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 III] Merlin, a Middle-English metrical version of a French romance |  |
Ful sory was kyng Fortager tho,
whanne he herde tellen it scholde be so,
and axede of merlyne anon Ryht
ȝif that ony othirwyse it myhte ben dyht.
“Nay, syker, Fortager,” quod merlyne tho,
“Non othirwyse now ne may it go.”
and whanne that fortager wiste al this,
that tho children scholde comen, j-wys,
thanne warnede he his peple anon
that to hym scholden they comen ful son,
aȝens that jlke same day
That merlyne hym of tolde, with-owten Nay.
So that to wynchestre he gan to go,
and al his power with him tho.
but the cawse wiste neuere a man,
but they that of his cownseyl weren than.
and whanne merlyne hadde endyd this mater,
thanne took he his leve of kyng Fortager,
and thanne forth to blase he gan to gon,
and told hym of these merveilles echon.
So that Blayse gan hem to Wryte,
and jnto his Book forto endyte.
So that merlyne with Blayse dwellede there,
tyl þe bretheren aftyr hym gonnen enqwere.
whanne he herde tellen it scholde be so,
and axede of merlyne anon Ryht
ȝif that ony othirwyse it myhte ben dyht.
“Nay, syker, Fortager,” quod merlyne tho,
“Non othirwyse now ne may it go.”
and whanne that fortager wiste al this,
that tho children scholde comen, j-wys,
thanne warnede he his peple anon
that to hym scholden they comen ful son,
aȝens that jlke same day
That merlyne hym of tolde, with-owten Nay.
82
and al his power with him tho.
but the cawse wiste neuere a man,
but they that of his cownseyl weren than.
and whanne merlyne hadde endyd this mater,
thanne took he his leve of kyng Fortager,
and thanne forth to blase he gan to gon,
and told hym of these merveilles echon.
So that Blayse gan hem to Wryte,
and jnto his Book forto endyte.
So that merlyne with Blayse dwellede there,
tyl þe bretheren aftyr hym gonnen enqwere.
and kyng Fortager at wynchestre abod,
as he be merlyne ferst vndirstood.
And that same day, with-owten lesynge,
the peple of Wynchestre syen comenge
Fer jn the see a ful gret Navye,
where-offen they merveilled, ful trewelye;
jn whiche vesselys weren, certeynle,
both costantynes sones, as j telle the.
and whanne that Fortager herde of this,
Ful sore he was abasched, j-wys,
and comaunded his men to armes anon
alle so faste as they myhten gon,
and also his port forto defende,
therto he bad hem forto atende.
& whanne at the port they weren echon,
thanne behelden they jn-to the se anon,
and Syen here ryhtful kynges banere
Ful openly displayed ryht there,
wheche weren the armes of costantyn;
they knewen the gonfanouns wele & fyn.
thanne merveillede this peple everichon
how that this thing thus myhte be don.
So that these vesselis aryvede to londe,
as J do ȝow to vndirstonde.
and whanne to londe a-ryved they were,
thanne axede the peple of hem there
what manere of peple was there with-jnne.
thanne answerid they, & wolde not blynne:
“They ben the vesselis of Pendragown,
that to this Rewm hath good Resown;
and also vter, his brothir so dere,
jnto his Rewm with him cometh here
of Fortager Forto taken veniaunce,
that hem hath don ful gret Noysaunce,
and as a fals man, J vndirstond,
vntrewely & vniostly halt he here lond.”
and whanne that the peple vndirstod this,
that it was here owne lord, J-wys,
That with hym browhte so gret meyne,
thanne weren they abasched, ful Sykyrle,
and nolden non thyng aȝens hem do,
Lest aftyr it myhte hem tornen to moche wo,
and comen and seiden to Fortager,
that aȝens hem wolden they not fyhten ther.
and whanne Fortager this vndirstood,
thanne for wraththe he was nyhe wood.
thanne spak he to his owne men,
that hym wolde not Forsaken than,
the castel wel to kepen ouer alle thyng.
so seyden they wolden, with-owten fayllyng.
thanne a-ryvede these schepis there anon,
and the peple of the cuntre thider faste gonne gon,
and aȝens hym they wenten be on acord,
& there hym resceyveden as here lord.
as he be merlyne ferst vndirstood.
And that same day, with-owten lesynge,
the peple of Wynchestre syen comenge
Fer jn the see a ful gret Navye,
where-offen they merveilled, ful trewelye;
jn whiche vesselys weren, certeynle,
both costantynes sones, as j telle the.
and whanne that Fortager herde of this,
Ful sore he was abasched, j-wys,
and comaunded his men to armes anon
alle so faste as they myhten gon,
and also his port forto defende,
therto he bad hem forto atende.
& whanne at the port they weren echon,
thanne behelden they jn-to the se anon,
and Syen here ryhtful kynges banere
Ful openly displayed ryht there,
wheche weren the armes of costantyn;
they knewen the gonfanouns wele & fyn.
thanne merveillede this peple everichon
how that this thing thus myhte be don.
So that these vesselis aryvede to londe,
as J do ȝow to vndirstonde.
and whanne to londe a-ryved they were,
thanne axede the peple of hem there
83
thanne answerid they, & wolde not blynne:
“They ben the vesselis of Pendragown,
that to this Rewm hath good Resown;
and also vter, his brothir so dere,
jnto his Rewm with him cometh here
of Fortager Forto taken veniaunce,
that hem hath don ful gret Noysaunce,
and as a fals man, J vndirstond,
vntrewely & vniostly halt he here lond.”
and whanne that the peple vndirstod this,
that it was here owne lord, J-wys,
That with hym browhte so gret meyne,
thanne weren they abasched, ful Sykyrle,
and nolden non thyng aȝens hem do,
Lest aftyr it myhte hem tornen to moche wo,
and comen and seiden to Fortager,
that aȝens hem wolden they not fyhten ther.
and whanne Fortager this vndirstood,
thanne for wraththe he was nyhe wood.
thanne spak he to his owne men,
that hym wolde not Forsaken than,
the castel wel to kepen ouer alle thyng.
so seyden they wolden, with-owten fayllyng.
thanne a-ryvede these schepis there anon,
and the peple of the cuntre thider faste gonne gon,
and aȝens hym they wenten be on acord,
& there hym resceyveden as here lord.
thanne kyng Fortager with his meyne,
to his castel wenten they ful hastyle.
and there bothe bretheren be on asent
hym vigerously asayllede, verament.
So that Pandragoun Fyr dede jn caste
jnto that castel, that brende ryht faste,
where-jnne this Fortager Syker was brent,
as this storye scheweth, verament.
And thus tooken bothe bretheryn Jn Fere
harde veniaunce on here enemyes there.
to his castel wenten they ful hastyle.
and there bothe bretheren be on asent
hym vigerously asayllede, verament.
So that Pandragoun Fyr dede jn caste
jnto that castel, that brende ryht faste,
where-jnne this Fortager Syker was brent,
as this storye scheweth, verament.
And thus tooken bothe bretheryn Jn Fere
harde veniaunce on here enemyes there.
84
thanne the kynnes-men of Fortager
vppon the crystene werreden ther,
and the tweyne bretheren gonnen hem asaylle,
and jnto a castel hem droven, Sauns faylle.
thanne took pandragon cownseyl there,
and vter his brothyr, alle Jn fere,
how that thike castel they myhten wynne
and ek the peple that was with-jnne.
at whiche cownseyl fyve barouns there were
that to-forn tyme the dragowns syen fyhten there,
and herden al the significaciown.
how that merlyne tolde al & Som
of tho tweyne dragowns to Fortager,
To Pandragown and to his brothir they tolden ther,
and of the merveylles everychon
that merlyne hem tolde be on and be on.
“and wete ȝe wel, Syres, that he Js on
the wysest man, except god alon.”
thanne seide Pandragown to these Barowns:
“where dwellith that man & in whiche Regyowns?”
“we weten neuere,” quod they ageyn,
“where hym to fynden, Jn certeyn,
Neþer jn what contre hym to have,
also god oure sowles moot save!
and ȝif he be owht jn this partye,
we scholen hym fynde, wel Sekerlye.”
vppon the crystene werreden ther,
and the tweyne bretheren gonnen hem asaylle,
and jnto a castel hem droven, Sauns faylle.
thanne took pandragon cownseyl there,
and vter his brothyr, alle Jn fere,
how that thike castel they myhten wynne
and ek the peple that was with-jnne.
at whiche cownseyl fyve barouns there were
that to-forn tyme the dragowns syen fyhten there,
and herden al the significaciown.
how that merlyne tolde al & Som
of tho tweyne dragowns to Fortager,
To Pandragown and to his brothir they tolden ther,
and of the merveylles everychon
that merlyne hem tolde be on and be on.
“and wete ȝe wel, Syres, that he Js on
the wysest man, except god alon.”
thanne seide Pandragown to these Barowns:
“where dwellith that man & in whiche Regyowns?”
“we weten neuere,” quod they ageyn,
“where hym to fynden, Jn certeyn,
Neþer jn what contre hym to have,
also god oure sowles moot save!
and ȝif he be owht jn this partye,
we scholen hym fynde, wel Sekerlye.”
thanne forth sente pandragown anon
messengeris, as faste as they cowde gon,
To serchen al the lond owt ryht,
ȝif that there cowde ony wyht
hem tellen merlyne Forto Fynde,
that holden was so gentyl & kynde.
And merlyne, that knew al this ful wel,
Tolde it to Blayse thanne everydel,
and from Blayse thanne wente anon,
& Forth to a town he gan to gon,
there as the messengeris at mete were.
and jn this gyse to hem cam he there:
lik as a schepperde he hadde j-be,
with a staf on his nekke, ful sekerle,
and ek a peyre of ful Boystous schoon,
vppon his Feet thanne were they doon,
and vppon hym a clowted cote,
that heng adown abowten his throte,
and therto he hadde a ful gret berd,
þerwith to han mad many men aferd,
So that he Semede jn alle degre
a man of evel lykynge, ful sekyrle.
and thus to þe same place he cam anon
þere as þe messengeres eten everichon,
and seide to hem Jn this manere:
“Ful evel don ȝe ȝoure dever here
and ȝoure lordis arende also,
Forto Seken merlyne that ȝe scholden go.”
and whanne they herde thus hym Seyn,
“what jn þe devellis name, be-hold this veleyn!
where-offen with sorwe smateryth he
of ony thing that to vs longeth forto be?”
“jn feith,” quod Merlyne thanne ageyn,
“and j hym scholde seken, jn certeyn,
J scholde hym Fynde Sonnere thanne ȝe,
j telle ȝow, Sires, ful Sykerle.”
thanne resen these messengeris anon,
and toward merlyne they gonne to gon,
& him þere axede anon Ryht
ȝif he him knew be day oþer be Nyht.
“Ȝys, Forsothe, J Knowe Hym Ryht Wel
and al his abydyng every del.
but that he tolde me, Jn certeyn,
that ȝowre travaylle was but jn veyn;
For thowgh ȝe fownden him jn this contre,
with ȝow wolde he not gon, Sykerle.
but goth to ȝowre lord now ageyn faste,
and that the castel to taken he have non haste,
tyl that Augwys be ded other slayn,
of wheche castel he js lord, certayn.
and wete ȝe wel that of thyke barownes fyve
there ben but thre now left on lyve,
that Ferst tolden the kyng of merlyne,
whiche that cowde so mochel of devyne.
and þerfore to ȝowre lord that ȝe telle,
what maner aventure so hym befalle,
ȝif that merlyne he wyle with speke,
jnto this contre hym-Self moste reke,
and aftyr him Serchen jn market & town
abowtes al this contre Jn vyrown.”
messengeris, as faste as they cowde gon,
To serchen al the lond owt ryht,
ȝif that there cowde ony wyht
hem tellen merlyne Forto Fynde,
that holden was so gentyl & kynde.
And merlyne, that knew al this ful wel,
Tolde it to Blayse thanne everydel,
and from Blayse thanne wente anon,
& Forth to a town he gan to gon,
there as the messengeris at mete were.
and jn this gyse to hem cam he there:
85
with a staf on his nekke, ful sekerle,
and ek a peyre of ful Boystous schoon,
vppon his Feet thanne were they doon,
and vppon hym a clowted cote,
that heng adown abowten his throte,
and therto he hadde a ful gret berd,
þerwith to han mad many men aferd,
So that he Semede jn alle degre
a man of evel lykynge, ful sekyrle.
and thus to þe same place he cam anon
þere as þe messengeres eten everichon,
and seide to hem Jn this manere:
“Ful evel don ȝe ȝoure dever here
and ȝoure lordis arende also,
Forto Seken merlyne that ȝe scholden go.”
and whanne they herde thus hym Seyn,
“what jn þe devellis name, be-hold this veleyn!
where-offen with sorwe smateryth he
of ony thing that to vs longeth forto be?”
“jn feith,” quod Merlyne thanne ageyn,
“and j hym scholde seken, jn certeyn,
J scholde hym Fynde Sonnere thanne ȝe,
j telle ȝow, Sires, ful Sykerle.”
thanne resen these messengeris anon,
and toward merlyne they gonne to gon,
& him þere axede anon Ryht
ȝif he him knew be day oþer be Nyht.
“Ȝys, Forsothe, J Knowe Hym Ryht Wel
and al his abydyng every del.
but that he tolde me, Jn certeyn,
that ȝowre travaylle was but jn veyn;
For thowgh ȝe fownden him jn this contre,
with ȝow wolde he not gon, Sykerle.
but goth to ȝowre lord now ageyn faste,
and that the castel to taken he have non haste,
tyl that Augwys be ded other slayn,
of wheche castel he js lord, certayn.
86
there ben but thre now left on lyve,
that Ferst tolden the kyng of merlyne,
whiche that cowde so mochel of devyne.
and þerfore to ȝowre lord that ȝe telle,
what maner aventure so hym befalle,
ȝif that merlyne he wyle with speke,
jnto this contre hym-Self moste reke,
and aftyr him Serchen jn market & town
abowtes al this contre Jn vyrown.”
| [Chapter III] Merlin, a Middle-English metrical version of a French romance | |