II.
20
Ande quen þis Bretayn wat3 bigged bi þis burn rych,
Bolde bredden þer-inne, baret þat lofden,
In mony turned tyme tene þat wro3ten;
Mo ferlyes on þis folde han fallen here oft
Þen in any oþer þat I wot, syn þat ilk tyme.
Bot of alle þat here bult of Bretaygne kynges
Ay wat3 Arthur þe hendest; as I haf herde telle;
For-þi an aunter in erde I attle to schawe,
Þat a selly in si3t summe men hit holden,
& an outtrage awenture of Arthure3 wondere3;
If 3e wyl lysten þis laye bot on littel quile,
I schal telle hit, as-tit, as I in toun herde,
with tonge;
As hit is stad & stoken,
In stori stif & stronge,
With lel letteres loken,
In londe so hat3 ben longe.