VI.

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

Then þay schewed hym þe schelde, þat was of schyr goule3,

Wyth þe pentangel de-paynt of pure golde hwe3;

He brayde3 hit by þe baude-ryk, aboute þe hals kestes,

Þat bisemed þe segge semlyly fayre.

& quy þe pentangel apende3 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 habbe3,

For hit is a figure þat halde3 fyue poynte3,

& vche lyne vmbe-lappe3 & louke3 in oþer,

& ay quere hit is endele3,¹ & Englych hit callen

Ouer-al, as I here, þe endeles knot.

For-þy hit acorde3 to þis kny3t, & to his cler arme3,

For ay faythful in fyue & sere fyue syþe3,

Gawan wat3 for gode knawen, & as golde pured,

Voyded of vche vylany, wyth vertue3² ennourned

in mote;

For-þy þe pen-tangel nwe

He ber in schelde & cote,

As tulk of tale most trwe,

& gentylest kny3t of lote.

¹ MS emdele3. ² MS verertue3