III.
[Fol. 118b.]
Then was Gringolet arrayed,
Thenne wat3 Gryngolet grayþe, þat gret wat3 & huge,
& hade ben soiourned sauerly, & in a siker wyse,
Hym lyst prik for poynt, þat proude hors þenne;
Þe wy3e wynne3 hym to, & wyte3 on his lyre,
& sayde soberly hym-self, & by his soth swere3,
"Here is a meyny in þis mote, þat on menske þenkke3,
Þe mon hem maynteines, ioy mot þay haue;
Þe leue lady, on lyue luf hir bityde;
3if þay for charyté cherysen a gest,
& halden honour in her honde, þe haþel hem 3elde,
Þat halde3 þe heuen vpon hy3e, & also yow alle!
& 3if I my3t lyf vpon londe lede any quyle,
I schuld rech yow sum rewarde redyly, if I my3t."
Þenn steppe3 he in-to stirop, & stryde3 alofte;
His schalk schewed hym his schelde, on schulder he hit la3t,
Gorde3 to Gryngolet, with his gilt hele3,
& he starte3 on þe ston, stod he no lenger,
to praunce;
His haþel on hors wat3 þenne,
Þat bere his spere & launce.
"Þis kastel to Kryst I kenne,
He gef hit ay god chaunce!"