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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Hic venerunt Nuncii coram Inperatore. |
 | The Story of England |  |
441
Hic venerunt Nuncii coram Inperatore.
By-fore þe Emperour come alle þre,& seide þeir message as men auise,
Geryn & Beofs boþe ful wys;
And þe Emperour seide hem his auis,
& spak ageyn þeym boþe fast.
But þenne spak Wawayn atte last:
“We ar come fro þe kyng Arthour
“To þe, sire Lucius, Emperour;
“We are his knyghte to lyue & deye;
“His message y schal þe holy seye.
“Þys ys þe message þat he þe sendes:
“He comaundes þe, & defendes,
“Þat þou of ffraunce nought entremet,
“Ne no fot þideward ferrer set;
“ffor Fraunce he holdes as his demeynes,
“& euere schal, for alle Romeynes.
“Ȝyf þou of hym wilt ought chalenge,
“Þorow bataille wil he hym venge.
“Þorow bataille first wonne ȝe ffraunce,
“& les hit after þorow a chaunce;
“A-geyn Arthur ȝe hit les
“Þorow bataille, as þe party ches,
“& now ys holde as his conqueste,
“& schal while þe sonne ryseþ est.
“& ȝyf þou sette chalange þer-ynne,
“Þorow bataille byhoueþ þe hit wynne;
“Þorow bataille schal hit be dereynt,
“Þy chalangyng & al þy pleynt,
442
“Com to morn, & prof þy day,
“& wyn hit ȝyf þou wynne schal!
“Or al to lese, or wynne hit al!
“Ȝyf þou wilt nought turne a-geyn,
“Al þy dwellyng is in veyn,
“ffor þou hast lorn, & we haue wonnen,
“So ferre we haue þy lond ouer ronnen.”
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