The Story of England by Robert Manning of Brunne, A.D. 1338. Edited from mss. at Lambeth Palace and the Inner Temple, by Frederick J. Furnivall |
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De probitate Brutonum. |
 | The Story of England |  |
164
De probitate Brutonum.
Hardy Cesar, noble kyng,Þat neuere so bayscht was for no þyng,
He sey þe force of þe Brutons,
& hyse to þem hadde no fuysons.
Þe Bretons, as wode, rengede route;
Of dynt ne deþ had þey no doute;
Þey slowe, & felde, & made þem weye;
Þey made no force to lyue ne deye.
Cesar perceyued þat ful wel,
He dide turne hys folk ylk del
A-geyn, & to þer schipes wende;
Bot hym self lefte til þe last ende,
A-gayn þe Bretons for to fyght,
Þe whyles his folk to schipe þem dight.
By þe lond þe schypes did ryde,
To kepe his folk at ilka tyde;
When alle were ynne, & sayl on mast,
Cesar com yn alder last;
& alle þat were of his conrey,
Hyed þem faste, & wente þer wey.
Euene as lyne þe wynd gan dryue;
At Ordre, his tour, gon þey aryue.
Cesar soiourned þer ful longe,
To hele þem þat were wounded stronge,
& man & hors for to rest,
And ordeyned for hym what was best.
165
& þe Bretons ilka man,
Made ioye for þe mykel pris
Þat þey had wonnen of Cesar twys.
Þe Romayns, mykel sorewe þey made
Þat þe Bretons were so glade;
Cesar & hyse were dismayed,
Bot þe Bretons were wol payed.
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