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 |
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 | The Story of England |  |
Now, lordynges, hit were to witen
Whi þe bataille of Troye was smiten:
Þe laste meschaunce & þe peyne
Was for þe Quene of Grece, Eleyne;
Þe kynges wyf of Grece scheo was,
Þat Parys rauisched þorow a cas.
Þat werre was in tyme ser,
& lasted two & twenty ȝer.
ffor þat werre þe barons fledde
Þat weren in Troye born & fedde;
How hit bigan, þe laste bale,
Listneþ, & [I] schal telle þe tale,
Of Troye þe firste destructione,
Þat cam þorow Iasan, Pelles sone,
Þat wan the Ram wiþ the fles of golde,
Þat neuere man of erthe molde
Mighte hit wynne byfore wiþ fyght,
Bot sire Iasan þe gode knyght
Whan þe Ram wyþ gilden flees,
& stryed Troye wiþ alle þe cites;
Bot þe kyng sire Pryami
Bigged hit a-geyn fol noblely,
& vitailled hit of ston & corn;
Was hit neuer so fair biforn;
Bot siþen þe laste sorewe & peyne
Was hit neuere bygged ageyne.
How hit bygan, þe laste bale,
List a partie of þe tale.
Whi þe bataille of Troye was smiten:
Þe laste meschaunce & þe peyne
Was for þe Quene of Grece, Eleyne;
Þe kynges wyf of Grece scheo was,
Þat Parys rauisched þorow a cas.
Þat werre was in tyme ser,
& lasted two & twenty ȝer.
ffor þat werre þe barons fledde
Þat weren in Troye born & fedde;
How hit bigan, þe laste bale,
Listneþ, & [I] schal telle þe tale,
Of Troye þe firste destructione,
Þat cam þorow Iasan, Pelles sone,
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Þat neuere man of erthe molde
Mighte hit wynne byfore wiþ fyght,
Bot sire Iasan þe gode knyght
Whan þe Ram wyþ gilden flees,
& stryed Troye wiþ alle þe cites;
Bot þe kyng sire Pryami
Bigged hit a-geyn fol noblely,
& vitailled hit of ston & corn;
Was hit neuer so fair biforn;
Bot siþen þe laste sorewe & peyne
Was hit neuere bygged ageyne.
How hit bygan, þe laste bale,
List a partie of þe tale.
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