Whill that the knycht or verray evydensI have, that ſhal be toknis of credens.”His falouſchip abaſit of that thing,2244And als therof anoyt was the king,THE LADY ASKS LANCELOT HIS NAME.Arthur reproves him for forgetting the coming day of battle.Sayng, “Nece, yow haith al foly vroghtAnd wilfulneß, that haith nocht in thi thoghtThe day of batell of galot and me.”Gawane says it must be so.2248Quodgawan, “Now non other ways ma be.”Gawane and his fellow lace their helms, and take their leave.Thar-withhe and his falowſchip alſoThar halmys laſit, on to ther horß thei go,Syne tuk ther lef, and frome the court the fare,2252Thar names ware to long for to declar.Now ſal we leif hyme and hiscumpany,That in thar ſeking paſſith biſſely;GAWANE AND HIS FELLOWS DEPART.The story returns to the lady of Melyhalt.And of the lady of melyhalt we tell,2256Withwhome the knycht mot ned alway duell.52Room is here left in the MS. for an illuminated letter, and a small “o” inserted as a note.52[O] day ſhe mayd hyme on to hirpreſens fet,And on o ſege be-ſid hir haith hyme ſet,“Sir, in keping I have yow halding long,”2260And thus ſche ſaid, “for gret treſpas & wrong,Magre my ſtewart, in worſchip, and for-thiȜhe ſuld me thonk;”—“madem,” quodhe, “and IThonk yhow ſo that euer, at my mycht,2264Whar-ſo I paß that I ſal be yhour knycht.”She inquires Lancelot’s name.“Grant mercy, ſir, bot o thing I ȝow pray,What that ȝhe ar ȝhe wold wichsauf to ſay.”He refuses to tell.“Madem,” quodhe, “yhour mercy aſk I, quhy2268That for to ſay apone no wyß may I.”“No! wil ȝhe not? non oyerways as nowShe vows to keep him in thrall till the day of combat;Ȝhe ſal repent, and ek I mak awowOne to the thing the wich that I beſt love,[Fol. 28b.]2272Out frome my keping ſal ȝhe not RemufBefor the day of the aſſemblee,Wich that, o ȝher, is nereſt for to bee;And if that ȝow haith pleſſit for to ſay,2276Ȝhe had fore me deliuerit ben this day;and to go to the court to try and learn it.And I ſal knaw, quheyerȝhe wil or no,For I furth-withone to the court ſal go,Whar that al thithingisgoith & cumyth ſoñ.”2280“Madem,” quodhe, “yhour pleſance mot be doñe.”The knight retires.Withthat the knycht one to his chalmergoith,And the lady hir makith to be wroithAȝanis hyme, but ſuthly vas ſche not,2284For he al-out was mor in to hir thoght.Than ſchapith ſhe aȝane the ferd day,And richly ſche gan hir-ſelf aray;Syne clepit haith apone her cuſynes,Before going to the court,2288And ſaith, “y will one to the court me dreß;And malice I have ſchawin on to ȝhon knycht,For-quhy he wold nocht ſchew me quhat he hicht,Bot ſo, I-wyß, It is nocht in my thocht,2292For worthyar non In to this erth is wrocht.she prays her cousin to take care of him.Tharfor I pray, and hartly I requerȜhe mak hyme al the cumpany and chere,And do hyme al the worſchip and the eß,2296Excep his honore, wich that may hym pleß;And quhen I cum deliuerith hyme als freAs he is now;”—“ne have no dred,” quodſche.[T]he lady partit, and hir lef hath ton,2300And by hir Iorne to the court Is gon.SHE GOES TO SEE ARTHUR.The lady meets Arthur at Logris;The king hapnit at logris for to bee,Wich of his realme was than the chef cete;And haith hir met, and In til hartly wyß2304Reſauit her, and welcummyt oft-ſyß;who brings her home to his palace;And haith hir home one to his palice brocht,Whar that no dante nedith to be ſocht,And maid hir cher withal his ful entent.2308Eftſupirone to o chalmerar thei went,The king and ſche, and ek the quen al thre;Of hir tithandisat hir than aſkit hee,and inquires what has brought her.And what that hir one to the court had brocht?53MS. “conne.”2312“Sir,” quodſche, “I come53not al for nocht;She says she has a friend who has made a challenge,I have o frend haith o dereyne ydoo,[Fol. 29a.]And I can fynd none able knycht tharto;For he the wich that in thecontrar Is2316Is hardy, ſtrong, and of gret kyne, I-wyß;Bot, It is ſaid, If I mycht have withmeȜour knycht, quich in the last aſſemblewhich the red knight could best maintain.Was in the feld, and the red armys bur,2320In his manhed y mycht my cauß aſſur;And yhow, ſir, richt hartly I exortIn to this ned my myſterto ſupport.”ARTHUR CAN TELL HER NOTHING.“Madem, by faith one to the quen I awArthur replies that Gawane is gone to seek him.2324That I beſt loue, the knycht I neuerſawIn nerneß by which that I hyme knew;And ek gawane Is gan hyme for to ſewWithother fourty knychtisIn to cumpany.”2328The lady ſmylit at ther fanteſſy;The quen thar-withpreſumyt wel that ſcheThe queen asks the lady if she knows where he is.Knew quhat he was, and ſaid, “madem, If ȝheKnowith of hyme what that he is, or quhar,2332We ȝhow beſech til ws for to declar.”She replies no, and proposes to return.“Madem,” quodſche, “now be the faith that IAw to the king and yhow, as for no whyTo court I cam, but of hyme to Inquere;2336And ſen of hyme I can no tithingishere,Nedlyngisto-morn homwart mon I fair.”Arthur prays her to stay.“Na,” quodthe king, “madem, our ſon It waire;Ȝhe ſal remayne her for the qwenys ſak;2340Syne ſhal ȝhe of our beſt knychtistak.”“Sir,” quodſche, “I pray ȝow me excuß,For-quhy to paß nedis me behuß;Nor, ſen I want the knycht which I have ſocht,2344Wtheris withme to have deſir I nocht,For I of otheris have that may ſuffice.”Bot ȝhit the king hir prayt on ſich wyß,She remains till the third day.That ſche remanit whill the thrid day;2348Syne tuk hir leif to paſing hom hir way.She is sumptuously entertained,It nedis not the feſting to declarMaid one to hir, nor company nor fare;Sche had no knycht, ſche had no damyſeill,2352Nor thei richly rewardit war and well.and returns home.Now goith the lady homwart, and ſcheIn her entent deſyrus Is to ſeeThe flour of knychthed and of chevelry;2356So was he pryſit and hold to euery wy.THE LADY AGAIN SENDS FOR LANCELOT.[Fol. 29b.]The lady, which one to hir palace come,Soon after, she sends for Lancelot,Bot of ſchort time remanith haith at homeWhen ſche gart bryng, withouten Recidens,2360Withgrete effere this knycht to hir presens,And ſaid hyme; “ſir, ſo mekil have I ſochtAnd knowith that be-for I knew nocht,and proposes to ransom him,That If yhow lyk I wil yhour Ransone mak.”2364“Madem, gladly, wil ȝhe wichſauf to takEfterthat as my powar may atteñ,Or that I may prowid be ony meñ.”“Now, ſir,” ſho ſaid, “forſuthIt ſal be so,on one of three conditions.2368Yhe ſal have thre, and cheß yhow on of tho;And if yhow lykith them for to refuß,I can no mor, but ȝhe ſal me excuß,Yhe nedismot ſuſten yhour aduentur2372Contynualy In ward for til endur.”“Madem,” quodhe, “and I yhow hartly pray,54So MS. We should probably read “bee.”What that thei ſay54ȝhe wald wichſauf to ſay?”Either he must tell whom he loves,“[T]he firſt,” quodſche, “who hath in to the cheñ2376Of low yhour hart, and if ȝhe may dereñ?or declare his name,The next, yhour nam, the which ȝe ſal not lye?or say if he expects again to equal his former exploits.The thrid, if euerȝhe think of cheualrySo mekil worſchip to atten in feild2380Apone o day in armys wnderſcheld,As yat ȝhe dyd the ſamyne day, when ȝheIn red armys was at the aſſemblee?”“Madem,” quodhe, “is thar non vther way2384Me to redem, but only thus to ſayOf thingis, which that Rynyth me to blam,Me to awant my lady or hir name?But If that I moſt ſchawin furth that one,2388What suerte ſchal I have for to goneAt libertee out of this dangerfree?”“Schir, ſor to dred no myſteris,” quodſhee;“As I am trew and faithfull woman hold,2392Ȝhe ſal go fre quhen one of thir is told.”“Madem, yhour will non vther ways I may,He refuses to tell his lady’s name,I mone obey; and to the firſt y ſay,55A space is here left for an illuminated letter.55[I]s, to declar the lady of myne hart,2396My goſt ſal rather of my breſt aſtart”—Whar-by the lady fayndit al for nochtThe lowe quhich long hath ben In to histhocht—or his own;“And of my nam, ſchortly for to ſay,2400It ſtondith ſo that one no wyß I may.LANCELOT CLAIMS HIS LIBERTY;[Fol. 30a.]Bot of the thrid, madem, I se that IMon ſay the thing that tuechith velany;but declares that he trusts to do more than ever before; and requires his liberty.For ſuthit is I traſt, and god before,2404In feld that I ſal do of armys moreThan euerI did, if Icommandit bee.And now, madem, I have my libertee,For I have ſaid I neuerthocht to ſay.”2408“Now, ſir,” quodſche, “when-euerȝhe wil ye may;She begs of him a boon;Bot o thing Is, I yhow hartly raquer,Sen I have hold yhow apone ſuch manerNot as my fo, that ȝhe vald grant me till.”2412“Madem,” quodhe, “It ſal be as ȝhe will.”“Now, ſir,” quodſche, “it is no thing bot ȝhethat he will remain with her till the day of battle;Remañ withws wn to the aſſemble,And euery thyng that In yhour myſterlyis2416I ſall gar ordan at yhour awn dewyß;And of the day I ſhall yow certefyOf the aſſemble ȝhe ſal not pas therby.”“Madem,” quodhe, “It ſal be as yhow liſt.”2420“Now, ſir,” quodſche, “and than I hald It beſt,That ȝhe remañ lyk to the ſamyne dogreAs that ȝhe war, yat non ſal wit that ȝheDeliuerit war; and in to ſacret wyß2424Thus may ȝhe be; and now yhe ſal dewyßand inquires what arms he would like to have made for him. He chooses black armour,What armys that yhow lykyth I gar mak.”AND ASKS FOR BLACK ARMOUR.“Madem,” quodhe, “armys al of blak.”Withthis, this knycht is to his chalmergoñ;2428The lady gan ful prewaly diſſponeFor al that longith to the knycht, in feild;Al blak his horß, his armour, and his ſcheld,which is provided.That nedful is, al thing ſche well prewidith;2432And in hir keping thus withhir he bidith.Suppos of love ſche takyne hath the charg,She keeps her love close,Sche bur It clos, ther-of ſche vas not larg,Bot wyſly ſche abſtenit hir diſſir,2436For ellisquhat, ſche knew, he was afyre;Thar-for hir wit hir worſchip haith defendit,being commended for discretion.For in this world thar was nan mor commendit,Boith of diſcreccioune and of womanhed,2440Of gouernans, of nurtur, and of farhed.This knycht withhir thus al this whil mon duell,The story returns to Arthur—And furthof arthur ſumthing wil we tell—[T]hat walkyng vas furthin to his Regiounis,2444And ſoiornyt in his ceteis and his townis,[Fol. 30b.]As he that had of viſdome ſufficyans.who obeys the counsel of Amytans,He kepit the lore of maiſteramytansIn ryghtwyſnes, In feſting and larges,2448In cheriſing cumpany and hamlynes;ARTHUR’S LIBERALITY.For he was biſſy and was deligent,and gives away largely;And largly he iffith, and diſpentRewardis, boith one to the pur & riche,2452And holdith feſt throw al the ȝher eliche.In al the warld paſſing gan his name,He chargit not bot of encreß and fam̅e,And how his puples hartisto empleß;2456Thar gladnes ay was to his hart moſt eß.He rakith not of riches nor treſſour,Bot to diſpend one worſchip & honour;He ifith riches, he ifith lond and rent,2460He cherißyth them withwordiseloquent,and thus gains his people’s love.So that thei can them vtraly proponeIn his ſeruice thar lyves to diſpone:So gladith them̅e his homelycontynans,2464His cheriſyng, his wordis of pleſans,His cumpany, and ek his mery chere,His gret rewardis, and his iftisſere.Thus hath the king non vthir beſynes2468Bot cheriſing of knychtisand largeß,To mak hyme-ſelf of honour becommend;And thus the ȝher he drywith to the ende.EXPLICIT SECUNDA PARS, INCIPIT TERCIA PARS.THE TRUCE DRAWS TO A CLOSE.[BOOK III.]The sun ascends in his altitude.56So MS. Should we read “pasith”?The long dirk paſag56of the vinter, & the lycht2472Of phebuscomprochit withhis mycht;The which, aſcending In his altitud,Awodith saturñ withhis ſtormys Rude;The soft dew falls down from heaven.57So MS. It should be “falis.”The ſoft dew one fra the hewyne doune valis572476Apone the erth, one hillisand on valis,And throw the ſobir & the mwſt hwmourisVp nuriſit ar the erbis, and in the flourisNature decks the earth with various hues.Natur the erth of many diuerß hew2480Our-fret, and cled withthe tendir new.[Fol. 31a.]The birdis may them hiding in the grawisThe birds may hide them from the hawk in the groves, and Scilla may ascend in the air.Wel frome the halk, that oft ther lyf berevis;And scilla hie aſcending in the ayre,2484That euery vight may heryng hir declarOf the ſeſſone the paſſing luſtynes.This was the tyme that phebus gan hymdreßIn to the rame, and haith his courß bygown,2488Or that the trewis and the ȝher vas Rown,The time of combat between Galiot and the king drew near.Which was y-ſet of galiot and the kingOf thar aſſemble, and of thar meting.Arthur haith a xv dais before2492Aſſemblit al his barnag and moreThat weryng wnderhis ſubieccioune,Or louith hyme, or longith to his crown;And haith his Iornay tone, withouten let,Arthur goes to the appointed place.2496On to the place the wich that was y-ſet,Whar he hath found befor hyme mony o knychtThat cummyng war withal thar holl mycht,Al enarmyt both withſpere & ſcheld,2500And ful of lugisplantith haith the feld,Hyme In the wer for to ſupport and ſerfAt al ther mycht, his thonk for to diſſerf.GAWANE REJOINS ARTHUR.And gawan, which was in the ſeking ȝhit2504Of the gud knycht, of hyme haith got no wit,Gawane remembers the day,Remembrith hyme apone the kingisday,And to his falowis one this wys can ſay:“To ȝhow is knowin the mater, in what wyß2508How that the king hath withhis ennemysA certan day, that now comprochit nere,And one to ws war hewynes to hereThat he var in to perell or in to dreid,2512And we away and he of ws haith neid;For we but hyme no thing may eſchef,And he but ws in honore well may lef;For, be he loſt, we may no thing withſtond,2516Our-ſelf, our honore we tyne, & ek ourlond.and proposes to his fellows to go to help the king.Tharfor, I red we pas on to the king,Suppos our oth It hurt in to ſum thing,And in the feld withhyme for til endur,2520Of lyf or deth and tak our aduentur.”Thar-to thei ar conſentit euerilkon,And but dulay the have thar Iorney toñe.[Fol. 31b.]When that the king them ſaw, in hisententArthur is well content at their coming,2524Was of thar com Right wonderwellcontent;For he preſwmyt no thing that thei woldnot expecting them.Have cummyne, but one furthto yerſeking hold.And thus the kinghis oſt aſſemblit has2528Aȝane the tyme, aȝaine the day that vasY-ſtatut and ordanit for to bee,And euery thing hath ſet in the dogre.[A]nd galiot, that haith no thing forȝhet2532The termys quhich that he befor had set,Galiot also assembles his folk,Aſſemblit has, apone his best maner,His folk, and al his other thingisſere,That to o weryour longith to prouid,2536And is y-come apone the tothir ſyde.doubling his army and artillery;Whar he befor was one than vas he two,And al his vthir artilȝery alsoHe dowblith hath, that merwell was to ſeñ;and pitches on the green by the river.2540And by the rewere lychtit one the greñ,And ſtronghar thane ony wallit touneHis oſt y-bout ycloſit in Randoune.Thus war thei cummyne apone ather ſydBefore the truce is ended,2544Be-for the tyme, them-ſelf for to prowid.THE TRUCE ENDS.Or that the trewis was complet & rwn,Men mycht have ſen one euery ſid begwnmany combats are seen between lusty men;Many a fair and knychtly Iuperty2548Of luſty men, and of ȝong chevalry,Diſyrus In to armys for to pruf;Sum for wynyng, ſumcauſith vas for luf,Sum In to worſchip to be exaltate,2552Sum cauſit was of wordis he & hate,That lykit not ydill for to ben;a hundred pair at once.A hundereth pair at onis one the gren.Thir luſty folk thus can thar tyme diſpend,2556Whill that the trewis goith to the ende.The truce past,The trewis paſt, the day is cummyne onoñe,One euery ſyd the can them to diſpone;And thai that war moſt ſacret & moſt dereGaliot’s friends inquire who shall fight on his side on the morrow.2560To galiot, at hyme the can enquere,“Who ſal aſſemble one yhour ſyd to-morñe?To-nycht the trewis to the end is worne.”He anſuerit, “As yhit one to this were2564I ame awyſit I wil none armys bere,[Fol. 32a.]Bot If It ſtond of more Neceſſitee;Nor to the feld will pas, bot for to ſeeYhone knycht, the which that berith ſich o fame.”He commands the first-conquest king to take 30,000 men.2568Than clepit he theconquest king be name,And hymecommandit xxx thouſand takAȝaine the morne, and for the feld hyme mak.And gawane haith, apone the toyersyde,2572Conſulit his Eme he ſchuld for them prowid,And that he ſchuld none armys to hyme tak58MS. “Wihill.”Whill58galiot will for the feld hyme mak.59Omitted in MS.“I grant,” quod [he59], “wharfor ȝhe mone diſponeGawane leads Arthur’s forces.2576Yhow to the feld withal my folk to-morne,And thinkith in yhour manhed and curageFor to reciſt ȝhone folkisgret owtrag.”The day comes.[T]he nycht is gone, vp goith the morow gray,2580The brycht ſone ſo cherith al the day:The knychtisgone to armys than, in haſt;One goith the ſcheildisand the helmys laſt;Arthur’s men cross the ford.Arthuris oſt out our the furrde thai ryd.2584And thai agane, apone the toyersyd,Galiot’s men assemble in a vale.Aſſemblit ar apone o luſty greyne,In to o waill, whar ſone thar mycht be ſeyneOf knychtisto-gedder many o pair2588In to the feld aſſemblyng her & thair,60MS. has “borne.” We should read “lorne,” as in line 2092.And ſtediswhich that haith thar maſterlorne;60The knychtiswar done to the erth doune borne.DEEDS OF SIR ESQUYRIS.Sir Esquyris, a manly knight,Sireſquyris, which was o manly knycht2592In to hyme-ſelf, and hardy vas & wycht;And in till armys gretly for to pryß,Ȝhit he was pure, he prewit wel oft-ſyß;at that time of Galiot’s company,And that tyme was he of the cumpanee2596Of galiot, bot efterwart was heeWitharthur; and that day In to the feildHe come, al armyt boith withſpere and ſcheld,Withferß deſir, as he that had na dout,attacks a band,2600And is aſſemblit ewyne apone a rowt;His ſpere is gone, the knycht goith to the erd,And out onon he pullith haith o ſwerd;and proves his manhood.That day In armys prewit he rycht well2604His ſtrenth, his manhed; arthuris folk thai fell.DEEDS OF SIR GWYANS.ThenGalysGwynans, brother of Ywan,Than galysgwynans, witho manly hart,Which broyerwas of ywane the baſtart,He cummyne Is onone one to the ſtour[Fol. 32b.]2608Forconquering In armys of honour,encounters him, and horse and man go all four to earth.And cownterit witheſquyris hath so61MS. has “than.”That61horß and man, al four, to erth thai go;And ſtill o quhill lying at the ground.2612Withthat o part of arthurisfolk thei foundArthur’s folk rescue Gwyans;Till gwyans, and haith hyme ſone reſkewit.Aȝanis them til eſquyris thei ſewytthirty knights of Galiot’s arrive, and rescue Esquyris.Of galiotiswell xxxtiknychtis& mo;2616Gwyans goith done, and vthir vij alſo,The wich war tone & eſqwyris relewit.Next Ywan comes to themêlée.Than ywane the anterus, aggrewit,Withkynniſmenone to the melle ſocht.2620The hardy knychtis, that one thar worſchip thocht,Cownterit them In myddis of the ſcheld,Whar many o knycht was born doñ inthe feld;Galiot’s men give way.Bot thei wich ware on galiotispart,2624So wndertakand nor of ſo hardy hartNe ware thei not as was inyecontrare.Gwyans is again rescued.Sirgalys gwyans was reſqwyt thareWithhis falowis, and eſqwyris don bore.2628Thar al the batelliscam, withouten more,On ather part, and is aſſemblit ſo50,000 men are assembled.Whar fyfty thouſand war thei, & no mo.30,000 on Galiot’s side approach the river,In o plane beſyd the gret Riwere2632Xxx thouſand one galiotishalf thei vare;and 10,000 on Arthur’s.Of arthuris x thouſand and no moThei ware, and ȝhit thaicontenit them ſoAnd in the feld ſo manly haith borñ,2636That of thar fois haith the feld forſworñ.SIR GAWANE’S INTREPIDITY.Theconqueſt king, wich the perell knowith,Gawane puts the conquest-king to flight.Ful manly one to the feld he drowith;The lord ſirgawan, couerit withhisſcheld,2640He ruſchit in myddis of the feld,And haith them ſo in to his com aſſayt,That of his manhed ware thei al affrait;No langermycht theicontrar hyme endur,2644Bot fled, and goith one to diſcumfiture.Galiot, full of anger and grief, sends out a new band.And galiot, wich haith the diſcumfit ſen,Fulfillit ful of angerand of ten,Incontinent he ſend o new poware,2648Whar-withthe feldisal our-couerit ware[Fol. 33a.]Of armyt ſtedisbothin plait and maill,Withknychtiswich war reddy to aſſaill.Gawane draws his men together, and shews them comfortable words.Sirgawan, ſeing al the gret ſuppris2652Of fois cummyng In to ſich o wys,Togiddir al his cumpany he drew,And confortable wordisto them ſchew;So at the cummyng of thar ennemysThey receive the foe in manly wise.2656Thei them reſauf, in ſo manly wyß,That many one felith deithis wound,And wnderhorß lyith ſobing one the ground.This vther cummyth in to gret deſir,2660Fulfillit ful of matelent and Ire,So freſchly, withſo gret o confluens,Thar ſtrong aſſay hath don ſich vyolens,And at thar come arthuris folk ſo led,2664That thai war ay abayſit and adred.Bot gawan, wich that, by this vorldisfame,Of manhed and of knychthed bur the name,Haith prewit [hym] well be experiens;2668For only In til armys his defensGawane encourages his fellows,Haith maid his falowis tak ſich hardyment,That manfully thei biding one the bent.Of his manhed war merwell to raherß;2672The knychtis throw the ſcheldiscan he perß,That many one thar dethis haith reſauit;None armour frome his mychty hond them ſauit,though their foes are three to one;Ȝhit ay for one ther ennemys wor thre.2676Long mycht thei nocht endur in ſuch dugree;The preß it wos ſo creuell & ſo ſtrong,In gret anoy and haithcontinewit longe,yet his men are forced to retreat to their tents.That, magre them, thei nedismoſt abak2680The way one to thar lugisfor to tak.Sirgawan thar ſufferith gret myſchef,And wonderis in his knychthed can he pref;His falouſchip haith merwell that hym ſaw,2684So haith his fois that of his ſuerd ſtud aw.SIR YWAN RESCUES GAWANE.Arthur beholds the peril of the field, and sends Sir Ywan to help them,King arthur, that al this whill beheldThe dangerand the perell of the feld,Sirywan witho falowſchip he ſende,2688Them In that ned to help & to defend,[Fol. 33b.]Qwich fond them In to danger and in were,And enterit nere In to thar tentis were.who finds Sir Gawane fighting on foot with only his sword.Sirgawan fechtand was one fut At erde,2692And no defend, but only in his ſwerde,Aȝanis them bothwithſpere and ſcheld.62Read “felde”?Of galowa the knycht goith to the erde.62The battle was furious and wood.63MS. “woid,” but the “i” is undotted, and is therefore perhaps meant for the first stroke of a “u.”Thar was the batell furyous and woud632696Of armyt knychtis; to the grownde thai ȝhud.Sirywane, that was a noble knyght,He ſchew his ſtrenth, he ſchew thar hisgret mycht,In al his tyme that neuerof before2700Off armys, nore of knychthed, did he more:Sir Ywan rescues Sir Gawane,Sirgawan thar reſkewit he of fors,Magre his fois, and haith hyme ſet one horßThat frome the firſtconqueſt king he wañ;who was so evilly wounded, that he was the worse thereof evermore.2704Bot ſirgawan ſo ewill was wondit than,And in the feld ſuppriſit was ſo ſore,That he the werß thar-of was euermore.Thar ſchew the lord ſirywan hiscurage,2708His manhed, & hisnoble waſſolage;And gawan, in his doing, wald nocht irk;END OF THE FIRST DAY’S BATTLE.Darkness parts the combatants.So al the day enduring to the dyrkSal them, magre of thar deſyre,conſtren2712On ayar half fore [to] depart in twen.And when that gawan of his horß vas toñ,The blud out of his noiß & mouth is goñ,And largly ſo paſſith euery wounde,Sir Gawane swoons,2716In ſwonyng thore he fell one to the ground:Than of the puple petee was to hereThe lemytable clamour, and the chere;so that the king despairs of his “niece’s” life, and laments over him.And of the king the ſorow and the care,2720That of his necislyf was in diſſpare.“Far well,” he ſais, “my gladnes, & my delyt,Apone knychthed far well myne appetit,Fare well of manhed al the gret curage,2724Yow flour of armys and of vaſſolage,Gif yow be loſt!”—thus til his tent hyme brochtThe surgeons are sought,Withwofull hart, and al the ſurryȝenis ſocht,Wich for to cum was reddy at his neid;2728Thai fond the lord was of his lyf indreid,For wondit was he, and ek wondit ſo,who found he had two broken ribs, but no mortal wound.And in his ſyd ware brokyne Ribys two.Bot nocht for-thi the king thai maid beleif[Fol. 34a.]2732That at that tyme he ſhuld the deith eſchef.[O]ff melyhalt the ladyis knychtiswereIn to the feld, and can thir tithingishere,The lady of Melyhalt’s knights tell her how the battle went,And home to thar lady ar thai went,2736Til hir to ſchewing efterthar entent,In euery poynt, how that the batell ſtudOf galiot, and of his multitud;and how Gawane bare him in the field, and of his wounds.And how gawan hyme in the feld hath borñ,2740Throw quhoys ſwerd ſo many o knycht vas lorñ,And of the knychtly wonderis that he wrocht,Syne how that he one to his tent vas brocht.The lady hard, that lowit gawan so,She weeps for him.64MS. “in in”; but “in to” is clearly meant.2744She gan to wep, in to64hir hart vas wo.Lancelot requests to see the lady;Thir tythyngisone to lancelot ar goñ,Whar-of that he was wonderwo-bygone,And for the lady haſtely he sent,2748And ſche til hyme, at his command, Is went:and inquires if Gawane is really likely to die.He ſaluſt hir, and ſaid, “madem, Is trewThir tithingisI her report of newOf the aſſemble, and meting of the oſt,2752And of ſirgawan, wich that ſhuld be loſt?LANCELOT’S LAMENT FOR GAWANE.If that be ſwth, adew the flour of armys,He laments over him,Now neuermore recoueryt be the harmys!In hyme was manhed, curteſſy, and trouth,2756Beſy trawell In knychthed, ay but ſleuth,Humilyte, [and] gentrice, and cwrag;In hyme thar was no manerof outrage.first apostrophizing himself,Allace! knycht, allace! what ſhal yow ſay?2760Yow may complen, yow may bewail the dayAs of his deith, and gladſchip aucht to ſes,Baith menſtraſy and feſting at the des;For of this lond he was the holl comfort,2764In tyme of ned al knychthed to ſupport!and next blaming the lady for not having allowed him to be present in the battle.Allace! madem, and I durſt ſay at ȝheAl yhour beheſt not kepit haith to me,Whar-of that I was in to full belef2768Aȝañe this day that I ſchuld have my lef,And nocht as cowart thus ſchamfully to lyExcludit in to cage frome chewalry,Whar othir knychtisanarmyt on thar ſtedis2772Hawntisther ȝhouthhed in to knychtly dedis.”“Sir,” quod ſche, “I red yhow not diſpleß,[Fol. 34b.]Ȝhe may In tyme her-eftercum at es;LANCELOT PREPARES FOR BATTLE.She promises he shall go to the next battle,For the thrid day Is ordanit, & ſhal be2776Of the oſtisa new aſſemble,And I have gart ordan al the gereThat longith to ȝour body for to were,saying that his sable armour is ready.Boith horß and armourIn the ſamyne wyß2780Of ſable, ewyne aftir ȝhour awn dewyß;And yhe ſal her remayne one to the day;Syne may ȝhe paß, fore well ȝhe knaw the way.”“I will obey, madem, to yhour entent.”2784Withthat ſche goith, and to hir reſt is went:In the morn she takes her leave, to go to the court.One the morn arly vp ſche roßWithout delay, and to the knycht ſche gois,And twk hir lef, and ſaid that ſcho vald fare2788On to the court, with-outen any mare.He kneels, and thanks her often.Than knelit he, and thankit hir oft-ſys,That ſche ſo mych hath done hyme of gentriß,And hir byhecht euer, at his myght,
Whill that the knycht or verray evydens
I have, that ſhal be toknis of credens.”
His falouſchip abaſit of that thing,
2244And als therof anoyt was the king,
THE LADY ASKS LANCELOT HIS NAME.
Arthur reproves him for forgetting the coming day of battle.
Sayng, “Nece, yow haith al foly vroght
And wilfulneß, that haith nocht in thi thoght
The day of batell of galot and me.”
Gawane says it must be so.
2248Quodgawan, “Now non other ways ma be.”
Gawane and his fellow lace their helms, and take their leave.
Thar-withhe and his falowſchip alſo
Thar halmys laſit, on to ther horß thei go,
Syne tuk ther lef, and frome the court the fare,
2252Thar names ware to long for to declar.
Now ſal we leif hyme and hiscumpany,
That in thar ſeking paſſith biſſely;
GAWANE AND HIS FELLOWS DEPART.
The story returns to the lady of Melyhalt.
And of the lady of melyhalt we tell,
2256Withwhome the knycht mot ned alway duell.
52Room is here left in the MS. for an illuminated letter, and a small “o” inserted as a note.
52[O] day ſhe mayd hyme on to hirpreſens fet,
And on o ſege be-ſid hir haith hyme ſet,
“Sir, in keping I have yow halding long,”
2260And thus ſche ſaid, “for gret treſpas & wrong,
Magre my ſtewart, in worſchip, and for-thi
Ȝhe ſuld me thonk;”—“madem,” quodhe, “and I
Thonk yhow ſo that euer, at my mycht,
2264Whar-ſo I paß that I ſal be yhour knycht.”
She inquires Lancelot’s name.
“Grant mercy, ſir, bot o thing I ȝow pray,
What that ȝhe ar ȝhe wold wichsauf to ſay.”
He refuses to tell.
“Madem,” quodhe, “yhour mercy aſk I, quhy
2268That for to ſay apone no wyß may I.”
“No! wil ȝhe not? non oyerways as now
She vows to keep him in thrall till the day of combat;
Ȝhe ſal repent, and ek I mak awow
One to the thing the wich that I beſt love,
[Fol. 28b.]
2272Out frome my keping ſal ȝhe not Remuf
Befor the day of the aſſemblee,
Wich that, o ȝher, is nereſt for to bee;
And if that ȝow haith pleſſit for to ſay,
2276Ȝhe had fore me deliuerit ben this day;
and to go to the court to try and learn it.
And I ſal knaw, quheyerȝhe wil or no,
For I furth-withone to the court ſal go,
Whar that al thithingisgoith & cumyth ſoñ.”
2280“Madem,” quodhe, “yhour pleſance mot be doñe.”
The knight retires.
Withthat the knycht one to his chalmergoith,
And the lady hir makith to be wroith
Aȝanis hyme, but ſuthly vas ſche not,
2284For he al-out was mor in to hir thoght.
Than ſchapith ſhe aȝane the ferd day,
And richly ſche gan hir-ſelf aray;
Syne clepit haith apone her cuſynes,
Before going to the court,
2288And ſaith, “y will one to the court me dreß;
And malice I have ſchawin on to ȝhon knycht,
For-quhy he wold nocht ſchew me quhat he hicht,
Bot ſo, I-wyß, It is nocht in my thocht,
2292For worthyar non In to this erth is wrocht.
she prays her cousin to take care of him.
Tharfor I pray, and hartly I requer
Ȝhe mak hyme al the cumpany and chere,
And do hyme al the worſchip and the eß,
2296Excep his honore, wich that may hym pleß;
And quhen I cum deliuerith hyme als fre
As he is now;”—“ne have no dred,” quodſche.
[T]he lady partit, and hir lef hath ton,
2300And by hir Iorne to the court Is gon.
SHE GOES TO SEE ARTHUR.
The lady meets Arthur at Logris;
The king hapnit at logris for to bee,
Wich of his realme was than the chef cete;
And haith hir met, and In til hartly wyß
2304Reſauit her, and welcummyt oft-ſyß;
who brings her home to his palace;
And haith hir home one to his palice brocht,
Whar that no dante nedith to be ſocht,
And maid hir cher withal his ful entent.
2308Eftſupirone to o chalmerar thei went,
The king and ſche, and ek the quen al thre;
Of hir tithandisat hir than aſkit hee,
and inquires what has brought her.
And what that hir one to the court had brocht?
53MS. “conne.”
2312“Sir,” quodſche, “I come53not al for nocht;
She says she has a friend who has made a challenge,
I have o frend haith o dereyne ydoo,
[Fol. 29a.]
And I can fynd none able knycht tharto;
For he the wich that in thecontrar Is
2316Is hardy, ſtrong, and of gret kyne, I-wyß;
Bot, It is ſaid, If I mycht have withme
Ȝour knycht, quich in the last aſſemble
which the red knight could best maintain.
Was in the feld, and the red armys bur,
2320In his manhed y mycht my cauß aſſur;
And yhow, ſir, richt hartly I exort
In to this ned my myſterto ſupport.”
ARTHUR CAN TELL HER NOTHING.
“Madem, by faith one to the quen I aw
Arthur replies that Gawane is gone to seek him.
2324That I beſt loue, the knycht I neuerſaw
In nerneß by which that I hyme knew;
And ek gawane Is gan hyme for to ſew
Withother fourty knychtisIn to cumpany.”
2328The lady ſmylit at ther fanteſſy;
The quen thar-withpreſumyt wel that ſche
The queen asks the lady if she knows where he is.
Knew quhat he was, and ſaid, “madem, If ȝhe
Knowith of hyme what that he is, or quhar,
2332We ȝhow beſech til ws for to declar.”
She replies no, and proposes to return.
“Madem,” quodſche, “now be the faith that I
Aw to the king and yhow, as for no why
To court I cam, but of hyme to Inquere;
2336And ſen of hyme I can no tithingishere,
Nedlyngisto-morn homwart mon I fair.”
Arthur prays her to stay.
“Na,” quodthe king, “madem, our ſon It waire;
Ȝhe ſal remayne her for the qwenys ſak;
2340Syne ſhal ȝhe of our beſt knychtistak.”
“Sir,” quodſche, “I pray ȝow me excuß,
For-quhy to paß nedis me behuß;
Nor, ſen I want the knycht which I have ſocht,
2344Wtheris withme to have deſir I nocht,
For I of otheris have that may ſuffice.”
Bot ȝhit the king hir prayt on ſich wyß,
She remains till the third day.
That ſche remanit whill the thrid day;
2348Syne tuk hir leif to paſing hom hir way.
She is sumptuously entertained,
It nedis not the feſting to declar
Maid one to hir, nor company nor fare;
Sche had no knycht, ſche had no damyſeill,
2352Nor thei richly rewardit war and well.
and returns home.
Now goith the lady homwart, and ſche
In her entent deſyrus Is to ſee
The flour of knychthed and of chevelry;
2356So was he pryſit and hold to euery wy.
THE LADY AGAIN SENDS FOR LANCELOT.
[Fol. 29b.]
The lady, which one to hir palace come,
Soon after, she sends for Lancelot,
Bot of ſchort time remanith haith at home
When ſche gart bryng, withouten Recidens,
2360Withgrete effere this knycht to hir presens,
And ſaid hyme; “ſir, ſo mekil have I ſocht
And knowith that be-for I knew nocht,
and proposes to ransom him,
That If yhow lyk I wil yhour Ransone mak.”
2364“Madem, gladly, wil ȝhe wichſauf to tak
Efterthat as my powar may atteñ,
Or that I may prowid be ony meñ.”
“Now, ſir,” ſho ſaid, “forſuthIt ſal be so,
on one of three conditions.
2368Yhe ſal have thre, and cheß yhow on of tho;
And if yhow lykith them for to refuß,
I can no mor, but ȝhe ſal me excuß,
Yhe nedismot ſuſten yhour aduentur
2372Contynualy In ward for til endur.”
“Madem,” quodhe, “and I yhow hartly pray,
54So MS. We should probably read “bee.”
What that thei ſay54ȝhe wald wichſauf to ſay?”
Either he must tell whom he loves,
“[T]he firſt,” quodſche, “who hath in to the cheñ
2376Of low yhour hart, and if ȝhe may dereñ?
or declare his name,
The next, yhour nam, the which ȝe ſal not lye?
or say if he expects again to equal his former exploits.
The thrid, if euerȝhe think of cheualry
So mekil worſchip to atten in feild
2380Apone o day in armys wnderſcheld,
As yat ȝhe dyd the ſamyne day, when ȝhe
In red armys was at the aſſemblee?”
“Madem,” quodhe, “is thar non vther way
2384Me to redem, but only thus to ſay
Of thingis, which that Rynyth me to blam,
Me to awant my lady or hir name?
But If that I moſt ſchawin furth that one,
2388What suerte ſchal I have for to gone
At libertee out of this dangerfree?”
“Schir, ſor to dred no myſteris,” quodſhee;
“As I am trew and faithfull woman hold,
2392Ȝhe ſal go fre quhen one of thir is told.”
“Madem, yhour will non vther ways I may,
He refuses to tell his lady’s name,
I mone obey; and to the firſt y ſay,
55A space is here left for an illuminated letter.
55[I]s, to declar the lady of myne hart,
2396My goſt ſal rather of my breſt aſtart”—
Whar-by the lady fayndit al for nocht
The lowe quhich long hath ben In to histhocht—
or his own;
“And of my nam, ſchortly for to ſay,
2400It ſtondith ſo that one no wyß I may.
LANCELOT CLAIMS HIS LIBERTY;
[Fol. 30a.]
Bot of the thrid, madem, I se that I
Mon ſay the thing that tuechith velany;
but declares that he trusts to do more than ever before; and requires his liberty.
For ſuthit is I traſt, and god before,
2404In feld that I ſal do of armys more
Than euerI did, if Icommandit bee.
And now, madem, I have my libertee,
For I have ſaid I neuerthocht to ſay.”
2408“Now, ſir,” quodſche, “when-euerȝhe wil ye may;
She begs of him a boon;
Bot o thing Is, I yhow hartly raquer,
Sen I have hold yhow apone ſuch maner
Not as my fo, that ȝhe vald grant me till.”
2412“Madem,” quodhe, “It ſal be as ȝhe will.”
“Now, ſir,” quodſche, “it is no thing bot ȝhe
that he will remain with her till the day of battle;
Remañ withws wn to the aſſemble,
And euery thyng that In yhour myſterlyis
2416I ſall gar ordan at yhour awn dewyß;
And of the day I ſhall yow certefy
Of the aſſemble ȝhe ſal not pas therby.”
“Madem,” quodhe, “It ſal be as yhow liſt.”
2420“Now, ſir,” quodſche, “and than I hald It beſt,
That ȝhe remañ lyk to the ſamyne dogre
As that ȝhe war, yat non ſal wit that ȝhe
Deliuerit war; and in to ſacret wyß
2424Thus may ȝhe be; and now yhe ſal dewyß
and inquires what arms he would like to have made for him. He chooses black armour,
What armys that yhow lykyth I gar mak.”
AND ASKS FOR BLACK ARMOUR.
“Madem,” quodhe, “armys al of blak.”
Withthis, this knycht is to his chalmergoñ;
2428The lady gan ful prewaly diſſpone
For al that longith to the knycht, in feild;
Al blak his horß, his armour, and his ſcheld,
which is provided.
That nedful is, al thing ſche well prewidith;
2432And in hir keping thus withhir he bidith.
Suppos of love ſche takyne hath the charg,
She keeps her love close,
Sche bur It clos, ther-of ſche vas not larg,
Bot wyſly ſche abſtenit hir diſſir,
2436For ellisquhat, ſche knew, he was afyre;
Thar-for hir wit hir worſchip haith defendit,
being commended for discretion.
For in this world thar was nan mor commendit,
Boith of diſcreccioune and of womanhed,
2440Of gouernans, of nurtur, and of farhed.
This knycht withhir thus al this whil mon duell,
The story returns to Arthur—
And furthof arthur ſumthing wil we tell—
[T]hat walkyng vas furthin to his Regiounis,
2444And ſoiornyt in his ceteis and his townis,
[Fol. 30b.]
As he that had of viſdome ſufficyans.
who obeys the counsel of Amytans,
He kepit the lore of maiſteramytans
In ryghtwyſnes, In feſting and larges,
2448In cheriſing cumpany and hamlynes;
ARTHUR’S LIBERALITY.
For he was biſſy and was deligent,
and gives away largely;
And largly he iffith, and diſpent
Rewardis, boith one to the pur & riche,
2452And holdith feſt throw al the ȝher eliche.
In al the warld paſſing gan his name,
He chargit not bot of encreß and fam̅e,
And how his puples hartisto empleß;
2456Thar gladnes ay was to his hart moſt eß.
He rakith not of riches nor treſſour,
Bot to diſpend one worſchip & honour;
He ifith riches, he ifith lond and rent,
2460He cherißyth them withwordiseloquent,
and thus gains his people’s love.
So that thei can them vtraly propone
In his ſeruice thar lyves to diſpone:
So gladith them̅e his homelycontynans,
2464His cheriſyng, his wordis of pleſans,
His cumpany, and ek his mery chere,
His gret rewardis, and his iftisſere.
Thus hath the king non vthir beſynes
2468Bot cheriſing of knychtisand largeß,
To mak hyme-ſelf of honour becommend;
And thus the ȝher he drywith to the ende.
THE TRUCE DRAWS TO A CLOSE.
The sun ascends in his altitude.
56So MS. Should we read “pasith”?
The long dirk paſag56of the vinter, & the lycht
2472Of phebuscomprochit withhis mycht;
The which, aſcending In his altitud,
Awodith saturñ withhis ſtormys Rude;
The soft dew falls down from heaven.
57So MS. It should be “falis.”
The ſoft dew one fra the hewyne doune valis57
2476Apone the erth, one hillisand on valis,
And throw the ſobir & the mwſt hwmouris
Vp nuriſit ar the erbis, and in the flouris
Nature decks the earth with various hues.
Natur the erth of many diuerß hew
2480Our-fret, and cled withthe tendir new.
[Fol. 31a.]
The birdis may them hiding in the grawis
The birds may hide them from the hawk in the groves, and Scilla may ascend in the air.
Wel frome the halk, that oft ther lyf berevis;
And scilla hie aſcending in the ayre,
2484That euery vight may heryng hir declar
Of the ſeſſone the paſſing luſtynes.
This was the tyme that phebus gan hymdreß
In to the rame, and haith his courß bygown,
2488Or that the trewis and the ȝher vas Rown,
The time of combat between Galiot and the king drew near.
Which was y-ſet of galiot and the king
Of thar aſſemble, and of thar meting.
Arthur haith a xv dais before
2492Aſſemblit al his barnag and more
That weryng wnderhis ſubieccioune,
Or louith hyme, or longith to his crown;
And haith his Iornay tone, withouten let,
Arthur goes to the appointed place.
2496On to the place the wich that was y-ſet,
Whar he hath found befor hyme mony o knycht
That cummyng war withal thar holl mycht,
Al enarmyt both withſpere & ſcheld,
2500And ful of lugisplantith haith the feld,
Hyme In the wer for to ſupport and ſerf
At al ther mycht, his thonk for to diſſerf.
GAWANE REJOINS ARTHUR.
And gawan, which was in the ſeking ȝhit
2504Of the gud knycht, of hyme haith got no wit,
Gawane remembers the day,
Remembrith hyme apone the kingisday,
And to his falowis one this wys can ſay:
“To ȝhow is knowin the mater, in what wyß
2508How that the king hath withhis ennemys
A certan day, that now comprochit nere,
And one to ws war hewynes to here
That he var in to perell or in to dreid,
2512And we away and he of ws haith neid;
For we but hyme no thing may eſchef,
And he but ws in honore well may lef;
For, be he loſt, we may no thing withſtond,
2516Our-ſelf, our honore we tyne, & ek ourlond.
and proposes to his fellows to go to help the king.
Tharfor, I red we pas on to the king,
Suppos our oth It hurt in to ſum thing,
And in the feld withhyme for til endur,
2520Of lyf or deth and tak our aduentur.”
Thar-to thei ar conſentit euerilkon,
And but dulay the have thar Iorney toñe.
[Fol. 31b.]
When that the king them ſaw, in hisentent
Arthur is well content at their coming,
2524Was of thar com Right wonderwellcontent;
For he preſwmyt no thing that thei wold
not expecting them.
Have cummyne, but one furthto yerſeking hold.
And thus the kinghis oſt aſſemblit has
2528Aȝane the tyme, aȝaine the day that vas
Y-ſtatut and ordanit for to bee,
And euery thing hath ſet in the dogre.
[A]nd galiot, that haith no thing forȝhet
2532The termys quhich that he befor had set,
Galiot also assembles his folk,
Aſſemblit has, apone his best maner,
His folk, and al his other thingisſere,
That to o weryour longith to prouid,
2536And is y-come apone the tothir ſyde.
doubling his army and artillery;
Whar he befor was one than vas he two,
And al his vthir artilȝery also
He dowblith hath, that merwell was to ſeñ;
and pitches on the green by the river.
2540And by the rewere lychtit one the greñ,
And ſtronghar thane ony wallit toune
His oſt y-bout ycloſit in Randoune.
Thus war thei cummyne apone ather ſyd
Before the truce is ended,
2544Be-for the tyme, them-ſelf for to prowid.
THE TRUCE ENDS.
Or that the trewis was complet & rwn,
Men mycht have ſen one euery ſid begwn
many combats are seen between lusty men;
Many a fair and knychtly Iuperty
2548Of luſty men, and of ȝong chevalry,
Diſyrus In to armys for to pruf;
Sum for wynyng, ſumcauſith vas for luf,
Sum In to worſchip to be exaltate,
2552Sum cauſit was of wordis he & hate,
That lykit not ydill for to ben;
a hundred pair at once.
A hundereth pair at onis one the gren.
Thir luſty folk thus can thar tyme diſpend,
2556Whill that the trewis goith to the ende.
The truce past,
The trewis paſt, the day is cummyne onoñe,
One euery ſyd the can them to diſpone;
And thai that war moſt ſacret & moſt dere
Galiot’s friends inquire who shall fight on his side on the morrow.
2560To galiot, at hyme the can enquere,
“Who ſal aſſemble one yhour ſyd to-morñe?
To-nycht the trewis to the end is worne.”
He anſuerit, “As yhit one to this were
2564I ame awyſit I wil none armys bere,
[Fol. 32a.]
Bot If It ſtond of more Neceſſitee;
Nor to the feld will pas, bot for to ſee
Yhone knycht, the which that berith ſich o fame.”
He commands the first-conquest king to take 30,000 men.
2568Than clepit he theconquest king be name,
And hymecommandit xxx thouſand tak
Aȝaine the morne, and for the feld hyme mak.
And gawane haith, apone the toyersyde,
2572Conſulit his Eme he ſchuld for them prowid,
And that he ſchuld none armys to hyme tak
58MS. “Wihill.”
Whill58galiot will for the feld hyme mak.
59Omitted in MS.
“I grant,” quod [he59], “wharfor ȝhe mone diſpone
Gawane leads Arthur’s forces.
2576Yhow to the feld withal my folk to-morne,
And thinkith in yhour manhed and curage
For to reciſt ȝhone folkisgret owtrag.”
The day comes.
[T]he nycht is gone, vp goith the morow gray,
2580The brycht ſone ſo cherith al the day:
The knychtisgone to armys than, in haſt;
One goith the ſcheildisand the helmys laſt;
Arthur’s men cross the ford.
Arthuris oſt out our the furrde thai ryd.
2584And thai agane, apone the toyersyd,
Galiot’s men assemble in a vale.
Aſſemblit ar apone o luſty greyne,
In to o waill, whar ſone thar mycht be ſeyne
Of knychtisto-gedder many o pair
2588In to the feld aſſemblyng her & thair,
60MS. has “borne.” We should read “lorne,” as in line 2092.
And ſtediswhich that haith thar maſterlorne;60
The knychtiswar done to the erth doune borne.
DEEDS OF SIR ESQUYRIS.
Sir Esquyris, a manly knight,
Sireſquyris, which was o manly knycht
2592In to hyme-ſelf, and hardy vas & wycht;
And in till armys gretly for to pryß,
Ȝhit he was pure, he prewit wel oft-ſyß;
at that time of Galiot’s company,
And that tyme was he of the cumpanee
2596Of galiot, bot efterwart was hee
Witharthur; and that day In to the feild
He come, al armyt boith withſpere and ſcheld,
Withferß deſir, as he that had na dout,
attacks a band,
2600And is aſſemblit ewyne apone a rowt;
His ſpere is gone, the knycht goith to the erd,
And out onon he pullith haith o ſwerd;
and proves his manhood.
That day In armys prewit he rycht well
2604His ſtrenth, his manhed; arthuris folk thai fell.
DEEDS OF SIR GWYANS.
ThenGalysGwynans, brother of Ywan,
Than galysgwynans, witho manly hart,
Which broyerwas of ywane the baſtart,
He cummyne Is onone one to the ſtour
[Fol. 32b.]
2608Forconquering In armys of honour,
encounters him, and horse and man go all four to earth.
And cownterit witheſquyris hath so
61MS. has “than.”
That61horß and man, al four, to erth thai go;
And ſtill o quhill lying at the ground.
2612Withthat o part of arthurisfolk thei found
Arthur’s folk rescue Gwyans;
Till gwyans, and haith hyme ſone reſkewit.
Aȝanis them til eſquyris thei ſewyt
thirty knights of Galiot’s arrive, and rescue Esquyris.
Of galiotiswell xxxtiknychtis& mo;
2616Gwyans goith done, and vthir vij alſo,
The wich war tone & eſqwyris relewit.
Next Ywan comes to themêlée.
Than ywane the anterus, aggrewit,
Withkynniſmenone to the melle ſocht.
2620The hardy knychtis, that one thar worſchip thocht,
Cownterit them In myddis of the ſcheld,
Whar many o knycht was born doñ inthe feld;
Galiot’s men give way.
Bot thei wich ware on galiotispart,
2624So wndertakand nor of ſo hardy hart
Ne ware thei not as was inyecontrare.
Gwyans is again rescued.
Sirgalys gwyans was reſqwyt thare
Withhis falowis, and eſqwyris don bore.
2628Thar al the batelliscam, withouten more,
On ather part, and is aſſemblit ſo
50,000 men are assembled.
Whar fyfty thouſand war thei, & no mo.
30,000 on Galiot’s side approach the river,
In o plane beſyd the gret Riwere
2632Xxx thouſand one galiotishalf thei vare;
and 10,000 on Arthur’s.
Of arthuris x thouſand and no mo
Thei ware, and ȝhit thaicontenit them ſo
And in the feld ſo manly haith borñ,
2636That of thar fois haith the feld forſworñ.
SIR GAWANE’S INTREPIDITY.
Theconqueſt king, wich the perell knowith,
Gawane puts the conquest-king to flight.
Ful manly one to the feld he drowith;
The lord ſirgawan, couerit withhisſcheld,
2640He ruſchit in myddis of the feld,
And haith them ſo in to his com aſſayt,
That of his manhed ware thei al affrait;
No langermycht theicontrar hyme endur,
2644Bot fled, and goith one to diſcumfiture.
Galiot, full of anger and grief, sends out a new band.
And galiot, wich haith the diſcumfit ſen,
Fulfillit ful of angerand of ten,
Incontinent he ſend o new poware,
2648Whar-withthe feldisal our-couerit ware
[Fol. 33a.]
Of armyt ſtedisbothin plait and maill,
Withknychtiswich war reddy to aſſaill.
Gawane draws his men together, and shews them comfortable words.
Sirgawan, ſeing al the gret ſuppris
2652Of fois cummyng In to ſich o wys,
Togiddir al his cumpany he drew,
And confortable wordisto them ſchew;
So at the cummyng of thar ennemys
They receive the foe in manly wise.
2656Thei them reſauf, in ſo manly wyß,
That many one felith deithis wound,
And wnderhorß lyith ſobing one the ground.
This vther cummyth in to gret deſir,
2660Fulfillit ful of matelent and Ire,
So freſchly, withſo gret o confluens,
Thar ſtrong aſſay hath don ſich vyolens,
And at thar come arthuris folk ſo led,
2664That thai war ay abayſit and adred.
Bot gawan, wich that, by this vorldisfame,
Of manhed and of knychthed bur the name,
Haith prewit [hym] well be experiens;
2668For only In til armys his defens
Gawane encourages his fellows,
Haith maid his falowis tak ſich hardyment,
That manfully thei biding one the bent.
Of his manhed war merwell to raherß;
2672The knychtis throw the ſcheldiscan he perß,
That many one thar dethis haith reſauit;
None armour frome his mychty hond them ſauit,
though their foes are three to one;
Ȝhit ay for one ther ennemys wor thre.
2676Long mycht thei nocht endur in ſuch dugree;
The preß it wos ſo creuell & ſo ſtrong,
In gret anoy and haithcontinewit longe,
yet his men are forced to retreat to their tents.
That, magre them, thei nedismoſt abak
2680The way one to thar lugisfor to tak.
Sirgawan thar ſufferith gret myſchef,
And wonderis in his knychthed can he pref;
His falouſchip haith merwell that hym ſaw,
2684So haith his fois that of his ſuerd ſtud aw.
SIR YWAN RESCUES GAWANE.
Arthur beholds the peril of the field, and sends Sir Ywan to help them,
King arthur, that al this whill beheld
The dangerand the perell of the feld,
Sirywan witho falowſchip he ſende,
2688Them In that ned to help & to defend,
[Fol. 33b.]
Qwich fond them In to danger and in were,
And enterit nere In to thar tentis were.
who finds Sir Gawane fighting on foot with only his sword.
Sirgawan fechtand was one fut At erde,
2692And no defend, but only in his ſwerde,
Aȝanis them bothwithſpere and ſcheld.
62Read “felde”?
Of galowa the knycht goith to the erde.62
The battle was furious and wood.
63MS. “woid,” but the “i” is undotted, and is therefore perhaps meant for the first stroke of a “u.”
Thar was the batell furyous and woud63
2696Of armyt knychtis; to the grownde thai ȝhud.
Sirywane, that was a noble knyght,
He ſchew his ſtrenth, he ſchew thar hisgret mycht,
In al his tyme that neuerof before
2700Off armys, nore of knychthed, did he more:
Sir Ywan rescues Sir Gawane,
Sirgawan thar reſkewit he of fors,
Magre his fois, and haith hyme ſet one horß
That frome the firſtconqueſt king he wañ;
who was so evilly wounded, that he was the worse thereof evermore.
2704Bot ſirgawan ſo ewill was wondit than,
And in the feld ſuppriſit was ſo ſore,
That he the werß thar-of was euermore.
Thar ſchew the lord ſirywan hiscurage,
2708His manhed, & hisnoble waſſolage;
And gawan, in his doing, wald nocht irk;
END OF THE FIRST DAY’S BATTLE.
Darkness parts the combatants.
So al the day enduring to the dyrk
Sal them, magre of thar deſyre,conſtren
2712On ayar half fore [to] depart in twen.
And when that gawan of his horß vas toñ,
The blud out of his noiß & mouth is goñ,
And largly ſo paſſith euery wounde,
Sir Gawane swoons,
2716In ſwonyng thore he fell one to the ground:
Than of the puple petee was to here
The lemytable clamour, and the chere;
so that the king despairs of his “niece’s” life, and laments over him.
And of the king the ſorow and the care,
2720That of his necislyf was in diſſpare.
“Far well,” he ſais, “my gladnes, & my delyt,
Apone knychthed far well myne appetit,
Fare well of manhed al the gret curage,
2724Yow flour of armys and of vaſſolage,
Gif yow be loſt!”—thus til his tent hyme brocht
The surgeons are sought,
Withwofull hart, and al the ſurryȝenis ſocht,
Wich for to cum was reddy at his neid;
2728Thai fond the lord was of his lyf indreid,
For wondit was he, and ek wondit ſo,
who found he had two broken ribs, but no mortal wound.
And in his ſyd ware brokyne Ribys two.
Bot nocht for-thi the king thai maid beleif
[Fol. 34a.]
2732That at that tyme he ſhuld the deith eſchef.
[O]ff melyhalt the ladyis knychtiswere
In to the feld, and can thir tithingishere,
The lady of Melyhalt’s knights tell her how the battle went,
And home to thar lady ar thai went,
2736Til hir to ſchewing efterthar entent,
In euery poynt, how that the batell ſtud
Of galiot, and of his multitud;
and how Gawane bare him in the field, and of his wounds.
And how gawan hyme in the feld hath borñ,
2740Throw quhoys ſwerd ſo many o knycht vas lorñ,
And of the knychtly wonderis that he wrocht,
Syne how that he one to his tent vas brocht.
The lady hard, that lowit gawan so,
She weeps for him.
64MS. “in in”; but “in to” is clearly meant.
2744She gan to wep, in to64hir hart vas wo.
Lancelot requests to see the lady;
Thir tythyngisone to lancelot ar goñ,
Whar-of that he was wonderwo-bygone,
And for the lady haſtely he sent,
2748And ſche til hyme, at his command, Is went:
and inquires if Gawane is really likely to die.
He ſaluſt hir, and ſaid, “madem, Is trew
Thir tithingisI her report of new
Of the aſſemble, and meting of the oſt,
2752And of ſirgawan, wich that ſhuld be loſt?
LANCELOT’S LAMENT FOR GAWANE.
If that be ſwth, adew the flour of armys,
He laments over him,
Now neuermore recoueryt be the harmys!
In hyme was manhed, curteſſy, and trouth,
2756Beſy trawell In knychthed, ay but ſleuth,
Humilyte, [and] gentrice, and cwrag;
In hyme thar was no manerof outrage.
first apostrophizing himself,
Allace! knycht, allace! what ſhal yow ſay?
2760Yow may complen, yow may bewail the day
As of his deith, and gladſchip aucht to ſes,
Baith menſtraſy and feſting at the des;
For of this lond he was the holl comfort,
2764In tyme of ned al knychthed to ſupport!
and next blaming the lady for not having allowed him to be present in the battle.
Allace! madem, and I durſt ſay at ȝhe
Al yhour beheſt not kepit haith to me,
Whar-of that I was in to full belef
2768Aȝañe this day that I ſchuld have my lef,
And nocht as cowart thus ſchamfully to ly
Excludit in to cage frome chewalry,
Whar othir knychtisanarmyt on thar ſtedis
2772Hawntisther ȝhouthhed in to knychtly dedis.”
“Sir,” quod ſche, “I red yhow not diſpleß,
[Fol. 34b.]
Ȝhe may In tyme her-eftercum at es;
LANCELOT PREPARES FOR BATTLE.
She promises he shall go to the next battle,
For the thrid day Is ordanit, & ſhal be
2776Of the oſtisa new aſſemble,
And I have gart ordan al the gere
That longith to ȝour body for to were,
saying that his sable armour is ready.
Boith horß and armourIn the ſamyne wyß
2780Of ſable, ewyne aftir ȝhour awn dewyß;
And yhe ſal her remayne one to the day;
Syne may ȝhe paß, fore well ȝhe knaw the way.”
“I will obey, madem, to yhour entent.”
2784Withthat ſche goith, and to hir reſt is went:
In the morn she takes her leave, to go to the court.
One the morn arly vp ſche roß
Without delay, and to the knycht ſche gois,
And twk hir lef, and ſaid that ſcho vald fare
2788On to the court, with-outen any mare.
He kneels, and thanks her often.
Than knelit he, and thankit hir oft-ſys,
That ſche ſo mych hath done hyme of gentriß,
And hir byhecht euer, at his myght,