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 obsidione ffrolly per Arthurum. |
 | The Story of England |  |
De obsidione ffrolly per Arthurum.
ffrolle fledde faste to Parys,Hit was þe strengest cite of pris;
He knew no bettere recet to haue
Ageyn Arthur, þat myghte hym saue;
Night & day dide his trauaille
To warnische þe toun wyþ vitaille.
Mykel folk to Paris fledde,
& Arthur þider faste hym spedde;
& Arthur vnderstod ful wel
Þe purueaunce of ffrolle ilka del;
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His purueaunce for to lette.
Arthur byseged hym so streit
Þat ffrolle mighte wyþ no deseit
Of vitaille helpe hym at nede,
By londe ne by water lede
Ner al a monþe, as men teld,
Þat ffrolle þe cite of Paris held;
& al þat tyme Arthur þer lay,
He ne remued night ne day.
So mykel folk was þer-ynne,
Þe raþer bigan þer fight to gynne;
Hit was despended, þat þey in drow;
Þey hadde no tyme to drawe inow;
ffor hunger gan þey make mone,
Men, women, & childre, ilkone.
ȝyf ffrolle wylde as þey wolde,
Þe toun had ben ful sone ȝolde;
Þey preied ffrolle þorow þe burghe
To make pes wyþ kyng Arthurghe.
ffrolle saw þey pleyned þem sore,
& þer vitaille was namore,
& seye wel þey alle wylde
Þe toun vntil Arthur ȝylde;
& [þat] þought hym schame & vyl;
Hym self had leuere be in peril,
& auenture hym his deþ to take,
Þan wyþ his wille Parys fursake;
“Strengþe of body or wille y fonde.”
Tyl Arþur he sente his sonde:
‘ȝyf þat he wilde bytwyxt þem to
‘To-gedere fighte, wyþoute mo,
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‘Or slayn, or wyþ force nome,
‘Tak hym þe lond til his wylle,
‘So þat þe folk nought ne spille.’
Þat bode cam Arþur wel to hert;
His gloue he gaf vp al so smert,
& tok hostage o boþe partys,
Of Arthures host & of Parys,
Þe bataille scholde be in a pleyne
Bytwyxt two watres, Marne & Seyne.
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