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 |
Exe Sacrificium. |
The Story of England | ||
Exe Sacrificium.
Þys feste day þat was so hey,Were offred ffifty þousand ky,
&, þer-to, þre þousand hyndes,
Wylde walkande by wode lyndes;
& an hundred þousand schep;
Þe noumbre of foules gaf noman kep,
So fele þer were, myght non þem ame,
What of wilde, what of tame.
When don was þat sacrefyse,
& feste holde in þer beste wyse,
Mynstrals bygon to blowe & ryme,
Als þer custume was þat tyme;
Knyghtes, squiers, made bourdys,
& hem desgysede in pourpre & bys;
& oþer bachelers skirmede faste,
Wrastlede, lepen, stones caste;
In feld, in toun, in ilka weye,
Ilkon pleide þat he couþe pleye.
When þey hadde alle pleyd at wille,
& schold haue ended, & ben al stille,
Two wolde skyrmen, as fel þe cas,
Sire Huwelyn & Irelgas.
The Story of England | ||