Than̄ thay shalle enfamyched be, assistance from
That shalle hem rewe ful sore.”— Charles, and die from
“Mahoundis blessynge have thoᶙ and myne, hunger.
Sortybraunce, for thy rede.”— 2144
“Espyarde, messange[rh] myne, Espiard is despatched
In haste thou most the spede to Mantrible,
To my Cite Mavntreble,
To do my message there, 2148
To Alogolof[rh], þat giaunte orrible.
Bydde him his charge wele lere,
And tel him, howe that the last daye
Ten fals trayto«ur»s of Fraunce 2152
Passed by that same waye
By his defaute witħ myschaunce,
Charginge him vppon̄ his hede to lese,
That no man by the brigge,[156] 2156
Be it rayne, snowe or freze,
But he his heede down̄ ligge.”
Espiarde spedde him in his waye,
Tille he to Mauntrible came, 2160
To seke the geaunte, ther he laye
On the banke bysyde the Dame,
And saide “the worthy Sowdon̄,
That of alle Spayn̄ is lorde and si[rh], 2164
Vppon̄ thy life co«m»maundeth the anoon̄, and commands the giant
To deserue bett«er» thyn hire.
The laste day thoᶙ letist here passe
Ten trattoures of douse Fraunce. 2168
God giffe the evel grace,
And hem̄ also moche myschaunce!
He charged the vppon̄ life and detħ,
To kepe this place sikerlye; 2172
While in thy body lastetħ the bretħ, not to suffer any one
Lette noon̄ enemye passe the[rh]-bye.” to pass the bridge.
[p063 ALAGOLAFRE BARRICADES THE BRIDGE.]
Alagolofur rolled his yen̄
And smote with his axe on̄ the stone 2176
And swore by Termag«a»unte and Apolyne,
That ther-by shulde passe«n» never one,
But if he smote of his hede,
And brought it to his lorde Laban̄, 2180
He wolde never ete no brede,
Nere never loke more on man̄.
xxiiij^{ti} Cheynes he didde ou«er»-drawe, Alagolafre drew 24
That noo man passe mygħt, 2184 chains across the
Neyther for loue nere for awe, bridge.
No tyme by daye, nere by nyghte.
“Go, telle my lorde, I shalle it kepe;
On payne of my grete heede 2188
Shalle ther no man̄ goo ner crepe,
But he be take or dede.”
This geaunte hade a body longe
And hede, like an libarde. 2192
Ther-to he was devely stronge,
His skynne was blake and harde.
Of Ethiope he was bore,
Of the kinde of Ascopartes. 2196
He hade tuskes, like a bore,
An hede, like a liberde.
Laban nolde not forgete The soudan assaults
The saute to renewe,[157] 2200 the castle again,
To wynne the Toure, he wolde not lete.
Here trumpes lowde thay blewe.
Every man wente to the walle,
With pikeys or witħ bowe. 2204 [leaf 55]
Thai made assaute generalle,
The walles downe to throwe.
But thay witħ-inne bare hem̄ soo, but the 12 peers slay
Thay slowe of the Saresyns iij hundre[d+]. 2208 300 Saracens.
Thay wroghten̄ hem both care and woo,
[p064 MAVON BATTERS THE CASTLE.]
Vppon̄ her fightinge thay wondride.
Tho cryed Laban̄ to hem on hye,
“Trayto«u»rs, yelde yoᶙ to me, 2212 Laban threatens to
Ye shall be hongede els by and bye hang them, and utters
Vppon̄ an hye Galowe tree.” imprecations
Tho spake Florip̄ to the Sowdon̄
And sayde “thou fals tyraunte, 2216
Were Charles come, thy pride we[rh] done
Nowe, cursede myscreaunte. against Floripas, who
Alas! that thou ascapediste soo returns them.
By the wyndowe vppon̄ the stronde. 2220
That thy ne[k|] hade broke a-twoo!
God sende the shame and shonde!”—
“A! stronge hore, god gife the sorowe!
Tho[u] venemouse serpente. 2224
Withe wilde horses[158] thoᶙ shalt be
drawe to morowe,
And on this hille be brente,
That al men may be wa[rh] by the,
That cursed bene of kynde. 2228
And thy love shalle honged be,
His hondes bou«n»de him byhynde.”
He called forth Mavon̄, his Engynou[rh], The soudan calls for
And saide “I charge the, 2232 Mavon, his engineer,
To throwe a magnelle to yon tou[rh], and orders him to
And breke it downe on thre.” direct a mangonel
Mavon set vp his engyne against the walls.
With a stoon̄ of .vj. C wigħt, 2236 Mavon knocked down
That wente as even̄ as eny lyne, a piece of the
And smote a cornell down̄ right. battlements.
Woo was Roulande and Olyue[rh],
That þat myschief was be-falle, 2240
And so were alle the xij peres; Roland and Oliver
But Florip̄ than̄ comforte hem alle: lament; they are
“Sires” she saide “beitħ of goode chere! comforted by Floripas.
This Toure is stronge I-nowe. 2244
[p065 MARSEDAGE IS KILLED AND BURIED.]
He may cast twies or thries or he hit ayen
þ«er»,[159] [leaf 56]
For sothe I telle it yoᶙ.”
Marsedage, the roialle kinge,
Rode in riche weede, 2248
Fro Barbary co«m»myng,
Vppon̄ a sturdy stede,
Cryinge to hem vppon̄ the walle:
“Trayto«u»ris, yelde yoᶙ here! 2252
Brenne you alle ellis I shalle,
By myghty god Iubyte[rh].”
Gy aspied, that he came ne[rh], Guy kills Marsedage
A darte to hime he threwe ful even̄, 2256 the king of Barbary,
He smote him throwe herte & liver in
fe[rh]. by throwing a dart at
Dame Florip«e» lough witħ loude steven̄ him.
And saide “Sir Gye, my loue so free,
Thou kanste welle hit the prikke. 2260
He shall make no booste in his contre;
God giffe him sorowe thikke!”
Whan̄ Laban̄ herde of this myschie[f|],
A sory man̄ was he. 2264
He trumped, his mene to relefe; They stop the attack
For to cease that tyme mente he.
Mersadage, kinge of Barbarye,
He did carye to his tente, 2268
And beryed him by right of Sarsenye to bury Marsedage,
With brennynge fire and riche oynemente,
And songe the Dirige of Alkaron̄,
That bibill is of here laye, 2272
And wayled his deth everychon̄, and bewail him 7 days
vij nyghtis and vij dayes. and nights.
Anoon̄ the Sowdon̄, south to say, Then the soudan more
Sente iij hundrid of knightis, 2276 closely blockades the
To kepe the brigge and the waye castle.
Oute of that Castil rightis,
That noon̄ of hem shulde issue oute,
[p066 FLORIPAS PRODUCES A MAGIC GIRDLE.]
To feche vitayle by no waye. 2280
He charged hem to wacche wel a[l~l]
abowte,
That thay for-fameli[d+] myght dye.
Thus thay kepte the place vij dayes, [leaf 57]
Tille alle hire vitaile was nyȝe spente. 2284 The provisions being
The yates thai pas the streyte weyes. exhausted,
Tho helde thai hem with-in I-shente.
Tho spake Roulande with hevy chere
Woordes lamentable, 2288
Whan̄ he saugħ the ladies so whiȝte of
le[rh],
Faile brede on here table,
And saide “Charles, thoᶙ curteys kinge, Roland complains
Why forgetist thoᶙ vs so longe? 2292 of Charles’s
This is to me a wondir thinge; forgetfulness;
Me thinkitħ, thou doiste vs grete wronge,
To let vs dye for faute of mete,
Closed thus in a dongeon̄. 2296
To morowe wol we asaye what we kon̄ gete,
By god, that berithe the crown̄.”
Tho saide Floripas “sires, drede noghte but Floripas cheers
For noon̄ houng[rh] that may befalle. 2300 him up,
I knowe a medycyne in my thoughte
To comforte yoᶙ witħ alle.
I have a girdil in my Force[rh], saying she possessed
Who so girde hem̄ ther-with aboute, 2304 a magic girdle which
Hunger ner thirste shal him neu«er» dere, was a talisman
Though he were vij yere witħ-oute.” against hunger and
“O” q«uo»d Sir Gy “my loue so trewe, thirst for those who
I-blessed mote ye be! 2308 wore it.
I pray yoᶙ, that ye wole us alle hit
shewe,
That we may haue oure saule.”
She yede and set it fortħ anoon̄,
Thai proved alle the vertue, 2312 They all successively
And diden it aboute hem̄ eu«er»ychon̄. put it on and felt as
It comforted alle both moo and fewe, if they had feasted.
As thai hade bene at a feste.
[p067 MAPYN ENTERS FLORIPAS’ CHAMBER.]
So were thay alle wele at ease, 2316
Thus were thai refresshed botħ moost &
lest
And weren bifore in grete disese.
Laban̄ wondred, how thai myght endu[rh]
Witħ-outen̄ vitaile so longe. 2320 Laban wondered at
He reme«m»bred him on Floripas senctu[rh], their endurance, but
And of the vertue so stronge. at last remembering
Tho wiste he welle, that throgħ famyne the girdle, [leaf 58]
Might he hem̄ never wynne. 2324
He cleped to him fals Mapyne, he induced Mapyne
For he coude many a fals gynne:
He coude scale Castel and Toure
And over the walles wende. 2328
“Mapyne” he saide “for myn̄ honoure,
Thou mooste haue this in mynde:
That hore, my doght«er», a girdil hatħ
she,
From̄ hounger it savyth hem̄ alle, 2332
That wonnen may thay never be,
That foule mote hir bifalle!
Kanstowe gete me that gyrdill by craft, to attempt to steal
A thousande pounde than̄ shal I gefe the; 2336 it at night.
So that it be there not lefte,[160]
But bringe it hithi[rh] to me.
Thoᶙ kanste see by nyghte as welle
As any man doth by daye. 2340
Whan thay bene in here beddes ful
sti[l~l],
Than go forth thider right in thy waye.
Thou shalt it in here Chamber fynde,
Thou maist be thereofe sure.” 2344
“Sir, there-to I wole me bynde,
If my life may endure.”
Fortħ wente this fals Mapyne
By nyght into the Tou[rh]— 2348 Mapyne entered the
God gife him evel endinge!— chamber of Floripas
Euen in to Floripas bou[rh]. through
[p068 MAPYN WITH THE GIRDLE IS THROWN INTO THE SEA.]
By a Chemney he wente inne;
Fulle stilly there he soughte it. 2352 a chimney;
He it founde and girde it aboute him,
And aftyr ful dere he bogħt it; he finds the girdle
For by the light of a lampe the[rh] and puts it on,
Floripas gan̄ him aspye, 2356 but Floripas
Alle a-frayed oute of hir slepe for fere, perceives him
But lowde than gan she crye and cries out.
And saide “a thefe is in my boure,
Robbe me he wole or sloo.” 2360
Ther-with come Rouland fro his tou[rh] Roland hurries to her
To wete of hir woo. assistance, [leaf 59]
He founde Mapyne bysyde hir bedde,
Stondinge amased for drede, 2364
To the wyndowe he him ladde,[161]
And there he smote of his hedde, cuts off Mapine’s
And caste him oute in-to the see. head, and throws
Of the gyrdille was he not wa[rh]; 2368 him out through
But whan̄ he wist, the girdel hade he, the window without
Tho hadde he sorowe and care. noticing the girdle.
Florip«e» to the Cheste wente Floripas, seeing her
And aspyed, hire gyrdel was goon̄, 2372 girdle lost, is much
“Alas!” she saide, “alle is it shente! grieved;
Sir, what haue ye done?
He hath my girdel aboute hym̄.
Alas! þat harde while! 2376
A rebelle hounde dotħ ofte grete tene;
Howe be we alle begilede.”
Tho spake Roulande witħ che[rh] boolde,
“Dameselle! beytħ noughte aferde! 2380 Roland comforts her.
If any vitaile be aboute this hoolde,
We wole hem wynne withe dinte of swerde
To morowe wole wee oute-goon̄ They agree to attempt
And assaye, howe it wole it be. 2384 a sally to obtain
I make a vowe to god alone, food.
[p069 THE PEERS, SURPRISING THE SARACENS, OBTAIN PROVISIONS.]
Assaile hem wole we!
And if thay haue any mete,
Parte withe hem̄ wole we. 2388
Or elles strokes thay shal gete
By God and seynte Mary myn̄
avou[rh]!”[162]
In the morne, er the larke songe, In the morning
Thai ordeynede hem to ride 2392
To the Saresyns, þat hade so longe
Leyen hem besyde.
Duke Neymes and Oge[rh] Naymes and Ogier
Were ordeynede to kepe the place. 2396 remain in the castle,
The x othir of the xij peres the others start
Wente oute to assaye here grace.
Thay founden̄ hem in logges slepynge, and surprise the
Of hem hade thay no thought. 2400 Saracens still
Thai slowen̄ down̄ þat came to honde, sleeping in their
Mahounde availed hem noghte. huts. [leaf 60]
In shorte tyme the ende was made,
Thay ten slough iij hundred the[rh]. 2404 They slew 300 and
Tho founde thai vitaile, thay were glad, carried off as much
As moche as thay myghte home be[rh]. food as they could
Duke Neymes and Oge[rh], that kept the
tou[rh], bear.
Say hem witħ here praye. 2408
Thai thanked god hye of honoure,
That thai spedde so þat day.
Thay avaled the brigge and lete him yn,
Florip̄ and here maydyns were gladde, 2412
And so were thay, that were with-yn;
For alle grete hounger thay hadde.
Thai eten̄ and dronken right I-nowe
And made myrtħ ever amonge. 2416
But of the Sowdon̄ laban speke we nowe,
Howe of sorowe was his songe.
WHAN tidyngges came to him,
That his men̄ were slayn̄, 2420
And howe thai hade stuffed hem̄ also[163]
[p070 THE SOUDAN IS ENRAGED WITH HIS GODS.]
With vitaile in agayne,
For sorowe he woxe nere wode. The soudan is enraged,
He cleped Brenlande and Sortybraunce. 2424
And tolde hem̄ witħ angry mode
Of his harde myschaunce.
“Remedye ordeyne me,
Ye be chief of my counsaile; 2428
That I of hem may vengede be,
It shalle you bouth availe.
O ye goddes, ye faile at nede,
That I have honoured so longe, 2432
I shalle yoᶙ bren̄, so mote[164] I spede, and is going to burn
In a fayre fyre ful stronge; his gods,
Shalle I neuer more on yoᶙ bileve,
But renaye yoᶙ playnly alle. 2436
Ye shalle be brente this day er eve,
That foule mote yoᶙ befalle!”
The fire was made, the goddes were broght
To have be caste the[rh]-inne. 2440 [leaf 61]
Tho alle his counsaile him by-sought, but, appeased by his
He shulde of þat erroure blynne, wise men,
And saide “Sir, what wole ye done?
Wole ye your goddis for-sake? 2444
Vengeaunce shalle than̄ on yoᶙ come,
With sorowe, woo and wrake!
Ye moste make offrynge for youre offence,
For drede of grete vengeaunce, 2448
With oyle, mylke and ffranken̄cense
By youre prestis ordynaunce.”
Tho he dide bere hem in ayen̄, he sacrifices again,
And to hem made dewe offerynge. 2452
The prestis assoyled him of þat synne, and is assoiled by
Ful lowly for him prayinge. the priests.
Tho he cleped his counselers
Brulande and Sortybraunce, 2456 Laban holds council.
[p071 THE PEERS THROW LABAN’S GOLD AT THE ASSAILANTS.]
Axynge, howe he myght destroy«e» the xij
peres,
That Mahounde gife hem myschaunce.
Thay cowde no more ther-on̄,
But late saile ayen̄ the toure. 2460
Witħ xx^{ti} thousande thai gan̄ gon̄,
And bigo«n»ne a newe shoure A new assault begins,
To breke down̄ the Walles,
With mattok«es» and witħ pike, 2464 but the ditches
Tille iiij hundred of hem alle are filled with
Lay slayne in the dike. assailants, who were
So stronge was the cast of stoone. slain by the showers
The Saresyns drewe hem̄ abakke, 2468 of stones hurled down
Tille it was at hye none; by the peers. The
Tho go«n»ne thay ayen̄ to shake. Saracens retire. A
Tho fayled hem cast, þat were
w«i»t«h»-inne; second attack ensues.
Tho cowde thai no rede, 2472 There being no stones,
For stoone was ther noone to wy«n»ne.
Tho were thay in grete drede.
Than saide Florip, “beitħ not dismayde!
Ye shalle be holpe anoon̄. 2476 Floripas gave
Here is syluer vessel and now,”[165] she
sayde, them her father’s
“That shulle ye prove goode woon̄.” silver and gold to
She set it forth, thay caste oute faste cast amongst the
Alle that came to honde. 2480 assailants. [leaf 62]
Off siluer and goolde vessel thay made
waste
That wast[166] down̄ vppon̄ the sonde.
Whan̄ thai saugħ that roial sight,
Thai leften alle here dede; 2484
And for the tresoure thay do fight,
Who so myghte it awey lede. The soudan in alarm
Tho the Sowdon̄ wexe nere wode, for his treasure
Seinge this tresoure thus dispoyle[d+], 2488 gives up the assault.
That was to him so dere and goode
Laye in the dike thus defoule[d+].
He bade that thai shulde leue
[p072 THE SOUDAN ASKS HIS GODS’ FORGIVENESS.]
And turne hem̄ agayne in haste. 2492
He wente home tille his tente than
With grete sorowe and mournyn[g|] mode.
To-fore his goddis whan̄ he came,
He cryed, as he were wode: 2496
“O fals goddis, that y^e betħ, He is enraged with
I have trustid to longe youre mode. his gods,
We[167] were leve[rh] to suff[rh] dede,
Than̄ lif this life here lenger nowe. 2500
I haue almoste loste the bretħ,
xij fals trayto«urs» me overe-lede,
And stroyen alle þat I haue.
Ye fals goddis, the devel youe spede! 2504
Ye make me nowe for to rave;
Ye do fayle me at my nede.”
In Ire he smote Mahounde, and smites Mahound so
That was of goolde fulle rede, 2508 that he fell on his
That he fille down̄ to the grounde, face;
As he hade bene dede.
Alle here bisshopes cryden̄ oute
And saide “Mahounde, thyn̄ ore!” 2512
And down̄ to the erthe wele lowe thay
loute,
Howlynge and wepynge sore,
And saide “Sire Sowdon̄, what haue ye
done?
Vengeaunce shalle on the falle, 2516
But thoᶙ repente the here anone.”
“Ye” q«uo»d he “I shrewe yoᶙ alle!” but the priests
Thai made a fyre of fran[k|]encense induce him
And blewen̄ hornes of bras, 2520
And casten in milke hony for the offence, [leaf 63]
To-fore Mahoundes face.
Thay counsailed Laban to knele a down̄ to kneel down and ask
And aske forgevenes in that place. 2524 forgiveness.
And so he didde and hade pardon̄
Throgh prayere and specialle grace.
[p073 RICHARD STARTS ON MESSAGE TO CHARLES.]
Then[168] this was done, þan̄ sayde
Roulande Meanwhile Roland
To his Felowes xj: 2528 exhorted Richard of
“Here may we not longe holde londe, Normandy to go on
By God that is in heven̄. message to Charles,
Therefore sende we to Charles, the kinge, that he might come
That he wolde reskowe vs sone; 2532 to their rescue.
And certyfye him o[f|] oure strayȝte
beinge, They all would the
If ye thinke, it be to done. following morning,
Richard of Normandye, ye most goon̄, before day break,
I holde yoᶙ both wyse and hende. 2536 make an attack on
And we shalle tomorowe, as stil as stoon̄, the Saracens, and
The Saresyns a-wake, er ye wynde.[169] meanwhile he should
And while we be mooste bysy in oure werke, steal off in the
And medel witħ hem alle in fere, 2540 darkness. In the
Stele ye a-waye in the derke! morning
And spede you faste, ye were there!”
On the morowe afti[rh] the daye
Thay were armede ful ryghte, 2544
Thai rode fortħ stilly in here way, they sally out.
God gouerne hem, mooste of myght!
Florip«e» and here maydyns kept the
tou[rh] Floripas and her
And woonde vp the brigges on hye, 2548 maidens draw up the
And prayde god, to kepe here paramou[rh], bridges after them.
The Duke of Burgoyne, «Sir» Gȳe.
She preyde to Rouland, er he wente,
To take goode hede of him̄, 2552
That he were neyþer take nere shente,
As he wolde her loue wynne.
On thay set with herte stronge
And alle hem̄ sore afrayed. 2556
Richard the whiles away he wronge,
Thile[170] thai were alle dismayede. Richard went off
Towarde the Mountrible he hyed him faste, towards Mantrible.
To passe, if that he myghte. 2560 [leaf 64]
Thedir he came at the laste.
[p074 GUY IS MADE PRISONER.]
God kepe him for his mocħ myght!
His xij[171] felowes besyed hem̄ soo The others slay many
That many of hem̄ thay sloughe.[172] 2564 Saracens;
Gye slowe the kinge of Babyloyne tho;
The Babyloynes of his hors him drowe, but Guy, overpowered
And with force him drowe there by the Babylonians,
And bounde his hondes ful fast. 2568 is taken prisoner.
A newe game thai gan̄ him lere,
For in depe prison̄ thay him caste.
But Laban̄ wolde him first se,
To wete what he was. 2572
“Telle me thy name nowe” q«uo»d he, Laban asks his name.
“Thy songe shalle be ‘alas.’”—
“Sire” he saide “my name is Gye, Guy tells him.
I wole it never forsake. 2576
It were to me grete vilanye
An̄ othir name to take.”—
“O fals trayto«ur»” q«uo»d Laban̄,
“My doghtir, þat stronge hore, 2580
Hath me for-sake and the hath tan̄,
Thoᶙ shalte be honged therfore.” He is to be hanged.
Roulande made grete moone,
It wolde noon̄ other be. 2584
Homwarde thai gan̄ goon̄,
.iij.c Saresyns ther saye he, 300 Saracens crowding
That kepte the pace at the brigge-ende, near the gate of the
Armed wel in goode araye, 2588 castle, attempted to
That thai sholde not in wende, prevent the other
But be take or slayn̄ þat daye. peers from entering.
Roulande to his felowes saide:
“Beth alle of right gode chere! 2592
And we shal make hem alle afrayde,
E[rh] we go to oure soupere.”
There byganne a bykeringe bolde A fearful struggle
Of x Bachelers that tyde, 2596 begins.
[p075 BRYER IS SLAIN.]
Agayne iijc men̄ I-tolde,
That durste righte wel a-byde.
Tho was Durnedale set a werke, [leaf 65]
XL of hethen he sloughe, 2600
He spared neþe[rh] lewde ner clerke,
And Floripas the[rh]-of loughe.
The shotte, the caste was so stronge,
Syr Bryer was slayn̄ there 2604 Sir Bryer is killed.
With dartes, gauylokes and speres longe,
xx^{ti} on hym there were.
Roulande was woo and Olyue[rh],
Thay sloughen̄ alle that thai mette. 2608
Tho fledde the Turkes alle for fe[rh], At last the Saracens
Thay durste no longer lette take to flight.
And saide, thai we[rh] no men,
But develis abroken̄ oute of helle, 2612
“.iij. hundred of vs agayn̄ hem ten̄.
Oure lorde Mahounde hem qwelle!
XL of vs here be ascaped,
And hardde we be bistadde.”— 2616
“Who so wole of hem̄ more be iaped,
I holde him worsse than madde.”
Tho Roulande and Olyue[rh] The peers retire
Maden̄ grete woo and sorowe, 2620 inside the castle,
And token̄ the corps of Sir Bryere taking the corpse of
And beryed it on the morowe. Bryer with them.
Florip«e» asked Roulande anoone Floripas enquires
“Where is my loue Sir Gye?”— 2624 after Guy,
“Damesel” he saide “he is goon̄,
And therfore woo am I.”— and on hearing of his
“Alas” she saide “than am I dede, capture, begins to
Nowe Gye my lorde is slayn̄, 2628 lament despairingly.
Shall I neuer more ete brede
Tille that I may se him̄ agayn̄.”—
“Be stille” q«uo»d Roulande “and haue no
ca[rh], Roland promises to
We shal hym̄ haue ful wele. 2632 rescue Guy.
[p076 GUY IS GOING TO BE HANGED,]
Tomorowe wele we thiderward fa[rh]
With spere and shelde of stele.
But we bringe him to this Tou[rh]—
Leeve me elles no more— 2636
With victorye and grete honou[rh],
Or thay shalle abye it ful sore.” [leaf 66]
On the morowe, whan tha daye was clere,
Laban ordeynede Gye honged to be. 2640 On the following
He cleped forth Sir Tampere morning Laban orders
And badde him do make a Galowe tr«e», Sir Tamper to erect
“And set it even̄ by-fore the tou[rh], a gallows before
That þilke hore may him see; 2644 the castle, where
For by lord Mahounde of honou[rh], Floripas could see it.
This traito«u»r there shalle honged be.
Take withe the .iij. hundred knigħtes
Of Ethiopis, Indens and Ascopartes, 2648
That bene boolde and hardy to fight
With Wifles, Fauchons, Gauylokes[173] and
Dartes;
Leste þat lurdeynes come skulkynge oute,
For ever thay haue bene shrewes. 2652
Loke ech«e» of hem̄ haue sucħ a cloute,
That thay neuer ete moo Sewes.”
Forth thay wente with Sir Gye, Guy is led bound.
That bounde was as a thefe faste, 2656
Tille thay come the tow[rh] ful nye;
Thai rered the Galowes in haste.
Roulande perceyued here doynge
And saide “felows, let armes[174]! 2660 Roland calls his
I am ful gladde of here comynge, companions to arms.
Hem shall not helpe her charmes.”
Oute thai riden a wele gode spede, They rush forth.
Thai ix towarde hem alle. 2664
Florip witħ here maydyns toke gode hede,
Biholdinge over the tou[rh] walle.
Thai met first witħ Sir Tampe[rh],
[p077 BUT IS RESCUED BY ROLAND AND OLIVER.]
God gife him evelle fyne! 2668
Such a stroke lente hym Olyue[rh], Oliver cuts down Sir
He clefe him down̄ to the skyne. Tamper; Roland kills
Rouland bare the kinge of Ynde a king of India,
Ther with his spere frome his stede. 2672
.iiij. fote it passed his bak byhynde,
His herte blode þe[rh] didde he blede.
He caught the stede, he was ful goode,
And the swerde, þat the kinge hadde, 2676 takes his sword and
And rode to Gye, there he stode, horse, [leaf 67] and
And onbounde hym̄ and bade him be gladde. gives them to Guy,
And girde him witħ that goode swerde, having unbound him.
And lepen vppon̄ here stedes. 2680
“Be thou” he saide “righte nougħt a-ferde,
But helpe vs wightly at this nede.” They slay many
An hundred of hem sone thay slowe Saracens, and put the
Of the beste of hem alle; 2684 rest to flight.
The remen«au»nte a-way fast thay flowe,
That foule motte hem byfalle!
Rouland and his Felowes were glad
That Gye was safe in dede. 2688
Thay thanked god, that thay[175] him hadde
Gyfen thay«e»† sucħ grace to spede.
As thay wente towarde the Tou[rh], Retiring towards the
A litil bysyde the hye waye, 2692 castle,
Thai saugh comynge with grete vigou[rh] they see admiral
An hundred vppon̄ a laye.[176] Costroye and
Costroye ther was, the Admyra[l~l], the soudan’s
With vitaile grete plente, 2696 standard-bearer
And the stondarte of the Sowdon̄ Roial. escorting a great
Towarde Mauntrible riden̄ he, convoy, destined for
.iiij. Chariotes I-charged witħ flessh and
brede, the sultan, across a
And two othe[rh] with wyne, 2700 field near the high
Of divers colouris, yolowe, white and rede, road.
And iiij Somers of spicery fyne.
[p078 THE PEERS LAY HOLD OF A CONVOY.]