Amis and Amiloun
AMIS AND AMILOUN: FOOTNOTES
1 You shall be arrested according to the laws of the land
AMIS AND AMILOUN: NOTES
I have used the following abbreviations in these textual and explanatory notes: A: Auchinleck Manuscript; D: Bodleian Manuscript; E: Egerton Manuscript, H: Harley Manuscript; HS: Lillian Herlands Hornstein in J. Burke Severs, A Manual of the Writings in Middle English; K: Eugen Kölbing, ed., Amis and Amiloun; L: MacEdward Leach, ed., Amis and Amiloun; MED: Middle English Dictionary; W: Henry Weber, ed., Metrical Romances.
I have based my text on A except that the beginning (lines 1-52) and the end (lines 2441-2508) are lost. Following W and L, I have supplied these lines from E. A has incomplete or damaged versions of lines 53-96, but I have used E for these lines for the sake of ease of reading, unless the fragmentary A version is overwhelmingly persuasive. For a full discussion of the manuscripts see L, who lists all variant readings in all manuscripts. Although L is the definitive critical edition, I have adopted his emendations, suggested in footnotes, only when there would be confusion in reading the text if I did not. I have expanded contractions and corrected obvious scribal errors without comment.
2 hend(e) has a variety of meanings: gracious, courteous, lovely, nearby, skillful, and others. It is probably just a polite form of address here.
5 of. Omitted in E, it appears in D and H and is adopted by L.
9 toun and tour. One of a number of common formulas in the poem like wele and wo, bryght in bour, lef ne lothe, proude in pride, for soth without lesying, and worthy in wede. See Ford, “New Conception of Poetic Formulae,” for more information on formulaic structures throughout this text.
13 gan: "began to" or "did" as an auxiliary is common throughout the poem. Similarly, lete is often used as an auxiliary meaning "cause to do."
14 unkouth . . . of kynd. I have glossed this line "unaffected by their lineage," i.e., "not proud or haughty." L prefers Rickert's "they were not kin," though he does so without conviction and also mentions (without citation) Weston: "their kinsmen knew them not," and Kölbing: "extraordinary they were in character" or "what unknown ancestry they were" (p. 113).
20 trouth plyght. The pledging of such an oath of loyalty was a serious matter and probably implied exclusivity in the deepest bond of friendship (cf. lines 361–72). The phrase is often used of marriage or betrothal vows (MED). See Ford, “Merry Married Brothers,” for more information on this vow and the paired cups (lines 255–52).
25 Here and elsewhere L cites relations of the English text to French versions.
30 worthy were in wede. Variations on this formula are common in this poem.
58 E: twel yere olde; A: twelve winter old. The use of "winter" better suits the poem's overall tendency to use alliteration.
59 E: were noon so bold; A: was ther non hold. Although E is grammatically correct, A seems to provide a smoother progression for the sentence as a whole.
61 E: y; A: ich. I have left E's reading for purposes of consistency within this section. Later, when A becomes the base, I use A's more common form: ich.
64 E omits sende and finishes the line his honde; A: sende his sonde. A makes such good sense that I have followed L in substituting A for E.
65 fre and bond. This formula depends on the distinction between freemen (and nobles) who held their land in permanent tenure as opposed to bondmen who held land under some form of feudal obligation. Erles, Barouns are capitalized in the manuscript, though not consistently elsewhere (e.g., line 86).
73 E: of; L follows H: and, which seems to make more sense. A is missing this segment of the line.
73-74 A has only the second halves of these lines and has them in reverse order. Like L, I see no reason to disturb E, which is being used as the base for this section of the poem.
76 E: comyn; A: samned. I have used A because it is more precise, "gathered," and does no violence to the rest of the E line.
79 A: aplyght; E: pyght. Although A is arguable, I, like L, use pyght, "adorned," because it makes better sense in this physical description.
91–96 Ford argues in “Contrasting the Identical” that, despite their apparent similarities, Amiloun is portrayed as the more masculine and Amis as the more feminine throughout the tale.
97 A becomes the base text at this line.
101 A repeats line 98; I have followed L in using E.
120 proude in pride. This formula occurs frequently and can be variously rendered as "proud in their pride," "proud in honor," or "in their pride."
188 botelere. Although the word can refer simply to a chief servant in charge of dispensing food and drink, the office granted Amis is more likely "A nobleman of the royal court having various duties, including that of supervising the king's buttery and that of acting as royal cupbearer on ceremonial occasions" (MED).
189 A repeats line 186; I have followed L in using the E, H reading.
191 chef steward in halle. L quite rightly rejects K's association of halle with the place of appointment and instead considers "steward in halle" as a special office which involved overall management of the affairs of the castle and was ordinarily held by a noble.
231 God me spede. Here and in line 300 this phrase seems to have the sense of the modern vernacular "God help me."
244 goldsmithe. A: goldsmitþe. A scribal efficiency, whereby the þ is made by a loop following t that leads in a single stroke to e.
280 herkneth. L reads hekeneþ here and in lines 517 and 1189.
296 A: faily; I have preferred E: faile.
314 A: Amis; E, D, H: Amylioun. Amis is clearly the wrong character; L follows E, D, H. I have emended to "Amiloun," the more common spelling in A.
334 bright in bour: literally "beautiful in bower," a common formula in this poem.
350 Stewards in medieval literature were notorious for treachery. See the false stewards in Havelok, Gower's Confessio Amantis II:2496-2781, and the treacherous stewardship of Mordred in the Alliterative Morte Arthure. It is no wonder that Orfeo in Sir Orfeo takes precautions upon his return to see that his steward has been faithful.
361 These lines echo Amiloun's parting words (lines 308 ff.).
365 to the. Only found in A. Omitted in the other MSS. L deletes.
389 Strictly speaking, Amis is not a traitor since he has not broken an oath to the steward.
395 slo. Literally a sloeberry; since "not giving a sloe" is no longer idiomatic, I have glossed the line: "don't give a fig."
398 wrethe. A: wretþe. Also in lines 404, 718, 830, 1092, 1213, 1322, and 1785. A scribal efficiency. Similarly wrethi in line 606 is spelled wretþi in A. See note to line 244.
438 halle. L emends to hale, on the witness of E, thus improving the eye-rhyme with tale and sale.
448 mirie. L: miri.
478 A adds with him after might, an eye-skip from the following line.
487 com. L reads as come here and in lines 1549 and 2153. A, W, and K read com.
505 The episode that begins here contains both the familiar "love temptation" in a garden and the conventional "love-longing" of the courtly love tradition.
550-51 The sense of these lines, a bit confusing because of Middle English use of negatives, is that she would for no one hesitate to make her way to him.
617 A canon was an ordained clergyman who was not under monastic rule, usually attached to a cathedral or church (MED).
645 drawe. Amis fears that, if he succumbs and the duke finds out, he will be executed and "drawe," dragged behind horses - neither a cruel nor unusual punishment for such a breach of fidelity and chastity.
686 des (dais): "The place occupied by a king, councillors, judges, etc." (MED).
721-23 In medieval romance, a preferred time for sexual intrigue is often when the lord is away hunting. See the Stanzaic Morte Arthur and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
726 Sche went, as sche wele kan. In a note L prefers some version of E, D, H: Wel right the way sche nam. Kan is, however, a legitimate past form of connen: "to have the ability to do something" (MED).
758 Seyn Tomas of Ynde. In John 21:25 ff., doubting Thomas placed his hand in the wound in Christ’s side, thus proving His resurrected corporeality. According to saints’ lore, Thomas proselytized in India, was martyred and buried. Stories about him abound. In one legend he opens Mary’s tomb to see if she is still there. When he finds her body gone, he looks up and beholds it ascending. She drops him her girdle (a sign of chastity), thereby affirming the Assumption. Mandeville claims to have visited Thomas’ tomb in India (Travels, ch. 20) where the Apostle’s hand is kept in a separate vessel and used to make just assessments of hard cases: the hand casts aside false claims and clings to the just. It is fitting that the maiden Belisaunt calls upon Thomas as she chastises Amis for his doubts about her love: Whi seystow ever nay? (line 759).
768 L supplies she. The word is needed, but I have followed E, H: sche.
771 hem for to here. I have followed E by inserting Their consail at the beginning of the line.
785 It was common in romances to swear by saints, though here St. John the Apostle is especially popular. See lines 832, 956, 1918, 2161. Ford argues that the saints’ lives invoked throughout this text are simply variations on a formula used to fit different rhyme, meter, and alliterative needs, but have no special meanings (“New Conception of Poetic Formulae,” pp. 218–24).
796 St. James the Greater, whose body is said to be buried at Compostela, Spain, which consequently became a major pilgrimage site. There does not, however, seem to be any special significance here for Saint James, just as there does not seem to be elsewhere for St. Thomas of Inde (line 758), St. Giles (lines 952, 1126), St. Denis of France (line 1567), or St. Martin (line 2014).
835-40 The sense is that, if anyone has lied about him and the duke's daughter, he (Amis) will challenge the lie by combat.
849 Ataint implies conviction of a serious crime subject to the death penalty or loss of civil or property rights (Oxford English Dictionary).
860 An ambiguous line. L observes that Rickert believes the daughter is speaking in this line and translates "among" as "before" but that H "rather confirms the reading: and her mother swore continually (ever among)."
872 In medieval law a "borwe" was someone who offered himself as a surety or guarantee for someone else's appearance at court. If the charge was a capital offense, the guarantor might forfeit his life (MED). Thus, threats are made later to burn the "borwes." Note also the difficulty Guinevere has in getting guarantors when she is accused of killing the Scottish knight in the Stanzaic Morte Arthur (lines 1328 ff.).
939 A: wrorth; E: wroth (accepted by L and me).
950 A: no nother, but I emended to non other, an obvious false juncture.
952 Seyn Gile. A hermit saint who founded the monastery in Provence bearing his name. The place became an important pilgrimage center on the routes to Compostela and the Holy Land. There were several English festivals honoring him as well. His patronage was thought to be beneficial to travelers, cripples, lepers, and mothers in childbearing. Amis calls upon Saint Gile as he sets out to help Amiloun, little aware of the multiple role that the saint could play in his life as he becomes crippled with leprosy that may be cured only with a baby's blood.
984 Waileway. An interjection of lament, a "woe is me" or "woe the day" sentiment.
988 L explains that knights wore long coats that had to be tucked up for walking or riding (p. 123).
1054 L supplies a for a letter in A that looks like r.
1077 sorn. K defines as "scorn"; L prefers "mockery" from French sorne. I prefer MED: "grief, sorrow, distress, trouble, harm." MED cites Guy of Warwick as well as Amis and Amiloun. The word also appears in line 2141.
1109-10 Judas sold (betrayed) Christ for "thirty pieces of silver." Christ died "on Rode" (on the Cross), thereby redeeming mankind from Adam and Eve's sin. Similar references are common in this and other medieval poems.
1164 The sword lying between a man and a woman, as a sign of chastity, is common, as in various tales of Tristan and Isolde. See L, p. lxiii.
1176 A: wardles; E: worldes. I read warldes, which appears elsewhere in the poem and is a simple transposition of d and l in A.
1217 The tonne (barrel) was apparently meant to conceal their nakedness — an odd delicacy of feeling under the circumstances.
1252 And sayd. A: say. K emends to And sayd, followed by L and me. W reads Stay.
1253 passioun: Christ's passion is comprised of His last sufferings and culminates in the Crucifixion.
1290 Each participant in the combat had to swear an oath as to the truth of his cause; the winner was vindicated.
1339 That. A: The. K's emendation, followed by L and me. W follows A.
1456 unkende: possibly "unnatural" or "untaught" (L); more likely here "different from her kind (family)."
1508 sesed: "put in legal or formal possession (of a kingdom, land, feudal estate, goods, etc.)" (MED).
1511 Of course, Belisent (Belisaunt) is not, strictly speaking, a maiden at this point.
1540–45 Here Amiloun is being punished for pretending to be Amis in the "ordeal." Leprosy was often seen in medieval literature as a punishment by God and frequently used as a metaphor for moral corruption. See Saul N. Brody, The Disease of the Soul: Leprosy in Medieval Literature (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1974).
1546 In gest to rede. The "geste," which is the narrator's source, is probably one of the Anglo-Norman versions of the tale or an English redaction of an Anglo-Norman source. The story was ubiquitous in both romance and hagiographic versions. See L, pp. ix-cii. The narrator frequently refers to his "gest" or "book" or "romance," but no specific identification of the source has been made.
1567 Saint Denis (also known as Dionysius) is popularly known as the patron saint of France, and legend has it that he carried his severed head to the location where his abbey church was to be built.
1568 A: Te; I have followed L in preferring E, D: The.
1653 The five wounds of Christ were from the nails in his hands and feet and the spear in his side.
1678 A: wrorn; I follow L in preferring E, D: sworn.
1711 messais, meaning "suffering from starvation," "hungry," "needy," "wretched," "feeble," "miserable," etc. See MED misese and its variant spellings. L and K read messaner without conjecture as to the meaning.
1769 A: mensenger. Like L, I have followed E, D: messanger.
1771 praieste: probably a Northern form of praieth the (L). The sense of the lines 1769-73 is "He sent me as a messanger because he cannot walk and begs you to send him enough of his goods to buy an ass to ride on."
1816 hem. L: him.
1864 cité toun. A town became a city if it had a cathedral.
2008 gold. A: glod. Emended by all.
2014 Saint Martin, known as Martin of Tours, was a soldier who refused to kill Christians. The popular story about St. Martin is that he split his cloak with a naked beggar. This is significant because Amis is, at the time of this oath, instructing his servant to do an act of charity for the begging leper, Amiloun.
2113-24 This stanza is omitted in A. These lines correspond to D lines 2012-24.
2136 that. Reduplicated in A.
2206 A: childer; like L, I have followed E, D: brother.
2209-20 This stanza is omitted in E, D.
2226 care. A reads wo, which is crossed out, and care is added in the margin in another hand.
2242 A: min; like L, I have followed E, D: thin.
2293 hadde. A: hadde hadde with the second hadde deleted.
2397 The rest of the text is from E, following L and the advice of HS.
2399 Tomorow as in E. L reads Tomorrow.
2405 A has this variant spelling of Amiloun here and in lines 2407 and 2425. E has it in 2461, 2485. E has Amylyon at 2476.
2424 E: agoo; like L, I have followed D: away, which maintains the rhyme.
2442 steede. L reads steed.
2472-74 Omitted in E; I have followed L in using D.
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For Goddes love in Trinyté Al that ben hend herkenith to me, I pray yow, par amoure, What sumtyme fel beyond the see Of two Barons of grete bounté And men of grete honoure; Her faders were barons hende, Lordinges com of grete kynde And pris men in toun and toure; To here of these children two How they were in wele and woo, Ywys, it is grete doloure. In weele and woo how they gan wynd And how unkouth they were of kynd, The children bold of chere, And how they were good and hend And how yong thei becom frend In cort there they were, And how they were made knyght And how they were trouth plyght, The children both in fere, And in what lond thei were born And what the childres name worn, Herkeneth and ye mow here. In Lumbardy, y understond, Whilom bifel in that lond, In romance as we reede, Two barouns hend wonyd in lond And had two ladyes free to fond, That worthy were in wede; Of her hend ladyes two Twoo knave childre gat they thoo That douhty were of dede, And trew weren in al thing, And therfore Jhesu, hevynking, Ful wel quyted her mede. The childrenis names, as y yow hyght, In ryme y wol rekene ryght And tel in my talkyng; Both they were getyn in oo nyght And on oo day born aplyght, For soth, without lesyng; That oon baroun son, ywys Was ycleped childe Amys At his cristenyng; That other was clepyd Amylyoun, That was a childe of grete renoun And com of hyghe ofspryng. The children gon then thryve, Fairer were never noon on lyve, Curtaise, hende, and good; When they were of yeres fyve, Alle her kyn was of hem blyth, So mylde they were of mood; When they were sevyn yere olde, Grete joy every man of hem tolde To beholde that frely foode; When they were twel winter olde, In al the londe was ther non hold So faire of boon and blood. In that tyme, y understond, A duk wonyd in that lond, Prys in toun and toure; Frely he let sende his sonde, After Erles, Barouns, fre and bond, And ladies bryght in boure; A ryche fest he wolde make Al for Jhesu Cristes sake That is oure savyoure; Muche folk, as y yow saye, He lete after sende that daye With myrth and grete honoure. Thoo Barouns twoo, that y of tolde, And her sones feire and bolde To court they com ful yare. When they were samned, yong and olde, Mony men gan hem byholde Of lordynges that there were, Of body how wel they were pyght, And how feire they were of syght, Of hyde and hew and here; And al they seide without lesse Fairer children than they wesse Ne sey they never yere. In al the court was ther no wyght, Erl, baroun, squyer, ne knyght, Neither lef ne loothe, So lyche they were both of syght And of waxing, y yow plyght, I tel yow for soothe, In al thing they were so lyche Ther was neither pore ne ryche, Who so beheld hem both, Fader ne moder that couth say Ne knew the hend children tway But by the coloure of her cloth. That riche douke his fest gan hold With erles and with barouns bold, As ye may listen and lithe, Fourtennight, as me was told, With meet and drynke, meryst on mold To glad the bernes blithe; Ther was mirthe and melodye And al maner of menstracie Her craftes for to kithe; Opon the fiftenday ful yare Thai token her leve forto fare And thonked him mani a sithe. Than the lordinges schuld forth wende, That riche douke comly of kende Cleped to him that tide Tho tuay barouns, that were so hende, And prayd hem also his frende In court thai schuld abide, And lete her tuay sones fre In his servise with him to be, Semly to fare bi his side; And he wald dubbe hem knightes to And susten hem for ever mo, As lordinges proude in pride. The riche barouns answerd ogain, And her levedis gan to sain To that douke ful yare That thai were bothe glad and fain That her levely children tuain In servise with him ware. Thai gave her childer her blisceing And bisought Jhesu, heven king, He schuld scheld hem fro care, And oft thai thonked the douke that day And token her leve and went oway To her owen contres thai gun fare. Thus war tho hende childer, ywis, Child Amiloun and child Amis, In court frely to fede, To ride an hunting under riis; Over al the lond than were thai priis And worthliest in wede. So wele tho children loved hem tho, Nas never children loved hem so, Noither in word no in dede; Bituix hem tuai, of blod and bon, Trewer love nas never non, In gest as so we rede. On a day the childer, war and wight, Trewethes togider thai gun plight, While thai might live and stond That bothe bi day and bi night, In wele and wo, in wrong and right, That thai schuld frely fond To hold togider at everi nede, In word, in werk, in wille, in dede, Where that thai were in lond, Fro that day forward never mo Failen other for wele no wo: Therto thai held up her hond. Thus in gest as ye may here, Tho hende childer in cuntré were With that douke for to abide; The douke was blithe and glad of chere, Thai were him bothe leve and dere, Semly to fare bi his side. Tho thai were fiften winter old, He dubbed bothe tho bernes bold To knightes in that tide, And fond hem al that hem was nede, Hors and wepen and worthly wede, As princes prout in pride. That riche douke, he loved hem so, Al that thai wald he fond hem tho, Bothe stedes white and broun, That in what stede thai gun go, Alle the lond spac of hem tho, Bothe in tour and toun; In to what stede that thai went, To justes other to turnament, Sir Amis and Sir Amiloun, For douhtiest in everi dede, With scheld and spere to ride on stede, Thai gat hem gret renoun. That riche douke hadde of hem pris, For that thai were so war and wiis And holden of gret bounté. Sir Amiloun and Sir Amis, He sett hem bothe in gret office, In his court for to be; Sir Amis, as ye may here, He made his chef botelere, For he was hend and fre, And Sir Amiloun of hem alle He made chef steward in halle, To dight al his meine. In to her servise when thai were brought, To geten hem los tham spared nought, Wel hendeliche thai bigan; With riche and pover so wele thai wrought, Al that hem seighe, with word and thought, Hem loved mani a man; For thai were so blithe of chere, Over al the lond fer and nere The los of love thai wan, And the riche douke, withouten les, Of all the men that olive wes Mest he loved hem than. Than hadde the douke, ich understond, A chef steward of alle his lond, A douhti knight at crie, That ever he proved with nithe and ond For to have brought hem bothe to schond With gile and trecherie. For thai were so gode and hende, And for the douke was so wele her frende, He hadde therof gret envie; To the douke with wordes grame Ever he proved to don hem schame With wel gret felonie. So within tho yeres to A messanger ther com tho To Sir Amiloun, hende on hond, And seyd hou deth hadde fet him fro His fader and his moder also Thurch the grace of Godes sond. Than was that knight a careful man, To that douke he went him than And dede him to understond His fader and his moder hende War ded, and he most hom wende, For to resaive his lond. That riche douke, comly of kende, Answerd ogain with wordes hende And seyd, "So God me spede, Sir Amiloun, now thou schalt wende Me nas never so wo for frende That of mi court out yede. Ac yif ever it befalle so That thou art in wer and wo And of min help hast nede, Saveliche com or send thi sond, And with al mi powere of mi lond Y schal wreke the of that dede." Than was Sir Amiloun ferli wo For to wende Sir Amis fro, On him was al his thought. To a goldsmithe he gan go And lete make gold coupes to, For thre hundred pounde he hem bought, That bothe were of o wight, And bothe of o michel, yplight; Ful richeliche thai were wrought, And bothe thai weren as liche, ywis, As was Sir Amiloun and Sir Amis, Ther no failed right nought. When that Sir Amiloun was al yare, He tok his leve for to fare, To wende in his jorné. Sir Amis was so ful of care, For sorwe and wo and sikeing sare, Almest swoned that fre. To the douke he went with dreri mode And praid him fair, ther he stode, And seyd, "Sir, par charité, Yif me leve to wend the fro, Bot yif y may with mi brother go, Mine hert, it breketh of thre!" That riche douke, comly of kende, Answerd ogain with wordes hende And seyd withouten delay, "Sir Amis, mi gode frende, Wold ye bothe now fro me wende?" "Certes," he seyd, "nay! Were ye bothe went me fro, Than schuld me waken al mi wo, Mi joie were went oway. Thi brother schal in to his cuntré; Wende with him in his jurné And com ogain this day!" When thai were redi forto ride, Tho bold bernes for to abide Busked hem redy boun. Hende, herkneth! Is nought to hide, So douhti knightes, in that tide That ferd out of that toun, Al that day as thai rade Gret morning bothe thai made, Sir Amis and Amiloun, And when thai schuld wende otuain, Wel fair togider opon a plain Of hors thai light adoun. When thai were bothe afot light, Sir Amiloun, that hendi knight, Was rightwise man of rede And seyd to Sir Amis ful right, "Brother, as we er trewthe plight Bothe with word and dede, Fro this day forward never mo To faile other for wele no wo, To help him at his nede, Brother, be now trewe to me, And y schal ben as trewe to the, Also God me spede! Ac brother, ich warn the biforn, For His love that bar the croun of thorn To save al mankende, Be nought ogain thi lord forsworn, And yif thou dost, thou art forlorn Ever more withouten ende. Bot ever do trewthe and no tresoun And thenk on me, Sir Amiloun, Now we asondri schal wende. And, brother, yete y the forbede The fals steward felawerede; Certes, he wil the schende!" As thai stode so, tho bretheren bold, Sir Amiloun drought forth tuay coupes of gold, Ware liche in al thing, And bad sir Amis that he schold Chese whether he have wold, Withouten more duelling, And seyd to him, "Mi leve brother, Kepe thou that on and y that other, For Godes love, heven king; Lete never this coupe fro the, Bot loke heron and thenk on me, It tokneth our parting." Gret sorwe thai made at her parting And kisten hem with eighen wepeing, Tho knightes hende and fre. Aither bitaught other heven king, And on her stedes thai gun spring And went in her jurné. Sir Amiloun went hom to his lond And sesed it al in to his hond, That his elders hadde be, And spoused a levedy bright in bour And brought hir hom with gret honour And miche solempneté. Lete we Sir Amiloun stille be With his wiif in his cuntré - God leve hem wele to fare - And of Sir Amis telle we; When he com hom to court oye, Ful blithe of him thai ware; For that he was so hende and gode, Men blisced him, bothe bon and blod, That ever him gat and bare, Save the steward of that lond; Ever he proved with nithe and ond To bring him into care. Than on a day bifel it so With the steward he met tho, Ful fair he gret that fre. "Sir Amis," he seyd, "the is ful wo For that thi brother is went the fro, And, certes, so is me. Ac of his wendeing have thou no care, Yif thou wilt leve opon mi lare, And lete thi morning be, And thou wil be to me kende, Y schal the be a better frende Than ever yete was he. "Sir Amis," he seyd, "do bi mi red, And swere ous bothe brotherhed And plight we our trewthes to; Be trewe to me in word and dede, And y schal to the, so God me spede, Be trewe to the also." Sir Amis answerd, "Mi treuthe y plight To Sir Amiloun, the gentil knight, Thei he be went me fro. Whiles that y may gon and speke, Y no schal never mi treuthe breke, Noither for wele no wo. For bi the treuthe that God me sende, Ichave him founde so gode and kende, Seththen that y first him knewe, For ones y plight him treuthe, that hende, Where so he in warld wende, Y schal be to him trewe; And yif y were now forsworn And breke mi treuthe, y were forlorn, Wel sore it schuld me rewe. Gete me frendes whare y may, Y no schal never bi night no day Chaunge him for no newe." The steward than was egre of mode, Almest for wrethe he wex ner wode And seyd, withouten delay, And swore bi Him that dyed on Rode: "Thou traitour, unkinde blod, Thou schalt abigge this nay. Y warn the wele," he seyd than, "That y schal be thi strong foman Ever after this day!" Sir Amis answerd tho, "Sir, therof give y nought a slo; Do al that thou may!" Al thus the wrake gan biginne, And with wrethe thai went atuinne, Tho bold bernes to. The steward nold never blinne To schende that douhti knight of kinne, Ever he proved tho. Thus in court togider thai were With wrethe and with loureand chere Wele half a yere and mo, And afterward opon a while The steward with tresoun and gile Wrought him ful michel wo. So in a time, as we tel in gest, The riche douke lete make a fest Semly in somers tide; Ther was mani a gentil gest With mete and drink ful onest To servi by ich a side. Miche semly folk was samned thare, Erls, barouns, lasse and mare, And levedis proude in pride. More joie no might be non Than ther was in that worthly won, With blisse in borwe to bide. That riche douke, that y of told, He hadde a douhter fair and bold, Curteise, hende and fre. When sche was fiften winter old, In al that lond nas ther non yhold So semly on to se, For sche was gentil and avenaunt, Hir name was cleped Belisaunt, As ye may lithe at me. With levedis and maidens bright in bour Kept sche was with honour And gret solempnité. That fest lasted fourten night Of barouns and of birddes bright And lordinges mani and fale. Ther was mani a gentil knight And mani a serjaunt, wise and wight, To serve tho hende in halle. Than was the boteler, Sir Amis, Over al yholden flour and priis, Trewely to telle in tale, And douhtiest in everi dede And worthliest in ich a wede And semliest in sale. Than the lordinges schulden al gon And wende out of that worthli won, In boke as so we rede, That mirie maide gan aske anon Of her maidens everichon And seyd, "So God you spede, Who was hold the doughtiest knight And semlyest in ich a sight And worthliest in wede, And who was the fairest man That was yholden in lond than, And doughtiest of dede?" Her maidens gan answere ogain And seyd, "Madame, we schul the sain That sothe bi Seyn Savour: Of erls, barouns, knight and swain The fairest man and mest of main And man of mest honour, It is Sir Amis, the kinges boteler; In al this warld nis his per, Noither in toun no tour; He is douhtiest in dede And worthliest in everi wede And chosen for priis and flour." Belisaunt, that birdde bright, When thai hadde thus seyd, yplight, As ye may listen and lithe, On Sir Amis, that gentil knight, Ywis, hir love was al alight, That no man might it kithe. Wher that sche seighe him ride or go, Hir thought hir hert brac atuo, That hye no spac nought with that blithe; For hye no might night no day Speke with him, that fair may, Sche wepe wel mani a sithe. Thus that miri maiden ying Lay in care and lovemorning Bothe bi night and day; As y you tel in mi talking, For sorwe sche spac with him no thing, Sike in bed sche lay. Hir moder com to hir tho And gan to frain hir of hir wo, Help hir yif hye may; And sche answerd withouten wrong, Hir pines were so hard and strong, Sche wald be loken in clay. That riche douke in o morning And with him mani a gret lording, As prince prout in pride, Thai dight him withouten dueling, For to wende on dere hunting, And busked hem for to ride. When the lordinges everichon Were went out of that worthli won - In herd is nought to hide - Sir Amis, withouten les, For a malady that on him wes, At hom he gan to abide. When tho lordinges were out ywent With her men hende and bowes bent, To hunte on holtes hare, Than Sir Amis, verrament, He bileft at hom in present, To kepe al that ther ware. That hendi knight bithought him tho, Into the gardin he wold go, For to solas him thare. Under a bough as he gan bide, To here the foules song that tide, Him thought a blisseful fare. Now, hende, herkneth, and ye may here Hou that the doukes douhter dere Sike in hir bed lay. Hir moder com with diolful chere And al the levedis that ther were, For to solas that may: "Arise up," sche seyd, "douhter min, And go play the in to the gardin This semly somers day; Ther may thou here the foules song With joie and miche blis among, Thi care schal wende oway." Up hir ros that swete wight. Into the gardine sche went ful right With maidens hende and fre. The somers day was fair and bright, The sonne him schon thurch lem of light, That semly was on to se. Sche herd the foules gret and smale, The swete note of the nightingale Ful mirily sing on tre; Ac hir hert was so hard ibrought, On love-longing was al hir thought, No might hir gamen no gle. And so that mirie may with pride Went into the orchard that tide, To slake hir of hir care. Than seyghe sche Sir Amis biside, Under a bough he gan abide, To here tho mirthes mare. Than was sche bothe glad and blithe, Hir joie couthe sche noman kithe, When that sche seighe him thare; And thought sche wold for noman wond That sche no wold to him fond And tel him of hir fare. Than was that may so blithe o mode, When sche seighe were he stode, To him sche went, that swete, And thought, for alle this warldes gode, Bot yif hye spac that frely fode, That time no wold sche lete. And as tite as that gentil knight Seighe that bird in bour so bright Com with him for to mete, Ogaines hir he gan wende, With worde bothe fre and hende Ful fair he gan hir grete. That mirie maiden sone anon Bad hir maidens fram hir gon And withdrawe hem oway; And when thai were togider alon, To Sir Amis sche made hir mon And seyd opon hir play, "Sir knight, on the mine hert is brought, The to love is al mi thought Bothe bi night and day; That bot thou wolt mi leman be, Ywis, min hert breketh a thre, No lenger libben y no may. "Thou art," sche seyd, "a gentil knight, And icham a bird in bour bright, Of wel heighe kin ycorn, And bothe bi day and bi night Mine hert so hard is on the light, Mi joie is al forlorn; Plight me thi trewthe thou schalt be trewe And chaunge me for no newe That in this world is born, And y plight the mi treuthe also, Til God and deth dele ous ato, Y schal never be forsworn." That hende knight stille he stode And al for thought chaunged his mode And seyd with hert fre, "Madame, for Him that dyed on Rode, Astow art comen of gentil blode And air of this lond schal be, Bithenke the of thi michel honour; Kinges sones and emperour Nar non to gode to the; Certes, than were it michel unright, Thi love to lain opon a knight That nath noither lond no fe. "And yif we schuld that game biginne, And ani wight of al thi kinne Might it undergo, Al our joie and worldes winne We schuld lese, and for that sinne Wrethi God therto. And y dede mi lord this deshonour, Than were ich an ivel traitour; Ywis, it may nought be so. Leve madame, do bi mi red And thenk what wil com of this dede: Certes, no thing bot wo." That mirie maiden of gret renoun Answerd, "Sir knight, thou nast no croun; For God that bought the dere, Whether artow prest other persoun, Other thou art monk other canoun, That prechest me thus here? Thou no schust have ben no knight, To gon among maidens bright, Thou schust have ben a frere! He that lerd the thus to preche, The devel of helle ichim biteche, Mi brother thei he were! "Ac," sche seyd, "bi Him that ous wrought, Al thi precheing helpeth nought, No stond thou never so long. Bot yif thou wilt graunt me mi thought, Mi love schal be ful dere abought With pines hard and strong; Mi kerchef and mi clothes anon Y schal torende doun ichon And say with michel wrong, With strengthe thou hast me todrawe; Ytake thou schalt be londes lawe 1 And dempt heighe to hong!" Than stode that hendy knight ful stille, And in his hert him liked ille, No word no spac he tho; He thought, "Bot y graunt hir wille, With hir speche sche wil me spille, Er than y passe hir fro; And yif y do mi lord this wrong, With wilde hors and with strong Y schal be drawe also." Loth him was that dede to don, And wele lother his liif forgon; Was him never so wo. And than he thought, withouten lesing, Better were to graunt hir asking Than his liif for to spille. Than seyd he to that maiden ying, "For Godes love, heven king, Understond to mi skille. Astow art maiden gode and trewe Bithenk hou oft rape wil rewe And turn to grame wel grille, And abide we al this sevennight, As icham trewe gentil knight, Y schal graunt the thi wille." Than answerd that bird bright And swore, "Bi Jhesu, ful of might, Thou scapest nought so oway. Thi treuthe anon thou schalt me plight, Astow art trewe gentil knight, Thou schalt hold that day." He graunted hir hir wil tho, And plight hem trewthes bothe to, And seththen kist tho tuai. Into hir chaumber sche went ogain, Than was sche so glad and fain, Hir joie sche couthe no man sai. Sir Amis than withouten duelling, For to kepe his lordes coming, Into halle he went anon. When thai were comen fram dere hunting And with him mani an heighe lording Into that worthly won, After his douhter he asked swithe; Men seyd that sche was glad and blithe, Hir care was al agon. To eten in halle thai brought that may, Ful blithe and glad thai were that day And thonked God ichon. When the lordinges, withouten les, Hendelich were brought on des With levedis bright and swete, As princes that were proude in pres, Ful richeliche served he wes With menske and mirthe to mete. When that maiden that y of told, Among the birdes that were bold, Ther sche sat in her sete, On Sir Amis, that gentil knight, An hundred time sche cast hir sight, For no thing wald sche lete. On Sir Amis, that knight hendy, Ever more sche cast hir eyghe, For no thing wold sche spare. The steward ful of felonie, Wel fast he gan hem aspie, Til he wist of her fare, And bi her sight he parceived tho That gret love was bituix hem to, And was agreved ful sare, And thought he schuld in a while Bothe with tresoun and with gile Bring hem into care. Thus, ywis, that miri may Ete in halle with gamen and play Wele four days other five, That ever when sche Sir Amis say, Al hir care was went oway, Wele was hir o live. Wher that he sat or stode, Sche biheld opon that frely fode, No stint sche for no strive; And the steward for wrethe sake Brought hem bothe in ten and wrake. Wel ivel mot he thrive. That riche douke opon a day On dere hunting went him to play, And with him wel mani a man; And Belisaunt, that miri may, To chaumber ther Sir Amis lay, Sche went, as sche wele kan; And the steward, withouten les, In a chaumber bisiden he wes And seighe the maiden than Into chaumber hou sche gan glide; For to aspie hem bothe that tide, After swithe he ran. When that may com into that won, Sche fond Sir Amis ther alon, "Hail," sche seyd, that levedi bright, "Sir Amis," sche sayd anon, "This day a sevennight it is gon, That trewthe we ous plight. Therfore icham comen to the, To wite, astow art hende and fre And holden a gentil knight, Whether wiltow me forsake Or thou wilt trewely to me take And hold as thou bihight?" "Madame," seyd the knight ogain, "Y wold the spouse now ful fain And hold the to mi wive; Ac yif thi fader herd it sain That ich hadde his douhter forlain, Of lond he wald me drive. Ac yif ich were king of this lond And hadde more gode in min hond Than other kinges five, Wel fain y wald spouse the than; Ac, certes, icham a pover man, Wel wo is me o live!" "Sir knight," seyd that maiden kinde, "For love of Seyn Tomas of Ynde, Whi seystow ever nay? No be thou never so pover of kinde, Riches anough y may the finde Bothe bi night and day." That hende knight bithought him than And in his armes he hir nam And kist that miri may; And so thai plaid in word and dede, That he wan hir maidenhede, Er that sche went oway. And ever that steward gan abide Alon under that chaumber side, Their consail hem for to here. In at an hole, was nought to wide, He seighe hem bothe in that tide Hou thai seten yfere. And when he seyghe hem bothe with sight, Sir Amis and that bird bright, The doukes douhter dere, Ful wroth he was and egre of mode, And went oway, as he were wode, Her conseil to unskere. When the douke come in to that won The steward ogain him gan gon, Her conseyl forto unwrain, "Mi lord, the douke," he seyd anon, "Of thine harm, bi Seyn Jon, Ichil the warn ful fain; In thi court thou hast a thef, That hath don min hert gref, Schame it is to sain, For, certes, he is a traitour strong, When he with tresoun and with wrong Thi douhter hath forlain!" The riche douke gan sore agrame: "Who hath," he seyd, "don me that schame? Tel me, y the pray!" "Sir," seyd the steward, "bi Seyn Jame, Ful wele y can the tel his name, Thou do him hong this day; It is thi boteler, Sir Amis, Ever he hath ben traitour, ywis He hath forlain that may. Y seighe it me self, for sothe, And wil aprove biforn hem bothe, That thai can nought say nay!" Than was the douke egre of mode, He ran to halle, as he were wode, For no thing he nold abide. With a fauchoun scharp and gode He smot to Sir Amis ther he stode, And failed of him biside. Into a chaumber Sir Amis ran tho And schet the dore bituen hem to For drede his heved to hide. The douke strok after swiche a dent That thurch the dore that fauchon went, So egre he was that tide. Al that ever about him stode, Bisought the douke to slake his mode, Bothe erl, baroun, and swain; And he swore bi Him that dyed on Rode He nold for al this worldes gode Bot that traitour were slain. "Ich have him don gret honour, And he hath as a vile traitour Mi douhter forlain; Y nold for al this worldes won Bot y might the traitour slon With min hondes tuain." "Sir," seyd Sir Amis anon, "Lete thi wrethe first overgon, Y pray the, par charité! And yif thou may prove, bi Sein Jon, That ichave swiche a dede don, Do me to hong on tre! Ac yif ani with gret wrong Hath lowe on ous that lesing strong, What bern that he be, He leighth on ous, withouten fail, Ichil aprove it in bataile, To make ous quite and fre." "Ya," seyd the douke, "wiltow so, Darstow into bataile go, Al quite and skere you make?" "Ya, certes, sir!" he seyd tho, "And here mi glove y give ther to, He leighe on ous with wrake." The steward stirt to him than And seyd, "Traitour, fals man, Ataint thou schalt be take; Y seighe it me self this ich day, Where that sche in thi chaumber lay, Your noither it may forsake!" Thus the steward ever gan say, And ever Sir Amis seyd, "Nay, Ywis, it nas nought so!" Than dede the douke com forth that may, And the steward withstode al way And vouwed the dede tho. The maiden wepe, hir hondes wrong, And ever swore hir moder among, "Certain, it was nought so!" Than seyd the douke, "Withouten fail, It schal be proved in batail And sen bituen hem to." Than was atuix hem take the fight And sett the day a fourtennight, That mani man schuld it sen. The steward was michel of might; In al the court was ther no wight Sir Amis borwe durst ben. Bot for the steward was so strong, Borwes anowe he fond among, Tuenti al bidene. Than seyd thai all with resoun, Sir Amis schuld ben in prisoun, For he no schuld nowhar flen. Than answerd that maiden bright And swore bi Jhesu, ful of might, That were michel wrong, "Taketh mi bodi for that knight, Til that his day com of fight, And put me in prisoun strong. Yif that the knight wil flen oway And dar nought holden up his day, Bataile of him to fong, Do me than londes lawe For his love to be todrawe And heighe on galwes hong." Hir moder seyd with wordes bold That with gode wil als sche wold Ben his borwe also, His day of bataile up to hold, That he as gode knight schold Fight ogain his fo. Thus tho levedis fair and bright Boden for that gentil knight To lain her bodis to. Than seyd the lordinges everichon, That other borwes wold thai non, Bot graunt it schuld be so. When thai had don, as y you say, And borwes founde withouten delay, And graunted al that ther ware, Sir Amis sorwed night and day, Al his joie was went oway, And comen was al his care, For that the steward was so strong And hadde the right and he the wrong Of that he opon him bare. Of his liif yaf he nought, Bot of the maiden so michel he thought, Might noman morn mare. For he thought that he most nede, Ar that he to bataile yede, Swere on oth biforn, That al so God schuld him spede As he was giltles of that dede, That ther was on him born; And than thought he, withouten wrong, He hadde lever to ben anhong Than to be forsworn. Ac oft he bisought Jhesu tho, He schuld save hem bothe to, That thai ner nought forlorn. So if bifel opon a day He mett the levedi and that may Under an orchard side. "Sir Amis," the levedy gan say, "Whi mornestow so withouten play? Tel me that sothe this tide. No drede the nought," sche seyd than, "For to fight with thi foman, Whether thou wilt go or ride, So richeliche y schal the schrede, Tharf the never have of him drede, Thi bataile to abide." "Madame," seyd that gentil knight, "For Jhesus love, ful of might, Be nought wroth for this dede. Ich have that wrong and he the right, Therfore icham aferd to fight, Al so God me spede, For y mot swere, withouten faile, Al so God me spede in bataile, His speche is falshede; And yif y swere, icham forsworn, Than liif and soule icham forlorn; Certes, y can no rede!" Than seyd that levedi in a while, "No mai ther go non other gile To bring that traitor doun?" "Yis, dame," he seyd, "bi Seyn Gile! Her woneth hennes mani a mile Mi brother, Sir Amiloun, And yif y dorst to gon, Y dorst wele swere bi Seyn Jon, So trewe is that baroun, His owhen liif to lese to mede, He wold help me at this nede, To fight with that feloun." "Sir Amis," the levedi gan to say, "Take leve to morwe at day And wende in thi jurné. Y schal say thou schalt in thi way Hom in to thine owhen cuntray, Thi fader, thi moder to se; And when thou comes to thi brother right, Pray him, as he is hendi knight And of gret bounté, That he the batail for ous fong Ogain the steward that with wrong Wil stroie ous alle thre." A morwe Sir Amis made him yare And toke his leve for to fare And went in his jurnay. For nothing nold he spare, He priked the stede that him bare Bothe night and day. So long he priked withouten abod The stede that he on rode In a fer cuntray Was overcomen and fel doun ded; Tho couthe he no better red, His song was, "Waileway!" And when it was bifallen so, Nedes afot he most go, Ful careful was that knight. He stiked up his lappes tho, In his way he gan to go, To hold that he bihight; And al that day so long he ran, In to a wilde forest he cam Bituen the day and the night. So strong slepe yede him on, To win al this warldes won, No ferther he no might. The knight, that was so hende and fre, Wel fair he layd him under a tre And fel in slepe that tide. Al that night stille lay he, Til amorwe men might yse The day bi ich a side. Than was his brother, Sir Amiloun, Holden a lord of gret renoun Over al that cuntré wide, And woned fro thennes that he lay Bot half a jorné of a day, Noither to go no ride. As Sir Amiloun, that hendi knight, In his slepe he lay that night, In sweven he mett anon That he seighe Sir Amis bi sight, His brother, that was trewethe plight, Bilapped among his fon; Thurch a bere wilde and wode And other bestes, that bi him stode, Bisett he was to slon; And he alon among hem stode As a man that couthe no gode; Wel wo was him bigon. When Sir Amiloun was awake, Gret sorwe he gan for him make And told his wiif ful yare Hou him thought he seighe bestes blake About his brother with wrake To sle with sorwe and care. "Certes," he seyd, "with sum wrong He is in peril gret and strong, Of blis he is ful bare." And than seyd he, "For sothe ywis, Y no schal never have joie no blis, Til y wite hou he fare." As swithe he stirt up in that tide, Ther nold he no leng abide, Bot dight him forth anon, And al his meine bi ich a side Busked hem redi to ride, With her lord for to gon; And he bad al that ther wes, For Godes love held hem stille in pes, He bad hem so ich-chon, And swore bi Him that schop mankende, Ther schuld no man with him wende, Bot himself alon. Ful richeliche he gan him schrede And lepe astite opon his stede, For nothing he nold abide. Al his folk he gan forbede That non so hardi were of dede, After him noither go no ride. So al that night he rode til day, Til he com ther Sir Amis lay Up in that forest wide. Than seighe he a weri knight forgon Under a tre slepeand alon; To him he went that tide. He cleped to him anon right, "Arise up, felawe, it is light And time for to go!" Sir Amis biheld up with his sight And knewe anon that gentil knight, And he knewe him also. That hendi knight, Sir Amiloun, Of his stede light adoun, And kist hem bothe to. "Brother," he seyd, "whi listow here With thus mornand chere? Who hath wrought the this wo?" "Brother," seyd Sir Amis tho, "Ywis, me nas never so wo Seththen that y was born; For seththen that thou was went me fro, With joie and michel blis also Y served mi lord biforn. Ac the steward ful of envie, With gile and with trecherie, He hath me wrought swiche sorn; Bot thou help me at this nede, Certes, y can no nother rede, Mi liif, it is forlorn!" "Brother," Seyd Sir Amiloun, "Whi hath the steward, that feloun, Ydon the al this schame?" "Certes," he seyd, "with gret tresoun He wald me driven al adoun And hath me brought in blame." Than told Sir Amis al that cas, Hou he and that maiden was Bothe togider ysame, And hou the steward gan hem wrain, And hou the douke wald him have slain With wrethe and michel grame. And also he seyd, yplight, Hou he had boden on him fight, Batail of him to fong, And hou in court was ther no wight, To save tho tuay levedis bright, Durst ben his borwe among, And hou he most, withouten faile, Swere, ar he went to bataile, It war a lesing ful strong; "And forsworn man schal never spede; Certes, therfore y can no rede, `Allas' may be mi song!" When that Sir Amis had al told, Hou that the fals steward wold Bring him doun with mode, Sir Amiloun with wordes bold Swore, "Bi Him that Judas sold And died opon the Rode, Of his hope he schal now faile, And y schal for the take bataile, Thei that he wer wode; Yif y may mete him aright, With mi brond, that is so bright, Y schal sen his hert blode! Ac brother," he seyd, "have al mi wede, And in thi robe y schal me schrede, Right as the self it ware; And y schal swere so God me spede As icham giltles of that dede, That he opon the bare." Anon tho hendi knightes to Alle her wede chaunged tho, And when thai were al yare, Than seyd Sir Amiloun, "Bi Seyn Gile, Thus man schal the schrewe bigile, That wald the forfare! "Brother," he seyd, "wende hom now right To mi levedi, that is so bright, And do as y schal the sain; And as thou art a gentil knight, Thou ly bi hir in bed ich night, Til that y com ogain, And sai thou hast sent thi stede ywis To thi brother, Sir Amis; Than wil thai be ful fain, Thai wil wene that ich it be; Ther is non that schal knowe the, So liche we be bothe tuain!" And when he hadde thus sayd, yplight, Sir Amiloun, that gentil knight, Went in his jurnay, And Sir Amis went hom anon right To his brother levedi so bright, Withouten more delay, And seyd hou he hadde sent his stede To his brother to riche mede Bi a knight of that cuntray; And al thai wende of Sir Amis It had ben her lord, ywis, So liche were tho tuay. When that Sir Amis hadde ful yare Told him al of his care, Ful wele he wend tho, Litel and michel, lasse and mare, Al that ever in court ware, Thai thought it hadde ben so. And when it was comen to the night, Sir Amis and that levedi bright, To bed thai gun go; And whan thai were togider ylayd, Sir Amis his swerd out braid And layd bituix hem tuo. The levedi loked opon him tho Wrothlich with her eighen tuo, Sche wend hir lord were wode. "Sir," sche seyd, "whi farstow so? Thus were thou noght won to do, Who hath changed thi mode?" "Dame," he seyd, "sikerly, Ich have swiche a malady That mengeth al mi blod, And al min bones be so sare, Y nold nought toche thi bodi bare For al this warldes gode!" Thus, ywis, that hendy knight Was holden in that fourtennight As lord and prince in pride; Ac he forgat him never a night, Bituix him and that levedi bright His swerd he layd biside. The levedi thought in hir resoun, It hadde ben hir lord, Sir Amiloun, That hadde ben sike that tide; Therfore sche held hir stille tho And wold speke wordes no mo, Bot thought his wille to abide. Now, hende, herkneth, and y schal say Hou that Sir Amiloun went his way; For nothing wold he spare. He priked his stede night and day, As a gentil knight, stout and gay, To court he com ful yare That selve day, withouten fail, That was ysett of batail, And Sir Amis was nought thare. Than were tho levedis taken bi hond, Her juggement to understond, With sorwe and sikeing sare. The steward hoved opon a stede With scheld and spere, bataile to bede, Gret bost he gan to blawe; Bifor the douke anon he yede And seyd, "Sir, so God the spede, Herken to mi sawe! This traitour is out of lond ywent; Yif he were here in present, He schuld ben hong and drawe; Therefore ich aske jugement, That his borwes be tobrent, As it is londes lawe." That riche douke, with wrethe and wrake, He bad men schuld tho levedis take And lede hem forth biside; A strong fer ther was don make And a tonne for her sake, To bren hem in that tide. Than thai loked in to the feld And seighe a knight with spere and scheld Com prikeand ther with pride. Than seyd thai everichon, ywis, "Yonder cometh prikeand Sir Amis!" And bad thai schuld abide. Sir Amiloun gan stint at no ston, He priked among hem everichon, To that douke he gan wende. "Mi lord the douke," he seyd anon, "For schame lete tho levedis gon, That er bothe gode and hende, For ich am comen hider today For to saven hem, yive y may, And bring hem out of bende, For, certes, it were michel unright To make roste of levedis bright; Ywis, ye eren unkende." Than ware tho levedis glad and blithe, Her joie couthe thai noman kithe, Her care was al oway; And seththen, as ye may list and lithe, Into the chaunber thai went aswithe, Withouten more delay, And richeliche thai schred that knight With helme and plate and brini bright, His tire, it was ful gay. And when he was opon his stede, That God hem schuld save and spede Mani man bad that day. As he com prikand out of toun, Com a voice fram heven adoun, That noman herd bot he, And sayd, "Thou knight, Sir Amiloun, God, that suffred passioun, Sent the bode bi me; Yif thou this bataile underfong, Thou schalt have an eventour strong Within this yeres thre; And or this thre yere be al gon, Fouler mesel nas never non In the world, than thou schal be! "Ac for thou art so hende and fre, Jhesu sent the bode bi me, To warn the anon; So foule a wreche thou schalt be, With sorwe and care and poverté Nas never non wers bigon. Over al this world, fer and hende, Tho that be thine best frende Schal be thi most fon, And thi wiif and alle thi kinne Schul fle the stede thatow art inne, And forsake the ichon." That knight gan hove stille so ston And herd tho wordes everichon, That were so gret and grille. He nist what him was best to don, To flen, other to fighting gon; In hert him liked ille. He thought, "Yif y beknowe mi name, Than schal mi brother go to schame, With sorwe thai schul him spille. Certes," he seyd, "for drede of care To hold mi treuthe schal y nought spare, Lete God don alle His wille." Al the folk ther was, ywis, Thai wend it had ben Sir Amis That bataile schuld bede; He and the steward of pris Were brought bifor the justise To swere for that dede. The steward swore the pople among, As wis as he seyd no wrong, God help him at his nede; And Sir Amiloun swore and gan to say As wis as he never kist that may, Our Levedi schuld hem spede. When thai hadde sworn, as y you told, To biker tho bernes were ful bold And busked hem for to ride. Al that ther was, yong and old, Bisought God yif that He wold Help Sir Amis that tide. On stedes that were stithe and strong Thai riden togider with schaftes long, Til thai toschiverd bi ich a side; And than drough thai swerdes gode And hewe togider, as thai were wode, For nothing thai nold abide. Tho gomes, that were egre of sight, With fauchouns felle thai gun to fight And ferd as thai were wode. So hard thai hewe on helmes bright With strong strokes of michel might, That fer biforn out stode; So hard thai hewe on helme and side, Thurch dent of grimly woundes wide, That thai sprad al of blod. Fram morwe to none, withouten faile, Bituixen hem last the bataile, So egre thai were of mode. Sir Amiloun, as fer of flint, With wrethe anon to him he wint And smot a stroke with main; Ac he failed of his dint, The stede in the heved he hint And smot out al his brain. The stede fel ded doun to grounde; Tho was the steward that stounde Ful ferd he schuld be slain. Sir Amiloun light adoun of his stede, To the steward afot he yede And halp him up ogain. "Arise up, steward," he seyd anon, "To fight thou schalt afot gon, For thou hast lorn thi stede; For it were gret vilani, bi Seyn Jon, A liggeand man for to slon, That were yfallen in nede." That knight was ful fre to fond And tok the steward bi the hond And seyd, "So God me spede, Now thou schalt afot go, Y schal fight afot also, And elles were gret falshed." The steward and that douhti man Anon togider thai fight gan With brondes bright and bare; So hard togider thai fight than, Til al her armour o blod ran, For nothing nold thai spare. The steward smot to him that stounde On his schulder a gret wounde With his grimly gare, That thurch that wounde, as ye may here, He was knowen with reweli chere, When he was fallen in care. Than was Sir Amiloun wroth and wode, Whan al his amour ran o blode, That ere was white so swan; With a fauchoun scharp and gode He smot to him with egre mode Al so a douhti man, That even fro the schulder blade Into the brest the brond gan wade, Thurchout his hert it ran. The steward fel adoun ded, Sir Amiloun strok of his hed, And God he thonked it than. Alle the lordinges that ther ware, Litel and michel, lasse and mare, Ful glad thai were that tide. The heved opon a spere thai bare; To toun thai dight hem ful yare, For nothing thai nold abide; Thai com ogaines him out of toun With a fair processioun Semliche bi ich a side. Anon thai ladde him to the tour With joie and ful michel honour, As prince proude in pride. In to the palais when thai were gon, Al that was in that worthli won Wende Sir Amis it ware. "Sir Amis," seyd the douke anon, "Bifor this lordinges everichon Y graunt the ful yare, For Belisent, that miri may, Thou hast bought hir ful dere today With grimli woundes sare; Therfore y graunt the now here Mi lond and mi douhter dere, To hald for ever mare." Ful blithe was that hendi knight And thonked him with al his might, Glad he was and fain; In alle the court was ther no wight That wist wat his name it hight; To save tho levedis tuain, Leches swithe thai han yfounde, That gun to tasty his wounde And made him hole ogain, Than were thai al glad and blithe And thonked God a thousand sithe That the steward was slain. On a day Sir Amiloun dight him yare And seyd that he wold fare Hom into his cuntray To telle his frendes, lasse and mare, And other lordinges that there ware, Hou he had sped that day. The douke graunted him that tide And bede him knightes and miche pride, And he answerd, "Nay." Ther schuld noman with him gon, Bot as swithe him dight anon And went forth in his way. In his way he went alone, Most ther noman with him gon, Noither knight no swain. That douhti knight of blod and bon, No stint he never at no ston Til he com hom ogain; And Sir Amis, as y you say, Waited his coming everi day Up in the forest plain; And so thai mett togider same, And he teld him with joie and game Hou he hadde the steward slain, And hou he schuld spousy to mede That ich maide, worthli in wede, That was so comly corn. Sir Amiloun light of his stede, And gan to chaungy her wede, As thai hadde don biforn. "Brother," he seyd, "wende hom ogain." And taught him hou he schuld sain, When he com ther thai worn. Than was Sir Amis glad and blithe And thanked him a thousand sithe The time that he was born. And when thai schuld wende ato, Sir Amis oft thonked him tho His cost and his gode dede. "Brother," he seyd, "yif it bitide so That the bitide care other wo, And of min help hast nede, Savelich com other send thi sond, And y schal never lenger withstond, Al so God me spede; Be it in peril never so strong, Y schal the help in right and wrong, Mi liif to lese to mede." Asonder than thai gun wende; Sir Amiloun, that knight so hende, Went hom in that tide To his levedi that was unkende, And was ful welcome to his frende, As prince proude in pride; And when it was comen to the night, Sir Amiloun and that levedi bright In bedde were layd biside; In his armes he gan hir kis And made his joie and michel blis, For nothing he nold abide. The levedi astite asked him tho Whi that he hadde farn so Al that fourtennight, Laid his swerd bituen hem to, That sche no durst nought for wele no wo Touche his bodi aright. Sir Amiloun bithought him than His brother was a trewe man, That hadde so done, aplight. "Dame," he seyd, "ichil the sain And telle the that sothe ful fain, Ac wray me to no wight." The levedi astite him frain gan, For His love, that this warld wan, Telle hir whi it ware. Than astite that hendy man, Al the sothe he teld hir than, To court hou he gan fare, And hou he slough the steward strong, That with tresoun and with wrong Wold have his brother forfare, And hou his brother that hendy knight Lay with hir in bed ich night While that he was thare. The levedi was ful wroth, yplight, And oft missayd hir lord that night With speche bituix hem to, And seyd, "With wrong and michel unright Thou slough ther a gentil knight; Ywis, it was ivel ydo!" "Dame," he seyd, "bi heven king, Y no dede it for non other thing Bot to save mi brother fro wo, And ich hope, yif ich hadde nede, His owhen liif to lesse to mede, He wald help me also." Al thus, in gest as we sain, Sir Amis was ful glad and fain, To court he gan to wende; And when he come to court ogain With erl, baroun, knight and swain, Honoured he was, that hende. That riche douke tok him bi hond And sesed him in alle his lond, To held withouten ende; And seththen with joie opon a day He spoused Belisent, that may, That was so trewe and kende. Miche was that semly folk in sale, That was samned at that bridale When he hadde spoused that flour, Of erls, barouns, mani and fale, And other lordinges gret and smale, And levedis bright in bour. A real fest thai gan to hold Of erls and of barouns bold With joie and michel honour; Over al that lond est and west Than was Sir Amis helden the best And chosen for priis in tour. So within tho yeres to A wel fair grace fel hem tho, As God almighti wold; The riche douke dyed hem fro And his levedi dede also, And graven in grete so cold. Than was Sir Amis, hende and fre, Douke and lord of gret pousté Over al that lond yhold. Tuai childer he bigat bi his wive, The fairest that might bere live, In gest as it is told. Than was that knight of gret renoun And lord of mani a tour and toun And douke of gret pousté; And his brother, Sir Amiloun, With sorwe and care was driven adoun, That ere was hende and fre; Al so that angel hadde hem told, Fouler messel that nas non hold In world than was he. In gest to rede it is gret rewthe, What sorwe he hadde for his treuthe Within tho yeres thre. And er tho thre yere com to thende He no wist whider he might wende, So wo was him bigon; For al that were his best frende, And nameliche al his riche kende, Bicom his most fon; And his wiif, for sothe to say, Wrought him wers bothe night and day Than thai dede everichon. When him was fallen that hard cas, A frendeleser man than he was Men nist nowhar non. So wicked and schrewed was his wiif, Sche brac his hert withouten kniif, With wordes harde and kene, And seyd to him, "Thou wreche chaitif, With wrong the steward les his liif, And that is on the sene; Therfore, bi Seyn Denis of Fraunce, The is bitid this hard chaunce, Dathet who the bimene!" Wel oft times his honden he wrong, As man that thenketh his liif to long, That liveth in treye and tene. Allas, allas! that gentil knight That whilom was so wise and wight, That than was wrought so wo, Than fram his levedi, fair and bright, Out of his owhen chaumber anight He was yhote to go, And in his owhen halle o day Fram the heighe bord oway He was ycharged also To eten at the tables ende; Wald ther no man sit him hende, Wel careful was he tho. Bi than that half yere was ago That he hadde eten in halle so With gode mete and with drink, His levedi wax ful wroth and wo And thought he lived to long tho - Withouten ani lesing - "In this lond springeth this word, Y fede a mesel at mi bord, He is so foule a thing, It is gret spite to al mi kende, He schal no more sitt me so hende, Bi Jhesus, heven king!" On a day sche gan him calle And seyd, "Sir, it is so bifalle, For sothe, y telle it te, That thou etest so long in halle, It is gret spite to ous alle, Mi kende is wroth with me." The knight gan wepe and seyd ful stille, "Do me where it is thi wille, Ther noman may me se; Of no more ichil the praye, Bot of a meles mete ich day, For seynt charité." That levedi, for hir lordes sake, Anon sche dede men timber take, For nothing wold sche wond, And half a mile fram the gate A litel loge sche lete make, Biside the way to stond. And when the loge was al wrought, Of his gode no wold he noght, Bot his gold coupe an hond. When he was in his loge alon, To God of heven he made his mon And thonked Him of al His sond. Into that loge when he was dight In al the court was ther no wight That wold serve him thare, To save a gentil child, yplight, Child Owaines his name it hight, For him he wepe ful sare. That child was trewe and of his kende, His soster sone, he was ful hende; He sayd to hem ful yare, Ywis, he no schuld never wond To serven hem fro fot to hond, While he olives ware. That child, that was so fair and bold, Owaines was his name ytold, Wel fair he was of blode. When he was of tuelve yere old, Amoraunt than was he cald, Wel curteys, hend and gode. Bi his lord ich night he lay And feched her livere ever day To her lives fode. When ich man made gle and song, Ever for his lord among He made dreri mode. Thus Amoraunt, as y you say, Com to court ich day, No stint he for no strive. Al that ther was gan him pray To com fro that lazer oway, Than schuld he the and thrive. And he answerd with milde mode And swore bi Him that dyed on Rode And tholed woundes five, For al this worldes gode to take His lord nold he never forsake Whiles he ware olive. Bi than the tuelmoneth was al gon, Amorant went into that won For his lordes liveray; The levedi was ful wroth anon And comaunde hir men everichon To drive that child oway, And swore bi Him that Judas sold, Thei his lord for hunger and cold Dyed ther he lay, He schuld have noither mete no drink, No socour of non other thing For hir after that day. That child wrong his honden tuain And weping went hom ogain With sorwe and sikeing sare. That godeman gan him frain And bad him that he schuld him sain And telle him whi it ware. And he answerd and seyd tho, "Ywis, no wonder thei me be wo, Mine hert, it breketh for care; Thi wiif hath sworn with gret mode That sche no schal never don ous gode; Allas, hou schal we fare?" "A, God help!" seyd that gentil knight, "Whilom y was man of might, To dele mete and cloth, And now icham so foule a wight That al that seth on me bi sight, Mi liif is hem ful loth. Sone," he seyd, "lete thi wepeing, For this is now a strong tiding, That may we se for soth; For, certes, y can non other red, Ous bihoveth to bid our brede, Now y wot hou it goth." Amorwe astite as it was light, The child and that gentil knight Dight hem for to gon, And in her way thai went ful right To begge her brede, as thai hadde tight, For mete no hadde thai none. So long thai went up and doun Til thai com to a chepeing toun, Five mile out of that won, And sore wepeand fro dore to dore, And bad here mete for Godes love, Ful ivel couthe thai theron. So in that time, ich understond, Gret plenté was in that lond, Bothe of mete and drink; That folk was ful fre to fond And brought hem anough to hond Of al kines thing; For the gode man was so messais tho, And for the child was fair also, Hem loved old and ying, And brought hem anough of al gode; Than was the child blithe of mode And lete be his wepeing. Than wex the gode man fote so sare That he no might no forther fare For al this worldes gode; To the tounes ende that child him bare And a loge he bilt him thare, As folk to chepeing yode; And as that folk of that cuntray Com to chepeing everi day, Thai gat hem lives fode; And Amoraunt oft to toun gan go And begged hem mete and drink also, When hem most nede atstode. Thus in gest rede we Thai duelled there yeres thre, That child and he also, And lived in care and poverté Bi the folk of that cuntré, As thai com to and fro, So that in the ferth yere Corn bigan to wex dere, That hunger bigan to go, That ther was noither eld no ying That wald yif hem mete no drink, Wel careful were thai tho. Amorant oft to toun gan gon, Ac mete no drink no gat he non, Noither at man no wive. When thai were togider alon, Reweliche thai gan maken her mon, Wo was hem o live; And his levedi, for sothe to say, Woned ther in that cuntray Nought thennes miles five, And lived in joie bothe night and day, Whiles he in sorwe and care lay, Wel ivel mot sche thrive! On a day, as thai sete alon, That hendi knight gan meken his mon And seyd to the child that tide, "Sone," he seyd, "thou most gon To mi levedi swithe anon, That woneth here biside, Bid hir, for Him that died on Rode, Sende me so michel of al mi gode, An asse, on to ride, And out of lond we wil fare To begge our mete with sorwe and care, No lenger we nil abide." Amoraunt to court is went Bifor that levedi fair and gent, Wel hendeliche seyd hir anon, "Madame," he seyd, "verrament, As messanger mi lord me sent, For himself may nought gon, And praieste with milde mode Sende him so michel of al his gode As an asse to riden opon, And out of lond we schulen yfere, No schal we never com eft here, Thei hunger ous schuld slon." The levedi seyd sche wald ful fain Sende him gode asses tuain, With thi he wald oway go So fer that he never eft com ogain. "Nat, certes, dame," the child gan sain, "Thou sest ous never eft mo." Than was the levedi glad and blithe And comaund him an asse as swithe And seyd with wrethe tho, "Now ye schul out of lond fare, God leve you never to com here mare, And graunt that it be so." That child no lenger nold abide, His asse astite he gan bistride And went him hom ogain, And told his lord in that tide Hou his levedi proude in pride Schameliche gan to sain; Opon the asse he sett that knight so hende, And out of the cité thai gun wende; Ther of thai were ful fain. Thurch mani a cuntré, up an doun, Thai begged her mete fram toun to toun, Bothe in winde and rain. Over al that lond thurch Godes wille That hunger wex so gret and grille, As wide as thai gun go; Almest for hunger thai gan to spille, Of brede thai no hadde nought half her fille, Ful careful were thai tho. Than seyd the knight opon a day, "Ous bihoveth selle our asse oway, For we no have gode no mo, Save mi riche coupe of gold, Ac certes, that schal never be sold, Thei hunger schuld me slo." Than Amoraunt and Sir Amiloun, With sorwe and care and reweful roun Erliche in a morning Thai went hem to a chepeing toun, And when the knight was light adoun, Withouten ani duelling, Amoraunt went to toun tho, His asse he ladde with him also And sold it for five schilling. And while that derth was so strong, Ther with thai bought hem mete among, When thai might gete no thing. And when her asse was ysold For five schilling, as y you told, Thai duelled ther dayes thre; Amoraunt wex strong and bold, Of fiftene winter was he old, Curtays, hende and fre. For his lord he hadde gret care, And at his rigge he dight him yare And bare him out of that cité; And half a yere and sum del mare About his mete he him bare, Yblisced mot he be. Thus Amoraunt, withouten wrong, Bar his lord about so long, As y you tel may. That winter com so hard and strong, Oft, "Allas!" it was his song, So depe was that cuntray; The way was so depe and slider, Oft times bothe togider Thai fel doun in the clay. Ful trewe he was and kinde of blod And served his lord with mild mode, Wald he nought wende oway. Thus Amoraunt, as y you say, Served his lord bothe night and day And at his rigge him bare. Oft his song was, "Waileway!" So depe was that cuntray, His bones wex ful sare. Al her catel than was spent, Save tuelf pans, verrament, Therwith thai went ful yare And bought hem a gode croudewain, His lord he gan ther-in to lain, He no might him bere namare. Than Amoraunt crud Sir Amiloun Thurch mani a cuntré, up and doun, As ye may understond; So he com to a cité toun, Ther Sir Amis, the bold baroun, Was douke and lord in lond. Than seyd the knight in that tide, "To the doukes court here biside To bring me thider thou fond; He is a man of milde mode, We schul gete ous ther sum gode Thurch grace of Godes sond. "Ac, leve sone," he seyd than, "For His love, that this world wan Astow art hende and fre, Thou be aknowe to no man Whider y schal, no whenes y cam, No what mi name it be." He answerd and seyd, "Nay." To court he went in his way, As ye may listen at me, And bifor al other pover men He crud his wain in to the fen; Gret diol it was to se. So it bifel that selve day, With tong as y you tel may, It was midwinter tide, That riche douke with gamen and play Fram chirche com the right way As lord and prince with pride. When he com to the castelgate, The pover men that stode therate Withdrough hem ther beside. With knightes and with serjaunce fale He went into that semly sale With joie and blis to abide. In kinges court, as it is lawe, Trumpes in halle to mete gan blawe, To benche went tho bold. When thai were semly set on rowe, Served thai were upon a throwe, As men miriest on mold. That riche douke, withouten les, As a prince served he wes With riche coupes of gold, And he that brought him to that state Stode bischet withouten the gate, Wel sore ofhungred and cold. Out at the gate com a knight And a serjaunt wise and wight, To plain hem bothe yfere, And thurch the grace of God Almight On Sir Amiloun he cast a sight, Hou laith he was of chere. And seththen biheld on Amoraunt, Hou gentil he was and of fair semblaunt, In gest as ye may here. Than seyd thai bothe, bi Seyn Jon, In al the court was ther non Of fairehed half his pere. The gode man gan to him go, And hendeliche he asked him tho, As ye may understond, Fram wat lond that he com fro, And whi that he stode ther tho, And whom he served in lond. "Sir," he seyd, "so God me save, Icham here mi lordes knave, That lith in Godes bond; And thou art gentil knight of blode, Bere our erand of sum gode Thurch grace of Godes sond." The gode man asked him anon, Yif he wald fro that lazer gon And trewelich to him take; And he seyd he schuld, bi Seyn Jon, Serve that riche douke in that won, And richeman he wald him make; And he answerd with mild mode And swore bi Him that dyed on Rode Whiles he might walk and wake, For to winne al this warldes gode, His hende lord, that bi him stode, Schuld he never forsake. The gode man wende he hadde ben rage, Or he hadde ben a folesage That hadde his witt forlorn, Other he thought that his lord with the foule visage Hadde ben a man of heighe parage And of heighe kinde ycorn. Therfore he nold no more sain, Bot went him in to the halle ogain The riche douke biforn, "Mi lord," he seyd, "listen to me The best bourd, bi mi leueté, Thou herdest seththen thou were born." The riche douke badde him anon To telle biforn hem everichon Withouten more duelling. "Now sir," he seyd, "bi Seyn Jon, Ich was out atte gate ygon Right now on mi playing; Pover men y seighe mani thare, Litel and michel, lasse and mare, Bothe old and ying, And a lazer ther y fond; Herdestow never in no lond Telle of so foule a thing. "The lazer lith up in a wain, And is so pover of might and main O fot no may he gon; And over him stode a naked swain, A gentiler child, for sothe to sain, In world no wot y non. He is the fairest gome That ever Crist yaf Cristendome Or layd liif opon, And on of the most fole he is That ever thou herdest speke, ywis, In this worldes won." Than seyd the riche douke ogain, "What foly," he seyd, "can he sain? Is he madde of mode?" "Sir," he seyd, "y bad him fain Forsake the lazer in the wain, That he so over stode, And in thi servise he schuld be, Y bihete hem bothe lond and fe, Anough of warldes gode; And he answerd and seyd tho He nold never gon him fro; Therfore ich hold him wode." Than seyd the douke, "Thei his lord be lorn, Par aventour, the gode man hath biforn Holpen him at his nede, Other the child is of his blod yborn, Other he hath him othes sworn His liif with him to lede. Whether he be fremd or of his blod, The child," he seyd, "is trewe and gode, Also God me spede. Yif ichim speke er he wende, For that he is so trewe and kende, Y schal quite him his mede!" That douke astite, as y you told, Cleped to him a squier bold And hendelich gan hem sain: "Take," he sayd, "mi coupe of gold, As ful of wine astow might hold In thine hondes tuain, And bere it to the castelgate, A lazer thou schalt finde therate Liggeand in a wain. Bid him, for the love of Seyn Martin, He and his page drink this win, And bring me the coupe ogain." The squier tho the coupe hent, And to the castel gat he went, And ful of win he it bare. To the lazer he seyd, verrament, "This coupe ful of win mi lord the sent, Drink it, yife thou dare." The lazer tok forth his coupe of gold, Bothe were goten in o mold, Right as that selve it ware, Therin he pourd that win so riche; Than were thai bothe ful yliche And noither lesse no mare. The squier biheld the coupes tho, First his and his lordes also, Whiles he stode hem biforn, Ac he no couthe never mo Chese the better of hem to, So liche bothe thai worn. Into halle he ran ogain, "Certes, sir," he gan to sain, "Mani gode dede thou hast lorn, And so thou hast lorn this dede now; He is a richer man than thou, Bi the time that God was born." The riche douke answerd, "Nay. That worth never bi night no day; It were ogaines the lawe!" "Yis, sir," he gan to say, "He is a traitour, bi mi fay, And were wele worth to drawe. For when y brought him the win, He drough forth a gold coupe fin, Right as it ware thi nawe; In this world, bi Seyn Jon, So wise a man is ther non Asundri schuld hem knawe." "Now, certes," seyd Sir Amis tho, "In al this world were coupes nomo So liche in al thing, Save min and mi brothers also, That was sett bituix ous to, Token of our parting; And yif it be so, with tresoun Mine hende brother, Sir Amiloun, Is slain, withouten lesing. And yif he have stollen his coupe oway, Y schal him sle me self this day, Bi Jhesu, heven king!" Fram the bord he resed than And hent his swerd as a wode man And drough it out with wrake, And to the castel gat he ran; In al the court was ther no man That him might atake. To the lazer he stirt in the wain And hent him in his honden tuain And sleynt him in the lake, And layd on, as he were wode, And al that ever about him stode Gret diol gan make. "Traitour!" seyd the douke so bold, "Where haddestow this coupe of gold And hou com thou ther to? For bi Him that Judas sold, Amiloun, mi brother, it hadde in wold, When that he went me fro!" "Ya, certes, sir," he gan to say, "It was his in his cuntray, And now it is fallen so; Bot certes, now that icham here, The coupe is mine, y bought it dere, With right y com ther to." Than was the douke ful egre of mod; Was noman that about him stode That durst legge on him hond; He spurned him with his fot And laid on, as he were wode, With his naked brond, And bi the fet the lazer he drough And drad on him in the slough; For no thing wald he wond, And seyd, "Thef, thou schalt be slawe, Bot thou wilt be the sothe aknawe, Where thou the coupe fond." Child Amoraunt stode the pople among And seye his lord with wough and wrong Hou reweliche he was dight. He was bothe hardi and strong, The douke in his armes he fong And held him stille upright. "Sir," he seyd, "thou art unhende And of thi werkes unkende, To sle that gentil knight. Wel sore may him rewe that stounde That ever for the toke he wounde To save thi liif in fight. "And ys thi brother, Sir Amylioun, That whilom was a noble baroun Bothe to ryde and go, And now with sorwe ys dreve adoun; Nowe God that suffred passioun Breng him oute of his wo! For the of blysse he ys bare, And thou yeldyst him all with care And brekest his bones a two; That he halp the at thi nede, Well evell aquitest thou his mede, Alas, whi farest thou so?" When Sir Amis herd him so sain, He stirt to the knight ogain, Withouten more delay, And biclept him in his armes tuain, And oft, "Allas!" he gan sain; His song was "Waileway!" He loked opon his scholder bare And seighe his grimly wounde thare, As Amoraunt gan him say. He fel aswon to the grounde And oft he seyd, "Allas that stounde!" That ever he bode that day. "Allas," he seyd, "mi joie is lorn, Unkender blod nas never born, Y not wat y may do; For he saved mi liif biforn, Ichave him yolden with wo and sorn And wrought him michel wo. "O brother," he seyd, "par charité, This rewely ded foryif thou me, That ichave smiten the so!" And he forgave it him also a swithe And kist him wel mani a sithe, Wepeand with eighen tuo. Than was Sir Amis glad and fain, For joie he wepe with his ain And hent his brother than, And tok him in his armes tuain, Right til he com into the halle ogain, No bar him no nother man. The levedi tho in the halle stode And wend hir lord hadde ben wode, Ogaines him hye ran. "Sir," sche seyd, "wat is thi thought? Whi hastow him into halle ybrought For Him that this world wan?" "O dame," he seyd, "bi Seyn Jon, Me nas never so wo bigon, Yif thou it wost understond, For better knight in world is non, Bot almost now ichave him slon And schamely driven to schond; For it is mi brother, Sir Amiloun, With sorwe and care is dreven adoun, That er was fre to fond." The levedi fel aswon to grounde And wepe and seyd, "Allas that stounde!" Wel sore wrengand hir hond. As foule a lazer as he was, The levedi kist him in that plas, For nothing wold sche spare, And oft time sche seyd, "Allas!" That him was fallen so hard a cas, To live in sorwe and care. Into hir chaumber she gan him lede And kest of al his pover wede And bathed his bodi al bare, And to a bedde swithe him brought; With clothes riche and wele ywrought; Ful blithe of him thai ware. And thus in gest as we say, Tuelmoneth in her chaumber he lay, Ful trewe thai ware and kinde. No wold thai nick him with no nay, What so ever he asked night or day, It nas never bihinde; Of everich mete and everi drink Thai had hemselve, withouten lesing, Thai were him bothe ful minde. And bithan the tuelmonth was ago, A ful fair grace fel hem tho, In gest as we finde. So it bifel opon a night, As Sir Amis, that gentil knight, In slepe thought as he lay, An angel com fram heven bright And stode biforn his bed ful right And to him thus gan say: Yif he wald rise on Cristes morn, Swiche time as Jhesu Crist was born, And slen his children tuay, And alien his brother with the blode, Thurch Godes grace, that is so gode, His wo schuld wende oway. Thus him thought al tho thre night An angel out of heven bright Warned him ever more Yif he wald do as he him hight, His brother schuld ben as fair a knight As ever he was biforn, Ful blithe was Sir Amis tho, Ac for his childer him was ful wo, For fairer ner non born. Wel loth him was his childer to slo, And wele lother his brother forgo, That is so kinde ycorn. Sir Amiloun met that night also That an angel warned him tho And seyd to him ful yare, Yif his brother wald his childer slo, The hert blod of hem to Might bring him out of care. A morwe Sir Amis was ful hende And to his brother he gan wende And asked him of his fare; And he him answerd ogain ful stille, "Brother, ich abide her Godes wille, For y may do na mare." Al so thai sete togider thare And speke of aventours, as it ware, Tho knightes hende and fre, Than seyd Sir Amiloun ful yare, "Brother, y nil nought spare To tel the in privité. Me thought tonight in me sweven That an angel com fram heven; For sothe, he told me That thurch the blod of thin children to Y might aschape out of mi wo, Al hayl and hole to be!" Than thought the douk, withouten lesing, For to slen his childer so ying, It were a dedli sinne; And than thought he, bi heven king, His brother out of sorwe bring, For that nold he nought blinne. So it bifel on Cristes night, Swiche time as Jhesu, ful of might, Was born to save mankunne, To chirche to wende al that ther wes, Thai dighten hem, withouten les, With joie and worldes winne. Than thai were redi for to fare, The douke bad al that ther ware, To chirche thai schuld wende, Litel and michel, lasse and mare, That non bileft in chaumber thare, As thai wald ben his frende, And seyd he wald himselve that night Kepe his brother that gentil knight That was so god and kende. Than was ther non that durst say nay; To chirche thai went in her way, At hom bileft tho hende. The douke wel fast gan aspie The kays of the noricerie, Er than thai schuld gon, And priveliche he cast his eighe And aparceived ful witterlye Where that thai hadde hem don. And when thai were to chirche went, Than Sir Amis, verrament, Was bileft alon. He tok a candel fair and bright And to the kays he went ful right And tok hem oway ichon. Alon him self, withouten mo, Into the chaumber he gan to go, Ther that his childer were, And biheld hem bothe to, Hou fair thai lay togider tho And slepe bothe yfere. Than seyd himselve, "Bi Seyn Jon, It were gret rewethe you to slon, That God hath bought so dere!" His kniif he had drawen that tide, For sorwe he sleynt oway biside And wepe with reweful chere. Than he hadde wopen ther he stode, Anon he turned ogain his mode And sayd withouten delay, "Mi brother was so kinde and gode, With grimly wounde he schad his blod For mi love opon a day; Whi schuld y than mi childer spare, To bring mi brother out of care? O, certes," he seyd, "nay! To help mi brother now at this nede, God graunt me therto wele to spede, And Mari, that best may!" No lenger stint he no stode, Bot hent his kniif with dreri mode And tok his children tho; For he nold nought spille her blode, Over a bacine fair and gode Her throtes he schar atuo. And when he hadde hem bothe slain, He laid hem in her bed ogain - No wonder thei him were wo - And hilde hem, that no wight schuld se, As noman hadde at hem be; Out of chaumber he gan go. And when he was out of chaumber gon, The dore he steked stille anon As fast as it was biforn; The kays he hidde under a ston And thought thai schuld wene ichon That thai hadde ben forlorn. To his brother he went him than And seyd to that careful man, "Swiche time as God was born, Ich have the brought mi childer blod, Ich hope it schal do the gode As the angel seyd biforn." "Brother," Sir Amiloun gan to say, "Hastow slayn thine children tuay? Allas, whi destow so?" He wepe and seyd, "Waileway! Ich hat lever til domesday Have lived in care and wo!" Than seyd Sir Amis, "Be now stille; Jhesu, when it is His wille, May send me childer mo. For me of blis thou art al bare; Ywis, mi liif wil y nought spare, To help the now therfro." He tok that blode, that was so bright, And alied that gentil knight, That er was hend in hale, And seththen in bed him dight And wreighe him wel warm, aplight, With clothes riche and fale. "Brother," he seyd, "ly now stille And falle on slepe thurch Godes wille, As the angel told in tale; And ich hope wele withouten lesing, Jhesu, that is heven king, Schal bote the of thi bale." Sir Amis let him ly alon And in to his chapel he went anon, In gest as ye may here, And for his childer, that he hadde slon, To God of heven he made him mon And preyd with rewely chere Schuld save him fram schame that day, And Mari, his moder, that best may, That was him leve and dere; And Jhesu Crist, in that stede Ful wele He herd that knightes bede And graunt him his praiere. Amorwe astite as it was day, The levedi com home al with play With knightes ten and five; Thai sought the kays ther thai lay; Thai founde hem nought, thai were oway, Wel wo was hem olive. The douk bad al that ther wes Thai schuld hold hem still in pes And stint of her strive, And seyd he hadde the keys nome, Schuld noman in the chaumber come Bot himself and his wive. Anon he tok his levedi than And seyd to hir, "Leve leman, Be blithe and glad of mode; For bi Him that this warld wan, Bothe mi childer ich have slan, That were so hende and gode; For me thought in mi sweven That an angel com fram heven And seyd me thurch her blode Mi brother schuld passe out of his wo; Therfore y slough hem bothe to, To hele that frely fode." Than was the levedi ferly wo And seighe hir lord was also; Sche comfort him ful yare, "O lef liif," sche seyd tho, "God may sende ous childer mo, Of hem have thou no care. Yif it ware at min hert rote, For to bring thi brother bote, My lyf y wold not spare. Shal noman oure children see, Tomorow shal they beryed bee As they faire ded ware!" Thus the lady faire and bryght Comfort hur lord with al hur myght, As ye mow understonde; And seth they went both ful ryght To Sir Amylion, that gentil knyght, That ere was free to fonde. When Sir Amylion wakyd thoo, Al his fowlehed was agoo Through grace of Goddes sonde; Than was he as feire a man As ever he was yet or than, Seth he was born in londe. Than were they al blith, Her joy couth noman kyth, They thonked God that day. As ye mow listen and lyth, Into a chamber they went swyth, Ther the children lay; Without wemme and wound Hool and sound the children found, And layen togeder and play. For joye they wept, there they stood, And thanked God with myld mood, Her care was al away. When Sir Amylion was hool and fere And wax was strong of powere Both to goo and ryde, Child Oweys was a bold squyer, Blithe and glad he was of chere, To serve his lord beside. Than saide the knyght uppon a day, He wolde hoom to his contray, To speke with his wyf that tyde; And for she halp him so at nede, Wel he thought to quyte hur mede, No lenger wold he abyde. Sir Amys sent ful hastely After mony knyght hardy, That doughty were of dede, Wel fyve hundred kene and try, And other barons by and by On palfray and on steede. He preked both nyght and day Til he com to his contray, Ther he was lord in lede. Than had a knyght of that contré Spoused his lady, bryght of ble, In romaunce as we rede. But thus, in romaunce as y yow say, They com hoom that silf day That the bridal was hold; To the gates they preked without delay, Anon ther began a soory play Among the barouns bold. A messengere to the hal com And seide her lord was com hom As man meriest on molde. Than wox the lady blew and wan; Ther was mony a sory man, Both yong and olde. Sir Amys and Sir Amylion And with hem mony a stout baron With knyghtes and squyers fale, With helmes and with haberyon, With swerd bryght and broun, They went in to the hale. Al that they there araught, Grete strokes there they caught, Both grete and smale. Glad and blyth were they that day, Who so myght skape away And fle fro that bredale. When thei had with wrake Drove oute both broun and blake Out of that worthy woon, Sir Amylyon for his lady sake And grete logge he let make Both of lym and stoon. Thereyn was the lady ladde And with bred and water was she fed, Tyl her lyvedays were goon. Thus was the lady brought to dede, Who therof rought, he was a queede, As ye have herd echoon. Then Sir Amylion sent his sond To erles, barouns, fre and bond, Both feire and hende. When they com, he sesed in hond Child Oweys in al his lond, That was trew and kynde; And when he had do thus, ywys, With his brother, Sir Amys, Agen then gan he wende. In muche joy without stryf Togeder ladde they her lyf, Tel God after her dide send. Anoon the hend barons tway, They let reyse a faire abbay And feffet it ryght wel thoo, In Lumbardy, in that contray, To senge for hem tyl Domesday And for her eldres also. Both on oo day were they dede And in oo grave were they leide, The knyghtes both twoo; And for her trewth and her godhede The blisse of hevyn they have to mede, That lasteth ever moo. Amen |
are courteous listen; (see note) by (the) love (of God) once upon a time happened Concerning; generosity; (see note) Their fathers; well-born Lords born of great family excellent; town and tower; (see note) hear good and ill Certainly; sorrow good and ill; fared; (see note) unaffected by their lineage; (see note) manner courteous became friends court where knighted how they pledged loyalty; (see note) together children's names were Listen; will hear (see note) Once upon a time it happened read barons well-born lived noble in proof stately were in dress; (see note) their well-born Two boy children got they then doughty (brave) true (to their word) king of heaven fulfilled their deserving children's; as I promised you will recount properly conceived; one one; truly Truthfully, without lying one; certainly named baptism named renown high background then began to thrive none alive Courteous, well-born five years old family; pleased mild; manner worthy offspring twelve; (see note) held; (see note) bone and blood (i.e., body) (see note) duke lived Esteemed in town and tower Graciously he sent his message; (see note) To earls, barons, freemen and bound; (see note) lovely; bower rich feast savior as I tell you He invited With joy Those; (see note) fair(see note) quickly gathered; (see note) looked at them adorned; (see note) fair they were to see skin; complexion; hair falsehood were They never saw before person Earl, baron, squire, nor knight Like it or not alike; appearance stature; pledge truly alike; (see note) poor nor rich Father nor mother that could say Nor could tell the courteous children apart Except; clothes duke; (see note) earls; barons hear Fortnight (two weeks) merriest on earth; (see note) cheer; noblemen joyful minstrelsy Their skills; show quite readily They took leave to go many a time When; lords; left noble of family Called to him then Those two barons; courteous entreated them as splendid In fine array to live by would dub them support lords magnificent in honor; (see note) in return their ladies began to say quite readily joyful their dear; both were their children their blessing would shield them from grief frequently thanked the duke took their leave; away To their own countries they began to travel those lovely; certainly freely to eat (be nourished) branches then; esteemed worthiest in clothes well; loved each other then Never did children love each other so Neither in word nor in deed Between them two, of blood and bone There was never truer love stories; read alert and brave Pledged their loyalty together by good and ill nobly try to stick together Wherever Let each other down (i.e., swore an oath) stories; hear Those courteous happy; manner beloved and dear Honorably to go by When brave young men To be; time gave them all that was necessary for them weapons; arms proud He provided them all they wanted horses So that; places; went spoke; then place To jousts or to tournaments As doughtiest; deed horse esteem alert and wise generosity them; high you; hear head dispenser (of food and drink); (see note) courteous and generous; (see note) over them all manager of domestic affairs; (see note) To set in order all members of his household their To earn themselves honor; spared nothing honorably poor so well they behaved them saw Many a man loved them graceful of manner far and near honor lies alive were Most he loved them then I manager of property doughty; upon call tried with envy and indignation To bring them both to shame guile courteous because; friend harmful tried to do them shame crime So then within two years there skillful with hands And said how death had fetched from him father; mother Through; mercy sorrowful explained to him gracious go receive (claim) noble of family in return God give me fortune; (see note) go I was never so sorry That out of my; went But if; happens danger and sorrow Only; messenger avenge terribly sorry go; from went; (see note) had made; cups two them one (the same) weight one (the same) size, truly richly alike Nothing went wrong with that ready travel go; journey sorrow; woe; sighing sadly Almost fainted; nobleman sorrowful manner prayed; where for charity Give me leave to travel from you Unless in three noble of family in return gone from me would be gone away country Go; journey back Those; young men Prepared; to go forth Gracious audience, listen; (see note) Such doughty; time travelled rode mourning go apart (separate) together on They got off their horses on foot set skillful justly; counsel earlier pledged fidelity (see note) loyal God give me fortune But; I; in advance bore mankind in no way against your lord if; lost asunder shall travel still I warn you against fellowship destroy stood; brothers draw; two cups; (see note) [Which] were alike bade Choose which he would have delay dear one Let here on betokens Great sorrow; their kissed; eyes weeping Each commended the other to horses; mounted their journeys took That his ancestors had held espoused; lady beautiful; bower; (see note) her home much solemnity Let wife; country grant again glad gracious blessed; bone and blood (body) Who ever conceived and bore him Except Always; tried; malice and anger grief it happened then; (see note) greeted; noble person you are woeful Because; from certainly so am I But; going If; believe; teaching leave off your mourning If; of one kind (kin) act on my advice; (see note) us; brotherhood pledge; fidelity to you; (see note) pledged Though walk and speak break Neither truth I have; kind (good-natured) Since once I pledged; courteous one world should go if broke; vow; totally lost grievously; rue Get; friends where Exchange fierce of manner Almost for wrath he grew near mad died on the Cross unnatural of breeding; (see note) atone for this refusal enemy then I don't give a fig; (see note) trouble did begin wrath; apart; (see note) Those bold young men two would never cease shame Always he tried thus together wrath; surly face more guile great sorrow stories put on a feast Properly; time guest meat; most fitting serve all around Many worthy; gathered lesser and greater ladies magnificent in honor worthy dwelling castle to abide daughter lovely and generous there was none held So splendid to look at noble; beautiful called listen to ladies beautiful in bower solemnity feast ladies beautiful lords many and abundant servant; strong those nobles in hall; (see note) chief dispenser held flower and prize all his clothes most splendid in the hall all had to go traveled; dwelling lovely; (see note) every one God give you fortune considered most splendid in every view worthiest in dress considered; then began; in return shall to you say truth; Holy Savior young men most of force most chief dispenser world is not his peer Neither worthiest; armor prize and flower lady beautiful truly hear Indeed; kindled realize Wherever; saw; ride or walk She; heart would break in two she never spoke; graceful one Because she; (see note) maiden wept; many a time merry; young sorrow; love-mourning spoke Ill mother; then; (see note) ask if she pains wanted to be locked in clay (buried) on one great lord prepared themselves; delay go dressed themselves lords everyone stately residence In a crowd lies was stayed those lords; (see note) skillful; bows deep woods truly stayed attend to courteous; thought to himself then solace himself there birds'; time state gracious audience, listen Ill doleful countenance ladies comfort; maiden mine lovely summer's hear much go away creature summer's shone through gleaming splendid birds merrily; tree But her heart; troubled She could not play or enjoy merry maiden time relieve saw; nearby remained that sweet singing better glad and joyful could she no one show saw no one hesitate; (see note) make her way state maiden so happy of mood saw where he stood lovely one world's possessions Until she spoke to that noble young man let pass soon Saw; woman; bower; beautiful Came towards him to meet Towards greet immediately Bade away together alone plea in her courtly love talk on you my heart unless; beloved Certainly; in three live noble I am a woman From noble family descended descended Pledge; fidelity exchange; no new (other) pledge; fidelity set us apart break my vow manner generous died on the Cross As you; noble heir Remember; great Are none too good for you much lay has neither property nor rents if; love game person; family find out pleasure lose Anger; thereby If evil Certainly Dear; advice but woe lovely maiden have no tonsure redeemed you dearly Are you a priest or parson Or; canon; (see note) preaches should should; friar taught you; preach I wish would take him though But; created preaching (No matter how long you) resist Unless dearly paid for pains tear; every one great violated condemned high to hang he was displeased spoke; then Unless destroy Before; from drawn; (see note) Reluctant more reluctant; life give up He was never so woeful lies life; lose young Listen to my excuse As you Think; haste will be regretted harm; fearful wait; week I am; noble escape not; away fidelity; pledge As you; noble keep to that day then pledged fidelity between the two of them then; those two chamber; again joyful could; tell delay prepare for at once high lord stately dwelling quickly joyful gone eat; maiden everyone lords; lies Courteously; high table; (see note) ladies beautiful bold in battle they were dignity; at dinner women; joyous noble leave off (stop) eyes let up (stop) wickedness attentively; watch knew; condition perceived then between those two aggrieved; sorely guile sorrow sweet maiden Ate; pleasure or saw away alive Whether noble young man stinted; danger wrath's injury; trouble evilly might (see note) sweet maiden where (see note) lies nearby saw; then spy on them; time quickly maiden; dwelling found lady beautiful week; has passed fidelity; pledged I am know, as you are considered If you will promised in response espouse; gladly But if; said fornicated with Out of the country; would But possessions gladly But certainly I am a poor man alive noble (see note) say you Regardless of how poor of kin thought to himself took sweet maiden played won; maidenhood Before; away; (see note) remained secrets; (see note) saw; time sat together saw woman lovely angry; fierce of manner away; mad Their secret; disclose dwelling up to him went Their secret; reveal (see note) I will; gladly thief heart grief Shame; say lain with became grievously angry (see note) hang dispenser lain with; maiden saw; truly swear before them fierce of disposition mad would not stop long curved sword smote; where missed then shut dread; head struck; such a blow through; long curved sword fierce; at that time stood calm his manner young men died on the Cross possessions But lain with possessions Unless; slay two Let your anger; die down for charity if I have such; done tree But; (see note) lied about; lying man lies about us I will prove it in battle exonerated and free will you Dare you; battle To make you all exonerated and cleared then lies; malice started; then Convicted; (see note) saw; very Neither of you; deny repeatedly said Indeed; was not called forth that maiden persisted swore wept; hands wrung mother; (see note) battle witnessed between; arranged at fortnight (two weeks) should; see great person Sir Amis' second (guarantor) dared no one be Because Seconds (Guarantors) enough; found; (see note) Twenty altogether logically should be should nowhere flee answered; beautiful great flee away dare Battle; undertake according to law torn to pieces high; gallows said good will also she would Be; second (guarantor) battle to guarantee should against; foe those ladies; beautiful Pledged To offer their bodies two (both) lords every one guarantors needed they none But allowed sorrowed away And was in the right bore life gave (cared) But; much no man mourn more he must Before; went oath before assist rather; hanged But both of them So that they would not be lost maiden lady Why mourn you dread you enemy walk or ride richly; you equip Need you battle; sustain (see note) I I am afraid As God gives me fortune must falsehood I am life and soul I am Certainly; remedy Is there no other guile; (see note) (see note) There lives hence if I should dare dare; swear loyal His own life to lose as a result felon (criminal) tomorrow morning travel; journey own country generosity battle; undertake Against destroy In the morning; ready leave; travel journey refrain from spurred; horse; bore delay far country exhausted Then he knew no better plan wellaway; (see note) By need he must go on foot unhappy took; hems then; (see note) To keep to what he intended came world's possessions tree time in the morning; see on all sides Considered country lived from where he lay But; journey Whether walking or riding dream; dreamed saw pledged to loyalty Surrounded by his enemies By a bear wild and mad stood He was about to be killed expected wife immediately saw beasts black vengefulness slay Certainly barren know; fares Immediately; started But prepared company on each side Prepared their bade all who were there hold themselves every one made mankind go richly; dress immediately would not wait forbade (excluded) none so hardy was in deeds After him neither to walk nor ride where saw; weary; exhausted; (see note) sleeping said Got down off his horse kissed; two lie you down such mournful disposition Since guile; treachery such sorrow; (see note) Unless knew no other remedy (course of action) criminal (felon) Done; shame would in each other's company accuse would wrath; anger truly offered Battle; undertake person To save those two beautiful ladies Dared; second before; battle falsehood succeed know no relief passion i.e., betrayed; (see note) Cross battle Even if he is mad sword see his heart's blood clothes dress I am brought those; two clothes; then ready villain; beguile would you destroy lady; beautiful tell (say) each Until horse glad think alike truly at once brother's lady horse as a valuable gift By thought had completely Little and much, less and more drew between; (see note) Angrily; eyes thought; mad why do you behave so used to do manner certainly troubles; blood sore I do not want to touch you naked world's possessions; (see note) held; fortnight spurred quickly same set for battle judgment to undergo sighing sore waited offer proclaim went speech seconds be burned wrath; anger those ladies fire barrel; (see note) burn them field saw spurring galloping bade; wait rest; milestone rode are hither if bonds roast would be unnatural Their; could; no man tell then; listen and hear quickly dressed helmet; armor; coat of mail attire support prayed galloping (see note) (see note) warning undertake adventure before leper warning worse far and near Those greatest enemies kin place that you every one stand; stone fearsome did not know flee, or make known kill believed offer excellence (see note) people Surely Surely; maiden reward fight prepared brave spear-shafts broke into pieces drew struck (with weapons); mad would not stop men; fierce long curved swords deadly proceeded as if; mad struck (with weapons); helmets great That fire (sparks) flashed out struck; helmet; side (of his body) stroke; severe were covered morning to noon fierce; mood sparks from a flint wrath; went force Although; blow head; hit smote Then; moment afraid i.e., dismounted went helped lost prostrate; slay willing to test (him); (see note) As God give me success else; treachery swords; drawn moment shoulder formidable weapon sad countenance angry and mad white as a swan long curved sword fierce disposition make its way dead off head took themselves readily wait towards Splendid on every side lead worthy dwelling Thought readily sweet maiden horrible; sore hold; more happy joyful That knew what his name was Doctors quickly examine times prepared himself quickly offered quickly prepared himself Must He stopped at no milestone espouse as a reward same nobly favored i.e., dismounted exchange their clothes And told him what he should say times happen encounter Only; messenger delay to lose as a consequence gentle (kind) cruel (unnatural); (see note) immediately behaved truly I will say to you truth full gladly But betray immediately began to ask him destroyed truly criticized slew evilly done lessen (shorten) to bring comfort stories joyful gave; (see note) maiden; (see note) pleasing hall gathered; wedding married many and plenteous royal excellence two willed died wife died buried in the ground power bear life story power (see note) formerly Just as leper sadness; (see note) the end did not know where namely; kin enemies worse Than any of them did more friendless Men knew nowhere none depraved broke; knife sharp wretched coward lost obvious (see note) To you is coming; (see note) Cursed be he who laments you hands; wrung trial and vexation once; brave called own high table Would; honorably sorrowful By the time eaten leper kin near at hand to you kin quietly Put no man I will you beg holy charity hesitate lodge; had made built possessions cup moan sending (gifts) disposed of person Except; truly was called sorely kin sister's; gracious eagerly hesitate foot to hand alive blood called each fetched them supplies (of food) For; feeding glee sad manner He stinted no effort Everyone there bade him leper prosper manner (see note) suffered year residence livery betrayed Though From sighing question tell why it was then force; (see note) do us good Formerly dispense food and clothing I am; person loathsome leave off harsh news I know no other counsel It behooves us to beg our bread [That] I know how it goes In the morning as soon as Prepared themselves intended food; none market town area weeping begged their food They knew little about that (i.e., begging) plenty gracious in action kinds of wretched then; (see note) Old and young loved them joyful of spirit stopped Then the good man became so footsore lodging Where; market went food When they stood at greatest need fourth year Grain; become scarce increase old nor young would give Very sad; then wife (woman) Ruefully; moan Lived Not five miles thence sat at once dwells; nearby will not stay well-born courteously truly (see note) begs; mild manner; (see note) will travel afterwards Though; slay gladly Provided that far; after; again will see at once anger then more would not immediately; bestride Shamefully city Throughout grew; intense far die bread then It behooves us possessions no more Except; cup Though; slay speech Early themselves; market town; (see note) dismounted delay then led scarcity food on his back he placed him readily carried somewhat more bore Blessed may muddy muddy and slippery together gentle spirit on his back became; sore possessions twelve pence pushcart carry no more pushed many (see note) Where try gentle spirit giving won As you known Where I am going or whence I came poor pushed; cart; mud sorrow same tongue castle gate poor Withdrew men-at-arms many fine hall Horns in the hall called them to dinner appropriately set in place right away earth lie cups shut out hungered servant; brave To amuse themselves together Almighty cast a look hideous; appearance then looked appearance handsomeness; equal courteously; then young servant lies; service Make our errand come to some good bounty leper faithfully dwelling gentle manner world's good believed; mad court fool wits lost Or parentage high kin chosen jest; belief since bade delay Poor; saw leper Heard you lies; cart poor On young man I know none creature gave one; foolish dwelling area insane happily leper; cart took care of offered; land and livestock worldly goods then mad Though; desolate Perhaps Either Or; oaths a stranger If I speak to him before kind (good natured) reward him Called say (see note) as you Lying in a cart (see note) wine then; took if made; one As if they were the same cups then could so alike; were say lost against by my faith pull to pieces fine your own Could tell them apart then no more alike rose seized; madman drew; anger gate overtake goes; cart two hands cast attacked; mad sorrow Whence possession agitated in mind lay a hand on him bare sword feet; leper; dragged terrified him; mudhole hesitate Thief; slain Unless you make known the truth found people told; evil dreadfully; dealt with seized discourteous ignoble time (see note) once driven Because of you he is without happiness give him grief in two helped you pay back his help leaped grasped severe fainted time experienced; (see note) lost Ignobler blood don't know in the past I have; paid; sorrow rueful deed forgive at once Weeping; eyes joyful eyes seized grasped thought; mad Towards; she won would slain shamefully; harm noble in proof in a faint wringing place fortune lead/nobr> cast off; poor clothing naked quickly well made story Twelve-month (a year) deny him nothing slow in coming by the time that chance befell Christmas morning Such kill anoint; (see note) (see note) bade happy; then loath; slay more loath; abandon highly born dreamed then fairly slay two (see note) gracious turned await here no more adventures Those refrain secrecy dream two; (see note) escape hale and whole young deadly not cease to try mankind prepared themselves pleasure When remained notice keys; nursery Before secretly noticed full well placed keys each one Where then together slay withdraw When; wept where; (see note) again his mind horrible; shed maiden stopped; moment grasped; sad countenance took; then Because basin Their; cut though covered fastened keys everyone should think murdered did you would have preferred anointed before covered many lie falsehood relieve; trouble lie alone lament rueful demeanor maiden instance request keys peace cease; anxiety taken Dear beloved slain their blood slew heal; noble young man terribly grieved saw fairly dear; then root relief (see note) (see note) naturally then (see note) generous in taking on adventures then foulness; gone messenger before or then Since joyful understand hear quickly blemish Whole (see note) proven (see note) galloped Where; lord over his people Espoused; countenance same wedding galloped earth grew; ashen; pale many jacket of mail reached escape wedding feast; (see note) vengeance dwelling lodging had made mortar (lime) and stone led life-days death cared; bad person messenger (see note) Until had built; abbey endowed; then sing; Judgment Day their parents laid for reward |
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