The Story of England by Robert Manning of Brunne, A.D. 1338. Edited from mss. at Lambeth Palace and the Inner Temple, by Frederick J. Furnivall |
Rex misit Androchio pro Misericordia & Auxilio. |
The Story of England | ||
Rex misit Androchio pro Misericordia & Auxilio.
Cassibolan had sorewe in wold,
How he mighte ascape þat hold:
On alle halue he saw Romayns
Redy for to do þeym payns;
He hadde no force wyþ hem to fyght,
& honger hadde ouer reft þer myght;
Mykel he dredde Iulius Cesar,
& more þe honger þat þey had þar.
He moste chese on of tweye:
ȝelde hym to Cesar, or for honger deye.
Two dayes & two nyghtes til ende
Wold he noman biseke ne sende;
How he mighte ascape þat hold:
On alle halue he saw Romayns
Redy for to do þeym payns;
He hadde no force wyþ hem to fyght,
& honger hadde ouer reft þer myght;
Mykel he dredde Iulius Cesar,
& more þe honger þat þey had þar.
He moste chese on of tweye:
ȝelde hym to Cesar, or for honger deye.
Two dayes & two nyghtes til ende
Wold he noman biseke ne sende;
Þe þrydde, he þoughte how best myght be,
& sende his sonde til Androche:—
I ne wot ho dide þe message,
Wheþer knyght, squier, or page:—
“Androcheus, y sende þe to seye,
“Suffre me nought schamely to deye.
“Þaw y mystok me greuously,
“I prey þe of me haue þou mercy.
“Þaw i dide an hastynesse,
“Y schal hit amende, as his wylle esse.
“A man schold nought his owen kynde
“Dampne for o defaute, we fynde;
“ffor hit haþ ofte be wyst & sen,
“Þat wraþe bytwyxte kynde haþ ben;
“Bot whan þer [wraþe] was brought til ende,
“Syn han þey ben ful feyþful frende.
“I preie þe now, ȝif þy wille be,
“Þat þou be now curteys to me;
“Y biseke þe, þenk on no mysdede,
“Bot schew me þy kyndenesse in þys nede,
“& saue me now byfore Cesar,
“& euere more eft wol y be war.
“To þe may neuere falle honur
“ȝyf me bytide a misauentur.”
& sende his sonde til Androche:—
181
Wheþer knyght, squier, or page:—
“Androcheus, y sende þe to seye,
“Suffre me nought schamely to deye.
“Þaw y mystok me greuously,
“I prey þe of me haue þou mercy.
“Þaw i dide an hastynesse,
“Y schal hit amende, as his wylle esse.
“A man schold nought his owen kynde
“Dampne for o defaute, we fynde;
“ffor hit haþ ofte be wyst & sen,
“Þat wraþe bytwyxte kynde haþ ben;
“Bot whan þer [wraþe] was brought til ende,
“Syn han þey ben ful feyþful frende.
“I preie þe now, ȝif þy wille be,
“Þat þou be now curteys to me;
“Y biseke þe, þenk on no mysdede,
“Bot schew me þy kyndenesse in þys nede,
“& saue me now byfore Cesar,
“& euere more eft wol y be war.
“To þe may neuere falle honur
“ȝyf me bytide a misauentur.”
The Story of England | ||