 | Sir Amadace and The Avowing of Arthur |  |
31
SIR AMADACE
I
Thenne the knyȝt and þe stuard fre,Þay casten þere houe hit best myȝte be
Bothe þe ferre and nere.
Þe stuard sayd, “Sir, ȝe awe wele more
Þenne ȝe may of ȝour londus rere
In faythe this seuyn ȝere.
Quoso may best, furste ȝe mun pray,
Abyde ȝo till anothir day.
And parte ȝour cowrte in sere;
And putte away full mony of ȝour men;
And hald butte one, quere ȝe hald ten,
Thaȝghe þay be neuyr so dere.”
32
II
Þenne Sir Amadace sayd, “I myȝte lung spareOr all þese godus qwitte ware,
And haue noȝte to spend;
Sithun duell here, quere I was borne,
Bothe in hething and in scorne—
And I am so wele kennit.
And men full fast wold ware me,
Þat of þayre godus hade bynne so fre,
Þat I haue hade in honde.
Or I schuld hold men in awe or threte,
Þat þay myȝte noȝte hor awne gud gete—
Thenne made I a full fowle ende.
III
“Butte anothir rede I wulle me toe,Wurche anothir way þen soe,
Bettur sayd soro þenne sene.
Butte, gode stuard, as þu art me lefe,
Lette neuyr mon wete my grete mischefe,
Butte hele hit vs betwene.
For seuyn ȝere wedsette my lond
To þe godus þat I am awand
Be quytte holly bidene.
For oute of þe cuntray I wille weynde,
Quil I haue gold, siluyr to spende,
And be owte of dette full clene.
IV
“Ȝette wille I furst, or I fare,Be wele more riall þen I was are,
Therfore ordan þu schall,
For I wulle gif full ryche giftus
Bothe to squiers and to knyȝtis;
To pore men dele a dole.
33
Þat full fayn wold hit were such toe,
Þat myȝte notte bete my bale.
So curtase a mon was neuyr non borne
That schuld scape withoute a scorne
Be iche mon had told his tale.”
V
Thanne Sir Amadase, as I ȝo say,Hase ordanut him opon [a] day
Of þe cuntray in a stowunde.
Ȝette he gafe ful riche giftus,
Bothe to squiers and to knyȝtis,
Stedus, haukes, and howundes.
Sethun afturward, as I ȝo say,
Hase ordanut him opon [a] day,
And furthe þenne conne he founde.
Be þat he toke his leue to wynde.
He lafte no more in his cofurs to spende,
But euyn xl. powunde.
VI
Þenne Sir Amadace, as I ȝo say,Rode furthe opon his way,
Als fast as euyr he myȝte.
Throowte a forest, by one cite,
Þer stode a chapell of stone and tre,
And þerinne se he a liȝte.
Commawundut his knaue for to fare,
To wete quat liȝte þat were thare—
“And tithing bring me ryȝte.”
The knaue did as his maister him bade,
Butte suche a stinke in þe chapell he hade,
Þat dwelle þer he ne myȝte.
34
VII
He stopput his nase with his hude;Nerre þe chapell he ȝode,
Anturs for to lere.
And as he loket in atte þe glasse,
To wete quat meruail þat þer wasse,
So see he stonde a bere.
Candils þer were brennyng toe,
A woman sittyng, and no moe.
Lord! carefull wasse hur chere.
Tithinges þere conne he non frayn,
Butte to his lord he wente agayn,
Told him quat he see thare.
VIII
And sayd, “Sir, atte ȝondur chapell haue I bene,A selcothe siȝte þer haue I sene,
My herte is heuy as lede.
Þer stondus a bere and canduls toe;
Þer sittus a woman, and no moe.
Lord! carefull is hur rede.
Suche a stinke as I had þare,
Sertis þenne had I neuyr are
Noquere in so stid.
For this palfray that I on ryde,
Þer myȝte I no lengur abide;
I traue I haue keȝte me dede.
IX
Þenne Sir Amace commawundut his squir to fare,To witte quat woman þat there ware,
“And tithinges bring þu me.”
As he loket in atte þe walle,
As þe knaue sayd, he fund withalle,
Him thoȝte hit grete pete.
35
That þere myȝte he no lengur duelle,
But sone agayn gose he.
He sayd, “Gud Lord, nowe with ȝour leue,
I pray ȝo take hit noȝte on greue,
For ȝe may notte wete for me.”
X
He sayd, “Sir, þer stondus a bere, and candils toe,A woman sittyng, and no moe.
Lord! carefull is hur chere.
Sore ho sikes and hondus wringus,
And euyr ho crius on heuyn kynges,
How lung ho schall be thare.
Ho says, Dere God, quat may þat be,
The grete soro þat ho opon him se,
Stingcand opon his bere.
Ho says, ho will notte leue him allone
Till ho fall dede downe to þe stone,
For his life was hur full dere.”
XI
Þenne Sir Amadace smote his palfray with is spur,And rode vnto þe chapell dur;
And hastele doune he liȝte.
As his menne sayd, so con him thinke
That he neuyr are hade such a stynke,
And inne thenne wente þat knyȝte.
He sayd, “Dame, God rest with þe.”
Ho sayd, “Sir, welcum most ȝe be.”
A[nd] salit him anon ryȝte.
He sayd, “Dame, quy sittus þu here
Kepand this dede cors opon þis bere,
Thus onyli vpon a nyȝte?”
36
XII
Ho sayd, “Sir, nedelonges most I sitte him by,Hifath, þer will him non butte I,
For he wasse my wedutte fere.”
Þenne Sir Amadace sayd, “Me likes full ill,
Ȝe ar bothe in plyit to spille,
He lise so lung on bere.
Quat a mon in his lyue wasse he?”
“Sir, a marchand of this cite,
Hade riche rentus to rere.
And euiryche ȝere thre hundrythe powndee
Of redy monay and of rowunde,
And for dette ȝette lise he here.”
XIII
Thenne Sir Amadace sayd, “For þe rode,On quat maner spendutte he his gud
Þat þusgate is away?”
“Sir, on gentilmen and officers,
On grete lordus, þat was his perus,
Wold giffe hom giftus gay.
Riche festus wold he make,
And pore men, for Goddus sake,
He fed hom euyriche day.
Quil he hade any gud to take,
He wernut no mon, for Goddus sake,
Þat wolnotte onus say nay.
XIV
“Ȝette he didde as a fole.He cladde mo men agaynus a ȝole
Thenne did a nobull knyȝte:
For his mete he wold not spare;
Burdes in þe halle were neuyr bare,
With clothes richeli diȝte.
37
He sayd, God send hit eueryche dele,
And sette my wurdus atte liȝte.
Bi thenne he toke so mycul opon his name,
Þat I dar notte telle ȝo, lord, for schame
Þe godus now þat he aȝte.
XV
“And þenne come dethe, wo hym be,And partutt my lord and me,
Lafte me in all þe care.
Quen my neȝteburs herd tell þat seke he lay,
Þay come to me, as þay best may,
Þair gud aschet þai þare.
All þat euyr was his and myne,
Hors and naute, shepe and squwyne,
Away þay drafe and bare.
My dowary to my lyue I sold,
And all þe peneys to hom told.
Lord! ȝette aȝte he wele mare.
XVI
“Quen I hade quytte all þat I myȝte gete,Ȝette aȝte he thritte powunde bi grete,
Holly till a stydde;
Till a marchand of this cite,
Was fer oute in anothir cuntre,
Come home quen he was dede.
And quenne he herd telle of my febull fare,
He come to me as breme as bare,
This corse þe erthe forbede,
And sayd, howundus schuld his bodi to draw,
Þen on þe fild his bonus tognaue.
Þus carefull is my rede.
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XVII
“And this xvi. weke I haue setyn here,Kepand þis dede cors opon this bere,
With candils brennand bryȝte.
And so schall I euyrmore do,
Till dethe cum and take me to,
Bi Mary, most of myȝte!”
Þenne Sir Amadace franut hur þe marchandes name
That hade done hur all þat schame.
Ho told him anon ryȝte.
He sayd, “God þat is bote of all bale,
Dame, cumford þe, and so he schale;
And, dame, haue þu gud nyȝte.”
XVIII
Thenne Sir Amadace on his palfray lepe;Vnnethe me myȝte forgoe to wepe,
For his dedus him sore forthoȝte;
Sayd, “Ȝondur mon þat lise ȝondur chapell withinne,
He myȝte full wele be of my kynne,
For ryȝte so haue I wroȝte.”
Þenne he told his sometour quat þe marchand heȝt,
And sayd, “I will sowpe with him tonyȝte,
Be God þat me dere boȝte!
Go, loke þu diȝte oure soper syne,
Gode ryall metis and fyne,
And spicis þenne spare þu noȝte.”
XIX
And sone quen þe sometour herd,To þe marchandus howse he ferd,
And ordanut for that knyȝte.
Þenne Sir Amadace come riding thoe,
But in his hert was him full woe,
And hasteli dowun he liȝte.
39
And kest opon him othir wede,
With torches brennyng bryȝte.
He cummawundutte his squier for to goe,
To pray þe marchand and his wife allsoe
To soupe with him þat nyȝte.
XX
Þenne þe squier weyndut vpon his way,And to þe marchand conne he say;
His ernde told he thenne.
He squere, “Be Jhesu, Mare sone,
Þat lordus will hit schall be done,
Of cumford was þat man.
Þenne þayre soper was nere diȝte;
Burdes were houyn hee on liȝte;
[the] marchand [the] dees began.
Sir Amadace sate, and made gud chere,
Butte on þe dede cors þat lay on bere
fful mycull his thoȝte was on.
XXI
Sir Amadace sayd, “Tonyȝte as I come bi the strete,I see a siȝte I thenke on ȝete,
That sittus me nowe full sore.
In a chapell beside a way
A dede cors opon a bere lay,
A woman all mysfare.”
“Ȝe,” þe marchand sayd, “God gif him a sore grace,
And all suche waisters as he wasse,
For he sittus me nowe sare;
For he lise þere with my thritti powunde
Of redy monay and of rowunde,
Of hitte gete I neuyr more.”
40
XXII
Thenne Sir Amadace sayd, “Take þe till a bettur rede,Thenke þat Gode forgaue his dede,
Grete merit þu may haue.
Thenke how God ordant for the
Bettur grace þen euyr had he.
Lette þe cors go inne his graue.”
Þenne he squere, “Be Jhesu, Mare sun,
Þat body schall neuyr in the erthe come
My siluyr tille þat I haue;
Till ho be ded as wele as he,
Þat howundus schall, þat I may se,
On filde þayre bonus tognaue.”
XXIII
Quen Sir Amadace herd þat he hade squorne,He cald his stuard him beforne,
Of kyndenesse þat knyȝte con kithe,
And bede, “Go foche me thritti powunde
Of redy monay and of rowunde,
Hastely and belyue.”
Þe stuard thoȝte hit was agaynus skille,
Butte he most nede do his maistur wille—
Now listun and ȝe may lithe.
Þer Sir Amadace payd him thritti powund of monay fyne.
And thenne Sir Amadace asket to wyne,
And prayd þe marchand be blythe.
XXIV
Þen Sir Amadace asket, “Awe he þe any mare?”“Nay, Sir,” he sayd, “wele most ȝe fare.
For thus muche he me aȝte.”
Þenne Sir Amadace sayd, “As furthe as x. pounde will take
I schall lette do for his sake,
Querthroȝe he haue his riȝte.
41
Bringe his bodi to Cristun berunge,
That schall þu see wythe siȝte.
Go pray all þe religius of this cite
Tomorne þat þay wold dyne with me,
And loke þayre mete be dyȝte.”
XXV
Howe erly quen day con spring,Þen holli all þe bellus con ring
That in þe cite was.
Religius men eurichon
Toward this dede cors are þay gone
With mony a riche burias.
Thritty prustus þat day con sing,
And thenne Sir Amadace offurt a ring
Atte euyriche mas.
Quen þe seruise was all done,
He prayd hom to ete with him atte none,
Holli more and lasse.
XXVI
Þenne þe marchand wente tille one pillere;Mony a mon droȝhe him nere
To wete quat he wold say.
He sayd, “Sirs, there hase byn here
A ded cors opon a bere—
Ȝe wotte querfore hit lay.
And hase comun a full riall knyȝte,
Of all þe godes þe cors me heȝte
Hase made me redi pay.
Vnto his cofurs he hase sente,
And geuyn x. powunde to his termente,
Wythe riche ringus today.
42
XXVII
“Hit is on his nome þat I say,He prays ȝo holly to mete today,
All þat þer bene here.”
Þay did as þe marchand bade;
Mete and drinke ynuȝhe þay hade,
With licius drinke and clere.
And Sir Amadace wold noȝte sitte downe,
Butte to serue þe pore folke he was full bowne,
For þay lay his hert nere.
And quen þay hade etun withinne þat halle,
Þenne Sir Amadace toke leue atte all,
Vnsemand with full glad chere.
XXVIII
Quen Sir Amadace hade etun,To sadull his horse was noȝte forȝetun,
Þay broȝte hym his palfray.
Thenne his sometour mon before was dyȝte,
Þer as that lord schuld leng all nyȝte
And hade nothing to pay.
Quat wundur were hit thaȝhe him were wo
Quen all his godus were spendutte him fro,
Þe sothe gif I schuld say?
Þenne Sir Amadace kidde he was gentilman bornne,
He come þe grattust maystur beforne,
Tok leue, and wente his way.
XXIX
Qwen he was gone on this kin wise,Thenne iche mon sayd þayre deuise,
Quen he was passutte þe ȝate.
Sum sayd, “Þis gud full liȝteli he wan,
Þat thusgate spendutte hit on this man,
So liȝtely lete hit scape.”
43
Þat hade a peny him biforne,”
That knew full litull his state.
Lo, how þay demun þe gentill knyȝte,
Quen he hade spendut all þat he myȝte.
Butte þe trauthe full litull þay wote.
Quen he come sex mile þe cite fro,
A crosse partut þe way atoe.
Thenne speke Sir Amadace:
To his stuard he sayd full rathe,
His sometour and his palfray mon bothe,
And all þer euyr was,
Sayd, “Gode sirs, take noȝte on greue,
For ȝe most noue take ȝour leue,
For ȝoureseluun knauyn þe cace;
For I may lede no mon in londe,
Butte I hade gold and siluyr to spend,
Neuyr no quere in no place.”
A crosse partut þe way atoe.
Thenne speke Sir Amadace:
To his stuard he sayd full rathe,
His sometour and his palfray mon bothe,
And all þer euyr was,
Sayd, “Gode sirs, take noȝte on greue,
For ȝe most noue take ȝour leue,
For ȝoureseluun knauyn þe cace;
For I may lede no mon in londe,
Butte I hade gold and siluyr to spend,
Neuyr no quere in no place.”
XXX
Now the hardust hertut men þat there ware,For to wepe þai myȝt notte spare
Quen þay herd him say so.
He sayd, “Gode sirs, haue ȝe no care,
For ȝe mone haue maysturs euyrqware,
As wele wurthi ȝe ar soe.
Ȝette God may me sende of his sele,
Þat I may keuyr of this full wele,
And cum owte of this wo.
A mery mon ȝette may ȝe se me,
And be full dere welcum to me,
Bothe ȝe and mony moe.”
[Sir Amadas seyd in þat stonde:
“Þo warst hors is worþe ten pownde
Of hom all þat here gon.
Sqwyar, yomon, and knave,
Ylke mon his owne schall have
Þat he syttes apon.
Sadyll, brydyll, and oder geyre,
Fowre so gud þoffe hit were,
J woch hit save bi Sen Jon.
God mey make yo full gud men.
þryst of hevon Y yo beken!”
Þei weped and partyd ylke on.]
“Þo warst hors is worþe ten pownde
Of hom all þat here gon.
44
Ylke mon his owne schall have
Þat he syttes apon.
Sadyll, brydyll, and oder geyre,
Fowre so gud þoffe hit were,
J woch hit save bi Sen Jon.
God mey make yo full gud men.
þryst of hevon Y yo beken!”
Þei weped and partyd ylke on.]
XXXI
Quen all his men was partutte him fro,Þe knyȝte lafte still in all þe woe,
Bi himseluun allone.
Throȝhe þe forest his way lay riȝte;
Of his palfray doune he liȝte,
Mournand and made grete mone.
Quen he thoȝte on his londus brode,
His castels hee, his townus made,
Þat were away euyrichon,
That he had sette, and layd to wedde,
And was owte of the cuntray for pourte fledde.
Thenne þe knyȝte wexe will of wone.
XXXII
Thenne bespeke Sir Amadace,“A mon that litul gode hase,
Men sittus ryȝte noȝte him bye;
For I hade thre hundrythe powunde of rente,
I spendut two in þat entente.
Of such forloke was I.
Euyr quyll I suche housold hold,
For a grete lord was I tellut,
Much holdun vppe thareby.
Nowe may wise men sitte atte home,
Quen folus may walke full wille of wone,
And, Christ wotte, so may hi.”
45
XXXIII
He sayd, “Jhesu, as þu deet on þe rode,And for me sched þi precius blode,
And all þis word þu wanne;
Þu lette me neuyr come in þat syȝte,
Þer I haue bene knauen for a knyȝte,
Butte if I may avoue his thanne.
And gif me grace to somun all þo
That wilsumly are wente me fro,
And all þat me gode ons hase done;
Or ellus, Lord, I aske þe rede,
Hastely þat I were dede,
Lord, wele were me thanne.
XXXIV
“For all for wonting of my witte,Fowle of the lond am I putte,
Of my frindes I haue made foes;
For kyndenes of my gud wille,
I am in poynte myselfe to spille;”
Thus flote Syr Amadace.
He sayd, “Jhesu, as þu deut on tre,
Summe of þi sokur send þu me,
Spedely in this place!
For summe of thi sokur and þu me send,
And ȝette I schuld ful gladely spende
On all þat mestur hase.”
XXXV
Now thro þe forest as he ferd,He wende þat no mon hade him herd,
For he seȝhe no mon in siȝte.
So come a mon ryding him bye,
And speke on him fulle hastely,
Þerof he was afryȝte.
46
Hade consciens of a knyȝte.
Now thoȝhe Sir Amadace wasse in mournyng broȝte,
His curtase forȝete he noȝte,
He saylut him anon ryȝte.
XXXVI
Quod þe quite knyȝte, “Quat mon is this,That all þis mowrnyng makes thus
With so simpull chere?”
Þenne Sir Amadace sayd, “Nay!”
Þe quite knyȝte bede “do way,
For þat quile haue I bene here.
Thowe schild noȝte mowrne no suche wise,
For God may bothe mon falle and rise,
For his helpe is euyrmore nere.
For gud his butte a lante lone,
Sumtyme men [haue] hit, sumtyme none,
Þu hast full mony a pere.
XXXVII
“Now thenke on him, þat deut on rode.Þat for vs sched his precius blode,
For þe and monkynd all.
For a mon that geuees him to god thewis,
Authir to gentilmen or to schrewis,
On summe side will hit fall.
A mon that hase all way bynne kynde,
Sum curtas mon ȝette may he fynde,
That mekille may stonde in stalle;
Repente þe noȝte þat þu hase done,
For he þat schope bothe sunne and mone,
Full wele may pay for alle.”
Milke quyte was his stede,
47
XXXVIII
Quod þe quite knyȝte, “Wold þu luffe him aure all thingThat wold þe owte of thi mournyng bringe,
And keuyr þe owte of kare?
For here beside duellus a riall king,
And hase a doȝtur fayre and ȝinge,
He luffis nothing mare.
And þu art one of þe semelist knyȝte
Þat euyr ȝette I see with syȝte,
That any armes bare.
Þat mun no mon hur wedde ne weld,
Butte he þat first is inne þe fild,
And best thenne justus thare.
XXXIX
“And þu schalt cum thedur als gayAls any erliche mon may,
Of þi sute schall be non;
Þu schall haue for þi giftus geuand,
Grete lordus to þi honde,
And like þu spare riȝte none.
Þu say þe menne þat come with the,
Þat þay were drounet on þe see,
With wild waturs slone.
Loke þat þu be large of feyce,
Tille þu haue wonon gode congrece,
And I schall þay ichone.”
XL
He sayd, “Þat þu be fre of wage,And I schall pay for þi costage,
x. thowsand gif þu ladde.
Þer schall þu wynne full mekille honowre,
ffild and frithe, towne and towre,
Þat lady schall þu wedde.
48
Qwen þu hase come þi frindus to see,
In stid quere þu art stadde.
Butte a forwart make I with the or þat þu goe,
That euyn to part betwene vs toe
Þe godus þu has wonun and spedde.”
XLI
Þenne bespeke Sir Amadace,“And þu haue myȝte thruȝe Goddus grace
So to cumford to me,
Þu schalt fynde me true and lele
And euyn, lord, for to dele
Bettwix þe and me.”
“Fare wele,” he sayd, “Sir Amadace!
And þu schall wurche thruȝe Goddus grace,
And hit schall be with the.”
Sir Amadace sayd, “Haue gode day,
And þu schall fynde me, and I may,
Als true as any mon may be.”
XLII
Now als Sir Amadace welke bi þe se sonde,Þe broken schippus he þer fonde—
Hit were meruayl to say.
He fond wrekun amung þe stones
Knyȝtes in meneuere for þe nones,
Stedes quite and gray,
With all kynne maner of richas
Þat any mon myȝte deuise
Castun vppe with waturs lay;
Kistes and cofurs bothe þer stode,
Was fulle of gold precius and gode,
No mon bare noȝte away.
49
XLIII
Þenne Sir Amadace he him cladde,And þat was in a gold webbe,
A bettur myȝte none be.
And þe stede þat he on rode,
Wasse þe best þat euyr mon hade
In iusting for to see.
Þer he wanne full mecul honoure,
Fild and frithe, toune and towre,
Castell and riche cite.
Aure þat gud he houet full ryȝte.
That see the king and his doȝtur bryȝte,
Þe iusting furthe schild be.
XLIV
Þe kinge sayd to his doȝtur bryȝte,“Lo, ȝond houes a riall knyȝte!”
A messyngere he ches,
His aune squier, and knyȝtes thre,
And bede, “Go loke quat ȝone may be,
And telle me quo hit is.
And his gud hitte schall be tente
Holly to his cummawundemente,
Certan withowtun lesse.
Go we to his comyng all togethir,
And say þat he is welcum hethir,
And he be comun o pese.”
XLV
As þe messingerus welke bi þe see sonde,Þay toke Sir Amadace bi þe quite honde,
And tithinges conne him fraynne:
And sayd, “Oure lord, þe king, hase send vs hethir
To wete ȝoure comyng all togethir,
And ȝe wold vs sayn.
50
Holly atte ȝoure commawundemente,
Sertan is noȝte to layne.
Quatseuer ȝe wille with þe kinges men do,
Ȝo thar butte commawunde hom þerto,
And haue seruandis full bayne.”
XLVI
And Sir Amadace sayd, “I wasse a prince of mekil pride,And here I hade thoȝte to ryde,
Forsothe atte this iournay.
I was vetaylet with wyne and flowre,
Hors, stedus, and armoure,
Knyȝtus of gode aray.
Stithe stormes me oredrofe,
Mi nobull schippe hit all torofe,
Þo sothe ȝoureseluun may say.
To spend I haue enuȝhe plente,
Butte all þe men þat come with me,
Forsothe þai bynne away.”
XLVII
Þen Sir Amadace, þat wasse so stithe on stede,To þe castell ȝates þay conne him lede,
And told þe king all þe cace.
Þe king sayd, “Þu art welcum here,
I rede þe be full gud chere,
Thonke Jhesu of his grace.
Seche a storme as þu was inne,
Þat þu myȝte any socur wynne,
A full fayre happe hit wase.
I see neuyr man þat sete in sete,
So muche of my lufue myȝte gete
As þu þiseluun hase.”
51
XLVIII
Thenne þe king for Sir Amadace sakeA riall cri thenne gerutte he make
Throoute in þat cite.
To all þat þer wold seruyse haue,
Knyȝte, squiere, ȝomon and knaue,
Iche mon in þayre degree,
Þat wold duelle with Sir Amadace,
Hade lost his men in a cace,
And drownet hom on þe se.
He wold gif hom toe so muche, or ellus more,
As any lord wold euyr or qware,
And þay wold with him be.
XLIX
Quen gentilmen herd þat cry,Þay come to him full hastely,
With him for to be.
Be þen þe iusting wasse alle cryed,
There was no lord þer besyde
Had halfe as mony men os he.
Þer he wanne so mycull honoure,
Fild and frithe, towne and toure,
Castell and riche cite;
A hundrithe sedis he wan and moe,
And gaue þe king þe ton halue of thoe,
Butte þer othir til his felo keput he.
L
Quen þe iusting was all done,To vnarme hom pay wente anone,
Hastely and belyue,
Þen sayd þe king anon ryȝte,
And bede, “Gromersy, gentull knyȝte!”
Ofte and fele sithe.
52
Vnlasutte þe knyȝte, to mete þay wente,
All were þay gladde and blithe.
Quen aythir of othir hade a siȝte,
Suche a lufue betuene hom liȝte,
Þat partut neuyr þayre lyue.
LI
Quen þay hade etun, I vnderstonde,Þe king toke Sir Amadace bi þe quite honde,
And to him conne he say:
“Sir,” he sayd, “withoutun lesse,
I haue a doȝtur þat my nayre ho isse.
And ho be to ȝaure pay,
And ȝe be a mon þat will wedde a wife,
I vouche hur safe, by my life,
On ȝo þat fayre may.
Here a gifte schall I ȝo gife,
Halfe my kyndome quiles I life,
Take all aftur my daye.”
[“Gramarcy,” seyd Sir Amadas,
And þonkyd þo kyng of þat grace,
Of his gyfftes gudde.
Sone after, as Y yow sey,
To the kyrke yode þei
To wedde þat frely fode.
Þer was gold gyffon in þat stonde,
And plenty of syluer, many a ponde,
Be þe way as þei yode.
And after in hall þei satte all,
Þo lordes and þo lades small
Þat comon wer of gentyll kyn.]
And þonkyd þo kyng of þat grace,
Of his gyfftes gudde.
Sone after, as Y yow sey,
To the kyrke yode þei
To wedde þat frely fode.
Þer was gold gyffon in þat stonde,
And plenty of syluer, many a ponde,
Be þe way as þei yode.
And after in hall þei satte all,
Þo lordes and þo lades small
Þat comon wer of gentyll kyn.]
LII
Þus is Sir Amadace keuyrt of his wo,Þat God leue grace, þat we were so!
53
Þer weddut he þat lady briȝte,
Þe maungery last a faurtenyȝte,
With schaftes for to schake.
Othir halfe ȝere þay lifd in gomun,
A fayre knaue child hade þay somun,
Grete myrthes con þay make.
Listuns now, lordinges, of anters grete,
Quyll on a day before þe mete
Þis felau come to þe ȝate.
LIII
He come in als gay gere,Ryȝte as he an angell were,
Cladde he was in quite.
Vnto þe porter speke he thoe,
Sayd, “To þi lord myn ernde þu go,
Hasteli and alstite.
And if he frayne oȝte aftur me,
For quethun I come, or quat cuntre,
Say him my sute is quite.
And say we haue togethir bene,
I hope full wele he haue me sene,
He wille hitte neuyr denyte.”
LIV
Þenne þe porter wente into þe halle,Alsone his lord he metes withalle,
He sailles him as he conne:
Sayd, “Lord, here is comun þe fayrist knyȝte
That euyr ȝette I see with syȝte,
Sethen I was market mon.
Milke quite is his stede,
And so is all his oþer wede,
That he has opon.
54
I hope full well ȝe haue him sene,
Butte with him is comun no mon.”
LV
“Is he comun,” he sayd, “my nowun true fere?To me is he bothe lefe and dere,
So aght him wele to be.
Butte, all my men, I ȝo commawunde,
To serue him wele to fote and honde,
Ryȝte as ȝe wold do me.”
Þen Sir Amadace aȝaynus him wente,
And allso did þat ladi gente,
Þat was so bryȝte of ble.
And did wele þat hur aghte to do,
All þat hur lord lufd wurschipput ho,
All suche wemen wele myȝte be.
LVI
Quo schuld his stede to stabulle haue?Knyȝte, squier, ȝomon, ne knaue,
Nauthir with him be broȝte.
Thenne Sir Amadace wold haue takyun his stede,
And to þe halle himseluun lede,
Butte, so wold he noȝte.
He sayd, “Sertan, þe sothe to telle,
I will nauthir ete, drinke, no duelle,
Be God, þat me dere boȝte.
Butte take and dele hit euun in toe,
Gif me my parte, and lette me goe,
Gif I be wurthi oȝte.”
LVII
Thenne spoke Sir Amadace so fre,“For Goddus luffe, lette suche wurdus be!
Þay greuun my herte full sore.
55
Owre rich londus dele and diȝte,
Þay liun so wide quare.
Butte lette vs leng togethir here,
Riȝte as we brethir were,
As all þi none hit ware.
And othir gates noȝte part will wee,
Butte atte þi will, sir, þu hit spare!”
LVIII
He sayd, “Broke wele þi londus brode,Þi castels hee, þi townus made,
Of hom kepe I riȝte none;
Allso þi wuddus, þi waturs clere,
Þi frithis, þi forestus, fer and nere,
Þi ringus with riche stone,
Allso þi siluyr, þi gold rede,
For hit may stonde me in no stidde,
I squere, bi Sayn John!
But, be my faythe, withoutun stryue,
Half þi child, and halfe þi wyue,
And þay schall with me gone.”
LIX
“Alas!” sayd Sir Amadace þan,“Þat euyr I this woman wan,
Or any wordes gode.
For his life, þat deet on tre,
Quatseuer ȝe will, do with me,
For him þat deet on rode.
Ȝe, take all þat euyr I haue
Wythe thi, þat ȝe hur life saue.”
Þenne þe knyȝte wele vndurstode,
And squere, “Be God, þat me dere boȝte,
Othir of þi thinge þen kepe I noȝte,
Off all þi wordes gode!
56
LX
Butte thenke on þi couenand þat þu madeIn þe wode, quen þu mestur hade,
How fayre þu hettus me þare!”
Sir Amadace sayd, “I wotte, hit was soe,
But my lady for to sloe,
Me thinke grete synne hit ware.”
Then þe lady vndurstode anon,
Þe wurd þat was betwene hom,
And greuyt hur neuyr þe more.
Þen ladi sayd, “For his luffe þet deut on tre,
Loke ȝoure couandus holdun be,
Goddes forbotte ȝe me spare!”
LXI
Þenne bespeke þat ladi briȝte,Sayd, “Ye schall him hold þat ȝe haue hiȝte,
Be God, and Sayn Driȝtine!
For his lufe þat deet on tre,
Loke ȝaure couandus holdun be,
Ȝore forward was full fyne.
Sithun Crist will þat hit be so,
Take and parte me euun in toe,
Þu wan me and I am thine.
Goddus forbotte þat ȝe hade wyuut,
Þat I schuld ȝo a lure makette,
Ȝore wurschip in londe to tyne!”
LXII
Still ho stode, withoutun lette,Nawthir changet chere, ne grette,
Þat lady myld and dere.
Bede, “Foche me my ȝung sun me beforne,
For he was of my bodi borne,
And lay my herte full nere.”
57
“Quethur of hom luffus þu mare?”
He sayd, “My wife, so dere!”
“Sithun þu luffus hur þe more
Þu schalt parte hur euyn before,
Hur quite sidus in sere.”
LXIII
Þenne quen Sir Amadace seeÞat no bettur hitte myȝte bee,
He ferd as ho were wode.
Þenne all þe mene in þat halle,
Doune on squonyng þer con þay falle,
Before þayre lord þat stode.
Þe burd was broȝte þat schuld hur on dele;
Ho kissute hur lord sithis fele,
And sithun þerto ho ȝode.
Ho layd hur downe mekely enuȝhe,
A cloth þen aure hur enyn þay droȝhe;
Þat lady was myld of mode.
LXIV
Þenne þe quite knyȝte, “I will do þe no vnskill,Þu schalt dele hit atte þi wille,
Þe godus þat here now is.”
Þenne speke Sir Amadace so fre,
Sayd, “Atte ȝour wille, lord, all schall be,
And so I hope hit is.”
Þen Sir Amadace a squrd vppehente,
To strike þe ladi was his entente,
And thenne þe quite knyȝte be[de] “sese!”
He toke vppe þe ladi, and þe litull knaue,
And to Sir Amadace þer he hom gaue,
And sayd, “Now is tyme of pees!”
58
LXV
He sayd, “I con notte wite þe gif þu were toe,Suche a ladi for to slo,
Þi wurschip þus wold saue.
Ȝette I was largely as gladde,
Quen þu gafe all þat euyr þu hade,
My bones for to graue.
In a chapell quere I lay to howundus mete,
Þu payut furst thritty powund be grete,
Sethun all þat þu myȝtus haue.
Þer I besoȝte God schuld keuyr þe of þi care,
Þat for me hade made þe so bare,
Mi wurschip in lond to saue.”
LXVI
“Fare wele now,” he sayd, “mynne awne true fere!For my lenging is no lengur her,
With tunge sum I þe telle.
Butte loke þu lufe þis lady as þi lyue,
Þat þus mekely, withouten stryue,
Þi forwardus wold fulfille.”
Þenne he wente oute of þat towne,
He glode away as dew in towne,
And þay abode þer stille.
Þay knelutte downe opon þayre kne,
And thonket God and Mary fre,
And so þay hade gud skille.
LXVII
Þenne Sir Amadace and his wiue,With joy and blis þay ladde þayre liue,
Vnto þayre ending daye.
Þer is ladis now in lond full foe
Þat wold haue seruut hor lord soe,
Butte sum wold haue sayd nay.
59
And his modur, Mary fre,
Þis dar I sauely say:
Gif hom sumtyme like full ille,
Ȝette God will graunte hom all hor wille,
Tille heuyn þe redy waye.
LXVIII
Then Sir Amadace send his messingerus,All þe londus ferre and nere,
Vnto his awne cuntre.
Till all þat euyr his lond withheld,
ffrithe or forest, towne of filde,
With tresur owte boȝte he.
His stuard and othir, þat with him were,
He send aftur hom, as ȝe may here,
And gafe hom gold and fee.
And þay þer with him for to leng,
Euyrmore till þayre lyuus ende,
With myrthe and solempnite.
LXIX
Þenne sone aftur þe kinge deet, atte Goddus wille,And þay abode þare stille.
As ȝe schall vndurstond.
Þenne was he lord of toure and towne,
And all þay comun to his somoune,
All þe grete lordus of the londe.
Þenne Sir Amadace, as I ȝo say,
Was crownette kinge opon a day,
Wyth gold so clure schinand.
Jhesu Criste in Trinite,
Blesse and glade þis cumpany,
And ore vs halde his hande!
ffinis de Sir Amadace
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