XIII.

"I seek no fight," says the knight.

"Nay, frayst I no fy3t, in fayth I þe telle,

Hit arn aboute on þis bench bot berdle3 chylder;

If I were hasped in armes on a he3e stede,

Here is no mon me to mach, for my3te3 so¹ wayke.

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

For hit is 3ol & nwe 3er, & here ar 3ep mony;

If any so hardy in þis hous holde3 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 ly3tly 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,

Elle3 þou wyl di3t me þe dom to dele hym an oþer,

barlay;

& 3et gif hym respite,

A twelmonyth & a day;—

Now hy3e, & let se tite

Dar any her-inne o3t say."

¹ MS. fo.