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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| X. |
| XI. |
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| XIII. |
| XIV. |
 | [Chapter III] Merlin, a Middle-English metrical version of a French romance |  |
Thanne answerede merlyne, that knew ful wel
his malencolyvs herte everydel:
“ȝe han me preid that j schal Seye
to ȝow of ȝoure deth, trewelye,
knowe ȝe wel that þe same day
that deyen ȝe scholen, wit-owten nay,
of an hors ȝowre Nekke schal to-breke.”
Aforn alle these knyhtes thus gan he speke.
thanne seide the Barown to the kyng:
“God me defende from his talkyng!”
his malencolyvs herte everydel:
“ȝe han me preid that j schal Seye
to ȝow of ȝoure deth, trewelye,
knowe ȝe wel that þe same day
that deyen ȝe scholen, wit-owten nay,
of an hors ȝowre Nekke schal to-breke.”
Aforn alle these knyhtes thus gan he speke.
thanne seide the Barown to the kyng:
“God me defende from his talkyng!”
tho wente he hom jn-to his contre,
and there a whille dwelled he,
and cam aȝen thedir as þe kyng was,
and Feynede hym sore syk jn that plas,
and him forto sen he preyde the kyng,
and algates merlyne with hym bryng,
so that merlyne ne knowe jn non degre
For what maner cause thedir cometh he.
thanne cam merlyne to the kyng,
and axede hym what was his willyng.
“ȝe mosten to towne gon with me,
a sik man j preye ȝow þere forto se.”
thanne clepid the kyng his prevy meyne
with him to gon that man to se.
and whanne that thedyr they weren comen echon,
thanne seide to the kyng this sik man anon:
“Sire, j preye ȝow, for charyte,
that ȝowre devyne may tellen me
ȝyf j schal deyen of this syknesse,
oþer ellis to suffren ony more distresse.”
“Sire kyng,” anon quod merlyne thanne,
“of þis siknesse schal not deyen this manne.”
thanne answerede the syk man, trewelye:
“now, good sire, of what siknesse schal j deye?”
“Forsothe, hangenge schalt thow ende,
and hangen þou schalt jnto thin ende.”
and with that tornede him merlyn there,
and made a semblaunce as wroth he were.
thus whanne merlyne was forth gon,
this barown to the kyng seyde anon:
“Now mowen ȝe knowen be his spelle,
a fool he is swyche thynges to telle,
that swyche tweyn dethes me doth devyse
whiche ben not cordyng jn non wyse!
And the thrydde tyme ȝit j schal asaye:
To morwe wil j gon to on abbeye,
and that ȝe wolden thider hye,
and merlyne jn ȝoure compenye,
and the abbot ȝow schal seyn
that on of his monkes is Sik, certein,
and ȝow schal preyen, for charite,
thike sike monk þat ȝe wolden comen se
and merlyne with ȝow forto brynge.”
the kyng him grantyd his askynge.
and there a whille dwelled he,
and cam aȝen thedir as þe kyng was,
and Feynede hym sore syk jn that plas,
and him forto sen he preyde the kyng,
and algates merlyne with hym bryng,
so that merlyne ne knowe jn non degre
For what maner cause thedir cometh he.
thanne cam merlyne to the kyng,
and axede hym what was his willyng.
“ȝe mosten to towne gon with me,
a sik man j preye ȝow þere forto se.”
thanne clepid the kyng his prevy meyne
with him to gon that man to se.
and whanne that thedyr they weren comen echon,
103
“Sire, j preye ȝow, for charyte,
that ȝowre devyne may tellen me
ȝyf j schal deyen of this syknesse,
oþer ellis to suffren ony more distresse.”
“Sire kyng,” anon quod merlyne thanne,
“of þis siknesse schal not deyen this manne.”
thanne answerede the syk man, trewelye:
“now, good sire, of what siknesse schal j deye?”
“Forsothe, hangenge schalt thow ende,
and hangen þou schalt jnto thin ende.”
and with that tornede him merlyn there,
and made a semblaunce as wroth he were.
thus whanne merlyne was forth gon,
this barown to the kyng seyde anon:
“Now mowen ȝe knowen be his spelle,
a fool he is swyche thynges to telle,
that swyche tweyn dethes me doth devyse
whiche ben not cordyng jn non wyse!
And the thrydde tyme ȝit j schal asaye:
To morwe wil j gon to on abbeye,
and that ȝe wolden thider hye,
and merlyne jn ȝoure compenye,
and the abbot ȝow schal seyn
that on of his monkes is Sik, certein,
and ȝow schal preyen, for charite,
thike sike monk þat ȝe wolden comen se
and merlyne with ȝow forto brynge.”
the kyng him grantyd his askynge.
vppon the morewen, whanne it was day,
the kyng him Rod to that abbay,
and merlyne thedyr with hym rod,
So herden they masse, and þere abod.
Atte laste cam the Abbot there,
and to the kyng seide jn this manere:
“Ha, Sire kyng, and ȝowre wylle Jt be,
that an old syk monk ȝe wolden com se,
and ȝowre devyne with ȝow to brynge,
and it were ȝowre wille, Sire kynge.”
thanne seide the kyng to merlyne tho:
“Sire, with me wile ȝe owht go?”
“ȝe, sire,” quod merlyne, “ful gladly!”
and took the kyng on syde jn hy:
the kyng him Rod to that abbay,
and merlyne thedyr with hym rod,
So herden they masse, and þere abod.
Atte laste cam the Abbot there,
and to the kyng seide jn this manere:
“Ha, Sire kyng, and ȝowre wylle Jt be,
that an old syk monk ȝe wolden com se,
and ȝowre devyne with ȝow to brynge,
104
thanne seide the kyng to merlyne tho:
“Sire, with me wile ȝe owht go?”
“ȝe, sire,” quod merlyne, “ful gladly!”
and took the kyng on syde jn hy:
| [Chapter III] Merlin, a Middle-English metrical version of a French romance | |