VI.

Then they show him his shield with the "pentangle" of pure gold.

Then þay schewed hym þe schelde, þat was of schyr gouleȝ,

Wyth þe pentangel de-paynt of pure golde hweȝ;

He braydeȝ hit by þe baude-ryk, aboute þe hals kestes,

Þat bisemed þe segge semlyly fayre.

& quy þe pentangel apendeȝ to þat prynce noble,

I am in tent yow to telle, þof tary hyt me schulde;

Hit is a syngne þat Salamon set sum-quyle,

In bytoknyng of trawþe, bi tytle þat hit habbeȝ,

For hit is a figure þat haldeȝ fyue poynteȝ,

& vche lyne vmbe-lappeȝ & loukeȝ in oþer,

& ay quere hit is endeleȝ,¹ & Englych hit callen

Ouer-al, as I here, þe endeles knot.

For-þy hit acordeȝ to þis knyȝt, & to his cler armeȝ,

For ay faythful in fyue & sere fyue syþeȝ,

Gawan watȝ for gode knawen, & as golde pured,

Voyded of vche vylany, wyth vertueȝ² ennourned

in mote;

For-þy þe pen-tangel nwe

He ber in schelde & cote,

As tulk of tale most trwe,

& gentylest knyȝt of lote.

¹ MS emdeleȝ. ² MS verertueȝ