| |
| LITHETH, and lesteneth · and herkeneth aright, | |
| And ye schulle heere a talking · of a doughty knight; | |
| Sire Iohan of Boundys · was his righte name, | |
| He cowde of norture y-nough · and mochil of game. | |
| Thre sones the knight hadde · that with his body he wan; | 5 |
| The eldest was a moche schrewe · and sone he bigan. | |
| 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, | |
| That deth was comen him to · and handled him ful sore. | 10 |
| 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, | |
| Al the lond that he hadde · it was verrey purchas. | |
| Fayn he wolde it were · dressed among hem alle, | 15 |
| 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, | |
| If they wolde speke with him · whyl he was on lyve. | 20 |
| Tho the knightes herden · syk that he lay, | |
| 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. | |
| Than seyde the goode knight · syk ther he lay, | 25 |
| ‘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, | |
| That they ne hadden reuthe · of that ilke knight, | 30 |
| 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; | |
| But I byseke you, knightes · for the love of me, | 35 |
| Goth and dresseth my lond · among my sones three. | |
| 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; | |
| Selde ye see ony eyr · helpen his brother.’ | 40 |
| 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. | |
| Al the lond that ther was · they dalten it in two, | 45 |
| 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. | |
| Whan they hadde deled · the lond at here wille, | |
| They comen ayein to the knight · ther he lay ful stille, | 50 |
| 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; | |
| For goddes love, neyhebours · stondeth alle stille, | 55 |
| And I wil dele my lond · right after my wille. | |
| Iohan, myn eldeste sone · schal have plowes fyve, | |
| That was my fadres heritage · whyl he was on lyve; | |
| And my middeleste sone · fyve plowes of lond, | |
| That I halp for to gete · with my righte hond; | 60 |
| And al myn other purchas · of londes and leedes, | |
| 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.’ | |
| Thus dalte the knight · his lond by his day, | 65 |
| Right on his deth-bedde · syk ther he lay; | |
| 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, | |
| Sone the elder brother · gyled the yonge knave; | 70 |
| He took into his hond · his lond and his leede, | |
| And Gamelyn himselfe · to clothen and to feede. | |
| He clothed him and fedde him · yvel and eek wrothe, | |
| And leet his londes for-fare · and his houses bothe, | |
| His parkes and his woodes · and dede nothing wel; | 75 |
| And seththen he it aboughte · on his faire fel. | |
| So longe was Gamelyn · in his brotheres halle, | |
| For the strengest, of good wil · they doutiden him alle; | |
| Ther was non ther-inne · nowther yong ne old, | |
| That wolde wraththe Gamelyn · were he never so bold. | 80 |
| 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, | |
| And his faire okes · that down were y-drawe; | |
| His parkes were y-broken · and his deer bireved; | 85 |
| Of alle his goode steedes · noon was him bileved; | |
| His howses were unhiled · and ful yvel dight; | |
| Tho thoughte Gamelyn · it wente nought aright. | |
| Afterward cam his brother · walkinge thare, | |
| And seyde to Gamelyn · ‘is our mete yare?’ | 90 |
| 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.’ | |
| ‘By my faith,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘now me thinketh neede, | 95 |
| 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, | |
| And therfor have thou goddes curs · brother by thy name!’ | 100 |
| Than bispak his brother · that rape was of rees, | |
| ‘Stond stille, gadeling · and hold right thy pees; | |
| Thou schalt be fayn for to have · thy mete and thy wede; | |
| What spekest thou, Gamelyn · of lond other of leede?’ | |
| Thanne seyde Gamelyn · the child that was ying, | 105 |
| ‘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, | |
| But clepide to him his men · and seyde to hem tho, | 110 |
| ‘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! | |
| And if I schal algate · be beten anon, | 115 |
| Cristes curs mot thou have · but thou be that oon!’ | |
| And anon his brother · in that grete hete | |
| Made his men to fette staves · Gamelyn to bete. | |
| Whan that everich of hem · a staf hadde y-nome, | |
| Gamelyn was war anon · tho he seigh hem come; | 120 |
| 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. | |
| He loked as a wilde lyoun · and leyde on good woon; | 125 |
| Tho his brother say that · he bigan to goon; | |
| He fley up in-til a loft · and schette the dore fast; | |
| Thus Gamelyn with the pestel · made hem alle agast. | |
| Some for Gamelynes love · and some for his eye, | |
| Alle they drowe by halves · tho he gan to pleye. | 130 |
| ‘What! how now?’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘evel mot ye thee! | |
| Wil ye biginne contek · and so sone flee?’ | |
| Gamelyn soughte his brother · whider he was flowe, | |
| And saugh wher he loked · out at a windowe. | |
| ‘Brother,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘com a litel ner, | 135 |
| 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; | |
| Cast away the pestel · and wraththe thee no-more.’ | 140 |
| ‘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.’ | |
| ‘Gamelyn,’ sayde his brother · ‘be thou nought wroth, | 145 |
| 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 | |
| Of thing I wil thee aske · and we schul saughte sone.’ | 150 |
| Doun than cam his brother · that fikil was and fel, | |
| 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.’ | |
| Thanne seyde Gamelyn · ‘brother, y-wis, | 155 |
| And we schulle ben at oon · thou most me graunte this: | |
| 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! | |
| Al that thy fader thee biquath · though thou woldest have more; | 160 |
| Thy lond, that lyth laye · ful wel it schal be sowe, | |
| 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. | |
| The knight thoughte on tresoun · and Gamelyn on noon, | 165 |
| 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! | |
| Litheth, and lesteneth · and holdeth your tonge, | |
| And ye schul heere talking · of Gamelyn the yonge. | 170 |
| 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. | |
| ‘Brother,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘by seynt Richer, | 175 |
| 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 | |
| Go and chese thee the best · and spare non of alle | 180 |
| 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; | |
| Moche worschip it were · brother, to us alle, | 185 |
| 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, | |
| And toward the wrasteling · the yonge child rood. | 190 |
| Tho Gamelyn the yonge · was ride out at the gat, | |
| The false knight his brother · lokked it after that, | |
| And bisoughte Iesu Crist · that is heven king, | |
| He mighte breke his nekke · in that wrasteling. | |
| As sone as Gamelyn com · ther the place was, | 195 |
| He lighte doun of his steede · and stood on the gras, | |
| And ther he herd a frankeleyn · wayloway singe, | |
| And bigan bitterly · his hondes for to wringe. | |
| ‘Goode man,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘why makestow this fare? | |
| Is ther no man that may · you helpe out of this care?’ | 200 |
| ‘Allas!’ seyde this frankeleyn · ‘that ever was I bore! | |
| For tweye stalworthe sones · I wene that I have lore; | |
| A champioun is in the place · that hath y-wrought me sorwe, | |
| For he hath slayn my two sones · but-if god hem borwe. | |
| I wold yeve ten pound · by Iesu Crist! and more, | 205 |
| With the nones I fand a man · to handelen him sore.’ | |
| ‘Goode man,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘wilt thou wel doon, | |
| Hold myn hors, whyl my man · draweth of my schoon, | |
| And help my man to kepe · my clothes and my steede, | |
| And I wil into place go · to loke if I may speede.’ | 210 |
| ‘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 · Iesu Crist thee speede, | |
| And drede not of thy clothes · nor of thy goode steede.’ | |
| Barfoot and ungert · Gamelyn in cam, | 215 |
| Alle that weren in the place · heede of him they nam, | |
| How he durste auntre him · of him to doon his might | |
| That was so doughty champioun · in wrastling and in fight. | |
| Up sterte the champioun · rapely and anoon, | |
| Toward yonge Gamelyn · he bigan to goon, | 220 |
| 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, | |
| ‘Thou knewe wel my fader · whyl he couthe go, | |
| Whyles he was on lyve · by seint Martyn! | 225 |
| Sir Iohan 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, | |
| Whyl thou were a yong boy · a moche schrewe thou were.’ | 230 |
| 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.’ | |
| It was wel withinne the night · and the moone schon, | 235 |
| Whan Gamelyn and the champioun · togider gonne goon. | |
| The champioun caste tomes · to Gamelyn that was prest, | |
| And Gamelyn stood stille · and bad him doon his best. | |
| Thanne seyde Gamelyn · to the champioun, | |
| ‘Thou art faste aboute · to bringe me adoun; | 240 |
| 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, | |
| And caste him on the lefte syde · that three ribbes to-brak, | 245 |
| 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, | |
| He that cometh ones in thin hand · schal he never thee!’ | 250 |
| 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, | |
| ‘This is yonge Gamelyn · that taughte thee this pleye.’ | |
| Agein answerd the champioun · that lyked nothing wel, | 255 |
| ‘He is a lither mayster · and his pley is right fel; | |
| 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, | |
| And seyde, ‘if ther be eny mo · lat hem come to werk; | 260 |
| 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; | |
| Ther was noon with Gamelyn · wolde wrastle more, | 265 |
| For he handled the champioun · so wonderly sore. | |
| Two gentil-men ther were · that yemede the place, | |
| Comen to Gamelyn · (god yeve him goode grace!) | |
| And sayde to him, ‘do on · thyn hosen and thy schoon, | |
| For sothe at this tyme · this feire is y-doon.’ | 270 |
| 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, | |
| He is a fool that ther-of byeth · thou sellest it so deere.’ | |
| Tho sayde the frankeleyn · that was in moche care, | 275 |
| ‘Felaw,’ he seyde · ‘why lakkest thou his ware? | |
| By seynt lame in Galys · that many man hath sought, | |
| Yet it is to good cheep · that thou hast y-bought.’ | |
| Tho that wardeynes were · of that wrasteling | |
| Come and broughte Gamelyn · the ram and the ring, | 280 |
| 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 Ioye · home in the morning. | |
| His brother seih wher he cam · with the grete rowte, | 285 |
| And bad schitte the gate · and holde him withoute. | |
| The porter of his lord · was ful sore agast, | |
| And sterte anon to the gate · and lokked it fast. | |
| Now litheth, and lesteneth · bothe yonge and olde, | |
| And ye schul heere gamen · of Gamelyn the bolde. | 290 |
| 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 yat, | |
| For many good mannes sone · stondeth ther-at.’ | |
| Than answerd the porter · and swor by goddes berde, | 295 |
| ‘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. | |
| The porter seyh tho · it might no better be, | |
| He sette foot on erthe · and bigan to flee. | 300 |
| ‘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, | |
| And gerte him in the nekke · that the bon to-brak, | |
| And took him by that oon arm · and threw him in a welle, | 305 |
| Seven fadmen it was deep · as I have herd telle. | |
| 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, | |
| And for the faire company · that he thider broughte. | 310 |
| 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. | |
| Yestirday I lefte’ · seyde yonge Gamelyn, | 315 |
| ‘In my brother seller · fyve tonne of wyn; | |
| I wil not that this compaignye · parten a-twinne, | |
| And ye wil doon after me · whyl eny sope is thrinne, | |
| And if my brother grucche · or make foul cheere, | |
| Other for spense of mete or drink · that we spenden heere, | 320 |
| I am oure catour · and bere oure aller purs, | |
| He schal have for his grucching · seint Maries curs. | |
| My brother is a niggoun · I swer by Cristes ore, | |
| And we wil spende largely · that he hath spared yore; | |
| And who that maketh grucching · that we here dwelle, | 325 |
| 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; | |
| In a little toret · his brother lay y-steke, | |
| And sey hem wasten his good · but durste he not speke. | 330 |
| Erly on a morning · on the eighte day, | |
| The gestes come to Gamelyn · and wolde gon here way. | |
| ‘Lordes,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘wil ye so hyë? | |
| Al the wyn is not yet dronke · so brouke I myn yë.’ | |
| Gamelyn in his herte · was he ful wo, | 335 |
| 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, | |
| And after his gestes · toke leve to wende. | 340 |
| 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. | |
| Al the whyl that Gamelyn · heeld his mangerye, | 345 |
| His brother thoughte on him be wreke · with his treccherye. | |
| Tho Gamelyns gestes · were riden and y-goon, | |
| Gamelyn stood allone · frendes had he noon; | |
| Tho after ful soone · withinne a litel stounde, | |
| Gamelyn was y-taken · and ful harde y-bounde. | 350 |
| Forth com the false knight · out of the soleer, | |
| 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?’ | |
| ‘Brother,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘wraththe thee right nought, | 355 |
| 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, | |
| That my fader me biquath · on his deth-bed; | 360 |
| Of al this sixtene yeer · I yeve thee the prow, | |
| 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; | |
| For of my body, brother · heir geten have I noon, | 365 |
| I wil make thee myn heir · I swere by seint Iohan.’ | |
| ‘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; | |
| Therfore he him bigyled · in a litel whyle. | 370 |
| ‘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, | |
| That thou schuldest be bounde · bothe hand and foot; | |
| Therfore I thee biseche · brother Gamelyn, | 375 |
| 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! | |
| Thou schalt not be forsworen · for the love of me.’ | 380 |
| 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. | |
| His brother made lesinges · on him ther he stood, | 385 |
| 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; | |
| But mete ne drink had he non · neither day ne night. | 390 |
| 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!’ | |
| Gamelyn stood bounden · stille as eny stoon; | 395 |
| 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, | |
| For the mochel love · my fader loved thee, | 400 |
| If thou may come to the keyes · lese me out of bond, | |
| And I wil parte with thee · of my free lond.’ | |
| Thanne seyde Adam · that was the spencer, | |
| ‘I have served thy brother · this sixtene yeer, | |
| If I leete thee goon · out of his bour, | 405 |
| He wolde say afterward · I were a traytour.’ | |
| ‘Adam,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘so brouke I myn hals! | |
| Thou schalt finde my brother · atte laste fals; | |
| Therfor, brother Adam · louse me out of bond, | |
| And I wil parte with thee · of my free lond.’ | 410 |
| ‘Up swich a forward’ · seyde Adam, ‘y-wis, | |
| 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.’ | |
| Anon as Adames lord · to bedde was y-goon, | 415 |
| 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! | |
| Now I am loosed · bothe foot and honde; | 420 |
| 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, | |
| And sette him to soper · right in a privee stede, | 425 |
| 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? | |
| Wher I go to my brother · and girde of his heed?’ | 430 |
| ‘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; | |
| Abbotes and priours · many heer schal be, | 435 |
| 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, | |
| Thou schalt biseke hem alle · to bring thee out of bondes; | 440 |
| And if they wille borwe thee · that were good game, | |
| 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! | |
| Thou schalt have a good staf · and I wil have another, | 445 |
| 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, | |
| Warne me, brother Adam · whan I schal biginne.’ | 450 |
| ‘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.’ | |
| ‘Adam,’ seide Gamelyn · ‘blessed be thy bones! | 455 |
| That is a good counseil · yeven for the nones; | |
| If they werne me thanne · to bringe me out of bendes, | |
| I wol sette goode strokes · right on here lendes.’ | |
| Tho the Sonday was y-come · and folk to the feste, | |
| Faire they were welcomed · both leste and meste; | 460 |
| 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, | |
| Of Gamelyn his brother · he tolde hem with mouthe | 465 |
| Al the harm and the schame · that he telle couthe. | |
| Tho they were served · of messes two or three, | |
| Than seyde Gamelyn · ‘how serve ye me? | |
| It is nought wel served · by god that al made! | |
| That I sitte fasting · and other men make glade.’ | 470 |
| 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. | |
| Tho Gamelyn gan speke · dolfully with-alle | 475 |
| 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! | |
| ‘He schal have Cristes curs · and seynte Maries eeke, | 480 |
| That thee out of prisoun · beggeth other borwe, | |
| But ever worthe hem wel · that doth thee moche sorwe.’ | |
| After that abbot · than spak another, | |
| ‘I wold thin heed were of · though thou were my brother! | |
| Alle that thee borwe · foule mot hem falle!’ | 485 |
| 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! | |
| Now I have aspyed · that freendes have I non. | 490 |
| 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; | |
| Adam on the pantrye · litel he thoughte, | 495 |
| 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, | |
| And bigan to worche · and goode strokes yaf. | 500 |
| 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, | |
| That some that stoode upright · fellen in the fire. | |
| There was no lewed man · that in the halle stood, | 505 |
| 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, | |
| That Gamelyn overtok · anon they yeeden doun. | 510 |
| 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, | |
| And I wil kepe the dore · so ever here I masse! | 515 |
| Er they ben assoyled · there shal noon passe.’ | |
| ‘Dowt thee nought,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘whyl we ben in-feere, | |
| Kep thou wel the dore · and I wol werche heere; | |
| Stere thee, good Adam · and lat ther noon flee, | |
| And we schul telle largely · how many that ther be.’ | 520 |
| ‘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.’ | |
| Thus Gamelyn and Adam · wroughte right fast, | 525 |
| And pleyden with the monkes · and made hem agast. | |
| Thider they come ryding · Iolily with swaynes, | |
| And hom ayen they were y-lad · in cartes and in waynes. | |
| Tho they hadden al y-don · than seyde a gray frere, | |
| ‘Allas! sire abbot · what dide we now heere? | 530 |
| Tho that we comen hider · it was a cold reed, | |
| 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; | |
| Gamelyn up with his staf · that he wel knew, | 535 |
| 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. | |
| ‘Sitte ther, brother’ · sayde Gamelyn, | |
| ‘For to colen thy blood · as I dide myn.’ | 540 |
| As swithe as they hadde · y-wroken hem on here foon, | |
| They askeden watir · and wisschen anoon, | |
| What some for here love · and some for here awe, | |
| Alle the servants served hem · of the beste lawe. | |
| The scherreve was thennes · but a fyve myle, | 545 |
| And al was y-told him · in a litel whyle, | |
| How Gamelyn and Adam · had doon a sory rees, | |
| Bounden and y-wounded men · ayein the kinges pees; | |
| Tho bigan sone · stryf for to wake, | |
| And the scherref was aboute · Gamelyn for to take. | 550 |
| 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 | |
| Gamelyn and Adam · fetten, by her fay; | 555 |
| The scherref yaf hem leve · soth as I you say; | |
| They hyeden faste · wold they nought bilinne, | |
| Til they come to the gate · ther Gamelyn was inne. | |
| They knokked on the gate · the porter was ny, | |
| And loked out at an hol · as man that was sly. | 560 |
| 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, | |
| And asked hem withoute · what was here wille. | |
| For al the grete company · thanne spak but oon, | 565 |
| ‘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, | |
| We wil speke with hem · wordes two or thre.’ | 570 |
| ‘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; | |
| The scherreves meyne · ben atte gate, | 575 |
| 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; | |
| Go agayn to the yate · and dwel with hem a whyle, | |
| And thou schalt see right sone · porter, a gyle. | 580 |
| 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 nom.’ | |
| ‘Gamelyn,’ seyde Adam · ‘hye thee right blyve, | 585 |
| 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, | |
| And a good cart-staf · in his hand he hente; | 590 |
| 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. | |
| ‘What?’ seyde Adam · ‘so ever here I masse! | 595 |
| 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, | |
| And seih the scherreve come · with a gret route. | 600 |
| ‘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: | |
| I rede that we to wode goon · ar that we be founde, | 605 |
| 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; | |
| Tho fond the scherreve · nest, but non ay. | 610 |
| 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. | |
| Lete we now this false knight · lyen in his care, | 615 |
| 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, | |
| ‘Now I see it is mery · to be a spencer, | 620 |
| 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.’ | |
| And as they stoode talking · bothen in-feere, | 625 |
| 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. | |
| ‘Adam,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘now have we no doute, | 630 |
| 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; | |
| For he hopede to god · for to have his deel, | 635 |
| 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, | |
| I am war of gestes · god sende us non but goode; | 640 |
| 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.’ | |
| Up ther sterten sevene · fro the diner, | 645 |
| 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.’ | |
| Thanne seyde Gamelyn · that yong was of elde, | |
| ‘Moche sorwe mot he have · that to you hem yelde! | 650 |
| I curse non other · but right my-selve; | |
| They ye fette to yow fyve · thanne ye be twelve!’ | |
| Tho they herde by his word · that might was in his arm, | |
| Ther was non of hem alle · that wolde do him harm, | |
| But sayde unto Gamelyn · mildely and stille, | 655 |
| ‘Com afore our maister · and sey to him thy wille.’ | |
| ‘Yonge men,’ sayde Gamelyn · ‘by your lewte, | |
| What man is your maister · that ye with be?’ | |
| Alle they answerde · withoute lesing, | |
| ‘Oure maister is y-crouned · of outlawes king.’ | 660 |
| ‘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.’ | |
| ‘By seynt Iame!’ seyde Adam · ‘what harm that I gete, | 665 |
| I wil auntre to the dore · that I hadde mete.’ | |
| Gamelyn and Adam · wente forth in-feere, | |
| And they grette the maister · that they founde there. | |
| Than seide the maister · king of outlawes, | |
| ‘What seeke ye, yonge men · under woode-schawes?’ | 670 |
| 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, | |
| As men that ben hungry · and mow no mete finde, | 675 |
| 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; | |
| And bad hem ete and drinke · and that of the beste. | 680 |
| 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. | |
| Anon as he herde · how it was bifalle, | 685 |
| 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; | |
| And of that goode tyding · he was tho ful glad. | 690 |
| 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. | |
| Tho was Gamelyn crouned · king of outlawes, | 695 |
| 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. | |
| Tho were his bonde-men · sory and nothing glad, | |
| When Gamelyn her lord · ‘wolves-heed’ was cryed and maad; | 700 |
| 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. | |
| Whan they had him founde · on knees they hem sette, | 705 |
| 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, | |
| And he hath endited thee · and ‘wolves-heed’ doth thee crye.’ | 710 |
| ‘Allas!’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘that ever I was so slak | |
| That I ne hadde broke his nekke · tho I his rigge brak! | |
| Goth, greteth hem wel · myn housbondes and wyf, | |
| I wol ben atte nexte schire · have god my lyf!’ | |
| Gamelyn com wel redy · to the nexte schire, | 715 |
| And ther was his brother · bothe lord and sire. | |
| Gamelyn com boldelich · in-to the moot-halle, | |
| And putte a-doun his hood · among the lordes alle; | |
| ‘God save you alle, lordinges · that now here be! | |
| But broke-bak scherreve · evel mot thou thee! | 720 |
| 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; | |
| Might ther be no more grace · but Gamelyn atte laste | 725 |
| 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, | |
| And tolde him al-togidere · how Gamelyn was dight. | 730 |
| 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. | |
| ‘Sire,’ seyde sire Ote · to the scherreve tho, | 735 |
| ‘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; | |
| By god, for thy wordes · he schal fare the wurs; | 740 |
| To the kinges prisoun · anon he is y-nome, | |
| And ther he schal abyde · til the Iustice come.’ | |
| ‘Parde!’ seyde sir Ote · ‘better it schal be; | |
| I bidde him to maynpris · that thou graunte him me | |
| Til the nexte sitting · of deliveraunce, | 745 |
| And thanne lat Gamelyn · stande to his chaunce.’ | |
| ‘Brother, in swich a forward · I take him to thee; | |
| And by thy fader soule · that thee bigat and me, | |
| But-if he be redy · whan the Iustice sitte, | |
| Thou schalt bere the Iuggement · for al thy grete witte.’ | 750 |
| ‘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. | |
| On the morn seyde Gamelyn · to sire Ote the hende, | 755 |
| ‘Brother,’ he seide, ‘I moot · for sothe, from thee wende, | |
| To loke how my yonge men · leden here lyf, | |
| Whether they liven in Ioye · or elles in stryf.’ | |
| ‘By god!’ seyde sire Ote · ‘that is a cold reed, | |
| Now I see that al the cark · schal fallen on myn heed; | 760 |
| For when the Iustice 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 Iame in Gales · that many man hath sought, | |
| If that god almighty · holde my lyf and wit, | 765 |
| I wil be ther redy · whan the Iustice sit.’ | |
| Than seide sir Ote to Gamelyn · ‘god schilde thee fro schame; | |
| Com whan thou seest tyme · and bring us out of blame.’ | |
| Litheth, and lesteneth · and holdeth you stille, | |
| And ye schul here how Gamelyn · hadde al his wille. | 770 |
| 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. | |
| Gamelyn and his men · talkeden in-feere, | 775 |
| 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; | |
| There was no man that for him · ferde the wors, | 780 |
| But abbotes and priours · monk and chanoun; | |
| On hem left he no-thing · whan he mighte hem nom. | |
| Whyl Gamelyn and his men · made merthes ryve, | |
| The false knight his brother · yvel mot he thryve! | |
| For he was fast aboute · bothe day and other, | 785 |
| For to hyre the quest · to hangen his brother. | |
| 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 | |
| That he wolde be redy · whan the Iustice seet; | 790 |
| He thoughte wel that he wolde · withoute delay, | |
| Come afore the Iustice · to kepen his day, | |
| And seide to his yonge men · ‘dighteth you yare, | |
| For whan the Iustice sitte · we moote be thare, | |
| For I am under borwe · til that I come, | 795 |
| And my brother for me · to prisoun schal be nome.’ | |
| ‘By seint Iame!’ seyde his yonge men · ‘and thou rede therto, | |
| Ordeyne how it schal be · and it schal be do.’ | |
| Whyl Gamelyn was coming · ther the Iustice sat, | |
| The false knight his brother · foryat he nat that, | 800 |
| 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. | |
| ‘I see wel,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘the Iustice is set; | 805 |
| Go aforn, Adam · and loke how it spet.’ | |
| 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; | |
| Tho went Adam out of halle · as he were agast. | 810 |
| 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. | |
| If god yif us grace · wel for to doo, | 815 |
| 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, | |
| Ther is noon in the halle · schal bere awey his heed.’ | 820 |
| ‘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 Iustice speke; | |
| On hem that ben gultif · I wil ben awreke. | |
| Lat non scape at the dore · take, yonge men, yeme; | 825 |
| For I wil be Iustice 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, | |
| ‘And if thou to us have neede · thou schalt finde us prest; | 830 |
| We wiln stande with thee · whyl that we may dure, | |
| And but we werke manly · pay us non hure.’ | |
| ‘Yonge men,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘so mot I wel thee! | |
| As trusty a maister · ye schal finde of me.’ | |
| Right there the Iustice · sat in the halle, | 835 |
| 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, | |
| For the quest is oute on me · that I schulde honge.’ | 840 |
| ‘Brother,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘so god yif me good rest! | |
| This day they schuln ben hanged · that ben on thy quest; | |
| And the Iustice bothe · that is the Iugge-man, | |
| And the scherreve bothe · thurgh him it bigan.’ | |
| Thanne seyde Gamelyn · to the Iustise, | 845 |
| ‘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.’ | |
| The Iustice sat stille · and roos nought anoon; | |
| And Gamelyn clevede · [a-two] his cheeke-boon; | 850 |
| 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. | |
| Gamelyn sette him doun · in the Iustices seet, | 855 |
| And sire Ote his brother by him · and Adam at his feet. | |
| Whan Gamelyn was y-set · in the Iustices stede, | |
| Herkneth of a bourde · that Gamelyn dede. | |
| He leet fetre the Iustice · and his false brother, | |
| And dede hem come to the barre · that oon with that other. | 860 |
| 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. | |
| But as sone as Gamelyn · wiste wher they were, | 865 |
| He dede hem everichone · feteren in-feere, | |
| And bringen hem to the barre · and sette hem in rewe; | |
| ‘By my faith!’ seyde the Iustice · ‘the scherreve is a schrewe!’ | |
| Than seyde Gamelyn · to the Iustise, | |
| ‘Thou hast y-yeve domes · of the wors assise; | 870 |
| And the twelve sisours · that weren of the queste, | |
| 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.’ | |
| ‘Therfore,’ seyde Gamelyn · ‘have thou Cristes curs, | 875 |
| For, and thou were maister · yit I schulde have wors.’ | |
| For to make short tale · and nought to tarie longe, | |
| He ordeyned him a queste · of his men so strenge; | |
| The Iustice and the scherreve · bothe honged hye, | |
| To weyven with the ropes · and with the winde drye; | 880 |
| And the twelve sisours · (sorwe have that rekke!) | |
| 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. | |
| He was hanged by the nekke · and nought by the purs; | 885 |
| That was the meede that he hadde · for his fadres curs. | |
| 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. | |
| The king loved wel sir Ote · and made him Iustise. | 890 |
| And after, the king made Gamelyn · bothe in est and west, | |
| Chief Iustice · of al his free forest; | |
| Alle his wighte yonge men · the king foryaf here gilt, | |
| And sitthen in good office · the king hem hath y-pilt. | |
| Thus wan Gamelyn · his lond and his leede, | 895 |
| 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, | |
| And sithen was Gamelyn · graven under molde. | 900 |
| And so schal we alle · may ther no man flee: | |
| God bringe us to the Ioye · that ever schal be! | |
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