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Sir Tristrem

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

Wiþ Tomas spak y þare;

Þer herd y rede in roune

Who Tristrem gat & bare,

5000 Who was king wiþ croun

& who him forsterd Šare

& who was bold baroun,

As þair elders ware,

Bi Šere,

1000 Tomas telles in toun

Þis auentours as þai ware.

¶ Þis semly somers day,

In winter it is nouŠt sen

Þis greues wexen al gray

1500 Þat in her time were grene.

So dos þis world, y say,

Y wis & nouŠt at wene,

Þe gode ben al oway

Þat our elders haue bene

2000 To abide;

Of a kniŠt is þat y mene,

His name it sprong wel wide.

¶ Wald Morgan þole no wrong

Þei Morgan lord wes;

2500 He brak his castels strong,

His bold borwes he ches,

His men he slouŠ among

& reped him mani a res.

Þe wer lasted so long

3000 Til Morgan asked pes

Þurth pine.

For soþe, wiþouten les,

His liif he wende to tine.

Þus þe batayl it bigan - {f.281rb}

3500 Witeþ wele it was so -

Bitvene þe douk Morgan

& Rouland þat was þro,

Þat neuer þai no lan

Þe pouer to wirche wo.

4000 Þai spilden mani a man

Bitven hem seluen to

In prise.

Þat on was douk Morgan,

Þat oþer Roulandrise.

4500 ¶ Þe kniŠtes þat were wise,

A forward fast þai bond

Þat ich a man schul ioien his

& seuen Šer to stond;

Þe douke & Roulandriis

5000 Þerto þai bed her hond

To heiŠe & holden priis

& foren til Jnglond

To lende;

Markes king þai fond

5500 Wiþ kniŠtes mani & hende.

¶ To Marke þe king þai went

Wiþ kniŠtes proude in pres

& teld him to þende

His auentours as it wes.

6000 He preyd hem as his frende

To duelle wiþ him in pes.

Þe kniŠtes, þai were hende

& dede wiþouten les

In lede;

6500 A turnament þai ches

Wiþ kniŠtes stiþe on stede.

¶ Glad a man was he,

Þe turnament dede crie

Þat maidens miŠt him se

7000 & ouer þe walles to lye.

Þai asked who was fre

To win þe maistrie,

Þai seyd þat best was he,

Þe child of Ermonie,

7500 In tour.

Forþi chosen was he

To maiden Blauncheflour.

¶ Þe maiden of heiŠe kinne {f.281va}

Sche cald hir maisters þre

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

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

Bot Šiue it be þurth ginne,

A selly man is he;

Þurth min hert wiþinne

8500 Ywounded haþ he me

So sone;

Of bale bot he me blinne

Mine liif days ben al done.

¶ He was gode & hende,

9000 Stalworþ, wise & wiŠt,

Into þis londes ende

Y not non better kniŠt,

Trewer non to frende,

& Roulandriis he hiŠt.

9500 To batayl gan he wende,

Was wounded in þat fiŠt

Ful felle.’

Blauncheflour þe briŠt,

Þe tale þan herd sche telle,

1000 ¶ Sche seyd ‘wayleway!’

When hye herd it was so;

To hir maistresse sche gan say

Þat hye was boun to go

To þe kniŠt þer he lay;

1050 Sche swouned & hir was wo.

So comfort he þat may,

A knaue child gat þai tvo,

So dere;

& seþþen men cleped him so:

1100 Tristrem þe trewe fere.

¶ Þe trewes þat þai hadde tan

& stabled in her þouŠt

Þan brak þe douk Morgan,

He no wald held it nouŠt.

1150 Rohand trewe so stan

A letter he þer wrouŠt

& sent to Rouland onan,

As man of socour souŠt

In kare

1200 To help what he mouŠt,

Or lesen al þat þer ware.

¶ Roulandriis in tene

Tok leue at Markes king

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

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

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

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

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

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

¶.... .... .... ....

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

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

Or þou wilt wende wiþ me.’

‘Mi duelling is hir ille,

Bihold & tow may se.

Mi rede is taken þertille

1400 Þat fare y wille wiþ þe

& finde

Þi fair folk & þi fre

O lond þer is þi kinde.’

¶ Þai busked & maked hem boun,

1450 Nas þer no leng abade;

Þai lefted gomfainoun,

& out of hauen þai rade

Til þai com til a toun,

A castel Rohant had made.

1500 Her sailes þai leten doun,

& kniŠt ouer bord þai strade

Al cladde.

Þe kniŠtes þat wer fade,

Þai dede as Rohand bade.

1550 ¶ Rohand riŠt he radde

‘Þis maiden schal ben oure,

Roulandriis to wedde,

Atweld in castel tour,

To bring hir to his bedde

1600 Þat briŠtest is in bour.

Nas neuer non fairer fedde

Þan maiden Blauncheflour

Al bliþe.’

After þat michel anour

1650 Parting com þer swiþe.

¶ In hird nas nouŠt to hele

Þat Morgan telles in toun,

Mekeliche he gan mele {f.282ra}

Among his men to roun;

1700 He bad his kniŠtes lele

Com to his somoun

Wiþ hors & wepenes fele

& rered gomfaynoun,

Þat bold.

1750 He rode so king wiþ croun

(¶) To win al þat he wold.

Of folk þe feld was brade

Þer Morgan men gan bide;

Þo Rouland to hem rade,

1800 OŠain him gun þai ride;

Swiche meting nas neuer made

Wiþ sorwe on ich a side.

Þerof was Rouland glade,

Ful fast he feld her pride.

1850 Wiþ paine

Morgan scaped þat tide

Þat he nas nouŠt slain.

¶ Morganes folk cam newe

Of Roulandriis þe gode,

1900 On helmes gun þai hewe,

Þurth brinies brast þe blod;

Sone to deþ þer drewe

Mani a frely fode.

Of Rouland was to rewe,

1950 To grounde when he Šode,

Þat bold.

His sone him after stode

& dere his deþ he sold.

¶ Rewþe mow Še here

2000 Of Roulandriis þe kniŠt:

Þre hundred he slouŠ þere

Wiþ his swerd briŠt,

Of al þo þat þer were

MiŠt non him felle in fiŠt,

2050 Bot on wiþ tresoun þere

Þurth þe bodi him piŠt.

Wiþ gile

To deþ he him diŠt -

Allas þat ich while!

2100 ¶ His hors o feld him bare

Alle ded hom in his way;

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

Þat folk of ferly play.

Þe tiding com wiþ care

2150 To Blauncheflour þat may.

For hir me reweþ sare,

On child-bed þer sche lay;

Was born

Of hir Tristrem þat day,

2200 Ac hye no bade nouŠt þat morn.

¶ A ring of riche hewe

Þan hadde þat leuedi fre,

Sche toke it Rohand trewe,

Hir sone sche bad it be

2250 ‘Mi broþer wele it knewe,

Mi fader Šaf it me;

King Markes may rewe

Þe ring þan he it se

And moun.

2300 As Rouland loued þe,

Þou kepe it to his sone.’

¶ Þe folk stode vnfain

Bifor þat leuedi fre

‘Rouland, mi lord, is slain,

2350 He spekeþ no more wiþ me.’

spekeþ: þ is superscript.

Þat leuedi, nouŠt to lain,

For soþe ded is sche.

Who may be ogain?

As God wil it schal be.

2400 Vnbliþe,

Sorwe it was to se,

Þat leuedi swelted swiþe.

¶ Geten & born was so

Þe child, was fair & white.

2450 Nas neuer Rohand so wo,

He nist it whom to wite.

To child bed ded he go

His owhen wiif also tite

& seyd he hadde children to,

2500 On hem was his delite,

Bi crist!

In court men cleped him so:

Þo tram bifor þe trist.

¶ Douk Morgan was bliþe

2550 Þo Roulandriis was doun;

He sent his sond swiþe {f.282va}

& bad al schuld be boun

& to his lores liþe,

Redi to his somoun.

2600 Durst non oŠain him kiþe

Bot Šalt him tour & toun

So sone;

No was no king wiþ croun,

So richeliche hadde ydone.

2650 ¶ Who Šaf broche & beiŠe?

Who bot douke Morgan?

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

Cruwel was & heiŠe,

OŠaines him stode no man.

To conseil he calleþ neiŠe

2700 Rohand trewe so stan

& euer he dede as þe sleiŠe

& held his hert in an,

Þat wise.

It brast þurth blod & ban

2750 Šif hope no ware to rise.

Now haþ Rohand in ore

Tristrem & is ful bliþe.

Þe child he set to lore

& lernd him also swiþe;

2800 In bok while he was þore

He stodieþ euer þat stiþe.

Þo þat bi him wore

Of him weren ful bliþe.

Þat bold,

2850 His craftes gan he kiþe

OŠaines hem when he wold.

¶ Fiftene Šere he gan him fede,

Sir Rohand þe trewe;

He tauŠt him ich a lede

2900 Of ich maner of glewe

& euerich playing þede,

Old lawes & newe;

On hunting oft he Šede,

To swiche a lawe he drewe

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

2950 Al þus,

More he couþe of veneri

Þan couþe Manerious.

¶ Þer com a schip of Norway

To sir Rohandes hold

3000 Wiþ haukes white & gray

& panes fair yfold. {f.282vb}

Trist(t)rem herd it say,

On his playing he wold

Tventi schilling to lay.

3050 Sir Rohand him told

& tauŠt;

For hauke siluer he Šold,

Þe fairest men him rauŠt.

¶ A cheker he fond bi a cheire,

3100 He asked who wold play.

Þe mariner spac bonair

‘Child, what wiltow lay?’

‘OŠain an hauke of noble air

Tventi schillinges to say.

3150 Wheþer so mates oþer fair

Bere hem boþe oway.’

Wiþ wille

Þe mariner swore his faye

‘For soþe ich held þertille.’

3200 ¶ Now boþe her wedde lys,

& play þai biginne;

Ysett he haþ þe long asise

& endred beþ þerinne.

Þe play biginneþ to arise,

3250 Tristem deleþ atvinne;

He dede als-so þe wise:

He Šaf has he gan winne

In raf.

Of playe ar he wald blinne

3300 Sex haukes he Šat & Šaf.

¶ Rohand toke leue to ga,

His sones he cleped oway;

Þe fairest hauke he gan ta

Þat Tristrem wan þat day;

3350 Wiþ him he left ma

Pans for to play.

Þe mariner swore also

Þat pans wold he lay

An stounde.

3400 Tristrem wan þat day

Of him an hundred pounde.

¶ Tristrem wan þat þer was layd.

A tresoun þer was made:

No lenger þan þe maister seyd,

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

As þai best sat & pleyd

Out of hauen þai rade

Opon þe se so gray,

Fram þe brimes brade

3500 Gun flete.

Of lod þai were wel glade

& Tristrem sore wepe.

¶ His maister þan þai fand

A bot & an are.

3550 Hye seyden ‘Šond is þe land,

& here schaltow to bare.

Chese on aiþer hand

Wheþer þe leuer ware

Sink or stille stand;

3600 Þe child schal wiþ ous fare

On flod.’

Tristrem wepe ful sare,

Þai louŠ & þouŠt it gode.

¶ NiŠen woukes & mare

3650 Þe mariners flet on flod,

Til anker hem brast & are

& stormes hem bistode;

Her sorwen & her care

Þai witt þat frely fode;

3700 Þai nisten hou to fare,

Þe wawes were so wode

Wiþ winde.

O lond þai wold he Šede,

Šif þai wist ani to finde.

3750 ¶ A lond þai neiŠed neiŠe,

A forest as it ware,

Wiþ hilles þat were heiŠe

& holtes þat weren hare.

O lond þai sett þat sleiŠe

3800 Wiþ al his wining Šare,

Wiþ broche & riche beiŠe,

A lof of brede Šete mare,

Þat milde.

Weder þai hadde to fare,

3850 A lond þai left þat childe.

¶ Winde þai had as þai wolde,

A lond bilaft he;

His hert bigan to cold

Þo he no miŠt hem nouŠt se; {f.283rb}

3900 To Crist his bodi he Šald

Þat don was on þe tre

‘Lord, mi liif me bihold,

In world þou wisse me

At wille;

3950 Astow art lord so fre,

Þou lete me neuer spille.’

¶ Þo Tomas asked ay

Of Tristrem, trewe fere,

To wite þe riŠt way

4000 Þe styes for to lere.

Of a prince proude in play

Listneþ, lordinges dere.

Whoso better can say,

His owhen he may here

4050 As hende.

Of þing þat is him dere

Ich man preise at ende.

¶ In o robe Tristrem was boun

Þat he fram schip hadde brouŠt.

4100 Was of a blihand broun,

Þe richest þat was wrouŠt,

As Tomas telleþ in toun.

He no wist what he mouŠt,

Bot semly sett him doun

4150 & ete ay til him gode þouŠt;

Ful sone

Þe forest forþ he souŠt

When he so hadde done.

¶ He toke his lod vnliŠt,

4200 His penis wiþ him he bare;

Þe hilles were on hiŠt,

He clombe þo holtes hare;

Of o gate he hadde siŠt,

Þat he fond ful Šare;

4250 Þe paþ he toke ful riŠt,

To palmers mett he þare

On hand;

He asked hem whennes þai ware,

Þai seyd ‘of Yngland.’

4300 ¶ For drede þai wald him slo,

He temed him to þe king;

He bede hem pens mo,

Aiþer ten schilling {f.283va}

Šif þai wald wiþ him go

4350 & to þe court him bring.

‘Šis,‘ þai sworen þo

‘Bi þe lord ouer al þing

Ful sone.’

Ful wel biset his þing,

4400 Þat raþe haþ his bone.

¶ Þe forest was fair & wide,

Wiþ (wiþ) wilde bestes ysprad.

Þe court was ner biside,

Þe palmers þider him lad.

4450 Tristrem hunters seiŠe ride,

Les of houndes þai ledde;

Þai token in þat tide

Of fat hertes yfedde

In feld.

4500 In blehand was he cledde,

Þe hunters him biheld.

Bestes þai brac & bare,

In quarters þai hem wrouŠt,

Martirs as it ware

4550 Þat husbondmen had bouŠt.

Tristrem þo spac þare

& seyd wonder him þouŠt

‘Ne seiŠe y neuer are

So wilde best ywrouŠt

4600 At wille.

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

Oþer‘ he seyd ‘y can nouŠt

Or folily Še hem spille.’

¶ Vp stode a seriaunt bold

& spac Trist[r]em oŠain

4650 ‘We and our elders old,

Þus þan haue we sain.

Oþer þou hast ous told:

Šond liþ a best vnflain,

Atire it as þou wold

4700 & we wil se ful fain

In feld.’

In lede is nouŠt to lain,

Þe hunters him biheld.

¶ Tristrem schare þe brest,

4750 Þe tong sat next þe pride;

Þe heminges swiþe on est

He schar & layd biside;

Þe breche adoun he þrest, {f.283vb}

He ritt & gan to riŠt;

4800 Boldliche þer nest

Carf he of þat hide

Bidene;

Þe bestes he graiþed þat tide

As mani seþþen has ben.

4850 ¶ Þe spande was þe first brede,

Þe erber diŠt he Šare,

To þe stifles he Šede

& euen ato hem schare;

He riŠt al þe rede,

4900 Þe wombe oway he bare,

Þe noubles he Šaf to mede.

Þat seiŠen þat þer ware.

Also

Þe rigge he croised mare,

4950 Þe chine he smot atvo.

¶ Þe forster for his riŠtes

Þe left schulder Šaf he,

Wiþ hert, liuer & liŠtes

& blod tille his quirre;

5000 Houndes on hyde he diŠtes,

Alle he lete hem se;

Þe rauen he Šaue his Šiftes,

Sat on þe fourched tre,

On rowe;

5050 ‘Hunters, whare be Še?

Þe tokening schuld Še blowe.’

¶ He tiŠt þe mawe on tinde

& eke þe gargiloun,

Þai blewen þe riŠt kinde

5100 & radde þe riŠt roun.

Þai wist þe king to finde

& senten forþ to toun

& teld him vnder linde

Þe best hou it was boun

5150 & brouŠt.

Marke þe king wiþ croun

Seyd þat feir him þouŠt.

¶ Þe tokening when þai blewe,

Þer wondred mani a man,

5200 Þe costom þai nouŠt knewe,

Forþi fro bord þai ran;

No wist þai nouŠt hou newe {f.284ra}

Þai hadde hunters þan.

It is a maner of glewe

5250 To teche hem þat no can

Swiche þing.

Alle bliþe weren þai þan

Þat Šede bifor þe king.

Þe king seyd ‘where were þou born?

5300 What hattou, belamye?’

Tristrem spac biforn

‘Sir, in Hermonie.

Mi fader me haþ forlorn,

Sir Rohand, sikerly

5350 Þe best blower of horn

& king of venery

For þouŠt.’

Þe lasse Šaf Mark forþi,

For Rohand he no knewe nouŠt.

5400 ¶ Þe king no seyd no more

Bot wesche & Šede to mete;

Bred þai pard & schare,

YnouŠ þai hadde at ete;

Wheþer hem leuer ware

5450 Win or ale to gete,

Aske & haue it Šare,

In coupes or hornes grete

Was brouŠt;

Þer while þai wold þai sete;

5500 & risen when hem gode þouŠt.

¶ An harpour made a lay

Þat Tristrem aresound he.

Þe harpour Šede oway

‘Who better can lat se.’

5550 ‘Bot y þe mendi may,

Wrong þan wite y þe.’

Þe harpour gan to say

‘Þe maistri Šiue y þe

Ful sket.’

5600 Bifor þe kinges kne

Tristrem is cald to set.

¶ Bliþe weren þai alle,

& merkes gun þai minne,

Token leue in þe halle.

5650 Who miŠt þe child winne?

Mark gan Tristrem calle, {f.284rb}

Was comen of riche kinne;

He Šaf him robe of palle

& pane of riche skinne

5700 Ful sket;

His chaumber he liþ inne

& harpeþ notes swete.

Now Tristrem lat we þare,

Wiþ Marke he is ful dere.

5750 Rohand reweþ sare

Þat he no miŠt of him here;

Ouer londes he gan fare

Wiþ sorwe & reweful chere,

Seuen kingriche & mare

5800 Tristrem to finde þere

& souŠt;

His robes riuen were,

Þerfore no leued he nouŠt.

¶ NouŠt no semed it so

5850 Rohand, þat noble kniŠt;

He no wist whider to go,

So was he brouŠt o miŠt;

To swinke men wold him to

For mete & robes riŠt.

5900 Wiþ oþer werkmen mo

He bileft al niŠt

In land;

Of þe palmers he hadde a siŠt

Þat Tristrem first fand.

5950 ¶ His asking is euer newe

In trauail & in pes.

Þe palmer seyd he him knewe

& wiste wele what he wes

‘His robe is of an hewe,

6000 Blihand wiþouten les;

His name is Tristrem trewe,

Bifor him scheres þe mes,

Þe king.

Y brouŠt him þer he ches,

6050 He Šaue me ten schilling.’

¶ ‘So michel wil y Šiue þe,‘

Quaþ Rohand ‘wil Še ta?

Þe court Še lat me se.’

Þe palmers seyd ‘Ša.’

6100 Bliþe þerof was he {f.284va}

& redily Šaf him sa,

Of wel gode mone

Ten schilinges & ma

Of gayn;

6150 Rohand was ful þra

Rohand: MS reads Tristrem.

Of Tristrem for to frain.

¶ In Tristrem is his delit,

& of him spekeþ he ay.

Þe porter gan him wite

6200 & seyd ‘cherl, go oway,

Oþer y schal þe smite.

What dostow here al day?’

A ring he rauŠt him tite -

Þe porter seyd nouŠt nay -

6250 In hand.

He was ful wise, y say,

Þat first Šaue Šift in land.

¶ Rohand þo tok he

& at þe gate in lete;

6300 Þe ring was fair to se,

Þe Šift was wel swete.

Þe huscher bad him fle

‘Cherl, oway wel sket

Or broken þine heued schal be,

6350 & þou feld vnder fet

To grounde.’

Rohand bad him lete

& help him at þat stounde.

¶ Þe pouer man of mold

6400 Tok forþ anoþer ring,

Þe huscher he Šaf þe gold,

It semed to a king;

Formest þo in fold

He lete him in þring;

6450 To Tristrem trewe in hold

He hete he wold him bring,

& brouŠt;

Tristrem knewe him no þing,

& ferly Rohand þouŠt.

6500 ¶ Þei men Tristrem had sworn,

He no trowed it neuer in lede

Þat Rohand robes were torn,

Þat he wered swiche a wede.

He frained him biforn {f.284vb}

6550 ‘Child, so God þe rede,

Hou were þou fram Rohand lorn?

Monestow neuer in lede

NouŠt lain?’

He kneled better spede

6600 & kist Rohand ful fain.

¶ ‘Fader, no wretþe þe nouŠt,

Ful welcom er Še.

Bi God þat man haþ bouŠt

No þing no knewe y þe;

6650 Wiþ sorwe þou hast me souŠt,

To wite it wo is me.’

To Mark þe word he brouŠt

‘Wil Še mi fader se

Wiþ siŠt?

6700 Graiþed y wil he be,

& seþþen schewe him as kniŠt.’

¶ Tristrem to Mark it seyd

His auentours as it were,

Hou he wiþ schipmen pleyd,

6750 Of lond hou þai him bere,

Hou stormes hem bistayd

Til anker hem brast & are.

‘Þai Šolden me þat y layd

Wiþ al mi wining Šare

6800 In hand,

Y clambe þe holtes hare

Til y þine hunters fand.’

¶ A baþ þai brouŠt Rohand inne,

A barbour was redi þare;

6850 Al rowe it was, his chinne,

His heued was white of hare.

A scarlet wiþ riche skinne

YbrouŠt him was ful Šare.

Rohand of noble kinne,

6900 Þat robe ful fair he bare,

Þat bold;

Who þat had seyn him þare

A prince him miŠt han told.

¶ Fair his tale bigan

6950 Rohand, þei he com lat;

Tristrem þat honour can

To halle led him þe gate.

Ich man seyd þan {f.285ra}

Nas non swiche as þai wate

7000 As was þe pouer man

Þat þai bete fram þe gat

Wiþ care;

Nas non þat wald him hate,

Bot welcom was he þare.

7050 ¶ Water þai asked swiþe,

Cloþ & bord was drain

Wit mete & drink liþe

& seriaunce þat were bayn

To serue Tristrem swiþe

7100 & sir Rohand ful fayn;

Whasche when þai wald rise

Þe king ros him oŠain

Þat tide;

In lede is nouŠt to layn,

7150 He sett him bi his side.

¶ Rohand, þat was þare,

To Mark his tale bigan

‘Wist Še what Tristrem ware,

Miche gode Še wold him an.

There is an erasure before an.

7200 Šour owhen soster him bare’ -

Þe king liþed him þan -

‘Y nam sibbe him na mare,

Ich auŠt to ben his man,

Sir king.

7250 Knowe it Šiue Še can,

Sche tauŠt me þis ring

¶ When Roulandriis þe bold,

Douke Morgan gan mete.’

Þe tale when Rohand told,

7300 For sorwe he gan grete.

Þe king biheld þat old,

Hou his wonges were wete;

To Marke þe ring he Šold,

He knewe it also sket,

7350 Gan loke.

He kist Tristrem ful skete

& for his nevou toke.

¶ Þo þai kisten hem alle,

hem: altered from him.

Boþe leuedi & kniŠt

7400 & seriaunce in þe halle

& maidens þat were briŠt.

Tristrem gan Rohand calle {f.285rb}

& freined him wiþ siŠt

‘Sir, hou may þis falle?

7450 Hou may y proue it riŠt

NouŠt lain?

Tel me for Godes miŠt

Hou was mi fader slayn.’

¶ Rohand told anon

7500 His auentours al bidene,

Hou þe batayle bigan,

Þe werres hadden yben,

His moder hou hye was tan

& geten hem bitvene.

7550 ‘Slawe was Rouland þan

& ded Blaunche þe schene.

NauŠt les,

For dout of Morgan kene

Mi sone y seyd þou wes.’

7600 ¶ Tristrem, al in heiŠe,

Bifor þe king cam he.

‘Into Ermonie,

Sir, now longeþ me;

Þider fare wil y,

7650 Mi leue y take of þe

To fiŠt wiþ Morgan in hy,

To sle him oþer he me

Wiþ hand;

Erst schal no man me se

7700 OŠain in Jngland.’

Þo was Mark ful wo,

He siŠt sore at þat tide.

‘Tristrem, þi rede þou ta

In Jnglond for to abide.

7750 Morgan is wick to slo,

Of kniŠtes he haþ gret pride;

Tristrem, þei þou be þro,

Lat mo men wiþ þe ride

On rowe.

7800 Take Rohand bi þi side,

He wil þine frendes knawe.’

¶ To armes þe king lete crie

Þe folk of al his land

To help Tristrem forþi

7850 He made kniŠt wiþ his hand.

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

Þe fairest þat he fand,

In place to riden him by,

To don him to vnderstand

7900 So swiþe.

Sorwe so Tristrem band

MiŠt no man make him bliþe.

¶ No wold he duellen a niŠt,

Þerof nas nouŠt to say.

7950 Ten hundred þat were wiŠt

Wenten wiþ him oway.

Rohand þe riche kniŠt

Redy was he ay;

To his castel ful riŠt

8000 He sailed þe seuenday

On rade.

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

His maister he gan pay,

His sones kniŠtes he made.

¶ His frendes glad were þai -

8050 No blame hem noman forþi -

Of his coming, to say,

Al into Ermonie,

Til it was on a day

Morgan was fast by,

8100 Tristrem bigan to say

‘Wiþ Morgan speke wil y

& spede.

So long idel we ly,

Miself mai do mi nede.’

8150 ¶ Tristrem dede as he hiŠt.

He busked & made him Šare

Hi fiftend som of kniŠt,

Wiþ him Šede na mare.

To court þai com ful riŠt

8200 As Morgan his brede schare;

Þai teld þo bi siŠt

Ten kinges sones þai ware

VnsouŠt.

Heuedes of wild bare

8250 Ichon to presant brouŠt.

¶ Rohand bigan to sayn,

To his kniŠtes þan seyd he

‘As woman is tviis forlain

Y may say bi me;

8300 Šif Tristrem be now sleyn,

Yuel Šemers er we. {f.285vb}

To armes, kniŠt & swayn,

& swiftly ride Še

& swiþe;

8350 Til y Tristrem se

No worþ y neuer bliþe.’

¶ Tristrem speke bigan

‘Sir king, God loke þe

As y þe loue & an

8400 & þou hast serued to me.’

Þe douke answerd þan

‘Y pray, mi lord so fre,

Wheþer þou blis or ban

Þine owhen mot it be,

8450 Þou bold.

Þi nedes tel þou me,

Þine erand, what þou wold.’

¶ ‘Amendes! Mi fader is slain,

Mine hirritage Hermonie.’

8500 Þe douke answerd ogain

‘Certes þi fader þan slouŠ y,

Seþþen þou so hast sayd,

Amendes þer ouŠt to ly.

Þerfore, prout swayn,

8550 So schal y þe, forþi

RiŠt þan

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

Artow comen titly

Fram Marke þi kinsman.

¶ Šongling, þou schalt abide.

8600 Foles þou wendest to fand.

Þi fader þi moder gan hide,

In horedom he hir band.

Hou comestow wiþ pride?

Out, traitour, of mi land.’

8650 Tristrem spac þat tide

‘Þou lext, ich vnderstand

& wot.’

Morgan wiþ his hand

Wiþ a lof Tristrem smot.

8700 ¶ On his brest adoun

Of his nose ran þe blod.

Tristrem swerd was boun,

& ner þe douke he stode.

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

Wiþ þat was comen to toun

Rohand wiþ help ful gode

& gayn. {f.286ra}

Al þat oŠain hem stode

8800 WiŠtly were þai slayn.

¶ To prisoun þai gun take

Erl, baroun & kniŠt,

For douke Morgan sake

Mani on dyd doun riŠt.

8850 Schaftes þai gun schake

& riuen scheldes briŠt,

Crounes þai gun crake

Mani ich wene, apliŠt.

Saunfayl,

8900 Bitvene þe none & þe niŠt

Last þe batayle.

¶ Þus haþ Tristrem þe swete

Yslawe þe douke Morgan.

No wold he neuer lete

8950 Til mo castels wer tan;

Tounes þai Šold him skete

& cites stiþe of stan.

Þe folk fel to his fet,

AŠaines him stode þer nan

9000 In land.

He slouŠ his fader ban,

Al bowed to his hand.

¶ Tvo Šere he sett þat land,

His lawes made he cri.

9050 Al com to his hand

Almain & Ermonie,

At his wil to stand

Boun & al redy.

Rohand he Šaf þe wand

9100 & bad him sitt him bi,

Þat fre.

‘Rohand, lord make y

To held þis lond of me.

¶ Þou & þine sones fiue

9150 Schul held þis lond of me;

Þer while þou art o liue,

Þine owhen schal it be.

What halt it long to striue?

Mi leue y take at te,

9200 Til Jnglond wil y riue,

Mark, mi nem, to se

Þat stounde.’ {f.286rb}

Now boskes Tristre[m] þe fre

To Jnglond for to founde.

9250 ¶ Bliþe was his bosking

& fair was his schip fare.

Rohand he left king

Ouer al his wining þare.

þare: þ altered from Š.

Schipmen him gun bring

9300 To Jnglond ful Šare.

He herd a newe tiding

Þat he herd neuer are

On hand;

Mani man wepen sare

9350 For ransoun to Yrland.

¶ Marke schuld Šeld vnhold,

Þei he were king wiþ croun,

Þre hundred pounde of gold

Ich Šer out of toun,

9400 Of siluer fair yfold

Þre hundred pounde al boun,

Of mone of a mold,

Þre hundred pounde of latoun

Schuld he;

9450 Þe ferþ Šere – a ferly roun -

Þre hundred barnes fre.

¶ Þe truage was com to to

Moraunt, þe noble kniŠt;

Yhold he was so

9500 An eten in ich a fiŠt.

Þe barnes asked he þo

Als it war londes riŠt.

erasure before riŠt.

Tristrem gan stoutely go

To lond þat ich niŠt

9550 Of rade;

Of þe schippe þai hadde a siŠt

Þe day þai dede obade.

¶ Mark was glad & bliþe

Þo he miŠt Tristrem se;

9600 He kist him fele siþe,

Welcom to him was he.

Marke gan tidinges liþe,

Hou he wan londes fre.

Tristrem seyd þat siþe

9650 ‘Wat may þis gadering be?

Þai grete.’ {f.286va}

‘Tristrem, y telle it þe,

A þing is me vnswete.

¶ Þe king of Yrlond,

9700 Tristrem, ich am his man.

To long ichaue ben hir bond,

Wiþ wrong þe king it wan.

To long it haþ ystond,

On him þe wrong bigan;

9750 Þerto ich held min hond.’

Tristrem seyd þan

Al stille,

‘Moraunt þat michel can

Schal nouŠt han his wille.’

9800 ¶ Marke to conseyl Šede

Marke: r is superscript.

& asked rede of þis.

He seyd ‘wiþ wrong dede

Þe raunsoun ytaken is.’

Tristrem seyd ‘y rede

9850 Þat he þe barnes mis.’

Þo seyd þe king in lede

‘No was it neuer his

Wiþ riŠt.’

Tristrem seyd ‘ywis,

9900 Y wil defende it as kniŠt.’

¶ Bi al Markes hald

Þe truwage was tan.

Tristrem gan it wiþhald

As prince proude in pan,

9950 Þai graunted þat Tristrem wald,

Oþer no durst þer nan;

Nis þer non so bald

Ymade of flesche no ban,

No kniŠt.

1000 Now haþ Tristrem ytan

OŠain Moraunt to fiŠt.

¶ Tristrem him self Šede

Moraunt word to bring

& schortliche seyd in lede

1005 ‘We no owe þe noþing.’

Moraunt oŠain sede

‘Þou lexst a foule lesing.

Mi body to batayl y bede

To proue bifor þe king

1010 To loke.’ {f.286vb}

He waged him a ring,

Tristrem þe batayl toke.

¶ Þai seylden into þe wide

Wiþ her schippes tvo;

1015 Moraunt bond his biside,

& Tristrem lete his go.

Moraunt seyd þat tide

‘Tristrem, whi dos tow so?’

‘Our on schal here abide,

1020 No be þou neuer so þro,

Ywis.

Wheþer our to liue go,

He haþ anouŠ of þis.’

¶ Þe yland was ful brade

1025 Þat þai gun in fiŠt;

Þerof was Moraunt glade,

Of Tristrem he lete liŠt.

Swiche meting nas neuer non made

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

Wiþ worþli wepen wiŠt;

1030 Aiþer to oþer rade

& hewe on helmes briŠt

Wiþ hand.

God help Tristrem þe kniŠt.

He fauŠt for Jngland.

1035 ¶ Moraunt wiþ his miŠt

Rode wiþ gret raundoun

OŠain Tristrem þe kniŠt

& þouŠt to bere him doun.

Wiþ a launce vnliŠt

1040 He smot him in þe lyoun,

& Tristrem þat was wiŠt

Bar him þurth þe dragoun

In þe scheld.

Þat Moraunt bold & boun

1045 Smot him in þe scheld.

¶ Vp he stirt bidene

& lepe opon his stede;

He fauŠt wiþouten wene

So wolf þat wald wede.

1050 Tristrem in þat tene

No spard him for no drede,

He Šaf him a wounde ysene

Þat his bodi gan blede.

RiŠt þo {f.287ra}

1055 In Morauntes most nede

His stede bak brak on to.

¶ Vp he stirt in drede

& seyd ‘Tristrem, aliŠt;

For þou hast slayn mi stede.

1060 A fot þou schalt fiŠt.’

Quaþ Tristrem ‘so God me rede,

Þerto icham al liŠt.’

Togider þo þai Šede

& hewen on helmes briŠt.

1065 Saunfayl,

Tristrem as a kniŠt

FauŠt in þat batayle.

¶ Moraunt of Yrland smot

Tristrem in þe scheld

1070 Þat half fel fram his hond

Þer adoun in þe feld.

Tristrem, ich vnderstond,

Anon þe strok him Šeld

Wiþ his gode brond;

1075 Moraunt neiŠe he queld,

Þat kniŠt.

Marke þe batayl biheld

& wonderd of þat fiŠt.

¶ Moraunt was vnfayn

1080 & fauŠt wiþ al his miŠt;

Þat Tristrem were yslayn

He stird him as a kniŠt.

Tristrem smot wiþ main,

His swerd brak in þe fiŠt

1085 & in Morauntes brain

Bileued a pece briŠt

Wiþ care;

& in þe haunche riŠt

Tristrem was wounded sare.

1090 ¶ A word þat pended to pride

Tristrem þo spac he

‘Folk of Yrland side,

Šour mirour Še may se.

Mo þat hider wil ride

1095 Þus grayþed schul Še be.’

Wiþ sorwe þai drouŠ þat tide

Moraunt to þe se

& care. {f.287rb}

Wiþ ioie Tristrem þe fre

1100 To Mark, his em, gan fare.

¶ His swerd he offred þan

& to þe auter it bare.

For Markes kinsman

Tristrem was loued þare.

1105 A forward þai bigan,

Þerto þai alle sware:

For þat lond fre he wan,

Þat king he schuld be þare,

To say,

1110 Šif he oliue ware

After sir Markes day.

¶ Þei Tristrem liŠt þenke,

He is wounded ful sare;

Leches wiþ salue & drink

1115 Him comeþ widewhare.

Þai lorn al her swink,

His pain was ay þe mare;

No man no miŠt for stink

Com þer Tristrem ware

1120 Als þan;

Ich man forsoke him þare

Bot Gouernayl his man.

¶ Þre Šer in care-bed lay

Tristrem – þe trewe he hiŠt -

1125 Þat neuer no douŠt him day

For sorwe he hadde o niŠt.

For diol no man no may

Sen on him wiþ siŠt;

Ich man, for soþe to say,

1130 Forsoke þo þat kniŠt

As þare;

Þai hadde don what he miŠt,

Þai no rouŠt of his fare.

¶ Til it was on a day

1135 Til Mark he gan him mene.

Schortliche soþe to say

Þis tale was hem bitvene

‘In sorwe ich haue ben ay

Seþþen ich aliue haue ben.’

1140 Marke seyd ‘Wayleway,

Þat ich it schuld ysene,

Swiche þing!’ {f.287va}

Tristrem, wiþouten wene,

A schip asked þe king.

1145 ¶ ‘Em,‘ he seyd ‘y spille,

Of lond kepe y namare.

A schip þou bring me tille,

Mine harp to play me þare,

Stouer ynouŠ to wille

1150 To kepe me, son Šou Šare.’

Þei Marke liked ille,

Tristrem to schip þai bare

& brouŠt.

Who wold wiþ him fare?

1155 Gouernayle no lete him nouŠt.

¶ Tristremes schip was Šare,

& asked his benisoun;

Þe hauen he gan outfare -

It hiŠt Carlioun.

1160 NiŠen woukes & mare

He hobled vp & doun.

A winde to wil him bare

To a stede þer him was boun

NeiŠehand,

1165 Deluelin hiŠt þe toun,

An hauen in Irland.

¶ A winde þider him gan driue,

Schipmen him seiŠe neiŠehand;

In botes þai gun him stiue

1170 & drouŠ him to þe land.

A wounded man aliue

In þe schip þai fand;

He seyd bisiden a ride

Men wounded him & band

1175 Vnsounde.

No man miŠt bi him stand

For stinking of his wounde.

¶ Gouernail gan hem frain

hem: e has been altered from a.

What hiŠt þe se strand.

1180 ‘Deuelin‘ þai seyd ogayn

Þe schipmen þat him fand.

Þo was Tristrem vnfain

& wele gan vnderstand

Hir broþer hadde he slain

1185 Þat quen was of þe land

In fiŠt. {f.287vb}

Tristrem he gan doun lain

& seyd Tramtris he hiŠt.

¶ In his schip was þat day

1190 Al maner of gle

& al maner of lay

In lond þat miŠt be.

To þe quen þo seyd þay,

Morauntes soster þe fre,

1195 Ywounded swiche a man lay

Þat sorwe it was to se

& care

‘A miri man were he

Šif he oliue ware.’

1200 ¶ Sche was in Deuelin,

Þe fair leuedi þe quene,

Louesom vnder line,

& sleiŠest had ybene

& mest couþe of medici[n]e;

1205 Þat was on Tristrem sene,

Sche brouŠt him of his pine,

To wite & nouŠt at wene,

To say;

Sche sent him a plaster kene

1210 To cast þe stink oway.

Amorwe when it was day,

Þe leuedy of heiŠe priis

Com þer Tristrem lay

& asked what he js.

1215 ‘Marchaund ich haue ben ay,

Mi nam is Tramtris.

Robbers for soþe to say

SlouŠ mine felawes, ywis,

In þe se;

1220 Þai raft me fowe & griis

& þus wounded þai me.’

¶ An heye man he was like,

Þei he wer wounded sare;

His gles weren so sellike

1225 Þat wonder þouŠt hem þare.

His harp, his croude was rike,

His tables, his ches he bare.

Þai swore bi seyn Patrike

Swiche seiŠe þai neuer are

1230 Er þan. {f.288ra}

‘Šif he in hele ware,

He were a miri man.’

¶ Þe leuedi of heiŠe kenne

His woundes schewe . . . he lete,

1235 To wite his wo vnwinne;

So grimli he gan grete,

His bon brast vnder skinne,

His sorwe was vnsete.

Þai brouŠt him to an inne,

1240 A baþ þai made him sket

So liþe

Þat Tristrem on his fet

Gon he miŠt swiþe.

¶ Salues haþ he soft

1245 & drinkes þat er liþe;

Þai no rouŠt hou dere it bouŠt,

Bot held him also swiþe.

He made his play aloft,

His gamnes he gan kiþe;

1250 Forþi was Tristrem oft

To boure cleped fele siþe

To sete;

Ich man was lef to liþe,

His mirþes were so swete.

1255 Þe king had a douhter dere

Þat maiden Ysonde hiŠt,

Þat gle was lef to here

& romaunce to rede ariŠt.

Sir Tramtris hir gan lere

1260 Þo wiþ al his miŠt

What alle pointes were,

To se þe soþe in siŠt,

To say.

In Yrlond nas no kniŠt

1265 Wiþ Ysonde durst play.

¶ Ysonde of heiŠe priis,

Þe maiden briŠt of hewe

Þat wered fow & griis

& scarlet þat was newe.

1270 In warld was non so wiis

Of craft þat men knewe

Wiþouten sir Tramtris,

Þat al games of grewe

On grounde. {f.288rb}

1275 Hom longeþ Tramtris þe trewe

For heled was his wounde.

¶ Sir Tramtris in Irlond

Duelled al a Šere.

So gode likeing he fand

1280 Þat hole he was & fere.

Þe quen to fot & hand

He serued dern & dere;

Ysonde he dede vnderstand

What alle playes were

1285 In lay.

His leue he asked at here

In schip to founde oway.

¶ Þe quen þat michel can

To Tramtris sche gan say

1290 ‘Who so fet vncouþe man,

He foundeþ euer oway.’

His hire þai Šolden him þan,

Gold & siluer, y say;

What he wold he wan

1295 Of Ysonde for his play

Saunfail.

He bitauŠt hem God & gode day,

Wiþ him went Gouernail.

¶ Riche sail þai drewe,

1300 White & red so blod;

A winde to wil hem blewe,

To Carlioun þai Šode.

Now hat he Tristrem trewe

& fareþ ouer þe flod.

1305 Þe schip þe cuntre knewe,

It þouŠt hem ful gode.

As þare

Of wrake þai vnderstode,

For on þai leten him fare.

1310 ¶ Þai tolden to þe king

Þat þe schip had sain;

Neuer of no tiding

Nas Mark þe king so fain.

To toun þai gun him bring,

1315 Þe king ros him ogayn;

Bliþe was her meteing,

& fair he gan him frain

Þat stounde {f.288va}

‘Tristrem, nouŠt to lain,

1320 Heled is þi wounde?’

¶ His em answer he Šeld

Þat litel he wald wene;

Of bot sche was him beld

Þat Moraunt soster had bene,

1325 Hou fair sche haþ him held

He told hem al bidene;

& seþþen Tristrem haþ teld

Of Ysonde þat was kene,

Al newe,

1330 Hou sche was briŠt & schene,

Of loue was non so trewe.

¶ Mark to Tristrem gan say

‘Mi lond bitake y þe

To han after mi day;

1335 Þine owhen schal it be.

Bring þou me þat may

Þat ich hir may yse.’

Þis was his maner ay,

Of Ysonde þan spekeþ he,

1340 Her prise,

Hou sche was gent & fre,

Of loue was non so wise.

¶ In Jnglond ful wide

Þe barouns hem biþouŠt

1345 To fel Tristremes pride

Hou þai fairest mouŠt;

Þe king þai rad to ride,

A quen to him þai souŠt

Þat Tristrem miŠt abide

1350 Þat he no were it nouŠt,

No king;

Þai seyd þat Tristrem mouŠt

Ysonde of Yrlond bring.

¶ A brid briŠt þai ches

1355 As blod opon snoweing

‘A maiden of swiche reles

Tristrem may to þe bring.’

Quaþ Tristrem ‘it is les,

& troweþ it forlesing;

1360 To aski þat neuer no wes,

It is a fole askeing

Bi kinde; {f.288vb}

It is a selli þing,

For noman may it finde.

1365 ¶ Y rede Še nouŠt no striue;

A swalu ich herd sing:

Še sigge ich wern mi nem to wiue,

For y schuld be Šour king.

Now bringeþ me atte riue

1370 Schip & oþer þing.

Še se me neuer oliue

Bot Šif ich Ysonde bring,

Þat briŠt.

Finde me min askeing,

1375 Mine fiftend som of kniŠt.’

¶ KniŠtes þo chosen þai

Þat were war & wise,

Al þat mest may

& heiŠest weren of priis;

1380 A schip wiþ grene & gray,

Wiþ vair & eke wiþ griis,

Wiþ alle þing, y say,

Þat pende to marchandis

In lede.

1385 Þai ferden of þis wise

Intil Yrlond þede.

¶ In his schip was boun

Al þat mister ware;

Out of Carlioun

1390 Riche was his schip fare.

Þai rered gomfaynoun,

A winde to wille hem bare.

Deuelin hat þe toun,

To lond þai comen þare,

1395 Þe best;

Þe king present þai bare

& asked leue to rest.

¶ Þe king present þai brouŠt,

Anoþer to þe quene;

1400 Ysonde forŠat þai nouŠt,

To wite & nouŠt at wene.

To schip when þai hem þouŠt

Þat at þe court hadde bene,

Swiche mayde nas neuer wrouŠt

1405 Þat þai euer hadde sene

catchword: wiþ siŠt.

Wiþ siŠt. {f.289ra}

Þe cuntre alle bidene

Þai seiŠe fle ful riŠt.

¶ Out of Deuelin toun

1410 Þe folk wel fast ran

In a water to droun

So ferd were þai þan.

For doute of o dragoun,

Þai seyd, to schip þai wan

1415 To hauen þat were boun;

No rouŠt þai of what man

In lede

MS: lines 1417-8 copied continuously.

Þat may him sle or can,

Ysonde schal haue to mede.

1420 ¶ Tristrem, bliþe was he,

He cleped his kniŠtes stiþe

‘What man he is lat se

lat: MS las.

Þat take þis bataile swiþe.’

Alle þai beden lat be,

1425 Durst non him seluen kiþe.

‘For nede now wo is me.’

Seyd Tristrem þat siþe

RiŠt þan.

Listen now who wil liþe

1430 Al of an hardi man.

¶ A stede of schip þai drewe,

Þe best þat he hadde brouŠt;

His armes weren al newe,

Þat richeliche were wrouŠt.

1435 His hert was gode & trewe,

No failed it him nouŠt.

Þe cuntre wele he knewe

Er he þe dragoun souŠt

& seiŠe.

1440 Helle fere him þouŠt

Fram þat dragoun fleiŠe.

Asaut to þat dragoun

Tristrem toke þat tide

As a loþely lioun

1445 Þat bataile wald abide;

Wiþ a spere feloun

He smot him in þe side;

It no vailed o botoun,

Oway it gan to glide,

1450 His dent;

Þe deuel dragouns hide {f.289rb}

Was hard so ani flint.

¶ Tristrem, al in tene,

Eft þat spere tok he;

1455 OŠain þat dragoun kene

It brast on peces þre.

Þe dragoun smot bidene,

Þe stede he gan sle;

Tristrem, wiþouten wene,

1460 Stirt vnder a tre

Al stille

& seyd ‘God in trinite,

No lat þou me nouŠt spille.’

¶ OŠain þat fende dragoun

1465 Afot he tok þe fiŠt;

He fauŠt wiþ his fauchoun

As a douhti kniŠt;

His neþer chauel he smot doun

Wiþ a stroke of miŠt;

1470 Þo was þe dragon boun

& cast fere ful riŠt

& brend

His armes þat were briŠt,

Schamliche he haþ hem schent.

1475 ¶ Swiche fer he cast oŠain

Þat brend scheld & ston.

Now liþ his stede yslain,

His armes brent ichon.

Tristrem rauŠt his brain

1480 & brak his nek-bon;

No was he neuer so fain

MS: erasure before so.

As þan þat batail was don;

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

To bote

His tong haþ he ton

1485 & schorn of bi þe rote.

¶ In his hose next þe hide

Þe tong oway he bar.

No Šede he bot ten stride,

His speche les he þar;

1490 Nedes he most abide

Þat he no may ferþer far.

Þe steward com þat tide,

Þe heued oway he schar

& brouŠt

1495 & tok it Ysonde þar

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

¶ Þe steward wald ful fain

Han Ysonde Šif he mouŠt.

Þe king answerd ogain,

1500 Fair þe bataile him þouŠt.

Ysonde, nouŠt to lain,

Of him no wil sche nouŠt;

Þere þe dragoun was slain,

Hye & hir moder souŠt,

1505 Also

Who þat wonder wrouŠt

Þat durst þat dragoun slo.

¶ ‘Dede þe steward þis dede?’

‘Certes‘ quaþ Ysonde ‘nay.

1510 Þis ich brende stede

No auŠt he neuer a day,

No þis riche wede

Nas neuer his, soþe to say.’

Forþer als þai Šede,

1515 A man þai founde whare lay

& drouŠ.

‘Certes‘ þan seyd þai

‘Þis man þe dragoun slouŠ.’

¶ His mouþe opened þai

1520 & pelt treacle in þat man.

When Tristrem speke may

Þis tale he bigan

& redyli gan to say

Hou he þe dragoun wan

1525 ‘Þe tong y bar oway,

Þus venimed he me þan.’

Þai loke,

Þe quen þat michel can

Out of his hose it toke.

1530 ¶ Þai seiŠen he hadde þe riŠt,

Þe steward hadde þe wouŠ

& Šif he durst fiŠt

Wiþ him þe dragoun slouŠ -

Tristrem spak as a kniŠt -

1535 He wold proue it anouŠ;

So noblelich he hem hiŠt,

Þerof Ysonde louŠ

Þat tide;

To his waraunt he drouŠ

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

Þe quen asked what he is,

Þat durst þe dragon abide.

‘Marchaunt icham, ywis,

Mi schip liþ herebiside.

1545 He seyt he haþ don þis,

Prouen ichil his pride

Er he Ysonde kisse.’

OŠaines him wald he ride

Wiþ miŠt.

1550 Ysonde seyd þat tide

‘Allas þat þou ner kniŠt.’

¶ Her chaumpioun þat day

Richeliche gun þai fede,

Til hem þink þat he may

1555 Don a douhti dede.

His armes long were þai,

His scholders large on brede.

Þe quen, for soþe to say,

To a baþ gan him lede

1560 Ful gayn,

& seþþen hir self sche Šede

After a drink of main.

¶ Ysonde briŠt of hewe

ÞouŠt it Tramtris ware.

1565 His swerd, sche gan it schewe,

& broken hye fond it þare;

Out of a cofer newe

Þe pece sche drouŠ ful Šare

& sett it to þat trewe.

1570 It nas lasse no mare,

Bot riŠt.

Þo þouŠt Ysonde wiþ care

To sle Tristrem þe kniŠt.

¶ Ysonde to Tristrem Šode

1575 Wiþ his swerd al drain.

‘Moraunt, mi nem þe gode,

Traitour, þou hast slain;

Forþi þine hert-blode

Sen ich wold ful fain.’

1580 Þe quen whende sche were wode;

Sche com wiþ a drink of main

& louŠ

‘Nay, moder, nouŠt to layn,

Þis þef mi broþer slouŠ. {f.290ra}

1585 ¶ Tristrem, þis þef is he,

Þat may he nouŠt forlain;

Þe pece þou miŠt her se

Þat fro mi nem was drain.

Loke þat it so be,

1590 Sett it euen ogain.’

As quik þai wald him sle

Þer, Tristrem, ful fain;

Soþ þing,

In baþ þai hadden him slain,

1595 No were it for þe king.

¶ & euer Tristrem louŠ

On swete Ysonde, þe briŠt

‘Þou miŠt haue slain me ynouŠ

Þo þat y Tramtris hiŠt;

1600 Še witeþ me wiþ wouŠ

Of Moraunt, þe noble kniŠt;

Y graunt wele ichim slouŠ

In batayl & in fiŠt,

NouŠt lain;

1605 Šif he hadde had þe miŠt,

So wold he me ful fain.

¶ Þo y Tramtris hiŠt,

Y lerld þe play & song,

& euer wiþ al mi miŠt

1610 Of þe y spac among

To Marke, þe riche kniŠt,

Þat after þe he gan long.’

So swore he day & niŠt,

& borwes fond he strong

1615 Bidene,

Amendes of al wrong,

Þat Ysonde schuld be quen.

¶ Tristrem swore þat þing;

Þai seyd it schuld stand

1620 Þat he schuld Ysonde bring -

Þai token it vnder hand -

To Mark, þe riche king,

Oliue Šif þai him fand,

& make hir wiþ his ring

1625 Quen of Jngeland,

To say;

Þe forward fast þai band

Er þai parted oway. {f.290rb}

Þe steward forsoke his dede

1630 Þo he herd he Tristrem hiŠt;

Þe king swore, so God him spede,

Þat boþen schuld haue riŠt;

Þe steward seyd wrong þer Šede,

Forþi nold he nouŠt fiŠt.

1635 Tristrem to his mede

Þai Šolden Ysonde þe briŠt;

To bring

To prisoun þat oþer kniŠt

Þe maiden bisekeþ þe king.

1640 ¶ No asked he lond no liþe,

Bot þat maiden briŠt;

He busked him also swiþe,

Boþe squier & kniŠt.

Her moder about was bliþe

1645 & tok a drink of miŠt,

Þat loue wald kiþe,

& tok it Brengwain þe briŠt

To þink

‘At er spouseing aniŠt

1650 Šif Mark & hir to drink.’

¶ Ysonde briŠt of hewe

Is fer out in þe se.

A winde oŠain hem blewe

Þat sail no miŠt þer be.

1655 So rewe þe kniŠtes trewe,

Tristrem, so rewe he,

Euer as þai com newe -;

Erasure before as.

He on oŠain hem þre -

Gret swink.

1660 Swete Ysonde þe fre

Asked Bringwain a drink.

¶ Þe coupe was richeli wrouŠt,

Of gold it was þe pin;

In al þe warld nas nouŠt

1665 Swiche drink as þer was in.

Brengwain was wrong biþouŠt,

To þat drink sche gan win

& swete Ysonde it bitauŠt;

Sche bad Tristrem bigin,

1670 To say.

Her loue miŠt no man tvin

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

¶ An hounde þer was biside

Þat was ycleped Hodain;

1675 Þe coupe he licked þat tide

Þo doun it sett Bringwain;

Þai loued al in lide

& þerof were þai fain;

Togider þai gun abide

1680 In ioie & ek in pain

For þouŠt:

In iuel time, to sain,

Þe drink was ywrouŠt.

¶ Tristrem in schip lay

1685 Wiþ Ysonde ich niŠt,

Play miri he may

Wiþ þat worþli wiŠt

In boure niŠt & day.

Al bliþe was þe kniŠt,

1690 He miŠt wiþ hir play;

Þat wist Brengwain þe briŠt

As þo;

Þai loued wiþ al her miŠt

& Hodain dede also.

1695 ¶ Tvai wikes in þe strand

No seyl þai no drewe;

Into Jnglond

A winde to wille hem blewe.

Þe king on hunting þai fand;

1700 A knaue þat he knewe,

He made him kniŠt wiþ hand

For his tidinges newe,

Gan bring.

Ysonde briŠt of hewe

1705 Þer spoused Mark þe king.

¶ He spoused hir wiþ his ring,

Of fest no speke y nouŠt.

Brengwain wiþouten lesing

Dede as hye had þouŠt;

1710 Sche tok þat loue drink

Þat in Yrlond was bouŠt.

For Ysonde to þe king

Brengwain to bed was brouŠt

Þat tide;

1715 Mark his wille wrouŠt

On bed Brengwain biside. {f.290vb}

¶ When Mark had tint his swink

Ysonde to bed Šede;

Of Yrlond hye asked drink,

1720 Þe coupe sche gan hir bede,

Biside hir sche lete it sink;

Þerof hadde sche no nede,

Of non maner þing

OŠain Tristrem, in lede,

1725 As þo;

No miŠt no clerk it rede,

Þe loue bitven hem to.

¶ Þai wende haue ioie anouŠ,

Certes, it nas nouŠt so.

1730 Her wening was al wouŠ,

Vntroweand til hem to;

Aiþer in langour drouŠ

& token rede to go;

& seþþen Ysonde louŠ

1735 When Tristrem was in wo

Wiþ wille.

Now þenkeþ Ysonde to slo

Brengwain & hir to spille.

¶ Sche þouŠt ‘y may be wroþ

1740 Sche lay first bi þe king,

For y bihiŠt hir cloþ,

Gold & riche wedding;

Tristrem & y boþe

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

Beþ schent for our playing;

1745 Better is þat we raþe

Hir o liue bring

Al stille.

Þan doute we for no þing

Þat we ne may han our wille.’

1750 ¶ Þe quen bad her biside

To werkemen on a day;

Sche told hem at þat tide

What was her wille to say

‘Še moten slen & hide

1755 Bringwain, þat miri may.’

Sche seyd ‘Še schal abide

Riche to ben ay

In lede.

No lete Še for no pay

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

¶ Into a grisly clouŠ

Þai & þat maiden Šode;

Þat on his swerd out drouŠ,

Þat oþer bihinde hir stode.

1765 Sche crid merci anouŠ

& seyd ‘for Cristes rode,

What haue y don wouŠ?

Whi wille Še spille mi blode?’

‘NouŠt lain,

1770 Ysonde, þe leuedi gode,

Haþ hot þou schalt be slain.’

¶ Brengwain dernly

Bad hem say þe quen

‘Greteþ wele mi leuedy

1775 Þat ai trewe haþ ben.

Smockes hadde sche & y

& hir was solwy to sen,

Bi Mark þo hye schuld ly,

Y lent hir min al clen

1780 As þare;

OŠain hir, wele y wen,

No dede y neuer mare.’

¶ Þai nold hir nouŠt slo

Bot went oŠain to þe quen;

1785 Ysonde asked hem to

‘What seyd hye Šou bitven?’

‘Hye bad ous say Šou so:

Šour smock was solwy to sen,

Bi Mark þo Še schuld ly,

1790 Y lent hir min al clene

Þat day.’

Þo asked Ysonde þe ken

‘Whare is þat trewe may?’

¶ Þo seyd Ysonde wiþ mode

1795 ‘Mi maiden Še han slain.’

Sche swore bi Godes rode

Þai schuld ben hong & drain;

Sche bede hem Šiftes gode

To fechen hir ogain.

1800 Þai fetten hir þer sche stode;

Þo was Ysonde ful fain,

To say;

So trewe sche fond Brengwain

Þat sche loued hir wele ay. {f.291rb}

1805 Made was þe sauŠtening

& alle forŠeue bidene.

Tristrem, wiþouten lesing,

Played wiþ þe quen.

Fram Irlond to þe king

1810 An harpour com bitven;

An harp he gan forþ bring,

Swiche no hadde þai neuer sen

Wiþ siŠt;

Him self, wiþouten wen,

1815 Bar it day & niŠt.

¶ Ysonde he loued in are,

in is inserted superscript.

He þat þe harp brouŠt;

About his hals he it bare,

Richelich it was wrouŠt;

1820 He hidde it euer mare,

Out no com it nouŠt.

‘Þine harp whi wiltow spare,

Šif þou þerof can ouŠt

Of gle?’

1825 ‘No out no comeþ it nouŠt

Wiþouten Šiftes fre.’

¶ Mark seyd ‘lat me se

Harpi hou þou can

& what þou askest me

1830 Šiue y schal þe þan.’

‘Bleþely‘ seyd he;

A miri lay he bigan.

‘Sir king of Šiftes fre,

Her wiþ Ysonde y wan

1835 Bidene.

Y proue þe for fals man,

Or y schal haue þi quen.’

¶ Mark to conseyl Šede

& asked rede of þo to

1840 ‘Lesen y mot mi manhed

Or Šeld Ysonde me fro.’

Mark was ful of drede,

Ysonde lete he go.

Tristrem in þat nede

1845 At wode was, dere to slo,

Þat day;

Tristrem com riŠt þo

As Ysonde was oway. {f.291va}

¶ Þo was Tristrem in ten

1850 & chidde wiþ þe king

‘Šifstow glewemen þi quen?

Hastow no noþer þing?’

His rote, wiþouten wen,

He rauŠt bi þe ring;

1855 Þo folwed Tristrem þe ken

To schip þer þai hir bring

So bliþe;

Tristrem bigan to sing

& Ysonde bigan to liþe.

1860 ¶ Swiche song he gan sing

Þat hir was swiþe wo;

Her com swiche louelonging,

Hir hert brast neiŠe ato.

Þerl to hir gan spring

1865 Wiþ kniŠtes mani mo

& seyd ‘mi swete þing,

Whi farestow so,

Y pray?’

Ysonde to lond most go,

1870 Er sche went oway.

¶ ‘Wiþin a stounde of þe day

Y schal ben hole & sounde;

Ich here a menstrel, to say,

Of Tristrem he haþ a soun.’

1875 Þerl seyd ‘daþet him ay

Of Tr[i]strem Šif þis stounde.

Þat minstrel for his lay

Schal haue an hundred pounde

Of me,

1880 Šif he wil wiþ ous founde,

Lef, for þou louest his gle.’

¶ His gle al for to here

Þe leuedi was sett on land

To play bi þe riuere;

1885 Þerl ladde hir bi hand;

Tristrem, trewe fere,

Mirie notes he fand

Opon his rote of yuere

As þai were on þe strand;

1890 Þat stounde

Þurth þat semly sand

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

¶ Hole sche was & sounde

Þurth vertu of his gle;

1895 Forþi þerl þat stounde

Glad a man was he;

Of penis to hundred pounde

He Šaf Tristrem þe fre;

To schip þan gun þai founde,

1900 In Yrlond wald þai be

Ful fain,

Þerl & kniŠtes þre

Wiþ Ysonde & Bringwain.

¶ Tristrem tok his stede

1905 & lepe þeron to ride;

Þe quen bad him her lede

To schip him biside;

him: altered from hem.

Tristrem dede as hye bede,

In wode he gan hir hide.

1910 To þerl he seyd ‘in þat nede

Þou hast ytent þi pride,

Þou dote.

Wiþ þine harp þou wonne hir þat tide,

Þou tint hir wiþ mi rote.’

1915 ¶ Tristrem wiþ Ysonde rade

Into þe wode oway.

A loghe þai founden made,

Was ful of gamen & play;

Her blis was ful brade

1920 & ioieful was þat may.

Seuen niŠt þai þare abad

& seþþen to court com þai.

‘Sir king‘

Tristrem gan to say

1925 ‘Šif minstrels oþer þing.’

Meriadok was a man

Þat Tristrem trowed ay;

Miche gode he him an,

In o chaumber þai lay.

1930 Tristrem to Ysonde wan

Tristrem: MS reads Tristren.

AniŠt wiþ hir to play;

As man þat miche kan,

A bord he toke oway

Of her bour.

1935 Er he went, to say,

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

¶ A schour þer was yfalle

Þat al þe way was white;

Tristrem was wo wiþalle,

1940 Wiþ diol & sorwe site.

Bitven þe bour & þe halle

Þe way was naru & lite.

Swiche cas him was bifalle

As we finde in scrite.

1945 Ful sket

A siue he fond tite

& bond vnder his fete.

¶ Meriadok wiþ his miŠt

Aros vp al bidene;

1950 Þe way he went riŠt

Til he com to þe quen;

Þe bord he fond oftviŠt,

To wite & nouŠt at wene.

Of Tristrem kertel þe kniŠt

1955 He fond a pece grene

Of tore;

Meriadok þe kene

Wondred þerfore.

¶ Amorwe he tolde þe king

1960 Al þat he seiŠe wiþ siŠt.

‘Lord, wiþouten lesing,

Wiþ Ysonde lay Tristrem toniŠt.

Þou schalt do swiche a þing,

Aske who her Šeme miŠt.

1965 Þe croice to Ierusalem bring

Say þou hast yhiŠt,

Šif þou may.

Tristrem þe noble kniŠt,

Þe quen hir self wil say.’

1970 ¶ Þe king told þe quen,

Abed þo þai ware,

‘Dame, wiþouten wene,

To Ierusalem y mot fare;

Loke now ous bitvene

1975 Who may þe kepe fram care?’

‘For al oþer bidene

Tristrem‘ sche seyd þare,

‘Forþan

MS: lines 1978-9 copied continuously.

Y loue him wele þe mare,

þe: e is superscript.

1980 He is þi kinsseman.’

Al þat Mark hir told {f.292rb}

Amorwe hye told Bringwain,

‘Of lond wil þis bold:

Now we may be ful fain.

1985 Tristrem þe court schal hold

Til he com oŠain.’

Brengwain answere Šolde

‘Šour dedes han ben sain

Wiþ siŠt.

1990 Mark þi self schal frain

Al oþerloker toniŠt.

¶ Wite þou wele his wille,

To wende wiþ him þou say

& Šif he loueþ þe stille

1995 Þou do Tristrem oway.

Biseche him he se þertille,

Þi fo is Tristrem ay.

Þou dredest he wil þe spille

Šif he þe maistrie may

2000 Aboue;

Þou louedest him neuer a day

Bot for þi nemes loue.’

¶ Ysonde þe nexst niŠt

Crid ‘Mark, þin ore.

2005 Mi fo þou hast me hiŠt,

On me þou sinnes sore.

Gode Šif þou hadde me hiŠt

Of lond wiþ þe to fare,

þe: written over an erasure.

& sle Tristrem þe kniŠt,

2010 Šif loue of þe no ware

Þis day;

For mani man seyt ay whare

Þat Tristrem bi me lay.’

Mark is bliþe & glad

2015 For al þat trowed he;

He þat him oþer tald

He ne couþe him bot maugre.

Meriadok him answere Šald

‘In toun þou do him be.

2020 Her loue-laike þou bihald

For þe loue of me.

NouŠt wene,

Bi resoun þou schalt se

Þat loue is hem bitvene.’

2025 Mark departed hem to {f.292va}

& dede Tristrem oway;

Nas neuer Ysonde so wo

No Tristrem, soþe to say.

Ysonde her self wald slo,

2030 For sorwe Tristrem lay.

Ysonde morned so

& Tristrem niŠt & day

For dede.

Ich man it se may,

2035 What liif for loue þai lede.

¶ Tristrem was in toun,

In boure Ysonde was don.

Bi water he sent adoun

LiŠt linden spon.

2040 He wrot hem al wiþ roun;

Ysonde hem knewe wel sone;

Bi þat Tristrem was boun,

Ysonde wist his bone

To abide.

2045 Er amorwe none

Her aiþer was oþer biside.

Quaþ Meriadok ‘y rede

Þine hunters þou bid ride

FourtenniŠt at þis nede

2050 To se þine forestes wide.

Tristrem þou hem bede,

Þi self þou here abide

& riŠt at her dede

Þou schalt hem take þat tide.

2055 In þe tre

Here þou schalt abide,

Her semblaunt þou schalt se.’

¶ In orchard mett þai inne,

Tristrem & Ysonde fre;

2060 Ay when þai miŠt awinne,

Þer playd Ysonde & he.

Þe duerwe yseiŠe her ginne

Þer he sat in þe tre.

Mark of riche kinne

2065 He hiŠt to don him se

Wiþ siŠt

& seyd ‘sir, siker Še be,

Þi self schal se þat riŠt.’

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

2070 Forþ þo went he;

To Tristrem he com wiþ ille

Fram Ysonde þe fre

‘Mi leuedy me sent þe tille

For icham priue,

2075 & praieþ þe wiþ wille

Þat þou wost hir se

Wiþ siŠt.

Mark is in oþer cuntre,

Priue it schal be diŠt.’

2080 ¶ Tristrem him biþouŠt

‘Maister, þank haue Še.

For þou me þis bode brouŠt

Mi robe Šiue y þe;

Þat þou no lete it nouŠt

2085 Say þat leuedy fre.

Hir wordes dere y bouŠt,

To Marke hye bileiŠe me,

Marke: r is superscript.

Þat may.

Tomorwe y schal hir se

2090 At chirche, for soþe to say.’

¶ Þe duerwe toke þe gate

& Mark he told bidene

Mark: r is superscript.

‘Bi þis robe y wate

Þat michel he loueþ þe quene.

2095 Ysame we nouŠt no sat,

He douteþ me bitvene;

It semeþ by his lat

As he hir neuer had sene

Wiþ siŠt.

2100 Y wot wiþouten wene

He comeþ to hir toniŠt.’

¶ Sir Mark sat in þe tre

Þer metten þai to.

Þe schadowe Tristrem gan se

2105 & loude spac he þo,

Þat Ysonde schuld Mark se

& calle Tristrem hir fo

‘Þou no auŠtest nouŠt here to be,

Þou no hast nouŠt here to go,

2110 No þing;

Wiþ riŠt men schuld þe slo,

Durst y for þe king.

¶ Ysonde, þou art mi fo, {f.293ra}

Þou sinnest, leuedi, on me;

2115 Þou gabbest on me so,

Mi nem nil me nouŠt se,

He þreteneþ me to slo.

More menske were it to þe

Better for to do,

2120 Bi God in trinite,

Þis tide;

Or y þis lond schal fle

Into Wales wide.’

¶ ‘Tristrem, for soþe to say,

2125 Y wold þe litel gode,

Ac y þe wraied neuer day,

Y swere bi Godes rode.

Men said þou bi me lay,

Þine em so vnderstode.

2130 Wende forþ in þi way,

It semes astow were wode,

To wede.

Y loued neuer man wiþ mode

Bot him þat hadde mi maidenhede.’

2135 ¶ ‘Swete Ysonde, þin are.

Þou preye þe king for me,

Šif it þi wille ware

Of sake he make (make) me fre.

Of lond ichil elles fare,

2140 Schal he me neuer se.’

Markes hert was sare

Þer he sat in þe tre

& þouŠt

‘Vngiltles er Še

2145 In swiche a sclaunder brouŠt.’

¶ ‘Þou seyst y gan þe wrie,

Men seis þou bi me lay,

Ac þei ich wende to dye,

Þine erand y schal say.

2150 Marke þi nem his heiŠe,

AnouŠ he þe Šiue may;

No reche y what y liŠe,

So þat þou be oway

Wiþ wille.’

2155 Marke þo þouŠt ay,

‘Šete he schal duelle stille.’

¶ Tristrem oway went so, {f.293rb}

Ysonde to boure, ywis;

Nas neuer Mark so wo,

2160 Him self he herd al þis.

Al sori Mark gan go

Til he miŠt Tristrem kisse,

& dedely hated he þo

Him þat seyd amis.

2165 Al newe

Þer was ioie & blis,

& welcom Tristrem trewe.

¶ Now haþ Ysonde her wille,

Tristrem constable is heiŠe.

2170 Þre Šere he playd stille

Wiþ Ysonde briŠt so beiŠe;

Her loue miŠt no man felle,

So were þai boþe sleiŠe.

Meriadok wiþ ille

2175 Waited hem ful neiŠe

Of her dede;

Šif he miŠt hem spille,

Fain he wald spede.

¶ Meriadok wrayeþ ay,

2180 To þe king þus seyd he

‘Her folies vsen þai ay,

Wel Šore y seyd it þe.

Loke now on a day

& blod lat Šou þre;

2185 Do as y þe say,

& tokening þou schalt se

Ful sone.

Her bed schal blodi bene

Ar he his wille haue done.’

2190 ¶ Blod-leten was þe king,

Tristrem & þe quene;

At her blod-leteing

Þe flore was swopen clene;

Meriadok dede floure bring

2195 & strewed it bitvene,

Þat go no miŠt no þing

Bot Šif it were sene

Wiþ siŠt.

Þritti fet bidene

2200 Tristrem lepe þat niŠt.

¶ Now Tristrem willes is {f.293va}

Wiþ Ysonde for to play;

He no may hir com to kisse

So ful of floure it lay.

2205 Tristrem lepe, ywis,

Þritti fete, soþ to say.

As Tristrem dede þis,

His blod bende brast oway

& bled;

2210 & seþþen oŠain þe day

He lepe fram hir bedde.

¶ Þritti fete bitvene

He lepe, wiþouten les;

Sore him greued his vene,

2215 As it no wonder nes.

Mark her bed hadde sen

& al blodi it wes.

He told þo Brengwain

Tristrem hadde broken his pes

2220 Bitvene.

Anon of lond he ches

Out of Markes eiŠe sene.

¶ Tristrem was fled oway,

To wite & nouŠt to wene.

2225 At Londen on a day

Mark wald spourge þe quen.

Men seyd sche brak þe lay;

A bischop Šede bitvene;

Wiþ hot yren, to say,

2230 Sche þouŠt to make hir clene

Of sake.

Ysonde said bidene

Þat dome sche wald take.

¶ Men sett þe merkes þere

2235 At Westeminster ful riŠt,

Hot yren to bere

For sir Tristrem þe kniŠt.

In pouer wede to were

Tristrem com þat niŠt -

2240 Of alle þe kniŠtes here

No knewe him non bi siŠt

Bidene -

To swete Ysonde briŠt,

As forward was hem bitvene.

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

Þat is an arm of þe se

‘To þe schip side

Þis man schal bere me.’

Tristrem hir bar þat tide

2250 & on þe quen fel he

Next her naked side,

Þat mani man miŠt yse

Gan schewe.

Hir queynt abouen hir kne

2255 Naked þe kniŠtes knewe.

¶ In water þai wald him sink

& wers Šif þai may.

‘Še quite him iuel his swink.’

Þe quene seyd to hem ay.

2260 ‘It semeþ mete no drink

Hadde he nouŠt mani a day;

For pouerte me þenk

He fel, for soþe to say,

& nede.

2265 Šeueþ him gold, y pray;

He may bidde God me spede.’

Gold þai Šouen him þare,

Þe constori þai bigan.

Swete Ysonde sware

2270 Sche was giltles woman

‘Bot on to schip me bare,

Þe kniŠtes seiŠe wele þan;

What so his wille ware,

Ferli neiŠe he wan,

2275 Soþe þing;

So neiŠe com neuer man

Bot mi lord þe king.’

¶ Swete Ysonde haþ sworn

Hir clene, þat miri may;

2280 To hir þai had ycorn

Hot yren, y say.

Þe kniŠtes were biforn,

For hir þo praiden þai.

Þe yren sche hadde yborn,

2285 Ac Mark forŠaue þat day

& dede.

Meriadok held þai

For fole in his falshede.

¶ Ysonde is graunted clene, {f.294ra}

2290 Meriadok, maugre his;

Neuer er nas þe quen

So wele wiþ Mark, ywis.

Tristrem, wiþouten wene,

Into Wales he is;

2295 In bataile he haþ ben

& fast he fraines þis

RiŠt þare:

For he ne may Ysonde kisse,

FiŠt he souŠt aywhare.

2300 ¶ In Wales þo was a king

Þat hiŠt Triamour,

He hadde a douhter Šing,

Was hoten Blauncheflour.

Vrgan wiþ gret wering

2305 Biseged him in his tour

To winne þat swete þing

& bring hir to his bour

Wiþ fiŠt.

Tristrem wiþ gret honour

2310 Bicom þe kinges kniŠt.

¶ Vrgan gan Wales held

Wiþ wrong, for soþe to say;

Oft & vnselde

Of Triamour tok he pray.

2315 Triamour to Tristrem teld

Opon a somers day,

Wales he wald him Šeld

Šif he it winne may

RiŠt þan.

2320 Tristrem, wiþouten nay,

Wiþ were Wales wan.

¶ Tristrem mett Vrgan

In þat feld to fiŠt,

To him seyd he þan

2325 As a douhti kniŠt

‘Þou slouŠ mi broþer Morgan

At þe mete ful riŠt.

As y am douhti man,

His deþ þou bist toniŠt,

2330 Mi fo.’

Tristrem seyd ‘apliŠt!

So kepe y þe to slo.’

¶ Tvelue fete was þe wand {f.294rb}

Þat Vrgan wald wiþ play,

2335 His strok may no man stand -

Ferly Šif Tristrem may.

Tristrem vantage fand,

His clobbe fel oway,

& of þe geauntes hand

2340 Tristrem smot þat day

In lede;

Tristrem, for soþe to say,

Þe geaunt gert he blede.

¶ Vrgan al in tene,

2345 FauŠt wiþ his left hand

OŠain Tristrem kene;

A stern stroke he fand

Opon his helme so schene,

Þat to þe grounde he wand;

2350 Bot vp he stirt bidene

& heried Godes sand

AlmiŠt;

Tristrem wiþ his brand

Fast gan to fiŠt.

2355 ¶ Þe geaunt aroume he stode,

His hond he tint, ywis,

He fleiŠe as he wer wode

Þer þat þe castel is.

Tristrem trad in þe blod

2360 & fond þe hond þat was his;

Oway sir Tristrem Šode.

Þe geaunt com wiþ þis

& souŠt

To hele his honde þat was his;

2365 Salues hadde he brouŠt.

¶ Vrgan, þe geaunt vnride,

After sir Tristrem wan,

Þe cuntre fer & wide

Ygadred was bi þan;

2370 Tristrem þouŠt þat tide

‘Y take þat me Gode an.’

On a brigge he gan abide,

Biheld þer mani a man;

Þai mett,

2375 Vrgan to Tristrem ran

& grimli þere þai gret.

¶ Strokes of michel miŠt {f.294va}

Þai delten hem bitvene

Þat þurth her brinies briŠt

2380 Her boþer blod was sene;

Tristrem fauŠt as a kniŠt

& Vrgan al in tene

Šaf him a stroke vnliŠt;

His scheld he clef bitvene

2385 Atvo;

Tristrem, wiþouten wene,

Nas neuer are so wo.

¶ Eft Vrgan smot wiþ main

& of þat stroke he miste;

2390 Tristrem smot ogayn

& þurth his body he þreste;

Vrgan lepe vnfain,

Ouer þe bregge he deste.

Tristrem haþ Vrgan slain,

2395 Þat alle þe cuntre wist

Wiþ wille;

Þe king þo Tristrem kist

& Wales þo Šeld him tille.

¶ Þe king, a welp he brouŠt

2400 Bifor Tristrem þe trewe;

What colour he was wrouŠt

Now ichil Šou schewe.

Silke nas non so soft,

He was rede, grene & blewe.

2405 Þai þat him seiŠen oft

Of him hadde gamen & glewe,

Ywis.

His name was Peticrewe,

Of him was michel priis.

2410 ¶ Þe king Triamour

Šaf him Tristrem þe hende

For he brouŠt out of dolour

Him & al his kende.

Tristrem wiþ gret honour

2415 Kidde þat he was hende,

He Šaf to Blauncheflour

Wales wiþouten ende

Bidene,

& Peticrowe he gan sende

2420 To dame Ysonde þe quene.

¶ Ysonde, wiþouten les, {f.294vb}

Þo hye þe welp had sain,

Þat sche had made his pes

Sche sent word ogayn.

2425 Mark herd hou it wes

Þat Vrgan had he slain;

Messangers he ches

Tristrem for to frain,

Þat fre.

2430 Mark was ferly fain,

& Tristrem kist he.

¶ Mark gan Tristrem calle

& toke him al bidene

Cites, castels alle,

2435 Steward as he hadde bene.

Who was bliþe in halle

Bot Ysonde þe quene?

Hou so it schuld bifalle,

Þai playden ai bitvene,

2440 Þo tvo;

So long of loue þai mene

Þat Mark seiŠe it was so.

¶ Mark seiŠe hou it is,

What loue was hem bitvene;

2445 Certes þis þouŠt was his,

Ful wele awreken to ben;

He cleped Tristrem wiþ þis

& bitoke him þe quene,

& flemed hem boþe, ywis,

2450 Out of his eiŠe sene

Away.

Bliþer wiþouten wene

Neuer ere nar þay.

¶ A forest fled þai tille,

2455 Tristrem & Ysonde þe schene.

No hadde þai no won to wille

Bot þe wode so grene.

Bi holtes & bi hille

Fore Tristrem & þe quene;

2460 Ysonde of ioie haþ her fille

& Tristrem, wiþouten wene,

As þare;

So bliþe al bidene

Nar þai neuer are.

2465 ¶ Tristrem & þat may {f.295ra}

Wer flemed for her dede;

Hodain, soþ to say,

& Peticrowe wiþ hem Šede.

In on erþe hous þai lay,

2470 Þo raches wiþ hem þai lede.

Tristrem hem tauŠt o day

Bestes to take at nede

An hast.

In þat forest fede

2475 Tristrem Hodain gan chast.

¶ Tristrem wiþ Hodain

A wilde best he slouŠ;

In on erþe house þai layn,

Þer hadde þai ioie ynouŠ.

2480 Etenes bi old dayn

Had wrouŠt it, wiþouten wouŠ.

Ich niŠt, soþ to sain,

Þertil þai boþe drouŠ

Wiþ miŠt.

2485 Vnder wode bouŠ

Þai knewen day & niŠt.

¶ In winter it was hate,

In somer it was cold;

Þai hadden a dern gat,

2490 Þat þai no man told.

No hadde þai no wines wat,

þai: added superscript.

No ale þat was old,

No no gode mete þai at;

Þai hadden al þat þai wold

2495 Wiþ wille.

For loue ich oþer bihalt,

Her non miŠt of oþer fille.

¶ Tristrem on an hille stode,

As he biforn hadde mett;

2500 He fond a wele ful gode,

Al white it was, þe grete;

Þerto Tristrem Šode

& hende Ysonde þe swete.

Þat was al her fode,

2505 & wilde flesche þai ete

& gras;

Swiche ioie hadde þai neuer Šete

Tvelmoneþ þre woukes las.

¶ Tristrem on a day {f.295rb}

2510 Tok Hodain wel erly,

A best he tok to pray

Bi a dern sty;

He diŠt it, wiþouten nay,

& hom it brouŠt an heiŠe.

2515 Aslepe Ysonde lay,

Tristrem him layd hir bi,

Þe quen.

His swerd he drouŠ titly

& laid it hem bitvene.

2520 ¶ An hert Mark at-ran

Opon þat ilke day;

His hunters after wan,

A paþ þo founden þai.

Tristrem seiŠen hye þan

2525 & Ysonde, soþe to say.

SeiŠe þai neuer swiche man

No non so fair a may

Wiþ siŠt;

Bitven hem þer lay

2530 A drawen swerd wel briŠt.

¶ Þe huntes wenten riŠt

& teld Mark bidene.

Þe leuedi & þe kniŠt,

Boþe Mark haþ sene;

2535 He knewe hem wele bi siŠt,

Þe swerd lay hem bitvene;

A sonne bem ful briŠt

Schon opon þe quen

At a bore

2540 On her face so schene

& Mark rewed þerfore.

¶ His gloue he put þerinne

Þe sonne to were oway,

Wreþe mark gan winne,

2545 Þan seyd he, ‘wel ay!

wel: added superscript
with an insertion mark.

Šif þai weren in sinne,

NouŠt so þai no lay.

Lo hou þai liue atvinne.

Þai no hede nouŠt of swiche play,

2550 Ywis.’

Þe kniŠtes seyden ay

‘For trewe loue it is.’

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

& swete Ysonde þe schene,

2555 Þe gloue oway þai drewe

& seyden hem bitvene;

For Markes þai it knewe,

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

Þai wist he had þer bene.

Þo was her ioie al newe,

2560 Þat he hem hadde ysene

Wiþ siŠt;

Wiþ þat com kniŠtes kene

To feche þo to ful riŠt.

¶ To court were comen þo to

2565 Þat in þe forest were,

Mark kist Ysonde þo

& Tristrem trewe fere.

ForŠeuen hem was her wo,

No were þai neuer so dere.

2570 Tristrem þe bailif gan to

Swiftly for to stere

A stounde.

Of loue who wil lere,

Listen now þe grounde.

2575 ¶ So bifel bidene

Opon a somers day

Tristrem & þe quen

Stalked to her play.

Þe duerwe hem haþ sene,

2580 To Mark gan he say

‘Sir king, wiþouten wene,

Þi wiif is now oway

& þi kniŠt;

Wende fast as þou may,

2585 Oftake hem, Šif þou miŠt.’

¶ Mark king after ran,

Þat þai boþe yse.

Tristrem seyd þan

‘Ysonde, schent er we.

2590 For þouŠtes þat we can

Forhole no may it be.’

Nas neuer so sori man,

Tristrem, þan was he,

Þat hende:

2595 ‘For dout of deþ y fle,

In sorwe & wo y wende.

¶ Y fle for dout of deþ, {f.295vb}

Y dar no leng abide,

In wo mi liif to lede

2600 Bi þis forestes side.’

A ring Ysonde him bede

To tokening at þat tide.

He fleiŠe forþ in gret drede

In wode him for to hide

2605 Bidene;

To seken him fast þai ride,

Þai founden bot þe quene.

¶ Tristrem is went oway,

As it nouŠt hadde ybene;

2610 Forþi þe kniŠtes gan say

Þat wrong Markes had sen.

For her þan prayd þai

Þat Mark forŠaf þe quene.

Tristrem wiþ Ysonde lay

2615 Þat niŠt, wiþouten wene,

& wok

& plaiden ay bitvene.

His leue of hir he tok.

¶ Tristrem is went oway

2620 Wiþouten coming oŠain,

& sikeþ, for soþe to sain,

Wiþ sorwe & michel pain.

Tristrem fareþ ay

As man þat wald be slain,

2625 Boþe niŠt & day

FiŠtes for to frain,

Þat fre;

Spaine he haþ þurth sayn,

Geauntes he slouŠ þre.

2630 ¶ Out of Spaine he rade

Rohande sones to se,

Gamen & ioie þai made,

Welcom to hem was he;

As lord he þer abade,

2635 As gode skil wald be.

Þai boden him landes brade

Þat he wan hem fre.

He þouŠt,

He seyd ‘þank haue Še.

2640 Šour londes kepe y nouŠt.’

¶ Into Bretein he ches, {f.296ra}

Bicome þe doukes kniŠt;

He set his lond in pes

Þat arst was ful of fiŠt.

2645 Al þat þe doukes wes

He wan oŠain wiþ riŠt.

He bede him, wiþouten les,

His douhter þat was briŠt

In land.

2650 Þat maiden Ysonde hiŠt

Wiþ þe white hand.

¶ Tristremes loue was strong

On swete Ysonde þe quene;

Of Ysonde he made a song

2655 Þat song Ysonde bidene.

Þe maiden wende al wrong

Of hir it hadde ybene.

Hir wening was so long,

To hir fader hye gan mene

2660 For nede.

Ysonde wiþ hand schene

Tristrem to wiue þai bede.

¶ Tristrem a wil is inne,

Has founden in his þouŠt

2665 ‘Mark, mi nem, haþ sinne,

Wrong he haþ ous wrouŠt;

Icham in sorwe & pine,

Þerto hye haþ me brouŠt.

Hir loue, y say, is mine,

2670 Þe boke seyt it is nouŠt

Wiþ riŠt.’

Þe maiden more he souŠt,

For sche Ysonde hiŠt.

¶ Þat in his hert he fand,

2675 & trewely þouŠt he ay;

Þe forward fast he band

Wiþ Ysonde, þat may

Wiþ þe white hand,

He spoused þat day.

2680 O niŠt, ich vnderstand,

To boure wenten þai

On bedde.

Tristrem ring fel oway

As men to chaumber him ledde.

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

Þo was his hert ful wo

‘OŠain me swiche a þing

Dede neuer Ysonde so;

Mark, her lord þe king,

2690 Wiþ tresoun may hir to.

Mine hert may no man bring

For no þing hir fro,

Þat fre.

Ich haue tvinned ous to,

2695 Þe wrong is al in me.’

¶ Tristrem to bedde Šede

Wiþ hert ful of care.

He seyd ‘þe dern dede,

Do it y no dare.’

2700 Þe maiden he forbede,

Šif it hir wille ware.

Þe maide answerd in lede

‘Þerof haue þou no care.

Al stille

2705 Y nil desiri na mare

Bot at þine owen wille.’

¶ Her fader on a day

Šaf hem londes wide

Fer in þat cuntray

2710 Markes were set biside.

Bitvene þe douke þai had ben ay

& a geaunt vnride;

No most þer no man play

Þat he no dede him abide

2715 & fiŠt;

Lesen he schuld his pride,

Were he king or kniŠt.

¶ ‘Tristrem, y þe forbede

For þe loue of me,

2720 No hunte þou for no nede

BiŠond þe arm of þe se.

Beliagog is vnrede,

A stern geaunt is he;

Of him þou owest to drede,

2725 Þou slouŠ his breþer þre

In fiŠt:

Vrgan & Morgan vnfre

& Moraunt, þe noble kniŠt.

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

2730 & comen oŠain to þe fre,

Also be þou bonaire,

When his houndes comen to þe.’

Þe forest was wel faire

Wiþ mani a selly tre.

2735 Tristrem þouŠt repaire,

Hou so it euer be,

To bide:

‘Þat cuntre wil y se,

What auentour so bitide.’

2740 ¶ Tristrem on huntinge rade,

An hert chaci bigan;

Þer þe merkes were made

His houndes ouer þai ran;

Þe water was blalc & brade,

2745 Tristrem com as a man;

Þer þe douke was fade,

Fast he folwed þan,

RiŠt þare;

He blewe priis as he can -

2750 Þre mot oþer mare.

Beliagog com þat tide

& asked wat he is.

‘An hunting þer y ride,

Tristrem ich hat, ywis.’

2755 ‘O! þou slouŠ Moraunt wiþ pride.

Tristrem artow þis?

& seþþen Vrgan vnride -

Vnkinde were ous to kis

As kenne.

2760 Mendi þou most þat mis,

Now þou mi lond art inne.’

¶ ‘Y slouŠ Vrgan, y þe telle.

So hope y þe to sla.

Þis forest wil y felle

2765 & castel wil y ma;

Her is miri to duelle,

Forþi þis lond y ta.’

Þe geaunt herd þat spelle,

Forþi him was ful wa,

2770 Vnwise.

So bitven hem tva

Þe cuntek gan arise.

¶ Dartes wel vnride {f.296vb}

Beliagog set gan.

2775 Tristremes liif þat tide

Ferly neiŠe he wan.

Bitvene þe hauberk & side

Þe dart þurthout ran.

Tristrem bleynt biside,

2780 God he þonked þan

AlmiŠt.

Tristrem as a man

Fast he gan to fiŠt.

¶ Beliagog þe bold,

Beliagog: a inserted
superscript with insertion mark.

2785 As a fende he fauŠt;

Tristrem liif neiŠe he sold

As Tomas haþ ous tauŠt;

Tristrem smot, as God wold,

His fot of at a drauŠt;

2790 Adoun he fel yfold,

Þat man of michel mauŠt,

& cride

‘Tristrem, be we sauŠt,

& haue min londes wide.

2795 ¶ Ouercomen hastow me

In bataile & in fiŠt.

Helden oŠaines þe

No wil y neuer wiþ riŠt.’

His tresour lete he se

2800 Tristrem, þe noble kniŠt.

Tristrem knewe him fre;

Beliagog in hiŠt,

NouŠt lain,

An halle to maken him briŠt

2805 To Ysonde & Bringwain.

¶ Þe geaunt him gan lede

Til he fond an hald;

Þe water about Šede,

It was his eldren hald.

2810 Þe geaunt bad Tristrem belde

Wiþ masouns þat were bald.

Beliagog in þat nede

Fond him riche wald

To fine;

2815 Ysonde haue þere he wald,

Luffsum vnder line.

Catchword: þe geaunt him tauŠt.

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

A ford þer it was Šare,

Þere he miŠt wele ride

2820 When his wille ware.

In þe hold he gan him hide,

Seyd he nouŠt he was þare;

Nold he nouŠt long abide,

OŠain þo gan he fare,

2825 Þat fre.

At þe castel forþermare

His werkmen wald he se.

¶ OŠain went Tristrem þan,

Beliagog had masouns souŠt.

2830 Tristrem þat michel can

A werk hem haþ ybrouŠt;

Nas þer neuer Šete man

Þat wist what oþer wrouŠt;

Arere when þai bigan,

2835 Swiche a werk nas nouŠt

At nede;

Þei al men hadde it þouŠt,

It nas to large no gnede.

¶ At his des in þe halle

2840 Swete Ysonde was wrouŠt

Hodain & Pencru to calle;

Þe drink hou Brengwain brouŠt;

Mark yclad in palle

& Meriadok ful of þouŠt -

2845 So liifliche weren þai alle,

Ymages semed it nouŠt,

To abide -

& Tristrem, hou he fauŠt

Wiþ Beliagog vnride.

2850 So it bifel a cas

In seyn Matheus toun

Þat a fair fest was

Of lordes of renoun.

A baroun þat hiŠt Bonifas

2855 Spoused a leuedi of Lyoun.

Þer was miche solas

Of alle maner soun

& gle

Of minestrals vp & doun

2860 Bifor þe folk so fre.

¶ Þe riche douke Florentin {f.297rb}

To þat fest gan fare

& his sone Ganhardin,

Wiþ hem rode Ysonde þare.

2865 Her hors a polk stap in,

Þe water her wat aywhare;

It was a ferly gin,

So heye vnder hir gare

It fleiŠe.

2870 Þe leuedi louŠ ful smare,

& Ganhardin it seiŠe.

¶ Ganhardin vnbliþe

His soster þo cald he

‘Abide now, dame, & liþe,

2875 What is þer tidde to þe?

Do now telle me swiþe

Astow louest me

Whi louŠ þou þat siþe.

For what þing may it be?

2880 Wiþouten oþ

Þi frendschip schal y fle

Til y wite þat soþ.’

¶ ‘Broþer, no wraþe þe nouŠt,

Þe soþe y wil þe say.

2885 Mine hors þe water vp brouŠt

Of o polk in þe way.

So heiŠe it fleiŠe, me þouŠt,

Þat in mi sadel it lay.

Þer neuer man no souŠt

2890 So neiŠe, for soþe to say,

In lede.

Broþer, wite þou ay

Þat y louŠ for þat dede.’

¶ Quaþ Ganhardin ‘y finde

2895 Þat schamely schent ar we;

To wiue on our kinde

Heþeliche holdeþ he.

Þer he gan treuþe binde,

Fain y wald it se;

2900 For alle þe gold of Ynde

Ybroken no schal it be

To bete.

His frendeschip wil y fle;

Our on schal tine swete.’

2905 ¶ Wroþ is Ganhardin {f.297va}

& þat Tristrem yses;

What þouŠt he is in

Fast he askeþ, ywis.

‘Þou hast bi Ysonde lin,

2910 While þi wille is.

Whi nas hye neuer þine?

Erasure before þine.

Tristrem, tel me þis

In lede.

What haþ hye don amis?

2915 What wites þou hir of dede?’

¶ ‘Šif it hir wille ware,

Forhole it miŠt haue be;

Sche haþ ytold it Šou Šare,

Quite sche is of me.

2920 Of hir kepe y namare,

A Šift y Šeue þe.

To a leuedi wil y fare

Is fairer þan swiche þre

To frain.’

2925 Ganhardin longeþ to se

Þat leuedi, nauŠt to lain.

¶ Ganhardin þe fest fles,

He bicom Tristremes frende;

He seyd his liif he les,

2930 Bot he wiþ Tristrem wende;

Quaþ Tristrem ‘Šif it so bes

In Jnglond þat we lende,

No say nouŠt what þou ses,

Bot hold, astow art hende

2935 And hele.

Lay it al vnder hende,

To steuen Šif þai it stele.’

¶ Ganhardin his treuþe pliŠt,

To ben his broþer he bede,

2940 To ben a trewe kniŠt

In al Tristremes nede.

Boþe busked þat niŠt

To Beliagog in lede.

Ganhardin seiŠe þat siŠt

2945 & sore him gan adrede

‘To brink

To sle þou wilt me lede,

To Beliagog, me þink.’

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

2950 Wel whi seistow so?

Maugre on me falle

Šif y þe wold slo.

Þe geaunt is my þralle,

His liif þei y wil to.’

2955 Tristrem þo gan him calle;

On a stilt he com þo

Ful swiþe

‘Lord, þi wille to do

Þarto ar we bliþe.’

2960 ¶ ‘Beliagog, go þare

& loke it boun be;

Ganhardin & y wil fare

Þe leuedi for to se.’

Swiche castel fond he þare

2965 Was maked of ston & tre.

Ganhardin wist nou are

Þer duelled Tristrem & he,

To liþe,

Ysonde for to se

2970 In halle briŠt & bliþe.

¶ To Ysonde briŠt so day

To halle gun þai go;

Ysonde þo seiŠe þai

& Bringwain boþe to,

2975 Tristrem, for soþe to say,

& Beliagog al blo.

As Ganhardin stert oway

His heued he brac þo

brac: a is superscript.

As he fleiŠe.

2980 Ganhardin was ful wo,

Þat he com Ysonde so neiŠe.

¶ Ganhardin schamed sore,

His heued ran on blod.

Ysonde he seiŠe þore

2985 & Brengwain fair & gode.

Brengwain þe coupe bore;

Him rewe þat frely fode,

He swore bi Godes ore.

In her hond fast it stode

2990 Al stille.

‘Tristrem, we ar wode

To speken oŠain þi wille.

¶ Nis it bot hert-breke, {f.298ra}

Þat swiþe wele finde we,

2995 & foly ous to speke

Ani worde oŠaines þe.

Mi wille Šif y miŠt gete,

Þat leuedi wold y se;

Mine hert hye haþ ysteke,

3000 Brengwain briŠt & fre,

Þat frende;

Bliþe no may ich be

Til y se þat hende.’

¶ Tristrem & Ganhardin,

3005 Treuþe pliŠten þay,

In wining & in tin

Trewe to ben ay,

In joie & in pin,

In al þing, to say,

3010 Til he wiþ Brengwain haue lin,

Šif þat Tristrem may,

In lede.

To Jnglond þai toke þe way,

Þo kniŠtes stiþe on stede.

3015 ¶ Sir Canados was þan

Constable, þe quen ful neiŠe;

For Tristrem Ysonde wan,

So weneþ he be ful sleiŠe

To make hir his leman

3020 Wiþ broche & riche beiŠe.

For nouŠt þat he do can

Hir hert was euer heiŠe

To hold;

Þat man hye neuer seiŠe

3025 Þat bifor Tristrem wold.

¶ Tristrem made a song

Þat song Ysonde þe sleiŠe

& harped euer among;

Sir Canados was neiŠe;

3030 He seyd ‘dame, þou hast wrong,

For soþe, who it seiŠe.

As oule & stormes strong,

So criestow on heye

In herd.

3035 Þou louest Tristrem dreiŠe,

To wrong þou art ylerd.

¶ Tristrem, for þi sake {f.298rb}

For soþe wiued haþ he.

Þis wil þe torn to wrake:

3040 Of Breteyne douke schal he be.

Oþer semblaunt þou make,

Þiseluen Šif þou hir se;

Þi loue hir dede him take,

For hye hiŠt as do Še

3045 In land.

Ysonde men calleþ þat fre

Wiþ þe white hand.’

¶ ‘Sir Canados, þe waite,

Euer þou art mi fo.

3050 Febli þou canst hayte,

Þere man schuld menske do.

Who wil lesinges layt,

Þarf him no ferþer go.

Falsly canestow fayt

3055 Þat euer worþ þe wo.

Forþi

Malisoun haue þou also

Of God & our leuedy.

¶ A Šift ich Šiue þe:

3060 Þi þrift mot þou tine.

Þat þou asked me,

No schal it neuer be þine.

Yhated also þou be

Of alle þat drink wine.

3065 Hennes Šern þou fle

Out of siŠt mine

In lede.

Y pray to seyn Katerine

Þat iuel mot þou spede.’

3070 ¶ Þe quen was wratþed sore,

Wroþ to chaumber sche Šede

‘Who may trowe man more

Þan he haþ don þis dede?’

A palfray asked sche þere

3075 Þat wele was loued in lede;

DiŠt sche was ful Šare,

Hir pauilouns wiþ hir þai lede

Ful fine.

Bifore was stef on stede

3080 Tristrem & Ganhardine.

¶ Ful ner þe gat þai abade {f.298va}

Vnder a figer tre;

Þai seiŠe where Ysonde rade

& Bringwain, boþe seiŠe he

3085 Wiþ tvo houndes mirie made,

Fairer miŠt non be.

Her blis was ful brade,

A tale told Ysonde fre,

Þai duelle.

3090 Tristrem þat herd he

& seyd þus in his spelle:

¶ ‘Ganhardin, ride þou ay,

Mi ring of finger þou drawe,

Þou wende forþ in þi way

3095 & gret hem al on rawe;

Her houndes praise þou ay,

Þi finger forþ þou schawe.

Þe quen, for soþe to say,

Þe ring wil sone knawe,

3100 Þat fre.

Aski sche wil in plawe

& say þou comest fro me.’

¶ Þo rode Ganhardin kene

& ouertakeþ hem now;

3105 First he greteþ þe quen

& after Bringwain, y trowe.

Þe kniŠt him self bidene

Stroked þe hounde Pencru;

Þe quen þe ring haþ sene

3110 & knewe it wele ynouŠ,

Þat fre.

Hye seyd ‘say me, hou

Com þis ring to þe?’

¶ ‘He þat auŠt þis ring

3115 To token sent it to þe.’

Þo seyd þat swete þing

‘Tristrem, þat is he.’

‘Dame, wiþouten lesing,

He sent it Šou bi me.’

3120 Sche sayd ‘bi heuen-king,

In longing haue we be,

NauŠt lain;

Al niŠt duelle we‘

Seyd Ysonde to Bringwain.

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

So sike sche was bi siŠt.

Þai sett pauilouns an heye

& duelled, clerk & kniŠt.

Ysonde biheld þat lye

3130 Vnder leues liŠt;

Tristrem hye þer seyŠe,

So dede Brengwain þat niŠt

In feld.

Ganhardine treuþe pliŠt,

3135 Brengwain to wiue weld.

¶ Tvo niŠt þer þai lye

In þat fair forest;

Canados hadde a spie,

Her pauilouns he tokest;

3140 Þer come to Canados crie

Þe cuntre est & west.

Gouernayl was forþi

Þerout, as it was best,

To abide.

3145 He seyd Tristrem prest

‘Now it were time to ride.’

¶ Gouernayl, his man was he,

& Ganhardine his kniŠt.

Armed kniŠtes þai se

3150 To felle hem doun in fiŠt.

Gouernaile gan to fle,

He ran oway ful riŠt;

Þo folwed bond & fre

& lete þe loge vnliŠt

3155 Þat tide.

Oway rode Tristrem þat niŠt

& Ganhardine biside.

¶ Sir Canados þe heiŠe,

He ladde þe quen oway;

3160 Tristrem of loue so sleiŠe

No abade him nouŠt þat day.

Brengwain briŠt so beiŠe,

Wo was hir þo ay;

On Canados sche gan crie

3165 & made gret deray

& sede

‘Þis lond nis worþ a nay,

When þou darst do swiche a dede.’

¶ Ganhardine gan fare {f.299ra}

3170 In to Bretaine oway

& Tristrem duelled þare

To wite what men wald say;

Coppe & claper he bare

Til þe fiftenday

3175 As he a mesel ware;

Vnder walles he lay,

To liþe;

So wo was Ysonde, þat may,

Þat alle sche wald towriþe.

3180 ¶ Tristrem jn sorwe lay,

Forþi wald Ysonde awede,

& Brengwain þretned ay

To take hem in her dede.

Brengwain went oway,

3185 To Marke þe king sche Šede

& redily gan to say

Hou þai faren in lede

‘NouŠt lain,

Swiche kniŠt hastow to fede,

3190 Þi schame he wald ful fain.

¶ Sir king, take hede þerto:

Sir Canados wil haue þi quen.

Bot þou depart hem to,

A schame þer worþ ysene.

3195 Hye dredeþ of him so,

Þat wonder is to wene;

His wille for to do

Hye werneþ him bitvene

Ful sone.

3200 Šete þai ben al clene;

Haue þai no dede ydone.’

¶ Marke in al þing

Brengwain þanked he.

After him he sent an heiŠeing,

3205 Fram court he dede him be.

‘Þou deseruest for to hing,

Miseluen wele ich it se.’

So couþe Brengwain bring

Canados for to fle,

3210 Þat heiŠe.

Glad was Ysonde þe fre

Þat Bringwain couþe so liŠe.

¶ Þan to hir seyd þe quen {f.299rb}

‘Leue Brengwain þe briŠt,

3215 Þat art fair to sene.

Þou wost our wille bi siŠt.

Whare haþ Tristrem bene?

Nis he no douhti kniŠt?

Þai leiŠen al bidene

3220 Þat sain he dar nouŠt fiŠt

Wiþ his fo.’

Brengwain biheld þat riŠt,

Tristrem to bour lete go.

¶ Tristrem in bour is bliþe,

3225 Wiþ Ysonde playd he þare;

Brengwain badde he liþe

‘Who þer armes bare,

Ganhardin & þou þat siþe

WiŠtly oway gun fare.’

3230 Quaþ Tristrem ‘crieþ swiþe

A turnament ful Šare

Wiþ miŠt;

Noiþer of ous nil spare

Erl, baroun no kniŠt.’

3235 A turnament þai lete crie,

Þe parti Canados tok he,

& Meriadok sikerly

In his help gan he be.

Tristrem ful hastilye

3240 Ofsent Ganhardin þe fre;

Ganhardin com titly

Þat turnament to se

Wiþ siŠt.

Fro þe turnament nold þai fle

3245 Til her fon were feld doun riŠt.

¶ Þai com into þe feld

& founde þer kniŠtes kene,

Her old dedes þai Šeld

Wiþ batayle al bidene.

3250 Tristrem gan biheld

To Meriadok bitvene;

For þe tales he teld

On him he wrake his tene

Þat tide;

3255 He Šaf him a wounde kene

Þurthout boþe side.

¶ Bitvene Canados & Ganhardin {f.299va}

Þe fiŠt was ferly strong;

Tristrem þouŠt it pin

3260 Þat it last so long;

His stiropo he made him tine,

To grounde he him wrong.

Sir Canados þer gan lyn,

Þe blod þurth brini þrong

3265 Wiþ care.

On him he wrake his wrong

Þat he no ros na mare.

¶ Her fon fast þai feld,

& mani of hem þai slouŠ;

3270 Þe cuntre wiþ hem meld,

Þai wrouŠt hem wo ynouŠ.

Tristrem haþ hem teld

Þat him to schame drouŠ.

Þai token þe heiŠe held

3275 & passed wele anouŠ

& bade.

Vnder wode bouŠ

After her fomen þai rade.

¶ Þer Tristrem turned oŠain

3280 & Ganhardin stiþe & stille.

Mani þai han yslain

& mani ouercomen wiþ wille.

Þe folk fleiŠe vnfain

& socour criden schille;

3285 In lede nouŠt to layn,

Þai hadde woundes ille

At þe nende.

Þe wraiers þat weren in halle,

Schamly were þai schende.

3290 Þan þat turnament was don,

Mani on slain þer lay.

Ganhardin went sone

Into Bretaine oway.

Brengwain haþ her bone:

3295 Ful wele wreken er þay.

A kniŠt þat werd no schon

Hete Tristrem, soþe to say;

Ful wide

Tristrem souŠt he ay,

3300 & he fond him þat tide.

¶ He fel to Tristremes fet {f.299vb}

& merci crid he

‘Mi leman fair & swete

A kniŠt haþ reued me,

3305 Of loue þat can wele let,

So Crist hir sende þe.

Mi bale þou fond to bet

For loue of Ysonde fre.

NouŠt lain,

3310 Seuen breþern haþ he

Þat fiŠteþ me ogain.

¶ Þis ich day þai fare

& passeþ fast biside.

Y gete hir neuer mare,

3315 Šif y tine hir þis tide.

Fiftene kniŠtes þai are

& we bot to, to abide.’

‘Daþet who hem spare.’

Seyd Tristrem þat tide.

3320 ‘Þis niŠt

Þai han ytint her pride

Þurth grace of God almiŠt.’

¶ Þai gun hem boþe armi

In iren & stiel þat tide;

3325 Þai metten hem in a sty

Bi o forestes side.

Þer wex akene crie,

Togider þo þai gun ride.

Þe Šong Tristrem forþi

3330 Sone was feld his pride

RiŠt þore.

He hadde woundes wide,

Þat he no ros no more.

¶ Þus þe Šong kniŠt

3335 For soþe yslawe was þare.

Tristrem, þat trewe hiŠt,

Awrake him al wiþ care.

Þer he slouŠ in fiŠt

Fiftene kniŠtes & mare;

3340 Wel louwe he dede hem liŠt

Wiþ diolful dintes sare,

Vnsounde;

Ac an aruwe oway he bare

In his eld wounde.