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 admiracione Lacus Lumine in Scocia. |
 | The Story of England |  |
De admiracione Lacus Lumine in Scocia.
In þat louh ar sexti iles—
In þo þe dwelte longe whyles—
& ilk an yle haþ a rocher
& a water dep & cler.
In þo roches foules reste,
& ernes brede, & make þer neste;
ȝyf any sorewe or any wo,
Or any werre or any þro,
Schal in þat lond tyde or gynne,
Alle þe ernes þat brede þer-inne
Schul crie & ȝelle, & make rere,
Þat al þe contre aboute schal here,
& feighte to-gydere four daies or fyue,
& al to-pulle þe feþeres, & ryue.
Þys louh, Luminie men calle,
Sexti watres þer-inne falle,
& alle dwelle þer-inne ilkon;
Non rennes out to þe se but on.
Wyþynne þis lough had þey dwellynge,
Þe Scottes, for Arthur oure kynge.
Arthur byseged alle þe loughes,
& gadered botes, chalans, & trowes,
Þat non myghte brynge þem ne gyue
Mete ne drynke, wyþal to lyue.
So wyþynne a lytel while
So mykel hunger was yn þe ile,
Men sey by hundredes & þousandes
Ly ded for hunger on þe sandes;
Men seye þem go & falle right doun
ffor hunger, þat was lord of toun.
In þo þe dwelte longe whyles—
& ilk an yle haþ a rocher
& a water dep & cler.
In þo roches foules reste,
& ernes brede, & make þer neste;
ȝyf any sorewe or any wo,
Or any werre or any þro,
357
Alle þe ernes þat brede þer-inne
Schul crie & ȝelle, & make rere,
Þat al þe contre aboute schal here,
& feighte to-gydere four daies or fyue,
& al to-pulle þe feþeres, & ryue.
Þys louh, Luminie men calle,
Sexti watres þer-inne falle,
& alle dwelle þer-inne ilkon;
Non rennes out to þe se but on.
Wyþynne þis lough had þey dwellynge,
Þe Scottes, for Arthur oure kynge.
Arthur byseged alle þe loughes,
& gadered botes, chalans, & trowes,
Þat non myghte brynge þem ne gyue
Mete ne drynke, wyþal to lyue.
So wyþynne a lytel while
So mykel hunger was yn þe ile,
Men sey by hundredes & þousandes
Ly ded for hunger on þe sandes;
Men seye þem go & falle right doun
ffor hunger, þat was lord of toun.
Gwylomar, þe Irische kynge,
Com ouer þe se wyþ many lordyng
To helpe þe Saxons in þer nede.
Lytel, y wene, myghte þey spede!
He aryued vp by þat cost
Þer Arthur lay, & al his host.
Arthur & hyse a-geyn hym nomen,
Bot þe Irische wer sone ouer-comen;
He dide þe Irische wyþ force to fle
A-geyn til Irland, ouer þe se.
Com ouer þe se wyþ many lordyng
To helpe þe Saxons in þer nede.
Lytel, y wene, myghte þey spede!
He aryued vp by þat cost
Þer Arthur lay, & al his host.
358
Bot þe Irische wer sone ouer-comen;
He dide þe Irische wyþ force to fle
A-geyn til Irland, ouer þe se.
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