 | Joseph of Arimathie |  |
Þenne was Eualac taken and woundet ful sore;
And þe kyng tholomer takes him to kepe,
Ferde in-to a forest faste bi-syde,
forte fallen him feye er þei a-ȝeyn ferden.
And þe kyng tholomer takes him to kepe,
Ferde in-to a forest faste bi-syde,
forte fallen him feye er þei a-ȝeyn ferden.
þenne he vn-keuered his scheld & on þe cros biholdes;
He seiȝ a child strauȝt þer-on stremynge on blode,
And he bi-souȝte him of grace as he was godes foorme.
He seiȝ a child strauȝt þer-on stremynge on blode,
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þenne he seiȝ a whit kniht comynge him a-ȝeines,
boþe Armure and hors al as þe lilye,
A red cros on his scheld seemed him feire;
Rydes to tholomer rad wiþ þat ilke,
Baar him doun of his hors and harmed him more,
strok him stark ded þat he sturede neuere.
boþe Armure and hors al as þe lilye,
A red cros on his scheld seemed him feire;
Rydes to tholomer rad wiþ þat ilke,
Baar him doun of his hors and harmed him more,
strok him stark ded þat he sturede neuere.
Siþen he fonges forþ a ferly wepne,
fel hem feiȝe to his feet þat him hedde folewed.
fel hem feiȝe to his feet þat him hedde folewed.
þenne he horses Eualac on tholomeres steede,
bouwes touward þe batayle bigly and swiþe.
bouwes touward þe batayle bigly and swiþe.
Euer-more Eualac askes and cries,
“where was Seraphe?” and seiȝ him wiþ þat ilke,
wher seue knihtes him han sikerliche a-sayled,
and titli bi-gonnen to take him bi þe bridel.
“where was Seraphe?” and seiȝ him wiþ þat ilke,
wher seue knihtes him han sikerliche a-sayled,
and titli bi-gonnen to take him bi þe bridel.
þe white kniht wiþ his swerd swyngede to hem sone;
whon þe sixe weoren dede þe seueþe a knyf cauhte,
And wolde ha striken Seraphe at a stude derne,
vppon an hole of his helm and he was so for-fouȝten
þat he hedde no space spedly him-seluen
forto do him no dispit þe sporn was his owne.
whon þe sixe weoren dede þe seueþe a knyf cauhte,
And wolde ha striken Seraphe at a stude derne,
vppon an hole of his helm and he was so for-fouȝten
þat he hedde no space spedly him-seluen
forto do him no dispit þe sporn was his owne.
whon Eualac þat sauȝ he fel to þe grounde,
And Seraphe also and boþe lye [a] swoune.
And Seraphe also and boþe lye [a] swoune.
þe white kniht lihtes doun and boþe hem vp-liftes;
þer nas no lynde so liht as þise two leodes,
whon þei blencheden a-boue and eiþer seiȝ oþer.
þer nas no lynde so liht as þise two leodes,
whon þei blencheden a-boue and eiþer seiȝ oþer.
þenne seis Seraphe “scheuȝ me myn hache,
and I schal note hit to-day my strengþe is so newed.”
and I schal note hit to-day my strengþe is so newed.”
“Haue her-on,” seis þe white kniht “vppon my bihalue;
God sende þe þis þat al þe grace lenes.”
whon he hedde hit in honde he heold hit þe betere,
And þe heuior bi fer þen he bi-foren hedde;
Nas þer ȝong mon ne old þat ȝernloker wrouȝte
þen Eualac and Seraphe wher-so-euer þei souȝten,
Also fresch as þe hauk freschore þat tyme,
þen þei foundeden þidere in heore furste come.
But euer-more þe white kniht hem þe place roumede,
Hit falles not for to seiȝe þe fere of his duntes.
þer he lousede his hond he leyde hem on Ronkes,
and welde hem bi-foren at his oune wille.
God sende þe þis þat al þe grace lenes.”
whon he hedde hit in honde he heold hit þe betere,
And þe heuior bi fer þen he bi-foren hedde;
Nas þer ȝong mon ne old þat ȝernloker wrouȝte
þen Eualac and Seraphe wher-so-euer þei souȝten,
Also fresch as þe hauk freschore þat tyme,
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But euer-more þe white kniht hem þe place roumede,
Hit falles not for to seiȝe þe fere of his duntes.
þer he lousede his hond he leyde hem on Ronkes,
and welde hem bi-foren at his oune wille.
þe stiward of Tholomer stoffes hem to-gedere,
and seis, “þei ben a-middes þe Reume and mowe not hom reche,
ne heo knowe not in the lond forþi þei moten lenge.”
and seis, “þei ben a-middes þe Reume and mowe not hom reche,
ne heo knowe not in the lond forþi þei moten lenge.”
þenne þe folk of þe Roche hem in face kepten,
maden þer a siker werk and slowen hem vp clene.
maden þer a siker werk and slowen hem vp clene.
| Joseph of Arimathie | |