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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Responcio Lucii Inperatoris. |
 | The Story of England |  |
Responcio Lucii Inperatoris.
Þenne seyde þemperour to þise þre,“To turne ageyn, hit schal nought be.
“ffraunce ys myn, þider wol y go;
“ffor ȝif y lese hit, me schal be wo;
“& ȝif y ha lore hit at vnskyle,
“Y schal hit wynne eft when God wyle.”
Þus he seide, for wel he wende
Þey hadde no force Fraunce to fende.
A knyght þer was, hight Quyntalyn,
Syb þemperour, & his cosyn,
Contrariously to Wawayn spak,
& vyleynlike he gan hym lak:
“Bretons,” he saide, “ar bot auaunturs,
“& manace mikel at rebours;
“Þer bostful wordes ar nought to seke,
“Þer dedes ar nought worþ a leke.
“Ȝe manace ay ‘hit schal ben so;’
“Ȝour dedes ar noughte þat ȝe do.
“Al day bostfuly ȝe þrete;
“Doþ hit in dede! manace ȝe lete!”
Wawayn hym listed, & gram low,
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& smot his hed of þer al quit,
& bad his felawes horse þem tyt,
And seyde vnto þe Romaynes alle,
“Bretons schul rise, & ȝe schul falle!
“Ȝow were wel bettere at Rome burgh,
“Þan reyse baner a-geyn Arthurgh!”
Þer-wyþ sire Wawayn his hors hent,
& homward alle þre þey went.
| The Story of England | |