XIII.

"I seek no fight," says the knight.

"Nay, frayst I no fyȝt, in fayth I þe telle,

Hit arn aboute on þis bench bot berdleȝ chylder;

If I were hasped in armes on a heȝe stede,

Here is no mon me to mach, for myȝteȝ so¹ wayke.

For-þy I craue in þis court a crystmas gomen,

For hit is ȝol & nwe ȝer, & here ar ȝep mony;

If any so hardy in þis hous holdeȝ hym-seluen,

Be so bolde in his blod, brayn in hys hede,

Þat dar stifly strike a strok for an oþer,

I schal gif hym of my gyft þys giserne ryche,

Þis ax, þat is heué in-nogh, to hondele as hym lykes,

& I schal bide þe fyrst bur, as bare as I sitte.

If any freke be so felle to fonde þat I telle,

Lepe lyȝtly me to, & lach þis weppen,

I quit clayme hit for euer, kepe hit as his auen,

& I schal stonde hym a strok, stif on þis flet,

Elleȝ þou wyl diȝt me þe dom to dele hym an oþer,

barlay;

& ȝet gif hym respite,

A twelmonyth & a day;—

Now hyȝe, & let se tite

Dar any her-inne oȝt say."

¹ MS. fo.