For loue hath made many a conquerouletter r with right hook, uprightAnd many a worthy knighte.This worthy Sowdan, though he heþenweletter r with right hook, upright,The soudan was aHe was a worthyconquerouletter r with right hook, upright;980great conqueror;Many a contrey with shelde and spereHe conquerede wyth grete honoure.And his worthy sone Ferumbras,Ferumbras andThat kinge was ofAlisaundletter r with right hook, upright,984AndLucafeletter r with right hook, uprightof Baldas,Lukafer wroughtThat cruel kinge ofCassaundletter r with right hook, upright,That wroughten wonders withhere hondewonders with theirWith myghte and mayne for to fyghte,988hands.And over-ride mony a manly londe,As men of Armes hardy and wighte.The Sowdan seyinge this myschief,How Charles hade him a-greved,992That grevaunce was him no thinge lese,123He was ful sore ameved.He sente oute his bassatouresThe soudan sent forTo Realmes, provyncesferletter r with right hook, uprightandneletter r with right hook, upright,996his vassals,To Townes, Citeis, Castels and Tours,To come to himtheletter r with right hook, uprighthe were,To Inde Maior and to Assye,To Ascoloyne, Venys, Frige and Ethiope,1000To Nubye, Turkye and Barbarye,To Macedoine,Bulgaletter r with right hook, uprightand to Europe.Alle these people was gadred to Agremore,and assembled moreThre hundred thousand of Sarsyns felle,1004than 300,000 SaracensSome bloo, some yolowe, some blake as more,at Agremore.Some horible and stronge as devel of helle.He made hem drinke Wilde beestes bloode,[leaf 25]Of Tigre, Antilope and ofCamalyoupright letter n with macron,1008As is here vse to egre here mode,Whan þai in werre to battayle goon.He saide to hem “my frendesdeletter r with right hook, upright,He addressed them inAs my trust is alle in you,1012order
‹p030›THE SARACENS SACRIFICE TO THEIR GODS.
On these Frenche dogges, that bene here,to increase theirYe moste avenge me nowe.ardour,Thai have done me vilanye,Mikille of my people have thayslayupright letter n with macron.1016And yet more-over thay manace meAnd drive me to my contrey agayn;Wherefore I wole at the bygynnyngeordered a solemnTo Mahounde and to my goddis alle1020sacrifice to his gods,Make a solempne offerynge;The better shall it vs byfalle.The laste tyme thai were wrothe,We hade not done oure dute.1024Therefore to saye the southe” . . . .There were many hornys blowe,The preestessendeupright letter n with macronthikke I-noweGoolde, and silver thikke thai throwe,1028With noyse and crye thai beestes slowe,And thought to spede wel I-nowe;And every man his vowe he madeTo venge theSowdaupright letter n with macronof his tene.1032Here goddis of golde thai wex alle fade,The smoke so grete was hem bitwene.Whan alle was done, the Sowdan thanCharged Ferumbras redy to be1036and charged FerumbrasOn the morowe, ere day began,To ride oute of þat CiteWith xxxtithousande of Assiens,to march with 30,000Frigys, Paens and Ascoloynes,1040of his peopleTurkis, Indeis and Venysyens,Barbarens, Ethiopes and Macidoynes,“Bringe him to me, that proude kinge;against the ChristianI shal him teche curtesye,1044King, whom he wishedLoke that thou leve for nothingeto teach courtesy,To sle alle his other mayne,[leaf 26] and to slaySafe Rouland and Olyuere,all his men exceptThat bene of grete renowne,1048Roland and Oliver,
‹p031›FERUMBRAS CHALLENGES 6 CHRISTIAN KNIGHTS TO SINGLE COMBAT.
If thai wole reneyeheletter r with right hook, uprightgoddistheletter r with right hook, uprightif they wouldAnd leven on myghty Mahounde.”renounce theirFErumbras with grete arayegods. Ferumbras ledRode forthe, Mahounde him spede,1052out his troops;Tille he came nyȝetheletter r with right hook, uprightCharles layuntil arriving nearBy syde in a grene mede.Charles’s camp, heIn a woode he buskede his menordered them toPrively that same tyde,1056halt in a wood, andAnd with his felowes noon but tenadvanced with onlyTo kinge Charles he gan rideten of his men to theAnd said“siletter r with right hook, uprightkinge, that Arte so kene,camp of Charlemagne,Upon trwes I come to speke with the,1060If thou be curteis, as I wene,Thou wolte graunte a bone to me,That I migħte fightvppoupright letter n with macronthis grene,and offered him toWith Rouland, Olyvere and Gye,1064fight at once againstDuke Neymes andOgeletter r with right hook, uprightI mene,Roland, Oliver, Guy,Ye and Duke Richarde of Normandye,Duke Naymes, OgierWith al sex attones to fight.the Dane, and RichardMy body Iprofletter r with right hook, uprighthere to the1068of Normandy.And requyre the, kinge,thoupright letter u with hookdo me right,As thou art gentille Lord and fre;And if I may conquere hem in fere,If he should conquerTo lede them home to my Faderis halle;1072them, he would leadAnd if thai me, I graunte the here,them away to hisTo be thy man, body and alle.”father’s hall; if heThe kinge Answered with wordismyldeshould be conquered,And saide “felowe, þat neditħ nought,1076he would be his man.I shalle fynde ofmyupright letter n with macrona Childe,That shal the fynde that thou hast sought.”The kinge lete calle Sir RoulandeThe king sent forAnd saide “thou most with this man figħt,1080Roland and orderedTo take this bataile here on honde,him to undertakeTher-to God gyfe the grace and myghte!”the combat. RolandRoulande answered with woordis boolderefuses,And saide “Sir, have meexcuseupright letter d with right vertical tilde!”1084
‹p032›ROLAND REFUSES TO UNDERTAKE THE COMBAT.
He saide, certeynly he ne wolde;The bataile vttirly he refused.because Charles had“The laste day ye preised fastepraised the oldThe oolde knightes ofheletter r with right hook, uprightworthynes.1088knights. [leaf 27]Let hem goon fortħ, I haue no haste,“May they show theirThai may goo shewenheletter r with right hook, uprightprowes.”valour now.” Charles,For that worde the kinge was wrothevexed, smites RolandAnd smote him on the moutheoupright letter n with macronhye,1092on the mouth, so thatThe bloode at his nose oute-goth,the blood springsAnd saide “traitour, thou shalte a-bye.”from his nose, and he“A-bye” quod Roulande “wole I noughte,calls him a traitor.And traitourwas I never none,1096By þat lord, þat me dere hath bought!”And braide oute Durnedaleþeletter r with right hook, uprightanone.Roland draws hisHe wolde hauesmyteupright letter n with macronthe kingetheletter r with right hook, upright,sword, but the otherNe hadde the barons ronne bytwene;1100barons separate themThe kinge with-drowe him forfeletter r with right hook, uprightand try to conciliateAnd passed home as it myght beste bene.them.The Barons made hem at oneWith greteprayeletter r with right hook, uprightand instaunce,1104As every wrath moste over-gone,Meanwhile Oliver,Of the more myschiefe to make voydaunce.who, being sorelyOlyuere herde telle of this,wounded, kept hisThat in his bedde laye seke sore.1108bed, on hearing ofHe armede him ful sone I-wisse,this dispute, hadAnd to the kinge he wente withoute morearmed himself andAnd saide “Sir Kinge, a bone graunte mewent to Charles. HeFor alle the servyse, that I haue done,1112reminds him of hisTo fight with þat kinge so freelong services, andTo morue day, ere it be none.”demands the battle.Charles answered toOlyueletter r with right hook, upright:Charles remonstrates“Thou arte seke and woundede sore,1116with him.And thou also mycosyupright letter n with macrondere,Therfore speke thereof no more.”—“Sir Kinge” he saide “I am alle hoole,But Oliver insists.I aske you this bone in goddis name.”1120
‹p033›OLIVER GOES TO FIGHT WITH FERUMBRAS.
“Certes” he saide “I holde the a fole,But I praye, god sheelde the fro shame.”Oliver rides to theForth he rideth in that Forest,forest, and findsTille he gan Ferumbras see,1124Ferumbras alightedWhere he was ligħt and toke his rest,under a tree, toHis stede renewed til a grene tre.a branch of which“Sir” he saide “restethoupright letter u with hookwele!his steed was tied.Kinge Charles sente mehiduletter r with right hook, upright.1128“Arise,” he said,If thou be curteys knighte and lele,“I am come to fightRise vp and let vs fight to-geder.”with thee.” [leaf 28]Ferumbras sate stille and lough,Ferumbras, withoutHim liste not to rise oute of the place.1132moving, demands his“My felowe” quod he “what arte thou?name.Telle me thy name for goddis grace.”“Sir” he saide “Generyse,“I am Generys,” saysA yonge knighte late dobbet newe.”1136Oliver, “a young“By Mahounde” quod he “thou arte not wyse,knight lately dubbed.”For thy comyng shaltowe sore rewe.I holde Charles but a fooleFerumbras observes,To sende thehideletter r with right hook, uprightto me,1140“Charles is a fool toI shall the lerne a newe scole,send thee.If thoue so hardy to fighte be.I wende, he wolde haue sende Roulande,Olyueletter r with right hook, uprightand iiij mo Dosyperys,1144That hade bene mygħty men of hondeGo and tell him toBataile to a-bide stronge and fiers.send me Roland andWith the me liste no playe begynne,Oliver, and such fourRideagayupright letter n with macronand saye him soo!1148other douzepeers. ForOf the may I no worshypewynne,little honour were itThough I slougħ the and such V mo.”to me to fight with“Howe longe” quodOlyueletter r with right hook, upright“wiltowe plete?thee.”Takethyupright letter n with macronarmes and come to me,1152“Spare thy words,”And prove þat thou saiest in dede,says Oliver, “andFor boost thou blowest, and þenkes124me.”take thy arms.”Whan Ferumbras herde him speke so wel,
‹p034›OLIVER LAYS HOLD OF THE BOTTLES OF BALM,
He caught his helme in grete Ire,1156Ferumbras is wrathThat wroght was of goode fyne steleand seizes hisWith Perlis pight, Rubeis and Saphire.helmet, which OliverOlyueletter r with right hook, uprighthalpe him it to onlase;assists him to lace.Gilte it was alle abowte.1160Ferumbras thanks him,Ferumbras þanked him of his gracecourteously bowing toAnd curteisly to him gan lowte.him. They mount theirThai worthed vpoupright letter n with macronhere stedes,steeds,To Iuste thai made hem preest,1164Of Armes to sheweheletter r with right hook, uprightmyghty dedisrush together likeThai layden here speres in a-reeste,fire of thunder, andTo-geder thaironneupright letter n with macronas fire ofthondeletter r with right hook, upright,have their lancesThat both here Launces to-braste.1168broken. [leaf 29]That theyseteupright letter n with macron,it was grete wonder;They draw theirSo harde it was, þat thay gan threste.swords.Thodroweupright letter n with macronthai oute here swordes keneAnd smyten to-geder by one assente.1172There thaihitteupright letter n with macron,it was wele sene;To sle eche other was here entente.Ferumbras smitesSyr Ferumbras smoteOlyueletter r with right hook, uprightOliver on hisVppoupright letter n with macronthe helme righte on hye1176helmet so that theWith his swerde of metelcleletter r with right hook, upright,fire flies. OliverThat the fyre he made oute-flye.strikes at the headOlyueletter r with right hook, uprighthim hitteagayupright letter n with macronvpoupright letter n with macronthe hedeof Ferumbras, breaks125the hede than fulle sore,1180away the circle ofHe carfe awaye with mygħt and maynehis helmet, and theThe cercle, that satevppoupright letter n with macronhiscrowupright letter n with macron.sword glancing offThe stroke glode down by his bake,down his back, heThe Arson he smot ther awaye1184cuts off two bottlesAnd the botellesof bawme withoute lake,of balm,That uppone the grene ther thai laye,That were trussed by-hynde him faste.Tho Ferumbras wasfuupright letters ll with middle tildewoo;1188Olyueletter r with right hook, uprightlightadowupright letter n with macronin haste,The botellis he seased both two,
‹p035›THROWS THEM INTO THE RIVER, BUT HAS HIS HORSE KILLED.
He threwe hem into the River thanwhich he throws intoAsferletter r with right hook, uprightas he myghte throwe.1192the river.“Alas” quod Ferumbras “what doistowe,126manne?Thou art wode, as I trowe.Thai were worth an Cmupright letter l with middle tildepoundeFerumbras tellsTo a man, þat were wounded sore.1196him that they wereTher was nopreciosourthingevppoupright letter n with macrongrounde,invaluable to aThat myghte helpe a man more.wounded man, and thatThou shalt abye by Mahounde,heThat is a man of myghtesmoost.1200I shall breke both bake andcrowupright letter n with macronAnd sle the, ther thou goist.”should atone forThoOlyueletter r with right hook, uprightworth vpagayupright letter n with macron,their loss with hisHis swerde he hade oute I-drawe.1204life. He strikes atFerumbras him smote with mayneOliver, who wards offAnd mente to haue him slawe.the blow with hisHe smote as doth the dinte of þondir;shield, but his steedIt glased down by his sheelde1208is killed under him.And carfe his stedes neke a-sonder,[leaf 30]That dede he fille in the felde.WightlyOlyueletter r with right hook, uprightvp-sterteOliver quickly startsAs Bacheler, doughti of dede,1212up and tries to killWith swerde in honde him for to hirtehis adversary’s horse,Or Ferumbras goode stede.That Ferumbras aspied welle,He rode a-waye than ful faste1216And tiede him to a grene hasel,but Ferumbras ridesAnd come ayen to him in hasteoff and ties it toAnd saide “nowe yelde the to me!a hazel. “YieldThou maiste not longe endure;1220thyself to me,” saysAnd leve on Mahounde, þat is sodeletter r with right hook, upright,127Ferumbras; “believeAnd thy life I shalle the ensure.128on Mahound, and IThou shalt be a Duke in mycontletter r with right hook, upright,will make thee a dukeAnd men haue atthyupright letter n with macronoweupright letter n with macronwille.1224in my country andTo my Sustir shaltowe wedded be,give thee my sister.”
‹p036›THEY TAKE BREATH. OLIVER DECLARES HIS NAME.
It were pite the for to spille!”“Better” quodOlyueletter r with right hook, upright“shul we dele,By God that is in magiste,1228“Ere I yield toAnd of my strokes shaltow more fele,thee,” answeredEr I to the shalle yelde me.”Oliver, “thou shaltThai smeten togeder witħ egre mode,feel my strokes.”And nathir of othire dradde;1232They fight for aThai persedheletter r with right hook, uprighthauberkes, that were so goode,considerable time;Tille both thayr bodyes bladde.the blood ran fromThayfoughteupright letter n with macronsoo longe, þat by assenteboth their bodies. ByThai drewe hem a litil bysyde,1236mutual consent theyA litil while thaym to avente,stop to take breath.And refresshed hem at þat tyde.“Generis” quod Ferumbras,Ferumbras asks Oliver“As thou arte here gentil knighte,1240again his name andTelle me nowe here in this placekin.Of thykyupright letter n with macronand whatthoupright letter u with hookhight;Me thenkith by the now evermore,Thou shuldist be one of the xij peris,1244“Thou must be oneThat maiste fighte with me so sore,of the douzepeers,And arte so stronge, worthy and fiers.”as thou fightest soOlyuere answered to hymagayupright letter n with macron:well.”“Forfeletter r with right hook, uprightI leve it not ontoolde,1248“I am Oliver, cousinMy name is Olyuerecertayupright letter n with macron,to Charlemagne.”Cousyn to kynge Charles the boolde,[leaf 31]To whome I shalle the sendeQwikke or dede this same daye,1252By conqueste here in this feelde,And make the to renye thy laye.”“O” quod Ferumbrasthaupright letter n with macrontoOlyueletter r with right hook, upright,“Welcomethoupright letter u with hookarte in-to this place,1256“Thou art welcomeI have desyrede many a yerehere,” saysTo gyfe the harde grace.Ferumbras; “thouThou sloughmyupright letter n with macronuncle Sir Persagyne,slewest my uncle,The doughty kinge of Italye,1260The worthyeste kinge þat lyued of men,
‹p037›OLIVER RECEIVES A HEAVY BLOW.
By Mahounde, thou shalt abye!”now thou shalt payTho thaidongeupright letter n with macronfasteto-gedeletter r with right hook, uprightthe penalty!” TheWhile the longe day endured,1264fight continued theNowehitheletter r with right hook, uprightand nowethideletter r with right hook, upright;whole day.Fro strokes wytħ sheeldeshere bodies þai couered.And at the lasteOlyueletter r with right hook, uprightsmote him soAt last Oliver,Vppoupright letter n with macronthe helme, þat was of stele,1268smiting FerumbrasThat his swerde brake in two.upon the helmet, hasThowepeupright letter n with macronhad he nevere a dele.his sword broken.Who was woo but Olyuere than?He saugh noone other remedy.1272He saide“siletter r with right hook, upright,asthoupright letter u with hookarte gentile man,On me nowe here haue mercy.It were grete shame I-wis,Andhonuletter r with right hook, uprightwere itnooupright letter n with macron,1276To sle a man wepenles;That shame woldeneveletter r with right hook, uprightgooupright letter n with macron.”“Nay traitour, thou getistenooupright letter n with macron.Hade I here an hundred and moo!1280Kneledowupright letter n with macronand yelde the hereanooupright letter n with macron,And eles here I woole the sloo.”Olyueletter r with right hook, uprightsaugh, it wolde not be,To truste to moch in his grace.1284He ranne to the stede, þat stode by the tre,He ran to the steedA swerde he raught in þat place,at the tree andThat was trussed on Ferumbras stede,seized a sword thatOf fyne stele goode and stronge.1288was hanging there;He thought he quyte129Ferumbras his mede.Almoost hadde he abyde to longe;For in turnynge Ferumbras him smote,[leaf 32]That stroke he myghte welle fele,1292but in turning onIt come on hym so hevy and hoote,Ferumbras he receivedThat down it made hym to knele.a blow that made himTho wasOlyueletter r with right hook, uprightsore ashamedekneel down.And saide “thou cursed Sarasyne,1296
‹p038›CHARLES PRAYS TO GOD.