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 |
Hic misit Arthurus in obuiam sex mille armatos. |
The Story of England | ||
Hic misit Arthurus in obuiam sex mille armatos.
Arthur our kyng, þat was at home,Wondred þe messegers nought ne come;
Sex þousand sent he for drede,
To socoure þeym ȝyf þey had nede.
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& þere wyþstode for to abyde.
After þer messegers þey gaf þer tent,
Ȝyf þey of hem had any glent;
Þey seye gret folk in partyes sprede,
Þat folewede þre þat to þe wode ȝede.
Þen perceyued knyghtes & squiers
Þat þo þre were messegers
Þat þey come fore, & after sought.
Pryuely þey stode, auised þer þought,
Siþen þey gaue a cri ful gret,
At ones vpon þe Romayns þei schet,
Al vnwarned in þer vys.
Þenne sprad þe Romayns in partis;
Somme þat fledde were ouer-taken,
& somme prisoned, & halden waken,
Somme slayn & beten doun,
fful fewe were leten to raunsoun;
Wiþ mikel wo any ascaped,
Þat he ne was fruscht & al to-fraped.
The Story of England | ||