A Fourteenth-century Middle English Romance
The text is lightly glossed; for words not explained in the margins see the Riverside Chaucer.
[Fit I] | ||
Litheth, and lesteneth and herkeneth aright, | Listen | |
And ye schulle heere a talking of a doughty knight; | ||
Sire Johan of Boundys was his righte name, | ||
He cowde of norture y-nough and mochil of game. | ||
5 | Thre sones the knight hadde that with his body he wan; | achieved |
The eldest was a moche schrewe and sone he bigan. | began (to show this) | |
His bretheren loved wel here fader and of him were agast, | ||
The eldest deserved his fadres curs and had it at the last. | ||
The goode knight his fader livede so yore, | ||
10 | That deth was comen him to and handled him ful sore. | |
The goode knight cared sore syk ther he lay, | ||
How his children scholde liven after his day. | ||
He hadde ben wyde-wher but non housbond he was, | travelled widely, careful householder | |
Al the lond that he hadde it was verrey purchas. | fee simple, unencumbered possession | |
15 | Fayn he wolde it were dressed among hem alle, | divided |
That ech of hem hadde his part as it mighte falle. | ||
Tho sente he in-to cuntre after wyse knightes, | ||
To helpe delen his londes and dressen hem to-rightes. | ||
He sente hem word by lettres they schulden hye blyve, | hasten quickly | |
20 | If they wolde speke with him whyl he was on lyve. | alive |
Tho the knightes herden syk that he lay, | Tho = whe | |
Hadde they no reste nother night ne day, | ||
Til they comen to him ther he lay stille | ||
On his deth-bedde to abyde Goddes wille. | ||
225 | Than seyde the goode knight syk ther he lay, | |
"Lordes, I you warne for soth, withoute nay, | ||
I may no lenger liven heer in this stounde; | ||
For thurgh Goddes wille deth draweth me to grounde." | ||
Ther nas non of hem alle that herde him aright, | ||
30 | That they ne hadden reuthe of that ilke knight, | |
And seyde, "Sir, for Goddes love ne dismay you nought; | ||
God may do bote of bale that is now y-wrought." | ||
Than spak the goode knight syk ther he lay, | ||
"Boote of bale God may sende I wot it is no nay; | relief for pain | |
35 | But I byseke you, knightes for the love of me, | |
Goth and dresseth my lond among my sones three. | divide | |
And sires, for the love of God deleth hem nat amis, | ||
And forgetith nat Gamelyn my yonge sone that is. | ||
Taketh heed to that on as wel as to that other; | ||
40 | Selde ye see ony eyr helpen his brother." | heir |
Tho leete they the knight lyen that was nought in hele, | ||
And wenten in-to counsel his londes for to dele; | ||
For to delen hem alle to oon, that was her thought, | ||
And for Gamelyn was yongest he schulde have nought. | ||
45 | Al the lond that ther was they dalten it in two, | |
And leeten Gamelyn the yonge withoute londe go, | ||
And ech of hem seyde to other ful lowde, | ||
His bretheren mighte yeve him lond whan he good cowde. | cowde = knew how (i.e., was of age) | |
Whan they hadde deled the lond at here wille, | ||
50 | They comen ayein to the knight ther he lay ful stille, | |
And tolden him anon-right how they hadden wrought; | ||
And the knight ther he lay lyked it right nought. | ||
Than seyde the knight,, "By Seynt Martyn, | ||
For al that ye have y-doon yit is the lond myn; | ||
55 | For Goddes love, neyhebours stondeth alle stille, | |
And I wil dele my lond right after my wille. | ||
Johan, myn eldeste sone schal have plowes fyve, | plow = a measurement of lan | |
That was my fadres heritage whyl he was on lyve; | ||
And my middeleste sone fyve plowes of lond, | ||
60 | That I halp for to gete with my righte hond; | |
And al myn other purchas of londes and leedes, | property`people, serfs | |
That I biquethe Gamelyn and alle my goode steedes. | ||
And I biseke yow, goode men that lawe conne of londe, | ||
For Gamelynes love that my queste stonde." | bequest | |
65 | Thus dalte the knight his lond by his day, | |
Right on his deth-bedde syk ther he lay; | sick | |
And sone aftirward he lay stoon-stille, | ||
And deyde whan tyme com as it was Cristes wille. | ||
And anon as he was deed and under gras y-grave, | ||
70 | Sone the elder brother gyled the yonge knave; | cheated |
He took into his hond his lond and his leede, | people, serfs | |
And Gamelyn himselfe to clothen and to feede. | ||
He clothed him and fedde him yvel and eek wrothe | wrathfully (i.e., begrudgingly) | |
And leet his londes for-fare and his houses bothe, | got to ruin | |
75 | His parkes and his woodes and dede nothing wel; | |
And seththen he it aboughte on his faire fel. | paid for i | |
So longe was Gamelyn in his brotheres halle, | ||
For the strengest, of good wil they doutiden him alle; | feared | |
Ther was non ther-inne nowther yong ne old, | ||
80 | That wolde wraththe Gamelyn were he never so bold. | |
Gamelyn stood on a day in his brotheres yerde, | ||
And bigan with his hond to handlen his berde; | ||
He thoughte on his londes that layen unsawe, | unsown | |
And his faire okes that down were y-drawe; | ||
85 | His parkes were y-broken and his deer bireved; | stolen |
Of alle his goode steedes noon was him bileved; | remained | |
His houses were unhiled and ful yvel dight; | without roofs | |
Tho thoughte Gamelyn it wente nought aright. | ||
Afterward cam his brother walkinge thare, | ||
90 | And seyde to Gamelyn,, "Is our mete yare?" | ready |
Tho wraththed him Gamelyn and swor by Goddes book, | ||
"Thou schalt go bake thy-self I wil nought be thy cook!" | ||
"How? brother Gamelyn how answerest thou now? | ||
Thou spake never such a word as thou dost now." | ||
95 | "By my faith," seyde Gamelyn, "Now me thinketh neede, | |
Of alle the harmes that I have I tok never ar heede. | ||
My parkes ben to-broken and my deer bireved, | ||
Of myn armure and my steedes nought is me bileved; | ||
Al that my fader me biquath al goth to schame, | ||
100 | And therfor have thou Goddes curs brother by thy name!" | |
Than bispak his brother that rape was of rees, | quic | |
"Stond stille, gadeling and hold right thy pees; | ||
Thou schalt be fayn for to have thy mete and thy wede; | clothing | |
What spekest thou, Gamelyn of lond other of leede?" | ||
105 | Thanne seyde Gamelyn the child that was ying, | young |
"Cristes curs mot he have that clepeth me gadeling! | ||
I am no worse gadeling ne no worse wight, | ||
But born of a lady and geten of a knight." | ||
Ne durste he nat to Gamelyn ner a-foote go, | ||
110 | But clepide to him his men and seyde to hem tho, | |
"Goth and beteth this boy and reveth him his wit, | ||
And lat him lerne another tyme to answere me bet." | ||
Thanne seyde the child yonge Gamelyn, | ||
"Cristes curs mot thou have brother art thou myn! | ||
115 | And if I schal algate be beten anon, | |
Cristes curs mot thou have but thou be that oon!" | but = unless you be the one (to beat me) | |
And anon his brother in that grete hete | ||
Made his men to fette staves Gamelyn to bete. | fetch | |
Whan that everich of hem a staf hadde y-nome, | taken | |
120 | Gamelyn was war anon tho he seigh hem come; | when |
Tho Gamelyn seigh hem come he loked over-al, | ||
And was war of a pestel stood under a wal; | ||
Gamelyn was light of foot and thider gan he lepe, | ||
And drof alle his brotheres men right on an hepe. | ||
125 | He loked as a wilde lyoun and leyde on good woon; | good store, plentifully |
Tho his brother say that he bigan to goon; | whe | |
He fley up in-til a loft and schette the dore fast; | fled | |
Thus Gamelyn with the pestel made hem alle agast. | ||
Some for Gamelynes love and some for his eye, | for awe of him | |
130 | Alle they drowe by halves tho he gan to pleye. | |
"What! how now?" seyde Gamelyn, "Evel mot ye thee! | may you prosper evilly | |
Wil ye biginne contek and so sone flee?" | strife | |
Gamelyn soughte his brother whider he was flowe, | ||
And saugh wher he loked out at a windowe. | ||
135 | "Brother," sayde Gamelyn, "Com a litel ner, | |
And I wil teche thee a play atte bokeler." | ||
His brother him answerde and swor by Seynt Richer, | ||
"Whyl the pestel is in thin hond I wil come no neer: | ||
Brother, I wil make thy pees I swere by Cristes ore; | mercy | |
140 | Cast away the pestel and wraththe thee no-more." | |
"I mot neede," sayde Gamelyn, "Wraththe me at oones, | ||
For thou wolde make thy men to breke myne boones, | ||
Ne hadde I had mayn and might in myn armes, | ||
To have y-put hem fro me they wolde have do me harmes." | ||
145 | "Gamelyn," sayde his brother, "Be thou nought wroth, | |
For to seen thee have harm it were me right loth; | ||
I ne dide it nought, brother but for a fonding, | ||
For to loken if thou were strong and art so ying." | ||
"Com a-doun than to me and graunte me my bone | ||
150 | Of thing I wil thee aske and we schul saughte sone." | make peace |
Doun than cam his brother that fikil was and fel, | fierce | |
And was swithe sore agast of the pestel. | ||
He seyde, "Brother Gamelyn aske me thy boone, | ||
And loke thou me blame but I graunte sone." | ||
155 | Thanne seyde Gamelyn,, "Brother, y-wis, | |
And we schulle ben at oon thou most me graunte this: | And = If | |
Al that my fader me biquath whyl he was on lyve, | ||
Thou most do me it have yif we schul nat stryve." | ||
"That schalt thou have, Gamelyn, I swere by Cristes ore! | mercy | |
160 | Al that thy fader thee biquath though thou woldest have more; | |
Thy lond, that lyth laye ful wel it schal be sowe, | fallow | |
And thyn howses reysed up that ben leyd so lowe." | ||
Thus seyde the knight to Gamelyn with mowthe, | ||
And thoughte eek of falsnes as he wel couthe. | ||
165 | The knight thoughte on tresoun and Gamelyn on noon, | |
And wente and kiste his brother and, whan they were at oon, | ||
Allas! yonge Gamelyn nothing he ne wiste | ||
With which a false tresoun his brother him kiste! | ||
[Fit II] | ||
Litheth, and lesteneth and holdeth your tonge, | ||
170 | And ye schul heere talking of Gamelyn the yonge. | |
Ther was ther bisyden cryed a wrastling, | ||
And therfor ther was set up a ram and a ring; | ||
And Gamelyn was in good wil to wende therto, | ||
For to preven his might what he cowthe do. | ||
175 | "Brother," seyde Gamelyn, "By Seynt Richer, | |
Thou most lene me to-night a litel courser | ||
That is freisch to the spore on for to ryde; | ||
I most on an erande a litel her bisyde." | ||
"By God!" seyde his brother, "Of steedes in my stalle | ||
180 | Go and chese thee the best and spare non of alle | |
Of steedes or of coursers that stonden hem bisyde; | ||
And tel me, goode brother whider thou wolt ryde." | ||
"Her bisyde, brother is cryed a wrastling, | ||
And therfor schal be set up a ram and a ring; | ||
185 | Moche worschip it were brother, to us alle, | |
Might I the ram and the ring bring home to this halle." | ||
A steede ther was sadeled smertely and skeet; | ||
Gamelyn did a paire spores fast on his feet. | ||
He sette his foot in the styrop the steede he bistrood, | ||
190 | And toward the wrasteling the yonge child rood. | |
Tho Gamelyn the yonge was ride out at the gat, | ||
The false knight his brother lokked it after that, | ||
And bisoughte Jesu Crist that is heven king, | ||
He mighte breke his nekke in that wrasteling. | ||
195 | As sone as Gamelyn com ther the place was, | |
He lighte doun of his steede and stood on the gras, | ||
And ther he herd a frankeleyn wayloway singe, | alas | |
And bigan bitterly his hondes for to wringe. | ||
"Goode man," seyde Gamelyn, "Why makestow this fare? | ||
200 | Is ther no man that may you helpe out of this care?" | |
"Allas!" seyde this frankeleyn, "That ever was I bore! | ||
For tweye stalworthe sones I wene that I have lore; | lost | |
A champioun is in the place that hath y-wrought me sorwe, | ||
For he hath slayn my two sones but-if God hem borwe. | ||
205 | I wold yeve ten pound by Jesu Crist! and more, | |
With the nones I fand a man to handelen him sore." | On the condition | |
"Goode man," sayde Gamelyn, "Wilt thou wel doon, | ||
Hold myn hors, whyl my man draweth of my schoon, | of = off | |
And help my man to kepe my clothes and my steede, | ||
210 | And I wil into place go to loke if I may speede." | succeed |
"By God!" sayde the frankeleyn, "Anon it schal be doon; | ||
I wil my-self be thy man and drawen of thy schoon, | ||
And wende thou into the place Jesu Crist thee speede, | And wende =- If you go | |
And drede not of thy clothes nor of thy goode steede." | ||
215 | Barfoot and ungert Gamelyn in cam, | |
Alle that weren in the place heede of him they nam, | took | |
How he durste auntre him of him to doon his might | dared adventure | |
That was so doughty champioun in wrastling and in fight. | ||
Up sterte the champioun rapely and anoon, | ||
220 | Toward yonge Gamelyn he bigan to goon, | |
And sayde, "Who is thy fader and who is thy sire? | ||
For sothe thou art a gret fool that thou come hire!" | ||
Gamelyn answerde the champioun tho, | tho = then | |
"Thou knewe wel my fader whyl he couthe go, | ||
225 | Whyles he was on lyve by Seint Martyn! | |
Sir Johan of Boundys was his name and I Gamelyn." | ||
"Felaw," seyde the champioun, "Al-so mot I thryve, | ||
I knew wel thy fader whyl he was on lyve; | ||
And thyself, Gamelyn I wil that thou it heere, | ||
230 | Whyl thou were a yong boy a moche schrewe thou were." | |
Than seyde Gamelyn and swor by Cristes ore, | ||
"Now I am older woxe thou schalt me finde a more!" | ||
"By God!" sayde the champioun, "Welcome mote thou be! | ||
Come thou ones in myn hond schalt thou never thee." | ||
235 | It was wel withinne the night and the moone schon, | |
Whan Gamelyn and the champioun togider gonne goon. | ||
The champioun caste tornes to Gamelyn that was prest, | ready | |
And Gamelyn stood stille and bad him doon his best. | ||
Thanne seyde Gamelyn to the champioun, | ||
240 | "Thou art faste aboute to bringe me adoun; | |
Now I have y-proved many tornes of thyne, | ||
Thow most," he seyde, "Proven on or two of myne." | ||
Gamelyn to the champioun yede smertely anon, | ||
Of all the tornes that he cowthe he schewed him but oon, | ||
245 | And caste him on the lefte syde that three ribbes to-brak, | |
And ther-to his oon arm that yaf a gret crak. | ||
Thanne seyde Gamelyn smertely anoon, | ||
"Schal it be holde for a cast or elles for noon?" | ||
"By God!" seyde the champioun, "Whether that it be, | ||
250 | He that cometh ones in thin hand schal he never thee!" | |
Than seyde the frankeleyn that had his sones there, | ||
"Blessed be thou, Gamelyn that ever thou bore were!" | ||
The frankeleyn seyde to the champioun of him stood him noon eye, | eye = awe | |
"This is yonge Gamelyn that taughte thee this pleye." | ||
255 | Agein answerd the champioun that lyked nothing wel, | In return |
"He is a lither mayster and his pley is right fel; | evil | |
Sith I wrastled first it is y-go ful yore, | ||
But I was nevere in my lyf handeled so sore." | ||
Gamelyn stood in the place allone withoute serk, | shirt | |
260 | And seyde, "If ther be eny mo lat hem come to werk; | |
The champioun that peyned him to werke so sore, | ||
It semeth by his continaunce that he wil no-more." | ||
Gamelyn in the place stood as stille as stoon, | ||
For to abyde wrasteling but ther com noon; | ||
265 | Ther was noon with Gamelyn wolde wrastle more, | |
For he handled the champioun so wonderly sore. | ||
Two gentil-men ther were that yemede the place, | guarded | |
Comen to Gamelyn (God yeve him goode grace!) | ||
And sayde to him, "Do on thyn hosen and thy schoon, | ||
270 | For sothe at this tyme this feire is y-doon." | |
And than seyde Gamelyn, "So mot I wel fare, | ||
I have nought yet halven-del sold up my ware." | ||
Tho seyde the champioun, "So brouke I my sweere, | As I enjoy (having) my head | |
He is a fool that ther-of byeth thou sellest it so deere." | ||
275 | Tho sayde the frankeleyn that was in moche care, | |
"Felaw," he seyde, "Why lakkest thou his ware? | dispriase, criticiz | |
By Seynt Jame in Galys that many man hath sought, | Galicia | |
Yet it is to good cheep that thou hast y-bought." | ||
Tho that wardeynes were of that wrasteling | tho = those | |
280 | Come and broughte Gamelyn the ram and the ring, | |
And seyden, "Have, Gamelyn the ring and the ram, | ||
For the beste wrasteler that ever here cam." | ||
Thus wan Gamelyn the ram and the ring, | ||
And wente with moche joye home in the morning. | ||
285 | His brother seih wher he cam with the grete rowte, | saw |
And bad schitte the gate and holde him withoute. | shut | |
The porter of his lord was ful sore agast, | afraid | |
And sterte anon to the gate and lokked it fast. | ||
[Fit III] | ||
Now litheth, and lesteneth bothe yonge and olde, | ||
290 | And ye schul heere gamen of Gamelyn the bolde. | |
Gamelyn come ther-to for to have comen in, | ||
And thanne was it y-schet faste with a pin; | ||
Than seyde Gamelyn, "Porter, undo the gate, | ||
For many good mannes sone stondeth ther-at." | ||
295 | Than answerd the porter and swor by Goddes berde, | |
"Thow ne schalt, Gamelyn come into this yerde." | ||
"Thow lixt," sayde Gamelyn, "So browke I my chin!" | ||
He smot the wiket with his foot and brak awey the pin. | wicket | |
The porter seyh tho it might no better be, | tho = then | |
300 | He sette foot on erthe and bigan to flee. | |
"By my faith," seyde Gamelyn, "That travail is y-lore, | ||
For I am of foot as light as thou, though thou haddest swore." | ||
Gamelyn overtook the porter and his teene wrak, | pain wreaked | |
And gerte him in the nekke that the bon to-brak, | struck | |
305 | And took him by that oon arm and threw him in a welle, | |
Seven fadmen it was deep as I have herd telle. | fathoms | |
Whan Gamelyn the yonge thus hadde pleyd his play, | ||
Alle that in the yerde were drewen hem away; | ||
They dredden him ful sore for werkes that he wroughte, | ||
310 | And for the faire company that he thider broughte. | |
Gamelyn yede to the gate and leet it up wyde; | ||
He leet in alle maner men that gon in wolde or ryde, | ||
And seyde, "Ye be welcome withouten eny greeve, | ||
For we wiln be maistres heer and aske no man leve. | ||
315 | Yestirday I lefte" seyde yonge Gamelyn, | |
"In my brother seller fyve tonne of wyn; | ||
I wil not that this compaignye parten a-twinne, | depart | |
And ye wil doon after me whyl eny sope is thrinne, | And = IF | |
And if my brother grucche or make foul cheere, | ||
320 | Other for spense of mete or drink that we spenden heere, | dispensing |
I am oure catour and bere oure aller purs, | caterer | |
He schal have for his grucching Seint Maries curs. | ||
My brother is a niggoun I swer by Cristes ore, | miser | |
And we wil spende largely that he hath spared yore; | saved for a long time | |
325 | And who that maketh grucching that we here dwelle, | |
He schal to the porter into the draw-welle." | ||
Seven dayes and seven night Gamelyn held his feste, | ||
With moche mirth and solas that was ther, and no cheste; | strife | |
In a little toret his brother lay y-steke, | turre | |
330 | And sey hem wasten his good but durste he not speke. | saw |
Erly on a morning on the eighte day, | ||
The gestes come to Gamelyn and wolde gon here way. | ||
"Lordes," seyde Gamelyn, "Wil ye so hye? | hasten | |
Al the wyn is not yet dronke so brouke I myn ye;." | ||
335 | Gamelyn in his herte was he ful wo, | |
Whan his gestes took her leve from him for to go; | ||
He wolde they had lenger abide and they seyde "Nay," | ||
But bitaughte Gamelyn God, and good day. | ||
Thus made Gamelyn his feest and broughte it wel to ende, | ||
340 | And after his gestes toke leve to wende. | |
[Fit IV] | ||
Litheth, and lesteneth and holdeth youre tonge, | ||
And ye schul heere gamen of Gamelyn the yonge; | ||
Herkeneth, lordinges and lesteneth aright, | ||
Whan alle gestes were goon how Gamelyn was dight. | ||
345 | Al the whyl that Gamelyn heeld his mangerye, | feast |
His brother thoughte on him be wreke with his treccherye. | ||
Tho Gamelyns gestes were riden and y-goon, | tho = when | |
Gamelyn stood allone frendes had he noon; | ||
Tho after ful soone withinne a litel stounde, | tho = then | |
350 | Gamelyn was y-taken and ful harde y-bounde. | |
Forth com the false knight out of the soleer, | upper room | |
To Gamelyn his brother he yede ful neer, | ||
And sayde to Gamelyn,, "Who made thee so bold | ||
For to stroye my stoor of myn houshold?" | ||
355 | "Brother," seyde Gamelyn, "Wraththe thee right nought, | |
For it is many day y-gon siththen it was bought; | ||
For, brother, thou hast y-had by Seynt Richer, | ||
Of fiftene plowes of lond this sixtene yer, | ||
And of alle the beestes thou hast forth bred, | ||
360 | That my fader me biquath on his deth-bed; | |
Of al this sixtene yeer I yeve thee the prow, | profit | |
For the mete and the drink that we have spended now." | ||
Thanne seyde the false knight (evel mot he thee!) | ||
"Herkne, brother Gamelyn what I wol yeve thee; | ||
365 | For of my body, brother heir geten have I noon, | begotten |
I wil make thee myn heir I swere by Seint Johan." | ||
"Par ma foy!" sayde Gamelyn, "And if it so be, | ||
And thou thenke as thou seyst God yelde it thee!" | ||
Nothing wiste Gamelyn of his brotheres gyle; | guile | |
370 | Therfore he him bigyled in a litel whyle. | |
"Gamelyn," seyde he, "O thing I thee telle; | ||
Tho thou threwe my porter in the draw-welle, | ||
I swor in that wraththe and in that grete moot, | meeting | |
That thou schuldest be bounde bothe hand and foot; | ||
375 | Therfore I thee biseche brother Gamelyn, | |
Lat me nought be forsworen; brother art thou myn; | ||
Lat me binde thee now bothe hand and feet, | ||
For to holde myn avow as I thee biheet." | ||
"Brother," sayde Gamelyn, "Al-so mot I thee! | ||
380 | Thou schalt not be forsworen for the love of me." | |
Tho made they Gamelyn to sitte; mighte he nat stonde, | ||
Til they hadde him bounde bothe foot and honde. | ||
The false knight his brother of Gamelyn was agast, | ||
And sente aftir feteres to feteren him fast. | ||
385 | His brother made lesinges on him ther he stood, | lies |
And tolde hem that comen in that Gamelyn was wood. | ||
Gamelyn stood to a post bounden in the halle, | ||
Tho that comen in ther lokede on him alle. | ||
Ever stood Gamelyn even upright; | ||
390 | But mete ne drink had he non neither day ne night. | |
Than seyde Gamelyn, "Brother, by myn hals, | ||
Now I have aspyed thou art a party fals; | ||
Had I wist that tresoun that thou haddest y-founde, | ||
I wolde have yeve thee strokes or I had be bounde!" | ||
395 | Gamelyn stood bounden stille as eny stoon; | |
Two dayes and two nightes mete had he noon. | ||
Thanne seyde Gamelyn that stood y-bounde stronge, | ||
"Adam Spenser, me thinkth I faste to longe; | ||
Adam Spenser, now I byseche thee, | ||
400 | For the mochel love my fader loved thee, | |
If thou may come to the keyes lese me out of bond, | loose | |
And I wil parte with thee of my free lond." | of = some of | |
Thanne seyde Adam, that was the spencer, | provisoner, officer in charge of the kitche | |
"I have served thy brother this sixtene yeer, | ||
405 | If I leete thee goon out of his bour, | |
He wolde say afterward I were a traytour." | ||
"Adam," sayde Gamelyn, "So brouke I myn hals! | neck | |
Thou schalt finde my brother atte laste fals; | atte = at the | |
Therfor, brother Adam, louse me out of bond, | ||
410 | And I wil parte with thee of my free lond." | |
"Up swich a forward" seyde Adam, "Y-wis, | up = upon | |
I wil do therto al that in me is." | ||
"Adam," seyde Gamelyn, "Al-so mot I thee, | ||
I wol holde thee covenant and thou wil me." | ||
415 | Anon as Adames lord to bedde was y-goon, | |
Adam took the keyes and leet Gamelyn out anoon; | ||
He unlokked Gamelyn bothe handes and feet, | ||
In hope of avauncement that he him biheet. | ||
Than seyde Gamelyn, "Thanked be Goddes sonde! | ||
420 | Now I am loosed bothe foot and honde; | |
Had I now eten and dronken aright, | ||
Ther is noon in this hous schulde binde me this night." | ||
Adam took Gamelyn as stille as ony stoon, | ||
And ladde him in-to spence rapely and anon, | quickly | |
425 | And sette him to soper right in a privee stede, | |
He bad him do gladly and Gamelyn so dede. | ||
Anon as Gamelyn hadde eten wel and fyn, | ||
And therto y-dronke wel of the rede wyn, | ||
"Adam," seyde Gamelyn, "What is now thy reed? | ||
430 | Wher I go to my brother and girde of his heed?" | Wher = should |
"Gamelyn," seyde Adam, "It schal not be so. | ||
I can teche thee a reed that is worth the two. | ||
I wot wel for sothe that this is no nay, | ||
We schul have a mangery right on Soneday; | dinner, feast | |
435 | Abbotes and priours many heer schal be, | |
And other men of holy chirche as I telle thee; | ||
Thow schalt stonde up by the post as thou were hond-fast, | ||
And I schal leve hem unloke; awey thou may hem cast. | ||
Whan that they have eten and wasschen here hondes, | ||
440 | Thou schalt biseke hem alle to bring thee out of bondes; | |
And if they wille borwe thee that were good game; | ransom | |
Then were thou out of prisoun and I out of blame. | ||
And if everich of hem say unto us "nay," | ||
I schal do an other, I swere by this day! | ||
445 | Thou schalt have a good staf and I wil have another, | |
And Cristes curs have that oon that faileth that other!" | ||
"Ye, for Gode!" sayde Gamelyn, "I say it for me, | ||
If I fayle on my syde yvel mot I thee! | ||
If we schul algate assoile hem of here sinne, | ||
450 | Warne me, brother Adam whan I schal biginne." | |
"Gamelyn," seyde Adam, "By Seynte Charite, | ||
I wil warne thee biforn whan that it schal be; | ||
Whan I twinke on thee loke for to goon, | ||
And cast awey the feteres and com to me anoon." | ||
455 | "Adam," seide Gamelyn, "Blessed be thy bones! | |
That is a good counseil yeven for the nones; | ||
If they werne me thanne to bringe me out of bendes, | bonds | |
I wol sette goode strokes right on here lendes." | loins | |
Tho the Sonday was y-come and folk to the feste, | ||
460 | Faire they were welcomed both leste and meste; | |
And ever atte halle-dore as they comen in, | ||
They caste their eye on yonge Gamelyn. | ||
The false knight his brother, ful of trechery, | ||
Alle the gestes that ther were atte mangery, | ||
465 | Of Gamelyn his brother he tolde hem with mouthe | |
Al the harm and the schame that he telle couthe. | ||
Tho they were served of messes two or three, | dishes | |
Than seyde Gamelyn, "How serve ye me? | ||
It is nought wel served, by God that al made! | ||
470 | That I sitte fasting and other men make glade." | |
The false knight his brother, ther that he stood, | ||
Tolde alle his gestes that Gamelyn was wood; | ||
And Gamelyn stood stille and answerde nought, | ||
But Adames wordes he held in his thought. | ||
475 | Tho Gamelyn gan speke dolfully with-alle | |
To the grete lordes that saten in the halle: | ||
"Lordes," he seyde, "For Cristes passioun, | ||
Helpeth bringe Gamelyn out of prisoun." | ||
Than seyde an abbot sorwe on his cheeke! | ||
480 | "He schal have Cristes curs and Seynte Maries eeke, | |
That thee out of prisoun beggeth other borwe, | ||
But ever worthe hem wel that doth thee moche sorwe." | well be to them | |
After that abbot than spak another, | ||
"I wold thin heed were of though thou were my brother! | ||
485 | Alle that thee borwe foule mot hem falle!" | |
Thus they seyden alle that weren in the halle. | ||
Than seyde a priour (yvel mot he thryve!), | ||
"It is moche scathe, boy, that thou art on lyve." | ||
"Ow!" seyde Gamelyn, "So brouke I my bon! | ||
490 | Now I have aspyed that freendes have I non. | |
Cursed mot he worthe bothe fleisch and blood, | ||
That ever do priour or abbot ony good!" | ||
Adam the spencer took up the cloth, | ||
And loked on Gamelyn and say that he was wroth; | saw | |
495 | Adam on the pantrye litel he thoughte, | |
But two goode staves to halle-dore he broughte, | ||
Adam loked on Gamelyn and he was war anoon, | ||
And caste awey the feteres and he bigan to goon: | ||
Tho he com to Adam he took that oo staf, | ||
500 | And bigan to worche and goode strokes yaf. | |
Gamelyn cam in-to the halle and the spencer bothe, | ||
And loked hem aboute as they had be wrothe; | ||
Gamelyn sprengeth holy-water with an oken spire, | sprig | |
That some that stoode upright fellen in the fire. | ||
505 | There was no lewed man that in the halle stood, | lay |
That wolde do Gamelyn eny thing but good, | ||
But stood bisyden and leet hem bothe werche, | ||
For they hadde no rewthe of men of holy cherche; | ||
Abbot or priour monk or chanoun, | ||
510 | That Gamelyn overtok anon they yeeden doun. | |
Ther was non of hem alle that with his staf mette, | ||
That he ne made him overthrowe and quitte him his dette. | ||
"Gamelyn," seyde Adam, "For Seynte Charite, | ||
Pay large liverey for the love of me, | liberal allowance (many blows) | |
515 | And I wil kepe the dore so ever here I masse! | |
Er they ben assoyled there shal noon passe." | ||
"Dowt thee nought," seyde Gamelyn, "Whyl we ben in-feere, | together | |
Kep thou wel the dore and I wol werche heere; | ||
Stere thee, good Adam and lat ther noon flee, | ||
520 | And we schul telle largely how many that ther be." | |
"Gamelyn," seyde Adam, "Do hem but good; | ||
They ben men of holy chirche draw of hem no blood, | ||
Save wel the croune and do hem non harmes, | ||
But brek bothe her legges and siththen here armes." | ||
525 | Thus Gamelyn and Adam wroughte right fast, | |
And pleyden with the monkes and made hem agast. | ||
Thider they come ryding jolily with swaynes, | ||
And hom ayen they were y-lad in cartes and in waynes. | wagons | |
Tho they hadden al y-don than seyde a gray frere, | ||
530 | "Allas! Sire abbot, what dide we now heere? | |
Tho that we comen hider it was a cold reed, | Tho that = when | |
Us hadde ben better at home with water and with breed." | ||
Whyl Gamelyn made ordres of monkes and frere, | ||
Ever stood his brother and made foul chere; | ||
535 | Gamelyn up with his staf that he wel knew, | |
And gerte him in the nekke that he overthrew; | ||
A litel above the girdel the rigge-bon to-barst; | ||
And sette him in the feteres ther he sat arst. | arst = erst, previously | |
"Sitte ther, brother" sayde Gamelyn, | ||
540 | "For to colen thy blood as I dide myn." | |
As swithe as they hadde y-wroken hem on here foon, | ||
They askeden watir and wisschen anoon, | wash | |
What some for here love and some for here awe, | ||
Alle the servants served hem of the beste lawe. | ||
545 | The scherreve was thennes but a fyve myle, | |
And al was y-told him in a litel whyle, | ||
How Gamelyn and Adam had doon a sory rees, | attack | |
Bounden and y-wounded men ayein the kinges pees; | ||
Tho bigan sone stryf for to wake, | ||
550 | And the scherref was aboute Gamelyn for to take. | |
[Fit V] | ||
Now lytheth and lesteneth, so God yif you good fyn, | ||
And ye schul heere good game of yonge Gamelyn! | ||
Four and twenty yonge men that heelden hem ful bolde, | ||
Come to the schirref and seyde that they wolde | ||
555 | Gamelyn and Adam fetten, by her fay; | |
The scherref yaf hem leve soth as I you say; | ||
They hyeden faste wold they nought bilinne, | haste | |
Til they come to the gate ther Gamelyn was inne. | ||
They knokked on the gate the porter was ny, | ||
560 | And loked out at an hol as man that was sly. | |
The porter hadde biholde hem a litel whyle, | ||
He loved wel Gamelyn and was adrad of gyle, | ||
And leet the wicket stonden y-steke ful stille, | staked, barred | |
And asked hem withoute what was here wille. | ||
565 | For al the grete company thanne spak but oon, | |
"Undo the gate, porter and lat us in goon." | ||
Than seyde the porter, "So brouke I my chin, | ||
Ye schul sey your erand er ye comen in." | ||
"Sey to Gamelyn and Adam if here wille be, | ||
570 | We wil speke with hem wordes two or thre." | |
"Felaw," seyde the porter, "Stond there stille, | ||
And I wil wende to Gamelyn to witen his wille." | ||
In wente the porter to Gamelyn anoon, | ||
And seyde, "Sir, I warne you her ben come your foon; | ||
575 | The scherreves meyne ben atte gate, | sherrif's men |
For to take you bothe; schulle ye nat scape." | ||
"Porter," seyde Gamelyn, "So moot I wel thee! | ||
I wil allowe thee thy wordes whan I my tyme see; | reward you for | |
Go agayn to the yate and dwel with hem a whyle, | ||
580 | And thou schalt see right sone, porter, a gyle. | |
Adam," sayde Gamelyn, "Looke thee to goon; | ||
We have foo-men atte gate and frendes never oon; | ||
It ben the schirrefes men that hider ben y-come, | ||
They ben swore to-gidere that we schul be nome." | ||
585 | "Gamelyn," seyde Adam, "Hye thee right blyve, | hasten very quickly |
And if I faile thee this day, evel mot I thryve! | ||
And we schul so welcome the scherreves men, | ||
That some of hem schul make here beddes in the fen." | ||
Atte posterne-gate Gamelyn out wente, | ||
590 | And a good cart-staf in his hand he hente; | |
Adam hente sone another gret staf, | ||
For to helpe Gamelyn, and goode strokes yaf. | ||
Adam felde tweyne and Gamelyn felde three, | ||
The other setten feet on erthe and bigonne flee. | ||
595 | "What?" seyde Adam, "So ever here I masse! | |
I have a draught of good wyn! Drink er ye passe!" | ||
"Nay, by God!" sayde thay, "Thy drink is not good, | ||
It wolde make mannes brayn to lyen in his hood." | ||
Gamelyn stood stille and loked him aboute, | ||
600 | And seih the scherreve come with a gret route. | saw |
"Adam," seyde Gamelyn, "What be now thy reedes? | ||
Here cometh the scherreve and wil have oure heedes." | ||
Adam sayde, "Gamelyn my reed is now this: | ||
Abyde we no lenger, lest we fare amis: | ||
605 | I rede that we to wode goon ar that we be founde, | ar = ere |
Better is us ther loos than in town y-bounde." | ||
Adam took by the hond yonge Gamelyn; | ||
And everich of hem two drank a draught of wyn, | ||
And after took her cours and wenten her way; | ||
610 | Tho fond the scherreve nest, but non ay. | no egg |
The scherreve lighte adoun and went in-to the halle, | ||
And fond the lord y-fetered faste with-alle. | ||
The scherreve unfetered him sone, and that anoon, | ||
And sente after a leche to hele his rigge-boon. | ||
615 | Lete we now this false knight lyen in his care, | |
And talke we of Gamelyn and loke how he fare. | ||
Gamelyn in-to the woode stalkede stille, | ||
And Adam the spenser lykede ful ille; | ||
Adam swor to Gamelyn by Seynt Richer, | ||
620 | "Now I see it is mery to be a spencer, | |
That lever me were keyes for to bere, | ||
Than walken in this wilde woode my clothes to tere." | ||
"Adam," seyde Gamelyn, "Dismaye thee right nought; | ||
Many good mannes child in care is y-brought." | ||
625 | And as they stoode talking bothen in-feere, | |
Adam herd talking of men and neyh, him thought, they were. | ||
Tho Gamelyn under the woode lokede aright, | ||
Sevene score of yonge men he saugh wel a-dight; | ||
Alle satte atte mete in compas aboute. | ||
630 | "Adam," seyde Gamelyn, "Now have we no doute, | |
After bale cometh boote thurgh grace of God almight; | ||
Me thinketh of mete and drink that I have a sight." | ||
Adam lokede tho under woode-bowgh, | ||
And whan he seyh mete he was glad y-nough; | ||
635 | For he hopede to God for to have his deel, | share |
And he was sore alonged after a good meel. | ||
As he seyde that word the mayster outlawe | ||
Saugh Gamelyn and Adam under woode-schawe. | ||
"Yonge men," seyde the maister, "By the goode roode, | cross | |
640 | I am war of gestes God sende us non but goode; | |
Yonder ben two yonge men wonder wel a-dight, | ||
And paraventure ther ben mo who-so lokede aright. | ||
Ariseth up, ye yonge men, and fetteth hem to me; | ||
It is good that we witen what men they be." | ||
645 | Up ther sterten sevene fro the diner, | |
And metten with Gamelyn and Adam spenser. | ||
Whan they were neyh hem, than seyde that oon, | ||
"Yeldeth up, yonge men your bowes and your floon." | arrows | |
Thanne seyde Gamelyn that yong was of elde, | ||
650 | "Moche sorwe mot he have that to you hem yelde! | |
I curse non other but right my-selve; | ||
They ye fette to yow fyve thanne ye be twelve!" | They = Though | |
Tho they herde by his word that might was in his arm, | ||
Ther was non of hem alle that wolde do him harm, | ||
655 | But sayde unto Gamelyn mildely and stille, | |
"Com afore our maister, and sey to him thy wille." | ||
"Yonge men," sayde Gamelyn, "By your lewte, | fealty | |
What man is your maister that ye with be?" | ||
Alle they answerde withoute lesing, | ||
660 | "Oure maister is y-crouned of outlawes king." | |
"Adam," seyde Gamelyn, "Go we in Cristes name; | ||
He may neyther mete nor drink werne us, for schame. | ||
If that he be hende and come of gentil blood, | ||
He wol yeve us mete and drink and doon us som good." | ||
665 | "By Seynt Jame!" seyde Adam, "What harm that I gete, | |
I wil auntre to the dore that I hadde mete." | that = so that | |
Gamelyn and Adam wente forth in-feere, | ||
And they grette the maister that they founde there. | ||
Than seide the maister king of outlawes, | ||
670 | "What seeke ye, yonge men under woode-schawes?" | |
Gamelyn answerde the king with his croune, | ||
"He moste needes walke in woode that may not walke in towne. | ||
Sire, we walke not heer noon harm for to do, | ||
But if we meete with a deer to scheete ther-to, | But if = Unless | |
675 | As men that ben hungry and mow no mete finde, | |
And ben harde bistad under woode-linde." | ||
Of Gamelynes wordes the maister hadde routhe, | ||
And seyde, "Ye schal have y-nough; have God my trouthe!" | ||
He bad hem sitte ther adoun for to take reste; | ||
680 | And bad hem ete and drinke, and that of the beste. | |
As they sete and eeten and dronke wel and fyn, | ||
Than seyde that oon to that other, "This is Gamelyn." | ||
Tho was the maister outlawe in-to counseil nome, | ||
And told how it was Gamelyn that thider was y-come. | ||
685 | Anon as he herde how it was bifalle, | |
He made him maister under him over hem alle. | ||
Within the thridde wyke him com tyding, | ||
To the maister outlawe that tho was her king, | ||
That he schulde come hom his pees was y-mad; | ||
690 | And of that goode tyding he was tho ful glad. | |
Tho seyde he to his yonge men, "Soth for to telle, | ||
Me ben comen tydinges; I may no lenger dwelle." | ||
Tho was Gamelyn anon withoute tarying, | ||
Maad maister outlawe and crouned here king. | ||
695 | Tho was Gamelyn crouned king of outlawes, | |
And walked a whyle under woode-schawes. | ||
The false knight his brother was scherreve and sire, | ||
And leet his brother endite for hate and for ire. | be indicted | |
Tho were his bonde-men sory and nothing glad, | ||
700 | When Gamelyn her lord, "Wolves-heed" was cryed and maad; | outlaw |
And sente out of his men wher they might him finde, | ||
For to seke Gamelyn under woode-linde, | ||
To telle him tydinges how the wind was went, | ||
And al his good reved and his men schent. | stol | |
705 | Whan they had him founde on knees they hem sette, | |
And a-doun with here hood and here lord grette; | ||
"Sire, wraththe you nought for the goode roode, | ||
For we have brought you tydinges but they be nat goode. | ||
Now is thy brother scherreve and hath the baillye, | rule, government | |
710 | And he hath endited thee and "Wolves-heed" doth thee crye." | |
"Allas!" seyde Gamelyn, "That ever I was so slak | ||
That I ne hadde broke his nekke tho I his rigge brak! | back | |
Goth, greteth hem wel, myn housbondes and wyf, | ||
I wol ben atte nexte schire have God my lyf!" | assizes | |
715 | Gamelyn com wel redy to the nexte schire, | |
And ther was his brother bothe lord and sire. | ||
Gamelyn com boldelich in-to the moot-halle, | court of justice | |
And putte a-doun his hood among the lordes alle; | ||
"God save you alle, lordinges, that now here be! | ||
720 | But broke-bak scherreve evel mot thou thee! | |
Why hast thou do me that schame and vilonye, | ||
For to late endite me and `Wolves-heed' me crye?" | ||
Tho thoughte the false knight for to ben awreke, | ||
And leet take Gamelyn moste he no more speke; | ||
725 | Might ther be no more grace but Gamelyn atte laste | |
Was cast in-to prisoun and fetered ful faste. | ||
Gamelyn hath a brother that highte Sir Ote, | ||
As good a knight and hende as mighte gon on foote. | ||
Anon ther yede a messager to that goode knight, | ||
730 | And tolde him al-togidere how Gamelyn was dight. | treated |
Anon as Sire Ote herde how Gamelyn was a-dight, | ||
He was wonder sory was he no-thing light, | ||
And leet sadle a steede and the way he nam, | ||
And to his tweyne bretheren anon-right he cam. | ||
735 | "Sire," seyde Sire Ote to the scherreve tho, | |
"We ben but three bretheren schul we never be mo; | ||
And thou hast y-prisoned the beste of us alle; | ||
Swich another brother yvel mot him bifalle!" | ||
"Sire Ote," seide the false knight, "Lat be thy curs; | ||
740 | By God, for thy wordes he schal fare the wurs; | |
To the kinges prisoun anon he is y-nome, | ||
And ther he schal abyde til the Justice come." | judge | |
"Parde!" seyde Sir Ote, "Better it schal be; | ||
I bidde him to maynpris, that thou graunte him me, | I offer bail for him | |
745 | Til the nexte sitting, of deliveraunce, | |
And thanne lat Gamelyn stande to his chaunce." | ||
"Brother, in swich a forward I take him to thee; | give | |
And by thy fader soule, that thee bigat and me, | ||
But if he be redy whan the Justice sitte, | But if = Unless | |
750 | Thou schalt bere the juggement for al thy grete witte." | |
"I graunte wel," seide sir Ote, "That it so be. | ||
Let deliver him anon and tak him to me." | ||
Tho was Gamelyn delivered to Sire Ote his brother, | ||
And that night dwellede that on with that other. | ||
755 | On the morn seyde Gamelyn to Sire Ote the hende, | |
"Brother," he seide, "I moot for sothe, from thee wende, | ||
To loke how my yonge men leden here lyf, | ||
Whether they liven in joye or elles in stryf." | ||
"By God!" seyde Sire Ote, "That is a cold reed, | ||
760 | Now I see that al the cark schal fallen on myn heed; | charge, responsibility |
For when the Justice sitte and thou be nought y-founde, | ||
I schal anon be take and in thy stede y-bounde." | ||
"Brother," sayde Gamelyn, "Dismaye thee nought, | ||
For by Seint Jame in Gales that many man hath sought, | Galicia | |
765 | If that God almighty holde my lyf and wit, | |
I wil be ther redy whan the Justice sit." | ||
Than seide Sir Ote to Gamelyn, "God schilde thee fro schame; | ||
Com whan thou seest tyme, and bring us out of blame." | ||
[Fit VI] | ||
Litheth, and lesteneth and holdeth you stille, | ||
770 | And ye schul here how Gamelyn hadde al his wille! | |
Gamelyn wente ayein under woode-rys, | ||
And fond there pleying yonge men of prys. | ||
Tho was yong Gamelyn glad and blithe y-nough, | ||
Whan he fond his mery men under woode-bough. | ||
775 | Gamelyn and his men talkeden in-feere, | together |
And they hadde good game here maister to heere; | ||
They tolden him of aventures that they hadde founde, | ||
And Gamelyn hem tolde ayein how he was fast y-bounde. | ||
Whyl Gamelyn was outlawed hadde he no cors; | curse | |
780 | There was no man that for him ferde the wors, | |
But abbotes and priours monk and chanoun; | ||
On hem left he no-thing whan he mighte hem nom. | take | |
Whyl Gamelyn and his men made merthes ryve, | rife, many | |
The false knight his brother, yvel mot he thryve, | ||
785 | For he was fast aboute bothe day and other, | |
For to hyre the quest to hangen his brother. | bribe the jury | |
Gamelyn stood on a day and, as he biheeld | ||
The woodes and the schawes in the wilde feeld, | ||
He thoughte on his brother how he him beheet | ||
790 | That he wolde be redy whan the Justice seet; | |
He thoughte wel that he wolde, withoute delay, | ||
Come afore the Justice to kepen his day, | ||
And seide to his yonge men, "Dighteth you yare, | prepare yourselves quickly | |
For whan the Justice sitte we moote be thare, | ||
795 | For I am under borwe til that I come, | pledge |
And my brother for me to prisoun schal be nome." | taken | |
"By Seint Jame!" seyde his yonge men, "And thou rede therto, | ||
Ordeyne how it schal be, and it schal be do." | ||
Whyl Gamelyn was coming ther the Justice sat, | ||
800 | The false knight his brother foryat he nat that, | |
To huyre the men on his quest to hangen his brother; | ||
Though he hadde nought that oon, he wolde have that other. | ||
Tho cam Gamelyn fro under woode-rys, | ||
And broughte with him his yonge men of prys. | ||
805 | "I see wel," seyde Gamelyn, "The Justice is set; | |
Go aforn, Adam and loke how it spet." | spet = speedeth,goes | |
Adam wente into the halle and loked al aboute, | ||
He seyh there stonde lordes grete and stoute, | ||
And Sir Ote his brother fetered wel fast; | ||
810 | Tho went Adam out of halle as he were agast. | |
Adam said to Gamelyn and to his felawes alle, | ||
"Sir Ote stant y-fetered in the moot-halle." | ||
"Yonge men," seide Gamelyn, "This ye heeren alle; | ||
Sire Ote stant y-fetered in the moot-halle. | ||
815 | If God yif us grace wel for to doo, | |
He schal it abegge that broughte him ther-too." | ||
Thanne sayde Adam that lokkes hadde hore, | ||
"Cristes curs mote he have that him bond so sore! | ||
And thou wilt, Gamelyn, do after my reed, | ||
820 | Ther is noon in the halle schal bere awey his heed." | |
"Adam," seyde Gamelyn, "We wiln nought don so; | ||
We wil slee the giltif and lat the other go. | ||
I wil into the halle and with the Justice speke; | ||
On hem that ben gultif I wil ben awreke. | revenged | |
825 | Lat non scape at the dore take, yonge men, yeme; | care |
For I wil be Justice this day domes for to deme. | ||
God spede me this day at my newe werk! | ||
Adam, com on with me for thou schalt be my clerk." | ||
His men answereden him and bade him doon his best, | ||
830 | "And if thou to us have neede, thou schalt finde us prest; | ready |
We wiln stande with thee whyl that we may dure, | ||
And but we werke manly pay us non hure." | but = unless | |
"Yonge men," seyde Gamelyn, "So mot I wel thee! | ||
As trusty a maister ye schal finde of me." | ||
835 | Right there the Justice sat in the halle, | |
In wente Gamelyn amonges hem alle. | ||
Gamelyn leet unfetere his brother out of bende. | ||
Thanne seyde Sire Ote, his brother that was hende, | ||
"Thou haddest almost, Gamelyn, dwelled to longe, | ||
840 | For the quest is oute on me that I schulde honge." | |
"Brother," seyde Gamelyn, "So God yif me good rest! | ||
This day they schuln ben hanged that ben on thy quest; | ||
And the Justice bothe that is the jugge-man, | ||
And the scherreve bothe; thurgh him it bigan." | ||
845 | Thanne seyde Gamelyn to the Justise, | |
"Now is thy power y-don; thou most nedes arise; | ||
Thow hast yeven domes that ben yvel dight, | ||
I wil sitten in thy sete and dressen hem aright." | arrange | |
The Justice sat stille and roos nought anoon; | ||
850 | And Gamelyn clevede [a-two] his cheeke-boon; | |
Gamelyn took him in his arm and no more spak, | ||
But threw him over the barre and his arm to-brak. | ||
Durste non to Gamelyn seye but good, | ||
For ferd of the company that withoute stood. | ||
855 | Gamelyn sette him doun in the Justices seet, | |
And Sire Ote his brother by him and Adam at his feet. | ||
Whan Gamelyn was y-set in the Justices stede, | ||
Herkneth of a bourde that Gamelyn dede. | ||
He leet fetre the Justice and his false brother, | ||
860 | And dede hem come to the barre that oon with that other. | made them |
Tho Gamelyn hadde thus y-doon hadde he no reste, | ||
Til he had enquered who was on the queste | ||
For to deme his brother, Sir Ote, for to honge; | ||
Er he wiste which they were him thoughte ful longe. | ||
865 | But as sone as Gamelyn wiste wher they were, | |
He dede hem everichone feteren in-feere, | ||
And bringen hem to the barre and sette hem in rewe; | in a row | |
"By my faith!" seyde the Justice, "The scherreve is a schrewe!" | ||
Than seyde Gamelyn to the Justise, | ||
870 | "Thou hast y-yeve domes of the wors assise; | |
And the twelve sisours that weren of the queste, | jurymen | |
They schul ben hanged this day so have I good reste!" | ||
Thanne seide the scherreve to yonge Gamelyn, | ||
"Lord, I crye the mercy; brother art thou myn." | the = thee | |
875 | "Therfore," seyde Gamelyn, "Have thou Cristes curs, | |
For, and thou were maister, yit I schulde have wors." | and = if | |
For to make short tale and nought to tarie longe, | ||
He ordeyned him a queste of his men so stronge; | ||
The Justice and the scherreve bothe honged hye, | ||
880 | To weyven with the ropes and with the winde drye; | |
And the twelve sisours (sorwe have that rekke!) | jurymen | |
Alle they were hanged faste by the nekke. | ||
Thus ended the false knight with his treccherye, | ||
That ever hadde y-lad his lyf in falsnes and folye. | ||
885 | He was hanged by the nekke and nought by the purs; | |
That was the meede that he hadde for his fadres curs. | reward | |
Sire Ote was eldest and Gamelyn was ying, | ||
They wenten with here frendes even to the king; | ||
They made pees with the king of the best assise. | ||
890 | The king loved wel Sir Ote and made him Justise. | |
And after, the king made Gamelyn, bothe in est and west, | ||
Chief Justice of al his free forest; | ||
Alle his wighte yonge men the king foryaf here gilt, | stout | |
And sitthen in good office the king hem hath y-pilt. | put | |
895 | Thus wan Gamelyn his lond and his leede, | people, serfs |
And wrak him of his enemys and quitte hem here meede; | ||
And Sire Ote his brother made him his heir, | ||
And siththen wedded Gamelyn a wyf bothe good and feyr; | ||
They liveden to-gidere whyl that Crist wolde, | ||
900 | And sithen was Gamelyn graven under molde. | earth |
And so schal we alle may ther no man flee: | ||
God bringe us to the joye that ever schal be! |
The text (glosses added) is from Volume VII of Skeat's Oxford Chaucer.