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 |
 |
|
De diuersis Ludis ibidem. |
 | The Story of England |  |
De diuersis Ludis ibidem.
When þey had eten, & schulde rise,
Ilk man dight hym on þat wyse
Þat he best couþe inne playe.
In to þe feld þey tok her waye,
& parted hem in stedes sers
To pleye ilkon on þer maners:
Somme iusted, þat couþe & myght,
ffor to schewe þer stedes wyght;
Somme skipte, & keste þe ston,
& somme skirmed ful god won,
Dartes schoten, launces cast,
& þo þat couþe, wrastled fast.
Ilkon pleide þe gamen þey couþe,
Þat mest had vsed in his ȝouþe;
Þat best dide in his pleynge,
He was brought by-fore þe kynge,
& þe kyng gaf hym mede,
Þat he was paied er þat he ȝede.
Ilk man dight hym on þat wyse
Þat he best couþe inne playe.
In to þe feld þey tok her waye,
& parted hem in stedes sers
To pleye ilkon on þer maners:
Somme iusted, þat couþe & myght,
ffor to schewe þer stedes wyght;
Somme skipte, & keste þe ston,
& somme skirmed ful god won,
Dartes schoten, launces cast,
& þo þat couþe, wrastled fast.
Ilkon pleide þe gamen þey couþe,
Þat mest had vsed in his ȝouþe;
Þat best dide in his pleynge,
He was brought by-fore þe kynge,
& þe kyng gaf hym mede,
Þat he was paied er þat he ȝede.
Þe ladies vpon þe walles stey
ffor to biholde al þer pley;
Who so hadde lemman þan in place,
Toward hym turned boþe eye & face;
On boþe sides ilk oþer byhelde,
Þo on þe walles, þey in þe felde.
Iogelours were þere ynowe,
Þat þer queyntise forþ drowe;
Many mynestrales þorow out þe toun,
Som blewe trompe & clarioun,
Harpes, pypes, & tabours,
ffyþeles, sitoles, sautreours,
Belles, chymbes, & symfan,
& oþere y-nowe, þat nemne y ne can;
Gestours, singers, þat merye sang,
So gret murþe was, þat ouer al rang;
Dysours y-nowe tolde þem fables,
& somme pleide wyþ des & tables,
& somme pleide at hasard fast,
& lore & wonne wiþ chaunce of cast;
Somme þat wolde nought of þe tabler,
Drowe forthe meyne for þe cheker
Wyþ draughtes queinte of knight & rok,
& oþer sleyghtes ilk oþer byswok;
At ilka mattyng þei seide ‘chek;’
Þat most þer loste, sat y þe blek.
ffor to biholde al þer pley;
Who so hadde lemman þan in place,
Toward hym turned boþe eye & face;
On boþe sides ilk oþer byhelde,
398
Iogelours were þere ynowe,
Þat þer queyntise forþ drowe;
Many mynestrales þorow out þe toun,
Som blewe trompe & clarioun,
Harpes, pypes, & tabours,
ffyþeles, sitoles, sautreours,
Belles, chymbes, & symfan,
& oþere y-nowe, þat nemne y ne can;
Gestours, singers, þat merye sang,
So gret murþe was, þat ouer al rang;
Dysours y-nowe tolde þem fables,
& somme pleide wyþ des & tables,
& somme pleide at hasard fast,
& lore & wonne wiþ chaunce of cast;
Somme þat wolde nought of þe tabler,
Drowe forthe meyne for þe cheker
Wyþ draughtes queinte of knight & rok,
& oþer sleyghtes ilk oþer byswok;
At ilka mattyng þei seide ‘chek;’
Þat most þer loste, sat y þe blek.
| The Story of England | |