2045                        2050                    2055                        2060                    2065                        2070                        2075                    2080                            2085                    2090                        2095                    2100                    2105                    2110                    2115                    2120                        2125                    2130                        2135                    2140                    2145                    2150                        2155                    2160                    2165                    2170                    2175                    2180                        2185                    2190                        2195                    2200                    2205                    2210                    2215                        2220                    2225                        2230                        2235                    2240                        2245                    2250                    2255                        2260                        2265                        2270                    2275                        2280                    2285                        2290                    2295                    2300                        2305                        2310                    2315                        2320                        2325                        2330                    2335                    2340                    2345                    2350                        2355                    2360                    2365                    2370                            2375                    2380                    2385                        2390                    2395                    2400                    2405                    2410                    2415                        2420                    2425                    2430                        2435                        2440                    2445                        2450                    2455                    2460                    2465                    2470                        2475                    2480                        2485                    2490                    2495                    2500                        2505                    2510                        2515                    2520                        2525                    2530                    2535                        2540                        2545                    2550                    2555                        2560                    2565                    2570                        2575                        2580                        2585                        2590                        2595                    2600                    2605                    2610                    2615                        2620                    2625                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            3020                    3025                        3030                        3035                    3040                        3045                    3050                        3055                    3060                        3065                        3070                    3075                    3080                        3085                    3090                    3095                    3100                        3105                        3110                    3115                    3120                        3125                        3130                        3135                    3140                    3145                        3150                    3155                        3160                    3165                    3170                    3175

When these wordes was said,   the Welsh king himselven Was ware of this widerwin   that warrayed his knightes; Brothely in the vale   with voice he ascries: "Viscount of Valence,   envious of deedes, The vassalage of Viterbo   today shall be revenged! Unvanquisht fro this place   void shall I never."        Then the viscount, valiant,   with a voice noble Avoided the avauntward,   enveround his horse; He dressed in a derf sheld,   endented with sable, With a dragon engoushed,   dredful to shew, Devourand a dolphin   with doleful lates, In sign that our soveraign   sholde be destroyed, And all done of dayes,   with dintes of swordes, For there is nought but dede   there the dragon is raised!        Then the comlich king   castes in fewter, With a cruel launce   coupes full even Aboven the spayre a span,   among the short ribbes, 144 That the splent and the spleen   on the spere lenges! The blood sprent out and spredde   as the horse springes, And he sproules full spakely,   but spekes he no more! And thus has Sir Valiant   holden his avowes, And vanquisht the Viscount   that victor was holden!        Then Sir Ewain fitz Urien   full enkerly rides Anon to the Emperour   his egle to touch; Through his brode batail   he buskes belive, Braides out his brand   with a blithe cheer, Reversed it redily   and away rides, Ferkes in with the fowl   in his fair handes, And fittes in freely   on front with his feres.        Now buskes Sir Launcelot   and braides full even To Sir Lucius the lord   and lothly him hittes; Through paunce and plates   he perced the mailes That the proud pensel   in his paunch lenges! The hed hailed out behind   an half foot large, Through hawberk and haunch   with the hard wepen; The steed and the steren man   strikes to the ground, Strak down a standard   and to his stale wendes!        "Me likes well," says Sir Lot,   "yon lordes are delivered! 145 The lot lenges now on me,   with leve of my lord; Today shall my name be laid,   and my life after, But some lepe fro the life   that on yon land hoves!"        Then strekes the steren   and straines his bridle, 146 Strikes into the stour   on a steed rich, Enjoined with a giaunt   and jagged him through! Jollily this gentle knight   for-jousted another, Wrought wayes full wide,   warrayand knightes, And woundes all wathely   that in the way standes! Fightes with all the frap   a furlong of way, Felled fele upon feld   with his fair wepen, Vanquisht and has the victory   of valiant knightes, And all enverouned the vale   and void when him liked.        Then bowmen of Bretain   brothely there-after Bekered with brigandes   of fer in tho landes; 147 With flones fletterd they flit   full freshly thir frekes, Fichen with fetheres   through the fine mailes; Such flytting is foul   that so the flesh deres, That flow a ferrom   in flankes of steedes. Dartes the Dutch-men   delten againes, With derf dintes of dede   dagges through sheldes; Quarrels quaintly   quappes through knightes 148 With iron so wekerly   that wink they never. So they shrinken for shot   of the sharp arrows, That all the sheltron shunt   and shuddered at ones; The rich steedes rependes   and rashes on armes, The hole hundreth on hie   upon hethe ligges; 149 But yet the hatheliest on hie,   hethen and other, All hourshes over hede,   harmes to work. And all these giauntes before,   engendered with fendes, Joines on Sir Jonathal and gentle knightes, With clubbes of clene steel   clanked in helmes, Crashed down crestes   and crashed braines, Killed coursers   and coverd steedes, Chopped through chevalers   on chalk-white steedes; Was never steel ne steed   might stand them againes, But stonays and strikes down   that in the stale hoves, Til the conquerour come   with his keen knightes. With cruel countenaunce   he cried full loud: "I wend no Bretons wolde be   bashed for so little, And for bare-legged boyes   that on the bente hoves!"        He clekes out Caliburn,   full clenlich burnisht, 150 Graithes him to Golopas,   that greved him most, Cuttes him even by the knees   clenly in sonder; "Come down," quod the king,   "and carp to thy feres! Thou art too high by the half,   I hete thee in trewth! Thou shall be handsomer in hie,   with the help of my Lord!" With that steelen brand   he stroke off his hed. Sterenly in that stour   he strikes another. Thus he settes on seven   with his seker knightes; Whiles sixty were served so   ne sesed they never; And thus at this joining   the giauntes are destroyed, And at that journee for-jousted   with gentle knightes.        Then the Romanes and the renkes   of the Round Table Rewles them in array,   rereward and other, With wight wepenes of war   they wroughten on helmes, Rittes with rank steel   full real mailes But they fit them fair,   these frek bernes, Fewters in freely   on feraunt steedes Foines full felly   with flishand speres, Fretten off orfrayes   fast upon sheldes; So fele fey is in fight   upon the feld leved That ech a furth in the firth   of red blood runnes. By that swiftely on swarth   the swet is beleved, Swordes swangen in two,   sweltand knightes Lies wide open welterand   on walopand steedes; Woundes of wale men   workand sides, Faces fetteled unfair   in feltered lockes, All craysed, for-trodden   with trapped steedes, 151 The fairest on folde   that figured was ever, As fer as a furlong, a thousand at ones!        By then the Romanes were   rebuked at little, Withdrawes them drerily   and dreches no lenger; Our prince with his power   persewes them after, Prikes on the proudest   with his pris knightes, Sir Kayous, Sir Clegis,   Sir Cleremond the noble, Encounters them at the cliff   with clene men of armes; Fightes fast in the firth,   frithes no wepen, Felled at the first come   five hundreth at ones! And when they fande them for-set   with our fers knightes, Few men again fele   mot fich them better, Fightes with all the frap,   foines with speres, And fought with the frekkest   that to Fraunce longes. But Sir Kayous the keen   castes in fewter, Chases on a courser   and to a king rides; With a launce of Lettow   he thirles his sides That the liver and the lunges   on the launce lenges; The shaft shuddered and shot   in the shire berne, And sought throughout the sheld   and in the shalk restes. But Kayous at the in-come   was keeped unfair With a coward knight   of the kith rich; At the turning that time   the traitour him hit In through the felettes   and in the flank after That the bustous launce   the bewelles entamed, That braste at the brawling   and broke in the middes. Sir Kayous knew well   by that kidd wound That he was dede of the dint   and done out of life; Then he raikes in array   and on row rides, On this real renk   his dede to revenge: "Keep thee, coward!"   he calles him soon, Cleves him with his clere brand   clenlich in sonder: "Had thou well delt   thy dint with thy handes, I had forgiven thee my dede,   by Crist now of heven!"        He wendes to the wise king   and winly him greetes: "I am wathely wounded,   waresh mon I never; Work now thy worship,   as the world askes, And bring me to burial;   bid I no more. Greet well my lady the queen,   yif thee world happen, And all the burlich birdes   that to her bowr longes; And my worthily wife,   that wrathed me never, Bid her for her worship   work for my soul!"        The kinges confessour come   with Crist in his handes, For to comfort the knight,   kend him the wordes; The knight covered on his knees   with a kaunt herte, And caught his Creatour   that comfortes us all. Then romes the rich king   for rewth at his herte, Rides into rout   his dede to revenge, Pressed into the plump   and with a prince meetes That was eier of Egypt   in those este marches, Cleves him with Caliburn   clenlich in sonder! He broches even through the berne   and the saddle bristes, And at the back of the blonk   the bewelles entamed! Manly in his malencoly   he meetes another; The middle of that mighty   that him much greved He merkes through the mailes   the middes in sonder, That the middes of the man   on the mount falles, The tother half of the haunch   on the horse leved; Of that hurt, as I hope,   heles he never! He shot through the sheltrons   with his sharp wepen, Shalkes he shrede through   and shrinked mailes; Banners he bore down,   brittened sheldes; Brothely with brown steel   his brethe he there wrekes; Wrothely he writhes   by wightness of strenghe, Woundes these widerwinnes,   warrayed knightes Threped through the thickes   thriteen sithes, Thringes throly in the throng   and chis even after!        Then Sir Gawain the good   with worshipful knightes Wendes in the avauntward   by tho wood hemmes, Was ware of Sir Lucius   on land there he hoves With lordes and lege-men   that to himself longed. Then the Emperour enkerly   askes him soon: "What will thou, Wawain?   Work for thy wepen? I wot by thy wavering   thou wilnes after sorrow; I shall be wroken on thee, wretch   for all thy grete wordes!"        He laght out a long sword   and lushed on fast, And Sir Lionel in the land   lordly him strikes, Hittes him on the hed   that the helm bristes, Hurtes his herne-pan   an hand-bred large! Thus he layes on the lump   and lordly them served, Wounded worthily   worshipful knightes, Fightes with Florent,   that best is of swordes, Til the fomand blood   til his fist runnes!        Then the Romans releved   that ere were rebuked, And all torattes our men   with their reste horses; For they see their cheftain   be chauffed so sore, They chase and chop down   our chevalrous knightes! Sir Bedvere was borne through   and his breste thirled With a burlich brand,   brode at the hiltes; The real rank steel   to his herte runnes, And he rushes to the erthe;   rewth is the more!        Then the conquerour took keep   and come with his strenghes To rescue the rich men   of the Round Table, To outraye the Emperour,   yif aunter it shew, Even to the egle,   and "Arthur!" ascries. The Emperour then egerly   at Arthur he strikes, Awkward on the umbrere,   and egerly him hittes; The naked sword at the nose   noyes him sore; The blood of the bold king   over the breste runnes, Bebledde at the brode sheld   and the bright mailes! Our bold king bowes the blonk   by the bright bridle, With his burlich brand   a buffet him reches Through the breny and breste   with his bright wepen; O slant down fro the slot   he slittes him at ones! Thus endes the Emperour   of Arthure handes, And all his austeren host   there-of were affrayed.        Now they ferk to the firth,   a few that are leved, For ferdness of our folk,   by the fresh strandes; The flowr of our fers men   on feraunt steedes Followes frekly on the frekes   that frayed was never. Then the kidd conquerour   cries full loud: "Cosin of Cornwall,   take keep to thyselven That no capitain be keeped   for none silver, Ere Sir Kayous dede   be cruelly venged!"        "Nay," says Sir Cador,   "so me Crist help! There ne is kaiser ne king   that under Crist regnes That I ne shall kill cold-dede   by craft of my handes!"        There might men see cheftains   on chalk-white steedes Chop down in the chase   chevalry noble, Romanes the richest   and real kinges, Braste with rank steel   their ribbes in sonder, Braines forbrusten   through burnisht helmes, With brandes forbrittened   on brode in the landes; They hewed down hethen men   with hilted swordes, By hole hundrethes on hie   by the holt eves; There might no silver them save   ne succour their lives, Sowdan, ne Sarazen,   ne senatour of Rome.        Then releves the renkes   of the Round Table, By the rich river   that runnes so fair; Lodges them lovely   by tho lighte strandes, All on lowe in the land,   those lordlich bernes. They kaire to the carriage   and took what them likes, Camels and cokadrisses   and coffers full rich, 152 Hackes and hackenays   and horses of armes, Housing and herberage   of hethen kinges; They drew out dromedaries   of diverse lordes, Moilles milk-white   and marvelous bestes, Olfendes and arrabys   and olyfauntes noble 153 That are of the Orient   with honourable kinges.        But Sir Arthur anon   ayeres thereafter Even to the emperour   with honourable kinges, Laght him up full lovelyly   with lordlich knightes, And led him to the layer   there the king ligges. Then harawdes hiely   at hest of the lordes, Huntes up the haythemen   that on height ligges, The Sowdan of Surry   and certain kinges, Sixty of the chef   senatours of Rome. Then they buskes and bawmed   thir burlich kinges, Sewed them in sendell   sixty-fold after, Lapped them in lede,   less that they sholde Change or chauffe   yif they might escheve 154     Closed in kestes   clene unto Rome, With their banners aboven,   their badges there-under, In what countree they kaire,   that knightes might know Ech king by his colours,   in kith where he lenged.        Anon on the second day,   soon by the morn, Two senatours there come   and certain knightes, Hoodless fro the hethe,   ovre the holt-eves, Bare-foot over the bente   with brandes so rich, Bowes to the bold king   and biddes him the hiltes. Whether he will hang them or hedde   or hold them on life, Kneeled before the conquerour   in kirtels alone, With careful countenaunce   they carped these wordes: "Two senatours we are,   thy subjettes of Rome, That has saved our life   by these salt strandes, Hid us in the high wood   through the helping of Crist, Beseekes thee of succour,   as soveraign and lord; Graunt us life and limm   with liberal herte, For His love that thee lente   this lordship in erthe!"        "I graunt," quod the good king,   "through grace of myselven; I give you life and limm   and leve for to pass, So ye do my message   menskfully at Rome, That ilke charge that I you give here   before my chef knightes."        "Yes," says the senatours,   "that shall we ensure, Sekerly by our trewthes,   thy sayinges to fulfill; We shall let for no lede   that lives in erthe, For pope ne for potestate   ne prince so noble, That ne shall lely in land   thy letteres pronounce, For duke ne for douspeer,   to die in the pain!"        Then the bannerettes of Bretain   brought them to tents There barbours were boun   with basins on loft; With warm water, iwis,   they wet them full soon; They shoven these shalkes   shapely thereafter To reckon these Romanes   recreant and yelden Forthy shove they them to shew   for skomfit of Rome. They coupled the kestes   on camelles belive, On asses and arrabyes,   these honourable kinges; The Emperour for honour   all by him one, Even upon an olyfaunt,   his egle out over; Bekend them the captives,   the king did himselven, And all before his keen men   carped these wordes: "Here are the kestes," quod the king,   "kaire over the mountes, Mette full monee   that ye have mikel yerned, 155 The tax and the tribute   of ten score winteres That was teenfully tint   in time of our elders; Say to the senatour   the citee that yemes That I send him the sum;   assay how him likes! But bid them never be so bold,   whiles my blood regnes Eft for to brawl them   for my brode landes, Ne to ask tribute ne tax   by nokin title, But such tresure as this,   whiles my time lastes."        Now they raik to Rome   the rediest wayes Knelles in the Capitol   and commouns assembles, Soveraignes and senatours   the citee that yemes, Bekend them the carriage,   kestes and other, Als the conquerour commaunde   with cruel wordes: "We have trustily travailed   this tribute to fetch, The tax and the trewage   of foure score winteres, Of England, of Ireland   and all thir out-iles, That Arthur in the Occident   occupies at ones. He biddes you never be so bold   whiles his blood regnes To brawl you for Bretain   ne his brode landes, Ne ask him tribute ne tax   by nokins title But such tresure as this,   whiles his time lastes. We have foughten in Fraunce   and us is foul happened, And all our much fair folk   fey are beleved; Eschaped there ne chevalry   ne cheftaines nother, But chopped down in the chase,   such chaunce is befallen! We rede ye store you of stone   and stuffen your walles; You wakens wandreth and war;   be ware if you likes!"        In the kalendes of May   this case is befallen; The roy real renowned   with his Round Table On the coste of Constantine   by the clere strandes Has the Romanes rich   rebuked for ever!        When he had foughten in Fraunce   and the feld wonnen And fersely his fomen   felld out of life, He bides for the burying   of his bold knightes, That in batail with brandes   were brought out of life. He buries at Bayonne   Sir Bedwere the rich; The corse of Kayous the keen   at Came is beleved, Covered with a crystal   clenly all over; His fader conquered that kith   knightly with handes. Senn in Burgoine he badde   to bury mo knightes, Sir Berade and Bawdwyne,   Sir Bedwar the rich, Good Sir Cador at Came,   as his kind askes.     Then Sir Arthur anon   in the Auguste thereafter, Enteres to Almaine   with hostes arrayed, Lenges at Lusheburgh   to lechen his knightes, With his lele lege-men   as lord in his owen; And on Cristofer day   a counsel he holdes With kinges and kaisers,   clerkes and other, Commaundes them keenly   to cast all their wittes How he may conquer by craft   the kith that he claimes; But the conquerour keen,   courtais and noble, Carpes in the counsel   these knightly wordes: "Here is a knight in these cleves,   enclosed with hilles, That I have covet to know   because of his wordes, That is Lorraine the lele,   I keep not to laine. 156 The lordship is lovely,   as ledes me telles; I will that duchy devise   and dele as me likes, And senn dress with the duke,   if destainy suffer; The renk rebel has been   unto my Round Table, Redy ay with Romanes   to riot my landes. We shall reckon full rathe,   if resoun so happen, Who has right to that rent,   by rich God of heven! Then will I by Lumbardy,   likand to shew, Set law in the land   that last shall ever, The tyrauntes of Tuskan   tempest a little, Talk with the temporal,   whiles my time lastes; I give my protection   to all the pope landes, My rich pensel of pees   my pople to shew. It is a folly to offend   our fader under God Other Peter or Paul,   tho postles of Rome; If we spare the spiritual   we speed but the better; Whiles we have for to speke,   spill shall it never!" 157        Now they speed at the spurres   withouten speche more, To the march of Meyes,   these manlich knightes, That is in Lorraine alosed   as London is here, Citee of that seinour   that soveraign is holden. The king ferkes forth   on a fair steed With Ferrer and Ferawnte   and other four knightes; About the citee tho seven   they sought at the next, To seek them a seker place   to set with engines. Then they bended in burgh   bowes of vise, Bekers at the bold king   with bustous lates, Allblawsters at Arthur   egerly shootes For to hurt him or his horse   with that hard wepen. The king shunt for no shot   ne no sheld askes, But shews him sharply   in his sheen weedes, Lenges all at leisere   and lookes on the walles Where they were lowest   the ledes to assail.        "Sir," said Sir Ferrer,   "a folly thou workes, Thus naked in thy noblay   to nighe to the walles, Singly in thy surcote   this citee to reche And shew thee within   there to shend us all; Hie us hastily henne   or we mon foul happen, For hit they thee or thy horse,   it harmes for ever!"        "If thou be ferde," quod the king,   "I rede thee ride utter, 158 Less that they rew thee   with their round wepen. Thou art but a fauntekein,   no ferly me thinkes! Thou will be flayed for a fly   that on thy flesh lightes! I am nothing aghast,   so me God help! Though such gadlinges be greved,   it greves me but little; They win no worship of me,   but wastes their tackle; They shall want ere I wend,   I wagen mine heved! Shall never harlot have happe,   through help of my Lord, To kill a crownd king   with crisom annointed!"        Then come the herbariours,   harageous knightes, The hole batailes on hie   harraunt thereafter, And our forreours fers   upon fele halfes Come flyand before   on feraunt steedes, Ferkand in array,   thir real knightes, The renkes renowned   of the Round Table! All the frek men of Fraunce   followed thereafter, Fair fitted on front   and on the feld hoves. Then the shalkes sharply   shiftes their horses, To shewen them seemly   in their sheen weedes; Buskes in batail   with banners displayed, With brode sheldes enbraced   and burlich helmes, With penouns and pensells   of ilke prince armes, Apparelled with perry   and precious stones; The launces with loraines   and lemand sheldes, Lightenand as the levening   and lemand all ove Then the pris men prikes   and proves their horses, Satilles to the citee upon sere halves; Enserches the suburbes   sadly thereafter, Discoveres of shot-men   and skirmish a little, Scares their skotifers   and their scout-watches Brittenes their barrers   with their bright wepens, Bette down a barbican   and the bridge winnes; Ne had the garnison been good   at the grete gates, They had won that wonne   by their owen strenghe!        Then with-drawes our men   and dresses them better, For drede of the draw-bridge   dashed in-sonder; 159 Hies to the herberage   there the king hoves With his batail on high,   horsed on steedes. Then was the prince purveyed   and their places nomen, Pight paviliouns of pall   and plattes in sege. 160 Then lenge they lordly   as them lef thought, Watches in ilke ward,   as to the war falles, Settes up sodenly   certain engines.        On Sononday by the sun   has a flethe yolden, 161 The king calles on Florent,   that flowr was of knightes: "The Fraunchmen enfeebleshes;   ne ferly me thinkes! They are unfonded folk   in tho fair marches, For them wantes the flesh   and food that them likes. Here are forestes fair   upon fele halves, And thider fomen are fled   with freelich bestes. Thou shall founde to the felle   and forray the mountes: Sir Ferawnte   and Sir Floridas   shall follow thy bridle. Us moste with some fresh mete   refresh our pople That are fed in the firth   with the fruit of the erthe. There shall wend to this viage   Sir Gawain himselven, Warden full worshipful,   and so him well seemes; Sir Wecharde, Sir Walter,   these worshipful knightes, With all the wisest men   of the west marches, Sir Clegis, Sir Claribald,   Sir Cleremond the noble, The Capitain of Cardiff,   clenlich arrayed. Go now, warn all the watch,   Gawain and other, And wendes forth on your way   withouten mo wordes."        Now ferkes to the firth   these fresh men of armes, To the felle so fawe,   these freshlich bernes, Through hoppes and hemland,   hilles and other, Holtes and hore woodes   with heslin shawes, Through morass and moss   and mountes so high, And in the misty morning   on a mede falles, Mowen and unmade,   mainovred but little, 162 In swathes sweppen down,   full of sweet flowres; There unbridels these bold   and baites their horses. To the gryging of the day   that birdes gan sing Whiles the sours of the sun,   that sande is of Crist, That solaces all sinful   that sight has in erthe.        Then wendes out the warden,   Sir Gawain himselven, Als he that wise was and wight,   wonders to seek; Then was he ware of a wye,   wonder well armed, Baitand on a water bank   by the wood eves, Busked in breny   bright to behold, Enbraced a brode sheld   on a blonk rich, Withouten any berne,   but a boy one Hoves by him on a blonk   and his spere holdes. He bore gessenande in gold   three grayhoundes of sable, With chappes and chaines   of chalk-white silver, A charbocle in the chef,   changand of hewes, 163 And a chef aunterous,   challenge who likes.        Sir Gawain gliftes on the gome   with a glad will; A grete spere from his groom   he grippes in handes, Girdes even over the streme   on a steed rich To that steren in stour   on strenghe there he hoves, 164 Egerly on English   "Arthur!" he ascries. The tother irously   answers him soon On the lange of Lorraine   with a loud steven That ledes might listen   the lenghe of a mile: "Whider prikes thou, pilour,   that proffers so large? Here pickes thou no prey,   proffer when thee likes, But thou in this peril   put of the better, Thou shall be my prisoner   for all thy proud lates!"        "Sir," says Sir Gawain,   "so me God help, Such glaverand gomes   greves me but little! But if thou graithe thy gere   thee will gref happen Ere thou go of this greve,   for all thy grete wordes!"        Then their launces they latchen,   these lordlich bernes, Laggen with long speres   on liard steedes, Coupen at aunter   by craftes of armes Til both the cruel speres   brusten at ones; Through sheldes they shot   and sheered through mailes, Both sheer through sholders   a shaft-monde large. Thus worthily these wyes   wounded are bothen; Ere they wreke them of wrath   away will they never. Then they raght in the rein   and again rides, Redily these rathe men   rushes out swordes, Hittes on helmes   full hertilich dintes, Hewes on hawberkes   with full hard wepens! Full stoutly they strike,   thir steren knightes, Stokes at the stomach   with steelen pointes, Fighten and flourish   with flamand swordes, Til the flawes of fire   flames on their helmes.        Then Sir Gawain was greved   and grouched full sore; With Galuth his good sword   grimly he strikes, Clef the knightes sheld   clenlich in sonder. Who lookes to the left side,   when his horse launches, With the light of the sun   men might see his liver. Then grones the gome   for gref of his woundes, And girdes at Sir Gawain   as he by glentes, And awkward egerly   sore he him smites; An alet enameld   he oches in sonder, Bristes the rerebrace   with the brand rich, Carves off at the coutere   with the clene edge Anentis the avawmbrace   vailed with silver; 165 Through a double vesture   of velvet rich With the venomous sword   a vein has he touched That voides so violently   that all his wit changed; The vesar, the aventail,   his vestures rich With a valiant blood   was verred all over.        Then this tyraunt tite   turnes the bridle, Talkes untenderly and says:   "Thou art touched! Us bus have a blood-band   ere thy blee change! 166 For all the barbours of Bretain   shall not thy blood staunch, 167 For he that is blemist with this brode brande   blinne shall he never! 168        "Ya," quod   Sir Gawain,   "thou greves me but little. Thou weenes to glopin me   with thy grete wordes; Thou trowes with thy talking   that my herte talmes; Thou betides torfer   ere thou henne turn But thou tell me tite   and tarry no lenger What may staunch this blood   that thus fast runnes."        "Yis, I say thee soothly   and seker thee my trewth, No surgeon in Salerne   shall save thee the better, With-thy that thou suffer me   for sake of thy Crist To shew shortly my shrift   and shape me for mine end." 169        "Yis," quod Sir Gawain,   "so me God help, I give thee grace and graunt,   though thou have gref served, 170 With-thy thou say me sooth   what thou here seekes, Thus singly and sulain   all thyself one, And what lay thou leves on - laine not the sooth - And what legeaunce and land   and where thou art lord."        "My name is Sir Priamus,   a prince is my fader, Praised in his partyes   with proved kinges; In Rome there he regnes   he is rich holden; He has been rebel to Rome   and ridden their landes, Warrayand wisely   winters and yeres By wit and by wisdom   and by wight strenghe And by worshipful war   his owen has he won. He is of Alexander blood,   overling of kinges; The uncle of his aiele,   Sir Ector of Troy. And here is the kinreden   that I am of come, Of Judas and Josue,   these gentle knightes; I am apparent his eier,   and eldes of other; Of Alexandere and Afrike   and all tho out-landes I am in possession   and plenerly sesed. In all the pris citees   that to the port longes I shall have trewly   the tresure and the landes And both tribute and tax   whiles my time lastes. I was so hautain of herte   whiles I at home lenged I held none my hip-height   under heven rich; For-thy was I sent hider   with seven score knightes To assay of this war   by sente of my fader; And I am for surquidrie   shamely surprised And by aunter of armes   outrayed for ever! Now have I told thee the kin   that I of come, Will thou for knighthede   ken me thy name?"        "By Crist," quod Sir Gawain,   "knight was I never! With the kidd conquerour   a knave of his chamber Has wrought in his wardrope   winters and yeres On his long armour   that him best liked; I poine all his paviliouns   that to himselve pendes, Dightes his doublettes   for dukes and erles, Aketouns avenaunt   for Arthur himselven That he has used in war   all these eight winter! He made me yomen at Yole   and gave me grete giftes, An hundreth pound, and a horse,   and harness full rich."        "Yif I hap to my hele   that hende for to serve 171 I be holpen in haste,   I hete thee for-sooth! If his knaves be such,   his knightes are noble! There is no king under Crist   may kempe with him one! He will be Alexander eier   that all the world louted, Abler than ever was   Sir Ector of Troy! Now for the crisom that thou caught   that day thou was cristened, Whether thou be knight or knave   knowe now the sooth."        "My name is Sir Gawain,   I graunt thee for-sooth Cosin to the conquerour,   he knowes it himselven, Kidd in his kalender   a knight of his chamber, And rolled the richest   of all the Round Table! I am the douspeer and duke   he dubbed with his handes Daintily on a day   before his dere knightes; Grouch not, good sir,   though me this grace happen; It is the gift of God;   the gree is his owen!"        "Peter!" says Priamus,   "now payes me better Than I of Provence were prince   and of Paris rich! For me were lever privily   be priked to the herte 172 Than ever any priker   had such a prise wonnen.     But here is herberd at hand   in yon huge holtes, Hole batailes on high,   take heed if thee like! The Duke of Lorraine the derf   and his dere knightes, The doughtiest of Dolfinede   and Dutch-men many, The lordes of Lumbardy   that leders are holden, The garnison of Goddard   gaylich arrayed, The wyes of the Westfale,   worshipful bernes, Of Sessoine and Suryland   Sarazenes ynow; They are numbered full nigh   and named in rolles Sixty thousand and ten, for sooth,   of seker men of armes; But if thou hie fro this hethe,   it harmes us bothe, And but my hurtes be soon holpen,   hole be I never! Take heed to this hansemen,   that he no horn blow, Or thou hiely in haste   bes hewen all to peces, 173 For they are my retinues   to ride where I will; Is none redier renkes   regnand in erthe; Be thou raght with that rout,   thou rides no further, Ne thou bes never ransouned   for riches in erthe!"        Sir Gawain went ere the wathe come   where him best liked, With this worthilich wye   that wounded was sore, Merkes to the mountain   there our men lenges Baitand their blonkes   there on the brode mede, Lordes lenand low   on lemand sheldes, With loud laughters on loft   for liking of birdes, Or larkes, of linkwhites,   that lovelich songen; And some was sleght on sleep   with slight of the pople 174 That sang in the sesoun   in the sheen shawes, So low in the laundes   so likand notes. Then Sir Wicher was ware   their warden was wounded And went to him weepand   and wringand his handes; Sir Wecharde, Sir Walter,   these wise men of armes Had wonder of Sir Wawain   and went him againes, Met him in the mid-way   and marvel them thought How he mastered that man,   so mighty of strenghes. By all the welth of the world   so wo was them never: "For all our worship, iwis,   away is in erthe!"        "Greve you not," quod Gawain, "for Goddes love of heven, For this is but gosesomer   and given on erles; Though my shoulder be shrede   and my sheld thirled, And the weld of mine arm   workes a little, This prisoner, Sir Priamus,   that has perilous woundes, Says that he has salves   shall soften us bothen."        Then stertes to his stirrup   sterenfull knightes, And he lordly alightes   and laght off his bridle, And let his burlich blonk   baite on the flowres, Braides off his bacenett   and his rich weedes, Bounes to his brode sheld   and bowes to the erthe; In all the body of that bold   is no blood leved! Then presses to Sir Priamus   precious knightes, Avisely of his horse   hentes him in armes His helm and his hawberk   they taken off after, And hastely for his hurt   all his herte changed; They laid him down in the laundes   and laght off his weedes, And he lened him on long   or how him best liked. A foil of fine gold   they fande at his girdle, That is full of the flowr   of the four welle That flowes out of Paradise   when the flood rises, That much fruit of falles   that feed shall us all; Be it frette on his flesh   there sinews are entamed, The freke shall be fish-hole   within four houres. They uncover that corse   with full clene handes, With clere water a knight   clenses their woundes, Keled them kindly   and comforted their hertes; And when the carves were clene   they cledde them again. Barrel-ferrers they broched   and brought them the wine, 175 Both brede and brawn   and bredes full rich; When they had eten   anon they armed after.        Then tho auntrend men   " As armes!" ascries, 176 With a clarioun clere   thir knightes togeder Calles to counsel   and of this case telles: "Yonder is a company   of clene men of armes, The keenest in contek   that under Crist lenges; In yon oken wood   an host are arrayed, Under-takand men   of these oute-landes, As says Sir Priamus,   so help Saint Peter! Go men," quod Gawain,   "and grope in your hertes Who shall graithe to yon greve   to yon grete lordes; If we get-less go home,   the king will be greved And say we are gadlinges,   aghast for a little. We are with Sir Florent,   as to-day falles, That is flowr of Fraunce,   for he fled never; He was chosen and charged   in chamber of the king Cheftain of this journee,   with chevalry noble; Whether he fight or he flee   we shall follow after; For all the fere of yon folk   forsake shall I never!"        "Fader," says Sir Florent,   "full fair ye it tell! But I am but a fauntekin,   unfraisted in armes; If any folly befall   the faut shall be ours And fremedly o Fraunce   be flemed for ever! Woundes not your worship,   my wit is but simple, Ye are our warden, iwis;   work as you likes."        "Ye are at the ferrest   not passand five hundreth And that is fully too few   to fight with them all, For harlottes and hansemen   shall help but little; They will hie them henn   for all their grete wordes! I rede ye work after wit,   as wise men of armes, And warpes wilily away,   as worshipful knightes."        "I graunt," quod Sir Gawain,   "so me God help! But here are some galiard gomes   that of the gree serves, The cruelest knightes   of the kinges chamber, That can carp with the cup   knightly wordes; We shall prove today   who shall the prise win!"        Now forreours fers   unto the firth rides And fanges a fair feld   and on foot lightes, Prikes after the prey,   as pris men of armes, Florent and Floridas,   with five score knightes, Followed in the forest   and on the way foundes, Flingand a fast trot   and on the folk drives. Then followes fast to our folk   well a five hundreth Of frek men to the firth   upon fresh horses; One Sir Feraunt before,   upon a fair steed, Was fostered in Famacoste;   the fend was his fader; He flinges to Sir Florent   and prestly he cries: "Why flees thou, false knight?   The Fend have thy soul!" Then Sir Florent was fain   and in fewter castes, On Fawnell of Frisland   to Feraunt he rides, And raght in the rein   on the steed rich, And rides toward the rout,   restes he no lenger! Full butt in the front   he flishes him even, And all disfigures his face   with his fell wepen! Through his bright bacenett   his brain has he touched, And brusten his neck-bone   that all his breth stopped! 177        Then his cosin ascried   and cried full loud: "Thou has killed cold-dede   the king of all knightes! He has been fraisted on feld   in fifteen rewmes; He fand never no freke   might fight with him one! Thou shall die for his dede,   with my derf wepen, And all the doughty for dole   that in yon dale hoves!"        "Fy," says Sir Floridas,   "thou fleryand wretch! Thou weenes for to flay us,   floke-mouthed shrew!" But Floridas with a sword,   as he by glentes, All the flesh of the flank   he flappes in sonder That all the filth of the freke   and fele of his guttes Followes his fole foot   when he forth rides!        Then rides a renk   to rescue that berne; That was Raynald of the Rodes,   and rebel to Crist, Perverted with paynims   that Cristen persewes, Presses in proudly   as the prey wendes, For he had in Prussland   much prise wonnen; For-thy in presence there   he proffers so large. But then a renk, Sir Richere   of the Round Table, On a real steed   rides him againes; Through a round red sheld   he rushed him soon That the rosseld spere   to his herte runnes! The renk reeles about   and rushes to the erthe, Rores full rudly   but rode he no more!        Now all that is fere and unfey   of these five hundreth Falles on Sir Florent   and five score knightes, Betwix a plash and a flood,   upon a flat land; Our folk fangen their feld   and fought them againes; Then was loud upon loft   "Lorraine!" ascried, When ledes with long speres   lashen togeders, And "Arthur!" on our side   when them ought ailed.        Then Sir Florent and Floridas   in fewter they cast, Frushen on all the frap   and bernes affrayed, Felles five at the front   there they first entered And, ere they ferk further,   fele of these other; Brenyes brouden they briste,   brittened sheldes, Betes and beres down   the best that them bides; All that rewled in the rout   they riden away, So rudly they rere,   these real knightes!        When Sir Priamus, that prince,   perceived their gamen, He had pitee in herte   that he ne durste proffer; He went to Sir Gawain   and says him these wordes: "Thy pris men for thy prey   put are all under; They are with Sarazenes over-set,   mo than seven hundreth Of the Sowdanes knightes,   out of sere landes; Wolde thou suffer me, sir,   for sake of thy Crist With a sop of thy men   suppowel them ones."        "I grouch not," quod Gawain,   "the gree is their owen; They mon have guerdons full grete   graunt of my lord; But the frek men of Fraunce   fraist themselven; Frekes fought not their fill this fifteen winter! I will not stir with my stale   half a steed lenghe, But they be stedde with more stuff   than on yon stede hoves!"        Then Sir Gawain was ware,   withouten the wood-hemmes, Wyes of the Westfale,   upon wight horses, Walopand wodely   as the way forthes, With all the wepens, iwis,   that to the war longes; The erl Antele the old   the avauntward he buskes, Ayerand on either hand   eight thousand knightes; His pelours and pavisers   passed all in number That ever any prince lede   purveyed in erthe!        Then the Duke of Lorraine   dresses thereafter With double of the Dutch-men   that doughty were holden, Paynims of Prussland,   prikers full noble, Come prikand before   with Priamus knightes. Then said the erl Antele   to Algere his brother: "Me angers ernestly   at Arthures knightes, Thus enkerly on an host   aunters themselven! They will be outrayed anon,   ere undron ring, Thus foolily on a feld   to fight with us all! But they be fesed, in fey,   ferly me thinkes; 178 Wolde they purpose take   and pass on their wayes, Prik home to their prince   and their prey leve, They might lenghen their life   and losen but little, It wolde lighten my herte,   so help me our Lord!"        "Sir," says Sir Algere,   "they have little used To be outrayed with host;   me angers the more! The fairest shall be full fey   that in our flock rides, Als few as they ben,   ere they the feld leve!"        Then good Gawain,   gracious and noble, All with glorious glee   he gladdes his knightes: "Glopins not, good men,   for glitterand sheldes, Though yon gadlinges be gay   on yon grete horses! Bannerettes of Bretain,   buskes up your hertes! Bes not baist of yon boyes   ne of their bright weedes! We shall blenke their boste,   for all their bold proffer, Als buxom as bird is   in bed to her lord! Yif we fight today,   the feld shall be ours, The fekil fey shall fail   and falssede be destroyed! 179 Yon folk is on frontere,   unfraisted them seemes; They make faith and faye   to the Fend selven! We shall in this viage   victores be holden And avaunted with voices   of valiant bernes, Priased with princes   in presence of lordes And loved with ladies   in diverse landes! Ought never such honour   none of our elders, Unwine ne Absolon   ne none of these other! When we are most in distress   Marie we mene That is our master's saine   that he much traistes, Meles of that milde queen   that menskes us all; Who-so meles of that maid,   miscarries he never!"        By these wordes were said   they were not fer behind, But the lenghe of a land   and "Lorraine!" ascries; Was never such a jousting   at journee in erthe In the vale of Josephate,   as gestes us telles, When Julius and Joatelle   were judged to die, As was when the rich men   of the Round Table Rushed into the rout   on real steedes, For so rathely they rush   with rosseld speres That the rascal was rade   and ran to the greves, And kaired to that court   as cowardes for ever!        "Peter!" says Sir Gawain,   "this gladdes mine herte, That yon gadlinges are gone   that made grete number! I hope that these harlottes   shall harm us but little, For they will hide them in haste   in yon holt eves; They are fewer on feld   than they were first numbered By fourty thousand, in faith,   for all their fair hostes."        But one Jolyan of Gene,   a giaunt full huge, Has joined on Sir Gerard,   a justice of Wales; Through a jerownde sheld   he jagges him through, And a fine gesseraunt   of gentle mailes; Jointer and gemous   he jagges in sonder! On a jambe steed   this journee he makes; Thus is the giaunt for-jouste,   that erraunt Jew, And Gerard is jocound   and joyes him the more.        Then the genatours of Gene   enjoines at ones And ferkes on the frontere   well a five hundreth; A freke hight Sir Frederik   with full fele other Ferkes on a frush   and freshlich ascries To fight with our forreours   that on feld hoves; And then the real renkes   of the Round Table Rode forth full ernestly   and rides them againes, Melles with the middle-ward,   but they were ill-matched; 180 Of such a grete multitude   was marvel to here. Senn at the assemblee   the Sarazenes discoveres The soveraign of Sessoine   that salved was never; Giauntes for-jousted   with gentle knightes Through gesserauntes of Gene   jagged to the herte! They hew through helmes   hautain bernes, That the hilted swordes   to their hertes runnes! Then the renkes renowned   of the Round Table Rives and rushes down   renayed wretches; And thus they driven to the dede   dukes and erles All the dregh of the day,   with dredful workes!        Then Sir Priamus the prince,   in presence of lordes, Presses to his penoun   and pertly it hentes, Reverted it redily   and away rides To the real rout   of the Round Table; And hiely his retinue   raikes him after, For they his resoun had redde   on his sheld rich. Out of the sheltron they shed   as sheep of a fold, And steeres forth to the stour   and stood by their lord. Senn they sent to the duke   and said him these wordes: "We have been thy soudeours   these six yere and more; We forsake thee today   by sert of our lord. We sew to our soveraign   in sere kinges landes; Us defautes our fee   of this four winteres. Thou art feeble and false   and nought but fair wordes; Our wages are wered out   and thy war ended; We may with worship   wend whither us likes! I rede thou trete of a trewe   and troufle no lenger, Or thou shall tinne of thy tale   ten thousand ere even."        " Fy a diables!" said the duke,   "the Devil have your bones!" 181 The daunger of yon dogges   drede shall I never! We shall dele this day,   by deedes of armes, My dede and my duchery   and my dere knightes; Such soudeours as ye   I set but at little, That sodenly in defaut   forsakes their lord!"        The duke dresses in his sheld   and dreches no lenger, Drawes him a dromedary   with dredful knightes; Graithes to Sir Gawain   with full grete number Of gomes of Gernaide   that grevous are holden. Those fresh horsed men   to the front rides, Felles of our forreours   by fourty at ones! They had foughten before   with a five hundreth; It was no ferly, in faith,   though they faint waxen. Then Sir Gawain was greved   and grippes his spere, And girdes in again   with galiard knightes, Meetes the Marches of Meyes   and melles him through, 182 As man of this middle-erthe   that most had greved! But one Chastelayne, a child   of the kinges chamber, Was ward to Sir Wawain   of the west marches, Chases to Sir Cheldrik,   a cheftain noble; With a chasing-spere   he shockes him through! This check him escheved   by chaunces of armes. So they chase that child   eschape may he never; But one Swyan of Swecy,   with a sword edge, The swyers swire-bone   he swappes in sonder! He swoonand died   and on the swarth lenged, Sweltes even swiftly   and swank he no more!        Then Sir Gawain gretes   with his gray eyen; The guite was a good man,   beginnand of armes. For the chery child   so his cheer changed That the chilland water   on his cheekes runned! "Wo is me," quod Gawain,   "that I ne witten had! I shall wage for that wye   all that I weld, But I be wroken on that wye   that thus has him wounded!" He dresses him drerily   and to the duke rides, But one Sir Dolphin the derf   dight him againes, And Sir Gawain him gird   with a grim launce That the grounden spere   glode to his herte! And egerly he hent out   and hurt another, An hethen knight, Hardolf,   happy in armes; Slyly in at the slot   slittes him through That the slidand spere   of his hand slippes! There is slain in that slope   by sleghte of his handes 183 Sixty slongen in a slade   of sleghe men of armes! Though Sir Gawain were wo,   he waites him by And was ware of that wye   that the child wounded, And with a sword swiftly   he swappes him through, That he swiftly swelt   and on the erthe swoones! And then he raikes to the rout   and rushes on helmes, Rich hawberkes he rent   and rased sheldes; Rides on a randoun   and his raik holdes; Throughout the rereward   he holdes wayes, And there raght in the rein,   this real the rich, And rides into the rout   of the Round Table.        Then our chevalrous men   changen their horses, Chases and choppes down   cheftaines noble, Hittes full hertely   on helmes and sheldes, Hurtes and hewes down   hethen knightes! Kettle-hattes they cleve   even to the shoulders; Was never such a clamour   of capitaines in erthe! There was kinges sonnes caught,   courtais and noble, And knightes of the countree   that knowen was rich; Lordes of Lorraine   and Lumbardy bothen Laght was and led in   with our lele knightes. Those that chased that day   their chaunce was better; Such a check at a chase   escheved them never!        When Sir Florent by fight   had the feld wonnen He ferkes in before   with five score knightes; Their preyes and their prisoneres   passes on after, With pelours and pavisers   and pris men of armes; Then goodly Sir Gawain   guides his knightes, Gos in at the gainest,   as guides him telles, For gref of a garnison   of full grete lordes Sholde not grip up his gere   ne such gram work; For-thy they stood at the straightes   and with his stale hoved, Til his preyes were past   the path that he dredes.        When they the citee might see   that the king seged (Soothly the same day   was with assaut wonnen), An heraud hies before   at heste of the lordes, Home at the herberage,   out of the high landes, Turnes tite to the tent   and to the king telles All the tale soothly   and how they had sped: "All thy forreours are fere   that forrayed withouten, Sir Florent and Sir Floridas   and all thy fers knightes; They have forrayed and foughten   with full grete number And fele of thy fo-men   has brought out of life! Our worshipful warden   is well escheved, For he has won today   worship for ever; He has Dolphin slain   and the duke taken! Many doughty is dede   by dint of his handes! He has prisoners pris,   princes and erles, Of the richest blood   that regnes in erthe; All thy chevalrous men   fair are escheved, But a child, Chastelain,   mischaunce has befallen."        "Hautain," says the king,   "heraud, by Crist, Thou has heled mine herte,   I hete thee for-sooth! I give thee in Hampton   a hundreth pound large!"        The king then to assaut   he sembles his knightes With somercastel and sowe   upon sere halves, Shiftes his skotiferes   and scales the walles, And ech watch has his ward   with wise men of armes. Then boldly they busk   and bendes engines Paises in pillotes   and proves their castes. Ministeres and masondewes   they mall to the erthe, 184 Churches and chapels   chalk-white blaunched, Stone steeples full stiff   in the street ligges, Chambers with chimnees   and many chef inns, Paised and pelled down   plastered walles; The pine of the pople   was pitee for to here!        Then the duchess her dight   with damesels rich, The countess of Crasine   with her clere maidens, Kneeles down in the kirnelles   there the king hoved, On a covered horse   comlyly arrayed. They knew him by countenaunce   and cried full loud: "King crowned of kind,   take keep to these wordes! We beseek you, sir,   as soveraign and lord, That ye save us today,   for sake of your Crist! Send us some succour   and saughte with the pople, Ere the citee be sodenly   with assaut wonnen!"        He veres his vesar   with a vout noble, With visage virtuous,   this valiant berne, Meles to her mildly   with full meek wordes: "Shall none misdo you, madame,   that to me longes; I give you charter of pees,   and your chef maidens, The childer and the chaste men,   the chevalrous knightes; The duke is in daunger;   dredes it but little! He shall be deemed full well,   dout you nought elles."        Then sent he on ech a side   to certain lordes For to leve the assaut;   the citee was yolden (With the erle eldest son   he sent him the keyes) And sesed the same night,   by sent of the lordes. The duke to Dover is dight   and all his dere knightes, To dwell in daunger and dole   the dayes of his life.        There fled at the ferrer gate   folk withouten number, For ferd of Sir Florent   and his fers knightes; Voides the citee   and to the wood runnes With vitail and vessel,   and vesture so rich; They busk up a banner   aboven the brode gates. Of Sir Florent, in fay,   so fain was he never! The knighte hoves on a hill,   beheld the walles, And said: "I see by yon sign   the citee is oures!" Sir Arthur enters anon   with hostes arrayed, Even at the undron   ettles to lenge. In eche levere on loud   the king did cry On pain of life and limm   and lesing of landes That no lele lege-man   that to him longed, Sholde lie by no ladies,   ne by no lele maidens, Ne by no burgess wife,   better ne worse Ne no bernes misbid   that to the burgh longed.        When the king Arthur   had lely conquered And the castel covered   of the kith rich, All the cruel and keen,   by craftes of armes, Capitains and constables,   knew him for lord. He devised and delt   to diverse lordes A dower for the duchess   and her dere childer; Wrought wardenes by wit   to weld all the landes That he had wonnen of war   through his wise knightes. Thus in Lorraine he lenges   as lord in his owen, Settes lawes in the land   as him lef thought, And on Lammas day   to Lucerne he wendes, Lenges there at leisere   with liking ynow. There his galleys were graithed,   a full grete number, All glitterand as glass,   under green hilles, With cabanes covered   for kinges annointed With clothes of clere gold   for knightes and other; Soon stowed their stuff   and stabled their horses, Strekes streke over the streme   into the strait landes. 185        Now he moves his might   with mirthes of herte Over mountes so high,   those marvelous wayes, Gos in by Goddard,   the garret he winnes, Graithes the garnison   grisly woundes! When he was passed the height,   then the king hoves With his hole batail   beholdand about, Lookand on Lumbardy   and on loud meles: "In yon likand land   lord be I think!" 186        Then they kaire to Combe   with kinges annointed, That was kidd of the coste,   key of all other. Sir Florent and Sir Floridas   then foundes before With freke men of Fraunce   well a five hundreth; To the citee unseen   they sought at the gainest, And set an enbushment,   als themselve likes, Then ishewes out of that citee,   full soon by the morn; Sleyly discoverers   skiftes their horses; Then skiftes these scowerers   and skippes on hilles, Discoverers for skulkers   that they no scathe limpen. 187 Poverall and pastorelles   passed on after With porkes to pasture   at the pris gates; Boyes in the suburbes   bourden full high At a bore singlere   that to the bente runnes.        Then brekes our bushment   and the bridge winnes, Braides into the burgh   with banners displayed, Stekes and stabbes through   that them again-standes; Four streetes, ere they stint,   they stroyed forever!        Now is the conquerour in Combe   and his court holdes Within the kidd castel   with kinges annointed, Recounseles the commouns   that to the kith longes, Comfortes the care-full   with knightly wordes, Made a capitain keen   a knight of his owen; But all the countree and he   full soon were accorded.        The Sire of Milan herde say   the citee was wonnen, And send to Arthur   certain lordes, Grete summes of gold,   sixty horses charged, Besought him as soveraign   to succour the pople, And said he wolde soothly   be subjet forever, And make him service and suite   for his sere landes; For Plesaunce, for Pawnce,   and for Pownte Tremble, For Pise and for Pavy   he proffers full large Both purpure and pall   and precious stones, Palfreyes for any prince   and proved steedes And ilk a yere for Milan   a melion of gold, Meekly at Martinmas   to menske with his hordes, 188 And ever, withouten asking,   he and his eiers Be hommagers to Arthur   whiles his life lastes. The king by his counsel   a condeth him sendes, And he is comen to Combe   and knew him as lord.        Into Tuskane he turnes   when thus wel timed, Takes townes full tite   with towres full high; Walles he welt down,   wounded knightes, Towres he turnes,   and tourmentes the pople, Wrought widowes full wlonk   wrotherayle singen, Oft werye and weep   and wringen their handes; And all he wastes with war   there he away rides; Their welthes and their wonninges   wandreth he wrought!        Thus they springen and sprede   and spares but little, Spoiles dispiteously   and spilles their vines, Spendes unsparely   that spared was long, Speedes them to Spolett   with speres ynow! Fro Spain into Spruysland   the word of him springes And spekings of his spenses;   despite is full huge. 189 Toward Viterbo this valiant   aveeres the reines; Avisely in that vale   he vitailes his bernes, With Vernage and other wine   and venison baken And on the Viscounte landes   he vises to lenge. Vertely the avauntward   voides their horses In the Vertenonne vale   the vines i-monges; There sujournes this soveraign   with solace in herte, To see when the Senatours   sent any wordes, Revel with rich wine,   riotes himselven, This roy with his real men   of the Round Table, With mirthes and melody   and manykin gamnes; Was never merrier men   made on this erthe!

adversary; warred on Quickly (see note)     leave         Left; vanguard; turned strong; edged swollen Devouring; expression         death         strikes exactly     piece of armor plate spurt; spread sprawls; swiftly             eagerly; (see note) eagle hurries quickly Draws     Goes; i.e., the eagle companions     hurries; pulls; (see note)     stomach guard; pierced pennon came     (Launcelot) strikes struck; company     (see note)     laid low leap; stand         battle Engaged; slashed outjousted attacking woefully troop many     rode around; left     quickly         Pierce; feathers contention; harms flew; from afar Germans; dealt; in return cut     swiftly     troops hung back buck; rush (see note) most noble hastily rush     Attack; (see note)         armored         astonish; troop         supposed; abashed knaves; remain     (see note)             promise hastily struck         did not cease encounter outjousted         Arrange worked Rip ordered themselves; bold Fix lances; iron-gray Duel; fiercely; flashing Cut; gold ornaments; fastened     every stream; forest By then; ground; lifeblood swung; dying rolling about; galloping choice; paining enclosed; matted     earth; created; (see note)         somewhat drearily; delay pursues     (see note)     spares     found; blockaded against many must pierce troop, duel boldest         Lithuania; pierces     shining armor went; man entry; poorly protected Against; privileged kind (powerful kinsmen)     loins; lower belly wild; bowels pierced middle infamous     goes; at the rank royal person; (see note) Defend yourself (On guard); (see note)         death     pleasantly woefully; recover may requires ask if you survive stately maids worthy; angered         i.e., the Host told; i.e., absolution arose to; stout     bellows (see note) crowd heir; east Excalibur     bowels pierced rage (melancholy)     slashes; middle ground other; remained suppose troops Men; cut; wrinkled destroyed shining; anger Wrathfully adversaries, attacked Fought; crowds; times Presses hard; pushes         vanguard; edges         eagerly do you want roving; want avenged     took out; lashed         skull; hand's breadth deep crowd         foaming     rallied scatter; rested bothered     pierced     noble stout sword sorrow is the greater             outrage; chance         Slantwise; visor annoys     Bloodied; (see note) turns; horse blow; reaches to (gives) hauberk Aslant; base of throat by afraid         fear iron-grey frightened         preserved death                                     burst into pieces battered to death; abroad     hastily; edges of the wood ransom         rally; warriors     pleasant; (see note) on the ground go (see note) Work horses lodgings (see note) Mules; beasts (see note)         advances         resting place heralds quickly; command heathens         embalmed; these strong fine linen Wrapped; lead         enclosed in chests         (see note)     immediately at dawn     wood's edge ground offer behead gowns (i.e., without armor)     subjects         beseech limb granted             Providing; honorably             pledged words     potentate (see note)             barbers; ready     shaved; men; suitably mark; surrendered shaved; discomfiture chests; quickly Arabian horses     elephant Entrusted them to     chests (see note)     painfully lost controls     family Again no kind of         quickest Ring bells rule Gave; baggage, chests     worked tribute; (see note) those; outer isles             no kind of             escaped; neither         awaken trouble     first day     Cotentin             felled             Caen; left         Burgundy; abode; more (see note) Caen; race requires     Autumn; (see note) Germany Luxembourg; heal own (realm) July 25; (see note)                     valleys desire (see note) men divide; deal out deal; destiny allow     to ravage; (see note)         pleasing to see     Tuscany; trouble; (see note) temporal lords (lay rulers)     pennant; peace father Either; apostles succeed             region; Metz; manly praised; (see note) lord; (see note)         nearest (way) secure; siege engines town cross bows; (see note) Shoot; hostile expressions Arbalasters (crossbowmen)     hangs back     leisure             nobleness surcoat (i.e., without armor) to those within; shame hence; must         (see note) lest; harm baby; wonder     afraid worthless men equipment lack (equipment); wager rascal; fortune holy oil     scouts; violent in haste shouting forragers; many sides iron-grey Going; these             men         on their arms; stately pennons; pennants pearls pennons; shining Flashing; lightning; gleaming     Converge on; many Search; carefully archers shield bearers; guards barriers Beat; main gate tower Had not; garrison dwelling; own             lodging         (see note) as seemed good to them     siege engines         king [of Lorraine] grow feeble; no wonder untried (i.e., weakened) is lacking to them     noble beasts go; mountains; forage     we must     journey     (see note)                             mountain; colorful; eager valleys; borderland gray; hazel copses     meadow         graze dawning; did rising; messenger                     Grazing his horse     Holding on his arm; horse servant; (see note)     couchant; (see note) jowls; collars; (see note)             looks; man     Goes right         other language; voice; (see note) hear; length spur; soldier     Unless; i.e., fight better appearance         chattering prepare; gear from; grove     seize lay on; gray Strike at random break cut span (six inches) deep         pulled hasty         these Thrust     gusts     angered     Cleaved         groans strikes; goes slantwise shoulder plate; hacks upper-arm plate elbow piece (see note)         empties visor, lower face-guard spotted     quickly                         think to terrify suppose; falters trouble; hence quickly         pledge my word to you (see note) Providing; allow (see note)             Providing alone religion; believe; hide allegiance; (see note)     father country; experienced         Waging war         overlord grandfather; Hector family Judas Maccabeus; Joshua his heir apparent Alexandria fully in possession             haughty as tall as my hip     experience; assent pride shamefully captured disgraced     knighthood         servant wardrobe     pitch; tents; belong Put on Padded jackets seemly     yeoman (free man); Yule                     battle bowed to     holy oil acknowledge         acknowledges records recorded as         Grudge reward     [it] pleases     (see note)         lodged; woods     cruel Dauphine (in France) leaders garrison; Mt. Goddard Westphalia Saxony; Syria         Unless helped; whole (healthy) servant (henchman) (see note) (see note)     If you are seized by         trouble     Goes Grazing; mead leaning; gleaming     linnets (see note) season; shrubs hills; pleasing aware     (see note) toward         wealth             gossamer; to be expected cut; pierced movement; hurts             stern pulled graze Draws; helmet Leans on         Carefully off; take         lawn leaned (stretched out) found (see note)         rubbed; where; cut fit as a fish         Cooled wounds; clad     roast; lean meat; breads eaten         trumpet; these         strife oak Determined     search wood empty-handed worthless men                     fear     Father (i.e., Sir) infant; untested fault hostilely; chased             (Priamus speaks); most     rascals; servants hence according to go with wile         deserve a reward         prize     foragers take             Dashing at             Famagusta (on Cyprus) quickly     eager (his horse) pulled     Smack-dab; forehead; pierces cruel weapon helmet (see note)             tested found             sneering twisted-mouthed glides strikes asunder     horse's     man; man Rhodes pagans; persecute     Prussia; praise (prize)                 tempered             unhurt; alive (see note) marshy place take     rush             Rush; company         braided         rudely; move     sport dared                 allow me small troop; support     grudge; reward should; granted by But let; bold; test     troop; length beset; place         Westphalia Galloping madly; goes forth     vanguard Coming bowmen; shield bearers princely         double the number Pagans             Who thus eagerly undern (9 a.m.) foolishly             lengthen; lose                     be             Fear worthless men; (see note) buck up Be; abashed by; knaves weaken; boast submissive; maid         in front untested belief engagement praised by         Possessed (see note) pray to saint; trusts Speaks; dignifies         By the time that length of the field     tales; (see note)             swiftly; tempered fearful; woods         gladdens worthless fellows suppose; low fellows                     judge; (see note) gyronny; stabs; (see note) coat of mail Joint; clasp swift outjousted; wandering         horse soldiers; Genoa front rank named charge; eagerly foragers                     saved outjousted by; (see note) hauberks; Genoa haughty         renegade death length         pennon; openly reversed     quickly; rushes reason (intent); read poured; from         mercenaries feudal service follow We lack our pay     worn     truce; trifle lose; number (tally)             bargain for dukedom mercenaries; reckon despite obligation     delays; (see note)     Confronts Granada     foragers     wonder; grow faint         (see note) (see note) i.e., young man         hunting spear; drives defeat; achieved escape Sweden young noble's neck bone turf Dies; worked     weeps youth dear     known spend avenged     cruel confronted     glided pulled fortunate base of throat     (see note) slung; ditch; skillful                     destroyed swiftly; course     powerful nobleman i.e., back to                     i.e., kettle-shaped helmets                 Seized     victory; achieved                 bowmen; shield bearers     goes; quickest way fear; troop booty; mischief pass             assault herald; behest; (see note) to; lodgings quickly     foragers; safe             has well succeeded     Dauphin                         Valiant man; herald healed; promise (see note)     assault moveable towers; shelters Moves about; shield bearers division; guard catapults Heave; pellets; try     painted     chimneys Demolished; struck pain             battlements armored     by right; heed         make peace assault     turns up; visor; expression         (see note)     i.e., priests doubt fear; (see note)         yielded (see note) seized; assent     (see note)     farther fear     victuals; precious vessels     happy (see note)         undern (9 a.m.); intends division limb; loss             harm what                 acknowledged divided widow's estate rule             August 1 leisure; pleasure prepared     cabins         (see note)             Mt. Goddard; watch tower Deals; garrison                     Como i.e., of Lake Como         quickest way ambush issue Slyly scouts manage; (see note) shift; searchers     Poor people; shepherds hogs Servants; jest wild boar     breaks out; ambush Rush Stick; withstand         Como     Advises                         laden     subject feudal homage (see note) Pisa; Pavia purple dye; silk     million             safe conduct Como; acknowledged     (see note)     knocked overturns fair misery to sing curse     dwellings; sadness     spread Plunder pitilessly; destroy without stinting; saved Spoletto Prussia     turns Shrewdly; victuals white wine; baked Viscount's; determines Quickly among         carouse king many sorts of pleasures