XXVIII.

She offers him a gold ring,

Ho ra3t hym a riche rynk¹ of red golde werke3,

Wyth a starande ston, stondande alofte,

Þat bere blusschande beme3 as þe bry3t sunne;

Wyt 3e wel, hit wat3 worth wele ful hoge.

Bot þe renk hit renayed, & redyly he sayde,

"I wil no gifte3 for gode, my gay, at þis tyme;

I haf none yow to norne, ne no3t 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 3e renay my rynk, to ryche for hit seme3,

3e wolde not so hy3ly halden be to me,

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

Ho la3t a lace ly3tly, þat² leke vmbe hir syde3,

Knit vpon hir kyrtel, vnder þe clere mantyle,

Gered hit wat3 with grene sylke, & with golde schaped,

No3t bot arounde brayden, beten with fyngre3;

& þat ho bede to þe burne, & blyþely bi-so3t

Þa3 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 no3t,

& lette3 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.