[A]nd furth thei go, and al anarmyt thei
Come to the king, w{i}t{h}outen more delay, 2220
[Sidenote: and bring the relics, whereon to swear to shew the
truth.]
The relyk{is} bro{ch}t, as was the man{er} tho,
When any knyght{is} frome the court ſuld go.
Or when the paſſit, or quhen thei com, thei ſwor
The trouth to ſchaw of euery aduentur. 2224
S{ir} gawan knelyng to his falowis ſais,
“Yhe lord{is}, wich that in this ſeking gais,
So many noble and worthi kny{ch}t{is} ar ȝhe,
Me think in wayne yhour t{ra}uel ſhuld no{ch}t be, 2228
For aduentur is non so gret to pref, [Fol. 28a.]
As I ſuppone, nor ȝhe ſal It eſſchef,
And if ȝhe lyk as I that ſhal dewyß,
Yhour oth to ſwer In to the ſamyne wyß 2232
Myne oith to kep;”--and that thei vnd{er}tak,
How eu{er} ſo that he his oith mak
It to conſerf, and that thei have all ſworñ.
Than gawan, wich that was the king beforn, 2236
[Sidenote: Gawane swears not to return till he has found Lancelot,
or evidence of him.]
On kneis ſwore, “I ſal the ſuth duclar
Of euery thing when I agan Repar,
Nor neu{er} more aȝhane ſal I returñ,
Nore in o place long for to ſuiorñ 2240
Whill that the kny{ch}t or verray evydens
I have, that ſhal be toknis of credens.”
His falouſchip abaſit of that thing,
And als therof anoyt was the king, 2244
[Sidenote: Arthur reproves him for forgetting the coming day of
battle.]
Sayng, “Nece, yow haith al foly vroght
And wilfulneß, that haith no{ch}t in thi thoght
The day of batell of galot and me.”
[Sidenote: Gawane says it must be so.]
Q{uod} gawan, “Now non other ways ma be.” 2248
[Sidenote: Gawane and his fellow lace their helms, and take their
leave.]
Thar-w{i}t{h} he and his falowſchip alſo
Thar halmys laſit, on to ther horß thei go,
Syne tuk ther lef, and frome the court the fare,
Thar names ware to long for to declar. 2252
Now ſal we leif hyme and h{is} cumpany,
That in thar ſeking paſſith biſſely;
[Sidenote: The story returns to the lady of Melyhalt.]
And of the lady of melyhalt we tell,
W{i}t{h} whome the kny{ch}t mot ned alway duell. 2256
[T52] [O] day ſhe mayd hyme on to h{ir} p{re}ſens fet,
And on o ſege be-ſid hir haith hyme ſet,
“S{ir}, in keping I have yow halding long,”
And thus ſche ſaid, “for gret treſpas & wrong, 2260
Magre my ſtewart, in worſchip, and for-thi
Ȝhe ſuld me thonk;”--“madem,” q{uod} he, “and I
Thonk yhow ſo that eu{er}, at my mycht,
Whar-ſo I paß that I ſal be yhour kny{ch}t.” 2264
[Footnote T52: Room is here left in the MS. for an illuminated
letter, and a small “o” inserted as a note.]
[Headnote: THE LADY ASKS LANCELOT HIS NAME.]
[Sidenote: She inquires Lancelot’s name.]
“Grant mercy, ſ{ir}, bot o thing I ȝow pray,
What that ȝhe ar ȝhe wold w{i}c{h}sauf to ſay.”
[Sidenote: He refuses to tell.]
“Madem,” q{uod} he, “yhour mercy aſk I, quhy
That for to ſay apone no wyß may I.” 2268
“No! wil ȝhe not? non oy{er} ways as now
[Sidenote: She vows to keep him in thrall till the day of combat;]
Ȝhe ſal repent, and ek I mak awow
One to the thing the wich that I beſt love, 2271
Out frome my keping ſal ȝhe not Remuf [Fol. 28b.]
Befor the day of the aſſemblee,
Wich that, o ȝher, is n{er}eſt for to bee;
And if that ȝow haith pleſſit for to ſay,
Ȝhe had fore me deliu{er}it ben this day; 2276
[Sidenote: and to go to the court to try and learn it.]
And I ſal knaw, quhey{er} ȝhe wil or no,
For I furt{h}-w{i}t{h} one to the court ſal go,
Whar that al thithing{is} goith & cu{m}yth ſoñ.”
“Madem,” q{uod} he, “yhour pleſance mot be doñe.” 2280
[Sidenote: The knight retires.]
W{i}t{h} that the kny{ch}t one to his chalm{er} goith,
And the lady hir makith to be wroith
Aȝanis hyme, but ſuthly vas ſche not,
For he al-out was mor in to hir thoght. 2284
Than ſchapith ſhe aȝane the ferd day,
And richly ſche gan hir-ſelf aray;
Syne clepit haith apone her cuſynes,
[Sidenote: Before going to the court,]
And ſaith, “y will one to the court me dreß; 2288
And malice I have ſchawin on to ȝhon kny{ch}t,
For-quhy he wold no{ch}t ſchew me quhat he hicht,
Bot ſo, I-wyß, It is no{ch}t in my tho{ch}t,
For worthyar non In to this erth is wro{ch}t. 2292
[Sidenote: she prays her cousin to take care of him.]
Tharfor I pray, and hartly I requer
Ȝhe mak hyme al the cu{m}pany and chere,
And do hyme al the worſchip and the eß,
Excep his honore, wich that may hym pleß; 2296
And quhen I cum deliu{er}ith hyme als fre
As he is now;”--“ne have no dred,” q{uod} ſche.
[Headnote: SHE GOES TO SEE ARTHUR.]
[T]he lady p{ar}tit, and hir lef hath ton,
And by hir Iorne to the court Is gon. 2300
[Sidenote: The lady meets Arthur at Logris;]
The king hapnit at logris for to bee,
Wich of his realme was than the chef cete;
And haith hir met, and In til hartly wyß
Reſauit her, and welcu{m}myt oft-ſyß; 2304
[Sidenote: who brings her home to his palace;]
And haith hir home one to his palice bro{ch}t,
Whar that no dante nedith to be ſocht,
And maid hir cher w{i}t{h} al his ful entent.
Eft fupir one to o chalm{er} ar thei went, 2308
The king and ſche, and ek the quen al thre;
Of hir tithand{is} at hir than aſkit hee,
[Sidenote: and inquires what has brought her.]
And what that hir one to the court had bro{ch}t?
“S{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “I come[T53] not al for no{ch}t; 2312
[Sidenote: She says she has a friend who has made a challenge,]
I have o frend haith o dereyne ydoo,
And I can fynd none able kny{ch}t tharto; [Fol. 29a.]
For he the wich that in the {con}trar Is
Is hardy, ſtrong, and of gret kyne, I-wyß; 2316
Bot, It is ſaid, If I my{ch}t have w{i}t{h} me
Ȝour kny{ch}t, quich in the last aſſemble
[Sidenote: which the red knight could best maintain.]
Was in the feld, and the red armys bur,
In his manhed y my{ch}t my cauß aſſur; 2320
And yhow, ſ{ir}, richt hartly I exort
In to this ned my myſt{er} to ſupport.”
“Madem, by faith one to the quen I aw
[Footnote T53: MS. “conne.”]
[Headnote: ARTHUR CAN TELL HER NOTHING.]
[Sidenote: Arthur replies that Gawane is gone to seek him.]
That I beſt loue, the kny{ch}t I neu{er} ſaw 2324
In nerneß by which that I hyme knew;
And ek gawane Is gan hyme for to ſew
W{i}t{h} other fourty kny{ch}t{is} In to cumpany.”
The lady ſmylit at ther fanteſſy; 2328
The quen thar-w{i}t{h} p{re}ſumyt wel that ſche
[Sidenote: The queen asks the lady if she knows where he is.]
Knew quhat he was, and ſaid, “madem, If ȝhe
Knowith of hyme what that he is, or quhar,
We ȝhow beſech til ws for to declar.” 2332
[Sidenote: She replies no, and proposes to return.]
“Madem,” q{uod} ſche, “now be the faith that I
Aw to the king and yhow, as for no why
To court I cam, but of hyme to Inquere;
And ſen of hyme I can no tithing{is} here, 2336
Nedlyng{is} to-morn homwart mon I fair.”
[Sidenote: Arthur prays her to stay.]
“Na,” q{uod} the king, “madem, our ſon It waire;
Ȝhe ſal remayne her for the qwenys ſak;
Syne ſhal ȝhe of our beſt kny{ch}t{is} tak.” 2340
“S{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “I pray ȝow me excuß,
For-quhy to paß nedis me behuß;
Nor, ſen I want the kny{ch}t which I have ſo{ch}t,
Wtheris w{i}t{h} me to have deſir I no{ch}t, 2344
For I of otheris have that may ſuffice.”
Bot ȝhit the king hir prayt on ſich wyß,
[Sidenote: She remains till the third day.]
That ſche remanit whill the thrid day;
Syne tuk hir leif to paſing hom hir way. 2348
[Sidenote: She is sumptuously entertained,]
It nedis not the feſting to declar
Maid one to hir, nor company nor fare;
Sche had no kny{ch}t, ſche had no damyſeill,
Nor thei richly rewardit war and well. 2352
[Sidenote: and returns home.]
Now goith the lady homwart, and ſche
In her entent deſyrus Is to ſee
The flour of kny{ch}thed and of chevelry;
So was he pryſit and hold to euery wy. 2356
[Headnote: THE LADY AGAIN SENDS FOR LANCELOT.]
++The lady, which one to hir palace come, [Fol. 29b.]
[Sidenote: Soon after, she sends for Lancelot,]
Bot of ſchort time remanith haith at home
When ſche gart bryng, w{i}t{h}outen Recidens,
W{i}t{h} grete effere this kny{ch}t to hir p{rese}ns, 2360
And ſaid hyme; “ſ{ir}, ſo mekil have I ſo{ch}t
And knowith that be-for I knew no{ch}t,
[Sidenote: and proposes to ransom him,]
That If yhow lyk I wil yhour Ransone mak.”
“Madem, gladly, wil ȝhe wichſauf to tak 2364
Eft{er} that as my powar may atteñ,
Or that I may p{ro}wid be ony meñ.”
“Now, ſ{ir},” ſho ſaid, “forſut{h} It ſal be so,
[Sidenote: on one of three conditions.]
Yhe ſal have thre, and cheß yhow on of tho; 2368
And if yhow lykith them for to refuß,
I can no mor, but ȝhe ſal me excuß,
Yhe ned{is} mot ſuſten yhour aduentur
Contynualy In ward for til endur.” 2372
“Madem,” q{uod} he, “and I yhow hartly pray,
What that thei ſay[T54] ȝhe wald w{i}c{h}ſauf to ſay?”
[Footnote T54: So MS. We should probably read “bee.”]
[Sidenote: Either he must tell whom he loves,]
“[T]he firſt,” q{uod} ſche, “who hath in to the cheñ
Of low yhour hart, and if ȝhe may dereñ? 2376
[Sidenote: or declare his name,]
The next, yhour nam, the which ȝe ſal not lye?
[Sidenote: or say if he expects again to equal his former exploits.]
The thrid, if eu{er} ȝhe think of cheualry
So mekil worſchip to atten in feild
Apone o day in armys wnd{er} ſcheld, 2380
As yat ȝhe dyd the ſamyne day, when ȝhe
In red armys was at the aſſemblee?”
“Madem,” q{uod} he, “is thar non vther way
Me to redem, but only thus to ſay 2384
Of thing{is}, which that Rynyth me to blam,
Me to awant my lady or hir name?
But If that I moſt ſchawin furth that one,
What su{er}te ſchal I have for to gone 2388
At libertee out of this dang{er} free?”
“Schir, ſor to dred no myſt{er} is,” q{uod} ſhee;
“As I am trew and fa{i}t{h}full woman hold,
Ȝhe ſal go fre quhen one of thir is told.” 2392
“Madem, yhour will non vther ways I may,
[Sidenote: He refuses to tell his lady’s name,]
I mone obey; and to the firſt y ſay,
[T55] [I]s, to declar the lady of myne hart,
My goſt ſal rather of my breſt aſtart”-- 2396
Whar-by the lady fayndit al for no{ch}t
The lowe quhich long hath ben In to h{is} tho{ch}t--
[Sidenote: or his own;]
“And of my nam, ſchortly for to ſay,
It ſtondith ſo that one no wyß I may. 2400
Bot of the thrid, madem, I se that I [Fol. 30a.]
Mon ſay the thing that tuechith velany;
[Sidenote: but declares that he trusts to do more than ever before;
and requires his liberty.]
For ſut{h} it is I traſt, and god before,
In feld that I ſal do of armys more 2404
Than eu{er} I did, if I {com}mandit bee.
[Footnote T55: A space is here left for an illuminated letter.]
[Headnote: LANCELOT CLAIMS HIS LIBERTY;]
And now, madem, I have my libertee,
For I have ſaid I neu{er} tho{ch}t to ſay.”
“Now, ſ{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “when-eu{er} ȝhe wil ye may; 2408
[Sidenote: She begs of him a boon;]
Bot o thing Is, I yhow hartly raquer,
Sen I have hold yhow apone ſuch maner
Not as my fo, that ȝhe vald grant me till.”
“Madem,” q{uod} he, “It ſal be as ȝhe will.” 2412
“Now, ſ{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “it is no thing bot ȝhe
[Sidenote: that he will remain with her till the day of battle;]
Remañ w{i}t{h} ws wn to the aſſemble,
And euery thyng that In yhour myſt{er} lyis
I ſall gar ordan at yhour awn dewyß; 2416
And of the day I ſhall yow c{er}tefy
Of the aſſemble ȝhe ſal not pas therby.”
“Madem,” q{uod} he, “It ſal be as yhow liſt.”
“Now, ſ{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “and than I hald It beſt, 2420
That ȝhe remañ lyk to the ſamyne dogre
As that ȝhe war, yat non ſal wit that ȝhe
Deliu{er}it war; and in to ſacret wyß
Thus may ȝhe be; and now yhe ſal dewyß 2424
[Sidenote: and inquires what arms he would like to have made
for him. He chooses black armour,]
What armys that yhow lykyth I gar mak.”
[Headnote: AND ASKS FOR BLACK ARMOUR.]
“Madem,” q{uod} he, “armys al of blak.”
W{i}t{h} this, this kny{ch}t is to his chalm{er} goñ;
The lady gan ful prewaly diſſpone 2428
For al that longith to the kny{ch}t, in feild;
Al blak his horß, his armour, and his ſcheld,
[Sidenote: which is provided.]
That nedful is, al thing ſche well p{re}widith;
And in hir keping thus w{i}t{h} hir he bidith. 2432
Suppos of love ſche takyne hath the charg,
[Sidenote: She keeps her love close,]
Sche bur It clos, ther-of ſche vas not larg,
Bot wyſly ſche abſtenit hir diſſir,
For ell{is} quhat, ſche knew, he was afyre; 2436
Thar-for hir wit hir worſchip haith defendit,
[Sidenote: being commended for discretion.]
For in this world thar was nan mor co{m}mendit,
Boith of diſcreccioune and of womanhed,
Of gou{er}nans, of nurtur, and of farhed. 2440
This kny{ch}t w{i}t{h} hir thus al this whil mon duell,
[Sidenote: The story returns to Arthur--]
And furt{h} of arthur ſumthing wil we tell--
[T]hat walkyng vas furt{h} in to his Regiou{n}is,
And ſoiornyt in his ceteis and his townis, 2444
As he that had of viſdome ſufficyans. [Fol. 30b.]
[Sidenote: who obeys the counsel of Amytans,]
He kepit the lore of maiſt{er} amytans
In ryghtwyſnes, In feſting and larges,
In cheriſing cu{m}pany and hamlynes; 2448
For he was biſſy and was deligent,
[Sidenote: and gives away largely;]
And largly he iffith, and diſpent
Rewardis, boith one to the pur & riche,
And holdith feſt throw al the ȝher eliche. 2452
[Headnote: ARTHUR’S LIBERALITY.]
In al the warld paſſing gan his name,
He chargit not bot of encreß and fam̅e,
And how his puples hart{is} to empleß;
Thar gladnes ay was to his hart moſt eß. 2456
He rakith not of riches nor treſſour,
Bot to diſpend one worſchip & honour;
He ifith riches, he ifith lond and rent,
He cherißyth them w{i}t{h} word{is} eloquent, 2460
[Sidenote: and thus gains his people’s love.]
So that thei can them vtraly p{ro}pone
In his ſ{er}uice thar lyves to diſpone:
So gladith them̅e his homely {con}tynans,
His cheriſyng, his wordis of pleſans, 2464
His cumpany, and ek his mery chere,
His gret rewardis, and his ift{is} ſere.
Thus hath the king non vthir beſynes
Bot cheriſing of kny{ch}t{is} and largeß, 2468
To mak hyme-ſelf of honour be {com}mend;
And thus the ȝher he drywith to the ende.
EXPLICIT SECUNDA P{AR}S, INCIPIT T{ER}CIA P{AR}S.
[Headnote: THE TRUCE DRAWS TO A CLOSE.]
[BOOK III.]
[Sidenote: The sun ascends in his altitude.]
++The long dirk paſag[T56] of the vint{er}, & the ly{ch}t
Of phebus {com}prochit w{i}t{h} his my{ch}t; 2472
The which, aſcending In his altitud,
Awodith saturñ w{i}t{h} his ſtormys Rude;
[Sidenote: The soft dew falls down from heaven.]
The ſoft dew one fra the hewyne doune valis[T57]
Apone the erth, one hill{is} and on valis, 2476
And throw the ſobir & the mwſt hwmour{is}
Vp nuriſit ar the erbis, and in the flouris
[Sidenote: Nature decks the earth with various hues.]
Natur the erth of many diu{er}ß hew
Our-fret, and cled w{i}t{h} the tendir new. 2480
The birdis may them hiding in the grawis [Fol. 31a.]
[Sidenote: The birds may hide them from the hawk in the groves,
and Scilla may ascend in the air.]
Wel frome the halk, that oft ther lyf berevis;
And scilla hie aſcending in the ayre,
That euery vight may heryng hir declar 2484
Of the ſeſſone the paſſing luſtynes.
This was the tyme that phebus gan hy{m} dreß
In to the rame, and haith his courß bygown,
Or that the trewis and the ȝher vas Rown, 2488
[Sidenote: The time of combat between Galiot and the king drew
near.]
Which was y-ſet of galiot and the king
Of thar aſſemble, and of thar meting.
Arthur haith a xv dais before
Aſſemblit al his barnag and more 2492
That weryng wnd{er} his ſubieccioune,
Or louith hyme, or longith to his crown;
And haith his Iornay tone, w{i}t{h}outen let,
[Sidenote: Arthur goes to the appointed place.]
On to the place the wich that was y-ſet, 2496
Whar he hath found befor hyme mony o kny{ch}t
That cu{m}myng war w{i}t{h} al thar holl my{ch}t,
Al enarmyt both w{i}t{h} ſpere & ſcheld,
And ful of lug{is} plantith haith the feld, 2500
Hyme In the wer for to ſupport and ſerf
At al ther my{ch}t, his thonk for to diſſerf.
[Footnote T56: So MS. Should we read “pasith”?]
[Footnote T57: So MS. It should be “falis.”]
[Headnote: GAWANE REJOINS ARTHUR.]
And gawan, which was in the ſeking ȝhit
Of the gud kny{ch}t, of hyme haith got no wit, 2504
[Sidenote: Gawane remembers the day,]
Remembrith hyme apone the king{is} day,
And to his falowis one this wys can ſay:
“To ȝhow is knowin the mat{er}, in what wyß
How that the king hath w{i}t{h} his e{n}nemys 2508
A c{er}tan day, that now comprochit nere,
And one to ws war hewynes to here
That he var in to p{er}ell or in to dreid,
And we away and he of ws haith neid; 2512
For we but hyme no thing may eſchef,
And he but ws in honore well may lef;
For, be he loſt, we may no thing w{i}t{h}ſtond,
Our-ſelf, our honore we tyne, & ek o{ur} lond. 2516
[Sidenote: and proposes to his fellows to go to help the king.]
Tharfor, I red we pas on to the king,
Suppos our oth It hurt in to ſum thing,
And in the feld w{i}t{h} hyme for til endur,
Of lyf or deth and tak our aduentur.” 2520
Thar-to thei ar conſentit eu{er}ilkon,
And but dulay the have thar Iorney toñe.
When that the king them ſaw, in h{is} entent [Fol. 31b.]
[Sidenote: Arthur is well content at their coming,]
Was of thar com Right wond{er} well {con}tent; 2524
For he p{re}ſwmyt no thing that thei wold
[Sidenote: not expecting them.]
Have cu{m}myne, but one furt{h} to y{er} ſeking hold.
And thus the kinghis oſt aſſemblit has
Aȝane the tyme, aȝaine the day that vas 2528
Y-ſtatut and ordanit for to bee,
And euery thing hath ſet in the dogre.
[Headnote: THE TRUCE ENDS.]
[A]nd galiot, that haith no thing forȝhet
The termys quhich that he befor had set, 2532
[Sidenote: Galiot also assembles his folk,]
Aſſemblit has, apone his best maner,
His folk, and al his other thing{is} ſere,
That to o weryour longith to p{ro}uid,
And is y-come apone the tothir ſyde. 2536
[Sidenote: doubling his army and artillery;]
Whar he befor was one than vas he two,
And al his vthir artilȝery also
He dowblith hath, that m{er}well was to ſeñ;
[Sidenote: and pitches on the green by the river.]
And by the rewere ly{ch}tit one the greñ, 2540
And ſtronghar thane ony wallit toune
His oſt y-bout ycloſit in Randoune.
Thus war thei cu{m}myne apone ather ſyd
[Sidenote: Before the truce is ended,]
Be-for the tyme, them-ſelf for to p{ro}wid. 2544
Or that the trewis was complet & rwn,
Men my{ch}t have ſen one euery ſid begwn
[Sidenote: many combats are seen between lusty men;]
Many a fair and knychtly Iup{er}ty
Of luſty me{n}, and of ȝong chevalry, 2548
Diſyrus In to armys for to pruf;
Sum for wynyng, ſu{m} cauſith vas for luf,
Sum In to worſchip to be exaltate,
Sum cauſit was of wordis he & hate, 2552
That lykit not ydill for to ben;
[Sidenote: a hundred pair at once.]
A hund{er}eth pair at onis one the gren.
Thir luſty folk thus can thar tyme diſpend,
Whill that the trewis goith to the ende. 2556
[Sidenote: The truce past,]
The trewis paſt, the day is cu{m}myne onoñe,
One euery ſyd the can them to diſpone;
And thai that war moſt ſacret & moſt dere
[Sidenote: Galiot’s friends inquire who shall fight on his side
on the morrow.]
To galiot, at hyme the can enquere, 2560
“Who ſal aſſemble one yhour ſyd to-morñe?
To-ny{ch}t the trewis to the end is worne.”
He anſuerit, “As yhit one to this were
I ame awyſit I wil none armys bere, 2564
Bot If It ſtond of more Neceſſitee; [Fol. 32a.]
Nor to the feld will pas, bot for to ſee
Yhone kny{ch}t, the which that berith ſich o fame.”
[Sidenote: He commands the first-conquest king to take 30,000 men.]
Than clepit he the {con}quest king be name, 2568
And hyme {com}mandit xxx thouſand tak
Aȝaine the morne, and for the feld hyme mak.
And gawane haith, apone the toy{er} syde,
Conſulit his Eme he ſchuld for them p{ro}wid, 2572
And that he ſchuld none armys to hyme tak
Whill[T58] galiot will for the feld hyme mak.
“I grant,” q{uo}d [he [T59]], “wharfor ȝhe mone diſpone
[Sidenote: Gawane leads Arthur’s forces.]
Yhow to the feld w{i}t{h} al my folk to-morne, 2576
And thinkith in yhour manhed and curage
For to reciſt ȝhone folk{is} gret owtrag.”
[Footnote T58: MS. “Wihill.”]
[Footnote T59: Omitted in MS.]
[Sidenote: The day comes.]
[T]he ny{ch}t is gone, vp goith the morow gray,
The bry{ch}t ſone ſo cherith al the day: 2580
The kny{ch}t{is} gone to armys than, in haſt;
One goith the ſcheild{is} and the helmys laſt;
[Sidenote: Arthur’s men cross the ford.]
Arthuris oſt out our the furrde thai ryd.
And thai agane, apone the toy{er} syd, 2584
[Sidenote: Galiot’s men assemble in a vale.]
Aſſemblit ar apone o luſty greyne,
In to o waill, whar ſone thar my{ch}t be ſeyne
Of kny{ch}t{is} to-gedder many o pair
In to the feld aſſemblyng her & thair, 2588
And ſted{is} which that haith thar maſt{er} lorne;[T60]
The kny{ch}t{is} war done to the erth doune borne.
[Footnote T60: MS. has “borne.” We should read “lorne,” as in
line 2092.]
[Headnote: DEEDS OF SIR ESQUYRIS.]
[Sidenote: Sir Esquyris, a manly knight,]
S{ir} eſquyris, which was o manly kny{ch}t
In to hyme-ſelf, and hardy vas & wy{ch}t; 2592
And in till armys gretly for to pryß,
Ȝhit he was pure, he prewit wel oft-ſyß;
[Sidenote: at that time of Galiot’s company,]
And that tyme was he of the cu{m}panee
Of galiot, bot eft{er}wart was hee 2596
W{i}t{h} arthur; and that day In to the feild
He come, al armyt boith w{i}t{h} ſpere and ſcheld,
W{i}t{h} ferß deſir, as he that had na dout,
[Sidenote: attacks a band,]
And is aſſemblit ewyne apone a rowt; 2600
His ſpere is gone, the kny{ch}t goith to the erd,
And out onon he pullith haith o ſwerd;
[Sidenote: and proves his manhood.]
That day In armys p{re}wit he ry{ch}t well
His ſtrenth, his manhed; arthuris folk thai fell. 2604
[Headnote: DEEDS OF SIR GWYANS.]
[Sidenote: Then Galys Gwynans, brother of Ywan,]
Than galys gwynans, w{i}t{h} o manly hart,
Which broy{er} was of ywane the baſtart,
He cu{m}myne Is onone one to the ſtour
For {con}quering In armys of honour, 2608 [Fol. 32b.]
[Sidenote: encounters him, and horse and man go all four to earth.]
And cownt{er}it w{i}t{h} eſquyris hath so
That[T61] horß and man, al four, to erth thai go;
And ſtill o quhill lying at the ground.
W{i}t{h} that o p{ar}t of arthur{is} folk thei found 2612
[Sidenote: Arthur’s folk rescue Gwyans;]
Till gwyans, and haith hyme ſone reſkewit.
Aȝanis them til eſquyris thei ſewyt
[Sidenote: thirty knights of Galiot’s arrive, and rescue Esquyris.]
Of galiot{is} well xxx^ti kny{ch}t{is} & mo;
Gwyans goith done, and vthir vij alſo, 2616
The wich war tone & eſqwyris relewit.
[Sidenote: Next Ywan comes to the _mêlée_.]
Than ywane the anterus, aggrewit,
W{i}t{h} kyn{n}iſme{n} one to the melle ſo{ch}t.
The hardy kny{ch}t{is}, that one thar worſchip tho{ch}t, 2620
Cownt{er}it them In myddis of the ſcheld,
Whar many o kny{ch}t was born doñ i{n} the feld;
[Sidenote: Galiot’s men give way.]
Bot thei wich ware on galiot{is} p{ar}t,
So wnd{er}takand nor of ſo hardy hart 2624
Ne ware thei not as was i{n} ye {con}trare.
[Sidenote: Gwyans is again rescued.]
S{ir} galys gwyans was reſqwyt thare
W{i}t{h} his falowis, and eſqwyris don bore.
Thar al the batell{is} cam, w{i}t{h}outen more, 2628
On ather p{ar}t, and is aſſemblit ſo
[Sidenote: 50,000 men are assembled.]
Whar fyfty thouſand war thei, & no mo.
[Sidenote: 30,000 on Galiot’s side approach the river,]
In o plane beſyd the gret Riwere
Xxx thouſand one galiot{is} half thei vare; 2632
[Sidenote: and 10,000 on Arthur’s.]
Of arthuris x thouſand and no mo
Thei ware, and ȝhit thai {con}tenit them ſo
And in the feld ſo manly haith borñ,
That of thar fois haith the feld forſworñ. 2636
[Footnote T61: MS. has “than.”]
[Headnote: SIR GAWANE’S INTREPIDITY.]