University of Virginia Library

Now wille we of Gij duelle,
& of his lyoun ichil ȝou telle;
Of his lyoun, hou he fard:
Þer while þat Gij lay sike so hard
Nold he noiþer ete no drink,
Ac sorwe he made and gret morning.
Gij cleped Herhaud him to,
& alle his conseyl schewed him þo.
‘Sir Herhaud,’ he seyd, ‘conseyl me:
Of mi conseyl ich oxi þe,
Ȝif y schal þemperours douhter take,
Or ȝete abide forþ & hir for-sake.
Ich haue a leman in Inglond
(To telle þe nil y nouȝt wond),
Þerls douhter Rohaut y-wis,
Felice, þat feir maiden of pris.
Oþer þan hir loue y no may,
Sir Herhaud, for soþe to say.’
Herhaud onswerd: ‘ichil ȝou telle
Þe best conseyl ich haue in wille.
Ȝif þou þemperours douhter afo
Riche þou best euer mo:
After him þou best emperour.
God haþ y-don þe gret anour:
In þe world ne worþ man of so gret miȝt,
No of so gret pouer, y pliȝt.
More riches þe worþ bi a þousandel
Boþe of cites & of riche castel,
Forestes ful of hertes beld,
Þan þerl Rohaut haþ in weld.’