 | The King of Tars |  |
32
[_]
The Auchinleck Ms. has been supplemented by lines from the Vernon Ms., whose line numbers are followed by a letter.
33
Þe king of Tars.
Her bi-genneþ of þe kyng of Tars
And of þe soudan of Dammas,
Hou þe soudan of Dammas
Was I-cristned þoru godus gras.
And of þe soudan of Dammas,
Hou þe soudan of Dammas
Was I-cristned þoru godus gras.
1
Herkneþ to me, boþe eld & ȝing,For Maries loue, þat swete þing,
Al hou a wer bigan
Bitvene a trewe cristen king
& an heþen heye lording,
Of Dames þe soudan!
Þe king of Tars hadde a wiue,
Feirer miȝt non ben oliue,
Þat ani wiȝt telle can;
A douhter þai hadde hem bitven,
Non feirer woman miȝt ben,
As white as feþer of swan.
2
Þe meiden wasschast & bliþe of chere,Wiþ rode red so blosme on brere
& eyȝen stepe & gray,
Wiþ lowe scholders & white swere;
Hir for to sen was gret preier
Of princes proud in play.
Þe los of hir gan spring wide
In oþer londes bi ich a side,
So þe soudan hert it say.
Him þouȝt, his hert, it brast ofiue
34
Þat was so feir a may.
3
His messangers he gan calle& bad hem wiȝtly wenden alle
To hir fader þe king,
& seyd, he wald, hou so it bifalle,
His douhter cloþe in riche palle
& spouse hir wiþ his ring,
& ȝif he nold, wiþ outen feyl,
He wald hir win in batayl
Wiþ mani an heye lording.
Þe messangers, forþ þai went,
To don þe soudans comandment,
Wiþ outen ani duelling.
4
Þan þe king of Tars þis vnderstode,Almest for wretþe he wex ner wode
& seyd þus in sawe:
“Bi him þat dyed on þe rode,
Ich wald arst spille min hertblode,
In bateyl to ben yslawe;
Y nold hir ȝiue a Sarazin
For alle þe lond þat is mine,
Þe deuel him arst to-drawe,
Bot sche wil wiþ hir gode wille
Be wedded to him, hir selue to spille;
Hir þouȝtes nouȝt y no knawe;
5
Ac y schal wite, ar þan ȝe pas.”His douhter anon was brouȝt in plas,
& he axed hir biliue:
“Douhter, þe soudan of Damas
Ȝernes for to se þi fas
& wald þe haue to wiue;
Waldestow, douhter, for tresour
For-sake Jesus, our saueour,
Þat suffred woundes fiue?”
Þe maiden answerd wiþ mild mod,
Biforn hir fader þer sche stode:
“Nay, lord, so mot y þriue!
6
Jesu, mi lord in trinite,Lat me neuer þat day yse,
A tirant for to take:
O god & persones þre,
35
Ȝif him arst tene & wrake!”
Þe king seyd: “Douhter, be stille:
Þou schalt neuer be wedded him tille,
For no bost, he can make;
Y schal him sende word oȝein,
Þat alle his þouȝtes ben in vein,
For þou hast him for-sake.”
7
Riȝt be þe self messangers,Þat com fro þe soudan fers,
Þis wordes he him sent,
Þat sche leued nouȝt on his maners,
Sche nold nouȝt leten hir preiers
To god omnipotent;
He bad him take anoþer þouȝt,
For of his douhter no tit him nouȝt,
For tresore no for rent.
Þe messangers herd him þus seyn,
Wiþ þat word þai turned oȝain
& to þe soudan þai went.
8
As þe soudan sat at his des,Yserued of þe first mes,
Þai com in to þe halle
Bi for þo princes prout in pres,
Her tale to telle, wiþ outen les,
On knes þai gun doun falle.
Þai seyd: “Sir, þe king of Tars
Of wicked wordes is nouȝt scars,
Heþen hounde he gan þe calle;
& ar he ȝiue his douhter þe tille,
Þine hert blod he will spille
& þine barouns alle.”
9
When þe soudan þis wordes herd,Also a wilde bore he ferd,
His robe he rent adoun;
His here he rent of heued & berd,
He schuld venge him wiþ his swerd,
He swore bi seyn Mahoun.
Þe table so heteliche he smot,
It fel in to þe flore fot hot,
& loked as a lyoun;
Al þat he rauȝt, he smot doun riȝt,
36
Boþe erl & baroun.
10
Al þus þe soudan ferd, y pliȝt,Al þat day & alle þat niȝt,
Noman miȝt him schast;
A morwe, when it was liȝt,
His messangers he sent ful riȝt
For his barouns wel fast,
Þat þai com to his parlement,
For to heren his iugement,
Boþe lest & mast;
When þe parlement was pleyner,
Þo bi-spak þe soudan fer
& seyd to hem in hast:
11
“Lordinges”, he seyd, “what to red?Me haþ ben don a gret misdede:
Of Tars þe cristen king,
Y bede him boþe lond & lede
For his douhter worþliche in wede,
To han wed hir wiþ ring,
& he me sent word ogain,
In bateyl y schuld arst be sleyn
& mani an heye lording;
&, certes, he schal be for-sworn,
Wroþer hele þan was he born,
Bot y þer to it bring.
12
& þer fore ich haue after ȝou sent& asembled here þis parlement,
To wite ȝour conseyle.”
& alle þai seyd wiþ gode entent,
Þai were at his comandment,
Certeyn, wiþ outen feile.
Riȝt bi þat day a fourtenniȝt
Þai schul ben alle redi diȝt
Wiþ helme, & hauberk of meile.
& whan þai were so at his hest,
Þe soudan made a riche fest
For loue of his bateyle.
13
Þe soudan gaderd a rout vnrideOf Sarrazins of michel pride,
Opon þe king to wende.
Þe king of Tars herd sey þat tide,
He gadred his ost bi ich a side,
37
Þan bi-gan wretþe to wake,
For þat mariage miȝt nouȝt take
Of þat maiden hende.
Of bateyl þai gun sett a day,
Of seynt Eline, þe þridde in May,
No lenger no wald þai lende.
14
Þe soudan com wiþ his pouwer,Wiþ briȝt armour & brod baner,
Vppon þat kyng to wende.
Þe soudan ladde an huge ost
And com wiþ muche pruyde & bost
In to þe feld to fiȝt,
Wiþ sexti þousend Sarrazins fer,
Þat alle þe feldes fer & ner
Wiþ helmes lemed liȝt.
Þe king of Tars com wiþ his ost,
Wiþ gret pride & michel bost,
Wiþ mani an hardi kniȝt,
& aiþer ost gan oþer aseyle;
Þer miȝt men se a strong bateyle,
Þat grimli was of siȝt.
15
Þer hewe houndes on cristen men& feld hem doun bi niȝen & ten;
So wilde þai were & wode,
Þat men miȝt sen alle þe fen
Of cristen boþe fremd & ken,
Þe valays ren on blod.
Þe soudan & his folk þat stounde
Hewe adoun wiþ grimli wounde
Mani a frely fode.
Allas, to wele sped Mahoun,
Þe cristen men ȝede al adoun,
Was nouȝt, þat hem wiþ-stode.
16
Þe king of Tars seye þat siȝt,For wretþe he was neye wode, apliȝt,
He hent in hond a spere,
& to þe soudan he rode ful riȝt,
Wiþ a stroke o michel miȝt
To grounde he gan him bere.
Þer he hadde þe soudan slawe,
Ac ten þousend of heþen lawe
38
Þai sett him on a ful gode stede,
Þat was so gode at eueri nede,
Þat noman miȝt him dere.
17
& when he was opon his stede,Him þouȝt, he brend so spark on glede
For ire & for envie;
He fauȝt so he wald wede,
Alle þat he hit, he maked blede;
“Help, Mahoun!” he gan crie.
Mani helme þer was of-weued
& mani bacinet to-cleued
& sadles fel emtye;
Mani swerd & mani scheld
& mani kniȝt lay in þe feld
Of cristen compeynie.
18
Þe king of Tars seye him so ride,He fleye, & durst nouȝt abide,
Homward to his cite;
Þe Sarrazins folwed in þat tide
& slouȝ adoun bi ich a side
Þat cristen folk so fre.
Þritti þousend þer were y-slawe
Of kniȝtes of cristen lawe,
& þat was gret pite.
A morwe for her boþer sake
Trewes þai gun bi tven hem take
A moneþ & dayes þre.
19
On a day þe king sat in his halle& made grete diol wiþ alle,
For his folk were for-lore.
His douhter com clad in palle,
Adoun on knes sche gan to falle
& seyd wiþ sikeing sore:
“Sir, lete me be þe soudans wiif
& rere namore cuntek no striif,
As haþ ben here bi fore;
For me haþ mani man ben schent,
Cites nomen & tounes brent,
Allas, þat ich was bore!
20
Fader, y wil serue at willeÞe soudan, boþe loude & stille,
39
Bot it so be, he schal þe spille
& alle þi lond take him tille
Wiþ bateyle & wiþ fiȝt.
Certes, y nil no lenger dreye,
Þat cristen folk for me dye,
It were a diolful siȝt.”
Þe king of Tars answerd þo,
As man, þat was in sorwe & wo,
Vn-to þat bird briȝt:
21
“Now, douhter, blisced mot þou beOf Jesu Crist in trinite,
Þe time, þat þou were bore,
For þou wilt saue þi moder & me,
Al þi preier graunt y þe,
Astow hast seyd bi fore.”
“Fader,” sche seyd, “wiþ outen duelling,
For Jesus loue, heuen king,
Ȝif it þi wille wore,
Do now swiþe, þat y war þere,
Ar ani more sorwe arere,
Þat ȝe be nouȝt forlore!”
22
Þe king of Tars, wiþ gode entent,Hastilich after his wiif he sent,
Þat leuedi, þat was so hende;
When sche was comen in present,
He seyd: “Dame, our douhter haþ ment,
To þe soudan to wende:
Do loke, what rede is now at þe,
For now er here bot we þre,
To saue cristen kende!”
Þe quene answerd, wiþ outen feile:
“Y no schal neuer þer to conseyle,
Our douhter forto schende.”
23
Þe maiden was ful of sorwe & wo:“Merci”, sche crid hir moder þo
Wiþ a wel rewe-ful steuen,
“Moder, it is nouȝt long ago,
For me were slawe kniȝtes þro
þritti þousende & seuen;
For þi y wil suffre no lenger þrawe,
Þat cristen folk be for me slawe,
Wiþ þe grace of god in heuen.”
40
Brouȝt hem boþe in better wille
Wiþ resoun riȝt & euen.
24
& when þai were þus at on,Messangers þai sent anon
Vn-to þat riche soudan,
To make his frende, þat were his fon,
& for he schuld his men nouȝt slon,
His douhter he graunt him þan.
Þe messangers nold no leng abide,
To þe soudan þai went þat tide
& þus þai tel him gan.
When þo letters weren y-radde,
Þe soudan was boþe bliþe & glad,
& so was mani a man.
25
So glad he was in al maners,He cleped to him of his pers
Doukes, princes & kinges.
Into a chaumber þai went yfers,
To diȝt vnto þe messangers
Gode stones & riche ringes;
Bi conseyl of þe lordinges alle
Þe soudan dede bring in to þe halle
Ȝiftes & riche þinges
& ȝaf to hem gret plente,
To þe messangers wiþ hert fre,
& þonked hem her tidinges
26
& seyd, he was alle at his wille,Arliche & late, loude & stille,
To help him at his nede;
No more folk nold he spille.
Þe messangers went þe king tille
& told him of þat dede.
Þe king & þe quene al so
Boþen hem was wele & wo,
In rime al so we rede:
Gret ioie þai hadde, wiþ outen les,
For þat þe soudan wald haue pes
On cristen felawerede.
27
Þe first day of Julij tide,Þe soudan nold no leng abide,
To þe king of Tars he sent
Kniȝtes fele & michel pride
& riche iewels, is nouȝt to hide,
To ȝif to his present.
41
Com to Tars bi for þe king,
To haue his douhter gent;
Þai welcomed hem wiþ glad chere.
Of gret pite now may ȝe here,
To chaumber when þai went.
28
Þai maden cri & michel wo,For þai schuld her douhter forgo
& to þe soudan hir sende.
Þe maiden preyd hem boþe þo,
Þat þai schuld bi her conseyl do,
To sauen cristen kende:
“For y wil suffre no lenger þrawe,
Þat cristen folk be for me slawe.”
To halle þai gun wende
& welcomed þo messangers,
Þat com fro þe soudan fers,
Wiþ wordes fre & hende.
29
Þan seyd þe quen to hem þan:“Hou fareþ ȝour lord, þe soudan,
Þat is so noble a kniȝt?”
Þe messangers answere gan:
“He farþ as wele as ani man
& is ȝour frende, apliȝt.”
Þe quen seyd wiþ milde chere:
“Wele better þei mi douhter were,
Bi Jesu ful of miȝt,
Mi douhter is nouȝt to him to gode,
Y vouche saue on him mi blode,
Þei sche were ten so briȝt.”
30
Þe messangers diȝt hem swiþeWiþ kniȝtes fele & stedes stiþe
& brouȝt hir in to chare;
Þe king & þe quen were vn-bliþe,
Her sorwe couþe þai noman kiþe,
When þai seye hir forþ fare;
Þei seȝe, hit mihte non oþer go;
Þe kyng and þe qwene also,
Þei custe heore douhter þare,
Bi-tauȝten hire god for euer mo;
Hem self aȝeyn þei tornede þo,
Of blisse þei weore al bare.
In to chaumber þai went þo;
When þai were to gider boþe to,
Þan wakened alle her care.
42
31
Þe king was in sorwe bounde,Þe quen swoned mani a stounde,
For her douhter dere;
Kniȝtes & leuedis þer hem founde
& tok hem vp hole & sounde
& comfort hem in fere.
Þus þe quen & þe king
Liued in sorwe & care morning,
Gret diol it was to here;
Her care was euer aliche newe,
Hem chaunged boþe hide & hewe
For sorwe & reweli chere.
32
Nov late we ben alle her morning& telle we of þat maiden ȝing,
Þat to þe soudan is fare.
He com wiþ mani gret lording,
Forto welcome þat swete þing,
When sche was brouȝt in chare;
He kist hir wel mani a siþe,
His ioie couþe he noman kiþe,
Oway was alle his care.
In to chaumber sche was ladde
& richeliche sche was cladde,
As heþþen wiman ware.
33
Whan sche was cladde in riche palle,Þe soudan dede his kniȝtes calle
& badde þat maiden forþ fett;
& when sche com in to þe halle
Bifor þe heyȝe lordinges alle,
To forn þe soudan þai hir sett.
Gret diol it was forto se,
Þe bird, þat was so briȝt on ble,
To haue so foule a mett;
Þei þat sche made gret solas,
Þe sorwe, þat at hir hert was,
No miȝt it noman lett.
34
& whan it was comen to niȝt,Þe leuedi, þat was so feir & briȝt,
To chaumber sche gan wende;
& þer in anon, y ȝou pliȝt,
A riche bed þer was y-diȝt
Vn-to þat leuedi hende.
Þe leuedi was to bed y-brouȝt,
Þe soudan wild com þer in nouȝt,
43
For noþing wold he neyȝe þat may,
Til þat sche leued opon his lay,
Þat was of cristen kende.
35
Wel loþe was a cristenman,To wedde an heþen woman,
Þat leued on fals lawe;
Als loþ was þat soudan,
To wed a cristen woman,
As y finde in mi sawe.
Þe soudan ȝede to bed al prest,
Kniȝtes & leuedis ȝede to rest,
Þe pople hem gan wiþ-drawe;
Þat miri maiden litel slepe,
Bot al niȝt wel sore sche wepe,
Til þe day gan dawe.
36
& als sche fel on slepe þore,Her þouȝt, þer stode hir bifore
An hundred houndes blake
& bark on hir, lasse & more;
& on þer was, þat greued hir sore,
Oway þat wald hir take;
& sche no durst him nouȝt smite,
For drede, þat he wald hir bite,
Swiche maistri he gan to make;
& as sche wald fram hem fle,
Sche seye, þer stond deuelen þre,
& ich brent as a drake.
37
So loþliche þai were al y-wrouȝt,& ich in hond a gleiue brouȝt,
Sche was aferd ful sore;
On Jesu Crist was alle hir þouȝt,
Þer fore þe fendes derd hir nouȝt,
Noiþer lesse no more.
Fro þe fendes sche passed sounde,
& afterward þer com an hounde
Wiþ browes brod & hore;
Almost he hadde hir drawen adoun,
Ac þurch Jesus Cristes passioun
Sche was ysaued þore.
38
Ȝete hir þouȝt, wiþ outen lesing,Als sche lay in hir sweuening,
Þat selcouþe was to rede,
44
Þurch miȝt of Jesu heuen king
Spac to hir in manhede,
In white cloþes als a kniȝt,
& seyd to hir: “Mi swete wiȝt,
No þarf þe noþing drede
Of Teruagaunt no of Mahoun;
Þi lord, þat suffred passioun,
Schal help þe at þi nede.”
39
& when þe maiden was awaked,For drede of þat wel sore sche quaked
For loue (!) of her sweuening;
On hir bed sche sat al naked,
To Jesu hir preier sche maked,
Almiȝt-ful heuen king,
As wis as he hir dere bouȝt,
Of þat sweuening, in slepe sche þouȝt,
Schuld turn to gode ending.
& when þe maiden risen was,
Þe riche soudan of Damas,
To his temple he gan hir bring.
40
Þan seyd þe soudan to þat may:“Þou most bileue opon mi lay
& knele now here adoun
& forsake þi fals lay,
Þat þou hast leued on mani a day,
& anour seyn Mahoun;
&, certes, bot þou wilt, anon
Þi fader y schal wiþ wer slon:
Bi Jouin & Plotoun
& bi Mahoun & Teruagant,
Þer schal no man ben his waraunt,
Emperour no king wiþ croun!”
41
Þe maiden answerd wiþ mild chereTo þe soudan, as ȝe may here:
“Sir, y nil þe nouȝt greue:
Teche me now & lat me here,
Hou y schal make mi preiere,
When ich on hem bileue!
To Mahoun ichil me take
& Jesu Crist, mi lord, forsake,
Þat made Adam & Eue,
& seþþen serue þe at wille,
Arliche & lat, loude & stille,
Amorwe & aneue.”
45
42
Þan was þe soudan glad & bliþe& þanked Mahoun mani siþe,
Þat sche was so biknawe.
His ioie couþe he no man kiþe,
He bad hir gon & kis swiþe
“Alle þine godes on rawe!”
Sche kist Mahoun & Apolin,
Astirot & sir Jouin,
For drede of wordes awe.
& while sche was in þe temple þer,
Of Teruagant & Jubiter
Sche lerd þe heþen lawe.
43
& þei sche al þe lawes couþe& seyd hem openliche wiþ hir mouþe,
Jesu forȝat sche nouȝt;
Wher þat sche was bi norþe or souþe,
No minstral wiþ harp no crouþe
No miȝt chaunge hir þouȝt.
Þe soudan wende niȝt & day,
Þat sche hadde leued opon his lay,
Bot al he was bicouȝt;
For when sche was bi hir selue on,
To Jesu sche made hir mon,
Þat alle þis world haþ wrouȝt.
44
Þe soudan dede cri þat tideOuer al bi ich a side,
A turnament to take
& duhti men on hors to ride,
& dubbed hem in þat tide
& kniȝtes gan he make.
Þe trumpes gun for to blowe,
Kniȝtes priked out o rouwe
On stedes white & blake.
Þer miȝt men se sone & swiþe
Strong men her strengþe kiþe
For þat maiden sake.
46
45
Þe cristen maiden & þe soudanIn þe castel leyen þan,
Þe turnament to bihold;
& þo þe turnament bigan,
Þer was samned mani a man
Of Sarrazins stout & bold.
To sen þer was a semly siȝt
Of þritti þousend of helmes briȝt,
In gest as it is told.
Þai leyden on, as þai were wroþe,
Wiþ swerdes & wiþ maces boþe,
Kniȝtes boþe ȝong & old.
46
Wel mani helme þer was of-weued& mani bacinet to-cleued,
& kniȝtes driuen to grounde;
Sum þer fel doun on her heued,
& sum in þe diche lay to-dreued
& siked sore vn-sounde.
Þe turnament last þo, ypliȝt,
Fram þe morwe to þe niȝt,
Of men of michel mounde;
A morwe þe soudan wedded þat may
In þe maner of his lay,
In gest as it is founde.
47
Atte his bridale was noble fest,Riche, real & onest,
Doukes, kinges wiþ croun;
For þer was melodi wiþ þe mest
Of harp & fiþel & of grest
To lordinges of renoun.
Þer was ȝeuen to þe menstrels
Robes riche & mani iuweles
Of erl & of baroun.
Þe fest lasted fourteniȝt
Wiþ mete & drink anouȝ, apliȝt,
Plente & gret fousoun.
48
Þat leuedi so feir & so freWas wiþ hir lord bot moneþes þre,
Þan he gat hir wiþ childe;
When it was geten, sche chaunged ble,
Þe soudan him self þat gan se,
Jolif he was & wilde.
47
Sche bad to Jesu ful of miȝt,
Fram schame he schuld hir schilde.
Atte fourti woukes ende
Þe leuedi was deliuerd o bende,
Þurch help of Mari milde.
49
& when þe child was y-boreWel sori wimen were þer fore,
For lim no hadde it non;
Bot as a rond of flesche y-schore
In chaumber it lay hem bifore,
Wiþ outen blod & bon.
For sorwe þe leuedi wald dye,
For it hadde noiþer nose no eye,
Bot lay ded as þe ston.
Þe soudan com to chaumber þat tide
& wiþ his wiif he gan to chide,
Þat wo was hir bi-gon:
50
“O, dame,” he seyd bi forn,“Oȝain mi godes þou art forsworn,
Wiþ riȝt resoun y preue:
Þe childe, þat is here of þe born,
Boþe lim lip it is for-lorn,
Alle þurch þi fals bileue;
Þou leuest nouȝt wele afine
On Iubiter no on Apoline,
A morwe no aneue,
No in Mahoun no in Teruagant,
Þer fore is lorn þis litel faunt:
No wonder, þei me greue.”
51
Þe leuedi answerd & seyd þo,Þer sche lay in care & wo:
“Leue sir, lat be þat þouȝt;
Þe child, was ȝeten bitven ous to,
For þi bileue it farþ so,
Bi him, þat ous haþ wrouȝt:
Take now þis flesche & bere it anon
Bifor þine godes euerichon,
Þat þou no lete it nouȝt;
& pray þine godes al y-fere,
Astow art hem leue & dere,
To liue þat it be brouȝt!
52
& ȝif Mahoun & Jouin canMake it fourmed after a man
48
Bi Iesu Crist, þat þis warld wan,
Y schal leue þe better þan,
Þat þai ar ful of miȝt;
& bot þai it to liue bring,
Y nil leuen on hem no þing,
Noiþer bi day no niȝt.”
Þe soudan toke þat flesche anon,
In to his temple he gan to gon,
Þer his godes were diȝt.
53
Biforn his goddes he gan it leyn& held vp his honden tvein,
While men miȝt go fiue mile.
“A, miȝtful Mahoun,” he gan to seyn,
“& Teruagaunt of michel meyn,
In ȝou was neuer no gile;
Seyn Jubiter & Apolin,
Astirot & seyn Jouin,
Help now in þis perile!”
Oft he kneled & oft he ros
& crid so long, til he was hos,
& al he tint his while.
54
& when he hadde al y-preyd& alle þat euer he couþe, he seyd,
Þe flesche lay stille as ston;
Anon he stirt vp at a breyd
& in his hert he was atreyd,
For lim no hadde it non.
He biheld on his godes alle
& seye, þer miȝt no bot bifalle,
Wel wo was him bigon.
“O, sir Mahoun,” he gan to grede,
“Wil ȝe nouȝt helpe me at þis nede,
Þe deuel ȝou brenne ichon!”
55
He hent a staf wiþ grete hete& stirt anon his godes to bete
& drouȝ hem alle adoun,
& leyd on, til he gan to swete,
& ȝaf hem strokes gode & gret,
Boþe Jouine & Plotoun,
& alder best he bete afin
Jubiter & Apolin
& brac hem arm & croun,
& Teruagaunt, þat was her broþer,
49
No of his god Mahoun.
56
& when he hadde beten hem gode won,Ȝete lay þe flesche stille so ston
An heye on his auten.
He tok it in his hond anon
& in to chaumber he gan gon
& seyd: “Lo, haue it here:
Ich haue don al þat y can
To make it fourmed after a man
Wiþ kneleing & preier;
& for alle, þat ichaue hem bisouȝt,
Mine godes no may help me nouȝt,
Þe deuel hem sett a fere!”
57
& þan answerd þat gode wimanWel hendeliche to þat soudan:
“Leue sir, here mi speche:
Þe best rede, þat y can,
Bi Jesu Crist, þat made man,
Now ichil ȝou teche.
Now þou hast proued god þine,
Ȝif me leue to asay mine,
Weþer is better leche;
&, leue sir, i prey þe þis,
Leue on him, þat stronger is,
For doute of more wreche!”
58
Þe soudan answerd hir þore,In hert he was agreued sore,
To sen þat selcouþe siȝt:
“Now, dame, ichil do bi þi lore,
Ȝif þat y may se bifore,
Þi god is of swiche miȝt,
Wiþ ani vertu, þat he can,
Make it fourmed after a man
Wiþ liif & limes ariȝt,
Alle mi godes ichil for-sake
& to Jesu, þi lord, me take,
As icham gentil kniȝt.”
59
Wel bliþe was þe leuedi þan,For þat hir lord, þe riche soudan,
Hadde graunted hir preier;
For hope, he schuld be cristen man,
Sche þonked him, þat þis world wan,
& Mari, his moder dere.
Now ginneþ here a miri pas,
50
Wiþ limes al hole & fere,
& hou þe soudan of Damas
Was cristned for þat ich cas,
Now herken & ȝe may here.
60
Þan seyd þe leuedi in þat stounde:“Þou hast in þi prisoun bounde
Mani a cristen man;
Do seche ouer alle bi lofte & grounde,
Ȝif ani cristen prest be founde;
Bring him bi for me þan,
& y schal ar to morwe at none
Wite, what Jesu Crist can done
More þan þine maumettes can.”
Anon þe prisouns weren y-souȝt,
Þai founden a prest & forþ him brouȝt
Bi hest of þat soudan.
61
He com bi for þat leuedi fre& gret hir feir opon his kne
& seyd wiþ sikeing sore:
“Madame, y-blisced mot þou be
Of Jesu Crist in trinite,
Þat of Mari was bore!”
Þe leuedi seyd: “Artw a prest,
Tel me soþe, ȝif þat tow best,
Canstow of cristen lore?”
“Madame,” seyd þe prest anon,
“In verbo dei ich was on
Tventi winter gon & more.
62
Ac, dame,” he seyd, “bi seyn Jon,Ten winter song y masse non,
& þat me likeþ ille;
For so long it is now gon,
Ichaue ben in þe prisoun of ston
Wiþ wrong & gret vn-skille.”
Þe leuedi seyd: “Lat be þi fare,
Þou schalt be brouȝt out of þi care,
& tow wilt held þe stille,
For þurch þine help in þis stounde
We schul make cristenmen of houndes;
God graunt it, ȝif it be his wille.”
63
Þan seyd þe soudans wiif:“Þou most do stille, wiþ outen striif,
51
Her is a child selcouþ discrif,
Hit naþ nouþer lyme ne lyf,
Ne eȝen for to se.
Hali water þou most make
& þis ich flesche þou take
Al for þe loue of me,
& cristen it wiþ outen blame
In þe worþschipe of þe faders name,
Þat sitt in trinite.
64
For in him is mine hope, apliȝt,Þe fader, þat is ful of miȝt,
Mi sorwe schal me slake.
Ȝif it were cristned ariȝt,
It schuld haue fourme to se bi siȝt,
Wiþ lim & liif to wake.”
Þat leuedi comand anon
Hir maidens out of chaumber gon
For drede of wraying sake.
Þe prest no leng nold abide,
A feir vessel he tok þat tide
& hali water he gan make.
65
At missomer tide þat ded was donÞurch help of god, þat sitt in trone,
As y ȝou tel may.
Þe prest toke þe flesche anon
& cleped it þe name of Jon
In worþschip of þe day;
& when þat it cristned was,
It hadde liif & lim & fas
& crid wiþ gret deray,
& hadde hide & flesche & fel
& alle, þat euer þer to bifel,
In gest as y ȝou say.
66
Feirer child miȝt non be bore;It no hadde neuer a lime forlore,
Wele schapen it was wiþ alle.
Þe prest no lenge duelled þore
& ȝede & teld þe soudan fore,
Þer he was in þe halle.
Þat leuedi, þer sche lay in bed,
Þat richeliche was bi-schred
Wiþ gold & purpel palle,
Þe child sche toke to hir bliþe
52
Þe feir grace, þer was bifalle,
67
& seyd: “Lord, ich pray þe,Almiȝti god in trinite,
So ȝiue me miȝt & space,
Þat y may þat day y-se
Mi lord wald y-cristned be,
Þe soudan of Damas!”
Þan cam þe soudan, þat was blac,
Sche schewed him þe child, & spac,
Wiþ liif & limes & face,
Sche seyd: “Mahoun no Apolin
Is nouȝt worþ þe brostle of a swin
Oȝain mi lordes grace.”
68
Þe soudan seyd: ”Leman min,Ywis, icham glad afin
Of þis child, þat y se.”
“Ȝa, sir, bi seyn Martin,
Ȝif þe haluendel wer þin,
Wel glad miȝt þou be.”
“O, dame,” he seyd, “hou is þat?
Is it nouȝt min, þat y bi-ȝat?”
“No, sir,” þan seyd sche,
“Bot þou were cristned so it is,
Þou no hast no part þeron, y-wis,
Noiþer of þe child ne of me.
69
& bot þou wilt Mahoun forsake& to Jesu, mi lord, þe take,
Þat þoled woundes fiue,
Anon þou do þe cristen make,
Þou miȝt be ferd for sorwe & wrake,
While þat þou art oliue;
& ȝif þou were a cristen man,
Boþe were þine,” sche seyd þan,
“Þi childe & eke þi wiue;
When þou art dede, þou schalt wende
In to blis wiþ outen ende,
Þi ioie may noman kiþe.”
70
Þe soudan seye wele bi siȝt,Þat Jesu was of more miȝt,
Þan was his fals lawe.
He seyd: “Dame, anon riȝt
Ichil for-sake mi god, apliȝt,
Þai schal be brent & drawe.
Ac telle me now par charite
53
What schal y seyn in sawe?
Now ichaue forsaken mi lay,
Tel me now, what is ȝour fay,
& ichil lere wel fawe!”
71
Þan seyd þat leuedi hende & fre:“Vnder-stond, sir, par charite,
On Jesu Cristes lay,
Hou he was & euer schal be
O god & persones þre,
& liȝt in Mari, þat may,
& in hir bodi nam flesche & blod,
& hou he bouȝt ous on þe rode
Opon þe gode friday,
& hou his gost went to helle,
Satanas pouste for to felle,
& brouȝt man kin oway.
72
Þe þridde day in þe morningTo liue he ros, wiþ outen lesing,
As he com of þe rode,
& ȝaf his frendes comforting
& steye to heuen as miȝtful king
Boþe wiþ flesche & blod;
As it is founden in holy writ,
On his fader riȝt hond he sitt,
& is wel mild of mode;
As it is writen in þe Crede,
He demeþ boþe þe quic & ded,
Þe feble & eke þe gode,
73
& al þis warld schal to-driue& man arise fram ded to liue,
Riȝt dome to vnder-stond;
Þan schal Jesu, wiþ outen striue,
Schewe his blodi woundes fiue,
Þat he for ous gan fond,
& þan schal he, wiþ outen mis,
Deme ich man after he is,
Erl, baroun & bond.
Leue her on,” sche seyd þan,
“& do þe make a cristen man,
For noþing þou no wond!”
74
Þan seyd þe soudan: “Dame, be stille,Y schal be cristned þurch godes wille
54
Loþ me were, mi soule to spille;
Preye now þe prest, he com ous tille
& teche me cristenlay
As priueliche as it may be,
Þat noman wite bot we þre,
Als forþ as ȝe may.
& ani it wist heye or lowe,
Þou schalt be brent & y to-drawe,
& we for-soke our fay.”
75
Anon þe prest answerd þanHendeliche to þat soudan:
“Sir, icham redi here,
Wiþ alle þe pouwer, þat y can,
For to make þe cristen man
& godes lay to lere.”
His hond opon his brest he leyd;
In verbo dei he swore & seyd:
“Vnto ȝou boþe y-fere
Wel trewe & trusti schal y be,
Wiþ alle, þat euer falleþ to me,
To help wiþ mi pouwere.”
76
A morwe, when þe prest gan wake,A wel feir fessel he gan take
Wiþ water clere & cold
& halwed it for þe soudan sake,
& his preier he gan make
To Jesu, þat Judas sold,
& to Marie, his moder dere,
Þo þat þe soudan cristned were,
Þat was so stout & bold,
He schuld ȝif him miȝt & space
Þurch his vertu & his grace
His cristendom wele to hold.
77
& when it was liȝt of day,Þe riche soudan, þer he lay,
Vp bi-gan to arise;
To þe prest he went his way
& halp him alle þat he may,
Þat fel to his seruise;
& when þe prest hadde þo
Diȝt redi þat fel þer to
55
Þe soudan wiþ gode wille anon
Dede of his cloþes euerichon,
To reseyue his baptize.
78
Þe cristen prest hiȝt Cleophas,He cleped þe soudan of Damas
After his owhen name;
His hide, þat blac & loþely was,
Al white bicom þurch godes gras
& clere wiþ outen blame.
& when þe soudan seye þat siȝt,
Þan leued he wele on god almiȝt,
His care went to game.
& when þe prest hadde alle y-seyd
& haly water on him leyd,
To chaumber þai went y-same.
79
When he com, þer þe leuedi lay,“Lo, dame,” he gan to say,
“Certeyne, þi god is trewe.”
Þe leuedi þonked god þat day,
For ioie sche wepe wiþ eyȝen gray,
Vnneþe hir lord sche knewe.
Þan wist sche wele in hir þouȝt,
Þat on Mahoun leued he nouȝt,
For chaunged was his hewe.
For þat hir lord was cristned so,
Oway was went al hir wo,
Hir ioie gan wax al newe.
80
“Mi lord,” sche seyd wiþ hert fre,“Sende now þis prest in priuete
To mi fader, þe king,
& pray him, for þe loue of me
Þat he com swiþe hider to þe
Wiþ alle þat he may bring;
& when mi fader is to þe come,
Do cristen þi lond alle & some,
Boþe eld & ȝing,
& he, þat wil be cristned nouȝt,
Loke, to þe deþ þat he be brouȝt,
Wiþ outen ani duelleing!”
81
Þe soudan tok þe prest bi hond& bad him wende & nouȝt no wond,
To þe king of Tars ful ȝare,
& do him al to vnder-stond,
56
Haþ brouȝt hem out of care;
& bid him bring wiþ him his ost
Priueliche, wiþ outen bost,
For no þing he no spare:
& Cleophas, wiþ gode entent
To do þe soudans comandment,
To Tras he gan fare.
82
& when þe prest sir CleophasCom to þe court þurch godes grace
Wiþ outen ani duelling,
He teld þe king alle þat cas,
Hou þe child ded born was,
A mis-forschapen þing,
& þurch þe preier of his wiif
Hou god hadde sent it leme & liif
In water ate cristening,
& hou þat heþen soudan
Was bi-come a cristen man
Þurch þe miȝt of heuen king.
83
He radde þe letter, þat he brouȝt,& in þe letter he fond y-wrouȝt,
In gest as y ȝou say,
Hou þat þe soudan him bisouȝt,
To com to him, & lat it nouȝt,
Opon a certeyne day,
& bring wiþ him alle his ost,
To take his lond bi euerich cost,
& serche in his cuntray;
Who þat wold nouȝt cristned be,
He schuld be honged opon a tre,
Wiþ outen ani delay.
84
Bliþer miȝt noman ben;He cleped his barouns & þe quen
& told hem þus in sawe,
Hou þe soudan stout & kene
Was cristned, wiþ outen wene,
& leued on Cristes lawe:
“& þer fore haþ don sent me bi sond,
He wil do cristen alle his lond,
Ȝif þat he miȝt, wel fawe,
57
No be he neuer so heye lording,
He schal hong & drawe.
85
& þer fore y pray ȝou now riȝt,Erl, baroun, douk & kniȝt,
Do alle ȝour folk bede,
Wiþ helme on heued & brini briȝt
Þat ȝe ben alle redi diȝt,
To help me at þis nede!”
Þai sent ouer al bi ich a side
For mani cristen men þat tide,
Þat duhti were of dede.
Þe king him diȝt for to wende
Wiþ sexti þousende kniȝtes hende,
Þat was a feir ferred.
86
Þe king com, wiþ outen lett,Þe selue day, þat him was sett,
To þe soudan wel ȝare;
& when þai were to gider mett,
A miri greteing þer was gret
Wiþ lordinges lasse & mare.
Þer was rewþe forto sen,
Hou þe leuedi fel on knen
Biforn hir fader þare;
Þer was ioie & mirþe al so,
To here hem speken of wele & wo,
Her auentours als þai were.
87
Þe soudan dede his barouns calle& seþþen anon his kniȝtes alle
& after alle his meyne;
& when þai come in to þe halle,
He seyd: “Hou so it bifalle,
Ȝe mot y-cristned be!
Miseluen ich haue Mahoun forsake,
& cristendom ich haue y-take,
&, certes, so mot ȝe;
& hye þat wil nouȝt so anon,
Þai schul be heueded euerichon,
Bi him þat dyed on tre!”
88
When he hadde þus y-told,Mani Sarrazin stout & bold,
Þat in his court were,
Mani seyd, þat þai wold,
& mani seyd, þat þai nold
58
Þo þat Mahoun wald forsake,
Cristenmen he lete hem make;
& were him lef & dere;
& he, þat dede nouȝt bi his rede,
Anon he dede strike of his hed
Riȝt fast bi þe swere.
89
Þe soudan had in prisoun diȝtTen þousend cristen men, ypliȝt,
Of many vn-couþe þede;
He dede hem liuer anon riȝt,
& þo þat were strong & wiȝt,
He ȝaf hem armour & stede.
& þo he seye, þat miȝt nouȝt so,
He ȝaf hem mete & drink þer to,
& alle þat hem was nede;
Þer miȝt men se wiþ þat soudan
Mani bliþe cristen man,
In gest as so we rede.
90
When he hadde don þus þat tide,Ouer al his lond bi ich a side
Þe word wel wide sprong.
Fiue heþen kinges þat tide
& mani heþen douke vnride
Wiþ pople gret & strong,
Þai sent aboute ner & fer
Opon þat soudan for to wer,
& seyd, for þat wrong,
Bi Mahoun & Teruagaunt,
Þer schuld nouȝt ben his warant,
Bot ben drawe & hong.
Boþe soudan and kyng
And al þat hem was folewyng,
Þe deþ þei scholde a-fonge.”
91
Þo fif kinges of prout parayleDiȝt hem redi to þat bateyle,
Wel stout & strong þai were;
Hou þe soudan gan hem aseyle
& what þai hete, wiþ outen feile,
Now herken, & ȝe may here:
King Canadok & king Lesias,
King Carmel & king Clamadas,
& king Memarok, her fere,
Opon þe soudan wiþ wer þai went,
59
Wiþ strengþe & gret pouwer.
92
Þe king of Tars & þe soudanDay of bateyle þai gun tan,
Oȝain þo kinges fiue;
Ac euer oȝein a cristen man
Ten heþen houndes wer þan,
Of Sarrazins stout & stiþe.
Now herkneþ to me boþe old & ȝing,
Hou þe soudan & þe king
Amonges hem gun drriue,
& hou þe Sarrazins þat day
Opped heued-les for her pay,
Now listen, & ȝe may liþe!
93
Þe cristen soudan þat tideTok a spere & gan to ride
To Canadok, þat was kene;
& Canadok wiþ gret pride
Wiþ a spere gan him abide,
To wite & nouȝt at wene.
So hard þai driuen to gider þere,
Þat her launces boþe y-fere
Brosten hem bitvene;
Þe soudan drouȝ his fauchoun gode,
Þe kinges heued wiþ alle þe hode
He strok of quite & clene.
94
King Lesias of Tabarie,To þe soudan he gan heye
For Canadok, his felawe;
Wiþ a spere, þat was trusti,
He rode to þe soudan wel an hey
& þouȝt him haue y-slawe.
Þe king of Tars bitven hem rod
& Lessias strok he abod,
As y finde in mi sawe,
& smot him so on þe scheld,
Þat top ouer teyl in þe feld
He made him ouer-þrawe.
95
He lepe on hors & gan to ride,& slouȝ adoun bi ich a side
Þat he bi for him founde;
Wham þat Lesias hit in þat tide,
Were he douk or prince o pride,
He ȝaf him dedly wounde.
60
& þurch his sides he gan it bere,
Þat ded he fel to grounde;
Þan sett þe Sarrazins vp a cri:
“A, Mahoun, ful of meistri,
Help ous in þis stounde!”
96
When king Carmel herd, þat him was wo,To fihten anon he was ful þro,
A spere an hond he hent;
He priked his stede & dede him go,
He þouȝt þe king of Tars to slo,
Er he þennes went.
He smot þe king of Tars þat tide
Þurch his hauberk a wounde wide,
Þat neiȝe he hadde him schent;
Þe king out of his sadel fel,
Þe blod out of his wounde gan wel,
Þat mani man him bi-ment.
97
For sorwe þe soudan wald wede,When he seiȝe his woundes blede,
He rode to him wiþ mayn;
He and þe cristen ferred
Brouȝt þe king of Tars his stede
& sett him vp o-gayn.
& when he was on hors brauȝt,
Alle þat euer he arauȝt,
He clef him to þe brayn.
King Carmel þo to him went
& ȝaf him swiche anoþer dent,
Þat ner he hadde him sleyn.
98
& when þe soudan þat y-seiȝe,Al wode he wex for wreþe neiȝe,
He rode to king Carmele;
He smot him on þe helme an heiȝe,
Þat þurch þe breyn it fleiȝe,
Þat no leche miȝt him hele.
King Clamadas com rideing þan
Wiþ a glaiue to þe soudan
& þouȝt wiþ him to dele,
& smot him obouen þe scheld,
Þat neiȝe he feld him in þe feld
Among þo houndes fele.
99
Þe king of Tars in þat stoundeHadde spite of þat heþen hounde,
61
He swore bi him, þat þoled wounde:
“Þe dogge schal adoun to grounde,
Þat fiȝtes þus in feld.”
I nul not dyȝen in his dette,
A strok on hym i chul bi-sette,
Beo he neuer so bolde.”
Vr ladi wiþ an aue he grette,
Þat no mon scholde hym lette,
Þe feendes strengþe to folde.
He rod to hym a-non riht
He rode to him anon riȝt
& smot to him a strok of miȝt,
Atvo he clef his scheld,
In stori as hit is tolde;
& þurch his hert þe swerd gan glide,
Þe blod ran out bi ich a side,
& so he him a-queld.
He hutte him on þe helm on hiht,
In to þe brayn þorw bacinet briht,
Þus is his seruyse ȝolde.
100
Þan was king Memaroc in gret peyn,For his four felawes were sleyn
& in þe feld to-dreued.
He priked his stede opon þe pleyn
& fleye oway wiþ miȝt & mayn,
For dred to hide his heued.
Þe soudan seyȝe him oway ride,
He priked after him in þat tide,
For no þing he it bileued,
& smot him so aboue þe scheld,
Þat helme & heued fleyȝe in þe feld,
Ful wiȝtlike of it weued.
Þus þe ladi wiþ hire lore
Brouȝte hire frendes out of sore
Þorw Jesu Cristes grace
Al þe while, þat þei weore þare,
Þe joye, þat was among hem ȝare,
No mon may telle þe space.
Whon þei weore out of world iwent,
Bi fore god omnipotent
Hem was diht a place.
Now Jesu, þat is ful of miht,
62
To seo þi swete face! AMEN.
101
When þe Sarrazins seyȝen alle,Þat Memarok was to grounde yfalle
& namore vp arise,
“Allas, Mahoun,” þai gan to calle,
“Whi latestow Cristen hewe ous smale,
Wicke is þi seruise!”
Þai fleyȝe for dred alle y-fere
& dreynt hem in o riuer,
So sore hem gan agrise.
Þe bateyle last swiþe long,
Til it were time of euensong,
Er þai miȝt win þe prise.
102
Þe Sarrazins flowe bi ich a side,Þe cristen folk after gan ride
& schadde hem breyn & blod.
Þer was non, þat miȝt him hide,
Þat he nas sleyn in þat tide,
Wiþ fiȝt oȝeyn hem stode;
& þo þat ȝold hem to þe pes,
Þe soudan swore, wiþ outen les,
Bi him, þat dyed on rode,
He, þat nold nouȝt forsake his lay,
He schuld for-lesse þat ich day,
Þe hal (!) vp in þe hode.
103
Þritti þousende þer wer takeOf Sarrains, boþe blo & blac,
& don in his prisoun;
& he þat wald his lay for-sake,
Cristenmen he lete him make
Wiþ gret de-vocioun;
& þai, þat wald be cristned nouȝt,
In to a stede þai werren y-brouȝt
A mile wiþ outen þe toun;
& cristen men, wiþ outen wene,
Striken of her heuedes al bidene. . .
| The King of Tars | |