3Lordinges, herkneþ to me tale!
4Is merier þan þe niȝtingale,
5Þat y schel singe;
6Of a kniȝt ich wile ȝow roune,
7Beues a hiȝte of Hamtoune,
8Wiþ outen lesing.
9Ich wile ȝow tellen al to gadre
10Of þat kniȝt and of is fadre,
11Sire Gii:
12Of Hamtoun he was sire
13And of al þat ilche schire,
14To wardi.

page 2

15Lordinges, þis, of whan y telle,
16Neuer man of flesch ne felle
17Nas so strong,
18And so he was in ech striue,
19And euer he leuede wiþ outen wiue,
20Al to late and long.

page 3

21Whan he was fallen in to elde,
22Þat he ne miȝte him self welde,
23He wolde a wif take;
24Sone þar after, ich vnderstonde,
25Him hadde be leuer þan al þis londe,
26Hadde he hire for-sake.
27An elde a wif he tok an honde,
28Þe kinges douȝter of Scotlonde,
29So faire and briȝt.
30Allas, þat he hire euer ches!
31For hire loue his lif a les
32Wiþ mechel vnriȝt.
33Þis maide ichaue of y-told,
34Faire maide ȝhe was & bold
35And fre y-boren;
36Of Almayne þat emperur
37Hire hadde loued paramur
38Wel þar be-foren
39Ofte to hire fader a sente
40And he him selue þeder wente
41For hire sake;
42Ofte gernede hire to wiue:
43Þe king for no þing aliue
44Nolde hire him take.

page 4

45Siþe a ȝaf hire to sire Gii,
46A stalword erl and hardi
47Of Souþhamtoun.
48Man, whan he falleþ in to elde,
49Feble a wexeþ and vnbelde
50Þourȝ riȝt resoun.
51So longe þai ȝede to gedres te bedde,
52A knaue child be-twene hem þai hedde,
53Beues a het.
54Faire child he was & bolde,
55He nas boute seue winter olde,
56Whan his fader was ded.

57Þe leuedi hire mis-be-þouȝte
58And meche aȝen þe riȝt ȝhe wrouȝte
59In hire tour:
60'Me lord is olde & may nouȝt werche,
61Al dai him is leuer at cherche,
62Þan in me bour.
63Hadde ich itaken a ȝong kniȝt,
64Þat ner nouȝt brused in werre & fiȝt,
65Also he is,
66A wolde me louen dai and niȝt,
67Cleppen and kissen wiþ al is miȝt
68And make me blis.

page 5

69I nel hit lete for no þinge,
70Þat ich nel him to deþe bringe
71Wiþ sum braide!'
72Anon riȝt þat leuedi fer
73To consaile clepede hir masager
74And to him saide:
75'Maseger, do me surte,
76Þat þow nelt nouȝt discure me
77To no wiȝt!
78And ȝif þow wilt, þat it so be,
79I schel þe ȝeue gold and fe
80And make þe kniȝt.'
81Þanne answerde þe masager -
82False a was, þat pautener,
83And wel prut -
84'Dame, boute ich do þe nede,
85Ich graunte, þow me for-bede
86Þe londe þourȝ out.'
87Þe leuedi þanne was wel fain:
88'Go,' ȝhe seide, 'in to Almaine
89Out of me bour!
90Maseger, be ȝep and snel,
91And on min helf þow grete wel
92Þat emperur,

page 6

93And bid, in þe ferste dai,
94Þat comeþ in þe moneþ of May,
95For loue of me,
96Þat he be to fiȝte prest
97Wiþ is ferde in hare forest
98Be side þe se.
99Me lord ich wile þeder sende
100For his loue, for to schende
101And for to sle;
102Bid him, þat hit be nouȝt be-leued,
103Þat he ne smite of his heued
104And sende hit me!
105And whan he haueþ so y-do,
106Me loue he schel vnder-fo,
107Wiþ outen delai!'
108Þanne seide þat masager:
109'Madame, ich wile sone be þer!
110Now haue gode dai!'

111Now þat masager him goþ.
112Þat ilche lord him worþe wroþ,
113Þat him wrouȝte!
114To schip þat masager him wode:
115Allas! Þe wind was al to gode,
116Þat him ouer brouȝte.
117Þo he com in to Al-mayne,
118Þar a mette wiþ a swain
119And grette him wel:
120'Felawe,' a seide, 'par amur:
121Whar mai ich finde þemperur?
122Þow me tel!'

page 7

123'Ich wile þe telle anon riȝt:
124At Rifoun a lai to niȝt,
125Be me swere!'
126Þe masager him þankede anon
127And þeder-wardes he gan gon
128Wiþ outen demere.
129Þemperur þar a fonde;
130Adoun a kneulede on þe grounde
131Ase hit was riȝt,
132And seide: 'Þe leuedi of Souþ-Hamtone
133Þe grette wel be godes sone,
134Þat is so briȝt,
135And bad þe, in þe ferste day,
136Þat comeþ in þe moneþ o May,
137How so hit be,
138Þat ȝe be to fiȝte prest
139Wiþ ȝour ferde in hare forest
140Be side þe se.
141Hire lord ȝhe wile þeder sende
142For þe loue, for to schende,
143Wiþ lite meini;
144Þar aboute þow schost be fouse,
145And þow schelt after her wedde to spouse,
146To þin amy.'
147'Sai,' a seide, 'icham at hire heste:
148Ȝif me lif hit wile leste,
149Hit schel be do!
150Gladder icham for þat sawe,
151Þan þe fouel, whan hit ginneþ dawe,
152And sai hire so!

page 8

153And for þow woldes hire erande bede,
154An hors icharged wiþ golde rede
155Ich schel þe ȝeue,
156And wiþ inne þis fourtene niȝt
157Me self schel dobbe þe to kniȝt,
158Ȝif þat ich liue.'
159Þe mesager him þankede ȝerne;
160Hom aȝen he gan him terne
161To Hamtoun;
162Þe leuedi a fond in hire bour,
163And he hire clepede doceamur
164And gan to roun:
165'Dame,' a seide, 'I þe tel:
166Þat emperur þe grette wel
167Wiþ loue mest:
168Glad he is for þat tiding,
169A wile be prest at þat fiȝting
170In þat forest.
171Ȝif þou ert glad þe lord to sle,
172Gladder a is for loue of þe
173Fele siþe!'
174Þe mesager haþ þus isaid,
175Þe leuedi was riȝt wel apaid
176And maked hire bliþe.

page 9

177In Mai, in þe formeste dai,
178Þe leuedi in hire bedde lai,
179Ase hit wer nede;
180Hire lord ȝhe clepede out of halle
181And seide, þat euel was on hire falle,
182Ȝhe wende be ded.
183Þat erl for hire haþ sorwe ikauȝt
184And askede, ȝif ȝhe disired auȝt,
185Þat miȝte hire freure.
186'Ȝe,' ȝhe seide, 'of a wilde bor
187I wene, me mineþ boute for,
188Al of þe feure!'
189'Madame,' a seide, 'for loue myn,
190Whar mai ich finde þat wilde swin?
191I wolde, þow it hadde!'
192And ȝhe answerde wiþ tresoun mest,
193Be þe se in hare forest,
194Þar a bradde.

195Þat erl swor, be godes grace,
196In þat forest he wolde chace,
197Þat bor to take;
198And ȝhe answerde wiþ tresoun þan:
199'Blessed be þow of alle man
200For mine sake!'

page 10

201Þat erl is hors be-gan to stride,
202His scheld he heng vpon is side,
203Gert wiþ swerd;
204Moste non armur on him come,
205Him self was boute þe ferþe some
206Toward þat ferd.
207Allas, þat he nadde be war
208Of is fomen, þat weren þar,
209Him forte schende:
210Wiþ tresoun worþ he þer islawe
211And i-brouȝt of is lif-dawe,
212Er he hom wende!
213Whan he com in to þe forest,
214Þemperur a fond al prest;
215For enui
216A prikede out be-fore is ost,
217For pride and for make bost,
218And gan to crie:
219'Aȝilt þe, treitour! þow olde dote!
220Þow schelt ben hanged be þe þrote,
221Þin heued þow schelt lese;
222Þe sone schel an-hanged be
223And þe wif, þat is so fre,
224To me lemman i chese!'

page 11

225Þerl answerde at þat sawe:
226'Me þenkeþ, þow seist aȝen þe lawe,
227So god me amende!
228Me wif and child, þat was so fre,
229Ȝif þow þenkest be-neme hem me,
230Ich schel hem defende!'
231Þo prikede is stede sire Gii,
232A stalword man and hardi,
233While he was sounde;
234Þemperur he smot wiþ is spere,
235Out of is sadel he gan him bere
236And þrew him to grounde.
237'Treitour!' a seide, 'þow ert to bolde!
238Wenestow, þeȝ ich bo olde,
239To ben afered?
240Þat þow hauest no riȝt to me wif,
241I schel þe kiþe be me lif!'
242And drouȝ is swerd.
243Þat erl held is swerd adrawe,
244Þemperur wiþ he hadde slawe,
245Nadde be sokour:
246Þar come kniȝtes mani & fale,
247Wel ten þosent told be tale,
248To þemperur.
249Þo sire Gii him gan defende,
250Þre hondred heuedes of a slende
251Wiþ is brond;
252Hadde he ben armed wel, y-wis,
253Al þe meistre hadde ben his,
254Ich vnderstonde.

page 12

255Þre men were slawe, þat he þer hadde,
256Þat he wiþ him out ladde
257And moste nede;
258To haue merci, þat was is hope;
259Þemperur after him is lope
260Vpon a stede.
261Þerl knewlede to þemperur,
262Merci a bad him and sokour
263And is lif:
264'Merci, sire, ase þow ert fre,
265Al þat ichaue, i graunte þe,
266Boute me wif!
267For þine men, þat ichaue slawe,
268Haue her me swerd idrawe
269And al me fe:
270Boute me ȝonge sone Bef
271And me wif, þat is me lef,
272Þat let þow me!'
273'For gode,' queþ he, 'þat ich do nelle!'
274Þemperur to him gan telle,
275And was agreued,
276Anon riȝt is swerd out drouȝ
277And þe gode kniȝt a slouȝ
278And nam is heued.

page 13

279A kniȝt a tok þe heued an honde:
280'Haue,' a seide, 'ber þis sonde
281Me leue swet!'
282Þe kniȝt to Hamtoun þo gan gon,
283Þe leuedi þar a fond anon
284And gan hire grete:
285'Dame,' a seide, 'to me atende:
286Þemperur me hider sende
287Wiþ is pray!'
288And ȝhe seide: 'Blessed mot he be!
289To wif a schel wedde me
290To morwe in þe dai.
291Sai him, me swete wiȝt,
292Þat he come ȝet to niȝt
293In to me bour!'
294Þe mesager is wei haþ holde,
295Al a seide, ase ȝhe him tolde,
296To þemperur.

297Now scholle we of him mone,
298Of Beues, þat was Guis sone,
299How wo him was:
300Ȝerne a wep, is hondes wrong,
301For his fader a seide among:
302'Allas! Allas!'

page 14

303He clepede is moder & seide is sawe:
304'Vile houre! Þe worst to-drawe
305And al to-twiȝt!
306Me þenkeþ, ich were þer of ful fawe,
307For þow hauest me fader slawe
308Wiþ mechel vnriȝt!
309Allas, moder, þe faire ble!
310Euel be-comeþ þe, houre to be,
311To holde bordel,
312And alle wif houren for þe sake,
313Þe deuel of helle ich hii be-take,
314Flesch and fel!
315Ac o þing, moder, i schel þe swere:
316Ȝif ich euer armes bere
317And be of elde,
318Al þat haþ me fader islawe
319And ibrouȝt of is lif dawe,
320Ich schel hem ȝilden!'
321Þe moder hire haþ vnderstonde,
322Þat child ȝhe smot wiþ hire honde
323Vnder is ere.
324Þe child fel doun & þat was scaþe,
325His meister tok him wel raþe,
326Þat hiȝte Saber.

page 15

327Þe kniȝt was trewe & of his kinde,
328Strenger man ne scholde men finde
329To ride ne go.
330A was ibrouȝt in tene & wrake
331Ofte for þat childes sake
332Ase wel ase þo.
333Þat childe he nam vp be þe arm,
334Wel wo him was for þat harm,
335Þat he þar hadde.
336Toward is kourt he him kende;
337Þe leuedi after Saber sende
338And to him radde.
339'Saber,' ȝhe seide, 'tow ert me lef,
340Let sle me ȝonge sone Bef,
341Þat is so bold!
342Let him an-hange swiþe hiȝe,
343I ne reche, what deþ he diȝe,
344Siþþe he be cold!'
345Saber stod stille & was ful wo;
346Naþeles a seide, a wolde do
347After hire sawe;
348Þe child wiþ him hom he nam,
349A swin he tok, whan he hom cam,
350And dede hit of dawe.

page 16

351Þe childes cloþes, þat were gode,
352Al a bi-sprengde wiþ þat blode
353In mani stede,
354Ase ȝif þe child were to-hewe,
355A þouȝte to his moder hem schewe,
356And so a dede.
357At þe laste him gan adrede,
358He let cloþen in pouer wede
359Þat hende wiȝt,
360And seide: 'Sone, þow most kepe
361Vpon þe felde mine schepe
362Þis fourte niȝt!
363And whan þe feste is come to þende,
364In to anoþer londe I schel þe sende
365Fer be souþe,
366To a riche erl, þat schel þe gie
367And teche þe of corteisie
368In þe ȝouþe.
369And whan þow ert of swich elde,
370Þat þow miȝt þe self wilde,
371And ert of age,
372Þanne scheltow come in te Ingelonde,
373Wiþ werre winne in to þin honde
374Þin eritage.

page 17

375I schel þe helpe wiþ alle me miȝt,
376Wiþ dent of swerd to gete þe riȝt,
377Be þow of elde!'
378Þe child him þankede & sore wep,
379And forþ a wente wiþ þe schep
380Vpon þe velde.

381Beues was herde vpon þe doun,
382He lokede homward to þe toun,
383Þat scholde ben his;
384He be-held to-ward þe tour,
385Trompes he herde and tabour
386And meche blis.
387'Lord,' a seide, 'on me þow mone!
388Ne was ich ones an erles sone
389And now am herde?
390Miȝte ich wiþ þat emperur speke,
391Wel ich wolde me fader awreke
392For al is ferde!'

page 18

393He nemeþ is bat and forþ a goþ,
394Swiþe sori and wel wroþ,
395To-ward þe tour;
396'Porter!' a sede, 'let me in reke!
397A lite þing ich aue to speke
398Wiþ þemperur.'
399Go hom, truant!' þe porter sede,
400'Scherewe houre sone, y þe rede,
401Fro þe gate:
402Boute þow go hennes also swiþe,
403Hit schel þe rewe fele siþe,
404Þow come þer ate!
405Sixte þe scherewe, ho be itte,
406A lokeþ, as a wolde smite
407Wiþ is bat:
408Speke he ouȝt meche more,
409I schel him smite swiþe sore
410Upon is hat.'
411'For gode,' queþ Beues, 'naþeles,
412An houre sone for soþ ich wes,
413Wel ich it wot!
414Y nam no truant, be godes grace!'
415Wiþ þat a lefte vp is mace
416Anon fot hot.

page 19

417Beues wiþ oute þe gate stod
418And smot þe porter on þe hod,
419Þat he gan falle;
420His heued he gan al to cleue
421And forþ a wente wiþ þat leue
422In to þe halle.
423Al aboute he gan be-holde,
424To þemperur he spak wordes bolde
425Wiþ meche grame:
426'Sire,' a sede, 'what dostow here?
427Whi colles þow aboute þe swire
428Þat ilche dame?
429Me moder is þat þow hauest an honde:
430What dostow her vpon me londe
431Wiþ outen leue?
432Tak me me moder and mi fe,
433Boute þow þe raþer hennes te,
434I schel þe greue!
435Nastow, sire, me fader slawe?
436Þow schelt ben hanged & to-drawe,
437Be godes wille!
438Aris! Fle hennes, I þe rede!'
439Þemperur to him sede:
440'Foul, be stille!'

page 20

441Beues was niȝ wod for grame,
442For a clepede him foul be name,
443And to him a wond;
444For al þat weren in þe place,
445Þries a smot him wiþ is mace
446And wiþ is honde.
447Þries a smot him on þe kroun;
448Þat emperur fel swowe adoun,
449Þar a sat.
450Þe leuedi, is moder, gan to grede:
451'Nemeþ þat treitour!' ȝhe sede,
452'Anon wiþ þat!'
453Þo dorste Beues no leng abide;
454Þe kniȝtes vp in ech a side,
455More and lasse,
456Wo hem was for þe childes sake,
457Boute non of hem nolde him take,
458Hii lete him pase.
459Beues goþ faste ase he mai,
460His meister a mette in þe wai,
461Þat hiȝte Saber,
462& he him askede wiþ bliþe mod:
463'Beues!' a seide, 'for þe rode,
464What dostow her?'

page 21

465'I schel þe telle al to gadre:
466Beten ichaue me stifadre
467Wiþ me mace;
468Þries i smot him in þe heued,
469Al for ded ich him leued
470In þe place!'
471'Beues!' queþ Saber, 'þow ert to blame:
472Þe leuedi wile now do me schame
473For þine sake!
474Boute þow be me consaile do,
475Þow miȝt now sone bringe vs bo
476In meche wrake!'

477Now is Iosian a quene,
478Beues in prisoun haþ gret tene.
479Þe romounce telleþ, þer a set,
480Til þe her on is heued greu to is fet;
481Snakes and euetes & oades fale,
482How mani, can i nouȝt telle in tale,
483Þat in þe prisoun were wiþ him,
484Þat prouede euer wiþ her venim
485To sle Beues, þat gentil kniȝt,
486Oc, þourȝ þe grace of god almiȝt,
487Wiþ þe tronsoun, þat he to prisoun tok,
488A slouȝ hem alle, so saiþ þe bok.
489A fleande nadder was in an hole,
490For elde blak ase eni cole;
491Vnto Beues ȝhe gan flinge
492And in þe fore-hed þouȝte him stinge.
493Beues was redi wiþ is tronsoun
494And smot hire, þat ȝhe fel adoun.
495Vpon aȝen þe nadder rowe
496And breide awei his riȝt browe;
497Þo was Beues sore agreued
498And smot þe nadder on þe heued;
499So harde dent he hire ȝaf,
500Þe brein cleuede on is staf.
501Doun fel þe nadder, wiþ outen faile,
502And smot so Beues wiþ þe taile,
503Þat neȝ a les þer contenaunse,
504Almest is lif was in balaunse.
505Whan he awakede of þat swouȝ,
506Þe tronsoun eft to him a drouȝ
507And bet hire al to pises smale,
508Ase hit is fonde in frensche tale.
509Þo he hadde slawe þe foule fendes,
510Be þat hadde Beues lein in bendes
511Seue ȝer in peines grete,
512Lite idronke & lasse iete;
513His browe stank for de-faut of ȝeme,
514Þat it set after ase a seme,

page 82

515Whar þourȝ þat maide ne kneu him nouȝt,
516Whan hii were eft to gedre brouȝt.

517On a dai, ase he was mad & feint,
518To Iesu Crist he made is pleint
519& to his moder, seinte Marie,
520Reuliche he gan to hem crie:
521'Lord,' a seide, 'heuene king,
522Schepere of erþe & alle þing:
523What haue ich so meche misgilt,
524Þat þow sext & þolen wilt,
525Þat þe weþerwines & þe fo
526Schel þe seruaunt do þis wo?
527Ich bedde þe, lord, for þe pite,
528Þat þow haue merci on me
529And ȝeue grace, hennes to gange
530Or sone be drawen oþer an-hange!
531Me rouȝte neuer, what deþ to me come,
532Wiþ þat ich were hennes nome!'

page 83

533Þe gailers, þat him scholde ȝeme,
534Whan hii herde him þus reme,
535'Þef! cherl!' seide þat on þo:
536'Now beþ þe lif dawes y-do,
537For king ne kaiser ne for no sore
538Ne scheltow leue no lenger more.'
539Anon riȝtes wiþ þat word
540A laumpe he let doun be a cord,
541A swerd a tok be his side,
542And be þe cord he gan doun glide
543And smot him wiþ þat oþer hond,
544& Beues, to þe grounde a wond.
545'Allas,' queþ Beues, 'þat ilche stounde!
546'Wo is þe man, þat liþ y-bounde
547Medel boþe fet and honde!
548Þo ich com ferst in to þis londe,
549Hadde ich had me swerd Morgelay
550And Arondel, me gode palfray,
551For Dames, nadde be tresoun,
552I nolde haue ȝeue a botoun,
553And now þe meste wreche of alle
554Wiþ a strok me doþ adoun falle,
555Bidde ich neuer wiþ Iesu speke,
556Boute ich þer of may ben awreke!'

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557A smot þe gailer wiþ is fest,
558Þat is nekke him to-berst.
559His felawe aboue gan to crie:
560'Hiȝe hider, felawe,' queþ Beues, 'hiȝe!'
561'Ȝif þow most haue help,' a sede,
562'Ich come to þe wiþ a gode spede!'
563'Ȝis!' queþ Beues, al for gile,
564And knette þe rop þar while
565Ase hiȝ ase a miȝte reche.
566Þo queþ Beues wiþ reuful speche:
567'For þe loue of sein Mahoun,
568Be þe rop glid bliue adoun
569And help, þat þis þef wer ded!'
570Whan he hadde þus ised,
571Þat oþer gailer no leng abod,
572Boute be þe rop adoun he glod.
573Whan þe rop failede in his hond,
574Beues held vp þat gode bronde
575And felde to gronde þat sori wiȝt,
576Þourȝ out is bodi þat swerd he piȝt.

577Now er þai ded, þe geilers tweie,
578& Beues liþ to þe rakenteie,
579His lif him þouȝte al to long,
580Þre daies after he ne et ne drong.

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581Tofore þat, for soþe to sai,
582A was woned, ech oþer dai
583Of bere lof to haue a quarter
584To his mete & to his diner;
585And, for is meisters wer boþe ded,
586Þre daies after he ne et no bred.
587To Iesu Crist he bed a bone,
588And he him grauntede wel sone;
589So ȝerne he gan to Iesu speke,
590Þat his vetres gonne breke
591And of is medel þe grete ston.
592Iesu Crist he þankede anon;
593A wente quik out of prisoun
594Be þe rop, þe gailer com adoun,
595And wente in to þe castel riȝt,
596Ac it was aboute þe mid-niȝt;
597He lokede aboute fer & ner,
598Noman wakande ne seȝ he þer;
599He be-held forþer a lite
600To a chaunber vnder a garite,
601Þar inne he seȝ torges i-liȝt;
602Beues wente þeder ful riȝt;
603Twelf kniȝtes a fond þer aslepe,
604Þat hadde þe castel for to kepe;
605Þe chaumber dore a fond vnsteke,
606And priueliche he gan in reke
607And armede him yrene wede,
608Þe beste, þat he fond at nede,
609And gerte him wiþ a gode bronde
610And tok a gode spere in is honde;
611A scheld aboute is nekke he cast
612And wente out of þe chaumber in hast.
613Forþer a herde in a stable
614Pages fele, wiþ oute fable,
615Ase þai sete in here raging;
616In at þe dore Beues gan spring,
617And for þai scholde him nouȝt wrain,
618Vnder his hond he made him plai.
619& whan þe Sarasins wer islawe,
620Þe beste stede he let forþ drawe

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621And sadelede hit & wel adiȝt
622And wente him forþ anon riȝt
623And gan to crie wiþ loude steuen
624And þe porter he gan neuenen:
625'Awake!' a seide, 'proude felawe,
626Þow were worþi ben hanged & drawe!
627Hiȝe, þe gates wer vnsteke,
628Beues is out of prisoun reke,
629And icham sent now for is sake,
630Þe treitour ȝif ich miȝte of-take!'
631Þe porter was al bewaped:
632'Allas!' queþ he, 'is Beues ascaped?'
633Vp he caste þe gates wide,
634And Beues bi him gan out ride
635And tok is wei ful hastelie
636Toward þe londe of Ermonie.
637He nadde ride in is wei
638Boute seue mile of þat contrei,
639He wex asleped wonder-sore,
640He miȝte ride no forþer-more;
641He reinede his hors to a chesteine
642And felle aslepe vpon þe pleine;
643And alse a slep, in is sweuene
644Him þouȝte, Brademond & kinges seuen
645Stod ouer him wiþ swerdes drawe,
646Al slepande him wolde han slawe.
647Of þat sweuen he was of-drad,
648He lep to hors ase he wer mad,

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649Towarde Damas a-gein, apliȝt!
650Now reste we her a lite wiȝt,
651& speke we scholle of Brademond.
652Amorwe, whan he it hadde ifonde,
653Þat Beues was ascaped so,
654In is hertte him was ful wo.
655Þat time be comin acent
656Þar was comin parlement,
657Erles, barouns , lasse & more,
658& fiftene kinges wer samned þore.
659To hem Brademond tolde þare,
660Þat Beues was fro him i-fare,
661And bad help wiþ miȝt & main,
662For to feche Beues again.

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663A king þar was swiþe fer,
664His nam was hote Grander.
665An hors he hadde of gret pris,
666Þat was icleped Trinchefis;
667For him a ȝaf seluer wiȝt,
668Er he þat hors haue miȝt.

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669He armede him in yrene wede,
670Seue kniȝtes he gan wiþ him lede
671And prikede forþ on Trenchefis
672And wende wenne meche pris;
673And Beues sone he gan se,
674Ase he rod to-ward þe cite.
675'Aȝilt þe,' a seide, 'þow fox welp,
676Þe god schel þe noþing help,
677For her þourȝ min hondes one,
678For soþe, þow schelt þe lif for-gon!'
679'So me helpe god!' queþ Beues þo,
680'Hit were no meistri, me to slo,
681For þis is þe ferþe dai agon,
682Mete ne drinke ne bot i non:
683Ac naþeles, god it wot,
684Ȝif ich alle nedes mot,
685Ȝit ich wile asaie,
686A lite box þe to paie!'

687King Grander was of herte grim
688& rod to Beues & he to him;
689And ase þei boþe to gedre mete,
690Wiþ here launces þei gonne mete,
691Þat hit gonnen al to-driue
692& te-borsten on pises fiue.
693Here swerdes drowe kniȝtes stoute
694And fiȝteþ faste, it is no doute;
695Þe medwe squauȝte of her dentes,
696Þe fur fleȝ out, so spark o flintes;

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697Þus þai leide on in boþe side
698Be-twene midmorwe & vndertide.
699King Grander was agremed strong,
700Þat sire Beues him stod so long,
701And wiþ is swerd a hitte is scheld,
702A quarter fel in to þe feld,
703Hauberk, plate and aktoun,
704In to Beues forþer arsoun
705Half a fot he karf doun riȝt.
706Þo Beues seȝ þat strok of miȝt,
707A seide: 'Þat dent was wel iset,
708Fasten y wile anoþer bet!'
709Wiþ þat word Beues smot doun
710Grander is scheld wiþ is fachoun,
711And is left hande be þe wrest,
712Hit fleȝ awei þourȝ help of Crist.
713Þo Grander hadde his scheld i-lore,
714He fauȝt ase he wer wode þer fore;
715A ȝaf Beues strokes þat tide,
716Non ne moste oþer abide.
717Beues þer of was agreued
718And smot of king Grander is heued,
719Þe dede kors in þat þrowe
720Fel out ouer þe sadel bowe.
721Þo king Grander was islawe,
722Þe seue kniȝtes of heþen lawe
723Beues slouȝ þat ilche stounde,
724So hit is in Frensch y-founde.
725For nouȝt Beues nolde be-laue,
726Þe beter hors wolde haue;
727Beues Trenchefis be-strit,
728And in is weie forþ a rit,

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729And Brademond wiþ al is ost
730Com after wiþ meche bost;
731So longe hii han Beues driue,
732Þat hii come to þe cliue,
733Þar þe wilde se was.
734Herkneþ now a wonder-cas!
735In to þe se a moste, iwis,
736Oþer fiȝte aȝenes al heþenes.
737To Iesu Crist he bad a bone,
738And he him grauntede wel sone:
739'Lord,' a sede, 'heuene king,
740Schepere of erþe & alle þing,
741Þow madest fisch ase wel alse man,
742Þat noþing of senne ne can,
743Ne nouȝt of fisches kenne
744Neuer ȝet ne dede senne,
745Of þis heþene hounde,
746Þat beste þe and bounde
747And bete þe body to þe deþe,
748Þar fore ich may alse eþe
749To water fle in þis stede,
750To fisch, þat neuer senne dede,
751Þan her daien in londe
752In al þis Sarasines honde!'
753Beues smot is hors, þat it lep
754In to þe se, þat was wel dep.

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755Whan he in to þe se cam,
756Ouer þe se, y wot, a swam;
757In a dai and in a niȝt
758A bar ouer þat gentil kniȝt.
759Whan he com of þat wilde brok,
760His gode stede him resede & schok,
761And Beues, for honger in þat stounde
762Þe hors þrew him doun to grounde.
763'Allas!' queþ Beues, whan he doun cam,
764'Whilom ichadde an erl-dam
765And an hors gode and snel,
766Þat men clepede Arondel;
767Now ich wolde ȝeue hit kof
768For a schiuer of a lof!'
769A restede him þer a lite tide,
770His gode stede he gan be-stride
771And rod ouer dale & doun,
772Til he com to a gret toun;
773Þe leuedi þar of ouer þe castel lai,
774And Beues hire sone of-say
775And wende ben al out of care
776And Þouȝte wel to spede þare.
777Beues to þe castel gate rit
778And spak to hire, aboue him sit:
779'Dame,' a seide, 'þat sit aboue,
780For þat ilche lordes loue,
781On wham þin herte is on iset:
782Ȝeue me to day a meles met!'

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783Þe leuedi answerde him þo:
784'Boute þow fro þe gate go,
785Þe wer beter elles whar þan her:
786Go, or þe tit an euel diner!
787Me lord,' ȝhe seide, 'is a geaunt
788& leueþ on Mahoun & Teruagaunt
789And felleþ cristene men to grounde,
790For he hateþ hem ase hounde!'
791'Be god!' queþ Beues, 'i swere an oþe:
792Be him lef and be him loþe,
793Her ich wile haue þe mete
794Wiþ loue or eiȝe, whaþer I mai gete!'
795Þe leuedi swiþe wroþ wiþ alle
796Wente hire forþ in to þe halle
797And tolde hire lord anon fore,
798How a man hadde iswore,
799Þat he nolde fro þe ȝete,
800Er he hadde þer þe mete.
801Þe geaunt was wonder-strong,
802Rome þretti fote long;
803He tok a leuour in is hond,
804And forþ to þe gate he wond.
805Of Beues he nam gode hede,
806Ful wel a knew Beues is stede:
807'Þow ert nome þef, y-wis:
808Whar stele þow stede Trenchefis,

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809Þat þow ridest vpon here?
810Hit was me broþeres Grandere!'
811'Grander,' queþ Beues, 'y ȝaf hod
812And made him a kroune brod;
813Þo he was next vnder me fest,
814Wel y wot, ich made him prest,
815And hiȝ dekne ich wile make þe,
816Er ich euer fro þe te!'
817Þanne seide þe geaunt: 'Meister sire,
818Slouȝ þow me broþer Grandere,
819For al þis castel ful of golde
820A liue lete þe ich nolde!'
821'Ne ich þe,' queþ Beues, 'i trowe!'
822Þus be-ginneþ grim to growe.

823Þe geaunt, þat ich spak of er,
824Þe staf, þat he to fiȝte ber,
825Was twenti fote in lengþe be tale,
826Þar to gret & noþing smale;
827To sire Beues a smot þer wiþ
828A sterne strok wiþ outen griþ,
829Ac a failede of his diuis
830And in þe heued smot Trenchefis,
831Þat ded to grounde fel þe stede.
832'O,' queþ Beues, 'so god me spede,
833Þow hauest don gret vileinie,
834Whan þow sparde me bodi
835And for me gilt min hors aqueld,
836Þow witest him, þat mai nouȝt weld.
837Be god, i swere þe an oþ:
838Þow schelt nouȝt, whan we to-goþ,
839Lauȝande me wende fram,
840Now þow hauest mad me gram!'

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841Beues is swerd anon vp swapte,
842He and þe geaunt to-gedre rapte
843And delde strokes mani & fale:
844Þe nombre can i nouȝt telle in tale.
845Þe geaunt vp is clobbe haf
846And smot to Beues wiþ is staf,
847Þat his scheld fleȝ fram him þore
848Þre akres brede and sumdel more.
849Þo was Beues in strong erur
850And karf ato þe grete leuour
851And on þe geauntes brest a wonde,
852Þat neȝ a felde him to þe grounde.
853Þe geaunt þouȝte þis bataile hard,
854Anon he drouȝ to him a dart,
855Þourȝ Beues scholder he hit schet,
856Þe blod ran doun to Beues fet.
857Þo Beues seȝ is owene blod,
858Out of is wit he wex neȝ wod,
859Vnto þe geaunt ful swiþe he ran
860& kedde þat he was douȝti man,
861And smot ato his nekke bon:
862Þe geaunt fel to grounde anon.

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863Beues wente in at castel gate,
864Þe leuedi a mette þer ate.
865'Dame!' a seide, 'go, ȝeue me mete,
866Þat euer haue þow Cristes hete!'
867Þe leuedi, sore adrad wiþ alle,
868Ladde Beues in to þe halle,
869And of eueriche sonde,
870Þat him com to honde,
871A dede hire ete al þer ferst,
872Þat ȝhe ne dede him no berst.
873And drinke ferst of þe win,
874Þat no poisoun was þer in.
875Whan Beues hadde ete inouȝ,
876A keuerchef to him a drouȝ
877In þat ilche stounde,
878To stope mide is wonde.
879'Dame, dame,' Beues sede,
880'Let sadele me a gode stede,

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881For hennes ich wile ride,
882I nel no lenger her abide!'
883Þe leuedi seide, ȝhe wolde fawe;
884A gode stede ȝhe let forþ drawe
885And sadeled hit & wel adiȝt,
886And Beues, þat hendi kniȝt,
887Into þe sadel a lippte,
888Þat no stirop he ne drippte.
889Forþ him wente sire Beuoun,
890Til he com wiþ oute þe toun
891In to a grene mede.
892'Now, louerd Crist,' a sede,
893'Ȝeue it, Brademond, þe king,
894He and al is of-spring,
895Wer riȝt her vpon þis grene:
896Now ich wolde of me tene
897Swiþe wel ben awreke,
898Scholde he neuer go ne speke:
899Now min honger is me aset,
900Ne liste me neuer fiȝten bet!'

901Forþ a wente be þe strem,
902Til a com to Iurisalem;
903To þe patriark a wente cof,
904& al his lif he him schrof

page 98

905And tolde him, how hit was be-go,
906Of is wele and of is wo.
907Þe patriark hadde reuþe
908Of him and ek of is treuþe
909And for-bed him vpon his lif,
910Þat he neuer toke wif,
911Boute ȝhe were clene maide.
912'Nai, for soþe!' sire Beues saide.
913On a dai aȝenes þe eue
914Of þe patriarke he tok is leue;
915Erliche amorwe, whan it was dai,
916Forþ a wente in is wai;
917And also a rod him self alone:
918'Lord,' a þouȝte, 'whar mai i gone?
919Whar ich in to Ingelonde fare?
920Nai,' a þouȝte, 'what scholde i þare,
921Boute ȝif ichadde ost to gader,
922For to sle me stifader?'
923He þouȝte, þat he wolde an hie
924In to þe londe of Ermonie,
925To Ermonie, þat was is bane,
926To his lemman Iosiane.

page 99

927And also a wente þeder riȝt,
928A mette wiþ a gentil kniȝt,
929Þat in þe londe of Ermonie
930Hadde bore him gode companie;
931Þai kiste hem anon wiþ þat
932And aþer askede of oþeres stat.
933Þanne seide Beues and louȝ:
934'Ich aue fare hard inouȝ,
935Sofred boþe honger & chele
936And oþer peines mani & fele
937Þourȝ king Ermines gile:
938Ȝet ich þenke to ȝelde is while,
939For he me sente to Brademond,
940To haue slawe me þat stonde:
941God be þanked, a dede nouȝt so,
942Ac is in prisoun wiþ meche wo
943Ichaue leie þis seuen ȝare,
944Ac now icham from him ifare
945Þourȝ godes grace & min engyn,
946Ac al ich wite it king Ermyn,
947And, ne wer is douȝter Iosiane,
948Sertes, ich wolde ben is bane!'
949'Iosiane,' queþ þe kniȝt, 'is a wif
950Aȝen hire wille wiþ meche strif.
951Seue ȝer hit is gon and more.
952Þat þe riche king Yuore
953To Mombraunt haþ hire wedde
954Boþe to bord and to bedde,

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955And haþ þe swerd Morgelai
956And Arondel, þe gode palfrai:
957Ac siþe þe time, þat i was bore,
958Swiche game hadde ich neuer be-fore,
959Ase ich hadde þat ilche tide,
960Whan i seȝ king Yuor ride
961To-ward Mombraunt on Arondel;
962Þe hors was nouȝt ipaied wel:
963He arnede awai wiþ þe king
964Þourȝ felde & wode, wiþ outen lesing,
965And in a mure don him cast,
966Almest he hadde deied in hast.
967Ac er hii wonne þe stede,
968Ropes in þe contre þai leide;
969Ac neuer siþe, wiþ oute fable,
970Ne com þe stede out of þe stable,
971So sore he was aneied þat tide;
972Siþþe dorste noman on him ride!'
973For þis tiding Beues was bliþe,
974His ioie kouþe he noman kiþe.
975'Wer Iosiane,' a þouȝte, 'ase lele,
976Alse is me stede Arondel,
977Ȝet scholde ich come out of wo!'
978And at þe kniȝt he askede þo:
979'Whider-wardes is Mombraunt?'
980'Sere,' a sede, 'be Teruagaunt,
981Þow miȝt nouȝt þus wende forþ,
982Þow most terne al aȝen norþ!'
983Beues ternede his stede
984And rod norþ gode spede;
985Euer a was pasaunt,
986Til a com to Mombraunt.
987Mombraunt is a riche cite,
988In al þe londe of Sarsine

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989Nis þer non þer to iliche
990Ne be fele parti so riche.
991And whan þat hende kniȝt Beuoun
992Come wiþ outen þe toun,
993Þar wiþ a palmer he mette,
994And swiþe faire he him grette:
995'Palmer,' a sede, 'whar is þe king?'
996'Sire!' a seide, 'an honting
997Wiþ kinges fiftene.'
998'And whar,' a seide, 'is þe quene?'
999'Sire,' a seide, 'in hire bour.'
1000'Palmer,' a seide, 'paramour,
1001Ȝem me þine wede
1002For min and for me stede!'
1003'God ȝeue it,' queþ þe palmare,
1004'We hadde driue þat chefare!'
1005Beues of is palfrei aliȝte
1006And schrede þe palmer as a kniȝte
1007And ȝaf him is hors, þat he rod in,
1008For is bordon and is sklauin.
1009Þe palmer rod forþ ase a king,
1010& Beues wente alse a breþeling.
1011Whan he com to þe castel gate,
1012Anon he fond þar ate
1013Mani palmer þar stonde
1014Of fele kene londe,

page 102

1015And he askede hem in þat stede,
1016What hii alle þar dede.
1017Þanne seide on, þat þar stod:
1018'We beþ icome to haue gode,
1019And so þow ert also!'
1020'Who,' queþ Beues, 'schel it vs do?'
1021'Þe quene, god hire schilde fro care!
1022Meche ȝhe loueþ palmare;
1023Al þat ȝhe mai finden here,
1024Eueriche dai in þe ȝere,
1025Faire ȝhe wile hem fede
1026And ȝeue hem riche wede
1027For a kniȝtes loue, Beuoun,
1028Þat was i-boren at Souþhamtoun;
1029To a riche man ȝhe wolde him bringe,
1030Þat kouþe telle of him tiding!'
1031'Whanne,' queþ Beues, 'schel þis be don?'
1032A seide: 'Be-twene middai & noun.'
1033Beues, hit ful wel he sai,
1034Hit nas boute ȝong dai;
1035A þouȝte, þat he wolde er þan
1036Wende aboute þe barbican,

page 103

1037For to loke & for to se,
1038How it miȝte best be,
1039Ȝif he þe castel wolde breke,
1040Whar a miȝte best in reke;
1041And also a com be a touret,
1042Þat was in þe castel iset,
1043A herde wepe and crie;
1044Þederward he gan him hie.
1045'O allas,' ȝhe seide, 'Beuoun,
1046Hende kniȝt of Souþ-hamtoun,
1047Now ichaue bide þat day,
1048Þat to þe treste i ne may:
1049Þat ilche god, þat þow of speke,
1050He is fals & þow ert eke!'
1051In al þe seuene ȝer eche dai
1052Iosiane, þat faire mai,
1053Was woned swich del to make,
1054Al for sire Beues sake.
1055Þe leuedi gan to þe gate te,
1056Þe palmeres þar to se;
1057And Beues, after anon
1058To þe gate he gan gon.
1059Þe palmers gonne al in þreste,
1060Beues abod & was þe laste;

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1061And whan þe maide seȝ him þar,
1062Of Beues ȝhe nas noþing war;
1063'Þe semest,' queþ ȝhe, 'man of anour,
1064Þow schelt þis dai be priour
1065And be-ginne oure deis:
1066Þe semest hende and corteis.'
1067Mete and drinke þai hadde afyn,
1068Boþe piment and plente a wyn,
1069Swiþe wel þai hadde ifare;
1070Þanne seide þe quene to eche palmare:
1071'Herde euer eni of ȝow telle
1072In eni lede or eni spelle,
1073Or in feld oþer in toun,
1074Of a kniȝt, Beues of Hamtoun?'
1075'Nai!' queþ al, þat þar ware.
1076'What þow?' ȝhe seide, 'niwe palmare?'
1077Þanne seide Beues and louȝ:
1078'Þat kniȝt ich knowe wel inouȝ!
1079Atom,' a seide, 'in is contre
1080Icham an erl and also is he;

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1081At Rome he made me a spel
1082Of an hors, men clepede Arondel:
1083Wide whar ichaue iwent
1084And me warisoun ispent,
1085I souȝt hit boþe fer & ner,
1086Men telleþ me, þat it is her:
1087Ȝif euer louedestow wel þat kniȝt,
1088Let me of þat hors haue a siȝt!'