Part 14

[Sidenote: Arthur replies that Gawane is gone to seek him.] That I beſt loue, the kny{ch}t I neu{er} ſaw 2324 In nerneß by which that I hyme knew; And ek gawane Is gan hyme for to ſew W{i}t{h} other fourty kny{ch}t{is} In to cumpany.” The lady ſmylit at ther fanteſſy; 2328 The quen thar-w{i}t{h} p{re}ſumyt wel that ſche [Sidenote: The queen asks the lady if she knows where he is.] Knew quhat he was, and ſaid, “madem, If ȝhe Knowith of hyme what that he is, or quhar, We ȝhow beſech til ws for to declar.” 2332 [Sidenote: She replies no, and proposes to return.] “Madem,” q{uod} ſche, “now be the faith that I Aw to the king and yhow, as for no why To court I cam, but of hyme to Inquere; And ſen of hyme I can no tithing{is} here, 2336 Nedlyng{is} to-morn homwart mon I fair.” [Sidenote: Arthur prays her to stay.] “Na,” q{uod} the king, “madem, our ſon It waire; Ȝhe ſal remayne her for the qwenys ſak; Syne ſhal ȝhe of our beſt kny{ch}t{is} tak.” 2340 “S{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “I pray ȝow me excuß, For-quhy to paß nedis me behuß; Nor, ſen I want the kny{ch}t which I have ſo{ch}t, Wtheris w{i}t{h} me to have deſir I no{ch}t, 2344 For I of otheris have that may ſuffice.” Bot ȝhit the king hir prayt on ſich wyß, [Sidenote: She remains till the third day.] That ſche remanit whill the thrid day; Syne tuk hir leif to paſing hom hir way. 2348 [Sidenote: She is sumptuously entertained,] It nedis not the feſting to declar Maid one to hir, nor company nor fare; Sche had no kny{ch}t, ſche had no damyſeill, Nor thei richly rewardit war and well. 2352 [Sidenote: and returns home.] Now goith the lady homwart, and ſche In her entent deſyrus Is to ſee The flour of kny{ch}thed and of chevelry; So was he pryſit and hold to euery wy. 2356

[Headnote: THE LADY AGAIN SENDS FOR LANCELOT.]

++The lady, which one to hir palace come, [Fol. 29b.] [Sidenote: Soon after, she sends for Lancelot,] Bot of ſchort time remanith haith at home When ſche gart bryng, w{i}t{h}outen Recidens, W{i}t{h} grete effere this kny{ch}t to hir p{rese}ns, 2360 And ſaid hyme; “ſ{ir}, ſo mekil have I ſo{ch}t And knowith that be-for I knew no{ch}t, [Sidenote: and proposes to ransom him,] That If yhow lyk I wil yhour Ransone mak.” “Madem, gladly, wil ȝhe wichſauf to tak 2364 Eft{er} that as my powar may atteñ, Or that I may p{ro}wid be ony meñ.” “Now, ſ{ir},” ſho ſaid, “forſut{h} It ſal be so, [Sidenote: on one of three conditions.] Yhe ſal have thre, and cheß yhow on of tho; 2368 And if yhow lykith them for to refuß, I can no mor, but ȝhe ſal me excuß, Yhe ned{is} mot ſuſten yhour aduentur Contynualy In ward for til endur.” 2372 “Madem,” q{uod} he, “and I yhow hartly pray, What that thei ſay[T54] ȝhe wald w{i}c{h}ſauf to ſay?”

[Footnote T54: So MS. We should probably read “bee.”]

[Sidenote: Either he must tell whom he loves,] “[T]he firſt,” q{uod} ſche, “who hath in to the cheñ Of low yhour hart, and if ȝhe may dereñ? 2376 [Sidenote: or declare his name,] The next, yhour nam, the which ȝe ſal not lye? [Sidenote: or say if he expects again to equal his former exploits.] The thrid, if eu{er} ȝhe think of cheualry So mekil worſchip to atten in feild Apone o day in armys wnd{er} ſcheld, 2380 As yat ȝhe dyd the ſamyne day, when ȝhe In red armys was at the aſſemblee?” “Madem,” q{uod} he, “is thar non vther way Me to redem, but only thus to ſay 2384 Of thing{is}, which that Rynyth me to blam, Me to awant my lady or hir name? But If that I moſt ſchawin furth that one, What su{er}te ſchal I have for to gone 2388 At libertee out of this dang{er} free?” “Schir, ſor to dred no myſt{er} is,” q{uod} ſhee; “As I am trew and fa{i}t{h}full woman hold, Ȝhe ſal go fre quhen one of thir is told.” 2392 “Madem, yhour will non vther ways I may, [Sidenote: He refuses to tell his lady’s name,] I mone obey; and to the firſt y ſay, [T55] [I]s, to declar the lady of myne hart, My goſt ſal rather of my breſt aſtart”-- 2396 Whar-by the lady fayndit al for no{ch}t The lowe quhich long hath ben In to h{is} tho{ch}t-- [Sidenote: or his own;] “And of my nam, ſchortly for to ſay, It ſtondith ſo that one no wyß I may. 2400 Bot of the thrid, madem, I se that I [Fol. 30a.] Mon ſay the thing that tuechith velany; [Sidenote: but declares that he trusts to do more than ever before; and requires his liberty.] For ſut{h} it is I traſt, and god before, In feld that I ſal do of armys more 2404 Than eu{er} I did, if I {com}mandit bee.

[Footnote T55: A space is here left for an illuminated letter.]

[Headnote: LANCELOT CLAIMS HIS LIBERTY;]

And now, madem, I have my libertee, For I have ſaid I neu{er} tho{ch}t to ſay.” “Now, ſ{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “when-eu{er} ȝhe wil ye may; 2408 [Sidenote: She begs of him a boon;] Bot o thing Is, I yhow hartly raquer, Sen I have hold yhow apone ſuch maner Not as my fo, that ȝhe vald grant me till.” “Madem,” q{uod} he, “It ſal be as ȝhe will.” 2412 “Now, ſ{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “it is no thing bot ȝhe [Sidenote: that he will remain with her till the day of battle;] Remañ w{i}t{h} ws wn to the aſſemble, And euery thyng that In yhour myſt{er} lyis I ſall gar ordan at yhour awn dewyß; 2416 And of the day I ſhall yow c{er}tefy Of the aſſemble ȝhe ſal not pas therby.” “Madem,” q{uod} he, “It ſal be as yhow liſt.” “Now, ſ{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “and than I hald It beſt, 2420 That ȝhe remañ lyk to the ſamyne dogre As that ȝhe war, yat non ſal wit that ȝhe Deliu{er}it war; and in to ſacret wyß Thus may ȝhe be; and now yhe ſal dewyß 2424 [Sidenote: and inquires what arms he would like to have made for him. He chooses black armour,] What armys that yhow lykyth I gar mak.”

[Headnote: AND ASKS FOR BLACK ARMOUR.]

“Madem,” q{uod} he, “armys al of blak.” W{i}t{h} this, this kny{ch}t is to his chalm{er} goñ; The lady gan ful prewaly diſſpone 2428 For al that longith to the kny{ch}t, in feild; Al blak his horß, his armour, and his ſcheld, [Sidenote: which is provided.] That nedful is, al thing ſche well p{re}widith; And in hir keping thus w{i}t{h} hir he bidith. 2432 Suppos of love ſche takyne hath the charg, [Sidenote: She keeps her love close,] Sche bur It clos, ther-of ſche vas not larg, Bot wyſly ſche abſtenit hir diſſir, For ell{is} quhat, ſche knew, he was afyre; 2436 Thar-for hir wit hir worſchip haith defendit, [Sidenote: being commended for discretion.] For in this world thar was nan mor co{m}mendit, Boith of diſcreccioune and of womanhed, Of gou{er}nans, of nurtur, and of farhed. 2440 This kny{ch}t w{i}t{h} hir thus al this whil mon duell, [Sidenote: The story returns to Arthur--] And furt{h} of arthur ſumthing wil we tell--

[T]hat walkyng vas furt{h} in to his Regiou{n}is, And ſoiornyt in his ceteis and his townis, 2444 As he that had of viſdome ſufficyans. [Fol. 30b.] [Sidenote: who obeys the counsel of Amytans,] He kepit the lore of maiſt{er} amytans In ryghtwyſnes, In feſting and larges, In cheriſing cu{m}pany and hamlynes; 2448 For he was biſſy and was deligent, [Sidenote: and gives away largely;] And largly he iffith, and diſpent Rewardis, boith one to the pur & riche, And holdith feſt throw al the ȝher eliche. 2452

[Headnote: ARTHUR’S LIBERALITY.]

In al the warld paſſing gan his name, He chargit not bot of encreß and fam̅e, And how his puples hart{is} to empleß; Thar gladnes ay was to his hart moſt eß. 2456 He rakith not of riches nor treſſour, Bot to diſpend one worſchip & honour; He ifith riches, he ifith lond and rent, He cherißyth them w{i}t{h} word{is} eloquent, 2460 [Sidenote: and thus gains his people’s love.] So that thei can them vtraly p{ro}pone In his ſ{er}uice thar lyves to diſpone: So gladith them̅e his homely {con}tynans, His cheriſyng, his wordis of pleſans, 2464 His cumpany, and ek his mery chere, His gret rewardis, and his ift{is} ſere. Thus hath the king non vthir beſynes Bot cheriſing of kny{ch}t{is} and largeß, 2468 To mak hyme-ſelf of honour be {com}mend; And thus the ȝher he drywith to the ende.

EXPLICIT SECUNDA P{AR}S, INCIPIT T{ER}CIA P{AR}S.

[Headnote: THE TRUCE DRAWS TO A CLOSE.]

[BOOK III.]

[Sidenote: The sun ascends in his altitude.] ++The long dirk paſag[T56] of the vint{er}, & the ly{ch}t Of phebus {com}prochit w{i}t{h} his my{ch}t; 2472 The which, aſcending In his altitud, Awodith saturñ w{i}t{h} his ſtormys Rude; [Sidenote: The soft dew falls down from heaven.] The ſoft dew one fra the hewyne doune valis[T57] Apone the erth, one hill{is} and on valis, 2476 And throw the ſobir & the mwſt hwmour{is} Vp nuriſit ar the erbis, and in the flouris [Sidenote: Nature decks the earth with various hues.] Natur the erth of many diu{er}ß hew Our-fret, and cled w{i}t{h} the tendir new. 2480 The birdis may them hiding in the grawis [Fol. 31a.] [Sidenote: The birds may hide them from the hawk in the groves, and Scilla may ascend in the air.] Wel frome the halk, that oft ther lyf berevis; And scilla hie aſcending in the ayre, That euery vight may heryng hir declar 2484 Of the ſeſſone the paſſing luſtynes. This was the tyme that phebus gan hy{m} dreß In to the rame, and haith his courß bygown, Or that the trewis and the ȝher vas Rown, 2488 [Sidenote: The time of combat between Galiot and the king drew near.] Which was y-ſet of galiot and the king Of thar aſſemble, and of thar meting. Arthur haith a xv dais before Aſſemblit al his barnag and more 2492 That weryng wnd{er} his ſubieccioune, Or louith hyme, or longith to his crown; And haith his Iornay tone, w{i}t{h}outen let, [Sidenote: Arthur goes to the appointed place.] On to the place the wich that was y-ſet, 2496 Whar he hath found befor hyme mony o kny{ch}t That cu{m}myng war w{i}t{h} al thar holl my{ch}t, Al enarmyt both w{i}t{h} ſpere & ſcheld, And ful of lug{is} plantith haith the feld, 2500 Hyme In the wer for to ſupport and ſerf At al ther my{ch}t, his thonk for to diſſerf.

[Footnote T56: So MS. Should we read “pasith”?] [Footnote T57: So MS. It should be “falis.”]

[Headnote: GAWANE REJOINS ARTHUR.]

And gawan, which was in the ſeking ȝhit Of the gud kny{ch}t, of hyme haith got no wit, 2504 [Sidenote: Gawane remembers the day,] Remembrith hyme apone the king{is} day, And to his falowis one this wys can ſay: “To ȝhow is knowin the mat{er}, in what wyß How that the king hath w{i}t{h} his e{n}nemys 2508 A c{er}tan day, that now comprochit nere, And one to ws war hewynes to here That he var in to p{er}ell or in to dreid, And we away and he of ws haith neid; 2512 For we but hyme no thing may eſchef, And he but ws in honore well may lef; For, be he loſt, we may no thing w{i}t{h}ſtond, Our-ſelf, our honore we tyne, & ek o{ur} lond. 2516 [Sidenote: and proposes to his fellows to go to help the king.] Tharfor, I red we pas on to the king, Suppos our oth It hurt in to ſum thing, And in the feld w{i}t{h} hyme for til endur, Of lyf or deth and tak our aduentur.” 2520 Thar-to thei ar conſentit eu{er}ilkon, And but dulay the have thar Iorney toñe. When that the king them ſaw, in h{is} entent [Fol. 31b.] [Sidenote: Arthur is well content at their coming,] Was of thar com Right wond{er} well {con}tent; 2524 For he p{re}ſwmyt no thing that thei wold [Sidenote: not expecting them.] Have cu{m}myne, but one furt{h} to y{er} ſeking hold. And thus the kinghis oſt aſſemblit has Aȝane the tyme, aȝaine the day that vas 2528 Y-ſtatut and ordanit for to bee, And euery thing hath ſet in the dogre.

[Headnote: THE TRUCE ENDS.]

[A]nd galiot, that haith no thing forȝhet The termys quhich that he befor had set, 2532 [Sidenote: Galiot also assembles his folk,] Aſſemblit has, apone his best maner, His folk, and al his other thing{is} ſere, That to o weryour longith to p{ro}uid, And is y-come apone the tothir ſyde. 2536 [Sidenote: doubling his army and artillery;] Whar he befor was one than vas he two, And al his vthir artilȝery also He dowblith hath, that m{er}well was to ſeñ; [Sidenote: and pitches on the green by the river.] And by the rewere ly{ch}tit one the greñ, 2540 And ſtronghar thane ony wallit toune His oſt y-bout ycloſit in Randoune. Thus war thei cu{m}myne apone ather ſyd [Sidenote: Before the truce is ended,] Be-for the tyme, them-ſelf for to p{ro}wid. 2544 Or that the trewis was complet & rwn, Men my{ch}t have ſen one euery ſid begwn [Sidenote: many combats are seen between lusty men;] Many a fair and knychtly Iup{er}ty Of luſty me{n}, and of ȝong chevalry, 2548 Diſyrus In to armys for to pruf; Sum for wynyng, ſu{m} cauſith vas for luf, Sum In to worſchip to be exaltate, Sum cauſit was of wordis he & hate, 2552 That lykit not ydill for to ben; [Sidenote: a hundred pair at once.] A hund{er}eth pair at onis one the gren. Thir luſty folk thus can thar tyme diſpend, Whill that the trewis goith to the ende. 2556 [Sidenote: The truce past,] The trewis paſt, the day is cu{m}myne onoñe, One euery ſyd the can them to diſpone; And thai that war moſt ſacret & moſt dere [Sidenote: Galiot’s friends inquire who shall fight on his side on the morrow.] To galiot, at hyme the can enquere, 2560 “Who ſal aſſemble one yhour ſyd to-morñe? To-ny{ch}t the trewis to the end is worne.” He anſuerit, “As yhit one to this were I ame awyſit I wil none armys bere, 2564 Bot If It ſtond of more Neceſſitee; [Fol. 32a.] Nor to the feld will pas, bot for to ſee Yhone kny{ch}t, the which that berith ſich o fame.” [Sidenote: He commands the first-conquest king to take 30,000 men.] Than clepit he the {con}quest king be name, 2568 And hyme {com}mandit xxx thouſand tak Aȝaine the morne, and for the feld hyme mak. And gawane haith, apone the toy{er} syde, Conſulit his Eme he ſchuld for them p{ro}wid, 2572 And that he ſchuld none armys to hyme tak Whill[T58] galiot will for the feld hyme mak. “I grant,” q{uo}d [he [T59]], “wharfor ȝhe mone diſpone [Sidenote: Gawane leads Arthur’s forces.] Yhow to the feld w{i}t{h} al my folk to-morne, 2576 And thinkith in yhour manhed and curage For to reciſt ȝhone folk{is} gret owtrag.”

[Footnote T58: MS. “Wihill.”] [Footnote T59: Omitted in MS.]

[Sidenote: The day comes.] [T]he ny{ch}t is gone, vp goith the morow gray, The bry{ch}t ſone ſo cherith al the day: 2580 The kny{ch}t{is} gone to armys than, in haſt; One goith the ſcheild{is} and the helmys laſt; [Sidenote: Arthur’s men cross the ford.] Arthuris oſt out our the furrde thai ryd. And thai agane, apone the toy{er} syd, 2584 [Sidenote: Galiot’s men assemble in a vale.] Aſſemblit ar apone o luſty greyne, In to o waill, whar ſone thar my{ch}t be ſeyne Of kny{ch}t{is} to-gedder many o pair In to the feld aſſemblyng her & thair, 2588 And ſted{is} which that haith thar maſt{er} lorne;[T60] The kny{ch}t{is} war done to the erth doune borne.

[Footnote T60: MS. has “borne.” We should read “lorne,” as in line 2092.]

[Headnote: DEEDS OF SIR ESQUYRIS.]

[Sidenote: Sir Esquyris, a manly knight,] S{ir} eſquyris, which was o manly kny{ch}t In to hyme-ſelf, and hardy vas & wy{ch}t; 2592 And in till armys gretly for to pryß, Ȝhit he was pure, he prewit wel oft-ſyß; [Sidenote: at that time of Galiot’s company,] And that tyme was he of the cu{m}panee Of galiot, bot eft{er}wart was hee 2596 W{i}t{h} arthur; and that day In to the feild He come, al armyt boith w{i}t{h} ſpere and ſcheld, W{i}t{h} ferß deſir, as he that had na dout, [Sidenote: attacks a band,] And is aſſemblit ewyne apone a rowt; 2600 His ſpere is gone, the kny{ch}t goith to the erd, And out onon he pullith haith o ſwerd; [Sidenote: and proves his manhood.] That day In armys p{re}wit he ry{ch}t well His ſtrenth, his manhed; arthuris folk thai fell. 2604

[Headnote: DEEDS OF SIR GWYANS.]

[Sidenote: Then Galys Gwynans, brother of Ywan,] Than galys gwynans, w{i}t{h} o manly hart, Which broy{er} was of ywane the baſtart, He cu{m}myne Is onone one to the ſtour For {con}quering In armys of honour, 2608 [Fol. 32b.] [Sidenote: encounters him, and horse and man go all four to earth.] And cownt{er}it w{i}t{h} eſquyris hath so That[T61] horß and man, al four, to erth thai go; And ſtill o quhill lying at the ground. W{i}t{h} that o p{ar}t of arthur{is} folk thei found 2612 [Sidenote: Arthur’s folk rescue Gwyans;] Till gwyans, and haith hyme ſone reſkewit. Aȝanis them til eſquyris thei ſewyt [Sidenote: thirty knights of Galiot’s arrive, and rescue Esquyris.] Of galiot{is} well xxx^ti kny{ch}t{is} & mo; Gwyans goith done, and vthir vij alſo, 2616 The wich war tone & eſqwyris relewit. [Sidenote: Next Ywan comes to the _mêlée_.] Than ywane the anterus, aggrewit, W{i}t{h} kyn{n}iſme{n} one to the melle ſo{ch}t. The hardy kny{ch}t{is}, that one thar worſchip tho{ch}t, 2620 Cownt{er}it them In myddis of the ſcheld, Whar many o kny{ch}t was born doñ i{n} the feld; [Sidenote: Galiot’s men give way.] Bot thei wich ware on galiot{is} p{ar}t, So wnd{er}takand nor of ſo hardy hart 2624 Ne ware thei not as was i{n} ye {con}trare. [Sidenote: Gwyans is again rescued.] S{ir} galys gwyans was reſqwyt thare W{i}t{h} his falowis, and eſqwyris don bore. Thar al the batell{is} cam, w{i}t{h}outen more, 2628 On ather p{ar}t, and is aſſemblit ſo [Sidenote: 50,000 men are assembled.] Whar fyfty thouſand war thei, & no mo. [Sidenote: 30,000 on Galiot’s side approach the river,] In o plane beſyd the gret Riwere Xxx thouſand one galiot{is} half thei vare; 2632 [Sidenote: and 10,000 on Arthur’s.] Of arthuris x thouſand and no mo Thei ware, and ȝhit thai {con}tenit them ſo And in the feld ſo manly haith borñ, That of thar fois haith the feld forſworñ. 2636

[Footnote T61: MS. has “than.”]

[Headnote: SIR GAWANE’S INTREPIDITY.]