:^hhJ: 
 
iiilrl 
 
 'i.i.Li|,''i 
 
 ill ; 1 
 
 > il'ii: I', 
 'fi - 
 ■ \ >■ 
 
 1 r u 
 

 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 A MIDDLE ENGLISH ROMANCE 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 ALBERT S. COOK 
 
 PROFESSOR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE 
 IN YALE UNIVERSITY 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY 
 
 1911 
 
\Mfj V), :)s^ (o 1 9 
 
 LOAN STACK 
 
 WEIMAR : PRINTED BY R. WAGNER SOHN. 
 

 PREFATORY NOTE. 
 
 The object of this book is to provide a convenient 
 edition for college use. The text is taken, by the kind 
 permission of Professor Schleich, from his edition of the 
 poem in Palcestra No. 53 (Berlin, 1906), to which the 
 student is referred for fuller information ; but I have dealt 
 freely with capitals and punctuation. 
 
 An especially difficult line is sometimes translated or 
 paraphrased at the foot of the page. 
 
 Yale University, June, 1911. 
 
 '*531 
 
^^J '^ 
 
 Cs^ 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 1. THE POEM. 
 
 Sir Eglamour was written between 1350 and 1400. It has 
 many Northern pecuharities, and is beHeved to belong to 
 the border region between Northern and Midland. Among 
 these peculiarities are the frequent (though not exclusive) use 
 of a for Southern English o (OE. a, «), the present participle 
 in -ande, etc. The verb normally has the 3 sing, in -5, the 
 plural without ending (but walkes, 236), the past participle 
 in -n{e), and the infinitive without ending. Note such 
 forms as es (ior am), 1204; the infinitives ma, ta (but take, 
 83; cf. gane, 372, 1021, 1227; sene, 1092; sayne, 338); gyff 
 {ior give) ; qu- for hw-', at, conj., 540 (Scand. for that-, cf 626) ; 
 thir (= these) ; garte (Scand.) ; ilk, etc. 
 
 The poem has 113 stanzas, which normally are of 12 lines 
 each. This would make 1356 lines, but the romance in this 
 version has only 1335 (Percy, 1291 ; Thornton, 1341), so that 
 21 lines are lacking. Of these, 6 lines are wanting in stanza 
 21 ; 3 each in stanzas 67, 70, and 84 ; and 6, again, in stanza 107. 
 
 2. MANUSCRIPTS AND EARLY PRINTED BOOKS. 
 
 Manuscripts. 
 L. 
 
 Lincoln Cathedral A. i. 17. About 1440. Extracts printed 
 by Halliwell in the notes to F {The Thornton Romances, 
 pp. 273—287). 
 
 The text of the present edition. 
 
4 INTRODUCTION 
 
 F. 
 
 Camb. Univ. Lib. Ff. ii. 38. Before 1461. The poorest ot 
 the manuscripts (according to Schleich). Printed by HalU- 
 well in The Thornton Romances (London, Camden Society, 
 •1844), pp. 121 — 176. This (and C) divides the poem into 
 cantos {fyttes) after stanzas 29, 53, 74. 
 
 C. 
 
 Brit. Mus. Cott. Caligula A. ii. Fifteenth century. A few 
 readings given in Haliwell's notes. 
 
 S. 
 Duke of Sutherland's library. The oldest manuscript; 
 end of fourteenth century. One leaf, containing lines 1—160. 
 
 Early Printed Books. 
 
 P- 
 Percy Folio Manuscript. About 1650. Printed by Hales 
 and Furnivall, Bishop Percy's Folio Manuscript (London, 
 1868) 2. 341—389. This is a manuscript copy of an early 
 printed book. 
 
 e. 
 
 Advocates' Library, Edinburgh. Printed by Chepman 
 and Myllar, Edinburgh, 1508. Reprinted by Laing in The 
 Knightly Tale of Golagrus and Gawane (Edinburgh, 1827). 
 
 b. 
 
 Fragments of a book published at London by Richard 
 Bankes about 1530, and owned (1895) by Francis Jenkinson, 
 Librarian of Cambridge University Library. Printed by 
 J. Hall in Archiv ftir das Studium der Neueren Sprachen 
 und Litteraturen 95. 308—311. 
 
INTRODUCTION 5 
 
 w. 
 
 Brit. Mus. Printed by John Walley about 1540. Certain 
 extracts are printed by Laing (see under e). A version 
 in modem prose, with extracts from this edition, is given 
 by EUis, Specimens of Early English Romances. 
 
 a. 
 Brit. Mus. Printed by WilUam Copland between 1548 
 and 1561. 
 
 d. 
 Brit. Mus. Douce 261. Copy of a book printed in 1564. 
 
 3. ANALOGUES. 
 
 The poem has more or less close analogies with Chau- 
 cer's Man of Law's Tale (also told by Gower, both being 
 dependent upon the French of Nicholas Trivet, or Trevet, 
 who died in 1328), with the romances of Torrent of Port- 
 ugal, Emare, Octavian, Sir Isumbras and Guillaume 
 d'Angleterre, and more remotely, with the legend of St. 
 Eustache. The story of the Man of Law's Tale is so 
 familiar that it need not be rehearsed here. The others 
 follow in the order named. 
 
 Torrent of Portugal. 
 
 Calamond, King of Portugal, has an only daughter, 
 Desonelle, with whom Torrent, son of a Portuguese count, 
 falls in love. After various adventures, in which he slays 
 several giants, he obtains possession of Desonelle, but with- 
 out a formal marriage. Torrent sets off on new advent- 
 ures, and his wife, having been delivered of twin boys, 
 is set adrift with them by her father, and lands on the 
 coast of Palestine. A griffin carries off one son, and a 
 leopard another; the mother dwells under the protection 
 
6 INTRODUCTION 
 
 of the King of Nazareth. Torrent, returning to Portugal, 
 vanquishes Calamond, sends him to his death in a leaky 
 boat, and is made king in his stead. He then departs for 
 the Holy Land, where he spends fifteen years, and event- 
 ually is vanquished in single combat by one of his sons. 
 Finally, at a grand tournament. Torrent, Desonelle, and 
 their two sons, are reunited, whereupon they return to 
 Portugal. 
 
 Emare. 
 
 Emare (pronounced Emare) is the daughter of an Em- 
 peror; her father clothes her in a rich cloth of gold, with 
 love-scenes worked on it in jewels, and obtains the Pope's 
 dispensation to marry her ; she refuses, and is turned adrift 
 upon the sea ; is driven to the shore of ' Galys,' where the 
 king loves and marries her; she is delivered of a boy, 
 named Segramour, during the absence of her husband in 
 France, whose mother sends him word that the child is a 
 monster; the king sends back an order to keep her till 
 his return, but his mother turns her adrift, once more, 
 with her mantle and her child ; she is driven back to Rome, 
 and adopted by a merchant; the King of 'Galys' comes 
 to do penance at Rome, and lodges at the merchant's 
 house, his son bears wine to him; the Emperor, too, ar- 
 rives at Rome, to do penance also ; and they all meet to- 
 gether. ^ 
 
 Octavian. 
 
 The Emperor ' Octavian ' marries the French princess 
 Florence, and she bears twin bo3^s, named Florent and 
 'Octouyan.' The emperor's mother persuades him that 
 
 * Ward, Catalogue of Romances i. 418. 
 
INTRODUCTION 7 
 
 one of the children must be a bastard, and they and their 
 mother are turned out into the forest, 100 miles from Rome. 
 An ape runs away with one child, and a lioness with the 
 other. But they all meet happily in the end.^ 
 
 Sir Isumbras. 
 The Poem tells how Sir Isumbras, in the height of his 
 pride, was warned by an angel ; how his horse, his hawk, 
 and his hounds died ; how his cattle were all lost, and his 
 castle burned, and nothing saved to him but his wife and 
 his three boys; how they set forth on a pilgrimage to 
 Jerusalem ; how he was robbed of the two elder children 
 by a lion and a leopard, and of his wife by 'an hethen 
 kynge ' ; how a * gryffyn ' flew away with his red mantle 
 and the gold left in it by the 'hethen kynge,' and his 
 youngest child was carried off by a unicorn ; how he took 
 service with a smith and made himself armor ; how he 
 was received, as a palmer, by his own wife, now become 
 ' a ryche qwene ' ; and how, while both he and his wife 
 were fighting against ' two hethenne kynges ' and their 
 men, they were rescued by their three sons, riding on a 
 lion, a leopard, and a unicorn.^ 
 
 Guillaume d'Angleterre. 
 
 Guillaume, a king of England, is commanded by an 
 angel to leave his home and to conceal his name and 
 dignity for twenty-four years. His wife discovers his in- 
 tended flight and leaves home with him. They live for a 
 time in the woods. She bears twin boys on a rock near 
 the sea. She is carried off" by merchants, one of whom 
 
 ^ Ward, p. 762. 2 Ward, p. 760. 
 
8 INTRODUCTION 
 
 throws a red silk purse to the king. The purse is caught 
 in a tree and snatched away by an eagle. Guillaume finds 
 an empty boat; but whilst he is placing one of the boys 
 in it he sees a wolf running off with the other, and loses 
 both. At the end of twenty-four years, however, they all 
 meet again in England, and Guillaume regains his kingdom.^ 
 
 St. Eustache. 
 
 According to the Greek Martyr Acts, which were prob- 
 ably composed in the eighth century, this saint was be- 
 fore his baptism a captain of Trajan, named Placidus. As 
 he one day hunted in the forest, the Saviour appeared to 
 him between the antlers of a hart, and converted him. 
 Placidus changed his name into Eustache, when he was 
 baptized with his wife and sons. God announced to him 
 by an angel his future martyrdom. Eustache was afflicted 
 by dreadful calamities, lost all his estate, and was com- 
 pelled to go abroad as a beggar with his wife and his 
 children. As he went on board a ship bound for Egypt, 
 his wife was seized by the shipmaster and carried off. 
 Soon after, when Eustache was traveling along the shore, 
 his two children were borne away by a lion and a leo- 
 pard. Eustache then worked for a long time as a jour- 
 neyman, till he was discovered by the Emperor Trajan, 
 who had sent out messengers for him, and called him to 
 his court. Reappointed captain, Eustache undertook an 
 expedition against the Dacians. During this war he found 
 his wife in a cottage as a gardener — the shipmaster had 
 fallen dead to the ground as he ventured to touch her — and 
 in the same cottage he found again his two sons as sol- 
 
 1 Ward, p. 759. 
 
INTEODUCTION 9 
 
 diers: herdsmen had rescued them from the wild beasts, 
 and brought them up. Glad was their meeting again! 
 But as they returned to Rome, they were all burnt in a 
 glowing bull of brass by the Emperor's order because 
 they refused to sacrifice to the heathen gods.^ 
 
 The duel of father and son suggests the story of Sohrab 
 and Rustum, retold by Matthew Arnold ; and the marriage 
 of mother and son the King (Edipus of Sophocles. 
 
 ^ Adam, Uber Sir Torrent of Portyngale^ p. xxii. 
 
SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
,'^-"" e.ir' 
 
 <l^-'^\.,^':- 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 Jesu, {)at* es hevens kyng, 
 Gyff us alle his blyssyng, 
 
 And beyld* us in his boure**; 
 And giff t)am joye J^at will here 
 Of eldyrs J)at byfore us were, 
 
 pat lyved in grete honoure. 
 I will gow telle of a knyghte 
 pat was bothe hardy and wyght *, 
 
 And stythe* in ilk** a stoure***; 
 lo Whare dedis of armes were, fere or nere, 
 
 jornaye 
 
 pe gre * he wynnes with 
 clere ***, 
 And ever in felde J)e floure*. 
 
 ** 
 
 that 
 
 * shelter ** abode 
 
 * active 
 
 * bold 
 
 * prize 
 
 * fiower 
 
 ** each 
 
 [*** encounter 
 
 ** fghting 
 [*** splendid 
 
 II 
 
 In Artasse * was getyn ** and borne, 
 And his eldirs hym byforne. 
 
 Herkyn ! I will gow saye 
 For dedis of armes whare he went: 
 With {)e erle es * he lent * 
 
 In derenes* nyghte and daye. 
 
 Sir Pryncesamour {)e erle hight*; 
 
 20 Sir Eglamour men callys {)e knyght, 
 
 Was* curtase ever and aye. 
 For {)e erle hym had in walde*, 
 Of dedis of armes was he balde*: 
 
 With* no man sayde he naye. 
 
 24 He refused a challenge from none. 
 
 * Artois ** begotten 
 
 * abode 
 
 * favor 
 
 * was called 
 
 * See 117, 149, 261, 266 
 
 * keeping 
 
 * bold 
 
 * To 
 
14 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 (25-48) 
 
 30 
 
 III 
 
 The erle had na child bot ane: 
 
 pat was a dogheter, white als fame *, 
 
 pat his ayere sold* bee. 
 Cristabelle was hir name ; 
 A fayrere lady of flesche ne bane 
 
 Was nane in Cristyante. 
 Sir Eglamour sa* hym bare 
 pat alle {)is werlde he loved na mare 
 
 pan J)at lady free ; 
 Sertanly, bothe day and nyght, 
 Sa dose scho * J)at gentyll knyght : 
 
 It was {)e more pete*. 
 
 * foam 
 
 * should 
 
 * does she 
 
 * pity 
 
 IV 
 
 The knyghte was hardy and bold in 
 
 stele * ; 
 parefore jDe lady loved hym wele, 
 
 Forsothe, als I gow telle. 
 40 Lordis come of ilk a lande 
 Hir to aske, I undirstande, 
 
 With many folkes and felle*. 
 Sir Eglamour, he garte crye* 
 Dedis of armes, witterly* 
 
 For {)e lufe of Cristabelle. 
 What manere man come hir to hafe, 
 Swylke bofetes* he |)am gaffe, 
 
 For ever he dyde* {)am dwelle**. 
 
 steel (armor) 
 
 * sturdy 
 
 * had proclaimed 
 
 assuredly 
 
 * Such buffets 
 
 * made ** stay^ lie 
 
(49-72) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 15 
 
 V 
 
 Till it byfelle appon a daye, 
 50 Till his sqwyere gun * he saye 
 
 In chambir, whare l)ay ryste*: 
 'Belamy, and \>o\x couthe layne, 
 Of a thyng I wolde {)e sayne: 
 
 In the es alle my tryste*.' 
 ' §a, mayster, par ma faye *, 
 What thyng {)at ge to me saye, 
 
 ^ow thare* noght be abaste**.' 
 ' pe erles dogheter, so God me save, 
 pe lufe of hir bot* I may have, 
 60 My lyfe {)an* hafe I lost.' 
 
 * began, did 
 
 * rested 
 
 * trust 
 
 * hy my faith 
 
 * need ** dispirited 
 
 * unless 
 
 * then 
 
 VI 
 
 * Yea ** noble 
 
 * private affair 
 
 ' §a,' * he sayd^, * mayster free ** ; 
 §e hafe me told goure private*, 
 
 I sail gow^ gyff answare; 
 Takis* it not to ill. I undirstande 
 §e are a knyghte of lytill lande. 
 
 And mekill wolde hafe mare. 
 If I wende and say hyr sa. 
 In a skorne scho will it ta*. 
 
 And lightly late me fare. 
 70 Mayster, {)e man {)at hewes overhey *, * too high q^ 
 
 The chyppis fallis in his eye; * f^^^^h (S), hap^^) 
 
 Thus fallis* it aywhare**. ]^* everywhere 
 
 52 Dear friend, if thou couldst keep it secret. 
 
 66 And (those who have) much would (fain) have more. 
 
 b 
 
 * Take, imp. 
 
 ^take'-H- '"^^^f-^rC:. 
 
 Hi »4_ 
 
 A> 
 
16 
 
 SIR EaLAMOUR 
 
 (73-96) 
 
 VII 
 
 Sir, umbythynk * gow of all thynge * - , 
 pat hir wowes* emperour and kynge, 
 
 And dukes J)at are bolde; 
 Erlis, barons hir dose * also ; 
 And gitt ne will scho none of tho *, 
 
 Bot in gudnes hir holde. • 
 Wist * hir fadir, by hevens Kynge, 
 80 pat hir were profirde swylke * a thyng, 
 '£^^/. Full dere it mond_* be solde. 
 ^'a^ Now ne wolde scho never kyng forsake 
 And til * a sympill knyght hir take **, 
 Bot if* {)aire lufe were olde.' 
 
 bethink ** things 
 
 * do 
 
 * those 
 
 * Knew 
 
 * such 
 
 * would ^ «»- 
 
 * for ** cormnit 
 
 * Unless 
 
 90 
 
 VIII 
 
 pan sayd jDe knyght {)at was so mylde : 
 ' Sqwyare, sen J)ou was * a childe, 
 
 pou has bene aye with mee ; 
 In dedis of armes, or any stowre, 
 Whare herde {)0u ever my dyshonoure ? 
 
 Saye forthe, sa God save the ! ' 
 'Nay, mayster, by God of myghte, 
 5e ere {)e nobileste kn3^ghte 
 
 I knawe in Cristyante ; 
 In dedis of armes, be God onlyve*, 
 §our body es worthe oJ)er fyve.' 
 
 ' Gramercy, sir ! ' sayd he. 
 
 * since thou ivert 
 
 living 
 
(97-I20) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 17 
 
 IX 
 
 pe knyght syghede and sayd na mare, 
 
 Bot to his bedd {)an gode* he J)are, * -went 
 
 pat richely was wroghte. 
 loo To Criste his handis he lyfte up sone : 
 'Lorde, ge grants me my bone, 
 
 On rode als J)ou me boghte: 
 The erhs dogheter, faire and free, 
 pat scho myght myn awen * bee * own 
 
 pat maste es in my thoghte; 
 pat I myght wedd hir to my wyfe, 
 And rejoyse hir all my lyfe ; 
 
 To blysse {)an ware I broghte.' 
 
 * barons 
 
 * gathered 
 
 X 
 
 Appon {)e mome J)e mayden smalle 
 »io By fore hir fadir ete in {)e halle, 
 Amang J)e beryns* bryghte. 
 like man semblede * in bot he ; 
 pe lady sayde : * For Goddis pete, 
 
 Whare es Eglamour, my knyght?' 
 His sqwyere answerd with febill chere * : * downcast expression 
 ' Madame, he es seke, and dede full 
 nere, 
 Bysekis * go we ** of a syghte ; 
 For he lyes castyn in swylk a care, 
 Bot if* ge mende hym of his sare, 
 iM He levys* noghte J)is sevenyghte.' 
 
 b 2 
 
 * Beseeches 
 
 * Unless 
 
 * lives 
 
 ** 
 
 you 
 
18 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUE, 
 
 (121-144) 
 
 XI 
 
 The erle to his dogheter spake : 
 * Damesele, for Goddis sake, 
 
 Herkyn whate I will saye ; 
 After mete dose * als ]pe hende ** : 
 Luke* |dou to his chambyr wende. 
 
 He hase servede us many a daye 
 Trewdy in his entent ; 
 In batelle ne in tournament 
 
 He nytyde * us never with naye ** ; 
 130 In dedis of armes, ferre or nere *, 
 pe gre * he Wynnes with journaye clere, 
 
 Oure menske* for ever and aye.' 
 
 * do, imp. 
 
 * Look 
 
 ** courteous 
 
 * refused 
 
 * See 10 
 
 * See II 
 
 * regard 
 
 ** denial 
 
 XII 
 
 Efter mete this lady gent*, 
 To do hir fadir* coma/^dment 
 
 Scho buskede hir * to wende ; 
 And with hir tuke scho maydyns twa 
 To his chambir for to ga, 
 
 pat curtase was and hende ; 
 For na man ne wald scho spare* 
 140 Till his chambir for to fare, 
 
 Whare J)at he gan lende *. 
 pe sqwyere sayd : 'Mayster, ma* gud * make 
 
 chere ; 
 Here comes {)e erls dogheter dere ; 
 
 Cryste len * J)at ge part frende ! ' * grant 
 
 * gentle 
 
 * father's 
 
 * viade herself ready 
 
 * forbear 
 
 * dwell 
 
(145-168) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOIIR 
 
 19 
 
 150 
 
 XIII 
 
 Than sayd pe lady {)at was bryght: 
 'How faris Sir Eglamour, my knyght, 
 
 pat doghety es ever aywhare?' 
 ' Dameselle,' he says, 'als ge may see, 
 Lyes bowndyn for {)e luf of the 
 
 In langynge* and in care.' 
 Than sayd J)e lady fayre and free: 
 * If ge be angrede for ]pe luffe of mee, 
 
 It greves me wondir sare*.' 
 ' Dameselle, myghte I torne * unto lyfe, 
 I wolde wedd gow to my wyfe. 
 
 If {)at gour will it ware.' 
 
 longing 
 
 * sore 
 
 * turn 
 
 XIV 
 
 pe lady sayd: 'So God me see*, 
 pou arte a gud knyght and a fre, 
 
 And comen of gentill blode; 
 160 And doghetily undir J)i schelde 
 Hase wonne {)e gre in ilke a felde 
 
 Full menskfully*, by J)e rode. 
 I sail avyse me of it, 
 And at* my fadir, I rede, ge witt** 
 
 If {)at his will be gode. 
 Als I am mayden trewe and gent, 
 If ge be bothe at one assent, 
 
 I fayle the for na fode*.' 
 
 * guard 
 
 * honorably 
 
 from ** learn 
 
 * person 
 
20 Sm EGLAMOUK (169-192) 
 
 XV 
 
 The knyghte he kepis * no more of * heeds, cares 
 blysse ; 
 170 Now he hase getyn grant of this, 
 He made full ryalle chere. 
 He comand * his sqwy ere for to gaa, * commanded 
 Of golde a hundreth pownd to taa*, * take 
 
 To ^y^ hir maydyns clere : 
 ' Damesele, so God me save, 
 To goure maryage J)is sail ge have ; 
 
 For ge come never are * here.' * before 
 
 Scho thanked hym anone righte, 
 And tuke hir leve, and kyssede J)e 
 knyght, 
 x8o And sayde : 'Fare wele, my fere*!' "^ mate 
 
 XVI 
 
 Agayne {)e lady tase * {)e waye ; * takes 
 
 pe erle hir fadir for to saye *, * assay 
 
 Laye in a holde * of stane. * stronghold 
 
 'Welcome, dogheter, whit als floure ! 
 How faris my knyghte. Sir Eglamour ?' 
 
 Scho answerde hym onane*: "^ anon 
 
 'Grete athes he me sware 
 pat he es coverde * of his care : * recovered 
 
 Slyke* comforthe hase he tane**. * ^^^^/^ ** ^^^^„ 
 190 He tolde me and my maydyns hende, 
 
 To morne* he wolde over revere** * To-morrozv '^'■^ river 
 wende 
 
 With his hawkis ilkane.' 
 
(I93-2I6) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 21 
 
 XVII 
 
 pe erle sayd {)an : ' Sekirly, 
 I will wend to see pam fly 
 
 For comforthe* of the knyghte.' 
 Appon J)e morne, when it was daye, 
 Sir Eglamour tase J)e waye 
 
 Till a revere full ryght. 
 The erle buskede and mad hym gare *, 
 too And bothe {)ay went to {)e ryvare 
 
 To se t)at semly syghte. 
 Alle l>e daye })ay made gud chere ; 
 A wrethe* bygane, als ge may here, 
 
 Be J)at it neghede* to nyghte. 
 
 See 189 
 
 ready 
 
 * wrath 
 
 * By the 
 
 tijue that it 
 [drew nigh 
 
 XVIII 
 
 Als J)ay went hamward by J)e waye, 
 pe knyghte unto })e erle gun saye : 
 
 'Lord, will ge me here?' 
 '^aa,' he sayd, 'so mot* I the**! 
 Whatkyn* thynge {)ou says to mee, 
 
 It es me leve* and dere; 
 For J)e beste knyght arte {)0u 
 pat in my lande lyves nowe, 
 
 Ow{)er ferre or nere.' 
 'Gud^ lorde, pur* charyte, 
 Cristabelle, gour doghter free, 
 
 When schall scho hafe a fere?' 
 
 * may ** thrive 
 
 * Whatever 
 
 * welcome 
 
 •for 
 
 I 
 
22 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 (217-240) 
 
 XIX 
 
 The erle sayde : ' So God me save, 
 I knawe na man my doghter sail have, 
 
 pat es so bryghte of blee *.' 
 220 ' §is *, gud lorde, I gow praye — 
 I hafe gow servede many a daye — 
 
 §e voche hir safe on me.' 
 The erle sayde: 'By Goddis payne, 
 Will J)ou hir wyn, als I the sayne*, 
 
 With dedis of armes three, 
 I sail |)e gyff {)e maydyn clere, 
 And alle Artasse, bothe ferre and nere ; 
 
 I halde* J)erto', sayd hee. 
 
 * htce 
 
 * Yes 
 
 say 
 
 * hold 
 
 XX 
 
 The knyght sayd: 'So mote I the, 
 230 At my journaye wolde I bee.' 
 
 He buskede and mad hym gare. 
 'Bot a lyttill here by weste 
 A geant hase a fayre forest — 
 
 Slyke* sawe {)ou never are — 
 With syprese trees growand* lang; 
 Gret hertis walkes J)am amange, 
 
 pe fayrest on fote may fare. 
 And* I)Ou bryng me an** awaye, 
 Sir knyght, {)an dare I safely saye 
 240 pat J)ou hase bene thare.' 
 
 * Such 
 
 * growing 
 
 If 
 
 ** 
 
 one 
 
 222 You vouchsafe her to me. 
 
(241-258) SIR EGLAMOUR 23 
 
 XXI 
 
 'Petir*,' sayde J)e knyght than, * By St. Peter 
 
 'Iff f)Ou be a Cristyn man, 
 
 Hald J)at Jdou hase hyghte*: "^ promised 
 
 Kepe wele my lady and my lande.' 
 parto })e erle held up his hande; 
 
 To hym his trouthe he plyght[e]*. * troth he plighted 
 
 XXII 
 
 After mete, als I gow saye, 
 Sir Eglamour he tase J)e waye. 
 
 To telle |)at lady free. 
 250 ' Dameselle,' he sayde onane, 
 For {)i lufe hafe I undirtane 
 
 Dedis of armes thre.' 
 * Sir,' scho said^, ' make J)e glade, 
 For hardare journayes never {)ou hade, 
 
 Never in no contree. 
 Be* J)ou fra {30se journayse passe, * By the time 
 
 For my luffe sail Jdou say 'Alias,' 
 
 And I wele* more for the. * well 
 
 244 The early editions insert six lines here. 
 
 il 
 
24 SIR EGLAMOUH (259-282) 
 
 xxni 
 
 Sir, sen J)Ou on huntynge fowndis*, * goest 
 *^° I sail the gyffe twa gud grewhoundis, 
 
 Are donnede * als any doo **. * dicsky^ made dtm 
 
 Als I ame trewe gentyll woman, L ^^ 
 
 per es no beste on erthe J)at ranne, 
 
 On fote jDay will hym to. 
 And a gud swerd I sail gyff the, 
 Was fonden in the Grekkes see, 
 
 Of J)am knawe I no moo ; 
 And * |)0u hafe happe to heve ** it * 7/^ ** heave^ handle 
 
 wele, 
 par es no helme of iryn ne stele 
 270 pat it ne will cleve it in two.' 
 
 XXIV 
 
 The knyght kyssede {)at lady gent ; 
 He tuke his leve and forthe he went, 
 
 His waye J)an hase he tane. 
 An heghe strete he helde feste* * fast 
 
 Till J)at he come till a forest ; 
 
 Slyke sawe he never nane : 
 With syprisse bowes lyes owte * ; * ? 
 
 pe wodd was walled all abowte, 
 
 And kervede of riche stane. 
 j8o Forthirmare * J)an gan he fare ; * Further 
 
 A brade gate * J)an fonde he {)are, * gate 
 
 parein J)e knyghte es gane. 
 
 264 But they will overtake him in running. 
 
(283-306) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 25 
 
 XXV 
 
 He blewe his home in \>3it tyde; 
 pe hertis rase one ylka syde; 
 
 A nobill dere he chese. 
 The hundis at {)e dere gun baye; 
 pat herde l>e geant {)er he laye, 
 
 And repid hym of his resse. 
 He said ; 'per es som thefe comen here 
 290 In my foreste to stele my dere ; 
 
 Hym were wele better cesse*! 
 By hym {)at werede {)e crown of thorne, 
 In warre-tym blewe he never his home, 
 
 Ne derrare boghte no mese*.' 
 
 * 7Jiess {of food) 
 
 XXVI 
 
 Than l)e geant tase the waye 
 
 To J)e forest-gatt *, als it laye; ^ gate 
 
 His bakk he sett {)er till. 
 Syr Eglamour hase done to dede * * death 
 A grete herte, and tane {)e hede; 
 300 pe prysse * he blewe full schill **. * prize ** shrill 
 When he come ware {)e geant was, 
 ' Gude sir,' he sayd, * |)ou latt me passe, 
 
 If l)at it be thi will.' 
 'Nay, traytour, {)0u arte tane; 
 My chefe herte hase {)ou slane; 
 
 pat sail l)e lyk* full ill.' * please 
 
 288 And roused him from his rest? Meaning doubtful; cf. Sir 
 Tristrem 28; Cursor Mundi 25433, but also Schleich, p. 135. 
 300 See New Eng. Diet. s. v. pryse. 
 
26 SIR EGLAMOQR (307-330) 
 
 XXVII 
 
 To J)e knyght J)e geaunt gun gaa; 
 An iryn clube he gan hym taa, 
 
 Was mekill * and unryde **. * ^^^ ** unwieldy 
 
 310 Grete strakis he hym gaffe ; 
 In {)e erthe he strake his staffe 
 
 A fote on ylke a syde. 
 He sayd : ' Traytour, whate dose {)ou 
 
 here, 
 In my foreste to stele my dere? 
 
 Here sail Jdou habyde.' 
 Sir Eglamour his swerde owt droghe *, * drew 
 And in his eghne* it keste** a * eyes ** cast 
 
 swoghe ***, [*** gl^^re 
 
 And blynddid hym {)at tyde. 
 
 xxvni 
 
 Bot all * {)Oghe he had lost his syghte, * even 
 320 §it faghte he with })at nobill knyght 
 All I)at daye full gare 
 Unto {)e mome, JDat it was pryme * ; ♦ the first hour 
 Sir Eglamour sawe his tyme, 
 
 And to {)e hert * hym bare ; * erthe (C) 
 
 Thorow J)e strengthe of God J)at mad^ 
 
 man, 
 To I)e erthe he bare hym J)an; 
 
 pat fende bygane to rare*. * roar 
 
 Syne* men mett** hym, als I saye, "^ Afterward ** found 
 On J)e playne grownd {^er he laye, 
 330 Feftene fotte and mare. 
 
(331-354) 
 
 SIK EGLAMOUR 
 
 27 
 
 XXIX 
 
 Thorowe Goddis helpe and his knyfe, 
 Thus hase pe geant loste his lyfe. 
 
 He loves Gode of his lane*; 
 An heghe strete tuke he thare, 
 pe geauntis hevede * with hym bare * head 
 
 Till a castelle of stane. 
 pe courte come hally * hym agayne ; 
 Slyk* an hevede, gun J)ay sayne, 
 
 Hade J)ay never sene nane. 
 340 Before pe erle gan he fare : 
 ' Lo, lorde, I hafe bene {)are.' 
 
 pay bare wittnes ilkane. 
 
 * loan, grace 
 
 * wholly 
 
 * Such 
 
 XXX 
 
 pe erle said : ' What if I)is poynt be 
 
 done, 
 pou sail hafe a journaye sone ; 
 
 pou buske and make })e gare. 
 In Sedoyne, in Joat riche contree, 
 pare dare na man belde* nor be * dwell 
 
 For dowt* of a bare; * fear 
 
 Man or beste })at he overtase — 
 350 pat wylde swyn — he J)am slase. 
 
 And gyffes {)am wondis sare; 
 His tuskes are halfe a gerde lange ; 
 pe flesche {)at J)ay festyn* amange, "^ fasten 
 
 It coveres * never mare.' * recovers 
 
 II 
 
28 
 
 Sm EGLAMOUR 
 
 (355-378) 
 
 XXXI 
 
 pis nobill knyghte, he sayde noght 
 
 naye; 
 Bot one* the morne, when it was daye, * on 
 
 His wayes J)an wendis hee 
 Till Sedoyne, I undirstande. 
 A monethe he travelde alle by lande, 
 360 And als mekill by {)e see, 
 Till it felle agayne an evyntyde, 
 Into J)e forrest gan he ryde 
 
 Whare als {)at bare sulde be. 
 Takynnywges* of hym sone he fande, * Tokens 
 Slayne men one ilk a hande ; 
 
 It was dole to see. 
 
 XXXII 
 
 Sir Eglamour laye undir an ake, 
 
 Till on |)e morne, J)at he gun wake, 
 
 pe sone rase bryght, and schane. 
 370 Into J)e foreste forthe he droghe ; 
 Of {)e see he herde a swoghe*, 
 
 And thedir* gun he gane. 
 Bryght^ helmys he fannd aywhare 
 pat men of armes had leved {jare, 
 
 pat J)e bare hade slane. 
 Till a clyffe J)an wendis he; 
 He sawe {)e bare com fra the see, 
 
 His mome-drynke hade he tane. 
 
 * thither 
 
(379-402) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 29 
 
 XXXIII 
 
 When \>e bare saw whare he stode, 
 380 He whette his tuskis als * he ware 
 wode**, 
 And till hym droughe one syde. 
 
 And {)e knyghte wennes* wele to do : 
 
 With a spere he rynnes hym to 
 ,J*^ Als swythe* als he myghte ryde; 
 ^ Bot ^ofe* he rade never so faste, 
 
 His nobill spere on hym he braste, 
 -'*, ^^It wold nott in hym bytt*. 
 6^*^ pe bare pan come nerre* with a swoghe, 
 1^ "His nobill stede undir hym he sloghe; 
 350 On fote J)is knyghte most byde. 
 
 as if ** mad 
 
 * weens^ plans 
 
 * hard 
 
 * though 
 
 * hite 
 
 XXXIV 
 
 The knyghte on fote now most habyd ; 
 Untill a banke he sett his syde 
 
 In |)Ose holtys so hare*. 
 His nobill swerde he drawes syne, 
 And faughte with J)at wylde swyne 
 
 Thre dayes and som dele mare, 
 Till on t)e fourte daye at none 
 His lyfe-dayes were nerehand* done, 
 
 Forfoghtten* with J)at bare. 
 400 The knyght hym couthe* na better 
 rede **, 
 Bot strake faste at J)e bares hede ; 
 
 His tuskes he strake owt })are. 
 
 hoar 
 
 * nearly 
 
 * Worn out with fight- 
 
 [ing 
 
 * knew ** plan, idea 
 
30 
 
 SER EGLAMOUE 
 
 (403-426) 
 
 XXXV 
 
 Thorow 1)6 myght of God in {jat stownd 
 
 pe bare he gaffe his dedis * wounde, * death's 
 
 Als J)at |)e buke us telHs. 
 The kyng of Sedoyne on huntyng es 
 
 gane, 
 With fyfty men of armys ylkane : 
 
 pe bare he herde gyff * gelHs. * ^'ve 
 
 He bade a sqwyere forthe to fare : 
 410 ' per es som in perill with J)e bare ; 
 
 I drede, full lange we dwelle*.' * deiuy 
 
 Till a clyffe pe s[q]wyere com sone, 
 And sees a knyghte he wand hym one * * alone 
 
 And with swerde servelle*. * drain 
 
 XXXVI 
 
 pe sqwyere byhaldys J)am twa, 
 
 And tournes agayne and sayd |Dam swa : 
 
 * Sir kynge, pe bare es slane.' 
 'Saynt Mary, how may {)at be?' 
 'Sir, a knyght I on hym see, 
 420 For sothe, pat es his bane*. 
 
 He beris of golde a semely sighte * ; 
 A stede of asure, and a knyghte 
 
 Alle armede, als he solde* gane; 
 pe crest {)at on his helme es, 
 A lady of gowlis* in hir reches**; 
 
 His bagges* are sabyll ylkane.' 
 
 * slayer 
 
 * quantity 
 
 * should 
 
 * gules * riches 
 
 * badges^ cognizances 
 
(427-450) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 31 
 
 XXXVII 
 
 pe kynge sayd : ' So mot I the, 
 pose gentill armes I will go see ;' 
 
 And thedir he tuke \>e waye. 
 430 By J)at had Sir Eglamour 
 
 Vencuste* alle {jat stronge stoure; 
 
 Ourthwerte* \>e bare he laye. 
 ' Sir knyghte,' he sayd, ' God rist with 
 
 the!' 
 ' Welcome, sirris, mot ge be ; 
 
 Of peese I wolde gow praye. 
 I hafe so foghetyn with J)is bare. 
 So helpe me God, I may no mare; 
 
 This es {)e fourte daye.' 
 
 * Vanquished 
 
 * Across 
 
 XXXVIII 
 
 I 
 
 pe kyng sayd {)an : ' So mot I the, 
 440 Here sail no man fyghte with the ; 
 It ware synn the to tene.* 
 For {)ou hase foghtten with a bare 
 pat hase walked full wydewhare*, 
 
 And many mans bane* hase bene, 
 pou art doghety undir \t\ schelde, 
 Hase slayne thi fa, and wonn {)e felde ; 
 
 pat we alle hafe sene. 
 I hafe sene, I dare wele saye, 
 pat he hase slayne fourty on a daye, 
 4SO Wele armede men and clene*.' 
 
 "^ injure 
 
 * far and wide 
 
 * slayer 
 
 •fine 
 
32 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUH 
 
 (451-474) 
 
 XXXIX 
 
 Dylecyous metis forthe {)ay broghte, 
 pe Renyche* wyne ne spared pay 
 noghte ; 
 Whitte clathis {)are J^ay sprede. 
 pe kyng sayde : ' So mot I the, 
 I will dyne for jje lufe of the ; 
 
 pou hase bene strangly stedde*.' 
 ' So helpe me God,' \>e knyght says, 
 I hafe foghetyn foure dayes, 
 And never a fote I flede.' 
 460 ' Sir knyght,' ]pe kyng says, ' I pray the, 
 All nyght pat {)ou wold dwelle with 
 mee, 
 And riste the in a bed.' 
 
 Rhenish 
 
 * hesei 
 
 ask 
 
 XL 
 
 When {)ay had dyned, als I gow sayne, 
 pe kyng gan at {)e knyghte frayne* 
 
 Of whate land J^at he was. 
 * My name,' he said, * es Sir Awntour ; 
 I dwelle with Sir Pryncesamour, 
 
 The Erie of Artase.' 
 pe knyghtis nerhande* J)e kyng droghe : * near to 
 470 ' Lord, |)is es he J^at Arrake sloghe, 
 
 pe geanttes bro{)er Marrasse.' 
 ' Sir knyght,' J)e kyng said, ' I pray t)e, 
 Twa dayes or thre {)0u dwelle with me 
 
 Or* {)at {)ou fra me passe. 
 
 * Ere 
 
(475-498) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUE, 
 
 33 
 
 4»o 
 
 XLI 
 
 pare wonnes a geaunt nere besyde ; 
 My dogheter, {)at es of mekill pryde, 
 
 He wolde hir hafe me fra; 
 pat I ne dare never nowhar wend owt, 
 Bot* I hafe armed men me abowte ; 
 
 Full seldom es wight thus faa.* 
 pe bare J)at i)Ou hase slayne here, 
 He hase hym fed |)is feftene gere 
 
 Crystyn men to slaa. 
 Now es he went, with care ynoghe, 
 To bery his bro{)er I)at J)ou sloghe ; 
 
 per evermare worthe* hym waa!' 
 
 * Unless 
 
 * hostile 
 
 be, befall 
 
 XLII 
 
 To bryttyn* {)e bare {)ay went full 
 
 tite**; 
 par wolde no knyves in hym bytte, 
 
 So hard of hyde was he. 
 490 ' Sir Awntour, sen {)0u hym sloghe, 
 We trowe J)at thyn be gud ynoghe, 
 
 If {)at I)i willis it bee.' 
 pe knyght agayne to J)e bare es gane, 
 And cleved hym by t)e ryggebane* ; 
 
 It was grete joye to see. 
 ' Lordyngs, I garte * hym down falle ; * made 
 Gyves me {)e hede, and takes gow alle ; 
 
 §e wate* it es my fee.' 
 
 * cut up ** quickly 
 
 * backbone 
 
 * know 
 
 c 2 
 
 il 
 
34 
 
 SIE, EGLAMOUR 
 
 (499-522) 
 
 XLIII 
 
 The kyng said : ' So God me save, 
 500 Of J)e bare what J)ou will have 
 pou hase it boghte full dere.' 
 After cartis \>e kyng hase sent; 
 . Agayne \>e none hamwardes J)ay went ; 
 The cete was {)am nere. 
 pe courte was {)an alle full fayne 
 pat that wikked wilde beste was slayne ; 
 
 pay made full ryall chere. 
 The qwene said : * God scheld me fra 
 
 blame ! 
 What tyme \>e geant comes hame, 
 sxo New tydands get we here.' 
 
 XLIV 
 
 Sir Eglamour, this nobill knyghte, 
 He was sett with {)at dere wyghte, 
 
 For {)at he solde be blythe. 
 Men called J)at lady Organata; 
 Scho prayed hym gud chere for to ma, 
 
 By God, full ofte sythe * ; * times 
 
 And after mete scho gun hym telle 
 How a geant walde {)am qwelle : 
 
 And he bygan to lythe *. * listen 
 
 520 ' Damesele,' he said, ' so mot I the. 
 And he come here whils I here be, 
 
 I sail asaye * hym swythe.' * test, assail 
 
(523-546) SIR EGLAMOUR 35 
 
 XLV 
 
 Agayne \>e ewyn *})e kynggart dighte ** * even ** caused to 
 A nobill bathe for t)e gentill knyghte, [prepare 
 
 Of herbys l)at were gode. 
 And alle {)e nyght I)erin he laye 
 Till on {)e mome {)at it was daye, 
 
 To* men to matyns gode**. * Till ** went 
 
 pe kyng went and herde his masse; 
 530 By {)at {)e geant comen wasse, 
 
 And cryede als he ware wode, 
 And said : ' Sir kyng, send owt to me 
 Organata, thi dogheter free, 
 
 Or I sail spill thi blode.' 
 
 XL VI 
 
 Sir Eglamour, this nobill knyghte, 
 Armed hym onone ryghte, 
 
 And to {)e wallis went hee. 
 The bares hevede garte he bere. 
 And sett it forthe appon a spere, 
 5j<v,'^'' At* Marrasse myght it see. * That 
 
 "^ The geant luked on J)e baris hede : 
 '' 'Alias, my gud bare, ert {)ou dede? 
 
 Mekill was my trayste* in the. * trust 
 
 By J)e laye* {)at I leve* in, * law ** believe 
 
 My littill spotted hogdyn*, "^ pig 
 
 Dere boghte {)i dede sail be ! ' 
 
 I 
 
36 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 (547-570) 
 
 XL VII 
 
 The geant on {)e wallis dange*; 
 After ilke a dynt pe fyre owt sprange ; 
 
 For na man walde he spare. 
 550 Into {)e castell gan he crye : 
 'Thefes, traytours, ge sail dy 
 
 For slayng of my bare ; 
 Sonre stane wallis I sail down dynge *, 
 And with myn handis I sail gow hynge* 
 
 Or {)at I hythen* fare.' 
 Thorowe JDe helpe of God, by * it was 
 
 nyghte, 
 J)e geant had his fill of fy^ghte— 
 
 pe buke says, sum dele mare. 
 
 * smote 
 
 * smash 
 
 * hang 
 
 * hence 
 
 * hy the time that 
 
 XLVIII 
 
 Sir Eglamour es noghte abayste*: 
 560 On Goddis helpe es alle his trayste, 
 
 And on his swerde so bryghte. 
 'Sir Awntour,' saide {)e kynge than, 
 'Us bus* arme us, ilk a man; 
 
 This fend will felly* fyghte.' 
 Sir Eglamour said : ' By {)e rode, 
 I sail assaye hym, JDofe* he be wode, 
 
 And sla hym thorow Goddis myghte.' 
 He rynnes a cowrse to prove his stede, 
 And tuk hys helme and forthe he gede ; 
 570 Alle prayed {)ay for t)at knighte. 
 
 * confounded 
 
 * behooves 
 
 * fiercely 
 
 * though 
 
(571-594) 
 
 Sni EGLAMOUR 
 
 37 
 
 XLIX 
 
 Sir Eglamour {)e feld tase; 
 
 pe geant sees, and to hym gase: 
 
 Sayd : * Art I)ou comen, my fere ? 
 Arte Jjou ane of tha j)at slewe my bare ? 
 pou sail habye* or {)ou hethyn fare; 
 
 Never thynge J)0u did swa dere.' 
 The knyght wenys wele to do, 
 And with a spere he rynnes hym to, 
 
 Als man of armes clere. 
 580 pe geant buskes and made hym 
 bowne*; 
 Horse and man he strykes alle downe, 
 pe knyghte to dede wele nere. 
 
 * ato) 
 
 ready 
 
 pan he ne couthe * no better rede **, * kiuw ** counsel 
 When I)at his nobyll stede was dede, 
 
 To fote he gane hym tane. 
 Nerhand |)e geant gan he ga, 
 His righte arme he strake hym fra 
 
 Fast by {)e schuldir-bane. 
 The geant with I)e 1[61)er* hande 
 590 Alle })e daye he stofle feghtande. 
 
 Till {)e Sonne to ryste was gane. 
 Now may he no lengare dry*; 
 He es so febill, witterly*, 
 
 pat lyfe es lefte hym nane. 
 
 = })et oper 
 
 * endure 
 
 * in truth 
 
 II 
 
38 SIR EGLAMOUR (595-6i8) 
 
 LI 
 
 Bot alle J)at one {)e wallis ware, 
 When {)at })ay herde ]De geant rare, 
 
 For joye f)e bellis J)ay rynge. 
 Edmond was pe kynges name ; 
 He sayd : ' Sir Awntour, by Sayne Jame, 
 600 Here {)0u sail be kynge. 
 
 To mome sail J)ou crownede be, 
 pou sail wedd my dogheter free 
 
 With one so riche rynge.' 
 Than spake pe gentill knyght so mylde : 
 ' God gyffe J)e joye of thi childe, 
 
 For here may I noght be kynge.' 
 
 LII 
 
 ' Sir knyght, j^an for thi doghety dede 
 I sail pe gyffe a nobill stede, 
 
 Es rede* als any rone**; * ^.^ ** ,,^^„ 
 
 610 In justes ne in tournament 
 
 Sail {)ou take no dedis dent*, * ^,>,^ of death, mortal 
 
 Whills* {)ou arte hym one.' * whilst \}vound 
 
 pan sayd Organata, J)at swet thynge: 
 'I sail gyffe J)e a gud golde rynge, 
 
 With a full ryche stone ; 
 Whareso {)ou walkes, on water or land, 
 Whills it es appon thyn hande, 
 
 pou sail never be slone.' 
 
 ^ 
 
(619-642) SIR EGLAMOUR 39 
 
 LIII 
 
 ' God forgelde, mayden clere ! ' 
 620 ' I sail habyde the {)is feftene gere, 
 
 So {)at {)ou wold me wedd ; 
 Trewiy, and so God me save, 
 Kynge ne duke nane for to have, 
 
 pofe {)ay be comly clede*.' * clad 
 
 * Damesele,' he sayd, ' par ma faye, 
 By I)at I sail wete {)e at* saye Kv^^J * to 7 
 
 How })at I hafe^spedde.' 
 He tuk his leve forthe for to fare, 
 With {)e geant hevede and {)e bare, 
 630 pe wayes oure Lorde hym ledd. 
 
 LIV 
 
 By seven wekes were comen to ende. 
 
 In {)e lande of Artas gun he lende*, * land 
 
 Whare {)at {)e erle war^. 
 AUe bot })e erle were full fayne 
 pat he in qwerte * was comen agayne, * court 
 
 In trouthe, bathe lesse and mare. 
 Cristabelle, whytt als fame, 
 Herde telle })at he was comen hame; 
 
 Till his chambir mad hir gare *. * ready 
 640 ' Sir knyght,' scho sayde, ' how hase 
 
 {)0U fame*?' * fared 
 
 ' Dameselle, wele, and travelde game* * gladly 
 To brynge us bathe of care.' 
 
 626 By that time I shall make trial. 
 
 II 
 
40 SIR EGL AMOUR (643-666) 
 
 LV 
 
 pe knyghte kyssede |Dat lady gent, 
 And into J)e haulle es he went, 
 
 The erle for to tene*. 
 The two hedis downe he layde ; 
 'Lo, lorde!' |De knyght sayde, 
 
 *In Sedoyne hafe I bene.' 
 pe erle was J)an full wondir wa : 
 650 ' What, devell, may na thyng {)e sla ? 
 
 By Sayne Jame, so I wene ; 
 pou arte abowte, I undirstande, 
 To wyn all Artas of my hande, 
 
 And my dogheter bryghte and 
 schene.' 
 
 LVI 
 
 pe knyghte sayde: 'So mot I the, 
 Noght bot if I worthy be ; 
 
 By God, t)at es beste.' 
 The erle sayde : 'Slyke chans maye fall 
 That ane may come and quyte * all, * regmte 
 660 Be thou never so prest*.' * keen 
 
 ' Now, gud lorde, I the praye. 
 Of feftene wokes gyffe me daye, 
 
 My bonys for to reste.' 
 Thorowe prayere of J)ose gentill men, 
 Twelve wokes he gaffe hym {)en; 
 
 Na langere wold he freste *. * delay 
 
 662 Appoint me a period of fifteen weeks. 
 
(667-690) SIR EGLAMOUR 41 
 
 LVII 
 
 After soper gan he fare 
 To Cristabelle chambir, whare scho 
 ware : 
 pare torchis brynnes bryghte. 
 670 The lady was of mekill pryde, 
 And sett hym on hir beddis syde, 
 
 And said : ' Welecom, sir knyghte ! ' 
 ' Dameselle,' he sayd, ' so hafe I spede, 
 Thorow {)e grace of God I schall })e 
 wedd ; ' 
 And {)are J)ay trouthes plyghte. 
 So gracyously he gun hir telle 
 Of dedis of armys {)at hym byfelle, 
 pat {)are he dwellid all nyghte. 
 
 LVIII 
 
 By pe twelve wokes were alle gane, 
 680 The lady, whyte als qwallis bane* * {whale's bone); waims 
 Alle falowed * hir hewe. * paled [ivory 
 
 'My chambir- women, als ge are fre, 
 Sen ge knawe my prevate*, ■•^privity 
 
 To me {)at ge be trewe ! ' 
 pe erle, brym* als any bare, '^fierce 
 
 Bad Eglamour make hym gare : 
 
 ' Thi joumay comes newe !' 
 When Cristabelle herde ^erof saye, 
 Scho moumys bothe nyght and daye, 
 690 pat alle wyghttis myght hir rewe *. * pity 
 
 J 
 
42 SIB EGLAMOUR (691-714) 
 
 LIX 
 
 *At grete Rome, als men me talde, 
 
 pare lyes a worme*, bitter and balde, * dragon 
 
 Forsothe, als I the saye. 
 pat fend es of so grete renowne, 
 pare dare no man come nere {)e towne 
 
 By seven mile of J)e waye. 
 Arme the, and thedir })ou wende; 
 Luk {)0u sla hym with thy hende, 
 
 Or ells {)ou saye me naye.' 
 700 pe knyght says : ' I hafe done poyntes 
 twa; 
 Thorow {)e myght of God I sail do ma, 
 
 Or ells ende {)er for aye.' 
 
 LX 
 
 Sir Eglamour to chambir gase; 
 Of Cristabelle his leve he tase, 
 
 Es faire als flour* one filde. * flower 
 
 ' Damesele, I hafe a poynt undone ; 
 I sail wende, and come full sone 
 
 Thorow I^e helpe of Mary mylde. 
 A gold ryng I sail gyff the; 
 710 Kepe it wele, my lady free. 
 
 If God send the a childe. ' / 
 
 And, als })e buke of Rome says, » 
 To grete Rome he tase {)e wayes. 
 
 To seke {)at worme so wylde. 
 
(715-738) Sm EGLAMOUil 43 
 
 LXI I 
 
 pe knyght wendis on his waye — 
 Herkyns now, I sail 50W saye — 
 
 To seke })at dragone bolde. 
 Takynnyng of hym full son he fande : 
 Slayne men on ylk a hande, 
 720 Knyghttis lay full colde. 
 
 If he were never so gud a knyghte, 
 When he of J)e dragon had a syght, 
 
 Hiss hert bygan to iblde*. */a// 
 
 It was no wondir pof he ware wrothe : 
 He strake hym and his horse bothe 
 
 Unto {)e grounde so colde. 
 
 LXII 
 
 pe knyght rase, and his paynes sett ; 
 
 pe wylde worme appon hym bett* * i,eat 
 
 Bitter strakes and felle ; 
 730 And schott fyre appon hym gare 
 Ever agayne evyn mare and mare, 
 
 Als it ware owte of helle. 
 Sir Eglamour, als I gow saye, 
 Halfe his tayle he smate awaye; 
 
 pat fende bygan to gelle; 
 And, with \>e stompe * {)at hym was * stump 
 
 levede** ** le/i 
 
 He strak {)e knyght in {)e hevede 
 
 A wykkid wonde and a felle. 
 
 II 
 
44 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 (739-762) 
 
 LXIII 
 
 pe knyght sayd : 'I ame bot schent. 'J*^ 
 740 Nerehand {)at wylde worme he went, 
 
 His had he smate awaye; 
 And nerre hym {)are J)an gun * he ga 
 His ryggebane he cleved in twa, 
 
 And wane* J)e felde for ay. 
 The emperour laye in his towre, 
 And sawe J)e knyghte Sir Eglamour 
 
 Till * his men gun he saye : 
 'pe wylde worme, forsothe, es slane; 
 pat hase a knyght done by hym ane *, * alone 
 750 Appertly* par ma faye!' * Plainly 
 
 r 
 
 began 
 
 * won 
 
 To 
 
 LXIV 
 
 In grete Rome gerte he crye, 
 
 like an offessare in his baly *, * bailiwick 
 
 pe worme had mad endynge. 
 The emperour, als I gow saye. 
 To l)e knyght he tuke }De waye, 
 
 To se J)at dredfull thynge. 
 AUe J)at myghte ryde or gaa, 
 Sir Eglamour up |)ay taa; 
 
 With blys J)ay hym hame brynge. 
 760 For joye t)at J)e worme was slayne. 
 
 Procession come hym agayne *, * to meet 
 
 And swetly bellis |)ay rynge. 
 
(763-786) SIR EGLAMOUR 45 
 
 LXV 
 
 The emperour with hym tuke hym 
 
 hame; 
 Octoveane was his name, 
 
 A lord of gret honour. 
 Bot alle jDat ever saw his hede, 
 pay sayd^ Jjat he was bot dede, 
 
 This knyght, Sir Eglamour. 
 The emperour had a dogheter bryghte 
 770 Hase undirtane to hele {)e knyght ; 
 
 Hir name was Dyatoure. 
 Scho saved hym J)are fra I)e dede, 
 And with hir handis scho heHd his hede 
 
 A twelvemoneth in hir bowre. 
 
 LXVI 
 
 Letters come unto Artas 
 
 pat {)e worme of Rome dede was, 
 
 A knyght appon hym slane. 
 So lange on lechyng* gan he dwelle, * healing 
 A knafechilde* had Cristabelle * son 
 
 780 Als whitt als qwalHs bane. 
 
 The erle, hir fadir, mad his avowe : 
 'Dogheter, to {)e se schall |dou 
 
 In a schippe by J)e allane, 
 pat he na cristyndom* sal haf here, * baptism 
 This bastard, })at es to {)e sa dere.' 
 
 Hir frendis wepid ylkane. 
 
 II 
 
46 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUll 
 
 (787-807) 
 
 LXVII 
 
 * Though 
 
 * Yet 
 
 If* scho were never so swet a wyght, 
 §it* {)e schippe was fiill sone dyght 
 
 pat scho schuld in fare. 
 790 Scho luked on hir son with ye ; 
 
 ' Alias,' scho sayd, ' now mon * we dye ; ' * mtist 
 
 In hert scho moumys sare. 
 Scho w appid * hym in a mantill rede : 
 * My dere child, dighte * es oure dede ; 
 
 Thi fadir seese us na mare.' 
 
 * wrapped 
 
 * prepared 
 
 u'^" 
 
 M 
 
 s^i^ 
 
 LXVIII 
 
 Hir chambir- women in swon gan falle : 
 So did hir leve* frendis alle, 
 
 pat wolde hir any gode. 
 *Gud fadir,' scho sayd, 'I gow praye, 
 800 Late a preste a gospelle saye 
 
 For* fendis** on Jdc flode.' 
 Scho sayd : ' My chambir-women free, 
 Grete wele my lorde, when ge hym 
 see.' 
 
 pay weped als J)ay ware wode. 
 Now leve {)is knyght, Sir Eglamour; 
 Speke of {)is lady, whytt als flour, 
 
 So wilsome* wayes scho gode**. 
 
 dear 
 
 * Against 
 
 ** fiends \ 
 [cf. Beowulf 
 
 dreary ** went 
 
 6\' 
 
(808-828) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUE, 
 
 47 
 
 810 
 
 LXIX 
 
 The lady dryves nyght and daye 
 Till an ile, als I gowe saye, 
 
 pare* wilde bestis gan lende**. 
 Scho was full blythe, I undirstande : 
 Scho wend* i)er had bene town and 
 lande, 
 
 And {)are scho gan up wende. 
 No thyng ellys fand scho {jare 
 Bot see-fewlys* I)at wylde ware, 
 
 pat faste flowe* fra hir hende. 
 pare come a grype* flyande J)are: 
 Hir gonge sone fra hir he bare 
 
 Intill an lande unkende*. 
 
 * Where ** dwell 
 
 * weened 
 
 * sea-birds 
 ^ flew 
 
 * griffin 
 
 * unknown 
 
 LXX 
 
 820 pe lady sawe, and cryed 'Alias, 
 In land {)at ever borne scho was ! 
 
 My childe es had me fra!' 
 In {)e land of Iraelle * gan he lyghte ; * Israel 
 A gryffon, sayse {)e buke, he highte, 
 
 pat wroghte {)at lady waa. 
 The kyng of Iraelle on huntyng went, 
 And sawe whare {)e grippe was lent*, * landed 
 
 And nere hym gan he ga. 
 
48 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 (829-852) 
 
 LXXI 
 
 A child he fand thorow Goddis grace ; 
 830 In a mantill wrappede it was 
 With an full riche pane*, 
 A golde gyrdill bowndyn with ; 
 The childe was large of lym and 
 lythe* 
 His eghne* als cristalle stane. 
 The kynge sayde : 'By {)e rode, 
 This childe es comen of gentill blode, 
 
 Ware* ever {)at he was tane.' 
 And, for J)at he fra \)e grippe felle, 
 He garte calle hym Degrebelle, 
 «4o pat wilsome* was of wane**. 
 
 lining , 
 
 ' j'oijit 
 ■ eyes 
 
 * UTiere 
 
 * forlorn, void ** hope 
 
 LXXII 
 
 The kynge lefte his gamen {)at tyde, 
 And with {)e childe gun hame ryde 
 
 pat fra {)e gryppe he hent*. * took 
 
 Than sayd {)e kynge unto {)e qwene : 
 ' Dame, I hafe ofte on huntynge bene ; 
 
 To-daye God hase us sent.' 
 The qwene J^erof was full blythe, 
 And sent after a noresche* swythe**; * mirse ** at once 
 
 His sydis were longe and gent*. * graceful 
 850 Bot leve now here {)is gentill childe, 
 And speke we of his modir mylde. 
 
 What land oure Lorde hir lent *. * granted 
 
(853-876) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUE 
 
 49 
 
 * rudder 
 
 LXXIII 
 
 Alle nyghte |3e lady undir J)e ile laye ; 
 
 The wynde turned agayne* J)e daye, * about 
 
 And fra Jdc lande hyr dryves. 
 Scho hade no{)er maste ne rothir*, 
 Bot ylka wawe* gretter {)an o{)er, 
 
 pat sterynly on hir stryves ; 
 And, als I)e buke of Rome sayse, 
 860 Scho had no mete of sex dayes 
 
 Agayne {)ose carefull * chvys **. 
 And by {)e sevent daye at none 
 (Jesu rewede* hir appon), 
 
 In Egyppe up scho ryves*. 
 
 * dreadful 
 
 * had pity 
 
 * lands 
 
 ** 
 
 clip 
 
 LXXIV 
 
 The kynge of Egippe laye in his toure, 
 And sawe {)at lady whitt als floure 
 
 Castyn up on the sande. 
 And till a sqwyere f)an sayd he : 
 ' Ga, luke what in gone schippe may be 
 870 The see hase broghte to lande.' 
 Thedir he went withowttyn delyt*; 
 Appon {)e burdis* gun he smytte; 
 
 The lady gan up stande. 
 For fawte* scho myght speke no worde, 
 Bot lay and lened hir over J)e borde, 
 
 And made synys with hir hande. 
 
 d 2 
 
 * delay 
 
 * ship^s sides 
 
 * want (hunger ?) ; 
 
 [ feyntenes (C, J) 
 
 II 
 
50 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 (877-900) 
 
 LXXV 
 
 The sqwyere wyst noghte what scho 
 
 ment ; 
 Agayne unto pe kynge he went, 
 
 And sett hym one his knee. 
 «8o ' Lorde,' he sayde, ' no thyng |)erin es 
 Bot a woman in lyknes ; 
 
 Scho lyes and lukes on me. 
 If t)at scho ware of flesche and bane, 
 A fayrere creature was never nane, 
 
 Bot* it ware Mary free. 
 Scho makis me synys with hir hande 
 pat scho es of uncouthe* lande, 
 
 Begonde pe Grekkis see.' 
 
 * Unless 
 
 '' foreign 
 
 LXXVI 
 
 * Peter!' I)an sayd {)at riche kynge, 
 890 ' I will go se {)at swete thynge ; ' 
 
 And to {)e schippe he gase. 
 pe lady, whytte als qwallis bane, 
 He bade hir speke in Goddis name 
 
 Agaynes hym up scho rase. 
 This damesele {)at was so mylde, 
 Scho had so wepid for her childe 
 
 pat wele* spy It** scho was. 
 Into a chambyr {)ay her ledde, 
 Dylecyous metis {)ay her bedde * ; 
 900 With gude will scho {)am tase*. 
 
 * well nigh 
 
 ■■=■ offered 
 
 * takes 
 
 ** 
 
 per- 
 \ished 
 
(90I-924) SIR EGLAMOUR 51 
 
 LXXVII 
 
 To {)e lady spekis the kyng : 
 'Whare was {)ou borne, {)0u swete 
 thyng, 
 
 That es* sa bryght of ble ? ' * ^''^ 
 
 'Lord, in Artas borne I wes; 
 Sir Pryncesamour my fadir es, 
 
 Es lorde of {)at cuntre. 
 It befell me anys on a day, 
 I and my maydyns went to playe 
 
 By \>e syde of the see ; 
 910 The wynd was lythe*, a bote t)er stode, */air 
 I and my sqwyere thedir in we gode ; 
 
 Uncrystyn man was he. 
 
 LXXVIII 
 
 On lande I levede my maydyns alle; 
 My sqwyere gan on slepe falle; 
 
 A mantill on hym I droghe. 
 The wynde rase, and to a roche us bare ; 
 A fowle tuke my sqwyere thare, 
 
 Sothe-est with hym he droghe.' 
 The kynge sayde : ' pou arte welecom 
 here, 
 920 pou ert my broJ)er* dogheter dere.' * brother's 
 
 For joye on hym scho loughe*. * laughed 
 
 Leve here this lady, whytt als flour. 
 And speke now of Sir Eglamour ; 
 
 Till* hym come kare ynoghe. * To 
 
 I 
 
52 SIR EGLAMOUR (925-948) 
 
 LXXIX 
 
 Sir Eglamour es hale and sownde, 
 And wele recoverde of his wownde, 
 
 And hamwardes made hym gare. 
 The emperour gan hym blysse, 
 Hys doghter and pe emp^ryce, 
 930 And alle {jat he leved * pcLve. * left 
 
 Of Crystabelle es alle his thoghte; 
 The wormes hede forgettis he noghte, 
 
 Appon his spere he it bare. 
 Be {)at* a monethe was comen to ende, * See 256 
 In {)e lande of Artasse gun he lende ; 
 
 To hym come letters of care. 
 
 LXXX 
 
 The erle herde tell, I undirstand, 
 Sir Eglamour was cumande 
 
 With that wormes hede. 
 940 A sqwyere gase agayne hym sone ; 
 'Lorde, all thus the erle has done: 
 
 Fayr Cristabelle es dede; 
 A man-childe has scho borne, 
 pe erle has als his lyfe forlorne ; 
 
 He was bathe whitt and rede. 
 In a schippe done war J)ay twa, 
 And with J)e wawis lattyn ga.' 
 
 pe knyght swouned in J)at stede. 
 
(949-972) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 53 
 
 LXXXI 
 
 * Saynt Mary ! ' sayd pe knyght so free, 
 950 ' Whare euer hir gentillwomen bee, 
 
 In chambir with hir {)at was ? ' 
 The sqwyere answerd hym full sone : 
 'Sir, when scho to J)e see was done, 
 
 Ilkane sere* way gun passe.' 
 He hyed hym sone into the halle 
 Amange the gret^ lordis alle, 
 
 Byfor {)e erle of Artasse. 
 'Have here,' he said, 'J)e wormeshevede ; 
 And whare es myn, {)at I here levede, 
 960 pou syttande in my place?' 
 
 * his own 
 
 SeV 
 
 I^ 
 
 
 Z<r- 
 
 \ 
 
 LXXXII 
 
 It was grete pete for to here 
 
 How he cryed : ' Crystabelle, my fere, 
 
 Arte {)ou in the see? 
 Jesu, {)at dyede [on {)e croyse] verrayly, 
 One thi saule he hafe mercy, 
 
 And on thi gonge sone fre!' 
 The erle rase and tuk a toure*, 
 He was ferde * of Sir Eglamour ; 
 
 pere evermare wa hym be ! 
 970 ' Gentillmen,' he sayd^, ' God gow save ! 
 Alle J)at ordir of knyght will have, 
 
 Ryse upe and gase* with me.' 
 
 * tower 
 
 * afraid 
 
 go 
 
54 SIR EGLAMOUR (973-993) 
 
 LXXXIII 
 
 Sqwyers rase and come hym tyll, 
 
 pay were full bayne * to wyrke his * ready 
 
 wyll ; 
 He gaffe J)am ordir sone. 
 In I)at haulle whils he habade *, * abode 
 
 Fyve and thrytty knyghttis he made 
 
 By {)e to{)er* daye at none. * second 
 
 Alle J)at were sembled, ylke one, 
 9«o He gafe {)am for to lyfe appone, 
 
 For Cristabelle saule to mone; 
 And, sothely, als I undirstande. 
 He tuk l)e waye to J)e haly lande 
 
 Whare God on J)e rode was done. 
 
 LXXXIV 
 
 Sir Eglamour, als ge may here, 
 He dwellid J)are fyfetene gere 
 
 The heythyn men amange ; 
 So doghetyly f)er he hym bare, 
 Whare any dedis of armes ware, 
 990 Agaynes {)am |)at did wrange. 
 And by J)e fyfetene gere were gane, 
 The childe jDat J)e gryffon had tane 
 
 Was waxen bathe stythe * and * brave 
 
 strange. 
 
(994-IOI7) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 55 
 
 LXXXV 
 
 Now es Degrebelle waxen wyght * ; * hrave ? 
 The Kyng of Iraelle mad hym knyght 
 
 And prynce, ga, with his hande. 
 Now herkyns, lordyngs, lesse and mare, 
 What armes {)at {)e child bare, 
 
 If ge will undirstande. 
 looo He beris in azure a grippe of golde, 
 
 So richely betyn in {)e molde*, * mould 
 
 And in his clowes hyngand 
 A knave-child in a mantill wowndyn, 
 And with a golde girdill bowndyn, 
 
 Als he was broghte to lande. 
 
 LXXXVI 
 
 The Kyng of Iraelle wexe aide ; 
 Sir Degrebelle, his sone, he calde, 
 
 Sayde : * Will {)ou hafe a wyfe 
 Whills })at I lyffe, my sone so dere? 
 loio When I am dede, J)Ou getis na pere, 
 
 Thi reches beese* so ryfe**. 
 A messangere stode by f)e kynge : 
 ' In Egippe wonnes * a swete thynge, 
 
 I knawe none slyke* on lyfe. 
 
 The 
 
 * an athe has 
 
 kynge, hir eme ^ 
 sworne, 
 He will gyffe hir to na man borne, 
 Bot he wyne hir with knyfe.' 
 
 * are ** abundant 
 
 * dwells 
 
 * such 
 
 * uncle 
 
 I 
 
56 
 
 SIR EGL AMOUR 
 
 (1018— 1041) 
 
 LXXXVII 
 
 The kynge sayd : 'And* scho be gode, 
 parfore schalle we nott lett*, by {)e 
 rode; 
 
 Do, buske us thedir swythe*' 
 He byddis his messangere forthe gane* 
 To comand his knyghtis everylkane 
 
 To come to hym belyve*. 
 Rychely {)ay made {jam gare; 
 Thaire armour to schippe |)ay bare, 
 
 To passe \>e waters lythe*. 
 By {)at \>e monethe was comen to ende, 
 In the lande of Egippe gun {)ay lende, 
 
 paire maysteries for to kythe*. 
 
 * refrain 
 
 * quickly 
 
 * go 
 
 * straightway 
 
 * smooth 
 
 * make known 
 
 LXXXVIII 
 
 1030 A messangere went for to telle 
 pare come J)e Kyng of Iraelle, 
 
 With a full riche nave * ; 
 The prynce his sone, with many a 
 
 knyghte, 
 For to see Jjat birde* so bryghte. 
 
 Iff I)at yt {)aire willes bee. 
 The messangere spake with bly the ch ere : 
 * pe kynge of Iraelle comes here. 
 
 With a full faire semblee* 
 ' Sir,' sayd {)e kyng, ' I hoppe * I schalle 
 1040 Fynd gud justynge for |)am alle ; 
 Dere* welecome sail Jjay bee. ' 
 
 navy 
 
 lady 
 
 assembly 
 hope 
 
 Dearly 
 
(i042— 1065) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 57 
 
 LXXXIX 
 
 Trompis* in topcastells {)ay rasse**; 
 pe riche kyng to {)e land gasse, 
 
 His knyghtis weryn* in palle**. 
 pe gonge childe of feftene gere, 
 He gode amang lpa.m, als 7^e may here, 
 
 A fote abowne* jDam alle. 
 pe kyng of Egippe come hym agane * ; 
 pe kyng hym by {)e hand haves tane, 
 1050 And ledde hym to pe halle. 
 
 'Gud sir, we pray, gyf * I)at we myghte, 
 Of gowre nece hafe a syghte, 
 
 Es whytte as bone of qwalle.' 
 
 * Trumpets ** raise 
 
 * were ** fine rai- 
 
 \ment 
 
 * above 
 
 * See 761 
 
 if 
 
 xc 
 
 The lady of* jje chambir was broghte, "^ from 
 With manes handis als scho were 
 wroghte, 
 Or corven on* a tree. 
 Hir sone stode and hir byhelde; 
 ' Wele were hym {)at myght J)e welde !' 
 Till hymselven sayd he. 
 io6o pe Kynge of Iraelle asked hir erne : 
 'Will I)Ou scho weddid be over {)e 
 streme, 
 My sonnes wyfe to be ? ' 
 ' Sir,' he saide, ' gife {)at he may 
 Sytt me a schaft to mome at day, 
 Thyn askyng graunt I the.' 
 
 1064 Resist me a spear to-morrow morn. 
 
 * of (e, a, w, p, d) 
 
 I 
 
58 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUE, 
 
 (1066— 1089) 
 
 XCI 
 
 Grete lordis were at the assent; 
 Waytys* blewe; to mete J)ay wente 
 
 With a ryalle chere. 
 The kynges twa pe borde bygane*, 
 1070 Sir Degrebelle and his modir {)an, 
 
 If* J)ay were syb full nere. 
 Knyghttis went to sytt, iwys * ; 
 Ylke a sqwyer in J)aire serv^'se, 
 
 To serve {)aire lordis so dere. 
 After mett^ wesched J)ay ; 
 Clerkes gun {)e grace saye 
 
 In {)e haulle, als ge may here. 
 
 * Musicians 
 
 * sat at the head of the 
 
 [table 
 
 * Though 
 
 * in truth 
 
 XCII 
 
 Appon {)e morne, when {)e day sprange, 
 Gentillmen to armys thrange^, * thronged 
 
 1080 And Degrebelle was dyghte. 
 
 pe kyng of Egippe gun hym hy - * hasten 
 
 Into a faire felde, witterly, 
 
 With many a doghety knyghte. 
 Gret^ lordis {)ay gun crye : 
 'What man es he J)at es so hye, 
 
 pat beris gone* gryffone bryghte?' * jo« 
 Harawdis of armes gun ^am telle : 
 ' He es {)e prynce of Iraelle ; 
 
 Bese warre*, for he es wyghte.' "^Beware 
 
(I090-III3) Sm EGLAMOUE, 59 
 
 XCIII 
 
 X090 Trompis blewe on ylke a syde, 
 pe gret lordis togedir gun ryde ; 
 
 pat semly was to sene. 
 pe kynge of Egippe tuk a schafte; 
 pe prynce \>at sawe and sadly satt, 
 
 If he were never so kene. 
 Agayne the kyng he made hym bowne, 
 Horse and man he strake al downe 
 
 Appon J)e felde so grene. 
 pan said l>e kyng : 'So God me save, 
 itoo pou ert beste worthy hir to have ! ' 
 
 Sa say {)ay alle by dene*. * at once 
 
 XCIV 
 
 Now grete lordis gan o{)er assaye, 
 And sqwyers on thet o{)er daye, 
 
 That doghety ware in dede. 
 The kyngis twa })aire trouthis plyght, 
 And Cristabell, that lady bryght, 
 
 To {)e kirke {)ay gun hir lede. 
 Thorow JDe myghte of God t)iis haf 
 
 t)ay spedde, 
 His awen modir has he wedde, 
 
 Als clerkes })us gun rede. 
 His armes ware byfore hym borne, 
 Scho thoghte on hir sone {)at scho 
 had lome ; 
 
 Scho weped als scho wold wede *. * go mad 
 
60 
 
 SIR EGLAMOHR 
 
 (1114-1137) 
 
 xcv 
 
 He sayd : * What now, my lady dere ? 
 Why makis {)ou J)us febill chere? 
 
 Me thynke als {)ou had thoghte*.' 
 'Sir, in thyne armes a fowle I see 
 pat somtyme tuk a childe fra me, 
 
 A knyghte full dere had boghte. 
 1120 In a skarelett mantill was he wo?/nden, 
 And with a gold girdill bownden 
 
 pat full richely was wroghte.' 
 The kynge sayd : ' By Goddis myght, 
 In my foreste gun he lyghte; 
 
 A grippe to land hym broghte.' 
 
 anxiety 
 
 XCVI 
 
 He comand a sqwyere fjat was hende 
 After I)e cofire for to wende 
 
 pat {)ay were in layde. 
 pay tuk J)am owte })an full rathe*, 
 1130 The mantill and I)e gyrdill bathe 
 
 pat richely was grayde*. 
 'Alias!' sayde {)at lady free, 
 ' Bathe were J^ay refte me in {)e see ; ' 
 
 In swounynge down scho brayde*. 
 ' How longe set)m ? ' {)e kynge gun saye. 
 ' Fyfetene gere, sir, par ma faye.' 
 
 pay sent* to {)at scho sayde. 
 
 soon 
 
 * adorned 
 
 •fell 
 
 * assent 
 
(Ii38_ii6i) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 61 
 
 1140 
 
 XCVII 
 
 'My sone,' he sayde, 'if {)ou be rade* * afraid 
 
 Ane over-syb-maryage* hafe we made * marriage between 
 
 In {)e sprynge of {)is mone, [kindred 
 
 I rede ge luke, so God me save, 
 Whilke of myn erles scho will have.' 
 
 He answerd hym full sone: 
 'Sir, thyn erles hold I gode. 
 So do I my modyr, by {)e rode; 
 
 I weddid hir byfore I)e none. 
 Sail nane hir have, by Saynt Marie, 
 Bot he wyn hir doghetyly, 
 
 Als I my selfe hase done.' 
 
 XCVIII 
 
 1150 Dke gret lorde gun to oj^er saye : 
 'For hir love will we turnaye 
 
 With swerdis in oure h^ide, 
 Wha {)at Wynnes {)at lady clere. 
 For to wedde* hir to his fere, 
 
 Whare hym lykes to lende*.' 
 Hawrawdes of armes forthe ere* went * are 
 For to crye a tumament 
 
 In ylk a landis ende. 
 Sir Eglamour es ham ward boune, 
 1x60 Herde of {)at dede of grete renown, 
 
 And thedir wolde he wende. 
 
 1 1 54 To rule her as his mate. 
 
 * welde (Schleich) 
 
 * dwell 
 
62 
 
 Sm EGLAMOUR 
 
 (1162-1185) 
 
 1170 
 
 XCIX 
 
 Fro* Cristabelle was don in \>e see, 
 Newe armes pan beris hee; 
 
 Herkyns, I will })am discrye : 
 On azure with a schippe of golde 
 A lady, als scho drowne scholde 
 
 (A child lyggand hir by, 
 Purtrayede of a nyghte aide) 
 In pe see so grym and balde. 
 
 And ever in poynte to dy ; 
 Of sylver his maste, of golde his fane * 
 His sayle and his rapis ylkane 
 
 Purtrayede verrayly*. 
 
 * From the time that 
 
 pennon 
 
 exactly 
 
 Now gret lordis J)at herde {)at crye, 
 Thedir went J)ay full witterly, 
 
 Als faste als l)ay myght fare. 
 The kynge of Sedoyne com als sone 
 With doghety knyghtis many one, 
 
 pat full riche colours bare. 
 180 Rannges mad J)ay in the felde, 
 
 That grete lordis myghte jDam welde ; 
 
 paire selven made J)am gare. 
 Sir Eglamour, J^ife he ware laste, 
 §itt was he noghte away to caste : 
 
 pe knyght was cled in care. 
 
(l 186—1209) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUR 
 
 63 
 
 CI 
 
 Haurauds of armes bygan to crye 
 Grete lordis full rathely* 
 
 Into a felde so brade. 
 Cristabelle, {)at lady smalle, 
 "90 Es broghte unto I)e castelle-walle ; 
 
 For hir the crye was made. 
 Hir sone of feftene gere elde, 
 He es aunterous* in the felde; 
 
 Into J)e stowre* he rade. 
 Fra Degrebelle bygan to smytt, 
 Fra his handis J)ay flede full tyte*, 
 
 pat nane his dynt habade. 
 
 quickly 
 
 * adventurous 
 "^ fight 
 
 =^ See 487 
 
 cn 
 
 His fadir hovede* and byhelde '^' tarried? 
 
 How he fellid in the felde 
 
 The knyghtis all bydene. 
 His sone hym sawe, and rade hym 
 
 tUl, 
 Said: 'Sir, why hovys {)ou sa stille 
 
 Amange thir* knyghtis kene?' 
 'Sir,' he said, 'atrayed* I es,** iJo!^' 
 And comen owt of haythynnes ; 
 
 It ware syn me to tene*.' 
 'Sir,' he said, 'sa mot I the, 
 pou sulde noghte {)an have armed be ; 
 
 pat mare menske* had bene.' * honor 
 
 these 
 trotibled ** 
 
 vex 
 
 am 
 
64 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUE 
 
 (1210-1233) 
 
 cm 
 
 X2IO Sir Eglamour appon hym loghe : 
 
 ' Sir, hase |)ou not tournayed ynoghe, 
 
 Bot {)ou for mare will praye ? ' 
 He said : * I am aunterous in {)is stowre, 
 For a lady, whytt als flowre, 
 
 Wyn hir gif I may.' 
 * Peter ! ' said the knygt {)an, 
 ' I sail assaye gif I can 
 
 Anythyng turnay. 
 For som tyme hafe I sene, 
 i«2o In als hard aunters hafe I bene, 
 And wonne full wele awaye.' 
 
 1330 
 
 CIV 
 
 pe doghety knyghtis on horse dange * 
 In tournament with swerdis lange; 
 
 Thase oJ)er byhelde ylk ane. 
 Sir Eglamour tuk his swerdplatte, * 
 And gyffes his son^ swylke a swappe * 
 
 pat to J)e grownde gan he gane. 
 'Alias,' l^an said {)at lady free, 
 ' My childe es dede, be Cristis pete ; 
 
 §one knyght hase hym slane.' 
 Thase ot)er said hally* one {)e molde** : 
 * He {)at berys {)e schippe of golde 
 
 Hase wonne hir by his ane*.' 
 
 smote 
 
 * fiat of his sword 
 
 * stroke 
 
 {wholly) ; with one ac- 
 [cord ** earth 
 
 all alone 
 
(I234-I257) 
 
 SIR EGLAMOUE, 
 
 65 
 
 CV 
 
 Hauraudis of armes he gart cry {)an, 
 If I)are were any gentillmane 
 
 Wald make his body gode, 
 Will juste or turnay any mare, 
 Say forthe, whiles he was })are, 
 
 He wold be aunterous, by \>e rode. 
 1240 His sone said : ' Ne ware his swerd so 
 brighte, 
 AUe day myght I with hym fyght, 
 
 pofe he were werse J)an wode.' 
 Gret^ lordis sayde nowe : 
 ' Beste worthy, sir knyght, art {)0u 
 
 To hafe gone frely* fode**.' 
 
 lovely ** person 
 
 CVI 
 
 To unarme hym {)e lady gase, 
 
 A surcott unerte * {)e knyght tase ; * v 
 
 To mete {)an gan {)ey wende. 
 This doghety knyght, J)at wan Jje gree*, * See 1 1 
 1250 Was sett with J)at lady free. 
 
 Scho frayned * hym, als hir frende, * See 464 
 By what reson J)at he bare 
 The schippe of golde with maste and 
 
 are *. * oar 
 
 He answerd as the hende*: * See 124 
 
 'Damysell, to {)e se war done 
 My lady and my gonge sone, 
 And {)are {)ay made {)aire ende.' 
 
 e 2 
 
66 Sm EGLAMOUK (1258- 1275) 
 
 CVII 
 
 Knawlege of hym gun scho taa : 
 ' Swete sir, how felle it swa 
 1260 pat })ay were broghte to grownde ? ' 
 'I was in a ferre contre; 
 Hir fadir dide i)am to J)e see, 
 With J)e wawes to confounde.' 
 
 CVIII 
 
 In swounywge felle J)at lad}^ free. 
 ' Welcome, Sir Eglamour, to me ; 
 
 Dere hase J)Ou boghte me are *.' * earlier 
 Grete lordis J)an told scho sone 
 How J)at scho to {)e se was done; 
 
 pay wepede bothe lesse and mare. 
 1270 ' In I)e wawes grete and graye 
 A gryffon bare my childe aw aye ; ' 
 
 Gentillmen syghede sare. 
 It es sothe sayd, by God of heven, 
 pat ofte metis men at unsett stevyn * ; * unappointed time; see 
 
 Forsothe, sa did t)ay thare. [Chaucer,^. 7.666 
 
(I276-I299) SIR EGLAMOHR 67 
 
 CIX 
 
 The Kyng of Iraell gun {)am telle 
 How {)at he fond Sir Degrebelle; 
 
 Knyghtis lythede* ilk ane. * listened 
 
 Sir Eglamour knelid on his knee ; 
 1280 'Lord,' he said, 'God gelde* the; 'Prepay 
 
 pou hase hym broghte to man.' 
 pe kynge said : ' I sail hym gyffe 
 Halfe my lande whils {)at I lyife, 
 
 My sone, whytte als swane.' 
 The kyng of Sedoyne sayd alswa : 
 *I sail giflf hym Organata; 
 Me menys {)at {)ou hir wane.' 
 
 cx 
 
 Sir Eglamour prayed J)e kynges three 
 In Artasse at his weddynge be, 
 1290 His lykynge for to have. 
 
 pay graunted hym, bathe mare and 
 
 lesse, 
 The gret^ lordis t)at Jjare wes ; 
 
 pare Jesu Christ j)am save ! 
 Kynges and dukis, I undirstande, 
 And gret lordis of olper lande, 
 
 Thaire stremours made {)ay rathe *. * wave ? 
 Trompis in topcastells {)ay rase*; * See 1042 
 
 AUe maner men to schippe gase; 
 
 A comly* wynd J)am drave. */azr 
 
 1287 I think thou didst win her. 
 
 I 
 
68 
 
 SIK EGLAMOUR 
 
 (1300-1323) 
 
 CXI 
 
 1300 Thorow j)e myght of God {)is fayre 
 nave 
 Alle in lykynge* passed the see; 
 
 In Artasse up J)ay rive*. 
 pe erle in his castelle stode; 
 Gentillmen to lande gode, 
 
 Knyghtis to horse gan dryve. 
 Fro he herde of Sir Eglamour, 
 He felle owte of his heghe toure, 
 
 And brake his nekke bylyue *. 
 A messangere went byfore to telle 
 1310 Whatkyns* aunters Jjat })er byfelle. 
 With God may na man stryve. 
 
 * pleasure 
 
 * arrive 
 
 straightway 
 
 What sort of 
 
 1330 
 
 CXII 
 
 And I)us in Artasse are })ay lent. 
 Eftir {)e emperour J)ay sent 
 
 To J)at mangery * so free. * hanqtuting 
 
 In alle J)e lande garte })ay crye, 
 Wha {)at wolde com to J)at mangerye, 
 
 Dere welcome solde f)ay be. 
 Sir Eglamour to J)e kirk gun ga, 
 Sir Degrebelle and Organata, 
 
 The ladys bryghte of blee. 
 pe Kyng of Iraelle sayd : ' I gow gyffe 
 Halfe my kyngdome whils I lyife ; 
 
 Brouke* alle wele after me.' * Enjoy 
 
(1324-1335) SIR EGLAMOUR 69 
 
 CXIII 
 
 With myrthe {)at mangery was made 
 (Fowrtty dayes it habade) 
 
 Amange {)ase lordis hende. 
 And syne*, forsothe, als 1 gow saye, * afterward 
 Ilk man tuke his awen waye, 
 
 Whare hym lyked beste to lende. 
 1330 Mynstrals were gyffen gyftis fre, 
 pat {)ay myght {)e better bee, 
 
 The boldlyere for to spende. 
 In Rome I)is romance crouned is. 
 Now Jesu brynge us to his blysse, 
 
 pat lastis withowttyn ende ! 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
m^^l_^^^l^ON DEPARTMENT 
 HOME USE 
 
 r'''°°'^^^^^^'^^1^^:^[^;z;^ 
 
 DAYS 
 
 
 
 ^^^StampedHlow 
 
 
 '"" » »«. «., -"r«ss^„«»«'-