Selections from Early Middle English, 1130-1250. Part 1: Texts
General
Selections from Early Middle English, 1130-1250. Part 1: Texts
English literature -- Middle English, 1100-1500
Þe Peohtes weoren ofte{}iwuned{;} [f. 82v²
Vortige[r]ne to ou{er} | cumen.
⁊ þa heo þohten a[l]swa{;} Ah hit ilomp an oðer þa.
for hit wes heom al hele{;} þat hængest wes þere.
⁊ þa cnihtes stronge{;} þe comen of saxelo{n}de.
⁊ þa ohte alemanisce{;} þe þider comen mid horse. 125
Swiðe monie peohtes{;} heo sloȝen iþan fehte.
feondliche heo fuhten{;} feollen þa fæie.
[Linenotes:
113. _muni_ MS. || 116. _þa þa_ MS.]
þe peutes weren ofte iwoned{;} vortiger to ouercome.
And þo iþohten al so{;} ac hit bi{}ful oþerweies þo.
for hii hadde mochel care{;} for Hengest was þare.
for swiþe manie peutes{;} hii sloȝen in þan fihte.
Þa þe non wes icumen{;} þa weoren Peohtes ouer{}cumen.
⁊ swuðe heo awæi floȝen{;} an ælche helue heo forð fluȝen.
⁊ alle dai heo fluȝen{;} monie ⁊ vnnifoȝe. 130
Þe king vortigerne{;} wende to herberwe.
⁊ æuere him weore{n} on{}uast{;} Hors ⁊ hængest.
Hængest wes þan kinge leof{;} ⁊ him lindesaȝe ȝef.
and he ȝæf horse{;} madmes inoȝe.
⁊ alle heore cnihtes{;} he swiðe wel dihte. 135
⁊ hit gode stu{n}de{;} stod a þan ilke.
[Linenote:
133. _leof{;} ⁊ him linde_ over an erasure.]
þo þat non was icome{;} þo were Peutes ouer{}come.
And swiþe hii awey | floȝe. on euereche side. [f. 66v¹
and vortiger þe king{;} wende aȝen to his hin.
and to hengest an his cnihtes he ȝef riche ȝeftes.
Ne durste nauere peohtes{;} cumen i þan londes.
no ræueres no utlaȝen{;} þ̵ heo neoren sone of{}slæȝen.
⁊ hængest swiðe fæire{;} herede þane king.
Þa ilo{m}p hit in ane time{;} þ̵ þe king wes swiðe bliðe. 140
An ane hæȝe dæie{;} imong his duȝeðe monnen.
Hengest hine bi{}þohte{;} what he don mihte.
for he wolde wið þan ki{n}ge{;} holde{n} | runi{n}ge. [f. 83r¹
þan kinge he eode to{;} foren{;} ⁊ fæire hine gon greten.
Þe king sone up stod{;} ⁊ sætte hine bi him seoluen. 145
heo drunken heo dremden{;} blisse wes among heom.
[Linenotes:
137. _peohtestes_ MS. || _gonḍẹ_ MS. || 146. _heoṇ dremden_ MS.]
Ne dorste neuere peutes{;} come in þisse londe.
þat hii nere sone of{}slaȝe{;} and idon of lifdaȝe.
and Hengest swiþe hendeliche{;} cwemde þan kinge.
Þo hit bi{}ful in on time{;} þat þe king was swiþe bliþe. 140
Hengest wolde wiþ þan kinge{;} holde rouni{n}g.
þane kinge he come bi{}vore and faire hine grette.
[Linenote:
140. After _þe_, _ṛeṇ_ MS.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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