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 donis Arthury. |
 | The Story of England |  |
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De donis Arthury.
Þre daies þe feste sat—I trowe neuere non was lyke þat—
& when hit cam to þe Wodnesday,
Þat þe people schuld parte, to wende þer way,
Þe kyng þem gaf his giftes riche,
Þo þat til his seruise were briche,
& for þer seruises held hem at fees;
& somme he gaf burwes & cites;
Bischopes & abbotes, auaunced þer rent
Er þan þey fro his court[e] went;
And oþere þat of strange landes were,
Þat for worschip were come þere,
He gaf þem stede, & coupes of golde,
& oþere iuels, þe beste on molde;
Somme gaf he hauberks, & somme grehoundes,
Somme riche robes, wyþ many poundes,
Somme manteles wyþ veyr & grys,
& somme masers of riche pris,
& somme helmes, & somme hauberkes;
& gode palefrays he gaf to clerkes;
Bowes, arewes, he gaf to archers,
Rounsyes gode vnto squiers;
Som gaf he plates & swerdes of plyght,
Somme gyrdles & knyues ful richely dight;
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& somme pelure of fyn eremin.
Vnto disours þat telde þem gestes,
Gaf he cloþes, or wylde bestes,
Lyouns, lepards, þat wold þem take,
Beres & apes boþe white & blake;
Was þer non ought worthy
Þat he ne gaf hym ful bleþely,
& after þat his astat was lyft,
Als he rewarded hym of gyft.
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