University of Virginia Library

‘Sir,’ quaþ he, ‘y schal þe telle:
Þi schame forhele y nille.
An soudour þou hast wiþ þe,
& wil þat þou y-schent be.
Þi douhter, þat so feir is,
Forlay he haþ, for-soþe y-wis.
Into hir bour wiþ strengþe he ȝede,
& bi þi douhter his wille he dede.’
Ȝif þou ne me leuest, hom þou fare,
Ȝete þou schalt him finde þare.
Þer þou miȝt him finde, y-wis,
& þi douhter clippe & kisse.
Þerfore y com þe to say,
For þi schame forhele y no may.
Ȝif þou him finde in þat stede,
Into þi prisoun þou him lede,
& in þi court þou deme him do;
For treitour he is, y telle þe to:
Þe more adouted þou schalt be
Of alle þi regne, y telle þe.
Þer-fore ne wonde þou no-þing
Nouȝt for him no his helping;
After-ward þat he demed is,
& þi court of þat treytour deliuerd is,
Into Almayne ichil gon
To þemperour Reyner anon;
Socour fram him ichil bringe,
& deliuer þi lond, wiþouten lesinge,
Of alle þine dedeliche fon,
Þat þine men haue sleyn ichon.’