Layamon, fl.1200. Brut (MS Cotton Caligula)
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
|
Table of Contents for this work | | All on-line databases | Etext Center Homepage |
Brut (MS Cotton Caligula), lines 4001-5000
þat Cesar wolde nu to-dæi; Brut-lond biwinnen.
oðer her mid sweorde; liggen to-swungen.
and al his iuere; þe mid him comen here.
Nu wes þis ilke iseid; me to bi-swiken.
Wæila wæi wæila wæi; þat he is þus i-faren awæi.
& na-þeles ich em bliðe; for auere to ure liue.
we m[a]3en ouer-sitten; þis lond ær he us æft isechen.
for æuere-more he mai imunnen þat he him her imunten;
for her liggeð to-3ere. ten þusend of his iferen;
wið-uten his driht-liche scipen. þe i sæ idrunken;
Ah wel ich þonkie mine gode. for wurð-scipe ich habbe ibiden;
& twien iflemed þene keisere. mid alle his Romanisce leode
& ((nu)) ich wulle to Lundene. þa burh ich luuie swuðe;
& þer ich wulle halinesse; to mine goden halden.
& swiðe heom wurðen; for heore wel-dæde.
Þe king lette blawen; & bonnien his ferden.
& hehten heom alle faren heom. & hired-men beon bliðe;
& fæien heore steden. and græiðen heore iweden;
& þas dæies æn þreom wiken. wenden to Lundene;
mid wif & mid bernen. blisse to makien;
eorles & þeines. cnihtes & sweines;
& al þat freoliche folc. of Brut-londes ærde;
þene dæie heo vnder-nomen. & to Lundene heo comen;
mid swulche riche-dome. [al] swa hit weoren i Rome;
Þe king bi-gon seruise. on ælches cunnes wise;
æfter þan heðene la3en. þe stoden o ðen ilkæ da3en;
Þer stoden in þere temple. ten þusend monnen;
þet wes þe bezste cure. of al Brut-londe;
biforen heore mahun. þe heom þuhte mære;
-212-
Apolin wes ihaten; heo heolden hine for hæhe godd.
Ælc beorn hæfde on heonde; ane þechene bærninde.
wæs ælc bald beorn; iboned mid golde.
þe king hafde his kine-helm; hæhliche on hæfde.
Wæs at-foren þan wæfde; imaked an wunlic fur.
þe king warp riches þer-in; & alle his hæhste men mid him.
seoððen heo þer offreden; aððeles madmes.
& þonkede Appollin his gode; þe þa muchele wurðscipe uðen him.
Þa þe seruuinge wes idon; þat hit to þe mete com.
þer-of ich wulle þe tellen; selcuðe spelles.
Weoren in þeos kinges cuchene; twa hundred cokes.
& ne mæi na man tellen; for alle þa bermannen.
Isla3ene weoren to þon mele; twælf þusend ruðeren sele.
& þritti hundred hærtes; & al swa feole hinden.
of þan foh3el-cunne; ne mai hit na mon kennen.
& al þat wæl & al þat gold; þe wes 3eond al þeos kinges lond.
hit wes al isomned; [at] þere sereuunge.
Nes hit nauer mid soð itald; seoððen þeos weoruld wes a-stald.
þat weore on ane stude; swulc 3ifueðe istured.
ne of alche þinge swulc riche-dom; i3iuen & under-fon.
Muri wes þe dæi & liht; & þa sonne wes swiðe briht.
weoren þa bernes; i-scængte mid beore.
& þa drihliche gumen; weoren win-drunken.
Heo ferden 3eond þa feldes; mid scæftes & mid sceldes.
Summe heo gunnen ærnen; & somme heo gunnen eornen.
& summe heo gunnen pleien; pliht com on ueste.
Summen pleoden on tæuelbrede; & summen ærnden heore stede.
Þa weoren þer tweiene; prute heo weoren beien.
Herigal hehte þe an; Æueling þe oðer.
Herigal wes þes kinges mæi; þet wes hærm a þen ilke dæi.
ahte cniht wes Auelin; Androgeus wes ((is)) hem.
Þeos tweien cnihtes bi-gunnen; mid sceldes to scurmen.
ærst heo pleoweden; and seoððe pliht makeden.
þer Herigal smat Æuelin; swiðe vuele a þane chin.
Heo bigunnen to chiden; cnihtes come riden.
Euelin wes swiðe wrað; & mid þan stæue to-draf.
and smat Herigal a þon ribben; þat þe stæf to-bræc amidden.
Þa queð þe cniht Herigal; Euelin þat is swiðe sar.
þu me smite bi þon rugge; ah sare þu hit slat a-buggen.
-214-
for nu þi stæf is to-broken; balu þe scal beon 3ifueðe.
Euielin wes swiðe sari; þat him wes swa ilumpen.
þe oðer wolde him habben dæd; hit þuhte him swiðe hærd ræd.
& he hine bi-þohte; wæt he don mihte;
nefde he noht on his hond. bute enne luttelne sceld;
Isæh he enne hendlicne mon. þe þer stod bi-haluen;
þe wes þudere icumen. for to i-seon þare cnihte gomen;
þe 3unge mon heold on his hond. enne stelene brond;
Euielin þene brond igrap. mid grimliche lechen;
& braid hine of þere scæðe; þa wes his hurte æðe.
He ræsde to Herigale; & smat hine swi[ð]e sare.
þat his neb & his neose; niðer ba heolden.
æft he him to sweinde; & þa hond him of-swipte.
dunt he him 3ef þane þridde; & for-smat hine amidde.
Swa endede þæ pleowe; þat Herigal læi of-slo3en.
and Euelin þonene wende; his sweord he bar on honde.
ne funde he nonne swa kene mon; þat hond him durste leggen on.
al þat folc he bi-bæh; to Androchies inne he flæh.
Þet iherde þe king; icud h[it] wes him sone.
hu hit al wes ifaren; & hu Herigal læi of-slæwen.
Þe king nom þreo aldere men; and sende to Androgeum.
and hehte hine bringen; his mæi to þon kinge.
to þolie þes kinges dom; for þan slæhte þe [he] hafde idon.
and 3if he swa nolde; he hine flæme wolde.
Þa answerede Androgeus; and toward þan kinge he spæc þus.
Nulle ich hine bringen; for nauer nane þinge.
þat me Euelin for-do; noþer slæ ne na a-ho;
Ah ich habbe freo lond. þat freoliche stont a mire honde;
& ich habbe min [hired] heh vnder þon kinge.
3if her is æni cniht; þe of Eueline axeð riht.
come to mine herede; & þer he hit scal habben.
& ich sugge eow to soðe; nis þer ræd nan oðer;
Þis wes sone icuð. to Cassibellaune;
Þe king iwarð him swiðe wrað. swulc he weore of witte;
& þeos ilkæ word him seide. Cassibellaune;
Ut of min æh-senen. Androgeus & his iueren;
& 3if ich hine mai eower ifon. in þon stude he beð for-don;
Androgeus forð-rihtes. nom alle his cnihtes;
& anan gon liðen. ut of Lundenne;
& iwenden in-to Kent. to his ane castle;
-216-
and hine strongede wel. mid mete & mid wepnen;
& þe king nom Lundene & þat lond. to his a3ere hond;
& seoððen fusde in-to Kent. mid muchelere ferde;
mid here and mid fure. þat lond for-ferde swiðe;
Androgeus nom tweie cnihtes. & sende to þon kinge;
& þus þe cnihtes him spæken wið. King Androgeus 3eorn%neð þi grið;
Androgeus is þin a3ene. mon. al þine wille he wule don;
wið þon þe þu him 3eue grið. & late hine sæhtne þe wið;
and leten bi-leuen þine brune. his lond þe þu for-bærnest;
I-þench þat he wes Lu[d]es sune. of þine broðer he is icumen;
& his fader ahte al þat lond. þat nu stondeð a þire hond;
And al hit þuncð him wel idon. 3if þu his sæhtnesse wult vnder-fon
bute nele he þe nauere Euelin. mid ærhðe bitæchen;
þat þu him sculle oðer don. oðer slæn oðer a-hon;
Þa þe king iherde þis. þa wes he wræð ful iwis;
and þus seide þe king Cassebellaune.
Whar beo 3e mine kemp%pen;
mine driht-liche men. Wrekeð me of Androgeum;
His lond ich wulle for-bærnen. & his bone iwurðen;
Þis iherden suggen Androgeus. & he answerede þus;
Whilen hit wes iseid; inne soð spelle.
þat moni mon deð muchel vuel; al his vnðankes.
Swa ich moht nu neode; for muchere neode.
Þe mon þe þoleð þat me hine wule for-don; þat ich telle vnwis-dom.
þe while he mæi þurh æni cræft; i compe hine werien.
Ælc cniht ah an uuel to don; ær he wurse vnder-fon.
and swa ich æuere bere sceld and spere; sende ich wulle to þon kæisere.
& græten Iulius Cesare; & mænen to him mi sar.
& bedden þat he me ræde; for nu ich habbe neode.
Androgeus þe riche cnihte; makede a writ wel idiht.
& nom erendrake godne; & sende him to Oðres.
to Iulius þon kæisere; mid al his Romanisce here;
& þus wes þat writ idiht. & þus hit spæc forð-riht;
Hail beo þu mid þine here. Iulius þe keisere;
Þu hattes Iulius Cezar. to þe ich mæne mi sær;
Androgeus þin a3ene mon þis nis nan swike-dom;
for þat weord þat ich þe sende. bi mine liue ich hit halde;
& þu hit nult ileuen; beoten hit læssingge beo.
ich hit wulle trousien; þurh minne tir-fulne godd.
þurh mine lauerd Appollin; þe leof me is on heorte.
-218-
For ofte hit is ilumpen; inne feole leoden.
þet æfter muchele hatinge; heh3e men heom luuede.
& æfter muchel weorld-scome; wurð-scipe wurhten.
Twien þu hafuest i-beon ouer-cummen; & þine men we habbeð islæn. & inome
& idriuen þe of Brut-londe; mid feht swiðe stronge.
mid us þu hæfuest bileued; moni þeosend kempen.
Þat nes noht þurh ure kinge; Cassibellaune.
ah hit wes þurh me seolfne; & þurh sele mine folke.
for ich lædde mid me; Lundene uerde.
& [eke] al þa Kent-wærre; þe kempen weoren gode.
& þer-wið-ute monienne Brut; þe bald wes to fehten.
Seoððen we þe hafden ouer-comen; & þi folke i-sla3en an i-inomen.
Nu is Cassibellaune & his men; swa modi iwurðen.
þet mid fehte heo wulleð me sende; ut of Brut-londe.
fleme me from leoden; feor from londe.
Mi lond heo habbeoð me al i-west; & Lundene me biræued.
& me sulfne heo þencheð quellen; and alle mine kempen.
3if þu þis writ iheren wult; hit wule þe suggen minne gult.
Þa þu weoren from us iliðe; at þa latere cherre.
þa wes þa king swa bliðe; swa he nas nauer ære on his liue.
& on oðer halue he hæfde kare; for he nusten þat þu woldest faren.
Noþe-les he seide; at-foren al his du3eðe.
Nu is Iulius awei iflo3en; tweien he is aflemed.
tweien he com to Bruttene; þer him wes balu 3eueðe.
ne þurfe we nu nauer-mare; iseon hine cumen here.
for her beoð his bezste cnihtes; islæ3en in ure fehte.
& nu we sulleð for heore beone; bliðe iwurðen.
Scullen alle mine Bruttes; mid baldere prute.
liðen to Lundene; & þer lof makien.
vre lauerde Appollin; & alle ure goden mid him.
for þere muchele wurðe-scipe; þe ich nu walde.
Þus lið[d]en to Lundene; alle Brut-leoden.
cnihtes & ð[r]inges; mid wifue & mid children.
& mid alle þe wurð-scipe; þe heo weoren wældinde ouer.
Þa we þus comen to Lundene; we gunnen lof makien.
ure lauerd Apollin. & alle ure goden mid him;
Seoððen þeos weorld wes astalled. nes hit nowher itald;
þat weore nowhar swa muchel mete. iuorððed to ane mele;
ne swa muchel god dringe. folke ideled;
Muchel wes þa glad-scipe. þa gunnen heo to pleien;
summe mid foten. ueire igerede;
summe an heorse. hehliche iscrudde;
Þa weoren þar tweien scalkes. & ifengen here sceldes;
scriðen under. bordes. & skirmden mid mæine;
þe oðer wes mire suster sune. Euelin hehte þe gume;
þe oðer Herigal. heh he wes on hirede;
of þes kinges kunne icomen. he wes his hælue-suster sune;
he wes þon kinge arle deorest. of alle his driht-folke;
Herigal smat Euelin. swiðe vfele i þene chin;
& Euelin iwarð him wrað. & werede hine sulue;
a þere side he smat Herigal. þat þe dunt him þuhte sar;
Herigal þa seide. & mid muðe hit sweor;
þat Euelin i ðon dæi. dæd sculde þolien;
Euelin wes swiðe of-dred. for me him dead bi-hæhte;
& smat on Herigales sceld. þat his stæf atwaie wond;
Ofte wes Euelin wa. & næuere wurs þene þa;
scilde him mid his scelde. nefde he elles noht an honde;
& Herigal him soðte on. mid hehære strengðe;
-220-
Euelin i-seh enne gume. 3ungen him bi-halfues;
& bar an his riht hond. ænne stelene brond;
Euelin him ræsde to. & hine ræhliche græp;
[an] hi3inge he þat sweord adroh. & Herigal of-sloh;
Þat iherde þe king. Cassibellaune;
þat Herigal wes of-sla3en. and Euelin awæi iflo3en;
to me he sende his seonde. wið-uten gretinge;
hehte me bringe to him. mine mæi Euelin;
swiðe bringe hine him to. to þolien his hirdes dom;
for an of þon he weolden him don. oðer slan oðer an-hon;
& 3if ich þat nalde. ich scolde fleon of his on-walde;
& 3if he mihte me seoluen ifon. he me walden slæn oðer an-hon;
Ich 3irnde þes kinges g[r]ið. & walde sæhtnen him wið.
& riht him don i mine hirde; for ich wes his eorl þe hehste.
ah nolde ich him neuere Euelin; to ærmðen him bi-tache.
& he me a-flemde; sone from hirede.
Lundene he hæfueð me bi-nome; & mine cnihtes o[f]sla3en.
Naðeles ich habbe an hirede; twa and fifti hundred.
& 3et ich habbe an honde; twenti castles stronge.
& mi-seolf ich wunie inne Kent; mid kene mine beorn%nen.
& þe king me fehteð wið; & nule me 3euen na grið.
Nu þu hauest iherd mi sær; lauerd Iulius Cesar.
al mid soðe worden; alse þis writ þe telleð.
A þisse write ich habbe idon; þat ich wulle bi-cumen þin mon.
& halden þe for herre; for hehne mine lauerd.
wið þan þe þu me helpe; a[t] he3ere neode.
& aredde me of þon kinge. Cassibellaune;
Þas weord ich wulle þe treosien. þurh mine tirfulne god;
þat ich hit wulle soðien. ase ich hit bi write suggen;
& cum hi3end-liche to Britteine. þat lond ich þe biteche;
þurh me þu hit bi-læfdes. & þurh me þu hit scalt habben;
Þis writ iherde Iulius. þe him hafde i-send Androgeus;
þa enswerede. Iulius þe keisere;
Nulle ich him ileuen. þur[h] alle leodene að;
bute he me sende anan. his feire sune Cenan;
& þritti oðere 3isles. to Oðres me sende;
þeo beon alle icornne; & hæ3e ibornne.
3if he þis wule don; his bod ic wulle a-fon.
& cumen him to helpe; mid hæ3ere strengðe.
Þas word sende Iulius; mid write to Androgeus.
Androgeus forð-riht anan; sende his sune Cenan.
& þritti 3i[s]les oðere; he sende him to Oðeres.
-222-
And Iulius þe sele; to þere sa i-wende.
mid alle his folke; fusde touward Burttene.
anan swa hit da3ede; he com up at Douere.
Þat word him herde Androgeus; & sone þider wende.
& þas wordes seide Androgeus; Wulcume ært þu Iulius.
swiðe leof þu ært me; þis lond ich þe bitæche.
Heo speken to-somne; & spileden mid sehte.
Þeo while hefede þe king; Cassibellaune.
3eond al his kinelond; isomned ferde stronge.
to Lundene he wolde liðen; & enne castel biliggen.
þe Androgeus þe stronge; hafde þa 3et an honde.
Þa þe ferde wes al igadered; þa com an gume ærnen.
& anan he þus cleopede; to Cassibellaune.
Hal seo þu ure king; Ich þe bringe tiðende.
of þon Rom-leoden; þe laðe þe beoð an heorten.
Alle heo beoð i Doure; þine dæd-liche iuan.
& þer is Androgeus; to speken wið Iulius.
Þeos word beoð soðe; þe ich her sugge.
and þench mid wulche deden; þu miht werien þine leoden.
Þa wes særi þe king; Cassibellaune.
& lette biliue; blawen his beme.
cuðen his kempen; þa tiðende neow-cumene.
þat Iulius þe kæisere. mid his Romanisce here;
wes þer-riht icumen. and þa hauene at Doure hafde inomen;
Þa sæide þe king. Cassibellaune;
Lundene we mote bilæuen. & to Doure liðen;
Bonnieð ure ferde. & fare we bi-liue;
Forð ferde þe king. mid vnimete folke;
riht towarde Doure. to his muchelen vn-bihoue;
Þat iherde Iulius Cesar. he wes wis and swiðe iwar;
þat þuderward com on ueste. Cassibellaune;
Þa wes Iulius bliðe. for þe tiðende leofue;
he ferde ut of Doure. bi þe sæ-oure;
in-to ane muchele slæde. & slahliche his folc hudde;
And Androgeus wende. in-to ane oðere ende;
to ane wilderne; in-to ane wude muchele.
& þus spec Androgeus; & wið his folke spilede þus.
Ne wurðe nan cniht swa wod; ne kempe swa wilde.
þat he æuere speke worde; furðer þene his speres ord.
-224-
ne from his ifere ride; for to-somnen we scullen gliden
faste to-gadere. & ure i-fan fællen;
& 3if here is æi heredring. þe ma3en nimen þene king;
nime hine mid i-sunde. & ne 3efue him nane wunde;
for he is mi lauer[d] & mi cu[n]. nulle ich hine quellen;
[ah we scullen] al his folk feollen to grunde.
& 3emen þes fehtes; & nawiht þes fenges.
fællen þa ræ3e; & læten þa ræf liggen.
& al swa lerde Iu[lius] leoue his cnihtes;
Iulius hæfde to iueren. þritti hundred riderne;
cnihtes. ((i))corene. kene-wurð kempen;
& Androgeus hæfde to iueren. ten þusend rideren;
Al-swa heo þus leien stille. & bi-diemden heore wille;
þer com þe king riden. Cassibellaune;
mid vnimete ferde. mid vnimete folke;
& com heom bi-tweonen. þer heo þoleden teonen;
Iulius him wes biforen. Androgeus bihinden;
ah Androgeus. ær awoc. & ut of wude wende;
& al þat folc þe he lædde; lude hit grædde.
bleowen here bemen; belden heore beornes.
& heom toward wenden; on euere-elchen ende.
Þis iherde þe king; Cassibelaune.
iherde he þene muchelne dræm; & þene dune muchelne.
he seide forð-rihtes; Wepneð eow cnihtes.
Þes kinges heorte wes ful sær; he wende þat hit weore Cesar.
ah Cesær mid his ginne; bi-uoren wes ful stille.
and ihærde þane dræm wel; of Androgeus folke.
& Iulius wes al rædi; alse he to wolde ræsen.
& Cassibellaune þe king; nuste her-of na-þing.
ah he wepnede his cnihtes; and 3arewede heom to fehten.
Ær heo weoren hælf 3aru; þer com Androgeus faren.
and he fusde heom to; mid feondliche strengðe.
Þe cnihtes þe weoren igarede; bi-gunnen to fæhten.
& Androgeus heom to; mid aðelere stre[n]gðe.
æt þon frum-ræsen; he feolde of þon folke.
feowerti hundred; þat folke wes þæ læsse.
Þa wolde þat folke fleon; þer com Iulius teon.
forn a3æien heore hæued; & heom to heolde.
-226-
of þon folke he sloh; muchel & uni-foh.
Þa fleh Bruttene king; Cassibellaune.
wel ofte him wes wa; neuer wurse þene þa.
Iulius him wes bi-foren; Androgeus him bæften.
& on ælche side; si3en to his hærme.
Þe king hine bi-þohte; Cassibellaune.
i-sæh him bi-hælues; ænne holt hæhne.
bi ænnes wudes ende; þider he gon wenden.
and muchel of his folke; flo3en mid þon kinge.
& a-sti3en uppe þen hul; mid muchele mod-sor3e.
naþeles þer up þurngen; fiftene þusunde.
Wes þe mu[n]t swiðe hæh; hasles þer greowen.
swiðe wes þe hul bi-clused; mid cludes of stane.
Heo bi-gunnen þene wude feollen. & heo bi-foren leggen.
mid stocken & mid stanen; & mid stelene orden.
heo gunnen heom to werien; wið heore wiðer-iwinnen.
Þene hul makede þe king; to strongge enne castle.
an are nihte firste; þat worc wes iforðed.
for þer worhten sweines. þer worðten þeines;
& þe king mid his honden. Cassibellaune;
wurhte ful swiðe. to bur3en his liue;
Þa þet work wes up iset. heom wes alles þa bet;
& Iulius Cesar. bi-lai heom a-bute þer;
A þen hulle wes þe king. Cassibellaune;
þer he þolede muchelne burst. nes þer neouþer win ne must.
þreo da3es & þreo niht; ne æt þer næuer na cniht.
Heo weoren swiðe uuele ilæd; for þe king heom hauede al for-rad.
þe nold sæht-nesse afon; at his mæie Androgeum.
þerfore he læi on hulle; hunger him derfde.
Nearew wes þe king ilæd; nuste he nenne ræd.
for nuste he a nare halue; helpen þat him mahte.
isæh alle dæi bi-foren; his fulle iuan alle icoren.
Iulium þene kæisere; mid alle þan Romanisce here.
mid alle þan Rom-leoden; to þes kinges un-neoden.
& alle dæi þus cleopeden; to Cassibellaune.
Nu þu scalt adreden; for þine ær-dæden.
hit þe likede wel; þat þu us a-dun læidest.
mid þine fehte; & ure kun feldest.
nu is icumen þin wa-dæi; for dæð þu scalt þolien.
-228-
mid hungere & mid hæte; & mid sceome muchele.
Þa wes wa þeon kinge. Cassibellaune;
& nom him enne ræd. for him wes muchel neod;
He nom enne wisne cniht. & sende hine forð-riht;
vt to þon folke. þer weoren his iuan;
& grette Androgeum. mid grið-fulle worden;
bed hine cuðen. þat he his cun weoren;
& þa bet æt þære neode; for he wes his bro[ð]er sune.
For nabbe ich þe noht swa uuele idon; þat sculde þer-foren dæd on-fon.
for þat is muchel un-riht; 3if æuere æi god cniht.
wule his god-liche cun; bute gulte aquellen.
Æt he3ere neode; nu þu must me ræden.
sæhtnien me wið þene kæisere; & wið þon Romanisce here.
& seoððen ich wullen þe speken wi[ð]; & makien æfter þine wille grið.
to-gaderen wit scullen libben; to-gadere wit scullen liggen.
Þenc of mire neode; & sæhtne me wið Rom-lede.
for 3if ihc her for-wur[ð]e; auerst þe beoð þa wurse.
for 3et heo wurð%ðeð þe laðe; þe me fulsteð nu to dæðe.
Þa answerede Androgeus; & wið þene cnihte he spec þus.
Heu 3are wes hit iwurðen; inne worlde-riche.
þat mines æmes muchele mod; swa milde is i-wurðen.
& swa swiðe ræh mon; rihtes icnawen.
3et ne beoð fif dæi3es; allunge iurede;
þat he me nolde vt driuen. bi-nimen me æt þan liue;
Þær-to he duden al his mahte. he bi-ræuede mine æhte;
& al þat me wes leof. him wes wunder-liche læð;
Þe king dude vn-wis-dom. þat he swulc mod him droh on;
for he fæht wið Cesare. þan Romanisce keisere;
& he hine twien ouer-com. and his folk sloh and nom;
Ne dude hit noht þe king ane. ah we alle clane;
þer ich wes o þon fihte. mid alle mine cnihten;
hærde bi-ðrungen. i wel feole stunden.
Ah ich mi-seolf neore; & mine gode cnihtes.
i-numen weoren ure king; & his Bruttes alle aqualde.
ah we bi-foren þon kinge; fuhte ful swiðe.
& driuen ut þene kæisere; mid his Romanisce here.
Ne dude hit noht þe king ane; ah duden we alle clæne.
Þa we hafden swa idon; & muchele wur-scipe an-fon.
þa iwarð þe king on mode prut; ah ne draf he hine noht ane ut.
Seoððen hit is nu her-to ibroht; nu is min eam wel bi-ðoht.
-230-
mid mildliche worden; he 3erneð mine milcne.
for itemed is þe wode; nu beoð his word gode.
Nu ich wulle wende; mi mod; a3enes uuel. ich wule don god;
& lutlien ich wulle his kare. & sæhtnien him wið Cesare;
ær cumen þe ende of þisse dæi. helpen him 3if ich mai;
Androgeus wes swa god. sone he dude hine bar-fot;
& alle his bezste cnihtes. þe mid him weoren an fuhte;
& eoden to þon kaisere. þer he wes i þon here;
& feollen to his foten. & folden & isohten;
mildeliche spæc þus. þe treowe cniht Androgeus;
Lauerd Iulius þin are. nu & æuer-mære;
Lett me speken þe wið. ich 3erne mildce and þi grið;
Þu hauest ouer-cumen minne æm. inne þine fehte he nam flem;
i þissen hulle he lið. & 3eorneð þe lif-grið;
for al þu hauest ouer-cumen. Cassibellaune;
& muchel of his folke. iualled to grunde;
& þene kinge & al his lond; bi-3iten to þire a3ere hond.
3if him nu lifues grið; & let hine speken þe wið.
Ær he wes freo king.
nu þu ært iwreken him on; let hine bi-cumen þin a3ene mon.
-232-
and ælche 3er þe sende; þat gauel of Brut-londe.
madmes and muchel feoh; þe monscipe is þin a3en.
Þis iherde Cesar; of þissere spec%che he wes wær.
a-weiward he halde; & nolde hit iheren.
makede hine swulc he weore wrað; for þon wurde þe he iherde.
Androgeus wes wis and war; þæne kæisere he eode neor.
and græten worden; þæne keisere igrætte.
and þus queð Androgeus; Hærcne hiderward Iulius.
Wið me ne beo þu noht wiðer-ward; Ilæst ich habbe þe min foreward.
& al þat ich þe bi-hehte; bi-foren vnkere cnihte.
Ich bi-hæhte þe al Brut-lond; to setten a þire a3ere hond.
& swa ich habben nu idon; & þu hit hauest al under-fon.
ah ne bihæhte ich þe nauere to slæn; Cassibellaune minne æm.
mid nane rihte ne mai ich hine for-don; for ich eam his mæi and his mon.
ne scal he næuere dæd þolien; þe while þe ich mai him freoien.
Ah 3if mine eame lifues gri[ð]; & let hine sæhtnie þe wið.
Þi mon he sæl bi-cumen; to 3isle biteche þe his sune.
& ælche 3ere senden; þreo þusend punden.
& þat ich þe wullen swerien; uppen mine sweorden.
3if þu þis nult iwurðen; þe wurs þeo scælt iwurðen.
ne scalt þu nauere mid þine here. isund of Brutlonde faren;
Þa wes a-drad þe keisere. mid his Romanisce here;
leouere him weore þane al his lond. þene al his seoluer; þæne al his gold.
þat he weore in Oðeres; in his castel gode.
for þa hefde swiðe muchel care; Iulius þon kæisere.
þe wende þat Androgeus; swiken hine wolde.
Iulius wes wis and war; þat he wel cudde þær.
Þus seide þa Iulius; to þan eorle Androgeus.
Androgeus mi leofue mon; al þine wille ic wulle don.
don ich wulle þin ræd; for þu me hulpe þa me wes neod.
for ne funde ich nauere treoure mon; bi-tweonen þis & Latran.
Þis wes sone icud; to Cassibellaune.
þa wes he swa bliðe; swa he nes neuere on his liue.
Vt wende þe king; Cassibellaune.
adun of þan hulle; bliðe on his mode.
Ah þer Iulius dude wel; & wurð-scipen muchele.
he hine lette ueden; he hine lette scruden.
he hine lette baðien; ær he him bi-uoren come.
Þa hit wes al igreiþed; þa comen heo to-gæderes.
grið þer heo astalleden; & wel hit wes ihalden.
heo makeden heore foreward; biforen heore du3eðe.
Cassibellaune bi-com; Iulius a3ene mon.
& ælche 3ere him sende; þreo þusend punden.
Æðes þer weoren isworene; & neoren heo nauere forlorne.
for treowe men heom a-stalden; & al-swa heo gunnen heom halden.
Neoðeles Iulius wes þæ ærste mon; þe dude þis lond inne [þ]eow-dom.
seoððen Noe & his sunen; of þære arche weoren icumen.
Þeo al þis wes iuaren; þa to-dælde þa verden.
& þe keisere & his iueren; al þat winter ((heo)) wu((ne))den here.
mid sæhte and mid sibbe; mid selcuðe mur3eþe.
Touward þan sumere; heo ouer sæ wende.
& lædde mid him Androgeum; þe wes his deoreste mon.
& Androgeus walde; al þat he wolde.
heonene in-to Rome; hit stod on Androgeus dome.
Ne com he nauere-mare here; ne nan of his i-uere.
-234-
ne leouede he neuer seoððen; buten seouen 3ere.
Cassibellaune; þe wes þisse londes king.
þa his ende-dæie com; in Eouer-wicke heo dæide
[Ær þe king were dæd dæide] his quene.
þe king wes al bærn-les; Bruttes weoren særi.
Þis iherde Tennancius; þe i Cornwale wes dux.
þat his eam wes idæied; & his aðelene æt-fallen.
and his broðer Androgeus; iuaren uorð mid Iulius.
& [m]uchel of his cunne; quehten mid him-seolue.
Tennancius hine bi-ðoðte; hu he faren mihte.
& hu he mihte gan on; þat he hafde þisne kine-dom.
þe Lud king his fader; walde wel longe.
Tennancius nom his sonde; & sende in-to Brutlonde.
bad heom bu3en him to; þa bet heom sculde iwurðen.
hebben hine to kinge; al buten compe;
bitachen him al þat lond. þe Lud his fader hafde an hond;
& he heom wolde luuien. þa while þat he luuede;
& 3if heo þis wolde. habben he hit wolde;
oðer he wolde mid fehte. fallen heom to grunde;
Bruttes ferden heom to Lundene. to muchele hustinge;
þat heom þuhte þe bezste ræd. to don þat Tennantius heom bæd;
Æfter him heo senden. & heouen hine to kinge;
þa weoren inne Bruttene. blissen inouwe;
Tou and twenti wintre. þis lond he iwalde;
seoððen com þe ilke dæi. þat þe king dæd læi;
inne Lundene he lið. særi weoren his leoden;
Þeos kinge hæfde enne sune. Kinbelin ihaten;
he wes iuaren mid his æme. forð into Rome;
Augustus Cesar hine makede cniht. þat wes swiðe muchel riht;
for seoððen Iulius wes dæd. & du3eðen bi-læfden;
ne bilæfde he næuer nænne. of Androgeus cunne;
þat heold feht & iwin. swa dude Kinbelin;
& weorede Rome-þeode. wið vncuðe leode;
Þis iherde Bruttes. þe weoren swi[ð]e bisie;
þat Kinbelin þe kene. wunede inne Rome;
þe wes Tennantiusses sone. & of Lud kinge icume;
Tweien cnihtes heo nomen sone. & senden to Rome;
& þeo cudden Kinbeline. þat his fader wes of liue;
& beden hine stilleliche. iuaren of þere riche;
Nes hit noht longe; þat he ne com hider sone;
-236-
and Bruttes hine on-fengen. & heouen hine to kinge;
On Kinbelines dæie; þe king wes inne Bruttene.
com a þissen middel-ærde; anes maidenes sune.
iboren wes in Beðleem; of bezste alre burden.
He is ihaten Iesu Crist; þurh þene Halie Gost.
alre worulde wunne; walden englenne.
Fæder he is on heuenen; froure moncunnes.
Sune he is on eorðen; of sele þon mæidene.
& þene Halie Gost; haldeð mid him-seoluen;
þene gast he wel daleð. to þan þe him beoð leoue;
al-swa he dude Peture. þe wes a wræche fiscære;
þe makede hine an mancunne. hehst of alre manne;
Kinbelin Bruttene king; wes god mon þurh alle þing.
& he luuede here; twa & twenti 3ere.
An his dæie her luuede a mon; inne þisse leoden.
feorliche þing fuleden him; he wes ihaten Teilesin.
heo heolten hine for witie. þurh his wit-fulne cræfte;
& al heo hit ilæfden. þat Teilesin heom seide;
he seide heom seolkuð i-noh. & al heo hit funden soð;
he seide heom ælche 3ere. wæt heom to cumen weore;
Þe king him sende æfter. wise twalf cnihtes;
ba[d] hine comen him to. þat he nan oðer seolden don;
& heo hine broðten sone. bi-foren þen folke-kinge.
A-nan swa þe king hine imette; fæire he hine igrette.
Swa me helpen min hefde & mi chin; welcume ært þu Teilesin.
& leouere me is þine isunden; þenne a þusend punden.
Þa andswerede Teilesin; and þus seide to Kinbelin.
Swa ich mote gode iþeon; al þu hit sælt wel biteon.
Þa wes glad Kinbelin; & þus seide to Teilesin.
Her beoð to þisse londe icumen; seolcuðe leod-ronen.
& from-war[d] þeon londe of Ierusalem; iwurðen heo beoð in Beðleem.
Þer is iboren an luttel child; inne þere leoden.
Muchele is & stor þe ei3e; tacnen þer beoð on sterren.
an monen & on seonnen; eie is on mon-cunnen.
Þis is widen icuð; & þa writen me beoð to icume.
& ic wolde iwiten æt þe; þu ært mi wine deore.
to whan þis tocne wule ten; to wulche þinge temen.
-238-
for her-fore is alches londes folc; læd-liche afered.
Þa answerede Teilesin; & þus seide to Kinbelin.
Hit wes 3are iqueðen; þa quides beoð nu soðe.
þat scolden beon a child iboren; of alle folke icoren.
& þat scolde beon ihaten Hælend; & helpen his freondes.
alesen his leofue wines; of læðe heore bendes.
of helle bringen Adam; Noe & Abraham.
Sadoc & Samiel; & Symeon þene alde.
Iosep an Beniamin; & alle his broðeres mid him.
Iohel & Eliseon; Asor & Naason.
Ysaac & his broðer; & monienne oðer.
moni hundred þusend; þe iþud beoð to hellen.
& for swulchere neode; he is icumen to þere þeoden.
Þeos word seide Teilesin; & alle heo weoren soðe.
Þa þan kinge wes icudde; þas quides þa weoren soðe.
þa weoren þa tiðinde cuðe; 3eond his kineriche.
Bruttes her-of 3emden; & noht hit ne for3eten.
Kinbelin wes god king; & griðful þurh alle þing.
& þa Rom-leoden; swiðe hine luueden.
& 3if þe king wolde; wið heom wiðer-heolden.
he miðte æt-halden heore feoh; þe Iulius her fætte.
ah æuere-mære bi his liue; he hit heom leofliche 3eaf.
Seoððe him comen þæ tiðinde; of Crist Godes childe.
ne leouede þe king mære; buten ten 3ere.
Seoððen þe king bilæfden his lif; inne Eowuerwike he 3et lið.
Her he bilæfden tweien sunen; Wiðer & Aruiragune.
Wiðer wes þa ældere. Aruiragun þe 3ungere;
ah þe king biqueð Wiðer. al his kineriche;
& he dihte and delde. æfter his fader dæie.
He wes swi[ð]e god cniht; & hæfde ihælden moni fiht.
ah he wes swiðe sturne. & stærc wið þeon folke.
He nalde for nane dome; mare heren to Rome.
ne na gauel heo[m] senden; vt of þissen londe.
ah whære-swa he fonde enne gume; þe of Rome weore hider icumen.
he lette smiten him of þat hæfde; biræiuie hine at liue.
& þus he heom græiðeden; mid grimme his gomene.
[An] kæisere wes in Rome; Claudius ihaten.
iherden þa tiðende; of Wiðer þon kinge.
whulcne scome he him hæfden idon; & mare him bi-hehte.
-240-
Þe kæisere hine wrædden; þe Wurs him wes on heorte.
& swor bi his rigge; þat Wiðer hit scolde a-biggen.
He bigon. to senden; 3eond al þan Romleoden.
he hætte al þa ræi3e; and alle þa rad-fulle.
alle his hæ3e men; his hustigge isechen.
& heo to-gædere comen; i þere burh of Rome.
Heo buden heore ferden. wide 3eond þon ærde;
Mid unimete dome. heo ferden vt of Rome;
heo ferden swa longe. þat heo comen to þisse londe;
Claudius þe kæisere. & al his Romanisce here;
At Port-chæstre heo comen alond. & stepen up a sæ-strond;
& bi-læien anan Port-chæstre. mid heore folke swiðe faste;
Heo letten deluen diches. vnimete deope;
& al a-buten ouer-al. he makede stænene wal.
Þa wes Port-chestre; burh mid þan bezste.
ah mid þan wind-ræsen; al heo gunnen to-reosen.
mid fure and mid fehte for-uaren; þurh Glaudius þan kæisere.
Þis iherde Wiðer; þe wes Bruttene king her.
þat icumen wes i þisse lond; Claudius þat wes swa strong.
Þe king gædere[de] uerde; wide 3eond his eærde.
& Aruiragus his broðer; gæderede an-oðer.
& ferden to-ward þære sæ; mid selkuðe folke.
þat heo comen mid heore here; to Claudiene þan kæise[re].
Feondliche heo feohten; fullen þa fæie.
and þe eorl Aruiragus; mid æðele help his broðer.
Claudius hæfde enne richene mon; þe wes icleoped Haumund.
he redde þæn kæisere; & al þan Romanisce here.
Hamund bi-heold Wiðer; & his wiðer-happes.
& heu ladliche i þon fihten; he sloh þa Rom-cnihtes.
& al þat him bi-foren stod; he falden to his foten.
Hamun hine bi-þohte; whet he don mihte.
hv he mihte þene king; Wiðer aquelle.
Hamun ferde 3eon þat wæl; & wende þa deden.
funde þer enne cniht; þe islæ3en wes þer-riht.
nom he his burne; & his gold-ileired bord.
leoup he an his stede; & bihælues he gon riden.
þer he isæh Wiðe[r] king; þe wiðer wes an compe.
Hamun þe ridere; smat his a3ene ifere.
-242-
& warð him swiðe bisi; swulc he Brut weore.
Wende þe king Wiðer; þat he weore his iuere.
ah þer he na ne come; 3if hit nere for swike-dome.
Hamun arnde upwar[d]; & oðer while adunward.
þenne he isæh Romanisce mon; he rasden him ouen-an.
his speche wes al Brutisc; Brut swulc he weoren.
Swa longe he gon riden; þat he wes bi þæs kinges side.
& fæht þan kinge bi-foren; swulc he weoren his mon iboren.
& sloh ((is)) ha3en iueren; muchel swike-dom wes þere.
Þe king him treousede on; for he wes swa æht mon.
& wende for soð riht; þat he weore his a3en cniht.
Þe king wende forð-rihtes; bi-hælues þan fihte.
he wes swiðe of-hæt; þat al his burne wes bi-swæt.
he lette his burne of his rugge eorne.
& Hamun him to strac; mid to3en his mæine.
mid his spere he wes wæht; þes kinges breosten he to-bræc.
þane king Wiðer he of-sloh; þer wes swike-dom inoh.
& seoððen rehliche fleh; to his Rom-leode.
kudde hit his kæisere; whet he dude mid his spere.
Þis isæh Aruiragus; þat his broðer islæ3e wes þus.
mid muchelen hi3inge; he leup to þan dæde kinge.
igrap his stede; & alle his iwede.
& sturede i þon compe; al-se hit þe king weore.
Mest alle þa Bruttes þe weoren þere; wenden þat hit weoren Wiðer.
heo ræsden to Romleoden; & heo remden to flonne.
heo slo3en forð-rihtes; Claudienes cnihtes.
ni3en þusende; heo læiden to þon grunde.
Claudien þe kæisere; sa[d] wes of þon compe.
his folc flah into scipen; & from þæn londe iwenden.
forð mid þon vþen; feondes heom uereden.
Fif þusend heo lefden; uppen þon londe.
þat ne ((mithte)) no to scipe cumen; þat heo neoren islæ3en oþer inomen.
Wunderliche a-wei heo riden; touward ane muchele wude.
Aruir((a))gus heom æfter; mid twenti þusend cnihtes.
heo slo3en heo nomen; mid honden heo to-drowen.
Hamun þurh þene wude flæh; riht touward þere sæ.
he ærnde to are hæuene; he wenden scipen habben.
Þe sæ wes i3eonge[d] þe scipen stoden a londe.
-244-
Þæ wile þe he þa scipen vt scæf; Aruiragus him to draf.
Nefde Hamun to iueren; bute þritti rideren.
Aruiragus heom alle sloh; & Hamun mid heorsen to-droh.
for his broðer dæðe; him wes swi[ð]e unneðe.
& an oðer halue he wes glæd; þat his ifon weoren dæd.
for Hamundes dæðe; Hamton heo hit hæhte.
nu and auere-mare; þe nome stondeð þere.
Nu þu iherest of wuche gomen; aras þer þe to-nome.
swa doð a feole wise; to-nome ariseð;
& ofte of lutle þinge. þe longe ilaste[ð].
for his nauere nan oðer gomen; þat cleouieð alswa ueste.
Þa Hamun & is iueren weoren dæd; Aruiragus wes swiðe glad.
ah sone þer-æfter. him com særinesse;
He & his cnihtes. þeonene forð-rihtes;
tuo Winchestre wenden. wæne com on ueste;
heo wende to soðe. þat heo siker weoren;
Claudius þe keisere. mid alle his Romanisce here;
ouer sæ wende. al mid isunde;
Nes he þer buten enne niht. þe wind wende forð-riht;
fromward þan stronde. in-to þissen londe;
Claudius wenden a3an. weder him stod an wille;
hi3enliche sone. to Port-chestre heo comen;
Up iwende þe kæisere. mid al his Romanisce here;
iwepned wel alle. heo wenden to þan walle;
to heo eoden alle afoten. & swiðe freche weoren;
ouer þene wal heo clumben. & binnen heo þrungen;
þat folc heo al slowen. þa æhte heo nomen;
al þa wunliche burh. heo barnden to duste;
Þus Port-chæstre to-ræs; & nauere seo[ðð]en heo ne aras.
þat heo swulc weore; swa heo wes eare.
Claudius þe keisere; mid wunderliche here.
ferde to Winchæstre; & bi-læi þa burh swi[ð]e feste.
Þer binnen wes Aruiragus; ærmliche biþrungen.
and muchel dæl of his cunne; of Bruttisce monnen.
Wa wes þon kinge Aruiragus; & to his cnihtes seide þus.
Suggeð me gode men; godfulle kempen.
wulle 3e me helpen; mid hæh3ere strengðe.
-246-
her to biwinne; wurð-scipe minne.
Þa answereden; aðele cnihtes.
Nulle we þe bilæuen; for liue ne for dæðen.
On heo duden heore iweden; & leopen on heore steden.
cnihtes þer weoren swiðe iwhæte; heo dude[n] up þere burh-3æten.
heo makeden heore sceld-trome; þa scalkes weoren gode.
Weoren alle þa cnihtes; 3ærewe to þon fihte.
Þa somnede alle þa alde; þe to fehte heom scolde halden.
bi are halue heo riden; & spileden of ræde.
& nomen tweien cnihtes; & senden to þon kæisere.
& axeden wheðer he wolde grið; þe he wolde vnfrih.
Ær þer come mare lure; hefde he þene cure.
Þa andswerede Claudius; & wið þan cnihten he spec þus.
Wel is þe man nut; þe sæht-nesse wurcheð.
Ich æm ræh mon i-noh; Rome is min riche.
& alle þa londes; stondeð a mire honde.
þa bi3et me bi-uoren; Iulius þe kæisere.
& æfter mine dome; hæreð in-to Rome.
buten þes ilke kinedom; nulle me noht icnawen.
na þissere leodes folke; for lauerd me halden.
& me pugcheð muche scome; at mire heorte ic habbe grome.
3if Rome scæl for-leosen; þa while þe ich leouie.
heore muchele wurhscipe; þat mine ældere hire biwunnen.
For nare 3itsunge; for nare 3iuernesse.
ne com ich to þissen londe; to halden fiht stronge.
ne for nane plihte; buten to bi3iten mine rihte.
& ic heo wulle bi-winnen; oðer an wæle liggen.
Æ[c] cnihtes 3it beoð hider icumen; from þon kinge Aruiragune.
Fareð swi[ð]e a3en; to þan folc-kinge.
suggeð him to soðe; for hit cumeð him to cuðe.
þat 3if he wule a leoð gan; & halden me for lauerde.
& he me wulle bu3en; þa bet him scal iwurðen.
3if he me wule sende; mine rihten of his londe.
ic hine wulle wurðien; mid wurhscipe muclen.
& suggeð him ful iwis; ich 3ifuen mine dohter Genuis.
to sibben & to some; þe bet wit mawen libben.
& 3if he þis nule don; he scal wurs vnderfon.
faren wit swullen to-somne; & mid fehten hit to-dælen.
makien wæn-slæhtes; þænne beoð þe wurse.
-248-
Þa cnihtes wenden forð-riht; to þan folc-kinge.
cudden him soð quides; from Claudien þæn kæisere.
Þe king isæh þe neode; & droh to his ræde.
and he mid wurð-scipe; þas cnihtes awurðede.
þat he of his kinedome; wulde heren in-to Rome.
and seoððe wurðscipe him don; his dohter to quene vnder-fon.
To-gædere heo comen; and sæhten heo weoren sone.
& seoððen heo alle iwenden; i[n]-to Winchæstren.
þa weoren in þissen londe; blisfulle songes.
Heo wuneden inne Winchæstre; an and twenti wikene.
& senden to Rome ful iwis; æfter þan maidene Genuis.
Þat maiden mid isunde; com to þisse londe.
& Claudien þe kæisere; 3æf heo þisse kinge.
3et hit is isene; þat heo wes her quene.
þat þe king [Aruiragus]; to quene hæfde Genuis.
Þes þinges weoren idone; and Claudien hæuede isend to Rome.
þa while iwende Claudius; & þe king Aruiragus.
into Orcanei3e; & þat lond al bi-læien.
ah muchel lond þer-abuten; al heo hit bi3eten.
two & þritti æit-lond; heo setten on heore a3ere heond.
heore grið heo setten fæste; and wenden to Winchæstre.
From Rome wes icumen ful i-wis; þat fæire maide Genuis.
isund & hire iuæren. sixti rideren;
þat maiden wes iwedded. þe king heo hafde to bedde;
Muchel wes þa blisse. þe wes þanne ((i)) Bruttene;
mid þan kinge Aruiragus. and þæn kæisere Claudius;
þa wes þis folk. swa bliðe. heo nære nauer ær on liue;
for þere muchele blisse. heo arærden enne bur3e;
an enne swiðe feire stude. uppe Sæuerne;
Þa þe burh wes al imaked. mid muchelere strengðe;
þa burh 3æf Aruiragus. þæn kaisere Claudius;
and þat lond þer-abuten. muchel & noht lutel.
He hæhte setten hire on nome; þe hire mihte isemen.
hu þe king Aruiragus; nam to quene Genuis.
& þer þe king heo 3ef Claudiene; þan Romanisce kæisere.
Claudien þe he3e. Kairclou heo hehte.
a[c] nas hit noht longe; þat þe nome moste stonden.
a[c] for Claudiusses wurð-scipe; swa wes þe nome iqueð%ðen.
Ah þa Claudius ærest in þissen londe com; he funde enne feire wimman.
-250-
heo wes witer heo wes wis; heo wes maiden ful iwis.
Claudienes cnihtes; heo bi-wunnen i þon fihte.
inne Port-chæstre; & heolden heo wel fæste.
& 3euen heo Claudiene; hit wes him swiðe iqueme.
& he hire rædde; & forð mid him ladde.
& leouede þe wimman; leofliche swiðe.
Þe wifman i-warð mid childe; bi Claudiene þan balde.
þa þet child wes iboren. wel wes Claudiene þer-foren;
Þa þe time wes ifulled. þat hit fulleht. sculde habben;
æfter þan [hað]ene la3en. þat stoden o þen ilke dæ3en;
nome heo him aræhten. and Gloi þat child hahten;
Þis child wæx and wel iþæh. & muchel folc him to bah;
& Claudien him bitæhte. þa burh þe he ahte;
& sette heo mid cnihten. þe gode weoren to fehten;
and hæhte heo wite wel faste. & heoten heo Gloichestre;
al for his sune luuen. þe leof him wes an heorten;
þe seoð[ð]e bi3æt al Walisc lond. to his a3ere hond;
and þerof he wes deme. & duc feole 3ere;
Þis child me biwuste. inne Gloichæstre;
& þa þeos þinges weoren idone. Claudius ferde to Rome;
& ladde þes childes moder. for quene nauede he oðer;
Þa Claudius com to Rome. tiðende him com sone;
þat þer wes cumen liðende. into þere leode;
an swiðe selcuð gume. of Antioge he wes icome;
Petrus he wes ihaten. he dude þer feole teonen;
he uerde 3eond al þat lond. & turnde hit to Godes hond;
Heonene wes iuaren Claudius. þis lond heold Aruiragus;
& Genuis his quene. þe wifmon wel idone;
þa isæh þisses ledes king. þat him ne derede naðing;
þus he wunede here. mid blisse twenti 3ere;
Vnder þan comen tiðende. to Aruiragus þan kinge;
næs þer nan oðer ræd. bute Claudius inne Rome wes dæd;
Wa wes þisse kinge. swa wes þere quene;
swa wes alle þon bezsten. þe wuneden an Bruttene;
An þan timen hit wes. þat Gloi wes swiðe god cniht;
Þa þeo tiðende. weoren comen to londe;
of Claudius þen kæisere. & hu hit wes al iuaren;
þa seide þe king. Aruiragus. & wið his du3eðe he spac þus;
Swa ich auere ibiden are. nulle ich nauere-mare;
-252-
þurh nane dome. heren into Rome;
næ nauere-mare heom senden. gauel of mine londe;
Ah 3if heo hider cumeð liðen. leoden to biwinnen;
her heo sculeð ibiden. bitterest alre baluwen;
næ bi3eten nan oðer god. buten here 3eoten heore blod;
scullen alle heore wif. widewen iwurðen;
Þus seide þe king. þeh hit soð ((n))eore;
þer he sæt mid his scenche. an his kine-benche;
Ah al oðer hit iwarð. inne þan twam wintren;
for þa Rom-leoden. sende to þissere þeoden;
hæhte heom senden. here gauel of þissen londe;
And þe king Aruiragus. wradliche heom answerede;
hehten heom mucle ei3e. ut of his æh-seone;
fleon of þissen londe. ær heo fæi3e iwurðen;
forð heo iwenden, into Rom-londe;
Þa wes i þon 3ere. Vaspasien kæisere;
þes tiðende him wes læð. & her-fore he was wrað;
He clupede to ræde. alle Rom-leode;
& seide bi his liue. þat he wolde to Brutt-londe;
bi-telen his irihten. þat Claudius ær ahte;
& 3if heo nolden gan an grið. he wolden fehten heom wið.
and al Rom-leoden. þis him gon ræden;
Vaspasien him forð wende. þat he com to France;
þa 3et hit wes al his a3en. þat he isæh mid his a3ene;
ladde he þere leodene king. þe hine for lauer[d] icneou;
vorð mid ((im))-seoluen. touward þissen londen;
To þere sæ he wende. scipen he þer funde;
þat to-3enes him weoren ibonned. þe 3et þe he wes i Rome;
He ibad þes wederes. wind com on oueste;
in he wende at Wit-sond. & æt Doure he þohte nimen lond;
Aruiragus þer-of wes war. & atliche him biuore uerde;
& draf hine ut mid stre[n]gðe. forð mid sæ-strame;
Mid him hafde Vaspasien. swiðe gode sæ-men;
s[t]rahten vt here lof. & leiden æfter vðen;
forð bi sæ-side. seileden swiðe.
An hi3ende ful sone; to Tottenas heo come.
strahten scipen to þan londe; & eoden uppen stranden.
-254-
Heo nomen heore wepnen; & forð gunnen wenden.
to-somnen heo riden uaste; þat heo comen to Æxechæstre.
he wen[den] wel to bi-stelene; in-to þare burh3e.
Ah þet burh-folc wes war; & wel hine wusten.
wel heo closden heore 3eten; & 3areweden heom to fehten.
& þa burh bi-wusten; wel mid þan bezsten.
Seouen da3es fulle; Vaspasien mid his monnen.
læi3e at Exchæstre; & bilaie heom swiðe ueste.
Þat iherde Aruiragus; þat he wes icume þus.
he nom al þa ferde; of Brut-londes ærde.
& sone he gon faren. in toward Cornwalen;
in-to Ex-chæstre. þa burh wes þa fæstre;
Aruiragus wes þer-innen. mid Bruttisce mennen;
Vaspasien þer-vte. þa burh bi-læi abute;
A-mar3en þa hit dæi wes. duren heo vntunden;
cnihtes heom gereden. grundliche feire;
blewen þa bemen. heornes gunnen dremen;
heondleden scæftes. & gold-fa3e sceldes;
riden ut to-some. ræ3e Brutes.
þritti þusend; þe þræt wes þa mare.
Þer-ute wes heom to-3æn; þe kæisere Uaspasien.
to-gadere heo tuhten; & laðliche fuhten.
hardeliche heuwen; helmes þer gullen.
stercliche to-stopen; mid steles egge.
Alle dæi þer ilæste; fæht mid þan mæste.
a þet þat þustere niht; to-dælde heore muchele fiht.
læien a ba halue; cnihtes to-heouwen.
þær wes hærm mid þon meste; bi-uoren Ex-chæstre;
Þat bi-heold þa quene. Genuis i-haten;
særi wes hire heorte. mid hermen a-fulled;
cleopede to hire lauerde. þe leof hire wes on heorte;
to þon kinge Aruiragus. þæ quene spac wið him þus;
Lauer[d] bi-þenc þe. Þine þeowes beoð gode;
þu hauest mucle treow-scipe. treowðe staðeluæste;
þat beoð þa þingges. þe bi-riseð to ælche kinge;
riche men & hæne; 3if wið seoumen he wule beon clænen.
Bi-þenc þu a þine quides; þe þu sulf quiddest.
wið Claudien minne fader; þe wes þi cudliche freond.
þe dude þe þa wurhscipe; bi-tahte me þe to wiue.
-256-
& þu ært me swa leof; swa mi kine-lauerd.
Mi cun is her wið-vten; & þi kun her wið-innen.
3if þu brekest þine quides; & mi cun quellest.
soð ich þe habbe iseid; wið þine sune þu beost iuæid.
& 3if mi cun clembeð. & bi-neoðen þe ibringeð;
& þe seoluen & þin folc. falleð to grunde;
3if þu and þine þer wurðeð dæd. þeonne beo ich wið mine sune iued.
betere weore sæhte; þene swulc vnisibbe.
& bi-þenc þe of þan fore. hu þu mine fader swore.
to lasten alche 3ere; al to þine liue.
gauel in-to Rome; of þine kine-dome.
& 3et ilæsteð þi lif; swa hit do longe.
for þi þu most holden; þat þu ær bihæhtest.
Al þa hered-cnihtes; heolden mid þere quene.
Þe king and alle his cnihtes; wakeden alle nihte.
al niht heo runden; whæt heom weoren to ræde.
Ne mihte heo finde nænne ræd; þe heom þuhte al swa god.
swa heom þuhte þe soðe quides; of þere quene.
A-marwe þa hit dæi wes. du3eþen heom gereden;
to-gædere-ward heo uusden. alswa heo wolden fehten;
Forð com þa quene. & rad heom bi-tweonen;
ærst heo nom grið. & seoððen heo heom spac wið;
sette sæhtnesse. somnede cnihtes;
þa ær weoren ifeonde. makede heom to fronde
And þe king heom bi-hehten; his foreward to haldene.
& swa he hit ilæste; þe while þe he luuede.
Þus heo weoren sahte; & þus heo weoren some.
Þa wes þeos Bruttene; swiðe iblissed.
& Vaspasiæn and his iueren; al þat winter wuneden here.
from burie to burie; ferden mid blisse.
Anan swa seomer come; þa ferden heo to Rome.
Brut-lond wes bliðe; a to þeos kinges liue.
Nu hauede þe king Aruiragus; enne sune þe hehte Maurus.
he wes isende to Rome; to leornien in scole.
þer him wes swa wel idiht; he wes clærc & god cniht.
Þider him com sonde; ut of þissen londe.
þæt her nes nan rad; for þe king his fader wes dæd.
& he mosten cume sone; to his kine-dome.
Swa wes þat writ idiht; & he hit dude forð-riht.
-258-
to þisse londe he com; & under-feng þene kine-dom.
Wel riche wes Aruiragus; and mucle ricchere Maurius.
a þisse londe he heold grið; a þisse londe he hulde frið.
her wes blisse her wes mete; & alre godene mast.
A þissen ilken hit stod; þet com ouer sæ-flod.
an king þe hæhte Rodric; elche oðer unilic.
he com ut of Scice; elches londes vniliche.
he brohte mid him þe Peohtes; folc of muchele mahte.
Seoððen Rod[r]ic wes ærst mon; & he mihte uuel don.
a he ferde bi sæ-flod; & dude he uuel & næuere god.
monie hundreð buri3e; he hæfde imakede blæðe.
He ferde bi sæ-stronde; into Scotlonde.
þat lond he al wæste; mid hermen þan meste.
þurh þat lond he ærnde; & hæ[r]3ede and hærmde.
Comen þa tiðende; to Maurius þon kinge.
hu þe king Rodric; his ræflac makede.
Sone he sende sonde; 3eond alle þisse kine-londe;
hæhte æuerælcne mon; þa his monscipe uðe.
þat he wel iwepned comen to hirede;
Þis folc wes isomned. and þe king fusde;
ferde into Scotlonde. þere he Rodric king fond;
Heo fuhten swiðe feondliche. & feollen þa Peohtes;
& Rodric þer wes of-sla3en. & seoððen mid heorsen to-dra3en;
Þer dude Maurius þe king. a wel swuðe sællech þing;
uppen þen ilke stude. þer he Rodric uor-dude;
he lette a-ræren anan. enne swuðe sælcuð stan;
he lette þer-on grauen. sælcuðe run-stauen;
hu he Rodric. of-sloh. & hine mid horsen to-droh;
& hu he þa Peohtes. ouer-com mid his fæhtes;
Vp he sette þæne stan. 3et he þer stondeð;
swa he deð al swa longe. swa þa woreld stondeð.
Nome him scupte þe king; & hehte þene stan West-mering.
a muchel dæl londes; þe þer lið abuten.
nom þe king to his hond; & hæhte hit West-merelinge lond.
Nu þu hafuest soð iherd; for wham hit swa hatte.
Þa þe þeo Peohtes; weoren ouer-cumne i þon fehte.
and Rodric wes dæd; & his iueren for-demed.
þa flu3en þer bihælues; fiftene hundred.
þat weoren þa feirest men; þe weoren i þon fehte.
hæfden he to here-to3e; enne hæh-iborene mon.
-260-
Þeos weolden heom ibur3en; & bi-halues fleon.
& bu3en vt of londe; to helpen heore liue.
Þat i-seh3en þreo eorles; þe i þeon fehte weoren ohte.
whudere-ward þa ferde; heore flæm makeden.
Þe eorles heom si3en to; mid selen heore cnihtes.
driuen heom in-to ænne hæhne wude; þer heo heærm þoleden.
Stod þe wund-liche wude; amidden ane wælde.
biuoren na bihinden; ne mihten þær nan at-winden.
ah alle hi heom nomen; & nane heo ne a-slo3en.
fæste heom heo bunden; & brohten to þen kinge.
þat þe king heom sculden; don; oðer slan oðer hon.
Anan swa þe king heom spec wið; swa heo 3eornden his grið.
3eorne heo hine beden; þurh his æd-meden.
þat he nomen heom to þrallen; & heo him wolden þiwien.
& heo him wolden beon liðe; a to heore liue.
Al þe king weorhte; also heo bi-sohten.
& heom an heond sælde; muchel dæl of londe.
al abuten Catenes; þer heo caðel wrohten.
Þat lond wes swiðe god; ah seoððen wes þe muchel flod.
nes hit neuere itiled; þurh nænne eorðe-itilie.