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 |
 |
|
Responcio Merlyny. |
 | The Story of England |  |
Responcio Merlyny.
“Syre kyng,” he seyde, “certes nay,“To opene my mouþ y ne dar ne may,
“Bot hit [be] a byhouely þyng at nede,
“Þat were warnyng or tokene of dede,
“& ȝit wyþ gret lownesse of hert,
“Þat pruyde turne hit nought ouerthwert.
“ffor ȝyf y spak þorow pride or bost,
“Oþer for scorn, ageyn my gost,
“Þat ilke gost þat in me wones,
“Þat al me kennes & al me mones,
“Out of my mouþ hit wolde hym drawe,
“Of my connyng reue me my sawe,
“Þat namore myght y þen spek wyþ mouþ
“Þan an oþer þat nought ne couþ.
“Þer-fore of swyilk priuete
“Þenk nought þer-on, but let hit be.
“Þenk on þat why þou me soughtest;
“Bryng þat til ende whi þou me broughtest:
“ȝyf þou wilt make a werk stedefast,
“Þat fair wyl be, & euere to last,
“Sent for þo stones, þere þey stande,
“Þat þe Geaunt broughte til Irlande.
“Rounde aboute, þen ar þey set;
“Out of Aufryke were þey fet;
“Ilkon on oþer ys set vpright,
308
“ffor to take doun a ston;
“Ne sette þeym eft ys þer non.”
Þen seyde þe kyng, & on hym low:
“Sertes, þat were selcouþ ynow
“Þat þo stones þat þou of seys,
“Ar so heuy, & of swylk peys,
“Þat non haþ force ne fuysoun
“To remue þem vp ne doun,
“& ar so fer ouer þe se!
“Who myghte þem þanne brynge to me?”
| The Story of England | |