University of Virginia Library

[Chapter XII]

“ȝe, Sire, wyle ȝe vndirstonden now me:
aȝens kyng Artheur we han now j-be
and non thing encresyd jn his Lond;
this owten ȝe wel forto vndyrstond.
Nethyr, Syre, vppon the tothyr syde
of the Londes of Tarmelyde,
that Somtyme oure socour wolde han be,
but power hauen they non now, Sykerle,
but the kyng ryowns, that js myhty
and therto ryche & of Body worthy,
and this two ȝer dede he non werre.
Nethyr anothyr kyng, that js nerre:
kyng Pales of lystenois he hyht;
also he is a worthy knyht,
but that he kepeth his Brothir, trewelye,
kyng Pelynore, that lyth in maladye,
of whiche he schal neuere recouered be,
Tyl on þyng be don, Sire, ful certeynle:
Tyl that seynt Graal to ende Be Browht;
take this forsothe, ȝif ȝe welen owht.
Also kyng Aleyn, that Syk lyth also,
non rekewr jnto þat tyme may be do,
and tyl that a bettere knyht of Breteyne
Jnto this lond be comen, certeyne.”
(anon axede of hym kyng Brangor
what maner of thyng the Graal was thore.)
“Nether of Norga, of Sornoleys the kyng,
mowen ȝe hauen there non Sucoureng,
For vppon the jeawntes werre halt he,
that moche noysaunce hym don, Sykerle.
For the jeantes wolden held his lond
al of hem, as j now vndirstond,
and he defendyth hym as a man,
as long as that he may & kan.
Nethyr of Perdenyan the kyng
mowen ȝe hauen non helpyng,
nethyr of the kyng Amadonan,
nethir of kyng clamades, j telle ȝou kan;
For they werren vppon kyng galaost,
the wheche is cosyn, wel thou wost,
To the kyng of an hundred knyhtes;
and aȝens hym they kepen here fyhtes.”
Thanne ros vpe kyng loth there anon,
and to that peple he seide echon:
“Lordynges, Sekerly, j ne kan not se
how that these marches kept scholen be,
but that we setten good asspye
vppon kyng Artheuris londis, Sekerlye,
bencheson of the kynges that with hym be,
and For merlyn, that is maister in mani a gre,
that al oure conseil knoweth ful wel
& al that we don here now everydel.
For ȝif we ryden the hethen to aspye,
anon he wyl comen vs to distroye
be othir partyes jnto othyr contre;
vppon vs ryden wilen they, ful sykirle.
Fore for the hethen they wylen not lette
that vppon vs here men wylen they sette.
and therfore ȝif we now departyd be,
we scholen ben distroyed, ful Sykerle.
For ȝif the hethene entren vs here,
thanne of oure socour ben we jn dwere.
Neuertheles ȝit scholen ȝe vndirstonde
that forth to ryde now wyl j fonde,
and redy to gon with ȝou jn fere;
now every man his best avis sey here!”
At that word ros vp anon ryhtes
the kyng that was of an hundred knyhtes,
and seide to tho lordynges everychon:
“of kyng lothes wordes dowte haue ȝe non;
For kyng Artheur & his helpinge
ben owte of londe, with-owten lesynge,
To Socouren leodagan the kyng,
that jn his contre hath gret werryng:
jn his lond of Tarmelyde
he hath werre on ech a syde
of kyng ryown of Yrlond,
as it is don me to vndirstond.
& as sowdeours they ben forth went
Be merlynes cownseyl, verayment.
but alle here strengthis ben kept ful wel,
and of oure deseysse they knowen echedel.
and therfore we mown the Savyelere gon
Forto defenden vs from oure fon;
For of Artheur hath non drede.
therfore j wolde, so god me spede,
that pes purchaced were betwixen vs two,
als so hastely as hit myhte be do,
that be his socour and strengthe of honde
To dryve the hethen owt of this londe.
therfore let vs werkyn jn alle thing
after þe counseil of tradelyvaunt the kyng.
but er that we passen out of this contre,
be cownseil be gouerned it is good to be.
there is a mayde here vs be-syde
that Asses Roche is cleped this tyde,
and jn that Roche dwelleth that may,
that ful good cownseil to vs kan say.
For jn that castel sche dwellith, j-wis,
that maiden, that is so mochel of pris,
hadegabrantis Sostyr, with-owten lye,
that mochel cowde of Negromauncye,
wherby often-tyme socoured they be;
wherfore be my counseyl, certeinle,
with hire to speken is myn entent,
& ellis greved mow we ben, verament.”
Whanne that þe barouns vndirstodyn al this,
that kyng Artheur was forthe, with-owten mys,
thanne merveillede the barouns everichon
For what maner cause he wolde so don.
but thanne vndirstoden they alle
that be Merlynes counseil hit gan falle.
So that they repentyd al jn fere
that evere with merlyn angry they were;
but alto late hit was tho
hem to repente: he was a-go.
So that they acorded alle jn fere
alle the marches to don kepen there.
Thanne sente they forth be eche partye
to kepen the marches, ful sekerlye,
bothe olde & ȝonge that myhte gon
& of straunge Sowdiours manion.
So that forth they wenten & wolden not blynne,
hoping gret richesse forto wynne
and also to geten hem bothe pris & fame
the better to ben beloued of every dame.
but owt of kyng Arthewris lond
non sowdiour wolde comen, j vndirstond;
For good j-nowgh they hadde be-fore,
and for þat cawse they wold not comen thore;
For Artheur avaunsed hem everichon,
er that he owt of his lond gan gon;
and ȝit he behyhte hem better to do,
whanne that aȝen he come hem vnto.
The fyrste cyte that they dyde kepen tho
was toward Cornewaille, with-owten mo,
whiche that thike tyme Nawtes hyghte,
there as the hethene gonnen alyghte.
Thyder gan gon kyng Ydyers
with a meyne bothe prowd & fers,
that beleften of his Bataylle,
as j ȝow seye with-owten faylle.
and whanne kyng ydyers cam to þat cyte,
Ful glad and blithe gonnen they to be.
For every day affrayed they were
of tho hethen that weren comen there,
that everyday there, certeinle,
they wenten abowte that cyte
and distroyed alle jn virowne abowte
the contre there, with-owten dowte.
For of hem Sevene thousend there be
jn this partie aryved, ful sekerle.
so that there dar non man passen therby
with-owten gret strengthe, Sekerly.
Whanne that his modir vndirstood al this thing
of galachim hire sone, that was so ȝyng,
Anon gan sche to wepen ful sore,
as a lady that knew the cause wherfore,
And Seide to Galachym Anon Ryht tho,
as that tyme hire herte fyl vnto,
and ful sore wepinge sche gan to telle
of al the cas, how hit be-felle,
and seide: “myn owne dere sone thanne,
thin em he is, that worthy manne,
and my brother he is, ful Sekerly,
for bothe weren we born of on body,
as j haue herd my modyr say
to-forn this tyme ful many a day,
that for that child made gret mone,
So sone aftir his birthe awey was done,
and deliuered was to on veleyne;
that is now soth þat ȝe heren me seyne.
and how aftyr hit was discouered echdel
be Antron, that hym norsched ful wel,
of whom ek that merlyne the sothe tolde,
and ek that witnessid Vlphyn the bolde.
and how that Vter pendragon the kyng
me maryed to my lord aboven alle thyng.
but j am sory in mani a degre
that the Barouns of this contre
ne welen not resceyven hym as for here kyng,
whiche me sore repentith ouer alle thing.
but behold, the grete god of myht,
considering that he is kyng be ryht,
hym ches be myracle of the ston
& of the swerd aforn hem echon”—
and hym tolde of mani an aventure
that of hym be-fel, j ȝow ensure.
Now aftyr cometh hit Jnto memorye
hou from Sorhant departyd kyng loth, sekerlye,
and wente forth streyht To Garle cyte
with ful thre thousend of his meyne,
that weren holden worthy knyhtes & goode,
whiche with him out of þe bataille ȝoode.
& whanne he was comen to that cyte,
the ceteȝeins maden joye and solempnite;
for the hethen diden hem ful gret anoye,
and al that contre they deden distroye
what with robberye and brennenge;
that contre they wasted jn alle thinge.
Anon as kyng loth knew of this,
For sowdeours he sente, with-owten mys,
Faste abowtes jnto eche contre
to geten as manye as þanne myhte he.
and er a mounthe was fully past,
ten thousend sowdeours he hadde jn hast
with-owten hem of that cyte,
weren foure thousend, certeinle,
To kepen that cyte bothe day & nyht,
whiles þat kyng loth rod owt to fyht.
So that often-tymes he with hem mette,
and to-gederis many strokes they sette.
So that his pore bachelerye
gat often gret goodis, sekerlye.
and al that evere they myhte wynne,
kyng loth hit parded there hem betwynne.
and that causede that gret meyne
To kyng loth repeirede, certeinle,
For bencheson of his gentilnesse & fre,
Sprang so wyde jnto eche contre;
Thre thousend comen to hym anon ryht,
For that he was holden so fre a knyht.
and faire children he hadde be his wyve;
worthiere bodyes weren non on lyve.
this Artheur was a faire ȝong man,
and mochel of norture that tyme he kan.
and that lady he was fayn to plese
& ek to kyng loth to don him ese.
This lady was both fayr & ȝyng
and a good womman ouer alle thing,
whom that Artheur lovede prevyly.
but sche ne rowhte sche wiste not, sikerly,
for stedfast sche was to hire Lord
and him to plese at his owne acord.
So hit behappede, as J ȝow say,
that al the Baronage hadde taken a day
at the Blake cros to meten jn fere
there forto touchen of here matere.
So on the nyht before hit happede tho,
that kyng loth scholde thider go,
he charged prevyly his meyne
that hors & harneis redy scholde be
at midnyht with him forto gon;
thus prevyly he charged hem everichon.
So that his meyne, verament,
Fulfild jn haste his comaundement
vnknowen the lady of alle this thing.
ful prevyly from hire wente he stalkyng,
and jn hire bed lefte hire stylle on slepe,
for of his goynge took sche non kepe.
and Artheur, that wel knew of al this,
that jn that corner þere lay, j-wys,
took good kepe of the kynges goynge,
and ful prevyly to here bed wente he stalkynge,
and there he turnede hym bothe to & fro,
but ȝit this lady on slepe was tho.
So as hit happede this kas gan gon,
this lady awok & hire tornede anon,
and him enbraced al jn hire Slepe,
that of non othir took sche non kepe
but of hire owne lord so dere,
weneng to hire to ben hire fere.
and whanne that Arthewr felte this,
thanne wiste he wel, with-owten mys,
that of hym sche took non kepe
but as a womman that was jn slepe.
So that he embraced hire ageyn,
and so be hire he lay, jn certeyn,
where-offen the lady ful joyful was;
sche wende hire Lord hadde ben jn þat plas.
and that Nyht, in certein to say,
was mordret begeten, with-owten delay,
jn this maner as ȝe now here.
And whanne that Artheur his wil hadde there,
he ne slepte non maner thing,
tyl that lady was fallen jn Slombring;
thanne stalkyd Artheur previliche a-away.
For þer-of ne wyste non, the sothe to say,
tyl on the morwe, as hit gan falle,
that hym-self hit tolde jn the halle,
whanne sche was set at hire denere,
and Artheur as hire kervere knelede there.
So that hit happede tho, this lady gent
of his long knelyng took good entent.
“leve sevs,” sche seide, “ȝong Bacheler,
Ful longe [mow] ȝow thinken that ȝe knelen her.”
And He Answerede Ful Boldlich Ageyn:
“to longe may j not knelen, certeyn,
For j ne may not deserven the grete bownte,
myn owne lady, that ȝe han don for me.”
thanne axede this lady anon ryht:
“what bowntes ben tho, gentyl wyht?”
thanne seide Artheur, certeinle,
that for him discouered scholde hit neuere be,
ne non thyng to hire he wolde discrye,
but ȝif of trowthe sche wolde hym affye
that neuer sche scholde discouere it to non creature,
and also anothir thing sche schold hym Sure:
that harm to his body scholde sche neuere do,
ne be hire to ben purchased nether to ne fro.
And sche hire trowthe ensured hym ful son
as womman of that mater took kepe non.
thanne anon Arthewr gan hire to telle
prevyly betwixen hem how hit be-felle,
and jn what maner that he be hire lay;
al he hire tolde thike same day.
Anon this lady gan wexen red,
that for pure schame sche was ny ded;
but non wyht wiste of here covyne.
for at that tyme wolde sche no more dyne
but let tables ben drawen, verament,
and ful faste to hire chombre sche went.
lo, thus ȝonge Artheur be his soster lay,
that kyng Lothis wif was that day;
but hit behappede neuere aftyr more.
and thus was mordret of hire body bore,
For sche knew wel be tyme & space
that be Arthewr with childe sche was.
Whanne that lady Gaweyn beheld,
that tyme it were to beren armes & scheld,
Sche began to wepen riht sore.
Anon Sire gaweyn axede hire wherfore.
“certes, sone, j haue now gret Skyl,
For ȝe ȝoure tyme ne don but spyl
and ek ȝoure bretherin, jn certeyn,
ȝe don but spillen ȝoure tyme jn veyn,
that worthy knyhtes myhten be
jn kyng Artheurs cowrt, ful certeinle.
For ȝoure vncle he is be ryht,
and jn this world not a bettere knyht.
with him J wolde ȝe weren jn plase
pes betwyxen ȝoure fadir & him to purchase.
for hit is ful gret pyte
that be-twixen hem swich distaunce schold be
and of othir barouns jn the Rewm,
that of here kyng wylen taken non ȝem.
and god knoweth the Ryhtwysnesse,
that hath hem browht in gret distresse;
For mochel more han they lost thanne wonne.
& now this hethen on vs han begonne,
that scholen distroyen vs everychon,
ȝif goddis help ne come not Son.
and of hym helpe geten we non
that scholde vs fende from oure fon,
which is ȝoure oncle kyng Artheur,
that scholde vs helpe jn every stour.
worschepe & los scholde ȝe purchase
and pes to maken jn every plase,
and namly that ȝoure fadir & he
goode frendis that they myhten be.
and non other good ȝe don this tyde
but eche day on huntyng forto ryde
To chasen the hare in eche contre,
and thus ȝoure tyme lesen ȝe;
wherfore ȝe ben alle to blame,
that myhten becomen men of better fame.”
Thanne to his modyr spak ȝonge Gaweyn
wordis that to hire weren ful pleyn:
“telle ȝe this for trewthe to me,
that Arthour be ryht kyng scholde be,
and þat ȝoure brothir he is also,
& ek ȝe seyn oure vncle þerto?”
“ȝe, sones, with-owten drede,
he is ȝoure vncle, so god me spede”—
& sette on & tolde hem al on ende
holyche hou that mater gan wende.
And whanne that gaweyn herde al this,
anon to his modir he seide, j-wys:
“be þe trowthe j owe to God & ȝow,
of on thing j schal maken avow:
that swerd ne armvre to beren jn fyht,
tyl that kyng Artheur haue mad me knyht.
and we to his cowrt scholen gon
him forto helpen aȝens his fon,
ȝyf ȝe welen helpen vs owht þerto;
bothe my bretheren scholen þedir go
of hym forto ben dubbid knyhtes
& after to helpen him jn his fyhtes
Aȝens Hem Alle that Hym Wrong Wylen Don;
we scholen him gon helpen everichon.”
“Now, swete children, as towching me,
neuere distorbeled scholde ȝe be.
For that day wolde j ones abyde,
and blessin j wolde that jlke tyde,
To sen ȝoure Fadir & ȝoure oncle jn fere
as goode frendes as euere they were;
hit were to me as joyful tydyng
as to ben lady of alle worldly thing.”
“Now, leve modyr,” quod Gawayn tho,
“lef ȝe ȝoure weping & doth not so.
For on avow j schal here make:
Aftyr that j my leve take,
J schal neuere sen ȝow eft ageyn,
tyl my Fadir & min vncle, certeyn,
ryht goode frendes that they be,
er that eftsones ȝow, modir, j se.
and min owne bretheren scholen gon with me
aȝens my Fadyr al forto be.”
“Now swete sone,” quod the modir thanne,
“God make ȝow alle Ryht goode menne!”
And as Gawayn thus to his modyr spak,
jnto the chambre there entrede, with-owten lak,
bothe Agrevains and ek Guerrers
and Gaheries, þat weren stronge & fers,
and herden there of here talkyng
& also of here modris gret morneng.
thanne seide Agrevains to Gaweyn anon:
“ȝe ben more to blame thanne we echon,
For ȝe ben eldest of vs alle;
therfore to ȝow hit hadde be-falle
vs to han lad, knyhtes to han be
mad of him, most of dignite.
and him to serve let vs now reke,
of whom worschipe al the world doth speke.
For god forbede but ȝif that we
as worthi jn armes scholden be
as they sein Ambroy oyselet is,
For here he moste kithen his pris.
For the hethene ben entred vs vppon,
& distroyen the contre be on & on,
and jn this contre peple non js
hem owt to dryven, with-owten mys,
but only be helpe of kyng Arthewr.
therfore now let vs gon this owr
and armes of hym forto take
and with him to risen, bothe slepe & wake,
and with him to fyhten aȝens his fon,
For so is vs mochel better to don.
For here non thing ne mown we wynne;
therfore lete vs faste hens twynne,
rathere than here to lesen oure renown
and with the hethen ben taken & leid in presown
and so to lesen bothe oure tyme & age;
this is non of the sevene sage.”
Now forthermore let vs tellen son
how that these iij kynges ben agon
owt Of Sorham, that cyte there,
jnto othir contres, with-owten dwere.
thanne rod owt kyng clarioun, j vndirstonde,
that was kyng of Northhumberlonde,
and rod him to on fair cite,
that berland hyhte, certeinle;
whiche cite he kepte wondir wel
with iij thousend men bothe goode & lel
with-owten hem that jn the town were,
of whiche fyve hundred fond he there.
So that tho marches he kepte ful strong,
and euere with the hethene he fawht among,
and often he wan & often he loste,
as hit behappeth jn every oste.
thus this kyng anoyed hem sore,
for jn that contre vitaille no more
mihten they geten to here refressching;
So hit hadde vpe gadered clarioun the kyng.
So that after kyng Clarioun was gon,
the kyng of c. knyhtes isswede anon
owt of sorham cite, ful Sekerly,
with iij thousend men of armes him by.
to the cyte of malehant gan he ryde,
þere a gentyl lady hym abod that tyde;
this cite marched vppon his lond.
and for the hethene, j vndirstond,
abowtes faste by they lye,
that was þe cause þedir gan he hye.
and the barouns hym preiden echon
vppon the hethen with hem to gon.
this kyng, that was so worthy a man,
fulfilled the barouns wille than.
(this kyng evere kept an c knyhtes,
wherby he hadde his name be ryhtes;
but his name was be his baptesm
Aingnignes clept aftir his borntempe.)
that [tho] marches kepte he wel al abowte,
So that of þe hethen they hadden litel dowte.
Aftyr him past owt Tradelivaunt the kyng
owt of that cyte, with-owten lesyng.
and to northwales he took the way,
to on of his cites, as j ȝow say.
with iij thousend of armed men
jnto his contre rod he then.
and of his comeng they weren ful glad,
for of the hethen gret drede they had,
that dyden ful gret distroccioun
al the contre abowtes jn virown.
thanne sente this kyng anon riht there
aftyr sowdiours every where,
So that vij thousend men he hadde
with hem that he ferst forth ladde
what on hors & what on fote;
this was his somme, wel j wote,
with-outen hem of þe town, pleinly,
þat weren iiij thousend, sekerly,
Wheche Hem Defendyd Jn Every tyde
aȝens a chastel there beside.
that a maiden that carville hyhte,
Socoured the hethen with alle hire myhte;
hadagabrantis soster, certein, was sche,
that thike castel hadde jn baylle.
And be tho marches, j sey ȝow ryhte,
non of the kynges there ne myhte,
for non power that they myhten do,
non noysaunce the hethen don vnto.
for bothe viaunde & vytaylle þe hethen hadde
out of þe castel ech day to hem ladde.
for that castel so strong hit was tho,
that non harm myhte comen hit vnto.
(For this carville cowde more of enchantement
than ony oþer womman, verament,
except morgain, that Sostir was
To kyng Artheur, jn everi plas,
oþer ellis juanne, the love of merlyn,
that of enchantement coude wel & fyn;
For sche knew more of merlynes konnyng
thanne alle þe creatures that weren levyng,
as ȝe scholen heren jn tyme comeng,
whanne ȝe me heren speke of swich a thing.)
what so þorwh helpe of that castel
the hethen ben refresschid wel,
wherfore cast out of londe mow they not be
but be helpe of kyng Arthour, Sykerle,
and be the helpe ek of kyng Ban,
that is holden so worthi a man,
also kyng Bors jn here compenye
(þe sonere out of þis lond scholen they hye),
and be helpe of oþer mo:
kyng Lothis children with hem scholen go,
as here-afte[r] ȝe scholen heren say
jn storye j rad this jlke same day.
The Renown that Sprang Abrod so Wyde
of kyng Artheur jn every syde
and of his largenesse & of his gentrie,
alle the world hit spak Of, trewelye.
so þat jn alle stronge contres, with-owten lesynge,
was non speche but of Artheur the kynge.
For his los tho sprange so wyde,
that jnto costantynnoble hit cam that tyde;
that so ferforth hit cam to ere,
so ȝonge sagremour herde þerof there.
that nas ȝit but fyftene ȝer old,
a fair ȝong Bacheler and a bold.
and whanne that he herde this tydyng,
he ne wolde not letten for non thing,
tyl he were mad knyht of his hond,
the sothe j do ȝow to vndirstond.
and often to his counseil seide he
that a worthy man moste he nedis be—
“whanne that myn ayel, adrians the kyng,
of him knyht was mad, with-owten lesing.”
For that he was þe nexte eyr
that to theke empire scholde repeyr.
so that Sagremour swor, certein,
that knyht scholde he neuere be, pleyn,
tyl that kyng Artheur of Breteygne
hym knyht hadde mad, jn certeygne.
So that they spoken þer-offen so ofte,
that thike noise wax hye on lofte.
So that Adrians gan him to hye
Sagremours to sende forth, Sekerlye,
jn-to breteyne with gold & fe
and what thing that to him belonged on lond & se.
now speke we no more ȝit of this matere,
but here-after more scholen ȝe here.
Ȝyt procedith forth this storye:
whanne kyng brangores was past trewlye,
owt of Sorhant thike cyte,
kyng karados aftir wente, sikerle
with his meyne arayed ful ryht,
foure thousend men redy to fyht.
and to strangore cite he wente ful faste
(alle his men of armes with him paste)
whiche cite he kepte ful wel
as a wys worthy werreour & a lel.
ȝit sente he abowtes wilde where
aftyr mo Sowdyowrs to han hem there,
so that atte laste assembled there was
vij thousend men jn that plas
wel j-armed with swerd and lawnce,
of stedis & coursers þat cowden wel praunce.
ȝit at that tyme non hethen there were,
wherfore eche nyht they lyen owt there
jn feldes and jn weyes bothe
to aspien whanne þe hethen comen, forsothe
and anon as that they myhten aspye
that ony of the hethen drow ther nye,
aȝens hem faste the wolden ryde
and with hem fyhten jn that tyde.
So that often they wonnen gret good,
Whanne that the hethen hem withstood.
Aftyr that these vj Kynges Weren gon
Out of Sorhant cite everychon,
thanne of Scotlond Agwyseax the kyng
out forth he paste, with-owten lesyng,
The richest kyng of that contre;
but as of armes onnethis cowde he.
this kyng out forth rod with v thousend men,
and to þe cyte of corange wente he then,
whiche that jn scotlond tho Stood,
where as manye of the hethene abod.
For there nas but xx scottysch myle
where as the hethen lyen thyke whyle
at the castel of Vaundebers,
where as the sege was strong & fers,
that non man of hem the nombre cowden telle
of the hethen, that weren so felle.
whanne this kyng jnto corange j-entred was,
of the ceteȝeins fond he jn that plas
Fyve thousend redy armed to fyht.
ȝit sente he forth bothe day & nyht
to seken soudeours be every syde;
So that him comen with-jnne a tyde
what on hors & what on foote
x thousend Saudiours, wel j wote,
with-owten alle his owne meyne
and ek the peple of that cyte.
so with the hethen helden they bataille,
& often goodes wonnen, with-owten faille,
and repareilled the walles of here cyte,
þere as it was most wont feble to be.
thus longe durede þe werre tho
be-twene thike partyes bothe to.
Jn this manere the werre dyd laste,
that ech aȝens oþer bekeryd ful faste.
thens torned the hethen from þat contre
jnto kyng Artheures lond, certeinle.
And there diden they gret damage,
for there nas non to letten here owtrage,
but as it kam be aventure,
as gret god wolde, j ȝow ensure,
bothe faire & good of sqwyers ȝonge,
as goode as myhte ben rehersed with tonge,
that kepten ful wel that ylke lond,
tyl kyng Arthewr cam hom, ȝe vndirstond.
and now scholen heren more of this,
how kyng Arthours lond was kept, j-wis.