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Sir Tristrem

I was a[t Erceldoune,] {f.281ra}

Wiþ Tomas spak y þare;

Þer herd y rede in roune

Who Tristrem gat & bare,

5000 Who was king wiþ croun

& who him forsterd ȝare

& who was bold baroun,

As þair elders ware,

Bi ȝere,

1000 Tomas telles in toun

Þis auentours as þai ware.

¶ Þis semly somers day,

In winter it is nouȝt sen

Þis greues wexen al gray

1500 Þat in her time were grene.

So dos þis world, y say,

Y wis & nouȝt at wene,

Þe gode ben al oway

Þat our elders haue bene

2000 To abide;

Of a kniȝt is þat y mene,

His name it sprong wel wide.

¶ Wald Morgan þole no wrong

Þei Morgan lord wes;

2500 He brak his castels strong,

His bold borwes he ches,

His men he slouȝ among

& reped him mani a res.

Þe wer lasted so long

3000 Til Morgan asked pes

Þurth pine.

For soþe, wiþouten les,

His liif he wende to tine.

Þus þe batayl it bigan - {f.281rb}

3500 Witeþ wele it was so -

Bitvene þe douk Morgan

& Rouland þat was þro,

Þat neuer þai no lan

Þe pouer to wirche wo.

4000 Þai spilden mani a man

Bitven hem seluen to

In prise.

Þat on was douk Morgan,

Þat oþer Roulandrise.

4500 ¶ Þe kniȝtes þat were wise,

A forward fast þai bond

Þat ich a man schul ioien his

& seuen ȝer to stond;

Þe douke & Roulandriis

5000 Þerto þai bed her hond

To heiȝe & holden priis

& foren til Jnglond

To lende;

Markes king þai fond

5500 Wiþ kniȝtes mani & hende.

¶ To Marke þe king þai went

Wiþ kniȝtes proude in pres

& teld him to þende

His auentours as it wes.

6000 He preyd hem as his frende

To duelle wiþ him in pes.

Þe kniȝtes, þai were hende

& dede wiþouten les

In lede;

6500 A turnament þai ches

Wiþ kniȝtes stiþe on stede.

¶ Glad a man was he,

Þe turnament dede crie

Þat maidens miȝt him se

7000 & ouer þe walles to lye.

Þai asked who was fre

To win þe maistrie,

Þai seyd þat best was he,

Þe child of Ermonie,

7500 In tour.

Forþi chosen was he

To maiden Blauncheflour.

¶ Þe maiden of heiȝe kinne {f.281va}

Sche cald hir maisters þre

8000 .... .... .... ....

.... .... .... ....

Bot ȝiue it be þurth ginne,

A selly man is he;

Þurth min hert wiþinne

8500 Ywounded haþ he me

So sone;

Of bale bot he me blinne

Mine liif days ben al done.

¶ He was gode & hende,

9000 Stalworþ, wise & wiȝt,

Into þis londes ende

Y not non better kniȝt,

Trewer non to frende,

& Roulandriis he hiȝt.

9500 To batayl gan he wende,

Was wounded in þat fiȝt

Ful felle.’

Blauncheflour þe briȝt,

Þe tale þan herd sche telle,

1000 ¶ Sche seyd ‘wayleway!’

When hye herd it was so;

To hir maistresse sche gan say

Þat hye was boun to go

To þe kniȝt þer he lay;

1050 Sche swouned & hir was wo.

So comfort he þat may,

A knaue child gat þai tvo,

So dere;

& seþþen men cleped him so:

1100 Tristrem þe trewe fere.

¶ Þe trewes þat þai hadde tan

& stabled in her þouȝt

Þan brak þe douk Morgan,

He no wald held it nouȝt.

1150 Rohand trewe so stan

A letter he þer wrouȝt

& sent to Rouland onan,

As man of socour souȝt

In kare

1200 To help what he mouȝt,

Or lesen al þat þer ware.

¶ Roulandriis in tene

Tok leue at Markes king

.... .... .... .... {f.281vb}

1250 .... .... .... ....

.... .... .... ....

.... {Twelve lines lost where miniature cut out}

1300 .... .... .... ....

.... .... .... ....

¶.... .... .... ....

.... .... .... ....

1350 .... .... .... ....

Or þou wilt wende wiþ me.’

‘Mi duelling is hir ille,

Bihold & tow may se.

Mi rede is taken þertille

1400 Þat fare y wille wiþ þe

& finde

Þi fair folk & þi fre

O lond þer is þi kinde.’

¶ Þai busked & maked hem boun,

1450 Nas þer no leng abade;

Þai lefted gomfainoun,

& out of hauen þai rade

Til þai com til a toun,

A castel Rohant had made.

1500 Her sailes þai leten doun,

& kniȝt ouer bord þai strade

Al cladde.

Þe kniȝtes þat wer fade,

Þai dede as Rohand bade.

1550 ¶ Rohand riȝt he radde

‘Þis maiden schal ben oure,

Roulandriis to wedde,

Atweld in castel tour,

To bring hir to his bedde

1600 Þat briȝtest is in bour.

Nas neuer non fairer fedde

Þan maiden Blauncheflour

Al bliþe.’

After þat michel anour

1650 Parting com þer swiþe.

¶ In hird nas nouȝt to hele

Þat Morgan telles in toun,

Mekeliche he gan mele {f.282ra}

Among his men to roun;

1700 He bad his kniȝtes lele

Com to his somoun

Wiþ hors & wepenes fele

& rered gomfaynoun,

Þat bold.

1750 He rode so king wiþ croun

(¶) To win al þat he wold.

Of folk þe feld was brade

Þer Morgan men gan bide;

Þo Rouland to hem rade,

1800 Oȝain him gun þai ride;

Swiche meting nas neuer made

Wiþ sorwe on ich a side.

Þerof was Rouland glade,

Ful fast he feld her pride.

1850 Wiþ paine

Morgan scaped þat tide

Þat he nas nouȝt slain.

¶ Morganes folk cam newe

Of Roulandriis þe gode,

1900 On helmes gun þai hewe,

Þurth brinies brast þe blod;

Sone to deþ þer drewe

Mani a frely fode.

Of Rouland was to rewe,

1950 To grounde when he ȝode,

Þat bold.

His sone him after stode

& dere his deþ he sold.

¶ Rewþe mow ȝe here

2000 Of Roulandriis þe kniȝt:

Þre hundred he slouȝ þere

Wiþ his swerd briȝt,

Of al þo þat þer were

Miȝt non him felle in fiȝt,

2050 Bot on wiþ tresoun þere

Þurth þe bodi him piȝt.

Wiþ gile

To deþ he him diȝt -

Allas þat ich while!

2100 ¶ His hors o feld him bare

Alle ded hom in his way;

Gret wonder hadde he þouȝt þare {f.282rb}

Þat folk of ferly play.

Þe tiding com wiþ care

2150 To Blauncheflour þat may.

For hir me reweþ sare,

On child-bed þer sche lay;

Was born

Of hir Tristrem þat day,

2200 Ac hye no bade nouȝt þat morn.

¶ A ring of riche hewe

Þan hadde þat leuedi fre,

Sche toke it Rohand trewe,

Hir sone sche bad it be

2250 ‘Mi broþer wele it knewe,

Mi fader ȝaf it me;

King Markes may rewe

Þe ring þan he it se

And moun.

2300 As Rouland loued þe,

Þou kepe it to his sone.’

¶ Þe folk stode vnfain

Bifor þat leuedi fre

‘Rouland, mi lord, is slain,

2350 He spekeþ no more wiþ me.’

spekeþ: þ is superscript.

Þat leuedi, nouȝt to lain,

For soþe ded is sche.

Who may be ogain?

As God wil it schal be.

2400 Vnbliþe,

Sorwe it was to se,

Þat leuedi swelted swiþe.

¶ Geten & born was so

Þe child, was fair & white.

2450 Nas neuer Rohand so wo,

He nist it whom to wite.

To child bed ded he go

His owhen wiif also tite

& seyd he hadde children to,

2500 On hem was his delite,

Bi crist!

In court men cleped him so:

Þo tram bifor þe trist.

¶ Douk Morgan was bliþe

2550 Þo Roulandriis was doun;

He sent his sond swiþe {f.282va}

& bad al schuld be boun

& to his lores liþe,

Redi to his somoun.

2600 Durst non oȝain him kiþe

Bot ȝalt him tour & toun

So sone;

No was no king wiþ croun,

So richeliche hadde ydone.

2650 ¶ Who ȝaf broche & beiȝe?

Who bot douke Morgan?

Morgan: a has been altered
from an o or an e.

Cruwel was & heiȝe,

Oȝaines him stode no man.

To conseil he calleþ neiȝe

2700 Rohand trewe so stan

& euer he dede as þe sleiȝe

& held his hert in an,

Þat wise.

It brast þurth blod & ban

2750 ȝif hope no ware to rise.

Now haþ Rohand in ore

Tristrem & is ful bliþe.

Þe child he set to lore

& lernd him also swiþe;

2800 In bok while he was þore

He stodieþ euer þat stiþe.

Þo þat bi him wore

Of him weren ful bliþe.

Þat bold,

2850 His craftes gan he kiþe

Oȝaines hem when he wold.

¶ Fiftene ȝere he gan him fede,

Sir Rohand þe trewe;

He tauȝt him ich a lede

2900 Of ich maner of glewe

& euerich playing þede,

Old lawes & newe;

On hunting oft he ȝede,

To swiche a lawe he drewe

This line: inserted superscript in
a smaller script, its position marked by
a-b and crosses.

2950 Al þus,

More he couþe of veneri

Þan couþe Manerious.

¶ Þer com a schip of Norway

To sir Rohandes hold

3000 Wiþ haukes white & gray

& panes fair yfold. {f.282vb}

Trist(t)rem herd it say,

On his playing he wold

Tventi schilling to lay.

3050 Sir Rohand him told

& tauȝt;

For hauke siluer he ȝold,

Þe fairest men him rauȝt.

¶ A cheker he fond bi a cheire,

3100 He asked who wold play.

Þe mariner spac bonair

‘Child, what wiltow lay?’

‘Oȝain an hauke of noble air

Tventi schillinges to say.

3150 Wheþer so mates oþer fair

Bere hem boþe oway.’

Wiþ wille

Þe mariner swore his faye

‘For soþe ich held þertille.’

3200 ¶ Now boþe her wedde lys,

& play þai biginne;

Ysett he haþ þe long asise

& endred beþ þerinne.

Þe play biginneþ to arise,

3250 Tristem deleþ atvinne;

He dede als-so þe wise:

He ȝaf has he gan winne

In raf.

Of playe ar he wald blinne

3300 Sex haukes he ȝat & ȝaf.

¶ Rohand toke leue to ga,

His sones he cleped oway;

Þe fairest hauke he gan ta

Þat Tristrem wan þat day;

3350 Wiþ him he left ma

Pans for to play.

Þe mariner swore also

Þat pans wold he lay

An stounde.

3400 Tristrem wan þat day

Of him an hundred pounde.

¶ Tristrem wan þat þer was layd.

A tresoun þer was made:

No lenger þan þe maister seyd,

3450 Of gate nas þer no bade. {f.283ra}

As þai best sat & pleyd

Out of hauen þai rade

Opon þe se so gray,

Fram þe brimes brade

3500 Gun flete.

Of lod þai were wel glade

& Tristrem sore wepe.

¶ His maister þan þai fand

A bot & an are.

3550 Hye seyden ‘ȝond is þe land,

& here schaltow to bare.

Chese on aiþer hand

Wheþer þe leuer ware

Sink or stille stand;

3600 Þe child schal wiþ ous fare

On flod.’

Tristrem wepe ful sare,

Þai louȝ & þouȝt it gode.

¶ Niȝen woukes & mare

3650 Þe mariners flet on flod,

Til anker hem brast & are

& stormes hem bistode;

Her sorwen & her care

Þai witt þat frely fode;

3700 Þai nisten hou to fare,

Þe wawes were so wode

Wiþ winde.

O lond þai wold he ȝede,

ȝif þai wist ani to finde.

3750 ¶ A lond þai neiȝed neiȝe,

A forest as it ware,

Wiþ hilles þat were heiȝe

& holtes þat weren hare.

O lond þai sett þat sleiȝe

3800 Wiþ al his wining ȝare,

Wiþ broche & riche beiȝe,

A lof of brede ȝete mare,

Þat milde.

Weder þai hadde to fare,

3850 A lond þai left þat childe.

¶ Winde þai had as þai wolde,

A lond bilaft he;

His hert bigan to cold

Þo he no miȝt hem nouȝt se; {f.283rb}

3900 To Crist his bodi he ȝald

Þat don was on þe tre

‘Lord, mi liif me bihold,

In world þou wisse me

At wille;

3950 Astow art lord so fre,

Þou lete me neuer spille.’

¶ Þo Tomas asked ay

Of Tristrem, trewe fere,

To wite þe riȝt way

4000 Þe styes for to lere.

Of a prince proude in play

Listneþ, lordinges dere.

Whoso better can say,

His owhen he may here

4050 As hende.

Of þing þat is him dere

Ich man preise at ende.

¶ In o robe Tristrem was boun

Þat he fram schip hadde brouȝt.

4100 Was of a blihand broun,

Þe richest þat was wrouȝt,

As Tomas telleþ in toun.

He no wist what he mouȝt,

Bot semly sett him doun

4150 & ete ay til him gode þouȝt;

Ful sone

Þe forest forþ he souȝt

When he so hadde done.

¶ He toke his lod vnliȝt,

4200 His penis wiþ him he bare;

Þe hilles were on hiȝt,

He clombe þo holtes hare;

Of o gate he hadde siȝt,

Þat he fond ful ȝare;

4250 Þe paþ he toke ful riȝt,

To palmers mett he þare

On hand;

He asked hem whennes þai ware,

Þai seyd ‘of Yngland.’

4300 ¶ For drede þai wald him slo,

He temed him to þe king;

He bede hem pens mo,

Aiþer ten schilling {f.283va}

ȝif þai wald wiþ him go

4350 & to þe court him bring.

‘ȝis,‘ þai sworen þo

‘Bi þe lord ouer al þing

Ful sone.’

Ful wel biset his þing,

4400 Þat raþe haþ his bone.

¶ Þe forest was fair & wide,

Wiþ (wiþ) wilde bestes ysprad.

Þe court was ner biside,

Þe palmers þider him lad.

4450 Tristrem hunters seiȝe ride,

Les of houndes þai ledde;

Þai token in þat tide

Of fat hertes yfedde

In feld.

4500 In blehand was he cledde,

Þe hunters him biheld.

Bestes þai brac & bare,

In quarters þai hem wrouȝt,

Martirs as it ware

4550 Þat husbondmen had bouȝt.

Tristrem þo spac þare

& seyd wonder him þouȝt

‘Ne seiȝe y neuer are

So wilde best ywrouȝt

4600 At wille.

at wille added at the end
of the previous line, its
correct position marked by
a-b and crosses.

Oþer‘ he seyd ‘y can nouȝt

Or folily ȝe hem spille.’

¶ Vp stode a seriaunt bold

& spac Trist[r]em oȝain

4650 ‘We and our elders old,

Þus þan haue we sain.

Oþer þou hast ous told:

ȝond liþ a best vnflain,

Atire it as þou wold

4700 & we wil se ful fain

In feld.’

In lede is nouȝt to lain,

Þe hunters him biheld.

¶ Tristrem schare þe brest,

4750 Þe tong sat next þe pride;

Þe heminges swiþe on est

He schar & layd biside;

Þe breche adoun he þrest, {f.283vb}

He ritt & gan to riȝt;

4800 Boldliche þer nest

Carf he of þat hide

Bidene;

Þe bestes he graiþed þat tide

As mani seþþen has ben.

4850 ¶ Þe spande was þe first brede,

Þe erber diȝt he ȝare,

To þe stifles he ȝede

& euen ato hem schare;

He riȝt al þe rede,

4900 Þe wombe oway he bare,

Þe noubles he ȝaf to mede.

Þat seiȝen þat þer ware.

Also

Þe rigge he croised mare,

4950 Þe chine he smot atvo.

¶ Þe forster for his riȝtes

Þe left schulder ȝaf he,

Wiþ hert, liuer & liȝtes

& blod tille his quirre;

5000 Houndes on hyde he diȝtes,

Alle he lete hem se;

Þe rauen he ȝaue his ȝiftes,

Sat on þe fourched tre,

On rowe;

5050 ‘Hunters, whare be ȝe?

Þe tokening schuld ȝe blowe.’

¶ He tiȝt þe mawe on tinde

& eke þe gargiloun,

Þai blewen þe riȝt kinde

5100 & radde þe riȝt roun.

Þai wist þe king to finde

& senten forþ to toun

& teld him vnder linde

Þe best hou it was boun

5150 & brouȝt.

Marke þe king wiþ croun

Seyd þat feir him þouȝt.

¶ Þe tokening when þai blewe,

Þer wondred mani a man,

5200 Þe costom þai nouȝt knewe,

Forþi fro bord þai ran;

No wist þai nouȝt hou newe {f.284ra}

Þai hadde hunters þan.

It is a maner of glewe

5250 To teche hem þat no can

Swiche þing.

Alle bliþe weren þai þan

Þat ȝede bifor þe king.

Þe king seyd ‘where were þou born?

5300 What hattou, belamye?’

Tristrem spac biforn

‘Sir, in Hermonie.

Mi fader me haþ forlorn,

Sir Rohand, sikerly

5350 Þe best blower of horn

& king of venery

For þouȝt.’

Þe lasse ȝaf Mark forþi,

For Rohand he no knewe nouȝt.

5400 ¶ Þe king no seyd no more

Bot wesche & ȝede to mete;

Bred þai pard & schare,

Ynouȝ þai hadde at ete;

Wheþer hem leuer ware

5450 Win or ale to gete,

Aske & haue it ȝare,

In coupes or hornes grete

Was brouȝt;

Þer while þai wold þai sete;

5500 & risen when hem gode þouȝt.

¶ An harpour made a lay

Þat Tristrem aresound he.

Þe harpour ȝede oway

‘Who better can lat se.’

5550 ‘Bot y þe mendi may,

Wrong þan wite y þe.’

Þe harpour gan to say

‘Þe maistri ȝiue y þe

Ful sket.’

5600 Bifor þe kinges kne

Tristrem is cald to set.

¶ Bliþe weren þai alle,

& merkes gun þai minne,

Token leue in þe halle.

5650 Who miȝt þe child winne?

Mark gan Tristrem calle, {f.284rb}

Was comen of riche kinne;

He ȝaf him robe of palle

& pane of riche skinne

5700 Ful sket;

His chaumber he liþ inne

& harpeþ notes swete.

Now Tristrem lat we þare,

Wiþ Marke he is ful dere.

5750 Rohand reweþ sare

Þat he no miȝt of him here;

Ouer londes he gan fare

Wiþ sorwe & reweful chere,

Seuen kingriche & mare

5800 Tristrem to finde þere

& souȝt;

His robes riuen were,

Þerfore no leued he nouȝt.

¶ Nouȝt no semed it so

5850 Rohand, þat noble kniȝt;

He no wist whider to go,

So was he brouȝt o miȝt;

To swinke men wold him to

For mete & robes riȝt.

5900 Wiþ oþer werkmen mo

He bileft al niȝt

In land;

Of þe palmers he hadde a siȝt

Þat Tristrem first fand.

5950 ¶ His asking is euer newe

In trauail & in pes.

Þe palmer seyd he him knewe

& wiste wele what he wes

‘His robe is of an hewe,

6000 Blihand wiþouten les;

His name is Tristrem trewe,

Bifor him scheres þe mes,

Þe king.

Y brouȝt him þer he ches,

6050 He ȝaue me ten schilling.’

¶ ‘So michel wil y ȝiue þe,‘

Quaþ Rohand ‘wil ȝe ta?

Þe court ȝe lat me se.’

Þe palmers seyd ‘ȝa.’

6100 Bliþe þerof was he {f.284va}

& redily ȝaf him sa,

Of wel gode mone

Ten schilinges & ma

Of gayn;

6150 Rohand was ful þra

Rohand: MS reads Tristrem.

Of Tristrem for to frain.

¶ In Tristrem is his delit,

& of him spekeþ he ay.

Þe porter gan him wite

6200 & seyd ‘cherl, go oway,

Oþer y schal þe smite.

What dostow here al day?’

A ring he rauȝt him tite -

Þe porter seyd nouȝt nay -

6250 In hand.

He was ful wise, y say,

Þat first ȝaue ȝift in land.

¶ Rohand þo tok he

& at þe gate in lete;

6300 Þe ring was fair to se,

Þe ȝift was wel swete.

Þe huscher bad him fle

‘Cherl, oway wel sket

Or broken þine heued schal be,

6350 & þou feld vnder fet

To grounde.’

Rohand bad him lete

& help him at þat stounde.

¶ Þe pouer man of mold

6400 Tok forþ anoþer ring,

Þe huscher he ȝaf þe gold,

It semed to a king;

Formest þo in fold

He lete him in þring;

6450 To Tristrem trewe in hold

He hete he wold him bring,

& brouȝt;

Tristrem knewe him no þing,

& ferly Rohand þouȝt.

6500 ¶ Þei men Tristrem had sworn,

He no trowed it neuer in lede

Þat Rohand robes were torn,

Þat he wered swiche a wede.

He frained him biforn {f.284vb}

6550 ‘Child, so God þe rede,

Hou were þou fram Rohand lorn?

Monestow neuer in lede

Nouȝt lain?’

He kneled better spede

6600 & kist Rohand ful fain.

¶ ‘Fader, no wretþe þe nouȝt,

Ful welcom er ȝe.

Bi God þat man haþ bouȝt

No þing no knewe y þe;

6650 Wiþ sorwe þou hast me souȝt,

To wite it wo is me.’

To Mark þe word he brouȝt

‘Wil ȝe mi fader se

Wiþ siȝt?

6700 Graiþed y wil he be,

& seþþen schewe him as kniȝt.’

¶ Tristrem to Mark it seyd

His auentours as it were,

Hou he wiþ schipmen pleyd,

6750 Of lond hou þai him bere,

Hou stormes hem bistayd

Til anker hem brast & are.

‘Þai ȝolden me þat y layd

Wiþ al mi wining ȝare

6800 In hand,

Y clambe þe holtes hare

Til y þine hunters fand.’

¶ A baþ þai brouȝt Rohand inne,

A barbour was redi þare;

6850 Al rowe it was, his chinne,

His heued was white of hare.

A scarlet wiþ riche skinne

Ybrouȝt him was ful ȝare.

Rohand of noble kinne,

6900 Þat robe ful fair he bare,

Þat bold;

Who þat had seyn him þare

A prince him miȝt han told.

¶ Fair his tale bigan

6950 Rohand, þei he com lat;

Tristrem þat honour can

To halle led him þe gate.

Ich man seyd þan {f.285ra}

Nas non swiche as þai wate

7000 As was þe pouer man

Þat þai bete fram þe gat

Wiþ care;

Nas non þat wald him hate,

Bot welcom was he þare.

7050 ¶ Water þai asked swiþe,

Cloþ & bord was drain

Wit mete & drink liþe

& seriaunce þat were bayn

To serue Tristrem swiþe

7100 & sir Rohand ful fayn;

Whasche when þai wald rise

Þe king ros him oȝain

Þat tide;

In lede is nouȝt to layn,

7150 He sett him bi his side.

¶ Rohand, þat was þare,

To Mark his tale bigan

‘Wist ȝe what Tristrem ware,

Miche gode ȝe wold him an.

There is an erasure before an.

7200 ȝour owhen soster him bare’ -

Þe king liþed him þan -

‘Y nam sibbe him na mare,

Ich auȝt to ben his man,

Sir king.

7250 Knowe it ȝiue ȝe can,

Sche tauȝt me þis ring

¶ When Roulandriis þe bold,

Douke Morgan gan mete.’

Þe tale when Rohand told,

7300 For sorwe he gan grete.

Þe king biheld þat old,

Hou his wonges were wete;

To Marke þe ring he ȝold,

He knewe it also sket,

7350 Gan loke.

He kist Tristrem ful skete

& for his nevou toke.

¶ Þo þai kisten hem alle,

hem: altered from him.

Boþe leuedi & kniȝt

7400 & seriaunce in þe halle

& maidens þat were briȝt.

Tristrem gan Rohand calle {f.285rb}

& freined him wiþ siȝt

‘Sir, hou may þis falle?

7450 Hou may y proue it riȝt

Nouȝt lain?

Tel me for Godes miȝt

Hou was mi fader slayn.’

¶ Rohand told anon

7500 His auentours al bidene,

Hou þe batayle bigan,

Þe werres hadden yben,

His moder hou hye was tan

& geten hem bitvene.

7550 ‘Slawe was Rouland þan

& ded Blaunche þe schene.

Nauȝt les,

For dout of Morgan kene

Mi sone y seyd þou wes.’

7600 ¶ Tristrem, al in heiȝe,

Bifor þe king cam he.

‘Into Ermonie,

Sir, now longeþ me;

Þider fare wil y,

7650 Mi leue y take of þe

To fiȝt wiþ Morgan in hy,

To sle him oþer he me

Wiþ hand;

Erst schal no man me se

7700 Oȝain in Jngland.’

Þo was Mark ful wo,

He siȝt sore at þat tide.

‘Tristrem, þi rede þou ta

In Jnglond for to abide.

7750 Morgan is wick to slo,

Of kniȝtes he haþ gret pride;

Tristrem, þei þou be þro,

Lat mo men wiþ þe ride

On rowe.

7800 Take Rohand bi þi side,

He wil þine frendes knawe.’

¶ To armes þe king lete crie

Þe folk of al his land

To help Tristrem forþi

7850 He made kniȝt wiþ his hand.

He dede him han on heye {f.285va}

Þe fairest þat he fand,

In place to riden him by,

To don him to vnderstand

7900 So swiþe.

Sorwe so Tristrem band

Miȝt no man make him bliþe.

¶ No wold he duellen a niȝt,

Þerof nas nouȝt to say.

7950 Ten hundred þat were wiȝt

Wenten wiþ him oway.

Rohand þe riche kniȝt

Redy was he ay;

To his castel ful riȝt

8000 He sailed þe seuenday

On rade.

Added at the end of the
previous line, its correct
position marked by
a-b and crosses.

His maister he gan pay,

His sones kniȝtes he made.

¶ His frendes glad were þai -

8050 No blame hem noman forþi -

Of his coming, to say,

Al into Ermonie,

Til it was on a day

Morgan was fast by,

8100 Tristrem bigan to say

‘Wiþ Morgan speke wil y

& spede.

So long idel we ly,

Miself mai do mi nede.’

8150 ¶ Tristrem dede as he hiȝt.

He busked & made him ȝare

Hi fiftend som of kniȝt,

Wiþ him ȝede na mare.

To court þai com ful riȝt

8200 As Morgan his brede schare;

Þai teld þo bi siȝt

Ten kinges sones þai ware

Vnsouȝt.

Heuedes of wild bare

8250 Ichon to presant brouȝt.

¶ Rohand bigan to sayn,

To his kniȝtes þan seyd he

‘As woman is tviis forlain

Y may say bi me;

8300 ȝif Tristrem be now sleyn,

Yuel ȝemers er we. {f.285vb}

To armes, kniȝt & swayn,

& swiftly ride ȝe

& swiþe;

8350 Til y Tristrem se

No worþ y neuer bliþe.’

¶ Tristrem speke bigan

‘Sir king, God loke þe

As y þe loue & an

8400 & þou hast serued to me.’

Þe douke answerd þan

‘Y pray, mi lord so fre,

Wheþer þou blis or ban

Þine owhen mot it be,

8450 Þou bold.

Þi nedes tel þou me,

Þine erand, what þou wold.’

¶ ‘Amendes! Mi fader is slain,

Mine hirritage Hermonie.’

8500 Þe douke answerd ogain

‘Certes þi fader þan slouȝ y,

Seþþen þou so hast sayd,

Amendes þer ouȝt to ly.

Þerfore, prout swayn,

8550 So schal y þe, forþi

Riȝt þan

MS: lines 856-7 copied continuously and
divided by a punctus elevatus

Artow comen titly

Fram Marke þi kinsman.

¶ ȝongling, þou schalt abide.

8600 Foles þou wendest to fand.

Þi fader þi moder gan hide,

In horedom he hir band.

Hou comestow wiþ pride?

Out, traitour, of mi land.’

8650 Tristrem spac þat tide

‘Þou lext, ich vnderstand

& wot.’

Morgan wiþ his hand

Wiþ a lof Tristrem smot.

8700 ¶ On his brest adoun

Of his nose ran þe blod.

Tristrem swerd was boun,

& ner þe douke he stode.

8750 .... .... .... ....

Wiþ þat was comen to toun

Rohand wiþ help ful gode

& gayn. {f.286ra}

Al þat oȝain hem stode

8800 Wiȝtly were þai slayn.

¶ To prisoun þai gun take

Erl, baroun & kniȝt,

For douke Morgan sake

Mani on dyd doun riȝt.

8850 Schaftes þai gun schake

& riuen scheldes briȝt,

Crounes þai gun crake

Mani ich wene, apliȝt.

Saunfayl,

8900 Bitvene þe none & þe niȝt

Last þe batayle.

¶ Þus haþ Tristrem þe swete

Yslawe þe douke Morgan.

No wold he neuer lete

8950 Til mo castels wer tan;

Tounes þai ȝold him skete

& cites stiþe of stan.

Þe folk fel to his fet,

Aȝaines him stode þer nan

9000 In land.

He slouȝ his fader ban,

Al bowed to his hand.

¶ Tvo ȝere he sett þat land,

His lawes made he cri.

9050 Al com to his hand

Almain & Ermonie,

At his wil to stand

Boun & al redy.

Rohand he ȝaf þe wand

9100 & bad him sitt him bi,

Þat fre.

‘Rohand, lord make y

To held þis lond of me.

¶ Þou & þine sones fiue

9150 Schul held þis lond of me;

Þer while þou art o liue,

Þine owhen schal it be.

What halt it long to striue?

Mi leue y take at te,

9200 Til Jnglond wil y riue,

Mark, mi nem, to se

Þat stounde.’ {f.286rb}

Now boskes Tristre[m] þe fre

To Jnglond for to founde.

9250 ¶ Bliþe was his bosking

& fair was his schip fare.

Rohand he left king

Ouer al his wining þare.

þare: þ altered from ȝ.

Schipmen him gun bring

9300 To Jnglond ful ȝare.

He herd a newe tiding

Þat he herd neuer are

On hand;

Mani man wepen sare

9350 For ransoun to Yrland.

¶ Marke schuld ȝeld vnhold,

Þei he were king wiþ croun,

Þre hundred pounde of gold

Ich ȝer out of toun,

9400 Of siluer fair yfold

Þre hundred pounde al boun,

Of mone of a mold,

Þre hundred pounde of latoun

Schuld he;

9450 Þe ferþ ȝere – a ferly roun -

Þre hundred barnes fre.

¶ Þe truage was com to to

Moraunt, þe noble kniȝt;

Yhold he was so

9500 An eten in ich a fiȝt.

Þe barnes asked he þo

Als it war londes riȝt.

erasure before riȝt.

Tristrem gan stoutely go

To lond þat ich niȝt

9550 Of rade;

Of þe schippe þai hadde a siȝt

Þe day þai dede obade.

¶ Mark was glad & bliþe

Þo he miȝt Tristrem se;

9600 He kist him fele siþe,

Welcom to him was he.

Marke gan tidinges liþe,

Hou he wan londes fre.

Tristrem seyd þat siþe

9650 ‘Wat may þis gadering be?

Þai grete.’ {f.286va}

‘Tristrem, y telle it þe,

A þing is me vnswete.

¶ Þe king of Yrlond,

9700 Tristrem, ich am his man.

To long ichaue ben hir bond,

Wiþ wrong þe king it wan.

To long it haþ ystond,

On him þe wrong bigan;

9750 Þerto ich held min hond.’

Tristrem seyd þan

Al stille,

‘Moraunt þat michel can

Schal nouȝt han his wille.’

9800 ¶ Marke to conseyl ȝede

Marke: r is superscript.

& asked rede of þis.

He seyd ‘wiþ wrong dede

Þe raunsoun ytaken is.’

Tristrem seyd ‘y rede

9850 Þat he þe barnes mis.’

Þo seyd þe king in lede

‘No was it neuer his

Wiþ riȝt.’

Tristrem seyd ‘ywis,

9900 Y wil defende it as kniȝt.’

¶ Bi al Markes hald

Þe truwage was tan.

Tristrem gan it wiþhald

As prince proude in pan,

9950 Þai graunted þat Tristrem wald,

Oþer no durst þer nan;

Nis þer non so bald

Ymade of flesche no ban,

No kniȝt.

1000 Now haþ Tristrem ytan

Oȝain Moraunt to fiȝt.

¶ Tristrem him self ȝede

Moraunt word to bring

& schortliche seyd in lede

1005 ‘We no owe þe noþing.’

Moraunt oȝain sede

‘Þou lexst a foule lesing.

Mi body to batayl y bede

To proue bifor þe king

1010 To loke.’ {f.286vb}

He waged him a ring,

Tristrem þe batayl toke.

¶ Þai seylden into þe wide

Wiþ her schippes tvo;

1015 Moraunt bond his biside,

& Tristrem lete his go.

Moraunt seyd þat tide

‘Tristrem, whi dos tow so?’

‘Our on schal here abide,

1020 No be þou neuer so þro,

Ywis.

Wheþer our to liue go,

He haþ anouȝ of þis.’

¶ Þe yland was ful brade

1025 Þat þai gun in fiȝt;

Þerof was Moraunt glade,

Of Tristrem he lete liȝt.

Swiche meting nas neuer non made

Swiche: s added to the
left of original littera nobilior w

Wiþ worþli wepen wiȝt;

1030 Aiþer to oþer rade

& hewe on helmes briȝt

Wiþ hand.

God help Tristrem þe kniȝt.

He fauȝt for Jngland.

1035 ¶ Moraunt wiþ his miȝt

Rode wiþ gret raundoun

Oȝain Tristrem þe kniȝt

& þouȝt to bere him doun.

Wiþ a launce vnliȝt

1040 He smot him in þe lyoun,

& Tristrem þat was wiȝt

Bar him þurth þe dragoun

In þe scheld.

Þat Moraunt bold & boun

1045 Smot him in þe scheld.

¶ Vp he stirt bidene

& lepe opon his stede;

He fauȝt wiþouten wene

So wolf þat wald wede.

1050 Tristrem in þat tene

No spard him for no drede,

He ȝaf him a wounde ysene

Þat his bodi gan blede.

Riȝt þo {f.287ra}

1055 In Morauntes most nede

His stede bak brak on to.

¶ Vp he stirt in drede

& seyd ‘Tristrem, aliȝt;

For þou hast slayn mi stede.

1060 A fot þou schalt fiȝt.’

Quaþ Tristrem ‘so God me rede,

Þerto icham al liȝt.’

Togider þo þai ȝede

& hewen on helmes briȝt.

1065 Saunfayl,

Tristrem as a kniȝt

Fauȝt in þat batayle.

¶ Moraunt of Yrland smot

Tristrem in þe scheld

1070 Þat half fel fram his hond

Þer adoun in þe feld.

Tristrem, ich vnderstond,

Anon þe strok him ȝeld

Wiþ his gode brond;

1075 Moraunt neiȝe he queld,

Þat kniȝt.

Marke þe batayl biheld

& wonderd of þat fiȝt.

¶ Moraunt was vnfayn

1080 & fauȝt wiþ al his miȝt;

Þat Tristrem were yslayn

He stird him as a kniȝt.

Tristrem smot wiþ main,

His swerd brak in þe fiȝt

1085 & in Morauntes brain

Bileued a pece briȝt

Wiþ care;

& in þe haunche riȝt

Tristrem was wounded sare.

1090 ¶ A word þat pended to pride

Tristrem þo spac he

‘Folk of Yrland side,

ȝour mirour ȝe may se.

Mo þat hider wil ride

1095 Þus grayþed schul ȝe be.’

Wiþ sorwe þai drouȝ þat tide

Moraunt to þe se

& care. {f.287rb}

Wiþ ioie Tristrem þe fre

1100 To Mark, his em, gan fare.

¶ His swerd he offred þan

& to þe auter it bare.

For Markes kinsman

Tristrem was loued þare.

1105 A forward þai bigan,

Þerto þai alle sware:

For þat lond fre he wan,

Þat king he schuld be þare,

To say,

1110 ȝif he oliue ware

After sir Markes day.

¶ Þei Tristrem liȝt þenke,

He is wounded ful sare;

Leches wiþ salue & drink

1115 Him comeþ widewhare.

Þai lorn al her swink,

His pain was ay þe mare;

No man no miȝt for stink

Com þer Tristrem ware

1120 Als þan;

Ich man forsoke him þare

Bot Gouernayl his man.

¶ Þre ȝer in care-bed lay

Tristrem – þe trewe he hiȝt -

1125 Þat neuer no douȝt him day

For sorwe he hadde o niȝt.

For diol no man no may

Sen on him wiþ siȝt;

Ich man, for soþe to say,

1130 Forsoke þo þat kniȝt

As þare;

Þai hadde don what he miȝt,

Þai no rouȝt of his fare.

¶ Til it was on a day

1135 Til Mark he gan him mene.

Schortliche soþe to say

Þis tale was hem bitvene

‘In sorwe ich haue ben ay

Seþþen ich aliue haue ben.’

1140 Marke seyd ‘Wayleway,

Þat ich it schuld ysene,

Swiche þing!’ {f.287va}

Tristrem, wiþouten wene,

A schip asked þe king.

1145 ¶ ‘Em,‘ he seyd ‘y spille,

Of lond kepe y namare.

A schip þou bring me tille,

Mine harp to play me þare,

Stouer ynouȝ to wille

1150 To kepe me, son ȝou ȝare.’

Þei Marke liked ille,

Tristrem to schip þai bare

& brouȝt.

Who wold wiþ him fare?

1155 Gouernayle no lete him nouȝt.

¶ Tristremes schip was ȝare,

& asked his benisoun;

Þe hauen he gan outfare -

It hiȝt Carlioun.

1160 Niȝen woukes & mare

He hobled vp & doun.

A winde to wil him bare

To a stede þer him was boun

Neiȝehand,

1165 Deluelin hiȝt þe toun,

An hauen in Irland.

¶ A winde þider him gan driue,

Schipmen him seiȝe neiȝehand;

In botes þai gun him stiue

1170 & drouȝ him to þe land.

A wounded man aliue

In þe schip þai fand;

He seyd bisiden a ride

Men wounded him & band

1175 Vnsounde.

No man miȝt bi him stand

For stinking of his wounde.

¶ Gouernail gan hem frain

hem: e has been altered from a.

What hiȝt þe se strand.

1180 ‘Deuelin‘ þai seyd ogayn

Þe schipmen þat him fand.

Þo was Tristrem vnfain

& wele gan vnderstand

Hir broþer hadde he slain

1185 Þat quen was of þe land

In fiȝt. {f.287vb}

Tristrem he gan doun lain

& seyd Tramtris he hiȝt.

¶ In his schip was þat day

1190 Al maner of gle

& al maner of lay

In lond þat miȝt be.

To þe quen þo seyd þay,

Morauntes soster þe fre,

1195 Ywounded swiche a man lay

Þat sorwe it was to se

& care

‘A miri man were he

ȝif he oliue ware.’

1200 ¶ Sche was in Deuelin,

Þe fair leuedi þe quene,

Louesom vnder line,

& sleiȝest had ybene

& mest couþe of medici[n]e;

1205 Þat was on Tristrem sene,

Sche brouȝt him of his pine,

To wite & nouȝt at wene,

To say;

Sche sent him a plaster kene

1210 To cast þe stink oway.

Amorwe when it was day,

Þe leuedy of heiȝe priis

Com þer Tristrem lay

& asked what he js.

1215 ‘Marchaund ich haue ben ay,

Mi nam is Tramtris.

Robbers for soþe to say

Slouȝ mine felawes, ywis,

In þe se;

1220 Þai raft me fowe & griis

& þus wounded þai me.’

¶ An heye man he was like,

Þei he wer wounded sare;

His gles weren so sellike

1225 Þat wonder þouȝt hem þare.

His harp, his croude was rike,

His tables, his ches he bare.

Þai swore bi seyn Patrike

Swiche seiȝe þai neuer are

1230 Er þan. {f.288ra}

‘ȝif he in hele ware,

He were a miri man.’

¶ Þe leuedi of heiȝe kenne

His woundes schewe . . . he lete,

1235 To wite his wo vnwinne;

So grimli he gan grete,

His bon brast vnder skinne,

His sorwe was vnsete.

Þai brouȝt him to an inne,

1240 A baþ þai made him sket

So liþe

Þat Tristrem on his fet

Gon he miȝt swiþe.

¶ Salues haþ he soft

1245 & drinkes þat er liþe;

Þai no rouȝt hou dere it bouȝt,

Bot held him also swiþe.

He made his play aloft,

His gamnes he gan kiþe;

1250 Forþi was Tristrem oft

To boure cleped fele siþe

To sete;

Ich man was lef to liþe,

His mirþes were so swete.

1255 Þe king had a douhter dere

Þat maiden Ysonde hiȝt,

Þat gle was lef to here

& romaunce to rede ariȝt.

Sir Tramtris hir gan lere

1260 Þo wiþ al his miȝt

What alle pointes were,

To se þe soþe in siȝt,

To say.

In Yrlond nas no kniȝt

1265 Wiþ Ysonde durst play.

¶ Ysonde of heiȝe priis,

Þe maiden briȝt of hewe

Þat wered fow & griis

& scarlet þat was newe.

1270 In warld was non so wiis

Of craft þat men knewe

Wiþouten sir Tramtris,

Þat al games of grewe

On grounde. {f.288rb}

1275 Hom longeþ Tramtris þe trewe

For heled was his wounde.

¶ Sir Tramtris in Irlond

Duelled al a ȝere.

So gode likeing he fand

1280 Þat hole he was & fere.

Þe quen to fot & hand

He serued dern & dere;

Ysonde he dede vnderstand

What alle playes were

1285 In lay.

His leue he asked at here

In schip to founde oway.

¶ Þe quen þat michel can

To Tramtris sche gan say

1290 ‘Who so fet vncouþe man,

He foundeþ euer oway.’

His hire þai ȝolden him þan,

Gold & siluer, y say;

What he wold he wan

1295 Of Ysonde for his play

Saunfail.

He bitauȝt hem God & gode day,

Wiþ him went Gouernail.

¶ Riche sail þai drewe,

1300 White & red so blod;

A winde to wil hem blewe,

To Carlioun þai ȝode.

Now hat he Tristrem trewe

& fareþ ouer þe flod.

1305 Þe schip þe cuntre knewe,

It þouȝt hem ful gode.

As þare

Of wrake þai vnderstode,

For on þai leten him fare.

1310 ¶ Þai tolden to þe king

Þat þe schip had sain;

Neuer of no tiding

Nas Mark þe king so fain.

To toun þai gun him bring,

1315 Þe king ros him ogayn;

Bliþe was her meteing,

& fair he gan him frain

Þat stounde {f.288va}

‘Tristrem, nouȝt to lain,

1320 Heled is þi wounde?’

¶ His em answer he ȝeld

Þat litel he wald wene;

Of bot sche was him beld

Þat Moraunt soster had bene,

1325 Hou fair sche haþ him held

He told hem al bidene;

& seþþen Tristrem haþ teld

Of Ysonde þat was kene,

Al newe,

1330 Hou sche was briȝt & schene,

Of loue was non so trewe.

¶ Mark to Tristrem gan say

‘Mi lond bitake y þe

To han after mi day;

1335 Þine owhen schal it be.

Bring þou me þat may

Þat ich hir may yse.’

Þis was his maner ay,

Of Ysonde þan spekeþ he,

1340 Her prise,

Hou sche was gent & fre,

Of loue was non so wise.

¶ In Jnglond ful wide

Þe barouns hem biþouȝt

1345 To fel Tristremes pride

Hou þai fairest mouȝt;

Þe king þai rad to ride,

A quen to him þai souȝt

Þat Tristrem miȝt abide

1350 Þat he no were it nouȝt,

No king;

Þai seyd þat Tristrem mouȝt

Ysonde of Yrlond bring.

¶ A brid briȝt þai ches

1355 As blod opon snoweing

‘A maiden of swiche reles

Tristrem may to þe bring.’

Quaþ Tristrem ‘it is les,

& troweþ it forlesing;

1360 To aski þat neuer no wes,

It is a fole askeing

Bi kinde; {f.288vb}

It is a selli þing,

For noman may it finde.

1365 ¶ Y rede ȝe nouȝt no striue;

A swalu ich herd sing:

ȝe sigge ich wern mi nem to wiue,

For y schuld be ȝour king.

Now bringeþ me atte riue

1370 Schip & oþer þing.

ȝe se me neuer oliue

Bot ȝif ich Ysonde bring,

Þat briȝt.

Finde me min askeing,

1375 Mine fiftend som of kniȝt.’

¶ Kniȝtes þo chosen þai

Þat were war & wise,

Al þat mest may

& heiȝest weren of priis;

1380 A schip wiþ grene & gray,

Wiþ vair & eke wiþ griis,

Wiþ alle þing, y say,

Þat pende to marchandis

In lede.

1385 Þai ferden of þis wise

Intil Yrlond þede.

¶ In his schip was boun

Al þat mister ware;

Out of Carlioun

1390 Riche was his schip fare.

Þai rered gomfaynoun,

A winde to wille hem bare.

Deuelin hat þe toun,

To lond þai comen þare,

1395 Þe best;

Þe king present þai bare

& asked leue to rest.

¶ Þe king present þai brouȝt,

Anoþer to þe quene;

1400 Ysonde forȝat þai nouȝt,

To wite & nouȝt at wene.

To schip when þai hem þouȝt

Þat at þe court hadde bene,

Swiche mayde nas neuer wrouȝt

1405 Þat þai euer hadde sene

catchword: wiþ siȝt.

Wiþ siȝt. {f.289ra}

Þe cuntre alle bidene

Þai seiȝe fle ful riȝt.

¶ Out of Deuelin toun

1410 Þe folk wel fast ran

In a water to droun

So ferd were þai þan.

For doute of o dragoun,

Þai seyd, to schip þai wan

1415 To hauen þat were boun;

No rouȝt þai of what man

In lede

MS: lines 1417-8 copied continuously.

Þat may him sle or can,

Ysonde schal haue to mede.

1420 ¶ Tristrem, bliþe was he,

He cleped his kniȝtes stiþe

‘What man he is lat se

lat: MS las.

Þat take þis bataile swiþe.’

Alle þai beden lat be,

1425 Durst non him seluen kiþe.

‘For nede now wo is me.’

Seyd Tristrem þat siþe

Riȝt þan.

Listen now who wil liþe

1430 Al of an hardi man.

¶ A stede of schip þai drewe,

Þe best þat he hadde brouȝt;

His armes weren al newe,

Þat richeliche were wrouȝt.

1435 His hert was gode & trewe,

No failed it him nouȝt.

Þe cuntre wele he knewe

Er he þe dragoun souȝt

& seiȝe.

1440 Helle fere him þouȝt

Fram þat dragoun fleiȝe.

Asaut to þat dragoun

Tristrem toke þat tide

As a loþely lioun

1445 Þat bataile wald abide;

Wiþ a spere feloun

He smot him in þe side;

It no vailed o botoun,

Oway it gan to glide,

1450 His dent;

Þe deuel dragouns hide {f.289rb}

Was hard so ani flint.

¶ Tristrem, al in tene,

Eft þat spere tok he;

1455 Oȝain þat dragoun kene

It brast on peces þre.

Þe dragoun smot bidene,

Þe stede he gan sle;

Tristrem, wiþouten wene,

1460 Stirt vnder a tre

Al stille

& seyd ‘God in trinite,

No lat þou me nouȝt spille.’

¶ Oȝain þat fende dragoun

1465 Afot he tok þe fiȝt;

He fauȝt wiþ his fauchoun

As a douhti kniȝt;

His neþer chauel he smot doun

Wiþ a stroke of miȝt;

1470 Þo was þe dragon boun

& cast fere ful riȝt

& brend

His armes þat were briȝt,

Schamliche he haþ hem schent.

1475 ¶ Swiche fer he cast oȝain

Þat brend scheld & ston.

Now liþ his stede yslain,

His armes brent ichon.

Tristrem rauȝt his brain

1480 & brak his nek-bon;

No was he neuer so fain

MS: erasure before so.

As þan þat batail was don;

Line 1482 is awkwardly inserted, its
correct position marked by crosses.

To bote

His tong haþ he ton

1485 & schorn of bi þe rote.

¶ In his hose next þe hide

Þe tong oway he bar.

No ȝede he bot ten stride,

His speche les he þar;

1490 Nedes he most abide

Þat he no may ferþer far.

Þe steward com þat tide,

Þe heued oway he schar

& brouȝt

1495 & tok it Ysonde þar

& seyd dere he hadde hir bouȝt. {f.289va}

¶ Þe steward wald ful fain

Han Ysonde ȝif he mouȝt.

Þe king answerd ogain,

1500 Fair þe bataile him þouȝt.

Ysonde, nouȝt to lain,

Of him no wil sche nouȝt;

Þere þe dragoun was slain,

Hye & hir moder souȝt,

1505 Also

Who þat wonder wrouȝt

Þat durst þat dragoun slo.

¶ ‘Dede þe steward þis dede?’

‘Certes‘ quaþ Ysonde ‘nay.

1510 Þis ich brende stede

No auȝt he neuer a day,

No þis riche wede

Nas neuer his, soþe to say.’

Forþer als þai ȝede,

1515 A man þai founde whare lay

& drouȝ.

‘Certes‘ þan seyd þai

‘Þis man þe dragoun slouȝ.’

¶ His mouþe opened þai

1520 & pelt treacle in þat man.

When Tristrem speke may

Þis tale he bigan

& redyli gan to say

Hou he þe dragoun wan

1525 ‘Þe tong y bar oway,

Þus venimed he me þan.’

Þai loke,

Þe quen þat michel can

Out of his hose it toke.

1530 ¶ Þai seiȝen he hadde þe riȝt,

Þe steward hadde þe wouȝ

& ȝif he durst fiȝt

Wiþ him þe dragoun slouȝ -

Tristrem spak as a kniȝt -

1535 He wold proue it anouȝ;

So noblelich he hem hiȝt,

Þerof Ysonde louȝ

Þat tide;

To his waraunt he drouȝ

1540 His schippe & al his pride. {f.289vb}

Þe quen asked what he is,

Þat durst þe dragon abide.

‘Marchaunt icham, ywis,

Mi schip liþ herebiside.

1545 He seyt he haþ don þis,

Prouen ichil his pride

Er he Ysonde kisse.’

Oȝaines him wald he ride

Wiþ miȝt.

1550 Ysonde seyd þat tide

‘Allas þat þou ner kniȝt.’

¶ Her chaumpioun þat day

Richeliche gun þai fede,

Til hem þink þat he may

1555 Don a douhti dede.

His armes long were þai,

His scholders large on brede.

Þe quen, for soþe to say,

To a baþ gan him lede

1560 Ful gayn,

& seþþen hir self sche ȝede

After a drink of main.

¶ Ysonde briȝt of hewe

Þouȝt it Tramtris ware.

1565 His swerd, sche gan it schewe,

& broken hye fond it þare;

Out of a cofer newe

Þe pece sche drouȝ ful ȝare

& sett it to þat trewe.

1570 It nas lasse no mare,

Bot riȝt.

Þo þouȝt Ysonde wiþ care

To sle Tristrem þe kniȝt.

¶ Ysonde to Tristrem ȝode

1575 Wiþ his swerd al drain.

‘Moraunt, mi nem þe gode,

Traitour, þou hast slain;

Forþi þine hert-blode

Sen ich wold ful fain.’

1580 Þe quen whende sche were wode;

Sche com wiþ a drink of main

& louȝ

‘Nay, moder, nouȝt to layn,

Þis þef mi broþer slouȝ. {f.290ra}

1585 ¶ Tristrem, þis þef is he,

Þat may he nouȝt forlain;

Þe pece þou miȝt her se

Þat fro mi nem was drain.

Loke þat it so be,

1590 Sett it euen ogain.’

As quik þai wald him sle

Þer, Tristrem, ful fain;

Soþ þing,

In baþ þai hadden him slain,

1595 No were it for þe king.

¶ & euer Tristrem louȝ

On swete Ysonde, þe briȝt

‘Þou miȝt haue slain me ynouȝ

Þo þat y Tramtris hiȝt;

1600 ȝe witeþ me wiþ wouȝ

Of Moraunt, þe noble kniȝt;

Y graunt wele ichim slouȝ

In batayl & in fiȝt,

Nouȝt lain;

1605 ȝif he hadde had þe miȝt,

So wold he me ful fain.

¶ Þo y Tramtris hiȝt,

Y lerld þe play & song,

& euer wiþ al mi miȝt

1610 Of þe y spac among

To Marke, þe riche kniȝt,

Þat after þe he gan long.’

So swore he day & niȝt,

& borwes fond he strong

1615 Bidene,

Amendes of al wrong,

Þat Ysonde schuld be quen.

¶ Tristrem swore þat þing;

Þai seyd it schuld stand

1620 Þat he schuld Ysonde bring -

Þai token it vnder hand -

To Mark, þe riche king,

Oliue ȝif þai him fand,

& make hir wiþ his ring

1625 Quen of Jngeland,

To say;

Þe forward fast þai band

Er þai parted oway. {f.290rb}

Þe steward forsoke his dede

1630 Þo he herd he Tristrem hiȝt;

Þe king swore, so God him spede,

Þat boþen schuld haue riȝt;

Þe steward seyd wrong þer ȝede,

Forþi nold he nouȝt fiȝt.

1635 Tristrem to his mede

Þai ȝolden Ysonde þe briȝt;

To bring

To prisoun þat oþer kniȝt

Þe maiden bisekeþ þe king.

1640 ¶ No asked he lond no liþe,

Bot þat maiden briȝt;

He busked him also swiþe,

Boþe squier & kniȝt.

Her moder about was bliþe

1645 & tok a drink of miȝt,

Þat loue wald kiþe,

& tok it Brengwain þe briȝt

To þink

‘At er spouseing aniȝt

1650 ȝif Mark & hir to drink.’

¶ Ysonde briȝt of hewe

Is fer out in þe se.

A winde oȝain hem blewe

Þat sail no miȝt þer be.

1655 So rewe þe kniȝtes trewe,

Tristrem, so rewe he,

Euer as þai com newe -;

Erasure before as.

He on oȝain hem þre -

Gret swink.

1660 Swete Ysonde þe fre

Asked Bringwain a drink.

¶ Þe coupe was richeli wrouȝt,

Of gold it was þe pin;

In al þe warld nas nouȝt

1665 Swiche drink as þer was in.

Brengwain was wrong biþouȝt,

To þat drink sche gan win

& swete Ysonde it bitauȝt;

Sche bad Tristrem bigin,

1670 To say.

Her loue miȝt no man tvin

Til her ending-day. {f.290va}

¶ An hounde þer was biside

Þat was ycleped Hodain;

1675 Þe coupe he licked þat tide

Þo doun it sett Bringwain;

Þai loued al in lide

& þerof were þai fain;

Togider þai gun abide

1680 In ioie & ek in pain

For þouȝt:

In iuel time, to sain,

Þe drink was ywrouȝt.

¶ Tristrem in schip lay

1685 Wiþ Ysonde ich niȝt,

Play miri he may

Wiþ þat worþli wiȝt

In boure niȝt & day.

Al bliþe was þe kniȝt,

1690 He miȝt wiþ hir play;

Þat wist Brengwain þe briȝt

As þo;

Þai loued wiþ al her miȝt

& Hodain dede also.

1695 ¶ Tvai wikes in þe strand

No seyl þai no drewe;

Into Jnglond

A winde to wille hem blewe.

Þe king on hunting þai fand;

1700 A knaue þat he knewe,

He made him kniȝt wiþ hand

For his tidinges newe,

Gan bring.

Ysonde briȝt of hewe

1705 Þer spoused Mark þe king.

¶ He spoused hir wiþ his ring,

Of fest no speke y nouȝt.

Brengwain wiþouten lesing

Dede as hye had þouȝt;

1710 Sche tok þat loue drink

Þat in Yrlond was bouȝt.

For Ysonde to þe king

Brengwain to bed was brouȝt

Þat tide;

1715 Mark his wille wrouȝt

On bed Brengwain biside. {f.290vb}

¶ When Mark had tint his swink

Ysonde to bed ȝede;

Of Yrlond hye asked drink,

1720 Þe coupe sche gan hir bede,

Biside hir sche lete it sink;

Þerof hadde sche no nede,

Of non maner þing

Oȝain Tristrem, in lede,

1725 As þo;

No miȝt no clerk it rede,

Þe loue bitven hem to.

¶ Þai wende haue ioie anouȝ,

Certes, it nas nouȝt so.

1730 Her wening was al wouȝ,

Vntroweand til hem to;

Aiþer in langour drouȝ

& token rede to go;

& seþþen Ysonde louȝ

1735 When Tristrem was in wo

Wiþ wille.

Now þenkeþ Ysonde to slo

Brengwain & hir to spille.

¶ Sche þouȝt ‘y may be wroþ

1740 Sche lay first bi þe king,

For y bihiȝt hir cloþ,

Gold & riche wedding;

Tristrem & y boþe

boþe: originally baþe;
o inserted with a caret mark,
and a underdotted.

Beþ schent for our playing;

1745 Better is þat we raþe

Hir o liue bring

Al stille.

Þan doute we for no þing

Þat we ne may han our wille.’

1750 ¶ Þe quen bad her biside

To werkemen on a day;

Sche told hem at þat tide

What was her wille to say

‘ȝe moten slen & hide

1755 Bringwain, þat miri may.’

Sche seyd ‘ȝe schal abide

Riche to ben ay

In lede.

No lete ȝe for no pay

1760 Þat ȝe no do þat dede.’ {f.291ra}

¶ Into a grisly clouȝ

Þai & þat maiden ȝode;

Þat on his swerd out drouȝ,

Þat oþer bihinde hir stode.

1765 Sche crid merci anouȝ

& seyd ‘for Cristes rode,

What haue y don wouȝ?

Whi wille ȝe spille mi blode?’

‘Nouȝt lain,

1770 Ysonde, þe leuedi gode,

Haþ hot þou schalt be slain.’

¶ Brengwain dernly

Bad hem say þe quen

‘Greteþ wele mi leuedy

1775 Þat ai trewe haþ ben.

Smockes hadde sche & y

& hir was solwy to sen,

Bi Mark þo hye schuld ly,

Y lent hir min al clen

1780 As þare;

Oȝain hir, wele y wen,

No dede y neuer mare.’

¶ Þai nold hir nouȝt slo

Bot went oȝain to þe quen;

1785 Ysonde asked hem to

‘What seyd hye ȝou bitven?’

‘Hye bad ous say ȝou so:

ȝour smock was solwy to sen,

Bi Mark þo ȝe schuld ly,

1790 Y lent hir min al clene

Þat day.’

Þo asked Ysonde þe ken

‘Whare is þat trewe may?’

¶ Þo seyd Ysonde wiþ mode

1795 ‘Mi maiden ȝe han slain.’

Sche swore bi Godes rode

Þai schuld ben hong & drain;

Sche bede hem ȝiftes gode

To fechen hir ogain.

1800 Þai fetten hir þer sche stode;

Þo was Ysonde ful fain,

To say;

So trewe sche fond Brengwain

Þat sche loued hir wele ay. {f.291rb}

1805 Made was þe sauȝtening

& alle forȝeue bidene.

Tristrem, wiþouten lesing,

Played wiþ þe quen.

Fram Irlond to þe king

1810 An harpour com bitven;

An harp he gan forþ bring,

Swiche no hadde þai neuer sen

Wiþ siȝt;

Him self, wiþouten wen,

1815 Bar it day & niȝt.

¶ Ysonde he loued in are,

in is inserted superscript.

He þat þe harp brouȝt;

About his hals he it bare,

Richelich it was wrouȝt;

1820 He hidde it euer mare,

Out no com it nouȝt.

‘Þine harp whi wiltow spare,

ȝif þou þerof can ouȝt

Of gle?’

1825 ‘No out no comeþ it nouȝt

Wiþouten ȝiftes fre.’

¶ Mark seyd ‘lat me se

Harpi hou þou can

& what þou askest me

1830 ȝiue y schal þe þan.’

‘Bleþely‘ seyd he;

A miri lay he bigan.

‘Sir king of ȝiftes fre,

Her wiþ Ysonde y wan

1835 Bidene.

Y proue þe for fals man,

Or y schal haue þi quen.’

¶ Mark to conseyl ȝede

& asked rede of þo to

1840 ‘Lesen y mot mi manhed

Or ȝeld Ysonde me fro.’

Mark was ful of drede,

Ysonde lete he go.

Tristrem in þat nede

1845 At wode was, dere to slo,

Þat day;

Tristrem com riȝt þo

As Ysonde was oway. {f.291va}

¶ Þo was Tristrem in ten

1850 & chidde wiþ þe king

‘ȝifstow glewemen þi quen?

Hastow no noþer þing?’

His rote, wiþouten wen,

He rauȝt bi þe ring;

1855 Þo folwed Tristrem þe ken

To schip þer þai hir bring

So bliþe;

Tristrem bigan to sing

& Ysonde bigan to liþe.

1860 ¶ Swiche song he gan sing

Þat hir was swiþe wo;

Her com swiche louelonging,

Hir hert brast neiȝe ato.

Þerl to hir gan spring

1865 Wiþ kniȝtes mani mo

& seyd ‘mi swete þing,

Whi farestow so,

Y pray?’

Ysonde to lond most go,

1870 Er sche went oway.

¶ ‘Wiþin a stounde of þe day

Y schal ben hole & sounde;

Ich here a menstrel, to say,

Of Tristrem he haþ a soun.’

1875 Þerl seyd ‘daþet him ay

Of Tr[i]strem ȝif þis stounde.

Þat minstrel for his lay

Schal haue an hundred pounde

Of me,

1880 ȝif he wil wiþ ous founde,

Lef, for þou louest his gle.’

¶ His gle al for to here

Þe leuedi was sett on land

To play bi þe riuere;

1885 Þerl ladde hir bi hand;

Tristrem, trewe fere,

Mirie notes he fand

Opon his rote of yuere

As þai were on þe strand;

1890 Þat stounde

Þurth þat semly sand

Ysonde was hole & sounde. {f.291vb}

¶ Hole sche was & sounde

Þurth vertu of his gle;

1895 Forþi þerl þat stounde

Glad a man was he;

Of penis to hundred pounde

He ȝaf Tristrem þe fre;

To schip þan gun þai founde,

1900 In Yrlond wald þai be

Ful fain,

Þerl & kniȝtes þre

Wiþ Ysonde & Bringwain.

¶ Tristrem tok his stede

1905 & lepe þeron to ride;

Þe quen bad him her lede

To schip him biside;

him: altered from hem.

Tristrem dede as hye bede,

In wode he gan hir hide.

1910 To þerl he seyd ‘in þat nede

Þou hast ytent þi pride,

Þou dote.

Wiþ þine harp þou wonne hir þat tide,

Þou tint hir wiþ mi rote.’

1915 ¶ Tristrem wiþ Ysonde rade

Into þe wode oway.

A loghe þai founden made,

Was ful of gamen & play;

Her blis was ful brade

1920 & ioieful was þat may.

Seuen niȝt þai þare abad

& seþþen to court com þai.

‘Sir king‘

Tristrem gan to say

1925 ‘ȝif minstrels oþer þing.’

Meriadok was a man

Þat Tristrem trowed ay;

Miche gode he him an,

In o chaumber þai lay.

1930 Tristrem to Ysonde wan

Tristrem: MS reads Tristren.

Aniȝt wiþ hir to play;

As man þat miche kan,

A bord he toke oway

Of her bour.

1935 Er he went, to say,

Of snowe was fallen a schour. {f.292ra}

¶ A schour þer was yfalle

Þat al þe way was white;

Tristrem was wo wiþalle,

1940 Wiþ diol & sorwe site.

Bitven þe bour & þe halle

Þe way was naru & lite.

Swiche cas him was bifalle

As we finde in scrite.

1945 Ful sket

A siue he fond tite

& bond vnder his fete.

¶ Meriadok wiþ his miȝt

Aros vp al bidene;

1950 Þe way he went riȝt

Til he com to þe quen;

Þe bord he fond oftviȝt,

To wite & nouȝt at wene.

Of Tristrem kertel þe kniȝt

1955 He fond a pece grene

Of tore;

Meriadok þe kene

Wondred þerfore.

¶ Amorwe he tolde þe king

1960 Al þat he seiȝe wiþ siȝt.

‘Lord, wiþouten lesing,

Wiþ Ysonde lay Tristrem toniȝt.

Þou schalt do swiche a þing,

Aske who her ȝeme miȝt.

1965 Þe croice to Ierusalem bring

Say þou hast yhiȝt,

ȝif þou may.

Tristrem þe noble kniȝt,

Þe quen hir self wil say.’

1970 ¶ Þe king told þe quen,

Abed þo þai ware,

‘Dame, wiþouten wene,

To Ierusalem y mot fare;

Loke now ous bitvene

1975 Who may þe kepe fram care?’

‘For al oþer bidene

Tristrem‘ sche seyd þare,

‘Forþan

MS: lines 1978-9 copied continuously.

Y loue him wele þe mare,

þe: e is superscript.

1980 He is þi kinsseman.’

Al þat Mark hir told {f.292rb}

Amorwe hye told Bringwain,

‘Of lond wil þis bold:

Now we may be ful fain.

1985 Tristrem þe court schal hold

Til he com oȝain.’

Brengwain answere ȝolde

‘ȝour dedes han ben sain

Wiþ siȝt.

1990 Mark þi self schal frain

Al oþerloker toniȝt.

¶ Wite þou wele his wille,

To wende wiþ him þou say

& ȝif he loueþ þe stille

1995 Þou do Tristrem oway.

Biseche him he se þertille,

Þi fo is Tristrem ay.

Þou dredest he wil þe spille

ȝif he þe maistrie may

2000 Aboue;

Þou louedest him neuer a day

Bot for þi nemes loue.’

¶ Ysonde þe nexst niȝt

Crid ‘Mark, þin ore.

2005 Mi fo þou hast me hiȝt,

On me þou sinnes sore.

Gode ȝif þou hadde me hiȝt

Of lond wiþ þe to fare,

þe: written over an erasure.

& sle Tristrem þe kniȝt,

2010 ȝif loue of þe no ware

Þis day;

For mani man seyt ay whare

Þat Tristrem bi me lay.’

Mark is bliþe & glad

2015 For al þat trowed he;

He þat him oþer tald

He ne couþe him bot maugre.

Meriadok him answere ȝald

‘In toun þou do him be.

2020 Her loue-laike þou bihald

For þe loue of me.

Nouȝt wene,

Bi resoun þou schalt se

Þat loue is hem bitvene.’

2025 Mark departed hem to {f.292va}

& dede Tristrem oway;

Nas neuer Ysonde so wo

No Tristrem, soþe to say.

Ysonde her self wald slo,

2030 For sorwe Tristrem lay.

Ysonde morned so

& Tristrem niȝt & day

For dede.

Ich man it se may,

2035 What liif for loue þai lede.

¶ Tristrem was in toun,

In boure Ysonde was don.

Bi water he sent adoun

Liȝt linden spon.

2040 He wrot hem al wiþ roun;

Ysonde hem knewe wel sone;

Bi þat Tristrem was boun,

Ysonde wist his bone

To abide.

2045 Er amorwe none

Her aiþer was oþer biside.

Quaþ Meriadok ‘y rede

Þine hunters þou bid ride

Fourtenniȝt at þis nede

2050 To se þine forestes wide.

Tristrem þou hem bede,

Þi self þou here abide

& riȝt at her dede

Þou schalt hem take þat tide.

2055 In þe tre

Here þou schalt abide,

Her semblaunt þou schalt se.’

¶ In orchard mett þai inne,

Tristrem & Ysonde fre;

2060 Ay when þai miȝt awinne,

Þer playd Ysonde & he.

Þe duerwe yseiȝe her ginne

Þer he sat in þe tre.

Mark of riche kinne

2065 He hiȝt to don him se

Wiþ siȝt

& seyd ‘sir, siker ȝe be,

Þi self schal se þat riȝt.’

¶ His falsnesse for to fille {f.292vb}

2070 Forþ þo went he;

To Tristrem he com wiþ ille

Fram Ysonde þe fre

‘Mi leuedy me sent þe tille

For icham priue,

2075 & praieþ þe wiþ wille

Þat þou wost hir se

Wiþ siȝt.

Mark is in oþer cuntre,

Priue it schal be diȝt.’

2080 ¶ Tristrem him biþouȝt

‘Maister, þank haue ȝe.

For þou me þis bode brouȝt

Mi robe ȝiue y þe;

Þat þou no lete it nouȝt

2085 Say þat leuedy fre.

Hir wordes dere y bouȝt,

To Marke hye bileiȝe me,

Marke: r is superscript.

Þat may.

Tomorwe y schal hir se

2090 At chirche, for soþe to say.’

¶ Þe duerwe toke þe gate

& Mark he told bidene

Mark: r is superscript.

‘Bi þis robe y wate

Þat michel he loueþ þe quene.

2095 Ysame we nouȝt no sat,

He douteþ me bitvene;

It semeþ by his lat

As he hir neuer had sene

Wiþ siȝt.

2100 Y wot wiþouten wene

He comeþ to hir toniȝt.’

¶ Sir Mark sat in þe tre

Þer metten þai to.

Þe schadowe Tristrem gan se

2105 & loude spac he þo,

Þat Ysonde schuld Mark se

& calle Tristrem hir fo

‘Þou no auȝtest nouȝt here to be,

Þou no hast nouȝt here to go,

2110 No þing;

Wiþ riȝt men schuld þe slo,

Durst y for þe king.

¶ Ysonde, þou art mi fo, {f.293ra}

Þou sinnest, leuedi, on me;

2115 Þou gabbest on me so,

Mi nem nil me nouȝt se,

He þreteneþ me to slo.

More menske were it to þe

Better for to do,

2120 Bi God in trinite,

Þis tide;

Or y þis lond schal fle

Into Wales wide.’

¶ ‘Tristrem, for soþe to say,

2125 Y wold þe litel gode,

Ac y þe wraied neuer day,

Y swere bi Godes rode.

Men said þou bi me lay,

Þine em so vnderstode.

2130 Wende forþ in þi way,

It semes astow were wode,

To wede.

Y loued neuer man wiþ mode

Bot him þat hadde mi maidenhede.’

2135 ¶ ‘Swete Ysonde, þin are.

Þou preye þe king for me,

ȝif it þi wille ware

Of sake he make (make) me fre.

Of lond ichil elles fare,

2140 Schal he me neuer se.’

Markes hert was sare

Þer he sat in þe tre

& þouȝt

‘Vngiltles er ȝe

2145 In swiche a sclaunder brouȝt.’

¶ ‘Þou seyst y gan þe wrie,

Men seis þou bi me lay,

Ac þei ich wende to dye,

Þine erand y schal say.

2150 Marke þi nem his heiȝe,

Anouȝ he þe ȝiue may;

No reche y what y liȝe,

So þat þou be oway

Wiþ wille.’

2155 Marke þo þouȝt ay,

‘ȝete he schal duelle stille.’

¶ Tristrem oway went so, {f.293rb}

Ysonde to boure, ywis;

Nas neuer Mark so wo,

2160 Him self he herd al þis.

Al sori Mark gan go

Til he miȝt Tristrem kisse,

& dedely hated he þo

Him þat seyd amis.

2165 Al newe

Þer was ioie & blis,

& welcom Tristrem trewe.

¶ Now haþ Ysonde her wille,

Tristrem constable is heiȝe.

2170 Þre ȝere he playd stille

Wiþ Ysonde briȝt so beiȝe;

Her loue miȝt no man felle,

So were þai boþe sleiȝe.

Meriadok wiþ ille

2175 Waited hem ful neiȝe

Of her dede;

ȝif he miȝt hem spille,

Fain he wald spede.

¶ Meriadok wrayeþ ay,

2180 To þe king þus seyd he

‘Her folies vsen þai ay,

Wel ȝore y seyd it þe.

Loke now on a day

& blod lat ȝou þre;

2185 Do as y þe say,

& tokening þou schalt se

Ful sone.

Her bed schal blodi bene

Ar he his wille haue done.’

2190 ¶ Blod-leten was þe king,

Tristrem & þe quene;

At her blod-leteing

Þe flore was swopen clene;

Meriadok dede floure bring

2195 & strewed it bitvene,

Þat go no miȝt no þing

Bot ȝif it were sene

Wiþ siȝt.

Þritti fet bidene

2200 Tristrem lepe þat niȝt.

¶ Now Tristrem willes is {f.293va}

Wiþ Ysonde for to play;

He no may hir com to kisse

So ful of floure it lay.

2205 Tristrem lepe, ywis,

Þritti fete, soþ to say.

As Tristrem dede þis,

His blod bende brast oway

& bled;

2210 & seþþen oȝain þe day

He lepe fram hir bedde.

¶ Þritti fete bitvene

He lepe, wiþouten les;

Sore him greued his vene,

2215 As it no wonder nes.

Mark her bed hadde sen

& al blodi it wes.

He told þo Brengwain

Tristrem hadde broken his pes

2220 Bitvene.

Anon of lond he ches

Out of Markes eiȝe sene.

¶ Tristrem was fled oway,

To wite & nouȝt to wene.

2225 At Londen on a day

Mark wald spourge þe quen.

Men seyd sche brak þe lay;

A bischop ȝede bitvene;

Wiþ hot yren, to say,

2230 Sche þouȝt to make hir clene

Of sake.

Ysonde said bidene

Þat dome sche wald take.

¶ Men sett þe merkes þere

2235 At Westeminster ful riȝt,

Hot yren to bere

For sir Tristrem þe kniȝt.

In pouer wede to were

Tristrem com þat niȝt -

2240 Of alle þe kniȝtes here

No knewe him non bi siȝt

Bidene -

To swete Ysonde briȝt,

As forward was hem bitvene.

2245 ¶ Ouer Temes sche schuld ride, {f.293vb}

Þat is an arm of þe se

‘To þe schip side

Þis man schal bere me.’

Tristrem hir bar þat tide

2250 & on þe quen fel he

Next her naked side,

Þat mani man miȝt yse

Gan schewe.

Hir queynt abouen hir kne

2255 Naked þe kniȝtes knewe.

¶ In water þai wald him sink

& wers ȝif þai may.

‘ȝe quite him iuel his swink.’

Þe quene seyd to hem ay.

2260 ‘It semeþ mete no drink

Hadde he nouȝt mani a day;

For pouerte me þenk

He fel, for soþe to say,

& nede.

2265 ȝeueþ him gold, y pray;

He may bidde God me spede.’

Gold þai ȝouen him þare,

Þe constori þai bigan.

Swete Ysonde sware

2270 Sche was giltles woman

‘Bot on to schip me bare,

Þe kniȝtes seiȝe wele þan;

What so his wille ware,

Ferli neiȝe he wan,

2275 Soþe þing;

So neiȝe com neuer man

Bot mi lord þe king.’

¶ Swete Ysonde haþ sworn

Hir clene, þat miri may;

2280 To hir þai had ycorn

Hot yren, y say.

Þe kniȝtes were biforn,

For hir þo praiden þai.

Þe yren sche hadde yborn,

2285 Ac Mark forȝaue þat day

& dede.

Meriadok held þai

For fole in his falshede.

¶ Ysonde is graunted clene, {f.294ra}

2290 Meriadok, maugre his;

Neuer er nas þe quen

So wele wiþ Mark, ywis.

Tristrem, wiþouten wene,

Into Wales he is;

2295 In bataile he haþ ben

& fast he fraines þis

Riȝt þare:

For he ne may Ysonde kisse,

Fiȝt he souȝt aywhare.

2300 ¶ In Wales þo was a king

Þat hiȝt Triamour,

He hadde a douhter ȝing,

Was hoten Blauncheflour.

Vrgan wiþ gret wering

2305 Biseged him in his tour

To winne þat swete þing

& bring hir to his bour

Wiþ fiȝt.

Tristrem wiþ gret honour

2310 Bicom þe kinges kniȝt.

¶ Vrgan gan Wales held

Wiþ wrong, for soþe to say;

Oft & vnselde

Of Triamour tok he pray.

2315 Triamour to Tristrem teld

Opon a somers day,

Wales he wald him ȝeld

ȝif he it winne may

Riȝt þan.

2320 Tristrem, wiþouten nay,

Wiþ were Wales wan.

¶ Tristrem mett Vrgan

In þat feld to fiȝt,

To him seyd he þan

2325 As a douhti kniȝt

‘Þou slouȝ mi broþer Morgan

At þe mete ful riȝt.

As y am douhti man,

His deþ þou bist toniȝt,

2330 Mi fo.’

Tristrem seyd ‘apliȝt!

So kepe y þe to slo.’

¶ Tvelue fete was þe wand {f.294rb}

Þat Vrgan wald wiþ play,

2335 His strok may no man stand -

Ferly ȝif Tristrem may.

Tristrem vantage fand,

His clobbe fel oway,

& of þe geauntes hand

2340 Tristrem smot þat day

In lede;

Tristrem, for soþe to say,

Þe geaunt gert he blede.

¶ Vrgan al in tene,

2345 Fauȝt wiþ his left hand

Oȝain Tristrem kene;

A stern stroke he fand

Opon his helme so schene,

Þat to þe grounde he wand;

2350 Bot vp he stirt bidene

& heried Godes sand

Almiȝt;

Tristrem wiþ his brand

Fast gan to fiȝt.

2355 ¶ Þe geaunt aroume he stode,

His hond he tint, ywis,

He fleiȝe as he wer wode

Þer þat þe castel is.

Tristrem trad in þe blod

2360 & fond þe hond þat was his;

Oway sir Tristrem ȝode.

Þe geaunt com wiþ þis

& souȝt

To hele his honde þat was his;

2365 Salues hadde he brouȝt.

¶ Vrgan, þe geaunt vnride,

After sir Tristrem wan,

Þe cuntre fer & wide

Ygadred was bi þan;

2370 Tristrem þouȝt þat tide

‘Y take þat me Gode an.’

On a brigge he gan abide,

Biheld þer mani a man;

Þai mett,

2375 Vrgan to Tristrem ran

& grimli þere þai gret.

¶ Strokes of michel miȝt {f.294va}

Þai delten hem bitvene

Þat þurth her brinies briȝt

2380 Her boþer blod was sene;

Tristrem fauȝt as a kniȝt

& Vrgan al in tene

ȝaf him a stroke vnliȝt;

His scheld he clef bitvene

2385 Atvo;

Tristrem, wiþouten wene,

Nas neuer are so wo.

¶ Eft Vrgan smot wiþ main

& of þat stroke he miste;

2390 Tristrem smot ogayn

& þurth his body he þreste;

Vrgan lepe vnfain,

Ouer þe bregge he deste.

Tristrem haþ Vrgan slain,

2395 Þat alle þe cuntre wist

Wiþ wille;

Þe king þo Tristrem kist

& Wales þo ȝeld him tille.

¶ Þe king, a welp he brouȝt

2400 Bifor Tristrem þe trewe;

What colour he was wrouȝt

Now ichil ȝou schewe.

Silke nas non so soft,

He was rede, grene & blewe.

2405 Þai þat him seiȝen oft

Of him hadde gamen & glewe,

Ywis.

His name was Peticrewe,

Of him was michel priis.

2410 ¶ Þe king Triamour

ȝaf him Tristrem þe hende

For he brouȝt out of dolour

Him & al his kende.

Tristrem wiþ gret honour

2415 Kidde þat he was hende,

He ȝaf to Blauncheflour

Wales wiþouten ende

Bidene,

& Peticrowe he gan sende

2420 To dame Ysonde þe quene.

¶ Ysonde, wiþouten les, {f.294vb}

Þo hye þe welp had sain,

Þat sche had made his pes

Sche sent word ogayn.

2425 Mark herd hou it wes

Þat Vrgan had he slain;

Messangers he ches

Tristrem for to frain,

Þat fre.

2430 Mark was ferly fain,

& Tristrem kist he.

¶ Mark gan Tristrem calle

& toke him al bidene

Cites, castels alle,

2435 Steward as he hadde bene.

Who was bliþe in halle

Bot Ysonde þe quene?

Hou so it schuld bifalle,

Þai playden ai bitvene,

2440 Þo tvo;

So long of loue þai mene

Þat Mark seiȝe it was so.

¶ Mark seiȝe hou it is,

What loue was hem bitvene;

2445 Certes þis þouȝt was his,

Ful wele awreken to ben;

He cleped Tristrem wiþ þis

& bitoke him þe quene,

& flemed hem boþe, ywis,

2450 Out of his eiȝe sene

Away.

Bliþer wiþouten wene

Neuer ere nar þay.

¶ A forest fled þai tille,

2455 Tristrem & Ysonde þe schene.

No hadde þai no won to wille

Bot þe wode so grene.

Bi holtes & bi hille

Fore Tristrem & þe quene;

2460 Ysonde of ioie haþ her fille

& Tristrem, wiþouten wene,

As þare;

So bliþe al bidene

Nar þai neuer are.

2465 ¶ Tristrem & þat may {f.295ra}

Wer flemed for her dede;

Hodain, soþ to say,

& Peticrowe wiþ hem ȝede.

In on erþe hous þai lay,

2470 Þo raches wiþ hem þai lede.

Tristrem hem tauȝt o day

Bestes to take at nede

An hast.

In þat forest fede

2475 Tristrem Hodain gan chast.

¶ Tristrem wiþ Hodain

A wilde best he slouȝ;

In on erþe house þai layn,

Þer hadde þai ioie ynouȝ.

2480 Etenes bi old dayn

Had wrouȝt it, wiþouten wouȝ.

Ich niȝt, soþ to sain,

Þertil þai boþe drouȝ

Wiþ miȝt.

2485 Vnder wode bouȝ

Þai knewen day & niȝt.

¶ In winter it was hate,

In somer it was cold;

Þai hadden a dern gat,

2490 Þat þai no man told.

No hadde þai no wines wat,

þai: added superscript.

No ale þat was old,

No no gode mete þai at;

Þai hadden al þat þai wold

2495 Wiþ wille.

For loue ich oþer bihalt,

Her non miȝt of oþer fille.

¶ Tristrem on an hille stode,

As he biforn hadde mett;

2500 He fond a wele ful gode,

Al white it was, þe grete;

Þerto Tristrem ȝode

& hende Ysonde þe swete.

Þat was al her fode,

2505 & wilde flesche þai ete

& gras;

Swiche ioie hadde þai neuer ȝete

Tvelmoneþ þre woukes las.

¶ Tristrem on a day {f.295rb}

2510 Tok Hodain wel erly,

A best he tok to pray

Bi a dern sty;

He diȝt it, wiþouten nay,

& hom it brouȝt an heiȝe.

2515 Aslepe Ysonde lay,

Tristrem him layd hir bi,

Þe quen.

His swerd he drouȝ titly

& laid it hem bitvene.

2520 ¶ An hert Mark at-ran

Opon þat ilke day;

His hunters after wan,

A paþ þo founden þai.

Tristrem seiȝen hye þan

2525 & Ysonde, soþe to say.

Seiȝe þai neuer swiche man

No non so fair a may

Wiþ siȝt;

Bitven hem þer lay

2530 A drawen swerd wel briȝt.

¶ Þe huntes wenten riȝt

& teld Mark bidene.

Þe leuedi & þe kniȝt,

Boþe Mark haþ sene;

2535 He knewe hem wele bi siȝt,

Þe swerd lay hem bitvene;

A sonne bem ful briȝt

Schon opon þe quen

At a bore

2540 On her face so schene

& Mark rewed þerfore.

¶ His gloue he put þerinne

Þe sonne to were oway,

Wreþe mark gan winne,

2545 Þan seyd he, ‘wel ay!

wel: added superscript
with an insertion mark.

ȝif þai weren in sinne,

Nouȝt so þai no lay.

Lo hou þai liue atvinne.

Þai no hede nouȝt of swiche play,

2550 Ywis.’

Þe kniȝtes seyden ay

‘For trewe loue it is.’

¶ Þo waked Tristrem þe trewe {f.295va}

& swete Ysonde þe schene,

2555 Þe gloue oway þai drewe

& seyden hem bitvene;

For Markes þai it knewe,

Line 2557 written at the
foot of the column, its
correct position marked by
a-b and crosses.

Þai wist he had þer bene.

Þo was her ioie al newe,

2560 Þat he hem hadde ysene

Wiþ siȝt;

Wiþ þat com kniȝtes kene

To feche þo to ful riȝt.

¶ To court were comen þo to

2565 Þat in þe forest were,

Mark kist Ysonde þo

& Tristrem trewe fere.

Forȝeuen hem was her wo,

No were þai neuer so dere.

2570 Tristrem þe bailif gan to

Swiftly for to stere

A stounde.

Of loue who wil lere,

Listen now þe grounde.

2575 ¶ So bifel bidene

Opon a somers day

Tristrem & þe quen

Stalked to her play.

Þe duerwe hem haþ sene,

2580 To Mark gan he say

‘Sir king, wiþouten wene,

Þi wiif is now oway

& þi kniȝt;

Wende fast as þou may,

2585 Oftake hem, ȝif þou miȝt.’

¶ Mark king after ran,

Þat þai boþe yse.

Tristrem seyd þan

‘Ysonde, schent er we.

2590 For þouȝtes þat we can

Forhole no may it be.’

Nas neuer so sori man,

Tristrem, þan was he,

Þat hende:

2595 ‘For dout of deþ y fle,

In sorwe & wo y wende.

¶ Y fle for dout of deþ, {f.295vb}

Y dar no leng abide,

In wo mi liif to lede

2600 Bi þis forestes side.’

A ring Ysonde him bede

To tokening at þat tide.

He fleiȝe forþ in gret drede

In wode him for to hide

2605 Bidene;

To seken him fast þai ride,

Þai founden bot þe quene.

¶ Tristrem is went oway,

As it nouȝt hadde ybene;

2610 Forþi þe kniȝtes gan say

Þat wrong Markes had sen.

For her þan prayd þai

Þat Mark forȝaf þe quene.

Tristrem wiþ Ysonde lay

2615 Þat niȝt, wiþouten wene,

& wok

& plaiden ay bitvene.

His leue of hir he tok.

¶ Tristrem is went oway

2620 Wiþouten coming oȝain,

& sikeþ, for soþe to sain,

Wiþ sorwe & michel pain.

Tristrem fareþ ay

As man þat wald be slain,

2625 Boþe niȝt & day

Fiȝtes for to frain,

Þat fre;

Spaine he haþ þurth sayn,

Geauntes he slouȝ þre.

2630 ¶ Out of Spaine he rade

Rohande sones to se,

Gamen & ioie þai made,

Welcom to hem was he;

As lord he þer abade,

2635 As gode skil wald be.

Þai boden him landes brade

Þat he wan hem fre.

He þouȝt,

He seyd ‘þank haue ȝe.

2640 ȝour londes kepe y nouȝt.’

¶ Into Bretein he ches, {f.296ra}

Bicome þe doukes kniȝt;

He set his lond in pes

Þat arst was ful of fiȝt.

2645 Al þat þe doukes wes

He wan oȝain wiþ riȝt.

He bede him, wiþouten les,

His douhter þat was briȝt

In land.

2650 Þat maiden Ysonde hiȝt

Wiþ þe white hand.

¶ Tristremes loue was strong

On swete Ysonde þe quene;

Of Ysonde he made a song

2655 Þat song Ysonde bidene.

Þe maiden wende al wrong

Of hir it hadde ybene.

Hir wening was so long,

To hir fader hye gan mene

2660 For nede.

Ysonde wiþ hand schene

Tristrem to wiue þai bede.

¶ Tristrem a wil is inne,

Has founden in his þouȝt

2665 ‘Mark, mi nem, haþ sinne,

Wrong he haþ ous wrouȝt;

Icham in sorwe & pine,

Þerto hye haþ me brouȝt.

Hir loue, y say, is mine,

2670 Þe boke seyt it is nouȝt

Wiþ riȝt.’

Þe maiden more he souȝt,

For sche Ysonde hiȝt.

¶ Þat in his hert he fand,

2675 & trewely þouȝt he ay;

Þe forward fast he band

Wiþ Ysonde, þat may

Wiþ þe white hand,

He spoused þat day.

2680 O niȝt, ich vnderstand,

To boure wenten þai

On bedde.

Tristrem ring fel oway

As men to chaumber him ledde.

2685 ¶ Tristrem biheld þat ring, {f.296rb}

Þo was his hert ful wo

‘Oȝain me swiche a þing

Dede neuer Ysonde so;

Mark, her lord þe king,

2690 Wiþ tresoun may hir to.

Mine hert may no man bring

For no þing hir fro,

Þat fre.

Ich haue tvinned ous to,

2695 Þe wrong is al in me.’

¶ Tristrem to bedde ȝede

Wiþ hert ful of care.

He seyd ‘þe dern dede,

Do it y no dare.’

2700 Þe maiden he forbede,

ȝif it hir wille ware.

Þe maide answerd in lede

‘Þerof haue þou no care.

Al stille

2705 Y nil desiri na mare

Bot at þine owen wille.’

¶ Her fader on a day

ȝaf hem londes wide

Fer in þat cuntray

2710 Markes were set biside.

Bitvene þe douke þai had ben ay

& a geaunt vnride;

No most þer no man play

Þat he no dede him abide

2715 & fiȝt;

Lesen he schuld his pride,

Were he king or kniȝt.

¶ ‘Tristrem, y þe forbede

For þe loue of me,

2720 No hunte þou for no nede

Biȝond þe arm of þe se.

Beliagog is vnrede,

A stern geaunt is he;

Of him þou owest to drede,

2725 Þou slouȝ his breþer þre

In fiȝt:

Vrgan & Morgan vnfre

& Moraunt, þe noble kniȝt.

¶ ȝif þine houndes an hare wele hayre {f.296va}

2730 & comen oȝain to þe fre,

Also be þou bonaire,

When his houndes comen to þe.’

Þe forest was wel faire

Wiþ mani a selly tre.

2735 Tristrem þouȝt repaire,

Hou so it euer be,

To bide:

‘Þat cuntre wil y se,

What auentour so bitide.’

2740 ¶ Tristrem on huntinge rade,

An hert chaci bigan;

Þer þe merkes were made

His houndes ouer þai ran;

Þe water was blalc & brade,

2745 Tristrem com as a man;

Þer þe douke was fade,

Fast he folwed þan,

Riȝt þare;

He blewe priis as he can -

2750 Þre mot oþer mare.

Beliagog com þat tide

& asked wat he is.

‘An hunting þer y ride,

Tristrem ich hat, ywis.’

2755 ‘O! þou slouȝ Moraunt wiþ pride.

Tristrem artow þis?

& seþþen Vrgan vnride -

Vnkinde were ous to kis

As kenne.

2760 Mendi þou most þat mis,

Now þou mi lond art inne.’

¶ ‘Y slouȝ Vrgan, y þe telle.

So hope y þe to sla.

Þis forest wil y felle

2765 & castel wil y ma;

Her is miri to duelle,

Forþi þis lond y ta.’

Þe geaunt herd þat spelle,

Forþi him was ful wa,

2770 Vnwise.

So bitven hem tva

Þe cuntek gan arise.

¶ Dartes wel vnride {f.296vb}

Beliagog set gan.

2775 Tristremes liif þat tide

Ferly neiȝe he wan.

Bitvene þe hauberk & side

Þe dart þurthout ran.

Tristrem bleynt biside,

2780 God he þonked þan

Almiȝt.

Tristrem as a man

Fast he gan to fiȝt.

¶ Beliagog þe bold,

Beliagog: a inserted
superscript with insertion mark.

2785 As a fende he fauȝt;

Tristrem liif neiȝe he sold

As Tomas haþ ous tauȝt;

Tristrem smot, as God wold,

His fot of at a drauȝt;

2790 Adoun he fel yfold,

Þat man of michel mauȝt,

& cride

‘Tristrem, be we sauȝt,

& haue min londes wide.

2795 ¶ Ouercomen hastow me

In bataile & in fiȝt.

Helden oȝaines þe

No wil y neuer wiþ riȝt.’

His tresour lete he se

2800 Tristrem, þe noble kniȝt.

Tristrem knewe him fre;

Beliagog in hiȝt,

Nouȝt lain,

An halle to maken him briȝt

2805 To Ysonde & Bringwain.

¶ Þe geaunt him gan lede

Til he fond an hald;

Þe water about ȝede,

It was his eldren hald.

2810 Þe geaunt bad Tristrem belde

Wiþ masouns þat were bald.

Beliagog in þat nede

Fond him riche wald

To fine;

2815 Ysonde haue þere he wald,

Luffsum vnder line.

Catchword: þe geaunt him tauȝt.

¶ Þe geaunt him tauȝt þat tide {f.297ra}

A ford þer it was ȝare,

Þere he miȝt wele ride

2820 When his wille ware.

In þe hold he gan him hide,

Seyd he nouȝt he was þare;

Nold he nouȝt long abide,

Oȝain þo gan he fare,

2825 Þat fre.

At þe castel forþermare

His werkmen wald he se.

¶ Oȝain went Tristrem þan,

Beliagog had masouns souȝt.

2830 Tristrem þat michel can

A werk hem haþ ybrouȝt;

Nas þer neuer ȝete man

Þat wist what oþer wrouȝt;

Arere when þai bigan,

2835 Swiche a werk nas nouȝt

At nede;

Þei al men hadde it þouȝt,

It nas to large no gnede.

¶ At his des in þe halle

2840 Swete Ysonde was wrouȝt

Hodain & Pencru to calle;

Þe drink hou Brengwain brouȝt;

Mark yclad in palle

& Meriadok ful of þouȝt -

2845 So liifliche weren þai alle,

Ymages semed it nouȝt,

To abide -

& Tristrem, hou he fauȝt

Wiþ Beliagog vnride.

2850 So it bifel a cas

In seyn Matheus toun

Þat a fair fest was

Of lordes of renoun.

A baroun þat hiȝt Bonifas

2855 Spoused a leuedi of Lyoun.

Þer was miche solas

Of alle maner soun

& gle

Of minestrals vp & doun

2860 Bifor þe folk so fre.

¶ Þe riche douke Florentin {f.297rb}

To þat fest gan fare

& his sone Ganhardin,

Wiþ hem rode Ysonde þare.

2865 Her hors a polk stap in,

Þe water her wat aywhare;

It was a ferly gin,

So heye vnder hir gare

It fleiȝe.

2870 Þe leuedi louȝ ful smare,

& Ganhardin it seiȝe.

¶ Ganhardin vnbliþe

His soster þo cald he

‘Abide now, dame, & liþe,

2875 What is þer tidde to þe?

Do now telle me swiþe

Astow louest me

Whi louȝ þou þat siþe.

For what þing may it be?

2880 Wiþouten oþ

Þi frendschip schal y fle

Til y wite þat soþ.’

¶ ‘Broþer, no wraþe þe nouȝt,

Þe soþe y wil þe say.

2885 Mine hors þe water vp brouȝt

Of o polk in þe way.

So heiȝe it fleiȝe, me þouȝt,

Þat in mi sadel it lay.

Þer neuer man no souȝt

2890 So neiȝe, for soþe to say,

In lede.

Broþer, wite þou ay

Þat y louȝ for þat dede.’

¶ Quaþ Ganhardin ‘y finde

2895 Þat schamely schent ar we;

To wiue on our kinde

Heþeliche holdeþ he.

Þer he gan treuþe binde,

Fain y wald it se;

2900 For alle þe gold of Ynde

Ybroken no schal it be

To bete.

His frendeschip wil y fle;

Our on schal tine swete.’

2905 ¶ Wroþ is Ganhardin {f.297va}

& þat Tristrem yses;

What þouȝt he is in

Fast he askeþ, ywis.

‘Þou hast bi Ysonde lin,

2910 While þi wille is.

Whi nas hye neuer þine?

Erasure before þine.

Tristrem, tel me þis

In lede.

What haþ hye don amis?

2915 What wites þou hir of dede?’

¶ ‘ȝif it hir wille ware,

Forhole it miȝt haue be;

Sche haþ ytold it ȝou ȝare,

Quite sche is of me.

2920 Of hir kepe y namare,

A ȝift y ȝeue þe.

To a leuedi wil y fare

Is fairer þan swiche þre

To frain.’

2925 Ganhardin longeþ to se

Þat leuedi, nauȝt to lain.

¶ Ganhardin þe fest fles,

He bicom Tristremes frende;

He seyd his liif he les,

2930 Bot he wiþ Tristrem wende;

Quaþ Tristrem ‘ȝif it so bes

In Jnglond þat we lende,

No say nouȝt what þou ses,

Bot hold, astow art hende

2935 And hele.

Lay it al vnder hende,

To steuen ȝif þai it stele.’

¶ Ganhardin his treuþe pliȝt,

To ben his broþer he bede,

2940 To ben a trewe kniȝt

In al Tristremes nede.

Boþe busked þat niȝt

To Beliagog in lede.

Ganhardin seiȝe þat siȝt

2945 & sore him gan adrede

‘To brink

To sle þou wilt me lede,

To Beliagog, me þink.’

¶ ‘Ganhardin, wrong haue þou alle. {f.297vb}

2950 Wel whi seistow so?

Maugre on me falle

ȝif y þe wold slo.

Þe geaunt is my þralle,

His liif þei y wil to.’

2955 Tristrem þo gan him calle;

On a stilt he com þo

Ful swiþe

‘Lord, þi wille to do

Þarto ar we bliþe.’

2960 ¶ ‘Beliagog, go þare

& loke it boun be;

Ganhardin & y wil fare

Þe leuedi for to se.’

Swiche castel fond he þare

2965 Was maked of ston & tre.

Ganhardin wist nou are

Þer duelled Tristrem & he,

To liþe,

Ysonde for to se

2970 In halle briȝt & bliþe.

¶ To Ysonde briȝt so day

To halle gun þai go;

Ysonde þo seiȝe þai

& Bringwain boþe to,

2975 Tristrem, for soþe to say,

& Beliagog al blo.

As Ganhardin stert oway

His heued he brac þo

brac: a is superscript.

As he fleiȝe.

2980 Ganhardin was ful wo,

Þat he com Ysonde so neiȝe.

¶ Ganhardin schamed sore,

His heued ran on blod.

Ysonde he seiȝe þore

2985 & Brengwain fair & gode.

Brengwain þe coupe bore;

Him rewe þat frely fode,

He swore bi Godes ore.

In her hond fast it stode

2990 Al stille.

‘Tristrem, we ar wode

To speken oȝain þi wille.

¶ Nis it bot hert-breke, {f.298ra}

Þat swiþe wele finde we,

2995 & foly ous to speke

Ani worde oȝaines þe.

Mi wille ȝif y miȝt gete,

Þat leuedi wold y se;

Mine hert hye haþ ysteke,

3000 Brengwain briȝt & fre,

Þat frende;

Bliþe no may ich be

Til y se þat hende.’

¶ Tristrem & Ganhardin,

3005 Treuþe pliȝten þay,

In wining & in tin

Trewe to ben ay,

In joie & in pin,

In al þing, to say,

3010 Til he wiþ Brengwain haue lin,

ȝif þat Tristrem may,

In lede.

To Jnglond þai toke þe way,

Þo kniȝtes stiþe on stede.

3015 ¶ Sir Canados was þan

Constable, þe quen ful neiȝe;

For Tristrem Ysonde wan,

So weneþ he be ful sleiȝe

To make hir his leman

3020 Wiþ broche & riche beiȝe.

For nouȝt þat he do can

Hir hert was euer heiȝe

To hold;

Þat man hye neuer seiȝe

3025 Þat bifor Tristrem wold.

¶ Tristrem made a song

Þat song Ysonde þe sleiȝe

& harped euer among;

Sir Canados was neiȝe;

3030 He seyd ‘dame, þou hast wrong,

For soþe, who it seiȝe.

As oule & stormes strong,

So criestow on heye

In herd.

3035 Þou louest Tristrem dreiȝe,

To wrong þou art ylerd.

¶ Tristrem, for þi sake {f.298rb}

For soþe wiued haþ he.

Þis wil þe torn to wrake:

3040 Of Breteyne douke schal he be.

Oþer semblaunt þou make,

Þiseluen ȝif þou hir se;

Þi loue hir dede him take,

For hye hiȝt as do ȝe

3045 In land.

Ysonde men calleþ þat fre

Wiþ þe white hand.’

¶ ‘Sir Canados, þe waite,

Euer þou art mi fo.

3050 Febli þou canst hayte,

Þere man schuld menske do.

Who wil lesinges layt,

Þarf him no ferþer go.

Falsly canestow fayt

3055 Þat euer worþ þe wo.

Forþi

Malisoun haue þou also

Of God & our leuedy.

¶ A ȝift ich ȝiue þe:

3060 Þi þrift mot þou tine.

Þat þou asked me,

No schal it neuer be þine.

Yhated also þou be

Of alle þat drink wine.

3065 Hennes ȝern þou fle

Out of siȝt mine

In lede.

Y pray to seyn Katerine

Þat iuel mot þou spede.’

3070 ¶ Þe quen was wratþed sore,

Wroþ to chaumber sche ȝede

‘Who may trowe man more

Þan he haþ don þis dede?’

A palfray asked sche þere

3075 Þat wele was loued in lede;

Diȝt sche was ful ȝare,

Hir pauilouns wiþ hir þai lede

Ful fine.

Bifore was stef on stede

3080 Tristrem & Ganhardine.

¶ Ful ner þe gat þai abade {f.298va}

Vnder a figer tre;

Þai seiȝe where Ysonde rade

& Bringwain, boþe seiȝe he

3085 Wiþ tvo houndes mirie made,

Fairer miȝt non be.

Her blis was ful brade,

A tale told Ysonde fre,

Þai duelle.

3090 Tristrem þat herd he

& seyd þus in his spelle:

¶ ‘Ganhardin, ride þou ay,

Mi ring of finger þou drawe,

Þou wende forþ in þi way

3095 & gret hem al on rawe;

Her houndes praise þou ay,

Þi finger forþ þou schawe.

Þe quen, for soþe to say,

Þe ring wil sone knawe,

3100 Þat fre.

Aski sche wil in plawe

& say þou comest fro me.’

¶ Þo rode Ganhardin kene

& ouertakeþ hem now;

3105 First he greteþ þe quen

& after Bringwain, y trowe.

Þe kniȝt him self bidene

Stroked þe hounde Pencru;

Þe quen þe ring haþ sene

3110 & knewe it wele ynouȝ,

Þat fre.

Hye seyd ‘say me, hou

Com þis ring to þe?’

¶ ‘He þat auȝt þis ring

3115 To token sent it to þe.’

Þo seyd þat swete þing

‘Tristrem, þat is he.’

‘Dame, wiþouten lesing,

He sent it ȝou bi me.’

3120 Sche sayd ‘bi heuen-king,

In longing haue we be,

Nauȝt lain;

Al niȝt duelle we‘

Seyd Ysonde to Bringwain.

3125 ¶ Þai wende þe quen wald dye, {f.298vb}

So sike sche was bi siȝt.

Þai sett pauilouns an heye

& duelled, clerk & kniȝt.

Ysonde biheld þat lye

3130 Vnder leues liȝt;

Tristrem hye þer seyȝe,

So dede Brengwain þat niȝt

In feld.

Ganhardine treuþe pliȝt,

3135 Brengwain to wiue weld.

¶ Tvo niȝt þer þai lye

In þat fair forest;

Canados hadde a spie,

Her pauilouns he tokest;

3140 Þer come to Canados crie

Þe cuntre est & west.

Gouernayl was forþi

Þerout, as it was best,

To abide.

3145 He seyd Tristrem prest

‘Now it were time to ride.’

¶ Gouernayl, his man was he,

& Ganhardine his kniȝt.

Armed kniȝtes þai se

3150 To felle hem doun in fiȝt.

Gouernaile gan to fle,

He ran oway ful riȝt;

Þo folwed bond & fre

& lete þe loge vnliȝt

3155 Þat tide.

Oway rode Tristrem þat niȝt

& Ganhardine biside.

¶ Sir Canados þe heiȝe,

He ladde þe quen oway;

3160 Tristrem of loue so sleiȝe

No abade him nouȝt þat day.

Brengwain briȝt so beiȝe,

Wo was hir þo ay;

On Canados sche gan crie

3165 & made gret deray

& sede

‘Þis lond nis worþ a nay,

When þou darst do swiche a dede.’

¶ Ganhardine gan fare {f.299ra}

3170 In to Bretaine oway

& Tristrem duelled þare

To wite what men wald say;

Coppe & claper he bare

Til þe fiftenday

3175 As he a mesel ware;

Vnder walles he lay,

To liþe;

So wo was Ysonde, þat may,

Þat alle sche wald towriþe.

3180 ¶ Tristrem jn sorwe lay,

Forþi wald Ysonde awede,

& Brengwain þretned ay

To take hem in her dede.

Brengwain went oway,

3185 To Marke þe king sche ȝede

& redily gan to say

Hou þai faren in lede

‘Nouȝt lain,

Swiche kniȝt hastow to fede,

3190 Þi schame he wald ful fain.

¶ Sir king, take hede þerto:

Sir Canados wil haue þi quen.

Bot þou depart hem to,

A schame þer worþ ysene.

3195 Hye dredeþ of him so,

Þat wonder is to wene;

His wille for to do

Hye werneþ him bitvene

Ful sone.

3200 ȝete þai ben al clene;

Haue þai no dede ydone.’

¶ Marke in al þing

Brengwain þanked he.

After him he sent an heiȝeing,

3205 Fram court he dede him be.

‘Þou deseruest for to hing,

Miseluen wele ich it se.’

So couþe Brengwain bring

Canados for to fle,

3210 Þat heiȝe.

Glad was Ysonde þe fre

Þat Bringwain couþe so liȝe.

¶ Þan to hir seyd þe quen {f.299rb}

‘Leue Brengwain þe briȝt,

3215 Þat art fair to sene.

Þou wost our wille bi siȝt.

Whare haþ Tristrem bene?

Nis he no douhti kniȝt?

Þai leiȝen al bidene

3220 Þat sain he dar nouȝt fiȝt

Wiþ his fo.’

Brengwain biheld þat riȝt,

Tristrem to bour lete go.

¶ Tristrem in bour is bliþe,

3225 Wiþ Ysonde playd he þare;

Brengwain badde he liþe

‘Who þer armes bare,

Ganhardin & þou þat siþe

Wiȝtly oway gun fare.’

3230 Quaþ Tristrem ‘crieþ swiþe

A turnament ful ȝare

Wiþ miȝt;

Noiþer of ous nil spare

Erl, baroun no kniȝt.’

3235 A turnament þai lete crie,

Þe parti Canados tok he,

& Meriadok sikerly

In his help gan he be.

Tristrem ful hastilye

3240 Ofsent Ganhardin þe fre;

Ganhardin com titly

Þat turnament to se

Wiþ siȝt.

Fro þe turnament nold þai fle

3245 Til her fon were feld doun riȝt.

¶ Þai com into þe feld

& founde þer kniȝtes kene,

Her old dedes þai ȝeld

Wiþ batayle al bidene.

3250 Tristrem gan biheld

To Meriadok bitvene;

For þe tales he teld

On him he wrake his tene

Þat tide;

3255 He ȝaf him a wounde kene

Þurthout boþe side.

¶ Bitvene Canados & Ganhardin {f.299va}

Þe fiȝt was ferly strong;

Tristrem þouȝt it pin

3260 Þat it last so long;

His stiropo he made him tine,

To grounde he him wrong.

Sir Canados þer gan lyn,

Þe blod þurth brini þrong

3265 Wiþ care.

On him he wrake his wrong

Þat he no ros na mare.

¶ Her fon fast þai feld,

& mani of hem þai slouȝ;

3270 Þe cuntre wiþ hem meld,

Þai wrouȝt hem wo ynouȝ.

Tristrem haþ hem teld

Þat him to schame drouȝ.

Þai token þe heiȝe held

3275 & passed wele anouȝ

& bade.

Vnder wode bouȝ

After her fomen þai rade.

¶ Þer Tristrem turned oȝain

3280 & Ganhardin stiþe & stille.

Mani þai han yslain

& mani ouercomen wiþ wille.

Þe folk fleiȝe vnfain

& socour criden schille;

3285 In lede nouȝt to layn,

Þai hadde woundes ille

At þe nende.

Þe wraiers þat weren in halle,

Schamly were þai schende.

3290 Þan þat turnament was don,

Mani on slain þer lay.

Ganhardin went sone

Into Bretaine oway.

Brengwain haþ her bone:

3295 Ful wele wreken er þay.

A kniȝt þat werd no schon

Hete Tristrem, soþe to say;

Ful wide

Tristrem souȝt he ay,

3300 & he fond him þat tide.

¶ He fel to Tristremes fet {f.299vb}

& merci crid he

‘Mi leman fair & swete

A kniȝt haþ reued me,

3305 Of loue þat can wele let,

So Crist hir sende þe.

Mi bale þou fond to bet

For loue of Ysonde fre.

Nouȝt lain,

3310 Seuen breþern haþ he

Þat fiȝteþ me ogain.

¶ Þis ich day þai fare

& passeþ fast biside.

Y gete hir neuer mare,

3315 ȝif y tine hir þis tide.

Fiftene kniȝtes þai are

& we bot to, to abide.’

‘Daþet who hem spare.’

Seyd Tristrem þat tide.

3320 ‘Þis niȝt

Þai han ytint her pride

Þurth grace of God almiȝt.’

¶ Þai gun hem boþe armi

In iren & stiel þat tide;

3325 Þai metten hem in a sty

Bi o forestes side.

Þer wex akene crie,

Togider þo þai gun ride.

Þe ȝong Tristrem forþi

3330 Sone was feld his pride

Riȝt þore.

He hadde woundes wide,

Þat he no ros no more.

¶ Þus þe ȝong kniȝt

3335 For soþe yslawe was þare.

Tristrem, þat trewe hiȝt,

Awrake him al wiþ care.

Þer he slouȝ in fiȝt

Fiftene kniȝtes & mare;

3340 Wel louwe he dede hem liȝt

Wiþ diolful dintes sare,

Vnsounde;

Ac an aruwe oway he bare

In his eld wounde.