University of Virginia Library

‘Sir,’ quaþ Gij, ‘wille we go?
When þou it wilt, it schal be do.’
Into þe chaumber þai ȝede þo
Hond in hond y-fere bo.
To þe mayden þai come wel sket,
Þat curteysliche hem haþ y-gret.
‘Sir Gij,’ sche seyd, ‘welcome þou be!
Cum sitt & pleye þe here wiþ me.’
He toke þe maiden & hir kiste:
Þat of-þouȝt þe steward vnwreste.
He hir hadde loued mani a day,
& wende haue spoused þat feir may.
Þe cheker þai oxy & þe meyne;
Bifor þe maiden þan pleyen he.
Y-sett þai han þe first game,
Þe steward it les, bi godes name.
Seþþe þai han anoþer y-gonne,
Anon it haþ Gij y-wonne,
& þe þridde ful hastiliche.
Þe steward was sori sikerliche;
Al mody he ros vp þo:
Wroþ & sori he was bo.
‘Gij,’ quaþ he, ‘bi-leue þou here,
Þiself & Clarice, þi pleye-fere,
Al what ich come now son oȝe.’
‘Anon,’ seyd Gij, ‘it schal so be.’
Out him went Morgadour,
At his in he tok a chasour,
To þemperour he goþ riȝt.
When þemperour hadde of him siȝt,
Oȝaines him he is y-gon,
& tidinges he oxed him anon.
‘Now forþ, sir steward,’ he sede,
‘Comestow for gode or for qued?
Whi comestow so prikiinge?
Tel it me wiþ-outen lesinge.
Ȝif þou of Sarrazins hast herd ouȝt,
Tel it me; for-hele it nouȝt.’