and cried Arthur mercy because they had delayed him so long, and Arthur forgave them, and took the sword between both his hands, and offered it upon the altar where the Archbishop was, and so was he made knight of the best man that was there. And so anon1 was the coronation made. And 5 there was he sworn unto his lords and the commons for to be a true king, to stand with true justice from thenceforth the days of this life. Also then he made all lords that held of the crown to come in, and to do service as they ought to do. And many complaints were made unto Sir Arthur of great wrongs 10 that were done since the death of King Uther, of many lands that were bereaved lords, knights, ladies, and gentlemen. Wherefore King Arthur made the lands to be given again unto them that owned them. When this was done, that the king had stablished all the 15 countries about London, then he let make Sir Kay seneschal of England; and Sir Baudwin of Britain was made constable; and Sir Ulfius was made chamberlain; and Sir Brastias was made warden to wait upon the north from Trent forwards, for it was that time the most part the king's enemies. But 20 within few years after, Arthur won all the north, Scotland, and all that were under their obeissance. Also Wales, a part of it held against Arthur, but he overcame them all, as he did the remnant, through the noble prowess of himself and his knights of the Round Table. 1 at once. 2 taken away from. 25 WILLIAM CAXTON PROLOGUE TO VIRGIL'S ÆNEID [Extract] And fain would I satisfy every man, and so to do took an old book, and read therein, and certainly the English was so rude and broad, that I could not well understand it. And also my Lord Abbot of Westminster did so show to me lately 5 certain evidences1 written in old English, for to reduce it into our English now used; and certainly it was written in such wise that it was more like to Dutch than English; I could not reduce ne bring it to be understood. And certainly our language now used varieth far from that which was used and 10 spoken when I was born. For we Englishmen be born under the domination of the moon, which is never steadfast but ever wavering, waxing one season and waneth and decreaseth another season. And that common English that is spoken in one shire varieth from another, insomuch that in my days 15 happened that certain merchants were in a ship in Thames for to have sailed over the sea into Zeeland,2 and for lack of wind they tarried at the Foreland, and went to land for to refresh them. And one of them, named Sheffield, a mercer,* came into a house and asked for meat, and especially he 20 asked after eggs; and the goodwife answered that she could speak no French, and the merchant was angry, for he also could speak no French, but would have had eggs; and she understood him not. And then at last another said, that he would have "eyren." Then the goodwife said that she understood 25 him well. Lo, what should a man in these days now write, eggs or eyren? Certainly it is hard to please every man because of diversity and change of language, for in these days 1 legal documents. 2a province in the southern part of the Netherlands. 3 the promontory at the mouth of the Thames. 4 dealer in every man that is in any reputation in his country will utter his communication and matters in such manners and terms that few men shall understand them. And some honest and great clerks1 have been with me and desired me to write the most curious terms that I could find; and thus between plain, 5 rude, and curious I stand abashed. But in my judgment the common terms that be daily used be lighter to be understood than the old and ancient English. And forasmuch as this present book is not for a rude uplandish man to labour therein ne2 read it, but only for a clerk and a noble gentleman that 10 feeleth and understandeth in feats of arms, in love, and in noble chivalry, therefore in a mean between both I have reduced and translated this said book into our English, not over-rude ne curious, but in such terms as shall be understood, by God's grace, according to my copy. 15 THE NUTBROWN MAYDE⭑ [Abridged] "It stondeth so, a dede is do wherefore moche harme shal growe. My desteny is for to dey a shamful dethe, I trowe, Or ellis to flee; the ton must bee, none other wey I knowe 8 "Now syth that ye have shewed to me the secret of your mynde, I shalbe playne to you agayne, lyke as ye shal me fynde; 1 Scholars. In the Dark Ages only the clergy could read and write. 2 nor. 3 study. 4 Reprinted from J. M. Manly, English Prose and Poetry, Ginn and Company, publishers. 5 a deed has been done. 7I know no other way (plan). 8 since. 6 one. 5 Syth it is so that ye wyll goo, I wol not leve behynde,1 unkind. 2 Make you redy, for soo am I, all though it were anoon 2; "I councel yow, remembre how it is noo maydens lawe Nothing to dought, but to renne out to wod with an outlawe; For ye must there in your hands bere a bowe redy to drawe, And as a theef thus must ye lyve ever in drede and awe, By whiche to yow gret harme myght grow; yet had I lever than 3 Io That I had too the grenewode goo,* alone, a banysshed man." "I thinke not nay, but as ye saye, it is noo maydens lore; But love may make me for your sake, as ye have said before, To com on fote, to hunte and shote to get us mete and store; For soo that I your company may have, I aske noo more; 15 From whiche to parte, it makith myn herte as colde as ony ston; For in my mynde of all mankynde I love but you alone." "For an outlawe this is the lawe, that men hym take and binde, 5 Wythout pytee hanged to bee, and waver wyth the wynde. Yf I had neede, as God forbede, what rescous coude ye finde? 20 For sothe I trowe, you and your bowe shul drawe for fere behynde; And noo merveyle, for lytel avayle were in your councel than; Wherfore I too the woode wyl goo, alone, a banysshed man." "Ful wel knowe ye that wymen bee ful febyl for to fyght; Noo womanhed is it indeede to bee bolde as a knight; 1I will not stay behind. 2 anon, at once. 3I had rather then. 4I had gone to the greenwood. 5 rescue, aid. 6 indeed I believe. Yet in suche fere yf that ye were, amonge enemys day and nyght, I wolde wythstonde, with bowe in hande, to greve them as I myght, And you to save, as wymen have from deth [ful] many one; For in my mynde of all mankynde I love but you alone." "Yet take good hede, for ever I drede that ye coude not sustein The thorney wayes, the depe valeis, the snowe, the frost, the reyn, The colde, the hete; for, drye or wete, we must lodge on the playn, And, us above, noon other rove1 but a brake, bussh, or twayne; Whiche sone shulde greve you, I believe, and ye wolde gladly than That I had too the grenewode goo, alone, a banysshed man." "Syth I have here ben partynere with you of joy and blysse, I muste also parte of your woo endure, as reason is; Yet am I sure of oo plesure, and shortly it is this, That where ye bee, me semeth, perdè,3 I coude not fare amysse. Wythout more speche, I you beseche that we were soon agone; For in my mynde of all mankynde I love but you alone." "Yef ye goo thedyr, ye must consider, whan ye have lust' to dyne, Ther shal no mete be fore to gete, nor drinke, bere, ale, ne wine, 1 roof. 3 certainly (Old French, par Dé, by God). * desire, wish. 5 15 |