Whan thai shulde delyu«er»ed be; 1612 them; wherefore she
Wherefore I slougħ him witħ a mace. had slain him.
Dere Fadir, forgif it me!”
“My doghtir dere, that arte so free,[142]
The warde of hem now gif I the. 1616 The Soudan gives the
Loke, here sorowe be evere newe, prisoners into her
Tille that Ferumbras delyu«er»ed be.” guard.
She thanked her Fadere fele sithe
And toke her maydyns, and forth she gotħ, 1620 She now proceeded to
To the prisone she hyed hire swytħ. the prison,
The prison̄ dore vp she dothe
And saide “sires, what be ye,
That make here this ruly moone? 1624
What yoᶙ lakkitħ, tellyth me; asked the prisoners
For we be here nowe alle alone.” what they wanted,
Tho spake Roulande with hevy chere
To Floripe, that was bothe gente and
fr«e», 1628
And saide “lo, we two caytyfes here
For defaute of mete dede moste be.
vj dayes be comyn̄ and goon̄,
Sith we were loked in prison̄ here, 1632
That mete nor drinke hade we noon̄
To comforte witħ oure hevy che[rh].
But woolde god of myght«es» moost,
The Sowdon̄ wolde let vs oute goon̄, 1636
We to fight witħ alle his Ooste,
To be slayn̄ in feelde anoon̄.
To murthir men̄ for defaute of mete,
It is grete shame tille a kinge; 1640
For every man most nedes ete,
Or ellis may he do no thinge.”
Tho saide Floripe with wordes mylde, and promised to
“I wolde fayne, ye were now here, 1644 protect them from any
From harme skatħ[143] I wole you shelde, harm.
[p048 CHARLES DESPATCHES GUY TO THE SOUDAN.]
And gife you mete with right gode
che[rh].”
A rope to hem she lete down̄ goon̄, She let down a rope,
That aboven̄ was teyde faste. 1648 [leaf 41] and drew up
She and hir maydyns drewe þer vppon̄, both, and led them to
Tille vp thay hadde hem at the last. her apartments.
She led hem into here chambir dere,
That arrayed for hem was rigħt wele, 1652
Both Roulande and Olyvere,
And gafe hem̄ there a right gode mele. There they ate,
And whan thay hadde eten̄ alle her fille,
A batħ for hem was redy there, 1656 took a bath,
Ther-to thay went ful fayre and stille,
And aftyr to bedde with right gode
che[rh]. and went to bed.
Now Floripas chamber is here prisone,
Withouten̄ wetinge of the Sowdon̄; 1660 The Soudan knew
Thai were ful mery in that Dongeon̄, nothing of his
For of hem̄ wiste man̄ never oone. prisoners being in
Now lete we hem be and mery make, Floripas’ chamber.
Tille god sende hem gode delyueraunce. 1664
Aftir the tyme, þat thay were take,
What did Charles, the kinge of Fraunce,
Ther-of wole we speke nowe,
Howe he cleped forth Sir Gy 1668 Meanwhile Charlemagne
And saide “on my message shaltowe, tells Guy that he
Therfore make the faste redy, must go to the
To bidde the Sowden̄ sende me my Nevewes
botħ Soudan to demand the
And the Releqes also of Rome; 1672 surrender of Roland
Or I shal make him so wrotħ, and Oliver, and of
He sha[l~l] not wete what to done. the relics of Rome.
And by þat god, þat hath me wroght,
I shal him leve Towre ner Town̄. 1676
This bargan̄ shal so dere be bought
In dispite of his god Mahoun̄.” Naymes of Bavaria
DUKE Neymes of Baue[rh] vp stert than̄ represents that a
And saide “Sir, hastowe no mynde, 1680 messenger to the
How the cursed Sowdan̄ Laban Soudan should
[p049 THE OTHERS REMONSTRATE, BUT MUST GO TOO.]
Alle messengeris doth he shende? certainly be slain;
Ye haue lost inowe, lese no mo and that they ought
Onworthily Olyue[rh] and Roulande.” 1684 to be anxious not to
“By god, and thou shalt with him go, lose any more besides
For al thy grete brode londe.” Rouland and Oliver.
THO Ogere Danoys, þat worthy man̄, [leaf 42] Then said
“Sir” he saide “be not wrotħ! 1688 the king, ‘By god,
For he saitħ soutħ.”—“go thoᶙ than̄! thou shalt go with
By Gode thou shalte, be thoᶙ never so
loth.” Guy.’ Ogier the Dane
“A Sire” quod Bery Lardeneys, remonstrates, but is
“Thoᶙ shalte hem se never more.”— 1692 ordered to go too. So
“Go thou forth in this same rees, are Thierry of Ardane
Or it shalle the repente ful sore.”
FOLK Baliante saide to the kinge, and Folk Baliant,
“Liste ye youre Barons to lese?”— 1696
“Certis, this is a wondir thinge!
Go thou also, thoᶙ shalte not chese!”
ALEROYSE rose vp anone Aleroys
And to the kinge þan gan̄ he speke 1700
And saide “what thinke ye, sir, to
done?”—
“Dresse the forth witħ hem̄ eke!”
MIRON of Brabane spake an worde and Miron of Brabant.
And saide “Sir, thou maiste do þy wille. 1704
Knowist thou not that cruel lorde,
How he wole thy Barons spille?”—
“Trusse the forth eke, sir Dasaberde,
Or I shalle the sone make! 1708
For of all thinge thou arte aferde,
Yet arte thoᶙ neyther hurte ner take.”
BISSHOPE Turpyn̄ kneled adown̄ Bishop Turpin kneels
And saide “lege lorde, mercy!” 1712 down to implore the
The kinge him swore by seynt Symon̄: king’s mercy, but he
“Thou goist eke, make the in hast redye!” must go too,
BERNARDE of Spruwse, þat worthy knygħt, as well as Bernard of
Saide “sir, avyse yoᶙ bette, 1716 Spruwse
Set not of youre Barons so ligħt,
[p050 THE SOUDAN ASSEMBLES HIS COUNCIL.]
Thou maiste haue nede to hem̄ yette.”—
“Thou shalte goon̄ eke for alle thy boost,
Haue done and make the fast yare! 1720
Of my nede gyfe thoᶙ no coost,
Ther-of haue thou right no care!”
BRYE[RH] of Mounteȝ, þat marqwyȝ bolde, and Brier of
Was not aferde to him to speke. 1724 Mountdidier.
To the kinge sharply he tolde,
His witte was not worth a leke: [leaf 43]
“Woltowe for Angre thy Barons sende
To þat Tiraunte, þat alle men sleitħ? 1728
Or thou doist for þat ende,
To bringe thy xij peres to the detħ.”
The kinge was wrotħ and swore in halle
By him, þat boght him witħ his blode: 1732
“On my messange shall ye gon̄ alle!
Be ye never so wrotħ or wode.”
Thay toke here lefe and fortħ thay yede, The knights take
It availed not agayne him to sayne. 1736 leave and start.
I pray, god gif hem gode spede!
Ful harde it was to comen̄ agayn̄.
NOWE let hem passe in goddis name,
And speke we of the Sowdon̄, 1740 The Soudan assembled
Howe he complayned him of his grame, his council.
And what that he myght beste done.
“Sortybrau«n»nce and Bronlande[144]” seyde
he, Sortibrance and
“Of counsail ye be fulle wyse. 1744 Brouland
How shal I do to avenge me
Of kinge Charles, and in what wyse?
He brennyth my Toures and my Citees,
And Burges he levethe me never oon̄. 1748
He stroieth my men̄, my londe, my fees.
Thus shalle it not longe goon̄.
And yet me greveth most of alle,
He hath made Ferumbras renay his laye. 1752
[p051 HE DESPATCHES XII MESSENGERS TO CHARLES.]
Therfore my counselors I calle,
To remedy this, howe thay best maye.
For me were lever that he were slayn̄,
Thane he a Cristen̄ hounde shulde be, 1756
Or witħ Wolfes be rente and slayn̄,
By Mahounde mygħty of dignyte.”
To answerde Sortybraunce and Broulande advise him
And saide “gode counsaile we shal yoᶙ
gyfen̄, 1760
If thoue wilte do aftyr coven«au»nte,
It shal yoᶙ profit, while yoᶙ lyven̄.
Take xij knightis of worthy dede to send 12 knights,
And sende hem to Charles on message nowe. 1764 and to bid Charles
A-raye hem welle in roial wede,
For thȳ honou[rh] and for thy prowe. [leaf 44]
Bidde Charles sende thy sone to the to give up Ferumbras
And voyde thy londe in alle haste, 1768 and to withdraw from
Or ellis thou shalt him honge on a tr«e», his country.
As hye, as any shippes maste.”
“Nowe by Mahounde” q«uo»d Laban,
“This counseil is both trewe and goode, 1772
I shalle him leve for no man̄
To parforme this, though he we[rh] woode.”
He did his lettris write in haste,
The knight«es» were called to goo
þ«er»witħ, 1776 The knights are
That thay hyȝe hem̄ to Charles faste dispatched.
And charke[145] hym̄ vppon̄ life and lithe.
Fortħ thai ride towarde Mantrible þan̄,
In a medowe, was fayre and grene, 1780 Near Mantrible
Thai mette witħ Charles messageris ten̄. they meet with the
Duke Neymes axed hem̄, what thai wolde
mene, Christian messengers.
And saide “Lordynges, whens come ye? Duke Naymes inquires
And whider ye are mente, telle vs this
tyde.” 1784 whither they intend
“From̄ the worthy Sowdon̄” than̄ saide he, to go.
“To Charles on message shalle we ride,
[p052 THE PEERS KILL THE SOUDAN’S MESSENGERS.]
Euel tithyngg«es» we shalle him telle,
Fro Laban, that is lorde of Spayne. 1788
Farewele, felowes, we may not dwelle.”
“A-byde” q«uo»d Gy “and turne agayne, Having heard their
We wole speke with yoᶙ, er ye goon̄, message,
For we be messengeris of his. 1792
Ye shal aby everichone,
So God brynge me to blis.”
Anoon̄ here swerdes oute thay brayde
And smoten̄ down̄ right al a-boute. 1796
Tille the hethen̄ were down̄ layde,
Thai reseyued many a sore cloute.
Thai smyten̄ of here hedes alle, the delegates of
Eche man̄ toke one in his lappe. 1800 Charles cut off their
Fal what so euer byfalle, heads, which they
To the Soudon̄ wole they trappe. take with them to
Tille thai come to Egremoure, present to the Soudan
Thai stynte for no worldes thinge; 1804 at Agremore.
Anone thai fonde the Sawdan̄ thore,
At his mete proudely sittynge, [leaf 45] The Soudan
And þat maide fai[rh] Dame Floripas was just dining.
And xiiij princes of grete price 1808
And kinge Lukafe[rh] of Baldas,
Thas was both bolde, hardy and wyse.
Doughty Duke Neymes of Baue[rh] Naymes delivers
To the Sowdone his message tolde 1812 his message: ‘God
And saide “god, þat made heven̄ so cle[rh], confound Laban and
He saue kinge Charles so bolde all his Saracens, and
And confounde Laban̄ and all his men̄, save Charles,
That on Mahounde byleved[146] 1816
And gife hem evel endinge! amen̄.
To morue, longe er it be even̄, who commands thee
He co«m»maundith the vppon̄ thy life to send back his
His Nevewes home to him sende, 1820 two nephews and to
And the Religes[147] of Rome withoute
strife; restore the relics.’
[p053 THE PEERS ARE IMPRISONED IN FLORIPAS’ TOWER.]
And ellis getist thou an evel ende!
xij lurdeynes mette vs on the waye;
Thai saide, thay come streight fro the. 1824
Thai made it botħ stoute and gay;
Here hed«is» here maistowe see. They then produce the
Thai saide, thai wolde to Charles goon̄, heads of the Soudan’s
Evel tidingg«es» him to telle. 1828 messengers.
Loo here here heddis eu«er»ychone,
Here soulis bene in helle.”
“O” q«uo»d Lavane “what may this be,
To suff[rh] this amonge my knight«es»
alle? 1832
To be rebuked thus here of the The Soudan vowed
At mete in myn owen̄ halle! a vow that they
To Mahounde myghty I make a vowe, should all ten be
Ye shall be hanged alle ten, 1836 hanged as soon as
Anoon as I have eten̄ I-nowe, he had finished
In presence of alle my men̄.” his dinner. But
Maide Floripas answered tho Floripas recommended
And saide “my derworth Fadir de[rh]! 1840 him to put off his
By my counsaile ye shal not so, resolution, until
Tille ye haue your Barons alle in fe[rh], a general council
That thai may se what is the best, of his barons had
For to delyu«er»e my brother Sir
Ferumbras. 1844 determined on the
And aftirward, if þat ye liste, best way of the
Ye may gife hem ful evel grace.” liberation of
“Gramercy, doghter, thou saieste welle, Ferumbras. [leaf 46]
Take hem alle into thy warde. 1848 The Soudan gives them
Do feter hem faste in Iren̄ and stele into her guard.
And set hem in strayȝte garde.
Thus was I neuer rebukede er nowe;
Mahounde myghty gyfe hem̄ sorowe! 1852
Thay shalle be flayn and honged on a bowe,
Longe ere tyme[148] to morowe.” Floripas leads the
Florip̄ toke these messangeris knights into her
And ladde hem vp in-to here tou[rh], 1856 tower, where
[p054 FLORIPAS ENQUIRES AFTER GUY.]
There thai founde two of here feris. they were glad to
Thay thanked thereof god of honoure. find Roland and
Tho sayde Duke Neymys of Baue[rh]: Oliver.
“Gladde men we be nowe here, 1860
To fynde Roulande and Olyue[rh]
In helthe of bodye and of goode che[rh].”
Thai kissed eche other with herte gladde
And thanked god of his grace; 1864
And eche toolde othir, howe thay sped
hadde, They told each other
And howe thay come in-to that place how they had fared.
By helpe of mayde Florip̄ hire self,
“God kepe hir in honoure! 1868
For thus hath she brought vs hider alle
twelfe,
To dwelle in hir owen̄ boure.”
Tho thay wessh and wente to mete, After washing,
And were served welle and fyne 1872
Of suche goode, as she myght gete,
Of Venyson̄, brede and gode wyne.
There thai were gladde and wel at ease; they dined off
The Soudon̄ ne wist it noght. 1876 venison, bread and
Aftyr thay slepe and toke her ese, wine, and then
Of no man than̄ thay ne roght. went to sleep. The
On the morowe Florip̄, that mayde fre, following day,
To Duke Neymes spake in game: 1880 Floripas asks Naymes
“Sir gentil knigħt,” tho saide she, his name,
“Telle me, what is your name.”
“Whi axe ye, my lady dere,
My name here to knowe alle?” 1884
“For he[149] spake with so bolde chere
To my Fadir yestirdaye in his halle.
Be not ye the Duke of Burgoyne, sir Gȳ, and enquires after
Nevewe unto the king«e» Charles so fre?” 1888 [leaf 47] Guy of
“Noe, certes, lady, it is not I, Burgundy, whom she
It is yondir knight, þat ye may see.” had loved for a long
“A, him have I loved many a day; time, and for
[p055 GUY CONSENTS TO TAKE HER FOR HIS WIFE.]
And yet knowe I him noght. 1892 whom she would do all
For his loue I do alle that I maye, she could for their
To chere yoᶙ witħ dede and thought. benefit, and would be
For his love wille I cristenede be baptised,
And lefe Mahoundes laye. 1896
Spekith to him nowe for me,
As I yoᶙ truste maye;
And but he wole gr«a»unte me his loue, if he would agree to
Of yoᶙ askape shalle none here. 1900 love her in return.
By him, þat is almyghty aboue,
Ye shalle abye it ellis ful dere.”
Tho wente Duke Neymes to Sir Gye
And saide “This ladye lovetħ the, 1904 Naymes tells Guy
For thy loue she maketħ us alle merye,
And Baptizede wole she be.
Ye shalle hir take to your wedded wife, to take her for his
For alle vs she may saue.” 1908 wife,
“By God” q«uo»d Gye “þat gafe me life, But Guy refuses,
Hire wole I never haue,
Wyle I neuer take hire ner no woman̄, as he never will take
But Charles the kinge hir me gife. 1912 a wife, unless she be
I hight him, as I was trewe man̄,
To holden̄ it, while I lyve.” given him by Charles.
Tho spake Roulande and Olyue[rh], Rouland and Oliver
Certyfyinge him of he[rh] myschefe, 1916 persuaded him,
Tellinge him of the parelles, þ«a»t þay in
we[rh],
For to take this lady to his wedded wife.
“But thoᶙ helpe in this nede,
We be here in grete doute. 1920
Almyghty god shalle quyte thy mede,
Elles come we nevere he«n»nys oute.”
Thus thay treted him to and fro;
At the laste he sayde, he wolde. 1924 so that he at last
Floripas thay cleped fortħ tho; consented.
And brought fourth a Cuppe of golde, Floripas, holding a
Ful of noble myghty wyne, golden cup of wine,
[p056 LUKAFER VISITS THE PRISONERS.]
And saide “my loue and my lorde, 1928 [leaf 48]
Myn herte, my body, my goode is thyn̄,”
And kissed him witħ that worde, kissed him, and
And “sir” she saide “drinke to me, requested him to
As the Gyse is of my londe; 1932 drink to her after
And I shalle drinke agayn̄ to the, the fashion of her
As to my worthy hosbonde.” country. She also
Thay clipped and kissed botħ in fere drinks to him. They
And made grete Joye and game, 1936 all make merry.
And so did alle, that were the[rh],
Thai made ful mery alle in same.
Tho spake Floripas to the Barons boolde
And saide “I haue armu[rh] I-nowe; 1940
Therfore I tel yoᶙ, what I wolde,
And þat ye dide for your prowe.
To morue, whan̄ my Fadir is at his
soupe[rh], For the following day
Ye shalle come in alle attonys; 1944
Loke ye spare for no fere,
Sle down̄ and breke botħ bake and bones;
Kithe yoᶙ knightis of hardynesse!
Ther is none helpe, but in this wyse, 1948
Then moste ye shewen̄ youre prowes,
And wynne this Castel in this guyse.”
Thai sayden alle, it was welle saide,
And gladde thay were of this counsaile. 1952
Here armu[rh] was fortħ layde, they all prepare to
At souper the Sowdon̄ to assaile. assail the Soudan at
Kinge Lucafere prayde the Sawdon̄, supper. Lukafer comes
That he wolde gif him lysence, 1956 to the Soudan and
To the prisoners for to goon̄, asks leave to see the
To see the maner of her presence. prisoners, in order
He gafe him lefe, and forth he wente to know the manner of
Vp vnto Floripas Toure. 1960 their detention.
To asspie the maner was his enten[t|],
Hem̄ to accuse agayne honoure. Finding the door
Whan̄ he come, he founde the dore fast
I-stoke, locked, he burst it
[p057 HE TEACHES THEM A NEW GAME.]
He smote there-on with his fist, 1964 open with a blow of
That the bar[rh] began̄ to broke. his fist.
To make debate, wel him list.
“Who artowe” q«uo»d Floripas[150]
“Þ«a»t maketh he[rh] sucħ araye†?” 1968
“I am kinge Lucafere of Baldas, [leaf 49]
The Sowdon̄ sente me hidir in faye;
To seen̄ his prisoneris is my desire
And speke with hem everychon̄, 1972 He told them that he
To talke with hem by the fire was come to speak to
And speke of dedis of Armes amonge.” them,
Tho saide Duke Neymes “welcome be ye
To us prisoners here! 1976
What is your wille, nowe telle ye;
For we be men̄ of feble chere.”
“I woolde wete of Charles the kinge, and to enquire after
What man̄ he is in his contre, 1980 Charlemagne.
And what meyne he hatħ, and of what thinge
He rekyneth moost his dignyte.”
Duke Neymes saide “an Emp«er»oure Duke Naymes answers.
And kinge he is of many a londe, 1984
Of Citeis, Castels, and many a Toure,
Dukes, Erles, Barons bowynge to his
honde.”
“But saye me, felowe, what is your vse,
To do in cont[rh] aftyr the none. 1988 He then asks what
And what is the custome of your hous, amusements they have
Tille men̄ to souper shalle gone?” after dinner. Naymes
“Sir, so«m»me men̄ iouste[151] witħ
spe[rh] and shelde, says, ‘Some joust,
And so«m»me men̄ Carol and singe gode
songes, 1992 some sing, some play
Some shote with dartis in the feelde, at chess.’
And so«m»me play at Chesse amonge.”
“Ye bene but foulis of gode dissporte; ‘I will teach you
I wole yoᶙ tech a newe play. 1996 a new game,’ says
Sitte down̄ here by one assorte, Lukafer.
[p058 LUKAFER IS ROASTED TO CHARCOAL.]
And bett«er» myrthe never ye saye.”
He teyde a tredde on a pole With a thread he
With an nedil ther-on I-fest, 2000 fastened a needle
And ther vppon̄ a qwi[k|] cole. on a pole and put a
He bade every man blowe his blast. burning coal upon it.
Duke Neymes hade a long berde, He blew it at
Kinge Lucafe[rh] blewe even̄ to hym̄, 2004 Naymes’s beard and
That game hade he never before lered. burnt it. Naymes
He brent the he[rh] of Neymes berde to the
skyne. waxed wroth, and
Duke Neymes than̄ gan wex wrotħ, snatching a burning
For he hade brente his berde so white 2008 [leaf 50] brand from
To the Chymneye forth he goth the fire he smites at
And caught a bronde him witħ to smyte. Lukafer and throws
Witħ a goode wille he him smote, him into the fire,
That both his eyen̄ bresten̄ oute. 2012
He caste him in the fire al hote;
For sothe he hadde a rigħt gode cloute.
And with a fyre forke he helde him doune,
Tille he were rosted to colis ilkadele. 2016 where he was roasted
His soule hade his god Mahoun̄. to charcoal. Floripas
Florip̄ bade him̄ warme him wele. applauds this,
“Sires” tho saide Floripas,
“Entendith nowe al to me! 2020
This Lucafe[rh] of Baldas
Was a lorde of grete mayne.
My Fadir hade him eu«er» yn che[rh]
I telle you for sothe everydele, 2024
He wolde anoon̄ aftyr him enque[rh], but points out their
And therefore loke, ye arme you we[l~l]!” danger, and advises
Florip wente in, as the maner was, them to arm. At
To here Fadir at soup«er» tyme. 2028 supper time she goes
No man spake worde of kinge Baldas, to her father.
Ner no man knewe of his sharp pyne.
The xij peris armed hem wel and fyne
With swerdes drawe and eg[rh] chere. 2032
While thay mery[152] drinkyn[g|] the wyne
[p059 THE PEERS TURN THE SARACENS OUT OF THE CASTLE.]
And sittinge alle at here soupe[rh]. As they were sitting
Thai reheted the Sowdon̄ and his Barons
alle at table, the twelve
And maden̄ orders wondir fast, 2036 peers rushed in and
Thai slowe down̄ alle, þat were in the
halle, slew all whom they
And made hem wondirly sore a-gast. met.
Olyvere egerly sued Laban̄ Laban, pursued by
With swerd I-drawe in his honde. 2040 Oliver, jumps out of
Oute at the wyndowe lepte he þan̄ a window on to the
Vppon̄ the salte see stronde,[153] sea-shore and escaped
And he skaped away from̄ hime,
But woo was he þerfore, 2044
That he went awaye witħ lym̄ without injury.
To worche hem sorowe more.
Roulande than̄ came rennynge
And axed, where was Laban. 2048
Olyuere answerede moornynge [leaf 51]
And saide, howe he was agoon̄.
Tho thai voided the Court«es» at the last They killed all in
And slowen̄ tho, that wolde a-byde, 2052 the castle, and then
And drewe the brigge and teyed it fast, drew up the bridges
And shitte the gatis, that were so wyde. and shut the gates.
Laban, that by the ebbe escapede,
Of harde, er he come to londe, 2056
He alle astonyed and a-mapide,[154]
For sorowe he wronge botħ his honde
And made a vowe to Mahounde of myght, Laban vowed a vow
He wolde that Cite wynne 2060
And never go thens by day nor nyght,
For foo, for frende, ner for kynne.
“And tho traytouris will I do honge,
On a Galowes hye with-oute the gate; 2064 that he would hang
And my Doghter, þat hore stronge, them all and burn his
I-brente shal be there-ate.” daughter. He sent to
To mauntryble he gan sende anoon̄ Mantrible for troops
Aftir men and tentis goode, 2068 and
[p060 THE SOUDAN BESIEGES THE CASTLE.]
And Engynes to throwe witħ stoon̄ engines,
And goode armu[rh] many foolde.
The sege he did leyen a-bowte and besieged Agremore.
On every side of that Cite. 2072
To wallis with Engynes thai gan rowte,
To breke the Toures so fre.
Tho saide Florip̄, “lordingg«es» goode, Floripas recommends
Ye bene biseged in this toure, 2076 the peers
As ye bene wight of mayne and moode,
Proveth here to saue youre honou[rh].
The toure is stronge, drede yoᶙ nought,
And vitayle we have plente. 2080
Charles wole not leve yoᶙ vnsougħt;
Truste ye welle alle to me.
Therefore go we soupe and make merye, to enjoy themselves.
And takith ye alle your ease; 2084
And xxx^{ti} maydens lo here of
Assyne,[155]
The fayrest of hem ye chese.
Take your sporte, and kith yoᶙ knyght«es»,
Whan ye shalle haue to done; 2088
For to morowe, when the day is light, [leaf 52]
Ye mooste to the wallis goon̄
And defende this place witħ caste of
stoon̄
And with shotte of quarelles and darte. 2092
My maydyns and I sha[l~l] bringe goode
wone,
So eu«er»yche of us shalle bere hir
parte.”
On morowe the Sowdon̄ made assaute In the morning the
To hem, that were witħ-Inne, 2096 soudan attacks the
And certes in hem was no defaute, castle,
For of hem̄ myght thay nought wynne.
Here shotte, here cast was so harde,
Thay durste not nyȝhe the walle. 2100
Thay drowen̄ hem bakwarde, but is repulsed.
Thay were beten̄ over alle.
King Laban̄ turnede to his tent«es»
agayn̄,
[p061 HE ASKS BROULAND’S ADVICE.]
He was nere wode for tene, 2104
He cryede to Mahounde and Apolyne He accuses his gods
And to Termagaunte, þat was so kene, of sleepiness, and
And saide “ye goddes, ye slepe to longe, shakes them to wake
Awake and helpe me nowe, 2108 up.
Or ellis I may singe of sorowe a songe,
And of mournynge right I-nowe.
Wete ye not wele, that my tresoure
Is alle witħ-inne the walle? 2112
Helpe me nowe, I saye therfore,
Or ellis I forsake yoᶙ alle.”
He made grete lamentacion̄,
His goddis byganne to shake. 2116
Yet that comfortede his meditacion̄,
Supposinge thay didde awake.
He cleped Brenlande to aske counsaile,
What was beste to done, 2120
And what thinge myght him̄ moste avayle,
To wynne the Cite sone.
“Thou wotist welle, þat alle my tresou[rh]
Is there in here kepinge, 2124
And my doughter, þat stronge hore,
God yif her evelle endyn[g|]!”
“Sir” he saide “ye knowe welle, [leaf 53] Brouland
That Toure is wondir stronge. 2128 tells him, as the
While þay haue vitayle to mele, castle is strong and
Kepen̄ it thay wole fulle longe. well stored with
Sende to Mauntreble, you[rh] cheif Cite, provisions, the peers
That is the keye of this londe, 2132 will hold it very
That non̄ passe, where it so be, long;
With-oute youre speciall sonde, but if he would send
To Alagolofu[rh], þat geaunte stronge, orders to Alagolafre,
That is wardeyne of þat pas, 2136 the bridge-keeper at
That no man passe that brigge alonge, Mantrible, not to
But he have special grace. allow any one to pass
So shalle not Charles witħ his meyne without leave,
[p062 ESPIARD IS DESPATCHED TO MANTRIBLE.]