VIII.

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

Thenne gyrde3 he to Gryngolet, & gedere3 þe rake,

Schowue3 in bi a schore, at a scha3e syde,

Ride3 þur3 þe ro3e bonk, ry3t to þe dale;

& þenne he wayted hym aboute, & wylde hit hym þo3t,

& se3e no syngne of resette, bisyde3 nowhere,

Bot hy3e bonkke3 & brent, vpon boþe halue,

& ru3e knokled knarre3, with knorned stone3;

Þe skwe3 of þe scowtes skayued¹ hym þo3t.

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

& ofte chaunged his cher, þe chapel to seche;

He se3 non suche in no syde, & selly hym þo3t,

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

A bal3 ber3, bi a bonke, þe brymme by-syde,

Bi a for3 of a flode, þat ferked þare;

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

Þe kny3t kache3 his caple, & com to þe lawe,

Li3te3 doun luflyly, & at a lynde tache3

Þe rayne, & his riche, with a ro3e braunche;

Þen[n]e he bo3e3 to þe ber3e, aboute hit he walke,

D[e]batande with hym-self, quat hit be my3t.

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

& ouer-growen with gresse in glodes ay where,

& al wat3 hol3 in-with, nobot an olde caue,

Or a creuisse of an olde cragge, he couþe hit no3t deme

with spelle,

"We,² lorde," quod þe gentyle kny3t,

"Wheþer þis be þe grene chapelle;

He my3t aboute myd-ny3t,

[Þ]e dele his matynnes telle!"

¹ skayned (?). ² wel (?).