XXVIII.

She offers him a gold ring,

Ho raȝt hym a riche rynk¹ of red golde werkeȝ,

Wyth a starande ston, stondande alofte,

Þat bere blusschande bemeȝ as þe bryȝt sunne;

Wyt ȝe wel, hit watȝ worth wele ful hoge.

Bot þe renk hit renayed, & redyly he sayde,

"I wil no gifteȝ for gode, my gay, at þis tyme;

I haf none yow to norne, ne noȝt wyl I take."

Ho bede hit hym ful bysily, & he hir bode wernes,

& swere swyftel[y] his sothe, þat he hit sese nolde;

& ho sore þat he forsoke, & sayde þer-after,

"If ȝe renay my rynk, to ryche for hit semeȝ,

Ȝe wolde not so hyȝly halden be to me,

I schal gif yow my girdel, þat gaynes yow lasse."

Ho laȝt a lace lyȝtly, þat² leke vmbe hir sydeȝ,

Knit vpon hir kyrtel, vnder þe clere mantyle,

Gered hit watȝ with grene sylke, & with golde schaped,

Noȝt bot arounde brayden, beten with fyngreȝ;

& þat ho bede to þe burne, & blyþely bi-soȝt

Þaȝ hit vn-worþi were, þat he hit take wolde.

& he nay þat he nolde neghe in no wyse,

Nauþer golde ne garysoun, er God hym grace sende,

To acheue to þe chaunce þat he hade chosen þere.

"& þerfore, I pray yow, displese yow noȝt,

& letteȝ be your bisinesse, for I bayþe hit yow neuer

to graunte;

I am derely to yow biholde,

Bi-cause of your sembelaunt,

& euer in hot & colde

To be your trwe seruaunt.

¹ ryng (?). ² þat þat, in MS.