The bataile vttirly he refused. because Charles had
“The laste day ye preised faste praised the old
The oolde knightes of he[rh] worthynes. 1088 knights. [leaf 27]
Let hem goon fortħ, I haue no haste, “May they show their
Thai may goo shewen he[rh] prowes.” valour now.” Charles,
For that worde the kinge was wrothe vexed, smites Roland
And smote him on the mouthe on̄ hye, 1092 on the mouth, so that
The bloode at his nose oute-goth, the blood springs
And saide “traito«ur», thou shalte a-bye.” from his nose, and he
“A-bye” q«uo»d Roulande “wole I noughte, calls him a traitor.
And traito«ur» was I never none, 1096
By þat lord, þat me dere hath bought!”
And braide oute Durnedale þe[rh] anone. Roland draws his
He wolde haue smyten̄ the kinge the[rh], sword, but the other
Ne hadde the barons ronne bytwene; 1100 barons separate them
The kinge with-drowe him for fe[rh] and try to conciliate
And passed home as it myght beste bene. them.
The Barons made hem at one
With grete praye[rh] and instaunce, 1104
As every wrath moste over-gone, Meanwhile Oliver,
Of the more myschiefe to make voydaunce. who, being sorely
Olyuere herde telle of this, wounded, kept his
That in his bedde laye seke sore. 1108 bed, on hearing of
He armede him ful sone I-wisse, this dispute, had
And to the kinge he wente withoute more armed himself and
And saide “Sir Kinge, a bone graunte me went to Charles. He
For alle the servyse, that I haue done, 1112 reminds him of his
To fight with þat kinge so free long services, and
To morue day, ere it be none.” demands the battle.
Charles answered to Olyue[rh]: Charles remonstrates
“Thou arte seke and woundede sore, 1116 with him.
And thou also my cosyn̄ dere,
Therfore speke thereof no more.”—
“Sir Kinge” he saide “I am alle hoole, But Oliver insists.
I aske you this bone in goddis name.” 1120
[p033 OLIVER GOES TO FIGHT WITH FERUMBRAS.]
“Certes” he saide “I holde the a fole,
But I praye, god sheelde the fro shame.” Oliver rides to the
Forth he rideth in that Forest, forest, and finds
Tille he gan Ferumbras see, 1124 Ferumbras alighted
Where he was ligħt and toke his rest, under a tree, to
His stede renewed til a grene tre. a branch of which
“Sir” he saide “reste thoᶙ wele! his steed was tied.
Kinge Charles sente me hidu[rh]. 1128 “Arise,” he said,
If thou be curteys knighte and lele, “I am come to fight
Rise vp and let vs fight to-geder.” with thee.” [leaf 28]
Ferumbras sate stille and lough, Ferumbras, without
Him liste not to rise oute of the place. 1132 moving, demands his
“My felowe” q«uo»d he “what arte thou? name.
Telle me thy name for goddis grace.”
“Sir” he saide “Generyse, “I am Generys,” says
A yonge knighte late dobbet newe.” 1136 Oliver, “a young
“By Mahounde” q«uo»d he “thou arte not knight lately dubbed.”
wyse,
For thy comyng shaltowe sore rewe.
I holde Charles but a foole Ferumbras observes,
To sende the hide[rh] to me, 1140 “Charles is a fool to
I shall the lerne a newe scole, send thee.
If thoue so hardy to fighte be.
I wende, he wolde haue sende Roulande,
Olyue[rh] and iiij mo Dosyperys, 1144
That hade bene mygħty men of honde
Bataile to a-bide stronge and fiers. Go and tell him to
With the me liste no playe begynne, send me Roland and
Ride agayn̄ and saye him soo! 1148 Oliver, and such four
Of the may I no worshyp«e» wynne, other douzepeers. For
Though I slougħ the and such V mo.” little honour were it
“Howe longe” q«uo»d Olyue[rh] “wiltowe to me to fight with
plete? thee.”
Take thyn̄ armes and come to me, 1152 “Spare thy words,”
And prove þat thou saiest in dede, says Oliver, “and
For boost thou blowest, and þenkes[124]
me.” take thy arms.”
Whan Ferumbras herde him speke so wel,
[p034 OLIVER LAYS HOLD OF THE BOTTLES OF BALM,]
He caught his helme in grete Ir«e», 1156 Ferumbras is wrath
That wroght was of goode fyne stele and seizes his
With Perlis pight, Rubeis and Saphir«e». helmet, which Oliver
Olyue[rh] halpe him it to onlase; assists him to lace.
Gilte it was alle abowte. 1160 Ferumbras thanks him,
Ferumbras þanked him of his grace courteously bowing to
And curteisly to him gan lowte. him. They mount their
Thai worthed vp on̄ here stedes, steeds,
To Iuste thai made hem preest, 1164
Of Armes to shewe he[rh] myghty dedis
Thai layden here speres in a-reeste, rush together like
To-geder thai ro«n»nen̄ as fire of fire of thunder, and
thonde[rh], have their lances
That both here Launces to-braste. 1168 broken. [leaf 29]
That they seten̄, it was grete wonder; They draw their
So harde it was, þat thay gan threste. swords.
Tho drowen̄ thai oute here swordes kene
And smyten to-geder by one assente. 1172
There thai hitten̄, it was wele sene;
To sle eche other was here entente. Ferumbras smites
Syr Ferumbras smote Olyue[rh] Oliver on his
Vppon̄ the helme righte on hye 1176 helmet so that the
With his swerde of metel cle[rh], fire flies. Oliver
That the fyre he made oute-flye. strikes at the head
Olyue[rh] him hitte agayn̄ vpon̄ the hede of Ferumbras, breaks
[125]the hede than fulle sore, 1180 away the circle of
He carfe awaye with mygħt and mayne his helmet, and the
The cercle, that sate vppon̄ his crown̄. sword glancing off
The stroke glode down by his bak«e», down his back, he
The Arson he smot ther awaye 1184 cuts off two bottles
And the botelle«s» of bawme withoute of balm,
lak«e»,
That uppone the grene ther thai laye,
That were trussed by-hynde him faste.
Tho Ferumbras was fu[l~l] woo; 1188
Olyue[rh] light adown̄ in haste,
The botellis he seased both two,
[p035 THROWS THEM INTO THE RIVER, BUT HAS HIS HORSE KILLED.]
He threwe hem into the River than which he throws into
As fer[rh] as he myghte throwe. 1192 the river.
“Alas” q«uo»d Ferumbras “what
doistowe,[126] manne?
Thou art wode, as I trowe.
Thai were worth an C mɫ pounde Ferumbras tells
To a man, þat were wounded sore. 1196 him that they were
Ther was no p«re»cioso«ur» thinge vppon̄ invaluable to a
grounde, wounded man, and that
That myghte helpe a man more. he
Thou shalt abye by Mahounde,
That is a man of myght«es» moost. 1200
I shall breke both bake and crown̄
And sle the, ther thou goist.” should atone for
Tho Olyue[rh] worth vp agayn̄, their loss with his
His swerde he hade oute I-drawe. 1204 life. He strikes at
Ferumbras him smote with mayne Oliver, who wards off
And mente to haue him slawe. the blow with his
He smote as doth the dinte of þondir; shield, but his steed
It glased down by his sheelde 1208 is killed under him.
And carfe his stedes neke a-sonder, [leaf 30]
That dede he fille in the felde.
Wightly Olyue[rh] vp-sterte Oliver quickly starts
As Bacheler, doughti of dede, 1212 up and tries to kill
With swerde in honde him for to hirte his adversary’s horse,
Or Ferumbras goode stede.
That Ferumbras aspied welle,
He rode a-waye than ful faste 1216
And tiede him to a grene hasel, but Ferumbras rides
And come ayen to him in haste off and ties it to
And saide “nowe yelde the to me! a hazel. “Yield
Thou maiste not longe endure; 1220 thyself to me,” says
And leve on Mahounde, þat is so
de[rh],[127] Ferumbras; “believe
And thy life I shalle the ensure.[128] on Mahound, and I
Thou shalt be a Duke in my cont[rh], will make thee a duke
And men haue at thyn̄ owen̄ wille. 1224 in my country and
To my Sustir shaltowe wedded be, give thee my sister.”
[p036 THEY TAKE BREATH. OLIVER DECLARES HIS NAME.]
It were pite the for to spille!”
“Better” q«uo»d Olyue[rh] “shul we dele,
By God that is in magiste, 1228 “Ere I yield to
And of my strokes shaltow more fele, thee,” answered
Er I to the shalle yelde me.” Oliver, “thou shalt
Thai smeten togeder witħ egre mode, feel my strokes.”
And nathir of othire dradde; 1232 They fight for a
Thai p«er»sed he[rh] hauberk«es», that considerable time;
were so goode, the blood ran from
Tille both thayr bodyes bladde. both their bodies. By
Thay foughten̄ soo longe, þat by assente mutual consent they
Thai drewe hem a litil bysyde, 1236 stop to take breath.
A litil while thaym to avente,
And refresshed hem at þat tyde.
“Generis” q«uo»d Ferumbras, Ferumbras asks Oliver
“As thou arte here gentil knighte, 1240 again his name and
Telle me nowe here in this place kin.
Of thy kyn̄ and what thoᶙ hight;
Me thenkith by the now evermore,
Thou shuldist be one of the xij peris, 1244 “Thou must be one
That maiste fighte with me so sore, of the douzepeers,
And arte so stronge, worthy and fiers.” as thou fightest so
Olyuere answered to hym agayn̄: well.”
“For fe[rh] I leve it not ontoolde, 1248 “I am Oliver, cousin
My name is Olyuere certayn̄, to Charlemagne.”
Cousyn to kynge Charles the boolde, [leaf 31]
To whome I shalle the sende
Qwikke or dede this same daye, 1252
By conqueste here in this feelde,
And make the to renye thy laye.”
“O” q«uo»d Ferumbras than̄ to Olyue[rh],
“Welcome thoᶙ arte in-to this place, 1256 “Thou art welcome
I have desyrede many a yere here,” says
To gyfe the harde grace. Ferumbras; “thou
Thou slough myn̄ uncle Sir P«er»sagyne, slewest my uncle,
The doughty kinge of Italye, 1260
The worthyeste kinge þat lyued of men,
[p037 OLIVER RECEIVES A HEAVY BLOW.]
By Mahounde, thou shalt abye!” now thou shalt pay
Tho thai dongen̄ faste to-gede[rh] the penalty!” The
While the longe day endured, 1264 fight continued the
Nowe hithe[rh] and nowe thide[rh]; whole day.
Fro strokes wytħ sheeld«es» here bodies
þai couered.
And at the laste Olyue[rh] smote him so At last Oliver,
Vppon̄ the helme, þat was of stele, 1268 smiting Ferumbras
That his swerde brake in two. upon the helmet, has
Tho wepen̄ had he nevere a dele. his sword broken.
Who was woo but Olyuere than?
He saugh noone other remedy. 1272
He saide “si[rh], as thoᶙ arte gentile
man,
On me nowe here haue mercy.
It were grete shame I-wis,
And honu[rh] were it noon̄, 1276
To sle a man wepenles;
That shame wolde neve[rh] goon̄.”
“Nay traito«ur», thou getiste noon̄.
Hade I here an hundred and moo! 1280
Knele down̄ and yelde the here anoon̄,
And eles here I woole the sloo.”
Olyue[rh] saugh, it wolde not be,
To truste to moch in his grace. 1284
He ranne to the stede, þ«a»t stode by the He ran to the steed
tr«e», at the tree and
A swerde he raught in þat place, seized a sword that
That was trussed on Ferumbras stede, was hanging there;
Of fyne stele goode and stronge. 1288
He thought he quyte[129] Ferumbras his
mede.
Almoost hadde he abyde to longe;
For in turnynge Ferumbras him smote, [leaf 32]
That stroke he myghte welle fele, 1292 but in turning on
It come on hym so hevy and hoote, Ferumbras he received
That down it made hym to knele. a blow that made him
Tho was Olyue[rh] sore ashamede kneel down.
And saide “thou cursed Sarasyne, 1296
[p038 CHARLES PRAYS TO GOD.]
Thy proude pride shall be atamed,
By God and by seinte Qwyntyne.
Thou hast stole on me that dynte,
I shall quyte the thyn̄ hire.” 1300
A stroke than Olyue[rh] him lente, But Oliver returns
That hym thought his eyen̄ we[rh] on him fearful stroke.
fi[rh].
Kinge Charles in his pavilon̄ was Charles, seeing
And loked towarde þat fyghte 1304 Oliver on his knees,
And saugh, howe fiers Ferumbras
Made Olyuere knele down̄ right.
Wo was him tho in his herte;
To Ih«es»u Criste he made his mone; 1308 prayed to Christ
It was a sight of peynes smerte,
That Olyuere kneled so sone:
“O Lord, God in Trinite,
That of myghtis thoᶙ arte moost, 1312
By vertue of thy maieste
That alle knoweste and woste,
Lete not this hethen man
Thy seru«au»nte ouercome in fyght, 1316
That on the bileve ne kan,
Ih«es»u, Lorde, for thy myghte!
But gr«a»unte thy man the victorye, that he might grant
And the Paynym̄ skomfited to be, 1320 the victory over the
As thou arte Almyghty God of glorye! Pagan.
Nowe mekely, Lorde, I pray to the.”
To Charles anoone an Aungel came
And broght him tidingges sone, 1324 An angel announces
That God had herde his praie[rh] than̄ him, that his prayer
And gr«a»unte him his bone. was heard. Charles
Tho Charles thanked God aboue[130] thanks God.
With herte and thought, worde and dede, 1328
And saide “blessed be thoᶙ, lorde
almyghty,†
That helpiste thy seru«au»nte in nede.”
These Champions to-gedir thai gone [leaf 33]
[p039 FERUMBRAS BEING WOUNDED CRIES MERCY.]
With strokes grete and eke sure, 1332 They begin again.
Eche of hem donge othir on̄,
Alle the while thai myghte endu[rh].
Ferumbras brake his swerde Ferumbras breaks his
On Olyueris helme on hye. 1336 sword on Oliver’s
Tho wexe he ful sore a-ferde; helmet.
He ranne for an othir redyly He runs for another
And saide “Olyuere, yelde the to me and asks Oliver to
And leve thy Cristen̄ laye, 1340 surrender.
Thou shalte have alle[131] my kingdome
free
And alle aftir my daye.”
“Fye, Saresyne” q«uo»d Olyuere than̄,
“Trowest thou, that I were wode, 1344
To forsake him, þat made me man̄
And boght me with his hert blode.”
He raught a stroke to Ferumbras, But Oliver aims at
On his helme it gan down̄ glyde, 1348 Ferumbras a blow
It brast his hawberke at þat ras which cuts his
And carfe hym throughe-oute his syde, hauberk, so
His bare guttis men mygħt see; that his bowels are
The blode faste down̄ ranne. 1352 laid bare.
“Hoo, Olyvere, I yelde me to the, Ferumbras implores
And here I become thy man. his mercy, and
I am so hurte, I may not stonde,
I put me alle in thy grace. 1356
My goddis ben false by water and londe, consents to be
I reneye hem alle here in this place,[132] christened, his gods
Baptised nowe wole I be. having proved false.
To Ih«es»u Crist I wole me take, 1360
That Charles the kinge shal sene,[133]
And alle my goddes for-sake.
Take myn hawberke and do it on the, He requested him to
Thou shalte haue fu[l~l] grete nede. 1364 take his hauberk, to
[p040 THE SARACENS RUSH OUT OF THE WOOD.]
X thousande Saresyns waiten vppon̄ me,
And therfore go take my stede. fetch his horse,
Lay me to-fore the, I the praye, and to carry him
And lede me to thy tente. 1368 to his own tent.
Hye the faste forth in thy way, [leaf 34]
That the Saresyns the not hente.”
A-noon̄ it was done, as he ordeynede,
And faste forth thai ryden.[134] 1372
The Saresyns anone assembled, But the Saracens,
For to haue with hem foghten. who lay concealed
Ferumbras saugħ the feelde thore in the wood, rush
Of Sarsynes fully filled; 1376 out. Oliver, being
Of Olyvere dradde he ful sore, surrounded, sets
That Saresyns shulde him haue killed.
He praide, that he wolde let him down̄
“Vndir yonde Olyfe tree, 1380
For if ye cast me down̄ here, with hors
shoon̄[135]
Alle to-treden̄ shalle I be.” down Ferumbras under
He priked forth and layde him tha[rh],† an olive-tree, and
Out of the horses trase, 1384 defends himself with
And with his swerde by-gan him we[rh], his sword,
For amonge hem alle he was.
A Saresyn̄ smote him witħ a spere,
That it brake on pecis thre; 1388
His hauberke mygħt he not de[rh],
So stronge and welle I-wroght was he.
He hit þat Saresyns with his swerde dealing the Saracens
Througħ the helme in-to the brayne. 1392 many a hard blow.
He made an other as sore aferde,
He smote of his Arme with mayne. Then Roland rushed
But than̄ come Roulande witħ Durnedale into the throng of
And made way him a-bowte. 1396 the enemy and slew
He slowe hem down̄ in the vale, many;
Of him hade thai grete dowte.
The prees of Saresyns was so stronge
[p041 ROLAND AND OLIVER ARE MADE CAPTIVES.]
A-boute Roulande that tyde. 1400
Thai sloughen̄ his horsys with thronge, his horse being
And dartis throwen̄ on every syde. killed by arrows and
Whan Roulande was on his Fete, darts,
Than̄ was he woo witħ-alle. 1404 he fights on foot,
Many of hem he felte yete
And dede to grounde made hem falle.
At the last his swerde brake,
Than̄ hadde he wepyn̄ noon̄, 1408 but his sword
As he smote a Saresyns bak«e» breaking, [leaf 35]
A-sundre down̄ to the Arson̄.
Tho was he caught, he mygħt not flee, he is taken
His hondes thai bounden̄ faste 1412
And lad him forth to here Cite, and led away.
And in depe prison̄ they hem caste.
Olyue[rh] sawe, howe he was ladde,
A sorye man̄ than̄ was he; 1416
Him hadde leuer to haue bene dede
Than suffren that myschief to be.
Smertly aftire he pursued tho, Oliver rides to
To reskue his dere brother. 1420 rescue him,
The prees was so grete, he myghte not so,
It myghte be no othir,
Be he was cowþe[136] by ver[rh] force
With LX of Astopartes.[137] 1424
Thai hurte him foule and slougħ his hors but his horse being
With gauylokes and wyth dartis. also killed,
Yet on foote, ere he were foolde,
He slough of hem fiftene. 1428
He was not slayn̄, as god woolde, he is overpowered
But taken and bounded[138] w«i»t«h» tene. and bound. Both were
Tho were taken̄ to Lucafe[rh], conducted to Lukafer
The proude kinge of Baldas, 1432 of Baldas.
Both Roulande and Olyue[rh].
[p042 CHARLES FINDS FERUMBRAS.]
Gladde was he of that cas.
Kinge Charles was in herte woo,
When he saughe his neuewes so ladde, 1436 Charles sees them,
He cried to the Frenshmen̄ tho: and calls for a
“Reskue we these knyghtes at nede.” rescue. Many enemies
The kyng«e» himselfe slough many one, were slain, but the
So dede the Barons bolde. 1440 Saracens had fled
It wolde not bene, thai were agon̄, with their prisoners,
Magre who so woolde. and Charles is
The Saresyns drewe hem to here Cite, obliged to turn back.
Kinge Charles turned agayne. 1444 Under a holm tree
He saugħ under an holme tre, they find Ferumbras.
Where a knight him semed lay slayn̄.
Thederward he rode witħ swerde in honde.
Tho he saugħ, he was alyve; 1448
He lay walowynge vppon the sonde
With blody woundes fyve. [leaf 36]
“What arte thow?” q«uo»d Charlemayne,
“Who hath the hurte so sore?” 1452
“I am Ferumbras” he saide certayn̄,
“That am of hethen̄ lore.”
“O fals Saresyn̄” q«uo»d the kinge,
“Thou shalte have sorowe astyte; 1456 whom he is going to
By the I haue lost my two Cosynes, put to death.
Thyn̄ hede shalle I of-smyte.”
“O gentil kinge” q«uo»d Ferumbrase,
“Olyuere my maister me hight 1460 But on his requesting
To be Baptised by goddis grace, to be baptized,
And to dyen̄ a Cristen̄ knight«e».
Honu[rh] were it noon to the
A discoumfite man̄ to slo, 1464
That is conu«er»ted and Baptized wolde be
And thy man bycomen̄ also.”
The kinge hade pite of him than̄, Charles took pity
He toke him to his grace 1468 with him,
And assyned anoon̄ a man
[p043 ROLAND AND OLIVER ARE BROUGHT TO THE SOUDAN.]
To lede him to his place. led him to his tent,
He sende to him his surgyne and ordered a surgeon
To hele his woundes wyde. 1472 to attend him.
He ordeyned to him such medycyn̄,
That sone myght he go and ryde. He soon recovered,
The kinge commaunded bishop«e» Turpyn̄
To make a fonte redye, 1476
To Baptise Ferumbras þ«er»in
In the name of god Almygħtye.
He was Cristened in þat welle, and bishop Turpin
Floreyne the kinge alle him calle, 1480 baptised him, by the
He forsoke the foule feende of helle name of Floreyn.
And his fals goddis alle. But he continued to
Nought for than̄ Ferumbras be called Ferumbras
Alle his life cleped was he, 1484 all his life.
And aftirwarde in so«m»me place, Afterwards he was
Floreyne of Rome Cite. known as Floreyn of
God for him many myracles shewe[d+], Rome
So holy a man he by-came, 1488 on account of his
That witnessitħ both lerned and lewde, holiness.
The fame of him so ranne.
NOWE for to telle of Roulande Roland and Oliver
And of Olyuere, that worthy wos,[139] 1492 being brought to
Howe thai were brougħt to þ^e Sowdan̄ the Soudan, Laban
By the kinge of Boldas. enquires their names.
The Sowdan̄ hem sore affrayned,
What þat here names were. 1496
Rouland saide and noght alayned:
“Syr Roulande and sire Olyuere, They confess their
Nevewes to Kinge Charles of Fraunce, names.
That worthy kinge and Emp«er»oure, 1500
That nowe are takyn by myschaunce
To be prisoneres here in thy toure.”
“A, Olyue[rh], arte thou here?
That haste my sone distroyede, 1504
[p044 ROLAND AND OLIVER ARE IMPRISONED.]
And Rouland that arte his fere,
That so ofte me hatħ anoyed.
To Mahounde I make a vowe here, The Soudan swears
That to morue, ere I do ete, 1508 they shall both be
Ye shulle be slayn̄ botħ qwik in fere, executed the next
And lives shalle ye bothe lete.” morning before his
Tho saide maide Florepas: dinner.
“My fader so derewortħ and de[rh], 1512 But Floripas advises
Ye shulle be avysed of this cas, him to detain them as
How and in what manere hostages, and
My brothir, þat is to prison̄ take,
May be delyu«er»ed by hem nowe, 1516
By cause of these two knight«es» sake,
That bene in warde here with yoᶙ.
Wherefore I counsaile yoᶙ, my fader dere,
To have mynde of Sir Ferumbras. 1520 to remember his son
Pute hem in youre prison̄ here, Ferumbras,
Tille ye haue better space.
So that ye haue my brother agayn̄ for whom they might
For hem, þat ye haue here; 1524 be exchanged.
And certeyn̄ elles wole he be slayn̄,
That is to you so lefe and dere.”
“A, Floripp, I-blessed thou bee,
Thy counsaile is goode at nede, 1528 The Soudan finds her
I wolde not leve my sone so free, counsel good,
So Mahounde moost me spede,
For al the Realme of hethen Spayne, [leaf 38]
That is so brode and large. 1532
Sone clepe forth my gaylo«ur» Bretomayne, and orders his gaoler
That he of hem hadde his charge, Bretomayn to imprison
“Caste hem in your prison̄ depe, them,
Mete and drinke gyfe hem none, 1536 but to leave them
Chayne hem faste, þat thay not slepe; without food.
For here goode daies bene a-gone.”
Tho were thay cast in prison depe[140];
[p045 FLORIPAS COMPASSIONATES THEIR SUFFERINGS.]
Every tyde the see came inne. 1540 At high tide the sea
Thay myght not see, so was it myrke, filled their deep
The watir wente to her chynne. cells. They suffered
The salte watir hem greved sore, much from the salt
Here woundis sore did smerte. 1544 water, from their
Hungir and thurste greved heme yet more, wounds, and from
It wente yet more nere here herte. hunger.
Who maye live withoute mete?
vj dayes hadde thay rigħt none, 1548 On the sixth day,
Ner drinke that thay mygħt gete,
Bute loked vppon the harde stone.
So on a daye, as God it wolde,
Floripas to hir garden̄ wente, 1552 Floripas, who was
To geder Floures in morne colde. gathering flowers in
Here maydyns from̄ hir she sente, her garden, heard
For she herde grete lamentacion̄ them lament.
In the Prison̄, that was ther nye; 1556
She supposed by ymagynacion̄,
That it was the prisoners sory.
She wente he[rh] ner[rh] to here more,
Thay wailed for defaute of mete. 1560 Moved to compassion,
She rued on hem anoon̄ ful sore, she asks her
She thought, how she myght hem beste it
gete. governess Maragound
She spake to her Maistras Maragounde, to help her in
Howe she wolde the prisoneres fede. 1564 getting food for the
The develle of helle hir confounde, prisoners. Maragound
She wolde not assente to þat dede, refuses, and reminds
But saide “Damesel, thou arte woode, Floripas of her
Thy Fadir did vs alle defende, 1568 father’s command.
Both mete and drinke and othere goode [leaf 39]
That no man shulde hem thider sende.”
Floripe by-thought hir on a gyle Floripas, thinking of
And cleped Maragounde anoon rigħt, 1572 a trick, called to
To the wyndowe to come a while her governess to come
And se ther a wonder syght: to a window and
“Loke oute” she saide “and see a fer[rh]
[p046 FLORIPAS KILLS THE GAOLER.]
The Porpais pley as thay were wode.” 1576 see the porpoises
Maragounde lokede oute, Floripe come
ne[rh] sporting beneath.
And shofed hire oute in to the flode. Maragound looking
“Go there” she saide “the devel the spede! out, is pushed into
My counsail shaltowe never biwry. 1580 the flood.
Who so wole not helpe a man̄ at nede,
On evel deth mote he dye!”
She toke witħ hire maidyns two,
To Britomayne she wente hir waye 1584 Floripas asks
And saide to him, she moste go Bretomayn to let her
To viseten̄ the prisoneris that daye, see the prisoners.
And saide “sir, for alle loues,
Lete me thy prisoneres seen̄. 1588
I wole the gife botħ goolde and gloues,
And counsail shalle it been̄.”
Brytomayne that Iaylor kene
Answered to hir sone agayne 1592
And saide “Damesel, so mote I then̄,
Than̄ were I worthy to be slayn̄.
Hath not youre Fader charged me,
To kepe hem from̄ every wyght? 1596
And yet ye wole these trayto«ur»s see?
I wole goo telle him Anoon̄ right.”
He gan to turne him anone for to go,
To make a playnte on Floripas. 1600 The gaoler threatened
She sued him as faste as she myghte go, to complain to her
For to gif him harde grace. father, but Floripas,
With the keye cloge, þat she caugħt, having seized his
Witħ goode wille she maute[141] than, 1604 key-clog, dashed
Such a stroke she hym the[rh] raught, out his brains. She
The brayne sterte oute of his hede þan̄. then went to tell
To hire Fader forth she gotħ her father, she had
And saide “Sire, I telle you here, 1608 surprised [leaf 40]
I saugħ a sight, that was me lotħ, the gaoler feeding
Howe the fals Iailo«ur» fedde your
prisone[rh], the prisoners and
[p047 THE SOUDAN GIVES THE PRISONERS INTO HER GUARD.]