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 |  |
When þyse breþere Hengist & Hors
Had leue of þe kyng & of þe ports,
He greyþed his feres to fare al myry
To speke wyþ þe kyng at Caunterbyri.
When þey come, þe kyng þey grette,
& alle þat were by hym sette.
Þe kyng byheld þyse bachelers
Were faire of schap, & face clers,
How þey were mad so gentilly,
ffayrest of al þer compaigny:
Þen seyde þe kyng, “of whenne be ȝe?
What haue ȝe sought to þis contre?”
Þen was Hengist eldest & more;
ffor alle his feres onswered he þore:
“In Saxoyne were we born & fed;
“ffro þennes hyder our God vs led.
“ȝyf ye wil wite al þe manere,
“Whi & for what we ar com here;
“To telle ȝow, sire, gyues me leue,
“Þat ȝe ne ȝoure wyþ me ne greue.”
Þe kyng gaf hym þe grauntyse,
& Hengist teldym þen in his wyse:
Had leue of þe kyng & of þe ports,
He greyþed his feres to fare al myry
To speke wyþ þe kyng at Caunterbyri.
When þey come, þe kyng þey grette,
& alle þat were by hym sette.
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Were faire of schap, & face clers,
How þey were mad so gentilly,
ffayrest of al þer compaigny:
Þen seyde þe kyng, “of whenne be ȝe?
What haue ȝe sought to þis contre?”
Þen was Hengist eldest & more;
ffor alle his feres onswered he þore:
“In Saxoyne were we born & fed;
“ffro þennes hyder our God vs led.
“ȝyf ye wil wite al þe manere,
“Whi & for what we ar com here;
“To telle ȝow, sire, gyues me leue,
“Þat ȝe ne ȝoure wyþ me ne greue.”
Þe kyng gaf hym þe grauntyse,
& Hengist teldym þen in his wyse:
| The Story of England | |