The Legend of the Holy Grail its Sources, Character and Development, by Dorothy Kempe. The introduction to, and Part V of, Herry Lovelich's verse "History of the Holy Grail," |
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| XII. | CHAPTER XII. |
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 | CHAPTER XII. The Legend of the Holy Grail |  |
CHAPTER XII.
102
And In the mene while Of this talking
Cometh A messenger tho to the king,
And knelid to-forn him vppon kis kne:
“Sire kyng, newe tydinges I bringe to þe
That ben bothe Evel and perylous,
Of Tholomes king so dispetous;
Into thi lond now Entred he Is,
And with him gret strengthe with-owten Mis;
And Oriable thi Cite they han take,
And Abowtes In-virown thei don wrake,
That so the Contre distroied is be him
Into the Castel Of valachim.
For On hors-bak with him don Ride
Twenty thousend be his side,
And On foote Also there ben
Fourti thowsend Men harneysed Clen;
And ȝif that Castel he mown haue,
Nothing Of thi lond wil he save;
Ne thens wil he non fote gon
Til they ben ȝolden Euerichon;
[Fo]r that Is now the stre gest hold
[In] thi lond be Manye a fold.
And ȝit his Avow Made he there
(That Alle his Meyne gan it to here)
That Owt Of that Contre wold he not pas
Tyl he were Crowned king In sarras,”—
Whiche that was the Chef Cite
Of king Eualach his lond, I telle the.—
Cometh A messenger tho to the king,
And knelid to-forn him vppon kis kne:
“Sire kyng, newe tydinges I bringe to þe
That ben bothe Evel and perylous,
Of Tholomes king so dispetous;
Into thi lond now Entred he Is,
And with him gret strengthe with-owten Mis;
And Oriable thi Cite they han take,
And Abowtes In-virown thei don wrake,
That so the Contre distroied is be him
Into the Castel Of valachim.
For On hors-bak with him don Ride
Twenty thousend be his side,
And On foote Also there ben
Fourti thowsend Men harneysed Clen;
And ȝif that Castel he mown haue,
Nothing Of thi lond wil he save;
Ne thens wil he non fote gon
Til they ben ȝolden Euerichon;
[Fo]r that Is now the stre gest hold
[In] thi lond be Manye a fold.
And ȝit his Avow Made he there
(That Alle his Meyne gan it to here)
That Owt Of that Contre wold he not pas
Tyl he were Crowned king In sarras,”—
Whiche that was the Chef Cite
Of king Eualach his lond, I telle the.—
And whanne the king herde him thus sein,
Sore he him Abaschte In Certein;
And ȝit the more Abascht was he pleinli
For the wordis that Iosephes spak Openli,
‘That thre dayes & thre Nyht
In his Enemyes daunger to be Owtriht,
And that to the prikke Of deth he schold be browht;’
And this Euere was In Eualache thowht;
But for þat he was A man Of so gret prowesse,
He made non semblaunt Of non distresse,
But Aȝens herte he made good Chere,
[S]eenge Alle tho that there were,
[A]nd swor Anon be his Creaunce,
‘That what so him Euere happede be chaunce,
ȝif At that sege he myhte him fynde,
He wold don him Remeve be som kynde.’
Sore he him Abaschte In Certein;
And ȝit the more Abascht was he pleinli
For the wordis that Iosephes spak Openli,
‘That thre dayes & thre Nyht
In his Enemyes daunger to be Owtriht,
103
And this Euere was In Eualache thowht;
But for þat he was A man Of so gret prowesse,
He made non semblaunt Of non distresse,
But Aȝens herte he made good Chere,
[S]eenge Alle tho that there were,
[A]nd swor Anon be his Creaunce,
‘That what so him Euere happede be chaunce,
ȝif At that sege he myhte him fynde,
He wold don him Remeve be som kynde.’
Anon his sonde he dide to sende
Ouer Al tho, Into Euerich ende,
To Alle tho that Of him took Ony fe,
‘Anon with him that thei scholden be,
And On the Morwe to ben Gadering
Atte Castel Of Tarabe with-owten Taryenge,’
That twenty Miles from sarras Is,
And fro valachim Sixtene, More ne Mis,
Where As Tholomes Atte Sege was.
Thus Abowten sent Eualach Into Everi plas;
Thus Abowtes be his sel he sente,
‘That Eche man scholde don his Ente[nte],
That weren weldy Armes to bere,
Aȝens here Enemyes to fensen hem there.
And ho that Aȝens his Comandementis were,
What so he be that it doth there,
His lordschepe from him wil he take,
And but Ryht A povre Man him Make.’
Ouer Al tho, Into Euerich ende,
To Alle tho that Of him took Ony fe,
‘Anon with him that thei scholden be,
And On the Morwe to ben Gadering
Atte Castel Of Tarabe with-owten Taryenge,’
That twenty Miles from sarras Is,
And fro valachim Sixtene, More ne Mis,
Where As Tholomes Atte Sege was.
Thus Abowten sent Eualach Into Everi plas;
Thus Abowtes be his sel he sente,
‘That Eche man scholde don his Ente[nte],
That weren weldy Armes to bere,
Aȝens here Enemyes to fensen hem there.
And ho that Aȝens his Comandementis were,
What so he be that it doth there,
His lordschepe from him wil he take,
And but Ryht A povre Man him Make.’
And On the Morwe the king gan to remeve,
And Iosephes to him Cam to taken his leve;
“Sire kyng, hennes thou gynnest to Go,
But thow ne wost what forto do;
For thou ne Art seker to Comen Agein,
But there forto dyen In Certein.
But thus My God sente Onto the
Be me his Servaunt, As thou myht se,
‘That thow scholdest Remembren the wel
Of whom thow Come Everydel,
And of what Maner kynde & of lynage
Thow Art I-Come to this high parage.
But thou supposist that noman it knowe;
But I Can the tellen Al be Rowe.
Be the grace Of my God Almyht
I schal the telle, I the A-plyht;
For Conceil may þere non heled be
From him that Sit In Maieste.
Thow were born In fravnce lond,
As the holi gost me doth vndirstond,
In A Old Cite Of fraunce, As I wene,
That Miaux is Called there bedene;
And there thow were A pore Mannes sone,
That to Maken schon was thanne his wone;
And this Owghtest thow to knowen ful wel,
For thow it hast Sein this Everydel.
For whanne Augustus Cesar Emperour was
Of Rome xxxij ȝer; In that plas
He wende king Of Alle kinges haue ben;
And so it him thowhte that it was sen;
But Crist of Marie was born
In his tyme, that I Rehersed beforn,
That tho king Of Alle kynges was
Thorwgh the world In Every plas.
And whanne here-Offen herde Augustus Cesar
Be hise Clerkis that weren bothe wis & war,
Thanne he gan to wexen Gretly In dowte
Lest Of his Empire to putten him Owte,
And that Al the Contre Of Rome Abowte,
To that lord scholden worschepen & dowte.
Thanne Niste he Not what forto don,
But Abowtes Al Rome he sente Anon;
Thorwgh Owt Al that Contre
Anon his Messengeres sente he,
‘That Euery man & womman Also
To him A peny scholde ȝelden tho,
As In Manere Of A knowelechinge,
As In weye Of-Soiettis to here kynge.
And, bencheson that Fraunce was thanne
Of Anothir Maner kende Of Manne,
To hem he sente In this Manere
As, Sire, I the schal now tellen here:
An hundred knyhtes be trews Aftir he sente,
And Aftir An hundred knyhtes dowghtren presente,
That Maidenis scholde ben Everichon,—
And thus his Messages Gonne forth to gon,—
And An hundred knave children Al In fere,
Not passeng the Age thanne of fyve ȝere,
But Rathere lasse thanne Ony More;
That time this was his Comaundement thore.
And Iosephes to him Cam to taken his leve;
“Sire kyng, hennes thou gynnest to Go,
But thow ne wost what forto do;
For thou ne Art seker to Comen Agein,
But there forto dyen In Certein.
104
Be me his Servaunt, As thou myht se,
‘That thow scholdest Remembren the wel
Of whom thow Come Everydel,
And of what Maner kynde & of lynage
Thow Art I-Come to this high parage.
But thou supposist that noman it knowe;
But I Can the tellen Al be Rowe.
Be the grace Of my God Almyht
I schal the telle, I the A-plyht;
For Conceil may þere non heled be
From him that Sit In Maieste.
Thow were born In fravnce lond,
As the holi gost me doth vndirstond,
In A Old Cite Of fraunce, As I wene,
That Miaux is Called there bedene;
And there thow were A pore Mannes sone,
That to Maken schon was thanne his wone;
And this Owghtest thow to knowen ful wel,
For thow it hast Sein this Everydel.
For whanne Augustus Cesar Emperour was
Of Rome xxxij ȝer; In that plas
He wende king Of Alle kinges haue ben;
And so it him thowhte that it was sen;
But Crist of Marie was born
In his tyme, that I Rehersed beforn,
That tho king Of Alle kynges was
Thorwgh the world In Every plas.
And whanne here-Offen herde Augustus Cesar
Be hise Clerkis that weren bothe wis & war,
Thanne he gan to wexen Gretly In dowte
Lest Of his Empire to putten him Owte,
And that Al the Contre Of Rome Abowte,
To that lord scholden worschepen & dowte.
Thanne Niste he Not what forto don,
But Abowtes Al Rome he sente Anon;
105
Anon his Messengeres sente he,
‘That Euery man & womman Also
To him A peny scholde ȝelden tho,
As In Manere Of A knowelechinge,
As In weye Of-Soiettis to here kynge.
And, bencheson that Fraunce was thanne
Of Anothir Maner kende Of Manne,
To hem he sente In this Manere
As, Sire, I the schal now tellen here:
An hundred knyhtes be trews Aftir he sente,
And Aftir An hundred knyhtes dowghtren presente,
That Maidenis scholde ben Everichon,—
And thus his Messages Gonne forth to gon,—
And An hundred knave children Al In fere,
Not passeng the Age thanne of fyve ȝere,
But Rathere lasse thanne Ony More;
That time this was his Comaundement thore.
And whanne these tydinges weren Comen Into fraunce,
Mochel they Merveilled thanne Of this Chaunce;
And thanne Chosen they In Euery Cite
Be lot, As that time here hap myhte be.
So thanne it happed, As I telle now the,
That Owt Of Miaux that Cite,
That tweyne Maydenes Chosen weren for sothe,
And that An Erlis dowghtren weren thei bothe
Hos Name was Erl Of Siuayn,
That lord of Miaux was, & Of the Contre Certain.
And whanne the lot on hem þus gan falle,
Thanne mosten thei forth nedis with Alle;
And vppon the, tho, fyl the tother lot,
Where þou myhtest ben Excused not,
For thow were At the Age Of fyve ȝer,
And Also these Maidenis bothe briht & Cler;
That so wit these Maydenes forth were þou led,
As to-fore I haue here now to the Seid.
And whanne that to Rome ȝe weren I-Come,
The peple Abowtes ȝow Cam On A throme,
And ȝow gonnen faste to beholde:
ȝe hadden tho Of Bewte so Manifolde.
And whanne thow were comen to twenty ȝere,
Thanne bothe Maidenes deyden Ryht there;
For the ton ne lyved After the tothir
But thre Monthes, It was non Othir.
Mochel they Merveilled thanne Of this Chaunce;
And thanne Chosen they In Euery Cite
Be lot, As that time here hap myhte be.
So thanne it happed, As I telle now the,
That Owt Of Miaux that Cite,
That tweyne Maydenes Chosen weren for sothe,
And that An Erlis dowghtren weren thei bothe
Hos Name was Erl Of Siuayn,
That lord of Miaux was, & Of the Contre Certain.
And whanne the lot on hem þus gan falle,
Thanne mosten thei forth nedis with Alle;
And vppon the, tho, fyl the tother lot,
Where þou myhtest ben Excused not,
For thow were At the Age Of fyve ȝer,
And Also these Maidenis bothe briht & Cler;
106
As to-fore I haue here now to the Seid.
And whanne that to Rome ȝe weren I-Come,
The peple Abowtes ȝow Cam On A throme,
And ȝow gonnen faste to beholde:
ȝe hadden tho Of Bewte so Manifolde.
And whanne thow were comen to twenty ȝere,
Thanne bothe Maidenes deyden Ryht there;
For the ton ne lyved After the tothir
But thre Monthes, It was non Othir.
Thanne Aftyr, the took Tiberius Sesar,
That Aftir Augustus was emperour thar,
And the hadde tho Ryht In gret Cherte,
And to An Erl the sente for thi bewte—
Erl Felys he hyghte Of Svlie,—
To him were thow lad In hie:
And whanne that thow to him were browht,
Ful mochel thow were Euere In his thowht,
For the ful dere to him he held;
And After ful Evele didest thou him ȝeld.
For it befil that vppon A day
His Eldest sone & thou wenten to play,
That so In Anger ȝe fillen tho bothe,
That there thow slowe his sone forsothe.
And whanne thou haddes thus him slo,
Thanne to Tholomes gonne thou go,
That Of babiloyne thilke time king was,
And werre he held Aȝens Olifernus;
For Olifernus king was riht tho with-outen d[owte]
There As now thow Art Of Al the Contre Abowte.
And Anon As thow to him were gon,
There A knyht he made the Anon;
And so moche love thanne he Caste to the,
That Amonge Al his Ost he ȝaf the powste;
And Aboven Alle Othere he ȝaf the powere,
Ouer Alle his Ost to Gouernen there,
For that thow were Of so gret prowesse
Of Manhod, & ful Of hardinesse,
So that On his Enemys Avenged he was,
And hem distroiede In that plas.
And thanne to the ȝaf he that lond,
And there holich put it Into thin hond.
That Aftir Augustus was emperour thar,
And the hadde tho Ryht In gret Cherte,
And to An Erl the sente for thi bewte—
Erl Felys he hyghte Of Svlie,—
To him were thow lad In hie:
And whanne that thow to him were browht,
Ful mochel thow were Euere In his thowht,
For the ful dere to him he held;
And After ful Evele didest thou him ȝeld.
For it befil that vppon A day
His Eldest sone & thou wenten to play,
That so In Anger ȝe fillen tho bothe,
That there thow slowe his sone forsothe.
And whanne thou haddes thus him slo,
Thanne to Tholomes gonne thou go,
That Of babiloyne thilke time king was,
And werre he held Aȝens Olifernus;
For Olifernus king was riht tho with-outen d[owte]
There As now thow Art Of Al the Contre Abowte.
And Anon As thow to him were gon,
There A knyht he made the Anon;
And so moche love thanne he Caste to the,
That Amonge Al his Ost he ȝaf the powste;
107
Ouer Alle his Ost to Gouernen there,
For that thow were Of so gret prowesse
Of Manhod, & ful Of hardinesse,
So that On his Enemys Avenged he was,
And hem distroiede In that plas.
And thanne to the ȝaf he that lond,
And there holich put it Into thin hond.
Now myhtest [thou] knowen & vndyrstonde,
That I knowe whennes & of what londe
That thou were bothen bigeten & born,—
Lik As I haue the Rehersed beforn,—
And from so gret povert to hy dignete;
Remembre the wel what I telle the;
And therfore the sente to sein be me
The grete God of Al Cristiente,
That Of thi self thow schost han Minde;
And thowgh þat vnder, þou hast men of gret kynde,
And Moche peple In bataille þe Abowte,
In herte scholdest thou not be prowte;
For thi lyges, they nothing ben,
But As A wardein hem to besen;
And therfore haue thou this In Mende,
For but As On Man thow Art Of kende,
And As sone deyen thow schal
As the porest Man doth Ouer-al;
Therfore scholdest thow be powre & Mek,
And vppon thi Creatour beleven Ek,
That Into this world þe made forth go,
For with-Owten him thow myht not do;
And ȝif thou like not him for thi kyng to holde,
Owt Of thi regne þou gost Ryht Mani-folde:
For wel may he be Clepid A kyng,
That Endeles lasteth euere his Reyneng;
This is Crist Goddis sone Of hevene,
That Into þe Maide Alyhte be thaungelis stevene.
For Alle Mennes hertes he doth knowe,
And Alle here thowghtes vppon A rowe;
& þat the schal putten Into thin Enemyes hond,
And Aftir the deliueren, thou vndirstond;
For that ther nys non lord neþer God but he
To whom Ony honour longeth to be.
Wherfore, as Only On god & Almyhty,
Thow Owest him to worschepyn al Only;
For bothe this torment & this Noysance
He the now sendeth, for his Creaunce
Thow hast Refused, & Ek his lore
That he in Avicion hath schewed before.”
That I knowe whennes & of what londe
That thou were bothen bigeten & born,—
Lik As I haue the Rehersed beforn,—
And from so gret povert to hy dignete;
Remembre the wel what I telle the;
And therfore the sente to sein be me
The grete God of Al Cristiente,
That Of thi self thow schost han Minde;
And thowgh þat vnder, þou hast men of gret kynde,
And Moche peple In bataille þe Abowte,
In herte scholdest thou not be prowte;
For thi lyges, they nothing ben,
But As A wardein hem to besen;
And therfore haue thou this In Mende,
For but As On Man thow Art Of kende,
And As sone deyen thow schal
As the porest Man doth Ouer-al;
Therfore scholdest thow be powre & Mek,
And vppon thi Creatour beleven Ek,
That Into this world þe made forth go,
For with-Owten him thow myht not do;
And ȝif thou like not him for thi kyng to holde,
Owt Of thi regne þou gost Ryht Mani-folde:
For wel may he be Clepid A kyng,
That Endeles lasteth euere his Reyneng;
This is Crist Goddis sone Of hevene,
That Into þe Maide Alyhte be thaungelis stevene.
108
And Alle here thowghtes vppon A rowe;
& þat the schal putten Into thin Enemyes hond,
And Aftir the deliueren, thou vndirstond;
For that ther nys non lord neþer God but he
To whom Ony honour longeth to be.
Wherfore, as Only On god & Almyhty,
Thow Owest him to worschepyn al Only;
For bothe this torment & this Noysance
He the now sendeth, for his Creaunce
Thow hast Refused, & Ek his lore
That he in Avicion hath schewed before.”
Thanne seide king Eualach Anon Agein,
“Maister Iosephes, I preie þe telle me plein
What that Avisioun was forto Mene,
That thou it woldest declaren me Clene.”
“Certes,” quod Iosephes, “nay how so befalle,
Tyl thow haue broken thy Mawmettis alle,
And that in theke high lord to hauen ful Creaunce
That the May deliueren from Alle Noysaunce.
And Alle lyveng thing enstablisched Is,
Wheche that þe heyest king is of blys.”
“[B]e my Creance,” quod Eualach tho,
“This Bataylle myn herte goth sore vnto;
And bothe ȝoure fadyr & Ek ȝe
Of Riht good Conceyl behygten me;
ȝyf that I wolde On ȝow beleve,
ȝe seiden Ryht wel that I scholde preve
Be wheche victorie of myne Enemys to have,
And Aftir my deth my sowle to save.”
“Certein, Sire,” quod Iosephes tho,
“That Conceil I the ȝaf, & ȝit Mo,
ȝif thow wilt On him beleven stedfastly,
And him worschepen As Almyhty.
And ȝif thow wilt not don As I the teche,
Be war lest god wele taken wreche;
And but thow him worschepe As me þou seest,
In body & sowle distroyed thou beest
Of him that Of Alle thinges Is domes man;
The helpen & socoure ful wel he Can.”
“Maister Iosephes, I preie þe telle me plein
What that Avisioun was forto Mene,
That thou it woldest declaren me Clene.”
“Certes,” quod Iosephes, “nay how so befalle,
Tyl thow haue broken thy Mawmettis alle,
And that in theke high lord to hauen ful Creaunce
That the May deliueren from Alle Noysaunce.
And Alle lyveng thing enstablisched Is,
Wheche that þe heyest king is of blys.”
“[B]e my Creance,” quod Eualach tho,
“This Bataylle myn herte goth sore vnto;
And bothe ȝoure fadyr & Ek ȝe
Of Riht good Conceyl behygten me;
ȝyf that I wolde On ȝow beleve,
ȝe seiden Ryht wel that I scholde preve
Be wheche victorie of myne Enemys to have,
And Aftir my deth my sowle to save.”
“Certein, Sire,” quod Iosephes tho,
“That Conceil I the ȝaf, & ȝit Mo,
ȝif thow wilt On him beleven stedfastly,
And him worschepen As Almyhty.
And ȝif thow wilt not don As I the teche,
Be war lest god wele taken wreche;
109
In body & sowle distroyed thou beest
Of him that Of Alle thinges Is domes man;
The helpen & socoure ful wel he Can.”
“Now Certein,” quod this Eualach þe king,
“And ȝe wolden ȝeven me swich conseilling
That Of Myn Enemyes victorie to haue,
And therto my lif that he wolde save,—
On him Onliche I wolde beleve,
And Al my Creaunce I wele Repreve.”
“And ȝe wolden ȝeven me swich conseilling
That Of Myn Enemyes victorie to haue,
And therto my lif that he wolde save,—
On him Onliche I wolde beleve,
And Al my Creaunce I wele Repreve.”
Thanne spak Anon Iosephes to the kyng:
“Now herkeneth, Sire, to my talkyng.
Do bringe now thi scheld to-fore me,
And Anothir Maner thing schalt thow se.”
And whanne this scheld to-fore Iosephes was,
Anon he Comanded In that plas
A lytel pece thanne Of cloth so red
To-fore him be browht Into that sted.
And the kyng Anon with þat biddinge
A pece Of Red Silk he dyde him bringe,
And kutte there-offe two peces Anon
In the sihte of hem Echon,—
Eche pece A Fote of lengthe was,—
Wher-offen A Crois he made In that plas,
And takked it vppon the kynges scheld,
Wherwith he Rod thanne Into þe feld.
And whanne thus he hadde don,
To kyng Eualach thanne spak he Anon:
“Syxt thow now this signe that I haue Mad?”
“ȝe forsothe,” thanne kyng Eualach Said.
“Certes,” quod Iosephes, “I telle it the,
What Manere Of Man so Evere he be,
And he wele stedfastli belevene On this,
Were he neuere in so moche sorwe Oþer distres,
That he ne schal Anon deliuered be
Of Alle Manere deseisse And Aduersite.
And therfore, honoure thou this, I Charge the,
In worsche[pe] Of him that deyde On tre;
And whanne that thou Art In gret Nede,
Loke Of helpe & socour that thow him bede,
And that thow sey In this Manere
As I the Schal now Rehersen here,
‘O thow god that deydest vppon the Crois,
Of me, Synnere, here thow my vois;
And On the signe Of this thow suffredest ded
Vppon the tre In thin Manhed,
So graunt me Of victorie the grace,
And to thi beleve therto hauen space,
And that thy man that I Moot be
Er that this world departe from Me.’
And ȝif thow this fulliche wilt beleve,
Thanne A trewe man schalt þou me preve;
For thanne In bataille schalt thow not dye,
But bothe to geten Worschepe & victorie.
And now that thus I haue the told,
To gon to bataille thow myht be bold,
For from deth thi waraunt this schal be,
And from Alle presonementis, I telle it the.
ȝit not-withstonding, not forthan
That Tholomes, this Crwel Man,
In distresse schal he putten the
Thre dayes and thre Niht Sekerle,
For so be me sente the to seye
That Myhtful god & verraye.
And wete thow wel, ȝif thow beleve On this,
Thow Schalt neuere thanne don Amys;
For to the schal it ben Redempcioun,
And to the devel sorwe & distruccioun.”
Thanne seide he to Iosephes Agein
These wordes tho In Certein,
“Iosephes, that thou woldest now preyen for me
To kyng of Cristene In Eche degre,
Me to helpe, and Euere me to save;
And trewly his Creaunce wil I have,
ȝif it be As now thow behotest Me,
Trewe Cristen Man thanne wil I be,
Of thyn hond to Resceyven In this plas
ȝif Euere I Come Aȝen Into Sarras.”
“Now herkeneth, Sire, to my talkyng.
Do bringe now thi scheld to-fore me,
And Anothir Maner thing schalt thow se.”
And whanne this scheld to-fore Iosephes was,
Anon he Comanded In that plas
A lytel pece thanne Of cloth so red
To-fore him be browht Into that sted.
And the kyng Anon with þat biddinge
A pece Of Red Silk he dyde him bringe,
And kutte there-offe two peces Anon
In the sihte of hem Echon,—
Eche pece A Fote of lengthe was,—
Wher-offen A Crois he made In that plas,
And takked it vppon the kynges scheld,
Wherwith he Rod thanne Into þe feld.
And whanne thus he hadde don,
To kyng Eualach thanne spak he Anon:
“Syxt thow now this signe that I haue Mad?”
“ȝe forsothe,” thanne kyng Eualach Said.
“Certes,” quod Iosephes, “I telle it the,
What Manere Of Man so Evere he be,
And he wele stedfastli belevene On this,
Were he neuere in so moche sorwe Oþer distres,
110
Of Alle Manere deseisse And Aduersite.
And therfore, honoure thou this, I Charge the,
In worsche[pe] Of him that deyde On tre;
And whanne that thou Art In gret Nede,
Loke Of helpe & socour that thow him bede,
And that thow sey In this Manere
As I the Schal now Rehersen here,
‘O thow god that deydest vppon the Crois,
Of me, Synnere, here thow my vois;
And On the signe Of this thow suffredest ded
Vppon the tre In thin Manhed,
So graunt me Of victorie the grace,
And to thi beleve therto hauen space,
And that thy man that I Moot be
Er that this world departe from Me.’
And ȝif thow this fulliche wilt beleve,
Thanne A trewe man schalt þou me preve;
For thanne In bataille schalt thow not dye,
But bothe to geten Worschepe & victorie.
And now that thus I haue the told,
To gon to bataille thow myht be bold,
For from deth thi waraunt this schal be,
And from Alle presonementis, I telle it the.
ȝit not-withstonding, not forthan
That Tholomes, this Crwel Man,
In distresse schal he putten the
Thre dayes and thre Niht Sekerle,
For so be me sente the to seye
That Myhtful god & verraye.
And wete thow wel, ȝif thow beleve On this,
Thow Schalt neuere thanne don Amys;
For to the schal it ben Redempcioun,
And to the devel sorwe & distruccioun.”
Thanne seide he to Iosephes Agein
These wordes tho In Certein,
111
To kyng of Cristene In Eche degre,
Me to helpe, and Euere me to save;
And trewly his Creaunce wil I have,
ȝif it be As now thow behotest Me,
Trewe Cristen Man thanne wil I be,
Of thyn hond to Resceyven In this plas
ȝif Euere I Come Aȝen Into Sarras.”
And thanne An Old Serjaunt he gan to Calle,
And there him Comaunded Amonges hem Alle,
‘The Cristene to kepen with ful gret honour,
With-Owten Ony Angwysch Other labour;
And that Iosephes haue his Comaundement,
Of Alle Manere thinges wit good Entent.
And there him Comaunded Amonges hem Alle,
‘The Cristene to kepen with ful gret honour,
With-Owten Ony Angwysch Other labour;
And that Iosephes haue his Comaundement,
Of Alle Manere thinges wit good Entent.
Thanne took the kyng his leve Ryht there
Of Iosephes & Of his Compenie In fere,
With Ryht A gret Compenye Of knyhtes
And Mochel Other peple tho Anon Ryhtes,
And Evene to the Cite Of Tarabel
They token the Ryht weie Eueridel,
And there Abod he fully vj dayes,
As the Storie Of this book vs sayes.
And be the tyme the Sixe dayes were gon,
So moche peple Of his Owne hadde he sein non,
What Of So manie knyhtes & barown
Hadde he not Sein At Anof In his town;
But be the tyme that heyghte dayes were gon,
Mochel peple to him Cam Anon.
Thanne Owt Of Tarabel thei gonne Ride
To-ward valachin At that same Tyde,
Where that Tholomes beseged the Castel
That kyng Eualach tho lovede ful wel,
For him Self there-Offen Fowndur he was,
And there it let Setten In that plas.
For it was On of the Strengest pyl
That Euere Man Sawgh in Ony Exyl;
For it Myhte neuere I-wonnë be
But Only thorwgh Enfamyne, I telle it the.
Where-vppon A ȝate on þat Castel was thore,
From the plein Erthe A stones Cast & More;
And vndir wheche ȝate Ran there
Ryht A wondir dyspetous Ryvere;
And that Rever, As brod it was
As the schot Of An Arwe In eche A plas,
So that ȝate Asailled ne Myhte not ben
Of hem with-Owte, As men Myht sen,
But It were Only be An Navye,
Thane Coude that neuere hem stroye
For schot, And Cast Owt of that Castel,
It was devised so wondirly wel.
And no Mo ȝat[es] weren there-vppon
Where that [Ma]n Mihte Owht owt gon,
But A litel g[ate] In A Corner
That there-vppon was devised ther.
And Of plein Erthe to-forn þat gate was,
For two Chariettes to Meten On In þat plas,
The whiche but xxx pas was Of lengthe;
For it was A pyl Of ful riht gret strengthe.
But Alle the strengthis Of this to discryve,
It were to long, be my lyve;
Therfore to passen Over In schort Matere
Of declareng Of this Castel I wile now here:
And In this place king Eualach this Castel made
For the strengest plot In þe world þat he hadde.
Of Iosephes & Of his Compenie In fere,
With Ryht A gret Compenye Of knyhtes
And Mochel Other peple tho Anon Ryhtes,
And Evene to the Cite Of Tarabel
They token the Ryht weie Eueridel,
And there Abod he fully vj dayes,
As the Storie Of this book vs sayes.
And be the tyme the Sixe dayes were gon,
So moche peple Of his Owne hadde he sein non,
What Of So manie knyhtes & barown
Hadde he not Sein At Anof In his town;
But be the tyme that heyghte dayes were gon,
Mochel peple to him Cam Anon.
Thanne Owt Of Tarabel thei gonne Ride
To-ward valachin At that same Tyde,
Where that Tholomes beseged the Castel
That kyng Eualach tho lovede ful wel,
For him Self there-Offen Fowndur he was,
And there it let Setten In that plas.
112
That Euere Man Sawgh in Ony Exyl;
For it Myhte neuere I-wonnë be
But Only thorwgh Enfamyne, I telle it the.
Where-vppon A ȝate on þat Castel was thore,
From the plein Erthe A stones Cast & More;
And vndir wheche ȝate Ran there
Ryht A wondir dyspetous Ryvere;
And that Rever, As brod it was
As the schot Of An Arwe In eche A plas,
So that ȝate Asailled ne Myhte not ben
Of hem with-Owte, As men Myht sen,
But It were Only be An Navye,
Thane Coude that neuere hem stroye
For schot, And Cast Owt of that Castel,
It was devised so wondirly wel.
And no Mo ȝat[es] weren there-vppon
Where that [Ma]n Mihte Owht owt gon,
But A litel g[ate] In A Corner
That there-vppon was devised ther.
And Of plein Erthe to-forn þat gate was,
For two Chariettes to Meten On In þat plas,
The whiche but xxx pas was Of lengthe;
For it was A pyl Of ful riht gret strengthe.
But Alle the strengthis Of this to discryve,
It were to long, be my lyve;
113
Of declareng Of this Castel I wile now here:
And In this place king Eualach this Castel made
For the strengest plot In þe world þat he hadde.
Now whanne kyng Eualach thus Redy was,
Forth Took he his Iorne In that plas,
And Entrede Into A ful fair Forest;
Thus he Comandede bothe lest & Mest,
And Comanded Alle his Men there Anon riht
Hem Redy to Armen forto fyht,
For he hadde Sent forth A spye
In that Morwening thanne ful Erlye,
To Aspien Tholomes & his Ost
There that they lien with so gret bost.
And whanne the Spie Cam Agein,
He tolde kyng Eualach thanne In certein
‘That In the Ost It was dyneng tyme,
Fore it was ny noon, And passed þe pryme.’
Thanne weren this Meyne Al Redy Anon,
And Owt Of that Forest gonne they gon,
And Entrede thanne In-to A gret valey.
Thanne whanne vppon the hil Comen they,
They Syen Alle the Ost Of Tholome,
How that they leyen In Al Manere degre;
And Also Al the Castel Of valachin
Where that his Meyne weren with-In.
But whanne this Ost Gan hem Aspye,
“Tresown! tresown!” thei gonne to Crye;
And Anon to Armes they ronne ful faste,
For Of here lyves they weren Agaste;
But fewe of hem there ne ben
That they weren Redy Armed Clen,
For Evere they hadden A supposenge
That kyng Eualach wolde for Ony thinge
That Sege Remeven ȝif he myhte;
And that he it wolde don he susposid ful rihte.
Forth Took he his Iorne In that plas,
And Entrede Into A ful fair Forest;
Thus he Comandede bothe lest & Mest,
And Comanded Alle his Men there Anon riht
Hem Redy to Armen forto fyht,
For he hadde Sent forth A spye
In that Morwening thanne ful Erlye,
To Aspien Tholomes & his Ost
There that they lien with so gret bost.
And whanne the Spie Cam Agein,
He tolde kyng Eualach thanne In certein
‘That In the Ost It was dyneng tyme,
Fore it was ny noon, And passed þe pryme.’
Thanne weren this Meyne Al Redy Anon,
And Owt Of that Forest gonne they gon,
And Entrede thanne In-to A gret valey.
Thanne whanne vppon the hil Comen they,
They Syen Alle the Ost Of Tholome,
How that they leyen In Al Manere degre;
And Also Al the Castel Of valachin
Where that his Meyne weren with-In.
114
“Tresown! tresown!” thei gonne to Crye;
And Anon to Armes they ronne ful faste,
For Of here lyves they weren Agaste;
But fewe of hem there ne ben
That they weren Redy Armed Clen,
For Evere they hadden A supposenge
That kyng Eualach wolde for Ony thinge
That Sege Remeven ȝif he myhte;
And that he it wolde don he susposid ful rihte.
Thanne kyng Eualach his men In that tyde
To-ward this Ost Faste gonne they Ride,—
More vigeryousely neuere Reden Men
Into non place thanne they diden then,—
And Tholomes men that On foote were,
Eualach his men here hors Slowen there;
So thanne, bothe parties On foote thei be;
There grete Manslawghtre Men Miht se,
How that Eualache men Tholomes men slowe,
For ther was Sorwe & grynteng of teth Inowe,
So that Of bothe partyes ded there been
Bet than Fiftene thowsend, As men miht seen;
And there manye Of his men lost Eualach:
And whanne this he sawgh, he torned his bak;
Thanne he & his Meyne that On lyve were,
Toward A Castel fledden tho there,
Wheche Name Of that Castel was,
IClepid was ‘Comes’ In Every plas,—
And thedir ful faste gonnen they hye,
He & his Meine ful Sekerlye;
That from theke bataille no more it Nas
But As twey Miles In that plas,
So that Tholomes Chased him so faste
That it wax nyht thanne Attë laste;
Wherthorwgh Manye Of hise Men
Loste this Tholome In the Chas then;
For tho that fledden knewen ful wel
The next weye to Comes Castel,
Wherthorwgh Eualach his men goten socour sone,
And Tholome In that Chas lost Manione;
So that Tholomes, bencheson Of the Nyht,
From that Chas departid Anon Ryht,
And to his loggeng homward he wente.
To-ward this Ost Faste gonne they Ride,—
More vigeryousely neuere Reden Men
Into non place thanne they diden then,—
And Tholomes men that On foote were,
Eualach his men here hors Slowen there;
So thanne, bothe parties On foote thei be;
There grete Manslawghtre Men Miht se,
How that Eualache men Tholomes men slowe,
For ther was Sorwe & grynteng of teth Inowe,
So that Of bothe partyes ded there been
Bet than Fiftene thowsend, As men miht seen;
And there manye Of his men lost Eualach:
And whanne this he sawgh, he torned his bak;
Thanne he & his Meyne that On lyve were,
Toward A Castel fledden tho there,
Wheche Name Of that Castel was,
IClepid was ‘Comes’ In Every plas,—
And thedir ful faste gonnen they hye,
He & his Meine ful Sekerlye;
That from theke bataille no more it Nas
But As twey Miles In that plas,
So that Tholomes Chased him so faste
That it wax nyht thanne Attë laste;
115
Loste this Tholome In the Chas then;
For tho that fledden knewen ful wel
The next weye to Comes Castel,
Wherthorwgh Eualach his men goten socour sone,
And Tholome In that Chas lost Manione;
So that Tholomes, bencheson Of the Nyht,
From that Chas departid Anon Ryht,
And to his loggeng homward he wente.
And whanne that he Cam þere present,
There Al his harneis beleft þer was,
It was Clene I-spoilled Owt of that plas
Be the while Of Eualach men
That In the Castel of valachin weren then,
That, whiles the bataille & þe Chas dyde laste,
Eualach his men the harneys browht In faste;
For they that In þe Castel were,
With Tholomes men so fowhten þere,
And put hem Alle to discomfiture
That þere the harneys kepte þat Owre.
And whanne this Tholomes Resorted Aȝen,
And Alle his harneys dispoilled Clen,
His tentis and his pavylons to-broke,
And whanne this Tholome þer-onne gan loke,
Ful mochel deseisse he took In herte
For theke dispit, It was so smerte;
And thanne A gret Oth swor he there Anon,
‘That he scholde neuere from þat Castel gon,
Thowgh he scholde lesen half his Meyne,
Tyl that they wyth-ynne Enfamyned be.’
There Al his harneis beleft þer was,
It was Clene I-spoilled Owt of that plas
Be the while Of Eualach men
That In the Castel of valachin weren then,
That, whiles the bataille & þe Chas dyde laste,
Eualach his men the harneys browht In faste;
For they that In þe Castel were,
With Tholomes men so fowhten þere,
And put hem Alle to discomfiture
That þere the harneys kepte þat Owre.
And whanne this Tholomes Resorted Aȝen,
And Alle his harneys dispoilled Clen,
His tentis and his pavylons to-broke,
And whanne this Tholome þer-onne gan loke,
Ful mochel deseisse he took In herte
For theke dispit, It was so smerte;
And thanne A gret Oth swor he there Anon,
‘That he scholde neuere from þat Castel gon,
Thowgh he scholde lesen half his Meyne,
Tyl that they wyth-ynne Enfamyned be.’
And there Abod he Al that Nyht
In sweche loggeng As he geten Myht.
In sweche loggeng As he geten Myht.
And whanne the spring Of day was Comen,
To him there Cam A spie Anon
That him tolde tho newe tydinge,
Al Of kyng Eualache beenge,
“Syre Tholome,” seide this Spie tho,
“So good tydinges Cam neuere man vnto
As now Sire Tholomes Is Comenge to the,
But ȝif it thorwgh sinne distroied be.”
“Now sey me, Bewfys,” quod Tholome,
“What maner Of tydinges mown tho be.”
“Sire Tholome,” Seyde the spie Anon,
“Kyng Eualach Is Into A castel gon
But with A fewe Of his Meyne,
There schalt thow him hauen, Sire, sekerle,
And thanne, Ended thi bataille it is;
That I seye, it is trewe with-owten Mis.”
“Sey me,” quod Tholomes, “thou belamy,
How knowest thou this so Certeinly?”
“For On him Only I hadde A spie
That sawh him entren þe Castel sekerlye;
For At the ȝates so longe Abod he there,
Er he myht Entren In Oni Manere,
The space Of Ryht A long Mile,
So Abod þerowte A gret while.”
Quod Tholomes “In peine of thi lif lesinge
Loke thou bringe me non fals tydinge;
And yf thou do, with-Owten More
[Delay,] deth schalt thow Suffren therfore.”
“[Sir]e, ȝif it be not so As I haue the told,
[D]es-membre thow me, Sire, Manifold.”
To him there Cam A spie Anon
116
Al Of kyng Eualache beenge,
“Syre Tholome,” seide this Spie tho,
“So good tydinges Cam neuere man vnto
As now Sire Tholomes Is Comenge to the,
But ȝif it thorwgh sinne distroied be.”
“Now sey me, Bewfys,” quod Tholome,
“What maner Of tydinges mown tho be.”
“Sire Tholome,” Seyde the spie Anon,
“Kyng Eualach Is Into A castel gon
But with A fewe Of his Meyne,
There schalt thow him hauen, Sire, sekerle,
And thanne, Ended thi bataille it is;
That I seye, it is trewe with-owten Mis.”
“Sey me,” quod Tholomes, “thou belamy,
How knowest thou this so Certeinly?”
“For On him Only I hadde A spie
That sawh him entren þe Castel sekerlye;
For At the ȝates so longe Abod he there,
Er he myht Entren In Oni Manere,
The space Of Ryht A long Mile,
So Abod þerowte A gret while.”
Quod Tholomes “In peine of thi lif lesinge
Loke thou bringe me non fals tydinge;
And yf thou do, with-Owten More
[Delay,] deth schalt thow Suffren therfore.”
“[Sir]e, ȝif it be not so As I haue the told,
[D]es-membre thow me, Sire, Manifold.”
Anon Tholomes his knyhtes gan calle,
And told hem what Aventure gan be-falle,
And how that Eualach In A Castel was
But with A litel Meine In that plas;
Wherfore to besegen that Castel he wolde be-gynne
With half his Meyne, neþer more ne Mynne;
And the tother halvendel schold leven stille
At valachin, for the drede Of More ille,
That was him left to kepen there
A litel bettere thanne they diden Ere.
That so this Ordenaunce thus he Made,
Where-Offen his Meyne weren ful glade.
And told hem what Aventure gan be-falle,
And how that Eualach In A Castel was
But with A litel Meine In that plas;
117
With half his Meyne, neþer more ne Mynne;
And the tother halvendel schold leven stille
At valachin, for the drede Of More ille,
That was him left to kepen there
A litel bettere thanne they diden Ere.
That so this Ordenaunce thus he Made,
Where-Offen his Meyne weren ful glade.
Thanne his styward to Clepen gan he fonde,
That hyghte vabus As I vndirstonde,
And Comaunded him there Anon Ryht,
‘As that he was A gentyl knyht,
The Remenaunt Of his Men to kepen stille,
Lest that Ellis to hem Miht Comen som ille;’
“So schalt thow kepen there with the
Of knyhtes and Seriauntes half my Mene.”
That hyghte vabus As I vndirstonde,
And Comaunded him there Anon Ryht,
‘As that he was A gentyl knyht,
The Remenaunt Of his Men to kepen stille,
Lest that Ellis to hem Miht Comen som ille;’
“So schalt thow kepen there with the
Of knyhtes and Seriauntes half my Mene.”
Thanne his Steward vabus Anon
His Comaundement was Redy to don,
And kept there Stille half his Meyne,
As wel Footmen As Othere there to be;
And Tholomes the Remnaunt with him ladde
Into that place As the Spie him badde;
And So Rod he forth Al the Nyhte,
For he wolde have ben Aforn day-lyhte
At the Castel that hyht Comes,
There he Supposid kyng Eualach was.
His Comaundement was Redy to don,
And kept there Stille half his Meyne,
As wel Footmen As Othere there to be;
And Tholomes the Remnaunt with him ladde
Into that place As the Spie him badde;
And So Rod he forth Al the Nyhte,
For he wolde have ben Aforn day-lyhte
At the Castel that hyht Comes,
There he Supposid kyng Eualach was.
| CHAPTER XII. The Legend of the Holy Grail | |