With wyn of Oseye and win of Gaskoyne, Of the Ryn2 and of the Rochel, the rost to defye,3

Al this I saugh slepynge, and seve sithes

THE FABLE OF BELLING THE CAT
FROM THE PROLOGUE (B — TEXT)

Both in warren and in waste land, e'en where'er it pleases;

And other times are they elsewhere,

Were a bell borne on the collar, by Jesu, as me thinketh,

One might wit where they went, and away scamper!

24

eloquent themselves seen people (here dogs are meant) 31 wherrings go warren ever they please collar know run

6

SIR JOHN MANDEVILLE? (D. 1371)

THE VOIAGE AND TRAVAILE OF SIR JOHN MAUNDEVILE, KT.
FROM CHAP. IV

And from Ephesim Men gon 25 throghe many Iles in the See, unto the Cytee of Paterane, where Seynt Nicholas was born, and so to Martha, where he was chosen to ben 26 Bisschoppe; and there growethe right gode Wyn and strong; and that Men callen Wyn of Martha. And from thens 27 gon Men to the Ile of Crete, that the Emperour yaf 28

1 man, person 2 rabbits flesh feeds 5

• confusion get rid of tyrant

And from Ephesus men go through many
isles in the sea unto the city of Pateran, where
St. Nicholas was born, and so to Martha,
where he was chosen to be bishop; and there
groweth right good wine and strong; and
men call it Wine of Martha. And from
thence go men to the isle of Crete, which the
Emperor gave formerly to the Genoese. And
16 property
game
20 each
would not
confess
may
24 dare not 25 go
21 keep 22 dream
were

10 9 crowd

14

15

som

it not for "could 12 rule 13 much talking cost

17

18

23

means

27 thence 28 gave

19

2€ be

4

tyme to Janeweys.2 And thanne passen Men thorghe the Isles of Colos and of Lango; of the whiche Iles Ypocras was Lord offe. And some Men seyn,3 that in the Ile of Lango is yit the Doughtre of Ypocras, in forme and lykeness of a gret Dragoun, that is a hundred Fadme of lengthe, as Men seyn: For I have not seen hire. And thei of the Isles callen hire, Lady of the Lond. And sche lyethe in an olde castelle, in a Cave, and schewethe twyes or thryes in the Yeer. And sche dothe none harm to no Man, but-yif Men don hire harm. And sche was thus chaunged and transformed, from a fair Damysele, in-to lyknesse of a Dragoun, be a Goddesse, that was clept 10 Deane." And Men seyn, that sche schalle so endure in that forme of a Dragoun, unto the tyme that a Knyghte come, that is so hardy, that dar come to hire and kiss hire on the Mouthe: And then schalle sche

12

9

turne ayen to hire owne Kynde,13 and ben a
Woman ayen: But aftre that sche schalle not
liven longe. And it is not long siththen,11 that
a Knyghte of the Rodes, that was hardy and
doughty in Armes, seyde that he wolde
kyssen hire. And whan he was upon his
Coursere, and wente to the Castelle, and
entred into the Cave, the Dragoun lifte up
hire Hed ayenst 15 him. And whan the
Knyghte saw hire in that Forme so hidous
and so horrible, he fleyghe 16 awey. And the
Dragoun bare 17 the Knyghte upon a Roche,18
mawgre his Hede; 19 and from that Roche,
sche caste him in-to the See: and so was lost
bothe Hors and Man. And also a yonge 20
Man, that wiste 21 not of the Dragoun, wente
out of a Schipp, and wente thorghe the Ile,
til that he come to the Castelle, and cam in to
the Cave; and wente so longe, til that he
fond a Chambre, and there he saughe a
Damysele, that kembed 23 hire Hede, and
lokede in a Myrour; and sche hadde meche 24
Tresoure abouten hire: and he trowed,25 that
sche hadde ben a comoun Woman, that
dwelled there to receyve Men to Folye. And
he abode, tille the Damysele saughe the
Schadewe of him in the Myrour. And sche
turned hire toward him, and asked hym,
what he wolde. And he seyde, he wolde ben
hire Limman 26 or Paramour. And sche asked
him, yif 27 that he were a Knyghte. And he

. 1

22

formerly, once upon a time 2 the Genoese 3 say 4 yet fathom land appears 7 unless 9 by 13 again, back nature 14 since

10 called 11 Diana 12

then men pass through the isles of Colos and Lango; of the which isles Hippocrates was lord. And some men say that in the isle of Lango is yet the daughter of Hippocrates, in form and likeness of a great dragon that is a hundred fathoms in length, as men say; for I have not seen her. And they of the isles call her Lady of the Land. And she lieth in an old castle, in a cave, and appeareth twice or thrice in the year. And she doeth no harm to any man, unless men do harm to her. And she was thus changed and transformed from a fair damsel into likeness of a dragon by a goddess that was called Diana. And men say that she shall so continue in that form of a dragon until the time that a knight shall come who is so hardy that he dares come to her and kiss her on the mouth: and then shall she return to her own nature and be a woman again: but after that she shall not live long. And it

is not long since that a knight of the Rhodes that was hardy and doughty in arms said that he would kiss her. And when he was upon his courser, and went to the castle, and entered into the cave, the dragon lifted up her head against him. And when the knight saw her in that form, so hideous and so horrible, he fled away. And the dragon bore the knight upon a rock despite his efforts; and from the rock she cast him into the sea: and so was lost both horse and man. And also a young man, that did not know about the dragon, went out of a ship, and went through the isle till he came to the castle, and came into the cave; and went on till he found a chamber, and there he saw a damsel that was combing her hair and looking in a mirror; and she had much treasure about her: and he supposed that she was a common woman, who dwelt there to receive men to folly. And he waited till the damsel saw his shadow in the mirror. And she turned herself toward him, and asked him what he wished. And he said he would be her lover or paramour. And she asked him if he were a knight. And he said, "Nay." And then she said that he could not be her lover: but she bade him go back to his fellows and make himself a knight, and come again upon the morrow, and she would come out of the cave before him; and then he should come and kiss her on the

mouth, and have no dread; "for I shall do thee no manner of harm, albeit that thou see me in likeness of a dragon. For though thou see me hideous and horrible to look upon, I give thee to know that it is caused by enchantment. For without doubt I am none other than thou seest now, a woman; and therefore dread thee naught. And if thou kiss me, thou shalt have all this treasure, and be my lord and lord also of all the isle." And he departed from her and went to his fellows on the ship, and had himself made a knight, and came back upon the morrow to kiss the damsel. And when he saw her come out of the cave, in the form of a dragon, so hideous and so horrible, he had so great dread that he fled back to the ship; and she followed him. And when she saw that he turned not back, she began to cry, as a thing that had great sorrow: and then she turned back into her cave; and at once the knight died. And from then until now no knight has been able to see her but that he died very soon. But when a knight comes that is so bold as to kiss her, he shall not die; but he shall turn the damsel into her right form and natural shape, and he shall be lord of all the countries and isles abovesaid.

seyde, nay. And than sche seyde, that he myghte not ben hire Lemman: But sche bad him gon ayen 2 unto his Felowes, and make him Knyghte, and come ayen upon the Morwe, and sche scholde come out of the Cave before him; and thanne come and kysse hire on the mowthe, and have no Drede; "for I schalle do the no maner harm, alle be it that thou see me in Lyknesse of a Dragoun. For thoughe thou see me hidouse and horrible to loken onne, I do 3 the to wytene, that it is made be Enchauntement. For withouten doute, I am non other than thou seest now, a Woman; and therfore drede the noughte. And yif thou kysse me, thou schalt have alle this Tresoure, and be my Lord, and Lord also of alle that Ile." And he departed fro hire and wente to his Felowes to Schippe, and leet 5 make him Knyghte, and cam ayen upon the Morwe, for to kysse this Damysele. And whan he saughe hire comen 6 out of the Cave, in forme of a Dragoun, so hidouse and so horrible, he hadde so grete drede, that he fleyghe ayen to the Schippe; and sche folewed him. And whan sche saughe, that he turned not ayen, sche began to crye, as a thing that hadde meche Sorwe: and thanne sche turned ayen, in-to hire Cave; and anon the Knighte dyede. And siththen hidrewards,10 myghte no Knighte se hire, but that he dyede anon. But whan a Knyghte comethe, that is so hardy to kisse hire, he schalle not dye; but he schalle turne the Damysele in-to hire righte Forme and kyndely 11 Schapp, and he schal be Lord of alle the Contreyes and Iles aboveseyd.

13

FROM CHAP. XXVII

In the Lond of Prestre John ben many dyverse thinges and many precious Stones, so grete and so large that men maken of hem 12 Vesselle; as Plateres, Dissches, and Cuppes. And many other marveylles ben there; that it were to 14 combrous and to 14 long to putten it in scripture 15 of Bokes.

But of the princypalle Yles and of his Estate and of his Lawe I schalle telle you som partye.16 This Emperour Prestre John is Cristene; and a gret partie of his Contree also: but yit thei have not alle the Articles of oure Feythe, as wee have. Thei beleven wel in the Fadre, in the Sone, and in the Holy Gost: 1 lover 2 back 3 4 know 5 let 6 come 7 fled 8 much since 10 till now 9 11 natural 12 them

cause

In the land of Prester John are many di-
verse things, and many precious stones so
great and so large that men make of them
vessels; as platters, dishes and cups. And
many other marvels are there; that it were
too cumbrous and too long to put it in the
writing of books.

But of the principal isles and of his estate
and of his law I shall tell you some part.
This emperor Prester John is Christian; and
a great part of his country also: but yet they
have not all the articles of our faith, as we
have. They believe well in the Father, in the
Son, and in the Holy Ghost: and they are very
13 vessels 14
too 15 writing 16 part 17 religion