University of Virginia Library

[Chapter XIV]

Now Forthere to this mater Let Vs pace,
ȝif that god wyle graunten vs grace,
hou that Arthewr past owt of his lond
and with hym these kynges, ȝe vndirstond,
bothe kyng Ban and eke kyng Bors,
that weren men of myht and Fors;
how that they riden Jn here jorne,
Tyl to Tartaysse they comen alle thre,
where as lay kyng leodegan, j vndirstond,
that was a worthi man of his hond.
On palmes-sonne eve jn gonnen they ryde
and with hem merlyn that jlke tyde.
there thus merlyne rod hem be-fore
on a fulfair stede to þe paleis thore,
where as was tho kyng leodegan,
that jn ful gret thowht was he than.
For kyng ryowns hadde entred his lond
with xv oþer kynges, j vndirstond,
and hym they hadden chaced so sore
and from place to place dryven hym thore.
So that these kynges logged hem alle
a-Forn Neblaise cite, as gan be-falle,
which cite was riche and plentevous
of goodis & of vitaille delicious.
wherfore that tyme kyng Leodegan
jn herte was a ful hevy man,
For he niste how Forto do,
nether how his lond defenden hem fro
(For jn his Lond hadde he non meyne
that Sege to remeven, certeinle),
ne how owt of his lond he myhte hem chace;
of wheche he axed counseyl jn that place
of knyhtes and of othere mo,
that at thike tyme weren comen hym to.
Jn the mene whyle, whiles here-of they speke,
kyng Arthewr and his compenie gonnen jn Reke,
and cam to-fore kyng leodegan,
that with his barowns cownseil held than.
be tweyne and tweyne they entred tho,
and jnto his halle they entreden so,
and merlyne jn here compenye,
but xlij vndir alle, with-owten lye.
Ful richely vestured & arayed they were,
and alle Berdles bacheleris thanne jn fere
Sof þe two bretheren kynges þat there weren than,
kyng Boors of gawnes and kyng Ban,
whiche that to-forn wenten tho;
and merlyne þe message þere gan do.
but alle the lordis þat with-jnne were,
of this peple hadden merveil there.
and whanne they comen to-fore the kyng,
they hym obeyeden jn worscheping.
Anon the kyng ros hem ageyn,
as this storye reporteth certeyn,
For they semeden ful worthy men
be here aray that they hadden then.
Thus whanne they weren entred echon,
thanne bespak kyng Ban þere anon,
and Salwede kyng leodegan.
anon thussone he ȝald him than,
and seide that alle welcomen they were—
“ȝif that for good ȝe be comen here.”
thanne bespak kyng Ban tho,
and to kyng Leodegan he seide vnto:
“Certein, Sire, with-owten lesyng,
For non maner of evel is oure comeng,
Ne not we comen owt of oure contre
here jn thy lond Forto noyen the,
but as jn manere of socouryng,
For sothe as j ȝow seye, Sire kyng,
and ȝou to don Servise jn swich degre
that to ȝoure plesaunce now myhte be.
and ȝif ȝe wilen not with vs don so,
Owt of ȝoure lond, sire, we scholen go
And to Betaken ȝow god Al-myht,
that algates he spede ȝow jn ȝoure ryht;
and we scholen gon jnto an nothir contre,
theþer as men of oure comenge glad wylen be
and vs resceyven jn Swich a manere
as we to ȝow oure Servise profren here.
but certeinly hit was vs tolde
that alle manere Of Sowdiours ȝe with-holde,
and þerfore was hedyr oure comeng;
Therfore ȝoure wille telle vs, Sire kyng.”
Thussone they entred hem betwene
with manye gret strokis, as hit was sene,
and slowh & maymed al that þer were,
that nowht on his hele hadde there.
there þese xlij maden swich martyrdom,
of men & hors a ful gret Som,
that vnnethes askaped ony away
of thike v hundred, the Sothe to say,
Sauf only fyve, that fledden be-fore,
anon as kyng leodagan they hadden forlore.
And thus Reskwed was Leodagan the kyng,
whiche to hym was ful gret merveyllyng,
To sen Swich martirdom Jn that plase
as of thyke lytel peple j-mad there wase.
and whanne he beheld the dragown þat merlyn bar,
thanne wiste he wel his frendis weren thar.
thanne thankede he god of that dede,
that so his Sowdeours with him dyden spede.
Anon merlyn there to hym wente,
and þere hym sesede anon presente.
Whanne that the ceteȝeins of that cite
behelden that jlke litel meyne,
thanne wisten they wel, the xlij it were,
that jn feleschepe weren jn fere,
and with hem was kyng leodagan,
that these xlij hadde reskwed than.
wherfore gret joye they gonne to make,
and so dede gonnore for here fadris sake,
merveilleng sore what these knyhtes were,
That so Vygoursly fowhten there.
For lyk as thondyr here dyntes ferde,
that jnto the eyr hit myhte ben herde;
For so merveillous was here fyhtyng,
that alle that weren jn here stondyng
they Slowen down ryht as they come,
that to-gederis they lyen on many a throme.
and whanne the xlij jn fere
amonges tho jeawntis weren entred þere,
thanne began the fyht so strong,
that wondir passyng noyse was hem among.
so that gonnore, with-owten nay,
that hydows noyse myhte heren, Jn fay.
there dyde kyng Ban of Baynok,
with correcense, his swerd, ȝaf many a strok.
For whom that evere þere-with he smot,
to grownde they wenten anon foot hot,
that neyther helm, hauberk, ne haberjon
withstondyn his dyntes myhten nouht on.
and thus took he on jn that Bataylle,
þat downryht slowh man & hors, with-owten faille.
so there nas non, myhte with-stonden his dynt,
Tyl of here lyveȝ that they weren stynt.
and jn the same manere ferde kyng bors,
that of alle the enemyes gaf he non fors.
and whanne the hethene behelden this
of þe merveillous strokys they Syen, j-wys,
and how kyng Artheur with kalybrond
merveillous strokis ȝaf with his hond
(aȝens weche swerd, the sothe to say,
myhte there non armure lasten that day,
For evere he vsede to smyten so sore,
that non man his strok abyden myhte thore)—
Thanne, whilles they fowhten Jn this manere,
happede, kyng artheur ȝit neyghede hym nere,
and mette with on that hyhte caunlent,
that hem of þe round table anoyede, verament,
and þerto dide he his power tho.
but Artheur, as hit happede so,
mette with this caunlent, j ȝou ensure,
whiche chef was of passyng mesure:
xiiij fote long he was, j wene,
of swich maner feet as now þere bene.
And whanne kyng Artheur there him mette,
a wondirful strok þere on him he sette:
besides his Scheld he smot hym so,
that thorwh bothe scholdres calibrand gan go.
And anon he fyl a-down, with-owten les,
and his hors forth ran thorwh-out þat pres.
So they that jn the castel were,
behelden how Arthour gan him bere;
Also gonnore, þe dowhter of kyng Leodagan,
merveillede mochel what was that man;
and so dyden þe peple everychon
that hym behelden be on & on.
Whanne merlyne cam to that Bataylle,
he fond Cleodalis, with-owten faylle,
vnhorsed and at the erthe, jn certein,
but on his fet he was rekeuered ageyn,
and the baner kepte, with-owten lesyng,
For that wolde he not leven for non thyng.
and abowtes him stoden his compenye,
that him defendid ful manfullye,
but they weren at gret mischef.
Natheles merlyn gan sone hem relef,
and amonges hem entrede with his baner,
& þe xlij felawes him folwede ther.
thanne jn they flyen as stordyly
as evere dide tempest out of þe sky,
and so worthily they fowhten there,
thyke xlij felawes þat weren jn fere,
that neuere men myghte bettere do
than thyke compenye diden tho.
but evere this kyng leodagan
here feleschepe nolden not forsaken than.
whanne these xlij amonges the jeawntes were,
Swich a noyse amonges hem was þanne there,
as of alle þe world the carponteris
jn wodes hadde hewen stowt & fers.
This was ȝit the angriest stour
that thike day they suffreden be ony our,
and þe most dolorowse and angwisschous,
but evere hem socourede swete jesus.
For there a man myhte beholde
bothe men & hors fulmanifolde
as thikke fallen vnder here scheld
as that motes flen jn the feld.
There myhten ȝe sen hors walken astray,
that non man of hem took kepe, jn fay,
of wheche the Sadelis ful blody were
of þe knyhtes that vppon hem weren slayn there.
and swich a noyse amonges hem was,
For lyk as thondring hit ferde jn that plas.
So that theke xlij persones
merveillously boren hem for þe nones,
that aftyr the deth of hem, j vndirstond,
hit was of hem longe spoken jn that lond,
and, as this storye reporteth now here,
that So manye Bodyes weren slayn there.
Beheueded, qwartered, dislemed Also,
that many day aftyr men myhten go
jnto þe places as the batailles were
be men dede & hors that lyen there
thorwh the conqwest, as J ȝow telle.
hos names here-aftyr J schal ȝou spelle,
For so wyle here this storye,
aforn goode men to rehersen hem, vtterlye.
This is the trowthe, As J ȝow telle,
how that cleodalis the steward hit befelle.
hit behapped that kyng Leodegan
a lady of hygh parage wedded had than,
and therto she was of gret Bewte,
and jnto Tarmelyde browhte hire he
owt of hire faderis owne lond,
as j do ȝow to vndirstond.
& with hire sche browhte a mayden ful gent
of wondir gret bewte, verament,
whiche mayden cleodalis lovede ful derne,
For there-of myhte non man hym werne.
So that he preyde leodagan, verament,
that he myhte wedden þat mayden gent
For alle his goode longe Servise;
he axede no more to his apryse.
the kyng hym graunted with riht good wylle,
For þat he was mochel beholden him tylle.
and whanne j-wedded hire that he hadde,
and from cherche as sche was ladde,
and browht was jnto the kynges paleys,
and down at mete was set on deys,
therto apparaylled ful Ryaly
aboven alle ladyes that seten hire by,
thanne hadde sche moche more bewte
thanne ony oþer lady, Sykerle;
wherthorwh þe kyng on hire his herte caste,
that for non thing aȝen myht he hit wreste.
So that stylle Leodagan the kyng
a gret whylle dwellede jn morneng,
For sche was the fairest creature jn ony londe,
as this Storye doth me to vndirstonde;
and thus at that tyme seyde he no more than.
but as hit happede that kyng leodagan
at an hygh feste of seynt Johne,
Leodagan Cleodalis owt he sente anon
a certeyn chevachye forto do
vppon his enemyes, þat hym noyede tho,
and his faire lady behinde lefte there
the qwene compenye forto bere
(For bothen they loveden as paramour,
the qweene & sche, with-owten langour)—
hit behappede vppon a nyht,
Leodagan be his qwene lay, as wile ryht.
that nyht on hire he be-gat tho
a fair dowhter, with-owten mo,
that jn hire age Gonn[or]e hit hyhte,
whiche that was a wondir fair wyhte.
this qweene sche was of gret bownte
and an holy lyuere, certeinle;
and on costom hadde this qweene:
þat but fewe nyhtes hit scholde bene
that sche ne wolde to mynstre go
hire matynes & servise to heren tho.
that same nyht þat sche conceyved was,
To matynes sche ros a ful gret pas,
and be the stewardis wyf sche cam ful stille,
and fond hire Slepyng, & thowhte non ylle.
thanne forth sche wente, & wook hire nowht,
To serven hire god, as sche hadde thowht,
and lefte this lady there stylle on slepe,
that of non creature took sche kepe.
Forth wente þe qweene alone with hire sawtyere
to þe mynstre, that faste by was there.
Anon this kyng leodagan tho
this lady thowhte to werken wo.
and whanne þat the qweene to mynstre was,
anon vp he ros jn that plas,
and qweynte alle the lyhtes þat weren wyt[h]-jnne,
For er wolde he þat tyme not blynne.
Sethen to the bed he goth ful ryht,
there cleadalis wif lay jnne that nyht.
Whanne the Lady Felte On Jn Hyre Bed,
sche axede ho was there Jn that sted.
“hold thou thi pes,” quod kyng leodagan;
“and þou discure me to ony man,
vppon my swerd thou schalt deye,
j the Swere, dame, be my feye.”
On the tothir partye was gret fyhtyng
of hem of þe round table, with-owten lesyng,
and the xlij sowdiours jn fere
aȝens kyng Sonigranx fowhten there,
that aȝens viij thousend helden bataylle,
and weren at gret mischef, with-owten faylle;
For they myhten not long endure
aȝens swich a meyne, j ȝow ensure.
thanne merlyne clepede kyng ban anone,
and to hym he seide ful sone:
“barouns, bachelers, bothe fre & bolde,
what stonde ȝe stille & so beholde?
here ben but fyve geauntis in this stede
that thus this meyne doth ouer-lede.
weren theke fyve distroyed sone,
thanne were al this bataylle done.”
“what partye ben they,” quod kyng ban tho,
“ȝondir jn bataylle boþe to & fro?”
“certes,” quod merlyn, “j schal ȝow telle:
Vlphines, Gyrfles, & bretel the snelle,
Sire kay, & Sire lucauns also,
with hem they fyhten & suffren wo.
and behold & seweth now aftyr me,
thanne the sothe there scholen we se,
wich of this compenye best doth him bere;
the sothe thanne scholen we preven there”
thussone merlyne faste forth rod,
and these knyhtes non lengere abod,
but forth they entrede jnto þat bataylle,
vj knyhtes aȝens xx jeauntis, saun faylle,
that weren passeng owt of mesure.
kyng Ban to-fore rod, j ȝow ensure,
and þe ferst man he mette that day tho,
was kyng Sonygranx, with-owten mo.
kyng Ban jn honde his swerd held,
that al forsoylled was jn that feld
of mennis blood & mennes brayn,
as j ȝow declare Jn certayn.
þerwith vppon the helm he smot him there,
that thorwh the Sercle hit wente ful clere
and thorwh the vysage evene down ryht,
that vppon the left scholdre hit alyht,
that hit fley jnto the feld
bothe the left arm & ek the Scheld.
Thanne made He gret Noyse, & Fowle He ferde,
that fer jnto the ost hit was herde.
And kyng Bors smot marganaus, for soth,
that thorwh the panne hit wente jnto þe teth.
On the tothyr partye kyng Arthour
Ful wel he bar hym jn that Stowr.
he smot a jeaunt thorwh hauberk & scheld,
that he fyl ded down jn the feld,
and vlphyn anothir geaunt slowhe,
Balaater, a strong thef and a towhe.
And Bretel slowh Gordaunt, & kay dendonart;
these jeawntes Slowen they jn here part.
Lucauns slowh maleeȝ, & Gyrfles manadape;
these jeaw[n]tis slowen they, hit was here hape.
And meraungis slowh Sadut jn that plas,
and gornauns kadrus Slowh dolas.
Anon as the hethene Syen these thus slayn,
To flen ful faste they weren ful fayn.
For they seyden hit wolde not avaylle
aȝens the cristene to holde bataylle.
Avaunt knyhtes of the table rownde
and þe two and fourty Soudiowrs jn þat stownde!
Anon the hethene sore abasched they were,
For of hem we[r]en slayn mochel peple there.
So that faste they gonne forto fle,
that alle the Sowdyours hit myhte se,
tel to kyng Sorpharyns they comen, j-wys,
that bataylle held with cleodalis.
thanne borsten the hethen Jnto that pres,
that non man there ne myhten hem ses,
So harde, that they whiche jn þe place were,
Forsoken here place maugry here.
and neuere they wolden astynte ne abyde,
tyl that to-fore toraysse they comen that tyde.
Anon thanne the peple of the cyte
wondir Sore affrayed weren, Sykyrle,
that the Banere Syen they not than
of here owne worthy kyng leodagan,
wherby thei thowhten thanne anon
that taken or dede they weren echon.
On þe tothir partye they syen not here kyng,
that the Sowdeoures hadden be reskewyng;
wherfore they weren abasched wel sore,
For that here kyng they syen not comen thore.
and whanne they comen to-fore the town,
thanne alle lost thei wende hadde ben jn virown.
For but vj thousend of cristen ther were
and jresch hethen xij thousend, as ȝe mown here.
Nedis the Sowdeoures weren at gret mischef,
So that to the cyte they gonnen relef.
and euere the ceteȝeins, the soþe to say,
of þe Sowdeours weren sore aferd, in fay.
whanne the Sowdeours and here compenye
among the hethen weren entrid, Sekyrlye,
there began a ful gret stowr
Ful of angwysch & of dolowr;
the wheche endured ful longe than,
For there was slayn ryht many a man:
For a thousend there fyllen jn that pres
atte ferste entre, with-owten les,
that neuere recouerede aftyr ageyn,
as j ȝow Seye now jn certeyn.
On the tothir partye, whanne þe knyhtes of the rounde table
and the xlij Sowdeoures, with-owten fable,
hadden discomfyt Sonigrenx the kyng,
and to flyht was put, with-owten lesyng,
they wolden non lengere aftyr hym chase;
For merlyne hem withheld jn that plase,
and drowh hem jnto on partye
of that feld, ful Sekyrlye,
and to hem alle seide ryht anon:
“herkeneth now, Lordynges everichon,
ȝe scholen non ferthere Sewen hem here,
but doth now as j schal ȝow Lere:
Alyhteth of ȝoure hors jn this tyde
Hem to refreschen, there to Abyde;
For ȝowre hors ful wery they be,
al be-swet and be-bled, as ȝe mown se.”
and they deden anon his comandement,
as j ȝow Seye, with ful good entent.
So that there they alyhten alle anon,
and refresched hem thanne everichon,
for therto they hadden ful gret mester,
alle the compenye of hem jn fer.
Anon ther spak kyng leodagan,
and vnto merlyne Seyde he than:
“Sire, wylen ȝe that these goode men here
with ȝoure xlij myhte ben alle jn fere?”
“ȝe certis, Sire,” quod merlyne thanne,
“to vs js welcomen every good manne.
For mochel the bettere scholen we do
al jn on wynge to-gederis forto go.”
Anon thanne clepyd kyng leodagan
hervy the ryvel, his banorer, than,
and preyde hym thanne forto comen ner
jn compenye with these goode men to dwellen her—
“and ȝoure Feleschepe with ȝow also,
For jn on compenye now scholen we go.”
“Ful gladliche, sire,” quod hervy ryvele,
“For Of here compenye vs lyketh ful wel,
ȝif that so here wylle now be.”
“ȝis,” quod kyng leodagan, “certeinle,
For from this day hens forward
but on compenye to ben both styf & hard.”
“depardeux,” quod Sire hervy thenne,
“For good is the Feleschepe of ryht good menne.”
Thanne to-gederis weren they alle
jn on compenye, as gan be-falle.
and merlyne to-fore be-gan to ryde;
thanne alle they hym seweden þat ilke tyde.
And whilles they reden thus jn fere,
as ȝe han me herd rehersen here,
Al the whille the steward cleodalis
with vj thousend jn his compenye, j-wis,
aȝens kyng Sorpharynes fawht he tho,
that with hym hadde xij thousend men & mo.
but enbataylled non thing they were,
but ay fyhtyng they weren here & there,
for they wendyn han mad an ende
of cleodalis meyne, & so thanne they wende,
For at gret mischef, certeyin, they were,
they that with Cloadalis weren there,
For jn poynt to ȝelden they weren echone
and ek here place to forsaken welsone.
thanne they lokede hem beside
and Syen merlynes Baner that tyde,
the dragon that the feer blew so hygh,
as hit hem Semede, jn-to the Skyhe,
that al the eyr semede on fyire there;
Swich wondris they syen that þere were.
And whanne that the ladyes vppon þe cyte walle
behelden merlynes Banere alle,
anon they cryden to Cleodalys,
that vndir the walles fawht, j-wys:
“ha, Cleodalis, of good comfort thou be,
For here cometh socour anon to the!”
Whanne they seyen the grete curtesye
that kyng leodegan dede openlye,
they hym thankede a thouse[n]d Sythe,
and to that messenger seyden as blythe:
“we thanken the kyng of his gret sonde;
let hym depart yt forth Jn his londe!
and anothyr tyme, whanne we hauen nede,
we wylen resceyven that he vs bede.”
thanne cam merlyne Faste anon,
and to the thre kynges gan he gon,
and bad hem Resceyven ouer alle thyng
the presentes that to hem sente þe kyng.
So they hit took, as merlyn hem bad,
and amonges þe peple distrebucioun they mad,
and leften not the valw of on peny
To here owne partis, ful Sekerly.
So that alle men of that contre
Tho Sowdyowrs preyseden ful hertele.
So that the contre repleynsched was abowte
of þe goodis þat they ȝoven, with-owten dowte.
For hem that the Sowdeours neuere Sye,
mochel worschepe hem spoken, certeynlye,
and al for here largenesse & here good dede
thorwh-owt the rem of hem gan sprede.
And al this was be merlynes cownsaille,
as j ȝow Seye with-owten faylle.
Artheur to his ost he ȝaf that day
bothe Richesse, and Robes, and many palfray;
that alle the dayes aftyr of here lyve
moche bettere myhten they bothen thryve.
Thanne whanne al this was J-do,
on the morwe to mete scholden they go.
So that they weschschen & seten a-down,
these worthy thre kynges & amonges hem non.
And alle the knyhtes of þe rownde table
benethen the Sowdiours seten, sauns fable.
but bothe kyng Bors and kyng Ban
betwixen hem bothe setten Artheur than.
For they deden hym ful gret honour,
For he was a man of gret valour.
kyng leodagan took gret kep tho
of the reuerence they gonne hym do,
and vndirstood wel be here Servyse
that here souereyn he was jn alle wyse,
and merveyllede gretly what he scholde be,
For fayn wolde he han wyst, Sykerle.
and to hym-Self he thowhte ryht there
that he hadde weddid his dowhter gonnore.
For he sawh neuere man of swich entaylle,
but of hygh blood he were, saunȝ faille.
“Oþer ellis the goode Lord jn maieste
thys man for socour hath sent to me,
a spiryt to ben jn mannes lyknesse
this rewm to defenden from distresse,
j wot wel, not only for the loue of me,
but for the Sustenaunce of crystyente
and ek holy chirche Forto meynteyne.”
thus to hym-Self kyng Leodagan gan seyne.
At that mete mochel thowhte than
this worthy kyng Leodagan
how that he reskewed was, jn feye,
with xlij felawes jn the valeye,
that hym reskewed of .v. hundred men,
whiche that to preson ward ladden hym then,
and browhten hym a-geyn with gret richesse,
and Slowen alle tho that weren jn that prese.
So that for thowht that he was jnne ther,
nothyng he ete at his dener.
Thanne that aspyde hervy the Revelle,
and þere-offen hadde merveylle euerydelle.
Anon to the table to hym he wente,
and there hym aresoned, veramente.
he seide that neuere sethen he was bore—
“Say j ȝow neuere of swich chere before,
ne neuere abasched So, jn good fay,
as ȝe ben here this jlke day.
For ȝe owhten gret joye to make
only for these goode mennis sake;
and ȝe faren wondirly for the nones,
as thowgh ȝe weren not of these wones.”
Anon kyng leodegan hym bethowhte,
how merveillously this man hadde wrowhte,
and Seyde: “hervy, my dere Frende,
J thenke here of a wondyr ende,
of the beste dede of on worthy man,
that of al the world now tellen j kan.
wherfore j ne may not with-holden me,
but on hym to thenken, certeynle.
and therfore, goode Sire, so blame me nowht,
For this day for me hath he Sore wrowht.”
“Sire, ȝit may j that leven ryht wel,
But At this time ȝe most Leven hit eche del.
and whanne tyme cometh, thenk what ȝe lyst,
For what now ȝe thenken, may not be wyst.
but to hem maketh joye and ek Solas,
For ȝe han gret cause here Jn this plas.
therfore abaschscheth non thing ȝoure chere,
For aȝens hem ȝe mistaken ȝow here.”
“Sauf vostre grace,” quod kyng Leodagan tho,
“jn non wise that wil j now do.
now goth and Sittyth down to ȝoure mete,
and al pensifnesse now schal j lete.”
Thanne Sette hym sire hervy down to mete
amonges his felawes, with-owten lete,
and the kyng to tho Barowns spak ful meryely.
thanne gonnere Leodagans dowhter, trewely,
of wyn Servyd hire fadir jn a cowpe of goold
and kyng Artheur on knees; þat lette sche nold.
kyng Artheur here beheld ryht wel,
and of alle hyre fetures hym lykede eche del.
hym thowhte sche was the fairest lady
of that Lond or of al bretygne, sekerly.
that mayden al dischevele sche wente,
with strawht Sydes, & myddel ful gente.
On hire hed a chapelet of gold was set
Ful of precyous stones, with-owten let.
hyre vysage was bothe Bryht and schene,
entermellyd whyt and with red betwene
Ful naturely, as hit Scholde be,
Neþer more ne lasse be qwantyte;
hire scholderis wel large, hyre armes ful gent,
bothe longe and smale, verament;
with a merveillous faire Schapen Body
and þerto Fayre schapen loynes, Sekerly;
with smale feet wel schapen & gent:
Fairere cowde non man devysen, verament;
hire handis white, fyngres longe and smale:
of hire bewte joye hit is to tellen ony tale.
ȝif that this mayde hadde al this Bewte,
ȝit hadde sche dubble fold moche more bownte,
bothe prowesse, largenesse, & kurtesye,
of gret wyt and valour, Sekerlye.
This mayden, of whiche ȝe vndirstond,
was the fairest thorwh-owt ony Lond.
Now sesen we now of this matere,
and til eftsones non more to speke þerof here,
tyl that thaventuris of seint Graal
holy discuren hit Somme an al.
and speken we forth of this meyne oure fille,
that jn kyng leodagannes court abyden stylle.
ryaly at here Soper weren they dyht,
as hit belongede to men of myht.
And whanne that the tables j-drawen were,
the thre kynges on syde merlyn took there,
and openly he seide there to hem alle:
“wilen ȝe now heren what is jn breteyne befalle?”
“ȝe certes,” quod kyng Artheur tho,
“that wolde j weten, er that J go.”
“wile ȝe weten,” quod merlyn, “with-owten faylle,
aforn Londone hath ben ful gret Bataylle
aȝens the hethene, that there j-entrid Js
and þat lond dispoillid han & robbed, J-wys.
So that with the pray that they hadden take,
Towardis douer here weye gonne they make
jnto the ost to leden that cariage
with ten thousend men of gret parage.
thanne so hit behapped jn that tyde,
that fyve of thy nevews comen þere Ryde,
that from here moderis departyd were
and vnknoweng of ony of here fadris dere.
thanne how these forreyeris that they mette,
j schal ȝow tellen, with-owten ony lette.