II.

Ande quen þis Bretayn watȝ bigged bi þis burn rych,

Bolde bredden þer-inne, baret þat lofden,

In mony turned tyme tene þat wroȝten;

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 watȝ Arthur þe hendest; as I haf herde telle;

For-þi an aunter in erde I attle to schawe,

Þat a selly in siȝt summe men hit holden,

& an outtrage awenture of Arthureȝ wondereȝ;

If ȝe 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 hatȝ ben longe.