 | The Romance of Sir Degrevant |  |
2
SIR DEGREUAUNTE
[I]
Jhesu, Lorde in Trynite,Graunte þam heuen for to see
Þat luffes gamen and glee
And gestis to fede.
Whare folkes sittis in fere,
Þare solde men herken and here
Of beryns þat by-fore were
Þat lyffed in arethede.
I will ȝow telle of a knyghte:
Sir Degreuante for-sothe he highte,
He was hardy and wyghte
And doghty in dede;
Was neuer knyghte þat he fande
In France ne in Scotlande
Mighte sitt a strake of his hande
One his styff stede.
[II]
With Kyng Arthure, I wene,And Dame Gaynore þe quene,
He was knawen for kene,
Þis commly knyghte;
In Haythynnes and in Spayne,
In France and in Bretayne,
With Perceuelle and Gawayne,
For hardy and wyghte.
He was doghety and dere:
Euer he drewe hym full nere
Whare he of dedis myghte here
Be daye or be nyghte;
For-thi þay named [him] þat stownde
Knyghte of þe Table Rownde,
As it es made in mappamonde,
In story full ryghte.
4
[III]
He was faire and free,And gretly gaf hym to glee:
To cetoyle and to sawtree
And gytternyng full gaye;
Wele to playe on a rotte,
To syng many newe note,
And of harpyng, wele I wote,
He wane þe pryse aye.
Oþer gammnes he louede mare:
Grewhundes for buk and bare,
For hert, hynde, and for hare,
By dayes and by nyghte;
Many fawcouns and faire,
Hawkis of nobill ayere,
On his perke gun repayre,
Sexty, in plyghte.
[IV]
He walde be vp or dayeTo hunt and to ryvaye;
Gretly gafe hym to playe
Ilke a day newe;
To here messe or he went
Trewely in gud entent,
And sythyn buskede to þe bent
Whare gamnes in grewe.
To his foreste to founde
Both with horne and with hunde;
To brynge þe dere to þe grounde
Was his maste glewe.
Certis, wyfe wolde he nane,
Wenche ne no lemman,
Bot als an ankyre in a stane
He lyued here trewe.
6
[V]
Þare was sessid in his handeA hundrethe pondis worthe of londe
Of rent wele sittande,
And somm-dele more;
Many ploughes in þe maynes,
Grete hertes in þe haynes,
Faire bares in þe playnes,
And mekill tame store;
Castells with heghe walles,
Chambirs with heghe hallis,
Stedis stabillede in stallis,
Lyarde and sore;
Whare he herde any crye,
He passede neuer for-by,
Þat he ne was ay redy
In landis ay-whare.
[VI]
He louede almous-dede,Poure folke for to fede
With menske and with manhede;
Of mete was he fre;
Gestis redy for to calle
To here mynstralls in haulle,
He gafe þam robis of palle,
Bothe golde and fee;
In ylke lande whare he come,
When he went oghte fra home,
Thay hafe haldyn vp his name
With mekill melody;
In ylk lande whare he went
Many man hase he schent;
In fightis and in turnament
Þe knyghte was hardy.
8
[VII]
There wonnede ane Erle hym by-syde,A grete lorde of mekill pryde,
Of brade londis and wyde,
And borowes full brade;
Hym thoghte desdeyne of þe knyghte
(For he was hardy and wyghte),
And thoghte þe beste how he myghte
Þat doghety degrade.
The Erle was steryn and stowte,
And rade with a grete rowte,
And brake his perkes al abowte,
Þe beste þat he hade;
In þam he made a sory playe,
The fatteste he fellyd aye,
Righte by sexty on a daye,
Swylke maystris he mad.
[VIII]
He drew his veuers of fysche,He slewe his fosters, i-wysse;
Þe knyghte wist not of this,
Þe sothe for to saye:
He was in þe Haly Lande
Dedis of armes for to fande,
Hethyn folke with his hande
He fellid in faye.
His stewarde hase a lettre sent,
A messangere hase it hent,
Forthe on his way es he went
Als fast als he maye;
When he to his lorde come,
Þe lettre sone he hym nome,
And sayde, ‘Alle gose to schome,’
And went on his way.
10
[IX]
Þe knyghte no lengare habade,Bot on his waye faste he rade
Fra Flaundres vn-to Granade
Fast als he myghte;
Sone he passede the see,
He and his menȝe,
And come to his contre
With-in þe twelt nyght.
To his manere he wente:
A faire place was þer schent,
His husbandes þat gaffe hym rent
Heryede in plighte:
His tenandrye was alle downe,
Þe beste innes in ylke towne,
His nobyll perkes comowne,
And fowly by-dyghte.
[X]
He closed his perkes agayne(Alle his husbandis were fayne),
He lent þam oxen a-gayne
Of his awen store;
Alsua, þe sothe for to schewe,
He lent þam aueres to drawe;
He thoghte to wyrke by þe lawe
And by no noþer schore.
There-fore a lettre hase he dyghte
To þe Erle of gret myghte,
And prayes hym to do hym ryghte
Or telle hym whare-fore;
With a sqwyere he it sent,
Of ten powndis worthe of rent,
Forthe on his way es he went
To wiet his ansuare.
12
[XI]
The sqwyere wold noghte habyd,Bot forthe faste gun he ryde
Vn-to þe palesse of pryde
Þare þe Erle wonnde;
Sone so he of hym had syghte
(Sir Sere of Cypirs he highte,
Was buskede with many knyghte
In þe foreste to hunte;
He was steryn and stowte
With many knyghtes hym abowte),
The sqwyere thoght gret dowte
To byde his firste brount;
There-fore wold he noghte lett;
Sone with hym als he mett,
Euen to hym was he sett
With his horse front.
[XII]
The sqwyare wold noght lighte,Bot haylsede þe Erle appon highte,
And sythyn baron and knyghte
With wordis full wysse;
He had þe letter by þe noke,
To þe Erle he it tuke,
The Erle gan þer-one luke,
And saide, ‘Art þou wysse?’
He saide to þe sqwyere:
‘Ne ware þou a messengere,
Þou solde by righte here
Vndir þe wode-rysse;
I will for þi lordis tene
Hunt in his woddis grene,
Breke his perrkes alle by-dene,
Þat proudeste es of pryse.’
14
[XIII]
The sqwyare ansuerde full sone:‘Sir, þat es euyll done,
Thou hase lefte hym full fune,
In hert es nott to hyde;
Here my gloue with hym to fighte,
Be he sqwyare or knyghte,
Þat saise þat this es righte,
What-so-euer be-tyde;
Sir, if þat it be thi will,
Thynk þat þou hase done ill;
I rede þou mende it with skill,
For wathes walkes wyde.’
The Erle ansuerde, ‘I-wys,
I cownt hym noghte at a cresse,
I will noghte mend my mysse
For all his grete pryde.’
[XIV]
Sone þe Erle wexe wratheAnd sware many grete athe,
He solde his message be lathe
Bot he a-waye went.
He tuk his leue with-owten nay,
And went forthe on his waye
Als faste als he maye
Ouer the brade bent.
He come hame at þe nonne;
His lorde askede hym sone
And he talde hym onone
What mendis he hym sent.
‘Sir, and he may as he ment,
His game woll he never stent;
Thy-self, and he may the hent,
I tell the for y-schent.’
16
[XV]
Than Sir Degreuant hase hightTo Hym þat maste es of myghte:
‘Jhesu, safe me my ryghte,
And Mary me spede!
I sall gyff God a vowe:
It sall noghte be for his prowe;
Þe tane of vs sall it rewe,
And I can righte rede.’
Now to armes þay þam dighte,
Bathe sqwyere and knyghte,
And many worthily wyghte,
I-wysse vndir wedis;
Thare warre armed in hye
Tene score full redy,
And thre hundrethe archers þam by
Gud at alle nedis.
[XVI]
Now to foreste þay founde,Þay stont stilly a stownde,
Þay putt vp pavilyons ronde,
And lendid þere þat nyghte;
The Erle purvayed hym an oste,
He come in at a coste
With his brage and his boste,
With many kant knyght;
He vncuppilde hys hundis
Till his rachis rebundys;
Gromys and grewhundis
Þay heue appon hight;
Thus þe forest þay fraye,
Þe hertis bade at a-baye;
On a laund þer þay laye
Lordis downe lyghte.
18
[XVII]
Sexty hertis were slayneAnd broght forthe on þe playne
By-fore þe chefe cheftayne
Of þat contre.
Þan spake þe Erle on þat launde:
‘Whare es now þis geaunte?
Why will noghte Sir Degreuant
Come rescu his dere?
Me thynke his hertys of grese
Berys na letters of pese;
We will hafe or we sesse;
I walde he ware here.
Trewly, or he went,
He solde þe gamen repent,
Þe proude lettre þat he sent
With his sqwyere.’
[XVIII]
Sir Degreuant was þan sa nereÞat he þose wordis myght here;
He said, ‘Auant banere,
And trompis on hight.’
His archers þat ware þare,
Bathe þe lesse and þe mare,
Als so swythe were þay ȝare,
To schott ware þay dighte.
Þare-of þe Erle was payede,
Sone his oste hase he grayede,
He was na-thyng affrayede
Of þe fers knyght.
Now are þay mett in þe felde
Bathe with spere and with schelde;
Worthy wapyns þay welde,
And freschely þay fyghte.
20
[XIX]
When þe batells were iunedeWith speris freschely þay funede;
Þare myghte no sydis be soynede
Þat faghte in þose feldis;
With suerdis bright on þe bent
Brighte maylis hafe þay rent,
Glayues gleterand þay glent
On gleterand scheldys.
Þey styken stedus in stour,
Knyghtus thorow her armere;
Lordus off honor
Opon þe heþe heldus.
Þay faghte þan so frekly
Þare wiste nane witterly
Wha solde hafe þe maystry,
Bot He þat alle weldys.
[XX]
Doghty Sir DegreuantLays þe Erle on þe launde;
Thorow japon and jesserant
He lamed þaire knyghttis.
Bryghte scheldys ware schede,
Many doghety were dede,
Brighte maylis wexe rede,
So many doghety bledis.
Þus þay fighte in þe frythe,
With waa wreke þay þaire wrythe,
Þe kynde knyghtis in þaire kythe,
Wyse vndire wedis:
Beryns are borne down,
Gomes with gambassowne
Lyes on þe bent so browne,
Stekid vndir scheldis.
22
[XXI]
Sir Degreuant þe knyghteBrittyns basenetis brighte;
His feris freschely gan fighte
And stirred þam on þaire stedis.
Knyghtis of þe Erlis house
Þat were haldyn cheualrouse
And in batelle bownteuous,
Þay dyede in þat stownde.
Þe Erle houed and hym by-helde,
Bathe with spere and with schilde
How þay farede in þe felde,
And sone þay s[at]t vn-sownde.
Þe beste men þat he hade
He had leuede þer in wede;
With fyfty speris he flede,
And wathely was wondide.
[XXII]
Sir Degreuant with his menFolous faste in þe fen,
Als þe dere in þe den
To þe he þam dyghtis.
He bristis bacenettis fele
With scharpe axis of stele,
Mony knyghte gart he knele,
And many worthy wight;
Sir Degreuant was full thra,
He pertede his batelle in twa,
Þe Erle fled and was full waa,
[On] a stede gan he sprynge;
He lefte slayne in a slake
Ten score in a pakke,
Wyde opyn on þe bake,
Lyand in lynge.
24
[XXIII]
Sir Degreuant gat a stedeÞat was gud at þe nede,
Many sydis garte he blede
[With þe dynt of his spere];
He schased þe Erle in a while
Mare [þan] halfendele a myle;
Many balde garte he syle
[Þat are did þam dere];
He come chasande agayne,
Alle his men ware full fayne,
Fande he neuer ane slayne,
Ne þe werse by a pere.
He knelid down in þat place
And thanked God of His grace
Alle went þat þare was
To his manere.
[XXIV]
To þe soper þay are dighte,Bathe baron and knyghte;
Þay dawnesid and reueld þat nyghte,
In herte ware þay blythe.
When þe Erle come hame
He was wondid all to schame;
Þe lady sawe þat he was lame
And syghed full swythe.
Ofte scho cryed, ‘Allas!
Had ȝe noghte perkes to chase?
What did ȝe in þat place
Swylk maystris to kythe?’
‘Dame,’ he said, ‘I was þare,
And þat me rewis full sare,
I take my leue for euer-mare
Swilk maystres to dyghte.’
26
[XXV]
Appon þe morne Sir DegreuantBusked hym at his ownn auant
Appon a stede feraunt
Armyd at ryghte.
To þe castelle he rade
With þe folke þat he hade;
At þe barresse he habade
And bawndonly down lyghte.
He asked if any swylke were
Þat wold delyuer hym þere
Thre courses of were
For hym and twelue knyghtis.
Þan he prayed þe portere
Þat he wold be his messynger,
And gare hym hafe an ansuere,
On-ane he hym hightis.
[XXVI]
The porter went to þe haulle,On þe Erle gan he calle:
‘Here es comen to þe walle,
Wele armed on stedis,
Sir Degreuant, þat hende knyght,
With heghte helmys on hyghte,
With many bald man and wyghte,
And wyse vndir wedis.
He askes justyng of were,
And prayes the of answere,
He mad me his messagere,
To walke on his nedis.’
The Erle ansuerd in hy,
‘Here es nane so redy
Þat schames þat ilk doghety
Sir Degreuant dedis.’
28
[XXVII]
The Countas went to þe walle,And hir dogheter with-alle
Þat was bothe gentill and smalle
And lufsome of syghte;
Scho lokide on þat cheualerouse
And said, ‘Knyghte aunterus,
The semys to be envyous,
My trouthe I þe plyghte.
Sir, God hase sent þe þat grace
Þat þou hase vencuste thi face;
Seke vs noghte in oure place
Be day ne by nyghte.’
The knyghte spake to þat fre:
‘Ma-dame, wite noghte me;
Mekill maugre hafe he
Þat chalanges vn-righte!
[XXVIII]
‘Luk, my perrkes are stroyed,And my veuers are drawed,
And I gretly [am] anoyde,
For sothe als I say.
When I werreyde in Spayne,
He mad my landis barrayne,
My woddis and my warrayne;
My wylde are awaye.
Dame, I do ȝow owt of drede,
He þat did me þat dede
I sall qwyte hym his mede,
Als so sone als I may,
Or I sall dy in þe payne;
He þat my fosters hase slayne
I sall rewarde hym agayne,
I telle ȝow in fay.’
30
[XXIX]
Than spekes þat wyese in wane:‘Þou hase oure gude men slane,
I rede ȝe be at ane
Or þar dy any ma.’
The knyghte ansuers in hy:
‘He sall þe bargan haby
Þat did me þis velany,
Als euer mot I ga.
Ma-dam, if it be ȝour will,
I pray ȝow takes it to nan ill;
I am haldyn þer-till
To fyghte on my faa.
I telle ȝow reghte trewly
It leues noghte so lyghtly,
Ma doghety sall dy
Or it end swa.’
[XXX]
The knyghte houed in þe felde,Bathe with spere and with schelde,
The Erle doghter hym by-helde,
Þat borly and balde;
He was armed full clene
In gold with asure full schene,
Alle sett with bagges by-twene,
Þis frely to falde.
Scho was full comly clede,
Twa riche barons hir lede,
Alle þe bewte scho hade
Was gay to be-holde.
With lufe scho wondid þe knyght;
With hert trewely he hir highte
Þat he sold lufe þat swete wyghte,
Proue how it wolde.
32
[XXXI]
How-som-euer þat it cheue,Þe knyght takis lis leue:
‘Madame, tak it noghte to greue
A thyng I ȝow saye:
Grete wele þe Erle ȝour lorde,
And say þat we may noghte accorde
Or my thynges be restorede
Þat he hase don a-waye.
Here by-fore he myghte ethe
Sone hafe mad me asethe;
Þat sall he, mawgre his tethe,
For alle his gret draye.
Trewly, I vndir-take,
If it ne ware for ȝour sake,
I sold hym vnwynly wake
Or to-morne daye.
[XXXII]
‘Bot I lett for my gentryseTo do swylke reueryse,
For swylke gud ladyse
This castell to fraye;
Bot sen I may do na mare,
To his foreste will I fare,
I will na wylde best spare,
For sothe all þis day.’
Now to þe forest þay funde
Bathe with horne and with hunde,
To bryng þe dere to þe gronde
On laund þer þay laye.
I-wysse þe gamnes by-gan,
Hertis ryally rane,
Sexty bukkes, or þay blan,
Þay fellid, in fay.
34
[XXXIII]
Sir Degreuant, or he riste,He sent þe Erle of þe beste,
He hunttyd in his foreste
With beryns full balde.
His depe dykis he drewe,
His qwykke swannes he slewe,
Grete geddis i-nowe
Gate he vn-talde.
Bot now hym lyste noght playe,
To hunt ne to ryvaye,
For Maydyn Myldor þat may
His caris are calde.
Als he hunted in the chase
He tolde his sqwyere þe case:
Þat he luffed in a place
This frely to falde.
[XXXIV]
‘My lufe es lelely lyghteOn a lady wyghte,
Þare es no beralle so brighte,
Na cristalle so clere;
Scho es warre and wysse,
Hir rod as þe rose on ryse,
Hir coloure full white it es,
Þat lufly in lyre.
Scho es precyous in palle,
Scho es fayreste in haull,
I sawe hir ons on a walle,
I neghede na nere;
Me ware leuer þat scho war myn
Þan alle þe golde in þe Ryn,
And also in floreyne,
Scho es me so dere.
36
[XXXV]
The sqwyere ansuerd, ‘I-wysse,I wold wiet whate scho es;
I solde seke hir whare scho es
In payne of my lyfe;
I sall do þat I may
Iff I kan by any waye
Bathe by nyghte and by daye
To wyn hir to ȝour wyfe.
And I sall to ȝow an athe suere
Ȝour concell sall I neuer discouer,
Ȝif my body may endure,
With suerde or with knyfe,
Þat I shall faythfully fyghte
Bathe in wrang and in righte,
With sqwyere and als with knyghte,
Þat agaynes the will stryfe.’
[XXXVI]
‘Myldor,’ he said, ‘es hir name,Scho es white als þe fame;
Balde beryns wald me blame
(What bot es to ly?),
Thus to wowe hir in þat stede
Agayne alle hir frendis rede;
Bathe my lyfe and my dede
In hir es lokyn in hy.
Scho es frely and faire,
And þe Erls awn ayere,
I will no-thyng of þaire,
Broche ne no bey.
I wolde aske hym no mare
Bot hir body alle bare,
And we frendis for euer-mare,
What-so-euer I drey.’
38
[XXXVII]
The sqwyare said, ‘Are ȝe wyse?Thynke þat ȝe are enemys,
And late some wy þat es wysse
Walke on ȝour nedis.
I dare sauely swere,
And he take ȝow on were,
All Ynglandes here
Sall speke of ȝour dedis,
And say it es foly
For to lufe ȝour enemy
Ȝife ȝe gete a velany
And mawgre to ȝoure mede.
Sertys, ladys will saye
Þare myght no noþer ȝow pay
Bot Mayden Mildor þe may,
Worthliest in wede.’
[XXXVIII]
Than said Sir Degreuant:‘Þou sall noght make þin auant
That I sall be recreaunt,
For frend ne for faa.
Thow wold holde me drade,
And for þe Erle full rade;
Trowes þou þat I be made
To leue my lufe swa?
At euen arme the wele
In gud iryn and in stele,
For we will to þe castelle
By-twix vs ane twa.
Sertanely, þis ilke nyghte
I mon se hir with syghte,
And speke with þat bird brighte,
For wele or for wa.’
40
[XXXIX]
Twa faire coursurs þay hent,To þe castelle are þay went,
On a laund are þay lent
By a forest syd.
Till it drewe nere day,
Þe Erle busked hym to playe,
Owt a[t] posterne he tuk þe waye
With knyghtis of pryde.
Sir Degreuant held hym styll
Whils he was passed þe hill,
Þan spake þe sqwyere hym till,
Preualy þat tyde:
‘I rede we hy vs full ȝerne
In at þe posterne,
And late vs hald vs in derne
Þe byrde to habid.’
[XL]
Sir Degreuant tuk gud hede,In at þe posterne he ȝede;
Þe porter had ben in drede
Had he bene þare!
He þat þe ȝatis solde kepe
He was gane for to slepe;
In-to ane orcherde þay lepe,
Armed als þay were.
The knyghte and his sqwyere
Risted vndir a rosere
Till þe day wex clere,
Vndron and mare;
Be þat þay herde a belle
Ryng in þe castelle,
And þe gay dameselle
Busked full ȝare.
42
[XLI]
Scho come in a veluetWith white perle ouerfret,
And faire were þay in sett
On euer-ylke a syde;
Alle of palle-werke fyne
Cowchide with newyne,
Furrede with ermyne,
And couerde with pryde.
To telle hir botouns were dure:
Þay were anamelde with asure;
With t[o]pys and with tre[ch]oure
Ouertrasyd þat tyde.
Sche was receuyd a spanne
Of any lyuand manne;
Off rede golde þe rybanne
Glemerand hir gyde.
[XLII]
Hir here hillyd on [m]oldeWith a coroune of golde;
Was neuer made on this molde
So worthy ne so mylde.
Scho was frely and fayre,
Wele semyd hir a chayere
With riche bosys and fayre
And derely by-dyghte.
With a frountell endent
With perle of þe Oryent,
Owt of Cyprese was it sent
To þat bird brighte;
Hir courchefs were curious,
Hir face gay and gracyous;
Sir Degreuant was amorous
And had joy of þat syghte.
44
[XLIII]
By þat þe messe was saydeThe haulle was ryally arrayed;
The Erle þan had revayde,
And in hert was lyghte.
Than þay tromped to þe mete,
Thay wesche and went to þe sete,
Bothe þe smale and þe grete,
Lady and knyghte.
When þe borde was drawen
The ladyse rase, noghte to layne,
And went to chambir agayne,
On-one þay þam dyghte.
Myldore and hir maye
Went to ane orcherde to playe;
Whare Sir Degreuant laye
Þay come onon-ryght.
[XLIV]
Sir Degreuant þan hir meteIn an alay with-owtyn let;
Ferly faire he hir gret,
Þat worthily wyghte.
He said, ‘Curtayse lady and fre,
Jhesu Criste safe the;
Thy seruant will I euer be,
My trouthe I þe plyghte.
I wald speke, had I space;
My lufe es lent in thi grace,
Preualy in þis place,
Thou worthily wyghte.’
The birde was gretly affrayed,
Neuer þe lesse scho was payed,
He was so ryally arrayede,
Þat comly knyghte.
46
[XLV]
The bird ansuerde on highte:‘Whethir þou be sqwyere or knyghte,
Me thynke þou dose noghte ryghte,
Þe sothe for to saye,
That comes thus armed on were
Thus damesels for to dere
Þat walkes in þaire arbere
Preualy to playe.
By God and by Sayne Jame,
I ne knowe noghte þi name,
Bot þou ert gretly to blame
I swere the in fay.’
The knyght knelyd hir till:
‘Damesell, if it be þi will,
I grant wele I hafe done ill,
I may noghte gaynesay;
[XLVI]
‘Als God saue me fra syn,I myght with na noþer gyn
To ȝour speche for to wyn
Be day ne by nyghte;
Fra I telle ȝow my name,
I ame noghte gretly to blame,
And [e]f it turne me to grame
I sall onone-righte.
It am I, Sir Degreuant;
And I were to þe auenant,
I wald be thi seruant
Als I am trew knyght.’
Scho sayd, ‘Traytour, lat be!
By Hym þat dyed on þe tre,
My lorde hym-selfe sall þe see
Hynge appon hyghte.’
48
[XLVII]
Than Sir Degreuant logheÞer he stode vndir þe boghe:
‘Ma-dame, þou wakyns my woghe
If it be thy will.
I had neuer na gylte
Of all þe blode þat was spylte;
Þat will I proue, als þou wylt,
Onnon on ȝone hill.
Curtayse lady and wyse,
Als þou art proudeste of pryse,
I do me in thi gentryse.
Why will þou me spill?
If I be slane in this stede,
Þou sall be cause of my dede,
Ȝit will it rewe þe in thi rede,
And lyke it full ill.’
[XLVIII]
Scho sayd, ‘Traytoure, þou sall by!How was þou swa hardy
To seke me with velany
By daye or by nyghte?
For þe folke þat þou hase slayne
Þou sall be hanged and drawen;
Þar-of my lorde will be fayne
To se þe with syghte.’
Than spake þe knyghte to þat fre:
‘Sen it may na better be,
Gase fett forthe ȝour menȝe
With me for to fyght.
Here my trowthe: or I be tane,
Many of ȝour gestis sall grane,
[E]f þer come fourtty for ane,
My trouthe I þe plyght.
50
[XLIX]
‘Here my trouthe I þe plyghte:He þat leppis full lyghte,
He sall by it, and I fyghte,
For all ȝour mekill pride.’
Þe stowte man in hert was stirred,
His sqwyere raght hym his swerde,
Þan was þe maydyn afferde,
No lenger durst scho byde.
Till hir chambir scho went
And swore þe knyght sold be schent;
Hir maydyn hir hode of hent
And knelid þat tyde:
‘Madame, appon ȝole-nyghte
My waryson ȝe me highte;
I aske noghte bot ȝone knyghte
To slepe be my syde.’
[L]
Sone þe birde gan hir blame,Bot scho wolde lett for no schame,
Þat scho ne askede the same,
Þe sothe for to saye.
Þe may bad hir do hir beste:
‘Ga glade þe with thi geste;
Þou lett me noght of my rest
In twentty deuell way;
For, als so God me saue,
Had þou askede me a knaue—
The werste of alle þat I haue—
Hade bene mare to my pay.
I swere þe by Goddes grace,
Come he euer-more in this place,
He passede neuer swilke a pace,
‘By nyghte ne by day.’
[LI]
‘Now, ma-dame, gramercy52
[LI]
‘Maydame,’ sche seid, ‘gramercyOf þi gret cortesy.’
Blyue a chaumbur þer-by
Busked was ȝare,
And in sche feches þe knyȝth,
Priualy, withouten syȝth,
As wymen conn mychel slyȝth,
And þer wylles ware.
Sche dyȝt to hys sopere
Þe foules of þe ryuere,
Þer was no deynteþus to dere,
Ne spyces to spare.
Þe knyȝt sat at hys auenaunt
In a gentyl jesseraunt;
Þe mayd mad hym semblaunt,
And hys met schare.
[LII]
Of all þe met þat she schar,Þe knyȝt ete neuer þe mare;
Whan he syȝthe ful sare
Þe mayden gan smyle.
Sone aftyr he seys:
‘What vseþ þe Eorl adayes?
Hontes he ar reuayes?
What does he þis whyle?’
Þe burd answerus agayn:
‘Seþþe hys chyualry was slayn
He passed neuer out on þe playn
Haluendel a myle;
Hys hurtus has hym so y-deryd
He has byn gretely afferyd;
Þe ȝatus has byn ay y-speryd
For dred of þi gyle.’
53
[LIII]
‘Or hys ȝatis be y-speryd,I shal mak hym afferyd,
I shal schak hym by þe berd
Þe nexte tyme we mete;
But I let for hur sake
Þat I haue chosen to my mak;
Sche doys me vnwynly to wak
With wongus ful wete.
I had leuere sche wer sauȝth
Þen all þe golde in hys auȝth,
And I in armus hade y-lauȝth
Þat commely and swete.
Þann durste I saffly syng
Was neuer emporour ne kyng
More at hys lykyng,
An honde I þe hete.’
[LIV]
Þe mayd answerus aȝeyn:‘Me þink þou trauelus in vayn,
Þou hast our kunred y-slayn,
How myȝt hit so be?
I swer þe by Godus myȝth,
Com þou euer in hur syȝth,
Þou bes honged on hyȝth
Hyie on a tre!
Hyr proferrys par amoure
Boþ dukes and emperoure,
Hyt were hyr disonowre
For to taken þe.
Þe Duke of Gerle for hir has sent
Þat he wol haue a tornament,
Hyt ys my lordys assent
With-ynne for to be.
54
[LV]
‘Þo Duke comes of so gret areyTo iuste and to tornay;
Þou comes nat at þat play
By counsayl of me.
Hyt is my lordys en-sent,
Come þou to þat torniment,
Sertaynly þou be schent,
And all þi meynye.’
‘Damesele, withouten drede,
Þou hast warnyd me of þis dede;
Of þis gret gentyl rede
God for-ȝelde þe.
And Y swer be Sent Luke
I shal iuste with þat Duke,
Or I gete a rebuke,
How-euer þat hyt be.
[LVI]
‘And, damesel, for þi chere,And for my god sopere,
Þou shalt haue my squiere,
Lok yf þe paye.
Here I gyf ȝow be band
An .c. pownd worþ of land;
Do tak hyr by þe hond
And do as Y þe saye.’
Whan here trouþus were plyȝth,
Sone torches were i-lyȝth,
And gaff hym ordyr of knyȝth,
For soþe as I say.
‘Recumaunde [me], for Godys Pyne,
To my lady and þine,
As þou wolt þat I be þin
To my deþus day.
55
[LVII]
‘Recumaund me pryvalyTo þat fayr lady,
Or hur þ[e]nke lyȝthely
Þat I am pore;
Þer shal emporour ne kyng
Þat shal hyr to bed bryng
Þat I shall make a lettyng—
I sey þe þo soþe.
Here my trouþ I þe plyȝth:
Seyn fyrst I see hyr with syȝth,
I sleped neuer o nyȝth
Haluendel an hour.
Pray þat corteys and hende
Þat sche wold be my frend,
And some socour me send
For hyr mychel honowre.’
[LVIII]
Þe maid seis, ‘I take on handÞat I shal do þyn errand;
Or I be flemyd out of lond,
Y lete for no dred;
I shall teche þe a gyn
Out of þis castel to wyn,
And how þou shal come in
Þyn erond to spede.
Þer ys a place in þe wall
By-twyne þe chaumbur and þe hal;
Þor lyȝth a mychel watur-wal
Of fourty feyt brede;
Þer shalt þou come in a nyȝth
Preualy withouten syȝth,
And here þi chaumbur shal by dyȝt,
And I can ryȝth rede.’
56
[LIX]
‘Damesel, for Godus graceTeche me to þat ylke place.’
Þe maid priualy a-pace
Passes by-fore,
And ledes hym out at a gate,
In at a watur-ȝate
Þer men vytayled by bate
Þat castel with cornes.
‘At ebbe of þe see
Þou shalt not wad to þe kne.’
Þe knyȝt kyst þat fre.
Erly at þe morow,
Fayir þei passed þat flode,
To þo forest þei ȝoud,
And toke here stedus wher þei stod
Vndur þe hawþrone.
[LX]
Syr Degriuaunt ys whom went,And aftyr hys reten[ue] sent;
To þat gret tornament
Þei busked hem ȝare.
But leue we now þat gentyl knyȝt,
And spek we of þat byrd bryȝt,
How þei gestened þat nyȝt
Carp wyll we mare.
Erly on þe mowroun
Þe lady louȝh hyr to scorn;
Sche seys, ‘Þi maydynhed is lorn;
God gyf þe care.’
‘Maydame, gyff hyt so be,
Hyt deres no man but me.
I fouchesaff on þat fre,
And hyt so ware.’
57
[LXI]
Þo lady louȝhwes vppon hyȝt;‘Damesele, for Godys myȝt,
How peyis þe þat knyȝt,
As euer mote þou the?’
‘I dar make myn avaunt
For my lord Syr Degriuaunt,
Corteys and auenaunt,
I know non so fre.
Sertaynly þis ylke nyȝth
Hys squier ys mad knyȝth;
He and I ys trouþe-plyȝth
My housbond to be.
And he haþ gyf vs by band
An .c. pownd worþ of land;
Here þe chartur in þi hand,
Þi-self may hyt see.’
[LXII]
Þan þat lady was gladBy sche þat chartur had rad.
‘Had þou Syr Degriuaunt had,
Þen had þou wel i-gon.’
‘Nay, Meydame, so mot I þryue,
Þer ys no lady on lyue
Þat he wol wed to wyff,
But only þe allon.
Y warne þe of o þing—
Þer shall be emperour ne ky[n]g
Þat shal þe to bede bryng—
I owt-take non—
Þat he wol mak a lettyng;
He sendys þe syche a gretyng,
Lo! here ys a rede gold ryng
With a ryche ston.’
58
[LXIII]
Þe lady lokedon þat ryng;Hyt was a gyfte for a kyng:
‘Þis ys a merveylous þing,
Wenus þou I be wode
To do syche a foly,
To loue my lordys enemy,
Þow he were to so dowȝty?
Nay, by þe Rode!
Y do þe wele for to wyte
Y nel non housbond haue ȝyte:
Seye þe knyȝth, whan ȝe mete,
I wol hym no gude.
Þe Duk of Gerle hase i-hyȝt,
Þat he wol soupe here þis nyȝt,
And gyf my chaumbur wer i-dyȝt,
Noþing for-ȝ[oo]d.’
[LXIV]
The Duke es comen ouer the seeWith a grete menȝe;
The Erle curtayse and free
Faste gan hym praye
To duelle at his costage,
At bouche of court and tonage,
Bothe sqwyere and page,
To the tweluft daye;
A thowsand horses and three
Of þe Dukes menȝe
Ilke nyghte to lyuere
Bathe corne and haye.
The knyghtes of þe Erles howse
Helde þe Duke cheualrouse,
For he was gaye and amorouse,
And made so mekill draye.
60
[LXV]
Þe riche Duke, when he gun meteWith Mayden Mildore þe swete,
Þe Erle baldly he hym gun hete
To haffe hir for ay.
The Erle tolde hym onane
How his cheualrye were slayne,
And whate harmes he had tane
Vndir þe wod-boghe:
‘The baron wonnes hereby
Þat will assayle this cry;
Þat did me þat velany,
And wroght me this woghe.’
The Duke ansuerde þis knyght:
‘Here my trouthe I þe plyghte,
Whethir he will tournay or fyght,
He sall haf ynoghe.’
[LXVI]
The Duk ansuerd on hight,‘Whare-by knawes þou þat knyght?’
Þe Erle t[alde] hym full right
With wordis, I wene:
‘He beris a schelde of asure
Engrelyde with a sa[w]tour,
With a dowbyll tressoure,
And archede by-twene;
Bot his bagges are blake;
For he will nane for-sake,
A lyon tyed till an ake
Of gowlys and grene;
A helme riche to be-holde,
He berys a dolphyn of golde,
With a trewelufe on þe molde,
Cumpaste ful clene.
62
[LXVII]
‘He es bown to þe felde,Bath with spere and with schilde,
The helme sall be wele stelyd
Sall stande hym a strake;
He es stalworthe in stowres,
By Sayne Martyn of Towres,
And he luffede paramours,
I knewe noght his make.
Alle þe land þat I welde
I wold gyff in my elde
To see hym fellede in þe felde,
Wha wolde it vndir-take.’
Þe Duke loghe hym to skorne,
Thus hastyly þam hase he sworne,
‘He sall habye to-morne,
Sir, for þi sake.’
[LXVIII]
One þe morne þe Duke hym dightAls fast als he myght,
Þe Erle hardy and wyght,
Crowell and kene.
The sone schane full clere;
Thre thowsand in fere
Thay helde with þe banere,
Armed full clene.
Þay þat were aunterous by-syde
In a cuntre full wyde,
Þay come thedir þat tyde
Þat semble to sene.
Sir Degreuant of þe west
He broghte owt of þe forest
Thre score knyghtis of þe best
Graythed wele in grene.
64
[LXIX]
Þare was none so hardyÞat durste assayle þat cry;
Þay helde þe Duke so doghety
For his mekill pride.
Bot when þay saw Sir Degreuant
Cum armede on a feraunt,
Þay thanked God of his sant
Alle þe toþer syde.
Than drewe þay full nere,
Baron and bachelere,
To be vndir his banere,
To tournaye þat tyde;
With trompis, and with nakerere,
And with þe schalmous full clere,
Folkes pressed in fere,
In hert es noghte to hyde.
[LXX]
When þe renkes gan mete,Fay were fellid vndir fete,
Knyghtis tombled in þe strete,
Stonayde vndir stedis;
With swerdis swyftly þay smyte,
Þay teme sadils full tyte;
Þare was n[e] langare lyte,
Thies worthy in wedys.
Of alle þe beryns of þe bent,
[Schuldirs schamesly þay schent;
Bryghte crounes and brent]
And brathly bledis.
Many armys were tynt,
Þat were neuer at þe sent
To come to þat tournament
To do swylke dedis.
66
[LXXI]
Sir Degreuant with-owttyn lesePrekid faste in þe prese;
Vn-to þe cheftane he chese,
And raughte hym a strake;
Þe Duke [dotered] to þe gronde,
And þan swyftly he swounede;
Sir Degreuant in þat stownde
Wane his stede blake.
He was staleworthe in stowres,
Be Sayne Martyn of Towres;
Þe lady laye in hir bowres
Þat solde be his make.
Sir Degreuant, or he blane
(Þat see myghte many a man),
Fourty stedis he wane,
And broghte þam to stake.
[LXXII]
Sir Degreuant þat ilke daye,Þe certayne sothe for to saye,
Alle þe pryce of the playe
Es putt on þat fre;
Sone þe doghety vndir schelde
He hase wonnen þe felde;
Many man hym by-helde,
Sa hardy was he.
Þan þay sayde al by-dene,
Bathe kynge and qwene,
‘Þe doghtty knyght in þe grene
Hase wonnen þe gree.’
Bryghte birdis in þe boure
Louede þe knyghte paramoure:
Ladyse of honoure,
And all þat hym see.
68
[LXXIII]
Þe Duke was horsede agayne,He prikked faste in þe playne,
Þe riche Duke with a trayne
To þe castelle gan fare.
A hauraud faste gan crye,
And prayes all þat cheualry
To souppe at þat maungery
If þaire will ware.
The gud knyght Sir Degreuans
Had made his awen purueance
Tyll all his retenans
For thre dayes and mare,
In the syde of a felle,
Whare hym lyked for to duelle,
In a fayre castelle,
For to slaa care.
[LXXIV]
The steryn knyghte and þe stowteÞat tournayde þat daye with-owte
Ledd a-waye in a rowte
Thre hundrethe and ma;
A hundrethe pownde and a stede
He sent mynstrals to mede;
Of gyftis was he [n]euer gnede
In wele na in waa.
A ryche mawngery he made,
Alle þe balde þat habade
To þe castelle þay rade,
Withskapid nan hym fra.
At evyn sayde Sir Degreuans,
‘I will see þe contenans
Of þe cheualrye of France,
Als euer mot I gaa.’
70
[LXXV]
Syr Degreuant at euen-lyghteCallid to hym a knyghte,
And armed þam bathe ryghte
Þat proudest was aye.
‘Ha dyȝt ȝow on stedus
In two damysel wedus,
For I wol found in my nedus
As fast as I may.
‘Take for aythir of vs a spere,
Bathe of pese and of were,
Graythe vs horse and my gere,
Loke þat þay be gaye;
Þat þay be trapped in gete,
Bathe telerer and mantelete,
Ryghte of a fyne veluete,
And make we na draye.’
[LXXVI]
When þaire horses were hilledÞay prikkede fast thorow þe felde,
Bathe with spere and with sch[el]de,
Na langare habade þay.
Sythen þay rade euen weste
Thorgh a fayre foreste
With twa trompets of þe beste
Þat range als a belle.
On a hill þay gan reste,
He tuke his helme and his creste,
He was þe stowteste geste
Fra heuen in-till helle.
Sir Degreuant na langare bade,
To þe Erles castelle he rade,
He fand þe ȝatis opyn brade,
Slyk happe hym by-felle.
72
[LXXVII]
Als þay were seruede of þe first meseHe rade vp to þe dese;
Mayden Mildore he chese,
And chalanges þat free.
The Duke styrte þan vp on highte:
‘Sir, here my trouthe I the plyght,
I sall delyuer þe þat bryghte,
To-morne sall it be.
By-twene vndron and pryme,
Luk þou come at þat tyme,
And ane of vs sall ly in swyme,
The lady sall see.
Trewely, with-owtten lese,
Þou sall be seruede, are I cesse,
Bathe of w[er]e and of pesse—
Of aythir, courses thre.’
[LXXVIII]
Þe knyghte was dressed sa freeIt was joye for to see,
So fayre a horse-man as he
Sawe I neuer are.
Sum luked on his stede,
And sum on his riche wede,
And sum þe resouns gan rede
Þat the knyght bare.
He lowtted down to þam alle,
Bathe to ryche and to smalle,
He rade owte of þe haulle,
He busked full ȝare.
Of alle þat luked on þe knyght,
Nane wyste what he highte
Bot Mayden Mildore þe bryght,
Of all þat þare ware.
74
[LXXIX]
Hamwardes he rydis ryghteAls faste als he myghte;
And on þe morne he hym dighte
Als þat he did are.
He fyndis þe Duke in þe felde,
Bathe with spere and with schelde,
Þe Erle houede and by-helde,
Bryme als a bare.
Than spake þe Duke on þe laund:
‘Whare es now þat gyant?
Whi will he noghte hald conand
For all his mekil fare?’
Bot when he saw Sir Degreuant
Com rydyng on a ferawnt,
His hert wexe recreawnt,
And syghed full sare.
[LXXX]
The Duke sent a sqwyereTo wiete whate his will were:
To juste on pese or on were,
Sa sore he hym drede.
The knyght ansuerde þer-till
Bathe with reson and skill:
‘It sall be at his awen will,
As euer God me spede.’
Than thir doghety þam dyght,
And sett helmys on highte
Als faste als þay myghte—
Thir worthily vndir wedis:
Twa speris of pese
Bathe þe schaftis þay chese,
And prikked faste in þe prese
Appon styfe stedis.
76
[LXXXI]
Thaire stedis stirred þam fast,Thir knyghtis in fewtir þay caste,
Thaire gud speris al to-braste
On molde when þai mett.
Sir Degreuant, als he mynt,
He gafe þe Duk suylke a dynt
Þat bathe his steraps he tynt,
On hand I ȝow hete.
Bot he recouerd agayne,
All his frendis wer fayne,
Þay profird hym payndemayne,
Vernage, and crete.
The Duk suerres by Heuen:
‘Had my horse gane euyn,
I sold haf sett all on seuen
For Mildor þe swete.’
[LXXXII]
Twa grete speris hafe þay tane,And gyrdis þe stedis to þay grane;
Wete ȝe wele many ane
Loked on þase twa.
Thorgh þe renkes gan þay ride,
Thir doghty knyghtis of pride
Fayled bathe at þat tyde;
Þaire happe fell swa.
Þe gud knyght[e Sir] Aunterous
Come in at þe third course,
For he loued paramours;
In hert was he thra.
He strak þe Duk in þe schelde,
Wyde opyn in þe felde;
Þe Erle houed and by-helde,
In hert was he waa.
78
[LXXXIII]
The damesele tuk þe stede,Thorow þe renkes scho gan it lede.
Scho sayd, ‘Tak þat to thi mede
Whils þou gete maa.’
Than spake scho a word of pryde:
‘On this stede will I ryde
Right by my leman syde,
In lande whare he fare.’
The knyghtis dight hym in his gere,
Þe mayden raght hym a spere,
A scharpe wapyn for þe were,
Þe Duk for to sla.
Scho said, ‘Sir Duke auenant,
I pray þe holde thi conant,
Ȝondir es a knyght byddand;
Why taries þou hym swa?’
[LXXXIV]
The Duk lay on þe ground,In hert swyftly he swunned,
He stotyede sore in þat stownde,
Trewly þat tyde.
Ȝit scho cries on heghte:
‘Ȝondir es an armyd knyght,
Alle redy for-sothe es he dyghte,
Thi come to habyde.’
The Duk ansuerd hir till,
Bathe with reson and skyll:
‘I am hurte full ill,
In hert es noght to hyde.
I pray the tak it to na greue
Þou sese me in mescheue;
I hope noghte I may leue,
Swa sare es my syde.’
80
[LXXXV]
Sir Degreuant tuke þe stede,Gaff hym mynstrals to mede,
Sythyn hamward he ȝede
Als fast als he may.
The Duk þat was sa dyghte
Tuk his leue þat ilke nyght
Bathe at baron and knyghte,
And went on his waye.
Sir Degreuant, on þe morne,
Come agayne to þe thorne
Whare þaire stedis stode by-forne,
Þare als þay þam leuede.
And preualy, on þe nyghte,
He come with his knyght
To speke with Myldor þe bryght,
Spede if he maye.
[LXXXVI]
The may wist by a gynÞat þe knyght was comen in;
The lady of heghe kyn
Persayued and thoghte.
‘Damesele, sa haf I rest,
Þou hase getyn a geste
With wylde men of þe west,
Layne þou þam noghte.
Preualy, with-outtyn sight,
Do me speke with the knyght;
Here my trouthe I þe plyght,
Dere he hase me boghte.’
Þan þe damesele was glade,
And did als þe lady hir bade;
Vp at a grese scho hym lade,
To chambir scho hym broghte.
82
[LXXXVII]
The lady of honowreMet þe knyght at þe dore,
And knelid down in þe flore,
And felle hym to fete.
Þe frek, als fyre of þe flynt,
In his armes he hir hent;
Sexty sythes, are he stynt,
He kyssed þat swete.
‘Welcome,’ scho said, ‘Sir Aunterous,
Me thynke þou art meruelous;
Wist my lorde of þis house
With grame he wold the grete.’
Swythe chayers þay fett,
Qwyssyns of veluett;
And þare thir semly wer sett
With mowthis to mete.
[LXXXVIII]
‘A fyre in the chymneyLoke, damesele, þat þer bee,
Fagotes of fyr-tree
Fett þou vs ȝare.’
Scho sett a borde of yvorye,
Tristis ordayned þer-fore;
Clathes couerde þer wore,
Swylke saw I neuer are.
With towels of Alsame,
Whytte als þe see-fame,
And sanappis of þe same,
Serued þay ware.
With a gylte salere,
Basyn and owere,
Þat ware of þe ryuere
Þat was righte þare.
84
[LXXXIX]
Paynedemayne preualyScho fett fra þe pantry,
And serued þam semly,
On hand I þe highte.
Scho fechede of þe kytchyn
Hasteletes in galentyn,
The schuldir of þe wyld swyne,
And serued þam full ryghte;
And sythen scho broght in haste
Plouerrs powdird in paste,
Þat was of þe maste,
I do ȝow to wiete;
Fatt cunyngs y-nowe,
Þe fesant and þe curlewe,
Riche wyne scho þam drewe,
Vernage and crete.
[XC]
To tell þe metis were to tereÞat was at þat sopere;
Þare was no dayntese to dere
Na spyces to spare;
And euer scho drewe þam þe wyne,
Bathe þe roche and þe ryne,
And of þe gude maluesyne
Filled scho þam þare.
And euer Mildor sett
And harped notys full suete,
And oþerwhile scho ete
Als hir will ware.
Scho sang songes a-boue,
And oþer mirthis ynewe,
In þe chambyrs of loue
Þus þay sla kare.
86
[XCI]
Þare was a ryalle roffeIn þat chambir a-boffe;
It was busked a-bowe
With besantes full bryghte;
All of rewelle-bane,
Off Egir, and of Vrbane,
With many worthy stane
Endentid and dighte;
Þer men myght, who so wolde,
Se archangells of golde,
Fefty made on þe molde,
Gleterand full bright;
With þe Pokalypps of John,
Paulis Pistils ylkone,
The Parabylls of Salomone
Paynted full righte.
[XCII]
And þe foure GospellersStandand on þe pelers;
Hend, herkyns and heris,
Giff it be ȝoure will.
Austyn and Gregorius,
Jerome and Ambrosius:
Thir are þe foure doctours;
Lystyn þam till.
Thare was paynted in stone
[Þe fele[so]feris ilkane,
The storye of Absolone],
Þat l[a]iked full [il]le;
With a norloge on highte,
To rynge þe curse of þe nyght,
To wakyn Mildore þe bryght
With belles for to knylle.
88
[XCIII]
Corven wyndows of glase,With joly bandis of brase,
Þe recheste þat euer wasse
Made with mannes hande;
Ale þe walle was of gete,
[With] gaye gabelettes and grete,
Knyghtes syttand in þaire sete
Owt of sere landes:
Kyng Charles with croun,
Godfraye de Boloyne,
Sir Arthure de Bretayne,
With þaire bryght brandes.
Þe floure was paynted ouer-alle
With a clere cristalle,
And ouer-cowchid with palle,
On floure þer scho standes.
[XCIV]
Hir bed was of asureWith a chekir seloure,
With a bright bordure,
Cumpaste full clene;
Also a story þer was
Of Edoyne and Amadase,
With perry in ilk a plase,
And papeiayes of grene.
Þe stowt dedis of many a knyght
With gold of Sypirs was dight,
Brad besantes full bryghte,
And tressours by-twene;
Þar was at ylk a cornere
Þe Erles awen banere;
Was neuer bed rechere
Of emperours ne qwene.
90
[XCV]
Faire coddis of silke,Chalke-whyte als þe mylke,
Coddis paynted of þat ilke,
Tasselde þay ware;
And oþer of sendale
Champed with cristalle;
Thay were wroght in Westwale
With women of lare.
That was a meruelle thynge
To se þe riddels hynge
With many red golde rynge
Þat þam vp-bare.
The cordis þat þay on rane
The dere Duke þam wane,
Maydyn Edoyne þam spane
Of mery-maydyns hare.
[XCVI]
Righte a-bowte midnyghtSayd Sir Degreuant þe knyghte:
‘When will ȝe, swete wyghte,
Lystyn me till?
For lufe myn hert will brist;
When þou gase to thi ryste
Lady, wysse me the beste,
Giff it be thi will.’
The birde answerde ful ȝare:
‘Neuen þou it any mare,
Þou sall rewe [it] full sare,
And lyke it full ill.
Certis, sir, [e]f þou were a kyng,
Þou solde do me no swylke thing
Or þou wede me with a rynge,
And maryage full-fill.
92
[XCVII]
‘Wete ȝe weile, with-owttyn lett,Þe firste tym þat I ȝow mett,
Myn hert was hally on ȝow sett,
And my luf on ȝow lyghte;
I thoght neuer to hafe nane,
Lord ne no lemmane,
Bot þe sekirly allane,
Als I ame trewe wyghte.
Kyng ne no conquerour,
Ne no lorde of honour,
[E]f he ware an Emperour,
Þat mast es of myghte.
For-thi, sir, halde the styll
Till ȝe gete my fadirs wyll.’
Þe knyght grauntid þer-till,
And þare þay trouthes plyghte.
[XCVIII]
When þayre trowthes were plyght,Þan were þaire hertes lyght;
Was neuer fawcon of flyght
Sa fayn als þay ware.
Thay lay down on the bedd,
With riche clothes was it sprede,
Wete ȝe wele, or þay were wed,
Synned þay na mare.
Þan spake þe bird bryghte
To Sir Degreuant þe knyghte:
‘Leue sir, come ylke nyghte,
And luke how we fare.’
Than þat bolde bachelere
And þe Countase so clere
Loued thus al a ȝere
And a quarter, and mare.
94
[XCIX]
At missomer, on an nyght,Þe mone schane full bright;
Sir Degreuant and his knyghte
Busked þam to wende;
Þis doghety knyghte and fre
Lyghted down vndir a tree;
A prowd foster gan þam see
On launde þer þay lende.
He folowed þam þorowe þe wod
Alle þe gatis þat þay ȝode,
And how þay passede þe flode,
He sawe wele þat tyde.
The waytis blewe one þe walle,
Þe Erlis awen mynstralle
How þay went to þe haulle,
And þare þay gun habyde.
[C]
The mynstralle helde his pesse,To no man he it sayse
(Mynstrals are ay curtayse
Als þay ere kende to be).
The foster talde on highte
To the Erle of myghte
How þay come armed on nyght;
Hym-selfe gun it see.
The stewarde es cheualrous,
Sir Aymere þe gracyous,
With þe officers of þe house
Was crouelle and kene.
A gret enbuschment þay sett
Þare þe foster þam mett;
Þay thoght Sir Degreuant to lett
Þe gatis so grene.
96
[CI]
Þe stewarde hase his athe sworne:‘Come he by þe hawthorne,
We bryng his hed ham to-morne
And no noþer mede.’
Mildor wist righte noght
What thir men had thoghte;
Scho wend no-thyng þat was wroghte
Had wyste of þaire dede.
When Sir Degreuant had hight,
Righte als he was trew knyght,
To speke with Mildor þe brighte,
He lettis for na drede.
God, als þou ert mekill of myght,
Saue Sir Degreuant þe knyghte,
And lene hym grace in þat fyghte
Wele for to spede!
[CII]
Syr Degreuant, þat hend knyght,Armed hym and his knyght,
And tuk preualy I ȝow highte,
And couerde þam fra syghte.
Now-þer schelde ne spere,
Na no wapyns of were,
Bot scharpe swerdis [þay bere]
Of Florence ful bright.
When þay come to þe slake,
Þe balde buschement brake;
Þay satt appon stedis blake,
Armed full clene.
Sir Degreuant, es noghte to layne,
His swerd hase he owt-drawen;
He þat come forþermast es slayne
In þat schawe schene.
98
[CIII]
When þay Sir Degreuant mett,Seuen speris on hym sett;
On his bacenett þay bett,
Þay bryssed it in twa.
Sonne bare þay thorgh þe gown,
And braste his bright habirgeon;
His bachelere was borne down,
His swerd lay hym fra.
Than Sir Degreuant down lyght
For to rescu his knyght,
And cryed to hym on hyghte,
‘Why lies þou swa?’
The best man þat þay hade
By þe schuldirs þay hym s[ch]rade;
He was neuer sa harde stade
In wele ne in wa.
[CIV]
The stewarde Sir AymereCome a lyttill to nere;
Þe heuede by þe colere
He cuttid a-waye.
Þe body satt on þe horse
(Þat was an vnsemly corse);
Þe stede strak ouer þe force,
And strayed on straye.
So Sir Degreuant faride,
He mad þam in hert sterid;
With his twa-hand swerde
He made swylk pay,
Þat fourty lay in þe felde,
Bathe with spere and with schelde,
Þat na wapyns myght welde,
Ne noghte wynn a-waye.
100
[CV]
Þe pantelere, and þe botelere,And þe Erles awen sqwyere—
Þay lay slayne alle in fere
In þat schawe schene.
Than þe remenant flees
For þe fyght þat þay sees,
And sum lurkede vndir trees,
And couers þam full clene.
Thankid be God of His grace
Of þat cheualrouse case!
He hase vencust his fase,
Þe crouele and kene.
Noght fourty fote fra þe walle
He slew þe vschere of þe halle,
And of þe sqwyers with-alle
Ma þan feftene.
[CVI]
By þat it drewe nere dayeHe had endid þis playe;
Sum passede a-waye,
Bot many ware slayne;
Þan spak Sir Degreuant to his knyght:
‘Here my trouthe I þe plight,
I speke with Mildore þe bryght,
To dy in þe payne.’
Thay sett þaire stedis þer þay stod,
And fayrly passed þe flode,
To þe chambir þay ȝode
Þaire gatis so gayne.
Than þe lady bryght
Faire scho welcomd þe knyght;
Scho wist noght of þe fighte,
Þer-of were þay fayne.
102
[CVII]
Bot scho meruelle[de] of itt,Why þaire clothis were so slytt,
As þay in hurtelyng had ben hitt
With dynttis of swerdis;
Þaire gaye gownnes of grene
Schamesly were þay ryuen:
‘Leue sir, whare hafe ȝe bene,
Ȝoure clathes þus to tere?’
The knyght sayd gayly,
And sayde to þat semly:
‘We sawe no celly
Þat solde vs oght dere;
Bot als we come by þe thorne
Thus oure clothis were torne;
We sall hafe newe to-morne—
We cownt þam noght at a pere.’
[CVIII]
Þe knyghte had foghten als a bareAnd þerfore hym thristid sare;
Þe mayden broghte hym full ȝare
Þe spyce and þe wyne;
Dyuerse spyces þay ete,
Ofte with mouthes þay mete;
Scho broghte þam vernage and crete
And wyne of þe Ryne.
He tuke his leue at þe daye
At Mildor þe faire maye;
Ȝit scho herd not of þe playe
Þat scho hard sythen.
Þe knyght went on his waye
Whare þe ded men laye,
And says oft, in his playe,
‘Thir were stoute hyne.’
104
[CIX]
Þe steward Sir Gaymere,And mony gud sqwyere
Þay broght hame on bere
Fra frythis vn-fayne.
Þay blewe owt ouer-alle,
Bathe þe grete and þe smalle;
Þe mayden rynnes to þe haulle
Tyȝandis to frayn.
The Erle said to þat fre:
‘I witt Sir Degreuant and the
Þe slagheter of my menȝe;
Þis es a false trayne.
By Hym þat dyed on þe tre,
This daye sall þou ded be;
Now wate I wele it es he
Þat hase the for-layne.’
[CX]
The mayden ansuerd agayne:‘Be my faythe, I am fayne
Þat þe knyght es not slayne;
What bote es to ly?
Sen he hase chosen me to make,
I sall hym neuer for-sake,
Whatkyns dede þat I take,
What dole þat I drye.’
Þan þe Erle wexe wode,
And swore by bane and by blode:
‘Þar sall na mete do me gud
Or I se þe dy!’
Þe Cowntas knelid down onane:
‘Sir, we hafe no childe bot ane,
For þe lufe of Sayne Jame
Off hir haff mercy.’
106
[CXI]
Þe Countas said: ‘Allas!Ȝe hafe bene lang faas;
Wikkid tunges it mase,
God gyff þam scham!
I dare hardyly saye
Þat he went hym to playe;
Þay withsett hym þe waye,
He was noghte to blame.
When he werid in Spayne
Ȝe made his landis barrayne,
His woddes and his warrayne,
His wylde and his tame;
I rede ȝe be frende with þe knyght
Þat es sa bolde and sa wyghte,
And grant hym þat bird bryghte
By hir righte name.’
[CXII]
Than spake þat byrde so bryght:‘Þare was bot he and his knyght,
I spake with þam this nyghte,
Why sold I spare?
He es my lufe and my lorde,
My joye and my comforde;
It ware gud ȝe ware accorde,
If ȝowre will ware.
And ȝe halde it so grete,
I sall neuer ete mete.’
Þe Erle for angre gun swete,
And syghede full sare.
‘Now, dameselle, are þou be spilt,
I for-gyffe þe thi gylte;
It sall be ryghte als þou wilt,
I may do no mare.’
108
[CXIII]
A riche lettre scho hym sent,Eftyr hir lordis commandment,
And talde hym alle hir atent
With tyȝandes full newe;
And prayed hym [come] preualy
With his beste cheualrye;
Trow it righte trewely,
And trow it for trewe.
And scho suld make swylke accorde
By-twyx hym and hir lorde
Þat it solde be comforde
To all þat þam knewe.
Ȝitt Sir Degreuant h[ym] drede:
Sexty knyghtis he clede,
And to þe castelle þay spede
When þe daye dewe.
[CXIV]
Þe steryn knyght and þe stout,Þe Erle met hym þer-owt;
Wondir lawe gun he lowte,
And haylsede þat hende:
‘Welcome, sir, to this place!
I swere þe, by Goddis grace,
We hafe bene lange fase,
Now will we be frende.’
Or any man þat wist,
Alle wranges ware redrischt:
Þe Erle and þe knyght kyssed,
And to the castelle þay wende.
With-owttyn mare rehersyng,
Twyse þay made þaire saghtelyng;
He grauntis hym Mildor þe ȝynge
To hys lyues ende.
110
[CXV]
Was neuer slyke a purueanceMade in Yngland ne in France
Als was for Sir Degreuance
And Mildore þe schene.
Þare come to þat offerynge
Bathe Emperour and Kynge,
Ersbechops with many a ryng
Filly fyftene.
The Mayster of þe Hospitalle
Come with a cardenalle,
Þe riche Kynge of Portyngale
With knyghtis full kene;
Alle þe lordis of þat lande
Þay were at þat offerand,
Sothely to vndirstande,
Bathe Emperour and Qwene.
[CXVI]
Sone appon þe third daye,In romance als I herd saye,
He tuk hir in Goddis laye
Till his lyues ende.
Solemply a cardenalle,
With a rynge pontyfycalle,
He dyd a messe ryalle
And weddid þat hende.
Of Almayne þe Emperour,
With wyrchip and honour
He gaff hir at þe kyrk-dure
Als for his awen frende.
Þay sew golde in þat stownd:
Mare þan thre hundreth pounde
Laye gleterand þer on þe grounde
In wayes whare þay wende.
112
[CXVII]
Sone þay sembled in sale,Bathe kynges and cardenale,
Þe Emperour so ryalle
With barouns full bolde.
Gaye ladyse by-dene,
Bathe countase and qwene,
Bright byrdis and schene,
And frely to folde.
Þe wyne in condyths rane
Fra þe mawngery by-gan
Þat was fre to ilk a man
To tak wha sa walde.
Þare come in a daunce
Alle þe Dugepers of France;
Me thynk swylke a purueance
Was gay to be-halde.
[CXVIII]
Ȝitt knew I neuer nan so wysseTo telle þe metis of pryce;
Ne couthe of þat seruyce
Was serued in þat sale.
Alle þe mynstrals in þe haulle
He gaffe þam robis of palle,
And oþer gyftis with-alle—
Germentes alle halle.
Ilk a daye þat fourtnyghte
Þe lorde come with a knyghte,
Reuelle wha sa best myght
Aboute in þat haulle.
Appon þe fyftened day,
In romance als I herd saye,
Þay tuk þaire leue and went a-waye,
With wirchip tuk alle.
114
[CXIX]
Alle þay mad þaire auantOf þe lord Sir Degreuant,
Curtase man and auenant,
Bathe lady and knyghte.
He gaffe sum stede in þat stownd
Better þan thre hundreth punde,
With-owttyn hawkis and grewhund,
And fawcon of flyght.
Þe Erle dyed þat same ȝere,
And þe Countas so clere;
Bathe þaire beryels in fere
Was gayly dyghte.
Þan was Sir Degreuant ayere
Of all þat lande so fayre;
Might na perys enpayre
Be skill ne by righte.
[CXX]
Þan þay lyffed in fereMare þan sex and thritty ȝere:
Ten childir scho hym bere
Worthily in wede.
Sythyn scho dyede, I vndirstand;
He made his ayere with his hand
And went to þe Holy Land:
Heuen be his mede!
Sertanly he was slayne
With þe justyng of a sowdane;
Now to God es he gane,
Þat doghty in dede.
Jhesu, Lorde in Trinite,
Graunt vs all in Heuen to be
Thy worthy face for to see,
And gyff vs wele to spede.
Amen.
Amen. Explicit Sir Degreuant.
| The Romance of Sir Degrevant | |