[Transcriber’s Note:
In the Trentham MS., spelling is normally “þ{o}u”, rarely “þow”.
Any variations are as printed.]
_Trentham MS., fol. 98 a; vellum, c. 1440: beginning lost. Headlines
‘Florence and Blanchefloure.’_
Ne thurst men[FB-1] neu{er} in londe
After feirer Children fonde.
Þe Cristen woma{n} fedde hem þoo,
Ful wel she louyd hem boþ twoo. 4
So longe sche fedde hem in feere
þat þey were of elde of seuen ȝere.
Þe kyng behelde his sone dere,
And seyde to him on this manere, 8
Þat harme it were muche more
But his son{e} were sette to lore
On þe book~ letters to know,
As men don{e}, both hye and lowe. 12
“Feire sone,” she seide, “þ{o}u shalt lerne,
Lo þ{a}t þ{o}u do ful ȝerne.”
Florys answerd w{i}t{h} wepyng,
As he stood byfore þe kyng~; 16
Al wepyng~ seide he,
[Footnote FB-1: first ‘mey,’ then alterd]
[Sidenote: Floris says that he cannot learn unless Blauncheflur is with
him.]
“Ne schal not Blancheflo{ur} lerne w{i}t{h} me?
Ne can y noȝt to scole goon{e}
W{i}t{h}-out Blanchefloure,” he seide þan{e}. 20
“Ne can y in no scole syng~ ne rede
W{i}t{h}-out Blancheflo{ur},” he seide.
Þe king~ seide to his soon{e},
“She shal lerne for þy loue.” 24
[Sidenote: The two are put to school together, and make good progress.]
To scole þey were put;
Boþ þey were good of~ wytte.
Wonder it was of~ hur lore,
And of~ her loue wel þe more. 28
Þe Children louyd to-geder soo,
Þey myȝt neu{er} p{ar}te a twoo.
When þey had .v. ȝere to scoole goon{e}
So wel þey had lerned þoo, 32
Inowȝ þey couþ of latyne,
And wel wryte on p{ar}chemyn{e}.
Þe kyng~ vnderstod þe grete Amoure
Bytwene his son{e} and Blanchefloure, 36
And þouȝt when þey were of Age
Þat her loue wolde noȝt swage;
Nor he myȝt noȝt her loue w{i}t{h}drawe
When Florys shuld~ wyfe after þe lawe. 40
[Sidenote: [98 _b_]]
Þe king~ to þe Queene seide þoo,
And tolde hur of~ his woo,
Off~ his þouȝt and of his care,
How it wolde of~ Floreys fare. 44
[Sidenote: The king begins to devise to separate the two, and proposes
to put the maiden to death.]
“Dame,” he seide, “y tel þe my reed{e},
I wyl þat Blaunchefloure be do to deed{e}.
When þat maide is y-slawe,
And brouȝt of her lyf~ dawe, 48
As sone as Florys may it vnder ȝete,
Rathe he wylle hur forȝete.
Þan may he wyfe after reed{e}.”
Þe Queene answerde þen and seid{e}, 52
And þouȝt w{i}t{h} hur reed{e}
Saue þe mayde fro þe deed{e}.
“Sir,” she seide, “we auȝt to fond{e}
Þat Florens lyf~ wit menske in lond{e}, 56
And þat he lese not his hono{u}r
For þe mayden Blauncheflo{u}r.
Who so myȝt þat mayde clene,
Þat she were brouȝt to deþ bydene, 60
Hit were muche more hono{u}r
Þan slee þ{a}t mayde Blancheflo{u}r.”
Vnneþes þe king~ g[{r}a]unt þ{a}t it be soo.
“Dame, rede vs what is to doo.” 64
[Headnote: _Floris is sent to Mountargis to school._]
[Sidenote: The queen suggests that Floris be sent away.]
“Sir, we shul oure soon{e} Florys
Sende into þe londe of Mountargis.
Blythe wyl my suster be
Þat is lady of~ þat Contree. 68
And when she woot for whoom~
Þ{a}t we have sent him vs froom~,
She wyl doo al hur myȝt,
Boþ by day and by nyȝt, 72
To make hur loue so vndoo
As it had neu{er} ben soo.
And, s{ir},” she seide, “y rede eke
Þat þe maydens moder make hur seek~. 76
Þat may be þat other resoun~
For þat ylk~ enchesou{n},
Þat she may not fro hur moder goo.”
Now ben þese Children swyþ woo, 80
[Sidenote: [99 _a_]]
Now þey may not goo in fere
Drewryer þinges neu{er} noon{e} were.
Florys wept byfore þe kyng~,
And seide, “S{ir}, w{i}t{h}-out lesyng~, 84
For my harme out ȝe me sende,
Now she ne myȝt w{i}t{h} me wende.
Now we ne mot to-geder goo,
Al my wele is turned to woo.” 88
Þe king~ seide to his soon{e} aplyȝt,
“Sone, w{i}t{h}ynne þis fourtenyȝt,
Be her moder quykke or deed{e},”
“Sekerly,” he him seide, 92
“Þat mayde shal com{e} þe too.”
[Sidenote: Floris is sent to his aunt at Mountargis, with the promise
that Blauncheflur shall follow within fourteen days.]
“Ȝe, s{ir},” he seid, “y p{ra}y ȝow it be soo.
Ȝif þat ȝe me hur sende,
I rekke neu{er} wheder y wende.” 96
Þat þe Child~ g{ra}unted þe kyng~ was fayn{e},
And him betauȝt his Chamburlayn{e}.
W{i}t{h} muche honoure þey þeder coom{e},
As fel to a ryche kynges soon{e}. 100
Wel feire him receyuyd þe Duke Orgas,
Þat king~ of þ{a}t Castel was,
And his Aunt wiþ muche hono{u}r;
But euer he þouȝt on Blanchefloure. 104
Glad and blythe þey ben him withe;
But for no ioy þ{a}t he seith,
Ne myȝt him glade game ne gle,
For he myȝt not his lyf~ see. 108
His Aunt set him to lore
Þere as other Children wore,
Boþ maydons and grom{e};
To lerne mony þeder coom{e}. 112
Inowȝ he sykes, but noȝt he lernes;
For Blauncheflo{ur} eu{er} he mornes.
Yf~ enyman to him speke
Loue is on his hert steke. 116
Loue is at his hert roote
Þ{a}t no þing~ is so soote:
Galyngale ne lycorys
[Sidenote: [99 _b_]]
Is not so soote as hur loue is, 120
Ne nothing~ ne non{e} other.
So much he þenkeþ on Blancheflo{ur},
Of~ oo day him þynkeþ þre,
For he ne may his loue see. 124
[Headnote: _The King proposes to put Blauncheflur to death._]
[Sidenote: He grieves until the fourteen days are past.]
Þus he abydeth w{i}t{h} muche woo
Tyl þe fourtenyȝt were goo.
When he saw she was nouȝt ycoom{e},
So muche sorow he haþ noom{e}, 128
Þ{a}t he loueth mete ne drynke,
Ne may noon{e} in his body synke.
[Sidenote: The chamberlain reports Floris’s sorrow to the king.]
Þe Chamberleyn{e} sent þe king~ to wete,
His sones state al y-wrete. 132
[Sidenote: The king is very angry, and again proposes to put
Blauncheflur to death.]
Þe king~ ful sone þe waxe to-brake,
For to wete what it spake:
He begynneth to chaunge his mood{e},
And wel sone he vnderstode, 136
And w{i}t{h} wreth he cleped þe Queene,
And tolde hur alle his teene,
And w{i}t{h} wraþ spake and sayde,
“Let do bryng~ forþ þ{a}t mayde! 140
Fro þe body þe heued shal goo.”
Þenne was þe Quene ful woo.
Þan spake þe Quene, þ{a}t good lady,
[Sidenote: The queen proposes, instead, to sell the maiden.]
“For goddes love, s{ir}, mercy. 144
At þe next hauen þ{a}t here is,
Þ{er} ben chapmen ryche y-wys,
Marchaundes of~ babyloyn{e} ful ryche,
Þat wol hur bye blethelyche. 148
Than may ȝe for þ{a}t louely foode
Haue muche Catełł and goode.
And soo she may fro vs be brouȝt,
Soo þat we slee hur nouȝt.” 152
Vnneþes þe king~ g{ra}unted þis;
But forsoþ so it is,
Þe king~ let sende after þe burgeise,
Þ{a}t was hende and Curtayse, 156
And welle selle and bygge couth,
And moony langages had in his mouth.
[Sidenote: This is done, and for the maiden they receive among other
things a magnificent cup with a romantic history.]
Wel sone þat mayde was him betauȝt;
An to þe hauen{e} was she brouȝt. 160
[Sidenote: [100 _a_]]
Þer haue þey for þ{a}t maide ȝolde
xx. Mark~ of reed golde,
And a Coupe good and ryche,
In al þe world~ was non{e} it lyche. 164
Þ{er} was neu{er} noon{e} so wel graue;
He þ{a}t it made was no knave.
Þ{er} was purtrayd on, y weene,
How P{ar}yse ledde awey þe Queene; 168
And on þe Cou{er}cle a-boue
Purtrayde was þ{er} both her love;
And in þe Pomel þ{er}on{e}
Stood a Charbuncle stoon{e}. 172
In þe world~ was not so depe soler,
Þat it nold~ lyȝt þe Botelere,
To fylle boþ ale and wyne,
Of syluer and g{o}ld{e} boþ good and fyne. 176
Enneas þe king~, þat nobel man,
At Troye in batayle he it wan,
And brouȝt it in-to Lumbardy,
And gaf~ it his le{m}man, his Amy. 180
Þe Coupe was stoole fro king~ Cesar;
A þeef~ out of his tresour hous it bar.
And sethe þ{a}t ilke same þeef~
For Blaunchefloure he it ȝeef~. 184
For he wyst to wynne suche þree,
Myȝt he hur bryng~ to his contree.
Now þese Marchaundes saylen ou{er} þe see,
W{i}t{h} þis mayde, to her contree. 188
So longe þey han vndernome,
[Headnote: _Blauncheflur is sold and carried to Babylon._]
[Sidenote: Blauncheflur is taken to Babylon and sold to the Admiral.]
Þ{a}t to Babyloyn{e} þey ben coom{e}.
To þe Amyral of~ Babyloyn{e}
Þey solde þat mayde swythe soon{e}; 192
Rath and soone þey were at oon{e}.
Þe Amyral hur bouȝt Anoon{e},
And gafe for hur, as she stood vpryȝt,
Seuyn{e} sythes of~ gold{e} her wyȝt, 196
For he þouȝt w{i}t{h}out~ weene
Þat faire mayde haue to Queene;
Among~ his maydons in his bo{ur}
He hur dide w{i}t{h} muche hono{ur}. 200
_MS. Cott. Vitell. D. III., 6 a, col. 1._
_The 3 leaves of this MS. are burnt and shrunk, and are hardly
legible._
. . . . . [FB-2]so dere (196)
. . . . wiþ þoute wene.
. . þat maide to his quene.
. his maidenes vp in is tur, 4
. hire wiþ muchel honur (200)
[Footnote FB-2: _MS. note._ See Introduction; also _Floris et
Blanch._, Paris 1856, p. 28, l. 673.]
Now þese merchaundes þ{a}t may belete,
[Sidenote: [100 _b_]]
And ben glad of~ hur byȝete.
++nOw let we of Blauncheflo{ur} be,
And speke of Florys in his contree. 204
Now is þe Bu[r]gays to þe king~ coom{e}
W{i}t{h} þe gold{e} and his garyson{e},
And haþ take þe king~ to wolde,
Þe seluer and þe Coupe of golde. 208
. . marchans þis maide forlete,
. . . bliþe mid here by-ȝete.
. . . . we blancheflur be. 8
. . floires in his cu{n}tre. (204)
. burgeys to þe king icome.
. . . gold {and} þisse garisome.
. . . þan king i ȝolde. 12
. . þo cupe of golde. (208)
[Sidenote: The king and queen cause to be made a supposititious tomb for
Blauncheflur.]
They lete make in a Chirche
As swithe feire g{ra}ue wyrche.
And lete ley þ{er}-vppon{e}
A new feire peynted stone, 212
W{i}t{h} letters al aboute wryte
W{i}t{h} ful muche worshipp{e}.
Who-so couth þe letters rede,
Þus þey spoken, and þus þey seide: 216
“Here lyth swete Blaunchefloure
Þat Florys louyd P{ar}amoure.”
Now Florys haþ vndernome,
. . . let at one chiriche.
. . . . les wereche,
. . . [þ]at anouen . . 16
. . pointe stonde (212)
. . . . bi write.
. . . . . hele worþsipe
. . . þe lett{er}s rede. 20
. . . . . . . . . (216)
. . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
. . [h]aueþ vnder-nome 24
[Headnote: _Floris returns and inquires for Blauncheflur. ‘She is
dead.’_]
[Sidenote: Floris returns, and asks his father and mother for
Blauncheflur in vain.]
And to his Fader he is coome. 220
In his Fader halle he is lyȝt,
His Fader him grette anoon{e} ryȝt,
And his moder, þe Queene, also,
But vnneþes myȝt he þ{a}t doo, 224
Þat he ne asked where his Le{m}man bee;
Nonskyns answere chargeþ hee.
So longe he is forth noom{e},
In to Chamber he is coom{e}. 228
. . faderlonde he is icome (220)
. . . halle he is alyȝt
. . . . he grette anonryȝt
. . þe quene he grette also 28
. . . haueþ his greti{n}ge ido, (224)
. . . askeþ war þ{a}t maide beo
. . . were no{u} targeþ heo.
. . . res hit haueþ vnder nome 32
. . boure & a is icome (228)
[Sidenote: He then asks the girl’s mother.]
Þe maydenys moder he asked ryȝt,
“Where is Blauncheflo{ur}, my swete wyȝt?”
“Sir,” she seide, “forsothe ywys,
I ne woot where she is.” 232
She beþouȝt hur on þ{a}t lesyng~
Þat was ordeyned byfoore þe king~.
“Þ{o}u gabbest me,” he seyde þoo,
“Þy gabbyng~ doþ me muche woo. 236
Tel me where my leman be.”
Al wepyng~ seide þenne shee,
. . . to hire ano{n}riȝt
. [bl]ancheflur mi suete wiȝt
. . . . . . ful iwis 36
. . . . . war heo is (232)
[Sidenote: [_leaf 6, col. 2_]]
Þine gabbinge deþ me wo;
Tel me war my le{m}mon beo.
Al wepinge onsuerede heo, 40
[Sidenote: The mother at length tells Floris that Blauncheflur is dead.]
“Sir,” shee seide, “deed{e}.” “deed!” seide he.
“Sir,” sche seide, “for sothe, ȝee.” 240
“Allas, when died þ{a}t swete wyȝt?”
[Sidenote: [101 _a_]]
“Sir, w{i}t{h}ynne þis Fourtenyȝt
Þe erth was leide hur aboute,
And deed she was for thy loue.” 244
“Sire,” heo seyde, “ded.” “ded!” quad he.
“Sire,” heo seyde, “for soþe ȝe,
Alas, wenne deide my suete wyȝt?”
“Sire,” heo seyde, “wiþ inne þis seueniȝt 44
Þat vrþe hire was leyd aboue,
And ded heo is for þine loue.
[Sidenote: Floris swoons.]
Flores, þat was so feire and gent,
Sownyd þ{er}e verament.
Þe cristen woman began to crye
To ih{es}u crist and seynt Marye. 248
Þe king~ and þe queene herde þ{a}t crye;
In to þe Chamber þey ronne on hye.
And þe Queene herde her byforn{e}
On sowne þe Childe þat she had born{e}. 252
Floyres þat was so fayr {and} ge{n}t,
He fel iswoue vp on þe paueme{n}t. 48
And þe cristene wi{m}mon go{n} to crie
To crist {and} to sey{n}temarie.
Þe king & þe quene iherdde þ{a}t cri;
In to þe bure þo vrne hy. 52
And þe quene ate frome
By wepeþ hire dere sone.
Þe kinges hert was al in care,
Þat sawe his son{e} for loue so fare.
When he a-wooke and speke moȝt,
Sore he wept and sore he syȝt, 256
And seide to his moder ywys,
“Lede me þ{er}e þat mayde is.”
{And} þe kinges herte is ful of care
Þat he sikþ is sone vor loue so fare. 56
Anon he of swoninge awok {and} speke miste.
Sore he wep {and} sore he syȝte,
And on his moder he by siþt.
“Dame,” he sayde, “led me þar þ{a}t mayde lyþ.” 60
[Sidenote: His mother comes to him, and conducts him to the
supposititious tomb.]
Þeder þey him brouȝt on hyȝe;
For care and sorow he wold{e} dyȝe. 260
As sone as he to þe graue com,
Sone þ{er}e behelde he þen,
Þider heo hine broute wel suþe,
Vor care a[n]d sorwe of hire deþe.
Ano{n} þ{a}t he to þe burles com,
Wel ȝerne he bi-hul þer-on, 64
[Headnote: _Floris reads the inscription on the monument, and swoons._]
[Sidenote: Floris reads the inscription, and then swoons three times.]
And þe letters began to rede,
Þat þus speke and þus seide: 264
“Here lytħ swete Blauncheflo{ur},
Þat Florys louyd p{ar}amoure.”
Þre sithes Florys sownydde nouth;
Ne speke he myȝt not w{i}t{h} mouth. 268
As sone as he awoke and speke myȝt,
Sore he wept and sore he syȝt~.
And letteres bigon to rede.
Þus spek {and} þus sede
Þat þar lay suete blancheflur.
[Þat] floyres louede par amur. 68
Þ . . . . swouneþ nouþe
[[empty line]]
And asone ase he speke myȝte.
Sore he wep {and} sore he syȝte,
And gon blancheflur bi mene 72
Wit teres riue ase a sc{ur} of r[e]ne.
[Sidenote: Floris weeps and sighs, and laments Blauncheflur’s death.]
“Blauncheflo{ur}!” he seide, “Blauncheflo{ur}!”
So swete a þing was neu{er} in boure. 272
Of Blauncheflo{ur} is þat y meene,
For she was com{e} of~ good kyn{e}.
“Blancheflur,” he seide, “blancheflur,
So sute þing nas ner in bur,
[Sidenote: [_leaf 6, back_]]
Vor þou were ibore of gode cu{n}ne, 76
Vor in worle nes nere non
Þine imake of no wimmon.
Inouȝ þou cuþest of clergie
And of alle curteysie. 80
Lytel and muche loueden þe
For þy goodnesse and þy beaute. 276
Ȝif deþ were dalt aryȝt,
We shuld be deed boþ on oo nyȝt.
On oo day born{e} we were;
We shul be ded boþ in feere.” 280
& muchel {and} litel hit louede þe
Vor þi fayr hede {and} þi bunte.
Ȝif þat deþ were ideld ariȝt,
We scholden habbe idiȝed boþe in ar niȝt. 84
Vor in one deye ibore we were;
Mid riȝte we scholden deie ifere.”
[Sidenote: He apostrophizes death.]
[Sidenote: [101 _b_]]
“Deeþ,” he seide, “ful of~ enuye,
And of alle trechorye,
Refte þ{o}u hast me my le{m}man.”
“For soth,” he seide, “þ{o}u art to blame. 284
She wolde haue leuyd, and þu noldest,
And fayn{e} wolde y dye, and þu woldest.
“Deþ,” he seyde, “vol of enuie,
{and} vol of alle tricherie, 88
Mid t{ra}isu{n} þ{o}u me hast mi lef binome.
To bi-t{ra}ie þat folk hit is þi wone;
Heo wolde libbe {and} þu noldest.
Þou nelt me slen {and} ihc wolde; 92
[_No gap in MS._]
Wiþ þere me wolde þat þou were.
Nul tu no wiȝt come þere,
{and} þer me wolde þ{a}t þou . . ne come,
Þer þou wolt come Ilome. 96
Þilke þ{a}t buste best to libbe,
Hem þou stikest under þe ribbe.
{and} ȝif þer is eni forliued wrecche,
Þat of is liue nouȝt ne recche, 100
Þat fawe wolde deie for sorewe & elde,
On hem neltou nouȝht bi helde.
No lengore ich nelle mi lef bileue,
I chulle be mid hyre ere eue. 104
After deeþ clepe nomore y nylle,
But slee my self~ now y wille.” 288
Nou after deþ clepie ich þe nulle,
Ac mi sulue aslen ich wille.”
[Headnote: _He tries to stab himself, but is prevented by his mother._]
[Sidenote: He attempts to stab himself with a knife, but is prevented by
his mother.]
His knyf~ he braide out of his sheth;
Him self he wolde haue doo to deth.
And to hert he had it smeten{e}
Ne had his moder it vnder ȝeten{e}. 292
Þen þe Queene fel him vppon{e},
And þe knyf~ fro him noom{e}.
She reft~ him of~ his lytel knyf~,
And sauyd þere þe Childes lyf~. 296
Forþ þe Queene ranne, al wepyng~,
Tyl she com{e} to þe kyng~.
Ase a mo{n} þat draȝh him sulue to þe deþe,
His knif he draȝh out of his scheþe, 108
{and} to his herte hit wolde habbe ismite,
Nadde his moder hit vnder gete.
Ac þe quene his moder . . fel vpon,
& þis knif heo him binom. 112
Heo bi nom him his atel knif.
[Sidenote: [_leaf 6, back, col. 2_]]
Þat heo com bi . . . . . . .
[Headnote: _The queen discloses to Floris the deception._]
[Sidenote: The queen persuades the king to reveal the truth.]
Þan seide þe good lady,
“For goddes loue, s{ir}, mercy! 300
Of .xii. children haue we noon{e}
On lyue now but þis oon{e}.
And better it were she were his make,
Þan he were deed for hur sake.” 304
Þanne spac þe quene þe . .
{and} seyde to þe kinge, “sire, mercy, 116
Sire, of þis children nabbe we non,
Non aliue bote þis on,
{and} bote hit were þ{a}t hit wer . .
Þane eyþer deȝede vor oþer . . . 120
“Dame, þ{o}u seist soþ,” seide he;
“Sen it may noon{e} other be,
Leuer me were she were his wyf~,
Þan y lost my sonnes lyf~.” 308
Of~ þis word þe Quene was fayn{e},
And to her soon{e} she ran agayn{e}.
“Dame, þou seist soþ,” þo seyde he,
“Nu hit nele no{n} oþer bee.
Leuere me were þ{a}t heo were
Þane ihc for lore mine sone l[yf].” 124
Of þisse wordes þe quene w . .
To floyres, hire sone, . . .
[Sidenote: They tell him the facts, and together open the grave and find
it empty.]
“Floryes, soon{e}, glad make the,
Þy lef þ{o}u schalt on lyue see. 312
Florys, son{e}, þrouȝ engynne
Of~ þy Faders reed and myne,
Þis graue let we make,
Leue son{e}, for þy sake. 316
Ȝif~ þ{o}u þ{a}t maide forgete woldest,
After oure reed wyf~ þ{o}u sholdest.”
“Floyres, sone, glad make þe .
For ut þou schalt þi lef . . 128
Leue sone . . . . . . .
. . . . fader rede {and} . .
. . . . . wo . . .
Leue sone so . . . . . . 132
Vor [_two lines illegible here_]
. . . . . vre rede . . .
Now eu{er}y word{e} she haþ him tolde,
How þ{a}t þey þ{a}t mayden solde. 320
[Sidenote: [102 _a_]]
“Is þis soth, my moder dere?”
“For soth,” she seide, “she is not here.”
Þe rowȝ stoon{e} adoun{e} þey leyde,
And sawe þ{a}t was not þe mayde. 324
. . . word {and} ende him .
Hou hei habbeþ þat mayde, 136
“{and} is þis soþ, mi moder dere?”
“Ȝe, for soþe,” heo nis not .
Þane stond hii panne . . . .
He isay þ{a}t þere nas . . . . 140
[Sidenote: Floris declares his resolve to find Blauncheflur.]
“Now, moder, y þink þ{a}t y leue may.
Ne shal y rest nyȝt ne day,
Nyȝt ne day ne no stound{e},
Tyl y haue my le{m}mon found{e}. 328
Nu me þencheþ . . . . .
. . . ne schal ihc . . . .
Niȝt ne da . . . . . .
. . . ich . . . . . . 144
[_Some folios lost here. Continued at bottom of page 84._]
Hur to seken y wołł wend{e},
Þauȝ it were to þe worldes ende.”
To þe king~ he goþ to take his leue,
And his Fader bade him byleue. 332
“Sir, y wyl let for no wynne;
Me to bydden it it were grete synne.”
Þan seid þe king~, “seth it is soo,
Seþ þ{o}u wylt noon{e} other doo, 336
Al þat þe nedeþ we shul þe fynde;
Ih{es}u þe of~ care vnbynde.”
[Headnote: _Floris equips a company with which to search for
Blauncheflur._]
[Sidenote: He describes to the king the retinue that he would like.]
“Leue Fader,” he seide, “y telle þe
Al þ{a}t þ{o}u shalt fynde me. 340
Þ{o}u mast me fynde, at my deuyse,
Seuen horses al of~ prys,
And twoo y-charged vppon~ þe molde
Boþ w{i}t{h} seluer and wyþ golde, 344
And two ycharged w{i}t{h} monay
For to spenden by þe way,
And þree w{i}t{h} clothes ryche,
Þe best of~ al þe kyngryche, 348
Seuen horses and seuyn~ men,
And þre knaues w{i}t{h}out hem,
And þyn{e} own{e} Chamburlayn{e},
Þat is a wel nobel swayn{e}. 352
He can vs wyssħ and reede,
As marchaundes we shułł vs lede.”
His Fader was an hynde king~,
[Sidenote: The king gives him also the marvellous cup, and an elegantly
caparisoned ‘palfray.’]
Þe Coupe of golde he dide him bryng~, 356
Þat ilke self~ Coupe of golde
Þat was Blauncheflo{ur} for ȝolde.
“Haue þis, soon{e},” seide þe king~,
“Herew{i}t{h} þ{o}u may þ{a}t swete þing~, 360
[Sidenote: [102 _b_]]
“Wynne so may betyde,
Blauncheflo{ur} w{i}t{h} þe white syde,
Blauncheflo{ur}, þ{a}t faire may.”
Þe king let sadel a Palfray, 364
Þe oon{e} half so white so mylke,
And þat other reed so sylk~.
I ne can telle nouȝt
How rychely þat sadel was wrouȝt. 368
Þe Arson~ was of gold{e} fyn{e},
Stones of v{er}tu stode þ{er}yne,
Bygon{e} aboute wit orfreys.
[Sidenote: The queen gives him a magic ring.]
Þe Queene was kynde and curtays, 372
Cast hur toward þe kyng~
And of~ hur fynger she brayde a ryng~:
_Cambridge MS. Gg. 4. 27. 2._
Heo tok forþ a wel fair þing,
Of hire finger a riche Ryng.
“Haue now þis ylke ryng~:
While is it þyn{e}, douȝt no þyng~ 376
Of~ fire brennyng~ ne water in þe See;
Ne yren~ ne steele shal dere thee.”
“Mi sone,” heo sede, “haue þis ring.
“Whil he is þin, ne dute noþing, 4
Þ{a}t fur þe bre{n}ne ne adrenche se,
Ne ire ne steil ne mai þe sle.
And to þi wil þu schalt habbe g{ra}ce,
Late {and} rathe in eche place.” 8
[Headnote: _Floris and his company arrive at the haven._]
[Sidenote: Floris takes leave and comes to the haven, and lodges at the
same house where Blauncheflur had been.]
He took~ his leue for to goo;
Þ{er} was ful muche woo; 380
[_No gap in MS._]
Þey made him noon~ other chere
Þan her soon~ were leide in bere.
++Floris nimeþ nu his leue;
No long{er} nolde he bileue.
He custe he{m} wiþ softe muþe;
Al wepinge hi dep{ar}teþ nuþe. 12
Ne makede his Moder no{n} oþ{er} chere,
Bute also he were ileid on bere.
For him ne wende hi neu{er}e mo
Eft to sen; ne dude hi no. 16
Furþ he went w{i}t{h} al his mayn~;
W{i}t{h} him went þe Chamberlayn~. 384
So haue þey her hauyn~ nome
Þat þey ben to þe hauyn~ come
Þere Blaunchefloure was alnyȝt,
Wel rychely þey ben dyȝt; 388
Forþ he wende wiþ al his mein,
And wiþ hi{m} his fader chau{m}berlein.
Fort to þe hauene hi beoþ icume,
And þ{er} habbeþ here in inome. 20
At þe selue huse hi buþ aliȝt
Þ{a}t blau{n}cheflur was þ{a}t oþ{er} niȝt.
Riche sop{er} þer was idiȝt,
[Sidenote: They find there good entertainment.]
Þe lord of~ þe ynne was welle hende;
Þe Child~ he sette next þe ende,
In al þe feirest seete
And m{ur}ie hi verde{n} þ{er} aniȝt. 24
Floriz ne let for ne feo
To finden al þ{a}t neod beo,
[Sidenote: All make good cheer except Floris, who thinks ever on
Blauncheflur.]
Alle þey dronken and al þey ȝete: 392
[_No gap in MS._]
Ete ne drynke myȝt he nouȝt;
On blauncheflour was al his þouȝt.
Of fless, of fiss, of tendre bred,
Of whit win, {and} eke red. 28
Glad {and} bliþe hi weren alle
Þ{a}t were{n} wiþ he{m} in þe halle,
And pleide {and} gamenede ehc wiþ oþ{er}.
Ac floriȝ þe{n}cheþ al on oþ{er}, 32
For he net ne dronk riȝt noȝt.
On blau{n}cheflur was al his þoȝt.
[Headnote: _Floris mourns. He hears of Blauncheflur, and is glad._]
[Sidenote: The hostess observes his ‘mourning,’ and tells him that she
is reminded of the mourning of Blauncheflur.]
Þe lady of þat vnderȝat
Þ{at} þe Childe mornyng~ sat, 396
And seide to her lord w{i}t{h} styl dreme,
“Sir, nym{e} now good{e} ȝeme
How þe Child~ mo{ur}nyng syttes:
Mete and drynke he forȝetes: 400
[Sidenote: [103 _a_]]
Lytel he eteþ, and lasse he drynkeþ;
He is a marchaund, as me þynkeþ.”
Þe lefdi of þer inne vnderȝat
Þ{a}t he m{ur}ni{n}ge sat. 36
To hire lou{e}rd heo sede wiþ stille dreme,
“Sire, nimestu no ȝeme
Hu þis child m{ur}ni{n}ge sit?
Mete ne drinke he nabit. 40
He net mete ne he ne drinkeþ;
Nis he no marchau{n}t, ase me þinkeþ.”
To Flores þen seide she,
“Al ful of~ mo{ur}nyng~ y the see. 404
Þ{er} sate þ{er} þis sender day,
Blauncheflo{ur}, þ{a}t swete may.
Heder was þ{a}t mayde brouȝt
W{i}t{h} Marchaundes þ{a}t hur had bouȝt; 408
Heder þey brouȝt þ{a}t mayde swete;
Þey wold haue solde hur for byȝete;
To Babyloyn{e} þey wyll{e} hur bryng{e},
Boþ of semblant & of~ mornyng{e}.” 412
“Floriz,” heo sede, “what mai þe beo,
Þus m{ur}ninge as ich þe seo? 44
Þus her inne þis oþ{er} day
Sat blau{n}cheflur, þ{a}t faire may.”
Ord {and} ende he haþ him told,
Hu blau{n}cheflur was þari{n}ne isold. 48
[_No gap in MS._]
“Þu art hire ilich of alle þinge,
Boþe of semblau{n}t {and} of m{ur}ni{n}ge,
Of fairnesse {and} of muchelhede,
Bute þu ert a man {and} heo a maide.” 52
[Sidenote: Floris rejoices at the mention of the name. He gives the
hostess a silver cup, etc., and inquires further about Blauncheflur.]
When Florys herd speke of~ his le{m}man,
Was he neuer so glad a man,
And in his hert bygan to lyȝt;
Þe Coupe he let fulle anoon~ ryȝt: 416
Þo floriz iherde his le{m}ma{n} ne{m}pne,
So blisful him þuȝte þilke steuene,
He let fulle a cupe of win.
“Dame,” he seide, “þe fessel is þyn{e},
Boþ þe Coupe and þe wyn{e},
Þe wyn{e} and þe gold eke,
For þ{o}u of my leman speke: 420
On hur y þouȝt, for hur y syȝt;
I ne wyst where I hur fynde myȝt;
Wynde ne weder shal me assoyn{e},
Þat y ne shal seche hur in Babyloyn{e}.” 424
“Dame,” he sede, “þis hail is þin, 56
Þ{a}t win {and} þ{a}t gold eke,
For þu of mi le{m}ma{n} speke.
For hire iþoȝte, for hire isiȝte,
For inot wher hire seche miȝte. 60
Hire to seche ihc wille i wende,
Þeȝ heo beo at þe wordles ende.”
Now Florys resteþ him al a nyȝt.
Floriz geȝ to his rest;
On blau{n}cheflur he þoȝte mest. 64
Ac rest ne miȝte he nabbe none,
Fort þe dide slep hi{m} nome.
[Sidenote: Floris sets sail once more.]
At morn{e}, when it was day lyȝt,
He dide him in-to þe wylde flood~.
Wynde and weder w{i}t{h} him stood; 428
Sone so Florys com{e} to londe,
Þ{er}e he þanked goddes sonde
A moreȝe so sone so hit was day
He tok his leue {and} we{n}te his way, 68
And dude him i{n}to þe salte flod;
He hadde wind {and} weder ful god.
Þe Marin{er} he ȝaf largeliche,
Þ{a}t broȝte hi{m} ou{er} bluþeliche. 72
[Headnote: _Floris reaches the land where his Leman is._]
[Sidenote: He arrives in the country where his leman is.]
To þe londe þ{er} his lyf~ ynne is:
Him þouȝt he was in paradyse. 432
Þ{er} hi wolde{n} he{m} self alonde,
For hi fu{n}de{n} he{m} so hende,
To þe lond þ{er} his le{m}ma{n} is;
Hi{m} þuȝte he was i{n} p{ar}ais. 76
Sone to Florys tydyng men tolde
Þ{a}t þe Amyral wold~ Fest holde;
His Erls, Barons, comyn~ sholde,
And al þ{a}t wold~ of him lond holde, 436
For to herkyn~ his hest
And for to honoure his Feest.
Ano{n} me hi{m} tiþi{n}ge tolde
Þ{a}t þe admiral wolde feste h[olde].
Erles, baruns þ{er} come sch[olde],
And þat wolden of hi{m} h[olde]. 80
Glad was Florys of þ{a}t tydyng~;
He hoped to com{e} to þ{a}t gestyng~, 440
Ȝif~ he myȝt, in þ{a}t halle,
His le{m}man see among hem alle.
Bliþe was floriz of þe tiþinge;
He hopede come to þ{a}t gesni{n}ge.
Wel he hopede among he{m} alle
His le{m}ma{n} sen in þe halle. 84
[Sidenote: [103 _b_]]
++nOW to þ{a}t Citee Florys is com{e};
Feire he hath his ynne y-noom{e} 444
At a palaise; was non{e} it lyche;
Þe lord of þ{a}t ynne was fulle ryche;
He hadde ben ferre and wyde.
To a riche Cite hi buþ icume;
Vaire hi habbeþ here i{n} inome,
At one paleis suþe riche;
Þe lord of þ{er} i{n}ne nas no{n} his liche. 88
Him feol gold inoȝ to honde,
Boþe in water {and} in londe.
[Sidenote: At the inn there is good cheer, and Floris enters into
conversation with the host.]
Þe Childe he set next his syde, 448
In al þe feirest seete.
Alle þey dronken and ete,
Al þat þ{er}ynne were,
Al þey made good chere, 452
Þey ete and dronke echoon~ w{i}t{h} other;
But Florys þouȝt al another,
Ete ne drynke he myȝt noȝt,
On Blauncheflo{ur} was al his þouȝt. 456
He hadde ilad his lif ful wide;
Þis child he sette next his side. 92
Glad {and} bliþe hi weren alle,
So fele so were in þe halle.
[_No gap in MS._]
Ac floriz net ne dronk noȝt;
Of blau{n}cheflur was al his þoȝt. 96
Þan spake þe Burgays
Þat was hende and Curtays:
“Ow, child~, me þynkeþ welle
Þ{a}t muche þ{o}u þynkest on my catell{e}.” 460
“Nay, s{ir}, on Catel þenke y nouȝt,”
(On Blauncheflo{ur} was al his þouȝt,)
“But y þynke on al wyse
For to fynde my marchaundise; 464
And ȝit it is þe most woo,
When y it fynd, y shal it forgoo.”
Þe lord of þ{er}inne vnderȝat
Þ{a}t þis child m{ur}ninge sat.
“Floriz,” he sede, “what mai þe beo,
Þus m{ur}ni{n}ge þ{a}t ihc þe seo? 100
Þan spak~ þe lord of~ þ{a}t ynne,
“Þis sender day, þ{er} sate hereyn{e} 468
Þat faire Maide Blauncheflo{ur},
boþ in halle and in boure.
Eu{er} she made mornyng chere,
And bement Florys, her lyf~ fere; 472
Ioye ne blis made she noon~,
But for Florys she made her moon~.”
[Þ]us heri{n}ne þis oþ{er} day
[S]at blau{n}cheflur þ{a}t faire may.
[I]n halle ne in bur ne at bord,
[O]f hire ne herde we neure a word. 104
[B]ute of floriz was hire mone;
[Heo] nadde in herte ioie none.”
Florys toke a Coupe of~ syluer clere,
A mantyl of~ Scarlet w{i}t{h} menyuere: 476
“Houe þis, s{ir}, to þyn~ hono{ur};
Þ{o}u may þonke it Blauncheflo{ur}.
He myȝt make myn~ hert glade,
Þ{a}t couþ me tel wheder she is ladde.” 480
[Whanne] herde he ne{m}pnen his le{m}man,
[Bliþe] he was iwis for þan. 108
[He lat] bringe a cupe of seluer
[And eke] a pane of menuuer.
[Þanne] he sede, “haue þis to þin honur,
[So þ]u speke of blau{n}cheflur. 112
[Þu mi]ȝtest make min heorte ful glad;
[Þu tel]le me wuder heo were ilad.”
[Þanne] sede þe burgeis,
[Þat was] wel hende {and} c{ur}tais, 116
[Headnote: _The innkeeper tells Floris how the Admiral bought
Blauncheflur._]
[Sidenote: The host tells him that Blauncheflur has been sold to the
Admiral at Babylon.]
“Child~, to Babyloyne she is brouȝt;
Þe Amyral hur haþ bouȝt:
[Sidenote: [104 _a_]]
He gaf~ for hur, as she stood vpryȝt,
Seuen sithes of~ gold hur wyȝt; 484
For he þenkeþ w{i}t{h}-out weene,
Þat faire may haue to Queene.
Among~ his maydons in his toure
He hur dide, w{i}t{h} much honoure.” 488
[“To Babi]lloigne he was ibroȝt;
[Þe adm]iral hire haȝ iboȝt.”
Now Flores resteþ him þ{er}e al nyȝt,
Tyl on þe morrow þe day was lyȝt;
He roos on þe morownyng~,
He gaf~ his Ost an hundryd shelyng~, 492
To his ost and to his Ostesse,
And toke his leue, and feire dide kysse;
[Floriz go]þ to his rest;
[On Blaunch]eflur he þoȝte mest. 120
Ac reste ne miȝte he habbe none;
Fort þe dide slep him nome.
Amoreȝe so sone so hit was day,
He nem his liue, {and} we{n}de his way. 124
[Sidenote: Floris gives the host a hundred shillings, and asks his
assistance.]
And ȝerne his ost he besouȝt,
Þat he him help, ȝif he myȝt ouȝt, 496
Ȝif~ he myȝt~, w{i}t{h} any gynne,
Þat feire may to him wynne.
And for his niȝtes gestinge
He ȝaf his oste an hundred schillinge.
[_No gap in MS._]
And ȝerne he haþ his oste bisoȝt
Þ{a}t he him helpe wiþ al his þoȝt, 128
In Babilloine, oþ{er} wher a beo,
Þ{a}t he miȝte hire iseo,
Hu he miȝte mid sume ginne,
His le{m}man blau{n}cheflur awinne. 132
Þa{n}ne sede þe burgeis,
Þ{a}t was hende {and} curtais,
_MS. Cott. Vitell. D. III._
[Sidenote: [_leaf 7_]]
. . . . . . . by souht
. . . . . mid al his mauht
. . frend in babiloyne hadde
. . wisede {and} wel radde
. . . he mihte mid eni ginne
. . . blancheflour iwinne
[Headnote: _The innkeeper gives Floris instructions._]
“Childe,” he seide, “to a brygge þ{o}u shalt com{e},
The Senpere fynde at hoom{e}: 500
He woneth at þe brygges ende;
Curtays man he is, and hende;
We arn~ bretheren, and trouthes plyȝt:
He can þe wyssh and rede a-ryȝt; 504
At babilloine atte frume,
To one brigge þu schalt cume. 136
Whane þu comest to þe ȝate,
Þe port{er} þu schalt find þarate.
Wel hende man {and} fair he is;
He is icluped sire daris. 140
Mi felaȝe he is þureȝ truþe ipliȝt,
And he kan rede þe ariȝt.
. . one longe brugge þou schalt come
. . . ngere finde þer ate frome.
. . . c is ate brugge ende
. . . mon he is {and} hende
. . . breþeren {and} treweþe ipliht
. . . wisi {and} reden wel riht.
[Sidenote: The innkeeper sends him with a ring of introduction to the
bridge porter at Babylon.]
Þ{o}u shalt bere him a rynge
Fro my-self~ to tokenynge,
Þat he help þe in boure and halle
As it were my self~ befalle.” 508
[_No gap in MS._]
Florys takeþ þe ryng~, and nemeþ leue,
For long~ wold~ he nouȝt beleue.
Haue {and} ber him þis ring,
On mine halue to tokning, 144
Þ{a}t he þe helpe in alle halue,
Ase he wolde me selue.”
Floriz herof was wel bliþe,
And þonkede his oste wel suiþe. 148
Feire of him he nimeþ leue;
No lengur nolde he bileue.
. . . bere him neseno[FB-3] ring
. . . . . . to toking
. . . . . elpe on eche halue
. . . . . {and} takeþ is leue
. . . . . . þer by sene
[Footnote FB-3: ?]
[Sidenote: Floris takes leave, and by midday reaches the bridge and
finds the porter.]
By þ{a}t it was vndern~ hyȝe,
Þe Brygge com{e} he swyth nye. 512
Þe Senperes name was Darys.
Florys gret him wel feire ywys,
And he him þe ryng~ arauȝt,
And ful feire it him betauȝt. 516
Biþ{a}t hit was middai hiȝ,
Floriz was þe brigge niȝ. 152
Þe he com to þe gate
Þe port{er} he fond anon þ{er}ate,
Sittinde one a marbelston,
Suþe fair {and} hende mon, 156
And so him sede child floriz,
“Rest þe m{ur}ie, sire daris,”
. . . . . . ondarne heyȝ
. . . . . [bru]gge suiþe neyȝ
. . . . . þane brugge icome
. . . . . bruggere ate frome
. . . . . . . a Marbreston
. . . . . mon he was on
. . . . . was of Muchel p{ri}s
. . . . . . him sulf iwis
. . . . . ys was i hote doyre
. . . . . s him grette wel fayre
. . . . . him þane ri{n}g arauht
. . . [d] ayre hine him bi tauht
[Headnote: _Floris presents his ring of introduction to Daris._]
[Sidenote: Floris presents the ring, and is hospitably received.]
Þrouȝ þe token of þ{a}t ilk~ ryng~
Florys had ful faire gestnyng~
Off~ Fyssħ and flessh and tender breed~,
Of~ wyn~, both white and reed~: 520
And tok him to tokne þis ring;
And þ{er}fore he hauede wel fair gestni{n}g. 160
Glade {and} bliþe hi weren alle,
So fele so weren in þe halle,
. . . . þe tockne of þe ringe
. hadde þ{er} aniht wel gode gistinge
. . . . b of fles of tendre bred
. . . . t win {and} eke of red
[Sidenote: Floris sits mourning.]
And eu{er} Florys sate ful colde,
And Dares bygan þe Childe beholde:
Ac floriz net ne dronk noȝt;
On blau{n}cheflur was al his þoȝt 164
Sire daris vnderȝet
Þ{a}t floriz m{ur}ni{n}ge set.
. . . . re floyres sike {and} colde
. . . . gon þ{a}t chil by holde
[Sidenote: Daris asks if he is not pleased with his entertainment.]
[Sidenote: [104 _b_]]
“Leue Child, what may þis be,
Þus þouȝtful as y the see? 524
And þ{o}u nouȝt al in feere,
Þat þ{o}u makist þus sory chere,
Or þ{o}u lykkest noȝt þis yn~?”
“Floriz,” he sede, “what mai þe beo,
So þoȝtful ase ihc þe seo? 168
Me þincheþ bi þine chire,
Þu nert noȝt glad of þi sop{er}e,
Oþ{er} þe ne likeþ noȝt þis in.”
. . . . wat may þe be
. . . . . þe i see
. . . . . . . uoice al fere
. . . . . . . . ele chere.
[Sidenote: [_leaf 7, col. 2_]]
. . . . . . . . þin in.”
Þan Floreys answered him~: 528
“Ȝis, s{ir}, by goddes ore,
So good ne had y mony day ȝore:
God let me abyde þat daye
Þat y þe quyte wel may: 532
Þo floriz ansuerede him: 172
“Sire,” he sede, “bi godes ore,
So god in nauede ihc wel ȝore,
Vre lou{er}d me lete ibide þe day
Þ{a}t ihc hit þe ȝulde may. 176
Bot floyres onswerede him,
“Nay, sire, bi godes ore,
So god nadde [I] wel ȝore.
God lete me abide þane day
Þ{a}t ich hit þe ȝelde May.
[Sidenote: Floris tells him, in veiled words, his real trouble.]
But y þenke on al wyse
Most vppon~ my marchaundyse;
[_No gap in MS._]
And ȝit it is most woo,
When y hit Fynde, y shal it forgoo.” 536
Ihc þenche, sire, on fele wise
Nu vpon mi marchau{n}dise,
Last ine finde noȝt atte frume
Þ{a}t þing for whi ihc am hider icume. 180
And þeȝ ihc hit finde hit is mi wo
Lest ihc schulle hit forgo.”
Ac ich þenche on alle wise
Vppon mine Marchaundise
Ware vore ich am hider icome,
Lest ich ne feynde hit ate frome,
{and} þ{a}t is ȝet mi meste wo,
Ȝif ich hit finde {and} hit forgo.
[Sidenote: Daris bids him speak plainly, and Floris speaks out.]
[_No gap in MS._]
“Childe, woldest þ{o}u telle me my gryf~,
To hele þe, me were ful lyf~.”
Þo sede daris, þe freo burgeis,
Þ{a}t was wel hende {and} curteis, 184
“Fain ihc wolde þe rede {and} lere,
Þ{a}t þu muche þe bet{er}e were,
Ȝef þu toldest me þi gref,
To rede þe me were lef.” 188
Child, woldest þou telle me of þi gref
To helpe þe me were lef.
[Headnote: _Floris tells his story to Daris._]
Eu{er}y word he haþ him tolde,
How þe mayde was fro him solde, 540
And how he was of~ Spayn~ a kynges son{e},
For grete loue þider y-com{e},
To fonde, w{i}t{h} quantyse and w{i}t{h} gyn~,
Blauncheflo{ur} for to wynne. 544
Þo floriz bigan his consail schewe,
{And} to daris beon iknewe.
Ord {and} ende he haþ him told,
Hu blau{n}cheflur was isold, 192
And hu he was a kinges sune,
For hire luue þider icume,
To fonde þureȝ sume cu{n}nes ginne
His le{m}ma{n} blau{n}cheflur biwinne. 196
And now floyres hi{m} haueþ itold
Hou þ{a}t mayd from him wa sold,
{and} hou he was of spayne one kinges sone,
Vor hire loue þider icome.
[Headnote: _Daris begins to tell of the Admiral and the city._]
[Sidenote: Daris takes him to be a fool, and proceeds to tell the
strength of the Admiral and the size of the city.]
“Now,” seith Dares, “þ{o}u art a Folt,”--
And For a Foole þe Childe he halt,--
“Now y woot how it gooth,
Þ{o}u desirest þyn~ own~ death. 548
Þe Amyral haþ to his Iustinges
Oþ{er} half~ hundred of ryche kinges;
And þe Alder-rychest king~
Durst not begynne suche a þing~. 552
Daris þa{n}ne floriz bihalt,
{And} for more þane fol him halt.
“Floriz,” he sede, “iseo hu hit geþ;
Þu ert abute þinoȝe deþ. 200
Þe Admiral haueþ to his gestninge
Oþ{er} half hu{n}dred of riche kinges.
Ne þ{er} nis no{n} so riche king
Þ{a}t dorste ent{er}met{en} of eni such þing, 204
Þilke maide to awinne,
Noþ{er} wiþ strengþe ne wiþ ginne,
Nou doyres þ{a}t chil[d] by halt,
{and} for a fol he hine halt.
“Child, nou ich wot al hou hit geþ;
Iwis þou welnest þin owene deþ.
Þe amirel haueþ to his iustninge
Oþ{er} half hondert of riche kinge,
Þe alre richeste kinge
Ne dorste bi ginne swch a þing.
Ȝif~ Amyral myȝt it vnderstond{e},
He shulde be drawe in his owne londe,
A-bout Babyloyne, y wene,
Six longe myle and tene; 556
At eu{er}y myle is a walle þ{er}ate,
Seuen sithes twenty ȝate;
And .xx. toures þ{er} ben ynne,
Þ{a}t eu{er}y day chepyng is ynne; 560
And þe Admiral hit miȝte iwite,
Þ{a}t he n{er}e of his lif aquite. 208
And Babilloine, ihc vnderstonde,
Dureþ abute furte{n}niȝt gonde.
Abute þe walle þ{er} buþ ate,
Seuesiþe tuenti ȝates. 212
And ine þe bureȝ amidde riȝt
Beoþ twe tures ipiȝt.
And mihste þe amirayl hit vnder ȝete,
Sone of his liue he were quite.
Aboute babiloyne beþ to ȝonge wiþoute wene,
Sixti longe Mile {and} tene,
{and} ate walle þer beþ ate,
Seuesiþe tuenti ȝate.
And tueye toures þer beþ inne,
Þ{a}t þe chepinge is eche day inne.
Eu{er}y day and nyȝt þrouȝ-out þe ȝere
Þe Chepyng~ is y-lyche plenere;
[Sidenote: [105 _a_]]
And þauȝ al þe men þ{a}t ben bore,
Had on hur lyf~ swore 564
To wynne þat maide feire and free,
Al shul þey die, so moot y the.
Eche day in al þe ȝere
Þe feire is þ{er} iliche plenere. 216
Seue hu{n}dred tures {and} two
Beoþ in þe burȝ, biþute mo.
Nis þer day þoruh out þan ȝer,
Þat þe chepinge is iliche plener.
Seue hundred tures, wit oute{n} þan tuo,
Þ[er] beþ in þan boruh {and} somdel mo.
Þe alre febleste tour
Nolde nouht duti þe amp{er}ur.
[Headnote: _Description of the maidens’ ‘tower.’_]
[Sidenote: Daris tells of the ‘towers,’ the spring, the wonderful
carbuncle,]
In þ{a}t bo{ur}, in mydward pyȝt,
Stondeþ a toure, y the plyȝt, 568
An hundryd fathum~ it is hye,--
Who-soo beholdeþ hit, fer or nere,
An hundred fathum it is y-fere;--
It is made w{i}t{h}-out[en] pere, 572
And ine þe burȝ amidde riȝt,
Beoþ twe t{ur}es ipiȝt, 220
Vor to come þer wiþ inne,
No þ{er} wid stregþe ne wid ginne.
[Sidenote: [_leaf 7, back_]]
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . aȝen woo
. schal to iwinne þat Mayd al so sone
. . . . . þe so{n}ne {and} mone.
. . . þe bor . . mid rift
. . . . . . . . aplyft
. . hondred teyse þe to{ur} is heie
. . . . by halt fur {and} nei.
{and} an hundret teyse hit is wid,
{and} imaked wiþ muchel pruid.
Of lyme and of Marbulston{e};
In al þis world~ is suche noon{e}.
Now is þe morter made so wele,
Ne may it breke, iren ne steele. 576
Þe Pomel þat aboue is leide,
It is made w{i}t{h} muche p{r}ide;
Of lym {and} of marbelston;
In þe world nis swich t{ur} non.
In þe tur þ{er} is a welle,
Suþe cler hit is wiþ alle. 224
He vrneþ in o pipe of bras,
Whider so hit ned was.
Fra{m} flore in to flore
Þe strimes vrneþ store, 228
Fram bure in to halle
Þe st{ri}mes of þis welle.
In þe tur is o kernel
Of seluer {and} of crestel. 232
On þe tur anouenon
Is a charbugleston
Þ{a}t ȝiueþ leme day {and} niȝt,
Ne bi hit neure so derk niȝt. 236
Of lym {and} of marbel ston;
In cristiante nis swich non.
Þ{a}t morter is i maked se wel,
Ne May hit breke ire ne stel.
And þe pomel about þe lede
Is i wrouht mit so . . . . .
Þ{a}t man ne þar in þe Tour bern{e}
Nouther torcher[FB-4] ne lantern{e}; 580
Suche a pomel was þ{er} bygo{n}e,
Hit shyned a nyȝt so doþ þe soone.
[Footnote FB-4: MS. torther]
In þe bureȝ ne darf me berne
Lampe ne torche ne lant{er}ne,
Þ{a}t he ne ȝiueþ liȝt {and} leme
As doþ a day þe su{n}ne beme. 240
Ne þarf me aniht . . . . .
Nouþer torche . . . . . .
. . . . . a pomel . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
[Headnote: _How the maidens are guarded._]
[Sidenote: the porter on guard,]
[_No gap in MS._]
Þ{e} port{er} is prud wiþalle;
Eche day he goþ on þe walle.
And ef þ{er} comeþ eniman
Biþi{n}ne þilke barbecan, 244
Bute he him ȝeue leue,
He wule him boþe bete {and} reue.
Þe port{er} is culuart {and} felun;
He wule him sette areisun. 248
[Sidenote: and the forty-four maidens kept in the ‘high tower.’]
Now arn~ in þat ilk~ Tour
Twoo and fourty nobełł boure; 584
Wel were þat ilke man
Þ{a}t myȝt woon{e} in þ{a}t oon~!
Ne durst him neu{er} more ywys
Couete after more blysse. 588
“Þer buþ in þe hiȝe tur
Forti Maidenes {and} four.
Wel were þ{a}t ilke mon
Þ{a}t miȝte winne wiþ þ{a}t on. 252
Ne þorte he neure ful iwis
Wilne more of p{ar}adis.
. . . . . beþ in þan . .
Foure {and} fourti . . . . .
[Þ]at wel were þ{a}t ilke . . .
. . Mihte wonie . . . . .
[_About twenty lines illegible here._]
Naw arn~ þer Seriauntes in þ{a}t stage
Þ{a}t s{er}uen þe maydons of hyȝe p{ar}age;
But no s{er}ieaunt may s{er}ue þ{er}ynne
Þ{a}t bereþ in his breche þat gynne 592
To s{er}ue hem day and nyȝt,
But he be as a Capou{n} dyȝt.
At þe gate is a ȝateward~;
He is not a Coward~; 596
He is wonder proude w{i}t{h} alle;
Eu{er}y day he goþ in ryche palle.
Þ{er} buþ seriau{n}s in þe stage
Þ{a}t s{er}ueþ þe maidenes of p{ar}age. 256
Ac ne mot þ{er} no{n} ben inne
Þ{a}t one þe breche bereþ þe ginne,
Noþ{er} bi daie ne biniȝt,
Bute he also capun beo idiȝt. 260
[Sidenote: The Admiral takes a new wife each year.]
And þe Amyral haþ a wonder woon~,
Þ{a}t he þ{a}t is com{e} of cristendom{e}, 600
Euery ȝere to haue a new wyf~,
Þen he loueþ his Queene as his lyf~.
And þe Admiral is such a gume,
In al þe world nis such a sune.
Ne bu his wife neure so schene,
Bute o ȝer ne schal heo beon his q{ue}ne. 264
Þeȝ heo luue him ase hire lif,
Þ{a}t he nele habbe anoþ{er} wif.
And, floriz, imai þe telle fore,
Heo schal beon his quene icore. 268
Neuer . . [_leaf 7, back, col. 2_]
To chesen hire . . . . . .
Þeyȝ he louede is quene . . .
[Headnote: _Description of the wonderful orchard._]
[Sidenote: The maidens are brought down into a beautiful orchard in
which is a marvellous spring and a wonderful tree.]
[Sidenote: [105 _b_]]
Then shul men bryng{e} doun~ of þe Toure
Al þe Maidens of grete honour, 604
And bryng{e} hem into an Orchard~,
Þe feirest of al mydlerd~:
Þeryn is mony fowles song~;
Men myȝt leue þ{er}yn ful long~: 608
About þe Orchard is a walle,--
Þe fowlest stone is Cristall{e},--
Alle þe maidenes of p{ar}age
Me schal bringe adu{n} of þe stage,
And leden he{m} in to on orchard,
Þe faireste of al þe Middellerd. 272
Abute þe orchard is a wal;
Þe eþelikeste ston is cristal.
Ho so wonede a moneþ in þ{a}t spray,
Nolde him neure longe{n} away. 276
So m{er}ie is þ{er}i{n}ne þe foȝeles song,
Þ{a}t ioie {and} blisse is eure among.
Me schul fecche adoun of þe . .
Alle þe maydenes of parage.
{and} bringe hem in on orcharde
Þe fayreste of þe middel[erd].
Þer is fowelene song
Ne mihte wel libbe hem a[mong]
Abute þan orchard is a wa[l] .
Su{m}me of þe stones be . . .
Þ{er} me may ise uppon a . . .
I write muchel of þe w . . .
And a wełł spryngeþ þ{er}ynne,
Þ{a}t is made w{i}t{h} muche gynne; 612
Þe wel is of~ muche prys,
Þe stremes com froo P{ar}adyse;
Þe grauel of~ þe ground is p{re}cious stoones,
And al of v{er}tu for þe noones. 616
Now is þe wełł of much{e} auȝt;
In þe orchard is a welle
Þ{a}t is suþe cler wiþ alle. 280
Ihc mai seggen iwis,
Þe st{ri}mes comeþ f{ra}m p{ar}adis.
For in þe st{ri}mes þe smale stones,
Hi beoþ þ{er} funden eurech one, 284
And a welle þ{a}t springeþ . . .
Þ{a}t is i mad mid muchel . . .
Þis welle is . . Muchel
Þ{a}t grauel bi þe . . . . .
And of v . eu . . . .
Of safir . . {and} of . . .
Of omcie {and} of . . . . .
Þe welle is al . . . . . .
[Headnote: _The marvellous spring and marvellous tree._]
[Sidenote: If any maiden, who is not a virgin, approach the spring, the
water boils up as if mad.]
Ȝif a woman com þ{a}t is for-lauȝt,
And she be doo to þe streeme
For to wesshe her honndes clene, 620
Þe wat{er} wylle ȝelle as it were wood~,
And bycom{e} red as blood~.
On what maide þe water fareþ soo,
Sone she shal to deþ be doo. 624
Þoo þat ben maidens clene,
Þey may wessh{e} þ{er}yn, y wene;
Þe water wołł stonde feire and clere;
To hem makeþ it no daungere. 628
At þe walles hed stondeþ a tree,
Þe feirest þat on erthe may be;
It is cleped þe tree of loue:
Flowers and blossomes spryngen aboue; 632
[Sidenote: The maiden upon whom first falls a blossom from this tree is
chosen queen.]
Þen þey þat maydons clene bene,
Þei shul be brouȝt vnder þe tren{e},
And whicħ so falleþ þe floure,
Shal be queene w{i}t{h} muche hono{ur}. 636
Boþe saphirs {and} sardoines,
And suþþe riche cassidoines,
And Iacinctes and topaces,
And onicle of muchel g{ra}ce, 288
And mani on oþ{er} direwerþe ston
Þ{a}t ich nu ne{m}pne ne can.
Aboue þe walle stant atreo
Þ{a}t faireste þ{a}t miȝte in erþe beo. 292
Hit is ihote þe treo of luue,
For lef {and} blosme beoþ þ{er} buue.
So sone so þe olde beoþ idon,
Þer sp{ri}ngeþ niwe riȝt anon. 296
Alle þilke þ{a}t clene maidenes beo,
Schulle sitte arewe vnder þat treo;
And which falleþ on þ{a}t furste flur
Schal beo q{ue}ne {and} fonge þonur. 300
Ȝef þ{er} is eni maide forleie,
Þe wal is of so muchel eie,
An heo stepe to þe gru{n}de,
For to wassche hire honde, 304
Ha bulmeþ vp so he were wod,
{And} chau{n}geþ f{ra}m wat{er} in to blod.
On wuche þe welle fareþ so,
Also suiþe he wurþ fordo. 308
Ȝif þer come . . . . . . .
. . . ho . . . . . . .
For . . . . . . . . .
. . w . . wele . . . .
. . come al so . . . . .
. . wlyche w . . . . .
Wel sone . . . . . . .
Alle þ{a}t . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . wole . . . . . .
[_About nine more lines illegible. Several folios lost here._]
[_No gap in MS._]
Ȝif~ any mayden þ{er} is
Þat þe Amyral telleþ of~ more p{r}is,
Þe flour shal be to her sent
Þrouȝ art of~ enchauntement. 640
Ac ȝef þ{er} eni maide{n} is,
Þ{at} þe Admiral luueþ mest of pris,
On hire schal beo þ{at} flur i went,
Þureȝ c{on}iureson {and} chau{n}tem{en}t. 312
Þe Amyral cheseþ hem by þe flo{ur},
And euer he herkeneþ after Blauncheflo{ur}.
[Sidenote: [106 _a_]]
Thre sithes Flores sownyd anoon~
Riȝt byfore hem eu{er}ychoon~: 644
When he awoke, and speke myȝt~,
Sore he wept, and sore he syȝt,
Þus he cheoseþ his wif þureȝ þe flur;
Alle weneþ hit schulle beo blau{n}cheflur.”
Ihc wene ne darf me axi noȝt
If floriz were of dreri þoȝt. 316
[Headnote: _Daris suggests to Floris a plan._]
[Sidenote: Floris implores the aid of Daris.]
And seide, “Dares, y worth now deed~,
But þ{a}t y hope of þe som reed~.” 648
“Leue soon~, wyl ȝe see
Þat þy trust is muche on me;
Þen is þe best~ reed þat y can~--
Other reed ne can y noon~-- 652
“Daris,” he sede, “ihc wurthe ded
Bute if þu do me summe red.”
Þa{n}ne se Daris, þe freo burgeis,
Þ{a}t was wel he{n}de {and} c{ur}teis, 320
“Floriz,” he sede, “leue man,
Þe beste red þ{a}t ihc þe can,
[Sidenote: Daris bids him go, disguised as a mason, to the tower,]
Wende to-morn~ to þe toure
As þ{o}u were a good gynoure;
Take on þy honde squyer and scantlon~
As þ{o}u were a free mason~; 656
Behold~ þe to{ur} vp and doun~,
Þe porter is cruel and Feloun~;
Wel sone he wyl com{e} to the,
And aske what man{er} man þ{o}u be, 660
And bere on þe, Felonye,
And sey þ{o}u art com{e} to be a spye.
Wend tomoreȝe to þe Tur,
Also þu were a gud ginnur. 324
Ber wiþ þe sq{ui}re {and} schau{n}tillun,
Also þu were a gud Mascun.
Bihold of þe ture þe hiȝhede,
And wiþ þi fot met þe brede. 328
Þe port{er} is culuert {and} felun;
Forþ he wule sette{n} his resun,
And bere vpon þe felonie,
And segge þ{a}t þu art a spie. 332
And þow shalt~ answere swetlych{e},
And sey to him myldelych{e}, 664
Sey þ{o}u art a gynoure,
To beholde þat feire Toure,
For to loke and for to fonde
To make suche another in þy londe. 668
Ansuare him wel hendeliche,
And spek wiþ him wel sueteliche,
And seie þert icome fra{m} ferre{n} lo{n}de,
For to seche {and} for to fonde, 336
[Sidenote: and induce the porter to play at draughts.]
[_No gap in MS._]
Wel sone he wyl com þe nere,
And wyl byd þe play at þe chekere.
When þ{o}u art at cheker brouȝt,
W{i}t{h}out seluer [be] þ{o}u nouȝt; 672
Þou shalt haue redy w{i}t{h} the
XX. Marke beside þy knee;
If mi lif so longe ilast,
To makie atur aft{er} þis cast,
In þine londe ate frume
Wha{n}ne þu ert hom icume. 340
Whane he þe hireþ speke so he{n}deliche,
And ansuerie so sueteliche,
Þe{n}ne he wule come þe nier,
And bidde þe pleie at þe escheker. 344
Whane þescheker is forþ ibroȝt
Biþute panes ne plei þu noȝt.
Þu most habbe redi mitte
Twenti Marc ine þi slitte. 348
Ȝif~ þou wynne ouȝt of~ his,
Þow tel þ{er}of~ lytel prys; 676
And yf~ he wynne ouȝt of~ þyn~,
loke þow leue it with hym~;
So þ{o}u shalt, al w{i}t{h} gynne,
Þe porters loue forsoth wynne, 680
Þ{a}t he þe help on þis day:
But he þe help{e}, no man may.
Þeȝ þu biwi{n}ne oȝt of his,
Hold hit of wel litel pris.
If he biwi{n}neþ oȝt of þe,
Ȝif hi{m} of þine suche þre. 352
Muche he wule þonki þe
And of þe suþe iwu{n}dred beo,
For he is suþe couet{us},
And at þescheker enuius. 356
[Headnote: _Details of the plan._]
[Sidenote: Manage him so as to secure an invitation for the morrow.]
[Sidenote: [106 _b_]]
Wel ȝerne he wyl þe bydde and p{ra}y
Com{e} anoþer day to playe: 684
Þ{o}u shalt seye þ{o}u wylt soo;
Þ{o}u shalt take w{i}t{h} þe suche twoo;
Ȝerne he wile þe bidde {and} p{re}ie
Þ{a}t þu come amoreȝe {and} pleie.
G{ra}nte hi{m} þ{a}t þu wilt so,
And tak mid amoreȝe suche two. 360
[_No gap in MS._]
Þe þrydde day take an hundred pound~,
And wel þi nedes for to do
Þ{a}t þridde day þu wend hi{m} to,
And ber wiþ þe forti pund,
[Sidenote: Show him your cup, and he will be greedy for it.]
And þy Coupe hool and sound~: 688
Ȝeue him markes & pound{es} of þy male;
Of~ þy tresour tel þ{o}u no tale;
Wel ȝerne he wyl þe bydde and p{ra}y
To lay þy Coupe, and to play. 692
Þ{o}u shalt answere alþ{er}first,
Lenger to play þe ne lyst.
Ful muche he wylle for þe Coupe bede,
Ȝif~ he myȝt þe better spede; 696
And þine cupe hol {and} sund. 364
Wha{n}ne þu lest lest him þe cupe iseo,
Wel angussus he wile beo.
He wile beo wel coveitus,
And hire to bigge suþe fus. 368
Muchel he þe wule beode
If him miȝte þe bet{er}e spede.
Ihc wot he wille þilke day
Hon{ur}e þe so muche so he may. 372
[Sidenote: At length give him the cup.]
Þ{o}u shalt it blethly ȝeue him
Ȝif it be of~ gold fyne;
And he wol ful moche loue þe,
And to þe bowe also, p{ar}de, 700
He wule þe lede to his i{n}ne
Þe cupe of þe to biwi{n}ne.
Ȝerne he wule þe bidde and p{re}ie
Þ{a}t þu legge þe cupe to pleie. 376
Þu hi{m} ansuere atte furste,
Þ{a}t no leng pleie þe ne luste.
Ansuere hi{m} wel he{n}deliche,
‘Þin beo þe cupe,’ seie bluþeliche. 380
For his gode co{m}paygnie
A wu{n}ne he haþ þi druerie.
[_No gap in MS._]
Ihc wot þ{a}t he mai alrebest
Of þine neode helpe þe mest. 384
Þu miȝt segge, ‘þe ne faileþ non
Gold ne selu{er} ne riche won.’
Seie þu wilt p{ar}te wiþ him of þan,
Þ{a}t he schal eure beo riche man. 388
Whanne he hereþ þe speke so richeliche,
And ansuerie so hendeliche,
Þa{n}ne he wile beo wel bliþe,
And bigi{n}ne to luuie þe suiþe, 392
[Sidenote: Promise him unlimited gold and silver if he will aid you. He
will then fall at your feet and be your man.]
Þat he wyl falle to þy foote,
And become þyn~, ȝif~ he moote.
And homage þ{o}u shalt fonge,
And þe trouþ of his honde.” 704
And falle he wile to þi fote,
And bicome þi man, if he mote.
His ma{n}rede þu schalt fonge,
And his truþe of his ho{n}de, 396
Þ{a}t he þe bere al þe helde
Þ{a}t man schal to his lou{er}d ȝelde.
And þus þureȝ þe cupe and his gi{n}ne
Þu miȝt þi le{m}man best awi{n}ne. 400
Þa{n}ne þu miȝt beon iknewe,
And þi cu{n}sail to hi{m} schewe.”
[Headnote: _By this plan Floris wins over the ‘porter.’_]
As he seide, he dide ywys;
And as he ordeynd, so it is:
Þe Porter ys Florys man bycom{e},
For his gold~ and his waryson{e}. 708
And alþus floris hath iwroȝt,
As daris hi{m} haþ itaȝt. 404
Ac þureþ (_sic_) þe cupe {and} þureȝ g{er}sume,
Þe port{er} is his man bicume.
[Sidenote: Then reveal to him your wishes.]
Florys seide, “now art þ{o}u my moon~,
Al my trust is þe vppon~;
Now my consel y wyl þe shewe;
Rede me ryȝt, ȝif~ þ{o}u be trew.” 712
¶ Nu quaþ floriz, “þu art mi man;
Al mi trest is þe vpon. 408
Þ{er}uore þu most me helpe nede;
Biþute þe ne mai me spede.”
[Sidenote: Floris acts as advised, and discloses his identity.]
Now eu{er}y word he haþ him tolde,
How þe mayde was fro him sholde,
And how he was of~ Spayn~ a kynges soon~,
For grete loue þeder ycoom~ 716
To fonden, w{i}t{h} som{e} gynne,
Þat feire mayde for to wynne.
Ord {and} ende he haþ him told,
Hu þ{a}t maide was isold, 412
And hu he was of spaygne a kinges sune,
For hire luue he was þider icume,
To fo{n}de mid sume ku{n}nes ginne,
Hu he miȝte hire awinne. 416
[Headnote: _The porter covers Floris in a basket of flowers._]
[Sidenote: The porter at first reproaches himself, but presently
promises his aid.]
Þe Porter þat herde, and sore syȝt,
And seide, “y am betrayde aryȝt; 720
Þrouȝ þy Catel, y am dismayde;
Þerfore y am wel euyl a-payde
[Sidenote: [107 _a_]]
Now y woot how it gooþ;
For þe shal y suffre deth; 724
I shal þe faile neuer moo,
Þe while y may ryde and goo;
Þy forwardes shal y holde alle,
What-so-eu{er} may befalle. 728
I-wend nu, floriz, to þin i{n}ne,
While i biþenche of sume gi{n}ne. 428
Ihc wulle fonde what ido may
Bituene þis {and} þe þ{ri}dde day.”
Floriz siȝte {and} weop among
Þulke t{er}me him þuȝte long. 432
++ÞE port{er} þoȝte what to rede;
He let flures gadere on þe mede.
Cupen he let fulle of flures,
To strawe{n} in þe maidenes bures. 436
Wynde now hoom~ to þyn~) ynne
While y beþenke me of su{m} gynne;
Bytwene þis and þe þrydde day.
Fonde y shal, what y do may. 732
Flores spake and wept among{e}
And þouȝt þe terme al to long{e}.
Þe Porter þouȝt þe best reed,
And let geder floures in a meed~; 736
He wist it was þe maydons wylle.
To lepes he lete of floures fylle:
Þo þe port{er} iherde þis, he siȝte,
“Ihc am,” he sede, “bitraid wiþ riȝte,
Þ{a}t þureȝ þis cupe {and} þis g{er}sume
Ihc am nu þi man bicume. 420
Nu ihc seo hu hit geþ;
For þe ihc drede þolien deþ.
Noȝt for þan while ihc mai go,
I ne schal þe failli neure mo. 424
What me bitide oþ{er} bifalle,
Ihc schal þe foreward holde{n} alle.
[Sidenote: He covers Floris in a basket of flowers, which is borne
above.]
Þat was þe best reed, as him þouȝt þoo,
Floures in þat oon~ lep to doo. 740
Twoo maydens þe lepe bore;
So heuy charged neuer þey wore,
And bade god ȝeue hem euyl fyn{e};
To mony floures he dide þ{er}ynne. 744
Þ{a}t was his red to helpe him so;
He let floriz on þ{a}t on cupe go.
Tuei gegges þe cupe bere,
And for heuie wroþ hi were. 440
Hi bede{n} God ȝiue hi{m} vuel fin,
Þ{a}t so manie flures dude þ{er}in.
To Blaunchefloures Chamber þey shuld{e} tee;
Þey ȝede to anoþ{er}, and let þ{a}t be:
Þey shuld haue gon{e} to Blauncheflo{ur},
And ȝede to swete Clarys boure, 748
To þe chau{m}bre þ{er} hi scholde go,
Ne ȝeden hi ariȝt no. 444
To anoþ{er} chau{m}bre hi beoþ agon,
To blau{n}cheflures chau{m}bre no{n}.
[Sidenote: Floris mistakes another maiden for Blauncheflur and leaps
forth.]
And cursed him so fele brouȝt to honde;
Þey ȝede hoom~, and lete hem stonde.
Clarys to þe lepe com{e} wolde,
Þe Flores to hondel and to be-holde; 752
Florys wende it hadde be his swete wyȝt;
Of~ þe lepe he stert vpryȝt;
Þe cupe hi sette to þe grunde,
And goþ forþ {and} leteȝ hire stonde. 448
O maiden com {and} wolde
Þe flures handlen {and} biholde.
Floriz we{n}de hit were his swete wiȝt;
Vt of þe cupe he lep ariȝt; 452
[Sidenote: The maiden cries out.]
And þe mayde, al for drede,
Bygan to shrell{e} and to grede. 756
And þ{a}t maide, for þe drede,
Bigan to crie {and} to grede.
[Sidenote: Floris covers himself again.]
When he sawȝ it was not shee,
In-to þe lepe aȝen~ stert he,
And held~ him betrayde clene;
Of~ his lyf~ tolde he not a beene. 760
Þo nuste floriz what to rede,
For þe ferlich þ{a}t he hadde. 456
Into þe cupe he sterte aȝen,
And wiþ þe flures he hudde him.
Þis maide þoȝte anon riȝt
Þ{a}t hit was floriz, þ{a}t suete wiȝt, 460
For here chau{m}bres niȝ were;
Selde was þ{a}t hi togadere nere;
And ofte blau{n}cheflur hire hadde itold
Hu heo was fram him isold. 464
[Headnote: _Claris discovers Floris._]
Þ{er} com{e} maydons, and to Clarys lepe
by ten, by twelf~, on an heepe
[Sidenote: [107 _b_]]
And þey asked what hur were,
And why she made suche a bere. 764
Clarys byþouȝt hur anoon{e}ryȝt
Þ{a}t hit was Blauncheflo{ur} þe white,
Nu Maidenes comeþ in to hire lepe,
Wei fiftene in on hepe,
And axede hire what hire were,
And whi heo makede suche bere. 468
Wel heo was biþoȝt {and} whare,
To finde{n} he{m} ansuare.
[Sidenote: The maiden conceals the fact by a clever story.]
And gaue þe Maydons answere anoon~,
Þat to her Chamber were goon~, 768
Þat to þe lepe com{e} she wold{e},
Þe Flowres to hondel and to beholde;
“And, or y it ere wyst,
An Ott{er} fleyȝ a-geynst my brest: 772
I was so soore a-drad þan,
Þ{a}t y loude crye can.”
Þe Maydons þ{er}of~ hadden glee,
And turned hem, and lete hur be. 776
[_No gap in MS._]
“To þe cupe,” heo sede, “ihc com {and} wolde
Þis flures handlen {and} biholde, 472
Þer fliste vt a but{er}fliȝe,
Are ihc wiste, on min iȝe.
So sore ihc was offerd of þan,
Þ{a}t ihc crie bigan.” 476
Þis oþ{er}e loȝen {and} hadde gleo,
And goþ aȝen {and} leteþ beo.
[Sidenote: Claris bids Blauncheflur come see a ‘well fair flower.’]
As sone as þe maydons were gon~,
To Blauncheflo{ur} she ȝede anoon~,
And seide boldly to Blauncheflo{ur},
“Felow, com{e} and see a feire Flo{ur}! 780
Suche a flo{ur} þe shal wel lyke,
Haue þ{o}u it sene a lyte.”
++CLarice hatte þ{a}t maide hende:
To blau{n}cheflures chau{m}bre heo ga{n} we{n}de, 480
And sede, “suete blau{n}cheflur,
Wiltu seo a wel fair flur?
Hit ne greu noȝt on þis londe,
Þat flur þ{a}t ihc bringe þe to honde.” 484
[Sidenote: Blauncheflur bids Claris depart, and reproaches Floris for
his inconstancy.]
“Awey, Clarys!” q{uo}d Blauncheflo{ur};
“To scorne me, it is none honoure. 784
[_No gap in MS._]
I here, Clarys, w{i}t{h}out gabbe,
Þat þe Amyral wyl me to wyf~ habbe;
“Away, Clariz,” quaþ blancheflur;
“Ho þ{a}t luueþ p{ar} amur
And haþ þ{er} of ioye, mai luue flures;
Ac ic libbe in soreȝe in þis tures, 488
For ihc wene bithute gabbe,
Þ{a}t þe Admiral me wule habbe.
But þ{a}t day shal neuer be,
Þ{a}t he shal eu{er} haue me, 788
Þ{a}t y shal be of~ loue so vntrewe,
Ne chaunge my loue for no newe;
For no loue, ne for noon~ aye,
Forsake Florys in his Contraye. 792
Now y shal swete Florys mysse,
Ne shal noon~ other of me haue blysse.”
Ac þilke day ne schal neure be;
Ne schal me neure at-wite me, 492
Þ{a}t ihc beo of luue vntrewe,
Ne chau{n}ge luue for no newe,
Ne lete þe olde for no newe be,
So doþ floriz on his Contre. 496
Ac þeȝ floriz forȝe me,
Ne schal ihc neure forȝete þe.”
[Headnote: _Claris brings Blauncheflur to Floris._]
[Sidenote: Claris further urges Blauncheflur, who at length comes.]
Clarys stood and beheld þat rewth,
And þe trewnesse of~ hur trewth, 796
And seide, “lady Blaunchefloure,
Goo we see þ{a}t ilk~ floure.”
Clariz iherde þes ille reuþe,
Of trewnesse {and} of trewþe. 500
Þe t{er}res glide of hire lere;
“Blau{n}cheflur,” he sede, “go we ifere,
Leue suete blau{n}cheflur,
Cu{m} {and} se a well fair flur.” 504
To þe lepe þey went both.
Ioyful man was Florys þoo, 800
For he had herde al þis.
To gedere hi goþ nu iwis,
And floriz haþ iherd al þis.
[Sidenote: Floris springs forth, and they embrace one another.]
Of~ þ{a}t lepe he stert y-wys:
[Sidenote: [108 _a_]]
Wel sone Blauncheflo{ur} chaunged hewe;
Ayther of~ hem other knewe: 804
W{i}t{h}oute speche togeder þey lepe,
And klippt~ and kyst~ wonder swete.
Vt of þe cupe he lep anon,
{And} to blau{n}cheflur he gan gon. 508
Eiþ{er} oþ{er} sone ikneu;
Boþe nuþe hi chau{n}geþ heu.
To gadere wiþute word hi lepen,
Klepte {and} keste {and} eke weopen 512
Here kessinge ileste a mile;
And þ{a}t he{m} þuȝte litel while.
[Headnote: _Joyful reunion of the lovers._]
[Sidenote: Claris asks Blauncheflur if she knows this flower.]
Clarys beheld~ al this,
Her countenaunce and her blysse, 808
And seide þen to Blaunchefloure,
“Felow, knowist þ{o}u auȝt þis flo{ur}?
[_No gap in MS._]
She shul konne ful muche of~ Art
Þat þ{o}u woldest þ{er}of~ geue part~.” 812
Clarice biheold al þis,
Here cu{n}tenau{n}ce {and} here blis. 516
Seide Clarice to blau{n}cheflur,
“Knowestu oȝt ȝete þis flur?
A litel er þu noldest hit se;
Nu ne miȝte hit lete fram þe. 520
He moste ku{n}ne muchel of art
Þ{a}t þu woldest ȝeue þ{er} of part.”
“Certes,” q{ua}þ blau{n}cheflur to Clariz,
“Þis is min oȝene suete floriz.” 524
[_MS. lf. 8: Fr. p. 32, l. 522._]
. . . . wel muchel of art
. . woldest ȝeue þer of eny part.
. . . . de blancheflur to clarise
. . . min owene leue floyres
[Sidenote: Both beg Claris not to betray them.]
Now Blauncheflo{ur} and Florys,
Boþ þese swete þinges ywys,
Cryen her m{er}cy, al wepyng~,
Þat she ne wrey hem to þe king~. 816
Nu boþe tuo, þes suete þinges,
Crieþ hire m{er}ci, al wepinge,
To þe Admiral þ{a}t hem ne wreie,
For þe{n}ne were here soreȝe niwe. 528
. . . . þis ilke swete þinges
. . . . clarisse merci . .
Vnto þe amyrayl noȝt ne wreye
. . . . . . scholden deȝe
[Sidenote: Claris promises silence.]
[_No gap in MS._]
“Ne douȝt no more of~ me in alle,
Þan it were myself~ byfalle.
Wete ȝe wel weturly,
Heele y wyl ȝoure drury.” 820
Clarice hadde of hem pite;
“Noþing,” heo sede, “ne dute ȝe,
Ne dute ȝe na{m}more wiþ alle,
Þ{a}t hit were to me bifalle. 532
Hele ihc wulle {and} noþing wreie,
Ower beire cu{m}paignie.”
. . . . . namore mid alle
. . . hit were to me by falle
. . . . . wel wytterli
. . . . . beyre drewori
To a bedde þey ben brouȝt,
Þat is of palle and of~ sylke wrouȝt;
And þ{er}e þey sette hem doun~
And drouȝ hem self~ al a room~: 824
Clarice he{m} haþ to bedde ibroȝt,
Þ{a}t was of pal {and} selc iwroȝt. 536
In bedde heo broȝte he{m} adun,
An hure self we{n}de he{m} fram.
. . bedde heo hem haueþ ibrouȝt
. . selk {and} pal i wrouht
. . heo sette hem þer adou{n}
. . . . . . wende aroum
. . . more bote cluppe {and} cusse
. . . blancheflur hit wiste
[Sidenote: The two rejoice together greatly.]
Þ{er} was no man þ{a}t myȝt radde
Þe ioye þ{a}t þey twoo madde.
Florys þen to speke bygan~,
And seide, “lord þat madest man, 828
I it þonke goddes sone
Þat al my care I haue ou{er}com{e};
Now my leue I haue y-founde,
Of~ al my care y am vnbounde.” 832
[_No gap in MS._]
Þo floriz furst speke bigan.
“Vre lou{er}d,” he sede, “þ{a}t makedest man, 540
Þe ihc þonki, godes sune,
Þ{a}t ihc am to mi leof icume.
Mi leof, nu ihc habbe þe ifunde,
Of al mi care ihc am vnbu{n}de.” 544
. . . . formest speke bigon
. . . d þ{a}t makedest mon
. . . . nou godes sone
. . . . he is ouer [c]ome
. . . . habbe ifounde
. . . . . am vnbounde
[Headnote: _The maidens are at mornings to assist at the ‘Admiral’s’
toilet._]
Clarys hem s{er}uyd al at wylle,
Boþ dernlyche and stylle.
++cLarys w{i}t{h} þe white syde
Rose vp on morn{e} tyde, 836
And cleped after Blaunchefloure
To wende w{i}t{h} him in to þe Toure:
She seide “y am co{m}maund~”;
But her answere was slepaund~. 840
Nu aiþ{er} haþ oþ{er} itold
Of here soreȝe {and} care cold,
Þ{a}t hi hadde ifunde bo
Suþþe hi were ideld atuo. 548
Nu hi cluppeþ and cusseþ
And makeþ togadere muchel blisse.
If þ{er} was aȝt bute custe,
Swete blau{n}cheflur hit wiste. 552
Non oþ{er} heuene hi ne bede,
Bute eure swich lif to lede.
Ac lo{n}ge ne miȝte hi hem wite
Þ{a}t hi neren vnderȝete. 556
. . . . . oþer haueþ told
. . . . . kare ful cold
. . . . . me wel stronge
. . . . . rt so longe
. . . . . serueþ al to wille
. . . . [dern]eliche {and} stille
. . . . heo noȝh longe wite
. . . . eren vnder ȝete
[Sidenote: Each morning two maidens went to the Admiral’s tower to comb
his hair and wash his hands,--]
Þe Amyral had such a woon{e},
Þ{a}t eu{er}y day shulde com{e}
[Sidenote: [108 _b_]]
Twoo maydons of~ hur bo{ur}
Vp to him in to þe Toure, 844
[_No gap in MS._]
W{i}t{h} water and clooth, and basyn~,
For to wesshe his hondes ynne:
Vor þe Admiral hadde such a wune,
Ehc moretid þer moste cume
Tuo maidenes wiþ muchel hon{ur}
Into þe heȝeste Tur, 560
Þ{a}t were feire {and} suþe hende,
Þ{a}t on his heued for to kembe,
Þ{a}t [oþer] bringe towaille {and} bacin,
For to wasse his honden in. 564
[Sidenote: but especially often, Claris and Blauncheflur.]
Þat day þey s{er}uyd him feire;
Anoþer day com{e} another peire; 848
But most were wonyd into þe Toure,
Clarys and Blauncheflo{ur}.
Swiche him s{er}ueþ a day so faire;
Amoreȝe moste anoþ{er} peire.
Ac mest were iwuned in to þe tur
Maide Clariz {and} blau{n}cheflur. 568
. . . . wel hire mote bi tide
. . . . . amorewe tide
. . . . . ed blanche flur
. . . . hire in to þan to{u}r
. . . . ich am cominge
. . . . . was slepinge
[Headnote: _Claris invents an excuse for Blauncheflur’s absence._]
[Sidenote: The next morning Claris calls Blauncheflur, but she falls
asleep again.]
Clarys com{e} þenne aloon~:
Þe Amyral asked a-noon~, 852
[_No gap in MS._]
“Where is Blauncheflo{ur} so free?
Why comeþ she not heder w{i}t{h} þe?”
Clarice, ioie mote hire bitide,
Aros vp in þe moreȝentide,
And haþ icluped blau{n}cheflur
To go wiþ hire in to þe tur. 572
Q{ua}þ blau{n}cheflur, “ihc am cominge.”
Ac heo hit sede al slepinge.
Clariz co{m} i{n} to þe Tur;
Þe Admiral axede blau{n}cheflur. 576
. . . . . . ane wine
. . . . . . . . come
. . . . of herd . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
[Sidenote: [_leaf 8, col. 2_]]
. . . . . . . . . . .
Þe amiral askede blanche[flur]
[Sidenote: Claris invents an ingenious excuse for her.]
“Sir,” she seide anoon~ ryȝt,
“She haþ wakyd al þis nyȝt, 856
And y-cryde and y-loke
And y-redde on hur booke,
And y-bede to god her orysou{n}
Þat he geue þe his benysou{n}, 860
And þat he holde long~ þy lyf~;
And now þe mayde slepeþ swyth;
She slepeþ so fast, þ{a}t mayde swete,
Þat she may not com ȝete.” 864
“Sire, Alniȝt heo set at hire boke,
And haþ þ{er}on irad {and} loke,
And þ{er}on ibede hire oresun,
Þ{a}t god, þ{a}t þolede passiun, 580
Þe holde, sire, longe aliue;
And nu heo is asleped suiþe,
[_No gap in MS._]
Þ{a}t heo ne mai come to þe.”
{and} clarisse seyde anonriȝht,
“Sire, he haueþ i waked al niȝht,
{and} iwaked {and} iloked,
{and} irad on hire boke,
{and} ibede to god hire orison,
Þ{a}t ȝeue þe his beniscun,
{and} god þe holde longe aliue.
{and} nou þat mayde slepeþ so suiþe,
Heo slepeþ so faste, þ{a}t mayde suete,
Þat heo ne may nouȝt come ȝete.”
[_No gap in MS._]
“Certes,” seide þe kyng~,
“Now is she a swete þing~:
Wel auȝt me ȝerne her to wyf~,
Þat so preyeth for my lyf~.” 868
“Is þ{a}t soþ?” sede he. 584
Heo sede, “ȝe, sire, withute lesing.”
“Heo is,” he sede, “a suete þing;
Wel aȝte ihc willen hire to wif,
Þ{a}t so ȝerne biddeþ mi lif.” 588
{and} þo bi spak him þe king
Iwis heo is a swete þing.
Wel auȝhte ich wilny habbe hire to wiue
So ȝerne heo bit for mine liue.
[Headnote: _The ‘Admiral’ doubts Claris’s second story._]
[Sidenote: The following morning Claris again calls Blauncheflur in vain
to go with her.]
Anoþ{er} day Clarys erly Aryst;
Þ{a}t Blauncheflo{ur} wełł wyst,
[_No gap in MS._]
And seide, “y com{e} anoon~,”
When Clarys her clepe bygan~, 872
And fel in a slepe newe.
Sone after it made hem to rewe:
Amoreȝe, þo Clariz arist,
Blau{n}cheflur heo atwist
Þ{a}t he makede so longe dem{ur}e.
“Aris,” heo sede, “{and} go we ifere.” 592
Q{ua}þ blau{n}cheflur, “ich come anon.”
Ac floriz cleppe{n} hire bigon,
And he him also vnwise
And feolle aslepe one þis wise. 596
Clarisse a noþer day arist,
{and} haueþ blancheflur at wist
Þat heo haueþ so longe de mere,
“Aris vp nou {and} g[on]e ifere.”
Þer heo seyde ich come anon
. . . floyres hire . . . .
Abode þe children ase don wise.
Vell aslepe on þisse wise
On þisse wise hey . . . . .
Sone þer . . . . . . . .
Clarys to þe Pyler cam~;
A basyn~ of gold~ in hond she nam~, 876
And Cleped after Blaunchefloure
To wende w{i}t{h} hur in to þe Toure.
Þo Clarice to þe piler com,
And þe bacin of golde nom,
To bere wiþ into þe Tur,
Heo lokede aft{er} blau{n}cheflur. 600
Clarise to þe piler wende anon
A basin of gold þer heo nom,
{and} haueþ ycleped [blanchef]lur
To wende . . . . . . .
Heo ne . . uerede ȝe ne . .
Þo wende clarisse þ{a}t heo were ago.
[Sidenote: The Admiral again inquires for Blauncheflur, and not content
with Claris’s story,]
Þe Amyral asked after Blauncheflo{ur},
[_No gap in MS._]
“What! is she not com{e} ȝet? 880
Now she me douteþ al to lyte.”
Þo Clarice com into þe tur,
He axede aft{er} blau{n}cheflur.
“Sire, ihc wende hire finde here;
He was arise are ihc were. 604
Nis heo noȝt icume ȝete?”
Q{ua}þ he, “heo duteþ me to lite.”
Þo clarisse com in to þe tur,
Þe amiral askede blanchefl[ur],
{and} askede whi heo ne come,
Also heo was woned to done.
“Heo was arise are ich were,
Ich wende hire habbe ifunde þere.
What nis heo . . icome . .
Wod heo . . . me to . .
[Headnote: _The ‘Admiral’ finds the children in bed together._]
[Sidenote: sends his chamberlain, who finds the two children in bed
together.]
Forþ he cleped his Chamburlayn~,
And bade him wende w{i}t{h} his mayn~
[Sidenote: [109 _a_]]
To wete why she wyl not com{e} 884
As she was wonyd to doon~.
Þe Chamburlayn~ is forth noom~;
In to Chambre he is coom~,
He clupede to hi{m} his chau{m}berlayn,
And het hi{m} go wiþ alle mayn, 608
For to wite whi heo ne come
To his heste suthe sone.
Forþ he wende sone anon
To hire chau{m}bre þ{a}t he com. 612
. . . . . . . chaumberlen
. . . . . . . his . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
So heo was . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
And stondeþ byfore hur bedde, 888
And fyndeþ þere, nebbe to nebbe,
Nebbe to nebbe, and mouþ to mouþ.
To þe Amyral it was sone couþ;
Vp in to þe Toure he steyȝ, 892
And told his lord al þ{a}t he seyȝ.
In hire bedde he fond tuo,
Wel faste iclupt, aslepe bo,
Neb to neb {and} muþ to muþ;
Sone were here soreȝ{er}en cuþ. 616
[T]o þe Admiral sone he teȝ
[A]nd tolde him what he iseȝ.
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
[Sidenote: [_leaf 8, back_]]
. . . . . a ȝe . . . .
. . his louerd wat he i aȝheþ
{and} ȝet he þouhte, are he hem quelle,
Wat he were hui scholden telle.
{and} seþþe he þoute he{m} to deþe don.
[Sidenote: The Admiral then goes with drawn sword and finds the
children.]
Þe Amyral late him his swerd bryng{e},
For wete he wolde of~ þat tydyng{e}:
[_No gap in MS._]
He went to hem þ{er}e þey lay: 896
Ȝit was she a-slepe þ{er}e ay.
[Þe] Admiral het his suerd bringe;
[Iw]ite he wolde of þus þinge. 620
[Fo]rþ he wende wiþ al his mayn,
[He] {and} his chaumberlayn.
[In] þe bed heo fond tueie;
[Ȝit] was þe slep in here eie. 624
Þe amirayl bed his swerd him bringe
W[i]te he wolde of þisse tiþinge.
Vorþ he wende mid al his mayn,
Þat he com þer hei boþe leie.
Þe ȝet was þe slep in here eȝe.
The Amyral lete þe clothes doun~ cast
A lytel by-nethe hur brest,
And sone he knew anoon~ 900
Þ{a}t oon~ was woman, & þ{a}t oþ{er} groom~.
He quaked for tene þere he stood;
Hem to sloon~ was in his mood~;
Ȝit he þouȝt, or he hem quelde, 904
What þey were, þey shuld him telle,
And seth he wyl w{i}t{h} dome hem done.
[He] let Adu{n} þe cloþes caste
[Bin]eþen here breste.
Bi here breste he kneu anon
Þ{a}t on was maide {and} þ{a}t oþ{er} a mon. 628
Þe amiral het here cloþes adou{n} caste
A lutel bi neþe here breste.
Þo iseih he wel anon
Þon was may {and} þoþer mon.
Þe amirayl quakede, for angys þe astod,
Hem to quelle, hit was on his mod.
[Sidenote: They awake and cry for mercy.]
Þe Children wakyd swyth soone,
And saw þe swerde ouer hem drawe; 908
Þey ben adrad, and in awȝe.
Þan seide Florys to Blauncheflo{ur},
“Of~ oure lyf~ is no soco{ur}.”
But þey cryde him m{er}cy swyth, 912
For to length her lyue.
Þe children awoke þo anon
And seȝe þe Admiral biuore he{m} gon,
Wiþ his suerd al adraȝe;
Sore hi beoþ offerd {and} wel maȝe. 632
“Seie,” q{ua}þ þe Admiral, “belamy,
Ho makede þe so hardy,
For to come in to mi Tur
And to ligge bi blau{n}cheflur?” 636
Hi crieȝ him “m{er}ci,” boþe suiþe,
Þ{a}t he ȝiue hem furst of liue.
Þe children a woken vnder soon (?)
And seȝen þ{a}t swerd ou{er} hem a drawe,
Hij weren agr . . {and} eþe hui mawe.
. . . . . . . . belami
Who makede þe so hardi
. . . . . . . in my tour
. . . . . . . blancheflur.
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . þe . . . . fore.
Þo seyde floyres to blancheflur,
“Of vre liue nis no socur.”
Ak hei crieþ him merci so suiþe
Þ{a}t he ȝaf hem furst of here liue.
Vp he bade hem sytte booth,
And do on boþ her cloþ;
Seþ he dide hem bynde fast, 916
And in p{r}ison~ lete hem be cast.
Vp he bad hem sitte boþe,
{and} don on here beyre cloþe,
{and} þo he bad hem binde faste,
{and} in to one p{ri}sun he het hem cast.
[Headnote: _The ‘Admiral’ summons his counsellors._]
[Sidenote: The Admiral summons his counsellors and tells them the case.]
Now haþ he after his Barons sent,
To wreke him after Iugement,
Now han þe Barons vndernome, 920
And to þe Amyral þey ben coom{e}.
Aft{er} his barnage he haþ isend,
To awreke him wiþ iugem{en}t. 640
And let he{m} þe while binde faste,
And in to p{ri}son ben icaste.
His palais þ{a}t was so faire ibuld,
Of Erles {and} barons hit was ifuld. 644
. . . he . . after his barenage
. . . . he him . . . .
. . . barenage . . . . .
Þ{a}t to nan amyrayl abeþ nome .
. . . . . . . . . ibuld
. . . . . . . . was ifuld.
He stood vp a-mong{e} hem al,
W{i}t{h} semblant wroþ w{i}t{h}alle,
[Sidenote: [109 _b_]]
And seide: “Lordynges, w{i}t{h} much hono{ur}, 924
Ȝe herde speke of Blauncheflo{ur},
Þ{a}t y bouȝt hur dere a plyȝt
For seuen sithes of golde hur wyȝt;
For y wende w{i}t{h}-out wene 928
Þat feire mayde to haue had to Quene.
Vp he stod among he{m} alle,
Bi semblau{n}t wel wroþ wiþ alle.
“Lordinges,” he sede, “wiþ muchel hon{ur},
Ȝe habbeþ iherd of blau{n}cheflur, 648
Hu ihc hire boȝte apliȝt,
For seuesiþe of gold hire wiȝt.
To hire was mi meste wene,
For to habbe to mi quene. 652
Þe amiral stod up among he{m} alle
. . . . . . wreþ mid [alle]
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
[Sidenote: [_leaf 8, back, col. 2_]]
. . . . . . wiþoute w[ene]
To habben hire to mi quene
[Headnote: _The trial of the children._]
Among~ my maydons in my Toure
I hur dide, w{i}t{h} muche honoure;
Byfore her bedde my self~ y coom~; 932
I fonde þ{e}ryn a naked man.
Þan were þey to me so looþ,
I þouȝt to haue sleyn~ hem booþ,
I was so wroþ and so wood~. 936
[_No gap in MS._]
Nis noȝt ȝore þ{a}t i ne com
And fond hire wiþ hordom,
Me to schame {and} deshonur,
In hire bedde on mi Tur. 656
. . . hire bedde miself ich co[me]
. . . hire ane naked grome
. . . . . . . me wel loþe
. . . . . . . he{m} boþe.
{and} ich was so wroþ {and} wod
Ȝit y w{i}t{h}drowȝ myn~ hoot blood~
Tyl y haue sende after ȝow, by assent,
To wreke me w{i}t{h} Iugement.
Now ȝit ȝe woot how it is goon~, 940
Wreke me soon~ of~ my foon~.”
[_No gap in MS._]
Ihc habbe ȝou told hu hit is went;
A wrekeþ me wiþ Jugem{en}t.”
{and} ȝet ihc wiþ drou . . . .
Þ{a}t ich hadde after . . . .
To wreke me þo{r}uh iugem[ent].
Nou ȝe habbeþ iherd hou it is.
Awrekeþ me of mine fon.”
[Sidenote: One suggests that the children be heard before being judged.]
Þan spake a kyng~ of þat londe,
“We haue herd al þis shame and shonde;
But, or we hem to deth deme, 944
Lat vs hem see, ȝif it þe Queeme,
What þey wolde speke or sygge,
Ȝif~ þey wyl auȝt ageyn~ vs legge:
Hit were nouȝt ryȝt iugement, 948
W{i}t{h}out answere make acoupement.
Þa{n}ne spak a freo burgeis,
Þ{a}t was hende {and} curt[eis], 660
“Sire, are hi beo to diþe awreke,
We mote ihere þe childre{n} speke.
[_No gap in MS._]
Hit nere noȝt elles rist iugem{en}t,
Biþute{n} ansuare to acupem{en}t.” 664
¶ Þo spak a king of þulk . .
“Ȝe habbeþ iherd þis . . . .
Ak are we he{m} to deþe . . .
We schullen i heren þe . . .
What huy wolleþ speke . . .
{and} ȝif huy wolleþ ou . . .
Hit nis no riȝht iugem[ent].”
Wiþ oute onsuere . . . . .
[Headnote: _The trial continued._]
[Sidenote: The king of Nubia advises that they be instantly burned.]
Til þis is herde of~ more and lasse,
What myster is, to bere wytnesse?”
Þe king of Nubie sede þo,
“For soþ, ne schal hit noȝt go so.
Hit is riȝt þureȝ alle þing
Felons inome hond habbing, 668
For to suffre Jugeme{n}t
Biþute ansuere oþ{er} acupeme{n}t.”
¶ Þe king of nubie . . . .
“Sire, so ne schal hit . . . .
Trait{ou}r þat is nome hond . .
Hit is riȝht þo{r}u alle þ . . .
To beo for don oþ{er} i sch . .
Wiþ outen oni here of . . .
Al þis ihe . . {and} lag . .
{and} bereþ him þer of w . . .
After þe Children haue þey sent,-- 952
To brenne hem was his entent;--
Two s{er}ieauntes hem gan bryng{e}
Toward~ hur al wepyng{e}.
Drery booþ þese children goo; 956
Ayther bemeneþ oþ{er}is woo.
Aft{er} þe children nu me sendeþ;
Hem to berne fir me tendeþ. 672
After þes childeren . . . .
Hem to for berne þer . . . .
Twene seriauns hem forþ bringe
To fonge here dom sore wepin[ge]
Dreri weren þo chyldren . .
Her eyþer by wepeþ oþer . .
[Sidenote: Floris reproaches himself to Blauncheflur.]
Þan seide Florys to Blauncheflo{ur},
“Of~ oure lyf~ is no soco{ur}:
Seide floriz to blau{n}cheflur,
“Of vre lif nis no sucur;
Ac min is þe guld {and} þe vnmeþ,
Þ{a}t þu for me schalt þolie deþ. 676
¶ Þo seyde floyres to blanche[flur]
Of vre liue nis no soc[ur].
Yf~ kinde of~ man it þole myȝt, 960
Twyes y shuld dye w{i}t{h} ryȝt,
Oones for my self~, anoþ{er} for the,
For, þy deeþ þ{o}u hast for me.”
[Sidenote: [110 _a_]]
Blauncheflo{ur} seyde þoo, 964
“Þe gylt is myn~, of oure woo.”
Ac if cu{n}de hit þolie miȝte,
Ihc oȝte deie tuye wiþ riȝte.
O deþ for þe, on oþ{er} for me;
For þis þu þolest nu for me. 680
For if i nere i{n} to þis t{ur} icume,
Wiþ mireȝþe þu miȝtest her i{n}ne wune.”
[Sidenote: He gives her the ring, telling her of its properties.]
Florys drouȝ forþ þ{a}t ryng
Þat his moder him gaff at her p{ar}tyng~:
“Haue þis ryng~, le{m}man myn{e}; 968
Þ{o}u shalt not dye while it is þyn{e}.”
Blaunchefloure seide þoo,
[_No gap in MS._]
“So ne shal it neu{er} goo,
Þat þis ryng~ shal help me, 972
And þe deed on þe see.”
He droȝ forþ a riche ring,
His moder him ȝaf at his p{ar}ting. 684
“Haue þis ring, le{m}man min,
Þu ne miȝt noȝt deie þe while he is þin.”
Þe ring he haueþ forþ araȝt
And to blau{n}cheflur bitaȝt. 688
“Þe ring ne schal neure aredde me;
For deþ ne mai ihc se on þe.”
[Sidenote: She attempts to force the ring back on him; it falls to the
ground and is picked up by an earl.]
Florys þ{a}t ryng~ hur rauȝt,
And she it him agayn~ betauȝt,
Nouther ne wyl other deed seene; 976
Þey let it falle hem bytwene;
A king~ com~ after; a ryng~ he fonde,
And brouȝt it forth in his honde.
Þe ring heo wolde aȝe reche,
And to floriz hi{m} biteche. 692
Ac for al þ{a}t heo miȝte do,
He hi{m} nolde aȝen ifo.
And þe ring bi one stunde,
Fel adu{n} to þe grunde. 696
A duc stupede {and} hi{m} vp nom,
And was þer of wel bliþe mon.
Þus þe Children wepyng~ com~ 980
To þe fire and hur doom~.
Byfore þe folk~ þey were brouȝt;
Drery was her bothes þouȝt;
Nu þes childre forþ me bri{n}geþ
To here dom, al wepinge. 700
[Headnote: _The ‘fairness’ of the children excites compassion._]
[Sidenote: The ‘fairness’ of the children excites compassion.]
Þ{er}e was noon~ so stern{e} man 984
Þat þe Children loked oon~,
Þ{a}t þey ne wolde, al wel fawe,
Her iugement haue w{i}t{h}drawe,
And w{i}t{h} grete Catel hem bygge, 988
Ȝif~ þey durst speke or sygge;
For Flores was so feire a ȝonglyng~,
And Blaunchefloure so swete a þing~,
Þ{er} wyst no man whor hem were woo, 992
For no semblaunt þ{a}t þey made þoo.
Ac þ{er} nas no{n} so st{ur}ne mon,
Þ{a}t he{m} lokede vpon,
Þ{a}t nolde þo suþe saȝe
Þ{a}t iugem{en}t were wiþdraȝe. 704
[_No gap in MS._]
For floriz was so fair ȝongling,
And blau{n}cheflur so suete þing,
Of me{n} {and} wi{m}me{n} þ{a}t buþ nuþe,
Þ{a}t goþ {and} seoþ {and} spekeþ wiþ muþe, 708
Ne buþ so faire in here gladnesse,
So hi were in here sorinesse.
[Sidenote: But the Admiral is very wroth.]
Þe Admyral was so wood~,
Ne myȝt he nouȝt kele his hoot blood~;
He bade þe Children fast be bound~, 996
And in to þe fire slong~.
Ac þe admiral was so wroþ {and} wod,
He q{ua}kede for g{ra}me þ{er} he stod. 712
And het he{m} binde wel faste
And i{n} to þe fire caste.
[Sidenote: The earl with the ring steps forward and speaks in behalf of
the children.]
Þat ilk{e} king~ þ{a}t þe ryng~ fond~,
To Amyral he spake and round~,
And wolde hem saue to þe lyf~, 1000
And told~ how for þe ryng~ þey gon~ stryf~.
Þe Amyral lete hem ageyn~ clepe,
For he wolde here hem speke,
[Sidenote: [110 _b_]]
And asked Florys what he heete: 1004
And he tolde him ful skeete:
Þe duc þ{a}t þe ring fu{n}de,
Com to þe Admiral {and} runde, 716
And al to gad{er}e he gan him schewe;
Of þ{a}t þe children were biknewe.
Þe Admiral let he{m} aȝe{n} clepe,
For he wolde wiþ floriz speke. 720
[Headnote: _The ‘Admiral’ is touched with pity._]
[Sidenote: Floris asks clemency for the maiden, and the maiden prays for
him.]
“Sir,” he seide, “yf~ it were þy wylle,
Þ{o}u ne getest not þ{a}t maide to spylle;
But, good sir, quel þ{o}u me, 1008
And lete þ{a}t maide on lyue be.”
[_No gap in MS._]
Blauncheflo{ur} seide byne,
“Þe gilt of~ oure dedes is moyne.”
“++Sire,” q{ua}þ floriz, “forsoþ ihc telle,
Þu noȝtest noȝt þ{a}t maide quelle.
Of al þis gilt ihc am to wite;
Ihc oȝte deie {and} he go quite.” 724
Q{ua}þ blau{n}cheflur, “aquel þu me,
And let floriz aliue be.
Ȝef hit n{er}e for mi luue,
He n{er}e noȝt fram his londe icome.” 728
Þe Admyral seide þoo 1012
“I-wys ȝe shul dye boo.”
His swerd he breide out of his sheeth,
Þe Children to haue don{e} to deeth.
Blaunchefloure put forþ hur swire, 1016
And Florys dide her agayn~ to tyre,
And seide, “I am man; I shal byfore,
W{i}t{h} wrong hast þ{o}u þy lyf loore.”
Florys forth his swerd putte, 1020
And Blauncheflo{ur} agayn~ him tytte.
Q{ua}þ þe Admiral, “so ihc mote go,
Ȝe schulle deie togadere bo.
Miself ihc wulle me awreke;
Ne schulle ȝe neure go ne speke.” 732
Floriz forþ his nekke bed,
And blau{n}cheflur wiþd{ra}ȝe hi{m} ȝet.
Blau{n}cheflur bid forþ hire suere,
And floriz aȝen hire gan tire. 736
Neiþ{er} ne miȝte þ{er}e þole
Þ{a}t oþ{er} deide bifore.
[Sidenote: The Admiral is at length touched with pity.]
Þe king~ seide, “dredry mot ȝe be,
Þis rouþ by þis Children to see.”
Þe king~ þat þe ryng~ hadde, 1024
For routh of~ hem sone he radde,
And at þe Amyral wyl he spede,
Þe Children fro þe deþ to lede.
Þo þe Admiral, þeȝ he wroþ were,
Þ{er} he chau{n}gede his chere. 740
For he seȝ þ{a}t eyþ{er} wolde for oþ{er} deie,
And for he seȝ mani wepinde eie,
And for he luuede so muche þ{a}t mai,
Al wepinge he t{ur}nde away. 744
His swerd fel of his hond to gru{n}de;
Ne miȝte he hit holde þulke stu{n}de.
[Sidenote: The earl with the ring speaks for the children.]
“Sir,” he seide, “it is lytel prys, 1028
Þese Children for to slee y-wys;
And it is wel more worship,
Florys counsel þ{a}t ȝe weete,
Who him tauȝt þ{a}t ilke gynne, 1032
Þy toure for to com{e} ynne,
And who him brouȝt þare,
And other, þ{a}t ȝe may be ware.”
Þe duc þ{a}t here ring hadde,
For he{m} to speke wille he hadde. 748
“++Sire Admiral,” he sede, “iwis
Hit is þe wel litel pris
Þis feire childre{n} for to quelle.
Ac bet{er}e hit is þ{a}t hi þe telle 752
Hu he com in to þi tur,
To ligge þ{er} bi blau{n}cheflur.
His engin whan þu hit wite,
Þe bet{er}e wiþ oþ{er}e þu miȝt þe wite.” 756
Þan seide þe Amyral, “as god me saue, 1036
Florys shal his lyf~ haue,
Ȝif~ he me telle who him tauȝt þ{er}to,
Of Florys, þat shal y neuer doo.”
Alle þ{a}t herde wordes his,
Bisecheþ þ{a}t he g{ra}nti þis.
He het hi{m} telle his engin,
Hu he to blau{n}cheflur co{m} in, 760
And to hi{m} radde {and} help þarto.
[Headnote: _Floris tells his story._]
[Sidenote: Floris refuses to tell how he gained entry to the tower until
pardon has been promised the porter.]
Now þey bydden al y-wys 1040
Þ{a}t þe Admyral g{ra}unted þis,
To forȝeue þ{a}t trespas
Ȝif~ Florys told how it was.
“Þ{a}t,” q{ua}þ he, “nelle ihc neure do,
For þing þ{a}t me mai me do,
Bute hit he{m} beo forȝiue also.” 764
Alle þoþ{er}e bisecheþ þis,
And of þe Admiral ig{ra}nted is.
[Sidenote: He then tells his story.]
[Sidenote: [111 _a_]]
Now eu{er}y word~ he haþ him tolde, 1044
How þ{a}t maide was for him solde,
And how he was of~ spayn~ a kynges sone,
For grete loue þeder y-com{e},
For to fonde, w{i}t{h} sum gynne, 1048
Þat feire maide for to wynne,
And how þe porter was his man by-com{e},
For his gold and for his warysoun~,
And how he was in þe Florys born{e}. 1052
Alle þe lordinges lowȝ þ{er}forn{e}:
Nu ord {and} ende he haþ he{m} itold,
Hu bla[un]cheflur was fram him isold, 768
And hu he was of spaygne a kinges sone,
For hire luue þuder icume,
To fo{n}den wiþ sume gīnne,
Hu he miȝte hure awi{n}ne, 772
And hu þureȝ þe cupe {and} þureȝ þe g{er}sume,
Þe port{er} was his man bicume,
And hu he was in a cupe ibore;
Alle þes oþ{er}e lowe þ{er}uore. 776
[Headnote: _Scene of reconciliation._]
[Sidenote: The Admiral lifts them up, dubs Floris knight, and causes
them to be married in church with a ring.]
Now þe Admyral wol him tyde;
Florys setteþ next his syde,
And efte he made him stonde vpryȝt, 1056
And dubbed him þere knyȝt,
And bade he shulde w{i}t{h} him be,
Þe furthermost of his meyne.
++Þe Admiral þo, wel hi{m} bitide,
Þ{a}t Child he sette bi his side,
And haþ forȝiue his wraþþe bo,
Floriz {and} blau{n}cheflur also. 780
And sede wiþ him hi scholde be,
Þe beste of al his maine.
Florys falleþ doun~ to his feet, 1060
And p{ra}yeþ geue him his sweet.
Þe Amyral gaf~ him his le{m}man~:
Al þ{a}t þ{er}e were, þankyd him þanne.
To a Chirche he let hem bryng{e}, 1064
And dede let wed hem w{i}t{h} a ryng{e}.
Boþ þese twoo swete þinges y-wys
Fel his feet for to kysse;
And floriz he makeþ stonde vpriȝt,
And þ{er} he dubbede him to kniȝt. 784
Nu boþe togadere þes childre for blisse
Falleþ to his fet hem to kisse.
He let he{m} to one Chirche bringe,
And spusen he{m} wiþ one gold ringe. 788
[Sidenote: The Admiral takes Claris to be his queen.]
And þrouȝ consel of Blauncheflo{ur}, 1068
Clarys was fet doun~ of þe Toure,
And Amyral wedded hur to queene.
Þ{er}e was fest swythe breeme;
I can not telle al þe sonde, 1072
But rycher fest was neu{er} in londe.
Þureȝ þe red of blau{n}cheflur,
Me fette Clariz adun of þe Tur.
Þe Admiral hire nam to quene.
Þilke feste was wel breme, 792
For þ{er} was alle ku{n}nes gleo,
Þ{a}t miȝte at eni briddale beo.
[Sidenote: Messengers come to Floris announcing his father’s death.]
Was it nouȝt longe after þan~,
Þat to Florys tydyng~ cam~,
Þ{a}t þe king~ his Fader was deed~. 1076
Hit nas þ{er} aft{er} noþing longe
Þ{a}t þ{er} co{m} floriz writ {and} sonde, 796
Þ{a}t þe king his fader was ded,
[Sidenote: The Admiral tries in vain to induce him to remain.]
Þe Baronage gaf~ him reed
Þat he shuld wende hoom~,
And fonge his feire kyngdoom~.
At þe Amyral þey toke leue, 1080
And he byddeþ þem byleue.
And þ{a}t he scholde nime{n} his red.
Þa{n}ne seide þe Admiral,
“If þu dost bi mi consail, 800
Bilef wiþ me; ne wend naȝt hom,
Ihc wulle ȝeue þe a kinedom
Also long {and} also brod,
Also eure ȝet þi fader ibod.” 804
[Sidenote: Floris makes rich presents in parting,]
Hom{e} he went w{i}t{h} royal array,
And was crownyd w{i}t{h}-in a short day.
(_Follows. _The batełł of Troye_,
sithe þ{a}t god þis world~ wrouȝt~
Heuen and erthe made of~ nouȝt~
leaves 111-134. Then _Amys and Amylion_, leaves 134-147. MS. ends
with one leaf of _Sir Eglamour_._)
Ac floriz nolde for no wi{n}ne;
Leu{er}e hi{m} were wiþ his ki{n}ne.
Þe Admiral he bid god day,
And þo{n}kede Clariz þ{a}t faire may, 808
And to hire he haþ iȝolde
Twenti pond of ride golde.
And to Daris þ{a}t hi{m} so taȝte,
Twenti pund he araȝte. 812
And alle þ{a}t for him dude{n} eidel,
He ȝeld here while suþe wel.
[Headnote: _Floris and Blauncheflur depart for their native land._]
[Sidenote: and comes home, where he and Blauncheflur reign as king
and queen.]
He bitaȝte he{m} alle godalmiȝte
And com hom whane he miȝte. 816
He was king wiþ Muchel hon{ur},
And heo his quene blau{n}cheflur.
Nu ȝe habbeþ iherd þane ende
Of floriz {and} his le{m}man hende, 820
Hu aft{er} bale comeþ bote;
God leue þ{a}t vs so mote,
Þ{a}t we him mote louie so,
Þ{a}t we mote to heuene go. AMEN. 824