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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| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
 | [Chapter VI] Merlin, a Middle-English metrical version of a French romance |  |
And whanne that they beheldyn this
that owt of þe minstre ferst wente, j-wis,
Jnto the minstre they entred thanne,
and tolde hit anon to this holy manne
that here masse gan to Synge,
which was erchebischope, with-outen lesinge,
Of Orbrice, as tellith this storye,
and as hit is put into memorye.
and whanne that the holy man herde of this,
anon holywater thanne took he, j-wys,
and wente to the swerd with-jnne a throwe,
and therto obeysched hym wondirly lowe;
where as lettres of gold beheld he there,
that Jn this manere endyted were,
and seiden openliche declarenge:
that swich a man schold ben here kynge
that owt of þe stethy the swerd myhte drawe,
he scholde be governour of lond and lawe;
For god wyle that hit so now be,
as schewyth be miracle, & non but he.
and thanne this erchebischope anon
amonges the peple schewid it thus son.
thussone this ston Jn warde was pyt
of x worthy men, to kepen hyt,
and to fyve clerkis of hygh clergye
with the tothyr meyne that ston to gye,
and seiden that god ful mochel hadde j-do,
that swich myracle wolde schewen hem so.
that owt of þe minstre ferst wente, j-wis,
Jnto the minstre they entred thanne,
and tolde hit anon to this holy manne
that here masse gan to Synge,
which was erchebischope, with-outen lesinge,
Of Orbrice, as tellith this storye,
and as hit is put into memorye.
and whanne that the holy man herde of this,
anon holywater thanne took he, j-wys,
and wente to the swerd with-jnne a throwe,
and therto obeysched hym wondirly lowe;
where as lettres of gold beheld he there,
that Jn this manere endyted were,
and seiden openliche declarenge:
that swich a man schold ben here kynge
that owt of þe stethy the swerd myhte drawe,
he scholde be governour of lond and lawe;
For god wyle that hit so now be,
as schewyth be miracle, & non but he.
and thanne this erchebischope anon
amonges the peple schewid it thus son.
thussone this ston Jn warde was pyt
of x worthy men, to kepen hyt,
and to fyve clerkis of hygh clergye
with the tothyr meyne that ston to gye,
and seiden that god ful mochel hadde j-do,
that swich myracle wolde schewen hem so.
thanne in they wenten anon to masse
hit owt to heren, bothe more and lasse,
more-ouer to ȝelden god here thankynge,
and te deum laudamus thei gonne to synge.
And whanne that te devm was j-doon,
From the awter he torned anon,
and seide: “sires, now mown ȝe se
that amonges ȝow somme goode men be,
that god here now thorwgh ȝoure preyere
To vs swich tokenynges hath schewed here.
wherfore here J comande ȝow alle
that, vppon what man this lot befalle,
For love, for hate, neþer for envye,
whethir to pore or to riche it happe, trewlye,
that non man aȝens this elexioun ne be,
Sethen it is goddis wille, as ȝe mown se.
For Ho so contrarieth His signefiance,
J drede on him that he wil werke veniance!”
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more-ouer to ȝelden god here thankynge,
and te deum laudamus thei gonne to synge.
And whanne that te devm was j-doon,
From the awter he torned anon,
and seide: “sires, now mown ȝe se
that amonges ȝow somme goode men be,
that god here now thorwgh ȝoure preyere
To vs swich tokenynges hath schewed here.
wherfore here J comande ȝow alle
that, vppon what man this lot befalle,
For love, for hate, neþer for envye,
whethir to pore or to riche it happe, trewlye,
that non man aȝens this elexioun ne be,
Sethen it is goddis wille, as ȝe mown se.
For Ho so contrarieth His signefiance,
J drede on him that he wil werke veniance!”
| [Chapter VI] Merlin, a Middle-English metrical version of a French romance | |