve felawes rescwed were,
owthyr er to-gederis they mo[w]n semblen there.
but whanne to-gederis they weren alle fyve,
wel mochel deseyse they wrowhte ful blyve.
and ȝif ȝe wil knowen whiche fyve they be,
J schal ȝou here declaren, ful sekerle:
Ferst Vlphyn, Bretel, and Syre kay þere,

256

Sire Gyrfleȝ, and Sire lwcans þe botelere.
and whom so evere þese fyve metten jn place,
to therthe they wente, ther nas non oþer grace,
For so wel these Fyve gonnen hem be-stere,
merveylleng to alle tho that there were.
and how they myhte so longe endure,
These thre kynges merveilleden, j ȝow Ensure.
So that thus ther Was Ful strong melle
on bothe partyes there thanne, Sykerle.
and gret poyntes of armes þere was j-do,
and tyl hyt was even, hyt lasted tho.
thanne comen these thre kynges adown
this Torneye to breken al and som.
So that they comen jn-to the place
there as this Torneyeng al day was,
and helden bothe partyes parygal.
Anon thanne comen they jn with-al,
For they cowde not wel declare
on whiche partye the gre schold fare.
and there departed the Torneye anon,
So that eche knyht to his jn hom gan gon.
and the kynges wenten forth to evensong,
and aftyr to here Soper gonne they fong.
and whanne the Soper was j-do,
of this tornement thanne spoken they tho,
and ho that best bar him thar,
and whiche of armes þat wysest war.
thanne anon hem answerede there kyng Ban,
& seide: “xvj knyhtes j have here than
that jn this Torneyeng bettere han doon
thanne alle the remnaunt everichon,
and on this partye heyhte there were,
For stronge & harde they peyned hem here,
and many merveillous armes dyden they,
mo thanne at this tyme j kan wryte oþer sey.”
so vppon this long weren they jn talkyng,
and þanne atte laste for the gre ȝeveng.
So that the los was ȝoven, and the prys,

257

To Sire kay steward aftyr here devys,
To sire lucans the botelereȝ, and to Sire Gyrfleȝ,
To these thre for þe beste, wit[h]-owten les.
Thanne whanne the tables j-drawen were,
jnto a chambre the kynges wenten there,
Therchebisschope and Antron ek also,
whiche chambre on þe rever stood tho.
and with hem these two knyhtes wente,
Sire Vlphyn and sire Bretel, veramente.
thanne thus of manye thinges they spooke,
and atte laste kyng Artheur gan loke,
and aspyde these two knyhtes with-jnne a whyle.
thanne anon kyng artheur be-gan to smyle,
whanne he bethowhte hym vppon the jorne,
as merlyne hadde hym told, ful Sykerle,
whanne that on his message þey wenten, apert,
hou that they thanne spedden jn desert,
& hou from vij knyhtes deliuered they were.
he preyde hem to þe kynges to tellen hit þere.
and thanne the kynges preyden hem also
The sothe hem to telle—“er that ȝe go.”
Whanne they herden the kynges preiden so faste,
Bretel on sire Vlphyn lowgh atte laste.
thanne answerid sire Bretel to the kyng:
“what nedith ȝow vs to axen of swich a thing,
whanne that ȝe knowen hyt as wel as we,
as merlyne ȝow hath told, ful certeinle,
So that hyt were not but wordis jn veyn
of swiche thinges to speken, certeyn?”
than answerede anon kyng Ban:
“now, leve sires, ho þere-of ȝou telle kan,
that ȝoure kyng js therto thus preve?”
“ȝis, Sire kyng, quod sire Bretel, sykirle,
The wysest man of al this Lond

258

Other of Al crystyndon, J Vndyrstonde.”
“Now where Js he?” quod the kyng Ban tho,
“and what his name, telle thou me also.”
“Syre, hit is merlyne,” quod Sire Bretel thanne,
“that we holden ryht a wys manne,
and jn my chambre he lyth to reste.
he is a man of cownseyl of þe beste,
For be his cownseyl we comen for ȝow,
wheche we hopen schal ben for ȝoure prow.”
Thanne spak kyng ban anon thanne
To kyng Arthewr there of this manne:
“Now, good Syre, lete ȝe vs now hym se,
For gret lust therto we han, parde,
For merveilles that we han herd of seye
of that man jn manye a weye.”
kyng Arthewr seide, with ryht good wylle
That anon he scholde comen hem vntylle.
Anon thanne sente he For Sire vlphyn,
and preyde hym gon to seken after merlyn.
And as Sire Vlphyn gan forth to gon,
ryht there with merlyne he mette anon.
thanne seide Sire Vlphyn: “welcome ȝe be;
the kyng wolde gladliche speken with þe.”
“j come ryht anon,” quod merlyne tho,
“For j ne rekke toforn whom þat j go.”
Thus entrede merlyne jnto that pres,
and many thinges seide, that was non les,
bothen of his konnenge and of his lyf,
there he hem tolde, with-owten stryf.
thanne hadde kyng Ban a clerk there,
a wyser man ther nas nowhere,
and aposyd merlyne of many a thyng;
his name was Guinebant, with-owten lesyng.
And what evere of merlyne he gan to freyne,
merlyne hym answerede anon, certeine,
For merlyne knew neuere non maner of man,
that hym so aposede as he dyde than.
And evere these kynges stodyn ful stylle,

259

tyl bothe clerkes hadden seid here wylle,
and tyl the dispetesoun was al j-do
er that ony of hem wolde thennes go.
So that there aqweyntawnce they took,
and neuere there-aftyr hit forsook.
Thanne whanne al this was thus j-don,
merlyne to these two kynges gan to gon,
and seide: “ȝe ben lordis bothe goode & trewe;
my Lord kyng Arthewr hath sweche to fewe.
beholdeth now my lord and kyng, ful sikerle,
For he ȝoure Sovereyn and lord moste be,
and of hym ȝoure rem to holden vnder gage,
and him to don bothe Fewte & homage,
and he schal ȝoure Socowr and helpe be
aȝens alle ȝoure enemyes, Sykyrle.”
“Now, merlyne, tell vs, we preyen the,
jn what maner he was chosen kyng to be,
and ȝif that Antron wyste, verraylly,
kyng vter pendragones sone he were, trewely.”
“Ȝe, Sires,” quod merlyne, “with-owten lesyng,
that was þe cawse he is chosen kyng.
and of his Elecciown, with-owten dwere,
they konnen beren witnesse þat ben here,
bothe therchebisschope & vlphyn also;
bothe konne they seyn how hyt gan go.”
“merlyne,” quod the kyng thanne,
“We holden the for a ful trewe manne;
þerfore we wolden preyen the for thi lordis sake
of on thyng vs sewr forto make;
And For A trewe man We Knowen the, sekyrlye,
and for non erthely good thou wylt not lye.”
“A,” quod merlyne, “ȝe wolden that j swore
that hit were trewe þat j tolde ȝow to-fore.”
thanne gonnen these kynges to lawghen anon:
Swyche on knewe they neuere but hym alon.

260

Thanne seide merlyne to hem ageyn:
“what ȝe so me axen, j schal tellen ȝow, pleyn.”
So that respyt they tooken that nyht,
Tyl vppon the morwen hit was day lyht.
thus they departyd here cownseyl thanne,
and to bedde they wenten every manne.
thanne jnto on chambre wente that meyne:
thre kynges, þe bisschope, Guinebant, & merlin in compeyne;
For departen wolden they jn non weye,
and namly þis clerk Guinebant & merlyne, jn feye.
For a gret clerk held hym this merlyne,
as aftyr this storye reporteth wel and fyn.