 | The Metrical Chronicle of Robert of Gloucester |  |
Arthure
Vor þe uerste truage þat he sende to rome of seluer oþer of golde
Þat was lucyes body aslawe burye ȝif hii it wolde
Þe king clupede noȝt uor þan is conseil sone
To ansuere to þis mandement wat were best to done
Cadour erl of cornwayle stod & somdel lou
& verst sede is auys mid god wille ynou
Sire he sede her biuore ich abbe ybe sore adrad
Leste þat ydel lif þat þine men abbeþ ylad
Nou moni day out of los & in sleuþe hom broȝte
Vor wanne men beþ al ydel þat er batailes soȝte
Hor ydelnesse hom ssal bringe to sunne of lecherye
To tauerne & to sleuþe & to hasardrie
Hit is ney vif ȝer þat we abbeþ yliued in such vice
Vor we nadde noȝt to done & in such delice
& þer wiþ nis noȝt god ypaid þeruore he aþ ibroȝt
Þe romeins in such wille þat we nere to ydel noȝt
Ac þat we come to vr stat aȝen of vre verste prowesse
Leste we velle in dedlich sunne vor vre ydelnesse
Þo he adde ysed is auys & oþere him bere witnesse
Þe king arþure sede is al in gladnesse
Þat was lucyes body aslawe burye ȝif hii it wolde
Þe king clupede noȝt uor þan is conseil sone
To ansuere to þis mandement wat were best to done
282
& verst sede is auys mid god wille ynou
Sire he sede her biuore ich abbe ybe sore adrad
Leste þat ydel lif þat þine men abbeþ ylad
Nou moni day out of los & in sleuþe hom broȝte
Vor wanne men beþ al ydel þat er batailes soȝte
Hor ydelnesse hom ssal bringe to sunne of lecherye
To tauerne & to sleuþe & to hasardrie
Hit is ney vif ȝer þat we abbeþ yliued in such vice
Vor we nadde noȝt to done & in such delice
& þer wiþ nis noȝt god ypaid þeruore he aþ ibroȝt
Þe romeins in such wille þat we nere to ydel noȝt
Ac þat we come to vr stat aȝen of vre verste prowesse
Leste we velle in dedlich sunne vor vre ydelnesse
Þo he adde ysed is auys & oþere him bere witnesse
Þe king arþure sede is al in gladnesse
283
Ȝe louerdinges he sede þat ich abbe in conseil & in batayle
Ifonded as uor anante me þat nolde me neuere faile
Doþ nouþe al ȝour wit þer to me wel to consayle
& ich hopie we ssolleþ þe lasse recche of þe romaynes tayle
Vor me þincheþ mid vnriȝt hii escheþ vs truage
Vor Iuli cesar hit nom verst mid strengþe & outrage
Vor descord & contek þat bituene vr eldorne was þo
He nom it verst mid vnriȝt & broȝte þat lond in wo
& þing þat is mid strengþe inome hou miȝte it be mid riȝte
Vor he naþ reson non bote robberie & miȝte
& mid as god reson mowe we of hom esse ywis
Bere he þanne þe truage þat bineþe is
Vor Iuli & oþere emperours hii seggeþ come þer to
Þat emperours were of rome ich may segge al so
Þat min auncetres of þe lond wule wonne rome
As bely þe noble king þat ȝe abbeþ yhurd ylome
& constantin eleyne sone ȝe witeþ wel rome nom
& suþþe maximian þat of hor beyre blod ich com
Ifonded as uor anante me þat nolde me neuere faile
Doþ nouþe al ȝour wit þer to me wel to consayle
& ich hopie we ssolleþ þe lasse recche of þe romaynes tayle
Vor me þincheþ mid vnriȝt hii escheþ vs truage
Vor Iuli cesar hit nom verst mid strengþe & outrage
Vor descord & contek þat bituene vr eldorne was þo
He nom it verst mid vnriȝt & broȝte þat lond in wo
& þing þat is mid strengþe inome hou miȝte it be mid riȝte
Vor he naþ reson non bote robberie & miȝte
& mid as god reson mowe we of hom esse ywis
Bere he þanne þe truage þat bineþe is
284
Þat emperours were of rome ich may segge al so
Þat min auncetres of þe lond wule wonne rome
As bely þe noble king þat ȝe abbeþ yhurd ylome
& constantin eleyne sone ȝe witeþ wel rome nom
& suþþe maximian þat of hor beyre blod ich com
| The Metrical Chronicle of Robert of Gloucester | |