Ich the bitache here 10

To him came a child then Who was of his kindred; He was Cador's first-born, Who Earl was of Cornwall. Constantine his name was; He was to the king dear. Arthur looked upon him, As he lay on the ground there,

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And these words spake he

With heart full of sorrow:

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"Constantine, welcome art thou!

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Thou wert Cador's first-born!

To thee do I commit here
The care of my kingdom;
And guard well my Britons
Ever whilst thou livest;

And keep thou all the customs
That loved were in my life-time,
And all the customs splendid
That Uther's reign attended.
And I will fare to Avalon
To the fairest of all maidens,
Where Queen Argantè tarries,
Most beautiful of fairies;
And she shall every wound
Make both whole and sound,
All whole shall she make me
With health-giving potions.
And come shall I hereafter
Back to my kingdom
And abide with my Britons
With bliss forever.

E'en as he was speaking

There came from sea speeding
A very small boat gliding
Before the waves a-riding;
And women twain within it
Wondrously attired.

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And they raised up Arthur anon, And aboard rapidly bore him, And adown softly they set him, And forth went they sailing.

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3 who 4 kin wondrously much 2 young man 6 to the was named 7 the ground 8 these words thou wert 10 I commit to thee here 11 kingdom defend 13 ever during thy life 14 keep for them 15 'customs, laws 16 that have stood in my days 17 I will go 18 fairest 19 of all 20 the 21 elf very beautiful 22 she 23 well 24 whole

Then was fulfilled there What Merlin said aforetime, That infinite grieving

46

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And fostered in Avalon

With the fairest of all fairies; And ever hope the Britons For Arthur's coming hither.

Was never the man born Of mother on lucky morn Who can of the true tale Of Arthur tell us further.

But once there was a wizard,

Merlin they called him, With words he predicted

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His sayings were truthful

That an Arthur should one day Come England to succour.

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47

42

48

Ye, mine leove 20 süstren,21 ne schulen 22 habben 23 no best 24 bute kat one.2 25 Ancre 26 thet haveth eihte 27 thüncheth 28 bet 29 husewif,30 ase Marthe was, then ancre; 26 31 ne none-weis ne mei heo 32 beon 33 Marie mid grithfulnesse 34 of heorte. Vor theonne 35 mot 36 heo thenchen 37 of the kues 38 foddre and of heordemonne 39 huire,40 oluhnen 41 thene 2 heiward,43 warien 44 hwon 45 hire, pünt and yelden,4 thauh,49 the hermes.50 Wat 51 Crist, this is lodlich 52 thing hwon 45 46 maketh mone in tune of ancre 5 eihte.27 Thauh,49 yif 56 eni mot 36 nede habben 57 ku, loke 58 thet heo 32 none monne ne eilie ne ne hermie ; ne thet hire thouht ne beo 61 nout ther-on ivestned.62 Ancre ne ouh 63 nout to habben 57 no thing thet drawe 64 utward hire heorte.

me

Ye, my dear sisters, shall have no beast but a cat only. A nun that has property seems rather a housewife, as Martha was, than a nun; and in no wise may she be Mary, with peacefulness of heart. For then must she think about the cow's fodder and the herdsmen's wages, flatter the constable, curse when the cow is put in the pound, and pay the damages nevertheless. God knows, it is a hateful thing when complaint is made in the village of a nun's property. However, if anyone must needs have a cow, let her see to it that it disturbs or harms no man; and that her heart be not fastened upon it. A nun ought to have nothing that will draw her heart outward to the world.

27

28

seems

32 she 33

be 34

29 rather peacefulness

69

no-ways

55

66 bargainer

keep, take care of 70

your

63

ought

67 sells

71

64

may draw

68 tradesmar house

For surely he had need then,

Of Saracens full bold.

He asked them what they sought Or else to land brought.

44

A pagan there beside

At once to him replied:

"All thy people we shall slay

44

And all who hold with Christ this day, 48 And thyself without delay;

Hence shalt thou not go away."

The king sprang from his steed then,

And with him true knights two

52

Of men he had too few.

Swords in hand they took

56

And together struck.

56

60

The king hadde al to fewe
Togenes so vele schrewe.15
So fele 16 mihten ythe 17
Bringe hem thre to dithe.18

The pains 19 come to londe
And neme 20 I hit in here honde.
That folc hi gunne quelle 21
And churchen for to felle.
Ther ne moste libbe 22

64

And for Horn yute 28 more.29

He 30 wenten ut of halle,
Fram hire maidenes alle.
Under a roche of stone

Ther heo 30 livede alone.
Ther heo 30 servede Gode,
Agenes the paynes 31 forbode; 32
Ther he 30 servede Criste,
That no payn hit ne wiste.33
Evere heo bad 34 for Horn Child
That Jesu Crist him beo myld.
Horn was in paynes honde
With his feren 35 of the londe.
Muchel was his fairhede,36
For Jhesu Crist him makede.
Payns him wolde slen 87

Other al quic flen.38

They smote so under shield
That some fell in the field.
The king had all too few
Against this evil crew.
So many might easily
Put to death these three.

The pagans came to land
And seized it in their hand.
The people they did kill
And churches spoil at will.
There none alive might go,
Kinsman no more than foe,
But who his faith forsook
And that of pagan took.
Of all earthly women
Saddest was Godhild then.
For Murry wept she sore
And for Horn yet more.
She went out of the hall,
Leaving her maidens all.
Under a rock of stone
There lived she all alone.
To serve God was she glad,
Though the pagans it forbade;
And there she served Christ too,
And naught the pagans knew.
Ever she prayed for Horn Child
That Jesus Christ be to him mild.
Horn was in pagans' hand
With his fellows of the land.
Beauty great had he,

бо

64

68

72

77

80

84

88

As Christ would have it be.

The pagans wished to slay him

5

92

heard slay 9 hence 10 then

24 kinsman 25 unless they forsook their faith 26 theirs 27 she wept 28 yet 29 See note on 1. 16.

31

11

they

12

wicked 16

they sought pagan believe thyself 8 thou shalt not did 13 felled 15 many easily death 19

14

smote 17

18

21 did kill 22 there might not live

23

against so many pagans took foreigner

30 she pagans' companions

20

35

32 prohibition knew prayed 36 fairness

37

38

slay flay alive