3 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015 https://archive.org/details/lancelotoflaikOOskea %mitls t fff tl u jfailt: A SCOTTISH METRICAL ROMANCE, (ABOUT 1490-1500 A.D.) RE-EDITED FROM A MANUSCRIPT IN THE CAMBRIDGE UNIYERSITY LIBRARY WITH AN INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND GLOSSARIAL INDEX, BOSTON COl • !E LIBRARY CHESTNUT HILL, MASS. BY THE REV. W. W. SKEAT, M.A., LATE FELLOW OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE ; AND TRANSLATOR OF THE SONOS ANt> BALLADS OF UHLAND. LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, BY TRUBNER & CO., 60 , PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLXY. fTtnn ■A*- y\*> % U 6 HERTFORD : Printed by Stephen Austin. PREFACE. I.— DESCRIPTION OF THE MS., ETC. A former edition of the present poem was printed for the Maitland Club, in 1839, and edited by Joseph Stevenson, Esq. It has saved me all trouble of transcription, but by no means, I am sorry to say, that of correction. Those who possess the older edition will readily perceive that it differs from the present one very frequently indeed, and that the variations are often such as considerably to affect the sense. Many of the errors in it (such as casualty ce for casualytce , yrone for yone, reprent for repent ), are clearly typographical, but there are others which would incline me to believe that the transcription was too hastily executed ; several passages being quite meaningless. Near the conclusion of Mr. Stevenson’s preface we read : “ The pieces which have been selected for the present volume 1 are printed with such errors of transcrip- tion as have crept into them by the carelessness of the scribe a statement which certainly implies that there was no intention on his part of departing from the original. Yet that he some- times unconsciously did so to such an extent as considerably 1 The volume contains other poems besides “ Sir Lancelot.” VI PREFACE. to alter (or destroy) the sense, the reader may readily judge from a few examples : — LINE. EDITION OF 1839. TRUE READING OF THE MS. 26. fatil {fatal). fatit {fated.) 285. unarmyt {unarmed), enarmyt {fully armed). 682. can here, cam nere. 700. rendit {rent). vondit ( wounded ), 764. refuse {refusal ?), reprefe {defeat). 861. felith {feeleth), fetith {setteth). 1054. vyt (?), rycht. 1084. speiris. spuris. 1455. cumyng {coming), cunyng {skill). 1621. he war, be war {beicare). 1641. promyft, punyft {punish). 2010. ane desyne, medysyne. 2092. bom, lorn {lost). 2114. havin (r), harm. 2142. Hymene (!), hyme {him). 2219. such, furth {forth). 2245. al so y-vroght, al foly vroght. 2279. chichingis (!), thithingis {tidings). 2446. love, lore {teaching). Etc. Several omissions also occur, as, c.g., of the word “oft’” in 1. 7, of the word “tressore” in 1. 1715, and of four whole lines at a time in two instances; viz., lines 1191-4, and 2877-80. It will be found, in fact, that the former text can seldom be safely quoted for the purposes of philology ; and I can- not but think Mr. Stevenson’s claim of being accurate to be especially unfortunate ; and the more so, because the genuine text is much simpler and more intelligible than the one which he has given. The original MS. is to be found in the Cambridge University Library, marked kk. 1. 5. It formerly formed part of a thick volume, labelled “Tracts;” but these are now being separated, for greater convenience, into several volumes. The MS. of “Lancelot” has little to do with any of the rest as regards PREFACE. Vll its subject, but several other pieces are in the same hand- writing ; and, at the end of one of them, an abstract of Solo- mon’s proverbs, occur the words, “ Expliciunt Dicta Salamonis, per manum V. de F.” This hand-writing, though close, is very regular, and my own impression certainly is that the scribe has almost always succeeded in preserving the sense of the poem, though he has made sad havoc of the dialectal forms, as will he shewn presently. The present text is as close a fac-simile of the MS. as can be represented by printed letters, every peculiarity being preserved as far as practicable. The sole points of difference are the fol- lowing : — 1. In the MS. the headings “ Prologue,” “ Book I.,” etc., do not occur. 2. The lines do not always begin (in the MS.) with a capital letter. 3. The letters italicized are (in the MS.) represented by signs of contraction. One source of difficulty is the flourish over a word, used sometimes as a contraction for m or n. I have expanded this flourish as an m or n wherever sucli letter is manifestly required ; but it also occurs where it is best to attach to it no value. In such instances, the flourish occurs most frequently over the last word in a line, and (except very rarely), only over words which have an m or n in them. It would thus seem that their presence is due to the fact of the scribe wanting employment for his pen after the line had been written, and that the flourish therefore appears over certain words, not so much because the n is wanting in them, as because it is there already. Such words have a special attrac- tion for the wandering pen. Still, in order that the reader may know wherever such flourishes occur, they have all been noted down; thus, in 1. 46, the stroke over the e in “gren” means that a long flourish occurs drawn over the whole word, and the reader who wishes to expand this word into “gren c” Till PREFACE. or “grenw” may easily do it for himself, though he should observe that the most usual form of the word is simply “ gren,” as in lines 1000, 1305. 4. I am responsible for all hyphens, and letters and words between square brackets; thus, “ with-outen” is in the MS. “with outen;” and “ knych[t]ly” is written “ knychly.” Whenever a line begins with a capital letter included between two brackets, the original has a blank space left, evidently intended for an illuminated letter. Wherever illuminated letters actually occur in the MS., they are denoted in this edition by large capitals. '5. We find, in the MS., both the long and the twisted s (f and s). These have been noted down as they occur, though I do not observe any law for their use. The letter “ft” has been adopted as closely resembling a symbol in the MS., which apparently has the force of double s, and is not unlike the “ sz ” used in modern German handwriting. It might be conve- niently denoted by ss or sz when the type “ft” is not to be had. 6. The MS. is not punctuated. The punctuation in the pre- sent edition is mostly new ; and many passages, which in the former edition were meaningless, have thus been rendered easily intelligible. I am also responsible for the headiugs of the pages, the abstract at the sides of them, the numbering of the folios in the margin, the notes, and the glossary ; which I hope may be found useful. The greatest care has been taken to make the text accurate, the proof-sheets having been compared with the MS. three times throughout. II.— DESCRIPTION OF THE POEM. The poem itself is a loose paraphrase of not quite fourteen folios of the first of the three volumes of the French Romance PREFACE. IX of Lancelot dn Lac, if we refer to it as reprinted at Paris in 1513, in three volumes, thin folio, double-columned. 1 The English poet has set aside the French Prologue, and written a new one of his own, and has afterwards translated and amplified that portion of the Romance which narrates the invasion of Arthur’s territory by “ le roy de oultre les marches, nomme galehault” (in the English G allot), and the defeat of the said king by Arthur and his allies. The Prologue (lines 1-334) tells how the author undertook to write a romance to please his lady-love ; and how, after deciding to take as his subject the story of Lancelot as told in the French Romance, yet finding himself unequal to a close translation of the whole of it, he determined to give a para- phrase of a portion of it only. After giving us a brief sum- mary of the earlier part by the simple process of telling us what he will not relate, he proposes to begin the story at the point where Lancelot has been made prisoner by the lady of Melyhalt, and to take as his subject the wars between Arthur and Galiot, and the distinction which Lancelot won in them ; and afterwards to tell how Lancelot made peace between these two kings, and was consequently rewarded by Venus, who “makith hyme his ladice grace to have” ( 1 . 311 ). The latter part of the poem, it may be observed, has not come down to us. The author then concludes his Prologue by be- 1 “As to the Romance of Sir Lancelot, our author [Gower], among others on the subject, refers to a volume of which he was the hero ; perhaps that of Robert de Borron, altered soon afterwards by Godcfroy de Leigny, under the title of Le Roman de la Charrette , and printed, with additions, at Paris by Antony Verard, in the year 1494. For if thou wilt the hokes rede Of Launcelot and other mo, Then might thou seen how it was tho Of armes,” etc. (Gow'er: Confessio Amantis, Book iv.) Quoted from Warton’s English Poetry, vol. ii., p. 234, ed. 1840 I quote this as bearing somewhat on the subject, though it should be observed that Le Roman de la Charrette is not tho same with Lancelot du Lac , but only a romance of the same f lass. X PREFACE. seeching to have the support of a very celebrated poet, whose name he will not mention, but will only say that “ Ye fresch enditing of his laiting toung Out throuch yis world so wid is yroung,” etc. 1 (1. 328.) The First Book introduces us to king Arthur at Carlisle . 2 The king is visited by dreams, which he imagines to forbode misfortune ; he therefore convokes all his clerks, and inquires of them the meaning of the dreams, proposing to hang them in the event of their refusal. Thus strongly urged, they tell him that those on whom he most relies will fail him at his need ; and when he further inquires if this evil fate can he averted, they answer him very obscurely that it can only he remedied by help of the water-lion, the leech, and the flower ; a reply which the king evidently regards as unsatisfactory. Soon after an aged knight, fully armed, enters the palace, with a message from king Galiot, requiring him to give “tribute and rent.” Arthur at once refuses, somewhat to the astonishment of the knight, who is amazed at his hardihood. Next arrives a message from the lady of Melyhalt, informing Arthur of the actual presence of Galiot’s army. We are then momentarily introduced to Lancelot, who is pining miserably in the lady’s custody. Next follows a description of Galiot’ s army, at sight of the approach of which king Arthur and his “ niece,” Sir Gawain, confer as to the best means of resistance. In the ensuing battle Sir Gawain greatly distinguishes himself, but is at last severely wounded. Sir Lancelot, coming to hear of Sir Gawain’ s deeds, craves leave of the lady to be allowed to take part in the next conflict, who grants him his boon on condition that he promise to return to his prison. She then provides for him a red courser, and a complete suit of red armour, in which guise he appears at the second battle, and is the “ head and 1 He does not necessarily imply that the poet invoked was still alive ; and we might almost suppose Petrarch to be meant, who was more proud of his Latin poem called “Africa” than of his odes and sonnets. See Hallam’s Literary History (4 vols.), vol. i., p. 85. 2 But the French has “ Cardueil.” See 1. 2153. PREFACE. XI comfort of tlie field the queen and Sir Gawain beholding his exploits from a tower. The result of the battle convinces Galiot that Arthur is not strong enough at present to resist him sufficiently, and that he thus runs the risk of a too easy, and therefore dishonorable, conquest ; for which excellent reason he grants Arthur a twelvemonth’s truce, with a promise to return again in increased force at the expiration of that period. Sir Lancelot returns to Melyhalt according to promise, and the lady is well pleased at bearing the reports of his famous deeds, and visits him when asleep, out of curiosity to observe his appearance after the fight. In the Second Book the story makes but little progress, nearly the whole of it being occupied by a long lecture or sermon delivered to Arthur by a u master,” named Amy tans, on the duties of a king ; the chief one being that a king shoidd give presents to everybody — a duty which is insisted on with laborious tediousness. Lines 1320-2130 are almost entirely occupied with this subject, and will be found to be the driest part of the whole narrative. In the course of his lecture, Amytans explains at great length the obscure prophecy men- tioned above, shewing that by the water- lion is meant God the Father, by the leech God the Son, and by the flower the Virgin Mary. Though the outline of a similar lecture exists in the old French text, there would seem to be a special reason for the length to which it is here expanded. Some lines certainly seem to hint at events passing in Scotland at the time when the poem was composed. Thus, “ kings may be excused when of tender age” (1. 1658) ; but when they come to years of discretion should punish those that have wrested the law. Again we find (1. 1920) strong warnings against flatterers, concluding (1. 1940), with the expression, (< Vo to the realme that havith sich o chans !” Such hints may remind us of the long minorities of James II. and James III. ; and, whilst speaking on this subject, I may XII PREFACE. note a somewhat remarkable coincidence. When king Arthur, as related in Book I., asks the meaning of his dream, he is told that it signifies that “ they in whom he most trusts will fail him” (1. 499); and he afterwards laments (1. 1151) how his “men fail him at need.” Now when we read that a story is current of a prophetess having told James III. that he was destined to “fall by the hands of his own kindred,” 1 and that that monarch was in the habit of consulting astrologers 2, (compare 1. 432) as to the dangers that threatened him, it seems quite possible that the poem was really composed about the year 1478 ; and this supposition is supported by the fact that the handwriting of the present MS. copy belongs to the very end of the fifteenth century. Towards the end of the Second Book, we learn that the twelvemonths’ truce draws near its end, and that Sir Lancelot again obtains permission from the lady to be present in the approaching combat, choosing this time to be arrayed in “armys al of blak” (1. 2426). In the Third Book Galiot returns to the fight with a host thrice as large as his former one. As before, Gawain distin- guishes himself in the first encounter, but is at length so “ evil wounded” that he was “the worse thereof evermore” (1. 2706). In the second combat, the black knight utterly eclipses the red knight, and the last thousand (extant) lines of the poem are almost wholly occupied with a description of his wonderful prowess. At the point where the extant portion of the poem ceases, the author would appear to be just warming with his subject, and to be preparing for greater efforts. In continuance of the outline of the story, I may add that the French text 3 informs us how, after being several times 1 Tytler’s History of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1841), vol. iv., p. 216. 2 The French text does not say anything about “astronomy.” We may especially note the following lines, as not being in the French, viz., lines 1473-1496, 1523-1542, 1599-1644, 1658-1680, and the long passage 1752-1998. 3 See Appendix. PREFACE. Xlll remounted by Galiot, and finding himself with every fresh horse quite as fresh as he was at the beginning of the battle, the black knight attempted, as evening fell, to make his way back to Melyhalt secretly. Galiot, however, having determined not to lose sight of him, follows and confronts him, and earnestly requests his company to supper, and that he will lodge in his tent that night. After a little hesitation, Lancelot accepts the invitation, and Galiot entertains him with the utmost respect and flattery, providing for him a most excellent supper and a bed larger than any of the rest. Lancelot, though naturally somewhat wearied, passes a rather restless night, and talks a good deal in his sleep. Next day Galiot prays him to stay longer, and he consents on condition that a boon may be granted him, which is immediately acceded to without further question. He then requests Galiot to submit himself to Arthur, and to confess himself vanquished, a demand which so amazes that chieftain that he at first refuses, yet succeeds in persuading Lancelot to remain with him a little longer. The day after, preparations are made for another battle, on which occasion Lancelot wears Galiot’s armour, and is at first mistaken for him, till Sir Gawan’s acute vision detects that the armour really encases the black knight. As Lancelot now fights on Galiot’s side, it may easily be imagined how utter and complete is the defeat of Arthur’s army, which was before victorious owing to his aid only ; and we are told that Arthur is ready to kill himself out of pure grief and chagrin, whilst Sir Gawain swoons so repeatedly, for the same reason, as to cause the most serious fears to be entertained for his life. At this sorrowful juncture Lancelot again claims his boon of Galiot, who, in the very moment of victory, determines at last to grant it, and most humbly sues for mercy at the hands of Arthur, to that king’s most intense astonishment. By this very unexpected turn of afiairs, the scene of dolour is changed to one of unalloyed joy, and peace is immediately agreed upon, to the satisfaction of all X1Y PREFACE. but some true-bred warriors, wbo preferred a battle to a peace under all circumstances. Not long after, Galiot discovers Lan- celot with eyes red and swollen with mucb weeping, and endea- vours to ascertain the reason of bis grief, but witb small success. After endeavouring to comfort Lancelot as mucb as possible, Galiot goes to visit king Arthur, and a ratber long conference takes place between tbem as they stand at Sir Gawain’ s bedside, the queen being also present. In the course of it, Galiot asks Arthur what price be would pay to have the black knight’s perpetual friendship ; to which Arthur replies, he would gladly share with him half of everything that he possessed, saving only queen Guinevere. The question is then put to Gawain, who replies that, if only his health might be restored, he would wish to be the most beautiful woman in the world, so as to be always beloved by the knight. Next it is put to Guinevere, who remarks that Sir Gawain has anticipated all that a lady could possibly wish, an answer which is received with much laughter. Lastly, Arthur puts the question to Galiot himself, who declares that he would willingly, for the black knight’s sake, suffer that all his honour should be turned into shame, whereat Sir Gawain allows himself to be outbidden. The queen then obtains a brief private conference with Galiot, and prays him to obtain for her an interview with the black knight, who promises to do what he can to that end. He accordingly sounds the black knight upon the subject, and, finding him entirely of the same mind, does all he can to promote their acquaintance, and is at last only too successful ; and at this point we may suppose the Scottish Romance to have stopped, if indeed it was ever completed. III.— THE DIALECT OE THE POEM. In coming to discuss the dialect, we find everywhere the utmost confusion . 1 Certain errors of transcription soon shew 1 For many valuable remarks upon the dialect of the poem I am indebted to Mr. R. Morris. PREFACE. XV that the scribe had before his eyes an older copy, which he mis-read. Thus, in 1. 433, we find “ set,” where the older copy must have had “fet,” and which he must have mis-read as “ fet and again, in lines 2865, 2883, he has, by a similar confusion between “f” and “f,” written “firft” instead of “fift.” It is sufficiently obvious that the older copy was written in the Lowland Scottish dialect (the whole tone of the poem going to prove this), as shewn by the use of cli for gh, as in bricht for bright ; by the occurrence of plurals in -is, of verbal preterites and passive participles in -it, and of words peculiarly Scottish, such as syne (afterwards), anerly (only), laif (remainder), oft-syss (oft-times), etc. But, on the other hand, it soon becomes evident that the copyist had no great regard for pure dialect, and continually introduces Southern and Midland forms, mixing them together in the most undiscerning and unskilful manner. We find, for example, in line 1765, “B eith larg and ikis frely of thi thing,” the Scottish form iffis (give) and the Southern beith in close conjunction; and we find no less than six or seven forms of the plural of the past tense of the verb “to be as, for example, war (3136), veir (818), ware (825), waren (3301), veryng (2971), waryng (443), etc. A few instances will at once prove and illustrate the above statements. 1. The broad Northumbrian forms a, ane, baith,fra , ga, haili , hame, knaw, law, sa, wat, although occasionally retained, are also at times changed into o, one, boith,fro, go, holl, home, know , low, so, and wot. Thus, at the end of 1. 3246, we find haili, which could not have been altered without destroying the rime ; but in 1. 3078, we find it changed, in the middle of the line, into holl. In 1. 3406, we find sa, but only three lines further on we find so twice. So, too, we not only find tane (taken), gais (goes), but also the forms tone and goft. See lines 1071, 1073. XVI PREFACE. 2. The true plural form of the verb is shewn by lines 203, 204, “Of quhois fame and worschipful dedis Clerkis into diuerft bukis redis ,” where alteration would have ruined the rime utterly; and the same termination (-is) is correctly used in the imperative mood, as, “ fo giffis ws delay” (1. 463) ; “ And of thi wordis beis trew and stable” (1. 1671) ; but the termination -ith is continually finding its way into the poem, to its great detriment, even as early as in the fourth line, “ Uprisith arly in his fyre chare ;” and in the imperative mood also, as, “ Remembrith now it stondith one the poynt” (1. 797). The worst point of all, however, is this — that, not content with changing -is into -ith in the 3rd person singular, the scribe must needs do so even in the 2nd person, thus producing words which truly belong to no dialect whatever. Observe the following lines : — “ 0 woful wrech, that levis in to were ! To schew the thus the god of loue me sent, That of thi seruice no thing is content, For in his court yhoue lewith in disspar, And vilfully sustenis al thi care, And schapith no thinge of thine awn remede, Bot clepith ay and cry ith apone dede,” etc. (11. 84-90). Here levis is altered into lewith , not only unnecessarily, but wrongly. For similar mistakes, see 11. 1019, 1369, 1384, 2203. For examples of correct usage, see 11. 1024, 1337, 1796, 2200, 2201. 3. But the terminations which are used in the most confused manner of all are -en, -yne, and -ing or -yng. Thus we find the non-Scottish infinitives, telen (494), walkin (1239), mahine (191) ; the constant substitution of -ing for -and in the present PREFACE. XVII participle; 1 a confusion between tlie past participial ending - me (more correctly - en ), and the present ending -and, thus pro- ducing such forms as thinkine (34), and besichyne (418) ; and also a confusion between -ing and the past participial ending -en, as fundyng for f unden (465), fallyng for fallen (1217, 1322, 3267)? swellyng for swollen (1222), and holding for halden (2259). We even find -ing in the infinitive mood, as in aivysing (424), viting (to know, 410), singling (1326), ivarnnyng (1035), passing (2148), j chewing (2736), etc. ; and, lastly, it occurs in the plural of the indicative present, instead of the Midland -en; as in passing (1166), biding (2670), and levyng (3304). It may here be remarked, however, that the frequent occur- rence of non-Scottish infinitives must not be altogether attri- buted to the copyist, but are probably due in part to the author; for in such lines as “ That if yon knycht wil walkin, and persaif ” (1. 1239), the termination -in is required to complete the rhythm of the line. In the same way we may perhaps account for the presence of the prefix i-, as in the line “Quharwith that al the gardinge was I-clede” (1. 50). This prefix seldom occurs in Scottish, and is, indeed, not very common in the present poem ; yet we may safely conclude, upon the whole, that the dialect in which the poem was written was impure at the first, and has been made more so by the copyist. We may easily suppose that several Southern forms of words are due to the author’s familiarity with Chaucer’s poems, as evinced by the similarity of the rhythm to Chaucer’s, and by the close resemblance of several passages. Compare, for instance, the first seventy lines of the Prologue with the opening passages of ‘‘The Flower and the Leaf,” and “The Complaint of the Black Knight.” 1 We find the true forms occasionally, as obeismd (641 ), pies and (1731), thinkand (2173), prekand (3089), and fechtand (3127). Compare the form seruand (122). b XV111 PREFACE. 4. We find not only the Northumbrian forms sail and suld, hut also shall, shalt, and shuld . 5. As regards pronouns, we find the Scottish scho (she) in 1. 1169 ; but the usual form is sc he. We find, too, not only the broad forms thai, thair , thaim , but also thei (sometimes the), ther , and them. As examples of forms of the relative pronoun, we may quote ivho, quho, ivhois, quhois (whose), quhom , qwhome (whom), quhat, qwhat (what), and whilk, quhilk, quhich, quich, wich (which). Wick is used instead of ivho (1. 387), and we also find the ivich, or the ivich that similarly employed. The nomina- tive who does not perhaps occur as a simple relative, but has the force of whoso, or he who, as, e.g., in 1. 1102 ; or else it is used interrogatively, as in 1. 1172. 6. Many other peculiarities occur, which it were tedious to discuss fully. It may suffice, perhaps, to note briefly these following. We find both the soft sound ch, as in ivich, sich, and the hard sound k, as in wliilh , reke (reach), streke (stretch), etc. ; which are the true Northern forms. Mo is used as well as more. Tlio occurs for then in 1. 3184 ; and for the in 1. 247. At occurs as well as that ; atte as well as at the. The short forms ma (make), ta (take), sent (sendeth), stant (standeth), are sometimes found; the two former being North- umbrian. Has is used twice as a plural verb (11. 481, 496). )ha (yes) occurs in 1. 2843 ; but we generally meet with )his or yis ; with reference to which Mr. Morris writes “ The latter term was not much in favour with the people of the North. Even now yes sounds offensive to a Lancashire man. ‘ Hoo cou’d naw opp’n hur meawth t’ sey eigh (yea) or noiv (no) ; boh simpurt on sed iss; th* dickons iss hur on him too. — Tim Bobbin The changes introduced by the transcriber, and the deviations from his Scotch copj^ must have been equally offen- sive and displeasing to Scotchmen who attempted to read this PREFACE. xix version of their heroic countryman’s deeds in the lisping 1 dia- lect of the South.” As regards the vocabulary, we find that some Northumbrian terms have been employed, but others thrown aside. Thus, while we find the Northumbrian words thir (these), traist (trust), newis (neives, fists), radour (fear), etc., we do not, on the other hand, meet with the proper Scottish word mirk , but observe it to be supplanted by dirk (1. 2471). So, again, eke is used in the sense of also, instead of being a verb, as usual in Northern works. We may note, too, the occurrence of frome as well as fra , and the curious form thyne-furth (thenceforth) in 1. 2196. In a few words ending in -ll, the plural is indicated by a stroke drawn through the double letter ; as in perillis , sadillis , etc. ; and even the word ellis (else) is thus abbreviated. The spelling is very various. We find even four forms of one word, as cusynace , cusynece , cusynes, cwsynes; and, as examples of eccentric spelling, may be quoted qsquyaris (squires, 1. 3204), whilst in 1. 3221 we find sqwar . Both in the marginal abstract and in the notes I have chiefly aimed at removing minor difficulties by explaining sentences of which the construction is peculiar, and words which are dis- guised by the spelling. For the explanation of more uncommon words, recourse should be had to the Glossarial Index. 1 This is said with reference to the substitution of -ilh for -is. APPENDIX. EXTRACTS FROM THE FREXCH ROMANCE OF “LANCELOT ETJ LAC.” As it seems impossible to do justice to tbe story of Lancelot without giving due attention to tbe famous French Romance, and since a portion of the French text is really necessary to complete even that fragment of it which the Scottish author proposed to write, the following extracts have been made with the view of shewing (1) the general outline of the earlier part of the story, (2) the method in which the Scottish author has expanded or altered his original, and (3) the completion of the story of the wars between Arthur and Galiot. I. Headings of the chapters of the French Romance, from its commencement to the end of the wars with Galiot. [The commas are inserted by the present editor, and the expansions marked by italics.] Cy commence la table du premier volume de la table rorade lancelot du lac. Comment apres la mort de vterpan dragon roy du ciaudas, king of rovaulme de logres, & apres la mort aramon, roy de la and C king ^B^rt P e ^ e bretaigne, le roy ciaudas de la terre Descosse mena of their lands, guerre contre le roy ban de benoic et le roy boort de gauues tawt quil les desherita 1 de leurs terres. Feuillet. i. 1 See 11. 1447-1449. HEADS OF THE EARLY CHAPTERS OF THE FRENCH ROMANCE. XXI «j Comment le roy claudas assiegea le chasteau de trible auquel estoit le roy ban de benoic, et comment ilz parle- of Trible. menterent ensemble, f. l - «f Comment le roy ban de benoic, accompaigne de sa ^a^dhis son femme et de son filz lancelot, auecqt«?s yng seul escuyer, se partirent du chasteau de trible pour aller querir secours Arthur, deuers le roy Artus a la grant bretaigne. Feuillet ii. Comment apres ce que le roy ban fut party de son ^ribie^ftreach- chasteau de trible, le seneschal a qui il auoit bailie la garde u p trahit ledit chasteau, et le liura es mains du roy claudas. Feuillet. ii- *[ Comment le roy ban mourut de dueil quant il veit son J^dLance- chasteau ardoir et brouyr. Et comment la dame du lac i^the£yofthe emporta son filz lancelot . 1 Fueillet iiii. lake * Comment la royne helaine, apres que le roy fut mort et elle eut perdu son filz, se rendit nonnain en labbaye du monstier royal. Feuillet. v. Comment le roy de gauues mourut | et co?«ment la Boyne sa femme, pour paour de claudas, sen partit de son chasteau pour aller au monstier royal, ou sa seur estait The two sisters, widows of kings rendue. et comment ses enfans Lyonnel et Boort luy furent Ban and Boort, * retreat to a mon- ostez. Feuillet yi. astery. Comment la royne de Gauues, apres que son seigneur fut mort et que elle eut perdu ses deux enfans, se yint rendre au monastere ou estoit sa seur la royne de benoic. Feuillet yi. % Comment merlin fut engendre du dyable : Et comment Merlin’s love for the lady of the il fut amoureux de la dame du lac. Feuillet vii. lake. Comment le cheualier farien, qui auoit tollu a la royne sir Farien se- , cretly nourishes de Gauues ses deux enfans, les emporta en sa maison | et the two sons of . king Boort, and les feist nourrir yne espace de temps. Et comment le is made seneschal to king Claudas. roy claudas fut amoureux de la femme du diet Farien | et pource le fist son seneschal. Feuillet viii. Comment le roy claudas fist appeller son cheualier Claudas accuses . Sir Farien of farien de trahison par ladmonnestemewt de sa femme, treason. 1 Lines 215 220. XXII HEADS OF THE EARLY CHAPTERS OF THE FRENCH ROMANCE, Claudas, in dis- guise, visits Ar- thur’s court. The lady of the lake informs Lancelot that he is a king’s son. The lady of the lake seeks to de- liver the sons of king Baort. Lyonnel and Boort wound king Claudas, and slay his son Dorin. Claudas bewails his son’s death. Farien saves Claudas’ life. disant quil gardoit les deux enfans du roy boort de gauues Feuillet. viii. ^f comment le roy claudas en maniere de cheualier estrange, se partit du royaulme de gauues pour alter en la grant bretaigne a la court du roy artus pour yeoir sa puissance et son gouuemement. Feuillet x. ^ Comment la dame du lac bailla a lancelot ung maistre pour linstruyre comme il appartenoit a filz de roy. Feuillet xii. ^ Comment la royne helaine alloit faire chascun io ur son dueil au lieu ou son seigneur mourut | et de la alloit au lac ou elle perdit son filz. Feuillet xy. *[ Comment le bon Beligieux qui auoit dit nouuelles a la royne belaine de son filz lancelot, print conge de elle, et sen vint au roy artus en la grant bretaigne. Feuillet xvi. Comment la dame du lac enuoya sa damoyselle a la court du roy claudas, pour delyurer les deux enfans au roy boort que claudas tenoit en prison. Feuillet xvii. Comment farien, seneschal du roy claudas par le com- mandement de son seigneur, alia querir en prison les deux filz au roy de Gauues. Feuillet xviii. If Comment les deux enfans au roy de gauues blecerent le roy claudas, et occirewt dorin son filz | et comment la damoyselle du lac les emmena en semblance de deux leuriers. feuil. xix. 3)e la grant ioye et du grant honneur que la dame du lac fist aux deux enfans quant elle les veit en sa maison. Feuillet xx. Comment le roy claudas mena tres grant dueil pour la mort de dorin son filz que boort auoit occis. Feuillet xx. Comment farien et le peuple de la cyte de gauues ses- meure^t eontre le roy claudas a cause que il vouloit faire mourir les deux filz au roy boort de gauues. Feuillet. xxi. Comment le roy claudas se partit de gauues | et com- ment ceulx dudit lieu le vouloient occire, se neust este farien le bo n cheualier. f. xxiii. HEADS OF THE EARLY CHAPTERS OF THE FRENCH ROMANCE. XX111 ^f Comment le roy claudas se defFendit yaillamment contre ceulx de Grauues qui le vouloyent occire. Feuillet. xxv. Comment lyonnel et boort perdirent le boire et le manger pource quilz ne scauoyent nouuelles de leur maistres | lesquclz estoyent demonrez anec le roy claudas j et comment la dame du lac enuoya une siewne damoy- selle a gauues pour les amener. Feuillet. xxvii. ^f Comment, par la conseil des barows de gauues : leonce et lambegues sen allerent auecques la damoyselle pour veoir leurs seigneurs lyonnel et boort. Feuillet xxviii. If Comment la dame du lac sen retourna apres ce quelle eut monstre a leonce et a lambegues les enfarcs du roy de gauues leurs seigmwrs, et comment lesditz cheualiers sen retournerewt a gauues. Feuillet xxx. ^f Comment le roy claudas retourna a gauues, -pour soy venger de la honte quon luy auoit faicte, et pour la mort de son filz. Feuil. xxxi. ^f Comment lappointement fut fait entre le roy claudas et les barons, par le moyen de farien et lambegues son nepueu. Feuillet. xxxiii. ^f Comment farien | sa femme, et son nepueu lambegues sen partirent pour aller veoir lyonnel et boort, qui esto- yent au lac | et comment farien mourut. Feuillet xxxv. *[[ Comment les deux roynes menerent saincte vie au monstier royal [ et comment celle de gauues veit ces deux enfans et lancelot en aduision | et comment elle trespassa de ce siecle. Feuillet. xxxv. ^f Comment le roy artus assembla le iour de pasques tous ses barons, et tint grant court a karahes, et comment banin le filleul au Roy ban emporta le pris du behourdys celluy iour. Feuillet. xxxvi. If Comment la dame du lac se pourpensa de mener lancelot au roy artus pour le faire cheualier , 1 et elle luy bailla armes blanches, et partit du lac a tout quarante cheualiiers pour le conuoyer. Feuillet xxxvii. Leonce and Lam- begues go to seelc Lyonnel and Boort. Claudas medi- tates revenge. Death of Farien. The widow of king Boort sees her children and Lancelot in a vision, and dies. Arthur holds a tournament, and Banin, son of king Ban, is the victor. The lady of the lake sends Lance- lot to Arthur to be knighted, and provides for him white armour. Line 223. XXIV HEADS OF THE EARLY CHAPTERS OF THE FRENCH ROMANCE. Of the wounded knight who came to Arthur’s court. Lancelot is knighted. How the white knight defended the lady of No- halt, and won the battle for her. ^f Comment nng cheuallier rtaure, lequel auoit nne espee fichee en la teste et deux troncows de lance parmy le corps, 1 vint a la court du roy artus | et comment la dame du lac le mena deuant le roy artus, et luy prya quil le fist eheualier. Eeuillet xxxix. ^f Comment messire yuain, a qui le roy Aldus auoit recom- mawde lancelot, alia faire sa requeste audit roy artus, que le lendemain il fist ledit lancelot eheualier, et comment ledit lancelot deffera le eheualier naure. 2 Eeuillet. xli. ^f Comment la dame de noehault 3 enuoya deuers le roy artus, luy supplier qiiil luy enuoyast secours contre le Roy de norhombellande qui luy menoit guerre. Et comment Lancelot requist au roy artus quil luy donnast eongie dy aller | et il luy octroy a. Eeuillet xlii. ^f Comment le nouueau eheualier aux armes blanches vain- quit la bataille pour la dame de noehault. Eeuillet xliii. *[f Comment lancelot apres ce quil se fut party de la dame de noehault, se combatit auec ung eheualier qui lauoit mouille. Eeuillet xlv. ^f Comment lancelot conquist vaillammewt par sa force et proesse le chasteau de la douloureuse garde q ae nul aultre ne pouoit conquerre. 4 Feuillet xlv. If Comment les nouuelles vindrent au roy artus que la douloureuse garde estoit conquise par la eheualier aux armes blanches [ Et le roy y enuoya messire gauuain pour en scauoir la verite. Eeuillet xlviii. If Comment messire Gauuain fut mys en prison | et com- ment le roy et la royne entrerent en la premiere porte de la | et la veirent des tumbes on il y auoit escript que mon- seigneur gauuain estoit mort, et plusieures aultres cheua- liers. Feuillet. xlix. ^f Comment une damoyselle de lhostel de la dame du lac feist assauoir au cheuallier blanc que monseigneur gauuain et ses compaignows estoyent emprisonnez par celluy qui auoit este seigneur de la douloureuse garde. Eeuillet 1. Lines 237-245. 8 Lines 249-252. 3 Line 255. 4 Lines 257-259. How Lancelot conquered the “ Sorrowful Castle.” How Arthur hears of It, and sends G a wain to see if it is true. Gawain is impri- soned, and sup- posed to be dead. Lancelot hears of Gawain’s impri- sonment, 1 HEADS OF THE EARLY CHAPTERS OF THE FRENCH ROMANCE. XXV *[ Comment le blanc cheualier se combatit encontre celluy qui auoit este seigneur de la douloureuse garde, q ui tenoit and delivers him ^ ° and bis com- en prison messire gauuain et ses compaignons. 1 Feuillet. 1. panions. «[[ Comment le cheuallier blanc emmena le cheualier con- qnis en ung hermitaige. et comment ledit cheualier conquis luy rendit audit hermitage gauuain et ses compaignons. f. lii. ^1 Comment messire gauuain et ses compaignons senvin- Gawain returns to Arthur and his drent par deuers le roy artus qui estoit a la douloureuse Queen at Dou- lourouse Garde. garde. Et comment le roy et la royne furant ioyeulx quant ilz les virent. Feuillet. liii. Comment le cheuallier blanc retourna a labbaye ou il auoit laisse ses escuyers | et comment il sceut lassemblee qui deuoit estre entre le roy artus et le roy doultre les Lancelot hears of the war to come marches, et comment il conquist le cheualier qui disoit bet yeen Arthur ’ u u and Galiot. mieulx gymer le cheualier qui auoit naure que celluy qui lauoit este. 2 Feuillet. liiii. Comment messire gauuain se misten queste pour trouuer le blanc cheuallier. 3 Et comment la meslee dentre les gens au roy des cent cheualiers et les gens de la dame de noe- hault fut appaisee. Feuillet lv. Comment le blanc cheualier vainquit lassemble dentre les deux roys | et comment il fut naure du roy des cent cheualiers. Feuillet. lvi. Comment apres que le cheualier qui auoit gangne le tournoyement dentre le roy doultre les marches sen fut alle, le roy artus et la royne genieure se partirent pour aller en leurs pays. Feuillet lvii. If Comment messire gauuain se combatit a brehain sans pitie, et le rua par terre. et comment apres ilz sen allerent a la douloureuse garde : et comment les deux pucelles que messire Gauuain menoit luy furent tollues. Feuillet. lviii. Comment lancelot print congie de son mire | et com- ment il mist a fin les adventures de la douloureuse garde. Feuillet lx. Gawain goes to seek the white knight, who is wounded in the battle against Galiot by the king -of- a - hundred-knights. Arthur and Queen Genure return home. Lancelot ends the adventures of the “Sorrowful Castle.” 1 Lines 263-4. 2 See 11. 244-5. 3 Line 267. XXVI HEADS OF THE EARLY CHAPTERS OF THE FRENCH ROMANCE. Comment messire gauuain recouura les deux puceUes vSoriois S in g t a he ^ l u 7 auoyent este tollues, Et comment lancelot vainquit Anhui aa e d tween la seconde assemblee dentre le roy artus et le roy doultre g allot. les marc j ies> Eeuillet lxi. Gawain returns f[ Comment messire gauuain retouma a la court du roy artus apres la seconde assemblee dentre le roy artus et le roy doultre les marches, et comment lancelot vainquit le cheualier qui gardit le gue. Feuillet lxiii. [Here begins the Scotch Translation .] Arthur’s evil Comment le roy Artus songea plusieurs songes | et apres manda tous les saiges clercs de son royaulme pour en scauoir la signifiance. 1 Eeuillet lxiiii. Gaiiot defies Ar- *[ Comment le roy doultre les marches, nomme gallehault, enuoya deflier le roy artus 2 | et comment Lancelot occist deux geans empres kamalot. 3 Eeuillet lxv. Lancelot is as- Comment lancelot occist vng cheualier qui disoit moins sailed by forty 11 . . . knights, and im- aymer le cheualier naure que celluy qui lauoit naure 4 I et prisoned by the # _ . lady of Meiyhait. comment il fut assailly de .xl. cheualliers, et mys en prison de la dame de mallehault. 5 Eeuillet Ixviii. Lancelot, reieas- fT Comment gallehault assembla au roy artus vng iour again victorious durant que lancelot estoit en prison 6 I et comment le len- agamst Gaiiot. demain lancelot fut deliuvre de prison 7 | et vainquit lassem- blee dentre les deux roys. 8 Eeuillet lxvii. Arthur is re- Comment le roy artus fut reprins de ses vices, et moult proved by Amy- , • . , , q . tans, and Gaiiot bien conseille par vng cheualier qui surumt en son ost 9 | proposes a truce for a year. Et comment gallehault donna tresues au roy artus lusques a vng an. 10 Eeuillet lxix. Lancelot returns «t Comment lancelot, apres ce quil eut vaincu lassemblee, to the lady of 11 7 1 u Meiyhait. retourna en la prison de la dame de mallehault 11 1 et comment elle le congneut, a son cheual et par les playes quil auoit, que cestoit celluy qui auoit vaincu lassemblee. 12 Eeuillet lxxii. Comment messire gauuain, soy quarantiesme de com- 1 Lines 363-527, 4 Lines 233-252. 7 Lines 895-974. 10 Lines 1543-1584. 2 Lines 540-592. 5 Lines 281-292. 8 Lines 975-1138. 11 Lines 1139-1152. 8 Line 280. 8 Lines 634-894. 8 Lines 1275-2130. 12 Lines 1181-1274. HEADS OF THE EARLY CHAPTERS OF THE FRENCH ROMANCE. XXY11 paignons, se mist en queste pour trouuer le cheuallier qui auoit porte lescu vermeil a lassemblee dentre le roy artus et Gallehault . 1 Feuillet lxxii. Comment la dame de mallehault mist a rancon le cheual- lier quelle tenoit en prison, et le laissa aller quant elle veit quelle ne peult scauoir son nom . 2 fu. lxxiii. Comment messire gauuain et ses compaignons retourne- rent de leur queste 3 | et comment apres les treues faillies galehault vint assembler cowtre le roy artus, & tous ses gens en furewt moult troublez . 4 fu. lxxiiii. Comment gallehault suyuit le cheuallier aux noires armes , 5 & fist tant par belles parolles quil lemmena en son ost, dont le roy artus et tous ses gens en furent moult troublez. Feuillet lxxviii. % Comment iancelot par sa prouesse conquist tout, et fist tant que gallehault crya mercy au roy artus. fu. lxxix. Comment gallehault fist tant que la royne vit Iancelot | & comment ilz se arraisonnerent ensemble, fu. lxxxi. Comment la royne cowgneut Iancelot apres ce qui\ eut longuement parle a elle, et quil luy eut compte de ses ad- uentures. et comment la premiere acointance fut faicte entre la royne et lawcelot p ar le moyen de galehault. fu. lxxxii. Comment la premiere acointance fut faicte de gale- hault et de la dame de malehault par le moyen de la royne de logres, et comme[nt] Iancelot et galehault sen alloy ent esbatre et deuiser auecques leurs dames, fu. lxxxiiii. Gawain, with forty comrades, departs to seek the red knight. The lady of Melyhalt accepts Lancelot’s ran- The truce ended, Galiot again at- tacks Arthur. Galiot gains over the black knight. Lancelot induces Galiot to submit to Arthur. The Queen and Lancelot meet. The Queen knows Lancelot fromhi3 adventures that he tells her. Galiot becomes acquainted with the lady of Mely- halt. II. The Chapter of the French romance from which the translator has taken the beginning of his First Book is here given, in order to shew in what manner he has treated his original. It begins at Fob lxiiii. Comment le roy artus sowgea plusieurs songes, et apres Arthur’s evil manda tous les sages clercz de son royaulme pour en scauoir la signifiance. 1 Lines 2162-2256. 2 Lines 2357-2442. 3 Lines 2504-2530. 4 Lines 2531-3268. ® Lines 3343-3487. XXV111 . THE ORIGINAL OF BOOK I. OF THE SCOTCH TRANSLATION. King Arthur be- ing at Cardueil, his knights are annoyed at meet- ing with no ad- ventures. Sir Kay counsels that they should go to Cainelot. The king con- sents to go ; but the same night dreams that all his hair falls off, which delays him. The third night after he dreams that all his fin- gers fall off ex- cept his thumbs. Again, that all his toes fall off except his great toes. The Queen and his chaplain dis- regard the dreams ; but Arthur sends for his bishops, archbishops, and their wisest clerks ; whom he impri- sons till they shall tell him what the dreams mean. O R dit le compte que le roy artus auoit longuemewt seioume a cardueil. Et pource ny auenoit mie grande- ment de auentures, il enuuya mowlt aux compaignons du Roy de ce quilz auoient si longuement seioume, et ne yeoient riens de ce quilz souloyent yeoir. Principallement keu le senes- chal en fut trop ennuye Et en parloit moult souuent, et disoyt deuawt le roy que trop estoit ce seiowr ennuyeulx, et trop auoit dure. Le roy luy demande “ Keu | q tie voul- driez que mms feissons?” “Certes,” fait keu, “ie con- seilleroye que nous allissions a kamalot | car la cite est plus aduantureuse q ue yous ayez | et la nous yerrions souuent et onions choses de merueilles que nous ne yoyons pas icy. Kous auons seiourne ia icy plus de deux moys, et oncques ne y yeismes gueres de choses aduenir.” “ Or alons done,” fait le roy, “a Kamalot, puis que yous le cowseillez.” Lendemain deust partir le roy | mais la nuyet luy aduint une merueilleuse aduenture. II songa q ue tous les cheueulx de sa teste eheoiewt, et tous les poilz de sa barbe, dont il fut moult espouente | Et p ar ce demoura encores en la yille. La tierce nuyt apres il songa que il luy estoit aduis que tous les dois luy cheoie?R fors les poulces, et lors fut plus esbahy que deuant. A Lautre nuyet songea il que to us les ortelz des piedz luy cheoient fors les poulces. de ce fut si trouble que plus ne peult. ‘ * Sire, ” fait son chappelain a qui il lauoit dit, “neyous chaille | car songes ne sowt pas a croire;” le roy le dit a la royne, et elle respond tout ainsi que luy auoit fait sow chappelain. “ En yerite,” dist il, “ ie ne laisseray pas la chose ainsi” | il faitmander ses euesques et archeu- esques quilz, soiewt a luy au .ix iour ensuyuant a kamelot, et quilz amainent auec eulx tous les plus sages elerez quils poenroient auoir et trouuer. A tant se part de cardueil et sen ya par les chasteaulx et par les citez | tant que au neuf- niesme iour est yenu a kamalot, et aussi sont yenus les elerez du pays. Il leur demande cowseil de son songe, et ilz elisewt dix des plus sages : le roy les fist bien enserrer, et THE ORIGINAL OF BOOK I. OF THE SCOTCH TRANSLATION. XXIX (list que iamais nen sortiroient de prison den ant quilz luy auroient dit la signifiance de son songe. Ilz esprouuerent la force de lewr sciences par neuf iours, et pnis vindrewt au roy, et dirent quilz nanoient riens trouue. “Aiwsi maist dieu,” dit le roy, “ia ainsi nesehapperez.” Et ils deman- ded respit iusques au troisiesme iour ensuyuant, et il leur donne. Les .iii. iours passez, ilz reuiennent deuant le roy, et dient que ilz ne peuent riens trouuer | et demawdent encores autre delay | et ilz ont. Et de rechief vindrent pour demander aultres troys iours de dilacion, ainsi que le roj- auoit sowge de tierce nuyt en tierce nuyt. “ Or sachez,” fait le roy, “ que iamais plus nen aurez.” Quant vint au tiers iour ilz dirent quilz nauoient rien trouue; “ce ne vault rien,” fait le roy, “ ie vous feray tous destruire si vous ne me dictes la verite;” et ils dirent. “ Sire nous ne vous en scairions que dire” Lors se pense le roy quil leur fera paour de mort. II fait fair ung grant feu, et commanda en lewrs presences que les .v. y fussewt mis, et que les autres cinq soyent penduz | mais priueemewt deffent a ses baillifz quilz ne les menassent que iusques a la paour de mourir. Quant les ciwq qui furent menez aux fourches euerent les cordes entour leurs colz, ils eurent paour de mourir, et dirent, que se les aultres cinq le vouloyent dire, ilz le diroyent. La nouuelle vint au .v. que len menoit ardre ] et ilz direct que, se les autres le vouloyent dire, ils le diroyent | ils furent amenez ensemble deuawt le roy, et les plus sages dirent | “ sire, nous vous dirons ce que nows auons trouue | mais nous ne vouldrions mie que vous nous tenissiez a menteurs se il ne aduenoit | car nous vouldrions bien quil nen fust rien, et voulons, comment quil en aduiengne, que vous nous asseurez que ia mal ne nows en aduiendra;” et il leur promet. Lors dist lung de eulx qui pour tous parla. “ Sire, sachez que ceste terre et tout honneur vows conuiewdra perdre | et ceulx en qui plus vous fiez vous fauldront ; telle est le substawce et signifiance de voz songes.” De ceste chose fut After trying for nine days, they fail. They twice ob- tain a delay of three days. The king threat- ens to slay them. F ve are to be burnt, and five hung. The five who are to be hung, hav- ing the cords round their necks offer to s, eakout. They stipulate not "to be held as liars if their inter- pretations fail. The dreams mean that he will lose his land and his honour. XXX THE ORIGINAL OF BOOK I. OF THE SCOTCH TRANSLATION. Arthur asks if anything can avert such fate. He is told, “no- thing, except the savage lion and the leech without medicine, by help of the counsel of the flower.” Arthur goes to the chase. Lancelot on his wanderings. He meets an es- quire, and asks him, “what news!” “The queen,” he says, “is at Camelot.” Lancelot goes on till he sees a large house, a lady, and her damsel. le roy moult effraye, “Or me dictes,” fait il, “sil est chose qui mew peult garantir.” u Certes,” fait le maistre, nous auons veu une chose | mais cest si grande merueille que on ne le pourroyt penser, et ne la yo us osons dire.” “ Dictes,” fait il, “ seurement | car pis ne me pouez yous dire que vous mauez dit,” “ Sire, riens ne vous peult garder de perdre tout honneur terrien fors le lyon saul- uaige, et le mire sans medecine, par le cowseil de la fleur, et se nows semble estre si grande folie que nous ne losions dire | Car lyon sauluaige ne y peult estre, ne mire sans medecine | ne fleur qui parlast.” le roy est moult entre- prins de ceste chose : mais plus en fait belle chiere que le cueur ne luy apporte, Ung iour alia le roy chasser au boys bien matin | et mena auec luy messire gauuain, keu le senes- chal, et ceulx qui lui pleust. Si laissse icy le compte a par- ler de luy, et retourne a parler du cheualier dont messire Gauuain aporta le nom en court. Q Yant 1 le cheuallier qui lassemblee auoyt vaincu se partast de la ou il se combatist a son hoste, il erra toute iour saws autre aduanture trouuer. Il se logea la nuyt chiez une Yeufue dame a lyssue dune forest a cinq lieues angleches pres de kamelot. Le cheualier se leua matin, et erra, luy et ses escuyers et sa damoyselle, tant (\ui\ encon- tra ung escuyer. “Yarlet,” fait il, “ scez tu nulles nouuelles?” “Ouy,” fait il, “ma dame la royne est icy pres a kamalot.” “ quelle royne,” fait il. “ La femme au roy artus,” fait lescuyer. Le cheuallier sen part, et cheuauche tant quil treuue Yne maison forte, et voit une dame en son surcot, qui regardoit les prez et la forest | et auoit auec elle Yne damoiselle. Le cheualier se arreste, He regards her et regarde la dame moult longuement tant quil oublie tout fixedly. & . autre chose. Et maintenant passa ung cheuallier arme de An armed knight, toutes armes, qui luy dist. “ Sire cheualier, que attendez passing, asks him * whatheisregard- vous ?” et celluy ne respond mot I car il ne la pas ouy. ing so closely. . Et le cheualier le boutte, et luy demande quil regarde. There is no trace of the rest of this chapter in the Scottish poem. THE ORIGINAL OF BOOK I. OF THE SCOTCH TRANSLATION. XXXI “ Je regarde,” fait il, “ se que me plaist : Et vous nestes He replies, that mie courtois, qui de mow penser me auez mete.” “ Par la pleases him. foy que vous deuez o dieu,” fait le cheuallier estrange, The knight asks if he knows who scauez vous bien qui la dame est que vous regardez ?” the lady is, “ Je le cuyde bien scauoir,” fait le bon cheualier. “ Et and he replies J that he knows it qui este elle,” fait lautre. “ Cest ma dame la royne.” is the queen. “ Si maist dieu, estrangement la congnoissez, deables vous font bien regarder dames.” “Pourquoy,” faict il. “Pource que vous ne me oseriez suyuir par deuant la Boyne la ou ie yroye.” “ Certes,” faict le bon cheuallier, “se vous osiez aller la ou ie vous oseray suyuir, vous aurez passez de couraige tous les plus graws oseurs qui oneques furent.” A tant sen part le cheualier. Et le bon cheualier va apres. Et quant ilz ont vne piece alle, lautre luy dist, The stranger vous hebergerez ennuyt auec moy, et le matin ie vous meneray la ou ie vous diz;” et le bon cheuallier luy de- mande sil conuient ainsi faire, “Oy” | fait il. El it dist que done lottroyera il. Il geut la nuyt chez le cheualier wel1 sur la riuiere de kamalot, et fut moult bien herberge, et sa pucelle | et ses escuyers. „ III. Our last extract will shew exactly where the Scottish poem suddenly ceases, and how the story was probably continued. For the latter purpose, two chapters of the French Romance are added beyond the point where the Scotch ends ; and it is possible, (judging from lines 306-312 of the Prologue,) that the author did not intend to go very much further. The pas- sage begins, in the French copy, at Fol. lxxvii. b , col, 1 ; and, in the Scotch poem, at 1. 3427. Lors descent de son cheual, et la bailie au cheualier. Et celluy si y monte sans arrest. Et gallehault monta sur vng autre, et vient a son conroy I Si prent auec Gaiiot gives J Lancelot his own soy les dix mille, et dit quilz voisent assembler deuant; horse, “et vous,” fait il au roy vend, “viendres apres, si ne assemblerez mie si tost comme ceulx cy seront assem- tohifownmen! 8 XXX11 THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. He commands the trumpets to be sounded. Lancelot ha- rangues his men. Sir Train com- forts Arthur’s soldiers. Galiot orders a charge. Galiot’s reserve arriving, his men awhile prevail. Galiot again re- mounts Lancelot. blez | mais quant les derrains de ceulz de dela seront venus, vous assemblerez, & moy mesmes vous iray querir.” A tant amaine les dix mille pour assembler , 1 Et quant il fut entre en la bataille il fist sonner ses busines tant q ne tout en retentissoit . 2 Quant le noir cheuallier les ouyt venir, si luy sembla que grant effort de gens eut la, si se retrait vng pouvers les siens, et les appella entour luy, & leur dist. “ Seignenrs, vous estes tous amys du roy. Or y perra comment vo us le ferez .” 3 Et messire yuain, qui les vit venir, dist a ses gens, “ Or soyes tous asseurs qntf nows ne perdrons au iourdbuy par force de gens .” 4 Et ce disoit il pource quil cuidoit qw Quant ilz virent le cheuallier, si lui firent s S;3Ij moult grant ioye | Car ilz le congneurent bien par ses armes. Et le cheuallier leur demanda qui ilz estoient | et ilz se nommerent sicomme vous auez ouy | et il leur dist. “ Seigneurs, vostre sire vous faict moult grant honneur | Car il dit que vous estes les deux hommes du monde que plus il ay me, et entre luy et moy a une conuenance que ie vueil que vous oyez | Car il ma fiance que pour en nuyt herberger auec luy me donnera ce que ie luy vouldray THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. XXXV demander.” Et gailehault dist | “ vous dictes verite.” Lancelot repeats “Sire,” faict le cheuallier, “ie veuil encores auoir la pact^thGaSS" seurte de ses hommes.” Et gailehault dist, “ Dictes and takes their moy comment.” “Ilz me fianceront,” fait le cheuallier, ^f^raake they “q ue se vous me faillez de cowuenant, ilz vous guerpiront Gaiiotif he et sen viendront auec moy la ou ie diray,” Et gailehault men^andgowUh dit que ainsi le veult | et il le fait fiawcer. Lors appella Lancelot, gailehault le roy premier cowquis a une part, et luy dist. “ Allez auant & dictes a mes barons quilz assemblent maintenant a monstre si honnorablement comme ilz pour- ront, et gardez que en mon tref soient tows les deduys que Gaiiot orders ail lew pourra trouuer en tout lost.” Lors sen va celluy au laments ttfbe ferir des esperons, & fist le commandement de son seigneur, brought to his Et gailehault tient le cheualier aux parolles, luy & son tent ' seneschal, tant que le commandemewt fust fait. Si ne de- moura gueres que encontre eulx vindrent deux cens barons qui tous estoient hommes de gailehault, .xxviii. roys, et Twenty-eight les autres estoient ducz et contes ; la fut le cheuallier duk?sand S counts tellemewt honnoure que oncques si grant feste ne fut pour come to the feast,’ ung homme mescongneu comme lew fit pour luy a celle fois | ceiotasS flower et disoiewt grans & petis, “ Bien viengnez, la fleur de la °f t ^ e k ^f r h 1 ^ hoocl cheualerie du monde” | et il en auoit grant honte. Ainsi vindrent iusques au tref de gailehault, si ne powrroient estre comtez les deduys et les instrumens qui leans estoient, A telle ioye fut receu, et quawt il fut desarme, gailehault luy fit apporter vne robe mowlt riche, et il la Lancelot is richly vestit. quant le mawger fut prest, ilz se assirent a table, served’ andn ° Wy et furent noblement seruis, et le cheualier fut mowlt honnoure. After supper four A Pres manger commanda gailehault a faire quatre litz la ^ desquelz lung estoit plus grant que les aultres. Quant than the rest, for les litz furent si richemewt atournez, gailehault maine le cheu- ance 0 ' allier couch er. Et dist, “Sire, vous gerrez icy;” “Et qui gerra de la?” fait le cheualier. “ Quattre sergens,” faict gailehault, “ qui vous seruiront | Et ie iray en vne chambre par dela, affin que vous soyez icy plus en paix.” “ Haa, Sire, pour dieu,” faict il, “ ne me faictes gesir plus ayse que ces aultres cheualiers | car tant ne me deuez a vilennir.” “Nayez garde,” faict galehault, “ Car ia pour chose que vous faciez Gaiiot awhile de- pour moi vous ne serez tenu a villain.” A tawt sen part f 0 ^ r fai^ n askep Ce " gailehault. Et le cheuallier commence a penser au grant honneur que gailehault luy faisoit. Si lenprise moult | puis se coucha, et tantost il sendormit | car moult estoit las ; Et Gaiiot then re- quawt gailehault sceut quil fut endormy, le plus coyement L ^elot eS quil peut se coucha en ung autre lit empres luy | et es deux aultres litz se coucherent deux cheualiers, et nes- toyent en la chambre que eulx quatre, sans plus. La nuyt XXXVI THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. and Fears bow his guest mur- murs in his sleep. Next day they go to hear mass,' and Lancelot then demands his arms, wishing to depart. Galiot induces him to stay, but again promi- ses to do for him whatever heasks. Lancelot then de- mands that Galiot shall submit him- self to Arthur. Galiot is con- founded, and ponders, but then grants Lancelot’s request. Lancelot remains with him another night. Next day, the hosts are' again armed for battle. se plaint moult le cheualier en son dormant, et galleliault loit bien, car il ne dormoit gueres. Ains pensa toute la nuyt a le retenir. Lendemain le cheualier se leu a et alia ouyr messe ; et ia estoit gallehault leue, car il ne Youlut mie que le cheualier laperceust. Quant ilz vindrent du monstier, le cheualier demanda ses armes, & gallehault demawde pourquoy. Et il dist quil sen youloit aller. Et gallehault luy dist. “Beau doulx amy, de- mourez | et ne cuydez mye que ie vous vueille deceuoir. Car yous noserez ia riens demawder que yous nayez. Et sachez que yous pourriez bien auoir compagnie de plus riche homme que ie suis | mais yous ne laurez iamais a homme qui plus yous ayme.” “ Sire,” faict le cheuallier, “ ie demoureray done puis quil yous plaist. Car meil- leure compaignie que la Yostre ne pourroye ie mye auoir | Mais ie yous diray presentemewt le don pourquoy ie de- moureray auec yous | et se ie ne lay, ie ny demoureray ia.’’ “Sire,” fait gallehault, “dictes seurement et yous laurez, se cest chose que ie puisse acomplir;” Et le cheuallier appella ses deux plaiges et dist deuant eulx, “Je yous demande,” fait il, “ que si tost que yous serez au dessus du roy artus, que yous luy alliez crier mercy si tost comme je yous en semondray.” Quant gallehault lentent, si en est tout esbahy, et commence a penser. Et les deux roys luy dirent. “A quoy pensez yous icy endroit, de penser nauez mestier | car yous auez tant couru que vous ne pouez retourner.” “Comment,” faict Gallehault, “cuydez yous que ie me veuille repentir | se tout le mowde estoit mien si luy oseroye ie bien downer, mais ie pensoye a vng seul mot quil a dit | mais ia dieu ne maist,” dist il, “se yous nauez le don | car ie ne pourroye riens faire powr yous ou ie peusse auoir honte. Mais ie yous prye que ne me tollez vostre compagnie pour la donner a aultruy;” et le cheualier luy creanca. A in si demoura | et ilz se asseirent au manger qui estoit appreste. Si sont moult grant ioye par tout lost du cheualier qui est demoure. Ainsi passerent celle nuyt. Len- demain gallehault et son compagnon allerent ouyr messe, et gallehault luy deist | “Sire, il est huy iour dassembler ; youI- lez yous armes porter ? ” “ Ouy,” dist il. “done porterezvous les miennes,” fait gallehault, “pour le commencement.” Et il dist quil les porteroit voulentiers | “mais yous ne porterez armes,” feist il a gallehault, “ si non comme mon sergent?” “ Non,” dist il. Lors firent apporter les armes, & armerent le cheuallier du fort haulbert, & des chausses qui trop estoyent longues & lees ; Lors se armerent les gens de gallehault. et pareillement les gens du roy Artus, & passerent les lices de telz y eut. Touteffoys le roy THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. XXXV11 auoyt deffendu qne nul ne les passast. Si y eut de bonnes ioustes en pou dheure | si se assemblerent tous les ostz deuant la lice, & commencerent a faire armes. Le roy artns estoit a son estandart, et auoit commande que ilz men assent la royne a sauluete se la descomfiture tonrnoit sur eulx | quant tous les ostz furent assemblez et le bon cbeualier fust arme, si cuida chascu^ que ce fust galle- hault, & disoyent tous. “Voicy gallebault, voicy galle- Lancelot is at hault” | messire gauuain le cowgneust bien & dist. “ Ce ™^ ta but f< is nest mye gallebault | ains est le cheualier aux armes noires, recognized by le meilleur cbeualier du mowde” | & si tost comme ilz Gawam * furent assemblez, oncques ne se tint le roy Artus ne ses Arthur’s men gens depuis que le cbeualier y fut arriue | et trop se des- aJaSist Lancelot cottfortoyent du bon cbeualier q ui contre eulx estoit, si furewt menez iusques a la lice, car trop estoient grans gens auec gallehault. au partir des lices se tindrent vne piece et souffrirent lowguemewt | mais le souffrit ny peut riens valoir. Grant fut le mescbief des gens au roy artus. et dit le compte que le cbeualier neust mie moins de peine de tenir les gens de gallebault que ilz ne passassent oultre le lice quil auoit de cbasser les gens au roy Artus. Et nompour- tant moult les auoit supportez | & il les eut mis oultre a force sil eust voulu | mais il demoura emmy le pas pour les aultres detenir. Lors regarda tout entour de luy, et com- menca a bucher | 11 gallebault, gallebault.” et gallebault Lancelot calls vient grawt alleure, et dist. “ bel amy, que voulez vous?” fis^com- “ quoy,” faict il, “ ie vueil que mon conuenant me tenez pact. “Par ma foy,” fait gallebault, “ ie suis tout prest de lacomplir puis quil vous plaist.” Lors picque le cbeual des esperons & vient iusques a lestandart ou le roy artus Gaiiot rides for- estoit, q ui faisoit si tresgrant dueil que a peu quil ne se Jrthur a rid findS occioit pource quil estoit desconfit. Si estoit ia la royne kill hhnseif y fo° mowtee, et lemmenoyent quarante cbeualliers. Et mon- th ® sc ^^ seigneur gauuain, que on vouloit emporter en lictiere | mais away by a guard il dit quil aymeroit mieulx mourir en ce point que veoir andGawainwish- toute cbeualerie morte et honnye : si se pasma tellement ingto die. que len cuydoit bien que il mourust incontinent. Comment lancelot par la prouesse conquist tout, et how Lancelot fist tant que galebault cria mercy au roy artus. Sercy to^rthu? Q Vant le cheualier veit gallehault prest dacomplir son cowuenant, il iura bien que oncques si loyal compaig- non ne fut trouue. Il en a telle pytie quil en souspire moult fort, & dit entre ses dens. “ Haa dieu, q ui pourra ce desser- uir & gallebault cbeuaucbe iusqwes a lestandart et Gaiiot demands demande le roy artus. Il vient auant mowlt dolent & ^ u ® ee kmg Ar " esmaye comme celluy q ui tout bonneur et toute ioye terrienne cuyde auoir perdue ; Et quant gallebault le XXXV111 THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. self to him humbly. Arthur, over- joyed, praises God. voit, si luy dit. “ sire, roy artus, ve paour 1 car ie vueil a vous parler.” et quawt le roy louyt, , . . . . . . il sesmerueille moult que ce peult estre; Et de si loing him, dismounts, comme galehault le voit vemr, il descend de son cheuai andfubmitshiml se agenouille, et dit. “ Sire, ie vous viens faire droit de ce que ie yous ay meffait ; si men repens, et me metz en vostre mercy.” a Yant le roy lentend, il a merueilleusement grant ioye, et lieue les mains Yers le ciel, louant Dieu de ceste aduanture | et se le roy fait bonne ebere, encores la faict meil- leure Gallehault. et il se lieue de genoulx, & sentrebaisent, et font moult grande chere lung a lautre. lors dist Galle- hault | “ sire, faictes Yostre plaisir de moy | car ie metz en vostre saisine mon corps pour en faire ce que il yous plaira. Gaiiot, first ask- Et sil vows plaist, ie yray retraire mes gens arriere, & puis ieavt rt dismisses reuiendray a yous incontinent.” “AUez doncqz^s,” fait his troops to their le roy | “car ie Yueil parler a vous.” A tant sen part gallehault | & reuient a ses gens | & les en faict aller. Et le roy enuoya apres la royne, qui sen alloit faisant grand dueil. et les messages cheuauchent tant que ilz lattaingnent | et sont vcnus a elle, & luy comptent la ioye qui aduenue leur est. Et elle ne le peult croire tant qwelle voy les enseignes que le roy luy enuoye. tant coururent les nouuelles que The queen and monseignma’ gauuain le sceut, lequel en eut grant ioye sur joice^eatiy. re ’ tous les aultres, et distau roy. “ Sire, comment a ce este?” “ Certes, ie ne scay,” fait il : “ mais ie croy que telle a este le plaiser de nostre seigneur.” moult est grande la ioye, & moult se esmerueille cbascun comment ce peult estre aduenu. Gallehault dist a son compaignon. “que voulez yous que ie face ? iay fait vostre commandement ; & le roy ma dit que ie retourne ( mais ie vous conuoyeray auant iusques a voz tentes.” “ Haa sire,” fait le cheualier, “ aincoys yous irez au roy & luy porterez le plus grant honneur que vous pourrez. Et tant auez fait pour moy que ie ne le pourroye desseruir | mais tant vous prye, pour GaSofnot ? P r °- a depuis fait | et il luy respondit que bien; “ Sire,” fait toreturn - gallehault, “ comment feray ie | le roy ma moult prie que ie retourne a luy, & il me feroit mal de vous laisser en ce point.” “ Haa, sire cheualier, ponr dieu mercy, vous Lancelot tells ferez ce que monseigneur le roy vouldra. car iamais a plus preudhomme que il est ne eustes accointance. Mais ie vueil wishes. U que vous me donnez ung don.” Et gallehault luy dist. “ Demandez ce quil vous plaira | car ie ne vous escondiroye He charges Ga- iamais;” “Sire,” fait il, “ ie vous remercye. Yous me li “ ta ^ in not t0 i 7 7 , , ^ , . ask his name, auez donne que vous ne me demanderez mon nom deuant but to tell him que ie le vous diray.” “ Et ie men tiendray a tant puis about Arthur - que vous le voulez,” dit gallehault. “ Et ne doubtez pas que ce eust este la premiere chose que ie vous eusse de^ mande, si men tairay a tant.” Lors luy demanda de laccoin- tance du roy artus | mais il ne nomme mie la royne | et gallehault dit que “ le roy est moult preudhomme, & moult me poyse que ie ne lay congneu pieca | Car moult en feusse amende | mais ma dame la royne est sy vaillante que Gaiiot praises the oncques plus honneste dame ne vey.” et quant le cheualier Queen ’ ouyt parler de la royne, si se embronche et commence a and Lancelot souspirer durement. et gallehault le regarde et se esmer- sheds tears, ueille moult pource que les larmes luy cheoyent des yeulx, si commence a parler daultre chose. Q Vant ilz ont longuement parle ensemble, le cheua- lier noir luy dist. “Allez, si ferez a monseig- xl THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. Lancelot asks Galiot to return to Arthur, and to report to him all the conversa- tion. Lancelot sleeps ■with the two kings in Galiot’s tent ; but awakes at midnight, and makes a great moaning. Galiot comes to see after Lance- lot, finds him with his eyes red and swoln, and conjures him to tell him what the matter is. Lancelot cries bit- terly, and says that it is his heart, which has all the dread that it is possible for mortal heart to have. They go to Mass, neur le roy compaignie, et si escoutez sy vouz orrez de moy nulles parolles, & yous me compterez demain ee que yous aurez ouy.” “ Voulen tiers, sire,” faict galle- hault | lors le accolle, et dit aux roys. “ Je vous bailie en garde cest homme comme le eueur de mon ventre.” Ainsi senva gallehault & le cbeuallier demeure en la garde de deux preubommes du pays de Gallehault [ mais il ne fault mye demander sil fust honnore J car len faisoit assez plus pour luy quil neust voulu. celle nuyt geurent les deux roys au tref gallehault pour lamour du cheualier & luy firent entendawt quilz ny coucheroyewt mye | & ilz le firent coucher ainsi que Gallehault auoit fait lautre nuyt. Au commencement dormit le cheualier mowlt fort, et quawt vint a mynuit si commewca a soy tourner, et commenca a faire ung dueil si grawt que tous ceulx qui entour luy estoyent sen esueillerent. Et en son refrain disoit souuent. ‘ 1 Haa chetif, que pourray ie faire ?” Et toute nuyt demena tel deuil. Au matin se leuerent les deux roys le plus coyement quilz peurentj & moult se merueillent quil pouoit auoir. daultre part fut gallehault leue, & vint a son tref veoir son compaignon. II demande aux deux roys que son compaignon fait. Et ilz luy dient quil auoit toute nuyt mene grant dueil. Lors entre en la chambre ou il estoit, et si tost comme il le ouyt venir il essuye ses yeulx ; Adowc gallehault, cuidant que il dormist, saillist dehors de la chambre incontinent ; apres le cheualier se leua. Et gallehault vit que il auoit les yeulx rouges et enflez. Adonc le prent par la main, et le tyre a part, et luy dist. “Beau doulx compaignon, powrquoy yous occiez yous ainsi ? dont yous vient ce dueil que yous auez toute nuyt demene, & le desplaisir que yous auez ? Je yous prye pour dieu que yous me diez la cause, et ie yous ayderay se nul homme mortel y peult cowseil mettre & commence a plourer si durement comme sil veist mort la chose du mowde que mieulx aymast. Lors est gallehault moult a malayse et luy dit, “ Beau doulx compaignon, dictes moy Yostre mescheance | car il nest nul homme au monde, sil yous auoit riens forfait, que ie nen pourchassasse vostre droit.” Et il dist que nul ne luy a riens meffait. ‘ 1 beau doulx amy, pourquoy menez yous doncq^es si grant dueil? Yous poise il que ie vous ay fait mon maistre & mo n compaignon?” “Haa,” fait il, “vous auez assez plus fait pour moy que ie ne pourroye desseruir, ne riens du morcde ne me met a malaise que mon cueur, qui a toute paour que cueur mortel powrrait auoir. Si doubte moult que vostre grant debonnairete ne me occie.” He ceste chose est gallehault moult a malayse, si recon- forte son compaignon. Apres allerent ouyr masse. Quant THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. xli vint q ue le prestre eut fait troit parties du corps de nostre seigneur, gallehault se trait auant, et tient son compaignon par la main, & luy monstre le corps de nostre seigneur que and Lancelot de- le prestre tenoit entre ses mains ; Puis luy dist. “ doncques thaTthe Breadls ne croyez vous pas bien que cest le corps de nostre saulueur r ” ^ h e r ?° dy of “ Yoirement le croy ie bien,” fait le cbeualier. Et galle- ns ' bault luy dist. “ beau doulx amy, or ne me mescreez mye que ces trois parties de chair que ie vois en semblance de pain, ia ne feray en ma vie chose q ue ie cuyde q ui vous en- nuye : mais toutes les choses que ie scauray qui vous plair- ont, pourehasseray a mon pouoir.” “ sire,” fait il, “ grant mercys.” A tant se taisent iusques apres la messe | et lors After Mass, Lan- demanda gallehault a son compaignon quil fera; “Sire,” go °again S to & Ar- fait il, “vous ne laisserez mie le roy en ce poiwt | ains yrez thur - luy faire compaignie.” “ Sire,” faict il, “ grant mercys ; ” A tant sen part de luy, si le rehaille aux preudhommes de la court du roy artus. si fo^t de luy grant signeurie sicomme ilz peuent. E T quant vint apres disner, sy furent le roy & la royne After dinner the & gallehault appuyez au lict de messire gauuain, tant ^SfGawain^and que messire gauuain dist a gallehault. “ Sire, or ne vous poise dune chose que ie vous demawderay.” “ Certes,” fait between hlmand galehault, “non fera il.” “ sire, celle paix qui fut entre Arthur - vous & mon oncle, par qui fut elle, par la chose au monde qui plus vous aymez?” “Sire,” fait il, “vous me auez tant coniure que ie le vous diray. Ung cheualier la fist.” “A knight,” says “ Et qui est le cheualier?” fait messire gauuain. “ Si “But* what maist dieu” fait gallehault, “ie ne seay.” “Qui fut celluy knight?” asks 1)> 1 • / • J • ,, ri, O 1 ,1 Gawarn. aux noires armes. deist messire gauuain. “ Ce fut,” fait il, “ung cheualier;” ‘-Tant,” fait il, “ en pouez vo us bien dire | mais acquitter vous conuient.” “ Je me suis acquitte de ce que me coniurastes. Ne plus ne vous en diray ores | ne rien ne vous en eusse ores dit, se vous ne me eussiez coniure.” “ Par dieu,” faict la royne, “ ce fut “The Black le cheuallier noir | mais faictes le nous monstrer.” “ Qui | SeQueevlhow moy, dame?” faict gallehault, “ie le vous puys bien him t0 us -” monstrer sicomme celluy qui reiras nen scait!” “ Taisez vous,” fait la royne, “ il est demoure auec vous, & hier porta voz armes.” “ Dame,” fait il | “ il est vray | mais ie ne le vys oncques puis que ie party du roy a la premiere “i cannot,” says fois.” “comment,” fait le roy, “ne le cognoissiez vous tot fi 0 m he my mye | ie cuydoye que il fust de vostre terre.” “ Si maist country;” dieu, non est,” fait gallehault. “certes,” fait le roy, “ne de la myenne non est il mye” | Moult tindrent Ion- and Gaiiot will guement- gallehault a parolle le roy et la royne pour auoir gjjj disclose the le nom du cheualier | mais plus nen peurent traire. et lo s na^le, messire gauuain craint quil ne ennuye a gallehault, si dist xlii THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. but asks Arthur if he ever saw a better knight, and what he would give to know him henceforth. “ Half of all I have, except my wife,” says Arthur. “And what would you give, Ga- wain ? ” ** I should like to turn woman if he would love me all his life.” “ I can offer no more than Ga- wain,” says the Queen. “ Well,” says Galiot, “ I would turn all my honour into shame, for his sake.” So Gawain con- cludes that it was the Black Knight who brought about the peace. The Queen walks away with Galiot, tells him she loves him much, and prays him to let her see the Black Knight. au roy. “ Or en laissez a tant le parler. certes le cheua- lier est preudhomme, & pleust a dieu que ie luy ressem- blasse.” Moult loe messire gauuain le cheualier. Si en ont la parolle laissee | et gallehault la recommence et dit. “ Sire, veistes vous oncques meilleur cheuallier que celluy au noir escu?” “certes,” fait le roy, “ ie ne vy oncques cheualier de qui ie aymasse mieulx lacointance pour cheual- erie “ Non” | fait gallehault. “Or me dictes,” faict gallehault, “ par la foy que vous deuez a ma dame qui cy est, combien vous vouldriez auoir donne pour auoir son accointance a tousioursmais ? ” “Si maist dieu,” faict il, “ ie luy partiroye la moytie de tout ce que ie powrroye auoir, fors seullement de ceste dame.” “ Certes,” fait gallehault, “ assez y mettriez. Et vous, messire gauuain, se dieu vous doint sante que tant desirez, quel meschief en feriez vous pour auoir compaignie a si preudhomme ?” Et quant messire gauuain lot, si pense ung petit comme celluy qui ne cuyde iamais auoir sante. “ Se dieu me donnoit la sante que ie desire | ie vouldroye orewdroit estre vne des plus helles dames du monde, par conuenant quil me aymast tot^s les iours de sa vie.” “ par ma foy,” fait gallehault “ assez y auez mis.” “ Et vous, madame, quel meschef feriez vous par conuenawt que ung tel cheualier fust tousiours en vostre seruice?” “par dieu,” fait elle, ‘ ‘ messire gauuain y a mis toutes les offres que dame y peult mettre.” Et mowseigneur gauuain & tous aultres se commencerent a rire. “ Gallehault,” fait messire gauuain, “ qui tous nous auez adiurez par le serment que ie vous coftiuray, ores qui vouldriez vous y auoir mys?” “Si maist dieu,” faict gallehault, “ ie y vouldroye auoir tourne mon honneur a honte, par tel si que ieusse a tous- ioursmais vng si bon cheualier en ma compaignie.” “ Sy maist dieu,” faict messire gauuain, “ plus y auez mys que nous.” et lors se pensa messire gauuain que cestoit le noir cheualier qui le paix auoit faicte | car pour luy auoit tourne son honneur a honte, quant il veit quil estoyt au dessus. Et le dist gauuain a la royne, et se fut la cause dowt gallehault fut plus prise ; Moult tindrent longuement parolles du cheualier. et la royne sadressa, et dist quelle sen voulloit aller vers la bretesche pour veoir les prez, et gallehault la conuoye : si le print la royne par la main & luy dist. “ Gallehault, ie vous ayme moult, & il est vray que vous auez le cheualier en vostre baillie, & par aduen- ture il est tel que ie le congnois bien ; si vous prie si cher que vous auez mamour, que vous faciez tant que ie le voye.” “Dame,” fait gallehault, “ ie nen ay encores nulle saisine | et ne le vy puis que la paix THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. xliii fut faicte de moy & du roy. Et se il estoit or en mon tref, si y coniiiendroit il aultre voulente que le vostre & que He promises to do la mienne. Et bien saichez que tant me auez coniure que ail he can for her ; ie mettray tout le pouoir que ie pourray. comment vous pourrez parler a luy?” “ se yous en faictes vostre pouoir,” and the Queen fait elle, “ie le verray bien, & ie men attens a vous, et sure to see Mm if faictes tant que ie soye vostre a tousiours : car cest ung y° u tr y> des hommes du monde que ie verroye plus voulentiers.” “Dame,” fait il, “ ie en feray mon pouoir.” “Grant mercys,” fait elle. “ Or gardez que ie le voye au plus tost for he is in your que vous pourrez | car il est en vostre baillie, ie le Sget’him.^ 11 * 1 scay bien | et se il est en vostre terre, enuoyez le querre.” Atant sen part gallehault & sen vient au roy. Et mottseigneur gauuain & le roy lui dient. “ gallehault, Arthur wishes ie suis deliure de mes gens, ores taictes approcher voz and his own to be gews des nostres, ou ie feray approcher les nostres des ?™ ught “ earer vostres | Car nous sommes a pnuee mesgnie. “ Sire, faict gallehault, “ie feray approcher les miens daultre part de cest riuiere si que mon tref sera endroit le vostre, et sera une nef appareillee en quoy nous passerons dicy la et de la icy.” “ Certes,” fait le roy, “ moult auez bien dit.” L Ors sen va Gaillehault en sa tente, et trouue son com- Lancelot turnS to paignon moult pensif. Il luy demande comment il a puis fait; Et il dist, “bien, se paour ne me mestriast.” et gallehault dist, “de quoy auez vous telle paour?” “que ie ne soye cowgneu,” dist il. “or nen ayez mie paour, car vous ny serez ia congneu, se vostre voulente ne y est;” Lors luy compte les offres que le roy et messire gauuain tells him what the ont faict pour luy, et ce que la royne dit | et comment la ^Jd^the^ueen royne la tenu a grant parlement de le veoir | et comme il ^d'ask^him 11111 ’ luy respondit. “ et saichez que elle na de nully si tres grant an as s im desir de veoir comme de vous. Et monseigneur le Roy ma prye que ie face mes gens approcher | car nous sommes trop loing lung de lautre. Or me dictes que vous voulez que je face | car il est en vostre plaisir.” “ Je loue que vous facez ce que monseign^wr le roy vous prye ;” “Eta ma dame what answer he que respondray ie, beau doulx amy?” “ Certes,” fait il, Queen. S1Ve the “ie ne scay.” Lors commence a souspirer. Et gallehault Lancelot sighs, luy deist. “ Beau doulx amy, ne vous esmayez point | mais dictes moy comment vous voulez quil soit | car bien saichez quil sera ainsi comme vous vouldrez | et ie aymeroye mieulx estre courrouce a la moytie du monde que a vous tout seul. ores me dictes quil vous en plaist.” “ Sire,” faict le dit and says “What- cheualier, “ ce que vous me louerez j car ie suis en vostre garde desormais.” “Certes,” fait gallehault, “il me “There will be semble que pour veoir ma dame la royne il ne vous peult her^Sswers 111 * empyrer.” Lors apperceut galehault assez de son penser, Gaiiot. xliv THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. How Guinevere and Lancelot meet and talk. The Queen asks Galiot what he has done for her. Lancelot says the & le tient si court quil luy octroye ce quil demande | Sana e ge(TselreL “ mais il conuiendra,” faict il, “ que il soyt faict celee- ly; and they agree ment, que nul ne le saiche | fors moy et yous.” Et galle- teiuhe^uee?^ hault dit que il ne se soulcye point. “ Or dictes,” (fait le has sent to seek cheualier a gallehault, ) “ a ma dame que yous me auez for Lancelot. j* // n -1 -i m t • , enuoye querre. u our moy en laissez le surplus, dit Gallehault. Lors sen part a tant, et commanda ses trefz a tendre la ou il auoit en conuenant au roy | et son seneschal fist son commandement. Comment gallehault fist tant que la royne Yeit Lan- celot, Et comment ilz se araisonnerent ensemble, et parlerent de plusieurs choses. A Tant sen partit gallehault & sen Yient au tref du roy, & si tost comme la royne le Yoit, si luy courut a len- contre, & luy demawde comment il auoit exploycte la be- songne. 1 1 dame,” faict il, “ ie en ay fait tant que ie craing que lamour de vostre pryere ne me tolle la chose du monde que ie ay me plus.” “ Sy maist dieu,” faict elle, “ yous ne perderez riens par moy que ie ne yous rende au double | mais que y pouez yows,” fait elle, “perdre?” ‘ 1 Celluy mesmes que yous demandez,” fait gallehault | “Car ie doubte quil ne se courrouce, et que ie ne le perde a tousiours.” ‘ * Certes, ’ ’ faict elle, { 1 ce ne pourray ie pas rendre | mais ia par moy ne le perderez, se dieu plaist. Et touteffoys dictes “ sent to seek for moy quant il viendra” | “ dame,” fait il, “ quant il pourra | says r he. knigM ’ ' car i e l a J enuoye querre, et croy que il ne demourra mye longuement.” De leur conseil entendit ung peu la dame de mallehault qui sen prenoit garde et nen faisoit mye sem- Gaiiot returns to blant. Lors sen partit gallehault et Yient a ses gens qui his men, estoyent logez la ou il auoit commande. and tells his Sen- eschal to bring Lancelot when he . sends for him. yous & mon compaignon en ce lieu la.’ Et le roy des cent cheualiers, qui son seneschal estoit, dist que mowlt voulen- tiers feroit son commandement & son plaisir. Lors salua Galiot then goes Gallehault son compaignon, et sen retourna a la court. Et Queen, says he quant la royne Yeit gallehault qui estoit Yenu, elle luy dist see^her^knight ( J lie ^ gardast bien et loyaulment ce quil luy auoit promis. that evening, and Et il luy dist | “dame, ie cuyde que yous Yerrez ennuyt he? i^an orchard ce T ue Y0Ils auez tant desire.” Quant elle ouyt ce, si en below. fut moult ioyeuse, et moult luy ennuya ce iour pour sa Youlente acomplir du desir que elle auoit de parler a celuy ou toutes ses pensees estoyent. Lors luy deist Gallehault, “nous yrons apres soupper en ce Yergier la aual” | et elle After supper the luy octroye. Quant ce Yint apres souper, si appelle la Orchard° eSt ° the ro y ne I dame de mallehault | et dame Lore de cardueil, une sienne pucelle, et sen Yont tout droit la ou gallehault a Yant il fut descendu, il parla a son Seneschal et luy deist | “ quant ie yous enuoyeray querir, Yenez a moy, THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. xlv auoyt dit | et gallehault prent ung escuyer et luy dist. fo r \S a seneschai “ Ya et dy a mon seneschal que il yiengne la ou ie luy and the Knight, commanday.” Et celuy y va. Apres ne demoura gnaires que le seneschal y vint, luy et le cheualier. Ilz estoyewt who come. tous deux de grant beaulte ; Quant ilz approchererct, si congneut la dame de mallehault le cheualier comme celluy que elle auoyt eu maint iour en sa baillie. Et pource quelle ne youloit mye que il la congneut, se embroncha, et ilz passent oultre. le seneschal les salue. Et gallehault dit a la royne. “ Dame, lequel vous semble il que se soit ?” | et elle dit. “ Certes, ilz sont tous deux beaulx cheualliers j The Queen at first mais ie ne voy corps ou il puisse auoir tant de prouesse either is the black que le noir cheualier auoit.” “ or saichez, dame, que cest knight, lung de ces deux” | a tant sont venuz auant, et le cheual- lier tremble si que a peine peult saluer la royne, & la royne sen esmerueille. lors se agenouillent eulx deux, et le cheualier la salue j mais cest moult pourement | car moult butoneissobash- estoit honteux. Lors se pense la royne que cest il. Et on 1 him, 1 she fixeS gallehault dit au seneschal, “allez, si faictes a ces dames compaignie.” Et celluy fait ce que son sire luy commawde. A doncqw^s la royne prent le cheualier par la main & le seats him by her, assiet iouxte elle. Sy luy fait moult beau semblant & dit s^sh^hasTo en riant. “ Sire, moult yo us auons desire, tant que, longed to see him, dieu mercy et gallehault, yous voyons. et nonpourtant en- cores ne croy ie mye que ce soit celluy que ie demande | & gallehault ma dit que cestes yous | & encores youldroye and now he must scauoir qui yous estes par vostre bouche mesmes, se yostre «i don’TXw” plaisir y estoit.” Et celuy dit que il ne scait | et oncques he answers, ne la regarda au yisaige. Et la royne ce esmerueille que il peult auoir, tant quelle souspeconne une partie de ce quil a. Et gallehault, qui le voigt si honteux, pense quil veult dire Gaiiot leaves the a la royne son penser seul a seul. lors sen yient messire Sves , t0 them ’ gauuain celle part, et fait rasseoir les damoyselles pour ce que leuees sestoient encontre luy. Puis commencewt a parler de maintes choses. Et la Eoyne dit au cheuallier, and the Queen “ Beau sire, pourquoy yous celez vous de moy ? Certes il ^A^not^u he ne ya cause pourquoy ; nestes vows mie celluy qui porta les ^® ur the noires armes, et qui vainquistlassemblee?” “Dame, nenny”| and 1 overcame “ et nestes vous pas celluy qui porta lendemain les armes a everyone?” gallehault?” “Dame, ouy ;” “Dowc estes yous celluy qui vainquistes lassemblee qui fut faicte le premier iour par , deuers nous et par 1 deuers Gallehault?” “Dame, non “No, i am not,” suis.” Quant la royne ot ainsi parler le cheualier, a done saithhe » appercoit elle bien quil ne veult mie congnoistre quil eust vaincue lassemblee, si len prise mieulx la royne | car quant ung to prai£e 1 The original has pat. xlvi THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. “Then -who made you a knight, and when V* “You, at Kama- lot, when the spear and sword bits were drawn out of the wound- ed knight, and you girded onmysword,thus knighting me, and I went away to help the Lady of Noehault, and sent you two damsels. Then I met a man, who said he was your knight, and I fought him (for which I crave your pardon), After that I took the Sorrowful Castle, and there I saw you thrice, last when you thought you had lost Gawain and his companions, homme se loe luy mesmes, il tourne son honneur a honte | et quant aultruy le loe, adonc il est mieulx prise. “ Or me dictes,” fait la royne a lancelot | “ q ui yous fist cheuallier ? ” “ Dame,” fait il, “yous;” “Hoy?” fait elle, “Et quant?” “Dame,” fait il, “yous remembrez vous point quant ung cheuallier Yint a Kamalot, lequel estoyt naure de deux troncons de lance au corps, et dune espee parmy la teste, et que ung Yarlet virct a court en ung Yendredy, et fut cheua- lier le dymenche, et deffera le cheuallier ?” “ De ce,” fait elle, “ me souient il bien | et se dieu yous aist, feustes yous ce que la dame du lac amena en court Yestu dune robe blanche?” “Dame, ouy.” “Et pourquoy dictes yous done que ie yous fis cheuallier?” “Dame,” fait il, “ ie dys Yray | Car la coustume est telle que nul ne peut estre cheuallier sans ceindre espee. Et celluy de qui il tient lespee, le faict cheuallier ; de yous la tiens ie. Car le roy ne la me donna onques. Pour ce dis ie que yous me feistes cheualier.” De ce est la royne mowlt ioyeuse | “ ou yous en allastes yous au partir de cowrt?” “Dame, ie men allay pour secourir la dame de noehault;” “ Et durant ce temps me mandastes yous riens?” “Dame, ouy [ ie yous enuoyay deux pucelles.” “ Il est Yray,” dist la royne. ‘ ‘ Et quant yous partistes de noehault, trouuastes vous nul cheuallier qui se reclamast de moy ?” “ Dame, ouy ; ung qui gardoit ung gue, et me dist que descendisse de dessus mon cheual et le vouloit auoir, et ie luy demanday a qui il estoit | et il dist a yous. Puis luy demanday apres, qui le commandoyt. Et il me dist quil nauoyt nul commande- ment que le siera. Et adoneques remys le pied en lestrief et remontay | Car ie estoye ia descendu [ et luy dis que il ne lauoyt point, et me combatis a luy. Et ie scay bien que ie yous fis oultraige, si yous en crie mercy” | “Certes a moy ne en feistes yous point | Car il nestoyt mye a moy | et luy sceuz mauluais gre de ce quil ce reclama de moy. Mais or me dictes ou yous en allastes de la?” “Dame, ie men allay a la douloureuse garde” | “& qui la conquist?” “ Dame, ie y entray | et ne vous y viz ie oneques.” “ Ouy, plus de troys foys. Et en quel temps?” fist elle. “ Dame,” fist il, “ ung iour que ie yous demanday se yous vouliez leans entrer ; Et yous deistes ouy | et estiez moult esbahye par semblant.” “ Et quel escu portiez vows?” “Dame, ie portay a la premiere foys ung escu blanc a une bande de belif vermeille. Et lautre foys ung ou il y auoyt deux bendes” | “ Et yous vys ie plus?” “Ouy, la nuyt que yous cuidiez auoir perdu messire Gauuain et ses cowpaignons, et que les gens cryoyent que 1 en me prenist ; Je vins hors a tout mon escu a troys bendes.” “ Certes,” THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. xlvii faict elle, “ ce poise moy | car se on vous eust detenu, tous les enchantements feussent demourez | Mais or me dictes, fustes vous ce qui iettastes messire Grauain de prison?” “ Dame, ie y ayday a mon pouoir.” “Certes,” faict elle, “ en toutes les choses que vous me dictes ie nay trouue si non verite. Mais or me dictes qui estoit en une tournelle dessus la chambre monseigneur.” “ Dame, cestoyt une pucelle que ie ne villennay oncques | Car ma dame du lac la me auoyt enuoyee | si me trouua en ceste tournelle | il fut assez qui la honnora pour moy. Quant ie ouy nouuelles de monseigneur Grauuain, si en fut mowlt angoisseux, et men party de la Damoyselle qui auecques moy debuoit venir, et luy priay que elle ne se remuast tant que elle eust mon messaige ou moy. Si fus si surprins de tresgrant affaire que ie loubliay | et elle fut plus loyalle uers moy que ie ne fus courtois vers elle | car oncques ne se remua iusques a ce qwelle eut mes enseignes, et ce fut grant piece apres.” Comment la royne congneut Lancelot apres qw*l eut lowguement parle a elle, et qwtl luy eut compte de ses auentures. Et comment la premiere acointance fut faicte entre lancelot et la royne genieure par la moyen de gallehault. Q Yant la royne eut parle de la damoiselle, si scait bien que cest Lancelot. Si luy enquist de toutes les choses qwelle auoit ouy de luy, et de toutes le trouua vray disawt; “ Or me dictes,” fait elle, “ vous vy ie puis ? ” “Ouy, dame, telle heure que vo us me eustes biew mestier | car ieusse este noye a kamalot se ne eussiez vous este.” “ Comment ! feustes vous celluy que daguenet le fol print?” ‘ 1 Dame, prins fus ie sans faulte.” “ Et ou alliez vous ? ” “ Dame, ie alloye apres ung cheuallier.” “Et vous combatistes vous a luy” | “dame, ouy.” “Et dillec ou allastes vous?” “Dame, ie trouuay deux grans villains que me occirent mow cheual | mais messire yuain, qui bonne aduenture ayt, men donna vng.” “Ha, ha,” fait elle, “ie scay bien qui vous estes; Yous auez nom lancelot du lac.” II se taist. “Par dieu,” faict elle, “pourneant le celez | long temps a que messire Gauuain apporta nouuelles de vostre nom a cowrt;” Lors luy compta comment messire yuain auoit compte que la damoyselle auoit dit | cest la tierce. “Et anten quelles armes portastes vous?” “Ynes vermeilles.” “Par mow chef cest verite. Et auant hier pourquoy feistes vows tant darmes comme vous feistes?” Et il commenca a souspirer. “ Dictes moy seurement | Car ie scay bien que pour aulcune dame ou damoyselle le feistes vous, et me dictes qui elle est, par la foy que vous me deuez.” “Haa, dame, ie voy bien quil le me conuient dire, cestes vo us.” “Moy?” faict and I helped to deliver him from prison.” The Queen asks the knight who was in the turret above his room there. “A damsel whom I never dishon- oured, but I asked her not to leave till she saw my mes- senger or me, which I then forgot, and kept her there a very long time. How the Queen knew Lancelot. When she heard of this damsel the Queen knew it must be Lancelot, and asks him if he was the knight whom Daguenet took. He answers “ Yes and that two rascals killed his horse, and Ywain gave him another. “Ah, then your name is Lance- lot,” says she, “ and for what lady or damsel did you do such feats of arms the day before yes- terday i. ” “For you, Lady; xlviii THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM, and for you i elle. “Yoire, dame.” “Pour moy ne rompistes vous pas lances that ^ou? ^ es troys lances que ma pucelle vous porta?” “Car ie me maiden brought mis bien hors du mandement, dame ; ie fis pour elle ce que me » ie deuz, et pour yous ce que ie peux.” “Et combien a il que yous me aymez tant?” “Des le iour que ie fus teuu pour cheuallier, et ie ne lestoye mye” | “Par la foy que yous me deuez, dont vindrent ces amours que yous auez en moy raises?” “dame,” fait il, “yous le me feistes faire qui for you had made de moy feistes vostre amy, se Yostre bouche ne me a mewty.” aud y sadd^r was “ ^ on am y • ” faict elle, “comment ? ” “ Dame,” fait il, “ je your knight in vins deuant yous quant ie eu prins congie a monseigneur meaSeu as your r °y I s i vous commanday a dieu, et dis que ie estoye own sweet friend, yostre cheuallier en tous lieux. Et yous me dictes que vostre amy et Yostre cheuallier Youlliez vous que ie feusse. Et ie dys, “a dieu ! dame.” Et vous distes “a dieu ! mon beau doulx amy ! ” Ce fut le mot qui preudhomme me fera, That word has se ie le suis, ne oncques puis ne fus a si grant meschef que always* been my ^ ne men remembrast. Ce mot ma conforte en tows mes strength and ennuys. Cest mot ma de tous maulx guary. Cest mot weaith. ma fait riche en mes pouretez;” “Par ma foy,” fait la royne, “ce mot fut en bowne heure diet j et dieu en soyt aoure | ne ie ne le prenoye pas acertes comme yous feistes, “Oh but that a ma i n t preudhomme ay ie ce diet ou ie ne pensay wasoniyan ordi- oncques riens que le dire. Mais la coustume est telle men t C ” says Gui- des cheualliers que font a mainte dame semblant de telles nevere, to tease choses dont a gueres ne leur est au cueur.” Et ce disoit elle po ur veoir de combien elle le pourroit mettre en malaise ; Car elle veoit bien quil ne pretendoit a autre amour que a la sienne ] mais elle se delectoyt a sa malai- This grieves Lan- sete veoir, et il eut si grant angoisse que par ung pou quil neariy S °faints at ne se P asma I & l a royne eut paour quil ne cheist, si appella which Gaiiot is gallehault, et il y vint acourant. Quant il voyt que son greatly grieved, CO mpaignow est si courrouce, si en a si grawt angoisse que plus ne peut. “Haa, dame,” fait gallehault, “yous le nous pourrez bien tollir, et ce seroit trop grand dommaige.” “Certes, sire, se seroit mon ;” “ Et ne scauez yous pour qui il a tant fait darrnes?” faict gallehault. “ Certes, nenny,” that Lanceio^is ^ a * c ^ e ^ e I “ ma ^ s > se ^ es ^ ve oir ce qui ma este diet, cest pour the gaihmtest 1S moy ; ” “Dame, se maist dieu, bien len pouez croire | car aussi men truest ° f comme il est le plus preudhomme de tous les hommes | aussi est son cueur plus vray que tous aultres.” “ Yoiremewt, fait elle, “ diriez vous quil seroit preudhomme se yous scauiez quil a fait darrnes puis quil fut cheuallier.” Lors luy compte tout ainsi comment yous auez ouy | “ et saichez quil a ce faict seullement pour moy,” fait elle. Lors luy have Pr mercy er on P iae gallehault, & dist. “ Pour dieu, dame, ayez de luy him, mercy, et faictes pour moy ainsi comme ie fis pour vous THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. xlix quant vous men priastes.” “ Quelle mercy voulez vous que « what mercy?” ien aye?” “ Dame, vous scauez que ie vous ay me sur toutes, says she 5 et il a fait powr yous plus que oncques cheualier ne fist po?a’ dame, et sachez que la paix de moy et de monseignetu: neust ia este faicte se neust il este.” “ Certes,” faict elle, “ il ‘‘there is nothing , n . . n . - i he can ask of me a plus iaict pour moy que ne pourroye desseruir, ne il ne that i will not me pourroyt chose requerre dont ie le peuisse esconduyre | jj^aak” 118 wiU mais il ne me requiert de riens | ains est tant melencolieux que merueilles.” “ Dame,” fait gallehault, “ auez en mercy ; il est celluy qui vows ayme plus que soy mesmes. Si maist dieu, ie ne scauoye riens de sa voulente quant il vint, fors quil doubtoit de estre congneu, ne oncques plus ne men descouurit.” “Je en auray,” fait elle, “telle mercy comme vous Youldrez.” “Dame, yous auez fait ce que ie yous ay requis; aussi doy ie bien faire ce que yous me requerez.” Se dit la royne, “il ne me requiert de riens.” “Certes, dame,” “ He „ does not fait gallehault, “il ne ose | car 1 on ne aymera ia riens par Gaiiot,“ but i will amowrs que len ne craigne | mais ie yous en prie pour ask for him ” luy, & se ie ne vous en priasse, si le deussiez vous pour- cbasser. Car plus riche tresor ne pourriez yous con- quester.” “ Certes,” fait elle, “ ie le scay bien et ie en feray ‘‘Then i will tout ce que vous commanderez.” “ Dame,” fait Gallehault, Que^n Guinevere “ grant mercy.” Je yous prie que yous luy donnez vostre GaUot^prays^her amour, et le retenez pour vostre cheuallier a tousiours, et her love, and be- deuenez sa loyalle dame toute vostre vie | et vous le aurez f^ai^her life ? 1 fait plus riche que se vous luy auiez donne tout le monde.” “Certes,” faict elle, “ie luy ottroye que il soyt mien | et be Lancelot’?, t0 moy toute sienne, et que par vous soyent amendez tous les meffaitz.” “ Dame,” faict Gallehault, “grant mercy.” Or doeve^jdMnglhe conuient il commencement de seruice ; “ Yous ne deuiserez is told. riens,” fait la royne, “que ie ne face.” “Dame,” faict “ Then kiss Lan- il, “grant mercy | done baisez le deuant moy pour com- says Gaiiot? me> mencement de vrayes amours.” “ Du baiser,” faict elle, “ie ne voy ne lieu ne temps | et ne doubtez pas,” faict elle, “que ie ne le voulsisse faire aussi voullentiers quil feroit | mais ces dames sont cy qui mowlt se merueillent que nows auons This Guinevere tant fait, si ne powrroyt estre que ilz ne le vissent. Nom- lISo? wished pourtant, se il veult, ie le baiseray voullentiers.” Et it. il en est si ioyeulx que il ne peult respondre si non tant quil diet. “Dame,” faict il, “grant mercy” | “dame,” Gaiiot says there faict Gallehault, “de son vouloir nen doubtez ia | Car il Lancelot’s wish ; est tout vostre, bien le saichez, ne ia nul ne sen apper- ceuera ; Nous troys serons ensemble ainsi comme se nous conseillions ” | “Dequoy me feroye ie pryer” | faict elle | “plus le vueil ie que vous.” Dors se trayent a part, et and as he is bash- font semblant de conseiller. La Royne voyt que le cheual- fakeshim by the lier nen ose plus faire, si le prent par le menton, et baise chin, and kisses d 1 THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. him before Gal- iot. (The Lady of Mallehault sees her.) Guinevere tells Lancelot that she is his, but charges him to keep the matter secret, and Galiot too. Galiot promises this, and asks Guine- vere to make Lancelot his com- panion for ever. She takes Lance- lot’s hand, gives him to Galiot, and says she has given him Lan- celot of the Lake, son of King Ban. This gives Galiot more joy than ever he had be- fore, as he had often heard how Lancelot was the gallantest knight in the world. By the bright moonlight they recross the meads towards Lancelot’s tent, and Galiot sends Lancelot there, whilehe conducts the Queen to Ar- thur’s tent, and tells him they have only been deuant Gallehault assez longuement. Et la dame de Mallehauli (sic) sceut de vray que elle le baisoyt. Lors parla la Boyne qui moult estoyt sage & vaillant dame. “ Beau doulx amy,” faict elle, “ taut auez faict que ie suys vostre ; Et moult en ay grant ioye. Or gardez que la chose soyt celee. Car mestier en est. Je suys une des Dames du monde dont len a greigueur bien diet, Et se ma renommee empiroyt par vous, il y auroyt layde amour et villaine | et vous, Grallehault, ie vous prye que mon honneur gardez | Car vous estes le plus saige | Et se mal men venoyt, ce ne seroyt si non par vous ; Et se ien ay bien et ioye, vous me lauez donnee.” “Dame,” faict Gallehault, “il ne pour- royt vers vous mesprendre, et ien ay bien faict ce que vous me commandastes. Or vous prye que faciez ma voulente ainsi comme iay fait la vostre “ Dictes,” fait elle, “ tout ce quil vo us plaira hardyment | car vous ne me scauriez chose commander que ie ne face.” “ Dame,” faict il, “done mauez vous ottroye que ie seray son compaignon a tous- iours.” “Certes,” fait elle, “se de ce vows failloit, vous auriez mal employe la peine que vous auez prinse pour luy et pour moy.” Lors prent le cheuallier par la main, et diet. “Gallehault, ie vous donne ce cheualier a tousiours sans ce que iay auant eu, et vous le me creancez ainsi” | et aussi le cheualier luy creance | “ scauez vous,” fait elle, “Gallehault, que ie vous ay donne lancelot du lac, le filz au roy ban de benoic;” Ainsi luy a fait le cheualier congnoistre, qui moult en a grant honte. Lors a gallehault greigneure ioye quil neust oncq?^s | car il auoit maintesfois ouy dire, comme parolles vont, que cestoyt le meilleur cheualier et le plus preux du monde, et bien scauoit que le roy ban auoit este moult gentil homme, et moult puissant de amys et de terre. A insi fat faicte la premiere acointance de la royne et de lancelot par gallehault | et Gallehault ne lauoit oneques congneu que de veue, et pource luy. fait creancer qml ne luy demanderoit son nom tant quil luy dist, ou autre po ur luy. Lors se leuerent tous troys, et il anuytoit durement. Mais la lune estoyt leuee, si faisoit cler | Si que elle luysoyt par toute la praerie | Lors sen retournerent a une part contrement les prez droit vers le tref le cheualier, & le seneschal et gallehault vint apres luy & les dames tant qw«lz vindrerat endroit les terates de gallehault. Lors enuoya Gallehault son compaignon a son tref, et prent corage de la royne, et gallehault la conuoye iusques au tref du Boy. Et quarat le roy les veyt, si de- manda dont ilz venoyent. “ Sire,” fait Gallehault, “ nous uenons de veoir ces pres a si peu de compaignie comment THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. vo us veez.” Lors se assient, et parlent de plusieurs looking at the choses ; si sont la Itoyne et Gallehault moult ayses. Lives. by them " A V chef de piece se leua la royne, et sen alia en la bre- tesche ; gallehault la conuoya iusqw^s la. Puis la commawde a dieu, et clist quil sen yroit gesir auec son Oaiiot sees the compaignon. “ Lien auez lait, dit la royne, “il en sera tower, plus ayse” | A taut sen part gallehault, et vient au roy prendre congie, et dist quil ne luy desplaise, et que il yra gesir auec les gens pource quil ny auoyt geu de grant piece, f^e^^ArSur et dist. “ Sire, ie me doibz pener de faire leur voulente \ and of Gawain, car ilz me ayment moult.” “ Sire,” fait messire gauuain, “vows dictes bien, et len doit bien honnorer telz preud- hommes qm les a.” Lors sen part gallehault et vient a son compaignon ; Ilz se coucherent tows deux en ung lict, et and goes to Lan- deviserent la une piece. Si vous laisserons ores a parler celot 8 bed ‘ de gallehault & de son compaignon, et dirons de la royne qui est venu en la bretesche. Q Vawt gallehault fut party, la royne sen alia en vne Queen Guinevere fenestre, et commewce a penser a ce que plus fowtothink^Sid luy plaisoyt. La dame de mallehault saprocha delle quant the Lady of Mai- elle la vit seulle, et luy dist le plus priueement que elle le au peut. “ Haa, dame ! pourquoy ne est bonne la compaignie asks her why de quatre ?” La royne le ouyst bien, si ne dit mot, et fait p a n™ rebadcom ’ semblant que riens nen ouyt. Et ne demoura gueres que At first Guine- la dame dist celle parolle mesmes ; la royne lapella et dist. this, bL^h^Lady “Dame, pourquoy auez ce dit?” “Dame,” fait elle, ine C£ QLeen ask? “ pardonnez moi, ie nen diray ores plus | car par aduen- why she' Bays^t! ture en ay plus dit que a moy napartient I & lew ne se and the , Lad y doit mi iaire plus pnuee de sa dame que len est | car tost en perhaps she has acquiert on hayne.” “ Si maist dieu,” fait la royne, “vous ® a No/ ,0 s^s C Gui- ne me powrriez riews dire dowt vous eussiez ma haine | ie nevere, vous riens ment elle, “ done le vous diray ie | Je dy que moult est bonne la “ Then i must compaignie de quatre ; Jay huy veu nouueau accointement Sr^very giod que vous auez faict au cheuallier qui parla a vous la bas en company, i saw ce vergier. Lt scay bien que cest la personne du mowde ance you made qui plus vous ayme, et vous ne auez pas tort se vous h°e d f 8 y, the k man laymez | car vous ne pourriez vostre amour mieulx em- who loves you ployer;” “Comment,” fait la royne, “ le congnoissez vous ? ” the “Dame,” fait elle, “telle heure a este ouen que ie vous en eusse bien peu faire refus comme vous en pouez ores i kept him a year faire a moy | car ie lay tenu ung an et demy en prison, and a half in pn- Cest celluy quivainequit lassemblee aux armes vermeilles | bothTiwred and & celle de deuant hier aux armes noires, les unes & les the black arms in autres luy baillay ie; Et quant il fut auant hier sur la tourneys ^ onthe tiens tant a saige et a courtoyse, que vous ne dinez qui fust encontre ma voulente | Mais dictes hardy- “ speak boldly I Car ie le vueil, et si vous en prie.” “ Dame,” fait out; 1 msh lt '’’ lii THE and I thought thenthatheloved me, but he soon undeceived me.” The Queen an- wers, “But tell me why four are better company than three.” “ Because, though your knight loves you, he loves Galiot too, and they will not stay here long,but you will; and if you have no one else to tell your thought to, you will he forced to keep your faith to yourself ; hut if you will let me be a fourth, we can comfort one another. Queen Guinevere agrees to this with great joy, and tells the Lady that the knight is Lancelot of the Lake. At night the ladies sleep to- gether, and talk of their new loves, the Lady of Mal- lehauit saying that she never loved but one, and then only in thought (and FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. riuiere pensif, et ie luy voulu mander que il fist vaillam- ment armes, ie ne le faisoye sinon pour ce que ie esperoye quil yous aymast ; si cuydoye telle heure fust que il me aymast | Mais il me mist tost hors de cuyder, tant me descouurit de son penser.” Lors luy compta comment elle lauoyt tenu en prison an et demy | et pourquoy elle lauoit prins. “ Or me dictes,” fait la royne, “ quelle compaignie vault mieulx de quatre que de troys | car mieulx est une chose celee par trois que par quatre.” “Certes non est cy endroit, et si vo us diray. Yray est que le cheualier yous ayme, et aussi fait il gallehault, et desormais se conforterowt lung lautre en quelque terre quilz soient. Car icy ne serowt ilz pas longuement : et yous demourerez cy toute seule, et ne le scaura nul fors vous | ne si ne aurez a qui descouurir vostre pensee, si porterez ainsi vostre faix toute seulle | mais sil vows pleust que ie fusse la quarte en la compaignie entre nous deux dames, nous solacierons ainsi comme entre eulx deux cheualiers feront, si en seriez plus aise.” “ Scauez yous,” fait la royne, “ qui est le cheuallier?” “ Se maist dieu,” fait la dame, “nenwy.” “Yous auez bien ouy comment il se couurit vers moy.” “ Certes,” faict la royne, “moult estes appar- ceuante, et moult conuiendroit estre sage qui vous voul- droit rien embler, & puis que ainsi est que vous lauez aperceu, et que yous me requerez la compagnie, yous laurez | mais ie vueil que yous portez vostre faix ainsi comme ie feray le miew.” “Dame,” faict elle, “ie feray ce que il vous plaira, pour ci haulte compaignie auoir.” “ En verite,” faict la royne, “vous laurez j car meilleure compaignie que yous ne pourroye ie mye auoir.” “ Dame,” fait elle, “ nous serons ensemble toutes les heures quil yous plaira.” “Jen suys ioyeuse,” faict la Royne. “ Et nows affermerons demain la compaignie de nous quattre.” Lors luy compte de Lancelot, comment il auoyt ploure quant il regarda deuers elle, “ et ie scay que il yous congneut, et saichez que cest lancelot du lac, le meilleur cheuallier qui viue.” Ainsi parlerent longuement entre elles deux | et font moult grant ioye de lewr accointement nouueau. Icelle nuyct ne souffrit oncques la Royne de logres que la dame de mallehault geust sinon auec elle | mais elle y geut a force. Car elle doubtoyt moult de gesir auec si riche dame ; Quant elles furent couchees si commencerent a parler de leurs nouuelles amours ; La royne demanda a la dame de mallehault selle ame nulluy par amours, et elle luy diet que nenny. “ Saichez, dame, que ie naymay oncques que vne foys, ne de celle amour ne fis ie que penser et ce dit elle de lancelot, quelle auoit tant ayme cowme femme THE FRENCH CONTINUATION OF THE SCOTCH POEM. liii pourroit aymer homme mortel | Mais elle nen auoit oncques that was Lance- aultre ioye eue, non pourtant ne dit pas que ce eust il este. lot ^ La royne pensa quelle feroyt ses amours de elle et de galle- The Queen thinks hault, mais elle nen veult parler iusques a tawt quelle Lady^a^GaUot scaura de gallehault sil la veult aymer ou non I car autre - fal1 in l ?J e with ment ne len requerroit elle pas. Lendemain se leuerent Next morning matin elles deux, & allerent au tref du roy, qui gisoit la tJ^’s^ent 0 Ar " pour faire a monseigneur gauuain et aux aultres cheual- and wake him, iers compaignie. La royne sesueilla, & dist, “que moult over th the r me™ estoyt mauluais qui a ceste heure dormoyt.” Lors se dows tournerent contreual les prez, et dames et damoyselles auec elles. Et ils allerent la ou laccointement damours auoyt y^ere the meet- este faict, et diet la Royne a la dame de mallehault toute SokpiaceT lCe ° laccointance de lancelot | et comme il estoit esbahy deuant “j* jjj Lady of elle, et riens ne luy laissa a dire. Puis commenca a louer Mallehault ail gallehault, et dit que cestoit le plus saige homme et le plus jJdtiira praises vertueulx du monde ; “ Certes,” fait elle, “ ie luy comp- Gaiiot as the teray lacointance de nous deux quant il viendra, et sachez man in the world! que il en aura grawt ioye. Or allows | car il ne demourra gueres quil ne viengne.” The next chapter tells how Queen Guinevere requires Gaiiot to let her dispose of his love as he had disposed of hers. This he agrees to do, and she bestows him on the Lady of Malle- hault. Then they arrange for the promised parlement de eulx quatre; the Queen introduces Lancelot to the Lady of Malle- hault; the four sit down in the wood, and, after a short chat, wait silent a long time, saying nothing, but embracing and kissing one another (seemingly in pairs) comme ceulx qui voulentiers le faisoyent. After this Gawain becomes well, and the Court breaks up, Gaiiot taking Lancelot with him to his country, and the Queen taking the Lady of Mallehault home with her and Arthur, all promising to meet again as soon as possible. NOTES TO THE APPENDIX. P. xx. Descosse = d' Ecosse, of Scotland. In Old Trench, words are frequently run together ; thus we have labbaye for Vabbaye , sesmeurent for s'emeurent, etc. Also the letter s is often replaced in modern French by an acute or circumflex accent; so that Escosse = Ecosse ; chasteau = chateau, etc. The word si often occurs below with a great variety of meanings, viz. I, he ; and, also ; so, thus ; etc. P. xxi. bailie , given, entrusted; brouyr (bruler), being burnt; monstier , monastery. P. xxii. yauues, so in the original throughout ; gaunes is used in other romances. P. xxiii. auecques — avec, with ; aduision, vision, behourdys, prowess. P. xxiv. naure , wounded, deffera = desferra, un-ironed ; it means that Lancelot drew the weapons out of the knight’s wounds, detiers, “Preposition relative au temps et au lieu dont on parle ; pres, vers, contre, proche; de versus” Roquefort, octroy a, permitted (authorized). mouille, lit. wetted ; insulted, veirent, saw. escript ( ecrit ), written. P. xxv. lassemblee, the gathering; i.e. the war, strife, rua, over- threw. mire, physician. P. xxvi. gue, ford, pass, tresues, a truce ; spelt treues on p. xxvii. P. xxvii. esbatre, to divert oneself. In modern French, s’tbattre. P. xxviii. orrions, shall hear. deust = dut. cheoient, from cheoir, to fall. Compare chute, poih, hairs, esbahy, amazed, orteh, toes. chaille ; from chaloir, to be anxious about. P. xxix. dilacion, delay, paour, fear. P. xxx. mire, physician, veufue, old. cheuauche , rides, boutte, huts, pushes. P. xxxi. iecte , ( jete ), cast, cuyde, I believe. Si maist dieu, so God aid me. Here maist is put for m’aist. oncques , ever, ennuyt, this night, to-night, lottroyera , will permit him. conroy, troops. P. xxxii. derrains {dernier s'), last, busines , trumpets, vng pouvers (■ un peu vers), a little towards. Or y perra, now it will appear. cuidoit, believed; from the old verb quider. cheuauchent, ride, ia, already. P. xxxiii. tertre, a small hill, adresse, a cross-path, huy, just before ; lit. this day. Lat. hodie. P. xxxiv. se pasme, swoons, leans, thither, ores, now. huy, to-day. NOTES TO THE APPENDIX. lv preudhomme , a wise and prudent man. lottroye , permits him. tref tent, nenny , no ! ains, before. P. xxxv. guerpiront , will leave. ded/uys, amusements, diversions. leans, there, gerrez, will lie. las, tired. P. xxxvi. Ains , but. semondray, shall ask. esbahy , amazed, tollez , take away, creanca, promised, lees , wide, full, lices, lists. P. xxxvii. emmy le pas, in the midst of the passage, hucher, to cry aloud. P. xxxviii. lieue, lifts, saisine, disposal, enseignes, tokens, aincoys, first of all. P. xxxix. oncques mes, never, a resiouyr ( rejouir ), in amusing. escondiroye, will refuse, me poyse, it troubles me. pieca , long ago. se embronche, covers his face. P. xl. sen esueillerent , awoke thereat. Adonc, then, riens forfait , anyway injured. P. xli. ne me mescreez mye que, do not doubt me more than. P. xlii. doint, gives, were to give. P. xliii. mesgnie , properly the suite or household of a prince ; see Roquefort s.v. magnie and maignee. nef, a boat, loue, advise, vous esmayez , afflict yourself, courrouce, wroth, displeased. P. xliv. vergier , orchard, aual, below. P. xlv. se embroncha, she veiled herself, or, hid herself, iouxte, beside, maintes, many, ot, heard, len prise mieulx , esteemed it better. P. xlvi. loe, praises, dejfera, dis-ironed, drew the weapons out of. lestrief the stirrup, leans (la dedans ), there, belif We find in Cot- grave’s French Dictionary, “Belie, a kind of red or geueles, in Blazon.” P. xlvii. enseignes, tokens, message, mestier, serviceable, dillec , thence, pourneant, for nothing, in vain. P. xlviii. voire, truly, commanday a dieu , commended to god, bade farewell. P. 1. mestier en est, there is need of it. greigneur bien , exceedingly well, very highly, greigneure, greater, anuytoit , became night. P. li. se pener, to take paius. CORRECTIONS, ETC. P. xxxi. 1. 17. For “ El it” read “ Et il.” P. 1. 1. 18. I now find that the true reading of the MS. is not “ denit,” but “ deuit.” It deuit me = it availed me. Compare O.N. dug a ; Ger. taugen. In Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary we find — “ Dow, 1. to be able. A.S. dug an {valere), to be able. 2. to avail. Teut .•doogen.” The note to this line is therefore wrong. P. 5, 1. 144. For “ aypetit” read “appetit.” P. 25, 1. 826. For “ heuftiold” read “houfhold.” P. 43, 1. 1448. For “ ftan” read “flan.” P. 51, 1. 1749. For “ famyne” read “famyne.” P. 103, note to 1. 28. For “ carving ” read “earning” and add, “But it must be remembered that ‘ began to cut ’ is only a literal , not a strict translation ; the true force of the phrase is did cut , as explained in the Glossary, s.v. Can.” P. 105, 1. 2. For “ ful nimble” read “ full nimble.” In the Glossary, s.v. Ward, add— “But the meaning of ward itself maybe world-, and there is no necessity to alter it to world. Ward is given for world in Grose’s Provincial Dictionary, and word (in the same sense) occurs several times in the Corpus MS. of ‘ Genesis and Exodus.’” (®lu Romans 4 J£anr*Ut jj( the Sail*. PKOLOGUE. T HE foft morow ande The luftee Aperill, The wynt er set, the stormys in exill, Quhen that the brytAt and frefch illumynare 4 TTprifith arly in his fyre chare His hot court 2 ) in to the orient, And frome hw fpere his goldine ftremis sent AVpone the grond, in man^r off mefag, 8 One euery thing to valkyne thar curage, That natur haith set wmW hire mycht, Boith gyrft, and flour, and eiMry lufty vicht : And namly thame that felith the affay 12 Of lufe, to fchew the kalendis of may, Throw birdis fonge w ith opine wox one hy, That feffit not one lufam for to cry, Lett thai for^het, throw tlewth of Ignorans, 16 The old wfage of lowis obfmians. And frome I can the bricht face affpy, It denit 1 me no langare fore to ly, [Fol. la.] In April, when the fresh lumi- nary upriseth, and sendeth from his sphere his golden streams, and when I espy his bright face, 1 We should, perhaps, read “demit.” See note. 1 2 THE POET BEWAILS HIS LOT. I walk forth, be- wailing my sad life. The sword of love carves my heart. My lady knoweth not how I am wo- begone. [Fol. 16.] I walked thus in the field, and came to a well- beseen garden. It was closely environed with leaves. Nore that lone fchuld llouth In to me finde, 20 Bot walkine furth bewalinge in my mynde, The dredful lyve endurit al to longe, Sufferans in loue of forouful harmys lironge, The fcharpe dais and the hewy }erys 24 Quhill phebus thris haith paffith al his fperis, Yithontine hope ore traiftinge of comfort ; So he fuch meine fatit was my sort. Thus in my faull Rolinge al my wo, 28 My carful hart car wing can In two The derdful fuerd of lowis hot diffire ; So he the morow set I was a-fyre In felinge of the acceft hot and colde, 32 That haith my hart in fich a fevir holde, Only to me thare was none vthir eft Bot thinkine qhow I fchulde my lady pleft. The fcharp allay and ek the Inwart peine 36 Of dowhlit wo me neulyngfs can conftrein, Quhen that I have remembrit one my thocAt How fche, quhois hewte al my harm haith wrocht, He knouith not how lame wo begone, 40 Hor how that I ame of hire fmiandis one ; And in my felf I can nocht fynde the meyne In to quhat wyft I fal my wo compleine. Thus in the feild I walkith to and froo, 44 As thocAtful wicht that felt of no^At bot woo, Syne to o gardinge, that weft weil beien, Of quiche the feild was al depaynt w/tA gren. The tendyre and the lufty flourfs new 48 Up throue the gren vpone thar ftalk/s grew A^hane the fone, and thare levis fpred, QuharwAA that al the gardinge was I-clede ; That pryapus, in to his tyme before, 52 In o luftear walkith nevir more ; And al about enweronyt and Iclolit One lich o wyft, that none wftAin fuppofit HE SEES A VISION OF A GREEN BIRD. 3 Fore to be fen with ony vicht tbare owt ; 56 So dide the levis clof it 1 all about. Thar was the flour, thar was the quen alpheft, 2 RydAt wering being of the njchtis reft, "Wnclofiwg gane the crown el for the day ; 60 The brydAt fone illumynit haith the fpray, The nychtis fobir ande the moft fchowm, As criftoll terys wftAhong vpone the floum, Haith vpwarpith In the lufty aire, 64 The morow makith soft, ameyne, and faire ; And the byrdfs thar mydAty voce out-throng, Quhill al the wood refonite of thar fonge. That gret confort till ony vicht It wer 68 That pleflith thame of luftenes to here. Bot gladnefi til the thocAtful, audr mo The more he feith, the more he haith of wo. Thar was the garding wit A the floum ourfret, 7 2 Quich is in pofy fore my lady set, That hire Reprefent to me oft befor, And thane alfo ; thus al day gan be for 3 Of thocAt my goft witA torment occupy, 76 That I became In to one exafy, Ore flep, or how I wot ; bot fo befell My wo haith done my livis goft expell, And in ftch wifr weil long I can endwr, 80 So me betid o wondir aventur. As I thus lay RydAt to my fpreit vas fen A birde, yat was as ony lawrare gren, A-licht, and fayth in to hir birdis chere ; 84 “0 woful wrech, that levis in to were ! To fchew the thus the god of loue me fent, That of thi ftruice no thing is content, For in his court yhoue lewith in diflpar, 88 And vilfully suftenis al thi care, The sun illumin- ed the sprays ; the birds sang till the woods re- sounded ; the garden was adorned with flowers. [Fol. 2a.] I fell there into an extasy or sleep, and saw in my dream a green bird, who said : “The God of Love is discon- tent with tbee. 1 MS. “clofit.” 2 May we read “alcest” ? 3 MS. “befor.” 4 THE BIRD’S MESSAGE. You are destitute of wit. Though you call on trees, your lady hears not. Ovid says it is better to shew, than to conceal love. [Fol. 26.] As touching thine adversity, seek the remedy.” Then answered I : “ Love knows the reason of my wo.” And fchapith no thin go of thine awn remede, Bot clepith ay and cryith apone dede. Yhow callith the birdfs be morow fro thar bourn, 92 Yhoue devith boith the erbis and the flour/s, And clepit hyme vnfaithful king of lowe, Yow dewith hyme in to hts rigne abufe, Yhow tempith hyme, yhoue doith thi felf no gud, 96 Yhoue are o mon of wit al deflitude. Y r ot yhoue noclit that al liwis creatwre Haith of thi wo in to h/s hand the cwre ? And fet yhoue clep one erbis and one treis, 100 Sche hem not thi wo, nore ^hit fche feis ; Bor none may know the dirknefr of thi thor/d, Ye blamyth her thi wo fche knowith no, His vombe out fallith vith his hoil syde 376 Apone the ground, and liging hyme helid ; Throw wich anon out of his llep he ftert, Abalit and adred into his hart. The wich he morow one to the qwen he told, 380 And fhe ajeine to hyme haith anfuer jolde; 1 1 To dremys, fir, fhuld no man have Kefpek, For thei ben thing/s weyn, of non affek.” “Well,” quod. the king, “God grant It fo befall 384 Arly he roft, and gert one to hyme call 0 clerk, to whome that al his hewynes Tweching his drem the with he expref), Wich anfuer yaf and feith one to the kinge ; 388 “ Shir, no Kecord lyith to fuch thing ; Wharfor now, lhir, I pray^ yow tak no kep, Hore trail! in to the yanyteis of slep ; For thei are thing/s that alkith no credens, 392 Eut caufith of fum maner influews, Emprift of thoght, ore fup^rfleuytee, Or than fum othir cafualytee.” “ ^it,” qwod the king, “ I fal Tiocht leif It so 396 And furth he chargit melingeru to go Throgh al his Kealm, wftAouten more demande, And had them ftratly at thei Ihulde comande All the hilhopes, and makyng no delay 400 The Ihuld appere be the tuenty day HE SENDS FOR HIS CLERKS. 13 At camelot, with al thar hoi clergy That molt expert war, for to certefye A mater tueching to his golt be nyght ; 404 The mefag goith furth with the \ettvQS Right. rjIHE king eft lone, wtt/nn a litill fpace, J- His Iornay makith haith frome place to place, "Whill that he cam to camelot ; and there 408 The clerkte all, as that the chargit were, Alfemblit war, and came to his prefens, Of his delir to viting the fentens. To them that war to hyme molt Ipeciall 412 Furth his entent lhauyth he al hall ; By whois confeil of the worthielt He chelith ten, yclepit for the belt, And molt expert and wifelt was fuppolit, 416 To qwhome his drem al hail he haith difcloffit; The houre, the nyght, and al the c The kingte drem thei fhal belt fpecefy. 432 And than the mailtris of altronomy The bookte longyne to ther artis set; 2 Hot was the bukte of arachell forget, He goes to Came- lot, and finds the clerks assembled. He discloses all to the ten that are most expert, [Fol. 6&.] and beseeches them to explain the dreams. One of them asks for nine days to advise upon the matter. The king com- plies, but shuts them up in a strong place. The masters of astronomy fetch their books, 1 MS. “saith with” (with a very slight scratch through “saith”). 2 So in MS. Kead“fet.” 14 THEY REFUSE TO EXPLAIN THEM. 436 and calculate the disposition of the planets. 440 They found the matter heavy for the king, and doubted if they should tell 444 him so. Being sent for, 448 they all spake, “Sir, -we can find no evidence.” “Ere we part,” quoth the king, “ ye shall witness something.” 456 [Fol. 7a.] He grants them three days more. 460 They pray for a further delay of three days. 464 468 They still refuse to declare their thought. Of nembrot, of dan^helome, thei two, Of moyfes, and of herynes all soo ; And feking be ther calcolaciouwe To fynd the planets difpoficiouwe, The wich thei fond ware wonder ewill yfet The famyne night the king his fweuen met. So ner the point focht thei have the thing, Thei fond It wonder hewy to the king, Of wich thing thei waryng in to were To fhew the king, for dreid of his danger. Of ane accorde thei planly haue proponit In’o word to ihow, and fo thei them difponit. The day is cuwyng, and he haith fore them fent, Beiichyne them to fhewing ther entent. Than fpak they all, and that of an accorde ; “ Shir, of this thing we can no thing Recorde, For we can noght fynd in til our fciens Tweching this mater ony ewydens.” “IsTow,” qwod the king, “ and be the glorius lorde, Or we depart ye ihall fum thing recorde ; So pas yhe not, nor fo It fall not bee.” “ Than,” quod, the clerk is, “ grant ws dais three.” The wich he grantid them, and but delay The term paffith, no thing wold the fay, 'Wharof the king ftondith heuy cherith, And to the clerks his vifag fo apperith, That all thei dred them of the kingfs myght. Than faith o clerk, “ sir, as the thrid nyght Ye dremyt, fo giffis ws delay The thrid tyme, and to the thrid day.” By whilk tyme thei fundyng haith the ende Of this mater, als far as ihal depend To ther fciens ; yit can thei not awyfr To fchewing to the king be ony wyf>. The day is cum, the king haith them befocht, Bot one no wyf> thei wald declar ther thoght ; INTERPRETATION OF THE DREAMS. 15 Than was he wroth in to his felf and noyt, 472 And maid his wow that thei dial 1 ben didroyt. His baronis he commandit to gar tak Fyve of them one to the fir-dak, And vther fyue be to the gibbot tone ; 476 And the furth w ith the kingfs charg ar gone. He bad them in to fecret wyfr that thei Shud do no harm but only them afley. The clarkfs, dredful of the kingfs Ire, 480 And faw the perell of deth and of the fyre, Fyve, as thei can, has grantit to record ; That vther herde and ben of ther accorde ; And al thei ben yled one to the king 484 And fhew hyme thus as tueching of this thing. “ Shir, fen that we condrenyt ar by myght To thaw that wich 2 we knaw no thing aricht ; For thing to cum preferuith It allan 488 To hyme the wich is enery thing c^rtan, Excep the thing that till our knawleg hee Hath ordynat of certan for to bee ; Therfor, fhir king, we your magnificens 492 Befeich It turne till ws to non offens, Nor hald ws mocht as learn, thoght It fall Not in this mater, as that we telen diall.” And that the king haith grantit them, and thei 496 Has char git one, that one this wif> fall feye. “ Prefumyth, fhir, that we have fundyne so; All erdly honore ye nedid mod for-go, And them the wich ye mod affy in-tyll 500 Shal failye jow, magre of ther will ; And thus we haue in to this matere founde.” The king, quhois hart was al wyth dred ybownd, And afkit at the elerkte, if thei fynde 504 By there clergy, that dant in ony kynde The king vows to destroy them ; hot secretly charges his knights not to harm them. They yield at last, and say, “Hold us not as liars, though it happen not as we say. You must forego all earthly honour ; [Fol. 76.] and those on whom you most rely, will fail you.” i MS. “fhat . 1 2 MS. “ wich that . 1 16 THE CLERKS GIVE MYSTERIOUS ADVICE. The king asks if his destiny can be altered. They reply, that the matter is dark. A master says, there is no help but in the true watery lion, and in the leech, and in the flower. God knows what this should mean. The king shews no outward grief, but was not rid of anxiety all night. N ext day he goes to the forest. The chase. Of poflibilitee, fore to reforme His dedeny, that dud in fuch a forme ; If in the hewyne Is preordynat 508 On fuch o wifr his honor to trandat. The clerkts faith, “Forfuth, and we haue fene 0 thing whar-of, if we the trouth dial men, Is fo obfcure and dyrk til our clergye, 512 That we wat not what It dial fignefye, Wich caudth ws we can It not furth fay.” “ Yis,” qwod the king, “ as lykith yow ye may, For wers than this can not be faid for me.” 516 Thane faith o maidir, “ Than futhly thws finde w< Thar is no thing fal fucour nor relkew, Your worldly, honore nedis mod adew, But throuch the watrye lyone and ek fyne, 520 On throuch the liche and ek the wattir fyne, And throuch the confeill of the dour ; god wot What this lhude men, for mor ther-of we not.” No word the king anfuerid ayane, 524 For al this refone thinkith bot in weyne ; He diawith outwart his contenans As he therof takith no greuans ; But al the nyght it padid nat his thoght ; 528 The dais courfr wet A ful dedr he focht ; And furth he goith to bring his mynd in red W ith mony 0 knyght vn to the gret fored; The rachis gon wn-copelit for the deire, 532 That in the wodis makith nois and cheir : The knychtfs w ith the grewhund/s in aweit, Secith boith the planis and the dreit. Doune goith the hart, doune goith the hynd alfo ; 536 [In to the feld can rufching to and fro] 1 The fwift grewhund, hardy of aflay ; Befor ther hedis no thing goith away. 1 A line must here be lost, but there is nothing to shew this in the MS. galiot’s message. 17 The king of hunting takith haith his fport, 540 And to his palace home he can Refort, Ayan the noon ; and as that he was set Yith all his noble knyghtfs at the met, So cam ther in an agit knyght, and hee 544 Of gret elftat ferny t for to bee ; Anarmyt all, as tho It was the gyft, And thus the king he faluft, one this wifi, ^ QHIR king, one to yow am y fende 548 ^ Erome the worthieft that in world is kend, That leuyth now of his tyme and age, Of manhed, wifdome, and of hie curag, Galiot, fone of the fare gyande ; 552 And thus, at fhort, he bidfs yow your londe Ye yald hyme our, wftAout Impedyment ; Or of hyme holde, and if tribut and rent. This is my charge at fhort, whilk if youe left 556 Eor to fulfill, of al he haith conqueft He fais that he moft tendir fhal youe hald.” Ry fhort awys the king his anfuer yald ; “ Shir \nycht, your lorde wondir hie pretendis, 560 When he to me fic falutatioune sendfs; Eor I as yit, in tymys that ar gone, Held neu er lond excep of god alone, Yore neu er thinkith til erthly lord to yef 564 Trybut nor rent, als long as I may lef.” l( Well,” qwod the kny^At, “ ful for repen tith me ; Hon may recift the thing the wich mone bee. To yow, Hr king, than frome my lord am I 568 With diffyans fent, and be this refone why ; His purpos Is, or this day moneth day, With all his oft planly to aflay Your lond, w ith mony mawly man of were, 572 And helmyt kny^tfs, boith with ftield and fpere ; And neu er thinkith to retwm home whill That he this lond haith conqueft at his will ; The king returns. [Fol. 8a.] As they sit at meat, an aged knight enters, fully armed. The knight’s message is that king Galiot bids Arthur to yield to him his king- dom. The king refuses. The knight re- plies, that his lord bids him de- fiance, and will invade his land in a month ; not to return till he has conquered, and intending to possess queen Yanour. 2 18 ARTHUR DEFIES GALIOT. 576 Arthur returns his defiance. 580 584 [Fol. 8 b.] The knight de- 588 parts, lamenting Arthur’s adven- turous spirit. 592 Arthur asks Ga- wan who Galiot 596 Galygantynis of gQO Wales replies, that Galiot is the 004 tallest knight by half a foot of all he ever saw; that he is wise, liberal, humble, courage- ous, and under xxiv years of age. 608 And ek vanour the quen, of whome that hee Herith report of al this world that fhee In fairhed and in wertew doith excede, He bad me fay he thinkfs to poflede.” “ Schir,” quod the king, “ your mefag me behuffs Of refone and of curtafy excuff) ; But tueching to your lord and to his oft, His powar, his mefag, and his boft, That pretendith my lond for to diftroy, Thar-of as jit tak I non anoye ; And fay your lord one my behalf, when hee Haith tone my lond, that al the world fhal see That It lhal be magre myne entent.” With that the kny londfs has, In mony knycAtly auewtur haith ben ; And to the king he faith, “ fir, I haue sen Galiot, which is the fareft knyc/ft, And hieft be half a fut one hycht, That euer I saw, and ek his men accordith ; Hyme lakid noeht that to a lord recordith. !For yifare of his ag is non than hee, And ful of larges, and humylytee ; MS. “agod e .” THE LADY OF MELYHALT’s MESSAGE. 19 An hart he haith of paling hie curag, And is not xxiiij jer of age, And of his tyme mekil haith conquerit ; 612 Ten kingas at his command ar fterit. He y ith his mew fo louit is, y gefr, That hyme to pleft is al ther befynes. Hot fay I this, fir, in to ye entent 616 That he, nor none wilder the firmamewt, Shal pouere haue ayane your maieltee ; And or thei Ihuld, this y fey for mee, Rather I lhall knyeMy in to feild 620 Refaue my deith anarmyt wnder lheld. This fpek y left.” The king, ayan the morn, Haith vamit huntaru baith with hund and home, And arly gan one to the foreft ryd, 624 With mony manly knyght/s by his lid, Hyme for to fport and comfort with the dere ; Set eontrare was the felone of y e yere. His moft huntyng was atte wyld bore ; 628 God wot a luftye cuntree was It thoore, In the ilk tyme ! Weil long this noble king In to this lond haith maid his liiornyng ; Frome the lady was send o melinger 632 Of melyhalt, wich faith one this maner, As that the ftory lliewith by recorde : “mO yow, fir king, as to her foueran lorde, J- My lady hath me chargit for to fay 636 How that your lond ftondith in affray ; For galiot, fone of the fare gyande, Enterit Is by armys in your land, And fo the lond and euntre he anoyth, 640 That quhar he goith planly he diftroyth, And makith al obeifand to his honde, That nocht is left wnconqueft in that lond, Excep two caftelKs longing to hir cwre, 644 Wich to defend fhe may nocht long endure. Ten kings obey him. The king goes again to the chase. He likes boar hunting best. [Fol. 9a.] A messenger comes from the lady of Melyhalt, to say that Galiot has entered Ar- thur’s land, and has conquer- ed all but two castles belonging to his mistress. 20 ARTHI'R’s readiness for war. The king pro- mises not to de- lay, and inquires gag the number of the foe. “A hundred thousand,” is the reply. 652 The king says he ■will set off that very night. 656 His knights ad- vise him to wait till he has raised an army. 660 664 668 He refuses to wait longer than till the morrow. 672 [Fol. 96.] 676 The king arises next morning without delay 680 Wharfor, f ir } in word/s plan and fhort, Ye mon difpone your folk for to fupport.’ , “"Wei,” quod the king, “one to thi lady fay The neid is myne, I fall It not delay ; But what folk ar thei nemtwyt for to bee, That in my lond is cuwyne in fich degree?” “An hundreth thouland boith yith fheld and fpere On hors ar armyt, al redy for the were.” “Wei,” qwod the king, “and hut delay this nyr/tt, Or than to mom as that the day is lycht, I fhal remuf ; ther lhal no thing me mak Impedymewt, my Iorney for to tak.” Than leith his kny^tis al with one affent, “ Shir, that is al contrare our entent ; For to your folk this mater is wnwift, And ye ar here our few for to recift ]one power, and youre cuntre to defende ; Tharfor abid, and for your folk ye send, That lyk a king and lyk a weriour Ye may fuften in armys your honoure.” “How,” quod the king, “no langer that I jeme My crowne, my fepture, nor my dyademe, Frome that I here, ore frome I wmWftand, That ther by fors be entrit in my land Men of annys, by Itrenth of vyolens, If that I mak abid or refydens Into o place langar than o njcht, For to defend my cuntre and my ryrAt.” The king that day his mefage haith furth sent Throuch al his realme, and fyne to reft is went. U P goith the morow, wp goith the bry ? 11 Madem, I fay, thei have nocht hen abwsyt ; He that them bur fchortly he has them vfyt.” “ That may ^e fay, fuppos the heft that lewis, Or molt of worfchip in til armys prewis, Or ^hit haith hen in ony tyme befom, Had them in feld in his malt curag horn.” “ How,” qwod the lady, “ will we pad), and see The knycAt hyme-self, and ther the fut/i may we Knaw of this thing.” Incontynent them 1 boith Thir ladeis vn to his chambre goith. The kny than ftiuld his puple bee, Only fet by vertew hyme to plefr, 1980 And fore adred his wil'dom to dilpleft. And if that he towart the vicis draw, His folk fall go on to that ilk law ; What fhal hyme plefr that wil nocAt ell is fynd, 1984 Rot ther-apon fetith al ther mynde. Thus only in the wertew of o king The reull ftant of his puple and his ringne, If he be wyft> and, but diflemblyng, fchewis, 1988 As I have faid, the vicis one to fchrewis. And fo thus, ftr, It ftant apone thi will For to omend thi puple, or to fpill ; Or have thi court of vertewis folk, or fullis ; 1992 Sen yow art holl mai tier of the fcoullis Teichith them, and thei fal gladly leir, That is to fay, that thei may no thing heir 1 Sauf only wertew towart thyn eftat ; 1996 And cherifi them that wertews ben algait. And th inkith what that wertew is to thee ; It pleflith god, vphaldith thi degree.” MS. apparently has “heir,” corrected to “leir;” heir might stand : line. THE WATER-LION MEANS GOD. 59 “ Mai tier,” quod he, “ me think ryc/it profitable 2000 Yowr confeell Is, and wonder honorable Por me, and good ; ryckt well I have confauit, And in myne harm’s Inwartnefi refauit. I ihal fulfill and do yowr ordynans 2004 Als far of wit as I have fuffilans ; Bot y beleich yow, in til hartly wyfi, That of my drem jhe fo to me dewyft, The wich fo long haith occupeid my mynd, 2008 How that I fhal no man^r fucour fynd Bot only throw the wattir lyon, and lyne The leich that is wftAouten medyfyne ; And of the confell of the flour ; wich ayre 2012 Wondms lyk that no man can duclar.” ^ 'VTOW, fir,” quod he, “ and I of them al thre, A i What thei betakyne lhal I fchaw to the, Such as the clerks at them lpecifiit ; 2016 Thei vfit no thing what thei fignefiit. The wattir lyone Is the god werray, God to the lyone is lyknyt many way ; But thei have hyme In to the wattir ten, 2020 Confufit were ther wittis al, y wen ; The wattir was ther awn fragelitee, And thar trelpas, and thar Inequitee In to this world, the wich thei ftond y-clofit ; 2024 That was the wattir wich thei have fuppofit, That haith there knowlag maad fo Inperfyt ; Thar fyne and ek ther worldis gret delyt, As dowdy wattir, was eu^rmore betwen, 2028 That thei the lyone perfitly hath nocht len ; Bot as the wattir, wich was yer awn fynwe, That eurnnor thei ftond confufit In. If thei haith ftond in to relegion clen, 2032 Thei had the lyone Hot in wattir fen, Bot clerly vp in to the hewyne abuf, Ettf/'naly whar he fhal not remufe. Arthur considers his counsel pro- fitable. He beseeches him to expound his dream, how he shall onlv find help through the water -lion, the leech, and the flower. The master’s ex- planation. [Fol. 256.] The water-lion is the very God. The water is men’s fragility ; whereby they see not the lion per- fectly. Had men been always religious, they had seen the lion not in water, but clearly. 60 THE LEECH WITHOUT MEDICINE IS CHRIST. The world is en- closed in the darkness of their sin. The lion is God’s Son, Jesu Christ. The leech with- out medicine is also God. [Fol. 26a.] Not as surgeons, whose art is in medicine, and in plaisters, drinks, and vari- ous anointments ; who know the quality of the year, and the dis- position of the planets. i “si And eutfrmore in vatt er of fyne vas hee, 2036 For-quhi It is Impoffeble for to bee ; 1 And thus the world, wich that thei ar In, Y-clofit Is in dyrknes of ther fyne ; And ek the thikneft of the air betwen, 2040 The lyone mad in vattir to be fen. For It was nocht bot ftrenth of ther clergy "Wich thei have here, and It is bot erthly, That makith them there reforms dewy ft. 2044 And fe the lyone thus in erthly wyft, This is the lyone god, and goddis sone, Ihtfsu crilt, wich ay in hewyne fal wonwe. For as the lyone of euery belt is king, 2048 So is he lord and mailfor of al thing, That of the bleffit vyrgyne vas y-bore. Ful many a natur the lyone haith, quhar-fore That he to god refemblyt is, bot I 2052 Lyk not mo at this tyme fpecify. This is the lyone, thar-of have yow no dred, That fhal the help and comfort In thi ned. rPHE lentens here now woll I the defyne 2056 -L Of hyme, the lech witAouten medyfyne, Wich is the God that euery thing hath vroght. For yow may know that vther Is It noght, As furgynis and feiicianis, wich that delith 2060 With mortell thing/*, and mortell thing!* helyth, And al thar art is in to medyfyne, As it is ordanit be the mycht dewyne, As plafbris, drink/*, and anouywtmewt/s 2 feir, 2064 And of the qualyte watyng of the yher ; And of the planet/s difpoficiouwe, And of the naturis compleccyoune, And in the diiurft changing of hwmowr?*. 2068 Thus wnd*r reull lyith al there cwris ; e” (?). 2 MS, “ anonytmetw,” or “ anouytmetw.” THE FLOWER IS THE VIRGIN MARY. 61 And yhit thei far as blynd man In the way, Oft quhen that deith thar craft lift to aflay. Bot god, the wich that is the Ionian lech, 2072 Neditb. no maner medyfyne to fech ; For ther is no Infyrmyte, nore wound, Bot as hyme lykith al is holl and found. So can he heill Infyrmytee of thoght, 2076 Wich that one erdly medefyne can noght ; And als the faul that to confuftoune goith, And haith with hyme and vther p^rteis boith, His dedly wound god helyth frome the ground ; 2080 On to his cure no medefyne is found. This Is his mycht that neu^r more lhall fyne, This is the leich wftAouten medyfyne ; And If that yhow at confeflioune hath ben, 2084 And makith the of al thi fynwis clen, Yow art than holl, and this ilk famyn is he Schall be thi leich In all neceflitee. N OW of the flour y woll to the difcern : This is the flour that haith 1 the froyt etern, This is the flour, this fadith for no fchour, This is the flour of euery flouris floure ; This is the flour, of quhom the froyt vas born, 2092 This ws redemy t after that we war l5rn ; This Is the flour that euer fpryngith new, This is the flour that changith neu er hew ; This is the vyrgyne, this is the bleflit flour 2096 That Ihmi bur that is our salweour, This flour wnwemmyt of hir wirginitee ; This is the flour of our felicitee, This is the flour to quhom ye ftiuld exort, 2100 This is the flour not feflith to fupport In prayere, confell, and in byflynes, Ys catifis ay In to our wrechitnes But God can heal infirmity of thought, and also the soul that goeth to con- fusion. He shall be thy leech in all neces- sity. The flower is she of whom the eternal fruit was born, The virgin that bore the Saviour, that ceaseth not to support us caitiffs, [Fol. 266.] 1 The word, though indistinct, is almost certainly “haith.” Stevenson has “high hut this gives no sense. 62 ARTHUR IS COMFORTBR. 2104 through whose prayer are many saved. 2108 2112 She shall so counsel the lion and the leech, o 1 1 ft that thou needest " 1 1 D not despair. 2120 2124 Do now as thou list, for all is in thy hand. 2128 The king replies, 2132 that his heart is eased from fear ; but inquires if 2136 Galiot will win over the red knight, and what is his name. On to hir sone, the quich hir confell herith ; This is the flour that al our gladneft fterith, Throuch whois prayer mony one is fawit, That to the deth eWnaly war refawit, Ne war hir hartly luplicatioune. This is the flour of our faluatioune, Next hir sone, the froyt of euery flour ; This is the fam that fhal be thi fuccour, If that the lykith hartly Bemrans And ftrvice jeld one to hir excellens, Syne worfchip hir with al thi byflyneft ; Sche fal thi harm, fche fall thi ned redreft. Sche fall flee confell if one to the two, The lyone and the fou^rane lech alfo, Yow fall not Ned yi drem for to difpar, Nor }hit no thing that is in thi contrare. Now — qwod the maifbr — yow may well wnd^rftand, Tueching thi drem as I have bom on hande ; And planly haith the mat er al declarith, That yhow may know of wich yow was dilparith. The lech, the lyone, and the flour alfo, Yow worfchip them, yow ferve them euermo ; And pies the world as I have laid before ; In goumians thus ftondith al thi glore. Do as yow lift, for al is in thi honde, To tyne thi-lelf, thi honore, and thi londe, Or lyk o prince, o dowquerour, or king, In honore and in worfchip for to Hinge.” “Now,” quod the king, “ I fell that the lupport Of yhour confell haith don me fleh comfort, Of euery raddour my hart is In to eft, To jhour command, god will, y fal obeft. Bot o thing is yueuch wn to me, How Galiot makith his awant that he Shall have the kny that I fal be yhour kny^At.” “ Grant mercy, fir, hot o thing I jow pray, What that jhe ar jhe wold witAsauf to fay.” “Madem,” quod he, “yhour mercy alk I, quhy That for to fay apone no wyf) may I.” “ No ! wil /he not ? non oyer ways as now ^he fal repent, and ek I make awow One to the thing the wich that I bed: love, Out frome my keping fal /he not Remuf Befor the day of the affemblee, Wich that, o jher, is mreft for to bee ; And if that jow haith pleffit for to fay, ]he had fore me deliumt hen this day ; And I fal knaw, quheyer }he wil or no, For I furtA-witA one to the court fal go, 1 Room is here left in the MS. for an illuminated letter, and a small “o” inserted as a note. SHE GOES TO SEE ARTHUR. 67 Whar that al thithingfs goith and cuwyth ton.” 2280 “Madem,” q uod he, “yhour plefance mot he d5ne.’ 'With that the knycAt one to his chalnw goith, And the lady hir makith to be wroith Ajanis hyme, but futhly yas fche not, 2284 For he al-out was mor in to hir thoght. Than lchapith die a jane the ferd day, And richly fche gan hir-felf aray ; Syne clepit haith apone her culynes, 2288 And faith, “ Y will one to the court me dreft ; And malice I have fchawin on to jhon lrnycAt, For-quhy he wold norAt fchew me quhat he hicht, Bot fo, I-wyft, It is noeAt in my thoeAt, 2292 For worthyar non In to this erth is wro clit. Tharfor I pray, and hartly I requer ]he mak hyme al the cumpany and chere, And do hyme al the worfchip and the eft, 2296 Excep his honore, wich that may hym pleft ; And quhen I cum deliumth hyme als fre As he is now.” “ Ye have no dred,” q uod fche. [T]he lady patrtit, and hir lef hath ton, 2300 And by hir Iorne to the court Is gon. The king hapnit at logris for to bee, Wich of his realme was than the chef cete ; And haith hir met, and In til hartly wyft 2304 Befauit her, and welcuwmyt oft-fyft ; And haith hir home one to his palice bro, That lche remanit whill the thrid day ; Syne tuk hir leif to paling horn hir way. THE LADY AGAIN SENDS FOR LANCELOT. It nedis not the felting to declar Maid one to hir, nor company nor fare ; Sche had no knycAt, fche had no damyfeill, 2352 Hor thei richly rewardit war and well. How goith the lady homwart, and fche In her entent defyrus Is to fee The flour of knyc/dhed and of chevelry ; 2356 So was he pryflt and hold to euery wy. T HE lady, which one to hir palace come, Bot of fchort time remanith haith at home "When fche gart bryng, wdAouten ltecidens, 2360 'With grete eflere this knycAt to hir pmms, And faid hyme ; “ S ir, fo mekil have I tocht And knowith that be-for I knew nocht, That If yhow lyk I wil yhour Ransone mak.” 2364 “Madem, gladly wil yhe wichfauf to tak Efter that as my powar may atten, Or that I may prowid be ony men?” “How, hr,” fho faid, “ forfut/i It fal be so, 2368 Yhe fal have thre, and chefl) yhow on of tho ; And if yhow lykith them for to refufr, I can no mor, but yhe fal me excufr, Yhe ned«s mot fuften yhour aduentur 2372 Contynualy In ward for til endur.” “ Madem,” quod he, “ and I yhow hartly pray, What that thei fay 1 }he wald wftAfauf to fay?” “[T]he firll,” quod fche, “who hath in to the chen 2376 Of low yhour hart, and if ^he may deren? The next, yhour nam, the which ]e fal not lye ? The thrid, if euer jhe think of cheualry So mekil worfchip to atten in feild 2380 Apone o day in armys wnd^r fcheld, As yat jhe dyd the famyne day, when ^he In red armys was at the alfemblee ?” 69 She is sumptu- ously enter- tained, and returns home. [Fol. 296.] Soon after, she sends for Lance- lot, and proposes to ransom him, on one of three conditions. Either he must tell whom he loves, or declare his name, or say if he ex- pects again to equal his former exploits. 1 So MS. We should probably read “bee.’ 70 LANCELOT CLAIMS HIS LIBERTY ; He refuses to tell his lady’s name, or his own ; [Fol. 30a. but declares that he trusts to do more than ever before ; and re* quires his liberty. She begs of him a boon ; that he will re- main with her till the day of battle ; “ Hadem,” q uod he, “is thar non vther way 2384 He to redem, but only thus to fay Of thingfs, which that Bynyth me to blam, He to awant my lady or hir name ? But if that I moil fchawin furth that one, 2388 What suerte fchal I have for to gone At libertee out of this danger free ? ” “ Schir, for to dred no myfbr is,” quod Ihee ; “As I am trew and fait/? full woman hold, 2392 Jhe fal go ffe quhen one of thir is told.” “ Hadem, yhour will non vther ways I may, I mone obey ; and to the firft v fay, 1 [I]s to declar the lady of myne hart, 2396 Hy god fal rather of my bred: adart” — Whar-by the lady fayndit al for nocAt The lowe quhich long hath ben In to h er thocAt — “And of my nam, fchortly for to fay, 2400 It dondith fo that one no wyd> I may. Bot of the thrid, madem, I se that I Hon fay the thing that tnechith velany ; For futA it is I trad, and god before, 2404 In feld that I fal do of armys more Than eu^r I did, if I eowmandit bee. And now, madem, I have my libertee, For I have laid I neu^r thocAt to fay.” 2408 “How, dr,” quod fche, “when-eu(?r jhe wil ye may Bot o thing Is, I yhow hartly raquer, Sen I have hold yhow apone fuch maner Hot as my fo, that }he vald grant me till.” 2412 “Hadem,” quod he, “It fal be as jhe will.” “How, dr,” quod fche, “it is no thing bot jhe Beman with ws wnto the aflemble, And euery thyng that In yhour myder lyis, 2416 I fall gar ordan at yhour awn dewyfr ; 1 A space is here left for an illuminated letter. AND ASKS FOR BLACK ARMOUR. 71 And of the day I Ihall yow c^rtefy Of the aflemble ?he fal not pas therby.” “ Madem,” quod he, “ It fal be as yhow lift.” 2420 “Now, fir,” quod fche, “ and than I hald It heft, That }he reman lyk to the famyne dogre As that ^he war, yat non fal wit that jhe Delinerit war ; and in to facret wyfr 2424 Thus may ^he be ; and now yhe fal dewyfr What armys that yhow lykyth I gar mak.” “ Madem,” q\iod he, “ armys al of blak.” "W ith this, this kny^At is to his chalnw gon ; 2428 The lady gan ful prewaly diflpone For al that longith to the knycAt, in feild ; Al blak his horfr, his armour, and his fcheld, That nedful is, al thing fche well pmvidith ; 2432 And in his keping thus w iih hir he bidith. Suppos of love fche takyne hath the charg, Sche bur It clos, ther-of fche yas not larg, Tot wyfly fche abftenit hir diflir, 2436 For ellfs-quhat, fche knew, he was afyre; Thar-for hir wit hir worfchip haith defendit, For in this world thar was nan mor commendit, Boith of dilcreccioune and of womanhed, 2440 Of gou^rnans, of nurtur, and of farhed. This knycAt with hir thus al this whil mon duell, And furtA of arthur fumthing wil we tell — [T]hat walkyng yas furtA in to his Begiouwis, 2444 And foiornyt in his ceteis and his townis, As he that had of yifdome fufficyans. He kepit the lore of maifbr amytans In ryghtwyfnes, In fefting and larges, 2448 In cheriftng cumpany and hamlynes ; For he was bifty and was deligent, And largly he iffith, and difpent Bewardis, boith one to the pur and riche, 2452 And holdith fell throw al the jher eliche. and inquires •what arms he •would like to have made for him. He chooses black armour, which is pro- vided. She keeps her love close, being commend- ed for discretion. The story returns to Arthur — [Fol. 306.] who obeys the counsel of Amy- tans, and gives away largely ; 72 Arthur’s liberality. and thus gains his people’s love. In al the warld paffing gan his name, He chargit not hot of encreft and fame, And how his puples hart/s to empleft ; 2456 Thar gladnes ay was to his hart mod eft. He rakith not of riches nor treffour, Bot to difpend one worfchip and honoui’ ; He ifith riches, he ifith lond and rent, 2460 He cheriflyth them w ith wordw eloquent, So that thei can them vtraly propone In his foruice thar lyves to difpone : So gladith theme his homely oontynans, 2464 His cherifyng, his wordis of plefans, His cumpany, and ek his mery chere, His gret rewardis, and his iftfs fere. Thus hath the king non vthir hefynes 2468 Bot cherifing of knyo7dfs and largeft, To mak hyme-felf of honour he oowmend ; And thus the }her he dry with to the ende. EXPLICIT SECUKDA VARS, INCIPIT TASTIA VARS. THE TRUCE DRAWS TO A CLOSE. 73 BOOK III. T HE long dirk pafag 1 of the vinter, and the \jcht Of phebus rowprochit with his mjcht ; The which, afcending In his altitud, Awodith saturn with his Itormys Rude ; The foft dew one fra the hewyne doune valis 2 2476 Apone the erth, one hiUis and on valis, And throw the fobir and the mwft hwmoum Yp nurilit ar the erhis, and in the flouris Hatur the erth of many diu^rfr hew 2480 Ourfret, and cled with the tendir new. The birdis may them hiding in the grawis "Wei frome the halk, that oft ther lyf berevis ; And scilla hie afcending in the ayre, 2484 That euery vight may heryng hir declar Of the feflone the palling lultynes. This was the tyme that phebus gan hym dreft In to the rame, and haith his courts bygown, 2488 Or that the trewis and the ^her vas Rown, Which was y-fet of galiot and the king Of thar alfemble, and of thar meting. Arthur haith a xv dais before 2492 Alfemblit al his barnag and more That weryng wnder his fubieccioune, Or louith hyme, or longith to his crown ; And haith his Iornay tone, wttAouten let, 2496 On to the place the wich that was y-fet, Whar he hath found befor hyme mony o knytAt That cummyng war with al thar holl mjcht, The sun ascends in his altitude. The soft dew falls down from heaven. Nature decks the earth with vari- ous hues. The birds may hide [Fol. 3la.] them from ihe hawk in the groves, and Scilla may ascend in the air. The time of com- bat between Galiot and the king drew near. Arthur goes to the appointed place. 1 So MS. Should we read tl pasith ” ? 2 So MS. It should be u falis.’ 74 GAWANE REJOINS ARTHUR. 2500 2504 Gawan remem- bers the day, 2508 2512 2516 and proposes to his fellows to go to help the king. 2520 [Fol. 31&.] Arthur is well 9/^94 content at their coming, not expecting them. 2528 2532 Galiot also as- sembles his folk, A1 enarmyt both with fpere and fcheld, And ful of luge's plantith haith the feld, Hyme In the wer for to fupport and ferf At al ther mycht, his thonk for to differ!*. And gawan, which was in the feking jhit Of the gud knyt?7it, of hyme haith got no wit, Eemembrith hyme apone the king/.s day, And to his falowis one this wys can fay : “ To }how is knowin the mat er, in what wyft> How that the king hath with his ewnemys A certan day, that now comprochit nere, And one to ws war hewynes to here That he var in to perell or in to dreid, And we away and he of ws haith neid ; For we bnt hyme no thing may efchef, And he but ws in honore well may lef ; For, be he loft, we may no thing w/t/dtond, Our-felf, our honore we tyne, and ek our lond. Tharfor, I red we pas on to the king, Suppos our oth It hurt in to fum thing, And in the feld with hyme for til endur, Of lyf or deth and tak our aduentur.” Thar-to thei ar confentit euerilkon, And but dulay the have thar Iorney tone. When that the king them faw, in 1m entent Was of thar com Eight wonder w'ell content ; For he prffwmyt no thing that thei wold Have cummyne, but one furtA to y er feking hold. And thus the kinghis oft affemblit has A^ane the tyme, a^aine the day that vas Y-ftatut and ordanit for to bee, And euery thing hath fet in the dogre. [A]nd galiot, that haith no thing forjhet The termys quhich that he befor had set, Affemblit has, apone his beft maner, His folk, and al his other things fere, THE TRUCE ENDS. 75 That to o weryour longith to promt!, 2536 And is y-come apone the tothir fyde. Whar he befor was one than vas he two, And al his vthir artillery also He dowblith hath, that morwell was to fen ; 2540 And by the rewere lyoAtit one the gren, And ftronghar thane ony wallit toune His oft y-bout y-clofit in Randoune. Thus war thei cummyne apone ather fyd 2544 Be-for the tyme, them-felf for to prowid. Or that the trewis was complet and rwn, Men myclit have fen one euery fid begwn Many a fair and knychtly Iuporty 2548 Of lufty mew, and of ^ong chevalry, Difyrus In to armys for to pruf ; Sum for wynyng, iu m cauftth yas for luf, Sum In to worfchip to be exaltate, 2552 Sum caulit was of wordis he and hate, That lykit not ydill for to ben ; A hundoreth pair at onis one the gren. Thir lufty folk thus can thar tyme difpend, 2556 "Whill that the trewis goith to the ende. The trewis paft, the day is cuwmyne onone, One euery fyd the can them to difpone ; And thai that war moft facret and moft dere 2560 To galiot, at hyme the can enquere, “'Who fal aifemble one yhour fyd to-m5rne? To-ny 2780 Of fable, ewyne aftir jhour awn dewy ft) ; Lancelot re- quests to see the lady; and inquires if Gawane is really likely to die. Re laments over him, first apostro- phizing himself, and next blaming the lady for not having allowed him to be present in the battle. [Fol. 346.] She promises he shall go to the next battle, saying that his sable armour is ready. 6 82 LANCELOT PREPARES FOR BATTLE. 2784 In the morn she takes her leave, to go to the court. 2788 He kneels, and thanks her often. 2792 She goes unto the king, 2796 and finds Sir Gawan quite dif- ferent from what had been told her. 2800 The lady’s cousin cherishes Lance- lot in her best manner. 2804 The third day, the maiden goes to his chamber, and fastens on his armour. 2808 He goes to the same green, be- side the river, as 2812 before. And ylie fal her remayne one to the day ; Syne may jhe pat 2 ), fore well jhe knaw the way.” “I will obey, madem, to yhour entent.” Vfith that fche goith, and to hir reft is went : One the morn arly vp fche rot 2 ) TVYtAout delay, and to the knycAt fche gois, And twk hir lef, and faid that fcho vald fare On to the court, wftA-outen any mare. Than knelit he, and thankit hir oft-fys, That fche fo mych hath done hyme of gewtrift, And hir byhecht eu^r, at his myght, To he hir awn trew and ftedfaft knycAt. Sche thonkith hyme, and fyne fche goith her way On to the king, wftA-owten more delay, Whar that in 1 honour wftA king and qwen fche fall RycAt thonkfully refauit be wftA-all. Eft to Hr gawan thai hir led, and fche Ryght gladly hyme defyrit for to fee, And fche hyme fond, (and fche was glad tharfore), All vthir ways than was hir told before. The knytfAt, the wich in to hir keping vas, Sche had cmmandit to hir cuflynece, Wich cherift hyme apone hir beft manere, And comfort hyme, and maid hy m ry cht gud chere. [T]he days goith, fo paflith als the ny clit, The thrid morow, as that the fone vas lyoAt, The kny^At onon out of his bed arofr, The maden fone one to his chalmer got 2 ), And facretly his armour one hyme fpent. He tuk his lef, and fyne his way he went Eul prewaly, ry cht to the famyne gren One the rewere, whar he befor had ben, Ewyne as the day 2 the firft court 2 ) hath maad. Alone rycAt thar he ho wit, and abaade, 1 MS. “w?tA;” which is crossed out, and ‘ 1 in ’ ’ inserted above, rather minutely written. 3 After “ day' - ’ we should perhaps insert “he.” THE QUEEN BEHOLDS THE BLACK KNIGHT. 83 Behalding to the bertes, whar the qwen 2816 Befor at the ademble he had sen. BycAt fo the fone fchewith furt A his lycAt, And to his armour went is euery wycAt ; One athir half the lulling is bygon, 2820 And many o fair and knych[t]ly courft is rown. The blak knycAt jhit howyns on his lied, Of al thar doing takith he no hed, Bot ay, apone the befynes of tkocAt, 2824 In beholding his ey depcrtit nocAt. To quhom the lady of melyhalt beheld, And knew hyme by hu armour and he’s fcheld, Qwhat that he was ; and thus lche faid one hycAt : 2828 11 Who is he jone ? who may he be, jhone knycAt, So dill that hovith and llerith not his Ben, And feith the knycAtis rynyng one the gren ?” Than al beholdith, and in princypale 2832 S ir gawan beholdith mod of all ; Of melyha[l]t the lady to hyme maid, Incontinent his couche and gart be had Before o wyndew thore, as he mycAt se 2836 The knycAt, the od, and al the ademble. He lukith furtA, and fone the knycAt hath ten, And, but delay, he faith one to the qwen, “Madem, if jhe remembir, fo it was 2840 The red knycAt in to the famyne place That wencud al [at] the fird ademble ; Whar that jone knj^oAt howis, ho wit hee.” “ ^ha,” q uod the qwen, “ ry oAt well remembir I ; 2844 Qwhat is the caufr at jhe inquere, and quhy?” “ Madem, of this larg warld is he The knycAt the wich I mod dedr to fee His drenth, his manhed, his curag, and hw mycAt, 2848 Or do in armys that longith to o knycAt.” [B]y thus, arthur, wdA confell well awydt, Haith ordanit his batellfs, and devydt : [Fol. 35 a.] He abides there alone, looking to- wards the para- pet where he saw the queen. The jousting te- gins. The black knight still halts on his steed. The lady beholds him and knows him ; but yet in- quires who he is, thus calling the attention of Ga- wan, who saith to the queen : “Madam, re- member that the red knight halt- ed where yon knight halts.” “Why do you in- quire?” she re- plies. “ He is the knight, madam, whom I most de- sire to see.” Arthur arranges his lines of battle. 84 THE ORDER OF BATTLE. King Ydrus leads the first ; Harwy the Re- ■weyll, an aged knight, the second. [Fol. 356.] King Angus, a cousin of Arthur, leads the third. King Ywons the fourth. In every com- pany are 15,000. The lord Sir Ywan leads the rearguard. Galiot’s armies. Malenginys leads the first line ; the first-conquest king the second ; Walydeyne the third ; Clamedeus the fourth ; and King Bran- dymagus the first (fifth?). The firft of them led ydrus king, and he 2852 0 worthy man vas nemnyt for to bee. The fecund led harwy the Reweyll, That in this world was kny^At that had mod: feill Tor to prowid that longith to the were, 2856 One agit kny, and }hing ; XX thoufand in his oft thai paft, AYich ordanit was for to aflemble laft. [A]nd galiot, apone the tothir fyde, 2872 RycAt wyfly gan h?s batell^ to dewid. The firft of them led malenginys the king, Xone hardyar In to this erth lewyng ; He neu er more out of his cuntre Raid, 2876 Xor he WitA hyme one hundereth knycAtfs hade. [T]he fecund the first-conqueft king led, That for no perell of armys vas adred ; The thrid, o king clepit walydeyne, 2880 He led, and was o manly knycAt, but weyne. [T]he ferd, king Clamede?^ has, AYich that lord of far ylys was. The firft' batell, whar xl thoufand were, 2884 King brandymagrcs had to led and ftere, i (?)• Seel. 2870. “fift” (?). THE FIRST MESSAGE TO THE BLACK KNIGHT. 85 0 manly knyt?At, and prewit well oft-fyfr, And in his confell wonder fcharp and wyfr. Galiot non armys bur that day, 2888 ISTor as o knycAt he wald hyme-felf aray, But as o fmiand in o habariowne ; 0 prekyne hat, and ek o gret trownfciown In til his hond, and one o curfour fet, 2892 The belt that was in ony lond to get. Endlong the rewar men mycAt behold and fee, Of knycAG's weryne mony one alfemble ; And the blak knyc/it hill he couth abyde, 2896 "WitAout remowyng, one the Biwer fyde, Bot to the bartes to behold and fee Thar as his hart defyrit moll to bee : And quhen the lady of melyhalt haith fen 2900 The knycAt fo ftond, fche faid one to the qwen “ Madem, It is my confell at }he send One to jone kny^At, ^our-felf for to commend, Befeiching hyme that he wald wndertak 2904 This day to do of armys, for ^our fak.” The quen anfuerit as that hir lykit nocAt, (For othir thing was more In to hir thocAt), “For well }he fe the p, As eu er he will, whar that fche can or may, 3028 Or powar haith hir charg, be ony way, And for his worfchip and his hie mawhede, And for hir luf, to helpen in that ned The kingfs honore, his land fore to preferf, 3032 That he hir thonk for eu er may deferf.” And four fquyaris chargit he alfo 'With thre horfr and fperis x to go FurtA to the knycht, hyme prayng for his fak, 3036 At his raqueft thame in his ned to tak. [T]he maden furtA with the fqwyam is went One to the knycAt, and fchawith jer entent. Tho mefag hard, and ek ye prefent ten, 3040 He anfwerit, and afkith of the qwen; “ Sir/! quod fche, [“sche] 1 in to jhone bartiis lyis, Whar that this day yhour dedis fal dewyft), Yhowr manhed, yhour worfchip, and affere, 3044 How }he conten, and how yhe armys here ; The quen hir-felf, and many o lady to, Sal Iugfs be, and yitnes how yhe do.” Than he, whois hart ftant in o new aray, 3048 Saith, “ Darayceyll, on to my lady fay, How eu^r that hir lykith that it bee, Als far as wit or powar is in me, I am hir knydAt, I fal at hir command 3052 Ho at I may, wftAouten more demand. And to fir gawan, for his gret gentrifr, Me recommend and thonk a thoufand fyfr.” With that o fper he takith in his hond, 3056 And fo in to his fterapis can he ftond That to fir gawan femyth that the knycAt that the queen humbly exhorts him to help in that need to preserve the king’s honour, and to deserve her thanks. Sir Gawan also sends four squires with three horses and ten spears. The message heard , he inquires about the queen, and is told that from yon parapet she can witness his deeds. He returns a message that he is the queen’s knight. He stands in his stirrups ; and seems to increase a foot in height. 1 A second “sche” is here required. 90 THE BLACK KNIGHT’S CHARGE. [Fol. 38a.] Greatly en- couraged. -without delay he crosses over the river to the field ; and goes in -wherever he sees most peril. He overthrows two knights. Sir Kay, Sir Sygramors, Sir Gresown, Sir Ywan, Sir Bran- dellis, and Ga- hers, all six in a race spur across the field with stretched spears, and 100 knights after them. Encrefyng gon o larg fut one hycht ; And to the ladice faith he, and the qwen, 3060 “ ^hon is the knyeAt that eu^r I have fen In al my tyme moft kny^Atly of affere, And in hyme-felf gon fareft armys here.” [T]he knyMt that haith Remewbrit in his thocAt 3064 The qwenys charges, and how fche h jm befocAt, Curag can encreling to his hart ; His curfer lap, and gan onon to ftart ; And he the fqwaris haith reqwyrit fo, 3068 That thai wftA hyme one to the feld wald go. Than goith he one, witAouten mor abaid, And our the reuar to the feld he raid ; Don goith his fpere onone In to the Heft, 3072 And in he goith, witAouten mor areft, Thar as he faw moft perell and moft dred In al the feld, and moft of help 1 had ned, Whar femblytwas the firft-(?owqueft king 3076 With mony o kny thai may not lang defend. THE BLACK KNIGHT’s PROWESS. 93 The blak knycAt faw the danger of the feld, And al his doings knowith quho beheld, And ek remewbrith in to his entent 3168 Of the mefag that fche haith to hyme fent : Than curag, ftrenth encrefing w ith mashed, Ful lyk o knye/it one to the feld he raid, Thinking to do his ladice love to have, 3172 Or than his deth befor hir to refave. Thar he begynyth in his ferfr cnrag Of armys, as o lyoune in his rag ; Than merwell was his doing to behold ; 3176 Thar was no knycAt fo ftrong, nor yhit lb bold, That in the feld befor his fuerd he met, Nor he fo hard his ftrok apone hyme fet, That ded or wondit to the erth he fodAt ; 3180 For thar was not bot wonderis that he wrot?At. And magre of his fois euerilkone, In to the feld oft tymys hyme alon Throuch and throuch he paflith to and fro ; 3184 For in the ward 1 it was the ma Tier tho That non o knydAt fhnld be the brydill tak Hyme to oreft, nore cum behynd hi* bak, Nor mo that on at onys one o knydAt 3188 Shuld ftrik, for that tyme worfchip Itud fo rjcht. ] hit was the feld rycAt p^rellus and ftrong Till arthuris folk, fet thai contenyt longe ; Bot in fich wyft> this blak knyc/ft can coraten, 3192 That thai, the wich that hath his manhed fen, Sich hardy ment haith takyne In his ded, Them thocAt thai had no maner cauft of dred, Als long as he mycAt owthir ryd or go, 3196 At enery ned he them recomfort fo. Sir kay haith with his falowis al the day Folowit hyme al that he can or may, The black kni gh t, knowing who is beholding him, thinks to have his lady’s love, or die before her. He works no- thing but won- ders ; and often passes alone through the field. [Fol. 39J.] He fights in such wise as to en- courage all who see his deeds. Sir Kay and his fellows follow him all day. 1 “warld” (?). 94 SIR kay’s message to sir harwy. 3200 But at last they are nearly all overpowered by numbers. Sir Kay sends Ga- 3204 wan’s squire with a message to Sir Harwy that he ought not to suffer the best knight that ever bore arms to be surprised, 3208 3212 nor six knights of the Round Table to be dis- comfited. 3216 3220 The squire takes the message. 3224 Sir Harwy says that Sir Kay shall have no cause to 0990 reprove him. 0 Z -0 Sir Harwy comes 0909 to support them ; ” L 0 " And wondir well thai have in armys prewit, And wftA thar manhed oft thar folk relewit ; Bot well thai faucht in diuerfr placis fere, "W ith mnltitud yer folk confulit were, That long in lich wyfr myeAt thai nocAt eowten. S ir kay that hath Hr gawans qfquyaru fen He clepit hyme, and haith hyme prayt fo, That to Hr harwy the rewell wil he go, And fay to hyme, “ Ws think hyme ewil awyftt ; Tor her thronch hyme he fufferit he fupprilit The belt knyeAt that euer armys bur ; And if it fo befell of adwentur, In his defalt, that he be ded or lamyt, This warld fal have hyme vtraly defamyt. And her ar of the round table alfo A falonfchip, that fall in well and wo Abid witA hyme, and furtA for to endur Of lyf or deth, this day, thar adwentur ; And if fo fal difcumfyt at thai bee, The king may fay that wonder ewill haith he Contenit hyme, and kepit his honore, Thus for to tyne of chevalry the flour !” The fqwar hard, and furtA his way Baid, In termys fchort he al his melag faid. S ir harwy faith, “ Y wytnefr god, that I Yeuer in my days corny tit tratory, And if I now begyne In to myne eld, In ewill tyme fyrft com I to this feld ; Bot, if god will, I fal me fon difcharg. Say to Hr kay I fal not her the charg, He fal no mater have me to rapref, I fal amend this mys if that I lef.” The fqwyar went and tellit to Hr kay ; A YD Hr harwy, in al the haft he may, Aflemblyt hath his o His, and onon In gret delyre on the feld is gon [Fol. 40a.] galiot’s folk are worsted. 95 3236 3240 3244 3248 3252 3256 3260 3264 3268 Before his folk, and haldith furtA his way ; Don goith his fper, and ewyne before fir kay So hard o hnydAt he ftrykith in his ten That horfi) and he lay boith apone the gren. Sir gawan faw the counter that he maad, And leuch for al the fames that he had : That day fir harwy prewyt in the feld Of armys more than longith to his eld, Tor he was more than fyfty yher of a g, Set he was ferfi> and jong in his curag ; And fro that he aflemblyt his bataill Doune goith the folk of galotes al haill ; Tor to wftAftond thai war of no poware, And yhit of folk x thoufand mo thei vare. K YNG valydone, that fauch on fnch o wyfi> His falowis dangmt with thar ennemys, W ith al his folk, being frefi and new, Goith to the feld onon, them to reffkew ; Thar was the feld xjcht perellus ajane, Of arthuris folk ful many on var flan. B OT angus, quhich that lykith not to bid, And faw the pdrell one the tother fid, His fled he ftrok, and with his oft is gon Whar was moft ned, and thar the feld has ton. K YHG clamedyus makith non abaid, Bot with his oft one to the fid he raid. A HD ywons king, that haith his cuwmyn fen, Encountmt hyme in myddis of the gren. The aucht batellu aflemblyt one this wifi) ; On ather half the clamore and the eryifi) Was lametable and petws for til her, Of knjchtis wich in diuerfi) placis fere Wondit war, and fallyng to and fro, Jhit galyoG's folk war xx thonfand mo. rilHE blak knydAt than on to hyme-felf he faid : J- “ Bemembir the, how yhow haith ben araid, and proves him- self a better war- rior than might have been ex- pected of one so old. Galiot’s folk are beaten. King Valydone comes to support them. Angus comes to aidArthur’smen. Clamedyus comes to aid Galiot’s men. Ywons encoun- ters Clamedyus. Great clamour and lamentable cries on either side. The black knight bids himself re- member love’s power over him ; 96 THE BLACK KNIGHT’S DARING RESOLUTION. and that only his lady’s mercy or his life’s end can amend him. [Fol. 406.] He counsels him- self to strive for her thanks, and to he ashamed of every point of cow- ardice. Swift as a cross- how -bolt he seeks the field. His sword carves the head from some, and cuts the arms of others in twain. When his foes see him, they leave the place for dr ead of death. Ay fen ye hour that yow was makid kny cht, 3272 'WYtA love, ajane quhois powar and whois my^/it Yow haith no ftrenth, yow may It not end nr, Nor fhit non vthir erthly creatur ; And hot two thingYs ar the to amend, 3276 Thi ladice mercy, or thi lyvys end. And well yhow wot that on to hir pr^fens, Til hir eftat, nor til hir excellens, Thi febilneft nen^rmore is able 3280 For to attan, fche is fo honorable. And fen no way yow may fo hie extend My verray confell is, that yow pretend This day, (fen yow becu^myne art hir knycAt 3284 Of hir comand, and fechtit in hir fycAt), And well yow fchaw, fen yow may do no mor, That of refone fche fal the thank tharfore ; Of enery poynt of cowardy yow fcham, 3288 And in til armys purchefr the fum nam.” With that of love in to o new defir His fpere he ftraucht, and fwift as any wyre With al his forft the nereft feld he foght ; 3292 His ful ftrenth in armys thar he vroght, In to the feld rufehing to and fro, Doune goith the man, donne goith the horfi alfo ; Sum throw the fcheld is perfit to the hart, 3296 Sum throw the hed, he may It not aftart. His bludy fuerd he dreuch, that carwit fo Fro fum the hed, and fum the arm in two ; Sum in the feld fellit is in fwon, 3300 Throw fum his fuerd goith to the fadill doune. His fois waren abafit of his dedis, His mortell ftrok fo gretly for to dred Is ; Whar thai hyme faw, wftAin a lytall Ipace, 3301 (For dreid of ded), thai levyng hyme the place, That many o ftrok ful oft he haith forlorn ; The fpedy horft away the kny^t hath horn. GALIOT WONDERS WHY HIS MEN FLEE. 97 In to his wyrking neu^rmore he left, 3308 Nor non abaid he makith, nor areft. His falowis, fo in his knyrAthed afluryd, Thai ar recomfort, thar manhed is recou^ryt, And one thar fois ful ferlly thai foght, 3312 Thar goith the lyf of many o knycAt to norAt. So was the batell wonderful to tell, Of knydAfa’s to fe the multitud that fell, That pety was til ony knyrAt to len 3316 The 'knjchtis lying gaping on the gren. The blak kny thai foght ; Arthur’s folk de- Whar arthuris folk had paffith al to nocAt, termine rather to die than fly. He war that thai the better war ilkone, 3360 [Fol. 416.] 3364 The black knight is borne to the ground. 3308 The six comrades go to the earth. 3372 None know where he is. And at thai can them vtraly difpone Rathar to dee than flee, in thar entent, And of the blak knycAt haith fich hardyment ; For at al per ell, al harmys, and myfehef, In tyme of ned he can tham al ralef. [T]har was the batell dangerws and ftrong, Gret was the pres, batA perellws and throng ; The blak knycAt is born on to the ground, His horfr hyme falyth that fellith dethis wound. The yi falowis, that falowit hyme al day, Sich was the prefr, that to the erth go thay ; And thar in my d among his ennemys He was about enclofit one fich wyft> That quhare he was non of [his] falowis knew, Nor mycAt nocAt cum to help hyme, nore refkew. 1 The sense requires “ in,” but not the metre. GALIOT WONDERS AT LANCELOT^ PROWESS. 99 And thus among his ennemys allon 3376 His nakid fuerd out of his hond haith ton ; And thar he prcwit his wertew arid hzs ftrenth ; Par thar was none w ft Ain the fuerdis tenth That came, hot he goith to confufioune. 3380 Thar was no helme, thar was no habirioune, That may relift his fuerd, he fmytith so ; One euery fyd he helpith to and fro, That al about the compas thai mycAt ken ; 3384 The ded horft lyith virllyng with the men. Thai hyme aflaljeing botA with fcheld and fpere, And he a^ane ; as at the ftok the here Snybbith the hardy hounds that ar ken, 3388 So farith he ; for neucr mycAt be fen His fuerd to reft, that in the gret rout He rowmyth all the compas hyme about. [A]nd galiot, beholding his manhed, 3392 WftAin his-felf wondmth of his ded, How that the body only of o knycAt Haith lich o ftrenth, haith lich affere and mycAt ; Than faid he thus, “ I wald not that throw me, 3396 Or for my caufr, that luch o knycAt fuld dee, To conquer all this world that is fo larg.” His horfi than can he with his fpuris charg, A gret trunlioune In to his hond hath ton, 3400 And in the thikeft of the prefc is g5n, And al his folk chargit he to feft>. At his command thai levyng al the prefr ; And quhen he had departit all the rout, 3404 He faid, “ Sft knycAt, havith now no dout.” "Wich anfwerit, “I have no caufr to dred.” “ Jis,’’ q uod he, “fa eu er god me fped, Bot apone fut quhill je ar fechtand here, 3408 And yhow defendith apone lich manere, So hardely, and ek fo lyk o knycAt, I fal myfelf wftA al my holl mycAt He defends him- self with his sword. No helm nor ha- bergeon may re- sist his sword. He fares like a hear at the stake, that snubs the hardy hounds. Galiot wonders at his deeds ; and says that such a knight shall not die on his account. He charges all his folk to cease ; [Fol. 42a.] and assures the black knight that he will himself warrant him from all harm. 100 GALIOT GIVES LANCELOT HIS OWN HORSE. He offers him as many horses as he needs ; and proposes that they shall never again part. He ’lights from his horse, and gives him to Lancelot, who thanks him. Galiot returns to his host, and chooses a band of 10,000 men. The trumpets, clarions, horns, and bugles are sounded. Arthur’s folk despair. The sahle knight, still fearless, harangues his men, saying, Be yhour defens, and varand fra al harmys ; 3412 Bot had yhe left of worfehip In til armys, What I have don I wold apone no wyft ; Bot fen yhe ar of knyr/fthed fo to prys, ^he fal 1 no maner can! 2 ) have for to dred : 3416 And fet yhour horft be falit at this ned, Difpleft yhow not, for-quhy je fal not want Als many as yhow lykith for to hawnt ; And I my-felf, I fal yhowr fqwyar bee, 3420 And, if god will, neu er more fal wee Depart.” WftA that, anon he can to lycht Doune frome his horft, and gaf hyme to y e knycAt. The lord he thonkit, and the horft hath ton, 3424 And als fo frefch one to the feld is gon, As at no ftrokfs he that day had ben. His falowis glad, one horft that hath hym fen, To galiot one vthir horft thai broght ; 3428 And he goith one, and frome the feld he iocht, And to the plan quhar that his ofh's were ; And brandymagus chargit he to Here Effor hyme, within, a lytill fpace, 3432 And x thoufand he takyne with hy m haft. Towart the feld onon he can to Bid, And chargit them befor ye oft to byd. Wp goith the trumpets, and the claryownis, 3436 Hornys, bugillfs blawing furt/i thar fownis, That al the enntre refownit hath about ; Than arthuris folk var in difpar and dout, That hard the noys, and faw the maltitud 3440 Of frefch folk ; thai cam as thai war wod. [B]ot he that was wftAowten any dred, In fabill cled, and faw the gret ned, Aflemblyt al his falowis, and arayd ; 3444 And thus to them in manly formes faid : 1 MS. “fait.” LANCELOT HARANGUES ARTHUR S HOST. 101 u What that je ar I knaw not yhour eftat, Bot of marched and worfchip, well I wat, Out throuch this warld yhe aw to be rommercdit, 3448 This day ^e have fo knycMy yhow defendit. And now yhe fee how that, a^anis the njcht, Yhour ennemys pretendit with thar myght Of multitud, and with thar new oft, 3452 And with thar buglis and thar wyndes boft Frefchly cummyng In to ftch aray, To ifyne yhow one owtrag 1 or affray. And now almoft cummyne Is the njcht, [Fol. 426.] “I know not who ye are, but I know that ye ought, to be commended. Ye see how your enemies, as nigr.it approaches, are str.ving to give you an outrage or a fright. 3456 Quharfor yhour ftrenth, yhour curag, and yhovr mydht Yhe occupye in to fo manly wyft, That the worfchip of knyc/dhed and empryft Employ then your courage, so that the honour ye have won be not again lost. That yhe have wonyng, and the gre t renown 3460 Be not yloft, be not ylaid doune. For one hour the lufferyng of diftreft, Gret harm It war yhe tyne the hie encreft Of vorfehip, ftruit al this day before. 3464 And to yhow al my confell is, tharfore, W ith manly curag, but radour, yhe pretend To met tham fcharply at the fperis end, So that thei feil the cold fperis poynt 3468 Out-throw thar fcheldfs, in thar harm’s poynt. So fal thai fynd we ar no-thing affrayt ; Whar-throuch we fall the well left be aflayt. If that we met them fcharply in the berd, 3472 The formed: fal mak al the laif afferd.” And with o woyft thai cry al, “ Sir knycht, Apone yhour manhed, and yhour gret mycht, We fal abid, for no man lliall efehef 3476 Frome yhow this day, his marched for to pref.” And to his oft the lord fir yvane faid, “Yhe comfort yow, yhe be no-thing affrayd, Resolve then to meet them sharply, without fear, so that they may feel tne cold spear in their hearts. Perhaps then the foremost will make the rest afraid.” They promise to stand firm. Sir Yvan also bids his men he oomforted ; for 1 MS. “owtray.” See Glossary. 102 THE POEM ABRUPTLY ENDS. that they see all the strength of their enemies. Sir Gawan, how- ever, knew better. Galiot also ex- horts his men. "Ws ned no more to dreding of fupprifr ; 3480 ¥e fe the ftrenth of al our ennemys.” Thus he faid, for he wend thai var no mo, Bot Hr gawan knew well It vas not fo ; For al the offo’s my cht he fe al day, 3484 And the gret hoft he faw quhar jat it lay. [A]nd galiot he can his folk exort, Befeching them to be of good comfort, And fich enconW \_The rest is wanting . ] NOTES. [It may be observed, once for all, that the expression in to repeatedly occurs where we should simply use in ; and one to is in like manner put for unto. The ending -ith (for - ed ) is frequent in the past tense, and -it (also for -ed) in the past participle, though this distinction is not always observed. A still more noticeable ending is -ing (for -en) in the infinitive. Observe further that the letters v, u , and w are perfectly convertible, and used quite indiscriminately; so that wpone means upon ; vthir means uihir , i.e, other ; our is put for over ; vounde signifies wound, etc.] Page 1 , line 1 . The soft morow. This nominative case has no verb. A similar construction occurs in the first lines of Books II. and III. 4. Uprisith — his hot courss , Upriseth in his hot course; chare, chariot. 6. sent, sendeth; so also stant, standeth, 1. 326. 8. valkyne, waken. 10. gyrss , grass. 11. assay, assault. 13. wox, voice. 17. frome I can , from the time that I began. 18. MS. has denit , which might mean deigned; but it seems better to follow Mr. Stevenson’s reading, “It ' demit me ;” i.e. it seemed good to me. P. 2, 1. 23. hewy jerys, heavy years. 24. “Until that Phoebus had thrice gone through his full circuits” (lit. spheres). See the peculiar use of “pas” iu other places. 26. “So, by such a manner, was my lot fated;” see 1. 41. 28. carving can , began to cut. 30. be the morow , by the morn, 36. neulyngis, newly, anew. 43. walkith , walked. 50. I-clede, y-clad, clad. Ch. has clede. 54. “No one within thought he could be seen by any wight outside.” P. 3, 1. 56. clos it, enclose it ; the MS. has closit. 57. alphest. This 104 NOTES. reading of the MS. is an error for alcest. See Chancer, introduction to Legend of good women, 1. 511 : “ The great goodnesse of the quene Alceste, That turned was into a dayesie,” Alceste being the contracted form of Alcestis. 59. Wnclosing gane , began to unclose. 60. “ The bright sun had illumined the spray, and had updrawn (up warped) into the lusty air the night’s soft (sober) and moist showers ; and had made the morning soft, pleasant, and fair.” With this difficult passage we should compare 1. 2477. 66. Quhill, until. 67. till ony vicht, to any wight. 69. JBot gladness til the thochtful , auer mo, etc., “But, as for gladness to the melancholy man, evermore the more he seeth of it, the more wo he hath.” 73. repre- sent, represented (accented on the second syllable). 74. Al day gan be sor, etc*, “All the day, my spirit began to dwell in torment, through sorrow of thought;” be sor, by sorrow (A.S. sorh ). 77. Ore step, or how I root, “Or sleep, ere I knew how.” 83. A-licht, alighted. 84. levis in to were, livest in doubt. P. 4, 1. 91. be moroiv , by morrow; at early morn. 99. set, although. 103. weil accordinge, very fitting. 105. long ore he be sonde, (It is) long ere he be sound. 108. seith, for to consel, saith, that as for concealing or shewing, etc. 109. althir-best, lit. best of all; see Chaucer’s use of alderfast, alderlast. P. 5, 1. 127. lat be thi nyss dispare, let be thy nice (foolish) despair. 128 erith, earth. 134. schall hyme hating, shall hate him. The termi- nation - ing is here the sign of the infinitive mood after the verb shall. 140. Set, although. 146. talc one hand and male, undertake and com- pose ; trety, treatise; wnlcouth , unknown, new. 151. belevis, believe will please thy lady. 160. yis, this. P. 6, 1. 161. troucht, truth. 163. discharge, release. 170. spir, sphere. 171. “At command of a wise (god, from) whose vision,” etc. We sometimes find in Old English the adjective “a wise” used abso- lutely for “a wise man.” See “Le Morte Arthur,” ed. E. J. Eurnivall, 1. 3318. 175. tynt, lost. 177. be this worldis fame. Here again, as in many other passages, “be” expresses with relation to, as regards. 185. yaim, them. 191. demande , demur. P. 7, 1. 198. Quhill, until. 200. conten, treat; lit. contain. 202. Lancelot is here called the son of Ban, king of Albanak ; so again in 1. 1447. 204. redis, read. 214. “I will not waste my efforts there- upon.” 219. wnwyst, unwist, unknown. 225. nome, name. 226. Jwondit to the stale, very deeply wounded ; but I cannot find the origin of the phrase. See Glossary. 228. astart, get rid of it, escape it. NOTES. 105 P. 8, 1. 240. dedenyt to aras, deigned to pluck out. 244. hurtare , hurter. 245. Iwond , wounded. 248. ful wicht , ful nimble. 251. of quhome , by whom. 253. send , sent. 257. pasing vassolag , surpassing prowess. 260. “ Passed down into the fell caves.” 264. taken. 266. care. P. 9, 1. 267. gart be maid, caused to be made. 271. awoue, vow. 275. in to that gret Revare, in that great river. 284. o gret confusione of pupil and knychtis, al enarmyt, a great medley of people and knights, all fully armed. Stevenson actually reads unarmyt ! 294. I wil re- port ; both here and in 1. 320 we should expect to find 11 1 nil report ;” i.e. I will not tell. It must mean, “I will tell you why I omit to mention these things.” Compare lines 266, 320. 297. thing , think. P.10,1.305, veris, wars. 306. be the wais, by the ways. 307 . Tuex, betwixt ; accord , agreement. 314. mot , must. 316. stek, concluded. 319. most conpilour, very great composer. 320. “As to whose name I will only say, that it is unfit,” etc. 326. stant , standeth. 328. yroung , rung. 330. beith, shall be ; observe the future sense of beith in this place. 331. suet, sweet. 332. “His soul in bliss preserved be on that account.” 334. and this endit. Whether endit here refers to inditing or ending is perhaps doubtful. NOTES TO BOOK I. P. 11, 1. 338. bewis , boughs. 340. makyne gone , began to make. 341. in ther chere, after their fashion. (Eor chere, see Glossary). 345. auerding to, belonging to. 351. anoit, annoyed. 352. For why, where- fore ; so also for-thi, therefore. 354. can , began. 355. sende, sent. 358. heryng , hear (infin. mood). In the next line it occurs as a pre- sent participle. 362. to pas hyme, to go, depart. 364. meit , to dream of ; aperans , an appearance, apparition. P. 12, 1. 365. hore , hair. 375. vombe , womb; hence bowels. 377. stert, started. 384. gert, caused. 390. traist, trust. 397. demande, demur, delay. 398. at, that. P. 13, 1. 407. wliill, until. 408. the , they. 410. to viting, to know. 412. shauyth al hall , sheweth all whole. 414. chesith, chooseth. 422. shire , sir. 424. fore to awysing, in order to take counsel. 433. The MS. has “set” ( not with a long s ). Mr. Stevenson has “fet,” which would seem right. P. 14, 1. 439. “The which they found were wondrously evil set.” 440. his sweuen met , dreamed his dream. 443. waryng in to were , were in doubt. 444. danger , power to punish ; compare Shakspere’s use of 106 NOTES. the word. 457. but delay , without delay. 459. stondith Tieuy cherith, stood heavy-cheered, was sad in his demeanour. 465. fundyng, found. 466. depend to, depend upon. P. 15, 1. 475. tone, taken. 478. assey, test. 481. record, to tell out, speak. 487. preseruith It allan, is preserved alone. 499. affy in-tyll, rely upon. 500. failye, fail. 504. there clergy, their science. P. 16, 1. 519. “Through the watery lion, who is also faithful, and through the leech and eke the water also, and through the counsel of the flower.” It is very possible this passage is partly corrupt; 1. 520 should certainly be, as may be seen from lines 2010, 2056, “And throuch the leich withouten medysyne.” The meanings of lion, leech, and flower are fully explained, however, in lines 2013-2120. 524. weyne, vain. 527. passid nat his thoght, left not his thoughts. 531. rachis , braches, dogs. 533. greivhundis , grayhounds. 536. This purely conjectural line is merely inserted to carry on the sense. It nearly coincides with line 3293. In the next line we should read “ grewhundis,” rather than “grewhund.” 538. Befor ther hedis, before their heads. P. 17, 1. 545. “Ail armed, as was then the fashion.” 546. salust, saluted. 548. kend, known. 549. length, liveth. 552. The rime re- quires “land,” as in 1. 638. 553. yald hyme our, yield him over. 554. if tribut, give tribute. 566. recist, resist; mone bee, must be. 568. be, by. 569. day moneth day, ere this day month; comp. 1. 1162. P. 18, 1. 577. fairhed, fair-hood, beauty. 587. magre myne entent, in spite of my intention. 591. nome, took. 593. Inquere at, inquire of. 596. wes, was. 599. rase, rose. 605. accordith , agree thereto. 606. recordith, belongith. 607. visare, wiser. P. 19, 1. 621. This spek I lest, this I list to speak. 622. varnit, warned. 626. “ Though the season of the year was contrary.” 627. atte, at the. 629. the ilk, that (Scotch thilk). 632. Melyhalt, the name both of a hill, and of the town built upon it. 636. affray , terror. 642. wnconquest, unconquered. 643. cwre, care. P. 20, 1. 649. nemmyt , named. 652. were , war. 654. or than to morn, earlier than to-morrow. 660. our few, over few. 677. northest, north-east. P. 21, 1. 686. fechteris, fighters. 688. holde, held. 691. presone, prison. 697. peite, pity. 699. The metre of Lancelot’s lament is that of Chaucer’s “Cuckoo and Nightingale,” and was very possibly copied from it. Qwhat haue y gilt, what crime have I committed. 702. ago , gone. 703. nat, naught; me glaid, gladden me. 706. til haue, to have. 709. Sen thelke tyme , since that time. NOTES. 107 P. 22, 1. 718. of remedy for a remedy. 719. sesith , ceaseth. 723. with this lady , by this lady. 728. laisere , leisure. 731. diuerss wais sere , divers several ways. 733. bur, bore. 735. cher, car. 740. dout , to fear. 745. but were, without doubt. This expression often occurs. P. 23, 1. 751 few menye, small company; an oddly sounding expres- sion to modern ears. 753. cold , called. 754. hot, bade. 7 55. but in his cumpany, unless he had with him. 757. He saith; the speaker is the captain of the hundred knights, called in 1. 806 Maleginis. 768. als fell, just as many. 777. hard, heard. 781. clepit , called. P. 24, 1. 793, as he wel couth, as he well knew how. 796. sen, seen. 800. sen, since. 806. was hot, was hight, was named. 809. In myde the borde and festinit in the stell, In the midst they encounter, and fastened in the steel. See 1. 850. 812. Rout, company. 815. ferde, fourth. 817. sauch tha/r latter batell steir , saw their last division stir. P. 25, 1. 820. gane his mortall fell. A word seems here omitted ; if after mortall we insert strokis, the sense would be, “His enemies began his mortall strokes to feel.” 825. worth, worthy. It would improve the metre to read worthy (1. 875). 828. In to were, in war, in the strife. 829. hyme bure , bore himself. 839. to-for, heretofore. 841. Atour, i.e. at over, across. 842. assail, assault. The rime shews we should read assaill, as in 1. 855. 849. socht atour , made their way across. The use of seke throughout this poem is curious. P. 26, 1. 861. setith his payn vpone, devotes his endeavours to. 868. al to-kerwith , cutteth to pieces. 880. dirk, dark. 883. tan and slan, taken and slain. P. 27, 1. 895. It frequently occurs in the MS. that a space is left at the beginning of a line, and the first letter of the line is omitted. It is evident that the intention was that the first letter should be illumi- nated, and that this, after all, was not done. Here, for instance, the T is omitted, as indicated by the marks of brackets. So also in L 1083, etc. 897. pasing home , go home. 899. was vent, had gone. 905. dulay , delay. So also duclar for declare. 907. comyne , came. 908. ill paid, displeased. 909. homly , humbly. Stevenson reads hourly, but this is wrong ; see 1. 914. 911. carful , full of care, unhappy. 912. withouten were, without doubt. 914. lately, lowly. 918. wight , with (unusual, and perhaps wrong).. P. 28, 1. 924. leife, live. 929. eft, after. 933. thar longith, there belongeth. 943. / was for til excuss , I had some excuse. 944. “ Because I did behove (to do it), out of very need.” 946. lefe it but, leave it without. 953. ma , make. 954. ga, go. 955. of new, anew. 108 NOTES. 958. But if that deth or other lat certain, “ Except it be owing to death or other sure hindrance.” P. 29, 1. 960. be hold , be held. MS. behold. Stevenson suggested the alteration, which is certainly correct. 961. withthy , on the condi- tion that. 965. promyt , promise; als fast as, as soon as. 973. ferd, fourth. 982. “ Where we shall decide the end of this war.” P. 30, 1. 997. cay, cage, prison. 999. amen, pleasant. 1000. vodis, woods. 1004. lust, pleasure (Ch.). But the line is obscure ; unless we read “ diuersiteeP 1009. “His spirit started (owing to the) love (which) anon hath caught him,” etc. 1012. at, that. 1014. “ (As to) whom they know not, etc.” (?). 1019. sen at, since that. 1022. the dewod, devoid thee. 1024. and, if. 1026. be ony mayne , by any mean. P. 31, 1. 1027. y red , I advise. 1035. To warnnyng, to warn. 1040. * our the furdis, over the fords. 1044. oyer. So. in MS. the y repre- senting the Saxon th ; other. 1046. hufyng, halting. 1050. worschip, honour. “It were more expedient to maintain your honour.” 1058. wonlc, winked. 1062. rare, aware. P. 32, 1. 1064. The meaning of “ferst-conquest” is “first-conquered,” (i conquest being Old Er. for conquered). It is explained in 1. 1547 as having been a title given to the king whom Galiot first subdued. 1067. ferss, fierce. 1070. suppos, although. 1073. he ; viz. the shrew. 1077. The MS. has “fched.” 1080. ymen , I mean. 1095. tais , takes. P. 33, 1. 1109. Galyot, put for Galyot’s, the sign of the possessive being often omitted, after a proper name especially. 1110. prewit, proved, tried. 1129. traist, trust. 1131. that euery thing hath cure, that (of) everything hath care. P. 34, 1. 1135. “Aye from the time that the sun began to light the world’s face, until he was gone.” 1137. “o forss ,” perforce. 1141. 1 tails, takes. 1142. hecht, promised. 1151. failjeis, fail. 1154. fet, fetched. 1156. stant, standeth. 1162. resput, respite. 1166. very hiychtis passing, weary knights go. P. 35, 1. 1170. till spere, to inquire. 1177. ne wor his worship, had it not been for his valour. 1187. qwheyar, whether. 1191-4. “And fond,” etc. These four lines are now for the first time printed. They were omitted by Stevenson, evidently by accident. 1196. Per dee. Fr. par Dieu : an oath common in old ballads, generally in the form pardy. 1197. vsyt, used. 1198. “ I advise that we go unto his arms” (armour). 1203. haill , whole. P. 36, 1. 1207. abwsyt, abused; i.e. made an ill use of. 1208. vsyt , used. 1209. suppos the best that lewis , even though (it were) the best that lives. 1217. on step, asleep. The prefix a - in English is due to NOTES. 109 the Saxon on. 1221. al to-hurt , etc. See note in Glossary on the word To-lcerwith. 1225. sauch , saw; rewit , rued, pitied. 1233. one st/d a lift , a little on one side. 1236. our mekill, over much. P. 37, 1. 1240. yarof ' thereof. 1241. ruput , repute, think. 1242. ablare , abler, readier. 1253. Insert a comma after thret , and destroy that after lowe. The meaning perhaps is, “But what if he be appealed to and threatened, and (meanwhile) his heart be elsewhere set to love.’ , Observe that and is often the third or fourth word in the sentence it should begin. See 1. 2833. 1258. fie tyne yowr low , you lose your love. 1260. conclusit, ended. 1265. mokil, much. 1268. of new, anew, again. 1273. pan , pain. NOTES TO BOOK II. P. 38, 1. 1279. thocht , anxiety. 1284. apperans , i.e, vision, as in 1. 364. 1295. aqwynt , acquainted; Burns uses acquent. 1297, com , coming. P. 39, 1. 1316. “ So far out of the way you go in your course.” Compare 1, 1797. 1317. “Thy ship, that goeth upon the stormy whirlpool, nigh of thy revels (i.e. because of thy revels) in the gulf it falls, where it is almost drowned in the peril.” 1321. “In the wretched dance of wickedness.” See the curious uses of the word “daunce” in Chaucer. 1323. the son , thee soon. 1330. powert , poverty; as the-selwyne wat , as thyself knows. 1334. in to spousay, in wedlock. P. 40, 1. 1352. suppriss, oppression. 1354. wedwis, widows. 1367. that illce , that same. 1369. sufferith , makest to suffer. P. 41, 1. 1379. Eccles. iv. 8, 10. 1387. yow mone, thou must. 1392. her-efter leif \ hereafter live. 1401. There should be no comma after “ sapiens .” It means “ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Prov. ix. 10. P. 42, 1. 1409. to ryng wnder his pess, to reign under His peace, by His permission. Roquefort gives pais , licence, permission. 1420. arour, error. 1427. leful , lawful. P. 43, 1. 1447. Ban, king of Albanak, was Lancelot’s father. See 1. 202, 1450. 1448. stan , erratum for slan. 1474. The MS. has “affit.” P. 44, 1. 1491. Tak the bale apone themself \ turn their hacks. 1500. yewyne , given. 1504. till, to ; redundant. 1506. stand aw, stand in awe. So also in 1. 2684. P. 45, 1. 1537. throw his peple, by his people. 1541. Thus falith not, 110 NOTES. etc. “Except wise conduct falleth to a king.” 1546. It were better to retain the spelling of the MS. — “ kinghe;” for, though strange and unusual, it occurs again in 1. 2527. P. 46, 1. 1556. wende, weened. 1560. in to his contrare, against him. 1568. trewis , truce. 1575. his powar, his chief army. 1576. hy the yhere , hy the ear, privately. 1579. cold , called. P.47,1. 1597. home fair, go home. 1608. And) redundant in modern English. P. 48, 1. 1628. lest, least; low, law. It requires care to distinguish the two meanings of low, viz. love and law. 1633. lug, judge. P. 49, 1. 1660. sar, sorely. 1666. A line omitted. The inserted line is purely conjectural. P. 50, 1. 1704. pupelle, people. 1708. Inwyus, envious. 1716. longith, belongeth. 1717. the lylcith, it likes thee. P. 51, 1. 1724. betak til hyme, confer upon him. 1730. essy , easy. 1736. for the nonis, for the occasion. See Tyrwhitt’s Chaucer. 1739. vn to the vorthi pur yow if, unto the worthy poor thou give. 1742. set nocht of gret substans, though not of great value. 1754, alowit , approved of. P. 52, 1 1761. tynith , loseth. 1763. atonis , at once. 1771. rksawe. receive. 1773. with two , also. P. 53, 1. 1791. well less, al-out , much less, altogether. The punctua- tion hereabouts in Stevenson’s edition is very wild. 1795. wys, vice; the wrechitness, thy miserliness. 1797. pass the courss, go thy way. 1808. vrech, wretch ; but here used instead of miser. 1812. vise, vice. 1814. ben y-knawith, are known (to be) (?). 1815. dant, daunt. 1822. the ton, the one. P. 54, 1. 1832. beis var, beware. 1834. colde, cool. 1852. onys, once. 1855. whar-throw, through which, whereby. P. 55, 1. 1864, awn, own. The metre requires the more usual form, aw in. 1879. dispoljeith, despoileth. 1881. For-auhi, wherefore. In this line the MS. has “ scrikth.” P. 56, 1. 1899. most nedis , must needs. Ye — the) i.e. The one, He. 1909. Mot , might. P. 57, 1. 1940. havith, hath. 1950. hot, hight, is called. P. 58, 1. 1966. wnepwnist, unpunished. 1990. omend, amend; spill , destroy. P. 59, 1. 2011. ayre, are. 2012. duclar, declare; so also dulay for delay. 2017. the god werray, the Yery God. P.60,1.2036. For-guhi, wherefore. 2040. mad, made. 2041 .clergy, science. 2062. be the mycht dewyne, by the might divine. NOTES. Ill P. 61, 1. 2069. far , fare. 2079. helyth from the ground , heals from the bottom; i.e. effectually. 2100. not sessith, who ceaseth not. P. 62, 1. 2107. JVe war, were it not for; hartly , hearty; it occurs again four lines below. 2135. yneuch , enough. He means he will ask but one question more. P. 63, 1. 2148. To passing home, to go home. 2162. the xxviij day. The MS. has a “v” smudged over; we should read “xxiiij,” as in 1. 2155. P. 64, 1. 2190. hal dure, hall door. 2192. o iorne most for to comend , a journey most to be commended. 2194. lowith, love. P. 65, 1. 2212. the fewar eschef thay, the less they achieve. 2229. “For no adventure will prove so great, that ye shall not achieve it.” 2241. whill, until. P. 66, 1. 2247. galot ; so in MS. 2265. grant mercy , great thanks ; Fr. grand merci. 2267. quhy, because. P. 67, 1. 2279. thithingis, tidings; probaby an error of the scribe for tithingis. Stevenson has chicliingis ! 2284. al-out , altogether. 2304. oft syss, oft-times. See Glossary ( Sys ). 2306. dante, dainty. 2310. tithandis, tidings; compare 1. 2279. P. 68, 1. 2323. aw, owe. 2328, fantessy, fancy, notion. 2334. for no why , for no reason. 2337. mon I fair, must I go. 2338. our son It waire, over soon it were. 2342. For-quhy, because. P. 69, 1. 2352. nor has the force of bat. 2366. be ony men, by any means. 2368. on of tho , one of them. 2375. chen of low, chain of love. 2376. and if fie may deren, an if you may declare. P. 70, 1. 2409. hartly raquer, heartily require. 2416. gar ordan, cause to be provided. P. 71, 1. 2428. prewaly disspone, privily dispose. 2436. ellis-quhat ; I suppose this means, “he was on fire elsewhere .” 2448. hamlynes, homeliness. 2452. fest throw al the fier eliche , through all the year alike. P. 72, 1. 2469. commend, commended. 2470. he dry with, he drivetlq pursueth. The reading is not drawith, as in Stevenson. NOTES TO BOOK III. P. 7 3, 1. 247 1 . This line is too long, and the sense imperfect ; but there is no doubt about the reading of the MS. 2474. Awodith, expels 2475. doune valis, falls down ; for it is evident that rails is an error for falls, the mistake having arisen from confusion with the succeeding line. 2480. cled , clad. 2487. bygown, begun. In the next line Stevenson 112 NOTES. has sown. But the true reading is Roivn , run; as in 1. 2820. 2492. barnag, baronage, nobility. P. 74, 1. 2522. but dulay, without delay ; the, they. 2524. thar com, their coming. 2530. in the dogre , in its (due) degree. P. 75, 1. 2545. Or that, ere that. 2552. he and hate, high and hot. 2558. the can, they began. P. 76, 1. 2574. hyme male , prepare himself; or perhaps simply, make (for the field), go. 2582. helmys last', last possibly means laced ; see 1. 2250. 2594. $hit, although. 2599. doat, fear. 2600. is assemblit, made an attack. The peculiar use of assemble must always be borne in mind. 2601. erd, earth. P. 77, 1. 2612. found till gwyans, go to Gwyans. 2614. til esquyris thei sewyt , after Esquyris they followed. 2619. one to the melle socht , made their way to the melee. 2627. don bore, borne down. 2630. Fifty thousand. It would appear that Galiot had 40,000, of whom 10,000 were held in reserve ; so that in 1. 2632 only 30,000 are men- tioned. See 1. 2569, 2647. P. 78, 1. 2646. ten, sorrow, vexation. 2656. resauf, receive. 2663. at thar come, at their coming ; led , put down. 2670. biding one the bent, abide cn the grassy plain. P. 79, 1. 2679. “ That, despite their efforts, they must needs retire.” 2684. stud aw, stood in awe. 2693, 4. These lines do not rime. Two lines at least must here be lost. P. 80, 1. 2712. On ayar half, on either side. The MS. omits to. 2713. of, off. 2714. noiss, nose. 2731. Bot nocht forthi, But not on that account. P. 81, 1. 2754. harmys, loss. 2761. aucht to ses, ought to cease. 2765. at, that. 2768. my lef, my leave, permission. 2770. in to cage, in prison. P. 82, 1. 2802. commandit, commended. P. 83, 1. 2819. one athir half, on either side. 2820. rown, run. 2821. howyns', an ungrammatical form; perhaps howyng is meant. 2827. one hycht, on height ; i.e. aloud. 2829. sterith, stirreth. 2833. “ The lady of Melvhalt made (her way) to him, and immediately caused his couch to be placed before a window.” Mr. Stevenson reads, “ Of Melyhalt the lady to hyme maid Incontinent his couche, and gart he 1 had,” etc. i.e. “The lady immediately made his bed for him,” etc. 2841. wencust, vanquished. After this word we should perhaps insert “at,” as in 1. 3336. 1 But the MS. has “be;” also “melyhat” instead of “Melyhalt.” NOTES. 113 P. 84, 11. 2877-2880. These lines are now printed for the first time, four lines having been here again omitted by Mr. Stevenson. 2880. hut weyne, without doubt. 2884. to led and stere , to lead and direct. P. 85, 1. 2893. Endlong , along. 2894. weryne , were. 2913. let, hinder. x P. 86, 1. 2925. dulay, delay; as in several other places. 2938. fek , effect. 2944. yade, went. 2947. fair , welfare. P. 87, 1. 2964. whill, until. 2970. ho, stop, pause. 2971. veryng In affray , were in terror. 2972. rovm, room. 2978. socht , made his way. 2984. disponit, intends; but we must insert “not,” to complete the sense and the metre. P. 88, 1. 2998. escJievit (used passively), is achieved. 3003. o hnycht , a single knight. 3005. tais, takes. 3006. fays , foes. 3013. onys or the nycht , once ere the night. 3015. that fie have gilt to mend , to amend that in which ye have trespassed. P. 89, 1. 3052. Do at I may , Do that which I can. P. 90, 1. 3065. This line is printed by Mr. Stevenson, “ Curag can [ ] encresing in 1 his hart” ; but it is not clear that a word is wanting, for the metre is as complete as in many other lines; whilst, as regards the sense, “the knycht” is- probably a nominative without a verb, and 1. 3065 means, “ Courage did increase in his heart.” Or the reader may, if he pleases, insert “fele.” Compare 1. 3058. 3066. lap , leaped. 3079. Observe the omission of the word “neither” in this line. 3080. persit , pierced, 3086. onan, anon. A.S. on-an. P. 91, 1. 3093. In samyne will, with like intent. 3100. let axampil , better example. 3104. hot , unless; me fall , befall me. 3108. one vthir , another. 3120. send, sent. 3121. lewit one, left one. 3122. hut mercy, without mercy. P. 92, 1. 3134. deliuer hesynes , clever readiness. 3136. aray, livery. 3140. Ee, eye. 3146. the moroio new, the early morning. 3160. deith, dead. 3162. Suppos, although. P. 93, 1. 3178. Nor) we now use hut. 3184. ward. See Glossary. tho, then. P. 94, 1. 3200. relewit , relieved. 3201. diuerss placis sere; assere= diuerss, one of these words is redundant. So in 1. 3266. 3207. ewil awysit . ill advised. 3217. “And if it so happen, that they be discom- fited.” P. 95, 1. 3240. leuch, laughed ; sarues , service. 3246. al haill, all 1 MS. has “to.” 8 114 NOTES. whole. 3248. x thousand mo, ten thousand, and more. 3259. ahaid , delay. 3263. aucht, eight. 3265. petws for til her , piteous to hear. P. 96, 1. 3297. dreuch, drew. 3299 . fellit, fallen. 3304. levyng , leave. P. 97, 1. 3307. sest, ceased. 3321. asJcit at, asked of. 3331. Wen- cussith, vanquisheth. 3340. in to one, continually ; which is sometimes the sense of A.S. on-an. P. 98, 1. 3353. to jillyng, to fulfil. 3357. soght, came on; see Glos- sary. 3359. Ne war, etc,, “Had it not been that they were, indi- vidually, better men.” 3364. rale/, relieve. 3368. fellith, feeleth. P. 99, 1. 3384. virslyng, wrestling, i.e. entangled with ; a strong ex- pression ! 3385. assailing, assail. 3390. rowmyth, roometh, emptieth. 3403. departit, parted. 3404. dout, fear. P. 100, 1. 3412. left , failed. 3423. The lord, i.e. Galiot, as I sup- pose ; Mr. Stevenson has, “The Lord.” 3430. stere, to stir, move, come. P. 101, 1. 3450. pretendit , endeavour. 3457. occupye, employ. 3461. For one hour, etc., “ On account of suffering distress for one hour.” 3470. the well less, much less; seel. 1791. 3471. herd, beard. 3473. o woyss , one voice. '3475. eschef frome yhow, win from you ; or, perhaps, withdraw himself from you. See Glossary. P. 102, 1. 3481. wend thai var no mo, thought they were no more. 3487. And sich enconter , and such encounter. These three words are written at the bottom of the page as a catchword. The rest of the MS. is wanting. ADDITIONAL NOTES. Ini. 1343, the word diners should doubtless be supplied before peplis ; see 1. 731. In 1. 1917, the word to should have been into, as elsewhere ; the line would j then have been complete. Both these errors are due to the scribe of the MS. It should be observed that, in words beginning in the MS. with an illumin- ated letter, the other letters in the word are small , not capitals. Thus, in 1. 1 . the first word is not The, but The ; and so on, throughout the poem. GLOSSAEIAL INDEX. [As many of the words occurring in “ Lancelot” are well explained either in Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary or in Roquefort’s “Glossaire de la langue Romane,” I have frequently referred to these works by means of the letters J . and R. ; using the latter to signify either “Roquefort” or “Romance.” Other abbreviations, as O.N. for Old Norse; Goth, for Moeso-Gothic; Su-G. for Suio-Gothic, etc., will be readily understood. Ch. has also been used as an abbreviation for Chaucer. The various French, Danish, German, and other words referred to in the Glossary are merely added by way of illustration, to indicate in what direction a word may be most easily traced up. To ensure accuracy as far as possible, I have verified every foreign word by the aid of dictionaries, using for Gothic words the Glossary subjoined to Massman’s edition of “ Ulfilas for Suio-Gothic words Ihre’s Glossarium ; for Old Norse words the “ Worterbuch” in Pfeiffer’s Altnordisches Lesebuch ; and for Romance words “ Roquefort.” In Moeso-Gothic words, however, I have always written w wherever, by some singular perversity, German editors write v. "Whatever errors occur below may thus, I hope, be readily traced.] Abaid, ) delay, tarrying, 1882, Abyde, ) 2147, 3069, 3308. A.S. abidan, J. Abasit, \ abashed, humbled, di- Abasyt, > spirited, cast down, 378, Abaysit, ) 1452, 2664. Abasit of, dispirited by, 3301. R. abaiser. Abasit of (used passively), were dispirited by, 2243. Abraid, awoke, 1231 ; (Ch.) A.S. on-bredan. Abwsyt (abused), made an ill use of, 1207. Access, a fever ; or better, a fit of the ague; Lat. accessus febris , Wright. 31. Accorde, to agree with, 1526. Rr. s’accorder. Accordith, is suitable for, becomes, I 1679, 1951 ; agreed therewith, 605 ; was useful for, was fit for, 1204. According for, suitable for, 1512. It. accordant. Adred, terrified, 378, 2664. A.S. on-drcedan. Affek, effect, 382. Afferd, afraid, 3472. A.S. afered , afceran. Affere, warlike preparation, 985. A.S. faranQ.'), aspect, bearing, 3043,3334,3394. A.S./ 1224 > 2641 • Assail, assault, attack, 842. We should perhaps read “assaill,” as in 1. 855. Assailing, assail (3 pers. plural ), 3385. Assemblay, an assembling of knights for a combat, a tour- nament, 267. Assemble, a hostile meeting, com- bat, battle, 978, 3336. See J. Assemblyng, encounter (3 pers . plu. indie.), 2588. Assemblyng on, attacking, 2956. Assey, to test, 478. See Assay. A start, to start away from ; hence to escape from, avoid, 228, 3296. Ch. has asterte. At, that, 1019, etc. Compare Dan. at ; O.N. at. Atour, at over, i.e. across, 841, 849, 873; in excess, in addi- tion, besides, 1775. Ather, either, 2629, 2819, 3264. A.S. dgther. Atte, at the, 627, 1055. Aucht, eight, 3263. Compare Ger. acht . GLOSS A RIAL INDEX. 117 Auentur, adventure, 601. Auer, ever, 273, etc. Auerding to, belonging to (?), 345. See R. esgarder , of which one form is aivarder , the true mean- ing of which, however, is, to regard, to counsel. The sense seems to point rather to the Goth, and-ivairths, present ; O.JS". Ond-wer^r, opposite. Aventur, Auentoure, adventure, 80, 222. Aw, owe, deserve ; the present tense of the verb of which ought is the past tense. A.S. ah , ahte. 3447. Awalk, awake, 1 049. Goth, walcan. The form awalk occurs in Dunbar, “ Awalk, luvaris, out of your slomer- ing.” (The Thistle and the Rose.) Awant, boast, 2136. As a verb, 1588 ; and as a reflective verb, 2196,2386. Pr .sevanter. Ch. has avante. Awin, own, 89. A.S. dgen. Awodith, maketh to depart, 2474. See Avoid in fares’ Glossary, edited by Halliwell and Wright. Awow, ) vow, 234, 242, 246. Awoue, j Ch. has avowe. Awys, consideration, advisement, 558. Awyfr the, advise thee, consider, 1913. Awyfr, ) to consider, 424, 429. Awyflng, j Pr. s’aviser. Awysment, advisement, considera- tion, 360, 680. Ay, ever, continually, 1135, 1486. A.S. aa. Ayar (written instead of Athar), either, 2712. Ayre, are, 2011. Ayanis, 744, ) against. A.S. Ajanis, 1164,2283, j ongean. Ajane, Ajeine, again, 3253, 380. Bachleris, bachelors ; a name given to novices in arms or arts, 1689. See R. bacheler. Banaris, banners, 770. Bartes, 2897, ) g Bertes Bartiis, 3041, j bce mrUS ' Barnag, baronage, nobility, 2492, See R. barniez. Batell, a battalion, division of an army, 784, 808, etc. Be, by. A.S. be . Behest, promise, 2766. AS.behces. Behufis, behoves, 579. A.S, be- hofan , often used impersonally. Behuft, ) to behove, to be obliged Behwft, ) to do, 944, 2342 ; appa- rently contracted from behufis. Beleif, to believe (?), 112. Bent,- a grassy plain (properly a coarse grass ; in German, binse ), 2670. J. Bertes, a parapet, a tower, 1007, 1118, 2815. R. bretesche , from Low Latin bredachia. Betak til, to confer upon, 1724. A.S. be-tcecan , in the sense, to assign. Betakyne, betoken, 2014. A.S. be-tcecan , in the sense, to shew. Bewis, boughs, 338. A.S. boh. Billis, letters, 142. Pr. billet. Blindis, blindness (?), 1904. Borde, to meet in a hostile manner, encounter, 809. We find in R. border , to joust, fight with lances. Compare Pr. aborder , and Spen- ser’s use of bord. Bot, 1 . but ; 2, without. In gene- ral, without is expressed by but , and the conjunction by bot ; but this distinction is occasionally violated. Bown, ready, prepared, 1036. 0.27. buinn , past part, of bua, to pre- pare. Su-G. boa , to prepaie. . J. Bretis, fortifications, forts; “pro- perly wooden towers or castles : 118 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Bretachice , castella lignea, qui- bus castra et oppida munieban- tur, Gallis Bretesque. Du Cange.” Jamieson. 874. S ee Bertes. Bukis, books, 434, 1862. Burdis, boards, i.e. tables, 2198. A.S. lord, which means — 1. a plank ; 2. a table, etc. Bui’, bore, 733, 778. But, without ; common in the phrase hut were, without doubt. But if, unless, except, 958. Byhecht, ) promised, 1485, 2791. Byhicht, ) A.S. le-htetan. Byknow, notorious for, known to be guilty of, 1627. Compare “I know nothing ly myself” (1 Cor. iv. 4). Compare also Dan. hekiende, to make known. By, near at hand, 1535, 2916. Cage, ) cage ’ P rison > " 7 > 277 °- Can, an auxiliary verb, used nearly as we now use did. Careldis, plural of Careld, a merry- making, revel (?) “ Caraude, re- jouissance;” and u Caroler, dan- ser, se divertir, mener une vie joyeuse.” Roquefort. Catifis, wretches, 2102. It. caitif, captif. Compare Ital. cattivo. Chalmer, chamber, 2281, 2308, 2427, 2808. J. Cher 05 ] c ^ ar ^ 735. R. cher. Charge, load, 693. Fr. charge; j see discharge in the line follow- ing (694), meaning to shake off a load. Chargit, weighed in my mind. Wright, 710; or, perhaps, b 1 " sied myself about, which is the mean- ing in 1. 2454. Fr. se charger de. Chen, chain, 2375. Cher, car, chariot, 735. S ez Chare. Chere, cheer, demeanour, 83, 341, 695 ; sad demeanour, outward grief, 2718. Fr. chere; com- pare Ital. ciera , the face, look. “ Wepinge was hyr moste chere. 1 ” (Le Morte Arthur, 1. 726.) Cheft, choose, 1611, 1636, 2368. A.S. ceosan ; Ger. Jciesen ; Dutch kie%en. Clariouns, clarions, 771, 789. Clepe, to call, 90, 99, A.S. clepan. Clepit, eallest, 93; called, 781. Clepith, is called, 1919. Clergy, science, knowledge, 504, 511, 2041. R. clergie. Closine, closed, concluded, 316. Closith, enclosed, shut up, 427. Cold, called, 753, 1579. Commandit, commended, 2802. Comprochit, approacheth, 2472, 2509. Conpilour, compiler, poet, 319. Conquest, conquered, 574 ; Fyrst- conquest, first conquered, 1545, etc, Conseruyt, preserved, 332. Conten (used as a reflective verb), to demean oneself valorously, to maintain one’s ground, 823, 1107,1130. SeeR. u contenement, contenance, conduite, maintien, posture.” Contenit hyme, behaved himself, 3219 ; Contenit them, 2634, Contenyt, endured. 3190. Contretioun, contrition, 1 4 1 5, 1426. Contynans, demeanour, 1693, 1747. Counter, encounter, attack, charge, 3239. Couth, could, 793. A.S. cunnan ; past tense, ic cir6e. Cowardy, cowardice, 1023, 3287. Cownterit, encountered, 2609, 2621. J. Crownel, coronal, corolla of a flower, 59. J. Cummyne, j g07 90 - Comyne, ) GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 119 come (past part.). Cumyne, 650, 1136, Cumyng, 447. Cummyng, 2498, Cunyng, knowledge, 1455. Cnsynace, 1270, Cusynece, 2802, Cusynes, 2287, Cwsynes, 1185, Cwre, care, 98, 266, 643. Lat. cur a. (N.B. Though Cwre = cura , yet cura should be distin- guished from A.S. cearu.) kinswoman. Danger, power to punish; “the power of a feudal lord over his vassals,” Wright, 444. Also, power to injure, 3006. See It. dangier. Dans, (dance), in the phrase “wrechit dans,” evil mode of life, 1321. See Chaucer’s use of daunce. Dede, 90, ) death. Dan. dod. A.S. Ded, 3304, ) dea^S. O.N. daw&i. Deden, deign, 949. J. Dedenyt, deigned, 240. Deid, died, 215. Deith, dead (past part.), 3160. Delitable, delightful, 1738. It. delital)le. Deliuer, nimble, clever, 3134. Deliuerly, (cleverly), nimbly, lightly, 3089, 3131. It. delivre. Demande, demur, 191, 397, 3052, 3354. See It. u demandcr, con- tremander, changer, revoquer l’ordre donne.” Demit, 18. See note. Depart, to part, 3421. It. departir. Departit, parted, 3403. Depaynt, painted, 46, 1703. Er. depeint. ’Ch. depeint. Depend me, concern myself with (?), 214. Depend to, to concern, appertain to, 466. Deren, to speak out, tell, 2376. It. derainier. Dereyne, a plea, 2313; “haith o dereyne ydoo,” hath appealed to trial by combat. It. derainier. Des, dais, high table, 2762. It. dels ; Lat. discus. Devith, ) deafen, 92, 94. “Su.G. Dewith, ) deofwa\ loel.deyfa^ H . Compare Dan. dove. Burns has deave. Dewod the, devoid thyself, 1022. Deuoydit was = departed, 1031. Compare Awodith. Dewyft, to tell, narrate, 373. Discharg, to put aside one’s lia- bility, 163, 1665. Disefr, lack of ease, misery, 707. Disiont (Disioint ?), disjointed, out of joint; hence uncertain, haz- ardous, 2907. “ Disjoint, A dif- ficult situation.” Wright. Dispendit, spent, 1808. It. des- pendre. Dispens, expenditure, 1746. Tr. depense. Dispoljeith, despoileth, 1879. Dispone, to dispose, provide ; or, as a reflective verb, to be dis- posed to do, to intend, 54, 446, 980, 1590, 2428, 2462. Disponit, declines (?) ; but much more probably, intends ; and we must read “disponit not,” 2984. Dout, fear, 2599, 3404, 3438 ; as a verb, to fear, 740, 1827. Ch. doute. It. doubtance. Drent, drowned, 1319. A.S. dren- can. Drefr (as a reflective verb\ to direct oneself, proceed, go, 1975, 2288, 2486. Lat. dirigere. Dry with, drives; “he dry with to the end,” i.e. concludes, 2470. Duclar, declare, 3022. Dulay, delay, 681, 788, 2925. Effere, solemnity, pomp, J. Com- pare Ger. feiern. 2360. 120 GLOSSAEIAL INDEX. Efter, after, 217. A.S. efter. Eld, old age, 3225, 3242. A.S. yldo. Gothic aids. Elyk, Eliche, alike, 182, 2452. Eme, uncle, 2572. A.S. earn. Empit, emptied, empty, 180. A.S. cemtian. Empleft, to please, 2455, J, Emprift, success of an enter- prise (?), 269 ; compare E. em- prinse ; Ital. impresa . Anxiety, oppression, 393. E. emprindre. Enarmyt, fully armed, 285, 751, 2499, J. Endit, indited, 138; indite, 206; inditing, poem (?), 334. If the meaning were, “this ends,” the form “endis” would he re- quired. Endlong, along, 2893. A.S. and- lang ; Ger. entlang. Entent, intention, will, meaning, thoughts, 1451, 1499, 2938. E. entente. IJsed by Chaucer. Entermet, to intermeddle with, to have do with, 2914. E. entre- metre. Enweronyt, environed, 53. Erde, earth, 1072, 1540, 2601. Compare Ger. erde. Erdly, earthly, 498. Erith, earth, 128. A.S. eor&. Eschef (eschew), to shun, with- draw himself, 3475. E. eschever. Eschef (achieve), to accomplish, 2212, 2513. E. eschavir. Es- chef deith, to die, 2732. Escheuit, achieved, 258. Eschevit, is achieved, 2998. Eft, 174, Eeft, 706, Essen^eis (ensigns), warcries, 3349, J. See also E. enseigne. Exasy, extasy, 76. (Possibly mis- written). Exortith, beseecheth, 3026. Extend, attain, 3281. ease. Eail^eis, fail, 3 pers. plu. indica- tive, 1151. Eairhed (fairhood), beauty, 577. In A.S. fcegernes, but in Dan. forked. Fall, to happen, befall, 493, 2139. A.S. feallan ; Dan. falde. Eallyng, fallen, 1322. Ealowschip, used as we now use company, 1105, 2687, etc. E arhed, beauty, 2440. See Fairhed. Eayndit (feigned), dissembled, 2397. Pays, foes, 3006. A.S. fah. Eechtand, fighting, 2691, 3127, 3407. Ger. fechten. Eechteris, fighters, 686. Eeill, knowledge, skill, 2854, J. A.S .felian (?). Eek (effect), sum, amount, result, drift, 2938. Er. effet. Fell, to feel, 820 (?), 2131. Eellith, feeleth, 3368. Fell, many ; als fell, as many, 768. A.S. feala; Gothic flu. Fell, horrible (?), 260. A.S .fell, cruel, fierce. Eerde, fourth, 815, 973, 2285. Compare Dan. fierde. Eerleit, wondered, 3117. A.S.' fcer-l'ic , sudden, fearful. Burns has ferlie. Eet, fetched, 433, 1154. A.S .feccan y past tense, ic feahte. Eongith, catcheth, seizeth, 1922. A.S. fangan ; Goth, fakan. Eorfare, to fare amiss, to perish, 1348. A.S . for-faran. Forlorn, lost, 3305. A.S .forloren ; Goth, fra-liusan. Eor-quhy ; see For-wky. For-thi, ) (there-fore), on that ac- Eor-thy, ) count, 332, 2261, 2731. A.S . forthy; where thy (Gothic the) is the instrumental case of se, that. Eor-wrocht (for-wrought), over- GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 121 worked, wearied out, 888. A.S. forwyrcan. For-why, 798, 925, 2209, ) for For-quhy, 2171,2342,2290, j the reason that, because that. Fol- lowing Stevenson’s edition, I have unnecessarily inserted a note of interrogation after this word in lines 798 and 925; but a comparison of all the passages shews that it is better to omit it. Found, to advance, go, 2612. J. A.S . fundian, to try to find, go forward. Franchis, generosity, 230. fran- chise. FremmytneF), strangeness, aliena- tion, 1508. A.S. fremdnes. Froit, enjoyment, 1644; fruit, 2088, 2109. R. fruit. Frome, from the time that, 17, 1432. Goth, frums, a beginning. Fruschit, broken, dashed in pieces, 1201. It. frois, broken; from the verb froier. Fundy Fundy Fyne, u fine, fidele;” and “fine, foi.” Fyne, end, 1388, 2081. 'Ey. fin. Ganyth, it ; it profits ; used imper- sonally , 121. It. gaagner. Ganith, is suitable for, 991. O.N. gegna. J. Compare Dan. gavne. Gare, to cause, 910, 2416. Dan. giore; O.IST, gora. Gart, caused, 267, 2777. Gentrice, 130, 2757, ) courtesy, no- Gentrift, 2790. ) bleness. It. gent Hesse. Gere, gear, equipment, armour, 2777. A.S. gear w a. Gert, 384. See Gart. Giffis, give thou, 463. A.S. gif an. Gifyne, given, 1752, Gilt, offended, done wrong, 699, 3015. A.S. gyltan. Grewhundis, gray hounds, 533,537. Go werne the, conduct thyself, 1598. Grawis, groves, 2481. Ch . greves. Gyrfr, grass, 10. A S. gcers. Gyfr, guise, fashion, custom, 545. Ch. gise. Haade, had, 2150. Habariowne, habergeon, 2889. From hauler geon , the French form of Ger. halsberge. See TIawbreh. Habirioune, habergeon, 3380. Haill, whole, 3246. A.S. heel. Haknay, an amblinghorse foralady, 1730. It. hacquenee (Lat. equus). Half; in the phrase on arthuris half i.e. on Arthur’s side , 883. Compare use of Germ. halb. Halk, a hawk, 1736, 2482. A.S. hafoc. Hall, \ Hoil, ( various spellings of Haill, Holl, ( whole. Hail, ) Hals, neck, 1054. A.S. hals . Goth. hals. Hant, to exercise, practise, 2191. Fr. hanter , lit. to frequent. Hardement, 801, 2669, ) hardi- Hardyment, 900, 3362, ) hood, boldness. It, hardement. Hate, hot, 2552. Havith, hath, 1940; have, 3404. Hawbrek, 1070, 1200, ) hauberk, Hawbryk, 3112, j neck-de- fence ; Ger. hals-berge , armour for the neck. Hawnt, to use, 3418. See Hant. Hawntis, exercise, 2772. He, high, 1969, 2552. A.S. heah. Hecht, hight, is called, 2140 ; was called, 2290. Hecht, to promise, 3101 ; promised {past part.), 1142. A.S . hatan. ng,465! ) ^ oun a (past part.) . faithful, true, 519. See It. 122 GLOSSARIAL IXDEX. Hedis, heads, 538, 869. He^’459; j heav y- A - s - Mr Hye, 2°9 0 7j hi S h - See Be ' Hienes, highness, 126. Ho, pause, stop, cessation, 2970. According to J. radically the same with the verb Houe , or How (see Houit ). The Dutch, however, use hou, hold ! from Tiouden , to hold. Holl, whole, 106, 745. Hore, hair, 365. “ Holje were his yjen and vnder campe hores.” (Early English Alliterative Poems ; ed. Morris. See Poem B. 1. 1695.) The meaning of the line quoted is, “Hollow were his eyes, and under bent hairs.” Hot, I. commanded, 754. A.S. hdtan (verb act.). II. hight, was called, 806 ; is called, 1950. A.S. hdtan (neuter). Houit, delayed, tarried, halted, 996. “ W. hojtan , hojio, to fluc- tuate, hover, suspend,” Morris. “ Ger. hof-en , domo et hospitio excipere.” J. Hovith, stays, halts, 2829. Howit, halted, 2814, 2842. Howyns, halts, tarries, 2821. Pro- bably miswritten for “howyng.” Hufyng, halting, delaying, 1046. Hundyre, a hundred, 756, 1554. I, in, 332. Dan. i ; O.H. 1 . Iclosit, y-closed ; i.e. enclosed, shut in, 53. If, to give, 554. In lines 1718- 1910 the word occurs repeat- edly in several forms ; as iffis, iffith, giveth ; iffis, give thou ; \ fyne, given, etc. Ifyne, to give, 3454. Iftis, gifts, 1741. In the line preceding we have gift is. Ilk ; the ilk (= thilk) that, 629^ 1601. Literally, the ilk = the same. A.S. ylc. See 1367. Illumynare, luminary, 3. Incontinent, 1 immediately, 253, Incontynent, ) 1215,2647,2834. Still used in French. In-to-contynent (= Incontinent), 3020. In to, used for “in passim. Iornaye, journey, 680. Irk, to become slothful, grow weary, tire, 2709. A.S. eargian. Iuperty, combat, 2547. Fr. jeu parti , a thing left undecided ; hence the meanings, 1. strife, conflict; 2. jeopardy, as in Ch. See J. ; and Tyr whitt’s note to C.T. 16211. Iwond, 245, ) wounded. We find Iwondit, 226, ) inA.S.botlwawc? and wiinded. I-wyP), certainly, of a surety, 1709, 1925, 1938. A.S .geiois\ Ger. gewiss. Often wrongly in- terpreted to mean, I know . See Wit. Laif, the remainder (lit. what is left), 1802, 3472. A.S. Idf. Burns has “the lave.” Lametable, lamentable, 3265. The omission of the n occurs again in 1. 2718, where we have lemyt- dble. Larges, liberality, 608, 1681, 1750. Fr. largesse. Larg, prodigal, profuse, 2434. Lat, impediment, 958. A.S. Iwtan means (1 ) to suffer, (2) to hinder. Lat, to let, permit (used as an auxiliary verb), 803. Latith, preventeth, 1927. Lawrare, a laurel, 82. Ch. laurer. GL0SSA11IAL INDEX. 123 Learis, liars, 493. Led, put down, beat down, de- pressed, overpowered, 2663. It is the pa&t tense of A.S. lecgan , to lay, to cause to submit, to kill. Lef, to live, 564, 3230. Leful, lawful, 1427. Legis, lieges, subjects, 1957. R. lige ; Lat. ligatus. Leich, leech, physician, 106. A S. Icece; Dan Icege. See 520, 2056. Leif, to live, 952, 1392. A S. lybban ; Goth, liban. Leir, to learn, 1993. Comp. D. leeren. Lest, to list, to please, 555, 621. A.S. lystan. Lest, to last out against, sustain, 811. A.S. Icestan. Lest, least, 1628. Let, hindrance, 2495. Leuch, laughed, 3240. A.S. hlihan , past tense ic hloh. ' Lewis, liveth, 1209. Lewith, left, deserted, 1854. Liging, lay; 3 per 8. sing, past tense, ind. 37 6. A.S. Idgon. Longith, belongeth, 738, 1921, 2429, 2778. Compare Dan. lange, to reach. Longith, belonged, 3242. Longyne, belonging, 433. Lorn, lost, 2092 ; destroyed, 2740. See For-lorn. Loft, praise, 1777. Lat. laus. Ch. has losed, praised. Low, ) 1. law, 1602, 1628, 1636, Lowe, ) etc. 2. love, 29, 1620. It is sometimes hard to say which is meant. Compare Dan. lov , law ; A.S. luf, love. Luges, tents, 874, 881, 2500, 2680. Dr. loge , logis ; Ger. laube , a bower, from laub, foliage ; Gothic lauf, a leaf. Lu^yne, a lodging, tent, 891. Lyt, a little, 1233. At lyte, in little, used as an expletive, 143. Ma ; short form of Make, 953. Maad, made, 697. Magre of, in spite of, 500, 960, 2679, 2702, 2711. Sometimes ‘ ‘ magre 5 ’ is found without “of.” Dr. mat gre. Matalent, ) displeasure, anger, Matelent, ( 2169,2660. In both cases Mr. Stevenson wrongly has maltalent. R. maltalent, mautalent. Mayne, 1026. See Men. Medyre, mediator (?), 1624. I am not at all sure of this word, but we find in R. many strange forms of “mediator,” such as meener , meeisneres, etc. In the Supplement to the “Dictionnaire de l’Academie” we find mediaire , qui occupe le milieu, from Low Lat. mediarius. N.B. In the MS. the “d” is indistinct. Meit, to dream, 363. A.S. mcetan . Melle, contest, battle, 2619. Dr. melee , J. Memoratyve, mindful, bearing in remembrance, 1430. Dr. me- moratif. Men, mean, way; “be ony men” =by any means, 2366 ; so, too, “be ony mayne,” 1026. Dr. moyen. Men, to tell, declare, 510. A.S. mcenan. Menye, a company, multitude (without special reference to number) ; whence “ a few menye,” a small company, 751. A.S. menigu', Ger. menge. Met, dreamt, 440. See Meit. Meyne, 41. See Men. Misgyit, misguided, 1663. ~R.guier. Mo, more, 3187, etc. A.S. ma. Mon, man, 96. 124 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Moneth, month, 569. A.S. mona ¥> ; Goth, mendth. Morow, morning, 1, 30, 64, 341. Goth, maurgins. Mot, must, 195. A.S. ic m6t. Mys, a fault, 1888, 1937, 3230. A.S. mis. Do o myfr, to com- mit a fault, 1926. Mysour, measure, 1830. Myster, need, 1877, 2322. Ch. mistere; E. mester; Lat. minis- ter him. Nat, naught, 703. Shortened from A.S. nd wuht, i.e. no whit. Nece, nephew, 2200, 2245, 2720. It. niez. Nedlyngis, of necessity; J. 2337. A.S. neadinga. Nemmyt, considered, estimated, 649, 2852. (?) A.S. nemnan, to name, call. Ner, near, 441. Neulyngis, newly, again; J. 36. A.S. mwe-lice (?). Newis, for Nevis, nieves, fists, 1222. O.N. hnefi. Dan. nceve. Burns has nieve ; Shakspeare neif. Noght, not, 1182. Noifr, nose, 2714. It. neis. Nome, name, 226, 320, 1546, 3341. Fr. nomme. Nome, took, 591, 1048. A.S .niman, past tense, ic nam. Northest, north-east, 677. Not (shortened from Ne wot), know not, 522, 3144. A.S. nat , from nitan = ne witan. Not, naught, 720. See Nat. Noyith, annoyeth, 904. Fr. nuire. Lat. nocere. Noyt, annoyed, offended, 471. Nys, | (nice), foolish, 127, 1946. Nyce, ) Fr. niais. Ital. nidiace. O, a, an, passim ; one, a single, 2998, 3003, 3393, etc. Obeisand, obedient, 641. Obefr, obey, 2134. Oblist, obliged, 969. Occupye, to use, employ, 3457 ; to dwell, 75. Lat. occupare. Of, with, 66. Oft-syfr, oft-times, 2304, 2594, 2789, 2885, 2929. See Syft. On, and, 519. Possibly a mistake. One, on, often used for In ; One to = unto. Onan, ) anon, 158, 1466, 2602, Onone, > etc. The form “ onan,” Onon, ) 1. 3086, suggests the derivation of anon ; viz. from A.S. on-an, in one; hence, forthwith, immediately. Onys, once, at some time or other, 3013; at onys, at once, 3187. Opin, 1286, ] Opine, 13, ) ^ Or, ere, before, 77, 1887, 2545. A.S. cer. Ordand, to "set in array, 784; to prepare, procure, 1713. E. ordener ; Lat. ordinarc. Ordan, to provide, 2416, 2777. Ordynat, ordained, 490. See 1. 507. Orest (=Arest), to arrest, stop, 3186. Orient, east, 5. Oucht, it; it is the duty of (= Lat. debet), 2995. Strictly, we should here have had “it owes” ( debet ), not “it ought” (debuit). See Aw. Ourfret, over-adorned, decked out, 71, 2480. A.S. frcelwian , to trim, adorn. Out-throng (=Lat. expressit ), ex- pressed, uttered, 65. A.S. ut, out, and \ringan , to press. Owtrag, outrage, 3454. E. out- rage ; Ital. oltrnggio , from Lat. ultra. The MS. has outrag, probably owing to confusion GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 125 with affray in the same line. We find “owtrag” in 1. 2578. Oyfr, to use, 1701. J. Paid, pleased ; ill paid, displeased, 908. Low Lat. pay are , to pay, satisfy. Paljonis, pavilions, tents, 734; plural of Palpune, a pavilion, a tent, 1305. E. gives pallion , a pall, and pavilion , a tent ; deriving them from Lat. pallium. Pan, pain, 1273. Pas hyme, to pace, go, 362. Pafr, to go, 1213. Pasing, pacing, departing, 371 ; surpassing, 303, 346, 689, etc. Pens, to think of, 1431. Pr. penser. Planly, at once, 3319. J. gives “Playn, out of hand, like Pr. de plain” In the same line “of” = off. Plant, plaint, complaint, 137. Pr. plainte. Plessith, pleased, 68. Possede, to possess, 578. Pr. posseder. Poware, a power, a strong hand of men, 2647. We now say force. Powert, poverty, 1330, 1744. Pref, to prove, 2229, 3476. Prekand, pricking, spurring, 3089. See the very first 1. of Spenser’s Faerie Queene. Prekyne, 2890, showy(?), gaudy(?). J. gives “Preek, to he spruce; to crest ; as ‘A bit preehin bodie,’ one attached to dress ; to priclc, to dress oneself.” Compare D. prijcken. Pretend, to attempt, aspire to, 3282,3465. Pr . pretendre. So, too, in lines 559, 583. Pretendit, endeavour, attempt, 3442. Process, explanation, 316. Wright gives “Proces, a story or rela- tion, a process.” The writer is referring to his prologue or in- troduction. Promyt, to promise, 965. Proponit, proposed, 361, 445. Pupil, people, 285. Puple, people, 1367, 1498, 1520. Pur, 1648, ) Pure, 1697, > poor. Pwre, 1655, ) Q,uh — . Words beginning thus be- gin in modern English with Wh. Thus, Quhen = when, etc. Q,uhilk (whilk), which, 184. A.S. hwylc= Lat. qualis rather than qui. Quhill, while, used as a noun, 1229, 1293. A.S. hwil, a period of time. Quhill, until, 24, 198. See Whill. Quhv ; the quhu — the why, the reason, 123, 1497. Qwhelis, wheels, 736. A.S. hiveol. Qwheyar, whether, 1187. Pachis, hounds, 531. Su-Gr. racka, a bitch, which from the v. raclca, to race, course. Connected with Irach. Eadur, fear, 1489, J. Prom Su-G. rcedd, fearful; Dan. reed. Eaddour, 2133, ) f Eadour, 1835, 3465, j lear * Eaid, rode, 3070, 3260, etc. Ealef, relieve, 3364. Earned, remedy, 117. See Remed. Eandoune, in; in a circuit, 2542. In Ogilvie’s Imperial Dictionary, s.v. Eandom, we find the Eor. Pr. randonnee explained to mean the “sweeping circuit made by a wounded and frightened ani- 126 GL0SSARI.1L index. mal but the true meaning of randonnee is certainly force, im- petuosity ; see R., Cotgrave, etc. In Danish, rand is a surround- ing edge or margin; while in Dutch we find rondorn, round about. Rut though the word seems thus doubtful, the sense is decided by help of the cor- responding line, viz. 739. Raquer, require, 2409. Raft, race, swift course, 3088. j A.S. rces. Compare Eng. mill- \ race , and D. ras. Reddens, delay, 2359. R. resi- I dier, to defer. Recist, resist, 566, 660, 2578. Recounterit, met (in a hostile manner), encountered, 2958. Er. rencontrer. Record, witness, testimony ; hence value, 388. R. record. Recorde, to speak of, mention ; hard recorde, heard it said, 121, 595. Recorde, speak out, 454, 481. See R. recorder. Recordith, is suitable, belongs, 606. Recourse, to return, 1798. Lat. recurrere. Red, to advise, 1027, 1198. A.S. rcedan ; Goth, redan. Relewit (relieved), lifted up again, rescued, 2617. Er. relever. J. Eemede, 89, j d Itemed, 718, | remea I- Remuf, remove, 655. Report, to narrate, 266 ; to ex- plain, 294 ; to state, 320. Reprefe, reproof, defeat, 764. Reput, he reputed, i.e. thought, considered, 743. Resauit, received, 2796. Resawit, reserved (?), 2106. We should have expected to find “ reseruit.” Resonite, resounded, 66. Resydens, delay, 670. See Red- dens. Revare, 275, \ Re war, 2893, > river. Re were, 2812, ) Reweyll, proud, haughty, 2853. R. revele, fier, hautain, orgueil- leux. Compare Lat. rebellare. Richwysneft, righteousness, 1406. A.S. rihtwisnes. Rigne, 94, 1527, \ akingdom. Er. Ring, 1468, > regne. Ch. Ringe, 1325, ) regne. Rignis, kingdoms, 1858. Rignis, Rignith, reigneth, 1825, 782. Ringne, a kingdom, 1952. Rout, a company, a band, 812, 2956, 3403. Rowt, 2600. Rowmyth, roometh, i.e. makes void, empties, 3390. A.S. rumian. Rown, run ; past part. 2488,2820. Rwn, run, 2545. Rygnis, kingdoms, 1904. Ryne, to run, 113. See 2952. Ryng, to reign, 1409, 2130. Sa, so, 3322, 3406. Dan. saa. Saade, said, 698. Salust, saluted, 546, 919, 1553, 2749. Ch. salewe. Salosing, salutation, 1309. Sar, sorely, 1660. Sauch, saw, 817, 1219, 1225. A.S. ic seah , from seon. Schawin, shewn, 2387. Schent, disgraced, ruined, 1880. A.S. scendan ; Dan. sldcende. Scilla, the name of a bird, also called Ciris, 2483. “ plumis in aTem mutata vocatur Ciris, et a tonso est hoc nomen adepts capillo.” (Ovid, Met. viii. 150.) Screwis, shrews, ill-natured per- GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 127 sons, 1053. More often used of males than females in old authors. Sedulis, letters, 142. R. cedule. Sege, a seat, 2258. Fr. siege. Semble, a warlike assembly, hostile gathering, 988, 2206. Semblit, assembled, 845. G. sam- meln ; from Goth, sama , samana. Semblyng, encountering, 295 1 . See Assemble. Sen, since, 709, 800, etc. Sen at, since that. In Piers Plowman we find syn. Septure, sceptre, 666. Sere, several, various, 594, 731, 746. “ Su-G. saer, adv. denoting separation.” J. Sess, to cease, 14, etc. Fr. cesser. Set, although. Sew, to follow up, seek, 2326. It. suir; Fr. suivre. Sew, to follow up, go, proceed, 3145. Sewyt, 2614. Shauyth, she with, 412. Sice, such, 2115. Scotch, sic. Snybbyth, snubs, checks, 3387. Comp. D. sneb, a beak ; snebbig , snappish. Sobing, sobbing, moaning, 2658. Socht, ) sought to go ; and hence, Soght, ) made his (or their) way, proceeded, went, 2619, 3179, 3357, 3428. Sought one, ad- vanced upon, attacked, 3149, 3311. Sought to, made his way to, 3130. A.S. secan, past tense ic sohte, to seek, approach, go towards. Sor, sorrow, anxiety, 74. A.S. sorh; Goth, saurga. Sort, lot, fate, 26. Fr. sort. Sound, to be consonant with, 149. See Gloss, to Tyrwhitt’s Chaucer. Lat. sonare. Soundith, 1811. “So the puple soundith,” so the opinion of the tends. “As fer as souneth into honestee.” (Chaucer : Mon/ces Prologue.) Soundith, tend, 1943; tends, 149. Sown, sound, 1035. Fr. son. Sownis, sounds, 772, 3436. Spent, fastened, clasped, 2809. A.S. spannan , to clasp, join. Comp. Dan. spcende , to stretch, span, buckle together. Spere, j sphere, 6, 170; speris, Spir, j spheres, circuits, 24. Spere, to inquire, 1170. A.S. spirian , to track. Sperithis, spear’s, 810. Spill, to destroy, ruin, 1990. A.S. spillan. Spreit, spirit, 81, 364. Stak, 226. J. gives “to the steeks, completely ;” and this is the sense here. See Jamieson: s.v.“Steik,” More strictly, perhaps, it means — “ to complete satiation.” In the 17. of France it is said of one killed or severely wounded, il a eu son estoque , he has had his belly-ful ; from estoquer, to cram, satiate, “stodge.” Com- pare Ital. stucco , cloyed. Start, started up, leapt, 994, 1094. Stede, stead, place, 218, 1124. A.S. stede. Steir, to stir, 817. A.S. stirian. Stekith, shuts, 1651. Ger . stechen. Burns has steeh. Stek, shut, concluded, 316. Stell, steel (?), 809. Stell com- monly means a stall, or fixed place ; but the form stell for steel occurs ; e.g. “ Brounstelle was heuy and also kene.” Arthur, 1. 97. Sterapis, 3056 , ) stirrups. A.S. Steropis, 3132, ) st'i-rap or stige- rap , from st'igan , to mount, and rap , rope. 128 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Stere, ruler, arbiter, 1020 ; con- trol, guidance, 1974. Stere, to rule, control, 1344, 2884, A.S. sty ran. Stere, to stir, move, go, 3430. See Steir. S tenth, stirreth, 2829. Sterf, to die, 1028. A.S. steorfan. Sterit, governed, 612. A.S .styran. Stert, started, 377. Stok, the stake to which a baited bear is chained, 3386. Stour, conflict, 1108, 2607, 3124. E. estour. Straucht, stretched out, 3090. A.S. streccan , past part, gestreht. Strekith, stretcheth, i.e. exciteth to his full stride, 3082. Subiet, 1799, 1 Subeitis, 1828, > subject; subjects. Subiettis, 1878, ) Suet, sweet, 331. Suppris, (surprise), overwhelming power, 691, 860, 2651; oppres- sion, 1352. Fr. surprendre, to catch unawares. Supprisit, overwhelmed, 1237, 1282; overpowered, 2705,3208, Supprisit ded, suddenly killed, 3125. Sunyjenis, surgeons, 2726. Suth, sooth, true, 110. A.S. soth. Sutly, soothly, truly, 963. Swelf, a gulf such as is in the centre of a whirlpool, a vortex, 1318. J. A.S. swelgan , to swal- low up. Sweuen, a dream, 440. A.S. sivefn. Swth, sooth, true, 2753. See Suth. Syne, 2026, Synne, 2029, Syne, afterwards, next. J. 45, 794, etc. Syft, times, 3054. A.S. srS. sm. Tais, 1095, 3005, 1 takes. Abbre- Taiis, 1141. j viated, as “ma” is from“make.” SeeJTa. Tane, taken, 264. Ten, grief, vexation, 2646, 3237. A.S. teonan , to vex. Tennandis, tennants, vassals hold- ing fiefs, 1729. E. tenancier. Than, then, 3111. The, (1) they, (2) thee, (3) thy. Thelke, that, 709. See 1. 629, where the ilk occurs ; and see Ilk. Thir, these, those, 2734, 2745, 2911, 3110, etc. Thithingis, tidings, 2279. A.S. tidan , to happen. Tho, then, 545, 2221 ; them, 2368. Thoore, there, 628. Thore, 1102. Thrid, third, 370, 2347, 2401. A.S. \ridda. Throng, closely pressed, crowded, 3366. A.S. j rringan. Til, to ; til have, to have, 706. Tint, lost, 1384. See Tyne. Tithingis, tidings, 902, 2336. Tithandis, tidings, 2310. To, too, besides, 3045. Togidder, together, 254. To-kerwith, carves or cuts to pieces ; al to-kerwith, cuts all to pieces, 868. A.S. to-ceorjian. The pre- fix to- is intensive, and forms a part of the verb. See Judges ix. 53 : “All to -brake his skull;” i.e. utterly brake ; often mis- printed “ all to break” (!). Ton, taken, 1054, 1071. Ton, one ; the ton, the one, 1822. The tone = A.S. J net ane. To-schent, disfigured, 1221. The intensive form of the A.S. verb scendan , to shame, destroy. In the same- line we have to-hurt , and in the next line to-rent , words modelled on the- same form. 'We find, e.g., in Spenser, the forms all to-rent , all to - hr us'd. GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 129 Tothir, the other, 2536. The tothir ==A.S. \cet o]>ere, where \cet is the neuter gender of the definite article. Burns has the tither. Toyer (=tother), the other ; y be- ing written for the A.S. \ ( th ), 2571, 2584. Traist, to trust, to be confident, 390, 1129, 1149, J. Trast, 1659. Traisting of (trusting), reliance upon, or expectation of, 25, J. Translat, 508, ) to transfer, re- Transulat, 2204, j move. Tratory, treachery, 3224. See B-. traitor. Trety, treatise, 145. Fr. traite. Trewis, truce, 1568, 2488, 2545. Tronsione, 239, \ a truncheon, Trunscyoune, 2962, > a stump of Trownsciown, 2890, ) a spear. Fr. trongon ; from Lat. truncus. In the last passage it means a sceptre, baton. “ One kytte hym vpon the olde wound "Wyth A tronchon of an ore (oar.) (Le Morte Arthur, 1. 3071.) Troucht, truth, 161. .tyna. Tynith, loseth, 1761. Tynt, lost, 175, 1384, 1521. TInwist, unknown, 1140. Yalkyne, to waken, 8. See Awalh. Yalis, falls; we should read “falis,” 2475. Yall, whirlpool (?), 1317. A.S. wcd\ Du .wiel\ Lancashire weele, an eddy, whirlpool. So, too, in Burns : — 11 Whyles owre a linn the burnie plays, As thro’ the glen it wimpl’t; "Whyles round a rocky scaur it stays, Whyles in a wiel it dimpl’t Or, perhaps, we may simply render it by billow , or surge. touching. Tuechmg, 403, Tweching, 386, Tyne, to lose, 1258, 1387. O.N Ger. welle ; O .N. vella , to well up, boil. Yarand, to warrant, protect, 3411. It. ivarandir. Yarnit, warned, 622. Yassolag, a deed of prowess. Pas- ing yassolag, surpassing valour, 257. It. has vasselage , courage, valour, valourous deeds, as in- dicative of the fulfilment of the duties of a vassal. We now speak of rendering good service. Yassolage, valour, 2724. Yeir, were, 818. Yeris, wars, 305. See Were. Yeryng, were, 2971. A.S. war on. Yicht, a wight, a person, 10, 55, 67. A.S. wiht. Yirslyng, wrestling, struggling, 3384. J. gives the forms war- sell, wersill. Yisare, wiser, 607. Yiting, to know, 410. A.S. witan. Yncouth, lit. unknown ; hence, little known, rare, valuable, 1734. A.S. uncv?6. Yodis, woods, 1000. Yombe, womb, bowels, 37 5. Goth. warnba. Yondit, wounded, 700. Ypwarpith, warped up, i.e. drawn up, 63. See Note to this line. It occurs in Gawain Douglas’s prologue to his translation of the 12th Book of the iEneid. Du. opwerpen , from Goth, wa'ir- pan , to cast. Yyst, used, 1197, 1208. Yyre, a cross-bow bolt, 1092. B,. vire, from Lat. vertere. Wald, would, 419, 470, etc. Walkin, to waken, wake, 1239. See Awalh. Wapnis, weapons, 241. A.S .wwpen, or wcepn. Ward, guard, defence (?) : “in 9 130 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. the ward,” in defending them- selves (?), 3184. But we should rather read war Id, i.e. world. Wassolage, valour, 2708. See Vassolag. Wat, know, 512. Wawasouris, vavasours, 1729. A Vavasour was a sub-vassal, hold- ing a small fief dependent on a larger fief ; a sort of esquire. B. vavaseur. W eil, very . W eil long, a veiy long time, 79. Comp. Ger. viel, J. Wencussith, vanquisheth, 3331 ; vanquished, 3337. Wencust, vanquished, 2841. Wend, to go, 2191 ; thought, 3481. Wentail, ventaile, a part of the helmet which opened to admit j air, 1056. B. ventaile ; from Lat. ventus. Were, (1) war. Fr. guerre. B. werre, 308, etc. (2) doubt, 84, etc. “But were,” without doubt. A.S. war, cautious, wary. (3) worse, 1930. Burns has waur. Wering, weary, 58. A S. werig. Werray, very, true, 1262, 2017. Werroure, warrior, 248. Weriour, warrior, 663. Wers, worse, 515. Weryng, were, 2493. Wex, to be grieved, be vexed, 156. Weyn, vain, 382, 524 ; but weyne, without doubt, 2880. A.S. wenan, to ween, to suppose. Whill, until, 1136, J. Formed from A.S. hw'il , a period of time. Wice, advice, counsel, 1909. Shortened from Awys. Wichsaif, vouchsafe, 355, 1391. Wichsauf, id. 2364. Wicht, wight, person, 131. Wicht, strong, nimble, 24 8. “Su-G. wig,” J. Sw. vig. Wight, with, 918. Possibly mis- written. Wist, knew, 225, 1047. See Wit. Wit, to know, 268. A.S. icitan; pres, ic wat, past tense,- ic wiste. Wit, knowledge, 2504. With, by, 723. Wnkouth, little known, 146. See Vncouth. Wnwemmyt, undefiled, 2097. A.S. warn, wem, a spot. Wnwyst, unknown, secretly, 219, 269. Wod (wood), mad, 3334, 3440. A.S. wdd. Goth. wods. Woid, mad, 2695. Perhaps we should read woud. Wonde, wand, rod, or sceptre of justice, 1601, 1891. J. Wonk, winked, 1058. Wonne, to dwell, 2046. A. S. wunian. Worschip, honour, 1158, 1164. A.S. weor^S-scipe. Wot, know, 192, etc. See Wit. Wox, voice, 13. Lat. vox. Woyfr, voice, 3473. Wrechitnes, misery, 2102; miser- liness, niggardliness, 1795,1859. Wy, reason; “to euery wy,” for every reason, on all accounts, 2356. Compare Quhy. Wycht, strong, nimble, 2592. See Wicht. Wynyth, getteth, acquireth, 1832. Wyre, a cross-bow bolt, 3290. See Vyre. Wys, vice, 1795. Wysis, 1540. Y, written for “th.” Thus we find “oyer” for “other,” etc. The error arose with scribes who did not understand either the true form or force of the Saxon symbol \. Yaf, gave, 387. Yald, yield, 553 ; yielded, 558. A.S. gildan. Yclepit, called, 414. GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 131 Yef, give, 563. Yeif, give, 923. Yer, year, 610. Used instead of the plural “ yeris,” as in 1. 3243. Yewyne, given, 1500. Ygrave, buried, 1800. Comp. Ger. begraben. Yhere, ear, 1576. Yher, year, 2064. Used instead of “ yheris,” 3243. Yhis, yes, 1397. Yis, yes, 514; this, 160. Ylys, isles, 2858, 2882. Ymong, among, 821. Yneuch, enough, 2 135. A.S .genog. Yolde, yielded (to be), 951, 1088. Ystatut, appointed, 2529. Fr. statuer. Ywyft, certainly, 1798, 1942. See Iwyft. Jeme, to take of, regard, have re- spect to, 665. A.S. geman. Jere, year, 342. Jerys, years, 23, 1432. Jha, yes, 2843. Ger.ja. Jhed, went, 1486. Ch. has yede. A.S. ic edde , past tense of gan , to go. Goth, ik iddja , past tense of gaggan , to go. Jher, year, 2064, 2274. Jhing, young, 2868. Jhis, yes, 1397. Jhouth-hed, youth-hood, youth, 2772. Jhud, went, 2696. See J lied . ^is, yes, 3406. Jolde, yielded, 291, 380, 951. A.S. ic geald, past tense of gyldan, to pay, to yield. Jude, went, 2944. See ]hed. ADDITIONS TO THE GLOSSARY. Euerilkon, every one, 1039, etc. Falling, failing, 1499. Fal$et, Fal^heit, failed, 1460, 1469, 1498, 1503. Gentilleft, 917, 1847. See Gen- trice. Harrold, herald, 1047. Ilk, each, 2211, etc. A.S. celc. Kend, known, 548, 906. Mekill, much, 876, 1236. Mokil, 1265. Plesance, Plesans, pleasure, 941, 1939. EERJ Page 53, 1. 1803, for “eftir” read “e Schrewit, accursed, 1945. Sudandly, Sodandly, suddenly, 1009, 1876. Suthfastnes, truth, 1183. A.S. so^fcestnes. "Withschaif, vouchsafe, 1458. With-thy, on this condition, 961 See For-thy. Jewith, giveth, 1772. Jhe, ye, 921. Observe that, as in this line, ye (A.S. ge) is the nominative , and you (A.S. e 6 ti- the objective case. UM. tir.” 1 Dans may also be compared with Prov. dans, a form of the Lat. damnum ; i see Sir Gr. C. Lewis, Essay on Romance Languages, p. 113. fflnpriss, at 1. 269, should have been explained to mean honour or good esti- mation, in which sense it occurs also in 11. 129, 3458. Stak. Add ; — it is just possible that Stak may be referred to Stock, the handle of a sword; thus “ i-wondit to the stak ” would be “wounded up to the hilt of the sword, very deeply wounded.” INDEX OF NAVIES, ETC. Albanak, 202, 1447. Alexander, 1837. Alphest, 57. Amytans, 1304, 2446. Angus, 2858. April, 1. Arachell, 434. Aries, 336. Arthur (passim). Ban, 202, 1447. Bible, tbe, 1483. Brandellis, 3086. Brandymagus, 2884, 3430. Camelot, 275, 280, 357, 407. Cardole, 2153. Carlisle, 347. Christ, 2046. Clamedeus, 2881, 3259. Dagenet, 278. Daniel, 1365. Danjelome, 435. Esquyris, 2591, 2609, etc. First-conquest king, 1064, etc.; 2568, etc. Gahers, 3087. Galiot (passim). Galys Gwyans, 2605, 2613, etc. Galygantynis, 599. Galloway, 2690. Gawane (passim). Gwynans or Gwyans ; see Galys. Gyonde or Gyande, 302, 551, 637. Harwy, 2853, 3206, etc. Herynes, 436. Hundred knights, king of, 1545, 1554. Jhesu, 2046, 2096. Kay, 254, 355, 3081, etc. Lady of the Lake, 220, 223. Lancelot (passim) ; appears as the red knight, 991, etc.; as the black knight, 2430, etc. Logris, 2301. Maleginis, 806. See Malenginys. Halenginys, 2873, 3151, 3155. See also Hundred knights, king of. May, 12. Melyhalt, 283, 895. Melyhalt, lady of (passim). Moses, 436. Kembrot (i.e. Nimrod), 435. Nohalt, 255. Phoebus, 24, 2472, 2486. Priapus, 51. Round Table, 795, 3213. Saturn, 2474. S cilia, 2483. Solomon, 1378. Sygr amors, 3083. Titan, 335. Yalydone, 3249. See Walydeyne. Yanore, 575. See Wanore. Yirgin (Mary), 2049, 2087, etc. Yenus, 309. Wales, 599, 2153. Walydeyne, 2879. Wanore, 230. Wryne, 2867. Ydrus, 2851, 3152. Ywan, 2606, 2618, etc. Ywons, 2861. STEPHEN AUSTIN, PRINTER, HERTFORD. 3 9031 BOSTON COLLEGE 01333456 ^E OLHC > f <* ■ - PtfH/? Boston College Library Chestnut Hill 67, Mass. Books may be kept for two weeks unless a shorter time is specified. Two cents a day is charged for each 2-week book kept overtime; 25 cents a day for each overnight book. If you cannot find what you want, inquire at the delivery desk for assistance. 6-49