Sir Perceval of Galles - Part I by Author Unknown Lyrics

Here Begynnes the Romance of Sir Percyvell of Galles

Lef, lythes to me           Everyone, listen
Two wordes or thre,
Of one that was faire and fre
And felle in his fighte.           fierce; fighting
His righte name was Percyvell,
He was fosterde in the felle,           brought up; moors
He dranke water of the welle,
And yitt was he wyghte.           yet; strong
His fadir was a noble man;
Fro the tyme that he began,
Miche wirchippe he wan           Much honour
When he was made knyghte
In Kyng Arthures haulle.           palace
Beste byluffede of alle,           beloved
Percyvell thay gan hym calle,           did call him
Whoso redis ryghte.           reads correctly

Who that righte can rede,
He was doughty of dede,           bold
A styffe body on a stede           powerful; war horse
Wapynes to welde;           weapons; wield
Tharefore Kyng Arthoure
Dide hym mekill honoure:           much
He gaffe hym his syster Acheflour,           gave
To have and to holde
Fro thethyn till his lyves ende,           thence
With brode londes to spende,           have the use of
For he the knyght wele kende.           well knew
He bytaughte hir to welde,           entrusted; govern
With grete gyftes to fulfill;
He gaffe his sister hym till           to him
To the knyght, at ther bothers will,           both their
With robes in folde.           luxurious
He gaffe hym robes in folde,           luxurious
Brode londes in wolde,           in his possession
Mony mobles untolde,           possessions
His syster to take.
To the kirke the knyghte yode           church; went
For to wedde that frely fode,           gentle creature
For the gyftes that ware gude
And for hir ownn sake.
Sythen, withowtten any bade,           Since that time; delay
A grete brydale thay made,           wedding feast
For hir sake that hym hade
Chosen to hir make;           mate
And after, withowtten any lett,           delay
A grete justyng ther was sett;           jousting
Of all the kempes that he mett           contestants
Wolde he none forsake.           cease [from fighting]

Wolde he none forsake,
The Rede Knyghte ne the Blake,           Black
Ne none that wolde to hym take           come
With schafte ne with schelde;           lance; shield
He dose als a noble knyghte,           does as
Wele haldes that he highte;           Ever faithful [to his] promises
Faste preves he his myghte:           proves
Deres hym none elde.           Injures; older [knight]
Sexty schaftes, I say,
Sir Percyvell brake that ilke day,           same
And ever that riche lady lay
One walle and byhelde.           On
Thofe the Rede Knyghte hade sworne,           Though
Oute of his sadill is he borne
And almoste his lyfe forlorne,           destroyed
And lygges in the felde.           lies
There he lygges in the felde -
Many men one hym byhelde -           on
Thurgh his armour and his schelde           Throughout
Stoneyde that tyde.           Stunned; time
That arghede all that ther ware,           made fainthearted
Bothe the lesse and the mare,           common; noble
That noble Percyvell so wele dare           able
Syche dynttys habyde.           blows to suffer
Was ther nowthir more ne lasse
Of all those that ther was
That durste mete hym one the grasse,           dared; on; grassy plot
Agaynes hym to ryde.
Thay gaffe Sir Percyvell the gree:           victory
Beste worthy was he;
And hamewardes than rode he,
And blythe was his bryde.           happy

And thofe the bryde blythe be           though
That Percyvell hase wone the gree,           victory
Yete the Rede Knyghte es he
Hurte of his honde;
And therfore gyffes he a gyfte           he makes a pledge
That if he ever covere myghte           recover
Owthir by day or by nyghte,
In felde for to stonde,
That he scholde qwyte hym that dynt           repay; blow
That he of his handes hynte;           from; received
Sall never this travell be tynt,           Shall; effort be in vain
Ne tolde in the londe
That Percyvell in the felde
Schulde hym schende thus undire schelde,           defeat; under
Bot he scholde agayne it yelde,           Unless
If that he were leveande.           living
Now than are thay leveande bathe;           both alive
Was noghte the Rede Knyghte so rathe           impatient
For to wayte hym with skathe.           afflict; injury
Er ther the harmes felle,           Before; calamity
Ne befelle ther no stryffe,
Till Percyvell had in his lyffe           Until
A son by his yonge wyffe,
Aftir hym to duelle.
When the childe was borne,
He made calle it one the morne           on
Als his fadir highte byforne -           was named
Yonge Percyvell.
The knyghte was fayne a feste made           eager [to have]
For knave-childe that he hade;           boy
And sythen, withowtten any bade           then; further ado
Offe justynges they telle.           Of joustings

Now of justynges they tell:
They sayne that Sir Percyvell
That he will in the felde duelle,           dwell
Als he hase are done.           previously
A grete justynge was ther sett
Of all the kempes that ther mett,           contestants
For he wolde his son were gette           trained
In the same wonne.           manner
Theroff the Rede Knyghte was blythe,
When he herde of that justynge kythe,           jousting news
And graythed hym armour ful swythe,           prepared for himself; at once
And rode thedir righte sone;
Agayne Percyvell he rade,          Against
With schafte and with schelde brade,           broad
To holde his heste that he made,           keep his vow
Of maistres to mone.           Because of injuries remembered

Now of maistres to mone,           conquests worth mentioning
Percyvell hase wele done,
For the love of his yonge sone,
One the firste day.
Ere the Rede Knyghte was bownn,           Before; ready [to enter the lists]
Percyvell hase borne downn
Knyght, duke, erle, and baroun,
And vencusede the play.           vanquished the field
Right als he hade done this honour,           As soon as
So come the Rede Knyghte to the stowre.           battle
Bot "Wo worthe wykkyde armour!"           A curse on bad equipment
Percyvell may say.
For ther was Sir Percyvell slayne,
And the Rede Knyghte fayne -           joyful
In herte is noghte for to layne -           conceal
When he went on his way.

When he went on his way,
Durste ther no man to hym say,
Nowther in erneste ne in play,
To byd hym habyde;           command; stay
For he had slayne righte thare
The beste body at thare ware,           person that there was
Sir Percyvell, with woundes sare,           deadly
And stonayed that tyde.           stunned; time
And than thay couthe no better rede           knew; plan
Bot put hym in a prevee stede,           sequestered place
Als that men dose with the dede,           dead
In erthe for to hyde.
Scho that was his lady           She
Mighte be full sary,           sorry
That lorne hade siche a body:           lost
Hir aylede no pryde.           (i.e., She felt)

And now is Percyvell the wighte           creature
Slayne in batelle and in fyghte,
And the lady hase gyffen a gyfte,           made a pledge
Holde if scho may,           Keep it
That scho schall never mare wone          she; dwell
In stede, with hir yonge sone,           [any] place
Ther dedes of armes schall be done,           Where
By nyghte ne be daye.
Bot in the wodde schall he be:           wilderness
Sall he no thyng see           Shall
Bot the leves of the tree
And the greves graye;           groves
Schall he nowther take tent           pay attention
To justes ne to tournament,
Bot in the wilde wodde went,           go
With bestes to playe.           animals

With wilde bestes for to playe,
Scho tuke hir leve and went hir waye,           She
Bothe at baron and at raye,           from the nobility; king (or finery)
And went to the wodde.
Byhynde scho leved boure and haulle;           left bower; hall
A mayden scho tuke hir withalle,
That scho myghte appon calle
When that hir nede stode.           (i.e., she needed service)
Other gudes wolde scho nonne nayte,           goods; require
Bot with hir tuke a tryppe of gayte,           flock of goats
With mylke of tham for to bayte           drink
To hir lyves fode.           For
Off all hir lordes faire gere,
Wolde scho noghte with hir bere
Bot a lyttill Scottes spere,           except
Agayne hir son yode.           In anticipation of her son's learning to walk

And when hir yong son yode,           walked about
Scho bade hym walke in the wodde,
Tuke hym the Scottes spere gude,           Presented
And gaffe hym in hande.
"Swete modir," sayde he,
"What manere of thyng may this bee
That ye nowe hafe taken mee?           given to
What calle yee this wande?"           stick
Than byspakke the lady:
"Son," scho sayde, "sekerly,           truly
It es a dart doghty;           is; worthy
In the wodde I it fande."
The childe es payed, of his parte,           pleased
His modir hafe gyffen hym that darte;
Therwith made he many marte           slain beasts
In that wodde-lande.

Thus he welke in the lande,           walks
With hys darte in his hande;
Under the wilde wodde-wande           branches
He wexe and wele thrafe.           grew; thrived
He wolde schote with his spere
Bestes and other gere,           things
As many als he myghte bere.           carry
He was a gude knave!           boy
Smalle birdes wolde he slo,           slay
Hertys, hyndes also;           Male and female deer
Broghte his moder of thoo:           those
Thurte hir none crave.           She need not even ask for them (the slaughtered animals)
So wele he lernede hym to schote,
Ther was no beste that welke one fote           walked
To fle fro hym was it no bote.           useless
When that he wolde hym have,

Even when he wolde hym have.           Even then
Thus he wexe and wele thrave,           thrived
And was reghte a gude knave           truly; boy
Within a fewe yere.
Fyftene wynter and mare
He duellede in those holtes hare;           grey woods
Nowther nurture ne lare           courtesy; learning
Scho wolde hym none lere.           teach
Till it byfelle, on a day,
The lady till hir son gun say,           to; did
"Swete childe, I rede thou praye           counsel
To Goddes Sone dere,
That he wolde helpe the -
Lorde, for His poustee -           power
A gude man for to bee,
And longe to duelle here."

"Swete moder," sayde he,
"Whatkyns a godd may that be           What kind of
That ye nowe bydd mee
That I schall to pray?"
Then byspakke the lady even:           directly
"It es the grete Godd of heven:
This worlde made He within seven,
Appon the sexte day."
"By grete Godd," sayde he than,
"And I may mete with that man,           If
With alle the crafte that I kan,
Reghte so schall I pray!"
There he levede in a tayte           left with eagerness
Bothe his modir and his gayte,           goats
The grete Godd for to layte,           seek
Fynde hym when he may.

And as he welke in holtes hare,           walked; grey woods
He sawe a gate, as it ware;           path
With thre knyghtis mett he thare
Off Arthrus in.           household
One was Ewayne fytz Asoure,
Another was Gawayne with honour,
And Kay, the bolde baratour,           warrior
And all were of his kyn.
In riche robes thay ryde;
The childe hadd no thyng that tyde           time
That he myghte in his bones hyde,
Bot a gaytes skynn.           goat's
He was a burely of body, and therto right brade;           broad
One ayther halfe a skynn he hade;           On both sides
The hode was of the same made,           hood
Juste to the chynn.

His hode was juste to his chyn,           hood
The flesche halfe tourned within.
The childes witt was full thyn
When he scholde say oughte.           speak properly
Thay were clothede all in grene;
Siche hade he never sene:           Such
Wele he wened that thay had bene           assumed
The Godd that he soghte.
He said, "Wilke of yow alle three           Which
May the grete Godd bee
That my moder tolde mee,
That all this werlde wroghte?"
Bot than ansuerde Sir Gawayne
Faire and curtaisely agayne,
"Son, so Criste mote me sayne,           must me save
For swilke are we noghte."           such

Than saide the fole one the filde,           naïf in the field
Was comen oute of the woddes wilde,
To Gawayne that was meke and mylde
And softe to ansuare,
"I sall sla yow all three           slay
Bot ye smertly now telle mee           Unless
Whatkyns thynges that ye bee,
Sen ye no goddes are."
Then ansuerde Sir Kay,
"Who solde we than say           should
That hade slayne us to-day
In this holtis hare?"           grey woods
At Kayes wordes wexe he tene:           grew; angry
Bot he a grete bukke had bene,           As if
Ne hadd he stonde tham bytwene,           Regardless of whoever had stood between them
He hade hym slayne thare.           [Perceval] would have

Bot than said Gawayn to Kay,
"Thi prowde wordes pares ay;           do harm always
I scholde wyn this childe with play,           in a softer manner
And thou wolde holde the still.           If
Swete son," than said he,
"We are knyghtis all thre;
With Kyng Arthoure duelle wee,
That hovyn es on hyll."           who has remained on
Then said Percyvell the lyghte,
In gayte-skynnes that was dyghte,           dressed
"Will Kyng Arthoure make me knyghte,
And I come hym till?"           If
Than saide Sir Gawayne righte thare,
"I kane gyffe the nane ansuare;
Bot to the Kynge I rede thou fare,           advise; go
To wete his awenn will!"           know; own

To wete than the Kynges will
Thare thay hoven yitt still;           remain
The childe hase taken hym till
For to wende hame.           home
And als he welke in the wodde,
He sawe a full faire stode           corral
Offe coltes and of meres gude,           mares
Bot never one was tame;
And sone saide he, "Bi Seyne John,           Saint
Swilke thynges as are yone           Such; yonder
Rade the knyghtes apone;           Rode
Knewe I thaire name,
Als ever mote I thryffe or thee,           prosper; thrive
The moste of yone that I see           largest; yonder
Smertly schall bere mee
Till I come to my dame."           mother

He saide, "When I come to my dame,
And I fynde hir at hame,           home
Scho will telle the name
Off this ilke thynge."           aforementioned
The moste mere he thare see           largest mare
Smertly overrynnes he,           runs down
And saide, "Thou sall bere me           shall
To-morne to the Kynge."
Kepes he no sadill-gere,           He puts no store in
Bot stert up on the mere:           leaps upon
Hamewarde scho gun hym bere,
Withowtten faylynge.
The lady was never more sore bygone.           sorely overwhelmed
Scho wiste never whare to wonne,           knew; what to do
When scho wiste hir yonge sonne
Horse hame brynge.           home

Scho saw hym horse hame brynge;
Scho wiste wele, by that thynge,           knew
That the kynde wolde oute sprynge           natural course
For thynge that be moughte.           would prevail
Than als sone saide the lady,
"That ever solde I sorowe dry,           should; endure
For love of thi body,
That I hafe dere boghte!
Dere son," saide scho hym to,
"Thou wirkeste thiselfe mekill unroo,           work; unrest
What will thou with this mere do,
That thou hase hame broghte?"
Bot the boye was never so blythe
Als when he herde the name kythe           made known
Of the stode-mere stythe.           stud-mare strong
Of na thyng than he roghte.           had he concern

Now he calles hir a mere,
Als his moder dide ere;           before
He wened all other horses were           assumed
And hade bene callede soo.
"Moder, at yonder hill hafe I bene;
Thare hafe I thre knyghtes sene,
And I hafe spoken with tham, I wene,
Wordes in throo;           anger
I have highte tham all thre           promised
Before thaire Kyng for to be:
Siche on schall he make me           Such a one
As is one of tho!"           those
He sware by grete Goddes myghte,
"I schall holde that I hafe highte;           promised
Bot-if the Kyng make me knyghte,           Unless
To-morne I sall hym sloo!"           slay

Bot than byspakke the lady,
That for hir son was sary -           Who; grieved
Hir thoghte wele that scho myght dy           die
And knelyde one hir knee:           on
"Sone, thou has takyn thi rede,           plan
To do thiselfe to the dede!           death
In everilke a strange stede,           every foreign place
Doo als I bydde the:           command
To-morne es forthirmaste Yole-day,           first
And thou says thou will away
To make the knyghte, if thou may,
Als thou tolde mee.
Lyttill thou can of nurtoure:           know; courtesy
Luke thou be of mesure           moderation
Bothe in haulle and in boure,           chamber
And fonde to be fre."           try to be well-mannered

Than saide the lady so brighte,
"There thou meteste with a knyghte,
Do thi hode off, I highte,           hood
And haylse hym in hy."           greet; right away
"Swete moder," sayd he then,
"I saw never yit no men;
If I solde a knyghte ken,           recognise
Telles me wharby."           Tell me how I'll know him
Scho schewede hym the menevaire -           showed; ermine
Scho had robes in payre.           in sets
"Sone, ther thou sees this fare           where; handsome fur
In thaire hodes lye."           hoods
"Bi grete God," sayd he,
"Where that I a knyghte see,           Wherever
Moder, as ye bidd me,
Righte so schall I."

All that nyghte till it was day,
The childe by the modir lay,
Till on the morne he wolde away,
For thyng that myghte betyde.           Despite anything; happen
Brydill hase he righte nane;           none
Seese he no better wane,           Sees; means
Bot a wythe hase he tane,           withy (pliable branch); taken
And kevylles his stede.           bridles
His moder gaffe hym a ryng,
And bad he solde agayne it bryng;
"Sonne, this sall be oure takynnyng,           sign (token)
For here I sall the byde."           await you
He tase the rynge and the spere,           takes
Stirttes up appon the mere:           Leaps
Fro the moder that hym bere,
Forthe gan he ryde.

One his way as he gan ryde,
He fande an haulle ther besyde;           castle
He saide, "For oghte that may betyde,
Thedir in will I."
He went in withowtten lett;           hindrance
He fande a brade borde sett,           broad dining table
A bryghte fire, wele bett,           kindled
Brynnande therby.           Burning
A mawnger ther he fande,           manger; found
Corne therin lyggande;           lying
Therto his mere he bande           bound
With the withy.           branch
He saide, "My modir bad me           told
That I solde of mesure bee           should; moderation
Halfe that I here see
Styll sall it ly."           shall

The corne he pertis in two,           divides
Gaffe his mere the tone of thoo,           one of those
And to the borde gan he goo,
Certayne that tyde.
He fande a lofe of brede fyne
And a pychere with wyne,
A mese of the kechyne,           dinner; kitchen
A knyfe ther besyde.
The mete ther that he fande,
He dalte it even with his hande,           divided
Lefte the halfe lyggande
A felawe to byde.           Another person to sustain
The tother halfe ete he;           The other
How myghte he more of mesure be?           moderation
Faste he fonded to be free,           Eagerly; sought; courteous
Thofe he were of no pryde.           Although

Thofe he were of no pryde,
Forthyrmore gan he glyde           move
Till a chambir ther besyde,           To
Moo sellys to see.           More marvelous
Riche clothes fande he sprede,
A lady slepande on a bedde;
He said, "Forsothe, a tokyn to wedde           sign as a pledge
Sall thou lefe with mee."           Shall; leave
Ther he kyste that swete thynge;
Of hir fynger he tuke a rynge;           From
His awenn modir takynnynge           own mother's token
He lefte with that fre.           noble[woman]
He went forthe to his mere,
Tuke with hym his schorte spere,
Lepe on lofte, as he was ere;           Jumped upon [his mare]
His way rydes he.

Now on his way rydes he,
Moo selles to see;           More marvels
A knyghte wolde he nedis bee,
Withowtten any bade.           further ado
He came ther the Kyng was,           where
Servede of the firste mese.           course
To hym was the maste has           To [address] him (the King); primary goal
That the childe hade;
And thare made he no lett           permitted no hindrance
At gate, dore, ne wykett,
Bot in graythely he gett -           readily
Syche maistres he made.           So powerfully he acted
At his firste in-comynge,
His mere, withowtten faylynge,
Kyste the forhevede of the Kynge -           forehead
So nerehande he rade!           close up; rode

The Kyng had ferly thaa,           pulled back in surprise
And up his hande gan he taa           take
And putt it forthir hym fraa,
The mouthe of the mere.
He saide, "Faire childe and free,
Stonde still besyde mee,
And tell me wythen that thou bee,           from whence
And what thou will here."           desire
Than said the fole of the filde,           fool; field
"I ame myn awnn modirs childe,           own
Comen fro the woddes wylde
Till Arthure the dere.           Unto; great
Yisterday saw I knyghtis three:
Siche on sall thou make mee           Such a one
On this mere byfor the,
Thi mete or thou schere!"           ere; cut

Bot than spak Sir Gawayne,
Was the Kynges trenchepayne,           [Who] was; bread server
Said, "Forsothe, is noghte to layne,           [he] is; lying
I am one of thaa.           those
Childe, hafe thou my blyssyng           have
For thi feres folowynge!           following thy fellows
Here hase thou fonden the Kynge
That kan the knyghte maa."           thee; make
Than sayde Peceyvell the free,
"And this Arthure the Kyng bee,           If
Luke he a knyghte make mee:           See to it
I rede at it be swaa!"           demand; so
Thofe he unborely were dyghte,           meanly; dressed
He sware by mekill Goddes myghte:
"Bot if the Kyng make me knyghte,           Unless
I sall hym here slaa!"           slay

All that ther weren, olde and yynge,
Hadden ferly of the Kyng,           wonder
That he wolde suffre siche a thyng
Of that foull wyghte           person
On horse hovande hym by.           waiting
The Kyng byholdes hym on hy;
Than wexe he sone sory
When he sawe that syghte.
The teres oute of his eghne glade,           eyes flowed
Never one another habade.           one waiting for the other
"Allas," he sayde, "that I was made,
Be day or by nyghte,
One lyve I scholde after hym bee           That I should continue living after the one
That me thynke lyke the:           Who, it seems to me, looked like you [i.e., Perceval's father]
Thou arte so semely to see,
And thou were wele dighte!"           If; dressed

He saide, "And thou were wele dighte,
Thou were lyke to a knyghte
That I lovede with all my myghte
Whills he was one lyve.           alive
So wele wroghte he my will
In all manere of skill,
I gaffe my syster hym till,
For to be his wyfe.
He es moste in my mane:           remembrance
Fiftene yere es it gane,           have gone by
Sen a theffe hade hym slane           Since a thief
Abowte a littill stryffe!           disagreement
Sythen hafe I ever bene his fo,           Since that time; foe
For to wayte hym with wo.           afflict
Bot I myghte hym never slo,           slay
His craftes are so ryfe."           numerous

He sayse, "His craftes are so ryfe,
Ther is no man apon lyfe,
With swerde, spere, ne with knyfe
May stroye hym allan,           destroy; alone
Bot if it were Sir Percyvell son.           Unless
Whoso wiste where he ware done!           put
The bokes says that he mon
Venge his fader bane."           Avenge; father's destroyer
The childe thoghte he longe bade           waited too long
That he ne ware a knyghte made,
For he wiste never that he hade
A fader to be slayne;
The lesse was his menynge.           understanding
He saide sone to the Kynge,
"Sir, late be thi jangleynge!           stop; chattering
Of this kepe I nane."           care

He sais, "I kepe not to stande
With thi jangleyns to lange.           too long
Make me knyghte with thi hande,
If it sall be done!"
Than the Kyng hym hendly highte           eagerly promised
That he schold dub hym to knyghte,
With thi that he wolde doun lighte           Provided that
And ete with hym at none.           at that time
The Kyng biholdes the vesage free,           noble countenance
And ever more trowed hee           believed
That the childe scholde bee
Sir Percyvell son:
It ran in the Kynges mode,           mind
His syster Acheflour the gude -
How scho went into the wodde
With hym for to wonn.           dwell

The childe hadde wonnede in the wodde;           lived
He knewe nother evyll ne gude;           wrong nor right
The Kynge hymselfe understode
He was a wilde man.
So faire he spakke hym withall,           i.e., Arthur
He lyghtes doun in the haulle,           i.e., Perceval
Bonde his mere amonge tham alle           mare
And to the borde wann.           turned
Bot are he myghte bygynn           before
To the mete for to wynn,           enjoy
So commes the Rede Knyghte in
Emanges tham righte than,           Among
Prekande one a rede stede;           Riding rapidly
Blode-rede was his wede.           clothing
He made tham gammen full gnede,           full sorry sport
With craftes that he can.           knew

With his craftes gan he calle,
And callede tham recrayhandes all,           cowards
Kynge, knyghtes inwith walle,
At the bordes ther thay bade.
Full felly the coupe he fett,           fiercely; cup; took
Bifore the Kynge that was sett.
Ther was no man that durste hym lett,           oppose
Thofe that he were fadde.           Even though; eager for battle
The couppe was filled full of wyne;           cup
He dranke of that that was therinn.
All of rede golde fyne
Was the couppe made.
He tuke it up in his hande,
The coupe that he there fande,           found
And lefte tham all sittande,
And fro tham he rade.           rode away

Now from tham he rade,
Als he says that this made.           i.e., the author of the poem
The sorowe that the Kynge hade
Mighte no tonge tell.
"A! dere God," said the Kyng than,
"That all this wyde werlde wan,           Who; won
Whethir I sall ever hafe that man
May make yone fende duelle?           fiend desist
Fyve yeres hase he thus gane,
And my coupes fro me tane,           taken from me
And my gude knyghte slayne,
Men calde Sir Percyvell;
Sythen taken hase he three,           Since then
And ay awaye will he bee,           always
Or I may harnayse me           Before; arm myself
In felde hym to felle."           kill

"Petir!" quod Percyvell the yonge,
"Hym than will I down dynge           strike
And the coupe agayne brynge,
And thou will make me knyghte."           If
"Als I am trewe kyng," said he,
"A knyghte sall I make the,
Forthi thou will brynge mee
The coupe of golde bryghte."
Up ryses Sir Arthoure,
Went to a chamboure
To feche doun armoure,
The childe in to dyghte;           arm
Bot are it was doun caste,           before; taken down
Ere was Percyvell paste,           gone
And on his way folowed faste,
That he solde with fyghte.           That [knight]; should

With his foo for to fighte,           enemy
None othergates was he dighte,           otherwise; prepared
Bot in thre gayt-skynnes righte,           goat
A fole als he ware.

He cryed, "How, man on thi mere!          You; mare
Bryng agayne the Kynges gere,           goods
Or with my dart I sall the fere           terrify
And make the unfere!"           infirm
And after the Rede Knyghte he rade,
Baldely, withowtten bade:           hesitation
Sayd, "A knyght I sall be made
For som of thi gere."           With; equipment
He sware by mekill Goddes payne,           great
"Bot if thou brynge the coupe agayne,           Unless
With my dart thou sall be slayne
And slongen of thi mere."           thrown off; mare
The kynghte byhaldes hym in throo,           anger
Calde hym fole that was hys foo,           fool; foe
For he named hym soo - Because he called his horse a mare
The stede that hym bere.

And for to see hym with syghte,
He putt his umbrere on highte,           visor
To byhalde how he was dyghte,           armed
That so till hym spake.           The one who spoke so to him
He sayde, "Come I to the, appert fole;           impudent fool
I sall caste the in the pole,           marsh
For all the heghe days of Yole,           Despite
Als ane olde sakke."           As; sack
Than sayd Percyvell the free,           noble
"Be I fole, or whatte I bee,
Now sone of that sall wee see           soon
Whose browes schall blakke."           turn pale
Of schottyng was the childe slee:           skillful
At the knyghte lete he flee,
Smote hym in at the eghe           eye
And oute at the nakke.           neck

For the dynt that he tuke, took
Oute of sadill he schoke, was shaken
Whoso the sothe will luke,
And ther was he slayne.
He falles down one the hill;
His stede rynnes whare he will.
Than saide Percyvell hym till,
"Thou art a lethir swayne."           feeble knave
Then saide the childe in that tyde,
"And thou woldeste me here byde,           If; wait here for me
After thi mere scholde I ryde
And brynge hir agayne;
Then myghte we bothe with myghte
Menskfully togedir fyghte,           Honourably
Ayther of us, as he were a knyghte,
Till tyme the tone ware slayne."           one

Now es the Rede Knyghte slayne,
Lefte dede in the playne.
The childe gon his mere mayne           direct
After the stede.
The stede was swifter than the mere,
For he hade no thynge to bere
Bot his sadill and his gere,
Fro hym thofe he yede.           though; went
The mere was bagged with fole;           heavy; foal
And hirselfe a grete bole;           swelled-up [animal]
For to rynne scho myghte not thole,           run; suffer
Ne folowe hym no spede.
The childe saw that it was soo,
And till his fete he gan hym too;           to; take himself
The gates that he scholde goo           steps (gaits)
Made he full gnede.           stingy (i.e., no extra steps)

The gates made he full gnede           < i="">
In the waye ther he yede;           where; went
With strenght tuke he the stede
And broghte to the knyghte.
"Me thynke," he sayde, "thou arte fele           trustworthy
That thou ne will away stele;           sneak away
Now I houppe that thou will dele           hope; deal
Strokes appon hyghte.           high (on horseback)
I hafe broghte to the thi mere           you your mare
And mekill of thyn other gere;           much
Lepe on hir, as thou was ere,           before
And thou will more fighte!"
The knyghte lay still in the stede:           in that place
What sulde he say, when he was dede?           should; dead
The childe couthe no better rede,           knew; advice
Bot down gun he lyghte.

Now es Percyvell lyghte           off his horse
To unspoyle the Rede Knyghte,           strip of his armour
Bot he ne couthe never fynd righte
The lacynge of his wede.           fastenings; armour
He was armede so wele
In gude iryn and in stele,
He couthe no gett of a dele,           off; piece
For nonkyns nede.           No matter what
He sayd, "My moder bad me,           taught
When my dart solde broken be,
Owte of the iren bren the tree:           burn; wood
Now es me fyre gnede."           lacking
Now he getis hym flynt,
His fyre-iren he hent,           steel; seizes
And then, withowtten any stynt,           delay
He kyndilt a glede.           spark

Now he kyndils a glede,
Amonge the buskes he yede           woods; went
And gedirs, full gude spede,           gathers; quickly
Wodde, a fyre to make.
A grete fyre made he than,
The Rede Knyghte in to bren,           burn
For he ne couthe nott ken           figure out how
His gere off to take.
Be than was Sir Gawayne dyght,           prepared
Folowede after the fyghte
Betwene hym and the Rede Knyghte,
For the childes sake.
He fande the Rede Knyght lyggand,           lying
Slayne of Percyvell hande,
Besyde a fyre brynnande           burning
Off byrke and of akke.           birch; oak

Ther brent of birke and of ake           birch; oak
Gret brandes and blake.           flames; smoke
"What wylt thou with this fyre make?"
Sayd Gawayne hym till.
"Petir!" quod Percyvell then,           By Saint Peter!
"And I myghte hym thus ken,           see
Out of his iren I wolde hym bren
Righte here on this hill."
Bot then sayd Sir Gawayne,
"The Rede Knyghte for thou has slayne,
I sall unarme hym agayne,
And thou will holde the still."           If
Than Sir Gawayn doun lyghte,
Unlacede the Rede Knyghte;
The childe in his armour dight           dressed
At his awnn will.

When he was dighte in his atire,           dressed
He tase the knyghte bi the swire,           takes; neck
Keste hym reghte in the fyre,
The brandes to balde.           flames; increase
Bot then said Percyvell on bost,           boast
"Ly still therin now and roste!           roast
I kepe nothynge of thi coste,           care; distressed condition
Ne noghte of thi spalde!"           limbs
The knyghte lygges ther on brede;           sprawling
The childe es dighte in his wede,           equipped; arms
And lepe up apon his stede,
Als hymselfe wolde.
He luked doun to his fete,
Saw his gere faire and mete:           becoming
"For a knyghte I may be lete           allowed to pass
And myghte be calde."           called [one]

Then sayd Sir Gawayn hym till,
"Goo we faste fro this hill!
Thou hase done what thou will;
It neghes nere nyghte."           nears
"What! trowes thou," quod Percyvell the yonge,           do you believe
"That I will agayn brynge
Untill Arthoure the Kynge
The golde that es bryghte?
Nay, so mote I thryfe or thee,           thrive; prosper
I am als grete a lorde als he;
To-day ne schall he make me
None other gates knyghte.           otherwise [than a] knight
Take the coupe in thy hande
And mak thiselfe the presande,           present
For I will forthire into the lande,
Are I doun lyghte."           Before

Nowther wolde he doun lyghte,
Ne he wolde wende with the knyght,
Bot rydes forthe all the nyghte,
So prowde was he than.
Till on the morne at forthe dayes,           late in the morning
He mett a wyche, as men says.           witch
His horse and his harnays
Couthe scho wele ken.           recognise
Scho wende that it hade bene           assumed
The Rede Knyghte that scho hade sene,
Was wonnt in those armes to bene,           accustomed; be
To gerre the stede rynne.           equip; [to] run
In haste scho come hym agayne,
Sayde, "It is not to layne,
Men tolde me that thou was slayne
With Arthours men.

Ther come one of my men,
Till yonder hill he gan me kenne,           led me to understand
There thou sees the fyre brene,           Where
And sayde that thou was thare."
Ever satt Percyvell stone-still,
And spakke no thynge hir till
Till scho hade sayde all hir will,
And spakke lesse ne mare.           neither less nor more
"At yondere hill hafe I bene:
Nothynge hafe I there sene
Bot gayte-skynnes, I wene.
Siche ill-farande fare!"           wretched stuff
"Mi sone, and thou ware thare slayne           if
And thyn armes of drawen,           carried away
I couthe hele the agayne           heal you again
Als wele als thou was are."           before

Than wist Percyvell by thatt,           knew
It servede hym of somwhatt,
The wylde fyre that he gatt
When the knyghte was slayne;
And righte so wolde he, thare           he wanted
That the olde wiche ware.
Oppon his spere he hir bare
To the fyre agayne;
In ill wrethe and in grete,           wrath; anger
He keste the wiche in the hete;           cast; flames
He sayde, "Ly still and swete           sweat
Bi thi son, that lyther swayne!"           wicked
Thus he leves thaym twoo,
And on his gates gan he goo:           way
Siche dedis to do moo           more
Was the childe fayne.           eager

Als he come by a wodd-syde,
He sawe ten men ryde;
He said, "For oughte that may betyde,
To tham will I me."           I myself will [go] to them
When those ten saw hym thare,
Thay wende the Rede Knyghte it ware,           thought
That wolde tham all forfare,           destroy
And faste gan thay flee;
For he was sogates cledde,           Since; thus clad
Alle belyffe fro hym thay fledde;           quickly
And ever the faster that thay spedde,
The swiftlyere sewed hee,           followed
Till he was warre of a knyghte,
And of the menevaire he had syght;           ermine
He put up his umbrere on hight,           visor
And said, "Sir, God luke thee!"           May God watch over you!

The childe sayde, "God luke the!"
The knyght said, "Now wele the be!
A, lorde Godd, now wele es mee
That ever was I made!"
For by the vesage hym thoghte           countenance
The Rede Knyghte was it noghte,
That hade them all bysoughte;           searched for
And baldely he bade.           fearlessly; commanded
It semede wele bi the syghte
That he had slayne the Rede Knyght:
In his armes was he dighte,           dressed
And on his stede rade.           rode
"Son," sayde the knyghte tho,           then
And thankede the childe full thro,           eagerly
"Thou hase slayne the moste foo           greatest
That ever yitt I hade."

Then sayde Percyvell the free,
"Wherefore fledde yee
Lange are, when ye sawe mee           Earlier
Come rydande yow by?"           riding
Bot than spake the olde knyghte,
That was paste out of myghte           passed (i.e., too old)
With any man for to fyghte:
He ansuerde in hy;
He sayde, "Theis children nyne,           These
All are thay sonnes myne.
For ferde or I solde tham tyne,           fear that; should; lose
Therfore fledd I.
We wende wele that it had bene           thought indeed
The Rede Knyghte that we hade sene;
He walde hafe slayne us bydene,           altogether
Withowtten mercy.

Withowtten any mercy
He wolde hafe slayne us in hy;           haste
To my sonnes he hade envy           Of
Moste of any men.
Fiftene yeres es it gane
Syn he my brodire hade slane;           brother
Now hadde the theefe undirtane           undertaken
To sla us all then:
He was ferde lesse my sonnes sold hym slo           afraid lest; should; slay
When thay ware eldare and moo,           older; more [capable]
And that thay solde take hym for thaire foo
Where thay myghte hym ken;           see
Hade I bene in the stede           place
Ther he was done to the dede,           death
I solde never hafe etyn brede
Are I hade sene hym bren."           Until; burn

"Petir!" quod Percyvell, "he es brende!           burned
I haffe spedde better than I wend           been more successful; thought
Ever at the laste ende."
The blythere wexe the knyghte;           The more happy became
By his haulle thaire gates felle,           castle their way passed
And yerne he prayed Percyvell           eagerly
That he solde ther with hym duelle
And be ther all that nyghte.
Full wele he couthe a geste calle.           invite
He broghte the childe into the haulle;
So faire he spake hym withalle
That he es doun lyghte;
His stede es in stable sett
And hymselfe to the haulle fett,           fetched
And than, withowtten any lett,           delay
To the mette thay tham dighte.           food; prepared themselves