Chapter VI: Part 6

[Sidenote: Beware of flattery.]
And beith war, I the beſeich of this, 1920
That is to ſay of flatry, wich that longith
To court, and al the king{is} larges fongith.
The vertuouß man no thing thar-of reſauith,
The flatterer{is} now ſo the king diſſauith 1924
And blyndith them that wot no thing, I-wyß,
When thei do well, or quhen thei do o myß;
And latith king{is} oft til wnd{er}ſtonde
Thar vicis, and ek ye falt{is} of ther lond. 1928
In to the realme about o king Is holde
[Sidenote: A flatterer is worse than a storm or a pestilence.]
O flatterere were than is the ſtormys cold,
Or peſtelens, and mor the realme anoyith;
For he the law and puple boith diſtroyith. 1932
[Sidenote: Three things make flatterers in favour.]
And in to principall ben ther three thing{is}, [Fol. 24b.]
That cauſſith flattereris ſtonding w{i}t{h} the king{is};
[Sidenote: First, the blind ignorance of kings.]
And on, It is the blyndit Ignorans
Of king{is}, wich that hath no gou{er}nans 1936
To wnd{er}ſtond who doith ſich o myß;
But who that fareſt ſchewith hym, I-wyß,
Moſt ſuffiſith and beſt to his pleſans.
Wo to the realme that havith ſich o chans! 1940
[Sidenote: Secondly, where a king is vicious himself.]
And ſecundly, quhar that o king Is
Weciuß hyme-ſelf, he cheriſſith, ywys,
Al them the wich that one to vicis ſoundith,
Whar-throw that vicis and flattery ek aboundith. 1944
[Sidenote: Thirdly, where the king is so foolish, that he knows
their flattery, yet withdraws from reproving them.]
The thrid, is the ilk ſchrewit harrmful wice,
Wich makith o king w{i}t{h}in hyme-ſelf ſo nyce,
That al thar flattry and ther gilt he knowith
In to his wit, and ȝhit he hyme w{i}t{h}-drowith 1948
Them to repref, and of ther vicis he wot;
And this It is wich that diſſemblyng hot,
That in no way accordith for o king.
Is he not ſet abuf apone his Ri{n}gne, 1952
As ſou{er}ane his puple for to lede?
[Sidenote: Why should a king spare to say the truth?]
Whi ſchuld he ſpare, or quhom of ſchuld he dred
To ſay the treuth, as he of Right is hold?
And if ſo ware that al the king{is} wold, 1956
When that his leg{is} comytit ony wyce,
As beith not to ſchamful, nore to nyce,
That thei preſume that he is negligent,
[Sidenote: He should reprove without dissembling, as it is fitting.]
But als far as he thinkith that thei myß-went, 1960
But diſſemblyng reprewith as afferis;
And pwnice them quhar pwnyſing Requeris,
Sauf only m{er}cy in the tyme of ned.
And ſo o king he ſchuld his puple led, 1964
That no treſpaß, that cu{m}myth in his way,
Shuld paß his hond wne-pwniſt away;
Nore no good deid in to the ſamyn degree,
Nore no wertew, ſuld wn-Reuardid bee. 1968
[Sidenote: Then flattery, that now is high, should be low.]
Than flattry ſhuld, that now is he, be low,
And wice from the king{is} court w{i}t{h}-drow;
His miniſt{er}is that ſhuld the Iuſtice reull,
Shuld kep well furt{h} of quiet & reull, 1972
That now, god wat, as It conſerwit Is,
The ſtere is loſt, and al is gon amys;
And vertew ſhuld hame to the court hyme dreß, [Fol. 25a.]
That exillith goith in to the wild{er}nes. 1976

[Headnote: WISE KINGS MAKE A WISE PEOPLE.]

[Sidenote: If a king thus stood like his own degree, his people
would be virtuous and wise.]
Thus if o king ſtud lyk his awn degree,
Wertwis and wyß than ſhuld his puple bee,
Only ſet by vertew hyme to pleß,
And ſore adred his wiſdom to diſpleß. 1980
And if that he towart the vicis draw,
His folk ſall go on to that ilk law;
What ſhal hyme pleß that wil no{ch}t ell{is} fynd,
Bot ther-apon ſetith al ther mynde. 1984
[Sidenote: Thus the rule of his people and kingdom standeth only
in the king’s virtue.]
Thus only in the wertew of o king
The reull ſtant of his puple & his ringne,
If he be wyß and, but diſſemblyng, ſchewis,
As I have ſaid, the vicis one to ſchrewis. 1988
And ſo thus, ſ{ir}, It ſtant apone thi will
For to omend thi puple, or to ſpill;
Or have thi court of vertewis folk, or fullis;
[Sidenote: Since thou art wholly master of the schools, teach them,
and they shall gladly learn.”]
Sen yow art holl maiſt{er} of the ſcoullis 1992
Teichith them, and thei ſal gladly leir,
That is to ſay, that thei may no thing heir[T46]
Sauf only wertew towart thyn eſtat;
And cheriß them that wertews ben algait. 1996
And thinkith what that wertew is to thee;
It pleſſith god, vphaldith thi degree.”
[Sidenote: Arthur considers his counsel profitable.]
“Maiſt{er},” q{uo}d he, “me think ry{ch}t profitable
Yowr conſeell Is, and wond{er} honorable 2000
For me, and good; ry{ch}t well I have {con}ſauit,
And in myne hart{is} Inwartneß reſauit.
I ſhal fulfill and do yowr ordynans
Als far of wit as I have ſuffiſans; 2004
Bot y beſeich yow, in til hartly wyß,
[Sidenote: He beseeches him to expound his dream,]
That of my drem ȝhe ſo to me dewyß,
The wich ſo long haith occupeid my mynd,
[Sidenote: how he shall only find help through the water-lion,
the leech, and the flower.]
How that I ſhal no man{er} ſucour fynd 2008
Bot only throw the wattir lyon, & ſyne
The leich that is w{i}t{h}outen medyſyne;
And of the conſell of the flour; wich ayre
Wond{er}is lyk that no man can duclar.” 2012

[Footnote T46: Or, “leir.” MS. apparently has “leir,” corrected
to “heir.”]

[Headnote: THE WATER-LION MEANS GOD.]

++“Now, ſ{ir},” q{uod} he, “and I of them al thre,
What thei betakyne ſhal I ſchaw to the,
[Sidenote: The master’s explanation.]
Such as the clerk{is} at them ſpecifiit;
Thei vſit no thing what thei ſignefiit. 2016 [Fol. 25b.]
[Sidenote: The water-lion is the very God.]
The wattir lyone Is the god werray,
God to the lyone is lyknyt many way;
But thei have hyme In to the wattir ſeñ,
Confuſit were ther wittis al, y weñ; 2020
[Sidenote: The water is men’s fragility;]
The wattir was ther awn fragelitee,
And thar treſpas, and thar Inequitee
In to this world, the wich thei ſtond y-cloſit;
That was the wattir wich thei have ſuppoſit, 2024
That haith there knowlag maad ſo Inp{er}fyt;
Thar ſyne & ek ther worldis gret delyt,
As clowdy wattir, was eu{er}more betweñ,
[Sidenote: whereby they see not the lion perfectly.]
That thei the lyone p{er}fitly hath no{ch}t ſeñ; 2028
Bot as the wattir, wich was y{er} awn ſyn{n}e,
That eu{er}mor thei ſtond confuſit In.
[Sidenote: Had men been always religious, they had seen the lion
not in water, but clearly.]
If thei haith ſtond in to religioñ clen,
Thei had the lyone Not in watt{er} ſen, 2032
Bot clerly vp in to the hewyne abuf,
Et{er}naly whar he ſhal not remufe.
And eu{er}more in vatt{er} of ſyne vas hee,
For-quhi It is Impoſſeble for to bee;[T47] 2036
[Sidenote: The world is enclosed in the darkness of their sin.]
And thus the world, wich that thei ar In,
Y-cloſit Is in dyrknes of ther ſyne;
And ek the thikneß of the air betwen
The lyone mad in vattir to be ſen. 2040
For It was no{ch}t bot ſtrenth of ther clergy
Wich thei have here, and It is bot erthly,
That makith them there reſou{n}s dewyß,
And ſe the lyone thus in erthly wyß. 2044
[Sidenote: The lion is God’s son, Jesu Christ.]
This is the lyone, god, and goddis sone,
Ih{es}u criſt, wich ay in hewyne ſal won{n}e.
For as the lyone of euery beſt is king,
So is he lord and maiſt{er} of al thing, 2048
That of the bleſſit vyrgyne vas y-bore.
Ful many a natur the lyone haith, quhar-fore
That he to god reſemblyt is, bot I
Lyk not mo at this tyme ſpecify. 2052
This is the lyone, thar-of have yow no dred,
That ſhal the help and comfort In thi ned.

[Footnote T47: “see”(?).]

[Headnote: THE LEECH WITHOUT MEDICINE IS CHRIST.]

++The ſentens here now woll I the defyne
[Sidenote: The leech without medicine is also God.]
Of hyme, the lech w{i}t{h}outen medyſyne, 2056
Wich is the god that euery thing hath vroght.
For yow may know that vther Is It noght, [Fol. 26a.]
[Sidenote: Not as surgeons,]
As ſurgynis and feſicianis, wich that delith
W{i}t{h} mortell thing{is}, and mortell thing{is} helyth, 2060
[Sidenote: whose art is in medicine,]
And al thar art is in to medyſyne,
As it is ordanit be the my{ch}t dewyne,
[Sidenote: and in plaisters, drinks, and various anointments; who
know the quality of the year, and the disposition of the planets.]
As plaſt{er}is, drink{is}, and anouy{n}tme{n}t{is}[T48] ſeir,
And of the qualyte watyng of the yher; 2064
And of the planet{is} diſpoſiciou{n}e,
And of the naturis of compleccyoune,
And in the diu{er}ß changing of hwmowr{is}.
Thus wnd{er} reull lyith al there cwris; 2068
And yhit thei far as blynd man In the way,
Oft quhen that deith thar craft liſt to aſſay.
Bot god, the wich that is the ſou{er}an lech,
Nedith no man{er} medyſyne to ſech; 2072
For ther is no Infyrmyte, nore wound,
Bot as hyme lykith al is holl and ſound.
[Sidenote: But God can heal infirmity of thought,]
So can he heill Infyrmytee of thoght,
Wich that one erdly medeſyne can noght; 2076
[Sidenote: and also the soul that goeth to confusion.]
And als the ſaul that to confuſioune goith,
And haith with hyme and vther p{ar}teis boith,
His dedly wound god helyth frome the ground;
On to his cure no medyſyne is found. 2080
This Is his my{ch}t that neu{er} more ſhall fyne,
This is the leich w{i}t{h}outen medyſyne;
And If that yhow at confeſſioune hath ben
And makith the of al thi ſyn{n}is clen, 2084
[Sidenote: He shall be thy leech in all necessity.]
Yow art than holl, and this ilk ſamyn is he
Schall be thi leich In al neceſſitee.

[Footnote T48: MS. “anoñytmēt{is},” or “anoūytmēt{is}.”]

[Headnote: THE FLOWER IS THE VIRGIN MARY.]

++Now of the flour y woll to the diſcerñ:
This is the flour that haith[T49] the froyt eterñ, 2088
This is the flour, this fadith for no ſchour,
This is the flour of euery flouris floure;

[Footnote T49: The word, though indistinct, is almost certainly
“haith.” Stevenson has “high;” but this gives no sense.]

[Sidenote: The flower is she of whom the eternal fruit was born,]
This is the flour, of quhom the froyt vas borñ,
This ws redemyt eft{er} that we war lorñ; 2092
This Is the flour that eu{er} ſpryngith new,
This is the flour that changith neu{er} hew;
[Sidenote: the virgin that bore the Saviour,]
This is the vyrgyne, this is the bleſſit flour
That Ih{es}u bur is our salweour, 2096
This flour wnwe{m}myt of hir wirginitee;
This is the flour of our felicitee,
This is the flour to quhom ve ſhuld exort,
[Sidenote: that ceaseth not to support us caitiffs,]
This is the flour not ſeſſith to ſupport 2100
In prayere, conſell, and in byſſynes,
Vs catifis ay In to our wrechitnes [Fol. 26b.]
On to hir sone, the quich hir conſell herith;
This is the flour that al our gladneß ſterith, 2104
[Sidenote: through whose prayer are many saved.]
Throuch whois prayer mony one is ſawit,
That to the deth et{er}naly war reſawit,
Ne war hir hartly ſuplicatioune.
This is the flour of our ſaluatioune, 2108
Next hir sone, the froyt of euery flour;
This is the ſam that ſhal be thi ſuccour,
If that the lykith hartly Reu{er}ans
And ſ{er}uice ȝeld one to hir excellens, 2112
Syne worſchip hir w{i}t{h} al thi byſſyneß;
Sche ſal thi harm, ſche ſall thi ned redreß.
[Sidenote: She shall so counsel the lion and the leech, that thou
need not despair.]
Sche ſall ſice conſell if one to the two,
The lyone and the ſou{er}ane lech alſo, 2116
Yow ſall not Ned yi drem̅ for to diſpar,
Nor ȝhit no thing that is in thi contrare.
Now--q{uo}d the maiſt{er}--yow may well wnd{er}ſtand
Tueching thi drem as I have born on hande; 2120
And planly haith the mat{er} al declarith,
That yhow may know of wich yow was diſparith.
The lech, the lyone, and the flour alſo,
Yow worſchip them, yow ſerve them eu{er}mo; 2124
And ples the world as I have ſaid before;
In gou{er}nans thus ſtondith al thi glore.
[Sidenote: Do now as thou list, for all is in thy hand.]
Do as yow liſt, for al is in thi honde,
To tyne thi-ſelf, thi honore, and thi londe, 2128
Or lyk o prince, o {con}querour, or king,
In honore and in worſchip for to Ringe.”

[Headnote: ARTHUR IS COMFORTED.]

[Sidenote: The king replies,]
“Now,” q{uod} the king, “I fell that the ſupport
Of yhour conſell haith don me ſich comfort, 2132
[Sidenote: that his heart is eased from fear;]
Of euery raddour my hart is In to eß,
To ȝhour {com}mand, god will, y ſal obeß.
Bot o thing is yneuch wn to me,
[Sidenote: but inquires if Galiot will win over the red knight,
and what is his name.]
How galiot makith his awant that he 2136
Shall have the kny{ch}t, that only by his honde
And manhed, was defendour of my londe;
If that ſhall fall y pray yhow tellith me,
And quhat he hecht, and of quhat lond is hee?” 2140
“What that he hecht yow ſhall no fory{er} know,
[Sidenote: The master evades reply.]
His dedis ſall her-eft{er}wart hyme ſchaw;
Bot {con}trar the he ſhall be found no way.
No more thar-of as now y will the ſay.”[T50] 2144
With that the king haith at his maiſtir tone [Fol. 27a.]
[Sidenote: The king and the host return home.]
His leve, one to to his cuntre for to goñe;
And al the oſt makith none abyde,
To paſſing home anone thei can p{ro}wid; 2148
And to ſ{ir} gawane thei haith o lytt{er} maad,
Ful ſore ywound, and hyme on w{i}t{h} them haade.

[Footnote T50: At the bottom of the page is the catch-word,
“With that the king.”]

[T]he king, as that the ſtory can declar,
[Sidenote: The king sojourns twenty-four days at Cardole, in Wales.]
Paſſith to o Cete that was Right fair, 2152
And clepit cardole, In to walis, was,
For that tyme than It was the n{er}eſt place,
And thar he ſoiornyt xxiiijti days
In ryall feſting, as the auttore ſays. 2156
So diſcretly his puple he haith cherit,
That he thar hartis holy haith {con}querit.
[Sidenote: Sir Gawan is healed in fifteen days.]
And ſ{ir} gawan, helyt holl and ſound
Be xv dais he was of euery wounde; 2160
Right blyt{h} therof in to the court war thei.

[Headnote: ARTHUR AGAIN BECOMES MOURNFUL.]

And ſo befell, the xxiiij[T51] day,
[Sidenote: The king becomes mournful, as he sits at the mess.]
The king to fall in to o hewynes,
Right ate his table ſiting at the meß; 2164
[Sidenote: Gawan rebukes him.]
And ſ{ir} gawan cu{m}myth hyme before,
And ſaid hyme, “ſ{ir}, yhour thoght is al to ſore,
Conſid{er}ing the diu{er}ß kny{ch}t{is} ſere
Ar of wncouth and ſtrang land{is} here.” 2168
[Sidenote: The king answers in “matalent,”]
The king anſuert, as in to matalent,
“S{ir}, of my tho{ch}t, or ȝhit of myne entent,
Yhe have the wrang me to repref, for-quhy
Thar lewith none that ſhuld me blam, for I 2172
[Sidenote: that he was thinking of the worthiest knight living;]
Was thinkand one the worthieſt that lewyt,
That al the worſchip In to armys prewyt;
And how the thonk of my defens he had,
And of the wow that galiot haith mad. 2176
But I have ſen, when that of my houſhold
Thar was, and of my falowſchip, that wold,
If that thei wiſt, quhat thing ſhuld me pleß,
Thei wald no{ch}t leif for trawell nor for eß. 2180
And ſum tyme It p{re}ſwmyt was & ſaid,
[Sidenote: that he once had the flower of knighthood in his
household, but now this flower is away.]
That in my houſhold of al this world I had
The flour of kny{ch}thed and of chevalry;
Bot now thar-of y ſe the contrarye, 2184
Sen that the flour of kny{ch}thed is away.”
“Schir,” q{uod} he, “of Reſone ſuth yhe ſay;
And if god will, In al this warld ſo Round [Fol. 27b.]
He ſal be ſoght, if that he may he found.” 2188

[Footnote T51: MS. “xxviij,” altered to “xxiiij.”]

[Headnote: GAWANE’S EXPEDITION.]

[Sidenote: Gawan departs to seek Lancelot.]
Than gawan goith w{i}t{h} o kny{ch}tly chere,
At the hal dure he ſaith In this maner:
“In this paſag who lykith for to wend?
It is o Iorne moſt for to comend 2192
That In my tyme In to the court fallith,
To knyght{is} wich that chewellry lowith
Or trawell In to armys for to hant;
And lat no kny{ch}t fra thyne-furt{h} hyme awant 2196
[Sidenote: All the knights rise to go with him.]
That it denyith;”--w{i}t{h} that onon thei roß,
Al the kny{ch}t{is}, and frome the burdis goß.
The king that ſauch In to his hart was wo,
[Sidenote: Arthur reproves him.]
And ſaid, “ſ{ir} gawan, nece, why dois yow ſo? 2200
Knowis yow no{ch}t I myne houſhold ſuld encreß,
In kny{ch}thed, and in honore, and largeß?
And now yow thinkith mak me diſſolat
Of kny{ch}t{is}, and my houß tranſulat, 2204
To ſek o kny{ch}t, and It was neu{er} more
Hard ſich o ſemble makith o before.”
[Sidenote: Gawan explains.]
“S{ir},” q{uod} he, “als few as may yhow pleſß;
For what I said was no thing for myne eß, 2208
Nor for deſir of falouſchip, for-why
To paß alone, but cumpany, think I;
And ilk kny{ch}t to paß o ſundry way;
The mo thei paß the fewar eſchef thay, 2212
Bot thus ſhal pas no mo bot as yhow leſt.”
[Sidenote: Arthur assigns him forty companions.]
“Takith,” q{uod} he, “of quhom ȝhe lykith beſt,
Fourty in this paſag for to go;”
At this {com}mand and gawan cheſit ſo 2216
Fourty, quhich that he louit, & that was
Richt glaid in to his falowſchip to pas.

[Headnote: GAWANE AND HIS FELLOWS DEPART.]

[Sidenote: These knights arm themselves,]
[A]nd furth thei go, and al anarmyt thei
Come to the king, w{i}t{h}outen more delay, 2220
[Sidenote: and bring the relics, whereon to swear to shew the
truth.]
The relyk{is} bro{ch}t, as was the man{er} tho,
When any knyght{is} frome the court ſuld go.
Or when the paſſit, or quhen thei com, thei ſwor
The trouth to ſchaw of euery aduentur. 2224
S{ir} gawan knelyng to his falowis ſais,
“Yhe lord{is}, wich that in this ſeking gais,
So many noble and worthi kny{ch}t{is} ar ȝhe,
Me think in wayne yhour t{ra}uel ſhuld no{ch}t be, 2228
For aduentur is non so gret to pref, [Fol. 28a.]
As I ſuppone, nor ȝhe ſal It eſſchef,
And if ȝhe lyk as I that ſhal dewyß,
Yhour oth to ſwer In to the ſamyne wyß 2232
Myne oith to kep;”--and that thei vnd{er}tak,
How eu{er} ſo that he his oith mak
It to conſerf, and that thei have all ſworñ.
Than gawan, wich that was the king beforn, 2236
[Sidenote: Gawane swears not to return till he has found Lancelot,
or evidence of him.]
On kneis ſwore, “I ſal the ſuth duclar
Of euery thing when I agan Repar,
Nor neu{er} more aȝhane ſal I returñ,
Nore in o place long for to ſuiorñ 2240
Whill that the kny{ch}t or verray evydens
I have, that ſhal be toknis of credens.”
His falouſchip abaſit of that thing,
And als therof anoyt was the king, 2244
[Sidenote: Arthur reproves him for forgetting the coming day of
battle.]
Sayng, “Nece, yow haith al foly vroght
And wilfulneß, that haith no{ch}t in thi thoght
The day of batell of galot and me.”
[Sidenote: Gawane says it must be so.]
Q{uod} gawan, “Now non other ways ma be.” 2248
[Sidenote: Gawane and his fellow lace their helms, and take their
leave.]
Thar-w{i}t{h} he and his falowſchip alſo
Thar halmys laſit, on to ther horß thei go,
Syne tuk ther lef, and frome the court the fare,
Thar names ware to long for to declar. 2252
Now ſal we leif hyme and h{is} cumpany,
That in thar ſeking paſſith biſſely;
[Sidenote: The story returns to the lady of Melyhalt.]
And of the lady of melyhalt we tell,
W{i}t{h} whome the kny{ch}t mot ned alway duell. 2256

[T52] [O] day ſhe mayd hyme on to h{ir} p{re}ſens fet,
And on o ſege be-ſid hir haith hyme ſet,
“S{ir}, in keping I have yow halding long,”
And thus ſche ſaid, “for gret treſpas & wrong, 2260
Magre my ſtewart, in worſchip, and for-thi
Ȝhe ſuld me thonk;”--“madem,” q{uod} he, “and I
Thonk yhow ſo that eu{er}, at my mycht,
Whar-ſo I paß that I ſal be yhour kny{ch}t.” 2264

[Footnote T52: Room is here left in the MS. for an illuminated
letter, and a small “o” inserted as a note.]

[Headnote: THE LADY ASKS LANCELOT HIS NAME.]

[Sidenote: She inquires Lancelot’s name.]
“Grant mercy, ſ{ir}, bot o thing I ȝow pray,
What that ȝhe ar ȝhe wold w{i}c{h}sauf to ſay.”
[Sidenote: He refuses to tell.]
“Madem,” q{uod} he, “yhour mercy aſk I, quhy
That for to ſay apone no wyß may I.” 2268
“No! wil ȝhe not? non oy{er} ways as now
[Sidenote: She vows to keep him in thrall till the day of combat;]
Ȝhe ſal repent, and ek I mak awow
One to the thing the wich that I beſt love, 2271
Out frome my keping ſal ȝhe not Remuf [Fol. 28b.]
Befor the day of the aſſemblee,
Wich that, o ȝher, is n{er}eſt for to bee;
And if that ȝow haith pleſſit for to ſay,
Ȝhe had fore me deliu{er}it ben this day; 2276
[Sidenote: and to go to the court to try and learn it.]
And I ſal knaw, quhey{er} ȝhe wil or no,
For I furt{h}-w{i}t{h} one to the court ſal go,
Whar that al thithing{is} goith & cu{m}yth ſoñ.”
“Madem,” q{uod} he, “yhour pleſance mot be doñe.” 2280
[Sidenote: The knight retires.]
W{i}t{h} that the kny{ch}t one to his chalm{er} goith,
And the lady hir makith to be wroith
Aȝanis hyme, but ſuthly vas ſche not,
For he al-out was mor in to hir thoght. 2284
Than ſchapith ſhe aȝane the ferd day,
And richly ſche gan hir-ſelf aray;
Syne clepit haith apone her cuſynes,
[Sidenote: Before going to the court,]
And ſaith, “y will one to the court me dreß; 2288
And malice I have ſchawin on to ȝhon kny{ch}t,
For-quhy he wold no{ch}t ſchew me quhat he hicht,
Bot ſo, I-wyß, It is no{ch}t in my tho{ch}t,
For worthyar non In to this erth is wro{ch}t. 2292
[Sidenote: she prays her cousin to take care of him.]
Tharfor I pray, and hartly I requer
Ȝhe mak hyme al the cu{m}pany and chere,
And do hyme al the worſchip and the eß,
Excep his honore, wich that may hym pleß; 2296
And quhen I cum deliu{er}ith hyme als fre
As he is now;”--“ne have no dred,” q{uod} ſche.

[Headnote: SHE GOES TO SEE ARTHUR.]

[T]he lady p{ar}tit, and hir lef hath ton,
And by hir Iorne to the court Is gon. 2300
[Sidenote: The lady meets Arthur at Logris;]
The king hapnit at logris for to bee,
Wich of his realme was than the chef cete;
And haith hir met, and In til hartly wyß
Reſauit her, and welcu{m}myt oft-ſyß; 2304
[Sidenote: who brings her home to his palace;]
And haith hir home one to his palice bro{ch}t,
Whar that no dante nedith to be ſocht,
And maid hir cher w{i}t{h} al his ful entent.
Eft fupir one to o chalm{er} ar thei went, 2308
The king and ſche, and ek the quen al thre;
Of hir tithand{is} at hir than aſkit hee,
[Sidenote: and inquires what has brought her.]
And what that hir one to the court had bro{ch}t?
“S{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “I come[T53] not al for no{ch}t; 2312
[Sidenote: She says she has a friend who has made a challenge,]
I have o frend haith o dereyne ydoo,
And I can fynd none able kny{ch}t tharto; [Fol. 29a.]
For he the wich that in the {con}trar Is
Is hardy, ſtrong, and of gret kyne, I-wyß; 2316
Bot, It is ſaid, If I my{ch}t have w{i}t{h} me
Ȝour kny{ch}t, quich in the last aſſemble
[Sidenote: which the red knight could best maintain.]
Was in the feld, and the red armys bur,
In his manhed y my{ch}t my cauß aſſur; 2320
And yhow, ſ{ir}, richt hartly I exort
In to this ned my myſt{er} to ſupport.”
“Madem, by faith one to the quen I aw

[Footnote T53: MS. “conne.”]

[Headnote: ARTHUR CAN TELL HER NOTHING.]

[Sidenote: Arthur replies that Gawane is gone to seek him.]
That I beſt loue, the kny{ch}t I neu{er} ſaw 2324
In nerneß by which that I hyme knew;
And ek gawane Is gan hyme for to ſew
W{i}t{h} other fourty kny{ch}t{is} In to cumpany.”
The lady ſmylit at ther fanteſſy; 2328
The quen thar-w{i}t{h} p{re}ſumyt wel that ſche
[Sidenote: The queen asks the lady if she knows where he is.]
Knew quhat he was, and ſaid, “madem, If ȝhe
Knowith of hyme what that he is, or quhar,
We ȝhow beſech til ws for to declar.” 2332
[Sidenote: She replies no, and proposes to return.]
“Madem,” q{uod} ſche, “now be the faith that I
Aw to the king and yhow, as for no why
To court I cam, but of hyme to Inquere;
And ſen of hyme I can no tithing{is} here, 2336
Nedlyng{is} to-morn homwart mon I fair.”
[Sidenote: Arthur prays her to stay.]
“Na,” q{uod} the king, “madem, our ſon It waire;
Ȝhe ſal remayne her for the qwenys ſak;
Syne ſhal ȝhe of our beſt kny{ch}t{is} tak.” 2340
“S{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “I pray ȝow me excuß,
For-quhy to paß nedis me behuß;
Nor, ſen I want the kny{ch}t which I have ſo{ch}t,
Wtheris w{i}t{h} me to have deſir I no{ch}t, 2344
For I of otheris have that may ſuffice.”
Bot ȝhit the king hir prayt on ſich wyß,
[Sidenote: She remains till the third day.]
That ſche remanit whill the thrid day;
Syne tuk hir leif to paſing hom hir way. 2348
[Sidenote: She is sumptuously entertained,]
It nedis not the feſting to declar
Maid one to hir, nor company nor fare;
Sche had no kny{ch}t, ſche had no damyſeill,
Nor thei richly rewardit war and well. 2352
[Sidenote: and returns home.]
Now goith the lady homwart, and ſche
In her entent deſyrus Is to ſee
The flour of kny{ch}thed and of chevelry;
So was he pryſit and hold to euery wy. 2356

[Headnote: THE LADY AGAIN SENDS FOR LANCELOT.]

++The lady, which one to hir palace come, [Fol. 29b.]
[Sidenote: Soon after, she sends for Lancelot,]
Bot of ſchort time remanith haith at home
When ſche gart bryng, w{i}t{h}outen Recidens,
W{i}t{h} grete effere this kny{ch}t to hir p{rese}ns, 2360
And ſaid hyme; “ſ{ir}, ſo mekil have I ſo{ch}t
And knowith that be-for I knew no{ch}t,
[Sidenote: and proposes to ransom him,]
That If yhow lyk I wil yhour Ransone mak.”
“Madem, gladly, wil ȝhe wichſauf to tak 2364
Eft{er} that as my powar may atteñ,
Or that I may p{ro}wid be ony meñ.”
“Now, ſ{ir},” ſho ſaid, “forſut{h} It ſal be so,
[Sidenote: on one of three conditions.]
Yhe ſal have thre, and cheß yhow on of tho; 2368
And if yhow lykith them for to refuß,
I can no mor, but ȝhe ſal me excuß,
Yhe ned{is} mot ſuſten yhour aduentur
Contynualy In ward for til endur.” 2372
“Madem,” q{uod} he, “and I yhow hartly pray,
What that thei ſay[T54] ȝhe wald w{i}c{h}ſauf to ſay?”

[Footnote T54: So MS. We should probably read “bee.”]

[Sidenote: Either he must tell whom he loves,]
“[T]he firſt,” q{uod} ſche, “who hath in to the cheñ
Of low yhour hart, and if ȝhe may dereñ? 2376
[Sidenote: or declare his name,]
The next, yhour nam, the which ȝe ſal not lye?
[Sidenote: or say if he expects again to equal his former exploits.]
The thrid, if eu{er} ȝhe think of cheualry
So mekil worſchip to atten in feild
Apone o day in armys wnd{er} ſcheld, 2380
As yat ȝhe dyd the ſamyne day, when ȝhe
In red armys was at the aſſemblee?”
“Madem,” q{uod} he, “is thar non vther way
Me to redem, but only thus to ſay 2384
Of thing{is}, which that Rynyth me to blam,
Me to awant my lady or hir name?
But If that I moſt ſchawin furth that one,
What su{er}te ſchal I have for to gone 2388
At libertee out of this dang{er} free?”
“Schir, ſor to dred no myſt{er} is,” q{uod} ſhee;
“As I am trew and fa{i}t{h}full woman hold,
Ȝhe ſal go fre quhen one of thir is told.” 2392
“Madem, yhour will non vther ways I may,
[Sidenote: He refuses to tell his lady’s name,]
I mone obey; and to the firſt y ſay,
[T55] [I]s, to declar the lady of myne hart,
My goſt ſal rather of my breſt aſtart”-- 2396
Whar-by the lady fayndit al for no{ch}t
The lowe quhich long hath ben In to h{is} tho{ch}t--
[Sidenote: or his own;]
“And of my nam, ſchortly for to ſay,
It ſtondith ſo that one no wyß I may. 2400
Bot of the thrid, madem, I se that I [Fol. 30a.]
Mon ſay the thing that tuechith velany;
[Sidenote: but declares that he trusts to do more than ever before;
and requires his liberty.]
For ſut{h} it is I traſt, and god before,
In feld that I ſal do of armys more 2404
Than eu{er} I did, if I {com}mandit bee.

[Footnote T55: A space is here left for an illuminated letter.]

[Headnote: LANCELOT CLAIMS HIS LIBERTY;]

And now, madem, I have my libertee,
For I have ſaid I neu{er} tho{ch}t to ſay.”
“Now, ſ{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “when-eu{er} ȝhe wil ye may; 2408
[Sidenote: She begs of him a boon;]
Bot o thing Is, I yhow hartly raquer,
Sen I have hold yhow apone ſuch maner
Not as my fo, that ȝhe vald grant me till.”
“Madem,” q{uod} he, “It ſal be as ȝhe will.” 2412
“Now, ſ{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “it is no thing bot ȝhe
[Sidenote: that he will remain with her till the day of battle;]
Remañ w{i}t{h} ws wn to the aſſemble,
And euery thyng that In yhour myſt{er} lyis
I ſall gar ordan at yhour awn dewyß; 2416
And of the day I ſhall yow c{er}tefy
Of the aſſemble ȝhe ſal not pas therby.”
“Madem,” q{uod} he, “It ſal be as yhow liſt.”
“Now, ſ{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “and than I hald It beſt, 2420
That ȝhe remañ lyk to the ſamyne dogre
As that ȝhe war, yat non ſal wit that ȝhe
Deliu{er}it war; and in to ſacret wyß
Thus may ȝhe be; and now yhe ſal dewyß 2424
[Sidenote: and inquires what arms he would like to have made
for him. He chooses black armour,]
What armys that yhow lykyth I gar mak.”

[Headnote: AND ASKS FOR BLACK ARMOUR.]

“Madem,” q{uod} he, “armys al of blak.”
W{i}t{h} this, this kny{ch}t is to his chalm{er} goñ;
The lady gan ful prewaly diſſpone 2428
For al that longith to the kny{ch}t, in feild;
Al blak his horß, his armour, and his ſcheld,
[Sidenote: which is provided.]
That nedful is, al thing ſche well p{re}widith;
And in hir keping thus w{i}t{h} hir he bidith. 2432
Suppos of love ſche takyne hath the charg,
[Sidenote: She keeps her love close,]
Sche bur It clos, ther-of ſche vas not larg,
Bot wyſly ſche abſtenit hir diſſir,
For ell{is} quhat, ſche knew, he was afyre; 2436
Thar-for hir wit hir worſchip haith defendit,
[Sidenote: being commended for discretion.]
For in this world thar was nan mor co{m}mendit,
Boith of diſcreccioune and of womanhed,
Of gou{er}nans, of nurtur, and of farhed. 2440
This kny{ch}t w{i}t{h} hir thus al this whil mon duell,
[Sidenote: The story returns to Arthur--]
And furt{h} of arthur ſumthing wil we tell--

[T]hat walkyng vas furt{h} in to his Regiou{n}is,
And ſoiornyt in his ceteis and his townis, 2444
As he that had of viſdome ſufficyans. [Fol. 30b.]
[Sidenote: who obeys the counsel of Amytans,]
He kepit the lore of maiſt{er} amytans
In ryghtwyſnes, In feſting and larges,
In cheriſing cu{m}pany and hamlynes; 2448
For he was biſſy and was deligent,
[Sidenote: and gives away largely;]
And largly he iffith, and diſpent
Rewardis, boith one to the pur & riche,
And holdith feſt throw al the ȝher eliche. 2452

[Headnote: ARTHUR’S LIBERALITY.]

In al the warld paſſing gan his name,
He chargit not bot of encreß and fam̅e,
And how his puples hart{is} to empleß;
Thar gladnes ay was to his hart moſt eß. 2456
He rakith not of riches nor treſſour,
Bot to diſpend one worſchip & honour;
He ifith riches, he ifith lond and rent,
He cherißyth them w{i}t{h} word{is} eloquent, 2460
[Sidenote: and thus gains his people’s love.]
So that thei can them vtraly p{ro}pone
In his ſ{er}uice thar lyves to diſpone:
So gladith them̅e his homely {con}tynans,
His cheriſyng, his wordis of pleſans, 2464
His cumpany, and ek his mery chere,
His gret rewardis, and his ift{is} ſere.
Thus hath the king non vthir beſynes
Bot cheriſing of kny{ch}t{is} and largeß, 2468
To mak hyme-ſelf of honour be {com}mend;
And thus the ȝher he drywith to the ende.

EXPLICIT SECUNDA P{AR}S, INCIPIT T{ER}CIA P{AR}S.

[Headnote: THE TRUCE DRAWS TO A CLOSE.]

[BOOK III.]

[Sidenote: The sun ascends in his altitude.]
++The long dirk paſag[T56] of the vint{er}, & the ly{ch}t
Of phebus {com}prochit w{i}t{h} his my{ch}t; 2472
The which, aſcending In his altitud,
Awodith saturñ w{i}t{h} his ſtormys Rude;
[Sidenote: The soft dew falls down from heaven.]
The ſoft dew one fra the hewyne doune valis[T57]
Apone the erth, one hill{is} and on valis, 2476
And throw the ſobir & the mwſt hwmour{is}
Vp nuriſit ar the erbis, and in the flouris
[Sidenote: Nature decks the earth with various hues.]
Natur the erth of many diu{er}ß hew
Our-fret, and cled w{i}t{h} the tendir new. 2480
The birdis may them hiding in the grawis [Fol. 31a.]
[Sidenote: The birds may hide them from the hawk in the groves,
and Scilla may ascend in the air.]
Wel frome the halk, that oft ther lyf berevis;
And scilla hie aſcending in the ayre,
That euery vight may heryng hir declar 2484
Of the ſeſſone the paſſing luſtynes.
This was the tyme that phebus gan hy{m} dreß
In to the rame, and haith his courß bygown,
Or that the trewis and the ȝher vas Rown, 2488
[Sidenote: The time of combat between Galiot and the king drew
near.]
Which was y-ſet of galiot and the king
Of thar aſſemble, and of thar meting.
Arthur haith a xv dais before
Aſſemblit al his barnag and more 2492
That weryng wnd{er} his ſubieccioune,
Or louith hyme, or longith to his crown;
And haith his Iornay tone, w{i}t{h}outen let,
[Sidenote: Arthur goes to the appointed place.]
On to the place the wich that was y-ſet, 2496
Whar he hath found befor hyme mony o kny{ch}t
That cu{m}myng war w{i}t{h} al thar holl my{ch}t,
Al enarmyt both w{i}t{h} ſpere & ſcheld,
And ful of lug{is} plantith haith the feld, 2500
Hyme In the wer for to ſupport and ſerf
At al ther my{ch}t, his thonk for to diſſerf.

[Footnote T56: So MS. Should we read “pasith”?]
[Footnote T57: So MS. It should be “falis.”]

[Headnote: GAWANE REJOINS ARTHUR.]

And gawan, which was in the ſeking ȝhit
Of the gud kny{ch}t, of hyme haith got no wit, 2504
[Sidenote: Gawane remembers the day,]
Remembrith hyme apone the king{is} day,
And to his falowis one this wys can ſay:
“To ȝhow is knowin the mat{er}, in what wyß
How that the king hath w{i}t{h} his e{n}nemys 2508
A c{er}tan day, that now comprochit nere,
And one to ws war hewynes to here
That he var in to p{er}ell or in to dreid,
And we away and he of ws haith neid; 2512
For we but hyme no thing may eſchef,
And he but ws in honore well may lef;
For, be he loſt, we may no thing w{i}t{h}ſtond,
Our-ſelf, our honore we tyne, & ek o{ur} lond. 2516
[Sidenote: and proposes to his fellows to go to help the king.]
Tharfor, I red we pas on to the king,
Suppos our oth It hurt in to ſum thing,
And in the feld w{i}t{h} hyme for til endur,
Of lyf or deth and tak our aduentur.” 2520
Thar-to thei ar conſentit eu{er}ilkon,
And but dulay the have thar Iorney toñe.
When that the king them ſaw, in h{is} entent [Fol. 31b.]
[Sidenote: Arthur is well content at their coming,]
Was of thar com Right wond{er} well {con}tent; 2524
For he p{re}ſwmyt no thing that thei wold
[Sidenote: not expecting them.]
Have cu{m}myne, but one furt{h} to y{er} ſeking hold.
And thus the kinghis oſt aſſemblit has
Aȝane the tyme, aȝaine the day that vas 2528
Y-ſtatut and ordanit for to bee,
And euery thing hath ſet in the dogre.

[Headnote: THE TRUCE ENDS.]

[A]nd galiot, that haith no thing forȝhet
The termys quhich that he befor had set, 2532
[Sidenote: Galiot also assembles his folk,]
Aſſemblit has, apone his best maner,
His folk, and al his other thing{is} ſere,
That to o weryour longith to p{ro}uid,
And is y-come apone the tothir ſyde. 2536
[Sidenote: doubling his army and artillery;]
Whar he befor was one than vas he two,
And al his vthir artilȝery also
He dowblith hath, that m{er}well was to ſeñ;
[Sidenote: and pitches on the green by the river.]
And by the rewere ly{ch}tit one the greñ, 2540
And ſtronghar thane ony wallit toune
His oſt y-bout ycloſit in Randoune.
Thus war thei cu{m}myne apone ather ſyd
[Sidenote: Before the truce is ended,]
Be-for the tyme, them-ſelf for to p{ro}wid. 2544
Or that the trewis was complet & rwn,
Men my{ch}t have ſen one euery ſid begwn
[Sidenote: many combats are seen between lusty men;]
Many a fair and knychtly Iup{er}ty
Of luſty me{n}, and of ȝong chevalry, 2548
Diſyrus In to armys for to pruf;
Sum for wynyng, ſu{m} cauſith vas for luf,
Sum In to worſchip to be exaltate,
Sum cauſit was of wordis he & hate, 2552
That lykit not ydill for to ben;
[Sidenote: a hundred pair at once.]
A hund{er}eth pair at onis one the gren.
Thir luſty folk thus can thar tyme diſpend,
Whill that the trewis goith to the ende. 2556
[Sidenote: The truce past,]
The trewis paſt, the day is cu{m}myne onoñe,
One euery ſyd the can them to diſpone;
And thai that war moſt ſacret & moſt dere
[Sidenote: Galiot’s friends inquire who shall fight on his side
on the morrow.]
To galiot, at hyme the can enquere, 2560
“Who ſal aſſemble one yhour ſyd to-morñe?
To-ny{ch}t the trewis to the end is worne.”
He anſuerit, “As yhit one to this were
I ame awyſit I wil none armys bere, 2564
Bot If It ſtond of more Neceſſitee; [Fol. 32a.]
Nor to the feld will pas, bot for to ſee
Yhone kny{ch}t, the which that berith ſich o fame.”
[Sidenote: He commands the first-conquest king to take 30,000 men.]
Than clepit he the {con}quest king be name, 2568
And hyme {com}mandit xxx thouſand tak
Aȝaine the morne, and for the feld hyme mak.
And gawane haith, apone the toy{er} syde,
Conſulit his Eme he ſchuld for them p{ro}wid, 2572
And that he ſchuld none armys to hyme tak
Whill[T58] galiot will for the feld hyme mak.
“I grant,” q{uo}d [he [T59]], “wharfor ȝhe mone diſpone
[Sidenote: Gawane leads Arthur’s forces.]
Yhow to the feld w{i}t{h} al my folk to-morne, 2576
And thinkith in yhour manhed and curage
For to reciſt ȝhone folk{is} gret owtrag.”

[Footnote T58: MS. “Wihill.”]
[Footnote T59: Omitted in MS.]

[Sidenote: The day comes.]
[T]he ny{ch}t is gone, vp goith the morow gray,
The bry{ch}t ſone ſo cherith al the day: 2580
The kny{ch}t{is} gone to armys than, in haſt;
One goith the ſcheild{is} and the helmys laſt;
[Sidenote: Arthur’s men cross the ford.]
Arthuris oſt out our the furrde thai ryd.
And thai agane, apone the toy{er} syd, 2584
[Sidenote: Galiot’s men assemble in a vale.]
Aſſemblit ar apone o luſty greyne,
In to o waill, whar ſone thar my{ch}t be ſeyne
Of kny{ch}t{is} to-gedder many o pair
In to the feld aſſemblyng her & thair, 2588
And ſted{is} which that haith thar maſt{er} lorne;[T60]
The kny{ch}t{is} war done to the erth doune borne.

[Footnote T60: MS. has “borne.” We should read “lorne,” as in
line 2092.]

[Headnote: DEEDS OF SIR ESQUYRIS.]

[Sidenote: Sir Esquyris, a manly knight,]
S{ir} eſquyris, which was o manly kny{ch}t
In to hyme-ſelf, and hardy vas & wy{ch}t; 2592
And in till armys gretly for to pryß,
Ȝhit he was pure, he prewit wel oft-ſyß;
[Sidenote: at that time of Galiot’s company,]
And that tyme was he of the cu{m}panee
Of galiot, bot eft{er}wart was hee 2596
W{i}t{h} arthur; and that day In to the feild
He come, al armyt boith w{i}t{h} ſpere and ſcheld,
W{i}t{h} ferß deſir, as he that had na dout,
[Sidenote: attacks a band,]
And is aſſemblit ewyne apone a rowt; 2600
His ſpere is gone, the kny{ch}t goith to the erd,
And out onon he pullith haith o ſwerd;
[Sidenote: and proves his manhood.]
That day In armys p{re}wit he ry{ch}t well
His ſtrenth, his manhed; arthuris folk thai fell. 2604

[Headnote: DEEDS OF SIR GWYANS.]

[Sidenote: Then Galys Gwynans, brother of Ywan,]
Than galys gwynans, w{i}t{h} o manly hart,
Which broy{er} was of ywane the baſtart,
He cu{m}myne Is onone one to the ſtour
For {con}quering In armys of honour, 2608 [Fol. 32b.]
[Sidenote: encounters him, and horse and man go all four to earth.]
And cownt{er}it w{i}t{h} eſquyris hath so
That[T61] horß and man, al four, to erth thai go;
And ſtill o quhill lying at the ground.
W{i}t{h} that o p{ar}t of arthur{is} folk thei found 2612
[Sidenote: Arthur’s folk rescue Gwyans;]
Till gwyans, and haith hyme ſone reſkewit.
Aȝanis them til eſquyris thei ſewyt
[Sidenote: thirty knights of Galiot’s arrive, and rescue Esquyris.]
Of galiot{is} well xxx^ti kny{ch}t{is} & mo;
Gwyans goith done, and vthir vij alſo, 2616
The wich war tone & eſqwyris relewit.
[Sidenote: Next Ywan comes to the _mêlée_.]
Than ywane the anterus, aggrewit,
W{i}t{h} kyn{n}iſme{n} one to the melle ſo{ch}t.
The hardy kny{ch}t{is}, that one thar worſchip tho{ch}t, 2620
Cownt{er}it them In myddis of the ſcheld,
Whar many o kny{ch}t was born doñ i{n} the feld;
[Sidenote: Galiot’s men give way.]
Bot thei wich ware on galiot{is} p{ar}t,
So wnd{er}takand nor of ſo hardy hart 2624
Ne ware thei not as was i{n} ye {con}trare.
[Sidenote: Gwyans is again rescued.]
S{ir} galys gwyans was reſqwyt thare
W{i}t{h} his falowis, and eſqwyris don bore.
Thar al the batell{is} cam, w{i}t{h}outen more, 2628
On ather p{ar}t, and is aſſemblit ſo
[Sidenote: 50,000 men are assembled.]
Whar fyfty thouſand war thei, & no mo.
[Sidenote: 30,000 on Galiot’s side approach the river,]
In o plane beſyd the gret Riwere
Xxx thouſand one galiot{is} half thei vare; 2632
[Sidenote: and 10,000 on Arthur’s.]
Of arthuris x thouſand and no mo
Thei ware, and ȝhit thai {con}tenit them ſo
And in the feld ſo manly haith borñ,
That of thar fois haith the feld forſworñ. 2636

[Footnote T61: MS. has “than.”]

[Headnote: SIR GAWANE’S INTREPIDITY.]

The {con}queſt king, wich the p{er}ell knowith,
[Sidenote: Gawane puts the conquest-king to flight.]
Ful manly one to the feld he drowith;
The lord ſ{ir} gawan, cou{er}it w{i}t{h} h{is} ſcheld,
He ruſchit in myddis of the feld, 2640
And haith them ſo in to his com aſſayt,
That of his manhed ware thei al affrait;
No lang{er} my{ch}t thei {con}trar hyme endur,
Bot fled, and goith one to diſcu{m}fiture. 2644
[Sidenote: Galiot, full of anger and grief, sends out a new band.]
And galiot, wich haith the diſc{um}fit ſen,
Fulfillit ful of ang{er} and of ten,
In{con}tine{n}t he ſend o new poware,
Whar-w{i}t{h} the feld{is} al our-cou{er}it ware 2648
Of armyt ſted{is} bot{h} in plait and maill, [Fol. 33a.]
W{i}t{h} kny{ch}t{is} wich war reddy to aſſaill.
[Sidenote: Gawane draws his men together, and shews them
comfortable words.]
S{ir} gawan, ſeing al the gret ſuppris
Of fois cu{m}myng In to ſich o wys, 2652
Togiddir al his cumpany he drew,
And confortable word{is} to them ſchew;
So at the cu{m}myng of thar ennemys
[Sidenote: They receive the foe in manly wise.]
Thei them reſauf, in ſo manly wyß, 2656
That many one felith deithis wound,
And wnd{er} horß lyith ſobing one the ground.
This vther cu{m}myth in to gret deſir,
Fulfillit ful of matelent and Ire, 2660
So freſchly, w{i}t{h} ſo gret o confluens,
Thar ſtrong aſſay hath don ſich vyolens,
And at thar come arthuris folk ſo led,
That thai war ay abayſit and adred. 2664
Bot gawan, wich that, by this vorld{is} fame,
Of ma{n}hed and of kny{ch}thed bur the name,
Haith p{re}wit [hym] well be exp{er}iens;
For only In til armys his defens 2668
[Sidenote: Gawane encourages his fellows,]
Haith maid his falowis tak ſich hardyme{n}t,
That manfully thei biding one the bent.
Of his manhed war m{er}well to raherß;
The kny{ch}tis throw the ſcheld{is} can he perß, 2672
That many one thar dethis haith reſauit;
None armour frome his my{ch}ty hond them ſauit,
[Sidenote: though their foes are three to one;]
Ȝhit ay for one ther ennemys wor thre.
Long my{ch}t thei no{ch}t endur in ſuch dugree; 2676
The preß it wos ſo creuell & ſo ſtrong,
In gret anoy and haith {con}tinewit longe,
[Sidenote: yet his men are forced to retreat to their tents.]
That, magre them, thei ned{is} moſt abak
The way one to thar lug{is} for to tak. 2680
S{ir} gawan thar ſufferith gret myſchef,
And wond{er}is in his kny{ch}thed can he pref;
His falouſchip haith m{er}well that hym ſaw,
So haith his fois that of his ſuerd ſtud aw. 2684
[Sidenote: Arthur beholds the peril of the field, and sends Sir
Ywan to help them,]
King arthur, that al this whill beheld
The dang{er} and the p{er}ell of the feld,
S{ir} ywan w{i}t{h} o falowſchip he ſende,
Them In that ned to help & to defend, 2688
Qwich fond them In to danger and in were, [Fol. 33b.]
And ent{er}it nere In to thar tentis were.
[Sidenote: who finds Sir Gawane fighting on foot with only his
sword.]
S{ir} gawan fechtand was one fut At erde,
And no defend, but only in his ſwerde, 2692
Aȝanis them bot{h} w{i}t{h} ſpere and ſcheld.
Of galowa the kny{ch}t goith to the erde.[T62]

[Footnote T62: Read “felde”?]

[Headnote: SIR YWAN RESCUES GAWANE.]

[Sidenote: The battle was furious and wood.]
Thar was the batell furyous and woud[T63]
Of armyt kny{ch}t{is}; to the grownde thai ȝhud. 2696
S{ir} ywane, that was a noble knyght,
He ſchew his ſtrenth, he ſchew thar h{is} g{r}et my{ch}t,
In al his tyme that neu{er} of before
Off armys, nore of kny{ch}thed, did he more: 2700
[Sidenote: Sir Ywan rescues Sir Gawane,]
S{ir} gawan thar reſkewit he of fors,
Magre his fois, and haith hyme ſet one horß
That frome the firſt {con}queſt king he wañ;
[Sidenote: who was so evilly wounded, that he was the worse thereof
evermore.]
Bot ſ{ir} gawan ſo ewill was wondit than, 2704
And in the feld ſupp{ri}ſit was ſo ſore,
That he the werß thar-of was eu{er}more.
Thar ſchew the lord ſ{ir} ywan h{is} curage,
His manhed, & h{is} noble waſſolage; 2708
And gawan, in his doing, wald no{ch}t irk;

[Footnote T63: MS. “woid,” but the “_i_” is undotted, and is
therefore perhaps meant for the first stroke of a “_u_.”]

[Headnote: END OF THE FIRST DAY’S BATTLE.]

[Sidenote: Darkness parts the combatants.]
So al the day enduring to the dyrk
Sal them, magre of thar deſyre, {con}ſt{r}en
On ayar half fore [to] dep{ar}t in twen. 2712
And when that gawan of his horß vas toñ,
The blud out of his noiß & mouth is goñ,
And largly ſo paſſith euery wounde,
[Sidenote: Sir Gawane swoons,]
In ſwonyng thore he fell one to the ground: 2716
Than of the puple petee was to here
The lemytable clamour, and the chere;
[Sidenote: so that the king despairs of his “niece’s” life, and
laments over him.]
And of the king the ſorow and the care,
That of his nec{is} lyf was in diſſpare. 2720
“Far well,” he ſais, “my gladnes, & my delyt,
Apone kny{ch}thed far well myne appetit,
Fare well of manhed al the g{r}et curage,
Yow flour of armys and of vaſſolage, 2724
Gif yow be loſt!”--thus til his tent hyme bro{ch}t
[Sidenote: The surgeons are sought,]
W{i}t{h} wofull hart, and al the ſurryȝenis ſocht,
Wich for to cum was reddy at his neid;
Thai fond the lord was of his lyf i{n} dreid, 2728
For wondit was he, and ek wondit ſo,
[Sidenote: who found he had two broken ribs, but no mortal wound.]
And in his ſyd ware brokyne Ribys two.
Bot no{ch}t for-thi the king thai maid beleif
That at that tyme he ſhuld the deith eſchef. 2732 [Fol. 34a.]

[O]ff melyhalt the ladyis kny{ch}t{is} were
In to the feld, and can thir tithing{is} here,
[Sidenote: The lady of Melyhalt’s knights tell her how the battle
went,]
And home to thar lady ar thai went,
Til hir to ſchewing eft{er} thar entent, 2736
In euery poynt, how that the batell ſtud
Of galiot, and of his multitud;
[Sidenote: and how Gawane bare him in the field, and of his wounds.]
And how gawan hyme in the feld hath borñ,
Throw quhoys ſwerd ſo many o kny{ch}t vas lorñ, 2740
And of the kny{ch}tly wond{er}is that he wro{ch}t,
Syne how that he one to his tent vas bro{ch}t.
The lady hard, that lowit gawan so,
[Sidenote: She weeps for him.]
She gan to wep, in to[T64] hir hart vas wo. 2744

[Footnote T64: MS. “in in”; but “in to” is clearly meant.]

[Headnote: LANCELOT’S LAMENT FOR GAWANE.]

[Sidenote: Lancelot requests to see the lady;]
Thir tythyng{is} one to lancelot ar goñ,
Whar-of that he was wond{er} wo-bygone,
And for the lady haſtely he sent,
And ſche til hyme, at his co{m}mand, Is went: 2748
[Sidenote: and inquires if Gawane is really likely to die.]
He ſaluſt hir, and ſaid, “madem, Is trew
Thir tithing{is} I her report of new
Of the aſſemble, and meting of the oſt,
And of ſ{ir} gawan, wich that ſhuld be loſt? 2752
If that be ſwth, adew the flour of armys,
[Sidenote: He laments over him,]
Now neu{er}more recou{er}yt be the harmys!
In hyme was manhed, curteſſy, and trouth,
Beſy trawell In kny{ch}thed, ay but ſleuth, 2756
Humilyte, [and] gentrice, and cwrag;
In hyme thar was no man{er} of outrage.
[Sidenote: first apostrophizing himself,]
Allace! kny{ch}t, allace! what ſhal yow ſay?
Yow may complen, yow may bewail the day 2760
As of his deith, and gladſchip aucht to ſes,
Baith menſtraſy and feſting at the des;
For of this lond he was the holl comfort,
In tyme of ned al kny{ch}thed to ſupport! 2764
[Sidenote: and next blaming the lady for not having allowed him
to be present in the battle.]
Allace! madem, and I durſt ſay at ȝhe
Al yhour beheſt not kepit haith to me,
Whar-of that I was in to full belef
Aȝañe this day that I ſchuld have my lef, 2768
And no{ch}t as cowart thus ſchamfully to ly
Excludit in to cage frome chewalry,
Whar othir kny{ch}t{is} anarmyt on thar ſtedis
Hawnt{is} ther ȝhouthhed in to kny{ch}tly dedis.” 2772
“S{ir},” q{uo}d ſche, “I red yhow not diſpleß,
Ȝhe may In tyme her-eft{er} cum at es; [Fol. 34b.]
[Sidenote: She promises he shall go to the next battle,]
For the thrid day Is ordanit, & ſhal be
Of the oſt{is} a new aſſemble, 2776
And I have gart ordan al the gere
That longith to ȝour body for to were,
[Sidenote: saying that his sable armour is ready.]
Boith horß and armour In the ſamyne wyß
Of ſable, ewyne aftir ȝhour awn dewyß; 2780
And yhe ſal her remayne one to the day;
Syne may ȝhe paß, fore well ȝhe knaw the way.”
“I will obey, madem, to yhour entent.”
W{i}t{h} that ſche goith, and to hir reſt is went: 2784
[Sidenote: In the morn she takes her leave, to go to the court.]
One the morn arly vp ſche roß
W{i}t{h}out delay, and to the kny{ch}t ſche gois,
And twk hir lef, and ſaid that ſcho vald fare
On to the court, w{i}t{h}-outen any mare. 2788
[Sidenote: He kneels, and thanks her often.]
Than knelit he, and thankit hir oft-ſys,
That ſche ſo mych hath done hyme of ge{n}triß,
And hir byhecht eu{er}, at his myght,
To be hir awn trew & ſtedfaſt kny{ch}t. 2792
[Sidenote: She goes unto the king,]
Sche thonkith hyme, and ſyne ſche goith h{er} way
On to the king, w{i}t{h}-owten more delay,
Whar that i{n}[T65] honour w{i}t{h} king & qwen ſche ſall
Ry{ch}t thonkfully reſauit be w{i}t{h}-all. 2796
Eft to ſ{ir} gawan thai hir led, & ſche
Ryght gladly hyme deſyrit for to ſee,
[Sidenote: and finds Sir Gawane quite different from what had been
told her.]
And ſche hyme fond, and ſche was glad tharfore,
All vthir ways than was hir told before. 2800
The kny{ch}t, the wich in to hir keping vas,
[Sidenote: The lady’s cousin cherishes Lancelot in her best manner.]
Sche had {com}mandit to hir cuſſynece,
Wich cheriſt hyme apone hir beſt manere,
And comfort hyme, and maid hy{m} ry{ch}t gud chere. 2804

[Footnote T65: MS. “w{i}t{h};” which is crossed out, and “i{n}”
inserted above, rather minutely written.]

[Headnote: LANCELOT PREPARES FOR BATTLE.]