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 |  |
493
At ȝork to soiourne was þe quen,
Scheo herde what wo hem was bytwen,
Þat Moddred ne myghte in bataille dure,
But euere was at desconfiture.
Scheo þoughte scheo was þen mykel to blame
ffor þe vylenye & þe schame
þat Moddred hadde brought hure inne,
& wyþ hym hadde y-leyn in synne,
& wedded hure ageyn þe lawe,—
He ne lefte for kyng ne Godes awe,—
Scheo hopede þat hit scholde yuele ende,
Hure noble lord so foule to schende,
& hure self for euere y-schent.
So mykel sorewe in herte scheo hent,
Scheo fledde away out of þe toun
To Walys, vntil Carlioun;
Sch[eo] ȝald hure til þat nonnerye,
& tok þe veil for hure folye;
Þer-inne was scheo hyd & sperd,
Þat noman of hure more herd.
Scheo herde what wo hem was bytwen,
Þat Moddred ne myghte in bataille dure,
But euere was at desconfiture.
Scheo þoughte scheo was þen mykel to blame
ffor þe vylenye & þe schame
þat Moddred hadde brought hure inne,
& wyþ hym hadde y-leyn in synne,
& wedded hure ageyn þe lawe,—
He ne lefte for kyng ne Godes awe,—
Scheo hopede þat hit scholde yuele ende,
Hure noble lord so foule to schende,
& hure self for euere y-schent.
So mykel sorewe in herte scheo hent,
Scheo fledde away out of þe toun
To Walys, vntil Carlioun;
Sch[eo] ȝald hure til þat nonnerye,
& tok þe veil for hure folye;
Þer-inne was scheo hyd & sperd,
Þat noman of hure more herd.
Moddred had sesed þen Cornewaille,
ffor al Ingeland gan hym faille,
& sente aboute to landes sers
After knyghte & souders;
Payen & Cristen knyght of scheld,
Alle þat wilde, at soud he held.
He sente for Irysche & Noreys;
Þe Saxons come wyþ þe Daneys;
‘Þat hadde nought on to lyue,
‘Lond,’ he seyde, ‘he wolde hem gyue;’
He highte & gaf to forthe his sped,
As man byhoues þat haþ gret ned.
ffor al Ingeland gan hym faille,
& sente aboute to landes sers
After knyghte & souders;
Payen & Cristen knyght of scheld,
Alle þat wilde, at soud he held.
He sente for Irysche & Noreys;
Þe Saxons come wyþ þe Daneys;
‘Þat hadde nought on to lyue,
‘Lond,’ he seyde, ‘he wolde hem gyue;’
He highte & gaf to forthe his sped,
As man byhoues þat haþ gret ned.
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