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The King of Tars

Text is taken from The King of Tars, ed. by John H. Chandler, Teams Middle English Texts (Kalamazoo, MI: Medieval Institute Publications, 2015), https://d.lib.rochester.edu/teams/publication/chandler-the-king-of-tars. Translation is by Alaric Hall. There are probably quite a few typos in , so ’d appreciate any corrections!

Herkneth to me bothe eld and ying, Listen to me, people both old and young, For Marie’s love, that swete thing, for the love of Mary, that sweet person, Al hou a wer bigan all about how a war began Bituene a trewe Cristen king between an faithful Christian king 5 And an hethen heye lording, and a noble heathen lord, Of Dames the soudan. the Sultan of Damascus. The king of Tars hadde a wive, The King of Tars had a wife; Feirer might non ben olive — there is no-one alive who is more beautiful, That ani wight telle can. as anyone can see. 10 A douhter thai hadde hem bituen, The two of them had a daughter; Non feirer woman might ben — there couldn't be a more beautiful woman, As white as fether of swan. as white as the feather of a swan.

The meiden was schast and blithe of chere The girl was chaste and had a cheerful look, With rode red so blosme on brere as rosy-cheeked as a flower on a briar, 15 And eyghen stepe and gray. and her eyes lively and pale. With lowe scholders and white swere With elegant shoulders and a white neck, Hir for to sen was gret preier it was a great desire among proud and fun Of princes proud and play. princes to look upon her. The los of hir gan spring wide Her fame began to spread widely 20 In other londes bi ich a side, through other countries all around, So the soudan herd it say. until the Sultan heard of it. Him thought his hert it brast ofive It seemed to him that his heart would break in five pieces Bot yif might have hir to wive unless he could have her as a wife, That was so feir a may. was such a beautiful girl.

25 His messangers he gan calle He began to call his messengers And bad hem wightly wenden alle them and commanded them all to proceed swiftly To hir fader the king, to her father the king, And seyd he wald hou so it bifalle and said that he wished -- by hook or by crook -- His douhter clothe in riche palle clothe his daughter in expensive fabric 30 And spouse hir with his ring; and marry her with his ring; And yif he nold, withouten feyl, and if he refused, then without question He wald hir win in batayl he would win her in battle With mani an heye lording. against many noble lords. The messangers forth thai went The messengers went out 35 To dou the soudan’s comandment to fulfil the Sultan's command Withouten ani duelling. without any delay.

Than the king of Tars this understode When the King of Tars discovered this Almest for wrethe he wex ner wode he almost went insane from anger, And seyd thus in sawe: and made a speech thus: 40 “Bi Him that dyed on the rode, "by him who died on the Cross, Ich wald arst spille min hert blode I would rather be slain in battle, In bateyl to ben yslawe. spilling my heart's blood. Y nold hir give a Sarazin I wouldn't give her to a Saracen For alle the lond that is mine. for all the land I own. 45 The devel him arst to drawe, May the Devil get him instead, Bot sche wil with hir gode wille unless of her will she desires Be wedded to him, hirselve to spille. to marry him, to her own detriment. Hir thoughtes nought Y no knawe, I do not know her views,

“Ac Y schal wite ar than pas.” but I will know before depart." 2

50 His douhter anon was brought in plas In due course, his daughter was brought to that place, And he axed hir bilive. and immediately he asked her. “Douhter, the soudan of Damas "Daughter, the Sultan of Damascus Yernes for to se thi fas longs to see your face, And wald thee have to wive. and desires you as his wife. 55 Waldestow, douhter, for tresour Would you, daughter, forsake for treasure Forsake Jhesus our Saveour our saviour Jesus, That suffred woundes five?” who suffered five wounds?" The maiden answerd with mild mod The girl answered with a gentle heart Biforn hir fader ther sche stode where she stood before her father: 60 “Nay, lord, so mot Y thrive! "No, lord, hand on heart!

“Jhesu mi Lord in Trinité May Jesus, my Trinitarian lord, Lat me never that day yse never let me see the day A tirant for to take. that a tyrant receives me. O God and Persones Thre One O God, three persons in one, 65 For Marie love, Thi moder fre, for the love of Mary, your noble mother, Gif him arst tene and wrake.” give him instead rage and revenge." The king seyd, “Douhter, be stille. The king said "daughter, be calm. schalt never be wedded him tille You will never be married to him, For no bost he can make. whatever boasts he makes. 70 Y schal him sende word ogein I will send him word back That alle his thoughtes ben in vein, that all his dreams are in vain, For thou hast him forsake.” because you have refused him."

Right be the self messangers Via the very same messengers That com fro the soudan fers who came from the fierce sultan, 75 This wordes he him sent: he sent him these words: That sche leved nought on his maners, that she did not believe in his customs; Sche nold nought leten hir preiers she did not wish to abandon her prayers To God omnipotent. to omnipotent God. He bad him tak another thought, He bade him think again, 80 For of his douhter no tit him nought because he had no claim on his daughter For tresore no for rent. either for payment nor rents. The messangers herd him thus seyn; The messengers hear him speak thus; With that word thai turned ogain with that response turned away And to the soudan thai went. and went to the Sultan.

85 As the soudan sat at his des, As the Sultan sat on his dais, Yserved of the first mes, with the first course served, Thai com into the halle. they entered the hall. Bifor tho princes prout in pres They fell down on their knees Her tale to telle withouten les to tell their story without any lies 90 On knes thai gun doun falle. before the those princes, proud in battle. Thai seyd, “Sir, the king of Tars They said "sir, the King of Tars Of wicked wordes is nought scars. does not lack for evil word. ‘Hethen hounde’ he gan thee calle; He was calling you 'heathen dog', And ar he give his douhter thee tille, and before will give his daughter to you 95 Thine hert blod he will spille, he will spill your heart's blood, And thine barouns alle.” and all your barons' too."

When the soudan this wordes herd When the Sultan heard these words Also a wilde bore he ferd. he behaved like a wild boar. His robe he rent adoun; He tore apart his robe, 100 His here he rent of heved and berd; he tore his hair from his head and bears, He schuld venge him with his swerd, he swore by Saint Mahoun He swore bi Seyn Mahoun. that he would take revenge by the sword. The table so hetelich he smot He hit the table so violently It fel in to the flore fot-hot that it fell straight to the floor, 105 And loked as a lyoun. and he looked like a lion. 3

Al that he raught he smot doun right — Everything he touched he knocked right over — Serjaunt, squier, clerk, and knight, servants, squires, clerics and knights; Bothe erl and baroun. earls and barons too.

Al thus the soudan ferd, yplight; The Sultan went on this way 110 Al that day and alle that night all that day and all that night; No man might him schast. no-one could restrain him. Amorwe when it was light, The next day, when it was light, His messangers he sent ful right he sent his messengers, oh yes, For his barouns wel fast to his reliable barons, 115 That thai com to his parlement both the lesser and the greater, Forto heren his jugement, so that they came to a council Bothe lest and mast. to hear his opinion. When the parlement was pleyner, When all the council was assembled, Tho bispac the soudan fer then the fierce Sultan spoke, 120 And seyd to hem in hast: and in haste said to them:

“Lordings,” he seyd, “what to red. "Lords", he said, "what to do? Me hath ben don a gret misdede The Christian King of Tars Of Tars the Cristen king! has done me a great wrong. Y bede him bothe lond and lede I offered him both land and people, 125 For his douhter worthliche in wede honourably, for his daughter in marriage, To han wed hir with ring, to have married her with a ring, And he me sent word ogain and he sent me word back In bateyl Y schuld arst be sleyn that I should rather be killed in battle, And mani an heye lording! along with many a noble lord. 130 And certes he schal be forsworn. For certain he must be disproved. Wrotherhele than was he been To misfortune he was destined then, Bot Y therto it bring. and I will bring it about.

“And therfore ich have after you sent And so I have sent for you And asembled herer this parlement and assembled this council here 135 To wite your conseyle.” to hear your advice." And alle thai seyd with gode entent And they all said — and they meant it — Thai were at his comandment, that they were at his command, Certeyn withouten feile. for sure and without fail. Right bi that day a fourtennight They should be all prepared 140 Thai schul ben alle redi dight two weeks from that day With helme, hauberk of meile. with helmets and coats of mail. And whan thai were so at his hest And when they were thus at his command The soudan made a riche fest that Sultan made a lavish feast For love of his bateyle. in celebration of his army.

145 The soudan gaderd a rout unride The Sultan gathered a gigantic company Of Sarrazins of michel pride of very proud Saracens Opon the king to wende. to go against the king. The king of Tars herd that tide; The King of Tars heard that news; He gadred his ost bi ich a side, he gathered his army from every direction — 150 Al that he might ofsende. everyone that he could summon. Than bigan wretthe to wake Then anger began to grow For that mariage might nought take so that marriage might not seize Of that maiden hende. that fair maiden. Of bateyl thai gun sett a day, They set a day for the battle, 155 Of Seynt Eline the thridde in May, Saint Helen's day, the third of May: No lenger no wald thai lende. they didn't wish to wait longer.

The soudan com with his pouwer The Sultan came with his might, With bright armour and brod baner, with bright armour and a broad banner, Into the feld to fight onto the field of battle, 160 With sexti thousend Sarrazins fer, with sixty thousand fierce Saracens, 4

That alle the feldes fer and ner so that every field, near and far, With helmes lemed light. gleamed with helmets. The king of Tars com with his ost, The King of Tars came with his arms, With gret pride and michel bost, with great pride and boasting, 165 With mani an hardi knight, with many resolute knights, And aither ost gan other aseyle. and each army began to attack the other. Ther might men se a strong bateyle There you could see a hard battle, That grimli was of sight. that was fearsome to behold.

Ther hewe houndes on Cristen men1 There dogs chopped at Chrisian people, 170 And feld hem doun bi nighen and ten; and felled them in nines and tens: So wilde thai were and wode they were so wild and enraged That men might sen alle the fen that you could see the they valleys Of Cristen both fremd and ken, run with the blood of the whole morass The valays ren on blod. of Christians, both friends and strangers. 175 The soudan and his folk that stounde The Sultan and his people at that moment Hewe adoun with grimli wounde chop down, with fearsome wounds, Mani a frely rode. many noble foray. Allas, to wele sped Mahoun! Alas! Mahoun did too well! The Cristen men yede al adoun The Christian men conceded the fight: 180 Was nought that hem withstode. nothing withstood their enemies.

The king of Tars seye that sight; The King of Tars saw that sight; For wretthe he was neye wode, aplight. he was nearly mad with anger, oh yes. He hent in hond a spere In his hand he held a spear, And to the soudan he rode ful right. and role straight at the Sultan. 185 With a stroke o michel might, With a stroke of great force, To grounde he gan him bere. he brought him to the ground. Ther he hadde the soudan slawe He would have slain the Sultan there, Ac ten thousend of hethen lawe but ten thousand of the heathen faith Saved him in that were — saved him in that war: 190 Thai sett him on a ful gode stede they put him on a fine steed, That was so gode at everi nede that was so excellent in all circumstances That no man might him dere. that no-one could harm him.

And when he was opon his stede, And once he was on his steed, Him thought he brend so spark on glede it seemed like he was burning, like a spark among coals, 195 For ire and for envie. from anger and from spite. He faught so he wald wede: He fought as if he was going to go insane: Alle that he hit he maked blede. everything he struck he made bleed. “Help, Mahoun!” he gan crie. "Help, Mahoun!", he began to shout. Mani helme ther was ofweved Many helmets were cut off there, 200 And mani bacinet tocleved and many bascinets cloven in two, And sadles fel emtye; and saddles left empty; Mani swerd and mani scheld many swords and many shields And mani knight lay in the feld and many knights of the Christian force Of Cristen compeynie. lay in the field.

205 The king of Tars seye him so ride The King of Tars sees his foe ride thus, He fleye and durst nought abide so he dared not wait and fled Homward to his cité homewards to his city. The Sarrazins folwed in that tide The Saracens follwed at once And slough adoun bi ich aside and cut down, on every side, 210 That Cristen folk so fre. that noble Christian army. Thritti thousend ther were yslawe Thirty thousand knights of Christian faith Of knightes of Cristen lawe were slain there — And that was gret pité. and that was a great shame. Amorwe for her bother sake The next morning, for both their sakes, 215 Trewes thai gun bituen hem take they began to establish a truce between them, A moneth and dayes thre. for a month and three days. 5

On a day, the king sat in his halle One day, the King was sitting in his hall, And made grete diol with alle, and was very mournful, For his folk were forlore. because his people were going to lose. 220 His douhter com clad in palle His daughter came to him, dressed in rich cloth; Adoun on knes sche gan to falle she fell down on her knees And seyd with sikeing sore, and said with heavy sighs “Sir, lete me be the soudan’s wiif "Sir, let me be the Sultan's wife, And rere na more cuntek no striif and raise no more violence or strife 225 As hath ben here bifore. like have been experiencing. For me hath mani man ben schent, For my sake have many men have been killed, Cités nomen and tounes brent; cities seized, and towns burned; Allas that ich was bore! alas that I was born!

“Fader, Y wil serve at wille Father, I will do the Sultan's desire, 230 The soudan, bothe loude and stille, in rage and calm, And leve on God almight, and trust in God Almighty, Bot it so be, he schal thee spille in case your enemy destroys you And alle thi lond take him tille and take possession of all your land With bateyle and with fight. through battle and fighting. 235 Certes Y nil no lenger dreye For sure, I will no longer tolerate That Cristen folk for me dye — Christian people dying for me: It were a diolful sight!” it was a wretched sight." The king of Tars answerd tho, Then the King of Tars answered, As man that was in sorwe and wo, like a man who was in the depths of sorrow, 240 Unto that bird bright: to that radiant girl:

“Now douhter, blisced mot thou be "Blessed be, my daughter, Of Jhesu Crist in Trinité the time when you were born, The time that thou were bore. by Jesus Christ in Trinity! For thou wilt save thi moder and me, Since you wish to save your mother and me 245 Al thi preier graunt Y thee, I agree to all your requests Astow hast seyd bifore.” that you have just uttered." “Fader,” sche seyd withouten duelling, "Father", she said without delay, “For Jhesu’s love, Heven king, "for the love of Jesus, Heaven's king, Yif it thi wille wore, if it be your will, 250 Do now swithe that Y war there4 arrange it forthrightly so that I am there, Ar ani more sorwe arere before any more sorrow rears its head That ye be nought forlore.” and you are totally lost."

The king of Tars with gode entent The King of Tars resolutely Hastilich after his wiif he sent, sent swiftly for his wife, 255 That levedi that was so hende. the lady who was so fair. When sche was comen in present When she was in his presence He seyd, “Dame, our douhter hath ment he said "Lady, our daughter has decided To the soudan to wende. to marry the Sultan. Do loke what rede is now at thee, Consider the decision that is now before you, 260 For now er here bot we thre since now only the three of us here To save Cristen kende.” can save the Christian people." The quene answerd withouten feile The Queen answered forthrightly: “Y no schal never therto conseyle "I shall never, ever advise Our douhter forto schende.” that we destroy our daughter."

265 The maiden was ful of sorwe and wo. The girl was full of sorrow and grief. “Merci,” sche crid hir moder tho "Mercy!" she cried to her mother then, With a wel reweful steven. with a truly rueful voice. “Moder, it is nought long ago "Mother, not long ago For me were slawe knightes thro, thirty-seven thousand 270 Thritti thousende and seven. excellent knights were killed for me. Forthi Y wil suffre no lenger thrawe Therefore I will no longer endure 6

That Cristen folk be for me slawe, Christian people being killed for me, With the grace of God in Heven.” by the grace of God in Heaven." Thus, the maiden with wordes stille Thus the girl, with calm words, 275 Brought hem bothe in better wille brought them both to a better desire, With resoun right and even. with true and balanced reasoning.

And when thai were thus at on, And when they were thus in accord Messangers thai sent anon they sent messengers forthwith Unto that riche soudan, to that powerful sultan: 280 To make his frende that were his fon; to make his enemy his friend And for he schuld his men nought slou, and to prevent him killing his men, His douhter he graunt him than. he granted him his daughter then. The messangers nold no leng abide; The messengers didn't hang about: To the soudan thai went that tide they went right away to the Sultan 285 And thus thai tel him gan. and began to inform him accordingly. When tho letters weren yradde, When the letters had been read, The soudan was bothe blithe and glad, the Sultan was both glad and happy, And so was mani a man. and so were many others.

So glad he was in al maners He was so happy in all respects 290 He cleped to him of his pers that he summoned his fellow nobles — Doukes, princes, and kinges. dukes, princes, and kings. Into a chaumber thai went yfers They gathered together in a chamber To dight unto the messangers to prepare precious stones and luxurious rings Gode stones and riche ringes. for the messengers. 295 Bi conseyl of the lordinges alle, On the advice of all the lords The soudan dede bring into the halle the Sulan brought gifts Giftes and riche thinges, and expensive objects into the hall, And gaf to hem grete plenté, and gave the messengers To the messangers, with hert fre a plenitude, with noble heart, 300 And thonked hem her tidinges. and thanked them for their news,

And seyd he was alle at his wille, and said that he was entirely at the other man's desire, Arliche and late, loude and stille, early and late, rage or calm, To helpe him at his nede; to help him in his need. No more folk nold he spille. He would kill no more people. 305 The messangers went the king tille The messengers went to the King And told him of that dede. and told him about that deed. The king and the quene also The King and Queen too Bothen hem was wele and wo, were both happy and sad, In rime also we rede. as we read in the poem. 310 Gret joie thai hadde withouten les They had great joy, without a lie, For that the soudan wald have pes because the Sultan wanted to have peace On Cristen felawerede. with the Christian company.

The first day of Julii tide, On the first day of July The soudan nold no leng abide; the Sultan wished to wait no longer; 315 To the king of Tars he sent he sent many knights and great glory Knightes fele and michel pride and expensive jewels, without any catch, And riche jewels is nought to hide to give as a gift To gif to his present. to the King of Tars. The messangers, withouten duelling, The messengers, without delay, 320 Com to Tars bifor the king came before the king in Tars To have his douhter gent. to have his noble daughter. Thai welcomed hem with glad chere — When they went to the chamber, Of gret pité now may ye here — they welcomed them with glad faces — To chaumber when thai went. you are now going to hear a very sorrowful matter.

325 Thai maden cri and michel wo They uttered cries and great sorrow, For thai schuld her douhter forgo because they would have to give up their daughter 7

And to the soudan hir sende. if they sent her to the Sultan. The maiden preyd hem bothe tho Then the maiden begged them both That thai schuld bi her conseyl do, that they should follow her advice 330 To saven Cristen kende. to save the Christian people. “For Y wil suffre no lenger thrawe "Because I will no longer endure this time That Cristen folk be for me slawe.” when Christian men are slain for me." To halle thai gun wende They proceeded to the hall And welcomed tho messangers and welcomes those messengers 335 That com fro the soudan fers who came from the fierce Sultan With wordes fre and hende. with noble and fair words.

Than seyd the quen to hem than, Then the Queen said to them “Hou fareth your lord, the soudan, "how is your lord the Sultan doing, That is so noble a knight?” he who is such a noble knight?" 340 The messangers answere gan The messengers proceeded to answer: “He farth as wele as ani man, "he's doing as well as anyone, And is your frende aplight.” and has pledged his friendship to you." The quen seyd with milde chere, The Queen said, with a gentle expression, “Wele better thei mi douhter were, "even if my daughter would be better off 345 Bi Jhesu ful of might. though Jesus, full of might — Mi douhter is noght to him to gode; my daughter it not too noble for him, Y vouchesave on him mi blode, I swear it by my own blood, Thei sche were ten so bright.”6 even if she were ten times more beautiful."

The messangers dight hem swithe The messengers prepared themselves quickly 350 With knightes fele and stedes stithe with many knights and strong horses And brought hir into chare. and led her into a carriage. The king and the quen were unblithe, The King and Queen were unhappy — Her sorwe couthe thai no man kithe they could make their sorrow known to no-one — When thai seye hir forth fare. when they saw her travel off. 355 Into chaumber thai went tho Then, when the two of them were together, When thai were togider bothe to they went into their chamber Than wakened alle her care. and their worries all awoke.

The king was in sorwe bounde; The King was wrapped in sorrow; The quen swoned mani a stounde the Queen fainted over and over 360 For her douhter dere. on account of her dear daughter. Knightes and levedis ther hem founde Knights and ladies found them there And tok hem up hole and sounde, and steadied them and healed them, And comfort hem in fere. and comfort them with company. Thus the quen and the king So the King and Queen 365 Lived in sorwe and care, morning; lived in sorrow and anxiety, mourning: Great diol it was to here. it was sorrowful to hear. Her care was ever aliche newe, Their worries were continually renewed; Hem chaunged bothe hide and hewe7 both their skin and their colour changed For sorwe and reweli chere. because of their sadness and rueful mood.

370 Nou late we ben alle her morning, Now we'll leave off their mourning, And telle we of that maiden ying and tell of that young maiden, That to the soudan is fare. who has gone to the Sultan. He com with mani gret lording He came with many great lords Forto welcome that swete thing to welcome that sweet girl 375 When sche was brought in chare. when she was brought in the carriage. He kist hir wel mani a sithe; He kissed her a great many times; His joie couthe he no man kithe — no-one could reckon his joy; Oway was alle his care. all his cares had vanished. Into chaumber sche was ladde, She was led into a chamber, 380 And richeliche sche was cladde and was arrayed richly, As hethen wiman ware. in the style of heathen women. 8

Whan sche was cladde in riche palle, When she was dressed in fine fabric, The soudan dede his knightes calle the Sultan assembled his knights, And badde that maiden forth fett. and had the maiden brought out, 385 And when sche com into the halle, and when she came into the hall, Bifor the heyghe lordinges alle, before all the noble lords, Toforn the soudan thai hir sett. they set her in front of the Sultan. Gret diol it was forto se, It was very sad to see The bird that was so bright on ble that girl, so radiant in appearance, 390 To have so foule a mett. having such a hideous mate. Thei that sche made gret solas Although she pretended to be very cheerful The sorwe that at hir hert was no-one could have stopped No might it noman lett. the sorrow that was in her heart.

And whan it was comen to night, And when night had come, 395 The levedi that was so feir and bright, the lady who was so fair and beautiful, To chaumber sche gan wende. proceeded to her chamber. And therin anon Y you plight, And I assure you that there A riche bed ther was ydight a splendid bed was arrayed Unto that levedi hende. for that gracious lady. 400 The levedi was to bed ybrought; The lady was brought to the bed; The soudan wild com therin nought the Sultan did not want to come in there, Noither for fo no frende — whether for friend or foe, For nothing wold he neyghe that may because he didn't want to approach that maiden Til that sche leved opon his lay, who was of the Christian people 405 That was of Cristen kende. until she believed in his religion.

Wel lothe war a Cristen man A Christian man would be very unwilling To wedde an hethen woman to marry a heathen woman That leved on fals lawe; who believed in a false religion: Als loth was that soudan just as unwilling was that Sultan 410 To wed a Cristen woman, to marry a Christian woman, As Y finde in mi sawe. as I have heard tell. The soudan yede to bed al prest, The Sultan went to bed right away; Knightes and levedis yede to rest; knights and ladies went to rest; The pople hem gan withdrawe. everyone began to withdraw. 415 That miri maiden litel slepe, That pretty girl slept little, Bot al night wel sore sche wepe weeping hard all night, Til the day gan dawe. until day began to dawn.

And als sche fel on slepe thore And as she fell asleep there Her thought ther stode hir bifore it seemed to her that one hundred 420 An hundred houndes blake, black dogs stood before her, And bark on hir lasse and more. each and every one of them barking at her, And on ther was that greved hir sore, and there was one that troubled her greatly Oway that wald hir take. that wanted to take her away; And sche no durst him nought smite and she didn't dare strike him 425 For drede that he wald hir bite, for fear that he would bite her, Swiche maistri he gan to make. since he was making such a palaver, And as sche wald fram hem fle, and just as she wanted to flee from them, Sche seye ther stond develen thre she saw three devils standing there, And ich brent as a drake. each burning like a dragon.

430 So lothliche thai were al ywrought, They were so hideous in form, And ich in hond a gleive brought, each holding a glaive in its hand, Sche was aferd ful sore. that she was sorely afraid. On Jhesu Crist was alle hir thought; She concentrated firmly on Jesus Christ: Therfore the fendes derd hir nought; therefore the devils did not harm her 435 Noither lesse no more. in any way, shape or form. Fro the fendes sche passed sounde, She proceeded safely from the devils, And afterward ther com an hounde and afterward a dog came 9

With browes brod and hore. with broad, grey brows. Almost he hadde hir drawen adoun He had almost pulled her down, 440 Ac thurth Jhesus Cristes passioun but she was saved there Sche was ysaved thore. by Jesus Christ's crucifixion.

Yete hir thought withouten lesing But she thought — I tell no lie — Als sche lay in hir swevening while she lay dozing (That selcouthe was to rede) (strange it was to say) 445 That blac hounde hir was folweing. that that black dog was following her. Thurth might of Jhesu, Heven king, Through the power of Jesus, the king of Heaven, Spac to hir in manhede it spoke to her in human form, In white clothes als a knight, dressed like a knight in white clothes, And seyd to hir, “Mi swete wight, and said to her "my sweet thing, 450 No tharf thee nothing drede you don't need to fear Of Ternagaunt no of Mahoun. Ternagaunt or Mahoun at all. Thi Lord that suffred passioun Your Lord who suffered crucifixion Schal help thee at thi nede.” will help you in your need."

And when the maiden was awaked, And when the girl had awoken 455 For drede of that, wel sore sche quaked, she shook greatly for fear For love of her swevening. and for love of her dream. On hir bed sche sat al naked; She sat, entirely naked, on her bed; To Jhesu hir preier sche maked, she prayed to Jesus, Almightful Heven king. the almighty king of Heaven. 460 As wis as He hir dere bought As certainly as he redeemed her at a high cost, Of that swevening in slepe sche thought she thought a good ending would come about, Schuld turn to gode ending. on the basis of her dream. And when the maiden risen was Once the girl had got up, The riche soudan of Damas the powerful Sultan of Damascus 465 To his temple he gan hir bring. proceeded to bring her to his temple.

Than seyd the soudan to that may, Then the Sultan said to that girl “Thou most bileve opon mi lay "you must believe in my religion And knele now here adoun and kneel down here now And forsake thi fals lay and abandon your false religion 470 That thou hast leved on mani a day, that you have believed in for so ling, And anour Seyn Mahoun! and worship Saint Mahoun! And certes, bot thou wilt anon, And be sure that unless you do, Thi fader Y schal with wer slon I will slay your father in war, Bi Jovin and Plotoun! by Jove and Pluto! 475 And bi Mahoun and Ternagant And, by Mahoun and Ternagant, Ther schal no man ben his waraunt — no-one will stand in his defence, Empour no king with croun.” neither emperor not king with crown."

The maiden answerd with mild chere The girl replied to the Sultan To the soudan as ye may here: with a gentle expression, as you can hear: 480 “Sir, Y nil thee nought greve. "Sir, I do not wish to trouble you. Teche me now and lat me here Teach me now and let me hear Hou Y schal make mi preiere how I should go about praying When ich on hem bileve. when I believe in them. To Mahoun ichil me take I will turn myself to Mahoun 485 And Jhesu Crist mi Lord forsake, and abandon my lord Jesus Christ That made Adam and Eve, who made Adam and Eve, And seththen serve thee at wille and afterwards you as you wish, Arliche and lat, loude and stille, early and late, rage or calm, A morwe and an eve.” morning and evening,

490 Than was the soudan glad and blithe, Then the Sultan was happy and cheerful, And thanked Mahoun mani sithe and thanked Mahoun may times That sche was so biknawe. that she was so sensible — 10

His joie couthe he no man kithe; he couldn't express his joy. He bad hir gon and kis swithe He asked her to go and straight away kiss 495 Alle thine godes on rawe. all those gods in a row. Sche kist Mahoun and Apolin, She kissed Mahoun and Apollo, Astirot and Sir Jovin. Astirot and Sir Jove. For drede of wordes awe, Out of fear of general scorn, And while sche was in the temple and while she was in the temple 500 Of Ternagant and Jubiter, of Ternagant and Jupiter, Sche lerd the hethen lawe. she learned the heathen religion.

And thei sche al the lawes couthe But though they taught her all the laws And seyd hem openliche with hir mouthe, and she said them publically out loud Jhesu forgat sche nought. she did not forget Jesus. 505 Wher that sche was, bi northe or southe, Wherever she was, north or south, No minstral with harp no crouthe no minstrel with either harp nor crowther No might chaunge hir thought. could change her mind. The soudan wende night and day The Sultan totally believed That sche hadde leved opon his lay that she had converted to his religion, 510 Bot al he was bicought, but he was entirely deceived For when sche was bi herselveon, because when she was all alone To Jhesu sche made hir mon, she made her complaint to Jesus, That alle this world hath wrought. who created all of this world.

The soudan dede cri that tide At that time, the Sultan announced 515 Overal bi ich a side everywhere, far and wide, A turnament to take that he would hold a tournament, And duhti men on hors to ride, with strong men riding horses, And dubbed hem in that tide and at that event he dubbed them, And knightes gan he make. making people knights. 520 The trumpes gun forto blowe; The trumpets began to blow; Knightes priked out o rouwe knights spurred their way into a row On stedes white and blake. on white and black steeds. Ther might men se sone and swithe, Straight away, people could see there Strong men her strengthe kithe strong me demonstrating their might 525 For that maiden sake. for the sake of that girl.

The Cristen maiden and the soudan Then the Christian maiden and the Sultan In the castel leyen than was staying in the castle The turnament to bihold. to watch the tournament. And tho the turnament bigan, And when the tournament began 530 Ther was samned mani a man many of the stout, bold Saracens Of Sarrazins stout and bold. where gathered together. To sen ther was a semly sight It was a fair sight to see, Of thritti thousend of helmes bright with thirty thousand bright helmets (In gest as it is told). (as is recounted in the tale). 535 Thai leyden on as thai were wrothe Knights, both young and old, With swerdes and with maces bothe set to with both swords and maces Knightes bothe yong and old. as if they were insane.

Wel mani helme ther was ofweved Many helmets were knocked off here, And mani bacinet tocleved and many bascinets cloven in two 540 And knightes driven to grounde. and knights knocked to the ground. Sum ther fel doun on her heved Some fell on their heads, And sum in the diche lay todreved and some lay scattered in ditches, And siked sore unsounde. groaning with the pain of wounds. The turnament last tho yplight As promised, the tournament 545 Fram the morwe to the night between men of great prowess Of men of michel mounde; lasted from the morning to the night. Amorwe the soudan wedded that may The next morning, the Sultan married that maiden In the maner of his lay, according to his religion, 11

In gest as it is founde. as the story tells.

550 Atte his bridale was noble fest, At the wedding was a glorious feast, Riche, real, and onest — luxurious, royal, and seemly, Doukes, kinges with croun. dukes and crowned kings — For ther was melodi with the mest since there was the greatest music-playing Of harp and fithel and of gest on harps and fiddles, recounting deeds 555 To lordinges of renoun. to famous lords. Ther was geven to the menstrels The minstrels were given Robes riche and mani juweles rich robes and many jewels Of erl and of baroun. by earls and barons. The fest lasted fourtenight The feast lasted two weeks, 560 With mete and drink anough, aplight with plenty of food and drink, oh yes, Plenté and gret fousoun. a plenitude and great abundance.

That levedi, so feir and so fre, That lady, so beautiful and noble, Was with hir lord bot monethes thre with with her husband just three months Than he gat hir with childe. before he got her pregnant. 565 When it was geten, sche chaunged ble; When it was conceived, her appearance changed; The soudan himself that gan se — the Sultan himself began to see that — Jolif he was and wilde. he was joyful and ecstatic. Ther while sche was with child, aplight, While she was pregnant, oh yes, Sche bad to Jhesu ful of might she asked Jesus, full of might, 570 Fram schame He schulde hir schilde. that he should shield her from shame. Atte fourti woukes ende At the end of forty weeks The levedi was deliverd o bende8 the lady was delivered of her burden Thurth help of Mari milde. through the help of Mary mild.

And when the child was ybore, And when the child was born, 575 Wel sori wimen were therfore, women were very sad about that, For lim no hadde it non, because it has no limbs: Bot as a rond of flesche yschore rather it lay before them in the chamber In chaumber it lay hem bifore as like a lump of butchered flesh Withouten blod and bon. without either blood or bones. 580 For sorwe the levedi wald dye, The lady wanted to die, she was so sad, For it hadde noither nose no eye because it had neither nose nor eyes Bot lay ded as the ston. and instead lay stone-dead. The soudan com to chaumber that tide The Sultan came to the chamber at that moment, And with his wiif he gan to chide and began to blame his wife 585 That wo was hir bigon. so that she was beset with sorrow.

“O dame,” he seyd biforn, "O lady", he declared, “Ogain mi godes thou art forsworn! "you are cursed by my gods! With right resoun Y preve With clear reasoning I perceive The childe that is here of thee born that the child, born here of you 590 Bothe lim and lith it is forlorn is deprived of both limbs and joints Alle thurth thi fals bileve! all because of your false beliefs. Thou levest nought wele afine You do not believe properly On Jubiter no on Apoline, in Jupiter or in Apollo, A morwe na an eve, neither morning nor evening, 595 No in Mahoun no in Ternagant. nor in Mahoun or in Termagant. Therfore is lorn this litel faunt. And so this little child is lost — No wonder thei me greve!” no wonder they are afflicting me!"

The levedi answerd and seyd tho, The lady answered then and said, Ther sche lay in care and wo, as she lay in worry and misery, 600 “Leve sir, lat be that thought; "honorable sir, put away that thought: The child was geten bitwen ous to. the child was conceived by both of us. For thi bileve it farth so, Therefore, believe that it has gone this way Bi Him that ous hath wrought! through him who created us. 12

Take now this flesche and bere it anon Take this flesh now and then carry it 605 Bifor thine godes everichon in front of each of your gods, That thou no lete it nought, without sparing any effort, And pray thine godes al yfere, and pray to all your gods together, Astow art hem leve and dere, that since you are beloved and dear to them To live that it be brought. it may be brought to life.

610 “And yif Mahoun and Jovin can And if Mahoun and Jove can Make it fourmed after a man make it into human form With liif and limes aright, with life and proper limbs, Bi Jhesu Crist that this warld wan then by Jesus Christ who saved this world Y schal leve thee better than I shall believe even more than you 615 That thai ar ful of might. that they are full of strength. And bot thai it to live bring But unless they bring it to life, Y nil leven on hem nothing I won't believe in them at all, Noither bi day no night.” either by day or by night." The soudan toke that flesche anon Right away, the Sultan took that flesh; Into his temple he gan to gon he proceeded into his temple 620 Ther his godes were dight. where his gods were arrayed.

Biforn his goddes he gan it leyn He laid it down before his gods And held up his honden tuein, and held up his two hands While men might go five mile.9 for as long as it takes to walk five miles. 625 “A, mightful Mahoun,” he gan to seyn, "O mighty Mahoun", he began to say, “And Ternagaunt, of michel meyn, "and Ternagaunt, of great strength, In you was never no gile. you never had any guile. Seyn Jubiter and Apolin, Saint Jupiter and Apollo, Astirot and Seyn Jovin, Astirot and Saint Jove, 630 Help now in this perile.” help now in this danger!" Oft he kneled and oft he ros Often he knelt and often he stood And crid so long til he was hos and cried so long that he grew hoarse, And al he tint his while. and was totally wasting his time.

And when he hadde al ypreyd, And when he had prayed thoroughly 635 And alle that ever he couthe he seyd, and said everything that he knew, The flesche lay stille as ston. the flesh lay as still as a stone. Anon he stert up at a breyd, Then he stood straight up And in his hert he was atreyd, and was troubled in his heart, For lim no hadde it non. because it had no limbs. 640 He biheld on his godes alle He looked upon all his gods And seye ther might no bot bifalle; and saw that no help was happening; Wel wo was him bigon. he was very wretched. “O Sir Mahoun,” he gan to grede, "O Sir Mahoun", he began to cry, “Wil ye nought helpe me at this nede? "won't you help me in this need? 645 The devel you brenne ichon!” May the Devil burn you all!"

He hent a staf with grete hete He seized a staff with great rage And stirt anon his godes to bete and immediately began to beat his gods And drough hem alle adoun, and pulled them all down And leyd on til he gan to swete and kept going until he broke into a sweat 650 And gaf hem strokes gode and gret, and hit them well and hard — Both Jovine and Plotoun. both Jove and Pluto. And alder best he bete afin And most thoroughly of all he beat Jubiter and Apolin, Jupiter and Apollo And brac hem arm and croun, and smashed their arms and heads, 655 And Ternagaunt that was her brother — along with Termagaunt their brother. He no lete never a lime with other he didn't leave a limb on any of them, No of his god Mahoun. nor on his god Mahoun.

And when he hadde beten hem gode won And when he had beaten them thoroughly, 13

Yete lay the flesche stille so ston, still the flesh lay as still as a stone, 660 An heye on his auter. on high on his altar. He tok it in his hond anon So he took it in his hand And into chaumber he gan gon, and proceeded into his chamber And seyd, “Lo, have it here. and said "here you go. Ich have don al that Y can I have done all I can 665 To make it fourmed after a man to get it to have a human form, With kneleing and preier, with keeling and prayer, And for alle that ichave hem bisought and even though I have petitioned them, Mine godes no may help me nought. my gods cannot help me at all. The devel hem sett afere!” Let the Devil set them on fire!"

670 And than answerd that gode wiman And then that good woman anwered Wel hendeliche to that soudan: that sultan very courteously: “Leve sir, here mi speche. "Beloved sir, hear my speech. The best rede that Y can, I will now teach you Bi Jhesu Crist that made man, the best advice that I know, 675 Now ichil you teche. by Jesus Christ who created Man. Now thou hast proved god thine, Now that you have tested your gods Yif me leve to asay mine give me permission to see if mine Whether is better leche. is the better healer. And, leve sir, prey thee this: And, dear sir, please do this: 680 Leve on Him that stronger is believe in him who is stronger, For doute of more wreche.” in case of further afflictions."

The soudan answerd hir thore. Then the Sultan answered her. In hert he was agreved sore, He was grievously troubled in his heart To sen that selcouthe sight. to see that freakish sight. 685 “Now, dame, ichil do bi thi lore. "Now, lady, I will follow your teaching. Yif that Y may se bifore If I can see before my eyes Thi God is of swiche might that your god is of such strength With ani vertu that He can that he, with any power, can Make it fourmed after a man, put it into human form, 690 With liif and limes aright, with life and proper limbs, Alle mi godes ichil forsake I will abandon all my gods And to Jhesu thi Lord me take, and turn to Jesus your lord, As icham gentil knight.” on my honour as a noble knight."

Wel blithe was the levedi than The lady was very happy then 695 For that hir lord the riche soudan because her lord, the powerful sultan, Hadde graunted hir preier. had accepted her request. For hope he schuld be Cristen man, She thanked him who saved this world, Sche thonked Him that this world wan and Mary his dear mother, And Mari His moder dere. for the hope that he would become a Christian. 700 Now ginneth here a miri pas Now a cheerful chapter begins: Hou that child ycristned was how that child was christened, With limes al hole and fere, with complete and healthy limbs, And hou the soudan of Damas and how the Sultan of Damascus Was cristned for that ich cas — was christened for the same reason: 705 Now herken and ye may here. now listen, and you can hear.

Than seyd the levedi in that stounde, Then they lady said at that moment “Thou hast in thi prisoun bounde "you have imprisoned Mani a Cristen man. many Christian men. Do seche overalle bi loft and grounde; So enquire everywhere, high and low, 710 Yif ani Cristen prest be founde, if any Christian priest can be found. Bring him bifor me than Bring him before me then And Y schal ar tomorwe at none and before noon tomorrow I will Wite what Jhesu Crist can done know what Jesus Christ can do More than thine maumettes can.” more than your idols can." 14

715 Anon the prisouns weren ysought; Straight away the prisons were searched; Thai founden a prest and forth him brought they found a priest and brought him forth Bi hest of that soudan. at the command of that Sultan.

He com bifore that levedi fre, He came before that noble lady And gret hir feir opon his kne, and greeted her fairly, down on one knee, 720 And seyd with sikeing sore, and said with heavy sighs “Madame, yblisced mot thou be "my lady, may you be blessed Of Jhesu Crist in Trinité in the name of Jesus Christ in trinity That of Mari was bore.” who was born of Mary." The levedi seyd, “Artw a prest? They lady said "are you a priest? 725 Tel me sothe yif that tow best. Tell me truly if you are one. Canstow of Cristen lore?” Do you know about Christian teachings?" “Madame,” seyd the prest anon, "My lady", said the priest immediately, “In verbo Dei ich was on, "in verbo Dei I was one, Tuenti winter gon and more. twenty years ago or longer.

730 “Ac dame,” he seyd, “bi Seyn Jon, But lady", he said, "by Saint John, Ten winter song Y masse non for ten winters I have sung no masses And that me liketh ille. and that displeases me. For so long it is now gon It is now such a long time Ichave ben in thi prisoun of ston that I have been in your prison of stone, 735 With wrong and gret unskille.” wrongly and very unjustly." The levedi seyd, “Lat be thi fare. The lady said "put aside your complaints. Thou schalt be brought out of thi care You will be brought out of worry And tow wilt held thee stille. if you will keep yourself calm — For thurth thine help in this stounde, for, with your help at this moment, 740 We schul make Cristen men of houndes — we will make Christians out of dogs; God graunt it yif it be His wille.” may God grant it if it is his will."

Than seyd the soudan’s wiif, Then the Sultan's wife said “Thou most do stille withouten striif "you must calmly, without making trouble, A wel gret priveté. carry out a very secret deed. 745 Hali water thou most make, You must make holy water And this ich flesche thou take, and take this flesh, Al for the love of me, for my sake, And cristen it withouten blame and christen it, innocent, In the worthschipe of the Fader’s name in honour of the name of the Father 750 That sitt in Trinité. who sits in trinity,

“For in Him is mine hope aplight, because my hope is pledged to him: The Fader that is ful of might the Father who is full of strength Mi sorwe schal me slake. will quench my sorrow. Yif it were cristned aright, If it has been christened right 755 It schuld have fourme to se bi sight it should take on a form right before your eyes, With lim and liif to wake.” waking with limb and life." That levedi comand anon Straight away that lady commanded Hir maidens out of chaumber gon her maidens to go out of the chamber, For dred of wraying sake. for fear of betrayal. 760 The prest no leng nold abide; The priest didn't want to delay any longer: A feir vessel he tok that tide he took a fair vessel then And hali water he gan make. and began to make holy water.

At missomer tide that ded was don That deed was done at midsummer Thurth help of God that sitt in trone, through the help of God who sits in majesty, 765 As Y you tel may. as I can tell you. The prest toke the flesche anon The priest took the flesh immediately And cleped it the name of Jon and gave to it the name of John, In worthschip of the day. in honour of the day. And when that it cristned was And once it had been christened 15

770 It hadde liif and lim and fas it life and limb and face And crid with gret deray, and cried with great commotion, And hadde hide and flesche and fel and had hair and flesh and skin And alle that ever therto bifel, and everything else that it should have, In gest as Y you say. in the story that I am telling you.

775 Feirer child might non be bore — A more beautiful child might never have been born — It no hadde never a lime forlore, as if it had never lost a limb, Wele schapen it was, withalle; and moreover it was beautifully formed. The prest no lenge duelled thore The priest did not wait there any longer, And yede and teld the soudan fore but went to where the Sultan was in the hall 780 Ther he was in the halle. and recounted this before him. That levedi ther sche lay in bed The lady was richly covered That richeliche was bischred with gold and purple cloths With gold and purpel palle. where she lay in bed. The child sche take to hir blive She took the child quickly to her 785 And thonked our levedi with joies five and thanked Our Lady of the Five Joys The feir grace ther was bifalle. for the glorious grace that had occurred

And seyd, “Lord, ich pray Thee, and said "Lord, I pray you, Almighti God in Trinité, almightly God in trinity, So give me might and space give me the strength and chance 790 That Y may that day yse that I might see the day Mi lord wald ycristned be, when my husband, the Sultan of Damascus, The soudan of Damas.” is christened." Than cam the soudan that was blac, Then that Sultan, who was black, came, And sche schewed him the child and spac and she showed him the child 795 With liif and limes and face. with life, and limbs, and face, and spoke: Sche seyd, “Mahoun no Apolin she said "Mahoun and Apollo Is nought worth the brostle of a swin isn't worth a pig's bristle Ogain mi Lordes grace!” compared with the grace of my Lord!"

The soudan seyd, “Leman min, The Sultan said "my beloved, 800 Ywis icham glad afin indeed I am absolutely delighted Of this child that Y se.” by this child that I see." “Ya, sir, bi Seyn Martin "Well, sir, by Saint Martin, Yif the halvendel wer thin if you could take half the credit for it, Wel glad might thou be.” then you could be glad." 805 “O dame,” he seyd, “how is that? "O lady", he said, "what do you mean? Is it nought min that Y bigat?” Is this child that I begat not mine?" “No, sir,” than seyd sche, "No, sir", she said then, “Bot thou were cristned so it is — "unless you are christened Thou no hast no part theron ywis, then you have not claim on it, for sure, 810 Noither of the child ne of me. neither on the child nor on me.

“And bot thou wilt Mahoun forsake And unless you want to forsake Mahoun And to Jhesu mi Lord thee take, and turn to my Lord Jesus That tholed woundes five — who suffered the five wounds — Anon thou do thee Cristen make — straight away making yourself a Christian — 815 Thou might be ferd for sorwe and wrake you should fear of misery and torment While that thou art olive. during your life. And yif thou were a Cristen man And if you were a Christian Bothe weren thine,” sche seyd than, both would be yours", she went on: “Thi childe and eke thi wive. "the child and your wife. 820 When thou art dede, thou schalt wende When you are dead, you will go Into blis withouten ende, into joy without end; Thi joie may no man kithe.” no-one can describe your bliss."

The soudan seye wele bi sight The Sultan could see with his own eyes That Jhesu was of more might that Jesus was stronger 16

825 Than was his fals lawe. than was his false religion. He seyd, “Dame, anon right He said "lady, I will Ichil forsake mi god aplight — abandon my trusted gods right away: Thai schal be brent and drawe. they shall be burned and removed. Ac telle me now par charité, But tell me now, for kindness's sake 830 And for the love thou has to me, and for the love you have for me, What schal Y seyn in sawe? what should I declare in speeches? Now ichave forsaken mi lay. I have now abandoned my religion: Tel me now what is your fay, tell me now what your faith is, And ichil lere wel fawe.” and I will study diligently."

835 Than seyd that levedi hende and fre, They that courteous and noble lady said “Understond, sir, par charité, "understand, sir, for kindness's sake On Jhesu Cristes lay: Jesus Christ's religion: Hou He was and ever schal be how he was and will forever be O God and Persones Thre, one God and three persons, 840 And light in Mari that may, who came to earth in the Virgin Mary And in hir bodi nam flesche and blod, and took on flesh and blood in her body, And hou He bought ous on the rode, and how he redeemed us on the cross Opon the Gode Friday; on Good Friday, And hou His gost went to Helle and how his spirit went to Hell 845 Satanas pousté for to felle to overcome Satan's power And brought mankin oway. and brought Mankind out.

“The thridde day in the morning On the morning of the third day To live He ros withouten lesing he rose up, alive, without a lie, As He com of the rode, having come off the cross, 850 And gaf His frendes comforting and he gave comfort to his friends And steye to Heven as mightful king and ascended to Heaven as a king, Bothe with flesche and blod. mighty in flesh and blood. As it is founden in holy writ, As holy scriptures record, On His Fader right hond He sitt, he sits at his father's right hand 855 And is wel mild of mode; and is very gentle in disposition; As it is writen in the crede, as is written in the Creed, He demeth bothe the quic and ded he judges both the living and the dead, The feble and eke the gode. the weak and also the good.

“And al this warld schal todrive, And he will destroy all this world, 860 And man arise fram ded to live, and raise people from the dead to life Right dome to understond. in order to receive correct judgement. And than schal Jhesu, withouten strive, And then will Jesus, without hesitation, Schewe His blodi woundes five will display his five bloody wounds That He for ous gan fond. that he received for us. 865 And than schal He withouten mis And then he will, without error Deme ich man after he is, judge each person according to whether Erl, baroun, and bond. he is an early, baron, or bondsman. Leve heron,” sche seyd than, Believe in this", she said then, “And do thee make a Cristen man "and make yourself a Christian, 870 For no thing thou no wond.” letting nothing delay you".

Than seyd the soudan, “Dame, be stille. Then the Sultan said: "Lady, be calm. Y schal be cristned thurth Godes wille I will be christened, by God's will, Ar than the thridde day. before the third day. Loth me were mi soule to spille. I would hate to destroy my soul. 875 Preye now the prest, he com ous tille Ask the priest to come to us now And teche me Cristen lay and teach me Christian religion, As priveliche as it may be. as secretly as possible, That no man wite bot we thre so that no-one knows except us three, Als forth as ye may. as expeditiously as you can. 880 And ani it wist heye or lowe, And if anyone, high or low, knows of it 17

Thou schalt be brent and Y todrawe you will be burned and torn apart And we forsoke our fay.” and we will abandon our faith."

Anon the prest answerd than The priest answered graciously Hendeliche to that soudan to that sultan forthwith: 885 “Sir, icham redi here "Sir, I am here, ready With alle the pouwer that Y can with all my might For to make thee Cristen man to make you a Christian And Godes lay to lere.” and learn God's religion." His hond opon his brest he leyd, He laid his hand upon his breast, 890 “In verbo Dei,” he swore and seyd, swearing and saying "in verbo Dei: “Unto you bothe yfere, I shall be true and reliable Wel trewe and trusti schal Y be to you both together With alle that ever falleth to me regarding all my responsibilities To help with mi pouwere.” to help you with my abilities."

895 Amorwe, when the prest gan wake, The next day, when the priest awoke, A wel feir fessel he gan take he took up a very fine vessel With water clere and cold, with clear, cold water, And halwed it for the soudan sake and blessed it for the sake of Sultan, And his preier he gan make and began to make a prayer 900 To Jhesu that Judas sold to Jesus, whom Judas sold, And to Marie, His moder dere, and to Mary, his dear mother, Tho that the soudan cristned were, that when the Sultan, who was so stout and bold, That was so stout and bold, was christened He schuld gif him might and space he should, through his power and grace, 905 Thurth his vertu and his grace give him strength and opportunity His cristendom wele to hold. to sutain his Christianity well.

And when it was light of day And when there was daylight The riche soudan ther he lay the powerful Sultan began to Up bigan to arise. get up from where he lay. 910 To the prest he went his way He made his way to the priest And halp him alle that he may and helped him in every way he could That fel to his servise. that pertained to his role. And when the prest hadde tho And when the priest had then Dight redi that fel therto prepared everything that appertained to this 915 In al maner wise, in every way, The soudan with gode wille anon the Sultan willingly Dede off his clothes everichon took off all his clothes To reseyve his baptize. to receive his baptism.

The Cristen prest hight Cleophas; The Christian priest was called Cleophas; 920 He cleped the soudan of Damas he named the Sultan of Damascus After his owhen name. after his own name. His hide that blac and lothely was His skin, that was black and hideous, Al white bicom thurth Godes gras became entirely white through God's grace, And clere withouten blame. and pure, without sin. 925 And when the soudan seye that sight, And when the Sultan saw that sight Than leved he wele on God almight; he believed well in God almighty; His care went to game. his worry turned to joy. And when the prest hadde alle yseyd And when the priest had said everything And haly water on him leyd, and put holy water upon him, 930 To chaumber thai went ysame. they went together to the chamber.

When he com ther the levedi lay, When he arrived where the lady lay, “Lo, dame,” he gan to say, "look, lady", he began to say, “Certeyne, thi God is trewe.” "for certain, your God is trustworthy". The levedi thonked God that day; The lady thanked God that day; 935 For joie sche wepe with eyghen gray, she wept for joy with her grey eyes — 18

Unnethe hir lord sche knewe. she hardly recognised her husband. Than wist sche wele in hir thought Then she knew well in her heart That on Mahoun leved he nought that he did not believe in Mahoun at all, For chaunged was his hewe. because his colour had changed. 940 For that hir lord was cristned so, Because her husband had been christened thus Oway was went al hir wo — all her mistery had gone away — Hir joie gan wax al newe. her joy began to grow again.

“Mi lord,” sche seyd with hert fre, "My lord", she said with noble heart, “Sende now this prest in priveté "send this priest now, secretly, 945 To mi fader the king, to the king, my father, And pray him for the love of me and request that, for his love of me, That he com swithe hider to thee he come swiftly here to you With alle that he may bring. with everyone he can bring. And when mi fader is to thee come, And when my fathre has come to you, 950 Do cristen thi lond alle and some, convert each and every part of your land, Bothe eld and ying. and both old and young. And he that wil be cristned nought, And he who will not be christened, Loke to the deth that he be brought, arrange that he be brought to death Withouten ani duelleing.” without any delay."

955 The soudan tok the prest bi hond The Sultan took the priest by the hand And bad him wende and nought no wond and asked him to go without hesitating To the king of Tars ful gare, very swiftly to the King of Tars, And do him al to understond and have him understand Hou Jhesu Crist thurth His sond how Jesus Christ, through his messenger, 960 Hath brought hem out of care, has brought them out of worry, And bid him bring with him his ost and to bid him bring with him his army Priveliche withouten bost — secretly, without fanfare, For nothing he no spare. for he should spare nothing. And Cleophas, with gode entent, And Cleophas began to travel 965 To do the soudan’s comandment to Tars with good will To Tars he gan fare. to fulfil the Sultan's command.

And when the prest, Sir Cleophas, And when the priest, Sir Cleophas, Com to the court thurth Godes grace came, with out any delay, Withouten ani duelling, by God's grace, to the court 970 He teld the king alle that cas: he told the King the whole situation: Hou the child ded born was, how the child was born dead, A misforschapen thing, as a misbegotten thing, And thurth the preier of his wiif and how through the prayers of his wife Hou God hadde sent it leme and liif God had sent it limbs and life 975 In water ate cristening, in the water at christening, And hou that hethen soudan and how the heathen sultan Was bicome a Cristen man had become a Christian Thurth the might of Heven king. through the power of Heven's king.

He radde the letter that he brought,10 He read the letter that he brought him 980 And in the letter he fond ywrought — and in the letter he found written — In gest as Y you say — as I am telling you in the story — Hou that the soudan him bisought how the Sultan had sought him To com to him and lat it nought to come to him on a certain day, Opon a certeyne day, not letting up, 985 And bring with him alle his ost and to bring with him his whole army To take his lond bi everich cost, to take his land by every coast And serche in his cuntray; and search throughout his country: Who that wold nought cristned be, whoever would not be christened He schuld be honged opon a tre should be hanged from a tree 990 Withouten ani delay. without any delay. 19

Blither might no man ben. No-one could have been happier. He cleped his barouns and the quen He called his barons and the Queen And told hem thus in sawe and told them thus in a speech Hou the soudan stout and kene how the Sultan, stout and fierce, 995 Was cristned withouten wene had been christened, without doubt, And leved on Cristes lawe, and believed in Christ's religion: “And therfore he hath don sent me bi sond "and therefore he has communicated to me by messenger He wil do cristen alle his lond that he wants to make his whole land Christian, Yif that he might wel fawe, and he can achieve that, 1000 And he that wil nought take cristening, and anyone who will not accept baptism, No be he never so heye lording, even if he is such a noble lord, He schal hong and drawe. will be hung and drawn.

“And therfore Y pray you now right, And therefore I request you now, Erl, baroun, douk, and knight, earls, barons, dukes, and knights, 1005 Do alle your folk bide command all your people to have With helme on heved and brini bright helmet on head and bright mail-coats That ye ben alle redi dight so that you are all prepared To help me at this nede.” to help me in this moment of need." Thai sent over al bi ich a side From every direction, they sent 1010 For mani Cristen men that tide at that moment for many Christian men That duhti were of dede. who were doughty in deed. The king him dight for to wende The King prepared to go With sexti thousende knightes hende with sixthy thousand courteous knights: That was a feir ferred. that was a fair company.

1015 The king com withouten lett The King came without delay The selve day that him was sett to the Sultan on the very day To the soudan wel gare. that was set for him, very swiftly. And when thai were togider mett, And when they met together A miri greteing ther was gret a merry greeting was offered there 1020 With lordinges lasse and mare. with lords both great and small. Ther was rewthe forto sen It was touching to see there Hou the levedi fel on knen how the lady fell to her knees Biforn hir fader thare; before her father; Ther was joie and mirthe also there was joy and merriment also, 1025 To here hem speken of wele and wo hearing them speak of success and failure Her aventours als thai were. in their various adventures.

The soudan dede his barouns calle The Sultan summoned his barons, And seththen anon his knightes alle and thereafter all his knights, And after alle his meyné, and then his whole company, 1030 And when thai come into the halle, and when they had come into the hall He seyd, “Hou so it bifalle, he said "however it comes about, Ye mot ycristned be. you must be christened. Miselven, ich have Mahoun forsake I have myself abandoned Mahoun And Cristendom ich have ytake, and I have accepted Christianity, 1035 And certes so mot ye. and so must you, for sure. And hye that wil nought so anon And those who do not want this right now — Thai schul be heveded erverichon they will all be beheaded, Bi Him that dyed on tre.” in the name of him who died on the tree".

When he hadde thus ytold When he had thus told 1040 Mani Sarrazin stout and bold many stout and bold Saracens That in his court were, that were in his court, Mani seyd that thai wold, many said that they wanted to — And mani seyd that thai nold and many said that they didn't want Be cristned in non maner. to be christened in any way. 1045 Tho that Mahoun wald forsake, Those who wanted to abandon Mahoun Cristen men he lete hem make he had made into Christian, 20

And were him lef and dere; and they were beloved and dear to him; And he that dede nought bi his rede and he immediately struck off the head Anon he dede strike off his hed anyone who did not follow his decision 1050 Right fast bi the swere. forcefully through the neck.

The soudan had in prisoun dight The Sultan had imprisoned Ten thousend Cristen men, yplight, ten thousand Christian men, oh yes, Of mani uncouthe thede. from many unfamiliar peoples. He dede hem liver anon right He had them freed right away, 1055 And tho that were strong and wight, and gave armour and steeds He gaf hem armour and stede; to those who were strong and brave. And tho he seye that might nought so, And to those whom he saw were not like this He gaf hem mete and drink therto he gave food and drink, And alle that hem was nede. and everything that they required. 1060 Ther might men se with that soudan You could see there, with that Sultan, Mani blithe Cristen man, many a happy Christian man, In gest as so we rede. as we read in the story.

When he hadde don thus that tide, When he had done that at that moment Over al his lond bi ich aside word spread far and wide 1065 The word wel wide sprong. across his land in every direction. Five hethen kinges that tide Five heathen kings at that moment And mani hethen douke unride and many savage, heathen dukes With pople gret and strong with a large and strong army Thai sent aboute ner and fer sent word out near and far 1070 Opon that soudan for to wer, to make war on that sultan, And seyd for that wrong, and said, by Mahoun and Ternagaunt, Bi Mahoun and Ternagaunt, that because of his wrongdoing Ther schuld nought ben his warant11 he should enjoy no protector, Bot ben drawe and hong. but be hung and drawn.

1075 Tho fif kinges of prout parayle Those five kings, valiant in appearance, Dight hem redi to that bateyle; prepared themselves for that battle; Wel stout and strong thai were. they were very stout and strong. Hou the soudan gan hem aseyle Now listen and you can hear And what thai hete withouten feile, what they were called, 1080 Now herken and ye may here. how the Sultan began to attack them: King Canadok and King Lesias, King Canadok and King Lesias, King Carmel and King Clamadas, King Carmel and King Clamadas, And King Memarok her fere. and King Memarok their companion. Opon the soudan with wer thai went, They werent against the Sultan in war, 1085 His men thai slough, his tounes brent slew his men, and burned his towers With strengthe and gret pouwer. with strength and great force.

The king of Tars and the soudan, The King of Tars and the Sultan Day of bateyle thai gun tan established a day of battle Ogein tho kinges five. against the five kings. 1090 Ac ever ogein a Cristen man, And for every Christian man Ten hethen houndes wer than there were ten heathen dogs then Of Sarrazins stout and stithe. from the stoud and strong Saracens. Now herkneth to me bothe old and ying Now listen to me, both old and young, Hou the soudan and the king how the Sultan and the King 1095 Amonges hem gun drive, began to charge amongst them, And hou the Sarrazins that day and how that day the Saracens Opped hevedles for her pay — hopped, headless, in return — Now listen and ye may lithe. now listen and you can hear,

The Cristen soudan that tide At that time the Christian Sultan 1100 Toke a spere and gan to ride took up a spear and began to ride To Canadok that was kene. against fierce Canadok. 21

And Canadok with gret pride, And Canadok, with great pride, With a spere gan him abide was waiting for him with a spear To wite and nought atwene. to torment him without delay. 1105 So hard thai driven togider there They galloped together so hard there That her launces bothe yfere that their lances both Brosten hem bituene. shattered together, in between them. The soudan drough his fauchoun gode The Sultan drew has good falchion; The kinges heved with alle the hode he stuck off with a clean cut 1110 He strok off quite and clene. the king's head with the whole hood.

King Lesias of Tabarie King Lesias of Tabarie To the soudan he gan heye, proceeded to hurry to the Sultan For Canadok his felawe. on behalf of his friend Canadok. With a spere that was trusti With a reliable spear 1115 He rode to the soudan wel an hey he rode swiftly against the Sultan And thought him have yslawe. and intended to kill him. The king of Tars bituen hem rod The King of Tars rode between them And Lesias strok he abod and struck Lesias, (As Y finde in mi sawe) as I find in my story, 1120 And smot him so on the scheld and struck him on the shield That top seyl in the feld; so that the top flew to the ground; He made him overthrawe. he overthrew him.

He lepe on hors and gan to ride He leapt onto a horse and began to ride And slough adoun bi ich aside and cut down on each side 1125 That he bifor him founde. anyone he found before him. Wham that Lesias hit in that tide, Anyone that Lesias hit at that time, Were he douk or prince o pride, whether a duke or a splendid prince, He gaf him dedly wounde. he gave a deadly wound. The king of Tars com with a spere The King of Tars came with a spear 1130 And thurth his sides he gan it bere and bore it through his sides That ded he fel to grounde. so that he fell dead to the ground. Than sett the Sarrazins up a cri Then the Saracens let up a cry: “A, Mahoun, ful of meistri, "O Mahoun, full of power, Help ous in this stounde!” help us at this moment!"

1135 When King Carmel herd that, him was wo; When King Carmel heard that, he was sad; To fight anon he was ful thro. he was very keen to keep fighting. A spere an hond he hent. He took up a spear in his hand. He priked his stede and dede him go. He spurred his steed and had him go. He thought the king of Tars to slo He meant to slay the King of Tars 1140 Er he thennes went. before he left there. He smot the king of Tars that tide He delivered the King of Tars, on that occasion, Thurth his hauberk a wounde wide through his hauberk, a wide wound That neighe he hadde him schent. that almost killed him. The king out of his sadel fel; The king fell from his saddle; 1145 The blod out of his wounde gan wel the blood began to well from his wound That mani man hem biment. so that many people lamented for him.

For sorwe the soudan wald wede; The Sultan went insane from sorrow; When he seighe his woundes blede,12 when he saw his wounds bleeding He rode to him with mayn. he rode at him with force. 1150 He and the Cristen ferred He and the Christian company Brought the king of Tars his stede brought the King of Tars his steed And sett him up ogayn. and mounted him again. And when he was on hors braught And when he was back on his horse Alle that ever he araught he cleft everyone that he could reach 1155 He clef him to the brayn. to the brain. King Carmel tho to him went Then King Carmel went to him And gaf him swiche another dent and gave him another blow 22

That ner he hadde him sleyn. such that he had nearly killed him.

And when the soudan that yseighe And when the Sultan saw that 1160 Al wode he wex for wrethe neye — he nearly grew mad from rage — He rode to King Carmele. he rode to King Carmel. He smot him on the helme an heighe He struck him on top of the helmet That thurth the breyn it fleighe so that it flew through the brain That no leche might him hele. and no doctor could heal him. 1165 King Clamadas com rideing than King Clamadas came riding then With a glaive to the soudan, with a glaive at the Sultan And thought with him to dele, and intended to take him on And smot him oboven the scheld and struck him over the shield That neighe he feld him in the feld so that he nearly laid him low on the field 1170 Among tho houndes fele. among the many dogs.

The king of Tars in that stounde At that moment, the King of Tars Hadde spite of that hethen hounde despised that heathen dog That was so stout and beld. that was so strong and bold. He swore, “Bi Him that tholed wounde He swore "but him who suffered wounds, 1175 The dogge schal adoun to grounde the dog that fights thus in the field That fightes thus in feld.” shall tumble to the ground." He rode to him anon right He rode straight at him And smot to him a strok of might — and struck him with a mighty blow. Atuo he clef his scheld He cleft his shield in two, 1180 And thurth his hert the swerd gan glide; the sword gliding through his heart; The blod ran out bi ich a side the blood ran out on either side, And so he him aqueld. and so he killed him.

Than was King Memaroc in gret peyn, Then King Memaroc was in great pain, For his four felawes were sleyn as his four companions were dead 1185 And in the feld todreved. and scattered on the field. He priked his stede opon the pleyn He spurred his steed away across the plain And fleye oway with might and mayn and ran away with strength and force For dred to hide his heved. to hide his head in fear. The soudan seyghe him oway ride; The Sultan saw him ride away; 1190 He priked after him in that tide, he spurred after him straight away, For no thing he it bileved, not holding back at all, And smot him so above the scheld and struck him above the shield That helme and heved fleyghe in the feld so that helmet and head flew to the ground: Ful wightlike off it weved. it came off very forcefully.

1195 When the Sarrazins seyghen alle When the Saracens all saw That Memarok was to grounde yfalle that Memarok had falled to the ground And namore up arise, and did not stand up again, “Allas, Mahoun!” thai gan to calle, they began to cry "alas, Mahoun! “Whi latestow Cristen hewe ous smale?13 Why do you allow Christians to chop us up fine? 1200 Wicke is thi servise!” You reward our service badly." Thai fleyghe for dred alle yfere They all fled together in terror And dreynt hem in o river and, so very afraid were they of them, So sore hem gan agrise. they drowned themselves in a river. The bateyle last swithe long The battle lasted a very long time 1205 Til it were time of evensong before they could win the day — Er thai might win the prise. until it was the time of evensong.

The Sarrazins flowe bi ich aside; The Saracens fled on every side, The Cristen folk after gan ride, the Christian people pursuing them And schadde hem breyn and blod. and shedding their brains and blood. 1210 Ther was non that might him hide No-one who stood against them in battle That he nas sleyn in that tide who might have hidden there With fight ogeyn hem stode. who was not slain at that time. 23

And tho that yold hem to the pes, And the Sultan, swore, without a lie, The soudan swore withouten les by him who died on the cross, 1215 Bi Him that dyed on rode, that among those who yielded to them peacefully, He that nold nought forsake his lay, he who did not want to abandon his religion He schuld forlesse that ich day should, that very day, forfeit The bal up in the hode. the head in his hood.

Thritti thousende ther were take Thirty thousand Saracens, 1220 Of Sarrains bothe blo and blac both dark and black, were seized there And don in his prisoun. and put in his prison. And he that wald his lay forsake, And he had anyone who wanted to abandon Cristen men he lete him make his religion made Christian With gret devocioun. with great devotion. 1225 And thai that wald be cristned nought, And those who did not want to be christened Into a stede thai weren ybrought were brought to a place A mile withouten the toun a mile away from the town And Cristen men withouten wene and Christian men, without hesitation, Striken off her hevedes al bidene. struck off all their heads.

[the end of the poem in the Auchinleck Manuscript is lost from this point. Around 40–60 lines are probably missing. The following stanza is from the Vernon manuscript.]

1230 Thus the ladi with hire lore Thus the lady, with her religion, Broughte hire frendes out of sore rescued her friends from grief Thorw Jhesu Cristes grace. through the grace of Jesus Christ. Al the while that thei weore thare No-one can express what joy they shared The joye that was among hem yare the whole time they were there 1235 No mon may telle the space. nor reckon how long for. Whon thei weore out of world iwent Once they had gone from the world, Bifore God Omnipotent they were granted a place Hem was diht a place. before omnipotent God. Now Jhesu that is ful of miht Now Jesus, who is full of strength, 1240 Graunt us alle in Hevene liht grant us all light in Heaven To seo Thi swete face. AMEN. by which to see your sweet face. AMEN.