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 bello inter Arthurum & Modredum traditorem. |
 | The Story of England |  |
De bello inter Arthurum & Modredum traditorem.
Arthur dide his flete eft dight,To Romeneye þey redde þem right;
But er þey were of schipes nomen,
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& letted hym to haue entre,
Þey mighte nought come vp fro þe se.
But Arthures men mighte wyþ trauaille;
ffalse Moddred þey gonne assaille;
& he a-geyn was ful bold.
ffor he hadde so siker hold,
Arthures folk were more schent;
ffor to þer schipes þey gaf þer tent
To stere þem boþe fer & hende,
Þey tenden nought hem self to fende;
Þey mighte hem nought fro arewes couere
While þey stode on bankes ouer;
Þer-fore were manie at meschef,
& þer lost was more gref.
As þey to londe fro botes stirte,
Many were slayn, & fele were hyrte,
& mescheuously þen fel such cas
Þat sire Wawayn slayn þer was,
& sire Agusel of Scotland
By hym lay ded on his hand;—
Þe soþe ne saw y write, ne how,
Wheþer þat bowe or swerd hem slow;—
& manye oþere were slayn þore,
Þat Arthur pleyned hem ful sore,
But non by þe tenþe del
As Wawayn & Agusel:
He had so mikel sorewe for þo
Þat he þoughte in non oþer wo;
Þeir sorewe myghte he neuere furgete;
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But whan his folk land had taken,
A party gan his sorewe ouer schaken;
Þen myghte Moddred haue no duree,
Ne no fot helden his meynee;
Þaw þey were fele, þey were nought prest,
Þey had be norisched in pes & rest,
Þey couþe nought fighte, ne to-gydere wone,
Ne at tyme stande ne schone,
Als Arthures folk in werre couþe,
Þat had hit vsed fro tyme of ȝouþe.
| The Story of England | |