3180                    3185                    3190                        3195                    3200                    3205                        3210                    3215                        3220                    3225                        3230                    3235                    3240                    3245                        3250                    3255                        3260                    3265                    3270                    3275                        3280                        3285                        3290                        3295                        3300                    3305                        3310                    3315                        3320                        3325                        3330                    3335                        3340                    3345                        3350                    3355                        3360                        3365                    3370                    3375                        3380                        3385                        3390                        3395                    3400                    3405                        3410                    3415                    3420                        3425                        3430                    3435                        3440                    3445                        3450                    3455                        3460                    3465                        3470                        3475                    3480                    3485                        3490                    3495                    3500                        3505                        3510                        3515                    3520                        3525                    3530                    3535                    3540                    3545                    3550                    3555                        3560                    3565                    3570                    3575                    3580                    3585                    3590                        3595                    3600                    3605                    3610                        3615                    3620                    3625                        3630                    3635                    3640                        3645                    3650                        3655                    3660                    3665                    3670                    3675                    3680                    3685                    3690                    3695                        3700                    3705                    3710                        3715                    3720                        3725                    3730                    3735                    3740                        3745                    3750                    3755                    3760                    3765                        3770                    3775                        3780                    3785                    3790                    3795                    3800                    3805                    3810                        3815                    3820                    3825                    3830                    3835                        3840                    3845                    3850                    3855                    3860                        3865                    3870                        3875                    3880                    3885                        3890                    3895                        3900                    3905                    3910                        3915                        3920                    3925                    3930                        3935                    3940                    3945                        3950                    3955                    3960                    3965                        3970                        3975                    3980                        3985                        3990                        3995                        4000                    4005                        4010                    4015                    4020                        4025                    4030                        4035                    4040                    4045                        4050                    4055                        4060                    4065                    4070                        4075                    4080                    4085                    4090                    4095                    4100                        4105                    4110                        4115                    4120                    4125                    4130                        4135                    4140                        4145                    4150                        4155                    4160                        4165                    4170                        4175                    4180                    4185                    4190                    4195                    4200                    4205                        4210                    4215                    4220                        4225                        4230                    4235                    4240                        4245                        4250                        4255                    4260                        4265                    4270                    4275                    4280                    4285                    4290                        4295                    4300                    4305                        4310                    4315                    4320                    4325                            4330                    4335                    4340                        4345

But on a Saterday at noon,   a seven-night there-after, The cunningest Cardinal   that to the court longed Kneeles to the conquerour   and carpes these wordes, Prayes him for the pees   and proffers full large To have pitee of the Pope,   that put was at-under Besought him of suraunce   for sake of the Lord But a seven-night day   to they were all sembled And they sholde sekerly him see   the Sononday there-after In the citee of Rome,   as soveraign and lord, And crown him kindly   with crismed handes With his sceptre and swerde,   as soveraign and lord. Of this undertaking   hostage are comen, Of eiers full avenaunt,   eight score children, In togges of tars   full richly attired, And betook them the king   and his clere knightes.        When they had treted their trewe,   with trumping thereafter They trine unto a tent   where tables were raised; The king himselven is set   and certain lordes Under a sylure of silk,   saught at the bordes. All the senatours are set   sere by them one, Served solemnly   with selcouthe metes. The king, mighty of mirth,   with his mild wordes, Rehetes the Romanes   at his rich table, Comfortes the Cardinal,   so knightly himselven, And this roy real,   as romaunce us telles, Reverences the Romans   in his rich table. The taught men and the cunning,   when them time thought, Tas their leve at the king   and turned again; To the citee that night   they sought at the gainest, And thus the hostage of Rome   with Arthur is leved.        Then this roy real   reherses these wordes: "Now we may revel and rest,   for Rome is our owen! Make our hostage at ese,   these avenaunt children, And look ye honden them all   that in mine host lenges, The Emperour of Almaine   and all these este marches; We shall be overling of all   that on erthe lenges! We will by the Cross-days   encroch these landes 190 And at the Cristenmass day   be crowned there-after, Regne in my realtees   and hold my Round Table, With the rentes of Rome,   as me best likes; Senn graithe over the grete se   with good men of armes To revenge the Renk   that on the Rood died!"        Then this comlich king   as cronicles telles, Bounes brothly to bed   with a blithe herte; Off he slinges with sleght   and slakes his girdle, 191 And for slewth of slomour   on a sleep falles. But by one after midnight   all his mood changed; He mette in the morn-while   full marvelous dremes; And when his dredful dreme   was driven to the ende, The king dares for doute,   die as he sholde, Sendes after philosophers,   and his affray telles: "Senn I was formed, in faith,   so ferd was I never! For-thy ransackes redily   and rede me my swevenes, And I shall redily and right   rehersen the sooth.        "Me thought I was in a wood,   willed mine one That I ne wiste no way   whider that I sholde, For wolves and wild swine   and wicked bestes Walked in that wastern   wathes to seek, There lions full lothly   licked their tuskes All for lapping of blood   of my lele knightes! Through that forest I fled   there flowres were high, For to fele me for ferd   of tho foul thinges, Merked to a medow   with mountaines enclosed The merriest of middle-erthe   that men might behold. The close was in compass   casten all about With clover and clerewort   cledde even over; The vale was enveround   with vines of silver, All with grapes of gold,   greter were never, Enhorild with arbory   and alkins trees, Erberes full honest,   and herdes there-under; All fruites foddemed was   that flourished in erthe, Fair frithed in fraunk   upon the free bowes; 192 Was there no danking of dew   that ought dere sholde; With the drought of the day   all dry were the flowres.        "Then descendes in the dale,   down fro the cloudes, A duchess dereworthily dight   in diapered weedes, 193 In a surcote of silk   full selcouthly hewed, All with loyotour overlaid   low to the hemmes And with ladily lappes   the lenghe of a yard, And all redily reversed   with rebanes of gold, With brouches and besauntes   and other bright stones; 194 Her back and her breste   was broched all over, With kell and with coronal   clenlich arrayed, And that so comly of colour   one knowen was never.        "About sho whirled a wheel   with her white handes, Overwhelm all quaintly   the wheel, as sho sholde; The rowel was red gold   with real stones, Railed with riches   and rubies ynow; The spekes was splented   all with speltes of silver, The space of a spere-lenghe   springand full fair; There-on was a chair   of chalk-white silver And checkered with charbocle   changing of hewes Upon the compass there cleved   kinges on row, With crowns of clere gold   that cracked in sonder; Six was of that settle   full sodenlich fallen, Ilk a segge by himself   and said these wordes: 'That ever I regned on this roo   me rewes it ever! Was never roy so rich   that regned in erthe! When I rode in my rout   rought I nought elles But rivaye and revel   and raunson the pople! And thus I drive forth my dayes   whiles I drie might, And therefore derflich   I am damned for ever!'        "The last was a little man   that laid was beneth; His leskes lay all lene   and lothlich to shew, His lockes liard and long   the lenghe of a yard, His lire and his ligham   lamed full sore, The tone eye of the berne   was brighter than silver The other was yellower   than the yolk of a nay.        "'I was lord,' quod the lede,   'landes ynow, And all ledes me louted   that lenged in erthe. And now is left me no lap   my ligham to hele But lightly now am I lost,   leve eche man the sooth.'        "The second sir, forsooth,   that sewed them after Was sekerer to my sight   and sadder in armes; Oft he sighed unsound   and said these wordes: 'On yon see have I sitten   als soveraign and lord, And ladies me loved   to lap in their armes, And now my lordshippes are lost   and laid for ever!'        "The third thoroughly was thro   and thick in the shoulders, A thro man to thret of   there thirty were gadered; His diadem was dropped down,   dubbed with stones, Endented all with diamaundes   and dight for the nones; 'I was dredde in my dayes,' he said,   'in diverse rewmes, And now damned to the dede,   and dole is the more!'        "The fourt was a fair man   and forcy in armes, The fairest of figure   that formed was ever. 'I was frek in my faith,' he said,   'whiles I on folde regned, Famous in fer landes   and flowr of all kinges; Now is my face defaded   and foul is me happened, For I am fallen fro fer   and frendles beleved.'        "The fift was a fairer man   than fele of these other, A forcy man and a fers,   with fomand lippes; He fanged fast on the feleighes   and folded his armes But yet he failed and fell   a fifty foot large; But yet he sprang and sprent   and spradden his armes, And on the spere-lenghe spekes   he spekes these wordes: 'I was in Surry a Sire   and set by mine one As soveraign and seinyour   of sere kinges landes; Now of my solace I am   full sodenly fallen And for sake of my sin   yon sete is me rewed.'        "The sixt had a sawter   seemlich bounden With a surepel of silk   sewed full fair, A harp and a hand-sling   with hard flint-stones; What harmes he has hent   he hallowes full soon: 'I was deemed in my dayes,' he said,   'of deedes of armes One of the doughtiest   that dwelled in erthe; But I was marred on molde   in my most strenghes With this maiden so mild   that moves us all.'        "Two kinges were climband   and claverand on high, The erest of the compass   they covet full yerne. 'This chair of charbocle,' they said,   'we challenge hereafter, As two of the chefest   chosen in erthe.'        "The childer were chalk-white,   cheekes and other, But the chair aboven   cheved they never. The furthermost was freely   with a front large The fairest of fisnamy   that formed was ever, And he was busked in a blee   of a blew noble With flourdelys of gold   flourished all over; The tother was cledde in a cote   all of clene silver, With a comlich cross   corven of gold; Four crosselettes crafty   by the cross restes And thereby knew I the king,   that cristened him seemed.        "Then I went to that wlonk   and winly her greetes, And sho said: 'Welcome, iwis,   well art thou founden; Thou ought to worship my will,   and thou well couthe, Of all the valiant men   that ever was in erthe, For all thy worship in war   by me has thou wonnen; I have been frendly, freke,   and fremmed til other. 195 That thou has founden, in faith,   and fele of thy bernes, For I felled down Sir Frolle   with froward knightes; 196 For-thy the fruits of Fraunce   are freely thine owen. Thou shall the chair escheve,   I chese thee myselven, Before all the cheftaines   chosen in this erthe.'        "Sho lift me up lightly   with her lene handes And set me softly in the see,   the septer me reched; Craftily with a comb   sho kembed mine heved, That the crispand krok   to my crown raught; Dressed on me a diadem   that dight was full fair, And senn proffers me a pome   pight full of fair stones, Enameld with azure,   the erthe there-on depainted, Circled with the salt se   upon sere halves, In sign that I soothly   was soveraign in erthe.        "Then brought sho me a brand   with full bright hiltes And bade me braundish the blade:   'The brand is mine owen; Many swain with the swing   has the swet leved, For whiles thou swank with the sword   it swiked thee never.'        "Then raikes sho with roo   and rest when her liked, To the rindes of the wood,   richer was never; Was no pomerie so pight   of princes in erthe, Ne none apparel so proud   but paradise one. Sho bade the bowes sholde bow down   and bring to my handes Of the best that they bore   on braunches so high; Then they helded to her hest,   all holly at ones, The highest of ech a hirst,   I hete you forsooth. Sho bade me frith not the fruit,   but fonde whiles me liked: 'Fonde of the finest,   thou freelich berne, And reche to the ripest   and riot thyselven. Rest, thou real roy,   for Rome is thine owen, And I shall redily roll   the roo at the gainest And reche thee the rich wine   in rinsed cuppes.'        "Then sho went to the well   by the wood eves, That all welled of wine   and wonderlich runnes, Caught up a cup-full   and covered it fair; Sho bade me derelich draw   and drink to herselven; And thus sho led me about   the lenghe of an hour, With all liking and love   that any lede sholde.        "But at the mid-day full even   all her mood changed, And made much menace   with marvelous wordes. When I cried upon her,   she cast down her browes: 'King, thou carpes for nought,   by Crist that me made! For thou shall lose this laik   and thy life after; Thou has lived in delite   and lordshippes ynow!'        "About sho whirles the wheel   and whirles me under, Til all my quarters that while   were quasht all to peces, And with that chair my chin   was chopped in sonder; And I have shivered for chele   senn me this chaunce happened. Thus wakened I, iwis,   all wery fordremed, And now wot thou my wo;   worde as thee likes."        "Freke," says the philosopher,   "thy fortune is passed, For thou shall find her thy fo;   fraist when thee likes! Thou art at the highest,   I hete thee forsooth; Challenge now when thou will,   thou cheves no more! Thou has shed much blood   and shalkes destroyed, Sakeles, in surquidrie,   in sere kinges landes; Shrive thee of thy shame   and shape for thine end. Thou has a shewing, Sir King,   take keep yif thee like, For thou shall fersly fall   within five winters. Found abbeyes in Fraunce,   the fruites are thine owen, For Frolle and for Feraunt   and for thir fers knightes That thou fremedly in Fraunce   has fey beleved. 197 Take keep yet of other kinges,   and cast in thine herte, That were conquerours kidd   and crowned in erthe.        "The eldest was Alexander   that all the world louted, The tother Ector of Troy,   the chevalrous gome; The third Julius Cesar,   that giaunt was holden, In eche journee gentle,   ajudged with lordes. The fourth was Sir Judas,   a jouster full noble, The masterful Macabee,   the mightiest of strenghes; The fift was Josue,   that jolly man of armes, That in Jerusalem host   full much joy limped; The sixt was David the dere,   deemed with kinges One of the doughtiest   that dubbed was ever, For he slew with a sling   by sleight of his handes Golias the grete gome,   grimmest in erthe; Senn endited in his dayes   all the dere psalmes That in the sawter are set   with selcouthe wordes.        "The tone climand king,   I know it forsooth, Shall Karolus be called,   the kinge son of Fraunce; He shall be cruel and keen   and conquerour holden, Cover by conquest   contrees ynow; He shall encroch the crown   that Crist bore himselven, And that lifelich launce   that lepe to His herte When He was crucified on cross,   and all the keen nailes Knightly he shall conquer   to Cristen men handes.        "The tother shall be Godfray,   that God shall revenge On the Good Friday   with galiard knightes; He shall of Lorraine be lord   by leve of his fader And senn in Jerusalem   much joy happen, For he shall cover the cross   by craftes of armes And senn be crowned king   with crisom annointed. Shall no dukes in his day   such destainy happen, Ne such mischief drie   when trewth shall be tried.        "For-thy Fortune thee fetches   to fulfill the number, Als ninde of the noblest   named in erthe; This shall in romaunce be redde   with real knightes, Reckoned and renownd   with riotous kinges, And deemed on Doomesday   for deedes of armes, For the doughtiest that ever   was dwelland in erthe; So many clerkes and kinges   shall carp of your deedes And keep your conquestes   in cronicle for ever.        "But the wolves in the wood   and the wild bestes Are some wicked men   that werrayes thy rewmes, Is entered in thine absence   to werray thy pople, And alienes and hostes   of uncouthe landes. Thou gettes tidandes, I trow,   within ten dayes, That some torfer is tidde   senn thou fro home turned. I rede thou reckon and reherse   unresonable deedes Ere thee repentes full rathe   all thy rewth workes. Man, amend thy mood,   ere thou mishappen, And meekly ask mercy   for meed of thy soul."        Then rises the rich king   and raght on his weedes, A red acton of rose,   the richest of flowres, A pesan and a paunson   and a pris girdle; 199 And on he hentes a hood   of scarlet full rich, A pavis pillion-hat   that pight was full fair With perry of the Orient   and precious stones; His gloves gaylich gilt   and graven by the hemmes With graines of rubies   full gracious to shew. His bede greyhound and his brand   and no berne else And bounes over a brode mede   with brethe at his herte. Forth he stalkes a sty   by tho still eves, Stotays at a high street,   studyand him one. 200        At the sours of the sun   he sees there comand, Raikand to Rome-ward   the rediest wayes, A renk in a round clok   with right rowme clothes 201 With hat and with high shoon   homely and round; With flat farthinges the freke   was flourished all over Many shreddes and shragges   at his skirtes hanges     With scrip and with slawin   and scallopes ynow 202 Both pike and palm,   als pilgrim him sholde; The gome graithly him grette   and bade good morwen; The king, lordly himself,   of langage of Rome, Of Latin corrumped all,   full lovely him menes: "Wheder wilnes thou, wye,   walkand thine one? Whiles this world is o war,   a wathe I it hold; Here is an enmy with host,   under yon vines; And they see thee, forsooth,   sorrow thee betides; But if thou have condeth   of the king selven, Knaves will kill thee   and keep at thou haves, And if thou hold the high way,   they hent thee also, But if thou hastily have help   of his hende knightes."        Then carpes Sir Craddok   to the king selven: "I shall forgive him my dede,   so me God help, Any gome under God   that on this ground walkes! Let the keenest come   that to the king longes, I shall encounter him as knight,   so Crist have my soul! For thou may not reche me   ne arrest thyselven, Though thou be richly arrayed   in full rich weedes; I will not wonde for no war   to wend where me likes Ne for no wye of this world   that wrought is on erthe! But I will pass in pilgrimage   this pas to Rome To purchase me pardon   of the Pope selven, And of the paines of Purgatory   be plenerly assoilled; Then shall I seek sekerly   my soveraign lord, Sir Arthur of England,   that avenaunt berne! For he is in this empire,   as hathel men me telles, Hostayand in this Orient   with awful knightes."        "Fro whethen come thou, keen man,"   quod the king then, "That knowes King Arthur   and his knightes also? Was thou ever in his court   whiles he in kith lenged? Thou carpes so kindly   it comfortes mine herte! Well wele has thou went   and wisely thou seekes, For thou art Breton berne,   as by thy brode speche."        "Me ought to know the king;   he is my kidd lord, And I called in his court   a knight of his chamber; Sir Craddok was I called   in his court rich, Keeper of Caerlion,   under the king selven; Now I am chased out of kith,   with care at my herte, And that castel is caught   with uncouthe ledes."        Then the comlich king   caught him in armes, Cast off his kettle-hat   and kissed him full soon, Said: "Welcome, Sir Craddok,   so Crist mot me help! Dere cosin of kind,   thou coldes mine herte! How fares it in Bretain   with all my bold bernes? Are they brittened or brint   or brought out of life? Ken thou me kindly   what case is befallen; I keep no credens to crave;   I know thee for trew." 203        "Sir, thy warden is wicked   and wild of his deedes, For he wandreth has wrought   senn thou away passed. He has castels encroched   and crownd himselven, Caught in all the rentes   of the Round Table; He devised the rewm   and delt as him likes; Dubbed of the Denmarkes   dukes and erles, Disservered them sonderwise,   and citees destroyed; Of Sarazenes and Sessoines   upon sere halves He has sembled a sorte   of selcouthe bernes, Soveraignes of Surgenale   and soudeours many Of Peghtes and paynims   and proved knightes Of Ireland and Argyle,   outlawed bernes; All tho laddes are knightes   that long to the mountes, And leding and lordship has all,   als themselve likes; And there is Sir Childrik   a cheftain holden, That ilke chevalrous man,   he charges thy pople; They rob thy religious   and ravish thy nunnes And redy rides with his rout   to raunson the poor; Fro Humber to Hawyk   he holdes his owen, And all the countree of Kent   by covenant entailled, The comlich castles   that to the crown longed, The holtes and the hore wood   and the hard bankes, All that Hengest and Hors   hent in their time; At Southampton on the se   is seven score shippes, Fraught full of fers folk,   out of fer landes, For to fight with thy frap   when thou them assailes. But yet a word, witterly,   thou wot not the worst! He has wedded Waynor   and her his wife holdes, And wonnes in the wild boundes   of the west marches, And has wrought her with child,   as witness telles! Of all the wyes of this world,   wo mot him worthe, Als warden unworthy   women to yeme! Thus has Sir Mordred   marred us all! For-thy I merked over these mountes   to mene thee the sooth."        Then the burlich king,   for brethe at his herte And for this booteless bale   all his blee changed; "By the Rood," says the roy,   "I shall it revenge! Him shall repent full rathe   all his rewth workes!" All weepand for wo   he went to his tentes; Unwinly this wise king   he wakenes his bernes, Cleped in a clarioun   kinges and other, Calles them to counsel   and of this case telles: "I am with tresoun betrayed,   for all my trew deedes! And all my travail is tint,   me tides no better! Him shall torfer betide   this tresoun has wrought, And I may traistely him take,   as I am trew lord! This is Mordred, the man   that I most traisted, Has my castels encroched   and crownd himselven With rentes and riches   of the Round Table; He made all his retinues   of renayed wretches, And devised my rewm   to diverse lordes, To soudeours and Sarazenes   out of sere landes! He has wedded Waynor   and her to wife holdes, And a child is y-shaped,   the chaunce is no better! They have sembled on the se   seven score shippes, Full of ferrom folk   to fight with mine one! For-thy to Bretain the Brode   buske us behooves, 204 For to britten the berne   that has this bale raised. There shall no freke men fare   but all on fresh horses That are fraisted in fight   and flowr of my knightes. Sir Howell and Sir Hardolf   here shall beleve To be lordes of the ledes   that here to me longes; Lookes into Lumbardy   that there no lede change, And tenderly to Tuskane   take tent als I bid; Receive the rentes of Rome   when they are reckoned; Take sesin the same day   that last was assigned, Or elles all the hostage   withouten the walles Be hanged high upon height   all holly at ones."        Now bounes the bold king   with his best knightes, Gars trome and trusse   and trines forth after, Turnes through Tuskane,   tarries but little; Lights not in Lumbardy   but when the light failed; Merkes over the mountaines   full marvelous wayes, Ayers through Almaine   even at the gainest Ferkes even into Flandresh   with his fers knightes. Within fifteen dayes   his fleet is assembled, And then he shope him to ship   and shounes no lenger, Sheeres with a sharp wind   over the shire waters; By the roche with ropes   he rides on anker. There the false men fleted   and on flood lenged, With chef chaines of charre   chocked togeders, Charged even chock-full   of chevalrous knightes, And in the hinter on height,   helmes and crestes; Hatches with hethen men   heled were there-under, Proudlich pourtrayed   with painted clothes, Ech a pece by pece   prikked til other, Dubbed with dagswainnes   doubled they seem; And thus the derf Denmarkes   had dight all their shippes, That no dint of no dart   dere them sholde.        Then the roy and the renkes   of the Round Table All realy in red   arrayes his shippes; That day ducheries he delt   and dubbed knightes, Dresses dromoundes and dragges   and drawen up stones; The top-castels he stuffed   with toiles, as him liked; Bendes bowes of vise   brothly there-after; Toloures tently   tackle they righten, Brasen hedes full brode   busked on flones, Graithes for garnisons,   gomes arrayes, Grim godes of steel,   gives of iron; Stighteles steren on steren   with stiff men of armes; Many lovelich launce   upon loft standes, Ledes on leburd,   lordes and other, Pight pavis on port,   painted sheldes, On hinder hurdace on height   helmed knightes. Thus they shiften for shottes   on those shire strandes, Ilke shalk in his shroud,   full sheen were their weedes.        The bold king is in a barge   and about rowes, All bare-hevede for besy   with beveren lockes, And a berne with his brand   and an helm beten, Menged with a mauntelet   of mailes of silver, Compast with a coronal   and covered full rich; Kaires to ech a cogge   to comfort his knightes; To Clegis and Cleremond   he cries on loud: "O Gawain! O Galyran!   These good mens bodies!" To Lot and to Lionel   full lovely he meles, And to Sir Launcelot de Lake   lordlich wordes: "Let us cover the kith,   the coste is our own, And gar them brothelich blenk,   all yon blood-houndes! Britten them within borde   and brin them there-after! Hew down hertily   yon hethen tikes! They are harlotes half,   I hete you mine hand!" 210        Then he coveres his cogge   and catches on anker, Caught his comlich helm   with the clere mailes; Buskes banners on brode,   beten of gules, With crowns of clere gold   clenlich arrayed; But there was chosen in the chef   a chalk-white maiden, 211 And a child in her arm   that Chef is of heven; Withouten changing in chase   these were the chef armes Of Arthur the avenaunt,   whiles he in erthe lenged.        Then the mariners meles   and masters of shippes; Merrily ich a mate   menes til other; Of their termes they talk,   how they were tidd, 212 Towen trussel on trete,   trussen up sailes, Bete bonnetes on brode,   bettred hatches; Braundisht brown steel,   bragged in trumpes; Standes stiff on the stamin,   steeres on after, Streken over the streme,   there striving beginnes. Fro the waggand wind   out of the west rises, Brothly bessomes with birr   in bernes sailes, Wether bringes on borde   burlich cogges, 213 Whiles the biling and the beme   bristes in sonder; So stoutly the fore-stern   on the stam hittes That stockes of the steer-borde   strikes in peces! By then cogge upon cogge,   crayers and other, Castes crepers on-cross,   als to the craft longes; Then was hed-ropes hewen,   that held up the mastes; There was contek full keen   and cracking of shippes! Grete cogges of kemp   crashes in sonder! Many cabane cleved,   cables destroyed, Knightes and keen men   killed the bernes! Kidd castels were corven,   with all their keen wepen, Castels full comlich   that coloured were fair! Up ties edgeling   they ochen there-after; 214 With the swing of the sword   sways the mastes, Over-falles in the first   frekes and other; Many freke in the fore-ship   fey is beleved! Then brothly they beker   with bustous tackle; Brushes boldly on borde   brenyed knightes, 215 Out of botes on borde,   was busked with stones, Bete down of the best,   bristes the hatches; Some gomes through-gird   with godes of iron, Gomes gaylich cledde   englaimes wepenes; Archers of England   full egerly shootes, Hittes through the hard steel   full hertly dintes! Soon ochen in holly   the hethen knightes, Hurt through the hard steel,   hele they never! Then they fall to the fight,   foines with speres, All the frekkest on front   that to the fight longes, And ilkon freshly   fraistes their strenghes, War to fight in the fleet   with their fell wepenes. Thus they delt that day,   thir dubbed knightes, Til all the Danes were dede   and in the deep throwen! Then Bretons brothly   with brandes they hewen; Lepes in upon loft   lordlich bernes; When ledes of out-landes   lepen in waters, All our lordes on loud   laughen at ones!        By then speres were sprongen,   spalded shippes, Spanioles speedily   sprented over-bordes; All the keen men of kemp,   knightes and other, Killed are cold-dede   and casten over-bordes; Their swyers swiftly   has the swet leved; Hethen hevand on hatch   in thir hawe rises, Sinkand in the salt se   seven hundreth at ones! Then Sir Gawain the good, he has the gree wonnen, And all the cogges grete   he gave to his knightes. Sir Garin, Sir Griswold,   and other grete lordes; Gart Galuth, a good gome,   gird off their hedes! 216 Thus of the false fleet   upon the flood   happened, And thus these ferin folk   fey are beleved!        Yet is the traitour on land   with tried knightes, And all trumped they trip   on trapped steedes Shews them under sheld   on the shire bankes; He ne shuntes for no shame   but shewes full high! Sir Arthur and Gawain   avyed them bothen To sixty thousand of men   that in their sight hoved. By this the folk was felled,   then was the flood passed; 217 Then was it silke a slowde   in slackes full huge That let the king for to land   in the low water. For-thy he lenged on laye   for lesing of horses, To look of his lege-men   and of his lele knightes, Yif any were lamed or lost,   live yif they sholde.        Then Sir Gawain the good   a galley he takes And glides up at a gole   with good men of armes; When he grounded, for gref   he girdes in the water That to the girdle he goes   in all his gilt weedes, Shootes up upon the sand   in sight of the lordes, Singly with his soppe,   my sorrow is the more! With banners of his badges,   best of his armes, He braides up on the bank   in his bright weedes; He biddes his banneour:   "Busk thou belive To yon brode batail   that on yon bank hoves, And I ensure you soothe   I shall you sew after; Look ye blenk for no brand   ne for no bright wepen, But beres down of the best   and bring them o-dawe! Bes not abaist of their boste,   abide on the erthe; Ye have my banneres borne   in batailes full huge; We shall fell yon false,   the fend have their soules! Fightes fast with the frap,   the feld shall be oures! May I that traitour over-take,   torfer him tides That this tresoun has timbered   to my trew lord! Of such a engendure   full little joy happens, And that shall in this journee   be judged full even!"        Now they seek over the sand,   this soppe at the gainest, Sembles on the soudeours   and settes their dintes; Through the sheldes so sheen   shalkes they touch With shaftes shivered short   of those sheen launces; Derf dintes they delt   with daggand speres; On the dank of the dew   many dede ligges, Dukes and douspeeres   and dubbed knightes; The doughtiest of Danemark   undone are forever! Thus those renkes in rewth   rittes their brenyes And reches of the richest   unrecken dintes, There they throng in the thick   and thrustes to the erthe Of the throest men   three hundreth at ones! But Sir Gawain for gref   might not again-stand, Umbegrippes a spere   and to a gome runnes, That bore of gules full gay   with goutes of silver; He girdes him in at the gorge   with his grim launce That the grounden glaive   graithes in sonder; With that bustous blade   he bounes him to die! The King of Gotheland it was,   a good man of armes. Their avauntward then all   voides there-after, Als vanquist verrayly   with valiant bernes; Meetes with middle-ward   that Mordred ledes; Our men merkes them to,   as them mishappened, For had Sir Gawain the grace   to hold the green hill, He had worship, iwis,   wonnen forever!        But then Sir Gawain, iwis,   he waites him well To wreke on this warlaw   that this war moved, And merkes to Sir Mordred   among all his bernes, With the Montagues   and other grete lordes. Then Sir Gawain was greved   and with a grete will Fewters a fair spere   and freshly ascries: "False fostered fode,   the fend have thy bones! Fy on thee, felon,   and thy false workes! Thou shall be dede and undone   for thy derf deedes, Or I shall die this day,   if destainy worthe!"        Then his enmy with host   of outlawed bernes All enangles about   our excellent knightes That the traitour by tresoun   had tried himselven; Dukes of Danemark   he dightes full soon, And leders of Lettow   with legions ynow, Umbelapped our men   with launces full keen, Soudeours and Sarazenes   out of sere landes, Sixty thousand men,   seemlyly arrayed, Sekerly assembles there   on seven score knightes, Sodenly in dischaite   by tho salt strandes. Then Sir Gawain grette   with his grey eyen For gref of his good men   that he guide sholde. He wiste that they wounded were   and wery for-foughten, 218 And what for wonder and wo,   all his wit failed. And then sighand he said   with syland teres: "We are with Sarazenes beset   upon sere halves! I sigh not for myself,   so help our Lord, But for to see us surprised   my sorrow is the more! Bes doughty today,   yon dukes shall be yours! For dere Drighten this day   dredes no wepen. We shall end this day   als excellent knightes, Ayer to endless joy   with angeles unwemmed; Though we have unwittyly   wasted ourselven, We shall work all well   in the worship of Crist! We shall for yon Sarazenes,   I seker you my trewth, Soupe with our Saviour   solemnly in heven, In presence of that Precious,   Prince of all other, With prophetes and patriarkes   and apostles full noble, Before His freelich face   that formed us all! Yonder to yon yaldsones!   He that yeldes him ever Whiles he is quick and in quert,   unquelled with handes, Be he never mo saved,   ne succoured with Crist, But Satanase his soul   mowe sink into Hell!"        Then grimly Sir Gawain   grippes his wepen; Again that grete batail   he graithes him soon, Radly of his rich sword   he rightes the chaines; In he shockes his sheld,   shuntes he no lenger, But all unwise, wodewise,   he went at the gainest, Woundes of those widerwinnes   with wrakful dintes; All welles full of blood   there he away passes; And though him were full wo,   he wondes but little, But wrekes at his worship   the wrath of his lord! He stickes steedes in stour   and sterenfull knightes, That steren men in the stirrupes   stone-dede they ligge! He rives the rank steel,   he rittes the mailes; There might no renk him arrest;   his resoun was passed! He fell in a frensy   for fersness of herte; He fightes and felles down   that him before standes! Fell never fey man   such fortune in erthe! Into the hole batail   hedlings he runnes And hurtes of the hardiest   that on the erthe lenges; Letand as a lion   he launches them through, Lordes and leders   that on the land hoves. Yet Sir Wawain for wo   wondes but little, But woundes of those widerwinnes   with wonderful dintes, Als he that wolde wilfully   wasten himselven, And for wondsome and will   all his wit failed, That wode als a wild beste   he went at the gainest; All wallowed on blood   there he away passed; Ich a wye may be ware   by wreke of another! 219        Then he moves to Sir Mordred   among all his knightes, And met him in the mid-sheld   and malles him through, But the shalk for the sharp   he shuntes a little; He share him on the short ribbes   a shaftmond large. The shaft shuddered and shot   in the shire berne That the sheddand blood   over his shank runnes And shewed on his shin-bawde   that was shire burnisht! And so they shift and shove   he shot to the erthe, With the lush of the launce   he light on his shoulders An acre-lenghe on a laund   full lothly wounded. Then Gawain gird to the gome   and on the grouf falles; All his gref was graithed;   his grace was no better! He shockes out a short knife   shethed with silver And sholde have slotted him in   but no slit happened; His hand slipped and slode   o-slant on the mailes And the tother slely   slinges him under; With a trenchand knife   the traitour him hittes Through the helm and the hed   on high on the brain; And thus Sir Gawain is gone,   the good man of armes, Withouten rescue of renk,   and rew is the more! Thus Sir Gawain is gone   that guied many other; Fro Gower to Gernesay,   all the grete lordes Of Glamour, of Galys land,   these galiard knightes For glent of glopining   glad be they never!        King Frederik   of Fres   faithly there-after Fraines at the false man   of our fers knight: "Knew thou ever this knight   in thy kith rich? Of what kind he was comen   beknow now the sooth; What gome was he,   this with the gay armes, With this griffon of gold,   that is on grouf fallen? He has gretly greved us,   so me God help, Gird down our good men   and greved us sore! He was the sterenest in stour   that ever steel wered, For he stonayed our stale   and stroyed for ever!"        Then Sir Mordred with mouth   meles full fair: "He was makless on molde,   man, by my trewth. This was Sir Gawain the good,   the gladdest of other, And the graciousest gome   that under God lived, Man hardiest of hand,   happiest in armes, And the hendest in hall   under heven-rich, And the lordliest in leding   whiles he live might, For he was lion alosed   in landes ynow; Had thou knowen him, Sir King,   in kithe there he lenged, His cunning, his knighthood,   his kindly workes, His doing, his doughtiness,   his deedes of armes, Thou wolde have dole for his dede   the dayes of thy life."        Yet that traitour als tite   teres let he fall, Turnes him forth tite   and talkes no more, Went weepand away   and weryes the stounde That ever his werdes were wrought   such wandreth to work! When he thought on this thing   it thirled his herte; For sake of his sib-blood   sighand he rides; When that renayed renk   remembered himselven Of reverence and riotes   of the Round Table, He romed and repent him   of all his rewth workes, Rode away with his rout,   restes he no lenger, For rade of our rich king,   rive that he sholde.        Then kaires he to Cornwall,   care-full in herte, Because of his kinsman   that on the coste ligges; He tarries trembland ay,   tidandes to herken. Then the traitour treunted   the Tuesday there-after, Trines in with a trayn   tresoun to work, And by the Tamber that tide   his tentes he reres, And then in a mett-while   a messanger he sendes And wrote unto Waynor   how the world changed And what comlich coste   the king was arrived, On flood foughten with his fleet   and felled them o life; Bade her ferken o-fer   and flee with her childer Whiles he might wile him away   and win to her speche, 220 Ayer into Ireland,   into those oute-mountes, And wonne there in wilderness   within tho waste landes.        Then sho yermes and yeyes   at York in her chamber, Grones full grisly   with gretand teres, Passes out of the palais   with all her pris maidens, Toward Chester in a charre   they chese her the wayes, Dight her even for to die   with dole at her herte; Sho kaires to Caerlion   and caught her a veil, Askes there the habit   in honour of Crist And all for falshed and fraud   and fere of her lord!        But when our wise king wiste   that Gawain was landed, He al to-writhes for wo,   and wringand his handes, Gars launch his botes   upon a low water, Landes als a lion   with lordlich knightes, Slippes in the sloppes   o-slant to the girdle, Swalters up swiftly   with his sword drawen, Bounes his batail   and banners displayes, Buskes over the brode sand   with brethe at his herte, Ferkes frely on feld   there the fey ligges; Of the traitours men   on trapped steedes, Ten thousand were tint,   the trewth to account, And, certain, on our side   seven score knightes, In suite with their soveraign   unsound are beleved.        The king comly overcast   knightes and other, Erles of Afrike   and Estriche bernes, Of Argyle and Orkney   the Irish kinges, The noblest of Norway, numbers full huge, Dukes and Danemarkes   and dubbed knightes; And the Guthede king   in the gay armes Lies gronand on the ground   and gird through even. The rich king ransackes   with rewth at his herte And up rippes the renkes   of all the Round Table, Sees them all in a soppe   in suite by them one With the Sarazenes unsound   encircled about, 221 And Sir Gawain the good   in his gay armes, Umbegripped the gers   and on grouf fallen, His banners braiden down,   beten of gules, His brand and his brode sheld   all bloody berunnen. Was never our seemlich king   so sorrowful in herte, Ne that sank him so sad   but that sight one. 222        Then gliftes the good king   and glopins in herte, Grones full grislich   with gretande teres, Kneeles down to the corse   and caught it in armes, Castes up his umbrere   and kisses him soon, Lookes on his eye-liddes   that locked were fair, His lippes like to the lede   and his lire fallowed. Then the crownd king   cries full loud: "Dere cosin of kind   in care am I leved, For now my worship is went   and my war ended! Here is the hope of my hele,   my happing in armes, My herte and my hardiness   holly on him lenged! My counsel, my comfort,   that keeped mine herte! Of all knightes the king   that under Crist lived! Thou was worthy to be king,   though I the crown bare! My wele and my worship   of all this world rich Was wonnen through Sir Gawain   and through his wit one! "Alas," said Sir Arthur,   "now eekes my sorrow! I am utterly undone   in mine owen landes! A doutous, derf dede,   thou dwelles too long! Why drawes thou so on dregh?   Thou drownes mine herte!"        Then sweltes the sweet king   and in swoon falles, Swafres up swiftly   and sweetly him kisses Til his burlich berde   was bloody berunnen, Als he had bestes brittened   and brought out of life; Ne had Sir Ewain comen   and other grete lordes, His bold herte had bristen   for bale at that stounde!        "Blinn," says these bold men,   "thou blunders thyselven! This is bootless bale,   for better bes it never! It is no worship, iwis,   to wring thine handes; To weep als a woman   it is no wit holden! Be knightly of countenaunce,   als a king sholde, And leve such clamour,   for Cristes love of heven!"        "For blood," says the bold king,   "blinn shall I never Ere my brain to-brist   or my breste other! Was never sorrow so soft   that sank to my herte; It is full sib to myself;   my sorrow is the more. Was never so sorrowful a sight   seen with mine eyen! He is sakless surprised   for sin of mine one!"        Down kneeles the king   and cries full loud, With care-full countenaunce   he carpes these wordes: "O rightwise rich God,   this rewth thou behold, This real red blood   run upon erthe! It were worthy to be shrede   and shrined in gold, For it is sakless of sin,   so help me our Lord!"        Down kneeles the king   with care at his herte, Caught it up kindly   with his clene handes, Cast it in a kettle-hat   and coverd it fair, And kaires forth with the corse   in kithe there he lenges.        "Here I make mine avow,"   quod the king then, "To Messie and to Mary,   the mild Queen of heven: I shall never rivaye   ne ratches uncouple, At roe ne rein-dere   that runnes upon erthe, Never greyhound let glide,   ne gossehawk let fly Ne never fowl see felled   that flighes with wing, Faucon ne formel   upon fist handle Ne yet with gerefaucon   rejoice me in erthe, Ne regne in my royaltees,   ne hold my Round Table, Til thy dede, my dere,   be duly revenged! But ever droop and dare   whiles my life lastes, Til Drighten and derf dede   have done what them likes!"        Then caught they up the corse   with care at their hertes, Carried it on a courser   with the king selven; The way unto Winchester   they went at the gainest, Wery and wandsomly   with wounded knightes; There come the prior of the place   and professed monkes, A-pas in procession,   and with the prince meetes, And he betook them the corse   of the knight noble: "Lookes it be clenly keeped," he said,   "and in the kirk holden; Don for him diriges,   as to the dede falles, Mensked with masses   for meed of the soul; Look it want no wax,   ne no worship elles, And that the body be baumed   and on erthe holden; Yif thou keep thy covent,   encroch any worship At my coming again,   yif Crist will it thole; Abide of the burying   til they be brought under That has wrought us this wo   and this war moved."        Then says Sir Wichere the wye,   a wise man of armes: "I rede ye warily wend   and workes the best, Sujourn in this citee   and semble thy bernes, And bide with thy bold men   in the burgh rich; Get out knightes of countrees   that castels holdes, 223 And out of garrisons grete   good men of armes, For we are faithly too few   to fight with them all That we see in his sorte   upon the se bankes.        With cruel countenaunce then   the king carpes these wordes: "I pray thee care not, sir knight,   ne cast thou no dredes! Had I no segge but myself   one under sun, And I may him see with sight   or on him set handes, I shall even among his men   malle him to dede, Ere I of the stede stir   half a steed lenghe! I shall strike him in his stour   and stroy him forever, And there-to make I mine avow   devotly to Crist And to his moder Mary,   the mild Queen of heven! I shall never sujourn sound,   ne saught at mine herte, In citee ne in suburb   set upon erthe, Ne yet slomour ne sleep   with my slow eyen, Til he be slain that him slogh,   if any sleight happen, But ever persew the paganes   that my pople destroyed Whiles I may pare them and pinne   in place there me likes."        There durst no renk him arrest   of all the Round Table, Ne none pay that prince   with plesand wordes, Ne none of his lege-men   look him in the eyen, So lordly he lookes   for loss of his knightes! Then drawes he to Dorset   and dreches no lenger, Dref-ful, dredless,   with droopand teres, Kaires into Cornwall   with care at his herte; The trace of the traitour   he trines full even, And turnes in by the Trentis   the traitour to seek, Findes him in a forest    the Friday there-after; The king lightes on foot   and freshly ascries, And with his freelich folk   he has the feld nomen!        Now isshewes his enmy   under the wood eves With hostes of alienes   full horrible to shew! Sir Mordred the Malbranche,   with his much pople, Foundes out of the forest   upon fele halves, In seven grete batailes   seemlich arrayed, Sixty thousand men - the sight was full huge - All fightand folk   of the fer landes, Fair fitted on front   by tho fresh strandes. And all Arthurs host   was amed with knightes But eighteen hundreth of all,   enterd in rolles. This was a match un-mete,   but mightes of Crist, To melle with that multitude   in those main landes.        Then the royal roy   of the Round Table Rides on a rich steed,   arrayes his bernes, Buskes his avauntward,   als him best likes; Sir Ewain and Sir Errak,   and other grete lordes Demenes the middle-ward   menskfully there-after, With Merrak and Meneduke,   mighty of strenghes; Idrous and Alymer,   thir avenaunt children, Ayers with Arthur   with seven-score of knightes; He rewles the rereward   redyly there-after, The rekenest redy men   of the Round Table; And thus he fittes his folk   and freshly ascries, And senn comfortes his men   with knightlich wordes: "I beseek you, sirs,   for sake of our Lord, That ye do well today   and dredes no wepen! Fightes fersly now   and fendes yourselven, Felles down yon fey folk,   the feld shall be ours! They are Sarazenes, yon sorte,   unsound mot they worthe! Set on them sadly   for sake of our Lord! Yif us be destained to die   today on this erthe, We shall be heved unto heven   ere we be half cold! Look ye let for no lede   lordly to work; Layes yon laddes low   by the laike end; Take no tent unto me,   ne tale of me recke; Bes busy on my banners   with your bright wepens, That they be strenghely stuffed   with steren knightes And holden lordly on-loft   ledes to shew; Yif any renk them arase,   rescue them soon; Workes now my worship;   today my war endes! Ye wot my wele and my wo;   workes as you likes! Crist comly with crown   comfort you all For the kindest creatures   that ever king led! I give you all my blessing   with a blithe will, And all Bretons bold,   blithe mot ye worthe!"        They pipe up at prime time,   approches them ner, Pris men and preste   proves their strenghes; Bremly the brethe-men   bragges in trumpes, In coronettes comlyly,   when knightes assembles; And then jollyly enjoines   these gentle knightes;nobr> A jollier journee   ajudged was never, When Bretones boldly   enbraces their sheldes, And Cristen encrossed them   and castes in fewter! 224        Then Sir Arthur host   his enmy escries, And in they shock their sheldes,   shuntes no lenger, Shot to the sheltrones   and shoutes full high; Through sheldes full sheen   shalkes they touch! Redily those rydde men   of the Round Table With real rank steel   rittes their mailes; Brenyes brouden they brist   and burnisht helmes, Hewes hethen men down,   halses in sonder! Fightand with fine steel   the fey blood runnes; Of the frekkest on front   un-fers are beleved. Hethenes of Argyle   and Irish kinges Enverounes our avauntward   with venomous bernes, Peghtes and paynimes   with perilous wepens, With speres dispitously   despoiles our knightes And hewed down the hendest   with hertly dintes! Through the hole batail   they holden their wayes; Thus fersly they fight   upon sere halves, That of the bold Bretons   much blood spilles; There durst none rescue them   for riches in erthe, The steren were there so stedde   and stuffed with other; He durst not stir a step,   but stood for himselven, Til three stales were stroyed   by strenghe of him one!        "Idrous," quod Arthur,   "ayer thee behooves! I see Sir Ewain over-set   with Sarazenes keen! Redy thee for rescues,   array thee soon! Hie thee with hardy men   in help of thy fader! Set in on the side   and succour yon lordes! But they be succoured and sound,   unsaught be I ever!"        Idrous him answers   ernestly there-after: "He is my fader, in faith,   forsake shall I never - He has me fostered and fed   and my fair brethern - But I forsake this gate,   so me God help, And soothly all sibreden   but thyself one. I broke never his bidding   for berne on life, But ever buxom as beste   blithely to work. He commaund me kindly   with knightly wordes, That I sholde lely on thee lenge,   and on no lede elles; I shall his commaundment hold,   if Crist will me thole! He is elder than I,   and end shall we bothen; He shall ferk before,   and I shall come after; Yif him be destained to die   today on this erthe, Crist, comly with crown,   take keep to his soul!"        Then romes the rich king   with rewth at his herte, Heves his handes on height   and to the Heven lookes: "Why then ne had Drighten   destained at His dere will 225 That He had deemed me today   to die for you all? That had I lever than be lord   all my life-time Of all that Alexander ought   whiles he in erthe lenged!"        Sir Ewain and Sir Errak,   these excellent bernes, Enters in on the host   and egerly strikes; The hethenes of Orkney   and Irish kinges They gobone of the gretest   with grounden swordes, Hewes on those hulkes   with their hard wepens, Layed down those ledes   with lothly dintes; Shoulders and sheldes   they shrede to the haunches, And middles through mailes   they merken in sonder! Such honour never ought   none erthly kinges At their ending day   but Arthur himselven!        So the drought of the day   dryed their hertes That both drinkless they die;   dole was the more! Now melles our middle-ward   and mengen togeder. Sir Mordred the Malbranche   with his much pople, He had hid him behind   within these holt eves, With hole batail on hethe,   harm is the more! He had seen the contek   all clene to the end, How our chevalry cheved   by chaunces of armes; He wiste our folk was for-foughten   that there was fey leved; To encounter the king   he castes him soon, But the cherles chicken   had changed his armes; He had soothly forsaken   the sauturour engreled, And laght up three lions   all of white silver, Passand in purpure   of perry full rich, 226 For the king sholde not know   the cautelous wretch. Because of his cowardice   he cast off his attire; But the comlich king   knew him full swithe, Carpes to Sir Cador   these kindly wordes: "I see the traitour come yonder   trinand full yerne; Yon lad with the lions   is like to himselven; Him shall torfer betide,   may I touch ones, For all his tresoun and trayn,   als I am trew lord! Today Clarent and Caliburn   shall kithe them togeders Whilk is keener of carfe   or harder of edge! Fraist shall we fine steel upon fine weedes. It was my darling dainteous   and full dere holden, 227 Keeped for encrownmentes   of kinges annointed; On dayes when I dubbed   dukes and erles It was burlich borne   by the bright hiltes; I durst never dere it   in deedes of armes But ever keeped clene   because of myselven. For I see Clarent uncledde   that crown is of swordes, My wardrope at Walingford   I wot is destroyed. Wiste no wye of wonne   but Waynor herselven; Sho had the keeping herself   of that kidd wepen, Of coffers enclosed   that to the crown longed, With ringes and relickes   and the regale of Fraunce That was founden on Sir Frolle   when he was fey leved."        Then Sir Marrak in malencoly   meetes him soon, With a malled mace   mightyly him strikes; The bordour of his bacenett   he bristes in sonder, That the shire red blood   over his breny runnes! The berne blenkes for bale   and all his blee changes, But yet he bides as a bore   and bremly he strikes! He braides out a brand   bright als ever any silver That was Sir Arthur owen,   and Utere his faders, In the wardrope at Walingford   was wont to be keeped; Therewith the derf dog   such dintes he reched The tother withdrew on dregh   and drust do none other For Sir Marrak was man   marred in elde, And Sir Mordred was mighty   and in his most strenghes; Come none within the compass,   knight ne none other, Within the swing of sword,   that he ne the swet leved. 228        That perceives our prince   and presses to fast, Strikes into the stour   by strenghe of his handes, Meetes with Sir Mordred;   he meles unfair: "Turn, traitour untrew,   thee tides no better; By grete God, thou shall die   with dint of my handes! Thee shall rescue no renk   ne riches in erthe!"        The king with Caliburn   knightly him strikes; The cantel of his clere sheld   he carves in sonder, Into the shoulder of the shalk   a shaftmonde large That the shire red blood   shewed on the mailes! He shuddered and shrinkes   and shuntes but little, But shockes in sharply   in his sheen weedes; The felon with the fine sword   freshly he strikes, The felettes of the ferrer side   he flashes in sonder, Through jupon and gesseraunt   of gentle mailes, The freke fiched in the flesh   an half-foot large; That derf dint was his dede,   and dole was the more That ever that doughty sholde die   but at Drightens will!        Yet with Caliburn his sword   full knightly he strikes, Castes in his clere sheld   and coveres him full fair, Swappes off the sword hand,   als he by glentes - An inch fro the elbow   he oched it in sonder That he swoones on the swarth   and on swim falles - Through bracer of brown steel   and the bright mailes, That the hilt and the hand   upon the hethe ligges.        Then freshlich the freke   the fente up-reres, Broches him in with the brand   to the bright hiltes, And he brawles on the brand   and bounes for to die. "In faye," said the fey king,   "sore me for-thinkes That ever such a false thef   so fair an end haves."        When they had finisht this fight,   then was the feld wonnen, And the false folk in the feld   fey are beleved! Til a forest they fled   and fell in the greves, And fers fightand folk   followes them after, Huntes and hewes down   the hethen tikes, Murtheres in the mountaines   Sir Mordred knightes; There chaped never no child,   cheftain ne other, But choppes them down in the chase;   it charges but little!        But when Sir Arthur anon   Sir Ewain he findes, And Errak the avenaunt   and other grete lordes, He caught up Sir Cador   with care at his herte, Sir Clegis, Sir Cleremond,   these clere men of armes, Sir Lot and Sir Lionel,   Sir Launcelot and Lowes, Marrak and Meneduke,   that mighty were ever; With langour in the land   there he layes them togeder, Looked on their lighames,   and with a loud steven, Als lede that list not live   and lost had his mirthes - Then he stotays for mad   and all his strenghe failes, Lookes up to the lift   and all his lire changes, Down he sways full swithe,   and in a swoon falles, Up he coveres on knees   and cries full often - "King, comly with crown,   in care am I leved! All my lordship low   in land is laid under, That me has given guerdones,   by grace of Himselven, Maintained my manhed   by might of their handes, Made me manly on molde   and master in erthe, In a teenful time   this torfer was rered, That for a traitour has tint   all my trew lordes! Here restes the rich blood   of the Round Table, Rebuked with a rebaud,   and rewth is the more! I may helpless on hethe   house by mine one, Als a woful widow   that wantes her berne! I may werye and weep   and wring mine handes, For my wit and my worship   away is forever! Of all lordshippes I take   leve to mine end! Here is the Bretones blood   brought out of life, And now in this journee   all my joy endes!"        Then relies the renks   of all the Round Table; To the real roy   they ride them all; Then assembles full soon   seven score knightes In sight to their soveraign   that was unsound leved; Then kneeles the crowned king   and cries on loud: "I thank thee, God, of thy grace,   with a good will, That gave us vertue and wit   to venquish these bernes, And us has graunted the gree   of these grete lordes! He sent us never no shame   ne shenship in erthe But ever yet the over-hand   of all other kinges; We have no leisere now   these lordes to seek, For yon lothly lad   me lamed so sore! Graith us to Glashenbury;   us gaines none other; 229 There we may rest us with roo   and ransack our woundes. Of this dere day work   the Drighten be lowed, That us has detained and deemed   to die in our owen."        Then they hold at his hest   holly at ones, And graithes to Glashenbury   the gate at the gainest; Entres the Ile of Avalon   and Arthur he lightes, Merkes to a manor there,   for might he no further; A surgen of Salerne   enserches his woundes; The king sees by assay   that sound bes he never, And soon to his seker men   he said these wordes: "Do call me a confessor   with Crist in his armes; I will be houseld in haste   what hap so betides. Constantine my cosin   he shall the crown bere, Als becomes him of kind,   if Crist will him thole! Berne, for my benison,   thou bury yon lordes That in batail with brandes   are brought out of life, And sithen merk manly   to Mordred children, That they be slely slain   and slongen in waters; Let no wicked weed wax   ne writhe on this erthe; I warn, for thy worship,   work als I bid! I forgive all gref,   for Cristes love of heven! If Waynor have well wrought,   well her betide!"        He said "In manus" with main   on molde where he ligges, 230 And thus passes his spirit   and spekes he no more!        The baronage of Bretain then,   bishoppes and other, Graithes them to Glashenbury   with glopinand hertes To bury there the bold king   and bring to the erthe With all worhsip and welth   that any wye sholde. Throly belles they ring   and Requiem singes, Dos masses and matins   with mornand notes; Religious reveste   in their rich copes, Pontificalles and prelates   in precious weedes, Dukes and douspeeres   in their dole-cotes, Countesses kneeland   and claspand their handes, Ladies languishand   and lowrand to shew; All was busked in black,   birdes and other, That shewed at the sepulture   with syland teres; Was never so sorrowful a sight   seen in their time!        Thus endes King Arthur,   as auctors allege, That was of Ectores blude,   the kinge son of Troy And of Sir Priamous, the prince,   praised in erthe; Fro thethen brought the Bretons   all his bold elders Into Bretain the brode,   as the Brut telles.            Hic jacet Arthurus, rex quondam rexque futurus. (Here lies Arthur, king once and king to be.) Here endes Morte Arthure, written by Robert of Thornton R. Thornton dictus qui scripsit sit benedictus. Amen. (May the said R. Thornton, who wrote this, be blessed. Amen.)

at a disadvantage a truce a week from today; until Sunday     anointed (see note) agreement pleasant Chinese silk gave them to     discussed; truce go     canopy; reconciled each by himself         Cheers                 Take             rehearses (tells)     ease; pleasant guard; (see note)         (see note)                 Cross             (see note) sloth; slumber 1:00 a.m. dreamed; morning; dreams     cowers in fear terror     search; interpret; dreams rehearse (tell)     wandered by myself knew; whither; should go     waste place prey loathly         hide; fear meadow     enclosed place; extent covered small grass clad; (see note) encircled     Surrounded; groves; all kinds of Gardens produced                     (see note) surcoat; rarely otter fur ladylike lappets trimmed; ribbons (see note) adorned; (see note) hairnet; diadem complexion         Turned skillfully wheel Adorned; (see note) spokes; plated; bars spear length     carbuncle outer edge; clung     seat warrior wheel; (see note) king I thought of to hunt endure direly     beneath loins; lean gray face; body crippled The one; (see note) an egg         bowed to me rag; body to cover quickly; believe     followed stronger; more determined     throne fold         stout threaten adorned Adorned; diamonds dreaded         fourth; forceful     bold; earth     withered         fifth forceful; foaming gripped; rim; (see note)     leaped; spread spokes     lord     yon seat is denied me     sixth; psalter; bound surplice (cover); sewn     suffered; announces         injured         clambering top; wheel; eagerly carbuncle             achieved noble; forehead physiognomy dressed; color; blue fleur-de-lis (lilies) The other; clad carved little crosses         bright (one); graciously come knew how                 (see note)     achieve         lean throne; sceptre; gave combed curling lock; reached; (see note)     orb set     all sides; (see note)         sword     lifeblood left labored; failed     quiet trees orchard     boughs     bowed; command grove; promise spare; try Try; noble reach; enjoy     wheel                     dearly take a draught     should want                     pleasure delight         time; crushed     chill wearied from dreaming speak     Bold warrior     promise     men Innocent; pride Confess; prepare revelation                 consider         bowed to; (see note) other         (see note)     fifth befell sixth     skill Goliath composed psalter     The one; (see note) (see note)     Obtain capture strong; (see note)     i.e., for     The other jolly         recover; (see note) holy oil destiny suffer; proved         ninth of the Worthies; (see note)                                 attack     foreign i.e., will get trouble has happened tell (i.e., confess) quickly; sad have misfortune reward         quilted jacket     draws large cloth hat pearls decorated small stones [He takes] his hunting meadow; anger path         rising Going; quickest (see note) shoes; comfortable coins; adorned scalloped edges     (see note)     greeted; morning language; i.e., Italian corrupted; speaks Whither seek at war; danger; (see note) enemy     safe-conduct what take                             seize; stop (me)     hesitate     way     fully forgiven     seemly noble Warring; awesome     whence     (see note)     nobly British; plain         (see note)             captured; foreign men                 blood relative     burned Tell         i.e., Mordred misery; since captured     divided i.e., Danes Scattered; everywhere Saxons; both sides; (see note) foreign South Wales; mercenaries Picts; pagans         command     burdens monks rob (see note) in his possession     hoar (gray) held; (see note)     Filled company certainly     dwells     men; woe be to him preserve injured came; tell         without remedy; color     quickly; calamitous     Unhappily Called with a trumpet         labor; destroyed trouble; i.e., who this can surely             renegade divided                 foreign     break; grief     proven remain         attention     possession                 (see note)         Marches     Hastens; Flanders     prepared himself; delays Cuts; translucent rocks; anchor floated         rear; (see note)     painted; on sewed Adorned; heavy cloth Danes harm; (see note)                 galleys; barges slings crossbows; fiercely Haulers carefully Bronze; missiles garrisons goads; fetters Supplies; stern (ship)     lee (sea side of ship)     rear barrier maneuver; shooting garment             adorned (beaten) Adorned; little mantle Encircled; diadem; decorated Travels; ship                 reclaim make; violently blanch aboard; burn dogs         returns to; ship; anchor     Raises; adorned with red     (see note)     noble; (see note) worthy     get to work each; speaks     Drag bundles on trestles Set small sails; battened blew in trumpets stalwartly on the prow Strike When; swaying Suddenly sweeps; force (see note)     stern; prow planks; starboard side ship; small ships grappling hooks across     strife war cabins (see note) Proven; carved     (see note)     i.e., first blow (see note) fight; powerful equipment             pierced; goads Men; clad make slimy; (see note)     Strikes; mortal completely cut down heal duel front rank each one to fight the battle             through the air             broken; split Spaniards; leaped overboard battle     young men; lifeblood heaving; these gray waves     prize         (see note)     foreign         accompanied with trumpets     shows himself set out             (see note)                     small bay (gully) ran aground; leaps     Rushes Alone; small troop heraldic devices     banner bearer; Go quickly     follow blanch out of daylight Be; abashed         company If I can; woe built for engendering; (see note)         small troop Attack; set on     broken piercing             rip give; countless         withstand Grasps arms of red; droplets throat point prepares himself Gothland (South Sweden) vanguard vanquished; verily middle guard advance toward                 warlock     (see note)         creature; fiend         if it be my destiny         Surrounds experienced marshals Lithuania Surrounded             deceit wept             flowing tears     (see note) captured; (see note) Be         Go; spotless unwisely     pledge Dine             whore sons alive; sound health     may             Quickly; cuts pushes; hangs back madly enemies; wrathful     hesitates     pierces; stern     cleaves; rips     frenzy     Befell; a fated man headlong     Acting like; stabs stand hesitates enemies     fierceness; wilfulness crazy                 hammers hangs back cut; six inches deep dashed; shining leg shin plate; brightly as; fell precipitously blow; i.e., Mordred full length; hillock leaps; on his face destined draws; sheathed stabbed slid; aslant the other; slyly hurls cutting         pity guided Guernsey Glamorgan; Wales sight of horror     Frisia; faithfully; (see note) Inquires of     family     on his face; (see note)     Struck wore troop         matchless         most fortunate the kingdom of heaven leadership praised as             grieved     at once quickly curses the time fates; misery pierced kinship; (see note) renegade     moaned; foul deeds     fear; arrive; might     goes         set forth Goes; trick the River Tamar short time         from hasten afar     outer mountains live; deserted     cries; sobs; (see note) weeping     carriage     i.e., became a nun nun's garment falsehood; fear; husband         writhes violently Gives orders to     pools; aslant Splashes; (see note)                 slain; (see note)     Together; not whole (dead)     turned over Austrian             Gothic; (see note)     searches pulls little group; together (see note)     Clutched; grass; face down adorned with red run over             stares; is terror-struck weeping corpse visor     lead; complexion pale     blood relative     well-being; good fortune                 wealth only increases     fearful cruel death delay; so long     faints Staggers covered with blood beasts     time     stop; harm without remedy; will be                     cease shatter; either     closely related     innocent             righteous     clothed; enshrined innocent                 (see note)         Messiah hunt; hounds unleash reindeer goshawk flies Falcon; female hawk gerfalcon     death; beloved lie still the Lord; cruel death         (see note) by the shortest route sorrowfully     Quickly entrusted to church Do; befits; (see note) Honored; reward See that; lack; candles embalmed; (see note) promise claim; reward allow Wait for                                     saw         imagine         hammer place     devoutly     nor have peace     slumber; heavy slew; chance pursue hurt; imprison     stop pacify; pleasing         hesitates Sorrowful doubtless Proceeds follows River Trent         taken     issues out     Ill-begotten Comes             arranged reckoned by     unequal save for fight                     Command         Proceed     most active                 defend fated may they be     destined lifted     end of the game Pay no attention; believe Be; around; (see note) strongly provided     is captured by them                     may you be glad     9 a.m.; approach; nearer Choice; ready Boldly; buglers; blow horns join battle     put on (their arms)         sees thrust; delay troops     fierce rip woven necks     unfierce (i.e., defeated)     Surrounds Picts pitilessly mortal blows     various sides; (see note)     dared beset; hard-pressed i.e., Arthur detachments                         safe; troubled                 going (to his aid) kinship command (was) obedient as a beast         allow         destined         cries; grief Lifts (see note) ordered                         i.e., Ewain and Errak; chop     Laid     midriffs; cut                     attacks; mingles Ill-begotten; great army     whole battalion; heath conflict fared outfought plans churlish offspring; (see note) saltire engrailed taken     cunning heraldic device         going     woe; if I can trickery Excalibur; make known Which; carving Test     coronations         harm     i.e., drawn wardrobe Knew; the dwelling place         regalia left dead     melancholy hammered border; helmet     blanches; complexion boar; fiercely i.e., Mordred     wardrobe impudent other; back weakened by age (see note)     (see note)     i.e., to battle melee speaks gruffly                     cornerpiece six inches deep                 rib plates; farther gipon (tunic); hauberk pierced hideous blow                 goes chopped turf; swoon armguard         Arthur; vent raises     struggles I sorely repent thief             groves     heathen dogs Murder escaped troubles         comely                     bodies; voice man; desired staggers; dizziness sky; face                 rewards manhood     painful; mischief; raised destroyed     scoundrel     children curse                     rally                         victory over disgrace i.e., upper hand leisure i.e., Mordred (see note) peace; search (treat) costly; praised; (see note) i.e., own land     command Glastonbury; way Isle for he could go surgeon; treats examination; will be true i.e., the Eucharist given the Sacrament     allow blessing     pursue manfully wisely; slung grow nor flourish                 (see note)             Glastonbury; dismayed     person should have Loudly; (see note) do Monastics dressed Bishops mourning garments     frowning dressed; women sepulcher; flowing         authorities tell Hector's blood; (see note) Priam thence (i.e., Troy) (see note)         (see note)