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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Diuisio Regni inter Belynum & Brennum. |
 | The Story of England |  |
Diuisio Regni inter Belynum & Brennum.
Belyn and Brenne parted þe londOn þys manere, als y hit fond:
Brenne schold of Belyn holde
His lond, fro Humber northward he tolde;
Ilk del in-tyl Katenesse
Held Brenne of Belyn, more ne lesse;
Seruise schold he do þer fore,
He & hyse for euere more.
Belyn held til his partie,
Logers, Wales, & Cornubye.
So þey helden hit fyue ȝer
In pes & in faire maner;
Bot contek & couetyse
Out of þe north wyl alwey ryse,
ffor þus men seide by elde dawe,
& ȝit hit ys a comun sawe:
“Souþerne der gos Northward,
“& Norþerne werre to þe south ys hard;
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“Non dredeþ, oþer þey come nought nerre;
“Bot norþerne [werre] þat ys þe doute,
“& southern der þe norþ dos loute.”
In Brennes tyme, als ȝe may here,
Hit ferde in þys ilke manere;
Abouten Brenne were lozengeours,
Bakbiteres & werreours:
On was þer þat ful euele spak
To whette Brenne to reyse contak;
Þus he spak al wiþ tresoun:—
Y gyue swyche Crystes malisoun!—
| The Story of England | |