For to warne his chevalry That they should come to Hungry, That worthy wedding for to fe, And come unto that mangerè. That mesfenger full fone he wente, And did the kinges commaundement. Anone he commaunded bothe olde and yynge For to be at that weddyng, Both dukes and erles of muche myght, And ladyes that were fayre and bryght: With dukes and erles and barons bolde, And knyghtes and fquyers of that countrè, And fith with all the comunaltè : And certaynly, as the story fayes, The revell lasted forty dayes; That wedded his doughter dere, 1100 1110 And even in the myddes of the hall With joy and blyffe they led theyr lyfe; Suche two lovers fawe i none : Therfore blefsed may theyr foules be! 1120 1130 THE KNIGHT OF CURTESY, AND THE FAIR LADY OF FAGUELL. IN Faguell, a fayre countrè, A great lorde fomtyme dyd dwell, Which had a lady fo fayre and fre That all men good of her dyd tel. Fayre and pleasaunt she was in fight, All men her loved, bothe yonge and olde, 10 For her vertue and gentylneffe. VOL. III. All men fpake of his hardyneffe, Ryche and poore of eche degre, So that they called him, doutleffe, The noble knyght of curtesy. This knight fo curteys was and bolde, Wyth a letter unto this knight, And fayd, Syr, i pray god you fe; My lorde of Faguell you fendeth ryght An hundred folde gretynge by me. He praieth you in all haftynge To come in his court for to dwell, The curteyfe knight was fone content, And in all dilygence that might be Wyth the mesfyngere anone he went This lorde to ferve with humylitè. 20 30 Faft they rode bothe day and nyght, Tyll he unto the lorde was come; And whan the lorde of hym had a fight, Right frendly he did him welcome. He gave hym towenes, castelles and towres, They thought to reve him his honoures, By fome treafon or trechery. This lady, of whome i spake before, She fet on hym her herte and minde. His paramour she thought to be, Hym for to love wyth herte and minde, Nat in vyce but in chastytè, As chyldren that together are kynde. This knight alfo curteyfe and wyfe, 40 With herte and mynde both ferme and faft, 50 Lovyd this lady wythouten vyfe, Whyche tyll they dyed dyd ever lafte. |