vous commanderez.” “Dame,” fait Gallehault, “grant mercy. Je vous
prie que vous luy donnez vostre amour, et le retenez pour vostre
cheuallier a tousiours, et deuenez sa loyalle dame toute vostre vie
| et vous le aurez fait plus riche que se vo{us} luy auiez donne
tout le monde.”
[Sidenote: She promises to be Lancelot’s, and that she will do
everything she is told.]
“Certes,” faict elle, “ie luy ottroye que il soyt mien | et moy
toute sienne, et que par vous soyent amendez tous les meffaitz.”
“Dame,” faict Gallehault, “grant mercy. Or conuient il commencement
de seruice;” “Vous ne deuiserez riens,” fait la royne, “que ie ne
face.”
[Sidenote: “Then kiss Lancelot before me,” says Galiot.]
“Dame,” faict il, “grant mercy | donc baisez le deuant moy pour
commencement de vrayes amours.”
[Sidenote: This Guinevere agrees to do, if Lancelot wishes it.]
“Du baiser,” faict elle, “ie ne voy ne lieu ne temps | et ne doubtez
pas,” faict elle, “que ie ne le voulsisse faire aussi voullentiers
quil feroit | mais ces dames sont cy qui mo{u}lt se merueillent
q{ue} no{us} auons tant fait, si ne po{ur}royt estre que ilz ne le
vissent. Nompourtant, se il veult, ie le baiseray voullentiers.” Et
il en est si ioyeulx que il ne peult respondre si non tant quil
dict.
[Sidenote: Galiot says there is no doubt about Lancelot’s wish;]
“Dame,” faict il, “grant mercy” | “dame,” faict Gallehault, “de son
vouloir nen doubtez ia | Car il est tout vostre, bien le saichez, ne
ia nul ne sen apperceuera; Nous troys serons ensemble ainsi comme se
nous conseillions” | “Dequoy me feroye ie pryer” | faict elle |
“plus le vueil ie que vous.” Lors se trayent a part, et font
semblant de conseiller.
[Sidenote: and as he is bashful, the Queen takes him by the chin, and
kisses him before Galiot. (The Lady of Mallehault sees her.)]
La Royne voyt que le cheuallier nen ose plus faire, si le prent par
le menton, et baise deuant Gallehault assez longuement. Et la dame
de Mallehauli (_sic_) sceut de vray que elle le baisoyt. Lors parla
la Royne qui moult estoyt sage & vaillant dame.
[Sidenote: Guinevere tells Lancelot that she is his, but charges him to
keep the matter secret, and Galiot too.]
“Beau doulx amy,” faict elle, “tant auez faict que ie suys vostre;
Et moult en ay grant ioye. Or gardez que la chose soyt celee. Car
mestier en est. Je suys une des Dames du monde dont len a greigneur
bien dict, Et se ma renommee empiroyt par vous, il y auroyt layde
amour et villaine | et vous, Gallehault, ie vous prye que mon
honneur gardez | Car vous estes le plus saige | Et se mal men
venoyt, ce ne seroyt si non par vous; Et se ien ay bien et ioye,
vous me lauez donnee.”
[Sidenote: Galiot promises this, and asks Guinevere to make Lancelot his
companion for ever.]
“Dame,” faict Gallehault, “il ne pourroyt vers vous mesprendre, et
ien ay bien faict ce que vous me commandastes. Or vous prye que
faciez ma voulente ainsi comme iay fait la vostre;” “Dictes,” fait
elle, “tout ce quil vo{us} plaira hardyment | car vous ne me
scauriez chose comma{n}der que ie ne face.” “Dame,” faict il, “donc
mauez vous ottroye que ie seray son compaignon a tousiours.”
“Certes,” fait elle, “se de ce vo{us} failloit, vous auriez mal
employe la peine que vous auez prinse pour luy et pour moy.”
[Sidenote: She takes Lancelot’s hand, gives him to Galiot, and says she
has given him Lancelot of the Lake, son of King Ban.]
Lors prent le cheuallier par la main, et dict. “Gallehault, ie vous
donne ce cheualier a tousiours sans ce que iay auant eu, et vous le
me creancez ainsi” | et aussi le cheualier luy creance | “scauez
vous,” fait elle, “Gallehault, que ie vous ay donne lancelot du lac,
le filz au roy ban de benoic;” Ainsi luy a fait le cheualier
congnoistre, qui moult en a grant honte.
[Sidenote: This gives Galiot more joy than ever he had before, as he had
often heard how Lancelot was the gallantest knight in the world.]
Lors a gallehault greigneure ioye quil neust oncq{ue}s | car il
auoit maintesfois ouy dire, comme parolles vont, que cestoyt le
meilleur cheualier et le plus preux du monde, et bien scauoit que le
roy ban auoit este moult gentil ho{m}me, et moult puissant de amys
et de terre.
++AInsi fut faicte la premiere acointance de la royne et de lancelot
par gallehault | et Gallehault ne lauoit oncques congneu que de
veue, et pource luy fait creancer q{u}il ne luy demanderoit son nom
tant quil luy dist, ou autre po{ur} luy. Lors se leuerent tous
troys, et il anuytoit durement.
[Sidenote: By the bright moonlight they recross the meads towards
Lancelot’s tent, and Galiot sends Lancelot there, while he conducts the
Queen to Arthur’s tent, and tells him they have only been looking at the
fields by themselves.]
Mais la lune estoyt leuee, si faisoit cler | Si que elle luysoyt par
toute la praerie | Lors sen retournerent a vne part contrement les
prez droit vers le tref le cheualier, & le seneschal et gallehault
vint apres luy & les dames ta{n}t q{u}ilz vindre{n}t endroit les
te{n}tes de gallehault. Lors enuoya Gallehault son compaignon a son
tref, et prent co{n}ge de la royne, et gallehault la conuoye iusques
au tref du Roy. Et qua{n}t le roy les veyt, si demanda dont ilz
venoyent. “Sire,” fait Gallehault, “nous uenons de veoir ces pres a
si peu de compaignie comment vo{us} veez.” Lors se assient, et
parlent de plusieurs choses; si sont la Royne et Gallehault moult
ayses.
++AV chef de piece se leua la royne, et sen alla en la bretesche;
gallehault la conuoya iusq{ue}s la.
[Sidenote: Galiot sees the Queen to her tower, and then takes leave of
Arthur and of Gawain, and goes to Lancelot’s bed.]
Puis la comma{n}de a dieu, et dist quil sen yroit gesir auec son
compaignon. “Bien auez fait,” dit la royne, “il en sera plus ayse” |
A tant sen part gallehault, et vient au roy prendre congie, et dist
quil ne luy desplaise, et que il yra gesir auec les gens pource quil
ny auoyt geu de grant piece, et dist. “Sire, ie me doibz pener de
faire leur voulente | car ilz me ayment moult.” “Sire,” fait messire
gauuain, “vo{us} dictes bien, et len doit bien honnorer telz
preudhommes q{u}i les a.” Lors sen part gallehault et vient a son
compaignon; Ilz se coucherent to{us} deux en vng lict, et deviserent
la une piece. Si nous laisserons ores a parler de gallehault & de
son compaignon, et dirons de la royne qui est venu en la bretesche.
[Sidenote: Queen Guinevere goes to the window to think, and the Lady of
Mallehault asks her why four are bad company.]
++QVa{n}t gallehault fut party, la royne sen alla en vne fenestre,
et comme{n}ce a penser a ce que plus luy plaisoyt. La dame de
mallehault saprocha delle quant elle la vit seulle, et luy dist le
plus priueement que elle peut. “Haa, dame! pourquoy ne est bonne la
compaignie de quatre?”
[Sidenote: At first Guinevere will not hear this, but the Lady repeats
it; the Queen asks why she says it, and the Lady asks pardon, as perhaps
she has said too much.]
La royne le ouyst bien, si ne dit mot, et fait semblant q{ue} riens
nen ouyt. Et ne demoura gueres q{ue} la dame dist celle parolle
mesmes; la royne lapella et dist. “Dame, pourquoy auez ce dit?”
“Dame,” fait elle, “pardonnez moi, ie nen diray ores plus | car par
aduenture en ay plus dit que a moy napartient | & le{n} ne se doit
mi faire plus priuee de sa dame que len est | car tost en acquiert
on hayne.”
[Sidenote: “No,” says Guinevere, “speak boldly out; I wish it.”]
“Si maist dieu,” fait la royne, “vous ne me po{ur}riez rie{n}s dire
do{n}t vous eussiez ma haine | ie vous tiens tant a saige et a
courtoyse, que vous ne diriez riens qui fust encontre ma voulente |
Mais dictes hardyment | Car ie le vueil, et si vous en prie.”
[Sidenote: “Then I must say that I think four very good company. I saw
the new acquaintance you made to-day, and know he is the man who loves
you most in the world.]
“Dame,” fait elle, “donc le vous diray ie | Je dy que moult est
bonne la compaignie de quatre; Jay huy veu nouueau accointement
q{ue} vous auez faict au cheuallier qui parla a vous la bas en ce
vergier. Et scay bien que cest la personne du mo{n}de qui plus vous
ayme, et vous ne auez pas tort se vous laymez | car vous ne pourriez
vostre amour mieulx employer;” “Comment,” fait la royne, “le
congnoissez vous?”
[Sidenote: I kept him a year and a half in prison, and gave him both the
red and the black arms in which he won the tourneys;]
“Dame,” fait elle, “telle heure a este ouen que ie vous en eusse
bien peu faire refus comme vous en pouez ores faire a moy | car ie
lay tenu vng an et demy en prison. Cest celluy qui vaincquit
lassemblee aux armes vermeilles | & celle de deuant hier aux armes
noires, les vnes & les autres luy baillay ie; Et quant il fut auant
hier sur la riuiere pensif, et ie luy voulu mander q{ue} il fist
vaillamment armes, ie ne le faisoye sinon pour ce que ie esperoye
quil vous aymast; si cuydoye telle heure fust que il me aymast |
[Sidenote: and I thought then that he loved me, but he soon undeceived
me.”]
Mais il me mist tost hors de cuyder, tant me descouurit de son
penser.” Lors luy compta co{m}ment elle lauoyt tenu en prison an et
demy | et pourquoy elle lauoit prins.
[Sidenote: The Queen answers, “But tell me why four are better company
than three.”]
“Or me dictes,” fait la royne, “quelle compaignie vault mieulx de
quatre que de troys | car mieulx est vne chose celee par trois que
par quatre.” “Certes non est cy endroit, et si vo{us} diray.
[Sidenote: “Because, though your knight loves you, he loves Galiot too,
and they will not stay here long, but you will; and if you have no one
else to tell your thought to, you will be forced to keep your faith to
yourself; but if you will let me be a fourth, we can comfort one
another.”]
Vray est que le cheualier vous ayme, et aussi fait il gallehault, et
desormais se confortero{n}t lung lautre en quelque terre quilz
soient. Car icy ne sero{n}t ilz pas longuement: et vous demourerez
cy toute seule, et ne le scaura nul fors vous | ne si ne aurez a qui
descouurir vostre pensee, si porterez ainsi vostre faix toute seulle
| mais sil vo{us} pleust que ie fusse la quarte en la compaignie
entre nous deux dames, nous solacierons ainsi co{m}me entre eulx
deux cheualiers feront, si en seriez plus aise.” “Scauez vous,” fait
la royne, “qui est le cheuallier?” “Se maist dieu,” fait la dame,
“nen{n}y.” “Vous auez bien ouy co{m}ment il se couurit vers moy.”
[Sidenote: Queen Guinevere agrees to this with great joy, and tells the
Lady that the knight is Lancelot of the Lake.]
“Certes,” faict la royne, “moult estes apparceuante, et moult
conuiendroit estre sage qui vous vouldroit rien embler, & puis que
ainsi est que vous lauez aperceu, et que vous me requerez la
compagnie, vous laurez | mais ie vueil que vous portez vostre faix
ainsi co{m}me ie feray le mie{n}.” “Dame,” faict elle, “ie feray ce
que il vous plaira, pour ci haulte compaignie auoir.” “En verite,”
faict la royne, “vous laurez | car meilleure compaignie que vous ne
pourroye ie mye auoir,” “Dame,” fait elle, “nous serons ensemble
toutes les heures quil vous plaira.” “Jen suys ioyeuse,” faict la
Royne. “Et no{us} affermerons demain la compaignie de nous quattre.”
Lors luy compte de Lancelot, comment il auoyt ploure quant il
regarda deuers elle, “et ie scay que il vous congneut, et saichez
que cest lancelot du lac, le meilleur cheuallier qui viue.” Ainsi
parlerent longuement entre elles deux | et font moult grant ioye de
le{ur} accointement nouueau.
[Sidenote: At night the ladies sleep together, and talk of their new
loves, the Lady of Mallehault saying that she never loved but one, and
then only in thought (and that was Lancelot).]
Icelle nuyct ne souffrit oncques la Royne de logres que la dame de
mallehault geust sinon auec elle | mais elle y geut a force. Car
elle doubtoyt moult de gesir auec si riche dame; Quant elles furent
couchees si commencerent a parler de leurs nouuelles amours; La
royne demanda a la dame de mallehault selle a[y]me nulluy par
amours, et elle luy dict que nenny. “Saichez, dame, que ie naymay
oncques que vne foys, ne de celle amour ne fis ie que penser;” et ce
dit elle de lancelot, quelle auoit tant ayme co{m}me femme pourroit
aymer homme mortel | Mais elle nen auoit oncques aultre ioye eue,
non pourtant ne dit pas que ce eust il este.
[Sidenote: The Queen thinks she will make the Lady and Galiot fall in
love with one another.]
La royne pensa quelle feroyt ses amours de elle et de gallehault,
mais elle nen veult parler iusques a ta{n}t quelle scaura de
gallehault sil la veult aymer ou non | car autrement ne len
requerroit elle pas.
[Sidenote: Next morning they go to Arthur’s tent and wake him, and then
return over the meadows where the meeting with Lancelot took place, and
the Queen tells the Lady of Mallehault all about it, and then praises
Galiot as the wisest and best man in the world.]
Lendemain se leuerent matin elles deux, & allerent au tref du roy,
qui gisoit la pour faire a monseigneur gauuain et aux aultres
cheualiers compaignie. La royne sesueilla, & dist, “que moult estoyt
mauluais qui a ceste heure dormoyt.” Lors se tournerent contreual
les prez, et dames et damoyselles auec elles. Et ils allerent la ou
laccointement damours auoyt este faict, et dict la Royne a la dame
de mallehault toute laccointance de lancelot | et comme il estoit
esbahy deuant elle, et riens ne luy laissa a dire. Puis commenca a
louer gallehault, et dit que cestoit le plus saige homme et le plus
vertueulx du monde; “Certes,” fait elle, “ie luy compteray
lacointance de nous deux quant il viendra, et sachez que il en aura
gra{n}t ioye. Or allo{n}s | car il ne demourra gueres quil ne
viengne.”
The rubric of the next chapter is as follows:
[Sidenote: How Galiot became acquainted with the Lady of Melyhalt.]
¶ Co{m}me{n}t la premiere acointa{n}ce fut faicte de gallehault et
de la dame de malehault p{ar} le moye{n} de la royne de logres. Et
comme{n}t lancelot & gallehault sen alloie{n}t esbatre et deuiser
auec leurs dames.
It relates how Queen Guinevere requires Galiot to let her dispose of his
love as he had disposed of hers. To this he consents, and she commends
him to the Lady of Mallehault. Next, they arrange for the promised
_parlement de eulx quatre_; and the queen points out to Lancelot the
lady who had so many a day kept him in prison, i.e., the Lady of
Mallehault. At recognizing his old acquaintance, Lancelot feels somewhat
distressed, but is reassured by observing the new love-making between
her and Galiot. Seated in a wood, the four “demourerent grant piece, ne
oncq{ue}s ne tindrent parolles, fors tant seullement de accoller & de
baiser comme ceulx qui voulentiers le faisoyent.”
We next hear of Gawain’s recovery, and of the separation of the party of
four above spoken of. Galiot takes Lancelot home with him to his own
country, whilst the Lady of Mallehault remains for a time with the queen
and Arthur. When Lancelot is next spoken of, he is in Galiot’s country,
where we will now leave him.
NOTES TO THE APPENDIX.
P. xxiii. _Descosse_ = _d’Écosse_, of Scotland. In Old French, words
are frequently run together; thus we have _labbaye_ for _l’abbaye_,
_sesmeurent_ for _s’émeurent_, etc. Also the letter _s_ is often
replaced in modern French by an acute or circumflex accent; so that
_Escosse_ = _Êcosse_; _chasteau_ = _château_, etc.
The word _si_ often occurs below with a great variety of meanings,
_viz._ I, he; and, also; so, thus; etc.
P. xxiv. _baille_, given, entrusted.
_brouyr_ (_brûler_), being burnt.
_monstier_, monastery.
_gauues_, so in the original throughout; _gaunes_ is used in other
romances.
P. xxv. _auecques_ = _avec_, with.
P. xxvi. _aduision_, vision.
_behourdys_, tournament.
_naure_, wounded.
_deffera_ = _desferra_, un-ironed; it means that Lancelot drew the
weapons out of the knight’s wounds.
_deuers_, “Préposition relative au temps et au lieu dont on parle;
près, vers, contre, proche; de _versus_.” Roquefort.
_octroya_, permitted (authorized).
_mouille_, _lit._ wetted; insulted.
P. xxvii. _veirent_, saw.
_escript_ (_écrit_), written.
_lassemblee_, the gathering; _i.e._ the war, strife.
_rua_, overthrew.
P. xxviii. _mire_, physician.
_gue_, ford, pass.
_tresues_, a truce; spelt _treues_ on p. xxix.
P. xxix. _esbatre_, to divert oneself. In modern French, _s’ébattre_.
P. xxx. _orrions_, shall hear.
_deust_ = _dût_.
_cheoient_, from _cheoir_, to fall. Compare _chûte_.
_poilz_, hairs.
_esbahy_, amazed.
_ortelz_, toes.
_chaille_; from _chaloir_, to be anxious about.
_dilacion_, delay.
P. xxxi. _paour_, fear.
_mire_, physician.
_veufue_, old.
P. xxxii. _cheuauche_, rides.
_boutte_, buts, pushes.
_iecte_ (_jeté_), cast.
_cuyde_, I believe.
_Si maist dieu_, so God aid me. Here _maist_ is put for _m’aist_.
_oncques_, ever.
_ennuyt_, this night, to-night.
_lottroyera_, will grant him his request.
_conroy_, troops.
P. xxxiii. _derrains_ (_derniers_), last.
_busines_, trumpets.
_Or y perra_, now it will appear.
_cuidoit_, believed; from the old verb _quider_.
_cheuauchent_, ride.
_ia_, already.
_tertre_, a small hill.
P. xxxiv. _adresse_, a cross-path.
_huy_, just before; _lit._ this day. Lat. _hodiè_.
_se pasme_, swoons.
_leans_, thither.
P. xxxv. _ores_, now.
_huy_, to-day.
_preudhomme_, a wise and prudent man.
_lottroye_, permits him.
_tref_, tent.
_nenny_, no!
_ains_, before.
_guerpiront_, will leave.
_deduys_, amusements, diversions.
P. xxxvi. _leans_, there.
_gerrez_, will lie.
_las_, tired.
_Ains_, but.
P. xxxvii. _semondray_, shall ask.
_esbahy_, amazed.
_tollez_, take away.
_creanca_, promised.
_lees_, wide, full.
_lices_, lists.
P. xxxviii. _emmy le pas_, in the midst of the passage.
_hucher_, to cry aloud.
P. xxxix. _lieue_, lifts.
_saisine_, disposal.
_enseignes_, tokens.
_aincoys_, first of all.
P. xl. _oncques mes_, never.
_a resiouyr_ (_réjouir_), in amusing.
_escondiroye_, will refuse.
_me poyse_, it troubles me.
_pieca_, long ago.
_se embronche_, covers his face.
P. xli. _sen esueillerent_, awoke thereat.
_Adonc_, then.
_riens forfait_, anyway injured.
P. xlii. _ne me mescreez mye que_, do not doubt me more than.
P. xliii. _doint_, gives, were to give.
P. xliv. _mesgnie_, properly the _suite_ or household of a prince; see
Roquefort s.v. _magnie_ and _maignee_.
_nef_, a boat.
_loue_, advise.
P. xlv. _vous esmayez_, afflict yourself.
_courrouce_, wroth, displeased.
P. xlvi. _vergier_, orchard.
_aual_, below.
_se embroncha_, she veiled herself, or, hid herself.
_iouxte_, beside.
P. xlvii. _maintes_, many.
_ot_, heard.
_len prise mieulx_, esteemed it better.
_loe_, praises.
_deffera_, dis-ironed, drew the weapons out of.
_lestrief_, the stirrup.
P. xlviii. _leans_ (_la dédans_), there.
_belif_. We find in Cotgrave’s French Dictionary, “_Belic_, a kind
of red or geueles, in Blazon.”
_enseignes_, tokens, message.
P. xlix. _mestier_, serviceable.
_dillec_, thence.
_pourneant_, for nothing, in vain.
_voire_, truly.
_commanday a dieu_, commended to God, bade farewell.
P. li. _mestier en est_, there is need of it.
_greigneur bien_, exceedingly well, very highly.
P. lii. _greigneure_, greater.
_anuytoit_, became night.
_ie me doibz pener_, I ought to take pains.
P. liii. _ouen_, this year.
The Romans
of
Lancelot of the Laik.
[PROLOGUE.]
[Sidenote: In April, when the fresh luminary upriseth,]
++THe ſoft morow ande The luſtee Aperill, [Fol. 1.]
The wynt{er} set, the stormys in exill,
Quhen that the bry{ch}t {and} freſch illumynare
Upriſith arly in his fyre chare 4
His hot courß in to the orient,
[Sidenote: and sendeth from his sphere his golden streams,]
And frome h{is} ſpere his goldine ſtremis sent
Wpone the grond, in man{er} off meſag,
One eu{er}y thing to valkyne thar curage, 8
That natur haith set wnd{er} hire mycht,
Boith gyrß, and flour, {and} eu{er}y luſty vicht:
And namly thame that felith the aſſay
Of lufe, to ſchew the kalendis of may, 12
Throw birdis ſonge w{i}t{h} opine wox one hy,
That ſeſſit not one lufar{is} for to cry,
Leſt thai forȝhet, throw ſlewth of Ignorans,
The old wſage of lowis obſ{er}uans. 16
[Headnote: THE POET BEWAILS HIS LOT.]
[Sidenote: and when I espy his bright face,]
And from̅e I can the bricht face aſſpy,
It deuit me no langare fore to ly,
Nore that loue schuld ſleuth In to me finde,
[Sidenote: I walk forth, bewailing my sad life.]
Bot walkine furth, bewalinge in my mynde 20
the dredful lyve endurit al to longe,
Sufferans in loue of ſorouful harmys ſtronge,
The ſcharpe dais and the hewy ȝerys,
Quhill phebus thris haith paſſith al h{is} ſperis, 24
Vithoutine hope ore traiſtinge of comfort;
So be such meine fatit was my sort.
Thus in my ſaull Rolinge al my wo,
[Sidenote: The sword of love carves my heart.]
My carful hart carwing cañ In two 28
The derdful ſuerd of lowis hot diſſire;
So be the morow set I was a-fyre
In felinge of the acceß hot {and} colde,
That haith my hart in ſich a fevir holde, 32
Only to me thare was noñe vthir eß
Bot thinkine qhow I ſchulde my lady pleß.
The ſcharp aſſay and ek the Inwart peine
Of dowblit wo me neulyng{is} cañ conſtrein, 36
Quhen that I have remembrit one my tho{ch}t
[Sidenote: My lady knoweth not how I am wobegone.]
How sche, quhois bewte al my harm̅ haith wrocht,
Ne knouith not how I ame wo begoñe, [Fol. 1b.]
Nor how that I ame of hire ſ{er}uand{is} oñe; 40
And in my ſelf I cañ nocht fynde the meyne
In to quhat wyß I ſal my wo compleine.
[Sidenote: I walked thus in the field, and came to a well-beseen
garden.]
Thus in the feild I walkith to {and} froo,
As tho{ch}tful wicht that felt of no{ch}t bot woo, 44
Syne to o gardinge, that weß weil beſeñ,
Of quiche the feild was al depaynt w{i}t{h} greñ.
The tendyre and the luſty flour{is} new
Up thrōue the greñ vpone thar ſtalk{is} grew 48
Aȝhane the ſone, and thare levis ſpred,
Quharw{i}t{h} that al the gardinge was I-clede;
That pryapus, in to his tyme before,
In o luſtear walkith nevir more; 52
[Sidenote: It was closely environed with leaves.]
And al about enweronyt and Icloſit
One ſich o wyß, that none w{i}t{h}in ſuppoſit
Fore to be ſeñ w{i}t{h} ony vicht thare owt;
So dide the levis cloſ it[T1] all about. 56
Thar was the flour, thar was the queñ alpheſt,[T2]
Ry{ch}t wering being of the ny{ch}t{is} reſt,
Wncloſi{n}g gañe the crownel for the day;
[Sidenote: The sun illumined the sprays;]
The bry{ch}t ſone illumynit haith the ſpray, 60
The ny{ch}t{is} ſobir ande the moſt ſchowr{is},
As criſtoll terys w{i}t{h}hong vpone the flour{is},
Haith vpwarpith In the luſty aire,
The morow makith soft, ameyne, and faire; 64
[Sidenote: the birds sang till the woods resounded;]
And the byrd{is} thar my{ch}ty voce out-throng,
Quhill al the wood reſonite of thar ſonge,
That gret confort till ony vicht It wer
That pleſſith thame of luſtenes to here. 68
Bot gladneß til the tho{ch}tful, eu{er} mo
The more he ſeith, the more he haith of wo.
[Sidenote: the garden was adorned with flowers.]
[Footnote T1: MS. “cloſit.”]
[Footnote T2: May we read “alcest”?]
[Headnote: HE SEES A VISION OF A GREEN BIRD.]
Thar was the garding w{i}t{h} the flour{is} ourfret,
Quich is in poſy fore my lady set, 72
That hire Repreſent to me oft befor,
{And} thane alſo; thus al day gan be ſor[T3]
Of tho{ch}t my goſt w{i}t{h} torment occupy, 75
That I becam̅e In to one exaſy, [Fol. 2.]
Ore ſlep, or how I wot; bot ſo befell
My wo haith done my livis goſt expell,
And in ſich wiß weil long I can endwr,
So me betid o wondir aventur. 80
[Sidenote: I fell there into an ecstasy or sleep,
and saw in my dream a green bird, who said:]
As I thus lay, Ry{ch}t to my ſpreit vas ſeñ
A birde, yat was as ony lawrare greñ,
A-licht, and ſayth in to hir bird{is} chere;
[Footnote T3: MS. “beſor.”]
[Headnote: THE BIRD’S MESSAGE.]