Canterbury Tales (Middle English) — The Tale of Gamelyn - Part 2
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;
[659] 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 nome.
’ ‘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, [660] 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 cure 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.
551. Hl.
lestneth; Cp.
lesteneth.
Hl.
goode.
555. Rl.
Sl.
Pt.
Harl.
by her (here) fay; Cp.
be way; Hl.
Ln.
away.
563. Hl.
y-steke; _rest om.
_ 573. Cp.
Ln.
Harl.
wente; _rest_ went.
576. Cp.
schulle; Hl.
schul.
Hl.
na (_for_ nat); _rest_ not, nouht.
588. Hl.
den; Pt.
fenne; _rest_ fen.
589. Cp.
Ln.
wente; _rest_ went.
594. Hl.
fle;
_rest_ to fle (flee).
602. Hl.
comth; _rest_ cometh.
603. _So_ Hl.
;
_rest_ sayde to.
606. Hl.
vs; _rest_ om.
608. Hl.
tuo; _rest_ om.
609. Hl.
coursers; _but see l. _ 617. 611. Hl.
adoun; _rest_ doun.
614. Hl.
sent; Cp.
Sl.
sente.
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 [661] 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, [662] 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.
615. Cp.
Ln.
false; _rest_ fals.
618. Cp.
likede; Ln.
loked; _rest_ liked.
621. Hl.
for; _rest om.
_ 625. Hl.
And; _rest om.
_ 627, 642. Hl.
loked.
627. Hl.
the; _rest om.
_ 640. Cp.
Pt.
Harl.
sende;
_rest_ send.
Hl.
non but; _rest om.
_ 643. Hl.
ȝe; _rest om.
_ 652. Hl.
Cp.
They; Rl.
Thei; Sl.
Ln.
Though.
654. Hl.
alle; _rest om.
_ 655. Hl.
sayd; _rest add_ e. Hl.
vnto; _rest_ to.
663. Hl.
heende; Cp.
kynde; _rest_ hende.
664. Hl.
an (_for 1st_ and).
665. Hl.
seyd; Ln.
seid; _rest add_ e. 666. Hl.
auntre; _rest_ auenture me.
Hl.
Cp.
Ln.
to the dore; _rest om.
_ 673. Hl.
for; _rest om.
_ 674. Hl.
with; _rest om.
_ 679. Hl.
ther; _rest om.
_ Hl.
adoun;
_rest_ doun.
681. Hl.
sete and; _rest om.
_ 682. Hl.
seyd; _rest add_ e. Hl.
Pt.
Ln.
that oon ...
other; _rest_ on to an other.
688, 690. Hl.
tho; _rest om.
_ 689. Hl.
I-made; Cp.
Sl.
maad; _rest_ made.
694. Cp.
Maad; _rest_ Made (_badly_).
Cp.
Ln.
here; _rest_ her.
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;
And sente out of his men · wher they might him finde, 701 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.
697. Cp.
Ln.
false; _rest_ fals.
699. Rl.
Sl.
glad; _rest_ glade, gladde.
700. Sl.
Cp.
maad; _rest_ made, maade.
703. Hl.
how; _rest om.
_ 704. _So_ Hl.
Cp.
Ln.
; _rest_ and alle his.
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?
’ [663] 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.
712. Hl.
_om.
2nd_ I. 713. Hl.
hem; rest _om.
_ Harl.
boþe housbonde;
_rest_ myn housbondes.
715. Hl.
came; _see_ l. 717. 718. Rl.
Sl.
Cp.
putte; _rest_ put.
719. Hl.
alle; rest _om.
_ 722. Hl.
me;
_rest_ do me.
723. Cp.
thoughte the false; _rest_ thought the fals.
724. MSS.
most, _the_ e _being elided_.
725, 726. Rl.
Sl.
Cp.
laste, faste; _rest_ last, fast.
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, [664] 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.
’ 728. Hl.
Cp.
heende; _rest_ hende.
729. Hl.
ther; _rest om.
_ 730. Hl.
Cp.
told; _rest_ tolde.
734. Hl.
anon right; Ln.
ful sone; _rest_ right sone.
737. Rl.
Cp.
beste; _rest_ best.
739. Pt.
Ln.
false;
