Table Of Content“The Alliterative Morte Arthure”
Anonymous
Lines 1 through 25
[folio 53r]
Now grett glorious Godd, thurgh grace of Hym seluen,
1
And the precyous prayere of Hys prys Modyr,
2
Schelde vs fro schamesdede and synfull werkes,
3
And gyffe vs grace to gye and gouerne vs here,
4
In this wrechyd werld, thorowe vertous lywynge,
5
That we may kayre til Hys courte, the kyngdom of Hevyne,
6
When oure saules schall parte and sundyre fra the body,
7
Ewyre to belde and to byde in blysse wyth Hym seluen;
8
And wysse me to werpe owte som worde at this tym
9
That nothyre voyde be ne vayne, bot wyrchip till Hym selvyn,
10
Plesande and profitabill to the popule þat them heres.
11
Ȝe that liste has to lyth or luffes for to here
12
Off elders of alde tym and of theire awke dedys,
13
How they were lele in theire lawe and louede God Almyghty,
14
Herkynes me heyndly and holdys ȝow styll,
15
And I sall tell ȝow a tale þat trewe es and nobyll,
16
Off the ryeall renkys of the Rownnde Table,
17
That chefe ware of cheualrye and cheftans nobyll,
18
Bathe ware in thire werkes and wyse men of armes,
19
Doughty in theire doyngs and dredde ay schame,
20
Kynde men and courtays and couthe of courte thewes;
21
How they whanne wyth were wyrchippis many,
22
Sloughe Lucyus þe lythyre, that Lorde was of Rome,
23
And conqueryd that kyngryke thorowe craftys of armes;
24
Herkenes now hedyrwarde and herys this storye.
25
Lines 26 through 77
Qwen that the kyng Arthur by conqueste hade wonnyn
26
Castells and kyngdoms and contreez many,
27
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And he had couerede the coroun of the kyth ryche,
28
Of all that Vter in erthe aughte in his tym:
29
Page 42
Orgayle and Orkenay and all this owte iles,
30
Irelande vttirly, as occyane rynnys;
31
Scathyll Scottlande by skyll he skyftys as hym lykys,
32
And Wales of were he wane at hys will;
33
Bathe Flaundrez and Fraunce fre til him seluyn,
34
Holaund and Henawde they helde of hym bothen,
35
Burgoyne and Brabane and Bretayn the Lesse,
36
Gyan and Gothelande and Grace the ryche;
37
Bayon and Burdeux he beldytt full faire,
38
Turoyn and Tholus, with toures full hye;
39
Off Peyters and of Prouynce he was prynce holdyn,
40
[folio 53v]
Of Valence and Vyenne, off value so noble,
41
Of Ouergne and Anyou, thos erledoms ryche—
42
By conqueste full cruell þey knewe hym fore lorde;
43
Of Nauerne and Norwaye and Normaundye eke,
44
Of Almayne, of Estriche, and oþer ynowe;
45
Danmarke he dryssede all by drede of hym seluyn,
46
Fra Swynn vnto Swetherwyke, wiþ his swerde kene.
47
Qwenn he thes dedes had don, he doubbyd hys knyghtez,
48
Dyuysyde dowcherys and delte in dyuerse remmes,
49
Mad of his cosyns kyngys ennoyntede,
50
In kyth there they couaitte crounes to bere.
51
Whene he thys rewmes hade redyn and rewlyde the popule,
52
Then rystede that ryall and helde þe Rounde Tabyll;
53
Suggeourns þat seson to solace hym seluen
54
In Bretayn þe Braddere, as hym beste lykes.
55
Sythyn wente into Wales with his wyes all,
56
Sweys into Swaldye with his snell houndes,
57
For to hunt at þe hartes in thas hye laundes,
58
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In Glamorgan with glee, thare gladchipe was euere.
59
And thare a citée he sette, be assentte of his lordys,
60
That Caerlyon was callid, with curius walles,
61
On the riche reuare þat rynnys so faire,
62
There he myghte semble his sorte to see whenn hym lykede.
63
Thane aftyre at Carlele a Cristynmese he haldes,
64
This ilke kyde conquerour, and helde hym for lorde,
Page 43
65
Wyth dukez and duspers of dyuers rewmes,
66
Erles and ercheuesqes and oþer ynowe,
67
Byschopes and bachelers and banerettes nobill,
68
Þat bowes to his banere, buske when hym lykys.
69
Bot on the Cristynmes Daye, when they were all semblyde,
70
That comlyche conquerour commaundez hym seluyn
71
Þat ylke a lorde sulde lenge and no lefe take
72
To the tende day fully ware takyn to þe ende.
73
Thus on ryall araye he helde his Rounde Table,
74
With semblant and solace and selcouthe metes;
75
Whas neuer syche noblay in no manys tym
76
Mad in mydwynter in þa weste marchys.
77
Lines 78 through 115
Bot on the Newȝere Daye, at þe none euyne,
78
As the bolde at the borde was of brede seruyde,
79
So come in sodanly a senatour of Rome,
80
[folio 54r]
Wyth sexten knyghtes in a soyte, sewande hym one.
81
He saluȝed the souerayne, and the sale aftyr,
82
Ilke a kyng aftyre kyng, and mad his enclines;
83
Gaynour in hir degré he grette as hym lykyde,
84
And syne agayne to þe gome he gaffe vp his nedys:
85
"Sir Lucius Iberius, the Emperour of Rome,
86
Saluz the as sugett, vndyre his sele ryche;
87
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It es credens, Sir Kyng, with cruell wordez;
88
Trow it for no trufles: his targe es to schewe.
89
Now in this Newȝers Daye, with notaries synge,
90
I make the somouns in sale to sue for þi landys,
91
That on Lammesse Daye thare be no lette founden,
92
Þat thow bee redy at Rome with all thi Rounde Table,
93
Appere in his presens with thy price knyghtez,
94
At pryme of the daye, in payne of ȝour lyvys,
95
In þe kydd capytoile, before þe kyng selvyn,
96
When he and his senatours bez sette as them lykes,
97
To ansuere anely why thow ocupyes the laundez
98
That awe homage of alde till hym and his eldyrs;
99
Why thow has redyn and raymede and raunsound þe pople,
100
And kyllyde doun his cosyns, kyngys ennoynttyde;
101
Thare schall thow gyffe rekkynyng for all thy Round Table
102
Why thow arte rebell to Rome and rentez them wytholdez.
Page 44
103
Ȝiff thow theis somouns wythsytte, he sendes thie thies wordes:
104
He sall the seke ouer þe see wyth sexten kynges,
105
Bryne Bretayn þe Brade and bryttyn thy knyghtys,
106
And bryng the bouxsomly as a beste with brethe whare hym lykes,
107
That thow ne schall rowte ne ryste vndyr the heuene ryche,
108
Þofe thow for reddour of Rome ryne to þe erthe;
109
For if thow flee into Fraunce or Freselaund owþer,
110
Þou sall be feched with force and ouersette fore euer!
111
Thy fadyr mad fewtée, we fynde in oure rollez,
112
In the regestre of Rome, who-so ryghte lukez.
113
Withowttyn more trouflyng the trebute we aske
114
That Iulius Cesar wan with his ientill knyghttes."
115
Lines 116 through 165
The Kyng blyschit on the beryn with his brode eghn,
116
Þat full brymly for breth brynte as the gledys,
117
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Keste colours as Kyng, with crouell lates,
118
[folio 54r]
Luked as a lyon, and on his lyppe bytes.
119
The Romaynes for radnesse ruschte to þe erthe,
120
Fore ferdnesse of hys face, as they fey were;
121
Cowchide as kenetez before þe Kyng seluyn:
122
Because of his contenaunce confusede them semede.
123
Then couerd vp a knyghte and criede ful lowde,
124
"Kyng corounede of kynd, curtays and noble,
125
Misdoo no messangere for menske of þi seluyn,
126
Sen we are in thy manrede and mercy þe besekes.
127
We lenge with Sir Lucius, that Lorde es of Rome,
128
That es þe meruelyousteste man þat on molde lengez;
129
It is lefull till vs his likyng till wyrche;
130
We come at his commaundment; haue vs excusede."
131
Then carpys þe Conquerour crewell wordez:
132
"Haa, crauaunde knyghte, a cowarde þe semez!
133
Þare is [supplied by ed.] some segge in this sale, and he ware sare
greuede,
134
Thow durste noghte for all Lumberdye luke on hym ones."
135
"Sir," sais þe Senatour, "so Crist mott me helpe,
136
Þe voute of thi vesage has woundyde vs all!
137
Thow arte þe lordlyeste lede þat euer I one lukyde;
138
By lukyng, withowttyn lesse, a lyon the semys!"
139
"Thow has me somond," quod þe Kyng, "and said what þe lykes;
Page 45
140
Fore sake of thy soueraynge I suffre the þe more;
141
Sen I was [supplied by ed.] coround in kyth, wyth crysum enoyntede,
142
Was neuer creature to me þat carpede so large.
143
Bot I sall tak concell at kynges enoyntede,
144
Off dukes and duspers and doctours noble,
145
Offe peres of þe parlement, prelates and oþer,
146
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Off þe richeste renkys of þe Rounde Table;
147
Þus schall I take avisemente of valiant beryns,
148
Wyrke aftyre the wytte of my wyes knyghttes;
149
To warpe wordez in waste no wyrchip it were,
150
Ne wilfully in þis wrethe to wreken my seluen.
151
Forþi sall þow lenge here and lugge wyth þise lordes,
152
This seuenyghte in solace, to suggourne ȝour horses,
153
To see whatte lyfe þat wee leede in thees lawe laundes,
154
Forby þe realtée of Rome, þat recheste was euere."
155
He command Sir Cayous, "Take kepe to thoos lordez,
156
To styghtyll þa steryn men as theire statte askys,
157
That they bee herberde in haste in thoos heghe chambres,
158
[folio 55r]
Sythin sittandly in sale seruyde theraftyr.
159
That they fynd na fawte of fude to thiere horsez,
160
Nowthire weyn, ne waxe, ne welthe in þis erthe,
161
Spare for no spycerye, bot spende what þe lykys,
162
That there be largesce on lofte and no lake founden.
163
If þou my wyrchip wayte, wy, be my trouthe,
164
Þou sall haue gersoms full grett, that gayne sall þe euere."
165
Lines 166 through 230
Now er they herberde in hey and in oste holden,
166
Hastyly wyth hende men within thees heghe wallez;
167
In chambyrs with chympnes þey chaungen þeire wedez,
168
And sythyn the chauncelere þem fecchede with cheualrye noble.
169
Sone þe Senatour was sett, as hym wele semyde;
170
At þe Kyngez ownn borde twa knyghtes hym seruede,
171
Singulere sothely, as Arthure hym seluyn,
172
Richely on þe ryghte hannde at the Round Table,
173
Be resoun þat þe Romaynes whare so ryche holden,
174
As of þe realeste blode þat reynede in erthe.
175
There come in at þe fyrste course, befor þe Kyng seluen,
176
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Bareheuedys þat ware bryghte, burnyste with syluer,
Page 46
177
All with taghte men and town in togers full ryche,
178
Of saunke reall in suyte, sexty at ones;
179
Flesch fluriste of fermyson with frumentée noble,
180
Therto wylde to wale and wynlyche bryddes,
181
Pacokes and plouers in platers of golde,
182
Pygges of porke despyne þat pasturede neuer,
183
Sythen herons in hedoyne, hyled full faire,
184
Grett swannes full swythe in silueryn chargeours,
185
Tartes of turky—taste wham þem lykys—
186
Gumbaldes grathely, full gracious to taste,
187
Seyne bowes of wylde bores with þe braune lechyde,
188
Bernakes and botures in baterde dysches,
189
Þareby braunchers in brede—bettyr was neuer—
190
With brestez of barowes þat bryghte ware to schewe;
191
Seyn come þer sewes sere, with solace þerafter—
192
Ownd of azure all ouer and ardant þem semyde—
193
Of ilke a leche þe lowe launschide full hye,
194
Þat all ledes myghte lyke þat lukyde þem apon;
195
Þan cranes and curlues craftyly rosted,
196
Connygez in cretoyne, colourede full faire,
197
Fesauntez enflureschit on flammande siluer,
198
With dariells endoride and daynteez ynewe;
199
Þane clarett and creette, clergyally rennen,
200
[folio 55v]
With condethes full curious, all of clene siluyre,
201
Osay an [supplied by ed.] d algarde and oþer ynewe,
202
Rynisch wyne and rochell—richere was neuer—
203
Vernage of Venyce vertuouse and Crete,
204
In faucetez of fyn golde—fonode whoso lykes.
205
The Kyngez cope-borde was closed in siluer,
206
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In grete goblettez ouergylte, glorious of hewe;
207
There was a cheefe buttlere, a cheualere noble,
208
Sir Cayous þe curtaise, þat of þe cowpe seruede:
209
Sexty cowpes of suyte fore þe Kyng seluyn,
210
Crafty and curious, coruen full faire,
211
In euerilk a party pyghte with precyous stones,
212
That nan enpoyson sulde goo preuely þervndyre,
213
Bot þe bryght golde for brethe sulde briste al to peces,
Page 47
214
Or ells þe venym sulde voyde thurghe vertue of þe stones.
215
And the Conquerour hym seluen, so clenly arayede,
216
In colours of clene golde cleede, wyth his knyghttys,
217
Drissid with his dyademe on his deesse ryche,
218
Fore he was demyd þe doughtyeste þat duellyde in erthe.
219
Thane þe Conquerour kyndly carpede to þose lordes,
220
Rehetede þe Romaynes with realle speche:
221
"Sirs, bez knyghtly of contenaunce, and comfurthes ȝour seluyn;
222
We knowe noghte in þis countré of curious metez,
223
In thees barayne landez, bredes none oþer;
224
Forethy, wythowttyn feynyng, enforce ȝow þe more
225
To feede ȝow with syche feble as ȝe before fynde."
226
"Sir," sais þe Senatour, "soo Criste motte me helpe,
227
There ryngnede neuer syche realtee within Rome walles!
228
There ne es prelatte, ne pape, ne prynce in þis erthe,
229
That he ne myghte be wele payede of þees pryce metes."
230
Lines 231 through 287
Aftyre theyre welthe þey wesche and went vnto chambyre,
231
Þis ilke kydde Conquerour, with knyghtes ynewe;
232
Sir Gaywayne þe worthye Dame Waynour he ledys;
233
Sir Owghtreth on the toþer syde, of Turry was lorde.
234
Thane spyces vnsparyly þay spendyde thereaftyre:
235
Maluesye and muskadell, þase meruelyous drynkes,
236
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Raykede full rathely in rossete cowpes,
237
Till all þe riche on rawe, Romaynes and oþer.
238
Bot the soueraingne sothely, for solauce of hym seluen,
239
Assingnyde to þe Senatour certaygne lordes,
240
To lede to his leueré, whene he leue askes,
241
With myrthe and with melodye of mynstralsy noble.
242
Thane þe Conquerour to concell cayres thereaftyre,
243
Wyth lordes of his lygeaunce þat to hym selfe langys;
244
To þe geauntes toure iolily he wendes,
245
Wyth justicez and iuggez and gentill knyghtes.
246
[folio 56r]
Sir Cador of Cornewayle to þe Kyng carppes,
247
Lughe on hym luffly with lykande lates:
248
"I thanke Gode of þat thraa þat vs þus thretys!
249
Ȝow moste be traylede, I trowe, bot ȝife ȝe trett bettyre.
250
Þe lettres of Sir Lucius lyghttys myn herte!
Page 48
251
We hafe as losels liffyde many longe daye,
252
Wyth delyttes in this land with lordchipez many,
253
And forelytenede the loos þat we are layttede;
254
I was abaischite, be oure Lorde, of oure beste bernes,
255
Fore gret dule of deffuse of dedez of armes.
256
Now wakkenyse þe were! Wyrchipide be Cryste!
257
And we sall wynn it aga [supplied by ed.] yne be wyghtnesse and
strenghe!"
258
"Sir Cadour," quod þe Kyng, "thy concell es noble;
259
Bot þou arte a meruailous man with thi mery wordez;
260
For thow countez no caas, ne castes no forthire,
261
Bot hurles furthe appon heuede, as thi herte thynkes.
262
I moste trette of a trew towchande þise nedes,
263
Talke of thies tythdands þat tenes myn herte:
264
Þou sees þat þe Emperour es angerde a lyttill;
265
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Yt semes be his sandismen þat he es sore greuede;
266
His senatour has sommonde me and said what hym lykyde,
267
Hethely in my hall, wyth heynȝous wordes,
268
In speche disspyszede me and sparede me lyttill—
269
I myght noghte speke for spytte, so my herte trymblyde!
270
He askyde me tyrauntly tribute of Rome,
271
That tenefully tynt was in tym of myn elders,
272
There alyenes, in absence of all men of armes,
273
Couerd it of comons, as cronicles telles.
274
I have title to take tribute of Rome;
275
Myne ancestres ware emperours and aughte it þem seluen,
276
Belyn and Brene and Bawdewyne the Thyrde;
277
They ocupyede þe Empyre aughte score wynnttyrs,
278
Ilkane ayere aftyre oþer, as awlde men telles;
279
Thei couerde þe capitoile and keste doun þe walles,
280
Hyngede of þeire heddys-men by hundrethes at ones.
281
Seyn Constantyne, our kynsmane, conquerid it aftyre,
282
Þat ayere was of Ynglande and Emperour of Rome,
283
He þat conquerid þe crosse be craftez of armes
284
That Criste was on crucifiede, þat Kyng es of Heuen.
285
Thus hafe we euydens to aske þe Emperour þe same,
286
That þus regnez at Rome, whate ryghte þat he claymes."
287
Lines 288 through 303
Þan answarde Kyng Aungers to Arthure hym seluyn,
Page 49
288
"Thow aughte to be ouerlynge ouer all oþer kynges,
289
[folio 56v]
Fore wyseste and worthyeste and wyghteste of hanndes,
290
The knyghtlyeste of counsaile þat euer coron bare;
291
I dare saye fore Scottlande þat we them schathe lympyde:
292
When þe Romaynes regnede þay raunsound oure eldyrs,
293
And rade in theire ryotte and rauyschett oure wyfes,
294
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Description:Now grett glorious Godd, thurgh grace of Hym seluen, 1. And the precyous prayere of Hys prys Modyr, 2. Schelde vs fro schamesdede and synfull
