III.
[Fol. 118b.]
Then was Gringolet arrayed,
Thenne watȝ Gryngolet grayþe, þat gret watȝ & huge,
& hade ben soiourned sauerly, & in a siker wyse,
Hym lyst prik for poynt, þat proude hors þenne;
Þe wyȝe wynneȝ hym to, & wyteȝ on his lyre,
& sayde soberly hym-self, & by his soth swereȝ,
"Here is a meyny in þis mote, þat on menske þenkkeȝ,
Þe mon hem maynteines, ioy mot þay haue;
Þe leue lady, on lyue luf hir bityde;
Ȝif þay for charyté cherysen a gest,
& halden honour in her honde, þe haþel hem ȝelde,
Þat haldeȝ þe heuen vpon hyȝe, & also yow alle!
& ȝif I myȝt lyf vpon londe lede any quyle,
I schuld rech yow sum rewarde redyly, if I myȝt."
Þenn steppeȝ he in-to stirop, & strydeȝ alofte;
His schalk schewed hym his schelde, on schulder he hit laȝt,
Gordeȝ to Gryngolet, with his gilt heleȝ,
& he starteȝ on þe ston, stod he no lenger,
to praunce;
His haþel on hors watȝ þenne,
Þat bere his spere & launce.
"Þis kastel to Kryst I kenne,
He gef hit ay god chaunce!"