|
Thus lete I Canacee hir hauk kepyng; |
| I wol namoore as now speke of hir ryng, |
| Til it come eft to purpos for to seyn |
| How that this faucoun gat hire love ageyn |
| 655 | Repentant, as the storie telleth us, |
| By mediacioun of Cambalus, |
| The kynges sone, of which that I yow tolde. |
| But hennesforth I wol my proces holde |
| To speken of aventures and of batailles, |
| 660 | That nevere yet was herd so grete mervailles. |
| First wol I telle yow of Cambyuskan, |
| That in his tyme many a citee wan; |
| And after wol I speke of Algarsif, |
| How that he wan Theodora to his wif, |
| 665 | For whom ful ofte in greet peril he was, |
| Ne hadde he be holpen by the steede of bras; |
| And after wol I speke of Cambalo |
| That faught in lystes with the bretheren two |
| For Canacee, er that he myghte hir wynne. |
| 670 | And ther I lefte, I wol ayeyn bigynne. |
|
| Thus leave I Canace her hawk keeping, |
| I will no more, just now, speak of her ring, |
| Till I come back with purpose to explain |
| How this poor falcon got her love again |
| 655 | Repentant, as the story tells to us, |
| By mediation of that Cambalus, |
| The king's son, of whom I've already told. |
| But henceforth I a straightened course will hold |
| Great battles and adventures to relate, |
| 660 | Whereof were never heard such marvels great. |
| First will I tell you of King Cambinskan |
| Who won so many a town and many a man; |
| And after will I speak of Algarsyf, |
| How he won Theodora for his wife, |
| 665 | For whom full oft in peril great he was, |
| Had he been helped not by the steed of brass; |
| And after that I'll speak of Cambalo, |
| Who in the lists fought with the brothers two |
| For Canace, before he could her win. |
| 670 | And where I left off, I'll again begin. |
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