Unknown - Arthur, Copied And Edited From The Marquis of Bath\'s MS
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Unknown >> Arthur, Copied And Edited From The Marquis of Bath\'s MS
[TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:
The original text contained the letters "yogh" and "thorn". They are
represented in this ASCII text as
[Th] [th] thorn (note that the text also uses "th")
[Gh] [gh] yogh
[P] pilcrow (parragraph symbol).]
Arthur
A Short Sketch of His Life and History in English Verse of the First
Half of the Fifteenth Century
Copied and Edited From the Marquis of Bath's MS.
by
Frederick J. Furnivall, M.A., Camb.
Editor of De Borron's and Lonelich's "History of the Holy Graal,"
Walter Map's "Queste Del Saint Graal," Etc. Etc.
London:
Published for the Early English Text Society,
by Truebner & Co., 60, Paternoster Row.
MDCCCLXIV
Contents
Preface
Arthur
Words
Notes
Preface
As one of the chief objects of the Early English Text Society is to
print every Early English Text relating to Arthur, the Committee have
decided that this short sketch of the British hero's life shall form one
of the first issue of the Society's publications. The six hundred and
forty-two English lines here printed occur in an incomplete Latin
Chronicle of the Kings of Britain, bound up with many other valuable
pieces in a MS. belonging to the Marquis of Bath. The old chronicler has
dealt with Uther Pendragon, and Brounsteele (Excalibur), and is
narrating Arthur's deeds, when, as if feeling that Latin prose was no
fit vehicle for telling of Arthur, king of men, he breaks out into
English verse,
"Herkene[th], [th]at loueth hono_ur_,
Of kyng Arthour & hys labo_ur_."
The story he tells is an abstract, with omissions, of the earlier
version of Geoffry of Monmouth, before the love of Guinevere for
Lancelot was introduced by the French-writing English romancers of the
Lionheart's time (so far as I know), into the Arthur tales. The fact of
Mordred's being Arthur's son, begotten by him on his sister, King Lot's
wife, is also omitted; so that the story is just that of a British king
founding the Round Table, conquering Scotland, Ireland, Gothland, and
divers parts of France, killing a giant from Spain, beating Lucius the
Emperor of Rome, and returning home to lose his own life, after the
battle in which the traitor whom he had trusted, and who has seized his
queen and his land, was slain.
"He that will more look,
Read on the French book,"
says our verse-writer: and to that the modern reader must still be
referred, or to the translations of parts of it, which we hope to print
or reprint, and that most pleasantly jumbled abstract of its parts by
Sir Thomas Maleor, Knight, which has long been the delight of many a
reader,--though despised by the stern old Ascham, whose Scholemaster was
to turn it out of the land.--There the glory of the Holy Grail will be
revealed to him; there the Knight of God made known; there the only true
lovers in the world will tell their loves and kiss their kisses before
him; and the Fates which of old enforced the penalty of sin will show
that their arm is not shortened, and that though the brave and guilty
king fights well and gathers all the glory of the world around him, yet
still the sword is over his head, and, for the evil that he has done,
his life and vain imaginings must pass away in dust and confusion.
Of the language of the Poem there is little to say: its dialect is
Southern, as shown by the verbal plural _th_, the _vyve_ for five, _zyx_
for six, _ych_ for I, _har_ (their), _ham_ (them), for _her_, _hem_;
_hulle_, _dude_, _[gh]ut_, for hill, did, yet, the infinitive in _y_
(_rekeny_), etc. Of its poetical merits, every reader will judge for
himself; but that it has power in some parts I hope few will deny.
Arthur's answer to Lucius, and two lines in the duel with Frollo,
"There was no word y-spoke,
But eche had other by the throte,"
are to be noted. Parts of the MS. have very much faded since it was
written some ten or twenty years before 1450, so that a few of the words
are queried in the print. The MS. contains a few metrical points and
stops, which I have here printed between parentheses (). The expansions
of the contractions are printed in italics, but the ordinary doubt whether
the final lined _n_ or _u_--for they are often undistinguishable--is
to be printed n_e_, n_ne_, or u_n_, exists here too.
I am indebted to Mr. Sims, of the Manuscript Department of the British
Museum, for pointing out the Poem to me, and to the Marquis of Bath for
his kind permission to copy it for printing.
_3, Old Square, Lincoln's Inn,_
_London, W.C., August 30, 1864._
Arthur [pg 1]
From the Marquis of Bath's MS.
BEF. 1450 A.D.
[The Latin side notes in italics, and the stops
of the text in parentheses (), are those of the MS.]
Herkene[th], [th]at loue[th] hono_ur_, [Fol. 42_b_]
Of kyng Arthour & hys labo_ur_;
How Arthur And furst how he was bygete,
was begotten As [th]_a_t we in bok_is_ do rede. 4
by Pendragon Vther pendragon_e_ was hys fader,
on Ygerne. And ygerne was hys Moder.
Pendragon_e_ ys in walysch_e_
Pendragon 'Dragones heed' on Englysch_e_; 8
(_t.i._ Dragon's He maked ypeynted dragon_e_s two;
Head) made Oon schold byfore him goo
two painted Whan he went to batayle,
dragons, Whan he wold hys foes sayle; 12
That other abood at wynchester,
Euermore stylle there.
and thence Bretones [gh]af hym [th]_a_t Name,
had his name. Vther Pendragon_e_ [th]e same, 16
For [th]at skyle fer & nere
Euer-more hyt to here.
How Uther loved The Erles wyff of Cornewayle
the Earl of He loued to Muche sanz fayle; 20
Cornwall's wife,
[Arthur Has the Round Table Made.]
Merlyn wy[th] hys sotelnesse
Turned vtheris lyknesse,
And maked hym lyche [th]e Erl anone,
And wy[th] hys wyff (:) his wyll_e_ to done 24
In [th]e cou_n_tre of Cornewell_e_:
In [th]e Castel of Tyntagell_e_,
and begat Arthur Thus vther, yf y schall_e_ nat lye,
in adultery. Bygat Arthour in avowtrye. 28
Whan vther Pendragon_e_ was deed,
Arthur is Arthour anon was y-crowned;
crowned, He was courteys, large, & Gent
to alle puple verrament; 32
Beaute, My[gh]t, amyable chere
To alle Men ferre and neere;
Hys port (;) hys [gh]yftes gentyll_e_
is loved of all, Maked hym y-loved wyll_e_; 36
Ech mon was glad of hys p_re_sence,
And drade to do hym dysplesau_n_ce;
is strong A stronger Man of hys honde
was neuer founde on any londe, 40
and courteous. As courteys as any Mayde:--
[Th]us wryte[th] of hym [th]_a_t
hym a-sayde. [Fol. 42_b_,
At Cayrlyon_e_, wyt_h_oute fable, col. 2.]
He makes the he let make [th]e Rou_n_de table: 44
Round Table, And why [th]_a_t he maked hyt [th]us,
[Th]is was [th]e resou_n_ y-wyss,--
that all at it [Th]at no man schulde sytt aboue other,
might be equal. ne haue indignaciou_n_ of hys bro[th]_er_; 48
And alle hadde (.)oo(.) seruyse,
For no pryde scholde aryse
For any degree of syttynge,
O[th]er for any seruynge:-- 52
[Th]us he kept [th]e table Rou_n_de
Whyle he leuyd on [th]e grou_n_de.
After his first After he hadde conquered skotlond
conquests yrland & Gotland, 56
[He Fights Frollo for France.]
he lives twelve _[Th]an_ leuyd he at [th]e best
years in peace, twelf [gh]eeris on all_e_ reste
Wy[th]oute werre (:) tyll_e_ at [th]e laste
he [th]ou[gh]t to make (.)a(.) nywe _con_queste. 60
and then invades Into Frau_n_ce wy[th] gode cou_n_ceyle
France. he wolde weende (:) & hyt assayle,
[Th]at Rome [th]o kept vnder Myght,
Vnder Frollo (:) a worthy knyght 64
[Th]_a_t frau_n_ce hadde [th]o to kepe,
To rywle, defende, & to lede.
He beats Frollo Arthour and Frollo fou[gh]t in feld;
back to Paris, [Th]ere deyde many vnder scheld. 68
Frollo in-to Paryss fly,
W_y_th strenkthe kept hyt wysely:
and there Arthour byseged [th]_a_t Syte & town
besieges him, Tyll_e_ [th]eire vytayl was y-doon. 72
till Frollo Frollo [th]at worthy knyght
challenges him Proferyd w_y_t_h_ Artho_ur_ for to fyght
to single combat. Vnder [th]is wyse & condiciou_n_,--
"Ho hadde [th]e Maystrie (:) haue [th]e crown; 76
And no mo men but [th]ey two."
They fight: [Th]e day Was sett (:) to-geder [th]ey go:
Fayr hyt was to byholde
In suche two kny[gh]ghte[gh] bolde: 80
[Th]er was no word y-spoke,
But eche hadde other by [th]e [th]rote;
[Th]ey smote w_y_t_h_ trou_n_chou_n_
& w_y_t_h_ swerd;
[Th]at hyt seye were a-ferd; [Fol. 43.] 84
Frollo fou[gh]t wy[th] hys ax (:) as men dude se;
(Frollo with He hytt Arthour (:) so sore (:)
his axe) [th]_a_t he felle on kne.
He ros vp raply (:) and smot hym full_e_ sore;
He dude hym to grent a (.) soue[gh][1]
[th]_er_fore. [1. ? sone[gh]] 88
thus they hyw on helmes hye,
And schatered on wy[th] scheldes.
[Th]e puple by-gan to crye
[Th]at stood on [th]e feldes; 92
[Arthur Returns Victorious to Britain,]
till Arthur in ther ne wyst no man, as y can ler_e_,
wrath takes Who of ham two was [th]e better_e_ [th]er_e_.
Brownsteel, Arthour was chafed & wexed wroth_e_,
_Caliburn_us He hente brou_n_steell_e_ | and to Frollo goth_e_ 96
_Arthuri Gladius_ Brou_n_stell_e_ was heuy & also kene;
[with a sketch Fra_m_ [th]e schulder(:) to [th]e syde
thereof in the went bytwene
MS.] and strikes Off frollo | and [th]an he fell to
Frollo [th]e grou_n_de
Ry[gh]t as he moste | deed(.) in lyte stou_n_de. 100
Frensch_e_ men made doell_e_ & wept full_e_ faste;
[Th]eir Crowne of frau_n_ce [th]ere [th]ey loste.
Arthur takes Than wente Arthour in-to paryse
Paris. And toke [th]e castell_e_ & [th]e town
at hys avyse. 104
Worschuped be god of hys grete grace
Glory to God. [Th]_a_t [th]us [gh]eue[th] fortune(:) and
worschup to [th]e Reme;
Thanke [gh]e hym all_e_ [th]_a_t be[th]
on [th]is place,
Say ye a Pater And seye[th] a Pater noster w_y_t_h_out
Noster therefore. any Beeme. 108
Pater noster.
Artho_ur_ fram paryse went w_y_t_h_ hys Rowte,
Arthur conquers And co_n_quered [th]e Cou_n_tre on euery
the countries syde aboute;
around, Angeoy[2] , Peytow, Berry, & Gaskoyne,
Nauerne, Burgon_e_ | Loreyn & Toreyne; 112
He dau_n_ted [th]e proude | & hawted [th]e poure;
He dwelt long in Paryss after in honoure;
He was drad and loued in cou_n_treis abowte;
Heyest & lowest hym Loved & alowte; 116
And vpon an Esto_ur_ tyme sone afterward
He fested hys knyght_is_ & [gh]af ham gret reward;
distributes To hys styward he [gh]af Angers & Au_n_geye;
them among his To Bedewer hys botyler he [gh]af Norma_n_dye; 120
knights, He [gh]af to Holdyne flau_n_drys parde;
To Borel hys Cosyn, Boloyne [th]e cyte;
And eche man, after [th]e astat [th]at he was,
He rewarded hem alle, bo[th]e More & lasse, 124
and returns to And [gh]af hem reward, bo[th]e lond and Fee,
Britain. And turned to Breteyn, to Carlyo_n_e ayhe.
[And then Holds a Great Feast.]
Artho_ur_ wolde of hono_ur_ [Fol. 43_b_,
Arthur gives an Hold a fest at Eestour col. 1.] 128
Easter Feast Of regalye & worthynesse,
And feede alle hys frendess;
And sende Messanger
To kynges ferre & neer 132
[Th]at were to hym Omager,
to come to [th]is Dyner.
And alle at oo certeyn day
They come [th]yder in gode aray, 136
And kept [th]eire Ceson_e_
at Carlyon, At [th]e Castell_e_ Cayrlyon_e_.
greater than ere Thys fest was Muche Moore
before. [Th]an euere Artho_ur_ made a-fore; 140
Ten kings were For [th]ere was Vrweyn [th]e kynge
there, Of scottes at [th]at dynynge,
Stater [th]e kyng of south wales,
Cadwell_e_ [th]e kyng of north wale[gh], 144
Gwylmar [th]e kyng of yrland,
Dolmad [th]e kyng of guthland,
Malgan of yselond also,
Archyl of De_n_march [th]_er_to, 148
Aloth_e_ [th]e kyng of Norwey,
Souenas [th]e kyng of Orkenye,
Of Breteyn [th]e kyng Hoel,
and thirteen Cador Erl of Cornewell_e_, 152
earls Morice [th]e Erl of Gloucestr_e_,
Marran Erl of Wy_n_chestre,
Gwergou_n_d Erl of herford,
Boo[gh] Erl of Oxenford, 156
(including him Of bathe vngent [th]e Erl also,
of Bath), Cursal of Chestr_e_ [th]er-to,
Euerad Erl of salesbury[3],
Kynmar Erl of Canterbury, 160
Jonas [th]e Erl of Dorcestre,
[Arthur's Guests at Cayrlyone.]
Valence [th]e Erl of sylchestr_e_,
Jugeyn of Leyccer [?] [th]_er_to,
Argal of warwyk also,-- 164
Kynges & Erles Echon
with many other [Th]es wer_e_; & many ano[th]_er_ goom
gentles great, Gret of astaat, & [th]e beste,
[Th]es were at [th]e Feste. 168
Other also gentyls grete
Were [th]ere at [th]at Meete,
Sauer appon Donand,
Regeym & Alard, 172
Reyne[gh] fit[gh] Colys,
Tade_us_ fit[gh] Reis,
Delyn fit[gh] Dauid,
Kymbelyn le fit[gh] Gryffith, 176
Gryffit[gh] [th]e Sone of Nagand,
[Th]es were [th]er_e_ also theoband:
besides the Alle [th]es were [th]ere w_y_t_h_oute fable,
Round Tablers, W_y_t_h_oute ham of [th]e rou_n_de table. 180
Archbishops, Thre archebusschopes [th]_er_ wer_e_ also,
Bishops, And other busschopes many mo--
All_e_ [th]is mayne were nat al-oone;
W_y_t_h_ ham com many a Goome. 184
[Th]is feste dured dayes [th]re
In reuell_e_ & sole_m_pnite.
and many from Of by [gh]onde [th]e See also
beyond the sea. Many lordez[?] were [th]ere [th]o. 188
Now reste[th] alle wy[th] Me,
And say a Pater & Ave.
Pater noster.
The [th]rydde day folowyng
The_n_ coom nywe tydynge, 192
[Th]e whyle [th]ey sete at [th]e Mete
To the feasters Messagers were In ylete;
came messengers Well_e_ arayd forso[th]e [th]ey come,
from the & send fram cite of Rome 196
[Lucius's Message to Arthur.]
Roman Emperor, Wy[th] l_ett_res of [th]e Emp_er_oures
_luci_us. Whas name was Lucies.
[Th]es l_ett_res were opened & vnfold,
And [th]e tydyng_e_ to alle men told, 200
Whas sentence, yf y ne lye,
Was after [th]_a_t y can aspye:
L_ite_ra Lucii [P] Luci_u_s [th]e grete Emp_er_our
i_m_p_er_at_oris_. To hys Enemy Arthour:-- 204
We woundere[th] of [th]i wodeness
And also of [th]y Madnesse!
How darst [th]ow any wyse
saying, that to A[gh]enst the Emp_er_o_ur_ [th]_u_s aryse, 208
have invaded And ryde on Remes on eche wey,
France, etc., and And make kynge[gh] to [th]e obey?
made kings, [Th]u art wood on [th]e Nolle!
Arthur must be [Th]u hast scley owre cosyn frolle; 212
mad in his noll; [Th]u schalt be taw[gh]t at a schort day [Fol. 44,
for to make such_e_ aray. col. 1.]
Oure cosyn Iuli_us_ cesar
So_m_me tyme conquered [th]ar; 216
that he must pay To Rome [th]u owest hys trybut;
his tribute, We charge[th] [th]e to paye vs hyt.
Thy pryde we woll_e_ alaye
[Th]at makest so gret aray: 220
We co_m_mande[th] [th]e on haste
To paye owre trybut faste;
[Th]u hast scley frolle in frau_n_ce
[Th]at hadde vnder vs [th]er_e_ gou_er_nau_n_ce, 224
And wy[th]holdest oure tribute [th]_er_to:
[Th]u schalt be taw[gh]t [th]u hast mysdo:
We co_m_mande[th] [th]e in haste soone
and come to [Th]at [th]u come to vs at Rome 228
Rome to be To vnd_er_fang our_e_ ordynau_n_ce
punished for For [th]y dysobediau_n_ce;
his disobedience. As [th]u wold nat leze [th]y lyf,
Fulfylle [th]ys w_y_t_h_oute stryff." 232
[Arthur's Answer to Lucius.]
The Britons When [th]is l_ett_re was open & rad;
purpose to kill [Th]e bretou_n_s & all_e_ men wer_e_ mad,
the messengers, And wolde [th]e messager scle:--
but Arthur "Nay," seyd Arthour, "per de, 236
forbids it, That were a[gh]enst alle kynde,
A messager to bete or bynde;
y charge alle men here
for to make ham good chere." 240
And after Mete sanz fayl
Wy[th] hys lordes he hadde cou_n_sayl;
And alle asented [th]er to,
and resolves to Artho_ur_ to Rome scholde go; 244
invade Rome. And [th]ey ne wolde in hys t_ra_uayle
Wy[th] strenk[th] & good neuer fayle.
Than Artho_ur_ wroot to Rome a l_ett_re,
Was sentence was so_m_m-what bytter_e_, 248
And sayde i_n_ [th]is manere
As [gh]e may hure here:--
_L_ite_ra Reg_is_ "Knowe[th] well_e_ [gh]e of Romayne,
Arthuri._ Y am kyng Artho_ur_ of Bretayne. 252
Arthur's answer Frau_n_ce, y haue conquered hyt,
to the Emperor Y schall_e_ defende & kepe hyt [Gh]ut, [Fol. 44,
Lucius, Y come to Rome, as y am tryw, col. 2.]
claiming tribute To take my trybut (.) to me dywe, 256
from him. But noon [th]ere-for to paye,
By my werk [gh]e schall_e_ asay;
For [th]e Emp_er_our Constantyne
[Th]at was [th]e Soone of Elyne, 260
[Th]at was a Breton_e_ of [th]is lond,
Co_n_quered Rome w_y_t_h_ hys hond,
And so [gh]e owe[th] me tribut:
Y charge [gh]ow [th]at [gh]e pay me hyt. 264
Also Maximian kyng of Bretaigne
Co[_n_]quered al frau_n_ce & Almayne,
Lombardye Rome & ytalye--
[The Messenger's Report of Arthur.]
By [gh]oure bok_is_ [gh]e may a-spye. 268
Y am [th]eir Eyr & [th]eyre lynage,
Y aske [gh]ow my trywage."
[Th]is l_ett_re was celyd fast,
Y-take the Messagerez on hast; 272
Arthour [gh]af ham [gh]yftez grete,
And chered ham wy[th] drynk and Mete.
Lucius's [Th]ey hasted ham to come hoom;
messengers Byfor [th]e Emp_er_o_ur_ [th]ey be[th] coom; 276
return to him. Saluted hym as resou_n_ ys,
And toke hym [th]es letterys.
[Th]ey seyde to [th]e Emp_er_our
"We have be wy[th] kyng Artho_ur_; 280
But such ano[th]_er_ as he ys oon,
Say neuer no Man.
He ys s_er_ued on hys howshold
Wy[th] kynges, Erles, worthy & bold; 284
Hys worthynesse, sur Emp_er_our,
Passe[th] Much_e_ all_e_ [gh]owre;
and give him He seyde he wolde hyder come
Arthur's message. And take trywage of all_e_ Rome, 288
We dowte[th] last he wel do soo,
For he ys Myghty ynow [th]er-too."
Now, erst [th]an we goo fer[th]er,
Every man [th]at ys here 292
Sey a Pater noster
And ave wy[th] gode chere; Ame_n_.
Pater noster
Ave Maria.
Now stureth hym self Artho_ur_ [Fol. 44_b_.]
[Th]enkyng on hys labo_ur_, 296
Arthur prepares And gadery[th] to hym strenghth aboute,
for his Hys kynges & Erles on a rowte--
expedition A fayr sy[gh]t to Mannes ye
to Rome. to see suche a cheualrye,-- 300
[The Number of Arthur's Host.]
Has five kings, The kyng of Gotland,
Also [th]e kyng of Irland,
the kyng of ysland | & of Orkenye,
[Th]is was worthy Maynye; 304
The kyng of Denmark also was [th]er_e_,
[Th]is was a worthy chere:
Eche of [th]ese vyve at her venyw
Brou[gh]t zyx [th]ousand at har retenyw; 308
with 30,000men, xxx{ti} [th]owsand, yc_h_ vnderstand,
[Th]es vyf kyng_is_ hadde on honde.
80,000 Normans Than hadde he out of Normandye,
and Of Angeoy & of Almanye, 312
Boloyne(.) Peytow & flau_n_dres
Fowre skore [th]owsand harneys--
12,000 from Geryn of Chartez .xij. [th]owsand
Chartres, [th]at went wy[th] Arto_ur_ euer at honde; 316
10,000 Bretons. Hoel of bretayn, [th]owsandez ten
Of hardy & well_e_ fyghtyng Men;
Out of Bretaygne hys owne land
and 40,000 He passed fourty [th]owsand 320
British: Of Archerys & off Arblastere
[Th]_a_t Cow[th] well_e_ [th]e craft of werre.
[P] In Foot other Many a Man Moo
Able to feyght(:) as well_e_ as [th]o: 324
in all 200,000. Two hunderd [th]ousand
Went wy[th] hym out of lond,
And Many moo sykerly
That y can[4] not nombrye. [4. ? MS. y-tan.] 328
Artho_ur_ toke [th]an [th]e lond
Britain is left To Moddredes owne hond;
in Mordred's He kept al o[th]er [th]yng
charge. Saue [th]o Corowne weryng; 332
But he was [fals] of hys kepynge,
As [gh]e schall_e_ hure here folewynge.
Arthur ships Now than_ne_ ys Arto_ur_ y-Come
at Southampton, And hys Ost to Sowthamptone: 336