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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Hic ordinatur Tabula Rotunda. |
 | The Story of England |  |
Hic ordinatur Tabula Rotunda.
For his barons þat were so bolde,Þat al þe werld pris of þem tolde,
ffor noman wyste who was best,
Ne in armes doughtiest,
Dide Arthur ordeyne þe round table
Þat ȝit men telle of many a fable.
At þer bord in tyme of mete,
Alle þis noble knyghte schold ete;
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Bot alle euene rounde aboute;
Non sat first, ne non sat last,
But per by per, in euen cast;
Non sat heye, non sat lowe,
But alle euenlyk men myghte þem knowe;
Non was set at non ende,
But alle a round, for alle were hende;
Non wyste whiche of pris most was,
Þer-fore þey sete alle in compas;
Alle at ones doun þey seten,
At ones ros when þey hadde eten;
Alle were þey serued of o seruise,
Euenly, alle of on assise.
| The Story of England | |