XII.

Scarcely had he blessed himself thrice

Nade he sayned hym-self, segge, bot þrye,

Er he watȝ war in þe wod of a won in a mote.

Abof a launde, on a lawe, loken vnder boȝeȝ,

Of mony borelych bole, aboute bi þe diches;

A castel þe comlokest þat euer knyȝt aȝte,

Pyched on a prayere, a park al aboute,

With a pyked palays, pyned ful þik,

Þat vmbe-teȝe mony tre mo þen two myle.

Þat holde on þat on syde þe haþel auysed,

As hit schemered & schon þurȝ þe schyre okeȝ;

Þenne hatȝ he hendly of his helme, & heȝly he þonkeȝ

Iesus & say[nt] Gilyan, þat gentyle ar boþe,

Þat cortaysly hade hym kydde, & his cry herkened.

"Now bone hostel," coþe þe burne, "I be-seche yow ȝette!"

Þenne gedereȝ he to Gryngolet with þe gilt heleȝ,

& he ful chauncely hatȝ chosen to þe chef gate,

Þat broȝt bremly þe burne to þe bryge ende,

in haste;

Þe bryge watȝ breme vp-brayde,

Þe ȝateȝ wer stoken faste,

Þe walleȝ were wel arayed,

Hit dut no wyndeȝ blaste.