FullReads

 

 Anon into a little barge
 

 Brought was, late against an eve,
 

 Where of all he took his leave.
 

 Which barge was, as a man thought,
 

 Aft* his pleasure to him brought; *according to*
 

 The queen herself accustom'd ay
 

 In the same barge to play.* *take her sport
 

 It needed neither mast nor rother* *rudder
 

 (I have not heard of such another),
 

 Nor master for the governance;* *steering
 

 It sailed by thought and pleasance,
 

 Withoute labour, east and west;
 

 All was one, calm or tempest. <6>
 

 And I went with, at his request,
 

 And was the first pray'd to the feast.* *the bridal feast
 

 When he came unto his country,
 

 And passed had the wavy sea,
 

 In a haven deep and large
 

 He left his rich and noble barge,
 

 And to the court, shortly to tell,
 

 He went, where he was wont to dwell, --
 

And was gladly received as king by the estates of the land; for during his absence his father, “old, and wise, and hoar,” had died, commending to their fidelity his absent son. The prince related to the estates his journey, and his success in finding the princess in quest of whom he had gone seven years before; and said that he must have sixty thousand guests at his marriage feast. The lords gladly guaranteed the number within the set time; but afterwards they found that fifteen days must be spent in the necessary preparations. Between shame and sorrow, the prince, thus compelled to break his faith, took to his bed, and, in wailing and self-reproach,

 

 -- Endur'd the days fifteen,
 

 Till that the lords, on an evene,* *evening
 

 Him came and told they ready were,
 

 And showed in few wordes there,
 

 How and what wise they had *purvey'd *provided suitably
 

 For his estate,* and to him said, to his rank*
 

 That twenty thousand knights of name,
 

 And forty thousand without blame,
 

 Alle come of noble ligne* *line, lineage
 

 Together in a company
 

 Were lodged on a river's side,
 

 Him and his pleasure there t'abide.
 

 The prince then for joy uprose,
 

 And, where they lodged were, he goes,
 

 Withoute more, that same night,
 

 And there his supper *made to dight;* *had prepared*
 

 And with them bode* till it was day. *abode, waited*
 

 And forthwith to take his journey,
 

 Leaving the strait, holding the large,
 

 Till he came to his noble barge:
 

 And when the prince, this lusty knight,
 

 With his people in armes bright,
 

 Was come where he thought to pass,* *cross to the isle
 

 And knew well none abiding was
 

 Behind, but all were there present,
 

 Forthwith anon all his intent
 

 He told them there, and made his cries* *proclamation
 

 Thorough his hoste that day twice,
 

 Commanding ev'ry living wight
 

 There being present in his sight,
 

 To be the morrow on the rivage,* *shore
 

 There he begin would his voyage.