The Story of England by Robert Manning of Brunne, A.D. 1338. Edited from mss. at Lambeth Palace and the Inner Temple, by Frederick J. Furnivall |
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 | The Story of England |  |
Þen com þe folk wyþouten sesse
Aboute Brian for to presse;
Þe Bretons alle, & þe of Cornewaille,
& out of Walys cam gret pedaille;
Þey frayned hym faste ‘when he cam,
‘& whider he wilde, and to wham;
“& what nede ys now in hande
“Þat Cadwalyn comeþ nought to lande?
“And where he ys, we preye þe telle,
“And wheþer he schal come or dwelle.”
“Sertes,” he seide, “wyþynne a þrowe
“ȝe schul wel vnderstande & knowe
“Þat Edwyn schal nought dur abyde,
“But ȝif mischaunnce hym by-tyde.
“But warnische casteles, do make toures,
“ffor ȝow schal sone come socoures.”
Of alle þe grete he wiste þer wille;
Þer-fore ful baldely & stille
Dide he vitaille þe toun ful wel,
Defensable wyþ bretaxes & pel.
He sente hys em a messeger,
& telde al on what maner
Þat he had slayn þe clerke Pellyt,
Stored Oxenforde til his profit.
Aboute Brian for to presse;
Þe Bretons alle, & þe of Cornewaille,
& out of Walys cam gret pedaille;
Þey frayned hym faste ‘when he cam,
‘& whider he wilde, and to wham;
“& what nede ys now in hande
“Þat Cadwalyn comeþ nought to lande?
“And where he ys, we preye þe telle,
“And wheþer he schal come or dwelle.”
“Sertes,” he seide, “wyþynne a þrowe
“ȝe schul wel vnderstande & knowe
“Þat Edwyn schal nought dur abyde,
“But ȝif mischaunnce hym by-tyde.
“But warnische casteles, do make toures,
“ffor ȝow schal sone come socoures.”
Of alle þe grete he wiste þer wille;
Þer-fore ful baldely & stille
552
Defensable wyþ bretaxes & pel.
He sente hys em a messeger,
& telde al on what maner
Þat he had slayn þe clerke Pellyt,
Stored Oxenforde til his profit.
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