Scottish Text Society publications > Old series > Sir Tristrem

30
NOTES TO SIR TRISTREM.
vr.
Ganhardin to Inglonde fares,
Als merchaunt, Y you saye;
He bringej) riche wares
And garmentes, were gaye;
Mark he giftes bares,
Als man, jjat miche maye;
A cup he prepares,
5>e ring tharein can laye,
Bidene;
Brengwain, ]>e gaye,
Yraujt it J>e quene.
VII.
Ysonde J>e ring knewe,
f>at riche was of gold,
As tokening trewe,
fat Tristrem her yold ;
Ganhardin gan schewe
And priviliche hir told,
fat Tristrem hurt was newe,
In his wounde, fiat was old,
All rijt:
Holp him gif sche nold,
Sterven most fat kni3t.
VIII.
Wo was Ysonde fan,
fe tale fo sche hard fare;
Sche schope hir as a man,
Wif Ganhardin to fare;
O bord are fai gan,
A wind at wil fame bare;
Ysonde was sad woman
And wepef bitter tare
Wif eije:
f e seyls, fat white ware,
Ganhardin lete fleije.
IX.
Ysonde of Britanye
Wif fe white honde,
f e schip sche can se
Seyling to londe;
f e white seyl fo marked sche:
“ Yonder comef Ysonde,
For to reve fro me
Miin fals husbonde;
Ich sware,
For il fo it schal be,
fat sche hir hider bare.”
X.
To Tristrem sche gan hye,
O bed fare he layne :
“Tristrem, so mot ich fye,
Heled schalt fou bene,
f i schippe I can espye,
f e sofe for to sain,
Ganhardin is comen neije
To curen fi paine,
Apli^t.”
“ What seyl dof fare flain,
Dame, for god almijt?”
XI.
Sche wenef to ben awrake
Of Tristrem, fe trewe ;
Sche seyf : “ fai ben Make,
As piche is fare hewe.”
Tristrem frew hym bake,
Trewd Ysonde untrewe,
His kind hert, it brake,
And sindrid in tuo ;
Above
Cristes merci him take !
He dyed for true love.
XII.
Murnef olde and yinge,
Murnef lowe and heije;
For Tristrem, swete finge,
Was mani wate eije ;
Maidens fare hondes wringe,
Wives iammeren and crii;
fe belles con fai ring
And masses con fai seye
For dole;
Prestes praied aye
For Tristreme’s sole.
XIII.
Ysonde to land wan,
Wif seyl and wif ore ;
Sche mete an old man,
Of herd fat was hore,
Fast fe teres ran
And siked he sore :
“Gone is he fan,
Of Inglond fe flore,
In lede;
We se him no more :
Schir Tristrem is dede!”