 | Alexander-Cassamus fragment |  |
51
[[Alexander-Cassamus]]
1
Cassamus roos aftre this talkynge,And took yn counsel Ydore and Betys,
Chargynge hem, they shulde aboue al thynge
Of this presoner be right war and wys
And do hym chere, & wyth that maide of pris,
That ys faire Ede, make hym aqweynted be.
“Sere,” saide they bothe, “al yowr hole devys
Shul we performe; þat shul ȝe knowe & se.”
2
Aftre this tale Cassamus wyth-owte leteTook his leue, & doun the chambre ys go.
These fresh[e] ladyes & these lordes ben sette
On kussynys of silk to-gedir to and to,
Spekynge of loue & othir thyngges mo.
So they acorde to chese hem now a kyng,
That yn here questyouns trow-þe shuld hem do;
That shal he en-sur & spare for no thynge.
3
Now haue they chose her kynge for to beIn questyouns of loue Betys, be his name.
To the goddys aboue ensured now ys he,
That ys to seye, to Neptymus & Dyame.
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Trewly to juge among hem yn thys cas;
And at þe begynnyng of this fresh[e] game
A corowne anon vp-on his hed set was,
4
W[h]iche that Ydore had mad, this mayd[e] fre,Of roshes & floures as fresh as ys [a] mede.
W[h]an Betys seiȝ þat corownyd þus was he,
Hys astat vp-on hym to take tho gan he spede
And to hem saide: “Loke ȝe now alle, tak hede
That my comaundementes ȝe trewly obbeye.”
“ȝis,” they seyde alle wyth-owte drede,
“That ȝe comaunde vs, þe trowþe shul we seye.”
5
Thys yonge kyng sette hym yn his seeAnd gan comaunde as [I] shal yow devisse
Of thesse maydenys he seyde ferst to Edee:
“ȝe shul seye trowþe & gabbe yn no wyse!
Be the fors of vertu of the gret emprisse,
That to this pley longeth, ȝe shul to me be trewe!
Tel me, yf euere ȝe felte vp-on yow ryse
The sorwes of loue & euelys þat hym doth sue!”
6
“Sere,” sayde this maide, “I felte hem neuere ȝytte;But of thow[ȝ]tes may I not wel say nay:
I haue hem felte—how ofte, yt passeth my wyt—
Trewly to telle yow, be god & be my fay.”
“Be god,” saide Phesonas, “ȝit dar I right wel say,
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For ȝe loue on, as ȝe best can or may,
Wyth al yowr herte, I dar my trowþe e[nsu]re.”
7
“Sere,” saide this mayde, “I can say yow no more:Hym that I loue, shal I not refuce.
An hundred þousend thankynges now I ȝeue therfore
To blessed Venus; And thus I me excuse
As towechyng loue.” & þer-wyth gan she to muse,
And sore syȝȝed, þat al men myghte wel se,
That fro louys donger she myghte here not excuse.
And wyth that syȝe al rody tho wax she.
8
Here blod ther wyth stere her bewte gan to sprynge;She semed fayrer a gret del than before.
Bawdrayn here beheld; he thow[ȝ]te so fayr a thynge
Hadde he neuer seen seth ferst that he was bore.
Here bewte his herte wyth loue hath smet so sore,
That his desir ys fully hir to serue.
His loue to here en-cresyth so more & more,
That he hir seruaunt muste be tyl that he sterue.
9
Than saide Betys, þat kyng was of that play:“Fair suster Phesone, haue ȝe ȝit ony loue?
I charge ȝow, the sothe ȝe say me be the fay
ȝe owe to Mars, owr souerain lord aboue,
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“Brothir,” she seide, “no man hath Joye of me,
As towchyng loue, þe mow[n]taunce of my gloue,
Ne I loue no man, as euere mote I the.”
10
W[h]an Betys herde his sustre PhesoneSpeke yn this wysse, he gan sone aspye,
That she bar hevy herte sum-w[h]at to Edee,
And that she was smet gretly wyth Jelusye,
W[h]er-of In his herte he lowȝh wyth-owte lye.
Than cleped he the Bawdrayn & to hym god-ly seide:
“Ser, ȝe muste the sothe sey me trewly
Wyth-owtyn excusacioun yn eny wysse aleyde;
11
And be the vertu of the play, & be the feyth ȝe oweTo me am yowr kyng, ȝe shul trewly seye:
On w[h]at persone on lyue—ȝe muste be-knowe—
Ys yowr herte most set, yn loue to obbeye,
And alle othir wymen for hir to reneye?
I charge ȝow to telle vs; yn no wyse ȝe ne faille!”
“Ser,” seyde the Bawdrayn, “þowȝ I shulde þerfore dye,
I shal seye verry trowȝe, [t]howȝ it me neuere availle.
12
And be the god in heuene, þat heyest syt aboue,And be the feyth I owe to ȝowr realte,
Myn herte neuere obbeyed no womman ȝit to loue,
Saue þat men haue seyd this maide, fair Edee,
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Wyl take me to her seruaunt & now wyth al my myght
I ȝeue here al my herte.” þan sayde þe mayde fre:
“Yf [I] ȝow refuced, it wer aȝens al right.
13
I wyl ȝow not refuse, but take ȝow as ȝe seyeAnd for that ȝe haue said, an hundred þousend sithe
Wyth al my herte yow thanke.” Than said þe kyng: “Yn feye,
Of this fair a-qweyntaunce eche man may be blythe,
For loue be-tween these tweyne a-weyward lest not wrythe.”
Than he loked asyde and ful goodly saide:
“Fair maide Ydore, sey me now as swythe
As towechyng to my-self, w[h]o hat[h] ȝowe longe obbeyde!
14
Swete herte, yn loue tawȝt so parfethly,Comforte yowr loue with a sely graunt!”
“Sere,” saide this maide, “I telle yow trewly
As towchyng this mater, I may make avaunt,
To be-come a louer ȝit was I neuere obbeysaunt
In thowȝt ne yn wyl, that dar I wel saye.
And to whom I graunte, I shal make a conuenaunt
Hym trewly to loue and lowly obbeye;
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15
For w[h]an I make that graunt, it shal be do frely,That wyth that graunt I ȝeue herte and body yn fere;
Shal I neuere to my loue gouerne vntrew[e]ly,
But wyth body and herte make hym good chere,
And hym yk therto yn the best manere.
Thus shal I me gouuerne, what þat euere he be;
And that hym list teche I wyl gladly lere;
For fully hym to plesse, I wyl obbeye me.
16
Now let al this passe & speke of the turnementThat shal be be-twexe vs & Claruus, þe kynge,
How ȝe shul begynne wyth prowesse & hardyment
Knytly to mayntene ȝowr louys aboue al thynge.
God may anothir day vs wel to-gedir brynge,
W[h]er-that we shul wel holde our parlement;
And yf y shal hoppe algate on louys rynge,
I wyl make my graunte, w[h]yl ȝe be al present,
17
That I shal loue yow first of eny oþer wyght;This graunt here I make afore ȝou yn þis place.”
“Nowe be the god,” seyde þe Bawdreyn, “þat is ful of myght,
Her is a fair conuenaunt, &, be goddes grace,
As to yowr enemyes a right hey-ȝe manace;
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Resayueth her curteys payment, er ȝe further passe!”
“That wyl I wyt[h] good herte,” [seyde] þe kyng, “I ȝu plyght.”
18
“I prey god,” seide Bawdrayn, “for his grete myght,Kepe al my frendys from yowr en-countrynge;
ȝowr loue shal make yow proue so worthi a knyght,
That many a good man to deth shul ȝe brynge.”
“Be my trowþe,” seyde Betys, “I shal now saye a thynge
That yn uvel tyme Claruus sesed owr contre.”
“Ser,” seyd the Bawdrayn, “her-of shal man-hod sprynge.”
“In good fayth,” seyde Betys, “I trowe men shal þat se.
19
For he that right wel loueth, manhod wyl desir,In hope of his loue more thank for to haue.
W[h]an I my loue se, my herte goth on fire;
Sum worshyp for to wynne—also god me saue!—
My enemyes in the feld than fowle wil I depraue.”
“Ser,” seide þe Bawdrayn, “al this men shal se,
Loue muste mak yow wod or ellys for to raue.
A strok of yowr hond shal peyse mor than thre
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20
Of othir mennys hondys.” “Nay, ser,” than seide he,“W[h]an my trewe herte to serue loue hath talent,
I leue yn gret hop, that my lady fre
Of here herte to me wil make a fair present:
Than may happe fro me a word of avauntement
Sedenly to breke, vn-avysed and vn-war!
ȝit who-so loue entierly, I telle verrament,
He shal be stered to manhod, assaye yf he dar.
21
For w[h]an an herte yn loue trewly begynnyth to roteHe muste lerne to suffre many a tribulacioun:
Joye, sorwe, coold & hete wyth-owte bote.
Of the gracys of loue I stonde yn presumpcyoun,
And yf eny man to me axe þis qwestyoun,
How long I haue perseueryd thus in loue daunce,
I cowde hym wel telle, wyth-owte examinacioun,
Fro my ȝowthe to thys day þis hath be my chau[n]ce.
22
ȝit hadde I neuer cause—to seye yow trewly—To wyth-drawe my talent. ȝit preye I alle þat ȝe
For-ȝeue me this wordys, if it be not couertly
Spoke yn yowr presence.” And than seyde Ydore:
“Sere, these wordys avysyly not seide be;
Yf ȝe loue, kep yowr loue trewly, I yow rede;
How ȝe wil yow bere I hope we shul se— [OMITTED]
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23
My loue ek ther-wyth wyth-owtyn ony repentyng.“Lady,” seide this kyng, wyth herte glad and lusty,
“Thys ȝifte I reseyue, w[h]ich ys to me A thyng
I wolde neythir ȝeue ne selle for al the good, trewly,
Ne richesse yn this wor[l]d—I telle yow trewly—
That eny man weldyth.” “For god,” seide Bawdrain þan,
“This play goth forth, and that right gentyly;
This yifte shal make ȝow right a lusty man.
24
ȝe haue conquered more yn this fair[e] graunt,Than euere loste Pryam yn his distruccioun.”
“Sere,” seide Betys, “thys ilke same avau[n]t
Ryght sone of yowr-self seye ȝe shul inoun.”
“Betis,” seyde the Bawdrayn, “this ys my entencioun:
Here to serue trewly, þat me hath hurt so sore
And wondyd throwȝ my herte wyth-owtyn sanacioun
Of ony othir on lyue, but she list do the nore.
25
Ther is non on lyue, may now be my leche,But she that hath me hurt so sotylye.
She is not fer owte of this place to seche;
For she is sekir of this companye,
W[h]iche my herte hath t[h]relled so sore throwȝ my eye
That I must dye, but she do me grace.
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To my lyues ende ys but a ryght short space.”
26
In the chambre of Venus, mad of fyn entaylle,Depeynted with coloures of golde & siluer fyne,
Was ther grete Joye mad, wyth-owte eny faylle,
Among these lusty folkes, who-so it cowde [dy]vyne,
As thorowȝ amerous wordis & lokys þat mad enclyne
Eche of hem to other, þat hade chose her make,
Saue only Betys sustir, fayre Phesonyne,
As for souuerain lady no man had ȝit her take.
27
ȝit was she fair, & curtays, & ek debonayre,A maide right wel tawȝt, & of mery chere;
For to speke of bewte, she passed al þe fayre,
Also of connyng, porte, and ek manere.
Venus as ȝit hadde ordeynyd her no fere;
She stood abydynge vp-on the pourvyaunce
Of Fortune & her w[h]el; she lyst not to lere
Recclesly to hoppe forth yn louys daunce.
28
The Bawdrayn tho began, at thys newe feste,To speke to the kyng yn this maner wisse:
“Sere, of yowr lordship ȝe must my requeste
Graunte at þis tyme, as I shal yow devysse.
In Bawdre & yn Mede, who-so take þis empryse
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Thowȝ ȝowr herte aȝens þis ordena[u]nce Aryse—
ȝit must ȝe folwe the pley of companye:
29
For off this pley it is the ordenaunce,W[h]an the kyng hath asked al [h]is barone
W[h]at that hym list, þan must his puruyau[n]ce
Be mad yn this wysse: he must hem al agree;
For they wyl thynke they owe as proue be
Of hys preue conseil, as wel as he of here;
Her demaundes to assoyle he must be as fre,
As they were to hym her counsel for to lere.”
30
The kyng answered: “I graunte ȝou echoneAl yowr askyng.” þan seyde this Bawdrayne:
“Sere, than shul ȝe sumw[h]at haue to done;
The trowþe of my demaunde ȝe shal yn no wyse leyne!
Be yowre real corowne, ȝe shul me say certayne,
W[h]iche of too thyngges most plesaunce yow may do!
ȝe mow not spar the trowþe hir-of to sayne
Here among vs alle; be yowr oth loke ȝe do so!
31
Thys is to mene: the sighte of YdoreFace be face, and that day be day,
Or ellis the t[h]owȝtis that swete & lusty be,
That cominly these loueres ofte doth dismaye.
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Seye me the trowþe, as ȝe be trew[e] kyng!”
“Certes,” seyde the kyng, “I wil the trowthe say;
I shal not spare for non erthly thyng.
32
The grete and heyȝe desyres & thowȝtis plesantEn-force me to loue that ilke fa[ire]wyȝt
More than to be euere wyt[h] hir presant,
W[h]er as I may euere haue the faire sight
Of her fresche face so rosy-hewed bright.
This is myn answore & resoun, as god me saue.”
“In god feith,” seyd the Bawdrayn, “& be god of myght,
Hir-yn fynde I no resoun I-non how ȝe it haue.
33
I wolde, yowr cause ȝe wolde me pleynely telleWhi yowre t[h]owȝtis more plese yow than the syght;
For me thynkit[h], yn loue the syght ys verry well.
As towechyng my part—my trowthe I yow plite—
Me were leuere a goodly look of hir eyen bryght
Of hir tha[t] y loue best, þan al that I kan thyngke.
For plesaunt thowȝtis vanche awey as lyghte
That is brent owt; othir wyse wil I not thynke.”
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34
“In my wit,” as now þe kyng saide, “I graunte wel,How euere yowre louyng be, it is no-thyng myne.
Sum-thyng may yow plese that plesed me neuer a del.
Ther-fore yn diuers causes men diuersely dyvyne.
My cause yn this matere treuly wil I dyffyne:
When I beholde the face so whit, & rosy heve,
The mouthe, the chyn, þe throte so bryght & fine
Of her that I loue best, to whom I muste be trewe,
35
Than am I so distraut, I can ryght no-thyng se;I fele not, I here not, my wyttys fro me be went.
In here presence howe long that euere I be,
Euer thus I fare; wher-for, yn myn entent,
The look abayschith loueres, she beyng present,
Wher-fore me thynkith the look as than the Joye
With-drawith from the louere; þus as Is he but shent.
Wher-fore me thynkith, the syght causith ennoye.
36
But when yn my chamber I am my-self alone,The dorys and the wyndowys fynly & faste shitte,
Than wil I bethynke me w[h]at is best to done.
For of my swete thowtis þan shal [me] no man lette,
Than shal I thynke, how I gouuernyd bette
May be the next tyme, þat I my lady se,
& how I shal be-haue me, when we next be met.
Thus my swete thowȝtis heȝely conforte me.
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37
Than shal I stodye, w[h]at yn wysse I mayTo hir my grevys owte, þat I þus for her fele.
Thus I thynke and better thynke al the long day;
Myn eyyn & my herte hir pryntith euery dele;
For me thynkith, hir persone than se I wondir welle.
Thus with my thowȝtis I glade me and pleye;
Of al the day thurwe-owte kepe I no better mele,
Than on hir to t[h]ynke; that I yow sey.
38
The longere I am from hir—I sey yow verry trowþe—The more god of loue than doth me werreye.
Now lord, of thi grace, putte [yn] hir sum rowethe,
For I am [w]holly herys for euer to obbeye.
I wolde she were now my, t[h]owȝ I shulde for hir deye;
Thus wake I yn loue; Trowþe is þat I telle.”
“Sere,” sayd the Bawdrayn, “I can not wyth-seye;
My questyoun haue ȝe assoiled, me thynkyth & þat ryght wel.”
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39
“Lady,” seyde the Bawdrayn, “ȝe mowe now, & ȝe like,Demaundys to the kyng make, ryght as ȝe leste.
Good answeres wele he ȝeue, þowȝ he sore syke;
As towchyng loue god resones and of the beste
He can seye to yow; make now ȝo[w]re requeste!”
“Sere,” seyd Phesonas, “& sum-w[h]at shal I seye;
And be hys Estat real I hym amoneste
To sey verry trowþe; he schal his hert obeye!”
40
Thanne ganne she here dresse, smylyng wommanly.Here beaute wolde haue stered ony man on lyue
Here fully to a loued; she loked so de-boneyrely.
These wordes to the kyng she saide tho as blyue:
“Sere,” she saide, “look ȝe to me trewly shryue,
And to my demaunde ȝe answere be the fay
ȝe owe to yowr corowne; & wyth no willes dryue
Awey the sekir trowþe! Hereth that I say!
41
Whiche ere the too thyngis þat longeth vn-to loue,That most don yow ese, w[h]en ȝe haue heuynese?”
“Be the myȝty Venus, that syt in heuene aboue,
Hope & thynkyng, when I am yn destresse,
Ofte me vesyte & don her besynesse
Me to conforte; therfor must I hem preyse.
For when despeir doth me gret durese,
Then lusty thynkyng doth me great eyse,
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And swete hope sauerous comyth me to conforte;And they weyue yn myn herte acorde;
They don al hir bessynese, me for to desporte.
Than yn al the wor[l]d ys ther no greter lorde,
Me thynkith, than I am. My herte þan doth recorde,
Al the heiere bewete þan yn her body doth pere.
The grettest felycyte þat reyneth yn this wor[l]de,
Myght not to myn herte don half so grete chere.
43
W[h]en myn hertis eye beholdyth here persone,How yong, how fair, how goodly, deboneyre
She is, than thynke I, a man shuld right fer gone
In al this wyde world, er on half so faire
Myght be founde; for al vertuys repeyre
To that goodlyeste, that euere ȝit god made.
Than put I owt heuynesse & al despayre,
And wyth hope & t[h]owȝtis make my herte glade.
44
Thus stant it now wyth me, I dar yow right wel swere.”“As towchyng loue,” than saide dame Phesonas,
“þe craft, þat longyth to loue, it nedyth yow not to lere;
The bytter & the swette ȝe felt yn thys cas;
I trowe ȝe haue vsed to pleyne at the bas
From on to an othir.” The kyng than sayde: “Nay.”
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“Sere, now my demaunde [to] asoyle ȝe must assaye.
45
Sere, of my demaunde loke ȝe say to meAl the verry trowþe; yn no wysse ȝe ne faille!
Syn the first tyme ȝe gan a louer be,
And that yn loues seruice ȝe list to travayle,
W[h]iche were þe thyngis, that dede yow assaile,
Most peyned yow, sey me, as yn pursuynge?”
“For sothe! I shal sey yow, þowȝ it neuer avayle,
Al the verry trowþe wyth-owtyn eny gabbynge.
46
Desyres and dredde to me right destorbyngBen al tymes; this is with-owtyn drede.
For when desyres on me come so brennyng,
I am so dysmayd, I can no maner rede;
Me thynkith I wolde be ded þan, so god me spede.
Drede so me assailith and maketh me agaste;
He se[i]the: al my seruice can do me haue no mede.”
“Sere,” saide Ede, “I hope al they ben paste,
47
Trauailes & desesis, and comyng now is grace,That loue wil yow rewarde for yowr seruice trewe.”
Ther-with he cast a syȝe and preuely saide: “Alas!”
And pre[y]d the lord of loue, he wo[l] vp-on hym rewe,
And with that ilke sighis he changed al [h]is hewe;
Ther he was rosy red, he wex as asshes pale.
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Of al hys trewe seruauntes, ben they grette or smale.
48
In the chamber of Venus ful of swet[e]nesse,I-bylt of sypres, wher-yn many a flour
Of good entaille ys graue aftir the liknesse
Of al maner floures, that ȝeue swete odour,
Vp-on tapytes of selk, wrout yn Inde maiour,
Holde hir parlement these lusty folkys alle,
Spekyng and talkyng of louyng par amour;
Many a faire demaunde among hem that day is falle.
49
The kyng, that may not gabbe, hath faire hem answered,As he that is wel tawȝt and also yn-ly wisse,
Goodly hath hym qwyt & as a man wel lered;
Thus sey they alle as be here avyse.
He loked vp-on Ydore, þat was right fresh of hewe.
“Damyselle,” he said, “as fresh as flour-de-lys,
Sey now yowr demaunde; ȝe muste the pley forthe sewe.”
50
“Sere,” seyde Ydorus, “my demaunde ys redy.”She seyd to the kyng: “My lord, my gouernour”—
As she that of wor[l]dlyhod to lerne was not nedy,
As expresly tellyth to me myn autour;
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She was the most connyng holde of that contre—
“Sere,” she seyd, “I stond yn gret errour
Of iij thynges of loue; ther-fore wolde I be
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Enformed sekirly of yow, that be my kynge.Be the faith ȝe owe to the god of loue,
And to yowr real corowne, & to vs that syttynge
Here yow a-bowte be, þis thyng that I shal meve,
ȝe shal me declare and be skyllis proue.
W[h]iche iij thyngis haue most suffysaunce,
To make trewe loueres sytte on the w[h]el a-boue,
W[h]er may be grettest Joye and lengest perseueraunse?”
52
The kyng was abayshed sum-w[h]at of thys questyoun;He sat stylle a while, & to hir saide:
“Of yowr strange demaunde a trewe declaracioun
To make at this tyme, myn owne fair[e] mayde,
It is ful hard for me.” & he hem al prayde,
They wolde hym hol[d]e excused; he was so Innocent.
He seyd, ther were but fewe—but shuld be this mayd—
This questyoun to asoille, þat now be her present.
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“ȝit yn this matier sumwhat wil I me quyte,And for me alegge gret autoryte.
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And this noble clerkys of gret anteqwyte
Seyn pleynely, connyng þe ferst muste nedis be,
To lerne a trewe louere trewly to labore,
Wher euer he be come yn eny maner contre,
Hys lady trewly to serue & ek saue hir honore.
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Trowþe is þe seconde, as I now beleue;He muste the louer gouerne stedfast to endure.
ȝif he euer thynke his bargayn to acheue,
He owith for to kepe hym vndir the couerture
Of trowthe and of connyng; þis I yow ensure.
Here be tw[e]yne that yn myn hert I caste
Of the iij thynges that must be had yn cure
As towchyng loue, to make it longe laste.
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The t[h]irdde ys celenesse, as I me be-thynke,That wil wel be kept ondir couerture;
W[h]en othir men wake, hym were ned to wynke,
Lest that with hym mete the false mawdysour
Who is euer besy to do his gret labour,
To de-parte loueres with [h]is tonge so kene.
Loo! These ben iij thynges, as seyn our entecessours,
That this trewe loueres to-gedir muste Sustenne.
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Loo, lady! Thus haue I assoiled yowr demaunde.Who so can do better, let hym do!
Al the coreccioun to yow I recomaunde;
For wel I wot, the sothe ȝe conne say worthly to.
But yn this wyse owr clerkes—so mot I go—
Of loue thus trete, And pleynely to vs wryte.”
“Sere,” sayd this lady, “I wot—and so do mo—
[Of] this ilke matier ȝe gentill[y yo]w aqwyte.”
57
Dysportes and plays & al maner gladnesseAmong these lusty folkes entrecomvned be,
With swete lokys amerous & such lustynesse,
Godly rewardys with gret debonerete,
With many broke syȝes ful of amerouste,
Wyth t[h]owȝtes half departed of fro-wardnesse & Joye.
Thus al that day dysportyng to-gedir they be,
Summe meryly ta[l]kyng & summe holden hem coye.
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In suche a maner presoun sum folke, I trowe, wold be,As ys this ilke Bawdrayn, þat hath before hys eye
A merour ful of plesaunce, w[h]er-of ryght glad is he.
For no man shal hym lette þer-yn ryght wel to prie;
And ther-yn may he se the shap so wommanly
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W[h]ich that is coloured of rose & leleȝe lye.
Wel were hym at ese þat stod wel yn hir grace.
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Gretly ys thys Bawdrayn, me thynkyth, now yn ese,And god may he t[h]anke of that gracious day;
For the thyng yn this worlde, þat most his herte may plese,
Ys this faire Edee w[h]ich yn fresch aray
Now is before hym. But Claruus, I dar wel sey,
Stant no-thyng yn this cas, but sore complaynyng
Of the grette slawtre and of the grette afray
[That] he and his men hadde yn the hom comynge.
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Alight he is on fote be-fore hys master-tente;Aftir hes sones he asketh me[n] & that ryght faste.
A man ther-with anon fresh vn-to hym wente
And seyd[e]: “Sere, yowr sones wil be her in haste;
A charyot charged with venysoun is now from hem paste.
Hedir-ward ben they comyng, & ȝe not desplese.
Ma[r]syen & the barounes of Bawdre be agaste,
That Cassiel, her souuerayn lord, stant yn gret dyssese.
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They wene he ys slayne and on pesses hewe,Because that Cassamus so felly wyth hym delte.
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For of his olde hond swych a strok he felte,
That on t[h]e arson of hys sadyl he mad hym to swelte,
In w[h]iche a wyse he semyd no beter þan ded.
Cassamus cryde on hym and seyd hym: “Faste ȝelde the!”
And þus In a swoo hym with hem forth they lede.”
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Tho seyd Marcien, w[h]ich was lord of Perce,To Claruus that was here souerayn lorde & gyde:
“This day hath been gretly to vs peruerse;
Cassyel, ȝoure cosyn, ys takyn at this tyde;
I fere me, he ys slayne wyth many a wonde wyde
Among the cherlys of the toun, which god for-bede!
Let vs asaile the toun scharpely on euery syde,
To nyȝt or to morwe; this is fully my rede.”
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“My frende,” seyde Claruus, “restrayngne thy corage!ȝif Cassyel be take, w[h]ych ys my cosyn germayn,
There is no bryde yn Erth meryere yn his cage
Than he ys yn that presoun; thow mayst be ryght certain.
For Gadyfer and Betys of hym be now ful fayne,
They revele, lawgh and pley wyth þe maydenys ffre,
That ys to sey, wyth Edee and dame Phesonayn,
That hath dysdayne me to loue, and ȝong Ydoree,
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W[h]er-of I haue grete schorne; I wyll avengyd beOn here and on the cete, er I forther passe.”
“Vncle,” seyde Marcyen, “ȝoure an-swere ys noȝt pardee:
Veleynesly to speke, w[o]rchyp neuere was.
ȝe schuld speke goodly, me thynkith, yn swich a cas,
Syth to do yow seruice ȝoure barounes here ȝe se
Redy to spende here lyff; Thys is to ȝowe no trespasse;
For trewly ȝow to serue hedyr be come al we,
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And to wyn vs worchyppe, ȝoure honour to saue;Where-fore, and we were pressouners, ȝe schuld vs helpe yn haste,
Not only ȝoure lordys, but the leste knave
That ys yn ȝoure oste; but I am sore agaste
The hertes of ȝoure frendes fer from ȝoue ben paste.
Of frendschyp haue ȝe nede; for off Massedone
The ryght[e] kyng ys come, w[h]yl his lyiff may last,
These maydenys to helpe, hys dosȝe perys echone;
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Thys kyng of Massedone þat many a worthy manHath slayne yn hys lyue and londys felle conqueryd—
Hundrydys moo thane [I] now tell can;
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On this syde of Pharoon ȝe mowe se redy reryd
Many a gay tente and paueloun of real;
Hys oste aboute hym herberwyd, wher-yn be knyghtis leryd
In armys wyth the worthyest to be perygal.
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The emperour hath sworn, he wyl wyth vs stryueFor Gadyfferys ryght, he ys w[o]ndir redy,
And Cassamusses al-so; þerfore I conseyl blyue,
Delyueryth the Bawderayn, for ȝe of hym be nedy;
For al men seyn—and soth it ys trewly—
To long In presoun vn-ve-sytyd hath he bene;
Wher-fore hys frendes, I sey yow, ben ryȝt heuy;
[H]er-after yn ȝowr nede sekyr it wyl be sene.
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ȝyf he be wyth ȝow wroth, make hym ȝoure ffrendeAnd thys is the beste for yow for to do.
He ys a grete lord and hath ek many a ffrende.
ȝoure frendys þus to leue—al so mot I go—
It ys an heyȝ folye; doth yn no wysse soo!
Straungerys to ȝoue shul neuere be so kynde
As schul ȝoure owne men yn welle & ek yn woo.
Let not youre frendys yn no wysse owt of mende.
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Spekyth goodly to ȝoure men, boþe grete and lesse,Be-hote hem and ȝeue hem ffrely of ȝoure good,
Helpe hem wyth good will, whan they be yn destresse,
Pleyth wyth hem gladly, þat schal be verry foode
To here hevy hertis and chaunge clene þe moode
That stykyth yn her stomake, & make hem yow to loue.
Than dar I sey cekyr and be myn hoode,
Here trewe seruice to ȝowe than wyl they proue.
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Off straunge and fferre londys al day to lateCome folkys, to helpe A man that ys yn nede;
But the good neyȝbour þat dowellyth at ȝoure gate
ȝow to sekour ffaste wyll he spede.
Off a good neyȝbour, wyth-owte ony drede,
The wysse man al day makyth hym a schelde.
Thus seyth the olde wyse and þus do ȝe, I rede;
The strenger a grete del þan mowe ȝe goo to felde.”
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Cla[r]uus iiij sonys come now be ffrom huntynge,Canan and Galee and Porrus, the worthy,
Salphadyn, the ferth. Eche of hem hade hangynge
An horn abowte [h]ys nekke, of golde wroȝt ful fynly.
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But Porrus of al was helde the beste knyȝte;
Large he was of body and ther-to ryght myȝty.
Men seyd of these iiij was a noble syȝte.
Explicit.
| Alexander-Cassamus fragment | |