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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| XIV. |
 | [Chapter V] Merlin, a Middle-English metrical version of a French romance |  |
Thus departyd bothe kyng and qwene
of the conseyl that was hem be-twene,
and the qweene abod þere goddis grace.
So that on the morwen, jn that place,
at evensong tyme of the belle,
jn hire wombe felte sche throwes ful snelle,
and travailled forth al that nyht
jnto þat owr as the kyng tolde hire ryht.
so that be goddis helpe delyuered sche was
aftyr midnyht, as happed the cas.
And anon as that child was þere bore,
a prevy womman clepyd sche to hire thore,
and Seide: “com hydyr, my dere frend,
do take this child bothe Faire and hend,
and bere Jt to the halle dore anon,
and there a man schole ȝe fynden son.
For what man so evere he be,
this child hym deliuere, j preye the.
And that man that ȝe wel beholde,
Of What manere of kynde He ben scholde.
goth now and doth as J ȝow preye!”
“ȝis, Sikyr, lady!” this womman gan seye.
of the conseyl that was hem be-twene,
and the qweene abod þere goddis grace.
So that on the morwen, jn that place,
at evensong tyme of the belle,
jn hire wombe felte sche throwes ful snelle,
and travailled forth al that nyht
171
so that be goddis helpe delyuered sche was
aftyr midnyht, as happed the cas.
And anon as that child was þere bore,
a prevy womman clepyd sche to hire thore,
and Seide: “com hydyr, my dere frend,
do take this child bothe Faire and hend,
and bere Jt to the halle dore anon,
and there a man schole ȝe fynden son.
For what man so evere he be,
this child hym deliuere, j preye the.
And that man that ȝe wel beholde,
Of What manere of kynde He ben scholde.
goth now and doth as J ȝow preye!”
“ȝis, Sikyr, lady!” this womman gan seye.
this womman took that child anon,
and jnto riche clothes sche dede it don,
and so browht hit to the halle dore,
where as a ful old man fond sche thore,
that onlovely was of Face & lere,
and seide: “Sire, what bydest thou here?”
“J abyde that thou hast me browht,
For ellis hydyr hadde j comen nowht.”
“what answere schal j ȝeven my lady so dere,
to whom j have be-taken hire child here?”
thanne answerede hire this old man tho:
“what that j am, hast thou not to do,
but do that thou comaunded were:
deliuere me the chyld þat thow hast þere!”
thanne took sche hym this chyld anon,
and thussone from hire was he gon,
that sche ne wyst jnto whiche plase.
tho aȝen sche wente as comen sche wase,
and tolde the lady bothe word and ende,
how sche hadde delyverid þat chyld so hende
To ryht a passyng ful old man—
“but what he was, telle j ne can,
For as sone as the child he nam,
Syker, j ne wyste where he becam.”
thanne was the qwene of hevy chere,
and fulsore mornede & wepte there.
and jnto riche clothes sche dede it don,
and so browht hit to the halle dore,
where as a ful old man fond sche thore,
that onlovely was of Face & lere,
and seide: “Sire, what bydest thou here?”
“J abyde that thou hast me browht,
For ellis hydyr hadde j comen nowht.”
“what answere schal j ȝeven my lady so dere,
to whom j have be-taken hire child here?”
thanne answerede hire this old man tho:
“what that j am, hast thou not to do,
but do that thou comaunded were:
deliuere me the chyld þat thow hast þere!”
thanne took sche hym this chyld anon,
and thussone from hire was he gon,
that sche ne wyst jnto whiche plase.
tho aȝen sche wente as comen sche wase,
and tolde the lady bothe word and ende,
how sche hadde delyverid þat chyld so hende
To ryht a passyng ful old man—
“but what he was, telle j ne can,
For as sone as the child he nam,
Syker, j ne wyste where he becam.”
thanne was the qwene of hevy chere,
172
but he that the chyld hadde tho,
ful faste jn his weye he gan to go,
Tyl that he cam to this good man,
that Ankor there was clepyd than.
And as to masse ward as he wente,
god to Serven with good entente,
thanne took merlyne a-nothyr Semblaunce,
of a fayr old man, with-owten variaunce.
Thanne clepyd merlyne that good man þere,
and seide: “Ankor, com speke with me here.”
“j come to ȝow,” quod Ankor tho,
“with good wille to speken ȝow vnto.”
quod þis old man: “j have þe browht a chyld,
whiche that Js bothen mek and myld;
and that thow it kepe as richely
and as thin owne þou wost don tendirly.
loke that ȝe don as j ȝow say,
and gret profyt schalt þou hauen, with-owten delay,
and ek thyn eyres encresyd scholen be,
as j the Seye, Sire, ful certeinle.”
“A,” quod Ankor, “j trowe this be he
that the kyng spak offen to me.”
“So is hit, Ankor, with-owten faylle,
as j the here telle jn consaylle,
For hit js the preyere of the kyng
and of goode ladyes, with-owten lesyng.”
thanne took Ankor this chyld so fre,
that was so ȝong and ful of bewte,
and axede of this old man there
ȝif that this child owht crystened were.
“Nay, but do thow it cristene anon
jn this mynstre, er thou ferthere gon.”
thanne axede Ankor of hym tho
what name he scholde ȝeven hym vnto.
“Nemne hym Arthewr, j preye to the;
For mochel worschepe by hym schalt þou se
and ful gret encres to the and thyne,
and thow hit worschepe & hit propyne.
So thanne vnnethis schalt thou knowe
Whethyr þou love him bettere oþer thyn owne.”
thanne axede Ankor of this good man
what he was, and whennes þat he cam—
“And whom schal j sey that this child took me?
of this, leve Sire, now preye j the.”
thanne answerede this olde man ageyn:
“of me ne knowest thow no more, certeyn!”
ful faste jn his weye he gan to go,
Tyl that he cam to this good man,
that Ankor there was clepyd than.
And as to masse ward as he wente,
god to Serven with good entente,
thanne took merlyne a-nothyr Semblaunce,
of a fayr old man, with-owten variaunce.
Thanne clepyd merlyne that good man þere,
and seide: “Ankor, com speke with me here.”
“j come to ȝow,” quod Ankor tho,
“with good wille to speken ȝow vnto.”
quod þis old man: “j have þe browht a chyld,
whiche that Js bothen mek and myld;
and that thow it kepe as richely
and as thin owne þou wost don tendirly.
loke that ȝe don as j ȝow say,
and gret profyt schalt þou hauen, with-owten delay,
and ek thyn eyres encresyd scholen be,
as j the Seye, Sire, ful certeinle.”
“A,” quod Ankor, “j trowe this be he
that the kyng spak offen to me.”
“So is hit, Ankor, with-owten faylle,
as j the here telle jn consaylle,
For hit js the preyere of the kyng
and of goode ladyes, with-owten lesyng.”
thanne took Ankor this chyld so fre,
that was so ȝong and ful of bewte,
and axede of this old man there
ȝif that this child owht crystened were.
“Nay, but do thow it cristene anon
jn this mynstre, er thou ferthere gon.”
thanne axede Ankor of hym tho
what name he scholde ȝeven hym vnto.
“Nemne hym Arthewr, j preye to the;
For mochel worschepe by hym schalt þou se
and ful gret encres to the and thyne,
and thow hit worschepe & hit propyne.
So thanne vnnethis schalt thou knowe
173
thanne axede Ankor of this good man
what he was, and whennes þat he cam—
“And whom schal j sey that this child took me?
of this, leve Sire, now preye j the.”
thanne answerede this olde man ageyn:
“of me ne knowest thow no more, certeyn!”
and so departyd they asondyr ryht tho;
thanne eche Jn his weye forth gan to go.
So that Ankor cristenede that child anon,
and Arthewr him clepyd þere thus son.
This man that Ankor here j-clepyd Js,
his propre name Js Antron, with-owten mys.
thanne Antron to his wyf hyede ful faste
(that child hire to brynge hadde he gret haste),
and seide: “dere wif, lo, this chyld here
of which to ȝow j spak Thanne ere!”
thanne answerede this goode lady anon:
“To me, Sire, hit is ryht welcom.”
Anon this faire chyld took sche there,
and axede ȝif hit cristened were.
he seide: “ȝe, dame,” thanne, “certeinly!”
thanne took sche the child and leide it hire by,
and dyde hit Sowken of hire pappe anon,
& hire owne to norrye putte owt thus son.
thanne eche Jn his weye forth gan to go.
So that Ankor cristenede that child anon,
and Arthewr him clepyd þere thus son.
This man that Ankor here j-clepyd Js,
his propre name Js Antron, with-owten mys.
thanne Antron to his wyf hyede ful faste
(that child hire to brynge hadde he gret haste),
and seide: “dere wif, lo, this chyld here
of which to ȝow j spak Thanne ere!”
thanne answerede this goode lady anon:
“To me, Sire, hit is ryht welcom.”
Anon this faire chyld took sche there,
and axede ȝif hit cristened were.
he seide: “ȝe, dame,” thanne, “certeinly!”
thanne took sche the child and leide it hire by,
and dyde hit Sowken of hire pappe anon,
& hire owne to norrye putte owt thus son.
thanne longe aftyr lyvede vter pendragon
with reste and pes Jn that regyown.
So atte laste thanne hit be-fylle
that the gowte cam hym vntylle,
and hym held bothen Jn hondis and feet,
So þat be non wyse hit nolde hym leet;
Jn whiche mene while, as j ȝow say,
his enemyes vp aryveden on a day,
and jn his lond dyden gret owtrage
and ek to his peple ful gret damage.
thanne sente the kyng to his barowns anon,
and cownseilled with hem everychon,
preyeng hem with al his myht
hym to helpe avenge jn his ryht,
and to-gederis they wolden gon,
as trewe lordis for here kyng scholde don.
Anon they seiden, with ryht good wylle
his preyere thanne they wolde fulfylle.
thanne reden these lordis forth anon,
and with here enemyes they metten thusson,
that a gret partye of the lond
they hadden j-treted jnto here hond.
thanne this meyne vppon þe kynges side
with here enemyes asembled that tyde.
Anon thussone j-scomfyt they were,
and mochel of here peple losten there.
whanne this bode was browht to þe kyng,
thanne jn his herte made he morneng.
so they that leften of the bataylle,
to the kyng they comen, with-owten faille.
and the tothir partye enforsede hem faste,
So that furthere jnto the lond ben they paste.
with reste and pes Jn that regyown.
So atte laste thanne hit be-fylle
that the gowte cam hym vntylle,
and hym held bothen Jn hondis and feet,
So þat be non wyse hit nolde hym leet;
Jn whiche mene while, as j ȝow say,
his enemyes vp aryveden on a day,
and jn his lond dyden gret owtrage
and ek to his peple ful gret damage.
thanne sente the kyng to his barowns anon,
and cownseilled with hem everychon,
preyeng hem with al his myht
174
and to-gederis they wolden gon,
as trewe lordis for here kyng scholde don.
Anon they seiden, with ryht good wylle
his preyere thanne they wolde fulfylle.
thanne reden these lordis forth anon,
and with here enemyes they metten thusson,
that a gret partye of the lond
they hadden j-treted jnto here hond.
thanne this meyne vppon þe kynges side
with here enemyes asembled that tyde.
Anon thussone j-scomfyt they were,
and mochel of here peple losten there.
whanne this bode was browht to þe kyng,
thanne jn his herte made he morneng.
so they that leften of the bataylle,
to the kyng they comen, with-owten faille.
and the tothir partye enforsede hem faste,
So that furthere jnto the lond ben they paste.
Thanne merlyne, that knew of alle this thyng,
Ful faste he hyede hym to the kyng.
Anon as Pendragown merlyne þere say,
Ful mochel joye made he that day,
and thowhte of merlyne comfort to haue,
be wheche his rem he hopede to Save.
And whanne that merlyne to-fore hym cam,
anon be the hond he hym nam.
thanne merlyne hym axede of his chere,
why that he thanne so hevy were—
“Ȝyt Wel J Wot that syk ȝe be,
and fulsore afrayed, as thinketh me.”
thanne answerede Pendragoun aȝen tho:
“merlyne, ful good encheson j haue þerto,
For myn owne men mi lond distroye,
that j wende wolden me nowht anoye,
and slayn my men þere jn bataylle,
that litel j wende wolde me asaylle.”
“Now,” quod merlyn, “here mown ȝe se
þat bataille with-owten hed may not be.”
“Thanne, for goddis love,” quod the kyng,
“Merlyne, conseille me now of this thing!”
Ful faste he hyede hym to the kyng.
Anon as Pendragown merlyne þere say,
Ful mochel joye made he that day,
and thowhte of merlyne comfort to haue,
be wheche his rem he hopede to Save.
And whanne that merlyne to-fore hym cam,
anon be the hond he hym nam.
thanne merlyne hym axede of his chere,
why that he thanne so hevy were—
“Ȝyt Wel J Wot that syk ȝe be,
and fulsore afrayed, as thinketh me.”
thanne answerede Pendragoun aȝen tho:
“merlyne, ful good encheson j haue þerto,
For myn owne men mi lond distroye,
that j wende wolden me nowht anoye,
and slayn my men þere jn bataylle,
that litel j wende wolde me asaylle.”
“Now,” quod merlyn, “here mown ȝe se
þat bataille with-owten hed may not be.”
“Thanne, for goddis love,” quod the kyng,
175
Anon seide merlyne to hym ageyn:
“on thing j schal telle the for certeyn,
whiche word trewe proved schal be,
ȝif that thou now wilt leven me.
Do semblen alle thy peple anon,
and that to-gederis that they fast gon.
Anon as they ben sembled jn fere,
thanne do the ordeyn an hors bere,
and to bataylle with hem thou go
aȝens thyn enemyes, þat thou do so.
For wete thou now wel, jn certeyne,
hem schalt thou ouercomen, ful pleyne.
and whanne thou hast don this bataylle,
thanne scha[l]t þou wel knowen, with-owten faille,
what vaylleth the Lond þat js lordles,
whanne hit hath nede rankewr to ses.
Aȝens the Lond that hath Sovereyn,
hit lyte avaylleth, j telle the pleyn.
and whanne this bataylle thow hast j-do,
herk me now what j sey the vnto:
departe thy good Jn dyvers manere
For thi sowle, whiles þat þou lyvest here,
and to the pore ȝyve thou thy tresor.
& why j seye, wilt thou se wherfor?
For j hit knowe wel jn my mynde
that þou myht not longe lyven be kynde.
therfore j wele that þou schalt knowe
of hem that grete goodis han be rowe,
and deyen, and leven hem behynde,
& vppon here Sowles haven [not] mynde
that to departen jn here lyvenge
to pore jn here Sowles fortherynge,
j sey, that good after here departyng,
hit nys not here, with-owten lesyng,
but here it is, & moche more therto,
that for here sowlis litel wil do.
For wete þou wel with-owten dwere
that þe devel to the schal apere,
and specyaly to hem that han tresor,
that to powre wil not depart to-for,
whiles that they ben on lyve here;
hit vailleth hem not, with-owten dwere.
and þou that Nedis mostest here deye,
j the warne, Sire, now certeinlye,
Thy good departe, thy soule to save,
Jn hevene blysse the joye to have.
For the joye of this world here
aȝens that js nowht, in non manere.
and for why, j schal tellen to the,
ȝif that þou wylt now lesten to me:
jn this world hath non man so gret joye,
that hit ne schal faylle and hym anoye;
and jn the tothir js joye endeles,
that evere is dureng, & schal neuere ses.
and ho that disseise Suffreth here,
To him jn hevene js restored there.”
“on thing j schal telle the for certeyn,
whiche word trewe proved schal be,
ȝif that thou now wilt leven me.
Do semblen alle thy peple anon,
and that to-gederis that they fast gon.
Anon as they ben sembled jn fere,
thanne do the ordeyn an hors bere,
and to bataylle with hem thou go
aȝens thyn enemyes, þat thou do so.
For wete thou now wel, jn certeyne,
hem schalt thou ouercomen, ful pleyne.
and whanne thou hast don this bataylle,
thanne scha[l]t þou wel knowen, with-owten faille,
what vaylleth the Lond þat js lordles,
whanne hit hath nede rankewr to ses.
Aȝens the Lond that hath Sovereyn,
hit lyte avaylleth, j telle the pleyn.
and whanne this bataylle thow hast j-do,
herk me now what j sey the vnto:
departe thy good Jn dyvers manere
For thi sowle, whiles þat þou lyvest here,
and to the pore ȝyve thou thy tresor.
& why j seye, wilt thou se wherfor?
For j hit knowe wel jn my mynde
that þou myht not longe lyven be kynde.
therfore j wele that þou schalt knowe
of hem that grete goodis han be rowe,
and deyen, and leven hem behynde,
& vppon here Sowles haven [not] mynde
that to departen jn here lyvenge
to pore jn here Sowles fortherynge,
j sey, that good after here departyng,
hit nys not here, with-owten lesyng,
but here it is, & moche more therto,
that for here sowlis litel wil do.
For wete þou wel with-owten dwere
176
and specyaly to hem that han tresor,
that to powre wil not depart to-for,
whiles that they ben on lyve here;
hit vailleth hem not, with-owten dwere.
and þou that Nedis mostest here deye,
j the warne, Sire, now certeinlye,
Thy good departe, thy soule to save,
Jn hevene blysse the joye to have.
For the joye of this world here
aȝens that js nowht, in non manere.
and for why, j schal tellen to the,
ȝif that þou wylt now lesten to me:
jn this world hath non man so gret joye,
that hit ne schal faylle and hym anoye;
and jn the tothir js joye endeles,
that evere is dureng, & schal neuere ses.
and ho that disseise Suffreth here,
To him jn hevene js restored there.”
| [Chapter V] Merlin, a Middle-English metrical version of a French romance | |