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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Arthurus misit nuncios ad Inperatorem. |
 | The Story of England |  |
Arthurus misit nuncios ad Inperatorem.
When þe castel was al dight,& defensable for kyng & knyght,
He ordeynd messegers to wende,
To þe Emperour he þoughte to sende,
Two erles þat were of noble lynage,
& wel spekynge, of god langage:
Geryn of Chartres, a man of pris,
Wiþ Beofs of Hamptone, an oþer ful wys;
Wiþ þise two wente sire Wawayn,
ffor he spak wel þe speche Romayn;
ffor he had longe wiþ hem ben,
& his connynge þey hadde wel sen;
ffor þat skile Arthur hym sent,
Þat he wist best what þeir speche ment;
& Arthur taughte þem þus to seye,
When þey schulde wende þer weye:
“Sey þemperour he go to Rome,
“& to ffraunce non hender come,
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“Ne chalange hit as man Romayn;
“Þo ar myne; & myne schul be;
“Romayn of þeym schal neuere haue fee.
“Ȝyf he wil nought turne ageyn,
“Byd hem abide þe bataille pleyn,
“& auenture at alle chaunce
“To dereyne þe ryght of Rome & ffraunce.
“As longe as y may ffraunce saue,
“Þe Romayns schul hit neuere haue.
“Wyþ bataille, sey hym, y hit wan,
“& schal defend hit fro ilka man.
“Wiþ force, þer-of had þey first fee,
“Wyþ force þey les hit a-geyns me;
“& now wiþ bataille schal hit be sene
“Who schal haue hit quyt & clene.”
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