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 gloria Curye Arthury. |
 | The Story of England |  |
De gloria Curye Arthury.
What knyght had ben in al þe werld,Had his los be neuere so wel byherd,
Were he ffrenche, were he Bretoun,
Normaund, fflemyng, or Burgoiloun,
Spaynard, Gascoyn, or Angeuyn,
Scot, Irische, Pykard, or Peyteuyn,
Daneys, Norneys, or Selander,
Henner, ffryson, or Katelaner,
Arragoneys, Lombard, or Brabaunt,
Prouyncial, Nauerner, or Alemaunt,
Of wham he held his fe, or how,
ffro þe Weste [or] Est vntil Moungow,
He was told of non honour
Bot he had ben wyþ kyng Arthour,
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Cloþ or queyntise, þat knowe myght be.
Of ferne landes many on namen,
& til þat court for worschyp camen,
To lere honur & curtesy,
& here þe prowesse of knyghtes hardy,
& to here þe faire gestes
þat knyghtes broughte & telde at festes.
Somme come to se his faire wonyng,
& se & here þere selcouþ þynge;
Pouere men, þey louede hym alle,
& riche honured hym in halle;
ffele kynges of ferne stede
Sent hym gyftes for doute & drede;
Þey wyst hit wel, ȝyf þey wold ryde,
His werre durste no kyng abide;
Kynges aforced þer casteles aboute,
ffor alle landes of hym hadde doute,
þat ȝyf he come, he scholde þem lese,
Or gyue hym truwage as be wold chese;
þer-fore ilkon at þer myght
Aforced þer cites, & wel þeym dight.
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