Chaucer's Works-The Canterbury Tales Part 115

Now litheth, and lesteneth bothe yonge and olde, And ye schul heere gamen of Gamelyn the bolde. 290 Gamelyn come ther-to for to have comen in, And thanne was it y-schet faste with a pin; Than seyde Gamelyn 'porter, undo the yat, For many good mannes sone stondeth ther-at.'

Than answerd the porter and swor by G.o.ddes berde, 295 'Thow ne schalt, Gamelyn come into this yerde.'

'Thow lixt,' sayde Gamelyn 'so browke I my chin!'

He smot the wiket with his foot and brak awey the pin.

The porter seyh tho it might no better be, He sette foot on erthe and bigan to flee. 300 'By my faith,' seyde Gamelyn 'that travail is y-lore, For I am of foot as light as thou though thou haddest swore.'

Gamelyn overtook the porter and his teene wrak, And gerte him in the nekke that the bon to-brak, And took him by that oon arm and threw him in a welle, 305 Seven fadmen it was deep as I have herd telle.

Whan Gamelyn the yonge thus hadde pleyd his play, Alle that in the yerde were drewen hem away; They dredden him ful sore for werkes that he wroughte, And for the faire company that he thider broughte. 310 [653]

Gamelyn yede to the gate and leet it up wyde; He leet in alle maner men that gon in wolde or ryde, And seyde, 'ye be welcome withouten eny greeve, For we wiln be maistres heer and aske no man leve.

Yestirday I lefte' seyde yonge Gamelyn, 315 'In my brother seller fyve tonne of wyn; I wil not that this compaignye parten a-twinne, And ye wil doon after me whyl eny sope is thrinne, And if my brother grucche or make foul cheere, Other for spense of mete or drink that we spenden heere, 320 I am oure catour and bere oure aller purs, He schal have for his grucching seint Maries curs.

My brother is a niggoun I swer by Cristes ore, And we wil spende largely that he hath spared yore; And who that maketh grucching that we here dwelle, 325 He schal to the porter into the draw-welle.'

Seven dayes and seven night Gamelyn held his feste, With moche mirth and solas that was ther, and no cheste; In a little toret his brother lay y-steke, And sey hem wasten his good but durste he not speke. 330 Erly on a morning on the eighte day, The gestes come to Gamelyn and wolde gon here way.

'Lordes,' seyde Gamelyn 'wil ye so hye?

Al the wyn is not yet dronke so brouke I myn ye.'

Gamelyn in his herte was he ful wo, 335 Whan his gestes took her leve from him for to go; He wolde they had lenger abide and they seyde 'nay,'

But bitaughte Gamelyn G.o.d, and good day.

Thus made Gamelyn his feest and broughte it wel to ende, And after his gestes toke leve to wende. 340

289. Hl. lestneth; Pt. listne; _rest_ lesteneth, listenythe, listeneth, lysteneyth. Pt. Ln. [gh]onge; _rest_ yong, [gh]ong.

293. _All_ yate, gate; _and in the next line_ ther-ate. 295. Hl.

berd. 300. and] Hl. Cp. he. 304. Hl. Cp. gert; _rest_ girt. 306.

Hl. Cp. fadmen; Pt. fadme; Rl. Sl. fadame; Ln. faem; Harl. fadome.

312. Hl. maner men; _rest om._ Hl. _has 2nd_ in; _rest om._ Hl. Rl.

Pt. wold; Cp. Ln. wolde. 317. Hl. that; _rest om._ 318. Hl. while.

Hl. thrynne; Cp. thrinne; Sl. Pt. _er_-inne; Ln. _e_re-inne. 323.

Hl. nyggou_n_; Rl. Sl. nygon; Pt. nigon; Cp. Ln. negon. 328. Hl.

myrth and; _rest om._ Hl. that was; _rest om._ that (_as being understood_). 330. Hl. Cp. durst; _rest_ dorst. 334. Hl. y-dronke; _rest omit_ y-. Pt. Ln. brouke; Rl. browke; Hl. brouk. 335. Hl. he; _rest om._ 337. Hl. wold. Hl. lenger abide; _rest_ dwelled lenger. 339. Pt. feest; Hl. fest. MSS. brought, broght. 340. Hl.

gestys; _see l._ 336. Hl. took; Ln. had take; Cp. tok_e_; Sl. to (_sic_); _rest_ toke.

Litheth, and lesteneth and holdeth youre tonge, And ye schul heere gamen of Gamelyn the yonge; Herkeneth, lordinges and lesteneth aright, Whan alle gestes were goon how Gamelyn was dight.

Al the whyl that Gamelyn heeld his mangerye, 345 His brother thoughte on him be wreke with his treccherye.

Tho Gamelyns gestes were riden and y-goon, Gamelyn stood allone frendes had he noon; Tho after ful soone withinne a litel stounde, [654]

Gamelyn was y-taken and ful harde y-bounde. 350 Forth com the false knight out of the soleer, To Gamelyn his brother he yede ful neer, And sayde to Gamelyn 'who made thee so bold For to stroye my stoor of myn houshold?'

'Brother,' seyde Gamelyn 'wraththe thee right nought, 355 For it is many day y-gon siththen it was bought; For, brother, thou hast y-had by seynt Richer, Of fiftene plowes of lond this sixtene yer, And of alle the beestes thou hast forth bred, That my fader me biquath on his deth-bed; 360 Of al this sixtene yeer I yeve thee the prow, For the mete and the drink that we have spended now.'

Thanne seyde the false knight (evel mot he thee!) 'Herkne, brother Gamelyn what I wol yeve thee; For of my body, brother heir geten have I noon, 365 I wil make thee myn heir I swere by seint Iohan.'

'_Par ma foy!_' sayde Gamelyn 'and if it so be, And thou thenke as thou seyst G.o.d yelde it thee!'

Nothing wiste Gamelyn of his brotheres gyle; Therfore he him bigyled in a litel whyle. 370 'Gamelyn,' seyde he 'o thing I thee telle; Tho thou threwe my porter in the draw-welle, I swor in that wraththe and in that grete moot, That thou schuldest be bounde bothe hand and foot; Therfore I thee biseche brother Gamelyn, 375 Lat me nought be forsworen brother art thou myn; Lat me binde thee now bothe hand and feet, For to holde myn avow as I thee biheet.'

'Brother,' sayde Gamelyn 'al-so mot I thee!

Thou schalt not be forsworen for the love of me.' 380 Tho made they Gamelyn to sitte mighte he nat stonde, Til they hadde him bounde bothe foot and honde.

The false knight his brother of Gamelyn was agast, And sente aftir feteres to feteren him fast.

His brother made lesinges on him ther he stood, 385 And tolde hem that comen in that Gamelyn was wood.

Gamelyn stood to a post bounden in the halle, Tho that comen in ther lokede on him alle.

Ever stood Gamelyn even upright; [655]

But mete ne drink had he non neither day ne night. 390 Than seyde Gamelyn 'brother, by myn hals, Now I have aspyed thou art a party fals; Had I wist that tresoun that thou haddest y-founde, I wolde have yeve thee strokes or I had be bounde!'

Gamelyn stood bounden stille as eny stoon; 395 Two dayes and two nightes mete had he noon.

Thanne seyde Gamelyn that stood y-bounde stronge, 'Adam spenser me thinkth I faste to longe; Adam spenser now I byseche thee, For the mochel love my fader loved thee, 400 If thou may come to the keyes lese me out of bond, And I wil parte with thee of my free lond.'

Thanne seyde Adam that was the spencer, 'I have served thy brother this sixtene yeer, If I leete thee goon out of his bour, 405 He wolde say afterward I were a traytour.'

'Adam,' sayde Gamelyn 'so brouke I myn hals!

Thou schalt finde my brother atte laste fals; Therfor, brother Adam louse me out of bond, And I wil parte with thee of my free lond.' 410 'Up swich a forward' seyde Adam, 'y-wis, I wil do therto al that in me is.'

'Adam,' seyde Gamelyn 'al-so mot I thee, I wol holde thee covenant and thou wil me.'

Anon as Adames lord to bedde was y-goon, 415 Adam took the keyes, and leet Gamelyn out anoon; He unlokked Gamelyn bothe handes and feet, In hope of avauncement that he him biheet.

Than seyde Gamelyn 'thanked be G.o.ddes sonde!

Now I am loosed bothe foot and honde; 420 Had I now eten and dronken aright, Ther is noon in this hous schulde binde me this night.'

Adam took Gamelyn as stille as ony stoon, And ladde him in-to spence rapely and anon, And sette him to soper right in a privee stede, 425 He bad him do gladly and Gamelyn so dede.

Anon as Gamelyn hadde eten wel and fyn, And therto y-dronke wel of the rede wyn, 'Adam,' seyde Gamelyn 'what is now thy reed?

Wher I go to my brother and girde of his heed?' 430 'Gamelyn,' seyde Adam 'it schal not be so.

I can teche thee a reed that is worth the two.

[656]

I wot wel for sothe that this is no nay, We schul have a mangery right on Soneday; Abbotes and priours many heer schal be, 435 And other men of holy chirche as I telle thee; Thow schalt stonde up by the post as thou were hond-fast, And I schal leve hem unloke awey thou may hem cast.

Whan that they have eten and wa.s.schen here hondes, Thou schalt biseke hem alle to bring thee out of bondes; 440 And if they wille borwe thee that were good game, Then were thou out of prisoun and I out of blame; And if everich of hem say unto us 'nay,'

I schal do an other I swere by this day!

Thou schalt have a good staf and I wil have another, 445 And Cristes curs have that oon that faileth that other!'

'Ye, for G.o.de!' sayde Gamelyn 'I say it for me, If I fayle on my syde yvel mot I thee!

If we schul algate a.s.soile hem of here sinne, Warne me, brother Adam whan I schal biginne.' 450 'Gamelyn,' seyde Adam 'by seynte Charite, I wil warne thee biforn whan that it schal be; Whan I twinke on thee loke for to goon, And cast awey the feteres and com to me anoon.'

'Adam,' seide Gamelyn 'blessed be thy bones! 455 That is a good counseil yeven for the nones; If they werne me thanne to bringe me out of bendes, I wol sette goode strokes right on here lendes.'

341. Hl. lestneth; Pt. listen; _rest_ lesteneth, listenyth. 343. Hl.

herkneth; _rest_ Herkeneth, Herkenyth, Harkeneth. 346. MSS.

thought. 350. Hl. I-take; _rest_ taken. Cp. Ln. harde; _rest_ hard. 351. Cp. Rl. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. Hl. selleer; Cp.

sellere; Ln. selere; _rest_ solere (_rightly; cf._ toret _in l_.

329). 360. Pt. dethes; _rest_ deth; _see l_. 24. 363. Rl. Sl. Cp.

Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 365. Hl. Cp. Ln. geten heir (heer, here); _rest_ heir (heire, here) geten. 367. Hl. sayd; _rest have final_ e. 376. Hl. forsworn; _but see l._ 380. 381. Hl. might; _read_ mighte; _rest vary_. 382. Sl. Ln. hadde; Cp. hadden; _rest_ had, hadd. 383. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 384. Cp. sente; Sl. sende; _rest_ sent. 386. Hl. Rl. told; Ln. tolden; _rest_ tolde. 388. Hl.

ther; _rest om._ Cp. lokeden; _rest_ loked; _read_ lokede. 394. Hl.

the; _rest om._ 400, 405, 432. _All_ the (_for_ thee). 407. Hl.

brouk; Cp. Pt. Ln. brouke. 414. Hl. Sl. hold; _rest_ holde, halde.

_After_ wil Cp. _ins._ lose, _and_ Harl. helpe. 417. Hl. hand; Cp.

handes; _rest_ hondes. 424. Hl. Cp. rapely and; _rest om._ and.

430. Hl. Wher; Ln. Where; Cp. For; _rest_ Or. 434. Ln. sonondaye; Hl.

_and rest_ sonday; _read_ sonnenday _or_ soneday. 437. Pt. Ln. Harl.

bound fast; _rest_ hond-fast (_rightly_). 438. _All but_ Hl. _ins._ that _bef_. awey. 439. Hl. waisschen; _rest_ wa.s.schen, wa.s.shen.

443. Hl. vnto; _rest_ to. 450. Hl. I; _rest_ we. 453. Ln. twynke; Hl. Cp. twynk; _rest_ wynke, winke, wynk. 456. Hl. [gh]euyng; Cp.

yeuyng; _rest_ yeuen, [gh]euen, or [gh]iuen. 457. Hl. thanne; _rest om._

Tho the Sonday was y-come and folk to the feste, Faire they were welcomed both leste and meste; 460 And ever atte halle-dore as they comen in, They caste their eye on yonge Gamelyn.

The false knight his brother ful of trechery, Alle the gestes that ther were atte mangery, Of Gamelyn his brother he tolde hem with mouthe 465 Al the harm and the schame that he telle couthe.

Tho they were served of messes two or three, Than seyde Gamelyn 'how serve ye me?

It is nought wel served by G.o.d that al made!

That I sitte fasting and other men make glade.' 470 The false knight his brother ther that he stood, Tolde alle his gestes that Gamelyn was wood; [657]

And Gamelyn stood stille and answerde nought, But Adames wordes he held in his thought.

Tho Gamelyn gan speke dolfully with-alle 475 To the grete lordes that saten in the halle: 'Lordes,' he seyde 'for Cristes pa.s.sioun, Helpeth bringe Gamelyn out of prisoun.'

Than seyde an abbot sorwe on his cheeke!

'He schal have Cristes curs and seynte Maries eeke, 480 That thee out of prisoun beggeth other borwe, But ever worthe hem wel that doth thee moche sorwe.'

After that abbot than spak another, 'I wold thin heed were of though thou were my brother!

Alle that thee borwe foule mot hem falle!' 485 Thus they seyden alle that weren in the halle.

Than seyde a priour yvel mot he thryve!

'It is moche scathe, boy that thou art on lyve.'

'Ow!' seyde Gamelyn 'so brouke I my bon!

Now I have aspyed that freendes have I non. 490 Cursed mot he worthe bothe fleisch and blood, That ever do priour or abbot ony good!'

Adam the spencer took up the cloth, And loked on Gamelyn and say that he was wroth; Adam on the pantrye litel he thoughte, 495 But two goode staves to halle-dore he broughte, Adam loked on Gamelyn and he was war anoon, And caste awey the feteres and he bigan to goon: Tho he com to Adam he took that oo staf, And bigan to worche and goode strokes yaf. 500 Gamelyn cam in-to the halle and the spencer bothe, And loked hem aboute as they had be wrothe; Gamelyn sprengeth holy-water with an oken spire, That some that stoode upright fellen in the fire.

There was no lewed man that in the halle stood, 505 That wolde do Gamelyn eny thing but good, But stood bisyden and leet hem bothe werche, For they hadde no rewthe of men of holy cherche; Abbot or priour monk or chanoun, That Gamelyn overtok anon they yeeden doun. 510 Ther was non of hem alle that with his staf mette, That he ne made him overthrowe and quitte him his dette.

'Gamelyn,' seyde Adam 'for seynte Charite, Pay large liverey for the love of me, [658]