XII.

Scarcely had he blessed himself thrice

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

Er he wat3 war in þe wod of a won in a mote.

Abof a launde, on a lawe, loken vnder bo3e3,

Of mony borelych bole, aboute bi þe diches;

A castel þe comlokest þat euer kny3t a3te,

Pyched on a prayere, a park al aboute,

With a pyked palays, pyned ful þik,

Þat vmbe-te3e mony tre mo þen two myle.

Þat holde on þat on syde þe haþel auysed,

As hit schemered & schon þur3 þe schyre oke3;

Þenne hat3 he hendly of his helme, & he3ly he þonke3

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 3ette!"

Þenne gedere3 he to Gryngolet with þe gilt hele3,

& he ful chauncely hat3 chosen to þe chef gate,

Þat bro3t bremly þe burne to þe bryge ende,

in haste;

Þe bryge wat3 breme vp-brayde,

Þe 3ate3 wer stoken faste,

Þe walle3 were wel arayed,

Hit dut no wynde3 blaste.