Mano : a poetical history : of the time of the close of the tenth century : concerning the adventures of a Norman knight which fell part in Normandy part in Italy : in four books

Front matter

MANO.

MANO

A POETICAL HISTORY: OF THE TIME OF THE CLOSE OF THE TENTH CENTURY: CONCERNING THE ADVENTURES OF A NORMAN KNIGHT: WHICH FELL PART IN NORMANDY PART IN ITALY.

Book I. Canto Page

I. What moved Fergant to write 1

II. How Mano came from Italy . 4

III. How Sir Mano delivered his Letters to the

Duke 7

IY. The Letters of Count Thuroldus : other Letters and Matters showing the state of the World . . . . 8

V. Of the Greatness of the Normans 11

VI. How Duke Richard came to Fechamp .... 15

VII. How Mano cast his Love at Blanche, and her

Sister hers at him 17

VIII. Of the Crosses of Love 20

IX. How by Blanche Sir Mano was refused and

MADE FOOLISH 24

X. How Joanna and Mano would visit Gerbert ; and how Joanna on the way met an old Peasant in the Forest Country, who told her his Story 26

XI. The Peasant continues his Story ...... 29 xii CONTENTS.

CANTO PAGE

XII. How Joanna fared onward with the Peasant :

and how Sir Mano met with a wounded Man 3G

XIII. How Mano met with Sir Giroie 39

XIV. How Mano and Joanna continued their Journey 44 XY. Concerning Gerbert 47

XVI. How both Joanna and Mano came to Gerbert :

AND WHAT FOLLOWED 50

XVII. Gerbert tells something of Mano's Beginnings 54

Book II

I. How Fergant went to be with Mano : and of

other Things 63

II. How Mano set forth for Italy 66

III. What befell in the Alps 72

IV. Of an Adventure which fell to Mano .... 74

V. HOW WE CAME INTO ITALY 80

VI. Of a Battle with the Saracens : and of our

COMING TO A LOMBARDIAN TOWN 84

VII. Concerning Vilgardus, surnamed Grammaticus . 86 VIII. How the Ungrians, besieging the Town, were

BEATEN OFF 94

IX. Concerning a Knight whom Sir Mano met in

the Battle 97

X. The Continuation of our Journey 102

XI. How Mano met with Thuroldus, Diantha's

Father 105

XII. Of a Vision of Hell, which a Monk had. . . 107

XIII. Of the War 110

CONTENTS. xiii BOOK III.

CANTO PAGE

I. How Mano went to Eome 115

II. What happened in Eome : that Mano was in

DANGER OF A FALL 118

III. The Story of Laurentius and his Children. . 120

IY. Mano undertakes the Vengeance of Lauren-

tius's Daughter 123

V. The Adventure pursued 126

VI. How Mano was banished by Gerbert .... 128

VII. What led Gerbert to misjudge Mano .... 133

VIII. Mano parts from Thurold, but not from

Fergant 136

Book IV

I. How Mano and Fergant returned to Normandy 141

II. Of a strange Dream which came to Fergant . 143

III. How Sir Mano saw Blanche the Fair again . 145

IV. Of a Dream which came to Sir Mano .... 149 V. Of the same 151

VI. How Sir Mano parted from Fergant .... 152

VII. How Mano found Diantha with the Peasants in the Wood : and himself was taken by the

Lords 154

VIII. How Diantha fared in Captivity : and how

IX. How Joanna fared in the Convent : and how

she discovered Mano's Parentage . . . 164 dv CONTENTS.

CANTO PAG R

X. Concerning Joanna in the Nunnery 1G7

XL How Joanna went to Eouen to save Sir Mano,

AND HOW SHE SPED 171

XII. How Joanna came to Mano 170

XIII. Concerning Diantha, how she escaped, and to

WHAT END SHE CAME 180

XI Y. Concerning Mano in Prison 184

XV. The Death of Mano and Joanna 187

XVI. How a false tale of their Death was told,

AND THEN THE TRUE : AND HOW THEY WERE

BURIED 1 89

r

XVII. The End . 191

Book I. Mano

A POETICAL HISTORY.

BOOK I.

I. — WHAT MOVED FERGANT TO WRITE.

IFERGANT, living now my latest days, ? Gerbert's disciple once, but long a monk Of Sant Evreult, for that in many ways

I have beheld God's strokes upon the trunk Of rotten trees : and seen the cedars tall Fall on the hills, because the earth has shrunk

From nourishing, herself washed down by fall Of pelting rains, and crumbled by the sun, So that no state may be perpetual :

And knowing how things dwindle one by one To him who clings to this world's misery Some longer while, ere to the grave he run : I, looking soon for that ; and since that I

B

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MANO

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Have seen some things that shall not happen twice, And days return not that be once gone by :

And for the cause that many calumnies Concerning my great Master now be spread, Gerbert the Pope, that doctor high and wise ;

And of the fate which took him from our head, And of his arts, his magic spells and songs, Because that many things be lewdly said :

And likewise of Sir Mano and his wrongs, (Who was the friend of Gerbert at the first) Because that many move their evil tongues ;

For this, — well knowing how they long conversed In love, till anger rose betwixt them twain, And by what angry cause their love was cursed :

I, Fergant, now begin this work of pain, To vindicate their glory from all foes, And set the truth in order clear and plain.

Nor less in duteous memory of those Who loved my famous master or his friend Tell I that history, which I marked so close.

All things shall be recounted, if God send Strength to this heart, and still with life upstay The hand that writes, until it reach the end.

And partly I my masters mind obey, Who charged me still to hold his memory dear : Which I refuse not, though, the truth to say,

Some acts in him of doubtful praise appear ; Nor could my dark mind apprehend the fate Which cast him suddenly from throne to bier. — I, then, if God give aid, shall celebrate The prodigies, the portents, and events Of fifty years agone, beginning late :