tail-rhyme STANZA. The initial rhyming lines are usually
a COUPLET or tercet. This form is also called caudate
rhyme and is closely related to RIME COUÉE.
TÁIN BÓ CULAIGNE See EARLY IRISH SAGAS.
TALE OF GAMELYN, THE ANONYMOUS (ca.
1350) We owe the survival of this poem to GEOFFREY
CHAUCER, who apparently included it among his
papers, intending to use it as the source of a tale that
was never composed. Upon Chaucer’s death in 1400,
early 15th-century copyists added it in one group of 25
manuscripts to the unfi nished “Cook’s Tale” as part of
The CANTERBURY TALES. The poem also indirectly infl u-
enced WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’s As You Like It (1598–
1600) through Thomas Lodge’s poem Rosalynde:
Euphues Golden Legacie (1590).
The Tale of Gamelyn consists of 898 long and occa-
sionally alliterative lines of rhymed COUPLETs with gen-
erally three stresses before and after the CAESURA: “To
telle hym tydinge / the wynde was wente” (l. 699). Each
of the six parts or “fyttes” opens with the poet’s com-
mand to the audience to listen and be quiet, suggesting
oral performance at some point in its evolution.
Part 1 opens with the impending death of Sir John
of Boundes, who wishes to divide his property equally
among his three sons: John the Younger, Ote, and
Gamelyn. Though Sir John instructs the knights of the
shire to honor his request, they ignore his wishes and
decide to deliver all the lands to the two eldest sons,
giving none to Gamelyn. Accordingly, John seizes
Gamelyn’s lands, tenants, and horses, but he lets them
go to ruin. Upon reaching his maturity, Gamelyn con-
fronts his brother about his stolen inheritance, and his
brother counters by accusing him of being low-born
and a bastard, ordering his servants to beat him. Game-
lyn retaliates, and John retreats, fearing for his life. He
cunningly tells Gamelyn that he arranged the attack as
a test of strength. Gamelyn then offers to reconcile if
John returns his inheritance to him, and his brother
falsely agrees.
In part 2, Gamelyn goes to a wrestling match to win
honor for the family. As soon as he leaves, his brother
locks the gate against him. At the match, Gamelyn
challenges the champion and eventually emerges vic-
torious. Declared the champion, Gamelyn returns
home with his prizes—a ram and a ring—and a large
company, only to discover that his treacherous brother
has locked the gate.
In part 3, Gamelyn breaks open the gate, chases the
porter who refused him entry, then breaks the porter’s
neck and throws him into the well. Once inside, Game-
lyn and his friends celebrate his victory by consuming
his brother’s food and drink for seven days. Hiding in
a turret, John observes the drunken revelry and plots
his revenge.
Part 4 opens with John capturing Gamelyn. Game-
lyn maintains that he spent only what was owed to him
from his inheritance, whereupon John, who has no
heir, offers to make Gamelyn his heir. Naively, Game-
lyn is lured into believing his brother, who then binds
him hand and foot and tells everyone that Gamelyn is
insane. Gamelyn begs Adam, the household servant, to
release him, promising him a share of his lands, and he
does so. The two embark on a plan: At a Sunday ban-
quet, to which John has invited the local clergy, Game-
lyn pretends to be bound to a post in the hall. After the
“men of Holy Church” refuse to help him, Gamelyn
and Adam “absolve them of their sins” by beating them
with staves. Gamelyn then strikes his brother, breaking
his back.
In part 5, the sheriff’s men come to the manor to
capture Gamelyn. The porter refuses to admit them
and warns Gamelyn, who escapes into the woods with
Adam. There they encounter a band of outlaws. After
explaining their plight, they are given food and drink,
and soon after, Gamelyn is made second in command
under the “crowned king of the outlaws.” After three
weeks, the master outlaw is pardoned, and Gamelyn
assumes the title. Meanwhile, his false brother John is
appointed sheriff, and he declares Gamelyn an outlaw,
or “wolf’s head.” When he is informed about his indict-
ment by his faithful tenants, Gamelyn goes to the shire
court to proclaim his innocence, but his brother has
him arrested and thrown into prison. Upon hearing of
his arrest, Sir Ote, Gamelyn’s middle brother, demands
that Gamelyn be released on bail until the next sitting
of the shire court. John agrees, providing that Ote bear
the judgment if Gamelyn fails to appear. Once released
into Ote’s custody, Gamelyn, against his brother’sTALE OF GAMELYN, THE 431