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 Adulacione ffortygerny. |
 | The Story of England |  |
De Adulacione ffortygerny.
A day hit was, to þeym he drankffor to gete of hem more þank;
& right as þey dronke & songe,
Com fforteger þeym alle among,
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Bot yuel he let, wyþ sory chere.
“Knyghtes,” he seide, “mykel y ȝow loue,
“I haue ȝow holpen to ȝoure aboue,
“& more y wolde, ȝyf y hadde ought;
“Þys [lond] ys þe kynges, & myn ys nought;
“Here hauy nought þat ought amountes;
“Þat y spend of, y ȝelde acountes,
“ffor y þys contre haue y nought;
“ffro fer hit comeþ þat me ys brought.
“To serue þe kyng y do my tent;
“Of hym hauy no lond ne rent,
“So þat y may nought holde to me
“ffourty squiers on al my fe;
“ȝyf y more hadde, hit were ȝour prow,
“Þer-fore nede y mot parte fro ȝow;
“& þat ouer-þynkes me ful sore,
“ffor pouere y am, & may namore.
“Bot ȝyf ȝe se þat y ought mende,
“Boldely comeþ to me, or sende,
“And y schal fonde, at al ȝour nede,
“Boþe forto cloþe & [to] fede.”
| The Story of England | |