Sir Perceval of Galles, ? First Half of the 14Th Century, MS Early 15Th Century Based on Yvain, Ou Le Chevalier Au Lion by Chrétien De Troyes, C
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Sir Perceval of Galles, ? First half of the 14th century, MS early 15th century based on Yvain, ou le chevalier au lion by Chrétien de Troyes, c. 1180 Lef, lythes to me everyone; listen; My friends, Two wordes or thre, listen to a few words Of one that was faire and fre about a man who was handsome, And felle in his fighte. fierce; fighting courageous and a great fighter. 5 His righte name was Percyvell, His name was Perceval; He was fosterde in the felle, brought up; moors he was brought up in the wilderness He dranke water of the welle, and drank water from springs, And yitt was he wyghte. yet; strong and yet he was strong! His fadir was a noble man; His father was an illustrious man who, 10 Fro the tyme that he began, from the very beginning Miche wirchippe he wan much honor since he’d been made a knight, When he was made knyghte won much renown In Kyng Arthures haulle. palace in King Arthur's hall; Beste byluffede of alle, beloved he was loved above all the others. 15 Percyvell thay gan hym calle, did call him His name was Perceval, Whoso redis ryghte. reads correctly as we read. Who that righte can rede, Who reads aright [knows that] He was doughty of dede, bold he was valiant in performance, A styffe body on a stede powerful; war horse strong on a horse 20 Wapynes to welde; wapons; wield and skilled in arms; Tharefore Kyng Arthoure that’s why King Arthur Dide hym mekill honoure: much showed him much honour He gaffe hym his syster Acheflour, gave and gave him his sister Blanchefleur To have and to holde to have and to hold in wedlock 25 Fro thethyn till his lyves ende, thence until his life's end, With brode londes to spende, have the use of and gave him lands to live off, For he the knyght wele kende. well knew for the king recognised his merit. He bytaughte hir to welde, entrusted; govern The king entrusted her to him With grete gyftes to fulfill; with great gifts to seal the bond; 30 He gaffe his sister hym till to him he gave his sister to the knight To the knyght, at ther bothers will, both their with their mutual consent, With robes in folde. luxurious with luxurious robes. He gaffe hym robes in folde, luxurious Luxurious robes, lands to rule, Brode londes in wolde, in his possession innumerable wealth 35 Mony mobles untolde, possessions and his sister’s hand His syster to take. Perceval got from the King. To the kirke the knyghte yode church; went The knight went to the church For to wedde that frely fode, gentle creature to marry that gentle person For the gyftes that ware gude for the goodly gifts 40 And for hir ownn sake. and his own sake too. Sythen, withowtten any bade, since that time; delay And then, without delay, A grete brydale thay made, wedding feast they had a great wedding feast For hir sake that hym hade to honour her that has chosen Chosen to hir make; mate the knight to her husband. 45 And after, withowtten any lett, delay The wedding over, A grete justyng ther was sett; jousting; a great jousting took place Of all the kempes that he mett contestants where Perceval would meet Wolde he none forsake. cease [from fighting] whoever challenged him. 1 Wolde he none forsake, He would meet all, 50 The Rede Knyghte ne the Blake, black the Red Knight and the Black, Ne none that wolde to hym take come and all who faced him With schafte ne with schelde; lance; shield with lance and shield, He dose als a noble knyghte, does as He acted as a noble knight, Wele haldes that he highte; ever faithful [to his] promises upholding his honour 55 Faste preves he his myghte: proves and proving his might; Deres hym none elde. injures; older [knight] no experienced knight harmed him. Sexty schaftes, I say, He broke sixty lances that day, Sir Percyvell brake that ilke day, same And ever that riche lady lay as Blanchefleur looked on 60 One walle and byhelde. on from the castle walls. Thofe the Rede Knyghte hade sworne, though Thought the Red Knight took an oath, Oute of his sadill is he borne he was borne out of his saddle And almoste his lyfe forlorne, destroyed and nearly lost his life, And lygges in the felde. lies left lying in the field. 65 There he lygges in the felde - He lay in the field Many men one hym byhelde - on and many men watched him, Thurgh his armour and his schelde throughout stunned that time Stoneyde that tyde. stunned; time through armour and shield. That arghede all that ther ware, made fainthearted Everybody marvelled, 70 Bothe the lesse and the mare, common; noble the greater and the lesser both, That noble Percyvell so wele dare able how Perceval could parry Syche dynttys habyde. blows to suffer such blows as this knight had given. Was ther nowthir more ne lasse None of those Of all those that ther was who were there 75 That durste mete hym one the grasse, dared; on; grassy plot dared meet him on the field Agaynes hym to ryde. and ride against him. Thay gaffe Sir Percyvell the gree: victory Sir Perceval was given the trophy; Beste worthy was he; he was the best of all, And hamewardes than rode he, and he rode home 80 And blythe was his bryde. happy and his wife was delighted. And thofe the bryde blythe be though Blanchefleur was delighted That Percyvell hase wone the gree, victory that her husband had won the prize; Yete the Rede Knyghte es he but the Red Knight was less pleased, Hurte of his honde; as he nursed a broken hand 85 And therfore gyffes he a gyfte he makes a pledge and promised that, That if he ever covere myghte return (recover) if he ever recovered Owthir by day or by nyghte, from his injuries, In felde for to stonde, he would meet him in the field; That he scholde qwyte hym that dynt repay; blow he would repay the blow 90 That he of his handes hynte; from; received that he received from his hands. Sall never this travell be tynt, shall; effort be in vain His effort won’t be in vain, Ne tolde in the londe nor will it be said That Percyvell in the felde that Perceval defeated him Schulde hym schende thus undire schelde, defeat; under like that in the field; 95 Bot he scholde agayne it yelde, unless; he will pay him back If that he were leveande. living as long as he lived. 2 Now than are thay leveande bathe; both alive Both remained alive; Was noghte the Rede Knyghte so rathe impatient but this knight saw no cause to rush For to wayte hym with skathe. afflict; injury to afflict Perceval with injury. 100 Er ther the harmes felle, before; calamity Before the disaster came, Ne befelle ther no stryffe, there was no conflict, Till Percyvell had in his lyffe until until Perceval had A son by his yonge wyffe, a son by his young wife Aftir hym to duelle. to be his heir. 105 When the childe was borne, When the child was born, He made calle it one the morne on he was christened in the morning Als his fadir highte byforne - was named by his father’s name, Yonge Percyvell. young Perceval. The knyghte was fayne a feste made eager [to have] Sir Perceval announced a banquet 110 For knave-childe that he hade; boy to celebrate the birth, And sythen, withowtten any bade then; further ado and afterwards – what else? Offe justynges they telle. of joustings – but a jousting! Now of justynges they tell: A jousting was anounced; They sayne that Sir Percyvell it was proclaimed that Sir Perceval 115 That he will in the felde duelle, dwell would take on all comers Als he hase are done. previously in the field, as he had done. A grete justynge was ther sett A great jousting was organized Of all the kempes that ther mett, contestants for all the mighty warriors in the land, For he wolde his son were gette trained for Perceval wanted his son 120 In the same wonne. manner to have the same training. Theroff the Rede Knyghte was blythe, The Red Knight was delighted When he herde of that justynge kythe, jousting; news to hear of the jousting. And graythed hym armour ful swythe, prepared for himself; at once he armed himself And rode thedir righte sone; and rode there at once. 125 Agayne Percyvell he rade, against He rode against Perceval With schafte and with schelde brade, broad with spear and shield To holde his heste that he made, keep his vow to keep his promise, Of maistres to mone. because of injuries because of old grievance. remembered Now of maistres to mone, conquests worth mention As to memorable performance, 130 Percyvell hase wele done, Perceval has done well For the love of his yonge sone, on the first day One the firste day. for his son’s sake. Ere the Rede Knyghte was bownn, before; ready [to enter the Before the Red Knight got ready Percyvell hase borne downn lists] Perceval unhorsed 135 Knyght, duke, erle, and baroun, knights, dukes, earls and barons And vencusede the play. vanquished the field and ruled in the field.