V.
"I have brought you hither,
"For I haf wonnen yow hider, wyȝe, at þis tyme,
& now nar ȝe not fer fro þat note place,
Þat ȝe han spied & spuryed so specially after;
Bot I schal say yow for soþe, syþen I yow knowe,
& ȝe ar a lede vpon lyue, þat I wel louy,
Wolde ȝe worch bi my wytte, ȝe worþed þe better.
Þe place þat ȝe prece to, ful perelous is halden;
Þer woneȝ a wyȝe in þat waste, þe worst vpon erþe;
For he is stiffe, & sturne, & to strike louies,
& more he is þen any mon vpon myddelerde,
& his body bigger þen þe best fowre.
Þat ar in Arþureȝ hous, Hestor1 oþer oþer.
He cheueȝ þat chaunce at þe chapel grene;
Þer passes non bi þat place, so proude in his armes,
Þat he ne dynneȝ hym to deþe, with dynt of his honde;
For he is a mon methles, & mercy non vses,
For he hit chorle, oþer chaplayn, þat bi þe chapel rydes,
Monk, oþer masse-prest, oþer any mon elles,
Hym þynk as queme hym to quelle, as quyk go hym seluen.
For-þy I say þe as soþe as ȝe in sadel sitte,
Com ȝe þere, ȝe be kylled, [I] may þe knyȝt rede,
Trawe ȝe me þat trwely, þaȝ ȝe had twenty lyues
to spende;
He hatȝ wonyd here ful ȝore,
On bent much baret bende,
Aȝayn his dynteȝ sore,
Ȝe may not yow defende."
1 Hector (?).