Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Anonymous
Middle English
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Revisions to the electronic version
January 1994 David Seaman, University of Virginia Library Electronic Text
Center
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550: I rede �ow dresce the �erfore, and drawe no lytte langere;
551: Be sekyre of �i sowdeours and sende to �e mowntes;
552: Be �e quartere of �is 3ere, and hym quarte stannde,
553: He wyll wyghtlye in a qwhyle on his wayes hye."
554: "Bee estyre," sais �e Emperour, "I ettyll my selfen
555: To hostaye in Almayne with armede knyghtez;
556: Sende freklye into Fraunce, �at flour es of rewmes,
557: Fande to fette �at freke and forfette his landez;
558: For I sall sette kepers, full conaunde and noble,
559: Many geaunte of Geen, justers full gude,
560: To mete hym in the mountes and martyre hys knyghtes,
561: Stryke �em doun in strates and struye them fore euere!
562: There sall appon Godarde a garette be rerede,
563: That schall be garneschte and kepyde with gude men of armes,
564: And a bekyn abouen to brynne when �em lykys,
565: �at nane enmye with hoste sall entre the mountes;
566: There schall one Mounte Bernarde be beyldede ano�ere,
567: Buschede with banerettes and bachelers noble;
568: In at the portes of Pavye schall no prynce passe,
569: Thurghe the perelous places, for my pris knyghtes."
570: Thane Sir Lucius lordlyche lettres he sendys
571: Onone into �e Oryente, with austeryn knyghtez,
572: Till Ambyganye and Orcage and Alysaundyre eke,
573: To Inde and to Ermonye, as Ewfrates rynnys,
574: To Asye and to Affrike and Ewrope �e large,
575: To Irritayne and Elamet and all �ase owte ilez,
576: To Arraby and Egipt, till erles and o�er,
577: That any erthe ocupyes in �ase este marches,
578: Of Damaske and Damyat, and dukes and erles,
579: For drede of his daungere they dresside �em sone;
580: Of Crete and of Capados the honourable kyngys
581: Come at his commandmente clenly at ones,
582: To Tartary and Turky, when tythynngez es comen;
583: They turne in by Thebay, terauntez full hugge,
584: The flour of �e faire folke of Amazonnes landes,
585: All thate faillez on �e felde be forfette fore euere!
586: Of Babyloyn and Baldake the burlyche knyghtes,
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847: And 3itt es that sotte noghte sadde, so wele hym it lykez!
848: In �e contree of Constantyne ne kynde has he leuede,
849: Withowttyn kydd castells enclosid wyth walles,
850: That he ne has clenly dystroyede all the knaue childyre,
851: And them caryede to �e cragge and clenly deworyd!
852: The Duchez of Bretayne todaye has he takyn,
853: Beside Reynes as scho rade with hire ryche knyghttes;
854: Ledd hyre to �e mountayne thare �at lede lengez,
855: To lye by that lady aye whyls hir lyfe lastez.
856: We folowede o ferrom, moo then fyfe hundrethe
857: Of beryns and of burgeys and bachelers noble,
858: Bot he couerde the cragge, cho cryede so lowde,
859: The care of �at creatoure couer sall I neuer!
860: Scho was flour of all Fraunce, or of fyfe rewmes,
861: And one of the fayreste that fourmede was euere,
862: The gentileste jowell ajuggede with lordes
863: Fro Geen vnto Geron, by Ihesu of Heuen!
864: Scho was thy wyfes cosyn, knowe it if �e lykez,
865: Comen of �e rycheste that rengnez in erthe;
866: As thow arte ryghtwise Kyng, rewe on thy pople,
867: And fande for to venge them that thus are rebuykyde!"
868: "Allas!" sais Sir Arthure, "so lange haue I lyffede;
869: Hade I wyten of this, wele had me chefede;
870: Me es noghte fallen faire, bot me es foule happynede,
871: That thus this faire ladye this fende has dystroyede!
872: I had leuere thane all Fraunce this fyftene wynter
873: I hade bene before thate freke a furlange of waye,
874: When he that ladye had laghte and ledde to �e montez;
875: I hadde lefte my lyfe are cho hade harme lymppyde.
876: Bot walde �ow kene me to �e crage thare �at kene lengez;
877: I walde cayre to �at coste and carpe wythe hym seluen,
878: To trette with that tyraunt fore treson of londes,
879: And take trewe for a tym, till it may tyde bettyr."
880: "Sire, see 3e 3one farlande, with 3one two fyrez?
881: �ar filsnez �at fende, fraiste when the lykes,
882: Appone the creste of the cragge, by a colde welle,
883: That enclosez �e clyfe with �e clere strandez;
884: Ther may thow fynde folke fay wythowttyn nowmer,
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1035: Bot, lefe, walde �ow lere me whare �at lede lengez,
1036: I sall alowe �e and I liffe, oure Lorde so me helpe."
1037: "Ferke fast to �e fyre," quod cho, "that flawmez so hye;
1038: Thare fillis �at fende hym, fraist when the lykez;
1039: Bot thowe moste seke more southe, sydlyngs a lyttill,
1040: For he will hafe sent hym selfe sex myle large."
1041: To �e sow�e of �e reke he soghte at �e gayneste,
1042: Sayned hym sekerly with certeyne wordez,
1043: And sydlyngs of �e segge the syghte had he rechid,
1044: How vnsemly �at sott satt sowpand hym one;
1045: He lay lenand on lang, lugand vnfaire,
1046: �e thee of a manns lymme lyfte vp by �e haunche;
1047: His bakke and his bewschers and his brode lendez
1048: He bekez by �e bale-fyre, and breklesse hym semede.
1049: �are ware rostez full ruyd and rewfull bredez,
1050: Beerynes and bestaile brochede togeders,
1051: Cowle full cramede of crysmed childyre,
1052: Sum as brede brochede, and bierdez �am tournede.
1053: And �an this comlych kyng, bycause of his pople,
1054: His herte bledez for bale, one bent ware he standez.
1055: Thane he dressede one his schelde, schuntes no lengere,
1056: Braundesch�t�e his bryghte swerde by �e bryghte hiltez,
1057: Raykez towarde �e renke reghte with a ruyd will,
1058: And hyely hailsez �at hulke with hawtayne wordez:
1059: "Now allweldand Gode, �at wyrscheppez vs all,
1060: Giff the sorowe and syte, sotte, there thow lygges,
1061: For the fulsomeste freke that fourmede was euere;
1062: Foully thow fedys the, �e Fende haue thi saule!
1063: Here es cury vnclene, carle, be my trowthe,
1064: Caffe of creatours all, thow curssede wriche!
1065: Because that �ow killide has �ise cresmede childyre,
1066: Thow has marters made, and broghte oute of lyfe,
1067: �at here are brochede on bente and brittened with thi handez,
1068: I sall merke �e thy mede, as �ou has myche serfed,
1069: Thurghe myghte of Seynt Mighell, �at �is monte 3emes;
1070: And for this faire ladye, �at �ow has fey leuyde,
1071: And �us forced one foulde, for fylth of �i selfen.
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1595: "Me aughte to honour them in erthe ouer all o�er thyngez
1596: �at �us in myn absens awnters �em selfen;
1597: I sall them luffe whylez I lyffe, so me our Lorde helpe,
1598: And gyfe �em landys full large whare them beste lykes;
1599: Thay sall noghte losse on �is layke, 3if me lyfe happen,
1600: �at �us are lamede for my lufe be �is lythe strandez."
1601: Bot in �e clere daweyng, �e dere kynge hym selfen
1602: Comaundyd Sir Cadore, with his dere knyghttes,
1603: Sir Cleremus, Sir Cleremonde, with clene men of armez,
1604: Sir Clowdmur, Sir Clegis, to conuaye theis lordez;
1605: Sir Boyce and Sir Berell, with baners displayede,
1606: Sir Bawdwyne, Sir Bryane, and Sir Bedwere �e ryche,
1607: Sir Raynalde and Sir Richere, Rawlaund childyre,
1608: To ryde with �e Romaynes in rowtte wyth theire feres.
1609: "Prekez now preualye to Parys the ryche,
1610: Wyth Petir the pryssonere and his price knyghttez;
1611: Beteche �am �e proueste, in presens of lordez,
1612: O payne and o perell �at pendes theretoo;
1613: That they be weisely wachede and in warde holden,
1614: Warded of warantizez with wyrchipfull knyghttez,
1615: Wagge hym wyghte men, and woonde for no siluyre,
1616: I haffe warnede �at wy, be ware 3if hym lykes."
1617: Now bownes �e Bretons, als �e Kynge byddez,
1618: Buskez theire batells, theire baners displayez;
1619: Towardez Chartris they chese, thes cheualrous knyghttez,
1620: And in the champayne lande full faire �ay eschewede:
1621: For �e Emperour of myghte had ordand hym selfen
1622: Sir Vtolfe and Sir Ewandyre, two honourable kyngez,
1623: Erles of �e Orient, with austeryn knyghttez,
1624: Of �e awntrouseste men �at to his oste lengede,
1625: Sir Sextynour of Lyby and senatours many,
1626: The Kyng of Surrye hym selfe, with Sarzynes ynowe,
1627: The Senatour of Sutere, wyth sowmes full huge,
1628: Whas assygnede to �at courte be sent of his peres,
1629: Traise towarde Troys �e treson to wyrke,
1630: To hafe betrappede with a trayne oure traueland knyghttez,
1631: That hade persayfede �at Peter at Parys sulde lenge,
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1781: Thane laughes the Lebe Kyng and all on lowde meles,
1782: "3one lorde es lyghttede, me lykes the bettyre;
1783: He sall noghte dere vs todaye, the Deuyll haue �his� bones!"
1784: "3one kyng," said Cador, "karpes full large,
1785: Because he killyd �is kene, Criste hafe �i saule:
1786: He sall hafe corne-bote, so me Criste helpe;
1787: Or I kaire of �is coste, we sall encontre ones.
1788: So may �e wynde weile turnne, I quytte hym or ewyn,
1789: Sothely hym selfen or summ of his ferez."
1790: Thane Sir Cador �e kene knyghttly he wyrkez,
1791: Cryez "A Cornewale!" and castez in fewtere,
1792: Girdez streke thourghe �e stour on a stede ryche;
1793: Many steryn mane he steride by strenghe of hym one.
1794: Whene his spere was sprongen, he spede hym full 3erne,
1795: Swappede owtte with a swerde that swykede hym neuer,
1796: Wroghte wayes full wyde and wounded knyghttez,
1797: Wyrkez in his wayfare full werkand sydez,
1798: And hewes of �e hardieste halsez in sondyre,
1799: That all blendez with blode thare his blanke rynnez.
1800: So many biernez the bolde broughte owt of lyfe,
1801: Tittez tirauntez doun and temez theire sadills,
1802: And turnez owte of �e toile when hym tyme thynkkez.
1803: Thane the Lebe Kynge criez full lowde
1804: One Sir Cador the kene, with cruell wordez,
1805: "Thowe hase wyrchipe wonne and wondyde knyghttez;
1806: Thowe wenes for thi wightenez the werlde es thy nowen.
1807: I sall wayte at thyne honnde, wy, be my trowthe;
1808: I haue warnede �e wele, be ware 3if the lykez!"
1809: With cornuse and clariones �eis newe-made knyghttez
1810: Lythes vnto �e crye and castez in fewtire;
1811: Ferkes in on a frounte one feraunte stedez,
1812: Fellede at �e fyrste come fyfty att ones.
1813: Schotte thorowe the schiltrouns and scheuerede launcez,
1814: Laid doun in �e lumppe lordly biernez.
1815: And thus nobilly oure newe men notez �eire strenghez,
1816: Bot new notte es onon �at noyes me sore.
1817: The Kyng of Lebe has laughte a stede �at hym lykede,
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1931: That I sulde blyn fore theire boste thi byddyng to wyrche;
1932: When any stirttez to stale, stuffe �am �e bettere,
1933: Ore thei will be stonayede and stroyede in 3one strayte londez.
1934: I dide my delygens todaye, I doo me one lordez,
1935: And in daungere of dede fore dyuerse knyghttez;
1936: I hafe no grace to �i gree, bot syche grett wordez,
1937: 3if I heuen my herte, my hape es no bettyre."
1938: �ofe Sir Arthure ware angerde, he ansuers faire;
1939: "Thow has doughttily donn, Sir Duke, with thi handez,
1940: And has donn thy deuer with my dere knyghttez;
1941: Forthy thow arte demyde, with dukes and erlez,
1942: For one of �e doughtyeste �at dubbede was euer.
1943: Thare es non ischewe of vs on this erthe sprongen;
1944: Thow arte apparant to be ayere, are one of thi childyre,
1945: Thow arte my sister sone, forsake sall I neuer."
1946: Thane gerte he in his awen tente a table be sette,
1947: And tryede in with tromppez trauaillede biernez;
1948: Serfede them solempnely with selkouthe metez,
1949: Swythe semly in syghte with sylueren dischees.
1950: Whene the senatours harde saye �at it so happenede,
1951: They saide to �e Emperour, "Thi seggez are suppryssede;
1952: Sir Arthure, thyn enmy, has owterayede �i lordez,
1953: That rode for �e rescowe of 3one riche knyghttez.
1954: Thow dosse bot tynnez �i tym and turmenttez �i pople;
1955: Thow arte betrayede of �i men that moste thow on traystede,
1956: That schall turne the to tene and torfere for euer."
1957: Than the Emperour irus was angerde at his herte,
1958: For oure valyant biernez siche prowesche had wonnen.
1959: With kyng and with kaysere to consayle they wende,
1960: Souerayngez of Sarazenez and senatours manye;
1961: Thus he semblez full sone certayne lordez,
1962: And in the assemble thane he sais them theis wordez:
1963: "My herte sothely es sette, assente 3if 3owe lykes,
1964: To seke into Sexon, with my sekyre knyghttez,
1965: To fyghte with my foomen, if fortune me happen,
1966: 3if I may fynde the freke within the four haluez;
1967: Or entir into Awguste, awnters to seke,
1968: And byde with my balde men within �e burghe ryche;
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2044: Whene �eise wordez was saide, the Walsche kyng hym selfen
2045: Whas warre of this wyderwyn �at werrayede his knyghttez;
2046: Brothely in the vale with voyce he ascryez,
2047: "Viscownte of Valewnce, enuyous of dedys,
2048: The vassallage of Viterbe todaye schall be reuengede;
2049: Vnuenquiste fro �is place voyde schall I neuer!"
2050: Thane the Vyscownte valiante, with a voute noble,
2051: Auoyeddyde the avawewarde, enuerounde his horse;
2052: He drissede in a derfe schelde, endenttyd with sable,
2053: With a dragone engowschede, dredfull to schewe,
2054: Deuorande a dolphyn with dolefull lates,
2055: In seyne that oure soueraygne sulde be distroyede,
2056: And all don of dawez with dynntez of swerddez,
2057: For thare es noghte bot dede thare the dragone es raissede.
2058: Thane the comlyche kyng castez in fewtyre,
2059: With a crewell launce cowpez dull euen,
2060: Abowne �e spayre a spanne, emange �e schortte rybbys,
2061: That the splent and the spleen on the spere langez;
2062: The blode sprente owtte and sprede as �e horse spryngez,
2063: And he sproulez full spakely, bot spekes he no more.
2064: And thus has Sir Valyantt halden his avowez,
2065: And venqwyste �e Viscownte, �ate victor was halden.
2066: Thane Sir Ewayne fitz Vriene full enkerlye rydez
2067: Onone to the Emperour, his egle to towche;
2068: Thrughe his brode bataile he buskes belyfe,
2069: Braydez owt his brande with a blyth chere,
2070: Reuerssede it redelye and awaye rydys;
2071: Ferkez in with the fewle in his faire handez,
2072: And fittez in freely one frounte with his feris.
2073: Now buskez Sir Launcelot and braydez full euen
2074: To Sir Lucius the lorde and lothelye hym hyttez;
2075: Thurghe pawnce and platez he percede the maylez,
2076: That the prowde pensell in his pawnche lengez;
2077: The hede hayled owtt behynde ane halfe fote large,
2078: Thurghe hawberke and hanche, with �e harde wapyn,
2079: The stede and the steryn mane strykes to �e grownde,
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2340: Bekende them the captyfis, the Kynge dide hym selfen,
2341: And all byfore his kene men karpede thees wordes:
2342: "Here are the kystis," quod the Kyng, "kaire ouer �e mownttez:
2343: Mette full monee, �at 3e haue mekyll 3ernede,
2344: The taxe and �e trebutte of tene schore wynteres,
2345: That was tenefully tynte in tym of oure elders;
2346: Saye to �e Senatoure �e cete �at 3emes,
2347: That I sende hym �e somme, assaye how hym likes.
2348: Bott byde them neuere be so bolde, whylls my blode regnes,
2349: Efte for to brawlle �em for my brode landez,
2350: Ne to aske trybut ne taxe be nakyn tytle,
2351: Bot syche tresoure as this, whilles my tym lastez."
2352: Nowe they raike to Rome the redyeste wayes,
2353: Knylles in the Capatoylle and comowns assembles,
2354: Souerayngez and senatours the cete �at 3emes,
2355: Bekende them the caryage, kystis and o�er,
2356: Alls �e Conquerour comaunde with cruell wordes.
2357: "We hafe trystily trayuellede �is tributte to feche,
2358: The taxe and �e trewage of fowre score wynteris,
2359: Of I�n�glande, of Irelande, and all �ir owtt illes,
2360: That Arthure in the Occedente ocupyes att ones.
2361: He byddis 3ow neuere be so bolde, whills his blode regnes,
2362: To brawle 3owe fore Bretayne ne his brode landes,
2363: Ne aske hym trebute ne taxe be nonkyns title,
2364: Bot syche tresoure as this, whills his tyme lastis.
2365: We haffe foughtten in France, and vs es foule happenede,
2366: And all oure myche faire folke faye are byleuede;
2367: Eschappide there ne cheuallrye, ne cheftaynes no�er,
2368: Bott choppede downn in the chasse, syche chawnse es befallen.
2369: We rede 3e store 3owe of stone and stuffen 3our walles:
2370: 3ow wakkens wandrethe and werre, be ware 3if 3ow lykes."
2371: In the kalendez of Maye this caas es befallen:
2372: The roy ryalle renownde, with his Rownde Table,
2373: One the coste of Costantyne, by �e clere strandez,
2374: Has �e Romaynes ryche rebuykede for euer.
2375: Whene he hade foughtten in Fraunce and the felde wonnen,
2376: And fersely his foomen fellde owtte of lyfe,
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3009: Forethy they stode at the straytez and with his stale houede,
3010: Till his prayes ware paste the pathe that he dredis;
3011: When they the cete myghte see that the Kyng seggede,
3012: Sothely the same daye was wit�h� asawte wonnen,
3013: An hawrawde hyes before, the beste of the lordes,
3014: Hom at �e herbergage, owt of tha hyghe londes,
3015: Tornys tytte to �e tente and to the Kyng telles
3016: All the tale sothely, and how they hade spede:
3017: "All thy forreours are fere, that forrayede withowttyn,
3018: Sir Florent and Sir Floridas and all thy ferse knyghttez;
3019: Thay hafe forrayede and foghten with full gret nowmbyre,
3020: And fele of thy foomen has broghte owt of lyffe.
3021: Oure wirchipfull wardayne es wele escheuyde,
3022: For he has wonn todaye wirchip for euere;
3023: He has Dolfyn slayne and �e Duke takyn;
3024: Many dowghty es dede be dynt of his hondes.
3025: He has presoners price, pryncez and erles,
3026: Of �e richeste blode �at regnys in erthe;
3027: All thy cheuallrous men faire are eschewede;
3028: Bot a childe Chasteleynne myschance es befallen."
3029: "Hawtayne," sais �e Kyng, "harawde, be Criste,
3030: Thow has helyd myn herte, I hete the forsothe;
3031: I 3ife the in Hamptone a hundreth pownde large."
3032: The Kynge �an to assawte he sembles his knyghtez,
3033: With somercastell and sowe appon sere halfes;
3034: Skyftis his skotiferis and skayles the wallis,
3035: And iche wache has his warde with wiese men of armes.
3036: Thane boldly �ay buske and bendes engynes,
3037: Payses in pylotes and proues theire castes;
3038: Mynsteris and masondewes they malle to �e erthe,
3039: Chirches and chapells chalke-whitte blawnchede.
3040: Stone �s�tepells full styffe in �e strete ligges,
3041: Chawmbyrs with chymnes and many cheefe inns;
3042: Paysede and pelid down playsterede walles,
3043: The pyne of �e pople was pete for to here.
3044: Thane �e Duchez hire dyghte with damesels ryche,
3045: The Cowntas of Crasyn, with hir clere maydyns,
3046: Knelis down in �e kyrnelles thare the Kyng houede,
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3882: Had thow knawen hym, Sir Kyng, in kythe thare he lengede,
3883: His konynge, his knyghthode, his kyndly werkes,
3884: His doyng, his doughtynesse, his dedis of armes,
3885: Thow wolde hafe dole for his dede �e dayes of thy lyfe.
3886: 3it �at traytour alls tite teris lete he fall,
3887: Turnes hym furthe tite, and talkes no more,
3888: Went wepand awaye and weries the stowndys,
3889: �at euer his werdes ware wroghte siche wandrethe to wyrke.
3890: Whene he thoghte on �is thynge, it thirllede his herte:
3891: For sake of his sybb blode sygheande he rydys;
3892: When �at renayede renke remembirde hym seluen
3893: Of reuerence and ryotes of �e Rownde Table,
3894: He remyd and repent hym of all his rewthe werkes;
3895: Rode awaye with his rowte, ristys he no lengere,
3896: For rade of oure riche kynge, ryve �at he scholde.
3897: Thane kayres he to Cornewaile, carefull in herte,
3898: Because of his kynsemane that one the coste ligges;
3899: He taries tremlande ay, tydandis to herken.
3900: Than the traytoure treunted �e Tyseday �areaftyre,
3901: Trynnys in with a trayne treson to wirke;
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4088: They are Sarazenes, 3one sorte, vnsownde motte they worthe!
4089: Sett one them sadlye, for sake of oure Lorde.
4090: 3if vs be destaynede to dy todaye one this erthe,
4091: We sall be hewede vnto Heuen, or we be halfe colde.
4092: Loke 3e lett for no lede lordly to wirche:
4093: Layes 3one laddes lowe be the layke ende.
4094: Take no tente vnto me, ne tale of me rekke;
4095: Bes besy one my baners with 3oure brighte wapyns,
4096: That they be strenghely stuffede with steryn knyghtes,
4097: And holden lordly one lofte, ledys to schewe;
4098: 3if any renke them arase, reschowe them sone.
4099: Wirkes now my wirchipe, todaye my werre endys;
4100: 3e wotte my wele and my woo, wirkkys as 3ow likys.
4101: Crist comly with crown comforthe 3ow all,
4102: For �e kyndeste creatours that euer kynge ledde;
4103: I gyffe 3ow all my blyssyng with a blithe will,
4104: And all Bretowns bolde, blythe mote 3e worthe.
4105: They pype vpe at pryme tyme, approches them nere:
4106: Pris men and priste proues theire strenghes;
4107: Bremly the brethemen bragges in troumppes,
4108: In cornettes comlyly, when knyghttes assembles,
4109: And thane jolyly enjoynys �eis jentyll knyghttes;
4110: A jolyere journe ajuggede was neuer,
4111: Whene Bretons boldly enbraces theire scheldes,
4112: And Cristyn encroyssede them and castis in fewtire.
4113: �an Sir Arthure oste his enmye askryes,
4114: And in they schokke theire scheldes, schontes no lengare;
4115: Schotte to �e schiltrons and schowttes full heghe,
4116: Thorowe scheldis full schene schalkes they touche.
4117: Redily thas rydde men of the Rownde Table
4118: With ryall raunke stele rittys theire mayles;
4119: Bryneys browdden they briste and burneste helmys,
4120: Hewes haythen men down, halses in sondre.
4121: Fyghtande with fyne stele, �e feye blod rynnys;
4122: Of �e frekkeste of frounte, vnfers ere belevede.
4123: Ethyns of Argayle and Irische kynges
4124: Enverounes oure avawmwarde with venymos beryns;
4125: Peghttes and paynymes with perilous wapyns,
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