Edited by Larry D. Benson - Alliterative Morte Arthure, Part I lyrics

Here beginnes Morte Arthure. In Nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen pur Charite. Amen. Now grete glorious God through grace of Himselven great And the precious prayer of his pris Moder excellent Sheld us fro shamesdeede and sinful workes shameful deeds And give us grace to guie and govern us here guide In this wretched world through virtuous living, That we may kaire til his court, the kingdom of heven go to When our soules shall part and sunder fro the body from Ever to beld and to bide in bliss with Himselven; dwell; abide And wisse me to warp out some word at this time teach; utter That nother void be ne vain but worship til Himselven neither; honour Plesand and profitable to the pople that them heres. Pleasing; people; hear Ye that lust has to lithe or loves for to here desire; listen Of elders of olde time and of their awke deedes, strange How they were lele in their law and loved God Almighty loyal; religion Herkenes me hendely and holdes you stille, Hearken; courteously And I shall tell you a tale that trew is and noble true Of the real renkes of the Round Table royal men That chef were of chivalry and cheftains noble chief; chieftains Both wary in their workes and wise men of armes, sk**ed Doughty in their doings and dredde ay shame, dreaded always Kind men and courtais and couth of court thewes, courteous; sk**ed; manners How they won with war worshippes many, honours Slogh Lucius the lithere that lord was of Rome, Slew; wicked And conquered that kingrik through craftes of armes; kingdom Herkenes now hiderward and heres this story! Listen; here; hear When that the king Arthur by conquest had wonnen won Casteles and kingdomes and countrees many, countries And he had covered the crown of that kith riche recovered; country Of all that Uter in erthe ought in his time: Uther; earth; owned Argayle and Orkney and all these oute-iles, outer-isles Ireland utterly, as Ocean runnes, entirely; where the Scathel Scotland by sk** he skiftes as him likes, Harmful Scotland with sk** he rules as it pleases him And Wales of war he won at his will, by; to Bothe Flaunders and Fraunce free til himselven to Holland and Hainault they held of him bothen, both Burgoigne and Brabaunt and Bretain the less Brittany Guienne and Gothland and Grace the rich, Gra**e Bayonne and Bourdeaux he belded full fair, dwelt in Touraine and Toulouse with towres full high, towers Of Poitiers and Provence he was prince holden; considered Of Valence and Vienne, of value so noble, Of Overgne and Anjou, those erldoms rich, Auvergne; earldoms By conquest full cruel they knew him for lord acknowledged Of Navarre and Norway and Normandy eek also Of Almaine, of Estriche, and other ynow; Germany; Austria; many others Denmark he dressed all by drede of himselven directed; dread Fro Swynne unto Swetherwike, with his sword keen! From Swynn to Sweden, with his sharp sword When he these deedes had done, he dubbed his knightes, Devised ducheries and delt in diverse rewmes, Created and gave out dukedoms in diverse realms Made of his cosins kinges annointed relatives In kithes there they covet crownes to bere. countries where; bear When he these rewmes had ridden and rewled the pople, realms; ruled; people Then rested that real and held the Round Table; royal (one) Sujourns that seson to solace himselven Sojourns; season In Bretain the brodder, as him best likes; Great Britain; pleases Sithen went into Wales with his wyes all, Then; men Sways into Swaldie with his snell houndes Moves; South Wales; swift For to hunt at the hartes in those high landes, stags In Glamorgan with glee there gladship was ever, where gladness And there a citee he set, by a**ent of his lordes city; established That Caerlion was called, with curious walles, On the rich river that runnes so fair, great There he might semble his sorte to see when him liked. Where he might a**emble his followers to review when it pleased him Then after at Carlisle a Christenma** he holdes, Christmas This ilk kidd conquerour and held him for lord same famous With dukes and douspeeres of diverse rewmes, high nobles; realms Erles and erchevesques and other ynow, Earls; archbishops Bishoppes and bachelers and bannerettes noble That bowes to his banner, busk when him likes. go when it pleases him But on the Christenma**-day when they were all sembled, That comlich conquerour commaundes himselven comely That ilk a lord sholde lenge and no leve take each; should remain; leave To the tende day fully were taken to the end. tenth Thus on real array he held his Round Table royal With semblaunt and solace and selcouthe metes; splendour; rare foods Was never such noblay in no mannes time nobleness Made in mid-winter in tho West Marches! those But on the New-Yere day, at the noon even, New Year's; exactly As the bold at the borde was of bred served, As the bold men at the table were served with bread So come in sodenly a senatour of Rome, suddenly With sixteen knightes in a suite, sewand him one; company following; alone He salued the soveraign and the sale after saluted; hall Ilk a king after king, and made his inclines; Each; bows Gaynor in her degree he grette as him liked greeted; pleased And sinn again to the gome he gave up his needes: And then (bowed) again to the man (Arthur) and delivered his message "Sir Lucius Iberius, the Emperour of Rome, Salues thee as subjet, under his sele rich; Salutes; subject; seal It is credan, Sir King, with cruel wordes; credentials Trow it for no troufles, his targe is to shew! Think it not a trifle, his shield (armorial device) is to be seen hereon Now in this New-Yeres Day, with notaries sign, I make thee summons in sale to sew for thy landes, hall; plead That on Lama** Day there be no let founden August 1; hindrance found That thou be redy at Rome with all thy Round Table ready Appere in his presence with thy pris knightes Appear; excellent At prime of the day, in pain of your lives, first hour; on In the kidd Capitoil before the king selven famous; himself When he and his senatours bes set as them likes, are; it pleases them To answer only why thou occupies the landes alone That owe homage of old til him and his elders, to Why thou has ridden and raimed and ransound the pople robbed; ransomed And k**ed down his cosins, kinges annointed; kinsmen There shall thou give reckoning for all thy Round Table, Why thou art rebel to Rome and rentes them with-holdes! revenue Yif thou these summons withsit, he sendes thee these wordes: If; resist He shall thee seek over the se, with sixteen kinges, sea Brin Bretain the brode and britten thy knightes Burn Britain the broad (Great Britain) and beat down your knights And bring thee buxomly as a beste with brethe where him likes, And with anger bring you compliantly as a beast where he pleases That thou ne shall route ne rest under the heven rich And you shall not sleep nor rest under the great heaven Though thou for reddour of Rome run to the erthe! Though for fear of Rome you run to the earth (like a hunted animal) For if thou flee into Fraunce or Frisland other, Frisia either Thou shall be fetched with force and overset forever! overthrown Thy fader made fewtee we find in our rolles, father; fealty; records In the regestré of Rome, who-so right lookes; registry Withouten more troufling the tribute we ask trifling That Julius Cesar won with his gentle knightes!" noble The king blushed on the berne with his brode eyen, The king looked on the man with his large eyes That full bremly for brethe brent as the gledes, Which burned very fiercely like coals because of (his) anger Cast colours as the king with cruel lates Turned pale; features Looked as a lion and on his lip bites. The Romanes for radness rusht to the erthe, fear; earth For ferdness of his face as they fey were; fear; fated to die Couched as kennetes before the king selven; Crouched like hounds Because of his countenaunce confused them seemed! they seemed Then covered up a knight and cried full loud: got up (on his knees) "King, crowned of kind, courtais and noble, by nature courteous Misdo no messanger for mensk of thyselven, Harm; honour Senn we are in thy manrede and mercy thee beseekes; Since; power; beseech We lenge with Sir Lucius, that lord is of Rome, belong That is the marveloustest man than on molde lenges; most marvelous; earth It is lelful til us his liking til work; It is loyal (our duty) for us to do his pleasure We come at his commaundment; have us excused." Then carpes the conquerour cruel wordes: says "Ha! cravand knight, a coward thee seemes! craven; you seem There is some segge in this sale, and he were sore greved There is a certain man in this hall, and he was sorely grieved Thou durst not for all Lumbardy look on him ones!" That you dared not look on him once for all Lombardy (as a reward) "Sir," says the senatour, "so Crist mot me help, as; may The vout of thy visage has wounded us all! expression Thou art the lordliest lede that ever I on looked. man By looking, withouten lees, a lion thee seemes!" In appearance; lies; you seem "Thou has me summoned," quod the king, "and said what thee likes. For sake of thy soveraign I suffer thee the more; Senn I crowned was in kith with crisom annointed, Since; country; holy oil Was never creature to me that carped so large! spoke so freely But I shall take counsel at kinges annointed from Of dukes and douspeeres and doctours noble, high noblemen; theologians Of peeres of the parlement, prelates and other parliament Of the richest renkes of the Round Table; most powerful men Thus shall I take avisement of valiant bernes, advice; men Work after the wit of my wise knightes. Do according to To warp wordes in waste no worship it were, utter; honour Ne wilfully in this wrath to wreken myselven. Nor; avenge Forthy shall thou lenge here and lodge with these lordes Therefore; remain This seven-night in solace to sujourn your horses, pleasure; rest To see what life that we lede in these low landes." lead; humble For by the realtee of Rome, that richest was ever, royalty; most powerful He commaundes Sir Kayous, "Take keep to those lordes care of To stightel tho stern men as their state askes, arrange those; requires That they be herbered in haste in those high chambres, lodged; noble Sithen sittandly in sale served thereafter, Then suitably in hall That they find no faute of food to their horses, lack Nother wine ne wax ne welth in this erthe; candles Spare for no spicery, but spend what thee likes Don't save money on spices, but spend what you please That there be largess on loft and no lack founden; generosity prevailing If thou my worship wait, wye, by my trewth, If you guard my honour, man, by my pledged word Thou shall have gersoms full grete that gain shall thee ever!" You shall have very great rewards that will profit you forever Now are they herbered in high and in host holden, Now they are nobly lodged and regarded as guests Hastily with hende men within these high walles. courteous; noble In chambers with chimpnees they changen their weedes, In chambers with chimneys (heat), they change their clothes And sithen the chaunceller them fetched with chevalry noble; then Soon the senatour was set as him well seemed, befit At the kinges own borde; two knightes him served, table Singulere, soothly, as Arthur himselven, Singly (alone) Richly on the right hand at the Round Table. By resoun that the Romans were so rich holden, reason; powerful As of the realest blood that regned in erthe. most royal; reigned There come in at the first course, before the king selven, himself Borehevedes that were bright, burnisht with silver Boar-heads; adorned All with taught men and towen in togges full rich, All with men trained and taught, in very rich clothes Of sank real in suite, sixty at ones; All of royal blood in a troop, sixty together Flesh flourisht of fermison, with frumentee noble, Flesh fattened in season with noble frumentee (a wheat dish) There-to wild to wale, and winlich briddes, Along with wild (game) to choose, and pleasant birds Paco*kes and plovers in platters of gold Peaco*ks Pigges of pork despine that pastured never; Piglets; porcupine Sithen herons in hedoyne heled full fair, Then; plumage concealed Grete swannes full swithe in silveren chargeours, Very many large swans on silver platters Tartes of Turky, taste whom them likes; Pies of Turkey, to be tasted by whomever it pleases Gumbaldes graithly, full gracious to taste; Beef pies readily Senn bowes of wild bores with the brawn leched, Then shoulders of wild boars, with the lean meat sliced Bernakes and botoures in batterd dishes, Barnacle geese and bitterns in pastry-covered dishes Thereby braunchers in bred, better was never, young hawks; bread With brestes of barrowes that bright were to shew; breasts; pigs; be seen Senn come there sewes sere with solace thereafter, Then; stews various Ownde of azure all over and ardaunt them seemed; Wavy with azure-coloured sauce all over, and they appeared to be flaming Of ilk a leche the lowe launched full high, From each slice the flame leaped very high That all ledes might like that looked them upon; men; who Then cranes and curlewes craftily rosted, roasted Connies in cretoyne coloured full fair, Rabbits; milk and spices Fesauntes enflourished in flamand silver, Pheasants adorned; flaming With darielles endorded and dainties ynow; With pastries glazed with egg yolks and many (other) dainties Then Claret and Crete clergially rennen Then Claret and Creten wine were cunningly made to flow With condethes full curious all of clene silver, By conduits that were sk**fully made, all of pure silver Osay and Algarde and other ynow Alsatian and Spanish wines; many others Rhenish wine and Rochelle, richer was never, Vernage of Venice, virtuous, and Crete, White wine; full-bodied In faucetes of fine gold, fonde who-so likes; vessels; to try The kinges cup-bord was closed in silver, enclosed In grete gobletes overgilt, glorious of hew; With great j**els gilded over, glorious of hue There was a chef butler, a chevaler noble chief; chevalier Sir Kayous the courtais, that of the cup served; courteous Sixty cuppes of suite for the king selven, cups in a set Crafty and curious, corven full fair, Sk**fully made; carved In ever-ilk a party pight with precious stones, Each part adorned That none enpoison sholde go privily there-under So that if any poison should go secret under them (in the cup) But the bright gold for brethe sholde brist all to peces, The bright gold would burst all to pieces with anger Or else the venom sholde void through virtue of the stones; Or else the poison should lose its power because of the virtue of the precious stones And the conquerour himselven, so clenly arrayed, handsomely In colours of clene gold cledde, with his knightes, pure; clad Dressed with his diadem on his dese rich, dais For he was deemed the doughtiest that dwelled in erthe. Then the conquerour kindly carped to those lordes, spoke Reheted the Romans with real speche: Cheered; royal speech "Sirs, bes knightly of countenaunce and comfortes yourselven; be We know nought in this countree of curious metes; exotic meats In these barrain landes breedes none other; barren Forthy, withouten feining, enforce you the more Therefore, without pretending (that you are enjoying it), force yourself all the more To feed you with such feeble as ye before find." poor food "Sir," says the senatour, "so Crist mot me help, as; may There regned never such realtee within Rome walles! reigned; royalty There ne is prelate ne pope ne prince in this erthe is no; nor That he ne might be well payed of these pris metes!" pleased; excellent foods After their welth they wesh and went unto chamber, bounteous feast; washed This ilk kidd conquerour with knightes ynow; same famous; many knights Sir Gawain the worthy Dame Waynor he ledes, Guinevere; leads Sir Owghtreth on tother side, of Turry was lord. the other Then spices unsparely they spended thereafter, unsparingly; expended Malvesy and Muskadell, those marvelous drinkes, Malmsey and Muscatel Raiked full rathely in rosset cuppes Went round very quickly in russet-coloured (gold) cups Til all the rich on row, Romans and other. To; in turn But the soveraign soothly, for solace of himselven, pleasure Assigned to the senatour certain lordes To lede to his levere, when he his leve askes, lead; desired place; leave With mirth and with melody of minstralsy noble. musicians Then the conquerour to counsel kaires thereafter goes With lordes of his legeaunce that to himself longes allegiance; belong To the Giauntes Towr jollily he wendes Giants' Tower; goes With justices and judges and gentle knightes. noble Sir Cador of Cornwall to the king carpes, speaks Laugh on him lovely with likand lates; Smiles on him pleasantly with pleasing features "I thank God of that thro that thus us thretes! trouble; threatens You must be trailed, I trow, but yif ye tret better! dragged; believe; unless The lettres of Sir Lucius lightes mine herte. lighten; heart We have as losels lived many long day wastrels With delites in this land with lordshippes many delights And forlitened the los that we are laited. lessened; praise; esteemed I was abashed, by our Lord, of our best bernes, by; men For grete dole of deffuse of deedes of armes. sadness because of the ban Now wakenes the war! Worshipped be Crist! reawakens And we shall win it again by wightness and strength!" vigour "Sir Cador," quod the king, "thy counsel is noble; said But thou art a marvelous man with thy merry wordes! For thou countes no case ne castes no further, you take account of no circumstances, nor consider (the matter) any further But hurles forth upon heved, as thy herte thinkes; spout off; heart I moste trete of a trews touchand these needes, consider; truce; matters Talk of these tithandes that teenes mine herte. tidings; grieve Thou sees that the emperour is angerd a little; It seemes by his sandesman that he is sore greved; messenger; grieved His senatour has summond me and said what him liked, Hethely in my hall, with heinous wordes, Scornfully; hateful In speche despised me and spared me little; speech I might not speke for spite, so my herte trembled! could not speak He asked me tyrauntly tribute of Rome, That teenfully tint was in time of mine elders, painfully lost There alienes, in absence of all men of armes, foreigners Coverd it of commouns, as cronicles telles. Obtained; commoners I have title to take tribute of Rome; Mine auncestres were emperours and ought it themselven, owned Belin and Bremin and Bawdewyne the third; They occupied the empire eight score winters, Ilkon eier after other, as old men telles; Each one heir They covered the Capitol and cast down the walles, seized Hanged of their hedesmen by hundrethes at ones; head men; hundreds; once Senn Constantine, our kinsman, conquered it after, Then That eier was of Yngland and emperour of Rome, heir; England He that conquered the cross by craftes of armes, That Crist was on crucified, that King is of heven. heaven Thus have we evidence to ask the emperour the same, That thus regnes at Rome, what right that he claimes." reigns Then answerd King Aungers to Arthur himself: "Thou ought to be overling over to all other kinges, overlord For wisest and worthyest and wightest of handes, strongest The knightlyest of counsel that ever crown bore. I dare say for Scotland that we them scathe limped; suffered harm from them When the Romans regned they ransound our elders reigned; ransomed And rode in their riot and ravished our wives, Withouten resoun or right reft us our goodes; reason; bereft us of And I shall make my avow devotly to Crist devoutly And to the holy vernacle, virtuous and noble, image of Veronica Of this grete vilany I shall be venged ones, villainy; avenged at once On yon venomous men with valiant knightes! I shall thee further of defence fostred ynow well trained Twenty thousand men within two eldes ages Of my wage to wend where-so thee likes, At my expense; travel To fight with thy fomen that us unfair ledes!" foes; treat Then the burlich berne of Bretain the Little stately man; Brittany Counsels Sir Arthur and of him beseekes beseeches To answer the alienes with austeren wordes, bold To entice the emperour to take over the mountes. He said: "I make mine avow verily to Crist, vow And to the holy vernacle, that void shall I never image of Veronica; retreat For radness of no Roman that regnes in erthe, fear; reigns But ay be redy in array and at erest founden; ready; the first No more dout the dintes of their derf wepens fear the blows; grim Than the dew that is dank when that it down falles; Ne no more shoun for the swap of their sharp swordes shrink; sweep Than for the fairest flowr that on the folde growes! flower; ground I shall to batail thee bring of brenyed knightes battle; armoured Thirty thousand by tale, thrifty in armes, count; prosperous Within a month-day, into what march whatever country That thou will soothly a**ign, when thyself likes." "A! A!" says the Welsh king; "worshipped be Crist! Now shall we wreke full well the wrath of our elders! avenge; injury to In West Wales, iwis, such wonders they wrought That all for wandreth may weep that on that war thinkes. sorrow I shall have the avauntward witterly myselven, vanguard certainly Til that I have vanquisht the Viscount of Rome, That wrought me at Viterbo a vilany ones, villainy once As I past in pilgrimage by the Pount Tremble. Pontremoli He was in Tuskane that time and took of our knightes, Tuscany; some of Arrest them unrightwisly and ransound them after. Arrested them unjustly and awfterwards held them for ransom I shall him surely ensure that saghtel shall we never be reconciled Ere we sadly a**emble by ourselven ones ourselves alone And dele dintes of deth with our derf wepens! deal; strong And I shall wage to that war of worshipful knightes, bring at my expense Of Wyghte and of Welshland and of the West Marches, Isle of Wight Two thousand in tale, horsed on steedes, number Of the wightest wyes in all yon West Landes!" strongest men Sir Ewain fitz Urien then egerly fraines, Iwain son of Urien (and Morgan le Fay); eagerly asks Was cosin to the conquerour, corageous himselven: kinsman; courageous "Sir, and we wiste your will we wolde work thereafter; if we knew; would Yif this journee sholde hold or be ajourned further, journey; adjourned To ride on yon Romans and riot their landes, ravage We wolde shape us therefore, to ship when you likes." would prepare us "Cosin," quod the conquerour, "kindly thou askes kinsman; said Yif my counsel accord to conquer yon landes. By the kalendes of Juny we shall encounter ones first day of June With full cruel knightes, so Crist mot me help! as; may Thereto I make mine avow devotly to Crist devoutly And to the holy vernacle, virtuous and noble; image of Veronica I shall at Lama** take leve to lenge at my large At Lamas (August 1) I shall take my leave, to remain freely In Lorraine or Lumbardy, whether me leve thinkes; In Lorraine or Lombardy, whichever seems preferable to me Merk unto Meloine and mine down the walles Go; Milan; undermine Both of Petersand and of Pis and of the Pount Tremble; Petrasanta (the Vatican); Pisa; Pontremoli In the Vale of Viterbo vitail my knights, supply (victual) Sujourn there six weekes and solace myselven, Sojourn; refresh Send prikers to the pris town and plant there my sege riders; excellent; siege But if they proffer me the pees by process of time." Unless; peace "Certes," says Sir Ewain, "and I avow after, Certainly; vow And I that hathel may see ever with mine eyen If; man; eyes That occupies thine heritage, the empire of Rome, I shall aunter me ones his egle to touch venture; eagle-standard That borne is in his banner of bright gold rich, And rase it from his rich men and rive it in sonder, snatch; cut it asunder But he be redily rescued with riotous knightes. Unless he (the eagle) is rescued quickly by vigourous knights I shall enforce you in the feld with fresh men of armes, reinforce; field Fifty thousand folk upon fair steedes, On thy fomen to founde there thee fair thinkes, foemen to go where In Fraunce or in Frisland, fight when thee likes!" Frisia "By our Lord," quod Sir Launcelot, "now lightes mine herte! lightens I lowe God of this love these lordes has avowed! praise Now may less men have leve to say what them likes, lesser; leave And have no letting by law; but listenes these wordes: hindrance I shall be at journee with gentle knightes the day's fight; noble On a jamby steed full jollily graithed, active; equipped Ere any journee begin to joust with himselven Before any day's fight (the major battle) begins, to joust with himself (Lucius) Among all his giauntes, Genivers and other, giants, Genoese Strike him stiffly fro his steed with strenghe of mine handes, For all the steren in stour that in his stale hoves! Despite the strong (one) in battle that remain in his troop Be my retinue arrayed, I reck it but a little reckon To make route into Rome with riotous knightes. Within a seven-night day, with six score helmes, Within a week from today with one hundred and twenty knights I shall be seen on the se, sail when thee likes." sea Then laughes Sir Lot and all on loud meles: speaks "Me likes that Sir Lucius longes after sorrow; for Now he wilnes the war his wandreth beginnes; desires; sorrow It is our werdes to wreke the wrath of our elders! fates to avenge I make mine avow to God and to the holy vernacle: image of Veronica And I may see the Romans that are so rich holden, If I can see the Romans, who are considered so powerful Arrayed in their riotes on a round feld, Arrayed in their riotous groups on a broad field I shall at the reverence of the Round Table for Ride through all the rout, rereward and other, Ride through all the company, rear guard and the rest Redy wayes to make and renkes full rowm, To make a ready way and paths full spacious Runnand on red blood, as my steed rushes! Running with He that followes my fare and first comes after route Shall find in my fare-way many fey leved!" path; dead left Then the conquerour kindly comfortes these knightes, Alowes them gretly their lordly avowes; Praises; vows "Allweldand God worship you all! All-ruling; honour And let me never want you, whiles I in world regn; be without you My mensk and my manhed ye maintain in erthe, honour; manhood Mine honour all utterly in other kinges landes; My wele and my worship of all this world rich, prosperity Ye have knightly conquered that to my crown longes. belongs Him thar be ferd for no foes that swilk a folk ledes, He needs be afraid; such But ever fresh for to fight in feld when him likes. field I account no king that under Crist lives; take account of Whiles I see you all sound, I set by no more." depend on When they trustily had treted they trumped up after, When they had confidently discussed (this business), they blew on trumpets afterwards (conclusion of the council) Descended down with a daunce of dukes and erles. group; earls Then they sembled to sale and souped als swithe, met; hall; dined quickly All this seemly sorte, with semblaunt full noble. company; splendour Then the roy real rehetes these knightes royal king regales With reverence and riot of all his Round Table respect; revelry Til seven dayes was gone. The senatour askes Answer to the Emperour with austeren wordes. bold After the Epiphany, when the purpose was taken January 6 Of peeres of the parlement, prelates and other, parliament The king in his counsel, courtais and noble, courteous Uters the alienes and answers himselven: Brings out "Greet well Lucius, thy lord, and laine not these wordes; conceal If thou be legemen lele, let him wite soon liege-man loyal; know I shall at Lama** take leve and lodge at my large August 1; freely In delite in his landes with lordes ynow, delight; many lords Regne in my realtee and rest when me likes; Reign; royalty By the river of Rhone hold my Round Table, Fang the fermes in faith of all tho fair rewmes Seize the revenues, in faith, of all those fair realms For all the menace of his might and maugree his eyen! Despite the threat of his power and regardless of his resistance And merk sithen over the mountes into his main landes, go; mountains To Miloine the marvelous and mine down the walles; Milan; undermine In Lorraine ne in Lumbardy leve shall I nother Lombardy; leave; neither Nokine lede upon life that there his lawes yemes; No kind of man; keeps And turn into Tuskane when me time thinkes, Tuscany Ride all those rowm landes with riotous knightes. spacious; vigorous Bid him make rescues for mensk of himselven, honour And meet me for his manhed in those main landes! manhood; strong I shall be founden in Fraunce, fraist when him likes! try The first day of Feveryer in those fair marches! February Ere I be fetched with force or forfeit my landes, The flowr of his fair folk full fey shall be leved! dead; left I shall him sekerly ensure under my sele rich certainly; seal To sege the citee of Rome within seven winter besiege; city And that so sekerly ensege upon sere halves securely besiege; all sides That many a senatour shall sigh for sake of me one! alone My summons are certified and thou art full served provided Of cundit and credens; kaire where thee likes. With safe-condust and credentials; go where you please I shall thy journee engist, enjoin them myselven, I shall a**ign the resting-places for your journey, order them myself Fro this place to the port there thou shall pa** over: from Seven days to Sandwich I set at the large; as a maximum time Sixty mile on a day, the sum is but little! Thou moste speed at the spurs and spare not thy fole; must; foal Thou wendes by Watling Street and by no way elles; travel; else There thou nyghes on night needes moste thou lenge; Wherever you set down by night you must be necessity remain Be it forest or feld, found thou no further; field; go Bind thy blonk by a busk with thy bridle even, horse; bush Lodge thyselven under linde as thee lefe thinkes; Lodge yourself under trees, wherever it seems good to you There owes none alienes to ayer upon nightes, ought; wander With such a ribawdous rout to riot thyselven. ribald; company Thy license is limit in presence of lordes, limited Be now loth or lette, right as thee thinkes, Whether (my order) is now hateful or a hindrance in your mind For both thy life and thy limm ligges thereupon, limb lie Though Sir Lucius had laid thee the lordship of Rome, laid on you For be thou founden a foot withoute the flood marches edge of the sea After the aughtende day when undern is rungen, eighth; nine A.M. Thou shall be heveded in hie and with horse drawen, You shall be speedily beheaded and torn apart by horses And senn hiely be hanged, houndes to gnawen! And then quickly be hanged for dogs to gnaw The rent ne red gold that unto Rome longes tax; belongs Shall not redily, renk, ransoun thine one!" man, ransom you alone "Sir," says the senatour, "so Crist mot me help, as; may Might I with worship win away ones Could; go I sholde never for Emperour that on erthe lenges should; remains Eft unto Arthur ayer on such needes; Again; go; a message But I am singely here with sixteen knightes; singly I beseek you, sir, that we may sound pa**. beseech; safely If any unlawful lede let us by the way, man hinder Within thy license, lord, thy los is inpaired." fame is impaired "Care not," quod the king; "thy cundit is knowen said; safe-conduct Fro Carlisle to the coste there thy cogge lenges; From; coast; ship Though thy coffers were full, crammed with silver, Thou might be seker of my sele sixty mile further." Secure; seal They enclined to the king and congee they asked, bowed; leave Kaires out of Carlisle, catches on their horses; Go Sir Cador the courtais kend them the wayes, courteous; taught To Catrik them conveyed and to Crist them bekenned. entrusted So they sped at the spurres they sprangen their horses, exhausted Hires them hackenayes hastily thereafter. horses So for reddour they ridden and rested them never, fear; rode But yif they lodged under linde whiles them the light failed; Unless; tree But ever the senatour forsooth sought at the gainest. nearest (way) By the sevende day was gone the citee they reched. By the time the seventh Of all the glee under God so glad were they never As of the sound of the se and Sandwich belles. sea; curfew Withouten more stunting they shipped their horses; delay Wery to the wan se they went all at ones. Weary; pale sea With the men of the wale they weighted up their ankers gunwale; anchors And fled at the fore flood; in Flaunders they rowed first high tide; to And through Flaunders they found, as them fair thought, Til Aachen in Almaine, in Arthur landes; Gos by Mount Goddard full grevous wayes, And so into Lumbardy, likand to shew. They turn through Tuskane with towres full high; In pris appairelles them in precious weedes. 56 The Sononday in Sutere they sujourn their horses And seekes the saintes of Rome by a**ent of knightes; Sithen prikes to the palais with portes so rich, There Sir Lucius lenges with lordes ynow; Loutes to him lovely and lettres him bedes Of credens enclosed with knightlich wordes. Then the Emperour was eger and enkerly fraines; The answer of Arthur he askes him soon, How he arrayes the rewm and rewles the pople, Yif he be rebel to Rome, what right that he claimes; "Thou sholde his sceptre have sesed and sitten aboven For reverence and realtee of Rome the noble; By certes thou was my sandes and senatour of Rome, He sholde for solempnitee have served thee himselven." "That will he never for no wye of all this world rich But who may win him of war, by wightness of handes; Many fey shall be first upon the feld leved, Ere he appere in this place, proffer when thee likes. I say thee, sir, Arthur is thine enmy forever, And ettles to be overling of the empire of Rome, That all his auncestres ought but Uter himselven. Thy needes in this New Yere I notified myselven Before that noble of name and nine sum of kinges; In the most real place of the Round Table I summond him solemnly on-seeand his knightes; 57 Senn I was formed, in faith, so ferd was I never, 58 In all the places there I pa**ed of princes on erthe. I wolde forsake all my suite of seignoury of Rome Ere I eft to that soveraign were sent on such needes! He may be chosen cheftain, chef of all other Both by chaunces of armes and chevalry noble, For wisest and worthyest and wightest of handes. Of all the wyes that I wot in this world rich - The knighliest creature in Cristdendom holden Of king or of conquerour crowned in erthe, Of countenaunce, of corage, of cruel lates, The comlyest of knighthood that under Crist lives! He may be spoken in dispens despiser of silver, That no more of gold gives than of grete stones, No more of wine than of water that of the well runnes, Ne of welth of this world but worship alone. Such countenance was never knowen in no kith riche As was with this conquerour in his court holden; I counted at this Cristenma** of kinges annointed, Hole ten at his table that time with himselven. He will warray, iwis, be ware yif thee likes; Wage many wight men and watch thy marches, That they be redy in array and at erest founden, For yif he reche unto Rome, he ransouns it forever. I rede thou dress thee therefore and draw no let longer; 59 Be seker of thy soudeours and send to the mountes; By the quarter of this yere, and him quert stand, He will wightly in a while on his wayes hie." "By Ester," says the Emperour, "I ettle myselven To hostay in Almaine with armed knightes; Send frekly into Fraunce, that flowr is of rewmes; Fonde to fette that freke and forfeit his landes, For I shall set keepers, full cunnand and noble, Many giaunt of Gene, jousters full good. To meet him in the mountes and martyr his knightes, Strike them down in straites and stroy them forever. There shall upon Goddard a garret be rered 60 That shall be garnisht and keeped with good men of armes, And a becon aboven to brin when them likes, That none enmy with host shall enter the mountes. There shall on Mount Bernard be belded another, Busked with bannerettes and bachelers noble. 61 In at the portes of Pavia shall no prince pa** Through the perilous places for my pris knightes." Then Sir Lucius lordlich lettres he sendes Anon into the Orient with austeren knightes Til Ambyganye and Orcage and Alisaundere eek 62 To Inde and to Ermonye, as Eufrates runnes, To Asia and to Afrike, and Europe the large, To Irritaine and Elamet, and all those oute iles, 63 To Arraby and Egypt, til erles and other That any erthe occupies in those este marches Of Damaske and Damiet, and dukes and erles. For drede of his daunger they dressed them soon; Of Crete and of Capados the honourable kinges Come at his commaundement clenly at ones; To Tartary and Turkey when tithinges is comen They turn in by Thebay, tyrauntes full huge, The flowr of the fair folk of Amazonnes landes; All that failes on the feld be forfeit forever. Of Babylon and Baldake the burlich knightes Bayous with their baronage bides no longer; Of Perse and of Pamphile and Preter John landes 64 Ech prince with his power appertlich graithed; The Sowdan of Surry a**embles his knightes Fro Nilus to Nazareth, numbers full huge; To Garyere and to Galilee they gader all at ones, The sowdanes that were seker soudeours to Rome; They gadered over the Greekes Se with grevous wepens, In their grete galleys, with glitterande sheldes; The King of Cyprus on the se the Sowdan abides, With all the reales of Rhodes arrayed with him one; They sailed with a side wind over the salt strandes, Sodenly the Sarazenes, as themselve liked; Craftyly at Cornett the kinges are arrived, Fro the citee of Rome sixty mile large. By that the Greekes were graithed, a full grete number, 65 The mightiest of Macedone, with men of tho marches, Pulle and Prussland, presses with other, The lege-men of Lettow with legions ynow. Thus they semble in sortes, summes full huge; The sowdanes and Sarazenes out of sere landes The Sowdan of Surry and sixteen kinges At the citee of Rome a**embled at ones. Then ishews the Emperour, armed at rightes Arrayed with his Romans upon rich steedes; Sixty giauntes before, engendered with fendes, With witches and warlaws, to watchen his tentes Aywere where he wendes wintres and yeres. Might no blonkes them bere, those bustous churles, But coverd cameles of towrs, enclosed in mailes; He ayeres out with alienes, hostes full huge Even into Almaine, that Arthur had wonnen, Rides in by the river and riotes himselve, And ayeres with a huge will all those high landes; All Westfale by war he winnes as him likes, Drawes in by Danuby and dubbes his knightes, In the countree of Coloine castelles enseges And sujourns that sesoun with Sarazenes ynow. At the utas of Hillary Sir Arthur himselven 66 In his kidd counsel commaunde the lordes: "Kaire to your countrees and semble your knightes, And keepes me at Constantine, clenlich arrayed, Bides me at Barflete upon the blithe stremes Boldly within borde, with your best bernes; I shall menskfully you meet in those fair marches." He sendes forth sodenly sergeauntes of armes To all his mariners in row to arrest him shippes; Within sixteen dayes his fleet was a**embled, At Sandwich on the se, sail when him likes. In the palais of York a parlement he holdes With all the peeres of the rewm, prelates and other; And after the preching, in presence of lordes, The king in his counsel carpes these wordes: "I am in purpose to pa** perilous wayes, To kaire with my keen men to conquer yon landes, To outraye mine enmy, yif aventure it shew, 67 That occupies mine heritage, the empire of Rome. I set you here a soveraign, a**ent yif you likes, That is my sib, my sister son; Sir Mordred himselven Shall be my leutenant, with lordshippes ynow Of all my lele lege-men that my landes yemes." He carpes to his cosin then, in counsel himselven: "I make thee keeper, Sir Knight, of kingrikes many, Warden worshipful to weld all my landes, That I have wonnen of war in this world rich. I will that Waynor, my wife, in worship be holden. That her want no wele ne welth that her likes; Look my kidd casteles be clenlich arrayed, There sho may sujourn herselve with seemlich bernes; Fonde my forestes be frithed, of frendship for ever, 68 That none warray my wild but Waynor herselven, And that in the sesoun when grees is a**igned, That sho take her solace in certain times. Chaunceller and chamberlain change as thee likes, Auditours and officers, ordain them thyselven, Both jurees and judges, and justices of landes; Look thou justify them well that injury workes. If me be destained to die at Drightens will, I charge thee my sektour, chef of all other, To minister my mobles for meed of my soul To mendinauntes and misese in mischef fallen. Take here my testament of tresure full huge; As I traist upon thee, betray thou me never! As thou will answer before the austeren Judge That all this world winly wisse as Him likes, Look that my last will be lely perfourned! Thou has clenly the cure that to my crown longes Of all my wordles wele and my wife eek; 69 Look thou keep thee so clere there be no cause founden When I to countree come, if Crist will it thole; And thou have grace goodly to govern thyselven, I shall crown thee, knight, king with my handes." Then Sir Mordred full mildly meles himselven, Kneeled to the conquerour and carpes these wordes: "I beseek you, sir, as my sib lord, That ye will for charitee chese you another, For if ye put me in this plitt, your pople is deceived; To present a prince estate my power is simple; When other of war-wisse are worshipped hereafter, Then may I, forsooth, be set but at little. To pa** in your presence my purpose is taken And all my perveance appert for my pris knightes." "Thou art my nevew full ner, my nurree of old, That I have chastied and chosen, a child of my chamber; For the sibreden of me, forsake not this office; That thou ne work my will, thou wot what it menes." Now he takes his leve and lenges no longer At lordes, at lege-men that leves him behinden; And senn that worthiliche wye went unto chamber For to comfort the queen that in care lenges. Waynor waikly weepand him kisses, Talkes to him tenderly with teres ynow; "I may werye the wye that this war moved, That warnes me worship of my wedde lord; All my liking of life out of land wendes, And I in langour am left, leve ye, forever! Why ne might I, dere love, die in your armes, Ere I this destainy of dole sholde drie by mine one!" "Greve thee not, Gaynor, for Goddes love of heven, Ne grouch not my ganging; it shall to good turn! Thy wandrethes and thy weeping woundes mine herte; I may not wite of this wo for all this world rich; I have made a keeper, a knight of thine owen, Overling of Yngland, under thyselven, And that is Sir Mordred, that thou has mikel praised, Shall be thy dictour, my dere, to do what thee likes." Then he takes his leve at ladies in chamber, Kissed them kindlich and to Crist beteches; And then sho swoones full swithe when he his sword asked, Sways in swooning, swelte as sho wolde! He pressed to his palfrey, in presence of lordes, Prikes of the palais with his pris knightes With a real rout of the Round Table, Sought toward Sandwich; sho sees him no more. There the grete were gadered with galiard knightes, Garnished on the green feld and graitheliche arrayed; Dukes and douspeeres daintely rides, Erles of Yngland with archers ynow. Shirreves sharply shiftes the commouns, 70 Rewles before the rich of the Round Table, Assignes ilk a countree to certain lordes, In the south on the se bank sail when them likes. Then barges them buskes and to the bank rowes, Bringes blonkes on borde and burlich helmes Trusses in tristly trapped steedes, Tentes and other tooles, and targes full rich, Cabanes and cloth-sackes and cofferes full noble, Hackes and hackeneys and horses of armes; Thus they stow in the stuff of full steren knightes. When all was shipped that sholde, they shunt no lenger, But unteld them tite, as the tide runnes; Cogges and crayers then crosses their mastes, 71 At the commaundement of the king uncovered at ones; Wightly on the wale they wie up their ankers, 72 By wit of the watermen of the wale ythes. Frekes on the forestaine faken their cables In floynes and fercostes and Flemish shippes, Titt sailes to the top and turnes the luff, Standes upon steerbord, sterenly they songen. The pris shippes of the port proven their deepness, And foundes with full sail over the fawe ythes; Holly withouten harm they hale in botes, Shipmen sharply shutten their portes, Launches lede upon luff latchen their deepes, 73 Lookes to the lode-stern when the light failes, Castes courses by craft when the cloud rises With the needle and the stone on the night tides. For drede of the dark night they dreched a little And all the steren of the streme steken at ones. 74 The king was in a grete cogge with knightes full many, In a cabane enclosed, clenlich arrayed; Within on a rich bed restes a little, And with the swogh of the se in swefning he fell. Him dremed of a dragon, dredful to behold, Come drivand over the deep to drenchen his pople, Even walkand out the West landes, Wanderand unworthyly over the wale ythes; 75 Both his hed and his hals were holly all over Ounded of azure, enamelled full fair; 76 His shoulders were shaled all in clene silver Shredde over all the shrimp with shrinkand pointes; His womb and his winges of wonderful hewes, In marvelous mailes he mounted full high. Whom that he touched he was tint forever! His feet were flourished all in fine sable And such a venomous flaire flow from his lippes The flood of the flawes all on fire seemed! Then come out of the Orient, even him againes, 77 A black bustous bere aboven in the cloudes, With ech a paw as a post and paumes full huge With pikes full perilous, all pliand them seemed; Lothen and lothly, lockes and other, All with lutterd legges, lokkerd unfair, Filtered unfreely, with fomand lippes - The foulest of figure that formed was ever! He baltered, he blered, he braundished thereafter; To batail he bounes him with bustous clawes; He romed, he rored, that rogged all the erthe, So rudely he rapped at to riot himselven! 78 Then the dragon on dregh dressed him againes And with his duttes him drove on dregh by the welken; He fares as a faucon, frekly he strikes; Both with feet and with fire he fightes at ones. The bere in the batail the bigger him seemed, And bites him boldly with baleful tuskes; Such buffetes he him reches with his brode klokes, His breste and his brayell was bloody all over. He ramped so rudely that all the erthe rives, 79 Runnand on red blood as rain of the heven! He had weried the worm by wightness of strenghe Ne were it not for the wild fire that he him with defendes. Then wanders the worm away to his heightes, Comes glidand fro the cloudes and coupes full even, Touches him with his talones and teres his rigge, Betwix the taile and the top ten foot large! Thus he brittened the bere and brought him o live, 80 Let him fall in the flood, fleet where him likes. So they thring the bold king binne the ship-borde, 81 That ner he bristes for bale on bed where he ligges. Then waknes the wise king, wery fortravailed, Takes him two philosophers that followed him ever, In the seven science the sutelest founden, The cunningest of clergy under Crist knowen; He told them of his torment that time that he sleeped: "Dreched with a dragon and such a derf beste, Has made me full wery, as wisse me Our Lord; Ere I mon swelt as swithe, ye tell me my swefen!" 82 "Sir," said they soon then, these sage philosophers, "The dragon that thou dremed of, so dredful to shew, That come drivand over the deep to drenchen thy pople, Soothly and certain thyselven it is, That thus sailes over the se with thy seker knightes. The coloures that were casten upon his clere winges May be thy kingrikes all, that thou has right wonnen, And the tattered tail, with tonges so huge, Betokens this fair folk that in thy fleet wendes. The bere that brittened was aboven in the cloudes Betokenes the tyrauntes that tormentes thy pople Or elles with some giaunt some journee shall happen, In singular batail by yourselve one; And thou shall have the victory, through help of Our Lord, As thou in thy vision was openly shewed. Of this dredful dreme ne drede thee no more, Ne care not, sir conquerour, but comfort thyselven And these that sailes over the se with thy seker knightes." With trumpes then tristly they trussen up their sailes 83 And rowes over the rich se, this rout all at ones; The comly coste of Normandy they catchen full even And blithely at Barflete these bold are arrived, And findes a fleet there of frendes ynow, The flowr and the fair folk of fifteen rewmes, For kinges and capitaines keeped him fair, As he at Carlisle commaunded at Cristenma** himselven. By they had taken the land and tentes up rered, Comes a Templar tite and touched to the king; "Here is a tyraunt beside that tormentes thy pople, A grete giaunt of Gene, engendered of fendes; He has freten of folk mo than five hundreth, And als fele fauntekins of free-born childer. 84 This has been his sustenaunce all this seven winteres, And yet is that sot not sad, so well him it likes! In the countree of Constantine no kind has he leved Withouten kidd casteles, enclosed with walles, That he ne has clenly distroyed all the knave childer, And them carried to the crag and clenly devoured. The duchess of Bretain today has he taken, Beside Reines as sho rode with her rich knightes, Led her to the mountain there that lede lenges To lie by that lady ay whiles her life lastes. We followed o ferrome mo than five hundreth Of bernes and of burges and bachelers noble, But he covered the crag; sho cried so loud The care of that creature cover shall I never Sho was the flowr of all Fraunce or of five rewmes, And one of the fairest that formed was ever, The gentilest jowell ajudged with lordes Fro Gene unto Gerone by Jesu of heven! Sho was thy wifes cosin, know it if thee likes, Comen of the richest that regnes in erthe; As thou art rightwise king, rew on thy pople And fonde for to venge them that thus are rebuked!" "Alas," says Sir Arthur, "so long have I lived! Had I witten of this, well had me cheved. Me is not fallen fair but me is foul happened That thus this fair lady this fend has destroyed! I had lever than all Fraunce this fifteen winter 85 I had been before that freke a furlong of way When he that lady had laght and led to the mountes; I had left my life ere sho had harm limped. But wolde thou ken me to that crag there that keen lenges, I wolde kaire to that coste and carp with himselven, To trete with that tyraunt for tresoun of landes And take trews for a time til it may tide better." "Sir, see ye yon forland with yon two fires? There filsnes that fend, fraist when thee likes, Upon the crest of the crag by a cold well That encloses the cliff with the clere strandes; There may thou find folk fey withouten number, Mo florines, in faith, than Fraunce is in after, And more tresure untrewly that traitour has getten Than in Troy was, as I trow, that time that it was wonnen." Then romes the rich king for rewth of the pople, Raikes right to a tent and restes no lenger; He welteres, he wresteles, he wringes his handes; There was no wye of this world that wiste what he mened. He calles Sir Kayous that of the cup served And Sir Bedvere the bold that bore his brand rich: "Look ye after even-song be armed at rightes On blonkes by yon buscaile, by yon blithe stremes, For I will pa** in pilgrimage privily hereafter, In the time of souper, when lordes are served, For to seeken a saint by yon salt stremes, In Saint Michel mount, there miracles are shewed." After even-song Sir Arthur himselven Went to his wardrope and warp off his weedes Armed him in a aketoun with orfrayes full rich; Aboven, on that, a jerin of Acres out over; Aboven that a gesseraunt of gentle mailes, A jupon of Jerodine jagged in shredes; He braides on a bacenett burnisht of silver The best that was in Basel, with bordours rich; The crest and the coronal enclosed so fair With claspes of clere gold, couched with stones; The vesar, the aventail, enarmed so fair, 86 Void withouten vice, with windowes of silver; His gloves gaylich gilt and graven at the hemmes With graines and gobelets, glorious of hew. He braces a brode sheld and his brand askes, 87 Bouned him a brown steed and on the bente hoves; He stert til his stirrup and strides on loft, Straines him stoutly and stirres him fair, Broches the bay steed and to the busk rides, And there his knightes him keeped full clenlich arrayed. Then they rode by that river that runned so swithe, There the rindes over-reches with real boughes; The roe and the reindeer reckless there runnen, In ranes and in rosers to riot themselven; The frithes were flourisht with flowres full many, With faucons and fesauntes of ferlich hewes; All the fowles there flashes that flies with winges, For there galed the gouk on greves full loud; With alkine gladship they gladden themselven; Of the nightingale notes the noises was sweet; They threped with the throstels three hundreth at ones! That whate swowing of water and singing of birds, It might salve him of sore that sound was never! Then ferkes this folk and on foot lightes, Fastenes their fair steedes o ferrom between; 88 And then the king keenly commaunded his knightes For to bide with their blonkes and boun no further; "For I will seek this saint by myselve one And mele with this master man that this mount yemes, And senn shall ye offer, either after other 89 Menskfully at Saint Michel, full mighty with Crist." The king covers the crag with cloughes full high, To the crest of the cliff he climbes on loft, Cast up his umbrere and keenly he lookes, Caught of the cold wind to comfort himselven. Two fires he findes flamand full high; The fourtedele a furlong between them he walkes; The way by the well-strandes he wanderd him one To wite of the warlaw, where that he lenges. He ferkes to the first fire and even there he findes A wery woful widow wringand her handes, And gretand on a grave grisly teres, New merked on molde, senn mid-day it seemed. He salued that sorrowful with sittand wordes And fraines after the fend fairly thereafter. Then this woful wife unwinly him greetes, Coverd up on her knees and clapped her handes, Said: "Careful, careman, thou carpes too loud! May yon warlaw wite, he warrays us all! Weryd worth the wight ay that thee thy wit reved, That mas thee to waife here in these wild lakes! I warn thee, for worship, thou wilnes after sorrow! Whider buskes thou, berne? unblessed thou seemes! Weenes thou to britten him with thy brand rich? Were thou wighter than Wade or Wawain either, Thou winnes no worship, I warn thee before. Thou sained thee unsekerly to seek to these mountes; 90 Such six were too simple to semble with him one, For, and thou see him with sight, thee serves no herte To saine thee sekerly, so seemes him huge. Thou art freely and fair and in thy first flowres, But thou art fey, by my faith, and that me forthinkes! Were such fifty on a feld or on a fair erthe, The freke wolde with his fist fell you at ones. Lo! Here the duchess dere - today was sho taken - Deep dolven and dede, diked in moldes. He had murthered this mild by mid-day were rungen, 91 Withouten mercy on molde, I not what it ment; He has forced her and filed and sho is fey leved; He slew her unslely and slit her to the navel. And here have I baumed her and buried thereafter. For bale of the bootless, blithe be I never! Of all the frendes sho had there followed none after But I, her foster moder, of fifteen winter. To ferk off this forland fonde shall I never, But here be founden on feld til I be fey leved."