FITT 1
So, when the siege and the assault was ceased at Troy,
And that burgh broken and burned to brands and ashes,
The traitor who wrought there every trace of treason
Was tried for his treachery, the truest on earth.
Thus it was Aeneas, the lord, and his high kind, 5
Who then oppressed provinces with power to become
The wealthiest of the wealthy in the western isles.
Romulus the rich raises Rome swiftly,
And quickly begets that borough with brilliance,
And with his name he names it, which it still has; 10
Ticius in Tuscany begins to build towers,
Langobard in Lombardy lifts up homesteads,
And there over the French flood, Felix Brutus
On many banks full broad, Britain he sets†
within, 15
Where war and wrack and wonder
Have since occurred therein,
And oft both bliss and blunder
Full swift have shifted since.
And when that rich noble begat this place Britain, 20
Bold-bred they were there and lovers of battle
Who many times that came to pass brought trouble.
Famed feats have fallen in its lands more often
Than in any other that I know, ever since that very time.
But of all the kings that built here in Britain 25
The highest was Arthur, as I have heard tell.
So an adventure from here I aim to disclose,
That astounds some men still and grips them fast,
A stunning adventure from the legends of Arthur.
If you will listen to this tale but one little while 30
I shall tell it as tightly as I in turn heard it,
by tongue;
As it’s been set and cast
Into a story stout and strong;
With linked letters thus held fast, 35
In this land it’s been so long.
This king lay at Camelot upon Christmas time,
With many of his lovely lords, lads of the best,
A right royal brethren of the Round Table,
With rich revel all right and reckless mirth. 40
These top men did tourney a good many times
And jousted with jollity, these most gentle knights,
Then clip-clopped to court, carolling to make.
For there the feast was like full fifteen days,
With all the meat and mirth that men could muster. 45
Such glamour and glee, glorious to hear,
A din upon day and dancing by night,
All was happy to the highest in hall and chamber
With lords and ladies a-lifting their thoughts!
With all the wealth of the world, they wined together, 50
The best-known knights in all Christendom
And the loveliest ladies that ever have lived,
And he, the comeliest king that court had beheld.
For all this fair folk were in their first prime and
more still, 55
Were the happiest under heaven,
Their king the highest man of will;
It is hard now to imagine
More so hale as on this hill.
And then the realm ran forth, reaching for presents,
Seized their gifts on high and held them by hand;
While New Year was yet that it was just new born, 60
The doughty that day were doubly served on the dais.
For the king was coming with his knights to the hall,
And the chanting in the chapel had chuckled to an end;
Loud cries were cast there from clerics and others,
‘Noel’ announced anew, named full often. 65
And then the realm ran forth, reaching for presents,
Seized their gifts on high and held them by hand;
And about those gifts, the debate was busy!
Ladies laughed full loud – even those that lost –†
And he that won, he was not woeful; that you can believe! 70
All this mirth they made till mealtime;
When they had washed as due, they went to sit,
The best nobles high above, as so best it seemed.
Then Guinevere, full gay, graced their midst,
Dressed on the dais, adorned all about 75
With small silks besides, below a bright canopy
Of tried Toulouse and choice Tharsian tapestry,
Embroidered and bejewelled with the very best of gems –
No mere pennies were spent on those precious jewels
that day! 80
But the best ones on that queen?
The glint of her eyes grey.
Such similar can rare be seen
So many men do say.
Then Guinevere, full gay, graced their midst,
Dressed on the dais, adorned all about
With small silks besides, below a bright canopy
Of tried Toulouse and ch...