VIII.

[Fol. 120.]
Then he pursues his journey, 2160

Thenne gyrdeȝ he to Gryngolet, & gedereȝ þe rake,

Schowueȝ in bi a schore, at a schaȝe syde,

Rideȝ þurȝ þe roȝe bonk, ryȝt to þe dale;

& þenne he wayted hym aboute, & wylde hit hym þoȝt,

& seȝe no syngne of resette, bisydeȝ nowhere,

Bot hyȝe bonkkeȝ & brent, vpon boþe halue,

& ruȝe knokled knarreȝ, with knorned stoneȝ;

Þe skweȝ of þe scowtes skayued¹ hym þoȝt.

Þenne he houed, & wyth-hylde his hors at þat tyde,

& ofte chaunged his cher, þe chapel to seche;

He seȝ non suche in no syde, & selly hym þoȝt,

Sone a lyttel on a launde, a lawe as hit we[re];

A balȝ berȝ, bi a bonke, þe brymme by-syde,

Bi a forȝ of a flode, þat ferked þare;

Þe borne blubred þer-inne, as hit boyled hade.

Þe knyȝt kacheȝ his caple, & com to þe lawe,

Liȝteȝ doun luflyly, & at a lynde tacheȝ

Þe rayne, & his riche, with a roȝe braunche;

Þen[n]e he boȝeȝ to þe berȝe, aboute hit he walke,

D[e]batande with hym-self, quat hit be myȝt.

Hit hade a hole on þe ende, & on ayþer syde,

& ouer-growen with gresse in glodes ay where,

& al watȝ holȝ in-with, nobot an olde caue,

Or a creuisse of an olde cragge, he couþe hit noȝt deme

with spelle,

"We,² lorde," quod þe gentyle knyȝt,

"Wheþer þis be þe grene chapelle;

He myȝt aboute myd-nyȝt,

[Þ]e dele his matynnes telle!"

¹ skayned (?). ² wel (?).