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Lordinges that are lef and dere
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beloved
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Listeneth, and I shall you tell,
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Listen
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By olde dayes what aunters were
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adventures
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Among our eldres that befell;
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5
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In Arthur dayes, that noble king,
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Befell aunters ferly fele,
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adventures wondrous many
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And I shall tell of their ending,
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That mikel wiste of wo and wele.
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much knew; joy
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The knightes of the Table Round,
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10
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The Sangrail when they had sought,
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Holy Grail
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Aunters they before them found
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Adventures
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Finished and to ende brought;
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Their enemies they bette and bound
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beat
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For gold on life they left them nought.
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15
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Four yere they lived sound,
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in health
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When they had these workes wrought.
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Til on a time that it befell
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The king in bed lay by the queen;
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Of aunters they began to tell,
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20
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Many that in that land had been:
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"Sir, yif that it were your will,
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if
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Of a wonder thing I wolde you mene,
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would; tell
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How that your court beginneth to spill
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become empty
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Of doughty knightes all bydene;
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completely
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25
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"Sir, your honour beginnes to fall,
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That wont was wide in world to sprede,
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spread
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Of Launcelot and other all,
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That ever so doughty were in deed."
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"Dame, there to thy counsel I call:
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30
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What were best for such a need?"
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"Yif ye your honour holde shall,
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If
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A tournament were best to bede,
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announce
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"For-why that aunter shall begin
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Because; adventure
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And be spoke of on every side,
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35
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That knightes shall there worship win
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honor
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To deed of armes for to ride.
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by riding
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Sir, lettes thus your court no blinne,
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not cease
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But live in honour and in pride."
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admiration
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"Certes, dame," the king said then,
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Certainly
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40
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"This ne shall no lenger abide."
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shall no longer
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A tournament the king let bede;
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commanded to be announced
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At Winchester sholde it be
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should
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Young Galehod was good in need;
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The cheftain of the cry was he,
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chieftain; company
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45
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With knightes that were stiff on steed,
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strong on horses
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That ladies and maidens might see
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Who that beste were of deed,
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Through doughtiness to have the gree.
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feats of strength; prize
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Knightes arme them bydene
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at once
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50
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To the tournament to ride,
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With sheldes brode and helmes sheen
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shields broad; bright
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To win grete honour and pride.
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great; admiration
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Launcelot left with the queen,
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remained
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And seke he lay that ilke tide;
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sick; same time
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55
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For love that was them between,
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He made enchesoun for to abide.
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occasion (excuse)
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The king sat upon his steed,
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And forth is went upon his way;
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has gone
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Sir Agravain for such a need,
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60
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At home beleft, for sooth to say,
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remained; truth
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For men told in many a thede
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nation
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That Launcelot by the queen lay;
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For to take them with the deed,
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in the act
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He awaites both night and day.
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