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 nauigacione Maximiani versus Armoricham. |
 | The Story of England |  |
De nauigacione Maximiani versus Armoricham.
When he had folk, & was redy,To schipe þey wente hastily.
Toward south-west þey passed þe se,
Aryued vp in a contre;
Armoriche was þenne þe name,
Bot now hit haþ an oþer fame.
Humbald was þer-in lord & sire,
Of Armoriche he held þenpire;
He dide somoune alle his barons,
A-wey to chace, & felle þe Bretons.
Þe Bretons were of wel more myght;
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Þey nadde no force to turne agein;
Alle þey fledde, knyght & swayn;
Bot fiftene þousand wer þer slayn.
& Maximien gan turne ageyn,
& ioyful was þat he so spedde:—
Þat lond held women, þe men were fledde:—
He tok sire Conan by þe hond,
& on hym low wyþ god semblaunt;
“Conan,” he seide, “þou art doughti;
“To manne Armoriche þou were worthi.
“Sestow now þis faire contre,
“fful plentyuous & ful ayse;
“Þe lond to tyle, god ys to wynne;
“Wodes, watres, ynowe þer-ynne,
“fforestes fulle of ful fayr dere,
“ffresche ryuers ese & ner;
“Y ne sey nere in al my lyue
“A fairer lond, ne more plentyue.
“On þe, Conan, y vouche hit saue,
“Þat þou hit welde wyþ ioye, & haue.
“Bretaygne þe grete was þe het,
“& on þe hit were ful wel byset;
“Bot for me þou hast hit lorn,
“Þer-fore to me yuel hastow born;
“ffor-gyue me now ilk a del,
“& haue þis lond, & brouk hit wel.
“Þis ys þe heste þat y þe hight;
“& bettere y wolde, ȝyf þat y myght;
“Þys lond we scholle clense of þyse,
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“Non oþer folk schulle dwelle þer-ynne;
“Þen may þou weldit al wyþ wynne.”
Conan of hym receyued þe gyfte,
& Maximian to kyng hym lyfte;
And Conan made hym þer fewte,
Of hym to holde hit euere yn fe.
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