2792To be hir awn trew & ſtedfaſt knycht.She goes unto the king,Sche thonkith hyme, and ſyne ſche goith herwayOn to the king, with-owten more delay,65MS. “with;” which is crossed out, and “in” inserted above, rather minutely written.Whar that in65honour withking & qwen ſche ſall2796Rycht thonkfully reſauit be with-all.Eft to ſirgawan thai hir led, & ſcheRyght gladly hyme deſyrit for to ſee,and finds Sir Gawane quite different from what had been told her.And ſche hyme fond, and ſche was glad tharfore,2800All vthir ways than was hir told before.The knycht, the wich in to hir keping vas,The lady’s cousin cherishes Lancelot in her best manner.Sche hadcommandit to hir cuſſynece,Wich cheriſt hyme apone hir beſt manere,2804And comfort hyme, and maid hymrycht gud chere.[T]he days goith, ſo paſſith als the nycht,The third day, the maiden goes to his chamber, and fastens on his armour.The thrid morow, as that the ſone vas lycht,The knycht onon out of his bed aroß,2808The maden ſone one to his chalmergoß,And ſacretly his armour one hyme ſpent.He tuk his lef, and ſyne his way he wentHe goes to the same green, beside the river, as before.Ful prewaly, rycht to the ſamyne greñ2812One the rewere, whar he befor had ben,Ewyne as the day [he] the first courß hath maad.Alone rycht thar he howit, and abaade,[Fol. 35a.]Behalding to the bertes, whar the qweñHe abides there alone, looking towards the parapet where he saw the queen.2816Befor at the aſſemble he had señRycht ſo the ſone ſchewith furthhis lycht,And to his armour went is euery wycht;The jousting begins.One athir half the Iusting is bygon,2820And many o fair and knych[t]ly courß is rown.The black knight still halts on his steed.The blak knycht ȝhit howyns on his ſted,Of al thar doing takith he no hed,Bot ay, apone the beſynes of thocht,2824In beholding his ey departit nocht.THE QUEEN BEHOLDS THE BLACK KNIGHT.The lady beholds him and knows him; but yet inquires who he is,To quhom the lady of melyhalt beheld,And knew hyme by hisarmour & hisſcheld,Qwhat that he was; and thus ſche ſaid one hycht:2828“Who is he ȝone? who may he be, ȝhone knycht,So ſtill that hovith and ſterith not his Ren,And ſeith the knychtisrynyng one the greñ?”thus calling the attention of Gawane,Than al beholdith, and in princypale2832Sirgawan beholdith moſt of all;Of melyha[l]t the lady to hyme maidIncontinent, his couche and gart be hadBe-fore o wyndew thore, as he mycht se2836The knycht, the oſt, and al the aſſemble.He lukith furth, and ſone the knycht hath ſen,who saith to the queen:And, but delay, he ſaith one to the qwen,“Madam, remember that the red knight halted where yon knight halts.”“Madem, if ȝhe remembir, ſo it was2840The red knycht in to the ſamyne placeThat wencuſt al [at] the first aſſemble;Whar that ȝone knycht howis, howit hee.”“Why do you inquire?” she replies.“Ȝha,” quodthe qwen, “rycht well remembir I;2844Qwhat is the cauß at ȝhe inquere, & quhy?”“Madem, of [al] this larg warld is he“He is the knight, madam, whom I most desire to see.”The knycht the wich I most deſir to ſeeHis ſtrenth, his manhed, his curag, and hismycht,2848Or do in armys that longith to o knycht.”THE ORDER OF BATTLE.[B]y thus, arthur, withconſell well awyſit,Arthur arranges his lines of battle.Haith ordanit his batellis, and devyſit:King Ydrus leads the first;The firſt of them led ydrus king, & he2852O worthy man vas nemmyt for to bee.Harwy the Reweyll, an aged knight, the second.The ſecund led harwy the Reweyll,That in this world was knycht that had moſt feillFor to prowid that longith to the were,2856One agit knycht, and well couth armys bere.[Fol. 35b.][T]he thrid feld [he] deliuerit in the hondKing Angus, a cousin of Arthur, leads the third.Of angus, king of ylys of ſcotlande,Wich cuſing was one to king arthur nere,2860One hardy knycht he was, withouten were.King Ywons the fourth.The ferd batell led ywons the king,O manly knycht he was In to al thing.And thus dewyſit ware his batellisſere,In every company are 15,000.2864In euery feld xv thouſand were.66MS. “firſt.” Seel. 2870.[T]he fift66batell the lord ſirywan lede,The lord Sir Ywan leads the rearguard.Whois manhed was ineuery cuntre dred,Sone he was one to wryne the kyng,2868Forwart, ſtout, hardy, wyß, and ȝhing;Xx thouſand in his oſt thai paſt,Wich ordanit was for to aſſemble laſt.Galiot’s armies.[A]nd galiot, apone the tothir ſyde,2872Rycht wyſly gan hisbatellisto dewid.Malenginys leads the first line;The firſt of them led malenginys the king,None hardyar In to this erth lewyng;He neuermore out of his cuntre Raid,2876Nor he withhyme one hundereth knychtishade.the first-conquest king the second; Walydeyne the third;[T]he ſecund the first-conqueſt king led,That for no perell of armys vas adred;The thrid, o king clepit walydeyne,2880He led, and was o manly knycht, but weyne.Clamedeus the fourth;[T]he ferd, king clamedeushas,Wich that lord of far ylys was.and King Brandymagus the fifth.67MS. “firſt.”The fift67batell, whar xl thouſand were,2884King brandymagushad to led and ſtere,O manly knycht, and prewit well oft-ſyß,And in his conſell wonderſcharp & wyß.Galiot bore no arms;Galiot non armys bur that day,2888Nor as o knycht he wald hyme-ſelf aray,but was arrayed as a servant in a habergeon with a “prekyne” hat, and a truncheon in his hand.But as o ſeruand in o habariowne,O prekyne hat, and ek o gret trownſciowñIn til his hond, and one o curſour ſet,2892The beſt that was in ony lond to get.Endlong the rewar men mycht behold & ſee,Of knychtisweryne mony one aſſemble;The black knight still remains looking towards the parapet.And the blak knycht ſtill he couth abyde,2896Without remowyng, one the Riwer ſyde,Bot to the bartes to behold and ſeeThar as his hart deſyrit moſt to bee:THE FIRST MESSAGE TO THE BLACK KNIGHT.The lady says to the queen—And quhen the lady of melyhalt haith ſeñ[Fol. 36a.]2900The knycht ſo ſtond, ſche ſaid one to the qweñ,“Madam, pray commend yourself to yon knight.”“Madem, It is my conſell at ȝhe sendOne to ȝone knycht, ȝour-ſelf for tocommend,Beſeiching hyme that he wald wndertak2904This day to do of armys, for ȝour ſak.”The queen repliesThe quen anſuerit as that hir lykit nocht,For othir thing was more In to hir thocht,“For well ȝhe ſe the perell how disio[i]nt,2908The adwentur now ſtondith one the pointBoith of my lord his honore, and hislond,68Stevenson reads “the”; but “the” is crossed out, and “in” written over it.And of his men, in68dangerhow thai ſtond:that the lady and the rest may send a message, but that she will not herself take part in it.Bot ȝhe, and ek thir vthere ladice may,2912If that yhow lykith, to the knycht gar ſayThe meſag; is none that wil yhow let,For I tharof ſal nocht me entermet.”On to the quen ſcho ſaith, “her I,2916If ſo it pleß thir vthir ladice by,Am for to ſend one to the knychtcontent;”And al the ladice can thar-to aſſent,Beſeching hir the meſag to dewyß,2920As ſche that was moſt prudent & moſt wyß.The lady sends a discreet maiden,Sche grantit, and o madeñ haith thai tone,Diſcret, apone this meſag for till gone;and Sir Gawane a squire, with two spears,And ſirgawan a ſqwyar bad alſo,2924Withtwo ſperis one to the knycht to go.The lady than, withouten more dulay,Haith chargit hir apone this wyß to ſay:to say that all the ladies, the queen alone excepted, commend them to the black knight,“Schaw to the knycht, the ladice euer-ilkone2928Ben In the court, excep the quen allon,Til hyme them haith recommandit oft-ſyß,Beſeching hyme of knychthed and gentriß,(Or if It hapyne euermore that he ſhall2932Cum, quhar thai may, owther an or all,In ony thing awail hyme or ſupport,Or do hyme ony pleſans or comfort,)and pray him to essay some deed of arms.He wold wichſaif for loue of them this day2936In armys ſum manhed to aſſay;And ſay, ſirgawan hyme the ſperisſent;Now go, this is the fek of our entent.”The damsel and squireThe damyſell ſche hath hir palfray tone,2940The sqwyar withthe ſperis withhir goñ;[Fol. 36b.]The nereſt way thai paß one to ye knycht,repeat the message.Whar ſche repete hir meſag haith ful rycht:SIR LANCELOT IS NOT CONTENT.Sir Lancelot, finding the queen not in the message,And quhen he hard, and planly wnderſtude,2944How that the quen not in the meſag ȝude,was not content,He ſpak no word, bot he was notcontent;Bot, of ſirgawan, glaid in his entent,He aſkit quhar he was, and of hisfair?2948And thai to hyme the manercan duclair;but asks the squire to hold the two spears ready for him.Than the ſqwyar he prayth that he woldPaß to the feld, the ſperis for to hold.He ſaw the knychtisſemblyng her and thare,2952The ſtedis Rynyng withthe ſadillisbare;His ſpuris goith in to the ſtedis syde,That was ful ſwyft, and lykit not to byd;HE USES UP SIR GAWANE’S TWO SPEARS.And he that was hardy, ferß, and ſtout,He attacks a company of a hundred knights, slays the nearest,2956Furth by o ſyd aſſemblyng on a routWhar that one hundereth knychtiswas, & mo;And withthe firſt has Recounterit so,That frome the deth not helpith hymhisſcheld,2960Boith horß and man is lying in the feld;The ſpere is gone, and al in pecis brak,and with the stump of his spear bereaves two or three of their saddles.And he the trunſcyoune in hishand hath takThat two or thre he haith the ſadillisreft,2964Whill in his hond ſchortly no thing is left.Syne, to the ſquyar, of the feld is goñ,He takes a new spear from the squire, and overthrows three knights.Fro hyme o ſpere In to his hond haith ton,And to the feld returnyt he aȝayne:2968The firſt he met, he goith one the plan,And ek the next, and ſyne the thrid alſo;Nor in his hond, nore in his ſtrak was ho.His ennemys that veryng In affray2972Befor his ſtrok, and makith rovm alway;And in ſich wyß ay in the feld he vrocht,Whill that his ſperis gon var al to nocht;Whar-of ſirgawan berith vitneſing2976Throw al this world that thar vas non levyng,In ſo ſchort tyme ſo mych of armys wrocht.His spears gone, he returns to his first position.His ſperis gone, out of the feld he ſocht,And paſſit is one to the Rewere syde,2980Rycht thore as he was wont for to abyde;[Fol. 37a.]And ſo beholdyne In the ſamyne plañ,As to the feld hyme lykit nocht aȝañ.THE SECOND MESSAGE TO THE BLACK KNIGHT.Sir Gawane says to the queen:Sir gawan ſaw, and ſaith on to the quen,“Madam, yon knight thinks himself despised, because you so specially excepted yourself in the message;69“not” seems required.2984“Madem, yhone knycht diſponit [not],69I weyñ,To help ws more, fore he ſo is awyſit;As I preſume, he thinkith hyme diſpiſitOf the meſag that we gart to hyme mak;2988Yhowre-ſelf yhe have ſo ſpecialy out-tak,He thinkith ewill contempnit for to bee,Conſidering how that the neceſſiteeMoſt prinſpally to yhowr ſupporting lyis.2992Tharfor my conſell is, yhow to dewyß,And ek ȝhowre-ſelf inyhowr treſpas accuß,ask him mercy, therefore, and excuse your guilt.And aſk hyme mercy, and yhour gilt excuß.For well it oucht o prince or o king2996Til honore and til cheriß in al thingO worthi man, that is in knychthed prewit.For throw the body of o man eſchevitMony o wondir, mony one aduenture,3000That merwell war til any creature.And als oft-tyme is boith hard & ſen,For often, by one knight’s prowess, have 40,000 been worsted by 5,000.Quhar xl thouſand haith diſcumfit benVith v thouſand, and only be o knycht;3004For throw his ſtrenth, his vorſchip, & hismycht,His falowſchip ſich comfort of hym taisThat thai ne dreid the dangerof thar fays.And thus, madem, I wot, withouten were,If yon knight will continue to help the king,3008If that ȝhone knycht this day will perſywereWithhis manhed for helping of the king,We ſal have cauß to dred in to no thing.Our folk of hyme thai ſal ſich comfort tak,3012And ſo adred thar ennemys ſal mak,That ſur I am, onys or the nycht,yon folk shall perforce take to flight.”Of forß ȝhone folk ſal tak one them the flycht:Wharffor, madem, that ȝhe have gilt to mend,3016My conſell is one to ȝhon knycht ȝe ſend.”She consents to send a message.“Sir,” quodſche, “quhat pleſſith yhow to doȜhe may dewyß, and I conſent thar-to.”Than was the lady of melyhaltcontent,3020And to ſirgawan in-to-contynent[Fol. 37b.]Sche clepit the maid, wich that paſſit ar;A maiden is therefore sent to say,And he hir bad the meſag thus duclar.70“to” seems required.“Say [to]70the knycht, the quen hir recommendith,3024And ſal correk in quhat that ſche offendithAt his awn will, how ſo hyme liſt dewyß;that the queen humbly exhorts himAnd hyme exortith, in moſt humyll wyß,As euerhe will, whar that ſche can or may,3028Or powar haith hir charg, be ony way,And for his worſchip and his hie manhede,to help in that need to preserve the king’s honour, and to deserve her thanks.And for hir luf, to helpen inthat nedThe kingishonore, his land fore to preſerf,3032That he hir thonk for euermay deſerf.”SIR GAWANE SENDS HIM TEN SPEARS MORE.And four ſquyaris chargit he alſoSir Gawane also sends four squires with three horses and ten spears.Withthre horß and ſperis x to goFurthto the knycht, hyme prayng for his ſak,3036At his raqueſt thame in his ned to tak.[T]he maden furthwiththe ſqwyarisis wentOne to the knycht, and ſchawith yarentent.The message heard, he inquires about the queen,Tho meſag hard, and ek ye preſent ſeñ,3040He anſwerit, and aſkith of the qwen;and is told that from yon parapet she can witness his deeds.71A second “sche” is here required.“Sir,” quodſche, [“sche]71in to ȝhone bartiis lyis,Whar that this day yhour dedis ſal dewyß,Yhowr manhed, yhour worſchip, and affere,3044How ȝheconteñ, and how yhe armys bere;The quen hir-ſelf, and many o lady to,Sal Iugisbe, and vitnes how yhe do.”Than he, whois hart ſtant in o new aray,He returns a message that he is the queen’s knight.3048Saith, “damyceyll, on to my lady ſay,How euerthat hir lykith that it bee,Als far as wit or powar is in me,I am hir knycht, I ſal at hircommand3052Do at I may, withouten more demand.And to ſirgawan, for his gret gentriß,Me recommend and thonk a thouſand ſyß.”Withthat o ſper he takith in his hond,He stands in his stirrups; and seems to increase a foot in height.3056And ſo in to his ſterapis can he ſtondThat to ſirgawan ſemyth that the knychtEncreſyng gon o larg fut one hycht;And to the ladice ſaith he, and the qwen,3060“Ȝhon is the knycht that euerI have ſenIn al my tyme moſt knychtly of affere,And in hyme-ſelf gon fareſt armys bere.”THE BLACK KNIGHT’S CHARGE.[Fol. 38a.][T]he knycht that haith Remembrit in his thochtGreatly encouraged,3064The qwenys chargis, & how ſche hymbeſocht,Curag can encreſing to his hart;His curſer lap, and gan onon to ſtart;And he the ſqwaris haith reqwyrit ſo,3068That thai withhyme one to the feld wald go.without delay he crosses over the river to the field;Than goith he one, withouten mor abaid,And our the reuar to the feld he raid;Don goith his ſpere onone In to the Reſt,and goes in wherever he sees most peril.3072And in he goith, withouten mor areſt,Thar as he ſaw moſt perell and moſt dred72MS. “held.”In al the feld, and moſt of help72had ned,Whar ſemblyt was the firſt-conqueſt king3076Withmony o knycht that was in his leding.He overthrows two knights.The firſt he met, doune goith boith horß & man;The ſper was holl, and to the next he RañThat helpit hyme his hawbrek nor hisſcheld,3080Bot throuch and throuch haith perſit inthe feld.SIX KNIGHTS FOLLOW HIM.Sir Kay, Sir Sygramors, Sir Gresown, Sir Ywan, Sir Brandellis, and Gahers, all six in a race spur across the field with stretched spears,Sirkay, the wich haith this encontyr ſen,His horß he ſtrekith our the larg gren,And ſirſygramors ek the deſyrand,3084Withſirgreſown cummyth at yarhonde,Son of the duk, and alſua ſirywanThe baſtart, and ſirbrandellis onan,And gaherß, wich that broyir was3088To gawan; thir ſex in a RaßDeliuerly com prekand our the feldisWithſperis ſtraucht, and couerit withthar ſcheldis;Sum for love, ſum honor to purcheß,and 100 knights after them.3092And aftir them one hundereth knychtiswas,In ſamyne will, thar manhed to aſſay.On his v falowis clepit than ſirkay,Sir Kay exhorts themAnd ſaith them, “ſiris, thar has ȝhonderben3096A courß that neuer-more farar was ſenMaid be o knycht, and we ar cummyn ilkonOnly ws one [his] worſchip to diſpone;And neuerwe in al our dais mycht3100Have bet axampil than iffith ws ȝone knychtto keep near the black knight, and follow his guidance all day.Of well doing; and her I hecht for meNer hyme al day, if that I may, to bee,And folow hyme at al [my] mycht I ſall,3104Bot deth or vthir adwentur me fall.”Withthat thir ſex, al in one aſſent,Withfreſch curag In to the feld Is went.[Fol. 38b.]The blak knychtisſpere in pecisgoñe,With a second spear, the black knight seeks the field, closely followed by the six.3108Frome o ſqwyar oñe vthir haith he toñe,And to the feld onone he goith ful rycht;Thir ſex withhyme ay holdith at yarmycht.And than bygan his wonderis in the feld;3112Thar was no helme, no hawbryk, nore no ſcheld,No knight nor armour can withstand him.Nor yhit no knycht ſo hardy, ferß, nore ſtout,No ȝhit no manerarmour mycht hald owtHis ſtrenth, nore was of powar to withſtond;3116So mych of armys dyde he withhis honde,Every wight wonders at his deeds.That euery wight ferleit of hisdeid,And al his fois ſtondith ful of dreid.So beſely he can his tyme diſpend,3120That of the ſperis wich ſirgawan ſend,He uses up all Gawane’s spears.Holl of them all thar was not lewit oñe;Throw wich but mercy to the deyth is gonFul many o knycht, and many o weriour,3124That couthſuſten ful hardely o ſtour.Two horses of his are killed, and he fights on foot.And of his horß ſuppriſit ded ar two,One of his awn, of gawanis one alſo,And he one fut was fechtand one the gren,3128When that ſirkay haith withhis falowis ſeñ;The squire brings him a fresh horse;The ſqwyar withhis horß than to hymbrocht;Magre his fois he to his courſeir ſochtDeliuerly, as of o mychty hart,he leaps into the saddle without stirrups.3132Without ſteropis in to his ſadill ſtart,That euery wycht beholding mervell hasOf his ſtrenth and deliuerbeſynes.SIR KAY ASKS WHO THE BLACK KNIGHT IS.Sir Kay asks who he is,Sirkay, ſeing his horß, and how that thai3136War cled in to ſirgawanis aray,Aſkith at the ſquyar if he knewithWhat that he was, this knycht? & he hym ſchewithbut the squire cannot tell.He wiſt no thing quhat that he was, nore hee3140Befor that day hyme neuerſaw withEe.Than aſkith he, how and one quhat wyßOn gawanis horß makith hyme ſich ſeruice?The ſqw[y]ar ſaith, “forſuth y wot no more;3144My lord ws bad, I not the cauß quharfore.”The black knight returns to the field.The blak knycht, horſit, to the feld can ſewAls freſch as he was in the morow new;The six comrades follow him.The ſex falowis folowit hyme ilkone,3148And al in front on to the feld ar goñ;[Fol. 39a.]Rycht freſchly one thar ennemys thai ſoght,And many o fair poynt of armys vroght.Malangin’s host is discomfited by king Ydras; and retreats to join the second line, commanded by the Conquest-king;[T]han hapnyt to king malangins oſt3152By ydras king diſcumfit was, & loſt,And fled, and to theconqueſt-king ar goñe,Thar boith the batellisaſſemblit In to one;King malengynis in to his hart was wo,3156For of hyme-ſelf no betterknycht mycht go;so that 40,000 are now opposed to 15,000 of Arthur’s.Thar xl thouſand war thai for xv.Than mycht the feld rycht perellus be ſenOf armyt knychtisgaping one the ground;3160Sum deith, and ſum withmony a grewous wond;For arthuris knychtis, that manly war and gud,Suppos that vthir was o multitude,Reſauit tham well at the ſperis end;3164But one ſuch wyß thai may not lang defend.THE BLACK KNIGHT’S PROWESS.The black knight, knowing who is beholding him,The blak knycht ſaw the dangerof the feld,And al his doingisknowith quho beheld,And ek remembrith in to his entent3168Of the meſag that ſche haith to hyme ſent:Than curag, ſtrenth encreſing withmanhed,Ful lyk o knycht one to the feld he raid,thinks to have his lady’s love, or die before her.Thinking to do his ladice love to have,3172Or than his deth befor hir to reſave.Thar he begynyth in his ferß curagOf armys, as o lyoune in his rag;Than merwell was his doing to behold;3176Thar was no knycht ſo ſtrong, nor yhit ſo bold,That in the feld befor his ſuerd he met,Nor he ſo hard his ſtrok apone hyme ſet,That ded or wondit to the erth he ſocht;He works nothing but wonders;3180For thar was not bot wonderis that he wrocht.And magre of his fois euerilkone,and often passes alone through the field.In to the feld oft tymys hyme aloñThrouch and throuch he paſſith to & fro;73Another spelling ofwarld, i.e. world, which occurs in the fuller form inl. 3212.3184For in the ward73it was the manerthoThat non o knycht ſhuld be the brydill takHyme to oreſt, nore cum behynd hisbak,Nor mo than on at onys one o knycht3188Shuld ſtrik, for that tyme worſchip ſtud ſo rycht.Ȝhit was the feld rycht perellus and ſtrongTill arthuris folk, ſet thaicontenyt longe;[Fol. 39b.]Bot in ſich wyß this blak knycht canconten,He fights in such wise as to encourage all who see his deeds.3192That thai, the wich that hath his manhed ſeñ,Sich hardyment haith takyne In his ded,Them thocht thai had no manercauß of dred,Als long as he mycht owthir ryd or go,3196At euery ned he them recomfort ſo.Sir Kay and his fellows follow him all day.Sirkay haith withhis falowis al the dayFolowit hyme al that he can or may,And wondir well thai have in armys prewit,3200And withthar manhed oft thar folk relewit;Bot well thai faucht in diuerß placis ſere,But at last they are nearly all overpowered by numbers.Withmultitud yarfolk confuſit were,That long in ſich wyß mycht thai nochtconteñ.SIR KAY’S MESSAGE TO SIR HARWY.Sir Kay sends Gawane’s squire with a message to Sir Harwy that he ought not to suffer the best knight that ever bore arms to be surprised,3204Sirkay, that hath ſirgawans qſquyarisſen,He clepit hyme, and haith hyme prayt ſo,That to ſirharwy the rewell wil he go,And ſay to hyme, “ws think hyme ewil awyſit;3208For her throuch hyme he ſufferit be ſuppriſitThe beſt knycht that euerarmys bur;And if it ſo befell of adwentur,In his defalt, that he be ded or lamyt,3212This warld ſal have hyme vtraly defamyt.nor six knights of the Round Table to be discomfited.And her ar of the round table alſoA falouſchip, that ſall in well and woAbid withhyme, and furthfor to endur3216Of lyf or deth, this day, thar adwentur;And if ſo fal diſcumfyt at thai bee,The king may ſay that wonderewill haith heContenit hyme, and kepit his honore,3220Thus for to tyne of chevalry the flour!”The squire takes the message.The ſqw[y]ar hard, and furthhis way Raid,In termys ſchort he al his meſag ſaid.Sirharwy ſaith, “y wytneß god, that I3224Neuerin my days comytit tratory,And if I now begyne In to myne eld,In ewill tyme fyrſt com I to this feld;Sir Harwy says that Sir Kay shall have no cause to reprove him.Bot, if god will, I ſal me ſon diſcharg.3228Say to ſirkay, I ſal not ber the charg,He ſal no materhave me to rapref,I ſal amend this mys if that I lef.”The ſqwyar went and tellit to ſirkay;GALIOT’S FOLK ARE WORSTED.Sir Harwy comes to support them;3232And ſirharwy, in al the haſt he may,Aſſemblyt hath his oſtis, & onoñ[Fol. 40a.]In gret deſyre on the feld is gonBefore his folk, and haldith furthhis way;3236Don goith his ſper, and ewyne before ſirkaySo hard o knycht he ſtrykith in his tenThat horß and he lay boith apone the gren.Sirgawan ſaw the counterthat he maad,3240And leuch for al the ſarues that he had:and proves himself a better warrior than might have been expected of one so old.That day ſirharwy prewyt in the feldOf armys more than longith to his eld,For he was more than fyfty yher of ag,3244Set he was ferß and ȝong in his curag;And fro that he aſſemblyt his bataillGaliot’s folk are beaten.Doune goith the folk of galotisal haill;For to withſtond thai war of no poware,3248And yhit of folk x thouſand mo thei vare.King Valydone comes to support them.Kyng valydone, that ſauch on ſuch o wyßHis falowis dangerit withthar ennemys,Withal his folk, being freß and new,3252Goith to the feld onon, them to reſſkew;Thar was the feld rycht perellus aȝañe,Of arthuris folk ful many on var ſlan.Angus comes to aid Arthur’s men.Bot angus, quhich that lykith not to bid,3256And ſaw the perell one the tother ſid,His ſted he ſtrok, and withhis oſt is gonWhar was moſt ned, and thar the feld has ton.Clamedyus comes to aid Galiot’s men.Kyng clamedyus makith non abaid,3260Bot withhis oſt one to the ſid he raid.Ywons encounters Clamedyus.And ywons king, that haith his cummyn ſen,Encounterit hyme in myddis of the greñ.The aucht batellisaſſemblyt one this wiß;Great clamour and lamentable cries on either side.3264On ather half the clamore and the cryißWas lametable and petws for til her,Of knychtiswich in diuerß placis ſereWondit war, and fallyng to and fro,3268Ȝhit galyotisfolk war xx thouſand mo.THE BLACK KNIGHT’S DARING RESOLUTION.The black knight bids himself remember love’s power over him;The blak knycht than on to hyme-ſelf he ſaid:“Remembir the, how yhow haith ben araid,Ay ſen ye hour that yow was makid knycht,3272Withlove, aȝane quhois powar & whois mychtYow haith no ſtrenth, yow may It not endur,Nor ȝhit non vthir erthly creatur;and that only his lady’s mercy or his life’s end can amend him.And bot two thingisar the to amend,3276Thi ladice mercy, or thi lyvys end.And well yhow wot that on to hir preſens,[Fol. 40b.]Til hir eſtat, nor til hir excellens,Thi febilneß neuermore is able3280For to attan, ſche is ſo honorable.And ſen no way yow may ſo hie extend,He counsels himself to strive for her thanks,My verray conſell is, that yow pretendThis day, (ſen yow becummyne art hir knycht3284Of hir comand, and fechtit in hir ſycht),And well yow ſchaw, ſen yow may do no mor,That of reſone ſche ſal the thank tharfore;and to be ashamed of every point of cowardice.Of euery poynt of cowardy yow ſcham,3288And in til armys purcheß the ſum nam.”Withthat of love in to o new deſirSwift as a crossbow-bolt he seeks the field.His ſpere he ſtraucht, and ſwift as any wyreWithal his forß the nereſt feld he ſoght;3292His ful ſtrenth in armys thar he vroght,In to the feld ruſching to and fro,Doune goith the man, doune goith the horß also;Sum throw the ſcheld is perſit to the hart,3296Sum throw the hed, he may It not aſtart.His sword carves the head from some, and cuts the arms of others in twain.His bludy ſuerd he dreuch, that carwit ſoFro ſum the hed, and ſum the arm in two;Sum in the feld fellit is in ſwoñ,3300Throw ſum his ſuerd goith to the ſadill doune.His fois waren abaſit of his dedis,His mortell ſtrok ſo gretly for to dred Is;When his foes see him, they leave the place for dread of death.Whar thai hyme ſaw, within a lytall ſpace,3304For dreid of ded, thai levyng hyme the place,That many o ſtrok ful oft he haith forlorñ;The ſpedy horß away the knycht hath borñ.In to his wyrking neuermore he ſeſt,3308Nor non abaid he makith, nor areſt.His knightly deeds assure his fellows.His falowis, ſo in his knychthed aſſuryd,Thai ar recomfort, thar manhed is recoueryt,And one thar fois ful ferſly thai ſoght,3312Thar goith the lyf of many o knycht to nocht.So was the batell wonderful to tell,Of knychtisto ſe the multitud that fell,It was pitiful to see the knights gaping upon the green.That pety was til ony knycht to ſeñ3316The knychtislying gaping on the gren.The blak knycht aycontinewit ſo faſt,74MS. “Whilk.”Whill74many one, diſcumfit at the laſt,[Fol. 41a.]Are fled, and planly of the feld thei pas:GALIOT WONDERS WHY HIS MEN FLEE.Galiot asks his men why they flee.3320And galyot haith wondyr, for he wasOf mor powar, and aſkit at them qwhyAs cowartisthai fled ſa ſchamfully?A knight replies, that whoever likes may go and see marvels.Than ſaith o knycht, ſor wondit in the brayne,3324“Who lykith, he may Retwrn aȝayneFrome qwhens we come, merwalis for to ſee,That in his tyme neuerſich ſauch hee.”Galiot asks, what marvels; and the knight tells him there is a knight who vanquishes all;“Marwell,” quodhe, “that dar I boldly ſay3328Thay may be callit, and quhat thai ar, I pray?”“Schir, in the feld forſuth thar is o knycht,That only throw his body and his mychtWencuſſith all, that thar may non ſuſten3332His ſtrokis, thai ar ſo fureows and ken.who fares as a lion or a bear;He farith as o lyone or o beyre,Wod in his rag, for ſich is his affere.to whom the red knight hears no comparison.Nor he the knycht in to the armys Red,3336Wich at the first aſſemble in this ſtedWencuſſith all, and had the holl renown,He may to this be no comparyſoune,Fore neuerhe ſeſith ſen the day vas goñ,3340Bot euermorecontinewit in to one.”
2792To be hir awn trew & ſtedfaſt knycht.
She goes unto the king,
Sche thonkith hyme, and ſyne ſche goith herway
On to the king, with-owten more delay,
65MS. “with;” which is crossed out, and “in” inserted above, rather minutely written.
Whar that in65honour withking & qwen ſche ſall
2796Rycht thonkfully reſauit be with-all.
Eft to ſirgawan thai hir led, & ſche
Ryght gladly hyme deſyrit for to ſee,
and finds Sir Gawane quite different from what had been told her.
And ſche hyme fond, and ſche was glad tharfore,
2800All vthir ways than was hir told before.
The knycht, the wich in to hir keping vas,
The lady’s cousin cherishes Lancelot in her best manner.
Sche hadcommandit to hir cuſſynece,
Wich cheriſt hyme apone hir beſt manere,
2804And comfort hyme, and maid hymrycht gud chere.
[T]he days goith, ſo paſſith als the nycht,
The third day, the maiden goes to his chamber, and fastens on his armour.
The thrid morow, as that the ſone vas lycht,
The knycht onon out of his bed aroß,
2808The maden ſone one to his chalmergoß,
And ſacretly his armour one hyme ſpent.
He tuk his lef, and ſyne his way he went
He goes to the same green, beside the river, as before.
Ful prewaly, rycht to the ſamyne greñ
2812One the rewere, whar he befor had ben,
Ewyne as the day [he] the first courß hath maad.
Alone rycht thar he howit, and abaade,
[Fol. 35a.]
Behalding to the bertes, whar the qweñ
He abides there alone, looking towards the parapet where he saw the queen.
2816Befor at the aſſemble he had señ
Rycht ſo the ſone ſchewith furthhis lycht,
And to his armour went is euery wycht;
The jousting begins.
One athir half the Iusting is bygon,
2820And many o fair and knych[t]ly courß is rown.
The black knight still halts on his steed.
The blak knycht ȝhit howyns on his ſted,
Of al thar doing takith he no hed,
Bot ay, apone the beſynes of thocht,
2824In beholding his ey departit nocht.
THE QUEEN BEHOLDS THE BLACK KNIGHT.
The lady beholds him and knows him; but yet inquires who he is,
To quhom the lady of melyhalt beheld,
And knew hyme by hisarmour & hisſcheld,
Qwhat that he was; and thus ſche ſaid one hycht:
2828“Who is he ȝone? who may he be, ȝhone knycht,
So ſtill that hovith and ſterith not his Ren,
And ſeith the knychtisrynyng one the greñ?”
thus calling the attention of Gawane,
Than al beholdith, and in princypale
2832Sirgawan beholdith moſt of all;
Of melyha[l]t the lady to hyme maid
Incontinent, his couche and gart be had
Be-fore o wyndew thore, as he mycht se
2836The knycht, the oſt, and al the aſſemble.
He lukith furth, and ſone the knycht hath ſen,
who saith to the queen:
And, but delay, he ſaith one to the qwen,
“Madam, remember that the red knight halted where yon knight halts.”
“Madem, if ȝhe remembir, ſo it was
2840The red knycht in to the ſamyne place
That wencuſt al [at] the first aſſemble;
Whar that ȝone knycht howis, howit hee.”
“Why do you inquire?” she replies.
“Ȝha,” quodthe qwen, “rycht well remembir I;
2844Qwhat is the cauß at ȝhe inquere, & quhy?”
“Madem, of [al] this larg warld is he
“He is the knight, madam, whom I most desire to see.”
The knycht the wich I most deſir to ſee
His ſtrenth, his manhed, his curag, and hismycht,
2848Or do in armys that longith to o knycht.”
THE ORDER OF BATTLE.
[B]y thus, arthur, withconſell well awyſit,
Arthur arranges his lines of battle.
Haith ordanit his batellis, and devyſit:
King Ydrus leads the first;
The firſt of them led ydrus king, & he
2852O worthy man vas nemmyt for to bee.
Harwy the Reweyll, an aged knight, the second.
The ſecund led harwy the Reweyll,
That in this world was knycht that had moſt feill
For to prowid that longith to the were,
2856One agit knycht, and well couth armys bere.
[Fol. 35b.]
[T]he thrid feld [he] deliuerit in the hond
King Angus, a cousin of Arthur, leads the third.
Of angus, king of ylys of ſcotlande,
Wich cuſing was one to king arthur nere,
2860One hardy knycht he was, withouten were.
King Ywons the fourth.
The ferd batell led ywons the king,
O manly knycht he was In to al thing.
And thus dewyſit ware his batellisſere,
In every company are 15,000.
2864In euery feld xv thouſand were.
66MS. “firſt.” Seel. 2870.
[T]he fift66batell the lord ſirywan lede,
The lord Sir Ywan leads the rearguard.
Whois manhed was ineuery cuntre dred,
Sone he was one to wryne the kyng,
2868Forwart, ſtout, hardy, wyß, and ȝhing;
Xx thouſand in his oſt thai paſt,
Wich ordanit was for to aſſemble laſt.
Galiot’s armies.
[A]nd galiot, apone the tothir ſyde,
2872Rycht wyſly gan hisbatellisto dewid.
Malenginys leads the first line;
The firſt of them led malenginys the king,
None hardyar In to this erth lewyng;
He neuermore out of his cuntre Raid,
2876Nor he withhyme one hundereth knychtishade.
the first-conquest king the second; Walydeyne the third;
[T]he ſecund the first-conqueſt king led,
That for no perell of armys vas adred;
The thrid, o king clepit walydeyne,
2880He led, and was o manly knycht, but weyne.
Clamedeus the fourth;
[T]he ferd, king clamedeushas,
Wich that lord of far ylys was.
and King Brandymagus the fifth.
67MS. “firſt.”
The fift67batell, whar xl thouſand were,
2884King brandymagushad to led and ſtere,
O manly knycht, and prewit well oft-ſyß,
And in his conſell wonderſcharp & wyß.
Galiot bore no arms;
Galiot non armys bur that day,
2888Nor as o knycht he wald hyme-ſelf aray,
but was arrayed as a servant in a habergeon with a “prekyne” hat, and a truncheon in his hand.
But as o ſeruand in o habariowne,
O prekyne hat, and ek o gret trownſciowñ
In til his hond, and one o curſour ſet,
2892The beſt that was in ony lond to get.
Endlong the rewar men mycht behold & ſee,
Of knychtisweryne mony one aſſemble;
The black knight still remains looking towards the parapet.
And the blak knycht ſtill he couth abyde,
2896Without remowyng, one the Riwer ſyde,
Bot to the bartes to behold and ſee
Thar as his hart deſyrit moſt to bee:
THE FIRST MESSAGE TO THE BLACK KNIGHT.
The lady says to the queen—
And quhen the lady of melyhalt haith ſeñ
[Fol. 36a.]
2900The knycht ſo ſtond, ſche ſaid one to the qweñ,
“Madam, pray commend yourself to yon knight.”
“Madem, It is my conſell at ȝhe send
One to ȝone knycht, ȝour-ſelf for tocommend,
Beſeiching hyme that he wald wndertak
2904This day to do of armys, for ȝour ſak.”
The queen replies
The quen anſuerit as that hir lykit nocht,
For othir thing was more In to hir thocht,
“For well ȝhe ſe the perell how disio[i]nt,
2908The adwentur now ſtondith one the point
Boith of my lord his honore, and hislond,
68Stevenson reads “the”; but “the” is crossed out, and “in” written over it.
And of his men, in68dangerhow thai ſtond:
that the lady and the rest may send a message, but that she will not herself take part in it.
Bot ȝhe, and ek thir vthere ladice may,
2912If that yhow lykith, to the knycht gar ſay
The meſag; is none that wil yhow let,
For I tharof ſal nocht me entermet.”
On to the quen ſcho ſaith, “her I,
2916If ſo it pleß thir vthir ladice by,
Am for to ſend one to the knychtcontent;”
And al the ladice can thar-to aſſent,
Beſeching hir the meſag to dewyß,
2920As ſche that was moſt prudent & moſt wyß.
The lady sends a discreet maiden,
Sche grantit, and o madeñ haith thai tone,
Diſcret, apone this meſag for till gone;
and Sir Gawane a squire, with two spears,
And ſirgawan a ſqwyar bad alſo,
2924Withtwo ſperis one to the knycht to go.
The lady than, withouten more dulay,
Haith chargit hir apone this wyß to ſay:
to say that all the ladies, the queen alone excepted, commend them to the black knight,
“Schaw to the knycht, the ladice euer-ilkone
2928Ben In the court, excep the quen allon,
Til hyme them haith recommandit oft-ſyß,
Beſeching hyme of knychthed and gentriß,
(Or if It hapyne euermore that he ſhall
2932Cum, quhar thai may, owther an or all,
In ony thing awail hyme or ſupport,
Or do hyme ony pleſans or comfort,)
and pray him to essay some deed of arms.
He wold wichſaif for loue of them this day
2936In armys ſum manhed to aſſay;
And ſay, ſirgawan hyme the ſperisſent;
Now go, this is the fek of our entent.”
The damsel and squire
The damyſell ſche hath hir palfray tone,
2940The sqwyar withthe ſperis withhir goñ;
[Fol. 36b.]
The nereſt way thai paß one to ye knycht,
repeat the message.
Whar ſche repete hir meſag haith ful rycht:
SIR LANCELOT IS NOT CONTENT.
Sir Lancelot, finding the queen not in the message,
And quhen he hard, and planly wnderſtude,
2944How that the quen not in the meſag ȝude,
was not content,
He ſpak no word, bot he was notcontent;
Bot, of ſirgawan, glaid in his entent,
He aſkit quhar he was, and of hisfair?
2948And thai to hyme the manercan duclair;
but asks the squire to hold the two spears ready for him.
Than the ſqwyar he prayth that he wold
Paß to the feld, the ſperis for to hold.
He ſaw the knychtisſemblyng her and thare,
2952The ſtedis Rynyng withthe ſadillisbare;
His ſpuris goith in to the ſtedis syde,
That was ful ſwyft, and lykit not to byd;
HE USES UP SIR GAWANE’S TWO SPEARS.
And he that was hardy, ferß, and ſtout,
He attacks a company of a hundred knights, slays the nearest,
2956Furth by o ſyd aſſemblyng on a rout
Whar that one hundereth knychtiswas, & mo;
And withthe firſt has Recounterit so,
That frome the deth not helpith hymhisſcheld,
2960Boith horß and man is lying in the feld;
The ſpere is gone, and al in pecis brak,
and with the stump of his spear bereaves two or three of their saddles.
And he the trunſcyoune in hishand hath tak
That two or thre he haith the ſadillisreft,
2964Whill in his hond ſchortly no thing is left.
Syne, to the ſquyar, of the feld is goñ,
He takes a new spear from the squire, and overthrows three knights.
Fro hyme o ſpere In to his hond haith ton,
And to the feld returnyt he aȝayne:
2968The firſt he met, he goith one the plan,
And ek the next, and ſyne the thrid alſo;
Nor in his hond, nore in his ſtrak was ho.
His ennemys that veryng In affray
2972Befor his ſtrok, and makith rovm alway;
And in ſich wyß ay in the feld he vrocht,
Whill that his ſperis gon var al to nocht;
Whar-of ſirgawan berith vitneſing
2976Throw al this world that thar vas non levyng,
In ſo ſchort tyme ſo mych of armys wrocht.
His spears gone, he returns to his first position.
His ſperis gone, out of the feld he ſocht,
And paſſit is one to the Rewere syde,
2980Rycht thore as he was wont for to abyde;
[Fol. 37a.]
And ſo beholdyne In the ſamyne plañ,
As to the feld hyme lykit nocht aȝañ.
THE SECOND MESSAGE TO THE BLACK KNIGHT.
Sir Gawane says to the queen:
Sir gawan ſaw, and ſaith on to the quen,
“Madam, yon knight thinks himself despised, because you so specially excepted yourself in the message;
69“not” seems required.
2984“Madem, yhone knycht diſponit [not],69I weyñ,
To help ws more, fore he ſo is awyſit;
As I preſume, he thinkith hyme diſpiſit
Of the meſag that we gart to hyme mak;
2988Yhowre-ſelf yhe have ſo ſpecialy out-tak,
He thinkith ewill contempnit for to bee,
Conſidering how that the neceſſitee
Moſt prinſpally to yhowr ſupporting lyis.
2992Tharfor my conſell is, yhow to dewyß,
And ek ȝhowre-ſelf inyhowr treſpas accuß,
ask him mercy, therefore, and excuse your guilt.
And aſk hyme mercy, and yhour gilt excuß.
For well it oucht o prince or o king
2996Til honore and til cheriß in al thing
O worthi man, that is in knychthed prewit.
For throw the body of o man eſchevit
Mony o wondir, mony one aduenture,
3000That merwell war til any creature.
And als oft-tyme is boith hard & ſen,
For often, by one knight’s prowess, have 40,000 been worsted by 5,000.
Quhar xl thouſand haith diſcumfit ben
Vith v thouſand, and only be o knycht;
3004For throw his ſtrenth, his vorſchip, & hismycht,
His falowſchip ſich comfort of hym tais
That thai ne dreid the dangerof thar fays.
And thus, madem, I wot, withouten were,
If yon knight will continue to help the king,
3008If that ȝhone knycht this day will perſywere
Withhis manhed for helping of the king,
We ſal have cauß to dred in to no thing.
Our folk of hyme thai ſal ſich comfort tak,
3012And ſo adred thar ennemys ſal mak,
That ſur I am, onys or the nycht,
yon folk shall perforce take to flight.”
Of forß ȝhone folk ſal tak one them the flycht:
Wharffor, madem, that ȝhe have gilt to mend,
3016My conſell is one to ȝhon knycht ȝe ſend.”
She consents to send a message.
“Sir,” quodſche, “quhat pleſſith yhow to do
Ȝhe may dewyß, and I conſent thar-to.”
Than was the lady of melyhaltcontent,
3020And to ſirgawan in-to-contynent
[Fol. 37b.]
Sche clepit the maid, wich that paſſit ar;
A maiden is therefore sent to say,
And he hir bad the meſag thus duclar.
70“to” seems required.
“Say [to]70the knycht, the quen hir recommendith,
3024And ſal correk in quhat that ſche offendith
At his awn will, how ſo hyme liſt dewyß;
that the queen humbly exhorts him
And hyme exortith, in moſt humyll wyß,
As euerhe will, whar that ſche can or may,
3028Or powar haith hir charg, be ony way,
And for his worſchip and his hie manhede,
to help in that need to preserve the king’s honour, and to deserve her thanks.
And for hir luf, to helpen inthat ned
The kingishonore, his land fore to preſerf,
3032That he hir thonk for euermay deſerf.”
SIR GAWANE SENDS HIM TEN SPEARS MORE.
And four ſquyaris chargit he alſo
Sir Gawane also sends four squires with three horses and ten spears.
Withthre horß and ſperis x to go
Furthto the knycht, hyme prayng for his ſak,
3036At his raqueſt thame in his ned to tak.
[T]he maden furthwiththe ſqwyarisis went
One to the knycht, and ſchawith yarentent.
The message heard, he inquires about the queen,
Tho meſag hard, and ek ye preſent ſeñ,
3040He anſwerit, and aſkith of the qwen;
and is told that from yon parapet she can witness his deeds.
71A second “sche” is here required.
“Sir,” quodſche, [“sche]71in to ȝhone bartiis lyis,
Whar that this day yhour dedis ſal dewyß,
Yhowr manhed, yhour worſchip, and affere,
3044How ȝheconteñ, and how yhe armys bere;
The quen hir-ſelf, and many o lady to,
Sal Iugisbe, and vitnes how yhe do.”
Than he, whois hart ſtant in o new aray,
He returns a message that he is the queen’s knight.
3048Saith, “damyceyll, on to my lady ſay,
How euerthat hir lykith that it bee,
Als far as wit or powar is in me,
I am hir knycht, I ſal at hircommand
3052Do at I may, withouten more demand.
And to ſirgawan, for his gret gentriß,
Me recommend and thonk a thouſand ſyß.”
Withthat o ſper he takith in his hond,
He stands in his stirrups; and seems to increase a foot in height.
3056And ſo in to his ſterapis can he ſtond
That to ſirgawan ſemyth that the knycht
Encreſyng gon o larg fut one hycht;
And to the ladice ſaith he, and the qwen,
3060“Ȝhon is the knycht that euerI have ſen
In al my tyme moſt knychtly of affere,
And in hyme-ſelf gon fareſt armys bere.”
THE BLACK KNIGHT’S CHARGE.
[Fol. 38a.]
[T]he knycht that haith Remembrit in his thocht
Greatly encouraged,
3064The qwenys chargis, & how ſche hymbeſocht,
Curag can encreſing to his hart;
His curſer lap, and gan onon to ſtart;
And he the ſqwaris haith reqwyrit ſo,
3068That thai withhyme one to the feld wald go.
without delay he crosses over the river to the field;
Than goith he one, withouten mor abaid,
And our the reuar to the feld he raid;
Don goith his ſpere onone In to the Reſt,
and goes in wherever he sees most peril.
3072And in he goith, withouten mor areſt,
Thar as he ſaw moſt perell and moſt dred
72MS. “held.”
In al the feld, and moſt of help72had ned,
Whar ſemblyt was the firſt-conqueſt king
3076Withmony o knycht that was in his leding.
He overthrows two knights.
The firſt he met, doune goith boith horß & man;
The ſper was holl, and to the next he Rañ
That helpit hyme his hawbrek nor hisſcheld,
3080Bot throuch and throuch haith perſit inthe feld.
SIX KNIGHTS FOLLOW HIM.
Sir Kay, Sir Sygramors, Sir Gresown, Sir Ywan, Sir Brandellis, and Gahers, all six in a race spur across the field with stretched spears,
Sirkay, the wich haith this encontyr ſen,
His horß he ſtrekith our the larg gren,
And ſirſygramors ek the deſyrand,
3084Withſirgreſown cummyth at yarhonde,
Son of the duk, and alſua ſirywan
The baſtart, and ſirbrandellis onan,
And gaherß, wich that broyir was
3088To gawan; thir ſex in a Raß
Deliuerly com prekand our the feldis
Withſperis ſtraucht, and couerit withthar ſcheldis;
Sum for love, ſum honor to purcheß,
and 100 knights after them.
3092And aftir them one hundereth knychtiswas,
In ſamyne will, thar manhed to aſſay.
On his v falowis clepit than ſirkay,
Sir Kay exhorts them
And ſaith them, “ſiris, thar has ȝhonderben
3096A courß that neuer-more farar was ſen
Maid be o knycht, and we ar cummyn ilkon
Only ws one [his] worſchip to diſpone;
And neuerwe in al our dais mycht
3100Have bet axampil than iffith ws ȝone knycht
to keep near the black knight, and follow his guidance all day.
Of well doing; and her I hecht for me
Ner hyme al day, if that I may, to bee,
And folow hyme at al [my] mycht I ſall,
3104Bot deth or vthir adwentur me fall.”
Withthat thir ſex, al in one aſſent,
Withfreſch curag In to the feld Is went.
[Fol. 38b.]
The blak knychtisſpere in pecisgoñe,
With a second spear, the black knight seeks the field, closely followed by the six.
3108Frome o ſqwyar oñe vthir haith he toñe,
And to the feld onone he goith ful rycht;
Thir ſex withhyme ay holdith at yarmycht.
And than bygan his wonderis in the feld;
3112Thar was no helme, no hawbryk, nore no ſcheld,
No knight nor armour can withstand him.
Nor yhit no knycht ſo hardy, ferß, nore ſtout,
No ȝhit no manerarmour mycht hald owt
His ſtrenth, nore was of powar to withſtond;
3116So mych of armys dyde he withhis honde,
Every wight wonders at his deeds.
That euery wight ferleit of hisdeid,
And al his fois ſtondith ful of dreid.
So beſely he can his tyme diſpend,
3120That of the ſperis wich ſirgawan ſend,
He uses up all Gawane’s spears.
Holl of them all thar was not lewit oñe;
Throw wich but mercy to the deyth is gon
Ful many o knycht, and many o weriour,
3124That couthſuſten ful hardely o ſtour.
Two horses of his are killed, and he fights on foot.
And of his horß ſuppriſit ded ar two,
One of his awn, of gawanis one alſo,
And he one fut was fechtand one the gren,
3128When that ſirkay haith withhis falowis ſeñ;
The squire brings him a fresh horse;
The ſqwyar withhis horß than to hymbrocht;
Magre his fois he to his courſeir ſocht
Deliuerly, as of o mychty hart,
he leaps into the saddle without stirrups.
3132Without ſteropis in to his ſadill ſtart,
That euery wycht beholding mervell has
Of his ſtrenth and deliuerbeſynes.
SIR KAY ASKS WHO THE BLACK KNIGHT IS.
Sir Kay asks who he is,
Sirkay, ſeing his horß, and how that thai
3136War cled in to ſirgawanis aray,
Aſkith at the ſquyar if he knewith
What that he was, this knycht? & he hym ſchewith
but the squire cannot tell.
He wiſt no thing quhat that he was, nore hee
3140Befor that day hyme neuerſaw withEe.
Than aſkith he, how and one quhat wyß
On gawanis horß makith hyme ſich ſeruice?
The ſqw[y]ar ſaith, “forſuth y wot no more;
3144My lord ws bad, I not the cauß quharfore.”
The black knight returns to the field.
The blak knycht, horſit, to the feld can ſew
Als freſch as he was in the morow new;
The six comrades follow him.
The ſex falowis folowit hyme ilkone,
3148And al in front on to the feld ar goñ;
[Fol. 39a.]
Rycht freſchly one thar ennemys thai ſoght,
And many o fair poynt of armys vroght.
Malangin’s host is discomfited by king Ydras; and retreats to join the second line, commanded by the Conquest-king;
[T]han hapnyt to king malangins oſt
3152By ydras king diſcumfit was, & loſt,
And fled, and to theconqueſt-king ar goñe,
Thar boith the batellisaſſemblit In to one;
King malengynis in to his hart was wo,
3156For of hyme-ſelf no betterknycht mycht go;
so that 40,000 are now opposed to 15,000 of Arthur’s.
Thar xl thouſand war thai for xv.
Than mycht the feld rycht perellus be ſen
Of armyt knychtisgaping one the ground;
3160Sum deith, and ſum withmony a grewous wond;
For arthuris knychtis, that manly war and gud,
Suppos that vthir was o multitude,
Reſauit tham well at the ſperis end;
3164But one ſuch wyß thai may not lang defend.
THE BLACK KNIGHT’S PROWESS.
The black knight, knowing who is beholding him,
The blak knycht ſaw the dangerof the feld,
And al his doingisknowith quho beheld,
And ek remembrith in to his entent
3168Of the meſag that ſche haith to hyme ſent:
Than curag, ſtrenth encreſing withmanhed,
Ful lyk o knycht one to the feld he raid,
thinks to have his lady’s love, or die before her.
Thinking to do his ladice love to have,
3172Or than his deth befor hir to reſave.
Thar he begynyth in his ferß curag
Of armys, as o lyoune in his rag;
Than merwell was his doing to behold;
3176Thar was no knycht ſo ſtrong, nor yhit ſo bold,
That in the feld befor his ſuerd he met,
Nor he ſo hard his ſtrok apone hyme ſet,
That ded or wondit to the erth he ſocht;
He works nothing but wonders;
3180For thar was not bot wonderis that he wrocht.
And magre of his fois euerilkone,
and often passes alone through the field.
In to the feld oft tymys hyme aloñ
Throuch and throuch he paſſith to & fro;
73Another spelling ofwarld, i.e. world, which occurs in the fuller form inl. 3212.
3184For in the ward73it was the manertho
That non o knycht ſhuld be the brydill tak
Hyme to oreſt, nore cum behynd hisbak,
Nor mo than on at onys one o knycht
3188Shuld ſtrik, for that tyme worſchip ſtud ſo rycht.
Ȝhit was the feld rycht perellus and ſtrong
Till arthuris folk, ſet thaicontenyt longe;
[Fol. 39b.]
Bot in ſich wyß this blak knycht canconten,
He fights in such wise as to encourage all who see his deeds.
3192That thai, the wich that hath his manhed ſeñ,
Sich hardyment haith takyne In his ded,
Them thocht thai had no manercauß of dred,
Als long as he mycht owthir ryd or go,
3196At euery ned he them recomfort ſo.
Sir Kay and his fellows follow him all day.
Sirkay haith withhis falowis al the day
Folowit hyme al that he can or may,
And wondir well thai have in armys prewit,
3200And withthar manhed oft thar folk relewit;
Bot well thai faucht in diuerß placis ſere,
But at last they are nearly all overpowered by numbers.
Withmultitud yarfolk confuſit were,
That long in ſich wyß mycht thai nochtconteñ.
SIR KAY’S MESSAGE TO SIR HARWY.
Sir Kay sends Gawane’s squire with a message to Sir Harwy that he ought not to suffer the best knight that ever bore arms to be surprised,
3204Sirkay, that hath ſirgawans qſquyarisſen,
He clepit hyme, and haith hyme prayt ſo,
That to ſirharwy the rewell wil he go,
And ſay to hyme, “ws think hyme ewil awyſit;
3208For her throuch hyme he ſufferit be ſuppriſit
The beſt knycht that euerarmys bur;
And if it ſo befell of adwentur,
In his defalt, that he be ded or lamyt,
3212This warld ſal have hyme vtraly defamyt.
nor six knights of the Round Table to be discomfited.
And her ar of the round table alſo
A falouſchip, that ſall in well and wo
Abid withhyme, and furthfor to endur
3216Of lyf or deth, this day, thar adwentur;
And if ſo fal diſcumfyt at thai bee,
The king may ſay that wonderewill haith he
Contenit hyme, and kepit his honore,
3220Thus for to tyne of chevalry the flour!”
The squire takes the message.
The ſqw[y]ar hard, and furthhis way Raid,
In termys ſchort he al his meſag ſaid.
Sirharwy ſaith, “y wytneß god, that I
3224Neuerin my days comytit tratory,
And if I now begyne In to myne eld,
In ewill tyme fyrſt com I to this feld;
Sir Harwy says that Sir Kay shall have no cause to reprove him.
Bot, if god will, I ſal me ſon diſcharg.
3228Say to ſirkay, I ſal not ber the charg,
He ſal no materhave me to rapref,
I ſal amend this mys if that I lef.”
The ſqwyar went and tellit to ſirkay;
GALIOT’S FOLK ARE WORSTED.
Sir Harwy comes to support them;
3232And ſirharwy, in al the haſt he may,
Aſſemblyt hath his oſtis, & onoñ
[Fol. 40a.]
In gret deſyre on the feld is gon
Before his folk, and haldith furthhis way;
3236Don goith his ſper, and ewyne before ſirkay
So hard o knycht he ſtrykith in his ten
That horß and he lay boith apone the gren.
Sirgawan ſaw the counterthat he maad,
3240And leuch for al the ſarues that he had:
and proves himself a better warrior than might have been expected of one so old.
That day ſirharwy prewyt in the feld
Of armys more than longith to his eld,
For he was more than fyfty yher of ag,
3244Set he was ferß and ȝong in his curag;
And fro that he aſſemblyt his bataill
Galiot’s folk are beaten.
Doune goith the folk of galotisal haill;
For to withſtond thai war of no poware,
3248And yhit of folk x thouſand mo thei vare.
King Valydone comes to support them.
Kyng valydone, that ſauch on ſuch o wyß
His falowis dangerit withthar ennemys,
Withal his folk, being freß and new,
3252Goith to the feld onon, them to reſſkew;
Thar was the feld rycht perellus aȝañe,
Of arthuris folk ful many on var ſlan.
Angus comes to aid Arthur’s men.
Bot angus, quhich that lykith not to bid,
3256And ſaw the perell one the tother ſid,
His ſted he ſtrok, and withhis oſt is gon
Whar was moſt ned, and thar the feld has ton.
Clamedyus comes to aid Galiot’s men.
Kyng clamedyus makith non abaid,
3260Bot withhis oſt one to the ſid he raid.
Ywons encounters Clamedyus.
And ywons king, that haith his cummyn ſen,
Encounterit hyme in myddis of the greñ.
The aucht batellisaſſemblyt one this wiß;
Great clamour and lamentable cries on either side.
3264On ather half the clamore and the cryiß
Was lametable and petws for til her,
Of knychtiswich in diuerß placis ſere
Wondit war, and fallyng to and fro,
3268Ȝhit galyotisfolk war xx thouſand mo.
THE BLACK KNIGHT’S DARING RESOLUTION.
The black knight bids himself remember love’s power over him;
The blak knycht than on to hyme-ſelf he ſaid:
“Remembir the, how yhow haith ben araid,
Ay ſen ye hour that yow was makid knycht,
3272Withlove, aȝane quhois powar & whois mycht
Yow haith no ſtrenth, yow may It not endur,
Nor ȝhit non vthir erthly creatur;
and that only his lady’s mercy or his life’s end can amend him.
And bot two thingisar the to amend,
3276Thi ladice mercy, or thi lyvys end.
And well yhow wot that on to hir preſens,
[Fol. 40b.]
Til hir eſtat, nor til hir excellens,
Thi febilneß neuermore is able
3280For to attan, ſche is ſo honorable.
And ſen no way yow may ſo hie extend,
He counsels himself to strive for her thanks,
My verray conſell is, that yow pretend
This day, (ſen yow becummyne art hir knycht
3284Of hir comand, and fechtit in hir ſycht),
And well yow ſchaw, ſen yow may do no mor,
That of reſone ſche ſal the thank tharfore;
and to be ashamed of every point of cowardice.
Of euery poynt of cowardy yow ſcham,
3288And in til armys purcheß the ſum nam.”
Withthat of love in to o new deſir
Swift as a crossbow-bolt he seeks the field.
His ſpere he ſtraucht, and ſwift as any wyre
Withal his forß the nereſt feld he ſoght;
3292His ful ſtrenth in armys thar he vroght,
In to the feld ruſching to and fro,
Doune goith the man, doune goith the horß also;
Sum throw the ſcheld is perſit to the hart,
3296Sum throw the hed, he may It not aſtart.
His sword carves the head from some, and cuts the arms of others in twain.
His bludy ſuerd he dreuch, that carwit ſo
Fro ſum the hed, and ſum the arm in two;
Sum in the feld fellit is in ſwoñ,
3300Throw ſum his ſuerd goith to the ſadill doune.
His fois waren abaſit of his dedis,
His mortell ſtrok ſo gretly for to dred Is;
When his foes see him, they leave the place for dread of death.
Whar thai hyme ſaw, within a lytall ſpace,
3304For dreid of ded, thai levyng hyme the place,
That many o ſtrok ful oft he haith forlorñ;
The ſpedy horß away the knycht hath borñ.
In to his wyrking neuermore he ſeſt,
3308Nor non abaid he makith, nor areſt.
His knightly deeds assure his fellows.
His falowis, ſo in his knychthed aſſuryd,
Thai ar recomfort, thar manhed is recoueryt,
And one thar fois ful ferſly thai ſoght,
3312Thar goith the lyf of many o knycht to nocht.
So was the batell wonderful to tell,
Of knychtisto ſe the multitud that fell,
It was pitiful to see the knights gaping upon the green.
That pety was til ony knycht to ſeñ
3316The knychtislying gaping on the gren.
The blak knycht aycontinewit ſo faſt,
74MS. “Whilk.”
Whill74many one, diſcumfit at the laſt,
[Fol. 41a.]
Are fled, and planly of the feld thei pas:
GALIOT WONDERS WHY HIS MEN FLEE.
Galiot asks his men why they flee.
3320And galyot haith wondyr, for he was
Of mor powar, and aſkit at them qwhy
As cowartisthai fled ſa ſchamfully?
A knight replies, that whoever likes may go and see marvels.
Than ſaith o knycht, ſor wondit in the brayne,
3324“Who lykith, he may Retwrn aȝayne
Frome qwhens we come, merwalis for to ſee,
That in his tyme neuerſich ſauch hee.”
Galiot asks, what marvels; and the knight tells him there is a knight who vanquishes all;
“Marwell,” quodhe, “that dar I boldly ſay
3328Thay may be callit, and quhat thai ar, I pray?”
“Schir, in the feld forſuth thar is o knycht,
That only throw his body and his mycht
Wencuſſith all, that thar may non ſuſten
3332His ſtrokis, thai ar ſo fureows and ken.
who fares as a lion or a bear;
He farith as o lyone or o beyre,
Wod in his rag, for ſich is his affere.
to whom the red knight hears no comparison.
Nor he the knycht in to the armys Red,
3336Wich at the first aſſemble in this ſted
Wencuſſith all, and had the holl renown,
He may to this be no comparyſoune,
Fore neuerhe ſeſith ſen the day vas goñ,
3340Bot euermorecontinewit in to one.”