University of Virginia Library

Þe douke goþ in-to þe tour:
His prisouns he doþ gret anour,

134

Þerl Reyner of Sessoyne,
& þerl Gaudiner of Coloyne,
& wiþ hem þe stewerd,
Þat gode kniȝt was & wel y-herd.
Wiþ him eten he hem dede,
& more þan himself hem worþschipede.
Þe douke his soster cleped him to,
Þe fairest maiden þat miȝt go.
‘Þe prisouns þou nim to þe,
In þi chamber wiþ þe to be;
In þi chaumber kepes me
Þis gentil kniȝtes hende & fre;
& ouer alle oþer þe douke Reyner:
In hert he is me lef & dere.’
‘Sir,’ sche seyd, ‘ichil so
Hem to kepe my miȝt y-do.’
Ac þe riche emperour fre,
Of þis comberment nist he.
Wiþ a kniȝt he pleyd atte ches
Of Hungri, þat he loved y-wis.
Wiþ þat com Tirri prikeinge,
In his fest his brond bereinge:
His hauberk was al to-tore,
& his nasel avaled bifore.
Þurch his bodi þe blod ran;
Tirri made no semblaunt of þan;
His strong scheld al to-hewen was,
Nouȝt a fot hole þer-of nas.
‘Emperour,’ he seyd, ‘vnder-stond to me:
Hard tidinges may y telle þe
Of þine barouns þat y-nome be;
No schal þai neuer com to þe.
Sum be ded & brouȝt to grounde,
& sum be nomen, & sum be wounde:
Y-nomen is þe douk Reyner,
& þe constable Gaudiner;

136

Þe douke of Pauie wounded is
Wiþ a swerd þurch þe bodi y-wis:
Of þe deþ he drat him sore,
Hele no worþ him neuer more.’