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 potestate Cheldryk contra Arthurum. |
 | The Story of England |  |
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De potestate Cheldryk contra Arthurum.
Til Arthur cam bode als quyk,
Þat þider schold come þe child Cheldrik
Wyþ mykel people on ilka syde,
Þat Arthur schold nought dur abyde.
Þe beste frendes þat were hym couþ,
Conseilled hym turne toward þe South,
& gyue no bataille at þat tyme,
Bot let his folk sprede & ryme:
“Hys folk ys fresche & ful auster
“& twyes so fele as we haue her;
“& ȝyf þey folewe vs ouer Humber,
“Þe sonner schul we þem a-comber;
“Þen schal vs come folk ay fresche,
“& þey schul euere wexe þe lesse.”
To þat conseil he gaf god tent,
& to Londone right fro þenne he went.
Þat þider schold come þe child Cheldrik
Wyþ mykel people on ilka syde,
Þat Arthur schold nought dur abyde.
Þe beste frendes þat were hym couþ,
Conseilled hym turne toward þe South,
& gyue no bataille at þat tyme,
Bot let his folk sprede & ryme:
“Hys folk ys fresche & ful auster
“& twyes so fele as we haue her;
“& ȝyf þey folewe vs ouer Humber,
“Þe sonner schul we þem a-comber;
“Þen schal vs come folk ay fresche,
“& þey schul euere wexe þe lesse.”
To þat conseil he gaf god tent,
& to Londone right fro þenne he went.
Þe folk hadde sorewe & wo,
Þe drede þat al to deþe schold go;
Þat hadde castele, þider þey drow;
Þat non ne hadde, þey hem slow;
To holes & hilles men crep for nede;
Þat sykerest was, had ful gret drede.
Þe drede þat al to deþe schold go;
Þat hadde castele, þider þey drow;
Þat non ne hadde, þey hem slow;
To holes & hilles men crep for nede;
Þat sykerest was, had ful gret drede.
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