Part 15

He makede Rymenhilde lay, {And} heo makede walaway. Rymenhild feol yswoȝe; Ne was þ{er} non þ{a}t louȝe. 1600 Hit smot to hornes herte So bit{er}e þ{a}t hit sm{er}te.

He makede Reymyld a lay, And reynyld makede weylawey. Reymyld fel yswowe; Þo was þer non þat lowe. 1600 Hyt ȝede to hornes herte; Sore hym gan smerte.

he made rymenild a lay, ant hue seide weylawey. ¶ Rymenild fel y swowe; þo nes þer non þ{a}t lowe. 1600 hit smot horn to herte; sore con hi{m} smerte.

[Sidenote: Horn looks on his ring and thinks of Rymenhild, then with his good sword slays Fikenhild and all his men.]

He lokede on þe ringe, {And} þoȝte on Ryme{n}hilde. 1604 He ȝede vp to borde, Wiþ gode suerdes orde. Fike{n}hildes c{ru}ne Þer ifulde adune, 1608 {And} al his me{n} arowe Hi dude adun þrowe!

Hey lokede on hys gode Ryng, And Reymyld þe ȝonge. 1604 Hey ȝede op to borde, Mid hys gode swerde. Fykenyldes crowne He leyde þere adowne; 1608 And alle hys men arewe He dide adoun þrewe.

he lokede on is rynge, ant o rymenild þe ȝynge. 1604 he eode vp to borde, mid his gode suorde. Fykenildes croune he fel þer adoune; 1608 ant alle is men arowe he dude adoun þrowe.

[Headnote: _Horn slays Fikenhild, and makes Arnoldyn king._]

[Sidenote: He makes Arnoldin king there, after Aylmer,]

Wha{n}ne hi were{n} aslaȝe, Fike{n}hild hi dude to d{ra}ȝe. 1612 Horn makede Arnoldin þare Ki{n}g, aft{er} ki{n}g Aylmare, Of al west{er}nesse, For his meoknesse. 1616 Þe ki{n}g {and} his homage Ȝeue{n} Arnoldin t{re}wage.

Þo he weren alle yslawe, Fykenyld he dide to drawe. 1612 He makede arnoldyn kyng þer{e}, Aft{er} þe kyng aylm{er}e, [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Þe knytes and þe barnage Dude hym alle utrage. 1616

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . .] 1612 ant made arnoldyn kyng þere, after kyng aylmere, to be kyng of westnesse, for his mildenesse. 1616 þe kyng ant is baronage ȝeuen him t{ru}age.

[Sidenote: and taking with him Athulf and Rymenhild, sets out for King Modi’s kingdom.]

¶ Horn tok Rymenhild bi þe honde, {And} ladde hure to þe stronde, 1620 {And} ladde wiþ him Aþelbrus, Þe gode stuard of his hus. Þe se biga{n} to flowe, {And} horn gan to Rowe. 1624

Horn tok rymyld by þe hond, And ledde hire by þe se strond. 1620 He tok hym syre aylbrous, Stiward of þe kynges hous. He riuede in a reaume, In a wel fayr streume, 1624

¶ Horn toc rymenild by honde, ant ladde hire to st{r}onde, Ant toc wiþ hi{m} Aþelbrus, þe gode stiward of hire fader hous. 1620 [Sidenote: [leaf 92, back]] þe see bigan to flowen, ant hy faste to rowen. hue aryueden vnder reme, in a wel feyr streme. 1624

[Sidenote: Horn slays King Modi, and makes Athelbrus king in his place.]

Hi gu{n}ne for ariue Þ{er} ki{n}g modi was sire. Aþelfr{us} he makede þ{er} ki{n}g, For his gode techi{n}g. 1628 He ȝaf alle þe kniȝtes ore, For horn kniȝtes lore.

Þer kyng mody was syre, Þat horn slow wyt yre. Aybrous he makede þer kyng, For hys gode tydyng; 1628 For syre hornes lore, He was kyng þore.

kyng Mody wes kyng in þat lond; þ{a}t horn sloh wiþ is hond. Aþelbrus he made þer kyng, for his gode techyng; 1628 for sire hornes lore he wes mad kyng þore.

[Headnote: _Athulf weds Reynild, and Horn marries Rymenhild._]

[Sidenote: He then proceeds to Ireland, and causes Athulf to marry the princess Reynild.]

Horn ga{n} for to ride; Þe wi{n}d hi{m} bleu wel wide. 1632 He ariuede in yrlo{n}de, Þ{er} he wo fo{n}dede. Þ{er} he dude Aþulf child Wedde{n} maide Reynild. 1636

[_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Horn ariuede in hyre londe, Þer he hadde woned so longe. Þer he dude ayol childe Wedden mayden h{er}menylde. 1636

¶ Horn eode to ryue; þe wynd hi{m} con wel dryue. 1632 he aryuede in yrlonde, þer horn wo couþe er fonde. He made þer Aþulf chyld wedde mayden ermenyld, 1636

[Sidenote: Then he returns to Sudenne, and makes Rymenhild his queen.]

Horn co{m} to sudde{n}ne, Amo{n}g al his kenne. Ryme{n}hild he makede his quene, So hit miȝte wel beon. 1640

Horn wente to sodenne, To hys owe kunne. Reymyld he makede quene, So ich Miyȝte wel bene. 1640

ant horn com to sudenne, to is oune kenne. Rymenild he made þer is quene, so hit myhte bene. 1640

[Sidenote: They live in true love, and cherish God’s law. ‘Nu ben hi boþe dede.’]

Alfolk he{m} miȝte rewe, Þat louede{n} he{m} so t{re}we; Nu be{n} hi boþe dede; Crist to heuene he{m} lede. 1644 Her endeþ þe tale of horn Þ{a}t fair was {and} noȝt vnorn. Make we vs glade Eure among, For þus him endeþ hornes song. 1648 Jesus þ{a}t is of heuene king, Ȝeue vs alle his suete blessi{n}g. EX--PLI--CIT. Amen.

Alle folc hyt knewe Þat he hem louede trewe. Nou ben he alle dede; God hem to heuene lede. 1644 [_No gap in MS._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1648 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] Am . . . e . . . n.

In trewe loue hue lyueden ay, ant wel hue loueden godes lay. Nou hue beoþ boþe dede, c{ri}st to heouene vs lede. AmeN! 1644

FLORIS AND BLAUNCHEFLUR.

[Transcriber’s Note: In the Trentham MS., spelling is normally “þ{o}u”, rarely “þow”. Any variations are as printed.]

_Trentham MS., fol. 98 a; vellum, c. 1440: beginning lost. Headlines ‘Florence and Blanchefloure.’_

Ne thurst men[FB-1] neu{er} in londe After feirer Children fonde. Þe Cristen woma{n} fedde hem þoo, Ful wel she louyd hem boþ twoo. 4 So longe sche fedde hem in feere þat þey were of elde of seuen ȝere. Þe kyng behelde his sone dere, And seyde to him on this manere, 8 Þat harme it were muche more But his son{e} were sette to lore On þe book~ letters to know, As men don{e}, both hye and lowe. 12 “Feire sone,” she seide, “þ{o}u shalt lerne, Lo þ{a}t þ{o}u do ful ȝerne.” Florys answerd w{i}t{h} wepyng, As he stood byfore þe kyng~; 16 Al wepyng~ seide he,

[Footnote FB-1: first ‘mey,’ then alterd]

[Sidenote: Floris says that he cannot learn unless Blauncheflur is with him.]

“Ne schal not Blancheflo{ur} lerne w{i}t{h} me? Ne can y noȝt to scole goon{e} W{i}t{h}-out Blanchefloure,” he seide þan{e}. 20 “Ne can y in no scole syng~ ne rede W{i}t{h}-out Blancheflo{ur},” he seide. Þe king~ seide to his soon{e}, “She shal lerne for þy loue.” 24

[Sidenote: The two are put to school together, and make good progress.]

To scole þey were put; Boþ þey were good of~ wytte. Wonder it was of~ hur lore, And of~ her loue wel þe more. 28 Þe Children louyd to-geder soo, Þey myȝt neu{er} p{ar}te a twoo. When þey had .v. ȝere to scoole goon{e} So wel þey had lerned þoo, 32 Inowȝ þey couþ of latyne, And wel wryte on p{ar}chemyn{e}. Þe kyng~ vnderstod þe grete Amoure Bytwene his son{e} and Blanchefloure, 36 And þouȝt when þey were of Age Þat her loue wolde noȝt swage; Nor he myȝt noȝt her loue w{i}t{h}drawe When Florys shuld~ wyfe after þe lawe. 40 [Sidenote: [98 _b_]] Þe king~ to þe Queene seide þoo, And tolde hur of~ his woo, Off~ his þouȝt and of his care, How it wolde of~ Floreys fare. 44

[Sidenote: The king begins to devise to separate the two, and proposes to put the maiden to death.]

“Dame,” he seide, “y tel þe my reed{e}, I wyl þat Blaunchefloure be do to deed{e}. When þat maide is y-slawe, And brouȝt of her lyf~ dawe, 48 As sone as Florys may it vnder ȝete, Rathe he wylle hur forȝete. Þan may he wyfe after reed{e}.” Þe Queene answerde þen and seid{e}, 52 And þouȝt w{i}t{h} hur reed{e} Saue þe mayde fro þe deed{e}. “Sir,” she seide, “we auȝt to fond{e} Þat Florens lyf~ wit menske in lond{e}, 56 And þat he lese not his hono{u}r For þe mayden Blauncheflo{u}r. Who so myȝt þat mayde clene, Þat she were brouȝt to deþ bydene, 60 Hit were muche more hono{u}r Þan slee þ{a}t mayde Blancheflo{u}r.” Vnneþes þe king~ g[{r}a]unt þ{a}t it be soo. “Dame, rede vs what is to doo.” 64

[Headnote: _Floris is sent to Mountargis to school._]

[Sidenote: The queen suggests that Floris be sent away.]

“Sir, we shul oure soon{e} Florys Sende into þe londe of Mountargis. Blythe wyl my suster be Þat is lady of~ þat Contree. 68 And when she woot for whoom~ Þ{a}t we have sent him vs froom~, She wyl doo al hur myȝt, Boþ by day and by nyȝt, 72 To make hur loue so vndoo As it had neu{er} ben soo. And, s{ir},” she seide, “y rede eke Þat þe maydens moder make hur seek~. 76 Þat may be þat other resoun~ For þat ylk~ enchesou{n}, Þat she may not fro hur moder goo.” Now ben þese Children swyþ woo, 80 [Sidenote: [99 _a_]] Now þey may not goo in fere Drewryer þinges neu{er} noon{e} were. Florys wept byfore þe kyng~, And seide, “S{ir}, w{i}t{h}-out lesyng~, 84 For my harme out ȝe me sende, Now she ne myȝt w{i}t{h} me wende. Now we ne mot to-geder goo, Al my wele is turned to woo.” 88 Þe king~ seide to his soon{e} aplyȝt, “Sone, w{i}t{h}ynne þis fourtenyȝt, Be her moder quykke or deed{e},” “Sekerly,” he him seide, 92 “Þat mayde shal com{e} þe too.”

[Sidenote: Floris is sent to his aunt at Mountargis, with the promise that Blauncheflur shall follow within fourteen days.]

“Ȝe, s{ir},” he seid, “y p{ra}y ȝow it be soo. Ȝif þat ȝe me hur sende, I rekke neu{er} wheder y wende.” 96 Þat þe Child~ g{ra}unted þe kyng~ was fayn{e}, And him betauȝt his Chamburlayn{e}. W{i}t{h} muche honoure þey þeder coom{e}, As fel to a ryche kynges soon{e}. 100 Wel feire him receyuyd þe Duke Orgas, Þat king~ of þ{a}t Castel was, And his Aunt wiþ muche hono{u}r; But euer he þouȝt on Blanchefloure. 104 Glad and blythe þey ben him withe; But for no ioy þ{a}t he seith, Ne myȝt him glade game ne gle, For he myȝt not his lyf~ see. 108 His Aunt set him to lore Þere as other Children wore, Boþ maydons and grom{e}; To lerne mony þeder coom{e}. 112 Inowȝ he sykes, but noȝt he lernes; For Blauncheflo{ur} eu{er} he mornes. Yf~ enyman to him speke Loue is on his hert steke. 116 Loue is at his hert roote Þ{a}t no þing~ is so soote: Galyngale ne lycorys [Sidenote: [99 _b_]] Is not so soote as hur loue is, 120 Ne nothing~ ne non{e} other. So much he þenkeþ on Blancheflo{ur}, Of~ oo day him þynkeþ þre, For he ne may his loue see. 124

[Headnote: _The King proposes to put Blauncheflur to death._]

[Sidenote: He grieves until the fourteen days are past.]

Þus he abydeth w{i}t{h} muche woo Tyl þe fourtenyȝt were goo. When he saw she was nouȝt ycoom{e}, So muche sorow he haþ noom{e}, 128 Þ{a}t he loueth mete ne drynke, Ne may noon{e} in his body synke.

[Sidenote: The chamberlain reports Floris’s sorrow to the king.]

Þe Chamberleyn{e} sent þe king~ to wete, His sones state al y-wrete. 132

[Sidenote: The king is very angry, and again proposes to put Blauncheflur to death.]

Þe king~ ful sone þe waxe to-brake, For to wete what it spake: He begynneth to chaunge his mood{e}, And wel sone he vnderstode, 136 And w{i}t{h} wreth he cleped þe Queene, And tolde hur alle his teene, And w{i}t{h} wraþ spake and sayde, “Let do bryng~ forþ þ{a}t mayde! 140 Fro þe body þe heued shal goo.” Þenne was þe Quene ful woo. Þan spake þe Quene, þ{a}t good lady,

[Sidenote: The queen proposes, instead, to sell the maiden.]

“For goddes love, s{ir}, mercy. 144 At þe next hauen þ{a}t here is, Þ{er} ben chapmen ryche y-wys, Marchaundes of~ babyloyn{e} ful ryche, Þat wol hur bye blethelyche. 148 Than may ȝe for þ{a}t louely foode Haue muche Catełł and goode. And soo she may fro vs be brouȝt, Soo þat we slee hur nouȝt.” 152 Vnneþes þe king~ g{ra}unted þis; But forsoþ so it is, Þe king~ let sende after þe burgeise, Þ{a}t was hende and Curtayse, 156 And welle selle and bygge couth, And moony langages had in his mouth.

[Sidenote: This is done, and for the maiden they receive among other things a magnificent cup with a romantic history.]

Wel sone þat mayde was him betauȝt; An to þe hauen{e} was she brouȝt. 160 [Sidenote: [100 _a_]] Þer haue þey for þ{a}t maide ȝolde xx. Mark~ of reed golde, And a Coupe good and ryche, In al þe world~ was non{e} it lyche. 164 Þ{er} was neu{er} noon{e} so wel graue; He þ{a}t it made was no knave. Þ{er} was purtrayd on, y weene, How P{ar}yse ledde awey þe Queene; 168 And on þe Cou{er}cle a-boue Purtrayde was þ{er} both her love; And in þe Pomel þ{er}on{e} Stood a Charbuncle stoon{e}. 172 In þe world~ was not so depe soler, Þat it nold~ lyȝt þe Botelere, To fylle boþ ale and wyne, Of syluer and g{o}ld{e} boþ good and fyne. 176 Enneas þe king~, þat nobel man, At Troye in batayle he it wan, And brouȝt it in-to Lumbardy, And gaf~ it his le{m}man, his Amy. 180 Þe Coupe was stoole fro king~ Cesar; A þeef~ out of his tresour hous it bar. And sethe þ{a}t ilke same þeef~ For Blaunchefloure he it ȝeef~. 184 For he wyst to wynne suche þree, Myȝt he hur bryng~ to his contree. Now þese Marchaundes saylen ou{er} þe see, W{i}t{h} þis mayde, to her contree. 188 So longe þey han vndernome,

[Headnote: _Blauncheflur is sold and carried to Babylon._]

[Sidenote: Blauncheflur is taken to Babylon and sold to the Admiral.]

Þ{a}t to Babyloyn{e} þey ben coom{e}. To þe Amyral of~ Babyloyn{e} Þey solde þat mayde swythe soon{e}; 192 Rath and soone þey were at oon{e}. Þe Amyral hur bouȝt Anoon{e}, And gafe for hur, as she stood vpryȝt, Seuyn{e} sythes of~ gold{e} her wyȝt, 196 For he þouȝt w{i}t{h}out~ weene Þat faire mayde haue to Queene; Among~ his maydons in his bo{ur} He hur dide w{i}t{h} muche hono{ur}. 200

_MS. Cott. Vitell. D. III., 6 a, col. 1._

_The 3 leaves of this MS. are burnt and shrunk, and are hardly legible._

. . . . . [FB-2]so dere (196) . . . . wiþ þoute wene. . . þat maide to his quene. . his maidenes vp in is tur, 4 . hire wiþ muchel honur (200)

[Footnote FB-2: _MS. note._ See Introduction; also _Floris et Blanch._, Paris 1856, p. 28, l. 673.]

Now þese merchaundes þ{a}t may belete, [Sidenote: [100 _b_]] And ben glad of~ hur byȝete. ++nOw let we of Blauncheflo{ur} be, And speke of Florys in his contree. 204 Now is þe Bu[r]gays to þe king~ coom{e} W{i}t{h} þe gold{e} and his garyson{e}, And haþ take þe king~ to wolde, Þe seluer and þe Coupe of golde. 208

. . marchans þis maide forlete, . . . bliþe mid here by-ȝete. . . . . we blancheflur be. 8 . . floires in his cu{n}tre. (204) . burgeys to þe king icome. . . . gold {and} þisse garisome. . . . þan king i ȝolde. 12 . . þo cupe of golde. (208)

[Sidenote: The king and queen cause to be made a supposititious tomb for Blauncheflur.]

They lete make in a Chirche As swithe feire g{ra}ue wyrche. And lete ley þ{er}-vppon{e} A new feire peynted stone, 212 W{i}t{h} letters al aboute wryte W{i}t{h} ful muche worshipp{e}. Who-so couth þe letters rede, Þus þey spoken, and þus þey seide: 216 “Here lyth swete Blaunchefloure Þat Florys louyd P{ar}amoure.” Now Florys haþ vndernome,

. . . let at one chiriche. . . . . les wereche, . . . [þ]at anouen . . 16 . . pointe stonde (212) . . . . bi write. . . . . . hele worþsipe . . . þe lett{er}s rede. 20 . . . . . . . . . (216) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [h]aueþ vnder-nome 24

[Headnote: _Floris returns and inquires for Blauncheflur. ‘She is dead.’_]

[Sidenote: Floris returns, and asks his father and mother for Blauncheflur in vain.]

And to his Fader he is coome. 220 In his Fader halle he is lyȝt, His Fader him grette anoon{e} ryȝt, And his moder, þe Queene, also, But vnneþes myȝt he þ{a}t doo, 224 Þat he ne asked where his Le{m}man bee; Nonskyns answere chargeþ hee. So longe he is forth noom{e}, In to Chamber he is coom{e}. 228

. . faderlonde he is icome (220) . . . halle he is alyȝt . . . . he grette anonryȝt . . þe quene he grette also 28 . . . haueþ his greti{n}ge ido, (224) . . . askeþ war þ{a}t maide beo . . . were no{u} targeþ heo. . . . res hit haueþ vnder nome 32 . . boure & a is icome (228)

[Sidenote: He then asks the girl’s mother.]

Þe maydenys moder he asked ryȝt, “Where is Blauncheflo{ur}, my swete wyȝt?” “Sir,” she seide, “forsothe ywys, I ne woot where she is.” 232 She beþouȝt hur on þ{a}t lesyng~ Þat was ordeyned byfoore þe king~. “Þ{o}u gabbest me,” he seyde þoo, “Þy gabbyng~ doþ me muche woo. 236 Tel me where my leman be.” Al wepyng~ seide þenne shee,

. . . to hire ano{n}riȝt . [bl]ancheflur mi suete wiȝt . . . . . . ful iwis 36 . . . . . war heo is (232) [Sidenote: [_leaf 6, col. 2_]] Þine gabbinge deþ me wo; Tel me war my le{m}mon beo. Al wepinge onsuerede heo, 40

[Sidenote: The mother at length tells Floris that Blauncheflur is dead.]

“Sir,” shee seide, “deed{e}.” “deed!” seide he. “Sir,” sche seide, “for sothe, ȝee.” 240 “Allas, when died þ{a}t swete wyȝt?” [Sidenote: [101 _a_]] “Sir, w{i}t{h}ynne þis Fourtenyȝt Þe erth was leide hur aboute, And deed she was for thy loue.” 244

“Sire,” heo seyde, “ded.” “ded!” quad he. “Sire,” heo seyde, “for soþe ȝe, Alas, wenne deide my suete wyȝt?” “Sire,” heo seyde, “wiþ inne þis seueniȝt 44 Þat vrþe hire was leyd aboue, And ded heo is for þine loue.

[Sidenote: Floris swoons.]

Flores, þat was so feire and gent, Sownyd þ{er}e verament. Þe cristen woman began to crye To ih{es}u crist and seynt Marye. 248 Þe king~ and þe queene herde þ{a}t crye; In to þe Chamber þey ronne on hye. And þe Queene herde her byforn{e} On sowne þe Childe þat she had born{e}. 252

Floyres þat was so fayr {and} ge{n}t, He fel iswoue vp on þe paueme{n}t. 48 And þe cristene wi{m}mon go{n} to crie To crist {and} to sey{n}temarie. Þe king & þe quene iherdde þ{a}t cri; In to þe bure þo vrne hy. 52 And þe quene ate frome By wepeþ hire dere sone.

Þe kinges hert was al in care, Þat sawe his son{e} for loue so fare. When he a-wooke and speke moȝt, Sore he wept and sore he syȝt, 256 And seide to his moder ywys, “Lede me þ{er}e þat mayde is.”

{And} þe kinges herte is ful of care Þat he sikþ is sone vor loue so fare. 56 Anon he of swoninge awok {and} speke miste. Sore he wep {and} sore he syȝte, And on his moder he by siþt. “Dame,” he sayde, “led me þar þ{a}t mayde lyþ.” 60

[Sidenote: His mother comes to him, and conducts him to the supposititious tomb.]

Þeder þey him brouȝt on hyȝe; For care and sorow he wold{e} dyȝe. 260 As sone as he to þe graue com, Sone þ{er}e behelde he þen,

Þider heo hine broute wel suþe, Vor care a[n]d sorwe of hire deþe. Ano{n} þ{a}t he to þe burles com, Wel ȝerne he bi-hul þer-on, 64

[Headnote: _Floris reads the inscription on the monument, and swoons._]

[Sidenote: Floris reads the inscription, and then swoons three times.]

And þe letters began to rede, Þat þus speke and þus seide: 264 “Here lytħ swete Blauncheflo{ur}, Þat Florys louyd p{ar}amoure.” Þre sithes Florys sownydde nouth; Ne speke he myȝt not w{i}t{h} mouth. 268 As sone as he awoke and speke myȝt, Sore he wept and sore he syȝt~.

And letteres bigon to rede. Þus spek {and} þus sede Þat þar lay suete blancheflur. [Þat] floyres louede par amur. 68 Þ . . . . swouneþ nouþe [[empty line]] And asone ase he speke myȝte. Sore he wep {and} sore he syȝte, And gon blancheflur bi mene 72 Wit teres riue ase a sc{ur} of r[e]ne.

[Sidenote: Floris weeps and sighs, and laments Blauncheflur’s death.]

“Blauncheflo{ur}!” he seide, “Blauncheflo{ur}!” So swete a þing was neu{er} in boure. 272 Of Blauncheflo{ur} is þat y meene, For she was com{e} of~ good kyn{e}.

“Blancheflur,” he seide, “blancheflur, So sute þing nas ner in bur, [Sidenote: [_leaf 6, back_]] Vor þou were ibore of gode cu{n}ne, 76 Vor in worle nes nere non Þine imake of no wimmon. Inouȝ þou cuþest of clergie And of alle curteysie. 80