XIV. Laȝamon

The Brut (MS. Caligula)

i. Cotton Caligula A 9, British Museum (C); on vellum, 216 × 153 mm.; 192 folios in double columns of 32 to 34 lines, written by two scribes in the first quarter of the thirteenth century. It is bound up with another manuscript containing the Owl and the Nightingale and other pieces.

ii. Cotton Otho C 13, British Museum (O); injured in the fire of 1731; on vellum; 145 folios in double columns of 38 lines; written in one hand, of the third quarter of the thirteenth century.

.... Mistakes common to both versions have been derived from an intermediate manuscript X.

MS. Otho
Parallel Texts

Vnder þan comen tiðende; to vortiger þan kinge.

þ̵ ouer sæ weoren icumen; swiðe selcuðe gumen.

Jnne þere Temese; to londe heo weoren icummen.

þreo scipen gode; comen mid þan flode.

þreo hundred cnihten; Alse hit weoren kinges.

wið uten þan scipen monnen; þe weoren þer wið innen.

þis weoren þa færeste men; þat auere her comen.

Ah heo weore hæðene; þ̵ wes hærm þa mare.

Uortiger heom sende to; And axede hu heo weoren idon.

Ȝif heo grið sohten; ⁊ of his freond scipe rohten.

heo wisliche and swerden; Swa heo wel cuðen.

⁊ seiden þ̵ heo walden; speken wið þan kinge.

⁊ Leofliche him heren; ⁊ hælden hine for hærre.

And swa heo gunnen wenden; fforð to þan kinge.

Þa wes Uortigerne þa king; In Cantuarie buri.

þer he mid his hirede; Hæhliche spilede.

þer þas cnihtes comen; Bi foren þan folc kinge.

Sone swa heo | hine imetten; fæire heo hine igrætten.

⁊ seiden þat heo him wolden; hæren iþisse londe.

ȝif he heom wolde; mid rihten at halden.

Þa and swerede vortiger; of elchen vuele he wes war.

An alle mine iliue; þe ich iluued habbe.

bi dæie no bi nihtes; ne sæh ich nauere ær swulche cnihtes.

for eouwer cumen ich æm bliðe; ⁊ mid me ȝe scullen bilæfuen.

⁊ eouwer wille ich wulle driȝen; bi mine quicke liuen.

Ah of eou ich wulle iwiten; þurh soðen eouwer wurð scipen.

whæt cnihten ȝe seon; ⁊ whænnenen ȝe icumen beon.

⁊ whar ȝe wullen beon treowe; alde ⁊ æc neowe.

þa answerede þe oðer; þat wes þe aldeste broðer.

lust me nu lauerd king; ⁊ ich þe wullen cuðen.

what cnihtes we beoð; ⁊ whanene we icumen seoð.

I

ch hatte henges; hors is mi broðer.

we beoð of alemainne; aðelest alre londe.

of þat ilken ænde; þe angles is ihaten.

Beoð in ure londe; selcuðe tiðende.

vmbe fiftene ȝer; þat folc hi[s] isomned.

Al ure iledene folc; ⁊ heore loten werpeð.

vppen þan þe hit fal[l]ed; he scal uaren of londe.

Bilæuen scul | len þa fiue; þa sexte scal forð liðe.

ut of þan leode; to u[n]cuðe londe.

Ne beo he na swa leof mon; uorð he scal liðen.

For þer is folc swiðe muchel; mære þene heo walden.

þa wif færeð mid childe; swa þe deor wilde.

Æueralche ȝere; heo bereð child þere;

þ̵ beoð an us feole; þat we færen scolden.

Ne mihte we bilæue; for liue ne for dæðe.

Ne for nauer nane þinge; for þan folc kinge.

þus we uerden þere; ⁊ for þi beoð nu here.

to sechen vnder lufte; lond ⁊ godne lauerd.

Nu þu hæfuest iherd lauerd ki[n]g; Soð of us þurh alle þi[n]g.

Þa answarede vortiger; of alc an vfele he wes war.

Ich ileue þe cniht; þ̵ þu me sugge soð riht.

⁊ wulche beoð æoure ileuen; þ̵ ȝe on ileueð.

⁊ eoure leofue godd; þe ȝe to luted.

þa and swarede Hænges; cnihtene alre fæirest.

Nis in al þis kine lond; cniht swa muchel ne swa strong.

We habbeð gode`s´ gode; þe we luuieð an ure mode.

þa we habbeð hope to; ⁊ heoreð heom mid mihte.

Þe an hæhte phebus; þe oðer Saturnus.

þe þridde hæhte woden; þ̵ is an weoli godd.

þe feorðe hæh | [te] Jupiter; of alle þinge he is whar.

þe fifte hæhte Mercurius; þat is þe hæhste ouer us.

þæ sæxte hæhte appollin; þ̵ is a godd wel idon.

þe seoueðe hatte teruagant; an hæh godd in ure lon.

Ȝet we habbeð anne læuedi; þe hæh is ⁊ mæhti.

heh heo is ⁊ hali; hired men heo luuieð for þi.

heo js ihate Frææ; wel heo heom dihteð.

Ah for alle ure goden deore; þa we scullen hæren.

Woden hehde þa hæhste laȝe; an ure ælderne dæȝen.

he heom wes leof; æfne al swa heore lif.

he wes heore walden; And heom wurðscipe duden.

þene feorðe dæi iþere wike; heo ȝifuen him to wurðscipe.

Þa þunre heo ȝiuen þunres dæi; for þi þat heo heom helpen mæi.

Freon heore læfdi; heo ȝiuen hire fridæi.

Saturnus heo ȝiuen sætterdæi; þene sunne heo ȝiuen sonedæi.

Monen heo ȝifuen mone dæi; Tidea heo ȝeuen tis dæi.

þus seide hæ[n]gest; cnihten alre hendest.

Þa answerede vortiger; of ælchen vfel he wæs wær.

Cnihtes ȝe beoð me leofue; ah þas tiðende me beoð laðe.

eouwer ileuen beoð vnwraste; Ȝe ne ileoueð noht an criste. |

Ah ȝe ileoueð a þene wurse; þe godd seolf awariede.

eoure godes ne beoð nohtes; In helle heo niðer liggeð.

Ah neoðeles ich wulle eou at hælde; An mine anwalde.

for norð Beoð þa Peohtes; swiðe ohte cnihtes.

þe ofte ledeð in mine londe; ferde swiðe stronge.

⁊ ofte dod me muchele scome; ⁊ þerfore ich habbe grome.

⁊ ȝif ȝe me wulleð wræken; ⁊ heore hæfden me biȝeten.

Ich eou wullen ȝeuen lond; muchel seolueR ⁊ gold.

Þa andswerede hængest; cnihtene alre feirest.

Ȝif hit wulle saturnus; al hit scal iwurðe þus.

⁊ Woden ure lauerd; þe we on bi liueð.

Hengest nom læue; ⁊ to scipen gon liðe.

þer wes moni cniht strong; heo droȝen heore scipen uppe þe lond.

forð wenden dringches; to vortigerne þan kenge.

Biuoren wende hengest; ⁊ hors him alre hændest.

Seoððen þa alemainisce men; þa aðele weoren an deden.

⁊ seoððen heo senden him to; heore sæxisce cnihtes wel idon.

hengestes cunnesmen; of his aldene cudðe.

heo comen in to halle; hændeliche alle.

Bett weoren iscrudde; ⁊ bed weoren iuædde.

hængest | swaine; þene vortigernes. þeines.

þa wes vortigernes hired; for hehne ihalden.

Bruttes weoren særi; for swulchere isihðe.

Nes hit nawiht longe; þat ne comen to þan kinge.

Cnihtes sunen uiue; þa i faren hafden biliue.

heo sæiden to þan kinge; neowe tiðenden.

nu forð rihtes; Icumen beoð þa peohtes.

þurh þi lond heo ærneð; ⁊ hærȝieð ⁊ berneð.

⁊ al þene norð ænde; iuald to þan grunde.

her of þu most ræden; oðer all we beoð dæden.

Þe king hine bi þohte; whæt he don mihte.

he sende to þan innen; after al his monnen.

þer com hengest þer com hors; þer com mani mon ful oht.

þer comen þa saxisce men; hengestes cunnes men.

⁊ þa Alemainisce cnihtes; þe beoð gode to fihte.

þis isæh þe king vortiger; bliðe wes he þa þer.

Þa peohtes duden heore iwune; a þas hælf þere humbre. heo weoren icume.

⁊ þe king VortigeR; of heore cume wes ful war.

To gadere heo comen; ⁊ feole þer of sloȝen.

þer wes feht swide strong; Comp swiðe sturne.

Þe Peohtes weoren ofte iwuned; Vortige[r]ne to ouer | 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 saxelonde.

⁊ þa ohte alemanisce; þe þider comen mid horse.

Swiðe monie peohtes; heo sloȝen iþan fehte.

feondliche heo fuhten; feollen þa fæie.

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.

Þe king vortigerne; wende to herberwe.

⁊ æuere him weoren 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.

⁊ hit gode stunde; stod a þan ilke.

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 ilomp hit in ane time; þ̵ þe king wes swiðe bliðe.

An ane hæȝe dæie; imong his duȝeðe monnen.

Hengest hine bi þohte; what he don mihte.

for he wolde wið þan kinge; holden | runinge.

þan kinge he eode to; foren; ⁊ fæire hine gon greten.

Þe king sone up stod; ⁊ sætte hine bi him seoluen.

heo drunken heo dremden; blisse wes among heom.

Þa queð hengest to þan kinge; lauerd hærcne tiðende.

⁊ ich þe wulle ræcchen; deorne runen.

ȝif þu mine lare; wel wult lusten.

⁊ noht halden to wraððe; þat ich wel leare.

þe king answarede; swa henges hit wolde.

Þa sæide hængest; cnihten alre fæirest.

lauerd ich habbe moni a dæi; þine monscipe ihæȝed.

⁊ þin holde mon ibeon; i richen þine hirede.

⁊ in ælche fæhte; hæhst of þine cnihten.

⁊ ich habbe ofte ihærd; hohfulle ronen.

Imong þine hired monnen; heo hatieð þe swiðe.

In to þan bare dæðe; ȝif heo hit dursten cuðe.

Ofte heo stilleliche spækeð; ⁊ spilieð mid runen.

of twam ȝunge monnen; þat feor wunieð hennen.

þe an hæhte VtheR; þe oðer ambrosie.

þe þridde hæhte Co[n]stance; þes wes king i þisse `lond´.

⁊ he her wes of slaȝen; þurh swicfulle laȝen.

Nu wulleð cume þa oðere; ⁊ wræken heore broðer.

Al forbær | nen þi lond; ⁊ slæn þine leoden.

þe seoluen ⁊ þine duȝeðen; driuen ut of londe.

⁊ þus suggeð þine men; þer heo somned sitteð.

for þa twene broðere; beoð `beyne´ kine borne.

Of androeinnes kunne; þas aðele bruttes.

⁊ þus þine duȝeðe; stille þe fordemed.

Ah ich þe wulle ræde; Of muchele þire neode.

þ̵ þu bi ȝite cnihtes; þa gode beoð to fihte.

⁊ bi tache me ænne castel; Oðer ane kineliche burh.

þat ich mai inne ligge; þa while þa ich libbe.

Ic am uor þe iuaid; þær fore ic wene beon dæd.

fare þer ic auer fare; næm ich næuere bute care.

Buten ich ligge faste; biclused inne castle.

ȝif þu þis me wult don; Ich hit wulle mid luue a fon.

⁊ ich wulle biliue; senden after mine wiue.

þat is a sexisc wimmon; of wisdome wel idon.

⁊ after rouwenne; mire dohter; þe me is swiðe deore.

Þenne ich habbe mi wif; ⁊ mine wine maies.

⁊ ich beo i þine londe; fulliche at stonde.

þa bet ich wullen hiren þe; ȝif þu þis ȝettest me.

Þa answerede vortiger; Of ælchen vuele he wes | war.

Nim cnihtes biliue; ⁊ send æfter þine wiue.

⁊ æfter þine children; þan ȝungen ⁊ þan olden.

⁊ æfter þine cunnen; ⁊ afeoh heom mid wunne.

þenne heo to þe cumeð; þu scat habben gærsume.

hæhliche heom to ueden; ⁊ wurðliche scruden.

Ah nulle ich castel na burh; nane þe bi techen.

for men me wolden scenden; I mine kine lond.

for ȝe haldeð þa hæðene laȝe; þat stod on eoure ælderen dæȝe.

⁊ we haldeð cristes laȝe; ⁊ wulleð auere an ure dæȝe.

Þa ȝet spæc hængest; cnihten alre hendest.

lauerd ich wulle þin iwil; driȝen her ⁊ ouer al.

⁊ don al mine dæde; æfter þine ræde.

Nu ic wulle biliue; sende afteR mine wiue.

⁊ æfter mire dohter; þe me is swa deore.

⁊ æfter ohte monnen; þa bezste of mine cunne.

And þu ȝif me swa muchel lond; to stonden a mire aȝere hond.

Swa wule anes bule hude; Ælches weies ouer spræden.

feor from ælche castle; amidden ane ualde.

þenne ne mai þe atwite; þe hæne ne þe riche.

þ̵ þu æi hæhne | burhȝe; hæðene monne habbe bi tæht.

Þe king him iȝette; swa hengest ȝirnde.

Hengest nom læue; ⁊ forð he gon liðe.

⁊ æfter his wiue sende sonde; to his aȝene londe.

⁊ he seolf wende ȝeond þis lond; to sechen ænne bræ[d]ne fæld.

þer he mihte wel spræde; On his feire hude.

He com æn enne ende; In enne fæire uelde.

he hafde ane hude; bi ȝite to his neode.

o ane wilde bule; þe wes wunder ane strong.

He hæfden ænne wisne mon; þe wel cuðe a craften.

þe nom þas hude; ⁊ a bord leide.

and whætte his særes; alse he schæren wolde.

Of þere hude he kærf enne þwong; swiðe smal ⁊ swiðe long.

Nes þe þwong noht swiðe bræd; buten swulc a twines þræd.

þa al islit wes þe þong; He wes wunder ane long.

a buten he bilæde; muche del of londe.

He bigon to deluen; dic swiðe muchele.

þer uppe stenene wal; þe wes strong oueral.

ane burh he arerde; muchele ⁊ mare.

Þa þe burh wes al ȝare; þa scop he hire nome.

he hæhte heo ful iwis; KaeR Carrai an Bruttisc.

⁊ ænglis | ce cnihtes; heo Cleopeden þwong Chastre.

Nu and auere mare; þe nome sto[n]deð þere.

⁊ for nan odere gome; næueden þæ burh þene nome.

a þet come densce men; and driuen ut þa bruttes.

þene þridde nome heo þer sætte; ⁊ lane castel hine hæhten.

⁊ for swulche gomen; þæ tun hafde þas þreo nomen.

Vnder þan com liðen hider; hengestes wif mid hire scipen.

heo hæfde to iueren; fiftene hundred ridern.

mid hire comen to iwiten; muchele æhtene scipen.

þer comen inne; muchel of hengestes cunne.

⁊ Rouwen his dohter; þe him we`s´ swide deore.

Hit wes umbe while; þ̵ com þe ilke time.

þ̵ iȝarked wes þa burh; mid þan alre bezste.

Hengest com to þan kinge; ⁊ bad him gistninge.

⁊ seide þ̵ he hafde an in; Iȝarked to ȝeines him.

⁊ bad þat he come þer to; ⁊ he scolde beon fæire under fon.

⁊ þe king him ȝette; swa hengest hit wolde.

Hit com to þan time; þ̵ þe king gon forð liðe.

Mið þan deoreste monnen; of alle his duȝeðe.

forð he gon buȝen; | þ̵ he to burh com.

he bi heold þene wal; up and dun ouer al.

al him wel likede; þ̵ he on lokede.

He wende in to halle; ⁊ his heleðes mid him alle.

Bemen heo bleowen; gomen men gunnen cleopien.

Bord heo hetten breden; cnihtes setten þer to.

heo æten heo drunken; dræm wes iburhȝen.

þa þe duȝeðe hafde iȝeten; þa wes heom þa bet iloten.

Hængest eode in to þan inne; þer wunede Rouwenne.

he heo lette scruden; mid vnime`te´ prude.

al þ̵ scrud þe heo hafde on; heo weoren swiðe wel ibon.

heo weoren mid þan bezste; ibrusted mid golde.

heo bar an hire honde; Ane guldene bolle.

I uulled mid wine; þe wes wunder ane god.

hæȝe iborenne men; heo lædden to hallen.

biuoren þan kinge; fæirest alre þinge.

Reowen sæt acneowe; ⁊ Cleopede to þan kinge.

⁊ þus ærest sæide; In ænglene londe.

lauerd king wæs hæil; for þine kime ich æm uæin.

Þe king þis ihærde; ⁊ nuste what heo seide.

þe king vortigerne; fræinede his cnihtes sone.

what weoren þat speche; þe þ̵ maide spilede.

Þa andswere | de Keredic; a cniht swiðe sellic.

he wes þe bezste latimer; þat ær com her.

lust me nu lauerd king; ⁊ ich þe wulle cuðen.

whæt seið Rouwenne; fæirest wimmonnen.

Hit beoð tiðende; Inne sæxe londe.

whær swa æi duȝeðe; gladieð of drenche;

þat freond sæiðe to freonde; Mid fæire loten hende.

leofue freond wæs hail; þe oðer sæið drinc hail.

þe ilke þat halt þene nap; he hine drinkeð up.

oder uul me þideR fareð; ⁊ bi techeð his iueren.

þenne þat uul beoð icumen; þenne cusseoð heo þreoien.

þis beoð sele laȝen; Inne saxe londe.

⁊ Inne alemaine; heo beoð ihalden aðele.

Þis iherde uortiger; of alchen uuele he wes war.

⁊ seide hit an bruttisc; ne cuðe he nan ænglisc.

maiden Rouwenne; drinc bluðeliche þenne.

Þat maide dronc up þat win; ⁊ lette don oðer þer in.

⁊ bi tæhten þan kinge; ⁊ þrien hine custe.

⁊ þurh þa ilke leoden; þa laȝen comen to þissen londe.

wæs hail ⁊ drinc hæil. moni mon þer of is fain;

Rouwenne þe hende; sat bi þan kinge.

þe king heo ȝeorne biheold; heo was him an heorte leof.

ofte he heo custe; ofte he heo clupte.

Al his mod ⁊ his main; halde to þan mæidene.

Þe wurse wes þer | ful neh; þe in ælche gomene iS ful ræh.

þe wurse ne dude næuere god; he mæingde þas kinge`s´ mod.

he murnede ful swiðe; to habben þat mæiden to wiue.

Þat wes swide ladlic þing; þat þe cristine king.

luuede þat haðene maide; leoden to hærme.

þ̵ maiden wes þan kinge leof; æfne alse his aȝene lif.

he bad hengest his dring; ȝiuen him þat maide child.

Hengest funde an his ræd; to don þ̵ þe king him bed.

he ȝef him Rouwenne; wimmon swiðe hende.