 | Guy of Warwick |  |
Nowe we shull leue of hir here,
And telle you forthe of our matiere.
Speke we schull of the Stywarde:
Well true he was, and highte Sywarde.
This Syward was slighe and wise,
Riche of kynde, and of grete prise:
In his tyme noon better was,
For of grete worship was noon in his caas.
Of armes he had been chief on grounde,
And therof preised in many a londe;
For that he wolde preysed bee,
He did him bee knowen in many a contree.
In Walyngforde he was borne.
All that Contree to him was sworne.
A swiche noble man he was,
On this half the see noon suche was,
That serued his lorde so truely,
And in all thinges so worshipfully.
And telle you forthe of our matiere.
Speke we schull of the Stywarde:
Well true he was, and highte Sywarde.
This Syward was slighe and wise,
Riche of kynde, and of grete prise:
In his tyme noon better was,
For of grete worship was noon in his caas.
Of armes he had been chief on grounde,
And therof preised in many a londe;
For that he wolde preysed bee,
He did him bee knowen in many a contree.
In Walyngforde he was borne.
All that Contree to him was sworne.
A swiche noble man he was,
On this half the see noon suche was,
That serued his lorde so truely,
And in all thinges so worshipfully.
[_]
The Auchinleck MS. has been followed from line 123. Line numbers have been changed to concur with original the MS.
His lord he serued treweliche
In al þing manschipeliche.
þer was non erl in Inglond
þat to ȝeines him durst stond,
Bot, ȝif he wold be wiþ him at on,
He wald do nimen him anon,
& wiþ strengþe him nim wolde,
þei he to Scotlond suwe him scholde.
His lordis honour he held worþschipliche,
& defended it wele & hardiliche;
þer nas kni[ȝ]t in Inglonde
þat wiþ wretþe durst him atstonde.
þei a man bar an hundred pounde,
Opon him, of gold y-grounde,
þe[r] nas man in al þis londe
þat durst him do schame no schonde,
þat bireft him worþ of a slo,
So gode pais þer was þo.
In al þing manschipeliche.
þer was non erl in Inglond
þat to ȝeines him durst stond,
Bot, ȝif he wold be wiþ him at on,
He wald do nimen him anon,
& wiþ strengþe him nim wolde,
þei he to Scotlond suwe him scholde.
His lordis honour he held worþschipliche,
& defended it wele & hardiliche;
þer nas kni[ȝ]t in Inglonde
þat wiþ wretþe durst him atstonde.
10
Opon him, of gold y-grounde,
þe[r] nas man in al þis londe
þat durst him do schame no schonde,
þat bireft him worþ of a slo,
So gode pais þer was þo.
Þilke steward hadde a sone
Trewe & wise atte frome;
Al folk he dede him loue,
For þat noman schuld him schoue;
& riche ȝiftes ȝiuen he wold,
For þat he schuld be fre yhold.
þerl Rohaud he serued þo,
As he schuld his kinde lorde do;
þerl him loued swiþe dere,
Ouer al oþer þat þer were.
Of his coupe serue he him dede,
He was preysed to him in euerich stede:
Þerl michel him worþschipede,
& for his fader loue to him clepede.
Gij of Warwike his name was,
In court non better beloued þer nas,
So he was among gret lordinges,
Litel & michel in al þinges.
Gentil he was & of michel miȝt,
Ouer al oþer feirest bi siȝt:
Al þai wonderd strongliche,
For his feirhed was so miche;
So mani godenes in him were,
Al him preysed þer y-fere,
Of bordis & turnament y-wis,
Kniȝtes to hauen & holden of pris.
Trewe & wise atte frome;
Al folk he dede him loue,
For þat noman schuld him schoue;
& riche ȝiftes ȝiuen he wold,
For þat he schuld be fre yhold.
þerl Rohaud he serued þo,
As he schuld his kinde lorde do;
þerl him loued swiþe dere,
Ouer al oþer þat þer were.
Of his coupe serue he him dede,
He was preysed to him in euerich stede:
Þerl michel him worþschipede,
& for his fader loue to him clepede.
Gij of Warwike his name was,
In court non better beloued þer nas,
So he was among gret lordinges,
Litel & michel in al þinges.
Gentil he was & of michel miȝt,
Ouer al oþer feirest bi siȝt:
Al þai wonderd strongliche,
For his feirhed was so miche;
So mani godenes in him were,
Al him preysed þer y-fere,
Of bordis & turnament y-wis,
Kniȝtes to hauen & holden of pris.
Gij a forster fader hadde,
þat him lerd & him radde
Of wodes & riuer & oþer game:
Herhaud of Ardern was his name.
He was hende & wele y-tauȝt,
Gij to lern forȝat he nauȝt;
Michel he couþe of hauk & hounde,
Of estriche faucouns of gret mounde.
þat him lerd & him radde
12
Herhaud of Ardern was his name.
He was hende & wele y-tauȝt,
Gij to lern forȝat he nauȝt;
Michel he couþe of hauk & hounde,
Of estriche faucouns of gret mounde.
It was opon a Pentecost day yteld,
þerl a gret fest held
At Warwike in þat cite,
þat þan was y-won to be.
þider cam men of miche miȝt,
Erls & barouns boþe apliȝt,
Leuedis & maidens of gret mounde,
þat in þe lond wer y-founde.
Eueriche maiden ches hir loue
Of kniȝtes þat wer þider y-come,
& euerich kniȝt his leman
Of þat gentil maiden wiman;
When þai were fro chirche y-come,
þer aliȝt mani a noble gome.
þerl to þe mete was sett,
Gij stode forn him in þat flett,
þat was þe steward sone,
þerl to serue it was his wone.
To him he cleped Gij,
& him hete & comandi
þat he in to chaumber went,
& grete wele þat maiden gent,
& þat he schuld þat ich day
Serue wele þat feir may.
þerl a gret fest held
At Warwike in þat cite,
þat þan was y-won to be.
þider cam men of miche miȝt,
Erls & barouns boþe apliȝt,
Leuedis & maidens of gret mounde,
þat in þe lond wer y-founde.
Eueriche maiden ches hir loue
Of kniȝtes þat wer þider y-come,
& euerich kniȝt his leman
Of þat gentil maiden wiman;
When þai were fro chirche y-come,
þer aliȝt mani a noble gome.
þerl to þe mete was sett,
Gij stode forn him in þat flett,
þat was þe steward sone,
þerl to serue it was his wone.
To him he cleped Gij,
& him hete & comandi
þat he in to chaumber went,
& grete wele þat maiden gent,
14
Serue wele þat feir may.
| Guy of Warwick | |