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107

Aruiragus rex qui desponsauit filiam imperatoris Claudii.

Þo he com outward wiþ is folc þe emperour atstod
& dradde is hardiesse & þoȝte it nas noȝt god
To don is lif an aunter & is men al so
He þoȝte to speke of acord ȝif it miȝte be ido
To þe king he sende word þat he ssolde him bise
& make fourme of acord ȝif it miȝte so be
Vor wanne hii adde al ifoȝte & hor lif anauntre ido
& hor folc aslawe in eiþer side & peraunter hom sulf al so
Al vor a lute coueitise þe biȝete were þanne lute
Betere hit were acordi & bileue hor prute
Vor he was so god kniȝt & al so so noble king
He bed vor to ȝiue him is doȝter in spousi[n]g
Þe nobloste damaisele þat was in eni londe
& to spousy þe emperours doȝter hit nere him no ssonde

108

Vor wat he bere is truage as riȝt were to rome
As alle oþere kinges dude & is eldore ilome
Þe king vor his heie herte anon it wiþ seide
Ac naþeles is conseil him gan þer to rede
& sede þat it was to him gret prou & honour
To be in such mariage alied to þe emperour
Þe heiest prince of al þe world & þe maide so noble al so
& þat it nere him no ssame his truage to do
To þe noble stude of rome wanne þe oþer kinges echon
Hit dude þoru al þe world & in so noble fourme non
Þe king þei he hautein were ches þe beste won
& vnderstond is conseil so þat hii were at on
Þat he bere is truage as oþere dude to rome
& þat he þe emperoures doȝter in spoushod nome
Þis maide was to londe ibroȝt of so noble gentrise
Vairor wommon nas þo non ihote heo was gewise