The Tale of Ralph the Collier

In the cheiftyme of Charlis, that chosin chiftane, Thair fell ane ferlyfull flan within thay fellis wyde Quhair empreouris and erlis and uther mony ane Turnit fra Sanct Thomas befoir the Yule tyde. line5Thay past unto Paris, thay proudest in pane, With mony prelatis and princis that was of mekle pryde. All thay went with the King to his worthy wane; Ovir the feildis sa fair thay fure be his syde. All the worthiest went in the morning — line10Baith dukis and duchepeiris, Barrounis and bacheleiris. Mony stout man steiris Of town with the King.

And as that ryall raid ovir the rude mure, line15Him betyde ane tempest that tyme, hard I tell. The wind blew out of the eist stiflie and sture, The deip durandlie draif in mony deip dell; Sa feirslie fra the firmament, sa fellounlie it fure, Thair micht na folk hald na fute on the heich fell. line20In point thay war to parische, thay proudest men and pure; In thay wickit wedderis thair wist nane to dwell. Amang thay myrk montanis sa madlie thay mer, Be it was pryme of the day, Sa wonder hard fure thay line25That ilk ane tuik ane seir way, And sperpellit full fer.

Ithand wedderis of the eist draif on sa fast, It all to-blaisterit and blew that thairin baid. Be thay disseverit sindrie, midmorne was past; line30Thair wist na knicht of the court quhat way the King raid. He saw thair was na better bot God at the last. His steid aganis the storme staluartlie straid; He cachit fra the court, sic was his awin cast, Quhair na body was him about, be five mylis braid. line35In thay montanis, i-wis, he wox all will, In wickit wedderis and wicht, Amang thay montanis on hicht: Be that it drew to the nicht The King lykit ill.

line40Evill lykand was the Kyng it nichtit him sa lait, And he na harberie had for his behufe; Sa come thair ane cant carll chachand the gait, With ane capill and twa creillis cuplit abufe. The King carpit to the carll withouten debait, line45‘Schir, tell my thy richt name, for the Rude lufe.’ He sayis, ‘Men callis me Rauf Coilyear, as I weill wait; I leid my life in this land with mekle unrufe, Baith tyde and time, in all my travale; Hine ovir sevin mylis I dwell, line50And leidis coilis to sell. Sen thow speris, I the tell All the suith hale.’

‘Sa mot I thrife,’ said the King, ‘I speir for nane ill; Thow semis ane nobill fallow, thy answer is sa fyne.’ line55‘Forsuith,’ said the Coilyear, ‘traist quhen thow will, For I trow and it be nocht swa, sum part salbe thyne.’ ‘Mary, God forbid!’ said the King, ‘that war bot lytill skill; Baith myself and my hors is reddy for to tyne. I pray the, bring me to sum rest, the weddir is sa schill, line60For I defend that we fall in ony fechtine. I had mekill mair nait, sum freindschip to find; And gif thow can better than I, For the name of Sanct July, Thow bring me to sum harbery, line65And leif me not behind!’

‘I wait na worthie harberie heir neirhand For to serve sic ane man as me think the: Nane bot mine awin hous, maist in this land, Fer furth in the forest, amang the fellis hie. line70With thy thow wald be payit of sic as thow fand, Forsuith thow suld be welcum to pas hame with me Or ony uther gude fallow that I heir fand Walkand will of his way, as me think the; For the wedderis ar sa fell, that fallis on the feild.’ line75The King was blyth quhair he raid Of the grant that he had maid, Sayand, with hart glaid, ‘Schir, God yow foryeild!’

‘Na! thank me not ovir airlie, for dreid that we threip, line80For I have servit the yit of lytill thing to ruse; For nouther hes thow had of me fyre, drink, nor meit, Nor nane uther eismentis for travellouris behuse. Bot, micht we bring this harberie this nicht weill to heip, That we micht with ressoun baith thus excuse, line85Tomorne, on the morning, quhen thow sall on leip, Pryse at the parting how that thow dois; For first to lofe and syne to lak, Peter! it is schame.’ The King said, ‘In gud fay, Schir, it is suith that ye say.’ line90Into sic talk fell thay, Quhill thay war neir hame.

To the Coilyearis hous baith, or thay wald blin, The carll had cunning weill quhair the gait lay: ‘Undo the dure belive! Dame, art thow in? line95Quhy devill makis thow na dule for this evill day? For my gaist and I baith cheveris with the chin. Sa fell ane wedder feld I never, be my gude fay!’ The gude wyfe glaid with the gle to begin — For durst scho never sit summoundis that scho hard him say — line100The carll was wantoun of word, and wox wonder wraith. All abaisit for blame, To the dure went our dame, Scho said, ‘Schir, ye ar welcome hame, And your gaist baith.’

line105‘Dame, I have deir coft all this dayis hyre, In wickit wedderis and weit walkand full will. Dame, kyith I am cummin hame, and kendill on ane fyre; I trow our gaist be the gait hes farne als ill. Ane ryall, rufe, het fyre war my desyre, line110To fair the better, for his saik, gif we micht win thairtill. Knap doun capounis of the best, but in the byre — Heir is bot hamelie fair — do belive, Gill.’ Twa cant knaifis of his awin haistelie he bad: ‘The ane of you my capill ta, line115The uther his coursour alswa; To the stabill swyith ye ga.’ Than was the King glaid.

The Coilyear gudlie in feir tuke him be the hand And put him befoir him, as ressoun had bene; line120Quhen thay come to the dure, the King begouth to stand, To put the Coilyear in befoir maid him to mene. He said, ‘Thow art uncourtes; that sall I warrand!’ He tyt the King be the nek, twa part in tene, ‘Gif thow at bidding suld be boun or obeysand, line125And gif thow of courtasie couth, thow hes forget it clene! Now is anis,’ said the Coilyear, ‘kynd aucht to creip, Sen ellis thow art unknawin, To mak me lord of my awin; Sa mot I thrive, I am thrawin; line130Begin we to threip.’

Than benwart thay yeid, quhair brandis was bricht, To ane bricht byrnand fyre, as the carll bad. He callit on Gyliane his wyfe, thair supper to dicht; ‘Of the best that thair is, help that we had, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . line135Eftir ane evill day to have ane mirrie nicht, For sa troublit with stormis was I never stad. Of ilk airt of the eist sa laithly it laid, Yit was I mekle willar than, Quhen I met with this man.’ line140Of sic taillis thay began, Quhill the supper was graid.

Sone was the supper dicht, and the fyre bet, And thay had weschin, i-wis, the worthiest was thair. ‘Tak my wyfe be the hand in feir, withouten let, line145And gang begin the buird,’ said the Coilyear. ‘That war unsemand, forsuith, and thyself unset.’ The King profferit him to gang, and maid ane strange fair. ‘Now is twyse,’ said the carll, ‘me think thow hes forget!’ He leit gyrd to the King, withoutin ony mair, line150And hit him under the eir with his richt hand, Quhill he stakkerit thair with all Half the breid of the hall; He faind never of ane fall Quhill he the eird fand.

line155He start up stoutly agane — uneis micht he stand — For anger of that outray that he had thair tane. He callit on Gyliane his wyfe, ‘Ga, tak him be the hand, And gang agane to the buird, quhair ye suld air have gane. Schir, thow art unskilfull, and that sall I warrand; line160Thow byrd to have nurtour aneuch, and thow hes nane. Thow hes walkit, i-wis, in mony wyld land; The mair vertew thow suld have, to keip the fra blame! Thow suld be courtes of kynd and ane cunnand courteir. Thocht that I simpill be, line165Do as I bid the: The hous is myne, pardie, And all that is heir.’

The King said to himself, ‘This is ane evill lyfe, Yit was I never in my lyfe thus-gait leird; line170And I have oft-tymes bene quhair gude hes bene ryfe, That maist couth of courtasie, in this Cristin eird. Is nane so gude as leif of and mak na mair stryfe, For I am stonischit at this straik, that hes me thus steird.’ In feir, fairlie he foundis with the gude wyfe, line175Quhair the Coilyear bad, sa braithlie he beird. Quhen he had done his bidding, as him gude thocht, Doun he sat the King neir And maid him glaid and gude cheir, And said, ‘Ye ar welcum heir, line180Be Him that me bocht.’

Quhen thay war servit and set to the suppar, Gyll and the gentill king, Charlis of micht, Syne on the tother syde sat the Coilyear. Thus war thay marschellit, but mair, and matchit that nicht. line185Thay brocht breid to the buird and braun of ane bair, And the worthyest wyne went upon hicht; Thay beirnis, as I wene, thay had aneuch thair, Within that burelie bigging, byrnand full bricht. Syne enteris thair daynteis, on deis dicht dayntelie; line190Within that worthie wane Forsuith wantit thay nane. With blyith cheir sayis Gyliane, ‘Schir, dois glaidlie.’

The carll carpit to the King cumlie and cleir: line195‘Schir, the forestaris, forsuith, of this forest, Thay have me all at inuy, for dreid of the deir; Thay threip that I thring doun of the fattest. Thay say, I sall to Paris, thair to compeir Befoir our cumlie king, in dule to be drest; line200Sic manassing thay me mak, forsuith, ilk yeir, And yit aneuch sall I have for me and ane gest. Thairfoir sic as thow seis, spend on, and not spair.’ Thus said gentill Charlis the Mane To the Coilyear agane: line205‘The King himself hes bene fane, Sum tyme, of sic fair.’

Of capounis and cunningis they had plentie, With wyne at thair will, and eik vennysoun; Byrdis bakin in breid, the best that may be; line210Thus full freschlie thay fure into fusioun. The carll with ane cleir voce carpit on he, Said, ‘Gyll, lat the cop raik for my bennysoun, And gar our gaist begin, and syne drink thow to me; Sen he is ane stranger, me think it ressoun.’ line215Thay drank dreichlie about; thay wosche and thay rais; The King with ane blyith cheir Thankit the Coilyeir; Syne all the thre into feir To the fyre gais.

line220Quhen thay had maid thame eis, the Coilyear tald Mony sindrie taillis efter suppair. Ane bricht byrnand fyre was byrnand full bald. The King held gude countenance, and company bair, And ever to his asking ane answer he yald; line225Quhill at the last he began to frane farther mair, ‘In faith, freind, I wald wit, tell gif ye wald, Quhair is thy maist wynning?’ said the Coilyear. ‘Out of weir,’ said the King, ‘I wayndit never to tell: With my lady the Quene line230In office maist have I bene, All thir yeiris fyftene, In the court for to dwell.’

‘Quhat-kin office art thow in, quhen thow art at hame, Gif thow dwellis with the Quene, proudest in pane?’ line235‘Ane chyld of hir chalmer, schir, be Sanct Jame, And thocht myself it say, maist inwart of ane; For my dwelling tonicht, I dreid me for blame.’ ‘Quhat sall I call the,’ said the Coilyear, ‘quhen thow art hyne gane?’ ‘Wymond of the Wardrop is my richt name; line240Quhairever thow findis me befoir the, thi harberie is tane. And thow will cum to the court, this I underta, Thow sall have for thy fewaill, For my saik, the better saill, And onwart to thy travaill, line245Worth ane laid or twa.’

He said, ‘I have na knawledge quhair the court lyis, And I am wonder wa to cum quhair I am unkend.’ ‘And I sall say thee the suith on ilk syde, i-wis, That thow sall wit weill aneuch or I fra the wend: line250Baith the King and the Quene meitis in Paris For to hald thair Yule togidder, for scho is efter send. Thair may thow sell, be ressoun, als deir as thow will prys; And yit I sall help the, gif I ocht may amend, For I am knawin with officiaris in cais thow cum thair. line255Have gude thocht on my name, And speir gif I be at hame, For I suppois, be Sanct Jame, Thow sall the better fair.’

‘Me think it ressoun, be the Rude, that I do thy rid, line260In cais I cum to the court, and knaw bot the ane; Is nane sa gude as drink and gang to our bed, For als far as I wait, the nicht is furth gane.’ To an previe chalmer belive thay him led, Quhair ane burely bed was wrocht in that wane, line265Closit with courtingis, and cumlie cled; Of the worthiest wyne wantit thay nane. The Coilyear and his wyfe baith with him thay geid, To serve him all at thay mocht Till he was in bed brocht. line270Mair the King spak nocht, Bot thankit thame thair deid.

Upoun the morne airlie, quhen it was day, The King buskit him sone, with scant of squyary. Wachis and wardroparis all war away, line275That war wont for to walkin mony worthy. Ane pauyot previlie brocht him his palfray, The King thocht lang of this lyfe and lap on in hy; Than callit he on the carll, anent quhair he lay, For to tak his leif; than spak he freindly. line280Than walkinnit thay baith, and hard he was thair; The carll start up sone, And prayit him to abyde none: ‘Quhill thir wickit wedderis be done I rid nocht ye fair.’

line285‘Sa mot I thrive,’ said the King, ‘me war laith to byde; Is not the morne Yule day, formest of the yeir? Ane man that office suld beir be tyme at this tyde, He will be found in his fault that wantis, foroutin weir. I se the firmament fair upon ather syde; line290I will returne to the court, quhill the wedder is cleir; Call furth the gude wyfe; lat pay hir or we ryde For the worthie harberie that I have fundin heir.’ ‘Lat be! God forbid!’ the Coilyear said, ‘And thow of Charlis cumpany, line295Cheif king of chevalry, That for ane nichtis harbery Pay suld be laid.’

‘Yea, sen it is sa that thow will have na pay, Cum the morne to the court, and do my counsall: line300Deliver the, and bring ane laid, and mak na delay; Thow may not schame with thy craft gif thow thrive sall. Gif I may help the ocht to sell, forsuith I sall assay, And als myself wald have sum of the fewall.’ ‘Peter!’ he said, ‘I sall preif the morne, gif I may, line305To bring coillis to the court, to se quhen thay sell sall.’ ‘Se that thow let nocht, I pray the,’ said the King. ‘In faith,’ said the Coilyear, ‘Traist weill I salbe thair, For thow will never gif the mair, line310To mak nane lesing.’

‘Bot tell me now lelely quhat is thy richt name? I will forget the morne and ony man me greif.’ ‘Wymond of the Wardrop, I bid not to lane; Tak gude tent to my name, the court gif thow will preif.’ line315‘That I have said, I sall hald, and that I tell the plane; Quhair ony coilyear may enchaip I trow till encheif.’ Quhen he had grantit him to cum, than was the King fane, And withoutin ony mair let, than he tuke his leif. Than the Coilyear had greit thocht on the cunnand he had maid, line320Went to the charcoill in hy, To mak his chauffray reddy; Agane the morne airly He ordanit him ane laid.

The lyft lemit up belive, and licht was the day; line325The King had greit knawledge the countrie to ken. Schir Rolland and Oliver come rydand the way, With thame ane thousand, and ma, of fensabill men War wanderand all the nicht ovir, and mony ma than thay On ilk airt outwart war ordanit sic ten, line330Gif thay micht heir of the King, or happin quhair he lay; To Jesus Christ thay pray that grace thame to len. Als sone as Schir Rolland saw it was the King, He kneillit doun in the place, Thankand God ane greit space; line335Thair was ane meting of grace At that gaddering.

The gentill knicht, Schir Rolland, he kneilit on his kne, Thankand greit God that mekill was of micht; Schir Oliver at his hand, and bischoppis thre, line340Withoutin commounis that come, and mony uther knicht. Than to Paris thay pas, all that chevalrie, Betuix none of the day and Yule nicht; The gentill Bischop Turpine cummand thay se With threttie convent of preistis revest at ane sicht, line345Preichand of prophecie in processioun. Efter thame baith fer and neir Folkis following in feir, Thankand God with gude cheir Thair lord was gane to toun.

line350Quhen thay princis appeirit into Paris, Ilk rew ryallie with riches thame arrayis. Thair was digne service done at Sanct Dyonys, With mony proud prelat, as the buik sayis. Syne to supper thay went, within the palys; line355Befoir that mirthfull man menstrallis playis; Mony wicht wyfis sone, worthie and wise, Was sene at that semblay ane and twentie dayis, With all-kin principall plentie for his pleasaunce. Thay callit it the best Yule than, line360And maist worthie began, Sen ever King Charlis was man, Or ever was in France.

Than upon the morne airlie, quhen the day dew, The Coilyear had greit thocht quhat he had undertane; line365He kest twa creillis on ane capill, with coillis anew, Wandit thame with widdeis, to wend on that wane. ‘Mary, it is not my counsall, bot yone man that ye knew To do yow in his gentrise,’ said Gyliane; ‘Thow gaif him ane outragious blaw and greit boist blew; line370In faith, thow suld have bocht it deir, and he had bene allane. For-thy, hald yow fra the court, for ocht that may be; Yone man that thow outrayd Is not sa simpill as he said; Thairun my lyfe dar I layd; line375That sall thow heir and se.’

‘Yea, dame, have nane dreid of my lyfe today; Lat me wirk as I will; the weird is mine awin. I spak not out of ressoun, the suth gif I sall say; To Wymond of the Wardrop, war the suith knawin. line380That I have hecht I sall hald, happin as it may, Quhidder sa it gang to greif or to gawin.’ He caucht twa creillis on ane capill and catchit on his way Ovir the daillis sa derf, be the day was dawin, The hie way to Paris, in all that he mocht, line385With ane quhip in his hand, Cantlie on catchand To fulfill his cunnand, To the court socht.

Graith thocht of the grant had the gude king, line390And callit Schir Rolland him till, and gaif commandment, (Ane man he traistit in, maist atour all uther thing, That never wald set him on assay withoutin his assent): ‘Tak thy hors and thy harnes in the morning; For to watche weill the wayis, I wald that thow went. line395Gif thow meitis ony leid lent on the ling, Gar thame boun to this burgh; I tell the mine intent. Or gyf thow seis ony man cumming furth the way, Quhatsumever that he be, Bring him haistely to me, line400Befoir none that I him se In this hall the day.’

Schir Rolland had greit ferly, and in hart kest Quhat that suld betakin, that the King tald. Upon solempnit Yule day, quhen ilk man suld rest, line405That him behovit neidlingis to watche on the wald, Quhen his God to serve he suld have him drest. And syne, with ane blyith cheir, buskit that bald. Out of Paris proudly he preikit full prest. In till his harnes all haill, his hechtis for to hald, line410He umbekest the countrie, outwith the toun. He saw na thing on steir, Nouther fer nor neir, Bot the feildis in feir, Daillis and doun.

line415He huit and he hoverit quhill midmorne and mair, Behaldand the hie hillis and passage sa plane; Sa saw he quhair the Coilyear come with all his fair, With twa creillis on ane capill; thairof was he fane. He followit to him haistely, amang the holtis hair, line420For to bring him to the King, at bidding full bane. Courtesly to the knicht kneillit the Coilyear, And Schir Rolland himself salust him agane, Syne bad him leif his courtasie, and boun him to ga; He said, ‘Withoutin letting, line425Thow mon to Paris to the King; Speid the fast in ane ling, Sen I find na ma.’

‘In faith,’ said the Coilyear, ‘yit was I never sa nyse; Schir Knicht, it is na courtasie commounis to scorne: line430Thair is mony better than I, cummis oft to Parys, That the King wait not of, nouther nicht nor morne. For to towsill me or tit me, thocht foull be my clais, Or I be dantit on sic wyse, my lyfe salbe lorne.’ ‘Do way,’ said Schir Rolland, ‘me think thow art not wise, line435I rid thow at bidding be, be all that we have sworne; And call thow it na scorning, bot do as I the ken, Sen thow hes hard mine intent: It is the Kingis commandement, At this tyme thow suld have went line440And I had met sic ten.’

‘I am bot ane mad man that thow hes heir met; I have na myster to matche with maisterfull men, Fairand ovir the feildis, fewell to fet, And oft fylit my feit in mony foull fen; line445Gangand with laidis, my governing to get. Thair is mony carll in the countrie thow may nocht ken; I sall hald that I have hecht, bot I be hard set, To Wymond of the Wardrop, I wait full weill quhen.’ ‘Sa thrive I,’ said Rolland, ‘it is mine intent line450That nouther to Wymond nor Will Thow sald hald nor hecht till, Quhill I have brocht the to fulfill The Kingis commandment.’

The carll beheld to the knicht as he stude than; line455He bair, gravit in gold and gowlis in grene, Glitterand full gaylie quhen glemis began, Ane tyger ticht to ane tre, ane takin of tene. Trewlie that tenefull was trimland than, Semelie schapin and schroud in that scheild schene; line460Mekle worschip of weir worthylie he wan, Befoir, into fechting with mony worthie sene. His basnet was bordourit, and burneist bricht With stanis of beriall deir, Dyamountis and sapheir, line465Riche rubeis in feir, Reulit full richt.

His plaitis properlie picht attour with precious stanis, And his pulanis full prest of that ilk peir; Greit graipis of gold his greis for the nanis, line470And his cussanis cumlie schynand full cleir. Bricht braissaris of steill about his arme banis, Blandit with beriallis and cristallis cleir, Ticht ovir with thopas and trew-lufe atanis; The teind of his jewellis to tell war full teir. line475His sadill circulit and set, richt sa on ilk syde; His brydill bellisand and gay, His steid stout on stray, He was the ryallest of array, On ronsy micht ryde.

line480Of that ryall array that Rolland in raid Rauf rusit in his hart of that ryall thing; ‘He is the gayest in geir that ever on ground glaid; Have he grace to the gre in ilk jornaying. War he ane manly man as he is weill maid, line485He war full michtie, with magre durst abyde his meting.’ He bad the Coilyear in wraith swyth withoutin baid, Cast the creillis fra the capill and gang to the King. ‘In faith, it war greit schame,’ said the Coilyear; ‘I undertak thay suld be brocht line490This day for ocht that be mocht; Schir Knicht, that word is for nocht That thow carpis thair!’

‘Thow huifis on thir holtis and haldis me heir, Quhill half the haill day may the hicht have.’ line495‘Be Christ that was cristinnit, and His Mother cleir, Thow sall catche to the court — that sall not be to crave. It micht be preifit prejudice, bot gif thow suld compeir, To se quhat granting of grace the King wald the gaif.’ ‘For na gold on this ground wald I, but weir, line500Be fundin fals to the King, sa Christ me save!’ ‘To gar the cum and be knawin, as I am command, I wait not quhat his willis be, Nor he namit na mair the, Nor ane uther man to me, line505Bot quhome that I fand.’

‘Thow fand me fechand nathing that followit to feid; I war ane fule gif I fled, and fand nane affray, Bot as ane lauchfull man, my laidis to leid, That leifis with mekle lawtie and laubour, in fay. line510Be the Mother and the Maydin that maid us remeid, And thow mat me ony mair, cum efter quhat sa may, Thow and I sall dyntis deill, quhill ane of us be deid, For the deidis thow hes me done upon this deir day.’ Mekle merwell of that word had Schir Rolland; line515He saw na wappinnis thair, That the Coilyear bair, Bot ane auld buklair, And ane roustie brand.

‘It is lyke,’ said Schir Rolland, and lichtly he leuch, line520‘That sic ane stubill husband man wald stryke stoutly; Thair is mony toun man to tuggill is full teuch, Thocht thair brandis be blak and unburely; Oft fair foullis ar fundin faynt, and als freuch. I defend we fecht or fall in that foly; line525Lat se how we may dissever with sobernes aneuch, And catche crabitnes away, be Christ, counsall I. Quhair winnis that Wymond thow hecht to meit today?’ ‘With the Quene, tauld he me; And thair I undertuke to be, line530Into Paris, pardie, Withoutin delay.’

‘And I am knawin with the Quene,’ said Schir Rolland, ‘And with mony byrdis in hir bowre, be buikis and bellis; The King is into Paris, that sall I warrand, line535And all his advertance that in his court dwellis. Me tharth have nane noy of myne erand, For me think thow will be thair efter as thow tellis Bot gif I fand the forrow now to keip my cunnand.’ ‘Schir Knicht,’ said the Coilyear, ‘thow trowis me never ellis, line540Bot gif sum suddand let put it of delay; For that I hecht of my will, And na man threit me thairtill, That I am haldin to fulfill, And sall do quhill I may.’

line545‘Yea, sen thow will be thair, thy cunnandis to new, I neid nane airar myne erand nor none of the day.’ ‘Be thow traist,’ said the Coilyear, ‘man, as I am trew, I will not haist me ane fute faster on the way; Bot gif thow raik out of my renk, full raith sall thow rew, line550Or, be the Rude, I sall rais thy ryall array. Thocht thy body be braissit in that bricht hew, Thow salbe fundin als febil of thy bone fay.’ Schir Rolland said to himself, ‘This is bot foly To strive with him ocht mair: line555I se weill he will be thair.’ His leif at the Coilyear He tuke lufesumly.

‘Be Christ!’ said the Coilyear, ‘that war ane foull scorne, That thow suld chaip, bot I the knew, that is sa schynand; line560For thow seis my weidis ar auld and all toworne, Thow trowis nathing thir taillis that I am telland. Bring na beirnis us by, bot as we war borne, And thir blonkis that us beiris; thairto I mak ane band, That I sall meit the heir upon this mure tomorne, line565Gif I be haldin in heill — and thairto my hand — Sen that we have na laiser at this tyme to ta.’ In ane thourtour way, Seir gaitis pas thay, Baith to Paris, in fay; line570Thus partit thay twa.

The gentill knicht, Schir Rolland come rydand full sone, And left the Coilyear to cum, as he had undertane; And quhen he come to Paris the hie mes was done, The King with mony cumly out of the kirk is gane. line575Of his harnes in hy he hynt withoutin hone, And in ane rob him arrayit richest of ane; In that worschipfull weid he went in at none, As he was wont, with the wy that weildit the wane, On fute ferly in feir, formest of all. line580Richt weill payit was the King Of Schir Rollandis cumming; To speir of his tything Efter him gart call.

The King in counsall him callit, ‘Cum hidder, Schir Knicht! line585Hes thow my bidding done, as I the command?’ ‘In faith,’ said Schir Rolland, ‘I raid on full richt, To watch wyselie the wayis; that I sall warrand. Thair wald na douchtie this day for jornay be dicht. Fairand ovir the feildis full few thair I fand; line590Saif anerly ane man that semblit in my sicht, Thair was na leid on lyfe lent in this land.’ ‘Quhat kin a fallow was that ane, schir, I the pray?’ ‘Ane man in husband weid, Buskit busteously on breid; line595Leidand coillis he geid To Paris the way.’

‘Quhy hes thow not that husband brocht, as I the bad? I dreid me, sa he dantit the, thow durst not with him deill.’ ‘In faith,’ said Schir Rolland, ‘gif that he sa had, line600That war full hard to my hart, and I ane man in heill.’ He saw the King was engrevit, and gat furth glaid, To se gif the Coilyearis lawtie was leill: ‘I suld have maid him in the stour to be full hard stad, And I had wittin that the carll wald away steill; line605Bot I trowit not the day that he wald me beget.’ As he went outwart bayne, He met ane porter swayne Cummand raith him agayne, Fast fra the get.

line610‘Quhair gangis thow, gedling, thir gaitis sa gane?’ ‘Be God,’ said the grome, ‘ane gift heir I geif; I devise at the get thair is ane allane, Bot he be lattin in belive, him lykis not to leif. With ane capill and twa creillis cassin on the plane, line615To cum to the palice he preissis to preif.’ ‘Gif thow hes fundin that freik, in faith I am fane; Lat him in glaidly; it may not engreif. Bot askis he eirnestly efter ony man?’ Than said that gedling on ground: line620‘Ye, forsuith in this stound, Efter ane Wymound In all that he can.’

‘Pas agane, porter, and let him swyith in, Amang the proudest in preis, plesand in pane. line625Say thow art not worthy to Wymond to win; Bid him seik him hisself, gif thair be sic ane.’ Agane gangis Schir Rolland, quhair gle suld begin, And the yaip yeman to the get is gane; Enbraissit the bandis belive, or that he wald blin, line630Syne leit the wy at his will wend in the wane. ‘Gang seik him now thyself,’ he said upon hicht: ‘Myself hes na lasair Fra thir gettis to fair.’ ‘Be Christ,’ said the Coilyear, line635‘I set that bot licht.’

‘Gif thow will not seik him, my awin self sall: For I have oft tymes swet in service full fair. Tak keip to my capill, that na man him call, Quhill I cum fra the court,’ said the Coilyear. line640‘My laid war I laith to lois; I leif the heir all. Se that thow leis thame not, bot yeme thame full yair.’ In that hardy, in hy, he haikit to that hall, For to wit gif Wymondis wynning was thair. He arguit with the ischar ofter than anis, line645‘Schir, can thow ocht say Quhair is Wymond the day? I pray the, bring him gif thow may Out of this wanis.’

He trowit that the wy had wittin of Wymond he wend, line650Bot to his raifand word he gave na rewaird; Thair was na man thairin that his name kend. Thay countit not the Coilyear almaist at regaird. He saw thair was na meikness nor mesure micht mend, He sped him in spedely, and nane of thame he spaird; line655Thair was na fyve of thay freikis that micht him furth fend, He socht in sa sadly, quhill sum of thame he saird. He thristit in throw thame thraly with threttis. Quhen he come amang thame all, Yit was the King in the hall, line660And mony gude man, with all, Ungane to the meit.

Thocht he had socht sic ane sicht all this sevin yeir, Sa solempnit ane semblie had he not sene; The hall was properly apperrellit and paintit but peir, line665Dyamountis full dantely dentit betwene. It was semely set on ilk syde seir, Gowlis glitterand full gay, glemand in grene, Flowris with flourdelycis formest in feir, With mony flammand ferly, ma than fyftene. line670The rufe reulit about in revall of reid, Rois reulit ryally, Columbyn and lely; Thair was ane hailsum harbery Into riche steid.

line675With dosouris to the duris dicht, quha sa wald deme, With all divers danteis dicht dantely, Circulit with silver semely to sene, Selcouthly in seir he was set suttelly. Blyth byrdis abufe, and bestiall full bene, line680Fyne foullis in fyrth, and fischis with fry; The flure carpit and cled, and coverit full clene, Cummand fra the cornellis closand quemely. Bricht bancouris about browdin ovir all, Greit squechonis on hicht, line685Anamalit and weill dicht, Reulit at all richt Endlang the hall.

‘Heir is ryaltie,’ said Rauf, ‘aneuch for the nanis, With all nobilness anournit, and that is na nay; line690Had I of Wymond ane word, I wald of thir wanis, Fra thir wyis, i-wis, to went on my way; Bot I mon yit heir mair quhat worthis of him anis, And eirnestly efter him have myne e ay.’ He thristit in throw threttie all atanis, line695Quhair mony douchtie of deid war joynit that day. For he was unburely, on bak thay him hynt; As he gat ben throw, He gat mony greit schow. Bot he was stalwart, I trow, line700And laith for to stynt.

He thristit in throw thame, and thraly can thring, Fast to the formest he foundit in feir. Sone besyde him he gat ane sicht of the nobill king. ‘Yone is Wymond, I wait; it worthis na weir; line705I ken him weill, thocht he be cled in uther clething, In clais of clene gold kythand yone cleir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quhen he harbreit with me, be half as he is heir. In faith, he is of mair stait, than ever he me tald. Allace, that I was hidder wylit! line710I dreid me sair I be begylit.’ The King previlie smylit, Quhen he saw that bald.

Thair was servit in that saill seigis semelie, Mony senyeorabill syre on ilk syde seir; line715With ane cairfull countenance the Coilyear kest his e To the cumly Quene, courtes and cleir: ‘Dame, of thy glitterand gyde have I na gle, Be the gracious God that bocht us sa deir; To ken kingis courtasie, the devill come to me, line720And sa I hope I may say, or I chaip heir. Micht I chaip of this chance, that changes my cheir, Thair suld na man be sa wyse, To gar me cum to Parise, To luke quhair the King lyis, line725In faith, this sevin yeir!’

Quhen worthie had weschin, and fra the buirdis went, Thay war for-wonderit, i-wis, of thair wyse Lord; The King fell in carping, and tauld his intent, To mony gracious grome he maid his record. line730How the busteous beirne met him on the bent, And how the frostis war sa fell and sa strait ford. Than the Coilyear quoke as he had bene schent, Quhen he hard the suith say how he the King schord. ‘Greit God! gif I war now, and thyself with all, line735Upon the mure quhair we met, Baith all suddandly set, Or ony knicht that thow may get Sa gude in thy hall!’

Thir Lordis leuch upon loft, and lystinit to the King, line740How he was ludgeit and led, and set at sa licht; Than the curagious knichtis bad have him to hing, ‘For he hes servit that,’ thay said, ‘be our sicht.’ ‘God forbot,’ he said, ‘my thank war sic thing To him that succourit my lyfe in sa evill ane nicht! line745Him semis ane stalwart man and stout in stryking, That carll for his courtasie salbe maid knicht. I hald the counsall full evill that Cristin man slais, For I had myster to have ma, And not to distroy tha line750That war worthie to ga To fecht on Goddis fais!’

Befoir mony worthie he dubbit him knicht, Dukis and digne lordis in that deir hall. ‘Schir, se for thyself, thow semis to be wicht; line755Tak keip to this ordour, ane knicht I the call. To mak the manly man, I mak the of micht: Ilk yeir thre hundreth pund assigne the I sall. And als the nixt vacant, be ressonabill richt, That hapnis in France, quhair sa ever it fall, line760Forfaltour or fre waird, that first cummis to hand, I gif the heir heritabilly, Sa that I heir, quhen I have hy, That thow be fundin reddy With birny and brand.’

line765‘It war my will, worthy, thy schone that thow wan And went with thir weryouris wythest in weir; Heir ar curagious knichtis, suppois thay the nocht ken, For thy simpill degre that thow art in heir. I beseik God of his grace to mak the ane gude man, line770And I sall gif the to begin glitterand geir.’ Ane chalmer with armour the King gart richt than Betaucht to ane squyar, and maid him keipeir. With clois armouris of steill for that stout knicht, Sextie squyaris of fee line775Of his retinew to be; That was ane fair cumpany Schir Rauf gat that nicht.

Upon the morne airly, Schir Rauf wald not rest, Bot in ryall array he reddyit him to ryde; line780‘For to hald that I have hecht, I hope it be the best, To yone busteous beirne that boistit me to byde. Amang the galyart gromis I am bot ane gest, I will the ganandest gait to that gay glyde; Sall never lord lauch on loft, quhill my lyfe may lest, line785That I for liddernes suld leif, and levand besyde. It war ane graceles gude that I war cummin to, Gif that the King hard on hicht That he had maid ane carll knicht, Amang thir weryouris wicht, line790And docht nocht to do.’

Upon ane rude runsy he ruschit out of toun; In ane ryall array he rydis full richt. Evin to the montane he maid him full boun, Quhair he had trystit to meit Schir Rolland the Knicht. line795Derfly ovir daillis, discoverand the doun, Gif ony douchtie that day for jornayis was dicht. He band his blonk to ane busk on the bent broun, Syne baid be the bair way to hald that he had hecht Quhill it was neir time of the day that he had thair bene. line800He lukit ane lytill him fra; He sa cummand in thra The maist man of all tha That ever he had sene.

Ane knicht on ane cameill come cantly at hand, line805With ane curagious countenance, and cruell to se; He semit baldly to abyde with birny and with brand, His blonk was unburely, braid and ovir hie. Schir Rauf reddyit him sone and come rydand, And in the rowme of ane renk in fewtir kest he; line810He semit fer fellonar than first quhen he him fand, He foundis throw his forcenes gif he micht him se. He straik the steid with the spurris, he sprent on the bent; Sa hard ane cours maid thay, That baith thair hors deid lay, line815Their speiris in splenders away Abufe thair heid sprent.

Thus war thay for thair forcynes left on fute baith, Thay sture hors at that straik strikin deid lay than; Thir riche restles renkis ruschit out full raith, line820Cleikit out twa swordis and togidder ran. Kest thame with gude will to do uther skaith, Bair on thair basnetis thay beirnis or thay blan. Haistely hewit thay togiddir; to leif thay war laith, To tyne the worschip of weir that thay air wan; line825Na for dout of vincussing thay went nocht away. Thus ather uther can assaill With swordis of mettaill; Thay maid ane lang battaill Ane hour of the day.

line830Thay hard harnest men, thay hewit on in haist; Thay worthit hevy with heid and angerit with all; Quhill thay had maid thame sa mait, thay failye almaist, Sa laith thay war on ather part to lat thair price fall. The riche restles men out of the renk past, line835Forwrocht with thair wapnis, and evill rent with all; Thair was na girth on the ground, quhill ane gaif the gaist. ‘Yarne efter yeilding!’ on ilk syde thay call. Schir Rauf caucht to cule him, and tak mair of the licht; He kest up his veseir, line840With ane chevalrous cheir. Sa saw he cummand full neir Ane uther kene knicht.

‘Now, be the Rude!’ said Schir Rauf, ‘I repreif the! Thow hes brokin conditioun; thow hes not done richt: line845Thow hecht na bak heir to bring, bot anerly we; Thairto I tuik thy hand, as thow was trew knicht.’ On loud said the Sarasine, ‘I heir the now lie! Befoir the same day I saw the never with sicht; Now sall thow think it richt sone thow hes met with me, line850Gif Mahoun or Termagant may mantene my micht.’ Schir Rauf was blyth of that word, and blenkit with his face; ‘Thow sayis thow art ane Sarasine? Now thankit be Drichtine That ane of us sall never hine, line855Undeid in this place.’

Than said the Sarasine to Schir Rauf succudrously, ‘I have na lyking to lyfe to lat the with lufe.’ He gave ane braid with his brand to the beirne by, Till the blude of his browis brest out abufe. line860The kene knicht in that steid stakkerit sturely, The lenth of ane Rude braid he gart him remufe. Schir Rauf ruschit up agane and hit him in hy; Thay preis furth properly thair pithis to prufe. Ilk ane a schort knyfe braidit out sone; line865In stour stifly thay stand, With twa knyfis in hand; With that come Schir Rolland As thay had neir done.

The gentill knicht Schir Rolland come rydand ful richt, line870And ruschit fra his runsy, and ran thame betwene: He sayis, ‘Thow art ane Sarasine, I se be my sicht, For to confound our Cristin men, that counteris sa kene. Tell me thy name tyte, thow travelland knicht. Fy on thy fechting! fell hes thow bene. line875Thow art stout and strang, and stalwart in fecht; Sa is thy fallow, in faith, and that is weill sene. In Christ and thow will trow, thow takis nane outray.’ ‘Forsuith,’ the Sarasine said, ‘Thyself maid me never sa affraid line880That I for soverance wald have praid, Na not sall to day.

‘Breif me not with your boist, but mak you baith boun, Batteris on baldly the best, I yow pray.’ ‘Na,’ said Schir Rolland, ‘that war na resoun, line885I trow in the mekle God, that maist of michtis may. The tane is in power to mak that presoun, For that war na wassalage, sum men wald say; I rid that thow hartfully forsaik thy Mahoun; Fy on that foull feind, for fals is thy fay! line890Becum Cristen, Schir Knicht, and on Christ call; It is my will thow convert — This wickit warld is bot ane start — And have Him halely in hart That Maker is of all.’

line895‘Schir Rolland, I rek nocht of thy ravingis; Thow dois bot reverance to thame that rekkis it nocht; Thow slane hes oft, thyself, of my counsingis, Soudanis and sib men, that the with schame socht. Now faindis to have favour with thy fleichingis; line900Now have I ferlie, gif I favour the ocht. We sall spuilye yow dispittously at the nixt springis, Mak yow biggingis full bair — bodword have I brocht — Chace Charlis your king fer out of France; Fra the Chane of Tartarie, line905At him this message wald I be, To tell him as I have tauld the, Withoutin plesance.’

‘Tyte tell me thy name; it servis of nocht. Ye Saraseins ar succuderus and self-willit ay; line910Sall never of sa sour ane brand ane bricht fyre be brocht. The feynd is sa felloun, als fer as he may.’ ‘Sa thrive I,’ said the Sarasine, ‘to threip is my thocht, Quha waitis the Cristin with cair, my cusingis ar thay; My name is Magog, in will, and I mocht, line915To ding thame doun dourly that ever war in my way. For-thy my warysoun is full gude at hame quhair I dwel.’ ‘In faith,’ said Schir Rolland, ‘That is full evill wyn: land To have quhill thow ar levand, line920Sine at thine end hell.

‘Wald thow convert the in hy and cover the of sin, Thow suld have mair profite and mekle pardoun; Riche douchereis seir to be sesit in, During quhill day dawis, that never will gang doun; line925Wed ane worthie to wyfe, and weild hir with win, Ane of the riche of our realme, be that ressoun; The gentill Duches, Dame Jane, that clamis be hir kin Angeos and uther landis, with mony riche toun. Thus may thow, and thow will, wirk the best wise. line930I do the out of dispair, In all France is nane so fair; Als scho is appeirand air To twa douchereis.’

‘I rek nocht of thy riches, Schir Rolland the Knicht,’ line935Said the rude Sarasine in ryall array. ‘Thy god nor thy grassum set I bot licht; Bot gif thy God be sa gude as I heir the say, I will forsaik Mahoun and tak me to His micht, Ever mair perpetuallie, as He that mair may. line940Heir with hart and gude will my treuth I the plicht, That I sall lelely leif on thy Lord ay, And I beseik Him of grace and askis Him mercy, And Christ His Sone full schene. For I have Cristen men sene, line945That in mony angeris hes bene, Full oft on Him cry.’

‘I thank God,’ said Rolland — ‘that word lykis me! — And Christ His sweit Sone, that the that grace send.’ Thay swoir on thair swordis swyftlie all thre, line950And conservit thame freindis to thair lyfis end, Ever in all travell, to leif and to die. Thay knichtis caryit to the court, as Christ had thame kend. The King for thair cumming maid game and gle, With mony mirthfull man thair mirthis to mend. line955Digne bischoppis that day, that douchtie gart bring, And gave him sacramentis seir, And callit him Schir Gawteir, And sine the Duches cleir He weddit with ane ring.

line960Than Schir Rauf gat rewaird to keip his knichtheid. Sic tythingis come to the King within thay nyne nicht That the Marschell of France was newlingis deid; Richt thair, with the counsall of mony kene knicht, He thocht him richt worthie to byde in his steid, line965For to weild that worschip worthie and wicht. His wyfe wald he nocht forget, for dout of Goddis feid. He send efter that hende, to leif thame in richt, Syne foundit ane fair place quhair he met the King, Ever mair perpetually, line970In the name of Sanct July, That all that wantis harbery, Suld have gestning.