 | The Romance of William of Palerne |  |
1
William of Palerne
or William and the Werwolf
[_]
Italicized characters denote the editor's expansion of contracted words. Words within square brackets have been added by the editor to replace obvious omissions.
[_]
Three leaves have been lost at the beginning of the ms.; they are replaced here by a modern translation of the original French text.
[No one should keep it to himself or be silent,
If he knows something that will please,
But should declare it openly;
For he hides and loses his knowledge
Who does not declare it openly,
In the presence of people
Wherefore I will not hide my knowledge
That all the wicked may come to naught:
And that those who would fain hear me
May be able to learn knowledge and what is good.
For knowledge hidden and unheard
Is just like, in my opinion,
Many treasures that are shut up,
Which do good or advantage to no one;
Just as they are when thus enclosed,
So is it with concealed knowledge;
Wherefore I will not conceal mine.
Thus it pleases me to recount
According to my knowledge and memory
The event of an ancient story.
That happened once in Apulia
To a king who ruled the land.
The king was named Embrons;
Very exceeding great was his power;
He governed well his country in peace,
And was of exceeding great renown.
He had to wife a beauteous queen,
A gracious dame of noble origin;
And who was daughter to a rich emperor,
Who ruled the dominion of Greece.
Felice was the lady's name:
She was much loved in her kingdom.
They had but one only child,
A little lad, not very tall.
The prince was four years old,
And was marvellously fair.
William was the child's name,
But the queen very specially(?)
Has entrusted him to two ladies
Whom she brought from her own country.
One is named Gloriande.
The other was called Acelone.
To these she entrusts him, to keep him,
To teach and instruct him,
To shew and instruct him the law,
As one ought to teach a king's son.
In them she confided,
But was betrayed and defrauded
And deceived shamefully;
You shall very soon hear how.
King Embrons had one brother,
To whom the kingdom would fall;
And he bribed and promised so much,
And so contrived and managed
With the guardians who kept the child,
That they have told him they would kill it.
And the king himself at the same time.
They have already provided the poison
From which they will both receive death,
If God, king of the world, permits it.
In Palermo they have dwelt,
A whole month in the city,
With the king and the queen.
Beneath the chief marble tower
Was an orchard wondrously fair,
All enclosed with walls and mortar;
There was many a wild beast there.
One day, on a high festival,
The king came there to divert himself.
His chevaliers and his burgesses;
And many a baron had come there,
The queen herself was there.
Those who have the child in charge,
(Whom evil flame and evil fire burn!)
Have brought him along with the rest;
But they would have done nothing of the kind,
Had they but known the sorrow
That happened that day because of the child.
In the orchard the king shades himselt.
And the queen, with very great joy.
But they know not how their great grief
Is present to them, before their eyes.
The child goes gathering flowers.
And playing from one to the other.
Just then they look at the bushes,
A huge wolf, with mouth open, leaps in,
Comes in at the opening like a tempest;
All turn aside to avoid the beast;
Before the king, noiselessly,
He takes his son across his mouth,
And then makes off; but the cry
Was very soon raised after him.
The plaint arises, the cry arises
Of the son of the king that is borne away.
The queen oftentimes exclaims,
“Aid me, aid me, Holy Mary!
Ye household of the king, what do ye?
Now I shall die if he be not rescued!”
The king calls for his horses,
And makes all his vassals mount.
All the town is in commotion,
Every one runs as quickly as he can.
The king follows the wolf on the spur,
Watches him, encircling (him) around.
But the wolf had leapt far away,
And betaken himself to the plain;
The child oft cries out and wails;
The king, who goes after him, hears him.
He looks and sees him mount a hill,
Summons his men to come quickly.
Then all hasten on very fast,
The wolf flees away with the child.
The wolf flees away, and they after him,
Who are very desirous of reaching him.
Unto the Far [Straits of Messina] they chase him,
He leaps into the water with the child.
He crosses the Far, they have lost him,
The king and they who are with him;
Thus in such a manner, flees away
The wild beast with the child.
The king returns back,
Very sorrowful and sad at heart,
For his child whom he has st;
To the city have all returned.
The queen makes such a mourning,
She would fain be dead, had she her will;
She weeps often, and cries and wails,
And demands back her child from the beast.
“Son, sweet love,” saith the queen,
“Tender mouth, rosy colour,
Thing divine and spiritual,
Who could believe that beast or wolf
Could devour you? O God! what fortune!
Alas! wherefore live I or last so long?
Son, where are now thy beautiful eyes,
So beautiful, so innocent, without pride?
Thy fair forehead, and thy lovely hair,
Which seemed all made of fine gold?
Thy tender face, and thy clear looks?
Oh heart! wherefore hast thou not left me?
What is become of thy beauty,
Thy sweet body, and thy fairness?
Thy nose, thy mouth, and thy chin,
And thy form and fashion,
And thy fair arm, and thy white hands,
Thy fair reins and thy thighs,
Thy fair legs, and thy feet;
Alas! what sorrow and what fault!
Thou oughtest only to have been made
For pleasures and for desires!
Now art thou food for the werwolf,
My child! what a mischance!
But I cannot believe, on any account,
A wild beast would be so daring
As to hurt thy tender body,
To wound it, make it bleed, or tear it:
I cannot believe that it would please our Lord God,
Or that He would do such cruelty to it.”
Thus the lady is in despair,
Thus she laments for her son,
Thus she weeps, thus she complains for him.
But the king so corrects and restrains her,
That he makes her altogether leave off
The grlef which she was continuing and making;
Thus the lady becomes tranquilized.
But now it is right for me to tell you
About the wolf that fled with the child;
So far he carries it both day and night,
And traverses so much ground,
That in the country near Rome,
In a great forest, he stops;
Where was many a wild beast.
There he rests for eight whole days;
Whatever the child had need of,
The noble beast provided for it,
So that it had discomfort in nothing.
In the ground he has made a trench,
And in it placed and put grass,
And also fern and herbs(?)
Which within it he has spread.
At night, he lies down near him;
The werwolf embraces the king's son
With his four feet.
And so familiar with him
Is the king's son, that all pleases him,
Whatever the beast does for him;]
If he knows something that will please,
But should declare it openly;
For he hides and loses his knowledge
Who does not declare it openly,
In the presence of people
Wherefore I will not hide my knowledge
That all the wicked may come to naught:
And that those who would fain hear me
May be able to learn knowledge and what is good.
For knowledge hidden and unheard
Is just like, in my opinion,
Many treasures that are shut up,
Which do good or advantage to no one;
Just as they are when thus enclosed,
So is it with concealed knowledge;
Wherefore I will not conceal mine.
Thus it pleases me to recount
According to my knowledge and memory
The event of an ancient story.
2
To a king who ruled the land.
The king was named Embrons;
Very exceeding great was his power;
He governed well his country in peace,
And was of exceeding great renown.
He had to wife a beauteous queen,
A gracious dame of noble origin;
And who was daughter to a rich emperor,
Who ruled the dominion of Greece.
Felice was the lady's name:
She was much loved in her kingdom.
They had but one only child,
A little lad, not very tall.
The prince was four years old,
And was marvellously fair.
William was the child's name,
But the queen very specially(?)
Has entrusted him to two ladies
Whom she brought from her own country.
One is named Gloriande.
The other was called Acelone.
To these she entrusts him, to keep him,
To teach and instruct him,
To shew and instruct him the law,
As one ought to teach a king's son.
In them she confided,
But was betrayed and defrauded
And deceived shamefully;
You shall very soon hear how.
King Embrons had one brother,
To whom the kingdom would fall;
And he bribed and promised so much,
And so contrived and managed
With the guardians who kept the child,
That they have told him they would kill it.
3
They have already provided the poison
From which they will both receive death,
If God, king of the world, permits it.
In Palermo they have dwelt,
A whole month in the city,
With the king and the queen.
Beneath the chief marble tower
Was an orchard wondrously fair,
All enclosed with walls and mortar;
There was many a wild beast there.
One day, on a high festival,
The king came there to divert himself.
His chevaliers and his burgesses;
And many a baron had come there,
The queen herself was there.
Those who have the child in charge,
(Whom evil flame and evil fire burn!)
Have brought him along with the rest;
But they would have done nothing of the kind,
Had they but known the sorrow
That happened that day because of the child.
In the orchard the king shades himselt.
And the queen, with very great joy.
But they know not how their great grief
Is present to them, before their eyes.
The child goes gathering flowers.
And playing from one to the other.
Just then they look at the bushes,
A huge wolf, with mouth open, leaps in,
Comes in at the opening like a tempest;
All turn aside to avoid the beast;
Before the king, noiselessly,
He takes his son across his mouth,
And then makes off; but the cry
Was very soon raised after him.
4
Of the son of the king that is borne away.
The queen oftentimes exclaims,
“Aid me, aid me, Holy Mary!
Ye household of the king, what do ye?
Now I shall die if he be not rescued!”
The king calls for his horses,
And makes all his vassals mount.
All the town is in commotion,
Every one runs as quickly as he can.
The king follows the wolf on the spur,
Watches him, encircling (him) around.
But the wolf had leapt far away,
And betaken himself to the plain;
The child oft cries out and wails;
The king, who goes after him, hears him.
He looks and sees him mount a hill,
Summons his men to come quickly.
Then all hasten on very fast,
The wolf flees away with the child.
The wolf flees away, and they after him,
Who are very desirous of reaching him.
Unto the Far [Straits of Messina] they chase him,
He leaps into the water with the child.
He crosses the Far, they have lost him,
The king and they who are with him;
Thus in such a manner, flees away
The wild beast with the child.
The king returns back,
Very sorrowful and sad at heart,
For his child whom he has st;
To the city have all returned.
The queen makes such a mourning,
She would fain be dead, had she her will;
She weeps often, and cries and wails,
And demands back her child from the beast.
5
“Tender mouth, rosy colour,
Thing divine and spiritual,
Who could believe that beast or wolf
Could devour you? O God! what fortune!
Alas! wherefore live I or last so long?
Son, where are now thy beautiful eyes,
So beautiful, so innocent, without pride?
Thy fair forehead, and thy lovely hair,
Which seemed all made of fine gold?
Thy tender face, and thy clear looks?
Oh heart! wherefore hast thou not left me?
What is become of thy beauty,
Thy sweet body, and thy fairness?
Thy nose, thy mouth, and thy chin,
And thy form and fashion,
And thy fair arm, and thy white hands,
Thy fair reins and thy thighs,
Thy fair legs, and thy feet;
Alas! what sorrow and what fault!
Thou oughtest only to have been made
For pleasures and for desires!
Now art thou food for the werwolf,
My child! what a mischance!
But I cannot believe, on any account,
A wild beast would be so daring
As to hurt thy tender body,
To wound it, make it bleed, or tear it:
I cannot believe that it would please our Lord God,
Or that He would do such cruelty to it.”
Thus the lady is in despair,
Thus she laments for her son,
Thus she weeps, thus she complains for him.
But the king so corrects and restrains her,
That he makes her altogether leave off
The grlef which she was continuing and making;
6
But now it is right for me to tell you
About the wolf that fled with the child;
So far he carries it both day and night,
And traverses so much ground,
That in the country near Rome,
In a great forest, he stops;
Where was many a wild beast.
There he rests for eight whole days;
Whatever the child had need of,
The noble beast provided for it,
So that it had discomfort in nothing.
In the ground he has made a trench,
And in it placed and put grass,
And also fern and herbs(?)
Which within it he has spread.
At night, he lies down near him;
The werwolf embraces the king's son
With his four feet.
And so familiar with him
Is the king's son, that all pleases him,
Whatever the beast does for him;]
þat it apertly was apayed for profite þat he feld,
& [wrouȝt] buxumly by þe bestes wille in wise as it couþe.
Hit bi-fel in þat forest þere fast by-side,
& [wrouȝt] buxumly by þe bestes wille in wise as it couþe.
þer woned a wel old cherl þat was a couherde,
þat fele winterres in þat forest fayre had kepud
Mennes ken of þe cuntre as a comen herde;
& þus it bitide þat time as tellen oure bokes,
þis cowherd comes on a time to kepen is bestes
Fast by-side þe borwȝ þere þe barn was inne.
þe herd had wiþ him an hound his hert to liȝt,
7
þe herd sat þan wiþ hound aȝene þe hote sunne,
Nouȝt fully a furlong fro þat fayre child,
clouȝtand kyndely his schon as to here craft falles.
þat while was þe werwolf went a-boute his praye,
what behoued to þe barn to bring as he miȝt.
þe child þan darked in his den dernly him one,
& was a big bold barn & breme of his age,
For spakly speke it couþe tho & spedeliche to-wawe.
Louely lay it a-long in his lonely denne,
& buskede him out of þe buschys þat were blowed grene,
& leued ful louely þat lent grete schade,
& briddes ful bremely on þe bowes singe.
what for melodye þat þei made in þe mey sesoun,
þat litel child listely lorked out of his caue,
Faire floures forto fecche þat he bi-fore him seye,
& to gadere of þe grases þat grene were & fayre.
& whan it was out went so wel hit him liked,
þe sauor of þe swete sesoun & song of þe briddes,
þat [he] ferde fast a-boute floures to gadere,
& layked him long while to lesten þat merþe.
þe couherdes hound þat time as happe by-tidde,
feld foute of þe child and fast þider fulwes;
& sone as he it seiȝ soþe forto telle,
he gan to berke on þat barn and to baie it hold,
þat it wax neiȝ of his witt wod for sere,
and comsed þan to crye so kenly and schille,
& wepte so wonder fast wite þou for sothe,
þat þe son of þe cry com to þe cowherde euene,
þat he wist witerly it was þe voys of a childe.
þan ros he vp radely & ran þider swiþe,
& drow him toward þe den bi his dogges noyce.
bi þat time was þe barn for bere of þat hounde,
8
& wept euere as it wolde a-wede for fere;
& euere þe dogge at þe hole held it at a-baye
& whan þe kouherd com þid[er]e he koured lowe
to bi-hold in at þe hole whi his hound berkyd.
þanne of-saw he ful sone þat semliche child,
þat so loueliche lay & wep in þat loþli caue,
cloþed ful komly for ani kud kinges sone,
In gode cloþes of gold a-greþed ful riche,
wiþ perrey & pellure pertelyche to þe riȝttes.
þe cherl wondred of þat chaunce & chastised his dogge,
bad him blinne of his berking & to þe barn talked,
acoyed it to come to him & clepud hit oft,
& foded it wiþ floures & wiþ faire by-hest,
& hiȝt it hastely to haue what it wold ȝerne,
appeles & alle þinges þat childern after wilnen.
so, forto seiȝ al þe soþe so faire þe cherl glosed,
þat þe child com of þe caue & his criynge stint.
þe cherl ful cherli þat child tok in his armes,
& kest hit & clipped and oft crist þonkes,
þat hade him sent þo sonde swiche prey to finde.
wiȝtliche wiþ þe child he went to his house,
and bi-tok it to his wif tiȝtly to kepe.
a gladere wommon vnder god no miȝt go on erþe,
þan was þe wif wiþ þe child witow for soþe.
sche kolled it ful kindly and askes is name,
& it answered ful sone & seide, “william y hiȝt.”
þan was þe godwif glad and gan it faire kepe,
þat it wanted nouȝt þat it wold haue,
þat þei ne fond him as faire as for here state longed,
& þe beter, be ye sure for barn ne had þei none
brouȝt forþ of here bodies; here bale was þe more.
but soþly þai seide þe child schuld weld al here godis,
Londes & ludes as eyer after here lif dawes.
but from þe cherl & þe child nov chaunge we oure tale,
9
Whanne þis werwolf was come to his wolnk denne,
& hade brouȝt bilfoder for þe barnes mete,
þat he hade wonne with wo wide wher a-boute,
þan fond he nest & no neiȝ for nouȝt nas þer leued.
& whan þe best þe barn missed so balfully he g[r]inneþ,
þat alle men vpon molde no miȝt telle his sorwe.
For reuliche gan he rore & rente al his hide,
& fret oft of þe erþe & fel doun on swowe,
& made þe most dool þat man miȝt diuise.
& as þe best in his bale þer a-boute wente,
he fond þe feute al fresh where forþ þe herde
hadde bore þan barn beter it to ȝeme.
wiȝtly þe werwolf þan went bi nose
euene to þe herdes house & hastely was þare.
þere walked he a-boute þe walles to winne in siȝt;
& at þe last lelly a litel hole he findes.
þere pried he in priuely and pertiliche bi-holdes
hov hertily þe herdes wif hules þat child,
& hov fayre it fedde & fetisliche it baþede,
& wrouȝt wiþ it as wel as ȝif it were hire owne.
þanne was þe best bliþe i-nov for þe barnes sake,
For he wist it schold be warded wel þanne at þe best.
& hertily for þat hap to-heuene-ward he loked,
& þroliche þonked god mani þousand siþes,
& seþþen went on is way whider as him liked;
but whiderward wot i neuer witow for soþe.
ak nowþe ȝe þat arn hende haldes ow stille,
& how þat best þerwe bale was brouȝt out of kinde,
I wol ȝou telle as swiþe trewly þe soþe.
Werwolf was he non wox of kinde,
ac komen was he of kun þat kud was ful nobul;
For þe kud king of spayne was kindely his fader.
he gat him, as god ȝaf grace on his ferst wyue,
& at þe burþ of þat barn þe bold lady deyde.
siþþen þat kud king so bi his conseyl wrout,
another wif þat he wedded a worchipful ladi,
þe princes douȝter of portingale to proue þe soþe.
but lelliche þat ladi in ȝouþe hadde lerned miche schame,
For al þe werk of wicchecraft wel y-nouȝ che couȝþe,
nede nadde ȝhe namore of nigramauncy to lere.
of coninge of wicche-craft wel y-nouȝ ȝhe couȝde,
& braunde was þat bold quene of burnes y-clepud.
þe kinges furst child was fostered fayre as it ouȝt,
& had lordes & ladies it louely to kepe,
& fast gan þat frely barn fayre forto wexe.
þe quene his moder on a time as a mix þouȝt,
how faire & how fetis it was & freliche schapen.
& þis þanne þouȝt sche þroly þat it no schuld neuer
kuuere to be king þer as þe kinde eyre,
whille þe kinges ferst sone were þer a-liue.
þan studied sche stifly as stepmoderes wol alle,
to do dernly a despit to here stepchilderen;
Feþli a-mong foure schore vnneþe findestow on gode.
but truly tiȝt hadde þat quene take hire to rede
to bring þat barn in bale botles for euer,
þat he ne schuld wiȝtli in þis world neuer weld reaume.
a noynement anon sche made of so grete strengþe,
bi enchaunmens of charmes þat euel chaunche hire tide,
þat whan þat womman þer-wiȝt hadde þat worli child
ones wel an-oynted þe child wel al a-bowte,
he wex to a werwolf wiȝtly þer-after,
al þe making of man so mysse hadde ȝhe schaped.
ac his witt welt he after as wel as to-fore,
but lelly oþer likenes þat longeþ to man-kynne,
but a wilde werwols ne walt he neuer after.
& whanne þis witty werwolf wiste him so schaped,
he knew it was bi þe craft of his kursed stepmoder,
& þouȝt or he went a-way he wold ȝif he miȝt
wayte hire sum wicked torn what bi-tidde after.
& as bliue, boute bod he braydes to þe quene,
& hent hire so hetterly to haue hire a-strangeled,
þat hire deth was neiȝ diȝt to deme þe soþe.
but carfuli gan sche crie so kenely and lowde,
þat maydenes & miȝthi men manliche to hire come,
& wolden brusten þe best nad he be þe liȝttere,
& fled a-way þe faster in-to ferre londes,
so þat pertely in-to poyle he passed þat time,
as þis fortune bi-fel þat i told of bi-fore;
þus was þis witty best werwolf ferst maked.
but now wol i stint a stounde of þis sterne best,
& tale of þe tidy child þat y of told ere.
ac komen was he of kun þat kud was ful nobul;
For þe kud king of spayne was kindely his fader.
10
& at þe burþ of þat barn þe bold lady deyde.
siþþen þat kud king so bi his conseyl wrout,
another wif þat he wedded a worchipful ladi,
þe princes douȝter of portingale to proue þe soþe.
but lelliche þat ladi in ȝouþe hadde lerned miche schame,
For al þe werk of wicchecraft wel y-nouȝ che couȝþe,
nede nadde ȝhe namore of nigramauncy to lere.
of coninge of wicche-craft wel y-nouȝ ȝhe couȝde,
& braunde was þat bold quene of burnes y-clepud.
þe kinges furst child was fostered fayre as it ouȝt,
& had lordes & ladies it louely to kepe,
& fast gan þat frely barn fayre forto wexe.
þe quene his moder on a time as a mix þouȝt,
how faire & how fetis it was & freliche schapen.
& þis þanne þouȝt sche þroly þat it no schuld neuer
kuuere to be king þer as þe kinde eyre,
whille þe kinges ferst sone were þer a-liue.
þan studied sche stifly as stepmoderes wol alle,
to do dernly a despit to here stepchilderen;
Feþli a-mong foure schore vnneþe findestow on gode.
but truly tiȝt hadde þat quene take hire to rede
to bring þat barn in bale botles for euer,
þat he ne schuld wiȝtli in þis world neuer weld reaume.
a noynement anon sche made of so grete strengþe,
bi enchaunmens of charmes þat euel chaunche hire tide,
þat whan þat womman þer-wiȝt hadde þat worli child
ones wel an-oynted þe child wel al a-bowte,
he wex to a werwolf wiȝtly þer-after,
al þe making of man so mysse hadde ȝhe schaped.
ac his witt welt he after as wel as to-fore,
but lelly oþer likenes þat longeþ to man-kynne,
but a wilde werwols ne walt he neuer after.
& whanne þis witty werwolf wiste him so schaped,
he knew it was bi þe craft of his kursed stepmoder,
11
wayte hire sum wicked torn what bi-tidde after.
& as bliue, boute bod he braydes to þe quene,
& hent hire so hetterly to haue hire a-strangeled,
þat hire deth was neiȝ diȝt to deme þe soþe.
but carfuli gan sche crie so kenely and lowde,
þat maydenes & miȝthi men manliche to hire come,
& wolden brusten þe best nad he be þe liȝttere,
& fled a-way þe faster in-to ferre londes,
so þat pertely in-to poyle he passed þat time,
as þis fortune bi-fel þat i told of bi-fore;
þus was þis witty best werwolf ferst maked.
but now wol i stint a stounde of þis sterne best,
& tale of þe tidy child þat y of told ere.
þus passed is þe first pas of þis pris tale,
& ȝe þat louen & lyken to listen a-ni more,
alle wiȝth on hol hert to þe heiȝ king of heuene
preieth a pater noster priuely þis time
for þe hend erl of herford sir humfray de bowne,
þe king edwardes newe at glouseter þat ligges.
For he of frensche þis fayre tale ferst dede translate,
In ese of englysch men in englysch speche;
& god graunt hem his blis þat godly so prayen!
Leue lordes, now listenes of þis litel barn,
& ȝe þat louen & lyken to listen a-ni more,
alle wiȝth on hol hert to þe heiȝ king of heuene
preieth a pater noster priuely þis time
for þe hend erl of herford sir humfray de bowne,
þe king edwardes newe at glouseter þat ligges.
For he of frensche þis fayre tale ferst dede translate,
In ese of englysch men in englysch speche;
& god graunt hem his blis þat godly so prayen!
þat þe kinde kowherde-wif keped so fayre.
ȝhe wist it as wel or bet as ȝif it were hire owne,
til hit big was & bold to buschen on felde,
& couþe ful craftily kepe alle here bestes,
& bring hem in þe best lese whan hem bi-stode nede,
& wited hem so wisly þat wanted him neuer one.
a bowe al-so þat bold barn bi-gat him þat time,
& so to schote vnder þe schawes scharplyche he lerned,
þat briddes & smale bestes wiþ his bow he quelles
12
whanne he went hom eche niȝt wiþ is droue of bestis,
he com him-self y-charged wiþ conyng & hares,
wiþ fesauns & feldfares and oþer foules grete;
þat þe herde & his hende wif & al his hole meyne
þat bold barn wiþ his bowe by þat time fedde.
& ȝit hadde fele felawes in þe forest eche day,
ȝong bold barnes þat bestes al-so keped.
& bliþe was eche a barn ho best miȝt him plese,
& folwe him for his fredom & for his faire þewes.
for what þing willam wan a-day wiþ his bowe,
were it feþered foul or foure-foted best,
ne wold þis william neuer on wiþ-hold to him-selue,
til alle his felawes were ferst feffed to here paie.
so kynde & so corteys comsed he þere,
þat alle ledes him louede þat loked on him ones;
& blesseden þat him bare & brouȝt in-to þis worlde,
so moche manhed & murþe schewed þat child euere.
Hit tidde after on a time as tellus oure bokes,
as þis bold barn his bestes blyþeliche keped,
þe riche emperour of rome rod out for to hunte
In þat faire forest feiþely for to telle,
wiþ alle his menskful meyne þat moche was & nobul.
þan fel it hap þat þei founde ful sone a grete bor,
& huntyng wiþ hound & horn harde alle sewede.
þe emperowr entred in a wey euene to attele
to haue bruttenet þat bor & þe abaie seþþen;
but missely marked he is way & so manly he rides,
þat alle his wies were went ne wist he neuer whider.
so ferforþ fram his men feþly for to telle,
þat of horn ne of hound ne miȝt he here sowne,
&, boute eny liuing lud left was he one.
þemperour on his stif stede a sty forþ þanne takes
to herken after his houndes oþer horn schille;
so komes þer a werwolf riȝt bi þat way þenne,
13
& chased him þurth chaunce þere þe child pleide,
þat kept þe kowherdes bestes i carped of bi-fore.
þemperour þanne hastely þat huge best folwed
as stiffuly as is stede miȝt strecche on to renne;
but by-þan he com by þat barn & a-boute loked,
þe werwolf & þe wilde hert were a-weye boþe,
þat he ne wist in þis world were þei were bi-come,
ne whiderward he schuld seche to se of hem more.
but þanne bi-held he a-boute & þat barn of-seye,
hov fair, how fetys it was & sreliche schapen;
so fair a siȝt of seg ne sawe he neuer are,
of lere ne of lykame lik him nas none,
ne of so sad a semblant þat euer he say wiþ eiȝyen.
þemperour wend witerly for wonder of þat child,
þat feiȝþely it were of feyrye for fairenes þat it welt,
& for þe curteys cuntenaunce þat it kudde þere.
Riȝtly þenne þemperour wendes him euene tille,
þe child comes him agayn & curtesliche him gretes.
In hast þemperour hendely his gretyng him ȝeldes,
and a-non riȝttes after askes his name,
& of what kin he were kome komanded him telle.
þe child þanne soberliche seide “sir, at ȝoure wille
I wol ȝow telle as tyt trewely alle þe soþe.
william, sire, wel y wot wiȝes me calles;
I was bore here fast bi by þis wodes side.
a kowherde, sire, of þis kontrey is my kynde fader,
and my menskful moder is his meke wiue.
þei han me fostered & fed faire to þis time,
& here i kepe is kyn as y kan on dayes;
but, sire, by crist, of my kin know i no more.”
whan þemperour hade herd holly his wordes,
he wondered of his wis speche as he wel miȝt,
& seide, “þow bold barn biliue i þe praye,
14
For y wold talk [wiþ] him tiþinges to frayne.”
“nay, sire, bi god,” quaþ þe barn, “be ȝe riȝt sure,
bi crist, þat is krowned heye king of heuen,
For me non harm schal he haue neuer in his liue!”
“ac perauenture þurth goddis [grace] to gode may it turne,
For-þi bring him hider faire barn, y preye.”
“I schal, sire,” seide þe child “for saufliche y hope
I may worche on ȝour word to wite him fro harm.”
“ȝa, safliche,” seide þemperour “so god ȝif me ioie!”
þe child witly þanne wende wiþ-oute ani more,
comes to þe couherdes hows & clepud him sone;
For he feiȝliche wen[d] þat he his fader where;
& seide þan, “swete sir s[o] ȝou criste help!
Goþ yond to a gret lord þat gayly is tyred,
& on þe feirest frek for soþe þat i haue seie;
and he wilnes wiȝtli wiþ ȝou to speke;
For godis loue goþtil him swiþe lest he agreued wex.”
“what? sone,” seide þe couherde “seidestow i was here.”
“ȝa, sire, sertes,” seide þe child “but he swor formest
þat ȝe schuld haue no harm but hendely for gode
he praide ȝou com speke wiþ him & passe a-ȝein sone.”
þe cherl grocching forþ goþ wiþ þe gode child,
& euene to þemperour þei etteleden sone.
þemperour a-non riȝt as he him of-seie,
clepud to him þe couherde & curteysly seide;
“now telle me, felawe, be þi feiȝþ for no þing ne wonde,
sei þou euer þemperour so þe crist help?”
15
I nas neuer ȝet so hardi to neȝh him so hende
þere i schuld haue him seie so me wel tyme.”
“sertes,” þan seide þemperour “þe soþe forto knowe,
þat y am þat ilk weiȝh i wol wel þou wite;
al þe regal of rome to riȝtleche y weld.
þerfore, couherde, i þe coniure & comande att alle,
bi vertu of þing þat þou most in þis world louest,
þatow telle me tiȝtly truly þe soþe,
wheþer þis bold barn be lelly þin owne,
oþer comen of oþer kin so þe crist help!”
þe couherd comsed to quake for kare & for drede
whanne he wist witerly þat he was his lorde,
& biliue in his hert be-þout ȝif he him gun lye,
he wold prestely perceyue pertiliche him þout.
þer-fore trewly as tyt he told him þe soþe,
how he him fond in þat forest þere fast bi-side,
clothed in comly cloþing for any kinges sone,
vnder an holw ok þurth help of his dogge,
& how faire he hade him fed & fostered vij winter.
“bi crist,” seide þemperour “y con þe gret þonke,
þat þou hast [seide] me þe soþe of þis semly childe,
& tine schalt þou nouȝt þi trawayle y trow, at þe last!
ac wend schal it wiþ me witow for soþe,
Min hert so harde wilnes to haue þis barne,
þat i wol in no wise þou wite it no lenger.”
whan þemperour so sayde soþe forto telle,
þe couherde was in care i can him no-þing white.
ac witerly dorst he nouȝt werne þe wille of his lord,
but graunted him goddeli on godis holy name,
Forto worchen his wille as lord wiþ his owne.
whan william þis worþi child wist þe soþe,
and knew þat þe cowherde nas nouȝt his kinde fader,
16
& seide saddely to him-self sone þer-after,
“a! gracious gode god! þouȝ grettest of alle!
Moch is þi mercy & þi miȝt þi menske, & þi grace!
now wot i neuer in þis world of wham y am come,
ne what destene me is diȝt but god do his wille!
ac wel y wot witerly wiþ-oute ani faile,
to þis man & his meke wif most y am holde;
For þei ful faire han me fostered & fed a long time,
þat god for his grete miȝt al here god hem ȝeld.
but not y neuer what to done to wende þus hem fro,
þat han al kindenes me kyd & y ne kan hem ȝelde!”
“bi stille, barn,” quaþ þemperour “blinne of þi sorwe,
For y hope þat hal þi kin hastely here-after,
ȝif þou wolt ȝeue þe to gode swiche grace may þe falle,
þat alle þi frendes fordedes faire schalstow quite.”
“ȝa, sire,” quaþ þe couherde, “ȝif crist wol þat cas may tyde,
& god lene him grace to god man to worþe.”
& þan as tit to þe child he tauȝt þis lore,
& seide, “þou swete sone seþþe þou schalt hennes wende,
whanne þou komest to kourt among þe kete lordes,
& knowest alle þe kuþþes þat to kourt langes,
bere þe boxumly & bonure þat ich burn þe loue.
be meke & mesurabul nouȝt of many wordes,
be no tellere of talis but trewe to þi lord,
& prestely for pore men profer þe euer,
For hem to rekene wiþ þe riche in riȝt & in skille.
be feiȝtful & fre & euer of faire speche,
& seruisabul to þe simple so as to þe riche,
& felawe in faire manere as falles for þi state;
so schaltow gete goddes loue & alle gode mennes.
Leue sone, þis lessoun me lerde my fader,
þat knew of kourt þe þewes for kourteour was he long,
& hald it in þi hert now i þe haue it kenned;
17
Þe child weped al-way wonderliche fast,
but þemperour had god game of þat gomes lore,
& comande þe couherde curteysli and fayre,
to heue vp þat hende child bi-hinde him on his stede.
& he so dede deliuerly þouȝh him del þouȝt,
& bi-kenned him to crist þat on croice was peyned.
þanne þat barn as biliue by-gan for to glade
þat he so realy schuld ride & redeli as swiþe
Ful curteisle of þe couherde he cacces his leue,
& seþþen seyde, “swete sire i bes[e]che ȝou nowþe,
For godes loue, gretes ofte my godelyche moder,
þat so faire haþ me fed & fostered till nowþe.
& lellyche, ȝif our lord wol þat i liif haue,
sche ne schal nouȝt tyne hire trauayle treuly for soþe.
& gode sire, for godes loue also greteþ wel oft
alle my freyliche felawes þat to þis forest longes,
han pertilyche in many places pleide wiþ ofte,
hugonet, & huet þat hende litel dwerþ,
& abelot, & martynet hugones gaie sone;
& þe cristen akarin þat was mi kyn fere,
& þe trewe kinnesman þe payenes sone,
& alle oþer frely felawes þat þou faire knowes,
þat god mak hem gode men for his mochel grace.”
of þe names þat he nemned þemperour nam hede,
& had gaynliche god game for he so grette alle
of his compers þat he knew so curteysliche & faire.
& þan be-kenned he þe kouherde to crist & to hal alwes,
& busked forþ wiþ þat barn bliue on his gate.
þe kouherde kayred to his house karful in hert,
& neiȝ to-barst he for bale for þe barnes sake.
& whan his wiif wist wittow for soþe,
18
þer nis man on þis mold þat miȝt half telle
þe wo & þe weping þat womman made.
sche wold haue sleie hire-self þere soþly, as bliue,
ne hade þe kind kouherde conforted here þe betere,
& pult hire in hope to haue gret help þer-of after.
but trewely of hem at þis time þe tale y lete,
of þemperour & þe bold barn to bigynne to speke.
Lordes, lusteneþ her-to ȝif ȝou lef þinkes!
þemperour bliþe of þe barn on his blonk rides
Fast til þe forest, til he fond al his fre ferd,
þat hadde take þat time moche trye game,
boþe bores & beres fele hors charge,
hertes & hindes & oþer bestes manye.
& whan þe loueli ludes seie here lord come,
þei were geinliche glad & gretten him faire,
but alle a-wondered þei were of þe barn him bi-hinde,
so faire & so fetyse it was & freliche schapen;
& freyned faire of þemperour whar he it founde hadde.
he gaf hem answere a-gayn þat god it him sent,
oþer-wise wist non where he it founde.
þan rod he forþ wiþ þat rowte in-to rome euene,
& euer þat bold barn by-hinde him sat stille.
so passed he to þe paleys and presteliche a-liȝt,
& william þat choys child in-to his chaumber ledde.
a dere damisele to douȝter þis emperour hadde þanne,
of alle fasoun þe fairest þat euer freke seiȝe,
& witerly william & ȝhe were of on held,
as euene as ani wiȝt schuld attely bi siȝt.
& þat menskful mayde melior was hoten,
a more curteyse creature ne cunnyngere of hire age,
was nouȝt þanne in þis world þat ani wiȝt knewe.
þemperour to þat mayde mekliche wendeþ,
& william þat worþi child wiþ him he ladde,
and seide, “dere douȝter y do þe to wite,
19
haue here þis bold barn & be til him meke,
& do him kepe clenly for kome he his of gode;
I hent þis at hunting swiche hap god me sent;”
& told here þanne as tit treweli al þe soþe,
how he hade missed is mayne & malskrid a-boute,
& how þe werwolf wan him bi wiþ a wilde hert,
& how sadly he him sewed to haue slayn þat dere,
til þei hadde brouȝt him þere þat barn bestes kept,
& how sone of his seiȝt þe bestes seþþen ware;
& how þe couherde com him to & was a-knowe þe soþe,
how he him fond in þat forest ferst, þat faire child,
& how komeliche y-cloþed for ani kinges sone;
& how þe kouherde for kare cumsed to sorwe,
whanne he wold wiþ þe child wende him fromme;
& how boldely þat barn bad þe couherde þanne
to grete wel his gode wiif & gamely þer-after
alle his freliche felawes bi-forn as i told.
“& þer-fore, my dere douȝter” þemperour seide,
“For mi lof loke him wel for lelly me þinkes,
bi his menskful maners & his man-hede,
þat he is kome of god kin to crist y hope;
[_]
The next folio (Fol. 10) being lost, it is replaced here with a modern translaton of the original French text.
In body, in face, and in fashion.
We shall yet hear, peradventure.
Of what kin he is descended and born.
My sweet daughter, now take care of
The child whom I here bring you.”
“Great thanks are due to you for this,”
Said Melior, “fair father dear;
I take care of him very willingly.”
Then she takes the child and leads him away,
Brings him into her chamber,
20
And has him clothed and well cared for.
When he was dressed in the robes,
And fittingly provided with shoes,
So gracious and so very fair
And so frank was the boy.
That his equal could not be met with
Beneath the light of the sun,
For his beauty, for his appearance.
And Melior, who was so bountiful,
Caused one of her servants
To carry a repast before him.
And he, being hungry, ate it,
And returned then to his duty.
Wherefore if he is a king's son
'Tis no dishonour, as I believe,
If he serves at the emperor's court
And (serves) a damsel of such worth
As was Melior the beautiful.
Thus remained with the damsel
William, as you may hear;
Much pains he takes to serve her
And all the others likewise.
Very excellently he demeans himself,
Like, indeed, a man who had never been
Nourished in court or household,
But nature also proves him,
And he, above every creature,
Gives attention and puts his whole heart
To whatever he ought to undertake.
There was no youth, in any service,
So high and so rich at court.
The child so gave his attention there,
And understood and learnt so much,
That before the year was passed,
He was so prudent and so wise,
21
(So well can he take care), nor perceive
For anything that he could see,
That he mistook or misdid anything.
Ye have long ago heard say
That the bird of gentle breed
Learns even by himself,
Without correction by another;
Even as ye here may hear,
William thus taught himself.
Thus William lives at the court,
He deserves that all should honour him,
And does nothing to displease.
He is very frank and amiable,
Serviceable, courteous, and prudent,
And makes himself much loved by all,
And (he is) bounteous as far as he is able.
And know well, there is no need
To correct him for his words,
Which are neither rude nor silly,
But staid and pleasing.
He knew more of chess and tables,
Of hawking, of the woods, of the chase,
Than any one in Lombardy,
Or in all the territory of Rome;
There is no lad, son to a great man,
Nor rich prince by birth
(When William sits on his horse,
Shield on his neck, lance in his fist),
Can be of such fierce appearance,
So gracious, nor so dexterous;
I know not that I can tell you more about it.
So that all seem plebeian beside him.
Both Lombard and Roman.
He seems to be the lord of them all
In all the kingdom and empire.
22
Who possesses-whereof I boast(?)—
The virtues, which people relate of him;
Every one speaks of them and tells them.
All the people, in common (honour him),
And the emperor, in like manner,
Honours, loves, and holds him dear
As the son of his own wife;
And when he goes out for amusement.
He always takes William with him;
In great affairs, or in case of ueed,
Always he goes there, whether near or far.
And those of the country round about,
The great lords and barons,
For love of the emperor,
Love and greatly honour him,
And still more for his bounty,
For which every one praises and esteems him.
And what can I say of the maidens,
Of the ladies and the damsels?
Certes, so God give me joy,
I believe there is none who sees him
Or hears his praise told,
Of however great consideration she may be,
However fair, courteous, and estimable,
However noble by birth.
However wise, proud, or elever,
But she wishes to be his love!
He has great good praise in the country,
Everywhere spreads his renown.
Thus at the court three full years
Was William, among the Romans,
As ye have heard me tell,
Well grown and of good stature;
And the youth became gracious,
And strong and of fine form and fair;
23
The maidens above everything,
For his frankness and his valour,
Accord him very great honour.
When Melior the amiable
Hears the praise of the lad told,
And the great goodness that is in him,
And sees there is none in the world so fair,
No youth of his worth,
(Whether) son of king or of emperor,
Nor any of such good renown,
Soon her heart and her thought
Very quickly turns she towards him.
Then she is so very sad and sorrowful,
That she minds nothing else.
She reproves and blames and rebukes her heart,
And says often, “Heart, what hast thou?
What hast thou beheld or seen—
For mine eye shews or tells me nothing—
That has cast me into this debate?
So that I know not what is the matter,
Nor what fault makes me grieve,
Or complain more than I am wont.
Oh God! what evil is it I thus grieve for,
That makes me thus move restlessly?
& seþþe sike i & sing samen to-gedere,
& melt neiȝh for mournyng & moche ioie make.
Min hert hol i haue now for al þat hard y fele,
saue a fers feintise folwes me oft,
& takes me so tenefully to telle al þe soþe,
þat i mase al marred for mournyng neiȝh hondes,
but redeliche in þat res þe recuuerere þat me falles,
as whan i haue ani hap to here of þat barne,
For wham myn hert is so hampered & aldes so nobul,
24
prince is non his pere ne in paradiȝs non aungel,
as he semes in mi siȝt so faire is þat burne.
I haue him portreide an paynted in mi hert wiþinne,
þat he sittus in mi siȝt me þinkes euer-more.
& faire so his figure is festened in mi ȝout,
þat wiþ no coyntise ne craft ne can y it out scrape.
& be marie, þouȝh i miȝt to mengge al þe soþe,
I ne wold nouȝt for al þis world so wel it me likes,
þeiȝh i winne wiþ mi werk þe worse euer-more!
so gret liking & loue i haue þat lud to bi-hold,
þat i haue leuer þat loue þan lac al mi harmes.
Nou certes, seþþe it is so to seie þe trewþe,
þann haue y had gret wrong myn [hert] so to blame,
For eni werk þat he wrouȝt seþþe i wol it hold,
ne wold i it were non oþer al þe world to haue.
whom schal i it wite but mi wicked eyiȝen,
þat lad myn hert þrouȝ loking þis langour to drye?
nad þei [ben, i miȝt] boute bale haue schaped;
redeli bi resoun þerfore hem rette i mai mi sorwe.”
but þanne þouȝt che þat þrowe in þis selue wise,
“Min eiȝen sorly aren sogettes to serue min hert,
& buxum ben to his bidding as boie to his master;
eke wite i al þe wrong þe wrong þe werk of mi eiȝen,
& þouȝh sertes, so may i nouȝt by no soþe riȝt;
For seþþe i knowe þat mi siȝt is seruant to mi hert,
& alle my noþer wolnk wittes to wirchen his hest.
For þouȝh i sette my siȝt sadly on a þing,
be hit briȝtter oþer broun beter oþer worse,
Mi siȝt may in no maner more harme wirche,
but ȝif myn hauteyn hert þe harde a-sente.
eke soþly my siȝt is soget to my hert,
& doþ nouȝt but his deuer as destine wol falle.
25
him wol i blame & banne but he my bales amende,
þat haþ him so strangly set in swiche straunge burne,
þat wot neuer in þis world whennes þat he come,
but as mi fader him fond in þe forest an herde,
keping mennis kin of þe kuntre a-boute.
what? fy! schold i a fundeling for his fairenesse tak?
nay, my wille wol nouȝt a-sent to my wicked hert.
wel kud kinges & kaysers krauen me i-now,
I nel leie mi loue so low now at þis time;
desparaged were i disgisili ȝif i dede in þis wise,
I wol breke out fram þat baret & blame my hert.”
Sche turned here þan tiȝtly to haue slept a wile,
& seide sadly, of hire hert sche wold seche amendis
For sche so wrongly had wrouȝt but wiȝtly þer-after,
sche seide sikinde to here-self in þis selue wise.
“now witterly ich am vn-wis & wonderliche nyce,
þus vn-hendly & hard mi herte to blame.
to whom miȝt i me mene amendis of him to haue,
seþþe i am his souerayn mi-self in alle þing?
nis he holly at my hest in hard & in nesche?
& now, bi crist, i knowe wel for al my care newe,
he wrouȝt neuer bot my worchepe ne wol nouȝt, i leue.
I se wel he haþ set him-self in so nobul a place,
þat perles of alle puple is preised ouer alle,
of fairnesse of facioun and frely þeuwes,
For kurteysie, vnder krist is king ne kud duk.
& þouȝh he as fundeling where founde in þe forest wilde,
& kept wiþ þe kowherde kin to karp þe soþe,
eche creature may know he was kome of gode.
For first whan þe fre was in þe forest founde in his denne,
In comely cloþes was he clad for any kinges sone.
whan he kom first to þis kourt bi kynde þan he schewde,
26
& seþþe forsoþe til þis time non vn-tetche he ne wrouȝt,
but haþ him bore so buxumly þat ich burn him preyseþ,
& vch a burn of þis world worchipeþ him one,
Kinges & kud dukes kene kniȝtes and other,
þouȝh he were komen of no ken but of kende cherls,
as i wot witterly so was he neuere!
ȝut wiþ worchepe i wene i miȝt him wel loue.
& seþþe he so perles is preised ouer princes & oþer,
& eche lord of þis lond is lef him to plece
For most souereyn seg & semlyest of þewes,
þanne haue i wited alle wrong þe werk of myn herte,
For he has don his deuere dignely as he out.
he het me most worþi of wommen holde in erþe,
Kindely þurth kinrade of cristen lawe;
For-þi myn herte hendely has wrouȝt in his dedes
to sette him-self so sadly in þe soueraynest burne
þat leuis in ani lond of alle ludes preised,
I ne wot neuere in þis world what wise he miȝt betere
wirche for me in þis world my worschipe to saue.
For ȝif eny man on mold more worþi were,
Min hert is so hauteyn þat herre he wold.
& for i so wrongely haue wrouȝt to wite him, me greues;
I giue me holly in his grace as gilty for þat ilk,
& to mende my misse i make myn a-vowe.
I wol here-after witerly wiþ-oute more striue,
wirche holly mi hertes wille to harde & to nesche,
& leye my loue on þat lud lelly for euere.
to god here i gif a gift it gete schal neuer oþer,
wile him lasteþ þe liif my loue i him grante.”
And whan sche so was a-sented sche seide sone after,
sadli sikand & sore for sorwe atte here herte,
“Allas! i trowe þis bitter bale botlesse wol hende!
27
schal euer wite of my wo wiþ-oute me selue.
nay! sertes my-selue schal him neuer telle;
For þat were swiche a woȝh þa neuer wolde be mended.
For he miȝt ful wel for a fol me hold,
& do him loþe mi loue ȝit haue y leuer deie!
nay! best beþ it nouȝt so ȝif better miȝt bi-falle,
Ich mot worche oþer wise ȝif i wol out-spede.
what, i suppose þe selue ȝif it so bi-tidde
þat i wrouȝt so wodly & wold to him speke,
þat were semlyest to seye to saue my worchep?
ȝif i told him treuli my tene and myn anger,
what liif for longyng of loue i lede for his sake,
He wold wene i were wold or witerly schorned,
or þat i dede for despit to do him a schonde;
& þat were a schamly schenchip to schende me euer.
what ȝif i saide him sadly þat i sek were,
& told him al treuly þe entecches of myn euele?
he knoweþ nouȝt of þat kraft bi krist, as i trowe,
wherfore he ne schold in no wise wite what i mente;
but whanne i hade al me mened no more nold he seie
but “serteinly, swete damisele þat me sore rewes.”
þanne wold mi wo wex al newe,
& doubel is now mi duel for i ne dar hit schewe.
allas! whi ne wist þat wiȝh what wo þat me eyles,
what sorwes & sikingges i suffer for his sake!
I sayle now in þe see as schip boute mast,
boute anker or ore or ani semlyche sayle;
but heiȝh heuene king to gode hauene me sende,
oþer laske mi liif daywes wiþ-inne a litel terme.”
þus þat maiden meliors in mornyng þa liuede,
& hit held hire so harde i hete þe for soþe,
& schorttily wiþ-in seueniȝt al hire slep sche leues,
here mete & al merthe sche missed in a while,
& seccleled in a seknesse þe soþe for to telle,
28
ȝit couþe non by no craft knowen hire sore;
but duelfulli sche dwined a-waie boþe dayes & niȝtes,
& al hire clere colour comsed for to fade.
Þanne hadde þis menskful melior maydenes fele
a-segned hire to serue & to seuwe hire a-boute;
but among alle þe maidenes most sche loued one
þat was a digne damisele to deme al þe soþe,
& komen of hire oune kin h[er]e kosin ful nere,
of lumbardie a dukes douȝter ful derworþ in wede,
& þat amiabul maide alisaundrine a-hiȝt.
& from þe time þat melior gan morne so strong,
þat burde was euer hire bi busy hire to plese,
More þan ani oþer damisele so moche sche hire louede.
& whan sche seiȝ here so sek sche seide on a time,
“Now for marie, madame þe milde quene of heuene,
& for þat loue þat ȝe loue leliest here in erþe,
Seiȝth me al ȝour seknesse & what so sore ȝow greuis.
ȝe knowen icham ȝour kosyn & bi krist of heuene,
ȝut bi cas of cunsail ful wel can ich hele,
& be tristy and trew to ȝow for euer-more,
and help ȝow hasteli at al ȝoure hele to gete,
ȝif ȝe saie me ȝoure sores & ich se what may gayne.”
whan melior þat meke mayde herd alisaundrines wordes,
sche was gretly gladed of hire gode bi-hest,
& wiþ a sad sikyng seide to hire þanne;—
“a! curteyse cosyne crist mot þe it ȝelde
of þi kynde cumfort þat þow me kuþest nowþe,
þow hast warsched me wel wiþ þi mede wordes.
I ȝiue me al in þi grace to gete me sum hele,
as þow me here has be-hiȝt of mi harde peynes;
now wol i telle þe my tene wat so tide after.
29
Is feller þan any frek þat euer ȝit hadde.
& ofter þan [ten] times hit takeþ me a-daye,
& [ix.] times on þe niȝt nouȝt ones lesse;
and al comes of a þroly þouȝt þat þirles min hert;
I wold meng al mi mater ȝif i miȝt for schame.
ac wond wold ich nouȝt to þe witow for soþe,
ay whan ich hent þe haches þat so hard aren.
It komses of a kene þouȝt þat ich haue in hert
of william þat bold barn þat alle burnes praisen;
nis no man vpon mold þat more worchip winnes.
him so propirli haue i peinted & portreide in herte,
þat me semes in my siȝt he sittes euer meke.
what man so ich mete wiþ or mele wiþ speche,
Me þinkes euerich þrowe þat barn is þat oþer;
& fele times haue ich fonded to flitte it fro þouȝt,
but witerly al in wast þan worche ich euer.
þer-for, curteise cosynes for loue of crist in heuene,
Kiþe nouȝ þI kindenes & konseyle me þe best;
For but ich haue bote of mi bale bi a schort time,
I am ded as dore-nail now do al þi wille!”
Þanne alisaundrine a-non after þat ilk,
wax gretly a-wondered & wel hire bi-þouȝt,
what were hire kuddest comfort hire care to lisse;
& seide þane til hire softily sone þer-after;
“a! madame, for marie loue mornes no lenger!
nis it no sekenes bote þat so sore ȝouȝ eiles,
I schal þurth craft þat ich kan keuer ȝou i hope,
Mow i geten a grece þat i gaynli knowe!
haue ȝe sleiliche it seie & a-saide ones,
& feled þe sauor & þe swetnesse þat sittes in þe rote,
hit schal veraly þurth vertue do vanisch ȝour soris!”
oþer-wise wold sche nouȝt wissen here ladi
bi what maner che ment last sche were a-greued.
30
& preide hire priueli wiþ pitous wordes,
to gete hire þat gode gras as sone as sche miȝt.
& alisaundrine a-non answeres and saide,
“Madame, I wol do mi miȝt wiþ-oute more speche.”
þanne þis maiden melior gan menden here chere,
þus was ferst here sad sorwe sesed þat time.
alisandrine algate þan after [þat] þrowe
bi-þouȝt hire ful busily howe best were to werche,
to do william to wite þe wille of hire lady,
properly vnparceyued for reproue after.
Ful conyng was sche & coynt & couþe fele þinges,
of charmes & of chau[n]temens to schewe harde castis;
So þurȝh þe craft þat sche couþe to carpp þe soþe,
as william þat worþi child on a niȝt slept,
boute burn in his bour but him-self one,
a ful selcouþe sweuene set sche him to mete;
þat melior, þat menskful may mekli al-one
com ful comliche clad & kneled him bi-fore,
al bi-weped for wo wisly him þouȝt;
& sikand ful sadli seide þus him tille—
“a! loueliche lemman! loke on me nowþe!
I am Meliors, neiȝh marred man, for þi sake.
I meke me in þI merci for þow me miȝt saue!
Leue lord, mi lemman lacche me in þi narmes,
& wirche wiþ me þI wille or witterli in hast
Mi liif lelly is lorn so loue now me hampris.”
þus william þouȝt witterly & wiȝtly wiþ þat ilk,
as a gome ful glad for þat grace fallen,
He wend to haue lauȝt þat ladi loueli in armes;
& clipte to him a pulwere & propirly it gretes,
and welcomes hir worþli for wisseli him þouȝt
þat it was þe menskful mayde melior his ladi!
þat puluere clept he curteisly & kust it ful ofte,
& made þer-wiþ þe most merþe þat ani man schold;
but þan in his saddest solas softili he a-waked.
31
þat after he was a-waked a ful long þrowe,
he wende ful witerly sche were in is armes;
ac peter! it nas but is puluere to proue þe soþe.
but whan he witterly was a-waked he wayted a-boute,
to haue bi-hold þat burde his blis to encrese.
þanne perceyued he þe puluere pertely in his armes,
oþer wiȝt was non wiþ-inne þat chambur.
þan brayde he vp of his bed as burn neiȝh amased,
& loked after þat ladi for lelli he wende
þat sche here had hed in sum hurne in þat ilk time,
to greue him in hire game as þeiȝh he gyled were.
but whan he wist it was wast al þat he souȝt,
he gan to sike & sorwe & seide in þis wise:—
“a! ihesu crist, iustise now iugge þouȝ þe riȝt,
how falsly has fortune founde me nowþe.
nas mi menskful ladi meliors h[er]e-inne,
& lowed hire to be mi lemman & lai in myn armes,
oþer elles soþli, sche seide þat sche dei schuld?
ȝis, i-wisse, was it sche y wot wel þe soþe;
Metyng miȝt it be non in no maner wise;
so louely lay þat ladi & ich layking to-gaderes.
& soþly, soþ it is a selcouþe, me þinkes,
whider þat lady is went and wold no lenger dwelle.”
þanne lep he vp liȝteli & loked al a-boute,
but feȝtly al was fanteme & al was in wast.
þanne seide he to him-self sikinde ful soft:—
“For soþe, ich am a mad man now wel ich may knowe,
Forto wene in þis wise þis wrong metyng soþe.
Min hert is to hauteyn so hyeȝ to climbe,
so to leue þat ladi wold louwe hire so moche,
þat is an emperours eir and euene his pere,
to come to swiche a caytif nay, crist it for-bede
þat ich more of þat matere so misseliche þenke!
32
emperour ne kud king knowen so riche,
þat soþli nere simple i-nouȝ þat semly to haue.
ek witterli am i wod to wene swiche a þing,
þurth a mys metyng þat swiche a maide wold
Leye hire loue so lowe lemman me to weld.
nay, ich haue wrouȝt al in wast ac i nel na more
Leie mi loue so heiȝe mi ladi for to wilne,
þouȝh it nere for nouȝ[t] elles but for non in erþe
no wot i neuer wisseli of whom i am come.
Mi-self knowe ich nouȝt mi ken ne mi kontre noiþer,
For-þi me [bi-]houes þe buxumlier me bere,
Oþer-wise þan a wiȝh þat were wiþ his frendes.
For ȝif ich wrout oþer-wise & it were parceyued,
& knowe were in þis kourt mi kare were þe more.
for feiþli, frend haue ich non þat [for] me wold speke,
ȝif þemperour were wiþ me wroþ his wraþþe forto slake.
þer-for mi hauteyn hert bi-houes me to chast,
& bere me debonureli til better mow bi-tide.”
Lo, in þis wise william wende to haue schaped,
but certes þat semly sat so in his hert,
for merþe of þat metyng of melior þat schene,
þat heng heui in his hert & so hard cleued
þat, to winne al þe world a-wai wold it neuer.
but gan to studie stoundemele so stifly þer-onne,
þat lelly be a litel while his langure gan wex,
so þat he morned neiȝh mad & his mete left,
& forwandreþ in wo & wakeþ i-wisse on niȝtes,
swiche listes of loue hadde lapped his hert,
þat he nist what bote his bale best miȝt help.
but in his mochel morning on a morwe he rises,
For kare þat kom to his hert & cloþed him sone,
& whan he geinliche was greiþed he gript his mantel,
33
For no man þat he met his mornyng schuld knowe.
þat vnglad gom þan goþ in-to a gardin euene,
þat was a perles place for ani prince of erþe,
& wynli wiþ heie wal was closed al a-boute.
þat preui pleyng place to proue þe soþe,
Ioyned wel iustly to meliors chamber,
þider went william euene wittow for soþe,
& vnder a tri appeltre tok him tid a sete,
þat was braunched ful brode & bar gret schadue,
& was euen vnder a windowe of þat worþeis chaumber,
For þat william for wo was bounde so harde.
þat tre so fayre was floured & so ful leued,
þat no wiȝth miȝt william se butȝif he were þe nere.
ac will[i]am to þe window witterli miȝt sene
ȝif meliors wiþ hire maydenes in meling þere sete.
whan william vnder þat trie tre hade taken his place,
he set his siȝt sadli to þat windowe euene,
boute flecchinge or feyntise from morwe til eue.
but oft cumsed his care and his colour chaunge[d],
so sore longed him to se þa semly burde.
swiche a sorwe he suffred a seue-niȝt fulle,
þat neuer mannes mete ne miȝt in his bodi sinke,
but held him finliche i-fed his fille to loke
on þe mayde meliors chaumber for wham he s[o] morned.
euer whan it neiȝed niȝt noyȝed was he sore,
þan wold he wend to his chamber & gret wo make;
but no seg þat him serued miȝt þe soþe wite
whi him was þanne so wo ne where he was on dayes;
non durst for drede him dernly a-spie,
but lett him worche his wille as wel as him liked.
ac deliuerly was he diȝt uch day at morwe,
& feiþli boute felachipe fond wold he walke,
& go in-to þe gardyn his greues for to slake,
34
& sike ful mani siþe and sum time quake;
swiche drede & dol drouȝ to his hert,
lest he ne schold neuer in world winne þat he ȝerned.
þurth þe sorwes þat he sufred soþ forto telle,
al his cler colour comsed forto fade.
Febul wax he & faynt for-waked a-niȝtes,
ac no wiȝt of þis world miȝt wite of his care.
but þan tid on a time as þis tale minges,
þat william went til þis gardin his wo fort slake,
& vnder his tri appeltre turned to sitte,
as weiȝh al for-waked for wo vpon niȝtes.
and as he a-weited to þe windowe wiȝtly þer-after,
he slod sliȝli a-doun a-slepe ful harde,
as a wo wery weiȝh for-waked to-fore.
but menge we now of meliors þat morned þanne
as sadli in hire siȝt or sorer ȝif sche miȝt,
þe loue of loueli william lay hire so nere.
þanne asked sche þis of alisaundrine as þe hap tidde,
Riȝt as william woful so was wox a-slepe,
wher sche hade gete hire gras þat schold hire greues hele?
“nay, madame, nouȝt ȝut” seide þe maide þanne,
“þouȝh haue i fele times fonded to finde it ȝif i miȝt,
but euer wrouȝt i in wast þe wors haþ me liked.
ac were it ȝour wille nowe to worche bi mi rede,
Go we to þe gardyn to gode may it turne;
For feire floures schal we finde of foulen song here,
& þurth cumfort may cacche swiche happ mai falle,
to haue þe better hele at ȝoure hom-kome.”
þarto þis menskful meliors mekeliche hir graunted,
Forto worche al hire wille as sche wold deuise.
þanne a-ros sche raddely & romden riȝt in-fere,
& gan doun bi a grece in-to þe gardin euene,
35
for alisaundrine anon atteled þat time,
& knewe wel bi hire craft þat sche hade cast bi-fore,
þat þei witterli þanne schold wiþ william mete.
& whan þe gaye gerles were in-to þe gardin come,
Faire floures þei founde of fele maner hewes,
þat swete were of sauor & to þe siȝt gode;
& eche busch ful of briddes þat bliþeliche song,
boþe þe þrusch & þe þrustele bi xxxti of boþe,
Meleden ful merye in maner of here kinde.
& alle freliche foules þat on þat friþ songe,
for merþe of þat may time þei made moche noyce,
to glade wiþ uch gome þat here gle herde.
ac meliors for al þat merþe mornede so stronge,
so harde hacches of loue here hert hadde þirled,
þat þer nas gle vnder god þat hire glade miȝt,
but feiþli fo[r] febulnesse feynt wax sche sone,
þat vnder a semli sikamour sche sett hire to reste,
& þat burde hire by þat al hir bale wiste.
þan gan Meliors munge þe meschef þat hir eyled;
þat oþer comsede to carp of cumfort & ioie,
& eþer munged of þe mater þat þai most louede.
but alisaundrine þer-after a-non bi a wile,
þederward as william was wayted wel ȝerne,
For sche wiste wel y-now where þat he laye.
& þanne seide sche as swiþe to þat semly mayde,
“Madame, melior, so dere be Marie in heuene,
Me þinkeþ ich se a seg a-slepe here bi-side.
wheþer he be kniȝt or bachiler wot i neuer for soþe,
ac he semes bi semblant in sekenes ful harde.
þer-for, lady, go we loke wat seknes him eyles,
& what barn þat he be þa in bale lenges.”
þe menskful mayde meliors þan mekliche saide,
“a! madame, melior now mendes ȝoure chere,
For y-wisse, ȝond is william þat ȝe so wel loueþ,
36
Forto lissen his langour & lyes here a-slepe,
For þe swete sawour of þise semly floures!”
Þanne was þat menskful meliors muchel y-gladed,
& gon þan to þat gome a god pas al boþe.
& as tit as þei come him to þe soþe for to telle,
þei sett hem doun softly þat semly be-fore.
& wanne þe mayde meliors miȝt se his face,
sche þout þroly in herte þat leuer hire were
haue welt him at wille þan of þe world be quene;
so fair of alle fetures þe frek was, hire þouȝt.
& fayn sche wold þan in feiþ haue fold him in hire armes,
to haue him clipped & kest kenely þat tide,
ac sche dred it to done for oþer derne a-spyes.
alysaundrine þan a-non attlede here þouȝtes,
& wiȝtly wiþ here whiles dede william to mete
þat þat time him þouȝt þat melior þe hende
and alysaundrine al-one com him þo tille,
& þe mayde melior ful mekly him brouȝt
a ful real rose and redly it him takes.
& whanne he in hond hit hade hastely hit semede,
þat he was al sauf & sound of alle his sor greues.
& for his langor was so lissed swich likyng he hadde,
& so gretly was gladed þat he gan a-wake.
& whan he seiȝ þat semly sitte him bi-fore,
He was al a-wondred and wiȝtly he vp-rises,
& kurteyslyche kneling þat komli he grett,
& afterward alysaundrine as he wel out.
& þe mayde melior ful mekly þan saide,
“Mi loueli swete lemman oure lord ȝif þe ioye!”
& william þan vnderstod þe word þat sche saide;
þat sche him called “leue lemman” it liked so his hert,
þat witerly he couþe no word long þer-after spek,
but stared on here stifly a-stoneyd for ioye,
37
and eft red as rose in a litel while.
so witerly was þat word wounde to hert,
þat he ferd as a mased man an marred neiȝ honde,
so louely loue þat time lent him an arewe
hetterly þurth his hert for þat hende mayde
cald him “leue lemman” he les al his miȝt.
Bot alysaundrine wiste wel what þat him eyled,
& seide to him soberly þise selue words:—
“swete william, seie me now what seknes þe greues?
þi faire hewe is al fade for þi moche sore;
& ȝif ich miȝt in ani maner þe amende, y wold.”
þan william wiȝtly in þis wise answered,
sikende ful sadly for sor at his hert,
“Mi dere gode damisele my deþ is al ȝare,
so a botteles bale me byndeþ so harde,
nas neuer feller feuer þat euer frek hadde.
for merthe & alle metes it makes me to leve,
slepe sertes may [i] nouȝt so sore it me greues.
& al þis mochel meschef a meting i wite,
þat me com on a niȝt a-cursed be þat time!
for so hard hacches haue hold me seþþe,
þa i not in þe world what is me to rede.”
“now swete,” seide alisaundrine “seie me in what wise
þat þat hache þe haldes & how it þe takes?”
“I-wisse,” seide william “i wol it nouȝt layne,
sum-time it hentis me wiþ hete as hot as ani fure,
but quicliche so kene a cold comes þer-after;
sum time i siȝh & singe samen to-geder,
& þan so þroli þouȝtes þurlen myn herte,
þat i ne wot in þe world where it bi-comse,
For feiþli in my-self y fele it nouȝt þanne.”
þanne alisaundrine a-non þer-after seide,
38
bi what cas al þi care comsed bi a sweuene?”
“nai sertes, sweting,” he seide “þat schal i neuer,
For no meschef on molde þat me may falle!
I haue leuer it layne & þis langour þole,
þeȝh i for dreȝing of ȝis duel deie at þe last;
þer schal [no] wiȝth of þe world wite whi it comsed!”
þanne seide alisandrine “auntrose is þin euel,
ful wonderliche it þe weues wel i wot þe soþe.”
“ȝa i-wisse,” seide william “wonderli me greues,
for my seknes wiþ my siȝtes sumtime slakes,
& mani times doþ me mourne mor þan to-fore.”
Melior þat milde mayde in þe mene tyme þouȝt,
& seide softily to hire-self þise selue wordes,
“a! gracious god grettest of us alle,
tak hede to þin hond-werk & help now vs tweyne!
For sertes, þis same sekenes mi-self it holdes
In alle wise as it doþ william & wors, as ich wene.
& þouh ich se þat is sekenes sore hit him haldes,
for pitously he is a-peyred þat perles was to siȝt
of fairnesse and of fasoun þat ani frek schold haue—
but weilawey! þat he ne wist what wo y drye,
& haue do lelly for is loue a wel long while!
& but he wiȝtly wite y-wisse, y am done;
For y dar nouȝt for schame schewe him mi wille,
but ȝif he wold in ani wise him-self schewe formest.”
while Meliors in here maner mened to hire-selue,
alysaundrine a-non attlede alle here þouȝtes,
sche knewe wel bi kuntenaunce of kastyng of lokes.
þan wiȝtly to william þise wordes sche sede,
“I see wel be þi semblant what seknesse þe eyles,
hele þou it neuer [so] hard al holliche y knowe,
þat it ben lestes of loue þat þe so hard helden;
þou waltres al in a weih & wel y vnderstande
whider þe belaunce bremliest bouwes al-gate.
39
I wol a litel and litel laskit in hast.”
þan william wel vnderstod sche wist what him eilede,
& knew al is koueyne for ouȝt he kouþe hide,
he was a-drad to þe deþ last sche him dere wold.
þan sette he him on knes & soft seyde hire tille,
“Mercy, menskful mayde for Marie loue of heuene!
I gif me al in þi grace my greues to help,
For þou miȝt lengþe mi liif ȝif þe likes sone.”
þan alysaundrine a-non answered & saide,
“how miȝt i þe help? what haue i to þi bote?”
“I-wisse,” þan seyde william “i wol no lenger hele,
My liif, my langor, & my deþ lenges in þi warde;
but i þe sunner haue socour of þat swete mayde,
þe comliche creature þat in þi keping dwelles,
alle the surgens of salerne ne schul saue mi liue.
þer-for loueliche ladi in þe lis al min hope,
þou miȝt me spakly [saue] oþer spille ȝif þi-self likes.”
Alysaundrine a-non þanne answered & sayde,
“now i-wisse, william witow for soþe,
Seþþe þou sadli hast me said þe soþe of þi cunsaile,
& tellest me treuly þou trestes to my help,
ȝif i miȝt in ani maner mende þi sorwe,
but i were busi þer a-boute to blame i were.
þer-for certes, be þou sur seþ it may be no oþer,
holliche al min help þou schalt haue sone.”
þan william was gretliche glad & loueliche hire þonked.
þan alisaundrine a-non as sche wel couþe,
clepud þat mayde meliors mekeliche hir tille,
& seide, “a mercy, madame on þis man here,
þat neȝh is driue to þe deþ al for youre sake!”
“how so for my sake?” seide melior þanne;
“I wraþed him neuer þat i wot in word ne in dede.”
“no sertes, madame, þat is soþ” saide þat oþer,
40
& but ȝe graunt him ȝour grace him greiþli to help,
& late him be ȝour lemman lelly for euer,
his liif nel nouȝt for langour last til to-morwe.
þerfor, comeliche creature for crist þat þe made,
les nouȝt is liif ȝut for a litel wille.
seþþe he so lelly þe loues to lemman him þou take.”
þan meliors ful mekliche to þat mayde carped,
and seide ful soburli smyland a litel,
“nou bi god þat me gaf þe gost & þe soule,
I kepe ȝut for no creature manquellere be clepud,
ac leuer me were lelly a manes liif to saue.
seþþe he for me is so marred & has misfare long,
ful prestely for þi praire & for þe perile als,
þat i se him set inne and to saue his liue,
h[er]e i graunt him greþli on godis holi name,
lelliche mi loue for euer al mi lif time,
& gif a gift here to god & to his gode moder,
þat oþer lud, whil i liue schal i loue neuer!”
whan william herd þise wordes i hete þe forsoþe,
he kneled quikli on knes & oft god þonked,
& seide, “god! þat madest man & al middel-erþe,
a miȝti miracle for me hastow wrouȝt noþe.”
þan meked he him to meliors on alle maner wise,
as þe gladdest gom þat euer god wrouȝt.
& sche sertes bi hire side þe same him graunted,
to worche wiþ hire al his wille as he wel liked.
þan eiþer hent oþer hastely in armes,
& wiþ kene kosses kuþþed hem to-gidere,
so þat no murþe upon mold no miȝt hem bet haue lyked.
& tit þanne told eche til oþer here tenes & here sorwe,
þat sadly for eiþers sake hadden suffred long.
þanne alisaundrine anon attlede þe soþe,
þat hire maistres & þat man no schuld hire nouȝt misse,
þeȝh sche walked a while wide from here siȝt,
41
were sche out of þe weye þat william wold fonde
for to pleie in þat place þe priue loue game,
& to hete here þan to layke here likyng þat time.
sche goþ a-boute in-to þe gardyn for to gader floures,
& to wayte þat no weiȝh walked þer-inne,
for drede of descuueryng of þat was do þere.
william wel wiþ meliors his wille þan dede,
& layked þere at lyking al þe long daye,
til þe sunne was neiȝh set soþli, to reste.
þanne alisaundrine at arst þan antresse hem tille,
& mekly to meliors “madame,” þan sche seide,
“haue ȝe geten þe gras þat i ȝou geynliche hiȝt?
I trowe trewli be þis time ȝour sorwe be passed;
eiþer of ȝou, as y leue is god leche til oþer,
alle þe surgyens of salerne so sone ne couþen
haue ȝour langoures a-legget i leue for soþe.”
þan william wax wiȝtly wonderli a-schamed,
& he & meliors mercy mekly hire criede
to kuuere wel here cunseile for cas in þis erþe,
& þroli hire þonked moni þousand siþes;
“For sche hade brouȝt hem of bale boþe,” þei seide,
“& i-lengþed here lif mani long ȝere.”
Alisaundrine anon after þat ilke
bad meliors manly here merþe þan stinte,
& seide, “it is so neiȝh niȝt þat nedes mote ye parte;
I drede me of descuuering for ȝe haue dwelled long.”
“allas! þis mochel meschef” saide melior þanne,
“þis day is schorter to siȝt þan it semed euere!”
& william seide þe same soþli þat time.
but alisaundrine anon answerede & seide,
“Make ȝe no mourning for ȝe may mete eft
dernli hennes-forþ eche day whan ȝou dere likes;
for-þi hasteli boþe heiȝe ȝou a-sunder.”
42
wiþ clipping & kessing þei kauȝt here leue,
& eiþer tok tit is way to his owne chaumber,
blisful for þei were botned of here bales strong,
seþþen hastely were þei hol & haden alle here wille.
wiþ alle listes of loue alle longe ȝeres
priueli vnperceyued þei pleyed to-gedere,
þat no seg vnder sunne souched no gile.
so wel was william bi-loued wiþ riche & wiþ pore,
so fre to feffe alle frekes wiþ ful faire ȝiftes,
þat þemperour soþli him-self soueraynli him loued,
& seþþe alle oþer seges þat seiȝen him wiþ eiȝen;
& algate alisaundrine at alle poyntes hem serued
so sliȝliche, þat no seg souched non euele,
but alle gauen god word to gomes þat hem plesede.
Hit tidde after bi time as þe tale minges,
þe douȝti duk of saxoyne drow to þat londe
wiþ ouer-gart gret ost godmen of armes,
wrongly forto werre wiþ þemperour þat time.
& wiþ bobaunce & wiþ bost brent fele tounes,
no strengþe him wiþ-stod of sad stonen walles,
but bet a-doun burwes & brutned moche peple,
so þat duel was to deme þe duresse þat he wrouȝt.
whanne þese tyding were told to þemperour of rome,
he was gretly a-greued no gome þort him blame,
þat eni weiȝh of þe world schuld werre on his lond.
his sondes þanne he sente swiþe al a-boute
to alle þe lordes of his land to lasse & to more,
þat ouȝten him omage or ani seute elles,
& warned hem werfore he wiȝtly hem of-sent,
& het hem alle hiȝe þider as harde as þei miȝt,
wel warnished for þe werre wiþ clene hors & armes.
whanne þemperours komaundment was kud al aboute,
43
kinges & kud dukes & kniȝtes ful gode,
& oþer bold burnes a-boute sexti þousand,
alle boun to batayle in ful briȝt armes.
and riȝt in-to rome alle þe rinkes drowe,
to wite þemperours wille how he wirche þouȝt.
Whanne william þat worþi child wist of þat fare,
was no glader gom þat euer god made,
he went euen to þemperour & enys him sayde,
knelyng on his kne curteysli & faire,
“Gode sir, for goddis loue grant me a bone;
ȝif me þe ordur of kniȝt to go to þis dedus,
& i hope to heuene king mi help schal nouȝt fayle,
þat i nel manly wiþ mi miȝt meynte[ne] ȝour riȝt.”
þemperour was gretly glad & graunted his wille,
& made him kniȝt on the morwe & mo for his sake.
of proude princes sones douȝti men toward,
Fulle foure schore for williames loue,
& ȝaf hem hors & armes as an hend lord schold,
& made william here wardeyn as he wel miȝt,
to gye & to gouerne þe gay yong kniȝtes.
& whanne þempe[r]ours ost was holli a-sembled,
he told to-fore þe grete his tene & his harmes,
how þe duk of saxoyne dede him gret wrong,
brent his nobul burwes & his burnes quelled,
& komande hem kendely here cunseile to ȝeue,
In what wise were best to wreke him þanne.
& alle seide at o sawe “sire, we ȝou rede,
strecches forþ wiþ ȝour ost stinteþ no lenger,
& fondes to do þe duk what duresse ȝe may.
hampres him so harde to sum cost þat be drawe,
sewes him to sum cite & a-sege him þere,
til ȝe wiþ fin fors þe freke haue wonne.”
Whanne þemperour wist wel þ[e] wille of his cunsayle,
44
holly wiþ al his herde þat he hade a-sembled.
& wel þei were warnestured of vitayles i-now,
plentiuosly for al peple to passe where þei wold.
& so harde þei hiȝed þan i hote þe for soþe,
þat al þe clene cumpanye com to þe place
neiȝ þere as þe douȝti duk duresse so wrouȝt.
to þe duk was it told tit trewli þe soþe,
how þemperour wiþ ost þider was come,
to a-wreke him of þe wrong þat þan was wrouȝt þere,
& swiþe for bobaunce & bost burnes he sent
enuiously to þemperour & egged him swiþe
bi a certayne day bataile to a-bide,
or elles, he sent him to say schortely he wold
bruttene alle hise burnes & brenne his londes.
þise tyding were told to þemperour sone,
& wiȝtly whan he þanne wist william he calle[d],
þat ȝong bold bachiler & bliue him told
how despitously þe duk of þat dede him warned,
to be boun be a certayne day batayle to holde.
sir william ful wisly þise wordes þanne seide,
“sir, god for his grace graunt ȝou wel to spede,
to a-bate þe bost of þat breme duke.
& so hope i wel, sire we schal atte best.”
ful menskfully to þe messangeres þemperour þan seide,
he wold be boun bleþeli þe bold batayle to hold,
& þei bliue dude hem forþ & þe duk tolde.
þan boþe partiȝes prestly a-paraylde hem þat time
of alle tristy a-tir þat to batayle longed,
& made hem alle merie in þe mene while,
til þe selue day þat was set soþly was come,
& boþe partyes here place pertiliche hade chosen
In a ful fayre feld feiþly to telle.
þanne busked þei here batayles on þe best wise,
45
bugles & bemes men gun blowe fast,
& alle maner menstracie þere was mad þanne,
forto hardien þe hertes of here heiȝh burnes.
þanne bi-gan þe batayle breme for þe nones;
Mani strok in litel stounde sternely was þer ȝeuen,
& mani a bold burne sone brouȝt of liue.
but schortly for to telle þe schap of þis tale,
þe duk hade þe douȝtiere men to deme þe soþe,
& mani mo þan þemperour & þei so manly fouȝten,
þat balfully þe ferst batayle þei brutned to deþe,
& þai ful fast for fere gunne fle þan þat miȝt;
but þe almauns seweden sadly & slowe doun riȝtes.
whan þemperour say þat siȝt his men so i-quelled,
him was wonderli wo witow for soþe.
ful pitousli þan preiede he to þe prince of heuene
forto giif him grace his gomes to saue,
& seide, “heiȝh king of heuene for þi holy name,
ne fauore nouȝt so my [fo] þat falsly me so marres.
for god what, i na gult him neuer to gif him enchesoun
forto wirch me no wrong ne werre on my londe.
& lord! he is my lege man lelly þou knowes,
for holly þe londes þat he has he holdes of mi-selue,
þer-for þe wronger he wirches al þe world may know.
for-þi a mynde on me, lord for þi moder loue,
help me haue þe herre hand her-affter in my riȝt!”
William þe ȝong kniȝt was so neiȝh be side,
þat he herd þe pytous pleint þat þemperour made,
& siked for sorwe þer-of sore wiþ-alle.
but quicly clepud he þe ȝong kniȝtes alle,
& seide, “leue lordinges lestenes to mi sawe;
nouȝ go we kiþe oure kniȝthod for cristes loue of heuene,
46
lettes nouȝt for ȝoure liues ȝour lord forto socoure,
hasteli wiþ god hert nouȝ hiȝes ȝou to þe dede,
& ho-so faileþ for feyntyce wild fur him for-brenne!”
þan wiȝtly boute mo wordes william ginnes ride,
fresly toward here fos as frek out of witte;
þere þe pres was perelouste he priked in formest,
& blessed so wiþ his briȝt bront a-boute in eche side,
þat what rink so he rauȝt he ros neuer after.
& soþli forto seie wiþ-inne a schort while,
william wiþ his owne hond so wiȝtliche pleide,
þat he slow six of þe grettes[t] soþ forto telle,
& þat douȝtiest were of dede of þe dukes ost.
þat on was his neuew a nobul kniȝt of armes,
þat oþer was his stiward þat stiȝtled al his meyne.
þe oþer were lordes of þat lond lelly of þe best.
& whanne þe duk was war how william him demeyned,
& how balfully he brutned his burnes to deþe,
& nameliche for his newe þat nam he most to herte,
he wax neiȝ ouȝt of his witte for wraþ & for anger,
& clepud on his kniȝtes þat kene were & nobul,
& seide, “lordinges for my loue no lenger ne stintes,
but chases þat kene kniȝt þat þis kare vs werches.
Loo, how luþerly þat lud leyes on oure burnes,
non may is sterne strok wiþstande þat he hittes.”
þus despitusly þe duk drayed him þanne,
þat his kniȝtes swiþe swore what [so] it bi-tidde,
þei wold winne william wiȝtly oþer quik or dede.
þan ride to-gedere a gret route of rinkes ful nobul,
& went euen to sir william & wonderli him bi-sette;
ac he wiþ douȝti dentes defended him long,
but, soþliche for to telle so was he ouer-macched,
þat þei wiþ fyn force for-barred his strokes,
& woundede him wikkedly & wonne him of his stede,
& bounden him as bliue him bale to wirche,
& drowen him toward þe duk his dom forto here.
47
& demened hem douȝtili dintes te dele,
þe ȝong kene kniȝtes so kudden here strengþe,
þat þei wonne hem wiȝtly weyes ful large,
til þei hadde perced þe pres pertily to here maister,
& rescuede him rediliche for rinkes þat him ladden.
þan þei him vnbond bliue & brouȝt him his stede,
& triliche was he a-tired in ful tristy armes;
his scheld on his schulder a scharp swerd in honde.
& whan þis william was ȝare he waited him a-boute,
leþerly as a lyoun he lepes in-to þe prese,
prestly þer as þe pres of peple was þikkest.
þanne lente he swiche leuere to ledes þat he ofrauȝt,
þat þe lif sone he les þat lauȝt ani dint,
& euer þan drow he to þe duk deland swiche paye.
& as sone as he him seiȝ he sesed a spere,
& dressed him to þe duk presteli to iuste.
& whan þe duk was war þat he wold come,
boute feyntice of feuer he festned his spere,
& grimly wiþ gret cours eiȝþer gerdeþ oþer.
& william wiþ god wille so wel þe duk hitt,
þat þurth scheld & scholder þe scharpe spere grint,
& hetterly boþe hors & man he hurled to þe grounde,
þanne liȝtly lep he a-doun & lauȝt out his brond,
& deliuerliche to þe duk deuoteliche he seide,
“sire, þou seidest me ȝer-while þou schuldest me do quelle,
& madest þi men me binde meschef to þole;
but gretly y þonk god þat gart me a-chape,
& dede þe wante þi wille for þou wrong þoutest.
but, sire, in þe same seute sett artow nouȝ,
& y am prest as þi prisoun to paye þe my ransum!
ȝeld þe to me ȝeply or ȝerne þou schalt deie,
For alle þe men vpon mold ne mow it now lette.”
48
& lelly, þouȝh him loþ þouȝt no lenger to striue,
swiþe he ȝald vp his swerd to saue þanne his liue,
& seide, “man, for þi mensk haue mercy on me nouþe,
lette me nouȝt lese þe liif ȝut lord, y þe bi-cheche.”
þanne william witly as a wiȝh hende,
receyued of þat riche duk realy his swerde,
& euen to þemperour wiþ him þan he hiȝed.
wanne þemperour seiȝh william come & wiþ him þe duke,
he was on þe gladdest gome þat miȝt go on erþe;
& william þanne to welkome he wendes him aȝeynes,
& clipte him kindeli & kest fele siþes.
þan william wiȝtly as he wel couþe,
profered him þat prisoner prestely at his wille
to do þan wiþ þe duk what him dere þouȝt.
þemperour þat worþi william wel oft þan þonked
of þe grete grace þat god godliche þere schewede,
& strokes was þer delt na mo fram þe duk was take.
For al his folk þan gunne fle as fast as þei miȝt,
& he þat hadde best hors þan held him best saued.
but þemperours men manly made þe chace,
& slowen doun bi eche side wham þei of-take miȝt,
but ȝif þei manly hem meked mercy to crie.
& euer william so wiȝtly went hem a-mong
to þe boldest burnes as he bi-fore hadde,
þat soþly dar y seie þurth his socour þanne,
Riȝt fewe went a-wey vn-woundet or take.
ac hadde þe day last lenger lelli to seye,
no wiȝt a-wei hadde schaped i wot wel þe soþe.
but þe niȝt was so neiȝh þat non miȝt sen oþer
þe furþe del of a furlong from him þat time.
& in þat derk þe dukes [men] wiþ-drow hem manie,
& ho-so hardest miȝt hiȝe held him nouȝt bi-giled.
þemperour wiþ moche merþe his men þan meled;
49
þei hadde take þat time of trie grete lordes
Fulle fiue hundered of ful nobul prisouns,
wiþ-oute alle þe burnes þat in batayle deide.
þan was þemperour greteli glad & ofte god þonked,
& williams werk þat he so wel hadde spedde.
& holliche þanne wiþ his host hiȝede to here tentes
wiþ merþe of alle menstracye & made hem attese,
& turned to rest at time til erliche a morwe.
& wanne þei were a-rise þei remewed to cherche,
& herden holly here masse & afterward sone
þemperour al holliche his cunseyle dede clepe,
& sone bi here a-sent at þat selue time,
Riȝt as william wold þat wisly him radde,
alle þe douȝthi lordes of þe dukis were take;
he dede fecche hem him bi-fore & freyned hem swiþe,
ȝif þei wold of him holly halde alle here londes.
& þei graunted godli ful glad of þat sawe,
& alle anon riȝtes þere omage him dede,
& þemperour wel loueliche deliuered he[m] þenne,
& sente wiþ hem sondes to saxoyne þat time,
& nomen omage in his name nouȝt forto layne,
Forto riȝtleche þat reaume real of riche & of pore.
whanne þat dede was do dernly at wille,
and alle lele lawes in þat lond sette,
& alle þe peple held hem payed pes forto haue;
whanne þemperour it wist he was wel a-payed,
& loueliche wiþ alle his lordes to lumbardie fares,
wiþ alle þe merþe vpon molde þat man miȝt diuise;
but feiþli his felachipe forþ wiþ him he hadde.
þe douȝty duk of saxoyne þe duel þat he made,
for his peple was slayn & to prison take,
& wist þan he hade wrongly wrouȝt þurȝth his pride;
& swiche duel drow to hert for his dedus ille,
þat he deide on þe fifte day to talke þe soþe.
whanne þemperour þat wist wiȝtly he comanded,
50
wiþ alle worchipe & wele; so was he sone.
þan remued þemperour toward rome euene,
& wiȝtly william wiþ him þat was wounded sore;
but lelly nobul leches loked to his woundes,
þat seide he schuld be sauf & sweteliche heled.
messangers ful manly þemperour þanne sente,
by-fore to his dere douȝter to do hire to wite
þat he come wiþ his companie as crist wold, al saf.
þe messangeres ful manly to meliors þanne spedde,
& gretten hire godli whan þei þat gode seie,
& mynged here message to þat mayde hende,
how hir fader in helþe hom wold come
feiþli wiþ-inne þe fourtene-niȝt wiþ his frekes bold.
Gret merþe to þe messangeres meliors þan made,
for þe tidy tidinges þat tiȝtly were seide.
“nouȝ, faire frendes, be ȝour feiþ fond ȝe ani lette
of segges of þe oþer side þat sette ȝou a-geynes?”
“o madame!” seide þe messageres “what mele ȝe nouþe?
seþþe crist deide on þe croyce mankinde to saue,
ȝe ne herde neuer, y hope of so hard a cunter,
ne of so fele burnes at on batayle slayne!”
“telles how ȝou tidde” seide meliors þanne.
“Madame,” seide þe messageres “be marie in heuen,
þe duk hadde so gret an host of gode men of armes,
þat soþli al oure side sone slayn hadde bene,
nadde þe socour of o seg þat in oure side dwelleþ,
þat haþ lengþed al oure [liues] leue ȝe forsoþe,
þurth þe douȝti dedes þat he haþ do þere.”
“swete sire, what is he?” þat seide meliors sone.
“I-wisse,” he seide, “it is william þat is newe kniȝted,
he may lelly be hold a lord & ledere of peples,
Forto weld al þe world to wisse & to rede,
51
I-wisse, nade his werk be we mow nouȝt for-sake,
þi fader and al his folk so misfaren hadde,
þat alle here liues in a stounde hadde be lore.”
þanne told þei hire tiȝtly al þe trewe soþe,
at how miche meschef here men were formest,
& seþþe how wiȝtly william went to here foos,
& dede deliuerly nym þe duk to talke þus formest;
& seþþe þe grettes[t] lordes he garte here liif tine,
& also þei told trewli how he was take him-selue,
& reddely wiþ his owne rinkes rescued after;
& seþþe what dedes he dede he tok þe selue duk,
and brouȝt þurth is bolde dedes þe batayle to hende;
& seþen how þe duk for duel deyde in here ward,
& how al saxoyne was set wiþ wel sadde lawes,
to wirche here faderes wille þurȝth william dedes.
& whan þis tale was told meliors tyt seide,
“leue lordinges, for my loue lelly me telles,
comes þat william wiþ my fader & weldes his hele?”
“ȝe sertes, madame,” seide þei “he sewes ȝour fader;
but wel weldes he nouȝt his hele for wonded was he sore,
þat greuen him gretly but god may do bote.”
“For mary loue,” seide meliors “mai he be heled?”
“ȝa certes, madame he is so sounde nowþe,
þat he may redly ride & rome whan þat him likes.”
Meliors to þe messageris þan made gret ioye,
for þe tyding þat þei told touchend hire fader.
but i hote þe, in hert sche hade swiche blisse,
þat neuer womman in þis world miȝt weld more,
for hire louely lemman hade swiche los wonne,
to bere him best in þat batayle wiþ so breme dedus.
þanne made þei hem [merie] to make schort tale,
52
þemperour & alle peple to his palays come;
Receyued was he of romaynes realy as lord.
þanne meliors ful mekly wiþ maydenes fele,
ferde out a-ȝens hire fader & faire him gret,
& hire louely lemman lelly next after,
& made hem as moche ioye as miȝt any burde;
Kyndeliche clipping and kessing hire fader,
& wiþ a curteise cuntenaunce william next after,
for no seg þat it seye schuld schoche but gode.
but priueli un-perceyued sche praide william þanne,
to seche softily to hire chaumber as sone as he miȝt.
& he bi quinte contenance to come he granted,
for he ne durst openly for ouer-trowe of gile;
but wel sche knew þurth konnyng at þat cas his wille.
to long mater most it be to myng al þe ioye,
& þe real romayns array for here lordes sake,
& þe mochel mornyng þei made for here frendes,
whanne þei wist witterly whiche in batayle deyde.
but confort for þe conquest þei cauȝt sone after,
& made hem as mery as ani men couþe.
& william went to meliors whan he seiȝ time,
& layked him at likyng wiþ þat faire burde
pleyes of paramours vn-parceyued longe time,
so sliliche, þat no seg scouched non ille.
but algate alysaundrine atte wille hem serued,
þat non knew here cunseile but þei þre one.
But þanne tidde on a time titly þer-after,
þemperour erded stille in rome at þe ester tide,
& for þat solempne sesoun dede somoun alle þe grete,
of lordes & ladies þat to þat lond partened.
and alle to his comandement comen ful sone,
& derly at þat day wiþ deynteyes were þei serued.
as þei were meriest at mete to menge al þe soþe,
53
comen in manly message fro þemperour of grece,
& bi kinde of kostant-noble keper was þanne.
þe messageres riȝt realy were arayde, for soþe,
al in glimerand gold greþand to riȝtes,
It were tor for to telle al here atyr riche.
but euer to þemperour alle þei ȝede in-fere,
& kurtesliche vpon here knes þei komsed him grete
Godli fro þemperour of grece & fro his gode sone.
& þemperour ful semly seide to hem þanne,
“he þat made man mest ȝour liues mot saue,
& alle ȝoure clene companie crist ȝif hem ioye
for þe menskfulles[t] messageres þat euer to me come!”
On of þe barons bold bi-gunne to schewe here nedes,
þat was a gret lord in grece roachas he hiȝt,
& seide soberly to þemperour in þis selue wise,
“Leue lord & ludes lesten to mi sawes!
þe gode emperour of grece þe grettest of us alle,
whas messageres we be mad to munge ȝou his wille,
sendes you to seie he has a sone dere,
on þe triest man to-ward of alle douȝti dedes,
þat any man vpon molde may of here,
þat schal be emperour after him of heritage bi kynde.
& he haþ oft herde sayd of ȝoure semly douȝter,
how fair, how fetis sche is how freli schapen;
& for þe loos on hire is leide & loue of ȝour-selue,
he prayeth, lord, vowche-sauf þat his sone hire wedde.
Grucche nouȝt þer-a-gayn but godli, i rede,
Graunte þis faire forward fulfillen in haste.
& ȝif ye so doþ, i dar seie & soþliche do proue,
sche schal weld at wille more gold þan ȝe siluer;
& haue mo solempne cites and semliche casteles,
þan ȝe treuly han smale tounes o[r] vntydi houses;
& herof, sire, wiȝtly ȝour wille wold we knowe.
54
ȝe mow wiȝtly now wite ȝour wille & ȝour rede,
& wiȝtly do vs to wite what answere ȝou likes.”
þemperour calde his cunseil for to knowe here wille,
& godli boute grucching alle graunted sone,
& setten a serteyne day þat solempte to holde;
& sad seurte was sikered on boþe sides þanne,
þat menskful mariage to make at midesomer after.
sone were þe messagers made mildli at ese,
while hem liked lende & lelly, whan þei wente,
Grete ȝiftes were giue & of gold & of seluer,
& þei wiȝtly went hom wiþ ioye & wiþ merþe.
þe answere of here herend þemperour þei tolde;
Gret murþe was mad for þat message in rome,
& þe word went wide how þe mayde was ȝeue
rifliche þurth-out rome & eche a rynk was bliþe
þat þe milde meliors so mariede scholde bene
to þemperours eir of grece & euerich man wiþ ioye
teld it forþ til oþer tiȝtli al a-boute.
but þe worþi william þer-of wist he nouȝt,
For he was atte a bourdes þer bachilers pleide.
whanne þe tiding was þer told witow forsoþe,
out of þat faire felachip ferde he þan sone
as mekeli as he miȝt lest eni mysse trowede;
but whan he was passed þe pres he prikede as swiþe
as he miȝt hiȝe his hors for hurtyng of spors;
neiȝh wod of witte for woo of þat sawe,
for he schold lese his lemman his liif þan he hated.
wiþ care was he ouer-come bi þat he com to his inne,
þat he for bale as bliue to his bed went,
& siked þanne so sore þe soþe forto telle,
þat uch wiȝh þat it wist wend he ne schuld keuer.
& whan hit was wist in rome þat william was sek,
mochel was he mened of more & of lasse;
for a beter bi-loued barn was neuer born in erþe,
55
þe tiding þan were tiȝtly to þemperour i-told,
& he þan swoned for sorwe & swelt neiȝhonde;
but kniȝtes him vp cauȝt & comfort him beter.
& whan he þurth comfort was comen of his care,
he went wiȝtli to william to wite how he ferde,
& kniȝtes folwed him forþ fiue oþer sixe.
anon as he com him to he asked how he ferd.
“sire!” þan seide he softly “certes, so ille.
þat i leue my lif last nouȝt til to morwe.
but god, sire, for his grete miȝt graunt ȝou ioye,
for þe worchipe þat ȝe han wruȝt to me ȝore.”
whan þemperour had herd holly his wordes,
& seie him so sekly þat he ded semed,
swiche sorwe sank to his hert þat miȝt he nouȝt suffre
þer to be, bot he miȝt his bale haue slaked;
of him wiȝtly he tok his leue & went hom a-ȝeine,
weping as he wold wide for wo & for sorwe,
& deliuerli to his douȝter his del þan he made,
how william hire worþi nory was neiȝe atte deþe.
& sche hire fader cumfort fast as sche miȝt,
but worse was neuer woman for wo at hire herte.
as fast as hire fader was faren of þe weie,
sche wept & weiled as sche wold haue storue,
& swoned ofte siþe her sche sese miȝt.
but alisandrine anon þat al hire cunseile wist,
comfort hire as sche couþe wiþ alle kinde speches,
& bad hire wiȝtly wende to wite how he ferde.
“& soþliche, madame so may hit bi-tide,
ȝour comfort mai him keuere & his sorwe slake.”
þan meliors mekly hire maydenes dede calle,
& many of hire meyne for drede of missespeche,
& went ful wiȝtly to will[i]ams inne,
as nouȝt were bot [to] wite how þat he ferde.
& whan sche drow to his chaumber sche dede ful sone
56
al but alisaundrine alone þei tweyne.
þei went in-to william wiþ-oute any more,
& busked hem euen to his bed & bi him gunne sitte,
& seide sone softly “my swete lemman dere,
allone but alisaundrine am i come to þe
forto wite of þi wo & what þat þe eiles.
Mi perles paramours my pleye & my ioye,
spek to me spakli or i spille sone.”
William tiȝtly him turned & of hire tok hede,
& seide aswiþe “sweting, wel-come!
Mi derworþe derling an my dere hert,
Mi blis & mi bale þat botelesse wol ende!
but comliche creature for cristes loue of heuene,
for what maner misgelt hastow me forsake,
þat lelly haue þe loued & wile i liue þenke?
feiþli boute feintyse þou me failest nouþe,
þat hast turned þin entent forto take a-noþer.
Gret wrong hastou wrouȝt & wel gret sinne,
to do me swiche duresse to deye for þi sake.
but loueliche lemman oure lord mot þe ȝeld
þat þi worþi wille was to come to me nouþe;
for þow hast lengþed my lif & my langour schortet
þurth þe solas & þe siȝt of þe, my swete hert!”
& whan melior hadde herd holly al his wille,
sche siked sadly for sorwe & wel sore wepte,
& seide, “loueliche lemman leue þou for soþe,
alle men vpon molde no schuld my liif saue,
ȝif þou wendest of þis world þat i ne wende after!
ne, lemman, lore hastow me nouȝt leue þow forsoþe,
for þouȝh mi fader folliche haue forwardes maked,
wenestow þat i wold his wille now parfourme?
nay, bi god þat me gaf þe gost and þe soule,
al þat trauaile he has tynt what euer tyde after!
57
but ȝe, loueliche lemman leue me for trewe,
In feiþ þei y schold þer-fore be fordon as swiþe,
doluen dep quic on erþe to-drawe or on-honged!”
“ȝe, wist y þat,” seide william “witterly to speke,
of alle harmes were ich hol hastely riȝt nouþe!”
“ȝis, be marie,” seide meliors “misdrede ȝow neuer;
I wil fulfille alle forwardes feiþli in dede!”
þan was william ful glad witow for soþe,
& eiþer kindeli clipped oþer and kest wel ofte,
& wrout elles here wille whil hem god liked.
& treuly whan time com þat þei twynne scholde,
Meliors wiþ hire meyne mekeliche hom wente;
william a stounde stinte stille at his owne inne,
of alle his harde haches heled atte best.
alle þe surgens of salerne so sone ne coþen
haue lesed his langour and his liif saued,
as þe maide meliors in a mile wei dede.
þe word wide went sone þat william was heled,
& vche gome was glad and oft god þonked,
& william on þe morwe wel him a-tyred
Gayli in cloþes of gold & oþer gode harneis,
& komes euen to kourt as kniȝt hol & fere,
heriend heiliche god þat his liif saued.
& soþli as sone as þemperour say him wiþ eiȝen,
he hiȝed him hastely & hent him in his armes,
& clupte him & keste kyndeliche ful ofte,
& þus þei left in likyng a god while after.
But now more to minge of þe messagers of grece.
as tyt as þei had told trewli to here lord,
how realy þei were resceyued in rome þe riche,
& þe gracious graunt þei gaten of here herande,
þemperour of grece gretly was gladed in herte.
swiþe sent he sondes to somoun þat time
58
þat no mon vpon mold miȝt ayme þe noumber;
al þat real aray reken schold men neuer,
ne purueaunce þat prest was to pepul a-greiþed.
but soþ atte þe day set wiþ solempne merþe,
þis gaye genge of grece to rome gunne ride,
& riden in real aray to-ward rome euene.
forto reken al þe arai in rome þat time,
alle þe men vpon mold ne miȝt hit deuice,
so wel in alle wise was hit arayed,
& plente of alle purueaunce purueyed to riȝttes.
whan þemperour of grece neiyed neiȝh rome,
wiþ alle his bolde burnes a-boute þre mile,
þemperour of rome redeli romed him a-ȝens,
wiþ þe clennest cumpanye þat euer king ladde.
& whan þe clene cumpanyes comen to-gadere,
þe siȝt was ful semly and louely for to se,
whan eiþer of þemperoures er þei wold stint,
eiþer oþer keste kindeliche þat time,
& seþþe þe same wiþ þe sone also he wrouȝt;
þe murþe of þat metyng no man may telle.
Into rome al þat route riden forþ in-fere,
& eche a strete was striked & strawed wiþ floures,
& realy railled wiþ wel riche cloþes,
& alle maner menstracie maked him a-ȝens;
and also daunces disgisi redi diȝt were,
& selcouþ songes to solas here hertes;
so þat soþli to say þeiȝh i sete euer,
I schuld nouȝt telle þe merþe þat maked was þere;
forþi to minge of þat matere no more i ne þenk.
but alle þe genge of grece was gayli resseyued,
& herbarwed hastely ich hete þe for soþe,
In a place, þer were piȝt pauilounns & tentes,
bi o side of þe cite for swiþe moche pepul;
for þei þat seie it forsoþe saiden þe truþe,
þe place of þe pauilons & of þe price tentes
59
þemperour & eueri man were esed to riȝttes,
& haden wiȝtly at wille what þei wolde ȝerne.
but now a while wol i stinte of þis wlonke murþe,
& munge now of meliors þat blisful burde,
& of þe worþi william þat was here lemman dere,
& telle þe tale lelly what hem bitidde after.
Whan þese pepul was inned wel at here hese,
william wel wiȝtli wiþ-oute any fere,
Mornyng out mesure to melior he wendes,
& siked ful sadli and seide to hire sone,
“a! worþiliche wiȝt wel wo is me nouþe!
þurȝth destine my deþ is diȝt dere, for þi sake!
I may banne þat i was born to a-bide þis time,
forto lese þe lef þat al mi liif weldes.
foule þow me fodest wiþ þi faire wordes,
elles had i deide for duel many dai seþþe,
& so god for his grace goue y hadde!”
Meliors seide mekli “whi so, mi dere hert?
forwardes þat i haue fest ful wel schal i hold,
I hope to þe heiȝh king þat al heuen weldes.
þer-for stint of þi striif & stodie we a-noþer,
what wise we mow best buske of þis lond.”
whan he [wist] þese wordes william wel liked,
seide, “mi hony, mi hert al hol þou me makest,
wiþ þi kinde cumfort of alle mi kares kold.”
þan studied þei a gret stounde stifli to-gadere,
bi what wise þei miȝt best buske of þat þede,
priueli vnperceyued for peynes þat hem tidde;
al in wast þei wrouȝt here witte wold nouȝt serue.
alisaundrine to cunseile þei clepud sone þanne,
& telden hire trewli what tent þei were inne,
ȝif þei wist in what wise to wende of þat londe,
& preyed hire par charite and for profites loue,
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to wisse hem forto wend a-wey vnperceyued.
alisaundrine a-non answered þan and seide,
wepand wonderli fast for þei wende wold,
“bi þat blisful barn þat bouȝt us on þe rode,
I kan bi no coyntyse knowe nouȝ þe best,
how ȝe mowe un-hent or harmles a-schape.
for be hit witerly wist þat [ȝe] a-went bene,
eche a kuntre worþ kept wiþ kud men i-nouȝe,
eche brug, eche payþe eche brode weye,
þat noþer clerk nor kniȝt nor of cuntre cherle
schal passe vnperceyued & pertiliche of-souȝt.
& ȝef ȝe were disgised & diȝt on any wise,
I wot wel witerli ȝe wold be aspied.
seþþe no noþer nel be but nedes to wende,
craftier skil kan i non þan i wol kuþe.
In þe kechene wel i knowe arn crafti men manye,
þat fast fonden alday to flen wilde bestes,
hyndes & hertes wiþ hydes wel fayre,
bukkes and beris and oþer bestes wilde,
of alle fair venorye þat falles to metes.
ac þe bremest best þe beres me semen,
þe gon most grisli to eche gomes siȝt;
Miȝt we by coyntise com bi tvo skynnes,
of þe breme beres & bi-sowe ȝou þer-inne,
þer is no liuand lud i-liue ȝou knowe schold,
but hold ȝou ouȝt of heie gates for happes, i rede.
rediliche no better red be resun i ne knowe,
þan to swiche a bold beste best to be disgised,
for þei be alle maners arn man likkest.”
þan william ful wiþtli & his worþi burde
ful þroly hire þonked many þousand siþe
of hire crafty cunsayl & kindliche hire bi-souȝt,
wiȝtly wiþ sum wyl winne hem tvo skinnes
of þo breme bestes þat beres ben called,
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& alisaundrine a-non as an hende mayde,
seide sche wold deliuerly do þer-to hire miȝt,
Forto saue hem fro sorwe hir-self forto deye.
Wiȝtly boute mo wordes sche went fo[r]þ stille,
& bliue in a bourde borwed boiȝes cloþes,
& talliche hire a-tyred tiȝtli þer-inne,
& bogeysliche as a boye busked to þe kychene,
þer as burnes were busy bestes to hulde;
& manly sche melled hire þo men forto help,
til sche say tidi time hire prey for to take.
sche a-wayted wel þe white bere skinnes,
þat loueli were & large to lappen inne hire frendes,
& went wiȝtly a-wei wel vnparceyued,
& lepeþ þer-wiþ to hire lady & hire lemman dere,
seide softily, “now seþ how sone i haue spedde!”
& þei ful glad of þe gere gretly here þonked,
& preiede here ful presteli to put hem þer-inne,
so semli þat no seg miȝt se here cloþes.
& sche melled hire meliors ferst to greiþe,
& festened hire in þat fel wiþ ful gode þonges
aboue hire trie a-tir to talke þe soþe,
þat no man vpon mold miȝt oþer perceyue
but sche a bere were to baite at a stake;
so iustislich eche liþ ioyned bi ihesu of heuen.
whan sche in þat tyr was tiffed as sche schold,
Meliors in here merþe to hire maiden seide,
“Leue alisaundrine, for mi loue how likes þe nowþe?
am i nouȝt a bold best a bere wel to seme?”
“ȝis, madame,” seide þe mayde “be marie of heuene,
ȝe arn so grisli a gost a gom on to loke,
þat i nold for al þe god þat euer god made,
abide ȝou in a brod weie bi a large mile;
so breme a wilde bere ȝe bi-seme nowþe.”
alisaundrine þanne anon after þat ilk,
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& laced wel eche leme wiþ lastend þonges,
craftili a-boue his cloþes þat comly were & riche.
& whan he was sowed as he schold bene,
william ful merili to meliors þan he seide,
“sei me, loueli lemman how likes þe me nowþe?”
“bi marie, sire,” seide meliors “þe milde quen of heuene,
so breme a bere ȝe be-seme a burn on to loke,
þat icham a-grise bi god þat me made,
to se so hidous a siȝt of youre semli face!”
þan seide william wiȝtli “my derworþe herte,
to heiȝ vs hastily henne ich hope be þe best,
euenly þis euen while or men to mochel walk.”
& ȝhe to worche as he wold wiȝtli þan graunted.
alisaundrine sone as sche saw hem founding,
wept as sche wold a-wede for wo & for sorwe,
but naþeles as bliue sche brouȝt hem on weie
priuely be þe posterne of þat perles erber,
þat was to meliors chaumber choisli a-ioyned.
& alisaundrine as sone as þei schuld de-parte,
swoned fele siþe & seþþen whan sche miȝt,
preide ful pituosli to þe prince of heuene
to loke fro alle langour þo louely makes,
þat put hem for paramours in perriles so grete;
& soþli forto say a-sunder þann þei went.
alisaundrine anon attelede to hire boure,
& morned neiȝh for mad for meliors hire ladi.
More to telle of hire þis time trewly i leue,
telle i wil of þe beres what hem tidde after.
William & þe mayde þat were white beres,
gon forþ þurȝth þe gardin a wel god spede,
Fersly on here foure fet as fel for swiche bestes.
þan ȝede a grom of grece in þe gardyn to pleie,
to bi-hold þe estres & þe herberes so faire,
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þei went a-wai a wallop as þei wod semed.
& neiȝ wod of his witt he wax neiȝ for drede,
& fled as fast homward as fet miȝt drie,
for he wend witterly þei wold him haue sewed,
to haue mad of him mete & murþered him to deþe.
whanne he his felawes founde of his fare þei wondred,
whi he was in þat wise wexen so maat,
& he hem told tiȝtly whiche tvo white beres
hadde gon in þe gardyn & him agast maked,
for he wend witerli þei wold him haue slawe,
“but þei seie me nouȝt soþli i hope,
to me tended þei nouȝt but tok forþ here wey
wilfulli to sum wildernesse where as þei bredde.”
þanne were his felawes fain for he was adradde,
& lauȝeden of þat gode layk; of hem ich leve nouþe,
to telle forþ what tidde of þe beres after.
nouȝ fro þe gardin þei gon a god spede
toward a fair forest fast þer bi-side.
whilum þei went on alle four as doþ wilde bestes,
& whan þei wery were þei went vp-riȝttes.
so went þei in þat wildernesse al þat long niȝt,
til it dawed to day & sunne to yp-rise,
þei drow hem to a dern den for drede to be seiȝen,
& hedde hem vnder an holw hok was an huge denne,
as it fel a faire hap þei fond þer-on to rest.
Fer it was fro weiȝes & of wode so þikke,
þat no wiȝt of þe world wold hem þere seche,
& þei for-waked were weri wittow for soþe.
& hiȝliche þei heriede god of þat hap fallen,
þat had hem diȝt swiche a den dernly on to rest.
þen seide william soberli to meliors so hende,
“a! my loueliche lemman our lord now vs help,
he þat was in bedleem born & bouȝt vs on þe rode,
schilde us fram schenchip & schame in þis erþe,
& wisse vs in what wise to winne vs sum mete;
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soburli seide meliors “sire, leues youre wordes,
we schul liue bi oure loue lelli atte best;
& þurȝth þe grace of god gete vs sumwat elles,
bolaces & blake-beries þat on breres growen,
so þat for hunger i hope harm schul we neuer;
hawes, hepus, & hakernes & þe hasel-notes,
& oþer frut to þe fulle þat in forest growen;
I seie ȝou, sire, bi mi liif þis liif so me likes.”
“nay, i-wisse,” seid william “mi worþliche herte,
better be-houis it to be or baleful were þi happes;
For here-to-fore of hardnesse hadestow neuer,
but were brouȝt forþ in blisse as swiche a burde ouȝt,
wiþ alle maner gode metes; & to misse hem nowþe,
It were a botles bale but beter haue i ment.
I wol wend to sum weie onwhar here nere,
& waite ȝif any weiȝh comes wending alone,
oþer cherl oþer child fro chepinge or feyre,
þat beris out him a-boute bred oþer drinke,
& redeli i wol it reue & come a-ȝein swiþe,
oþer coyntyse know i non to kepe wiþ our liues.”
“nay, sire,” sche seide “so schul ȝe nouȝt worche;
For þei þat misseden here mete wold make gret noyse,
& record it redeli in rome al a-boute,
so þat we miȝt þurȝth hap haue harm in þat wise.
þer-for is fairer we be stille & bi frut to liue,
þat we finde in wodes as we wende a-boute.”
& boþe þan as bliue a-sented bi a stounde,
& kindeli eche oþer clipt and kessed ful oft,
& darkeden þere in þat den al þat day longe,
slepten wel swetly samli to-gadere,
& wrouȝt elles here wille;— leef we now here,
& a while to þe werwolf i wol a-ȝen turne,
þat þe tale toucheþ as telleþ þis soþe.
þe self niȝt þat william went wiþ his leef dere,
þe werwolf, as god wold wist alle here happes,
65
whan þei went in þat wise wiȝtli he hem folwes,
Ful bliue hem bi-hinde but þei nouȝt wist.
& whan þe werwolf wist where þei wold rest,
he herd how hard for hunger þei hem pleyned,
& goþ him to a gret heiȝ-waye a wel god spede,
ȝif he miȝt mete any man mete of to winne.
þan fel þe chaunce þat a cherl fro cheping-ward com,
& bar bred in a bagge and fair bouf wel sode.
þe werwolf ful wiȝtli went to him euene,
wiþ a rude roring as he him rende wold,
& braid him doun be þe brest bolstrauȝt to þe erþe.
þe cherl wende ful wel haue went to deþe,
& harde wiþ herte to god þanne he prayde,
to a-schape schaþles fram þat schamful best.
he brak vp fro þat beste & bi-gan to flene
as hard has he miȝt his liif for to saue.
his bag wiþ his bilfodur wiþ þe best he lafte,
glad was, he was gon wiþ-oute gretter harmes.
þe werwolf was glad he hade wonne mete,
& went wiȝtli þer-wiþ þer as william rested,
be-fore him & his burde þe bagge þer he leide,
& busked him bliue a-ȝein boute more wordes,
For he wist ful wel of what þei nede hadde.
William þo wondred moche of þat wilde best,
what he brouȝt in þe bag & wold nouȝt a-bide.
he braide to him þe bagge & bliue it opened,
& fond þe bred & þe bouf bliþe was he þanne,
& mekli to meliors “mi swete hert,” he saide,
“loo! whiche a gret grace god haþ vs schewed!
he wot wel of our werk & wel is apaiȝed,
þat he sendeþ þus his sond to socour vs atte nede,
so wonder a wilde best þat weldes no mynde.
swiche a wonder i-wisse was i-seie neuer,
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“bi marie,” seid meliors “ȝe mingeþ þe soþe;
for al þe world i nold our werk were vndone.”
william wel mekli þe mete out takes,
seid, “lemman, lef liif of þat our lord vs sendes,
Make we vs merie for mete haue we at wille.”
þei ete at here ese as þei miȝt þanne,
boute salt oþer sauce or any semli drynk,
hunger hadde hem hold þei held hem a-paied.
but white wel, þe werwolf wist what hem failed;
he went to an heiȝ weie to whayte sum happes.
þan bi-tid þat time to telle þe soþe,
þat a clerk of þe cuntre com toward rome
wiþ tvo flaketes ful of ful fine wynes,
bouȝt were for a burgeis of a borwe bi-side.
þe werwolf him awayted & went to him euene,
bellyng as a bole þat burnes wold spille.
whan þe clerk saw him come for care & for drede,
þe flagetes he let falle & gan to fle ȝerne,
þe liȝtliere to lepe his liif for to saue.
þe werwolf of þe clerkes werk was wonder bliþe,
& flei to þe flagetes & swiþe hem vp hentes,
& wendes euen to william a wel god spede,
& to meliors his make and mildeliche þanne
þe flagetes hem bi-for faire doun he settes,
& went wiȝtli a-wei wiþ-out eni more.
william & his worþi wenche þan were bliþe
of þe help þat þei hade of þis wild best,
& preid þei ful priueli to þe prince of heuene,
saue þe best fro sorwe þat so wel hem helped.
þei made hem þan mirie on alle maner wise,
eten at al here ese & afterward dronken,
& solaced hem samen til hem slepe lust.
þan eiþer lapped oþer ful loueli in armes,
& here drede & here doel deliuerli for-ȝeten,
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til it wax so neiȝh niȝt þat nerre it no miȝt.
þan a-waked þei wiȝtli & went on here gate,
faire on þer tvo fet þei ferde vp-on niȝtes,
but whan it drow to þe dai þei ferde as bestes,
ferd on here foure fet in fourme of tvo beres;
and euer þe werwolf ful wiȝtly hem folwed,
þat william ne wist hendeli hem bi-hinde;
but whan þei were loged where hem best liked,
Mete & al maner þing þat hem mister neded,
þe werwolf hem wan & wiȝtli hem brouȝt.
þan þei lade þis liif a ful long while,
cairende ouer cuntreis as here cas ferde.
Leue we now þis lesson & here we a-noþer;
to hem aȝeyn can i turne whan it time falles.
I wol minge of a mater i mennede of bi-fore,
of þe reaute a-raied in rome for here sake,
& of þe worþi wedding was bi-fore graunted
bi-twene þe meyde meliors & þe prince of grece;
now listenes, lef lordes þis lessoun þus i ginne.
Manly, on þe morwe þat mariage schuld bene,
þe real emperours a-risen & richeli hem greiþed,
wiþ alle worþi wedes þat wiȝhes were schold.
no man vpon molde schuld mow deuise
men richlier a-raid to rekene alle þinges,
þan eche rink was in rome to richesse þat þei hadde;
þe grete after here degre in þe gaiest wise,
& menere men as þei miȝt to minge þe soþe.
þe sesoun was semly þe sunne schined faire;
þemperour of grece & alle his gomes riche
hiȝed hem to here hors hastili and sone;
but for [to] telle þe a-tiryng of þat child þat time,
þat al þat real route were araied fore,
he þat wende haue be wedded to meliors þat time,
It wold lengeþ þis lessoun a ful long while.
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þat amendid in no maner ne miȝt it haue bene.
& whan þe gomes of grece were alle to horse,
araied wel redi, of romayns to rekkene þe numbre,
treuli twenti þousand a-tired atte best,
alle on stalworþ stedes stoutliche i-horsed.
alle maner of menstracye maked was sone,
& alle merþe þat any man euer miȝt deuise;
and alle real reueles rinkes rif bi-gunne,
Ridende þurth rome to rekene þe soþe,
Riȝt to þe chef cherch þat chosen is ȝutte,
& clepud þurth cristendom þe cherche of seynt petyr.
þe p[ope] wiþ many prelates was purueyd to riȝtes,
wiþ cardenales & bischopus & abbotes fele,
alle richeli reuested þat reaute to holde,
wiþ worchep of þat wedding þat þei wende haue.
þe gryffouns þan gayli gonne stint atte cherche,
þe briȝt burde meliors to abide þere.
þemperour of rome þanne was rede ȝare,
& alle þe best barounes & boldest of his reaume.
þemperour wax a-wondred wite ȝe for soþe,
whi his douȝter þat day dwelled so longe,
seþþe þe gomes of grece were gon to cherche.
þan bad he a baroun buske to hire chaumber,
to hiȝen hire hastily to him for to come,
& wiȝtli he wendes wite ȝe for soþe.
he fond þere burde no barn in þat bour þanne,
for no coyntise þat he couþe to carp him aȝens;
& he liȝtli aȝen lepes & þe lord so telles.
þemperour whan he it wist wod wax he nere,
& went him-self in wraþe to þat worþies chaumber,
& driues in at þat dore as a deuel of helle.
he gan to clepe & crie & gan to kurse fast;—
“where dwelle ȝe, a deuel wai ȝe damiseles, so long?”
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was delfulli a-drad þe deþ for to suffre,
ac bi a coynt compacement caste sche sone,
how bold ȝhe miȝt hire bere hire best to excuse,
þat þemperour ne schuld souche þa ȝhe at sent were,
þat his douȝter wiþ william was went away þanne.
boldli wiþ milde mod ȝhe buskes of hire chaumber,
& kom ketly to þemperour & kurteisly him gret,
& what þat his wille were wiȝtly þan asked,
& he seide ful sone “sertes, ich haue wonder
where my douȝter to-day dwelles þus longe?
for al þe pepul is parayled & passed to cherche.
I haue sent hire to seche seþþe a gret while,
ac no frek mai hire finde þer-fore i am tened.”
alisaundrine a-non answered þanne & seide,
“to blame, sire, ar þo burnes þat so bleþeli gabbe;
For my lady lis ȝit a-slape lelly, as i trowe.”
“Go wiȝtly,” seide þemperour “and a-wake hire ȝerne,
bid hire busk of hire bed & bliue be a-tyrid.”
“I dar nouȝt, for soþe” seide alisaundrine þanne;
“wiþ me sche is wroþ god wot, for litel gilt.”
“whi so?” saide þemperour “saie me nouȝ bliue!”
“Ful gladli, sire,” sche seide “bi god þat me made,
ȝif ȝe no wold be wroþ whan ȝe þe soþe wist.”
“nay, certes,” seide þemperour “þer-fore seie on sone.”
alissaundrine þan anon after þat ilke,
seide ful soberli sore a-drad in herte,
“sire, for soþe, i am hold to saie ȝou þe treuþe;
Mi ladi made me to-niȝt long wiþ hire to wake
boute burde or barn bot our selue tweie.
þanne told sche me a tiding teld was hire to-fore,
of on þat knew þe kostome of þe cuntre of grece,
þat euerich gome of grece as of grete lordes,
whan þei wedded a wiif were ȝhe neuer so nobul,
of emperours or kinges come & come into grece,
sche chold sone be bi-schet here-selue al-one,
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& liue þer in langour al hire lif-time,
neuer to weld of worldes merþe þe worþ of a mite.
þer-fore for soþe gret sorwe sche made,
& swor for þat sake to suffur alle peynes,
to be honget on heiȝ or wiþ horse to-drawe,
sche wold neuer be wedded to no wiȝh of grece.
hire were leuer be weded to a wel simplere,
þere sche miȝt lede hire lif in liking & murþe.
& also, sire, sertaynly to seie þe treuþe,
sche told me a-noþer tale þat me tened sarre,
wher-fore i wan hire wraþ er we departed.”
“warfore?” seide þemperour “seye me now ȝerne.”
“For soþe, sire,” quaþ alisaundrine “to saue ȝour mensk,
I wol ȝow telle tiȝtly what turn sche as wrouȝt.
sche clepud me to cunseil whan sche þis case wist
þat sche schold be wedded & seide me þanne,
sche hadde leid hire loue þer hire beter liked,
on on þe boldest barn þat euer bi-strod stede,
& þe fairest on face and i freyned is name.
& sche me seide chortly þe soþe to knowe,
It was þat worþi william þat wiȝes so louen,
& þat brouȝt ȝou out of bale wiþ his cler strengþe.
& whan i wist of þis werk wite ȝe for soþe,
It mislikede me mochel miȝt no man me blame,
& manly in my maner missaide hire as i dorst,
& warned hire wiȝtly wiþ-oute disseyte,
I wold alle hire werk do ȝou wite sone.
& whan sche þat wist for wraþ al so ȝern,
sche dede me deliuerly deuoyde þer hire chaumber,
& het me neuer so hardi be in hire siȝt to come.
& i busked of hire bour sche barred hit sone,
& seþþe saw i hire nouȝt sire, bi my treuþe.
I ne dar for drede no more to hire drawe,
þer-for, sire, ȝour-self softili hire a-wakes,
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til þis mariage be mad & wiþ murþe ended.”
Whan þemperour had herd holly þise wordes,
he wax neiȝh out of wit for wraþ þat time,
& for dol a-doteþ & doþ him to hire chaumber,
& busked euene to hire bed but noþing he no fond,
wiþ-inne hire comly cortynes but hire cloþes warme.
wiȝtly as a wod man þe windowe he opened,
& souȝt sadli al a-boute his semliche douȝter,
but al wrouȝt in wast for went was þat mayde.
& whanne he miȝt in no manere meliors þer finde,
he deraied him as a deuel & dede him out a-ȝeine,
& asked of alisaundrine anon after þanne,
“þou damisele, deliuerli do telle me now ȝerne,
whider is mi douȝter went ȝhe nis nouȝt in bedde.”
alisaundrine for þat cas was sorwful in herte,
& seide, “sire, i seiȝ hire nouȝt seþ hieȝ midniȝt,
I wene sche went to william for wraþ of my sawe,
sendeþ swifteli þedir to scheche hire at is inne.
& ȝif william be nouȝt went witeþ ȝe forsoþe,
Mi ladi for ani lore lengeþ in þis cite ȝut.
& ȝif william be went neuer leue ȝe oþer,
Mi ladi lengeþ him wiþ for lif or for dede.”
þemperour for treie & tene as a tyraunt ferde,
wax ney wod of his witte & wroþliche seide,
“a! has þat vntrewe treytour traysted me nouþe,
For þe welþe & welfare i haue him wrouȝt fore,
& fostered fro a fundeling to þe worþiest of mi lond?
& for his dedes to-day i am vndo for euer;
eche frek for þis fare false wol me hold,
& þe grewes for gremþe ginneþ on me werre,
& eche weiȝh schal wite þat þe wrong is myne.
þer-fore bi grete god þat gart me be fourmed,
& bitterly wiþ his blod bouȝt me on þe rode,
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ȝif þat traytour mow be take to-day, er i ete,
he schal be honged heie & wiþ horse to-drawe!”
þemperour ful kenely dede kalle kniȝttes fele,
and oþer semly seriauns sixti wel armed,
het hem wiȝtli to wende to williams inne,
& ȝif þei found out þat freke for out þat bi-tidde,
to bring him bliue bounde fast him to-fore.
þai durste non oþer do but dede hem on gate,
& souȝte him wiþ sore hertes so wel þei him louede.
feiȝþli when þei founde him nouȝt fayn were þei alle,
& turned aȝein to þemperour & told he was a-weie.
þan brayde he brayn-wod & alle his bakkes rente,
his berde & his briȝt fax for bale he to-twiȝt;
& swowned sixe siþe for sorwe & for schame,
þat fals he schold be founde ful ofte he seide “allas,”
& banned bitterli þe time þat he was on liue
þanne kinges & kud dukes conforted him beter,
bede him sese of his sorwe & swiftili wende,
& telle þemperour of grece treuli þe soþe,
& meke him [in] his merci for his misse-gilt.
& he ketly for al kas after cunseyl wrouȝte,
& goþ to þemperour of grece vnglad at his herte,
kneleþ to him karfully & mercy him krieþ,
and told him as titly al þe treuþe sone,
how his douȝter was went wiþ on þat he fostred,
& preide him par charite þat he him wold wisse,
In what wise þat he miȝt best him a-wrek.
& whan þis tiding was told troweþ þe soþe,
In þat cite was sone many a sori burne,
for missing of þat mariage al murþe was seced,
riuedliche þurth rome & reuþe bi-gunne.
þe gode emperour of grece was a-greued sore,
of þat fortune bi-falle but for he sei þat oþer
so meken in his mercy for þat misgilt,
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“sire, be god þat me gaf þe gost & þe soule,
wist i now witerli þis were wrouȝt for gile,
alle þe men vpon mold no schuld make it oþer,
þat i nold brenne þi borwes & þi burnes quelle,
& sece neuer til þi-self were chamly destruyed.
but i wene wiþ þi wille was neuer wrouȝt þis gile,
þere-fore þe cunseil þat y kan i schal þe kiþe sone,
do quikliche crie þurth eche cuntre of þi king-riche,
þat barouns, burgeys, & bonde & alle oþer burnes,
þat mowe wiȝtly in any wise walken a-boute,
þat þei wende wiȝtly as wide as þi reaume,
þurth wodes & wastes & alle maner weies,
forto seche þat seg þat he haþ so bitraied;
& þat mayde him mide Meliores þi douȝter.
& to make eche man þe more beter wilned,
bi-hote hoo-so hem findes to haue so gret mede,
Riche to be & reale redly al his liue time.
& ho-so hastely nouȝt him hieȝ þis hest to worche,
do him in hast be honged & wiþ horse to-drawe.
& loke þat hirde-men wel kepe þe komune passage,
& eche brugge þer a-boute þat burnes ouer wende,
& to seche eche cite and alle smale þropes,
& vnparceyued passe þei nouȝt ȝif þi puple be treuwe.”
Þe real emperour of rome þanne redli him thonked
of þat konyng cunseyl & his kynde wille.
& bliue þan bi eche side þat bode let he sende;
as hastyli as men miȝt hiȝe his hest was wrouȝt,
& sone was sembled swiche an host to take hem tweie,
þat neuer burn to no bataile brouȝt swiche a puple.
þei souȝt alle so serliche þurh cites & smale townes,
In wodes & alle weies þat was þer a-boute,
þat no seg for no sleiȝþe no schuld haue schapit.
but ȝit as god ȝaf þe grace no gom miȝt hem finde,
þere þei leye louely a-slepe lapped in armes.
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þat no wiȝt in no wise ne miȝt william finde,
ne þe maide Meliors in no maner wise,
þer stod a gome of grece þat god gif him sorwe!
he þat of þe white beres so bremli was a-fraied,
he seide sone to þemperours “sires, wol ȝe here?
I sai a selkouþe siȝt mi-self ȝister-neue,
wel wiþ-inne niȝt as i went in the gardyn;
tvo þe bremest white beres þat euer burn on loked,
& semede þe most to siȝt þat euer ȝut i sawe.
I wende deliuerli for drede þe deþ to haue suffred,
but treuly þe beres to me tok no hede,
but passeden out priueli at þe posterne gate,
ac whiderward þei went wot i no more.”
“be god,” quaþ þemperour of grece “þat gart me be fourmed,
I der leye mi lif hit was þe liþer treytour
went a-wey in þat wise for he ne wold be knowen.
Lete wite swiþe at þe kichen weþer þei misse any skinnes.
whan men kome to þe koke he was be-knowe sone,
þat sum burn a-wei had bore tvo white beres skynnes.
þan was it kenly komanded a kri to make newe,
þat eche burn schuld bisily tvo white beres seke,
his trauayle schold nouȝt tyne þat tittest hem founde.
þan hastely hiȝed eche wiȝt on hors & on fote,
huntyng wiȝt houndes alle heie wodes,
til þei neyȝþed so neiȝh to nymphe þe soþe,
þere william & his worþi lef were liand i-fere,
þat busily were thei a bowe schote out of þe burnes siȝt.
but whan þe witthi werwolf wist hem so nere,
& seiȝe blod-houndes bold so busili seche,
he þouȝt, wil his lif last leten he nolde,
forto saue and serue þo tvo semli beres;
& prestly þan putte him out in peril of deþe,
bi-fore þo herty houndes hauteyn of cryes,
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whan þe houndes hadde feute of þe hende best,
þei sesed al here sechyng & sewed him fast,
ouer mountaynes & mires many myle þennes.
alle men þat mut herde of þe muri houndes,
seweden after ful swiþe to se þat mury chase,
& left þe loueli white beres ligge in here rest,
þat wisten no-þing of þis werk þat was hem a-boute.
þe puple þanne porsewed forþ & of here prey þei missed,
as god gaf þe werwolf grace to go a-wei so ȝerne,
þat horse ne hounde for non hast ne miȝt him of-take.
whan þemperour was warned in wast þat þei ȝede,
alle gergeis for grame gonne take here leue,
& cayred to þaire cuntre carful and tened.
but ward was þer set wide wher a-boute,
of bold burnes of armes þe beres forto seche,
þat þe witti werwolf so wel þanne hem helped,
þat no wiȝt for wile miȝt wite where þei lenged;
& hastili whan þei hade nede halp hem of mete,
& wissed hem wel þe weiȝes to wende a-wei bi niȝt;
& whan it drouȝ to þe dai ful dernli he hem tauȝt,
bi contenaunce wel thei kneu where þei rest schold take.
& busily him-self wold buske in eche side,
to help hem fro harm ȝif any hap bi-tidde.
þus þat witty werwolf þe weyes hem kenned;
lorkinde þurth londes bi niȝt so lumbardie þei passed,
& comen into þe marches of þe kingdam of poyle.
Hit bi-tidde þat time þei trauailed al a niȝt,
out of forest & friþes & alle faire wodes;
no couert miȝt þei kacche þe cuntre was so playne.
& as it dawed liȝt day to mene þe soþe,
þai hadde a semli siȝt of a cite nobul,
enclosed comeliche a-boute wiþ fyn castel-werk;
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whan william þer-of war was he wax a-drad sore,
lest eny segges of þat cite hem of-se schuld,
& mekly seide to meliors “myn owne swete herte,
our lord, ȝif his liking be oure liues now saue!
for i no wot in þis world where we mowe vs hide.
þe perles prince of heuen for his pite & his grace,
saue vs for his pite þat we ne slayn bene!”
“amen, sire,” seide meliors “Marie þat vs graunt,
for þat blessed barnes loue þat in hire bodi rest!”
þanne wiȝtly wiþ-inne a while as þei waited a-boute,
þei saie a litel hem bi-side a semliche quarrere,
vnder an heiȝ hel al holwe newe diked;
deliuerli þei hieȝed hem þider for drede out of doute,
& crepten in-to a caue whanne þei þeder come,
al wery for-walked & wold take here reste.
In armes louely eche lauȝt oþer & leide hem to slepe,
al bonden in þe bere skynnes bi-fore as þei ȝede.
& þat witty werwolf went ay bi-side,
& kouchid him vnder a kragge to kepe þis tvo beris.
ac þei ne hadde redly rested but a litel while,
þat werkmen forto worche ne wonne þidere sone,
stifly wiþ strong tol ston stifly to digge,
& as þei come to þe caue to comse to wirche,
on of hem sone of-sei þo semliche white beres,
loueli ligand to-gadir lapped in armes.
but feiþli as fast to his felawes he seide,
“herkenes nowe, hende sires ȝe han herd ofte,
wich a cri has be cried þurth cuntres fele,
þurth hest of þemperour þat haþ rome to kepe,
þat what man vpon molde miȝt onwar finde,
tvo breme wite beres þe bane is so maked,
he schold winne his wareson to weld for euere,
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“ȝa, forsoþe,” seide his felawes “ful wel þat we knowe;
but wharbi seistow so so þe god help?”
“þe soþe, felawes, ful sone ȝe schol it wite,
ȝif ȝe tentifly take kepe & trewe be to-gadere;
I wol winne our warisun for i wot where þei are.”
“ȝis, certes,” seide þei “so trewe wol we bene,
þat no fote schal we fle for nouȝt bi-tides.”
“ek, sires,” seide þat oþer “so ȝouȝ crist rede,
standes alle a stounde stille in þis ilk place,
I wil busk to boneuent of þe beris telle,
to þe prouost & oþer puple & hem preie in hast
to come hider & hem cacche for in caue þei lyen,
& slepen samen y-fere y saw hem riȝt nowe.”
þenne were his felawes ful fayn & fast bad him renne,
& þei wold a-bide boldly þe beres þere to kepe.
þat oþer [went] wiȝtly þenne to warne þe prouost
lelliche hou he hade seye in þe harde quarrer,
þe tvo white beris & bad him-self ȝerne
to come wiþ gret pouwer & cacche hem in haste.
“wostou wel,” seyede þe prouost “þat þei are þere ȝete?”
“ȝe, certes,” seide he “y saw hem riȝt now boþe;
& fiue of my felawes ful faste þere hem wayten,
þat þei no wende a-way wil y hider sterte.”
Þe prouost þan prestely þe pepul dede warne,
as þei nold lese here lif here londes & here godes,
þat alle hieȝden hastily on hors & on fote,
& bi-set sone saddeli þe quarrer al a-boute,
tiȝtli for to take þe tvo white beres,
þat þemperour comanded crie in cuntre al a-boute.
sone eche man þat miȝt ful manliche him armed,
& heȝeden hastely to hors þo þat hade any,
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so þat þe cuntre þurth þat cri was al bi-cast sone,
& quikliche a-boute þe quarrer were kene men of armes,
twenty hundered & tvo trewli in numbre,
to take as bliue þe beres but god now hem help,
slayn worþ þei slepend ac selcouþ now heres.
as þo bold beres so neiȝh here bale slepten,
Meliors þurth a metyng was marred neiȝ for fere,
& þurth þat sorwful sweuene swiþe sche a-waked,
& wiȝtly to william þese wordes sche sede,
“a! louely lemman lestene now my sawe,
I am ney marred & mad þis morwe for a sweuene.
for me þout þat þer com to þis caue nouþe
wilde beris & apes bores, boles, and baucynes,
a brem numbre of bestes þat a lyoun ladde,
þat his kene komandment kidden wel to wirche,
to haue taken vs tvo to-gader in þis denne.
þan was þer a litel lyoun of þe lederes bi-ȝete,
come wiþ þat companye þis case to bi-holde.
& riȝt as þe breme bestes vs boþe schuld haue take,
our wurþi werwolf þat euer wel vs helpeþ,
com wiþ a gret kours & for alle þe kene bestes,
& lauȝt vp þe ȝong lyoun liȝtly in his mouþe,
& went wiþ him a-wei whedir as him liked.
& alle þe breme bestes þat a-boute vs were,
for-lete vs & folwed him forþ for þe ȝong lyouns sake;
& certes, sire, of þat sweuen riȝt so y a-waked,
& am a-drad to þe deþ for destine þat wol falle.”
“Nay, loueli lef,” seide william “leue al þat sorwe,
forsoþe it is but fanteme þat ȝe fore-telle;
we mowe reste vs redili riȝt sauf here at wille.”
ac soþli, as che had seide riȝt wiþ þat ilke,
þei herd an huge route of horse þat hel al a-boute,
& herd þat quarrere vmbe-cast & al þe cuntre wide.
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& seie breme burnes busi in ful briȝt armes,
brandissende wiþ gret bost & of þe beres speke,
In what wise þei wold wirche wiȝtly hem to take.
þe prouost wiþ al þe puple presed forþ formast,
& many miȝti man manliche medled þat time,
& soþliche for to seie swiche grace god lente,
þat þe prouost sone a semli ȝong barne,
was brout þider wiþ burnes þe beres to bi-holde,
for þe selcouþe siȝt to se how þei schuld be take.
whan william was war þei were so neiȝh nome,
to meliors wiþ mornyng mekliche he sayde,
“allas! my loueliche lemman þat euer y lif hadde,
to be for al our bale brouȝt to swiche an hende!
allas! lemman, þat our loue þus luþerly schal departe,
þat we now dulfulli schul deye ac do now, god, þi grace,
& late me haue al þe harm heiȝeliche i beseche;
for i haue wrouȝt al þis wo & worþi am þer-tille.
for meliors, my dere hert be marie in heuene,
holly al þis harde þow hast al for my gelt;
þer-fore, ȝif godes wille were i wold haue al þe payne,
to mede ȝe were fro þis quarrere quitly a-schaped.
& dere hert, deliuerli do as ich þe rede,
dof bliue þis bere-skyn & be stille in þi cloþes,
& as sone as þou art seie þou schalt sone be knowe,
þan worþ þi liif lengeyd for loue of þi fader;
so miȝtow be saued for soþe, neuer elles;
& þouhȝ þei murþer me þanne i no make no strengþe.
but god for his grete grace gof i hadde now here
horse & alle harneys þat be-houes to werre,
I wold wend hem tille wiþ-oute ani stint,
& do what i do miȝt or ich þe deth soffred;
summe þat bere hem now brag schuld blede or euen.
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& buske þe of þis bere fel bi-liue, i þe rede,
& wende listly hennes & late me worþ after;
swiþe saue þi-self for so is þe best.”
Meliors wepande wonder sore to william þan seide,
“what? leuestow, leue lemman þat i þe leue wold
for deþ or for duresse þat men do me miȝt?
nay, bi him þat wiþ his blod bouȝt vs on þe rode,
þe beres fel schal neuer fro my bac siker be þer-fore.
al þis world to winne i no wold be aliue,
soþli after i seie ȝou suffere þe deþe;
wiþ god wille take we þe grace þat god wol us sende.”
Whan þat sawe was seid soþ for to telle,
þe prouost bad bold burnes þe beres go take,
& þei hastily at his hest hiȝed inward atte roche.
but godli, as god wold swiche grace bi-tidde,
þe werwolf was war & wist of here tene,
& be-þout how best wore þe beres to saue;
& wiȝtly as a wod best went hem a-ȝens,
Gapand ful grimli & goþ þanne ful euene
to þe semli prouost sone & swiþe him vp-cauȝt
be þe middel in his mouþe þat muche was & large,
& ran forþ for al þat route wiþ so rude a noyse,
as he wold þat barn bliue haue for-frete.
whan þe prouost þat perceyued to þe puple he cried,
“helpes hastily, hende men i hote, vp ȝour liues!
ho wol winne his wareson now wiȝtly him spede
forto saue my sone or for sorwe i deye!”
ful sone after þat sawe se þere men miȝt
Many a bold burn after þat best prike,
& oþer frekes on fote as fast as þei miȝt,
so holliche to þat hunting i hote þe forsoþe,
þat noiþer burde ne barn bi-laft at þe quarrer,
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hotend out wiþ hornes & wiþ huge cries,
& sewed him sadly wiþ so selkouþ noyse,
þat alle men vpon molde miȝt be a-wondred.
euer when þe werwolf was out to-fore
þe mountaunce of half a myle or more ȝif it were,
lest þe segges wold haue sesed here seute to folwe,
he wold abide wiþ þe barn þe bliþer hem to make,
In hope þei schuld of him hent þe litel knaue.
but whan þei were ouȝt him neiȝ nouȝt he nold abide,
but dede him deliuerli awey as he dede bi-fore,
& þus lelly he hem ladde alle þe longe daie,
þat neuer man vpon molde miȝt him of-take;
& schete durst þei nouȝt, for drede þe child to hurte,
but folwed him so forþ as fast as þei miȝt.
whanne þe wite beres wist þat were in þe quarrer,
þat al þe puple was passed to pursue þe best,
of þat witti werwolf to winne þe child,
& sei wel for here sake he suffred þo peines
to socour hem & saue fram alle sory deþes,
& boþe bliue for þat best bi-gunne to preie
þat god for his grete miȝt schuld gete him fro harm;
witterli þei wist wel þat þei nere bot dede,
nere goddes grete miȝt & þe gode bestes help.
& whan þei boþe had so bede þei be-þout after,
It were best as bliue to buske hem of þat caue.
& william þese wordes wiȝtly to meliors seide,
“Mi swete wiȝt, soþ to seie me semeth it þe best,
to buske vs of þe bere felles to be þe lasse knowe.
for eche wiȝh wol more a-weite after þe white beres,
þan þei wol after any wiȝt þat walkeþ i-cloþed,
þerfor wiȝtly in oure owne wedes wende we hennes.”
Mekli seide meliors, “sire be marie in heuen,
to do holli as ȝe han seide i hope be þe best.”
as bliue þe bere schinnes from here bodi þei hent,
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& bliþe were þei boþe þanne to bi-hold on oþer;
for feiþli a fourteniȝt non hadde seie oþeres face.
þanne clipt þei & kest for al here cares colde,
& william ful wiȝtly waited out of þe caue,
& bi-huld ful busili a-boute on eche a side,
ȝif eny wiȝt were walkende but he non seie.
he lauȝt loueli Meliors & ladde hire bi þe honde;
cloþed in here cloþes out of þe caue þei went,
wiþ hem boþe bere-felles þei bere in here armes,
so loþ hem was þo to lese or leue hem bi-hinde;
& deden hem deliuerly ouer dales and helles,
ferrest fro alle weies þer any folk walkes.
dolfulli þei were adrad dar no mon hem wite,
last þei schuld mete any man þat miȝt hem be-wrie;
but þan as god wold or eny man hem seye,
þei hade walked in þat wise wel a þre myle,
& founden þan a fayr forest floriched ful þik,
& þider wiȝtly þei went wel vnparceyued.
what of here hard heiȝing & of þe hote weder,
Meliors was al mat sche ne miȝt no furþer,
& prestly in a þicke place of þat pris wode,
wel out from alle weyes for-wery þei hem rested,
& þonked god gretliche þat so godliche hem saued;
& seþþen softli to slepe samen þei hem leide,
as þei þat were wery for-waked to-fore.
Nouȝ leue we of hem a while & speke we a-noþer;
For of þe witti werwolf a while wol i telle.
So long þat ferli folk folwed him after,
to haue be-nom him þe barn þat he nam þat time,
huntyng holliche þat day on hors & on fote,
till þe semli sunne was setled to reste.
& whan it was so neiȝ niȝt to neuen þe soþe,
þe werwolf wist wel it was no more nede
to bere þat [barn] no forþer for þe beres sake.
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þat no seg þat hade sewed no schuld hom winne,
hiȝed þei neuer so hard of al þa long niȝt.
& þanne as bliue þat barn þe best a-doun sette,
wiþ-oute eny maner wem þe worse it to greue,
for non schold in þat barnes bodi o brusure finde
as of þat bold best but bold it was & faire.
& as sone as he hade sette it a-downe,
he went wiȝtly a-weie wiþ-oute eny more,
deliuerli as he nadde þat day gon half a myle.
when þe prouost & þe puple parceyued þat ilk,
þat þe best hade left þe barn bliþe were þei þanne.
þe prouost bi-fore þe puple priked þider formest,
& hent it vp in hast ful hendli in his armes,
and clipt it & kest oft & many siþes;
bi-huld a-boute on his bodi ȝif it blenched were;
whan he saw it al sound so glad was he þanne,
þat na gref vnder god gayned to his ioye.
al þe puple prestly þat him porsewed hadde,
gretliche þonked god of þat grace bi-falle,
& tiȝtli al here tene was turned in-to ioye,
& as bliue wiþ blisse þei busked hem homward,
wiþ al þe murþe vpon molde þat men miȝt diuise.
but eche man al niȝt inned him where he miȝt,
& whan hit dawed, deliuerli dede hem homward.
& wiȝtli whan þei hom come wittow for soþe,
þe prouost ful prestli al þat puple warned,
to buske bliue to þe quarrer þe beres to take.
þei went wiþ god wille but wan þei þider come,
þei founde al awei fare bi-fore þat þer wore.
þo ne wist þei in þe world whider hem to seche,
but hiȝed hem homward fast as þei miȝt,
& token redli here rest at here owne wille.
þe prouost dede pertli profer al a-boute,
what man vpon mold miȝt þe beres take,
he schuld gete of gold garissoun for euere.
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a-boute bi eche side þo bestes for to seche.
but as god ȝaf þe grace no gom miȝt hem finde,
so happiliche þei hem hidde þei hadde swiche grace.
& forto telle what tidde of þat tide werwolf,
þat niȝt þat hadde þe prouost sone for-left,
he wan a-ȝen to william & to his worþ make,
wel i-charged wiþ wyn & wiþ gode metes,
þat he wan bi þe weie as he þider went.
& bliue þat he bar be-fore william hit leide,
& went him wiȝtly a-wei fro hem sone.
þerof was william a-wondred & meliors alse,
why þe best nold abide þat so wel hem helped,
& seide eiþer til oþer “now sertes, for soþe,
þis best has mannes kynde it may be non oþer.
se what sorwe he suffres to saue vs tweine!
& namli, when we han nede neuer he ne fayleþ,
þat he ne bringeþ wher we ben þat to vs bi-houes.
he þat suffred for our sake sore wondes fiue,
he our buxum best saue & hald vs his liue.”
“amen, sire,” seide meliors “marie þat graunt!
nade his help hende ben we hade be ded ȝore.”
þei made hem þan merye wiþ mete þat þei hadde,
& eten at here ese for þei were for-hungred,
& rested þere redeli al þat longe day,
& al þe niȝt next after to neuen þe soþe,
for meliors was so wery þat sche ne walk miȝt.
& erliche on þe morwe er þe sunne gan schine,
choliers þat cayreden col come þere bi-side,
& oþer wiȝes þat were wont wode forto fecche,
fast þer william was & his worþ burde.
þe kolieres bi-komsed to karpe kenely i-fere;
on of hem seide sadli þise selue wordes:
“wold god þe white beres were here nowþe,
alle þe men on mold ne schuld here liues saue,
for wiȝtly wold ich wende and warne þe prouost,
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for breme beres [be] þei none as þei be-semen,
It is þemperours douȝter þat so digised wendeþ,
wiþ a [comliche] kniȝt þat kauȝt haþ hire loue.
þer-fore þese cries ben so kenliche maked,
what man on molde mow hem first fynde,
he mai gete so moche gold þat pore worþ he neuer.
wonderli a werwolf ȝesterday hem saued,
þa pertly þe prouost barn bar a-way from alle;
while men hunted after hem þai han a-wai schaped.
bi him þat me bouȝt were þei boþe here,
þei schuld wicche wel ȝif þei a-wei went,
þouȝh þer were werwolfs wiþ hem foure schore!”
þen was meliors neiȝ mad al-most for fere,
lest þat foule felþe schold haue hem founde þere,
& darked stille in hire den for drede, boute noyse.
wiȝtly a-noþer werkman þat was þer be-side
gan flite wiþ þat felþe þat formest hadde spoke,
seide, “do þi deuer þat þow hast to done.
what were þe þe beter nouȝ þeiȝh þe beris were here,
to do hem any duresse? þei misdede þe neuer.
Mani hard hape han þei a-schapet,
& so i hope þei schal ȝit for al þi sori wille.
god for his grete miȝt fram greues hem saue,
& bring hem boþe wiþ blis þere þei be wold.
do we þat we haue to done & diȝt we vs henne,
sum seluer for our semes in þe cite to gete.”
þei hadde bliue here burþenes & bi-gunne to wende,
william ne is swete wiȝt seie hem na more;
but holliche had herd al here huge speche.
þan seide william wiȝtly þese selue wordes,
“Meliors, my swete hert now mow we no more
In þise breme bere-felles a-boute here walke,
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“certes, sire, þat is soþ” seide meliors þan,
“ȝif we walken in þes wedes i wot wel for soþe,
& al þe cuntre knoweþ what cas we ben inne,
what man so vs metes may vs sone knowe.
I ne wot in wat wise to worche be best.”
“nor ich, i-wisse,” sede william “but worþe god wiþ alle.”
While þe tvo derlinges talked to-gadere,
þe werwolf an huge hert hade hunted riȝt þider,
& riȝt be-fore hem boþe brouȝt hit to deþe;
& hastilyche þan hiȝed & an hinde brouȝt,
serued it in þe same wise as þe hert bi-fore,
& went wiȝtly a-wei wit-oute any more.
þan wist william wel bi þe bestes wille,
þat he þe hert & þe hinde hade þere slayne,
him & his loueliche lemman to lappe in þe skinnes,
& bileue þere þe beres felles þat so busili were a-spied.
& mekli þan to meliors he munged what he þouȝt,
& seide, “se wich a selcouþ þis semliche best worcheþ,
for-þi crist, crouned king kepe him fro sorwe,
& late man neuer haue miȝt him to misdone.”
“þat graunt god,” seide meliors “for his swete miȝt;
for nere þe help of heuen king & þe hende best,
oure liues hadde be lore many a day seþþe.”
“ȝa, i-wisse,” seide william “my derworþ herte;
for-þi at oure bestes wille worche we nouþe.
hastili hulde we þe hides of þise bestes,
Greiþe we vs in þat gere to go ferþer hennes.”
william hent hastili þe hert & meliors þe hinde,
& a[s] smartli as þei couþe þe skinnes of-turned.
eiþer gamliche gan greþe oþer gailiche þer-inne,
þat þe skinnes sat saddeli sowed to hem boþe,
as hit hade ben on þe beste þat hit growed.
& better þei semed þan to siȝt semliche hertes,
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so iustili on eþer of hem were ioyned þe skinnes.
And whan þei were greiþed gayli in þat gere,
þei seten in here solas til sunne ȝede to rest.
whan it neiȝet niȝt, þei nold no lenger a-bide,
but went forþ on here weie for wel list hem gone,
& here semli werwolf sewed fast after,
þat wittily tauȝt hem þe weies whider þei wende scholde,
sechande towarde cisile þe sotilest weyes.
& namliche on þe morwe many men hem souȝt
In wodes & wildernesse wide where a-boute,
& as þei walked in wodes wiþ ful gode houndes,
þei founde þe beres skinnes & þe bestes flayne.
þat it was an hert & an hinde hastili þei knewen,
& wist wel þat þei went wrapped in þe skinnes,
þei þat bi-fore had be as tvo white beres,
& wist þat þai in wast wrouȝt þer to-fore
for al þe hard huntyng þat þei hadde maked.
& folwe hem durst þei no ferre for a gret werre,
þat was wonderli hard in þe next londe,
& þo þe seute sesed after þe swete bestes.
Munge mai [i] no more of noman þat hem folwed,
ac of þe hert & þe hinde herkenes now ferþer.
Þei went fast on here way þe werwolf hem ladde
ouer mures & muntaynes & many faire pleynes;
but alwei as þei went wasted þei it founde.
for burwes & bold tounes al for-brent were,
but ȝit were þei wiþ walles warchet a-boute.
& al was william landes wittow wel for soþe,
he þat þere was an hert; heres þenchesoun,
whi þe wer & þat wo þo was in þat londe.
ȝe han herd here bi-fore as ich vnderstonde,
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of poyle & of cisile of pallerne & calabre,
& was williams fader þat went þere as an hert,
& ded was & doluen mani a day bi-fore.
& his comeliche quene as god wold, ȝit liuede,
þat was williams moder & was a menskful lady.
sche had a derworþe douȝter to deme þe soþe,
on þe fairest on face and frelokest i-schapen,
þat euere man vpon molde miȝt [on] diuise;
sche was ȝonger þan william bi fulle þre ȝeres.
& þe kud king of spayne hade a comliche sone,
þat was a kud kniȝt and kene man of armes;
for him, was þe werwolf so wickedli for-schaped
þurth malice of his stepmoder as ȝe mow here after;
ac breþer were þei boþe as bi on fader.
þe kud king of spayne coueyted for his sone
þat worþi mayden þat was williams suster;
ac þe quen for no cas no wold þat wedding graunt;
for-þi þe king & his sone swiche werre a-rered.
for þei hadde luþerli here lond brend and destrued,
brent bold borwes, & burnes bruttened to deþe,
& of-sette hire so harde þe-soþe for to telle,
þat prestli to hire puple to palerne sche ferde;
& þe king bi-seget þe cite selcouþli harde,
& mani a sad sauȝt his sone þer-to made,
ac douȝti men deliuerli defended it wiþ-inne;
but sertenli on boþe sides was slayn muche puple,
& þat lasted so longe leue me for soþe,
þei of þat cite of þo segges al sad were,
& come ofte to þe quen & cunseiled hire ȝerne
to acorde wiþ þe king & graunte his wille,
for þei no lenger in no maner miȝt meyntene þat sege,
for moche folk of here fon fel algate newe,
& here men flebled fast & faileden of here mete,
þat þei miȝt in no maner meyntene þe sege.
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“lordinges, ȝe ben my lege men þat gode ben & trewe,
bold burnes of bodies batailes big to gye;
but þat ȝe grettli aren a-greued gaynli i knowe,
for þise tenful trauayles but titli, i hope,
al it worþ wel amended for þis ȝe witen alle,
þat i haue sent after socour to my semly fader,
þat grece haþ godli to gye as emperour & sire.
& i wot witterli wiþ-oute eni faile,
þat socur he wol me sende or elles com him-selue.
It is so fer to þat cuntre ȝe knowe wel þe soþe,
þat he may nouȝt saile swiftli as he wold.
for-þi alle my bolde burnes i beseche & preie,
fo[r] loue þat ȝe owe to þe lord þat let ȝou be fourmed,
Meyntenes ȝit ȝoure manchip manli a while,
til god of his grete miȝt god tyding vs sende.”
& bad þo tvo bold barouns bliue forþ wende
to þe king of spayne & curtesly him seie,
þat sche preied par charite in pes to late hire lengþe
fulle a fourteniȝt for-oute alle greues
of sauȝtes to þe cite or any sorwe elles.
& but hire fader com bi þe fourteniȝtes hende,
or sende hire sum socour bi þe same time,
sche wold wiþ god wille wiþ-oute more lette
Meke hire in his merci on þise maner wise,
to giue him boute grucching al þat gode,
so þat sche miȝt saufli wiþ hire semli douȝter
wende wiȝtli a-wei whider hire god liked.
þe messegeres manli in here weye went,
spacli to þe king of spayne þis speche þei tolde.
but he swor his oþ þat he a-sent nold,
for no man vpon molde but he most haue hire douȝter;
& þei titly turned aȝen & told so þe quene.
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as a woful womman sche went to hir chaumber,
& preyed ful pitousli to þe prince of heuene,
for marie his moder loue to mayntene hire & help,
þat hire foos for no cas wiþ fors hire conquerede,
to winne aȝens hire wille hire worliche douȝter.
“no madame,” seide hire douȝter “marie þat graunt,
for þe blissful barnes loue þat hire brestes souked!”
þus þei dwelled in duel niȝtes and daies,
boþe þat corteys quen & hire comliche douȝter.
had þei wist witterli whiche help god hem sente,
al hire gref in-to game gaynli schold haue turned.
now sece we of þe segges þat þe sege holden,
& of þe selcouþ a-sautes þat þei samen ȝolde,
& of þe douȝthi defens of wieȝs þer wiþ-inne.
& listenes now a litel of þe tvo leue bestes,
þat as an hert & an hinde holden here weye,
as þe witty werwolf wold hem euer lede.
Of þis hert & þis hinde hende now listenes.
so long þei caired ouer cuntres as þat crist wold,
ouer dales & downes & disgesye weyes,
as þe werwolf hem wissed þat was here hole frend,
þan þei samen souȝt to þe riche cite of rise,
þat set is ful semli vpon þe see bonke.
a gret number of naueye to þat hauen longet,
& þere þe buxum bestes bi-houed ouer passe.
& so brod was þe see þat sayle hem bihoued
holliche al a niȝt & vp happe, wel more.
al day þe bestes darked in here den stille
In a ragged roche riȝt be þe hauen side,
til it was wiþ-inne niȝt & alle wiȝes slepten.
þan hiȝed þei hem to þe hauen hastily & sone,
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& stalkeden ful stilly þer stoden fele schippes.
þe werwolf waited wiȝtly which schip was ȝarest,
to fare forþ at þat flod & fond on sone,
þat was gayly greyt to go to þe seile,
& feiþliche frauȝt ful of fine wines.
þe werwolf went þer-to to wite ho were þere;
þe segges were a-slepe þan þat it schuld ȝeme,
al but þe mest maister to munge þe soþe.
þei were turned to towne to pleie þer whiles,
In murþe til þe mone arise arst miȝt þei nouȝt passe.
& whan þe werwolf wist þat alle slept fast,
to þe hert & þe hinde he turned him a-ȝeine,
& bi certeyn signes sone he hem tauȝt,
& þei folwed him fayre fayn for þat grace,
& he ful listli hem ledes to þat loueli schippe,
& tauȝt bi-hinde tunnes hem to hude þere.
þe maistres, whan þe mone a-ros manli in come,
& faire at þe fulle flod þei ferden to sayle,
& hadde wind at wille to wende whan hem liked.
þe werewolf wist wel þei were neiȝ ouer,
& bi-þout how were best þe bestes to help,
þat þei miȝt scaþeles schape of þat schip.
whan þe ludes where neiȝ lond he leped ouer borde,
sadli in al here siȝt for þei him sew schold—
whil þe hert & þe hinde scaped— to hunte him a-boute.
sone as þe schipmen seie him out lepen,
hastili hent eche man a spret or an ore,
& launced luþerly after him his lif to haue reued.
on so hetterli him hitte as he lep in þe water,
þat he for dul of þe dent diued to þe grounde,
& hade neiȝ lost is lif but, as our lord wold,
for al þat sterne strok stifli he vp-keuerede,
& swam swiftili awei þat þei seȝen alle,
& lauȝt liȝtli þe lond a litel hem bi-side.
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saileden swiþe to londe & sewed him after.
þe werwolf was wily & went so soft,
þe schipmen wend wel at wille him take,
& him alle seweden þat to þe schip longede,
but a barlegged bold boie þat to þe barge ȝemed.
whan þe schipmen wiþ þe wolf were wel passed,
þe hert & þe hinde þan hoped wel to schape,
& busked hem bo þe sone a-boue þe hacches.
but whan þe boie of þe barge þe bestes of-seie,
he was neiȝ wod of his witt witow, for fere,
& be-þouȝt him þere þe bestes for to quelle.
& happili to þe hinde he hit þanne formest,
& set hire a sad strok so sore in þe necke,
þat sche top ouer tail tombled ouer þe hacches.
but þe hert ful hastili hent hire vp in armes,
& bare hire forþ ouer-bord on a brod planke,
& nas bold wiþ þe boye no debate make,
but fayn was a-way to fle for fere of mo gestes,
fer away fro þe see or he stynt wold.
& whan he wist þat he was wel out of siȝt,
he be-hilde ȝif þe hinde euel hurt were,
& fond sche nas but a-friȝt for fere of þat dint.
þan saide þe hert to þe hinde hendly & faire,
“a! worþili wiȝt wonder ar þine happes,
þatow hentest al þe harm þat i haue deserued!
wold god for his grace & his grete miȝt,
þat i hade here þat to werre falles,
þe boye þat þe barge ȝemes a-beye schold sore;
for þe dint he þe dalt his deþ were marked.”
“nay, my worþi make” seide meliors þanne,
“Greue þe nouȝt, for goddes loue þat gart þe be fourmed,
þat we so scaþli ar a-schaped god mowe [we] þonk,
& oure worþi werwolf þat wel him by-tyde!
dere god, for deth he dreiȝh for vs alle,
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nere his wit & his werk we were schent boþe.”
“sertes, sweting, þat is soþ” seide william þanne,
“Go we on oure gate for goddes loue, bliue,
to recuuer sum resset þere we vs rest miȝt.”
ful mekli seide meliors wiþ-oute any fare,
“Go we now on goddes halue;” þan went þei god spede,
cleppende comely eiþer oþer to karpe þe soþe.
Whan þe hert & þe hind were of so harde a-chaped,
þe boye þat þe barge ȝemed of þe bestes hade wonder,
þat on bar of þe barge so boldeli þat oþer,
wiþ so comely contenaunce clippend in armes,
& ferden ferst on foure fet & seþþe vp tweyne.
& wiȝtly after þe werwolf was wel a-schaped,
fram alle þe sory chipmen þat sewed him to quelle,
but treuli non him take to tene namore;
& to þe hert & þe hinde heȝed him faste.
& whan þe hert & þe hinde had siȝt of here best,
þei were gretli glad & oft god þonked;
þat he sauf was & sou[n]d fro þe men a-schaped.
þan ferde þei alle forþ i-fere fayn of here liues.
þe chipmen þat þe worwolf so sadly hade chased,
buskeden aȝen to here barge & þe boye hem tolde
wiche an hert & an hinde hadde þer-out schaped,
wiȝtli wen þei went þe wolf for to sewe;
& how he hitte þe hinde also he told,
& how þe hert hire hent & hiȝed ouer-borde,
& wiþ how coynte cuntenaunce he cuuerede hire after,
& went wiȝtly a-wey but whider wist he neuer.
þer-of were þei a-wondred but wist þei no bote,
whederward forto fare to finde þe bestes;
but lefte þei in lisse now listenes of þes bestes,
þurth wildernesse hou þei went & wat hem tidde after.
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bolde burwes for-brent a-boute on eche side,
& euer as þe witty werwolf wold hem lede,
faire þei him folwed as here frend holde.
& so longe he hem ladde as he him-self þouȝt,
he brouȝt hem to a borwȝ þat bold was & riche,
& fairest of alle fason for eny riche holde,
þat euer man vpon mold miȝt on loke.
perles was þe paleis and palerne it hiȝt.
þe werwolf wan william ferst fro þat place,
whan he was in childhod as þe chaunce be-fore told.
& treuli, riȝt þat time to telle al þe soþe,
williams moder in meschef wiþ moche folk þere lenged;
for þe king of spayne bi-seged hire harde,
In maner as þe mater was minged bi-fore.
a pris place was vnder þe paleys a park as it were,
þat whilom wiþ wilde bestes was wel restored;
but þe segges þat held þe sege had it al destruyt.
þe hert & þe hinde þere þanne hem hed sone,
as þe werwolf hem wissed þat ay was here gye,
vnder a coynte crag fast bi þe quenes chaumber,
& al þat day in þat den þei darked, & þe niȝt;
þe werwolf went wiȝtly & whan hem mete & drink,
so þat þei mad hem as murie as þei miȝt þat time.
now of þe buxum bestes be we a while stille,
& carpe we of þe curteys quen þat in þe castel lenged.
So hard was sche be-seged soþ for to telle,
& so harde sautes to þe cite were ȝeuen,
þat þe komli kerneles were to-clatered wiþ engines,
& mani of here miȝthi men murdred to deþe.
þerfor þe quen was carful & oft to crist preyed,
to sende hire sum socour þat sche saued were,
for marie his moder loue þat is of mercy welle.
I[n] swiche lif hade sche liued a long time to-fore,
& al duel þat sche drey was for hire douȝter sake.
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þat þe hert & þe hinde & here þridde fere
vnder þe castel in a crag cauȝt here rest,
þe quen was wery for-wept & went to bedde.
a selcoþe sweuen sone in hire bed sche mette;
hire þouȝt þat sche & hire [douȝter] on a dai al-one
weren passed priueli þe paleys bi a posterne ȝate
to pleie hem priueli in þe park þat to þe paleis longed.
hire þouȝt an hundered M̄ were hire a-boute
of lebardes & beres & alle bestes boute number,
Grimli gapande to greue hire & hire douȝter;
& riȝt as þo breme bestes hem boþe schold haue take,
here þouȝt, a wiȝt werwolf & to white beres
hieȝeden harde hem to help in þat ilk nede;
& whanne þo two white beres were com hem nere,
þei semde to hire siȝt tvo semli hertes;
& eiþer of hem a faire figure in here for-hed hadde.
þe huger hert in his hed had, as hire semede,
þe fasoun & þe forme of a fair kniȝt in feld,
& semde hire owne sone þat sche long hade missed.
þat oþer hert, as hire þouȝt þe schap hade of a mayde,
fairest of alle fetures þat sche to-for hadde seie,
& eiþer hert on his hed hadde, as hire þout,
a gret kroune of gold ful of gode stones,
þat semli was to siȝt & schined ful wide.
þan þouȝt hire þe werwolf & þe maide bi-laft;
& þe huge hert him-self hastili þat time,
aȝens alle þe bestes bliue went al-one,
& bar doun bi eche side ay þe boldest formast;
was non so stef him wiþ-stod so sternli he wrouȝt.
þe grettest of þe grim bestes he gat to prison sone;
a lyon & a lybard þat lederes were of alle,
hire þouȝt, þat huge hert hastili hade take,
& putte hem in hire prisoun to peyne hem at hire wille.
þe stoutest & þe sternest he stiȝtled sone after,
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& redli al þo remnant of þe rude bestes
for fere be-gunne to fle as fast as þei miȝt,
ouer dales & dounes for drede of the hert.
sone as þe hende hert hire hade deliuered,
& put here fram alle peril fro þe perilous bestes,
here þouȝt, sche went wiȝtli a-ȝen to þe castel,
& turned vp to þe heiȝest tour to bi-hold a-boute.
þan þout hire, þat hire riȝt arm last ouer rome,
& lelli hire left arm lai al ouer spayne,
& boþe þo komly kingdomes komen to hire wille,
forto herken al hire hest & hire wille worche.
here-of was sche al a-wondred & a-waked sone,
& for drede of hire drem deulfulli quaked,
& wepud wonder sore & wiȝtli hire cloþed,
& romed þan redli al redles to hure chapel,
& godly be-souȝt god to gode turne hire sweuen.
Þat comli quen hade a prest a konyng man of lore,
þat moche couþe of many & moyses he hiȝt,
to consaile sche him clepud & þe cas him told,
soþliche al þe sweuen þat hire a-niȝt mette.
& as tit as sche had told þe prest tok his bokes,
& sey sone of þat sweuen hou it schuld turne.
he loked on þat comeli quen & curtesli seide,
“Madame, mourne ȝe namore ȝe mow wel seie
þat þe prince of heuen ȝou haþ prestli in mynde,
& socor sendeþ ȝou sone bi þis sweuen i knowe.
þe bestes þat bi-sett ȝou so & ȝour semli douȝter,
& duelfulli to deþe wold haue ȝou don boþe,
þo ar soþli þo segges þat hard ȝou bi-sege,
& don hard here miȝt to destruye ȝou here.
wite ȝe of þe white beres þat waxen seþþe hertes,
& haue þe fourme in here hed of tvo faire chi[l]deren,
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þe hert þat ȝou helped so hastili wiþ strengþe,
þe lyon & þe lebard to ȝour prisoun ladde,
& alle þe bremest bestes brouȝt [to] ȝour wille,
what þat it tokeneþ telle wol ich sone.
It is a ful kud kniȝt schal come ȝou to help,
& þu[r]th his douȝthi dedes destruye þis werre,
& cacche þe king of spayne þurth his cler strengþe,
& seþþe after is sone þat al þe sorwe is fore,
& put hem in ȝour prison þe proddest of hem alle
schul be buxum at ȝour wille & blinne al þis fare,
& meke hem to ȝour merci þat now be misseproude.
& þat ilke kud kniȝt þat schal þe kome to help,
I not where he schal ȝou to wiue welde,
but i wot wisli he worþ king of þis reaume.
also þat werwolf þat wiþ þe hertes comes,
he is a kud kniȝt & schal be kud wide,
& þurth him, soþli, i se þe king schal be deliuered,
& put out of prisoun & god pes be maked.
his sone & alle oþer schul be ȝour hole frendes,
& schul restore riuedli þe reddour þat was maked.
þurth þilke werwolf ȝe schul wite of ȝoure sone
þat ȝe long haue for-lore leue me for soþe,
& him winne a-ȝen at wille wiþ-inne a schort time.
& redli, of ȝour riȝt arm þat ouer rome streyt,
I se wel þe signifiaunce þis schal þer-of falle;
þi sone schal wedde swiche a wif to weld wiþ al rome,
as kind keper & king i knowe wel þe soþe.
& lelli, of þi lift arm þat ouer spaine lay,
þat bi-tokeneþ treuli as telleþ my bokes,
þat þi douȝti sone schal þi dere douȝter ȝiuen
þe kinges sone of spayne when þe a-cord is maked;
þat sche be ladi of þat lond þi left arm bi-tokeneþ.
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& treuly al þis schal be-falle wiþ-inne a schort terme.”
Whan þat loueli ladi hade listened his wordes,
& herd seie þat sche schold hire sone a-ȝen winne,
wonderli for ioye sche wept for þo wordes,
& sorwfuliche sche siȝt last out schold it lett;
Lest any fals fortune for-dede him þurth sinne.
but buxumli þat briȝt lady þan busked to hire chapel,
& praied hire prest par charite a masse to singe,
of þe trinite in trone, to turne hire sweuen to ioye.
deliuerli he it dede deuouteliche & faire,
& seþþen þat comli ladi cayres to hire chaumber,
& weued vp a window þat was toward þe place
þere as þe hert & þe hinde hadde take here reste.
þere þat semli ladi hire set out forto loke,
& strek in-to a styf studie of hire sterne sweuen,
waytend out at window while sche so þouȝt.
& vnder a louely lorel tre in a grene place,
sche saw þe hert & þe hinde lye collinge in-fere,
Makende þe most ioye þat man miȝt deuise,
wiþ alle comli contenaunce þat þei kiþe miȝt;
haden here priue pleyes of paramoures wordes,
but soþli, of nouȝt þat þei seide miȝt þe quen here.
but of here selcoþe solas samen þat þei made,
so gret wonder walt þe quen of þe worþ bestes
but lenede þer þe long day to lok out at þe windowe,
to se þe selcouþ signes of þe semli bestes,
til þe day him wiþ-drow in-to þe derk niȝt,
þat þe lady no lenger miȝt loke on þe bestes.
þan tiffed sche hire treuli & turned in-to halle,
Made a-mong hire meyne as mirie as sche couþe.
whan þei samen hade souped & seþþe whasche after,
here kniȝtes & hire cunseile kome hire vntille,
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how here walles were broke wiþ engynes strong,
here bretages al a-boute for-brent & destroyed,
þat þei miȝt no more meintene þe sege.
Þan þat comli quene ful curtesly saide,
“lordinges, ȝe ar my lege men þe lasse & þe more,
& sworn eche bi his side to saue mi riȝt,
& manliche men ben beter mow non liue.
þer-fore, lordinges, for his loue þat let vs be fourmed,
& for ȝour owne worchipe witeþ me fro schaþe
ȝut from þise wicked men þat wold me spille.
& but god of his grace sum god help vs sende,
I wol worche al ȝour wille wiþ-out ani faile,
wheþer i merci schul craue or meyntene þis werre.
treuli, ȝif me bitide þis tene to a-schape,
wiþ richesse i wol ȝou reward forto riche for euer,
so þat treuli ȝour trauail nouȝt schul ȝe tine.”
& alle here gomes were glad of hire gode speche,
& seden at o sent “wat so tide wold after,
þei wold manli bi here miȝt meyntene hire wille,
so long as here lif lasted to ȝelden hem neuer.”
þan þat comly quen ful curtesli hem þonked,
& busked hem þat time bliþe to bedde,
& redly token here rest til riȝt on þe morwe.
þan þat comli quen ketli vp rises,
biddande bisili hire bedes buskes to hire chapel,
& made hire prest moyses sone a masse to sing,
& prestli þat while preiȝed to þe king of heuen,
& to his milde moder þat alle men helpeþ,
þat þei hire socour sende sone bi time.
whan þe masse was don sche went to hire chaumber,
weited at þe windowe wer sche þe bestes seie,
& seie hem in þe same place þer as [þei] were ere,
& hendli eiþer oþer þan colled in armes.
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þat here comli cloþing þat keuered hem þer-vnder
þe quen saw as sche sat out bi þe sides sene,
& wex a-wondred þer-of wittow for soþe.
to cunseil sche clepud hir prest þe comli quen sone,
& schewed him þe siȝt of þe semli bestes;
& sone so he hem sey he seide to þe quene,
“for mary loue, madame desmaye ȝou no lenger,
for þe mater of þe [metyng] miȝtow here finde,
as i descriued þis ender day whan þow þi drem toldest.
& ȝe han herd here-bi-fore how it bi-tidde in rome,
þemperours douȝter was ȝeue þemperours sone of grece,
but no man miȝt here make þat mariage to holde;
for sche hade arst leide hure loue on a better place,
on on þe kuddest kniȝt knowen in þis worlde,
best of his bodi, boldest & braggest in armes;
& boþe þei busked of rome in tvo beres skinnes,
siþþe þei hent hertes skinnes but hou, wot i neuer.
but saufly þis may [i] seye & þe soþe proue,
þe ȝond is þat semly and his selue make.
he schal wiȝtli þis werre winne to an hende,
& bring þe from alle bales to þi bote in hast,
& deliuer þi londes a-ȝen in lengþe & in brede.
þer-for no more of þis mater is to munge nouþe,
but bi-þenke how þe best þo bestes to winne,
þat þe kniȝt & þat komli were kome to ȝour chaumber.”
Þan þa komeli quen kast in hire hert,
sche wold wirche in þis wise wel to be sewed
In an huge hindes hide as þe oþer were,
& busk out to þe bestes & vnder a busk ligge,
til sche wist what þei were ȝif þei wold speke.
prestli þe prest þan proueyed hire swiche an hide,
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but þe quen er þe day was diȝt wel to riȝtes
hendli in þat hinde-skyn as swiche bestes were,
& bi a priue posterne passad ouȝt er daie,
& a-bod vnder a busk þere þe bestes leye,
so priueli, but þe prest non parceyue miȝt,
but on of hire burwȝ-maydenes þat sche loued most.
þei stoden stille hire to a-bide wiþ-inne a posterne ȝate,
& whan þe sunne gan here schewe & to schine briȝt,
þe hende hert & hinde bi-gunne to a-wake,
& maden in-fere þe mest murþe þat man miȝt diuise,
wiþ clipping & kessing and contenaunce fele,
& talkeden bi-twene mani tidy wordes.
& william þan witerli þise wordes seide,
“a! loueli lemman a long time me þinkiþ,
seþþen þat i saw þi semli face bare;
sore me longes it to se ȝif it miȝt so worþe.”
“bi marie,” seid meliors “so dos me as sore,
ȝour briȝt ble to by-hold but beter is ȝut a-bide.
we wol nouȝt krepe of þese skinnes lest vs schaþe tidde,
til our buxum best ȝif vs boþe leue.
for he be tokene whan time is wol titli vs wisse,
what wise þat we schal our owne wedes take.”
“treuli, sweting, þat is soþ” seid william þanne,
“a gret þrowe me þinkes er þat time come;
but wold god þe quen wist what we were,
& wold hastli me help of horse & gode armes,
I wold socour hire sone fram al þis sory werre,
& pult hire out of þis peril in pure litel while;
but of vs wot sche nouȝt wo is me þer-fore.
nere it, swetyng, for þi sake of my-self i ne rouȝt;
for moche meschef hastow had onli for mi sake.”
“Meschef, sire,” saide meliors “nay, munge þat no more;
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þan to winne al þe world & want þe of siȝt.”
þan clipt þei & keste & of þat karping lest,
& bi a busch lay þe quen bi here-self one,
& herde holli þe wordes þat þei hade seide.
& meliors in þe mene time to william mekli saide,
“swetyng, sore i was a-drad of a sweuen ȝer-while;
Me þouȝt þanne an ern er euer i was ware,
hade vs vp take in-to þat heiȝe toure;
wheþer it geyne to gode or grame, wot i neuer.”
“nay, i-wisse,” sede william “i wot wel þe soþe,
þat it gayneþ but god for god may vs help.”
& as þei laykeden in here laike þei lokede a-boute,
& bleynte bi-hinde þe busch & seiȝen as bliue,
how an huge hinde held hire þere at rest.
“bi marie,” seide meliors “me þinkiþ þat best slepeþ,
& semeþ nouȝt a-drad of vs to deme þe soþe.”
“no, i-wisse,” seide william “i ne wot whi it schuld;
It weneþ þat we ben riȝt swiche as it-silue;
for we be so sotiliche be-sewed in þise hides.
but wist it wisli whiche bestes we were,
It wold fle our felaschip for fere ful sone.”
“nay, bi crist,” sede þe quen “þat al mankinde schaped,
I nel fle ful fer for fere of ȝouȝ tweyne.
I wot wel what ȝe ar & whennes ȝe come,
al þe kas wel i knowe þat ȝe arn komen inne.”
william wex a-wondred whan he þise wordes herd,
& meliors þe meke wex neiȝh mad for fere.
but william ful hastly þus to þe hinde sede,
“I coniure þe, þurth crist þat on croice was peyned,
þatou titli me telle & tarie nouȝ no lenger,
wheþer þow be a god gost in goddis name þat spekist,
oiþer any foule fend fourmed in þise wise,
& ȝif we schul of þe hent harme oþer gode.”
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“I am swiche a best as ȝe ben bi him þat vs wrouȝt.
harm for me, i hope schul ȝe haue neuer;
for as gost on goddis name ich gaynli to ȝou speke,
of swiche kinde ar we kome bi crist, as ȝe arn.
but oþer breme bestes by maistrye & strengþe,
han me dulfulli driuen fro my kinde lese.
þer-for i souȝt hider socour of þe to haue,
& praie þe par charite & properliche for reuþe,
deliuer me of duresse & do me haue my lese,
& lelli þow schalt be lord þer-of al þi lif time.
& þat menskful maide þat þere myd þe lies,
schal be mi lef lady þis lordchip to weld.
for þe real emperour of rome is redeli hir fader,
forþi wel i wot sche is worþi to weld wel more,
I knowe al þe couyne of cuntre how ȝe went,
& ȝe ben welcom to me bi crist þat me made.
& of sorwe i haue suffred sone wol i telle.
þe proude king of spayne wiþ pride me bi-segeþ,
& haþ luþerli al mi lond wiþ his ludes wasted,
& al þis duresse he me doþ for my douȝter sake;
asent wold sche nouȝt his sone to wif hire weld,
þer-for he worcheþ me wo & wasteþ al my londes,
saue onliche in þis cite where soiourne wot i neuer.
but help hope i in hast to haue of þe one;
to amende my meschef i meke me in þi grace,
& pleyn power i þe graunt prestli alse swiþe,
to lede al my lordchip as þe lef likes;
boute eny maner mene mayster i þe make;
wiþ-þatow winne al my worchip as i ere walt.”
þan was william gretli glad & oft god þonked,
whan he wist it was þe quen & wiȝtli he sayde,
“Madame, by þat menskful lord þat vs alle made,
ȝif i þis time miȝt trust treuli to ȝour sawe,
so þat ȝe wold lelli my lemman saue & loke,
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al my help holliche ȝe schul haue at nede;
feiþli boute feyntise ȝou faile schal ich neuer,
as long as any lif me lastes, for soþe.”
Gretli was þe quen glad & godli him þonked,
& loueli him & his lemman lauȝt bi þe handes,
& ferden forþ on here fet feiþli to-gadere
priueli to þe posterne & in passed sone.
& ȝit stod þe maide stille þe quen to a-bide,
& whan sche saw þo þre bestes so þroli come,
so hidous in þo hides as þei hertes were,
sche wex wod of hire wit wittou, for fere;
& rapli gan a-way renne to reken þe soþe.
but þat comli quen called hire a-ȝene,
& carful [sche] com whan sche hire clepe herde.
“whi carestow,” sede þe quene “knew þow nouȝt þe soþe,
þat i was tiffed in a-tir when i wend fro þe?”
“ȝis, madame,” sede þe maide “but, bi marie of heuen,
but i a-wede neieȝ of wit for þo werder bestes,
þat folwe ȝour felachip so ferli þei are.”
“þei wol do no duresse bi dere god of heuen;
for hem i went in þis wise to win in-to þis place.
but loke now, bi þi lif þat no lud here-of wite,
how þei hider come her-after neuer more.”
“nay, bi marie, madame” þe maide þan seide,
“þis dede schal i neuer deschuuer þe deth forto suffer.”
Þe comli quen þan takeþ meliors by þe hande,
& bi-fore went william & after-ward þe quene;
brouȝt hem to a choys chaumber vnder þe chef toure,
þ[er]e were beddes busked for eny burn riche.
& tvo baþes were boun by a litel while,
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sone þe quen kauȝt a knif & komli hire-selue
william & his worþi fere swiftli vn-laced
out of þe hidous hidus & in a hirne hem cast.
& whan þei were cloþed worþli in here wedes,
alle men vpon mold miȝt sen a fair coupel
þan was bi-twene william & þis worþi mayde.
þe quen hire clipt & kest & gret comfort made,
& seþþen bliue dede hem baþe boþe tvo wel faire,
& greiþed hem gaili in garnemens riche,
& manli made hem atte hese wiþ alle metes nobul,
& wiþ þe de[r]worþest deintes of drinkes þat were;
to munge more nis no ned nouȝt missed þei þanne.
whan þei merili at mete hade made hem at ese,
þat comli quen to william curtesli saide,
“swete sire, ȝe me saye what signe is þe leuest
to haue schape in þi scheld to schene armes?”
“bi crist, madame,” sede þe kniȝt “i coueyte nouȝt elles
but þat i haue a god schel[d] of gold graiþed clene,
& wel & faire wiþ-inne a werwolf depeynted,
þat be hidous & huge to haue alle his riȝtes,
of þe couenablest colour to knowe in þe feld;
oþer armes al my lif atteli neuer haue.”
þe quen þan dede comaunde to carfti men i-nowe,
þat deuis him were diȝt er þat day eue,
to wende in-to werre in world where him liked;
þat was perles a-parrayl to proue of alle gode.
Also þat comli quen as þat crist wold,
hade on þe sturnest stede in hire stabul teiȝed,
þat euer man vpon molde miȝt of heren,
& doutiest to alle dedes þat any horse do schuld.
þe king ebrouns it ouȝt þat was hire lord bi-fore,
& fro þe day þat he deiede durst no man him neiȝhe,
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but euer stod teied in þe stabul wiþ stef irn cheynes;
& queyntliche to his cracche was corue swiche a weie,
þat men miȝt legge him mete & wateren atte wille.
þe horse sone hade sauor of þat hende kniȝt,
& wist, as god wold it was is kinde lord.
as bliue, al his bondes he to-brak for ioye,
& so gan fare wiþ his fet & ferliche neiȝede,
þat men wend he hade be wod & warned þe quene,
how sternli in þe stabul þe stede þan ferde,
& had broke alle his bondes no burn durst him neiȝhe.
whan william herde þise wordes he saide to þe quene,
“Madame, what stede is þat þat so sterne is hold?
Is he ouȝt douȝti to dedes þat men don of armes?”
“ȝa, certes,” saide þe quen “soþ for to telle,
a worþier to þat werk wot i non in erþe,
ȝif any man vpon mold miȝt wiþ him dele.
he was mi lordes, wil he liuede þat i so moche louede,
& for his loue sertenli i do þis stede ȝeme.”
“Mademe,” sede william “ȝif it were ȝour wille,
I wold preie par charite & profit þat may falle,
þat i most haue þat horse whan i schal haue to done.
I wol to medis my-self manliche him diȝt,
sette vpon his sadel & semli him greiþe.”
“certes,” sede þe quen “i seie þe at onis,
holli of al þat i haue here i make þe maister,
to do þer-wiþ bi day & niȝt as þe god þinkes, ”
þer-of was william glad & wiȝtli here þonkes,
þan asked þei þe win & went to bedde after,
for it was forþ [to] niȝt faren bi þat time.
Deliuerli on þe morwe er þe day gan dawe,
þe stiward of spayne þat stern was & bold,
hadde bi-seged þat cite selcouþeli hard
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& þo þe segges of þe cite sone were ȝare,
as douȝti men of dedes defence for to make,
ȝerne schetten here ȝates & ȝemed þe walles.
for of þo wiþ-inne non wold hem out aunter,
so fele were of here fon & so fewe wiþ-inne.
þe cry rudli a-ros þat reuþe it was to hure,
for þei wiþ-inne þe toun swiche meschef were inne.
þat þei witterli wende haue be wonne þat daye.
titli was þe tiding told in þe paleys,
how felli here fomen gun fiȝt atte walles.
whan william þat wiste wiȝtli vp he stirte,
as glad as any gome þat euer god wrouȝt,
þat he miȝt his fille fiȝt for þat fre quene.
anon he was armed at alle maner poyntes,
& streiȝt him in-to the stabul þere þe stede stod,
& moche folk him folwed þat ferli to bi-hold,
how sternli he & þe [stede] schold stiȝtil to-gadere.
& as sone as þe kniȝt kud kome to þe stabul,
þat þe stede him of-saw sone he vp-leped,
& faire wiþ his fore fet kneled doun to grounde,
& made him þe most ioye þat [man] miȝt deuise,
& alle frekes þat him folwed gret ferli hade.
þe stede stod ful stille þouȝh he sterne were,
while þe kniȝt him sadeled & clanli him greiþed;
& wan vp wiȝtli him-self whan he was ȝare,
& schuft his scheld on is schulder a scharp spere on honde,
& gerd him wiþ a god swerd for any man in erþe.
þe stede liked wel þe lode his lord whan he felte,
he wist him wiȝht of dede & wel coude ride,
& braundised so bremli þat alle burnes wondred
of þe comli cuntenaunce of þe kniȝt þat he bare.
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þat alle burnes were bliþe to bi-hold him one;
for so semli a seg had þei nouȝt ȝore seie.
þat quen & hire douȝter & meliors þe schene
wayteden out at a windowe wilfulli in-fere,
how that komeli kniȝt kunteyned on his stede.
þe quen & here douȝter deuised him so moche,
& preisede him perles for eny prince in erþe,
& seiden, “wel is þat womman þat he wold haue!
vnder crist, is no kniȝt þat so kud semeþ!”
Meliors al þis mater what it ment herde,
& was a-drad to þe deth þei deseuy here wold,
to winne william here fro þat þei so wel praysede,
& seide softili to hire-self þese selue wordes,
“Lord, ȝif þe hade liked leuer me hade bene
haue woned in wildernesse wiþ mi lemman swete,
þan wonye here in al þe welþ of þe world riche,
to lese mi lemman þat al mi loue weldes.”
swiche mistrowe had meliors for þei so moche him preised.
Now william on his sterne stede now stifli forþ rides,
so serreli þurth þe cite al him-self one,
þat eche weiȝh was a-wondred þat seiȝ wiþ eiȝen,
so coraious a contenaunce þat kud kniȝt hadde.
william prestili priked þer þe puple was sembled,
& alle þe solempne segges þat þe cite ȝemed,
bold barounes & kniȝtes & oþer segges nobul.
& whan þei were war of william wilfulli alle,
þe komynge of þe kuntenaunce of þe kniȝt nobul
þei bi-helden hertly & hadden gret ioye,
þa so manli a man wold mele in here side.
þe nobul blonk þat him bar a[s] bliue þei knewe,
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william streiȝt went hem to & wiȝtli saide,
“leue lordes, for goddes loue lestenes my sawe!
it semeth þat ȝe ar segges selkouþely nobul,
& bold burnes to abide in batayles harde,
& wel armed ȝe arn at alle maner poyntes.
whi lete ȝe foulli ȝour fon for-barre ȝou her-inne,
& do ȝou alle þe duresse þat þei deuise konne,
& ȝe do no defence þat despyt to wreke,
but couwardli as caitifs couren here in meuwe?
Men, for ȝoure manchipe na more þat suffreþ,
but wendeþ ouȝt wiȝtli & wiþ ȝour fon meteþ,
haueþ reward to ȝour riȝt & redli chul ȝe spede;
& ȝe wite þei do wrong þe worse schul þei happe.
ȝif ȝe manli wiþ hem mete þe maistry worþ oure,
þeiȝh þei be fiue so fele as we in-fere alle.
& ȝe þat wilne to wynne worchipe in armes,
folweþ me, for in feiþ þe ferst wil i bene,
þat smertli schal smite þe alderfirst dint”:—
& ȝerne opened þe ȝates & ȝepli out rides.
whan þe bold kniȝtes hade herde þat burnes wordes,
& sey him so fersli forþ fare so bi-fore hem alle,
þei wist he was a wiȝt man & wold nouȝt faile
but þat he schuld hem help þei hoped for soþe.
& foure hundred fers men folwed him after,
of koraious kniȝtes & oþer kud kempes,
þat for to liuen or deyen litel hem rouȝt.
& whan william was war wiche a route sewede,
he was gainli glad no gom þurt him blame,
& a-bod til þe burnes a-boute him were come.
þe spaynolnes hem hade a-spiede & spakli gun ride,
wiþ gret bobaunce & bost blowand here trompes;
for þei seiȝ so fewe out of þe cite come
aȝens hem þre .M̄. þei ne tok non hede
to reule hem of non array but riȝt, for gret pride,
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to asayle þe segges þat fro þe cite come.
william seide to his whieȝs wittili for soþe,
“Lordinges & leue frendes listenes to my sawes!
þeȝh ȝe be ferd of ȝour fon fleþ neuer þe sunner;
þe bolder ouȝt we be þei ben out of araie.
stonde we stifli to-gader stifly in defens,
& ne leses no lond lordinges, god for-bede!
eche lud þenk on his lemman & for hire loue so fiȝt,
to winne worchip þer-wiþ in worlde for euer-more.
& in feiþ, þeiȝh eft as fele of our fomen were,
deliuerli þurth ȝour dedes schul þei deie sone.”
kniȝtes wiþ sire william kauȝt [þanne] god hert,
& realiche were a-raiȝed in a litel while,
In a ful styf strengþe to stonde to fiȝt.
þer kom a kniȝt to-fore þe companye of spayne,
a stif man & a stern þat was þe kinges stiward,
& cheueteyn was chose þat eschel to lede.
& for boldnesse of his bodi be-fore alle he went,
armed at alle poyntes on a nobul stede.
william was wiȝtly whar of his come,
& gamli to his gomes gan for to seie,
“bi crist, ȝond kniȝt þat komeþ here armed,
dredeþ litel oure dedes what-euer he do þink.
but bi god þat me gaf þe gost & þe soule,
I wol fonde be þe first in feld him to mete;
but our on titly tumbel trowe me neuer after.”
spacli boute speche his spere þanne he hente,
& euen to þat stiward dede his stede renne,
& manli as miȝti men eiþer mette oþer,
& spacli þe oþeres spere in speldes þan wente.
ac williams was strong inow wittow forsoþe,
& he so sternli þe stiward þat ilk time hitte,
þurth þe bold bodi he bar him to þe erþe,
as ded as dornayl te deme þe soþe.
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þow dost vs neuer after no duresse in armes!”
ac spacly þe spaynoles speiȝed he was slayne,
þei were [wode] of here witt wittow for soþe,
hastili hent vp his bodi & to here tentes bere,
þat it were nouȝt in þat fiȝt wit here horse troden.
& as bliue boldli þe burnes of spayne,
þouȝt manli make wreche here lorlde to queme,
for swiche a lorld of lederes ne liued nouȝt, þei held,
non so douȝti of dedus þer-for his deth a-wreke
þei þouȝt þroli þat time what bi-falle after.
A ful breme bataile bi-gan þat ilk time,
whan eiþer sides a-sembled of þo segges sturne.
Mani a spere spacli on peces were to-broke,
& many a schene scheld scheuered al to peces,
Many helmes to-hewe þurth here huge strokes.
& redili for to rekene al þe riȝt soþe,
william & his wiȝes so wonderli fouȝten,
þat þei felden here fon ful fast to grounde.
non miȝt here strok wiþ-stond in þat stounde þan,
so wel for williams werkes were þei þan herted.
þe stiward had a newe but of ȝong age,
on þe manlokest man þat men schold of heren,
& douȝtiest of dedes þat men schuld do in armes.
as swiftli as he wist þat his em was slawe,
he þouȝt duelfulli þa deth þat day to a-wreke.
armed at alle poyntes anon he þider went,
& presed in a-mang þe pepul þer it was þikkest,
& sone to hem of þe cite a-sembled he þanne,
& fauȝt þan so ferscheli for his emes sake,
he dude to dethe deliuerli fiue gode kniȝtes,
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whan william wist of þat werk wittow forsoþe,
þer nas man vpon molde þat him miȝt lette,
þat he ne perced þe pres prestili þat time,
til he met wiþ þat man þat miȝti was hold.
whan þe stiwardes newe saw william come,
bi þe werwolf in his scheld wel he him knewe,
þat þe same seg hade slawe his em þer-to-fore.
& wiȝtli as a wod man to william he priked,
wiþ spere festened in feuter him for to spille.
at þe a-coupyng þe kniȝtes [speres] eiþer brak on oþer,
swiftli wiþ here swerdes swinge þei to-geder,
& delten duelful dentes deliuerli þat stounde.
& william was þe wiȝtere & wel sarre smot,
& set so hard a strok sone after on þat oþer,
þurth helm & hed hastili to þe brest it grint.
þe swerd swiftili swenged þurth þe bode euen,
þat tit ouer his hors-tail he tumbled ded to grounde.
þat ilk stoute kniȝtes stede & þe stiwardes alse
william sent sone to his semli lemman,
wher-of sche was geinli glad & oft god þonked,
þa he so wel hade wrouȝt in werre þat day.
William & his burnes þan in bataile were,
so felly wiþ here fon fouȝt þat ilke time,
bi a stounde was non so stef þat hem wiþ-stonde miȝt,
but were fayn for to fle eche bi-fore oþer,
wel was him in þe world þat swifliest miȝt hiȝe,
oþer on hors oþer on fote for fere of þe deþe.
& william & his whiȝes went after sone,
& maden manli þe chas mo þan fiue mile,
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þat meked hem nouȝt to mercy manli þei slowe,
& whan þei time seie turned hem hom a-ȝene,
heriȝeden heili god þat þei wel had spedde.
but holli williams werkes þei wittened it alle,
nade his douȝthi dedes be þei hade be dede alle;
& louted to [him] as to lord þe lasse & þe more,
& eche a gom was gladdest hoo gaynest him miȝt ride.
al þe sorwe þei hadde suffred [so] lang to-fore,
þei sett it soþli at nouȝt so glad were þei þan,
for þe douȝthi kniȝtes dedus þat þat day hem helped.
wiþ al þe murthe vpon molde þo miȝthi men in-fere
passeden to þe paleys proude of here dedes.
þe comly quen & here douȝter com him a-ȝens,
& þe me[n]skful meliors wiþ maydenes fele,
& welcomed william as þei wel ouȝte,
wiþ clipping & kessing & alle kinde dedus.
þe quen him loueli ladde riȝt to h[er]e chaumber,
vn-armed him anon & afterward cloþed
clenliche for eny [kniȝt] þat vnder crist liuede.
þan sete þei þre to solas hem at þe windowe,
euen ouer þe ioly place þat to þat paleis longed,
þere as þe quen fond william & his faire make.
& as þei waited a-boute wil þei of murthe speke,
williams werwolf was comen þider þanne,
loked vpon þe ladies & his loueli maister,
& held vp his foure-fet in fourme to craue mercy,
& louted to hem loueli and lelly þer-after,
he went wiȝtly a-wei whider him god liked.
þe quen þer-of was a-wondred & to william seide,
“sire, saw ȝe þis selcouþe of þis semli best?
wonder signes he wrouȝt what mai hit tokene?”
“ȝis, certes, madame” seide william þanne,
“i sei þe signes mi-self & soþli ich hope,
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“ȝe, ȝif crist wol,” quod þe quen “[þat] on croyce deied;
but, sire, whan i se þat best þat þo signes made,
a sorwe sinkeþ to mi hert i schal ȝou telle whi.
sum time, sire, here-to-fore a semli sone i hadde,
þat was hote william i-wisse, as ȝe arn.
feiþli whan þat faire child was of foure ȝer eld,
as my lord and i and oþer ludes many,
pleiȝed vs her in þe park in place þer i ȝou fond,
for al þe world swiche a wolf as we here seiȝen,
It semeth riȝt þat selue bi semblant & bi hewe,
com gapind a gret pace & cauȝt vp mi sone,
riȝt bi-fore his fader and oþer frakes manye,
& went awey with him so wonderli fast.
My lord & many a-noþer manliche him sewed
ouer mires & muntaynes & oþer wicked weiȝes;
at þe last þei him left for miȝth þat þei couþe.
forþ with my sone in-to þe see þat scri best leped,
so þat i herde hider-to neuer of him more.
& certes, sire, for þat sone i hade gret sorwe,
whan i þenk on þat sorwe it þirles my hert.”
William was in a wer þat it were him-selue.
how þe couherd þe king told it cam him in minde.
þat he him fond in þe forest in faire riche cloþes.
but sche seide þat hire sone was in þe see dronked,
& þe wolf also þat him a-wei bare,
þe þroli þouȝt þat him meued þer-of þat ilk time
sone he let ouer-slide & seide to þe quene,
þat sche schuld make hire merie hire meyne to glade,
& he wold in hire sones stede stand euer at nede.
sche ful godli gan him þonke & gaf him hol miȝth,
to meyntene al hire god as maister in his owne.
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& were serued bi ese as hem-self wold,
& so driuen forth þe day til þe derke niȝt,
with al þe mirthe vpon mold þat man miȝth deuise.
þis lessoun let we of hem & lesten we a-noþer;
of þe spaynolus wol i speke how spacli þei fled;
þilke þat went with þe lif a-wei fro þat sthoure,
spakli to þe king of spayne þei sped hem þat time,
& seide to him & his sone þe cas þat was falle,
which a kniȝt com hem a-ȝenis conquered alle oþer,
so sterne he was & stoute & swiche st[r]okes lent;
was non so stif stelen wede þat with-stod his wepen;
& how he in þe stour þe stoute stiward slow,
and his nobul neuew a-non riȝt þer-after;
& bede wiȝtli hem awreke of þe wicked harme,
or alle men vpon mold miȝth hem schame speke;
so fele of here frendes in þe feld were slayne,
þat it was a sorful siȝt to se how it ferde.
whan þe king & his conseil herde of þis cas,
a selcouþ sorwe he made & his sone als,
þat was a ful kud þniȝt & kene man in armes.
he was wod of his wit for wraþþe of þat dede,
& praiȝed prestili þis poynt anon of his fader,
þat he most on þe morwe with a miȝthi ost
wende to a-wrek hem of þat wicked dede.
& ȝif he mette with þat kniȝt þat is so miȝthi hold,
he swor sadli is oþ as tit to his fader,
þat he fro þe bodi [wold] haue his hed sone,
oþer tit take him a-liue no ȝain-torn schuld lette.
þer-of þe king was geynli glad & graunted his wille,
bad him worche whan he wold & wend whan him liked.
þe kinges sone aswiþe let sembul miche puple,
& triȝed him to a tidi ost of þe tideȝist burnes,
þat he miȝth in þe mene time in any maner gadere.
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Gaili as gomes miȝt be in alle gode armes;
faire þan with his folk to þe feld he went
bi-fore boldli him-self his batailes to araie.
alle his burnes bliue in x batailes he sett,
as redili araiȝed as any rink þort wilne.
& iij. M̄. þro men in his eschel were,
& alle bold burnes in batailes strong & bigge.
þe kinges sone þan seide to his segges bold,
“Leue lordinges, for mi loue lelli me telles,
ȝif i encountre with þis kniȝt þat þis kare worcheþ,
how schal i him knowe what konichauns here he bere?”
“sertes, sere,” seide a kniȝt “so me wel time,
þat kud kniȝt is eth to knowe by his kene dedes,
& bereth in his blasoun of a brit hewe
a wel huge werwolf wonderli depeinted;
þat man driues a-doun to dethe, þat [he] hittes.”
“sone it schal be sene” seide þe kinges sone,
“wheþer of vs be wiȝttere to winne or to lese.”
Now wol i a while of william here telle,
in what maner on þe morwe is men were araid,
deliuerli at þe dai diȝt þei were alle,
treuli in al atir þat to werre longed.
& william ful wiȝtthli as he wel couþe,
set alle his segges as þei schuld bene,
In sexe semli batailes as þei schuld bene;
al be-fore in þe frond he ferde þan him-selue.
ebrouns saundbruel so hiȝt his blonk nobul.
& as sone as þe kinges sone saw him so come,
fast he freyned at his folk what freke þat it were,
& þei seide ful sone “for soþe, it is þat kniȝt,
þat haþ wrouȝt al þis wo wel ouȝt we him hate;
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þe kinges sone forsoþe ne seide þo na more,
but gart his [stede] goo and streiȝet to him rides
with his spere on feuter festened þat time.
whan william was war & wist of his come,
his men seiden sone it was þe kinges sone,
& douȝthi man & deliuer in dedes of armes.
“lat me worþ,” quaþ william “þat schal i wite sone
In feiþ þouȝh he hade fors of foure swiche oþer,
I wol fond with him fiȝt þouȝh me tide þe worse.”
he dede þen his stef stede stert a god spede,
to þe kene kinges [sone] þat was a kniȝt nobul.
so kenli þei a-cuntred at þe coupyng to-gadere,
þat þe kniȝt spere in speldes alto-schiuered.
ac williams spere was stef wittow for soþe,
& mette þat oþer man in þe midde scheld,
þat boþe him & his hors he hurles to grounde;
& neiȝ hade broke his bak so his blonk him hirt.
william þan wiȝtli be þe auentayle him hent,
to haue with his swerd swapped of his hed;
but þe segges of spayne souȝt to him ȝerne,
to haue holpen here lord hastili ȝif þei miȝt;
& williams wiȝes wiȝttli went hem a-ȝens.
þo bi-gan þat batayle on boþe sides harde,
feller saw neuer frek from adam to þis time;
sone was mani bold barn brouȝt þer to ground,
Mani scheldes schiuered & mani helmes hewen,
& many a stif stede straiȝed in þere blode.
bold burnes of bodies þere were on boþe sides,
þat fayn were forto fiȝt & to fle hated.
but william so wonder wel fauȝt þat ilke time,
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& euer kept þe kinges sone fram al his kene meyne,
þat non miȝt him winne a-wei for worse ne for beter.
& were hem lef oþer loþ william at last
keuered with þe kinges sone out of þe kene prese,
& brouȝt him out on his blonk of þat batayle sterne,
& a-signed of citesens segges i-nowe,
to kepe wel þe kinges sone til þei come to towne;
& þei were bliþe of þat bode & bisiliche fondede
fast to ferke him forþward as þei faire miȝt.
whan þe spaynols þat a-spied spakli þei him folwed,
and deden al þe duresse þat þei do miȝt.
a fersche ost hem to help hastili þer come,
þat was a-buschid þer bi-side in a brent greue.
but whan william was war & wist of here come,
Manly he demeyned him to make his men egre,
bad hem alle be bold & busiliche fiȝt,
for here fon gun feynte & felde were manye.
þe kinde confort of þe kniȝt to is folk þat he made,
were als fresch forto fiȝt as þei were on morwe.
but william say þer oþer side so fers & so breme,
þat his men miȝt nouȝt meyntene here owne,
prestli to hold party to puple þat hem folwed.
for-þi he dede hem deliuerli drawe toward towne,
& kepten wel þe kinges [sone] for cas þat miȝt falle,
for ouȝt þat here enimys euer worche miȝt.
þei keuered with clene strengþe with him to towne,
& þe segges of þe cite but þo þat slayn were.
& ȝepli ȝomen þan dede þe ȝates schette,
& wiȝttili þan went þe walles forto fende,
so þat feiþli of here fon no fors þei ne leten.
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haþ conquered wiþ clene strengþe þe kinges sone of spayne,
& passeþ with him & his puple to þe paleys euen,
with al mirth vpon molde þat man miȝt deuise.
þe quen him mett mekli wiþ maidenes fele,
& meliors & here dere douȝter to deme þe soþe,
wiþ alle worschip & wele william þei receyued,
wiþ clipping & kesseng & alle couþe dedes.
& william þan wiȝtly wiþ-oute eny more,
þe kinges sone of spayne spakli to hire ȝalde,
to putte in hire prisoun & peyne him as hire liked.
& curtesli to þat kniȝt gan sche knele þanne,
forto þonk him þroli of þat faire ȝeft;
for he was man vpon molde þat sche most hated,
& hade hir do most duresse for hire douȝter sake.
hastili in-to þe halle wiþ hem þan sche went,
& ladde william as lord loueli in londe;
& as bliue þe burdes brouȝt him to hire chaumber,
& vn-armed him anon & after-ward him cloþed
as komly as any kniȝt vnder crist þort bene.
seþen ȝede to sitte same to solas & to pleie
at a wid windowe þat was in þe chaumber,
& gonne mekli to mene of many gode wordes.
& as þei saddest in here solas seten þat time,
þe quen hertli gan bi-hold þe kene ȝonge kniȝt,
& here þouȝt þat time þat in þe world was neuer
a liuande lud so lelli liche oþer,
as þat komli kniȝt to þe king ebrouns,
þat was lord whil he liued & þat lor[d]chipe welte.
& swiche a sorwe to hire sone sank to herte,
þat wiȝtli gan sche wepe wonderly sore.
whan william saw hire wepe wroþli he seide,
“for seynt mary loue, madame whi make ȝe þis sorwe?
ȝe schuld now make ȝow merie ȝour mene to glade,
þat feynt ar for-fouten in feld & for-wounded.
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& to summe by-hote þe bliþer hem to make.
Mater now haue ȝe moche mirie to bene;
ȝe han now on in hold þurth him haue ȝe schulle
wel ȝour worchep a-ȝein as ȝe walt euer.”
“Forsoþe, sire,” sede þe quen “ȝe seyn al þe treuþe;
ȝe make me mater i-now mirye to bene.
I wot for i so wept i wrouȝt nouȝt þe best,
but i miȝt nouȝt þer-with i-wisse, sire, & treuþe,
so þroli a sori þouȝt þirled min hert,”—
& soþli whi it was þe encheson him seide,
how hire þouȝt he was liche hire lord þe king þanne,
& hou þe sorwe of hire sone dede hire so to wepe.
þan sede william wiȝtli þese wordes to hire-selue,
“Madame, of þat mater no more now þinkes;
what be ȝe now þe beter so bitterli to wepe,
seþþe boþe þi sire & þi sone arn boþe dede?
þeiȝh ȝe driȝen swiche duel al ȝour lif dawes,
ȝe gete hem neuer a-gayn late god haue þe saules,
& make ȝour-self mirie ȝour mene forto glade.”
þan wax þe quen ful wo wittow for soþe,
þat william sede þat hire sone schuld be dede,
for hire hert bar hire euer þat he hire sone schuld bene,
bi knowing of alle kontenaunce þat þe king welt.
but of þat mater no more minged þei þat time,
ac turned in-to oþer tales þat touched to mirth.
& waitende out at þe window as þei in tales were,
þan þei seie þe werwolf was com hem bi-fore,
Kortesliche kneling as he in wise couþe,
& louted to þe ladies & to þe lord alse,
buxumli as any best bi any resoun schuld,
& seþþen went his wei whider him god liked.
þe quen wiȝtli to william þese wordes sede,
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Loo, how loueli it a-louted lowe to vs twiȝes,
It bi-tokenes sum-what treuli god turne it to gode!”
“ȝa, i-wisse,” seide william “wene ȝe non oþer,
for þat blessed best neuer boded but gode.
he þat heried helle fram harm him saue!”
“amen,” seiden alle þat þere with him seten.
þus driue þei forþ þe day with diuerse mirthe,
& treuli whan it was time turned to mete,
& serued were of serues as hem-self liked;
but speke we of þe spaynols what hem tidde after.
Sone as þe kinges sone was to þe cite take,
þat his miȝti men miȝt no more him help,
þer was a selcouþ sorwe a-mang þe segges maked,
& karfulli to þe king þei kayred a-ȝayne,
& told him holli here tene how his sone was take,
& how here segges were slayn a selcouþ noumber.
whan þe king wist as man wod he ferde,
& wroþli to his wiȝes þat þere were he seide,
“whi suffred ȝe my sone so sone to be take?
ȝe schul hastli be honged & with hors to-drawe!”
& deraiȝed him for þat dede as alle deie schulde.
but kniȝtes of his cunseil com til him sone,
& saide him soburli so miȝt he nouȝt worche,
for a kniȝt him conquerede al with clene strengþe,
& hade him out of þe ost mawgrey hem alle.
“o kniȝt,” quaþ þe king “what kemp is þat ilke,
þat wan so on my sone is he so douȝti?”
“ȝe forsoþe,” seid on “sire, with ȝour leue,
þer mai no man vpon mold aȝens þat man stond.
he driueþ to dethe who-so his dent caccheþ,
his douȝti dedes vs doþ more duresse þan alle oþer;
he it is þat þe werwolf weldes in his scheld.”
“I mak a vow,” quod þe king “to crist þat al weldes,
er i ete more mete his miȝt wol i a-saie;
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I wol do him to þe deth and more despit ouere;
he schal heiȝe be honged riȝt bi-fore hire ȝate,
þat alle þe segges of þe cite schulle him bi-hold,
& seþþen wol i þat cite setten al on fure,
& do bruten alle þe burnes þat be now þer-inne;
schal no gom vnder god oþer gate it make.”
þan komaunded þe king to do krie as swiþe,
þat alle his rinkes schuld be redi riȝt erli on morwe,
armed at alle poyntes as þei no wold be spilt,
& hasteli was his hest þan hendli fulfilled.
Ful manlich on þe morwe were his men greiþed,
of bold mennis bodiesse a ful breme ost.
Gailier greiþed were neuer gomes seie,
of alle maner armure þat to werre longed.
þan passed þe spaynols in-to a faire plaine,
þer as þe breme bataile was on þe day bi-fore.
þere þan founde þei fele of here frendes slayne,
Mo þan fiue hundred of nobul frekes holde.
þe king þan for þat kas was karful in hert,
& moche sorwe was sone for þat siȝt maked.
but þan bad þe king bliue þe bodies take
of alle þe gomes of gode & greiþli hem bere
til þe tentis, til þei miȝt haue tom hem to berie;
& deliuerli in dede was don al his hest.
þe king þan treuli in þre batayles sturne
faire dede sette his folk fast as he miȝt,
In as real aray as rink schold deuise.
þer were in eche bataile of burnes tvo þousand,
armed at alle pointes and auenantli horsed,
In eche eschel stifli set þer þei stonde schold.
now of william & his wiȝes a-non wol i telle.
William & his wiȝes were armed wel sone,
as semli to siȝt as any segges þurte,
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william went al bi-fore as wis man & nobul,
& ordeyned anon his ost in þre grete parties,
& sett of bolde burnes in eche bataile seuene hundred,
of clene kniȝtes armed & oþer kete burnes,
& spak spakli þese wordes þe spaynols whan he seie:—
“Lo, lordinges,” sede william “wich a loueli siȝt
here bi-fore vs of our fon of ferche men & bold!
þer is holli al here ost now beth of hertes gode,
& we schul wel þis day þis werre bring to ende
onliche ȝourh godes grace & ȝour gode dede.
þouȝh þer be mani mo þan ȝe dismaie ȝe nouȝt þerfore,
God wol vs ay rescue & with þe riȝt stonde;
Go we to hem on godes name with a god wille.
& i mow come bi þe king bi crist, as ich hope,
he schal sone þer-after to his sone wende,
to soiorne in þe cite þat he haþ seged ȝore.
þer-for, frendes & felawes for him þat ȝou bouȝt,
doþ ȝour dede to-day as douȝti men schulle,
& gret worchipe schul ȝe winne whil þis world lasteþ.”
In þis wise william his wiȝes þan cumforted,
þat þei hent swiche herte as hardi men schuld.
þan aswiþe þei sembled [eiþer ost] to-gader,
& alle maner menstracie maked was sone
of tabours & trumpes non miȝt þe number telle.
& eiþer ost as swiþe fast ascried oþer,
& a-sembleden swiþe sternli eiþer ost to-gader,
Gretand oþer grimli with scharpe grounde speres.
Mani a bold burn was sone brouȝt of dawe,
& many a stef stede stiked þere to dethe,
no man vpon mold miȝt ayme þe number
of wiȝes þat in a while were slayn on boþe side.
but william as a wod man was euer here & þere,
& leide on swiche liuere leue me forsoþe,
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þe king of spaine & his kniȝtes so kenli hem bere,
& so fresli gon fiȝte þat at þe first a-saute,
þat fele of williams frekes gon to fle ȝerne.
whan william was war wiȝtli he hem a-schriȝed,
& cumfort hem craftli with his kinde speche,
þat þei tit aȝen turned to telle þe soþe,
& bere hem wel beter þen þei bi-fore hade.
Þe king of spayne gan crie keneli & schille,
“war be he þat þe wolf weldes in his scheld,
þat haþ murþered mi men & swiche harm wrouȝt?
Miȝt i now haue hap him ones to sene,
I wold him hunte as hard as euer hounde in erthe
honted eny werwolf but wel he his ware
þat i so many hondes haue on him vn-coupled,
þat he for alle his douȝti dedes dar him nouȝt schewe.
but what man vpon molde so may him me bring,
I schal riuedli him rewarde to be riche for euer,
& mak him my chef stiward to stiȝtli alle my godes.”
þan was þer a kud kniȝt þe cunstables sone of spayne,
come wel þre daies bi-fore þe king for to help.
an .c. kene kniȝttes in cumpanie he brouȝt,
& him-self a bold burn þe best of hem alle,
& meliadus of miȝti men þe kniȝt was called.
whan he þe kinges cry clenli hadde herde,
as bliue with his burnes he braide in-to prese,
& demened him douȝtili with dentes ful rude.
he slow of þe citeȝens in a schort while,
six grete lordes and þe seuenþe nere.
whan william was war of his douȝti dedes,
deliuerly as a douȝti man he drow to him euen,
Grimli eiþer oþer gret whan þei gonne mete,
so spakli here speres al on speldes went.
& swiftli seþþe with swerdes swonge þei to-gider,
125
& þis miȝti meliadus in þat meling while
a sturne strok set william on his stelen helm,
& wounded him wickedli wittow forsoþe.
whan þis bold william saw his blod so breme,
liȝt as a lyoun he leide on al a-boute,
& marked þat meliadus with mayn swiche a dint,
þat þurth þe helm & þe hed hastili to þe gurdel
his brond his bodi to-cleued for alle his briȝt armes;
& he tit ouer his hors tayl tombled ded to þerþe.
þer-of williams wiȝes were wonderli gladde,
& as sori in þe oþer side þe segges were of spaine,
for in þat meliadus miȝt was here most hope,
to haue conquered william wiþ clene strengþe of armes.
but whan þei seie him ded sone gun þei turne,
and to flen as fast as þei faire miȝt.
but william & his wiȝes so wrouȝten þat time,
no rink þei miȝt of-reche recuuered neuer after,
ne no man vpon mold miȝt ayme þe number
of þe freliche folk þat in þe feld lay slayn.
Whan þis tale was told to þe king of spayne,
how þe miȝti meliadus for alle men was slawe,
& bi-held how his burnes bi-gonne to flene,
& how william & his wiȝes wiȝtli hem folwed,
& duelfulli driuen doun to dethe þat þei of-toke,
also swiþe for sorwe he swonede for fere.
& whan he wiȝtli a-wok wodli he ferde,
al to-tare his a-tir þat he to-tere miȝt,
& seide after anon “alas! what to rede!
I so al mi folk fle for [þat] frekes dedes;
was neuer man vpon mold þat swiche miȝt walt;
It is sum deuel degised þat doþ al þis harm.”
bi þat saw he william winne him ful nere,
& slouȝ doun in his siȝt his segges al a-boute,
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as bliue with his baner he gan awei flene.
whan william was war howe he a-wei went,
prestili de-parted he þat pres & priked him after,
& ful titli him of-tok & stoutli him aschried,
bad him ȝepli him ȝeld or ȝerne he schul deie.
whan þe [king] saw him com he sede to his kniȝtes,
“defende we vs douȝtili or we deiȝen sone;
þer goþ non oþer griþ it geineþ nouȝt to flene.
& more mensk it is manliche to deie,
þan for to fle couwar[d]li for ouȝt þat mai falle.”
“certes, sire, þat [is] soþ” seide his men alle,
“þer-fore now in-dede do we what we mowe.”
þan turned þei titli aȝen & trustili gon fiȝt,
a[s] fersli as þei nade fouȝt nouȝt bi-fore.
but william & his wiȝes were so breme,
& so sturnli in þat stour stered hem þat time,
þat þei hade in a while a hundred i-slayne,
& taken of þe tidiest mo þan ten schore.
þe king saw his segges were slawe him bi-fore,
& non miȝt þe werwolf conquere in no wise,
& whas duelfulli a-drad lest he deie schuld,
& gan to fle fram þe ost as hard as he miȝt;
& hise men þat miȝt manli gon to flene.
but william perceyued what pas þe king went,
& hastili hiȝed after & him of-toke,
& keneli to him kried “sire king, ȝeld þe swiþe,
oþer þi deth is i-diȝt deliuerli riȝt here.
Meke to make a-mendis for al þi mis-gilt
þatow hast reised in þis reaume & riȝt long meyntened,
& al wrongli wrouȝt as wot al þis reaume.”
127
or al swiþe be slayn þan sone he a-liȝt,
& wiȝtli to william his wepun vp to-ȝelde,
& forto wirche his wille & wilned his mercy.
& william, as kinde kniȝt as kortesie it wold,
Godli graunted him griþ & grucched no more,
but seide he schuld him meke in merci to þe quene,
& profer him to prison prestli at hire wille.
& gaf him to alle hire grace & with-sede no worde.
as tit as þe king was take to telle þe soþe,
eche a seg of his side sone gan with-drawe,
& faynest was eche a freke þat fastest miȝt hiȝe;
& þus was þat ferli fiȝt finched þat time.
william went to þe cite with his wiȝes bolde,
& þe king of spayne in companye he ladde,
with alle þe murþe vpon mold þat men miȝt of here;
& passeden to þe paleise prestili alle same[n].
þe quen with hire companie com him a-ȝens,
& resseyued as reali as swiche rinkes ouȝt,
& þe king ȝepli dede ȝelde him to hire prison,
to wirche with him as sche wold at hire oune wille;
& treuli astit after him tvo hundered & seuen,
þe realest rinkes of þe reaume dede riȝt þat ilke.
þe quene to william wiȝtli wold haue kneled,
bliþe sche was þat bataile was brouȝt to a nende,
& þonked william þer-for mani a þousan siþe,
but william hent [hire] vp & harde hire blamed,
& sede, “madame, ȝe misdon bi marie in heuen,
þat arn an emperours [douȝter] & a quen ȝour-selue,
to swiche a simpul sowdiour as icham, forto knele;
ȝe don a gret deshonour wiþ þat to ȝou-selue.”
“nai, sire,” sede þe quen “so me crist help!
I sette ȝou for no soudiour but for souerayn lord,
to lede al þis lorldschip as ȝou likes euer;
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for nade þe grace of god be & þi gode dedes,
of blisse i hade be al bare bi þis ilk time.
þer i balfulli here-bi-fore was brout al bi-neþe,
þou hast me brouȝt of bale & bet al myn harmes;
þer-for in al wise ȝour worschipe is wel þe more.”
Now to touche of þis tale what tidde after.
alle þe lordes a-non vn-armed hem sone,
& with þe worþi quen went in-to halle,
& þe menskful meliors & þe quenes douȝter.
curtesli þe king of spayne bi-twene hem þei ladde,
& here meke maydenes merili þat time
ladden þe oþer lordes loueli hem bi-twene,
& alle samen semeli þei seten in þe halle.
þe quen set þe king curtesli bi here side,
& william on þat oþer half & with him his suster,
& þe menskful meliors þat made moche ioie
for þe loueli loos þat here lemman wanne;
& alle þe lordes of þat lond in þe halle that were,
& þe best burgeys & oþer burnes fele,
& þe pers of spayne þat were to prison take.
þe king bi-souȝt þe quene ȝif it were hire wille,
þat he most se his sone to solace him þe more,
& sche ful godli granted & gart him do fecche.
& soþli, as sone as he com þe king seide him tille,
“lo! sone! wich sorwe we haue vs selue wrouȝt,
þurh oure hautene hertes a gret harm we gete,
to willne swiche willenyng þat wol nouȝt a-sente.
It is a botles bale bi god þat me fourmed,
t[o] willne after a wif þat is a waywarde euere.”
þan seide his sone “forsoþe, sire, ȝe knowe,
þat we haue wrongli wrouȝt nowe is it wel sene;
we mot holde to oure harmes it helpes nouȝt elles,
but giue vs geynli in þe grace of þis gode lady,
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þe king for his sones sawe sore gan sike,
to þat comli quen ful curtesli þus seide,
“Madame, for mari loue þe milde quen of heuene,
Graunt me of ȝour grace ȝif ȝou god þink,
ȝif ȝoure konyng cunsayl a-corde wol þer-tille.
let me make a-mendis for al my mis-gelt,
þat i so wrongli haue werred & wasted ȝour londes.
as moche as any man mow ordeyne bi riȝt,
I am redi to restore & redeli, more-ouer,
al þe worchep þat i weld i wol of ȝou hold,
al þe londes & ledes þat long to my reaume;
so dede i neuer til þis dai but of god one.
& but ȝour cunseil, madame a-corde wol þer-tille,
wisses me at ȝour owne wille how ȝe wol me binde,
& lelli i wol as ȝou likes ȝoure lore fulfille;
ferþer forþ mai [i] nouȝt profer for nouȝt þat bi-tides.”
Þe quen & here consail þer-of were a-paiȝed,
þat he so him profered to parfourme hire wille,
& gonne to mele of þat mater how it best miȝt bene.
& as þei were talking to trete of þat dede,
so hiȝed in-to þe halle riȝt to þe heiȝe dese,
þat ilk witti werwolf þat william hade holpe,
& boldli, for alle þe burns as him nouȝt nere,
spacli to þe king of spaine he spedde him on gate,
& fel doun to his fet & faire hem he keste,
& worchiped him in his wise wonderli with-alle.
& seþþe sone after he saluede þe quene,
& after here, william and his worþi make,
þe quenes douȝter afterward & dede him on gate
out hastili at þe halle dore as fast as he miȝt,
& went forþ on his wei whider him god liked.
but sone sauage men þat seten in þe halle
henten hastili in honde what þei haue miȝt,
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to wende him after wiȝtli to quelle.
but wan william þat wist wodli he ferde,
& swor swiftli his [oþe] bi al þat god wrouȝt,
ȝif any burn were so bold þat best forto greue,
were he kniȝt oþer clerk knaue oþer kempe,
he wold deliuerli him-self do him to þe dethe,
þat no man vpon mold schuld oþer amendes ȝelde.
þer nas hastili in þat halle non so hardi burn,
þat durst folwe þat best o fote for drede,
so þei were of william wonderli a-dredde.
but whi þe werwolf so wrouȝt wondred þei alle,
& whi more with þe king þan with any oþer.
& þe king more wondred þan any whiȝt elles,
& strek in-to a studie stisliche þer-fore,
what it bi-tokeneþ þat þe best bowed so him tille,
& wrouȝt to him more worchipe þan to any wiȝt elles.
In þat mene while þan in his minde it com,
& þouȝt on a semli sone þat sum time he hadde,
& how him treuli hadde be told to-fore a long time,
þat his wif with wichecraft to a wolf him schaped.
but sche of þat sclaunder excused hire al-gate,
& seide þe child was in þe see sunkun ful ȝore.
þe king in þat carful þouȝt was cumbred ful long.
but william wiȝtli as þe wolf was schaped,
he dede kniȝtes to comaunde to do crie in þe cite,
þat no burn nere so bold as he nold be honged,
to waite þe werwolf no maner schaþe,
but late him late & erli where him liked wende;
þat hest was wel hold non so hardi was elles.
Karpe we [now] how þe king was kast in gret þouȝt;
he dared as doted man for þe bestes dedes,
& was so styf in a studie þat non him stint miȝt.
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seide, “king, i þe coniure in cristes holi name,
& bi alle þe kud customes to kinghod þat longes,
þattow telle me tit treuli þat soþe,
ȝif þou knowest bi what cas in any-skines wise,
whi þis buxum best bowed to þe more
þan to alle þe wiȝes þat were in þe halle?
It mai be in no maner me þinkes, bi þouȝtes,
þattow wost in sum wise what it bi-tokeneþ.
þerfor tel me tit treuli whatow þoutes,
oþer i make a vow to þe miȝti king of heuen,
þou passest nouȝt of prison puniched at þe hardest.”
þan siked þe king sore & seide þese wordes,
“sire, for drede of duresse nor of deth in erþe,
nel i wonde in no wise what i þouȝt to seie.
sire, sum time here-bi-for in my ȝong age,
I wedded with al wele a worschipful lady,
þat burde was of beuaute briȝtest in erþe,
& greter of alle godnesse þan any gome mai telle.
þe kinges douȝter of nauerne was þat gode burde,
& in þat seson gete we samen to-gedere,
on þe fairest freke þat euer seg on loked.
but mi wif, as god wold & as we schul alle,
deied at þe deliueraunce of mi dere sone.
& i fostered þat child faire to þre winter,
with alle clene keping as it ouȝt to bene.
bi þat time was þat barn ful breme of his age,
& semliest on to se þat men schuld finde;
alphouns his gode godfaderes dede him þan calle
at kyrke for his kinde name to kiþe þe soþe.
þan bitid þat time i toke a-noþer wif,
a ful loueli lady lettered at þe best,
corteys & couenabul & lettered at þe best,
& comen was of gret kin & koynt hire-selue.
þurth grace gat i on hire as god almiȝti wold,
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wich ȝe han put in prison & puniched at ȝour wille.
þis child was ceput clenli as it wel ouȝt,
& it wax fetis & fair & ful mochel loued.
but þan my wif wickedli on þise wise þouȝt,
þat myn elder son min eritage schul haue,
& kepe þe kingdom after me as kinde skil it wold;
& striued stifli with hire-self as stepmoderes wol alle,
bi what wise sche miȝt best þat bold barn spille,
to do so þat here sone after mi dessece,
Miȝte reioische þat reaume as riȝt eir bi kinde.
& as me haþ be told of trewe men of my reaume,
with charmes & enchantmens sche chaunded my sone
In-to a wilde werwolf; & wel now ich it leue,
þat þis buxum best be þat ilk selue
þat my wif with hire wiles euer dede me leue,
(whan i hire touched swiche tales as me told were),
þat it was fanteme & fals & for hate saide;
& swor grimli gret oþes bi al þat god wrouȝt,
þat mi semli sone was in þe see sonken,
as he passed out to pleie priueli him one.
I leued hire þan lelly & lett it ouer-pase,
but now witerli i wot þis werwolf is my sone,
þa secheþ after socour it semeþ bi hise dedus.
sire, soþli to seie þis was my grete þout,
for þe werwolf werkes so me wel time,
& ȝif i wrong seie any word wo worþ me euer.”
William þan ful wittili þese wordes saide,
“sire, it may riȝt wel be þus be marie in heuene!
þat þe best secheþ socour it semeþ att best.
for wel i wot witerli & wel i haue it founde,
þat he has mannes munde more þan we boþe.
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nadde it be goddes grace & help of þat best;
he haþ me socoured & serued in ful gret nede.
for-þi in feiþ, for al þe world him nold i faile,
þat i schal loue him lelli as my lege broþer;
&, sire, bliþe ouȝt ȝe [be] bi him þat vs wrouȝt!
þat he þus happili is here þat haþ so lang be missed.
& ȝif he miȝt in maner be maked man aȝeine,
of al þe welþe of þe world wilned i no more.
& sertenli, as it semeþ to seie þe truþe,
ȝif þi wif of wicchecraft be witti as þou seidest,
þat sche him wrouȝt a werwolf riȝt wel i hope,
sche can with hire connyng & hire queynt charmes,
Make him to man a-ȝen it may be non oþer.
& þerfore, sire, bi crist þat on croyce vs bouȝt,
þou ne passest neuer of prison ne non of [þi] puple,
with-oute deliueraunce of þat derworþe best;
for made a-ȝen to man mot he nede bene.
sende wittili to þi wif & warne hire fore,
þat sche tit come þe to for þat may falle after,
þat sche ne lette for no lud þat liueþ in erþe.
& ȝif sche nickes wiþ nay & nel nouȝt com sone,
sende hire saddli to sai þat sone with min ost,
I wol þat reaume ouer-ride & rediliche destrue,
& fecche hire with fin forse for ouȝt þat bi-tides.
for til sche with hire craft þe werwolf haue holpe,
alle þe men vpon molde ne [mai] make ȝou deliuered.”
“Bi crist,” sede þe king “þat on croyce was peyned,
þat þe quen be of-sent sauf wol i fouche.
ȝif sche miȝt in any maner make a-ȝen mi sone
to be a man as he was arst wel were me þanne.
but serteynli i not wham i sende miȝt,
to make þe massager myn erande wel to spede,
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þat ben lederes of my lond & lele men holde.
ȝif ȝou likes, ȝiue hem leue & hete hem þider wende,
I hope þei schul hastlier þan any oþer spede.”
“þat i wol,” seide william “ches wich þe likes,
& hote hem hiȝe hastili harde as þei mowe,
& bring þe quen for cas þat mai falle.”
ful spacli þe king of spayne to spede þo nedes,
as fast ches him fifty of ful grete lordes,
þat tidi men were told & trewest of his reaume,
& tid bi-tok hem þe letteres þat told al here erand,
& het hem munge bi mouþe more, & þei couþe,
whan þei come to þe quen of þe cas bi-falle—
“& seiþ hire þus sadli sires, i ȝou praye,
for what cas sche mot com or bi crist of heuene,
sche get neuer gladnesse of me, ne of mi sone.
& seie hire soþli þis selue encheson,
for hire mi sone is founde þat sche for ȝore saide
was sonk in þe see so dede sche me to leue;
but as a wilde werwolf he walkeþ here a-boute;
& how he souȝt after socour ȝe saw wel alle.
þer-fore treuli as it tid telle here to þe hende,
& bidde hire bliue with hire bring þat mai be is bote,
to make him man aȝen miȝti as he was ere,
oþer al þat lond worþ lore & our liues alse,
þer goþ non aȝen-turn ȝe mow hire treuli seie.”
þe menskful messangeres mekeli þan seide,
“we wol worche ȝour wille as wel as we kunne.”
Manli on þe morwe þe messageres were ȝare,
greiþed of alle gere gaily atte þe best,
of horse & harneys & what þei hade nede,
& went forþ on here way wiȝtli & fast;
Euer þe geynest gatis to goo to þe soþe,
Euer spacli þei hem spedde til spayne þat þei come,
& come to a cite þere soiourned þe quene.
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& sche gamsum & glad goþ hem a-ȝens,
with loueliche ladies þat longed to hire chaumbur,
& oþer menskful maidenes mo þan foure schore.
& mekli whan þei were met þe messageres þei greten
with cliping & kessing kindeli to-gadere.
but sone þat comli quen wel curtesli asked,
“how fares mi lord þe king for cristes loue in heuen,
& mi semli sone seþþe þei out went?
han þei wonne at here wille þat þei went fore?
what dos mi lord wiþ þat lady & here loueli douȝter?
wol sche ȝit my sone hire wedde & to wif haue?”
“Madame,” saide þe messanger most worþi of alle,
“oþer-wise þan ȝe wene is al þe werk turned,
It helpes nouȝt for to hele nouȝ herkenes mi sawe.
siþþe þe king of heuen on croys for vs deide,
worse fel it neuer to wiȝes þan it haþ a while.
for alle þe real rinkes of þis reaume be slayne,
& doluen depe vnder mold mani day seþþe.
þe stoute stiward of þis lond & his strong neuew,
& þe cunstabul sone þat kud kniȝt was proued,
& out of number nobul men to nempne þe soþe.
Mi lord þe king was þer cauȝt in a kene stoure,
& ȝour sone also and are prisons boþe,
& we alle, madame & many mo of oþer
of þe lordes of þis lond þat ȝut a-liue bene,
& neuer-more for no man mowe be deliuered,
ne pult out [of] prison but purli þourh ȝour help.
& þeiȝh we hade þe quen þurth queintyse & strengþe
brouȝt ferst at swiche bale with so breme a-sawtes,
wasted hire londes & wonne hire townes,
& pult al pertly to our wille but palerne alone;
sertes, þei were a-seged so þat atte laste
Many times in þis maner mercy sche craued,
þat sche most wende a-wai with hire douȝter one,
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& late mi lord haue þat lond at liking for euer;
ac my lord in no wise wold þer-to graunte,
& þat haþ vs hard harmed for hastili þer-after
þer kom a kniȝt hire to help þe kuddest of þe worlde,
& most miȝthi in armes þat euer man of herde.
he slow of oure segges soþli alle þe best,
& conquered with clene miȝt þe king & his sone,
& lelly many oþer lordes þat ȝit a-liue are.
& whan þei were in prison pult at hire wille,
þer wan in a werwolf a wonderli huge;
with a komli kuntenaunce to þe king he went,
& fel doun to his fete & faire he hem kessede,
& wrouȝt him gret worchip & wiȝes þat it seiȝen
saiden, it semed wel as it socour souȝt;
but þanne as bliue þat best busked on his weie.
& þan þat kud kniȝt þat vs conquered alle
coniured mi lord þe king bi al þat crist wrouȝt,
þat he tyt schold him telle treuli al þe soþe,
ȝif he wist in any wise wat þat best were;
& he soþli þus sayde schortly to telle,
þat it was alphiouns his sone anon riȝt he wist,
þat þou with þi wicchecraft a werwolf him hadest maked.
wherfore, menskful madame bi marie in heuen,
we be made massegeres to munge ȝou þis nedes,
þat neiþer þi lord nor þi sone nor non of vs alle
worþ neuer deliuerred of daunger þat we dwellen inne,
til þou com to þat kiþ & with ȝour queynt werkes
haue heled þe werwolf wel at alle riȝtes,
& maked to man aȝe in maner as he ouȝt.
& ȝif þou grutche a-ny grot þus greiþli to worche,
alle þe men vpon molde ne mowe it nouȝt lette,
þat þat ilke kud kniȝt þat kepuþ vs alle,
nel com to þis kuntre with a clene strengþe,
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& ouer-ride þis reaume & redili it destrye;
&, wheþer þou wolt or non winne þe with strengþe,
& seþen duelfulli to dethe do vs alle after;
& þerfor do vs wite wiȝtli houȝ þou wirche þenkest.”
as bliue as þis bold quen þat braunden was hote,
hade herd al holli how þat hit ferde,
sche swelt for sorwe & swoned rit þere,
& afterward wept wonder was it none.
& to þe menskful messageres mekli þenne sede,
“now, sires, seþþe it is so what so bi-tyde,
I wol wende ȝou with & wel ȝou deliuere,
þurth help of þe heuene king hastili & sone.”
þanne gart sche to greiþe gaili alle þinges,
þat hem bi-houed on hond to haue bi þe weye,
& a real rouȝte to ride bi hire side,
of lordes & ladies of al hire lond þe best.
& soþli for soþe no seg vnder heuene
ne seiȝe neuer no route araiȝed more beter,
ne gaylier greiþed to go to þe soþe,
of hors & of harneys & alle oþer gere.
þe quen hade hire with al þat bi-houed,
to warysche with þe werwolf wel atte best.
Gaili were þei greiþed wel at te best,
with here menskful meyne sche meued on gate,
& hiȝed on here iurnes fast as þei miȝt,
til þei come to palerne to proue þe soþe.
william & hise wiȝes were warned of here come;
with a real route he rod hire a-ȝens,
& worþili hire he wolcomed wen he hire mette,
& hire clene companye curtesli & faire;
& presteli to þe paleys with gret pres hem ladde.
þe curtes quen of þat lond com hem a-ȝens,
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þat were put in prison presteli þurth here dedes.
boþe murrþe & mournyng at þat metyng was;
whan þe quen of spayne saw hire lord in hold,
& hire semli sone & seþe alle þe oþer
of grete lordes of hire lond it liked hire ille.
þe comly quen of þat lond williams owne moder,
with welþe & gret worchip welkomed hem alle,
& william curtesli cauȝt þe quen of hire palfray,
& his menskful moder ful mekli hire kessed,
& hire lord & hire sone swetly þer-after.
hire lord þe king of hire kome was comforted michel,
& hire sone als & seþen alle oþer
of þe lordes of þat lond þat þere leie in hold,
for þei hopeden in hast to haue help þer-after.
william & his menskful moder mekli & faire
ful loueli þe quen of spayne led hem bi-twene,
& hendeli in-to halle þanne hire þei brouȝt,
& derli on þe heiȝe des þei a-doun seten.
þe king of spayne & his wif seten to-gader,
& here sone hem bi-side samen to talke,
to make hem in þe mene while as murye as þei couþe.
þe quen of palerne & hire douȝter þat damysele hende,
& þe menskful meliors were macched to-gadere,
to haue same here solas & seie what hem liked.
seþen al þat huge halle was hastili fulfulled
al a-boute bi eche side with barounes & kniȝtes,
þe real rinkes of þe reaume riȝt on þat o side.
soþli þe segges of spayne were set on þat oþer,
so þat perles paleis with peple was fulfulled.
þann were spacli spices spended al a-boute,
fulsumli at þe ful to eche freke þer-inne,
& þe wines þer-with wich hem best liked.
And as þei mad hem so mirie to minge þe soþe,
þe werwolf þat ȝe witen of was in williams chaumber,
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seþen þe messangeres meuede after þe quene,
þat was his sterne stepmoder til þat stounde þanne.
but wel wist þe wolf whanne sche was come,
& hastili in-to halle he hiȝed him þat time,
to do [hire] to þe deþe deliuerli ȝif he miȝt,
so wroþ he was hire with with ȝe him neuer.
as bliue as þe best was broken in-to halle,
a pase bi-fore al þe puple he passeþ him euene,
& drow him toward þe des but doutusli after
he stared on his stepmoder stifli a while,
whan he saw [hire] with his sire sitte in murþe.
ful wroþ þan þat werwolf wax of þat siȝt,
& bremly his bristeles he gan þo a-reise,
& grisiliche gapande with a grym noyse,
he queite toward þe quene to quelle hire as bliue.
& assone as þe quene saw him so come,
sche wax neiȝ of hire witt witow forsoþe,
& carfulli to þe king criande, sche saide,
“a! leue lordes, mi lif lengþes ȝut a while!
socoures me nouþe or ful sone i deiȝe,
for þis ilk breme best bale wol me wirche,
ac i wite him no wrong witeþ wel alle.
I haue serued þe deþ ȝif ȝou dere þinkes,
lengþeþ now my lif for loue of heuene king,
& meke me in ȝour mercy i may do nouȝt elles.”
þe king of spayne stifli stert vp sone,
& his sone al-so to saue þe quene.
william ful wiȝtli þe werwolf þan hent
anon in his armes aboute þe necke,
& sayde to him soberli “mi swete dere best,
trust to me as treuli as to þin owne broþer,
or as feiþli as falles þe fader to þe sone,
& meke þe of þi malencoli for marring of þi-selue.
I sent after hire for þi sake soþli, þou trowe,
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& sche has brouȝt now þi bote bi crist, as i hope,
& but sche haue, be riȝt siker be god þat vs wrouȝt,
to cold coles sche schal be brent ȝit or come eue;
& þe aschis of hire body with þe wind weue,
& þi sire & his sone & alle is segges noble
schul be put in prison & peyned for euere,
dulfulli here lif daies til deth haue hem take.
for-þi lete me allone mi lef swete frende,
anoie þe na more ne nede schalt þou haue,
ne to hire do no duresse as þou me derli louest.”
Þe werwolf was ful glad of williams speche,
þat bi-het him in hast to haue help after,
& faire doun to his fete fel hem to kisse,
& as he coude, be contenaunce ful kindeli graunted,
In alle wise to worche as william wold seie,
& made no more debat in no maner wice.
as sone as þe quen saw how it ferde,
þat þe werwolf wold worche hire no schaþe,
sche was gretli glad & oft god þonkes,
& pertili bi-fore alle þe puple passed him tille,
& bliue bi-fore þe best on boþe knes hire sette,
& mekli in þis maner mercy sche craued.
“swete alphouns,” sche seide “mi semli lorde,
I haue brouȝt here þi bote to bring þe of sorwe;
sone schal þe puple se þi semli face,
In manhede & in minde as it out to bene.
I haue þe gretli a-gelt to god ich am a-knowe,
for redili þe to reue þi riȝt eritage;
þat þis man min owne sone miȝt it haue hadde
feiþli after þi fader ich forschop þe þanne
In þise wise to a werwolf and wend þe to spille;
but god wold nouȝt þat þou were lorne.
for-þi of mi mis-gelt mercy ich craue,
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& at þi bidding wol i be buxum euer-more,
& lelli as my lord al my lif þe serue,
& neuer agult þe wil i liue in game ne on ernest;
& giue me now in þi grace and godli þe bi-seche,
for his loue þat mad man for-giue me þis gelt.”
& þan wiȝtli to william weping sche seide,
“a! kurtes kniȝt for cristes loue of heuene,
bidde þis buxum best be merciabul nouþe,
for he wol worche at þi wille i wot wel forsoþe,
More þan for alle men þat on mold liuen;
& ȝou, alle hende lordes helpeþ me to praye
to þis kurtes kniȝt to graunt my bone.
to þis bestes mercy i bowe me at alle,
to worche with me is wille as him-self likes.”
Of þe quenes profer þe puple hadde reuþe,
for sche fel to-fore þe best flat to þe grounde;
þer was weping & wo wonderli riue.
but so kenli þe king & þe kniȝtes alle
bi-souȝt william for þe quen soþli so ȝerne,
þat he godli al his gref for-gaf at þe last,
so þat sche hastili hiȝed to help þat best;
& bleþeli boute grutching þat graunted sche sone.
þan stint sche no lenger but bout stryf went
Into a choys chaumber þe clerli was peinted,
þat non went hire with but þe werwolf al-one.
þan rauȝt sche forþ a ring a riche & a nobul,
þe ston þat þeron was stiȝt was of so stif vertu,
þat neuer man vpon mold miȝt it him on haue,
ne schuld he with wicchecraft be wicched neuer-more,
ne per[i]sche with no poysoun ne purliche enuenemed;
ne wrongli schuld he wiue þat it in wold hadde.
þat riche ring ful redily with a red silk þrede
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seþe feiþli of a forcer a fair bok sche rauȝt,
& radde þer-on redli riȝt a long while,
so þat sche made him to man in þat mene while,
as fair as fetys and als freli schapen,
as any man vpon mold miȝt on deuise.
was non fairre in world but william allone,
for he of fairnesse was flour of frekes þat liue.
whan þe werwolf wist þat he was man bi-come,
fair of alle fasoun as him fel to bene,
he was gretli glad no gum þurt him blame,
ful wel him liked þe lessun þat þe lady radde.
soþli þat he was so naked sore he was a-schamed,
whan þe quen þat of-sey sone sche seide him tille,
“a! alphouns, leue lord lat be alle þo þouȝtes,
i se wel þou art a schamed & so were it no nede;
ne buþ here in þis bour but our selue tweyne.
& on þe, sire, se i no siȝt but as it schuld bene,
ne þe faileþ no þing þat falleþ a man to haue.
fare now forþ to þi baþ þat faire is keuered,
for it is geinli greiþed in a god asise.”
& alphouns anon þanne after hire sawe,
buskes in to þe baþ boute more noyse,
& fond it treuli a-tired & tidili warme.
þe quen him comforted & curtesli him serued
as mekkeli as sche miȝt in alle maner wise;
for no burn nas hem bi but hem-self tweyne.
Þan þe curtes quen ful cunyngli saide,
“swete sire, saie me now so ȝou crist help,
what gom wol ȝe þat ȝou giue ȝour garnemens nouþe?
ȝe ne tok neuer as i trowe of kniȝthod þe hordere.
for-þi þow telle me of whom ȝe take it þenk,
for wel ȝe wite [what] whiȝ worþiest is here.”
“Madame,” þan seide alphouns “be marie in heuen,
I wol take myn a-tir & þat trie ordere
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“hoo is þat,” seide þe quen “is it ȝour fader?”
“Nay, bi god,” quath alphuns “þat gart me be fourmed,
It is þat ilk kud kniȝt þat ȝe alle knowe,
þat deliuered þe of þe deth þis day of mi-selue.
a worþier wieȝh in þis world woneþ non nouþe,
king ne kniȝt as of kin ne of kud dedes.
Mi tir of him wol ich take and þat trie order,
& loue him as mi lege lord al mi lif time.”
þe quen after william went in-to halle,
& tok him sliȝli bi þe sleue & saide in his ere,
“sire, ȝif þi wille were þe werwolf þe bi-secheþ,
þat tow tit com him to to tire him in his wedes;
he ne wol þat non oþer þat worchipe him ȝeue.”
“is þat soþ,” saide william “mi swete lady hende?
cleymeþ he after cloþes for cristes loue in heuen?
deceyue me nouȝt with þi dedes but seie me þe soþe.”
“ȝis, bi crist,” quaþ þe quen “cloþes he askes;
he is as hol, heriȝed be god as he was euer ȝite,
& manliche in alle maneres as to man falles;
hiȝes him hastili him to & help he were greiþed;
for i wot þat þis folk fayn wold him sene.
but he wol þat no wiȝt to chaumber with þe come,
but meliors þi menskful make & þe quenes douȝter,
Dame florence þe faire for whom was þis werre.
hem boþe he biddeþ bring & no wiȝt elles.”
þan william ful wiȝtli as man ful of ioye,
clipte þe quen & kest & oft crist þonkes,
þat his felawe was hol þat hade him holp oft.
as bliue was him brouȝt al þat bi-houed
of alle comli cloþing þat a kniȝt schuld haue;
no man vpon mold miȝt richer deuise.
þan william wiȝtli with meliors & his suster,
& þe comli quene spacli forþ þei went
in-to þe chois chaumber þer chaunged was þe best
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þan bi-held þei þe baþ & a bed bi-side,
& in þat bed als bliue þat burn þei seien,
þat non so semli to here siȝt saw þei neuer ere;
but of þat companie, be crist þer ne knew him none.
naþeles william wiȝtli worþili him grette,
& þo menskful maidenes mekli þer-after,
& þan alphouns a-non answered & saide,
“crist krouned king sire kniȝt, mot ȝou saue,
& þi faire felachipe þat folweþ þe after.
sire kniȝt, i am in þi kiþ & comen to þi owne,
& þow makes me now but þis mene semblant.
to put þe of peril i haue ney perisched oft,
& many a scharp schour for þi sake þoled,
to litel þow me knowest or kinhed me kiþes.”
“sertes, sire, þat is soþ” seide william þanne,
“I ne wot in þis world what þat ȝe are;
but i coniure ȝou, be crist þat on croyce was peyned,
þat ȝe seie me swiþe soþ ho-so ȝe bene.”
“I am he, þe werwolf” sede alphouns þanne,
“þat haue suffred for þi sake many sori peynes,
& pult þe out of periles þer þou perisched schuldest,
nade goddes grete miȝt be & mi gode help.”
“certes, sire, þat is soþ” sede william þanne,
& lepes liȝtli him to & lacchis him in armes;
with clipping & kesseng þei kidden gret ioye.
alle þe men vpon mold ne miȝt half telle
þe mirþ þat was maked in þe mene while.
& ȝif william was glad wittow forsoþe,
Meliors was moche more ȝif it so miȝt bene;
& florence of þat fare þanne gret ferli hadde.
& sone as sche him saw loueli sche him grett,
& he godli a-gayn gret þat gode mayde,
& for þe beaute þat sche bar as bliue his hert
turned to hire treuli to loue for euer-more.
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alphouns asked a-non a-tir for to haue,
to fare out as fast with his fader to speke,
& with lordesse of þat lond þat him long hade missed.
& william wiȝtli with-oute any more,
Greiþed him as gaili as any gom þurt bene,
of alle trie a-tir þat to kniȝt longed,
so þat non miȝt a-mend a mite worþ, i wene.
& whan þei were at wille as þei wold be greiþed,
eche on hent oþer bi þe hand hendli & faire,
& hastili in-to þe heiȝe halle hiȝeden in-fere.
whan þe perles puple perceyueden hem come,
Many a lord ful loueli lep hem aȝens,
as þo þat were geinli glad on þat gom to loke.
Gret murrþe at þat metyng was mad, be ȝou sure.
þe king of spayne forsoþe knew his sone sone,
& gret him ferst as a glad man & oft god þonkes,
þat he so faire hade founde his formest sone.
seþen þe lordes of londe loueli him gretten,
& his bold broþer be-fore alle oþer;
saue þe king him-self semliest he him gret,
& most ioye for þat metyng made þat time.
no tong miȝt telle treuli þe soþe,
þe ioye þat was wrouȝt with lasse & with more.
þe comli quen of palerne oft crist þonked,
þat hade hire sent of his sond so moche ioye to haue,
& hade setteled hire sorwe so sone, þat was huge.
sone þe semli segges were sette in halle;
þe real rinkes bi reson at þe heiȝe dese,
& alle oþer afterward on þe side benches,
& sete so in solas sadli ful þe halle,
eche dingneli at his degre to deme þe soþe.
whan þe noyse was slaked of þe semli burnes,
þe king of spayne spak to alphouns his sone,
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to se þi freli face þat i for-lore hadde.
for þis comli quen þurth ȝone kniȝtes dedes,
haþ vs alle in hold to harm at hire wille.
but swete sone saide it haþ ben oft,
þat our deliueraunce was don on þe one;
þurth þe schuld we help haue or neuer-more elles.
þer-fore, heuen king heried mot ȝe bene,
þat haþ þe lend lif vs alle to deliuere.”
“swete sire,” seide alphouns “so ȝou crist help,
wharfore was al þis fare formest bi-gunne?”
“bi crist, sone,” quaþ þe king “to carpe þe soþe,
alle þe werre & þis wo is our wronge dedes.
i desired þis damisele þat digne is & nobul,
to haue hire to þi broþer þat here bi þe sitteþ;
ac hire moder in no maner hire nold me graunte.
for-þi wiȝtli with werre i wasted alle hire londes,
& brouȝt hire at swiche bale þat sche mercy craued,
in þis maner þat sche most mekli & faire,
do hire a-wei with hire douȝter boute more harme;
sche wilned nouȝt elles but þat nold i graunt.
but þan com þis kene kniȝt & þurth his clene strengþe,
boldli in batayle he bar doun vs alle,
& pult vs in prison to payne at his grace;
þus sped we vs out of spayne to spire after winnyng.”
Alphouns þan a-non answered & saide,
“faire fader, bi mi feiþ folili ȝe wrouȝten,
to wilne after wedlok þat wold nouȝt a-sente.
þat mowe ȝe wite bi ȝour werkes how wroþli ȝe spedde;
to wicke was ȝour conseil & ȝour wille after;
ȝif ȝe haue wonne þe worse wite it ȝour-selue.
but i hope to heuen king ȝif ȝe wol here mi wordes,
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to þe quen of palerne alphouns þus saide,
“a! menskful madame mekes alle ȝour peple,
þat non spend no speche til i speke haue.”
þan was silens mad to seie al þe soþe.
“ladis & oþer lordes lesteneþ now my sawe!
þis ȝe witeþ wel alle with-oute any fabul,
þat þis lond hade be lore at þe last ende,
ȝif þise werres hade lasted any while here.
but god ȝou sent swiche grace of his grete miȝt,
þat þis kud kniȝt with his clene strengþe
haþ i-bet al ȝoure bale & brouȝt to ȝour wille
alle ȝour fon þat with fors defoyled ȝou long.
ȝit wot non wiseli wennes he come,
ne what weiȝ he is but wite schal ȝe sone.
ȝif þat burn wel him bar i blame him but litel;
for mater i-now haþ eche man to mene þe soþe,
his moder þat is in meschef to meyntene & help;
& schal come him bi kinde ȝif he crist loue.”
“what bi-tokeneþ þis tale telleþ, i be-seche,
whi seie ȝe so?” seide þe quene þanne.
“sertes, madame,” seid alphouns “soþli me leue.
þis comli kniȝt is þi sone bi crist þat me wrouȝt;
þou bar him of þi bodi king ebrouns was his fader.
al þis lordchip of þis lond is lelli his owne.
& i am þe werwolf wite ȝe for soþe,
þat bi-fore his fader ful ȝore i ȝou bi-reft,
& passed with him mi weie prestli fro ȝou alle.
þe king & hise kniȝtes with kries ful huge,
þei sewed riȝt to þe see to sle me ȝif þei miȝt.
but bliue boute bot þe brode water i passed,
boute hurt oþer harm heriȝed be goddes grace,
þat so sauf sent me ouer wiþ þi sone sounde.
& gode ladi, ȝif þe like loue me neuer þe worse,
þat i þe barn away bar to blame had i be elle[s],
for i wist ful wel wat wo him was toward
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þe king ebrouns broþer be-þouȝt þis oft,
if þis ilk bold kniȝt had be brouȝt out of liue,
he schold have entred as eyr þis eritage to hold,
after þe kinges day bi dessent of blode.
& sone as a schrewe schuld þe schrewedest he þouȝt;
he coynted him queyntli with þo tvo ladies,
þat hade þat time þi sone to kepe in warde,
& meded hem so moche wiþ alle maner þinges,
& bi-het hem wel more þan i ȝou telle kan,
Gret lordchip of londes & liking at wille,
so þat þei him bi-hiȝt bi a schort terme,
þat þei priueli wold enpoysoun þe king & his sone,
to haue do krouned him king to kepe þat reaume.
but whan i knew al here cast of here wic wille,
I ne miȝt it suffer for sorwe & for reuþe,
þat here wicked wille in þise wise ended.
& þerfor i him tok now haue i told þe soþe,
& haue him holp herto wanne he hade nede,
as moche as i miȝt in eny maner wise:
& hider i brouȝt him, be ȝou siker ȝour bales for to amende.
haue him now bi þe hand i ȝeld him here to þe.”
Whan þe comli quen þat carping hade herde,
& saw þat was hire sone soþli i-proued,
þer nys man vpon mold miȝt telle þe ioye
þat was mad hem bi-twene in þe mene wh[i]le,
betwene þe dame & þe douȝter & hire dere sone,
with clipping & kesseng & oþer kinde dede.
& ȝif any miȝt be most meliors was gladdest,
þat hire loueliche lemman was lord of þat reaume,
bi kinde as kinges sone & god kniȝt him-selue.
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& þat of al þat puple þat in þe paleys were,
tonge miȝt non telle þe tenþe del, for soþe.
& anon, after þat alphouns þanne hem tolde,
alle þe happes þat he hadde al holly to þe hende,
from þat time þat he tok þe child fro his frendes.
how þe fader him folwed fayn him to quelle;
& how he bar forþ þe barn ouer þe brode water;
& seþen how he souȝt forþ bi selcouþ weiȝes,
bering euer þat barn be niȝtes and daie,
til he com bi a forest seuen mile fro rome;
& how þe cou-herde com him to & kept þe child after,
& seþen how þemperour souȝt out to hunte,
& fond him in þe forest & faire hade him home,
& tok him to kepe to his douȝter dere;
& how þe meke mayde & he melled of loue,
& hadde here liking in loue a long time ofte;
& how þe kinges sone of grece kom hire to wedde,
& on þe morwe þat þe mariage schold haue be maked,
how þei went a-wai in wite beres skinnes;
“þer-after, sire, i þe saued forsoþe as þow knowest,
whanne alle þe puple prestili pursewed after,
to haue do þe to deþe & þi dere make.
& at boneuent i þe brouȝt fram þe breme quarrer,
whan al þe cuntre was umbe-cast with clene men of armes,
to haue þe take þer tit & to dethe hampred;
I tok here souerayne sone so saued i þe þere.”
seþen he told hou he dede here hides þan chaunge,
& dede hem haue hertes skinnes to hiden in hem boþe.
“seþen at a wide water i wan ȝou ouer boþe,
a tokene ȝit of þat time telle i mai þi burde.
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so þat hire lif lelli neiȝ hade sche lore.”
alle here happes holli alphouns telleþ þere,
& what he hade suffred to sauen here liues.
Whan william hade herd holli his wordes,
he was gretli glad no gom þurt him wite,
þat al þe puple in þe place a-pertli knewen
þat he was kindeli king ebrouns sone.
þan lauȝt he alphouns anon loueli in armes,
& clipped him & kessed & kindeli sayde,
“a! faire frend alphouns ioye þe bi-tide,
& god for his grete miȝt þi godnesse þe ȝelde,
& þi tenful trauayles þow hast for me suffred,
& for my loueli lemman lord it þe quite!
for i ne wot in þis world what wise i miȝt
quite þe [þe] tenþedel in al mi lif time.
but þer nis god vnder god þat i may gete euer,
þat it [ne] schal redeli be þin at þin owne wille;
ne no dede þat i may do þat ne schal be do sone,
& loue lelli what þou louest al mi lif dawes,
& hate heiȝeli in hert þat þou hate þenkest,
so þat my hert holli schal hold him at þi wille.
& þerto heiȝeliche am i hold for holli i knowe
þat alle þe sawes be soþ þat þou saidest ere;
sadde sorwes for mi sake suffred astow manye.”
“sertes, sire, þat is soþ” seide alphouns þanne,
“Me þinkeþ ȝe miȝt be hold to quite me mi mede;
& so i desire þat þou [do] ȝif ȝou dere þinkes.
“ȝa! wold god,” seide william “þat i wist nouþe
In what maner þat i miȝt mest with þe plece,
or þat i walt worldes god þat þou woldest ȝerne.”
“ȝis, sire,” seide alphouns “so me crist help,
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as o þing þat þou woldest wilfulli me graunt.”
“ȝis, i-wisse,” seide william “wilne what þe likes,
þeiȝ þou in hast woldest haue holli al mi reaume;
I wold nowt wilne a mite worþ but meliors allone.”
alphouns a-non answered þanne & seide,
“I kepe nouȝt of þi kingdom be crist þat me bouȝt,
ne of þi loueli lemman lelly but in gode.
I ne wilne no-þing but þi suster to be samen wedded,
to weld here as my wif al my lif tyme.”
“ȝa, worþi god,” seide william “wel were me þanne,
ȝif i wist þat þow woldest here to wiue haue.
it were a wonderful werk ȝif þou woldest euere
Meke þe in eny maner to be maried so lowe.”
“ȝis beter, sire,” seide alphouns “i preie þe of nouȝt elles,
for al þe sorwe þat i haue suffred for þi sake euer.
but graunte me boute grucching to haue þat gaie maide.”
“bi god, sire,” seide william “þat gart me be fourmed,
þou schalt [haue] hire at þin hest & with hire al my reaume,
oþer half witterli with-out any lette.”
“nay, crist forbede,” seide alphouns “for his holi blode,
þat i were so wicked to wilne ouȝt of þi gode;
I ne bidde nouȝt a bene worþ but þat burde one.”
þan william as a glad man godli him þonked,
& seide, “sertes, nowe [we] schul be samen hole frendes,
lelli breþeren in lawe our lord be it þonked;
for al þe welþe of þe world at wille nouȝ vs falleþ.”
þan al þe puple in þe paleys prestli, fo[r] ioye,
Maden al þe murþe þat men miȝt deuise.
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þat hade so wiȝtli of hire wo so wel hire comforted.
tid were þe tidinges told wide where a-boute
of þat ferli þat was fallen þere fast þan þer-after,
Gret puple drow to palern to proue þe soþe,
to loke on þe lordes in liking at wille.
Now forto munge forþer as þe mater falles.
whan þise [tidinges] were told to lasse & to more,
þat þo tvo trattes þat william wold haue traysted,
þo ladyes þat had him to loke & leren in ȝouþe,
þei wisten witterly þanne with-oute any lette,
þat þei schuld be do to deþe deulfulli in hast,
brent in briȝt fur to-drawe, or an-honged,
as þilk þat [were] worþi for þere wicked dedes—
Gloriauns & achillones þo tvo ladies hiȝten—
bliue þei hem bi-þout what bote miȝt hem help,
seþe here treson was kud & knowe al a-boute.
hastili þei hent hem on heiȝresse ful rowe
next here bare bodi & bare fot þei went,
& faire bi-fore william þei felle on knes boþe,
& goue hem in his grace for þat grete gilt,
& knoulecheden al þe cas how þei cast hadde,
to haue sotiliche sleyn him-self & his fader,
bi hest of þe kinges broþer þat bale to haue wrouȝt.
“lete vs, sire, haue þe lif wil our lord wold.
we meke vs in ȝoure merci at alle maner poyntes,
to sle vs or to saue wheþer ȝou god likes.
þat we ar worþi to þe deth wel we be a-knowe,
but wold ȝe graunt vs ȝour grace for goddes loue of heuen,
to put vs to sum place penaunce to wirche,
& late vs haue þe lif whil our lord wold,
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& for ȝour fad[er]e & for ȝou feiȝþli to preie.
ȝif ȝe worche so worchipe miȝt ȝe gete,
&, dere lord, of þe deth may no god dede falle,
bot a litel wicked wille þer-with wold be slaked.”
al þe barnage as bliue baden for hem ȝerne,
þat þei most in alle maner þat trespas amende.
& william þan wiȝtli here wille haþ graunted,
so þat þei wrouȝt in þat wise & wold be gode after.
sone were þe ladies to an hermitage brouȝt,
& liueden þere in god lif will our lord wold,
In penaunce & in prayeres priueli & loude,
til þei went of þis world whan god wold hem fecche.
now lete i here of þe ladies & lesteneþ a-noþer,
what bi-tidde of þis tale as þis store telleþ.
William þan with-oute more wiȝtli þer-after,
made him menskful messageres to mene þe soþe,
þe grettest lordes of þat land þat lellest were hold,
& konyngest of kurtesie & kowden fairest speke.
to þemperour of rome redeli he hem sent,
& with loueli letteres lelli him bi-souȝt.
ȝif þat is wille were with-oute any lette,
to be þere with his best burnes bi a certayne time,
to mensk þe mariage of meliors his douȝter.
and ȝif alisaundrine were þanne aliue,
þat sche most with him come curtesli he prayde.
þan were þe messangeres in alle maner wise
so trieliche a-tired to telle þe soþe,
of hors & of harneys & [what] hem most neded,
þat no wieȝh of þis world þurt wilne beter;
& went forþ on here way wiȝtly and fast,
til þei redli hade rauȝt to grete rome euene.
whan þe bold barounes be-fore þemperour come,
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ferst in alphouns half þat king was of spayne,
for þemperour & he hadde be felawes ȝore,
seþen in worþi williams þat king was of poyle,
& souerayn of cisile as schold a king bene.
& seþen in meliors name þat was hise mery douȝter.
& in þe kinges half of poyle praiede him fayre,
to be at palerne with his puple preteli & sone,
bi a certeyn day þat set was sone after,
to menske þe mariage of meliors his douȝter,
for to wiue he wold here take þat welt þat reaume.
whanne þe messagers hade munged of meliors þe schene,
Gretteliche was he gladed & gan for to seie,
“lordinges, for ȝour leute lelli me telles,
ȝif ȝe wite in any wise were be þat burde?”
“Marie, sire,” sede þe messageres “ȝe mowe vs wel trowe,
þe milde mayde meliors in palerne now dwelles;
Loo here hire owne letteres to leue it þe beter.”
þe king komaunded a clerk keneli & swiþe
to loke on þo letteres and lelli hem rede,
þat he miȝt wiȝtli wite what þat þei mened.
þe clerk þanne deliuerli vndede þo letteres,
& fond as þe messageres hade munged be-fore,
how þe king of poyle prestli hade ordeyned,
at swich a certayn day his semliche douȝter wedde.
Þanne wist þemperour wel þat þei were treuwe,
& made þe messagers þe murrþe þat he couþe,
realiere nere neuer rinkes resseiued in place.
Manli made þemperour his messageres out-wende,
alle þe lordes of þat lond lelli to somounne
to be redili a-raied in here richest wise,
to wend with him wiȝtli to þe wedding nobul.
& wan þei herden his hest þei hieȝeden fast,
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so riche a route in rome was rialiche a-sembled,
þat neuer seg vnder sunne ne saw swiche a-noþer,
so triȝliche a-tired of al þat to hem longed;
& went wiȝtli here [way] wen þei were ȝare,
& alisaundrine with hem as i arst munged.
& wending as þei were in here way þat time,
of þe menskful messageres þemperour þanne asked,
bi what cas his douȝter was fare to þat londe,
& how kendeli sche was knowe þat king wold hire wedde.
& þei titli him told al þe trewe soþe,
of alle fortune þat was falle fram comsing to þende,
In alle maner as i munged in mater here bi-fore.
& whanne þemperour hade herd how [þat] hit ferde,
he was gretteli gladed and oft crist þonked
of þe fortune bi-falle of so faire an hende,
& munged þanne al þe mater to his meyne sone,
as þo menskful messagers hade munged be-fore.
þe murþe þat þanne was maked miȝt no tonge telle,
þat tit was mad for þo tiding whan þei told were.
& so þan held þei here way harde & faste,
til þei to palerne prestili with al þat pres come.
William þanne ful wiȝtli with a faire puple
of crouned kinges & kniȝtes many hundred,
went a-ȝen þemperour with wel glade chere.
a gay greting was þer gret wan þei to-gedir met.
william & þemperour went alder-formest,
& alphouns next after & auenauntli him grette,
with alle þe murþe vpon mold þat men miȝt deuise.
þe king of spayne spacli spedde him next after,
for þemperour & he bi-fore felawes hadde bene,
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þe murþe þat was mad at þat metynge þanne,
ne may no tong telle treuli þe soþe.
seþen went þei alle samen swetli to-gadere
to þe perles paleys and prestili þat time,
with a clene cumpanye þe quen com hem a-ȝens,
þat lady was of þat lond & ledde in here hondes
þe menskful mayde meliors & here oune douȝter;
& hem seweþ a selcouþe route of semli ladies;
þe quen of spayne spacli þan spedde fast after.
a mery meting was þer mett whan þei neiȝed same,
with clipping & kessing and contenaunce hende.
but soþli whan þemperour sey his semli douȝter,
a glader gome vnder god miȝt non gon on erþe.
þe melodie þat þei made no man miȝt telle,
ne neuer nere gestes vnder god gladliere receyued.
noþing wanted þei at wille þat þei wold haue,
þat þei nere semli serued & sette at here riȝttes.
Munge now nel i namore of here merie fare,
for beter to be þan it was miȝt no burn þenke.
as sone as alisaundrine hade siȝt of hire ladi,
no tunge miȝt telle treuli half þe ioye
þat þei made at þat metyng whan þei mette same.
& meliors ful mekli brouȝt hire to hire chaumber,
& told here whan sche sei time treuli al þe soþe,
al þe sorwe þat sche hade suffred seþe sche hire seie;
now of þis mater no more nel ich munge;
& alle murþe was hem mad among atte fulle.
william & his worþi make whan þei sei time,
told þemperour treuli þat hem tidde hadde,
of meschef & of murthe & ho hem most helped,
& how þei brouȝt were of bale to here bote þere.
& alle þenne of þat auenturre hadde gret ioye,
& þonked god of his grace þat so godli hem spedde.
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& serued [were] selcouþli riȝt as hem wolde,
of alle dere deintes of metes and of drynkes;
and as þei muriest at þe mete þat time seten,
þer come menskful messageres þat men were nobul,
fro þemperour of grece gret wel þe quene,
þat ladi was of þat lond & he hire dere fader,
& from hire broþer partendo þat was hire pert broþer.
& whan þise messageres hade here greting made,
þan þe soueraynest seg saide of hem alle,
“Madame, makes ȝou merie for marie loue in heuen,
for ȝour feiȝful fader naþ ȝou nouȝt for-ȝete.
ac he haþ sent ȝou to socoure so grissiliche an host,
þat þer nis man vpon mold þat may ȝou with-stond,
þat þei nelle bring in bale at ȝour bidding sone.
þei kome sailing in þe see here souerayn is ȝour broþer;
partenedon þe perles al þat puple ledes,
& se him schal ȝour-self hastli, boute faile,
er þis þridde day be don doute ȝou non oþer.
& whan þat comli quen þo tidinges herde,
a gladdere womman in world was þer non a-liue,
to þe menskful messagere made gret ioye,
& worþili hem welcomed ȝe mow wite þe soþe.
þe comli quen & þe king cunseiled þan to-gedere,
þat þe bridhale schuld a-bide til hire broþer come,
to mensk more þat mariage ȝif þei miȝt þanne.
þan on þe þridde day ariued hire broþer þere,
with a clene cumpanye to carp þe soþe,
þe grettest lordes of þat lond þat liued þat time;
but his ost þat tide he left in þe see stille.
whan þe quen wist of his come curtesli & sone,
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þe kud emperour of rome & þe king of spayne,
& his comli quen & alle þe kniȝtes gode.
þe worþi william was þe first þat welcomed him faire,
& alphouns after him & after þe kinges.
þe quen of palern presteli þan presed to hire broþer,
& receyued him as reali as any rink þurt bene;
þe king of spayne & þe quen curtesli him gret,
& þemperour of rome with riȝt gret ioye.
þer was a solempne siȝt whan þei samen mette,
with clipping & kissing to keþþe hem to-gadere.
þe lady ful loueli þan lad forþ hire broþer
presteli to palerne to þe paleys riche.
More murþe vpon mold miȝt no man deuise,
þan was mad to þo men to munge þe soþe;
Ne wanted hem no-þing þat þei wold haue,
plenteuosli in eche place þe puple was serued.
& as þei sete in solas sone þe quen told
buxumli to hire broþer what bi-tidde þere;
how william was hire son & with his douȝti dedes
hade conquered þe king of spayne & ended þat werre;
& in what wise þe werwolf was brouȝt to his state;
& holli alle þe happes as ȝe han herd be-fore;
how þei went away boþe in white beres skinnes.
þan told sche how alphouns schuld his nece wedde,
& william worþi meliors with welþe on þe morwe.
þan þemperoures sone of grece was a-greued sore,
whanne he wist on þe morwe þe mariage schuld bene,
for he wend hire haue wedded whilom in rome.
& þeiȝh he wist william his nobul newe þanne,
hade he had his ost he wold [haue] a-saide þere
to haue with stoteye & strengþe stoutli hire wonne.
but sei he soþli so miȝt it nouȝt bene,
ac suffer he most þouh it him sore rewed,
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but i hote þe in hert it liked him wel ille.
þann william and his moder & meliors als,
& alphouns anon riȝt of alisaundrine toched,
to marie here menskfulli a-mong hem riȝt þanne.
& so þei touched hem be-twene to tele þe soþe,
þat braundnis alphouns broþer schuld be hire make,
þe kinges sone of spayne þat comsed alle þe werre.
& he at his sader hest hit þanne graunted,
& at þe bidding of his broþer & williams hest.
þan driue þei forþ þe day in dedut & in murþe,
& haden holli at wille what hem haue nedede,
& seþþe to bedde uche burn busked him þat time.
but on þe morwe manli to mene þe soþe,
Men miȝt haue seie of segges many on greiȝed,
In þe worþiest wise þat seien were euere,
seþþe he þat vs bouȝt in bemleem was bore.
alle þe clerkes vnder god couþe nouȝt descriue
a-redili to þe riȝtes þe realte of þat day,
þat was in þat cite for þat solempne fest,
& of alle men þat manerli miȝt ouȝt gete
of any god gaili to greiþe hem midde.
to munge of menstracie it miȝt nouȝt be aymed,
so many maner minstracie at þat mariage were,
þat whan þei made here menstracie eche man wende,
þat heuen hastili & erþe schuld hurtel to-gader,
so desgeli it denede þat al þerþe quakede.
þe stretis were alle strewed & stoutli be-honged,
with gode cloþes of gold of alle gay hewes;
& burgeys with here burdes in here best wise,
weyteden out at windowes eche weie a-boute,
to prie on þe puple þat priked in þe stretes,
& to loke on here lord þat lelli þan schold
be krowned king on þat day to kepe al þat reaume.
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þat þe blisful brides schold buske to cherche,
of here a-tir for to telle to badde is my witte,
for alle þe men vpon mold ne miȝt it descriue
a-redili to þe riȝtes so riche it were alle.
boþe kinges & quenes & oþer kud lordes,
perteli in alle a-paraile pursewend þurth-oute,
of hors & harneys & þat hem haue neded,
so þat non miȝt be amended a mite worþ, for soþe;
as eche gom in his degre godliche ouȝt.
for-þi no more of þat mater nel ich minge noþe,
but touche forþ of þe tale as telleþ þe gest.
whan þe burnes were boun to buske to chirche,
þemperour of rome williams suster ladde,
þilke þat alphouns schold to wiue weld.
& þe kud king of spayne curtesli & faire,
ladde meliors menskfulli a-mong alle þe puple.
þe quenes broþer of palerne partenedon þe bold
alisaundrine at þat time auenauntli ladde.
al with blisse on here blonkes þei busked to chirche,
with alle þe murþe vpon mold þat man miȝt of þenk.
þe clergie com hem a-ȝens riȝt gailiche a-tyred,
ful pertliche on procession prestli as þei ouȝt,
& komen to here king & dede him þe croyce kesse.
þan with worchip & wele went to þe cherche,
þe patriarkes & oþer prelates prestli were reuested,
to make þe mariage menskfulli as it ouȝt.
& after þe lawe of þe lond lelliche to telle,
þei were þer wedded worchipfulli and fayre.
& lelli, for alisaundrines lord ne hade non londes,
þer were tit ȝif hem to treuli fele townes,
comli castelles and couþ and cuntres wide,
to liue wiþ worchip & wele in world al here liue.
no clerk vnder crist ne kowþe nouȝt descriue
þe murthe for þat mariage þat was maked þanne,
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ne þe solempne seruise þat seyn was þat time.
but whan þe seruise was seid as it schold bene,
þat fel to a mariage be-maked at cherche,
þat puple prestli aȝen to þe paleys wente
wiþ al þe murþe of menstracye þat man miȝt on þenk.
& treuli whan time was þei turned to mete,
& serued were as selcouþli as hem-self wolde
desiren of eny deyntes of metes & drinkes.
It were toor forto telle treuli al þe soþe,
& to reherce þe aray ariȝt of þat riche feste,
for-þi i leue þis liȝtli ac leueþ þis for treuþe,
þer miȝ no mon it amende a mite worþ, i leue.
whan bordes were born a-doun & burnes hade waschen,
Men miȝt haue seie to menstrales moche god ȝif,
sterne stedes & stef & ful stoute robes,
Gret garisun of gold & greiþli gode iuweles.
þe fest of þat mariage a moneþ fulle lasted,
& eche day was gret god giue al a-boute,
to more & to lasse þat at þe mariage were.
þan lauȝt þe lordes here leue at þe monþes ende;
partenedon parted first of palerne þe quenes broþer;
for he hade ferrest to fare formest he went.
& william wiþ his wiȝes went him wiþ on gate,
& semli wiþ alle solas to þe see him brouȝt,
& his menskful moder meliors, & his suster.
prestili þe quen of palerne þan preied hire broþer,
to grete hire feiþful fader fele times & ofte,
“& þonk him kindli of þe help þat he to me sent,
& telle him treuli as it bi-tidde here.”
þan lauȝt þei eche leue at oþer lelli to telle;
partenedon passed to schepe & his puple after,
& went wiȝtli to saile þe wind was at þe best,
& saileden wiþ game & gle to grece til þei come.
þan told he tyt to his fader treuli þe soþe,
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how his semli suster was holpen þurth hire sone,
& how þat maide meliors was wedded þat time,
to his owne neweu þouȝh it him nouȝt liked.
& whan þemperour hade herde [holly] þo wordes,
he was a-wondred gretli as he wel miȝt,
but glad he was þat his neweu so nobul was wox,
& preised so perles al oþer þat he passeþ,
of alle kniȝtes vnder [heuene] þat knowe were þanne.
& þat his douȝter of here duresse was so deliuered,
Gretli he þonked god of his grete miȝt;
& liued þan in lisse al his lif after.
but go we now from þe gregoyse & ginne of anoþer,
& of þe puple in palerne how þei passed, telle.
Þe real emperour of rome remewed next after
redili towardes rome with al his route nobul.
william & his moder meliors & his suster,
þe king of spayne & his sones & here semli puple,
went wiþ him on gate wel an fiue myle,
to conueye him curtesli as kindnesse it wold,
wiþ al þe murþ vpon mold þat men miȝt on þenk.
& as þei went bi þe weie wittow for soþe,
ful mekli to meliors þemperour þus saide,
“now, dere douȝter, i þe preie do bi mi rede.
lok þou bere þe buxumli & be god & hende,
konnyng & kurtes to komwne & to grete;
be meke & mercyabul to men þat þe serue,
and be lel to þi lord and to þis ladi after,
þat is his menskful moder & moche þow hire loue.
& alle þe lordes of þis lond loue wel after,
& loke, douȝter, bi þi lif as þow me louest dere,
þat neuer þe pore porayle be piled for þi sake,
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þat al þis lond be lad in lawe as it ouȝt;
þan wol al þe pore puple preie for þe ȝerne,
to liue long in god liif & þi lord alse.
stifli loke þow st[r]iue fo[r] state of holi cherche,
to meyntene it manli on alle maner wise.
Gif gretli of þi god for goddes loue of heuen;
be merciabul to alle men þat in mechef arn;
so schaltow gete god los & gretli be menskked,
as han al þin aunceteres or þow were bi-geten.
do þus, mi dere douȝter & drede þow þe neuer,
þat þow ne schalt haue heuen blisse after þis liue.”
ful mekli seide meliors wiþ meling of teres,
“i hope, sire, to heuen king ȝour hest so wirche,
þat no barn þat is born schal blame mi dedes.”
ful tyt after þo tales þei token here leue,
clipping & kesseng kurtesli eche oþer.
but þe mournyng þat meliors made þat time,
for hire fader schold fare from hire so sone,
treuli it were ful tor to telle þe soþe.
ac þemperour ful hendeli held hire in is armes,
& comforted here kindeli and þe quen preiede
to be meke & merciabule to meliors his douȝter,
“& cheresche here & chaste ȝif þat chaunce falles,
þat sche wold miswerche wrongli any time.”
“ȝis, bi crist, sire,” quaþ þe quen “kare nouȝt þerfore.
i loue hire as miin owne lif leue þou for soþe,
wel i wot sche wol worche al-way þe gode.
for-þi here wille schal be wrouȝt what sche wol ȝerne
þat sche ne schal want in no wise what þe hert likes.”
þemperour hire þroli þonked many þousand siþe,
& after þat, anon riȝt to alisaundrine he seide,
“God has þe nouȝt for-gete my gode hende mayde;
for worchipfulli artou wedded to welde a kinges sone.
ful busili i þe bidde þat burn euer honoure,
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þanne schal eche lud þe loue & for þi lif preie.”
“ȝour hest, sire, schal be holde” sede alisaundrine þanne,
“so þat ȝe ne schul here of me nouȝt but gode,
I hope, þurth goddes grace but gomes on me lye.”
þemperour þan tiȝtli tok leue of hem alle,
& wendes forþ on his way wiȝtli to rome,
& liuede þere in liking a long time after.
now reste we of romaynes & reken we ferre,
& speke we of þe spaynols wil we haue space,
hou þei sped hem to spayne spacli þer-after.
Whan þe king of palerne & his perles moder,
& þe meke meliors his menskful quene,
were come a-ȝe to here court to carpe þe soþe,
þei passed in-to palerne to þe paleis riche,
with al þe murþe vpon mold þat man miȝt of þink.
but on þe morwe manli to mene þe soþe,
þe king of spayne spacli spac to take leue,
for him & alle his felawchipe to fare þat time,
boþe him-self & braundine þat was his bold quene,
& his semli sones boþe alphouns & his broþer,
& here worþi wiues þat were alle at onis.
king william þe king of spayne þonkes
of al þe faire fordede þat he hade for hem wrouȝt,
þurh þe grete grace þat god hade him sent;
for caire wold þei to here cuntre & crist him bi-teche.
whan þe king was war þei wold nedes wen[d],
Gret sorwe for alphouns sake sank to his herte,
for he schuld his felawchipe for-go at þat time.
but whan þat he nedes most he nam him bi hond,
& seide, siking sore “now alphouns, swete broþer,
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I bidde þe as buxumli as broþer schal a-noþer,
ȝif it bi-tide eni time þat þow tene haue,
with werre or oþer wrong with eny wiȝt in erþe,
or with þe sori sarazins schuldest haue to done,
sende to me þi sond swiþe vpon hast,
& i schal hastili me hiȝe bi him þat me bouȝt,
to venge þe verali for ouȝt þat bi-tideþ.”
“þe selue, sire, seie i be þe” seide alphouns þanne,
“sone to come to þi sond schal þer non me lette.”
eiþer þonked oþer many þousand siþes,
& lauȝt seþe here leue þouȝh hem loþ were.
Þanne mekli williams moder & meliors he kissed,
bi-kenned hem to crist on croyce þat was peyned,
& mekli þe quen þan to hire douȝter meled,
& kenned hire curtesli to kepe wel hire mensk,
bad hire be buxum & wel hire burn loue,
& haue pite on þe pore & prestli hem help,
& gretliche herie god & do alle gode dedes.
& sche, sore siking seide þat sche wold,
sche hoped, þurth goddes grace & hastli þer-after,
clipping & kessing to crist þei hem bi-tauȝt.
& spacli þe spaynols sped hem to schipe;
whan þei were arayde eche ring, as þei wold,
swiþe þei setten vp sayles & souȝten on gate
with al maner murþe þat man miȝt of þink,
for wind & gode wederes hade þei at wille;
& spedden hem spacli til spayne þat þei come.
þan alle þe lordes of þat lond & oþer lasse & more,
þat were ouȝt worþi of alle þat wide reaume,
hiȝeden hem to þe hauene hendeli hem aȝens,
& welcomed him worþili as þei wel ouȝt;
& of alphouns come alle were glade.
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with al maner murþe þat men make couþe.
þe king of spayne spacli to speke þe soþe,
krouned alphouns to king to kepe þat reaume,
for him-self was febul & fallen in elde,
to liue þer-after in lisse wil our lord wold.
þus was alphouns þere king after þat time,
& held a-redili to riȝt þe riche & þe pore,
so þat eche burn him blessed bi niȝtes & daie[s].
of him a-while wol i stint & of william speke,
þe kud king of poyle þat i of karped ere.
Spacli as þe spaynols sped hem to sayle,
william with his folk went wiȝtli aȝayne
to paleys of palerne; his puple him sewed,
with alle murþe of menstracie þat men miȝt on þenk.
þan william wiȝtli as a wis king schold,
pes among þe puple he put to þe reaume,
a-leide alle luþer lawes þat long hadde ben vsed,
& gart holde þe gode and gaf mo newe,
þat profitabul to þe puple were proued & hold;
so þat neuer cristen king kauȝt more loue
þan william dede in a wile wite ȝe for soþe.
& ȝif he geynli was god to alle gode werkes,
& wel bi-loued in his lond with lasse & wiþ more,
ȝit was meliors as moche his menskful quene,
or more ȝif sche miȝt in any maner wise;
so prestli sche wold plese þe pore & þe riche.
þan bi-tid it in þat time to telle þe soþe,
þe riche emperour of rome ended his daies,
deide, & was be-dolue as dere god wold.
& alle þe lordes of þat lond lelli at o sent,
sent william to seie so as was bi-falle;
& to meliors his quene bi messageres nobul,
as to here lege lord lelli bi riȝt,
þurth meling of þe mariage of meliors þe schene.
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to vnder-fonge in fee al þat faire reaume,
& erden in þat empire as emperour & maister.
whan þe worþi william wist al þat fare,
& treuli hade vnderston þe tidinges to þende,
to þe menskful messageres he made glad chere,
& welcomed worþili witow for soþe.
naþeles meliors & he made moche sorwe
for þemperour was forþ-fare faire to crist.
sone þei cauȝt comfort for þis þei knewe boþe,
þat deþ wold come to alle þat crist hade fourmed,
to emperours & erles to eche þat lif hadde.
& god þan of his grace godliche þei þonked,
& seide þei wold his sondes suffer, & his wille.
but william ful wiȝtli with-oute any more,
sent as swiþe hise sondes soþli in-to spayne,
bi messageres milde þa moche god couþe,
& bid alphouns his broþer schuld bliue come,
& bring wiþ him his [wif þat] was his worþi suster.
alisaundrine & hire lord alphouns he bad hem preie,
þat he dede hem com wiþ him for cas þat miȝt falle,
& his feiþful fader ȝif he a-liue were.
(ac he was ded & doluen as dere god wold,
& alphouns held in his hond holli al þat reaume,
as kinde king krowned þurth cunseil of his peres).
& whan þe menskful messangers here message wisten,
& hade letteres of here lord to lelen here sawes,
þei went wiȝtli in here way with-oute any more,
& sped hem in-to spayne spacli in a while,
& to þe kud king alphouns kiþed here arnd.
Whan alphouns witerli wist of here wille,
þat þe riche emperour of rome was redeli god bitauȝt,
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he was gretli glad and oft god þonked,
& marie his moder þat him swiche grace sente;
& swiþe lett of-sende alle his segges nobul,
after alle þe lordes of þat lond þe lasse & þe more,
& oþer perles puple him prestili to serue.
whan þei gaili were greiþ as hem god þouȝt,
þei passeden toward palern as fast as þei miȝt,
alphouns & his worþi wif williams sister,
& braundinis his bold broþer & alisaundrine his wif,
wiþ hundredes of kene kniȝtes i knew nouȝt þe names.
& redili whan þei were come þer þei ariue schuld,
william wiþ his wiȝes went hem aȝens.
but no man vpon mold miȝt telle þe ioye
þat þe bold breþeren bi-tweyne [hem] made,
william & alphouns whan þei mette samen,
& wiþ his semli sister seþþen sone þer-after,
& wiþ his oþer broþer braundinis þe bolde,
& after wiþ alysaundrine & alle oþer seþþe;
þat prestili with al þat puple to palerne þei went,
& made hem þer as merie as man miȝt deuise,
wiþ alle derworþe deinteyes of drynkes & metes.
& þus þat perles puple in palerne hem rested
sadli al a seuen niȝt hem-seluen to ese.
& bi þat eche burn on his best wise
was purueyed prestli of al þat hem neded,
& william þat worþi king was þan wiȝtli ȝare,
wiþ al his real route remewed toward rome,
þan made he his moder be menskfully greiþed,
Mid him & meliors his quen in murþe to wende,
& wiþ his semli sister to solas here hertes.
þan wiþ al his real route he rides on gate,
Redili to-wardes rome þo riȝtes gates,
with al maner murþe þat men miȝt on þenk.
& as þei caired ouer cuntre & come neiȝ rome,
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þe fairest ferde of folk þat euer bi-fore was seie;
no man vpon molde miȝt ayme þe noumber.
& worchipfulli þei welcomed william here lorde,
& al his freli felawchip freli þei gret,
& receyued hem as realy as any rinkes miȝt;
Riden riȝt in-to rome with reaulte and murþe.
ac no tonge ne may þe atir of þe cite telle,
so richeli was al araied in rome for his come.
þe prelates on procession prestili out comen,
& alle þe belles in burw busili were runge,
for ioye þat here lege lord his lordchip schuld take.
þan passed al þat puple to þe paleys euene,
& eche man was esed euenli at wille,
wanted hem no þing þat þei haue wold,
for plente to al þe puple was purueide at þe fulle.
& on þe morw at masse to munge þe soþe,
william with al his worchip emperour was maked,
& meliors his comli quen was crouned emperice.
þer nis no clerk vnder crist þat couþe half descriue
þe reaulte þat was araied in rome for þat fest,
Ne þe tiþedel of hire atir to telle þe riȝt,
for al þe men vpon mold it amende ne miȝt,
nouȝt þat fel to swiche a fest forsoþe, half a mite.
for-þi wende i wol a while wite ȝe for soþe,
to reherce þe aray of þe real fest,
& telle forþer of þis tale what tidde after.
Fulle fiftene daies þat fest was holden,
wiþ al þe realte of rome þat euer rink of herde.
no tong miȝt telle þe twentiþe parte
of þe mede to menstrales þat mene time was ȝeue,
of robes wiþ riche pane & oþer richesse grete,
sterne stedes & strong & oþer stoute ȝiftes,
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& er þe fest fulli was fare to þe ende,
william þemperour þat newe was crouned,
as a curteys king on þe kowherd þouȝt,
þat him hade fostered to-fore, seuen ȝere;
& sent sone after him & his semli wiue.
& whan þe kowherde kom þe king to him saide,
“sire kowherde, knowestow me ouȝt so þe crist help?”
þe kowherd kneled sone & karped þese wordes,
“ȝa! lord, wiþ ȝour leue ful litel i ȝou knewe.
I fostered ȝou on mi flet for soþe, as me þinkeþ,
& seide ȝe were my sone seuen ȝer and more.
þe riche emperour of rome þat regned here þat time,
wan ȝou fro me a-wei wo was me þer-fore.
but heriȝed be þe hiȝe king ȝou þus haþ holpe,
& pult ȝou to þis pliȝt fram pouert euer-more!”
william þe worþi emperour ful wiȝtli þus saide,
“bi crist, sire, þou hast seid al þe soþe euene;
þou me fostredes ful faire as fel for þin astate,
& bi our lord, as i leue þat schaltou lese neuer!”
anon þan het he in hast do him forto come
his stiward wiþ-oute stint to stiȝtli alle his londes,
& bi-fore kud kniȝtes and oþer kene lordes,
he ȝaf to þe kowherde a kastel ful nobul,
þe fairest vpon fold þat euer freke seie,
& best set to þe siȝt him-selue to kepe;
and al þat touched þer to a tidi erldome,
to þe kowherd & his wif þe king ȝaf þat time,
as freli as eni freke for euer couþe deuise.
& hastili het eche a baili þat hade it to kepe,
to do eche burn be buxum bi niȝtes & daie[s],
to þe cowherdes comaundement as to here kinde lord,
as þei louede here liues neuer to lette his wille;
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& hastili was his wille wrouȝt witow for soþe.
þus was þe kowherd out of kare kindeli holpen,
he & his wilsum wif wel to liuen for euer.
of þe kinde couherde now nel i telle no more,
but lete him in his blisse & his burde alse,
& touche we ferre as þis tale forþeres.
Whan þis faire fest was finischid at þe .xv daies end,
eche a lord ful loueli his leue gan take
of emperour & emperice & oft hem þonked
of þe worchip & wele þat þei hem wrouȝt hadde.
þemperour to þe grete god ful godli hem bi-tauȝt;
but omage arst of hem alle hendeli he tok,
Mekli as þe maner is his men to bi-come,
to com keneli to his kry as to here kinde lord.
& he ful godly hem þonked & to god bi-tauȝt,
& þan went þei here way whider þaim god liked,
eche lord to his owne lond & lenged þer in blisse.
& king alphouns a-non after alle were went,
& his worchipful wif be-fore william comen,
& braundyns his broþer and alisaundrine his burde;
at emperour & emperice euereche on at ones
loueli lauȝten here leue to here lond to wend.
sone þan, soþli to seie þer was sorwe riue,
whan þat william was war þat þei wend wold,
Moche mournyng þei made & meliors alse;
but seþþe it miȝt be no beter suffer hem be-houed.
william bi þe hond hent alphouns his broþer,
& neiȝ wepande for wo wiȝtli þus saide,
“broþer, ȝif it be bi god þat vs wrouȝt,
I wold it were þi wille wiþ vs forto lenge,
hit forþinkes me sore þat we schul de-parte;
but seþe it nel be non oþer nouȝt for to striue,
I bi-kenne ȝou to krist þat on croyce was peyned,
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ȝif destine falle of ani dede þat þou to done haue,
þat eny wiȝt wiþ werre wirche aȝens þi paie,
swiþe send me to say & sone i come to þe,
þat no liuend lud schal me lette neuere,
wil me lasteþ þe lif for loue ne for awe;
til þow be wel wroke wol i neuer stinte.”
“ȝa, blessed be þow, bold broþer” seide alphouns þan,
þe same sey i be þe so me wel time!”
feiþfullere frenchipe saw neuer frek in erþe,
þat more plenerli hem profered to plese eche oþer,
& to help oþer in hast ho-so hade nede.
þemperours moder william and meliors alse,
seide to hire douȝter þe semli quen of spayne,
“loueli douȝter, leue lif loue þi lord euere,
& be euer busili aboute him buxumli to serue,
& lede him euer wiþ þi lore his lond to kepe;
so schaltow lelli be loued wiþ lasse & wiþ more.”
& sche kneling on here knes curtesli saide,
sche hoped to heuen king whil here lif lasted,
to wirche as þei here wissed with-oute any lette.
& to alisaundrine a-non riȝt þei sayde
sadli, in same wise sche schold hire lord loue;
& sche sore sikande seide þat sche wold.
& whan þei samen had seide what hem-self liked,
& time was atte laste atwinne forto de-parte,
þer was siking & sorwe on boþe sides sadde,
weping & wringinge for wo at here hertes,
& clippinge and kessing þei cauȝt eche oþer,
bi-kenned hem to crist þat on croyce was peyned,
& soute seþe on-sunder þouȝh it hem sore greued.
þe king of spayne spacli spedde him þan to horse,
& went forþ in is way wiþ-oute any more;
& al his faire felawchip folwed him after,
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þer were þei reali resceyued as god riȝt it wold,
with alle maner murþe þat man miȝt on þenke;
& þere þei lenged in lisse al hire liue after,
& ledden wel þat lond to gode lawes euere,
so þat eche burn hem blessed þat euer þei bore were.
of hem of spayne to speke my speche now i lete,
but lete hem liue in lisse at oure lordes wille,
of þe riche emperour of rome redeliche to telle.
Whanne þe king of spayne spedli was faren,
william with him tok al his worþi meyne,
& his menskful moder & here maydenes alle,
& rides þurth þempire of rome richeli & faire,
to alle solempne cites & semliche holdes,
to knowe þe kuntres as a king ouȝt;
lauȝt omage of eche lud þat longed to þe reaume.
& whan þat dede was don deliuerli & sone,
Gode lawes þurth his lond lelly he sette,
& held hem so harde i hete þe for soþe,
þat robboures ne reuowres miȝt route none,
þat þei nere hastili hange or with hors to-drawe.
flatereres & fals men fram him sone he chased,
Lieres ne losengeres loued he neuer none,
but tok to him tidely trewe cunsayl euere,
þat al þe puple for him preide þe pore & þe riche;
so wisli he wrouȝt to sauen his reaume.
& ȝif he meke were of maneres meliors his quene,
was al swiche on hire side to telle þe tre[w]þe,
so gracious to goddes men & alle gode werkes,
so pitevows to þe pore hem prestili to help,
þat eche man hade ioye to here of here speke,
& busily for hire bede bi nyȝtes and daies.
& also williams moder þat menskful quene,
so god was & gracious to eche gomes paye,
so witty & willeful to wirche alle gode dedes,
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& heiȝli preiede to heuen king to hold here liues.
þan com here in mynde at þat mene while,
þat here sweuen was soþ þat sum time hire mette,
þat here riȝt arm redeli ouer rome a-teyned,
& lelli here lift arm laye ouer spayne.
þan wist sche wiȝtli what it be-tokened,
here sone þat regned in rome here riȝt arme ment;
þat here der-worþ douȝter was drawe to spayne,
here lif time to be þere ladi here left arm schewed.
God þanked sche godli of al his grete miȝt,
& his menskful moder þe milde quen of heuen,
þat out of bale hade hire brouȝt to blisse so faire.
Þus william & his worþi quen winteres fele,
liueden in liking & lisse as our lord wolde,
& haden tvo sones samen ful semliche childeren,
þat seþþen þurth goddes grace were grete lordes after.
þat on was emperour of rome & regned after his fader,
þat oþer was a kud king of calabre & poyle;
& miȝti men & menskful were þei in here time,
& feiþful as here fader to fre & to þewe.
þus þis worþi william was emperour of rome,
þat hadde many hard happe hade þere-bi-fore,
& be in gret baret and bale sum time;
of alle bales was he brouȝt blessed be goddes miȝt!
& so schal euerich seg þat secheþ to þe gode,
& giues him in goddes grace & godliche ay wircheþ.
liueden in liking & lisse as our lord wolde,
& haden tvo sones samen ful semliche childeren,
þat seþþen þurth goddes grace were grete lordes after.
þat on was emperour of rome & regned after his fader,
þat oþer was a kud king of calabre & poyle;
& miȝti men & menskful were þei in here time,
& feiþful as here fader to fre & to þewe.
þus þis worþi william was emperour of rome,
þat hadde many hard happe hade þere-bi-fore,
& be in gret baret and bale sum time;
of alle bales was he brouȝt blessed be goddes miȝt!
& so schal euerich seg þat secheþ to þe gode,
& giues him in goddes grace & godliche ay wircheþ.
In þise wise haþ william al his werke ended,
as fully as þe frensche fully wold aske,
& as his witte him wold serue þouȝh it were febul.
but þouȝh þe metur be nouȝt mad at eche mannes paye,
wite him nouȝt þat it wrouȝt he wold haue do beter,
ȝif is witte in eny weiȝes wold him haue serued.
but, faire frendes, for goddes loue & for ȝour owne mensk,
ȝe þat liken in loue swiche þinges to here,
preiȝes for þat gode lord þat gart þis do make,
þe hende erl of hereford humfray de boune;—
þe gode king edwardes douȝter was his dere moder;—
he let make þis mater in þis maner speche,
for hem þat knowe no frensche ne neuer vndersto[n].
biddiþ þat blisful burn þat bouȝt vs on þe rode,
& to his moder marie of mercy þat is welle,
“ȝif þe lord god lif wil he in erþe lenges,
& whan he wendes of þis world welþe with-oute ende,
to lenge in þat liking ioye þat lesteþ euer-more.”
& god gif alle god grace þat gladli so biddes,
& pertli in paradis a place for to haue. Amen.
as fully as þe frensche fully wold aske,
& as his witte him wold serue þouȝh it were febul.
but þouȝh þe metur be nouȝt mad at eche mannes paye,
wite him nouȝt þat it wrouȝt he wold haue do beter,
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but, faire frendes, for goddes loue & for ȝour owne mensk,
ȝe þat liken in loue swiche þinges to here,
preiȝes for þat gode lord þat gart þis do make,
þe hende erl of hereford humfray de boune;—
þe gode king edwardes douȝter was his dere moder;—
he let make þis mater in þis maner speche,
for hem þat knowe no frensche ne neuer vndersto[n].
biddiþ þat blisful burn þat bouȝt vs on þe rode,
& to his moder marie of mercy þat is welle,
“ȝif þe lord god lif wil he in erþe lenges,
& whan he wendes of þis world welþe with-oute ende,
to lenge in þat liking ioye þat lesteþ euer-more.”
& god gif alle god grace þat gladli so biddes,
& pertli in paradis a place for to haue. Amen.
| The Romance of William of Palerne | |