“With these meyne moste we shifte, 2704
To haue parte of here vitailes he[rh],
For therof us nedith by my thrifte.”—
“Howe, sires” he saide “god you see! Roland calls to them
We pray youe for youre curtesye, 2708
Parte of your Vitaile gr«a»unte me, to share the
For we may nother borowe ner bye.” provisions with them.
Tho spake Cosdroye, that Admyral,
“Ye gete none here for nogħt. 2712 Costroye refuses,
Yf ye oght chalenge in specia[l~l],
It most be dere I-boght.”—
“O gentil knightes” q«uo»d Olyuere,
“He is no felowe, þat wole haue alle.” 2716
“Go fortħ” q«uo»d the stondart, “thoᶙ
getist noon here,
Thy parte shalle be fulle smalle.”—
“Forsoth” q«uo»d Roulande “and shift we
wole, [leaf 68]
Gete the better, who gete maye! 2720
To parte with the nedy it is gode skille,
And so shalle ye by my faye.”
He rode to the Admyral witħ his swerde and is slain by
And gafe him suche a cloute, 2724 Roland.
No wonder thogħ he were aferde,
Both his eyȝen̄ braste oute.
Olyuere met withe the proude stondarde,
He smote him througħ the herte. 2728 Oliver kills the
That hade he for his rewarde; standard-bearer.
That wounde gan̄ sore smerte.
Thai were slayn̄, that wolde fight
Er durste bikure abyde. 2732
Thai forsoke her parte anoon̄ rigħt,
It lefte alle on̄ that on̄ side.
Forth thai drewen̄ þat vitaile The convoy is
Streight in-to the Toure. 2736 conveyed into the
There was no man̄ durst hem assayle castle.
For drede of here vigou[rh].
[p079 THE SOUDAN DEFIES HIS GODS.]
Florip«e» hem resceyved w«i»t«h» honou[rh]
And thanked Roulande fele sythe, 2740 Floripas thanks
That she saugħ Gye hir paramou[rh], Roland for bringing
That wolde she him qwite and kith«e». back Sir Guy,
Thai eten̄ and dronken and made hem gladde,
Hem neded ther aftyr fulle sore 2744
Of suche, as god hem sente hade,
I-nowe for iiij moonþes and more. and proposes that he
Florip saide to Roulande than, shall choose himself
“Ye moste chese you a love[177] 2748 a mistress from
Of alle my maydyns, white as swan̄.”— amongst her maidens.
Q«uo»d Rouland “þat were myscheve; But Roland refuses to
Oure lay wole not, þat we w«i»t«h» youe
dele, take any that is no
Tille that ye Cristyn̄ be made; 2752 Christian.
Ner of your play we wole not fele,
For than̄ were we cursed in dede.”
NOWE shall ye here of Laban̄. The soudan, on
Whan tidyngg«es» to him we[rh] comen̄, 2756 hearing such bad news,
Tho was he a fulle sory man̄.
Whan he herde, howe his vitaile were
nomen̄,
And howe his men were slayne,
And Gye was go safe hem̄ froo, 2760 [leaf 69]
He defyed Mahounde and Apolyne, again defies his gods,
Iubiter, Ascarot and Alcaron̄ also.
He co«m»maundede a fire to be digħt and threatens to
With picche and Brymston̄ to bren̄. 2764 throw them into the
He made a vowe with alle his mygħt, flames.
“Thai shal be caste ther-Inne!”
The prestes of he[rh] lawe ther-on̄,
Thai criden̄ oute for drede 2768
And saide “alas, what wole ye done?
The worse than moste ye spede!”
The Sowdon̄ made a grete othe
And swore by his hye trone, 2772
That though hem were never so lotħ,
[p080 RICHARD ARRIVES AT MANTRIBLE.]
Thai sholde be brente Ichon̄.
Tho came the bisshop«e» Cramadas But bishop Cramadas
And kneled bifore the Sowdon̄, 2776 kneels before him and
And charged him by the hye name Sathanas, appeases him.
To saven his goddes ychon̄:
“For if ye brenne youre goddes he[rh],
Ye wynnyn̄ her malison̄, 2780
Than wole no man do yoᶙ che[rh],
In feelde, Cite, ne[rh] in town̄.”
The Sowdon̄ was astonyed þan
And gan him sore repente 2784
Of the foly, that he bygan̄,
And els hade he be shente.
A thousande of Besaunt«es» he offred þaym
to, The soudan makes an
By counsail of sir Cramadas, 2788 offering of 1000
To please witħ his goddys tho, besants to his gods.
For fere of harde grace.
The Sowdone co«m»maunded eu«er»y daye
To assaile the tou[rh] witħ caste. 2792
But thay with-in gafe no«t» an Eye,
For thai wroghte in wast. When Richard arrived
NOWE speke we of Richarde of Normandy, as far as Mantrible,
That on message was sente, 2796 he found the bridge
Howe he spede and his meyne. barred by 24 chains,
Whan he to Mauntrible wente, and Alagolafre
He founde the brigge Ichayned sore; standing before it.
xxiiij^{ti} were ouere-drawen̄. 2800 [leaf 70]
Alagolofure stode there byfore,
That many a man hade slawene.
Whan Richard saugħ, ther was no gate, Determined not to
But by flagot the flode, 2804 leave his errand
His message wolde he not lete; unperformed, he knelt
His hors was botħ bigge and goode. down and commended
He kneled, bisechinge god of his grace, himself to God. A
To save him fro myschiefe. 2808 hind appears
A white hende he saugħ anoon̄ in þ«a»t
place,
[p081 RICHARD CROSSES THE RIVER AND OVERTAKES CHARLES.]
That swam̄ ove[rh] the cliffe. and swims across.
He blessed him in godis name Richard follows her,
And folowed the same waye 2812 and, passing over in
The gentil hende, þat was so tame, safety,
That on̄ þat othir side gan playe.
He thanked god fele syth«e»,
That him hade sente comforte. 2816
He hied him in his message swiþe, hurries on to
To speke witħ Charles his lorde. Charlemagne.
But I shalle yoᶙ telle of a trayto«ur»,
That his name was called Genelyne, 2820
He counseiled Charles for his honou[rh] Meanwhile Genelyn,
To turne homewarde ageyn̄. the traitor, had
He saide “the xij peres bene alle dede, advised Charles to
And ye spende your goode in vayne, 2824 retire to France,
And therfore dotħ nowe by my rede, because the 12 peers
Ye shalle see hem no more certeyn̄.” were all slain. The
The kinge bileved þat he saide, king believed him,
And homwarde gan he fare. 2828 and marched homeward,
He of his xij Dosiperes was sore dismayed, lamenting for his
His herte woxe right fulle of ca[rh]. peers. Richard
Rycharde of Normandy came prikande overtakes him, and is
And hertly to ride begane. 2832 recognised by Charles,
Kinge Charles aspyed him comande;
He c«om»maunded to abide eu«er»y man̄. who asks him about
“What tidingg«es»?” q«uo»d the kinge to
Richarde, the others. Richard
“Howe fare my felowes alle?” 2836 tells the king, how
“My lorde” he saide “god wote, ful harde, they are besieged
For thai be byseged with-in ston-walle, within the castle,
Abydynge youre helpe and you[rh]
socou[rh], and are waiting for
As men þat haue grete nede. 2840 his assistance.
For Ih«es»ues loue, kinge of honou[rh],
Thiderward ye yoᶙ spede!” Charles, vowing
“O Genelyne” q«uo»d the kinge, vengeance on
“Nowe knowe I thy treson̄, 2844 [leaf 71] Genelyn,
I shalle the qwite, be seynte Fremounde,
[p082 CHARLES MARCHES TO AGREMORE.]
Whan̄ this viage is don̄.”
The kinge turned him ageyn̄, turned and marched to
And alle his Ooste him witħ, 2848 Agremore.
Towarde Mountrible certeyne.
And[178] gr«a»unte him gree and grith!
Richarde him tolde of that place,
Howe stronge it was I-holde 2852 Richard informed him
With a geaunte foule of face, of the giant, who
The brigge hath chayned many folde; kept the bridge,
The River was both depe and brode,
Ther myght no man̄ over-ryde. 2856 and how he had passed
“The last tyme that I over-rode, the river by a
By myracle I passed þat tide. miracle.
Therfore sir, I shal yoᶙ telle,
Howe ye mote governe yoᶙ here. 2860
In yonde wode ye moste dwelle He proposed a plan,
Priuely in this mane[rh], that 12 knights
And xij of vs shalle vs araye disguised as
In gyse of stronge marchauntes, 2864 merchants, with
And fille oure somers withe fog and haye,
To passe the brigge Currauntes.
We shalle be armed vnder the cote their arms hidden
With goode swerdes wele I-gyrde, 2868 under their clothes,
We moste paye tribute, wele I wote, should pay the toll,
And elles over we may not sterte. and the bridge being
But whan̄ the chaynes be lete down̄ let down,
Ouer ther for to passe, 2872
Than wole I, þat ye come on̄,
In haste to that same place.
Whan̄ I see tyme for to come,
Than̄ shalle I my horne blowe. 2876 should blow a horn
Loke, ye be redy alle and some, as a signal for the
For that sha[l~l] ye welle knowe.” others to approach.
Forth thay wente in þat araye They start and arrive
To Mountrible, that Cite. 2880 at Mantrible.
[p083 THE BRIDGEWARD OF MANTRIBLE REFUSES TO LET THEM PASS.]
Alagolofu[rh] to hem̄ gan seye, Alagolafre asks
“Felawes, wheder wole ye?” whither they are
Richarde spake to the geaunte going.
And saide “towarde the Sowdon̄, 2884 Richard says, they
With dyu[e]rs chaffe[rh] as trewe
marchaunte, are merchants on
We purpose for to goon̄, their way to the
To shewen him of pellu[rh] and
Gryse,[179] Soudan,
Orfrays of Perse Imperyalle, 2888 [leaf 72]
We wole the yefe tribute of assaye and they are willing
To passe by lycence in especya[l~l].” to pay the toll.
“Licence gete ye noon̄ of me,[180] Alagolafre refuses to
I am charged that noone sha[l~l] passe, 2892 let them pass, and
For x lurdeyns of Fraunce were he[rh]; tells them about the
God yefe hem evell grace! 10 knights, who had
Thay passed this way to Egramou[rh]; passed there and done
Thay haue done the Sowdon̄ grete tene, 2896 so much mischief to
Thay have wonne his toure and his
tresou[rh], the Soudan;
And yet holde thai it, I wene.
Wherfo[rh], felawes, I arest yoᶙ alle, therefore he will
Tille I knowe, what þat ye bene.” 2900 arrest them all.
Sire Focarde brayde oute his swerde
witħ-alle, Sir Focard draws his
Wel sore he gan to tene sword and
And saide “fye on̄ the Sarasyne!
For alle thy grete harde hede 2904
Shaltow never drinke wat«er» ner wyne,
By god! thou shalte be dede.”
He smote at him witħ egre chere smites at him.
But he gafe thereof right nought. 2908
“Alas” q«uo»d Richard “thou combrest vs
he[rh],
By god, that me de[rh] hatħ boghte.”
The cheynes yet we[rh] alle faste,
The geaunte wexe nere wode, 2912
Richard blewe his horne in haste, Richard blows his
That was both shrille and goode. horn, and Charles
Kinge Charles hied him anoon̄ advances.
[p084 ALAGOLAFRE AND BARROCK ARE SLAIN.]
Towarde the brigge so longe; 2916
The Geaunte faught with hem̄ alone,
He was so harde and stronge.
With a Clo[g|] of an̄ Oke he faugħt, Alagolafre fights
That was wele bound with stele. 2920 them with a great oak
He slough al þat eve[rh] he raugħt, club.
So stronge was his dinte to dele. Richard seizes a bar
Richard raught him witħ a bar[rh] of bras, of brass and knocks
That he caught at the gate. 2924 him down.
He brake his legges, he cryed “alas”
And felle alle che[k|]-mate.
Loude than̄ gan̄ he to yelle;
Thay herde him yelle througħ þat Cite, 2928
Like the grete develle of helle,
And saide “Mahounde, nowe helpe me!” [leaf 73]
iiij men him caught the[rh], 4 men get hold of him
So hevy he was and longe, 2932 and throw him into
And cast him ouer in-to the rive[rh]. the river.
Chese he, whither[181] he wolde swy«m»me
or gon[g|]! They loosened the
Anoon̄ thay brast the Chaynes alle, chains;
That ouer the brigge were I-drawe. 2936
The Saresyns ronnen̄ to the walle, but, the Saracens
Many Cristen̄ men were the[rh] I-slawe. assembling on the
Than came forth Dam barro[k|], the bolde, walls of the city,
With a sith«e» large and kene, 2940 many Christians were
And mewe a-down̄ as þikke as shepe in slain. Alagolafre’s
folde, wife, Barrock the
That came byforne hir by-dene. giantess, comes on
This Barro[k|] was a geaunesse, with her scythe and
And wife she was to Astragote, 2944 mows down all whom
She did the Cristen̄ grete distresse, she meets.
She felled downe alle þat she smote.
There durst no man hire sithe abyde,
She grenned like a develle of helle. 2948
Kinge Charles with a quarel þat tide Charles dashes out
Smote hir, that she lowde gan̄ yelle, her brains,
[p085 CHARLES IS SHUT IN IN THE TOWN.]
Euer[182] the founte througħ-oute the
brayn̄;
That cursede fende fille down̄ dede. 2952
Many a man hade she there slayn̄,
Might she never aftyr ete more brede!
Charles entred in the firste warde and with 15 knights
With xv knightis and no moo; 2956 enters the outer gate
Of hym his oste toke no garde, of the town,
He wende his oste hade entred also. thinking his army
The Sarysyns ronne to the gate, would follow him.
And shet it wonder faste. 2960 But the gate was
Charles men̄ come to late; instantly closed upon
Tho was Charles sore agaste. him, and his men came
Betwene two wardes he was shit, too late.
Defende he him if he can̄! 2964
The Sarysyns with him thay mette, Charles was in great
Grete parel was he in than̄. danger;
Tho Genelyne saie, the kinge was inne but Genelyn, seeing
And the yates faste I-stoke, 2968 him shut in,
Ther myght no man̄ to him wynne,
So was he faste witħ-inne I-loke,
To his frendes he gan speke
And saide “the kinge is dede, 2973 [leaf 74] exclaimed
And alle xij peres eke. that the king and
On peyne” said he “to lese my«n» hede, the 12 peers were
Let vs hye to Fraunce warde! dead, and proposed to
For I wele be crownede kinge, 2976 retire, as he wished
I shalle yoᶙ alle wele rewarde, to be king himself.
For I wole spare for no thinge.”
Anoon̄ thay assented to Genelyne,
Thay saugh, ther was no bett«er» rede. 2980
The Frenssh men̄ drewe hem̄ al ayene, They are going to
Thay wende the kinge hade bene dedde. return,
Tho Ferumbras witħ his meyne than̄ but Ferumbras
Came for to seke the kinge, 2984
And saugh hem turne eu«er»y man̄;
[p086 CHARLES IS RESCUED BY FERUMBRAS.]
Him thought, it was a wondir thin[g|].
“Where is the kinge?” q«uo»d Ferumbras.
Q«uo»d Genelyne “with-in the walle, 2988
Shaltowe neue[rh] more seen̄ his face!”
“God gyf the an̄ yvel falle!
Turne agayne, thoᶙ traytoure! calls him a traitour,
And helpe to reskowe thy lorde. 2992
And ye, sires, alle for you[rh]
honou[rh]!” rallies the French,
Thay turned agayne with that worde.
Ferumbras with axe in honde, and with his axe
Myghtyly brake up the gate, 2996 bursts open the gate.
Ther myght laste him noon̄ yron̄ bonde,
He hade ne[rh]-honde I-come to late.
The kinge hadde fought so longe witħ-ynne,
That onnethe myght he no more. 3000
Many ther were abouten̄ him,
His men̄ were wounded ful sore.
Ferumbras came with gode spede,
He made the Sarasyns to fle. 3004 He chased the
He reskowed the kinge at his nede, Saracens and rescued
XL Sarasyns sone killed he. the king.
Thai ronnen a-weye by every side,
Thai durste nowhe[rh] rowte. 3008
In shorte tyme was falled her pride,
Thay caught many a sore cloute.
That Cite was wo«n»ne that same daye, Mantrible is taken,
And every tou[rh] ther-ynne 3012
Of Mountreble, þat was so gaye,
For alle he[rh] soubtile gynne, [leaf 75]
Fulle of tresou[rh] and richesse, with all its engines
Of Siluer and goolde and per[rh], 3016 and treasures.
And clothes of goolde, wroght of
Saresynes,
Of riche aray and roialte. Richard found 2
Richarde, Duke of Normandy, children of 7 months
Founde ij Children of .vij. monþes
oolde,[183] 3020 old and
[p087 HE HURRIES ON TO AGREMORE.]
xiiij fote longe we[rh] thay, 4 feet high.
Thay we[rh] Barrakes so«n»nes so boolde; They were sons of
Bygote thay we[rh] of Astragot. Barrock, begotten by
Grete joye the kinge of he«m» hade. 3024 Astragot.
Hethen̄ thay we[rh] botħ, wele I wote,
Therfore hem̄ to be cristenede he bade. Charles caused them
He called þat one of hem Roulande, to be baptized, and
And that other he cleped Olyue[rh]: 3028 called the one Roland
“For thai shalle be myghty men of honde.” and the other Oliver.
To kepen̄ hem, he was fulle chere.
Thay myght not leve, her Dam was dede; But they soon died
Thai coude not kepe hem fortħ. 3032
Thai wolde neyþer ete butt«er» nere brede,
Ner no men̄[184] was to hem worthe.
He[rh] Da«m»mes mylke they lakked the[rh], for want of their
Thay deyden for defaute of here dam. 3036 mother’s milk.
Kinge Charles made hevy che[rh],
And a sory man̄ was than.
The kinge lete ordeyne anoon̄,
The Cite to be gouerne[d+] 3040
Of the worthyest of hem̄ ychon̄,
That weren of wer[rh] best lerne[d+].
Duke Richarde of Normandy, The king appoints
He was made chief gou«er»nou[rh]; 3044 Richard governor of
And ij C with him in hys company the city,
To kepe the brigge and tou[rh].
Fortħ he rode to laban̄ than̄, and hurries on
With his Ooste and Si[rh] Ferumbras. 3048 to Agremore with
A spye to the Sowdon̄ fast ran his army and with
And tolde him al that cas, Ferumbras.
How Charles was come with his ost,
And Mountrible hade he wonne, 3052
“Alagolofur slayn̄ is for alle his bost,
This game was evel begon̄.”
Whane laban herde of his comynge,
[p088 FLORIPAS RECOGNISES THE FRENCH BANNER.]
Him thought his herte gan breke. 3056
“Shalle I never be withoute moornynge, [leaf 76]
Tille I of him be wreke.”
He co«m»maunded to blowe his Claryons
To assemble alle his Ooste. 3060
His counsaile to him he lete calle
And tolde, how kinge Charles was in þat
coost, Laban, being told by
Hadde wonne Mountrible and slayn̄ his men a spy that his city
“And dishirytħ to disheryte me, 3064 was taken and the
And proudely manessith me to fleen̄, bridge-ward killed,
Or drive me oute of this contr«e».
Me mervaylythe moch of his pride.
By Mahounde, moost of mygħt! 3068
Ye and my sone withe him doth ride,
To the develle I hem bedigħt.
But I be venget of hem both swears to avenge him.
And honge hem̄ on a tree, 3072
To myghty Mahounde I make myne othe,
Shalle I never Joyfulle be.
Therfore I charge yoᶙ in alle wyse He calls a council,
That thay be taken or slayn̄. 3076 and charges his
Thane shalle I py«n»ne heme at my gyse barons to take
And don̄ hem alle qwike be flayn̄.” Charles alive that
On the morowe, whan it was day, he might flay him.
Kinge Charles was in the felde, 3080 Charles approaches.
Byfore Agremou[rh] in riche aray
On stede witħ spe[rh] and sheelde.
Floripe lay on the tou[rh] on̄ hye Floripas first
And knewe the bane[rh] of Fraunce. 3084 recognises the banner
To Roulande she gan faste crye of France
Tidynges of goode chaunce:
“Kinge Charles is comen and Ferumbras, and tells the others.
Here baners botħ I do see, 3088
With alle her oste yonde[rh] in þat place;
Welcome to vs thay alle be.”
Roulande and Olyuere
[p089 CHARLES DISMOUNTS LABAN AND LEADS HIM TO AGREMORE.]
Arayed hem for to ride; 3092 Roland and all his
And here felawes alle in fe[rh], companions sally
To Charles thay gon̄ that tyde. forth to meet
Laban come forth with his mayne, Charlemagne. Laban
Saresyns, that were ful felle, 3096 draws up all his
Turkes, Indens, and Arabye people
Ye and of the Ethiopes like the develes of
helle.
There were stronge wardes sette [leaf 77]
By ordynaunce of dyuers batayle. 3100 in battle-order.
Whan thay to geder were met,
Eythir othir sore gan̄ assayle.
Ther were Saresyns al to-hewe; The French make a
Roulande sloughe many one. 3104 great slaughter of
Thay lay so thikke dede on rewe, the Saracens.
That onneþe myghte men ride or goon̄.
Kinge Charles met with Laban̄ Charles encounters
And bare him down̄ of his stede, 3108 the Soudan, unhorses
He lighted down̄ and ceased him than̄, him,
He thought to qwite him his mede.
He brayde oute Mown̄joye wytħ gode wille
And wolde have smeten of his hede, 3112 and would have cut
Ferumbras prayde him to abyde stille,
To crysten̄ him, er he we[rh] dede. off his head, but
The Saresyns saughe Laban take, for Ferumbras, who
Thay fledden̄ away fulle faste. 3116 requested that
Lenger durste thay no maistryes make, his father might
Thai were so sore agaste. be baptized. The
The Cristen̄ hem chased to and fro, Saracens, seeing
As a grehounde doth the hare. 3120 Laban a prisoner,
.iij. c. ascaped with moche woo, fly; but the
To Belmore gan thay fa[rh]. Christians pursue
Kinge Charles ladde Laban̄ them. 300 escaped to
In-to Agremou[rh] Cite. 3124 Belmarine. Charles
And whan̄ þat he the[rh] came leads Laban to
A ful sory man was he. Agremore. Floripas
His doghter welcomed him welcomes her father,
[p090 FLORIPAS BRINGS OUT THE SACRED RELICS.]
W«i»t«h» right gode che[rh].[185] 3128
He loked on hir al grymme, but he is enraged at
As he wode wroth we[rh], seeing her.
And saide “fye on the, stronge hore,
Mahounde confounde the!” 3132
Charles saide “here-of no more,
But let us nowe mery be!”—
“Sir” she saide thanne, She then bids
“Welcome ye be into this tou[rh]! 3136 Charlemagne welcome,
Here I presente to you, as I can, and presents the holy
Relikes of grete honou[rh], relics to him.
That were at Rome I-wonnen̄
And broght into this halle. 3140
That game was evel bygo«n»nen̄,
It sithen rewed us alle.” [leaf 78]
Kinge Charles kneled adown̄
To kisse the Relikes so goode, 3144 Charles kisses them,
And badde the[rh] an̄ oryson̄ and says a prayer;
To that lorde, þat deyde on̄ rode. he then thanks
And þanked Floripe witħ al his herte, Floripas for her
That she hade saued his meyne 3148 assistance to his
And holpe hem oute of peynes smerte knights, and for
And kepte the Relekes so fre. having preserved the
Kinge Charles did calle bisshop«e» Turpyn̄ precious relics. He
And bade him ordeyne a grete fat, 3152 orders Turpin to
To baptyse the Sowdon̄ yne; prepare a vessel,
“And loke what he shalle hat. wherein to baptize
Unarme him faste and bringe him ne[rh], the Soudan
I shal his godfader be. 3156
Fille it fulle of wate[rh] cle[rh],
For Baptysed shalle he be.
Make him naked as a Childe,
He moste plunge ther-inne. 3160
For now most he be meke and mylde, and to wash off his
And I-wassh awaye his synne.” sin in the water.
[p091 LABAN IS SLAIN, AND FLORIPAS WEDDED TO GUY.]
Turpyn toke him by the honde Turpin leads Laban to
And ladde him to the fonte. 3164 the font,
He smote the bisshope witħ a bronde but the Soudan
And gaf him an evel bronte. strikes at him,
He spitted in the water cle[rh] spits on the vessel,
And cryed oute on hem alle, 3168 utters invectives
And defied alle þat cristen̄ we[rh]. against all
That foule mote him by-falle! Christians,
“Ye and thoᶙ, hore serpentyne,
And that fals cursed Ferumbras, 3172 and curses Ferumbras.
Mahounde gyfe hem botħ evel endyn[g|],
And almyghty Sathanas!
By you came all my sorowe,
And al my tresure for-lorne. 3176
Honged be ye both er tomorowe!
In cursed tyme were ye born̄.”
Ferumbras saide to the kinge,
“Sir, ye see, it wole not be, 3180
Lete him take his endynge,
For he loueth not Cristyante.”
“Duke Neymes” q«uo»d Charles tho, Charles commands
“Loke þat execucion̄ be don̄, 3184 Naymes to cut off his
Smyte of his hedde! god gyfe him woo! head. [leaf 79]
And goo we to mete anoone.”
It was done as the kinge co«m»maunde, He is executed; his
His soule was fet to helle, 3188 soul goes to hell,
To daunse in þat sory lande there to dance with
With develes, þat we[rh] ful felle. devils.
Dame Florip was Baptysed than̄
And here maydyns alle, 3192 Floripas was baptized
And to Sir Gye I-maryed. with all her maidens,
The Barons honoured hir alle. and wedded to Guy.
Alle the londe of Spayne Charles divided Spain
Kinge Charles gyfe hem̄ two, 3196 between Guy and
To departe bitwyxt hem twayne, Ferumbras,
Ferumbras and Gȳ also.
[p092 CHARLES RETURNS TO FRANCE.]
And so thay livede in ioye and game,
And brethern̄ both thay we[rh], 3200
In pees and wer[rh] both I-same,
The[rh] durste no man̄ hem de[rh].
Kinge Charles turned home agayn̄
Towarde his contr«e», 3204
He charged Sir Brye[rh] of Bretayne and charges Sir Bryer
His tresoure[rh] for to be: of Bretayne to take
To kepe the Relikes of grete pris care of the relics,
And his other tresou[rh], 3208 and to bring all his
And bringe hem safe to Parys, treasure to Paris.
There to a-bide in store.
He saide “farewell, Sir Ferumbras,
Ye and Gye, my dere frende! 3212 After taking leave of
And thy wyf Dame Floripas! Guy and Floripas,
For to Fraunce nowe wole I wende.
Be ye togeder as breth[e]rn̄ botħ!
No man̄ ye neditħ to drede, 3216
Be ye nevere to-gedere wrotħ,
But eyther helpe othir at his nede.
Vysityth me, whan̄ ye haue space;
In-to Fraunce makitħ your disporte, 3220
God wole you sende the bett«er» grace,
In age to do me comforte.”
Thai toke leve of the kinge,
With ful hevy che[rh], 3224
And turned agayn̄ botħ mornynge,
With wepynge water cle[rh].
Kinge Charles with the victory he sails to Mounpeler,
Sailed to Mou«n»peleres, 3228
And thanked almyghty god in glorye, [leaf 80] where he
That he hade saued his Dosiperes, thanks God for the
And fende him of the Saresynes victory,
The hyer honde to have, 3232
For alle here strenghe[186] and he[rh]
Engynes
[p093 GENELYN IS HANGED AT PARIS.]