Chapter VII: Part 7

[T]he days goith, ſo paſſith als the ny{ch}t,
[Sidenote: The third day, the maiden goes to his chamber, and
fastens on his armour.]
The thrid morow, as that the ſone vas ly{ch}t,
The kny{ch}t onon out of his bed aroß,
The maden ſone one to his chalm{er} goß, 2808
And ſacretly his armour one hyme ſpent.
He tuk his lef, and ſyne his way he went
[Sidenote: He goes to the same green, beside the river, as before.]
Ful prewaly, ry{ch}t to the ſamyne greñ
One the rewere, whar he befor had ben, 2812
Ewyne as the day [he] the first courß hath maad.
Alone ry{ch}t thar he howit, and abaade,
Behalding to the bertes, whar the qweñ [Fol. 35a.]
[Sidenote: He abides there alone, looking towards the parapet
where he saw the queen.]
Befor at the aſſemble he had señ 2816
Ry{ch}t ſo the ſone ſchewith furt{h} his ly{ch}t,
And to his armour went is euery wy{ch}t;
[Sidenote: The jousting begins.]
One athir half the Iusting is bygon,
And many o fair and knych[t]ly courß is rown. 2820
[Sidenote: The black knight still halts on his steed.]
The blak kny{ch}t ȝhit howyns on his ſted,
Of al thar doing takith he no hed,
Bot ay, apone the beſynes of tho{ch}t,
In beholding his ey dep{ar}tit no{ch}t. 2824

[Headnote: THE QUEEN BEHOLDS THE BLACK KNIGHT.]

[Sidenote: The lady beholds him and knows him; but yet inquires
who he is,]
To quhom the lady of melyhalt beheld,
And knew hyme by h{is} armour & h{is} ſcheld,
Qwhat that he was; and thus ſche ſaid one hy{ch}t:
“Who is he ȝone? who may he be, ȝhone kny{ch}t, 2828
So ſtill that hovith and ſterith not his Ren,
And ſeith the kny{ch}t{is} rynyng one the greñ?”
[Sidenote: thus calling the attention of Gawane,]
Than al beholdith, and in princypale
S{ir} gawan beholdith moſt of all; 2832
Of melyha[l]t the lady to hyme maid
In{con}tine{n}t, his couche and gart be had
Be-fore o wyndew thore, as he my{ch}t se
The kny{ch}t, the oſt, and al the aſſemble. 2836
He lukith furt{h}, and ſone the kny{ch}t hath ſen,
[Sidenote: who saith to the queen:]
And, but delay, he ſaith one to the qwen,
[Sidenote: “Madam, remember that the red knight halted where yon
knight halts.”]
“Madem, if ȝhe remembir, ſo it was
The red kny{ch}t in to the ſamyne place 2840
That wencuſt al [at] the first aſſemble;
Whar that ȝone kny{ch}t howis, howit hee.”
[Sidenote: “Why do you inquire?” she replies.]
“Ȝha,” q{uod} the qwen, “ry{ch}t well remembir I;
Qwhat is the cauß at ȝhe inquere, & quhy?” 2844
“Madem, of [al] this larg warld is he
[Sidenote: “He is the knight, madam, whom I most desire to see.”]
The kny{ch}t the wich I most deſir to ſee
His ſtrenth, his ma{n}hed, his curag, and h{is} my{ch}t,
Or do in armys that longith to o kny{ch}t.” 2848

[Headnote: THE ORDER OF BATTLE.]

[B]y thus, arthur, w{i}t{h} conſell well awyſit,
[Sidenote: Arthur arranges his lines of battle.]
Haith ordanit his batell{is}, and devyſit:
[Sidenote: King Ydrus leads the first;]
The firſt of them led ydrus king, & he
O worthy man vas ne{m}myt for to bee. 2852
[Sidenote: Harwy the Reweyll, an aged knight, the second.]
The ſecund led harwy the Reweyll,
That in this world was kny{ch}t that had moſt feill
For to p{ro}wid that longith to the were,
One agit kny{ch}t, and well couth armys bere. 2856

[T]he thrid feld [he] deliu{er}it in the hond [Fol. 35b.]
[Sidenote: King Angus, a cousin of Arthur, leads the third.]
Of ang{us}, king of ylys of ſcotlande,
Wich cuſing was one to king arthur nere,
One hardy kny{ch}t he was, w{i}t{h}outen were. 2860
[Sidenote: King Ywons the fourth.]
The ferd batell led ywons the king,
O manly kny{ch}t he was In to al thing.
And thus dewyſit ware his batell{is} ſere,
[Sidenote: In every company are 15,000.]
In euery feld xv thouſand were. 2864

[T]he fift[T66] batell the lord ſ{ir} ywan lede,
[Sidenote: The lord Sir Ywan leads the rearguard.]
Whois ma{n}hed was i{n} euery cu{n}tre dred,
Sone he was one to wryne the kyng,
Forwart, ſtout, hardy, wyß, and ȝhing; 2868
Xx thouſand in his oſt thai paſt,
Wich ordanit was for to aſſemble laſt.
[Sidenote: Galiot’s armies.]
[A]nd galiot, apone the tothir ſyde,
Ry{ch}t wyſly gan h{is} batell{is} to dewid. 2872
[Sidenote: Malenginys leads the first line;]
The firſt of them led malenginys the king,
None hardyar In to this erth lewyng;
He neu{er} more out of his cuntre Raid,
Nor he w{i}t{h} hyme one hund{er}eth kny{ch}t{is} hade. 2876

[Footnote T66: MS. “firſt.” See l. 2870.]

[Sidenote: the first-conquest king the second; Walydeyne the third;]
[T]he ſecund the first-conqueſt king led,
That for no p{er}ell of armys vas adred;
The thrid, o king clepit walydeyne,
He led, and was o manly kny{ch}t, but weyne. 2880

[Sidenote: Clamedeus the fourth;]
[T]he ferd, king clamede{us} has,
Wich that lord of far ylys was.
[Sidenote: and King Brandymagus the fifth.]
The fift[T67] batell, whar xl thouſand were,
King brandymag{us} had to led and ſtere, 2884
O manly kny{ch}t, and prewit well oft-ſyß,
And in his conſell wond{er} ſcharp & wyß.
[Sidenote: Galiot bore no arms;]
Galiot non armys bur that day,
Nor as o kny{ch}t he wald hyme-ſelf aray, 2888
[Sidenote: but was arrayed as a servant in a habergeon with
a “prekyne” hat, and a truncheon in his hand.]
But as o ſ{er}uand in o habariowne,
O prekyne hat, and ek o gret trownſciowñ
In til his hond, and one o curſour ſet,
The beſt that was in ony lond to get. 2892
Endlong the rewar men my{ch}t behold & ſee,
Of kny{ch}t{is} weryne mony one aſſemble;
[Sidenote: The black knight still remains looking towards the
parapet.]
And the blak kny{ch}t ſtill he couth abyde,
W{i}t{h}out remowyng, one the Riwer ſyde, 2896
Bot to the bartes to behold and ſee
Thar as his hart deſyrit moſt to bee:

[Footnote T67: MS. “firſt.”]

[Headnote: THE FIRST MESSAGE TO THE BLACK KNIGHT.]

[Sidenote: The lady says to the queen--]
And quhen the lady of melyhalt haith ſeñ
The kny{ch}t ſo ſtond, ſche ſaid one to the qweñ, [Fol. 36a.]
[Sidenote: “Madam, pray commend yourself to yon knight.”]
“Madem, It is my conſell at ȝhe send 2901
One to ȝone kny{ch}t, ȝour-ſelf for to {com}mend,
Beſeiching hyme that he wald wnd{er}tak
This day to do of armys, for ȝour ſak.” 2904
[Sidenote: The queen replies]
The quen anſuerit as that hir lykit no{ch}t,
For othir thing was more In to hir tho{ch}t,
“For well ȝhe ſe the p{er}ell how disio[i]nt,
The adwentur now ſtondith one the point 2908
Boith of my lord his honore, and h{is} lond,
And of his men, i{n}[T68] dang{er} how thai ſtond:

[Footnote T68: Stevenson reads “the”; but “the” is crossed out,
and “i{n}” written over it.]

[Sidenote: that the lady and the rest may send a message, but that
she will not herself take part in it.]
Bot ȝhe, and ek thir vthere ladice may,
If that yhow lykith, to the kny{ch}t gar ſay 2912
The meſag; is none that wil yhow let,
For I tharof ſal no{ch}t me ent{er}met.”
On to the quen ſcho ſaith, “her I,
If ſo it pleß thir vthir ladice by, 2916
Am for to ſend one to the kny{ch}t {con}tent;”
And al the ladice can thar-to aſſent,
Beſeching hir the meſag to dewyß,
As ſche that was moſt prudent & moſt wyß. 2920
[Sidenote: The lady sends a discreet maiden,]
Sche grantit, and o madeñ haith thai tone,
Diſcret, apone this meſag for till gone;
[Sidenote: and Sir Gawane a squire, with two spears,]
And ſ{ir} gawan a ſqwyar bad alſo,
W{i}t{h} two ſperis one to the kny{ch}t to go. 2924
The lady than, w{i}t{h}outen more dulay,
Haith chargit hir apone this wyß to ſay:
[Sidenote: to say that all the ladies, the queen alone excepted,
commend them to the black knight,]
“Schaw to the kny{ch}t, the ladice eu{er}-ilkone
Ben In the court, excep the quen allon, 2928
Til hyme them haith reco{m}mandit oft-ſyß,
Beſeching hyme of kny{ch}thed and gentriß,
(Or if It hapyne eu{er}more that he ſhall
Cum, quhar thai may, owther an or all, 2932
In ony thing awail hyme or ſupport,
Or do hyme ony pleſans or comfort,)
[Sidenote: and pray him to essay some deed of arms.]
He wold wichſaif for loue of them this day
In armys ſum manhed to aſſay; 2936
And ſay, ſ{ir} gawan hyme the ſper{is} ſent;
Now go, this is the fek of our entent.”
[Sidenote: The damsel and squire]
The damyſell ſche hath hir palfray tone,
The sqwyar w{i}t{h} the ſperis w{i}t{h} hir goñ; 2940
The n{er}eſt way thai paß one to ye kny{ch}t, [Fol. 36b.]
[Sidenote: repeat the message.]
Whar ſche repete hir meſag haith ful ry{ch}t:

[Headnote: SIR LANCELOT IS NOT CONTENT.]

[Sidenote: Sir Lancelot, finding the queen not in the message,]
And quhen he hard, and planly wnd{er}ſtude,
How that the quen not in the meſag ȝude, 2944
[Sidenote: was not content,]
He ſpak no word, bot he was not {con}tent;
Bot, of ſ{ir} gawan, glaid in his entent,
He aſkit quhar he was, and of h{is} fair?
And thai to hyme the man{er} can duclair; 2948
[Sidenote: but asks the squire to hold the two spears ready for
him.]
Than the ſqwyar he prayth that he wold
Paß to the feld, the ſperis for to hold.
He ſaw the kny{ch}t{is} ſemblyng her and thare,
The ſtedis Rynyng w{i}t{h} the ſadill{is} bare; 2952
His ſpuris goith in to the ſtedis syde,
That was ful ſwyft, and lykit not to byd;

[Headnote: HE USES UP SIR GAWANE’S TWO SPEARS.]

And he that was hardy, ferß, and ſtout,
[Sidenote: He attacks a company of a hundred knights, slays the
nearest,]
Furth by o ſyd aſſemblyng on a rout 2956
Whar that one hund{er}eth kny{ch}t{is} was, & mo;
And w{i}t{h} the firſt has Recount{er}it so,
That frome the deth not helpith hy{m} h{is} ſcheld,
Boith horß and man is lying in the feld; 2960
The ſpere is gone, and al in pecis brak,
[Sidenote: and with the stump of his spear bereaves two or three
of their saddles.]
And he the trunſcyoune in h{is} hand hath tak
That two or thre he haith the ſadill{is} reft,
Whill in his hond ſchortly no thing is left. 2964
Syne, to the ſquyar, of the feld is goñ,
[Sidenote: He takes a new spear from the squire, and overthrows
three knights.]
Fro hyme o ſpere In to his hond haith ton,
And to the feld returnyt he aȝayne:
The firſt he met, he goith one the plan, 2968
And ek the next, and ſyne the thrid alſo;
Nor in his hond, nore in his ſtrak was ho.
His e{n}nemys that veryng In affray
Befor his ſtrok, and makith rovm alway; 2972
And in ſich wyß ay in the feld he vro{ch}t,
Whill that his ſperis gon var al to no{cht};
Whar-of ſ{ir} gawan berith vitneſing
Throw al this world that thar vas non levyng, 2976
In ſo ſchort tyme ſo mych of armys wro{ch}t.

[Headnote: HE USES UP SIR GAWANE’S TWO SPEARS.]

[Sidenote: His spears gone, he returns to his first position.]
His ſperis gone, out of the feld he ſo{ch}t,
And paſſit is one to the Rewere syde,
Ry{ch}t thore as he was wont for to abyde; 2980
And ſo beholdyne In the ſamyne plañ, [Fol. 37a.]
As to the feld hyme lykit no{ch}t aȝañ.
[Sidenote: Sir Gawane says to the queen:]
Sir gawan ſaw, and ſaith on to the quen,
[Sidenote: “Madam, yon knight thinks himself despised, because you
so specially excepted yourself in the message;]
“Madem, yhone knycht diſponit [not],[T69] I weyñ, 2984
To help ws more, fore he ſo is awyſit;

[Footnote T69: “not” seems required.]

As I p{re}ſume, he thinkith hyme diſpiſit
Of the meſag that we gart to hyme mak;
Yhowre-ſelf yhe have ſo ſpecialy out-tak, 2988
He thinkith ewill contempnit for to bee,
Conſid{er}ing how that the neceſſitee
Moſt prinſpally to yhowr ſupporting lyis.
Tharfor my conſell is, yhow to dewyß, 2992
And ek ȝhowre-ſelf i{n} yhowr t{r}eſpas accuß,
[Sidenote: ask him mercy, therefore, and excuse your guilt.]
And aſk hyme mercy, and yhour gilt excuß.
For well it oucht o prince or o king
Til honore and til cheriß in al thing 2996
O worthi man, that is in kny{ch}thed p{re}wit.
For throw the body of o man eſchevit
Mony o wondir, mony one aduenture,
That m{er}well war til any creature. 3000
And als oft-tyme is boith hard & ſen,
[Sidenote: For often, by one knight’s prowess, have 40,000 been
worsted by 5,000.]
Quhar xl thouſand haith diſcu{m}fit ben
Vith v thouſand, and only be o kny{ch}t;
For throw his ſtrenth, his vorſchip, & h{is} my{ch}t, 3004
His falowſchip ſich comfort of hym tais
That thai ne dreid the dang{er} of thar fays.
And thus, madem, I wot, w{i}t{h}outen were,
[Sidenote: If yon knight will continue to help the king,]
If that ȝhone kny{ch}t this day will p{er}ſywere 3008
W{i}t{h} his manhed for helping of the king,
We ſal have cauß to dred in to no thing.
Our folk of hyme thai ſal ſich comfort tak,
And ſo adred thar ennemys ſal mak, 3012
That ſur I am, onys or the ny{ch}t,
[Sidenote: yon folk shall perforce take to flight.”]
Of forß ȝhone folk ſal tak one them the fly{ch}t:
Wharffor, madem, that ȝhe have gilt to mend,
My conſell is one to ȝhon kny{ch}t ȝe ſend.” 3016

[Headnote: THE SECOND MESSAGE TO THE BLACK KNIGHT.]

[Sidenote: She consents to send a message.]
“S{ir},” q{uod} ſche, “quhat pleſſith yhow to do
Ȝhe may dewyß, and I conſent thar-to.”
Than was the lady of melyhalt {con}tent,
And to ſ{ir} gawan in-to-{con}tynent 3020
Sche clepit the maid, wich that paſſit ar; [Fol. 37b.]
[Sidenote: A maiden is therefore sent to say,]
And he hir bad the meſag thus duclar.
“Say [to][T70] the kny{ch}t, the quen hir reco{m}mendith,
And ſal correk in quhat that ſche offendith 3024
At his awn will, how ſo hyme liſt dewyß;
[Sidenote: that the queen humbly exhorts him]
And hyme exortith, in moſt humyll wyß,
As eu{er} he will, whar that ſche can or may,
Or powar haith hir charg, be ony way, 3028
And for his worſchip and his hie ma{n}hede,
[Sidenote: to help in that need to preserve the king’s honour,
and to deserve her thanks.]
And for hir luf, to helpen i{n} that ned
The king{is} honore, his land fore to preſerf,
That he hir thonk for eu{er} may deſerf.” 3032

[Footnote T70: “to” seems required.]

[Headnote: SIR GAWANE SENDS HIM TEN SPEARS MORE.]

And four ſquyaris chargit he alſo
[Sidenote: Sir Gawane also sends four squires with three horses
and ten spears.]
W{i}t{h} thre horß and ſperis x to go
Furt{h} to the knycht, hyme prayng for his ſak,
At his raqueſt thame in his ned to tak. 3036

[T]he maden furt{h} w{i}t{h} the ſqwyar{is} is went
One to the kny{ch}t, and ſchawith y{ar} entent.
[Sidenote: The message heard, he inquires about the queen,]
Tho meſag hard, and ek ye preſent ſeñ,
He anſwerit, and aſkith of the qwen; 3040
[Sidenote: and is told that from yon parapet she can witness his
deeds.]
“S{ir},” q{uod} ſche, [“sche][T71] in to ȝhone bartiis lyis,
Whar that this day yhour dedis ſal dewyß,
Yhowr manhed, yhour worſchip, and affere,
How ȝhe {con}teñ, and how yhe armys bere; 3044
The quen hir-ſelf, and many o lady to,
Sal Iug{is} be, and vitnes how yhe do.”
Than he, whois hart ſtant in o new aray,
[Sidenote: He returns a message that he is the queen’s knight.]
Saith, “damyceyll, on to my lady ſay, 3048
How eu{er} that hir lykith that it bee,
Als far as wit or powar is in me,
I am hir kny{ch}t, I ſal at hir {com}mand
Do at I may, w{i}t{h}outen more demand. 3052
And to ſ{ir} gawan, for his gret gentriß,
Me reco{m}mend and thonk a thouſand ſyß.”
W{i}t{h} that o ſper he takith in his hond,
[Sidenote: He stands in his stirrups; and seems to increase a foot
in height.]
And ſo in to his ſterapis can he ſtond 3056
That to ſ{ir} gawan ſemyth that the kny{ch}t
Encreſyng gon o larg fut one hycht;
And to the ladice ſaith he, and the qwen,
“Ȝhon is the kny{ch}t that eu{er} I have ſen 3060
In al my tyme moſt kny{ch}tly of affere,
And in hyme-ſelf gon fareſt armys bere.”

[Footnote T71: A second “sche” is here required.]

[Headnote: THE BLACK KNIGHT’S CHARGE.]

[Sidenote: Greatly encouraged,]
[T]he kny{ch}t that haith Reme{m}brit in his tho{ch}t [Fol. 38a.]
The qwenys charg{is}, & how ſche hy{m} beſo{ch}t, 3064
Curag can encreſing to his hart;
His curſer lap, and gan onon to ſtart;
And he the ſqwaris haith reqwyrit ſo,
That thai w{i}t{h} hyme one to the feld wald go. 3068
[Sidenote: without delay he crosses over the river to the field;]
Than goith he one, w{i}t{h}outen mor abaid,
And our the reuar to the feld he raid;
Don goith his ſpere onone In to the Reſt,
[Sidenote: and goes in wherever he sees most peril.]
And in he goith, w{i}t{h}outen mor areſt, 3072
Thar as he ſaw moſt p{er}ell and moſt dred
In al the feld, and moſt of help[T72] had ned,
Whar ſemblyt was the firſt-{con}queſt king
W{i}t{h} mony o kny{ch}t that was in his leding. 3076
[Sidenote: He overthrows two knights.]
The firſt he met, doune goith boith horß & man;
The ſper was holl, and to the next he Rañ
That helpit hyme his hawbrek nor h{is} ſcheld,
Bot throuch and throuch haith perſit i{n} the feld. 3080

[Footnote T72: MS. “held.”]

[Headnote: SIX KNIGHTS FOLLOW HIM.]

[Sidenote: Sir Kay, Sir Sygramors, Sir Gresown, Sir Ywan, Sir
Brandellis, and Gahers, all six in a race spur across the field
with stretched spears,]
S{ir} kay, the wich haith this encontyr ſen,
His horß he ſtrekith our the larg gren,
And ſ{ir} ſygramors ek the deſyrand,
W{i}t{h} ſ{ir} greſown cu{m}myth at y{ar} honde, 3084
Son of the duk, and alſua ſ{ir} ywan
The baſtart, and ſ{ir} brandellis onan,
And gaherß, wich that broyir was
To gawan; thir ſex in a Raß 3088
Deliu{er}ly com prekand our the feld{is}
W{i}t{h} ſperis ſtraucht, and cou{er}it w{i}t{h} thar ſcheldis;
Sum for love, ſum honor to purcheß,
[Sidenote: and 100 knights after them.]
And aftir them one hund{er}eth kny{ch}t{is} was, 3092
In ſamyne will, thar manhed to aſſay.
On his v falowis clepit than ſ{ir} kay,
[Sidenote: Sir Kay exhorts them]
And ſaith them, “ſ{ir}is, thar has ȝhond{er} ben
A courß that neu{er}-more farar was ſen 3096
Maid be o kny{ch}t, and we ar cu{m}myn ilkon
Only ws one [his] worſchip to diſpone;
And neu{er} we in al our dais my{ch}t
Have bet axampil than iffith ws ȝone kny{ch}t 3100
[Sidenote: to keep near the black knight, and follow his guidance
all day.]
Of well doing; and her I hecht for me
Ner hyme al day, if that I may, to bee,
And folow hyme at al [my] my{ch}t I ſall,
Bot deth or vthir adwentur me fall. 3104
W{i}t{h} that thir ſex, al in one aſſent,
W{i}t{h} freſch curag In to the feld Is went.
The blak kny{ch}t{is} ſpere in pec{is} goñe, [Fol. 38b.]
[Sidenote: With a second spear, the black knight seeks the field,
closely followed by the six.]
Frome o ſqwyar oñe vthir haith he toñe, 3108
And to the feld onone he goith ful ry{ch}t;
Thir ſex w{i}t{h} hyme ay holdith at y{ar} my{ch}t.
And than bygan his wond{er}is in the feld;
Thar was no helme, no hawbryk, nore no ſcheld, 3112
[Sidenote: No knight nor armour can withstand him.]
Nor yhit no kny{ch}t ſo hardy, ferß, nore ſtout,
No ȝhit no man{er} armour my{ch}t hald owt
His ſtrenth, nore was of powar to w{i}t{h}ſtond;
So mych of armys dyde he w{i}t{h} his honde, 3116
[Sidenote: Every wight wonders at his deeds.]
That euery wight ferleit of h{is} deid,
And al his fois ſtondith ful of dreid.
So beſely he can his tyme diſpend,
That of the ſperis wich ſ{ir} gawan ſend, 3120
[Sidenote: He uses up all Gawane’s spears.]
Holl of them all thar was not lewit oñe;
Throw wich but m{er}cy to the deyth is gon
Ful many o kny{ch}t, and many o weriour,
That cout{h} ſuſten ful hardely o ſtour. 3124
[Sidenote: Two horses of his are killed, and he fights on foot.]
And of his horß ſupp{ri}ſit ded ar two,
One of his awn, of gawanis one alſo,
And he one fut was fechtand one the gren,
When that ſ{ir} kay haith w{i}t{h} his falowis ſeñ; 3128
[Sidenote: The squire brings him a fresh horse;]
The ſqwyar w{i}t{h} his horß than to hy{m} bro{ch}t;
Magre his fois he to his courſeir ſo{ch}t
Deliu{er}ly, as of o my{ch}ty hart,
[Sidenote: he leaps into the saddle without stirrups.]
W{i}t{h}out ſteropis in to his ſadill ſtart, 3132
That euery wycht beholding m{er}vell has
Of his ſtrenth and deliu{er} beſynes.

[Headnote: SIR KAY ASKS WHO THE BLACK KNIGHT IS.]

[Sidenote: Sir Kay asks who he is,]
S{ir} kay, ſeing his horß, and how that thai
War cled in to ſ{ir} gawanis aray, 3136
Aſkith at the ſquyar if he knewith
What that he was, this kny{ch}t? & he hym ſchewith
[Sidenote: but the squire cannot tell.]
He wiſt no thing quhat that he was, nore hee
Befor that day hyme neu{er} ſaw w{i}t{h} Ee. 3140
Than aſkith he, how and one quhat wyß
On gawanis horß makith hyme ſich ſ{er}uice?
The ſqw[y]ar ſaith, “forſuth y wot no more;
My lord ws bad, I not the cauß quharfore.” 3144
[Sidenote: The black knight returns to the field.]
The blak kny{ch}t, horſit, to the feld can ſew
Als freſch as he was in the morow new;
[Sidenote: The six comrades follow him.]
The ſex falowis folowit hyme ilkone,
And al in front on to the feld ar goñ; 3148
Ry{ch}t freſchly one thar ennemys thai ſoght, [Fol. 39a.]
And many o fair poynt of armys vroght.

[Sidenote: Malangin’s host is discomfited by king Ydras; and
retreats to join the second line, commanded by the Conquest-king;]
[T]han hapnyt to king malangins oſt
By ydras king diſcu{m}fit was, & loſt, 3152
And fled, and to the {con}queſt-king ar goñe,
Thar boith the batell{is} aſſemblit In to one;
King malengynis in to his hart was wo,
For of hyme-ſelf no bett{er} kny{ch}t my{ch}t go; 3156
[Sidenote: so that 40,000 are now opposed to 15,000 of Arthur’s.]
Thar xl thouſand war thai for xv.
Than my{ch}t the feld ry{ch}t p{er}ellus be ſen
Of armyt kny{ch}t{is} gaping one the ground;
Sum deith, and ſum w{i}t{h} mony a grewous wond; 3160
For arthuris kny{ch}t{is}, that manly war and gud,
Suppos that vthir was o multitude,
Reſauit tham well at the ſperis end;
But one ſuch wyß thai may not lang defend. 3164

[Headnote: THE BLACK KNIGHT’S PROWESS.]

[Sidenote: The black knight, knowing who is beholding him,]
The blak kny{ch}t ſaw the dang{er} of the feld,
And al his doing{is} knowith quho beheld,
And ek reme{m}brith in to his entent
Of the meſag that ſche haith to hyme ſent: 3168
Than curag, ſtrenth encreſing w{i}t{h} ma{n}hed,
Ful lyk o kny{ch}t one to the feld he raid,
[Sidenote: thinks to have his lady’s love, or die before her.]
Thinking to do his ladice love to have,
Or than his deth befor hir to reſave. 3172
Thar he begynyth in his ferß curag
Of armys, as o lyoune in his rag;
Than m{er}well was his doing to behold;
Thar was no kny{ch}t ſo ſtrong, nor yhit ſo bold, 3176
That in the feld befor his ſuerd he met,
Nor he ſo hard his ſtrok apone hyme ſet,
That ded or wondit to the erth he ſo{ch}t;
[Sidenote: He works nothing but wonders;]
For thar was not bot wond{er}is that he wro{ch}t. 3180
And magre of his fois eu{er}ilkone,
[Sidenote: and often passes alone through the field.]
In to the feld oft tymys hyme aloñ
Throuch and throuch he paſſith to & fro;
For in the ward[T73] it was the man{er} tho 3184
That non o kny{ch}t ſhuld be the brydill tak
Hyme to oreſt, nore cum behynd h{is} bak,
Nor mo than on at onys one o kny{ch}t
Shuld ſtrik, for that tyme worſchip ſtud ſo ry{ch}t. 3188
Ȝhit was the feld ry{ch}t p{er}ellus and ſtrong
Till arthuris folk, ſet thai {con}tenyt longe;
Bot in ſich wyß this blak kny{ch}t can {con}ten, [Fol. 39b.]
[Sidenote: He fights in such wise as to encourage all who see his
deeds.]
That thai, the wich that hath his manhed ſeñ, 3192
Sich hardyment haith takyne In his ded,
Them tho{ch}t thai had no man{er} cauß of dred,
Als long as he my{ch}t owthir ryd or go,
At euery ned he them recomfort ſo. 3196
[Sidenote: Sir Kay and his fellows follow him all day.]
S{ir} kay haith w{i}t{h} his falowis al the day
Folowit hyme al that he can or may,
And wondir well thai have in armys p{re}wit,
And w{i}t{h} thar manhed oft thar folk relewit; 3200
Bot well thai faucht in diu{er}ß placis ſere,
[Sidenote: But at last they are nearly all overpowered by numbers.]
W{i}t{h} multitud y{ar} folk confuſit were,
That long in ſich wyß my{ch}t thai no{ch}t {con}teñ.

[Footnote T73: Another spelling of _warld_, i.e. world, which
occurs in the fuller form in l. 3212.]

[Headnote: SIR KAY’S MESSAGE TO SIR HARWY.]

[Sidenote: Sir Kay sends Gawane’s squire with a message to Sir
Harwy that he ought not to suffer the best knight that ever bore
arms to be surprised,]
S{ir} kay, that hath ſ{ir} gawans qſquyar{is} ſen, 3204
He clepit hyme, and haith hyme prayt ſo,
That to ſ{ir} harwy the rewell wil he go,
And ſay to hyme, “ws think hyme ewil awyſit;
For her throuch hyme he ſufferit be ſuppriſit 3208
The beſt kny{ch}t that eu{er} armys bur;
And if it ſo befell of adwentur,
In his defalt, that he be ded or lamyt,
This warld ſal have hyme vtraly defamyt. 3212
[Sidenote: nor six knights of the Round Table to be discomfited.]
And her ar of the round table alſo
A falouſchip, that ſall in well and wo
Abid w{i}t{h} hyme, and furt{h} for to endur
Of lyf or deth, this day, thar adwentur; 3216
And if ſo fal diſcumfyt at thai bee,
The king may ſay that wond{er} ewill haith he
Contenit hyme, and kepit his honore,
Thus for to tyne of chevalry the flour!” 3220
[Sidenote: The squire takes the message.]
The ſqw[y]ar hard, and furt{h} his way Raid,
In termys ſchort he al his meſag ſaid.
S{ir} harwy ſaith, “y wytneß god, that I
Neu{er} in my days comytit tratory, 3224
And if I now begyne In to myne eld,
In ewill tyme fyrſt com I to this feld;
[Sidenote: Sir Harwy says that Sir Kay shall have no cause to
reprove him.]
Bot, if god will, I ſal me ſon diſcharg.
Say to ſ{ir} kay, I ſal not ber the charg, 3228
He ſal no mat{er} have me to rapref,
I ſal amend this mys if that I lef.”
The ſqwyar went and tellit to ſ{ir} kay;

[Sidenote: Sir Harwy comes to support them;]
++And ſ{ir} harwy, in al the haſt he may, 3232
Aſſemblyt hath his oſt{is}, & onoñ
In gret deſyre on the feld is gon [Fol. 40a.]
Before his folk, and haldith furt{h} his way;
Don goith his ſper, and ewyne before ſ{ir} kay 3236
So hard o kny{ch}t he ſtrykith in his ten
That horß and he lay boith apone the gren.
S{ir} gawan ſaw the count{er} that he maad,
And leuch for al the ſarues that he had: 3240
[Sidenote: and proves himself a better warrior than might have
been expected of one so old.]
That day ſ{ir} harwy prewyt in the feld
Of armys more than longith to his eld,
For he was more than fyfty yher of ag,
Set he was ferß and ȝong in his curag; 3244
And fro that he aſſemblyt his bataill
[Sidenote: Galiot’s folk are beaten.]
Doune goith the folk of galot{is} al haill;
For to w{i}t{h}ſtond thai war of no poware,
And yhit of folk x thouſand mo thei vare. 3248

[Sidenote: King Valydone comes to support them.]
++Kyng valydone, that ſauch on ſuch o wyß
His falowis dang{er}it w{i}t{h} thar ennemys,
W{i}t{h} al his folk, being freß and new,
Goith to the feld onon, them to reſſkew; 3252
Thar was the feld ry{ch}t p{er}ellus aȝañe,
Of arthuris folk ful many on var ſlan.

[Sidenote: Angus comes to aid Arthur’s men.]
++Bot angus, quhich that lykith not to bid,
And ſaw the p{er}ell one the tother ſid, 3256
His ſted he ſtrok, and w{i}t{h} his oſt is gon
Whar was moſt ned, and thar the feld has ton.

[Sidenote: Clamedyus comes to aid Galiot’s men.]
++Kyng clamedyus makith non abaid,
Bot w{i}t{h} his oſt one to the ſid he raid. 3260

[Headnote: GALIOT’S FOLK ARE WORSTED.]

[Sidenote: Ywons encounters Clamedyus.]
++And ywons king, that haith his cu{m}myn ſen,
Encount{er}it hyme in myddis of the greñ.
The aucht batell{is} aſſemblyt one this wiß;
[Sidenote: Great clamour and lamentable cries on either side.]
On ather half the clamore and the cryiß 3264
Was lametable and petws for til her,
Of kny{ch}t{is} wich in diu{er}ß placis ſere
Wondit war, and fallyng to and fro,
Ȝhit galyot{is} folk war xx thouſand mo. 3268

[Sidenote: The black knight bids himself remember love’s power
over him;]
++The blak kny{ch}t than on to hyme-ſelf he ſaid:
“Remembir the, how yhow haith ben araid,
Ay ſen ye hour that yow was makid kny{ch}t,
W{i}t{h} love, aȝane quhois powar & whois my{ch}t 3272
Yow haith no ſtrenth, yow may It not endur,
Nor ȝhit non vthir erthly creatur;
[Sidenote: and that only his lady’s mercy or his life’s end can
amend him.]
And bot two thing{is} ar the to amend,
Thi ladice mercy, or thi lyvys end. 3276
And well yhow wot that on to hir p{re}ſens,
Til hir eſtat, nor til hir excellens, [Fol. 40b.]
Thi febilneß neu{er}more is able
For to attan, ſche is ſo honorable. 3280
And ſen no way yow may ſo hie extend,

[Headnote: THE BLACK KNIGHT’S DARING RESOLUTION.]

[Sidenote: He counsels himself to strive for her thanks,]
My verray conſell is, that yow pretend
This day, (ſen yow becu{m}myne art hir kny{ch}t
Of hir comand, and fechtit in hir ſy{ch}t), 3284
And well yow ſchaw, ſen yow may do no mor,
That of reſone ſche ſal the thank tharfore;
[Sidenote: and to be ashamed of every point of cowardice.]
Of euery poynt of cowardy yow ſcham,
And in til armys purcheß the ſum nam.” 3288
W{i}t{h} that of love in to o new deſir
[Sidenote: Swift as a crossbow-bolt he seeks the field.]
His ſpere he ſtraucht, and ſwift as any wyre
W{i}t{h} al his forß the n{er}eſt feld he ſoght;
His ful ſtrenth in armys thar he vroght, 3292
In to the feld ruſching to and fro,
Doune goith the man, doune goith the horß also;
Sum throw the ſcheld is perſit to the hart,
Sum throw the hed, he may It not aſtart. 3296
[Sidenote: His sword carves the head from some, and cuts the arms
of others in twain.]
His bludy ſuerd he dreuch, that carwit ſo
Fro ſum the hed, and ſum the arm in two;
Sum in the feld fellit is in ſwoñ,
Throw ſum his ſuerd goith to the ſadill doune. 3300
His fois waren abaſit of his dedis,
His mortell ſtrok ſo gretly for to dred Is;
[Sidenote: When his foes see him, they leave the place for dread
of death.]
Whar thai hyme ſaw, w{i}t{h}in a lytall ſpace,
For dreid of ded, thai levyng hyme the place, 3304
That many o ſtrok ful oft he haith forlorñ;
The ſpedy horß away the kny{ch}t hath borñ.
In to his wyrking neu{er}more he ſeſt,
Nor non abaid he makith, nor areſt. 3308
[Sidenote: His knightly deeds assure his fellows.]
His falowis, ſo in his kny{ch}thed aſſuryd,
Thai ar reco{m}fort, thar manhed is recou{er}yt,
And one thar fois ful ferſly thai ſoght,
Thar goith the lyf of many o kny{ch}t to no{ch}t. 3312
So was the batell wond{er}ful to tell,
Of kny{ch}t{is} to ſe the multitud that fell,
[Sidenote: It was pitiful to see the knights gaping upon the green.]
That pety was til ony kny{ch}t to ſeñ
The kny{ch}t{is} lying gaping on the gren. 3316
The blak kny{ch}t ay {con}tinewit ſo faſt,
Whill[T74] many one, diſcumfit at the laſt,
Are fled, and planly of the feld thei pas: [Fol. 41a.]

[Footnote T74: MS. “Whilk.”]

[Headnote: GALIOT WONDERS WHY HIS MEN FLEE.]

[Sidenote: Galiot asks his men why they flee.]
And galyot haith wondyr, for he was 3320
Of mor powar, and aſkit at them qwhy
As cowart{is} thai fled ſa ſchamfully?
[Sidenote: A knight replies, that whoever likes may go and see
marvels.]
Than ſaith o kny{ch}t, ſor wondit in the brayne,
“Who lykith, he may Retwrn aȝayne 3324
Frome qwhens we come, m{er}walis for to ſee,
That in his tyme neu{er} ſich ſauch hee.”
[Sidenote: Galiot asks, what marvels; and the knight tells him
there is a knight who vanquishes all;]
“Marwell,” q{uod} he, “that dar I boldly ſay
Thay may be callit, and quhat thai ar, I pray?” 3328
“Schir, in the feld forſuth thar is o kny{ch}t,
That only throw his body and his my{ch}t
Wencuſſith all, that thar may non ſuſten
His ſtrokis, thai ar ſo fureows and ken. 3332
[Sidenote: who fares as a lion or a bear;]
He farith as o lyone or o beyre,
Wod in his rag, for ſich is his affere.
[Sidenote: to whom the red knight hears no comparison.]
Nor he the kny{ch}t in to the armys Red,
Wich at the first aſſemble in this ſted 3336
Wencuſſith all, and had the holl renown,
He may to this be no comp{ar}yſou{n}e,
Fore neu{er} he ſeſith ſen the day vas goñ,
Bot eu{er}more {con}tinewit in to one.” 3340
[Sidenote: Galiot says he will go and see.]
Quod galiot, “in nome of god and we
Al, be tyme, the ſuthfaſtneß ſal see.”

[Headnote: GALIOT RALLIES HIS MEN.]

[Sidenote: Galiot is armed, rallies the flyers, and encourages
his men.]
[T]han he in armys that he had is gon,
And to the feld w{i}t{h} hyme aȝane hath ton 3344
Al the flear{is}, and foundyne [in][T75] ſich aray
His folk, that ner diſcumfyt al war thay;
Bot quhen thai ſaw cu{m}myne our the plan
Thar lord, thai tuk ſich hardeme{n}t aȝañ, 3348
[Sidenote: They shout their war-cries.]
That thar eſſenȝeis lowd thai gon to cry.
He chargit tham to go, that ware hyme by,
Straucht to the feld, w{i}t{h} al thar holl forß;
And thai, the wich that ſparit not the horß, 3352
All redy war to fillyng his {com}mand,
And freſchly went, w{i}t{h}owten more demand:
Throw qwich thar folk recou{er}yt haith thar place,
[Sidenote: All think a new host is coming.]
For al the feld p{re}ſwmyt that thar was 3356
O new oſt, one ſuch o wyß thai ſoght;
[Sidenote: Arthur’s folk determine rather to die than fly.]
Whar arthuris folk had paſſith al to no{ch}t,
Ne war that thai the bett{er} war ilkoñe,
And at thai can them vtraly diſpoñe 3360
Rathar to dee than flee, in thar entent, [Fol. 41b.]
And of the blak kny{ch}t haith ſich hardyment;
For at al p{er}ell, al harmys, and myſchef,
In tyme of ned he can tham al ralef. 3364

[Footnote T75: The sense, but not the metre, requires “in.”]

[T]har was the batell danger{us} & ſtrong,
Gret was the pres, bat{h} perell{us} & throng;
[Sidenote: The black knight is borne to the ground.]
The blak kny{ch}t is born on to the ground,
His horß hyme falyth, that fellith dethis wound. 3368
[Sidenote: The six comrades go to the earth.]
The vi falowis, that falowit hyme al day,
Sich was the preß, that to the erth go thay;
And thar in myd among his ennemys
He was about encloſit one ſich wyß 3372
[Sidenote: None know where he is.]
That quhare he was non of [his] falowis knew,
Nor my{ch}t no{ch}t cum to help hyme, nore reſkew.
And thus among his ennemys allon
[Sidenote: He defends himself with his sword.]
His nakid ſuerd out of his hond haith ton; 3376
And thar he p{re}wit his wertew & h{is} ſtrenth;
For thar was none w{i}t{h}in the ſuerdis lenth
That came, bot he goith to confuſioune.
[Sidenote: No helm nor habergeon may resist his sword.]
Thar was no helme, thar was no habirioune, 3380
That may reſiſt his ſuerd, he ſmytith so;
One euery ſyd he helpith to and fro,
That al about the compas thai my{ch}t ken;
The ded horß lyith virſlyng w{i}t{h} the men. 3384
Thai hyme aſſalȝeing bot{h} w{i}t{h} ſcheld & ſpere,
[Sidenote: He fares like a bear at the stake, that snubs the
hardy hounds.]
And he aȝane; as at the ſtok the bere
Snybbith the hardy hound{is} that ar ken,
So farith he; for neu{er} my{ch}t be ſen 3388
His ſuerd to reſt, that in the gret rout
He rowmyth all the compas hyme about.

[Headnote: GALIOT WONDERS AT LANCELOT’S PROWESS.]

[A]nd galiot, beholding his manhed,
[Sidenote: Galiot wonders at his deeds;]
W{i}t{h}in his-ſelf wond{er}ith of his ded, 3392
How that the body only of o kny{ch}t
Haith ſich o ſtrenth, haith ſich affere & my{ch}t;
Than ſaid he thus, “I wald not that throw me,
[Sidenote: and says that such a knight shall not die on his
account.]
Or for my cauß, that ſuch o kny{ch}t ſuld dee, 3396
To conquer all this world that is ſo larg.”
His horß than can he w{i}t{h} his ſpuris charg,
A gret trunſioune In to his hond hath ton,
And in the thikeſt of the preß is goñ, 3400
[Sidenote: He charges all his folk to cease;]
And al his folk chargit he to ſeß.
At his {com}mand thai levyng al the preß;
And quhen he had departit all the rout, [Fol. 42a.]
He ſaid, “ſ{ir} kny{ch}t, havith now no dout.” 3404
Wich anſwerit, “I have no cauß to dred.”
[Sidenote: and assures the black knight that he will himself
warrant him from all harm.]
“Ȝis,” q{uod} he, “ſa eu{er} god me ſped,
Bot apone fut quhill ȝe ar fechtand here,
And yhow defendith apone ſich manere, 3408
So hardely, and ek ſo lyk o kny{ch}t,
I ſal my-ſelf w{i}t{h} al my holl my{ch}t
Be yhour defens, and varand fra al harmys;
Bot had yhe left of worſchip In til armys, 3412
What I have don I wold apone no wyß;
Bot ſen yhe ar of kny{ch}thed ſo to prys,
Ȝhe ſal[T76] no man{er} cauß have for to dred:

[Footnote T76: MS. “ſalt.”]

[Headnote: GALIOT GIVES LANCELOT HIS OWN HORSE.]

[Sidenote: He offers him as many horses as he needs; and proposes
that they shall never again part.]
And ſet yhour horß be falit at this ned, 3416
Diſpleß yhow not, for-quhy ȝe ſal not want
Als many as yhow lykith for to hawnt;
And I my-ſelf, I ſal yhowr ſqwyar bee,
And, if god will, neu{er} more ſal wee 3420
[Sidenote: He ’lights from his horse, and gives him to Lancelot,
who thanks him.]
Dep{ar}t;” w{i}t{h} that, anon he can to lycht
Doune frome his horß, and gaf hyme to y^e kny{ch}t.
The lord he thonkit, and the horß hath ton,
And als ſo freſch one to the feld is gon, 3424
As at no ſtrok{is} he that day had ben.
His falowis glad, one horß that hath hy{m} ſen,
To galiot one vthir horß thai broght;
And he goith one, and frome the feld he ſo{ch}t, 3428
[Sidenote: Galiot returns to his host, and chooses a band of
10,000 men.]
And to the plan quhar that his oſt{is} were;
And brandymagus chargit he to ſtere
Eft{er} hyme, w{i}t{h}in a lytill ſpace,
And x thouſand he takyne w{i}t{h} hy{m} haß. 3432
Towart the feld onon he can to Rid,
And chargit them befor ye oſt to byd.
[Sidenote: The trumpets, clarions, horns, and bugles are sounded.]
Wp goith the trumpet{is}, and the claryownis,
Hornys, bugill{is} blawing furt{h} thar ſownis, 3436
That al the cuntre reſownit hath about;
[Sidenote: Arthur’s folk despair.]
Than arthuris folk var in diſpar & dout,
That hard the noys, and ſaw the m{u}ltitud
Of freſch folk; thai cam as thai war wod. 3440

[Headnote: LANCELOT HARANGUES ARTHUR’S HOST.]

[Sidenote: The sable knight, still fearless,]
[B]ot he that was w{i}t{h}owten any dred,
In ſabill cled, and ſaw the gret ned,
Aſſemblyt al his falowis, and arayd;
[Sidenote: harangues his men, saying,]
And thus to them in manly t{er}mes ſaid: 3444
“What that ȝe ar I knaw not yhour eſtat, [Fol. 42b.]
[Sidenote: “I know not who ye are, but I know that ye ought to
be commended.]
Bot of ma{n}hed and worſchip, well I wat,
Out throuch this warld yhe aw to be {com}me{n}dit,
This day ȝe have ſo kny{ch}tly yhow defendit. 3448
[Sidenote: Ye see how your enemies, as night approaches, are
striving to give you an outrage or a fright.]
And now yhe ſee how that, aȝanis the ny{ch}t,
Yhour ennemys p{re}tendit w{i}t{h} thar myght
Of multitud, and w{i}t{h} thar new oſt,
And w{i}t{h} thar buglis and thar wynd{is} boſt 3452
Freſchly cu{m}myng In to ſich aray,
To ifyne yhow one owtrag[T77] or affray.
And now almoſt cu{m}myne Is the ny{ch}t,
[Sidenote: Employ then your courage, so that the honour ye have
won be not again lost.]
Quharfor yhour ſtrenth, yhour curag, & yhovr my{ch}t 3456
Yhe occupye in to ſo manly wyß,
That the worſchip of kny{ch}thed & empryß
That yhe have wonyng, and ye g{re}t renown
Be not yloſt, be not ylaid doune. 3460
For one hour the ſufferyng of diſtreß,
Gret harm It war yhe tyne the hie encreß
Of vorſchip, ſ{er}uit al this day before.
And to yhow al my conſell is, tharfore, 3464
[Sidenote: Resolve then to meet them sharply, without fear, so
that they may feel the cold spear in their hearts.]
W{i}t{h} manly curag, but radour, yhe p{re}tend
To met tham ſcharply at the ſperis end,
So that thei feil the cold ſperis poynt
Out-throw thar ſcheld{is}, in thar hart{is} poynt. 3468
So ſal thai fynd we ar no-thing affrayt;
Whar-throuch we ſall the well leß be aſſayt.
[Sidenote: Perhaps then the foremost will make the rest afraid.”]
If that we met them ſcharply in the berd,
The formeſt ſal mak al the laif afferd.” 3472
And w{i}t{h} o woyß thai cry al, “ſ{ir} kny{ch}t,
Apone yhour manhed, and yhour gret my{ch}t,
[Sidenote: They promise to stand firm.]
We ſal abid, for no man ſhall eſchef
Frome yhow this day, his ma{n}hed for to pref.” 3476
[Sidenote: Sir Yvan also bids his men be comforted; for that they
see all the strength of their enemies.]
And to his oſt the lord ſ{ir} yvane ſaid,
“Yhe comfort yow, yhe be no-thing affrayd,
Ws ned no more to dreding of ſuppriß;
We ſe the ſtrenth of al our ennemys.” 3480
Thus he ſaid, for he wend thai var no mo,
[Sidenote: Sir Gawane, however, knew better.]
Bot ſ{ir} gawan knew well It vas not ſo;
For al the oſt{is} my{ch}t he ſe al day,
And the gret hoſt he ſaw quhar y{a}t it lay. 3484

[Footnote T77: MS. “owtray.” See Glossary.]

[Headnote: THE POEM ABRUPTLY ENDS.]

[Sidenote: Galiot also exhorts his men.]
[A]nd galiot he can his folk exort,
Beſeching them to be of good comfort,
And ſich encont{er}

[_The rest is wanting._]

NOTES.

[It may be observed, once for all, that the expression _in to_ repeatedly occurs where we should simply use _in_; and _one to_ is in like manner put for _unto_. The ending _-ith_ (for _-ed_) is frequent in the past tense, and _-it_ (also for _-ed_) in the past participle, though this distinction is not always observed. A still more noticeable ending is _-ing_ (for _-en_) in the infinitive. Observe further that the letters _v_, _u_, and _w_ are perfectly convertible, and used quite indiscriminately; so that _wpone_ means _upon_; _vthir_ means _uthir_, i.e., _other_: _our_ is put for _over_; _vounde_ signifies _wound_, etc.]

Page 1, line 1. _The soft morow._ This nominative case has no verb. A similar construction occurs in the first lines of Books II. and III.

4. _Uprisith--his hot courss_, Upriseth in his hot course; _chare_, chariot.

6. _sent_, sendeth; so also _stant_, standeth, l. 326.

8. _valkyne_, waken.

10. _gyrss_, grass.

11. _assay_, assault.

13. _wox_, voice.

17. _frome I can_, from the time that I did.

18. _It deuit me_, it availed me. Jamieson gives “_Dow_, 1. to be able; A.S. _dugan_ (_valere_), to be able. 2. to avail; Teut. _doogen_.”

P. 2, l. 23. _hewy ȝerys_, heavy years.

24. “Until that Phœbus had thrice gone through his full circuits” (lit. spheres). See the peculiar use of “pas” in other places.

26. “So, by such a manner, was my lot fated;” see l. 41.

28. _carving can_, did cut.

30. _be the morow_, by the morn.

36. _neulyngis_, newly, anew.

43. _walkith_, walked.

50. _I-clede_, y-clad, clad. Ch. has _clede_.

54. “No one within thought he could be seen by any wight outside.”

P. 3, l. 56. _clos it_, enclose it; the MS. has _closit_.

57. _alphest._ This reading of the MS. is an error for _alcest_. See Chaucer, Prologue to Legend of good women, l. 511:

“The gret{e} goodnesse of the quene Alceste,
That turned was into a dayesye,”

Alceste being the contracted form of Alcestis.

59. _Wnclosing gane_, did unclose.

60. “The bright sun had illumined the spray, and had updrawn (upwarped) into the lusty air the night’s soft (sober) and moist showers; and had made the morning soft, pleasant, and fair.” With this difficult passage we should compare l. 2477.

66. _Quhill_, until.

67. _till ony vicht_, to any wight.

69. _Bot gladness til the thochtful, euer mo_, etc., “But, as for gladness to the melancholy man, evermore the more he seeth of it, the more wo he hath.”

73. _represent_, represented (accented on the second syllable).

74. _Al day gan be sor_, etc., “All the day, my spirit began to dwell in torment, through sorrow of thought;” _be sor_, by sorrow (A.S. sorh).

77. _Ore slep, or how I wot_, “Or sleep, ere I knew how.”

83. _A-licht_, alighted.

84. _levis in to were_, livest in doubt.

P. 4, l. 91. _be morow_, by morrow; at early morn.

99. _set_, although.

103. _weil accordinge_, very fitting.

105. _long ore he be sonde_, (It is) long ere he be sound.

108. _seith, for to consel_, saith, that as for concealing or shewing, etc.

109. _althir-best_, lit. best of all; see Chaucer’s use of _alderfirst, alderlast_.

P. 5, l. 127. _lat be thi nyss dispare_, let be thy nice (foolish) despair.

128. _erith_, earth.

134. _schall hyme hating_, shall hate him. The termination _-ing_ is here the sign of the infinitive mood after the verb _shall_.

140. _Set_, although.

146. _tak one hand and mak_, undertake and compose; _trety_, treatise; _vnkouth_, unknown, new.

151. _belevis_, believe will please thy lady.

160. _yis_, this.

P. 6, l. 161. _troucht_, truth.

163. _discharge_, release.

170. _spir_, sphere.

171. “At command of a wise (god from) whose vision,” etc. We sometimes find in old English the adjective “a wise” used absolutely for “a wise man.” See “Le Morte Arthur,” ed. F. J. Furnivall, l. 3318.

175. _tynt_, lost.

177. _be this worldis fame_. Here again, as in many other passages, “be” expresses with relation to, as regards.

185. _yaim_, them.

191. _demande_, demur.

P. 7, l. 198. _Quhill_, until.

200. _conten_, treat; lit. contain.

202. Lancelot is here called the son of Ban, king of Albanak; so again in l. 1447.

204. _redis_, read.

214. “I will not waste my efforts thereupon.”

219. _wnwyst_, unwist, unknown.

225. _nome_, name.

226. _Iwondit to the stak_, very deeply wounded; but there is no doubt about the origin of the phrase. See Glossary.

228. _astart_, get rid of it, escape it.

P. 8, l. 240. _dedenyt to aras_, deigned to pluck out.

244. _hurtare_, hurter.

245. _Iwond_, wounded.

248. _ful wicht_, full nimble.

251. _of quhome_, by whom.

253. _send_, sent.

257. _pasing vassolag_, surpassing prowess.

260. “Passed down into the fell caves.”

264. _tane_, taken.

266. _cwre_, care.

P. 9, l. 267. _gart be maid_, caused to be made.

271. _awoue_, vow.

275. _in to that gret Revare_, in that great river.

284. _o gret confusione of pupil and knychtis_, al enarmyt, a great medley of people and knights, all fully armed. Stevenson actually reads _unarmyt!_

294. _I wil report_; both here and in l. 320 we should almost expect to find “_I nil report_;” i.e. I will not tell. It must mean, “I will tell you why I omit to mention these things.” Compare lines 266, 320.

297. _thing_, think.

P. 10, l. 305. _veris_, wars.

306. _be the wais_, by the ways.

307. _Tuex_, betwixt; _accorde_, agreement.

314. _mot_, must.

316. _stek_, concluded.

319. _most conpilour_, very great composer.

320. “As to whose name I will only say, that it is unfit,” etc.

326. _stant_, standeth.

328. _yroung_, rung.

330. _beith_, shall be; observe the _future_ sense of _beith_ in this place.

331. _suet_, sweet.

332. “His soul in bliss preserved be on that account.”

334. _and this endit._ Whether _endit_ here refers to _inditing_ or _ending_ is perhaps doubtful.

NOTES TO BOOK I.

P. 11, l. 336. If by _aryeit_ is here meant the _sign_, not the _constellation_ of Aries, the day referred to is April 1 or 2, according to Chaucer’s “Astrolabie.”

338. _bewis_, boughs.

340. _makyne gone_, did make.

341. _in ther chere_, after their fashion. (For _chere_, see Glossary.)

345. _auerding to_, belonging to.

351. _Anoit_, annoyed.

352. _For why_, wherefore; so also _for-thi_, therefore.

354. _can_, began.

355. _sende_, sent.

358. _heryng_, hear (infin. mood). In the next line it occurs as a present participle.

362. _to pas hyme_, to go, depart.

364. _meit_, to dream of; _aperans_, an appearance, apparition.

P. 12, l. 365. _hore_, hair.

375. _vombe_, womb; hence bowels.

377. _stert_, started.

384. _gert_, caused.

390. _traist_, trust.

397. _demande_, demur, delay.

398. _at_, that.

P. 13, l. 407. _whill_, until.

408. _the_, they.

410. _to viting_, to know.

412. _shauyth al hall_, sheweth all whole.

414. _chesith_, chooseth.

422. _shire_, sir.

424. _fore to awysing_, in order to take counsel.

432. All this about _astronomy_ (i.e. astrology) should be compared with Gower; Conf. Amantis, lib. vii; ed. Pauli, vol. 3, pp. 133, 134. Arachell, Nembrote, Moises, Hermes are there mentioned as astrologers.

433. The MS. has “set” (_not_ with a long _s_). Mr Stevenson has “fet,” which would seem right.

P. 14, l. 435. _nembrot_, Nimrod; see _Genesis and Exodus_ (E.E.T.S.), l. 659.

436. _herynes_, miswritten for _herymes_, i.e. Hermes.

439. “The which they found were wondrously evil set.”

440. _his sweuen met_, dreamed his dream.

443. _waryng in to were_, were in doubt.

444. _danger_, power to punish; compare Shakspere’s use of the word.

457. _but delay_, without delay.

459. _stondith heuy cherith_, stood heavy-cheered, was sad in his demeanour.

465. _fundyng_, found.

466. _depend to_, depend upon.

P. 15, l. 475. _tone_, taken.

478. _assey_, test.

481. _record_, to tell out, speak.

487. _preseruith It allan_, is preserved alone.

499. _affy in-tyll_, rely upon.

500. _failye_, fail.

504. _there clergy_, their science.

P. 16, l. 519. “Through the watery lion, who is also faithful, and through the leech and eke the water also, and through the counsel of the flower.” It is very possible this passage is partly corrupt; l. 520 should certainly be (as may be seen from lines 2010, 2056),

“And throuch the leich withouten medysyne.”

The meanings of lion, leech, and flower are fully explained, however, in lines 2013-2120.

524. _weyne_, vain.

527. _passid nat his thoght_, left not his thoughts.

531. _rachis_, braches, dogs.

533. _grewhundis_, grayhounds.

536. This purely conjectural line is merely inserted to carry on the sense. It is imitated from line 3293. In the next line we should read “grewhundis,” rather than “grewhund.”

538. _Befor ther hedis_, before their heads.

P. 17, l. 545. “All armed, as was then the fashion.”

546. _salust_, saluted.

548. _kend_, known.

549. _leuyth_, liveth.

552. The rime requires “land,” as in l. 638.

553. _yald hyme our_, yield him over.

554. _if tribut_, give tribute.

566. _recist_, resist; _mone bee_, must be.

568. _be_, by.

569. _day moneth day_, ere this day month; comp. l. 1162.

P. 18, l. 577. _fairhed_, fair-hood, beauty.

587. _magre myne entent_, in spite of my intention.

591. _nome_, took.

593. _Inquere at_, inquire of.

596. _wes_, was.

599. _rase_, rose.

605. _accordith_, agree thereto.

606. _recordith_, belongith.

607. _visare_, wiser.

P. 19, l. 621. _This spek I lest_, this I list to speak.

622. _varnit_, warned.

626. “Though the season of the year was contrary.”

627. _atte_, at the.

629. _the ilk_, that (Scotch _thilk_).

632. _Melyhalt_, the name both of a hill, and of the town built upon it.

636. _affray_, terror.

642. _wnconquest_, unconquered.

643. _cwre_, care.

P. 20, l. 649. _nemmyt_, named.

652. _were_, war.

654. _or than to morn_, earlier than to-morrow.

660. _our few_, over few.

677. _northest_, north-east.

P. 21, l. 686. _fechteris_, fighters.

688. _holde_, held.

691. _presone_, prison.

697. _peite_, pity.

699. The metre of Lancelot’s lament is that of Chaucer’s “Cuckoo and Nightingale,” and was very possibly copied from it. _Qwhat haue y gilt_, what crime have I committed.

702. _ago_, gone.

703. _nat_, naught; _me glaid_, gladden me.

706. _til haue_, to have.

709. _Sen thelke tyme_, since that time.

P. 22, l. 718. _of remed_, for a remedy.

719. _sesith_, ceaseth.

723. _with this lady_, by this lady.