XVII.

Then the other, laughing, thus spoke:

Thenne lo3e þat oþer leude, & luflyly sayde,

"I halde hit hardily¹ hole, þe harme þat I hade;

Þou art confessed so clene, be-knowen of þy mysses,

& hat3 þe penaunce apert, of þe poynt of myn egge,

I halde þe polysed of þat ply3t, & pured as clene,

As þou hade3 neuer forfeted, syþen þou wat3 fyrst borne.

& I gif þe, sir, þe gurdel þat is golde hemmed;

For hit is grene as my goune, sir G:, 3e maye

Þenk vpon þis ilke þrepe, þer þou forth þrynge3

Among prynces of prys, & þis a pure token

Of þe chaunce of þe grene chapel, at cheualrous kny3te3;

& 3e schal in þis nwe 3er a3ayn to my wone3,

& we schyn reuel þe remnaunt of þis ryche fest,

ful bene."

Þer laþed hym fast þe lorde,

& sayde, "with my wyf, I wene,

We schal yow wel acorde,

Þat wat3 your enmy kene."

¹ hardilyly, in MS.