78rb
[Miniature remoued]
(7 lines)
K
Ni3tes þ[at were sometyme in londe]Ferli fele wolde fonde
A nd sechen auentures bi ni3t and dai
H ou 3he mi3te here strengthe asai
S o dede a kny3t Sire degarree
I ch wille 3ou telle wat man was he
¶I n litel Bretaygne was a kyng
O f gret poer in all þing
S tif in armes vnder sscheld
A nd mochel idouted in þe feld
Þ er nas no man verraiment
Þ at mi3te in werre ne in tornament
N e in iustes for no þing
H im out of his sadel bring
N e out of his stirop bringe his fot
S o stron he was of bon and blod
[¶]Þ is kyng he hadde non hair
B vt a maidenchild fre and fair
H ere gentiresse and here beaute
W as moche renound in ich countre
Þ is maiden he loued als his lif
O f hire was ded þe quene his wif
I n trauailing here lif 3he les
A nd þo þe maiden of age wes
K ynges sones to him speke
E mperours and dukes eke
T o hauen his dou3ter in mariage
F or loue of here heritage
A c þe kyng answered euer
Þ at no man sschal here halben euer
B vt 3if he mai in turneying
H im out of his sadel bring
A nd maken him lesen hise stiropes bayne
78va
[cut out]
(7 lines)
[H] ire dirige do and masse boþe
[P] oure men fede and naked cloþe
[O] ffring brenge gret plente
[A] nd fede þe couent wi3 gret daynte
T oward þe abbai als he com ride
A nd mani kny3tes bi his side
H is doughter al so bi him rod
A midde þe forest hii abod
H ere chaumberleyn 3he clepede hire to;
A nd oþer dammaiseles two
A nd seide þat hii moste ali3te
T o don here nedes and hire ri3te
Þ ai ali3t a doun alle þre
T weie damaiseles &ssche
A nd longe while þer abiden
T il al þe folk was forht iriden
Þ ai wolden vp and after wolde
A nd couþen nowt here way holde
Þ e wode was rough and þikke iwis
A nd þai token þe wai amys
Þ ai moste souht and riden west
I n to þe þikke of þe forest
I n to a launde hii ben icome
A nd habbe3 wel vndernome
Þ at þai were amis igon
Þ ai li3t adoun euerichon
A nd cleped and criede al ifere
A c no man ari3t hem ihere
Þ ai nist what hem was best to don
Þ e weder was hot bifor þe non
H ii leien hem doun vpon agrene
V nder a chastein tre ich wene
A nd fillen aslepe euerichone
78vb
B ote þe damaisele alone
3 he wente aboute and gaderede floures
A nd herknede song of wilde foules
S o fer in þe launde 3he goht iwis
Þ at 3he ne wot neuere whare 3e is
T o hire maidenes 3he wolde anon
A c hi ne wiste neuer wat wei to gon
W henne hi wende best to hem terne
A weiward þan hi go3 wel 3erne
A llas hi seide þat iwas boren
N ou ich wot ich am forloren
W ilde bestes me wille3 to grinde
O r ani man me sschulle finde
Þ an segh hi swich asi3t
T oward hire comen akni3t
G entil · 3ong · and iolif man
A robe of scarlet he hadde vpon
H is visage was feir · his bodi ech weies ·
O f countenaunce ri3t curteis
W el farende legges fot and honde
Þ er nas non in al þe kynges londe
M ore apert man þan was he
D amaisele welcome mote þou be
B e þou afered of none wih3te
I ich am comen here a fairi kny3te
M i kynde is armes for to were
O n horse to ride wi3 scheld and spere
F or þi afered be þou nowt
I ne haue nowt but mi swerd ibrout
I ich haue iloued þe mani · a3er
A nd now we be3 vs selue her
Þ ou best mi lemman ar þou go
W eþer þe like3 wel or wo
Þ o no þing ne coude do 3he
B ut wep · and criede · and wolde fle
A nd he a non gan hire at holde
A nd dide his wille what he wolde
H e binam hire here maidenhod
A nd seththen vp to foren hire stod
L emman he seide gent and fre ·
79ra
M id schilde iwot þat þou schalt be
S iker ich wot hit worht a knaue
F or þi mi swerd þou sschalt haue
A nd whenne þat he is of elde
Þ at he mai him self biwelde
T ak him þe swerd and bidde him fonde
T o sechen his fader in eche londe
Þ e swerd his god and auenaunt
L o as ifaugt wi3 a geaunt
I brak þe point in his hed
A nd siththþen when þat he was ded
I tok hit out and haue hit er
R edi in min aumener
3 it par auenture time bi3
Þ at mi sone mete me wi3
B e mi swerd i mai him kenne
H aue god dai i mot gon henne
Þ e kniyt passede as he cam
A l wepende þe swerd 3he nam
A nd com hom sore sikend
A nd fond here maidenes al slepend
Þ e swerd 3he hidde als 3he mi3te
A nd awaked hem in hi3te
A nd doht hem to horse a non
A nd gonne to ride euerichon
Þ anne seghen hi ate last
T weie squiers come prikend fast
F ram þe kyng þai weren isent
T o white whider his doughter went
Þ ai browt hire in to þe ri3te wai
A nd comen faire to þe abbay
A nd do3 þe seruise in alle þingges
M ani masse and riche offringes
A nd whanne þe seruise was al idone
A nd ipassed ouer þe none
Þ e kyng to his castel gan ride
H is doughter rod bi his side
A nd he 3eme3 his kyngdom oueral
S toutliche as a god king sschal
¶A c whan ech man was glad an bliþe
79rb
H is dou3ter siked an sorewed swithe
H ere wombe greted more and more ·
Þ erwhile 3he mi3te 3e hidde here sore ·
¶O n a dai as hi wepende set ·
O n of hire maidenes hit vnder3et ·
M a dame 3he seide par charite
W hi wepe 3e now telle3 hit me
¶A gentil maiden kinde icoren
H elp me oþer ich am forloren
I ch haue euer 3ete ben meke and milde
L o now ich am wi3 quike schilde
3 if ani man hit vnder3ete
M en wolde sai bi sti and strete
Þ at mi fader þe king hit wan
A nd i ne was neuer aqueint wi3 man ·
A nd 3if he hit him selue wite
S wich sorewe schal to him smite
Þ at neuer bli3e schal he be
For al his ioie is in me
A nd tolde here al to geder þer
H ou hit was bi3ete and wher
M
a dame quad þe maide ne care þou nowtstille a wai hit sschal be browt
N o man schal wite in godes riche
W har hit bicome3 but þou and iche
¶H er time come 3he was vnbounde
A nd deliured al mid sounde
A knaue schild þer was ibore
G lad was þe moder þarfore
Þ e maiden seruede here at wille
W ond þat child in cloþes stille
A nd laid hit in a cradel anon
A nd was al prest þar wi3 to gon
3 hit is moder was him hold
F our pound 3he tok of gold
A nd ten of seluer al so
V nder his fote 3he laid hit þo
F or swich þing hit mihoue
A nd seththen 3he tok a paire gloue ·
Þ at here lemman here sente of fairi londe ·
79va
Þ at nolde on no manne honde
N e on child ne on womman 3he nolde
B ut on hire selue wel 3he wolde
Þ o glouen 3he put vnder his hade
A nd siththen a letter 3he wrot and made
A nd knit hit wi3 a selkene þred
A boute his nekke wel god sped
Þ at who hit founde sscholde iwite
Þ an was in þe lettre þous iwrite
¶P ar charite 3if ani god man
Þ is helplos child finde can
L at cristen hit wi3 prestes honde
A nd bringgen hit to liue in londe
F or hit is comen of gentil blod
H elpe3 hit wi3 his owen god
W i3 tresor þat vnder his fet lis
A nd ten 3er eld whan þat he his
T ake3 him þis ilke glouen two
A nd bidde3 him whar euere he go
Þ at he ne louie no womman in londe
B ut þis gloues willen on hire honde
F or siker on honde nelle þai nere
B ut on his moder þat him bere
¶Þ e maiden tok þe child here mide
S tille a wai in auen tide
A lle þe winteres longe ni3t
Þ e weder was cler þe mone li3t
Þ an warht3 3e war a non
O f an hermitage in a ston
A n holi man had þer his woniyng
Þ ider 3he wente on heying
A n sette þe cradel at his dore
A nd durste abide no lengore
A nd passede for3 a non ri3t
H om 3he com in þat oþer ni3t
A nd fond þe leuedi al drupni
S ore wepinde and was sori
A nd tolde hire al to geder þer
H ou 3he had iben and wher
¶Þ e hermite aros erliche þo
79vb
A nd his knaue was vppe al so
A n seide ifere here matines
A nd seruede god and hise seins
Þ e litel child þai herde crie
A nd clepede after help on hie
Þ e holi man his dore vndede
&fond þe cradel in þe stede
H e tok vp þe cloþes a non
A nd biheld þe litel grom
H e tok þe letter and radde wel sone
Þ at tolde him þat he scholde done
¶
Þ E heremite held vp boþe his hondeAn þonked god of al his sonde
A nd bar þat child in to his chapel
A nd for Ioie he rong his bel
H e dede vp þe glouen and þe tresour
A nd cristned þe child wi3 gret honur
I n þe name of þe trinite
H e hit nemnede degarre
D egarre nowt elles ne is ;
B ut þing þat not neuer whar hit is
O þe þing þat is neg3 forlorn al so
F orþi þe schild he nemnede þous þo ·
Þ
e heremite þat was holi of lif ·Hadde a soster þat was a wif
A riche marchaunt of þat countre
H adde hire ispoused in to þat cite
T o hire þat schild he sente þo
B i his knaue and þe siluer al so
A nd bad here take gode hede
H it to forster and to fede
A nd 3if god almi3ti wolde
T en 3er his lif holde
A 3en to him i scholde hit wise
H e hit wolde teche of clergise
Þ
E litel child degarreWas ibrout into þat Cite
Þ e wif and hire louerd ifere
K ept hit ase hit ere owen were
B i þat hit was ten 3er old
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H it was afair child and a bold
W el inorisscher god and hende
W as non betere in al þat ende
H e wende wel þat þe gode man
H ad ben his fader þat him wan
A nd þe wif his moder al so
A nd þe hermite his vnkel bo
A nd whan þe ten 3er was ispent
T o þe hermitage he was sent
A nd he was glad him to se
H e was so feir and so fre
H e tau3te him of clerkes lore
O þer ten wynter oþer more
A nd he was of twenti 3er
S staleworth he was of swich pouer
Þ at þer ne wan man in þat lond
Þ at obreid him mi3t astond
Þ
O þe hermite se3 wi3outen lesMan for him self þat he wes
S taleworht to don ech werk
A nd of his elde so god aclerk
H e tok him his florines and his gloues
Þ at he had kept to hise bihoues
A c þe ten pound of starlings
W ere ispended in his fostrings
H e tok him þe letter to rede
A nd biheld al þe dede
O leue hem par charite
W as þis letter mad for me
3 e bi oure lord vs helpe sschal
Þ us hit was and told him al
H e knelede a doun al so swi3e
A nd þonked þe ermite of his liue
A nd swor he nolde stinte no stounde
T il he his kinrede hadde ifounde
F or in þe lettre was þous iwrite
Þ at bi þe glouen he sscholde iwite
W ich were his moder and who
3 hif þat sche liuede þo
F or on hire honden hii wolde
80rb
A nd on non oþer hii nolde
H alf þe florines he gaf þe hermite
A nd haluendel he tok him mide
A nd nam his leue an wolde go ·
N ai seide þe hermite schaltu no ·
T o seche þi ken mi3tou nowt dure
W i3 outen hors and god armure
N ai quad he bi heuene kyng
I ch wil haue first anoþer þing
H e hew a doun boþe gret an grim
T o beren in his hond wi3 him
A god sapling of an ok
W han he þar wi3 gaf a strok
N e wer he neuer so strong a man
N e so gode armes hadde vpon
Þ at he ne scholde falle to grounde
S wich a bourdon to him he founde
Þ o þenne god he him bitawt
&aiþer fram oþer wepyng rawt
C
hild degarre wente his waiÞour3 þe forest al þat dai
N o man he ne herd ne non he se3
T il hit was non ipassed he3
Þ anne he herde a noise kete
I n o valai an dintes grete
B liue þider he gan to te
W hat hit ware he wolde ise
A n herl of þe countre stout and fers
W i3 a kni3t and four squiers
H adde ihonted a der oþer two
A nd al here houndes weren a go
Þ an was þar a dragon grim
F ul of filth and of venim
W i3 wide þrote and te3 grete
A nd wynges bitere wi3 to bete
A s a lyoun he hadde fet
A nd his tail was long an gret
Þ e smoke com of his nose a wai
A se fer out of a chimenai
Þ e kny3t and squiers he had to rent
80va
M an and hors to deþe chent
Þ e dragon þe erl assaile gan
A nd he defended him as a man
A nd stoutliche leid on wi3 his swerd
A nd stronge strokes on him gerd
A c alle his dentes ne greued him nowt
H is hide was hard so Iren wrout
Þ erl flei fram tre to tre
F ein he wolde fram him be
A nd þe dragon him gan asail
Þ e dou3ti erl in þat batail
O f segh þis child degarre
H a help he seide par charite
Þ e dragoun se3 þe child com
H e laft þe erl and to him nom
B lowinde and 3eniend al so
A ls he him wolde swolewe þo
A c degarre was ful strong
H e tok his bat gret and long
A nd in þe forehefd he him batere3
Þ at al þe forehefd he to spatere3
H e fil a doun a non ri3t
A nd frapte his tail wi3 gret mi3t
V pon degarres side
Þ at vp so doun he gan to glide
A c he stert vp ase a man
A nd wi3 his bat leide vp an
A nd al to frusst him ech a bon
Þ at he lai ded stille as ston
Þ
erl knelede a doun biliueAnd 3onked þe child of his liue
A nd maked him wi3 him gon
T o his castel ri3t a non
A nd wel at hese he him made
A nd proferd him al þat he hade
R entes tresor an eke lond
F or to holden in his hond
Þ anne answerede degarre
L at come ferst bifor me
Þ i leuedi and oþer wimmen bold
80vb
M aidenes &widues 3onge &olde
A nd oþer damoiseles swete
3 if mine glouen be3 to hem mete
F or to done vp on here honde
Þ anne ich wil take þi londe
&3if þai ben nowt so
I ich wille take me leue and go ·
A
lle wimman were forht ibrowtWide cuntreis and forht isowt
E ch þe glouen assaie bigan
A c non ne mi3te don hem on ·
H e tok his glouen and vp hem dede
A nd nam his leue in þat stede
Þ e erl was gentil man of blod
A nd gaf him a stede ful god
A nd noble armure riche and fin
W hen he wolde armen him þer in
A nd a palefrai to riden an
A nd a knaue to ben his man
A nd 3af him a swerd bri3t
A nd dubbed him þer to kny3t
A nd swor bi god almi3ti
Þ at he was better worthi
T o vsen hors and armes al so
Þ an wi3 his bat aboute to go
S
ire degarre was wel blitheAnd þanked þe erl mani asiþe
A nd lep vp on palefrai hiis
A nd doht him for3 in his wai
V pon his stede ri3te his man
&ledde his armes als he wel can
M ani aiorne þai ride and sette
S o on a dai gret folk þei mette
E rles and barouns of renoun
Þ at come fram a Cite toun
H e asked a seriaunt what tiding
&whennes hii come &what is þis þing
S ire he seide verraiment
W e come framward a parlement
81ra
Þ e king a gret counseil made
F or nedes þat he to don hade
W han þe parlement was plener
H e lette crie fer and ner
3 if ani man were of armes so bold
Þ at wi3 þe king iusti wold
H e sscholde haue in Mariage
H is dowter and his heritage
Þ at is kingdom god and fair
F or he had non oþer hair
A c no man ne dar graunte þer to
F or mani hit assaie3 &mai nowt do
M ani erl and mani baroun
K ni3tes and squiers of renoun
A c ech man þat him iuste3 wi3 tit
H aþ of him a foul despit
S ome he breke3 þe nekke a non
A nd of some þe rig bon
S ome þour3 þe bodi he girt
E ch is maimed oþer i hirt
A c noman mai don him no þing
S wich wonder chaunce ha3 þe king
S
ire degarre þous þenche ganIch am astaleworht man
A nd of min owen ich haue a stede
S werd and spere and riche wede
A nd 3if ich felle þe kyng adoun
E uere ich haue wonnen renoun
A nd þei þat he me herte sore
N o man wot wer ich was bore
W heþer de3 oþer lif me bitide
A gen þe king ich wille ride
I n þe cite his in he take3
A nd reste3 him and meri make3
O n a dai wi3 þe king he mette
A nd knelede a doun and him grette
S ire king he saide of muchel mi3t
M i louerd me sende hider nou ri3t
F or to warne 3ou þat he
B i þi leue wolde iuste wi3 þe
81rb
A nd winne þi dowter 3if he mai
A s þe cri was þis enderdai
I ustes he had to þe inome
D e par deus qua3 þe king he is welcome
B e he Baroun · be he Erl
B e he burgeis be he cherl
N o man wil i forsake
H e þat winne3 al sschal take
A
morewe þe iustes was isetÞe king him purueid wel þe bet
A nd degarre ne knew noman
A c al his trust is god vpon
E rliche to churche þan wente he
Þ e masse he herde of þe trinite
T o þe fader he offre3 hon florine
A nd to þe sone anoþer al so fine
A nd to þe holi gost þe þridde
Þ e prest for him ful 3erne gan bidde
A nd to þe seruise was idon
T o his in he wente wel son
A nd let him armi wel afin
I n god armes to Iusti in
H is gode stede he gan bistride
H is squier bar his sschaft biside
I n þe feld þe king he abide gan
A s he com ridend wi3 mani a man
S toutliche out of þe cite toun
W i3 mani a lord of gret renoun
A c al þat in þe felde be3
Þ at þe iustes ise3
S eide þat hi neuer 3it ise3e
S o pert a man wi3 here eg3e
A s was þis gentil degarre
A c no man wiste whennes was he
B
oþe þai gonne to iusti þanAc degarre can nowt þer on
Þ e king ha3 þe gretter schaft
A nd kan inow3 of þe craft
T o breke his nekke he had iment
I n þe helm he set his dent ·
81va
Þ at þe schaft al to sprong
A c degarre was so strong
Þ at in þe sadel stille he set
A nd in þe stiropes held his fet
F or soþe iseie wi3 oute lesing
H e ne couþe nammore of iusting
A llas quaþ þe king allas
M e ne fil neuere swich a cas
Þ at man þat ich mi3te hitte
A fter mi strok mi3te sitte
H e take3 a wel gretter tre
A nd swor so he moste iþe
3 if his nekke nel nowt a two
H is rigg schal ar ich hennes go
H e rod eft wi3 gret raundoun
A nd þou3t to beren him a doun
A nd girt degarre a non
R i3t a3ein þe brest bon
Þ e schaft was stef and wonder god
A nd degarre stede astod
A nd al biforen he ros on hegh3
A nd þo was he ifallen negh3
B ut as god almi3ti wold
Þ e schaft brak and mi3t nowt hold
A nd degarre his cours out ritte
A nd was a gramed out of his witte
A llas quaþ he for vilaynie
Þ e king me haþ ismiten trie
A nd i ne touchede him nowt 3ete
N ou i schal bise me bette
H e turned his stede wi3 herte grim
A nd rod to þe king and he to him
A nd to gider þai gert ful ri3t
A nd in þe scheldes here strokes pi3t
Þ at þe speres al to riue3
A nd vpri3t to here honde sliue3
Þ at alle þe lordings þat þer ben
Þ at þe iusting mi3te sen
S eiden hi ne se3e neuer wi3 eg3e
M an ^þat^ mi3te so longe dregh3e
81vb
I n wraþþe for no þing
S itten a strok of here king
A c he his doughti for þe nones
A strong man of bodi and bones
Þ
e king wi3 egre mod gan spekeDo bring me a schaft þat wil nowt breke
A be mi trewþe he sschal a doun
Þ ai he be strengere þan sampson
A nd þei he be þe bare qued
H e sschal a doun maugre his heued
H e tok a schaft was gret and long
Þ e schild anoþer al so strong
A nd to þe king wel euene he rit
Þ e king faile3 &he him smit
H is schaft was strong and god wi3 al
A nd wel scharped þe coronal
H e smot þe kyng in þe lainer
H e mi3t flit noþer fer ne ner
Þ e king was strong and harde sat
Þ e stede ros vp biforn wi3 þat
&sire degarre so þriste him þan
Þ at maugre who so grochche bigan
O ut of þe sadel he him cast
T ail ouer top ri3t ate last
Þ an was þer long houting and cri
Þ e king was sor asschamed for þi
Þ e lordinges comen wi3 mi3t and mein
A nd broughte þe king on horse a3ein
A n seide wi3 o criing iwis
C hild degarre haþ wonne þe pris
Þ an was þe damaisele sori
F or hi wist wel for whi
Þ at hi scholde ispoused ben
T o a kni3t þat sche neuer had sen
A nd lede here lif wi3 swich a man
Þ at sche ne wot who him wan
N o in what londe he was ibore
C arful was þe leuedi þerfore
Þ
an seide þe king to degarreMin hende sone com hider to me
82ra
A nd þou were al so gentil a man
A s þou semest wi3 si3t vpan
A nd ase wel couþest wisdomes do
A s þou art staleworht man þe to
M e þouwte mi kingdoms wel biset
A c be þou werse be þou bet
C ouenaunt ich wille þe holde
L o her biforn mi barons bolde
M i douwter i take þe bi þe hond
A nd seise þe her in al mi lond
K ing þou scalt ben after me
G od graunte þe godman for to be
Þ an was þe child glad and bli3e
A nd þonked þe kyng mani asithe
G ret purueaunce þan was þer iwrout
T o churche þai were to gidere ibrout
&spoused þat leuedi verraiment
V nder holi sacrement
L o what chaunse and wonder strong
B itide3 mani a man wi3 wrong
Þ at come3 in to an vncouþe þede
A nd spouse3 wif for ani mede
&knowes no þing of hire kin
N e sche of his neiþer more ne min
A nd be3 iwedded to gider to libbe
P ar auenture and be3 negh3 sibbe
S o dede sire degarre þe bold
S poused þere is moder
A nd þat hende leuedi al so
H ere owene sone was spoused to
Þ at sche vpon here bodi bar
L o what auenture fil hem þar
B ut god þat alle þingge mai stere
W olde nowt þa þai sinned ifere
T o chirche þai wente wi3 barouns bolde
A riche feste þai gonne to holde
A nd wan was wel ipassed non
A nd þe dai was al idon
T o bedde þai sscholde wende þat fre
Þ e dammaisele and sire degarre
82rb
H e stod stille and biþouwte him þan
H ou þe hermite þe holi man
B ad he scholde no womman take
F or faired ne for riches sake
B ut 3he mi3te þis gloues two
R i3tliche on hire hondes do
A llas allas þan saide he
W hat meschaunce is comen to me
A wai witles wrechche ich am
I ich hadde leuere þan þis kingdam
Þ at is iseised into min hond
Þ at ich ware faire out of þis lond
H e wrang his hondes and was sori
A c no man wiste þerfore wi
Þ
e king parceyued and saide þoSire degarre wi farest þou so
I s þer ani þing don ille
S poken or seid a3en þi wille
3 a sire he saide biheuene king
I chal neuer for no spousing
Þ erwhiles iliue wi3 wimman dele
W idue · ne wif · ne dammeisele
B ut 3he þis gloues mai take and fonde
A nd li3tlich drawen vp on hire honde
H is 3onge bride þat gan here
A nd al for þout chaunged hire chere
A nd ate laste gan to turne hire mod
H ere visage wex ase red ase blod
S he knew þo gloues þat were hire
S chewe hem hider leue sire
S che tok þe gloues in þat stede
A nd li3tliche on hire hondes dede
A nd fil adoun wi3 reuli cri
A nd seide god mercy · merci
Þ ou art mi sone hast spoused me her
A nd ich am sone þi moder der
I ch hadde þe loren ich haue þe founde
B lessed be ihesu crist þat stounde
S
ire degarre tok his moder þoAnd helde here in his armes two ·
82va
K este and clepte here mani asiþe
Þ at hit wa sche ; he was ful bliþe
Þ an þe kyng gret wonder hadde
W hat þat noise þat þai made
A nd meruaile of hire crying
A nd seide doughter what is þis þing
F ader 3he seide þou schalt ihere
Þ ou wenest þat ich a maiden were
A c certes na3 sire ich am non
T wenti winter nou hit is gon
Þ at mi maidenhed iles / in a fforest as iwes
A nd þis is mi sone god hit wot
B i þis gloues wel ich wot
S he told him al þat soþe þer
H ou þe child was geten and wher
A nd hou þat he was bo3en al so
T o þe hermitage 3he sente him þo
A nd seþthen herd of him no þing
B ut þanked be ihesu heuene king
I ich haue ifounde him aliue
I ch lam his moder and lek his wiue
L
eue moder seide sire degarreTelle me þe soþe par charite
I n to what londe i mai terne
T o seke mi fader swithe and 3erne
S one 3he saide bi heuene kyng
I can þe of him telle no þing
B ut þo þat he fram me rau3t
H is owen swerd he me bitau3t
A nd bad ich sholde take hit þe for þan
3 if þou liuedest and were a man
Þ e swerd sche fet forht a non ri3t
A nd degarre hit out pli3t
B rod and long and heui hit wes
I n þat kyngdom no swich nes
Þ an seide degarre for þan
W ho so hit au3t he was a man
N ou ich haue þat ikepe
N i3t ne dai nel ich slepe
T il þat i mi fader see
82vb
3 if god wile þat hit so be
I n þe cite he reste al ni3t
A morewe whan hit was dai lit
H e aros and herde his masse
H e di3te him and for3 gan passe
O f al þat cite þan moste non
N eiþer wi3 him riden ne gon
B ut his knaue to take hede
T o his armour and his stede
F or3 he rod in his wai
M ani apas &mani iurnai
S o longe he passede in to west
Þ at he com in to þeld fforest
Þ er he was bigeten som while
Þ er inne he ride3 mani amile
M ani adai he ride gan
N o quik best he fond of man
A c mani wilde bestes he segh3
A nd foules singen on hegh3
S o longe he drouw3 to þe ni3t
Þ e sonne was a doune ri3t
T oward toun he wolde ride
B ut he nist neuer bi wiche side
Þ
enne he se3 a water clerAnd amidde a riuer
A fair castel of lim and ston
O þer wonying was þer non
T o his knaue he seide tide wat tide
O fote forþer nel i ride
A c here abide wille we
A nd aske herberewe par charite
3 if ani quik man be here on liue
T o þe water þai come als swiþe
Þ e bregge was a doune þo
&þe gate open al so
A nd in to þe castel he gan spede
F irst he stabled vp his stede
H e taiede vp his palefrai
I nou3 he fond of hote and hai
H e bad his grom on heþing
83ra
K epen wel al here þing
H e passed vp into þe halle
B iheld aboute &gan to calle
A c neiþer on lond ne on he3
N o quik man he ne se3
A midde þe halle flore
A fir was bet stark an store
P ar fai he saide ich am al sure
H e þat bette þat fure
W il comen hom 3it to ni3t
A biden ich wille a litel wi3t
H e sat adoun vpon þe dais
A nd warmed him wel eche wais
A nd he biheld and vnder nam
H ou in at þe dore cam
F our dammaiseles gent and fre
E ch was itakked to þe kne
Þ e two bowen an arewen bere
Þ e oþer two icharged were
W i3 benesoun riche and god
A nd degarre vpstod
A nd gret hem wel fair apli3t
A c þai answerede no wi3t
B ut 3ede in to chaumbre anon
A nd barred þe dore after son
S one þer after wi3 alle
Þ er com a dwerw in to þe halle
F our fet of lengthe was in him
H is visage was stout and grim
B oþe his berd and his fax
W as crisp an 3halew as wax
G rete sscholdres and quarre
R i3t stoutliche loked he
M ochele were hise fet and honde
A se þe meste man of þe londe
H e was iclothed wel ari3t
H is sschon icouped as a kni3t
H e hadde on a sorcot ouert
I forred wi3 blaundeuer apert
S ire degarre him biheld and lowg3
83rb
A nd gret him fair inowg3
A c he ne answerede neuere a word
B ut sette trestles and laid þe bord
A nd torches in þe halle he li3te
A nd redi to þe soper di3te
Þ an þer com out of þe bour
A dammeisele of gret honur
I n þe lond non fairer nas
I n adiapre cloþed 3he was
W i3 hire come maidenes tene
S ome in scarlet some in grene
G ent of bodi of semblaunt swete
A nd degarre hem gan grete
A c hi ne answerede no wi3t ·
B ut 3ede to þe soper a non ri3t
C ertes quaþ sire degarre
I ch haue hem gret and hi nowt me
B ut þai be domb bi and bi
Þ ai schul speke first ar i
Þ
e leuedi þat was of rode so bri3tAmidde 3he sat a non ri3t
A nd on aiþer half maidenes fiue
Þ e dwerw hem seruede al so bliue
W i3 riche metes and wel idi3t
Þ e coppe he fille3 wi3 alle his mi3t
S ire degarre couþe of curteisie
H e set achaier bifore þe leuedie
A nd þer in him selue set
&tok a knif and carf his met
A t þe soper litel at he
B ut biheld þe leuedi fre
A nd se3 ase feir awimman
A ls he heuere loked an
Þ at al his herte and his þout
H ire to loue was ibrowt
A nd þo þai hadde souped a now3
Þ e drew com and þe cloþ he drou3
Þ e leuedis wessche euerichon
A nd 3ede to chaumbre quik a non
I n to þe chaumbre he com ful sone
83va
Þ e leuedi on here bed set
A nd a maide at here fet
A nd harpede notes gode and fine
A noþer brou3te spices and wine
V pon þe he set adoun
T o here of þe harpe soun
F or murþe of notes so sschille
H e fel a doun on slepe stille
S o he slep al þat ni3t
Þ e leuedi wrei3 him warm apli3t
A nd a pilewer vnder his heued dede
A nd 3ede to bedde in þat stede
A
morewe whan hit was dai li3tSche was vppe and redi di3t
F aire sche awaked him þo
A ris 3he seide grai3 þe an go
A nd saide þus in here game
Þ ou art worþ to suffri schame
Þ at al ni3t as a best sleptest
A nd non of mine maidenes ne keptest
O gentil leuedi seide degarre
F or godesloue for3if hit me
C ertes þe murie harpe hit made
E lles Misdo nowt ne hade
A c tel me leuedi so hende
A r ich out of þi chaumber wende
W ho is louerd of þis lond
A nd who þis castel haþ in hond
W eþer þou be widue or wif
O r maiden 3it of clene lif
A nd whi her be so fele wimman
A llone wi3 outen ani man
Þ e dameisele sore si3te
A nd bigan to wepen a non ri3te
S ire wel fain ich telle þe wolde
3 if euere þe better be me sscholde
M i fader was a riche baroun
A nd hadde mani a tour and toun
H e ne hadde no child but me
I ch was his air of his cuntre
83vb
I n mene ich hadde mani a kni3
A nd squiers þat were gode and li3t
A n staleworht men of mester
T o serue in court fer and ner
A c þanne is þar here biside
A sterne kni3t iknawe ful wide
I ch wene in bretaine þer be non
S o strong a man so he is on
H e had iloue me ful 3ore
A c in herte neuere more
N e mi3te ich louie him a3ein
B ut whenne he segh3e þer was no gein
H e was a boute wi3 maistri
F or to rauisse me a wai
M ine kni3tes wolde defende me
A nd ofte fow3ten hi an he
Þ e best he slowgh þe firste dai
A nd seþen an oþe par ma fai
A nd seþen þe þridde and þe ferþe
Þ e beste þat mi3te gon on erthe
M ine squiers þat weren so stoute
B i foure bi fiue þai riden oute
O n hors armed wel a now3
H is houen bodi he hem slough
M ine men of mester he slough alle
A nd oþer pages of mine halle
Þ erfore ich am sore agast
L est he wynne me ate last
W i3 þis word sche fil to grounde
A nd lai aswone a wel gret stounde
H ire maidenes to hire come
A nd in hire armes vp hire nome
H e beheld þe leuedi wi3 gret pite
L oueli ma dame quaþ he
O n of þine ich am here
I ch wille þe help be mi pouere
3 he sire 3he saide þan al mi lond
I ch wil þe giue in to þin hond
A nd ^at^ þi wille bodi mine
3 if þou mi3t wreke me of hine
84ra
Þ o was he glad al for to fi3te
&wel gladere þat he mi3te
H aue þe leuedi so bri3t
3 if he slough þat oþer kni3t
A
nd als þai stod and spak ifereA maiden cried wi3 reuful chere
H er come3 oure enemi faste vs ate
D rauwe þe bregge and sschet þe 3ate
O r he wil slen ous euerichone
S ire degarre stirt vp a non
A nd at a window him se3
W el i armed on hors hegh
A fairer bodi þan he was on
I n armes ne segh he neuer non
S ire degarre armed him bliue
A nd on a stede gan out driue
W i3 a spere gret of gayn
T o þe kni3t he rit a3ein
Þ e kni3te spere al to sprong
A c degarre was so strong
A nd so harde to him þrast
B ut þe kni3t sat so fast
Þ at þe stede rigge to brek
A nd fel to grounde and he ek
B ut a non stirt vp þe kni3t
A nd drou3 out his swerd bri3t
A li3t he saide a doun a non
T o fi3t þou sschalt afote gon
F or þou hast slawe mi stede
D e3 dint schal be þi mede
A c þine stede sle inille
A c on fote fi3te ich wille
Þ an on fote þai toke þe fi3t
A nd hewe to gidere wi3 brondes bri3t
Þ e kni3t 3af sire degarre
ST erne strokes gret plente
A nd he him a3en al so
Þ at helm and scheld cleue a two
Þ e kni3t was a greued sore
Þ at his armour to burste þore
84rb
A strok he 3af sire degarre
Þ at to grounde fallen is he
B ut he stirt vp a non ri3t
A nd swich a strok he 3af þe kni3t
V pon his heued so harde iset
Þ at helm and heued and bacinet
Þ at ate brest stod þe dent
D ed he fil doun verraiment
Þ e leuedi lai in o kernel
A nd biheld þe batail eueri del
3 he ne was neuer er so bliþe
S che þankede god fele sithe ·
S ire degarre com in to castel
A 3ein him com þe dammaisel
A nd þonked him swiþe of þat dede
I n to chaumber sche gan him lede
A nd vnarmed him anon
A nd set him hire bed vpon
A nd saide sire par charite
I þe prai dwel wi3 me
A nd al mi lond ich wil þe 3iue
A nd mi selue whil þat iliue
G rant merci dame saide degarre
O f þe gode þou bedest me
W ende ich wille in to oþer londe
M ore of hauentours for to fonde
A nd be þis twelue moneþ be go
A 3ein ich wil come þe to
Þ e leuedi made moche mourning
F or þe kni3tes departing
A nd 3af him a stede god and sur
G old and siluer an god armur
A nd bitau3t him ihesu heuene king
A nd sore þei wepen at here parting
F
orht wente sire degarreÞurh mani a diuers cuntre
E uer mor he rod west
S o in a dale of o forest
H e mette wi3 a dou3ti kni3t
V pon a stede god and li3t
84va
I n armes þat were riche and sur
W i3 þe sscheld of asur
A nd þre bor heuedes þer in
W el ipainted wi3 gold fin
S ire degarre anon ri3t
H endeliche grette þe kni3t
A nd saide sire god wi3 þe be
A nd þous a3ein answerede he
V elaun wat dost þou here
I n mi forest to chase mi dere
D egarre answerede wi3 wordes meke
S ire þine der nougt ine seke
I ich am an aunterous kni3t
F or to seche werre and fi3t
Þ e kni3t saide wi3outen fail
3 if þou comest to seke batail
H ere þou hast þi per ifounde
A rme þe swiþe in þis stounde
S ire degarre and his squier
A rmed him in riche atir
W i3 an helm riche for þe nones
W as ful of precious stones
Þ at þe maide him 3af saun fail
F or whom he did raþer batail
A sscheld he kest aboute his swere
Þ at was of armes riche and dere
W i3 þre maidenes heuedes of siluer bri3t
W i3 crounes of gold precious of si3t
A sschaft he tok þat was nowt smal
W i3 a kene coronal
H is squier tok anoþer spere
B i his louerd he gan hit bere
L o swich auenture he gan bitide
Þ e sone a3ein þe fader gan ride
A nd noiþer ne knew oþer no wi3t
N ou biginne3 þe firste fi3t
S
ire degarre tok his cours þareA3en his fader a sschaft he bare
T o bere him doun he hadde imint
R i3t in þe sscheld he set his dint
84rb
Þ e sschaft brak to peces al
A nd in þe sscheld lat þe coronal
A n oþer cours þai gonne take
Þ e fader tok for þe sones sake
A sschaft þat was gret and long
A nd he an oþer also strong
T o gider þai riden wi3 gret raundoun
A nd aiþer bar oþer adoun
W i3 dintes þat þai smiten þere
H ere stede rigges to borsten were
A fote þai gonne fi3t ifere
A nd laiden on wi3 swerdes clere
Þ e fader amerueiled wes
W hi his swerd was point les
A nd seide to his sone a pli3t
H erkne to me a litel wi3t
W her were þou boren in what lond
I n litel bretaigne ich vnderstond
K ingges doughter sone wit outen les
A c inot wo mi fader wes
W hat is þi name þan saide he
C ertes men clepe3 me degarre
O degarre sone mine
C ertes ich am fader þine
A nd bi þi swerd iknowe hit here
Þ e point is in min aumenere
H e tok þe point and set þer to
D egarre fel iswone þo
A nd his fader sikerli
A lso he gan swonþ
A nd whanne of swone arisen were
Þ e sone cride merci þere
H is owen fader of his misdede
A nd he him to his castel gan lede
A nd bad him dwelle wi3 him ai
C ertes sire he saide nai
A c 3if hit 3oure wille were
T o mi moder we wende ifere
F or 3he is in gret mourning
B leþelich qua3 he bi heuene kyng
84Ara
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(version: 10 February 1998)