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 |
The Story of England | ||
De Maledicta Ronewenna.
When þey had stabled Godes laweÞorow miracle & þorow þer sawe,
Anoþer sorewe com vp ryf,
Þorow Ronewenne, ffortygeres wyf:
Scheo made a drynke þorow treson,
& Vortymer sche dide poyson;
Scheo poysend hym þat louede Crist,
ffor þe payen, hure ffader Hengist.
Whan Vortymer wyste he scholde deye—
Leches to lyue couþe hym non seye,—
Þen sent he after his barons bolde,
Bytaught hem alle his tresor to holde,
& seide, “takeþ conseil & red,—
“Of me nys non, for y am ded,—
“Men of armes swyþe ȝe take,
“By alle þe costes quykly to wake
“Þat no Saxoyn on ȝow aryue,
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“Holdeþ þe stat þat y ȝow wan,
“And trauailleþ forþ as y began;
“And ȝyf ȝe do als y schal rede,
“On ȝow to come þey schul drede.
“By þe se side, byrieþ me þere,
“Þe sight of me ȝyt schal hem fere;
“& doþ make a toumbe þat longe may last,
“Þe sight þerof schal þem agast;
“On alle manere ȝe make hit heye,
“Þat y be euere ageyn þer eye;
“Þat wey of me þan schul þey scurne,
“Ne neuere haue grace on me to turne.”
Þus he þem taughte, þus he þem seyd,
& þenne byforn þem alle he deyd.
The Story of England | ||