Chaucer's Works-The Canterbury Tales Part 116

And I wil kepe the dore so ever here I ma.s.se! 515 Er they ben a.s.soyled there shal noon pa.s.se.'

'Dowt thee nought,' seyde Gamelyn 'whyl we ben in-feere, Kep thou wel the dore and I wol werche heere; Stere thee, good Adam and lat ther noon flee, And we schul telle largely how many that ther be.' 520 'Gamelyn,' seyde Adam 'do hem but good; They ben men of holy chirche draw of hem no blood, Save wel the croune and do hem non harmes, But brek bothe her legges and siththen here armes.'

Thus Gamelyn and Adam wroughte right fast, 525 And pleyden with the monkes and made hem agast.

Thider they come ryding Iolily with swaynes, And hom ayen they were y-lad in cartes and in waynes.

Tho they hadden al y-don than seyde a gray frere, 'Allas! sire abbot what dide we now heere? 530 Tho that we comen hider it was a cold reed, Us hadde ben better at home with water and with breed.'

Whyl Gamelyn made ordres of monkes and frere, Ever stood his brother and made foul chere; Gamelyn up with his staf that he wel knew, 535 And gerte him in the nekke that he overthrew; A litel above the girdel the rigge-bon to-barst; And sette him in the feteres ther he sat arst.

'Sitte ther, brother' sayde Gamelyn, 'For to colen thy blood as I dide myn.' 540 As swithe as they hadde y-wroken hem on here foon, They askeden watir and wisschen anoon, What some for here love and some for here awe, Alle the servants served hem of the beste lawe.

The scherreve was thennes but a fyve myle, 545 And al was y-told him in a litel whyle, How Gamelyn and Adam had doon a sory rees, Bounden and y-wounded men ayein the kinges pees; Tho bigan sone stryf for to wake, And the scherref was aboute Gamelyn for to take. 550

460. Hl. lest; Cp. leste. 461. _This is_ Zupitza's _emendation_; MSS.

as they atte halle dore comen in. 463. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals.

464. Hl. wer; _rest_ were. 467. or] Hl. other. 471. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 478. _All but_ Hl. _ins._ to _bef._ bringe. 486. Hl.

seyde; Pt. Ln. Harl. seiden. Hl. were; Cp. Ln. weren. 488. _All but_ Hl. _ins._ sorwe and _bef._ scathe. 489. Hl. brouk; _rest_ brouke, browke, broke. 495, 496. MSS. thought, brought; _against grammar_. 498. Ln. keste; _rest_ cast. 504. Ln. fellen; _rest_ felle, fell. 505. Hl. lewede; Pt. Ln. lewe; _rest_ lewed, lewid.

507. Hl. besyde; Rl. by-siden; Sl. bisiden; Cp. besyden. 512. Pt. Ln.

ne; _rest_ om. Hl. him; _rest_ hem (_twice_). Sl. Cp. quitte; Hl.

quyt. 516. Hl. schan; _rest_ shal, schal. 520. Hl. Cp. Ln. _om._ that. 531. Hl. _om._ we. 532. Hl. Pt. Ln. _omit second_ with.

536. Cp. gerte; _rest_ gert, girt, gerd. 540. Hl. colyn; Cp. coole; Ln. coly; _rest_ colen 543. Rl. Sl. Pt. Harl. _insert_ her (here) _before_ awe; Hl. Cp. Ln. _omit_. 545. Hl. a; _rest om._ 550. _I supply_ was; _the two_ Cambridge MSS. _have_ come; _which the rest omit; see ll._ 240, 785.

Now lytheth and lesteneth so G.o.d yif you good fyn!

And ye schul heere good game of yonge Gamelyn.

Four and twenty yonge men that heelden hem ful bolde, Come to the schirref and seyde that they wolde Gamelyn and Adam fetten, by her fay; 555 The scherref yaf hem leve soth as I you say; [659]

They hyeden faste wold they nought bilinne, Til they come to the gate ther Gamelyn was inne.

They knokked on the gate the porter was ny, And loked out at an hol as man that was sly. 560 The porter hadde biholde hem a litel whyle, He loved wel Gamelyn and was adrad of gyle, And leet the wicket stonden y-steke ful stille, And asked hem withoute what was here wille.

For al the grete company thanne spak but oon, 565 'Undo the gate, porter and lat us in goon.'

Than seyde the porter 'so brouke I my chin, Ye schul sey your erand er ye comen in.'

'Sey to Gamelyn and Adam if here wille be, We wil speke with hem wordes two or thre.' 570 'Felaw,' seyde the porter 'stond there stille, And I wil wende to Gamelyn to witen his wille.'

In wente the porter to Gamelyn anoon, And seyde, 'Sir, I warne you her ben come your foon; The scherreves meyne ben atte gate, 575 For to take you bothe schulle ye nat scape.'

'Porter,' seyde Gamelyn 'so moot I wel thee!

I wil allowe thee thy wordes whan I my tyme see; Go agayn to the yate and dwel with hem a whyle, And thou schalt see right sone porter, a gyle. 580 Adam,' sayde Gamelyn 'looke thee to goon; We have foo-men atte gate and frendes never oon; It ben the schirrefes men that hider ben y-come, They ben swore to-gidere that we schul be nome.'

'Gamelyn,' seyde Adam 'hye thee right blyve, 585 And if I faile thee this day evel mot I thryve!

And we schul so welcome the scherreves men, That some of hem schul make here beddes in the fen.'

Atte posterne-gate Gamelyn out wente, And a good cart-staf in his hand he hente; 590 Adam hente sone another gret staf For to helpe Gamelyn and goode strokes yaf.

Adam felde tweyne and Gamelyn felde three, The other setten feet on erthe and bigonne flee.

'What?' seyde Adam 'so ever here I ma.s.se! 595 I have a draught of good wyn! drink er ye pa.s.se!'

'Nay, by G.o.d!' sayde thay 'thy drink is not good, It wolde make mannes brayn to lyen in his hood.'

Gamelyn stood stille and loked him aboute, [660]

And seih the scherreve come with a gret route. 600 'Adam,' seyde Gamelyn 'what be now thy reedes?

Here cometh the scherreve and wil have cure heedes.'

Adam sayde, 'Gamelyn my reed is now this, Abyde we no lenger lest we fare amis: I rede that we to wode goon ar that we be founde, 605 Better is us ther loos than in town y-bounde.'

Adam took by the hond yonge Gamelyn; And everich of hem two drank a draught of wyn, And after took her cours and wenten her way; Tho fond the scherreve nest, but non ay. 610 The scherreve lighte adoun and went in-to the halle, And fond the lord y-fetered faste with-alle.

The scherreve unfetered him sone, and that anoon, And sente after a leche to hele his rigge-boon.

551. Hl. lestneth; Cp. lesteneth. Hl. goode. 555. Rl. Sl. Pt. Harl.

by her (here) fay; Cp. be way; Hl. Ln. away. 563. Hl. y-steke; _rest om._ 573. Cp. Ln. Harl. wente; _rest_ went. 576. Cp. schulle; Hl.

schul. Hl. na (_for_ nat); _rest_ not, nouht. 588. Hl. den; Pt.

fenne; _rest_ fen. 589. Cp. Ln. wente; _rest_ went. 594. Hl. fle; _rest_ to fle (flee). 602. Hl. comth; _rest_ cometh. 603. _So_ Hl.; _rest_ sayde to. 606. Hl. vs; _rest_ om. 608. Hl. tuo; _rest_ om.

609. Hl. coursers; _but see l._ 617. 611. Hl. adoun; _rest_ doun.

614. Hl. sent; Cp. Sl. sente.

Lete we now this false knight lyen in his care, 615 And talke we of Gamelyn and loke how he fare.

Gamelyn in-to the woode stalkede stille, And Adam the spenser lykede ful ille; Adam swor to Gamelyn by seynt Richer, 'Now I see it is mery to be a spencer, 620 That lever me were keyes for to bere, Than walken in this wilde woode my clothes to tere.'

'Adam,' seyde Gamelyn 'dismaye thee right nought; Many good mannes child in care is y-brought.'

And as they stoode talking bothen in-feere, 625 Adam herd talking of men and neyh, him thought, they were.

Tho Gamelyn under the woode lokede aright, Sevene score of yonge men he saugh wel a-dight; Alle satte atte mete in compas aboute.

'Adam,' seyde Gamelyn 'now have we no doute, 630 After bale cometh boote thurgh grace of G.o.d almight; Me thinketh of mete and drink that I have a sight.'

Adam lokede tho under woode-bowgh, And whan he seyh mete he was glad y-nough; For he hopede to G.o.d for to have his deel, 635 And he was sore alonged after a good meel.

As he seyde that word the mayster outlawe Saugh Gamelyn and Adam under woode-schawe.

'Yonge men,' seyde the maister 'by the goode roode, I am war of gestes G.o.d sende us non but goode; 640 [661]

Yonder ben two yonge men wonder wel a-dight, And paraventure ther ben mo who-so lokede aright.

Ariseth up, ye yonge men and fetteth hem to me; It is good that we witen what men they be.'

Up ther sterten sevene fro the diner, 645 And metten with Gamelyn and Adam spenser.

Whan they were neyh hem than seyde that oon, 'Yeldeth up, yonge men your bowes and your floon.'

Thanne seyde Gamelyn that yong was of elde, 'Moche sorwe mot he have that to you hem yelde! 650 I curse non other but right my-selve; They ye fette to yow fyve thanne ye be twelve!'

Tho they herde by his word that might was in his arm, Ther was non of hem alle that wolde do him harm, But sayde unto Gamelyn mildely and stille, 655 'Com afore our maister and sey to him thy wille.'

'Yonge men,' sayde Gamelyn 'by your lewte, What man is your maister that ye with be?'

Alle they answerde withoute lesing, 'Oure maister is y-crouned of outlawes king.' 660 'Adam,' seyde Gamelyn 'go-we in Cristes name; He may neyther mete nor drink werne us, for schame.

If that he be hende and come of gentil blood, He wol yeve us mete and drink and doon us som good.'

'By seynt Iame!' seyde Adam 'what harm that I gete, 665 I wil auntre to the dore that I hadde mete.'

Gamelyn and Adam wente forth in-feere, And they grette the maister that they founde there.

Than seide the maister king of outlawes, 'What seeke ye, yonge men under woode-schawes?' 670 Gamelyn answerde the king with his croune, 'He moste needes walke in woode that may not walke in towne.

Sire, we walke not heer noon harm for to do, But-if we meete with a deer to scheete ther-to, As men that ben hungry and mow no mete finde, 675 And ben harde bistad under woode-linde.'

Of Gamelynes wordes the maister hadde routhe, And seyde, 'ye schal have y-nough have G.o.d my trouthe!'

He bad hem sitte ther adoun for to take reste; And bad hem ete and drinke and that of the beste. 680 As they sete and eeten and dronke wel and fyn, [662]

Than seyde that oon to that other 'this is Gamelyn.'

Tho was the maister outlawe in-to counseil nome, And told how it was Gamelyn that thider was y-come.

Anon as he herde how it was bifalle, 685 He made him maister under him over hem alle.

Within the thridde wyke him com tyding, To the maister outlawe that tho was her king, That he schulde come hom his pees was y-mad; And of that goode tyding he was tho ful glad. 690 Tho seyde he to his yonge men 'soth for to telle, Me ben comen tydinges I may no lenger dwelle.'

Tho was Gamelyn anon withoute tarying, Maad maister outlawe and crouned here king.

615. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 618. Cp. likede; Ln. loked; _rest_ liked. 621. Hl. for; _rest om._ 625. Hl. And; _rest om._ 627, 642. Hl. loked. 627. Hl. the; _rest om._ 640. Cp. Pt. Harl. sende; _rest_ send. Hl. non but; _rest om._ 643. Hl. [gh]e; _rest om._ 652. Hl. Cp. They; Rl. Thei; Sl. Ln. Though. 654. Hl. alle; _rest om._ 655. Hl. sayd; _rest add_ e. Hl. vnto; _rest_ to. 663. Hl.

heende; Cp. kynde; _rest_ hende. 664. Hl. an (_for 1st_ and). 665.

Hl. seyd; Ln. seid; _rest add_ e. 666. Hl. auntre; _rest_ auenture me. Hl. Cp. Ln. to the dore; _rest om._ 673. Hl. for; _rest om._ 674. Hl. with; _rest om._ 679. Hl. ther; _rest om._ Hl. adoun; _rest_ doun. 681. Hl. sete and; _rest om._ 682. Hl. seyd; _rest add_ e. Hl. Pt. Ln. that oon ... other; _rest_ on to an other. 688, 690. Hl. tho; _rest om._ 689. Hl. I-made; Cp. Sl. maad; _rest_ made. 694. Cp. Maad; _rest_ Made (_badly_). Cp. Ln. here; _rest_ her.

Tho was Gamelyn crouned king of outlawes, 695 And walked a whyle under woode-schawes.

The false knight his brother was scherreve and sire, And leet his brother endite for hate and for ire.

Tho were his bonde-men sory and nothing glad, When Gamelyn her lord 'wolves-heed' was cryed and maad; And sente out of his men wher they might him finde, 701 For to seke Gamelyn under woode-linde, To telle him tydinges how the wind was went, And al his good reved and his men schent.

697. Cp. Ln. false; _rest_ fals. 699. Rl. Sl. glad; _rest_ glade, gladde. 700. Sl. Cp. maad; _rest_ made, maade. 703. Hl. how; _rest om._ 704. _So_ Hl. Cp. Ln.; _rest_ and alle his.

Whan they had him founde on knees they hem sette, 705 And a-doun with here hood and here lord grette; 'Sire, wraththe you nought for the goode roode, For we have brought you tydinges but they be nat goode.

Now is thy brother scherreve and hath the baillye, And he hath endited thee and 'wolves-heed' doth thee crye.' 710

'Allas!' seyde Gamelyn 'that ever I was so slak That I ne hadde broke his nekke tho I his rigge brak!

Goth, greteth hem wel myn housbondes and wyf, I wol ben atte nexte schire have G.o.d my lyf!'

Gamelyn com wel redy to the nexte schire, 715 And ther was his brother bothe lord and sire.

Gamelyn com boldelich in-to the moot-halle, And putte a-doun his hood among the lordes alle; 'G.o.d save you alle, lordinges that now here be!

But broke-bak scherreve evel mot thou thee! 720 Why hast thou do me that schame and vilonye, For to late endite me and 'wolves-heed' me crye?'

[663]

Tho thoughte the false knight for to ben awreke, And leet take Gamelyn moste he no more speke; Might ther be no more grace but Gamelyn atte laste 725 Was cast in-to prisoun and fetered ful faste.