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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Responcio e contrario. |
 | The Story of England |  |
Responcio e contrario.
Androcheus herde þe kynges pleint,Þat ner was recreaunt & teynt;
& answered hym al at reburs:
“Haþ now þe kyng nede of my socurs?
“What, haþ my lord herd ought or seen?
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“Þat he wolde me exile, & reue
“Al my lond, & no þyng leue,
“& þerto þrette me to slo,
“Whare he haue now laten þat mod ouer go.
“My lord þat bar hym so ouer stout,
“ffor no preiere to loue wolde lout,
“I wiste hit wolde nought falle hym wel,
“Þat was so fers, & ouer cruel.
“Wyþouten skil were we wroþe,
“& þat schal now repente vs boþe;
“Bot alder meste skaþe wil falle
“On hym seluen for vs alle;
“Hit falleþ no kyng to felon res,
“As lyon in þe tyme of pees,
“Ne in tyme of werre for to dare,
“Ne to fle for drede, as doþ þe hare.
“Þat he fled, sire, nought so,
“Bot his cruelte wil hym fordo;
“He auaunted hym til vs ilkone,
“He venquised þe enperour alone;
“Bot he alone neuere hym ne wan,
“Namore þan dide an oþer man;
“Bot þorow me & þorow my knyghtes
“Þat wounded were in many fightes,
“And oþer þat were al so doughty,
“& wel bettere þan he oþer y,
“Þorow þeir dede & oure trauaille
“Wan Cassibolan þe bataille.
“ffor swylk he made his noble fest,
“& seid hit was his owen conquest.
“His barons þat were his peres,
“Of his conqueste were parceners;
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“He aughte haue part of þe honur.
“Þe kyng may wel hym seluen wyte,
“By hym alone schal hit nought byte;
“Þo þat halpe hym hit for to wynne,
“Wel oughte þey be parceners þer-ynne.
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