Merlin, a Middle-English metrical version of a French romance by Herry Lovelich ... (AB. 1450 A.D.), edited from the unique ms. 80 in Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, with an introduction, notes, and glossaries by Dr. Ernst A. Kock |
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 | [Chapter II] Merlin, a Middle-English metrical version of a French romance |  |
thanne quod merlyne to kyng Fortagere:
“Now begynne thy towr, and maket here
as gret as þou wylt, and also hy,
For it schal neuere fallen, trewly.”
Thanne comanded Fortager anon
that jn haste this werk scholde be don.
So that this towr they maden ful hy,
Ful large, and Ryht strong, sekerly.
thanne of merlyne often axede þe kyng
what of the dragouns was þe signefyeng.
“Sire kyng, it is forto Signefye
thynges þat han ben & scholen ben, trewelye;
and ȝif that thou wylt enswren me here
me not to deseisen Jn non manere,
ne non man with-jnne thy kyngdom
To don me non maner of distroccion,
J schal the tellen the Signefyaunce
a-forn thy cownseyl, with-owten dowtaunce.”
thanne kyng Fortager ensured hym anon,
that Neuere harm to hym scholde be don.
“go thanne faste,” quod merlyne anon,
“and sende aftyr thy cownseyl everychon,
and also aftyr thy clerkis jn fere,
To heren what that j schal seyen here.”
“Now begynne thy towr, and maket here
as gret as þou wylt, and also hy,
For it schal neuere fallen, trewly.”
Thanne comanded Fortager anon
that jn haste this werk scholde be don.
So that this towr they maden ful hy,
Ful large, and Ryht strong, sekerly.
thanne of merlyne often axede þe kyng
what of the dragouns was þe signefyeng.
“Sire kyng, it is forto Signefye
thynges þat han ben & scholen ben, trewelye;
and ȝif that thou wylt enswren me here
me not to deseisen Jn non manere,
ne non man with-jnne thy kyngdom
To don me non maner of distroccion,
J schal the tellen the Signefyaunce
a-forn thy cownseyl, with-owten dowtaunce.”
thanne kyng Fortager ensured hym anon,
that Neuere harm to hym scholde be don.
“go thanne faste,” quod merlyne anon,
“and sende aftyr thy cownseyl everychon,
and also aftyr thy clerkis jn fere,
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| [Chapter II] Merlin, a Middle-English metrical version of a French romance | |