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 |  |
Thanne cam merlyne to cowrt anon,
and of this the kyng told hym thusson.
thanne made merlyne his Surawnce
hem forto bryngen, with-owten variaunce.
and thus merlyne thorwgh his craft,
tyl the stones weren there, he ne laft,
and leyde hem on the Sepulture
Of pandragown, J the enswre.
thanne vter Pendragown with gret meyne
To the pleyn of Salisbery wente hem to se.
and whanne they behelden this grete mervaylle,
thanne seide the peple, with-owten Faylle,
that alle the world hem ne cowde meve,
thowg that they scholden the sothe preve.
thanne seide merlyne: “j schal hem dresse
mochel bettere thanne they lyn, J-wysse.”
“howh myhte that be?” quod the kyng anone,
“that may non man do but god alone.”
thanne quod merlyne to hem anon:
“Goth ȝe now hennes everychon,
and j schal hem dressen, as j have hyht,
oþer ellis my covenaunt held j not a-ryht.”
So that merlyne belefte there stylle,
and his covenawnt he dide fulfille.
and of this the kyng told hym thusson.
thanne made merlyne his Surawnce
hem forto bryngen, with-owten variaunce.
and thus merlyne thorwgh his craft,
tyl the stones weren there, he ne laft,
and leyde hem on the Sepulture
114
thanne vter Pendragown with gret meyne
To the pleyn of Salisbery wente hem to se.
and whanne they behelden this grete mervaylle,
thanne seide the peple, with-owten Faylle,
that alle the world hem ne cowde meve,
thowg that they scholden the sothe preve.
thanne seide merlyne: “j schal hem dresse
mochel bettere thanne they lyn, J-wysse.”
“howh myhte that be?” quod the kyng anone,
“that may non man do but god alone.”
thanne quod merlyne to hem anon:
“Goth ȝe now hennes everychon,
and j schal hem dressen, as j have hyht,
oþer ellis my covenaunt held j not a-ryht.”
So that merlyne belefte there stylle,
and his covenawnt he dide fulfille.
Thanne cam merlyne to the kyng
as to a man þat he lovede with-owten feyneng,
and seide: “Sire kyng, herkeneth to me!
j moste to ȝow discure a gret prevyte,
on the prevyest that evere ȝe knewe,
And therfore to ȝow J Wele Jt Schewe,
Whiche schal ben ryht a strange thing,
as j ȝow say atte the begynneng;
and that ȝe discure me to non lyveng man.”
his axeng anon the kyng grauntid hym than.
“J wele that ȝe vndirstonde me, ful pleyn:
Al the connenge that J have, certeyn,
onlych it cometh of the enemy;
and therto god, that is almyhty,
Wit and memorie hath grauntid to me
thynges that ben comeng to knowen, certeinle;
and be that Sovereyn vertw
the enemy hath lost, as j telle ȝow,
alle the part that he hadde jn me,
thorwh goddis wille, sire, Sykerle.
Sire, now have ȝe ful knowlechynge
From whens that cometh al my konnenge.
Now j wele tellen the what Js goddis wylle,
and thow wylt herkene and lestene theretyille.
and whanne thou knowest of my menyng,
loke that thou Folwe it Jn werkyng.
Sire kyng, now vndirstonde thou me,
that god decendid from þe maieste
jn-to this erthe the Synneris to Save,
and for that he wolde here sowles have.
Also beleve wel that his sene he made
among his disciples to maken hem glade,
and þat he to hem seide Jn this manere:
‘on of ȝow schal betraien me þat is here.’
Also, Sire kyng, vndirstonde thou me,
that moche povert and diseise suffrede he
of the jewes, and they falsly him Slowe
aȝens the lawe, with fals witnesse j-nowe,
and vppon the croys for vs he deyde.
thanne cam a knyht, as to-foren ȝe herd seide,
and axed the body, For his gwerdown,
of hym that for vs hadde paid rawnsom.
as to a man þat he lovede with-owten feyneng,
and seide: “Sire kyng, herkeneth to me!
j moste to ȝow discure a gret prevyte,
on the prevyest that evere ȝe knewe,
And therfore to ȝow J Wele Jt Schewe,
Whiche schal ben ryht a strange thing,
as j ȝow say atte the begynneng;
and that ȝe discure me to non lyveng man.”
his axeng anon the kyng grauntid hym than.
“J wele that ȝe vndirstonde me, ful pleyn:
Al the connenge that J have, certeyn,
onlych it cometh of the enemy;
and therto god, that is almyhty,
Wit and memorie hath grauntid to me
thynges that ben comeng to knowen, certeinle;
and be that Sovereyn vertw
the enemy hath lost, as j telle ȝow,
alle the part that he hadde jn me,
thorwh goddis wille, sire, Sykerle.
Sire, now have ȝe ful knowlechynge
115
Now j wele tellen the what Js goddis wylle,
and thow wylt herkene and lestene theretyille.
and whanne thou knowest of my menyng,
loke that thou Folwe it Jn werkyng.
Sire kyng, now vndirstonde thou me,
that god decendid from þe maieste
jn-to this erthe the Synneris to Save,
and for that he wolde here sowles have.
Also beleve wel that his sene he made
among his disciples to maken hem glade,
and þat he to hem seide Jn this manere:
‘on of ȝow schal betraien me þat is here.’
Also, Sire kyng, vndirstonde thou me,
that moche povert and diseise suffrede he
of the jewes, and they falsly him Slowe
aȝens the lawe, with fals witnesse j-nowe,
and vppon the croys for vs he deyde.
thanne cam a knyht, as to-foren ȝe herd seide,
and axed the body, For his gwerdown,
of hym that for vs hadde paid rawnsom.
| [Chapter III] Merlin, a Middle-English metrical version of a French romance | |