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So þai come þider on a day,
& spired where þat best lay,
Gij armed him wel richeliche,
& seyd to his felawes hastiliche
Þat so hardi þer be non
O fot wiþ him for to gon.
Now is Gij to a launde y-go
Wher þe dragoun duelled þo.
Þo Gij him seye so griseli,
Of him no was he nouȝt al trusti.
Wiþ þe spere he him smot smertliche,
Þat was kerueand scharpeliche,
Þat alto schiueres it to-fleye;
Ac þe bodi com it nouȝt neye.
Þo he had smiten þat best so,
Wel heye he bar his heued þo,
Wiþ-went him, & lepe him to:
Him & his stede he feld bo.
Gij of þat strok astounded is:
Neuer hadde he non swiche, y-wis.
Up he stirt anon riȝt:
‘God,’ he seyd, ‘fader almiȝt,
Þat made þe day & niȝt also,
& for ous sinful þoldest wo,
& heldest Daniel fram þe lyoun,
Saue me fram þis foule dragoun.’
His swerd he drouȝ anon riȝt:
To him he lepe wiþ gret miȝt,
& smot him in þe heued schod
A wel gret strok wiþ-outen abod;
Ac no-þing sen þan was his dent:
Gij him held þan al schent,
Þat he no miȝt him deri nouȝt
Wiþ no wepen of stiel y-wrouȝt.
Bitvene hem was strong bateyle:
Aiþer gan oþer for to aseyle.
At asaut wiþ Gyes partinge
Þat wers he hadde at þat wendinge,
Þe best him neyed, & smot him
Wiþ his vp-coming so fel & grim,
Þat he a lappe rent out anon
Of his brini, þat alle his trust was on.