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LAYAMON

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That all the year at mass are found
Within the holy massbook.
And aye after the gospel stands

That which the gospel meaneth,
Which must be told unto the folk,
Because the soul doth need it;
And still within it thou shalt find
Enough and more there written
Of what the holy flock of Christ
Must well believe and follow.
I have set down here in this book,
Among the words of gospel,
All of myself full many a word,
To fill the measure merely;
But thou shalt find here that my word,
Wherever it is added,

May help the people who shall read
To see and understand too

The better how it them behooves
To understand the gospel;

And therefore trow I that thou must
Endure my words with patience,
Wherever thou shalt find them set
Among the words of gospel.

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LAYAMON (C. 1205)

FROM THE BRUT

Arthur went to Cornwall,

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The host with him was countless; Modred heard the tidings

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The stude hatte 38 Camelford;
Ever-mare ilast that like weorde! 39
And at Camelforde wes isomned 40
Sixti thusend

And ma thusend there-to; 41
Modred wes heore ælder.42
Thathiderward gon 44 ride
Arthur the riche 45

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4 always

means

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5 stands 8 that it be6 that that, that which 9 of their 10 and besides that, 13 behooves hooves one to tell holy people therein 12 enough more 16 here in 17 by myself 18 rhythm,

14 believe

measure

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follow 15

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19 everywhere where 21 added 22 those

SO

27 endure, perthee 26 23 to understand 24 all the better for this how it behooves them 25

therefore

And took his way against him

With host no man could number.
Many there were death-doomed!
By the river Tamar

The troops came together;

The place was christened Camelford;
Forever-more shall last that word!
And at Camelford was assembled
Sixty thousand

And thousands many more too;
Modred was their leader.
Then thitherward went riding
Arthur the royal

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30 with a numberless army 29 went mit 28 them upon the 31 heard 32 and went against him 33 numberless 38 the place was 34 there were many fey (fated to die) they Tamar (a river) ever-more shall last that same word 44 did 40 was gathered 41 and more thousands was their leader 43 then

called (name) besides

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came

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great

AE

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And thas word 8 seide

Mid sorhfulle heorte:

Thu weore Cadores sone!

Ich the bitache here 10

"Constantin, thu art wilcume!

Mine kineriche; "1

And wite 12 mine Bruttes

A to thines lifes;

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And hald heom 14 alle tha lawen

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Tha habbeoth istonden a mine dawen,16
And alle tha lawen gode

Tha bi Utheres dawen stode.

And ich wulle varen 17 to Avalun
To vairest 18 alre 19 maidene,

To Argante there 20

Alven swithe sceone;

quene,

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And heo 22 scal mine wunden
Makien alle isunde,23

Al hal 24 me makien

Mid haleweiye drenchen.25

And seothe 26 ich cumen wulle

To mine kineriche 27

And wunien 28 mid Brutten

Mid muchelere wunne.'

Æfne than worden 30

Ther com of se wenden 31

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That wes an sceort bat lithen,32

Sceoven mid uthen; 33

And twa wimmen ther-inne

Wunderliche idihte.34

And an eovste hine vereden,36

And heo nomen Arthur anan,35

And softe hine adun leiden,
And forth gunnen lithen.37

Tha 38 wes hit iwurthen 39
That Merlin seide whilen,
That weore unimete care

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To thee do I commit here
The care of my kingdom;
And guard well my Britons
Ever whilst thou livest;

And keep thou all the customs
That loved were in my life-time,
And all the customs splendid
That Uther's reign attended.
And I will fare to Avalon
To the fairest of all maidens,
Where Queen Argantè tarries,
Most beautiful of fairies;
And she shall every wound
Make both whole and sound,
All whole shall she make me
With health-giving potions.
And come shall I hereafter
Back to my kingdom
And abide with
With bliss forever."

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25 with healing draughts 26 afterwards 27 kingdom even with these words 3 who 4 kin 28 dwell 29 with great joy 8 these 34 wondrously 1 wondrously much young man 31 from the sea moving 32 that was a short boat 33 impelled by the waves and in haste 5 was named to the 7 the ground 10 I commit to thee here gliding words thou wert ever during thy life attired 35 they took Arthur at once 12 defend 11 kingdom bore him 37 did glide 38 then 39 fulfilled 40 whilom, 19 of all customs, laws 16 that have 18 fairest 14 keep for them formerly that there should be measureless sorrow I will go 17 stood in my days 20 the 21 elf very beautiful 22 she 23 well 24 whole

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Ye, mine leove 20 süstren,21 ne schulen 22 habben 23 no best 24 bute kat one.25 Ancre 26 thet haveth eihte 27 thüncheth 28 bet 29 husewif,30 ase Marthe was, then ancre; 26 31 ne none-weis ne mei heo 32 beon 33 Marie mid grithfulnesse 34 of heorte. Vor theonne 35 mot 36 heo thenchen 37 of the kues 38 foddre and of heordemonne 39 huire,40 oluhnen 41 thene 42 heiward, warien 44 hwon 45 46 me pünt hire, and yelden,48 thauh,49 the hermes. 50 Wat 51 Crist, this is lodlich 52 thing hwon 46 maketh mone in tune 54 of ancre 55 eihte.27 Thauh,49 yif 56 eni mot 36 nede habben 57 ku, loke 58 thet heo 32 none monne ne eilie ne ne hermie ; ne thet hire thouht ne beo 61 nout ther-on ivestned.62

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me

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Ancre ne ouh 63 nout to habben no thing thet drawe 64 utward hire heorte.

None cheffare 65

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ne drive ye. Ancre thet is cheapild, heo cheapeth 67 hire soule the chepmon 68 of helle.

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Ye, my dear sisters, shall have no beast but a cat only. A nun that has property seems rather a housewife, as Martha was, than a nun; and in no wise may she be Mary, with peacefulness of heart. For then must she think about the cow's fodder and the herdsmen's wages, flatter the constable, curse when the cow is put in the pound, and pay the damages nevertheless. God knows, it is a hateful thing when complaint is made in the village of a nun's property. However, if anyone must needs have a cow, let her see to it that it disturbs or harms no man; and that her heart be not fastened upon it. A nun ought to have nothing that will draw her heart outward to the world.

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once

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true come for a help to the English 19 The Nuns' Rule 20 dear

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shall

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have 24 beast 29 rather peacefulness

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30 housewife 31

sisters property no-ways she 33

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65 bargain

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bargainer

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pay

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67 sells keep, take care of 70 your house

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68 tradesman

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1 property 2 receive

strength, necessity make, cause

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unless

3

the

5 4 chalice

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or

10 such

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guarding

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come

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It was upon a summer's day,

Murry the noble king

By the water-side,

As he was wont to ride.

He found by the strand there,
Arrived in his land there,

Ships fifteen all told

might none be 20 nor any rain rain upon

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21 shine 9 fear After this line other MSS. insert two other lines. 13 evil 23 14 oft-times 24 like 25 kingdom companions led fellows was named 19 fairer 31 in his sport was named 30 as

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