The Lyfe of Ipomydon by Hue de Rotelande
Author: Unknown
Date: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Corpus of Middle English Prose and VerseTitle:The Lyfe of Ipomydon Author:Hue de Rotelande

Editor:Tadahiro Ikegami

Date:1983

Publisher: Seijo University

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The Lyfe of Ipomydon
folio 54r

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1 Mekely, lordyngis, gentyll and fre,

2 Lystene a while and herken to me.

3 I shall you telle of a kynge,

4 A dowghty man, withowte lesynge.

5 In his tyme he was full bolde,

6 A worthy man and wele of-tolde.

7 Feyre he was on fote and hand

8 And wele belouyd in all that lande,

9 Off body he was styffe and stronge,

10 And to no man he wold do wronge.

11 Of Poyle-lond lord was he,

12 Gold and syluer he had plente,

13 Hye and low louyd hym alle,

14 Moche honoure to hym was falle.

15 Hys name was kynge Ermones,

16 He hated wronge and louyd pees.

17 His quene was bothe bryght and shene, 18 Moche goodnesse was hem bytwene.

19 To God they preyd after an eyre:

20 He sent theym one, bothe good and feyre.

21 Feyre he was of flesshe and blode,

22 They thangkyd God with myld mode.

23 To chyrche they bare the chyld thanne 24 And Crystenyd hym Ipomydon.

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25 Till a noryce they dyd hym take

26 And for ţat chyld grete joy they make.

27 Many ladyes toke they [added in MS ] hym to eme, 28 That serued all ţat chyld to queme.

29 The childe was feyre and waxe withall 30 And playd in chamber and in halle.

31 The kynge of hym had joy plente,

32 A feyrer child myght no man see.

33 He lette calle a knyght full trew,

34 That namyd was syr Tholomew.

35 He was a knyght of grete pouste

36 And well bylouyd in that contre

37 Bothe of more and of lesse,

38 For hym folowyd all goodnesse.

39 Curteyse he was and hend of mouthe,

40 Of norture, iwys, myche he couthe,

41 That lordys vsyd in there halle

42 And ladyes in chamber grete and smalle.

43 Hermones sayd in his manere:

44 “I haue a sonne ţat me ys dere,

45 That shall be eyre of all my lande.

46 I wille ye haue hym to vndyrstand

47 And to teche hym in all manere,

48 Lyke as he thyne owne were.’

49 “Sir,’ quod ţis knyght, myld of speche, 50 “Wold God I cowthe your sonne teche

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51 Thyng that myght torne hym to prow.’

52 Ipomydon resseyueth he now.

53 Tholomew, a clerke he toke,

54 That taught the child vppon ţe boke

55 Bothe to synge and to rede,

56 And after he taught hym other dede;

57 Aftirward to serve in halle

58 Bothe to grete and to smalle,

59 Before the kyng mete to kerve,

60 Hye and low feyre to serve,

61 Bothe of howndis and haukis game.

62 Aftir he taught hym all and same

63 In se, in feld and eke in ryuere,

64 In wodde to chase the wild dere

65 And in the feld to ryde a stede,

66 That all men had joy of his dede.

67 All ţat lond of hym spake good,

68 For he was so myld of mode;

69 Hende he was, curteyse and fre,

folio 55r

70 A godelyer man myght no man see.

71 They preysed hym, bothe more and lesse, 72 Bothe man and woman, as I gesse.

73 All lovyd hym ţat were hym by,

74 For he bare hym so curtessely.

75 Now is he waxen a goodly man,

76 To all godnesse he yaff hym than.

77 He ys a myghty man, for the nonys,

78 And wele ishape with grete bonys.

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79 In all that contre was there none,

80 To hym myght cast ţe tre ne stone.

81 The kyng of hym grete joy had,

82 For all folke of hym were glad.

83 Every yere the kyng wold

84 At Whytsontyde a fest hold.

85 Off dukis, erlis and barons,

86 Many there come frome dyuers townes; 87 Ladyes, maydens, gentill and fre,

88 Come thedyr frome ferre contre,

89 And grete lordis of ferre lond

90 Thedyr were prayd byfore the hand.

91 When all were come togedyr than,

92 There was joy of many a man,

93 Full riche I wote were hyr service,

94 For better myght no man devyse.

95 Ipomydon ţat day servyd in halle,

96 All spake of hym, bothe grete and smalle, 97 Ladies and maydens byheld hym on,

98 So godely a man they had sene none.

99 His feyre chere in halle theym smert, 100 That many a lady smote throw the hert, 101 And in there hertis they made mone, 102 That there lordis ne were suche one.

103 Aftyr mete they went to pley,

104 All the peple, as I you sey,

105 Somme to chambre and som to boure,

106 And somme to the hye towre,

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107 And somme in the halle stode

108 And spake what hem thought gode.

109 Men that were of that cyte

110 Enquered of men of other contre,

111 Of Calabre-lond who was kynge,

112 And som answerd to [t]his askynge:

113 “He ys dede sythe many a day,

114 And byhynde he lefte a feyre may

115 That ys his doughter and his eyre.

116 In all ţat lond is non so feyre,

117 And so sayne all ţat hyr do see,

118 She is ţe feyreste ţat may bee.

119 For, thoughe a man wold all ţis day 120 Hyr beaute discryve, he coude not sey 121 All hyr worshyp ne hyr porture;

122 She is a lady of grete honoure.

123 In all ţis world is non so wyse

124 That hir goodnesse kan devyse.

125 Kyngis and dukes comethe hyr to seke, 126 And so done emperoures eke,

127 And wold haue ţat mayde to wyfe,

128 But she will non ţat is on lyffe,

129 But he doughtyeste be of hande,

130 That suche on is non lyvande.’

131 This word sprange wyde withall,

132 Bothe in chambre and in halle,

133 Of the eyre of Calabre, ţat feyre may, 134 Ipomydon he herkenyd ay;

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135 Bothe in chambre and in boure

136 Men spake ţat lady grete honowre.

137 There was none ţat speke couthe,

138 But they the lady had in mouthe.

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139 Ipomydon drew hym nye tho

140 And ofte he herkenyd to and fro;

141 When he herd of hir so speke,

folio 56r

142 Hym thought his herte wold tobreke, 143 But if he myght se ţat mayde,

144 To wete if she were as they seyde;

145 Off hyr he had suche a thoght

146 That in mornyng he was broght,

147 And so he mornythe nyght and day,

148 But yit to no man wold he sey.

149 By than come forthe syr Tholomew,

150 That was hys master good and trewe.

151 “Gode syr,’ he sayd, “for charyte,

152 Telle me who hathe grevyd the,

153 And why thou makyst ţis mornynge.

154 I swere by Jesu, heuyn-kynge,

155 He shall abye on somme manere,

156 But if it be thy fader dere.’

157 “Nay, master,’ he sayd, “not soo.

158 I shalle you telle or that I go,

159 But if I haue the helpe of the

160 Joye thou getest neuyr of me,

161 For now to you, syr, I will sey:

162 Myne hert ys sette vppon a may,

163 That she may nevir oute of my thoght, Page 7

164 But I hyr se I worthe to noght.

165 The eyre of Calabre forsothe it is, 166 That men speke of so myche blysse;

167 But if I may ţat lady serve,

168 For care and sorow my hert wille sterve!’

169 Tholomew sayd, “Lette be this wille!

170 Thynke ye now youreselfe to spille?

171 Ye ar the kynges son and hys eyre,

172 And may haue maryages gode and feyre; 173 There ys no man in Crystente

174 Ţat richer maryages may haue ţan ye!’

175 “Master, these wordis avaylethe noght; 176 But if I do as I haue thoght,

177 And to hyr go, as I you saye,

178 I dye for hyr withoute deley!’

179 Sir Tholomew sayd, “Sythe it is so, 180 That ye may not hyr forgo,

181 I shall go vnto the kynge

182 And gete you leve, withoute lettynge, 183 That ye may go, sir, at your wille, 184 And se the mayden all youre fille.’

185 Sir Tholomew forthe gan goo,

186 And to ţe kynge he went tho;

187 Vppon his knees he hym sette

188 And the kyng full feyre he grette:

189 “Sir, of one thyng I you prey,

190 Besechyng you to sey not nay,

191 Off your sonne, Ipomydon,

192 For he thynkith to be a man:

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193 Off youre courte and youre norture

194 He hathe wele lernyd, I you ensure; 195 He wold wend into strange contre

196 More in service for to bee;

197 So that ye take it not at greffe,

198 Full feyne he wolde prey you of leffe, 199 And I shall make me redy

200 To wend with hym in companye

201 And serve hym as his owne knyght

202 And honoure hym with all my myght.’

203 Than seyd Hermones the kynge:

204 “Iff this be his owne desyrynge

205 I am well payed of his wille,

206 For his askyng I hold skille;

207 And now I wote thou arte my frend

208 Sithe ţat thow wilt with hym wend;

209 Take you inough of all thynge

210 And loke ye wante no spendynge!’

211 Sir Tholomew forthe gan goo

212 And to Ipomydon come he tho,

213 And sayd, “Syr, withoute lesynge,

214 Your fadir hathe grantid youre askynge; 215 He bad ţat ye nothyng shuld spare,

216 And myself shall with you fare.’

folio 57r

217 “I pray God thanke you, master dere, 218 That ye me love I may se here.’

219 Than they busked theym to goo,

220 Horse they toke and harnesse also;

221 Off all thynge they wantid none.

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222 Now to his fader the child is gone; 223 On knees he felle byfore the kynge

224 And prayd hym of his dere blissynge: 225 “That blissyng haue ţou, my sonne trew, 226 That Marye gaff hyr sonne Jesu.’

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227 Now they go forthe on hir way;

228 Ipomydon to hys men gan sey

229 That ther be none of hem alle

230 So hardy by hys name hym calle

231 Whereso they wend ferre or nere,

232 Or ouer the strange ryuere:

233 “Ne no man telle what I am,

234 Where I shall go ne whens I cam.’

235 All they granted his comandement,

236 And forthe they went with one assent.

237 Ipomydon and Tholomew

238 Robys had on and mantillis new

239 Off the richest ţat myght bee;

240 There was none [added in MS ] suche in that contre, 241 For many was the ryche stone

242 That the mantillis were vppon.

243 So longe there weys they haue nome

244 That to Calabre they ar come.

245 They come to the castelle yate,

246 Ţe porter was redy thereat;

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247 The porter to theyme they gan calle 248 And prayd hym go into ţe halle:

249 “And say thy lady gent and fre

250 That comen ar men of ferre contre,

251 And if it plese hyr we wold hyr prey 252 That we myght ete with hyr to-day.’

253 The porter sayd full cortessly:

254 “Your erand to do I am redy.’

255 The lady to hyr mete was sette,

256 The porter come and feyre hyr grette: 257 “Madame,’ he sayd, “God you saue.

258 Atte your gate gestis ye haue,

259 Strange men as for to see;

260 They aske mete for charyte.’

261 The lady comaundith sone anon

262 Ţat the gates were vndone:

263 “And bryng theym all byfore me,

264 For wele at ese shall they bee.’

265 They toke hyr pagis, hors and alle.

266 Ţese two men went into ţe halle;

267 Ipomydon on knees hym sette

268 And the lady feyre he grette:

269 “I am a man of strange contre

270 And pray you, yff your wille to be, 271 That I myght dwelle with you to-yere, 272 Of your norture for to lere.

273 I am come frome ferre lond,

274 For speche I here byfore the hand

275 That your norture and your servise

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276 Ys holden of so grete empryse.

277 I pray you ţat I may dwelle here,

278 Somme of your seruyse for to lere.’

279 The lady byheld Ipomydon,

280 Hym semyd wele a gentilman;

281 She knew non suche in hyr londe,

282 So goodly a man and wele farand;

283 She saw also by his norture

284 He was a man of grete valure.

285 She cast full sone in hyr thoght

286 That for no seruyce come he noght,

287 But it was worship hyr vnto,

288 In feyre seruyce hym to do.

folio 58r

289 She sayd, “Syr, welcome ye be,

290 And all ţat comyn be with the.

291 Sithe ye haue had so grete travayle, 292 Of a service ye shall not fayle.

293 In thys contre ye may dwelle here

294 And at youre wyll for to lere;

295 Of ţe cuppe ye shall serue me,

296 And all your men with you shal be.

297 Ye may dwelle here at youre wille

298 But your beryng be full ylle.’

299 “Madame,’ he sayd, “grantmercy!’

300 He thankid the lady cortesly;

301 She comandyth hym to ţe mete,

302 But, or he satte in any sete,

303 He saluted theym, grete and smalle, 304 As a gentillman shuld in halle;

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305 All they sayd sone anone,

306 They saw neuyr so goodly a man,

307 No so light ne so glad,

308 Ne none ţat so ryche atyre had.

309 There was non ţat sat nore yede,

310 But they had mervelle of hys dede,

311 And sayd he was no lytell syre

312 That myght shew suche atyre.

313 Whan they had ete and grace sayd

314 And ţe tabyll away was leyd,

315 Vpp ţan aroos Ipomydon,

316 And to ţe botery he went anon,

317 And his mantille hym aboute;

318 On hym lokyd all the route

319 And euery man sayd to other there:

320 “Will ye se ţe proude squeer

321 Shall serue my lady of ţe wyne

322 In his mantell ţat is so fyne!’

323 That they hym scornyd wist he noght, 324 On othyr thyng he had his thoght.

325 He toke ţe cuppe of ţe botelere

326 And drew a lace of sylke full clere, 327 Adowne than felle hys mantylle by.

328 He prayd hym for his curtessy

329 That lytelle yifte ţat he wold nome, 330 Tille eftesone a better come.

331 Vp it toke the botelere,

332 Byfore the lady he gan it bere

333 And prayd the lady hertely

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334 To thanke hym of his cortessye.

335 All that was tho in the halle

336 Grete honowre they spake hym alle,

337 And sayd he was no lytelle man

338 That suche yiftys yiffe kan.

339 There he dwellyd many a day

340 And servid the lady wele to pay;

341 He bare hym on so feyre manere

342 To knyghtis, ladyes and squyere,

343 All louyd hym ţat were hym by,

344 For he bare hym so cortesly.

345 Tne lady had a cosyne ţat hight Jason, 346 Full wele he louyd Ipomydon;

347 Where ţat he yede in or oute,

348 Jason went with hym aboute.

349 The lady lay but she slept noght,

350 For of the squyere she had grete thoght, 351 How he was feyre and shape wele,

352 Body and armes and euerydele;

353 Ther was non in all hir land

354 So wele besemyd, doughty of hand;

355 But she kowde wete for no case,

356 Whens he come ne what he was,

357 Ne of no man cowde enquere

358 Other than the strange squyere.

359 She hyr bythought on a queyntyse

360 If she myght know in ony wyse,

361 To wete whereof he were come;

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362 Thys was hyr thoght all and somme;

folio 59r

363 She thought to wode hyr men to ta[n]e, 364 That she myght know hym by his game.

365 On the morow whan it was day,

366 To hyr men than gan she say:

367 “To-morow whan it is day-lyght,

368 Loke ye be all redy dight

369 With youre h[ou]ndis more and lesse, 370 In the forest to take my grese,

371 And there I will myselfe be,

372 Youre game to byhold and see.’

373 Ipomydon had houndis thre

374 That he broght frome his contre;

375 When they were to ţe wodde gone,

376 This lady and hyr men ichone,

377 And with hem hyr howndis ladde,

378 All that euyr any howndis had,

379 Sir Tholomew foryate he noght,

380 His mastres howndis thedyr he broght, 381 That many a day ne had ronne ere;

382 Full wele he thoght to note hem there.

383 Whan they come to ţe laund on hight, 384 The quenys pavylon there was pight

385 That she myght se of the best,

386 All ţe game of ţe forest.

387 The wandlessours went ţrow ţe forest 388 And to ţe lady brought many a best, Page 15

389 Herte and hynde, buk and doo

390 And othir bestis many moo.

391 The howndis ţat were of grete prise, 392 Pluckid downe dere all at a tryse,

393 Ipomydon with his houndis thoo

394 Drew downe bothe buk and doo;

395 More he toke with howndis thre

396 Than all ţat othyr compaigne.

397 There squyers vndyd hyr dere,

398 Iche man on his owne manere;

399 Ipomydon a dere yede vnto,

400 Full konnyngly gan he it vndo,

401 So feyre ţat veneson he gan to dight 402 That bothe hym byheld squyer and knyght; 403 The lady lokyd oute of hyr pavyloun 404 And saw hym dight the venyson,

405 There she had grete deynte,

406 And so had all ţat dyd hym see.

407 She sawe all ţat he downe droughe,

408 Of huntyng she wist he cowde inoughe 409 And thoght in hyr herte than,

410 That he was come of gentillmen.

411 She bad Jason hyr men to calle;

412 Home ţay passyd, grete and smalle,

413 Home they come sone anone.

414 This lady to hyr mete gan gone

415 And of venery had hyr fille,

416 For they had take game at wille.

417 Ipomydon serued, as I vndirstand,

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418 As he was wonte done byforehand.

419 “Sir,’ she sayd, “san fayle,

420 Ye haue bene in grete travayle.

421 Anothyr man, as I you say,

422 Shall serue me at mete ţis day;

423 Go to youre mete sone on hye,

424 My cosyn Jason shall sytte you by.’

425 The ladyes hert was on hym cast

426 And she byheld hym wondir fast,

427 Euer on hym she kest hyr eye,

428 Ipomydon full wele it sye.

429 Anone it gaff hym in his thoght,

430 To loke ageyne lette wold he noght, 431 Nor no more coward thoght he to be

folio 60r

432 Off his lokyng than was she.

433 The lady perseyued it full wele,

434 Of all his lokyng euerydele,

435 And therewith bygan to shame,

436 For she myght lightly falle in blame; 437 If men perseyued it ony thyng,

438 Bytwyxe hem two suche lokynge,

439 Than wold they sey all bydene

440 That somme loue were hem bytwene;

441 Ţan shuld she falle in slandre

442 And lese myche of hyr honoure.

443 She thoght to werne hym preuely

444 By hyr cosyn ţat sat hym by.

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445 “Jason,’ she sayd, “ţou art to blame, 446 And therwith the ought to shame

447 To byhold my mayd in vayne.

448 Euery man to othyr wille seyne

449 That bytwyx you ys somme synne;

450 Of thy lokyng I rede ţou blynne.’

451 Ipomydon hym bythoght anone

452 How ţat she blamyd Jason

453 Withoute deservyng euerydele,

454 But the encheson he perseyued wele; 455 Downe he lokyd and thoght grete shame 456 That Jason bare for hym ţat blame;

457 Stille he satte and sayd no more

458 He thoght to dwelle no lenger there.

459 As the lady hyr chambre had tane,

460 Byfore hyr come Ipomydon

461 And sayd, “Madame, God yeld it the, 462 The grete honoure ţou haste done me.

463 Haue good day, now wille I fare

464 Into ţe contre ţat I was are.’

465 “Felaw,’ she sayd, “chese at ţi wille 466 Whether ţou wilt wend or abyde stille.’

467 He went anone into the halle

468 And toke his leue of grete and smalle, 469 Bothe at lesse and at more,

470 And they thoght thereof ryght sore.

471 To Jason he wendith anone-ryght

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472 And takith hys leve with hert vnlyght; 473 Than sayd Jason on hye:

474 “Leve syr, leve this folye

475 And with my lady ţou dwelle here,

476 She louythe the in all manere.

477 Iff thow wende forth in this wille, 478 For sorow she wille hyrelf spylle.’

479 “Jason, felow, lett be thy thoght.

480 Lenger dwelle here ne wille I noght, 481 For I shall wende home to my kynge

482 And leve you here with all joyinge.’

483 “My dere frend, sythe it is so

484 That thou wilt algatis goo,

485 Yeve me leve with the to wend

486 Into what contre ţat ţou wilt lend, 487 I wold full fayne do it in dede.’

488 “Grantmercy, syr, God yif the mede.

489 With me hedyr come ye noght.

490 Ne shall with me but that I broght.’

491 He toke hys leve at Jason there

492 And went forthe ellyswhere.

493 Whan the lady wist ţat he was gone, 494 A sory woman ţan was she oon;

495 Vppon hyr bedde she gan hyr ley

496 And to hyrself than gan she say:

497 “There is not suche a man in lande, 498 If he be doughty of his hand,

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499 As he is of body to see,

500 Of what lond that euyr he bee.’

501 “Allas,’ she sayd, “and welleaway,

502 That for a word he went away!

503 Had men sought all mankynde,

folio 61r

504 A feyrer body shuld no man fynde.’

505 This lady ţat was of ryche blode,

506 That nyght she cowde but lytell gode, 507 That she shuld suche mone make

508 For a strange mannys sake,

509 That no man wist what he was;

510 But yit she sayd ofte, “Allas,

511 For suche is none in Crystente,

512 Full wele hym semeth a knyght to be!’

513 Thus she comforted hyr amonge

514 And ofte she felle in mornyng stronge.

515 Ipomydon went, as ye may here,

516 Byhynde he lefte a messyngere

517 For to brynge hym tythyngis newe,

518 Iff there were any that he knewe;

519 What they were he shuld hym brynge, 520 And that anon, withoute lettynge,

521 The land of Poyle he hathe nome

522 And to ţe kyng, his fader, ys come

523 And to ţe quene, his modyr dere,

524 For hym they made ryght glad chere.

525 Curteyse he was, bothe stoute and bolde, 526 And myche in land he was of-tolde;

527 All men hym louyd, suche was his grace.

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528 Of chyld Ipomydon here is a space.

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529 They were togedyr many yere,

530 With myche myrth and game in fere;

531 The kyng his sonne knyght gan make, 532 And many another for his sake.

533 Justes were cryed, ladyes to see,

534 Thedyr come lordys grete plente,

535 Turnementis atyred in the felde,

536 A thousand armed with spere and shelde.

537 Knyghtis bygan togedir to ryde,

538 Somme were vnhorsyd on euery syde.

539 Ipomydon ţat day was victoryus

540 And there he gaff many a cours,

541 For there was non that he mette,

542 And his spere on hym wold sette,

543 That aftir within a lytell stounde

544 Hors and man bothe went to ground.

545 The heraudes gaff ţe child ţe gree, 546 A thousand pownd he had to fee.

547 Mynstrellys had yiftes of golde,

548 And fourty dayes ţys fest was holde.

549 Off the eyre of Calabre here will I telle, 550 And of hyr baronage fayre and well, 551 How that they had at counselle bene 552 And of assent was theym bytwene

553 Ţat here lady shuld take an husband 554 To gouerne theyme and all there land, Page 21

555 Bycause she was of yong age.

556 To hyr come all hyr baronage

557 And sayd, “Madame, we wille you pray 558 That we myght oure will sey.

559 Youre lond thynkyth ye do theyme wronge 560 Withowte kyng to dwelle so longe,

561 That myght gouerne ţis land so feyre, 562 And bytwyxe you gete an eyre,

563 And hold ţis land in right blode.’

564 The lady answerd with myld mode:

565 “Your counseyle ys gode euerychone, 566 But husband yit will I haue none.’

567 They toke leve and wente here way

568 And bytaught the lady gode day.

569 To counselle new than gon they gone 570 And full sone they were at one,

571 To kyng Melliager, hyr eme, they went 572 And told hym of the ladyes entent:

573 For an husband ţey had bene at hyrre, 574 And she yaff theym lyght answere.

575 Furthe they went, withoute lettyng, 576 To the land there he was kynge.

577 Kynge Melliager sone they found
folio 62r

578 And anone they knelyd to ground,

579 Praying hym as lord dere

580 That he wold here prayer here;

581 They told hym all togedyr nowe

582 What ţat they had done and howe,

583 And suche answere she yaffe theyme tylle, Page 22

584 Husband to haue she had no wille:

585 “Wherefore, lord, we wold you prey, 586 For we wote wele ţat ye best may

587 Councelle wele oure lady nowe,

588 As best may be the remes prowe.’

589 “Lordyngis,’ he sayd, “withoutyn fayle, 590 I assent vnto your conce[y]lle,

591 For to my cosyn will I goo

592 And make hyr, or I wend hyr fro,

593 Me to graunt husband to take,

594 Or clene my love she shall forsake.’

595 Than they thankyd the kynge so free 596 And went home to theyre contre.

597 Kyng Mellyager to his cosyn ys gone, 598 And she hym welcomyd feyre anon,

599 And of his comyng she was glad,

600 And moche joye [added in MS ] of hym she made.

601 Whan they had take hyr sporte in halle, 602 The kynge to counselle gan hyr calle 603 And sayd, “Dere cosyn, here my wille: 604 An husband must ye take you tylle,

605 The whiche may of ţis land by kynge, 606 And gouerne it in all thynge;

607 For no woman may take on hand,

608 Wele to gouerne suche a land.’

609 “Sir,’ she sayd, “ye be of my blode, 610 I hold your counselle feyre and good Page 23

611 And aftir it feyne wold I doo,

612 As most worship may be me to;

613 But sythe ţat I haue husband shalle, 614 Do make crye vndir ţis castell walle, 615 Justes there thre dayes to laste,

616 And who ţat there may bere hym best 617 And that doughtyest ys of hande

618 Shall wedde me and all this lande.

619 Syr, loke ye crye, withoute delaye, 620 By halfe yere afore the day,

621 That it be know ferre and nere,

622 On what day it shall be here.’

623 Now thynkith this feyre may

624 On the strange squyer nyght and day: 625 “If he be suche as I hym holde,

626 Also doughty and so bolde,

627 For me than he wille be here

628 And wynne me in all manere.’

629 Heraudes were callyd in hye,

630 Thrughe the land to make the crye;

631 This crye was knowen ouerall,

632 In all the land grete and smalle.

633 Ipomydons messyngere anone

634 Home to Poyle gan he gone;

635 The crye he vndyrstode wele

636 And told his maister euerydele.

637 Ipomydon in hert was full glad,

638 Whan that he the tythyngis herd;

Page 24

639 He callyd his maister Tholomewe,

640 That euer was full gode and trewe,

641 And sayd, “Syr, make vs redy,

642 For into Calabre now will I!’

643 He purveyd hym thre noble stedis

644 And also thre noble wedys;

645 That one was white as any mylke,

646 The trappure of hym was white sylke; 647 Ţat other was rede, bothe styffe and stoure, 648 The trappure was of ţe same coloure; 649 Blake ţan was ţat othir stede,

650 The same coloure was his wede.

651 Thre greyhondis with hym he ladde,

652 The best ţat his fader had,

folio 63r

653 Rede and whyte and blake they were.

654 Whan he was dight in this manere,

655 With hym he toke a feyre may,

656 And went forthe on his jorney;

657 Into Seseney the wey they nome.

658 Within the lond whan ţat he come,

659 He bad Tholomew take his stedys,

660 All his men and all his wedys:

661 “And take your inne in the cyte

662 By nyght ţat no man you see.

663 Lette no man se theyme nyght ne day, 664 But them ţat shall here mete ley.’

Page 25

665 Hys owne wey forthe he nome

666 Vnto a forest tyll ţat he come;

667 There huntyd kyng Mellyager in ţat forest, 668 Atte hert and hynd and wyld beste;

669 Ipomydon mette with a knyght

670 And askyd hym anone-right

671 Who that grete lord was,

672 That in the forest made ţe chase.

673 The knyght sayd, “Yff ye will here, 674 It ys the kynge Mellyagere

675 That thus huntithe here besyde.’

676 Ipomydon vnto ţe kynge gan ryde

677 And saluted hym as a kyng dere,

678 He welcomyd hym on feyre manere.

679 He prayd the kynge if it were his wille, 680 A lytelle stounde to stonde stille

681 And here the speche of a knyght;

682 The kynge hym grauntid anone-right.

683 “I am a knyght, as ye may see,

684 And come I am frome ferre contre,

685 For nobley of you I haue herd telle; 686 All my desyre ys with you to dwelle, 687 In youre contre to be here,

688 The maner of ţis land to lere.’

689 The kynge byheld ţe knyght than,

690 Hym thoght he was a godely man:

691 “In all this land, bothe ferre and mere, 692 Ys none so feyre a bachelere.’

Page 26

693 “Sir knyght,’ he sayd in feyre manere, 694 “Gladly shall ye dwellyn here.’

695 Ipomydon sayd, “I shall you telle,

696 At this couenant wold I dwelle;

697 Full fayne I wold be redy bowne

698 To lede your quene bothe vp and downe, 699 Fro hyr chambre to hyr halle,

700 And my leman I wold hyr calle;

701 My mayden ţat is of honoure

702 Shall dwelle in ţe quenys boure;

703 At euery terme ţat I hyr lede,

704 A kusse of ţe quene shall be my mede.

705 I will no more for my servyse.’

706 The kyng anone, withoute avyse,

707 Thoght he come for othyr thynge,

708 And grantyd hym his askynge.

709 Anone the kyng lefte his game,

710 Home they rode bothe insame

711 And to ţe quene ţe covenantys seyd.

712 “As ye haue done, I hold me payd.’

713 There he dwellyd many a day

714 With myche myrthe, game and play;

715 Full feyre he dyd his servyse

716 And servyd ţe quene at hyr devyse;

717 Where ţat she went, in boure or halle, 718 The quene his leman dyd he calle.

719 So it befelle vppon a day

720 That to ţe justes men dyd hem araye; Page 27

721 Thedyr wold kyng Mellyagere

722 With all the knyghtis ţat with hym were: folio 64r

723 Sir Campanyus, ţat good knyght,

724 In all ţat lond was none so wight,

725 And sir Caymys, ţe kyngis steward,

726 A doughty knyght and no coward.

727 The kynge sayd to sir Ipomydon,

728 That callyd was the quenys lemman,

729 As he mette hym in the halle:

730 “The tyme ys come ţat juste we shalle; 731 Dight you now, go we oure way!

732 I wote ye thynke to wynne ţe may.’

733 And he answerd with myld chere:

734 “Who shuld ţan serve my lady dere?

735 For certis of justes can I noght,

736 To serve my lady is all my thoght.

737 If I hyr lefte for other dede,

738 I were not worthy to haue my mede.’

739 The kynge hym turnyd ţan away

740 And to his knyghtis gan he say:

741 “So feyre a body as bereth hee,

742 Allas, a coward ţat he shuld be!’

743 Campanyus and all ţat stode hym by

744 Bymenyd that knyght curtesly;

745 They toke there leve at ţe quene

746 And wente forthe all bydene,

747 Vnto Calabre they toke ţe way,

Page 28

748 There they shuld just ţat other day.

749 Leve we theyme at ţe justynge

750 And talke we now of other thynge,

[Line group 6]

751 Off Ipomydon and ţe lady shene

752 That was at home with ţe quene.

753 Whan tyme come ţey shuld to mete,

754 Ipomydon brought hir to hyr sete;

755 Into the halle whan he hyr broght,

756 To take hys cusse forgate he noght.

757 Whan she had etyn, to chambre she wente, 758 Ipomydon to the quene he wente:

759 “To-morow, madame, I wold you pray, 760 With leve of you, whan yt is day,

761 Go to ţe forest to take a dere.

762 My greyhondes ranne not ţis quartere; 763 Whyle my lord ys at ţe justynge,

764 My greyhoundis I wold feyne se rennynge.

765 O thyng, madame, I wold you pray:

766 If I come not be tyme of day,

767 Whan ye se tyme, to mete ye wend,

768 For I wote neuyr how long I lend.’

769 “Sir,” she sayd, “God you spede.’

770 He kyssyd hyr and forthe he yede.

771 Ipomydon callyd his master than,

772 Sir Tholomew, that noble man:

773 “To my hostage ye go by nyght,

774 My white stede, loke he be dight,

775 And with the armure hedyr ye brynge Page 29

776 To-morow, or the day sprynge.

777 Hye you oute at ţe castelle yate

778 And frome all syght kepe you allgate.’

779 Ipomydon went to ţe portere

780 And prayd hym, if his wille were,

781 The yate myght by opyn or day;

782 Ţe porter grantyd hym and toke hym ţe key, 783 And at ţe fryst cokke roose hee;

784 Furthe he went with greyhondis thre, 785 In a lesshe he dyd hem do

786 And blew a grete horne also;

787 He blew lowde and shoke it wele

788 That it ronge all ţe castelle.

789 The maydenys to ţe quene gan say:

790 “Youre lemman gothe to wynne ţe may.’

folio 65r

791 The quene answerd, withoute lettynge: 792 “All men konne not of justynge.

793 Thoughe he kanne not of suche dedys, 794 He may be gode at other nedis.’

795 Ipomydon is to Tholomew gone

796 And toke hym hys houndis euerychon.

797 He prayd hym, as his maister dere,

798 To note theyme wele in all manere,

799 And with the flesshe kepe theym in place, 800 There ţat theyre stevyn sette was.

801 He sayd, “God spede ţe, lord dere!

802 Thereto I shall do my deuere.’

803 Ipomydon went forthe and his page

Page 30

804 Till he came to an ermytage;

805 He lokyd forthe and byheld,

806 many a knyght he saw in feld.

807 Iche to other fast gan ryde

808 With grete sperys on iche syde.

809 He toke his spere anone-ryght

810 And lepte on his stede so light;

811 In he come amonge hem alle,

812 Throw the clowdis as he had falle;

813 The fryst knyght he gan to ryde

814 With a spere, ţat wold abyde,

815 In-myddis the sheld he sette his spere, 816 That hors and man he gan downe bere.

817 Anothir knyght he mette also,

818 That his bakke tobrast in two;

819 The thryd he sloughe, withoute lettynge, 820 The fourthe wente into ţe same rynge.

821 There was no knyght ţat he mette,

822 Ţat wold hys spere on hym sette,

823 But if his spere all tobrakke,

824 He wold hym to ţe ground shake.

825 The lady lay ouer ţe castell walle

826 And byheld ţe justis alle;

827 She sent speres white and blake

828 To all men ţat wold hem take.

829 Jason she sent vnto ţe knyght

830 That in white harneise was dight,

831 To bere hym sperys at his nede;

832 She thoght hym worthiest of dede,

Page 31

833 And every man till othir gan saye,

834 He was ţe manlyest there ţat day.

835 Than all ţe peple homeward went

836 And Jason to ţe knyght hym bente,

837 Praying hym, “As lord dere,

838 Come home here to thyne owne manere, 839 For wele I wote thou shalt be kynge, 840 The whiche is gretly to my lykynge!’

841 “Jason,’ he sayd, “God ţe foryelde

842 Thy grete servyce to-day in ţe felde, 843 That ţou hast done me in ţis place.’

844 Jason merveyled of ţat case:

845 “Sir,’ he sayd, “for charyte,

846 What man be ye ţat knoweth me?’

847 “it were merveile but I ţe knew.

848 Somme-tyme ţou were my felow trewe.

849 I am,’ he sayd, “ţe strange squyere 850 That servyd my lady ţis endris yere; 851 Grete hyr wele on all manere.

852 This day for hyr I haue bene here,

853 But lenger dwelle here may I noght, 854 Suche tithyngis to me is broght

855 Home frome myne owne contre,

856 And forth I most, as I telle the.’

857 “A sir,’ he sayd, “art thou he?

858 For God ţat dyed vppon a tree,

859 Come now and with my lady speke,

860 Or ellis I wote hyr herte will breke, Page 32

861 For and she knew ţou went away,

862 She lyveth nevir to-morow day.’

863 “Thou shalt, Jason, vndirstond

864 I wold not tarye for all ţis land.’

865 He toke his leve and went his way.

866 Jason to ţe quene gan say

867 Word for word euerydele:

folio 66r

868 “The strange squyer grette you wele.

869 He was ţat ylke whyte knyght

870 That in ţe feld so richely was dight.’

871 This lady to hyr chambre ys gone;

872 A sory woman was she one.

873 Vppon hyr bedde she gan downe falle 874 On swoune afore hyr maydens alle,

875 And whan she roos of swounynge

876 Hir handis fast gan she wrynge:

877 “Allas,’ she sayd, “what I was wode, 878 A witteles thyng, and cowde no goode!

879 My witte myght haue seruyd me

880 That suche a man doughty most be.’

881 But yit she trowyd in hyr thoght,

882 So lightly wold he leve hyr noght;

883 That was hyr comfort most in care,

884 And ellis she had hyrself forfare.

885 Ipomydon to his maister camme,

886 He found hym and his houndes anone; 887 Plente of flesshe had he caught,

Page 33

888 Hors and harneyse he hym bytaught,

889 And eyther passyd to hyr inne.

890 Ipomydon the flesshe toke with hym, 891 Byfore the quene he ganne it bere,

892 As she was sette at hyr sopere.

893 “Madame,’ he sayd, “my lord, ţe kynge, 894 Hathe not ţus sped with hy[s] justynge.’

895 All the halle that ţere were insame, 896 At hym they loughe and had game.

897 Ipomydon went to his mete,

898 Faste he brake and faste he ete,

899 For he had fasted all ţat day;

900 Suche a lykynge he had in pley.

901 As they satte at there sopere,

902 In comythe the kyngis messyngere;

903 Vppon his knee he hym sette

904 And ţe quene feyre he grette.

905 To hyr sent word hyr lord, ţe kynge, 906 How they had done at ţe justynge;

907 Tho askyd ţe quene anone-right:

908 “Was there any with Campanyus dyd fight, 909 That was so doughty in ţe felde,

910 Outher with spere or with shelde?’

911 “Ya, madame, so mot I thee,

912 Ther was oone worthe suche thre:

913 In white armure he was dight,

914 In all ţe feld was none so wight,

Page 34

915 But if it were my lord, ţe kynge,

916 For he is passand in euery thynge.’

917 The quene asked, “what was hee?’

918 The messyngere sayd, “So mot I the, 919 At ţat tyme knew hym no man.’

920 Than byspake Ipomydon,

921 And sayd, “Messyngere, I the pray,

922 Vnto my lorde, ţe kyng, ţou saye

923 That my good whyte greyhound

924 Hathe sleyne more dere and broght to ground 925 Than wold hys haue done to-daye.’

926 Ipomydon to ţe quene gan saye,

927 Praying he moste ţe kyng somme bere, 928 To wete ţat he was no lyere.

929 The quene ys to hyr chambre gone,

930 Thedir ledithe hyr Ipomydon;

931 He prayd leue on ţe morow to play,

932 As he had done ţat othir day.

933 The quene hym grauntyd curtessly;

934 To hys maister he dyd hym hye,

935 And prayd hym sone and anone

936 To his ostage ţat he shuld gone

937 And brynge hym his rede stede,

938 Foryete noght ţe same wede,

939 In the place ţat they were ere,

940 And ţat he shuld be erly there.

941 Ful erly roos Ipomydon,

942 His horne, hys greyhond he toke ţan.

943 He blew it lowde and wele gan shake, Page 35

944 That all ţe maydens ţo gan awake.

945 Than sayd all ţat were ţerinne:

946 “Your lemman gothe ţe mayd to wynne.’

947 The quene answeryd, as she dyd ere: 948 “He may more wynne ţan he were ţere.’

folio 67r

949 The kyngis messengere forthe went

950 And toke hym hole his present;

951 Euery word ţe kynge he tolde,

952 Than seyd ţe knyghtys ţat were bolde: 953 “Allas, ţat suche a knyght shuld leve 954 But he to manhode wold hym yeve!’

955 Ipomydon to his maister wente,

956 His armure and his stede he hent,

957 Ţe rede greyhound he toke hym ryght.

958 That day he prayd hym do his myght, 959 And in ţat place kepe ţe fleshe

960 With ţe greyhoundis in ţe lesshe.

961 Forthe he went in ţat stounde

962 And to ţe ermytage he came sound,

963 Into ţe feld he lokyd ţanne,

964 He saw many an armyd man,

965 Hym he armyd and forthe gan ryde.

966 Faste they justyd on euery syde,

967 And euyr byheld ţe lady bryght,

968 If she myght se ţe whyte knyght;

969 For she on hym non eye myght caste, 970 She thoght hyr hert wold tobreste.

971 Jason ţat day was made knyght

972 And richely in ţe feld was dight;

Page 36

973 Ipomydon, this case he sawe

974 Ţat Jason was knyght, his owne felawe; 975 To hym he prekyd faste in hye;

976 Whan he shulde mete, he rode hym by.

977 That day he taught hym so to done

978 That worthely he wanne his shone.

979 But Ipomydon, as I you saye,

980 Many a knyght he fellyd ţat day,

981 So many sperys he brakke onsondre

982 That all folke on hym had wondere.

983 They sayd there nas in all ţat lande 984 Noon so manly man of hande,

985 For all they sayd ţo full tyte,

986 The rede was better ţan ţe white,

987 And so he bare hym ţat daye

988 That knyghtys wexe wery of his playe.

989 Whan euery knyght to hys inne gan ryde, 990 Sir Jason dyd with hym abyde

991 And sayd, “Syr knyght, God ţe foryelde 992 Thy grete helpe to-day in ţe felde!

993 Thrughe the the more loue ţat I wanne, 994 That more desyre I ne canne.

995 I wote ţou shalt be lord here,

996 For I know noon ţat is ţi pere,

997 Saffe yistyrday the whyte knyght,

998 But he is oute of lond dight.’

999 “Nay, Jason, my trew fere,

1000 Thou shalt se ţat I am here.

1001 But grete wele my lady dere,

Page 37

1002 For hyr to-day haue I bene here,

1003 The whiche I say, withouten fayle, 1004 Will me torne to grete travaile,

1005 And many an hors ryde to ded,

1006 Or I come there ţat me most nede;

1007 For all my lond I lese for ay,

1008 But I be there by a certeyne day.’

1009 Jason sayd, “Syr, mercy,

1010 And thynke vppon my lady,

1011 For and ye passe hyr ţus froo,

1012 For sorow she wille hyrselfe slo!’

1013 Ipomydon sayd, “By heuyn-kynge,

1014 At this tyme I will not lynge,

1015 But grete hyr wele and haue gode day, 1016 And I shall come whan ţat I may.’

1017 Sir Jason passyd forthe in hyee

1018 And this tale tolde to the lady:

1019 “The rede knyght and ţe whyte ys one, 1020 But forsothe now ys he goon!’

1021 Than sory was that swete thynge,

1022 And efte she felle in mornynge;

1023 But she bethought hyr, [a]s she dyd are, 1024 And ellis she had hyrselfe forfare.

1025 Ipomydo[n] to his maister yede,

1026 And toke his armure and his stede; 1027 He toke the flesshe and ţe greyhound, folio 68r

1028 And gan to go toward the towne.

Page 38

1029 His hors he had and his huntyng-wede, 1030 Anone into ţe halle he yede,

1031 Byfore ţe quene the flesshe he leyd, 1032 “Here ys my dayes jorney,’ he sayd.

1033 At hym they loughe and made glad chere, 1034 The quene went to hyr sopere

1035 And hyr leman sat hyr by.

1036 The kynges messengere come in hye, 1037 And sayd ţe kyng grete hyr wele.

1038 The justis he told hyr euerydele.

1039 The fryst word ţe quene gan say:

1040 “Come ţe white knyght there to-day?’

1041 “Nay,’ he sayd, “By God allmyght,

1042 But there was a noble rede knyght, 1043 The whiche all men ţat gan hym see, 1044 Said ţat he was bettir ţan hee.’

1045 Ipomydon sayd to ţe messengere:

1046 “Recomand me to my lord so dere,

1047 And say that Gager, my rede greyhounde, 1048 Moche dere hathe broght ţis day to ground.

1049 I had more joye at hys rynnynge

1050 Than to stand and stare to se ţe justynge.

1051 “Madame,’ he said, “so God me amend, 1052 Of youre game I rede ye hym send.’

1053 “Sir,’ she said, “as ye thynke beste.

1054 Farewele for now I go to reste.’

1055 Vnto hyr chambre she went ţan;

1056 Byfore hyr come Ipomydon,

1057 Ones of leue he wold hyr praye,

Page 39

1058 He wold not hunte after many a day.

1059 She hym grantyd of his bone,

1060 To his master he went sone;

1061 He yede and fette, withoute lakke, 1062 Stede and harnesse ţat was blakke; 1063 He knew ţe way at ţe beste,

1064 Where they shuld mete in ţe foreste.

1065 The messyngere come vnto ţe kynge, 1066 Hys present feyre he dyd hym brynge; 1067 What he shuld sey forgatte he noght.

1068 The kynge of hym wondir thoght

1069 And in his hert had grete pyte,

1070 So goodly a man as was hee,

1071 That euyr he was so lytell of prise 1072 And therto full of cowardise.

1073 Whateuyr they thoght in here hert, 1074 Many of them he made to smerte.

1075 Latte hym go, God hym spede,

1076 Till eftesone we of hym rede!

[Line group 7]

1077 Ipomydon rose erly there,

1078 As he was wonte to done ere;

1079 Forthe he rode blowyng his horne,

1080 That all the maydens gan hym scorne 1081 And sayd, “Your leman gothe to playe, 1082 For he wille wynne vp all to-daye.’

1083 The quene hem blamyd wondir faste, 1084 Hyr hert to hym was somwhat caste.

1085 To hys master he went in hye

1086 And prayd hym full hertely

Page 40

1087 To take more dere, yf he myght,

1088 Than he dyd ţe tother day-light.

1089 Anone his hors he gan dighte

1090 And rode to ţe feld forthe-ryght,

1091 Armure blak lyke the stede,

1092 To ţe ermytage forthe he yede;

1093 Anone his stede he bestrode,

1094 Amonge hem all in he rode.

1095 He was sone warre of a knyght

1096 That in rede atyre was dight—

1097 “This rede knyght was here yisterday, 1098 He justid for ţat feyre may.

1099 There was none bare hym so feyre,

1100 Of Calabre he wille wynne ţe eyre.’

1101 The lady lay on toure on hye,

1102 The rede knyght full sone she see; 1103 She wende it were ţe strange squyere 1104 Ţat she hopid shuld be hyr fere.

1105 Her purpos was to hym to wende,

1106 Whan the justes come to ende,

1107 And brynge hym with feyre manere,

1108 To hyr was none so leffe ne dere.

1109 Right as the quene in thoght stode, 1110 The rede knyght anone in rode;

1111 The blake toke a spere in honde,

1112 To just with hym he thoght in londe, Page 41
folio 69r

1113 And eyther with othyr sone they mette, 1114 In-myd the sheld the stroke they sette.

1115 The blak knyghtes spere was stiffe and stronge, 1116 And therwith he gan fast thronge

1117 The knyght and stede within a stounde, 1118 That they lay bothe vppon the ground.

1119 Ipomydon toke ţe rede stede,

1120 To hys men he gan hym lede.

1121 Than come forthe syr Caymys,

1122 A proude knyght and a daynous;

1123 Just he wold with ţe blak knyght,

1124 But all to lytelle was hys myght;

1125 With a spere ţat welle wold laste, 1126 Knyght and hors downe he caste.

1127 Sir Caymys hors he toke in hye,

1128 The rede knyghtes he sette hym bye.

1129 Sir Campaynus hym faste byhelde,

1130 He thoght to just with hym in felde; 1131 Hys thoght was to wynne ţe maye,

1132 But he fayled foule of his praye.

1133 Forthe they rode togedyr faste

1134 That there sperys asondre braste;

1135 Bothe they were stiffe and stronge, 1136 Ţey luste to ryde, ţey taryed not longe, 1137 And eyther of theym toke a spere;

1138 Campaynus ţoght hym downe to bere.

1139 In-mydde ţe place ţe knyghtes mette, 1140 Ipomydon so Campanus grette,

1141 That knyght and stede in ţat case

Page 42

1142 Felle on hepe in-midde ţe place.

1143 The blake knyght toke hys stede goode, 1144 The kynge thereof began to wode

1145 That his knyghtes bore downe were.

1146 He folowyd ţe knyght with a spere; 1147 He had thoght to done hym harme,

1148 For he smote hym throw ţe arme.

1149 Ipomydon with ţat stroke abrayde

1150 And to ţe kynge ţus he sayde:

1151 “As ţou arte kynde, gentille and free, 1152 Abyde and juste a cours with me,

1153 And I foryiffe ţis vilanye!’

1154 The kynge sayd, “Therto grant I!’

1155 Full fayne he wold haue bene away, 1156 But for shame he sayd not nay.

1157 The kynge and he, in place ţey mette, 1158 The blake knyght suche a stroke hym sette, 1159 That kynge and hors downe he caste, 1160 That hym thoght hys nekke tobraste.

1161 The kynges stede he ledde away,

1162 Ţat euery man to other gan saye:

1163 “He may wele be kynge of londe

1164 For the doughtyeste man of hand

1165 That any man sawe euer ere.’

1166 And so sayd all ţat there were,

1167 They gaffe hym ţe gre of felde

1168 For ţe doughtyest vndyr shelde.

1169 Herawdis discryued hys arme blake

1170 And sayd, in ţe world was not his make, Page 43

1171 And they sayd, withoute lettynge,

1172 He was worthy to be kynge.

1173 Whan euery man homeward gan draw,

1174 Jason went to his felawe:

1175 “Come home, syr, I you pray,

1176 To youre owne, I darre wele say.

1177 Ye shal be made kynge of lond

1178 For ţe doughtiest man of hand.

1179 Thou hast no pere, I darre wele say, 1180 So sayd all ţat were here to-day.’

1181 “Jason,’ he sayd, “God yeld it the, 1182 The grete honoure ţou proferist me.’

1183 Jason sayd, “If your willis bee,

1184 What ar ye ţat knowis me?’

1185 “Somme-tyme I was ţi felaw dere

1186 Ţat callyd was ţe strange squyere; 1187 I haue bene here [added in MS ] ţese thre dayes, 1188 But now no lenger dwelle I maye.’

1189 “For Goddis loue,’ sayd Jason there, 1190 “Come brynge my lady oute of care

1191 And comforte hyr in all thynge,

1192 And thynke also ye shal be kynge.’

1193 He sayd, “Jason, ţi wordis ţou spare, 1194 That wold me torne to myche care;

1195 I haue dwellyd here to longe,

folio 70r

1196 The whiche will cause me travaile stronge.

Page 44

1197 Recomaund me to hyr anone-right,

1198 For I must travaile day and nyght.’

1199 He toke hys leve and forthe ganne fare; 1200 Jason tornyd home full of care,

1201 And whan he come into the halle,

1202 He tolde ţe lady what was byfalle, 1203 The blak knyght was ţe squyer stronge, 1204 That had dwellyd with hyr so longe, 1205 And how he wanne hyr with his hand: 1206 “But he is passid oute of ţis lande.’

1207 The lady mornyd and was full woo

1208 And thoght hyr hert wold brest on two, 1209 But yit she trowed in hyr thoght,

1210 So lightly wold he leve hyr noght, 1211 Sithe ţat he had, withoute fayle,

1212 For hyr loue so grete travaile.

1213 Ipomydon forthe is goone

1214 With his stedis euerychone;

1215 He fonde his master with flesshe inoughe 1216 Hovynge vndir the grene wodde-boughe; 1217 He toke hym ţe stedis euerychone

1218 And to his inne he bad hym gone.

1219 He toke his houndis and his horne

1220 And leyd the flesshe hym beforne;

1221 Byfore the quene he it leyd,

1222 And in his game ţus he sayd:

1223 “Know ye any at ţe justynge

1224 Hathe wonne halfe so myche thynge?’

1225 The quene, as she was wonnt to done, Page 45

1226 To hyr soper she went sone,

1227 And hyr leman hyr byforne;

1228 Scantly had ţey the mete corvyn

1229 Ţat in comyth kyngis messyngere

1230 And grette ţe lady in thys manere: 1231 “Wele you gretiţe my lord, ţe kynge.

1232 He byddythe you for any thynge

1233 That ye be to-morow erely

1234 At ţe chalenge of ţe lady.’

1235 The quene than ganne saye:

1236 “Hathe the rede knyght wonne hyr to-day?’

1237 “I say, madame, so God me spede,

1238 The rede knyght hathe lost his stede, 1239 My lord, ţe kyng, hathe his also,

1240 Campaynnus, Caymes and oth[e]r mo; 1241 The blakke knyght hathe wonne hem alle, 1242 Moche honour to hym ys falle.’

1243 Than byspake Ipomydon:

1244 “Bettyr is on huntynge to goone

1245 In the forest, so God me spede,

1246 Than ţus lyghtly to lese a stede.

1247 Wherefore, messyngere, I ţe pray,

1248 In my byhalfe ţat ţou say,

1249 When ţou comyst to ţe kynge,

1250 Grete hym wele in all thynge,

1251 And say my blak greyhound, Gilmyn, Page 46

1252 To-day hathe bore hym welle and fyne, 1253 For he hathe take wild bestis,

1254 The grettest ţat was in ţe foreste, 1255 And therefore, madame, if youre wil be, 1256 Sithe we haue go grete plente,

1257 Send hym somme, while we may.

1258 He wille it quyte another day.’

1259 Ipomydon was sore travailed

1260 In the gamys ţat he had;

1261 Hys arme vnstoppid, ţe blode gan falle 1262 Vppon the tabyll afore hem alle;

1263 Than sayd ţe quene, “My leman dere, 1264 How ar ye hurt, on what manere?’

1265 “Forsothe, madame, I shall you say: 1266 I lette renne at a dere to-daye,

1267 My palfrey I prekid aftir so faste 1268 That he stumblyd and me downe caste.

1269 At ţat tyme I toke this harme,

1270 A stubbe smote me ţrow ţe arme,

1271 And ţat was for, I shuld saye,

1272 The gree of ţe feld I had to-daye.’

1273 So they laughyd at hym ţat nyght

1274 That somme myght not sytte vpryght.

1275 The quene sayd, “My leman hende,

1276 To-morow wille we togedyr wende

1277 And see who hathe wonne ţe may.’

1278 Ipomydon answerd and sayd, “Naye,

Page 47

1279 Sithe I was not at ţe justynge,

folio 71r

1280 I wille not be at ţe chalengynge,

1281 But one thynge, madame, I you pray.

1282 Delyuere my mayde to me ţis day,

1283 For suche tithyngis is come to me

1284 That I muste home to my contree;

1285 And I shall be, bothe day and nyght, 1286 While ţat I lyffe, your owne knyght.’

1287 The quene sayd, “Dwelle here stille!’

1288 To lette hym go she had no wille.

1289 He toke his leve at ţe lady

1290 And at ţe maydens ţat stode hyr by; 1291 His owne mayde ţat was so bryght,

1292 To his ostage she went right,

1293 There she nyver come byfore,

1294 Sithe his stedis herborowed ţere.

1295 He sette hym downe in ţe halle,

1296 Hys oste to hym he lette calle.

1297 Into ţe stable he hym ledis,

1298 There as stode his goode stedis,

1299 And sayd to hym, “My frend dere,

1300 I wolde ţe pray on ţis manere,

1301 That ţou my word vndirstand

1302 And this message take on hande:

1303 Thou haste herd speke of ţe justynge 1304 That hathe be for the lady yonge,

1305 And also of ţe white knyght,

1306 The fryst day ţat justyd ryght;

1307 I was ţat knyght ţat stondythe ţe by, Page 48

1308 And on this white stede rode I.

1309 Of ţe rede knyght ţou herd sey,

1310 Ţat justed on ţat othir daye;

1311 That same knyght forsothe I was,

1312 This rede stede I had in place.

1313 Vppon the ţrydde day ţou herd telle 1314 Of a blak knyght how it byfelle;

1315 On this blak stede ţat day I satte 1316 And all ţese othyr on hym I gatte; 1317 Therefore, good syr, I the pray

1318 That ţou do, as I the saye:

1319 Aryse vp in the mornynge

1320 And go to ţe maydens chalengynge!

1321 Take this same white stede

1322 And a man dight in ţe same wede,

1323 Vnto my lord, the [added in MS ] kynge, ţou wende 1324 And grete hym wele as lorde hend,

1325 Sey, ţe quenys leman, hys owne knyght, 1326 Sent hym ţis stede and armour bryght; 1327 The fryste day he rode theron thare, 1328 He wote wele how he hym bare;

1329 And say ţat wele wouchesaffe I wolde, 1330 Thoughe euery here were syluer and golde.

1331 Take ţe rede stede with ţe armor clere 1332 And grete wele my lady dere;

1333 And say hyr leman and hyr knyght

1334 Sent hyr ţis stede and armour bryght!

Page 49

1335 Take ţe armour and ţe blak stede,

1336 To sir Campanus ţou hym lede!

1337 Take here ţe kyngis owne stede,

1338 To the eyre of Calabre ţou hym lede!’

1339 And all togedyr he gan hym saye

1340 How he shuld present ţe fayre may: 1341 “Campanus stede ţou take anone

1342 And lede hym, to sir Jason.

1343 This othir rede stede, withoute drede, 1344 I to ţe yeve for thy mede,

1345 On hym ţou shalt before ryde

1346 And all these othyr be ţi syde.’

1347 He taught hym, or he went away,

1348 On what wise ţat he shuld say,

1349 And for the herbegage of his stedys 1350 He yaff hym twenty pound to medes.

1351 The burgeyse held vp his hand

1352 And thankyd God ţat he hathe found: 1353 “Of Calabre I wote who shall be kynge, 1354 Now am I glad of my herbowrynge.

1355 I shall make youre presente

1356 Right gladly with good entente.’

1357 The burgeyse toke ţe stedys ţanne, 1358 On euery stede he sette a man,

1359 On the thre ţat ţe knyghtes were,

1360 Men armyd in all hyr gere.

folio 72r

1361 Forthe they went, withoute lesynge, Page 50

1362 Toward ţe maydens chalengynge.

1363 Sone they come to ţe cyte

1364 There lordis were grete plente.

1365 Sone the lordis dyd theyme see,

1366 There they satte in companye,

1367 They had wondyr of ţe stedys

1368 And of ţe men in dyuerse wedis;

1369 The kynge knew ţe burgeyse at alle, 1370 Anone to hym he lette hym calle:

1371 “Whose be these stedis ţat be so stronge?

1372 Myne I know welle hem amonge.’

1373 “Sir, with youre leue stille ye sytte, 1374 And the troughe ye shall wetee.

1375 The quenys leman, syr, iwis,

1376 Gretythe ţe wele with joy and blysse 1377 And sendithe the this whyte stede, 1378 And with hym ţe same wede,

1379 That he rode on the fryste day.

1380 Hym to take he wolde you praye,

1381 Wouche hym saffe on you he wolde,

1382 Thow euery here were syluer and golde; 1383 He prayd God kepe you hole and sounde, 1384 For ţe beste lord ţat euyr he fownde.’

1385 To ţe quene he wendithe there:

1386 “Wele you gretith your leman dere.

1387 This rede stede ţat is so swyfte,

1388 He prayeth you take hym of his gifte.

1389 On you he woucheţ saff, be seynt Martyn, Page 51

1390 Though euery here were syluer and gold fyne, 1391 For his lady gode and trewe

1392 And ţe curteyseste ţat euer he knewe.’

1393 To syr Campanus forthe he went:

1394 “The quenys leman, syr, you sente

1395 This blak stede with ţe atyre, I say, 1396 Ţat he rode on ţe laste day;

1397 He prayes you ye wold hym take,

1398 For a doughty knyght, by Goddis sake.’

1399 To ţe mayde he wente there

1400 And grete hyr on this manere:

1401 “The strange squyer hathe you sent 1402 Thys ilke stede to present;

1403 He stale hym nat he bad me say,

1404 He wanne hym vppon the light-day,

1405 And if ye leve hym not bydene,

1406 He bad yow axe ţe kynge, youre eme, 1407 And hold vp that ye haue hight,

1408 To take no man but he were wight.’

1409 The kynge sayd, “I felt full wele

1410 How he bare hym euerydele;

1411 Of his dedis I am full sore,

1412 Suche a stroke I bare neuer are.

1413 I darre wele say, by Goddis myght, 1414 That he is a doughty knyght,

1415 Withoute boste, stalworth of hand.

1416 A queynter knyght is not in land.’

1417 Sir Campanus spake wordis ţan

1418 And sayd, “He is a doughty man,

Page 52

1419 To juste he lette as he [added in MS ] were ferd, 1420 But foule he hathe oure eyne bleryd.’

1421 The burgeyse to Jason sayd ţus:

1422 “This stede aught sir Campanus.

1423 He sent hym the for hys fere,

1424 To loke wele to his lady dere.’

1425 To sir Caymes gan he say:

1426 “He gretyth ţe wele by me to-day.

1427 He wold haue sent you stedis mo,

1428 But he had none he myght forgo.

1429 This rede stede he gaffe to me,

1430 Hys messyngere for to bee,

1431 And for the harbegage of his stedis 1432 He yaff me twenty pound to medis.’

1433 All they sayd there they stode,

1434 He was come of gentill blode.

1435 Than sayd ţe eyre of Calabre bright: 1436 “Help to gete me ţat gentill knyght!

folio 73r

1437 But I hym haue ţat in feld me wanne, 1438 Forsothe, I shall nevir haue man.’

1439 Anone gan sir Caymes say:

1440 “Is he stolyn thus away

1441 And broke my ladyes boure, ţe quene, 1442 And ledde away hyr mayden shene?

1443 Worthe I nevir glad ne fayne,

1444 But I brynge theym bothe agayne.’

Page 53

1445 The kynge was bothe curteyse and gente, 1446 Full goodly he reseyved his present; 1447 Hertely he thankid ţe gentill knyght 1448 And sayd in lond was none so wight.

1449 He yaff ţe burgeyse for his message 1450 An hundreth pound to herytage.

[Line group 8]

1451 But Ipomydon forth is gone

1452 And his men euerychone.

1453 His messyngere he lefte stille there, 1454 To brynge hym tithyngis, if any were, 1455 In suche manere as they felle;

1456 What they were he shuld hym telle.

1457 Ipomydon come by a foreste,

1458 A while he thoght there to rest,

1459 He was forwakyd and all werye;

1460 To hys men he sayd on hye:

1461 “Slepe I muste, withoute fayle,

1462 For I am wery for travayle.’

1463 He layd his hede on his mayden barme 1464 And felle on slepe, he thoght on harme.

1465 He had not slepyd but a while,

1466 Not the space of a myle,

1467 The mayden sawghe forthe comynge

1468 An armyd knyght faste rydynge;

1469 She woke hyr lord and bad hym ryse, 1470 For hyr hert bygan to gryse.

1471 Than come forthe Caymys full stoute, Page 54

1472 To hym he spake wordis proude:

1473 “Traytour,’ he sayd, “ţou dydist dishonour, 1474 Whan thou brakkist ţe quenys boure 1475 And toke hyr mayden and my stede.

1476 Agayne to courte I will ţe lede.

1477 Aryse, traytour, I byd the,

1478 To court ţou shalt agayne with me!’

1479 Ipomydon hym answerd now:

1480 “To courte I darre as wele as thou, 1481 But for the torne I nylle,

1482 Not bot at myne owne wille.

1483 For His loue ţat vs dere bought,

1484 Sithe I haue haste, lette me noght!’

1485 Caymys than gan to hym sayne:

1486 “Wilthow nyllthow, ţou shalt agayne, 1487 Or right here ţou shalte abyde!’

1488 Ipomydon sterte vp that tyde,

1489 Anone he worthyd vppon his stede,

1490 They rode togedyr with good spede.

1491 Ipomydon vnhorsyd Caymys tho,

1492 That his arme braste in two.

1493 He bad hys men take his stede

1494 And lette a wors hors hym lede.

1495 In his sadille ţey sette hym bakwarde 1496 And bound hym faste with a cord,

1497 To the tayle was turnyd his visage, 1498 They bad hym lerne a new vsage.

1499 Thus Caymys rode toward ţe towne,

1500 Whan he had lost all his renowne.

Page 55

1501 His hors hyeth hym homeward to fare, 1502 The master also with moche care.

1503 His hors to ţe courte hym broght.

1504 The kynge euyr on Caymys thoght

1505 And sayd he wold not go to bedde,

1506 Tille he wiste how ţe knyght spedde.

1507 The hors broght Caymys to ţe yate, 1508 The porter lette hym in thereatte.

1509 Jason the hors in gan brynge

1510 And ledde the knyght byfore ţe kynge.

1511 The kynge askyd, by Goddis payne,

1512 Iff he had brought the knyght agayne.

folio 74r

1513 Anone he answerd to the kynge

1514 And tolde hym hys myslykynge:

1515 “Thoughe all ţe knyghtis in the halle 1516 Come to hym, bothe grete and smalle, 1517 He wold of theyme yiff nothynge

1518 But if it were of you, syr kynge.’

1519 Than they loughe all insame,

1520 And at his harme had good game.

1521 There was none in that place,

1522 But they were glad of ţat case.

1523 Thus Caymys hathe his seruyce quytte, 1524 And of Ipo[m]ydon here is a fytte.

[Line group 9]

1525 Ipomydon held forthe his way,

1526 Full glad he was of his jorney.

1527 He saw grete folke agayn hym ryde, Page 56

1528 The whiche had sought hym wondir wyde, 1529 For to brynge hym new tidyngis

1530 That dede was his fadir, the kynge, 1531 Of whiche tithyngis he was wo,

1532 But he may not agayne God do.

1533 Throughe his lond he went rydynge; 1534 All they honoryd hym as kynge,

1535 And whan he come into ţat stede,

1536 That the kynge, his fadyr, was dede, 1537 Throghe that land he lette crye

1538 That all men shuld thedir hye,

1539 Prestis and klerkis of euery towne, 1540 Byschoppis, erlys and barowne.

1541 There he made an entyrement

1542 With many messes with good entente.

1543 An ersbyschope beryed his fadir dere, 1544 Prechynge there was of many a frere.

1545 Pore men ţat sat vppon ţe ground,

1546 Wele delyd of many a pownde.

1547 A grete feste there was dight

1548 For erlys and for many a knyght;

1549 All men ţat wold thereof take,

1550 Had mete there for Goddis sake.

1551 Whan this feste was brokyn vp,

1552 Euery man his leve tuke

1553 And went hyr way, as I you telle;

1554 Ipomydon thoght at home to dwelle.

Page 57

1555 His modir and he dwellyd insame

1556 With moche myrthe, joye and game,

1557 Tille it befelle vppon a day,

1558 The quene to hyr sonne gan saye

1559 In pryuyte and in counse[y]lle:

1560 “Thou hast a brother, withouten fayle, 1561 Preuely goten was me vppon,

1562 Or I was weddyd to any man,

1563 But hastely he was done fro me;

1564 I note yf he alyffe bee,

1565 But he me sent ţis endyr yere

1566 A riche rynge of gold full clere.

1567 And euyr he any brother had,

1568 I shuld yeffe it hym he bad,

1569 Ţat where he come amonge hye or lowe, 1570 By that rynge he shuld hym knowe.

1571 Tha[n] take thys rynge, my sonne, of me.

1572 In what contre that he bee,

1573 Who that knowith this ylk rynge,

1574 He ys thy brothyr, withoute lesynge!’

1575 The rynge he toke of his modyr

1576 And trustid wele to know his brothir.

1577 Thus they partid in ţat place,

1578 But aftir within a shorte space

1579 To hym come his baronage

1580 That were men of grete parage;

1581 There entente is to crowne hym kynge, Page 58

1582 But his thoght was on other thynge, 1583 For crowne wold he none bere.

1584 He wold be more assayed ere

1585 In othir londis, ferre and nere,

1586 Of his strenghe and his powere.

1587 He had an eme was stiffe and stronge.

1588 Of myddille age to lyve longe.

1589 Sir Pers of Poyle was his name,

folio 75r

1590 Men he distroyed that dyd shame.

1591 Byfore his baronage, I vndirstand, 1592 Ipomydon sesyd hym in his lande

1593 And yaffe hym the profyte for his sake, 1594 Tylle ţat he the crowne wold take.

1595 Turne we now all the matere

1596 And speke we of Calabre the eyre.

1597 A duke dwellythe Calabre besyde,

1598 A stoute man and of grete pryde.

1599 He was myghty and of grete powere, 1600 Men dred h[y]m bothe ferre and nere.

1601 His name was duke Geron,

1602 Of Sesseny-lond he was baron.

1603 This doughty duke herd saye

1604 The eyre of Calabre was suche a may, 1605 Messengeris he sent anon

1606 Vnto Calabre for to gone.

1607 He sayd he wold haue hyr to wyffe, 1608 If she wold, withouten stryffe,

1609 “And in case she wold not soo,

Page 59

1610 I shall make hyr moche woo;

1611 For I shall distroye hyr landis alle, 1612 Hyr men sle, bothe grete and smalle, 1613 Hyr castelle breke and hyr toure,

1614 With strenghe take hyr in hyr boure, 1615 Lesse than she may fynde a knyght

1616 That for hyr loue with me darre fight.’

1617 Forthe went the messyngere

1618 And told ţe lady this matere;

1619 The lady answerd ryght-sone

1620 And sayd she wold neuyr haue none, 1621 “But hym ţat me wanne, so God me saffe, 1622 Othyr husband wille I none haue.’

1623 This messyngere his erand gan sayne 1624 And homeward he went agayne.

1625 He told the duke of his answere

1626 And anone he bygan grete werre,

1627 For grete power gadryd he

1628 To wynne ţis mayde ţat was so free.

1629 Ipomydon his messyngere herde

1630 Of this tithyngis how it ferde;

1631 To his master he went sone

1632 And told hym bothe all and somme.

1633 Whan he that herde, Ipomydon,

1634 Than was he a sory man,

1635 That he ne myght with that duke fight, 1636 The whiche was holden so noble a knyght.

1637 Right vnsemely on queynte manere

1638 He hym dight, as ye shalle here.

Page 60

1639 A barbor he callyd, withouten more, 1640 And shove hym bothe byhynd and byfore, 1641 Queyntly endentyd oute and in,

1642 And also he shove halfe his chynne.

1643 He semyd a fole, ţat queynt syre,

1644 Bothe by hede and by atyre.

1645 Armure he toke ţat was rusty,

1646 And horsyd hym on an old rouncy;

1647 An helme as blak as any panne,

1648 A crokyd spere he toke hym than.

1649 Whan ţat he was thus dight,

1650 He semyd ylle a doughty knyght.

1651 To Sesseyn he went, as ye may here, 1652 Vnto the kynge Mellyagere,

1653 And in his halle brak his spere,

1654 Ryght as he wode were,

1655 The tronchoune felle vppon ţe bord; 1656 He faryd as he had bene wode.

1657 The kynge and quene laughid light

1658 And sayd he was a fole welle dight.

1659 “Fole, go to mete!’ ţe kyng gan say; 1660 The fole answerd and sayd, “Nay!

1661 For yit I wille not ete with the,

1662 But thou a bone will grant mee:

1663 The fryste dede of armys I wille haue 1664 Ţat any man of ţe wille craue.’

1665 “Fole, go to mete!’ sayd ţe kynge, 1666 “I grant the thyne askynge.’

Page 61

1667 The fole yede to mete in hye

1668 And tyed his hors fast hym bye,

1669 But or he rose fro ţe borde

1670 Many men laughyd at his word.

1671 Into ţe halle come rydynge a may,

1672 Oute of Calabre, sothe to say,

1673 On a white mule byfore ţe kynge,

1674 A dwerffe with hyr come rydynge.

1675 “Sir kyng, my lady gretis wele the, 1676 And prayeth the, for charyte,

folio 76r

1677 To helpe hyr in this mystere

1678 Agayne the dukis powere;

1679 He hathe distroyed hyr landis alle, 1680 Right vnto hyr castelle walle,

1681 And bot if she haue helpe of the,

1682 She wille leue hyr landis and flee.’

1683 The kynge answeryd anone

1684 And sayd, “All my knyghtes ar gone, 1685 Campanus and other full bolde.

1686 Helpe my cosyn fayne I wolde,

1687 But they be all at a dede,

1688 To helpe a lady oute of drede.

1689 In this world wote I no knyght

1690 That durst his one with hym fyght.’

1691 Vp sterte the fole anone,

1692 To the kynge he sayd full sone:

1693 “Loo, I am here all redy dight,

1694 That darre with hym allone fighte.’

1695 “Sitte downe, fole!’ the mayd gan saye, Page 62

1696 “Vs list to speke of no pleye.

1697 Dryve thy folye where thow wille,

1698 For no joye haue I theretille!’

1699 The fole sayd, “Be ţou wrothe or glad, 1700 Suche promyse of the kynge I had

1701 That I shuld haue ţe fryst dede.’

1702 The mayde turnyd and forthe yede.

1703 The fole stert vp, withoute delaye, 1704 And sayd, “Syr kynge, haue good day!’

1705 He lepyd on his hors there

1706 And sayd, “Farewelle and haue gode yere!’

1707 Somme sayd he was a fole welle dight, 1708 Somme sayd he semyd a knyght

1709 That is come fro ferre contre,

1710 Bycause he wold not knowyn be.

1711 He prekyd his hors wondir faste,

1712 The mayde he saw at the laste.

1713 As they rode by the way,

1714 The mayde to the dwerfe gan saye:

1715 “Vndo my tente and sette it faste, 1716 For here a while y wille me ryste!’

1717 Mete and drynke bothe they had,

1718 That was fro home with them lad.

1719 Bothe they dranke therof and ete,

1720 But euyr the fole withoute sete,

1721 One morselle they nold hym caste,

1722 Thoughe he shuld for hungre brest.

1723 Ţe dwerfe sayd, “We ar to blame.

1724 Yiff ţe fole somme mete for shame!’

Page 63

1725 “Not one morselle!’ she gan say,

1726 “For hungre shall dryue hym away.’

1727 With that there come rydyng a knyght 1728 To hyr tente anone-ryght.

1729 “Come forthe with me!’ to hyr he bad, 1730 “I haue the spyed sythe ţou oute yede.

1731 Thou arte my lemman as I haue thoght.’

1732 The fole sayd, “Ţat leve I noghte.

1733 She ys myne, I wille hyr haue,

1734 Fro the I hope hyr wele to saue!’

1735 The knyght sayd, “Fole, leve thy folye, 1736 Or ellis ţou shalt dere abye!’

1737 The fole sterte to a tronchoune

1738 Ţat bare vp the maydens pavilloun, 1739 And smote the knyght on the crowne 1740 That sterke-dede he felle to ground.

1741 He yaffe the dwerffe ţe knyghtes gere, 1742 To hymselfe he toke the spere.

1743 Vp they rose and forthe yede,

1744 Till efte to ryste they had nede.

1745 They toke mete and made them glad, 1746 To ţe mayd the dwerf bad:

1747 “Yif the fole somme mete for shame, 1748 He hathe sauyd you fro blame,

1749 And thynke ye shuld haue be shent, 1750 Had he be oute of youre present!’

1751 The mayde answeryd hym anone:

1752 “Byfore God, mete getteth he none.

1753 It was but foly, I prayse it noght, Page 64

1754 I wold he were fro vs broght.’

1755 With that there come another knyght, 1756 The mayd he chalengid anone-ryght

1757 And sayd, “Come forth, my leman dere!’

1758 The fole sayd, “Ţou haste none here.

1759 She is myne and longe hathe bene.’

1760 With that ţe knyght bygan to tene

1761 And sayd, “Fole, thou shalt abye,

1762 Yff ţou speke more of ţis folye!’

folio 77r

1763 The fole sayd, “I will not blynne.

1764 If thou hyr haue, ţou shalt hyr wynne!’

1765 With that he lepte on his hors lyght, 1766 And eyther to other ganne hem dight; 1767 The fole hym metithe with a spere

1768 That throughe the body he ganne hym bere.

1769 The knyght was dede throughe ţat dede, 1770 To the dwerffe he yaff his stede.

1771 Forthe they buskyd hem anone

1772 To a place they thought to gone,

1773 There they wold haue bene al nyght; 1774 Ţey myght no ferther for lak of light.

1775 They toke them mete and drynke gode-spede, 1776 Vnnethe they wold ţe fole any bede.

1777 Right as they satte and made hem glad, 1778 There come a knyght, as ţe deville hym bad; 1779 He was the dukis brother Geron,

1780 All was blak ţat he had on,

1781 Bothe his hors and his wede.

1782 To ţe mayde he gan hym spede

Page 65

1783 And sayd, “Sythe I fynd you here,

1784 Ye shall be my leman dere!’

1785 The fole sayd, “Nay, not so.

1786 Anothir she hathe tane hyr too:

1787 That am I that ţou seest here.

1788 If thou hyr bye, she is to dere.’

1789 “Fole,’ he sayd, “ţou bourdist grete.

1790 With my spere I shall the bete!

1791 Hyr tyme foule had she spedde,

1792 If she shold lye with ţe in bedde.’

1793 The fole sayd, “Twyse I hir bought.

1794 With thy chydynge ţou gettest hyr noght.

1795 Iff thou hyr haue, ţou shalt hyr bye 1796 A peny derrer ţan euer dyd I.’

1797 There was no lenger to abyde,

1798 But eyther of theym to othyr gan ryde; 1799 The fole mette ţe knyght soo,

1800 That his bak braste on twoo.

1801 With that stroke he hym sloughe

1802 And his armur of he droughe.

1803 Anone he toke ţe knyghtis stede

1804 And armyd hym in his wede.

1805 Whan the fole was wele dight,

1806 The mayde hym semyd a godely knyght, 1807 And trowyd wele fole was he none,

1808 By the dedis ţat he had done.

1809 They layde hem downe to take hyr reste.

1810 The dwerf fulle sone slepyd faste, Page 66

1811 But the mayde wakynge laye

1812 And on the fole thynkith ay;

1813 She demyd he was a doughty knyght, 1814 Wherefore to hym she gan hyr dight.

1815 “Sir knyght,’ she sayd, “slepe ye nowe?

1816 Ye ar no fole ţat wele I knowe.

1817 Ye be a knyght doughty of hand,

1818 I know none suche in all ţis land, 1819 And ţe same knyght, so trow I,

1820 Ţat somme-tyme wanne my lady,

1821 I trow full wele ţat thou be he.

1822 Wilt thou hyr leve and wed me?

1823 Thou shalt be of grete powere:

1824 I am as ryche as is the eyre

1825 Off Calabre-lond, withoute doute.’

1826 The knyght lokyd fast aboute

1827 And euyr more stille he lay

1828 And herde hyr speke, as I you say, 1829 And whan ţat she had all sayd,

1830 He sterte vp in a brayde,

1831 And bygan for to rese,

1832 As he wold take hyr by the nese.

1833 Euyr the fayrer ţat she spake,

1834 The fouler braydes gan he make.

1835 Thus he wrawled and wroth away,

1836 One word to hyr he nolde not say.

1837 Whan she saw it wold not be,

1838 “Sir knyght,’ she sayd, “for charyte, 1839 Trowest thow ţou shalt not fayle

Page 67

1840 To helpe my lady in ţis batayle

1841 And with the duke Geron to fyght,

1842 As ţou kynge Melliager hight?

1843 What shall I to my lady say,

1844 Whethyr will ye come or nay?’

1845 “To-morow whan I ţe duke see,

1846 Parauntur in suche plyte I may bee folio 78r

1847 That I wille the bataille take,

1848 And so it may falle I wille it forsake, 1849 For I am holdyn nothynge you tille, 1850 Noght but at myne owne wille.’

1851 The mayden turnyd homeward and thoght, 1852 To his answere she coude sey noght.

1853 She bad ţe knyght haue good day,

1854 And he bad, “Farewele, fayre maye.’

1855 In at a preuy posterne gate

1856 By nyght she stale in thereate,

1857 And to ţe lady she told sone

1858 What the fole had for hyr done,

1859 And that he comythe for hyr to fight.

1860 This lady was a sorowfull wight,

1861 For on the morow ţe duke with pryde 1862 Vnto the castelle gate gan ryde,

1863 But they were stokyn hym agayne.

1864 With lowde voyse he gan to sayne:

1865 “Come owte, leman, on feyre manere.

1866 I wille no lenger tarye here,

1867 Or ellys a knyght ye oute sende,

1868 With me to fight you to deffende!’

Page 68

1869 And as he stode ţus talkynge,

1870 He saw a knyght come rydynge;

1871 A glad man tho was he,

1872 His brothir he wende it had be.

1873 It was not he, as ye shall here,

1874 He answerid ţe duke on this manere: 1875 “What art thou that makist ţis crye, 1876 And at this gate so grete mastrye?’

1877 “I am,’ he sayd, “lord of here-inne, 1878 For I am sekir ţis mayde to wynne, 1879 And will so do or I hens gone,

1880 That othir husband gettyth she none.’

1881 Ipomydon saide, “Ţat thou shalt mysse, 1882 For all myne owne that lady ys,

1883 And full longe she hathe be soo,

1884 Therefore I rede the hens goo.

1885 I wille hyr deffend frome all men!’

1886 The duke answerd bitterly then:

1887 “Traytour,’ he sayd, “ţou art anothir.

1888 I wende thou haddist bene my brothir.

1889 His stede thou hast, his armour, loo, 1890 Thow hast hym slayne I trow also!’

1891 “That I hym slow I gaynesay noght.

1892 The so to serue haue I thoght.’

1893 With that word, withoute lye,

1894 Fast togedir gan they hye,

1895 That there sperys all tobrast;

1896 They drowghe swerdis and faught faste.

1897 The lady lay in a hye toure

Page 69

1898 And saw bytwene theym all ţe stoure, 1899 But she ne wist whiche for hyr did fight, 1900 For they in lyke wede were dight.

1901 Gretter bataille myght none be,

1902 For neyther wold for othyr flee;

1903 They faught togedyr wondir longe,

1904 Ţe bataille was bothe stiff and stronge, 1905 That of there lyves neyther rought.

1906 Ipomydon than hym bythoght

1907 He was in poynte to lese there,

1908 That he had bought wondir dere;

1909 Hys swerd in bothe handis he toke, 1910 It was sharpe, as saythe ţe boke,

1911 And hertely he dyd it vplyfte,

1912 Amyd the crowne he yaff hym swifte, 1913 Thrughe helme and bassenet it raught, 1914 Hys crowne was shavyn at one draught.

1915 The duke felt hym hurt full sore,

1916 He prayed ţe knyght to smyte no more: 1917 “I am nye dede, I may not stande,

1918 I yelde me here vnto thyn hande

1919 And shall be thyne owne knyght,

1920 At thy wille bothe day and nyght.

1921 I shall restore into this lande

1922 More good ţan euyr I here fonde,

1923 And euyrmore while ţat I lyve,

1924 A thousand pownd I wille ţe yiffe.’

1925 Ipomydon sayd, “I grant ţe here,

1926 So ţat thou do on this manere,

Page 70

1927 Thow come not nye this pavilloun,

1928 But hye the faste oute of ţis town!’

folio 79r

1929 The duke hym grantyd hastely,

1930 Oute of the towne for to hye.

1931 He and all ţat with hym come,

1932 Homeward they hyed hem full sone.

1933 Ipomydon rode to ţe pavillon,

1934 Right as it were duke Geron.

1935 Besyde ţe castelle wherin was ţe eyre, 1936 Rennethe a ryuer longe and feyre,

1937 With shippis and sayles manyfolde; 1938 There stremes were of fyne golde.

1939 This lady sayd she wold flee,

1940 Iff that the duke wan ţe gre.

1941 These shippis were stuffyd with vytayle, 1942 Ţat with this lady sholde sayle.

1943 She lokyd oute into the towne

1944 And saw one come to ţe pavilloun.

1945 She wende ţe duke had wonne ţe gre, 1946 Wherefore she busked hyr to flee.

1947 Ipomydo[n] to ţe yates wente,

1948 Than the lady helde hyrself shent.

1949 “Come forthe,’ he sayd, “my leman dere, 1950 For I haue wonne ţe now here!’

1951 The lady herde hym make suche crye, 1952 To hyr shyppe she gan hyr hyee;

1953 They plukkyd vp sayles and forthe ţey paste, Page 71

1954 She and hyr men, bothe more and lasse.

[Line group 10]

1955 Turne we now anone-ryghtes

1956 And speke of kyng Melliager knyghtes, 1957 That whan hyr jorney was done

1958 They hem buskyd home full sone,

1959 Campanus and his felows full bolde.

1960 But the tydynges were hem tolde

1961 Off ţe eyre of Calabre, ţe fayre may, 1962 And of ţe duke, as I you say,

1963 And how she sent aftir sokoure,

1964 The preuyest mayden in hyr boure,

1965 And how a fole hathe take on hond, 1966 To fight with hym in ţat londe.

1967 Sir Campanus buskid hym to fare,

1968 To bryng this lady oute of care,

1969 And all the power ţat had ţe kynge 1970 Buskyd theyme to ţat fyghtynge

1971 In all the hast ţat they myght,

1972 With the duke for to fight.

1973 Toward Calabre as they rode,

1974 Ţey saw shippis in ţe flode;

1975 Anoon they callyd to theyme there

1976 And askyd hem of whens they were.

1977 The shippemen sayd, “Of Calabre-londe.

1978 A duke hathe wonne it with his hand.

1979 Here ys ţe lady, as ye may see,

1980 She hathe forsake hyr owne contre.’

1981 Campanus prayed ţe lady to dwelle, 1982 And somwhat of hyr greffe to telle.

Page 72

1983 She herd they were hyr eme knyghtes 1984 And tornyd ayeyne anon-ryghtes

1985 And tolde the knyghtes all in hye

1986 Off ţe duke ţat was so doughty,

1987 And how the fole had hym borne

1988 Off good poyntis therebeforne,

1989 And how ţe duke hathe hym slayne,

1990 “And comyn ys to my yates agayne.’

1991 Campanus sayd anone-ryght:

1992 “I darre ley it was ţe same knyght 1993 Was comyn oute of hys owne londe,

1994 For he was doughty of his hand.

1995 Madame, I rede we torne agayne,

1996 And we shall see who is slayne,

1997 And than we shalle ţis dede awreke, 1998 Iff we haue grace with hym to speke, 1999 That all ţis land shall thereof here, 2000 And ellys honge me be the swyre,

2001 But I his hede vnto you brynge!’

2002 All they grantyd, withoute lesynge.

2003 This lady turnyd hyr shippe anon

2004 And with sir Campanus forthe gan goon.

2005 When she come ţe castelle nye,

2006 As ferre as euyr she myght see,

folio 80r

2007 In that place she wold abyde,

2008 Tille she wist how it wold tyde.

2009 Campanus all his men lette calle,

2010 And to ţe castelle they went alle; 2011 They saw a knyght in blak atyre,

Page 73

2012 They went full wele ţe duke it were 2013 Ţat had distroyed ţe land aboute.

2014 To hym they hyed all ţe route.

2015 Campanus sayd in ţis manere:

2016 “What art ţou that standis here?

2017 Tell me why ţou makist ţis dynne,

2018 And what ţou woldist haue herein.’

2019 He sayd, “My leman ţat I wanne,

2020 I wille not leue hyr for no man!’

2021 Sir Campanus sayd, “Ţou getist hyr noght!

2022 I rede frome hyr thou change ţi thoght, 2023 And go home to thy contre,

2024 Or ellis, forsothe, ţou shalt dede be.

2025 Wherefore hens fast thou hye,

2026 Withowte any more vylany,

2027 And ellis I swere, by God almyght, 2028 We shall all ageynst ţe fight.’

2029 Ipomydon sayd, “What may this bee?

2030 Is this the maner of this contre?

2031 Yif any of yow haue better right

2032 Than I haue to ţis lady bryght,

2033 Come forthe and prove yt with your hand, 2034 One for one, while I may stand!’

2035 Campanus answerd to ţe knyght:

2036 “Chese whether ţou wilt go or ellys fight!’

2037 Ipomydon sayd, “Sythe it is soo

2038 That I shall hyr thus forgoo,

Page 74

2039 Rather I wille ţe bataille take

2040 And lese my lyffe for hyr sake,

2041 And put it all in Goddis hond!’

2042 Agayne hem all he thoght to stond; 2043 All at ons at hym they layd,

2044 Ipomydon hys swerd outebrayd,

2045 And many a man he fellys downe ryght.

2046 He faught with many a doughty knyght, 2047 That many a stroke vppon hym layd.

2048 “Yeld the, traytour!’ “Not yit!’ he sayd.

2049 The knyghtes that were of grete pryde, 2050 Faste they faught on yche syde.

2051 Ipomydon saw non othyr wone,

2052 But socouryd hym at a walle of stone, 2053 And they pursewyd aftir faste,

2054 Ţat many vnto ţe dethe he caste.

2055 So longe ageynste them he gan stand, 2056 They hewyd the gloves of his hand; 2057 All bare-handyd faught ţis knyght, 2058 They saw neuyr are non so wight.

2059 Sir Campanus, as I vndirstande,

2060 Saw the rynge on his hand,

2061 That he yaffe his modyr, ţe quene; 2062 Many a yere are he me had it sene.

2063 Campanus prayd hym stand stille,

2064 While he askyd hym a skyle.

2065 The knyght answerd and bad hym sey, 2066 For all they were wery of there play.

2067 “Sir knyght,’ he sayd, “telle me this thynge!

Page 75

2068 Where had ye that ilke rynge?’

2069 Ipomydon answerd as he thought,

2070 And sayd, “Forsothe, I stale it noght.

2071 For ţou coueytes to haue ţis rynge, 2072 I swere by Jesus, heuyn-kynge,

2073 Or ţou it haue with mystrye,

2074 With sore strokis ţou shalt it bye!’

2075 Sir Campanus prayd hym with feyre chere 2076 To telle hym on feyre manere,

2077 Where he had ţat ylke rynge,

2078 And say the sothe, withoute lesynge.

2079 Ipomydon sayd, “So God me spede,

2080 Y wille not telle ţe for no drede.

2081 But telle me why ţou doste enquere, 2082 And I shalle yeve the an answere.’

2083 “This rynge,’ he sayd, “ţat is so fyne, 2084 Forsothe, somme-tyme it was myne.

2085 Now, as ye ar a gentill man,

2086 Telle me where ye ţat rynge wanne.’

2087 “The quene,’ he sayd, “of Poyle-land 2088 yaff me this rynge, ye shall vndirstand.

folio 81r

2089 She ys my modyr good and fayre,

2090 Off all ţat land I am ţe eyre.’

2091 “Sir knyght,’ he sayd, “yit abyde.

2092 What sayd she more to you ţat tyde?’

2093 “She sayd, I had a brother on lyve 2094 Was gotyn or ţat she was wyffe,

2095 And sayd, who ţat knew this rynge

Page 76

2096 Was my brother, withoute lesynge.’

2097 Sir Campanus sayd, “By God allmyght, 2098 I am thy brother, ţou gentill knyght.’

2099 They felle downe bothe in ţat stound, 2100 At onys fallynge to ţe ground.

2101 Men caught hem vp and wakyd hem bothe, 2102 They were full glad and nothynge lothe.

2103 Ipomydon enqueryd of his brothyr

2104 What was his name, for none knew othyr.

2105 He sayd, “Syr Campanus I hight,

2106 That gaynste ţe dyd fyght.

2107 With kynge Melleager dwelle I.’

2108 “Somtyme we were in company.

2109 Knew ye nevyr the quenys lemman,

2110 That somtyme this mayd wan?’

2111 “A, brother,’ he sayd, “be ye he?’

2112 There was joye grete plente.

2113 Ipomydon sayd, “I bare ţe shelde,

2114 That wanne ţe lady in ţe felde.

2115 Stedis I had ţere ţat day in place, 2116 Ţe sothe ye know ţat it so was,

2117 Whyte and rede and blak also;

2118 Wele ye wote ţat it was so.

2119 And there I wanne throw Goddis grace 2120 The beste stedis ţat day in place, 2121 Ţe kynges stede and thyne also,

2122 And of myne owne I sent you two,

2123 And youres I sent to other men;

2124 Ye wote wele it was so then.

Page 77

2125 I toke my leve of ţe quene,

2126 With me went my mayden shene

2127 Home toward myne owne lond.

2128 Sir Caymes sayd, I vndirstand,

2129 That he wold feche vs bothe agayne, 2130 Or ellis ţat he wold be slayne.

2131 He sayd, I went withoute leve,

2132 All ye wist how it dyd preue,

2133 And therfore, brother, as I haue sayd, 2134 I am best worthy to haue ţe mayd.’

2135 They saw it was ţe same knyght,

2136 Ţan all ther hertes began to light.

2137 Euer as they went, they gan hym kysse, 2138 There was joye and moche blisse.

2139 Messyngeris afore gan thrynge,

2140 To bryng ţe lady good tythynges.

2141 When she saw ţey come so fast,

2142 Than ţe lady was agast.

2143 She wende ţey had scomfyted be,

2144 Ţis lady bad draw sayle and flee.

2145 The messyngers cryed as ţey were wode, 2146 Whan they saw hyr go with ţe flode.

2147 They sayd, “Madame, drede you noght.

2148 The strange squyer hathe you sought.’

2149 Whan she herd of hym speke,

2150 She thought hyr hert wold tobreke, 2151 But she myght se hym with syght,

2152 That hyr wanne in grete fight.

2153 They tornyd ţe shippis to ţe land, Page 78

2154 Togedyr they mette at ţe sond.

2155 Whan ţe lady of hym had syght,

2156 She comaundyd a bote forthe-ryght, 2157 For at ţe lond fayne wold she bee, 2158 That she myght ţe knyght see.

2159 She lepyd oute of ţe bote in hye,

2160 Into ţe water ţe knyght stode bye, 2161 And he in aftir also faste,

2162 Ţat vp he gatte hyr at ţe last.

2163 Whan ţey come vnto ţe lond,

2164 Ipomydon toke hyr by ţe hond

2165 And told hyr ţere, withouten fayle, 2166 Hyr loue had causyd hym grete travaile: folio 82r

2167 “Sythe fryst ţat I with you dyd dwelle, 2168 Half my sorow can I not telle,

2169 And how ye blamyd your cosyn Jason 2170 For ţat I loked you vppon,

2171 And ţo I toke my leve and went,

2172 Tille I herd of youre entente,

2173 How ţat ye wold haue a knyght

2174 That of his hand was most wight.

2175 Thedyr I drew when I it herde,

2176 All ye wote how ţat it ferd.

2177 I seruyd your eme longe withalle,

2178 The quenys lemman ţey dyd me calle; 2179 And aftir I justed dayes thre,

2180 Many men ther dyd I see,

2181 And there I wan stedis good,

2182 Somme were rede as any blode,

Page 79

2183 And also wisely God me amend,

2184 The kyngis stede to you I send;

2185 But sone after, I vndirstand,

2186 I went into myn owne lond,

2187 Tille I herd vppon a day

2188 Of ţe duke ţat made outray;

2189 I busked me in queynt manere,

2190 Right as I a fole were,

2191 And went agayne to ţe kynge.

2192 He knew me not for nothynge;

2193 And thedyr come frome you a mayd,

2194 And to ţe kynge ţese wordis she sayd, 2195 That he muste you socoure sende,

2196 Fro ţe duke you to deffend.

2197 But ţe kyng you of help forsoke

2198 And I the bataile to me toke;

2199 Forthe with ţe mayd gan I gone

2200 And there I kepte hyr frome hyr fone.

2201 Thre knyghtes of hyr lyffes I lete, 2202 And now ţe duke I haue scomfyte.

2203 I darre wele say, by Goddis sond,

2204 I haue you wonne with my hond.’

2205 Whan ţe lady herd how it was,

2206 She felle on swounyng in ţe place.

2207 He toke hyr vp with good spede,

2208 His mouthe to hyrs he gan bede,

2209 They kyssyd togedyr with good chere, 2210 For eyther was to othyr dere.

2211 I lette you wete, withoute delay,

Page 80

2212 Halfe ther joye I can not say.

2213 Forthe they went to ţe castelle

2214 There this lady byfore dyd dwelle.

2215 All that nyght they were insame

2216 With moche myrthe, joy and game.

2217 On the morow the clerkis were bowne, 2218 To wryte lettres of grete renowne

2219 To the kynge of Seseny-lond,

2220 That was hyr eme, I vndyrstand;

2221 To ţe emperoure, I dare wele say,

2222 Were wrytte lettres of grete nobley, 2223 To ershebisshoppes and bysshopis of ţe land, 2224 Prestes and clerkis ţat were at hand, 2225 Dukis, erlys and barons also;

2226 Knyghtis and squyers shuld thedyr go.

2227 Messyngeris were sent euerywhere,

2228 For pore and ryche, all shold be there.

2229 And whan these lordis tythyngis herd, 2230 They hyed hem fast thedyrward.

2231 Ţis fest was cryed longe byfore,

2232 Fourty dayes withoute more.

2233 Metis were made grete plente,

2234 For many a man ţer shuld bee.

2235 With the emperoure come to ţe feste 2236 An hundreth knyghtes at ţe lest,

2237 And with the kynge, hyr eme, also

2238 Two hundreth hors withoute mo.

2239 Sir Piers of Poyle thedyr come

2240 And with hym knyghtes of grete fame, Page 81
folio 83r

2241 That doughty were of ţat land,

2242 In bataile preuyd, I vndirstand.

2243 On the morow whan it was day,

2244 Thay busked theyme, as I you say,

2245 Toward ţe chirche with game and glee, 2246 To make ţat grete solempnyte.

2247 The archebisshopp of ţat land

2248 Weddyd theyme, I vndirstand.

2249 Whan it was done, as I you say,

2250 Home they went, withoute delay.

2251 By ţat they come to ţe castelle,

2252 There mete was redy euerydele.

2253 Trumpes to mete gan blow tho,

2254 Claryons and other menstrellis mo.

2255 Ţo they wasshe and yede to mete,

2256 And euery lord toke his sete.

2257 Whan they were sette, all ţe route, 2258 Menstrellis blew than all aboute,

2259 Tille they were seruyd with pryde

2260 Of the fryst cours ţat tyde.

2261 The seruyce was of grete aray,

2262 That they were seruyd with ţat day.

2263 Ţus they ete and made hem glad,

2264 With suche seruyce as they had.

2265 Whan they had dyned, as I you say, 2266 Lordis and ladyes yede to play,

2267 Somme to tablis and somme to chesse, 2268 With othir gammys, more and lesse.

Page 82

2269 Ipomydon gaff in ţat stound

2270 To mynstrellis fyue hundreth pound, 2271 And othyr yiftes of grete nobley

2272 He yaff to other men ţat day.

2273 Thus this fest, as it was told,

2274 Fourty dayes it was hold.

2275 Ipomydon his brother lette calle,

2276 There he stode in the halle,

2277 And yaff hym all Poyle-land,

2278 But on erledom, I vnderstond,

2279 And of that land made hym kyng,

2280 And afftyr hym hys offspryng.

2281 He thankyd God and hym with mode,

2282 And euery man spak of hym good.

2283 Syr Camppanus fforthe ys gon on sond 2284 To the kyng of Sesanay-lond,

2285 There he was in hys chambyr,

2286 Talkyng with the ladyes on ffere.

2287 He told of the yefftes ffayre,

2288 Off Poyle-lond how he was eyre.

2289 The ladyes answerd all on one:

2290 “Souche a man in the world ys none!’

2291 Ipomadon, there he stod in hall,

2292 Tholomew he lette to hym call

2293 And yaff hym an erledom ffre,

2294 And a mayde, hys leff to bee,

2295 That was with hym in Pole-lond,

Page 83

2296 With the quene, I vnderstond.

2297 Syr Tholomew tho gan say:

2298 “I thanke yow, lord, for thys may

2299 And for yowre yefftes many on,

2300 That ye hawe yewen me here befforne.’

2301 Tho passyd he fforthe, as I yow say, 2302 There he lyked best to play.

2303 Ipo[m]adon, in hall there he stod, 2304 Bethowght hym of myld mode,

2305 Of hys ffelaw, syr Jason,

2306 How he was a worthy man.

2307 To hym he gaff bothe fferre and nere 2308 Grete londes, as ye may here,

2309 To hys wyff a fayre may,

folio 84r

2310 That he had louyd many a day,

2311 And other yiftes he yaff also

2312 Tille other men many moo.

2313 Whan this feste was comyn to ţe end, 2314 Euery man busked hem home to wend.

2315 On the morow, withoute lesynge,

2316 The emperoure went vnto ţe kynge,

2317 His leve to take gan he gone,

2318 And with hym lordis many on.

2319 At ţe takynge of his leve

2320 Halfe ţe joye I can not discryve,

2321 That there was hem amonge,

2322 Off ladies and of knyghtis stronge.

Page 84

2323 The emperoure his leve hathe tane

2324 At ţe kynge, Ipomydon,

2325 And at ţe quene fayre and free,

2326 So dyd many mo than hee.

2327 Thus the lordes fayre and hend,

2328 Homeward all ţey gan to wend,

2329 Euery lord to his contre,

2330 Or where them lyked best to be,

2331 And lefte them there bothe insame, 2332 With myche myrthe, joye and game,

2333 There to dwelle for euyrmore,

2334 Tille theyme departyd dethe sore.

2335 Ipomydon and his lady dere

2336 Togedyr were many yere,

2337 With all joye ţat men myght see.

2338 In world so moche non myght be,

2339 As was euer ţem amonge,

2340 Till dethe ţem departid ţat was stronge.

2341 And whan they dyed, I trow, iwis,

2342 Bothe they yede to heuyn-blysse,

2343 There as non other thynge may bee, 2344 But joye and blisse, game and glee.

2345 To ţat blysse God bryng vs alle,

2346 That dyed on rode for grete and smalle. Amen.

2347 Explic[i]t Ipomydon.

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