“Le Morte DArthur” : Notes de lecture ; volet 94

8/20/2019 “Le Morte DArthur” : Notes de lecture ; volet 94

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V e r s i o n

1 . 1

Notes de lecture

94

Le texte de base est celui de l’édition de Janet Cowen, Penguin Classics (2 vol.).

BOOK V

CHAPTER 5. How a man of the country told to him of a marvellous giant,

and how he fought and conquered him

§ 1 Then came to him an husbandman of the country, and told him how there was in the country ofConstantine beside Brittany, a great giant which had slain, murdered and devoured much people of thecountry, and had been sustained seven year with the children of the commons of that land, ‘insomuchthat all the children be all slain and destroyed; and now late he hath taken the Duchess of Brittany as she rode withher meyne, and hath led her to his lodging which is in a mountain, for to ravish and lie by her to her life’ s end, andmany people followed her, more than five hundred, but all they might not rescue her, but they left her shriekingand crying lamentably, wherefore I suppose that he hath slain her in ful filling his foul lust of lechery. She was wifeunto thy cousin Sir Howell, whom we call full nigh of thy blood. Now, as thou art a rightful king, have pity on thislady, and revenge us all as thou art a noble conqueror .’

‘ Alas,’ said King Arthur, ‘this is a great mischief, I had lever than the best realm that I have that I hadbeen a furlong way tofore him for to have rescued that lady. Now, fellow ,’ said King Arthur, ‘canst thou bring methereas this giant haunteth?’

‘Yea, Sir ,’ said the good man, ‘look yonder whereas thou seest those two great fires, there shalt thou findhim, and more treasure than I suppose is in all France.’

§ 2 When the king had understanden this piteous case, he returned into his tent. Then he called tohim Sir Kay and Sir Bedevere, and commanded them secretly to make ready horse and harness for him-self and them twain, for after evensong he would ride on pilgrimage with them two only unto SaintMichael’s mount. And then anon he made him ready, and armed him at all points, and took his horseand his shield.

And so they three departed thence and rode forth as fast as ever they might till that they cameto the fore-land of that mount. And there they alighted, and the king commanded them to tarry there,for he would himself go up into that mount. And so he ascended up into that hill till he came to a great

Geoffrey of Monmouth p. 8

Wace p. 11

Alliterative Morte Arthure p. 17

Winchester p. 26

Remarques p. 34


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fire, and there he found a careful widow wringing her hands and making great sorrow, sitting by agrave new made. And then King Arthur saluted her, and demanded of her wherefore she made suchlamentation, to whom she answered and said,

‘Sir knight, speak soft, for yonder is a devil, if he hear thee speak he will come and destroy thee; I hold theeunhappy; what dost thou here in this mountain? for if ye were such fi fty as ye be, ye were not able to make resist-ance against this devil: here lieth a duchess dead, the which was the fairest of all the world, wife to Sir Howell, Dukeof Brittany; he hath murdered her in forcing her, and hath slit her unto the navel.’

‘Dame,’ said the king, ‘I come from the noble conqueror King Arthur, for to treat with that tyrant for hisliege people.’

‘Fie on such treaties,’ said she, ‘he setteth not by the king nor by no man else; but and if thou have brought Arthur’ s wife, dame Guenever, he shall be gladder than thou hadst given to him half France. Beware, approach himnot too nigh, for he hath vanquished fi fteen kings, and hath made him a coat full of precious stones embroideredwith their beards, which they sent him to have his love for salvation of their people at this last Christmas. And ifthou wilt, speak with him at yonder great fire at supper .’

‘Well,’ said Arthur, ‘I will accomplish my message for all your fearful words ;’ and went forth by thecrest of that hill, and saw where he sat at supper gnawing on a limb of a man, baking his broad limbs bythe fire, and breechless, and three fair damosels turning three broaches whereon were broached twelve

young children late born, like young birds. When King Arthur beheld that piteous sight he had greatcompassion on them, so that his heart bled for sorrow, and hailed him, saying in this wise:

‘He that all the world wieldeth give thee short life and shameful death; and the devil have thy soul; whyhast thou murdered these young innocent children, and murdered this duchess? Therefore, arise and dress thee,thou glutton, for this day shalt thou die of my hand.’

Then the glutton anon start up, and took a great club in his hand, and smote at the king that hiscoronal fell to the earth. And the king hit him again that he carved his belly and cut o ff his genitors,that his guts and his entrails fell down to the ground. Then the giant threw away his club, and caughtthe king in his arms that he crushed his ribs. Then the three maidens kneeled down and called to Christfor help and comfort of Arthur. And then Arthur weltered and wrung, that he was other while underand another time above. And so weltering and wallowing they rolled down the hill till they came to thesea mark, and ever as they so weltered Arthur smote him with his dagger. And it fortuned they came tothe place whereas the two knights were and kept Arthur’s horse; then when they saw the king fast inthe giant’s arms they came and loosed him.

§ 3 And then the king commanded Sir Kay to smite off the giant’s head, and to set it upon a trun-cheon of a spear, and bear it to Sir Howell, and tell him that his enemy was slain; ‘and after let this headbe bound to a barbican that all the people may see and behold it; and go ye two up to the mountain, and fetch memy shield, my sword, and the club of iron; and as for the treasure, take ye it, for ye shall find there goods out ofnumber; so I have the kirtle and the club I desire no more. This was the fiercest giant that ever I met with, save onein the mount of Araby, which I overcame, but this was greater and fiercer.’

Then the knights fetched the club and the kirtle, and some of the treasure they took to them-selves1, and returned again to the host. And anon this was known through all the country, whereforethe people came and thanked the king.

And he said again, ‘Give the thanks to God, and depart the goods among you .’ And after that KingArthur said and commanded his cousin Howell, that he should ordain for a church to be builded on thesame hill in the worship of Saint Michael.

And on the morn the king removed with his great battle, and came into Champagne and in avalley, and there they pight their tents; and the king being set at his dinner, there came in two messen-gers, of whom that one was Marshal of France, and said to the king that the emperor was entered intoFrance, and had destroyed a great part, and was in Burgundy2, and had destroyed and made great

slaughter of people, and burnt towns and boroughs; ‘wherefore, if thou come not hastily, they must yield uptheir bodies and goods.’

1 Caxton : “and ſome of the treſour they took to them ſelf ”.2 Malory : “Burgayne” ; Caxton : “Burgoyne”.


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[Le roi Arthur ] informé par un paysan des méfaits commispar un géant épouvantable, se bat avec ce dernier et le vainc

§ 1 Vint alors le trouver un paysan normand pour lui dire qu’il y avait dans le Cotentin, voisin de laBretagne, un géant impressionnant qui avait tué, assassiné et dévoré de nombreuses personnes de la

région, se nourrissant depuis sept ans des enfants du petit peuple des environs, « à tel point qu’absolu-ment tous les enfants sont tués et supprimés ; et il a capturé tout récemment la duchesse de Bretagne, partie faireune promenade à cheval avec sa suite, l’a emmenée dans son repaire en montagne pour la v ioler et coucher avecelle tant qu’elle vivra. Alors qu’une suite nombreuse l’accompagnait — plus de cinq cents personnes — , il a été impossible aux gens de son escorte de la secourir à eux tous et ils ont dû l’abandonner, hurlant et pleurant à faire pitié, et je suppose donc qu’il l’a tuée en assouvissant son désir de luxure. Elle était l’épouse de ton cousin sire Hoël ,qu’on qualifie de ton proche parent. Par conséquent, toi, roi légitime, prends en pitié cette dame et venge-nous tous,aussi vrai que tu es un noble conquérant.

— Hélas, soupira le roi Arthur, quel grand malheur ! À la possession du plus riche de mes royaumes, j’au-rais préféré me trouver à trois cents pas devant lui et sauver cette dame. Eh bien, mon brave, poursuivit le roiArthur, peux-tu me conduire là où demeure ce géant ?

— Oui, messire, répondit le bonhomme, regarde à l’endroit où tu aperçois deux grands feux, c’est là quetu le trouveras, ainsi que des trésors à profusion, plus — à mon avis — que dans l’ensemble de la France. »

§ 2 Quand le roi eut pris la mesure de ce que cette affaire avait de pitoyable, il regagna sa tente. Ayantconvoqué sire Keu et sire Bédoier, il leur donna l’ordre qui ne devait pas être ébruité de tenir prêts che -vaux et armures pour lui-même et eux deux, voulant après les vêpres partir en pèlerinage au Mont-Saint-Michel avec eux seuls pour escorte. Et à l’heure dite, il se prépara sans délai, s’arma de pied encap, prit sa monture et son bouclier.

Ainsi équipé, le trio partit sur-le-champ et galopa à toute allure jusqu’aux abords du Mont. Ils

descendirent de cheval et le roi leur ordonna de l’attendre là car il voulait faire l’ascension seul. Il gra-vit donc la pente et parvint à un grand feu de camp, auprès duquel il trouva une malheureuse femmeendeuillée, qui se tordait les mains et manifestait un profond chagrin, assise à côté d’une tombe fraî -chement creusée. Le roi Arthur la salua alors et comme il lui demandait les raisons de ses lamentations,elle lui répondit en ces termes :

« Messire chevalier, parle bas, car un peu plus loin se trouve un démon, s’il t’entend parler, il viendra tetuer ; j’estime que tu es ici pour ton malheur : que viens-tu faire ici sur cette montagne ? car quand bien même vous seriez cinquante de vos pareils, résister à ce démon vous serait impossible : ci- gît la dépouille d’une duchesse, quiétait la plus belle femme au monde, l’épouse de sire Hoël, duc de Bretagne, il l’a assassinée en la violant et l’ a fendue jusqu’au nombril.

— Dame, lui répondit le roi, je viens de la part du noble conquérant le roi Arthur en vue de négocier avecce tyran la protection de ses loyaux sujets.

— La peste soit de telles négociations ! s’exclama-t-elle. Il n’a cure du roi ni de qui que ce soit d’autre ; sitoutefois tu as amené avec toi l’épouse d’Arthur, la reine Guenièvre, il s’en réjouira plus que si tu lui avais faitcadeau de la moitié de la France. Prends garde, ne l’approche pas de trop près car il a vaincu quinze rois et s’est fait faire un manteau couvert de pierres précieuses et brodé des barbes des rois, qu’eux-mêmes lui avaient envoyées pour trouver grâce auprès de lui et qu’en contrepartie il épargne leurs peuples à l’occasion de Noël dernier. Mais situ y tiens, va lui parler auprès du grand feu, là-bas, où il dîne.

— Ma foi, conclut Arthur, je veux m’acquitter de ma mission malgré tous vos propos effrayants » et ilreprit sa route le long de la ligne de crête du mont et l’aperçut assis à son dîner, occupé à ronger un

bras ou une jambe d’homme, réchauffant ses propres membres impressionnants au foyer, sans braies,cependant que trois belles demoiselles faisaient tourner trois broches sur lesquelles étaient enfilésdouze nourrissons, tels des oisillons. Quand le roi Arthur eut sous les yeux ce spectacle pitoyable, iléprouva pour eux une grande compassion, son cœur en saigna de chagrin, et il souhaita le bonjour au


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géant en ces termes :

« Puisse Celui qui règne sur le monde dans sa totalité veiller à ce que ta vie soit brève et ta mort ignomi-nieuse, et que le diable ait ton âme ! Pourquoi as-tu assassiné ces pauvres petits enfants innocents et assassiné cetteduchesse ? Debout, donc, et prends tes armes, espèce de goinfre , car tu vas aujourd’hui même mourir de ma main. »

Le géant vorace se leva alors d’un bond, saisit d’une main une énorme massue qu’il abattit endirection du roi, dont la couronne de l’armure tomba au sol. À son tour, le roi lui porta un coup, l’éven-

trant et lui coupant les génitoires, si bien que ses intestins et ses entrailles tombèrent sur le sol. Legéant jeta alors sa massue loin de lui et enserra le roi entre ses bras à lui briser les côtes. Les trois jeu-nes filles s’agenouillèrent alors pour prier le Christ de secourir Arthur et de le réconforter. Arthur [ sedébattit ] alors, tournant à droite et à gauche, ayant tantôt le dessus, tantôt le dessous, et c’est tournantainsi qu’ils roulèrent ensemble jusqu’au bas de la pente, à la lisière de la mer, sans qu’Arthur cesse jamais de porter des coups de dague au géant. Et la chance voulut qu’ils aboutissent à l’endroit oùattendaient les deux chevaliers, qui gardaient le cheval d’Arthur ; voyant le roi prisonnier de l’étreintedu géant, ils vinrent le libérer.

§ 3 Le roi ordonna alors à sire Keu de trancher la tête du géant, de la ficher sur un bois de lance etde l’apporter à sire Hoël pour l’informer de la mort de son ennemi ; « et qu’ensuite cette tête soit attachée àune barbacane, à la vue de tout le monde. Gravissez la montagne tous les deux et allez me chercher mon bouclier,mon épée et la massue de fer ; pour ce qui est du trésor, servez-vous, car vous trouverez là-haut des richesses sansnombre : pourvu que j’aie la tunique et la massue, je ne demande rien d’autre. Il aura été le géant le plus sauvageque j’aie jamais rencontré, à l’exception de celui du mont Araby , que j’ai vaincu, mais lui était plus grand et plus sauvage. »

Les chevaliers allèrent alors chercher la massue et la tunique, gardèrent pour eux une partie dutrésor et [en compagnie du roi] rejoignirent l’armée. La nouvelle se répandit aussitôt dans toute la région et les gens affluèrent pour remercier le roi.

Et il leur répondit : « Rendez grâces à Dieu et partagez-vous le trésor . » Après quoi le roi Arthur enjoi-gnit à son cousin Hoël de faire élever sur le mont même une église consacrée à saint Michel.

Le lendemain matin, le roi leva le camp avec sa grande armée, pénétra en Champagne, dans unevallée où ils plantèrent leurs tentes ; au moment où le roi s’apprêtait à déjeuner arrivèrent deux messa -gers, dont le maréchal de France, qui apprit au roi que l’empereur était entré en France, dont il avaitravagé une grande partie, qu’il se trouvait en Bourgogne, ravageant tout, exterminant une multitude degens, incendiant villes et bourgs ; « par conséquent, si tu ne te hâtes pas de venir, il leur faudra se livrer, corpset biens. »

№ 1 as she rode with hermeyne

« accompagnée de sa suite » (‘retinue’ ← retenue « en-

semble de personnes qu’on retient à son service, train, suite, compagnie » ; retenir « en-gager, enrôler », ilz furent retenus de la me ſ nie, la reine le retin ſ t de ſ a me ſ nie, ex. tirés del’Histoire d’ Érec en prose, éd. de Maria Colombo Tinelli, 2000 ; ‘retainer’, dependant or fol-lower of person of rank) Littré enregistre encore « ménie ou, par altération, mégnie », ci-tant pour ce dernier La Fontaine, Les père et mère et toute la mégnie (Les Aveux indiscrets).

Cotgrave : De tel ſ eigneur telle me ſ nie, Like maſ ter like meyny. (Plus anciennement : selon seigneur maignie duite, voir Christine de Pizan, le refrain de la balade sur la cour de Philip-pe de Bourgogne, 1403, Selon ſ eigneur voit on maigneë duite.)

L’ancien-français maisnie (*ma(n)sionatam « maisonnée », de mansĭō « (lieu de) séjour,habitation, demeure » ; cf. FEW VI-1, 234b-256b) et l’adaptation en moyen-anglais meinē ̣connais-sent de très nombreuses variantes graphiques.

Caxton : “as ſhe rode by with her meyne”, mais Winchester folio 76r : “as ſhe rode by


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a ryver with her ryche knyghts” [c’est donc plus une escorte]. Autres occurrences dans laversion de 1485 : en X, 11, volet 249, “Kynge mark rode froward them with alle his maynealmeyny” [Winchester folio 240v : “kynge marke rode frowarde them with them all his mayneallmayne” — mayneall ‘menial’ (qui a pris le sens de « subalterne ; humble »)]; en X, 64, volet302, “ And whanne they in the caſtel wyſte hou ſire Palomydes had ſped there was a Ioyefulmeyny” [Winchester folio 295r : “ And whan they in þe caſtell wyſte how Sir Palomydes had ſped

there was a Joyfull mayne”, « une foule en liesse »]. ‖ En XX, 13, volet 481, Caxton écrit“ And thenne ſir launcelots party withdrewe hem in to his Caſtel” alors que Winchester folio463v porte “ And ſo he withdrew hys meyny in to the ca ſ tell”.

№ 2 thy cousin Sir Howell voir volet 58,№ 3.

№ 3 canst thou bring me thereas this giant haunteth MED :

haunten

(v.(1)) Also haunt, haunti, hant(en. P.ppl. i)haunted, i)hanted.

[OF hanter ]

1. (a) To frequent (a place), visit often, resort to; ~to til, in)

; frequent (wakes, tournaments,

brothels, etc.); ~ scole, attend school; — also intr.; (b) to travel (a road); (c) to visit (a place); (d) insurnames. (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C) 269/19: Here by this way hauntys a knyght that dystressis all ladyesand jantylwomen. ⟨ VI, 10, volet 111 ⟩

2. (a) To stay in (a place); dwell in, live in; (b) ppl. haunted, full of people, inhabited. (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C) 985/32: The other bone ys of a fyssh whych..hauntith the floode of Eu- frate. ⟨ XVII, 3, volet 410 ⟩

3. (a) To visit (sb.), frequent the company of; also, come together, assemble; (b) to seek (sb. orsth.); pursue (game); seek to acquire (goods); (c) to resort to (sb., someone’s body) for sexual

intercourse, have intercourse with.

4. (a) To busy oneself with (an activity), engage in; practice (an art, a profession, trade, craft); takepart in (wars, battles); ~ in; ~ armes (dedes of armes), engage in deeds of arms, follow the militaryprofession; ~ enemites, engage in hostilities; (b) with inf.: to be in the habit of (doing sth.), bewont (to do sth.); (c)

~ to

(in

), to exercise (oneself, one’s body) in (piety, martial deeds); (d)ben

haunted

, to be stirred or roused;ben haunted in

, be occupied with (sth.), meditate upon; also, betried by (temptations). (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C) 810/6: Hit ys oure kynde to haunte armys and noble dedys. ⟨ XI, 10,volet 336 ⟩

5. (a) To practice (a vice, a sin, folly); (b) to practice (a virtue, righteousness, etc.); (c) to obey (alaw), observe (a custom); (d) to obey or worship (a god); (e) of music: to follow (a course).

6. To use (sth.), employ; exercise (power, authority, influence, a legal right).

7. (a) To do (sth.), carry out, execute, perform; perform (divine service), go on (pilgrimage); ~blessinge

, bless; ~contek

, make war; ~office

, perform a function; (b) ppl.haunted

, repeated, fre-quent, numerous.

Empr. au fr. via l’anglo-normand. « Étymologie discutée depuis un siècle et demi » (DEAF )

№ 4 had understanden cf. volet 90,№ 5.

№ 5 Sir Bedevere 1re mention. Christopher W. Bruce, The Arthurian Name Dictionary (1999):


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Bedivere [Bedevere, Bed(e)wer(e), Bedo(i)er, Bed(o)uer, Bedios, Beduer(e)(s),Beduier(s), Bedver(e), Bedwar, *Bedwyr, Bedyvere]

A Knight of the Round Table, first found in Welsh legend as Bedwyr. Bedwyr was the son of Pedrawdand father of Amren and the lady Eneuawg. The Welsh legends make Bedwyr one of the best of Arthur’s

warriors, even though he had only one hand.1 In addition, he was one of the handsomest men in Britain,

behind Arthur himself and Drych. He often appears alongside Cei—a pairing that recurs in Geoffrey of Mon-mouth. Among his several adventures in Culhwch and Olwen, he assists in Culhwch’s tasks by tracking down

Wrnach the Giant and Dillus the Bearded. A Welsh poem places his grave at Tryfan Hill. [Cei : Kay]

Geoffrey of Monmouth says that Bedivere was Arthur’s butler, and that Arthur gave him the country ofNormandy. In other sources, he is listed as Arthur’s cupbearer, constable, or stable master. He was namedafter his great-grandfather, who constructed the city of Bayeux in France. Malory names his father as DukeCorneus. He assisted Arthur in the battle against the giant of Mont St. Michel, the conquest of Gaul, and theRoman War. Geoffrey says that he was killed by King Boccus at the battle of Soissons, and was buried inBayeux. His nephew, Hirelglas, avenged his death.

In other romances, he survives the Roman campaign and fights in the wars against Lancelot andMordred. In the Didot- Perceval, he dies in the first battle against Mordred. In the Stanzaic Morte Arthur (and subsequently in Malory), Bedivere and Lucan are the only knights left alive after the final battle at Salis-

bury. Assuming the role given to Girflet in the Vulgate Mort Artu, he was ordered by Arthur to throw Exca-libur into a nearby lake. After twice hiding the sword and enduring Arthur’s rebukes, he complied. A lady’s

hand caught the sword and pulled it beneath the waters. He returned to the chapel where he had left Arthur,and witnessed Arthur’s departure to Avalon. He retired to a hermitage with the former Archbishop of Canter -

bury and wrote down Arthur’s story for future generations. The English ballad “King Arthur’s Death” saysthat Bedivere died shortly after Salisbury, and that his brother Lucan performed the feats listed above.

[Culhwch, Geoffrey, Wace, ChretienE , Yder, Layamon, LancLac, VulgMer, Geraint , Stanz , Malory, KingAD,TennIK ]

№ 6 alighted hésitation, déjà chez Malory+Caxton, entre ali ȝt / ‘alit’ et ‘alighted’

№ 7 MED : cāreful (adj.) Also carful, chær-.

[OE carful, careful, cearful.]

1. (a) Sad, sorrowful; (b) expressing sorrow, lamenting; of departure: accompanied by grief.2. Miserable, unfortunate, wretched; also, worthless, contemptible: (a) of persons; (b) of things,actions, times, etc.; ~

bed

, a sickbed; (c) as noun: a wretch; a needy or unfortunate person.3. (a) Frightened, fearful; expressing fear; (b) causing fear, frightening, frightful, terrible; ~

dai

, judgment day.4. Anxious, deeply concerned, solicitous; of words: expressing concern.

№ 8 a careful widow MED : ‘(f) a woman in mourning, a bereaved woman (without refer-ence to a husband).’ Chez Geoff rey of Monmouth, elle se présente comme la nourrice (al-trix : « et me illius altricem in hunc montem aduexit » + alumpna, avec - p- excrescent) d’Hé-

lène [neptis « petite-fille » ou bien « nièce » de Hoël ?], dont elle porte le deuil ; de même,dans le Brut de Wace, « Ci plor por une damiſele / Que jo norri a ma mamele ; Helaine ot non,nïece Hoël », ainsi que dans l’aMA (alliterative Morte Arthure), “Of all the frendes sho hadthere followed none after/ But I, her foster moder of fi fteen winter .”

№ 9 unhappy MED :

1. Of a person:(a) causing trouble or misfortune, troublesome; evil, wicked; also, as noun: evil ones [quot. a1500Lydg.];(b) unfortunate, unlucky, ill-fated; miserable, wretched, unhappy; sup. unhappiest as noun: the

most wretched one;(c) grudging, hostile.

1 Bedwyr étant manchot, Cei/Kei/Kay jure souvent, dans les textes gallois, « par la main de mon ami » (Mynn llaw vyg kyfeillt ).


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2. (a) Of an object, a place, someone’s hands, etc.: causing trouble or misfortune, bringing disaster;of the bonds of fortune: bringing ill-luck, ruinous;(b) of an action or a deed, an event, a situation: associated with misfortune or disaster, unfortu-nate; of a day, planet: fraught with misfortune, unlucky; of destiny, chance, a cause, etc.: markedby misfortune or ill-luck, disastrous;(c) of a land: wretched, unhappy;(d) of a custom, desire, fame: objectionable, evil.

№ 10 Fie on such treaties ! « Foin de telles négociations ! » MED :fī (int.) Also fiȝ, fey.

[OF fi & L phȳ.]

1. An exclamation expressing contempt, disapproval, or indignation; transl. Bibl. va(t)h, rac(h)a;— used (a) independently, or (b) as a noun.

(a) c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch) 68/1465: A! sire, sche saide, fi! fi! Hit is a foul man to liggen bi.(c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2)) Mark 15.29: Thei blasfemyden him..seyinge Fyȝ [WB(2): Vath], thouthat distroyest the temple of God.a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8) Mat.5.22: He that seith to his brother Fy! [WB(1): Racha] schal

be gilti to the counseil.a1425 *Medulla (Stnh A.1.10) 55a/a: Racha: trupt, or fy.c1430(c1380) Chaucer PF (Benson-Robinson) 596: ‘Now fy, cherl!’ quod the gentil tercelet, ‘Out ofthe donghil cam that word ful right!’ a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1) 149/290: We, fy! fy! dewyls on thame all thre.

(b) c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137) 3.137: Þow hast feff yd hure with fals; fy on suche law!c1435 Lydg. St.George (Bod 686) 161: O god þer is fye on þi ydolatrye.

2. Phrases. (a)fi a on) deviles

, ~a devil way

, ~on deviles name

; (b) fi for shame; (c)fi on, upon,

of, in

(something or someone).

(a) ?a1325 Heil seint Michel (Hrl 913) st.19: Fi a debles.c1325(c1300) Glo.Chron.A (Clg A.11) 8015: Fi a debles, quaþ þe King, wo sey a so vil dede.a1400(?a1350) Siege Troy(1) (Eg 2862) 33/405: Fy a debles [vrr. ff ey a deuel way; fye on Develisname], seide sir Ercules.a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil) 1280: Fy-a-devylys for vylony.

(b) (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3) 4.610: Ha, nyce herte, fy for schame!(c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert) G.1407: O fy for shame, they that han been brent.c1450 ?Suff olk Myn hert ys set (Frf 16) 64: A, fye for schame, O thou envyous man.

(c) c1390 Frenschipe faileþ (Vrn) 8: Fy on a feynt frend!

a1450(?c1421) Lydg. ST (Arun 119) 2490: Fye vpon ȝour fals coward herte. a1450(c1410) Lovel. Merlin (Corp-C 80) 345: Fy of joye of ony womman, but ȝif sche haue joyeoþer compenye of man!c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140) 2903: Fye on the, Sarasyne!

3. An exclamation of exultation; — transl. ML vah in the usual CL sense.

(a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1)) Job 39.25: Where he shal here the trumpe, he shal seyn Fy! [WB(2): Joie!].

Attesté dès le Roman de Renart : « Thibert, passe outre ! dit Renart, Fi ! merde, com tu escouars ! » (éd. Aurélie Barre, 2010) ; exprime mépris ou dégoût : pouah ! beurk !, ‘phooey !’,


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allemand pfui ! (mais „Pfui, wie schön ! “ Ah ! que c’est beau !), etc.1

Winchester folio 77r, ligne 8 :

On trouve 5 fois une affirmation véhémente fie fie .

Voir la formule attribuée par Charles Pinot Duclos [1704-1772], Fragments d’une Histoire inédite deLouis XI , à la première épouse de l’universelle aragne (expression rapportée par Chastellain et Moli-net), Margaret of Scotland/Marguerite d’Écosse [1424-1445], sur son lit de mort :

« Fi de la vie ! qu’on ne m’en parle plus »

№ 11 kirtle MED :

kirtel (n.) Also kirtelle, cirtil, kiertel, (error) gyrtelle & (chiefl y S & W) kurtel(le, curtel, -ul, cuertel,cuirtel, cortel, -ol, (error) kurdyll & kertel(le, certil.

[OE cyrtel]

1. (a) A garment for men or boys, varying as to length, shape, and materials, usually (but notalways) worn as an outer garment; coat, gown, tunic, cloak; (b) ~and ne) cote, ~ and cope

courte-pi, mantel, tabard), ~ ne hod, ~ nor coule

; (c) a jacket or tunic worn under armour; (d) theseamless robe of Christ; (e) a garment made from the skins of animals.

2. (a) A garment for women or girls, often an outer garment, sometimes worn over a smock orunder a mantle, gown, or pilch; (b) ~

and cloke cope, mantel, smok), goune and ~

, etc.; (c) ~ cloth,a length of cloth for making a kirtle.

3. Fig. The flesh, the body of man; a covering of worms; maidenhood, chastity; a plain literarystyle.

4. (a) A protective covering, a coat of plaster; (b) the outer skin of a snake.

5. Anat. (a) One of the tunics or membranous sheaths in the eyeball; ?also, all of the membranousmatter of the eyeball; (b) the tubular coat or sheath of a vein; one of the sheaths of an artery; (c)one of the membranes of the middle or inner ear; (d) one of the membranes in or around the brain.

№ 12 in the mount of Araby latin médiéval Aravius, gallois Yr Wyddfa, mount Snowdon;il s’agit du roi Rience/Rion. Voir Remarques p. 36 (en particulier la note 5).

Arthur et le géant du Mont-Saint-Michel chez Geoff rey of Monmouth

Interea nunciatur Arturo quendam miræ magnitudinis gigantem ex partibus Hispaniarumaduenisse et Helenam neptim ducis Hoeli custodibus eiusdem eripuisse et in cacumine montis quinunc Michælis dicitur cum illa diff ugisse, milites autem patriæ insecutos nichil aduersus eum pro-ficere; nam siue mari siue terra illum inuadebant, aut naues eorum ingentibus saxis obruebat autdiuersorum generum telis interimebat, sed plures capiebat, quos deuorabat semiuiuos. Nocte ergosequenti in secunda hora, assumpto Kaio dapifero et Beduero pincerna, clam ceteris tentoria

1 Description impressionniste par Maurice Grammont [1866-1946], « Onomatopées et mots expressifs », Revue des languesromanes, XLIV (1901), p. 97-158.


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egressus uiam uersus montem arripuit. Tanta namque uirtute præualendo negligebat contra taliamonstra exercitum ducere, cum et suos hoc modo inanimaret et solus ad illa destruenda suffice-ret. Vt igitur prope montem uenerunt, aspexerunt quendam rogum super eum ardere, alium uerosuper minorem qui non longe ab altero distabat. Dubitantes ilico super quem eorum habitaretgigas, Beduerum dirigunt ut certitudinem rei exploret. At ille, inuenta quadam nauicula, prius adminorem nauigauit, quem aliter nequibat adire, quoniam infra mare situs fuerat. Cuius dum cacu-men incepisset ascendere, audito desuper femineo ululatu primo inhorruit, quia dubitabat mon-

strum illud adesse. Reuocata ocius audatia, gladium euaginauit et ascenso culmine nichil aliudrepperit præter rogum quem prospexerat. Inspexit quoque tumulum recenter factum et iuxtaeum quandam anum flentem et eiulantem.

Quæ ut eum aspexit, confestim fletu impediente in hunc modum profata est:

« O infelix homo, quod infortunium te in hunc locum subuectat ? O inenarrabiles mortis pœnas passure !Miseret me tui, miseret, quia tam detestabile monstrum florem iuuentutis tuæ in hac nocte consumet. Aderitnamque sceleratissimus ille inuisi nominis gigas qui neptim ducis, quam modo hic intumulaui, et me illiusaltricem in hunc montem aduexit, qui inaudito mortis genere te absque cunctamine afficiet. Proh tristia fata ! Serenissima alumpna, recepto infra tenerrimum pectus timore dum eam nefandus ille amplecteretur, uitamdiuturniori luce dignam finiuit. Vt igitur illam, quæ erat michi alter spiritus, altera uita, altera dulcedo io-

cunditatis, f œdo coitu suo deturpare nequiuit, detestanda uenere succensus michi inuitæ — Deum et senec-tutem meam testor — uim et uiolentiam ingessit. Fuge, dilecte mi, fuge, ne si more suo mecum coiturus adue-nerit te hoc modo repertum miserabili cæde dilaniet . »

At ille, quantum humanæ naturæ possibile est commotus, eam amicis sedauit uerbis et pro-misso festinati auxilii solamine ad Arturum reuersus est et omnia quæ inuenerat indicauit. Artu-rus igitur, casum ingemiscens puellæ, præcepit eis ut sibi soli illum inuadere permitterent sed sinecessitas accideret in auxilium procedentes uiriliter aggrederentur. Direxerunt inde gressus admaiorem montem et equos suos armigeris commiserunt et eum Arturo præcedente ascenderunt.Aderat autem inhumanus ille ad ignem, illitus ora tabo semesorum porcorum, quos partim deuo-rauerat, partim uero uerubus infixos subterpositis prunis torrebat. Mox, ut illos nichil tale præ-

meditatus aspexit, festinauit clauam suam sumere, quam duo iuuenes uix a terra erigerent. Euagi-nauit ergo rex gladium suum et prætenso clipeo quantum uelocitas sinebat properauit eum præ-cedere antequam clauam cepisset. At ille, non ignarus malæ meditationis, iam ceperat eam regem-que in interpositum clipeum tanto conamine percussit quod sonitu ictus et tota littora repleuit etaures eiusdem ultra modum hebetauit. Arturus uero, acri ignescens ira, erecto in frontem ipsiusense uulnus intulit, tametsi non mortale, unde tamen sanguis in faciem et oculos eius profluenseorundem excæcauit aciem; interposuerat namque clauam ictui et frontem suam a letali uulneremuniuerat. Excæcatus autem profluente sanguine acrior insurgit et uelut aper per uenabulum inuenatorem ita irruit per gladium in regem et complectendo eum per medium cœgit illum genuahumi flectere. Arturus itaque, reuocata uirtute, ocius elabitur et celeriter nunc hinc nunc illincnefandum gladio diuerberabat, nec requieuit donec letali uulnere illato totum mucronem capiti

impressit qua cerebrum testa protegebatur.Exclamauit uero inuisus ille et uelut quercus uentorum uiribus eradicata cum maximo sonitucorruit. Rex ilico in risum solutus præcepit Beduero amputare ei caput et dare uni armigerorumad deferendum ad castra, ut spectaculum intuentibus fieret. Dicebat autem se non inuenissealium tantæ uirtutis postquam Rithonem gigantem in Arauio monte interfecit, qui ipsum ad prœ-liandum inuitauerat. Hic namque ex barbis regum quos peremerat fecerat sibi pelles et manda-uerat Arturo ut suam barbam diligenter excoriaret atque excoriatam sibi dirigeret et quemadmo-dum ipse ceteris præerat regibus ita in honore eius eam ceteris barbis superponeret; sin autem,prouocabat eum ad prœlium et qui fortior superuenisset pelles et barbam deuicti tulisset. Initoitaque certamine, triumphauit Arturus et barbam alterius cepit et spolium, et postea nulli fortioriisto obuiauerat ut superius asserebat. Victoriam igitur ut prædictum est adepti, in secundæ noctis

diluculo ad tentoria sua cum capite remeauerunt, ad quod ammirandum cateruatim concurre-bant, ei ascribentes laudes, qui patriam a tanta ingluuie liberauerat. At Hoelus, ob casum neptissuæ tristis, præcepit ædificari basilicam super corpus ipsius in monte quo iacebat, qui nomen extumulo puellæ nactus Tumba Helenæ usque in hodiernum diem uocatur.


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eanwhile news reached Arthur that a huge giant had come from Spain, abducted Helena,duke Hoelus’ niece, from her guards and fled with her to the summit of the mount nowknown as St Michael’s, where the pursuing Breton knights were unable to get at him.

Whether they approached by sea or land, he either sank their boats with great boulders or killedsome with various weapons, capturing the majority and eating them alive. That night at the sec-ond hour Arthur took Kaius the steward and Beduerus the butler and, leaving camp without theothers’ knowledge, set off for the mount. So mighty a warrior as Arthur was unwilling to lead his

army against such a monster, as he could destroy it single-handed and wanted to encourage histroops by doing so. When they neared the mount, they observed a fire burning on it, and anotheron a smaller hill not far away. As they did not know on which of them the giant could be found,they immediately sent Beduerus to discover the truth. He came upon a small boat and sailed firstto the smaller mount, which could be approached only in this manner because it was located inthe sea. As he began to climb to the top, he heard above him a woman wailing and he started, un-certain whether the giant was there.

Swiftly summoning his courage, he drew his sword, but on reaching the top, found nothingexcept the fire he had seen. He saw too a freshly made grave, beside which an old woman wasweeping and lamenting. As soon as she noticed him, she straightaway said between her sobs:

‘What mischance brings you here, unfortunate man? You will su ff er a death of unspeakable agony. I pity you, I pity you, because tonight the foul monster will devour you, in the flower of your youth. Thatwicked giant of accursed name, who brought the duke’s niece and myself, her nurse, to this mount, where Ihave just buried her, will soon come and subject you to an unheard-of death. Oh wretched fate! My sweetestcharge felt in her most tender heart such terror at his wicked embraces that she breathed her last, though she deserved a longer life. When he could not in flict his foul desires on her — she was my second soul, my second life, my second dear delight — , maddened by vile lust, he raped me, against my will, by God and myold age. Flee, my friend, flee, for should he come, as is his habit, to have sex with me, he will wretchedly tear you to pieces if he finds you like this’.

Beduerus, as touched as a human soul can be, soothed her with friendly words and, promis-

ing that help would soon be at hand, returned to Arthur and described everything he had found.Saddened by the girl’s fate, the king commanded them to let him attack the giant alone, but tolend assistance and fight bravely if the need arose. Then they strode off to the higher mount and,led by Arthur, began to ascend, after handing their horses over to their squires. The monster wasby the fire, his mouth smeared with the blood of half-devoured pigs, some of which he had eaten,some of which, fixed on spits, he was roasting over coals. As soon as he saw the unexpected sight,he rushed to get his club, which two men could scarcely have lifted from the ground. The kingunsheathed his sword and, raising his shield, hurried as fast as he could to prevent the giantreaching his club. But he, full of evil cunning, had already grasped it and brought it down so hardon the king’s shield that the sound filled all the shores and made his ears ring. Arthur, blazingwith fierce anger, raised his sword and struck him on the forehead a blow which, though it was

not mortal, made blood stream over his face and into his eyes, blinding him; the giant had parriedthe sword with his club, so protecting his forehead from a lethal wound. Blinded by the flowingblood, the giant leapt forward and, like a boar rushing on a hunter along his spear, found the kingby means of his sword, threw his arms around his waist and forced him to his knees. Summoninghis courage, Arthur quickly escaped and swiftly struck the monster with his sword, now from oneside, now from the other, never resting until he had mortally wounded him by driving the wholeblade into his head where the skull protected his brain.

The monster roared and fell with a mighty crash, like an oak tree uprooted by raging winds.Immediately the king laughed, telling Beduerus to cut off his head and give it to one of the squiresto take back to the camp as a sight for his men to gaze upon. He said that he had not encounteredanyone of such strength since he had killed upon mount Aravius the giant Ritho, who had chal-

lenged him to a duel. Ritho had turned the beards of the kings he had slain into a cloak and haddispatched instructions to Arthur to shave off his beard carefully and send it to him, so he couldplace it above the rest, to reflect Arthur’s preeminence over other kings. Otherwise, he challeng -ed Arthur to a duel, to the victor of which would go the cloak together with the beard of the van-quished. Arthur won the duel and took Ritho’s beard and the trophy, but had never, as he said,

M


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subsequently met Ritho’s equal. Having gained this victory, at the dawn of the third day they returned to their tents with the

head, which the soldiers rushed in crowds to see, praising the man who had freed the land fromsuch a pest. Hoelus, however, was saddened by the death of his niece, and ordered a church to beconstructed over the place where the girl’s body was buried on the mount, which to this very dayis called Tumba Helenæ because of her grave.

Texte latin établi par Michael D. Reeve,trad. Neil Wright, 2007 [Cf. volet 26 v.

2

,№ 2.]

« L’îlot de Tombelaine est situé en Normandie, dans le département de la Manche. Il se dresseau milieu des sables de la baie du Mont-Saint-Michel, dont il est distant de 2,800 km. »

Robert Sinsoilliez, Tombelaine : l’îlot de la baie du Mont -Saint-Michel (2000), p. 9.

Extrait du Brut de Wace

11560 A ces paroles ajorna, « il fit jour »Et li ſolax matin leua. matin « tôt »Al port vinrent aſſés matin A Barbefloe, en Coſtentin. Iſnelement des nés iſſirent, Par la contréë ſ’eſpandirent ; Ses gens a Artus atendues

Qui n’erent pas encor venues. N’auoit mie mult atanduQuant il oï et dit li fu

11570 Que vns gaians mult corporusErt deuers Eſpaigne venus ; Niece Hoël Helaine ot priſe, Rauie l’ot, el mont l’ot miſe Que l’on or Saint Miciel apele ;N’i auoit moſtier, ne capele, Del fluet del mer montant ert clos. N’auoit home el païs ſi os,

Ne bacelier, ne païſant Si orgillos, ne ſi priſant, 11580 Qui ſ’oſaſt al gaiant combatre,

Ne la ou il eſtoit embatre. Quant cil del païs ſ’aſambloient, Et por combatre al mont aloientSouuent par mer et par la terre,Ne li ert gaires de lour guerre :A roces lor nés depeçoit,Tos les ocioit et noioit.Tuit l’auoient laié eſter, Ne l’oſoiënt mais abiter.

11590 Mult veïſſiés as païſans Maiſons vuidier, porter enfans, Femes mener, beſtes cachier, Es mons monter, es bois muchier.

Par con ſ eil de ſ a barunie/ Pri ſ t vne fame de haut lin/ En Flandres fillë Balduin/

Niece Robert li rei de France/ Fille ſoe fille Cun ſ tance Wace, Rou.

Mais le même écrivain peut, à sa guise, employer le même terme pour

désigner des liens de parenté différents : « petite-fille » ou « nièce », comme

le prouve l’œuvre de Chrétien de Troyes.


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Par bois et par deſers fuioient, Et encor la morir cuidoient.Toute eſtoit la terre guerpie, Toute ſ’en ert la gent fuïe. Li jaians ot non DinabucQue puiſſe prendre mal trebuc :

11600 Quant Artus en oï parler,

Kex apela et Beduier,Ses ſeneſcax fut li premiers Et li autres ſes botilliers ; Ne vaut parler a nul altre home.Cele nuit ſ’em part de prinſome ; Ne voloit oſt od ſoi mener, Ne ciſt afaire a toz monſtrer ; Ne quidoit ſe il le ſeüſſent, Que del jaiant pooir eüſſent.

11610 Et il ert tex et tant valoitQu’a lui deſtruire ſofiſſoit.

Tote nuit ont tant ceualciéEt eſperoné et brocié, Par matin vinrent al riuage,La ou il virent le paſſage ; Sor le mont virent fu ardoir,De loin li pooit on vëoir,Vn altre mont i ot menourQui n’ert mië loin del grignour.

11620 En caſcuns auoit fu ardant ;Por ce aloit Artus dotantEn quel lius li gaians eſtoit,

Et el quel mont le troueroit ;N’i ot qui dire li ſeüſt, Ne qui le jor veü l’eüſt. A Bedoer diſt qu’il alaſt Et l’vn et l’autre mont cherqaſt, Tant le queriſt qu’il le trouaſt, Et puis veniſt, ſi li nonçaſt.

11630 Cil eſt en vn batel entrés,Al plus proçain mont eſt alés, N’i pooit altrement aller, Car plains eſtoit li flos de mer. « la marée était haute »

Com fu venus al mont proçainEt il montoit le halt terrain,Si com il ot le mont montéVn ſeul petit a eſcouté :El mont oï grans ploreïsEt grans ſoſpirs et mult hals cris ;

11640 Paor ot, ſi priſt a fremir,Car le gaiant cuida oïr.Mais ſemprés ſe raſeüra, S’eſpeë traiſt, auant ala.Recouré ot ſon hardiment,

En penſé ot et en talent Que al gaiant ſe combatroit, En auenture ſe metroit, Et diſt que por perdre la vie Ne vouroit faire couardie.


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11650 Mais cel penſé ot il en vain,Qar qant il vint ſus al terrain, Vn feu ardant vit ſolement Et vn tombel fait nouelment,La tombe eſtoit nouelment faite.Li quens i vint l’eſpeë traite,Vne vielle feme a trouée,

Ses dras deſrons, eſcauelée ; « ses vêtements déchirés »Dejoſte le tombel giſoit, Mult ſe plaignoit et dol menoit ;

11660 Helaine ſouuent regretoit,Grant doeil faiſoit, grant cris jetoit. Qant ele a Beduier veü :« Caitis, fait ele, qui es tu ? Quels meſauenture te maine ? A honte, a dolour et a paine T’eſtuet hui ta vïe finer, Se li gaians te puet trouer.

Maleureus, fuï, tien ta voie Ançois que li gaians te voie ; 11670 Car ſ’il te voi, ja i morras,

Ja de la mort n’eſcaperas. — Bone fame, diſt Bedoer, Parole a moi, lai le plorer, Di moi qui es, et por qoi plores ? En ceſte ille porqoi demores ? Qui giſt en ceſte ſepulture ? Conte moi tote t’auenture. — Jo ſui, diſt ele, vne eſgarée,

V ne laſſe maleürée, 11680 Ci plor por vne damiſeleQue jo norri a ma mamele ; Helaine ot non, nïece Hoël, Ci giſt li cors en ceſt tombel. A norir me fu commandée ; Laſſe ! por coi me fu liurée ? Laſſe ! por coi l’ai je norrie, Quant vns deables l’a rauie ! « enlevée » (déjà au v. 11573)Vns gaians moi et li raui Et moi et li aporta ci :

11690 La pucele valt por geſir, « il veut la jeune fille pour coucher avec elle »Mais tendre fu, ne l’ pot ſoffrir : Ele fu jouene et il fu grans, Les os auoit gros et peſans ; Ne l’ pot Elaine ſoſtenir, L’ame li fiſt del cors partir. Laſſe ! Caitiue, ma dolçor, Ma joië, mon deduit, m’amour A li gaians a honte ociſe, Et jo l’ai ci en terre miſe.

11700 — Por coi, diſt li quens, ne t’en vas,

Quant tu Helaine perdu as ? — Vels tu, diſt ele, oïr por coi ? Gentil home et cortois te voi, Por ce ne t’en ferai celée : Quant Elaine fut deuïée


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Que il feïſt a honte morir Dont je quidai del ſens iſſir, Morir la vi a grant dolour, Dont j’ai au cuer mult grant irour,

11710 Li gaians me fiſt ci remaindre Por ſa luxure en moi refraindre ; Par force m’a ci retenue,

Et par force m’a porjeüe. Sa force m’eſtuet otroier, Ne li puis mië deſforchier ; Ne le fas mië de mon gré, Mais encontre ma volenté ; Petit ſ’an falt qu’il ne m’a morte, Mais plus ſui vielle plus ſui forte,

11720 Et plus ſui grant, et plus ſui dure,Et plus ſui forte, et plus ſui ſeure Que ne fu damoiſele Helaine. Et nomporoc, ſ’en ai grant paine,

Treſtot li cors de moi ſ’en delt ; Et ſ’il vient ça, ſi com il ſelt, Por ſa luxure refrener Ocis ſera, ſans demorer. La ſus eſt en cel mont qi fume, S’emprés venra, c’eſt ſa couſtume ;

11730 Fui t’en, amis, q’as tu ci quis ?Que tu ne ſoiës entrepris. Lai moi plorer et faire doel, Morte fuiſſe pieça mon voel, Mar vi d’Elaine l’amiſtié . »

Dont en ot Beduier pitié ;Mult doucement la conforta,Dont la guerpi, ſi ſ’entorna.Al roi vint, ſi li a conté Ce qu’il a oï et troué ;

11740 De la vielle qui doel faiſoit,Et d’Elaine qui morte eſtoit, Et del gaiant qui conuerſoit En cel plus grant mont qui fumoit.D’Elaine fu Artus dolans, Mais ne fu pas coärs, ne lans.

Al flos retraiant de la mer « au jusant, au reflux »A fait ſes compaignons armer ;A forçor mont vinrent tantoſt Comme la mer le mont deſcloſt,

11750 Lor palefrois et lor deſfersCommanderent as eſcuiers. Contre mont ſunt alé tot troi, Artus et Beduier et Koi :« Je irai, diſt Artus, auant, Si me combatrai al gaiant, Vous venrés aprés moi, ariere ;

Mais gardés bien que nus n’i fiere Tant com je me porai aidier, Non ja, ſe jo n’en ai meſtier,

11760 Por moi aider ne vous mouués,Se grant eſſoine ne vëés ;


15/37

Coärdië reſambleroit Se nus fors moi ſ’i combatoit ; Et nonporquant, ſe vous vëés Mon beſoing, ſi me ſocorés. »Cil ont ce qu’il dit otroié, Puis ont tot trois le mont puié.Li gaians al fu ſe ſëoit,

Et car de porc i roſtiſſoit :11770 En eſpoi en quiſoit partie « il en faisait cuire une partie à la broche,Et partie en carbon roſtie ; et une partie cuisait sous la cendre »La barbe auoit et les guernons « moustaches » Soillies de cendre et de carbons.Artus le quida ains ſoſprandre, Qu’il peüſt ſa maçuë prendre, Mais li gaians Artur coiſi, Merueilla ſoi, en piés ſailli, Sa maçue a al col leuéeQui mult eſtoit groſſe et qarée ;

11780 Dui païſant ne la portaiſſent, « deux paysans n’auraient pu la porter, Et de terre ne la leuaiſſent. ni même parvenir à la soulever de terre »Artus le vit en piés eſter, Et de ferir bien apreſter ;S’eſpeë tint, l’eſcu leua,Encontre le colp qu’il dota ;Et li gaians tel li donaQue tos li mons en reſona Et Artus tout en eſtona, Mais fors fu, point ne cancela.

11790 Artus ſenti le cop peſant ;

S’eſpeë tint, leua le branc,L’eſcu fu del cop empiriés, Li rois le voit, mult fu iriés.Le bras hauça et eſtendi, Le gaiant ſus el front feri. Les deus ſorcils li entama, Li ſans el front li auala ; « le sang lui coula sur le front »A icel colp ocis l’eüſt, Ja recourier n’i eſteüſt ;

11800 Quant li gaians a la maçueContre le colp en haut tenue.

Guenci le cief, et bien eſtut, Et nequedant tel cop reçutQue tout le vis enſanglenta, Et la veüë li torbla.Quant il ſenti ſes elx troublés Dont fu eſragïés et derués : « cela le fit enrager et le mit hors de lui »Comme ſanglés ferus d’eſpié, « De même qu’un sanglier frappé par un épieu Que li cien ont aſſés cacié, et que la meute poursuit depuis longtemps

11810 S’enbat contre le venëor, se rue sur le chasseur »Tot enſement, par grant iror, Corut al roi, ſi l’embraça, « se précipita sur le roi et l’enserra de ses bras »

Ainc por l’eſpeë ne l’ laiſa ;Grans fu, par mi le cors le priſt, A jenoillons venir le fiſt ;Mais Artus ſe reſuigora,En piés reuint, ſi ſe dreça.


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Artus fu forment aïrous,Et merueilles engignous,

11820 Coreciés fu et paor ot.Si ſ’eſforça, tant com il pot, A ſoi traiſt, et de ſoi ſ’enpainſt, Grant vertu ot, point ne ſe fainſt ; « il ne se ménage pas »En ſaillant, guenci de trauers

De l’anemi ſ’eſt deſaërs ;Par grant vertu li eſcapa, Ainc puis li jaians ne l’hapa. Dès qu’il ſe fu de lui eſtors, Et deliuré ſenti ſon cors,

11830 Mult fu iſniax, entor ala,Or ert de ça, or ert de la,Od l’eſpeë ſouuent ferrant.Et cil aloit as mains taſtant ;Les els auoit ſi plains de ſanc Qu’il ne vëoit ne noir ne blanc.

Tant aloit Artus guenciſant, Souuent deriere, ſouuent deuant,Que d’Eſcalibor l’alemele « la lame »Lui embati en la ceruele,

11840 Traiſt et empainſt, et cil caï ;Par angoiſſe jetta un cri. Tel eſcrois fiſt al caïement, « il fit en tombant un vacarme Comme chaiſnes qui ciet par vent. tel celui d’un chêne abattu par le vent »Dont commença Artus a rire ;Adons fu trepaſſéë ſ’ire, De loins eſtut, ſi l’eſgarda.

A ſon bouteiller commanda « échanson »Qu’al gaiant le cief trençaſt, Et as eſcuiers le liuraſt

11850 Et a l’oſt la face porter,Pour faire a meruelle agarder.Chil a fait ſon commandement ;L’eſpeë traiſt, le cief en print ;Merueilles fu la teſte grant Et hideuſë de cel jaiant :« Eü ai, diſt Artus, paor, Ainc mais n’oï de gaiant forçor

Fors de Riton tant ſolement Qui maint roi auoit fait dolent. »11860 Riton auoit tant roi conquis

Et venqu et ocis et pris,De lor barbës q’ot eſcorciés Ot vne piax aparilliés ;Piax en ot fait a afubler,Mult deuoit on Riton doter.Par grant orgoil et par fierté, Auoit al roi Artus mandéQue la ſiue barbe eſcorçaſt

Et bonement li enuoiaſt ;11870 Et ſi com il plus fors eſtoit,Et il plus des altres valoit,La ſoië barbe onoerroit, Et ſes piax orlé feroit.


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Et ſe Artus contrediſoit Ce que Riton li requerroit,Cors a cors enſamble veniſſent, Et ſol a ſol ſe combatiſſent ;Et li quels qui l’autre ociroitOu qui vif vaincre le poroit,

11880 La barbe eüſt, preïſt les piax

Et feïſt vn orlé et taſſiax. « une bordure et un gland » (cf. ‘tassel’) Artus a lui ſe conbati El mont d’Araiue ſi l’ venqui ;Les piax et la barbe eſcorça, Onques puis Artus ne rouaGaiant qui fuſt d’itel valor Ne dont il eüſt tel paor. Mais iciſt mult plus fort eſtoit, Et mult graingnor vigor auoit

11890 Que onques Riton n’en oſt jor,Quant il fuſt de graingnor vigor,

Et plus oribles et plus laiz,Plus hiſdos et plus contrefaiz,Au jor que Artur le conquiſt El mont ſt Michel ou l’ociſt.

Quant Artus a le monſtre ocis Et Beduier a le cief pris, Joios d’iloc ſ’en retornerent, A l’oſt vinrënt, ſi ſ’atornerent,

11900 Et content la il ont eſtéEt ont a tos le cief moſtré.

Hoël fu dolans de ſa niece Et mult en fu triſte grant piece, Por ce que ſi eſtoit perie. De ma dame Sainte Mariefiſ t faire el mont vne capeleQue l’on or Tombe Elaine apele,Por Elaine qui iloc jutTombe Elaine ceſt non reçut.

11910 Or vous lairai de ce eſterDe l’oſt vourai auant conter. […]

Alliterative Morte Arthure (extrait)

By they had taken the land and tentes up rered,Comes a Templar tite and touched to the king: en hâte ; s’adressa “Here is a tyraunt beſide that tormentes thy pople, A grete giaunt of Gene, engendered of fendes; Gênes ; engendré par des démons

5 He has freten of folk mo than five hundreth, dévoré ; influence du vieux-norrois hundrað

And als fele fauntekins of free-born childer. petits enfantsThis has been his ſuſtenaunce all this ſeven winteres, sa nourriture ces 7 dernières années And yet is that ſot not ſad, ſo well him it likes! ce monstre est insatiableIn the countree of Conſtantine no kind has he leved il n’a laissé aucune famille


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10 Withouten kidd caſteles, encloſed with walles, That he ne has clenly diſtroyed all the knave childer, And them carried to the crag and clenly devoured.The duche ſ s of Bretain today has he taken,Beſide Reines as ſho rode with her rich knightes, Rennes

15 Led her to the mountain there that lede lenges cet individuTo lie by that lady ay whiles her life laſtes.

We followed o ferrome mo than five hundreth Of bernes and of burges and bachelers noble,But he covered the crag; ſho cried ſo loud il a gagné

20 The care of that creature cover ſhall I never je ne m’en remettrai jamais Sho was the flowr of all Fraunce or of five rewmes, royaumes And one of the faireſt that formed was ever, The gentileſt jowell ajudged with lordes Fro Gene unto Gerone by Jeſu of heven!

25 Sho was thy wifes coſin, know it if thee likes, Comen of the richeſt that regnes in erthe; As thou art rightwiſe king, rew on thy pople aie pitié

And fonde for to venge them that thus are rebuked! ” efforce-toi de les venger

“ Alas,” ſays Sir Arthur, “ ſ o long have I lived!30 Had I witten of this, well had me cheved.

Me is not fallen fair but me is foul happenedThat thus this fair lady this fend has deſtroyed! I had lever than all Fraunce this fifteen winter I had been before that freke a furlong of way

35 When he that lady had laght and led to the mountes;I had left my life ere ſho had harm limped. But wolde thou ken me to that crag there that keen lenges,

I wolde kaire to that coſte and carp with himſelven, To trete with that tyraunt for treſoun of landes 40 And take trews for a time til it may tide better .”

“Sir, ſee ye yon forland with yon two fires? promontoireT here filſnes that fend, fraiſt when thee likes, se cache ; essayeUpon the creſt of the crag by a cold well That encloſes the cliff with the clere ſtrandes;

45 There may thou find folk fey withouten number, mortsMo florines, in faith, than Fraunce is in after, And more treſure untrewly that traitour has getten malhonnêtement

Than in Troy was, as I trow, that time that it was wonnen.”

Then romes the rich king for rewth of the pople, rugit50 Raikes right to a tent and reſtes no lenger; se rend

He welteres, he wreſteles, he wringes his handes; There was no wye of this world that wiſte what he mened. He calles Sir Kayous that of the cup ſerved And Sir Bedvere the bold that bore his brand rich: son épée

55 “Look ye after even- ſong be armed at rightes On blonkes by yon buſcaile, by yon blithe ſtremes, à cheval, près des buissons, là-bas

For I will paſs in pilgrimage privily hereafter, In the time of ſouper, when lordes are ſerved, dîner ; une fois les vassaux servisFor to ſeeken a ſaint by yon ſalt ſtremes,

60 In Saint Michel mount, there miracles are ſhewed.”


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After even-ſong Sir Arthur himſelven Went to his wardrope and warp off his weedes quitta ses vêtementsArmed him in a aketoun with orfrayes full rich; hoquetonAboven, on that, a jerin of Acres out over; tunique

65 Aboven that a geſſeraunt of gentle mailes, jaseranA jupon of Jerodine jagged in ſhredes; casaqueHe braides on a bacenett burniſht of ſilver bacinet

The beſt that was in Baſel, with bordours rich; Bâle/BaselThe creſt and the coronal encloſed ſo fair 70 With claſpes of clere gold, couched with ſtones;

The veſar, the aventail, enarmed ſo fair, visière ; ventail Void withouten vice, with windowes of ſilver; His gloves gaylich gilt and graven at the hemmesWith graines and gobelets, glorious of hew.

75 He braces a brode ſheld and his brand aſkes,Bouned him a brown ſteed and on the bente hoves; He ſtert til his ſtirrup and ſtrides on loft, Straines him ſtoutly and ſtirres him fair,

Broches the bay ſteed and to the buſk rides, 80 And there his knightes him keeped full clenlich arrayed.

Then they rode by that river that runned ſo ſwithe, There the rindes over-reches with real boughes;The roe and the reindeer reckleſs there runnen, In ranes and in roſers to riot themſelven;

85 The frithes were flouriſht with flowres full many, With faucons and feſauntes of ferlich hewes; All the fowles there flaſhes that flies with winges, For there galed the gouk on greves full loud;

With alkine gladſhip they gladden themſelven; 90 Of the nightingale notes the noiſes was ſweet; They threped with the throſtels three hundreth at ones! That whate ſwowing of water and ſinging of birds, It might ſalve him of ſore that ſound was never!

Then ferkes this folk and on foot lightes,95 Faſtenes their fair ſteedes o ferrom between;

And then the king keenly commaunded his knightesFor to bide with their blonkes and boun no further;“For I will ſeek this ſaint by myſelve one

And mele with this maſter man that this mount yemes, parler100 And ſenn ſhall ye offer, either after otherMenſkfully at Saint Michel, full mighty with Criſt .”

The king covers the crag with cloughes full high,To the creſt of the cliff he climbes on loft, Caſt up his umbrere and keenly he lookes, relève sa visière

105 Caught of the cold wind to comfort himſelven. Two fires he findes flamand full high;The fourtedele a furlong between them he walkes; 1

4 de ‘furlong’, soit 50 m environ

The way by the well-ſtrandes he wanderd him one

To wite of the warlaw, where that he lenges. où il demeure110 He ferkes to the firſt fire and even there he findes il s’approche A wery woful widow wringand her handes, une femme endeuilléeAnd gretand on a grave griſly teres, New merked on molde, ſenn mid-day it ſeemed. depuis la mi-journée


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He ſalued that ſorrowful with ſittand wordes 115 And fraines after the fend fairly thereafter. demande

Then this woful wife unwinly him greetes, femmeCoverd up on her knees and clapped her handes,Said: “Careful, careman, thou carpes too loud! homme ; parlesMay yon warlaw wite, he warrays us all! attaque

120 Weryd worth the wight ay that thee thy wit reved, maudit soit-il pour t’avoir fait perdreThat mas thee to waife here in theſe wild lakes! et te fait t’égarer ici la raison]I warn thee, for worſhip, thou wilnes after ſorrow! Whider buſkes thou, berne? unbleſſed thou ſeemes! où vas-tu ? ; né sous une mauvaise étoileWeenes thou to britten him with thy brand rich? comptes-tu le détruire…?

125 Were thou wighter than Wade or Wawain either, [cf. Le Morte DArthur VII, 9, volet 128]Thou winnes no worſhip, I warn thee before. Thou ſained thee unſekerly to ſeek to theſe mountes; tu n’as pas fait ton signe de croixSuch ſix were too ſimple to ſemble with him one, comme il faut]For, and thou ſee him with ſight, thee ſerves no herte

130 To ſaine thee ſekerly, ſo ſeemes him huge.

Thou art freely and fair and in thy firſt flowres, But thou art fey, by my faith, and that me forthinkes!Were ſuch fifty on a feld or on a fair erthe,The freke wolde with his fiſt fell you at ones.

135 Lo! Here the ducheſs dere — today was ſho taken — Deep dolven and dede, diked in moldes.He had murthered this mild by mid-day were rungen,Withouten mercy on molde, I not what it ment;He has forced her and filed and ſho is fey leved; [forme aphérétique de dēfīlen ‘rape’]

140 He ſlew her unſlely and ſlit her to the navel. il la tua brutalement And here have I baumed her and buried thereafter. je l’ai embaumée [toilette mortuaire]

For bale of the bootleſs, blithe be I never! Of all the frendes ſho had there followed none after But I, her foſter moder, of fifteen winter.

145 To ferk off this forland fonde ſhall I never, But here be founden on feld til I be fey leved.”

Then anſwers Sir Arthur to that old wife: “I am comen fro the conquerour, courtais and gentle, As one of the hatheleſt of Arthure knightes, un des plus nobles

150 Meſſenger to this mix, for mendement of the pople auprès de ce déchet/rebutTo mele with this maſter man that here this mount yemes, dont ce mont est le domaine

To trete with this tyraunt for treſure of landes And take trew for a time, to better may worthe.” conclure une trêve, en attendantmieux]

“Ya, thir wordes are but waſte,” quod this wife then, 155 “For both landes and lythes full little by he ſettes;

Of rentes ne of red gold reckes he never,For he will lenge out of law, as himſelf thinkes, Withouten licenſe of lede, as lord in his owen. But he has a kirtle on, keeped for himſelven,

160 That was ſpunnen in Spain with ſpecial birdes [« femmes »; différent de ‘brides’] And ſithen garniſht in Greece full graithely togeders; It is hided all with here, holly all over And borderd with the berdes of burlich kinges,Criſped and combed that kempes may know guerriers puissent reconnaître

165 Ich king by his colour, in kith there he lenges.


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Here the fermes he fanges of fi fteen rewmes, il s’empare des revenus de quinze royaumesFor ilke Eſtern even, however that it fall, à chaque veille de PâquesThey ſend it him ſoothly for ſaught of the pople, Sekerly at that ſeſoun with certain knightes.

170 And he has aſked Arthure all this ſeven winter; Forthy hurdes he here to outraye his popleTil the Britones king have burniſht his lippes jusqu’à ce que le roi des Bretons lui ait poli

And ſent his berde to that bold with his beſt bernes; les lèvres (= rasé les moustaches)]But thou have brought that berde boun thee no further, à moins que tu n’aies apporté 175 For it is a bootleſs bale thou biddes ought elles,

For he has more treſure to take when him likes Than ever ought Arthur or any of his elders.If thou have brought the berde he bes more blitheThan thou gave him Borgoine or Britain the More;

180 But look now, for charitee, thou chaſty thy lippes That thee no wordes eſcape, whatſo betides. Look thy preſent be preſte and preſs him but little, For he is at his ſouper; he will be ſoon greved.

And thou my counſel do, thou dos off thy clothes 185 And kneel in thy kirtle and call him thy lord. [Arthur aussi porte un ‘kirtle’] He ſoupes all this ſeſoun with ſeven knave childer, Chopped in a chargeur of chalk-white ſilver, servis en morceaux sur un plateauWith pickle and powder of precious ſpices, And piment full plenteous of Portingale wines;

190 Three balefull birdes his broches they turn,That bides his bedgatt, his bidding to work; qui attendent qu’il se mette au lit Such four ſholde be fey within four houresEre his filth were filled that his fleſh yernes.”

“Ya, I have brought the berde,” quod he, “the better me likes;195 Forthy will I boun me and bere it myſelven But, lefe, wolde thou lere me where that lede lenges? ma chère, veux-tu m’indiquer I ſhall alowe thee, and I live, Our Lord ſo me help! ” je ferai ton éloge

“Ferk faſt to the fire,” quod ſho, “that flames ſo high; There filles that fend him, fraiſt when thee likes. c’est là que ce démon se goberge

200 But thou moſte ſeek more ſouth, ſidlings a little, For he will have ſcent himſelve ſix mile large.”

To the ſource of the reek he ſought at the gaineſt,

Sained him ſekerly with certain wordes, And ſidlings of the ſegge the ſight had he reched 205 How unſeemly that ſot ſat ſoupand him one!

He lay lenand on long, lodgand unfair,The thee of a mans limm lift up by the haunch; la cuisseHis back and his beuſchers and his brode lendes ses fesses ; ses lombesHe bakes at the bale-fire and breekleſs him ſeemed;

210 There were roſtes full rude and rewful bredes, Bernes and beſtail broched togeders, hommes et bêtes embrochés ensembleCowle full crammed of criſmed childer, un cuvier plein à ras bord d’enfants baptisés Some as bred broched and birdes them turned.

And then this comlich king, becauſe of his pople, 215 His herte bleedes for bale on bente where he ſtandes;

Then he dreſſed on his ſheld, ſhuntes no lenger, Braundiſht his brode ſword by the bright hiltes,


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Raikes toward that renk right with a rude willAnd hiely hailſes that hulk with hautain wordes:

220 “Now, All-weldand God that worſhippes us all tout-puissantGive thee ſorrow and ſite, ſot, there thou ligges, t’inflige chagrin et angoisse For the foulſomeſt freke that formed was ever! Foully thou feedes thee! The Fend have thy ſoul! Que le diable ait ton âme !Here is cury unclene, carl, by my trewth, voilà une cuisine abominable

225 Caff of creatures all, thou curſed wretch! Becauſe that thou killed has theſe criſmed childer, Thou has martyrs made and brought out of lifeThat here are broched on bente and brittened with thy handes, I ſhall merk thee thy meed as thou has much ſerved,

230 Through might of Saint Michel that this mount yemes! And for this fair lady that thou has fey leved And thus forced on folde for filth of thyſelven, violée par terreDreſs thee now, dog- ſon, the devil have thy ſoul! For thou ſhall die this day through dint of my handes! ”

235 Then glopined the glutton and glored unfair; fut terrifié He grenned as a grayhound with griſly tuſkes; montra les dents comme un lévrierHe gaped, he groned faſt with grouchand lates For gref of the good king that him with grame greetes.His fax and his foretop was filtered togeders ses cheveux et sa houppe ; feutrés

240 And out of his face fom an half foot large;His front and his forheved, all was it overAs the fell of a froſk and frakned it ſeemed; la peau d’un crapaud ; tachetée Hook-nebbed as a hawk, and a hore berde, aquilin ; barbe griseAnd hered to the eyen-holes with hangand browes; velu jusqu’aux orbites ; sourcils saillants

245 Harſk as a hound-fiſh, hardly who-ſo lookes, chien de mer

So was the hide of that hulk holly all over;Erne had he full huge and ugly to ſhew oreillesWith eyen full horrible and ardaunt f or ſooth; flat-mouthed as a fluke with fleriand lippes, carrelet ; lèvres retroussées/bombées

250 And the fleſh in his fore-teeth fouly as a bere;His berde was brothy and blak that til his breſte reched; Graſſed as a mere-ſwine with carkes full huge graisseux comme un marsouinAnd all faltered the fleſh in his foul lippes, Ilke wrethe as a wolf-heved it wrath out at ones! froncé comme une tête de loup

255 Bull-necked was that berne and brode in the ſhoulders, Brok-breſted as a brawn with briſteles full large, poitrine tachetée comme celle d’un sanglier

Rude armes as an oke with ruſkled ſides, flancs plissés Limm and leſkes full lothen, leve ye for ſooth;Shovel-footed was that ſhalk and ſhaland him ſeemed, pieds spatulés ; jambes arquées

260 With ſhankes unſhapely ſhovand togeders; Thick thees as a thurſe and thicker in the haunch, cuisses monstrueusesGrees-growen as a galt, full grillich he lookes! gras comme un cochonWho the lenghe of the lede lely accountes,Fro the face to the foot was five fadom long! cinq fathoms de haut, près de 9,15 m

265 Then ſtertes he up ſturdily on two ſtiff ſhankes, And ſoon he caught him a club all of clene iron;

He wolde have killed the king with his keen wepen,But through the craft of Criſt yet the carl failed; grâce à l’intervention du Christ The creſt and the coronal, the claſpes of ſilver,

270 Clenly with his club he craſhed down at ones!


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The king caſtes up his ſheld and covers him fair, And with his burlich brand a box he him reches;Full butt in the front the fromand he hittes il frappe le monstreThat the burniſht blade to the brain runnes;

275 He feyed his fyſnamie with his foul handes s’essuya le visage [cf. « physionomie »]And frappes faſt at his face ferſly there-after!The king changes his foot, eſchewes a little;

Ne had he eſchaped that chop, cheved had evil; s’il n’avait pas esquivé ce coup, mal lui enHe follows in ferſly and faſtenes a dint aurait pris]280 High up on the haunch with his hard wepen

That he heled the ſword half a foot large; The hot blood of the hulk unto the hilt runnes;Even into the in-mete the giaunt he hittes Juſt to the genitals and jagged them in ſonder! en plein sur les génitoires, qu’il coupe en deux

285 Then he romed and rored and rudely he ſtrikes Full egerly at Arthur and on the erthe hittes;A ſword-lenghe within the ſwarth he ſwappes at ones

That ner ſwoones the king for ſwough of his dintes! pour un peu, le roi s’évanouirait But yet the king ſweperly full ſwithe he beſwenkes, 290 Swappes in with the ſword that it the ſwang briſted; le bas-ventre éclata

Both the guttes and the gore guſhes out at ones.That all englaimes the graſs on ground there he ſtandes! le pré s’en trouve englué

Then he caſtes the club and the king hentes; il jette la massue et saisit le roiOn the creſt of the crag he caught him in armes, il l’enserra de ses bras

295 And encloſes him clenly to cruſhen his ribbes; il l’étreint pour lui briser les côtes So hard holdes he that hende that ner his herte briſtes! c’est tout juste si son cœur

n’éclate pas]Then the baleful birdes bounes to the erthe,Kneeland and cryand and clapped their handes;“Criſt comfort yon knight and keep him fro ſorrow,

300 And let never yon fend fell him o life! ”

Yet is that warlaw ſo wight he welters him under; Wrothly they writhen and wreſtle togeders, Welters and wallows over within thoſe buſkes, Tumbelles and turnes faſt and teres their weedes,

305 Untenderly fro the top they tilten togeders,Whilom Arthur over and other while under,Fro the heghe of the hill unto the hard rock,They feyne never ere they fall at the flood marches; But Arthur with an anlace egerly ſmites dague [cf. « alène » et ‘awl’]

310 And hittes ever in the hulk up to the hiltes.The thef at the ded-throwes ſo throly him thringes le misérable à l’agonie le serre si fort That three ribbes in his ſide he thruſtes in ſonder!

Then Sir Kayous the keen unto the king ſtertes, Said: “ Alas! We are lorn! My lord is confounded,

315 Over-fallen with a fend! Us is foul happned! le roi est terrassé par un démonWe mon be forfeited, in faith, and flemed forever! ” c’est la disgrâce à jamais

They heve up his hawberk then and handelles there-underHis hide and his haunch eek on height to the ſhoulders, His flank and his felettes and his fair ſides,

320 Both his back and his breſte and his bright armes.


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They were fain that they fande no fleſh entamed And for that journee made joy, thir gentle knightes.

“Now certes,” ſays Sir Bedvere, “it ſ eemes, by my Lord,He ſeekes ſaintes but ſelden, the ſorer he grippes,

325 That thus clekes this corſaint out of thir high cliffes,To carry forth ſuch a carl at cloſe him in ſilver;

By Michel, of ſuch a mak I have much wonder That ever our ſoveraign Lord ſuffers him in heven! And all ſaintes be ſuch that ſerves our Lord

330 I ſhall never no ſaint be, by my fader ſoul! ”

Then bourdes the bold king at Bedvere wordes:“This ſaint have I ſought, ſo help me our Lord! Forthy braid out thy brand and broche him to the herte; dégaine ton épée et embroche-leBe ſeker of this ſergeaunt; he has me ſore greved!

335 I fought not with ſuch a freke this fifteen winter; But in the mountes of Araby I met ſuch another;

He was forcier by fer that had I nere founden;Ne had my fortune been fair, fey had I leved! Anon ſtrike off his heved and ſtake it thereafter; tranche-lui la tête et enfonce-la sur un pieu

340 Give it to thy ſquier, for he is well horſed, Bere it to Sir Howell that is in hard bondes qu’il la porte à sire Hoël, en proie au chagrin And bid him herte him well; his enmy is deſtroyed! Senn bere it to Barflete and brace it in iron Barfleur (Manche), cf. V, 4, volet 93,№ 5 And ſet it on the barbican bernes to ſhew.

345 My brand and my brode ſheld upon the bente ligges, On the creſt of the crag there firſt we encountered, And the club there-by, all of clene iron,

That many Criſten has killed in Conſtantine landes; Ferk to the fore-land and fetch me that wepen350 And let found to our fleet in flood there it lenges.

If thou will any treſure, take what thee likes; Have I the kirtle and the club, I covet nought elles.” je me contente de sa tunique et de sa massue

Now they kaire to the crag, theſe comlich knightes, And brought him the brode ſheld and his bright wepen,

355 The club and the cote als, Sir Kayous himſelven,And kaires with the conquerour the kinges to ſhew. That in covert the king held cloſe to himſelven

While clene day fro the cloud climbed on loft.By that to court was comen clamour full huge,

360 And before the comlich king they kneeled all at ones:“Welcome, our lege lord, to long has thou dwelled!Governour under God, graitheſt and noble, To whom grace is graunted and given at His willNow thy comly come has comforted us all!

365 Thou has in thy realtee revenged thy pople!Through help of thy hand thine enmies are ſtroyed, That has thy renkes over-run and reft them their childer;

Was never rewm out of array ſo redyly releved! ” Then the conquerour Criſtenly carpes to his pople:

370 “Thankes God,” quod he, “of this grace and no gome elles, à part cela, aucun homme [cf.For it was never mans deed, but might of Himſelven ‘bridegroom’]


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Or miracle of his Moder, that mild is til all! ”

He ſummond then the ſhipmen ſharply thereafter, To ſhake forth with the ſhire-men to ſhift the goodes:

375 “ All the much treſure that traitour had wonnen To commouns of the countree, clergy and other,Look it be done and delt to my dere pople

That none plain of their part o pain of your lives.” He commaunde his coſin, with knightlich wordes,

380 To make a kirk on that crag, there the corſe ligges And a covent there-in, Criſt for to ſerve, In mind of that martyr that in the mount reſtes.

When Sir Arthur the king had killed the giaunt,Then blithely fro Barflete he buſkes on the morn,

385 With his batail on brede by tho blithe ſtremes;Toward Caſtel Blank he cheſes him the way,

Through a fair champain under chalk hilles;The king fraiſtes a furth over the freſh ſtrandes, Foundes with his fair folk over as him likes;

390 Forth ſteppes that ſteren and ſtrekes his tents On a ſtrenghe by a ſtreme, in thoſe ſtrait landes.

Anon after mid-day, in the mene-while,There comes two meſſengers of tho fer marches, Fro the Marſhal of Fraunce, and menſkfully him greetes,

395 Beſought him of ſuccour and ſaid him theſe wordes: “Sir, thy Marſhal, thy miniſter, thy mercy beſeekes, ton serviteur

Of thy mikel magiſtee, for mendment of thy pople, Of theſe marches-men that thus are miſcarried And thus marred among maugree their eyen;

400 I witter thee the Emperour is enterd into Fraunce je t’assure/je te garantis With hoſtes of enmies, horrible and huge; Brinnes in Burgoine thy burges ſo rich, And brittenes thy baronage that beldes there-in;He encroches keenly by craftes of armes

405 Countrees and caſteles that to thy crown longes, Confoundes thy commouns, clergy and other;But thou comfort them, Sir King, cover ſhall they never! à moins que tu ne viennes à leur

He felles foreſtes fele, forr ays thy landes, secours]Frithes no fraunches, but frayes the pople;410 Thus he felles thy folk and fanges their goodes;

Fremedly the French tonge fey is beleved. la langue française semble vouée à disparaîtreHe drawes into douce Fraunce, as Dutch-men telles, aux dires des Allemands Dreſſed with his dragons, dredful to ſhew; All to dede they dight with dintes of ſwordes,

415 Dukes and douſpeeres that dreches there-in;Forthy the lordes of the land, ladies and other,Prayes thee for Petere love, the apoſtle of Rome, Senn thou art preſent in place, that thou will proffer make

To that perilous prince by proceſs of time. 420 He ayers by yon hilles, yon high holtes under,Hoves there with hole ſtrenghe of hethen knightes; Help now for His love that high in heven ſittes And talk triſtly to them that thus us deſtroyes! ”


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Texte d’après l’éd. de Larry D. Benson et Edward E. Foster (1994).

Winchester de folio 76r, ligne 2 à folio 79r, ligne 6 :

han come þer an huſ bande man oute of the folio 76r contrey and talkyth vnto þe kyng wondurfull

wordys · And ſ ayde ſ ir here is a foule Gyaunte ofGene that turmentyth thy peple mo than ·v·C· & 5 many mo of oure chyldren þat hath bene his ſ uſtynau͂⫽ ce all this ·vij· winters yet is þe ſ otte neuer ceſ id butIn þe contrey of Conſ tantyne he hath kylled all oureknave chyldren and this nyght he hath cleyȝte the « il a enlevé » duches of Bretayne as ſ he rode by a ryver with her 10 ryche knyghtes & ledde hir vnto yondir mounte to lyby hir whyle hir lyff laſ tyth ⫽ Many folkys folowedhym mo than ·v· hundird Barounes and bachelersand knyghtes full noble but euer ſ he ſ hryked wondirly

lowde þat þe ſ orrow of þat lady cover ſ hall we neuer ⫽ She 15 was thy couſ yns wyff Sir Howell the hende a manþat we calle nyȝe of thy bloode ⫽ Now as þou arte oureRyghtwos kynge rewe on this lady and on thy lyegepeple & revenge vs as a noble conquerroure ſ holdeAlas ſ eyde kynge Arthure this is a grete myſ cheff e 20 I had levir than all the Realmys I welde vnto mycrowne þat I had bene be fore that freyke a furlongeway for to haue reſ cowed that lady · And I woldehaue done my payne ⫽ Now felow ſ eyde Arthure woldiſ t þou ken me where þat carle dwellys I trowe I 25

ſ hall trete with hym or I far paſſ e ⫽ Sir conquerrour ſ eyde the good man be holde yondir ·ij· fyrys for þ er

ſ halte þou fynde þat carle be yonde þe colde ſ trendusand treſoure oute of nu͂bir þer mayſ te þou ſ ykerly fyn⫽ de more treſ oure as I ſ uppoſ e than is In all Fraunce 30 aftir ⫽ The kynge ſ eyde good man pees & carpe

to me no more thy ſ oth ſ awys haue greved ſ ory folio 76v my herte ⫽ Than he turnys towarde his tentys

& carpys but lytyl ·⫽ Than þe kynge ſ eyde vntoSir Kay In counceyle & to Sir Bedwere þe boldethus ſ eyde he loke þat ye ·ij· aftir evynſ onge be ſ ure⫽ 5 ly armed & your beſ te horſ is · for I woll ryde onpylgrymage prevayly and none but we ·iij· Andwhan my lordis is ſ ervyd we woll ryde to ſ eynteMychaels mounte where mervayles ar ſ hewed ⫽ Anone Sir Arthure wente to his wardrop & caſ te 10 on his armoure bothe his Geſſ eraunte and his Baſ ⫽ net with his brode ſ hylde · And ſ o he buſ kys hym tyll hisſ tede þat on þe bente hoved · Than he ſ tertes vppon loff te &

hentys þe brydyll and ſ tirres hym ſ toutly & ſ one hefyndis his knyghtes ·ij· full clenly arrayed · And than they 15trotted on ſ tylly to gedir ouer a blythe contray full of ma⫽ ny myrry byrdis · And whan they com to þe forlonde


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Arthure and they a lyght on hir foote ⫽ Now faſ tenysſ eyde Arthure oure horſ is þat none nyȝe oþer · for I wollſ eche this ſ eynte be my ſ elf a lone and ſ peke wyth this 20mayſ tir man þat kepys this mountayne ⫽ Than thekynge yode up to þe creſ te of þe Cragge · And than hecomforted hym ſ elf with þe colde wynde And than he yodeforth by ·ij· welle ſ tremys · And þer he fyndys ·ij fyres

flamand full hyȝe · And at þ

at

one fyre he founde a care⫽ 25

full widow wryngande hir handys ſ yttande on a gra⫽ ve þat was new marked ⫽ Than Arthure ſ alued hir &ſ he hym a gayne and aſ ked hir why ſ he ſ ate ſ orowyng⫽ Alas ſ he ſ eyde carefull knyght þou carpys ouer lowde yon is a werlow woll deſ troy vs bothe I holde þe vnhappy 30 what doſ te þou on this mountayne ⫽ Thouȝe here were

ſ uche fyff ty ye were to feyble for to macche hym all at folio 77r onys · Where to berys þou armoure hit may þe lytyll avaylefor he nedys none oþer wepyn but his bare fyſ te ⫽ here is

a douches dede þ

e

fayryſ t þ

at

lyved he hath murthered thatmylde with oute ony mercy he forced hir by fylth of hym 5 ſ elf and ſ o aftir ſ lytte hir vnto þe navyll ⫽ Dame ſ eydeþe kynge I com fro þe conquerrour ſ ir Arthure for to tretewith þat tirraunte for his lyege peple ⫽ Fy on ſ uche tretyſ eſ he ſ eyde þan for he ſ ettys nought by þe kynge noþer by noman ellys ⫽ But & þou haue brought Arthurs wyff dame 10 Gwenyvere he woll be more blyther of hir than þouhaddyſ te geff yn hym halfondele fraunce and but yf þouhaue brought hir preſe hym nat to nyȝe loke what hehath done vnto ·xv· kynges he hath made hym a coote full

of p

re

cious ſ tonys and þ

e

bordoures þ

er

of is the berdis ·xv·15

kynges and they were of þe grettyſ t blood þat dured on erþe othir farme had he none of xv realmys · This preſ ente wasſ ente hym to this laſ te Cryſ temaſſ e they ſ ente hym In fay⫽ the for ſ avyng of þer peple · And for Arthurs wyff he lodgyshym here for he hath more treſ oure than euer had Arthure 20or ony of his elders ⫽ And now þou ſ halt fynde hym at ſ ouperwith ·vi· knave chyldirne · And þer he hath made pykyll & powderwith many precious wynes and ·iij· fayre maydens þat turnys thebroche · That bydis to go to his bed for they ·iij· ſ hall be dedewith In ·iiij· oures or þe fylth is fulfylled þat his fleyſ he aſ kys 25 ⫽

Well ſ eyde Arthure I woll fulfylle my meſſ age for alle your grym wordis ⫽ Than fare þou to yondir fyre þat flamysſo hyȝe and þer þou ſ halt fynde hym ſ ykerly for ſ othe ⫽ Than hepaſ te forth to þe creſ te of þe hylle & ſyȝe where he ſ ate athis ſoupere a lone gnawing on a lym͂e of a large man & 30 there he beekys his brode lendys by þe bryght fyre and

brekelys hym ſ omys

Documents

“Le Morte DArthur” : Notes de lecture ; volet 94